Signs Point to Ric Flair Signing with TNA…and it Makes Me Sad

Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels

I just watched Ric Flair’s “retirement” match with Shawn Michaels from WrestleMania 24. It wasn’t the most technically impressive match I’ve ever seen, but in terms of storytelling and playing with the crowd’s emotions, few can top it. More importantly, it was the perfect send-off to Flair’s wrestling career in North America. With rumors swirling that Flair will sign with TNA for a series of matches with Hulk Hogan, I’m totally bummed that “The Nature Boy” is even considering ruining his storybook ending.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s absolutely Flair’s right to make a living any way he sees fit, but he’s not “The Nature Boy” anymore. He hasn’t been for a long, long time. Although I haven’t followed all of his career, I’ve watched a great deal of it. From the NWA to WCW to WWF to WWE, I have no doubt that Flair is the best wrestler of all time. His matches with Harley Race, Kerry Von Erich, Sting, and (especially) Ricky Steamboat were brilliant. He was also able to carry limited wrestlers (Lex Luger) to excellent matches. In the ring and on the mic, nobody was better than Flair and I can’t imagine anyone topping him.

It makes me sad that there’s a whole generation of WWE fans that know Flair as this old guy with a fake tan and loose skin. They see him as this guy that hits his opponents in the balls and pokes their eyes. If Flair works for TNA, there are going to be even more fans that will see this watered-down version of Naitch.

When Yankee great Joe DiMaggio retired in 1951, his brother Tom said, “He quit because he couldn’t be Joe DiMaggio anymore.” Flair can’t be “The Nature Boy” anymore and I wish he’d take a cue from the Fuel song WWE used for his retirement run: “Leave the Memories Alone”.

R.I.P. Eddie Fatu (aka Umaga)

Umaga

Eddie Fatu just passed away from a heart attack at the age of 36. WWE fans know him as Umaga. Longtime wrestling fans remember him from the Island Boyz, Samoan Gangtas, and 3-Minute Warning teams. Fatu was part of the legendary Anoa’i wrestling family, which includes The Wild Samoans Afa and Sika, Rikishi, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He was one of my favorite big men for the last few years and it’s sad to see him go so young.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Slated for May 25, 2010

Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker

When I wrote about the Japanese release date for Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, few of you showed interest. Well, Konami has announced that the game will be released in North America on May 25, 2010. Are any of you interested now? It’s MGS! It’s Kojima! It’s Snake! Or is the fact that it’s a PlayStation Portable game kill your interest? In the immortal words of Information Society, “I wanna know…what you’re feeling. Tell me what’s on your mind!”

I Have American Idol Fever…and Adam Lambert Continues to Fail

Adam Lambert album cover

American Idol is one of my guilty pleasures. I can admit it and I’m not ashamed that I enjoy it. With all the season eight contestants’ albums out and Adam Lambert making news for his performance at the American Music Awards, I’m super psyched for season nine to start in January. Until then, I’ll have to make do with Lambert’s problems with the media. Here’s a funny clip from VoteForTheWorst:

Adam Lambert continues to fail miserably. In the wake of his AMA performance, ABC canceled his Good Morning America appearance. Now they’ve canceled his Jimmy Kimmel Live appearance and his appearance on Ryan Seacrest’s New Years Eve. DOUCHE FAIL. We hate to say we told you so, but we’re P R E S C I E N T as always.

Also, make sure to call 818-460-7477 and leave a message for ABC to ask them to cancel Adam Lambert’s interview with Barbara Walters as well. And also thank ABC for canceling all of his subsequent performances after the AMAs. Good taste, ABC. Good taste.

Honestly, I think Lambert is getting a raw deal because he’s gay. Yes, he put on an erotically charged performance at the AMAs…but so what?!? The show was on late and I believe he has a point that it was overly scrutinized because of his sexuality.

Anyway, I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the matter and to see if there’s anyone that enjoys American Idol too. There are going to be a bunch of AI articles coming in January. You’ve been warned.

Btw, Lambert’s album cover totally reminds me of Poison’s Look What the Cat Dragged In. Does anyone else see that? Here’s a picture of the Poison cover for reference.

Continue reading “I Have American Idol Fever…and Adam Lambert Continues to Fail”

White Knight Chronicles International Edition Dated for 2/2/2010

White Knight Chronicles

Sony has announced that White Knight Chronicles International Edition will be released on February 2, 2010. Here are some additional details from associate product manager Cristian Cardona:

  • Over 50 disc-based online quests. You can complete these quests solo, or cooperatively with up to three other players to gain extra gear and experience. (That’s just on the disc. Wait until you hear what else we’ll have at launch!)
  • Voice Chat. Need we say more? =)
  • The Georama. Build an online village for your character where you can invite friends to complete quests online and purchase unique items and gear.
  • Live Talk. Leonard and his companions will have side conversations during gameplay, adding a little more character to your travels through the world of White Knight Chronicles.

Sony also showed of the box art for the international edition. Hit the break to check it out.

Continue reading “White Knight Chronicles International Edition Dated for 2/2/2010”

BioWare and EA Announce Gift of the Yeti Facebook Game

Yeti

BioWare and Electronic Arts have announced Gift of the Yeti, a free Facebook game that allows gamers to earn money to go towards the purchase of Dragon Age: Origins and for the Child’s Play Charity. Here’s a blurb from the press release:

In the Gift of the Yeti game, players have a chance to help a sick Santa by delivering gifts on his behalf. Facebook friends can compete to beat each others’ high scores. The backstory of the Yeti will unfold through a clever Advent day calendar, with each day revealing a new piece of the storyline. Gift of the Yeti also allows players to choose from a variety of different gifts that they can send to their friends to invite them to save the day for Santa, and support the Child’s Play organization.

A bunch of my friends have been sucked into various Facebook games, but I’ve yet to lose myself to one. Gift of the Yeti will get its chance to own me, simply because it’s a BioWare product. Plus, Like Matt Damon and LeBron James said in Entourage, “It’s for the kids!”

Any of you going to give this game a shot?

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

My knee has been acting up again, so I’m going to try to stay in bed and keep my leg elevated most of the weekend. Thankfully, I have a bunch of Green Lantern trade paperbacks to devour — most of them are repeats (Rage of the Red Lanterns, Agent Orange, etc.), but I borrowed Emerald Eclipse from a friend, which will add some new GL goodness to my life.

Scribblenauts

Man cannot live on comic books alone though, so I’m happy that I picked up Scribblenauts during Amazon’s Black Friday week. This game came out while I was in Japan in September and with all the craziness over the last few months, I kind of forgot about it. I’m looking forward to testing the word parser and seeing how imaginative the game can be. Some of my more competitive friends said it was boring, but admitted that they used the words “trampoline” and “angel wings” way to much. To me, winning isn’t the point of Scribblenauts. I want to see how creative it will allow me to be. I’m really looking forward to it!

How about you? What’s on tap for your gaming weekend?

Coffee Talk #40: Your Favorite Videogame Villains

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 U.S. vs. England in the World Cup, the return of Paul “The Punisher” William, or whether Pacquiao/Mayweather is a go for March 13, 2010, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I was chatting with some industry friends about videogame villains when I realized that I don’t have a favorite one. That just seems odd to me. I can spout off dozens of comic-book baddies I love. The same goes for movies and television shows. But for some reason, I don’t have a favorite videogame villain.

M Bison

There are certainly no shortage of bad guys to choose from in games. Whether you like cerebral assassins, evil dictators, comedically ineffectual turtle overlords, or guys that just want to blow crap up, gaming has it all. Maybe it has something to do with how I don’t like playing games as an evil character; perhaps the interactive experience makes me actively dislike videogame villains? *shrug*

Perhaps you can help me out. I want to know who your favorite videogame villains are. Maybe your great selections will help jog my memory so that I can pick one baddie to rule them all.

Phoenix Wright Heading to iPhone

Phoenix Wright slider

Capcom Japan announced the development of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney for iPhone. Capcom Mobile (Los Angeles) will hopefully be bringing the game to North America. Here’s a blurb from Capcom’s blog:

Capcom Japan just announced the development of Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney for the iPhone and though details are scarce (there is no release date yet, for example), our stateside Capcom Mobile branch in LA is looking into how to bring it over for North American fans.

The game will be using iPhone specific controls and is sure to guarantee strange looks from people when you use your iPhone in public to point and yell “OBJECTION!”

I’m a big fan of this series and would absolutely buy it for my (unactivated so I don’t have to deal with AT&T’s garbage) iPhone. How about you?

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