Had it not been for the above video, I would’ve been oblivious to Xbox 360’s Lips.  The recently released karaoke party game comes preset with 40 songs with original music videos from Beyonce to Nirvana.  So no unlocking of songs is required.  One feature I like a lot is the ability to plug in your iPod or Zune and sing along to your playlist in the freestyle mode.  Included with the game are two motion-sensing microphones.  This is where the fun begins.  Depending on how you move the mic, it can take on the role of various instruments.  This of course enables your centerstage shy friends to join in on the fun.  Overall, this should be a hot product for holiday 2008.

Source: space invaders

Last week we showed you the new Guitar Hero commercial that featured Kobe Bryant, Tony Hawk, Alex Rodriguez and Michael Phelps and by now you may have already seen the version with Heidi Klum. Well that appears to be the TV friendly version, as the version we have here is the directors’ cut and features Heidi Klum dancing in her lingerie, quite sexy. May not be safe for work, but there’s no nudity.

The version below is the one that can be seen on TV.

The fourth annual 2K Sports Bounce Tour kicks off in Mikey Rock’s and Chuck Inglish’s hometown, Chicago, IL, on November 5, 2008.  The tour’s headliners are The Cool Kids and Q-Tip (from A Tribe Called Quest)!  This will be the jump off for NBA 2K9 (the video game).

The Tour will be hitting 19 cities from November to December, with special guests performances, a game lounge and free give aways.  I’m excited about this tour because The Cool Kids are one of my favorite up and coming hip-hop acts and I have always wanted to see Q-Tip live.

For more information about the tour, click here.  Be sure to check out “2K Pennies”, an original track produced by The Cool Kids for the soundtrack to NBA 2K9.

November 2008

5 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
7 - Aspen, CO - Belly Up
8 - Denver, CO - Cervantes Ballroom
11 - Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo
13 - San Francisco, CA - Mezzanine
15 - Los Angeles, CA - House of Blues
16 - Las Vegas, NV - House of Blues
17 - Phoenix, AZ - Marquee Theatre
19 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
20 - Austin, TX - Stubb’s BBQ
21 - Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
22 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
24 - Atlanta, GA - Centerstage
26 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
28 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues
29 - Charlotte, NC - Amos’ Southend
30 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club

December 2008
2 - New York, NY - Nokia Theatre Times Square
3 - Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero

Came across this commercial featuring some of the top atheltes of our time: Alex Rodriguez, Tony Hawk, Michael Phelps and Kobe Bryant. The four of them channel in the famous scene from the movie Risky Business where Tom Cruise slides across the floor dancing and singing in a button up, ginch and socks. This commercial is for Guitar Hero Wold Tour, which is the first Guitar Hero series to feature a drum set and microphone. The commercial is directed by Brett Ratner.

It looks like someone took notice of Johnny Lee’s headtracking Wiimote hack video and took it the next level.  As seen in the above vimeo clip, Ryo Katsuma, has a created a jogging simulator that enables gamers to run through the streets of Tokyo.  Sure you’ll be running in place and there is a bit of lag on screen, but don’t be surprised if Ryo decides to add features like being able to see others runners and a ranking table in the near future.  Wanna give the app a try?  Go visit Tokyo-Jogging.

Source: Digital World Tokyo via Tokyo-Jogging

Meant to post this yesterday, but got all wrapped up with Saints Row 2, go out and buy that if you haven’t. This right here is the next game I’m buying, officially released yesterday is Socom Confrontation, which is the 4th in the series I believe, with this one being the first one available on the PS3, while the others came out for the PS2. Here are the deets straight from Sony’s website:

SOCOM Confrontation focuses on online play and the global community and clans that support it. With support for Tournaments, Clan Ladders and Leaderboards, this latest title in the multi-million unit selling franchise is exactly what SOCOM fans have been clamoring for. Additionally, players will be able to modify their appearance through facial and physical customization.

SOCOM Confrontation deploys with five new North African themed maps, including a 32-player version of “Crossroads.” Additional themed packs for SOCOM Confrontation will be made available for download via the PLAYSTATION®Store.

Pretty sick I have to say. The game package also includes a headset for all us nerds that like to talk shit online, myself included.

Tai Chiem’s mockup for the PSP is glorious.  Equipped with everything from a flexible OLED screen that rolls out to the coveted dual joypads, this ought to be considered for the next PSP redesign.  Where the X, O, Square and Triangle buttons may have gone missing, the R and L buttons maintain their post.  Just one question though, where would the UMDs fit into this design?

Image Source: Yanko Design

Photo via DS Fanboy

The Nintendo DSi was officially announced yesterday, but word has it that the portable gaming system won’t be available in North America until “well into calendar year 2009.” While our friends over in Japan get to play with this new toy in about a month or so from now. The DSi will feature a thinner body, external 3.0 mp camera, larger 3.25 inch screens and an SD slot.

This game officially dropped yesterday and I have to say I’m actually quite excited about it. Last years NHL 08 made me love hockey games again and as a Canadian, not playing hockey games, I was pretty close to losing my citizenship, but like I said NHL 08 changed all of that. Well this year’s version looks just as great and I’m betting the game play has upped the ante. What I love most about the game is the freestyle stick, where you basically do all of your dekes with the analog sticks as well as shooting, takes some getting used to, but it’s pretty mind blowing the stuff that you can pull off. Check out the trailer above and then do yourself a favor and go cop this game.

HOPE STREET BLOCK PARTY!
Be sure to make your way to Williamsburg, Brooklyn this Saturday Sept 13th for the First Annual HOPE STREET FESTIVAL. The Grand Street Block Assoc and Boundless NY are proud to close down Hope Street for a full day of mischief, music and free shit.

From Noon till 9pm we will have the block in a choke hold. Music all day, a street skate course from Red Bull Skateboarding, free food and drinks. And giveaways from Honest Tea, King Stampede, Amongst Friends, Recon and Mighty Healthy. Toyota Antics will also be on the block will be there with 2 cars demoing of the new version Rock Band and printing special tees for the event. Don’t miss it!

Hope Street (Outside) between Havemeyer Street and Roebling Street.
Saturday Sept 13th 2008
From Noon until 9 PM.
COLT 45 Open Bar from 1pm till 3pm, Inside Hope Lounge
Music All Day by:

Teddy King (Boundless Radio), Pete Leonard (Stampede Radio), and DJ Smoke L.E.S and Special Guests

Followed by: After party @ HOPE LOUNGE
-Live Music from 10pm until 4 AM with DJ Neil Nice (Turntable Lab) !

Here’s another event not to be missed this weekend.  I don’t venture off to Williamsburg too often, but this sounds like a really good time.  On a side note, I wonder how playing Rockband out of a Toyota Matrix works?  Does the drummer, lead singer, guitarist and bassist huddle around the trunk?

Image/text Source: Boundless NY

Immediately when I came across this mixed medium piece, my first thought was where I have come across those eyes before.  It didn’t take too long to recall that PaperMonster had several pieces displayed at Art Whino some time ago.  The above stencil painting is an ode to Samus of Metroid appropriately named “The Return of Samus”.  Having seen PaperMonster’s previous work, I’m confident enough to say anyone must see this piece in person.  The I am 8-Bit show commences this Thursday and continues onward to Sunday, September 7th.  If you happen to be in LA, mark it on your calendar to attend this event.

Make the leap to see another submission by PaperMonster.

Image Source: Juxtapoz via PaperMonster
World of Wonder Storefront Gallery
6650 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood, Cali.

So I’m a bit late on this, but my co-worker Gord sent this my way as well as a video of people dressed up as Bees krumpin’, so naturally I thought he was saying that we should do a krumpin’ video. Anyways back on track, this is one of the trailers that was revealed at E3 earlier this summer. I have to say I looooooved Gears of War and yes I was one of those nerds that had a weekly night where a group of us played online…errr, porn, I like porn.

Aside from Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, I really haven’t set my hands on a Sonic game in a very long time.  With the new Werehog mode, seamless switch between 3-D and 2-D environments and amazing graphics, this looks to be a promising hit for holiday 2008.

via WeGame.com

Does anyone even remember Taito’s Legend of Kage on the 8 bit NES?  It was a bit on the repetitive side and if I’m correct, the bosses weren’t too hard.  Nor did it compare to the likes of Ninja Gaiden in complexity, graphics, fun factor, etc.  Twenty three years later and we now have a sequel coming out in October.  Watch this trailer and see why I can’t wait.

Text Source: DS Fanboy

Wow, this game looks F-U-C-K-I-N incredible. Graphics look very tight and crisp. If you had a chance to play Call of Duty 4 then you’ll know what to expect when this game drops. It’s been said that Call of Duty 5 is using the same engine as 4 and they’re porting over the multi-player, which I have to say is the best multi-player in a video game I’ve played to date. So as my man Biggie would say “…Lace up your boots, cus I’m about to shoot, a true muthafucka goin’ out for the…”, yeah you get the idea.

Miss those days of Castlevania and Kung Fu master? Sick and tired of late nights with GTA4 or Halo 3? Then spark an instance of Firefox, download FireNes, and prepare for a walk down memory lane.

From Allanjosephbatac:

FireNex is a new Firefox plugin you can use to play all those NES game goodies without downloading a NES emulator or those game packages. You simply download FireNes, restart your Firefox, open up FireNes over at Tools >> FireNes. That opens up over 100 NES games. Games you played when you were a kid (at least for me), now right on your Firefox sidebar.

Double-click a game you want and it opens up automatically without even downloading anything after!

To save you time on the controls, it’s the X & Z. You can view the controls by right-clicking any game on the sidebar.

Image via ajb.

Brownkidd over at Albotas made this custom 4 inch munny to commemorate the recent release of MGS4.  I haven’t seen his previous custom work, but this Munny is really well made.  If anyone cares to buy this off him, feel free to hit him up.  Brownkidd@albotas.com.  Hey Brownkidd, you may be getting inquiries for Raiden shortly…

Image Source: Albotas

The active-play phenomenon started by Wii has now spread to your whole body thanks to the pressure-sensitive Wii Balance Board. Wii Fit includes an array of fun and dynamic activities that utilize an exercise method that emphasizes slower, controlled motions, including aerobics, yoga, muscle stretches and games. You can even share and compare results and progress on a new channel on the Wii Menu. This all sounds new, but have we forgotten about the amazing Nintendo Power Pad from back in the day? And why do these Wii Fit Fanatics look so happy? I think we all enjoy a good flailing session now and then.

Nothing short of amazing comes from the FF series. This DS remake of the same SNES title has beautiful cut scenes as well as game play visuals. One question though, will the US game have voice acting as well?

Video Source: Gametrailers.com