The Bone Collector (second hand bookshop: animania, SGD $2.50)

Anime fans vie for glory Gulf Daily News BAHRAIN'S first-ever cosplay contest at Animania attracted more than 800 animation and video game ...

ANIMANIA BRISBANE! For the first bloody time in my stay in Brisbane, I’m finally going to a co

Suncoast and FYE stores will be holding their Animania events, next Saturday July 24th.

is it fun, good stalls, etc..

by min, feeling like Saturday morning I'm not sure what animation has to do with health, but maybe cartoons make us laugh and that is a health benefit. The fact is, there is a special animation exhibit going on right...

Section: Features, Collecting, Lists, Nostalgia, Consoles, PS3, Handhelds, PSP & PSPgo, Gear, Accessories, Comics-and-Graphic-Novels, Gear-Other, Ads & Media, Web, Advertisements, Other Media, Home Video, Updates, Playstation-Store

This week’s downloadable PlayStation 3 game is World Of Outlaws: Sprint Cars for $19.99. Based on the actual World of Outlaws Sprint Off-Track Racing Sport, players can start their racing career as a rookie at the Dirt Track in Charlotte, North Carolina (USA), and compete against racers including Donny Schatz, Steve Kinser, Jason Meyers or Joey Saldana. You can also race against your friends in 5 multi-player events with up to 8 friends or play a one-on-one race with 2 player split screens. There are dirt tracks and other tracks across the world where you can experience real-time deformation of the track, moving the best line and shoving the dirt beneath your tires.

Check out World of Outlaws: Sprint Cars only available for download at the PSN Store:

This week’s PlayStation Portable Download is Harvest Moon: Hero Of Leaf Valley for $29.99. Players take on the role of the hero who must save Leaf Valley and the family farm from a heartless Corporation called Funland who plans to demolish the town and build an amusement park in its place. Players must cultivate the land, raise livestock and mine ores and gems to raise enough funds to save the Valley and more. The story changes with every choice made or actions taken putting the fate of the Valley in your hands ... literally. Check out Harvest Moon: Hero Of Leaf Valley:

Qore Subscription

• Qore Episode 24: May 2010 (PS3/$2.99)
• Qore Annual Subscription: May 2010 (PS3/$24.99)

Sony Online Entertainment Spring Sale

*Unless specified all prices are temporary and can return to its full original price at any time.

• Midway Spring Fever Bundle (PS3/$14.99)*
• *Individual Games Included with the Midway Bundle are Mortal Kombat II, Championship Sprint, Gauntlet II, Joust and Rampage World Tour. The games are also individually offered at their regular full price in the PSN Store.
• PopCap Spring Fever Bundle (PS3/$24.99)*
• *Individual Games Included with the PopCap Bundle are Bejeweled 2, Peggle, Zuma, Heavy Weapon and Feeding Frenzy 2: Shipwreck Showdown. The games are also individually offered at their regular full price in the PSN store.

Price Updates

• *Unless specified all prices are temporary and can return to its full original price at any time.
• Tokyo Police Theme (PS3/PSP/Original Price $1.99/Permanent Price Now 99 cents)
• Echoes minis (PS3/PSP/Original Price $2.99/Permanent Price Now 99 cents)
• Zombie Tycoon minis (PSP/Original Price $7.99/Now $2.99)*
• *Game is also available in French language for same price.
• Unbound Saga (PSP/Original Price $9.99/Permanent Price Now $4.99)
• Tetris minis (PSP/Original Price $9.99/Now $6.99)
• Section 8 (PS3/Original Price $29.99/Now $14.99)
• Gravity Crash (PS3/Now $9.99)*
• *Players will receive a free Gravity Crash Dynamic Theme with purchase of game.

Here’s what else is new

Downloadable Games

• Busy Sweets Factory (PSP/$1.99)
• Love Cupid (PSP/$1.99)
• Quiz Animania (PSP/$1.99)

Game Demos

• Split/Second Demo (PS3/Free)
• ModNation Racers PSP Demo (PSP/Free)

Bonus Content

• Record Of Agarest War: Add-On Dungeon 5: Generation 5 Deep Forest Naruvia (PS3/Free)
• Record Of Agarest War: Item Pack 5: Ellis Kit (PS3/Free)
• Record Of Agarest War: Item Pack 6: Power Up (PS3/Free)
• Record Of Agarest War: Points Pack 2: Service Point Pack (PS3/Free)
• Bioshock 2: Kill ‘Em Kindly (PS3/Free)
• Batman: Arkham Asylum Game Of The Year Edition: Play As The Joker Challenge Map Pack (PS3/Free)
• Batman: Arkham Asylum Game Of The Year Edition: Prey In The Darkness Map Pack (PS3/Free)
• LittleBigPlanet PSP – Wilderness Costume (PSP/Free)*
• LittleBigPlanet PSP – Sackfari Explorers Costume (PSP/Free)*
• LittleBigPlanet: More Animals! Hippo Costume (PS3/99 Cents)*
• LittleBigPlanet: More Animals! Fly Costume (PS3/99 Cents)*
• LittleBigPlanet: More Animals! Turtle Costume (PS3/99 Cents)*
• LittleBigPlanet: More Animals! Peacock Costume (PS3/99 Cents)*
• Bioshock 2: Exclusive Characters (PS3/$1.99)
• LittleBigPlanet PSP – Wilderness Theme Pack (PSP/$2.99)*
• LittleBigPlanet PSP – Sackfari Explorers Theme Pack (PSP/$2.99)*
• LittleBigPlanet: More Animals! – Costume Pack (PS3/$2.99)*
• Batman: Arkham Asylum: Crime Alley Challenge Map (PS3/$3.49)
• Batman: Arkham Asylum: Dem Bones Challenge Map (PS3/$3.49)
• Super Street Fighter IV: Super Shoryuken Costume Pack (PS3/$3.99)
• Lost Planet 2 Map Pack #1 (PS3/$4.99)
• Skate 3: Time Is Money Pack (PS3/$6.99)
• Nier: The World Of Recycled Vessel (PS3/$6.99)
• DJ Hero – Domination Mix Pack (PS3/$7.99)
• Bioshock 2: Rapture Metro (PS3/$9.99)
• *Players must own a copy of LittleBigPlanet to download and use content, some of the individual costumes are available as part of the bundles of the same name.

Guitar Hero 5

• Classic Rock Track Pack (PS3/$5.49)
• Individual Tracks Include:
• “Juke Box Hero” by Foreigner (PS3/$1.99)
• “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd (PS3/$1.99)
• “Take the Money and Run” by Steve Miller Band (PS3/$1.99)

• Alternative Pop Track Pack (PS3/$5.49)
• Individual Tracks Include:
• “Face Down” by Alpha Rev (PS3/$1.99)
• “Low Day” by Capra (PS3/$1.99)
• “You’re All I Have” by Snow Patrol (PS3/$1.99)

Rock Band

• British Steel Live Pack (PS3/$14.99)
• Individual Tracks Include:
• “Breaking The Law (Live)” by Judas Priest (PS3/$1.99)
• “Grinder (Live)” by Judas Priest (PS3/$1.99)
• “Living After Midnight (Live)” by Judas Priest (PS3/$1.99)
• “Metal Gods (Live)” by Judas Priest (PS3/$1.99)
• “Rapid Fire (Live)” by Judas Priest (PS3/$1.99)
• “Steeler (Live)” by Judas Priest (PS3/$1.99)
• “The Rage (Live)” by Judas Priest (PS3/$1.99)
• “United (Live)” by Judas Priest (PS3/$1.99)
• “You Don’t Have To Be Old To Be Wise (Live)” by Judas Priest (PS3/$1.99)

Rock Band Network

Individual Music Tracks:

• “Tongue Twister Typo” by Blackmarket (PS3/99 cents)
• “I’m Made Of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?” by A Day To Remember (PS3/$1.99)
• “Mordecai” by Between the Buried and Me (PS3/$1.99)
• “Remedy” by Seether (PS3/$1.99)
• “When I Get Home You’re So Dead” by Mayday Parade (PS3/$2.99)

Game Videos

• LittleBigPlanet PSP – Turbo! Level Kit Trailer (PS3/PSP/Free)*
• 3D Dot Game Heroes – “The Hero Your Hero Could Be” Trailer (PS3/PSP/Free)*
• 3D Dot Game Heroes: “Dot-Mart” Trailer (PSP/Free)*
• *Video may require a manual update for the PSP to view properly.
• God of War 3: Chaos Trailer (PS3/Free)
• Crysis 2: “The Wall” Trailer (PS3/Free)
• Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City Network Trailer (PS3/Free)
• Kick-Ass Trailer (PS3/Free)

Digital Comics

(Warning: To view comics PSP owners must download the latest firmware featuring the reader and update their PSP systems first before downloading comics. Also note that some comics may contain suggestive themes, partial nudity, violence or gore. Always read the description before downloading or visit the PSN Comic site for detailed information about a comic series if you are easily offended.)

• 
• Atomic Robo Vol.3 : Shadow From Beyond Time #1 (PSP/99 Cents)
• Garters and Ghouls #1 (PSP/99 Cents)
• The Flying Friar (PSP/99 Cents)
• The Lexian Chronicles #4 (PSP/99 Cents)
• Sonic The Hedgehog #3 (PSP/99 Cents)
• 2000AD Prog #1679 (PSP/$1.99)
• Archie : Marries Betty #2 : “The Wedding” (PSP/$1.99)
• The Immortal Iron Fist (2006) #15 (PSP/$1.99)
• The Immortal Iron Fist (2006) #16 (PSP/$1.99)
• The Immortal Iron Fist (2006) #17 (PSP/$1.99)
• The Immortal Iron Fist (2006) #18 (PSP/$1.99)
• The Immortal Iron Fist (2006) #19 (PSP/$1.99)
• The Immortal Iron Fist (2006) #20 (PSP/$1.99)
• The Immortal Iron Fist (2006) #21 (PSP/$1.99)
• Transformers: Spotlight : Prowl #1 (PSP/$1.99)
• Transformers: Last Stand of the Wreckers #2 (PSP/$1.99)
• G.I. Joe: Operation HISS #3 (PSP/$1.99)
• G.I. Joe #17 (PSP/$1.99)
• Vampire Hunter D Volume 1 : Chapter #6 (PSP/$1.99)

Themes and Wallpapers

• Kick-Ass Wallpaper (PS3/Free)
• Kick-Ass Wallpaper 2 (PS3/Free)
• 3D Dot Games Heroes Theme (PS3/Free)
• Armored Core: Last Raven Wallpaper 1 (PSP/Free)
• Armored Core: Last Raven Wallpaper 2 (PSP/Free)
• Draganov PSP Theme 1 (PSP/$1.49)
• Draganov PSP Theme 2 (PSP/$1.49)
• Disney Princess and the Frog PSP Theme (PSP/$1.49)
• Gravity Crash Dynamic Theme (PS3/$2.99)*
• After Burner Climax Premium Theme (PS3/$3.99)
• *Gravity Crash Dynamic Theme is available free with purchase of full game.

Read [PlayStation Store Blog] Read [PlayStation Comics Blog] Site [PlayStation Comics] Site [Official Marvel Comics Site] Site [PlayStation]

Image Source:PlayStation Comics Site

Full Story » | Written by Lucy Newman for Gamertell. | Comment on this Article »

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PlayStation Store Update Posted by Grace Chen // Senior Manager, PlayStation Store Hi Everyone – It’s time for the weekly PlayStation Store Update. *_Spring Fever Update_* This week Spring Fever celebrates Sony Online Entertainment titles packaged into the following bundles! PopCap Spring Fever Bundle ($24.99) Kick off the spring season with all your PopCap favorites brought to you by Sony Online Entertainment! Can’t decide which game you want? Get them all! The PopCap Spring Fever Bundle includes Bejeweled 2, Peggle, Zuma, Heavy Weapon, and Feeding Frenzy 2 Shipwreck Showdown, so get yours now for some crazy unbeatable fun! ESRB Rated E10+ Midway Spring Fever Bundle ($14.99) Celebrate spring with all your favorite classic Midway games, brought to you by Sony Online Entertainment and available for one week only! Get ready to re-live all of the classics. The Midway bundle includes Mortal Kombat II, Championship Sprint, Gauntlet II, Joust, and Rampage World Tour! ESRB Rated E-M *_Updates_* Tetris minis Sale (now $6.99, original price $9.99) Zombie Tycoon minis Sale [Also available in French] (now $2.99, original price $7.99) Section 8 Sale (now $14.99, original price $29.99) Tokyo Police PS3 & PSP Theme Permanent Price Drop (now $0.99, original price $1.99) Echoes minis Permanent Price Drop (now $0.99, original price $2.99) Unbound Saga Permanent Price Drop (now $4.99, original price $9.99) Free Gravity Crash Dynamic Theme with purchase of Gravity Crash (Full Game) ($9.99) *_Qore_* Qore Episode 24: May 2010 ($2.99) Episode 24 of Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network jumps into the action with Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, dukes it out with UFC champ Jens Pulver, takes it to the next level in LittleBigPlanet 2, and returns to PlayStation Home. File size: 1.73 GB Qore Annual Subscription: May 2010 ($24.99) Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network is a monthly interactive video production covering the world of PlayStation. Qore provides its audience with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to developers and their games, from both the SCE Worldwide Studios and the third-party community, where the audience member can freely navigate through the content. File size: 1.73 GB *_Downloadable Games_* World Of Outlaws Sprint Cars ($19.99) World of Outlaws Sprint Cars is the first game that lets you race on your favorite dirt tracks, against your favorite sprint car drivers or your friends online. Your career will take your across the country to build your racing empire. Win races, win cash and sponsorships to upgrade your car. See if you have the stamina to be the next World of Outlaws Champion.. ESRB Rated E File size: 1.88 GB *_Game Demos (free)_* Split/Second Demo In Split/Second you trigger devastating explosions to decimate drivers and change the track! ESRB Rated E10+ File size: 752 MB *_Add-on Game Content_* LittleBigPlanet: More Animals! – Hippo ($0.99) The best thing about SackBoy is that you can make him look and act exactly as you want. Download the the “More Animals!” Hippo Costume today! NOTE: to download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet. File size: 1.04 MB LittleBigPlanet: More Animals! – Fly ($0.99) The best thing about SackBoy is that you can make him look and act exactly as you want. Download the the “More Animals!” Fly Costume today! NOTE: to download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet. File size: 1.04 MB LittleBigPlanet: More Animals! – Turtle ($0.99) The best thing about SackBoy is that you can make him look and act exactly as you want. Download the the “More Animals!” Turtle Costume today! NOTE: to download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet. File size: 1.04 MB LittleBigPlanet: More Animals! – Peacock ($0.99) The best thing about SackBoy is that you can make him look and act exactly as you want. Download the the “More Animals!” Peacock Costume today! NOTE: to download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet. File size: 1.04 MB LittleBigPlanet: More Animals! – Costume Pack ($2.99) The best thing about SackBoy is that you can make him look and act exactly as you want. Download the the “More Animals!” Costume Pack today and get the Hippo, Fly, Peacock, and Turtle costumes! NOTE: to download this costume, you must already own LittleBigPlanet. File size: 1.04 MB Bioshock 2: Exclusive Characters ($1.99) Passion, drama and adventure. Find yours with 2 brave new characters for the multiplayer experience. Mlle Blanche de Glace, the internationally acclaimed actress, or Zigo D’Acosta, one of Rapture’s great sailors. File size: 101 KB Bioshock 2: Kill ‘Em Kindly (free) What’s your golf handicap? Take this chance to turn your handicap into your enemy’s with this fresh melee mode where every blunt object is a golf club. No putting. File size: 8.81 MB Bioshock 2: Rapture Metro ($9.99) As one of our valued Sinclair Solutions testers, we specially invite you to enjoy the pleasure of Rebirth! But only if you are truly dedicated and fully ranked up. However all testers are eligible for the 6 new maps in Rapture Metro. File size: 1027 MB DJ Hero – Domination Mix Pack DLC ($7.99) Downloadable Mix Pack for DJ Hero featuring Wolfgang Gartner, Danny Byrd, Darude, and Josh Wink. File size: 62 MB Lost Planet 2 Map Pack #1 ($4.99) Download two new battlegrounds in this Map Pack for LOST PLANET 2. In “Helix,” fight in a multilayered NEVEC ocean research facility at the bottom of the ocean. “Back to the Island” brings the new weapons and abilities of LP2 back to Island 902, a remake of the classic map from the original LOST PLANET. File size: 74 MB Super Street Fighter IV: Super Shoryuken Costume Pack ($3.99) Download the second pack of alternate costumes for Super Street Fighter IV! New costumes for Ryu, Ken, Gouken, Dan and Akuma are included. Mix things up with your favorite Shotokan characters! Only available for use with Super Street Fighter IV. File size: 100 KB Batman: Arkham Asylum Game Of The Year Edition: Play As The Joker Challenge Map Pack (free) Become The Joker in Challenge Maps only available on the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. Experience a whole new set of unique fighting moves as well as Joker’s demented tricks and gadgets. This downloadable content is for the Game of the Year Edition only! File size: 107 MB Batman: Arkham Asylum Game Of The Year Edition: Prey In The Darkness Map Pack (free) Test your combat and Invisible Predator skills in 2 new locations, the Arkham Pumping Station and the Abandoned Glasshouse. This downloadable content is for the Game of the Year Edition only. File size: 70 MB Batman: Arkham Asylum: Crime Alley Challenge Map ($3.49) Experience the unique FreeFlow combat system in this all new Combat Challenge Map, set in the iconic Gotham location of Crime Alley. You will face 4 consecutive waves of The Joker’s henchmen armed with a range of weapons. File size: 54 MB Batman: Arkham Asylum: Dem Bones Challenge Map ($3.49) Enter this villain’s nightmarish world and experience a unique combat challenge that will test you to the very limits. File size: 43 MB Skate 3: Time Is Money Pack ($6.99) If you are busy, or just plain lazy, Time is Money will unlock all locations, skaters and gear, and Skate.Park objects that can be earned by playing through Skate 3’s career and online modes. File size: 1.52 MB Nier: The World Of Recycled Vessel ($6.99) The diary of Nier’s wife opens a gate to a strange world where an unnamed warrior battles powerful Shades. Engage in 15 nightmarish battles to unlock bonus costumes, weapons, and a special quest. File size: 470 MB Record Of Agarest War: Add-On Dungeon 5: Generation 5 Deep Forest Naruvia (free) An add-on dungeon for generation 5. Embark on one last adventure into the [Deep Forest Naruvia]! File size: 2.33 MB Record Of Agarest War: Item Pack 5: Ellis Kit (free) We’ve prepared five items that increase your magical power. This powerful kit comes with [Adaka], [Shield Sword], [Bird Eye], [Magic Frame], and [Seed of Happiness]. It’s a must-have for any aspiring sorcerer. File size: 2.33 MB Record Of Agarest War: Item Pack 6: Power Up (free) Assorted items for increasing one’s stats. It contains two each of [STR Up], [VIT Up], [INT Up], [AGI Up], [LUK Up], and [Max. HP Up] . Train your favorite character with this set. File size: 2.33 MB Record Of Agarest War: Points Pack 2: Service Point Pack (free) A set containing 5,000G and a whole bunch of ability points (50PP, 500TP, and 500EP). This special package has more stuff than the Trial point package. File size: 2.33 MB Guitar Hero 5 For all song credits please visit www.guitarhero.com. “Juke Box Hero” by Foreigner ($1.99) “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd ($1.99) “Take the Money and Run” by Steve Miller Band ($1.99) Classic Rock Track Pack 3 ($5.49) – Downloadable Track Pack featuring “Juke Box Hero” by Foreigner, “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd, and “Take the Money and Run” by Steve Miller Band. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading. “Face Down” by Alpha Rev ($1.99) “Low Day” by Capra ($1.99) “You’re All I Have” by Snow Patrol ($1.99) Alternative Pop Track Pack ($5.49) – Downloadable Track Pack featuring “Face Down” by Alpha Rev, “Low Day” by Capra, and “You’re All I Have” by Snow Patrol. Please Note: Many songs are available both as singles and as part of a Track Pack, so please carefully consider your purchases before downloading. File size: 31 MB – 58 MB (singles), 116 MB – 132 MB (track pack) Rock Band Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com. “Breaking The Law (Live)” – Judas Priest ($1.99) “Grinder (Live)” – Judas Priest ($1.99) “Living After Midnight (Live)” – Judas Priest ($1.99) “Metal Gods (Live)” – Judas Priest ($1.99) “Rapid Fire (Live)” – Judas Priest ($1.99) “Steeler (Live)” – Judas Priest ($1.99) “The Rage (Live)” – Judas Priest ($1.99) “United (Live)” – Judas Priest ($1.99) “You Don’t Have To Be Old To Be Wise” – Judas Priest ($1.99) British Steel Live Pack ($14.99) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: British Steel Live Pack. This pack includes “Breaking The Law (Live),” “Grinder (Live),” “Living After Midnight (Live),” “Metal Gods (Live),” “Rapid Fire (Live),” “Steeler (Live),” “The Rage (Live),” “United (Live),” and “You Don’t Have To Be Old To Be Wise (Live)” by Judas Priest. Rock Band Network “I’m Made Of Wax, Larry, What Are You Made Of?” by A Day To Remember ($1.99) “Mordecai” by Between the Buried and Me ($1.99) “Remedy” by Seether ($1.99) “Tongue Twister Typo” by Blackmarket ($0.99) “When I Get Home You’re So Dead” – by Mayday Parade ($2.99) File size: 20 MB – 42 MB (singles), 291 MB (track pack) *_Game Videos (free)_* God of War 3: Chaos Trailer Download the GOD OF WAR® III — Chaos Trailer. IN THE END, THERE WILL ONLY BE CHAOS… God of War III finds Kratos raining carnage and destruction upon the Gods who have betrayed him and the entire Ancient Greek world. Armed with his deadly double-chained blades, Kratos will take on mythology’s darkest creatures while solving intricate puzzles on his merciless quest to destroy Olympus and the mighty Zeus himself. File size: 75 MB (HD), 122 MB (1080) LittleBigPlanet PSP – Turbo! Level Kit Trailer PLAY, CREATE, SHARE…Everywhere. Put the pedal to the metal with this massive vehicle-based pack. Race, battle and bounce your way through six completely new levels. And the fun doesn’t stop there, with hundreds more bits and pieces to fill your Popit, you can create turbo-powered vehicular contraptions of your very own. Download the Turbo! Level Kit trailer today! NOTE: Manual Update required File size: 52 MB 3D Dot Game Heroes – “The Hero Your Hero Could Be” Trailer Watch this short vignette to find out how awesome your hero could be if he was created in the 3D Dot Game Heroes 3D character editor. Retro chic meets modern sleek in this, the ultimate love letter to retro gamers. Seamlessly fusing new and old, the golden era of gaming is felt in every detail of this adventure. File size: 35 MB (HD) Crysis 2: “The Wall” Trailer Experience the first trailer for Cryteks new genre defining shooter: Crysis 2. File size: 145 MB (HD 1080) Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City Network Trailer The all new trailer for Grand Theft Auto’s highly acclaimed downloadable episodes, The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony. File size: 49 MB (HD) Kick-Ass Trailer This Kick-Ass Trailer shows this third-person action fighting game based on the movie of the same name. The game takes the player through different mission areas of New York, facing petty thugs and even powerful mob bosses. The player’s main goal is to bring justice back to the city — at any cost, including frantic Superhero action. File size: 72 MB (HD) *_PS3 Themes_* 3D Dot Games Heroes Theme (free) File size: 2.97 MB After Burner Climax Premium Theme ($3.99) File size: 5.43 MB Gravity Crash Dynamic Theme ($2.99) File size: 1.94 MB *_PS3 Wallpaper_* Kick-Ass Wallpaper File size: 402 KB (SD), 1.89 MB (HD) Kick-Ass Wallpaper 2 File size: 321 KB (SD), 1.55 MB (HD) *_PlayStation Store for PSP_* *_Downloadable Games (also available from PS3 Storefront)_* Harvest Moon: Hero Of Leaf Valley $29.99 The tranquil town of Leaf Valley is scheduled for demolition! The heartless Funland Corporation is going to bulldoze the town and replace it with an amusement park unless its citizens can find a way to stop them! You’ll need to grow crops, raise animals, and mine ores and gems to help save Leaf Valley and your family farm. With a branching storyline and multiple endings, how you choose to save the town is up to you! ESRB Rated E File size: 120 MB *_Game Demos (also available from PS3 Storefront) (free)_* ModNation Racers PSP Demo Be among the first to test drive ModNation Racers on the PSP system! In this free demo you’ll experience kart racing for a new generation as you boost, drift, and race your way through two over-the-top tracks using any one of six racers. Plus, get a taste for the game’s revolutionary Create tools with the Track Studio preview! Drive your idea of the perfect track into existence for the included Track Theme, then tweak it and test drive it. ESRB Rated E File size: 135 MB *_PSP minis (also available from PS3 Storefront)_* Busy Sweets Factory (PSP Only) ($1.99) ESRB Rated E File size: 5.84 MB Love Cupid (PSP Only) ($1.99) ESRB Rated E File size: 6.49 MB Quiz Animania (PSP Only) ($1.99) ESRB Rated E File size: 11 MB *_Add-on Game Content (also available from PS3 Storefront)_* LittleBigPlanet PSP – Wilderness Costume (free) PLAY, CREATE, SHARE…Everywhere. LittleBigPlanet’s critically acclaimed “PLAY, CREATE, SHARE” experience, makes its way to the PSP system with a completely new Sackboy adventure. Get these free costumes from the Wilderness Theme Pack. NOTE: Manual Update required File size: 2.51 MB LittleBigPlanet PSP – Wilderness Theme Pack ($2.99) PLAY, CREATE, SHARE…Everywhere. Download a new set of costumes and CREATE materials to create your own Wilderness levels! The Wilderness Theme Pack includes 5 Costume items, 13 CREATE Materials, 15 Stickers, 1 Music kit, and 1 Background. NOTE: Manual Update required File size: 2.64 MB LittleBigPlanet PSP – Sackfari Explorers Costume (free) PLAY, CREATE, SHARE…Everywhere. LittleBigPlanet’s critically acclaimed “PLAY, CREATE, SHARE” experience, makes its way to the PSP system with a completely new Sackboy adventure. Get this free costume from the Jungle Sackfari Explorers Theme Pack. NOTE: Manual Update required File size: 1.35 MB LittleBigPlanet PSP – Sackfari Explorers Theme Pack ($2.99) PLAY, CREATE, SHARE…Everywhere. Download a new set of costumes and CREATE materials to create your own Jungle Sackfari levels! The Jungle Sackfari Explorers Pack includes 4 Costumes and 12 Stickers. NOTE: Manual Update required File size: 1.46 MB *_Game Videos (free)_* LitteBigPlanet PSP – Turbo! Level Kit Trailer File size: 10 MB (SD) (HD) 3D Dot Game Heroes: “The Hero Your Hero Could Be” Trailer File size: 4.37 MB (SD) 3D Dot Game Heroes: “Dot-Mart” Trailer File size: 4.16 MB (SD) *_PSP Themes (also available from PS3 Storefront)_* Draganov PSP Theme 1 ($1.49) File size: 554 KB Draganov PSP Theme 2 ($1.49) File size: 539 KB Disney Princess and the Frog PSP Theme ($1.49) (US only) File size: 580 KB *_PSP Wallpaper (free)_* Armored Core: Last Raven Wallpaper 1 File size: 31 KB Armored Core: Last Raven Wallpaper 2 File size: 30 KB

Every year, Sony Computer Entertainment America promises that it will be the PSP's time to shine. Every year, that is revealed as a lie. However, the ESRB has apparently spilled the beans on not one, not two, but fifteen SCEA games that have set their sights on a PlayStation Portable release this year. 

Among the games revealed are Finger Connection, Homerun Hitters, Love Cupid, Busy Sweets Factory, Charge! Tank Squad!, Music Quiz, One Two Boat Racing, Pile Up Bakery, Pinball Duel, Quiz Animania, Ramen Heaven, Sheep Defense, Shogi, Sweet Reversi, and Tonzurakko.

Okay, to be fair, most of those sound like absolute crap, but who could deny the appeal of a game called Ramen Heaven? Like Rhythm Heaven, but fun music games replaced with delicious noodle preparation. Who could deny the quality of that concept?

ESRB: 15 new PSP games coming from Sony Computer Entertainment [Joystiq]

While Sony's handheld is currently experiencing a bit of a software drought, the summer months should treat fans a bit better, with the release of games like Fat Princess, ModNation Racers, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Valkyria Chronicles 2 and Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep. Should these games still not satiate your handheld appetite, it appears Sony is planning on releasing at least 15 PSP games in the imminent future.

A recent update to the ESRB database showcases a number of games coming from Sony Computer Entertainment America, including Finger Connection, Homerun Hitters, Love Cupid, Busy Sweets Factory, Charge! Tank Squad!, Music Quiz, One Two Boat Racing, Pile Up Bakery, Pinball Duel, Quiz Animania, Ramen Heaven, Sheep Defense, Shogi, Sweet Reversi, and Tonzurakko. Most (if not all) of these games appear to be downloadable efforts, considering the simplistic quality of their descriptions; however, these games are unlikely to be part of PlayStation Minis, as they are rated exclusively for PSP. (Minis can be played on both the PSP and PS3.)

We're currently reaching out to Sony to see if we can find out more about these games, pricing and release schedule. Perhaps these will get a bit more pre-release attention than Pinball Heroes?

ESRB: 15 new PSP games coming from Sony Computer Entertainment originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Apr 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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March 29, 2010- Animania , Australia's biggest and original Japanese pop culture festival will be coming to Melbourne's Rydges Hotel, after a successful Sydney event.

Animania Festival Melbourne April Event Anime News Network Catch Animania's most popular attractions, the Animania Festival Cosplay Competition and the World Cosplay Summit (WCS) Pre-selections! Cosplay , a form of ...

‘The Secret of Kells’’ was the wild card in the recent Oscar animation race — the little Irish movie no one had heard of, let alone seen. Call it luck or a brilliant promotional strategy, but the movie opens at the Kendall today with local animaniacs primed to happily pounce. As well they should, for “Kells’’ is a visually overwhelming ...

‘The Secret of Kells’’ was the wild card in the recent Oscar animation race — the little Irish movie no one had heard of, let alone seen. Call it luck or a brilliant promotional strategy, but the movie opens at the Kendall today with local animaniacs primed to happily pounce. As well they should, for “Kells’’ is a visually overwhelming ...

Come check it out and support local music! I do. Well actually some of the bands are my friends anyw

My Timeskip Shippuden Naruto cosplay group I organised for Sunday Sydney Animania 2007 which I cosplayed as Sakura Haruno. Thankyou so much! we won 2nd best group! Thankyou Aymie/Sasuke-kun for organising the skit music and everything! ...

“Good Idea: Giving your dog a bath. Bad Idea: Having your dog dry-cleaned.” ~ Animaniacs

Obvious, isn’t it? Behold the power of over-thinking something.

Poor execution will take your idea into outright stupidity, if you let yourself move to quickly. Don’t let yourself move too quickly. How you execute the idea is just as important as the idea itself. Take time to plan. Be patient. Do it right. Don’t get so excited about the idea that you lose the impact of it by rushing.

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “God is in the details.” I believe that. The best way to do something usually takes time to discover, but it’s still the best way. Give your idea time to fully bake. A half-baked idea will make *you* look half-baked. Every time. Get all the puzzle pieces in the right place and all your resources lined-up, on-board and engaged.

I considered going into greater detail on this subject, but the quote contains all the visuals you need. A dry-cleaned dog, while indeed clean, is not the right solution. Ever.

Pay attention to the plan. Don’t rush it.

Animaniacs - At the Big Wrap Party Tonight from Animaniacs Variety Pack

What's the deal? Am I now the "Smurfs Guy" around here?Eh. So be it.We already know that Neil Patrick Harris will be the live action character in the upcoming CGI Smurfs movie that is rumored to be taking place in Central Park here in the great NYC (where state taxes compund on city taxes and the Sin Taxes make everything awesome horribly expensive).Now that we know three-inch blue dudes will be nipping at the heels of NPH, it's about time that we learned who is going to lend their voices to these 3D/CG updates of the Peyo creations (name drop!).We've recieved reports that Jonathan Winters, George Lopez, Katy Perry and Alan Cumming are currently in talks to voice a handful of Smurfs. Considering there is only one female Smurf, it's a safe bet that Katey Perry is approaching the part of Smurfette. George Lopez is looking at Grouchy Latino Smurf (NOTE: I added "Latino," but if Lopez sounds like Lopez ususally does...) and Alan Cumming is bringing high drama to Gutsy Smurf.Jonathan Winters, the 84-year-old funny man is certainly the most exciting name to get attached to the project to date for an animation nerd like myself. Winters played a few Smurfs during the original Hannah Barberra run not to mention guest spots on tons of things you should have heard of by now - Twilight Zone, Mork and Mindy, Animaniacs, Garfield and Friends, Tiny Toon Adventures - the dude worked with Bob Hope. Respect.Winters will most likely be Papa Smurf, and it's nice to see some pedigree on this project. An OK TV Series (Lopez), a great part in X-Men 2 (Cumming), Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog (NPH) and a single embraced by the gays (Perry) do not a cohearent Smurfs film make.Remember that scale we talked about last time we discussed Smurfs: The Movie?Winters tips it a little more towards "good."[Raja Gosnell is directing the Columbia Pictures/Sony Pictures Animation hybrid pic from a screenplay by David N. Weiss & J. David Stem and Jay Sherick & David Ronn. Jordan Kerner is producing]Source: Trades

Move Like Michael Jackson's winner - Animaniac's - will also perform at MOVE IT!!! http://bit.ly/9wNcyi

0 comments Source: www.facebook.com

Macabre flânerie sur Minute Papillon, un lieu étrange et reposant. Minuit s’invitait entre les tombes, entre les croix, inquiétante obscurité.

Rendez-vous dans la pénombre. Minuit s’immisçait sous les voiles de ma longue robe LBD, glissait dans mes dentelles Baiastice, caressait ma nuque Perturb/ation. Folle rencontre, doux baiser.

Location : Minute Papillon
Music : BeetleJuice

Skin : Pink Fuel

Hair : Boon – Aby536 – 200L$
Ear : Aitui – Gauged Ears – Plug Case – 299L$

Choker : Perturb/ation – Eden – 200L$
Feather : Glow Studio – Decoration – Feather fan – 120L$

Top : Baiastice -Macrame Body Suit – 290L$
Dress : (part of) Leezu Baxter – Ginkgo – Tulip – 790L$

Nails : Sinistyle – Taped fingers – 25L$
Bijou : Deco – Copper skull ring – 250L$

+ Animania – Butterfly Seeder BlackWhite - 275L$

Shop SLurls : Click

February 28, 2010 - Australia's biggest and original Japanese pop culture festival, Animania is hosting its ninth celebration of Japanese animation and graphic novels in 2010.

Today I tried to fingure out how to upgrade the geese we have. Jerremy bought them ages ago at Animania. He recently got an upgrade notice and I promised I'd go there and see what we needed to do. While I was there, I saw some Killer Whales swimming and I took a ride on one of them -- something I'd never get the chance to do in RL. Ain't SL grand? These won't fit into our pond though, so we'll just settle for the "new and improved" geese.


In case you did not know about a very sad, recent RL event involving a whale and a trainer, here is a link. My thoughts go out to everyone involved.

Insurance.com recently released a list of the ten most car-accident-prone professions. Lawyers and bankers topped the bill. Karma, as the saying goes, is a bitch.

Driving is a funny thing. Operating an automobile is one of the few American pastimes where success — at least in the eyes of the government and your insurance company — has little to do with skill and everything to do with working the system. Live a safe, cautious life but repeatedly find yourself in fender-benders or 10 mph over the limit? The world hates you. Spend twenty years accident-free but cut people off and check your email in 90-mph traffic? You're a star!

On that note, everyone knows someone who can't drive. (Hell, I live in California, which means that I know an entire state full of people who shouldn't be let out of their houses, much less behind the wheel.) And we've long suspected that there is a connection between what you do and how you handle a car. Now we have proof, or at least a semi-meaningless list that makes us feel better about not being lawyers or professional dog groomers. Which, you know, is always nice.

(Note: "Journalist/blogger/car weirdo about town" isn't anywhere on this list, which means that my life has officially been upgraded to Win. Eat it, so-called marketing professionals!)

(Note Two: As always, we are committed to not being pageview whores, so if you'd like to see this in a ten-images-at-once single page, click here. If not, click "next" above.)

10. Nurse

I dated a nurse once. At the risk of being politically incorrect, she was hot. The cartoon nurse from Animaniacs was . . . and this sounds a little creepy, but stay with us here . . . also hot. Maybe I've been lucky, but every nurse that I've come in contact with has been A) a woman and B) at least marginally attractive. I have no idea what this means, but it seems relevant.

Your love may be strong, white-shoe hot lady, but your driving is weak. We forgive you.

9. Coach

Blood pressure has nothing to do with safe driving. Of course not.

Photo Credit: Upnextinsports.com

8. Barber/Stylist

Stop huffing the Barbasol. Step away from the vehicle. Paul Mitchell would not approve.

(Best cartoon ever, by the way.)

7. Marketing Professional

Attention, marketing professionals: You can make anything seem sexy, but you apparently cannot keep your car from flinging sideways into a ditch or ass-punching an SUV. Here's a tip: Serve the Kool-Aid, don't drink it. And especially not while driving.

By the way, anyone else have a sudden hankering for pork fat?

Image Credit: Viz Magazine

6. Dog Groomer

"And so then I was all, 'Ah, hell, I had too much to drink at the Best In Show afterparty,' and Fluffy was on the dash, and I figured she was in better shape to drive, and sonofabitch, it just went downhill from there."

5. Business Professionals

This is a painting of the late John Gotti. It was done by his widow. It is part of a collection that once appeared at an art gallery in New York. It is possibly the most entertaining painting we have seen all year.

"Business." Heh. "Professional." Heh heh. I'LL BREAK YOUR KNEES.

What were we talking about again?

Photo Credit: Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images

4. Bartender/Waiter

So a Heinous DoucheCaptain drives his car into a bar . . .

Photo Credit: Michael Buckner/Getty Images

3. Government Worker

This should be self-explanatory. If I worked for the government, I'd probably run my car into things on purpose be accident-prone, too.

2. Financial Professional

LOLCats aren't supposed to be funny anymore. Why is this still funny? Did we miss something?

1. Attorney/Judge

You are a lawyer. You are paid an awful lot of money to argue incessantly and defend people who may or may not need defense. Your profession has made a mockery of the terms "right" and "wrong," and most of you drive much-abused Porsche 911s. According to Insurance.com, 44 percent of you have made an accident claim at some point in your life. You belong to one of the most detested and mocked professions in history.

Stop crashing cars. It's not helping.

Where to see animaniacs in costume?

Topics: entertainment & music, comics & animation

I miss the Animaniacs! More Americany stuff…I bet Sarah Palin watches this every day.

We Are Movie Geeks

AniMania: SOUL EATER We Are Movie Geeks The only problem is that “Kid”, as he's called, is hopelessly OCD, to the point that he's often paralyzed by his need to make everything perfectly ...

Animaniacs - Who's On Stage?

If you ever watched the '90s cartoon show Animaniacs, you probably saw a segment in the program called "Good Idea/Bad Idea." If you've never seen Animaniacs, here's a two-minute compilation of some of the Good Idea/Bad Idea sketches (courtesy of Youtube). Hilarious!

Now then: in the publishing world, there are very often scenarios in which what would otherwise be a great idea is actually a terrible idea due to one or two crucial detail(s). As part of your (and, frankly, my) continued education in this industry, I present to you the following examples:

Good Idea: Venting to your friend, spouse, significant other, &c; about a negative review of your book.
Bad Idea: Venting to Twitter, Facebook, the Internet at large, &c; about a negative review of your book.

Good Idea: Following an agent's guidelines when submitting your novel.
Bad Idea: Following an agent to his or her office/car/home to submit your novel.

Good Idea: Reading industry blogs to improve your writing and querying.
Bad Idea: Reading industry blogs instead of writing or querying.

Good Idea: Selling yourself in order to promote your novel.
Bad Idea: Literally selling yourself in order to promote your novel.

Good Idea: Setting aside a specified block of time to write each day.
Bad Idea: Setting aside your family, friends, and day job to write each day. (May lead to the above scenario.)

Feel free to create your own good idea/bad idea in the comments!

Can somebody give me the lyrics of animaniacs slide show - the bone song i really want to learn it and can somebody give me the link to download - you don't have to give me the download link, ill just memorize it. but i really want the lyrics - thank you so much x

F.Y.E. is announcing Animania Night on Saturday, January 30, 2010 at select Suncoast , F.Y.E., Sam Goody and Saturday Matinee locations as tribute for everything Anime.

The event will feature a Cosplay contest, costume swap opportunities, trivia games, prizes and buy one get one half off everything anime.Excitement has been building on the Internet in many Anime communities and now is the chance to bring the excitement in to local F.Y.E. stores.

Join anime fans at 200 select Suncoast, F.Y.E., Sam Goody and Saturday Matinee locations Saturday, January 30 to celebrate everything anime.

FYE Animania Night Is An Anime Spectacular PR Web (press release) The event will feature a Cosplay contest, costume swap opportunities, trivia games, prizes and buy one get one half off everything anime. ... and more »

F.Y.E. is announcing Animania Night on Saturday, January 30, 2010 at select Suncoast, F.Y.E., Sam Goody and Saturday Matinee locations as tribute for everything Anime.

The Thinking Brain Animaniacs T-Shirt is a new shirt design at 80sTees.com Description: This Animaniacs shirt features an image of Brain and the phrase Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking?. Shirt Type: Black 100% cotton Distressed Standard Softness Tagged Price: $20.00 Buy this Thinking Brain Animaniacs t-shirt at 80s Tees or let us know what you think of the design. Looking for a different [...]

Good night everybody!

You're a 90's kid if: You remember watching: -Doug -Ren & Stimpy -Pinky and the Brain -AAAAAAAH Real Monsters! -Rockos modern Life. -Animaniacs -Gargoyles You've ever ended a sentence with the word "PSYCHE!" You just cant resist finishing this . . . "Iiin west Philadelphia born and raised . . ." You remember: -Step by Step -Family Matters!!! -Dinosaurs -Boy Meets World!!!! You remember when it was actually worth getting up early on a Saturday to watch cartoons. You remember reading "Goosebumps" You still get the urge to say "NOT" after (almost) every sentence . . . not When everything was settled by: -rock paper scissors or -bubble gum bubble gum in a dish or -ms. mary mack when kick ball was a daily activity. when we used to obey our parents You used to listen to the radio all day long just to record your FAVORITE song of ALL time on a tape. You remember when Super Nintendos and Sega Genisis became popular. You remember The Original Game Boy. You always wanted to send in a tape to America's Funniest Home Videos . . . but never taped anything funny. You remember watching: -The Magic School Bus -Wishbone -Reading Rainbow -and Ghostwriter on PBS You remember when Yo-Yos were cool. You remember those Where's Waldo books. You remember eating Warheads and Splashers Gum. You remember watching: -the 1st Batman -Aladdin -Ninja Turtles -ghost busters You remember Ring Pops. If you remember when every thing was "da BOMB!" You remember boom boxes .vs. cd players. Making those little paper fortune cookie things, and then predicting your life with them. You played and/or collected "Pogs" :) You had at least one Tamagotchi, GigaPet, or Nano and brought it everywhere. one word. . . . . . . .trolls. Windows 95 was the best. You watched the original cartoons of -Rugrats -Wild Thornberry's -Power Rangers -Rocket Power. All your school supplies were "Lisa Frank" brand. You collected those Beanie Babies. Carebears Lambchop's song never ended. Silver dollars, which were cool to have. Everyone watched the WB. If you even know what an original walkman is. You know the Macarena by heart. "Talk to the hand" . . . enough said You went to McDonald's to play in the playplace. You remember playing on merry go rounds at the playground. Before the MySpace frenzy . . . Before the Internet & text messaging . . . Before Sidekicks & iPods . . . Before PlayStation or X-BOX ..... . . Before Spongebob . . . Before Tupac was shot. When light up sneakers were cool. When you rented VHS tapes, not DVDs. When gas was $0.95 a gallon. When we recorded stuff on VCRs. You had slap bracelets! You Actually played outside until it was dark! Way back. Before we realized all this would eventually disappear.

WIKI.... Raymond Scott (born Harry Warnow, 10 September 1908 — 8 February 1994),[1] was an American composer, band leader, pianist, engineer, recording studio maverick, and electronic instrument inventor. He was born in Brooklyn to a family of Russian-Jewish immigrants. His older brother, Mark Warnow, a conductor, violinist, and musical director for the CBS radio program Your Hit Parade, encouraged his musical career. Though Scott never scored cartoon soundtracks, his music is familiar to millions because of its adaptation by Carl Stalling in over 120 classic Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck and other Warner Bros. Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies animated features. Scott's melodies have also been heard in twelve Ren & Stimpy episodes (which used the original Scott recordings), while making cameos in The Simpsons, Duckman, Animaniacs, The Oblongs, and Batfink. The only music Scott actually composed to accompany animation were three 20-second electronic commercial jingles for County Fair Bread in 1962.

This reminds me of the famous Animaniacs phrase of all time: Hello, Nurse!!!! Being treated by her, I'd gladly stay in the hospital as long as required.

Luxist: Louis Vuitton's Animania Collection http://bit.ly/6GQ5ty

(By @Luxist - Blog Feed - Luxist)

As much as I've tried to kick sand over it and walk away from the litterbox, I've been pondering M's widely-cited public blunder posing as a review of 2009 and projection for the next 10 years.

SLHD blurs the distinction between real and virtual. New tools and capabilities for content creation and animation together with enhanced graphics and multi-sensory rendering enable SLHD (Second Life in High Definition) to blur the distinction between real and virtual. You pet a chicken and feel the smooth texture of its feathers. You bend down to smell a rose and, well, you smell a rose.

Ahem... with all these dreams of smell-o-vision and feel-o-vision, whatever happened to the imagination? It doesn't matter how many dots per inch, digital noseplugs, neural junctions or other gadgets you implant into your body or stick into your orifices... it all depends on the human mind accepting what it is sensing and filling in the gaps. Ever have a story read to you, and you imagined you were... a pirate? A street urchin? A cowboy? A knight? Sitting in the library, listening to the storyteller tell the story... closing your eyes and being there... That's some seriously powerful magic there. And not a single drug, chemical or technological, is necessary for that to happen when you still have your imagination working for you instead of, as marketers and salespeople want, against you for their benefit and profit. If the content is crafted well enough and the storyteller is skilled enough to deliver it to the emotional port in their audience, they will evoke the reactions and responses and feelings that all these yet-to-be-made technologies could create. Through music... our bases levels, the intimacy and the feelings and the colors and the stories... that already exists on the grid, and yet instead of putting any chips on that square, you're pushing for ten years down the road technologies that force the sensation on the user. At a price, I figure. And then, I looked to the website, I realized... "Your World, Your Imagination" is gone. GONE. I have focused on the "Your World" part of that phrase, this being a company town construct of a grid, where the Labbies own it all and you're just given the illusion of ownership, wealth, popularity, or relevance. Complete at their discretion, and with a single flip of a switch... GONE. I'd forgotten about the more important half of that phrase: Your Imagination. Your Imagination is gone. Another sign that virtual worlds are also a part of the mass-media effort to stunt the growth of human imagination and to replace it with commercialized, sanitized content. People who break from the mold and use their creativity and imagination are not an asset, but a threat. If they can't be commercialized and sucked dry for revenue, contained in a toll-based spectactor experience where the participants are locked to their chairs and clap like seals, as threatening as a dumbed-down Disneyworld ride, then they are not just useless to the bottom line, but dangerous. Thank goodness for the mad, the crazy, the damages, the sick wackos of the grid who haven't had their imaginations removed like so many adenoids and tonsils. The fuckups, the geeks, the dreamers, the oddballs... the Tuna Oddfellows, the Strawberry Holliday's, the Eshi Otawaras, the Madcow Cosmoses, the JueL Resistances, the Cypress Rosewoods, the Shandon Lorings, the Scope Cleavers, the... every nutcase in the NPIRL Asylum that bursts through the gates like the Warner Brothers (and sister Dot!) at the start of Animaniacs... Hell, thank your entire pantheon of gods for the Stroker Serpentines, who have kept the imagination alive, providing the tools and means for the most powerful sexual organ in the human body (the brain) to thrive on the grid despite attempts [...]

As much as I've tried to kick sand over it and walk away from the litterbox, I've been pondering M's widely-cited public blunder posing as a review of 2009 and projection for the next 10 years.

SLHD blurs the distinction between real and virtual. New tools and capabilities for content creation and animation together with enhanced graphics and multi-sensory rendering enable SLHD (Second Life in High Definition) to blur the distinction between real and virtual. You pet a chicken and feel the smooth texture of its feathers. You bend down to smell a rose and, well, you smell a rose.

Ahem... with all these dreams of smell-o-vision and feel-o-vision, whatever happened to the imagination? It doesn't matter how many dots per inch, digital noseplugs, neural junctions or other gadgets you implant into your body or stick into your orifices... it all depends on the human mind accepting what it is sensing and filling i nthe gaps. Ever have a story read to you, and you imagined you were... a pirate? A street urchin? A cowboy? A knight? Sitting in the library, listening to the storyteller tell the story... closing your eyes and being there... That's some seriously powerful magic there. And not a single drug, chemical or technological, is necessary for that to happen when you still have your imagination working for you instead of, as marketers and salespeople want, against you for their benefit and profit. If the content is crafted well enough and the storyteller is skilled enough to deliver it to the emotional port in their audience, they will evoke the reactions and responses and feelings that all these yet-to-be-made technologies could create. Through music... our bases levels, the intimacy and the feelings and the colors and the stories... that already exists on the grid, and yet instead of putting any chips on that square, you're pushing for ten years down the road technologies that force the sensation on the user. At a price, I figure. And then, I looked to the website, I realized... "Your World, Your Imagination" is gone. GONE. I have focused on the "Your World" part of that phrase, this being a company town construct of a grid, where the Labbies own it all and you're just given the illusion of ownership, wealth, popularity, or relevance. Complete at their discretion, and with a single flip of a switch... GONE. I'd forgotten about the more important half of that phrase: Your Imagination. Your Imagination is gone. Another sign that virtual worlds are also a part of the mass-media effort to stunt the growth of human imagination and to replace it with commercialized, sanitized content. People who break from the mold and use their creativity and imagination are not an asset, but a threat. If they can't be commercialized and sucked dry for revenue, contained in a toll-based spectactor experience where the participants are locked to their chairs and clap like seals, as threatening as a dumbed-down Disneyworld ride, then they are not just useless to the bottom line, but dangerous. Thank goodness for the mad, the crazy, the damages, the sick wackos of the grid who haven't had their imaginations removed like so many adenoids and tonsils. The fuckups, the geeks, the dreamers, the oddballs... the Tuna Oddfellows, the Strawberry Holliday's, the Eshi Otawaras, the Madcow Cosmoses, the JueL Resistances, the Cypress Rosewoods, the Shandon Lorings, the Scope Cleavers, the... every nutcase in the NPIRL Asylum that bursts through the gates like the Warner Brothers (and sister Dot!) at the start of Animaniacs... Hell, thank your entire pantheon of gods for the Stroker Serpentines, who have kept the imagination alive, providing the tools and means for the most powerful sexual organ in the human body (the brain) to thrive on the grid despite attempts [...]