Remember how you used to get excited when your parents gave you a couple of bucks?

Felt good didn't it. Then they told you not to spend it all in one place. You felt like one of the richest kids on the block. So imagine how the imagination of one particular 13-year old felt when he decided to steal his dad's credit card and enjoy a night on the town. While most would probably act with some amount of common sense, Ralph Hardy chose to treat his friends to a $3,000 shopping spree consisting of junk food, tons of video games and two hookers to share in their big party event at a Texas motel.

Hardy's fun was naturally short-lived after a delivery clerk contacted authorities, shortly after dropping off from Fritos and other snacks for his pals and the hired escorts. He was charged with three years of community service, while the hookers were let go since they didn't actually do anything other than play Halo with the kids. Yeah, you read that right. Reportedly the hired escorts whose services run for $1000 a night became suspicious. Hardy told them that they just won a World of Warcraft tourney and wanted to kick back and relax. He also added that his group was part of a traveling circus and were of restricted growth. Seeing as the State law prohibits discrimination against the disabled, the escorts couldn't refuse them. 

I hope Hardy enjoyed his day of festivities because his actions has surely scarred his reputation in more ways than one. 

Indie developer to restore E3 to its former glory.

It seems like the hullabaloo of the "old" E3 will never be put to rest. Some prefer the original format set up at the LACC while there's a considerable percentage in favor of the more business, invite-only approach. While the new approach definitely offers some welcome benefits, it appears that the annual event has lost of its glimmer and entertaining spark. A spark that the Gamecock Media Group is hoping will be reignited with its upcoming campaign to bring the the "fun back to the gaming industry". 

This afternoon's press release left me scratching my head to say the least, but full details are forthcoming. Gamecock will be setting up it's campaign at the Hotel Figueroa (awesome hotel by the way) during the week of E3 (July 15 - 18). So who's invited? Well, if you're in the area - everyone. No need to wait for a special invite or jumping through the hoops. 

"I read last week that some of my most high profile supporters are not happy with the current administration of the ESA. Many of them apparently feel that I am the right man to right the ship, before it sinks entirely, due to my intimate experience with, or at least near, the E3 Expo's of the past," said Mike Watson. "After a long conversation with my wife, we have decided to step forward and bear the slings and arrows of public life this election season. Since the macabre, but strangely high-spirited burial of E3 last year, we are glad to see that it still hassome life left in it. My only hope is that it can be rebuilt and become what the all-knowing gaming god intended it to be. Good luck and God bless." In short - Mike's message is saying: Make your voice heard. 

I should point out that Mr. Wilson has announced his candidacy to replace the current ESA President. It remains to be seen if he'll actually be successful, but it's clear that an E3 revolution is underway; one that I am very eager to see how things pan out in the months to come.

This blog article should be recognized as the sole opinion of the editor and does not necessarily reflect GotNext's official position on the subject.

MADD wants GTA IV labeled AO because of the drunk driving, but is perfectly fine with the rest of the content.

Apologies for yet another Grand Theft Auto IV article, but it seems to be generating all the headlines this week.

There's been a lot of talk from the mainstream media about GTAIV, most of it of the informed quality one would expect.  It's easily ignored, seeing as there are only so many hours in the day and there are things that matter to deal with, but MADD went above and beyond the call of duty to get a response.  This is copied and pasted from their media page-

"Each year nearly 13,500 people die in drunk driving crashes and another half a million are injured in alcohol-related traffic crashes. This is why MADD is extremely disappointed by the decision of the manufacturers of the game Grand Theft Auto IV to include a game module where players can drive drunk. Drunk driving is not a game and it is not a joke. Drunk driving is a choice, a violent crime and it is also 100 percent preventable. MADD is calling on the Entertainment Software Ratings Board to reclassify Grand Theft Auto IV as an Adults Only game, a step up from the current rating of Mature and for the manufacturer to consider a stop in distribution – if not out of responsibility to society then out of respect for the millions of victims/survivors of drunk driving."

(more…)

The Red Ring of Death that is.  

I knew this day would come. All those stories from unfortunate souls whose lives were ripped apart. Shattered by the unavoidable reality that their console refused to work. I am talking about the dreaded Red Ring of Death. Hi. I am Chris and I've become a victim of a faulty Xbox 360. Of all days to die on me… why NOW?!? Why before I even had a chance to sit back and enjoy GTA4 like so many others are doing at this very moment. What does my 360 have against me embracing this awesome gem Rockstar has lovingly  put together?!? *sobs*

I don't want to fork out anymore cash right now. Think of what I can do with all that green. Food. Clothes. E3 Expenses. Buying another unit is the LAST thing I need to be thinking about. Naturally I started looking at some quick fixes documented online. Some suggested that I take apart the unit and rework the circuitry. Pass. Others hinted at a few taps on its side when powering on. Yeah, a lot of good that would do I'll bet. Then I saw something really out of left field: using a towel.

You heard me… a good 'ol fashioned towel. I know, you're thinking: "what's that supposed to do… keep it warm?"

Well, laugh that up but I figured that I had nothing to lose. I headed into my bedroom and yanked a towel from my hamper. Upon returning to the living room, I am thinking as I wrap the 360: "This is retarded… a towel can't possibly make this problem go away."  I power the 360 back on, sitting back and hoping that my wish would be granted.

(The 360 starts to hum followed by that low, humble power melody that routinely plays when the system comes on.)

The system worked. O_o

I thought "OMG… this silly technique actually friggin' works…." My fiance smirked… (heh, I am sure she was thrilled to know that I wasn't about to blow $400.00 on another unit). Crazy huh? I'd be lying if I said that I actually expected this to work again (and who knows for how much longer… I mean, does the towel need to stay on there now. That would suck if it does). In any case, at least I could get a few hours playing GTA4. You can read more about this unorthodox method at Endgadget.

UPDATE: The damn thing is on the fritz AGAIN. STUPID TOWEL METHOD IS TEH FAIL. >:( 

This blog article should be recognized as the sole opinion of the editor and does not necessarily reflect GotNext's official position on the subject.

Hooray for cordial invitations.

By now, everyone knows that this year’s E3 will be an invite-only function open to working members of the press. Several outlets including heavy hitters IGN, Gamestop, Gamespy and several widely respected blogs (see: Kotaku, Destructoid) were among to receive their invites.

The ESA has started distributing a second round of invites to editorial destinations (like ours) to enjoy this year’s highly anticipated media summit. For those of you keeping score, this year’s press function will be held at the Los Angeles Convention Center scheduled to run July 15 - 17. Downsizing the event was a welcome change, but Santa Monica’s Barker Hanger just didn’t seem to cut it for a lot of the attendees. I am intrigued to see how things will turn out at the LACC without the massive numbers that used to storm the place in previous years. Oh, and although Kentia Hall might may an unexpected return, the Center won’t have the pitter-patter of cute booth babes.

The ESA’s hand in restructuring the media expo we’ve all come to know and love remains a work in progress, but the long term effort will be better for everyone involved. Publishers. Editors. Everyone. I won’t miss the days where I felt like each appointment was just a rushed tour to take on the next group waiting to see the featured lineup. I won’t miss the days of people that really had no business there and hogged up every playable station. (Thank god for E4All). I won’t miss the long lines getting registered. I will miss seeing some of my fellow colleagues though. Socializing during the day makes these events all the more enjoyable!