I wasn’t sure if I should file this one under Peripheral Crazy or WTF Wednesday… but ultimately the WTF won out. There are plenty of… “creative” peripherals out in the gaming world these days, and it’s no surprise that arcade games are feeling the effects too. After all, wasn’t it the arcade machine that gave us fake guns to shoot things with in the first place? Well, a new peripheral has made its way to arcade games in Japan: a table.

The point of the game seems to be to disrupt people having dinner in a restaurant… by hitting a table peripheral that stands in front of the game. No, seriously. I have a video to prove it. More »

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Here’s something you might not know about me: I love British humor. From the famous “Monty Python‘, to the more obscure ‘Quite Intelligent‘ and ‘Are You Being Served?‘ These shows get me chucking like no American show can.

But I know I’m not the only one who will enjoy Charlie Brooker’s GamesWipe. More »

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Ever since Zelda came out, it has been churning out game after game that followed the same formula (with one exception). Dungeons, Master Swords, Heart Containers, Fairies, bombs, boomerangs… all these are things we’ve come to expect from Zelda. Sure, the graphics, style, and story are different every time, but the game mechanics are generally the same. Zelda 2 is the only game that tried something different, throwing Link into a Mario-like side scrolling platformer… and nobody liked that game. More »

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I haven’t heard a single positive thing about the new 3D technology that is about to hit the world. It’s being introduced too soon after HD, it’s expensive and bulky (requiring 3D glasses), and nobody wants it. But still it seems the unwanted revolution is pushing forward. More »

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When my husband noticed me playing Cubor on Ningin the other day, he suggested that I get Cuboid from PSN. I was loving Cubor, so I figured, hey why not? So I bought Cuboid for a measly $10, played a few levels, and augh! My brain! More »

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It’s just past midnight on April 1st, and already the April Fool’s jokes are pouring in.

ThinkGeek introduces the iPad Arcade Cabinet - a retro style arcade cabinet that you can insert your iPad into. It comes with a joystick and two buttons (that really work!). Play hundreds of classic arcade titles on your retro new iPad! ThinkGeek promises to have it out in time for the iPad’s release. More »

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Ladies, have you ever wondered what it’s like to urinate like a man? Guys, do you treat going to the bathroom like a game? Then Super Pii Pii Brothers is a game that’s just for you! …and probably no one else. More »

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Demos don’t do a game justice. They don’t accurately portray the experience of playing a certain game!

Or so thinks Sony. This was the reasoning behind their recently patented idea, as reported in Shack News: instead of releasing a demo that only showcases part of a game, make the entire game available to the player for free. The catch is that over time, the game will begin to “erode.” More »

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What makes Patapon, Loco Roco and Flow so addictive? Why did Flower win best Indie game in this year’s VGA? They are all such simple games - that’s why. More »

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After reading the first part of this you might come to the conclusion that Final Fantasy VII specifically is a soap opera. So to prove that it’s the entire series, part 2 will not mention FF7 at all.

As before, beware of spoilers below. More »

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How many times have you stared in awe at a weapon in a video game? How many times have you thought “Man, it would be awesome if I actually had that”? Well… you can. There are a number of reproductions of awesome weapons from video games that you can buy and own. Although the only reason you would want them is to hang them up and show them off to your buddies (Wirebot does not condone the use of fantasy weapons against real people. Don’t do it.), that’s reason enough to shell out over $100. Isn’t it? More »

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I have a confession to make: I have never beaten a single Final Fantasy game. For years I’ve been making excuses to justify my inability to get through a FF game. I rarely finish video games (which is true). I get distracted by side quests (and card games!) and eventually lose track of the main storyline (which is also true). I get downright lost (which is only true for the earlier games, you know, where you would go into fog-filled caves and you couldn’t see where you were and had to navigate a maze without being able to see your character or pretty much anything else? Yeah. That). More »

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A couple of days ago, the mind behind Fable, Peter Molyneux, spoke about “The Emotion Engine: Can a Video Game Speak to the Heart?” My first thought was, of course, Heavy Rain. But Molyneux focused on games in general. So many are about wars and weapons… what if we made games more about love?

At which point he mentioned an idea that’s really stuck with me: What would happen if a character could fall in love with a player? More »

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3D is the latest craze. Movies, TVs… everything is in 3D lately. Including the Nintendo DSi. Out on March 3rd, Rittai Kakushi e Attakoreda (Hidden 3D Image: There It Is!) is a game that uses the DSi’s camera to determine the player’s position… and changes the scene accordingly. By moving your head or tilting the DS, you are given a different view of the scene in front of you. The effect feels like you’re looking into your DS. According to Boing Boing, the game will only be available for download in Japan, but maybe more games will follow will let the rest of the world get in on the fun.

Video after the jump. More »

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I didn’t mean to. I really didn’t. I liked Jayden. And when that man ran off I knew it was a bad idea to follow him. But of course, I made Jayden run after him. And when we ended up in a meat locker and the man swung a crowbar at Jayden… well, I didn’t react fast enough. I won’t be getting that silver trophy for finishing Heavy Rain with all four characters alive. Poor Jayden was beaten to death because I was not quick enough to save him. More »

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Dante’s Inferno created such an uproar from everyone before it was released. Some were outraged at the controversial content and way in which it was advertised. Others were excited by the prospect of such an epic game, which drew inspiration from an equally epic book. Still others couldn’t wait to get through all the different levels and sins of the underworld.

Unfortunately, the game is all talk, and does not live up to expectations. More »

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After I wrote my initial reactions to Heavy Rain, I sat down to play some more of this amazing game. It was past midnight, everyone else was sleeping… it was just me and the game. And I learned one thing for sure - and that is that nothing should be taken at face value in this game. Nothing.

Every time, just when I thought I had something figured out, it got completely turned around. Something as simple, even, as whether what I’m seeing is actually real. More »

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The Nintendo Wii has gone where few consoles have gone before - to the living rooms of many families. It has become a part of family entertainment, right up there with Monopoly and Scrabble. It has infiltrated society and made gaming - to an extent - not evil. All this, of course, means that gaming is becoming a part of everyday life… in more than one way.

Like this advertisement for the Wii, that I found on my bananas this morning. More »

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My experience with Heavy Rain started even before I got the game. When I stepped outside on the day of its release, it was raining. It couldn’t have been a more perfect day for it. I had high expectations from the demo and all the hype the film-like game has been getting… and they were definitely met.

The game actually begins on a beautiful day. The skies are clear, and there’s no sign of rain. You, as the character Ethan Mars, wake up, brush your teeth, get dressed… a glimpse into the life of the character, but also a tutorial on how the game and buttons work. It’s Ethan’s son’s birthday and the day is going wonderfully. Your character has two kids, a beautiful and loving wife. Everything is perfect.

Too perfect. More »

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What’s better than a good book? A god book which literally puts you in the shoes of the main character. Remember the old Lucas Arts games? The Grim Fandango, Loom, Monkey Island - all of those are such classic titles in a genre that I personally love. The newest addition to this genre is none other than Heavy Rain. Yes, I am listing Heavy Rain in the same category as Monkey Island. More »

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