Nokia just unveiled its first two Windows Phone products — the Lumia 710 and the Lumia 800. The former features an all-new design, while the latter resembles the MeeGo-powered Nokia N9. Thoughts and specs on these phones are coming shortly. For now, gobble up these images of the Nokia Lumia 800 and Lumia 710.
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Do you prefer the term “video game” or “videogame”? Game journalists, writers, developers, publishers, and verbal entertainers argue about this issue all the time. It seems like a silly semantics war — and it mostly is — but I’ve heard people debate…
Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, awesome infographics, switching to a new mobile carrier, or waiting until 11AM hits so you can download new comics, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
Do you prefer the term “video game” or “videogame”? Game journalists, writers, developers, publishers, and verbal entertainers argue about this issue all the time. It seems like a silly semantics war — and it mostly is — but I’ve heard people debate this matter for hours. I’d love to get your take on it!
Some people feel that it should be “video game” similar to how the term “PC game” is used. Others feel that “videogame” has grown into its own unique term and champion its use as a single world. Most dictionaries and search engines favor “video game”. What say you?
As for me, I like the word “videogame”, but I don’t defend it with the fervor that some of my colleagues do. To me it just reflects what the medium has become. I’m sure part of it has to do with my hate of search engine optimization (SEO has tarnished Internet writing for an entire generation…at least), but it’s mostly just a nebulous personal preference. I just like one term better than the other.
And you? Do you prefer “video game” or “videogame”?
Are you a fan of the Harry Potter movies? Well you better snatch them up while you can, because it looks like they’re going to be hard to find in 2012 (in disc format, anyway). According to Deadline Hollywood, Warner Bros. will stop shipping the Harry Potter movies on December 29, 2011. Check it out:
Harry Potter, the #1 motion picture franchise of all time, will soon disappear from shelves, as Warner Bros. stops shipping all Harry Potter theatrical film titles (including Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — Part 2, and Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection) as of December 29, 2011 (moratorium does not include digital — Electronic Sell-Through & VOD — or games).
This reminds me of the crap Disney used to pull in the VHS days when it would sell movies for a limited time and keep them off of store shelves for years. Artificially creating rarity in the days of tapes worked. In the digital age…not so much. I really don’t get this move. It seems like Warners is leaving money on the table and pushing people towards piracy. Perhaps the company wants to emphasize digital sales, but there are still lots of people that want movies on discs, particularly consumers that want the highest quality picture and sound. I’m sure there are some customers that will be all, “Eff you Warners. No Harry Potter on Blu-ray? Imma download the sumbitch!”
Perhaps I’m missing something here, but does this move make any sense to you at all? I don’t get it. Help me understand why Warners is pulling Harry Potter movies on December 29 (please!). Also this:
Rockstar Games’ web site is currently taken over by a large graphics that officially announced Grand Theft Auto V. Being the useful sort, Rockstar also let its fans know that a trailer is coming on November 2, 2011 and that the Roman numeral “V” stands for the number five. Thanks for that. This whole time I thought the movie was called Rocky “Vee”.
Anyway, are you psyched for the announcement and trailer? What do you expect? Leave your Grand Theft Auto V thoughts in the comments section (please!).
There has been buzz of Sony Pictures working with Ubisoft on an Assassin’s Creed movie. If Sony’s domain name registration activity is any indication then it looks like the movie is a done deal. On October 20, 2011, the company registered more than 15 URLs related to an Assassin’s Creed movie. Check out the list Fusible unearthed:
assassins-creed-movie.com
assassins-creed.net
assassins-creedmovie.com
assassinscreed-film.com
assassinscreed-film.net
assassinscreed-movie.com
assassinscreed-movie.net
assassinscreed-thefilm.com
assassinscreed-thefilm.net
assassinscreed-themovie.com
assassinscreed-themovie.net
assassinscreedfilm.com
assassinscreedfilm.net
assassinscreedthefilm.com
assassinscreedthefilm.net
assassinscreedthemovie.net
Yeah, I’d say Sony is preparing for something. It could be that the deal is done or close to be finalized as rumored. Or it could be that Sony is just being proactive. With all the money that stands to be made with an Assassin’s Creed film, I’m leaning towards the former.
What do you think? Is an Assassin’s Creed movie a few years away? What would you like to see in the flick? You think things will start with Altair or will they jump right into Ezio? Any casting ideas for an Assassin’s Creed movie?
Last night 60 Minutes ran an outstanding piece on Steve Jobs and the man’s biography by Walter Isaacson. The segment contains insights from the author, audio clips from Jobs, and more. If you were on the fence about the book then you’ll want to give these clips a watch. As a Jobs admirer, I found them completely fascinating. Check ’em out and let me know what you think (please)!
Battlefield 3 hits stores this week and millions of gamers are psyched to get their hands on this military shooter. On the other end of the spectrum, which is decidedly pink, is Kirby’s Return to Dream Land. Continuing with Nintendo’s cutesy theme is Pokémon Rumble Blast. If you’re look for action that doesn’t involve wars or pink creatures with incredible suction powers then you might want to give The House of Dead: Overkill and Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi. Lastly, if motion floats your ocean then perhaps Dance Central 2 and Kinect Sports: Season Two are for you.
Any of you picking up new games this week?
“Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie is one of my favorite songs of all time. Freddie Mercury’s vocals are brilliant. Brian May’s guitar playing is awesome. Mercury’s subtle playing on the piano and Hammond organ fill out the song perfectly. And…
Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames,Verve’s Guatemala El Pintado, Zooey Deschanel’s performance of the American national anthem, or Manchester City thrashing Manchester United, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
“Under Pressure” by Queen and David Bowie is one of my favorite songs of all time. Freddie Mercury’s vocals are brilliant. Brian May’s guitar playing is awesome. Mercury’s subtle playing on the piano and Hammond organ fill out the song perfectly. And lastly, there’s John Deacon’s unforgettable bass line…which sadly some people recognize from “Ice Ice Baby“.
It actually pains me that there’s a generation of people that know Deacon’s bass line from “Ice Ice Baby” instead of “Under Pressure”. Vanilla Ice was a crap artist and his song sucked compared to “Under Pressure”. It’s sad that the hook from his only popular song was ripped from another, superior one. I’m offended that he took an integral part of a great song and turned it into a pile of garbage. Next time I’m a hiring manager, I’m going to play Deacon’s bass line and ask the job candidate what song it’s from. Anyone that says “Ice Ice Baby” will be shown the door.
As if Vanilla Ice sampling “Under Pressure” for nefarious purposes wasn’t bad enough, there’s this crap cover version by My Chemical Romance and The Used. It…just sucks. The vocals are so weak that’s it’s like comparing a little league hitter’s power to Albert Pujol’s. (Granted there are only a handful of rock-and-roll singers with Mercury’s power and range.) The arrangement is just awful. There was absolutely no reason for this cover to be released. It’s embarrassing to Queen, David Bowie, My Chemical Romance, and The Used. Ugh.
Anyway, I wanted to hear about any song samples and covers that offend you. Kindly talk about song covers and samples you hate in today’s comments section!
Please, please, please check out this video of some of the 30+ action figures that can be used in Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventures. The action figures themselves have some cool designs and the marketing copy is hilarious. Most of the action figures have tag-lines that are so silly that you have to laugh at them.
I’ve actually started my second run of the game and the main reason I’m playing it again is because it’s fun to use the action figures to swap characters. I’m positive that the game and the toys will sell like crazy this holiday season. Well played Activision. Well played.
Walter Isaacson’s biography on Steve Jobs comes out on Monday and the Internet is already swimming with juicy quotes from people with early copies. The book, Steve Jobs, contains loads of great stories and insights, including Jobs going ballistic on Google over Android and telling President Obama that he’s headed for a one-term presidency.
As most of you know, I’m fascinated by Jobs and admire his work. I’m looking forward to reading lots of behind-the-scenes dirt and learning more about the (extremely private) man. How about you? Are you going to pick up the Steve Jobs bio? Kindly take today’s poll and let me know!
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