Owner: Gamerpunch URL:http://www.gamerpunch.com Join Date: Sun, 01 Jul 2007 00:26:40 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Gamerpunch: hack your gamer brain. Tips, hacks, how tos, tools, free stuff, innovation and the news you need to know. Useful stuff for gamers. Site statistics:Click here
CLICK: BethBlog 2007-06-29 19:42:00 It's almost as if the people at Bethesda Game Studios just want to be liked. Their efforts began on the Fallout 3 forums, and they've now colonized a little speck of the blogsphere. I predict we'll be hitting up Todd Howard's MySpace in a week or two.Pete Hines is apparently responsible for the newest iteration of Bethesda's quest to be loved by all. Not that he'd admit it:This (blog) is something I’ve wanted to do for a while now, but I didn’t have the time to do it on my own with everything else going on (that “Oblivion” thing, for one).Yeah, now you've only got that "Fallout 3" thing going, so you have a lot more free time? Way to win over the skeptics, Pete!Let's face it: Todd Howard and co. are treating disgruntled fans like the new kid at school who just wants to be your friend. I think it's sweet. I don't think it's going to work. I think a lot of fans will be saying that time spent making affable blog posts could be better spent, ahem, elsewhere.[Bethesda Blo
EDIT: How to install Ubuntu on the PS3 2007-06-29 19:39:00 What is Ubuntu
and why should I install
it? The PS3 allows you to install alternative operating systems (once you have partitioned the hard drive). A neat candidate would be Ubuntu, which is free, Linux-based, and regularly updated. The OS comes in several different flavors, including Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Xubuntu, and Edubuntu. They're each slightly different -- Google 'em.Are there any limitations? You can still watch Blu-ray DVDs and use Ubuntu, but not at the same time.Where do I start? There are detailed instructions at the Community Ubuntu Documentation project. It actually doesn't look too tricky, so let us know if you get it working![Playstation 3 Ubuntu documentation via Lifehacker]
EDIT: Ergonomic DS Lite stylus 2007-06-28 21:33:00 Ergonomic in the sense that it totally maximizes productivity while reducing operator fatigue and discomfort, etc. And it's free. As opposed to the other styli* out there, which cost money. And let's face it - nobody wants to pay money for a slip of plastic. It just feels wrong.Sal Cangeloso, unhappy with the ergonomicality (-ness? Yes, I am making up words) of the stock stylus decided a little DIY was in order, pictured above.My version is actually a stock DS Lite stylus cut down to the right size and placed in a Pilot Hi-Tec-C Coleto pen. I also put in a little bit of rubber from the grip from an old pen so that the stylus tip has a little bit of give. It ended up taking about 5 minutes to put together and it was free, which is always nice. I used an old stylus which, as any DS Lite user knows, starts to fall out of the holder when the little stopper ridge wears out. The extra size makes the stylus a lot more comfortable and the added width helps as well. I should be easy enough to Read more:Ergonomic
MAKE: Notebook photo frame 2007-06-28 21:22:00 Alright, so it's not quite game related, but it could be. Whack a photo of Mario in there and we can call that problem solved.So, what is it? A notebook re-assembled inside plexiglass with the LCD screen facing outwards. Turn it on and it displays an image via the LCD screen, like some sort of crazy science-fiction photoframe. Because that's what it is. Crazy.Steve at Skivinator has done a write-up of the process with some accompanying visuals. Unless you're a genius at taking apart and re-assembling notebooks you should probably keep the screwdrivers in the drawer for this one.[Wicked Awesome PhotoFrame at Skivinator] Read more:Notebook
TECH: Official PS3 SIXAXIS Rumble details 2007-06-28 20:53:00 PSM France has a whole heap of details
on the upcoming controller. Read the entire summary at Maxconsole, or get straight to the core of the analysis:One of the interesting revelations is that the controller may contain 'touch sense' which will mean the vibrations do not emanate solely from the handles but various places of the lever and developers should be able to create a multitude of effects. I am not going to make any dodgy jokes about how the technology looks like it will 'increase pleasure when gaming'. Swear.[PSM France reveals new info on PS3 Sixaxis Rumble at Maxconsole] Read more:Official
, SIXAXIS
EDIT: PS3 1.82 firmware arrives 2007-06-28 20:35:00 The update will allow you to play HD content via H.264/MPEG-4 files. Here are some instructions on how to update with a PC if you haven't done it before.
TECH: WiiWare content coming early 2008 2007-06-27 22:12:00 Nintendo announced WiiWare today - a 'game-creation' service which will allow indie developers to create and sell Wii games via the Shop Channel. No word on what this 'game-creation' service actually is, but if it's as flexible as we all hope, it's possible that we might see a whole lot of cheap and innovative content coming to the Wii in early 2008.UPDATE: Level Up has some more details on WiiWare. Nintendo will retain control over pricing of titles created with the tool, and while titles will not be 'vetted' by Nintendo they will be checked for bugs and rated for compatability with its games range (in other words, no AO titles).[Read the press release via Joystiq]
TECH: SplitFish FragFX PS3 controller reviewed 2007-06-27 21:53:00 IGN has reviewed the SplitFish FragFX PS3 controller
(try saying that three times over), a device aimed at providing PC-like control for shooters on the PS3. Here's a general summary of what they had to say:The controller was tested with Resistance: Fall of Man and improved both precision and accuracy.The reviewers believed it gave them an advantage in gameplay.Despite a few minor niggles it's the best alternative controller IGN have tested for the PS3.The controller ships this month in both wired ($59.99) and Bluetooth ($69.99) versions.[IGN: SplitFish FragFX PS3 Review via Engadget]
PLAY: Cursor Invisible 2007-06-27 21:19:00 The aim of this little Flash game is to shoot the plates which appear on screen. In the first few seconds of the game your cursor, initially visible, will fade from view, leaving you to rely on twitch instincts alone. It seems as if there's no point where you 'win' or level up, but you can try for a better score each time you play.Who knows, it might just be a way to improve your twitch instincts for mouse-based shooters. Let us know if you start climbing up the Deathmatch rankings after this one, eh?[Cursor
Invisible]
CULTURE: Nicole Kidman, playin' ur DS 2007-06-27 10:11:00 That's Nicole Kidman
fronting the latest DS ad campaign. I'm not sure which message Nintendo is trying to convey more: 'beautiful Hollywood actresses play DS so you should too', or 'Yes Nintendo makes that kind of money.' Read more:Nicole Kidman
MAKE: Plush Embroidered NES 2007-06-27 09:25:00 blueblythe at the Craftster forums took two weeks to create this plush NES set. Not content to stop at just the system itself, the set includes Super Mario 3 and Duck Hunt cartridges, a controller, gun and embroidered 'screenshots' of both games which are fastened to the TV with velcro.No instructions on how to make your own, but they would only make us cry anyway. Hit the link below for close-up pics of each element.[EmbroideredPlush
Nintendo System at Craftster]
HACK: How gamers can get the most out of del.icio.us 2007-06-27 01:57:00 This little hack will help you get the best video gaming content on del.icio.us piped to your feed reader.What you needA free account at del.icio.usA feed reader (I use Google Reader)What to doThis is a pretty simple process. Visit the del.icio.us 'popular' page for the tag you want to pipe to your reader, scroll down to the bottom of the page and right-click on the 'RSS feed for this page' button. Save the URL and add it to your feed reader. I keep my del.icio.us tag feeds organized in a 'del.icio.us gaming' folder within my feed reader.Example kitsGeneral gaming kit (add to your feed reader)http://del.icio.us/rss/popular/videogameshttp://del.icio.us/rss/popular/gameshttp://del.icio.us/rss/popular/gamingXbox 360 gamer kit (add to your feed reader)http://del.icio.us/rss/popular/xbox360http://del.icio.us/rss/popular/xboxPS3 gamer kit (add to your feed reader)http://del.icio.us/rss/popular/ps3http://del.icio.us/rss/popular/sonyNintendo gamer kit (add to your feed reader)http://del.
PLAY: Katamari Damacy mini-game 2007-06-27 01:03:00 Beautiful Katamari
is set to roll on to your Xbox 360 this October, but that doesn't mean you have to wait until then to start rolling people and objects into huge balls. Via Jay is Games comes this Katamari Damacy
mini-game hosted on Namco's Damacy Japanese website.The game itself is quick and simple: use the King head to lead your little character around the field, adding smaller objects to your ball until you can pick up bigger objects, eventually becoming so big that the grass itself becomes part of your ball and reveals a secret image. You'll probably only play it once, but that's not the point: it's cute and free and Katamari.[Click the below image to play]
GET: Wiimote keychain, Halo 3 stuff, a cheaper PS3 2007-07-07 21:12:00 Bungie Day means free stuff
-- I love it when companies see fit to name days after themselves. According to Bungie July 7th belongs to them - it's Bungie Day. We even get a day off work and everything. Because it falls on a weekend. We also get some free stuff:3D screenshots of Halo 3A page of info on the Brute ChopperInfo on Spartan variants C.Q.B. and E.V.A.A free Halo 3 theme.The downloads are only available for the duration of Bungie Day, meaning from approximately 2:00 AM PDT until midnight on Saturday (for those in the US).[Bungie day pictures and theme via Major Nelson]Get a Wiimote
keychain -- owners of Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree are elligible to receive a free Wiimote keychain if you follow a few simple steps. Details below.[Free Wii Remote keychain via Sliced Oranges]Whatever Sony: buy a cheaper PS3 today -- The PS3 pricing controversy is getting curiouser and curiouser. According to PS3 Fanboy certain Target stores are already selling 60GB PS3s for $499 while, confusing
MAKE: Beginner Nintendo papercrafts 2007-07-07 20:49:00 Via Crafty Crafty comes these Nintendo
papercraft print-outs. They look easier than, say, certain other papercrafts, and would be cute to have around the house. Next time you find yourself doing a jigsaw puzzle on a rainy day, how about you rustle up one of these instead?[Nintendo papercrafts via Crafty Crafty] Read more:Beginner
CULTURE: Where games and people collide #1 2007-07-07 19:08:00 Chinese government makes itself even easier target for jibes -- the Chinese government recently ordered that skeletons in World of WarCraft be removed and replaced with flesh-covered counterparts. They've also announced that bare-boned corpses of dead characters must be buried in graves rather than lying on the ground. Seriously.The9 - the Chinese company responsible for running WoW in China - has already complied with these orders. Why have bones, of all things, been censored in World of WarCraft? To comply with Chinese president Hu Jintao's mandate of an "harmonious society," apparently. No idea how that works. It seems like the government has started censoring things just for the fun of it.[Censorship reaches internet skeletons via Kotaku]Fuzzy virtual pet owners start online rebellion -- On July 3rd a new feature arrived in NeoPets land: the NC Mall, which allows users to pay real world money for the game's virtual currency, Neocash.According to those rebelling the mall breaks N Read more:people
, collide
GET: Free graphic novels for your PSP 2007-07-06 21:42:00 PocketGamer has scrounged up some great freebies for your PSP. Download the (free!) graphic novels you want via the links below, then follow the instructions at PocketGamer to get them up and running on your - now more excellent - Playstation Portable.50 free Super Spy graphic novelsSix free episodes of NYC 2123Two free episodes of Agent Hitless (pictured above)Darren Reid's Xevicom Fever (free)Introductory episodes of seven different titles free at gomangaKomikwerks also offers free introductory episodesOnce you've downloaded what you want head over to PocketGamer for instructions on how to get the graphic novels displaying correctly on your PSP, or to view write ups of each comic before you make your choice.[The best digital comics for your PSP at PocketGamer]
MAKE: Bewdiful Katamari papercraft 2007-07-06 21:26:00 To accompany the news that Beautiful Katamari
is bypassing the PS3 in favor of the Wii I thought some Katamari craft was in order. Wii owners can celebrate the announcement with their new Katamari Prince papercraft, while PS3 owners can place the papercraft in front of their TV set, squint really hard, and imagine a wonderful alternate dimension in which they are actually playing Beautiful Katamari on their PS3.Of all the Katamari crafts floating around I chose the Tiny Prince paper toy because it doesn't look too tricky (as far as papercrafts go). And because the Prince is really cute.You can download the print-out via the link below.[Paper Toy Friday: The Tiny Prince at Warm 'n Fuzzy]
Round table: A word from our sponsors... 2007-07-06 09:44:00 Caught this seemingly obligatory post at Kotaku today. It's a shout out to the site's sponsors; Pentax, Project Sylpheed, Rockstar Games, Verizon and World in Conflict. What struck me is that of five sponsors, two are game titles and one is a game developer. Kotaku writes about all of them. Could we expect Kotaku to write objectively about these sponsors, even if the truth would make them look less than pretty? Not if they want to keep the funds rolling in, I suspect.Of course, Kotaku isn't the only gaming media publication sponsored by the very brands and companies it has promised to write about fairly and objectively. I find it difficult to see how coverage of these sponsor companies could remain free and independent in that kind of situation.As a media student, I feel this kind of thing casts a shadow over the journalism taking place. I can't help but wonder whether Rockstar Games sponsored Kotaku before or after they posted item after item supporting Rockstar Games and Manhunt
CULTURE: Wii'll not forget 2007-07-06 09:16:00 This is the kind of advertising that makes you forget - just for a moment - that the company responsible just wants your money. First the advertisement team pushing Blue Dragon cast a shadow across the streets of Shubiya, and now Nintendo is getting creative, displaying these wall mosaics made out of colored posted notes in various locations around Italy. On the back of each individual note is a message encouraging the recipient to pay homage to the 80s by playing old-school favorites on the Wii
.Your move, Sony. Impress us, eh?[Nintendo Wii: Wii'll not forget
via The Cool Hunter]
MAKE: Cabinet for a gaming geek 2007-07-05 22:14:00 Flickr user kriseattle22 took six months to create this gamer's cabinet. I particularly like the wooden brackets used to raise the devices for good air-flow, and the console holders on the side. The neon-lit fans look a bit much built into unpainted wood, though, but I'm sure a coat of sleek black paint would fix the problem.Instructions on how to make one for yourself aren't provided, but I'd prefer a different set of instructions anyway: instructions on how to make enough money to buy all that stuff![Cabinet
for a gaming geek at Flickr]
CLICK: File Front latest game demos 2007-07-05 21:56:00 There are plenty of sites around offering downloads of PC game demos. What makes this File Front
page special is that it's updated as soon as a new demo is added to File Front and allows you to follow download links for each new demo as it is added. In other words: you don't need to spend time worming your way through a convoluted site to get at the fresh content you want.[Latest Game Demos list at File Front]
BUZZ: Console Concessions 2007-07-05 21:46:00 Via a number of sources comes the news that the price of the PS3 is going to drop from $599 to $499 on the 12th of July. I'm not sure how much a price drop from 'really expensive' to 'still really expensive, but less so' is going to change SONY's fortunes, but it's certainly a step in the right direction.Just as SONY makes that concession comes the news that users who experience the 'red ring of death' on their Xbox 360 console will have their warranty extended to three years.It's good to see both companies able to bow to public pressure, but is it a case of too little too late?[Report: PS3 $499 on July 12 at GameDaily BIZ][Microsoft Expands Xbox 360 Warranty Coverage press release] Read more:Console
GET: Nintendosoup poster 2007-07-05 01:21:00 Ben Fry has a unique game poster available for download. The images were created by extracting and rebuilding the code from a number of Nintendo titles.This piece examines the unpacking of a Nintendo game cartridge, decoding the program as a four-color image, revealing a beautiful soup of the thousands of individual elements that make up the game screen.The full poster is available as an 84 x 120cm .pdf and contains 4-color reconstructions of Contra Force, Double Dragon, Dr. Mario, Galaga, Galaxian, Bump n' Jump, Joust, Ninja Gaiden, Punch-Out, RBI Basketball, Burger Time, Super Mario, Yoshi, Super Mario 3, and Zelda II - Adventures of Link. The poster contains more than a hundred panels like the one pictured above, extracted from the Double Dragon cartridge.[mariosoup, poster link at bottom]
MAKE: Street Fighter Xbox 360 controller 2007-07-04 20:24:00 Everyone is modding controller
s lately. If there isn't a controller modding community called 'Control Freaks', well, there really should be.The above pic shows a custom XboxStreet
Fighter controller shell with buttons and joystick wired to the circuit board of an Xbox 360 controller. With it, you could be the coolest Street Fighter
on Xbox Live.Dreams of Street Fighter coolness aside, you probably won't/shouldn't try this one at home. I know I certainly don't own a custom Xbox Street Fighter controller, nor could I touch a circuit board without breaking it. That doesn't mean I can't admire the work of another - even if I don't understand it.Note: I see an Xbox 360 stacked on top of other electronics. Naughty.[Street Fighter Joystick for the Xbox 360 at AlfredChow.com]
USE: BioShock Achievements 2007-07-04 20:05:00 Xbox360Achievements.org has all 50 BioShock achievements with a total of 1000 points. The achievements are, overall, a mixture of your standard fare with some interesting additions, like:Take at least one Research Photo of a Splicer.Successfully invent at least 100 items.Complete the game without harvesting any Little Sisters.Hit the jackpot at a slot machine.Photography, invention, gambling, morality... Would we expect any less from BioShock?Each achievement icon is animated in a neat retro style which fits perfectly with the style of the game. When developers pay attention to details like that you can bet the game is going to be a quality product.[BioShock Achievement List at Xbox360Achievements.org]
BUZZ: Today's E3 round-up 2007-07-12 04:33:00 The big sites are updating at an insane rate. Yeah, we appreciate it, but the most important facts are easily lost in the details. Here's everything of great significance that occurred today, at E3, or otherwise.16 tracks have been announced for Rock BandMass Effect is coming to the Xbox 360 in NovemberHalo Wars, an RTS set in the Halo universe, is coming 2008Silent Hill V is to be developed by The Collective, coming to PS3 and 360S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has been announcedMGS4 will be a PS3 exclusive, and is the last in the seriesPSP Slim and PSP Slim Silver are being released in SeptemberResident Evil 5 is in development, will be set in AfricaThe Xbox 360 Elite is arriving in Europe on August 24Microsoft is releasing an Halo 3 Xbox 360NCSoft has partnered with Sony, plans to create online titles for the PS3Gears of War and Viva Pinata coming to Games for Windows[Special Coverage of E3 at Joystiq] Read more:Today
, round
HACK: White elephant gifts exchange, gaming edition 2007-07-10 23:16:00 Found this idea for a White
Elephant gift exchange game via WikiHow. The idea is that you tell a group of friends about it, you all bring objects that you own but don't use, and give away your items in exchange for items other people have bought. The original idea is to include tasteless or gag gifts, but I think I might have a better idea.If you're a gamer, here's to hoping you have some gamer friends. Most of us have a few old games/consoles/gaming magazines/bits of merchandise lying around that we just don't have much use for anymore. Get your friends together, bring a bunch of neatly wrapped gaming detritus, and exchange to your heart's content. After all, one person's trash is another's treasure, so you might end up with something you actually want. That's more than what you came with!To get the most fun out of it, you'll probably have to know how a normal, non-gaming White Elephant exchange goes down. Just substitute the word 'gift' for 'gaming gift' in the article b Read more:elephant
CLICK: Little People 2007-07-10 22:26:00 After discovering Slinkachu's Little People blog via Boing Boing, I knew it was something I wanted to post here. My problem, though, was that it wasn't game related in the slightest.But it could be. For the following text to make any sense you need to have clicked the link above and had a look. Go on. I'll wait.Had a look? Good. Anyone else think this kind of thing would be a great premise for a game? I'll write my idea in the comments thread below, because I'm interested to see what others think of the overall concept.[Little People via Boing Boing]
MAKE: First level of Super Mario... scarf-style 2007-07-10 22:05:00 It might not look like much yet but cassinator of craftgrrl is attempting to render the entire first level
of SuperMario
as a scarf. It could be awesome, but if you consider that the section pictured above took two hours and is two hand-widths long, it becomes clear that:1) this is going to take bloody ages2) it's going to be so ridiculously long that it'll probably force its creator to consider the question of when a scarf just becomes a really long piece of knittingFor an idea of scale, the author is working off this image. I know I'd give up at about the point pictured above. No, scratch that - one row and I'd be out. I'd probably just be too busy marvelling at the improbability of my suddenly and inexplicably gained ability to knit, which I do not currently posess.If the thing gets completed gamecraft fans all over with have something to hype about. If not, A+ for effort and inventiveness, eh?[Super Mario
bros scarf update via Wonderland] Read more:First
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