Shadow

Microsoft May Stir Up Privacy Concerns With New System

A particular rumor that started floating around during the second week of February has caused some concern. This is something that wasn’t a highly discussed topic during the week and got very little exposure, but can be very chilling for anyone who uses an XBox. We will offer you the short synopsis…..

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An Insider's Look at Japan

An Insider’s Look at Japan: Akita

When most people think of Japan, they think of either the advanced super-metropolis of Tokyo, or the historical sites in areas like Nara and Kyoto. However, there’s far more than meets the eye; anyone who’s been there can tell you Japan is a pretty interesting place. There are a lot of places where old and new kind of blend and you can see a different way of life depending on where you go.

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Ashta Nightrayne

Cosplayer Spotlight #02: Natsuo Cosplay

My name is Allison, I am 21 and I live in southern Ohio. I am currently a senior computer science major in college. I started cosplaying in 2008, when I was 17 years old. I grew up loving anime, and once I got into high school, video games became a love of mine as well. A friend of mine asked me to go to Ohayocon with her, so I cosplayed because she was, and I have been cosplaying ever since!

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E3 2010

E3 2010 – Nintendo: Back in the Game

As early as the 1970s, Nintendo was already at work making a dent in the then-early age of the gaming industry with the Color TV Game series in 1977 and the development of games like Donkey Kong for arcade cabinets and Game & Watch on handhelds. However, it wasn’t until 1983 that the Nintendo Entertainment System was launched, which gave Nintendo dominance in the industry’s console and handheld wars. Although this was challenged when Sony entered the battlefield with the PlayStation in 1994 and its successor console, the PlayStation 2 in 2000, which topped Nintendo’s sales, the birth of the Wii once again gave Nintendo the edge, and they’ve held their ground ever since. Through the years, Nintendo has picked up and maintained a loyal fan base that grew up with classic characters and game series like Mario, Zelda, Donkey Kong, and Kirby.

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Drake

E3 2010: Ubisoft: Bridging Reality and Virtual Reality

At the end of day 1 at E3 2010, Ubisoft held a press conference to showcase their latest projects. They came out with what can only be described as a two prong attack on the industry, the first phase being to keep a firm hold on the market with their franchises, and the second phase to start finding new, innovative ways to integrate the latest gaming technology into people’s lives, both in interactivity and by taking gaming away from the console. From the looks of it, Ubisoft has effectively succeeded in both objectives.

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Drake

E3 2010: EA’s Bid to Reclaim Shooter Crown

One thing was clear in the EA Press Release at E3 2010: they are coming back to reclaim the shooter crown and set the bar higher than before. However, many question if it be done. Can EA topple the reigning king of the genre, Activision, with its Call of Duty Franchise? Just to give an idea of how different EA’s approaches are, let’s jump back to last year. EA was geared towards more family-oriented games such as The Sims 3 and Charm Girls Club, as well as the sports demographic with the announcement of EA Sports MMA and Fight Night 4.

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Drake

E3 2010: Microsoft Losing Focus?

First up to bat this year is Microsoft, and I must say their video left me with mixed feelings. After last year’s major announcement of Project Natal (or, as I call it, The Origins of Skynet ), I was expecting quite a few major announcements to reinforce last year’s incredible display previewing the capabilities showcased through Milo and Kate.

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State of Gaming

Sony’s Massive Apology

Sony has now officially made their apology to the consumer, and with a big price tag that’s likely to further dent their already weakened profits. To say the least, this is an apology that is long overdue… but may well lessen the chances of the class action lawsuit growing any larger than it already is. If you’re a PlayStation user, then you’ve probably already gotten the email, unless you aren’t religious about checking it. It’s time to come home, or, as Sony has put it, Welcome Back!

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