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Patapon - first impressions

While I'd admit I've only had time to play through the first 3 levels of the game, here are some early thoughts.  I can understand why its got a Metacritic score of 87. The concept of the game feels really.  A mix mash of side scrolling, RTS and rhythm games rolled into one.  It seems these days that games are all about finding the winning combos of 2 game types and meshing them together e.g. Puzzlequest = Bejeweled/Strategy RPG. 

Patapon is a definite first for its style,  think Lemmings,  your units scroll from left to right listening to your commands.  Commands are given by tapping in a 4 button combination to a beat, then you wait as your army carries out its duties within another 4 beat frame.  You can mess this all up by inputting the wrong button combo or tapping off beat.  When you do get it right though, the game plays out like a turn based game.

At the moment all I can really say is that I want to spend more time with this game, but having a job kinda gets in the way.  I was expecting it to be a bit more pick up and play, but there is a bit of a learning curve and lots of pre game equipping and menu surfing.  This game surprisingly failed the girlfriend test.  "Play this you'll love it!" "Whats all this menu crap, I don't want to play, where's my Lumines?!"

Simspy - crazy boyfriends and jealous girlfriend rejoice

I came across this here at OhGizmo!  This BrickHouseSecurity.com product is spying made easy!  Basically take any sim shove it in a PC and you can see the complete Sim card contact and SMS history, even deleted ones!

Jealous spouses and over protective parents rejoice!  All sorts of legal problems with this product depending where you live but you can grab one for $149US.

Bachelor Pad Worthy - Transforming Pool/Dining Table

Came across this here at Yanko Design.  Designed by Aramith you can actually order this, might set you back a whole lot but its DAAAAMN COOOL.

Tetris Ice Cubes - want this!!

Came across these here at Joystiq.  These are super cool, I've always wanted to open a game them bar and if I did, I would serve all cocktails with these ice cubes!  But I suppose I'll have to settle for using these at home.

Space Invader boxers - you knew you'd see it sooner or later

Yeah I'm a bit time Space Invader fan.  I'm not sure that I'd wear these though.  T-shirts and kicks maybe, but boxers... Um... Came across them here at Kotaku.

Platformers - your salavation is in flash

Now that 3D is all the rage, platformer scrollers have died a slow painful death, however lately I've discovered that a lot people are still into platform games and they live on in flash! Check out N and Fancy Pants

XNA - ZUNE

Baby steps, but steps none the less into the portable market, I predicted a few days ago the next big thing will be online portable systems.  Seems MS is getting into the action finally.  Zune will get gaming via XNA.  Read more here at Joystiq.

Gears of War 2 - Novemeber

You knew this one was coming!  Seems Gears 2 is on the way in November!! Read more here at Kotaku

1up Grades vs 1-10 - conspiracy theory against Metacritics

1up has taken an interesting approach going with Grades vs established 1-10 point system.  Apparently all grades translate to points anyhow with A+ being 10 then going down through the grades being lower and lower points.

My conspiracy theory is that given the popularity of websites like Metacritics, 1up is trying to make there grading system different so that they don't fit into the Metacritics mold.  Message from 1up to Metacritics, "STOP STEALING OUR TRAFFIC!!!!"

Street Fighter:The Legend of Chun Li???? WTF

OK so I really missed the boat on this one.  Seems there is a Street Fighter Movie coming out with Kristin Kreuk as Chun Li (token Asian chick who isn't very Asian), Michael Clarke Duncan as Balrog (token black guy to play the token black guy role of original SF cast) and Chris Klein (token All American pretty boy to appeal to the teen girls who get dragged to this movie by their boyfriends).

Video game movies tend to be bad, and why you ask?  Because the plot stinks in the first place!  I'm sure the script writers for this one worked very very  hard to make the SF cast believable and likable, but everyone knows that you don't play Street Figher for the story, you play to humiliate some other guy 2 rounds straight perfect.  Gamers don't say, 'Man I had a tear in my eye when the Guile re-units with his family when I beat SF'.

I'm hoping for some token sex scenes, some token SF cheese lines related to the game and maybe a few cool action sequences.  Then again I didn't think Hitman was that bad.  Read more here at Kotaku.