While I’m continuing to battle the upgrades to the RPad.tv comment system, I’d super appreciate it if you watched my video review for Dungeon Siege III. If you have extra moments, please give the review a thumbs and leave a comment. I’m sifting through the comments now and replying to as many people as I can (mostly because I miss having a comment system that works perfectly). Thanks in advance!
Author: RPadTV
https://rpad.tv
Fresh Batch of Final Fantasy XIII-2 Screenshots
Square Enix has sent over some new Final Fantasy XIII-2 screens. Most of them are shots of battle sequences, but there are a few images of event scenes too. Some of you will recall that FFXIII-2 was one of my top five games of E3 2011. If you need more background info on the game then check out this preview. So far, my only major issue with the game is that it doesn’t have a Reona Rewis song.
Enjoy the screens and let me know what you think (please)!
[nggallery id=64]
Wednesday Housekeeping: Comment System Changed (Again)
I’m really sorry to do this to all of you, but I’ve changed the comment system…again. Disqus was causing too many headaches, so I’ve decided to go with IntenseDebate. The good news is that it has most of the features that you enjoyed with Disqus. The better news is that it eliminates two issues that have been giving me headaches. Here are a few notes on IntenseDebate:
– Similar to Disqus, after you get an IntenseDebate account, you can change your display name to whatever you want it to be.
– If you don’t want to get an IntenseDebate account, there are several other login options. WordPress.com, Twitter, and OpenID login options are live. I’m going to try to implement a Facebook option once the old comments are finished importing.
– There are some nifty widget options that might make commenting a little more fun. There’s a “top commenters” widget that is potentially fun and can make a game out of commenting. I’m going to give it a whirl after the import is complete.
– From my test site, it appears that IntenseDebate totally works with my front page and the mobile version of my site.
Thanks in advance for grinding through this with me. I really appreciate it and am sorry to pull another change so soon. I think it’s best for the long run. The funny part is that I wanted to go with IntenseDebate initially, but changed my mind due to Disqus’ popularity. Like Prince Akeem said in Coming to America, “The first reaction is usually the correct one.”
Please let me know what you think of the new new commenting system and if you encounter any quirks.
Today’s Poll: Will You Use Google+ Project?
Google has gone official with its Google+ Project, a social network that combines features of Facebook, Twitter, Skype, BlackBerry Messenger, and more. On the plus side, it’s seems like a huge and comprehensive service. On the down side, you know there’s a problem when a company has to post six videos just to explain what a service offers.
Naturally, I have to use the service for outreach purposes (and because I have too many Silicon Valley nerd friends that will give me crap if I don’t sign up). However, I’m genuinely curious about some of Google+’s features. The mobile aspect seems like it has a ton of potential. There are millions of Android users out there and it looks like Google+ will feature super-right Android integration. That said, I’m already a bit schizophrenic from juggling my Facebook and Twitter personalities.
Anyway, check out the videos when you get a chance and let me know if you’re interested in Google+.
[poll id=”122″]
Xbox Live Summer of Arcade Schedule
It’s time for the summer of Bastion!!! Oops, I meant the annual Xbox Live Summer of Arcade. In case you missed it, here’s the schedule for Microsoft’s downloadable summer blockbuster extravaganza. All of the games cost…
It’s time for the summer of Bastion!!! Oops, I meant the annual Xbox Live Summer of Arcade. In case you missed it, here’s the schedule for Microsoft’s downloadable summer blockbuster extravaganza. All of the games cost 1,200 Microsoft Points, save for Fruit Ninja Kinect, which is 800.
| Date | Title | Price (MS Points) | |
| July 20 | Bastion | 1200 | |
| July 27 | From Dust | 1200 | |
| August 3 | Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet | 1200 | |
| August 10 | Fruit Ninja Kinect | 800 | |
| August 17 | Toy Soldiers: Cold War | 1200 |
As many of you know, I’m super high on Bastion and can’t wait to play it. I’m not too familiar with the other games (that aren’t Fruit Ninja). Do you have any recommendations? Which Summer of Arcade 2011 games are you planning to pick up?
Coffee Talk #370: What’s the Oldest Game You Still Play?
What’s the oldest game you still play? I’m not talking about remakes or downloads of old games. I’m talking about a game that you still have the original cartridge or disc for. Do you even play old games like that?
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, Scarlett Johansson breaking up with Sean Penn, fights with CSS stylesheets, or hoping the Google Nexus Prime will be endorsed by Optimus Prime, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
What’s the oldest game you still play? I’m not talking about remakes or downloads of old games. I’m talking about a game that you still have the original cartridge or disc for. Do you even play old games like that? Or are you all current gen?
As for me, I still play Final Fantasy: Tactics Advance (2003) every few weeks or so. As many of you know, I love the FFT series and portable gaming. FFTA was pretty much made for me and I’ll be keeping my DS Lite around for years so that I can keep playing it (…or until a downloadable version is released for the 3DS).
So how about you? What’s the oldest game you still play?
Watch CM Punk Cut the Best Promo of 2011
I was amazed by CM Punk’s promo on last night’s episode of Monday Night Raw. He expertly blended real-life happenings with his current angle of “leaving” the WWE. Not only was it clearly the best promo of 2011, but it was also one of the best I’ve seen in years. Highlights include:
- Emphasizing the word “wrestling” — a word WWE doesn’t like to use anymore
- Mentioning not having a crappy show on the USA network
- Saying that he’s a Paul Heyman guy, like Brock Lesnar
- Talking about bringing the WWE Championship to Ring of Honor
- Saying hello to his close friend Colt Cabana, a renowned indie wrestler that was horribly misused when he wrestled in the WWE as Scotty Goldman
- Blasting WWE head of talent relations John Laurinaitis for being a nonsensical yes-man
- Saying that WWE has no future after Vince McMahon dies because the company will be taken over by Vince’s idiotic daughter (Stephanie) and his doofus son-in-law (Triple H)
Punk created a ton of Internet buzz and sold people on his upcoming PPV match against John Cena with a fantastic promo. I know that a few of you are down on Punk because of his size, but he’s a superior technical wrestler and, as he showed last night, magic on the mic. Brilliant, brilliant stuff.
T-Mobile MyTouch 4G Slide Sports Cutting-Edge Camera
I’ve never been a fan of T-Mobile’s MyTouch line. I don’t care for the industrial design and I hate the “Espresso” version of HTC Sense the phones use. The recently announced MyTouch 4G Slide addresses several of my issues with the line and packs a camera that rivals the iPhone 4’s excellent shooter (on paper). Here are some hardware specs from the press release:
The new myTouch 4G Slide features a beautiful 3.7-inch WVGA super LCD touch-screen display, with Swype®, and a slide-out full-QWERTY keyboard, offering customers the freedom to choose how they want to input text. Powered by Android™ 2.3 (Gingerbread) and HTC Sense 3.0, the myTouch 4G Slide provides an intuitive and powerful smartphone experience. With support for T-Mobile’s lightning-fast 4G network paired with a 1.2GHz dual-core Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ processor, myTouch 4G Slide customers will experience quick access to their favorite websites, videos, applications and much more.
And here’s more information on the camera:
Ideal for capturing that perfect moment with photos that rival high-end dedicated digital cameras, the myTouch 4G Slide comes with an 8-megapixel camera with a dual LED flash and a host of advanced digital camera features, including the following:
- Improved low-light Performance: with a backside illuminated sensor and a wide aperture lens (f/2.2)
- Zero shutter lag: innovative software features allow for an instantaneous shot at that precise moment
- SweepShot™: for capturing panoramic shots by sweeping across an entire scene in a single motion
- ClearShot™ HDR: for capturing objects in bright settings so your photos are not affected by high-contrast lighting
- BurstShot™: for capturing multiple photos in a quick burst so you don’t miss the perfect photo
The sensor and aperture are the items to note here. On paper, the camera in this phone should rival the ones found in the iPhone 4 and numerous Nokia phones. I fully expect the MyTouch 4G Slide to be one helluva shooter.
While I still don’t like the way the phone looks, I’m glad that the MyTouch 4G Slide is using a version of HTC Sense that doesn’t appear as watered down as the ones found in previous MyTouch phones. (The “Genius Button” is still stupid though.) More importantly, it rounds out T-Mobile’s Android offerings nicely. The company already has two hot Android phones with the LG G2x and HTC Sensation. The MyTouch 4G offers high-end specs, a slide-out keyboard, and a phone that should be outstanding.
Any of you interested in picking up a T-Mobile MyTouch 4G Slide?
[nggallery id=63]
This Week’s Videogame Releases
There’s a trio of interesting games out this week. Fighting-game fans will want to pick up Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition to take their Capcom fighter skills to new heights. If fighting giant robots are more to your liking then Dynasty Warriors: Gundam 3 will do you good. Looking for a fitness game that’s more macho? Perhaps UFC Personal Trainer: The Ultimate Fitness System is just what the doctor ordered. Just don’t go all Cheick Kongo on your TV.
Any of you picking up new games this week?
Coffee Talk #369: The End of the Apple iPod?
One of my reviewer friends believes that Apple selling unlocked iPhones in America spells doom for the iPod. He’s certain that the iPod will be discontinued and that Apple will position last year’s iPhone as the…
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, Klatch’s Sumatra Aceh Gold, Joe Torre wearing Yankee pinstripes again, or the surprising success of Cameron Diaz’s Hot Teacher, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
Remember my reviewer friends that were arguing with me about viewing angles on mobile phones? One of them had an interesting theory that extended our brunch meeting for an hour (at least). He’s sure that Apple selling unlocked iPhones in America spells doom for the iPod. His argument is that the iPod is becoming less and less important to Apple as sales of the iPhone and iPad flourish. He’s certain that the iPod Classic and Touch will be discontinued this year and Apple will instead sell the previous year’s iPhone to snag budget sales.
Although his theory is intriguing, the rest of us doubt it will pan out that way…at least in the near future. It’s true that the iPod is no longer as important to Apple as it once was, but the company still sells million of them. Perhaps the iPod Classic will go away, but it seems too soon to kill off the iPod Touch. Furthermore, slashing the price of an unlocked iPhone 4 will surely piss off carriers. Apple has a lot of stroke, but it’s probably not a good idea for the company to alienate its carrier partners.
Still, I can see it happening eventually. Just not this year or next. What do you think? Will Apple kill off the iPod and just sell old iPhones for cheap? How do you think carriers would react to such a play? Do people still buy iPod Classics?