Toys for Kids & Adults

'Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion'Walkthrough Complete
We are pleased to announce that the LB Unofficial'The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion'Walkthrough and Strategy Guide is complete! This guide is so chock full of information, strategies, and tips that I wouldn't even know where to start to…

'Just Cause'Demo Available for Xbox 360 and PC
Every now and again I have an urge to undermine a foreign government. I have yet to act upon this impulse mainly because I lack the know how, equipment, manpower, financing, and well, the physical and mental prowess to accomplish…

Get'Texas Hold'Em'free…for now
Attention all Silver and Gold Xbox Live subscribers! At 1am this morning (PDT) Microsoft added"Texas Hold'Em"to its Xbox Live Arcade lineup. For the next 48 hours (well, we're down to 40 now), you can log onto Xbox…

No HD-DVD Games for Xbox 360
According a blog post over at GamerScoreBlog (the blog of Microsoft Games'marketing team) there are no HD-DVD games in the works for the Xbox 360. The HD-DVD player which is due out later this year will be exclusively for…

'Madden NFL 07'Demo Available on Xbox 360
If your jury is still out regarding the purchase of the latest incarnation of the"Madden NFL"series, hop on over to Xbox Live and download the 750MB demo now! Keep in mind, it's a demo, so options and time…

A Few Announcements from Games Convention
If you're not in the video game biz, then you probably don't know that the Games Convention, an annual trade show, is currently in progress in Leipzig, Germany. This is actually quite a big event, especially for European gamers, and…

learning tools

learning tools

New Planet Definition Leaves Scientific Loose Ends (SPACE.com / LiveScience.com via Yahoo! News)
The controversial vote today that reduced our solar system's planet tally to eight has left a series of lose scientific ends in its wake.

Pluto Demoted: No Longer a Planet in Highly Controversial Definition (SPACE.com / LiveScience.com via Yahoo! News)
Capping years of intense debate, astronomers resolved today to demote Pluto in a wholesale redefinition of planethood that is being billed as a victory of scientific reasoning over historic and cultural influences. But already the decision is being hotly debated.

Astronomers strip Pluto of planet status (Tiscali)
PRAGUE (Reuters) - Pluto was stripped of its status as a planet on Thursday when astronomers from around the world redefined it as a "dwarf planet," leaving just eight major planets in the solar system.

BREAKING NEWS: Pluto Demoted, No Longer a Planet (SPACE.com / LiveScience.com via Yahoo! News)
Capping years of intense debate, astronomers resolved today to demote Pluto in a wholesale redefinition of planethood that is a victory of scientific reasoning over historic and cultural influences.

Brainier Robots, Brainier Kids? (BusinessWeek)
LEGO's robot kit could help spark an early interest in science

Latest Barbie Collector's Dolls For The Season
Beautiful and traditional Barbie dolls dressed in their festival costumes … Barbie dolls dressed up in stunning designer clothes .. Barbie dolls jet-setting at various hot spots all around the…

Cranium's Giggle Gear - Great Dress Up Games For Your Kids!
Cranium has introduced Giggle Gear, a fun way for kids to enjoy dress up sessions! What makes Giggle Gear unique is that it provides a complete dress up experience for…

Brand New - Fisher Price's Kid's Digital Camera
Fisher Price has launched two new products to add to it's line of kid's electronics - the Kid-Tough Digital Camera, a real working kid's digital camera, and the Kid-Tough FP3…

Fun Back To School Shopping and Gift Ideas
It's finally back to school time! If you're looking for last minute back to school gifts, or if you still haven't found that special something to make your back…

TippyToeToons Make Bath and Bedtime Fun!
For all those parents who are having a tough time getting your little ones to co-operate during bath and bedtime, don't despair! TippyToeToons may be just the solution you need!…

Kids Preferred Asthma Friendly Plush Toys
Good news for parents of kids with asthma and allergies! Kids Preferred, LLC has introduced a line of plush toys which have been certified as "asthma friendly" according to the…

Disney's Read-Along DVD Books from ToyBox
Disney's Read-Along books from ToyBox Innovations, Inc. are great travel companions, and are fun even at home! Based on a simple concept which has been around for years, the Read-Along…

GTA DOES NOT INFRINGE STRIP CLUB’S RIGHTS

We’re all aware of the difficulties that Rock Star and Take Two have experienced in relation to GTA: San Andreas, but this one takes the cake: Rock Star was sued by an LA strip club for trade-mark infringement. The real-life PlayPen Gentlemen's Club claimed that by including a virtual strip club called the “Pig Pen” in GTA: SA, Rock Star had harmed PlayPen’s reputation and infringed its trade-mark. The judge, however, found that there was no infringement – the virtual strip club in the game was “artistically relevant” and not "explicitly misleading”. The PlayPen club apparently intends to appeal.

We discussed issues relating to the use of real-life settings in games back in July (seehere). This case deals with the same point – by including real-life settings or locations (or ones that clearly are based on real-life locations), do game designers risk litigation like this? Does the increase in in-game advertising mean that game players are more likely to assume sponsorship or endorsement when they see real-life establishments featured in video games?  These are all interesting questions.  For now, the only conclusion we can draw is that Rock Star is probably relieved to have won a GTA battle.

Coverage at:http://shorl.com/bokebafrifruki(Mercury News)

MS DEPLOYS COUNTER HACKING EFFORTS IN KOREA

Microsoft is confident that the DVD firmware hack will be countered by its Xbox Live updates.

Sales of security upgraded consoles in Korea have increased over the past month after hackers tinkered with the embedded DVD software drive to allow copied CDs to run on the machine. Xbox is confident that the problem will be “neutralized” through software updates (detected and prompted for installation upon connecting to Xbox Live).

Apparently more consumers are attempting to bypass Xbox’s security in order to be able to use cheaper pirated software. The additional cost for a modified console is said to be approximately KRW 70,000 (60 Euro) and users are tempted by the saving of about KRW 25,000 (21 Euro) from the purchase of pirated software.

coverage at:http://shorl.com/gybrestigribinu

HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL RULES AGAINST EA

The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal has awarded almost $150,000 to a former EA employee who claims she was unjustly fired after a suffering a breakdown. The worker’s health deteriorated as her workload increased, and when she informed EA that she would be taking indefinite stress leave on her doctor’s recommendation, she was dismissed (with an offer of a lump-sum severance payment). Although the Tribunal noted that it was not a case where the employee was “worked to death”, it stated that EA did not attempt to accommodate the employee’s need for leave.

The monetary award includes amounts for injury to the worker’s dignity, feelings and self-respect; health care costs; legal expenses; out-of-pocket expenses; lost value of stock options; and severance.

It is not known whether EA will appeal the Tribunal’s decision.

Coverage at:http://shorl.com/godyhipavubro(Vancouver Sun)

BC Human Rights Tribunal Decision at:http://shorl.com/febreprogrydadru

TRUTH IN VIDEO GAMES?

US Representative Cliff Stearns has introduced a new bill (HR 5912) titled the “Truth in Video Game Rating Act”. The bill, which is directed at the Federal Trade Commission, prohibits activities such as rating games only on partial content (i.e., the ESRB will have to play games in their entirety before rating them), withholding content for rating, and gross mischaracterization of content. It also calls for a study of the ESRB’s rating system, whether there should be an independent rating system, etc.

The Text of Bill HR 5912 ishere.

MICROSOFT HUNTS DOWN XBOX36COM.COM

Microsoft has filed two lawsuits (one in Utah and one in California) against four defendants it accuses of cybersquatting and typosquatting. Microsoft claims the defendants have registered hundreds of domain names with the intent of driving Microsoft-based traffic to their websites. 

Some of the domain names look like could be legitimate Microsoft domain names (such as msnfinance.com). Others (such as xbox36com.com) are intended to snare surfers who have problems typing. Personally, we can’t see how that could possibly w0rkcom.

Coverage at:http://www.shorl.com/jevojavygibro(siliconvalley.com)

Microsoft security engineer warns:"Those of you who are working on MMOGs, organized crime is already looking at you!"

More than a little distress was caused this week when Microsoft security development engineer Dave Weinstein told developers at the Microsoft Gamefest that criminal elements are hacking into MMORPGs, stealing MMORPG account information, and selling it on the black market, effectively kidnapping and killing characters.

Weinstein outlined the following modus operandi: taking advantage of chinks in a game's security software, criminals acquire account information and then illegally access accounts. Then, either the account information is sold on the black market or, more commonly, coveted in-game items and currency are stolen and turned into actual cash via online auction sites.

Virtual “muggings” also appear to be a problem in some MMOGs, where the aggressor uses software "bots" (thus making himself unbeatable) to beat up and then subsequently rob characters. The stolen virtual possessions were then exchanged for real cash. (see examplehere). This, of course, is only possible in games where the victor of a fight can take the items of a fallen character, such is the case with Lineage II.

MMOG and MMORPG players spend at lot of time creating and building up their characters. With monthly subscriptions to games like World of Warcraft (paid) and Guild Wars (free) bringing an unending flow of new adventures, players spend hundreds of hours completing quests, accumulating experience, and acquiring gold and items. "For a lot of the customers out there, there is more store value on their MMOG characters than there is on the credit card with which they pay for the account.", Weinstein said.

Though most MMOG publishers are aware of such problems, Weinstein underscored the fact that real-world authorities are often unresponsive to in-game theft. "The police are really good at understanding 'Someone stole my credit card and ran up a lot of money,'" he said. "It's a lot harder to get them to buy into, 'Someone stole my magic sword.'"

Late last year, Square Enix dealt with a similar issue by banning 800 people from playing Final Fantasy XI, after it was found out that they were auctioning “stolen” items.  Another good way for online gaming companies to protect themselves is to ensure their license agreements and online terms of use agreements adequately deal with potential liability issues such as cheating, hacking, viruses and service interruptions.

Coverage at:http://shorl.com/gigudatarudru

But can the ESRB get past the big boss on Level 12? It had better, according to proposed law

The ESA, which established the ESRB, contends that a proposed bill - the "Truth in Video Game Rating Act" (HR 5912) - requiring the ESRB to play through every single video game it rates is not sensible. ESA president Doug Lowenstein responded to the proposed bill by defending the current ratings system and noting that games can take over 100 hours to complete and to do so would often require the skills of a professional gamer. Such gamers, he went on to say, are not likely to be representative of the mainstream American parent.

Coverage at:http://shorl.com/duhahokepregro(GameDaily)

Iwata not a fan of current video game pricing structure
Speaking at a corporate management briefing earlier this week, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata made it clear that he's not a fan of the current trend in video game software pricing. According to Iwata, the launching of a game at a…

LB's'Over the Hedge'Strategy Guide in the Works
We are pleased to announce that we are currently writing a LB'Over the Hedge (TM)'Walkthrough and Strategy Guide (PS2, Xbox, GameCube, PC).'Over the Hedge'is the companion game for the Dreamworks animated movie of the same title,…

DS to be browsed in July
In February we reported that Opera Software had announced a deal with Nintendo which will allow gamers in Japan to surf the internet via the Nintendo DS using the Opera browser. Yesterday Opera stamped a July 24th release date on…

LB"Monster House"Walkthrough Complete!
I'm not going to lie to you."Monster House"was a disappointing game on every level. The characters move uncomfortably, there are glitches, saves are a problem, and it's oddly difficult for a game that's attractive, primarily, to kids. Of…

learning tools

learning tools

learning tools

learning tools

learning tools

LEGO Star Wars II - Better than the original?
The Gamespy team recently got the opportunity to visit LucasArts, where they got to sit down and preview"LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy", the sequel to the 2005 sleeper hit"LEGO Star Wars". Today's Gamespy feature article reveals…

Iwata not a fan of current video game pricing structure
Speaking at a corporate management briefing earlier this week, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata made it clear that he's not a fan of the current trend in video game software pricing. According to Iwata, the launching of a game at a…

DS to be browsed in July
In February we reported that Opera Software had announced a deal with Nintendo which will allow gamers in Japan to surf the internet via the Nintendo DS using the Opera browser. Yesterday Opera stamped a July 24th release date on…

LB"Monster House"Walkthrough Complete!
I'm not going to lie to you."Monster House"was a disappointing game on every level. The characters move uncomfortably, there are glitches, saves are a problem, and it's oddly difficult for a game that's attractive, primarily, to kids. Of…

'Tomb Raider: Legend'for GCN, DS, and GameBoy
Eidos today announced that Tomb Raider: Legend will be available this Fall for the GameCube(TM), Nintendo DS(TM), and Game Boy(R). I'm guessing that the GameCube version will be the same as the PS2 and Xbox version, which means that the…

Wiis were GameCubes at E3?
Thanks to Game Daily for pointing out and confirming the rumor that the Nintendo Wii games being shown at E3 were actually running inside of GameCubes. Prior to confirmation from Nintendo PR that the Wii hardware exhibited at E3 was…

learning tools

ILLINOIS GETS SPANKED

The Entertainment Software Association has announced that the video game industry was successful in forcing the State of Illinois to pay its legal bill for challenging a law that the judge said it knew to be unconstitutional from the outset. Kennelly J. issued the order against Illinois "for its unconstitutional effort to enact a law banning the sale of violent video games".

The Judge is further reported to have stated "As we said from the outset of this debacle and repeatedly since then, instead of squandering taxpayers' money on frivolous lawsuits and attempting to enact clearly unconstitutional laws, we encourage policymakers to focus their resources on a cooperative effort with industry, retailers, parent groups and health groups to work together to educate parents about the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings and content descriptors, and the parental controls available in all next generation consoles to help parents make sound choices about the games their kids play."

The total bill?  US$510,528.64.

coverage at:http://shorl.com/gimigrostubrojy(GameDaily)

Another day, another large-scale banning of MMORPG accounts

Square Enix announced on July 21, 2006 that it had banned or suspended more than 2,000 accounts for its popular Final Fantasy XI video game, citing violations of the user agreement on account of “malicious” use of third-party programs that enabled “abnormal in-game movement”. Use of such programs, states Square Enix, can destroy in-game balance and encourage trade of in-game gold for real world money. 

The ban by Square Enix is but the latest in a series of similar account suspensions in MMORPGs, with similar events occurring in games such as Ultima Online and World of Warcraft.

Coverage at:http://shorl.com/bofabrajedyky(Gamespot)

TAKE TWO TAKES MORE

We reported earlier this month that Take Two Interactive had settled the FTC complaints regarding GTA: San Andreas. However, this step forward was recently offset by a lawsuit filed by Take Two shareholder Richard Lasky in the US District Court of New York. Lasky claims breaches of fiduciary duty with respect to executives’ sales of stocks.

This lawsuit follows the grand jury subpoenas from the New York County district attorney, a lawsuit brought by the families of slain police officers, a lawsuit by the LA. city attorney, lawsuits in other jurisdictions including Delaware, North Carolina and Connecticut, and investigations from US security regulators. 

Coverage here: http://www.shorl.com/fedrevukydyne (Reuters)

MS DEPLOYS COUNTER HACKING EFFORTS IN KOREA

Microsoft is confident that the DVD firmware hack will be countered by its Xbox Live updates.

Sales of security upgraded consoles in Korea have increased over the past month after hackers tinkered with the embedded DVD software drive to allow copied CDs to run on the machine. Xbox is confident that the problem will be “neutralized” through software updates (detected and prompted for installation upon connecting to Xbox Live).

Apparently more consumers are attempting to bypass Xbox’s security in order to be able to use cheaper pirated software. The additional cost for a modified console is said to be approximately KRW 70,000 (60 Euro) and users are tempted by the saving of about KRW 25,000 (21 Euro) from the purchase of pirated software.

coverage at:http://shorl.com/gybrestigribinu

TRUTH IN VIDEO GAMES?

US Representative Cliff Stearns has introduced a new bill (HR 5912) titled the “Truth in Video Game Rating Act”. The bill, which is directed at the Federal Trade Commission, prohibits activities such as rating games only on partial content (i.e., the ESRB will have to play games in their entirety before rating them), withholding content for rating, and gross mischaracterization of content. It also calls for a study of the ESRB’s rating system, whether there should be an independent rating system, etc.

The Text of Bill HR 5912 ishere.

GAMESTOP SUED OVER TIME

Six managers have filed a class action suit for unpaid overtime, under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). They seek to have managers denied overtime since 2003 because they were classified under the FLSA as “executive, administrative, or professional capacity" to opt into the class action and obtain redress (including overtime, interest, damages and lawyers' fees).  They claim to have been forced to work 50 to 60 hours a week without proper compensation.

GameStop has asked that the lawsuit be dismissed because of a similar 2004 case pending against Electronics Boutique.

coverage at:http://shorl.com/basahalesara

learning tools

But can the ESRB get past the big boss on Level 12? It had better, according to proposed law

The ESA, which established the ESRB, contends that a proposed bill - the "Truth in Video Game Rating Act" (HR 5912) - requiring the ESRB to play through every single video game it rates is not sensible. ESA president Doug Lowenstein responded to the proposed bill by defending the current ratings system and noting that games can take over 100 hours to complete and to do so would often require the skills of a professional gamer. Such gamers, he went on to say, are not likely to be representative of the mainstream American parent.

Coverage at:http://shorl.com/duhahokepregro(GameDaily)

Manitoba rolls out grants for video game makers

The province, which last month awarded a total $300,000 to five video game projects and earlier set up a $350,000 incubator fund, has recently announced new grants to help video game makers with their labour costs. The grants, which cover up to 45% of labour costs to write new games, have no upper limit. They do require, however, that 25% of the salaries be paid in Manitoba. 

Coverage at:http://shorl.com/gebodrulakase(the Star)

GAMESTOP SUED OVER TIME

Six managers have filed a class action suit for unpaid overtime, under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). They seek to have managers denied overtime since 2003 because they were classified under the FLSA as “executive, administrative, or professional capacity" to opt into the class action and obtain redress (including overtime, interest, damages and lawyers' fees).  They claim to have been forced to work 50 to 60 hours a week without proper compensation.

GameStop has asked that the lawsuit be dismissed because of a similar 2004 case pending against Electronics Boutique.

coverage at:http://shorl.com/basahalesara

Another day, another large-scale banning of MMORPG accounts

Square Enix announced on July 21, 2006 that it had banned or suspended more than 2,000 accounts for its popular Final Fantasy XI video game, citing violations of the user agreement on account of “malicious” use of third-party programs that enabled “abnormal in-game movement”. Use of such programs, states Square Enix, can destroy in-game balance and encourage trade of in-game gold for real world money. 

The ban by Square Enix is but the latest in a series of similar account suspensions in MMORPGs, with similar events occurring in games such as Ultima Online and World of Warcraft.

Coverage at:http://shorl.com/bofabrajedyky(Gamespot)

GTA DOES NOT INFRINGE STRIP CLUB’S RIGHTS

We’re all aware of the difficulties that Rock Star and Take Two have experienced in relation to GTA: San Andreas, but this one takes the cake: Rock Star was sued by an LA strip club for trade-mark infringement. The real-life PlayPen Gentlemen's Club claimed that by including a virtual strip club called the “Pig Pen” in GTA: SA, Rock Star had harmed PlayPen’s reputation and infringed its trade-mark. The judge, however, found that there was no infringement – the virtual strip club in the game was “artistically relevant” and not "explicitly misleading”. The PlayPen club apparently intends to appeal.

We discussed issues relating to the use of real-life settings in games back in July (seehere). This case deals with the same point – by including real-life settings or locations (or ones that clearly are based on real-life locations), do game designers risk litigation like this? Does the increase in in-game advertising mean that game players are more likely to assume sponsorship or endorsement when they see real-life establishments featured in video games?  These are all interesting questions.  For now, the only conclusion we can draw is that Rock Star is probably relieved to have won a GTA battle.

Coverage at:http://shorl.com/bokebafrifruki(Mercury News)

learning tools

'Gears of War'Dated: November 12
'Gears of War', the highly anticipated shooter for the X360 now has a release date: November 12."Emergence Day", as the PR folk are calling it, will see the debut of this Epic Games title which,"blends tactical action with…

Are You an Xbox or a Playstation Personality?
According to a recent marketing study performed by Anderson Analytics, there are significant differences between the way that young people perceive the Xbox and Playstation brands. The pychological study concluded that boys who were exposed to Xbox images had higher…

'NBA Live 07'to Feature Real Time Updates from ESPN
I'm always a fan of integrating real-life content into video games, be it the ability for'Madden'to update rosters, downloading the Cadillac Pack for'PGR3', or the just announced ESPN integration package in the PSP version of'NBA Live…

'Street Fighter II'Now Available on Xbox Live Arcade
I was eleven when the'Street Fighter'games began hitting the gaming world. I have fond, yet frustrating, memories of hours-long gaming sessions in Jon Swart's basement. He was a master at using Ryu and Blanka (home field advantage). I…

The Summer of Xbox Live
With today's announcement that a'Dead Rising'demo is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace it really hit me that this summer has been the summer of Xbox Live. From'LotR: Battle for Middle Earth II'to'Saints Row'to…

Xbox 360 Bundle in Canada
For a limited time Canadians can get an Xbox 360 bundle which includes the Xbox 360 with HDD,'Project Gotham Racing 3', three months of Xbox Live Gold, and 1250 Microsoft Points (about CA$20) all for CA$499. This bundle had…

'Battlestar Galactica'coming to Xbox Live
As part of a PR blitz to hype people up for the third season of"Battlestar Galactica", the Sci-Fi Network will soon be offeringing Xbox Livers the opportunity to download a special episode of the show from Xbox Live Marketplace….

More Xbox Live Arcade Games On the Way
More Xbox Live Arcade Games On the Way Posted on 9 Aug 2006 by asylum_boy Wednesdays just keep getting better Wednesday seems to be the day for Xbox Live Arcade to update with new releases well after the summer, as four new Xbox Live Arcade titles have

Armored Core 4 Set for PS3 Launch
August 9, 2006 - The latest Armored Core game could be one of the first things you play when you get your PS3 later this year. The latest issue of Famitsu confirms a November Japanese PlayStation 3 release for Armored Core 4, suggesting that the game

Sega Reveals Hockey Manager 2007
There really needs to be a feature for labor disputes Sega today announced NHL: Eastside Hockey Manager 2007 for PC and Mac. The officially licenced game will have different tactical options for your team between breakouts, forechecking and

Handheld:&nbsp Cash Money Chaos
Sony Online Entertainment announced a new arcade-style shooter for the PlayStation Portable; Cash Money Chaos. The game contains more than 50 levels where players will grab cash, prizes, and weapons as they battle against their opponents. Gamers will

learning tools

LEGO Star Wars II - Better than the original?
The Gamespy team recently got the opportunity to visit LucasArts, where they got to sit down and preview"LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy", the sequel to the 2005 sleeper hit"LEGO Star Wars". Today's Gamespy feature article reveals…

LB's Best of E3…in Videos
There is only so much"Hand's on with'x'Game"reading you can do before you go crazy. Yes, the gaming press does an adequate job, but how many times can you hear,"It was fun and intuitive,"or,"You'll…

Wiis were GameCubes at E3?
Thanks to Game Daily for pointing out and confirming the rumor that the Nintendo Wii games being shown at E3 were actually running inside of GameCubes. Prior to confirmation from Nintendo PR that the Wii hardware exhibited at E3 was…

'Tomb Raider: Legend'Walkthrough and Strategy Guide (Download)
Lunabean's"Tomb Raider(TM): Legend"Walkthrough and Strategy Guide is all you need to explore, solve and shoot your way through each of the game's levels. Whether you can't move the gears, can't get the water flowing, or can't find that…

'Tomb Raider: Legend'for GCN, DS, and GameBoy
Eidos today announced that Tomb Raider: Legend will be available this Fall for the GameCube(TM), Nintendo DS(TM), and Game Boy(R). I'm guessing that the GameCube version will be the same as the PS2 and Xbox version, which means that the…

The Summer of Xbox Live
With today's announcement that a'Dead Rising'demo is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace it really hit me that this summer has been the summer of Xbox Live. From'LotR: Battle for Middle Earth II'to'Saints Row'to…

LB"Monster House"Walkthrough Complete!
I'm not going to lie to you."Monster House"was a disappointing game on every level. The characters move uncomfortably, there are glitches, saves are a problem, and it's oddly difficult for a game that's attractive, primarily, to kids. Of…

UPDATE: E3's Role to be Diminished? Boo-hiss!
Many sources are reporting that the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the annual industry event held in L.A., is dead as we know it. No longer are thousands of"game industry"types going to be allowed to browse amongst the latest…

Do you ingest your video games?
"The whole ruling defied common sense. I am so disappointed. The federal court said we don't have a right to protect our children, but we protect our children from other things. We don't let them smoke or buy liquor."-…

learning tools

learning tools

LB's'Over the Hedge'Walkthrough Complete!
We are pleased to announce the completion of the LB'Over the Hedge (TM)'Walkthrough and Strategy Guide. The guide will help you through all 35 missions, 135 objectives and details the location of all Cookie Boxes, all Chip Cans,…

LB's Best of E3…in Videos
There is only so much"Hand's on with'x'Game"reading you can do before you go crazy. Yes, the gaming press does an adequate job, but how many times can you hear,"It was fun and intuitive,"or,"You'll…

Wiis were GameCubes at E3?
Thanks to Game Daily for pointing out and confirming the rumor that the Nintendo Wii games being shown at E3 were actually running inside of GameCubes. Prior to confirmation from Nintendo PR that the Wii hardware exhibited at E3 was…

DS to be browsed in July
In February we reported that Opera Software had announced a deal with Nintendo which will allow gamers in Japan to surf the internet via the Nintendo DS using the Opera browser. Yesterday Opera stamped a July 24th release date on…

'Tomb Raider: Legend'Walkthrough and Strategy Guide (Download)
Lunabean's"Tomb Raider(TM): Legend"Walkthrough and Strategy Guide is all you need to explore, solve and shoot your way through each of the game's levels. Whether you can't move the gears, can't get the water flowing, or can't find that…

Newscaster's Family Sues NFL Over Unauthorized Use in Madden 2006

The family of legendary football announcer John Facenda has filed a federal lawsuit against the NFL, NFL Films, and NFL Properties LLC in a Philadelphia court this week, for unauthorized use of Facenda's voice in a promotional video for the NFL-EA Sports title Madden NFL 2006, called "Making of Madden 2006." The Facenda family's attorney said that the league had been granted permission to use Facenda's voice in football highlights, but not in any endorsements or promotions of other businesses, and that the family is angry that his voice was used in a "30-minute commercial for the Madden game." The amount of damages they are seeking is unspecified.  We'll keep you posted.

Coverage:http://www.shorl.com/gytygruprykigo and athttp://www.gamepolitics.com.

MINNESOTA GAME LAW BLOCKED

Back in May, Minnesota introduced a law making it a petty misdemeanour for a person younger than 17 to rent or purchase a video game with an M or AO rating (seehere). As it has done in many other states, the ESA soon brought a constitutional challenge to the new law (seehere).

A US court has now blocked the law, saying that it violates freedom of speech rights. The judge also commented that Minnesota did not provide “empirical proof” that violent video games cause psychological harm to minors.

Coverage at:http://shorl.com/fadrodabomyfa(Game Spot)

Game Politics has a link to the decisionhere.

Sony patents new video game interface

Sony's patented process, which is intended to let users control the action in a video game, would allow a game system (such as the Playstation 3) to view a rod-like controller in a 2D camera image and map its position in 3D. Microsoft has already been granted a patent for a similar system but, unlike Sony’s process, it requires two cameras.  A wireless motion-sensing controller has also been announced for Nintendo's forthcoming Wii game system.

Coverage at:http://shorl.com/hugubrybijaba(Gamespot)

Always On, Off?
Nintendo might be taking one for the team in the name of energy conservation.  The UK is contemplating a new law to get citizens to save energy which would outlaw stand-by switches on electronics, after research found that electronics set on stand-by use eight percent of all domestic electricity in the country.  This is bad news for Nintendo's upcoming Wii console, an "always on" next generation machine whose selling point was its 24-hour connection to Nintendo's WiiConnect 24 download service, which would automatically download new content and the latest demos to consoles, 24 hours a day. Although it's not all bad news: no other European market has enacted a stand-by switch ban, which means Wii would really only be sunk in Old Blighty.  Read Gamespot's coveragehere.

Another day, another large-scale banning of MMORPG accounts

Square Enix announced on July 21, 2006 that it had banned or suspended more than 2,000 accounts for its popular Final Fantasy XI video game, citing violations of the user agreement on account of “malicious” use of third-party programs that enabled “abnormal in-game movement”. Use of such programs, states Square Enix, can destroy in-game balance and encourage trade of in-game gold for real world money. 

The ban by Square Enix is but the latest in a series of similar account suspensions in MMORPGs, with similar events occurring in games such as Ultima Online and World of Warcraft.

Coverage at:http://shorl.com/bofabrajedyky(Gamespot)

learning tools

Wii success to bring publishers pain?
According to the investing publication The Street.com, jaded gamers were not the only people who were shocked by Nintendo's Wii performance at E3 2006. Several game publishers were also floored by the new Wii-mote control system and how the audience…

Kojima to Design Snake's Level in'Super Smash Bros. Brawl'
CVG is reporting on some internet buzz that'Metal Gear Solid'creator, Hideo Kojima, will be designing the Snake level in the upcoming Wii game,'Super Smash Bros. Brawl'. As we reported a while back, Kojima agreed to include the…

Nintendo DS will teach you how to make sushi
Thanks to the Japanese-only release of the"Nintendo DS Cooking Navigator", you, too, can learn how to make sushi, along with 200 more Japanese delicacies. Of course, you'd have to know how to read and speak Japanese in order to…

"Prey"Walkthrough Complete!
Just in time for the weekend, the LB"Prey"Walkthrough is now complete and ready for action! BooYa. If you're stuck and in need of a little"Prey"help, please hop on over to our"Prey"guide to point you…

UPDATE: E3's Role to be Diminished? Boo-hiss!
Many sources are reporting that the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), the annual industry event held in L.A., is dead as we know it. No longer are thousands of"game industry"types going to be allowed to browse amongst the latest…

Video games that never got made
"Video games that never got made"is the theme of the Photoshop contest at Worth1000.com. Check it out for a few laughs. Among my favorites were"EA Sports'Caddyshack Bush Wood Country Club Tour 1980","World Cup Hooligans", and"Resident…

LB"Monster House"Walkthrough Complete!
I'm not going to lie to you."Monster House"was a disappointing game on every level. The characters move uncomfortably, there are glitches, saves are a problem, and it's oddly difficult for a game that's attractive, primarily, to kids. Of…