Worry not, for we have made it to Las Vegas for the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show safe and sound. We’ll be picking up CES press badges and listening to Microsoft’s keynote tomorrow, so stay tuned.
For now, simply gaze at the wondrous busts of Messrs. Sigfried and Roy and an unnamed white tiger “friend” while we search for loose slots and tech PR folks already in their cups. We’re told that Microsoft may have one trick left up its sleeve and greatly anticipate that Sir Howard Stringer of Sony will say something that will have us scrambling for the most savory headline.
If there’s anything you want us to peep and subsequently molest (electronics only!) while at CES, don’t be shy. Let us know in the comments.
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Tags: aim, ces, ces09, console, feature, japan, Kotaku, news, psp, review, video-games, wii
From images we’ve seen, Dead Rising for the Wii looks light in the brain-eating zombie department. But that doesn’t mean it skimps on other things.
Things like, well, outfits for photographer Frank West to wear. “One surprising thing was feedback from people who liked the ability to change Frank’s costume,” says Dead Rising Wii producer Minoru Nakai. “So, this time, we’ve made it so that you can change into more costumes.”
Yeah, because changing into costumes is way more important that killing hordes of the walking dead in a zombie game. We’re being harsh. Shame on us! Check out the full interview at Gamasutra and read about Nakai building Dead Rising Wii from the ground up and making changes to the game — stuff like speeding up some of the zombies.
Remember, it’s not the number of zombies that counts, but the outfits you wear while slaying them.
Interview: Capcom’s Nakai On Remaking Dead Rising For Wii [Gamasutra]
Why doesn’t the mainstream media ever focus on the positive aspects of Grand Theft Auto’s influence on our six year olds? Stealing the family sedan is petty in the name of perfect attendance.
Take the six year old offspring of Jacqulyn Deana Waltman and David Eugene Dodson from Wicomico Church, Virginia who swiped his parents’ Ford Taurus after missing the school bus. The unnamed boy told police he learned how to drive a decade early thanks to his experience with Grand Theft Auto and Monster Truck Jam.
Unfortunately, he crashed said Taurus after a six mile drive. Sounds about right. Don’t think I’ve ever had a car survive much longer than five miles in any GTA game.
“He was very intent on getting to school,” said Sheriff Chuck Wilkins. And good for him! Well, except for the fact that his parents have been charged with child endangerment and that he and his brother have been take into protective custody.
6-year-old takes family car after missing bus [AP/Google]
In response to my failed attempt at knitting during the Kotaku Holiday Podcast, reader Austinpoet offered a link to KNiiTTiiNG, a project that teaches players to knit using the Nintendo Wii. Call it Knitting Hero.
KNiiTTiiNG is a collaboration between artist Rachel Beth Egenhoefer and scientist Kyle E. Jennings. Rachel’s interest in the intricate hand-movements involved with the art of knitting together with Kyle’s desire to create a program to interface with the Wii remote and nunchuck controls resulted in a knitting simulator that simulates the actions of knitting and purling. You rhythmically replicate the actions of knitting using the controls as symbols scroll on the screen - K for knit and P for purl.
While KNiiTTiiNG currently remains an unofficial project, I wouldn’t be surprised if a publisher apt to get in on the growing mature female Wii-owner demographic didn’t snap this up soon. Yes, I am serious.
Kniitting [Official Web Site - Thanks Austinpoet!]
This has got to be the most work for the least return I’ve ever seen in a mod. The Geekothon points to a modder who completely gutted his DS Lite so he could:
A: Make it play videos
B: Turn it into a Pez dispenser
C: Add video camera support
D: Swap out the logo
That’s right. He tore apart a perfectly good DS so he could cut its case open and slap in a VAIO logo. Why? I don’t know, but someone better getting cracking on the Pez mod, but soon.
VAIO Type DS [via The Geekothon]
Xbox 360 manufacturer Microsoft is reported to be jumping on the cost-cutting bandwagon, according to reports from CNBC. Said to be pursuing “significant” savings measures, spokespeople say that reports of mass layoffs are greatly exaggerated.
Over the past week, reports from other sources, namely Fudzilla, pegged the Redmond giant as laying off as much as 17% of its 95,000-plus workforce, a figure that doesn’t include contractors. Fudzilla speculated that the newly profitable games division would be unaffected.
CNBC’s source says that the Fudzilla reported is “grossly exaggerated” and that cost-cutting measures include attrition — meaning employees leaving voluntary by retirement or resignation wouldn’t be immediately replaced — and the non-renewal of contract employees.
If Microsoft does scale back, it would likely announce those plans officially before the end of the month.
Competitor Sony is also rumored to initiate severe cuts in 2009, with The Times reporting that the electronics and entertainment giant would shutter “major divisions.” Things are tough all over, man.
Microsoft Readies Cuts; Though Big Layoffs Unlikely [CNBC via Seattle PI]
Announced at the beginning of last year, Masthead’s upcoming post-apocalyptic MMORPG Earthrise is now accepting applications for the battle between oppressive order and anarchic freedom.
Earthrise takes place years after a cataclysmic third world war. A new society has arisen, populated by clones and controlled by a government that enforces its idea of Utopia by any means necessary. Players will take up sides in the battle between the the new world order and the shadowy Noir government trying to bring it down.
To apply, simply hit up the link below and…well, apply. The developer will be letting new folks into the game in waves, so if you don’t catch the first one, just keep your surfboard waxed and maybe you’ll catch the next.
Earthrise Beta Application [Play-Earthrise.com via Massively]
Crayon Physics Deluxe, last year’s Seumas McNally Grand Prize winner at the Independent Games Festival, hits PCs tomorrow, developer Petri Purho emailed to let us know.
A true indie developer, Purho only entered his whimsical game in the Independent Games Festival so he could get a free pass to the Game Developers Conference.
Now Purho is taking pre-orders for the title, which runs about $20, on his website.
Cryaon Physics Deluxe
To: Crecente
From: Bashcraft
RE: The Long Trip Home
Ah, Pueblo, Colorado. That’s where my dad grew up.
Went to the eye doctor today to, once again, get new contacts. This is the third time I’ve been to the eye doctor in the past month or so. I kinda like going to the eye doctor! The eye doctor lady takes out my contacts for me and puts them back in. The eye doctor himself seems hesitant to give me strong lenses as I told him I stare at a computer screen all day long. That makes sense.
Each time, the eye doctor lady checks my eyes, tells me what my vision is, then gives me contacts to try for a week and asks me to come back if they don’t work out. It’s not the, I dunno, best use of time — but I guess it means that I eventually do get contacts that fit.
Bad thing: The last pair I had made it hard to see while driving. Dangerous!
Wonder if I should wear glasses…
What you missed last night
Bionic Commando Will Be Out Before Winter 2009
Japan Getting Star Ocean 4, Resident Evil 5 Xbox 360 Bundles
Limited “Dragon” PlayStation 3 Console Is For Japanese Eyes Only
Here Are 15 Famitsu.com Stories That Shook Japan In 2008
No, Eidos, You Can’t Vote For Your Own Games In A GOTY Poll
Microsoft: We’ve Sold 28 Million Xbox 360s
So How Long Do People Play Wii Games For?
Sony Looking Forward To PS3 Exclusives In 2009, PSP Not So Much
Because they look really great. Blizzard’s released three new (very pretty) SCII images that should hopefully tie you over. Until when? Well, that’s up to you decide, not us.
StarCraft 2 Screenshot Update: Fire and Rain [Shacknews]
