Nintendo Phone Patent

Filed November 2001 and issued June 2006, Nintendo obtained a patent on a game phone. It looks like its got game boy functionality and phone capabilities. Doesn't look like there is any plan to release it, but the bootleg menus are still interesting.

Who needs the DS phone hacks?

I want to play Metoroid 2.

Guitar Hero Hacked

My dreams have come true: Metallica as arrived in Guitar Hero. Unfortunately, it got there by way of hackers.

Guitar Hero II: Master of Puppets

I am really not sure just how many copyright laws this violates. Not only is there a copyright on the song, but there is also a copyright in the recording itself. I wonder if any of Guitar Hero's copyrights are violated? It certainly requires modification of existing equipment but it looks like the required programs are free (aside from the mod chip of course). They are definitely making illegal copies, but are the modifications far enough away from the art of the game so as to be deriviative works? Infringement was never so full of rinks and runks.

2/11/07 - in answer to my own question about possible Guitar Hero copyright violations, it appears that there is a previous case holding that created levels for Duke Nukem are like sequels, and an unauthorized sequel is an unauthorized derivative work, i.e. the Duke Nukem makers can stop level creators from distributing copies. Sorry hackers. See Microstar v. FormGen, Inc., 154 F.3d 1107 (9th Cir. 1998).

By the way, there is rumor that Harmonix and Red Octane are putting out a new game that will actually teach the player how to play the guitar, stating, "Once you're done playing with your toys [the current GH guitars], you come see us." Awesome.

Damn, my real dream come true

Registered Trademark leaks game title

I have finally seen the law, in practice, put to good use. While scouring the internet, some dude managed to find a listing of Sony's recently registered trademarks, discovering "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune." This title seems worthy of Naughty Dog's new game recently previewed with a trailer containing imagery associated with Sir Francis Drake. Sony will not confirm the rumors or speculation.

I knew searching the register would pay off!

Funny how of all the trademarks floating around in the industry, this is the biggest trademark story I've covered, creating its own Label.

18 virtual fish? That'll be $62

A new Xbox360 game released eighteen new fish for purchase over Xbox360's network. What is this digital content? They are inhabitants of a new video game called Aquazone, a fish tank simulator. Each fish costs about $4, so for the full expansion aquarium, it would cost $62; more than the game itself. The beauty of this scheme: the game has not been released yet. With near 100k in downloads of each fish already, the game has grossed $6.2 million dollars; it hasn't even come out yet.

Who buys virtual fish?

Isn't that enough money to buy real fish? I guess games just be more fun.

Thompson fought the law and the law won

Jack Thompson, our favorite censor extremist, is in some deep doo-doo over his recent behavior as a practicing lawyer. Accused of launching menacing statements at many of his courtroom enemies, he defends himself with blanket conspiracy theories about Bar members out to get him. Now I wonder why they would be out to get him?

The bar is displeased with Jack Thompson, and so am I

It just goes to show that what goes around comes around. While I agree with Mr. Thompson that many games lack moderation, he battles one extremity with the other, demonstrating that extreme positions eventually self-destruct. Perhaps his point has already been made with all the publicity he gets from his escapades. Or maybe, he is just another reason to tune out folks like him.

Games As Porn Law?

Utah's state government, everyone's favorite bastion of open-thought, is again trying to push through legislation that would classify violent video games as "obscene" and therefore, subject to similar laws as pornography. Constitutional law experts see the legislation as a violation of 1st amendment's guarantee of free speech. Fortunately, the bill seems to be stalling in the House because all the politicians know that there will be a lawsuit; if they lose, the government could have to pay not only their costs, but the plaintiff's costs too.

'Games as Porn' Bill halted thrice

I wonder why games could not be considered obscene and therefore subject to strict censorship laws? While I am certainly not in favor of such restriction, how are our constitutional rights violated by restrictions on video games, but not by restrictions on pornography? Perhaps my conservative friends would be proud of me, but shouldn't state's rights govern? Is it different from pornography because it isn't real?

Sweden Opens Embassy in Second Life

Further bridging the gap between real and virtual worlds, Sweden has decided to open an embassy in Second Life. Apparently, the embassy will only be used to distribute information about Sweden to the virtual characters.

Your Swedish Embassy away from the Swedish Embassy

I wonder if they will start processing visas (for the real world) and asylum applications. All jokes aside, this is the first time I have ever thought of an online world as being more like a different country you can visit. I wonder if Second Life will become more a vacation destination? I guess it already is...