Thinkgeek debuts fully functional Portal t-shirts

Leave it to Thinkgeek to take April Fool’s day to a new level. Among their pranks for the day are thesePortalt-shirts, which, as you can see, are fully functional. From theproduct page: Unfortunately during initial testing of the Interactive Portal Shirts at least 128 testing subjects were injured or maimed while practicing the teleportation procedures. Therefore it was decided to provide a visibly functional version of the Interactive Portal Shirts while forgoing actual teleportation....

August 6, 2025 · 2 min · 222 words · Michael Brooks

This week’s VC releases: show Wart some respect, damn it

Let’s get this out of the way first —Super Mario Bros. 2(NES, 1 player, 500 Wii Points),Ecco: The Tides of Time(Sega Genesis, 1 player, 800 Wii Points), andDRAGON SPIRIT(TurboGrafx-16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points) are the classics hitting the Wii Shop Channel today. All of that is really great, but this rubs a sore spot in me, and I can’t ignore it. Where the hell is Wart? The villainous, vegetable-fearing toad, famous for causing terror in the dreamland of Subcon inSuper Mario Bros....

August 6, 2025 · 4 min · 783 words · Jacqueline Roth

Trine 2 gets European publisher

WhileTrine 2already has a publisher here in the United States, until recently it didn’t have one in Europe. That has recently changed as Focus Home Interactive is picking up the title. European fans can enjoy some of that physics-based side scrolling goodness starting some time in the 4th Quarter of 2011 on PC and Mac. If you have never played the originalTrine, you may get it on Steam. Try it, and then get excited forTrine 2....

August 6, 2025 · 1 min · 108 words · Keith Humphrey

Ubisoft’s crap DRM no longer requires constant connection

Ubisoft made some waves last year with its own special brand of digital rights management, forcing all its PC games to require a constant online connection and dropping players should that connection be terminated. It would appear that the venture is a failed one, since that particular requirement is no longer a function of the DRM. You’ll need to be connected in order to validate the game, of course, but after that you’ll be free to actually enjoy the game you purchased at your own convenience....

August 6, 2025 · 1 min · 132 words · Joseph Curtis

UK charts: World at War can’t be shaken, Resistance 2 not so successful

Another week, another round of UK chart positions, and yet another top slot for Activision’sCall of Duty: World at War. It’s hardly surprising that a World War II game does so well in the UK. After all, WWII was the last time Britain was evergoodat something. Resistance 2seems to be followingLittleBigPlanet‘s footsteps by having respectable sales, but failing to set the charts on fire like its rivals’ exclusives have done. WhileGears of War 2and anything on the Wii have all enjoyed top positions, Insomniac’s PS3-exclusive shooter debuts at number ten....

August 6, 2025 · 1 min · 172 words · David Silva

Vanquish trailer doesn’t skimp on the guns

A new trailer has been released for Platinum’s hot upcoming game,Vanquish. The footage details the “Tri-Weapon Pack” available to those who pre-order the title through Amazon. You get three exclusive firearms, all of which look suitably life-threatening. This game is high on my list of most wanted games this year and I can’t wait to check it out. If any of you are going to PAX Prime and see a fat douchebag wearing sunglasses indoors and humping the Vanquish kiosks, say hi!...

August 6, 2025 · 1 min · 82 words · Jeffrey Gilmore

Visceral Studios Melbourne closes its doors

Recently, the Australian videogame industry has suffered some crippling blows. FromTHQ closing two Sydney-based studiosto the controversial end ofTeam Bondi, it seemed the situation can only go from bad to worse. Well, today it became worse. Visceral Games, the team behind theDead Spacefranchise had a small studio in Melbourne. Asconfirmed todayby the International Game Developer’s Association, that studio no longer exists. A total of 21 developers are now out of a job....

August 6, 2025 · 1 min · 187 words · Sheila Huang

Wanna design menus for the Hey Ash Whatcha Playin DVD?

Straight to the point — I’m working on the DVD for the first season ofHey Ash, Whatcha Playin, and I’ve got a problem. I’m working on the cover art. That’s not a problem. And I finally figured out how to use DVD Studio Pro with some degree of efficiency — that’s not it, either. No, the real issue is that I’ve got ninety minutes worth of episodes, three minutes of outtakes, a full feature commentary and some other random crap andno sexy-ass DVD menu art tying them together....

August 6, 2025 · 2 min · 326 words · Ernest Burton

Who wants another Beyond Good & Evil 2 rumor? I do I do I do!

It’s been quite a while, but someone atPSM3decidedit was time to bring backsome good old fashionedBeyond Good & Evil 2rumors. The original is considered one of the darlings of the hardcore gamer crowd, as well as one of gaming’s biggest sales injustices, and fans have been clamoring for a sequel for years. PSM3‘s ‘The Insider’ segment suggests thatBG&E 2is a sequel that “will most likely see the light of day.” I would jump at the chance to play a sequel, but we’ve heard many rumors about it over the years and I think Ubisoft really needs to crap or get off the pot on this one....

August 6, 2025 · 1 min · 139 words · Jonathan Chambers

Why 2 Spicy is the coolest arcade game you’ve never played

Every Wednesday, we profile a forgotten or underappreciated game for our “Games Time Forgot” series. The last time I wrote a Games Time Forgot article, I highlightedRambo, the most beautifully idiotic shooter I’ve ever played. This time around, I want to talk about2 Spicy— an arcade game equally idiotic in its narrative premise and style, but remarkably more intelligent and nuanced than Sega’s other superviolent light gun game. It’s a cover-based shooter for people who hate cover-based shooters....

August 6, 2025 · 4 min · 739 words · William Russell

Wii used to bribe children into being better people

Throughout the many eons that man has raised children one fact has been universally accepted by all those involved in the raising of said children: bribery will get you everywhere. It may not seem like the most ethical way, but it sure as hell is the quickest route to get a kid to do what you want them to do. Back in the day a parent would give their child a candy bar or a teacher would reward their good students with a special toy during recess or a treat during lunch, but this is the future, people, and the Wii is here, and it’s changing the game....

August 6, 2025 · 2 min · 268 words · Craig Johnson

Xbox Indies: Blowing, drilling and sliming all over

Each week, as part ofSaturday Morning Hangover, Jordan Devore and I play through the week’s Xbox Live Indie Games releases as a public service. We dig the service because for every ten mediocre-at-best games, there’s something wonderful. What we saw this past Saturday was no exception, though there’s one title which has really stolen our hearts. Here is a quick look at our three favorite releases from this past week....

August 6, 2025 · 3 min · 456 words · James Roth

You are to blame for the price of the 3DS

So, Nintendo announced yesterday that the 3DS would be priced at 25,000 Yen when it launches in Japan this year. According to Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata, it’s your fault that the price is what it is, as your reaction to the system helped Nintendo conjure up the cost. Satoru says that a lot of factors went into the pricing of the 3DS, but fan reaction after E3 was chief among them....

August 6, 2025 · 1 min · 179 words · Brenda Brooks DVM