#politics
Last summer, as Germany grappled with a shooting spree linked to video games, state officials demanded the German government enact a comprehensive ban on violent games. A year later the government has refused, choosing to implement ratings education measures instead. More »
You know what violent video gaming franchise we always thought would make an excellent Saturday morning cartoon? Crackdown. We're thinking of a modern day GI Joe series, with rugged super soldiers, death-defying acrobatic feats, the occasional car chase and a helpful PSA at the end of each episode. However, Machinima.com recently posted the first episode in a real cartoon series based on Crackdown 2, and ... well, let's just say they went in a much different direction with it. A much bloodier direction.
Check past the jump to see the first installment in "The Pacific City Archives," and think about how happy you are that whatever city you may be living in is relatively killer-mutant-free.
Not too long ago, we talked about the Mario Kart trademark being refreshed. Now we see the same thing happening to Excitebike. You have to wonder what is going on with these trademarks. Why would they need to be refreshed now? Thanks to Cypher for the heads up.
#oddities
For $90, you could buy Wii Fit and the Wii Balance Board and use it forever in your own home. Or you could play it for 55 minutes with a personal trainer at one of Donald Trump's hotels. More »
Want to get a taste of Black Rock and Disney Interactive's frequently exploding racer, Split/Second? Provided you've got a beefy enough PC gaming rig, you can now download a demo for the game directly through our sister site, Big Download. The 1GB download includes the game's tutorial, and a race event in the Airport Terminal track, which doesn't seem particularly legal. Apparently, the world of Split/Second is as lawless as it is combustible.
#openthread
This week Ubisoft, publisher of Assassin's Creed and other top franchises, indicated it would join the trend of locking games content behind a one-use code. Perhaps it was music to investors' ears, but it struck a harsher tone with gamers. More »
#gallery
A week and a half ago I jokingly commented in a story about Mafia Wars and PETA that "I'd kick one of my cats for a box of vegan chocolates." Apparently it's not kicking your cats that scores you loot. More »
Got Skate 3? Want to bust kickflips as everyone's favorite outer space engineer, Isaac Clarke? By inputting the code "deadspacetoo" into the Cheats area under the Extras section, you'll unlock the Dead Space protagonist for use in Free Play mode. Who knew he could be so nimble in that outfit?
Keen observers may notice Clarke riding on a futuristic board. That's because, by inputting the code, you'll also gain the new deck. Sorry, it's non-transferable between skaters -- we tried.
Here’s a little bit of an Easter Egg for the Google Pac-Man banner…
If you happen to click the ‘Insert Coin’ button twice, you can add in Ms. Pac-Man. Better yet, it’s actually two-player co-op! The second player controls Ms. Pac-Man with the WSAD keys, and you work together to clear the board. [...]
From today through 5:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, May 23, Battlefield Heroes players can input the following code to earn double the XP they normally would for playing: 5RH4-G9WR-MVV2-Q4E7. Just enter the code on this page, then it's off to the races -- er, the battlefield, rather.
You've got to give it up to DICE, who has managed to keep its free-to-play shooter fresh through steady content updates -- the latest of which includes a new map and mode centered around jetpacks. And that, folks, is how you enlist over three million players.
#clips
Crackdown looks like a cartoon. I guess. With the cel-shading and everything. Not sure it needed an animated prequel series, though. What is this, 2008? More »
You're likely accustomed to hearing a certain pitch when purchasing a game at GameStop. It goes like this: "Would you like to buy the strategy guide for this too?" And, of course, you have your canned response. Something like, "The answer is still no -- just like last week and the week before that, and every other time I've been in this stinking store, Mike." Or perhaps just, "No, thank you."
Now, thanks to the wonders of the internet, you can play out this same dramatic non-transaction online. Valve has announced that digital versions of Prima strategy guides are now being sold through Steam. Readable inside or outside of the games, the guides include the expected tips and tricks. Unlike their printed counterparts, they also include videos.
To celebrate the launch of Prima guides on Steam, the first set -- including Splinter Cell Coviction, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Just Cause 2, Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Awakening -- can be purchased for $10 per guide, 50 percent off the normal $20 price.
In other news, we'd like to announce the continued existence of one digital strategy guide search engine. This innovative service lets users search for almost any game ever created and includes guides, videos and even historical information. The best part: It's absolutely free. Just follow this link and start searching!
#rumor
Say. It. Ain't. So. Reports indicate that J Allard, a driving force behind the design of the Xbox (and the Zune) is leaving Microsoft, after his latest dream project was binned by the company. More »
#xbox360
Bask in the glory of Gears of War 3's new offerings: bushier beards, prettier hair (we mean Anya Stroud, of course), the Lambent, the heavily mutated Locust Drones, and new locations in which to chainsaw the torsos of bad guys. More »
