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April 26, 2005
GameGal Editor Hits the Small Screen
We totally forgot to clue you into this yesterday, but GameGal editor Libe Goad was on Fox's Good Day New York morning TV show today, talking about places like eBay and craigslist for selling your stuff online.
We DVR'd it, so we'll try and grab some screencaps – if Libe doesn't kill us first for even mentioning it (she's shy).
Posted by gamegal at 04:52 PM | Comments (0)
Big Xbox 360 Launch Planned
So far the magic number is 15. That's a good number of launch games for a system, but we hope that doesn't mean after launch day there's nothing new for months on end (we’re looking at you, Mr. PSP).
Lots of driving games (yawn), but we are sorta psyched to see the new Perfect Dark sequel. You’ll remember the N64 original for its butt-kicking heroine, Joanna Dark.
Link: http://www.joystiq.com/entry/1234000040041270/
Posted by gamegal at 12:28 PM | Comments (0)
Oodles of Games at E3 2005
According to industry buzz, this will be a huge year for game software at the annual E3 trade show in May. Despite the hoopla (we love saying "hoopla") about the three new game consoles, there's also 1000+ games to check out.
Of course, a large number of them will be making their second or third appearance at E3. Some games we're getting ready to see again include the H.P. Lovecraft-inspired Call of the Chthulu, The Movies and Final Fantasy XII.
Link: http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/business/e3/one-thousand-games-at-e3-100917.php
Posted by gamegal at 12:26 PM | Comments (0)
April 25, 2005
Xbox 360 Spotted
Photos of the Xbox 360 are turning up all over the net these days. At first we were dubious, but they seem to be coming from so many sources, including the official grass-roots OurColony.net website (enter “play, then join colony 63352475), that we’re ready to jump on the bandwagon and say this is probably the real deal.
The 360 looks like it’ll be very different from the clunky black Xbox we all know and (sorta) love. It’s white, slim and stand upright, like the PS2.
There’s all sorts of buzz about memory cards and removable hard drives, but we’ll probably have to wait until E3 to get the final word on all that.
Posted by gamegal at 12:23 PM | Comments (0)
April 23, 2005
Star Wars: Republic Commando review up
Hey gamegals (and gameguys) -- check out our review of Star Wars: Republic Commando. We're not the biggest fan of military squad games, but Republic Commando manages to make it more of a fun hair-trigger shooter.
Review is right here, if you're in the modd for some light reading!
Posted by gamegal at 10:15 PM | Comments (0)
Join The Colony, Yo.
By now you probably know all about the ourcolony.net site -- it's one of those viral marketing thingies from microsoft to promote the upcoming launch of the Xbox 360.
Well, the mindless sheep that we are, we signed up a "team" to try and solve the puzzles within the site.
Want to join Team GameGal and get in on the fun? It's easy -- just head on over to ourcolony.net and enter "play" in the text field. Then click on 'Join Existing Colony' and enter 63352475.
Details and solutions explained as we figure it all out.
Posted by gamegal at 09:57 PM | Comments (0)
April 21, 2005
Namco Announces Hello Kitty 3D Adventure Game
Namco finally announced the release of its Hello Kitty game, officially titled Hello Kitty Roller Rescue. The GameCube-only action/adventure game will take players to Sanriotown, where HK and friends must stop the menacing Block-O and his goons from taking over the town.
Hello Kitty fanatics everywhere should use the highly collectible HK "back massager" to express their elation. Starting... now.
More on Hello Kitty Roller Rescue >>
Posted by gamegal at 01:06 PM | Comments (0)
April 20, 2005
Computing on the Dark Side
Ok, this may be the geekiest thing we’ve seen in a while, but we still want one. Alienware – makers of super high-end computers – have an new line of Star Wars machines coming out.
The Aurora will be available in both Dark Side and Light Side versions. The specs seem to be the same, but each version has custom case graphics, pre-installed screen backgrounds and themes and even some kind of custom soundtrack.
Obviously we’re leaning towards the dark side here – at least until they release a custom Jar-Jar case.
Link: http://www.alienware.com/Starwars_Pages/teaser.aspx
Posted by gamegal at 01:16 PM | Comments (0)
April 18, 2005
And I'll Form – The Head!
Like some mighty Voltron of retailing, click-and-mortor game stores Electronics Boutique and GameStop are merging. GameStop is the one doing the buying, acquiring its rival for about $1.4 billion in cash and stock. Not sure what the trade-in value would be ;)
Of course, this hardly affects you, since most game stores are pretty female-unfriendly places, usually packed with high-school slackers and screaming kiddies, anguished parents in tow. We're much more partial to picking up games at Virgin or even gasp, Best Buy.
Coincidentally, one of our GameGal staffers worked years ago for another internet game store – GameDealer.com, which was later sold to EB for $200 and a used copy of Tomb Raider 2.
Link: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050418/ap_on_bi_ge/gamestop_electronics_boutique_7
Posted by gamegal at 01:46 PM | Comments (0)
Game Sales Way Up
Sales of video game software jumped through the roof in March, according to market researchers NPD Group. The 32-percent boost was credited to the much-hyped Sony PSP, which sold 620,000 units between March 24-31. Around 1.1 million PSP games were sold during the same period. Hopefully, most of them were copies of Lumines.
On the non-PSP front, Gran Turismo 4, the hardcore driving sim, sold more than 500,000 copies in March. Apparently, most analysts predicted just a 5-percent jump for the month.
Link: http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20050415/tc_nm/media_videogames_sales_dc
Posted by gamegal at 01:34 PM | Comments (0)
April 13, 2005
Swimming with the Mermaids
Since us Americans are clearly too unsophisticated to understand a marketing campaign that doesn’t involve apes escaping or futuristic sleds wiping out at high speeds, we can only assume you’ll be confused and frightened by the South Korean official Sony PSP website.
This artsy concoction features, for reasons that escape us, a girl dressed like a mermaid, holding a PSP while fish swim around her. Fortunately, it’s not the Japanese PSP site, so there are no hard-partying tentacles or androgynous robot schoolgirls.
The PSP is described as “temptation within [a] fairy tale,” which sounds to us like a riddle, wrapped in an enigma, wrapped in bacon.
Link: http://www.psp-style.co.kr/
Posted by gamegal at 05:52 PM | Comments (1)
April 11, 2005
Spiderman 2 [PSP] Reviewed
For all you faithful Newswire readers out there, if you hop on over to the main GameGal site, you'll find our review of the not-as-bad-as-people-say Spiderman 2 for Sony PSP.
Link: Spiderman 2 [PSP]
Posted by gamegal at 04:32 PM | Comments (0)
Xbox 360 to Launch on MTV
The eagerly awaited next-gen Xbox is set to be unveiled not at Microsoft’s E3 press conference, but on MTV. The May 12 special, hosted by our favorite hobbit, Elijah Wood (an E3 attendee himself), will purportedly feature scores of actors, athletes and celebs touting the new system.
We bet Sony is feeling pretty silly about moving their E3 press conference to Monday in an attempt to out-premiere Microsoft. On a side note: People! E3 this year is Wednesday-to-Friday – stop moving your press conferences to Monday! It leaves all us East Coast peeps cooling our heels…
Link: http://www.brandweek.com/brandweek/headlines/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1000874671
Posted by gamegal at 12:50 PM | Comments (0)
Have Your Cake (and Play it, Too)
Yes, every other game blog on the planet has had this already – but in case you don’t spend your waking hours surfing for cool wacky links (like we do), here it is…(drum roll, please).
The one-and-only PSP Cake!
You may now go on with your day.
Posted by gamegal at 12:48 PM | Comments (0)
April 08, 2005
Viral Marketing for Xbox Next?
Hop over to ourcolony.net to check out what looks to be the new viral marketing campaign for the next Xbox. Figure out the password, and you'll be on your way...
Posted by gamegal at 03:29 PM | Comments (0)
Kitty Camera
There’s just one word for this new Hello Kitty branded digital video camera – “Sweet!” This pocket-size digicam isn’t going to produce any hi-def movies, but really, you didn't buy that Hello Kitty toaster to make the world's greatest toast, either.
For on-the-go quick video footage for your website, the camera’s specs of 320x240 (at 20fps) or 640x480 (at 12 fps) are mostly adequate. The still camera function can grab images as large as 2048x1536.
Everything can be stored on standard SD cards, and the mini-camcorder even has a 1.4-inch LCD screen. This must-have gadget (model number v:u2) is from Japanese manufacturer Che-ez, and should be available for under $200.
Link: http://www.che-ez.com/vu2_sanrio/index.html
Posted by gamegal at 12:39 PM | Comments (0)
April 06, 2005
Sony Granted Patent for Sensory Transmission
We just can't seem to stop talking about Sony these days. Reuters reported that the entertainment monolith has been granted a patent for transmitting sensory information directly into the brain.
Though Sony reps say the patent is more inspirational than anything, it could mean that the future of gaming might consist of smelling, tasting and touching things in a virtual environment. Fascinating concept, until when the smell of decaying corpses and acrid underground caverns are involved.
Read more on the Sony Sensory patent >
Posted by gamegal at 03:45 PM
PSP Instant Relay Chat Hack
Ever since photos of Paris Hilton holding a tiny dog and the PlayStation Portable in one hand surfaced, it's official--the PSP is the It gadget for the summer. Is Paris really taking breaks from shopping to play Metal Gear Ac!d? Or has Sony paid the mistress of bleach to appear in public with the new handheld in tow?
In the meantime, reports say that hackers have made it possible to use the PSP for instant messaging, downloadable from PSPIRC.com, joining other hacks that allow you to read ebooks, comics and watch recorded TV shows from the machine.
Read more about PSPIRC >
Posted by gamegal at 10:39 AM | Comments (0)
April 04, 2005
Win a PSP!
Our friends over at Clubplanet.com, the world's biggest nightlife website, are givign away a Sony PSP, plus a bundle of five PSP games. Pretty sweet, huh?
Check out all the details on how to enter at this link.
Posted by gamegal at 01:12 PM | Comments (22)
GameGal PSP Hands-On Impressions
Currently on GameGal -- check out our initial thoughts on the impressive Sony PSP. More gaming goodness to come, of course.
PSP Hands-On
We get our manicured paws on the Sony PSP.
Posted by gamegal at 01:09 PM | Comments (0)
Review Roundup
Some recent and not-so-recent reviews here at The Gal. In case you haven't seen them, here's a few links.
Knights of the Old Republic II
Looks and plays a lot like the original -- not that there's anything wrong with that.
Brothers in Arms
No sisters allowed in this band of brothers! Check out the latest WWII shooter.
Resident Evil 4
Even without the zombies, Resident Evil 4 is a masterwork of modern gaming technology.
Posted by gamegal at 12:43 PM | Comments (0)