PadCast: L1 Games’ Chett Muzzalupo Talks EA Online Pass

Remember that YouTube video that featured an indie game store owner ranting about EA’s Online Pass? I found it so fascinating that I tracked down the store owner and interviewed him. He’s a very cool guy and has an interesting perspective. It’s easy to think about Online Pass in terms of EA vs. GameStop. This PadCast gives you a different perspective on the issue. Here’s the official description:

Independent game store owner Chet Muzzalupo (Level 1 Games) recently delivered an inspired rant against EA’s Online Pass. The scheme is designed to discourage consumers from buying used games and encourage them to buy new. While this potentially helps developers earn more royalties, it also limits customer choice and hurts retailers. While nobody is going to shed a tear for GameStop losing out on money, the Online Pass can kill small game stores like Level 1. Muzzalupo shares his perspective as an independent game store owner, addresses the issue of used-game sales hurting the business, and talks about the future of the buy-sell-trade business.

I enjoyed chatting with Chett and I think you’ll dig this video. Check it out (please)!

George St-Pierre Wants You to Buy UFC Undisputed 2010

THQ’s UFC Undisputed 2010 is available in stores now. If you haven’t picked it up, George St-Pierre — arguably the best fighter pound-for-pound in UFC today — is here to sell you on the game. Watch GSP train outside the octagon and kick ass in it. Whether it’s the real GSP or the videogame version, I’m not going to argue with him. I like my limbs.

Are the Skrulls the Main Villains in The Avengers Movie?

RPadholic N8R sent me this tip while I was at Google I/O last week. There’s a chance that the Skrulls are going to be the main baddies in The Avengers movie. As any comic-book fanboy knows, the Asgardian god of mischief Loki was the first Avengers’ villain. The Skrulls, however, have starred in some of the most epic Avengers tales ever and would probably look cooler on the big screen. Here’s the scoop from ComicBookMovie.com:

The highlight of this insider scoop (DISCLAIMER: which has not been confirmed by the studio itself) is that the shape-changing alien race the Skrulls are being used as the main antagonists for The Avengers. Not only that, but the Skrulls will ‘brainwash’ and use the Hulk in a similar fashion Loki did in the comics. Don’t expect a full on alien invasion, though; that will have to wait for a sequel. The Skrulls’ role will be largely clandestine, similar to the way S.H.I.E.L.D. operates.

I’m terrified of Skrulls. They’re green (which is sexy if you’re She-Hulk) and have disgusting, wrinkly chins — they’re just horrifying! They can also take the shape of any person and advanced Skrulls can mimic super-abilities as well. Considering his vast intellect and incredible powers, I’m pretty sure my old G4tv.com coworker Brian Leahy was a Skrull.

Anyway, let me know what you think of the Skrulls possibly starring in The Avengers. Also keep in mind that where there are Skrulls, there are usually Kree waiting to beat the snot out of them.

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Rock Band 3 Will Have a Keyboard: Do You Care?

I liked the conversation you guys had with yesterday’s “Do You Care?” article about Killzone 3. It was simple and totally fit in with the spirit of the site (you guys!). So let’s try it again! The demo for Green Day: Rock Band teased that Rock Band 3 will have a keyboard peripheral. A few of my journalist friends confirmed that they learned this at a recent press event (I’m guessing the info was/is under NDA). Do you care that Rock Band 3 will have a keyboard?

Personally, I think it’s great. On the ridiculous side, people can rock out to Europe or Jem and the Holograms. Being (more) serious, there are so many great songs with prominent keyboard or piano parts. Hell, just look at all the great Elton John songs that could take advantage of a keyboard peripheral. When I first heard about the news, Bon Jovi immediately popped into my head; David Bryan’s keyboard and piano playing are a really underrated facet of the band’s sound. He adds a great layer to so many Bon Jovi songs and his contributions are often overlooked.

So yeah! The question again is do you care that Rock Band 3 will have a keyboard? Well…do ya?!?

AT&T Launches Free WiFi in Times Square NYC

In an interesting move that’s part cool and part “our network sure sucks in this town”, AT&T has launched a free WiFi program in New York City’s Times Square. AT&T customers with a WiFi capable smartphone or high-speed Internet device will be able to access the WiFi free of charge. It’s similar to how current customers can use the AT&T WiFi at Starbucks for free, but now they can get run over while they’re browsing on their iPhone while crossing 47th and 8th. Here’s a clip from the press release:

AT&T has installed Wi-Fi service in the north central part of Times Square, near 7th Avenue between 45th and 47th Street, to provide a large outdoor hotspot zone that AT&T users can access using any Wi-Fi enabled device. The AT&T Wi-Fi hotzone at Times Square is available at no additional charge for nearly 32 million AT&T customers with qualifying smartphone, 3G LaptopConnect and AT&T High Speed Internet plans.

The Times Square WiFi program will serve as a pilot. If it takes off then AT&T will deploy it in other cities. I know loads of San Francisco iPhone users that would love network congestion moved off of the mobile network and onto WiFi. While I take a fair share of shots at AT&T, I have to admit that this program is very cool.

Legendary Pictures Acquires Rights to Mass Effect Movie

Legendary Pictures has acquired the rights to make a Mass Effect movie and is negotiating with Mark Protosevich (I Am Legend) to write the film’s script. According to The Hollywood Reporter:

Legendary Pictures has picked up rights to Mass Effect, the Electronic Arts-BioWare video game. Mark Protosevich, the scribe who wrote I Am Legend and worked on Thor, is in talks to pen the movie, which will be produced by Avi and Ari Arad as well as Legendary’s Thomas Tull and Jon Jashni.

I’m thrilled that a BioWare game is going to become a movie. Considering how broad the game is, there are so many ways Protosevich can go with the movie. What would you want the Mass Effect movie to focus on? Any casting ideas?

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Sam Mendes Directing iPhone HD Commercials

In a move that could only be described as “Apple Cool”, Cuppertino’s fruitiest company has nabbed Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) to direct the launch commercials for the upcoming iPhone. One actor and one actress tweeted about their auditions for the commercial. Engadget added more:

A trusted source has confirmed to us that the ads will feature at least one spot where a mother and daughter are having a video chat conversation using the new front-facing camera that’s been spied on the face of that iPhone floating around Vietnam and Northern California.

Whether you love Apple or hate it (and I think most of you around here love it), it’s just completely cool that the company gets people like Sam Mendes to direct its commercials. That reminds me of this vision I keep having — if I ever win the lottery, I’m getting Alex Ross to paint my house.

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HBO Content Available for PS3 and PSP Through PSN

Sony has announced that HBO content is now available on the PlayStation Network and can be viewed through PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable consoles. Episodes of Entourage, True Blood, Rome, Da Ali G Show, Big Love, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Eastbound and Down, The Sopranos, Sex and the City, The Wire, and Flight of the Conchords are available. The content will be updated on a weekly basis.

As a huge fan of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Entourage, I love this addition. Episodes will be available around the same time they’re released on DVD. The good news is that you can just buy the episodes you like for $3 a pop instead of buying the whole set. I’m hoping that HBO boxing content will hit PSN, but I don’t expect that to happen.

Any of you excited by this news? How many of you are going to fill your PS3 hard drives with Sex and the City Episodes?

Coffee Talk #150: Do You Want to Control Games with Your Voice?

Google Android’s voice recognition is pretty outstanding. I’ve been loving it on the Evo 4G and I’m surprised that it works so well. The voice capabilities of the phone got me thinking — if voice recognition can be effective on a mobile phone with a 1GHz processor, then shouldn’t it just completely rock on a console with a multi-core CELL chip? Sure, games like Seaman and Hey You Pikachu were gimmicky, but I think the right developer could use today’s voice recognition and console power in a really fun way.

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, Crystal vs. Lee on American Idol, getting a job for Mike Brown, or American hockey teams, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Google Android’s voice recognition is pretty outstanding. I’ve been loving it on the Evo 4G and I’m surprised that it works so well. The voice capabilities of the phone got me thinking — if voice recognition can be effective on a mobile phone with a 1GHz processor, then shouldn’t it just completely rock on a console with a multi-core CELL chip? Sure, games like Seaman and Hey You Pikachu were gimmicky, but I think the right developer could use today’s voice recognition and console power in a really fun way.

A real-time strategy game created with voice command in mind would be cool. Whether it’s like Pikmin or like StarCraft, voice could totally work for the genre. Personally, I’d love a strategy RPG (Disgaea, Final Fantasy Tactics) that used voice controls. The game I see in my head (I’d show it to you, but it would be messy getting in there) uses customary SRPG gameplay combined with several voice-specific twists.

Do you think voice-controlled games could be fun? Would you even want one? Or is it a matter of a developer creating a cool voice experience and making you want it? Do you see a genre that would work well with voice? Share your thoughts (please)!

Insomniac Signs with EA Partners, Will Go Multiplatform

Insomniac Games (Ratchet & Clank, Resistance) has signed a publishing deal with EA Partners. After 16 years (spanning 13 titles) of developing games exclusively for Sony PlayStation consoles, the developer has decided to branch out with EA Partners. Incomniac founder and CEO Ted Price told Gamasutra:

It was the desire to reach more players. We’re extremely happy with the loyal PlayStation 3 fan base, and our goal now is to take our games to a broader player base — to go to Xbox 360 as well.

We’ve been building to this point for a while. We have multiple teams working at Insomniac. We have a team dedicated to this project. We are dedicating new technology for the Xbox 360. As a company, we are taking more time for all our projects to make sure we can really polish them up and make sure fans have the best experience possible.

This is a great deal for EA Partners, which gets to publish games from one of the best developers in the world. Although Price insisted that his company’s commitment to Sony will remain strong, it has to be seen as a blow to the PlayStation 3. Sony’s exclusive relationship with fantastic developers like Insomniac, Naughty Dog, and Sucker Punch helped differentiate its first-party games from the competition’s. It’s great that more gamers will get to experience Insomniac’s games, but it definitely sucks for Sony that it has to share the love.

Honestly, I’m still in a bit of shock. I haven’t had my coffee yet and this is big news to wake up to. How do you boys and girls feel about it?

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