GameSpoon - Fallout New Vegas

Hot off the press from Kotaku, it was announced that a brand new Fallout game will be hitting the shelves next year. This game is not a sequel to Fallout 3, but rather it simply takes place within the Fallout universe. The game will be called Fallout New Vegas - with a name like that, we can only assume it takes place in Vegas.

Fallout New Vegas will be released for the PC, 360 and PS3. The game will feature a similar RPG experience as what has been created for Fallout 3. Mmmm...VATS 2.0?? Oh, I can't wait!

GameSpoon - Top 25 hardest games...

A reference of a reference...

Kotaku summed up an article that GameDaily posted about on what they think are the Top 25 Hardest Games of All Time!

I like Kotaku's quick, one-page summary, so I've decided to quote their list:

25. Ice Climber (NES)
24. Viewtiful Joe (GameCube, PS2)
23. MDK 2
22. Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link (NES)
21. Metal Slug series
20. Tetris
19. Gauntlet 1
18. Portal
17. Bionic Commando series
16. Guitar Hero series (On Expert)
15. Shinobi (PS2)
14. F-Zero GX (GameCube)
13. Mushihimesama Futari
12. Doom (On Nightmare Difficulty)
11. Call of Duty 4 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
10. Contra series
9. Defender
8. Devil May Cry 3 (PS2)
7. God of War series (PS2)
6. R-Type series
5. Ikaruga (GameCube, Xbox Live Arcade)
4. Mega Man 9 (Xbox Live Arcade, WiiWare, PlayStation Network)
3. Battletoads
2. Gouls N' Ghosts series
1. Ninja Gaiden series

This is a very interesting list. Honestly, I'm not sure why COD4 is so close to the top and why Contra isn't in the top position - can anyone honestly beat the game without The Code??

I am happy to see Battletoads on this list, because that game puts the "wtf" in "tough!" What do you think of the list?

JapanSpoon - Nintendo DSi commercial

Ah, nothing like a good shot of Japanese commercials to wake you up in the morning. Well, that and a large coffee. I saw this post on Kotaku and thought it'd be perfect for the Japanophile in me (and subsequently, The Spoon); enjoy!

According to Kotaku, here's the background on this commercial:

Actress Miho Kanno appears in the DSiWare Brain Age ads. She's asked to make a face like she's seen something that she shouldn't have seen. She does and lets out a frightening laugh.

DSi Brain Age makes use of the camera and even has users make funny faces.

Why? Because stuff like makes you smarter. Duh.

JapanSpoon - Manzai!

Here's a shot of Japanese culture for you, thanks to Kotaku!

The Manzai group Audrey promotes the new DSi colors - lime green, pink and metallic blue. Let's watch...



According to Kotaku:

"Manzai" is a type of comedy where one member is the straight man, and the other is funny man. Here, the straight man, Masayasu Wakabayashi, has the colorful DSi handhelds in his pocket. The joke is that funny man Toshiyaki Kasuga doesn't want the pink DSi, but the green one.

That's cool, but...where's the metallica blue DSi? Well, I think the joke will make more sense if you watch an earlier TV spot with this Manzai group (i.e. the pink shirt)! Again, thanks to Kotaku:



According to Kotaku:

In this ad, the straight man Masayasu Wakabayashi says today we're going to talk about the DSi — namely the camera. Funny man Toshiyaki Kasuga appears, wearing a pink sweater and says "Kasuga's camera is pointed at you, ladies."

"Run away quick, please," Wakabayashi says to the ladies, gesturing. He then says let's take a picture and snaps one of Kasuga.

He then says you can take pictures of "creepy Kasuga" with the DSi camera to which Kasuga replies: "Hey, you don't really think I'm creepy, do you?" Wakabayashi says if he really thought that, why would he be doing manzai with him. They both laugh hahahahahaha. BYE!

I love Japan!

GameSpoon - Kotaku: How to throw a gamer party

This article is rad! Honestly, it really is. Kotaku's AJ Glasser, basically covers proper etiquette for hosting a (gamer) party. The suggestions/recommendations are rules to live by for those of us who like to have people over for gaming. It's a more formal approach to having a great time - covering prepartion, host duties and attendee-behavioral expectations.

The really fun gaming parties that I've attended, usually involve a fighter (Street Fighter), a FPS (Halo) and some wicked Rock Band. Two-player games are great, but anything that can incorporate at least four-players is better - the more gaming available for people, the better. After all, it's a gaming party, they should game! Sorry hosts, but the friends that you invited have "playing priority."

Read the full article here, at Kotaku.

GameSpoon - Prince of Persia

Prince of Persia Animation Reference 1985 from jordan mechner on Vimeo.

I picked this up at Kotaku, this is fantastic! This is the original motion capture video used for the character animation in Prince of Persia. According to Kotaku, "[t]hat's PoP creator Jordan Mechner's little brother, running around in baggy pants. Mechner took this footage, tracked his bro's movements then based the Prince's animation on them."

Pretty rad.

RumorSpoon - New Xbox Experience

Kotaku has given word that those of us who wish (if you really wish for it) to check out the New Xbox Experience before the November 19th release date, should keep an eye on Major Nelson's site over the next week or so - http://majornelson.com/.

Sounds fun!

GameSpoon - New Xbox Experience

This video comes from Kotaku at the TGS. What are your thoughts on the new experience? I think I've finally come to accept this change.

GameSpoon - The Force Unleashed DLC

Fantastic news from Kotaku...well, at least I think so! The (amazing) Star Wars: The Force Unleashed will have DLC available for it soon. What will this encompass?

New Campaigns and New Characters!!

This is fantastic news. According to Kotaku, LucasArts plans to release four new characters and a campaign mode that is set in the Jedi Temple. The DLC will be available for both the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3.

This begs the question, "when?" Answer: the coming months. I know, I know, but in the next month, LucasArts will be releasing some different content - new costumes and charater models that are fashioned after Luke Skywalker, "help me" Obi-Wan Kenobi "you're my only hope," Ki-Adi-Mundi and Kit Fisto.

Read more here and big thanks to Kotaku!