Pop & Chips!

A hint of something awesome?

2007-02-25T23:06:00.000-05:00

Wait and see!

It's never too early for flip flops

2007-02-25T22:52:00.000-05:00

Does it matter that it's February in Toronto? Does it matter that its one of the worst blizzardy nights we've had all winter? Heck no! Because we recieved two pairs of his and her original NES flipflops straight from Nintendo of Canada this week. Thank's everyone! As much as we wish we could rock these on some white sands, we're happy giving each other Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toes at home.

Nintendo DS: Kicking Ass and Taking Names

2006-12-05T11:41:00.000-05:00

I've always said it: Nintendo is to Videogaming what Dr. Dre is to Hip Hop; they rock their khakis with a cuff and a crease, and they reprazent for them gangstas all across the world. Despite the horrible friend code experience, world domination isn't too much to ask for. The Super Iwata Bros. couldn't be ress ronery considering they have blasted past initial sales forecasts of their hot little handheld DS and DS Lite. Kotaku caught my eye with the story posted on Reuters that basically outlined the company's sheer pwnage of leading competitor Sony on the handheld front.

In October (Nintendo) raised its sales forecast for the DS to 20 million units from 17 million for the year to March, while Sony cut its shipment target for competing PlayStation Portable by 25 percent to 9 million for the same period.

Those sales help boost an expected OPERATING PROFIT of close to $1.3 BILLION USD alone. Considering at least 4 million Wii units will be sold in North America alone before January with instant mark-up profit (versus $200 loss per unit for Sony) this success begs the question: Could the sheer Nintendo user base volume and potential cross-compatibility of the DS with Wii push Nintendo back to the top of the console race? Could this be the re-emergence of the 800LB Gorilla? If Microsoft has its way, probably not, but it definitely shows that Nintendo still knows how to play the game, still takin the time to perfect the beat, and they still got love for tha streets..

The Cutest Ever?

2006-11-23T15:45:00.000-05:00

Okay let me preface this by saying my little nicky is the cutest little squirrel in the superfun universe, but when I stumbled on this little story of invicible star-cross'd lovers and the digital-bitmapped wedding gift their close friends made for them I have to admit I blinked twice and sighed with my chin resting on both hands.

Seriously, how many people have a videogame starring themselves? Okay Tony Hawk, the Olsen Twins and all EA Sports titles aside, not even Shiggy has his own videogame custom made for him by his friends...

Head on over to Greggman's blog to check out the full story with pictures and video and prepare to sigh..

Mii Like You

2006-11-21T22:18:00.000-05:00

Post your Wii code in comments and join the parade!

Here's ours: 4626 6688 4184 8329

(remember: you have to add the code and be added)

Heart of Console : Success!

2006-11-19T21:42:00.000-05:00

Well, this was probably one of the stupidist things I've done. Nicky and I waited in a line with 300 other people on Dundas street for 8 hours in the cold for the opportunity to pick up a Nintendo Wii on launch day. For the most part the line was calm and organized with the ambient sounds of physics arguments, Pocky munching, and DS lite button-mashing and we managed to make some friends with people of all ages and walks of life who were just as crazy/desperate as us and happened to be trapped in the same line.

When dawn broke however, all hell started to break loose. The Best Buy staff were delayed an hour before handing out tickets - which is an extremely long hour for the sleep depraved, hungry attention-deficit-disordered. The tickets were numbered 1 through 300 based on the order of the line and were handed out accordingly - Nicky and I walked away with number 69. However due to mob mentality and a series of unfortunated misguided events, the order of the line quickly descended into survival of the fittest and some people who were first in line somehow found themselves behind number 252.

When the dust cleared though, everyone walked out with what they wanted, including Nicky and I, and all was well with the world. Shortly after we got back home (10:30am)we lost consciousness and blacked out. The pictures we took are the only proof that we didn't halucinate the whole ordeal.

I have to say though, it was totally worth it.

Heart of Console : Into the Congo

2006-11-18T23:27:00.000-05:00

As I write this with heavy heart, hundreds of fanboys across the land have resolved to hunker down into their local best buy lineups in anticipation of the launch of Wii. As a result, I too must succomb to this madness if I want any hope of having some degree of success in getting one. I have made my final preparations, packed plenty o Red Bull and begrudgingly will make my way to the front lines and dig myself a trench....the next time you hear from me I will have good news or horribly disappointing news...

Regardless of the outcome....I have become... one of them.......THE HORROR!!! THE HORROR!!!!!!!!

A Good Sign

2006-11-18T15:30:00.000-05:00

The display inside Best Buy is set up and ready to be depleted in a matter of hours and the good news is that no one is setting a bad precedent by camping outside. Unfortunately the same can't be said for 3 hardcore fangirls camping outside Toronto's most ghetto Futureshop establishment (seriously this one makes Lexington, Kentucky look safe) who have been there since last night even despite the complete lack of lineups anywhere in the city (let alone the Best Buy sporting 300 units just a block away) For your sake (and mine) I didn't take a picture of them.

Heart of Console : Day 5

2006-11-18T10:20:00.000-05:00

I am happy to announce that the Nintendo fanboys in Toronto have held out a full 20 hours before launch and not one is lined up yet outside of Best Buy. My faith in humanity has been restored a little. Of course the day is early and I expect the nail-biters will be giving in soon. Will it be 15 hours before launch, 10 hours, dare I say 4 hours before the masses hit the pavement and wait in line? Wii shall see, especially since the Bay and Dundas location has confirmed they have in excess of a whopping 280 units available (thanks in part to their cross-promotion event with Nintendo: Gaming Invasion 06 event), I don't see the need for a massive overnight line-up considering there is huge potential for walk-in success with those kind of numbers...standby..

New Plan

2006-11-17T22:07:00.000-05:00

Okay, if THIS guy can score a Wii 2 days early than he is either much smarter or luckier than I and I hate him more than the douchebags camping for multiple days.

My new secondary objective: Rely on the sheer stupidity/laziness of clueless Sears employees..

Heart of Console : Day 4

2006-11-17T19:40:00.000-05:00

There's less than 28 hours to launch day and I can say that I'm prepared as I'll ever be. It's up to destiny now to determine my fate, and by destiny I mean the volume of psycho morons who choose to line up more than 28 hours in advance when a simple 2-hour wait is (mildly insane) ample.

I've done my math and geographical triangulations and I believe I have a solid gameplan that won't force me to wait outside for hours like an ill-behaved dog with a cruel owner. It does mean there is a serious possibility of a videogame roadtrip taking place this weekend.

By the Numbers..

2006-11-16T18:45:00.000-05:00

As of today, numbers of actual consoles available have been revealed at most major retailers. The numbers aren't too surprising.. Here's a run-down on the major outlets in downtown Toronto:

Best Buy (Bay/Dundas):
PS3 60GB = 76
PS3 20GB = 16
Wii = a number of employees confirmed there is in excess of 100, but probably no more than 125.

Future Shop (Yonge/Gould):
PS3 60GB = 12
PS3 20GB = 0
Wii = no employee would comment despite numbers posted on their website suggesting 15-60.

HMV (Yonge/Dundas):
PS3 = None whatsoever
Wii = 30 (confirmed)

Walmart:
Employees have no idea what I was talking about.

Heart of Console : Day 3

2006-11-16T13:56:00.000-05:00

Call it mercy, or downright common courtesy, in an attempt to soothe the concerns of escalating consumer anxiety over supply for both the PS3 and Wii, Futureshop has issued a statement on their website to outline their launch day policies and confirm minimum numbers of consoles being shipped to locations. They are claiming each store will have a MINIMUM of 10 PS3 consoles and 15-60 Wii consoles. The stores will be opening at 8am on Sunday and staff will be handing out tickets 2 hours before opening to gaurantee a purchase. No ticket, no console. They have also confirmed that in order to meet these number gaurantees, store employees are not allowed to purchase any of the systems on launch day...There is a glimmer of hope as my quest continues..

Gaming Invasion 06

2006-11-16T12:57:00.000-05:00

If you're gonna be in Toronto this weekend and have been left empty-handed in the wake of next-gen launches all hope is not lost. The friendly friends at Best Buy are hosting a next-gen videogamestravaganza all weekend long at Yonge-Dundas Square starting tomorrow through Sunday. Each day of the event showcases a different system so you can choose which day best suits your needs. It promises to have "awesome" interactive displays and prize giveaways every hour on the hour with chances to win PS3s, 360s, and Wiis - oh my!! Here's a quick breakdown of the schedule and a handy PDF if you prefer:

Friday: PS3 Showcase 10am-6pm
Saturday: XBOX 360 Showcase 10am-2pm
Sunday: Nintendo Wii Showcase 11am-6pm

Heart of Console : Day 2

2006-11-15T21:09:00.000-05:00

Well, as you can see the Wii's have landed at Best Buy outlets across North America. Sadly, it's too late to pull off my initial plan of holding up a UPS delivery truck (seriously, I watched HEAT three times to devise a strategy). The good news is that the units will not be made available for sale until Sunday morning. Plan B is in full effect..

Yesterday Nicky was able to gather some reconnaisance materials from the Wii-launch event. Namely, a Wii-branded T-shirt and Media Kit grounded my focus for the task at hand. I have procured a vehicle, done some investigating and research on my primary targets, and have prepared an itinerary for battle this weekend. I can only take comfort in knowing my sanity is at least slightly more stable than some of the folks in the US who have been camping out all week for the PS3...slightly....degrees.

The journey continues..

Wii Launch Love-in

2006-11-14T18:49:00.000-05:00

This morning was the official Canadian Wii launch event at Atlantis in the symbol of technological progress a la 1974, Ontario Place. But we braced the rusting bridge to get our hands on 38 Wii consoles loaded with games like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Rayman: Raving Rabbids, Red Steel, Super Monkey Ball, ExciteTruck and Wii Sports.

The event was like any other media event - a heavily branded space with lots of games and pounding techn music. Ron Bertram, prez of NOCL made a breif speech that reassured media that Wii would be the winner this holiday season thanks to the success of DS and their "disruptive" philosophy. And then on to the games!

I managed to get some good face time with Rayman: Raving Rabbids (which was not demo-ed at all at E3) and it's pretty darn cute. What is essentially a disc full of mini-games, Rayman runs into a large arena and behind each door is a mini-game where the objective is to take advantage of the rabbids weaknesses (their love of eating and disco dancing and unfamiliarity with cows). The games are short and easy - the graphics are fun and cartoony, which suits the Wii.

I watched a lot of Red Steel - it was one of the longest waits at the event (longer than Zelda - wtf?) and I can honestly say that Gears of War has ruined every other shooter for me. Red Steel was boring with long story cut cenes and the gameplay seemed trivial at best. While I understand I was watching one of the first levels being played, the pure lack of visuals that Gears has turned me right off.

That brings me to Legend of Zelda - yeah it is awesome. The controls are very natural despite there being a lot of them mapped onto every button and the graphics look vibrant and stunning on the Wii. The way Link moves, rolls, climbs, jumps feels really great - he looks good as you move him, not stiff at all. I wasn't able to try any of the combat (boo), but I'm excited to pick this game up.

I won't go on about Wii Sports - if you have friends they will like these games. You will not like these games if you are a loner. Nuff said.

I got some okay swag that I will take a few pics of when I get home and let 8Bit rummage through it all.

Heart of Console : Day 1

2006-11-14T17:34:00.000-05:00

Every man has a calling. I do not. I have a need to escape from the annoying responsibilities and stress of working that far outweighs anything meaningful. I have an innate desire to play videogames. Perhaps this is my calling.

That is why I must do this; as a simple man without a pre-order and nothing to lose, I am going to do whatever it takes to purchase a Nintendo Wii this weekend on launch day. I am prepared to journey deep into the jungle of hardcore nerds, fanboys, and virgins across Southern Ontario retail chains and do whatever it takes to claim my prize.

Starting today I am developing a gameplan and strict regimen to make this happen. My livelihood, self-respect, and dignity are at stake.

This is my quest. Hopefully I will come through the other side without succombing to madness. I will keep you posted on the developments..

Emergence PLAY!

2006-11-06T21:05:00.000-05:00

Okay I'm gonna make this quick coz I just got my grubby paws on an advance copy (Well 1 night in advance)of the most anticipated XBOX game since Halo 2 and I need to squeeze a few hours in before midnight just to justify the luxury. I'm talkin GEARS OF WAR BABY! WOOOOOT!

The Canadian faction of the Xbox Live community held an intimate to-do tonight over the launch of the game at an apropriately dirty post-apocalyptic venue in downtown Toronto known as the Berkley Church hosted by the lovely and lively "Jade Live". The turn-out wasn't overwhelming and Nicky was one of 3 females in an otherwise sweaty, moderately obese sausage party, but when there's only 16 stations to play the game a smaller crowd is a good thing.

Anyway, the bottom line is we got a chance to see the game in action, drink all the RC Cola we wanted, and wait for it...on our way out both Nicky and I were treated to a complimentary copy of the full retail game. Talk about ANTI-anti-climactic. Free swag is good, but free Gears of War before release is like a little bit of Christmas...in a bloody chainsaw-gun-wielding sort of way...I'll see you on LIVE tomorrow and I'll be bringing my few hours of advance practice with me....bring it!

me VERSUS you

2006-10-30T21:30:00.000-05:00

Odds are that you and I have one thing in common: we are one of the thousands of unlucky saps who don't have a review copy or pre-order for the much-anticipated Wii. Whether you're a fanboy, fangirl, lonely videophile, or hot-blooded button-masher we can agree that when it comes down to it, one of us wants to get our hot little hands on that 10 cubic inches of Japanese-engineered silicon and plastic just a little bit more than the other and we're willing to wait outside in line at Best Buy to get it. Considering the rumours circulating about actual Wii console numbers (and the sheer lack thereof PS3 consoles) being shipped to local Best Buy retailers across North America, you better hope that you are one of the first 100 people in line on launch day. Training begins today: sleep deprivation, pre-packaged snacks, street reconnaisance, and of course the toughest to master of all; bathroom deprivation. There is no prize for number 101 and one week after launch is a long time to wait for sloppy seconds. So how bad do you want it? We'll find out on launch day and whether you're in front of me or behind me on November 19th only one thing is certain: It's time to earn your gametime.

A Plug-in Pinata

2006-10-18T10:15:00.000-04:00

Cool News reported this morning that next year we can expect a line of figurines based on Viva Pinata characters. Better yet, these figurines will plug right into the XBOX360 and upload special extras for the game.

"The figurines (which won't go on sale for another year) plug right into that Xbox 360, enabling kids to "download and upload special 'powers' and other attributes that can be spent in the pinata game world," kind of like "an electronic-age equivalent of Pokemon cards." Says Ed Ventura, Microsoft's vp of franchise development: "We're trying to build a world."

A video game peripheral that is also a toy or collectable figure is genius!

Canadian Pre-Orders Start Monday!

2006-10-12T12:41:00.000-04:00

It's official. EB Games will start Canadian pre-orders of both PS3 and Wii on Monday, Ocotber 16. But you have to put down a $50 Trade In OR a $200 deposit. EB Games released this on their website today:

EB Games Canada stores will begin accepting limited pre-orders for the PlayStation 3 and Wii consoles on Monday, October 16, on a first come, first served basis. Due to extremely limited supply, we expect to reach our limit very quickly, most likely in minutes. We will not accept additional pre-orders at that time. To avoid an unnecessary trip we strongly recommend you call your local store to determine availability. $50 CDN in trade or a $200 CDN cash/credit reservation deposit is required. As we cannot control production and shipping issues by the manufacturer, a reservation deposit does not guarantee receipt of a system available to purchase at launch. Reservations/Purchases are limited to 1 per household.

I'm so torn - I HATE EB Games with a vegence. And I hate that they are asking for me to hand over $200 - which is 3/4 the prices of the Wii! But I really want the security that receipt brings. It will lull me to sleep with visions of Rayman's Raving Rabbids and Legend of Zelda. Or I camp out at Best Buy with the rest of the masses..which could be fun. We could smuggle in some beers and hang with the homies on Bay & Dundas. So who wants to join my camp out on November 18?

Panty Raid

2006-10-11T18:06:00.000-04:00

While Kotaku and GeekonStun fantasize about teenage girls wearing Nintendo panties, we sophistocated lovers-of-the-game chose these cotton blends as our personal favourite. How cute would it be to play WoW in these?

Not only are they Canadian-made and 12 bucks (!), but they're perfectly devilish just in time for Hallowe'en. And you know what they say about girls who wear black undies... Order them from Sick on Sin.

X'06 for Canucks

2006-10-10T17:48:00.000-04:00

Have you got your invite to Microsoft's PR-fueled X'06 event in Toronto yet?

It's no Barcelona, but "Jade," (XBOX Canada's community organizer) guarantees me that those who show up will be first to play unreleased 360 games in the flesh. And really, demos of Gears of War,(maybe)Blue Dragon, and even Viva Pinata are too good to pass up.

When: Wednesday, Oct 18
Time: 4:30-7:30p.m.
Where: Brant House, 522 King St West

The link on the XBOX.ca page is gone, but if you e-mail a "pretty please" letter to Jade at jade@microsoft.com, you still might have a chance to get in on this!

pWii-Orders

2006-10-09T20:55:00.000-04:00

With less than 6 weeks to go before launch, there is still no information regarding pre-orders for both Wii and PS3..what's up? In the meantime this Mii will have to get me by..

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

2006-10-08T20:07:00.000-04:00

It's Canadian Thanksgiving - which means a few days away from home, away from WoW, away from the XBOX360 to sit in my parent's living room stuffed with turkey and dream about all the gaming excitement that's about to start. Just think about it, soon the stores will be stocked with some of the year's most anticipated games, and by the time America cleans their plates on their own Thanksgiving weekend, we will be that much closer to the PS3 and Wii releases.

Since I've had some time to reflect I've come up with a short pre-christmas wish list of all the titles I am looking forward to in the next little while. Tell me, what does yours include?

Nicky's List:
1. Final Fantasy XII (PS2)
2. Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess (Wii)
3. World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade (Mac)
4. Viva Pinata (XBOX360)
5. Gears of War (XBOX360)
6. Rayman: Raving Rabbids (Wii)
7. Bully (PS2)
8. Guitar Hero II (PS2)
9. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
10. Wario Ware Smooth Moves (Wii)

PS3 pre-launch has landed

2006-10-04T23:25:00.000-04:00

Tonight 8BIT and I were invited to a screening of the 70 second cinema ad for PS3...no, not a real product ad, but yet another useless teaser. While neither of us had any secret spy bootlegging devices, we can tell you that the cinema ad is very much in line with all those outdoor billboard ads you might have seen around Toronto this week.

Anyway, here's the gist: In a very dark room (like so dark we could barely see what was happening) little boy packs backpack. Little boy goes to a roof (is he going to jump?). Little boy spots teenage boy on roof next door. Both boys look to sky and see a large shadow of a 3 that looks to be made of millions of waffle irons - oops I mean PS3's. Aren't you getting chills? It's so PROFOUND!

While the cinematography is pretty good, the ad hardly gave me any feeling of excitement a big release should have. The XBOX360 "Jump In" ads made me much more excited because it evoked some sort of emotion of excitement and fun. This one merely tells me that something big is coming...YAWN - I already knew the PS3 is a massive tub of lard...and now I want a waffle.

It's coming...

2006-10-02T15:44:00.000-04:00

Here's the latest PS3 teaser ad to build and instill gamer angst and/or rage (depending on how you're inclined) in the final weeks leading up to it's release. Not to be confused with the 4th sequel to Saw, this Neo-80s-Calvin-Klein-perfume-ad-David-Fincher-Se7en-esque teaser reminds us that the PLAYSTATION 3 is in fact real and that "it's coming"... and that's about it. At least they're not trying to overpromise anything in this ad, Sony's been doing enough of that already so I suppose the strongest strategy they can go with right now is to try and create some good old fashioned hysteria without actually showing or saying anything...works for me.

Grand Theft Idiot

2006-09-21T14:27:00.000-04:00

Why is it that video gamers have such a bad rap? Oh yeah - because of this guy.

The RCMP has charged this GTA acolyte, Shylo Kujawski, in Vancouver in connection with jacking a number of vehicles. What tipped the cops off? The MASSIVE "Grand Theft Auto" tattoo on his back and shoulders.

"Police said during the stakeout they also watched Kujawski thwart his own attempt to drive away in another stolen vehicle by accidentally disabling the car with the owner's steering wheel lock."

That's right tough guy, there's actually more to stealing a car than opening the door and driving away. More here.

Canadian Award Show Sucks? Shocking!

2006-09-19T10:28:00.000-04:00

Frodo from Weekly Geek has posted his experience at this past weekend's ELAN awards. The what? Oh, the Canadian Awards for the Electronic & Animated Arts...so the CAEAA -er ELAN, right. Anyway, it comes as little surprise to hear the event described as "boring," "horrible" and rife with D-List stars that have little to no bearing on the video-game industry like William Shatner (who hates everything but money), the Cigarette-Smoking Man from the X-Files, and some other handful of no-names.

While that can all be accepted AND expected from industry events, what can't be so easily shrugged off is the exclusion of video game talent east of Vancouver - hello Pseudo Interactive in Toronto, Digital Extremes in London and friggin' Ubisoft in Montreal - who were not even at the show. Instead, as Frodo tells us, the same 4 or 5 games, mostly from EA Vancouver, were nominated over and over again for multiple award categories.

Our chance for the Canadian industry to be taken seriously and instead we leave impressions like this:

This was the first year of the Elans. It was marketed as an Oscar-like red carpet event, honoring the best of the best in the Canadian Video Game and Animation Industry. What it ended up being was a hastily put together Vancouver developers-only love-in. It said nothing for the quality of product coming out of Canada, in fact it made Canada look horrible in comparison to the US and Japan. The winners weren't even worthwhile to report on.

Awesome.

Read the full account here.

Two Months and Counting...

2006-09-19T01:05:00.000-04:00

That's all I've got for tonight...

Wii price in Canada

2006-09-15T08:43:00.000-04:00

Calling all Canadians, gather up your Canadian Tire bucks because according to QJ.net Nintendo of Canada has confirmed the Canadian launch price of the Wii at $279.99CDN. This works out to the exact same price in the US after current currency conversion so we're getting a pretty good deal. In addition to that, games will be priced at $59.99CDN and the Canadian launch date will remain the same as the US on November 19th so good news all around, especially considering almost every country outside of North America is facing a longer wait for release and higher costs when it arrives..

That age-old debate...

2006-09-14T14:22:00.000-04:00

Obviously, despite all the fun and exciting Nintendo news, Canadians today are still shocked and upset by the shooting at Montreal's Dawson College yesterday afternoon. One person was killed and 19 were injured when Kimveer Gill opened fire in the school's cafeteria. A very sad and scary event, it was hard to watch as frightened teens ran from the school.

But, in true Sun Media-style, we see this morning's headline "Video Game Killer" on the front page. And the accompanying article isn't much smarter:

On a scary website, Kimveer Gill describes himself as a potential killer and admits that his favourite video game is Super Columbine Massacre.

The 25-year-old Laval man wrote: "Work sucks, school sucks, life sucks ... What else can I say?"

On goth lifestyle forums where he regularly participated, he signed his posts as "Fatality666" and finished all his comments with: "Life is a video game and you gonna die sometime."

Hmmm.. "scary website," and "goth." The slant is here is very obvious. A slant that really plays into the media sensationalizing by publications like the Sun. It pigeonholes and only perpetuates the binary that all video games are bad. While I've never played Super Columbine Massacre, I'm sure there are millions who have, who all live "normal" lives - just like there are millions of Grand Theft Auto players who are not jacking cars and beating up hookers in their spare time.

What do you think?

Wii get a little more news

2006-09-14T13:28:00.000-04:00

The official Wii website is up and has posted the complete list of the Wii titles slated for North American release at launch and into 2007. Nothing really surprising, except for the release of DS cult hit Trauma Center: Second Opinion. Check out the video above for a taste of the gameplay.

After you check out the American list, visit 1up.com to see the Japanese list, which has some great games like Animal Crossing!!! I spent my entire winter playing the DS version, and its both a blessing and a curse to release it on Wii. I wonder if you will be able to put your Mii in the game as your character!

Wii-LEASE DATE AND PRICE!!

2006-09-14T09:57:00.000-04:00

Mark your calendars, November 19th is the official relase date and it won't come soon enough. A little surprising is that Nintendo will be pricing the system at $249.99US which generally translates into $299.99CDN retail value. A little more pricey than anticipated but still more than affordable for next-gen. Reggie Fils-Aime confirmed all of these details moments ago as expected at the press conference in NYC today.

At launch, Nintendo is keeping it simple "One price, one configuration, one colour", here's what comes in the box:

console hardware
cables
sensor bar
one Wii remote
one nunchuk controller
A game has not been confirmed although I suspect Wii Sports will make it into the package....hmmm

More details to follow I'm sure as information pours out all over the place today..

Game On!

2006-09-11T21:10:00.000-04:00

EA Sports hosted Canada's Biggest Street Hockey Game today at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto to generate pre-launch buzz for their latest release NHL 07 which hits shelves Thursday. Basically they fenced-in the entire block, set-up four nets and goalies, and handed out shiny new red Reebok hockey sticks and T-shirts to anyone who wanted to jump into the action (after signing a liability waiver of course). I have to say that it was awesome.

In addition to the ruckus on the pavement, different tents were organized featuring multiple playing stations where gamers got hands-on experience with the as-yet unreleased title for the 360, slapshot competitions, and of course a food tent featuring all of the food groups that exist in a hotdog. Later on the big guy himself, Alexander Ovechkin, stopped by to grab some press time in front of the cameras and sit through an interview with that deer-in-headlights-douchebag Tim from Much Music. I couldn't help but jump right in and try everything at once and somehow I managed to walk away with an Ovechkin-autographed stick and a profound need to own this game..

Nicky managed to grab a few photos of the mayhem including one of me being ignored by the game's producer Dean Richards...he was just mad because I beat him at his own game...

Reach Out and Touch.....Generations

2006-09-10T10:36:00.000-04:00

In an effort to reach out and touch your grandma, Nintendo has officially coined today, September 10, Grandparents Day as part of their Touch Generations marketing campaign.

"The concept is elegantly simple -- games for everyone. No rulebook thick enough to stop a bullet, no crazy gameplay that takes days to get used to. Touch Generations games are designed to appeal to folks from all walks."

In honour of this momentous occasion, Nintendo is offering a bundle package featuring the DS Lite or DS Fat along with your choice of either Brain Age, or Big Brain Academy for the low low price of $159.99CDN at most major retailers including EB Games, Best Buy, Amazon/HMV. Basically you're saving a whopping $5 bucks compared to buying each separately. So far as I know Future Shop is not participating for some reason...probably because your grandpa smells funny and they don't think he deserves it.

Nintendo Fanboy Pride

2006-09-08T16:08:00.000-04:00

Okay I know this little parody on the iMac ads has been floating around for a couple weeks now, but as the anticipation builds between next-gen consoles it's great to see healthy competition displayed through sarcastic, denegrating commentary --especially when the upperhand belongs to the oft-rejected, teased, and ridiculed Nintendo Fanboy sect...

Holy Hockey Sticks!

2006-09-08T13:55:00.000-04:00

To celebrate the launch of XBOX360's NHL 07, Microsoft is organizing a massive street hockey game at Yonge-Dundas square in Toronto! So calling all Toronto gamers, get your ass down there on Monday - Microsoft will supply the sticks and shirts.

Where: Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto
When: September 11, 2006
Time: Registration starts at 10:30am & game(s) start at 11:15 until 2:00p.m.

Get the details here: XBOX Canada

Going LOCO

2006-09-08T10:49:00.000-04:00

In the fun frenzied Mexican-pinata-swinging sense, I am going loco for LOCOROCO! This is by far the cutest game ever released (sorry Katamari, I still love you), but those bloaty blobs with the smiley faces captivate my heart. And even better is the music! It's super kawaii to the max mixed with baby jibberish! This game will even save the on-the-rocks relationship I have with my PSP. No Dr. Phil needed.

But why, oh why is Futureshop telling me I can't have what I want? It's listing Loco at an awesome marked down price of $39.99CAN...but not until Oct 31...WTF?? When 8BIT called EB Games on Tuesday they told him all those little ROCO's were "in transit" on their way to the store, and even HMV is listing it as being released 4 days ago...

EFF-BOX!!!

2006-09-07T23:31:00.000-04:00

Well. I guess it was only a matter of time....out of nowhere and for seemingly no reason at all, our 360 decided to check out early and give us the dreaded 3 red lights of doom. Who knew that turning on a console could cause so much damage? The brightside is that the warranty gaurantees I'll get a sweet refurb replacement that will conk out in another 2-3 months...woot.

Telus doesn't phone it in

2006-08-31T15:21:00.000-04:00

I love this story! An advertising manager for Telus who happens to be a passionate gamer, and a Second Life member by the name Sparkle Dale, convinced her brand to set up shop in Shinda, a downtown area of Second Life's mainland.

Writes Springwise: "The store was designed along the lines of flagship stores in Toronto and Montreal and features phones that are modelled and named after actual Samsung and Motorola models."

The phones are actually being sold for a few hundred Linden Dollars, which equals $1 to $2 American. However, they don't actually allow any voice communication, but rather allow users to tell other avatars that they are busy on a real-lfe call. So while the idea and the intentions are great - it's really too bad the execution and user-benefits are kind of weak.

What's really great is to see a brand take real, relevant steps into the gaming world. They could have easily placed a static billboard in any big name video game, instead they have integrated thier brand into the experience that only an MMORPG could contain.

Art for Interactivity's Sake

2006-08-31T12:05:00.000-04:00

As someone who hasn't had the opportunity to experience an actual video game concert or symphony, I have to say I'm a little sad and more than just a little curious about what I have been missing. This year's "Video Games Live" concert Friday at Massey Hall and the upcoming "Play! A Video Game Symphony" September 30th at the Hummingbird Centre in Toronto will attempt to bring together hardcore gamers and the general public at large to share a unique experience that can be appreciated in a neutral and familiar setting.

For a concept that could easily be dismissed as ridiculous or irrelevant (seriously we're talking about orchestras performing video game soundtracks) I think this serves as a testament to the depth and diversity of video games as a culture. It's commonplace to criticize the validity of video games as an artistic medium let alone a worthwhile recreational activity, so I was surprised this morning when I found a full page article in the Toronto Star championing this very issue.

While taking video games out of the home and into concert halls may seem unusual, it's proof of how relevant gamer culture is, particularly from an artistic standpoint.

It's encouraging to know that video games are evolving as a culture. It's even more cool that gamers and video game enthusiasts are taking ownership and pride in their pastime rather than keeping it to themselves in their basement. Word up.

Wii <3 Box Art

2006-08-30T16:53:00.000-04:00

OK OK I know that these are for display purposes only and will in all probability look entirely different from the final box art for Wii games, but until then it's worth discussing the initial retail artwork that's been released online.

Just like initial images of the actual console and Wii-mote itself, this box art helps make the Wii feel that much closer to being here and in all of our hands. I have to say that I'm a big fan of box art. This probably has more to do with the fact that I was born in the 80s and consumerism was subconsciously bred into any form of artistic taste I may have possessed rather than objective appreciation of art, but nonetheless there is something about tangible videogame packaging/artwork that makes me salivate (in a pavlovian way - not sexual, or perverted or cosplay-ish) especially when it's presented in the context of the actual product being intangible. I guess it's sort of like when you're 7 years old and had to rely on the picture in the catalogue (remember those things from before the internet?) to get you by until Christmas or Kwanzaa or your birthday for the possibility of getting what you want. It will be interesting to see what the marketing folks at Nintendo crank out in terms of packaging considering they dreamt up "Wii" as a brand identity. Essentially they made their Wii and now they have to ... uh.. sleep in it...

Anyway, it's interesting to note that EB Games USA is tentatively listing Pre-Release of Super Mario Galaxy shipping on November 15th while Best Buy/Future Shop Canada are banking on November 30th. The price point of the game also seems a little high at $59US/$69CDN considering President Iwata has said all along that he vows to keep first-party games below $50US. Does EB Games know something we don't? Based on the level of staff intelligence displayed at most EB Games outlets I've been to.. probably not...

Less B.O than Comic Con

2006-08-30T13:34:00.000-04:00

While enjoying your last remaining days of wearing white slacks and shoes, why not swing on by the Toronto Independent Game Conference, which starts tomorrow and runs until Saturday. It may not exactly be a "robust" conference and the $75 price tag is pretty outrageous, but it does offer gamers/developers a place to connect and talk about the games industry in Toronto. And, unlike ComicCon, there will be no cosplay here.

Lectures I recommend are Toward a Canadian Serious Game Movement" by Tim Carter and "Productive Play: Making Fun Work and Work Fun" by Tony Walsh.

Countdown to the Countdown

2006-08-30T10:42:00.000-04:00

Wii reporters and Fanboys everywhere and all over the introweb have been straight-up buzzing and slam dancing off the walls this past week with the breaking news of a discrete invite-only Nintendo press/media event at the centre of the universe in NYC featuring none other than keynote speaker The Reggienator Fils-Aime himself on September 14th. Excitement over the convincing possibility of a release date and price point being revealed at this event has reached a fever pitch as new reports surface of a similar press conference taking place in London on September 15th. The only missing piece to this mass media triumvirate is the mothership in Japan.

As always with Nintendo, only time will tell, and even then it will only tell us what Nintendo wants us know until further notice because they are marketing ninjas who kick ass and take names. In the meantime 15 days will feel like an eternity to the Wii-crazed/rumour-filled/information-starved gaming community at large.

It really doesn't get any better than this, I mean seriously, who doesn't love a good next generation console launch war? It's like a Solar Eclipse or the Olympics for gaming except a lot more intense and actually entertaining. I for one am looking forward to sitting back over the next couple weeks and watching the fireworks. Stay tuned..

The Elebit in the Living Room

2006-08-29T00:43:00.000-04:00

Give me jaw-dropping graphics, give me killer 5.1 surround sound design, give me online multiplayer, give me 3 dimensions, give me downloadable and customizable mods, give me music playlists, give me HD and Blu-Ray DVD, give me next-gen. But if you can only give me one thing, give me good old fashioned gameplay. GIVE ME ELEBITS!! RIGHT NOW!!!

Let me preface this by saying I haven't had a chance to play any demos of this game, but I can't help but scratch my head when I hear credible game journalists dismiss this "launch window" title for Wii as a boring hardware demo, or a first generation game with an obvious concept and no depth. I always hear from the gaming community that so many games are watered down by clunky game mechanics or lazy level structure or lack of replay value or lowest common denominator storylines or disappointing same-old-same-old sequels. Along comes a game that relies more on gamer intuition and fun gameplay rather than zombies and frames per second and they knock it as a shallow and boring attempt.

On paper (or typed on LCD monitors) this game stands out head and shoulders above the crowd. One analogue joystick and one button is all you need (well, a 3D space/time triangulating wireless remote control but you get the idea) to manipulate your world. You literally get to play with everything in sight and use your own judgement to solve challenges as simple or as complex as you want to make them and you're rewarded as the world evolves based on the choices you make. How bout that? A simple concept, with simple controls, and addictively fun gameplay. Brilliant. Sound familiar? Everyone is comparing the game to Pikmin (which was also a pretty great game for the Gamecube - and also a launch title for that console) but that's a lazy comparison if you ask me. It's pretty clear that this much more closely resembles elements of Katamari Damacy with a unique twist that's relevant to the Wii's controls and I dare anyone to criticize the brilliance and sheer addictive fun of that series.

So this is my plea to all those who may be disenchanted with this game based on initial previews out there that are ignoring the glaringly obvious: simple is better. Sometimes videogames are best when they're played just for the 'elebit!

Ninty Ads Noticed

2006-08-25T17:04:00.000-04:00

If you've been taking public transit in Toronto or Vancouver, you might have noticed ads for Nintendo's Touch Generation series. Marie, a gamer girl from Vancouver, sure has and posted photos of most of the ads on her 1up.com blog.

What I think is particularly interesting is not the ads themselves, but the general reaction to them. That is she, and many others who commented on her post, are actually excited to see this advertising - they are happy to see Nintendo advertising their products. One person even posted:

"I saw my first Nintedo bus add on Monday. I was so friggin happy about it. I saw another one this morning too. So far only two but I'm happy to see them driving around Toronto. I've yet to see any on the subway though."

As a researcher, it really shows me that hardcore gamers, are a special group of people that wear a huge badge of ownership over the systems they buy and the games they play. Nintendo is a real underdog when it comes to ad spending compared to behemoths Sony and Microsoft - do gamers feel treated when Nintendo finally doles out the money to promote themselves? Marie F's 1UP Blog

2 Minutes for Hi-Deffing

2006-08-25T16:28:00.000-04:00

Okay so that title could have been less sucky, it did beat out Analogue Mighty Pucks so it could have been worse. The reality is that I don't have the time or attention span to focus on a decent headline because there's only 20 more freaking sleeps until NHL 07, the most original and exciting offering from EAsports in the NHL franchise since NHLPA 93 hits store shelves. That's right, I busted out NHLPA 93. Blasphemy you say? Consider this: EA sports franchises take huge criticism (desrvedly so) because year after year they churn out the same engine with updated skins/rosters etc, and they have the nerve to charge $69.99. Franchise Mode becomes Career Mode (ooooh) or better yet Dynasty Mode (aaaah) the following year and no one is the wiser *wink*. They get away with this knowing that feeble sports-crazed-gamer-impulse-buyers like myself and relatives who don't know what videogame to buy their kid/neice/grandson for their birthday/holiday of preference but know that they like the Maple Leafs will consistently shell out. That is still the case, however this year it looks as though EA is showing some mercy at least by actually innovating the NHL franchise, thanks in part to next generation console XBOX 360. True High-Def 16:9 display (just like it's broadcast on HD-CBC), Realistic puck and stick control taking full advantage of dual analogue sticks (encouraging a "if you can think of the move, you can do the move" approach to gaming that rewards players' instincts versus button mashing) and a dynamic dynasty mode based on the CBA that actually looks authentic and worthwhile, that will give fans like me the option of bypassing a purchase next season when EA inevitably rests on their laurels for another 4 years until the next-generation of platforms are released....

I must admit that one strike this game has against it is the decision to put Ovechkin on the cover. With all due respect, and Rookie of the Year honours aside, everyone in their heart of hearts knows that Sidney Crosby should be front and centre here....okay I just got over it, drop the puck already!!

From Tokyo with <3

2006-08-24T23:10:00.000-04:00

Well it's been confirmed by NOA today, DS Lite is going to look a whole lot sexier in America this September when it's released in the sought after Jet Black and Noble Pink colours that Japan has been hoarding over the world since the Lite release, proving once again that whatever Nicky wishes for with all of her little heart, Nicky gets**..

"The only thing more fun than new Nintendo DS Lite hardware colors is trying to keep up with the breakneck sales of the software to play on the popular little portable! On Sept. 13, two new colors - Onyx and Coral Pink - join Polar White, which is enjoying its own incredible sales peak and getting noticed everywhere."

Did they just say Onyx and Coral Pink? I wonder if Debbie Travis will have a say in how they name the pink and black versions for the inevitable (and hopefully imminent) release in Canada...

**so long as select software sales exceed 1 million units. Check out the rest of the story over at NINTENDO.

Code Pink!

2006-08-23T12:56:00.000-04:00

Canada is inching closer to the possibility of pink DS lites at Christmas! At this morning's Nintendo press conference in Leipzig, a model wearing a pink dress and holding a pink DS Lite took the stage as they announced its European release on October 27th.

I am so excited and so jealous at the same time. I need to get my hands on one of these babies. Now that it's not just a Japanese exclusive there's a better chance of the pink DS seeing Canadian retail shelves! Source

The lazy gamer syndrome

2006-08-22T15:32:00.000-04:00

Today at the Leipzig Games Conference, Fable creator Peter Molyneux spoke about something I've been spewing on about since demo-ing the Wii at E3. That is, one of the biggest challenges to the Wii is that gameplay is so active that it won't be suitable for active gamers who enjoy nestling in for a few hours to play combat-style games. Also, there's the whole image thing - that it's embarrassing to play active games in your living room, alone or with others. Games Industry reports:
"When Molyneux first realised that players might be able to swing a motion-sensing controller just like they would a sword, he thought the concept was "brilliant! But then I realised, when I looked at myself in the mirror, I actually looked really stupid."
I worry that image-conscious culture we live in will relegate the Wii to just another living room toy and hurt them in the long run. Games Industry

Introducing...

2006-08-16T00:53:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Pop & Chips - a born and bred Canadian conversation about all things video games. We're not only gamers, but pop cultural observers pleasantly stuck in the changing landscape of the gaming world. We're here to sit in cross-legged circles and snack on the swirling culture of gamers ,developers, marketers, and everything in between. Won't you join us?