Ok, so last night didn’t go, because the internet went out, and I’m pulling double-duty tonight. Here’s a joke for you, to get things started.

Why was Nintendo so adamant about keeping the GameCube offline?

Because nets are notorious for killing Dolphins.

On with the news!

1. Sad news comes today, as we mourn the loss of Mr. Wizard.

   I remember watching him growing up on Nickelodeon, and sadly, it’s been so long that I don’t remember much else, except that he was cool.

   R.I.P., sir.

2. TransFormers!

   Four interviews with the man often regarded as “the” voice of Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen; and then MORE interviews. You think he gets paid for these, too?

   If you have a Target near you, then you can see a new trailer for The Movie there. If not, like me, you’re SOL.

   A light-up t-shirt is the prize in a new contest; Hasbro creates a size-class larger than “Supreme” with a new Optimus figure so big, it takes a tractor trailer to move; and finally, GameSpot goes hands-on with the new video games:

   They provide some new details of some of the bonus unlockable content that will be included, plus differences between the myriad versions. The biggest news is that bonus non-movie missions will be available, featuring G1 characters such as Shockwave!

   Awesome. All that, plus a lengthy interview video. Not to be outdone, GameTrailers has a lengthy bit of their own, as well as a nice HD trailer for the game, if you’ve not seen it.

   But sadly, little is said of the Wii’s controls, except a light assurance that they seem to “map well.”

   BWTF.com brings some goods in the form of news of a Wal-Mart exclusive Optimus 2-pack and blaster.

   Plus, reviews of The Movie‘s Ironhide and Blackout.

3. New Masters of the Universe mini-statues are on the way, including the likes of Jitsu and Mosquitor, but the one I want most?

   Battle Armor He-Man.

   Not simply because he’s the main character, oh no.

   See, when I was a kid and first getting into action figures and the like, this was my first He-Man. Or rather, the original Battle Armor figure was.

   Since I favor the new series more these days, well, it hits a nice blend of retro and contemporary versions of the character, and may be one statue of the series I actively pursue.

   Of course, I still don’t have Snake Armor He-Man from the action figure series, so this may be awhile…

4. Now appearing at the Smash Bros. Dojo… Fox!

   Ah, Fox. Your games may seldom pass muster these days, but you’re still cool, just the same.

   Plus, a new level is also revealed, that being the splendor of Yoshi’s Island! And it was good.

   Biggest of all, though? The new music added. Could this reveal… a new character?

5. The Virtual Console has added three new titles, including Lode Runner for the NES, and Golden Axe II and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 for the SEGA Genesis.

   But are we to remain clueless as to what’s worth our Wii Points? Parish the thought!

   But be careful how much you buy, lest you run out of space.

6. SOTA and CornerStoreComics have announced that they are bringing a turquoise Dan figure from Street Fighter Alpha to SDCC as an exclusive.
7. New Bonk game for Wii: original title, or Wii-make?

   I’d sort of hope for something newer and improved, myself, unless they did that with the earlier remake described in the article. Bonk is fun and cool, but feels sort of loose.

8. SimCity Societies has been announced by EA, and is set for the holidays.

   I’m not the biggest SimCity fan in the world, but I did borrow the SNES one from a friend for a bit.

   But sadly, I think this game could do with an online feature that lets you visit other peoples’ utopias. They could even do mock newspaper stories like “Mayor of Wang City Enters Butt Town Today!” and stuff like that. Make interaction seem like an event.

9. Waitasecond, Master Chief’s real name is JOHN?!

   That is SO awesome. Why?

   Remember Sylvester Stallone’s title role in Demolition Man?

   If not, look it up, and then you should get it. Geek reference for the WIN.

   Oh yeah, as for what brought this up, something about his face being revealed, or something.

   Yeah, I’m not a very good fan, am I?

10. So Disney is tripling their game investment, huh?

    “In order to maximize revenue from its properties across all mediums, Staggs noted that 70 percent of Disney’s videogame development dollars will be on established content franchises.”

    Works for me. Hey, Disney. Darkwing Duck 2, now.

11. Ah, Castlevania: The Dracula X Chronicles. My most eagerly-awaited PSP title.

    And now, we get to enjoy the game’s opening cutscene. No anime here, boys and girls!

12. Who needs a gun to defend your home (and your PS3) when you have a sword?

    God, I hate thieves.

13. WHY?!?

    I love Pepsi.

    I love cucumbers, they’re actually one of the few vegetables I can stomach.

    BUT WHY THIS?! IT IS WRONG! WRONG, VILE, AND STUPID.

    …I wonder if I’d like it at all.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

Pretty good day today, until I got a knot in my leg. Ouchie. Hope it’s good for tomorrow, that’s my anniversary. Six years, can you believe?

On with the news!

1. TransFormers!

   So is it, or isn’t it? The theme we reported yesterday may not actually be the new theme, as now a different one has been revealed on MySpace through Mute Math. Which do you prefer?

   And think that TransFormers: The Game might be just a tad too hardcore for your little Rugraticon? Fear not, for there is a handheld LCD game on the way, with graphics that make Tiger Electronics look like next-gen.

2. Smash Bros. Dojo has updated once more to reveal… control schemes!

   Everyone’s wondered, will it use the GameCube controller? The Classic? The Wii remote? The Wii remote/nunchuck combo?

   The answer is… yes!

   I’ll no doubt try them all, but after Melee, I have a feeling the Cube controller will be my weapon of choice. But I really should invest in a Wavebird…

3. Hey, cereal fans! Guess what? Trix is introducing a exciting new shape… puffs!

   Now, instead of boring old fruit shapes, you get to enjoy the never-before-seen form of generic spherical puffs of flavored corn!

4. So Nintendo is definitely trimming their PR force, but the fates of Harrison, Kaplan, and Llewelyn remain unknown.
5. Ok, so the numbers of Sony staff being laid off were slightly exagerated.

   It’s still your fault.

6. Microsoft get flattering on Wii’s pricing as they discuss the idea of making their own unit more price-accessible.

   Frankly, I wish they’d make the system more reliable before they make it more affordable.

7. …the hell?

   A Lovecraft/Doyle crossover of Cthulu and Sherlock Holmes.

   This will either be the greatest crossover ever, or the worst.

8. Details revealed about a newer, slimmer PSP? Maybe, if Kotaku is to be believed.

   Finally, a new way for people not to play Mega Man!

9. The Ninja Gaiden Sigma website has gone live.

   The most important part?

   Rachel wallpapers, of course.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

An early update? Yep. Gotta get to bed early tonight, so I can go out early in the morning.

1. TransForm-Form-Form…!

   Looks like IGN has revealed the soundtrack listing for The Movie, and to add to that, SectorSeven.Org has added new content in the form of a new piece of music, possibly the 2007 TransFormers theme.

   It’s… eh, sorta nifty. I don’t hate it, but I’m not sure I’d be burning it to a CD anytime soon, if you catch my drift.

2. Akuma in HD.

   As impressive as these images are, though, they’re just that: images. I’ve seen this stuff in UDON’s comics already.

   The TRUE test is going to be seeing these puppies in sequential motion, flying across our screens (well, not mine, sadly) in a display that I’m sure will be nothing short of glorious.

3. Finally, some new info on the Preacher HBO TV series.

   Sounds like it’s moving ahead nicely, and they’re not interested in star power so much.

4. Huh, a Ghost Rider sequel?

   Hell, I still need to see the first.

5. Indy 4 news, who’s in, who’s out.

   Sadly, Mr. Connery is out.

6. Word is that Target is discontinuing the GBA, sending all their stock out to be sold and done with.

   Question is, will we see any mega-clearance sales?

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

I really need to start updating earlier…

1. Hey, you! Pikachu! Smash Bros. Dojo has updated, and now it features you, too!

   In addition, we also have Kirby, Kirby, Kirby… it’s a name you should know.

2. TransFormers!

   Michael Bay talks a little about the movie, and fans have their say in some videos on Yahoo!; a new version of the Movie Jazz figure is coming out, sporting a G1 deco akin to the recolors Starscream and Ratchet are getting; Bumblebee and Arcee are viewable in-package here, with bios that feature some light G1 references; and finally, the stealthy Nightwatch Optimus Prime has surfaced on Amazon, though sadly no pics are available yet.

   BWTF.com also has a new review of the foul-tempered, hates-everything Movie Bonecrusher.

3. Marvel and Disney, together at last?

   Not quite, but still close.

4. To borrow a meme, does this mean Nintendo fails at the internet?
5. Holy crap.

   Those three leaving Nintendo of America… it may not mean much to a lot of people, but I’ve seen those names a lot as I comb for news and interviews and such, and for them to be gone– all at once, no less– well, that’s a bit of a shock.

   Pity, I enjoyed hearing from Kaplan and Harrison.

   On the other hand, Next-Gen tends to lean the news more towards the realm of speculation, with a comment added from a Nintendo rep.

6. You didn’t buy a PlayStation 3.

   (Don’t worry, I didn’t either.)

   And now, men, women, and children are suffering for your inaction.

   (Now you can worry.)

   Oh, sure, they can deny it all they want, but we know what it is.

7. Sounds like Tomb Raider: Anniversary is finally hitting stores, for PS2 and PC at the moment, anyway.

   I await the Wii version. Hope it’s fun.

8. Nintendo has created a curious new DS release in Slide Adventure: Mag Kid, which includes a sort of new controller that involves sliding the DS around on a surface to control the character.

   IGN raises a good point about a key aspect of the DS, portability; what do you do if you’re on a train or otherwise without a flat surface to roll on? Will the touch screen do the trick?

9. “Thundercats, Ho!”

   “That’s right, Ho! Thundercats.”

10. Prevalent PS2 ports putting PSP in a problematic place?

    Probably.

11. Ok, I have to give Cracker Jack credit for this one.

    So he can’t take Take Two to court regarding unreleased games any more, right?

    That doesn’t mean he can’t ask OTHER lawyers to chase that ambulance.

    RMC is outraged. Me? I couldn’t help but laugh. Because in a case like this, it probably is just about the best thing you can do.

    …you know, unless you’re a game-loving lawyer that can practice in Florida, or something.

12. Speaking of Jack, remember that debate at PAX that isn’t happening now?

    Well, guess who decided to speak out about it.

    And over at 1up, PA responds.

    Snap. Game, set, and match.

13. Sure, playing around in a virtual recreation of Tokyo sounds cool, but I’d rather see the real thing. Japan is the one place I’d really like to visit.
14. So while some attorneys hate video games with a passion, it seems that the army just can’t get enough of them.

    Witness as they use XBox 360 controllers to guide robots, as well as making a new portable computer based on the Game Boy.

15. Hmm, going by past logic displayed by Capcom, I guess this means no more Dead Rising or Lost Planet games.

    Because Japan is all that matters, right?

16. Even with a price hike, I ought to see about trying GameFly.

    Except that I sort of like owning games I like. Hmm. Guess it’d beat renting from Blockbuster, anyway. On the other hand, I should see if GameFly even bothers with Canada…

17. Good times ahead for Virtual Console, as it seems that Sonic 2 and F-Zero X are on the way.

    Never got to play the latter, I hope it’s more fun than the GameCube iteration.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

One year ago today would’ve seemed like a bad day to post. Think on that.

As it is, I’m running horribly behind after getting caught up in a thread showing appreciation for Super Mario Sunshine, a game I hate to love and love to hate.

And to cap it all off, I have a headache and we’re out of aspirin. Just lovely.

1. Holy crap, a load of TransFormers news. Guess they were making up for a slow weekend…

   A review of TransFormers: The Movie (the other one) -Ultimate Edition DVD, a Region 2 release. I haven’t read it, because I hate to think about what I could be missing.

   New images of Cyber-Stomper Bumblebee from the Movie line, as well as word that one of the toys besides the voice-changer helmet has a Peter Cullen variant; Reprolabels is running an awesome contest to design a new faction symbol, enabling you to win both Masterpiece Megatron and Masterpiece Convoy (Optimus), WITH the trailer; bios and more contribute to an update of the official movie page; speaking of Masterpiece Megatron, Justitoys has an update about the stock and silencer accessories they are making for the Emperor of Destruction.

   More fun for those in the UK, as Titan Magazines is looking for fan submissions of art and questions for their comics.

   In other news: a new trailer has surfaced for TransMorphers: The Movie.

   TFKenkon has a new gallery for Swindle from the Movie line; IDW has new previews for TransFormers: Devastation and Spotlight: Galvatron; the official game now has a MySpace site; The Movie has more contests going; and yet more merchandise is on the way.

   Whew!

2. Smash Bros. Dojo updates with a look at the little miracle item/bringer of chaos, the Pok? Ball.

   As a bonus, they also include a look at one of the new Pocket Monsters to be found in this game…

   And just added is a bit about recovery.

3. THE PAC IS BACK!

   A damn shame it seems to be limited only to XBox 360 Arcade, though. I love the combination of the simplicity of the original with some more modernized effects and other new touches. Kotaku has some video right here.

   The first to play it were the 10 competitors from the Microsoft World Tournament, including the winner of this neat custom console.

   It seems like a fitting going-away present from Pac-Man’s creator, Toru Iwatani, who will retire with the release of this game. A fond farewell salute to you, sir.

   All in all, this is good. Especially for Peter Moore, who I think is sick of all this Pac-Man commotion.

4. A movie about Donkey Kong? Who’d have thunk?

   What’s more, it probably won’t suck. At least not in the Uwe Boll sense.

5. Argh, make up your minds, Sony!
6. iPhone, meet PSPhone?
7. EA seeks to take a different path from some other developers in regards to Wii development.

   And I still say make a Burnout for Wii.

8. As Shinkuu pointed out yesterday, a bit of gun-jumping has been done over Resident Evil 4 for the Wii, as the original had the same cuts made in Japan.

   Oopsie. But at least we can breath easier now.

9. Meanwhile, as regards Resident Evil 5…
10. Sony says something nice about Nintendo?

    Gasp indeed. Seriously, tho, I prefer it when companies are more respectful to each other, even if it lacks that “Ooooooh, snap!” kind of impact other comments may leave.

11. Wow, Nintendo of Europe is playing hardball with their memberships now, aren’t they?
12. “lolz, Microsoft steals from Nintendo”, or something.

    This is curious. What has me most curious, however, is the cost of something like this. Nintendo’s is simpler, yes, but they traditionally attempt to use cheaper, pre-existing technology in new ways. But is that like something someone like Bill Gates would have in mind?

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

Fun day, sort of. Wife and I went over to her brother‘s place (if you dig snowboarding, be sure to check out his blog there) for the evening, got to play a little PS2 Contra, given he’s the only person I know nearby who has one. Sadly, he didn’t take to it, so I still lack a partner.

Also, he’s getting married in July, and thought I can’t get him a Wii as I’d like, I did offer up a fun substitute: The Wendy’s Wii remote/Mario shell-riding toy.

1. Just saw on TV: looks like Quizno’s is now offering flatbread pizzas. $3.99 Canadian. Not bad, looks tasty. Now I just need to find one that isn’t closed.
2. Ian Flynn, aka The Amazing Potto-man, has enlightened us Sonic-loving masses with a peek at Sonic the Hedgehog Archives Volume 6, which collects the classic stories of issues #21-24, including the debut of a certain artist you might have heard of named Patrick Spaziante.
3. TransFormers!

   The Movie toys are on sale at Target, and some of the toys from the line are now reviewed from the Phillipines. In addition, BWTF.com has a review of Brawl, and the Japanese Deluxe Bumblebee has a TFKenkon gallery by the one-and-only Remy.

   But the big news came from Sunday’s MTV Movie Awards show, when there were many new scenes of the movie shown off, and are now available online, including Optimus chatting with Sarah Silverman in a really bad skit, saved by the benefit of hearing Peter Cullen voice Optimus again, as well as more of his transformation as Prime.

   And speaking of Prime, GameTrailers has a behind-the-scenes video of the Autobot Supreme Commander (and the man who voices him) from the upcoming game.

   For fans of Beast Wars, Furman teases a little about the upcoming mini-series and profiles to come from IDW.

4. Smash Bros. Dojo has updated with a piece of music, a remix of the ending theme from the N64 title Yoshi’s Story.
5. Four new Virtual Console games, including Milon’s Secret Castle for the NES, Toejam & Earl: Panic on Funkotron for the Genesis, Dead Moon from the TurboGrafx-16, and the 100th Virtual Console title, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.

   Naturally, 1up has the roundup.

6. What.

   The.

   Hell.

   Yeah, I hope not in the US one as well. Seriously, what in the hell?

7. WHAT THE HELL?!?
8. Moving on.

   A tabletop game of Halo? Cool.

9. Looks like the Paramount/Hasbro deal for a GI Joe movie has recently expired, been renewed.
10. An interesting tidbit about Ninja Gaiden Sigma: Play the demo, get more stuff in the release.

    An interesting idea.

11. Gee, couldn’t figure that out a little quicker, Sony?
12. Still need a DS Lite?

    Get one at Circuit City and get a free $20 game with it.

13. Sony BluRay players now for the same price as 20GB PS3s, except they don’t sell the latter any more.

    Is this irony?

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

1. Coming this fall, some new Ninja Turtle figures.

   Looks like we get a movie-esque Shredder figure here, some demons, and some weird design cues. Sai-chucks and machineguns on Raph? Weird.

2. Not much for TransFormers today, just a new video preview of the game over at GameTrailers.
3. Nintendo’s Virtual Console will reach its 100th title on Monday, and that title will be none other than the legendary Adventure of Link.

   20 years late, Chris Kohler has his first impressions.

4. You’d think Sony would learn.

   If this goes anything like the Immersion suit, then they could be in BIG trouble…

5. Uh-oh.

   Guess who’s directing Spy Hunter?

   Here’s a hint: Evil is his residence, and he likes his Kombat to be mortal.

   On the bright side, he did direct the first Mortal Kombat and not the second, and it turned out to be pretty good, and was tied to Midway, so maybe there’s hope…?

6. Speaking of Mortal Kombat, Armageddon is out for the Wii, and thankfully it seems to be doing ok.

   And to coincide with the release, Midway has released a list of all the Fatalities.

7. So, it seems that Gabe and Tycho over at Penny Arcade actually wanted Jack Thompson to appear at PAX, but the deal didn’t work out.

   I have to admit, that would have been a sight to see. And really, PA’s stance on it would have been better for JT, as there would probably have been fewer pre-planned attempts on his life if it were a surprise.

   Of course, that wouldn’t stop the rioting…

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

1. So, how about those TransFormers, huh?

   K-Mart is supposed to be getting an exclusive “Bumblebee Unleashed” figure, but so far the only thing that seems very exclusive about it is that it comes with a copy of one of the prequel comics.

   And the name still makes me laugh inside.

   Sharper Image has a neat item in Beatmix Bumblebee, a version of the Autobot who reacts to a plugged-in music device with lights, sounds, dancing, and flapping. For sixty bucks, that’s pretty nift.

   Masterpiece Starscream was a rather controversial item when it came out.

   For starters, it was Japan-only. And then, his color scheme did absolutely nothing to reflect the character fans knew and loved.

   But now, both issues have been rectified, as Hasbro seems to be bringing a cartoon color schemed version to the US. Thought you dodged the bullet on another expensive figure? “Pathetic fools, there is no escape!”

   More new Movie figures have been spotted, including an Autobot version of the video game concept, and new figures from the actual game.

   And finally, it looks like Bay’s war has been won: TransFormers: The Movie will be out on July 3rd!

   Now you can actually plan to spend Independence Day with your family! How about that?

2. Build-A-Bear workshops in the US, UK, and Canada have a neat deal going for the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation.

   The gist of it is, you go in and build a Winnie the Pooh bear, and when you do, you get to make a second one at no charge to be donated to a child at the local children’s hospital.

   No doubt the joy one must feel from performing such a deed is beary satisfying.

3. SDCC and Wizard World have another slick exclusive for fans of Justice League Unlimited: a three-pack featuring The Ray, an unmasked Shayera Hol (Hawkgirl) as she appeared in the later seasons, and her beau John Stewart. No, not the anchor from The Daily Show, but the Green Lantern.

   If you collect the figures, this is a can’t-miss set.

4. Well, damn.

   Rockman Perfect Memories reports that UDON’s Mega Man Zero Official Complete Works guidebook has been delayed.

   On the bright side, it’s also been discounted, so it’s not a total loss.

5. Smash Bros. Dojo has updated once again, revealing the latest location at which players will be able to Brawl to their heart’s content: Delfino Plaza, the hub-world from the GameCube’s Super Mario Sunshine, a beautiful but somewhat-disappointing work from early in the system’s life.

   Fortunately, the reasons I’m not so big on Sunshine will likely have no impact here, so I’m all for it. It appears interesting enough, with a platform that “tours” the scenic destination, taking you to different parts of the city to continue your battle.

6. I remember when Street Fighter II first came out, it’s like it was just the greatest looking thing, ever.

   Now, thanks to UDON, it looks like history may be repeating itself, as Capcom is eager to show.

7. IGN has gotten ahold of a picture of the Mach 5, the hot racing car used by Speed Racer in the upcoming film of the same title, written and directed by the Wachowski Brothers of The Matrix fame.
8. Looks like the Teen Titans are going Hollywood, but probably not going to reflect the animated series so much.
9. Dead Rising has some new features available on XBox Live, but from the looks of things, easy-playing on a standard definition TV still isn’t one of them.
10. Apologies all around!

    First it was Ubisoft yesterday, and today Activision continues.

    Is anyone else hoping we hear from SEGA or maybe Capcom next?

11. A LEGO MMO?

    Intriguing…

12. That didn’t take long.

    If you’re in NY and sell a mature game to a minor, it’s a felony.

    I hope that to complement this, stores will allow their employees to tell unruly customers to go screw themselves when they get all uppity because Little Johnny can’t walk out of the store with Manhunt 2.

    Though it does seem a little unfair to retailers specifically. What about people who buy these titles and give them to minors? There are laws against it for alcohol and porn and such, and if they’re going to make it a bloody felony with four years of jail time, I’m not sure it’s fair for them to turn the other cheek with games.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

1. Just found out over on the BumbleKing Comics forum that the Sonic the Hedgehog “SatAM” DVD set, released a month to the day after Captain N, has outsold the Game Master by three times as many sets.

   Impressive, but how does it compare to The Super Mario Bros. Super Show or The Legend of Zelda, I wonder?

   Probably better. Those SatAM fans are a diehard bunch. Still doesn’t stop me from wanting to get the whole lot, however. And when is The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3 supposed to be out again? Is it out already?

   This is one of those times I hate being in Canada.

2. The Incredible Changebots!

   *record scratches*

   Yep, that’s right. The Incredible Changebots are coming, and nothin’s gonna stand in their way… not tonight!

   Registered guests at BotCon have a treat in store when they check in this year, as they will be getting Dave & Buster’s VIP Power Cards to use during their stay.

   We have one in Toronto, and it looks like a neat place, and fits the “Chuck E. Cheese for adults” moniker quite nicely; in fact, between my last visits to the two places, I’d say that D&B is more like Chuck E. Cheese than they are. They certainly had more games, to be sure, and some nice dining and other stuff going on.

   I tried to get work there a few times, guess I’m not good enough. I’d still love to have a real visit there, though.

   Also incredible, but not quite as edible is a custom Hearts of Steel Optimus Prime figure that surfaced on eBay. All I can say is that this piece is hot like a piece of coal, and it’s a shame that this isn’t coming from Hasbro. Step aside, Astrotrain!

   And yet another SDCC exclusive is going to be a rather nice War Within Grimlock bust, limited to a paltry 600 badass pieces.

   Over at BWTF.com, Ben reviews yet more figures that should be available any day now, including Wreckage and Swindle, two characters exclusive to the game. Speaking of games, maybe they are bad for you after all, as Power Up VT6 would like to prove. The Movie’s Starscream and Cyber Slammers Barricade get their due, and the Classics Predator Attack Minicons are on the prowl as well.

   No, not on the Prowl, just… eh, forget it.

3. Smash Bros. Dojo updates, revealing… The Cracker Launcher!

   Oh yeah. You read that right.

   Fourth of July matches will never be the same again.

4. I thought Metal Gear was one of those series that’s bigger in the west, despite being created in the east.

   So why, then, would Konami celebrate the 20th anniversary of the franchise with special re-releases in Japan, and not here?

   Mystery for the ages.

5. August 7th, The Tick season 2 comes to DVD!

   Beware, you nefarious naughty-men! The Tick is on the way!

6. Folks at the Star Wars Celebration IV convention this past weekend got an awesome special treat: A sneak-peek at this fall’s season premiere of Family Guy, in which Peter tells the story of the original film from his POV.

   Sweet. I can’t wait to see this one.

7. So a NY game bill wants to criminalize the sale of Mature-rated games to minors.

   I say, fine. As long as they’re still available. Though this may be a bit extreme…

8. This is admirable.

   It takes a big man, or perhaps in this case, a big company to admit that they’ve rushed out some shoddy software to capitalize on popularity in the market, and that’s just what Ubisoft has done.

   They now resolve to improve their efforts, and hopefully Red Steel 2 will surpass the first.

9. Well, crap. The Mii-linked Friend Codes item the other day isn’t true.
10. So Capcom is re-releasing the PSP title Ultimate Ghosts ‘n Goblins.

    And guess what?

    They’re jacking up the difficulty.

    Tell me that doesn’t sound like pain in a box.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”

1. !sremroFsnarT

   Nickelodeon has new movie ads, available online now. Some news comes about the film’s orchestrated soundtrack, as well as a new Lunchables ad.

   Many sales are going on, and Classics Soundwave has hit Toys R Us in Canada, and the War Within Megatron vs. Optimus Prime Titanium 2-pack is on the way, too.

   And finally… bikes.

2. Smash Bros. Dojo provided a late update last night, this time looking at the much-hyped Final Smash attack item, and Mario’s own “Mario Finale.”

   But we still don’t know just how it’s performed.

   On a related note, I really hope that the game will have backgrounds that can be destroyed by sending characters through them, unlike Melee, where it was more a matter of attacking them with little real effect.

   And just now, Sakurai has updated the site to include some discussion about the use of “shooting items” like the returning Super Scope, which now allow you to run and jump as you shoot!

3. So, a gentleman from the Bank of America thinks that a $100 price cut on the PS3 would be too little, too late.

   What do you think? If the PS3 dropped a Benjamin, would it become more enticing to you, 360 or no?

4. “Super Hi-Vision Renders HDTV Meaningless”

   Oh, that so deserves a stabbing. I’m not even in HD yet, and they’re already trying to kill it?

5. If you’re still without a DS Lite, and importing holds some measure of appeal to you, then it may interest you to know that Japan’s getting two new metallic colors.

   Not your bag? How about Australia’s ice blue?

   Or do we have that here? I haven’t really looked at much other than white, black, and pink, the latter only because it shared headlines with black.

6. A Death Note DS sequel this July?

   Crap, and we don’t even have the first ones here…

7. Just in case you haven’t heard, Mario Party 8 shipped yesterday.

   And they even have an ad.

8. Five dollar UMDs at GameStop?

   I wonder if EB Canada is doing this as well…

9. “They call me… Justice. Apollo Justice…

   …er, maybe. I’m not quite sure yet, myself. But it sounds neat, right?”

10. We need more people like this.

    Memo to Cracker Jack: EAT IT.

11. And finally, it looks like Marvel’s Halo mini-series has pulled a TransFormers and graduated to ongoing.

–LBD “Nytetrayn”