Conversations With Curtis Opened a YouTube Channel March 28, 2021
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Old-school PC horror fans would do well to check out the 1996 game Phantasmagoria 2: A Puzzle of Flesh. Now, over twenty years after the game came out, the game’s lead has announced he will be working on a retrospective series about the game he’s calling “Conversations with Curtis”. Here’s the latest update:
Paul Stetler has created a new YouTube Channel specifically for the series. If you’re interested in following updates make sure to subscribe!
Phantasmagoria 2: A Puzzle of Flesh is out for PC.
Gaming History You Should Know – The Story Behind Those Pikachu Volkswagens, The PokePatrol March 28, 2021
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It’s Sunday, and given the fact that Spring has sprung and Easter is just a week away I decided it was time to talk about something yellow. Welcome back to Gaming History You Should Know, where we highlight some of the best independently produced gaming history videos from across the web. Fasten your seatbelts, we’ve got a great one for all of you today!
In 1998, The Pokémon Company was preparing to launch Pokémon in the United States. To get the word out, a special VHS tape was distributed to Nintendo Power subscribers and Toys R Us customers which gave a preview of all things Pokémon. Produced to appear like it existed in the Pokémon world, the VHS tape previewed the new television series, the upcoming games, and the toys.
Towards the end of the VHS tape, Ash’s Aunt Hillary announced a fleet of Pikachu-Themed Volkswagen Beetles, dubbed by fans as the “PokéPatrol”, would be driving across the country and hosting exclusive Pokémon events wherever they stopped. These cars looked cool as hell, and since the event concluded they have gained an almost iconic status alongside the early days of Pokémon fandom.
Sadly, despite the fact that these cars were launched twenty years ago, there isn’t a lot of information about the PokéPatrol. Where did they come from? Where did they visit? What could you do at one of their events? And finally, what happened to them? Pokémon researcher and historian Mewisme700 has done fantastic history videos on the early years of Pokémon. Her video on the history of these original Pokémon Volkswagen cars is second to none. You don’t get much more yellow than this.
Special thanks to Mewisme700 for letting us feature their work here today. If you’re interested in seeing more of her work, she’s done some great early Pokémon history videos including this video about the history of the (now closed) Pokemon Center New York. Everyone should give her channel a watch!
iOS and iPadOS 14.4.2 Released March 26, 2021
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Apple has released an important security update for iPhones and iPads was released earlier today and they’re insisting everyone install it as soon as possible.
You can obtain the update right now through your device’s software update feature or through iTunes. If you were previously running 14.4.1, the update should weigh in at around 200MB.
Pokemon TCG Top Deck Academy Episode 8 March 25, 2021
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It’s Thursday and The Pokémon Company has just published the latest episode of Top Deck Academy, where they offer important tips and strategies for the Pokémon Trading Card Game. In today’s episode they talk about a toolbox deck, explain what is is, and how the masters use it to win.
Free RPG Day 2021 Date Announced March 25, 2021
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Free RPG Day is a similar event to Free Comic Book Day, but not as well known as the latter event. In it, RPG publishers offer free pamphlets, rulesheets, and select goodies to hobby stores across the country that specialize in pen and paper RPGs.
Free RPG Day is happening October 16th, 2021.
If you’ve never played a pen-and-paper RPG before and you’re interested in trying out a game for the first time, this is the perfect event to participate in. If you’re a long time fan of the hobby, it’s a great way to learn about new games that are coming out and give them a try!
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered Now Out On SmartPhones and Tablets March 25, 2021
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Square Enix has just made a highly anticipated announcement this morning. Final Fantasy VIII Remaster, which is already available for platforms like PS4 and Switch, is now available to download and purchase on iOS and Android devices. Here’s the trailer:
Given its beloved status, I’m surprised this hasn’t happened sooner, just don’t tell Spoony.
Final Fantasy VIII is out now for PS1 and PC. Final Fantasy VIII Remastered is out now for PS4, Switch, PC, and now iOS and Android devices.
Japan Travel Tips – What to Know When You Land at the Airport March 23, 2021
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Its Tuesday and that means we’re coming at you with some new Japan Travel Tips. If you’re unfamiliar with this series, we’re going share with you some of the best independently produced documentaries designed to help international tourists who wish to visit Japan. After surviving 2020, you can be sure I REALLY want to travel, and why not travel to a country that is the birthplace of some of my favorite games of all time? Well, you already know all the important things about the country before you land. Today, we’re going to tell you what should you know when your plane lands at the airport.
I want to highlight a video produced by japan-guide.com which I think is so well produced it should be put on international airplane in-flight entertainment just before landing. This is a list of tips which include a rundown of how things in Japan work, and how you can get around the country.
Before we start the next video here’s a list of things you should pack with you (other than weather appropriate clothing):
- Personal Identification (your passport should suffice)
- A cellular smart device with the ability to translate Japanese language and navigate via GPS (Google and Apple phones have integrated translator and maps apps. Probably a good idea to download the language to your device).
- Traveler’s Checks or a Bank Card that can easily be converted to local currency
- Reusable Napkin/handkerchief
- A major credit card (for hotels and emergencies)
You can also pack a camera and a laptop computer if you’re like me and plan to document your trip as you are taking it.
So what do you do once you’ve landed, gotten your luggage, and cleared customs? Well, I’m going to highlight a great video from Life Where I’m From, which did a really detailed video about “Your First Hour in Japan” which should help a non-Japanese speaking tourist navigate their way from the airport to their hotel.
And here’s what you should obtain immediately once you land:
- Local currency (exchange enough you think you’ll be able to eat with)
- An IC Card or other train pass
- A Cellular/WiFi hotspot for your smart device and computer or a local SIM card if you just have a smartphone.
- Some food to go
Regardless of how long you plan to stay in Japan, you’re going to need a place to sleep, and Japan has plenty of Hotel options available which may not seem familiar to international travelers. Stay tuned for next Tuesday as we’ll be talking about Hotel accommodations next time!
Marvel’s Avengers Essentials Episode 1 March 23, 2021
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Square Enix does recognize that with Marvel’s Avengers now getting native releases on the next-generation consoles, new players and players who haven’t been able to play for a while may want some strategies about what the game now offers. Because of that, they’ve started a new series called Avengers Essentials. In this first episode they talk about the Missions and game modes. With all the new campaigns being added they’ve had to tweak the menus to better accommodate the new content. Let’s take a closer look:
Now that we finally have the time, we’ve started playing the new postgame DLC campaigns. Perhaps in the future we could do a let’s play.
Marvel’s Avengers is out now for PC, Stadia, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
General Mills Offering Free Pokemon TCG Cards in Specially Marked Cereal Boxes March 22, 2021
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General Mills has teamed back up with The Pokémon Company once again to offer some new Pokémon TCG cards for Pokémon’s 25th anniversary. The list of cereals offering cards include boxes of Trix, Cocoa Puffs, Lucky Charms and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. We cracked open a box of cereal that had cards inside to see what we got!
Free Comic Book Day 2021 Date Announced March 19, 2021
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Every year, comic book shops across the US offer a stack of specially marked free Comic Books from across all publishers. This year is the 20th anniversary of the first event and a ton of comics are being offered! Oh and if you take a look at the list you’ll see a few video game books are on the list including Life is Strange, Sonic the Hedgehog and Street Fighter.
Free Comic Book Day is August 14, 2021. Check their official website to find your closest participating retailer.
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