Working in an office completely void of anything videogame related (and I mean completely void) I have to make do with what I have so that it feel like gaming has a presence… at least in my cubicle.

Call me obsessed, but it keeps me sane.

The power up mushroom, NES controller and PSP are all mint/candy containers. The 360, PS3 and Wii are gift card holders, and the lil’ Dissidia Zidane I purchased while I was in LA for E3.

After returning from Los Angeles last month I still had E3 swag and badges in my bag. So I thought, meeeh, they’re just going to sit in boxes at home or get thrown away, so I’ll hang up my media badge and Activision preview event badge as well. Every… day…I stare… and long… to go back….

I have some other miscellaneous crap up there like a ZomBcon card as well as a Nintendo calendar.

As much as I would LOVE to bring other collectibles from home, people have reported things being stolen off desks. Taking a mint container is one thing, but if my replica Hyrule sword/shield combo goes missing I might go batshit ><

But even with all of my junk hanging on the wall, I have a void space above my left monitor.  Anyone have any ideas of what to put there? I’d love to duct tape a live Moogle to it or something, but let’s be realistic. They are way too hard to catch.

Do you have anything geeky/dorky/nerdy in your work area? If so, pics or it didn’t happen! (Okay fine, you can just describe it).

Yesterday I said a cute webcomic made my day. However, Bioware’s official reveal of Dragon Age 2 this morning has made my life.

I was a tad late to the Dragon Age: Origins party last November, but once I got started on that bad boy, there was no stopping. I quickly became addicted and obsessed with the world of Ferelden, so much so that I own three copies of the game, three different guide books, the novels (still need to pick up the comics), a huge poster and a tabletop RPG I’ll never probably play. If it has Dragon Age plastered on it, I must own it.

Before diving into Dragon Age, it had been ions since a title had turned me into the obsessed freak that I became (last to do so was Final Fantasy IX), but after breaking it down, it makes sense. Dragon Age includes all of the elements I want in an RPG:  A medieval setting, romance (go ahead, call me a girl), humor, likeable characters with distinct, lively personalities, an ever-changing story, and of course a dorky redhead named Alistair.

I kid. Dorky redheads are neither a requirement nor a part of my approval rating.

Yep, so that is why my life was made this morning. Granted, we knew a sequel was in works already, but when the juicy details for any anticipated game begin trickling in, it’s squeal-worthy.

Check it (taken from the official site):

Experience the epic sequel to the 2009 Game of the Year from the critically acclaimed makers of Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2. You are one of the few who escaped the destruction of your home. Now, forced to fight for survival in an ever-changing world, you must gather the deadliest of allies, amass fame and fortune, and seal your place in history. This is the story of how the world changed forever. The legend of your Rise to Power begins now.

Key Features:

• Embark upon an all-new adventure that takes place across an entire decade and shapes itself around every decision you make.
• Determine your rise to power from a destitute refugee to the revered champion of the land.
• Think like a general and fight like a Spartan with dynamic new combat mechanics that put you right in the heart of battle whether you are a mage, rogue, or warrior.
• Go deeper into the world of Dragon Age with an entirely new cinematic experience that grabs hold of you from the beginning and never lets go.
• Discover a whole realm rendered in stunning detail with updated graphics and a new visual style.

I was sorta kinda hoping Bioware would do what they did with Mass Effect and integrate old saves, but it sounds like a brand spankin-new story and characters are in place.

Nevertheless, it is still too early to tell and I am beyond thrilled, excited and giddy over this. As soon as the new issue of Game Informer hits my mailbox (did I mention there will be a 10 page reveal on Dragon Age 2?) I will shut myself off from society and read it like…3,659 times.

Today Sony released Firmware 3.40 for the PlayStation 3, which brings us a new photo sharing feature for the photo gallery, a video editor/uploader that is compatible with YouTube and Facebook, a five star rating system for downloadable PSN content, a new Facebook app and a power save option for your PS3.

But what most people are hoo-hawing and blabbing about is the brand spankin’ new PlayStation Plus service.

Plus is a subscription paid service that will, in theory, hook you up with PSN goodies. For $49.99 a year (a promo right now will get you an additional three months free) or $17.99 for three months, Sony promises that  you’ll get your money’s worth of content PLUS (see what I did thare?). 

So what will 50 bucks get ya?

• Free monthly PSN titles, minis and PS One Classics. Each month new titles will be made available for download. They are only available for initial download during their respective month. If you download a title and delete it from your PS3, you will be able to download it again for no cost. If you download a title and your subscription ends, upon reactivating you can download that title again for no cost.

• DISCOUNTS!!!1 20%-50% off of PlayStation Store content.

• Early beta/demo access for members “whenever possible”.

• Themes, avatars and other game elements only available for Plus members.

• Full Game Trials. So, every month you’ll be able to download full games and have a play limit of an hour (or otherwise stated) for free. If you decide you LURVE that game so much, you can purchase it on the spot and continue where your trial left off. Trophies you earned during your trial will become unlocked.

• Automatic Download. Your PS3 will awaken from its slumber (standby) and download/install game updates for titles you’ve been playing.

The ‘catch’ is once you unsubscribe from Plus, all free titles you have downloaded will disappear, poof, be gone. Obviously you’ll be able keep any discounted items you have purchased.

Personally, the current lineup doesn’t do anything for me. I doubt I’ll buy 50 dollars worth of PSN stuff in a year (if I do, it will be for very specific games) therefore I won’t need the discounts, I RARELY do betas, I’m a collector so I want a physical copy of the game (not a download) and I can patiently wait while my PS3 updates.

Not saying I won’t utilize this in the future, but for the time being I’ll just enjoy my free online play. What about you?

I mean, it’s not a BIG DEAL or anything (hyuck) but I stumbled across this little gem while surfing the web. Go ahead, buy one. You can thank me later.

Man, forget about what IS there to say about E3, what ISN’T there to say about E3? I’ve rounded up five things that stood out the most to me and made E3 the experience that it was. Yeah, I know, the actual games aren’t a part of this list. While the games *obviously* are what make up 99.9% of E3, I just went with the one game I enjoyed the most!

The Industry Bigwigs

As soon as I heard I was in the same room as Hideo Kojima, I nearly ate shit HARD as I attempted to climb and stand atop a chair. When Shigeru Miyamoto appeared on stage at the Nokia Theatre wielding a Wii Remote and Nunchuck I squealed. When I saw Keiji Inafune—I think you get it. I mean, here are all of these gaming GODS appearing before your eyes, the same guys and gals you’ve been admiring and reading about in magazines, books and the internet for years, and…here they are! It was like I was in 5^th grade at a Backstreet Boys concert all over again.

The Press Conferences

If you’re not physically at E3 and are anything like me, moments before the E3 Press Conferences you’ll find yourself huddled around your computer monitor, anxiously awaiting for the conferences to begin while anticipating juicy revelations, and most importantly, praying for no LAG.

But for me, this year was different. To actually plop my butt in a seat at the Nintendo and Sony Press Conference was an indescribable feeling. Actually being there and witnessing the first gameplay footage of Zelda: Skyward Sword, the revelation of the 3DS, the unveiling of Donkey Kong Country Returns, Kirby’s Epic Yarn (just to name a few) was incredible. And that’s just from Nintendo.  While I was at Sony’s Conference, albeit a tad dull at times, I saw Kevin Butler, Twisted Metal, and GT5 finally got a release date. That’s enough win for me.

The New Twisted Metal

As soon as Sweet Tooth rolled up and David Jaffe took stage near the end of the Sony Press Conference, I knew right then and there that Twisted Metal would be my game of the show. Some of the first PlayStation games I owned were Twisted Metal 1 and 2, and to this day I’ll randomly pop in Twisted Metal 2 to get my automobile destruction fix. I’m extremely thankful that Jaffe is heading this one. Even though I didn’t HATE the direction 989 studios took Twisted Metal 3 and 4, it definitely didn’t feel the same, and unfortunately after Twisted Metal 4 I never returned to the series. But even after the TV  on which I was demoing the new Twisted Metal burned out on the show floor, I just told the lovely guys of Eat Sleep Play that it was no biggie; after the first few minutes I knew I was buying the game anyway.

The Hardware

Yep, this is one of the obvious ones. The push of this year’s E3 was motion control and 3D technology. Folks were flailing their bodies about with Microsoft’s Kinect, those in the Sony booth were waving their arms around with Move and eyes were going wide at the Nintendo booth with the 3DS. This is definitely an interesting time for the industry, as more and more developers are arching their brows, rubbing their chin and considering implementing this technology into their products. While some are more adamant than others in their belief that motion control and 3D are the next steps for the industry, others are more cautious and are waiting to see how things pan out and checking the install base before jumping on the bandwagon. Obviously, reading about something and actually going hands on with it are completely different. Having dinked around with the 3DS, Move and Kinect, I still can’t say where exactly I stand with motion control and 3D gaming; however, without a doubt, I have a clearer perspective on what it can deliver. And let’s face it, the fact that I can TELL people I’ve experienced all three is a perk too!

The Atmosphere

Most if not all of my friends don’t contain an iota of knowledge when it comes to the gaming realm (but I still love them dearly). So when Gabe Newell showed up on stage during the Sony Press Conference announcing that Portal 2 was coming to the PlayStation 3, and went so far as to declare that it would be the best platform to experience Portal 2 on, I knew it would only end in fail if I tried explaining it to them. But people at E3 get it. To be contained in a convention center with thousands and thousands of people, as unpleasant as that sounds, whether they be developers, publishers, members of the media, or retail employees—who share equal amounts of passion and excitement for the same industry as you do, is really what makes E3 what it is.

Here is an AMAZING looking trailer for Portal 2, which will be available on the PS3:

Enough said.

Thanks to God of War III, my need to purchase a Blu-Ray player and now with Little Big Planet 2 coming out, I’ve officially been sold on buying a PS3.

Little Big Planet 2, set to come out in Winter 2010, will. be. mine.

Attention humble gamers! Engaget is doing a giveaway! Send them a less-than-impressive picture of your gaming station and you’ll be eligible to win a custom Grand Theft Auto PS3 Slim!

Just go here and send them a link to your picture, that is all! This means that I may be rewarded for not doing my laundry for 2 weeks and untangling the cords below my tv stand?! HUZZAH!

Click here for all the details and such.

Everyone has a place in their home where they like to watch TV, go on the computer, watch movies and play video games. The greatest way to arrange your house is so you can have all those activities in one room, “The Gamer Room.” Whether it’s your living room, bedroom, den or playroom, the gamer room is the sanctuary of your house. Your personal kingdom! Here are some cool things that would make anyone jealous (me especially) of your beloved gaming haven!

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This video from the Engaget Show really makes me do a double take on the type of fun we could have with PS3’s Move. As previously thought, the PS3 Move controller just looks like a fancy Wii-mote with a colorful ball on the top. Now getting a real and genuine look at it from this Engaget video, I’m really starting to get excited! The controller displayed on the TV is transformed by the user into fun objects such as a sword or a mallet and used for gameplay. It reminds me of  animated meets live-action movies, kind of like a ‘Who Framed Rodger Rabbit,’ only staring yourself!

What would YOU transform your remote into?
I think I’d want King Triton’s Trident from Kingdom Hearts and use it to defeat my foes! Or use it as a fork to feed a monster friend! :o)

[Engaget] [Joystiq]