Tennis Pro Andy Murray Loses Girlfriend Over Modern Warfare 2

Andy Murray

The word on the street is that Kim Sears broke up with professional tennis player Andy Murray over his habitual videogame play. The Telegraph reported:

Andy Murray’s relationship with his girlfriend Kim Sears allegedly ended because of the British number one’s passion for computer games including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

Brad Gilbert, Murray’s former coach, has said in the past that Murray spends “seven hours a day” playing video games.

The source told The Sun: “He would spend all his time glued to them. In the end she just got fed up with it. She wanted more out of the relationship.”

I’m kind of split on the matter. Being a top-ranked tennis-pro means millions of dollars, seeing the world, and hot women throwing themselves at you on a nightly basis. If I were Murray’s age (22) and had that kind of money, I’d be the whore of Babylon. Then again, I love games and have (unfairly) brushed girls aside so that I could sink more hours into an RPG. Murray either needs to slut it up or find a good woman that understands the importance of gaming.

Source

Congrats to CamiKitten!

RPad Magnet Nightshade 1

CamiKitten is the latest winner in the RPad.tv chick magnet giveaway! Here’s her winning post. Please check your email so that I can send you your prize. Congrats again!!!

Today’s pictures are from Nightshade386. He sent in some really fun ones. He snapped me with games, in front of a strip club, and sandwiched between Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett. Check ’em out!

Continue reading “Congrats to CamiKitten!”

Akira Yamaoka Leaves Konami?

Silent Hill 2

Akira Yamaoka might not be a familiar name in your gaming household, but you definitely know the games he’s most famous for: the Silent Hill series. He has composed the music for all the Silent Hill games and has served as the series’ producer since SH3. According to Aeropause, Yamaoka has left the building:

After sixteen years at the company, Akira Yamaoka has left Konami.

It would appear that he has left the company entirely rather than moving to another international division. As you would expect, there has been no formal confirmation from Konami, so right now this is an unconfirmed rumour — albeit one generated from a pretty reliable source.

I’m a little stunned by this one. I always thought Yamaoka would be a lifer at Konami, similar to Kojima and Igarashi. He’s been attached to the Silent Hill series since the beginning and it’ll be weird (but cool) to see him doing something else.

The news is a bit personal for me, since Akira was the first Japanese developer to greet me with a friendly hug instead of a professional handshake. This one time (not at band camp), we ditched a GDC party to go dancing. It was cool watching a sound designer and music composer dance.

Source

Coffee Talk #37: Console Wars XXVIII — Black Friday

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 Saints beating up on the Patriots, banning Canadian boxing judges Alan Davis and Benoit Roussel, or the Shakespeare play you want to see in videogame form, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

As expected, it was a huge week for the “big three” console companies. All three did well during Black Friday weekend. Let’s take a look at some of the (American) results.

PS3 vs Xbox 360

  • Nintendo claimed that it sold more than 550,000 Wii systems. Adding in the DS and DSi, the company said that it sold more than 1.5-million pieces of hardware. To steal a line from Shelton Benjamin’s music, “Ain’t no stoppin’ me, now!!!”
  • Sony claimed its best week ever (not EVAR!!!) for the PlayStation 3, selling more than 440,000 units. With a recent price cut and the introduction of the PS3 Slim, Sony has a huge opportunity to gain marketshare. It looks like the company is making the most of it.
  • Microsoft hasn’t cited numbers yet, curiously. The company is putting on a positive front, claiming that it has its best week of 2009 and sold twice as many Xbox 360 systems during Thanksgiving week than it did the previous one.

Nintendo’s continued success isn’t surprising. Most people expected Sony to do well, but the company probably exceeded many expectations. Microsoft’s statements were the most curious. By not citing numbers and using the “we did better than last week” stance, the company looks lame. Maybe its number crunchers are behind and it will put out a strong press release later today, but for now MS looks like a chump.

What are your thoughts on the latest round of the console wars? Will Sony be able to continue its momentum this holiday season? I know you Wii haters out there are hoping for a sharp decline from Nintendo, but do you really think that’s going to happen? And what’s up with Microsoft’s weak-sauce statements?

Vodka in a Pill?!?

Grey Goose vodka

I’m hoping this is a joke, but The Times of India has reported that a Russian scientist had discovered a way for vodka to be produced in capsule form. The site noted:

Russian professor Evgeny Moskalev of Saint Petersburg Technological University has evolved a technique that allows turning alcohol into powder and packing it in pills. The new technique can solidify any kind of alcohol, including whisky, cognac, wine and beer.

As a fan of vodka (and really any quality alcohol), I find this disturbing. I can see a bunch of idiots on spring break popping pills of booze instead of learning to appreciate smooth vodka, bourbon, whiskey, rum, etc. I would hate to see my beloved Grey Goose reduce to a capsule — totally kills the point of savoring each sip. (And yes, I know there are plenty of vodkas better than GG, but it’s really easy to find.)

Like I said at the top, I hope this is just a joke.

Source

Marc Ecko Envisions a Videogame Version of Macbeth

Macbeth

Fashion mogul Marc Ecko has had enormous success thinking outside of the box, so it wasn’t surprising to learn that he wants to create a videogame version of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. In a recent interview with Destructoid, Ecko said:

I completely re-imagined Macbeth. Our adaptation, I think, would have made it relevant to people who wouldn’t have otherwise known about this great story. It’s unfortunate, because a lot of people just don’t know Macbeth.

Rumors of Tommy Hilfiger producing a videogame version of King Lear have yet to be confirmed…. Seriously though, I met Ecko a few times when Atari was pushing Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure. He was very cool, extremely creative, and genuinely interested in games as a form of interactive entertainment.

I’d love to see Ecko’s interpretation of Macbeth…especially if it lets me go one a Highlander-style beheading spree. (I’m kidding about that last part.) Would you be interested in a Marc Ecko Macbeth game? Or do you think it’s a classic that shouldn’t be touched?

Source

Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Headlines Square Enix Jump Festa

Square Enix recently launched a web site for its Jump Festa 2009 fan fest. The heavy hitters in this year’s lineup are Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (PSP) and Dragon Quest VI (DS). Here’s the current list as translated by Andriasang:

  • Cross Treasures (DS, movie, playable)
  • Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (PSP, movie, playable)
  • Dragon Quest VI (DS, movie, playable)
  • Star Ocean: The Last Hope International (PS3, movie, playable)
  • Dragon Quest IX (DS)
  • Dragon Quest Monsters: Battle Road (Arcade, movie, playable)
  • Final Fantasy IV (Mobile, playable)
  • Dragon Quest III (Mobile, playable)
  • Kingdom Hearts Mobile (Mobile, movie)
  • Dragon Quest: Battle Road Mobile (Mobile)

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

I can’t wait for Birth by Sleep. I want it now!!! Which of these games are you psyched for?

Source

Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep Headlines Square Enix Jump Festa

Square Enix recently launched a web site for its Jump Festa 2009 fan fest. The heavy hitters in this year’s lineup are Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (PSP) and Dragon Quest VI (DS). Here’s the current list as translated by Andriasang:

  • Cross Treasures (DS, movie, playable)
  • Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep (PSP, movie, playable)
  • Dragon Quest VI (DS, movie, playable)
  • Star Ocean: The Last Hope International (PS3, movie, playable)
  • Dragon Quest IX (DS)
  • Dragon Quest Monsters: Battle Road (Arcade, movie, playable)
  • Final Fantasy IV (Mobile, playable)
  • Dragon Quest III (Mobile, playable)
  • Kingdom Hearts Mobile (Mobile, movie)
  • Dragon Quest: Battle Road Mobile (Mobile)

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

I can’t wait for Birth by Sleep. I want it now!!! Which of these games are you psyched for?

Source