Grand Theft Idiot

Why is it that video gamers have such a bad rap? Oh yeah - because of this guy.

The RCMP has charged this GTA acolyte, Shylo Kujawski, in Vancouver in connection with jacking a number of vehicles. What tipped the cops off? The MASSIVE "Grand Theft Auto" tattoo on his back and shoulders.

"Police said during the stakeout they also watched Kujawski thwart his own attempt to drive away in another stolen vehicle by accidentally disabling the car with the owner's steering wheel lock."

That's right tough guy, there's actually more to stealing a car than opening the door and driving away. More here.

Canadian Award Show Sucks? Shocking!

Frodo from Weekly Geek has posted his experience at this past weekend's ELAN awards. The what? Oh, the Canadian Awards for the Electronic & Animated Arts...so the CAEAA -er ELAN, right. Anyway, it comes as little surprise to hear the event described as "boring," "horrible" and rife with D-List stars that have little to no bearing on the video-game industry like William Shatner (who hates everything but money), the Cigarette-Smoking Man from the X-Files, and some other handful of no-names.

While that can all be accepted AND expected from industry events, what can't be so easily shrugged off is the exclusion of video game talent east of Vancouver - hello Pseudo Interactive in Toronto, Digital Extremes in London and friggin' Ubisoft in Montreal - who were not even at the show. Instead, as Frodo tells us, the same 4 or 5 games, mostly from EA Vancouver, were nominated over and over again for multiple award categories.

Our chance for the Canadian industry to be taken seriously and instead we leave impressions like this:

This was the first year of the Elans. It was marketed as an Oscar-like red carpet event, honoring the best of the best in the Canadian Video Game and Animation Industry. What it ended up being was a hastily put together Vancouver developers-only love-in. It said nothing for the quality of product coming out of Canada, in fact it made Canada look horrible in comparison to the US and Japan. The winners weren't even worthwhile to report on.

Awesome.

Read the full account here.

Two Months and Counting...

That's all I've got for tonight...

Wii price in Canada

Calling all Canadians, gather up your Canadian Tire bucks because according to QJ.net Nintendo of Canada has confirmed the Canadian launch price of the Wii at $279.99CDN. This works out to the exact same price in the US after current currency conversion so we're getting a pretty good deal. In addition to that, games will be priced at $59.99CDN and the Canadian launch date will remain the same as the US on November 19th so good news all around, especially considering almost every country outside of North America is facing a longer wait for release and higher costs when it arrives..

That age-old debate...

Obviously, despite all the fun and exciting Nintendo news, Canadians today are still shocked and upset by the shooting at Montreal's Dawson College yesterday afternoon. One person was killed and 19 were injured when Kimveer Gill opened fire in the school's cafeteria. A very sad and scary event, it was hard to watch as frightened teens ran from the school.

But, in true Sun Media-style, we see this morning's headline "Video Game Killer" on the front page. And the accompanying article isn't much smarter:

On a scary website, Kimveer Gill describes himself as a potential killer and admits that his favourite video game is Super Columbine Massacre.

The 25-year-old Laval man wrote: "Work sucks, school sucks, life sucks ... What else can I say?"

On goth lifestyle forums where he regularly participated, he signed his posts as "Fatality666" and finished all his comments with: "Life is a video game and you gonna die sometime."

Hmmm.. "scary website," and "goth." The slant is here is very obvious. A slant that really plays into the media sensationalizing by publications like the Sun. It pigeonholes and only perpetuates the binary that all video games are bad. While I've never played Super Columbine Massacre, I'm sure there are millions who have, who all live "normal" lives - just like there are millions of Grand Theft Auto players who are not jacking cars and beating up hookers in their spare time.

What do you think?

Wii get a little more news

The official Wii website is up and has posted the complete list of the Wii titles slated for North American release at launch and into 2007. Nothing really surprising, except for the release of DS cult hit Trauma Center: Second Opinion. Check out the video above for a taste of the gameplay.

After you check out the American list, visit 1up.com to see the Japanese list, which has some great games like Animal Crossing!!! I spent my entire winter playing the DS version, and its both a blessing and a curse to release it on Wii. I wonder if you will be able to put your Mii in the game as your character!

Wii-LEASE DATE AND PRICE!!

Mark your calendars, November 19th is the official relase date and it won't come soon enough. A little surprising is that Nintendo will be pricing the system at $249.99US which generally translates into $299.99CDN retail value. A little more pricey than anticipated but still more than affordable for next-gen. Reggie Fils-Aime confirmed all of these details moments ago as expected at the press conference in NYC today.

At launch, Nintendo is keeping it simple "One price, one configuration, one colour", here's what comes in the box:

console hardware
cables
sensor bar
one Wii remote
one nunchuk controller
A game has not been confirmed although I suspect Wii Sports will make it into the package....hmmm

More details to follow I'm sure as information pours out all over the place today..

Game On!

EA Sports hosted Canada's Biggest Street Hockey Game today at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto to generate pre-launch buzz for their latest release NHL 07 which hits shelves Thursday. Basically they fenced-in the entire block, set-up four nets and goalies, and handed out shiny new red Reebok hockey sticks and T-shirts to anyone who wanted to jump into the action (after signing a liability waiver of course). I have to say that it was awesome.

In addition to the ruckus on the pavement, different tents were organized featuring multiple playing stations where gamers got hands-on experience with the as-yet unreleased title for the 360, slapshot competitions, and of course a food tent featuring all of the food groups that exist in a hotdog. Later on the big guy himself, Alexander Ovechkin, stopped by to grab some press time in front of the cameras and sit through an interview with that deer-in-headlights-douchebag Tim from Much Music. I couldn't help but jump right in and try everything at once and somehow I managed to walk away with an Ovechkin-autographed stick and a profound need to own this game..

Nicky managed to grab a few photos of the mayhem including one of me being ignored by the game's producer Dean Richards...he was just mad because I beat him at his own game...

Reach Out and Touch.....Generations

In an effort to reach out and touch your grandma, Nintendo has officially coined today, September 10, Grandparents Day as part of their Touch Generations marketing campaign.

"The concept is elegantly simple -- games for everyone. No rulebook thick enough to stop a bullet, no crazy gameplay that takes days to get used to. Touch Generations games are designed to appeal to folks from all walks."

In honour of this momentous occasion, Nintendo is offering a bundle package featuring the DS Lite or DS Fat along with your choice of either Brain Age, or Big Brain Academy for the low low price of $159.99CDN at most major retailers including EB Games, Best Buy, Amazon/HMV. Basically you're saving a whopping $5 bucks compared to buying each separately. So far as I know Future Shop is not participating for some reason...probably because your grandpa smells funny and they don't think he deserves it.

Nintendo Fanboy Pride

Okay I know this little parody on the iMac ads has been floating around for a couple weeks now, but as the anticipation builds between next-gen consoles it's great to see healthy competition displayed through sarcastic, denegrating commentary --especially when the upperhand belongs to the oft-rejected, teased, and ridiculed Nintendo Fanboy sect...

Holy Hockey Sticks!

To celebrate the launch of XBOX360's NHL 07, Microsoft is organizing a massive street hockey game at Yonge-Dundas square in Toronto! So calling all Toronto gamers, get your ass down there on Monday - Microsoft will supply the sticks and shirts.

Where: Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto
When: September 11, 2006
Time: Registration starts at 10:30am & game(s) start at 11:15 until 2:00p.m.

Get the details here: XBOX Canada

Going LOCO

In the fun frenzied Mexican-pinata-swinging sense, I am going loco for LOCOROCO! This is by far the cutest game ever released (sorry Katamari, I still love you), but those bloaty blobs with the smiley faces captivate my heart. And even better is the music! It's super kawaii to the max mixed with baby jibberish! This game will even save the on-the-rocks relationship I have with my PSP. No Dr. Phil needed.

But why, oh why is Futureshop telling me I can't have what I want? It's listing Loco at an awesome marked down price of $39.99CAN...but not until Oct 31...WTF?? When 8BIT called EB Games on Tuesday they told him all those little ROCO's were "in transit" on their way to the store, and even HMV is listing it as being released 4 days ago...

EFF-BOX!!!

Well. I guess it was only a matter of time....out of nowhere and for seemingly no reason at all, our 360 decided to check out early and give us the dreaded 3 red lights of doom. Who knew that turning on a console could cause so much damage? The brightside is that the warranty gaurantees I'll get a sweet refurb replacement that will conk out in another 2-3 months...woot.