The guys at Tech-Gaming have all posted their DC memories on the site: http://tech-gaming.com/2009/09/09/ha...dreamcast.aspx

Come and share yours as well.

Highlights include a Target stampede, life after death, and Chu-Chu Rocket.

A past CAG posed a question asking what people did to secure these homes. Here's a brief rundown of the stuff I can show. Our wonderful Governor Schwarzenegger decided to ban .50 weapons, so I don't have any of those


Here's what I keep under the bed. The knife is a kukri (sometimes spelled khukuri); a Napalese knife made from the melted springs of old Mercedes. The material allows the knife to keep an unbelievably sharp edge, yet still resist being brittle.

The pistol's name is Gladys ("Glocks get "G" names, the DesertEagle is named 'Dolores'...). She's a G22, a .40 S&W version of the original Glock 17; I picked her up in 1994. She's 7.3 inches long, 5.4 inches tall, and almost 1.2 inches wide. She's a paltry 23 ounces empty, making her a lightweight girl, with a pretty good punch. I've put nearly a 1,000 rounds through her without any problems. About one a month, I take her out for some quality time. Please don't mention...

Man, those Germans give funny names to their games!



How do you prepare your sausage?

With a scant three titles over the last two console generations, the old west has been an underrepresented environment in gaming. Cinematic interpretations of the setting have focused on rapid gunplay, tense showdowns, and sweeping vistas, creating a presumably idyllic context for the pastime. Developer Techland awkwardly mined the cowboy mythos for 2007’s Call of Juarez. While many enjoyed the title’s first-person shooting elements, the game’s stealth missions and object manipulation puzzles felt woefully forced.

Fortunately, the recently released prequel Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood largely omits those superfluous elements, wisely focusing on Wild West gunplay. In this pursuit, the game often becomes steeped in linearity, feeling as antiquated as an old, dusty stagecoach. Enjoyment emanates from slaughtering an enemy posse in the streets of a sandy pueblo, but...

Vertigo and Conduit done, 7 more to go. Jeez, I've almost forgot what the sun looks like.

Not pictured is Holy Invasion of Privacy, Badman! What Did I Do to Deserve This?

Alexa is one of the most popular methods of tracking website popularity, but has its fair share of detractors. Until recently, Alexa's data came solely from people who have installed its toolbar into IE or Firefox. Many didn't, as there was little benefit for them, and most virus scanners reported the toolbar as 'suspicious' as it sent data back through the web. Supposedly, that oversight has been remedied.

Some say that since Amazon.com owns and operates Alexa, providing links to Amazon will lower your ranking (lower=better; Google=ranked first in popularity, Yahoo is second). Although I don't have an real data to prove that, I did notice a slight improvement when I posted link to Amazon products on my site. In hindsight, putting links to a game in reviews felt cheesy, and I discontinued the practice.

A few weeks ago Alexa changed their ranking methods. I've seen many websites...

These inflammatory words are the work of Andy Anderson of the Mid-Missouri Internet Crimes Task Force. I can only assume Andy Anderson is a pseudonym this investigator uses when doing 'undercover' work in the interweb's chat rooms. Obviously, the bad wig is part of his disguise.

"There is no reason an adult should have this game," he said, going on to state that adults who play games like Animal Crossing are likely doing it for "the wrong reasons."

So what prompted Anderson's vigilant endeavor?

"Right now, we only know of the three Missouri children who have been contacted." Yes, 'contacted' by adults using the game.

Links: http://www.kmiz.com/news/story.php?id=13725

http://mmictaskforce.com/Coordinator.aspx

Two weeks I preordered Loco Roco 2 for the PSP using Gamestop's 'handy' online reservation tool. Embeded within the ordering process is some small print- You may be charged a five dollar service charge if you don't pick up your game within $48 hours of release.

From Gamestop's Webite- "If the product is not picked up within 48 hours, you authorize us to charge you a $5.00 fee to cover the cost of shipping and handling to the store. "

Wednesday, I have a few available hours during the day, and I called to see if LR2 was in. At 3 PM, the final shipment of the day was received, therefore my game was delayed until the following day. The only problem was I was going to be working from 9:00AM-9:00PM for the next three days.

Monday, I head to the Gamestop to pick up my game. It was told that my credit card was charged $5. I explained my situation- that...

Send from Niero, D-toids, editor:

"This is the letter every web site operator hopes he never has to write: it seems a glitch in our web site allowed someone to exploit the database this weekend. We have confirmed that the intruder succesfully obtained everyone's username and password.

As soon as we were alerted we shut down all servers, changed all passwords, took our forums offline, and notified everyone via email... We're doing everything we can do prevent this from ever happening again and deeply apologize for this incovenience.

On the bright side, we intentionally store very little personally identifiable information. However, you may still be at risk: If you frequently use the same password for other web services... we strongly urge you to update your password ASAP"

They are also offering $1000 for the prosecution of the hacker.

It must be a slow time for doing anything about the housing mess, or the unemployment situation; politicians are attacking games again:

Representative Joe Baca (Surname: Spanish for cow) is pushing HR 231. (http://www.thomas.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c111:H.R.231:) This bill would require any game rated 'Teen' and up to have a warning sticker that would read: "WARNING: Excessive exposure to violent video games and other violent media has been linked to aggressive behavior." I want a warning sticker placed on politicians stating, "Warning, is susceptible to PAC kickbacks, hookers and blow"

New York Legislature is considering a bill that would limit all game sales to people over the age of 18. (http://action.theeca.com/t/2858/camp...paign_KEY=2509). I'm sure Gamestop's tower of money, will quash this, but why not write your congressman to tell him there are far more important...

While many may believe that the growing trend toward casual gaming is the most worrisome trend facing the industry, I bring you one far worse: the Hollywood release party. Recently Fallout 3, Rayman Raving Rabbids, and Shawn White Snowboarding have held them, with Skate 2, Street Fighter IV, and Killzone 2 parties on the immediate horizon.

The setting is always the same: some chic Los Angeles club, bought out for the night by a PR firm. Sure, there's an open bar, and a number of kiosks to enjoy the game, but the actual release is far from the focal point of the evenings festivities. Borderline celebs (and media whores) like the Kardashians, Shane Sparx, and others who fill the cable TV wasteland, fumble with controllers and feign interest. I wish I could show videos of 'celebrities' being taught to hold the Wiimore toward the screen.

...

First, we have the 'Microsoft denies using Home to conduct meetings' story, then we have this:

http://www.destructoid.com/left-4-de...s-117304.phtml

Not only was it bad enough that destructoid ran it, the ECA newsletter picked up on it, too.

The blogs are making the National Enquirer look Pulitzer-worthy. Her's my dilemma- I'd like to support the ECA, but I can no longer read their daily newsletter. It's a steaming pile of elephant crap.

http://tech-gaming.com/2009/01/07/an...-continue.aspx



Although I can’t recall if I read Electronic Gaming Monthly from its inception, the magazine launched when I was ten years old- right when my reading and gaming skills were being honed. I do remember as a youngster, placing the magazine before me on the floor, and laying down transfixed in its pages. Every story, review, and even advertisement was carefully scrutinized in preparation for a future discussion among my classmates. In this pre-internet era, I was mesmerized by the previews and screenshots of upcoming games. I would reread the publication methodically, until the bottom edges of the magazine were left dog-eared and inkless.

Periodically, I’d receive a yearly subscription of EGM from a relative savvy enough to know I had no interest in Mad, Cracked, or Ranger Rick. When issues...

So our site tabulates the phrases used in google that brings people to our site. While most were pretty boring, number nine today was very interesting:

"Do you get piss tested if you work at gamestop"

Don't believe me? Do a search on the phrase, we are number eight.

Note the use of the term, "piss tested' rather than the denotative term, "drug tested".

For those seeking an answer to the question, my local manger states that they will test if employees appear "sluggish or inebriated". He added that any hesitancy to the "you''d pass a drug test?" question used in a initial job interview will result in peeing in the cup. In all, it's up the discretion of the district manager.

Finish him!

http://tech-gaming.com/2009/01/04/ne...t-edition.aspx

-360
No Releases

PS3
Savage Moon

-Wii
Cid the Dummy
Fishing Master World Tour
Paws & Claws Pet Resort

-PS2
Cid the Dummy

-DS
Bigfoot: Collision Course
Elebits: The Adventures of Kai and Zero
Jumble Madness
Moon
Paws & Claws Pampered Pets

-PSP
Cid the Dummy

-PC
Cid the Dummy
Saints Row 2

I was recently invited to the Final Fantasy Fan Festival, where I had the chance to meet a few of the wonderful Square Enix people. While in the press room, I spotted a guy with a very cool shirt- it was his company logo accented by an illustration of the Xevious arcade panel.

We started chatting, and then his phone rang; his ringtone was the main theme from Mirror's Edge. We geeked out for the next 45 minutes or so.

Well, it turns out he hosts a weekly video show discussing games. I watch a few episodes and I'm surprised at his list of guests: Noland Bushnell, Eugene Jarvis, Tommy Tallarico, Alex from Diggnation, and a couple of guys from some site called Screwattack. While I don't normally enjoy most game related videocasts, this one's a cut above the rest.

Anyway, check out a few episodes. Who, knows maybe a few CAGs will be making an appearance soon.
...

The beginning of every year usually offers a dearth of new games. With most publishers aiming their triple-A titles toward the lucrative holiday window, the first few months of the new year are typically littered with a few games that weren’t ready for a fall release. However, with the industry presenting an ever-increasing amount of downloadable software, many gamers may be able to avoid the January doldrums.

One surefire entertainment choice may be found in Xbox Live Community titles; a collection of independent games of widely varying quality. Although currently hidden within the Xbox dashboard, users can also peruse Microsoft’s website and mark games for automatic download the next time players power up their console. Half the fun of the community games is sorting through the free demo trials while searching for the hidden gems. To make the quest a bit easier, we offer three game recommendations...

I consider myself pretty net savvy, but I must have overlooked this funny little clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soXDW.../nintendo.html

I recently 'came' across the "Jizz in my Pants" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pXfH...eature=channel) video and looked for my humor by the Lonely Island team.

As a history geek and a gamer, I have two reasons to love this.


*Hitler[AoE] has joined the game.*
*Eisenhower has joined the game.*
*paTTon has joined the game.*
*Churchill has joined the game.*
*benny-tow has joined the game.*
*T0J0 has joined the game.*
*Roosevelt has joined the game.*
*Stalin has joined the game.*
*deGaulle has joined the game.*
Roosevelt: hey sup
T0J0: y0
Stalin: hi
Churchill: hi
Hitler[AoE]: cool, i start with panzer tanks!
paTTon: lol more like panzy tanks
T0JO: lol
Roosevelt: o this fockin sucks i got a depression!
benny-tow: haha america sux
Stalin: hey hitler you dont fight me i dont fight u, cool?
Hitler[AoE]; sure whatever
Stalin: cool
deGaulle: **** Hitler rushed some1 help
Hitler[AoE]: lol byebye frenchy
Roosevelt:...

Sorry, if the reader is already aware of this; go back to finding cheap deal, I apologize for the interruption. If you're not ware, read on...

I get a daily newsletter from the Electronic Consumers Association that contains links to 'top' articles of the day.

One reads, "EA 'Disappointed' With Holiday Sales, Will Kill More '09 Games". I click the link it takes me to the Kotaku article: http://kotaku.com/5105905/ea-disappo...games#c9364009

After reading it, there is NO mention of anyone killing any games 09 or otherwise. There is a single line that reads, "Analysts pointed to new titles Mirror's Edge, Rock Band 2 and Need For Speed Undercover as possible underperformers, leading to estimated holiday quarter earnings $70 million lower than previously projected."

There's absolutely no mention of who these analysts are, they could be Michael Pachter, they could be some fat...