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Coffee Talk #169: Your Favorite Game of the First Half of 2010

2010 is halfway over! Since it’s halftime, I wanted to see what your favorite game of 2010 was, thus far. It has been a very unusual year for the videogame business with so many outstanding games released in the first half of the year. Which one was your favorite?

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, Twilight: Eclipse taking over the world this week, Tony La Russa supporting the tea party, or Funny People, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

As for me, not much has changed from Q1 2010. I’ve enjoyed Dragon Age: Origins Awakening, Heavy Rain, and Final Fantasy XIII the most. If I had to go with one, I’d pick Dragon Age, though I’m surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed FFXIII the more I’ve played it.

Now it’s your turn! Let’s have it ladies and gents. What has been your favorite game of 2010 so far?

Mega64’s TruthPhones Help You Understand E3 2010 Keynotes

Here’s another hilarious video from the peeps at Mega64. This time around they reveal TruthPhones — a peripheral that helps you understand what’s really going on at the E3 press conferences held by Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony. Check it out! It’s awesome!!!

“Xbox Arcade” Games Easy Ports for Windows Phone 7

As many of you know, I’ve been anxious for details on how Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Phone 7 will interact with Xbox 360. Although Apple’s iOS is extremely popular and Google’s Android is growing at a crazy pace, Windows Phone 7 has a chance to stand out by positioning itself as the gamer’s mobile operating system. TechRadar was able to extract some details on WP7 from Microsoft’s Oded Ran:

There are four million Xboxes in the UK compared to 2.5 million iPhones; we’re now working with developers who know how to make games, and they’re able to port Xbox Arcade games to mobile phones easily.

Before you get too excited, it should be noted that not every Xbox Live Arcade game is an instant port to Windows Phone 7. From my understanding, XBLA games created with XNA will be easy ports. The majority of XBLA games are not made with XNA. That said, WP7 should bolster the use of XNA and give WP7’s games market a huge kick start.

*sigh* I’m still annoyed that this wasn’t shown at E3 2010.

Source via MobileCrunch

Bryan Danielson Blogs About Getting Released by WWE

Professional wrestler Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan in WWE) has posted a lengthy blog entry on his WWE release. He confirmed a lot of what has been speculated and gave his fans an update on his mindset. Here’s a clip:

WWE is very serious about adhering to their PG guidelines, and apparently my actions during the NXT attack on John Cena, namely choking announcer Justin Roberts with his tie and spitting in Cena’s face, crossed the boundaries of what is considered “PG.” Perhaps the choking was too violent or perhaps the spit was too demeaning. I apologized for both immediately following the incident; but I would be a hypocrite if I apologized for putting everything I have into the attack. I would much rather have gone too far than to come up too short.

As with anyone who gets fired from their job, especially when they feel its unjust, I am angry. Very angry. But I can’t fault WWE for how they handled my release. My contract contained a 90 day no-compete clause in the event I was let go, yet the WWE has graciously allowed me start wrestling again on any show that’s not taped for television or pay per view.

As a huge Danielson mark, I’m extremely bummed that WWE released him for an incredibly lame reason. He was my favorite part of WWE since Shawn Michaels retired. As someone that lost their job for a stupid reason, I empathize with Danielson (though he’s actually been making money since his release, unlike me — ha!). I hope WWE rehires him in the future. For now I encourage all of you to follow his blog and download some of his excellent Ring of Honor matches on PlayStation Network or Xbox Live.

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Motorola Pokes Fun at AT&T and Apple in Droid X Advertisement

I love it when giant companies take jabs at each other. The latest case of corporate amusement comes from Motorola, which deftly hit AT&T and Apple with a single blow. With one bit of text a clever copywriter took a shot at AT&T’s shoddy network and Apple’s iPhone 4 reception issues. A recent advertisement for the Droid X phone (Verizon) said:

Most importantly, it comes with a double antenna design. The kind that allows you to hold the phone any way you like and use it just about anywhere to make crystal clear calls.

Aren’t these guys just adorable when they fight? Ha!

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Looks Like Hulu Plus for PS3 Will Require PlayStation Plus

This will probably piss some of you off (though it shouldn’t surprise any of you), but it looks like the PlayStation 3 version Hulu Plus will require PlayStation Plus. Yesterday a few of you were annoyed that the Xbox 360 version will require an Xbox Live Gold subscription. It looks like it’s the same deal on both sides of the console fence.

Technologizer did some excellent snooping and found some text hidden on the Hulu Plus web site that shows up in Google searches. The text states:

The instructions below will help you install Hulu Plus on your PS3. You must be a subscriber of the PlayStation Plus Network.

Does this change the value of Hulu Plus and/or PlayStation Plus for you?

Source via Destructoid

Milo and Kate for Xbox 360 Kinect is Coming: Do You Care?

Recently there was some controversy on whether Milo — the virtual indentured servant for Xbox Kinect that wowed some people and terrified others — was a real game or a tech demo. Microsoft’s American PR said one thing, but Microsoft Game Studios Peter Molyneux said something else. At the end of the day, it looks like Milo and Kate is an actual product. Sir Peter told GI Biz:

This is a full product that we’re working on. Poor Aaron Greenberg — he’s on the PR team, he hasn’t seen it since last year, so he came up with this stock answer that Milo is alive and well and living in Guildford but it’s still a tech demo. If I had spent time with him and showed him the game recently, he’d know what was going on…. All that technology that we showed at E3 last year actually does work.

While the internal Microsoft bickering is highly amusing, what I really want to know is if you care about this game. Whether it’s deserved or not, Molyneux has a reputation for not delivering on his grand promises. Milo received a ton of hype at E3 2009, but like so many Kinect projects, I don’t see how it’s fun. (Letting me beat Milo with a virtual stick would increase the entertainment value of this game by a factor of 14.) Do you care about Milo and Kate for Kinect?

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PSA: Free WiFi at Starbucks Starts Tomorrow

Here’s a friendly reminder that starting July 1, unlimited WiFi access at Starbucks coffeehouses in America and Canada will be free. Previously, customers were limited to two free hours that required some goofy login. The new scheme is unlimited and only requires one click to get things going.

While I’m not a big fan of Starbucks coffee (I don’t hate it. I just find it average.), I think it’s cool that the company is offering free WiFi to its customers. I’m sure that the unlimited WiFi will be problematic in places like San Francisco, where’s there’s a high nerds-per-square-inch ratio. Someone will gather a group of friends, start torrenting GBs of data, slowing down speeds for everyone else as they cackle at their prank. Hmmmm, I wonder what my LA freelancer friends are doing tomorrow….

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Coffee Talk #168: Your Console and Electronics Updating Patterns

Yesterday I updated the software for my HTC Evo 4G and PlayStation 3. Both had updates that were released yesterday. I was actually surprised that I updated so soon. Usually I wait a few days to see if there are any bugs or annoying quirks caused by the new software. For various reasons (okay, it was cloudy…and updating firmware makes me happy), I jumped the gun and didn’t following my usual updating pattern.

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, Roger Federer’s upset at Wimbledon, red pandas, or Stumptown’s Costa Rica Brumas Del Zurqui, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

How do you handle updates for your consoles, mobile phones, etc.? Do you update straight away, like I did yesterday? Do you wait a few days to make sure everything is kosher? Perhaps you only update when it’s absolutely necessary, like when a certain game require a newer firmware version. Kindly share your console and consumer electronics updating patterns in the comments section.

Hulu Plus for 360 Will Be Highly Customized, Gold Members Only

According to Larry Hryb — who is Microsoft’s Major Nelson and not the guy that performed “Pants on the Ground” on American Idol — Hulu Plus for Xbox 360 will be different from its counterparts. It will also be for Xbox Live Gold subscribers only. Here’s the deal:

We’re working hard on creating customized experience for Xbox Live members, which means that Hulu Plus will be coming to Xbox 360 in early 2011. We are taking the time to ensure that the Hulu Plus experience for Xbox 360 is the best on TV and like our other entertainment experiences it will not be a port, but rather a custom experience that leverages the Xbox Live community features.

Hulu Plus will be available for US Xbox Live Gold Members only.

Some of you are probably disappointed that Hulu Plus will be Gold only, but you shouldn’t be surprised. Microsoft needs to increase the value of Xbox Live Gold in light of Sony’s PlayStation Plus service.

How do you feel about this tidbit from the fake Major? Bummed? Indifferent?

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