DSi Firmware 1.4: Do You Want Facebook or Free Games?

Nintendo DSi firmware update 1.4, out in Europe, Japan and Australia—so likely coming here soon—adds direct Facebook photo uploading. But it also now blocks all DSi-compatible flashcarts. So what’s it gonna be? Free games or Facebook? [Tiny Cartridge]

This Nintendo Ad Out-Pervs Even My Honed Sensiblities

It’s rare that, as an adult, I look at a sexually suggestive joke and don’t quite get it. But it’s even rarer that the ad would be from Nintendo’s marketing department.

This vintage Nintendo ad was designed be Leo Burnett and ran in UK magazines like Loaded, FHM, and Viz. Apparently, I’m not alone in not quite grasping the ad’s intention (I, for instance, interpret the ad as suggesting that preteen rapists may find the Game Boy Pocket an unnecessary distraction from early jail time) as the Advertising Standards Authority eventually pulled the ads because they “subjugated and humiliated” a restrained woman.

Besides, a better ad would be if the woman, subjugated and humiliated on the bed, was completely intent on playing the Game Boy Pocket. Right now, she’s just horrified to be involved. We can all see that in real life. [daphaknee via tinycartridge via GoNintendo]

XCM Black Light Cases Makeover Your Xbox 360 In Minutes

I hate to say it, but a stock Xbox 360 isn’t the prettiest gadget in home entertainment. Caking on makeup just masks the problem—what she really needs is a complete makeover. That’s where XCM Black Light cases come in.

The case itself is black and it includes a pre-cut window. LEDs inside can be set to stay put on one of seven different colors or cycle through the full spectrum. There is also a matching AirTube wind tunnel which serves as a light-up replacement for the fan shroud. Everything you need to swap cases is included, so it shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes or so to get the job done. [Extreme Mods and XCM via Technabob]

Xbox 360 Update Gallery

Here are the major points of the Xbox update, illustrated in gallery form. The update goes live to everyone August 11.

Game ratings. Instead of rating by using the D-Pad to scroll over, it has you press the A button multiple times to increase the star count. Kinda clumsy.
Community games are now called Indie games
Lots of weird titles that don’t get a lot of coverage in here
Game saves now have timestamps on them so you can see when you saved them (for easier deletion)
The Avatar Marketplace, where you can pay money for clothes
Mixing and matching clothing from different games will be fun, like this pirate telescope from Monkey Island
Or this eyepatch (good for telescoping with)
Or this male-friendly outfit
320 points for this Halo RC Warthog. That’s $4
The game “styles” so far
You’ll get avatar rewards (shirts, props) by playing games
Fable 2’s wardrobe

Report: Project Natal Coming In 2010, Just Like Ballmer Said

In case early rumors, Ballmer’s indications, and Microsoft’s subsequent non-denial didn’t turn you into a believer, Digitimes has called upon their component supply industry muckraking militia to tell us again that Project Natal will land in H2, 2010. [Digitimes]

CrimeCraft Enters Open Beta

Fans of shooting other fans of shooting looking for something new to play with this weekend can check out Vogster’s persistent world shooter CrimeCraft, now entering the open beta phase.

CrimeCraft is a third-person shooter that features teams of players fighting against other teams of players or enemy A.I. in a near-future urban setting. It’s gang warfare, only with quests, loot drops, and a crafting system. If you’ve ever played a multiplayer shooter and found yourself wanting to make some stuff, this here is your game.

FilePlanet subscribers are able to sign up for an account right now, pre-loading the game in advance of the 5PM Eastern open beta launch. Non-FilePlanet subscribers can still sign up at the CrimeCraft website, but will have to wait for the download.

Batman: Arkham Asylum’s Subtle Evolution Adds Depth

Despite its over-the-top combat and flamboyant archenemy, Batman: Arkham Asylum is a surprisingly subtle game.

As players move forward through the introductory chapters of the game and into the meat of the story, Batman’s moves and the challenges he faces blossom, adding a surprising level of depth to what could have been a straight-forward brawler.

Ever-present is the jarring, taunting voice of The Joker, always there to ridicule and play faux sympathizer to Batman’s stumbles and dead ends. As Batman stalks through the mansion, the prison, and the other weathered buildings of Arhkham island, Joker’s army, the recently transferred inmates of Blackgate prison, quickly evolve from punching bags to real threats.

Initially that increased threat comes in the form of knives: Inmates armed with blades can’t be as easily dispatched and instead need to be stunned before being pummeled into unconsciousness. But early in Chapter three of the game the weapons available to the inmates start to include assault and sniper rifles and electrified batons. This changes the pacing of the game drastically, forcing gamers to more carefully plot their approach and tactics in taking out a group.

Fortunately, Batman’s arsenal also expands. As you progress through the game you can unlock new melee combat moves and fun gadgets like a remote controlled batarang, a grappling hook and the ability to throw multiple batarangs at the same time.

You will also likely find yourself relying more heavily on stealth. Using that grappling hook to zip from shadowy perch to shadowy perch, waiting for the right moment to take out the rare enemy separated from the pack. Once downed, the prisoner’s collar, initially installed by the prison to monitor heart rates, sound an alarm, attracting nearby prisoners. The inclusion of weapons and alarms turn some moments of Arkham Asylum into elaborate games of cat and mouse.

This added subtlety bodes well for Batman: Arkham Asylum[,] which could have easily rested on the three tenets of the game: Brutal, free-flowing combat, stealth takedowns and the occasional bit of detective work.

In the first two chapters we saw how the developers managed to blend those elements into an experience that has you shifting gears constantly. In chapter three we start to see how those elements may work together to exponentially increase the game’s potential.

And that’s just for the campaign. The game has plenty of extras built into its framework to increase playability and get gamers to squeeze every last drop out of this title.

Here are my stats just three chapters into the title:

I’ve found 23 of Riddler’s 240 hidden riddles. I’ve unlocked eight of 20 upgrades, five of 20 3D models and 15 of 42 bios, some of which include pictures, written files and audio files. According to the game, I’ve also completed 28 percent of Arkham Asylum.

There are also the Challenge Rooms where you can play as Batman (or The Joker on the PS3), either beating down waves of enemies for points or trying to silently clear a room. So far I’ve only unlocked two of those 16 challenge rooms.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is set to hit the PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 on Aug. 25.

Batman: Arkham Asylum’s Subtle Evolution Adds Depth

Despite its over-the-top combat and flamboyant archenemy, Batman: Arkham Asylum is a surprisingly subtle game.

As players move forward through the introductory chapters of the game and into the meat of the story, Batman’s moves and the challenges he faces blossom, adding a surprising level of depth to what could have been a straight-forward brawler.

Ever-present is the jarring, taunting voice of The Joker, always there to ridicule and play faux sympathizer to Batman’s stumbles and dead ends. As Batman stalks through the mansion, the prison, and the other weathered buildings of Arhkham island, Joker’s army, the recently transferred inmates of Blackgate prison, quickly evolve from punching bags to real threats.

Initially that increased threat comes in the form of knives: Inmates armed with blades can’t be as easily dispatched and instead need to be stunned before being pummeled into unconsciousness. But early in Chapter three of the game the weapons available to the inmates start to include assault and sniper rifles and electrified batons. This changes the pacing of the game drastically, forcing gamers to more carefully plot their approach and tactics in taking out a group.

Fortunately, Batman’s arsenal also expands. As you progress through the game you can unlock new melee combat moves and fun gadgets like a remote controlled batarang, a grappling hook and the ability to throw multiple batarangs at the same time.

You will also likely find yourself relying more heavily on stealth. Using that grappling hook to zip from shadowy perch to shadowy perch, waiting for the right moment to take out the rare enemy separated from the pack. Once downed, the prisoner’s collar, initially installed by the prison to monitor heart rates, sound an alarm, attracting nearby prisoners. The inclusion of weapons and alarms turn some moments of Arkham Asylum into elaborate games of cat and mouse.

This added subtlety bodes well for Batman: Arkham Asylum[,] which could have easily rested on the three tenets of the game: Brutal, free-flowing combat, stealth takedowns and the occasional bit of detective work.

In the first two chapters we saw how the developers managed to blend those elements into an experience that has you shifting gears constantly. In chapter three we start to see how those elements may work together to exponentially increase the game’s potential.

And that’s just for the campaign. The game has plenty of extras built into its framework to increase playability and get gamers to squeeze every last drop out of this title.

Here are my stats just three chapters into the title:

I’ve found 23 of Riddler’s 240 hidden riddles. I’ve unlocked eight of 20 upgrades, five of 20 3D models and 15 of 42 bios, some of which include pictures, written files and audio files. According to the game, I’ve also completed 28 percent of Arkham Asylum.

There are also the Challenge Rooms where you can play as Batman (or The Joker on the PS3), either beating down waves of enemies for points or trying to silently clear a room. So far I’ve only unlocked two of those 16 challenge rooms.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is set to hit the PC, Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 on Aug. 25.

Aion Class Spotlight: The Sorcerer

Upon reaching level 9, Aion’s Mage gets to chose between the Spiritmaster pet class or the Sorcerer, the massively-multiplayer RPG’s glass cannon.

In RPG parlance, a glass cannon is basically a wizard, outputting tremendous damage while wearing the least-protective armor the game has to offer. The sorcerer in Aion is meant to stay behind everyone else, blasting away with high damage spells while the big guys encased in metal armor keep them from getting pounded into a puddle of cloth and goo.

I’ve played the class to level 11 so far, and they’re everything you’d expect. If you’re comfortable playing a World of Warcraft mage, this is probably your Aion class.

This Is Spinal Tap Rock Band

The original This is Spinal Tap soundtrack hits Rock Band next week, giving fans a whole new way to experience the joy and wonder of songs like “Big Bottom” and “Sex Farm”.

Last month Rock Band players got a taste of the latest Spinal Tap release, Back From The Dead, but that only left fans clamoring for the classic tracks from the original documentary. We can stop clamoring next week…well, we could stop clamoring now, really. All depends on your clamoring preference. Clamoring or not, eleven songs from the original soundtrack are making their way into the Rock Band Store next week.

Now before you get overly excited, I must tell you that these are the original songs as “re-imagined and newly interpreted” for the new album, though I’ve listened to all of them and they are pretty damn good. “(Funky) Sex Farm” might just be the ultimate version of “Sex Farm” ever created, much better than the rap version, which only exists in my head.

Here are all of the tracks, available on August 4th for the 360 and Wii and August 6th for the PlayStation 3:

Spinal Tap “(Funky) Sex Farm”
Spinal Tap “(Listen to the) Flower People (Reggae Stylee)”
Spinal Tap ” America “
Spinal Tap “Big Bottom”
Spinal Tap “Cups and Cakes”
Spinal Tap “Gimme Some Money”
Spinal Tap “Heavy Duty”
Spinal Tap “Hell Hole”
Spinal Tap “Rock ‘n’ Roll Creation”
Spinal Tap “Stonehenge”
Spinal Tap “Tonight I’m Gonna Rock You Tonight”