Backhand of Justice

This week’s top link is a 2 hour video diary by Sean ‘Day9′ Plott, a famous videogame commentator. I actually recommend that most people don’t even bother watching. It starts out slow, and will probably bore most people. Why is it the top link then? Because he explains in a way that not many can all that is great about videogames. Why do we play? Watch this video and you will understand. 

Keep reading for Eyjavasdlkj;asdf … uh … that volcano, Dinosaur combos and the Dead Zone.  

Videogame Links

Interesting

The New Yorker claims this book A Casual Revolution is one of five essential reads on videogames. I guess I’ll have to check it out.

Lots of discussion over Ebert’s latest on videogames. I usually like Ebert, but I’m going to have to go with the Penny Arcade guys on this one.

The new trailer for Activision’s Singularity. If this game ever came out it looks like it could be pretty decent.

Nolan Bushnell rejoins Atari. This man was the founder. I can’t think of better hands in which to place this (dying) company. He also brought you Chuck E Cheese. Greatest man ever?

Atari fans, this is the man now in charge of your company. BEHOLD

Reaching the top rank in Battlefield: Bad Company 2 takes on average 282 hours. That’s nearly 12 days of play time or for those playing at home an unreasonable amount of time.

Funny

This website The First Person Observer is hilarious. It’s like The Onion for FPS games.

What does it take to get permanently banned from UNO on Xbox Live? That’ll do it.

The cult of Kevin Butler grows. Who likes short shorts?

There are a lot of good songs to sample for a song about doing drugs. Is the soundtrack to Chrono Trigger really one of them?

I have brought great shame to my family

Post-it note videogame characters seems to be a theme this week. First, there’s this rendition of Mega Man. Then we had these supposedly legit pictures of opposing dorms going back and forth with Mario post-it art. Unfortunately, if this video is any indication, this is part of some viral marketing scheme for a new Mario game.

British mothers are spending a terrifyingly low % of capital on videogames for their children. Instead they’re focusing on goods like food and clothes. I’m calling social services.

Danica Patrick does an interview about a new racing game and in the process reveals that she’s really not the spokesperson a videogame company wants for their game.

Stick to GoDaddy, Danica. Videogames are clearly not your area of expertise

Non-Videogame Links

Interesting

The Big Picture had some great pictures of Eyjavjallajokull aka that Volcano in Iceland.

Has anybody been following this conspiracy theory about the Polish plane crash actually being an assassination? I don’t buy it, but there’s enough evidence out there to convince crazy people.

Raising a nerd kid. Of course, this kid is the exception to the rule. Almost everybody else just gets their ass kicked.

This is not the ideal nerd kid to raise. The article mentions an alternative

A great essay about Farmville. That’s not why I included it though. I included it because it shits all over Famville. Seriously – fuck that game.

Ridiculous Jules Verne cylindrical mirror optical illusions. I assume they made these in a similar manner, otherwise it’s even more ridiculous.

Reassuring that Boeing does these tests; Next I want the flying through a volcano test. It is the Dreamliner after all, should be able to handle anything.

Funny

Chatroulette is rarely funny. I guess this isn’t that good. I just thought it was more creative than most.

Paleontologists finally say that dinosaurs lived together in N. America and not in separated groups depending on species. Looks like it’s finally the right time for me to release my own research paper. Just for a little preview, here’s the cover.

Calvin and Hobbes ... is there anything you can't do?

This person chose a strong name. Hard to top that one. Of course it had to be in Vegas.

Fashion critic from Project Runway criticizes classic superhero costumes. I can’t help but feel this guy doesn’t take himself too seriously. He already is on record discussing the fashion merits of Mario’s costume.

Nepal is sending Sherpas to the ‘dead zone’ on the Mt. Everest climbing trail to clean up bodies and other debris left behind by previous climbers. First off, should this be in the funny section? I guess … Secondly, isn’t that part of the allure? That you’re better than that guy who didn’t quite make it? Maybe I’m the only one who thinks that.

Wait a minute - where in my job description does it say body cleaner?

I have brought great shame to my family

This pilot has some serious confidence in his abilities. I’d be worried about a Mt. St. Helens type explosion out the side. Still – the last couple decades is the first time in human history that people who aren’t vaporized by a volcano can see what it looks like in action.

Toxic fungus from Oregon is spreading across the country murdering possibly millions (back of the envelope). It’s like Oregon Trail post Outbreak.

I used to say I wanted to be Cookie Monster for halloween … and I’m going to stick with that, but this is also a pretty good option.

That’s all for this week. Did I miss anything good? Hit up the comments!