If you ask any of my friends, they will tell you that I do my best to finish the hell out of games that I like. If you give these same friends a few pints of beer, or perhaps some money, they will tell you that I also have a crazy imagination and that it gets away from me at times.
Toronto Thumbs has suffered an unexpected setback.
Yesterday, I just found out, was the anniversary of our Domain Name Registration. This is awesome. We have been around for a while now and have enjoyed bringing you reviews and commentary without the baggage of ads.
However, Shaun neglected to tell me that we were not paid up (until just a few minutes ago, after he got back from hanging out with some friends). So we have lost the name. The squatters (who I am not allowed to mention the names of) have given us a two week grace period to find something new, as they will not give up the name for a reasonable sum (and frankly, I don’t have that kind of money).
I have placed some reservations on some of the following names and I am wondering which one makes the most sense:
Let me know what you think.
I apologize, as I have really dropped the ball here. We will still be a great site, however, we will have a different domain name.
I don’t even know where to begin. Rocco Commisso sent me a link to this crazy game from the Middlesex-London Health Unit called Adventures in Sex City.
Actually “game” is a bit of a misnomer. It’s more like “somewhat animated trivia.” Still, as a connoisseur of the gaming medium, I couldn’t help but be interested. Players choose a character and then go on to battle against the evil Sperminator. He attacks by shooting giant, single sperm through his, er, arm cannon. If you answer a question correctly, you get to put up a shield and deflect it back. Get a question wrong, however, and you get nailed.
Either way, it’s pretty disgusting. Back in my day we learned our sex ed the old fashioned way – with black and white textbooks full of awkward yet horrifying illustrations. This takes things to a whole new terrifying level. I’m not going to lie: I did not finish this game. I am too fragile.
NOTE: this game has a better soundtrack than my textbooks ever had.
Xbox 360 Wireless N Networking Adapter, pictured above beside a Garden Claw, has a suggested retail price of $99.99. Can you say “ouch?”
Looks like I’ll be rolling out the 50-foot Ethernet cable each time I want to take my Xbox 360 online. For those who feel they must get their Xbox LIVE on wirelessly, however, consider the Wireless-N Gaming Adapter from Mad Catz. It can be used on more than just the Xbox 360 and is sufficiently less painful to the finances. Plus, the instructional diagram of how it hooks up is kinda neat.
At the recent Forza Motorsport 3 media event in Toronto, Raj Patel and I had the same great idea at the same time. Given that Microsoft Canada had set up two amazing racing cockpits and had provided free beer, we thought it would be pretty funny to stage some photos of me drinking while driving.
Turns out, I just look like a jackass, especially since I’m wearing my checkered “racing” toque. I’m like that dude who goes to see a band play while wearing a shirt of that band.
Let this be a lesson to all you kids out there: Drinking and driving is stupid.
On Saturday I went to a friend’s housewarming party and played Rock Band in public for the first time in, well, a few weeks. Only this time I didn’t look quite so ridiculous. This is me rocking out to “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” which is a song that needs no rocking out, to tell the truth.
Media events are dangerous to attend if you’re constantly worried about looking your best. With the plethora of cameras at every turn, chances are some unflattering photos of you will find their way online or on television.
Raj Patel, however, doesn’t have to worry about this. The technology and culture writer who contributes to both GeneralGames.ca and his own Ohmpage was caught singing “Lovefool” by The Cardigans by Xbox Canada’s camera crew. You can see and hear him flex his vocal prowess in this video for Lips Number One Hits that Xbox Canada released on YouTube earlier today.
Even though he doesn’t hit a lot of the notes, at least he looks like he’s having a good time. This, dear friends, is what it’s all about.
Ever wanted to poke a corpse down a river, but couldn’t figure out the logistics of doing such a thing? There’s a lot to take into consideration. For instance, where would you stand? Either side of the river bank would be problematic in case you poked the corpse over to the other side. You could go for two-player co-op, but then you’d have to count on a friend to also be willing to poke a floating dead dude around all afternoon.
Thinking of such things can really tax your brain. Luckily, Adult Swim is doing their part to ensure we never have to over-think it. Their Flash game, Floater, is a simulation of poking a corpse down a river. You get points for hitting obstacles along the way, and you have a time limit, too. The object of the game is to score points by crashing into things and by travelling as far as possible. Trust me, this is more fun than the real deal, and a whole lot less stinky.
I hinted at this game in my news post about the announcement of SingStar Queen, and oddly enough the press releases for both that game and this one landed in my inbox today. The Beatles: Rock Band is something we’ve known was coming for months, and today the trinity of Harmonix, MTV Games, and Electronic Arts revealed details of just how they’re planning on raping the corpses of both John Lennon and George Harrison.
The Limited Edition Premium Bundle of the game will include the disc, a replica of Paul McCartney’s trademark bass, a Ludwig-branded drum controller, a microphone and mic stand, and additional “special content.” And the privilege of playing this game will be all yours for the low price of $249.99 US (expect a price point closer to $299.99 here in Canada).
If you’re wondering why I’m coming down so hard on this game while at the same time excited about SingStar Queen, let me put it this way: As much as I enjoy Rock Band at times, it’s a game with cheaply-made controllers, and asking gamers to pay $100 more for The Beatles version is disrespectful to the deceased members of the band (who would have certainly said “no” to this) as well as to the people who buy it. Then again, anything with The Beatles’ logo on it is guaranteed to sell, tasteless or not.
However, I’m all for new generations of music fans discovering the music of The Beatles – but how about actually discovering it by listening to it while poring over the details in the album cover art rather than consuming it? Wouldn’t that be nice.
This all brings to mind The Smiths’ “Paint a Vulgar Picture” from the album Strangeways, Here We Come. Here’s a video, and here are its lyrics.
Last weekend, my friend Peter and I spent a considerable amount of time trying to figure out if the triangular mark on Rufus’ belly was a tattoo or if it was his glory trail. I was realy hoping it was a tattoo, but this screenshot from Street Fighter IV shows it’s obviously not. Gross.
For more serious coverage of Street Fighter IV, check out our in-depth review.
