Penny Arcade ‘08! WHEEEE. (All Things Chill (Special*Dark)) by specialdark@allthingschill.com

Ok, first off I BOUGHT A PAC MAN HAT. AWESOME. LOL. Liana wore it most of the day, and it actually came in handy when the temperature changed in the building from EWWW GAMER SWEAT to OMG FREEZING. I also…

…played a round of Mario Super Sluggers with Liana and had a crowd of people watch (lol got so nervous) - fun, but not $50 fun. The Iron Chef America game for the Wii is decent, but has too much of a minigame feel - Yes, I know I’m cutting carrots… but WHY? IS IT FOR THE MIRE POIX? THE SALAD PERHAPS? I NEED TO KNOW. lol. Alton Brown’s voice is a good bonus though!

I waited in one hell of a long line for the new Halo 3 map (purple reign) and got pwned. Tested Fable 2 at the Xbox360 kiosk… and it was a lot of running around with only 4 sets of enemies - boring. I really wanted to check out the towns and make virtual babies. No, seriously. I did. Castle Crashers had a really successful booth and HAD stuff to sell, but sold out so damn quickly. I really wanted some of the figurines, but maybe they’ll replenish their online store as well. Rock Band 2’s guitars looks sweet (sunburst wood pattern thingie) and the drum pedals are reinforced with metal for you heavy footed peeps.

I met Brian Crescente from Kotaku and Major Nelson from Xbox Live (man, he looked TIRED), but didn’t take pictures with them… ’cause I don’t think anyone would care. I mean COME ON, it’s not like they’re INTERNET FAMOUS like JACQUI CHENG (actually, they kind of are). lol.

One big BIG thank you to Liana for being so damn patient with my “c’mon sweets, let’s go,” to “oh wait, let’s check this out too,” to the “OH MAN JUST LIKE 5 MORE MINUTES PLZ KAIES?” 8 hours of ridiculousness. To tell you the truth, the most fun I had was chillin’ on those huge SUMO bean bags and playing Mario Kart DS with 7 other random people - talkin’ smack the whole time - Jeff / Jason / other DS’ers… if you wanna play online, let me know.

And lastly, some miscellaneous things:

We spent about an hour watching a Rock Band 1 freeplay set - Community is fun!
ITT Tech - Noes.
Saw Felicia Day and Wil Wheaton - felt like I had to buy something to say hello. Hee hee.
Little Big Planet was adorable.
The Naruto Storm game on PS3 looks JUST LIKE you’re playing an anime. Beautiful.
Tales of Vesperia (sp?) looks like an awesome RPG for the 360 - Prolly will pick it up soon.
Naked Sushi got a Blue Knight. JEALOUS.

It was fun, but would I come back next year? MOST DEF, but only if I pre-register and saved $10 off the regular walk-up fee of $30. Plan your vacations now people, we only have one extra bedroom. LOL.

YAY PAX!

~Spec

Posted in: nintendo ds , nintendo wii , pax , video games , xbox 360

New DS Lite Colors (I Wanna to Bite ‘em!) (All Things Chill (Special*Dark)) by Spec

Yes, oh yes. It was a rumor last week, but Kotaku has confirmed: 3 sexy new Nintendo DS Lite colors for Europe - red, light blue & lime green. LIME GREEN. YAIES. It’s like when iPod nanos came out a while back, I just wanna EAT ‘em. Oh and btw, I’m fully aware that it’s just a color change. Just sayin’. Hee hee.

w00p w00p new colors.

~Spec

Posted in: nintendo ds , video games

Nintendo DS Update: What I’ve Been Playing - Vol. 2 (All Things Chill (Special*Dark)) by Spec

Hey hey hey! Quick post! To follow up on the last post… Here’s a list of a few DS games I’ve been playing recently:

Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga
Flash Focus
Cookie and Cream
Donkey Kong Jungle Climber
Drawn to Life
Imagine Fashion Designer (lol. for LauLau)
Naruto Ninja Council
Bleach: The Blade of Fate

I just got most of ‘em on my DS, so I’ll tell you what I think as I play through them all. I’ve already played the Bleach game in Japanese… I’m just happy to play it in English so I know what the heck is going on. Hee hee. Seriously tho, the fashion designer game is for Liana. I swear. LOL.

I SWEAR!!

~Spec

Posted in: nintendo ds , video games

It’s like Sodoku… with Letters! LOL. (All Things Chill (Special*Dark)) by Spec

I was never good @ ‘em… but I’ll be playing The New York Times Crossword DS Game head-to-head with LauLau until I get sick of it. Which, truth be told, won’t be very long. At all. Probably shorter than it took for me to even write this post. Let’s practice, k?

DOWN
1. 9-letter word for Awesomeness
Answer: HERSCHELL

ACROSS

1. Herschell would rather be playing…
Answer: POKEMON

LOL. Maybe I’ll get the crossword bug. Maybe not.

YAY DS!

~Spec

Posted in: nintendo ds , wastin' time

I’m not Ashamed as much as I’m Impressed (All Things Chill (Special*Dark)) by Spec

Back story: Liana and I played a few (read: a LOT) rounds of head-to-head Tetris on our Nintendo DS’s on Saturday night to relax and somehow replenish the emotional drain that apartment hunting does to human beings. If you haven’t already gathered, LauLau is Liana and I am Special*Dark. Liana is the winner. I am the loser. LOL. FIFTEEN TO THIRTEEN?!?! WHAT HAPPENED?!?!

This, after all the smack talk I was dishin’ out the last time we were in Seattle. The worst part about it is that I was beaten fair and square. I can blame no one else other than myself. There have been many who have befallen to my TI-85 skills back in the Chicago, but that was because I distracted them someway, somehow. When you focus babe, you focus. LOL.

Congratulations are in order sweetheart! You won fair and square.

(And that’s why it hurts so badly)

~Spec

Posted in: nintendo ds , seattle , wastin' time

Handmade Nintendo controller coin purse review (Gibberish is my native language (DrFaulken)) by drfaulken

When I saw mention of a handmade Nintendo controller-ish coin purse at DS Fanboy, I knew I had to have one. I went to Lindsey Porter’s storefront on Etsy. Etsy specializes in handmade stuffs, so if you’re looking for something unique or small-run, check them out.

Pictures and the rest of the write-up are behind the “jump,” for you RSS readin’ folks.
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Posted in: games , gibberish , nintendo ds , review

Nintendo DS Update: What I’ve Been Playing (All Things Chill (Special*Dark)) by Spec

The DS is a funny thing. I don’t really take time out of my life to play my DS, but I find myself playing it a lot. I’ve had it for about ZOMG almost two years (!!!) and I still carry it with me wherever I go. I crack it open whenever I have nothing else to do like… when I’m on a form of public transit or when I’m waiting for some take-out @ a restaurant. I’m also a big fan of playing with LauLau’s army of cousins, except for when the little ones aren’t asking me millions of questions about my neglected Nintendog. “YOU GOTTA BRUSH ITS HAIR WITH A SHORT COMB,” they say… but alas… their cause for concern has fallen on deaf ears. Stay strong “Tots.” Stay strong.

So without further shenanigans… a list of some games (old and new) that I’ll bee rockin’ for a while:

Lost Magic
Feel the Magic
The Rub Rabbits
Metroid Pinball
Madden 08
Hana Saku DS Gardening Life

Lost the Magic is an Ubisoft RTS (real-time strategy) game with cheesy Anime graphics spells that you’ll need to conjure with the stylus. Feel the Magic and The Rub Rabbits are loosely related mini-game compilations that help a guy “get the girl.” Metroid Pinball is a great time-waster, as it looks really pretty and is easy enough to pick up, but difficult enough to keep things interesting. Madden 08 is still Madden… but what’s coolest about this iteration is that the “paper football” mini-game is super-retro 4th grade material. And Hana Saku DS Gardening Life… well… it’s not a game… and uhh… it’s all in Japanese… and uhh… it’s about flowers. LOL.

What are you guys *cough* LauLau, Jason, Jeff *cough* playing?

~Spec

Posted in: nintendo ds , video games

I can has Jam Sessions? (All Things Chill (Special*Dark)) by Spec

Gametrailers.com link here (via Kotaku). This is Carlo Delallana. He seems like a guy I would know in Chicago. He looks like a jolly ol’ fellow who likes to spend his time playing guitar and chillin’ out and playing video games. I would like to be Carlo’s friend. You see, dear reader… he’s also a producer for Ubisoft slangin’ code for Jam Sessions… a “guitar in yer pocket” kind of game for the Nintendo DS. They have a myspace page, but it makes my head hurt.

I’ve always preferred “touching” an instrument (i.e. Atish’s gear, trumpet, piano, turtables etc…) instead of charting notes and beats on the computer. There’s no tactile response. Jam Sessions actually plays like a guitar… well at least the strumming part… and that’s good enough for me! LOL. I can be the guy sitting next to the tree (virtually) playing the guitar and trying to look cool… now if I can only find my beret and circular sunglasses…

I want this game. I want it pretty badly. If only to rock Incubus - A Certain Shade of Green (chords here, eeeearly music video here) while trying to waste some time riding the train to get a burrito from this one place that I like ’cause it has good meats and lots of chips with it but before 5PM cause it gets busy and I want to eat it now even though its 7AM. LOL. GEEZE THAT WAS RANDOM.

The game comes out in September, so expect some horrible C, G, A, F power chording soon!

YAY Jam Sessions

~Spec

Posted in: nintendo ds , video , wastin' time

I’m Gonna be a Drum Master? LOLz. (All Things Chill (Special*Dark)) by Spec

Youtube link here. Taiko: Drum Master is coming to the Nintendo DS today! w00p w00p! And with any rhythm game, it’s surely to have roots in Japan… thus the incredibly cheesy commercial above. Double fisting stylus-ing FTW! Style Icon DS (ZOMG BE A FASHION DESIGNER ON YOUR DS via Kotaku) comes out soon too! LOL.

YAY NINSTENDO DS GAMES!

~Spec

Posted in: nintendo ds , video games

ARRRGGHHH!!!! (Update: YAY!) (All Things Chill (Special*Dark)) by Spec

- Gaming / Networking / Computer Rant -

When I reformatted my desktop PC, I was able to finally connect my Xbox 360 to my computer. It allowed me to silence the in-game tracks and play my own soundtracks to the games. This was all well and good… until I had to install the USB wi-fi adapter to my Nintendo DS (so I could play a lil’ Tetris DS online). The Nintendo software created a new local area connection (I have no idea WHY) and it somehow killed my 360-PC connection. I swear to all that is holy… there is nothing more frustrating than a software conflict that makes the simple so incredibly difficult. What’s more frustrating… IS THAT MY XBOX SEES MY APPLE BRANDED POWERBOOK 100% OF THE TIME. WHY MY LAPTOP BUT NOT MY WINDOWS PC. GAAAHHHHH. I really don’t mind using my laptop to host .mp3 files, but it’s so much more convenient to have my gaming rig connected to a computer that is just there.

It’s not intuitive dammit. Isn’t this crap supposed to be easy? I just get frustrated that *I* can’t get it to work. BLAH.

- End Gaming / Networking / Computer Rant -

UPDATE: I JUST UNINSTALLED THE NINTENDO SOFTWARE AND NOW IT WORKS. NOW I CAN ENJOY MY .MP3′S ON MY XBOX 360. NOW ALL I HAVE TO DO IS NEVER PLAY MY NINTENDO DS ONLINE EVER AGAI…

Crap. LOL.

So just to simplify… The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connector USB Adapter Software kills Xbox 360 to PC connection. Delete the software and you will be able to share Xbox360 to PC.

Ugh

~Spec

Posted in: computer nerd ramblings , nintendo ds , streaming conciousness , xbox 360

Chore gaming (Gibberish is my native language (DrFaulken)) by drfaulken

Until last year, I played massively multiplayer online role playing games for the better part of six years, starting with EverQuest during its launch in 1999. I spent the bulk of my time in Dark Age of Camelot and World of Warcraft. I also played quite a few other MMOs, including Shadowbane, City of Heroes, Lineage II, EVE Online, and the beta for Star Wars: Galaxies.

Besides being online, these games had a few things in common: they kept me busy, and they kept me from feeling socially isolated. Whether I was living in a small mountain town in Oregon or working from home in Virginia with a very small meatspace social circle, MMOs were a way for me to jump online and adventure with friends. While MMOs are a significant commitment and aren’t always fun, I will not deny their entertainment and social value. Not only have MMOs allowed me to keep in touch with friends across the country, but they have helped me make some very real friends in “meatspace.” For some, like Alexa and Fathir, their real-life relationship started in-game.

I felt like online games were keeping me from doing other things, like writing for Gibberish. So I hung up my avatars for good last July. I haven’t regretted this decision, although Lady Jaye and I joke about rejoining WoW. After almost a year off, I’ve noticed that something strange has happened to me and my video gaming: console games are not nearly as compelling as their online role playing counterparts.
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Posted in: games , nintendo ds , psp , rpg , wii , xbox , zombies

ONOZ! Nintendo DS is a danger to your kids! (Kilala.nl (Cailin Coilleach)) by Cailin Coilleach

Ah yes, more stupid fear mongering (like a few weeks ago). This time Nintendo's successful handheld console is the target.

Why? Because, reportedly, child molesters can use their own NDS to chat with your kids which makes them an easier target. Aside from the fact that the video is horribly sensationalistic, there's also the fact that not -one- soul I know actually uses Pictochat. Seriously, who's going to hang around in an empty chat room, waiting for someone to come in, when instead they could be playing that awesome video game they brought?! That's right: noone.

Film at eleven.

Love the quality of the video though! That's pretty damn crisp, for an online viewer thingy...

Posted in: dangerous , flaming retards , fox news , nintendo ds

Final Fantasy 3 Finally Western Bound (All Things Chill (Special*Dark)) by Spec

Square-Enix’s FF III. On November 14, 2006, a 15 year-old storyline will be updated with new 3D graphics and a resampled orchestral soundtrack. Only on the Nintendo DS.

EEEEEEE.

geek.

~Spec

Posted in: nintendo ds

Pelican 1060 hardcase review (Gibberish is my native language (DrFaulken)) by drfaulken

Over a year ago, one of my first Gibberish articles was about the S3 hardcase for the Sony PSP. The S3 hardcase is a rebadged Pelican with an insert specially designed for Sony’s portable gaming/media platform. Although the PSP hasn’t gotten much use in the last ten months or more, the S3 case still impresses me. So much that I started looking at Pelican’s offerings for my beloved Nintendo DS Lite.

I wanted to hold my NDSL plus the charger in one hardcase, so I purchased the Pelican 1060. It’s much bigger than S3 case for my PSP, but all Pelican-made cases have the following in common:

• Watertight and submersible to 50′
• Airtight and dustproof
• Crushproof
• Automatic pressure purge valve
• Can survive temperatures from -10F to 210F, even though the contents inside cannot
• Guaranteed forever

The case doesn’t have any impact-dampening foam inside right of the box like the S3. I purchased the 1062 “pick and pluck” foam from Pelican, which allows you to customize the layout of the foam by removing small 1/8″ x 1/8″ squares. I took out enough to house my NDSL and the charger:

The entire process probably took five minutes. If I get really creative, I could glue the foam to the bottom of the case. For now, the pick and pluck stays seated within the Pelican case very well.

I’m happy with the case, especially since it addresses my need for bad-ass protection when I travel or take the NDSL with me in Cylon’s hard cases. It may be too heavy, large, or expensive for some: at almost one pound empty and $26 including shipping and foam, some may try to find a less doomsday-proof alternative. However, it’s geek armor for a geek gadget, and I’m most pleased.

Posted in: nintendo ds , review

EZ Flash IV Lite vs SuperCard Lite (Gibberish is my native language (DrFaulken)) by drfaulken

Thanks to my own ignorance about Nintendo DS Lite flash cart options, I wound up buying two complete sets of PassMe/Flash cart devices. Luckily I’ve made use of the second set with Lady Jaye’s newly acquired pink NDSL. I’m glad I kept the unit instead of selling it, because it’s allowed me to compare both the EZ Flash IV and the SuperCard Lite systems. My white NDSL has the SuperCard, Lady Jaye’s pink NDSL has the EZ Flash IV.

The hardware
The first difference between the EZ Flash IV and the SuperCard Lite is the fit and finish of the hardware. The SCL fits snugly and flush inside the DS Lite. There is a plastic piece that completely covers the bottom of the GBA slot.

The EZ Flash IV doesn’t fit nearly as well into the DS. It sticks out a bit, and doesn’t completely cover the bottom of the DS.

The other thing I dislike about the EZ Flash IV is that the slot for the microSD card is on the right side of the card. If you want to remove the microSD card to change games around you must completely remove the EZ Flash IV. The SuperCard Lite’s microSD card is located in the front. All you have to do is remove the microSD card, the larger SuperCard unit stays inside the NDSL.

The desktop software
The SuperCard software is pretty straight-forward. It’s not much to look at, and while there are options for exporting ROMs to your flash card there isn’t much documentation on what each option actually does.

The EZ Flash IV has a long heritage behind it. For awhile, they were one of the only GameBoy Advance flash kit companies around. I have their EZ Flash II product for my GBA, and it worked pretty well. The software used to transfer games from my computer to the GBA was often a mish-mash of Chinese and English, but I made do. The EZ Flash IV software is a huge improvement. While still pretty stark visually, it is easy to use.

DS software
The SuperCard (and required SuperKey) software works very well. Using it is simple. The DS automatically boots to the software loader. You select the game you want to play from the menu and the game starts. It’s a no brainer. I also like that the SuperKey advances past the standard health warning information on the DS.

The EZ Flash IV is a bit more complicated. The DS boots to the default system screen. The user has to select “EZ Pass 3 Boot Device” in order to launch the software loader. After that, there is a major flaw in how the EZ Flash IV is designed. If you have been playing a game previously, two dialog boxes pop up in succession. They are save dialogs, and if you touch the bottom screen or hit the “A” button, your save is cancelled. This might be the first time I’ve ever heard of a negative reinforcement dialog in a UI. It’s akin to saying, “Press here if you don’t want to save.” Why in the fuck is this even an option? People save things because they want to preserve them. Getting a confirmation of not-saving a save is … bizarro world at its finest, I guess.

If you conquer the save game “mini-game,” then you can load a ROM file just like with the SuperCard. Game play proceeds normally.

ROM/Product Support
The one advantage the EZ Flash IV has over the SuperCard is that the EZ team puts out more updates more frequently than the SuperCard folks. If a new game comes out that requires an update, the EZ team usually has it first. It took several weeks for SuperCard to come out with the necessary software to run Lego Star Wars II, for example. The EZ team had it out in a matter of days.

Conclusion
Despite some compatibility/support issues, I strongly recommend the SuperCard over the EZ Flash IV. The differences in the software packages is a wash. The hardware of the SuperCard is easier to use and looks more “stock” than the EZ Flash. Lastly, the whole don’t-save-save-system of the EZ Flash IV makes it a clear loser. Lady Jaye lost quite a bit of time replaying the New Super Mario Brothers because of this “feature.”

Posted in: games , hardware , nintendo ds , review