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Cub Scouts Introduce "Video Games" Badge →

Yes, really.

The Boy Scouts of America have finally recognized that most important of modern children’s pastimes with the creation of a “Video Games” belt loop and pin.

[…] Scouts will need to teach adults how to play videogames, participate in a family gaming tournament, and learn how to comparison shop for prices. In other words, the Boy Scouts aren’t interested in how many digits you have in your Gamerscore, don’t care how stuffed your Trophy Room is, and shun your techniques for surviving the latest Trials HD expansion.

Thank you Mario! But our multitasking is in another device!

Abuse the power it gives you, scream obscenities at it, and beat it with a golf club when you’re angry at it?

Done and done.

Logan Walters: “The Many Faces of a Space Invader”

Alien Autopsy by Chris Rowson

Killing people virtually is much more fun then killing people in real life.

Was Modern Warfare 2 Really The "Biggest Launch In History"? →

Activision claimed yesterday that Modern Warfare 2 was the “biggest launch in history across all forms of entertainment”. Not just games. All forms of entertainment. That’s a big claim. Let’s see if it holds up.

That means it didn’t just have to be the biggest game launch of all time. It had to beat the biggest album, book and movie launches, too. Which you’d think would be no easy feat, but remember: Activision’s boast rests solely on two self-imposed criteria: that the launch applies only to North America and the United Kingdom, and that it’s based on the total revenue gained over those first 24 hours.

That’s a little too selective for our tastes. We’re going to be a little fairer, and size MW2 up not only in terms of revenue - which will always favour games, which are relatively expensive - but units sold/people entertained as well.

It was only a matter of time, right? Check out this setup where a laptop player controls “Pac-Man” while being chased by robo-vacuum ghosts. And get this: it’s actually a demo of their unmanned aerial software that guides airborne vehicles.

That’s why the red tape marking the maze is really only there for the video. The player sees a virtual representation on screen, and the ghost roombas use internal odometry with a positioning system to find their way around, and avoid each other. (via Gizmodo)

It was among the most outrageous incidents in video game history: in 1986, Princess Zelda was kidnapped from the land of Hyrule, setting off an intrepid rescue adventure for young hero Link. Unfortunately for Zelda, this offence has been repeated more than a dozen times since, leaving her largely out of sight while Link has traversed dark dungeons and confronted monstrous enemies alone in order to save her.

This time, in the new Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi adventure The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, that all changes. (via VGChartz)

I was lucky enough to be able to play the demo for Left 4 Dead 2 with my friend, who apparently was able to get six from the guy who’s always high at our local mall GameStop. Everything seems to be redefined; the gameplay is great, the wider selection of weapons is fantastic, even, dare I say, the characters are cooler then the ones in the first game.

However, I have only one, small complaint that I hope won’t be happening as often in the real game: Whenever you reload a gun, your character awkwardly and automatically screams “Reloading!” You also find that, not only does your character scream whenever they reload, but that every character does this. For example, Coach (an African-American football coach) screams “Reloadin’.” in a very Southern, calm voice, while Nick (a conman) screams “I’m reloading!” in the loudest, most annoying voice possible.

Other then that, it looks like it’ll be a great game.

A trailer leaked today for Left 4 Dead 2, the anticipated sequel to Left 4 Dead, which is being released in twenty-five days. Until I saw this, I wasn’t that excited about the game, but I’m totally pumped now. The gameplay and the storyline look amazing.

One of the many problems with marriage is that you have to ask the lady in question first. So, why not have Mario do it for you?

Using a program called Lunar Magic, Brad Smith redesigned a level on Super Mario World to spell out the big question in coins. After coaxing his unsuspecting girlfriend into playing a bit of Mario this geeky Lothario waited nervously before getting down on one knee and revealing a ring.

Luckily she said yes. A video game girl; she’s a keeper.