Hey, kids!  Bored this weekend?  Got a PC handy?  If so, you may be interested to know Lost Planet: Extreme Conditions is available on Steam for $5.  This is a great prce for this game, and it’s definitely worth a shot at $5 dollars.   Give it a go, and leave some feedback if you like (or despise) the game!

[Shamelessly lifted from CheapAssGamer]

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In Japan, a few companies are completing design work on Wii games that I would like to play.  If you have not heard of The Sky Crawlers, Tatsunoko vs. Capcom, and Fragile: Farewell Ruins of the Moon, you should check them out, as they would help to expand the Wii lineup further into genres mostly unexplored on this console.

Wii owners do not get to play a lot of the games that Japan gets to play.  I fully realize that Nintendo and their partners cannot afford to publish some of their more niche games in all regions of the globe.  After all, audiences around the world have very differing tastes, and it would not be fiscally prudent, economically expedient, monetarily advisable, financially provident, pecuniarily politic to localize certain properties for countries where they would likely be unpopular.

I think these Wii games would be popular. Read more

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If you can see this post, then feel privleged to feast your eyes on MEGATONik with faster hosting and a sexy new system administrator.

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Omigodomigomigodomigod! *ahem*…So, anybody a Mass Effect fan? I mean, I dabble. Played through it once or twice…then 18 more times. Oh lordy, I’ve got the sickness!

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On paper, flower sounds like an interesting diversion—more of a tech demo than a game. But seeing the game in motion was enough to convince me that I wanted to try it, and I did enjoy thatgamecompany’s last game, the PSN-exclusive flOw. Until release, all that had been shown of the game were idyllic meadows full of flowers, stately wind turbines, and meandering valleys. But, as you play through this masterpiece’s six levels, a narrative emerges. I say this without hyperbole and after nearly a week to consider it—Flower the most emotionally powerful game I’ve ever played, on the PS3 or anywhere else. If you own a PS3, I would recommend skipping my review and experience it for yourself. As in all games, knowing what happens diminishes the effect, and never has that been more apparent to me than it was when I was playing through flower without any idea what was in store for me.

As a final warning: spoilers ahead.

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Get ready, America! Nintendo is getting ready to shove another iteration of their stupid-popular handheld down your already-stuffed gullet come April 5th. Retailing for $169.99, the DSi will include two 0.3 megapixel cameras, better speakers, flash card support, and a complete absence of a GBA slot.

The question is, do we really need this?
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Welcome to another Weekly Emanata, the MEGATONik review of comics. As these are a combination of readerly reaction and critical examination, expect spoilers. I’m going to write as if you, the reader, has some passing knowledge of comics, but feel free to post questions in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer.

Batman #686
written by Neil Gaiman
pencilled by Andy Kubert

Well, here’s a Neil Gaiman story. There are a few things to talk about, I guess. First of all, Adam Kubert is brought front-and-center again, and he certainly has great moments, but he also has very boring moments, and I’ve never understood why he’s been so highly regarded. He tells a clean story, sure, which is a skill that a lot of “hot” artists lack, but I find a lot of his stuff… boring.

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For those of you seeking a cathartic outlet (but do not wish to provide input of your own, as with many video games), Battle Royale is immersed in violence.  What makes this film notable is that it is marked by extra elements that elevate the production above the garish, one-dimensional slash-fests like The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Hostel.

A brief statement: I think that when it is presented correctly, ultraviolence can be interesting.

Works of fiction where large percentages of the cast are killed do not often have a greater meaning—there’s no point beyond the simple execution of violent acts.  I believe that this is the reason that such productions, like the Final Destination series, are hardly ever critically acclaimed.

I recently saw a film that actually provided a cake of narrative substance to go along with the frosting that is ultraviolence—that is, interesting entertainment values that elevate the films beyond the standard fare.  Battle Royale, a 2000 adaptation of a wildly popular and controversial novel, was engrossing for complex reasons. Read more

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It happens every year. Valentine’s rolls around and there you are, wondering if anybody’s thinking about you but too shy to actually ask. So instead, you spend the whole day in your underwear surfing the internet and watching Cartoon Network. But deep down inside, you feel hollow and alone, wishing you could have the companionship of that special someone and hoping against hope that a valentine will miraculously find its way into your mailbox.

Well, I’m here to help. I bring you: the Gamer’s guide to dealing with crippling loneliness on Valentine’s day:
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There seems to be a trend emerging.  More often in television we’re finding protagonists that seem to have preternatural awareness of their environments.  I’m thinking specifically of characters like Dr. Gregory House from House.  The trend continues in Dr. Cal Lightman of the new FOX series Lie to Me.  Whereas House’s skills lie in medical diagnosis, Dr. Lightman has extensively studied body language and facial expression, which enables him to very accurately determine the emotion that an individual is feeling, and also if they are being deceptive.  He’s a human lie detector, basically.  The science is certainly interesting, and Tim Roth cuts a mean form on the screen, but can the show hold up over the course of a season?

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