Raymond Padilla

Sony’s Kevin Butler Pitches PS3 Best Buy Bundles

Sony pitchman Kevin Butler is back and this time he’s hocking Sony Bravia televisions bundled with PlayStation 3 consoles at Best Buy. The commercial gets major points for using the music from CHiPs. Along with the New York Yankees’ Reggie Jackson and Starbuck from the original Battlestar Galactica, CHiPs’ Francis “Ponch” Poncherello was one of my childhood heroes.

Anyway, depending on the bundle, Best Buy shoppers can save up to $1,300. Kindly check out the spot and let me know if you’re interested in these Best Buy deals.

Coffee Talk #257: What Was Your “Rubber Soul” Game?

Although my dad played The Beatles’ Rubber Soul for me hundreds of times, it didn’t “click” with me until I got older. I’ve always loved music, but Rubber Soul changed my perception of what music could be. Is there a game you’ve played that did the same thing for you?

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 Roaster’s Guatemala La Maravilla, Taylor Swift dating the Prince of Persia, or Anne Hathaway acting topless, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Although my dad played The Beatles’ Rubber Soul for me hundreds of times, it didn’t “click” with me until I got older. I’ve always loved music, but Rubber Soul changed my perception of what music could be. Is there a game you’ve played that did the same thing for you? Is there a game that changed your perception of what videogames could be?

As for me, there are two that come to mind…and they happen to be in the same series. Similar to music, I’ve always loved games. Final Fantasy VI (FFIII in America) changed my perception of what games could be. Until then, I didn’t realize that games could offer an interactive experience that combined an epic story, outstanding music, and deep gameplay — an experience that rivaled or surpassed what movies and television offered.

As much as I loved FFVI, I didn’t think RPGs could be as popular as action games or sports games. Final Fantasy VII changed all that. The videogame genre I loved the most hit the mainstream! Although I have my problems with FFVII, I appreciate and love what it did for the genre.

Now it’s your turn! What games transformed the way you perceived the medium?

EA CEO Compares Harmonix to Falling Knife

Earlier in the month when I asked you who should buy Harmonix, a few of you pointed to Electronic Arts. It doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. According to Bloomberg (not Goldberg), EA CEO John Riccitiello made an unfavorable analogy regarding Harmonix:

I’m sure some smart investor will buy the business feeling that they can catch a falling knife, but more people have been cut trying to catch falling knives than have benefitted from getting the timing exactly right.

A lot of people in the Twitterverse claim that Riccitiello is being a dick, but I disagree. He has a point — buying a developer that specializes in “plastic instrument” music games is a risky gambit at the moment. I also love his poetic analogy. Falling knives are cool…and I hope Riccitiello uses furry walls in his next analogy.

Source

Microsoft Halfway to 5-Million Unit Goal for Kinect

Microsoft has sold 2.5-million units of Kinect for Xbox 360, getting the company to the halfway point for its projection of five-million units sold in 2010. In a recent press release, Microsoft president Don Mattrick said:

We are thrilled about the consumer response to Kinect, and are working hard with our retail and manufacturing partners to expedite production and shipments of Kinect to restock shelves as fast as possible to keep up with demand. With sales already exceeding two and a half million units in just 25 days, we are on pace to reach our forecast of 5 million units sold to consumers this holiday.

Those are some impressive sales figures and I’m sure Kinect will be under millions of Christmas trees in December. Do you think Microsoft will reach its goal? Or will the momentum die down?

Today’s Poll: Does Derek Jeter Deserve a Big Payday?

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter was allegedly offered a three-year contract worth $45-million. Allegedly, he wants more years and dollars. Is Derek Jeter — a 36-year old player on the decline — worth a giant contract?

Statistically speaking, he’s definitely not. He’s an old player that’s playing a young man’s position. His hitting production in 2010 was way down. Jeter has never been a great shortstop in terms of fielding. Despite winning a Gold Glove and having a high fielding percentage, he was one of the worst fielding shortstops in the league based on more advanced metrics. $45-million is a generous offer for a below average shortstop that’s old and most likely getting worse, but…

…he’s Derek Jeter. Is there an athlete in American professional sports that’s more synonymous with his team? Derek Jeter sells tickets, draws television ratings, and sells merchandise. This will be especially true in 2011 when he’ll become the first Yankee to reach 3,000 hits (barring injury). From a marketing standpoint, Jeter is definitely worth more money.

Then there are the intangible points that are impossible to place dollar signs on. Jeter has represented the Yankees in a uncannily classy way. He handles the NY press well and hasn’t made any major slip-ups off the field. Some people feel that Jeter helped the Yankees build the new stadium, increase ticket prices, and increase ratings for the YES Network. These people feel that the Yankees “owe” him a big payday. The dick fielding Jeter’s right — third baseman Alex Rodriguez — has an obscenely high and long contract. Unlike Jeter, A-Rod has embarrassed the Yankees on and off the field. Some people that Jeter deserves a contract comparable to Rodriguez’s. Personally, I think these sentiments are silly, but I also think it’s unfair to pay him solely based on performance since he clearly generates a ton of revenue.

Anyway, I’ve been thinking about this a lot for the last couple of weeks and I’d love to hear your thoughts. Kindly vote in today’s poll and chat it up in the comments section.

[poll id=”87″]

Moonkin Hatchling WoW Pet Benefits Make-a-Wish Foundation

Blizzard has announced a new World of Warcraft pet that benefits the excellent Make-a-Wish Foundation. The Moonkin Hatchling costs $10 and if you purchase one before the end of the year then $5 will go to the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

Blizzard has announced a new World of Warcraft pet that benefits the excellent Make-a-Wish Foundation. The Moonkin Hatchling costs $10 and if you purchase one before the end of the year then $5 will go to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. Here’s the official word:

The googly-eyed Moonkin Hatchling, which comes in unique Horde and Alliance versions, will occasionally plant flowers at your feet, and happily /dances with any willing partners. Like last year’s Pandaren Monk, the Moonkin Hatchling has a soft spot for helping children. For every Moonkin Hatchling adopted from November 29 through December 31, 2010, Blizzard Entertainment will donate 50% of the $10 purchase price to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

I love that Blizzard is doing this. If I still played WoW, I’d buy one. Hopefully some of you will pick one up. You get a cool pet and help a great cause! Here are more screens of the lovely hatchling in both forms:

Source

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game Coming February 2011

Square Enix has launched the official site for the Final Fantasy trading card game (TCG). Set to launch on February 25, 2011, the teaser site reveals Cloud, Sephiroth, and Zidane as playable cards.

Any of you guys into TCGs? Would you be down with a Final Fantasy TCG? Can you name the characters that are currently shadowed in the teaser image? Some of ’em are obvious, while others aren’t so easy. Get your thinking caps on and give it a go (please)!

Source via Andriasang

I Love Arizona Cardinals’ Derek Anderson’s Meltdown!

ESPN’s cameras caught Arizona Cardinals quarterback Derek Anderson laughing on the sidelines when his team was down 18 points on Monday Night Football. When questioned about the humorous sideline activities, Anderson got defensive, changed the subject, went ballistic, and eventually stormed off. It was awesome!

The interview totally reminded me of someone in an Internet forum being unable to defend a point; he/she changes the subject, gets angry, and eventually leaves the thread. It’s nice to see that dumb jocks can behave just like Internet geeks. Ha!

Coffee Talk #256: Your First Videogames

It was cool watching you guys talk about your first videogame console in yesterday’s Coffee Talk. To follow that up, I’d like to know about your first console games.

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, the NFL going light with player fines, President George W. Bush interviewed by Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, or Christina Aguilera finding a new boyfriend (*sniff*), Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

It was cool watching you guys talk about your first videogame console in yesterday’s Coffee Talk. To follow that up, I’d like to know about your first console games. What was the first console game you ever played? What was the first console game you bought with your own money?

I honestly can’t remember the first game I purchased on my own. I do remember playing Videocart-1: Tic Tac Toe, Shooting Gallery, Doodle, Quadradoodle for the Fairchild Channel F. I was completely fascinated that I could play Tic Tac Toe with something other than a crayon or a pencil. In some ways it’s funny looking back at how enamored I was with digital Tic Tac Toe. In other ways it’s amazing how far videogames have come. Going from Tic Tac Toe to Heavy Rain is quite a leap. Ha!

Now it’s your turn! What was the first console game you ever played? What was the first console game you bought with your own money?

TV Through Xbox 360 and Windows Phone 7?

Microsoft is in the early stages of planning a televisions service that can be accessed through devices like its Xbox 360 gaming console. The company has been holding talks with various networks for a service that could end up being like virtual cable or a la carte cable. According to Reuters:

Microsoft Corp has held talks with media companies to license TV networks for a new online pay-television subscription service through devices such as its Xbox video game console, two people familiar with the plans told Reuters.

Microsoft is also exploring the possibility of creating content silos and selling more individual channels directly such as an HBO or Showtime. It already has Walt Disney Co’s ESPN on the Xbox Live online service for example.

This could develop into something huge and game changing. Cable and satellite companies are crap, requiring customers to buy packages containing dozens of channels, most of which are unwanted. If Microsoft sells individualchannels — particularly premium ones like HBO — through Xbox 360 and its future consoles, I’d drop my cable service in a heartbeat. Being able to pick the channels you want would be brilliant.

Integrating the television service with Windows Phone 7 would be tremendous. Microsoft’s mobile operating system will have a difficult time catching up to Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android. Offering premium television through Windows Phone 7 would make the battle easier.

While the service appears to be a year away — if it happens at all — it has a ton of potential. I will dream about features like a la carte channel selection and streaming HBO boxing on a phone, but I fully expect the networks to give the bare minimum.

What do you think of a potential Microsoft television service? What would you want it to have?

Source