Sega Console Zippo Lighters Completely Rule!

Sega Genesis Lighter

Are you longing for the days when Sega was a major player in the console world? Do you also happen to need a lighter? Well you’re in luck! Andriasang has reported on two completely awesome Zippo lighters — one with a Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) design and the other shaped like a Sega Saturn!!! The site’s Anoop Gantayat wrote:

The lighters are officially known as the “Sega Memorial Hardware Zippo Lighter No.1 Mega Drive Model” and “Sega Memorial Hardware Zippo Lighter No. 2 Sega Saturn Model.” This seems to suggest that more variations are on the way.

You’re going to have to pay a bit to smoke so stylishly. Banpresto is charging ¥10,500 for each lighter. That’s the price of a later day Genesis, and you won’t get Sonic as a pack-in.

Even though these lighters cost over $100 each, I’m so tempted to pick one up. What’s cooler than lighting a girl’s cigarette and showing her how much you loved the 16-bit era? (Don’t answer that.)

Hit the break for a pic of the Sega Saturn lighter and lemme know what you think (please)!

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What Are You Playing This Weekend?

Although I plan to spend a good portion of my weekend celebrating the NY Yankees reaching another World Series when they beat up the Angels on Saturday, I’m going to make some time for SmackDown vs. Raw 2010. As many of you know, I contributed to the Shawn Michaels and Mickie James storylines. I want to see what was changed and what wasn’t. More importantly, I want to create some content!

Smackdown vs Raw 2010 c

In addition to creating a downloadable version of RPad (obviously a technical wrestler), I’m excited to create my own storylines. It’s going to be me and Claudio Castagnoli (my favorite indie wrestler) taking on the WWE! I’m half-thinking of including some lines that poke fun at my recent misfortunes. I can see it now:

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Coffee Talk #10: What’s Your Favorite Gaming Franchise?

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, Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s Judas-like betrayal of Isiah Thomas, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer’s latest “oops” moment, or The Rock vs. The Miz, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I love Fridays…except for those following a NY Yankees ALCS loss in a perfectly winnable game. In order to stay positive, I’m going to think about a few of my favorite things. I’m not talking about raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens. I’m talking about the games that make up my favorite gaming franchise.

Final Fantasy Tactics

While I’ve enjoyed hundreds (thousands?) of games over the years, no series has entertained me as much as Final Fantasy Tactics. The games just work for me on so many levels. I’m addicted to the strategic gameplay. I love the art style. The world of Ivalice just fascinates me. The music, particularly from the first game, entrances me. And for some reason (that I’m still not sure of), I think Viera are sexy. Whether it was on my PSone, GBA, or PSP, the Final Fantasy Tactics titles works for me on every level.

To help you stay happy this Friday, I want to hear about your favorite gaming franchises. What’s your favorite series of all time? Why?

Housekeeping: New Ads and Layout

I have two housekeeping items for you today.

1) You’ll notice some blue links with double underlines throughout the site. I’m experimenting with an ad company while my traditional ads get sorted out. If you think these in-article ads are too obtrusive and/or annoying, please leave a comment here.

2) I’m also thinking of changing the layout of the site. Currently, I like that you can see most or all of an article on each index page. However, things can get pretty long and articles towards the bottom of the page might get ignored. Would you dig a layout similar to a category page? It would keep the index shorter and you’d get a better snapshot of the day. The downer (for you) is that you’d have to do a little bit more clicking. Let me know!

UMD Games Available for Digital Download on PSN

Marvel Superhero Squad

Sony Computer Entertainment of America’s recent PlayStation Store update includes 18 PSP UMD releases that are available for digital download. Most of them are older titles, but a few are current releases. Here’s the list:

  • Armored Core: Formula Front ($14.99)
  • Capcom Puzzle World ($19.99)
  • Crimson Gem Saga ($29.99)
  • FIFA Soccer 10 ($39.99)
  • Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories ($19.99)
  • Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories ($19.99)
  • Half-Minute Hero ($29.99)
  • Hammerin’ Hero ($19.99)
  • Lemmings ($15.99)
  • Marvel Super Hero Squad ($29.99)
  • Riviera: The Promised Land ($14.99)
  • R-Type Command ($14.99)
  • The Secret Saturdays: Beasts of the 5th Sun ($29.99)
  • Steambot Chronicles: Battle Tournament ($29.99)
  • Undead Knights ($39.99)
  • Yggdra Union ($14.99)
  • The Warriors ($19.99)
  • WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2010 ($39.99)

It’s interesting and disappointing to see that the new releases carry the same prices as their retail counterparts. With shipping, retail, and other costs eliminated, you’d think that you might be able to save a buck or two on a game. On a positive note (especially for PSPgo owners), it’s nice to see third-party publishers making PSP games available for digital download the same week they hit stores.

With a new PSP game, would you rather have the UMD (complete with the box and instruction manual) or would you opt for the convenience of a digital download?

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Major Nelson Covers Up for Steve Ballmer: No Blu-Ray for Xbox 360

As I expected, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer misspoke when he said Blu-ray was coming to Xbox 360. Marketing guy Major Nelson just issued the following statement:

I wanted to clear something up. Steve was referring to Blu-Ray accessories for the PC. As we have said in the past, we have no plans to introduce a Blu-Ray drive for the Xbox 360.

Steve Ballmer 2

After that, the Major went into marketing overdrive and started talking about how 1080p streaming is the future of entertainment. I’ll spare you those remarks.

As I mentioned in the comments to the original story, I was expecting this to happen. Ballmer has a history of misspeaking on Microsoft consumer products. While it’s easy to say that he was speaking quickly and the quote was taken out of context, I just don’t think he completely understands that part of Microsoft…or maybe Nelson was just worried about him raining on the 1080p streaming parade (play conspiracy theorist now!)

[Thanks to Sandrock323 for pointing this out!]

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The Miz Dreams of Going After The Rock on WWE Raw

WWE The Miz

My buddy Jon Robinson at ESPN has a fantastic interview with WWE Superstar The Miz. Apparently one of The Miz’ dreams is to go one-on-one with The Great One, Dwayne Johnson (the wrestler formerly known as The Rock). The Miz said:

I think he’s too much of a girl now. He’s no longer The Rock, he’s Dwayne Johnson. ‘I’m Dwayne Johnson [in his best girlie voice].’ I think now that he’s Dwayne Johnson, I can take him. He’s skinny. He’s like a toothpick. He’s what, 150 pounds soaking wet?

Okay, The Miz was partially in character when he made those comments. Anyone that’s in the business has to respect what The Rock accomplished in the “Attitude Era”. I know some of you don’t like The Miz, but I find him thoroughly entertaining. While I wouldn’t be too excited about an in-ring confrontation, the mic exchanges between The Rock and The Miz would be outstanding. After all, he’s The Miz…and he’s awesome!

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Sony Unleashes Uncharted: Eye of Indra Motion Comic Prequel

Uncharted 2 Eye of Indra

Sony Computer Entertainment of America has released Uncharted: Eye of Indra, a motion comic that fleshes out the Uncharted universe. The first episode is available now on PlayStation Network. Naughty Dog lead game designer Neil Druckmann wrote the following on the PlayStation Blog:

For all of you wanting more Nathan Drake, you’re in luck — hitting the PSN today is Uncharted: Eye of Indra – a four episode Motion Comic — it’s an original prequel story to Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune. We’ve been working on this baby for the past year and it’s been brutal not being able to talk about it.

There are a millions of Uncharted and Naughty Dog fans out there, so I’m sure a lot of people will watch Eye of Indra. I’ll be one of those people, but I’m not yet sold on the whole motion comics thing. Perhaps it’s nostalgia, remembering all those great times I spent curled up with comic books, but the format doesn’t work for me (yet). That aside, this is a great way for Naughty Dog and Sony to further expand and market Uncharted.

If you check out Uncharted: Eye of Indra, I’d love to know what you think!

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Dragon Age: Journeys Unlocks Content for Dragon Age: Origins

Dragon Age Journeys 3

BioWare has revealed that playing the Dragon Age: Journeys Flash game unlocks content for Dragon Age: Origins for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. That’s right, all three platforms! Here’s a juicy tidbit from BioWare’s blog:

By completing certain accomplishments in Journeys, you can unlock 3 items for use when you purchase a copy of Dragon Age: Origins for the PC, Xbox 360 or PS3. By playing DAJ while signed in with your EA account, these items will automatically be added to your inventory in DA:O when you sign in with that same account. These entitlements work across all three platforms.

That’s a very, very clever way to get people to sign up for an EA account.

Are you going to play Dragon Age: Journeys? If so, are you going to take advantage of the bonus items for Dragon Age: Origins?

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Trophy Support for Final Fantasy XIII Confirmed

Final Fantasy XIII a

Square Enix director Motomu Toriyama has confirmed trophy support for Final Fantasy XIII for PlayStation 3. IGN translated some of his word in an interview with Famitsu:

Toriyama also shared some technical details on the game. Save data will take up 500KB. Trophy data takes up 3,080KB (yes, it looks like the game supports Trophies!). In case you were stocking up munitions for a big system wars battle, there won’t be a hard disk installation.

Trophies are always welcomed, but I found it odd that there won’t be a hard-drive option. If it decreases load times and optical-disc access, I’ll always go with that option. Curious, eh?

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