Plagiarism and Memories

This vid was posted with a half-ass Cracked.com article about "impossible" NES games, which blatantly steals from The Angry Video Game nerd, and still manages to puss out by including some very beatable games, such as Tyson's Punch Out, Ninja Gaiden, and Contra.

Battletoads, which I don't remember being too difficult, was number one on the list. I do admit though, this clip does have a certain repressed-memory sort of vibe.

Downloadable Content/Team Hardcore

Bungie announced today the upcoming release of three new downloadable maps, which will be available December 11th for 800 MS Points. Pictured is "Standoff," a nice looking, vehicle-oriented outdoor map. For more details and pics, be sure to read Bungie's official announcement..

Also announced was the return of "Team Hardcore," the competition-oriented playlist favored by the kids at MLG.

DS Lite!

I had one goal for this Saturday: Go to Game Stop, get FIFA '08, Pwn Alex.

I managed to screw it up.

The problem was, I had too much money. Having decided to focus my gaming efforts on Halo and FIFA, I traded in all of my other games, and was surprised to receive a $100 credit. My head immediately swiveled to the FIFA display rack, which stood conveniently next to a end-cap of Halo merch, including the elusive Master Chief Kubricks by Medicom.

Something (greed) made me keep browsing the store, though, until I stumbled across a gem: Advance Wars: Dual Strike for the Nintendo DS. I had searched high and low for this game when I owned a first generation DS, to no avail. Now my DS was gone, but here was the game. Eh, what's another $50? FIFA would have to wait.

Now, my only problem is that my train ride to work isn't long enough. These Dual Strike battles are pretty epic.

Game Shopping in Tokyo

MLG Jumps

Sick jumps brought to us from the folks at MLG. Some of these are straight up Strider-style wall jumps. Lots of crouching involved, from the looks of it. Which means lots of practice. Apologies for the music.

Freeeeedommmmm!

I want to quit posting about Halo, I really do, but the news just keeps a comin'.

Today Bungie announced their departure from Microsoft Studios, and is once more an independent game studio. The split was amicable, and they plan to continue developing Xbox titles, including future Halo titles through MS Games. Congratulations, Bungie!

When co-founder Alex Seropian left the company to return to the indie scene a few years ago, I thought it was an admirable move. He fled board meetings and produced one of the most entertaining games on the original Xbox. Now he's working on what looks to be a nice little boutique party game that I'm sure will earn rave reviews.

Not that I've been critical of Bungie's work at MS; They've done amazing things. Halo is truly a masterpice, and it would not exist as it does without the backing of Gates & co. But that chapter is closed, and to move forward in a creative fashion would have been impossible with MS goons leering over shoulders, looking for another $300 Million-dollar game.

Now, if only they would abandon that creepy Washington warehouse and return to Chicago. So I can work for them. As a janitor, if I must.

What Could Have Been

Q: What's the best thing in gaming software?
A: Halo.

Q: What's the best thing in gaming hardware?
A: The Nintendo DS.

Combining the two would be a no-brainer, but amlost certainly impossible, given the rivalry between Microsoft and Nintendo. So I was shocked to see this vid, which not only proves that such a project did exist, but that it was nearly completed before being quashed by someone (MS, most likely).

Here's to what could have been: