Slow day, today. Slow, slow, slow…

1. Given the malicious nature of this story, I figured putting it up front as a warning for people would be ideal.

   Not too much to this. If you get an e-mail with the subject “Hi There, Do You Like Mario Bross ? Test it, and you?ll like it ;] !,” then DELETE IT!!! The included link goes to a Mario Flash game that also runs a virus called “Romario-A.” No idea what it does, but does it really matter? I doubt it’s going to give you a cake or anything so pleasant.

2. Some news has popped up recently regarding the fate of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fast Forward, and the cartoon series as a whole.

   Fast Forward has been given the axe, and will not be completed, leaving it without a resolution and without the planned “Space Usagi” episode, unfortunately.

   It’s not all bad, though. Of course, to some, Fast Forward getting axed is considerably good, but I digress. In January, 4Kids.tv will pad out the rest of the season with the 12-episode “Lost Season” which was skipped in favor of Fast Forward, thereby concluding the “Ninja Tribunal” storyarc.

   But after that? Hard to say. Fall 2008 is looking at a rather unclear revamp of the series, possibly a reboot, a change in art style, or something to follow the recent movie. Or at least, that seemed to be the plan, until Peter Laird axed it. Rumor has it there was even to be something “inspired by Yu-Gi-Oh.”

   Nothing against Yu-Gi-Oh, but if I want Yu-Gi-Oh, then that’s what I’ll watch. When I watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, that’s what I want to see.

   So, that’s basically the gist of it. Lose a little closure, gain a little, all topped with some hope for an uncertain future.

   But hey, that’s still more than a lot of other cartoons get these days.

3. No TransFormers news today.

   Well, not much, really. Just better pics of stuff from SDCC.

4. Word came up recently about something new happening with ReBoot, and now Newsarama has stepped forward to bring more news to light.

   Three new ReBoot movies are in the works, and the fans get to help decide what those will contain, and how they are released.

   While animation fans have enough cause to rejoice over the restarting of ReBoot, the process that Rainmaker and Zeros 2 Heroes had developed to produce these films should also give them something to think about. The basics are this. Rainmaker has hired five basically unknown writers. Their pitches, ideas, what-have-you will be posted on Zeros 2 Heroes site, which launched last week on July 26. From there the fans can provide criticism, input, their own ideas, whatever to these ideas.

   The site in question can be found here.

   As compelling as all these ideas sound, they seem to lack in one key area that fans seem to want: closure from where we were left hanging years ago.

5. The Donkey Kong world record has been broken, and GameTrailers is on the scene to gather the thoughts of the competitors.

   The documentary The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters will land in theaters this month. But, I wouldn’t be surprised if not every cineplex carries it.

6. TOMONOBU ITAGAKI DROPS DEAD!!!

   …Or Alive 5 hints.

   Sorry, couldn’t resist, after seeing how they titled that one.

   This has been Channel 6 ACTION News.

7. Finally, hope you didn’t drop all your points unknowingly on this week’s retro releases… not before reading Toastyfrog’s Retro Roundup, at least!

   At least he makes Super Contra and Dynamite Headdy sound like safe bets.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

1. More big news on TransFormers out of the San Diego Comic Con of 2007!

   A new video clip centers on the action of the upcoming Animated show a little better, and if that’s not enough, you can check out five minutes of it from the showfloor.

   Hopefully Hasbro will post this on their site soon, so we can hear what’s going on a bit better.

   Remy has a new gallery of a non-transforming TransFormers toy, the statuesque Turnarounds Unleased Optimus Prime, based on his movie appearance.

   And finally, cosplay goes to the next level with this awesome Movie Optimus Prime costume by TimeCon on DeviantArt.

2. Appearing now, at the Smash Bros. Dojo…

   o/~ He’s finally here! Performing for you! If you know the words, you can join in too! Get your hands together, if you want to clap! As we take you through, this monkey rap! o/~

   Ok, so DK isn’t new, but his “Konga Smash” Final Smash sure is! And with a cool Donkey Konga reference that calls for the player to keep a rhythm for maximum effect, at that.

   In addition, the Pitfalls from Animal Crossing have been added to the Items roster, bringing with it some interesting effects…

3. My new Nintendo Power is late…
4. The Wii Virtual Console has three new additions this week in the form of Star Soldier for the NES, Dynamite Headdy on SEGA Genesis, and Drop Off on the TurboGrafx16.

   Dynamite Headdy may be neat, but on the others…

5. The new video of Crazy Taxi: Fare Wars looks about as good as any other version of the games in the series, I suppose, but I’m just not that excited for it, as much as I love Crazy Taxi.

   I’m thinking motion controls seem like the logical next step…

6. Who should decide to show his feathered fanny at SDCC but everyone’s (other) favorite attorney, Harvey Birdman?

   Besides providing what appears to be Ace Attorney-styled gameplay for the PS2, minus the touch screen and mic, of course, this game has Guile in the courtroom, and not just as a background character, but he actually gets a little interaction, too.

   How? Click and see!

7. Also out of adult swim is a new trailer for Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro Am, which seems to be best described as “golf gone wrong that still feels so right.”
8. Sounds like Nintendo may be planning to unveil a new IP, somewhere along the lines of how Pikmin entered the world back on the GameCube…
9. Leave it to Japan to be the first to come out with porn on Blu-Ray.

   Safe for Work link, though the subject matter might still get some glances…

10. First came word that Dragon Quest IX was coming to Nintendo DS.

    Now, we find out that it’s not alone.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

Whoops. Sorry guys, didn’t mean to miss an update, but things are a little… messy around here. Anyway, a big one for today, I hope.

1. TransFormers!

   Finally, some early images of the animated toys have surfaced at the San Diego Comic Con. And I have to say, they look pretty nice.

   The show may look weird as hell, at least for TransFormers, but with each day that passes, I think a little bit more that we’re going to be in for a real treat.

   Speaking of the look, there’s also a new image showing the toon versions of the Decepticons, featuring Jay Leno as Starscream and King Hiss (of Masters of the Universe fame) as Blitzwing.

   The slideshow also has images of some of the upcoming Classics, including Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, and Robot Heroes like Blitzwing and Cheetor. More Movie toys as well, including a recolored “First Strike” Optimus in a colorscheme that matches his more traditional look.

   Plus, IDW had some happenings there as well. A Ramjet Spotlight? The hell?

   Well, besides that, lots of fun Movie-verse fiction as well, ought to be a treat.

   Toy News International also has a breakdown of the event, toys, and characters, including Soundwave with a guitar that turns into Laserbeak. IGN didn’t want to be left out, either.

   Speaking of Movie fiction, if you’re disappointed with how Starscream had squat-all for a role in the film, you should check out the prequel novel TransFormers: Ghosts of Yesterday. He not only has a well-presented center role in this story, but it also provides an interesting insight into how he not only runs the Decepticons as leader, but also how he works to maintain that role. Good stuff.

   Haven’t tried the game yet? How about a free download via GameSpot?

   And last, it’s more than meets the eye, it’s Apparel in Disguise!

   It sounds crazy as hell, but pretty practical for some of the lines I’ve had to endure.

2. So a crate from Stark Enterprises arrives at SDCC, and guess what they found inside?
3. With a new movie under way, it seems Mattel is eager to revive Masters of the Universe next year.

   While the figure looks quite nice, I can’t help but pine for the last incarnation. Oh, why did things have to go down the way they did?

   Well, at least that one is still coming to DVD next year, though they’re still working out a lot of the kinks by listening to what the fans want.

4. Yep, lots of stuff coming out of SDCC. It’s a little weird, in that way…

   But I digress, how about some Castlevania?

   “What is a man?! A miserable little pile of plastic!”

5. It’s like a weird case of deja vu’. We lost Justice League in favor of The Batman just so they could seemingly turn it into “The Justice League”?
6. Hide your apples as you take a look at Sideshow’s Craftlabel Death Note statues have popped up, including Ryuk, Misa, and Rem.
7. Remember the old theme song, “Go Go Power Rangers?”

   15 years later, they haven’t stopped. Lots of neat stuff happening, some of which I need to check out, if I can. Like that tour.

   Plus, there are new screens of Power Rangers: Super Legends for the PlayStation 2.

   Looks neat, like a 2.5D game, not unlike say, Mega Man X8 or Contra: Shattered Soldier.

   And is that Commander Anubis “Doggie” Cruger I see in the last shots? Dibs! Unless Tommy the Green Ranger is here.

   New DS version screens are available as well.

8. o/~ Comin’ straight from, the Smash Bros. Dojo, it’s a Kirby badass, by the name of Knuckle Joe.
9. Capcom’s latest 2D fighting game effort has been revealed: Sengoku Basara X, based on a franchise known best in the US as Devil Kings.

   Plus, there’s mention of PS2 and Wii in the article, so there may be a good all-systems release for it.

10. A new trailer for On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, aka “The Penny Arcade Game.”

    Doesn’t look bad in motion, and has some… mildly amusing text. I dunno, I think the end product will be good, but shakey-cam’s not quite getting it across. I think it may have just a little too much running, if you know what I mean.

11. More GameTrailers fun shows off Sonic Rivals 2 and a Mario Strikers Charged review.
12. First, there was Star Wars. Then came Batman (well, is coming).

    Now, Indiana Jones is prepped to get the Lego game treatment.

13. GameSpot brings us footage of the fun from Capcom’s San Diego Comic Con booth, where Mega Man, Harvey Birdman, Pheonix Wright, and more were featured.
14. A new trailer for Garfield’s Nightmare for Nintendo DS looks decent.
15. The developer of Buzz! The Music Quiz says “we need to make games for Miyamoto’s wife!”

    Well put.

16. So first, Castlevania: Symphony of the Night went to XBox Live Arcade, and then it was announced for the PSP as a part of The Dracula X Chronicles.

    Now, PS3 has it, too.

    Will Nintendo ever get this classic? Guess we’ll just have to make do with the sequels and prequels for now…

17. I know that as an assessment, it’s about as far off-base as you can get, but this is just my first knee-jerk reaction to this. Whenever I see a game about Dracula that ISN’T Castlevania, it just feels like it’s leeching.

    I know this isn’t the case, but it just sort of feels like it.

18. A new DVD release shows that Kevin Smith is still Chasing Amy, and new info about his latest movie, Zack and Miri Make A Porno is available, too.
19. Director Peter Segal of the upcoming Get Smart movie knows what people want to see in his movie, and he’s even gone so far as to make a list.
20. Sony wants Harrison to “make us cry.”

    I thought they did that already with the PS3′s price tag.

21. More new video of Contra 4, as well as word about Castlevania: Symphony of the Night and its new voices.
22. The Mario world gets new female blood in the form of Rosetta, a damsel from the stars who seems to recruit Mario to save the galaxy in… er, Super Mario Galaxy.
23. Ok, I did NOT see this coming:

    Peter Moore has resigned as the XBox division.

    The split seems amicable, but I’m still kind of sad to see the old boy go.

24. Who knew that the original Donkey Kong could be so competitive in this day and age?
25. Thanks to the general ineptitude of some people when handling their Wii remotes, a new market has developed.

    Or so the theory would go.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

Yeah, I know, it’s a bit late. Sorry about that, but we’ll see how far we can take this thing tonight.

1. In news that’s clear off the “awesome” scale, it looks like ReBoot may be returning!

   In news far less stellar, it could just be pulling an Evangelion and just retelling what we’ve already got as a series of movies.

   To thee, I say NAY! Giveth us CLOSURE before you start retelling yon tales of glory long past!

   Sheesh.

2. Worse news still, by far, is of yet ANOTHER wrestling death in Jon “Kronus” Caiazzo.

   Sadly, I cannot say that I will miss him, as I rarely if ever saw him, but I am sorry for the Caiazzo family for their loss, and to those who knew and watched him.

3. If anyone here cares, one of the longest-running sprite comics I know of, Bob & George, is ending this week.

   I’m of mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, it used to be rather amusing. These days, not so much. I think Dave started pulling back the curtain too much on his comic as he went. As the saying goes, “if you have to explain to everyone why your joke is funny… then it probably wasn’t all that funny to start with.”

   Still, it had its moments. Sadly, it stops with only 8 of the core Mega Man titles covered, which is shy of letting me see what would happen with one of my favorites, Turboman.

   Ultimately, it’s good when someone knows when to quit. Even though it could be strongly argued that quitting should have happened a long time ago. And it’s still sort of sad when you have to wonder what else might have been had they kept going.

   The biggest bright side might be that without Bob & George, maybe all this “Cataclysm is for real” stuff might die away as being “the” way things lead to X for people.

   Not as it matters much these days.

4. Banning Cap’n Crunch is just plain wrong. Screw these companies.

   If kids are getting worse these days, then I propose that it is by extension that parenting is getting worse these days. I ate Crunch, I came out fine. I’m no Mr. Universe, but I’m still recognizable as a human being.

5. I want to try some of these new Doritos.

   Damn, I never even saw these in BalLand.

6. Hmm, TransFormers…

   Double your Bumble, double your fun! Target’s getting an exclusive movie figure two-pack with the busted-up old Camaro and the… busted-up new Camaro?

   Wal-Mart has their own exclusive movie two-pack with the Robot Replicas Optimus and Megatron taking center stage.

   TFU.info is back, and not a moment too soon!

   Japan gets more goods in the form of Masterpiece Starscream,Sports Label… Starscream? and my favorite, Music Label Soundwave.

   More new images of the lost G2 GoBots have been discovered, among them being Rumble.

   Looks like TransFormers comic publisher IDW has new ownership.

   Ever heard of Bearbricks? Me neither. But they have Movie Optimus and Megatron versions now.

   In a poll conducted by USA Today that no one needed, Soundwave is the most-wanted TransFormer to appear in the movie’s sequel.

   Well, DUH.

   Sounds like the movie DVD is going to be pretty cool.

   Some didn’t like it, but I had fun with it, and I’m happy to see The Wreckers get some closure. You can read the earlier installments online here.

   Finally (for now), Beast Wars are comin’ back, and here’s a sneak-peek at one of the bios from the upcoming Beast Wars Sourcebook.

7. A few additions to the Smash Bros. Dojo, including the new Assist Trophy from Kirby’s world, Knuckle Joe, the return of Yoshi as a playable character, a cool new move in the Footstool Jump, Pit’s Skyworld stage, and DK’s Rumble Falls stage, which acts as a sort of successor to Ice Mountain that’s based on Jungle Beat, only a little different…

   Plus, there’s Samus’ Final Smash, which as some predicted, reveals Zero Suit Samus in all her glory.

   And finally, a new villain initiates a new story, which I overall find just a little creepy…

8. Another look at the cool Death Note action figures coming from Medicom.
9. Atomic Fire has the Mega-scoop with new pics from Ryuusei no Rockman 2 (aka MegaMan Star Force around these parts), as well as what sounds like a really cool Mega Man 20th Anniversary book coming next year.

   Sadly, I suspect the latter won’t have as much to do with all the plot and character details we’ve been missing as it will the concept and creation of the Blue Bomber.

   Oh, and evidently, it’s not just Mega Man, but according to Press The Buttons, Street Fighter as well. Yummy.

   Not to be outdone, Rockman Perfect Memories has posted some interesting words from Mega Man’s creator (not Dr. Light), as well as word of a upgrade/update to the official US Mega Man site.

   Glad they seem to have finally made the site interesting. Now let’s see if they can keep it up.

10. Power Rangers just had its 15th anniversary episode a night or two ago with a one-hour special/two-parter called “Once A Ranger…” It’s on YouTube, at least in chunks, if you’re interested.

    The plot is fairly simple, yet mildly intriguing to those of us who watched back in the day. Thrax, the son of Lord Zedd and Rita, returns to Earth to extract revenge on the Rangers, and unites the Operation Overdrive (this year’s team) villains to smash up their powers. This leads to a team of “Retro Rangers” being formed, including Adam the Black Mighty Morphin’ Power Ranger, along with one Ranger from each of the past four seasons of the show.

    I do curse the horrible timeslots on the Canadian Family Channel. 6:25am on the weekends? Forget about– *looks at the time now* –maybe I’ll try and keep it more in mind.

    Still, I’d love some DVD sets or something.

11. What does Nintendo have in store for us this week on Virtual Console? Can it possibly top last week’s offering?

    Kirby’s Dream Course for SNES, Devil’s Crush for TG16, and Shining Force for Genesis combine to say… no. But maybe I’m just biased, having waited for Paper Mario so long and all.

12. Huh, 300 is already on DVD (as of July 31st)? Sheesh, it seems like just yesterday that we were dining in Hell and learning what Sparta was.
13. Oh baby! Out of nowhere, XBox Live has got Super Contra, the arcade style version!

    It looks like the title may utilize some added effects as well, and that video also shows off one of my favorite weapons that never made it into the consoles: the Grenade Launcher.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

“I’ll try and catch things up before Monday.”

Clearly, we can see that I fail. I fail hard. “Pwned” one might even say.

But no matter! For I shall pick up where I left off, and capture that which was once passed over, in addition to the bounty of NEW information which has cropped up since!

After this, you’re on your own for a week, unless I manage to sneak in a last update tomorrow night. But we leave early Wednesday morning for our grueling trek, so don’t get your hopes up.

1. It’s like the second I turned my back, that’s when all the TransFormers news decided to show up. Maybe it was all just hiding out in a form I didn’t recognize, emerging once the time was right. Newsbytes in Disguise.

   The Allspark has some new galleries featuring the BotCon exclusives of Weirdwolf and Alpha Trion, whom are now available at the BotCon/Official TransFormers Collector’s Club store here.

   Music Label Soundwave has some new pics in the box and out, among his Classics Decepticon brethren. The downside these pictures reveal is that it might not be possible to store all of his parts in MP3 player mode, thus producing a fair abundance of “kibble”.

   HasbroToyShop.com is taking preorders for the $90 monster Camaro known as Ultimate Bumblebee.

   Not your thing? Maybe owning a replica of Frenzy’s boom-box model is more your speed?

   Wal-Mart is selling old movies from Paramount, and offering a free TransFormers beach ball with the purchase. There’s some decent stuff there.

   Remy brings out more gallery lovin’ with Movie toys Dreadwing and Arcee.

   There are also new pics available of Movie Ultra MagnusNightwatch Optimus Prime, though mostly pics of the box.

   Now this is the kind of music I can listen to: TransFormers Song Universe, a 5-CD set featuring nearly every Japanese opening and closing song, and inserts, too!

   In a rare instance of Canadians getting something exclusive, Wal-Mart in Canada has begun stocking the Robot Heroes: Decepticon Sneak Attack 5-pack.

   Speaking of exclusives, Toys R Us may well have another on the way, in the form of a 6-pack of Movie Legends figures, for those of us who didn’t shell out for them individually.

   For a curiousity in the form of some rare specimens, some unreleased Generation 2 Go-Bots have popped up, on card, on eBay.

   And finally, new IDW solicitations are here, featuring new Beast Wars, more Beast Wars, and other cool stuff.

   Profiles for nearly every Beast Wars character? I am so there.

2. Hmm, so Medicom is importing Death Note action figures, eh?

   Interesting stuff. Not the first manga/anime I’d expect for a line of action figures, but at the same time, it works.

3. SOTA is taking an interesting approach in their efforts to get the DarkStalkers action figure line made, and it involves you, the fan.

   Seems that a lot of buyers– that is, I believe, those for stores– don’t quite get the line or understand the appeal of the license, which is why this “grassroots” campaign is being made to show that there IS a market out there.

4. Evidently, God has some sort of appreciation for me. Or maybe just someone at Nintendo.

   Regardless of just who it is, it’s clear that someone does, as today the Wii Virtual Console received a wonderful set of games in the form of Paper Mario from the N64, Balloon Fight from the NES, and… er, Silent Debuggers from the TG-16.

   Oh well, two out of three ain’t bad. No disrespect to Silent Debuggers, I just have no earthly clue on that one, having never heard of it before today and all.

   On the other hand, if you’ve followed the site, then you know full and well that Paper Mario is a game I’ve anticipated since they first revealed the Virtual Console, and I bolted for the Wii Shop Channel as soon as I found out it was there, and I have absolutely no regrets. Surprising to me, though, was that the graphics of this installment were so much less polished than its GameCube successor. Sounds silly, I know, but for the graphical style and sprites, I just never imagined that the two could look so different, and yet, here we are.

   Not to say that Paper Mario looks bad or anything, but it does hold a rougher quality than its sequels. Better still, the gameplay and charm are both there in force, and I can already feel that more endearing quality that I felt The Thousand Year Door held but Super Paper Mario seemed to lack.

   Speaking of Super Paper Mario, you’d think they’d have released this to help hype that up earlier in the year. Makes one wonder about Super Metroid or Super Smash Bros.

   As for Balloon Fight, no small secret this is one of my absolute favorites of the oldschool (as in, VERY oldschool) style Nintendo games.

   BUT… I didn’t get it on the Shop Channel, and I won’t be in the near future.

   “Why?” you ask? Simply put: Animal Crossing.

   Nintendo outdid themselves on that one, and it’s a move I don’t expect they’ll soon repeat with Animal Crossing for the Wii, unless they decide to add a way to buy low-selling games.

   If I could afford it, I’d buy it anyway, just to support the “franchise,” such as it is. The Wii remote would certainly be a more convenient device than going to the trouble of hooking the Cube stuff up, but even if I wanted to, I only have 400 Wii Shop points at the moment, and other NES games I’d probably rather get first, for lack of having them.

   …incidently, I’m still chomping at the bit to find a way to get Tingle’s Balloon Fight. Damn you, Club Nintendo! You and your Japanese exclusives!

5. Over on GameTrailers, a new interview discusses the story and new Sixaxis controls for the upcoming Ratchet & Clank title.

   A nice montage of ZX Advent gameplay and story has been posted as well. Yay, more Japanese voicing. Oh well, from those who have imported it, it sounds like a fun ride.

   Burnout has rolled right into Paradise, with a video showing off the new features of the baddest of bad boy racing games.

   And of course, more Mario as he makes his way through the Stardust Galaxy.

6. The Smash Bros. Dojo has a pair of new updates: Deoxys, who I’m sure means something big to Pokemon fans, and a new piece of music taken from Star Fox, a remix of the Space Armada theme. Quite nice.
7. IGN has some interesting movie news.

   First, it looks like The Joker AND Two-Face will BOTH be in the next Batman movie. Those two have always had an interesting dynamic together, with Two-Face being more of a straight man to Mr. J who doesn’t oppose him as Batman does.

   After all that foolishness about the GI Joe movie being a “buddy film” with no Cobra, it seems that Hollywood has begun to come to their senses about how to do this thing.

   And after how many years are we faced with a second X-Files movie?

   Sad part is, I’m honestly sure I don’t care any more.

8. Words from Nintendo.

   Strong words.

   Wii, outsell the PS2? Could happen, but feels too early in the game to make such a proclamation. Maybe they have a better grasp on the facts and figures, though. Or maybe it’s just buzz. Kotaku analyzes it nicely.

   Sad words.

   Game Boy, gone? We all knew that it was coming when the DS broke away from being a “third pillar” into being a cornerstone, but it remains a sad thought to those of us for whom, growing up, “portable gaming” and “Game Boy” were virtually synonymous.

   Words of hope.

   …Miyamoto, on the other hand, doesn’t think the light of the Game Boy name is ready to be extinguished quite yet.

9. Weekly new downloadable content for Rock Band? Sounds… interesting. Think they can keep it up for long?
10. Wondering how that Wii Balance Board is powered? onNintendo has the answer in the form of 4 double-A’s, operating seperately from the Wii remote.
11. Like Super Mario Galaxy? Want more of it?

    How does 16 minutes of it sound?

12. Everyone is talking about Contra 4.

    And really, why wouldn’t they be?

13. Joystiq also has impressions of LittleBigPlanet, Metroid Prime 3, and Ratchet & Clank.
14. Meanwhile, Kotaku has impressions of Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles, Metroid Prime 3, Napoleon Dynamite, Godzilla Unleashed, and Super Mario Galaxy.
15. If you really want to rub salt in your rival’s wounds, talk about how they’re failing at home.

    Ouch.

    Too harsh, perhaps?

16. Make more Wiis? What a novel idea!
17. Looks like Inafune’s out to have all his boys gather ’round for a little Lost Planet fun on PC. Mega Man, Frank West (Dead Rising), Joe (not of the Viewtiful variety)… add some Onimusha, and I think we can call it a date.
18. And finally, 1up goes hands on with the latest law-and-disorder game from the house that made Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Adult Swim’s own dynamic defense, Harvey Birdman.

    One can only hope that someone from Phoenix Wright does make a cameo…

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

My brother-in-law is getting married today, and guess who’s invited! So I’ll get as much done here as I can, hopefully everything, but if I have to cut things short, that’ll be why, and I’ll try and get the rest later.

1. Shortpacked author David Willis has found a new movie trailer which I can only describe as glorious: Get Smart, apparently showing before Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.

   …and if that video isn’t working for you, as it’s stopped for me (it keeps cutting off at 14 seconds to try and force-feed me Veggie Tales or something), then let this link be the “Apple” of your eye.

   Normally, I have this eye-rolling trepidation about these TV show-based movies, but really… I think this will be the one to do it right.

   June 20, 2008 cannot come soon enough.

2. TransFormers news remains almost ironically thin. A D20 game sample has surfaced, though it seems likely that it’s not official.

   Hasbro’s Masterpiece Starscream has infiltrated eBay.

   And TF Pulp has a new article detailing part 4 of 12 of the TransFormers: Zone story.

   IGN has also scored an exclusive interview with the director of TransFormers: Animated.

3. Word from Atomic Fire is that MegaMan Star Force, the anime, is coming to American airwaves much sooner than we had expected.

   As for Canada? I guess we’re screwed for now. Which sucks, as I would like to see it. I’ve been on the fence regarding the game, but I still want to give it a fair chance. But it feels like Capcom’s doing everything in their power (if Dragon really is exclusive to GameStop) to keep it from me.

   Yeah, I know, not really their fault, but that doesn’t make my side of things any easier.

4. Press the Buttons and AMN have taken a look at the newest Castlevania title, The Dracula X Chronicles, and of course given their thoughts. Sounds like a real treat in the making.
5. Radio always seemed like a fun gig. Maybe now, Rockstar will make my dreams come true, if I submit a clip to be featured in their upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV.

   If you’d like to help me out with a short script, leave something in the comments or use the News Submission link on the left there to let me know, and we can see what we can put together.

   Now, where’s my microphone?

6. Sony’s PS3 pricing strategy: it’s like the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.

   See, Sony, this is why you’re not taken as seriously any more.

   What’s more surprising, though, is that they don’t think the lower-end model will be around past July.

   And Europe? They might not even bother.

7. GameTrailers has yet more E3 fun with Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Toronto damn near got the Olympics for that year, it’s too bad in a way), Ratchet & Clank, Simpsons DS (almost be a shame if they didn’t use “D’oh” in a DS acronym).
8. GameSpot goes hands-on with more at E3, such as Build-a-Bear DS, Aqua Teen Hunger Force Zombie Ninja Pro-Am, Harvest Moon Wii, and Mario & Sonic.
9. The Wii -and DS- are huge in Japan. No secret about that.

   They are SO huge, in fact, that it’s starting to worry Japanese TV executives.

   This calls for 50cc’s of angsty shonen anime, stat!

   Or maybe they ought to look into that televised gaming thing.

10. Seems that the new PSP is going to replace the old. No real surprise there, DS did the same thing.

    But between this and the new PS3 package, both announced at the same time with the old versions being phased out, it almost feels like Sony’s saying “we really started this generation out on the wrong foot.”

    Or maybe it’s just me.

11. If Virtual Console is your thing, well…

    I guess this isn’t really good OR bad news, but basically Game|Life confirms with Beth Llewelyn of Nintendo that they probably aren’t ramping up VC releases. Might be nice if they at least caught us up with the rest of the world, though.

12. Chris Kohler of Game|Life also got to go hands-on with The Simpsons for XBox 360 and Nintendo DS, discovering some video game parody along the way.

    In fact, quite a bit. So much that EA assigned a lawyer to work on just that game to make sure they’re in the clear when referencing “SequelStop” and “Sitar Hero.” The game may be worth it on those merits alone, but it sounds like it will be a fun endeavor anyway.

13. Finally (sorry, folks, time’s running slim here), 1up goes hands-on with Ratchet & Clank.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

What happens when you have the unluckiest day of the year in what should be the luckiest month? Guess we’ll find out: I have a job interview today. Be almost fascinating to see where it should go.

1. If you were hoping for something new out of Super Smash Bros. Brawl at E3… well, don’t.

   BUT! Sakurai’s perhaps doing us a better service my continuing his updates to the Smash Bros. Dojo, now featuring… Smashville! The newest town in Animal Crossing, apparently, complete with live shows by K.K. Slider on Saturdays at 8!

   Just like the actual Animal Crossing titles, night and day will be determined by the clock. You know I love it.

   Sadly, though, it looks like some gamers’ dreams will be dashed, as Nook appears to be a spectator. Hmm, who knew that the innocent folk of AC were so bloodthirsty?

2. Fresh from Cybertron, it’s TransFormers news!

   Mark Ryan, voice of Bumblebee from the recent film, has an interview that reveals a little information about content that will be new for the DVD, including a prequel for TransFormers 2.

   Canadian Toys R Us stores are having a sale, which basically means that we get to pay closer to American pricing for a spell, I guess. Lucky us!

   A new TransFormers comic on the way? In the UK, anyway.

   Hasbro has a TransFormers update, and it’s on their website, but not their TransFormers website; rather, it’s on their GI Joe website. Yeah, I don’t get it, either.

   A lot of people wish Soundwave was in the TransFormers movie. As luck would have it, Frash has uncovered the truth. At least he got Employee of the Month.

   And finally, if you’re into building blocks, then has Takara got an import for you!

3. Are you ready to RUMBLLLLLLLLLLE?!

   Looks like Sony is once again. Welcome back to the modern age, guys. We knew you’d come around if we kept dragging you around by the feet.

   What’s funniest to me about it all is that this will be the second time in three generations that Sony will have made this change after launching with a different version.

4. Orrrrrr… maybe not.

   That stuff I was just saying? Slag it.

5. What’s old is new again… well, sort of. Not really, I guess.

   The point I’m trying to get to is that XBox 360′s backwards-compatible list is updated.

   Huh, and here I thought they were done.

6. This almost makes me laugh.

   No, wait, there I go.

   Peter Moore comments a bit about expecting, and not getting, a price cut from Sony on the PS3.

   “But wait,” you say. “Sony DID just cut the price! By a hundred bucks!”

   Well, yes, but I guess it’s a matter of perspective:

   “”Interestingly, I didn’t see a price cut, and I must have been reading the wrong thing. It’s still USD 499 and USD 599,” Moore told GamesIndustry.biz in an interview.

   “They’ve added greater value at the same prices. Which to me is not a price cut. I don’t want to be anal, but I read “price cut” and I expected to see USD 399,” he continued. “When I hear the words “price cut” I expect to see a price cut.”

   Fascinating. Evil Avatar agrees:

   Personally, I agree with him. Last year, you could get a PS3 for $499 or $599 and this year you can get a PS3 for $499 or $599.”

   All true, but at the same time, I do think there is something to be said for an added value. Really, the top-of-the-line system was cut, and just had its slot filled with a new package.

   Capcom thinks that the continuing crazy sales of the PS2 will spark another cut this year.

   Of course, the easy solution is to get the PS2 out of the marketplace. But solving that problem would lead to another, that being Sony’s boasts of their hardware holding a ten-year product life. Hmm…

   And then, there’s the possibility that the price cut is simply to pave the way for a more sinister plot.

7. GameTrailers has some new content from E3 for Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles, which remains my most anticipated PSP game; Aqua Teen Hunger Force in… a golf game? A platformer? I don’t know what the hell this is supposed to be, but that and the license make it all the more intriguing.

   MegaMan Star Force for the DS appears, now in English, but text-only. Pity. What with Viz doing the cartoon and all, I had hoped there might be voice acting involved.

   So far, I’m more interested in the satellite admins than the actual hero, but I guess we’ll see where that goes… assuming I can get ahold of Dragon at a good price.

   They show off some ZX Advent as well, with text and no voices. Damn. But then again, strangely, it seems some sounds are missing as well. So who knows?

   Metroid Prime 3: Corruption gets a developer walkthrough that shows off the new controls. I get the feeling this is one FPS where the Wii Zapper might not be ideal.

   Likewise, Contra 4 gets the developer interview treatment as well. I’ll just be over here gushing if you need me.

   And what would a demonstration be without Super Mario Galaxy? Well, no fears there; in fact, there will be multiple parts. Hope that will “bee” enough for now.

   Also getting their showfloor due are Ratchet & Clank, who are doing their part to help make the PS3 a system worth owning.

8. GameSpot spends some hands-on time with Mega Man ZX Advent, MegaMan Star Force, Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations, Brain Age 2, Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles, Contra 4, and screens from Rygar for Wii.
9. IGN has some impressions of their own regarding the Wii Balance Board, the Wii Zapper,
10. In other E3 news, Miyamoto might be planning a new Pikmin, and hopes that something new in the world of Animal Crossing might spring up.

    I myself would love it if the DS version were made with the possibility of loading your town to a Wii…

    He also discusses 1:1 swordfighting on Wii, with an allusion to Mario and Sonic…

    There is also talk about a new Wii Zelda, but don’t expect that any time soon.

11. Over at Next-Gen, third-parties are buzzing about the Wii Balance Board, and Halo 3 is looking to user-created content for their buzz.
12. Game Daily checks out another reason the PS3 may not be a bad investment: Little Big Planet.
13. Turns out that Disaster: Day of Crisis is coming along well, Project HAMMER is on hold, Kirby is in question, and so is Smash Bros. online.

    Damn.

14. Go Nintendo has dug up some new Super Mario Galaxy and Guitar Hero III videos for you to enjoy.
15. According to Chris Kohler at Game|Life, Contra 4 is kicking ass. His, specifically.

    In addition, it seems that Metroid Prime 3 will break new ground for the series in terms of storytelling.

    As for Super Mario Galaxy? Well, what would you expect?

16. Not to be outdone, Joystiq has thoughts of their own about Super Mario Galaxy, as well as Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles, and Halo Wars.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

1. Out of nowhere, this comes up. And I’m only really including it here because I do so very much love MegaMan Legends.

   James Mielke of 1up is going to interview Keiji Inafune tomor– wait, today, and has put together a poll to show Mr. Inafune to try and help convince him to make MegaMan Legends 3.

   I have my doubts on this. Largely due to the short notice in gathering support, but also, Inafune has made it sound like it’s largely out of his hands. I’m not sure that less than 1,000 people are going to change his mind.

   But, hey, it’s worth a shot. I doubt this will make the situation any worse at this point, so if you want Legends 3, go make your voice heard, and we’ll see where it goes.

2. TransFormers!

   Remy has a gallery of the NEW 2008 Movie Bumblebee, landing soon on a planet near you.

   Plus, it looks like Movie Arcee and Dreadwind are popping up as well!

   BWTF.com has a new review of the Autobot with the big guns, good ol’ Ironhide.

   …that’s it?

   Huh, guess that’s it.

3. Huckleberry Toys is going to be at SDCC this year with two exclusive McDonald’s Grimace toys, and– what the Hell?! That first/fourth picture has FOUR arms!

   …what are the two lower arms doing?! This isn’t right! What the slag, man?!

4. The Advent is nearly upon us, as Mega Man ZX Advent has made its appearance at E3, and Rockman Perfect Memories brings us the scoop with new video and images from the show.
5. Smash Bros. Dojo brings us a triple-dose of goodness from E3! The game is coming out on December 3rd this year, and we have some new video footage that shows off much of what’s been reported on the site in recent, as well as info on a new returning combatant in the form of the true King of Swing, Donkey Kong.
6. Evil Avatar brings 10 things you might not have known about the press conferences at E3, held by Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony.

   Maybe that last one is worth watching this time.

7. GameSpot has videos of those three press conferences, as well as other bits from E3.

   Which is apparently better than G4′s coverage. Holy hell, cutting off the new footage of Halo 3 for a commercial? Do I even have to begin to say why this is beyond wrong?

8. The Wii Zapper has been revealed, and looks nothing like I expected, or we were lead to believe.

   This sucker looks cool, though. Like it’s ready to mow some bitches down! GameSpot gave it a spin in Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles.

   Even better, it’s coming at $19.99 WITH a game. I’m not even expecting much. Give me the old Zapper library remade for the Wii and I’ll be happy. Hogan’s Alley, anyone? Gumshoe, maybe? Duck Hunt goes without saying.

9. New videos all around! Castlevania: The Dracula-X Chronicles, The Simpsons (coming this Fall to “every platform ever made”), DK Barrel Blast, Wii Fit (Nintendo’s new fitness addition to the Wii Sports-styled lineup), Contra 4 (sporting a bitchin’ remix), Metal Gear Solid 4 (still exclusive to PS3, coming in early 2008), Mario Strikers Charged, DK Jungle Climber, Super Mario Galaxy (touted as the “true” successor to Super Mario 64 and coming November 12. Check out the bee and Boo Marios!), Metroid Prime 3 (with on-stage demonstration), a peek at Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, Resident Evil 5 from the MS conference, Fire Emblem: Godess of Dawn, a Zelda: Phantom Hourglass demonstration, Ratchet & Clank for PS3, and a new Wii channel called Check Mii Out, where you get to vote for many Miis and even take some home!

   Plus, Mario Kart Wii is coming with online in the first quarter of 2008, and will have a special steering wheel (“wiil?”) packed in.

   I don’t know, people are saying that Nintendo’s not bringing enough for the hardcore gamers, but they have plenty for me here, and that’s not even taking third-party offerings into account.

10. At the Sony conference, Hideo Kojima appeared to announce that Metal Gear Solid 4 would be the last game in the series, and his last Metal Gear title as a game producer, saying that this one would wrap up all the mysteries and stories that have lead up to this point.

    Granted, I think he’s said that we’d seen his last involvement before, but I think he may just mean it this time.

    In the meantime, it should perhaps be noted that at Konami’s own mini-conference, Mr. Kojima misses the E3 of old. And in some ways, so do I.

    In his case, though, can you blame him?

11. GameSpot has new Super Mario Galaxy screens (check out Bowser and “Bee Mario”), and a hands-on preview. Elsewhere, 1up goes into a little more detail.

    I can’t wait for this game. I wanted to love Sunshine, but I think this will be a lot easier to show affection for (and perhaps Nintendo agrees). My only concern being reversed controls…

12. Mr. Parish also goes into hands-on mode for Metroid Prime 3, which is still looking like the first time I’ll have seriously picked up a FPS since Goldeneye on the N64.

    Also: love the new suit.

13. Over in Movieland, sequelitis continues its rampage as new Indy 4 footage has surfaced, as well as word of a new Bill & Ted, going directly to DVD.

    Unlike Indy, I somehow think Keanu Reeves won’t be reprising his role. But Bill S. Preston and Theodore Logan won’t be alone in returning to DVD, as The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, volume 1, will be arriving in October.

14. People have called for it, and Sony has finally caved: a new-model PSP is on the way.

    Not rife with with changes like bigger screens, touch screens, or dual analogs as many had hoped, the new model will be lighter, more energy efficient, run UMDs faster, and have an output for playing games on your TV.

    Coming in September, the new model will be available in black or silver, and there will be a few different bundles available at the $200 price point.

15. Nintendo’s message to the Wii-less: If you see a Wii, buy a Wii.

    Will it really be that hard this holiday season?

    I’m in agreement with Kotaku on this one.

16. A new Garfield game? For DS? That’s good?

    Color me curious.

17. Chris Kohler of Game|Life has done some hands-on work at E3 as well, looking at Metroid Prime 3, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles with the Wii Zapper, Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, and his own amusing play-by-play of the Nintendo press event.
18. Evidently, Peter Moore is pissed about the breakdown of the Halo movie.
19. But he might still consider getting friendly with George Harrison and Reggie Fils-Aime in what would be a pretty neat moment.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

7-11. Is that the date, or the temperature? I’m bloody-well roasting here; I could charge admission for a water slide and just have kids ride down my back. Or I could do some good by laying down on a fire to put it out.

Ok, maybe that’s a little TMI. But if I cut this short, it’s because I need to get somewhere a bit cooler before my eyes flash the Red Rings of Death.

1. Interesting day in Autobot City today. Some funky new versions of Beast Wars Convoy (Optimus Primal) and Megatron are coming out, not terribly different from those we’ve seen before.

   Capitalizing on the popularity of the movie, Tom Dickson of BlendTec Blenders looks at some of the toys and asks “Will It Blend?” before transforming Bumblebee and Swindle into slag.

   Now, you too can infiltrate and gun down your favorite Qatar military base with your own Radio Shack remote control Blackout toy. Scorponok sold seperately.

   What would you ask a legend? That’s what About Heroes wants to know as they ready an interview with Peter Cullen, voice of Optimus Prime in the recent movie and games (as well as the original cartoon), where you get to ask the questions!

   And finally, the official TransFormers website has updated with two great free music tracks from Stan Bush, the man known so well for “Dare” and “The Touch” in the original 1986 movie.

   The new pieces are a new master version of “The Touch” and a remix of “Ground Zero” called “Til All Are One.”

   Plus, Game One takes a look at this year’s BotCon.

2. (Now former) Managing Editor Steve Murphy, of Mirage Studios and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles talks about the fab four in an interview with Newsarama.

   So long, Steve! It’s been a great ride, and congratulations to Dan Berger, whom I’ve had the good fortune to correspond with in the past. Best of luck to you both in the future!

3. July 25th is the San Diego Comic Con, and if you’re a Castlevania fan who will be in attendance, then you’re in luck as Warren Ellis will be as well. Swing on by, and wear your best Grant DaNasty costume for the man, so he can feel that pirate love.
4. Ah, E3 begins, and with it comes a wealth of news. Mostly Microsoft so far, but there’s other stuff.

   To start, Sonic 1 and Golden Axe are on XBox Live Arcade now.

   Y’know, in case you didn’t get them for Wii… or Genesis.

5. Four words: Just let it die.
6. Following in the footsteps… er, sort of… of Matt Groening in The Simpsons game will be former Guns ‘N Roses guitarist Slash as an in-game boss in Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, a series I didn’t even know HAD bosses.

   Live and learn, then see for yourself.

7. Huh, I forgot they were coming out with a DS game based on Napoleon Dynamite. Here are some screens.

   Can you feel the anticipation in the air? Yeah, me neither. But that’s ok, with any luck, there’s more to this title than the screens will tell.

8. I think they did this last time, too. But Microsoft has something else for Halo fans… er, who don’t own a 360 yet: The Halo green XBox 360! And to help whet peoples’ appetites for this particular brand of destruction, Microsoft ended their conference with a new trailer.
9. So the PS3 had dropped some wallet Lose Weight Exercise, losing a Ben Franklin off the price tag. Is that going to be enough to clear some shelf space?

   Konami’s Kazumi Kitaue isn’t quite so sure, and may be considering moving Metal Gear out of “exclusive” territory.

10. And since the PS3 had dropped its price, that means Microsoft will be next, and that green 360 will be yours for less, right?

    Er, maybe not…

11. Maybe it’s to help them pay for the class-action lawsuit about scratched discs.
12. First Peter Cullen, now Shigeru Miyamoto. Ask your questions now!
13. If you’ve been waiting to get a taste of Blue Dragon, then the wait is over.
14. Smash Bros. Dojo has updated with word of a new item… or rather, a new old item.

    Like many, I never really got to play the Nintendo 64 version of Super Smash Bros., and so I’m unfamiliar with the Bumper. Looks like an interesting device… reminds me of a certain character, too…

    Though really, it doesn’t seem too different from the Balloon Fight-styled device we had in Melee…

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

7/10? Well then, no update today, because that means I’ve gotta split!

Just kidding. Let’s see what we’ve got.

1. Nintendo is looking to change more than just the way you play games, they’re out to change how you watch them, too. Real-life baseball games, that is.

   At Safeco Field, Nintendo has implemented a pay-per-use wireless system that runs through the DS to allow spectators to call up replays, order refreshments, and more.

   With positive reception, Nintendo and MLB hope to advance the program further and even bring it into other stadiums.

2. TransFormers! …is the cover story for Entertainment Weekly this week. Something about a movie or somesuch. Supposed to be nominated for 10 Teen Choice Awards, I dunno. Who’s see a movie about that, giant robots beating the hell out of each other?

   Oh, 152 million dollars worth of people, setting a domestic 7-day non-sequel record, I guess.

   One of the writers of the movie decided to do a little Q&A with some fans, which clears up some things… but not a whole lot. Still, if you’re wondering how… oh, wait, that’d be a spoiler. Sorry.

   Want a piece of the movie? Want two? Well, if you can afford it, then go nuts. Hell, you can even practically OWN Bumblebee!

   If you haven’t gotten the smaller Movie Prime or ’08 Bumblebee, then this bundle might be right up your alley.

   Big Bad Toy Store is busted! That is, a clearance sale on most of the remaining stock of their TransFormers busts. Get ‘em while you can, they’ll probably go pretty fast for something with no legs.

   Something that DOES have legs, on the other hand, may go pretty fast as well, as Beatmix Bumblebee hits retail, ready to jam it to the sweet sounds from your iPod. If the eBay bit above is too rich for you, well, at least this one’s the robot, right?

   And finally, beware of Wire tapping.

3. Inafune in-a NYC?

   Want to meet the creator of Mega Man? If you’ll be in the New York area in less than a month from now, then you’ll be in luck as a brief window of opportunity opens in celebration of 20 years of Blue Bombing.

4. Japan Time reveals a new Assist Trophy… Dr. Wright?!
5. Virtual Console get!

   The NES is bringing Mach Rider and Yoshi to the fore, while TurboGrafx-16 gets the far-flung future of Bonk’s Adventure in “Air” Zonk.

   Mach Rider, who you might have spotted in the PMO banner on occassion, always had a cool premise, and nice theme. I’d love to see a revamped modern version… the improvement in graphics and control would go far, I think.

   Meanwhile, Japan gets Paper Mario. Guess what I’m saving my Wii Points for?

6. XBox 360 + surge protectors = Damned if you do, damned if you don’t?

   I really have NO idea what to think of this.

7. New images and footage of Sonic Rush Adventure.

   Looks good, but so did the first. Sadly, the deathtraps of that got real old, real quick. I’m approaching this one with caution. But the ability to juggle damage on a boss again is a welcome return.

8. Ah, finally. Thanks to the wonders of E3, it seems we have been blessed with our first screens of Mario & Sonic at the Olympics for the Wii and DS.

   Looks like everyone’s coming out for this! Eggman, Bowser, Peach, even Cream!

   Wait… Peach… and Cream? There’s a punchline just waiting for a joke.

9. Sonofa… MAKE UP YOUR MINDS, SONY!!
10. Star Trek isn’t a big thing of mine, but Nimoy in the next film? That’s cool.
11. Add this to the list of things my wife will never let me own: Married… With Children, season 7 on DVD, coming in September.
12. New NiGHTS footage looks neat, but I guess they don’t have music together for it yet.
13. The successor to Phoenix Wright has officially been named: Welcome, Apollo Justice!

–LBD “Nytetrayn”