Attention "drummers"

Hey "Rock Band" aficionados - ever have this problem?
Looks like somebody's been rocking out a bit too hard! Well now is your chance to fix that, thanks to a kid who made some tools in his dad's workshop.
Thanks to Derek Brown, the head of DB enterprises (and high school junior) has become an entrepreneur of sorts. After breaking his own "Rock Band" bass drum pedal (with his rocking), Brown managed to fix it instead of sending it in to EA for them to deal with it. Now, he has three pretty cool looking pedal plates that will suit your cause perfectly. You can buy them on Amazon.com for $15-$30. Check them out here.

And now, I will find a way to make the Wiimote shoot lasers. I'll be rich, I tell ya!

You Apparently Don't Know Jack

So who likes trivia games? How about funny, irreverent ones that you used to have to buy at the store for your PC? Did you know that you can play You Don't Know Jack from the comfort of your home for free? I didn't.

This game is great. I would urge anyone who enjoys the online game to buy some old copies of the PC game. It's a great time killer and a lot of fun to boot.

There's a new game every day. I urge you to enjoy. But remember everybody - there is indeed strong language and suggestive themes. And as the warning says, the kids won't get it anyway.

Independent Game Spotlight: "Crayon Physics Deluxe"

The 10th Annual Independent Games Festival last week announced its Seamus McNally Grand Prize winner to be "Crayon Physics Deluxe," an innovative game that works for a notebook laptop (a bigger, fancier Nintendo DS). The winner got $50,000, and we got to see his masterpiece in action. Check it out.

Wow.

You can look at the game a little further at http://www.kloonigames.com/crayon/.

Marco: The Video Game

Seen here lounging in Marshall's campus, Marco has been pondering why he hasn't seen quite enough of the limelight. Well, here's your chance to help him out.

NCAA Football '09 is headed for the Wii this July. However, nobody knows what the cover looks like yet. That's because the votes aren't in. So in short: VOTE MARCO (I don't have any conflict with this issue, since art school doesn't have a mascot or a football team - only a garden where people learn how to make peace while knitting).

Head over to easports.com/ncaa09/. Cast your vote for Marco. Remember, Marshall is in Conference USA, so don't get it mixed up. This would be great for the city, the college, and Marco. So cast your vote. One vote a day, so please, spread that word. Tell your mom and tell your grandma, but most importantly, tell 'em Blog: The Video Game sent ya.

Xbox 360 HD-DVD Drive Dropped, Blu-Ray Drinks Champagne and Laughs

And they all said that it wouldn't last.

Well it didn't.

HD-DVD has ceased to exist. Blu-ray, with its trendy color scheme and tasty PS3 specific picture is here to stay.

Is anybody heartbroken?

"The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters" Review

I'd like to talk about an American hero.


This is Steve Wiebe. Formerly a drummer and an athlete, Steve is a master of "Donkey Kong" as documented in the film "King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters" - one of the best documentaries I've seen in a long time. Wiebe is the embodiment of the underdog. He's an every man, a family man, the cool science teacher, and most importantly, a guy who needs a break.

To overcome the odds and show that he's an honorable guy, Wiebe abandoned an incredible, record breaking "Donkey Kong" score (achieved in his garage) and traveled across the country to prove his worth.

Now let's meet the unlikely antagonist of the film.


Billy Mitchell was the holder of the "Donkey Kong" world record, the "Donkey Kong Jr." world record, and accomplished the perfect game of "Pac-Man." There's nothing scandalous about Mitchell at face value. In '82, he took a slew of people to school at multiple video games and ultimately became the "Gamer of the Century" in '99. He sells his hot sauce, has a weird beard, and luxurious long hair.

But by the end of the movie, you have to loathe Billy Mitchell. He's a conniving, negative, "mightier-than-thou" man. After saying that Wiebe's garage high score didn't count because he played it at home, he went on to defeat Wiebe's arcade tournament score via a tape from his home. In many ways, Billy Mitchell is the weasel and Steve Wiebe the hero.

I won't give away the film's ending or any of the ongoings of Wiebe and Mitchell, but "The King of Kong" is one of the greatest pieces of film I've ever seen. Director Seth Gordon manages to capture a tension that you only feel when you watch somebody else play a classic video game.

If you watch one documentary this year, watch "The King of Kong." It doesn't matter if you're a casual gamer, a competitive gamer, a sports fan, or a political enthusiast. This film is the story of the rise and fall of the little guy and it couldn't be illustrated more brilliantly.

Game Day (But Not E3) - The Game Developers Conference

It seems like the Game Developers Conference hasn't been too shabby. No, they haven't announced a Blu-Ray compatible Xbox 360 upon the demise of the HD-DVD drive, and no, there has been no announcement regarding the Netflix rumor. However, a few decent games have been announced as well as some pretty solid new developments (mostly regarding the future of the Xbox 360). Let's take a look at some of the GDC08 developments to date.

Xbox 360

- Changes are coming for the hit war game, "Call of Duty 4," with an expanded
feature patch.
- "Ninja Gaiden II" was announced for an early June North America release.
- Microsoft announced Xbox Live Community Games - users can create their own games and put them up on Xbox Live for the world to partake.
- Taking a note from the iPod, the Zune is coming out with games. Cool?
- "Gears of War 2" is coming in November of this year. Check out this video (thanks to our pals at Joystiq), but as one would assume, it's pretty violent.

GDC - Gears Of War 2 from Joy Stiq on Vimeo.

PlayStation 3

- Again, the expansion for "Call of Duty 4."
- Logitech announced the Gran Turismo Wheel. Check it.

Eh? Eh?

Wii

- Not much here. They did announce the first available WiiWare game, entitled "LostWinds," where you control the wind with your WiiMote.

So not too much excitement, but at least some interesting gains from Microsoft.

Help Evan in His Quest for Downloadable Content

Hey everybody. So I've been thinking that it's time to invest in downloading some games for the Wii and Xbox 360. Here are the top contendors, and I'm also open to suggestions.

For the Wii Shop Channel:
1) Bonk's Revenge
2) Final Fight
3) Super Mario 64

For the Xbox Live Arcade:
1) Rez HD
2) Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo HD
3) Bomberman Live

For "Rock Band":
1) Bang a Gong (Get it On) - T. Rex
2) The David Bowie collection
3) Die, All Right! - The Hives

And Tyler Nickell, if you make a suggestion, stop complaining and pay for it with your owns (and by that, I mean your own money - it's street talk).

Happy Post 200

Hey everybody, it's that time - BTVG is 200 posts old! Goodness my, and how it's grown! We had our laughs, we had our sorrows, but now all we have to do is wait and see what happens in the future. When will HD-DVD die? When will we finally see that obligatory Luigi wardrobe malfunction? It's a big year ahead of us.

I should also add that nearly half of the posts were written by the brothers McElroy, Griffin and Justin, who are doing quite well for themselves over at Joystiq. I also definitely recommend checking out their podcast over at iTunes.

And what am I going to report on this joyous day?


That's right, "Guitar Hero: Aerosmith Edition." Why? I'm asking myself the same thing. If you're actually interested, I'm ashamed of you and will answer your queries and comments accordingly if you comment. Happy 200, all.

"Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law" Review

I know that I've made it quite clear how much passion and excitement I had going into this game. Maybe you didn't know that, but hey, check the archives. My excitement was laid out very plainly.

"Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law" only holds up if you're a fan. Even then, it has its problems. The show features a lot of dry, blink-and-you'll-miss-it humor. The game tries to capture the same thing, but doesn't keep the same pace, thus some of the comedy falls flat.

The game was developed by Capcom, the same guys who did "Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney" for the DS. It follows the same guidelines, but doesn't really amount to the same results. The Phoenix games are obscenely fun, which is frightening since they're law games, but the Birdman game doesn't take the format quite as seriously. Sometimes cases get solved in your favor when the judge gets bored, which is funny...but it still seems to distract.

I'm glad to see cameos from Hanna Barbera chacters - Magilla Gorilla, Secret Squirell, and Peter Potamus are all on board for the first two cases. Also, since Capcom has the rights, you can find hidden videos with "Street Fighter" characters on the scene. I'm nothing but happy about seeing Guile's hair catch fire.

I wanted so badly for this game to be great. However, I'm not all too concerned with playing it or even finishing it. For the same results, I could get around to watching the last two seasons of the show. The game is funny, but I'm going to wait until the game gets severely cut in price before I consider picking it up.

For fans of the show, rent the game. For fans of the Phoenix Wright games, wait for "Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney" (out tomorrow) and forget about this thing. Everybody else, I'd ignore this guy completely.

Goody!

Grade: B

Mega Man Electronica

Thanks to Stereogum.com for bringing this to my attention. The video is from "Mega Man II" and the music is from Johan Abebjörn - from the best in the Mega Man collection (pending "Mega Man X").

The Xbox 360 Failure Rate

A report from Microsoft's Peter Moore once said that 3% of all Xbox 360s will suffer the wrath of the red ring of death (stop working permanently). A new report from SquareTrade, the top independent warranty provider, claims that significantly higher number of 360s will see this outcome.

16.4% of Xbox 360s will suffer the Red Ring of Death!

Scary, right? Well, it's better than the estimated 33% reported by many retailers.

What is the Red Ring of Death? It's sort of like the iPod with the x's over the eyes and the sad face. It's the sign of your Xbox's demise.

Instant DVD Streaming Onto your PS3/360 via Netflix?

According to a few blogs out there in the Interland, there are a few Netflix users who were given surveys, asking if they would be interested in instant movie streaming on their PS3 or Xbox 360. The possibility is a definite follow-up to the "instant view" on the PC technique (however still not compatible with Macs - thanks Steve Jobs).

If the positive feedback turns into definite outcome, this would be an incredible step forward for both systems and Netflix alike. Let's look at the rough progression of movie rental.

1) Drive to Blockbuster, rent from a small selection of movies, late fees ridiculous.
2) Drive to Blockbuster, rent from a bigger selection of movies, late fees ridiculous.
3) Stay home, rent from an enormous selection of movies, flat fee somewhat reasonable, wait a couple of days, watch movie.
4) Stay home, rent from an endless number of DVDs, flat fee extremely reasonable, watch instantly with your PC/wait a couple of days.
5) Stay home, turn on Xbox/PS3, rent movie for cheap, watch immediately.

This could be an incredible wave of future movie viewing. Although it is only a fraction of the Netflix catalog, this is still an incredible thing. This guy hopes this development goes into action soon.

Oh, and thanks for coming back, writers. It's a good day.

The Guinness Book of Video Game Records

The tallest man and fattest hobo have nothing on the King of Kong.

That's right. It was announced today that the first "Gamer's Edition" of Guinness
World Records is due out on March 11.

Here's a quiz to see if you know your gaming record trivia. No cheating!

1) What is the biggest-selling video game of all time?
a. Pong
b. Guitar Hero II
c. Halo 3
d. Super Mario Bros.

2) What is the highest one day gross for a video game?
a. $200 million
b. $170 million
c. $95 million
d. $60 million
(Bonus points if you name the game)

3) Which actor has not been featured in the Grand Theft Auto series (the series with the most voice actors)?
a. Ice Cube
b. Ice T
c. Samuel L. Jackson
d. Dennis Hopper

That's all for now. But I think the book sounds kind of interesting.

Apple and the Great Market Monopoly

Apple is trying to take over the market (and I'm falling for it, for now). The new Macbook Air is thinner than ever, fitting snugly into a manila envelope. However, the thing doesn't have a disc drive. No CDs, no DVDs, and no games. Well, that is unless you download all of those things. Legally. On the iTunes Store.

The company is now renting you movies (for more expensive per month than Netflix), charging you for music (for more expensive than Lala.com), and charging you for games to play on your iPod - and I wouldn't be expecting to play "The Sims" or "World of Warcraft" on the machine.

So yes, I realize that this is old news, but I must know - who's buying it? I mean, this thing is working towards eliminating the physical market (since that's the wave of the future, according to a very eager-to-make-his-money Steve Jobs). Unless you dish around $100 for an external drive, you're stuck with a tiny, downloading, no more computer games or album art machine.

I don't think I'll be buying any games for my iPod anytime soon...except maybe for "Bomberman."

The Darwin - the Evolution of Unnecessary

That's right, it's so big, it can't even fit in the text box.

It looks like the company Motus is trying to capitalize on the success of the Wiimote. Motus, who made gadgets to improve your golf game (your actual golf game, not the Wii golf game), is coming out with the Darwin - a Wiimote for the 360, the PS3, and the PC.

The device is bigger, clunkier and more expensive than the Wiimote (expected to go for nearly $100). Who's buying it?

Cooking Like Mama

If you're a college student with a meal plan, you're cheating. However, I was once like you. But here in the real world, we have kitchens. Thus, I have to struggle to find things that meet the soon-in-my-belly criteria.

1) Cheap

2) Easy

3) Probably microwaveable

However, I have just discovered a web site that combines two of my great loves: food and video games. Enter the "Cooking Mama Cook Off" web page. The page has ten recipes. Here's a sample!

Strawberry Shortcake

- 1 loaf frozen pound cake, thawed

- 3 cups strawberries, hulled and sliced

- 1 cup heavy whipping cream

- 3 Tbsp. powdered sugar

- 1 tsp. vanilla

Preparation: Using a potato masher, mash half of the strawberries. Stir in the sliced strawberries and chill. Beat cream with powdered sugar and vanilla. Slice pound cake, place each piece on a serving plate, top with strawberry mixture and a dollop of cream. Serve immediately. Feeds eight people.

Better than mama!

Japan Wins!

Is there anything those Japanese can't do? They get games first, they get Pokemon cards before they're released in America (if at all, sheesh), and the Sega Dreamcast even had a longer lifespan there. Let's look at some new developments, shall we?

PlayStation 3 - It was announced today that on March 6, a new, sleek version of the PS3 will be released in Japan. Enter the "Satin Silver PlayStation 3." Could this be the PS3 Slim that was leaked a while ago? Don't let the angle from the photo above deceive you. This system is just as bulky as ever. The system will set Japanese customers Y39,980 (or approximately $376) and come with a Dual Shock 3 controller.

Xbox 360 - Not to be outdone, Microsoft is cutting the price of the Xbox 360 on March 6. The Arcade model will go for Y27,800 (or approximately $260).

Wii - As we know, Japan got the early release of "Super Smash Bros.: Brawl." They get plenty of games before we do. Boo hoo to us here in the U.S. of A.

However, a new Steven Spielberg game was announced. Yes, the Spielberg has teamed up with EA to give us "Boom Blox." The game will be released in May, specifically for the Wii and for mobile phones. No stranger to what the children want, Spielberg also created a number of children's shows (including "Animaniacs").

Just by an image search, the game looks crude and block-shaped with lots of explosions. Cool!

Preordering games, reserving games, midnight game fanatics

The top selling game on Amazon.com in Japan is "Super Smash Bros.: Brawl." The game is also number two in America.

This begs a question that I've been curious about.

How many of you pre-order or reserve video games in advance? Am I the only one who waits for a while to go out and buy the game of my dreams?

Also, who has gone to a store at midnight just to get a new release? I want stories, people! Who's been pushed over for a GameBoy Color?

Personally, I've never stayed up for hours for a game. "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," however, is a different story.

I do believe that I'll go ahead and pre-order my copy of "Super Smash Bros.: Brawl" soon.

PS3: "I'm Sorry That I Got Fat, I Will Slim Down"

It seems that our good friends at Sony may be pulling the Steve Jobs card on all of us. As it did in the past with the PS2, the PSP and the PlayStation, it looks as though the PS3 could be getting a makeover.

According to CNET (and complete with a photo), the news of the PS3 Slim was leaked recently. Now could it be a clever PhotoShop job? Perhaps. However, the PS3 needs a new way to attract attention. Perhaps a thinner counterpart?

This also raises a whole new breed of angry gamers. Just like the man who bought the original iPod and lived to see the seemingly endless pile of upgrades, PS3 users must be steaming. After buying the original, it has only undergone price cuts and new upgrades. Xbox 360 users have seen similar advancements, with only the Wii honestly holding sway (thus far).

So who wants a thin PS3 and who wants the market to stop advancing for another year?

"No More Heroes" Review

It isn't often that you see a Wii game that you could compare to something developed by Rockstar (you know, other than "Rockstar Presents Table Tennis" or the upcoming new version of "Bully"). "No More Heroes" is easily the most "violent for violence's sake" game for the console (i.e. killing others for sport - not survival).

Your character strives to become the top assassin in the world. He does so by going around and killing the other top assassins with, essentially, a light saber. Cool, right?

The game is the equivalent to any "Final Fight" or other "bash-em-up" game for the SNES. The difference lies in the ridiculous amount of blood, violence, and strong language. How much blood? Think "Kill Bill Volume 1."

The game does eloquently utilize the Wii control system, using both the Wiimote and the Nunchuk as fighting and navigation tools, not to mention a cell phone. The fighting sequences are all very bloody, but almost cartoonishly so. Regardless, I wouldn't let the kids around this game.

The game's dialogue is poorly written and very unnecessary. It tries to achieve adult humor, but it fails nine times out of ten.

I was shocked while playing this game to find that there's really very little working against it. But when I completed an assassination mission, it all turned sour. The game suddenly got bogged down with tediously pointless mini-games that ultimately amounted to little reward.

Mini-games aside, this is one of the most exciting games released on the Wii. With animation comparable almost to "Viewtiful Joe" and all the fighting style of "River City Ransom," there's not much to complain about. And hey, it isn't often that your enemies explode in a fountain of blood and coins. Aw, barf!

Grade: A-

The Most Beautiful Video Game Related Song

This is the final song in the game "Portal." It was written and performed here by Jonathan Coulton - the troubadour for John Hodgman (resident expert and professional author).

Sigh...more reviews soon. That is all (for those who are not dead).