http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/28/uk-paper-sony-beheaded-goat-to-promote-god-of-war-ii/

London’s Daily Mail reports that Sony apparently decided to turn things into a true Roman spectacle in the UK for the launch of God of War II by decapitating a live goat and having revelers reach inside to feast upon the goat’s innards.

At first, we thought this was a clever analogy someone was using to describe a piñata being busted open, but it appears like it was the real thing. According to the article, “Guests at the event were even invited to reach inside the goat’s still-warm carcass to eat offal from its stomach.” Yuck!

Pictures of the event, featuring topless women as well as the strange feast, were featured in Official PlayStation 2 Magazine. Subscriber copies had already been sent out, but the company is now recalling the 80,000 newsstand copies that were to appear this Tuesday. Meaning you might have a collector’s edition on your hands, if it turns out to be true.

… it seems like every time I turn around, Sony is committing yet another marketing blunder. It’s getting to the point where they’re worse about it than Acclaim was. I’m just wondering now when Sony is going to wise up and fire these incompetent idiots…

My friend Matt wrote a post on his LiveJournal today talking about the whole Virginia Tech school shooting thing. The viewpoint he took was one I hadn’t seen before, and I felt it needed to be repeated, as it shows another ugly side to this whole thing I personally hadn’t considered…

this may piss people off, but those that do are missing my point.. because it brings up a sore subject, and i am NOT trivializing it or patronizing it. BUT. ….

There are 32 people dead Thats the current count) in the worst mass shooting in US history. You want to know whats showing on my local news? Maury. Jerry Springer. As the World Turns.

This is DISGUSTING.

In this age of internet and cable, some may say big deal.. you got CNN…Foxnews. Blah blah blah…

Well. heres the deal… When Anna Nicole Smith Died, CBS… NBC… ABC… Local affiliates all broke into regular programming and kept with the story for nearly 2-3 hours. 32 die and it doesnt even rate breaking into Jerry Springer? While I was out I mad mention of that fact and I was shot down by a passerby of the local redneck bluehair crowd…. “better not take off my “STORIES” i got to see my “STORIES”

What the hell is wrong with America?

I Felt sick to my stomach. I really did.

I am REALLY not trying to step on anyones toes.. but this is just WRONG. I live near enough to the country that i can say that there are certain areas that still just have Antenna for TV reception….Those people unless they saw it at noon STILL dont know whats going on.

I know some of you are sensitive to the Anna Nicole thing… and im using it because it was the most recent event i can recall that networks broke in…. but regardless.. If Anna Nicole rates 2-3 hours of network time, there is not one explanation you can give me that makes this decison right—-other than the American fascination with celebrity. And its just…. wrong.

Im probably the only person that cares about it, but yah. This chaps my ass in a REAL bad way.

(The following was my reply to him.)

This is another example of why I say that the idea and dream of America is beautiful and wonderful, but the reality horrifies and sickens me. What makes it such a beautiful example is the fact that more importance is placed on the self-caused death of a single “celebrity” (who, let’s face it, was not really that important) than on the MURDERS of over 30 people.

People care more only for their entertainment than their information, and that makes them complacent about the world they live in. Why else has this country gone to hell in a handbasket?

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/32023

Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. The net is buzzing with the news that just dropped at sectorseven.org regarding Megatron’s voice.

Sector Seven is the government agency investigating the giant robots in Bay’s TRANSFORMERS. This website, a very secretive and dense place, has been cracked. Click the link above and enter in NBETWO. If you click on the red scorpion you’ll get a list of emails, indicating “megaman’s recording” and an “Agent Weaving.”

I have run this by my sources within Paramount/Dreamworks and it is indeed the truth. Hugo Weaving has been hired to voice Megatron for Michael Bay.

The feelings are mixed. On one hand… fuck. No Frank Welker. But on the other… fuck! Hugo Weaving rocks! I’m curious to hear his robot voice, see how different it’ll sound from his other voice work. I’m glad it’s someone we can guarantee a certain level of excellence from and not a big star who’ll just take the check to sit in a room and read into a microphone (I’m talking to you Julia Roberts and everybody else in the live-action CHARLOTTE’S WEB… Thomas Hayden Church, you’re the exception).

Well… heh. On one hand, I had been pulling for Frank Welker to reprise his role as Megatron, if only because they had gotten Peter Cullen back to play Optimus Prime. On the other hand, I’m not like the TF fanboys who have been demanding that it only be Welker or it’ll definitely suck. For example, I really liked David Kaye’s interpretation of Megatron seen in everything from Beast Wars to Cybertron (with the exception of that abomination Robots in Disguise). I REALLY enjoy Hugo Weaving’s work; truthfully, I consider this to be pretty damn good news overall. This has done nothing to make me look forward to Transformers any less. In fact, now I’m looking forward to it a bit more just to see what Weaving’s Megatron will be like. :-)

http://www.blackindustries.com/?template=BI&content=talisman-pr

Black Industries are very excited to announce the launch of a brand new edition of Talisman. Releasing in October 2007, the classic Talisman game is back and it’s better than ever!

Talisman is a cult fantasy board game for 2 – 6 people. Players control a myriad of characters from a heroic warrior to a powerful sorcerer. In this perilous adventure, play centres around the journey of these gallant heroes to find and claim the Crown of Command, a magical artefact with the power to destroy all rivals and make the bearer the true ruler of the kingdom. Only with strength, courage, and wisdom will players be able to survive the ultimate test and beat their opponents to victory.

Talisman’s enduring appeal is that of a traditional fantasy boardgame and more. Players soon find themselves taking part in an epic quest of brave deeds, daring encounters and death defying battles, which deepens as the game unfolds.

First released in 1983, the game continues to excite and maintains a strong following with a thriving Internet community. The new edition of Talisman will appeal to fans of the timeless original, and will also create a new following of would be adventurers.

Marc Gascoigne, Head of Black Industries, said, “This is the best edition of Talisman we have ever produced. It’s the return of a genuine classic fantasy game, and I’m proud to be announcing its comeback. The gameplay is based on the very best aspects of the previous editions, but with added extras such as the all new speedy play rules written by the legendary Rick Priestley. The game looks fantastic, with fabulous new artwork. I know fans old and new will love this edition.”

Talisman was actually the game that got me into fantasy boardgames and the like. Way back in 8th grade, the day after Christmas vacation started for us, a group of us met our band director in the band hall to play this game for the first time, and we were all hooked. I managed to pick up the game and all expansions, and I’d end up playing with Chris, Sean, Kourt, Dennis, and Jason regularly. My set was lost to posterity, but I have a third edition box somewhere in my closet waiting to be played. Talisman also started my passing interest in the Warhammer games, as the boardgame itself was related to Warhammer Fantasy and the Timescape expansion referenced Warhammer 40,000.

I’ll have to pick this up when it comes out. And then… maybe Sean, Chris, and/or George would be interested in a blast from the past, as it were. :-)