01/13/2010

Maybe I Don’t Want To Save Zelda (Part 2 of 2)

by Matthew Edward Hawkins

In this post:
1. Blah, blah, blah, blah, video games!

So, where were we? BTW, did you check out PART ONE yet?

- Hey, Metal Gear Solid fans…

- Via a Famitsu blog post, not sure what it’s supposed to be, but still quite neat nonetheless…

- For the ladies out there that are into Pokemon; Are you a Jigglypuff? Cuz I’m a Jigglypuff too!

- Is everyone aware of the existence of Ridge Racer for the iPhone and iPod Touch? Been playing with it for the past couple of days. And… it’s better than Katamari on the iPhone, that’s for sure. Still not saying much, I realize.

- Back to eroge, I realize that many don’t want to touch the stuff because they’ll feel weird violating some innocent girl, even if it’s just a video game. Well, relax, because despite what “she” might be expressing, either verbally or physically, it’s all consensual.

- Wanna check out some dude’s 100 strong Mega Drive collection? Well, since it’s from Rising Stuff, you should know already that there’s some seriously obscure stuff to be found!

- And speaking of collections, this page has a nice look at almost every single system that has existed, with a slight Euro slant.

- Vimeo seems to be the home for animated clips that are vaguely video game-like.

- Said it before, and I’ll say it again, it’s amazing what some people can do with just 64k.

- Yet another wacky music video featuring games and gamers of some sort as fodder; Dance Dance Revolution and… panties sniffing.

- Next up is Mega Ran, the nerdcore rapper, rapping about Splash Woman.

- And here’s another nicely animated clip featuring a bit of everything, including Virtua Fighters.

- Hey kids, let’s all learn our ABCs with a little help from Mega Man and all his robot friends.

- Remember “This Is Eno” from last time? Perhaps you’ve also heard that a special Michael Jackson PS3 package is coming out in Japan? Well, here we have the best of both worlds

- Related: MeowWalker

- While nabbing a copy, I also stumbled across the iPhone version of Twin Blades! Which wasn’t so bad on XBLA (via the Indie channel), so might pick this one up as well…

- Can I also state how idiotic it is that there’s something called The Simpsons Arcade game and it’s NOT a port of the amazing Konami title? They even have the blow up a character’s head like a balloon minigame for Christ’s sake!

I would have to assume it sucks like every other Simpsons game in existence that’s not the actual arcade title. Which might actually be better than TMNT Turtles In Time, IMHO.

- How much does a warehouse full of old arcade and pinball machines cost? According to a recently ended eBay auction, exactly $463,270.34. For all this…

- Speaking of eBay, it’s a place where game collectors have generally thrived, but as of late, thanks to various reasons, many old games are not as valuable as they used to be. GOOD.

- As noted at the end of that last link, Rival Schools is never coming to PSN, along with XBL I would have to assume. Which totally bites.

- So a huge regret from my trip to Japan was not picking up the Ikaruga Appreciate DVD, which I remember seeing in at least one store in Akihabara. Well, been trying to download a torrent ever since, and for seriously months now, I’ve been stuck at 47.68%. Maybe you two? Well, I’ve decided to say “f*ck it” and reclaim some hard drive space. As well as look for bits and pieces online. Not sure why I didn’t think of it before… and while I can’t seem to find someone that’s uploaded the entire thing, here’s the final chapter. I’ve also been on an Ikaruga kick, since getting the sticks.

Same dude also uploaded the last boss in DoDonPachi DaiFukkatsu 1.5. Has it been announced for Xbox 360 yet?

- Back to Akihabara, here’s a ton of random photos of the place courtesy of Danny Choo

- Time to check out some toys! First up, a custom space marine from Doom for an upcoming Super 7 show…

- Touhou fans, yet another figure is up for pre-order. This time it’s Marisa Kirisame….

… And of course, there’s plenty more from where that came from! My personal fave character that’s not Reimu is Konpaku Youmu btw…

… Or maybe Izayoi Sakuya? I believe I like Griffon Enterprises’ Marisa better as well.

- Whereas those who are into robots might be interested in Omer Type-Lahire from Armored Core

- Plus we also have new desert camo Valken

… Perhaps this might be a good time to mention that I’m joining the Mecha Damashii crew! Details coming soon.

- Which is better? These custom Punch-Out figures or the custom NES Pro Wrestling ones? Sorry, but Starman for the win,,,

- May as well stick around Kotaku for a bit. Here’s a look at Cory Arcangel’s Super Mario Clouds that drove me nuts the first time I saw it, mostly cuz of the asinine reader’s comments.

- More recently, Stephen spotlighted a Kandinsky painting and claimed that it was not a video game screenshot. Guess someone has never heard of a little thing called Rez!

- Given the location of this subway stop, I’m more than certain that this Andross is the handiwork of a SVA student…

- Remember Chunk from the Goonies? He now gives legal advice!

- These days, Japanese Xbox 360 game developers have to do whatever they can to get attention.

- At long last, one of life’s greatest mysteries, finally explained.

- Check out this totally wacky Japanese arcade that’s themed like the back-streets of China! More than anything, I’m surprised that Kotaku of all people beat Sankaku Complex to the punch on this, whose always the first to go “LOL China!”

The funny part is, I actually passed by the place when I was in Kawasaki but never bothered to stop by! Color me feeling pretty stupid right about now.

- I’m only mentioning this post, about a con man who once claimed to have been working on a game based on the late 80s flick Road House, to remind everyone that I actually came close to creating a RPG based on another 80′s property, Charles In Charge, which will be detailed in the next installment of the fort90zine!

- And speaking of the zine, been trying to gather reference images for one of the contributors, and stumbled across this…

… Yeah, I don’t get it either.

- Time for a real quick stop over at Original Sound Version: I’m in the process of trying to get my hands on both the film Tokyo Magnitude 8.0, as well as its soundtrack. Not game related, so why bring it up? The music was scored by Kow Otani, the same maestro behind the Shadow Of The Colossus!

- And here’s a nice little interview with one of the men responsible for the sounds of Katamari.

- Plus here’s another legend in the world of game music working on something that has nothing to do with video games, but everyone loves Hip Tanaka, right?

- It’s funny/sad because it’s true!

- Some additional Noby Noby Boy goodness, also courtesy of Brandon, who’s basically its Facebook page’s biggest fan, as well as the game itself…

- It still pains me that Offworld is what it is these days, but thank God for his Tumblr

- It’s also thanks to Brandon that I discovered Bitboxland, aka my new favorite thing for the iPhone (even though I have zero idea how to really use it).

- Guess what time it is? Why, time to stop by absolute favorite place on the internet, Tiny Cartridge! For starters, Inazuma Eleven is finally coming out in the US? YES!!!

- Video games teach us many things, whether we realize it or not. Like Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out for example

- I’m reposting this for two reason: A) this piece is simply phenomenal…

… And B) the accompanying link about all of Link’s various shields throughout the Zelda series is required reading.

- For those who don’t feel like rubbing the naughty bits of young girls whom you suspect are witches, here’s a vid of the shump that’s contained within Doki Majo Plus. And as you can see, it?s surprisingly fleshed out.

- Or perhaps you just can’t play the game due to the heavy reliance on the Japanese language? Which is the prime reason why I haven’t gotten very far in any of them myself. Well, at least one of them is getting a fan-translation!

- I too want to play with “adorable baby tanks who are simply too cuddly and delicate for war?.

- Like everyone, I LOVE old video game commercials, especially if they’re from Japan. Hence why this assortment of old Famicom ads are so much fun to watch.

- There’s papercraft, and then there’s this

- I don’t know what’s more awesome: the happy new year postcard from Grasshopper Manufacture, or Japanese Amy Poehler!

- It’s always nice to see some love for UmJammer Lammy!

- As well as that miner chick from Little King’s Story

- The theme to Cave Story, as sung by Japan’s Ronald McDonald (who is simply so much cooler than his American cousin that it’s not even funny) via NicoNico.

- Nice to know that Eric is also a fan of David Sugar!

- What’s with the sudden proliferation of Spelunker related videos? Not that I’m complaining of course! It must be to 2chan as Mudkips is to 4chan.

Or maybe because the game recently got a revival on PSN? Yeah, maybe that’s why.

- Remember that dope-ass, but still unfinished NES arcade cab? Well wouldn’t you know… it’s finally finished.

- Well, it would seem that I should maybe pick-up the American version of Mega Man Official Complete Works after-all!

- This is what happens when you combine Luigi’s Mansion and Castlevania for the GBA…

- Note to self (and others): check out Houkago Play

- There is just something about the title track from the Game Boy Robocop game. Enough to sell washing machines apparently.

- Another big regret from the aforementioned trip to Japan (well, more like annoyance) was my inability to find the retro game culture shop that always has those amazing fake Famicom case exhibitions, METEOR. Cuz the place simply looks like heaven on earth.

- I guess I’ve been living under a rock as well, because I too totally missed out on this totally rad Hyadain vid.

- Time for another speedrun vid, this one featuring what many consider to be the worst game ever created for the Famicom, Takeshi’s Challenge. Which also happened to be the very first thing I wrote about when I used to do front page posts for Select Button!

- As stated many times over, Tiny Cartridge is simply your go to destination for oddball DSiWare titles that the rest of the world is too cool for school to be bothered with, like the very awesome looking Flipper.

- Along with bizarro iPhone apps/games from Japan.

- I thought I knew my Mega Man games, but had never heard of Rush Marine before. And as far as cell phone ports of the blue bomber, it doesn’t look entirely that bad! Which ain’t saying much, I realize.

- Even though it?s a few months away, anyone needing to nab the perfect birthday present for me when the time comes should look no further

- I pray to God that the box art to the American version of Last Window is as awesome looking as the Japanese version’s

- And this is just wonderful to look at, period…

- Definitely one of Sega’s better marketing ideas.

- LOL, Indonesia!

- Hachi Koi was cancelled? Well that sucks.

- Just like Eric sez, it’s like a Dutch version of Muramasa.

- How can I pass along a round of Tiny Cartridge links without also tossing out a super cute YMCK video?

- And a little something called Bird Week.

- Once again, Love Plus! These cell phone charms are simply supa kawaii!

- Have I mentioned that lonely Japanese men REALLY love that game?

- I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: God do I love it whenever video games and the world of fine art plus fashion collide

- Space Invaders tights anyone?

- Far less fashionable, but certainly functional, are the boxer shorts that Atlus is giving away to promote Metal Slug XX for the PSP. Now you too can dress like a POW! Wait.

- Check out this modded GameCube, as part of some chiptuner’s set-up

- For those who might have missed it, the latest Life Meter update features a battle of the ages, set to song

- Even though I don’t really play them, mostly because I flat-out suck at them, I’ve always been fascinated by the world of text adventures. And here comes a neat looking documentary that explores the subject matter called Get Lamp! Gonna try to nab a copy to review for GameSetWatch!

- And speaking of GSW, time to finally wind down this particularly colossal link round-up. BTW, do I have any New Year’s Resolutions? I do! To avoid having such long blog posts, so may well go out with a bang, right?

First up, I would KILL for a 2600 version of Tokyo Drift

- Anyone familiar with Polybius, this game that supposedly drove people to kill themselves and that was eventually seized by the government for being too dangerous? Well, it’s been remade

- To help kill time while waiting for Super Meat Boy the game, how about picking up an issue of the comic?

- Here we have Suda 51 embarrassing himself by playing Just Dance. As noted, it’s clearly a favor to the folks who are publishing No More Heroes 2, though he honestly should not have bothered, since they were gonna drop the ball when it comes to pushing it no matter what. The fact that he’s also interviewed by a Fragdoll is simply icing on the sh*t cake.

- A tabletop version of Pong? Hey, if Tetris the board game can work (and it does!), so can this.

- Finally, something for DJs who also happen to be arcade rats.

- Time for one last “best of 09″ list, but I swear, this one is totally worth it: the best 99 free games of last year.

- Not gonna lie, I geeked out hardcore for this sit down chat with Nasir Gebelli.

- From the same dude who made that mini Neo Geo arcade cab comes mini Outrun

- Some might (hopefully) recall that I checked out a pre-release DSiWare game at the IGDA Xmas party a few weeks back. It was Glow Artisan, and turns out that others have found to be awesome as well!

- I?m also hoping some will also remember that Wii game that’s played with a puppet. Well, here’s some footage demonstrating how it actually works.

- If you love games that utilize Guitar Hero/Rock Band controllers, but not the actual games themselves as much as I do, then you simply have to check out Battle Beat.

- The latest Bit.Trip game looks, not surprisingly, insanely awesome. Also be sure to check out this nice little interview with one of the dudes at Gaijin Games Is it any surprise that they’re fans of Rez? And remember that game they were making with Robotube at Blip? It’s finally available for play.

- You know that Space Invaders parody from Futurama? Well here it is again, as an actual game, Rush music and all.

- Semi-related: I absolutely love how the world of indie gaming has been overflowing with shoot’em ups as of late. It’s like the early days of the Genesis, all over again! Two random and recent examples: the history of shumps, as told via a video game. What better way, right? And one of the cooler aspects of Gala expanded upon many times over.

- This interview with one of the main architects (I’m guessing) behind Kill Screen basically confirm what myself and others have been suspecting all along: man does it ever sound like they enjoy the smell of their own farts! But seriously, someone pass along every issue of The Gamer’s Quarter to this person so he can finally understand that they’re not breaking any new ground here, nor does insightful video game journalism begin with that long-winded piece on Rock Band: The Beatles from the Times, which actually kinda made me hate the game and the Fab Four! Though I’m still undecided if its worse than the recent Bayonetta review, with it’s idiotic comparisons to Sarah Palin. Hooray for smarty-smarts writing about games to show us plebes the light!

- Oh God, how could I have possibly not know about the existence of not just one but TWO Segata Sanshiro Figures?!?! The same goes with the super duper edition of one of my fave Saturn games, Enemy Zero.

- I really need to either update my PSP’s custom firmware, or simply get a new one to play the latest games, cuz it’s driving me nuts that I can’t get my hands on Darius Burst, especially since I need a new fix of Zuntata like something fierce.

- Once again, my good pal Bryan has created another set of crazy awesome paperfoldables, this time featuring Bioshock 2

And speaking of, Katie, this is relevant to your interests

- For years I’ve loved sharing the true story behind the creation of Ms. Pac-Man, and how she was originally someone named Crazy Otto, but have never seen what he looked like. Until now.

- Fans of Assault Suits Leynos, take note!

- As I’ve mentioned many times already, I’m a fan of augmented reality and all the game related possibilities, but all the iPhone 3GS games that have promised such an experience have all bit the big one. Hence why the arcade might be the way to go.

- I love how Sega has decided to cash in on Jet Set Radio Future almost ten years later. Oh Sega…

- Hey, the creator of Cave Story has a new game out!

- I can’t help but repost this since I’m such a HUGE fan of Panic. Note to self: pick up one of their Noby Noby shirts ASAP.

- Now you can play all those crappy biblical games for the NES totally for free. And thank God for that. Seriously!

- And to close of this particular portion of GSW, yet another amazing installment of Sound Current, this one highlighting a recent even that could be best called the Comiket for remixers and chiptuners!

- Anyone still there? If so, time for one last round of links, from yours truly! For those who haven’t been stopping by Heavy on a regular enough basis…

Pikachu is the devil!

Modern technology sure is wonderful.

Witness the merging of Pong and slow-dancing?

The new Transformers game is looking alright, I suppose.

Tetris makes EVERYTHING better!

Air guitar functionality is finally coming to Guitar Hero and Rock Band!

Finally a Gamestop where I would mind buying their used games!

It’s like Katamari, except you’re a thief.

My other bold prediction for 2010!

8-bits sure does make an ugly boy look handsome.

Sega’s very awkward cross-promotion of Bayonetta with Playboy.

Your video game fashion forecast for the upcoming year.

And why the idea of a video gaming as a real sport is still a joke, and always will be.

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