I believe that this puppy is going to use WiFi, which means that theoretically I could browse the web on it, though I probably wouldn't want to. Still this could mean a whole new kind of Gaming Night...

Pokmon FireRed and Pokmon LeafGreen, scheduled for a Sept. 7 release, will come packaged with the Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter. The adventure lets players chat, battle, trade and play mini-games with other wireless users. The adapter will even alert players if other users are in the area. Other games that will use the adapter include Mario Golf: Advance Tour, scheduled for launch on June 21, and Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Games, set for a July 26 release. In total, more than a dozen games now in development will make use of the Game Boy Advance Wireless Adapter.

[ News : Article ]

Game players need only use their imagination to see how the DS promises to transform the portable game industry by changing the way gamers relate to their games – and each other. Two screens offer two perspectives on the action at once. The touch screen could make accessing items, moving characters or navigating menus as easy as a tap or drag on the screen. Voice recognition could let players simply tell the game what they want it to do. Chat software will let users transmit text messages, handwriting and even drawings to one another. And wireless functions could link players in the same room – or across the country. The unique features of the Nintendo DS hold a wellspring of potential for the future. Game players will be wowed.

[ E3 2004 ]

It's a PDA, it's a GBA, it's a something else, what is it? Will it replace my Axim? Will it replace my phone? Will it talk to me? What will it do. So much power, so many questions, so what are you waiting for, check out the site...

Update: They are aiming to release this in the US and Japan this year!

Update: The WiFi will let you play across the Internet! I heard them say it. Really I did!

Time passes, the pages turn ... and a new chapter unfolds in an unfamiliar land! Get ready for a two-dimensional role-playing adventure for the ages as Mario returns to paper form in pursuit of a threat unlike any he's ever faced.

[ Games : Paper Mario 2 ]

It may look gimicky, but it is pure gold. I was a bit dissappointed in the coordination necessary for M&L: Superstar Saga, but this should win me back to Mario RPGs...

In this highly anticipated sequel to Metroid Prime, become the bounty hunter behind the visor once more and travel to a planet torn into light and darkness.

[ Games : Metroid Prime 2: Echoes ]

What is a word that means more highly than highly. This is the #1 reason that everyone should own a Nintendo console. Either Metroid: Fusion, Metroid: Zero Mission, Metroid: Prime, or this upcoming game (and the only one I haven't beat, and if I have to explain why, you're on the wrong site...)

And if you have never played a Metroid game, I hope you don't think that you got game...

I enjoy a good Mario Party, but it can't be played at the park, or on a picnic, or when I'm camping. Or can it?

Discover the 60 mini-games as you play through the single-player game boards. Earn coins as you play the mini-games, use those coins to unlock Gaddgets, and link up with your friends to duke it out in a two-player battle game, or trade Gaddgets, mini-games and coins to share the party fun.

[ Games : Mario Party Advance ]

OK, I haven't been camping in years, but it could happen.

Lest ye think that the Big N is all about sequels, see what else is in store. I expect this to be highly original with the “possession” ability that I believe they have in store:

As a ghostly Spectral Operative, players must search for their physical body, which is mysteriously being kept alive somewhere in the enormous complex. Players won't always be alone though--as they explore, they must collect the energies of indigenous spirits to help unravel a mystery and build their own power. Some will help ... but beware, for not all the spirits are friendly. Prepare for a first-person adventure with a spectral twist!

[ Games : Geist ]

And I was thinking of getting an X-Box... ('course I still might do that, but shh, don't tell Nate)

Two games, one cartridge! Final Fantasy I and II get the Game Boy Advance treatment with updated graphics, bosses from later games in the series plus brave new Final Fantasy II extras like the Soul of Rebirth storyline. Check back here for more information as it develops.

[ Games : Final Fantasy I & II ]

Cid, power up the “air ship”, we're ready to save the world! (And that goes for pretty much any Final Fantasy game and/or movie...)

So the cartoony Wind Waker didn't do it for you? And Nintendo is going to use the same engine for the next? Think again, and check out these screen shots...

In 2005, Link will be let loose on a new and exciting Nintendo GameCube excursion to fight evil and seek treasure. Stay tuned for more information!

[ Games : Legend of Zelda, The ]

Methinks that Nintendo Rocks...

How did Nintendo keep the wraps on this? I don't think anyone had a clue that they were working on this one, and from Capcom no less...

As he searches an unfamiliar land for fragmented relics called Kinstones, Link will have to take a closer look at the ground beneath his feet. When he discovers a magical hat called The Minish Cap, he gains the power to shrink down to the size of the Minish people, who are in grave danger. As he travels back and forth between their world and his, he'll solve puzzles, fight through dungeons and slowly uncover the evil behind their plight and vanquish it.

[ Games : Legend of Zelda, The: The Minish Cap ]

When will TechTV and G4 merge into one network? The merged network will premiere on Friday, May 28th.

[ G4techtv.com ]

However the good news is:

• Thunderbirds made the cut
• Cinematech made the cut
• Emeril still has no show on G4, TechTV or G4techTV

And the bad news:

• Spork did not get to redo the G4TV.com theme song
• And therefore, N8 didn't hook-up with T-Dub or Thug
• If you got a G4TV tat at E3 2003, you'll need to update it to a G4techTV logo at this year's E3

[ Mazda RX-8 ]

We couldn’t be more pumped about all the stories we’re planning for, E3 Insider 2004. We’re sifting through thousands of games, hundreds of exhibitors, hundreds of products, and dozens of events to select the stories that will bring E3 to you. The handhelds will certainly be covered this year, with announcements expected Sony’s PSP, Nintendo’s DS, and Nokia’s N-Gage QD. We’ll bring you news of the new consoles on the horizon, including plans for Xbox, PlayStation, and GameCube, plus the InfiniumLabs Phantom, and the ApeXtreme/DISCover.

[ E3 Insider: E3 Expo 2004 ]

Perhaps I'm the only one who's excited, but I'm dying to see the Nintendo DS, and I hope that Micrsoft has details about the neXtBox...

Anyone else psyched for something in particular? Nate?

At today’s event, McDonald’s is introducing its first ever “Go Active! Happy Meal” for adults (available beginning May 11, 2004 through June 7, 2004 at participating restaurants nationwide, while supplies last). The Go Active! Happy Meal includes the choice of a Premium Salad, bottled water or drink of choice, a Stepometer™ and a fun, informative booklet that provides walking and exercising tips.

[ Mickey D's ]

This sounds like a good move to me. I know I have a hard time keeping myself active and healthy, as do most Americans. However, I expect that most of my readers will have quite cynical things to say, and I, for one, want to hear them.

(And who owns the trademark for Stepometer anyway?)

And I feel the need to pass it along:

Come celebrate spring with scrumptious strawberry treats at Clyde’s two-day Strawberry Festival on May 7 and May 8 at Reston Town Center Pavilion. It will be like Clyde’s Oktoberfest, with a fresh spring twist! The festivities will include live bluegrass and country music, delicious Clyde’s food, hands-on daytime activities for kids, live animal shows, and lots of fun for all ages.

[ Clyde's Restaurant Group ]

I don't know why, but I love the “Clyde's Group” and strawberries too. Looks like fun for the NOVA crowd...

せっかく世界中からメッセージをもらっているんだから、もらった国を塗っていこう！と、4月から始まったこの企画。今週から日本バージョンも登場です！番組でメールが読まれたアナタのいる国、地域を塗っていきます！あなたの住んでいる地域にいないとわからないレアな情報を教えてね！ ←地図をクリックで大きな画像が見られるよ！ アナタのいるところはもう塗ってある？まだならニヤリ。メール送っちゃいましょ！

[ J-WAVE WEBSITE : MUSIC HYPER MARKET ]

I think that says it all. In case your Japanese is rusty, 81.3 FM in Tokyo wants to hear from you if you listen to their station on the 'net. They are coloring political regions red as people write in to them. Especially needed are people from Africa and the Mid-East. And if you don't think that they're serious about this, check out the DJ.

I've been listening for about 20 minutes this morning and they've mentioned the “Paint it Red” project 3 times, so you know they must be serious about it. And some Japanese girls keep giggling. Plus they played a song!

If they do get around to playing more songs, though, I fully expect a playlist like thier sister “over-the-air” station, which appears to bow to no specific musical type. And I think with a little begging, I can get them to play some Spork! Oh, wait, I don't know how to beg in Japanese...

We can't even all agree on some basics about shoe sizes. Check out this International Shoe Size Conversion Charts/Converter Tables for Shoes Sizes and marvel over the seemingly random numbers picked. Some countries have separate systems for men and women, some don't. Are women's feet that different? Check out Australia, they seem to have borrowed their sizes, men's from UK men's, women's from US men's.

I figure that everyone should just adopt the Korean system, and then we can work on world peace, it'd be a snap after that.

...starting July 1, Virginia cellular phone users can sign up to block unwanted marketing calls through the national Do Not Call Registry. The registration is good for five years.

[ Yahoo! News ]

Of course, since it's my only phone, I've already done that. Also of note:

Under the law, telemarketers must also transmit caller-identification information

Which should mean no more “Unknown” callers on my phone. Now wouldn't that just be great.

The lid to the toy box has blown off its hinges and the toys are ready to rumble. It’s toy versus toy in this over-the-top 3-D action shooter. You can create your own fighting force with over 100 unique characters. Use strategy to build the toughest force. Character collecting becomes addictive as the combinations are endless!

[ Capcom ]

And addictive is the right word. This game didn't seem so impressive to me at first, a very simple concept, and with seemingly little depth. To be fair, I've only played the “story” mode, and the other modes may hold more complex game play, but this game is generally just a fighting game.

However, I find myself playing this for hours, and not paying attention to much around me. Building my force bigger and bigger, determining which selection of the every growing collection of toys will be the best fighting force I can afford. This game is overwhelmingly Japanese, and tremendously addictive. I recommend GameFlying this one, and perhaps following up with a purchase.

I'm back from training, and I have seen the light. Jerry asked the other day, “Has anyone else used Sharepoint Services yet?” and was looking for some feedback, and I think I've got the skinny.

SharePoint is not just one thing, and it's not even the same thing all of the time. Currently SharePoint is 2 things:

1. Windows SharePoint Services 2.0 (WSS)
2. SharePoint Portal Server 2.0 (SPS)

And they are both a bit different than v1.0, which was very different than Team SharePoint YadaYada or whatever it was called before that. WSS 1.0 stored it's bits in file shares and in Exchange, and SPS 1.0 used SQL Server. SPS 2.0 still uses SQL server, but now so does WSS, although WSS can use MSDE instead. Therefore WSS is licensed along side of Windows 2003, and with a MSDE implantation doesn't cost anything above the server OS.

What is WSS? It's more than a place to put documents, it's a place to put documents, event details, lists of stuff, conversations, surveys, etc. as well as a web GUI that lets you access all of these bits. And it's all integrated into Office 2003. You can schedule a meeting in Outlook, and create a “workspace” for that meeting in WSS. This allows you to store documents for review, and revision as well as other collaboration information all in one place, totally dedicated to your meeting. You can pull in users from ActiveDirectory and give each their own “MySite” for storing and sharing documents, thoughts, conversations, etc. You can customize the site with your own templates, or using an SDK make custom widgety things that WSS calls “Web Parts”. In a nutshell it is “Intranet in a box” and mostly free. Add on a SQL license and you can use free text searching.

But then, you may ask, what the heck is SharePoint Portal? SPS allows you to much easier create WSS sites, much easier integrate with AD, search across all of these sites, and aggregate data from across sites into sites setup for aggregation purposes. It rounds out the solution making it the only Intranet that many companies might need. In addition you can use other MS servers like Project Server that integrate right into WSS and create a site for each project on the server.

Or, you can boot up VisualStudio.NET and use the WSS services without using their GUI, or use part of their GUI and create your own Web Parts, and get 1/2 of your solution done up front (if your solution involves collaboration and communication).

The type of game makes a difference as well. "Doom 3," "Half-Life 2," and "Halo 2" are three of the most anticipated upcoming games among Western audiences. Don't expect them to do well in Japan, however. In fact, they will have two strikes against them even before they land on the docks. All three games are, in addition to being violent, played from the first-person perspective. Such first-person perspective shooters (FPS) are big in the West, but have never really caught on in Japan. And few violent games sell well there, either.

[ MSNBC - Video games that get lost in translation ]

Apparently the problem with quality consoles selling is due to their sphere of influence. GameCube seems to have only “Japanese” games and XBox has only “American” games. PlayStation provides both and therefore seems to be more popular. Of course consumers apparently don't mind crappier design, crappier price, crappier controls (multitap in specific), and crappier performance.

Here's hoping GameCubeNext and neXtBox both kill PS3 at the register... (Oh did I get off topic?)

For roughly eight years I've been doing work related to a game known as Zelda, but I never imagined that an opportunity for me to talk to all of you about this experience would ever come.

[ Nintendo ]

ACT II & Nintendo have teamed up for the ultimate gaming and snacking experience. Just look for specially marked ACT II Microwave Popcorn cartons and pop a bag to see if you're an Instant Winner of a Grand Prize Family Gaming Pack, which includes: a Panasonic 50" Widescreen LCD Rear Projection HDTV, a Nintendo GameCube™ System, including 4 Wavebird™ Wireless Controllers & 10 games, plus every newly released Nintendo GameCube game for an entire year* and a year's supply of ACT II Microwave Popcorn. It's just one more way ACT II Microwave Popcorn helps you and your family Get Ahead Of The Game.

[ ACT II ]