Filed under: Time Warp, Etc., Celebrities

It’s not in dispute that Roger Ebert is an expert on cinema, though he never had to sit through any masterworks by this film school graduate (he’s suffered enough). A Pulitzer prize reminds us that Roger’s a Jedi master with prose, too. We were, however, surprised to find out that America’s most famous film critic appears to be a dyed-in-the-wool car guy. He admits to not being one of us wrench-turners, but you don’t have to know a trunnion from a pinion to be able to appreciate fine iron, and Ebert can wax dreamy with the best of us when talk turns to his beloved Studebaker Golden Hawk. What’s not to like? Loewy style, supercharged V8, more speed than most of its contemporaries – we love the Stude, too. Regardless of whether we agree with his assessment of the latest blockbuster effects extravaganza, we feel a little more personally connected to the famous critic now that we know he’s bitten with the four-wheeled bug that afflicts us.

[Source: Hemmings]

Who knew? Roger Ebert: Car Guy originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Culture

It’s that time of the year again. Time to decorate a real or fake fur tree with lots of lights and ornaments, put up wreaths and send and receive holiday cards. Game developers and publishers send these kind of items out as well and more and more of them are making web-based cards for everyone to see.

Financially troubled game publisher Midway is still in the spirit of the holiday. They have dressed up their Wheelman lead actor Vin Diesel in a (sort of) Santa outfit to remind us of their plans to release their action-driving game in mid-February. Meanwhile, Prototype development team Radical Entertainment has posted up their own online greeting card that also promotes their long-in-development open world action game. Funcom’s Age of Conan online newsletter also has holiday online greeting of Conan himself doing his version of Christmas tree shopping. If we get any more examples we will make sure to post them up.

Online game-themed holiday cards pop up originally appeared on Big Download Blog on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Time Warp, Coupes, Economy, Volkswagen, Rendered Speculation

When designing a retro-style automobile like the revived MINI, Mustang or VW Beetle, the first generation is the easy one. The second go-round, on the other hand, is a tougher nut to crack, and the easy thing to do is to maintain the status quo. Volkswagen did just that when it revised its New Beetle back in 2006, but the third-generation of today’s Bug is expected to ratchet things up a bit design-wise. We’re expecting something more mature, perhaps along the lines of the Ragster concept from 2005, which emphasized its low-slung bodywork with a chopped top reminiscent of the Porsche Speedster. Flashier lights and more angular sheetmetal are also distinct possibilities.

Whatever the case, it won’t be an easy redesign. VeeDub could stay the course by keeping the cute and charming nature of the current New Beetle intact or it could spice things up with something much more sporty. Could the German automaker do both? That’s an option for the future, and current rumors indicate that VW has considered at least two separate Beetle models, one based on the Golf and another using the underpinnings from the yet-to-be-released Up! microcar. The current state of the economy, though, makes a plan like that much less likely to bear fruit.

[Source: Car Magazine]

New details emerge about 2010 VW Beetle originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With all the planning and rushing around, we thought we wouldn’t get a chance to get a podcast out this week. Luckily, we had an amazing and candid time with readers during our Q&A at the reader meetup / holiday party — and we recorded it! Check out the gang getting loose and nimble with our totally bodacious readership. We promise you’ll be in serious like with it.

Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Paul Miller, and Nilay Patel
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Guests: Ryan Block, David Kim, ant man, CJ, Andy, Ryan, Tim, Freddy, Fernando, Sia, Dingo, Verse, William, Victorious, Faye.

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Filed under: Podcasts

Engadget Podcast 122 – 12.20.2008: NYC reader meetup Q&A originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Nintendo DS, Business

We reported back in February that Sharp and Hitachi, two tech industry juggernauts who are responsible for supplying the DS with its LCD screens, were under investigation for their suspected collusion to control the price of said screens. Earlier this week, the Japan Fair Trade Commission concluded their investigation, and accused Sharp of violating the nation’s “Antimonopoly Act”, ultimately fining the company 261.07 million yen ($3 million).

In a statement delivered on Thursday, Sharp agreed to “strengthen [their] effort of compliance with law and business ethics,” though they denied that they participated in activities that violated the Antimonopoly Act, stating that two manufacturers alone would be unable to control the market in the manner the JFTC has accused them of. They stated that they are looking into their “next steps,” and are considering a hearing request.

DS screen manufacturer accused of price fixing originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Etc., Euro, Spyker

After Dutch designer Maarten de Bruijn bought the rights to Spyker name, the first prototype design he attached it to was the Spyker Silvestris. A couple of years later, he and partner Victor Mol had Spyker making cars again, but in 2005 de Bruijn left the company for other pursuits. That same year, he and two other partners founded Silvestris Haute Motive Concepts, with the first product being the 23-foot Silvestris Sports Cabriolet speedboat.

Using automotive build techniques – hence the name “Aquamotive” – aluminum panels are bonded and riveted to a tubular aluminum spaceframe. The cockpit features a tilt steering wheel and heaps of seawater-proof leather. The remotely-controlled rear hatch hides two more leather-shrouded thrones, and even the front compartment comes with a hatch (making for a markedly sleeker-looking craft when closed). There are six engines available, the uppermost being a 560 horsepower, 8.1-liter V8 good for 55 knots and more than a few envious looks. Check the Silvestris out in the gallery of high-res photos below.

[Source: Classic Driver]

Spyker by sea? Sylvestri Aquamotive originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: MMO

Last month, players of NCsoft‘s sci-fi MMO Tabula Rasa got the bad news that the game was shutting down operations after Feb. 28, 2009. The shut down announcement also revealed that the game would become free for anyone to play after January 10. Well, it looks like those plans have now changed.

According to the game’s official web site, Tabula Rasa is now completely free to play for anyone for now until the official shutdown date. Players will be able to check out some new content as well which includes a new first person viewpoint. An upcoming patch will also add the game’s version of playable mechs.All in all it’s a lot of new content for a free game..while it lasts that is.

[Via Massively]

Tabula Rasa goes free earlier than planned originally appeared on Big Download Blog on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: News

Yesterday, Capcom unveiled some changes made to the Collector’s Edition retail packaging of Street Fighter IV. Originally featuring Chun-Li at the ready for a brawl, Capcom had a total change of heart regarding the cover art thanks to fan feedback. “We had a total re-think on our SFIV packaging,” Capcom’s PR director, Chris Kramer, wrote on the Capcom-Unity blog. “We have opted to drop the initial Chun-Li packfront in favor of Street Fighter IV art director Ikeno-san’s amazing Ryu vs. Ken illustration.”

Priced at $79.99, Street Fighter enthusiasts can expect to enjoy a soundtrack CD, hint book with Udon art and a C. Viper figurine — but we’re still hoping they come to their senses and swap that for Akuma or Ken. Not content with leaving Xbox 360 fanboys out in the standard definition dust, Capcom has confirmed the final piece of collector’s swag — a new 65-minute anime movie, The Ties That Bind — has been encoded on a special game disc (not a standard DVD) which has allowed creators at Studio 4C to output the film at a native 720p resolution.

Finally, Capcom says the collector’s edition will also include some “secret additional downloadable content,” which GameStop had previously listed as new costumes, but has since revised.

[via Joystiq]

Street Fighter IV Collector’s Edition gets updated originally appeared on Xbox 360 Fanboy on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earlier this week we showed you photos of the slick Dell Studio XPS 13, and now it’s popped up on the company’s website — sort of. It’s currently showing among its laptop lineup, but trying to get to the individual product page gives us an error screen. Starting price is $1,406, sandwiched just between the XPS M1330 and M1730. We think it’s safe to say we’ll be seeing the official launch soon.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]

Filed under: Laptops

Studio XPS 13 materializes on Dell website originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Nintendo Wii, Rhythm

If there’s one thing we learned from Nintendo’s presentation at E3 earlier this year, it’s that snowboarding injuries are often hilarious playing imaginary drums is like, the coolest-looking action that anyone could ever hope to perform. 505 Games, whose publishing repertoire includes PAL versions of Cooking Mama and Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life, will attempt to capture said lightning in a bottle with their upcoming Wii rhythm game We Rock: Drum King. We think we know who’s winning the coveted “Best Video Game Title of 2009″ award.

The title, which is being developed by ARC System Works (the minds behind WiiWare “games” Family Glide Hockey and Family Table Tennis), is currently slated for a Europe-only release of April 2009. Based on a brief explanation provided in a press release, gameplay sounds like it will be reminiscent of Guitar Hero, with players using two Wiimotes to “air drum” along with a song, as designated by multicolored bars moving along a track. We will be heartbroken if this one doesn’t make it across the Atlantic.

Get your Ravi on with We Rock: Drum King originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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