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Yeah. I’m Jealous. So What?

So when the collector in me sees game rooms like this (and this) it really makes me question my commitment. I fully understand that I, in fact, do have a life, and other things that I have to spend money on than video games. At least that’s what I tell myself, because, frankly, I’m jealous… very, very, very jealous.

Eight Questions with 'Touch the Dead' Artist Arthur Suydam

You may know Arthur Suydam for his brilliant, blood-drenched cover work on the Marvel Zombies comic book series, which featured zombified versions of Spider-Man, Captain America, Wolverine and other Marvel superheroes. But the A-list artist has also delved into making cover art for another zombie venture -- namely the DS rail shooter/survival horror game Touch the Dead. Recently, Arthur took the time to answer some questions about his undead artwork, his favorite zombie flicks, and why he's just so damn awesome...

Wii Work the Squared Circle

Intrepid Gaming-Age.com reporter Tony "Matlock" Barrett recorded this video, as THQ debuted its WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 for the Nintendo Wii.

Please note the game's ultra cool controls, where you actually raise your hands to pick up an opponent and then thrust your hands down to slam him to the relatively unyielding video canvas.

Stare ye, in wonder...

 

Spider-Man 3 Revealed

Activision recently unveiled Spider-Man 3 at an event in San Francisco. And when words fail ...

Aside from the standard exploration, rescue, and fighting bits, players will get to play as Peter Parker and Spider-Man. As Spider-Man, there will be two different costumes available: the traditional red-and-blue and the newer, more sinister black costume.

The thing Activision isn't showing in this gameplay trailer is how it's handling the game's cinematic bits. Certain scenes in the trailer (notably, the ones where Peter Parker is fighting the Green Goblin, spinning through the air to avoid a series of cars hurled at him, and the fight against the Sandman) will require players to make a series of button presses to ensure Spider-Man performs an action successfully. During these moments (and game fans will recognize them as being similar to the ones in Sega's adventure Shenmue), the game flashes the correct button input on screen. So, for example, when the game tells you to press the "A" button to smash Sandman in his mush, you better do it—or suffer, Spidey.

Head past the jump for some neat screens of the game.

Wright On (Part Three!)

Capcom, in a strange, video game-esque twist of fate, wants you to plead Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney's case.

The game company started a contest for people to present an argument as to why Phoenix Wright 3 should be ported over from Japan and translated for the American market. To enter, all you need is to use a pre-made comic and some word bubbles to craft a comic. The best/funniest/most persuasive comics win some nifty prizes, including the Phoenix Wright toy seen below.

Oh, and Capcom wouldn't have started this contest if Phoenix Wright 3 coming to America wasn't a certainty. So, congratulations! Even if you lose, you win.

 

Loving The Force Once More

Game writers were given the tiniest bit of insight into  LucasArts' new game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed last May. LucasArts invited a bunch of people who visited its booth at E3 to view a Star Wars "pre-visualization" movie, a short film incorporating lots of ass kicking Jedi doing horrible things with their powers and, of course, heralding great things to come.

Now, real details about the formerly top-secret game have come to light: You play as Darth Vader's secret apprentice, and have to hunt down Jedi. This apprentice plays an integral part in Vader's scheme to overthrow the emperor and, as the developers have said, "The game is about kicking someone's ass with the Force."

 

Oh Saaay, Can You Seeeee!

My fellow Americans. I stand here before you today a changed man.  An enlightened man.  A hopeful

man. 

On January 17th, President Bush delivered his State of the Union Address.  And, like any gosh-darn, yee-haw, red-blooded American, it made me think about our country and the way things are, and the way things should be. After nearly a week of contemplation and soul-searching, I've come to what I believe is a very rational, adult conclusion: America should be run by Mario. And here's why:

1. Instead of folding under the crushing pressure of every Italian-American stereotype ever created, Mario chose to fight his way through adversity and judgment, and has earned the respect and adoration of all of gamingdom. (Yeah, I made that word up. It's my blog. I can do that sort of thing.)  The world's opinion of us gamers ain't all that swell at the moment. Mario would change that.

2.  The dude has an seemingly unlimited supply of gold coins. Goodbye, national deficit. We won't miss you.

3.  Homeboy keeps his kingdom in order. Every time some wanna-be gangster with a spiked shell on his back shows up looking for trouble, Mario gnaws on a few fireball-endowing flowers and handles business. No Air Force. No Army. No Navy. No Marines. Just that angry little plumber and a ton of butt-bounces. Think about all the money we'd save in military costs.

4.  He's got a sweet-ass 'stache and he always gets the girl.  'Nuff said.

I think it's pretty clear: Mario for President in 2008!

Plenty of Room at Hotel Dusk

I have to admit that Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is one of those titles that wholly passed me by at E3.

Now, the quirky DS game is nearing release, and I've heard nothing but good things about it. It's a film noir-style adventure about a detective haunted by his past and a mysterious hotel with a mysterious room that, go figure, mysteriously grants wishes.

 

Capcom's Box Art: Surprise Witnessing

Capcom sent out boxed copies of its new courtroom adventure Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Justice For All the other day. And it seems really strange, but right there on the game's box, Capcom has chosen to reveal one of the game's greatest secrets.

Note to Capcom: Always save the surprise witnesses for the courtroom finale.

Head past the jump to see exactly where Capcom went astray.

 

Gadget of the Year?

Time magazine has put up its eight nominees for gadget of the year.

The Nintendo DS Lite has been selected, along with such notable electronic goodies as the Apple MacBook Pro, the Palm Treo 700w, and the Logitech VX Revolution mouse. Popular vote determines the winner, and you can cast your ballot here.

Videogames, it seems, have officially made it. But it's odd that Time chose to highlight Nintendo's  plan to capture a new audience with "a new series of games is geared towards older folks, dubbed Touch Generations including math-and-reading games, plus addicting sudoku and crossword puzzles," when it's the traditional game fans that made the device so popular.