Name this game!

"[BLANK] is all about the emotions associated with family and teenage angst," said Nick Harper, the game's creative director. "We've taken that philosophy and turned it into gameplay mechanics that will be fun and challenging.

I know what you're thinking..."Sixteen Candles", right? Unfortunately, that is not the correct answer.

BREAKING NEWS: Yaris De-Listed From XBLA With No Warning

"In an interview at the Tokyo Game Show in Japan this week, Microsoft corporate vice president John Schappert backed away from that perception a bit, saying the information about XBLA de-listing had been taken out of context and that there was no plan to do any such thing."

"We will also give a three-month notice before delisting any title."

LIES.

From the Collectibles section of the XBOX 360 Store

SKU: 609555417945
White matte laminated euro shopping bag with shoulder length handles in white with a cardboard bottom. Bag size 12" x 8" x 14".

Style Number: 451603 XBOX

Price: $2.15

SKU: 609555393294

This 8.5 X 11 inch spiral bound notebook with 90 sheets of lined paper offers plenty of space for those who dare to dream.

Style Number: 711702 X360

Price: $7.65

From the Guinness World Records: The Videogame for the Wii press release

"Accessible game mechanics enable anyone to grow the longest fingernails ever seen..."

Visit the Endcap Of Forgotten Games

I found this in a Microcenter ad from a month or so back. I see at least 3-4 games here I (don't) need to buy.

Does anybody else find this funny? Because I think it's really funny.

I think we need to come up with a name for that strange, sad, hobo-like forgotten game endcap mascot. I bet he'd get along famously with the denizens of The Island Of Misfit Toys.

UPDATE: I've decided he should be called Lil' Cappy, but Frank likes Cappy The Endcap Game better.

I Escaped from Ike to GDC

Just got into Austin last night from Houston. Due to Hurricane Ike, the power was still out at my apartment. No flooding at my place, but the heat and humidity were somewhat unbearable.

I feel a bit guilty escaping Houston and leaving my wife and kids behind(who just had/are having both of their birthdays-we might not be able to have the parties this weekend) but I had this trip planned for months and the wife told me to go. There is no school through Wednesday(at least) and the only thing to do is to wait for the power to come back on. Don't have my camera with me, but maybe I can take some decent cell phone pics to upload when I get back. I'm also meeting a bunch of people in person that I've only spoken to online. Hopefully I can stay the entire time, but it matters whether my paycheck comes through as scheduled and things stay stable back home.

Wish me luck!

Ballance Impressions

See, I got a halfway decent video card for my new(ish) computer so I've been trying out some actual 3d PC gaming as of late. And of course, since I'm a cheap bastard the only games I'm playing are under 5 bucks each. The latest was found at a Dollar Tree:

Ballance

It's basically a puzzle-heavy cross between Monkey Ball and Marble Madness. Some of the puzzles are amazingly devious from looking at some vids of the later levels. Which I probably shouldn't have done since now that I've seen how crazy hard it gets, there's no way I am going devote the amount of time required to get good enough to get even halfway though this game. I gotta respect the brilliant level design though. Here's a clip of a nicely paced run through an level that was available only online from the developer's website. Keep in mind that one of the major gameplay elements is transforming your ball into paper(which looks like wadded up newsprint!), wood, or stone which affects the speed and weight.

If you found that interesting, check out this speed run of the same level.