Category: Videos

HTC Thunderbolt Preview Video

Here’s a preview video of the HTC Thunderbolt — the first phone on Verizon’s blazing LTE network. The Thunderbolt features Google Android 2.2 with HTC Sense, a 4.3-inch screen, a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, an eight-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, and…a kickstand! It’s a lot like the HTC Evo 4G for Sprint, but with updated parts (the processor and screen are better).

My initial Speedtest.net results were crazy good. I was getting download speeds over 11Mbps and upload speeds over 37Mbps. From what I understand, Speedtest.net is probably doing something funky with the upload test, so I’m not really buying those results. Still, the speeds are fantastic in terms of real-world usage — better than what I’ve been getting on Sprint’s WiMax network and T-Mobile’s HSPA+ network.

Check out the video when you have a moment and let me know if you have any questions about this hot new phone for Verizon. Expect a full review next week.

Mark Cerny Talks Mobile, Social, Motion, and More

Here’s an interview I did with the legendary Mark Cerny. For those of you not familiar with the man, he has been designing games since he was a teenager, working on titles like Marble Madness, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Spyro the Dragon, Crash Bandicoot, Jak& Daxter, Ratchet & Clank, and so much more. Since he has pretty much seen and done it all, I wanted to get his take on newer trends in gaming, such mobile, social, and motion. As expected, his answers were interesting and insightful…which was great because I totally went fanboy in the interview. I think I called him awesome like 50 times. Ha!

Anyway, check out this interview with Mark Cerny. He is awesome.

BioWare Hall of Fame Tribute Video

It was a tremendous honor to watch BioWare’s Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk get inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hall of fame. Check out what the BioWare Docs had to say about this accolade. The legendary Bing Gordon, Cerny Games’ Mark Cerny, Incomniac Games’ Ted Price, Gas Powered Games’ Chris Taylor, Blizzard’s Frank Pearce and Paul Sams, Microsoft’s Don Mattrick, and more share their feelings on these two excellent people entering the hall.

Side notes include:

  • Don Mattrick revealing why Canada produces excellent game developers and pro-wrestlers
  • The doctors revealing which one of them is still a licensed physician
  • An innovative Nintendo DS developer imagining the doctors living like Bert and Ernie

I’m such a huge fan of these guys, both professionally and personally. I get warm fuzzies from watching the video and remembering the standing ovation they got from their peers during the awards. These guys rock.

Chris Taylor Talks Mobile and Social Games

It’s always great catching up with Gas Powered Games founder and CEO Chris Taylor. He’s hilarious, fun, smart, and interesting. Although he wasn’t able to talk about his upcoming games just yet, it was fascinating to get his take on mobile, social, and casual games. He seems truly excited by that segment of the gaming industry, comparing it to old-school PC game development.

Check out my chat with the excellent Chris Taylor and let me know what you think (please)!

Bing Gordon Receives the AIAS Lifetime Achievement Award

Here’s a video of gaming industry legend Bing Gordon talking about being honored with the lifetime achievement award by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Gordon worked at Electronic Arts from 1982 to 2008 — including 10 years as chief creative officer — helping grow the company to the juggernaut that it is today. He’s currently on the board of directors for Amazon, Ngmoco, and Zynga. Although he’s on the business side of games, he has helped the business grow creatively as well as financially — an exceedingly rare thing with executives these days.

Cerny Games Mark Cerny, Blizzard’s Paul Sams and Frank Pearce, the AIAS’ Martin Rae, and Microsoft’s Don Mattrick share their thoughts on Gordon.

Thanks RPadholics N8R (filming, editing) and Big Blak (music) for their help with this one!

King of Kong Arcade (Orlando) Video Tour

During a break on my Orlando work trip, I shot some quick footage of Billy Mitchell’s King of Kong Arcade, nestled in Orlando International Airport (MCO). It’s a small arcade with some games and a merchandise stand…and not a single Donkey Kong cabinet in sight. Despite its size, I’m thrilled that there’s an arcade in a major airport. I miss them.

Anyway, check out the clip and let me know what you think (please!).

Mike Capps Talks Epic, Bulletstorm, Infinity Blade, and More

Here’s a really fun and informative interview with Epic Games president Dr. Michael Capps. Not only is he an incredibly sharp man, but he’s also a super fun guy to hang out with. I’ve always been impressed with how nimbly Epic has evolved from PC to consoles to mobile. Capps addresses that issue, as well how Infinity Blade caused Apple execs to curse in excitement, Bulletstorm, his mother’s reaction to his shower scene in the “Bulletpoints” marketing campaign, Kotaku’s Brian Crescente looking like that guy from Deuce Bigalow/The Scorpion King, me punching Cliff Bleszinski in the face, and more!

Special thanks to RPadholic smartguy for his question about Bulletpoints!

EEDAR’s Jesse Divnich Talks Nintendo 3DS vs. Sony NGP

EEDAR vice president Jesse Divnich was kind enough to chat with me about the upcoming console war between the Nintendo 3DS and the Sony NGP. As the #1 analyst in the videogame business, IMHO, Jesse’s opinion is meaningful and powerful. He also answered one of RPadholic bsukenyan’s excellent questions. Naturally, I threw a playful jab a Wedbush Morgan’s Michael Pachter…but it was all in jest. Check it out (please)!

Perrin Kaplan Talks Nintendo 3DS, Mario, and More

It was excellent catching up with Perrin Kaplan at DICE 2011. Currently the principal at Zebra Partners, Kaplan is the former vice president of Nintendo of America. She gave her thoughts on how Nintendo is doing these days, as well as the Nintendo 3DS. She also shared her favorite Mario moment and told a precious story about Shigeru Miyamoto’s first time at GDC. I also wanted to spotlight some of the cool charity work she does with Saving Great Animals. Check it out (please)!

P.S. It was actually Perrin’s birthday yesterday. I’m sure she’d appreciate any warm wishes you’d like to send her.

DICE 2011 Outtakes: Jay Mohr Sings Van Halen

I was trying to interview actor Jay Mohr about hosting the 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards at DICE 2011…but that never really got started. He liked my microphone and thought it was cool that I also use it to belt out Journey songs in karaokoe. This led him to singing a bunch of Van Halen songs. I thought it was cool that he did one in his Christopher Walken impersonation, as per my request. I thought it was cooler that he cut off his interview with Kotaku’s Brian Crescente because he remembered what song he wanted to sing. Ha!

Check out this clip of outtake footage when you have a chance. Bonus points will be awarded if you can name the famous gaming people in the background!