Pop & Chips!

A hint of something awesome?

2007-02-25T23:06:00.000-05:00

Wait and see!

It's never too early for flip flops

2007-02-25T22:52:00.000-05:00

Does it matter that it's February in Toronto? Does it matter that its one of the worst blizzardy nights we've had all winter? Heck no! Because we recieved two pairs of his and her original NES flipflops straight from Nintendo of Canada this week. Thank's everyone! As much as we wish we could rock these on some white sands, we're happy giving each other Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toes at home.

Nintendo DS: Kicking Ass and Taking Names

2006-12-05T11:41:00.000-05:00

I've always said it: Nintendo is to Videogaming what Dr. Dre is to Hip Hop; they rock their khakis with a cuff and a crease, and they reprazent for them gangstas all across the world. Despite the horrible friend code experience, world domination isn't too much to ask for. The Super Iwata Bros. couldn't be ress ronery considering they have blasted past initial sales forecasts of their hot little handheld DS and DS Lite. Kotaku caught my eye with the story posted on Reuters that basically outlined the company's sheer pwnage of leading competitor Sony on the handheld front.

In October (Nintendo) raised its sales forecast for the DS to 20 million units from 17 million for the year to March, while Sony cut its shipment target for competing PlayStation Portable by 25 percent to 9 million for the same period.

Those sales help boost an expected OPERATING PROFIT of close to $1.3 BILLION USD alone. Considering at least 4 million Wii units will be sold in North America alone before January with instant mark-up profit (versus $200 loss per unit for Sony) this success begs the question: Could the sheer Nintendo user base volume and potential cross-compatibility of the DS with Wii push Nintendo back to the top of the console race? Could this be the re-emergence of the 800LB Gorilla? If Microsoft has its way, probably not, but it definitely shows that Nintendo still knows how to play the game, still takin the time to perfect the beat, and they still got love for tha streets..

The Cutest Ever?

2006-11-23T15:45:00.000-05:00

Okay let me preface this by saying my little nicky is the cutest little squirrel in the superfun universe, but when I stumbled on this little story of invicible star-cross'd lovers and the digital-bitmapped wedding gift their close friends made for them I have to admit I blinked twice and sighed with my chin resting on both hands.

Seriously, how many people have a videogame starring themselves? Okay Tony Hawk, the Olsen Twins and all EA Sports titles aside, not even Shiggy has his own videogame custom made for him by his friends...

Head on over to Greggman's blog to check out the full story with pictures and video and prepare to sigh..

Mii Like You

2006-11-21T22:18:00.000-05:00

Post your Wii code in comments and join the parade!

Here's ours: 4626 6688 4184 8329

(remember: you have to add the code and be added)

Heart of Console : Success!

2006-11-19T21:42:00.000-05:00

Well, this was probably one of the stupidist things I've done. Nicky and I waited in a line with 300 other people on Dundas street for 8 hours in the cold for the opportunity to pick up a Nintendo Wii on launch day. For the most part the line was calm and organized with the ambient sounds of physics arguments, Pocky munching, and DS lite button-mashing and we managed to make some friends with people of all ages and walks of life who were just as crazy/desperate as us and happened to be trapped in the same line.

When dawn broke however, all hell started to break loose. The Best Buy staff were delayed an hour before handing out tickets - which is an extremely long hour for the sleep depraved, hungry attention-deficit-disordered. The tickets were numbered 1 through 300 based on the order of the line and were handed out accordingly - Nicky and I walked away with number 69. However due to mob mentality and a series of unfortunated misguided events, the order of the line quickly descended into survival of the fittest and some people who were first in line somehow found themselves behind number 252.

When the dust cleared though, everyone walked out with what they wanted, including Nicky and I, and all was well with the world. Shortly after we got back home (10:30am)we lost consciousness and blacked out. The pictures we took are the only proof that we didn't halucinate the whole ordeal.

I have to say though, it was totally worth it.

Heart of Console : Into the Congo

2006-11-18T23:27:00.000-05:00

As I write this with heavy heart, hundreds of fanboys across the land have resolved to hunker down into their local best buy lineups in anticipation of the launch of Wii. As a result, I too must succomb to this madness if I want any hope of having some degree of success in getting one. I have made my final preparations, packed plenty o Red Bull and begrudgingly will make my way to the front lines and dig myself a trench....the next time you hear from me I will have good news or horribly disappointing news...

Regardless of the outcome....I have become... one of them.......THE HORROR!!! THE HORROR!!!!!!!!

A Good Sign

2006-11-18T15:30:00.000-05:00

The display inside Best Buy is set up and ready to be depleted in a matter of hours and the good news is that no one is setting a bad precedent by camping outside. Unfortunately the same can't be said for 3 hardcore fangirls camping outside Toronto's most ghetto Futureshop establishment (seriously this one makes Lexington, Kentucky look safe) who have been there since last night even despite the complete lack of lineups anywhere in the city (let alone the Best Buy sporting 300 units just a block away) For your sake (and mine) I didn't take a picture of them.

Heart of Console : Day 5

2006-11-18T10:20:00.000-05:00

I am happy to announce that the Nintendo fanboys in Toronto have held out a full 20 hours before launch and not one is lined up yet outside of Best Buy. My faith in humanity has been restored a little. Of course the day is early and I expect the nail-biters will be giving in soon. Will it be 15 hours before launch, 10 hours, dare I say 4 hours before the masses hit the pavement and wait in line? Wii shall see, especially since the Bay and Dundas location has confirmed they have in excess of a whopping 280 units available (thanks in part to their cross-promotion event with Nintendo: Gaming Invasion 06 event), I don't see the need for a massive overnight line-up considering there is huge potential for walk-in success with those kind of numbers...standby..

New Plan

2006-11-17T22:07:00.000-05:00

Okay, if THIS guy can score a Wii 2 days early than he is either much smarter or luckier than I and I hate him more than the douchebags camping for multiple days.

My new secondary objective: Rely on the sheer stupidity/laziness of clueless Sears employees..

Heart of Console : Day 4

2006-11-17T19:40:00.000-05:00

There's less than 28 hours to launch day and I can say that I'm prepared as I'll ever be. It's up to destiny now to determine my fate, and by destiny I mean the volume of psycho morons who choose to line up more than 28 hours in advance when a simple 2-hour wait is (mildly insane) ample.

I've done my math and geographical triangulations and I believe I have a solid gameplan that won't force me to wait outside for hours like an ill-behaved dog with a cruel owner. It does mean there is a serious possibility of a videogame roadtrip taking place this weekend.

By the Numbers..

2006-11-16T18:45:00.000-05:00

As of today, numbers of actual consoles available have been revealed at most major retailers. The numbers aren't too surprising.. Here's a run-down on the major outlets in downtown Toronto:

Best Buy (Bay/Dundas):
PS3 60GB = 76
PS3 20GB = 16
Wii = a number of employees confirmed there is in excess of 100, but probably no more than 125.

Future Shop (Yonge/Gould):
PS3 60GB = 12
PS3 20GB = 0
Wii = no employee would comment despite numbers posted on their website suggesting 15-60.

HMV (Yonge/Dundas):
PS3 = None whatsoever
Wii = 30 (confirmed)

Walmart:
Employees have no idea what I was talking about.

Heart of Console : Day 3

2006-11-16T13:56:00.000-05:00

Call it mercy, or downright common courtesy, in an attempt to soothe the concerns of escalating consumer anxiety over supply for both the PS3 and Wii, Futureshop has issued a statement on their website to outline their launch day policies and confirm minimum numbers of consoles being shipped to locations. They are claiming each store will have a MINIMUM of 10 PS3 consoles and 15-60 Wii consoles. The stores will be opening at 8am on Sunday and staff will be handing out tickets 2 hours before opening to gaurantee a purchase. No ticket, no console. They have also confirmed that in order to meet these number gaurantees, store employees are not allowed to purchase any of the systems on launch day...There is a glimmer of hope as my quest continues..

Gaming Invasion 06

2006-11-16T12:57:00.000-05:00

If you're gonna be in Toronto this weekend and have been left empty-handed in the wake of next-gen launches all hope is not lost. The friendly friends at Best Buy are hosting a next-gen videogamestravaganza all weekend long at Yonge-Dundas Square starting tomorrow through Sunday. Each day of the event showcases a different system so you can choose which day best suits your needs. It promises to have "awesome" interactive displays and prize giveaways every hour on the hour with chances to win PS3s, 360s, and Wiis - oh my!! Here's a quick breakdown of the schedule and a handy PDF if you prefer:

Friday: PS3 Showcase 10am-6pm
Saturday: XBOX 360 Showcase 10am-2pm
Sunday: Nintendo Wii Showcase 11am-6pm

Heart of Console : Day 2

2006-11-15T21:09:00.000-05:00

Well, as you can see the Wii's have landed at Best Buy outlets across North America. Sadly, it's too late to pull off my initial plan of holding up a UPS delivery truck (seriously, I watched HEAT three times to devise a strategy). The good news is that the units will not be made available for sale until Sunday morning. Plan B is in full effect..

Yesterday Nicky was able to gather some reconnaisance materials from the Wii-launch event. Namely, a Wii-branded T-shirt and Media Kit grounded my focus for the task at hand. I have procured a vehicle, done some investigating and research on my primary targets, and have prepared an itinerary for battle this weekend. I can only take comfort in knowing my sanity is at least slightly more stable than some of the folks in the US who have been camping out all week for the PS3...slightly....degrees.

The journey continues..

Wii Launch Love-in

2006-11-14T18:49:00.000-05:00

This morning was the official Canadian Wii launch event at Atlantis in the symbol of technological progress a la 1974, Ontario Place. But we braced the rusting bridge to get our hands on 38 Wii consoles loaded with games like The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Rayman: Raving Rabbids, Red Steel, Super Monkey Ball, ExciteTruck and Wii Sports.

The event was like any other media event - a heavily branded space with lots of games and pounding techn music. Ron Bertram, prez of NOCL made a breif speech that reassured media that Wii would be the winner this holiday season thanks to the success of DS and their "disruptive" philosophy. And then on to the games!

I managed to get some good face time with Rayman: Raving Rabbids (which was not demo-ed at all at E3) and it's pretty darn cute. What is essentially a disc full of mini-games, Rayman runs into a large arena and behind each door is a mini-game where the objective is to take advantage of the rabbids weaknesses (their love of eating and disco dancing and unfamiliarity with cows). The games are short and easy - the graphics are fun and cartoony, which suits the Wii.

I watched a lot of Red Steel - it was one of the longest waits at the event (longer than Zelda - wtf?) and I can honestly say that Gears of War has ruined every other shooter for me. Red Steel was boring with long story cut cenes and the gameplay seemed trivial at best. While I understand I was watching one of the first levels being played, the pure lack of visuals that Gears has turned me right off.

That brings me to Legend of Zelda - yeah it is awesome. The controls are very natural despite there being a lot of them mapped onto every button and the graphics look vibrant and stunning on the Wii. The way Link moves, rolls, climbs, jumps feels really great - he looks good as you move him, not stiff at all. I wasn't able to try any of the combat (boo), but I'm excited to pick this game up.

I won't go on about Wii Sports - if you have friends they will like these games. You will not like these games if you are a loner. Nuff said.

I got some okay swag that I will take a few pics of when I get home and let 8Bit rummage through it all.

Heart of Console : Day 1

2006-11-14T17:34:00.000-05:00

Every man has a calling. I do not. I have a need to escape from the annoying responsibilities and stress of working that far outweighs anything meaningful. I have an innate desire to play videogames. Perhaps this is my calling.

That is why I must do this; as a simple man without a pre-order and nothing to lose, I am going to do whatever it takes to purchase a Nintendo Wii this weekend on launch day. I am prepared to journey deep into the jungle of hardcore nerds, fanboys, and virgins across Southern Ontario retail chains and do whatever it takes to claim my prize.

Starting today I am developing a gameplan and strict regimen to make this happen. My livelihood, self-respect, and dignity are at stake.

This is my quest. Hopefully I will come through the other side without succombing to madness. I will keep you posted on the developments..

Emergence PLAY!

2006-11-06T21:05:00.000-05:00

Okay I'm gonna make this quick coz I just got my grubby paws on an advance copy (Well 1 night in advance)of the most anticipated XBOX game since Halo 2 and I need to squeeze a few hours in before midnight just to justify the luxury. I'm talkin GEARS OF WAR BABY! WOOOOOT!

The Canadian faction of the Xbox Live community held an intimate to-do tonight over the launch of the game at an apropriately dirty post-apocalyptic venue in downtown Toronto known as the Berkley Church hosted by the lovely and lively "Jade Live". The turn-out wasn't overwhelming and Nicky was one of 3 females in an otherwise sweaty, moderately obese sausage party, but when there's only 16 stations to play the game a smaller crowd is a good thing.

Anyway, the bottom line is we got a chance to see the game in action, drink all the RC Cola we wanted, and wait for it...on our way out both Nicky and I were treated to a complimentary copy of the full retail game. Talk about ANTI-anti-climactic. Free swag is good, but free Gears of War before release is like a little bit of Christmas...in a bloody chainsaw-gun-wielding sort of way...I'll see you on LIVE tomorrow and I'll be bringing my few hours of advance practice with me....bring it!

me VERSUS you

2006-10-30T21:30:00.000-05:00

Odds are that you and I have one thing in common: we are one of the thousands of unlucky saps who don't have a review copy or pre-order for the much-anticipated Wii. Whether you're a fanboy, fangirl, lonely videophile, or hot-blooded button-masher we can agree that when it comes down to it, one of us wants to get our hot little hands on that 10 cubic inches of Japanese-engineered silicon and plastic just a little bit more than the other and we're willing to wait outside in line at Best Buy to get it. Considering the rumours circulating about actual Wii console numbers (and the sheer lack thereof PS3 consoles) being shipped to local Best Buy retailers across North America, you better hope that you are one of the first 100 people in line on launch day. Training begins today: sleep deprivation, pre-packaged snacks, street reconnaisance, and of course the toughest to master of all; bathroom deprivation. There is no prize for number 101 and one week after launch is a long time to wait for sloppy seconds. So how bad do you want it? We'll find out on launch day and whether you're in front of me or behind me on November 19th only one thing is certain: It's time to earn your gametime.

A Plug-in Pinata

2006-10-18T10:15:00.000-04:00

Cool News reported this morning that next year we can expect a line of figurines based on Viva Pinata characters. Better yet, these figurines will plug right into the XBOX360 and upload special extras for the game.

"The figurines (which won't go on sale for another year) plug right into that Xbox 360, enabling kids to "download and upload special 'powers' and other attributes that can be spent in the pinata game world," kind of like "an electronic-age equivalent of Pokemon cards." Says Ed Ventura, Microsoft's vp of franchise development: "We're trying to build a world."

A video game peripheral that is also a toy or collectable figure is genius!

Canadian Pre-Orders Start Monday!

2006-10-12T12:41:00.000-04:00

It's official. EB Games will start Canadian pre-orders of both PS3 and Wii on Monday, Ocotber 16. But you have to put down a $50 Trade In OR a $200 deposit. EB Games released this on their website today:

EB Games Canada stores will begin accepting limited pre-orders for the PlayStation 3 and Wii consoles on Monday, October 16, on a first come, first served basis. Due to extremely limited supply, we expect to reach our limit very quickly, most likely in minutes. We will not accept additional pre-orders at that time. To avoid an unnecessary trip we strongly recommend you call your local store to determine availability. $50 CDN in trade or a $200 CDN cash/credit reservation deposit is required. As we cannot control production and shipping issues by the manufacturer, a reservation deposit does not guarantee receipt of a system available to purchase at launch. Reservations/Purchases are limited to 1 per household.

I'm so torn - I HATE EB Games with a vegence. And I hate that they are asking for me to hand over $200 - which is 3/4 the prices of the Wii! But I really want the security that receipt brings. It will lull me to sleep with visions of Rayman's Raving Rabbids and Legend of Zelda. Or I camp out at Best Buy with the rest of the masses..which could be fun. We could smuggle in some beers and hang with the homies on Bay & Dundas. So who wants to join my camp out on November 18?

Panty Raid

2006-10-11T18:06:00.000-04:00

While Kotaku and GeekonStun fantasize about teenage girls wearing Nintendo panties, we sophistocated lovers-of-the-game chose these cotton blends as our personal favourite. How cute would it be to play WoW in these?

Not only are they Canadian-made and 12 bucks (!), but they're perfectly devilish just in time for Hallowe'en. And you know what they say about girls who wear black undies... Order them from Sick on Sin.

X'06 for Canucks

2006-10-10T17:48:00.000-04:00

Have you got your invite to Microsoft's PR-fueled X'06 event in Toronto yet?

It's no Barcelona, but "Jade," (XBOX Canada's community organizer) guarantees me that those who show up will be first to play unreleased 360 games in the flesh. And really, demos of Gears of War,(maybe)Blue Dragon, and even Viva Pinata are too good to pass up.

When: Wednesday, Oct 18
Time: 4:30-7:30p.m.
Where: Brant House, 522 King St West

The link on the XBOX.ca page is gone, but if you e-mail a "pretty please" letter to Jade at jade@microsoft.com, you still might have a chance to get in on this!

pWii-Orders

2006-10-09T20:55:00.000-04:00

With less than 6 weeks to go before launch, there is still no information regarding pre-orders for both Wii and PS3..what's up? In the meantime this Mii will have to get me by..

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving

2006-10-08T20:07:00.000-04:00

It's Canadian Thanksgiving - which means a few days away from home, away from WoW, away from the XBOX360 to sit in my parent's living room stuffed with turkey and dream about all the gaming excitement that's about to start. Just think about it, soon the stores will be stocked with some of the year's most anticipated games, and by the time America cleans their plates on their own Thanksgiving weekend, we will be that much closer to the PS3 and Wii releases.

Since I've had some time to reflect I've come up with a short pre-christmas wish list of all the titles I am looking forward to in the next little while. Tell me, what does yours include?

Nicky's List:
1. Final Fantasy XII (PS2)
2. Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess (Wii)
3. World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade (Mac)
4. Viva Pinata (XBOX360)
5. Gears of War (XBOX360)
6. Rayman: Raving Rabbids (Wii)
7. Bully (PS2)
8. Guitar Hero II (PS2)
9. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
10. Wario Ware Smooth Moves (Wii)