WARNING:  Adult language here… Mostly because I’m one pissed Pogo.

So a couple of friends of mine where telling me about this cool 3D chat with avatars.  So basically Yahoo IM with 3D graphics.
ok.. could be interesting.. so the PogoWolf heads on over to the site, creates an account.. and a section says:  Hey! invite your friends!

Now, knowing that I have the Gmail of my friends, I thought I would look though the list and see who else is on.  You know a NORMAL
practice of showing all the Email addresses and then asking who you want to invite.

what am I greeted with?   a Javascript error, and then notifications that EVERYONE in my Gmail list was sent a bloody Email
asking them to join the site.

WTF?!

You DO NOT use my personal information for your SPAM tactics.   So now I’m writing hundreds of ‘I’m Sorry for the SPAM’ Emails
to all my lists and friends.  

so here the thing.. ANYONE that asks you to use IMVU tell them to go to hell.
if you are already ON IMVU.  Write a nasty Email to the devs and tell them to go bugger a sheep for a while.

Tell them you’ve tossed off in the mayo they used to make there sandwiches.. and BY GOD remove yourself from
that web site until someone gets their hand out of their asses (as in the Donkey) and learns how to program for the Internet.

If you’re one of the many gamers currently enjoying MTV Games and Harmonix’s Rock Band (Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3), you’ll get a kick out of their latest announcement. It’s been confirmed that the game’s online music store has been moved in-game.

This means that a better looking and more user friendly interface will be readily available to users on the fly. This applies to both Xbox Live and PlayStation Network users.

The in-game online music store in Rock Band will be available via a PSN and XBL download this week. Once in your system, it’ll be accessible via the main menu for your convenience.

Features like sorting tracks by artist, song title, and download pack will be available. In addition, players can view album art, listen to song previews, as well as check out detailed information about a song, such as difficulty for each instrument.

[Via:  QJNet]

The famous Ben Heck has just lifted the veil on its brand new Xbox 360 controller mod that allows you to play your favorite Xbox 360 games with just one hand. Unfortunately, this controller needs a couple of AA batteries to function, so it might end up being heavier than what some people are comfortable with. If the D-Pad that you see here looks familiar, that’s because it has been ported over from the PlayStation. Apparently Ben Heck is slaving away on a mass-produced version which will be pronouncedly different compared to this model.

Source: Crunchgear

[Via CoolestGadgets]

[Via Freaking News]

I ran across this today and thought it kinda funny..

“Computer games don’t affect kids; I mean if Pac-Man affected us as kids, we’d all be running around in darkened rooms, munching magic pills and listening to repetitive electronic music.” - Kristian Wilson, Nintendo, Inc, 1989

SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INC. AND SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT LEVERAGE EXPERTISE IN THE COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY

SAN DIEGO, CA & TOKYO, JAPAN (March 13, 200 — In a strategic move to closely align itself with the strong growth of the worldwide online gaming market, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) announced today that Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) will report to Kazuo Hirai, President and Group CEO, SCEI, effective April 1, 2008. The new structure is designed to mutually benefit both companies by further accelerating the PlayStation business through SOE’s strong online gaming expertise.

“I am excited to be able to work with SOE even more closely, as online games and services become a more integral part of the PS3 entertainment experience,” Hirai said. “This new structure will allow us to take full advantage of the extensive breadth of expertise of the two companies and increase our range of exciting entertainment offerings to our consumers.”

San Diego-based SOE is currently part of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Under the new structure, SOE will continue to develop its games for the PC and the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) computer entertainment system, and SOE President John Smedley will report to Hirai.

“We are thrilled to become a part of the incredible team that has made PLAYSTATION 3 the premier platform for next generation online gaming,” said Smedley. “This move is going to broaden our capabilities and expand the development of our products into new and exciting directions.”

About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest®, EverQuest® II, Champions of Norrath®, Untold Legends™, and PlanetSide®, as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies™, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development.

About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufacturers, distributes and markets the PlayStation® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system and the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3®) system. PlayStation has revolutionized home entertainment by introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and PlayStation 2 further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP is a new handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3 is an advanced computer system, incorporating the state-of-the-art Cell processor with super computer like power. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc. develops, publishes, markets and distributes software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. is an independent business unit of the Sony Group.

[Via Sony Press Release]

The inaugural Guinness World Records: Gamer’s Edition 2008 is pretty interesting as it features some of the nation’s best players of Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock who came together in New York City for a mesmerizing record-breaking jam session. Needless to say, competition was intense and ultimately youth over experience prevailed. Chris Chike, age 16 from Rochester, Minnesota, was the winner when the dust settled, gaining a place in the Guinness World Record for the “Highest Score for a Single Song on Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock”, picking up a whopping 840,647 points (a 97% completion on Expert Level) for the song “Through the Fire and Flames” by DragonForce.

This news comes as no surprise considering Chike’s fast fingers and mad gamer skills have already garnered thousands of astounded people online, and it looks like whatever respect due to him has been recognized at long last, and to make the memorable event all the more sweet, he is nothing less than an official Guinness World Record holder. According to Guinness World Records judge Doug Parsons, “Chris’s accomplishments are nothing short of amazing. Guitar Hero is a one of the hottest games on the market and the speed and accuracy showed by Chris today truly cements his spot as gaming royalty.”

Kai Huang, co-founder of RedOctane, creators of the Guitar Hero franchise added, “The Guitar Hero franchise has created a phenomenon that has swept the world creating loyal and passionate fans of all ages. It is an honor to be a part of this exciting event and we congratulate Chris on a fantastic accomplishment that is worthy of a Guinness World Record.” If you think that you have the mad skills to be part of the videogame elite, then feel free to check out the official Guinness World Records: Gamer’s Edition 2008 website. You can also submit your scores there to see how you stack up with the rest of the world.

Press Release

[Via CoolestGadgets]

With Take-Two Executive Chairman Strauss Zelnick having thoroughly rejected EA’s initial buyout offer, the Madden and Burnout publisher has redirected its corporate Katamari at Take-Two shareholders. EA has announced the commencement of a tender offer for all of the currently outstanding shares of common stock of Take-Two Interactive Software at $26 per share. Valued at approximately $2 billion, the offer reportedly represents a 64% premium over Take-Two’s closing stock price on February 15, the company’s last trading day before EA began its increasingly aggressive financial courtship. Compared to Wednesday’s stock price, it constitutes a 4.4% premium.

Barring extension, the tender offer is good until midnight EST on Friday, April 11, 2008. EA CEO John Riccitiello described the offer as “a great opportunity for Take-Two shareholders” and as a a way to “maximize the value” of their investment. “For EA shareholders, the combination would add additional intellectual properties to our already strong portfolio and welcome Take-Two’s talented creative teams to the great development organization we’ve built at EA,” he concluded.

Will shareholders deem this offer welcomed financial assistance or unwanted financial insistence? We’ll have to wait and see.

Via [Joystiq]

==========================================

God, I hope not.  People complain about Microsoft being a monopoly but it’s ok for EA?  Now, whereas EA has released a few good games they have also released a metric butt ton of crap.  They have always tended to buy out a company for one or two titles and just kill off the rest of the games.  (Anyone remember Bullfrog?  How about Westwood?) When EA DOES come out with a new version of the game series they bought, it’s either massively funked up or just crap to begin with.     C&C is a good example of that, they are getting better with the series, but that first version after the WestWood buy out sucked.
 
I also don’t understand why the shareholders of Take-Two would even WANT anyone to be looking over their shoulder asking if they want to sell.  Granted, most of their line up right now pretty much dead; however, Bioshock just walked with a ton of awards. (it was good.. but it wasn’t THAT good) Also note that GTA4 is coming, and there are rumors of a GTA MMO in planning, and Bioshock 2 has been confirmed for development.  Of Course, so long as Take2 doesn’t release anymore games like ‘Bully’ and ‘Manhunt’ and force more games like Bioshock though the pipes, the company is good to go there’s no reason to sell.
 
Though I would like to run a few of the comments from EA’s CEO John Riccitiello though the bull shit translator:
1) The offer is  “a great opportunity for Take-Two shareholders”.. 
    Translation
    It’s a great opportunity for you to make some quick cash and re-invest it into EA, because we.. not you… now own BioShock, and the GTA series.
    na na nana na.  (Ok, that doesn’t work well in blog text.. but you get the idea)

2) the offer is  a way to “maximize the value” of their investment. “For EA shareholders, the combination would add additional intellectual properties to our
    already strong portfolio and welcome Take-Two’s talented creative teams to the great development organization we’ve built at EA,”
    How can you maximize the value of something when you put a cap on the maximum value you would accrue??   Who knows how the sales of
    Bioshock 2, and GTA 4 would ‘maximize the value’ of the current stakes holders with out needing EA to be involved in the first place?
 
3) “combination would add additional intellectual properties “ 
    Translation:
    Yeah!  I got mail..  errr.. Games. 

    “welcome Take-Two’s talented creative teams “
    Translation (To the tune of “Welcome to the jungle”):
 
    Welcome to the sweat shop
    We’ve got your fun and games.
    We got everything you owned,
    baby you know their names.
    We are the people that can buy
    any game we need
    You know we’ve got the money, honey
    and we know you won’t come for free

   
    In the sweat shop
    Welcome to the sweat shop
    Watch it bring you to your
    knees, please..
    I wanna watch you bleed