As a big fan of classic arcade games, I always like to see how people are incorporating the old icons with new technology. The latest marriage (pointed out by Kotaku) is a Roomba, covered in LED Lights, to resemble Pac-Man. I love my Roomba, but from now on it's going to look plain and boring compared to this one. I officially have Roomba envy.

--Osver

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If playing games isn't enough for you, and you want to literally consume the characters, then this is the candy for you: Gummy Nintendo Characters.

There are four shapes available: Donkey Kong, Mario, Diddy Kong, and of course, as pictured, Yoshi.  Since they're individually wrapped, you can make a game out of getting to eat them, by loading them into your very own desktop crane machine. 

Lunch time game on!

--Osver

Read reviews and shop for great bargains at the Gaming Corner. >>>

As a big fan of classic arcade games, I always like to see how people are incorporating the old icons with new technology. The latest marriage (pointed out by Kotaku) is a Roomba, covered in LED Lights, to resemble Pac-Man. I love my Roomba, but from now on it's going to look plain and boring compared to this one. I officially have Roomba envy.

--Osver

Read reviews and shop for great bargains at the Gaming Corner. >>>

Do you import games? In the past I never had for a few reason:

• I can't read Japanese
• There weren't any games I was really itching to play that weren't available or planned for the US
• I didn't want to modify my consoles to accept import games

However, in the past year I've gotten around those issues and begun, selectively, to get a few games from Japan.

So what finally broke down my resistance to importing games? The first step was knowing that the PSP and DS are region free, and will play games from Asia without needing to modify the system (and void the warranty). Next I realized that games without much text, so you don't need to be able to read Japanese to play them (puzzle games and fighting games for example), are good import choices. Finally, I found games that I really wanted to play that I can't get in the US.

On the PS2, I was a big fan of Taiko Drum Master. Namco released one version in the US and that was it. In Japan though, it's a huge hit, in the arcade (see the image to the right), and on many platforms. When I saw there was a DS version, I knew I had to have it and Taiko No Tatsujin became my first import title. Recently, I was in Japan and picked up the second Taiko DS title. I know neither of those will ever be released in the US, so importing is my only way to get them.

While in Japan, I also picked up Arkanoid DS, which is going to be released in the US, but I still bought the Japanese version. Why? The Japanese version has a spinner controller (available separately, or in a bundle with the game), but in the US they won't be releasing the special controller.

As a classic gaming fan, and someone who's put a lot of quarters in the arcade versions of Arkanoid, I stubbornly believe that any paddle and ball game which doesn't use a spinner is flawed. It just doesn't have the same precise controls if you're trying to play with a joystick, stylus, or buttons for the left and right movement of the Vaus.  That controller made the Japanese version worth getting.

I really wanted to buy the Professor Layton sequel as well, but that has too much text, so I had to pass it up. I didn't get any PSP games either, as the games that looked interesting were RPGs, which I can't play without being able to read the conversations and inventory screens.

If you are importing games, which ones are you getting, or looking forward to? If you're not importing games, is there any one particular barrier that's stopping you?

-Osver

Read reviews and shop for great bargains at the Gaming Corner. >>>

Do you import games? In the past I never had for a few reason:

• I can't read Japanese
• There weren't any games I was really itching to play that weren't available or planned for the US
• I didn't want to modify my consoles to accept import games

However, in the past year I've gotten around those issues and begun, selectively, to get a few games from Japan.

So what finally broke down my resistance to importing games? The first step was knowing that the PSP and DS are region free, and will play games from Asia without needing to modify the system (and void the warranty). Next I realized that games without much text, so you don't need to be able to read Japanese to play them (puzzle games and fighting games for example), are good import choices. Finally, I found games that I really wanted to play that I can't get in the US.

On the PS2, I was a big fan of Taiko Drum Master. Namco released one version in the US and that was it. In Japan though, it's a huge hit, in the arcade (see the image to the right), and on many platforms. When I saw there was a DS version, I knew I had to have it and Taiko No Tatsujin became my first import title. Recently, I was in Japan and picked up the second Taiko DS title. I know neither of those will ever be released in the US, so importing is my only way to get them.

While in Japan, I also picked up Arkanoid DS, which is going to be released in the US, but I still bought the Japanese version. Why? The Japanese version has a spinner controller (available separately, or in a bundle with the game), but in the US they won't be releasing the special controller.

As a classic gaming fan, and someone who's put a lot of quarters in the arcade versions of Arkanoid, I stubbornly believe that any paddle and ball game which doesn't use a spinner is flawed. It just doesn't have the same precise controls if you're trying to play with a joystick, stylus, or buttons for the left and right movement of the Vaus.  That controller made the Japanese version worth getting.

I really wanted to buy the Professor Layton sequel as well, but that has too much text, so I had to pass it up. I didn't get any PSP games either, as the games that looked interesting were RPGs, which I can't play without being able to read the conversations and inventory screens.

If you are importing games, which ones are you getting, or looking forward to? If you're not importing games, is there any one particular barrier that's stopping you?

-Osver

Read reviews and shop for great bargains at the Gaming Corner. >>>