Filed under: Arcade, Culture, Action, Simulations

Army Recruiter: "Listen, I see you've been having a lot of fun gunning for bad guys on this here arcade game. But tell you what, how would you like to get shot at for real!"

Wide-eyed youth: "Boy, mister, would I!"

Conversations similar to the above are likely unfolding at Philadelphia's Franklin Mills Mall, where the Army has setup 'The Army Experience Center,' a $13 million arcade designed to earn the favor of local gamers and persuade them to trade in their quarters for military-issue green. The arcade, a 14,500 square foot vortex of patriotism, is home to three full-scale military vehicle simulators and a host of games -- most of them of the shooty variety.

Entertaining, yes, though the center is also designed to educate visitors about job opportunities in the Army, with recruiters on hand to weave nationalist prose to anyone inclined to listen. Of course, like America's Army before it, the ultimate goal is to get youngsters (though nobody under 17) to sign their name on the dotted line and report for duty.

It's something that has not been panning out exactly as Uncle Sam might hope, with only 35 visitors enlisting since the facility opened in August, a figure the New York Times reports is "slightly below" the rate of the five traditional recruitment centers the arcade replaced. This might -- might -- have something to do with real bullets stinging a smidge more than fake ones. Just a thought.

Army using arcades to find new recruits originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 02:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Fighting

We're as tired as you are of getting missives from the front lines of the console wars, so we're relieved to hear that they'll finally be behind us after this week's Consumer Electronics Show. Capcom will settle the fight once and for all on Saturday in Las Vegas, pitting the best Microsoft rep against Sony's pick in a battle for Street Fighter IV supremacy. The loser has agreed to stop making their console forever and ever, so the stakes are pretty high.

... Yes, we made that last part up, but we're going to keep our fingers crossed.

Console war to be settled this week in Street Fighter IV originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SPONSORED BY: Age of Empires III - Real-Time Strategy Game Control a European power on a quest to colonize and conquer the New World. AOE3 introduces new gameplay elements, as well as new civilizations, units, and technologies. http://www.ageofempires3.com/

You thought the epic Forgotten Realms journey was over... you were wrong.

Will Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir be able to grab a top score from X-Play with it's new classes, new races and 3D world map? Find out as Blair Herter guides us through the review below.

 

 

Today's gaming update on the first Tuesday of the New Year, is still packing much heat leftover from 2008:

• PS3's and Xbox 360's both record record numbers... who comes out on top?
• Gears of War 2 will have a HUGE patch incoming and
• Xbox Live Arcade snags a Skate 2 demo this Thursday?

Get all the details you need from this and every friendly-neighborhood Gaming Update provided by X-Play crew.

Will the seventh installment of the iconic Metal Slug series be able to garner a MISSION COMPLETE from the tough X-Play Review system? Find out in the review below.

Mission Start.

Find out if the Red Fly Studio-developed Mushroom Men: The Spore Wars has what it takes to become a bonifide platformer on the Nintendo Wii.

What are your thoughts on this fungal foray in Wii gaming?

 

 

Here's what happened today in the world of video games, technology and popular culture:

• Capcom's Mike Webster speaks on 'Resident Evil 5', Cliffy B, dead Jill Valentine, and more.
• Epic's Mark Rein gives details on the January update for 'Gears of War 2'.
• Sony Computer Entertainment Europe's president says that it's important for Sony to make money in 2009. Duh.
• Watch Wu Tang Clan rapper Cappadonna on this week's 'Freestyle 101' in TheFeed.
• Beginning February 9th, GameStop won't be accepting trade-ins of original Xbox consoles, games or accessories.
• Fable II wins PETA's honorable distinction of "Most Animal-Friendly Video Game."
• A hospital in England is using the 'Wii Fit' to rehabilitate amputee patients.
• Apple revealed a slew of new features to the iPhoto component of its 'iLife' software suite.

• Apple's updates to the 'iMovie' component of 'iLife' include video stabilization, new effects, and more.
• Sony is releasing a limited edition 'Yakuza 3' themed PlayStation 3...but only in Japan.
• Apple's newest version of 'Garage Band' will feature guitar and keyboard lessons.
• Google just announced that Picasa for the Mac is now available in public beta form through Google Labs.
• Apple's new 'iWork 09' allows users to control presentations through an iPhone or iPod Touch.
• Apple unveiled its large, light, and sexy 17" MacBook Pro at MacWorld 2009.
• SCREENS: StarCraft II keeps looking hot and spacey.
• VIDEO: Skate 2 ramps up the fun in multiplayer.
• Facebook sparks a rash of protests from mothers with its ban on breastfeeding photos.
• Apple capped off its MacWorld 2009 keynote with a trio of excellent iTunes announcements.
• Best Buy offers customers used iPhones at cheaper-than-new prices.
• IMAGES: Street Fighter IV Cammy Art.
• SCREENS: Ninja Blade screens strike in the night.
• Sony said sales of the PlayStation 3 were up 130 percent for the holiday season.
• Robot evolution commercial is awesome, creepy, then hot.
• A six-year old boy stole his parents' car to drive to school. He claims he learned from 'Grand Theft Auto.'
• EA to offer Scrabble to Nintendo DS and PS Portable, and other Hasbro classics on Xbox LIVE.
• Illinois has passed a bill that bans alcopop beverages in children-centric video games.
• Hearst Corporation's UGO Entertainment has snatched up Ziff Davis' 1Up Network.
• The do-it-yourselfers behind 'Make:' magazine have crafted their very own television show.
• Aaron Greenberg, Xbox 360's director of product management, recently said he expects the price of the PlayStation 3 to come down, and

Aaron Greenberg, Xbox 360's director of product management, said recently he expects the price of the PlayStation 3 to come down, and soon. 

"We absolutely expect the PS3 price drop to happen in the next couple of months," Greenberg said in an interview with Edge-online. "We're frankly surprised it's taken this long... I would expect they'd have to move on price, sooner than later, for sure."

Greenberg joins a chorus of analysts and industry watcher predicting a price chopping for the PlayStation 3. The reason for the prediction is simple: Some feel it's hard for the PS3 to compete with the 360 and the Wii when it's so much more expensive than either of the other systems. Sony has denied that they will be dropping the price of the PlayStation 3.

Anyone want to predict the date and amount of the next PS3 price drop? Leave word in our comment section. If you hit it on the nose, I'll send you a valuable prize: My undying admiration.

Source

It turns out the rumors of Hearst Corporation's UGO Entertainment purchasing Ziff Davis' 1Up Network were true. 1Up has recently posted confirmation of a story that was running wild (like Hulkamania) for the last few hours. The official company line is:

No official word was made on the fate ofElectronic Gaming Monthly ( EGM), but an internal memo was leaked stating that the January 2009 issue of the long-running magazine would be the last.

I'm thrilled for my friends at 1Up. Hopefully this means job security for them. I'm also sad to see EGM go. I've said it before, but I really can't imagine going to a newsstand and not seeing EGM there.

How do you guys feel about the news? Will you miss EGM as much as I will? Are you worried about the excellent 1Up changing as it goes to a new owner?

Source

First, Illinois tried to pass a violent game ban three years ago. That lame move was found unconstitutional by a stalwart federal judge.

Now the state that brought us Honest Abe Lincoln recently passed a bill banning alcopop (Bacardi Breezers, Mike's Hard Lemonade, etc.) beverages in children-centric video games -- that means any advertisement, promotion and or marketing of.

Have we ever seen an ad for Gordon's Gin and Tonic, or Wild Turkey, or Hooch in a game that's rated T or under?

No one is promoting that alcohol product placement is necessarily a good thing in a kids' game, but c'mon, Illinois. Don't you already have enough problems with that mop head of a governor of yours, Blagojevich and who you guys are going to put into Obama's senate seat?

Source

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