Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Hype Check: 'Super Mario Bros.' Wii Rocks the Return to Side-Scrolling Roots]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/hype-check-return-to-the-side-scroller-with-new-super-mario-br/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/hype-check-return-to-the-side-scroller-with-new-super-mario-br/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/19/hype-check-return-to-the-side-scroller-with-new-super-mario-br/#commentsFiled under:

The Hype: Eons ago, in 1982, video games took a dramatic evolutionary leap as 'Pitfall' and 'Moon Patrol' revolutionized the burgeoning gaming movement with the development of the side-scrolling platform. No longer limited to single-screen action or distant, overhead views, virtual worlds astronomically increased in size and scope.

Take a warp-zone pipe ahead almost 30 years, and the dramatically advanced gaming landscape is now littered with obsolete styles that have been forced into extinction. Yet side-scrollers have managed to survive, and now, one ubiquitous, enormously popular, 25-year-old franchise heads back to where it all began.

With a few notable departures (and failures), the sprawling 'Mario Bros.' universe has predominately adhered to the side-scrolling platform. Perhaps still angry at 'Zelda II: The Adventure of Link' for encroaching on its side-scrolling domain, the Mario team created the open-ended 'Super Mario 64,' which received extensive accolades but didn't capture the simplistic and enthralling fun of the previous titles. Nintendo also tried to find a happy medium with 'Paper Mario', which switched between side-scrolling and 3-D, but the titles, while fun, also failed to win over devoted Mario-philes.

Continue reading Hype Check: 'Super Mario Bros.' Wii Rocks the Return to Side-Scrolling Roots

SwitchedHype Check: 'Super Mario Bros.' Wii Rocks the Return to Side-Scrolling Roots originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HGGMoon PatrolMoonPatrolNintendoPitfallside-scrollerside-scrollingsuper mario brossuper mario bros wiiSuperMarioBrosSuperMarioBrosWiiThu, 19 Nov 2009 12:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Feds Using PlayStation 3 to Catch Predators]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/feds-using-playstation-3-to-catch-predators/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/feds-using-playstation-3-to-catch-predators/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/18/feds-using-playstation-3-to-catch-predators/#commentsFiled under:

While the PlayStation 3 is often the object of crime, police authorities are now using the device as a means to fight ne'er-do-wells, too.

When trying to track down the cyber footprints of a criminal, federal authorities typically use a complex and expensive system of computers to crack open a suspect's password-protected files. Now, however, according to Kotaku, agents have discovered that they can do the same thing by networking a group of PS3 consoles together -- at a fraction of the cost. And as it turns out, all the processing power that goes into producing those complex graphics is perfectly suited for cracking passwords. And though any gaming console can fill the same function, authorities have chosen the PS3 in particular because it allows them to use Linux, an open-source operating system. (Tragically, the newest PS3 Slim doesn't allow open-source systems, although police have turned to eBay to troll for older versions.)

Continue reading Feds Using PlayStation 3 to Catch Predators

SwitchedFeds Using PlayStation 3 to Catch Predators originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hackpoliceps3topvideogamesWed, 18 Nov 2009 13:40:00 EST<![CDATA[YouTube Kid Throws Fit Over 'Modern Warfare 2']]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/youtube-kid-throws-fit-over-modern-warfare-2/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/youtube-kid-throws-fit-over-modern-warfare-2/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/youtube-kid-throws-fit-over-modern-warfare-2/#commentsFiled under: ,

Crazy Kid Cries Over 'Modern Warfare 2', Also Makes Terrible Music
We'll admit that video games have driven us to punch a wall or two in our day, but usually it was because we made it all the way to the final boss, only to die and then realize we'd forgotten to save the game for the last two hours. We never kicked anything because a game wasn't enjoyable, and never did we feel the need to document, let alone share, our meltdowns.

Thankfully, YouTube user Jono1170 has no such shame, and has posted his sobbing, sniffling, wall-punching tirade against 'Modern Warfare 2' for all the world to see. The only reasonable reaction to the video (after the break), subtly titled 'MODERN WARFARE 2 SUCKS!!!!!,' is a giant "WTF?!" We can barely understand what this kid is crying about, what with his slurred British accent and attempts to suck back tears and snot.

Continue reading YouTube Kid Throws Fit Over 'Modern Warfare 2'

SwitchedYouTube Kid Throws Fit Over 'Modern Warfare 2' originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jono1170modern warfaremodern warfare 2ModernWarfareModernWarfare2topyoutubeTue, 17 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Video Game Papercraft: The New Nerdy Hobby]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/video-game-papercraft-the-new-nerdy-hobby/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/video-game-papercraft-the-new-nerdy-hobby/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/17/video-game-papercraft-the-new-nerdy-hobby/#commentsFiled under: ,

A few weeks back, we were intrigued by The Toy Zone's roundup of 25 video games that had been recreated as paper dioramas. Needless to say, we wanted more. Using our rigorous investigative journalism techniques, we trudged through the Internet and soon stumbled upon Nintendo Papercrafts, a site devoted to DIY paper projects featuring classic NES characters.

This is a thing that people do? Amazing! It represents an entirely new shade of geekiness, combining the nerd-tastic hobbies of gaming, modeling, and handicrafting. And we can't wait to try it ourselves, since all of the models on Nintendo Papercrafts offer downloadable .zip files of the requisite patterns. All you have to do is print, cut, and glue your way to your own 'Duck Hunt' diorama. The Switched offices will soon be overrun with these things, much as they are already with Tribbles. [From: The Toy Zone and Nintendo Papercrafts]

SwitchedVideo Game Papercraft: The New Nerdy Hobby originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artcraftsDIYhandmadehggnintendopaper craftpapercrafttopvideogamesTue, 17 Nov 2009 07:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Teen Claims Kidnappers Forced Him to Buy PS3 at Walmart]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/16/teen-claims-kidnappers-forced-him-to-buy-ps3-at-walmart/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/16/teen-claims-kidnappers-forced-him-to-buy-ps3-at-walmart/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/16/teen-claims-kidnappers-forced-him-to-buy-ps3-at-walmart/#commentsFiled under:

Used to be, back in the golden years of kidnapping, abductors would only demand a ransom in exchange for their victims. Nowadays, though, as the video game generation matures into criminal adulthood, typical demands are becoming a bit more... peculiar.

Teenager Kyle Yarkosky, of Florida, claims that a fellow teen named David Daniels and another unnamed suspect abducted him last Monday, held him at gunpoint, and forced him to buy a PlayStation 3. Allegedly, Yarkosky was walking down the street when the two suspects pulled to the side, forced him into their truck, and took his stepfather's credit card. Naples News reports that the trio then drove to Wal-Mart, where Daniels had intentions of buying a gun. Seeing the gun counter closed (Don't you just hate when that happens?), they decided to get a PS3 instead, on Yarkosky's bill. (If you can't shoot real people, you might as well shoot fake ones, right?)

Somewhere, Buffalo Bill is shaking his head in disgust. [From: Naples News, via Joystiq]

SwitchedTeen Claims Kidnappers Forced Him to Buy PS3 at Walmart originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Public Pokémon Proposal is Dorkiest Ever

Between the hacked versions of 'Chrono Trigger,' the hidden messages in Google Street View, and the adorably lame Twitter messages, we figured the battle for geekiest marriage proposal would never end. But then we came across this video (after the jump) of Chris Herbert proposing to his girlfriend, Belle Starenchak... while at an anime convention... dressed as Pokémon. Check and mate.

Herbert popped the question by opening a Poké Ball, revealing a ring to his bride-to-be, who was dressed as Pikachu. Herbert himself was dolled up like Raichu -- apparently another Pokémon who exists outside of our Poké lexicon. Starenchak said yes in front of a crowd gathered at Anime Weekend Atlanta, eliciting cheers from the nerds in attendance.

Continue reading Dressed as Pokémon, Man Proposes to His Pikachu in Public

SwitchedDressed as Pokémon, Man Proposes to His Pikachu in Public originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 13:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hype Check

'Modern Warfare 2'

What it is: The latest installment in the 'Call of Duty' series, and the second to be set in contemporary times, 'Modern Warfare 2' takes place five years after the setting of 'Call of Duty 4.' Your mission is to hunt down a Russian insurgent and to repel an invasion of the East Coast. In campaign mode, you jump between five soldiers, a function that grants you multiple perspectives and plot points around the world. A new cooperative mode, 'Special Ops,' gives you and a buddy bite-sized, campaign-inspired scenarios to tackle, while the improved multiplayer allows as many as 18 players to go mano-a-mano with new features, weapons, and stages.

Why it's different: 'Modern Warfare 2' features the most ambitious, hot-button plot in a shooter, ever. Early in the game, you play a CIA agent, posing as a terrorist, who assists in the massacre of an airport terminal full of civilians. Leaked footage of the non-interactive scene caused such a stir that Infinity Ward decided to give players the option of skipping it entirely.

Continue reading Hype Check: 'Modern Warfare 2'

SwitchedHype Check: 'Modern Warfare 2' originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featureshypecheckmodern warfare 2ModernWarfare2topMon, 16 Nov 2009 12:17:00 EST<![CDATA['Love Plus' Video Game Requires Players to Kiss Their Nintendo DS]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/16/love-plus-video-game-requires-players-to-kiss-their-nintendo-d/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/16/love-plus-video-game-requires-players-to-kiss-their-nintendo-d/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/16/love-plus-video-game-requires-players-to-kiss-their-nintendo-d/#commentsFiled under:


We understand that dating has certainly changed with the rise of the Internet and virtual relationships. Internet dating sites have become the new coffeehouse, a Facebook poke has become the new raise of an eyebrow from across the room. But a video game out of Japan takes modern courtship to an entirely different -- and totally bizarre -- level.

'Love Plus,' for Nintendo DS, is a dating game... and more. To play, all you have to do is choose a girlfriend, and then start to woo her -- y'know, take her out on dates, do stuff together. Typical. And then, if you start to crack that coquettish shell of hers, she may even let you kiss her. Seriously. You can kiss the screen.

Continue reading 'Love Plus' Video Game Requires Players to Kiss Their Nintendo DS

Switched'Love Plus' Video Game Requires Players to Kiss Their Nintendo DS originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>big in japanBigInJapanjapanlove plusLovePlustopMon, 16 Nov 2009 08:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Mario's Wardrobe Wanderings: From Boots to Bees]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/14/marios-wardrobe-wanderings-from-boots-to-bees/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/14/marios-wardrobe-wanderings-from-boots-to-bees/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/14/marios-wardrobe-wanderings-from-boots-to-bees/#commentsFiled under:

As the highly anticipated U.S. release of 'New Super Mario Bros. Wii' rapidly approaches, reviews and screen shots are, little by little, revealing details about the game. (One quick, significant question before we go any further: How in the name of Bowser did Australia get the game before we did?!)

The latest installment in the saga of your favorite 'shroom-eating plumber series apparently adds some awesome new outfits to Mario's extensive and eclectic closet -- Propeller and Penguin suits being chief among them. In honor of Mushroom World couture, Kotaku is celebrating the best and most ridiculous of Mario's many suits. Click through to behold both the always popular Tanooki Suit and the oft forgotten Goomba's Shoe costume.

Continue reading Mario's Wardrobe Wanderings: From Boots to Bees

SwitchedMario's Wardrobe Wanderings: From Boots to Bees originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funnylistmarionew super mario bros.NewSuperMarioBros.topvideogameswiiSat, 14 Nov 2009 10:28:00 EST<![CDATA['Mario' and 'Luigi' Rob and Beat Cabbie on Halloween]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/13/mario-and-luigi-rob-and-beat-cabbie-on-halloween/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/13/mario-and-luigi-rob-and-beat-cabbie-on-halloween/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/13/mario-and-luigi-rob-and-beat-cabbie-on-halloween/#commentsFiled under:

Police are on the lookout for two brothers. Occupation: plumbers, Clothing: overalls, Hobbies: saving princesses and collecting coins. Reports say they answer to these names: Mario and Luigi.

No, this isn't breaking news from the Mushroom Kingdom (unless Staten Island just got a new nickname). According to the New York Daily News, Staten Island police are searching for four men (two were dressed like the video game icons) who were caught on a gas station's surveillance video around 4 a.m. on November 1st robbing and beating a taxi driver. After apparently leaving a Halloween party, one of the men tried to steal money from the cabbie's pocket. The driver pulled into the gas station and asked the men to pay and get out of his car. They refused, beat the driver, and stole his cash anyway.

There's no word yet on whether or not the crooks were disappointed that the driver wasn't carrying large, gold coins. In all seriousness, let's hope these guys are caught soon. If a couple no-good criminals ruin one of our favorite Halloween costumes, we'll have to go out and regulate. And we won't use turtle shells, either. [From: the New York Daily News]

Switched'Mario' and 'Luigi' Rob and Beat Cabbie on Halloween originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>costumecrimehalloweenluigimarionintendorobberytaxiFri, 13 Nov 2009 15:45:00 EST<![CDATA['Modern Warfare 2' Shatters First Day Sales Record]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/modern-warfare-2-shatters-first-day-sales-record/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/modern-warfare-2-shatters-first-day-sales-record/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/12/modern-warfare-2-shatters-first-day-sales-record/#commentsFiled under:

'Modern Warfare 2' Shatters First Day Sales Record
'Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2' is a big deal. Like, a really, really big deal. So big in fact that despite several months of plummeting video game sales, 'Modern Warfare 2' was able to turn that trend on its head and shatter the first day sales record set by 'Grand Theft Auto 4' in April of 2008.

Back in those heady days of the Bush administration 'GTA:IV' managed to sell 3.6 million copies in its first 24 hours of availability in North America and the U.K -- exceeding most expectations. So we're even more shocked that a game lacking the pop cultural impact of 'Grand Theft Auto' could unexpectedly embarrass the previous record holder by selling 4.7 million copies in the first 24 hours. And all without the controversy of playing as a gangster and sleeping with prostitutes.

Being the new record holder all but ensures that we'll see a new 'Modern Warfare' every year or two until the end of time, essentially turning the franchise into the AC/DC of the video game world -- not terribly exciting, but you know exactly what you'll be getting with every release. [From: Joystiq]

Switched'Modern Warfare 2' Shatters First Day Sales Record originally appeared on Switched on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>call of duty: modern warfare 2CallOfDuty:ModernWarfare2modern warfaremodern warfare 2ModernWarfareModernWarfare2record holderRecordHoldersalestopThu, 12 Nov 2009 11:11:00 EST<![CDATA['Street Fighter' Tattoo Takes 'Chic' Out of Geek Chic, Maybe 'Geek,' Too]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/street-fighter-tattoo-takes-chic-out-of-geek-chic-maybe-ge/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/street-fighter-tattoo-takes-chic-out-of-geek-chic-maybe-ge/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/11/street-fighter-tattoo-takes-chic-out-of-geek-chic-maybe-ge/#commentsFiled under:

We've seen a lot of geeky tattoos: a flaming 20-sided die, a Pac-Man maze on the rear, and, of course, the mind-boggling Born Oppenheimer Approximation. Still, if we had to choose, the award for "worst tattoo ever" would go to the above 'Shoryuken' brand.

For 'Street Fighter' newbies, the Shoryuken, or 'Dragon Punch,' is an easily executed trademark move used by two characters in the game. To pull it off, all you need to do is hit forward, down, down-forward, and then tap the punch button on the controller. But if you look closely, that's not exactly the directions this unfortunate fellow got on his forearm.

Call us crazy, but we predict a trip to the dermatologist in the near future. [From: Geekologie]

Switched'Street Fighter' Tattoo Takes 'Chic' Out of Geek Chic, Maybe 'Geek,' Too originally appeared on Switched on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don't even attempt to lie. We know you've daydreamed about how great it would feel to haul off and punch one of your friends in the face or plant a foot right in his or her kisser. Now it may be hard to get away with doing that while hanging out at the bar or at a party -- and still keep them as friends afterwards. But iPhone game developer, Appy Entertainment, understands your desire to commit acts of physical violence against loved ones and has created 'FaceFighter,' which lets you paste the face of friends, family... really just about anyone, on a computerized foe and beat the hell out of them.

Get started by choosing images from your camera roll or taking a new snapshot, then line up your eyes and mouth with the game's guidelines. Zoom in and out to fit the image into a cutout, and you're ready to go. The game is pretty simple -- basically a button masher that lets you kick, block, and throw a right or left punch, leaving your custom opponent bruised, bandaged, and missing teeth. It doesn't actually offer much in the way of strategy or depth, so we're thankful you can try the game for free with 'FaceFighter Lite.' If the Lite version isn't enough for you, the full game is available for only $0.99 (for a limited time), and lets you battle friends head-to-head, so you can beat on each other's virtual mugs.

Continue reading Kick Your Friends in the Face With 'FaceFighter' iPhone App

SwitchedKick Your Friends in the Face With 'FaceFighter' iPhone App originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Move over, Jethro Tull. There's a new master of the flute. A girl known only as MsFrizzyHair found a way to play her flute along with songs on her brother's copy of 'Rock Band 2.' Bored with regular flute practice, this clever gal discovered she could play her flute into the video game's microphone in lieu of singing lead vocals. She's pretty good at it, too. In the posted video, she plays along with Avenged Sevenfold's "Afterlife" on expert difficulty. The result? She scored a 98-percent with a 22-phrase streak and four gold stars, which is significantly better than we'd score attempting to sing the tune.

What can we learn from this? Other than the fact that this girl has some serious flute skills, Harmonix probably shouldn't invest in a woodwind version of its best-selling franchise. This young lady stumbled on a neat parlor trick, not a new idea for a video game. Then again, 'Flute Hero' or 'Rock Band: Xylophone' might just be the sleeper video game hit of 2010. [From: YouTube, via Neatorama]

Continue reading Girl Plays 'Rock Band' With a Flute

SwitchedGirl Plays 'Rock Band' With a Flute originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>funnyharmonixmusicrockbandtopvideogamesyoutubeMon, 09 Nov 2009 17:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox Live Blocks Kids Under 18 From Facebook and Twitter Apps]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/xbox-live-blocks-kids-under-18-from-facebook-and-twitter-apps/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/xbox-live-blocks-kids-under-18-from-facebook-and-twitter-apps/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/xbox-live-blocks-kids-under-18-from-facebook-and-twitter-apps/#commentsFiled under: ,

In a move that should make extroverted Xbox Live members happy, Microsoft will add Facebook and Twitter functionality to the next Dashboard update, currently being tested in public previews. But underage teens will get a cold dose of reality when they find they can't log onto the social networks from their favorite console.

Microsoft has blocked kids under 18 from accessing the popular social networking apps, though Facebook lets kids as young as 13 open accounts, and Twitter currently has no age restriction rule. Why? "Parents aren't able to use Family Settings to customize which applications their children can access," wrote Xbox Live Director of Programming Larry Hryb on his blog. "To offer an age-appropriate environment for everyone, we decided to turn these applications off for [Xbox Live] Gold members under the age of 18."

Hryb promises a solution is on the way: a future Dashboard update with proper parental controls. When that rolls out, teens will be able to Facebook and Twitter as much as they want, just so long as their parents approve. But for now, they'll have to log in the old-fashioned way: on their computer. [From: CNET and Major Nelson]

SwitchedXbox Live Blocks Kids Under 18 From Facebook and Twitter Apps originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>topxblxbox liveXboxLiveMon, 09 Nov 2009 08:36:00 EST<![CDATA[The Geekiest, Most (Adorable) Retro Wedding Invitation Ever]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/the-geekiest-most-adorable-retro-wedding-invitation-ever/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/the-geekiest-most-adorable-retro-wedding-invitation-ever/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/09/the-geekiest-most-adorable-retro-wedding-invitation-ever/#commentsFiled under: ,

As soon as we saw this 8-bit piece of love, we had to pause our regular reportage of laser-etched fruit and robot fish to simply stop and gush like the Cute-Overload-reading, pre-teen, Japanese girls that we all carry inside of us. Really, how freakin' adorable is this?

Illustrator Carla Berrocal designed the wedding invitation for the Chilean computer scientist couple of Luis Diaz Santis and Magaly Guerrero Ramirez. Berrocal mixed freehand drawing and Photoshop to create a cute throwback to the glorious Atari-fueled '80s. We're especially in love with the little design quirks: "Insert Coin?" Check out the inside of the card after the break.

¡Felicidades, Luis y Magaly! [From: Carla Berrocal, via BuzzFeed]

Continue reading The Geekiest, Most (Adorable) Retro Wedding Invitation Ever

SwitchedThe Geekiest, Most (Adorable) Retro Wedding Invitation Ever originally appeared on Switched on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone Game Developer Sued for Secretly Collecting Customer Phone NumbersStorm8, the developer of popular (but terrible) iPhone games like 'Vampires Live' and 'iMobsters,' has found itself on the wrong end of a potential class-action lawsuit.

A lawsuit has been filed, on behalf of Washington resident Michael Turner, that alleges Storm8 built its games with a "feature" that automatically sends the phone number of each host iPhone to the developer. Turner is suing on the grounds that this practice is in violation of both the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and California state law, and is pushing to turn it into a class-action suit, on behalf of all Storm8 customers.

Storm8 has admitted to collecting the phone numbers, but denies any real responsibility, attributing the "phone home" function to a simple bug in the code. The company maintains that the glitch has been fixed. Turner countered that a "glitch" could not lead to the collection of phone numbers and that specialized code would have to be purposely placed within the games to have that effect. Not being programmers,we can't say for certain whether or not the collecting of phone numbers was intentional, but it doesn't sound like the sort of feature that could be accidentally implemented.

Continue reading App Developer Sued for Stealing Customers' iPhone Numbers

SwitchedApp Developer Sued for Stealing Customers' iPhone Numbers originally appeared on Switched on Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>class actionClassActioncomputer crimes and abuse actComputerCrimesAndAbuseActlawsuitprivacysecuritystorm8topSat, 07 Nov 2009 10:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Gift Guide: The Vision One Computer Workstation]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-the-vision-one-computer-workstation/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-the-vision-one-computer-workstation/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/gift-guide-the-vision-one-computer-workstation/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The Vision One Computer Workstation (Gamer, Under $2,500)

There are desks, and then there's the V1 ($1,700 starting price), an uncompromising workstation aimed squarely at appeasing the ergonomic needs of the seasoned PC gamer. The standard and corner-room configurations come in 35 colors like solid blue, metallic silver, and "rainbo" -- yep, you read right -- with finishes that include racing stripes and even flames. An adjustable-height monitor stand holds up to three displays while padded elbow rests support your arms; four speaker uprights surround the user so that you're always in the sweet spot. Colors aside, the V1 customization options are plentiful, from the table tops down to chair. If you've got the extra cash, spring for the cushy leather Porsche seat. Why? Because you (and your back) deserve it.

SwitchedGift Guide: The Vision One Computer Workstation originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoriesdeskfurnituresgamingaccessorieshgghgg-2500hgg-gamerhouseholdv1Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook Hit 'Bejeweled Blitz' Goes Mobile With iPhone App]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/facebook-hit-bejeweled-blitz-goes-mobile-with-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/facebook-hit-bejeweled-blitz-goes-mobile-with-iphone-app/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/facebook-hit-bejeweled-blitz-goes-mobile-with-iphone-app/#commentsFiled under: ,

Fans of the Facebook game 'Bejeweled Blitz' will be able to hone their gem-matching skills on the move when the free 'Bejeweled 2' iPhone add-on hits the App Store next week.

As with previous 'Bejeweled' games, the goal is to swap gems vertically and horizontally to match three or more. (A satisfying cacophony of explosions concludes the round if you've done your job.) But this streamlined edition gives you only one minute to do it, a boon for mobile users with some time, though not too much time, to kill. Best of all, 'Blitz' syncs automatically to Facebook, uploading high scores to a leaderboard in real time.

If users really feel the need to brag, they can post their scores to their Facebook profiles, reminding their family and friends who's the boss -- at least where puzzle games are concerned. [From: Games.com]

SwitchedFacebook Hit 'Bejeweled Blitz' Goes Mobile With iPhone App originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>app storeAppStorebejeweled blitzBejeweledBlitzfacebookiphoneiphone appIphoneApptopFri, 06 Nov 2009 15:32:00 EST<![CDATA[No Doubt Sues Activision Over Stefani's 'Band Hero' Avatar]]>http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/no-doubt-sues-activision-over-stefanis-band-hero-avatar/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/no-doubt-sues-activision-over-stefanis-band-hero-avatar/http://www.switched.com/2009/11/06/no-doubt-sues-activision-over-stefanis-band-hero-avatar/#commentsFiled under: ,

Yesteryear's teen ska sensations No Doubt have filed suit against Activision Blizzard, Inc. over a depiction of frontwoman Gwen Stefani in the new game 'Band Hero.' Although No Doubt signed a contract allowing Activision to use the band's music and likenesses, the lawsuit maintains that the contract did not give Activision clearance to feature Stefani's avatar lip-synching to the Rolling Stones' 'Honky Tonk Women,' as the company has apparently done. This lawsuit follows a similar one threatened by Courtney Love in September. The widow of Kurt Cobain, Love claims that she did not expressly authorize the company to defile use her departed husband's likeness in a 'Guitar Hero 5' rendition of a Bon Jovi tune.

According to Reuters, the band objects, in the lawsuit, to the idea of "the Stefani avatar in a male voice boasting about having sex with prostitutes." Why, No Doubt? Because the Stones write songs that have some kind of substance or grit to them? Because Stefani is a woman? Because to do so would be totally f'in punk rock? Listen, Gwen, we've seen Sleater-Kinney's Corin Tucker sing the hell out of Danzig's immortally gross words: "Father, gonna take your daughter out tonight/Gonna show her my world ... If you wanna find Hell with me/I can show you what it's like/Till your bleeding," and it was nothing short of rock'n'roll genius. We recommend you familiarize yourself, via this video, and start taking notes. [From: Reuters, via Pocket Link]

SwitchedNo Doubt Sues Activision Over Stefani's 'Band Hero' Avatar originally appeared on Switched on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 07:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>band heroBandHeroguitar heroGuitarHerogwen stefaniGwenStefanilawsuitmusicno doubtNoDoubtvideogamesFri, 06 Nov 2009 07:30:00 EST