Telltale Games, the folks behind the hit episodic series Sam and Max sent out a press release this morning revealing that their top secret WiiWare project is gonna star none other than Homestarrunner.com fan favorite, Strong Bad! The miniature misanthropic macho man in the luchador mask is getting his own “3D point-and-click-em-up adventure” on WiiWare and PC. Telltale has teamed up with Matt and Mike Chapman, creators of Homestarrunner.com to create Strong Bad’s Cool Game For Attractive People which will start it’s initial five episode run in June. You can check out the game’s official website later on today at telltalegames.com/strongbad.

So this is what that “big franchise that is most certainly NOT Sam and Max” that Dave Grossman was talking about on the last episode of The w0rd! As a long time fan of Homestarrunner and Strong Bad, and a semi attractive person who’s in to cool games, I’m excited.

Sad news today in the world of PC gaming. One of the more prolific PC gaming enthusiast publications announced that it is shutting down publication for “business reasons”. I’m afraid it’s true, the magazine once known as Computer Gaming World (and more recently as Games For Windows: The Offical Magazine) has gone the way of the Dodo, not unlike a number of other print publications in this new age of the internet. In fact, that’s just exactly what’s going to take GFW’s place.

In a blog post, former GFW Editor In Chief Jeff Green stated that him and the rest of the magazine’s editorial staff was going to stay with ZiffDavis, all working full time on the growing PC Gaming section of 1up.com. The publication’s art department was laid off unfortunately, and Jeff gives them heartfelt condolences on their impending unemployment.

I was a longtime fan of CGW/GFW and am sad to see it go, but I’m relieved to see Jeff, Sean, Shawn, and Ryan are all staying at 1up. Their podcast, one of the best that 1up Radio has to offer in my opinion, will continue as well with a new (and most likely somber) episode going up later this week.

Well, they had a good run at least.

Big news for Wii owners today!

Telltale Games, the wonderful people behind the new Sam and Max episodic games, have announced that they have teamed up with JoWooD Production Software AG and DreamCatcher Inc. (The parent company of The Adventure Company, who was co-publisher on the PC release of Sam and Max) to bring the critically-acclaimed entire first season of Sam and Max to the Nintendo Wii console this fall!

The decision to bring the franchise over to Wii was a no brainer due to the substantial fan outcry for the series to get a release on Nintendo’s little white box. The overwhelming combination of fan emails, rumors from various gaming press in light of Telltale Games’ recent announcement of bringing some new titles to Wii, and perhaps some light cajoling from a certain blogger/podcaster to Dave Grossman of Telltale, fueled enthusiasm from the developer and publishers to bring the series over to Wii.

Nintendo’s Wii is a perfect fit for the Sam & Max games. The series’ story-driven gameplay and episodic structure has often been favorably compared to TV sitcoms. The new Wii version will present Sam & Max in a format that can be enjoyed from the comfort of the living room, either alone or with a group of friends—a setting perfectly suited for this kind of experience. The game’s easy-to-use interface has a low learning curve, making it ideal for the Wii’s broad consumer audience.

-Emily Morganti, Telltale Games

I personally am super excited for this news. As a long time Sam and Max fan, Wii owner, and advocate for adventure games to be released for the unique system, this was one of those press releases that had me almost falling out of my chair to do a write up ASAP!

Thank you Telltale for being so in touch with your user base! Now if only we could get Nintendo to be the same way with EarthBound! (Yes I totally went there.)

So I was looking over my emails and I noticed in the upper right hand corner that Gmail had a new feature: the ability to sent emails to the past!

While perusing the info page I soon realized that it was obviously too ridiculous to be true, and remembered that the Goog has pulled this kind of thing in the past. Allowing users to predate emails would lead to insane amounts of abuse of this feature, from this amateur journalist especially!

Good show Google, Good show.

via Game|Life

Owners of the hit multiplayer rhythm/karaoke hybrid Rock Band will get a special April Fool’s treat tomorrow. Well those that have it on Xbox 360 that is.

The infamous end song from last fall’s break out hit Portal will be available for download from the newly renovated Rock Band music store, absolutely free of charge. Only Xbox users will be able to download the track tomorrow however. Sony’s Playstation Network is going through a redesign and will go on a two week hiatus as far as updates go.

Playstation 3 owners will be able to rock out with GladOS come April 17th.

via The Underwire - Wired.com

from blog.wired.com posted with vodpod

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This amazing cardboard conversion of the imfamous “light cycle” sequence from the 80’s classic Tron was made by the very talented, and very crafty I might add, Freres-Hueon, a french filmmaker.

Many homebrewed big screen recreations have been popping up over the web lately, in homage to Michel Gondry’s new film Be Kind Rewind. These garage remakes are known as swedes.

via Kotaku

Those of you wanting to know the next big game Nintendo has up it’s sleeve for this years holiday season, you’re gonna have to wait until July to find out says NOA President Reggie Fils-Aime. In an interview with Geoff Keighley on Game Trailers TV this week, the fanboy favorite Reggie hinted at a big announcement to be made at E3 this July in Los Angeles. According to Reggie, the second half of ‘08 will see Nintendo “maximizing all of [their] key franchises”. Apparently both the gamers and the expanded audience will be excited with what will be announced in July.

A few other outlets are already putting their money on a new Kid Icarus title. Me personally? I haven’t a clue what they got up their sleeves, but all I know is that I want the Mother series back in North America, pronto!

Seriously Nintendo of America, why you gotta hate on EarthBound?

1up.com community manager Jenn Frank has written a rather entertaining feature just in time for St. Patties Day on the top five games where ones skill rises with their blood alcohol level. Check it out!

Top 5 Games You’re Better At Drunk

via Game|Life

Who ever came up with this ad campaign is a freakin’ genius.

from blog.wired.com posted with vodpod

via ShackNews

After many months of lengthy appeals with the Video Appeals Committee, Manhunt 2 is going to finally get a UK release. The British Board of Film Classification has confirmed this by issuing the game an “18+” rating, meaning only those 18 years and up can purchase and should play this game.

Last year’s Rockstar Games’ survival horror sequel has seen it’s share of controversy. The game received a game killing “Adults Only” rating from the ESRB when it first went for review in North America and was outright banned in the UK. Rockstar then went back and made some aesthetic changes to the game and were able to secure an “M for Mature” rating.

Hopefully now that it’s battle with the BBFC is over we can all stop talking about it, because in all honesty, the game it’s self isn’t very good. In my own honest opinion at least.