The new program is called STAP-BOY (space-time adaptive processing) and the goal is to turn "any Soldier, any Marine [into] an advanced sensor platform." To do this, the military is looking to take "commercial Graphics Processor Unit (GPU) hardware and software of the type currently used for fast geometry computations in hand-held electronic games like Nintendo's GAME BOY," gifting soldiers in the field with a "technique that enhances the ability of radars to detect targets that might otherwise be obscured." Right now, this can only be done by the most advanced of supercomputers.
As of now, Darpa figures it'll be ready to hand the project over to the Army by the end of 2008. Personally, we wouldn't want to be the guy in charge of using the gizmo, since we're sure we'd just play Tetris on the thing.
Itadaki Street DS apparently didn't have enough characters to choose from-- the entire Mario and Dragon Quest casts are just too limiting, you know? Besides, nobody can relate to wacky characters like a plumber and a plumber's brother, who is also a plumber.
Square Enix has nicely included some characters who will do less to draw players' attention away from the serious business of strategic board game play: "Boy" and "Girl." They look just like we would if we were three feet tall and didn't have noses!
We've got some screens of Boy and Girl, and of Itadaki Street in general, after the break. And check the link for character art and a few board layouts.
It's amazing what people are turning into computers these days, as this original Game Boy has become the case for one of the smallest Windows XP PCs we've ever seen. Complete with 2 USB ports, LAN and VGA outputs, the cartridge slot has even been turned into a Compact Flash drive. This thing is sick!
One of the most unlikely places one would find gaming, or gaming addiction rather, would be on Broadway. Alas, that is where this story takes place, as The Game Boy, Matthew Gandolfo and Robin Rothstein's musical, focuses on Chase, a guy who finds himself deeply in love with his Game Boy. This addiction, of course, interferes with his life as the musical shows us just how his love of the handheld fuels his desire to be the best of the best.
Eventually, this desire leads to a life of solitude and sadness, as Chase's adventures are documented in the video, available past the post break.
It would appear that, according to the DS Fanboy community at least, the Game Boy is officially dead. We can't remember the last GBA game we purchased or looked forward to, so we'd have to agree. This could bode well for thoseof us with the thrifty gamer's eye, however, as the GBA fades away, its games will be available in clearance bins in our local brick-and-mortar outlets and online sales. Now's the time to pick up some of those stellar GBA games we missed, wouldn't you say?
With the latest release schedule that Nintendo dished out, we all noticed a severe lack of Game Boy Advance games. So, we figured we'd ask you guys where you stand with the GBA. Could you care less or are you still actively purchasing and playing GBA games?
First the DS gets turned into an iPod, now flickr user sirljohns has managed to transform the original Game Boy into an iPod, effectionately calling it the iBoy. The folks responsible for the DS mod provided a video, something which sirljohns did not do, so we cannot comment on which has the better functionality. However, the geek-cred that comes from lugging the OG handheld itself around is something that one cannot easily ignore.
Anyone interested in doing this to their old Game Boy?
In using a special cartridge that allows a video signal to be sent to the GBA, You Tube user jackal27 rocks his Wii on the portable's tiny screen. Obviously, the practical use of such a feature is almost nonexistent, but it makes for a fun little You Tube video. Check out the video, which has been embedded past the post break.
Update: me am not so English good (I omitted a word or two in the post).
When we conducted our daily perusal of poppa site Joystiq, we were intrigued by the above image. A DS cartridge case that allows one to hold up to 4 DS game cartridges and one GBA game cartridge. The case is Shogakukan's Hyper Carrying Case, available to Japanese consumers for a cool ¥480 (or roughly $4 USD). Do not be fooled by the wonderful graphic on the front of the case though. Inside there are no Mega Man games.
Sabarasa Entertainment has eyes for the DS apparently, as they already have begun work on a sequel to Mazes of Fate, a GBA title that released just this past week. We cannot find any reviews for the game online, having navigated the many tubes it is comprised of in search of just one score. Regardless, a sequel is coming, says Sabarasa Entertainment CEO Javier Otaegui:
"We are definitely thinking of the DS, but not for porting exactly this game. We have already started pre-production work for Mazes of Fate 2 for DS."
Even with the DS selling with the consistency of those hotcakes people seem to love, Nintendo thinks the Game Boy has at least one holiday left in it. In speaking with Reuters, Nintendo head honcho Reggie Fils-Aime lays it all on the table, revealing that the GBA is still selling well and is a great first handheld system for young gamers.
"We think that Game Boy Advance certainly has at least one more holiday season left in it. For us, it continues to be a great stepping stone for five-, six-, seven-year-old consumers to have their first great handheld gaming experience and then transition right into DS. For as great a Black Friday weekend that we had on DS, we had just as good a selling season so far on Game Boy Advance."
This is all confusing, making us wonder just how long of a life the handheld really has left. Reggie isn't willing to divulge anything on its future or a successor to its throne, obviously, instead leaving us to jump to our own conclusions. Considering the wild popularity of the DS, is there even a future for a new Game Boy?
The September NPD sales numbers have come in and the DS, once again, did favorably. Out of all consoles, DS titles had a good showing, taking up four spots. Of course, Madden took the top spot, showing that we Americans love our football.
Madden NFL 07 - PS2
Saints Row - Xbox 360
Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy - PS2
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team - DS
Madden NFL 07 - Xbox 360
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Red Rescue Team - GBA
Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy - GC
Madden NFL 07 - Xbox
Star Fox Command - DS
New Super Mario Bros. - DS
NBA Live 07 - PS2
Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy - Xbox 360
Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy - Xbox
Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus - PS2
Test Drive Unlimited - Xbox 360
Dead Rising - Xbox 360
Mario Hoops 3-on-3 - DS
Okami - PS2
Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories - PS2
Madden NFL 07 - PSP
We've included a listing of the top DS and GBA game only listings, available after the break.
According to the latest issue of Famitsu, by way of DS-x2, four Metal Slug titles slated for released on the GBA have been cancelled. Metal Slug, Metal Slug 2, Metal Slug 3, and Metal Slug X have all been tossed to the garbage. No other information explaining why the titles have been cancelled is available. Could it have something to do with the upcoming release of Metal Slug Anthology?
Another week comes and another assault of games are released for the DS and GBA. This week brings plenty of tasty morsels of maniacal offerings, but if you're like us, you're wondering just how you will store any more games in your already crammed case. Personally, our entire wardrobe of pants had to be changed out for cargos since we need at least 3 pockets just for our DS Lite and games.
Click into the post to check out the releases and tell us which game (or games) tickles your fancy this week!
[Update: We added a photo image credit to 8 Bit Joystick.]
For those of you with an addiction for turn-based role-playing games and fantasies of the final sort, the Japanese minisite for Final Fantasy V has launched. Within it are such treasures as character bios, a breakdown on the game's job system, and an introduction to the game's story. With three new job classes in Gladiator, Cannoneer, and Oracle, along with a new dungeon, Final Fantasy V is one appealing GBA game.