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Why Shawn Michaels’ Retirement Makes it Tough to Watch WWE

Earlier today I was reading Bill Simmons’ outstanding recap of WrestleMania 26. In addition to being the best recap out there (which shouldn’t be surprising since Simmons is one of the most entertaining writers in the world), it made me realize why it’s going to be hard for me to enjoy WWE Monday Night Raw going forward. Here’s the passage that resonated with me:

I have no favorite wrestlers left. Snuka, Savage, Hogan, Austin, Michaels … they’re all gone. You know what that means? It’s time to stop ordering WrestleMania after 26 years. Like with Michaels, it was a long and memorable run. Like with Michaels, you have to know when it’s time to walk away. And I will. Twenty-six was enough.

HBK retiring is like…having part of my youth disappear. Last night’s Raw is probably the last time any of us will see Michaels, Bret Hart, and The Undertaker on the same show. It was just comforting to watch wrestlers that I’ve been enjoying since I was a teenager. Now one of the links to my childhood is gone.

Sure, there are still plenty of guys that I like in the WWE. Chris Jericho is phenomenal. I have high hopes for Bryan Danielson. The Straight Edge Society is such a great gimmick. I’ll still watch WWE programming…but it’s not going to be the same.

It’s funny. I’ve been watching Shawn since his AWA days. It took me a long time to warm up to him. I’ve said several times in the past that I thought he was the lesser Midnight Rocker (oops). I loved his ladder match against Razor Ramon at WrestleMania X, but I never bought into the whole “boyhood dream” thing at WrestleMania XII. I really started digging his work in the Attitude Era and I really loved his work after he took four years off due to a back injury. He was one of the best all-around performers ever and I put him right up there with Ric Flair. With “The Nature Boy” in mind, here’s another quote from Simmons:

We’ve seen a handful of phenomenal wrestlers and phenomenal performers over the years; only Ric Flair and Michaels can say they were both at once.

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UFC Undispited 2010 Tutorial Video Featuring Marc Laimon

This excellent UFC Undisputed 2010 tutorial video has MMA coach Marc Laimon and THQ producer Neven Dravinski talking about some of the game’s new features. Topics covered include the new sway system, cage physics, the updated submission system, and more. Check it out!

Pikachu School Bus Completely Rules!

Kotaku has posted photos of a completely awesome Pikachu school bus. Shuttling kindergarten students in Osaka, this Pikachu bus is pretty much the best thing I’ve seen all month. I love the various Pokeballs that adorn the side of it! I would totally drive one in America. Heck, I’m thinking about taking a trip to Osaka just so I can hijack one and take it to Den Den Town.

Would you drive the Pikachu bus?

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Apple to Charge Users for Major iPad Software Updates?

It looks like iPad users will have to pay for major OS updates, similar to how iPod Touch users have to pay for them. Daily Tech took a look at the documentation that accompanied the iPhone OS 3.2 SDK and came to the following conclusion:

With the iPad, Apple is following a rather unique approach. It will be giving users one freebie — a single major OS upgrade. After that users will be on their own and will be forced to pay to upgrade the OS. Upgrades will likely be priced similar to those on the iPod Touch, at about $10.

Some potential iPad owners are outraged by this development, wondering why they should pay for OS updates. Others look at the precedent set by the iPod Touch and don’t care.

How do you feel about the matter? Should “major” OS updates be free? Or is $10 a pop acceptable?

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Coffee Talk #117: What Was Your Favorite Game of Q1 2010?

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, Shawn Michaels’ awesome farewell speech, Jon Heder bailing on Will Ferrell over creative differences, or N8R’s silence on the Big Ben situation, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

There were so many outstanding games released in the first three months of 2010. It was extraordinary. Best of all, it had something for everyone. Whether you love shooters, action games, RPGs, or sports, there was an excellent game with your name on it in Q1. Today’s Coffee Talk is all about your favorite game of Q1 2010. So kindly take the poll and back up your opinion in the comments section (please)!

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Legendary and Warner Bros. Bringing Godzilla Back in 2012

Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. are teaming up to bring Godzilla back to the big screen in 2012. The companies aim to kick off a new Godzilla franchise that will hopefully take the world by storm. According to The Hollywood Reporter:

Everyone’s favorite gigantic, havoc-wreaking lizard, Godzilla, is on his way back to the big screen via Legendary Pictures, which has acquired the rights to develop and produce a new feature based on the iconic Toho Co. character. Warner Bros. will co-produce, co-finance and distribute through its deal with Legendary, and Toho will roll out the film in Japan.

I am absolutely thrilled by this development. When I was a kid, Godzilla, Reggie Jackson, and Muhammad Ali were my favorite people in the world. I was crushed to learn that one of them wasn’t real. Still, my Godzilla mark-dom has lasted for decades — despite that crappy movie starring Matthew Broderick. (That movie should be treated like Rocky V — it never happened.)

Anyone else psyched for Godzilla spewing his radioactive breath on the big screen in 2012?

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Google to Rely More on Marketplace for Android Uniformity?

One of the biggest issues with Google’s Android mobile operating system is fragmentation. There are certain apps and features that can only be used by people running the latest version of Android (Eclair), which leaves early adopters in the dust. Engadget Mobile postulates that Google will be addressing the fragmentation issue in the next two Android builds — Froyo (frozen yogurt) and Gingerbread — by relying on the Android Marketplace.

We’ve been given reason to believe that the company will start by decoupling many of Android’s standard applications and components from the platform’s core and making them downloadable and updatable through the Market, much the same as they’ve already done with Maps. In all likelihood, this process will take place over two major Android versions, starting with Froyo and continuing through Gingerbread. Notice that we said apps and components, meaning that some core elements of Android — input methods, for instance — should get this treatment. This way, just because Google rolls out an awesome new browser doesn’t mean you need to wait for HTC, Samsung, or whomever made your phone to roll it into a firmware update, and for your carrier to approve it — almost all of the juicy user-facing stuff will happen through the Market.

It’s a great move that’s overdue. One advantage Apple and Palm have, with iPhone OS and WebOS respectively, is that both companies offer a unified experience. Android can look and feel drastically different depending on the phone, manufacturer, and carrier. Using a unified source like the Android Marketplace should help tidy things up…unless you go with a carrier like AT&T, which offers a crippled version of Android on the Motorola Backflip (*sigh*).

I know a few of you are interested in getting a new phone in the near future. Does this rumor give you more faith in what Google is trying to accomplish with Android?

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This Week’s Videogame Releases

There’s nothing interesting coming out for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, or Nintendo DS this week. Thankfully, the PlayStation Portable has a pair of releases to end Q1 2010. Japanese RPG fans will want to keep an eye on Mimana: Iyar Chronicle, while horny males will want to check out Dead or Alive Paradise. Normally, I would skip posting about game releases on a dead week like this one, but any chance to post photos of scantily clad videogame women is tough to pass up.

Are any of you buying new games this week?

Coffee Talk #116: Don’t Believe the Hype!

No, today’s Coffee Talk is not about Public Enemy. It’s about videogame hype and disappointment. You see, over the weekend I played a lot of Final Fantasy XIII. Obviously, it was one of the most anticipated games in years. Surprisingly, the reactions to the game — from critics and gamers — have been all over the place. Some love it, while others find it incredibly disappointing. I don’t remember the last time a game this big received so many negative reactions.

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, whether Shawn Michaels is really retiring, the idiocy of Arthur Abraham, or Big Ben not reporting to the Steelers’ voluntary conditioning camp, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

No, today’s Coffee Talk is not about Public Enemy. It’s about videogame hype and disappointment. You see, over the weekend I played a lot of Final Fantasy XIII. Obviously, it was one of the most anticipated games in years. Surprisingly, the reactions to the game — from critics and gamers — have been all over the place. Some love it, while others find it incredibly disappointing. I don’t remember the last time a game this big received so many negative reactions.

Personally, I don’t understand what all the uproar is about. I’m 13 hours in and I’ve really enjoyed the game. It’s not the best or my favorite Final Fantasy game, but to me FFXIII lives up to the hype. And Reona Rewis completely rules.

Today I wanted to see which “big” games have disappointed you. Do you recall any games with monstrous hype that left you wondering what the hell the big deal was? (In case you were wondering, my choice would be Fable, but this is way more about what you guys and gals think.) Use today’s column as your Monday therapy and rant about over-hyped games that left you flat…or worse.