Fractured Soul Puts Dual Screens to Good Use

When the Nintendo DS debuted way back, I was skeptical. I thought Nintendo was trying to push an unnecessary trend into the handheld console market just to be innovative and different.

Here we are years later, and I still find myself questioning the dual screens. Though I don't think I can blame Nintendo for my doubt, this one probably lays on the developers. Nintendo offers you not one blank canvas, but two, and yet you refuse to use it to any brow-raising avail. Sure there were some interesting things done with the dual screens. Most of the time though, it felt as if a game was just shoehorning a touch mechanic into the thick of things, sometimes adding a layer of needless complexity. Handheld consoles to me, first and foremost, are about simplicity. 

That's what caught my eye about Fractured Soul. It's like two side-scrolling platformers in one, with each of the DS' screens acting as it's own stage. If the hazards and enemies on one screen overwhelm you, hit a button and switch to the other screen to duck 'em. Nice! From the looks of things though, both screens will be chock full of difficulty, so don't think screen-switchin' is your easy button. Man up, son. Attack those enemies like you got a pair!

Enjoy what appears to be the maddening difficulty presented in this trailer. Also, dat music. I'm hoping the whole game has a soundtrack like this. Don't let me down, EndGame.

Fable III Initiates Operation: Pre-Order

Lots of new Fable III tidbits floating around the web this week, folks. There's the game's opening cinematic, which we'll touch on later. More importantly, Lionhead Studios is ramping up the release of it's opus in one of the most interesting ways possible; by allowing you to create your own in-game non-player character!

Visiting Fable III's Villager Creator will prompt you to answer a few questions to establish your NPC's background. Once that's set, you have a limited number of hair, headwear, and clothing options to jazz up your townie. Finally, choose a voice for your creation and a villager is born! It's a cool time killer if you don't plan on buying Fable III, however if you do, and you pre-order, you'll be able to import your villager into the game. Once you fire the game up, the product of your five minutes of labor will offer your Fable protagonist money, information, and possibly indecent sexual proposals. Schwing! 

And now onto the trailer, which you can view below. It's kinda like the movie Up; presented well, well animated, and well written, with an underlying tone of sadness.  I'm not sure what the trials and tribulations of a dead-chicken-flying have to do with uprising and overturning a dictator, but hey.. What do I know? I'm just a broke-ass, volatile, incorrigible flirt and sex addict (according to Fable III's Villager Creator.)

Jailbreaking Your iPhone: Easy, Fun, Legal

Jailbreaking: the art of unlocking your iPhone to run programs that are not approved by Apple's app store. In the past, I would have never discussed a sensitive topic such as jailbreaking. Why?

• Reason numero uno: Apple is fucking crazy in the head. Did you hear what they did to that poor Gizmodo editor who got his hands on the iPhone 4.0 prototype? 
• Reason numero dos: jailbreaking is (or should I say was) a worry-inducing process, in which you could lose all your information, or possibly even brick your phone
• Reason numero tres: jailbreaking is (or should I say was) illegal! Apple's got the Million Dollar Dream on everything they do, meaning fucking with them is a quick path to getting your shit deaded. I try to keep a low profile, ya know, cuz I got warrants!

But now, everything has changed. Last week, a ruling from the Library of Congress deemed jailbreaking the iPhone does not violate copyright laws. Fuck yeah! This makes me want to turn a new leaf in life. I will hereby make good on all of my outstanding warrants (that don't require me to pay more than $100 in fees.) It's a start, right? 

To accompany the excellent news that the law is finally working in our favor, a new tool has been released that makes jailbreaking your phone as easy as pointing mobile safari to http://jailbreakme.com. Swipe your finger, and a minute later, voila! Your phone is now installed with Cydia, the black market App store that Apple doesn't want you to know about. And the best part is that this little maneuver works on all device and OS combinations. 3G, 4.0, GS, iPad, no problemo; http://jailbreakme.com, swipe, done. 

There are sooooo many excellent and useful apps that can only be had on a jailbroken iPhone, because Apple is too tight-ass to relinquish their death grip on what can enter and exit the app store, which a lot of times are really innovative and handy user-created programs. So in essence, jailbreaking turns your iPhone into a open source device, similar to what Android handsets are. Fully customizable, the user experience designed the way the user wants it to be.

Now, go forth. Jailbreak. Make your phone more enjoyable. If you need a head start on some handy jailbroken apps, check this out.

Abraham Lincoln Zombie Hunter

Custom Minimate figure created by Bob Harris, based on the book (and awesome trailer) by Seth Grahame-Smith.

Next-Gen Game Demakes: Because 8-Bit Anything is Awesome

Forum user junkboy at Way of the Pixel has taken a whole mess of next-gen games and given them the demake treatment. Gone are the flawless 3D renders and sprawling environments that have a life of their own, instead replaced with pixelated 8/16-bit sprites and static backgrounds.

Beauty in games is an eye of the beholder thing. I happen to be crazy for the antique sprite graphics and chiptune music that we're missing in games these days. If the choice came down to paying $60 for a beautiful, hi-tech piece of gaming art, or $15 for pixels and bleep-boops, if they were the same game, with the same story, I'd probably go the $15 dollar route. That is a testament to two things: 1) the quality of many of today's games and developers, who think they can slap hypnotizing graphics over a five hour adventure with a shitty storyline, and 2) classic games never go out of style. I'll always support a developer that caters to the old school gamer in me, even if they do it to market an upcoming movie.

Unfortunately, junkboy's brilliant demakes are images only. Oh what I would do to actually play these games.. 

Attached below are Soul Calibur, Bayoneta, Killzone, and Red Dead Redemption. See the rest here.

Battleblock Theater: Militarism, Slavery, Coliseum Battles, Cats

The guys who brought you Alien Hominid HD, Castle Crashers, and Newgrounds, are hard at work on an online arena brawler that could only originate from the twisted minds at The Behemoth.

The premise seems to be this; you're a little man with an oddly shaped head who shipwrecked on a strange island. You're betrayed and sold into slavery by your close friend and fellow shipwreckee, Hatty. Your slavers, gigantic militant cats, have locked you and your fellow prisoners in a multi-platformed arena filled with environmental hazards and man-made maiming-devices. The object? Kill or be killed, alone or as a team, to satisfy the evil pussies' desire to see blood spilled. Slavery, betrayal, murder, Icarus wings, giant cats, platforming on crack. I know, right?!

I liked Alien Hominid. I loved Castle Crashers. Logical progression leads me to believe I will soil my pants in an amorous fit when this game releases. We'll give you more information on this title as it comes, but after watching the trailer, it looks to be a lock that The Behemoth has done it again.

Warning! Fatal doses of epic lie ahead.

Hot Toys' 1/6 Bruce Lee Enters the Awesome

Toy enthusiast that I am, I can't say I own any Hot Toys' figures. Not because they don't make quality figures, they clearly do, it's just due to the fact that I have a hard time coming to terms with dropping over a hundred dollars on a figure. Even if it is a superbly sculpted, amazingly articulated piece of work. But, you know, I got bills, and my day job doesn't pay me enough. I may just have to buck that trend though.

Hot Toys' Enter the Dragon Bruce Lee could be one of the greatest non-custom toy creation I have ever laid my eyes upon. I'm not saying that because Bruce is one of the most fascinating people in human history, nor because Enter the Dragon is one of my favorite movies. Look at the pain-staking detail in this figure! Brilliantly executed, Hot Toys. Do want.

Not only does this guy look amazing, but he comes with a cornucopia of goodies and extras to justify what will probably be the $300 price tag. 

Click through to see all the packaged accessories. 

Click to read more ...

Otaku Get Gangsta

In Kaneohe Hawaii, a few teenagers were at gaming lounge/internet cafe PC Gamerz, minding their own business, being geeks. Three masked men busted into the establishment and began threatening the only employee on duty, who refused to cooperate with the criminals and was swiftly Falcon Punched. 

The patrons quietly handed their valuables to the robbers, but one dude wasn't having it. Asked to surrender his Nintendo DS, Dylan Hayes declined politely by throwing a flurry of jabs. You're gonna have to take that portable gaming system from his cold dead hands! Dylan's stand inspired sole employee Devin Wolery to fight back as well, getting as far as pinning one of the assailants onto the ground. Gaming lounge brawl! 

Shocked, surprised, and probably ashamed that they just got their asses kicked by a bunch of geeks, the thieves fled the scene only to be apprehended by police a block away. Robbery fail. The geeks of PC Gamerz, WIN! Congratulations gentlemen, for defending your turf, your belongings, and your pride all while being geeks of the highest degree. You have captured the true essence of Otaku But Gangsta, and we salute you for your actions.

via Kotaku

Rockstar Wises Up, Halts Self-Fellation

Rockstar Games has developed many solid titles during it's run and rise to prominence as one of the industries standouts. Whether you love them or feel they're all glorified GTA clones, their games are continually regarded amongst the best yearly releases. That establishes quite a fan base for the gaming powerhouse, but how disposable is said fan base's income?

It was reported last month that Rockstar was planning to release an art collection spanning three hard cover books to celebrate their 10-year anniversary. Good idea. They planned to charge $450 for it. Bad idea. Some concept drawings and a DVD of exclusive footage in a pretty package, or an Xbox 360, PS3, and a copy of Red Dead Redemption for each? Hell, I might sooner spend my four-point-five bills on two copies of the gaudy Crysis Collectors Edition. I'd even have a cool fiddy left over to wipe my ass with, which is what I might as well do instead of burning my money on some art books.

Thankfully, Rockstar has decided to cut their loses early and scrap the art book project.

Honest question; really? You didn't see anything wrong with releasing a three-piece set of art books priced at $450? Shame on you.

What The Hell is Sucker Punch?

I feel like I've been talking about Sucker Punch a lot recently. Only because I've been complaining that they're clueless when it comes to designing a protagonist. That Sucker Punch is a game developer. This Sucker Punch is an omgwtf looking movie. 

Cute girls in skimpy clothing with semi-automatic guns and katanas, soulless samurai with chain guns, fire-breathing dragons, the Hindenburg, and even outer space. That's close to my prescribed dose of insane visuals. Christ, what does this movie not have? A story? Guess we'll see.

It's too bad we're going to have to wait until March of next year for Sucker Punch. I hope Zack Snyder doesn't let us down. In the meantime, I'll just watch Inception once a month to tide me over. 

Thanks to Kotaku for the heads up on this one.