Snake Rattle and Roll

I applaud anyone who actually managed to finish this game! The aim was simple, complete each of the eleven stages without losing all segments from your snake. Simple? SIMPLE?! Not only did playing from an isometric camera angle make it almost impossible to judge distances, but there was also a time limit to each level, just to make things that much more difficult! Oh, and as if that wasn’t hard enough, each level was jam packed full of irritating little enemies that were an absolute nightmare to kill. At least the game had multi-player.

Darius II

Why Darius and not Truxton? Simply because Truxton offers you far too many power ups and the enemies can become predictable at times. On the other hand, Darius II side scrolls across levels which consist of huge obstacles and hordes of enemies that fire a barrage of bullets. Just when you think there is time to rest, you are thrown into an enormous boss battle that usually fills the screen with lasers, bullets and all kinds of destruction. This game is definitely not one for the weak.

Mega Man X2

Sure, Mega Man X2 was nowhere near as hard as the original on the NES, but that was released in the 80’s and this is a 90’s list. Mega Man X2 was by far the hardest Mega Man game of the 90’s and was of course, one of the best. Unfortunately you can’t simply use dash to get to the end of the level as enemies flood you with attacks and you’re faced with impossible situations such as a floor covered in spikes. Fortunately you are given enough abilities to slowly but surely make your way through this death trap of a game.

Altered Beast

Yes, this game was technically created in the 80’s, but it didn’t move to the Genesis/Mega-Drive platform until the 90’s so it has just about managed to make its way onto this list of doom. Why Altered Beast you ask? Well, it has no continues! It’s short, it’s hard and 9 times out of 10 folks will lose all of their lives by the third stage. As it is quite a slow moving game, it can be quite hard to maneuver around enemies and a lot of cheap deaths can and will occur. Fortunately it has awesome music and therefore no matter how frustrating it can be, you will always find yourself coming back for more!

Super Thunder Blade

Has anyone ever actually beaten this game without the use of save states? You essentially take control of a military helicopter and try your absolute best to avoid obstacles coming towards you. This is done whilst taking out enemies that are bombarding you will flares, bullets, rockets and anything else they can throw at you. Think of it as an impossible Space Harrier game.

This is a guest post written by Simon Parry. Simon is a writer for Liberty Games, an arcade machine and games room equipment retailer.

The red birds being the main character are the loveliest one. You will get three red birds in first level which you have to fling in the cardinal to break the wooden beam or the glass beam. Before leaving the sling you have to focus well on the target to get maximum scores. As you leave your first slingshot another red bird pops up and sit on it ready to be flung. Make sure that you target well and cross the level one with the given three red birds. Otherwise your game will be over in the first level only. Remember that the slingshot do not work on the stone planks. If your target is appropriate it may topple the wooden plank and create an opening to enter and bang off the pigs.

The blue birds mainly break the glass planks and you can split it into three smaller birds just by tapping on the screen. Next is the white bird, it is pretty more useful. This bird is comparatively bigger in size and when you tap on the screen it will drop an egg on the target. Next and the most destructive bird is the black bird, it is also termed as the bomber bird. It can plow through all structures and moreover is you detonate it, you can bring even bigger explosions.

Green bird and the cuckoo bird are good enough but do not serve much. Green bird is referred as the boomerang bird which can be shot both in forward as well as in reverse.The villains in the game are the pigs. Green pigs take just one shot to knock off but the Jumbo pigs takes 3 shots. The most difficult one to eradicate is the army pig. After each bang on hit you get a black eye and thus you get closer to the triumph. Along with the pigs there are some macaws and monkeys which are easily knocked off with a few hits.

After each stage you get three stars, though you can move forward even if you get one star. The game includes many more adventurous secrets and fun elements. The growing popularity of Angry Birds can be seen all around the world. Below are the ten best examples showing the popularity of Angry Birds and depicts that this great games is not just a mobile game but bigger than that :

1. Angry Birds iPhone Cases- These cases will make your iPhone absolutely chic, happening and stylish.

2. Angry bird necklace- This angry birdís jewelry collection is the first choice of the youngsters and will make your attire look cool.

3. Angry birds iPad cases- What else can be more interesting and stylish cover for your iPad other than these angry bird cases.

4. Angry bird key rings- Your bike or car keys with the angry birds keyrings hanging in your back pocket will attract everyoneís attention.

5. Angry birds masks- when you will wear these stunning angry birds masks in the costume party, you will certainly be the center of attraction in the whole party.

6. Angry bird school bag- Cool and stylish angry birds school bag will definitely make your little one feel happy.

7. Angry birds cake icing- this would be a wonderful surprise on your little ones birthday with the angry birds icing on his/her birthday cake.

8. Angry bird doll- This would be a lovely gift for a little one especially if he/she loves play angry birds online.

9. Angry birds speaker- Cool hip hop music coming out from the angry birds speaker will make your party more modish.

10. Angry birds earphones- This is the coolest angry bird accessory o have ever seen. This modish set of ear phones is exquisite.

Jennifer is a geek from Canada, and can often be found researching Marcellus drilling sites. Other times you can find her doing art work in a museum. She’s a true geek and professional designer.

Zombies, Run!

No one can deny that Kickstarter is a great place to discover all sorts of cool stuff, and what I came across today is simply more proof. Zombies, Run! is a video game project being developed in the UK by Six to Start and Naomi Alderman. It is an iOS and Android app that is all about, well, zombies!

With all the hype about zombies, I have heard of some people who simply have had enough of the undead. However, I do believe that there are still more who just can’t get enough of anything zombie-related. From movies to books to art to games – zombies have this special attraction that gets people of all ages hooked.

Now more about Zombies, Run! What makes it different from all the other zombie games out there? Well you know how the running fever is spreading all over the world? Zombies, Run! is the perfect mix for runners and zombie lovers. Even if you’re not a runner, you just might get converted to this fitness activity if you love zombies.

The point of the game is to get players to put on their fitness clothing – no special gear required – and hit the road, all the while playing a game where zombies are out to get you. It’s not all about running flat out, but it is also about avoiding zombies in the area, picking up medical kits and other supplies necessary for survival.

More than the fun, you also get to monitor vital details about your real-life run such as speed, distance, and calories burned. As the creators of the game say, Zombies, Run! is a story, game, and fitness app all in one nifty package.

Here’s where you come in. The app has not yet been fully developed. That’s why it is on Kickstarter – to get support from the community. As with all other Kickstarter projects, there are different levels of support that one can give, each with a corresponding perk. You can always go for the $1 level, but all that will get you in this case is being named a survivor in the game credits. Go higher and you’ll get more. Check out Zombies, Run! on Kickstarter and see if you like it.

In any case, if you are still one of those of who have an Angry Birds addiction, then you will find this infographic rather interesting. Personally, I do have a soft spot for the birds and the pigs, but I haven’t really played the game in a long time. Maybe finding it a tad difficult for my skills is a huge reason. ;)

The infographic was created by Ask Your Target Market, a market research company. Much of the data found in the infographic is not surprising. Some information may not even be new. There are a couple of things that did get my attention, though.

• People actually admit to having Angry Birds addiction, and 12% of those have deleted the app from their device to “cure” the addiction. Another 12% have considered deleting the app to solve the problem but have never gotten around to doing so.
• According to the infographic, the physics of Angry Birds is real. It’s what you would expect in real life. I beg to disagree. I know I have been labeled as sucking at applied physics, but really, Angry Birds defies the laws of physics in more ways than one!
• If you are single, you are more likely to feel sad or angry after playing Angry Birds. I am sorry, I can’t help but think that there is more to the equation than playing the game!

For more straightforward details (numbers on sales, minutes/hours played in total, etc.), check out the infographic below.

Infographic by: AYTM Market Research

So do you still have an Angry Birds addiction? I think I have moved on to another social game, which I shall not name lest I get rotten fruits and vegetables thrown at me.

Upon reflection, 5 Minutes to Kill Yourself: Airport Edition is pretty close to the realities of airport check in sequences. Long lines, bad food, and umm… machine gun nests are some of the staples of your typical airport impediments that want to get you killed.

Surprisingly, there are absolutely no TSA pat-down references.

For the unfamiliar, the “5 Minutes to Kill Yourself” series is a franchise of flash games from Adult Swim where the main goal is to inflict as much damage to your toon as possible, killing yourself within 5 minutes.

The first version was set in an office; killing yourself with paper cutters, staplers, and copying machines was way too much fun. In this second iteration, you have access to the complete safety hazards of your typical airport check-in.

I love it because it’s a quick fix to displacing stress, done in 5 minutes or less (Muting the in-game music makes it perfect for work cubicle play). If you manage to kill yourself in 5 minutes, you’re rewarded with achievements that challenge you to end your life quicker, with more variety.

If you lack the elegance and nonchalance in creatively ending your life, that’s fine. You’ll manage to pretty much get yourself killed between 4 to 5 minutes by repeatedly touching live electrical wires and puking on bad food. But you can also opt to be more creative with the variety of killing yourself by combining items (wow, it’s an RPG!) and thus getting more damage per action. I never thought that getting electrocuted by a terminal billboard only deducts 6 life. Who is this man and why is he so resilient?

Pros
Quick fix for letting out stress with a 5 minute timer
It’s hella funny
Did anyone say Achievements?
Mute option for office play
Same killer soundtrack from the previous version

Cons
Not as fun as the first “5 Minutes to Kill Yourself” episode
Killing sequences can get rather repetitive

Bottomline
It’s a definite bookmark on my browser. Although not as funny as the first episode, “5 Minutes to Kill Yourself: Airport Edition” is still one of Adult Swim’s more noticeable and original titles, up there with Robot Unicorn Attack.

You can’t possibly question it. Army of Darkness was one of my favorite cult classics. So when we discovered that Army of Darkness Defense was available on FREE TO DOWNLOAD for a limited time (as of this writing it still is!), there was no question about it: It was my turn to defend the Necronomicon.

You star as Bruce Campbell’s most memorable B film character — the time traveling Ash — department store salesman brought back to a medieval age to help the humans defend their castle against the evil Deadite constructs. The Army of Darkness franchise is very much alive making its first crossover in Marvel Comics. This time, it’s Backflip Studio’s turn to churn out a game.

Army of Darkness Defense is a side scrolling defense game. The objective is simple: defend the Necronomicon (a powerful book that can help bring back Ash to the present time) from the Deadites that push their way forward into the castle gates. You play Ash and automatically fire your boom stick when near an enemy. At melee range you use your fists (upgradable to the chainsaw) to push back enemies. You also have the ability to summon help from the castle’s guards through the blacksmith and the power to harness magical and support abilities such as the Wrong Book and the Deathcoaster.

The in game references in Army of Darkness are spot on. Backflip Studios were huge fans, to be sure. This is the scene of the Wrong Book.

As you progress through wave after wave (50 in total), you gain the ability to upgrade and unlock more units. The strategy is deeply involving albeit repetitive after about halfway into the game but considering that the game is free with heartfelt production value, you will forgive some of the repetitiveness.

Backflip Studios did an amazing job with the soundtrack and voice overs, putting in all of the famous quotes (“This is my BOOMSTICK!”) from Ash and the Deadites.

Bottomline
Army of Darkness Defense is 100% worth it. Not just because the game is well-made but simply because it’s also free to download from the iTunes Store. You can’t get a better deal than this!

Download Now (opens iTunes Link)

I love these small games. It definitely brings back the days of point and click retrofit with titles like Maniac Mansion and Zack McKracken. Ben There, Dan That and Time Gentlemen, Please! are now on sale. Guys the game is almost free. It will set you back USD $1.25 from an original USD $4.99.

This promo is on a very limited run and perhaps even by the time you read this, the price will be back up to USD $4.99. But that’s still a steal for one of the craziest adventures I’ve played in a while.

Download it now!

Rubik’s Cube.  A  puzzle created in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of Ernő Rubik.  The multi-colored brick has been purchased more than 350 million times since its release, making it the world’s best-selling puzzle game and one of the world’s most popular toys.

Rubik’s Cube is a difficult puzzle to solve.  Despite giving it my best, rarely (once) have I been successful in defeating the little devil toy.   Even when provided with a guide to aid one in solving the puzzle, it remains vexing.

Attempting to demonstrate the superiority of robots (what other explanation could there be?), students at Swinburne University of Technology have created what they believe to be the world’s fastest Rubik’s Cube-solving robot.  The cleverly named robot, “Ruby,” can complete a Rubik’s Cube in a little more than 10 seconds.

Professor Chris Pilgrim, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies describes how Ruby works,

“Ruby works by scanning each face of a scrambled cube through a web cam.  It then uses a software algorithm to develop a solution which is fed to the high-speed robot through a real-time embedded control system. The students’ combined expertise in robotics and software engineering enabled them to construct a robot with a fast computer vision-tracking system capable of very high precision movements and timings.”

While claiming Ruby is the Rubik’s Cube robot Queen, the 10 second record remains unofficial. However, the students behind the project are attempting to have Ruby’s speed deemed a Guinness World Record.  The world’s fastest Rubik’s Cube solving robot, the Cubinator, was able to solve a scrambled Rubik’s Cube in 18.2 seconds, which remains the current standard for robots.

Unfortunately the speed of Ruby is sloth-like slow in comparison to the world record for a human.  Currently the fast single time on a 3×3×3 Rubik’s Cube is held by Feliks Zemdegs with a time of 6.24 seconds.

Have you tried to solve a Rubik’s Cube?  Do you consider yourself a Rubik’s Cube savant or does the little brick baffle you?

Techspot

The guys at io9 have the perfect solution for situations like the one described above – drinking games based on notable sci-fi themes. Just like them, I am going to say outright that I am not promoting irresponsible drinking. ;)

Remember guys, it’s not all about the alcohol – it’s the theme behind the game. So here are my top picks from their list.

Tron Loko

How to play? Simple instructions from the article:

For three or more players. Pop in a copy of Tron or Tron Legacy. Players must drink Four Loko (or Joose or Mad Dog 20/20 or Cisco or whatever neon-hued alcopop doesn’t make you retch) whenever a character…

1.) Derezzes.
2.) Boards some form of vehicular transport.
3.) Volleys back a disc.
4.) Drinks some digital liquid at The End of Line Club (Tron Legacy only).

If you don’t drink alcopop, make your own brightly colored drink. I choose strawberry or blue margaritas! (This might mean taking a only couple of sips each time instead of downing the entire glass, though.)

Hello, Sarah Connor?

This game is only for those who are feeling really silly and are willing to take the risk of getting in trouble. It is highly recommended that you play this game only if you are already buzzed. Or maybe you shouldn’t play it at all. Instructions:

For three or more players. Every player starts with a beer. Open the yellow pages and call each and every John Connor, Sarah Connor, Kyle Reese, Edward Furlong, or Marcus Wright on speakerphone while speaking in a Styrian accent. Keep them on the line while reading verbatim from a 1991 Radio Shack catalogue. For every 20 seconds you keep them on the line, do not drink 1/4 of your beer.

I understand that you might not have a 1991 Radio Shack catalogue lying around, but I am sure you can find a good enough alternative. Now I have a feeling that customer service agents or outbound sales agents will trump everyone else in this game!

Are you a Cylon?

Hands down the winner in the list. To play the game, you must first know how to play Handshake/Wink Murder. Introducing the Cylon element just makes it all the more interesting:

For 6 or more players. This is more or less a standard game of handshake murder but with several exceptions.

First off, everyone carries a coffee mug full of their favorite hooch, Saul Tigh-style. Second, whenever you “die,” you must pound whatever’s in your cup. Finally, if you have slept with the person who’s revealed to be “the Cylon,” you must slug another cup.

More than playing Cylons, the fact that you can have whatever drink you prefer makes this the perfect party game.

Anyone up for some drinks this weekend?

The game is held in college campuses – over 200 of them in the US. There are also some universities in Brazil, Denmark, Australia, England, and Canada which hosts the game. It has become so popular that the game is also now being played in high schools, military bases, and even libraries! The idea was born in 2005 at Groucher College. The (human) brains behind the game are Brad Sappington and Chris Weed.

The premise of the game is this:

Humans vs. Zombies is a game of tag. All players begin as humans, and one is randomly chosen to be the “Original Zombie.” The Original Zombie tags human players and turns them into zombies. The zombies must tag and “feed” on a human every 48 hours or he starves to death and is out of the game.

So yes, basically, HvZ is a game of tag with a twist. For zombie enthusiasts, tag just got so much better!

The game ends when either of these two conditions are met:

1. All humans have been turned into zombies
2. The zombies starve (no humans are tagged within 48 hours) and the humans survive

Of course, people need some gear in order to play. The requisites are:

1. A bandana
2. A foam dart blaster and/or socks
3. A 3×5 index card

There are detailed rules and regulations governing the game, and they ensure the safety of the players – as well as people who don’t care to participate. Anyone can play the game – as long as it is organized well. If you are interested in hosting your own Humans vs. Zombies, you can get the Dungeon Master’s Guide.

I don’t know about you, but discovering the game kind of makes me want to go back to college. NOT!

Photo via Curtis Cronn

There is no way that one can ignore the popularity of the game Angry Birds. Even people who would never touch a gaming console under normal circumstances have been caught in the Angry Birds hype. The popularity of the game has reached such heights that we’ve seen the likes of Angry Zombie Birds and Angry Birds birthday cakes.

Have you ever wondered what makes this simple game so successful?  Me, I just go ahead and play – or at least try to; oftentimes those green pigs just make me angrier than the birds!  Charles L. Mauro went one step further than wondering.  He decided to do a cognitive analysis of the game, in an effort to figure out the secret to its success.

In an extensive report, he shares his findings. He starts with some questions.

Why is it that over 50 million individuals have downloaded this simple game? More compelling is the fact that not only do huge numbers download this game, they play it with such focus that the total number of hours consumed by Angry Birds players world-wide is roughly 200 million minutes a DAY, which translates into 1.2 billion hours a year.

If you are one of these 50 million individuals – and I am pretty sure you are – you probably have answers popping up in your mind right now. Here are the answers – albeit in a very simplified version.

• Simple yet engaging interaction concept
• Cleverly managed response time – Mauro points out that the relatively slow movement of the birds, the slow death (sometimes) of the pigs, and the slow (sometimes) collapse of the structures gives the user time to think and reflect on his strategy and what adjustments he has to make.
• Short-term memory management – the game supposedly helps us manage our short-term memory better.  How so?  One example is the ability to scroll the screen to show the structure that you need to break down.  Even better, you can re-size your view so that you can see everything on the screen.
• Mystery – the mystery in the game includes the random items included in the various levels.  Some have bananas, some have watermelons, etc.  These little details have no logical explanation, and they add to the attractiveness of the game.
• How things sound – no need to go further: just think about the sounds the birds and the pigs make.  Now tell me these sounds don’t stick with you even when you are not playing the game?
• How things look – again, the graphics are totally cute; who does not recognize those birds and pigs?  And who does not feel an affinity for them?

His conclusion?

“…in the context of Angry Birds, success is bound up in slowing down that which could be fast, erasing that which is easily renewable, and making visual that which is mysterious and memorable.”

Read the entire analysis at Mauro New Media. It’s rather interesting, but I’m content with the fact that I love playing the game.  I’m going back to conquering the St. Patrick’s Day version.

Image via The Next Web

Chess, in its present form, originates from the second half of the 15th century, and features two players huddled over a chessboard with sixty-four squares in an eight by eight grid.

At the outset of a chess match, each player has sixteen pieces at their disposal: one king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns. The object of the game is to checkmate the opponent’s king, meaning there is no way for the checkmated player to move or defend their king from an attack on the next move.

The game is, to say the least, difficult if you’re a dolt, or even remotely intelligent, given that theoreticians have developed extensive chess strategies and tactics, the vast majority of which I can neither name, nor implement, in a match.

To make chess more interesting, Jonathan W. Stokes, states the following:

“One can’t help but notice that algebraic chess notation maps almost perfectly to scientific pitch notation…”

Kudos to Stokes, because I’ve never noticed, nor given any thought to his idea.  That said, unlike chess, I do understand music.

Spurned by this notion, Stokes sets about proving his point that chess and music go together in perfect harmony (yes, I went there):

“The eight columns of a chess board correspond to the eight audible octaves.  E.g., C4 is a middle square on the chess board and C4 is “middle C” on the piano… We’ll simply use the Northern European system of musical notation, where an “H” indicates a B Natural, and a “B” indicates a B flat.  This is the notation that composers from Schumann to Lizst used to sign the name “B-A-C-H” into their music (see BACH motif).”

Now that we’ve established Stokes’s fascination with the relationship between chess and music, here are two MP3′s he created to prove his hypothesis:

1. In “The Immortal Game (June 21 1851)” Adolf Anderssen gave up both rooks, a bishop, and ultimately his queen, in order to checkmate Lionel Kieseritzky using only his three remaining minor pieces – a bishop and two knights. - LISTEN TO THE MP3: The Immortal Game
2. At the World Chess Championship 1972, Game 6, Bobby Fischer beats Boris Spassky using an agressive queenside attack. Spassky not only applauded Fischer, but called it the best game in the match. LISTEN TO THE MP3: Bobby Fischer 1972

The music and inspiration behind the MP3s are impressive.  Visually, the connection between chess and music is even more impressive, as evidenced by a video created by Stokes where he translates Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” into a chess game.

Are you a chess player?  How would you rank yourself (bad, average, great)?  Did the music-chess relationship ever occur to you?

Beer Pong.  If you enjoy the taste of beer, have some plastic cups and some ping pong balls, it’s no doubt the game for you.  

Wikipedia defines Beer Pong as:

“Beer pong, also known as Beirut, is a drinking game in which players throw a ping pong ball across a table with the intent of landing the ball in a cup of beer/water on the other end. The game typically consists of two two-to-four-player teams and multiple cups set up, in triangle formation, on each side.   There are no official rules, so rules may vary widely, though usually there are six or ten plastic cups arranged in a triangle on each side.”

Simple to play with few materials required, but strictly for adults, until now.

Cuponk, a game which requires players to bounce ping pong balls into plastic cups is similar to Beer Pong, only lacking the beer aspect.

Created by Hasbro, the game uses $14.99 battery-powered cups which come with their own ping pong balls.

How does one play Cuponk?  Simple, bounce the ball off of one’s chosen surface and into the cup.  If successful the cup will light up and play noises.  No points are awarded, only bragging rights for the player creating the most creative successful shot.

Unbeknownst to yours truly, the game is quite popular and YouTube videos abound with Cuponk players making super neat shots.

If you’re a fan of Cuponk, good news.  According to Forbes,

“Hasbro will soon release a “top of the line” game set: The Cuponk “Le Flush Royale” edition. At $24.99, one receives a custom, gold-colored cup which plays several noises when you score (including a toilet flushing sound); a detachable lid, used for storage or as a backboard; six balls; a handful of stickers; and a headband embroidered with the Cuponk logo.”

Pretty awesome.

Are you a Cuponk player?  Do you have any videos of insanely sweet shots you’ve pulled off?

Now this is all very flashy and impressive with first person shooters, because FPS are pretty much what’s hot in new releases these days. So, the litmus test for a gaming machine would have to be how well it performs in FPS action.

But I’m not such a big fan of FPS. I can tolerate them. Heck, I even loved them once upon a time. But nowadays I find myself pining more and more for the golden era of RPGs – when compelling stories were told without the need to go all MMORPG instead of a plain old, good clean fun single player campaign.

It truly is increasingly difficult to find a good single player RPG because of the jungle of MMORPGs one must hack a path through along the way. There are some pretty MMORPG worlds out there, and indeed, some have quite addicting gameplay. But if you’re looking for the RPG aspect one would expect to find in most massively multiplayer roleplaying games, you’re more or less stuffed. MMORPGs are more about bashing NPCs and randomly engaging in mindless PK than actually roleplaying, or making roleplay-oriented, strategic decisions.

So what am I doing? I’m moving backwards in time. Beginning with Oblivion, and traveling all the way back to the Might and Magic days, I’m actually stepping so far back in time that my machine’s amazing specs are completely wasted. All because I can’t find a decent RPG that’s not overrun with 12 year old hack n’ slash aficionados, as too many MMORPGs seem to be.

Thus I am posing a question to you, as someone who’s more than likely been around the gaming block. What good quality RPGs do you recommend? What’s the most eye-catching? What has a gripping story? What will simultaneously take advantage of my machine’s 100% pure grade A win and provide an old fashioned RPG thrill? Is there such thing as a freshly-released RPG that’s not a MMORPG?

Suggestions will be deeply appreciated. Please, help give my gaming machine a reason to live.

The view the complete analysis of Zynga, an infographic created by Infographiclabs, head over to The Blog Herald.

Are you the type who can’t enough of coffee tables?  I shouldn’t really be talking about new coffee table options – I am actually getting rid of the stuff I have now as I won’t have space for furniture in the near future, but this coffee table from Surface Tension is too good not to share.  Dubbed the Arcane Arcade Coffee Table, this beauty can be made according to your own unique preferences.

It can function as a “real” coffee table, of course, so anyone can justify the purchase (well, maybe).  The kicker comes in the gaming functions.  Get ready…

Let’s start with the surface – it’s made of toughened glass, but that’s only so that the LCD display underneath will be protected.  You can choose between the 19-inch screen or the 26-inch one.  With the screen underneath the table’s surface, it is but understandable that you might not want to put anything on top of of it.

It doesn’t end there, though.  The table comes with a standard computer:

• Intel® Pentium Dual Core CPU
• 500GB hard disk
• 802.11g wireless network adaptor
• 2GB Ram
• DVD/CD-RW drive

In terms of software, this is what you get with the standard package:

• Powered by Powered by Windows 7 Home Premium
• GameEx intuitive front-end
• Apple iTunes jukebox
• Taito Legends 1&2, Midway Arcade treasures Deluxe and Atari Anniversary Edition
• MAME™ compatible retro-gaming platform
• Firefox web browser

If you want something more powerful, you can always choose to upgrade.  Alternatively, you can retro-fit the whole thing – at the expense of the above.  For this retro-fit option, you’ll have to forget all of the above in exchange for:

• 19″ LCD TFT 178° x 178° viewing angle
• RJ45 Ethernet 10/100Mb connector
• HDMI output
• 2 USB 2.0/1.1extension ports for plug & play capability
• 2 x 30W amplifier with unique discreet speaker design
• Sanwa joysticks
• Happ illuminated Trackball
• Ultimarc arcade spinner
• Programmable keyboard encoder

If you still have other custom features that you want, you just need to mention it. *Drool*

Now on to the practical stuff – how much is this going to cost?  Tables start at £2,599 (about $4,000) including VAT and delivery.  At least the delivery’s “free”! (Yeah like that’s gonna make a big difference.)

As I stare at the empty spot where my now-defunct NES collection used to be, I’m unable to concentrate on much else than the games that carried me through my childhood. So after laboring much on the selection process, I present to you the 5 NES games I mourn most.

5. Metroid
There was something definitely dark about this game, and I don’t mean the fact that most of it was set in a stark space setting. Metroid itself was something of a sinister and scary title for a child, as I was when I spent hours playing it, and that kept it all the more interesting. (I suspect my love of Metroid gave rise to my adoration of horror movies. The same impetus that drives me to watch scary stuff even if it’s from behind a pillow or through my fingers kept me playing this game even when it pretty well creeped me out.) Maybe it was the cold and forbidding space suit on the heroine. Maybe it was the creepy crawly alien enemies. Or maybe I was just a wimp. Whatever the reason, I miss Metroid as a fun little thrill ride.

Jog your memory: Metroid told the tale of a female bounty hunter whose aim it was to stop the Space Pirates from utilizing the powers of various life forms, including the species Metroids. The game took place primarily underground, hence the dark atmosphere. Its story had a distinctive science fiction slant.

4. Mega Man
Whichever version of Mega Man I was playing at any given time, I was loving every second of it. Mega Man is arguably best known and most revered for its colorful cast of characters, and that’s certainly why I adore it. I think that if the grown up me was subjected to Mega Man‘s soundtrack for as many hours as the child me endured, I’d probably end up in a padded cell. But not even the manic music could detract from the epic Mega Man experience. Mega Man, in my mind, earned a place on this brief list due to extraordinary merit – considering it beat other favorites like A Boy and His Blob, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Castlevania, and Bubble Bobble.

Jog your memory: This 2D side-scrolling gem centered around a butt-kicking robotic hero with an arm-mounted cannon, i.e. Mega Man. As Mega Man defeated bosses he assumed their powers, which came in themes like the four elements or weaponry such as napalm. In the end, Mega Man confronted Dr. Wily, the man at fault for the level bosses’ acts of destruction.

3. Final Fantasy
Oh, how it pained me to have to decide between Final Fantasy and Ultima for RPG love affair of my childhood – and really, of my entire life – but in the end, Final Fantasy’s staying power is undeniable. And I don’t mean just because the title’s up to about its billionth edition, but because the first installments of the Final Fantasy tale, with their legendary bouncy sprites, simply measure up to some of the greatest games ever created.

Jog your memory: Four young warriors, the Light Warriors, looked to defeat four enemies called Elemental Fiends in order to restore light to the elemental orbs that each of the Light Warriors carried. The ultimate goal, now predictable to any fan of the series, was to save the world.

2. Super Mario Bros.
Duh duh duh duh duh duh! Duh. See? Even in text the opening notes of the Super Mario Bros. theme song trigger our collective memory. (Well, they trigger memories for the obsessed.) Who can forget Mario and Luigi, the lovable Italian brothers, who gallantly fought through level after level of rather repetitive themes to rescue Princess Toadstool (later Peach) from Bowser? Although in the original Luigi was only playable in multiplayer mode, the pair made a serious impact on pop culture and have spawned a veritable dynasty, as well they should. For me, this game was the perfect marriage of challenge and silliness. It certainly tested my youthful skills, but the plot and the graphics were far-fetched enough that escapism might as well have been Mario and Luigi’s last name. Super Mario Bros. sucked me in from start to finish.

Jog your memory: Mario and Luigi traversed a not-so-diverse series of terrains that included outer worlds and underworlds. At the end of each progressively more difficult underworld and mini-Bowser boss battle, they were informed they’d stormed the wrong castle. Oops.

1. The Legend of Zelda
Ah…the sweet sound of the Zelda theme song can send me to my happy place. (In fact, I had it as my ringtone for quite some time.) At heart, it’s another damsel in distress game, so common to the NES platform. But its soul is a thing of beauty. Perky graphics and catchy music and sound effects – yes, even that annoying fairy – made Zelda the stuff of memories. Occasionally tricky but endlessly entertaining game play made Zelda the stuff of legends. No matter how many Zelda titles have followed across countless gaming systems, the original Zelda remains the jewel in the franchise’s crown. R.I.P. my weathered Zelda cartridge. You will be remembered often and fondly.

Jog your memory: The Legend of Zelda was the tale of the brave adventurer Link, who set off on a series of harrowing quests to rescue Princess Zelda from the antagonist, Ganon. In order to accomplish this Link had to collect eight pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom from various underworlds.

So as I bid adieu to my NES I ask, which Nintendo games captured your heart and an unhealthy portion of your life? Leave a comment & deepen my Nintendo nostalgia – nay, my NEStalgia. Go on, I can take the pain.

Also check out: Get Nintendo classic games on your keyring

Before anything else, Portal is now out for the Macintosh via Steam. Yes folks, after more than six years, the gaming industry has finally recognized OS X as a viable gaming platform. Even if it’s just for Plants vs Zombies.

I’ve been on Steam since 2004 and only because that was the easiest way I could download Half Life 2 without ever leaving the house. As Internet got better through the years, the discless distribution method became a pillar of PC gaming. For a select few who owned Macs though, it presented a slight inconvenience. I feel a bit duped knowing that I own Plants vs. Zombies for the Mac, PC and iPhone platforms, yet it would have been easier to do a Blizzard and make games cross-platform compatible.

Above is the new Steam application made especially for the Macintosh. Steam had barely changed throughout the years and this up to date Web 2.0 look for the Mac is refreshing. A short walkthrough: on the left side of the window is the scrolling menu of all your games whether or not you have them for a specific platform. In my case, these are ALL PC games. The surprise is that a lot of indie game developers have already made some of their titles Mac compatible outside Steam. Some games will contain a download link to the Macintosh version. In my case I was able to download the OS X versions of World of Goo and Braid, both of which I bought last year. As of late, other titles that are dual OS compatible are Torchlight, Zuma Deluxe and well .. you get the picture. Casual games.

Although the changes are mostly aesthetic, it does make the catalog browsing experience a lot easier to manage. When purchasing a game, it shows you who else in your friends list owns it. Scroll down and you get patch and community updates, and your achievements list. All Steam did really was rearrange everything and skin each game in accordance to a background splash poster.

This update is all about Mac compatibility. The aesthetic bells and whistles on the Steam site and the desktop client hitched a ride aboard the long delayed revamp bus. Not revolutionary, but damn about time!

That’s it. If you’re on a Mac, download Portal for free now!

(Video is mildly NSFW)

I’m not sure when I first discovered it, but someone introduced me to Zero Punctuation and I’ve been following it ever since. Every Wednesday, Ben “Yahtzee” Croshaw posts up a new animated short reviewing a video game. These fall under the “NSFW” category most of the time, but it’s the way Yahtzee picks apart these games that makes it so enjoyable.

First, there’s the accent and speed of the clips. He’s from Australia, but his accent isn’t very heavy so it’s still pretty understandable all the way through. Then he speeds up his voice when recording – hence the name Zero Punctuation – which gives the video a sense of urgency. Ultimately though, Yahtzee touches on the main problems with games in general, and really gets to the source of the matter. He doesn’t just play these games for 5 minutes and write a review, he plays them for hours – sometimes until he beats them – and then passes judgement.

Take the review above for example, for Batman: Arkham Asylum (mildly NSFW). He says very clearly that he loves the game, but he’s not just going to kiss butt like everyone else. Instead, he takes the things that he takes issues with, and makes fun of them. But it’s all done very constructively in a manner that not only makes you laugh, but also is done to make games better as a whole.

See, Yahtzee is a game developer himself, and he just wants to play good video games. By pointing out the good ones and slamming the bad ones, he’s working towards making a better gaming industry for all of us. Plus he does it with colorful cartoon characters and wit. Fact is, this is one site I visit every Wednesday, and every time I do, I never leave disappointed. Give it a shot.

Campaign maps

• Chapter One – Shaun’s Pad
  Players start in the shed (found in shaun’s backyard), equiped with Left 4 Dead’s First Teir weapons, and they must work their way through shauns house, onto the street, and through the neighborhood to the backroom of the Corner shop.
• Chapter Two – Mum’s House
  Players start in the backroom of the cornershop, and must work their way to Shaun’s Mum’s House, where the map ends.
• Chapter Three – Lizz’s Flat
  Players start in Mum’s House, and must work their way to Lizz’s Flat (expect some trouble’s along the way) where they enter the backside of the building and take saftey inside Lizz’s Flat (Appartment).
• Chapter Four – To the Winchester
  Players start in Lizz’s Flat (Appartment) and must work their way outside, then through some tuff situations and onto the Winchester, where they find saftey in the backroom (or so they think…).
• Chapter Five – Survive the Winchester
  Players start in the backroom of the Winchester Pub, and must survive inside long enough for the power to come on (allowing them to use the lift found in the cellar), as well as wait long enough for the APC to arrive (Upon exiting the Lift).

Left4Winchester.

Until then, all we got is the Youtube preview video of awesome C64 classic such as Bruce Lee and International Karate. When finally accepted, the C64 will come with 5 games included: Dragons Den, Le Mans, Jupiter Lander, Arctic Shipwreck and Jack Attack and more will be available.

Via Gametrailers.

I wonder how many more kids would have come to chess club at school if they’d been able to eat the pieces at the end of the game?

Actually, scratch that — they’d probably just eat the pieces mid-game.

Here are some chocolate chess pieces which come in a tube that transforms into the board itself. Apparently inspired by folklore, when a Croatian and Italian king play chess with prizes of islands off the Croatian coast, this is a set you can only play one game with before having to buy another one. Best not to play it at the height of summer either.

Designed by Key Design, I’m not sure whether this is just a concept or whether you can get hold of sets. Might be too much of a temptation anyway.

More pictures after the jump.

Complete set at Flickr.