Culture Archives - Page 1520 of 1557

When “Sexy” Meant “Fully-Clothed With Expensive Race Cars”

I remember when I was 8, and my important bits still didn’t quite know what they were doing, I thought this was the single greatest image on the planet. A sexy European lady and a McLaren F1 car? It was heaven. Twenty-four years later, my bits know exactly what they’re doing, and…this is still pretty…

By Luke Plunkett Published April 12, 2012

CultureTotal Recall

The Sad Story of a Japanese Gaming Legend who Pretends War Crimes Never Happened

Here at Total Recall, we deal in history. Partly because I love my video games, but also because as a graduate in the field I love my history as well. So it saddens me deeply when I see people involved in video games trying to mess with real, actual history. Which leads me to something…

By Luke Plunkett Published April 12, 2012

CultureTotal Recall

The Greatness of Terrible Voice Acting

The AV Club’s newly-relaunched games section, the Gameological Society, explores one of the greatest single examples of voice-over work in the history of the industry: Last Alert, a shooter for the TurboGrafx-16. A game renowned the world over for just how shitty its localisation work was, just about everything that could go wrong does go…

By Luke Plunkett Published April 11, 2012

CultureTotal Recall

A Controversial Arcade Classic Gets its Own Documentary

Arcade classic Dragon’s Lair has its share of critics, but because it was so beautiful for the time, it’s also got its share of fans. Enough for there to be a market for a very slick documentary. Inside the Dragon’s Lair is an upcoming documentary being put together by Sleepyeyed Films, who are looking to…

By Luke Plunkett Published April 11, 2012

CultureTotal Recall

Nintendo’s Terrifying Power Glove Indoctrination Video

Get a cup of tea, a biscuit or two and settle in for ten minutes worth of Nintendo Power Glove propaganda, courtesy of the official VHS cassette guide to the peripheral. It is something you really should watch. From the product placement to pseudo-religious tone throughout, it’s as perfect a summary of one of Nintendo’s…

By Luke Plunkett Published April 10, 2012

CultureTotal Recall

That Time Sega Made a Ridiculous Fighting Game. With a Car in it.

Due to the overwhelming popularity of its Smash Bros. series, a lot of people give Nintendo credit for pioneering the idea of a fighting game bringing together a company’s mascots in the name of face-punching. Sega fans, though, will know that Smash Bros. was just the latest in a long line of such titles. One…

By Luke Plunkett Published April 10, 2012

CultureTotal Recall

In 1974, Arthur C. Clarke Predicted the 2001 Internet

Not just as a vague concept, either. The famed science fiction author absolutely nails it, from the bank statements to the hardware to the social changes to the possibilities for communication. “Visionary” is an awful, over-used word, but it’s cases like this which are the rare exceptions you can actually use it and it fits.…

By Luke Plunkett Published April 9, 2012

CultureTotal Recall

RIP, the Man who Helped Get me Into Video Games

When I was four years old, my father took me out to a local electronics store and said we were buying a computer. OK, I thought, not really knowing why that was such a big deal. Twenty-seven years later, I now know it was one of the most significant days of my life. That day…

By Luke Plunkett Published April 9, 2012

Culture

Mario Kart. Made Out of Chocolate.

The Mario Kart games have wound up on nearly every Nintendo platform since the wacky combat racer debuted back in 1992, thrilling millions. But this might be the first time that Mario and Luigi have become artisanal delicacies. Reader Daussy sent in these pictures of a chocolatey tribute to Nintendo’s kart-racing game, which were crafted…

By Evan Narcisse Published April 9, 2012

Culture

Finally, it’s Fez

Downloadable titles highlight the week’s new releases, including Skullgirls, World Gone Sour and, at long last, Fez. Tuesday • Skullgirls (PSN) • World Gone Sour (PSN) Wednesday • Legend of Grimrock (PC) • Skullgirls (XBLA) • World Gone Sour (XBLA) • The Splatters (XBLA) Thursday • Tribes: Ascend (PC) • Men of War: Condemned Heroes…

By Owen Good Published April 8, 2012

Culture

Sunday Comics: You Kiss Your Mother With That Mouth?

Welcome to your Sunday read of the week’s best in web comics. Make sure to click on the expand button in the bottom right to enlarge each comic. Nerf NOW!! by Josué Pereira published April 6.—Read more of Nerf NOW!! Awkward Zombie by Katie Tiedrich published April 2.—Read more of Awkward Zombie Penny Arcade by…

By Owen Good Published April 8, 2012

Culture

This Week in the Business: ‘PlayStation Orbis has the Jump on Next Xbox’

What’s happened in the business of video games this past week … QUOTE | “PlayStation Orbis has the jump on next Xbox.”—Industry sources talking about how Sony, unlike this generation, will actually launch its next PlayStation ahead of the next Xbox QUOTE | “In a new Star Wars game, the biggest threat to the empire…

Steve Peterson Published April 7, 2012

CultureTotal Recall

Unboxing the Mother Lode of Old PC Games

If you think unboxing new games is fun, wait until you see how awesome it is when a guy finds a box of old PC games and spends seven minutes taking them out of a single, larger cardboard box Space Quest. Man Hunter. Police Quest. Gold Rush. I can smell the musty manual paper through…

By Luke Plunkett Published April 5, 2012

CultureTotal Recall

Atari’s Founder Also Made Kick-Ass Robots

Nolan Bushnell, co-founder of Atari and also the man behind Chuck E. Cheese’s, won’t just be remembered for those two towering achievements. The guy also made robots. In 1981, having left Atari three years previously, Bushnell founded Catalyst Technologies, a venture capital group designed to help invest in technology start-ups. Catalyst in turn went onto…

By Luke Plunkett Published April 5, 2012

Culture

Original, Badass Zelda Art By Katsuya Terada

Katsuya Terada is a Japanese artist you may not know by name, but you may definitely know him for his work. He’s done character design for the Blood: The Last Vampire movie. He’s helped out on Western cartoons like Hellboy. He’s even done illustrations for Nintendo Power magazine. Which leads us neatly into this gallery…

By Luke Plunkett Published April 5, 2012

CultureTotal Recall

Thirty Years in a Loft and This Console Still Looks Gorgeous

It might be dusty, and the games might be more than a little dog-eared, but according to the photographer it all still works, despite having sat in a loft for over thirty years. They sure don’t make ’em like they used to. True Vintage [sj9966 @ Flickr, via it 8-bit]

By Luke Plunkett Published April 4, 2012

CultureTotal Recall

Today is “Atari National PAC-MAN Day”. No, Seriously, it is.

Thirty Years ago today, Atari had the balls to proclaim an entire day, hoping to lift its iconic Pac-Man character alongside the likes of other people who have their own day. Like, you know, Martin Luther King. And Jesus. The fact it was only celebrated by video game fans and Atari employees for that one…

By Luke Plunkett Published April 3, 2012

CultureTotal Recall

Did You Know GameStop is Named After a Book Store?

It’s one of those things you probably never bothered to think about. “GameStop” sounds like something it took three seconds to come up with. But there’s surprisingly a bit more of a story behind the name. Executive Chairman of the company (and also founder and former CEO) Dan DeMatteo has told Reuters that he named…

By Luke Plunkett Published April 3, 2012

Culture

Giant Killing Machines, Direct From Russia

Hope you like giant instruments of destruction. Because Russian artist KaranaK specialises in giant instruments of destruction. Most of the vehicles you’ll see in these galleries are from Star Conflict and Russian game Project Genome. Others are just personal pieces. You can see more on his DeviantArt page Fine Art is a celebration of the…

By Luke Plunkett Published April 3, 2012

CultureTotal Recall

Gotta Catch ‘Em All!

Not the Pokémons. There’s too many of them, and just when you think you’ve got them all, Nintendo goes and creates more. Catching all (or most) of the coloured variations of the Nintendo 64 control pad, though, that’s probably easier. And more impressive. And practical! [via is it real]

By Luke Plunkett Published April 2, 2012