Gracie Valentine

Bleh 2.0

2008-07-10T07:50:00.015-04:00

Hey Gamers,
I'm not feeling particularly witty today, so my news today will be very objective. Just feeling my poorness a little, and fantasizing about the emoluments that come from a steady office job - but then I can't type in my pyjamas.

While my memories of the Village People include a pair of rollerskates and the best damn arm-created C you have ever seen, future generations may remember those macho men in a videogame cameo. Randy Jones, the original cowboy from the Village People is lending his likeness to Postal 3 as the leader of a gay biker gang. (Can I giggle or is that not PC?) From Running With Sissors, the Postal 3 ships in 2009 for the 360, PS3 and PC/Mac. Check out the full release and the Postal 3 website here:
http://www.gopostal.com/0608.php

"oh hunnie! I've always wanted a pair of fur mittens!"
Anyone in a third world country listening? ok good, cause they would probably be kind of pissed to know that instead of slapping a logo on a bag of rice dropped from an aid plane, media and venture capital firms are instead spending their money ($345 million to be exact) on creating a presence on social networking sites. You can read more about the gigantic waste of money here:
http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/report-virtual-world-investments-equal-161-million-dollars-in-q2-2008/?biz=1

E3 is just around the corner! Since the great fan-boy ban of 2007, any game-lover must wait for their favorite website to post whatever information they deem newsworthy. Yes my friends, your news is given to you in doctor-directed doses. Before I continue to divulge the dirty cesspool of journalism villanry, let me just give you the link to E3 Insider here and you can make your own conclusions about what games you want to play:
http://www.e3expo.com/

Virtual Villagers update -
I killed my first round of survivors. We ran out of food. Don't ever ask me to lead your expedition. So I started again, this time with the tutorial, and everyone is still alive. Even with the tutorial, my poor little natives ate nothing but mushrooms for awhile after the honey ran out and before the banana tree grew up. I was really worried! As for this research, I personally think it is a waste of time. If points were not involved I would close down the lab and make my scientist help the two retard builders finish the hut already.

Laundry sucks - I'm out.

Disk Cleanup = Stupid

2008-07-09T09:01:00.008-04:00

Since Mr. Valentine and I electronically cohabitate, I decided to delete my favorite game and all my best architectural work to-date from his laptop in favor of more room for his music and more room for small games I can review. FUCKER! I wake up this morning and after his 7 Jillion MB movie-downloading marathon last night I can't even start Virtual Villagers. Right now I'm waiting for disk clean-up to get rid of some unnecessary shit so I can see if all my villagers are just a pile of bones. ARG!

And they are. Re-Do!

Snooty Scrabble owners are creating their own free version of the game to compete with Scrabulous, a popular Facebook application. After unanswered demands to remove Scrabulous from the social site, Mattel and Hasbro teamed up with EA to create their own sanctioned version that begins testing Monday. I play Scrabulous and it makes me smile. I vote Facebook users boycott the Scrabble version. Consumers do have a say, bitches!
Check out the full story here:
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jrevMgkHk3TX8sSYUHA_iFz2oqwg

In a decidedly Microsoftian move, Apple is pushing software designed to control and eliminate hacking into authorized retailers all over the country. While everyone else in the U.S. celebrated the 4th, Apple issued a memo to their retail employees concerning the forthcoming "unbricking" ability. Nice move. Real Slick.
Check out the full story here:
http://web20.telecomtv.com/pages/?newsid=43455&id=e9381817-0593-417a-8639-c4c53e2a2a10

The ACMI exhibit GameON, a history of video games is closing this Sunday. The exhibit, a vintage gamer's dream, toured the world hitting cities like Tokyo, London and Chicago before settling in Melbourne for a final three months. The exhibit drew record crowds in Australia and the total so far is 117,000 visitors. I wonder what they will do with all the stuff from the exhibit?
If you're in Australia you should definitely check this out. Unfortunately, my jet is in the shop, so I won't be able to make it. Check out the full story here:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23993544-2902,00.html

Here's an idea. The next time your bored take out your phone and blast some zombies. Inlogic Software is introducing Death Zone to mobile phones everywhere. Released today, Death Zone is a casual blood bath. You are charged with ridding each environment of those pesky zombies. Kill as many as possible, because we all know zombies don't have feelings anyway.
Peep some screenshots and the link below.

http://www.inlogic.sk/news/56/index.html

Check out this article by Julian Murdoch that lists the ins and outs of videogame law and how it usually goes when politicians are not involved.
http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3168566

Alright, everyone out of the pool. You are starting to prune.

Sans Cigarettes - Day Two

2008-07-08T07:30:00.004-04:00

It's already heating up in my un-airconditioned apartment, both from the sun and my seething rage. Day two with no cigarettes, patch or placebo pill and I'm ready to shoot someone in the face. I need a really good distraction, but unfortunately all I have is this blog. Check out this edition of the six-seconds-away-from-a-Manhattan-rampage-gaming-news.

Now THIS is what I need. In the winter I spent every Sunday in a yoga class at my gym, but now that it is summer and I have friends visiting every day it's pretty impossible to make it there. JoWood Production announced Monday they would help me with my stress levels by releasing the first in a series of fitness titles early 2009 (2009!?). Check out the press release here: http://presse.jowood.com/?id=997

This is taking so long - I'm so distracted. Anywho - There is a an article on the Times UK site by Rob Fahey claiming we will all be gamers soon. I hope so, I'd love to see someone like Dick Cheney play Big Buck Hunter instead of Fun-Times-In-The-Woods in real-life. Check out the rest of the story here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article4281768.ece

A new website opened today. Fidget - a digital and print magazine for real people - is now live and features reviews, previews, media and all that good stuff. Check it out here:
http://www.fidgetonline.com/fidget/public/

And now for my last trick, cause I need a soda or a muffin or something to get me out of the house for a second, here are the latest releases to the PS3 and DS.

PS3
Beijing Olympics
Civilization Revolution

DS
Carnival Games
Ducati Moto

I gotta go peeps, I'm a ball of nerves right now and need to be outside for a sec. Stay tuned for screenshots of my time with the new Virtual Villagers game, and commentary on other games I'm reviewing right now.

Stealth Edition - Shhh!

2008-07-07T09:19:00.006-04:00

Good semi-morning gamers. I'm a little late today because I'm waiting for this strange dude sleeping in my living room to get up. Actually his name is Nic and he is Mr. Valentine's friend. Nic is a van-driving cross-continent tour guide for Sun Trek tours; possibly the most badass job I've ever heard of. If I lived in my imagination, I should like to kill Nic, steal his identity and take off with his van-trailer combo like Nightrider pre-booze. Say hi to Nic, but very quietly.
And now the news -

Games Radar writer Matt Curdy put together a great list of achievements that all you hardcore gamers may want to memorize. In "50 Skills That Every Gamer Should Master," Curdy lists "Not steering the controller like a girl" as one of these abilities.
Hey douche, I'm a girl and I don't steer the controller one bit.
Though the illustration under it is hilarious, I have to speak up for my fellow ladies in gaming and say that is not a fair assessment. Have you ever played with girls? Do you even know what a girl is?
Despite Curdy's obviously sexist list, there is some truth. I do play my favorite game obsessively to the point where nothing short of a stern arm grab will take my attention away from my current objective. Anywho - Check out the link to the full list here and tell Matt Curdy that boobs don't bite:
http://www.gamesradar.com/f/50-skills-that-every-gamer-should-master/a-2008062417104774060??EMC-DR6827846776

Xbox 360 lovers should cruise over to Gamasutra to see the interview with Microsoft fany pants Aaron Greenberg. Greenberg is the director of product management and is oh so happy about the future of the 360. He talks about Wii and PS3 rivalries, how the Asians are loving their 360s long time and the gatekeeping that happens on Xbox Live Arcade. Check out the story here:
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=19304

Fuck Noel Gallagher in his stupid British ass. The Beatle wanna-be is blaming videogames for a stabbing spree that left 18 London-based students dead this year. He adds that they probably smoked some pot beforehand. Right, all the potheads I know love to play with knives; the kind you eat with. If you want to read all about how Noel pulls some random reason out of the air to make the mothers love him click here:
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/oasis-frontman-links-videogames-to-knife-violence
If you want to write Noel Gallagher and tell him he's a slimey limey, click here:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=143031981

I think I'm going to cut it short today folks. Come back tomorrow for more news goodness.

Abbreviated Edition 1.0

2008-07-03T09:11:00.008-04:00

Hey Kiddies,

Because it is a holiday weekend, I'm going to be doing a smaller dose of news today. (Actually, I'm addicted to GTA4. I know I'm a little slow on the uptake here, but give me a break, I didn't have a PS3 or 360 before Monday) No seriously, there are some other things that don't involve maiming innocent bystanders and I want to enjoy a nice afternoon with Mr. Valentine.

Ready, Set Read!

Damn! There are a few PS3 owners around the world tonight who are seriously pissed. After the July 2 release, reports that the 2.40 update rendered systems useless started trickling in. Though Sony claims the complaints are few and far-between, they removed the update from all servers. It is unclear if Sony will cover the damage caused by their "improvement" or not. Read the rest of the story by Ian Williams here:
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2220662/sony-yanks-ps3-update

The Sims 2 H&M Contest has a winner. A player-designed outfit is scheduled to hit H&M stores on July 6 for around $15. Check out a pic of the dress below

"Now women in the criminal career can rob with style"

The in-game trailer from GT Revolution is now available to check out at their shiny new website. Created by Viva Media and SimBin Studios, GT Revolution invites you to pimp 49 cars including the Corvette C6R and the Spyker GT2R. Check out the screenshots below and a link to the trailer here:
http://www.gtr-evolution.com/downloads.htm

Alright Guys, I'm outsies. I release you from my tutelage to have a great Fourth of July, and I'll see you here again on Monday!

Viva La Revolution!

Scrump-diddly-umptious GTA4

2008-07-02T08:16:00.007-04:00

I snuck in a little session right before this. This game is the shit. It's awesome seeing where I live represented (a little skewed) in a videogame. And now, the laconic news.

Alex Pham of the Los Angeles Times wonders where this trend of aging heroes comes from, particularly in gaming. Solid Snake, the iconic character from the Metal Gear series is 43 in his latest cameo, but a degenerating disease makes him look much older. Rambo is still running the jungle at 61, and we don't even have to go into Ancient Indiana Jones. Check out how Snake is out of retirement to create sales for the PS3 here:

http://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/gaming/11607/ageing-icons-generate-geriatric-trend

Speaking of PS3, Nyko Technologies is creating a media hub for the next-generation console from Sony. The hub attaches to the PS3 and includes three additional USB ports, a media card reader slot that supports SD cards and Memory Sticks. It is compatible with all PS3 models. The Hug is available in August for $19. I got this info from Games Press, a press-only site, but you can check out their website here: (while your there, take a peek at the Wii-glock. You'll know what I mean ;)
http://www.nyko.com/default.aspx

YoYo Games, a user-generated games portal, announced the winner of their Independent Developers’ Casual Gaming Competition today. Developers had under two months to create games featuring an ancient civilization theme. Ancient Ants Adventure, a third-person shooter surrounding the life of a shamanic ant won first prize. Created by a RedSystem, the game earned their creators $1,000. Check out YoYo Games and over 19,000 games here:
http://www.yoyogames.com/

Hey cool! Lets sit down with Paul Sams over at Gamasutra and hear all about his trying journey through the Burning Sea with those ugly-ass trolls. Oh wait, no, he's talking about Diablo 3 (officially deemed awesome game #1 here at GracieValentine) and if he has any plans for a free-to-play World of Warcraft. Now THAT would be sweet. He even sticks up for Microsoft. What a nice man. To read more about WoW, D3 and Franchising check out the story here:
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=19217

Hey video gamers who also like books! Game Informer has a great article on their site. Their list of the ten best videogame books of all time includes Snow Crash, Lucky Wander Boy and The Ultimate History of Videogames From Pong to Pokemon .
Check out the full list here and give yourself something to read this summer.
http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200805/N08.0528.1649.08796.htm

Ok kids, I'm out. Have a good one.

Happy Dance Tuesday!

2008-07-01T09:55:00.006-04:00

Today is a good day fellow gamers. I am now the proud owner of a PS3 and DS lite, and even better, there is a fun-sounding improv sample class I'm heading to this evening. And there is always the fact that I get to share news with you. Awww. Anywayz - let's get to the news whilst I rock out in my new "corner office." (I'm literally in a corner)

Yet another of those "free" MMORPGs is heading to North America. Square Enix is using the site Gamescampus.com to test Concerto Gate, a new title that is free to play but charges you up the ass for decent items. Japan had a chance to try it out first when it was released to the east in 2001. Now pale American kids can get in on the action. The beta will run from July 1-14, and if your interested, head to Filefront.com where you can download the software. Check out the download here:
http://software.filefront.com/Concerto+Gate/;8144;/Software_Information.html
and learn how to play the beta here:
http://www.gamescampus.com/help/news_view.asp?serial=69&page=1&search=&find=

*Side Note: Remember when I said I was downloading the Spore character creator? I didn't forget to show you my creatures, the damn thing was too big for Lappy-Top Centrino (he's Italian) and I couldn't even install it. boo.

And this is where shit starts to go bad. While enjoying a dose of Hardcore Gamer yesterday, I came across a feature article listing a few of the "legal" uppers gamers can take to improve their performance. Upon more research, I noticed that Ritalin and Viagra are also sometimes used. (Viagra??) I'm not sure what kind of drugs affect the performance of one's thumbs, but taking energy pills or prescription drugs to stay awake for one more round of Deathmatch is stupid. Just ask Jessie Spano. Soda and a thousand pixie sticks should be condign supplies. Anyway, if you are interested in seeing what politicians will use as new fodder in their anti-gaming war, check out the link below.
http://www.tomsgames.com/us/2006/08/29/gamings_new_drug_culture/index.html

On the lighter side, check out this extreme PS3 mod from some random super-duper fan.
http://www.errormacro.com/2008/06/wednesday_newspost_for_june_25_2008.php

Due to the expense, Microsoft will not allow third party companies to develop hardware with Xbox 360 technology. Thought to increase Microsoft's presence in the Japanese market, the new business model just doesn't make sense in places where the Xbox has a firm hold on consumers. . You can read the whole story at Games Industry Biz:
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/analyst-questions-validity-of-hybrid-xbox-360

Space Siege is a new game coming out later this year from Gas Powered Games for the PC, and GameSpot got their hands on a preview copy. In Space Siege gamers become a soldier fighting against an alien race called the Kerak. As players fight their way through the game they may choose to trade their boring human limbs for shiny, bullet-blasting, cybernetic parts that are so in the now.
Check out the full hands-on preview here:
http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/spacesiege/news.html?sid=6193215&tag=topslot;title;1&om_act=convert&om_clk=topslot

Alright peeps, I'm out of here for the day. Have a good one and stay classy!

As Kanye Says, Good Morning!

2008-06-30T10:44:00.009-04:00

Hi my friends!

The Valentine brood returned to their respective homes and I can now devote all my time to this wonderful blog. I have some very exciting news. You are reading the words of the newest game reviewer for Gamer's Info. Gamer's Info is a great place to go for reviews, previews, media and editorial blogs. Check it out and tell them Gracie sent ya! Just read my blog first k? :)
http://www.gamersinfo.net/

Also, I'm starting something new today. To increase my vocabulary, I signed up for "Word of the Day" at Dictionary.com. I thought I would read one every day and automatically start including them in my everyday conversations. No such luck. So I'm going to start including the word in my blog. I'm not telling you what it is, so you will have to read to find it.

OH HELL NO!!
Blizzard Entertainment announced that Diablo 3 is in development and now life for me is complete. They are not saying much and there is no projected release date, but according to the official site Diablo 3 will run on a customized 3D engine designed for full 3D character and environmental rendering. Sweet! Mac lovers should be excited too. The game is coming out for both platforms. Check out the artwork and the link to the official site below.

http://www.blizzard.com/diablo3/index.xml

At Gamasutra, Neil Young is finally spilling the beans about why he left Electronic Arts after 11 years. It seems Young had a plan beyond laying around his mansion all day. The former head of EA Blueprint is founding a mobile phone game publishing company that will focus on "the iPhone and beyond," whatever the fuck that means. I guess the games are too good for the indigent. Check out the full review and all the dirt on his time at EA here:
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=19229

If you've just gotten down your skills at Rock Band and are getting all types of laid at parties, your time is almost up. Harmonix and MTV Games announced they are releasing Rock Band 2 for the Xbox 360 in September. After listening to the concerns and comments of faithful Rock Band groupies, Harmonix hopes to create a perfected version of the Rock Band experience. Check out the full story here:
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i2EwHSWYTDt0x44OLEsF7nZIDHYwD91KC5180

I'm calling it a day a little early fellow gamers. I've got some work-related things to do and not much time to do them in. Have a great day and I'll see you tomorrow.

I'm Still Here!

2008-06-25T09:45:00.004-04:00

What's up bitches?
Due to visitors from Michigan, I've been playing happy hostess for the week and have not been able to post the news. I know, I'm lame. However, wonder of wonders, I scored a temp gig answering phones, which might be the coolest job I've ever done. The phone rang twice so far and I'm writing my blog from the lovely office of Waldman, Hirsch & Company. And now, courtesy of our sponsors, I give you the news.

Aksys Games is reporting they will be bringing their new franchise, BlazeBlue to the LA Anime Expo. So, when all you lucky nerds out there pile upon the Los Angeles Convention Center, you can visit the Aksys booth and tryout the BlazesBlue gameplay to see if it really does feel similar to Guilty Gear. Check out the press release here:
http://www.aksysgames.com/press_releases/bb_062308.html

A bunch of boring, lawyers are "shocked" that no one cares enough about the "Hot Coffee" scandal to get back the $35 RockStar Games "stole" from them when they bought GTA: San Andreas. I've seen the hot coffee cheat, and let me tell you it is no "One Night In Paris." Plus, that was news several yeas ago. Now people are looking for the newest hot coffee in GTA4. God, get with the program lawyers. Read the full story here:
http://biz.yahoo.com/nytimes/080624/1194788486503.html?.v=4

Turns out the PS3 is too expensive even for its parent company. The creation of "The-Next-Big-Thing" cost Sony 3.32 Billion dollars so far, and they have yet to make a profit from their product. Kind of a big Whoopsie! isn't it? You can read the full story here:
http://kotaku.com/5018899/sony-lost-331-billion-to-ps3-cost-pricing-imbalance

Over at CNet News there is an editorial posted by Don Reisinger that might make gamers oh-so happy, while causing film buffs everywhere to choke on their mocha latte with half-cream, half fetus juice. Reisinger declares video games as the new entertainment leader. And why not? Digital actors work for nothing and they don't end up in rehab 8 months out of the year. You hear that Lohan!? Your days are numbered! Check out the complete story here:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-9976418-17.html

Over at IGN, because they are special they got to sit down with Olivier Deriviere, composer for the score of the upcoming release of Alone In The Dark. If you are like me and were too young to appreciate the original Dark but are a huge fan of suspense/horror games, you have to check out the interview. Read up on all the ways old Deriviere is manipulating music so all you hear is the brown note. Awesome. Check out the interview here:
http://music.ign.com/articles/883/883767p1.html

Alright faithful readers, I'm outta here. My company doesn't leave until Saturday, so I will probably not be able to post again until next Monday. Try not to be too sad.

Lil' Late Today

2008-06-19T09:36:00.005-04:00

Sorry faithful readers. Mr. Valentine went in late today and we all know where things go from there don't we? And now, the news -

Anyone remember the post about the Spore creatures? I barely do, however, I remember enough (and I can cheat and look through the archives) to be excited that there is a Spore Creature Creator demo on the official website. I shall download it and share my ugly little children with you so that we can all point and laugh. You can make your own if you visit the link here:
http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/spore/spore-creature-creator/1218917

In an effort to get more people gaming on their phones, Sony Ericcson announced the new F305 to be released in September. Responding much like a Wii remote, the gaming action on the F305 will react to flicks of the wrist or wild arm swinging. The press release says the F305 can handle eight hours of gameplay, which I think is a croc of shit because in the same breath they also attempt an up-sell; offering buyers a back-up battery. First off, if I'm going to be sitting through eight hours of gameplay it won't be on that teeny-tiny little screen, but whateves...maybe I'll be stuck in the airport and wish I had one. Check out the press release here:
http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/corporate/press/pressreleases/pressreleasedetails/f305pressreleasefinal-20080617
And the product info here:
http://www.sonyericsson.com/cws/corporate/products/phoneportfolio/specification/f305

Over at Maple Story, Nexon is offering players a chance at character immortality. By visiting the website, gamers can vote for their favorite in-game character and the winner will be turned into an avatar in the Maple Story iTrading Card Game. Although nominations are over, players can still vote for their favorite by visiting the link here:
http://maplestory.nexon.net/?PART=/News/Event&mode=view&uid=158&bbsidx=1388

You can expect more in-game advertising after a study conducted by Nielsen BASES and Nielsen Games confirmed that in-game ads created an overall lift in consumer awareness. Great. Now the Burger King will be sneaking around in games I like to play. The Nielsen study surveyed 1,300 gaming participants by using IGA Worldwide (in-game advertising company) software to track information through special game disks. The information was collected, analyzed and now presented to you in this tidy article at GameDaily Biz.
http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/gamers-embracing-contextual-ingame-ads-says-nielsen-and-iga/?biz=1

To Nerd or not to nerd, that is what GameDaily is asking you in this fun little time waster. Read the evidence and then decide if these celebrities are nerds or not. Fun!http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/nerd-or-not/197/

Feeling Extra Saucy Today

2008-06-18T08:51:00.008-04:00

Good morning ladies!

I'm discovering all sorts of new things on the Internets and I found a way to listen to Opie

and Anthony on the computers! I listen to them on my circa 1980's radio before work, but I'm too lazy to move the radio to my office, and I wanted to try out this whole "listen on the Internet" phenomenon. God I am awesome at multitasking.

In a rather brilliant public relations move, Ubisoft is acting all ultra-exclusive and holding a "private party" for 2,400 Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy fans. Attendees will be determined through a raffle on the Japanese Square Enix Members site. I wish I knew more, but I don't speak Japanese and apparently Babel Fish doesn't either. Check out the story at Kotaku here:
http://kotaku.com/5017491/no-you-cannot-party-demo-final-fantasy-xiii-only-watch

History Lesson Alert!
Games Radar put together a nice article about consoles of the 70s by Shane Patterson, James Patterson's evil twin. Never fear, this annal in gaming history is rather short, sweet and witty. You could probably read it on your break. Check out what your parents played while they passed around the bong. See, and you thought you had nothing in common. Don't forget to go back and check out each piece in the series as they are released. You'll get a new nugget of goodness tomorrow, but you can read the first one here:
http://www.gamesradar.com/f/consoles-of-the-70s/a-2008061710302017044

Over at MSNBC's Citizen Gamer page, Winda Bendetti is contemplating the use of "serious games" as a way to encourage social change. Serious games are not really entertaining. Designed to raise awareness rather than adrenaline, they deliver a somber message to players about conditions around the world. Bendetti examines the use of these games and talks to experts using gaming as a marketing tool in their non-profit missions. You can read the rest of the article here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25104254/

Over at Gamecock (hee hee!), They are putting out their version of this year's presidential election in "Hail to the Chimp," for 360 and PS3. Gamer's take the role of a presidential candidate in the animal kingdom and they let natural selection decide. Actually, you have to complete objectives that don't include hiding from the lion candidate who wants to eat you. Anywho- Check out the screens and info on the game at Gamecock's (hee hee!) website.

http://www.gamecockmedia.com/chimp.html

Mastery of the "Insert Picture"

2008-06-17T09:27:00.006-04:00

Good Morning Gamers!

Today I'm going to attempt to include pictures in this damn blog if it kills me or this laptop. And now, I bring you the news.

To anyone who plays the Sims 2 (and there must be some of you out there, judging by the way the game sells) and is bored with the same old stuff in the game, head over to ModTheSims2.com where you can become a member and download all sorts of goodies including customized Sims, pets, houses, businesses, and housewares. While you are there, check out some of the houses created by Flabaliki, an Australian high school student. He's been building houses on Sims since 2000. My favorite design is below (yayy! pictures!)You can check out the rest of his portfolio here:
http://www.modthesims2.com/creator/Flabaliki
and visit ModTheSims2 here:
http://www.modthesims2.com/

When the president of a well-established company leaves for a position at one that is struggling to stay alive, people ask questions. Questions like, who is going to take their place at said old company? Sony is one such company. After Phil Harrison announced his resignation in February, Sony had a big empty seat on their executive board to fill. They did fill it, with the behind of Harrison's right hand man Shuhei Yoshida. Games Industry Biz got to interview SwishSwish about his life at Sony with Harrison and all the fun times they had skipping to and fro around the office. No seriously, this interview is filled with lots of information including the real story behind the cancellation of Eight Days and The Getaway. It is a two-parter, so make sure you use the bathroom first, and put up your away message.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/shuhei-yoshida-part-one
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/shuhei-yoshida-part-two

The Championship Gaming Series and G4 announced yesterday plans to air four 90-minute episodes of the CGS North American playoffs and the World Finals. The first episode will air on July 16, however, fancy-schmancy gamers with DirectTV can watch all the coverage they can stand right now. Check out the full press release here:
http://www.thecgs.com/Championship_Gaming_Series_Brings_Programming_to_US_Cable_Television_for_First_Time_with_Exclusive_G4_Deal aand a full schedule of all CGS seasons here:
http://www.thecgs.com/index.php?s=content&d=tvschedule&page=2008_cgs_season

Hey how about I abuse my new picture power and throw down some screenshots of a new game. Here we have some screens of Fatal Inertia EX for the PS3. Damn, they are gorgeous. I want!

Check out more of these pretty babies here:
http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/driving/fatalinertia/images.html?sid=6192500&om_act=convert&om_clk=gumballs&tag=gumballs;title;1

My Cat Won't Stop Staring At Me When I Type

2008-06-16T09:11:00.002-04:00

Why Hello!
By some awesome miracle from Hay-soos himself, you have stumbled upon my blog. Now that you are here, take a moment to sit and enjoy today's dose of gaming news. Really, it's okay. I won't tell your boss.

I knew I was waiting for a reason! Rumors that Microsoft and Sony will announce a cut in console prices at E3 are circulating because of this guy, EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich. Divnich said he predicts that the two warring factions will duke it out for all the attention during the now ultra-exclusive entertainment expo in Los Angeles. Seriously, trying to switch names on tickets for that gigantic gaming event is like trying to get someone at your local government office to call you back. You can read all about Jesse (Gandalf) Divnich and his gaming prophecy at Games Industry Biz.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/microsoft-to-cut-us-xbox-360-price-at-e3-says-analyst

Jeff Green makes me laugh. The editor for EGM shares his first Spore creatures in his blog. Bloopy is my favorite. For those of you who are terminally stupid, Spore is the epic gaming event Will Wright has been working on for what seems like my entire life. You take the role of God in Spore and create beings in your image. (or the image of a horribly deformed leper, as in Bloopy's case) It is a civilization simulation of epic proportions, and one I would like to take for a spin. You can check out more of Bloopy and his friend Spongy here:
http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=8770945&publicUserId=5380367

OOH FUNSIES!
Capcom wants your ugly mug in their next release of Street Fighter. To earn a place in gaming history and a new line for all those hot gamer girls, Capcom wants you to send them something that will convince them to add your visage to the background characters in the game. An essay, a video; anything you want, but it has to impress. If all goes well, your digital self will be wiping blood off its pants in no time. Check out the post and where to send your bribes here:
http://www.capcom-unity.com/s-kill/blog/2008/06/13/tell_us_why_you_should_be_in_street_fighter_iv

Awesome product alert!
While browsing the blogs at GrrlGamer, I came across a link to Gelaskins, makers of fine covers for PSPs and DS Lites. (Muah, is there anything else BUT a DS Lite?) There are a ton of choices to choose from, and they range from girly to quite the piece of artwork. A few M.C. Escher prints are available including "Drawing Hands" and "Fish." Pretty bad-ass if you ask me. Check them out here: (and tell them Gracie sent you :)
http://www.gelaskins.com/index.php

Sound Off Gaming Professionals!
Gamasutra's question of the week really needs your opinion. The Entertainment Software Association (yeah, these guys again) is the political, voluntary and peer-based arm of the games industry, and in recent years many professionals, like Janet Jackson once did, are wondering "What Have You Done For Me Lately?" Members including EA, Midway, Atari and Nintendo of America seem to tire of the ESA's sloppy performance, and companies like Activision and Lucas Arts are backing out of this elite gamer's club. You can read all about the ESA and their recent dip in popularity here:
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18966
*Members of Gamasutra can log in to read and answer this question.

My Power Core Isn't Over-Heating Any More

2008-06-12T08:34:00.003-04:00

The heat has broken my friends and just in time. This little gamelover almost turned into a puddle of New York mud. Now, let's see here....

How much does it cost to represent video games in legislative circles? According to Associated Press, about $714,000, or in gaming terms, the sweetest entertainment room you have ever seen. The Entertainment Software Association spent this chunk of change to lobby for piracy targeting, protection of intellectual property and of course, parental control. You can read the entire article here:
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080611/entertainment_software_association_lobbying.html?.v=1

The Suit Says,
Over at Peter Moore's EA Sports blog, he takes time out of his busy day as president to share his thoughts with us. Very nice of him, however, the post is pretty boring so I shall spin a quick paraphrase for you. Ahem.Blah Blah Blah, NBA, Blah Blah Blah, 2008 Finals, Blah Blah Blah, Lakers, Celtics, Blah. Blah.Moore launches into how successful EA Sports was in 2007 and even offers the reader a few bullet points to guide them through the piles of success. However, a golden nugget of information in found near the end. Moore states that things look good for future releases of NHL and FIFA, but that is all this sneaky little prezo will say. You can read all about his enthusiasm for this year's NBA Finals here:
http://itsinthegame.ea.com/archive/2008/06/12/not-resting-on-our-laurels.aspx

I love it when women writers break into mainstream gaming publications and Megan VanBurkleo is one of them. Chicas represent! Check out her feature entitled: Mascots: Where Are They Now at Game Informer.com
http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200806/N08.0611.1326.46570.htm

Fresh off of his Heavenly Sword success, Tameem Antoniades, creative director and co-founder of Ninja Theory ltd. found time to sit down with Game Industry Biz.com and share his love of combining cinematic effects and video games. Computer graphic geeks will love this sit-down because Antoniades goes really deep into the art of CG and creating human emotion with computer graphics. Check out the entire interview here:
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ninja-theory-s-tameem-antoniades

From Airtight Games, developers of Crimson Skies for the original Xbox, comes Dark Void. Shipping who knows when (expect more info during E3) on a to be determined platform (All Game Guide says 360 and PS3), Dark Void finds players scaling the cliffs of an alien planet to fight an alien race with other survivors of "The Void." With an emphasis on vertical combat, gamers can use a rocket pack to navigate the foreign terrain or hump their way over rocks and gravel. A preview and some nice-looking screenshots are available at UGO.com.http://gamesblog.ugo.com/index.php/gamesblog/more/dark_void_preview/

Ok I'm outsies for today guys. Gotta look for a job and do some dishes. I hate dishes.

PEACE!

Sweating Balls While News Swirls Around Me

2008-06-10T07:35:00.000-04:00

Hello Faithful Gaming News Readers.

It is hotter than a subway train full of mouth breathers in my apartment, and I'm sweating all over my laptop, but that won't stop me from bringing you news you can lose.

In hardware news, YYJoy is pumping out a bootleg remote and nunchuck for those who can afford the Wii, but can't afford brand name controllers. From their photo they look like the real thing, so I guess for all you poor kids out there, this may be good. Just don't let your rich, douche-y, nerd-core friends come over and spot them. Fuckers.
This story is from Kotaku.
You can read more about them from here: http://kotaku.com/

On the new development horizon, Sid "Viscously Old" Meier supporters have a new reason to withdrawal from any real form of life as Meier, Take Two and 2K Games announce Sid Meier's Civilization IV: Colonization for the PC. Decrepit gamers may remember the original Colonization PC game that appeared on the scene 14 years ago. (Yeah, 14 years) Old Meier decided that this archaic turn-based strategy needed an update, and is working to release the title in Fall 2008. That Meier is a smart one. Rejuvenate an old fan base with updates while simultaneously enticing younger gamers. Follow the candy trail, my pets, and watch out for the glory hole.
This story is from Gamasutra.
You can read it here: http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=18950

On the suit's side, Don Ryan, new COO (chief overseer of o'bunch-o'games) of Oberon Media got to speak his mind to Game Industry Biz recently, and he had a ton of PR hoopla to share with you, along with some interesting info about himself and his goals for casual gaming. Donnie is an industry veteran, which you have to respect, cuz this is a cruel and unusual business, as most anything worth doing is. Before becoming the end-all, be-all of decision-making at Oberon, Don gave 15 years of his life to industry Behemoth, Microsoft. Why leave after 15 years Don? So check out the interview and learn what Don is going to do to improve the image of casual games and what interesting developments are happening in Europe. Educate yourself game lovers.
The full interview is here:
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/casual-gaming-s-triple-threat

Something funny, Over at Game Daily they have a great sense of humor and I love their slideshows with comment. Today, it's dating tips from male video game characters. Enjoy.
http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/galleries/lessons-on-how-game-characters-woo-the-ladies/?page=1

What about the Software? There are new screens available for The Last Remnant from Square Enix. For the Xbox 360, The Last Remnant has a very Dynasty Warriors look to it, and the overview sounds similar to those ancient Japanese tales of samurai and the slain. IGN attended a press conference for Square Enix yesterday, and a release date is set for this winter. You can read the blog and check out a trailer here: http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/880/880407p1.html

That's it for now kids. The heat is killing me and I need a shower. I'm working on learning all about this blog so hopefully soon I can hook it up with some pictures and stuff. Until then, thanks for reading and please come back!

Howdy!

2008-06-09T17:41:00.001-04:00

Hello Fellow Game Lovers!

My name is Gracie and I love games. I am also unemployed. Until I find myself some meaningful work, I would like to share the latest news in gaming with you.

Why should I read? you ask?

Because I'm fucking awesome that's why! That's right, I said fuck! And you can expect all my news to be filled with the same kind of expletives and foul humor.

So please enjoy, or don't.

Griztastic Gaming News: Shoveling Game News into Your Fat, Over-Fed Face Since 2008.