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Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia Tops NY Times Charts

I was surprised and thrilled to see that The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia topped The NY Times best-seller list for “hardcover advice & misc.” The book is a collaboration between Nintendo and Dark Horse Books. It tells the history of The Legend of Zelda franchise, outlines the official canon, and is illustrated by tons of fantastic concept art. Hyrule Historia features contributions from Shigeru Miyamoto, Eiji Aonuma, and Akira Himekawa. Here’s the Amazon.com description:

Dark Horse Books and Nintendo team up to bring you The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia, containing an unparalleled collection of historical information on The Legend of Zelda franchise. This handsome hardcover contains never-before-seen concept art, the full history of Hyrule, the official chronology of the games, and much more! Starting with an insightful introduction by the legendary producer and video-game designer of Donkey Kong, Mario, and The Legend of Zelda, Shigeru Miyamoto, this book is crammed full of information about the storied history of Link’s adventures from the creators themselves!

For gamers — especially longtime Nintendo fans — this is pretty much the best coffee-table book ever made. While I knew it would be popular with videogame aficionados (duh), I was still surprised to see it top a NY Times best-seller list…but perhaps I shouldn’t have been. A lot of people that grew up with Zelda are at an age where they’re buying fancy coffee tables and need fancy books to put on top of them. Hell, Robin Williams named his hot daughter — Zelda Williams costar of Noobz — after the game.

It’s fantastic seeing how mainstream gaming has become. If you had asked Fledgling Gamer Me if a videogame book would be at the top of the NY Times best-seller list, well…I probably wouldn’t have paid any attention to you because I was glued to my Fairchild Channel F. However, if you asked me that question when I first started writing about games for Happy Puppy, I would have said not for a very, very long time. Yet it hasn’t been all that long (humor me) and Hyrule Historia reigns supreme!

Any of you surprised by the book’s success? Any of you have it or plan on getting it (through the nifty Amazon link above, please)? Now please excuse me, as I need to order the book for my (totally cheap Ikea) coffee table.

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Coffee Talk #566: What Will Make You Go Digital?

While digital downloads are definitely the future for the majority of videogames, it looks like the upcoming generation will start off with physical media dominating while publishers try to push gamers towards downloads. I know that many of you still prefer physical discs for various reasons, but I wondering — specifically in the context of the upcoming consoles — what would get you to switch to digital…more

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 possibility of LeBron James losing the NBA MVP to Kevin Durant due to voter fatigue, your favorite 2013 Grammy performance, or getting excited about a visit from your baby girl, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

While digital downloads are definitely the future for the majority of videogames, it looks like the upcoming generation will start off with physical media dominating while publishers try to push gamers towards downloads. I know that many of you still prefer physical discs for various reasons, but I was wondering — specifically in the context of the upcoming consoles — what would get you to switch to digital? My friend Paul and I were chatting about this during our weekly high-fat lunch and thought of a few things, some less likely than others.

Cheaper Prices: This probably won’t happen for years (though probably should happen sooner), but what if new digital releases were $10 cheaper than discs? I don’t expect this to happen straight away, but perhaps at the midpoint or tail end of the next console generation. Retailer relationships are still too important.

Earlier Release Date: What if you could play a digital copy of a game a few days before its physical counterpart? Is that enough incentive? Again, I don’t think this is likely initially, but could happen later. Retailer power is still too strong, for now.

Bonus Content: Would extra costumes, exclusive weapons, or free map packs be enough? Even though I’ve made fun of costume downloads a bit, I totally admit to buying them. I consider my bonus Street Fighter costumes and bikini Serah to be among my finest digital purchases. Getting these things as a digital bonus would totally work for me.

Would any of the above get you to go digital? Perhaps a different kind of incentive? Or are you sticking with physical discs until publishers stop making them? Please share your thoughts on the matter in the comments section!

Vaping Diaries #38: Orb Vapor Review II

Here’s a review of three organic e-liquids from Orb Vapor: Vanilla Orange Cream, Honeydew Melon, and RY4. RPadholic N8R and I reviewed three of Orb’s juices last November and were impressed. These three were even better — one was very good, one was great, and the last was a fantastic surprise. Here are the breakdowns and steeping notes:

Vanilla Orange Cream: This one was kind of like a grown-up creamsicle. The orange flavor has a natural taste and a light sweetness. It definitely takes a background to the vanilla and French vanilla flavors. Orb’s vanillas are rich and savory, rather than the candy-like flavors used by many vendors. This juice definitely has more complexity than most creamsicle flavors out there. I really enjoyed the subtle sweetness and interesting blend of flavors.

Honeydew Melon: For people that prefer natural fruit flavors over candy ones, this juice is a brilliant choice. The honeydew taste is perfect — crisp and refreshing, with just the right amount of sweetness.

RY4: The definition and expectations of RY4 have changed over the years. The original hit was a tobacco e-liquid that was complemented by caramel and vanilla. In recent years, numerous vendors have put the tobacco in the background, emphasizing the sweeter flavors. So what’s Orb’s RY4 like? For me, it wasn’t like any classic or modern RY4. It reminded of Heather’s Heavenly Vapes’ Sludge (formerly Gollum), but not as sweet. In addition to the three usual RY4 flavors, Orb added two more that give this juice a really distinct taste. Initially, I thought it was like a pipe tobacco with a raisin-like sweetness. After learning what the two “secret ingredients” were, the flavor made more sense to me. The flavors blend together marvelously for a unique, rich, and enjoyable vape. While I enjoyed all three of these juices, this one was my favorite.

Steeping Notes
On the advice of Wlad from Ahlusion, I’ve been trying a new steeping method. When the e-liquids arrive, I leave them uncapped for five minutes. Previously, I left them uncapped for about two days. After the liquids are given a few minutes to oxidize, the caps are put back on. The bottles are shaken every day for at least two weeks before vaping.

Organic Vanilla Orange Cream
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Born On: December 8, 2012
Uncapped: December 13, 2012 6:25PM
Vaped: February 4-9, 2013

Organic Honeydew Melon
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Born On: December 8, 2012
Uncapped: December 13, 2012 6:25PM
Vaped: February 4-9, 2013

Organic RY4
50/50 PG/VG ratio, 6mg nicotine
Born On: December 8, 2012
Uncapped: December 13, 2012 6:25PM
Vaped: February 4-9, 2013

Journey Wins DICE 2013 Game of the Year

I’m mildly annoyed at The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences, but that won’t stop me from writing about the 2013 DICE awards! The big winners this year were Journey and The Walking Dead. I was thrilled that both of those games did well, though it wasn’t surprising considering that these awards are peer based and both of these games are popular within the business. I was also happy to see XCOM: Enemy Unknown snag an award. Naturally, I’d love to hear your take on this year’s winners. Here’s the full list:

Action Game of the Year
Borderlands 2
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Gearbox Software

Mobile Game of the Year
Hero Academy
Publisher: Robot Entertainment
Developer: Robot Entertainment

Handheld Game of the Year
Paper Mario Sticker Star
Publisher: Nintendo of America, Inc.
Developer: Intelligent Systems

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition
Journey
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design
Journey
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany

Outstanding Achievement in Story
The Walking Dead
Publisher: Telltale Games
Developer: Telltale Games

Outstanding Character Performance
The Walking Dead: Lee Everett
Publisher: Telltale Games
Developer: Telltale Games

Downloadable Game of the Year
The Walking Dead
Publisher: Telltale Games
Developer: Telltale Games

Casual Game of the Year
Journey
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany

Web Based Game of the Year
SimCity Social
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Maxis, Playfish

Family Game of the Year
Skylanders Giants
Publisher: Activision
Developer: Toys for Bob

Role-Playing/Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year
Mass Effect 3
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Bioware

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Firaxis Games

Outstanding Innovation in Gaming
Journey
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany

Sports Game of the Year
FIFA Soccer 13
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: EA Canada

Racing Game of the Year
Need for Speed Most Wanted
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Developer: Criterion Games

Fighting Game of the Year
PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: SuperBot Entertainment, Inc.

Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay
Journey
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany

Outstanding Achievement in Connectivity
Halo 4
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Developer: 343 Industries

Outstanding Achievement in Animation
Assassin’s Creed III
Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Ubisoft

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction
Journey
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany

Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering
Halo 4
Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Developer: 343 Industries

Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering
XCOM: Enemy Unknown
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Firaxis Games

Adventure Game of the Year
The Walking Dead
Publisher: Telltale Games
Developer: Telltale Games

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
Journey
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany

Game of the Year
Journey
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America
Developer: thatgamecompany

Justice League Movie in Peril?

By the fire pits of Apokolips! Rumors are swirling that Warner’s Justice League move is falling apart. With Marvel (Disney) enjoying enormous success with The Avengers, Iron Man, and several other movie franchises, Justice League was supposed to be DC’s mega-team superhero blockbuster. Badass Digest’s Devin Faraci wrote:

I’ve now heard from multiple sources that the Will Beall script for Justice League has been scrapped. The story from each source is the same: it’s terrible. Some sources seem to think the whole movie is going to fall apart and never happen, while some believe that Warner Bros will keep moving forward, unwilling to lose the superhero arms race.

The studio has been unable to get the interest of a quality director, reportedly because of the script. Without a script and without a director, Justice League seems unlikely to meet a 2015 release. The question is will it ever be released at all?

I’m somewhat bummed by the news. While I enjoy all kinds of comics, I’m definitely more of a DC guy than a Marvel guy. It would have been awesome to see the Justice League hit the silver screen in all their glory. That said, I haven’t been satisfied with many DC movie projects. Super Returns was mediocre, Green Lantern was traumatizing, and The Dark Knight series was more of a Chrisopher Nolan franchise than a series of Batman movies (loved parts of it, other parts…not so much).While a Justice League movie has the potential to be awesome, I would prefer no movie at all rather than a Green Lantern-like crap fast.

Any of you bummed by this Justice League development? Do you think the movie will see the light of day? Or will it be totally scrapped?

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North Korean Propaganda Video Features Call of Duty

This North Korean propaganda video is completely awesome. First off, it’s set to an instrumental version of “We Are the World.” Secondly, it uses imagery from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. It sends the lovely message of Korean reunification through the destruction of the United State by nuclear weapons. I’m not sure that’s what USA For Africa had in mind for “We Are the World,” but the song is open to interpretation…more

Here’s a translation of the video’s text from the YouTube description:

” Last night, I had such a wonderful dream. I found myself rising high into space riding the “Eunha 9” rocket. In happiness and excitement, the spaceship “Kwangmyungsong 21” separated, and was flying into the grand and endless space. From onboard, I could see beautiful colors and stark contrast [of the outside]. I was about to press the button to take a picture as I was heading toward our perfectly green earth, a shining star in the midst of the darkness. Suddenly, through the camera lens, the image of the unification flag blowing over our one unified country crops up. Even I weep as I hold tightly to that camera, concerns rushing over me. In America, I can see black smoke. It seems like the devil’s nest that habitually caused wars of invasion and persistence are finally burning under the fire that I have caused. The free and peaceful world and the magnificent and awe-striking space seem to be blessing our spaceship “Kwangmyungsong 21.” Dear viewers, think about this. Korea’s spaceship flying through space, to the backdrop of the brightly-lit sun and space. I am certain that my dream will come true. Even the complete ending of the imperialists schemes. Seeing our Bakedu Mountain country prospering strongly under reunification, they will not be able to prevent our people from going forward towards a final victory.” – translation by NKNews

Apparently Activision isn’t pleased about images from its game being used to promote the destruction of its home country. The company has been getting the video pulled from YouTube, so catch it while you can!

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Coffee Talk #565: Your Star Wars Standalone Movie

Disney CEO Bob Iger has confirmed that there will be standalone Star Wars movies along with a new trilogy. The initial rumor was that diminutive Jedi master Yoda would be getting his own film. This was followed by rumors of movies starring a young Han Solo and Boba Fett, respectively. Who would you like to see in a standalone Star Wars movie? Who do you think should get the spotlight?

Han Solo and Boba Fett are obvious choices. They’re both “cool” characters and easy to sell to Star Wars fans. Personally, I’d like to see something…more

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, injuries in LA Laker land, injuries in LA Clipper land, or practicing for your driving exam, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Han Solo and Boba Fett are obvious choices. They’re both “cool” characters and easy to sell to Star Wars fans. Personally, I’d like to see something different and unexpected. It’s probably not going to happen, but how about a movie about lesser-known Jedi like Adi Gallia or Ki Adi Mundi? The latter could star in an action-comedy — dude’s head cracks me up every time and Andy Dick has already played the character. Other ideas (that will never happen) include a subtitled Star Wars art-house film starring Wookiees on their home planet Kashyyyk. This movie would be a thoughtful look at a unique and noble race that’s often dismissed as the savages of the Star Wars universe. I’d call it Lost in Chewbacca…or something.

Anyway, why don’t you guys give it a go? Which character would you like to see have his or her (or its) own Star Wars movie? Kindly pick your character and describe your movie in the comments section.

PlayStation 4 to Cost $400?

Remember when the PlayStation 3 launched for $499 (20GB) and $599 (60GB)? Most pundits agree that those prices won’t fly in 2013. The Asahi Shimbun Digital reports that the PlayStation 4 (or whatever it’ll be called) will debut at 40,000 Yen, which converts to just under 428 USD. With that conversion in mind, it’s conceivable that Sony’s next console will launch in America for $399.

Charging big money for new consoles is old hat, but the consumer electronics market is going through some fascinating changes that could put a ceiling on launch prices. Hardware manufacturers are staying away from bleeding-edge silicon and emphasizing services. Smartphones, tablets, and streaming videogame systems (Ouya for $99!) have made $600 gaming systems an iffy proposition for many consumers.

With Nintendo leading this console generation with $299 and $349 systems, I expect Microsoft and Sony to sell for a little bit higher, but certainly not double. Of course the Wii U uses relatively old chips that are more inline with current consoles than the rumored silicon inside its competitors’ upcoming machines. Still, I would be surprised if a $600 console debuted this year. If it happens, it better wash and fold my laundry after I’m done playing games.

What do you think of the $400 PlayStation 4 rumor? Do you think that’s the right price for a new console in 2013? Or do you think we’ll see another $600 machine? How much would you be willing to pay for a new PlayStation or Xbox system?

Source via The Verge

Stuck in My Head: Hall & Oates

“Rich Girl” by Hall & Oates has been stuck in my head for the last three days. In the shared office space I use, the song has come up a lot. It’s a catchy tune and I actually enjoy Hall & Oates, but I need to get the song out of my system! Hopefully sharing it with you helps. As an added bonus, below is a clip of the wonderful The Bird and the Bee covering “Rich Girl.” Continue reading “Stuck in My Head: Hall & Oates”

Next Xbox Won’t Play Used Games?

Edge has a bunch of rumors on the next Microsoft Xbox. The juiciest of which is that it won’t play used games. Console manufacturers and videogame publishers have been happily working towards this, while retailers and consumers have been fearing and loathing these developments. Here’s a quote from the article:

Microsoft’s next console will require an Internet connection in order to function, ruling out a second-hand game market for the platform.

The article also covers the rumored innards of the next Xbox, which include, “an AMD eight-core x64 1.6GHz CPU, a D3D11.x 800MHz graphics solution and 8GB of DDR3 RAM.” To me, the blocking of used games is much more fascinating than the hardware specs, since it will have massive repercussions and result in record-breaking gamer rage. While I personally don’t care about the used-game issue, I’m totally ready to sit back, munch on some popcorn, and watch the mother of all flame wars ensue (should this come to pass).

How do you feel about the rumor of the next Xbox not playing used games? Do you think it’s bunk? Is it too soon for such a drastic measure? Or is this simple where the gaming business is going? Does a required Internet connection limit the console’s appeal? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section!

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