http://nerdmentality.com/ Putting the N back in Entertainment en-us Fri, 18 May 2012 13:01:47 PDT Copyright NerdMentality 2001-2010 NerdMentality http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Nintendo http://nerdmentality.com/rss/rsslogo.png http://nerdmentality.com/ webmaster@n-philes.com (Gareth Trinkwon) dc@nerdmentality.com (Desire Garcia) Fri, 18 May 2012 13:01:47 PDT http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5972 One does not simply play the Diablo series. It's more like being in a relationshipa one-sided relationship where one person is flighty and non-committal and the other is always forgiving and welcoming. Think of it like old girlfriend you "hate" that immediately calls you every time a guy breaks up with her. The key here is, in this relationship, you are the evil ex and Diablo will always be there to pick up the phone. Staying power and almost infinite replayability are factors that make Diablo II one of the best games of all time, computer-based or otherwise. And with Diablo III finally releasing fans from over a decade's worth of digital vasocongestion, there's no better time to look back and reflect upon how amazing a game Diablo II was and still is to me. Fri, 18 May 2012 15:36:06 PDT Frankie Aguilar Feature http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5972#comments nphiles-1337380566-5972 http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5971 While I missed the boat on the original Phantasy Star Online for Dreamcast when it released over a decade ago, I played preposterous amounts of the later three Episodes on the GameCube and PC. The novelty of a "true" action MMORPG and an addicting rare loot system was fair incentive for me to spend hundreds of hours grinding across Ragol with friends both online and offline. Imagine my disappointment a few years later when I played Phantasy Star Universe, the next major Phantasy Star title, and discovered that most of that great PSO gameplay had been almost completely eviscerated. It could have totally passed as completely different series if not for a few trademark IPs present in the game.Thankfully, Sonic Team realized they had blundered and began incorporating more and more of Phantasy Star Online's gameplay back into the subsequent spinoff titles on the DS and PSP. Some fans even joked that the next game might as well be "Phantasy Star Online 2" if the trend were to continue. Imagine their surprise when, at an event celebrating the tenth anniversary of the series, Sega announced a true sequel to PSO.I recently had the opportunity to play in the Japanese closed beta for Phantasy Star Online 2 on the PC, and after about a week of playtime I can say that PSO2 more than lives up its predecessor's name. Not only does the game evoke ridiculous amounts of nostalgia for the original PSO, it also cherry-picks the best gameplay enhancements introduced in the Universe games while adding a plethora of features new to the franchise. Could this game end up being the best action MMORPG gaming has to offer when it releases later this year? More than likely, I would say. Wed, 16 May 2012 13:32:39 PDT Oliver Chen Review http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5971#comments nphiles-1337200359-5971 http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5970 Man, corporations just can't stop pissing us off. You've got Sony's flagrant Trials clone and Zynga's boneheaded attempt to control the social-gaming market by buying or copying anything that's popular at the moment. Thankfully, heroes like Mojang's Markus Persson hold the line, calling out EA for publishing an "indie bundle." The guys try out Mojang's Minecraft: Xbox 360 Version and revel in the indie wonderment and good-cheer to fellow gamers. Until... something horrible happens. Tue, 15 May 2012 11:32:52 PDT J Edison Thomas News http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5970#comments nphiles-1337106772-5970 http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5969 As I learned a few years ago, the local library can be a pretty good place to find comics. Had I known this when I was a kid, I probably would have spent a lot more time at the library, and I probably would have read a lot more comics. As it turns out, despite being a big fan of characters like Spider-Man, Batman and the X-Men, what I knew about comics characters came from Saturday morning cartoons, movies, and discussions with nerdier friends. The only comics I had ever read in my childhood and teenage years were the incredibly stupid DC vs. Marvel crossover a friend in high school lent me, and a Captain America PSA comic about asthma that I got from my doctor. Neither of them made me feel any better about comics, or about having asthma. Fri, 11 May 2012 18:03:40 PDT J Edison Thomas News http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5969#comments nphiles-1336784620-5969 http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5968 This week, Frankie calls in to talk about Microsoft's $99 Xbox deal, Elder Scrolls Online, The Avengers' big box office haul, and everyone synchronizes their excitement levels for the upcoming Batman blockbuster, The Dark Knight Rises. Thu, 10 May 2012 09:50:35 PDT J Edison Thomas News http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5968#comments nphiles-1336668635-5968 http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5967 Do you remember when you were little and you came out of movies mimicking the hero you just watched? Maybe you play fought your little brother with phantom lightsabers or pretended to fly like Superman. That feeling of elation, that inability to verbalize the awesomeness of what you'd just seen, leading you to act like a fool, is what I felt coming out of The Avengers. I was hyped, stoked, whatever hip adjective for happy you can come up with. I was happy because I felt like everything that led up to this movie wasn't in vain, that my fandom and faith were rewarded. And on top of all that, The Avengers is just great. Fri, 04 May 2012 14:41:49 PDT Frankie Aguilar Review http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5967#comments nphiles-1336167709-5967 http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5966 This week, the gang gushes over Trials Evolution, laments over Nintendo's financial woes, strokes their beards over Nintendo releasing major titles as digital downloads, and drags Sony over the coals for shamelessly ripping off Super Smash Bros. Thu, 03 May 2012 13:47:59 PDT J Edison Thomas News http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5966#comments nphiles-1336078079-5966 http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5965 In 1862 (that's about 700 years ago), the Mexicans defeated the French in an unlikely, yet decisive victory in the Battle of Puebla. Every year since the Mexicans conquered the Cylons and saved the galaxy, celebrations were held in May to commemorate our brothers to the south. Our history may not be totally accurate, but our knowledge of the awesome games coming out this month are pretty on-point. Grab some Top Shelf Margs, pound some Coronas, and turn on your gaming system because May is going to be one hell of a month. Wed, 02 May 2012 20:42:13 PDT Anthony DiPalma Feature http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5965#comments nphiles-1336016533-5965 http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5964 This past weekend the Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier multiplayer beta went live. More than a few Ubisoft fans were treated to a chance to preview the latest installment of what can be seen as one of the godfathers of modern online multiplayer. The practice of releasing multiplayer betas has become increasingly in vogue due to the popularity and importance placed on a solid multiplayer presence in any game with a gun. Unfortunately, when you throw the word beta around, there's bound to be technical hiccups, but the hint of what could be was interesting enough. Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:39:02 PDT Frankie Aguilar Review http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5964#comments nphiles-1335555542-5964 http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5963 This week, we talk up the Hulk's animated features on Netflix Instant Streaming, the Hulk vs. double-featuring with Thor and Wolverine stories and Planet Hulk. Frankie calls in to talk up his impressions of last weekend's Diablo III beta, and we wonder whether the New Super Mario Bros. series is a license to print money or if Nintendo faithful should expect better. Thu, 26 Apr 2012 12:48:31 PDT J Edison Thomas News http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5963#comments nphiles-1335469711-5963 http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5962 A few days ago during Nintendo's newest Japanese Nintendo Direct news feed, company President, Satoru Iwata, announced a new 3DS firmware update (along with many other announcements) that would allow players to create folders on the 3DS' HOME Menu. That update released early this morning and has likely already helped many 3DS owners clean up their cluttered HOME Menus. It's fast and simple to create the folders, but a little more could be added to make the organization experience easier. Wed, 25 Apr 2012 17:58:26 PDT Adam Grayson News http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5962#comments nphiles-1335401906-5962 http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5961 Maybe you're one of the four people who live under a rock and don't understand the epic amazingness that is Game of Thrones. Relax, it's fine, really. Nobody* is judging you! Westeros is a big place, though, and filled with backstabbing, thieving, money-grubbing and whore-mongering bastards. Which of these bastards can you trust? Well we're here to help you pick a side or five in the battle for the Iron Throne. Read our handy-dandy, totally awesome guide to the Five Kings vying for control of the Seven Kingdoms and pledge your loyalty! A word of warning, though: Season 1 spoilers will be below, so if you have not finished, you'd better hurry up... Winter is coming.*Everybody is judging you. Tue, 24 Apr 2012 00:04:04 PDT Anthony DiPalma Feature http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5961#comments nphiles-1335251044-5961 http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5960 Almost every person with any kind of access to electronics plays video games in some shape or form. From Solitaire and Farmville to World of Warcraft and Call of Duty, video games hit with all demographics. However, there are points in most people's lives where a game comes along that turns them from a person that plays video games into a full fledged gamer. Any gamer worth their salt from my generation is gonna start by laying claim to Super Mario Brothers, Battletoads, Chrono Trigger, GoldenEye or even Zero Wing if only to secure O.G. status. They'll probably continue by rattling off their system history, console by console, making sure to wax nostalgic about all the gems featured on them. I'll admit, I've competed in these digital pissing contest a few times but that e-penis measurement, much like its real life counterpart, is wholly self serving. When you get down to a more personal level, most gamers have got to have that one title that made them realize, this isn't just a hobby for me, this is part of my life. And for me it is undoubtedly Metal Gear Solid. Fri, 20 Apr 2012 13:35:25 PDT Frankie Aguilar Feature http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5960#comments nphiles-1334954125-5960 http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5959 Selling itself as How the Humble Pun Revolutionized Language, Changed History, and Made Wordplay More than Some Antics, author John Pollack's labor of love for English's least-favorite form of humor comes out swinging. Pollack makes the case that puns are appreciated by the well-adjusted, that they were largely revered throughout the greater part of human civilization, and that an incidental side-effect of changing fashions in philosophy could be the only reason they are currently in such a low state. But more than anything, his goal is to show readers that puns are necessary. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:45:14 PDT J Edison Thomas Review http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5959#comments nphiles-1334781914-5959 http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5958 Selling itself as How the Humble Pun Revolutionized Language, Changed History, and Made Wordplay More than Some Antics, author John Pollack's labor of love for English's least-favorite form of humor comes out swinging. Pollack makes the case that puns are appreciated by the well-adjusted, that they were largely revered throughout the greater part of human civilization, and that an incidental side-effect of changing fashions in philosophy could be the only reason they are currently in such a low state. But more than anything, his goal is to show readers that puns are necessary. Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:28:43 PDT J Edison Thomas News http://nerdmentality.com/news.php?id=5958#comments nphiles-1334780923-5958