Sega Mega Drive Portable.

I remember way back in the day when Sonic The Hedgehog was the coolest video game character alive. By this time Mario was old news, there was just no way he could keep up with Sonic. Had it not been for this super-fast hedgehog, I don’t think the Sega Genesis would have taken off at all. Don’t get me wrong, there were some other good games, but Sonic was too cool to pass up. It’s been some time since my old Sega actually worked, and I do miss zipping through the various levels collecting a vast amount of rings, though I never fully understood how the life of a hedgehog could possibly be affected by the possession of golden rings. If you’re like me, you might be interested in this portable gaming system that features 20 of your favorite old-school games.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve seen quite a few joysticks being sold with three or four retro games, these are alright, but you have to hook them up to your TV. The Sega Mega Drive Portable Video Game Player reminds me a lot of the old GameGear that Sega had way back when. It plays 20 of your favorite Sega Genesis games such as Sonic and Knuckles, Golden Axe and Altered Beast. The $39 price tag isn’t bad, however, I’d love to see something like this in the form of a cartridge for my DS. That seems like wishful thinking though.

[Via: Technabob]

PlayStation Network set for monthly-fee?

Sony Asia hints at future subscription charges

James Rivington – 03 Jan 2008 17:35 GMT

Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) could be about to charge gamers a subscription fee to use the PlayStation Network. The proposal offering could see gamers charged a monthly fee in order to receive unlimited PlayStation Portable (PSP) and PSone game downloads, according to our sister site CVG.

The story originated from a Sony questionnaire in Asia which asked PlayStation gamers whether they’d be prepared to pay a monthly fee.

PSN vs Xbox Live

The PlayStation Network is currently a rather feeble service in comparison to the Microsoft’s mighty Xbox Live. SCE will have to significantly improve things if it wants gamers to pay for the privilege of using the PSN.    Luckily, paying for good service is something most gamers are prepared to do.

[Via Tech.co.UK]

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*sigh*  I told you so.

 

Police Arrest Man Over Alleged Stalking Via Xbox Live

By Earnest Cavalli January 03, 2008 | 3:52:52 PM

According to a local news agency, Spokane Police recently arrested a 20-year-old New York man who allegedly traveled cross-country to stalk and harass a 15-year-old girl he met while playing Halo 2 on Xbox Live.

Joshua Stetar had allegedly been sending flowers and gifts to the girl’s home, along with thousands of text messages, before deciding the best course of action would be to drive 40 hours to Spokane to see the girl in person.

Police say that on arrival, Stetar began driving by the young girl’s home, while sending text messages detailing his obsessive activities. When this wasn’t enough to make everyone nearby feel like they needed to take a shower for a week, Stetar sent the girl a text message saying “Tell the cops that I’m gonna rape you and your sister,” police said.

Unsurprisingly, Spokane police arrested the man a short time later at a local Econo Lodge.

New York man arrested after traveling to Spokane to stalk girls [KHQ Right Now]

Note: This story has been updated from the original to better reflect the fact that Stetar has been accused of these acts. Wired News regrets any confusion.

[Via Wired]

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But, somehow, it’s the games fault.

Massive 9/11 Hypocrisy – Video Game Blamed

Once again the mainstream media is using video games as pariahs of bad taste while simultaneously displaying the kind of gross ignorance and ratings chasing that you couldn’t write as satire.

During this ’slow news’ period (the assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan apparently doesn’t count as news in the United States gutter press) many sources are using a 2002 French, online video game called New York Defender to stoke outrage and gain readers.

The game sees the player defending the Twin Towers from airborne attack. This is also true of New York Defender 2 also on the same site: uzinagaz.com. You will also find such ‘gems’ as:

Pied au Caul (Kick Ass) in which you get to, well, kick George Bush’s posterior.
Flash Ball which comes with the delicate tagline “shoot the savages” – the savages in question look very much like non-white human beings.
Enduring Freedom – yup, you get to bomb Afghanistan.
Baghdad Defender – you, you get to bomb (sorry, defend) the capital of Iraq.

The site has many more such cheaply produced cash-ins including a ‘hilarious’ outing in which you get to slaughter various characters (Jean Claude Van Damme, Paris Hilton and… Fidel Castro?!) by throwing axes at them. All are Flash games, all have been knocking around for some time; all of them are as easily overlooked as most Web-based Flash games – until, that is the mainstream media need a scapegoat.

[Via Spong]