Going for Gold

Mario : The most famous plumber ever.
Sonic : The most famous hedgehog ever.
The Olympics : The most important Sports event ever.

Three things I like, all squeezed into a DS and Wii game. This should be interesting.

Wii Mobster

I got my copy of The Godfather : Blackhand Edition today. Interesting game. There are many ways you can beat the stuffing out of your enemies using the Wiimote in a “Wii Sports Boxing” fashion and the gun gameplay is an interesting mix of lock-on and shoot and Wiimote precise pointing. But I won’t go too much into detail here. I have to keep something for my review!

Apparently, Game Access is in Upside-Down, Québec.

Yay! Another filler game. Game Access requires you to have 10 games on your “Wanted” list at all times. I don’t have that many games that I really want so I put “filler” games on my list. The last one, Uno 52 for DS, in the #10 spot on my list, just got shipped to me. The Godfather was also a filler game, albeit a more desirable one, that, I believe, was also at the bottom of my list. And all my games seem to be available according to the meter on their site. Really, WTF?

I Just Got an Offer I Can’t Refuse

Sorry, I couldn’t resist. Although not high on my list, my next game coming from Game Access is The Godfather : Blackhand Edition for Wii. Well, at least it’s a Wii game. It sounds interesting, although I have yet to see any of the movies based on it. We’ll see, I guess.

Rental Review Round 1 Over

Yes, I’m done. I played both Chibi-Robo and Cooking Mama. They were both pretty fun. I’m also done with the Rental Review for Chibi-Robo. You can catch it on the-alt.net . That means I’m done with both my rented games! Cooking Mama is already in the mail and Chibi-Robo will probably be leaving tomorrow. I have my fingers crossed to get Wii games this time (although, I wouldn’t mind trying out Spectrobes for the DS).

I hope he doesn’t ask himself why he’s so hated.

Let’s start from the beginning. Jack Tompson, the lawyer known for pissing off anyone who enjoys, makes or sells video games, has given a statement about the fact Take-Two, who he just sued for the upcoming GTA IV and Manhunt 2, sued him.

Ever had a moment where you can’t believe what you’re reading. Yeah, well, I got one of those moments.

The man essentially goes ahead and says something along the lines of “Man, they’re idiots” and quotes the Bible, without giving any explanation why TT’s move is so dumb. And, really, how much of a religious fanatic do you need to be to have been “praying, literally, that Take-Two and its lawyers would do something so stupid, so arrogant, so dumb, even dumber than what they have to date done” . Yes, those where his own words.

Big Mama

I played pretty much all there is to play of Cooking Mama and put up a short, Rental Review for it on the-alt.net. Enjoy!

You… Got… Games.

I received my first batch of games from Game Access. I’m really liking Chibi-Robo. Not the most stylish game but it’s still fun. As for Cooking Mama, it can be described as WarioWare in a kitchen. I’m planing to make what I call a “Rental Review” for both. A “Rental Review” would be a short summary of my thoughts on a game with my recommendation if you should rent, rent before buying, buy or avoid a game.

Forums and Channels

I finally got to re-building the forums! I also added my article with mock-ups about a redesign of the Wii Menu to the-alt.net . Incase you wanted to know.

So Much for New Stuff

My first set of games are coming and apparently, they don’t have any new Wii games available! I have such games on my “Wanted” list as the new Sonic and Elebits. I’m getting Cooking Mama for the DS. OK… not to bad. I’m also getting Chibi Robots. Great. Two games about chores. Well I don’t entirely mind. I wanted to try both. But I would rather get two Wii games. I’ll make sure to fill my list with them next time.

Boo F***-ing Yeah!

Hell. Yeah. I BEAT IT! I Beat Elite Beat Agents on HARD ROCK! Months of attempts and perfections and one good stylus-spinning arm has come down to an A grade on the hardest level. If it isn’t obvious, I am happpy.

A New Way to Play

I’ve already talked about how I have an addiction to trading in games and how I don’t replay games that aren’t replayable in nature. I also talked about Game Access, a Canadian online game rental service. I’m nearing the end of Zelda : Twilight Princess and I’m interested in trying the new Sonic, being described as the saviour for the 3D versions of the series. And let’s not forget Super Paper Mario which, looking at the latest footage, will be a very memorable and original game. So, I took the plunge, or more the stroll in the shallow end. I signed up for a 10 day trial and I have Sonic at the top of my rental list. I’ll tell you how my experience goes.

While We Wait…

Tuesday has come and no TV shows or movies have popped up on iTunes outside of the US. So while I wait for that and others for their delayed Apple TVs, here’s what I want to see in the new expanded Canadian iTunes :

• Canadian programming : There ain’t much but some of this stuff is worth showcasing. I won’t be buying, say, Corner Gas, seeing how I can just go to ctv.ca whenever the urge hits me but it’s still a nice thing to have. I also hope some Canadian content goes international : More people need to see Little Mosque on the Prarie for a lighter side to all this dumb Muslim conflict, among others.
• American shows : Canadian television isn’t complete without American shows. Really, it’s probably less that half complete without them. So I want to see Lost, the CSI gang, and more in Canada. I’m actually a bit intrigued by Heroes and seeing how I missed every episode, I might want to grab a season pass. And I’ll admit to being a “sometimes” watcher of Avatar (Nickelodeon’s animated series) but since the airing schedule of the Canadian provider, YTV, sucks, I stopped watching. Such a shame!
• American movies : The Canadian film industry can be cut into three parts. 1) US movies filmed in Canada. 2) French movies made for Quebec audiences and 3) the English Canadian movies no one knows about or watches. I think you get what I mean.
• French Content : Quebec’s one big province. Selling shows to them might bring a fair amount of cash. And I might not mind myself getting some movies dubbed in French.
• Free Stuff : Yeah, seems networks just love offering series premiere episodes out for free. After being treated to John Hodgman’s audiobook for free from iTunes Canada a while back, I wouldn’t mind getting in on some of that free TV show action they have in the States.

Is… it Time?

While snooping in the shiny new iTunes 7.1 (Which it and the Quicktime update just short of gave me a heart attack when my ‘Book did a dual reboot), I found Apple TV support but something much more important that I’m fairly sure wasn’t there before : International parental protection. Now you can choose between the US, Canadian, UK, Ausie, New-Zealand…-eize and Irland… -ish? TV and Movie rating systems. What use is having this feature if you can only have TV shows and Movies in States? Exactly. You heard it hear : Apple’s preparing to launch TV and Movie download worldwide (or at least in Canada, the UK, Australia, New-Zealand and Irland) Here’s a screenshot:

I Want Leopard and iLife and iWork and New Macs and…

Apple scheduled an event on April 15th.

Good : There’s finally an event on the horizon.

Bad : It’s over a month away.

Good : New stuff.

Bad : It’s at NAB so it’ll probably be editing and Pro stuff.