Half-Life: Origins Brings Us Back

One of the many things that people love and remember about the original Half-Life is the opening sequence that featured no combat and set the stage for the rest of the game. This fan made short movie does a great job of highlighting many of the familiar sites and sounds of Black Mesa, all in live action!

Race Across Land, Air And Sea!

Coming soon to the Nintendo 3DS, the official site for Mario Kart 7 has launched giving fans an edge on how to race the fastest in the wildest Mario Kart game yet! Different sections highlight product features ranging from local multiplayer, download play and how to customize your kart. Express your personal style and racing preferences with a range of chassis, tires, and gliders. Bulk up with monster wheels for battle mode or opt for slim and sleek parts to zip through Grand Prix mode. Click on Items to see an array of devastating items within your reach. Blast your opponents with Koopa shells, use Mushrooms for a speedy boost, and discover all-new items that will give you an edge on these tricked out tracks.

Where Were You In ’92?

A World of Nirvana is a website created as a tribute to Kurt Cobain. This online app uses Google Maps and YouTube APIs to create a catalog of Nirvana live concert footage. Select a year to see videos starting in 1987 to 1994. The location of the concerts are then shown on a Google map and when you click on one of the icons, the site pulls videos of that concert from YouTube and plays it in an info window. Scroll through the list at the top of the page to see all of the available concert videos for that year, with the date and location Nirvana played.

Sony Says PS Vita Is True Gaming Device

Given the rise of smartphone gaming, many have called into question the future of dedicated portable gaming systems such as the PS Vita. Because of this, Sony Worldwide Studios European senior VP Michael Denny called upon gamers to support the system.

“Our mission, our vision, is that we now have a portable gaming system that is going to be massively appealing to gamers – initially core gamers, but then a wider sense of gamers going forward,” he noted. “We have to concentrate on our plans and make sure we supply the right games, the right experience, the right software, and the right social connectivity for the platform. I believe if you care about games you’re going to want a Vita.”

“We have to acknowledge that we’re coming into a very competitive landscape in the portable, mobile gaming market,” he admitted. “But I think the main thing for us is that we are a true next-gen platform. We are going to truly differentiate ourselves from the competition, so people who do care about the gaming – who want a deeper, richer, more immersive experience with their gaming – are going to absolutely love this device. It’s been built from the ground up with creative games developers in mind as well, to give a hardware feature set that we think is unrivaled. With the launch line-up that we have as well, we feel it will be compelling to gamers everywhere.”

Source: VideoGamer

Facebook Could See $10 Billion IPO

Facebook could see a $10 billion IPO in 2012, which would be larger than even Google. The social network could see a $100 billion valuation, with a planned time frame of April to June 2012.

While CEO Mark Zuckerberg has wanted to keep the company private, there have been discussions with the Securities and Exchange Commission that Facebook isn’t confirming or denying for right now. “We’re not going to participate in speculation about an IPO,” said Facebook spokesman Larry Yu.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Verizon Makes TV Channels Available On Xbox Live Gold

Verizon has announced that 26 channels will be available on the Xbox 360 for Xbox Live Gold members and Verizon’s FIOS TV & Internet subscribers. Those that haven’t signed up for FIOS can purchase FIOS TV, FIOS 35/35 MBps Internet, Verizon voice service, a 12 month Xbox Live Gold Membership and a copy of Halo Anniversary for $89.99 a month.

“Joining forces with Microsoft and Xbox, we are breaking the boundaries between TV and gaming, and furthering the borderless lifestyle Verizon customers enjoy with our new offers and services,” said Eric Bruno, vice president of consumer and mass business product management for Verizon. “We are putting the controls in our customers’ hands, and giving them the ability to watch TV on another dynamic device that they can control with voice and gesture commands. Whether it’s your Xbox, your mobile device, your PC or your traditional television, Verizon will continue to deliver the programming consumers want, where, where and how they want it.”

WeTopia Social Game Benefits Charities

Sojo Studios has launched a Facebook game which is called WeTopia. The social game benefits charity projects in the real world, including Save the Children, buildOn and Children’s Health Fund.

“Save The Children is thrilled to be part of Sojo Studios’ innovative approach to social gaming,” said Save The Children CEO Carolyn Miles. “WeTopia will help build awareness about important social issues and give people a fun way to make a lasting difference for children in need. Thanks to Sojo, millions of people can become partners in the work we do each day.”

“We believe in collaborative play as a force for social good,” said Sojo’s CEO and entrepreneur Lincoln Brown. “Players can have fun with friends and family in-game, experience the thrill of supporting projects they choose that help people around the world, and track the progress of these projects on a day-to-day basis. This, combined with the popularity and reach of ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show,’ makes a powerful combination.”

Monthly users for WeTopia currently tops out at around 50,000. DeGeneres will talk about the game on her show and have creative contribution to future games.

“I am so proud to be involved with WeTopia,” said DeGeneres. “You know when you hear about an idea and you instantly fall in love with it That’s how I felt when I heard about WeTopia spreading joy to people around the world. It’s kinda the same way I felt about Pajama Jeans, only more so.”

WeTopia generates revenue from sponsors and marketing, with 50 percent of all profits going to donations. Players earn “Joy” in the game, which is then donated to various non-profit projects around the world.

Dark Knight Rises Batman Finale For Bale

Christian Bale has played the Batman since the movie Batman Begins. However, the accomplished actor has stated that The Dark Knight Rises will be his last film as Batman, leaving many to wonder if a new incarnation of the character will appear in a future Justice League film.

“I wrapped a few days ago so that will be the last time I’m taking that cowl [Batman hood] off,” said Bale. “I believe that the whole production wrapped yesterday, so it’s all done. Everything’s finished. It’s me and Chris – that will be the end of that Batman era.”

“We always maintained from the beginning that if you wanted to break it down, there are three personas – Batman is sincere, the private Bruce Wayne is sincere,” noted Bale about the role. “The public version of Bruce Wayne, the playboy, is a completely fabricated performance.”

Source: entertainment.inquirer.net