Consumer electronics nerds that love the Android 2.1-powered Google Nexus One but aren’t high on T-Mobile have some good news — a CDMA version of the Nexus One has cleared the FCC! When the phone launched, Google said that Verizon would be getting the Nexus One in Spring 2010. It looks like that release date will be met.
Now that the Nexus One will be available on America’s largest mobile network, are any of you interested in picking it up?
N8R’s RPad.tv Firefox persona is available! Click here to check it out and download it. Thanks N8R!!!
GameStop is kicking off a great Pokemon giveaway that starts tomorrow, February 27, and runs until March 13. Gamers that bring their Pokemon Diamond, Pearl, or Platinum cartridges to a participating GameStop can download the legendary Pokemon Jirachi!
In addition to getting a limited-edition Pokemon, players can also use this Jirachi to unlock a hidden path in the Pokewalker accessory that comes with the upcoming Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver. The route is called Night Sky’s Edge and it can only be accessed through this promotion. (Those Pokemon people are so clever with their promotions.)
If you’re serious about Pokemon, don’t forget to soft reset your game until you get a Jirachi with an optimal nature. Please excuse me as I have to email my Pokemon best friend Peter to see if wants to go to GameStop tomorrow.
Is there a videogame character you wish you were more like? It sounds like a silly question, but there are loads of videogame characters that have laudable traits. It’s not hard to find a character that’s heroic, clever, wise, witty, or caring. If you’re more devil than angel, it’s easy to find characters that are devious, diabolical, and cruel.
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, Americans getting into curling to be contrary, the latest snow storm on the east coast, or Palm taking a beating, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
Is there a videogame character you wish you were more like? It sounds like a silly question, but there are loads of videogame characters that have laudable traits. It’s not hard to find a character that’s heroic, clever, wise, witty, or caring. If you’re more devil than angel, it’s easy to find characters that are devious, diabolical, and cruel.
As for me, I’m going to go with Pokemon’s Ash Ketchum. I’m certain that I’m being influenced by GameStop’s upcoming Pokemon Jirachi promotion, but I think he’s a great pick. He’s kind, caring, and determined. I also miss viewing the world through innocent eyes. Ash accomplishes his goals as a Pokemon trainer while still being a good person and seeing things with child-like wonder. Maybe I’m just feeling tired and jaded this week, but I want to be more like Ash.
So play this game with me (please). I’d love to know what videogame character you’d like to be more like. I’m just hoping none of you pick Kratos.
I swear it was Monday yesterday. Ha! Funny how that goes…. Anyway, I’ve watched two sets of endings for Heavy Rain and I’m not sure that I care to see the others just yet. Instead, I’m going to spend the weekend trophy hunting, replaying different chapters of the game so that I can rack up rewards on my secondary PSN account (as a few of you know, it’s sorely lacking). Some of the trophies are a snap to get, so I should be able to snag a whole bunch in two days.
When I need a break from Heavy Rain, I’ll be going to my old standby: Civilization Revolution for iPhone. I can’t believe how many hours I’ve gotten out of the game. I’m pretty sure it’s the best gaming value of my life (and I bought it on sale for $2.99!).
As always, I want to know what you’re playing this weekend. Share your weekend playlist with your fellow RPadholics.
“The Nature Boy” Ric Flair is 61 today! Whoooooooo!!! Flair is the best pro-wrestler I’ve ever seen and is a living legend. There are so many brilliant Ric Flair moments (spanning four decades!). While his “retirement” match with Shawn Michaels is fresh on my mind, I’m going to go with the Ric Flair vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat matches in the NWA as my fondest memories of ‘Naitch.
What are your favorite memories of the stylin’, profilin’, limousing-riding, jet-flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin’-dealin’ son-of-a-gun known as Ric Flair?
Capcom has revealed some of the pre-order goodies (pictured above) for the upcoming Super Street Fighter IV
I hate that pre-order marketing is working on me, but I think I’m going to buy the game from Amazon. Dhalsim’s costume totally cracks me up, Fei Long’s is cool, and Blanka wearing a Dan costume is all kinds of awesome.
Which pre-order bonus interests you?
Every time Nintendo holds a press event, the most common question from the press is, “When is the Wii 2 or Wii HD coming out?” The latest word from Nintendo executive vice president Cammie Dunaway is:
I don’t think it’ll be anytime soon.
We’ll have it ready when we think the time is right.
Sure, she knows more than she’s letting on, but the real reason Nintendo isn’t talking Wii 2 just yet is that it will almost definitely go large with the Nintendo DS successor at E3 2010.
I’ve heard a bunch of details from people that claim to be developing for the system. I hope to get some more info at Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2010 in a few weeks. What I’ve heard so far is pretty cool, with one Nintendo-like twist that I wasn’t expecting.
I’ll write more about the DS2 in a few weeks. For now, let me know what features you think or want the next Nintendo handheld system to have.
[100% spoiler free, in case you’re worried.] I love Heavy Rain. It’s one of the most impressive games I’ve played in years. Its graphics, music, characters (minus some spotty voice acting), and storytelling are phenomenal. Entertainment aside, it’s the kind of game that moves the industry forward and leads to greater experiences. As much as I want everyone with a PlayStation 3 to buy Heavy Rain, I have to say that it’s a rental for most people — quite possibly the perfect rental.
Before I get to that, I’ll go over various aspects of Heavy Rain. First and foremost, the way the game creates suspense and tension is extraordinary. I was literally on the edge of my couch during several portions of the game. There were a few times when I completed a thrilling chase scene, paused the game, and thought, “When was the last time a game made me feel that way?” That’s just totally cool.
The story is fantastic, which I expected from a Quantic Dream game. Learning the identity of The Origami Killer genuinely surprised me. (The killer is not Jesse Divnich, btw.) There were a few characters that I suspected, but when the criminal was finally revealed I was all, “Wow. I didn’t see that one coming…at all!” What’s even cooler is that the choices you make result in different twists and turns. While the game will take most of you eight or nine hours to complete, I think it’s worth replaying to see how the different paths play out. Like I said in another article, it would be stupid to only play this game once.
Most of you have seen screens and videos of the game, so you know how beautiful it is. To be completely honest, the graphics didn’t really matter to me most of the time. The other aspects of the game were so engaging that I didn’t really pay close attention to the gorgeous visuals. Stepping back for a moment, I’m glad the game looks the way it does. I loved Indigo Prophecy on Xbox, but its ugly graphics often pulled me out of the experience.
Some gamers dislike the gameplay in Heavy Rain, dismissing the entire game as a series of quick-time events. That’s just close-minded. Considering that my favorite games are turn-based RPGs, I don’t see how Heavy Rain’s gameplay is “lesser”. Some gamers with a heavy preference for shooters will find the gameplay slow and dull, but players that are opened to other genres will dig what Heavy Rain — in its entirety — has to offer.
So yeah! Right about now you’re thinking, “If you love the game so much then why do you think it’s only a rental?” Well, it’s $60 and you can can play through several branches and get multiple endings in a week. Most players will get their fill of Heavy Rain by then. They’ll enjoy it and “get” it. While the DLC should extend the experience, I don’t think the majority of gamers will care enough to hold onto the game for its DLC. Is Heavy Rain worth experiencing? Absolutely! Is it worth $60 for most gamers? Probably not. (Related note: remember this old discussion on gaming value?)
As someone that’s peripherally involved in the gaming business, I hate saying that Heavy Rain is a “rent” instead of a “buy”. As someone that can influence the amount of money in your wallet, it’s my responsibility to give you this answer.
Agree? Disagree? Either way, let me know (please)!
Naughty Dog founder and current Monkey Gods chief executive monkey Jason Rubin believes that there’s one thing that will help the gaming industry thrive: more cowbell. Wait, that’s not right. I meant digital distribution. In an interview with Character Arcade Rubin said:
Inefficiencies in distribution tied to the box release are hampering that part of the business. If publishers and developers could recapture the 20 percent stores’ take, plus a substantial part of revenue lost to piracy, rental, and resale, not to mention the cost of shipping pieces of plastic all over the world, then I think that part of the industry would be in a better position financially, without a single extra dollar of cost to gamers. Digital distribution can help with all of those inefficiencies, at the same time as it improves the gamer’s experience.
From a developer’s perspective, I totally see where he’s coming from. From a consumer’s perspective, I know that some of you have issues and concerns about digital distribution. What do you think of Rubin’s take on the matter?
