In keeping with the role-playing theme of Coffee Talk #43, I wanted to see which Dungeons & Dragons alignment describes you best. Make a choice and if you have time, elaborate in the comments section. I’m going to have to give my answer some thought….
[poll id=”14″]
Michael Weston has uploaded a video of the Pandora handheld gaming system, which combines an open-source OS with a powerful ARM Cortex A-8 CPU and a PowerVR SGX GPU. While it’s not going to put a dent in Nintendo’s market share, it’s an interesting look at the potential future of handheld gaming. Pandora is a potent portable that also lets you tackle basic computing needs. Check out the video after the break!
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Here’s a fantastic illustration by legendary artist Yoshitaka Amano, best known as the original artist and character designer for the Final Fantasy series. As some of you know, Tetsuya Nomura has been handling art for many of Square Enix’s games, including FFXIII
Here’s a sneak peak at the upcoming Phoenix Wright game for WiiWare. It looks like fun…unless you happen to be a member of the goofy Japanese family playing the game in the trailer. If that’s the case, you’re probably busy looking for ways to run away from home or slip hemlock into the family’s beverages.
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 NY Yankees closing in on Curtis Granderson, the potentially awesome Google Goggles, or WWE Chris Masters’ dancing pectoral muscles, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.
Halfway through my fifth play through of Dragon Age: Origins, I was vexed. You see, I originally intended to play this round as a rogue, with assassin and bard specializations. A stealthy, backstabbing rogue with the passive assassin benefits and bard song buffs seemed like a great idea. When my character hit level 14, I couldn’t press the button to activate the bard specialization. A rogue that hid in shadows, backstabbed, and burst into song just didn’t make sense.
Some of my friends play games solely to win and would have added the bard specialization in a flash. I prefer to get lost in adventures and make decisions I like or make sense to me. I guess that’s why I don’t enjoy playing games as evil characters. In this case, my preference for role playing prevented me from playing as a singing assassin. (What do assassins sing anyway? Show tunes?) The thought of a stealthy rogue emerging from the shadows to suddenly backstab an enemy and burst into song sounds…it sounds…it actually sounds frickin’ hilarious. Crap. I should have hit the bard button.
Anyway, I wanted to see how you handle role-playing situations like the one I described. Do you opt for whatever makes your character the most effective? Or do you put yourself in your character’s Dragonscale boots and do what makes sense for the role?
THQ has announced details on the first community contest in a ten-week series for its game WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010
The first community contest begins today, encouraging site members to use the game’s Create-a-Superstar Mode to construct and name their ultimate Superstars and Divas. Consumers will also submit brief written descriptions to further tell the stories behind their creations. All entries will be received via PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Xbox Live Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The entries will be judged on character design, character name and the written description. The winner will receive his or her choice of a WWE sweatshirt and WWE t-shirt from www.wweshop.com (subject to availability).
As a videogame lover and WWE fan, I encourage all of you to participate in these contests. If you happen to win with an original Superstar based on me, I’ll get you something special. The storyline can start off with something like this, “Cast off from the place he called home due to dubious circumstances, a lonely Superstar goes back to his roots to fight the battles he loves, the only way he knows how.” Ha!
Google has announced that its Chrome web browser is now available for Mac OS. I love Chrome on Windows and know that a few of you are total Macheads. Let me know what you think of Chrome for Mac OS when you have a chance.
Director of PlayStation Network Operation Eric Lempel has detailed the upcoming PS3 firmware update 3.15. There are two major features in this update: a transfer utility and the ability to play PSP Minis on a PS3. Here’s what Lempel had to say:
It enables existing PS3 owners who purchase a new PS3 system (perhaps as a second unit for the household) to transfer their content from their current PS3 to the new system. Content such as games, game save data, and videos downloaded from PlayStation Network can be transferred to the new PS3 system and deleted from the current PS3 system. Other content, including personal media files (photos, music, videos), can be copied onto the new PS3 and remain on the current PS3 system.
The 3.15 update also enables “minis” to be played on a PS3 system. As we’ve reported here before, “minis” launched on PlayStation Network this fall in conjunction with the launch of PSPgo. These bite-sized games offer a more casual experience and are ideal for shorter gameplay session.
I’m curious about PSP Minis. Although long RPGs are my favorite kinds of games, I can always use something that can kill five to ten minutes, whether it’s waiting for the cable guy, standing in line, etc. Do you have any thoughts on PSP Minis?
Gamers have been waiting…and waiting…and waiting to hear if Yakuza 3 is destined for a U.S. release…and Sega has finally confirmed the game for a March 2010 release. Assistant community manager Aaron Webber wrote the following on the PlayStation Blog:
After months upon months of requests, a myriad of rumors, and even full campaigns that speak to the unparalleled dedication of the fans, we can finally speak those words that all of you have been waiting anxiously to hear. So, here they are: Yakuza 3 is coming West.
I was never really into the series, but know a few people that love it. Are any of you looking forward to this game? I’m pretty much going to be ignoring every March release, except for a teeny title being released by Square Enix.
Cooler than anything I’ve ever seen at Lush (and I love Lush) is DigitalSoaps’ NES controller-shaped soap. I’ve already filed it under “completely awesome”. It’s not just the retro-console coolness of this soap. The fact that it’s scented with Mountain Dew fragrance oil gives this soap major bonus points…mostly because I’m astounded that there’s such a thing as Mountain Dew fragrance oil.
