Daily Link Roundup
Do you like to look at stuff? So do we.
The evolution of videogame graphics
World of Warcraft car commercial
I miss lefty
Conan gets his freak on [NSFW]
How to carve a Pac-o-lantern
Got link?
Imbalanced episode 25: IEST Finals
SeeD of Imbalanced Video has just released Imbalanced episode 25, wrapping up the Warcraft 3 International E-Sports Tournament in Beijing, China. Watch the full episode below:
1on1 with Jens Hilgers: “Nobody has been waiting for esports”
In part 2 of this week’s 1on1, Carmac talks to Jens Hilgers about building an audience in esports, the various obstacles ahead of competitive gaming, the requirements that a game has to meet to become an esport and getting a monopoly for the ESL.
Next week, the 1on1 series will feature Quake 3 champion Paul “czm” Nelson. Part 1 of the Jens Hilgers 1on1 can be found here. Read more »
Happy Birthday PlayStation 2!
On October 26, 2000, Sony launched the PlayStation 2 in North America.
The console has sold 120 million units to date, and Sony expects to sell 10 million more by next March, including the special Ceramic White PS2 coming in November.
There are some 1,400 PS2 titles, with 160 more on the way. The Grand Theft Auto series of games is the most popular.
Thanks to Gamasutra for the reminder.
Will Wright: ‘The only next gen system I’ve seen is the Wii’
In an interview with The Guardian, Sims and Spore creator Will Wright expresses some surprising opinions about the next-generation consoles.
Somebody asked me what I thought next generation meant and what about the PlayStation 3 was next generation. The only next gen system I’ve seen is the Wii – the PS3 and the Xbox 360 feel like better versions of the last, but pretty much the same game with incremental improvement. But the Wii feels like a major jump – not that the graphics are more powerful, but that it hits a completely different demographic. In some sense I see the Wii as the most significant thing that’s happened, at least on the console side, in quite a while. Read more »
Meet Your Makers releases CS legend elemeNt
Counter-Strike 1.6 superstar Ola “elemeNt” Moum will no longer play for Meet Your Makers. The Danish organization released the player of his contractual duties today.
According to MYM, a new role in the organization that does not involve playing or coaching is being discussed with elemeNt. This could mean that the Norwegian legend would end his turbulent career as a player. Read more »
ESWC sells thongs, urges females to ‘Be sexy in LAN’
Someone at the E-Sports World Cup has a hearty sense of humor. The recently opened ESWC shop includes all sorts of apparel, including branded thongs with the description “Be sexy in LAN.”
Males don’t have to worry about being out in the cold, either. You can grab a large assortment of t-shirts and a long sleeve shirt, but no boxer shorts or speedos. Most of the gear will be pricey for U.S. buyers thanks to the weak dollar.
If you feel like spending €14.99 on some thong action, head over to the shop. Perhaps this sort of sponsored gear can be freely handed out to the female Counter-Strike teams at the ESWC? Maybe not.
CGS Counter-Strike teams barred from playing CS1.6
The Championship Gaming Series has taken strong measures to assure its Counter-Strike: Source players are not seen playing CS1.6, using the threat of fines to prevent players from attending CS1.6 events.
CGS’s rationale is that 1.6 events directly compete with its own events. Somewhat paradoxically, the CGS regularly allows its teams and players to attend events that use the same games as the CGS. CGS squads 3D.NY, compLexity, and San Fransisco OPTX attended GGL’s DigitalLife 2007 CS:Source competition.
Several CGS Dead or Alive 4 players, as well as Project Gotham Racing 3 star Ch0mpr, were also allowed to attend the World Cyber Games 2007 Grand Final, but no CGS Counter-Strike teams attended. Read more »
MLG chairman Sepso doesn’t fear the CGS
GGL Wire got a chance to sit down with Major League Gaming chairman and co-founder Michael Sepso this past weekend at E for All. The interview covered a large range of topics, from Sepso’s background as a gamer and day to day activities, to MLG player contracts, to the future of the league.
Bear in mind that the camera autofocus went in and out a couple of times during the course of this interview. Sadly, modern day video editing software has no focus features! Watch the interview below.
Sears breaks Guitar Hero III launch date
The rumors on the ‘Tubes are true. I just got off the phone with Lupe at the Sears in the Colonial Bell Air Mall in Mobile, Alabama. They have two copies of Guitar Hero III left in stock, and they are definitely on sale today.
The problem? The official street date for the game is this coming Sunday, October 28.
If you’ve found a copy of the game on sale early, let us know in the comments!
Via EvilAvatar.
Penny Arcade Expo 2008 Dates Announced
Today Gabe and Tycho announced the dates for the fifth annual Penny Arcade Expo (PAX): August 29-31.
Now the largest game festival in North America, PAX 2007 featured an enormous selection of panels, tournaments, concerts and other activities centered around game culture. This year’s PAX was the first held at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center, a move prompted by the dramatic increase in attendance. Thus far, the festival’s attendance has doubled each year: There were 4,500 attendees in 2004, 9,500 in 2005, 19,300 in 2006, and 37,000 for 2007. Attendance for the 2008 event is expected to reach forty-seven million bajillion people.
Suck it, E for All!
CPL announces $1 million Halo 3 tournament
In a huge step for pro gaming, the Cyberathlete Professional League has announced today they will be giving away $1 million in total prize money for an open Halo 3 competition at the Extreme Winter Championships taking place Tuesday, Dec. 18 to Saturday, Dec. 22 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Dallas, Texas.
CPL founder Angel Munoz gave GGL all the details on this monumental tournament for the year’s hottest-selling game, the Xbox 360’s Halo 3. Here is official word from the CPL regarding the announcement and how anyone can take part:
The Cyberathlete Professional League® (CPL®) announces that it will host a $1,000,000 “Halo® 3″ Xbox 360™ competition at the Extreme Winter Championships taking place Tuesday, December 18 to Saturday, December 22, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Dallas, Texas.
The winner of the $1,000,000 “Halo 3″ Xbox 360 competition will receive a $250,000 instant cash payout at the CPL Winter event. Other prizes will be paid to at least 64 places. The competition is open to gamers worldwide and does not require pre-qualification or previous tournament experience.
The online registration will open Tuesday, October 30th. More information will be available on Monday, October 29th at Halo3Competition.com
For information on travel and hotel accommodations visit the Extreme Winter Championships website located at TheCPL.com/winter/