Heavy Rain Demo Dropping on Thursday, February 11

Sony Computer Entertainment of America has announced that the demo for Heavy Rain will be available on Thursday, February 11. Product marketing manager Jefferson Dong detailed the demo on Sony’s PlayStation Blog:

This PlayStation 3-exclusive demo will feature two full chapters from the game, in which players will immerse themselves in the roles of Norman Jayden, a FBI profiler brought in to help local law enforcement find and capture the Origami Killer, and Scott Shelby, a private investigator hired by families of past victims to bring their killer to justice. Gamers will finally get the chance to try this psychological thriller where players make choices that will determine their story, all in the hopes of uncovering the mystery of Heavy Rain.

I hope everyone has a chance to download and play the demo on Thursday because Friday is going to be like book report day! I can’t wait to compare experiences with y’all. This is, by far, the most excited I’ve been for a downloadable demo. Is it Thursday yet?!?

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Coffee Talk #83: Originals That Are Better Than Their Sequels

“They don’t make ’em like they used to,” is a pretty common phrase. In gaming, that usually doesn’t apply. Better technology and smarter development almost always make current games superior to their predecessors. There are exceptions to the rule…though sometimes it’s simply a matter of taste.

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, poor Taylor Swift getting bashed for her singing skills, Ellen’s debut on American Idol, or robbing arcades with coffee mugs, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

“They don’t make ’em like they used to,” is a pretty common phrase. In gaming, that usually doesn’t apply. Better technology and smarter development almost always make current games superior to their predecessors. There are exceptions to the rule…though sometimes it’s simply a matter of taste.

To me, Super Mario Kart for SNES is the best game in the series. While I’ve enjoyed several of its sequels, none of them come close to the original, in my opinion. I will defend the game’s clever design and simple controls all day when someone tells me that the sequels had more complex tracks and more intricate controls. To me, Super Mario Kart was the most fun.

That said, I have to admit that nostalgia might have something to do with it too. I had a blast playing the game with my brother for hours and hours. Perhaps I’m fooling myself, but I believe that’s a minor part of it. I honestly believe that as technology improved and game design became more complex, the Mario Kart series became less fun.

Are there any games that make you feel the same way? Is there a series that became worse over time instead of better, in your opinion? Am I nuts about thinking Super Mario Kart is the best in the series? Leave a comment and let me know (please)!

Superman Reboot Being Supervised by Christopher Nolan?

The Superman movie franchise is headed for another reboot and rumor has it that Chris Nolan will be supervising Big Blue’s return to the silver screen. Deadline Hollywood has reported:

The studio has turned to Chris Nolan to mentor development of the movie. Our insiders say that the brains behind rebooted Batman has been asked to play a “godfather” role and ensure The Man Of Steel gets off the ground after a 3 1/2-year hiatus. Nolan’s leadership of the project can set it in the right direction with the critics and the fans, not to mention at the box office. Besides, Nolan is considered something of a god at Warner Bros and has a strong relationship with the studio after the success of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight.

I’ve enjoyed loads of Superman comics over the years and I loved the first two Superman movies starring Christopher Reeve. The problem with Superman is that it’s hard to make him interesting and vulnerable in a two-hour film. His weaknesses include kryptonite, magic, and bossy newspaper reporters. Kryptonite is too easy and has been done to death. Magic seems silly to most mainstream moviegoers (though Superman vs. Voldemort would be funny). Superman II worked because he faced off against three people with the same powers and General Zod was frickin’ awesome. How do you top that?

I’d love to see a Kingdom Come movie, but that would be too confusing for casual fans and it would be too expensive to make. What do you think the ingredients are to a good Superman movie?

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Man Robs German Arcade with a Cup of Coffee

N8R sent this one in and I’m still struggling to understand how a man armed with a cup of coffee robbed an arcade in Hamelin, German. Here’s the 411 from Reuters:

“He wasn’t going to pour coffee over her, he was going to hit her with the cup,” a spokesman for local police said.

Brandishing the steaming cup he had just ordered, the thief forced the 26-year-old to open the till and fled with cash.

I suppose a coffee cup is an inconspicuous object, but it still seems like a lame weapon for “armed” robbery. Personally, I would have gone with a pint glass. Hopefully this doesn’t start a beverage-based crime wave.

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Can You Guess the Next Google Android Build Names?

Astute observers know that after the alpha and beta builds of Google Android, the company has been going down the alphabet and naming builds after desserts — Cupcake, Donut, Eclair, Froyo (frozen yogurt), Gingerbread, etc. Let’s play a game and name upcoming builds of Google Anroid ourselves! Does anyone know a dessert that starts with the letter “H”?

Nippon Ichi Software Changes Game Title, Pet Shop Boys Pissed?

Nippon Ichi Software has announced that it has changed the name of Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman! for Sony PlayStation Portable to What Did I Do to Deserve This, My Lord?! So instead of a title that uses an Adam West Batman pun, the game will now make people think of The Pet Shop Boys.

Check out the box art below.

Google Makes Gmail Social with Google Buzz

Aiming to keep its users attached to its products (and away from social networking services like Facebook, Twitter, etc.), Google has introduced a new feature to Gmail: Google Buzz. Gmail users will be able to share photos, videos, updates, and more. Check out the video below for more information.

As someone that runs his own web site, I love and loathe Google Buzz. I love that it gives me another way to reach people and increase traffic. I loathe that I have to add another task to promote articles.

I haven’t really thought about how and if I’ll use Buzz on a personal level, but I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.

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UFC Undisputed 2010 Coming in May, Brock Lesnar on Cover

THQ has announced that UFC Undisputed will be hitting store shelves on May 25, 2010, sporting Brock Lesnar as the cover athlete. The company claims that its second UFC game is, “Poised to deliver intelligent and intuitive combat, increased fighter customization, robust career progression, challenging new gameplay modes and explosive online offerings.” Hopefully the explosive offerings have nothing to do with gastrointestinal issues (MMA fighters wear skimpy shorts, after all).

The first UFC Undisputed was a huge hit last year. Considering the popularity of MMA and UFC, that wasn’t too surprising. That said, it was a strong return for MMA to videogames and the sophomore effort should be even better.

I’m definitely psyched for this one. How about you?

Coffee Talk #82: What Game Would You Show Mom & Dad?

What game would you show your parents (or parent-like figures) to show off how far gaming has come? It’s easy for older people to dismiss games as “greasy kid stuff”, simply because they don’t know any better. A lot of parents haven’t seen incredible interactive adventures like Uncharted 2 or the thrilling action of Left 4 Dead 2. They don’t know how awesome games are, even compared to last generation.

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 Million-Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase finally being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, where Johnny Damon will end up, or the next great Android device, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

What game would you show your parents (or parent-like figures) to show off how far gaming has come? It’s easy for older people to dismiss games as “greasy kid stuff”, simply because they don’t know any better. A lot of parents haven’t seen incredible interactive adventures like Uncharted 2 or the thrilling action like Left 4 Dead 2. They simply don’t know how awesome games are, even compared to last generation.

I remember this one time (not at band camp) when my Dad visited me in San Francisco. We saw my uncle and his family in the East Bay and they had all sorts of questions about games. When they brought me home, I showed them a cutscene from Final Fantasy X and they were amazed by the graphics, music, and storytelling. I think they were expecting a modern-day Pac-Man and were blown away by the evolution of games.

Today (or later this month, really) I think I’d show them Heavy Rain. The graphics are incredible. The story, emotion, and music are easy to appreciate. Most importantly, the game is simple enough that they could actually play it. They wouldn’t have to worry about summoning, sphere grids, and potion management. They’d need a little help for sure, but they would easily get the idea.

What game would you show your parents to illustrate the awesomeness of gaming?