Portal 2 - Price Drop

Image courtesy of Steam screenshotsIf you are in the same boat Proteus and I find ourselves in concerning Portal 2, as in you don't own one of the best games of the year yet, then we're all in luck.  Portal 2 has recently seen a price drop of $20 bucks making the game now $29.99 through Steam.  We meant to do the whole pre-order thing but kinda forgot and same thing happened during Steam's Summer Sale when it was nearly 50% off, but now we can make up for it any time with this recent price drop.  We're having to be gamers on a budget here with that whole pesky home ownership stuff, but it's a worthy trade off.  For your convenience here's a handy link to Portal 2 on Steam if you are interested in purchasing it. 

Super Mario Bros Wallpaper

Mario Bros. wallpaper image sampleI've been working on some artwork and decided to share a piece with all of you who follow us online.  I actually got the idea from trying to work out some sort of Mario Bros. button.  I was just sketching out some ideas, but kinda like the idea of the mushroom flanked by fire flowers and it sort of just carried on from there.  I know it's not every item available in every game, but I wanted to cover just enough to get idea across.   Most of them are old school too, so I like that fact.  I know I'm a couple of years late for the Super Mario Bros. 25th Anniversary, but that's okay.  I think I'll actually make it for the Zelda one, so keep your eyes peeled for that post! I think everyone will like that too.  Without further ado, follow the links below for a wallpaper of your choice.  Until my next art post, game on!

Click a link below for the desired size then right click on the image and choose Set As Desktop Background

Mario 1024x768    Mario 1280x1024    Mario 1600x900    Mario 1600x1200    Mario 1920x1080

Born on a Monday

Batman sure has a large list of villians lined up for this next game.  So far in trailers we have seen Joker, Hugo Strange, The Riddler, and Two Face.  Now they have released a new trailer that shows another two villians, one we saw coming, and the other, not so much.  So sit back and enjoy this new Arkham City trailer.

Damn it Star Wars, I Don't Have That Kinda Money!

What the hell Star Wars? In one day you single handily destroy my future budget and don't even bat an eye! First thing this morning I find that Star Wars: The Old Republic is officially up for pre-order, and with three editions. First there is the Standard edition that comes with a color stone to change lightsaber and blaster colors for $59.99. Then you have the Origin only Digital Deluxe edition for $79.99 that has the stone, a flare gun, training droid for combat, HoloDancer, HoloCam and a STAP (vehicle). But you had to have a Collector's Edition that has all that, a Mouse Droid and a Store that only CE owners get access to. And that's only the digital goods, it also comes with all this:

Click for a full size image

It would be a no brainier for me to buy this, hell it would have already been pre-ordered if it were not for the price of $150!  Then after finally wrapping my head around this Microsoft adds fuel to the fire at the San Diego Comic-Con.  To sell more Star Wars Kinect games when they come out they created a special Star Wars themed XBOX 360.  The system itself is painted to look like RD-D2, complete with sounds and lights to differentiate it from its console brothers.  Follow this up with a C-3PO gold controller, a white Kinect and a 320 GB Hard Drive. I want this, but it is $449!

So thanks Star Wars, EA, and Microsoft.  In one day, ONE DAY, you have deprived me of $600!!!  I hope you are happy with yourselves.

Do they really want to be rescued?

Mario and Link have dedicated their lives to saving the love of their lives, but how much do the princesses really appreciate this?  Is it really so bad being kidnapped by these "villains" that want to rule the kingdom / world / galaxy?  Let us take a unique look into how Zelda and Peach may really feel.

EA - Now your source for Plant based Zombie Repellent

The image is © Woody Hearn and is owned by him. Click to check out his site.You all know of Popcap games right? Well if you haven't heard of them and you are reading this site, welcome, though you might have some problems understanding the implications below.   Well, Popcap has been purchased by video game publishing giant EA Games for the small sum of $750 million ($650 cash and $100 million in stock options).  This gives EA a digital business worth $1 billion dollars and rockets them all the way to the #2 spot for Facebook games just behind Zynga (the group that has just about anything that ends with "ville"). So what does this really mean to the average gamer? 

Probably nothing more then having to see the EA logo when you start up Plants Vs. Zombies.  I don't see a lot of sweeping changes being made to a company that made millions with casual gamers. But I guess we will see for sure when the deal is expected to close sometime in August. But what does Popcap think about this?  Well lets take this excerpt from their site:

An open letter to all our players:

As some of you may have heard, we recently announced that PopCap Games is being acquired by Electronic Arts, a small mom-and-pop boutique software publisher. What does this mean for the future? It’s simple:

1.  EA is being rebranded to Poptronic Arts
2.  Sim Zuma: The SwampLife Edition
3.  Peggle: Dead Space – Bjorn’s Breakfast
4.  Bejeweled Battlefield Blitz
5.  Plants vs. ZombEAz: NFL Lockout Edition

Wow!
Ok, not really.

It means PopCap will join forces with one of the world’s largest game publishers, giving us access to many more resources and a greatly expanded global audience. It doesn’t mean that PopCap is going away or changing what we do or how we do it. On the contrary, PopCap’s creative culture is the main reason EA was interested in us. We’re not changing our focus from creating awesome casual games everyone can enjoy.

So what should you really expect from us in the future as part of EA? More! More games, more platforms, more players, and more fun.

PopCap has been around for more than ten years now, and we look forward to bringing you great games for at least another decade to come!

Sincerely,

Your friends from PopCap

Hmm, I kinda would have liked to see Peggle: Dead Space - Bjorn's Breakfast.

Link with a Portal Gun

So I am sitting messing around on the internets and I find the following video, which features what link would do if he had a portal gun.  It was way too entertaining not to share, so here it is.

Infamous 2 – PS3

To Every Story There Is A Beginning

It has long been a dream of mine to wield the awesome power of lightning at my fingertips, so when Sucker Punch came out with the original Infamous, I knew I had to have that game!  With eager anticipation I awaited its arrival and then I played it for hours on end.  I loved every minute of it!  When it was finally over, I desperately wanted another installment.  Well, Sucker Punch heard my prayers and sent forth Infamous 2.

For those not familiar with the original, our protagonist Cole MacGrath begins the first game by waking up in the middle of a blast crater in Empire City.  Everything within 5 city blocks of him as been destroyed by an explosion.  Once he is extricated from the crater by his best friend Zeke and nursed back to health, he finds that he has lightning powers.  Throughout the course of the game, you discover why he and others now have powers, why he survived an explosion that killed thousands of other people, who planned it, and why.  Near the middle of the game (beware possible spoilers) you find out that the antagonist, Kessler, is preparing you to face an even bigger foe, "The Beast". 

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