With "Mario Kart Wii" and "GTA IV" officially in stores, its reasonable for gamers to ask one simple question... What's next? There has been a huge lead up to this week, in terms of game releases, but now that it has come, it's fair to look ahead. "Wii Fit" is the next big title on the horizon, but that may not satisfy the needs of the hardcore masses. Even if "Wii Fit" is the "next" game, what's after that? "Metal Gear Solid 4" and "Ninja Gaiden" in June. And then? The dry season appears is soon. I guess it is a really good thing that "GTA IV" is going to take so long.
Stephen's Pick:
Superman Vs. That Kid From "Kingdom Hearts": A fan-fiction website called The Any Character in The World Battles details not just the clash between Sora and Superman, but fights between Sora and Spider-Man, Sora and Robin and Sora and Eragon (Goofy provides commentary in only some of these). The "Kingdom Hearts" kid loses a lot.
Jason's Pick:
STARCADE Complete Episodes: Apparently STARCADE was one of the first video game game shows. While I never actually saw this show air, I've found that I enjoy any game show centering around video games. (Read: I spent my entire weekend watching dudes with bad hair play really old arcade games.)
Patrick's Pick:
Halotography: Incredible photos. Me? I'm just happy when it's in focus.
Tracey's Pick:
Niko Munny from Grand Theft Auto IV by Scave: More video game-inspired vinyl toys, please. Out of all the custom toys I've seen, this Niko Munny is one of the best.
* R.T.F.A. stands for “Read The Full Article.”
The countdown is almost over. In less than 24 hours many of you will be calling in to work, and skipping classes to finally play "Grand Theft Auto IV," the game that has been advertised for months and anticipated for years is finally here. If the reviews are an indicator of how amazing this game is, it appears that it could become this generation's greatest game. The potential is there, but will Niko's adventure in Liberty City really live up to all the hype that has been generated? Let us know what you think, while you check out today's links:
Jason's Pick:
11 Signs You're No Longer A Hardcore Gamer: It's a scary list for anyone over the age of 25.
Stephen's Pick:
Red Army Vs. Aliens From The Red Planet: Read all about a game they just had to call "Stalin Vs. Martians." (Via Joystiq)
Patrick's Pick:
London's Game Camp: Sounds a bit like Penny Arcade's Expo, no? I really need to attend that this year, I think.
* R.T.F.A. stands for “Read The Full Article.”
The "Metal Gear Solid" Kubricks weren't the only toys I picked up at the New York Comic Con. I also bought the seemingly old Link that you can see in the picture. This one's even animated - if you wind him up, he walks. Since this weekend, I haven't been able to find another one anywhere on the internet to compare it to, and I was hoping some of our wonderful readers might be able to help provide me some insight into this toy. Have you ever seen it? Did you ever have one? Please let me know, and check out today's "links" (get it?):
Jason's Pick:
The 10 Most Underrated Consoles: By now it should be pretty clear that I'm "that guy" that loves lists, so here's another one. They left off the Colecovision (for which one of my cats is named) but otherwise it's a pretty solid list.
Stephen's Pick:
"If the consolidation wave sweeping through the videogame industry continues at its current pace, there will come a day that the industry finds itself dealing with antitrust issues": A former federal government merger lawyer does an anti-Pachter and breaks down all the ways he sees the proposed EA/Take-Two running into trouble in Washington.
Patrick's Pick:
Space Invaders In My Coffee: I may as well go ahead and order this now, because my girlfriend will force me to, anyway.
* R.T.F.A. stands for “Read The Full Article.”
This past weekend at the New York Comic Con I didn't spend that much money, surprisingly. Some of the items I absolutely couldn't resist were the "Metal Gear Solid" 20th Anniversary Kubrick figures. They're tiny little blocky figures, celebrating 20 years of Snake's awesomeness and they were on sale at a local NYC toy importer's booth (Toy Tokyo). They're sold in a blind assortment (meaning you don't know which one from the series you are actually purchasing) for $8.99, and after examining the box, I decided I would have been happy with any of them. However, upon opening the box I realized I didn't have any of those figures, but a rare, 1:48, clear Solid Snake in Stealth Camouflage chase figure.
As awesome as I thought this was, I really wanted one from the regular line, so I went back again when I returned to the Convention, and picked up another one. When I opened this box, I found the exact same figure - as is the risk of a blind assortment. They had me hooked, and I went back again, finally getting a Raiden Kubrick. I'm still trying to figure out how I managed to pull two chase figures. Think about that while you check out today's links:
Patrick's Pick:
Robots Love Guitar Hero, Too: Maybe if someone made this for "Rock Band," I could finally pass Green Grass and High Tides.
Jason's Pick:
"Metal Gear Solid" Pizza Box Ebay Auction: Can't wait for "MGS4," then pick up this special collector's edition Pizza Box. Sometimes I like to wonder why things like this exist. Apperently I'm on a "Metal Gear" kick. [Via Gamesniped]
Stephen's Pick:
What NeoGAF Means To Gaming People: How to win at games and influence people, courtesy of ace 1Up writer Robert Ashley.
* R.T.F.A. stands for “Read The Full Article.”
A key fixture of 1980's sitcoms, ALF was an alien from the planet Melmack who's spaceship crash-landed in the Tanner family's garage. They subsequently took him in, and in return he tried to eat their cat. If you don't know what I'm talking about, then you're too young to appreciate that there were actually ALF video games. I uncovered a total of four ALF games while I was poking around over at Moby Games, and it's now become my mission to procure them all. While I do that, you can check out today's choice links:
Jason's Pick:
The 10 Best Nintendo Games No One Played: I love NES games if you can't tell by now, and this is a great list of games that most fans of the system most likely overlooked. Find out about the system's most neglected titles, like "Little Sampson" and "Clash at Demonhead."
Stephen's Pick:
"The evil we pretend to do": I follow humbly in Raph Koster's footsteps. More than two years before my suggestion this week that we freely discuss what the actions of the game characters we play means (in "Resident Evil," "Grand Theft Auto" and "Viva Pinata"), Koster was calling for the same thing.
Patrick's Pick:
Review of "Target: Terror:" Quote: "Target: Terror is one of those games that's so bad, it's almost...almost better than bad." And by that, the collective media is to assume you mean...better than bad = awesome? Agreed!
* R.T.F.A. stands for “Read The Full Article.”
I really hope all of you bought "River City Ransom" yesterday on the Wii's Virtual Console. A true classic, it easily sits in my top five NES games of all time. It's the first action RPG that I can really remember playing. It may not be "Mass Effect," but it is a really great addition to the VC library. Go download it, after you've checked out today's links:
Stephen's Pick:
Wii Software Sales Slump? Either the New York Times is on to something, or the dramatic sales drop-off the paper is reporting for the once red-hot "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" is gaming business as usual. I'm not sure either interpretation is a good thing.
Patrick's Pick:
Game Boy + Ugly Boots: As nerdy as my girlfriend can be sometimes, even she doesn't want these.
Jason's Pick:
Top Bloggers Name Top 10 Games for $10: The Sarcastic Gamer offers advice from some of gaming's most well known bloggers to help you save a few dollars on your gaming purchases.
* R.T.F.A. stands for “Read The Full Article.”
After a weekend of video games and comic books (two of our most favorite things), it's time to head back to the office and just focus on video games. We're off to attend to another Monday. On the plus side there's only six days until "Mario Kart Wii" is released. If you're wondering how we'll we pass the time? The answer is two words: "Target: Terror." Think about that while you check out today's Multiplayer assorted links:
Jason's Pick
gamedevmap: If you've ever wondered where your favorite games have come from, and I mean geographically, then this map is for you. Also handy for trying to get a job at your local game developer.
Stephen's Pick
Dan Houser Himself: In a rare interview, one of the chief architects of the "Grand Theft Auto" series tells Variety's Ben Fritz why "GTA IV" takes place in Liberty City, why they don't do difficulty levels and just how important "Space Station Silicon Valley" is in the history of video games.
Tracey's Pick
"Gears of War" and "Prototype" Comics: I've still got Comic Con on the brain. These two video game comics were announced late last week and will be published by DC. (I hope the "Gears" comic has a story arc explaining Cole Train's origins. )
Patrick's Pick
Iron Man Confirmed To Appear In New Hulk Movie: I wonder if "Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe" will kick off a new series of franchise cross-overs. Can publishers get over their IP concerns to give the fans a fun thrill ride?
* R.T.F.A. stands for “Read The Full Article.”
It's been a long week's worth of anticipation, but Friday has finally arrived -- it's the opening day of the third annual New York Comic-Con. Three days of superheroes, games and the geeks that love them. Just as proof that the Multiplayer staff appreciates a good graphic novel, there is a standing debate going on as to who is better: Alan Moore or Grant Morrison? While we are checking out the convention you should totally enjoy today's set of links:
Jason's Pick:
The History of Panzer Dragoon: Gamasutra takes a comprehensive look back at the best dragon-based video game franchises.
Tracey's Pick:
Face Time: Lawrence Kutner and Cheryl Olson: On X-Play, two Ph.Ds (the authors of Grand Theft Childhood) explain that kids who don't play violent video games are more at risk to commit violence. [via Kotaku]
Stephen's Pick:
Batman Vs. Sub Zero?: It's not much to read. But look at the apparent tease of a Mortal Kombat Vs. DC game. This MK site says it's real.
Patrick's Pick:
From Wii Fit to Wii Strip: Well, that didn't take long.
* R.T.F.A. stands for "Read The Full Article."
Personal confessional time: I can't stop playing "Call of Duty 4" multiplayer. I have stacks of games just waiting to be played, yet I keep finding myself in a lobby for just one more round of Dominiation before I get to bed. I just can't stop. I just can't stop. They say the first step to curing an addiction is admiting that you have one. I feel a little bit better now that I got that off my chest. And now for some wonderful links:
Jason's Pick:
Sonic's 2D Classics Re-Reviewed: I miss the old 2D Sonic. The poor guy hasn't aged well, and Gamesradar really proves that by going back and re-reviewing 10 of Sonic's classic titles.
Patrick's Pick:
Nintendo Ships SNES Controllers For Wii: Doesn't Nintendo of America realize gamers would pay a premium for these kinds of goodies?
Stephen's Pick:
The EA-TakeTwo Merger Drama In-Depth: Leigh Alexander makes her Kotaku debut with a comprehensive report on the past, present and future of EA's attempt to buy Take Two. Great start, Leigh!
Tracey's Pick:
2008 is the year of gaming: It seems like people could proclaim this year after year, but with "GTA IV" expected to make $400 million in its first week alone, this year is definitely going to be big.
* R.T.F.A. stands for “Read The Full Article.”
With "Wii Fit"'s release date finally announced for May 19th, I can finally begin counting down the days until I start shedding the pounds. It's kind of like New Years, except I have no plans of going on a diet. Imagine if the wonderful folks at Valve put out a version of "Portal" for the Wii Balance Board where the goal was to make it all the way to the cake, but this time, the cake wouldn't actually be a lie. A gamer can dream can't he?
And now for today's round of links:
Stephen's Pick:
Tresling: Someone combines "Tetris" and Arm-Wrestling and I think they are joking. But with video proof, maybe they're not?
Jason's Pick:
The Retro Gaming Store Map!: If you've ever had trouble finding a copy of "E.V.O.: The Search For Eden" this Google map might help. It'll point you in the direction of your closest retro video game store. [Via Destructoid]
Patrick's Pick:
Clive Barker's "Midnight Meat Train" Getting Theatrical Release: Even though "Jericho" wasn't a particularly good game, Clive Barker is a fascinating horror author with a vivid (and disturbing) imagination. The latest adaptation of a Barker story comes out this year.
Tracey's Pick:
Wiimorse: While Cip is excited for "Wii Fit," The Escapist's Adam LaMosca admits to having a case of buyer's remorse as his Wii collects dust.
