Nine Over Ten 9/10 is SHIFTING!

Hey everybody, Nine Over Ten 9/10 is shifting from nineoverten.blogspot.com to it's own domain and hosting plan at www.nineoverten.com. I would appreciate if you can update your blogrolls and do drop me a line if I have not included your blog at my blogroll over at the new site. Thanks!

Where to donate for the Sichuan earthquake relief efforts.

I found a whole bunch of links that you can go to if you are interested in donating to help the relief efforts for the aftermath of the 12th May Sichuan earthquake which has already killed more than 51,000 people.

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders):	Red Cross:
International Donation Site	International
MSF Hong Kong	Hong Kong
MSF Australia	Australia
MSF Japan	Japan
MSF USA	USA

I taken the list of links from Play-Asia's on-going donation/awareness campaign at http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-47yl-3-sichuan-49-en.html. So have a heart, donate and keep the earthquake victims in prayer.

David Cook Wins, and Videos of His Best Performances

This year's American Idol has finally come to an end. No more rushing home on Wednesday and Thursday evenings to catch the repeat telecast of shows. LOL. This time around, my favourite singer actually won the competition. Lets give it up for David Cook!

Despite being out-sang by the other David (Archuleta) during the final night, he managed to pull in a whopping 56% of the total 97.5 million votes cast. My take on young Archuleta: he has a very nice voice, but I think people would tire at hearing the boring ballads he belts out on almost every show.

David Cook on the other hand has shown major versatility and an uncanny ability of making a song his own, much like last year's runner up (and sadly, current record flop) Blake Lewis. Here are some of David Cook's best performances on American Idol:

1. Arguably his best performance in American Idol, Lionel Richie's Hello was taken to "rocky" heights:
   
   
   


2. "One shouldn't abuse a Mariah Carey song, especially in this manner". That was the comment I got from a friend on David Cook's version of Always Be My Baby. I thought it was pretty nice:
   
   
   


3. A Michael Jackson favourite of mine, and a version done by Chris Cornell. I was pleasantly surprised at Billie Jean sounding the way David Cook sang it. It rocked. A lot. Can he do Dirty Diana as well? Pretty please?
   
   
   


4. I bet that many people were suprised or were just simply in awe of David Cook's performance, singing Music of the Night from The Phantom of the Opera.
   
   
   

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords - A Short Review

For more video game reviews, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

If there's a game on the Nintendo DS that can (and will) make you miss your baths and is the epitome of the "just-one-more-turn" addiction normally found turned-based games on the PC, that game would be Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords.

Puzzle Quest plays a little bit like one of those Heroes of Might and Magic games on the PC. There's the game-world map whereby the hero moves around and there's also the hero's starting location, a city which can be upgraded with player-specific buildings.

The similarities with the HoMM end at combat. While there's also experience to be earned from combat, actual combat takes place as a Bejeweled game between the player and the AI. Where else can you say that you got pwned by a giant vampire bat in a game of Bejeweled?

Being an old title, Puzzle Quest would probably have dozens of reviews to its name, each would also be probably recommend that you get it. My sentiments exactly, having played the game. I got this game as a used copy a couple of weeks ago with Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney for a paltry RM 90 or USD 28 for both!

If you need to get a new copy, the US version is available at Play-Asia for USD 24.90 (click here) whereas the Japanese import version, Simple DS Series Vol. 23: The Puzzle Quest: Agaria no Kishi (quite a mouthful) is also available at a cheaper price of USD 19.90 (click here).

P/S: Both titles are at bargain prices.

Bleach DS: The Blade of Fate (Eng. version) for Cheap!

This is nice. Not only the Japanese version of Bleach: The Blade of Fate is selling for a discount, the English version is now being sold at a bargain price of USD 29.90 at Play-Asia. Click here for further details.

The King Lives in Elvis Presley Be@rbricks By Medicom Toys

For the latest highlights on figurines and collectibles, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

The King Lives! Albeit in Be@rbrick form. Medicom Toys has released the Elvis Presley Be@rbrick figure in 100% and 400% sizes.

These official Be@rbrick figures measure 60mm and 27 centimeters(!) for the 100% and 400% sizes respectively. Here are some photos on how these collector items look like:


Play-Asia is currently selling both figurines, click here for purchase details for the Elvis Presley Be@rbrick 100% and here for the Elvis Presley Be@rbrick 400%.

Bleach DS Titles at Bargain Prices

For the latest highlights on bargains and discounts for the Nintendo DS, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

Hmm. This is the 666th post in my blog. Pretty freaky. :) Anyways, value-priced versions (read: cheap, bargain bin) of two Bleach titles for the Nintendo DS went on sale today.

Bleach DS: Souten ni Kakeru Unmei (Best Version) (a.k.a Bleach: The Blade of Fate) and Bleach DS 2nd: Kokui Hirameku Chinkon Uta (Best Version) (a.k.a Bleach: Dark Souls) are selling for USD 29.90 each.

Pretty good value for money eh? Interested? Click here to purchase Bleach DS: Souten ni Kakeru Unmei (Best Version) (a.k.a Bleach: The Blade of Fate) and here for Bleach DS 2nd: Kokui Hirameku Chinkon Uta (Best Version) (a.k.a Bleach: Dark Souls)

Video of Myst DS' First Couple of Minutes

The old pixel hunt for the PC known as Myst is now available on the Nintendo DS. How does pixel hunting on gorgeous 3D "screenshots", previously done on PC screens (it's no secret that id Software hates Myst, many moons ago) translate onto the DS? Here's a video of the first couple of minutes of Myst DS:

New Twitter Background

Like my new Twitter background design? Yeah well... I like it too :)


Follow me on Twitter today (click here)!

Super Mario Stink Bombs - Yuck

If you are a gashapon collector, and a Mario fan at that, there's one thing that you shouldn't buy and that's one of those Super Mario Galaxy W Mascot Super Balls. A pair of these came in the mail earlier this week, having ordered them the previous week.


The same material that makes them bounce gives off a horrible stench, one that is rubbery + plastic-ky at the same time. It's so horrible that even if one of those balls were removed from the plastic packaging they come in, the nausea/migraine inducing stench will engulf the entire room.

I've placed the two balls in a sealed container and will get rid of them on Monday when the garbage man arrives. What a waste of 5 dollars and 40 cents.

But if you want to get them as stink bombs, be my guest. They are available at USD 2.90 each at Play-Asia.com. Click here for purchase details.

DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU!

I has Speed Racer's Mach 6 on mah desk!

I saw these Hot Wheels Mach 6 cars being sold at the local supermarket and I can't help but get one of them. I haven't gone about watching Speed Racer at the cinema yet, but that should be solved tomorrow :).

Here are some pictures of the Mach 6:


Have you gotten your's yet?

On My Nintendo DS: Super Airwolf for the Sega Genesis

Did you know that there's a replica of the helicopter from AIRWOLF on sale at eBay? Anyways, there was also an Airwolf game released on the Sega Genesis. Interestingly, it was released as Crossfire in the United States, while elsewhere it was known as Super Airwolf.

Also interesting was the gameplay. At first I thought the game was a straight-forward shmup ala 1942, where you shoot down planes, tanks and enemy emplacements with your souped-up helicopter. The subsequent land-based commando mission took me by surprise. It was a break from the norm but at the same time, devilishly hard to play.

I took a video of that sequence:



So what are the differences between Crossfire and Super Airwolf? Both are similar gameplay wise but try to spot the differences between the games with the videos I've taken below:





This write-up wouldn't have been possible without jEnesisDS, a Sega Genesis emulator for the Nintendo DS, and the R4DS, a flashcart used to run homebrew applications on the Nintendo DS.

Ode to D2

Hi old friend. Yes. It's been a while. How have you been doing? Yeah, I know it's hard to be stuck in a shelf for so long, and I apologize for not taking you out for a spin every now and then. But here am I now, looking at you. I hope your current accommodation isn't too harsh on your formerly shiny under side.

You really don't age well do you. But despite all the wrinkles on your forehead, and those large looking lint on your grainy clothes, you still play like a charm. Point, click, run... just like old times. And don't forget the items! But I still don't get the socketed ones.

This time around, I'm taking things a little different. You and I, we used to play long-range, but how bout having playing with a gang of friends (or automatons) of the bony variety instead. They look cool, and surely even out the odds when we're in a pinch. Ah...let the good times roll.

Yes, I'm back in the throes of Diablo II.

Nine Over Ten 9/10 Now on Twitter

This Twitter thing manages to look light weight and overwhelming at the same time. One thing is that you get to post and receive updates via IM and even via your mobile phone!

Anyways, Nine Over Ten 9/10 is now on Twitter! So get updates on what I am doing, review announcements and bargain highlights on your IM or mobile phone simply by following me on Twitter. Click here to do so now!

Retro Consoles: Nintendo Micro VS System

For the latest highlights on bargains and discounts for the consoles, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.



Now this really looks interesting. Released in 1984, Nintendo's Micro VS System is a portable console that doesn't look like a typical Game N' Watch unit. The Micro VS System came with a screen measuring slightly lesser than 16 centimeters and brought about 2 player action with the supplied pair of controllers.


You can find used Micro VS System units selling for more than USD 30 on eBay whereas new ones are going for USD 70. However, collectors are in luck since Play-Asia is selling brand-new factory sealed units of the rare Micro VS System: Donkey Kong Hockey for just USD 49.90 each

Here are some pictures:

These are the technical specifications:

Official Nintendo Portable Game

LR44 (AA) Micro Alkaline Batteries included (1.5 V)

Play modes: vs Computer or 2 Player mode

Extendable controllers (upto 48cm)

Battery life: 5 months (an hour play per day)

Time display: 12-hour system

Alarm: Set in 1-min intervals

Limited availability

And the description taken from the Play-Asia product page:

Nintendo has revolutionized the gaming industry in many ways, the systems they have developed are often truly innovative. It widens the gaming communities and bring gaming experiences to new heights.

Arcade consoles have long been linking players together for fighting and sports games, and the Micro VS System was released in 1984 and is one of the earliest consoles that makes such gameplay portable. With the console's two handhelds, two players can join a game by sharing the screen between them.

This console is one of the rare artifacts that tells the historical development of the gaming industry, a true collector's item that any serious gamer must own and Play-Asia.com is lucky to get hold of a limited quantity of brand new factory sealed consoles.

Interested? Click here for purchase details.

The Rom Report X: 80s Cartoons and Video Games

For brand new The ROM Report articles, head over to www.nineoverten.com.

The idea for the 10th Edition of The ROM Report came to me when I was talking to a couple of my colleagues about 80s cartoon series. I remember being glued to the tube and being fed a diet of Thundercats, Transformers, Centurions, and Spiral Zone.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was also a favourite series of mine. I wouldn't really call them turtles, they are more like tortoises but like blondes, turtles seem to be more fun. The cartoon came out in 1987 and the NES game was release in 1989.

It's pretty fun to play, as you can see in the video I've taken earlier of the game.



On the otherhand, I didn't really watch Beetlejuice on TV. However, the video game, released for the NES is a little tough and presents a challenge. See for yourselves:



Now, if you think difficulty levels are over-rated, you have not seen Transformers: Convoy No Nazo. Yup, it's based on the Transformers cartoon series and stars Ultra Magnus.

The game is so tough that I can't even get pass the first level. Here's a video of my attempt:



All 80s inspired games featured in this article can be run on the Nintendo DS with the use of nesDS. Check out the rest of The ROM Report for more information on how to run older generation games on the Nintendo DS.

Revoltech Transformers Action Figures: Now in Bargain Bin

For the latest highlights on figurines and collectibles, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.



I rarely blog about figurines/action figures nowadays, but I figure that Transformer fans would be interested in this one. The Revoltech versions of Rodimus (Hot Rod) and Star Scream by Kaiyodo are going for a bargain price of USD 17.90 each at Play-Asia! The prices are cheaper than that of Amazon.com!

Being Revoltech action figures, both are highly poseable and come with additional hands and their respective weapons. Here are some pictures:


Click here for purchase details for the Rodimus action figure, and click here for Star Scream. Here's a tip: Purchase both to get another dollar off the total price.

The ROM Report IX: The Old and the New

For brand new The ROM Report articles, head over to www.nineoverten.com.

NES gamers would probably remember Taito's classic The Legend of Kage which was released in 1987 for the North American NES.

The game was a 2D platformer and even though I've played it as a kid, I remembered distinctively that the hero was a ninja that could jump really high, and one of the enemy types wore a hat and shot flames, and was a tough bastard at that.

Anyways, I got the game to run on the Nintendo DS with the help of the nesDS emulator. You might want to check that out, but before that here's a video of the game running on the DS.


Since the theme of this edition of The ROM Report is "the old and the new", lets talk about the sequel to The Legend of Kage. Yup, Kage Densetsu: The Legend of Kage 2 was released in early March 2008 for the Nintendo DS.

The graphics have become much prettier, and along with it, more forgiving gameplay and a rather nice soundtrack as well. The hero, Kage, can still jump really high and comes with a new special power that allows him to duplicate himself.

I'll let the movie do the talking:


Kage Densetsu: The Legend of Kage 2, is available at Play-Asia at a cheaper price than what other imported Japanese games are sold for. Click here for purchase details.

This Week at Nine Over Ten 9/10

My nearly 3-year old nephew had a shot at Speed Racer DS yesterday and while the game confirmed my initial findings that it IS a great game, it's also quite forgiving/accomodating to new players, which is a really good thing as well.

So what to expect this week at Nine Over Ten 9/10?

• A review of a new Sherlock Holmes game!
• A new ROM REPORT!
• A review of Japanese import Kage Densetsu: The Legend of Kage 2
• More highlights on bargains and discounts for video games!
• And many more :)
  

So keep Nine Over Ten 9/10 bookmarked, or better still subscribe to my RSS feed (here) or receive Nine Over Ten 9/10 in your e-mail (here)!

Bargains: Mega Man Games Going For A Song!

For the latest highlights on bargains and discounts for Nintendo DS games, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.


Mega Man fans! Play-Asia has a lot of Mega Man titles on sale at just USD 16.90 each including the newest Mega Man ZX Advent. Not only that, RockMan titles are going for a cool USD 9.90 each. Click here for the entire list of Mega Man and RockMan titles on sale for the Nintendo DS.

Iron Man - A Movie Review

The start of the Iron Man movie kinda reminds me of that Jonah guy from the Bible. In the Bible, Jonah disobeys God's command, and ends up in the belly of a fish, only to seek forgiveness. He gets spit out from the fish and continues doing the task assigned to him.

In Iron Man, Tony Stark is a modern day weapons maker, one who doesn't really have a conscience, not losing sleep over the people who have died because of his weapons. He gets attacked by terrorists using the very weapons he created, gets captured and thrown in a cave, where he finds redemption, deciding to do something with his life and becoming Iron Man in the process.

Like Jonah, he escapes the cave a changed man. But unlike Jonah, the Tony Stark in the movie doesn't lament about the mission he sets out to do, otherwise there would be a plot device where he turns to drink as an escape, just like in the comics.

That point aside, Iron Man is quite a different kettle of fish from other superhero movies. For one, the casting is perfect. Even before the movie was announced, I always thought that Robert Downey Jr. would make an excellent Tony Stark, with his past substance abuse and his looks, and this movie was an Iron Man fanboy's dream come true.

The repartee and on-screen chemistry between Tony Stark and his assistant Pepper Potts (played by Gwyneth Paltrow) would make you forget about the suit(s). Not only that, the interactions between the characters, played by an ensemble cast that include not only Downey Jr and Paltrow but also Jeff Bridges and Terrence Howard is something to be marvelled (no pun intended) at.

Even Paul Bettany (of The Da Vinci Code and A Knight's Tale) is thrown in as the voice of Tony's sarcastic computer system.

The art of conversation is lost in superhero movies, but Iron Man brings that back, with some really cool action sequences and a bloody cool suit. The suit is kind of like the one in the Ultimates comic books, whereby it's like a wearable fighter jet and assembly is required. I actually prefer the Extremis enhanced version, but this movie version is so hot, even my girlfriend (who doesn't really watch superhero movies) wants one.



Iron Man fans will be in for a treat at the amount of fan service given... Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division, anyone?

So, what are you waiting for? Go watch Iron Man at a cinema near you!

Speed Racer: The Video Game - A Nintendo DS Review

For more video game reviews, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

I must say that with WFC Connectivity, Speed Racer: The Video Game would have been up there contending with Mario Kart DS for the best racing game title on the Nintendo DS.


Admittedly, that thought didn't cross my mind before I started reviewing the game. Likewise for many movie tie-ins and in-fact many Nintendo DS games these days, I approached this title with trepidation thinking that hey, at most its gonna be something a little less crappier than M&M's Kart Racing.

Yup, the market is full of shovelware these days that a little pessimistic thinking is acceptable. Are we looking at another video games crunch ala the 80's? That's enough material for another article.

Back to the game. Boy, was I glad to be proven wrong. The game started off with a nice FMV, with the backstory being set after the events of the movie. Without further ado, I jumped into an arcade mode race and the graphics were the first thing that caught my attention.

Someone better create a digital video output expansion set for the DS so that I can view this on my widescreen..this is really good!

It was a really trippy experience going through the first race and the excellent graphics were accompanied with excellent controls and gameplay. Some portions of the track are like half pipes, and if you were to drive off the sides, a tap of a button will bring the car right on to the track. This user friendly approach is extended to situations where you might find yourself driving backwards, and a touch of a button will right the car.

All these stunts, which also include flipping the car during jumps, drifting through corners and executing Car-Fu, which is a mini game that can be executed during overtaking, will help you fill your boost meter which can be expended to provide a timely boost of speed.

However, fill the boost meter to the brim and you'll have access to the Zone. It's abit hard to describe the "Zone", it's like a mega boost of sorts and pretty much worth the effort to fill the boost meter.

More importantly, stunts also win fans. Fans are to Speed Racer as currency is to RPGs. the more fans you win over in a race, the more cars, drivers and game modes you can unlock!

Aside from the Arcade Mode, there is also an expansive WRL league mode, which is divided by difficulty level. Each level has its own sets of cups and special events and is the place to be to gain fans to unlock the goodies mentioned in the previous paragraph.

The Options menu provides quite a bit of flexibility. You can choose between three different control schemes, adjust race variables such as number of opponents and laps, and whether to use the metric system or the imperial system for your speedometer (lol..jargon? that's just MPH or KPH).

Speed Racer is like a breath of fresh air among the other racing games I've seen lately on the Nintendo DS and I highly recommend it. Speed Racer: The Video Game is available at Play-Asia with free international shipping to most countries. Click here for purchase details.

Click here to purchase the game at Amazon.com.

Good Vibrations - Make Mine A DualShock 3

For the latest highlights on bargains and discounts for the consoles, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.


For all you PS3 owners still stuck with a SuckAxis, I mean Sixaxis controller, it might be beneficial for you to know that the Dual Shock 3 is selling at a discount at Play-Asia.com, and it comes with free international shipping to some countries.

Yup, ditch that motion controlling/rumble-less thingamajig for some rumble goodness. You know you want one. Click here for purchase details.

I'm at Borderz, Stocking Up Mah Book Shelf

I'm having a drink at Starbucks after buying a whole bunch of books at Borders and spending just shy of getting all five stamps on my Borders Rewards card in a single receipt! I got 4 stamps actually. Once fully stamped I can redeem it for a RM 30 electronic gift card.


Anyways, what did I buy? Here's the list:

• The World is Flat ~ Thomas L. Friedman
• Confessions of an Economic Hit Man ~ John Perkins
• The Undercover Economist ~ Tim Harford
• Emma ~ Jane Austen
• Smoke and Mirrors ~ Neil Gaiman
  
• Retro Gamer
• Onslaught Reborn (Hardcover)

I've been reading a lot of fiction, so I thought some non-fiction books would be nice for my literary diet. My previous purchases last month were Freakanomics and Blink, both really interesting.

What books have you gotten this month?

Super Mario Galaxy Collectibles: Super Ball Gashapon!

Now these Super Mario Galaxy collectibles look really interesting. The Super Mario Galaxy Mascot Super Ball Gashapon collection consists of 8 different kinds of gashapon, based on the power-ups found in the game, all of which are encased within clear plastic/rubber balls.


And they are pretty big too, with a 4 centimeter diameter. I just hope they are contained within rubber balls, which would be fun to bounce around!

The Super Mario Galaxy Mascot Super Ball Gashapon is available at Play-Asia at USD 2.90 each with free shipping to most countries. Click here for purchase details.

Previous Gen Console Bargains

For the latest highlights on bargains and discounts for consoles, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.



This is some sort of a Bargain Week, where I'll be highlighting cool video game bargains. So, lets have a look at some previous gen consoles going for a song:


First up, is the Nintendo Gamecube console going for nearly half price at Play-Asia. The Spice Orange, Jet Black, Silver/Platinum and Purple/Indigo versions of this lunch box like console are priced at USD 79.90 each!



Play-Asia has also an interesting selection of Xbox consoles, namely the Xbox Ice Blue Console Halo 2 Limited Edition set, the Xbox Console (Asian edition), and the Xbox Console Bundle including Jade Empire and Project Gotham Racing, all of which are going for USD 99.90 each!

Check them out as well as other video game bargains at Play-Asia.com

Night Owls

Some of you who read the newspaper article that had me on the cover of InTech would know that I work at UF. Late night software deployment and maintenance are part and parcel of my job since the project that I'm working on belongs to a local client.

Thanks to the Internet, deployment and maintenance work can take place from home and it does make the job a little bit easier. However, there are instances where work can drag on till 6 in the morning. So how do I keep awake while waiting for others to complete their tasks?

Caffeine is an option, but I tend not to drink coffee late at night. Video games are more viable as they keep me engaged, but there are some caveats. Games such as Digidrive cannot be played on easy mode since the slow gameplay (at that level) and the hypnotic movement of the pieces would put you to sleep.

Burnout or Mercenaries for the PS2 are better suited for keeping me awake since they are both noisy, fast, and action packed.

Reading is okay but the material should be engaging like the book I'm reading now, Freakanomics.

So, what do you do to keep awake at night?

GBA Games For Less Than 10 Bucks

For the latest highlights on bargains and discounts for the video games, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.



Here are a bunch of GBA games that are worth more than their selling price (which is less than 10 bucks a pop):

• RockMan Zero 2 ~ USD 9.90 (Click here for details)
• RockMan EXE 3 Black ~ USD 9.90 (Click here for details)
• Family Tennis Advance ~ USD 9.90 (Click here for details)
• Golden Sun ~ USD 9.90 (Click here for details)
• bit Generations: Boundish ~ USD 9.90 (Click here for details)
• Wario Land Advance ~ USD 7.90 (Click here for details)
• Napoleon ~ USD 6.90 (Click here for details)

Iron Man for Nintendo DS - A Game Review

For more video game reviews, head over to the brand new www.nineoverten.com.

Iron Man for the Nintendo DS has been great experience so far, and while I'm playing to unlock the "One Man Army" mode, which I think will get you to blow up more stuff compared to the story mode, the story mode seems to be intriguing on its own. For one, there is that research points thing and secondly, each level is expansive, with multiple objectives and a boss fight of sorts at the end.


Lets talk about the levels first. The levels are so big I have trouble finishing them in a single casual sitting of 5 minutes. Going along with the expansive levels are the rather nice graphics as well. The textures may look a little basic, but hey, it's on DS, not the PSP.

Gameplay is a mixed bag here, but its not necessarily a bad thing. The first level will have you playing a little like Tomb Raider as you fight your way out with the first version of the Iron Man suit. The second level however, transforms into a shmup, as you get to fly around in the latest Iron Man suit, shooting repulsor beams and firing the occasional rocket or unibeam and even release an EM pulse.

You'll require the use of both buttons and the touch screen in order to play. Use the touch screen to aim and fire repulsor beams/flamethrower, or to shoot a unibeam. The touch screen also serves as a guide with arrows pointing to the next objective.

I don't think it would be hard to add a mini-map, like the one found in football games, with dots representing enemies, buildings, powerups and the ilk, on the touch screen, but no such think here. Come on, the levels are big and it's an Iron Man game... high tech and all that jazz.. a mini map would definitely help.

Remember that I mentioned Research Points? Iron Man for the Nintendo DS displays a little more depth compared to other super hero games on the same platform by allowing you to go all RPG on it.

You can spend Research Points to upgrade your Iron Man suit (better shields, repulsor beams, upgraded rockets, etc etc), which you get to pilot from level 2 onwards, but you'll have to destroy ALOT of enemies (and buildings) to obtain them points. Whatever happened to good old (but boring) R&D.

A Story Mode is nothing without a story and Iron Man tells its "cutscenes" in the form of stills with shots from the movie as well as stylize comic book art. Apparent Robert Downey Jr. reprises his character from the movie by lending his voice for the game. And speaking of sound, it's largely forgettable, so don't aim for a sonic experience.

Iron Man has a pretty solid outing on the Nintendo DS, with interesting gameplay and RPG elements and is available at Play-Asia (click here for purchase details).

Speed Racer Merchandize from KFC

Here he comes, here comes Speed Racer, he is a demon on wheels, and he's also more of a merchandising dude compared to Iron Man. I went to the local KFC only to find 4 Speed Racer toys to go with the kids meal, Speed Racer keychains to go with two of those combo meals and 1 limited edition notebook which can comes with a bucket meal, or can be purchased separately.

I came home with a Racer X keychain, and the limited edition notebook. Pics:


Want some of these merchandize? Get to your nearest KFC outlet. The Limited Edition notebook comes with a metal front page and costs RM 7.50 as an individual purchase, or comes free with the mini bucket meal.

I'm on the cover of InTech and now in TechCentral!

I'm still trying to get a scan of the cover page of last Thursday's InTech pullout from The Star newspaper. In the mean time, you guys will have to settle for a mini picture of me, featured at the highlight portion of TechCentral on The Star Online (click for a bigger pic)!


Here's the direct link to the article.

I'm on the cover of today's The Star InTech

I thought the previous post was the last before I leave on a break but I'm on the cover of today's issue of The Star's InTech pull-out. Yup, go grab a copy.

Now is really a good time to go for a holiday.

Cya. Be back on Saturday, or Sunday..

Labour Day, It's a Holiday!

Okie dokie. It's the Labour Day weekend! I'm taking Friday off work and will only be back from my break on Saturday. So no updates, but do check out the Bargains section of Play-Asia, who knows what you might get.

Happy holidays! More game and collectible reviews when I'm back!

Devil May Cry Collectibles: Darts & Flights

Now, these are some things a pub-going video game fanboy wouldn't mind being caught with. These Devil May Cry Darts from Capcom come in a set of three with 3 pieces of interchangeable flights. Click here for the Dante set or here for the Nero set.


Additional flights can also be purchased separately in sets of 3 as well, each set depicting a character from the DMC games. Click here for purchase details for these flights.

Namco DotGraph Figure with Sound: Video Review

Here's a video review of the Namco DotGraph Figure with Sound that arrived in my mailbox yesterday:





Interested in getting one for yourself? Visit Play-Asia.com at this link for purchase details.

A Package Full Of Video Game Collectibles and Accessories

A "care package" arrived from Hong Kong today, bringing with it a whole bunch of video game collectibles and an accessory.

Here's a mug shot of the contents of this delivery:


Interested in knowing what I bought? Here's the list:

• New Super Mario Bros. Soft Magnet Collection (click here for purchase details)
• Namco Dotgraphics Figure with Sound (click here for purchase details)
• Hori Display Stand Portable for both the Sony PSP-1000 and PSP-2000 (click here for purchase details)
  

Google Adsense Cash Out!

I went to cash-out my Google Adsense earnings earlier today, at a nearby CIMB Bank with Western Union service. The amount was just shy of USD 120, but at least I got some pocket money to pay for my new pair of tyres on the car, and a short holiday with the girlfriend.

Hooray for Google!

Club Nintendo Super Famicom Classic Controller for Nintendo Wii

Here's your chance to own a limited edition Club Nintendo Super Famicom Classic Controller for the Nintendo Wii. That's right, this retro-throwback of a gamepad hooks up to your Nintendo Wii and is ideal for playing Virtual Console games.


No details on pricing yet, but Play-Asia will be opening pre-orders for this gamepad soon, so you'd better bookmark the following link: http://www.play-asia.com/SOap-23-83-47yl-71-10u-49-en-84-j-70-2f4f.html

Bak Kut Teh Run/New Balance Klang Pacers Half Marathon - Post Race

The Bak Kut Teh Run, as some runners would fondly call the New Balance-Klang Pacers Half Marathon, is probably one of the cleanest runs that I've ever participated.

Let me explain. It would seem that almost every participant knows where the garbage bags are, and actually use them to dispose off rubbish (empty paper cups, banana peels, plastic bags, etc) properly! Hence, there's no scenario like in KLIM where rubbish was strewn all over the Dataran field.

It's just too bad that the number of participants for the Bak Kut Teh Run were so few. At one point there wasn't anyone within a 20 meter radius of myself and I got bored running and started walking instead, enjoying the sights along the way.

I saw monkeys (of the kera variety) scurrying on power lines, a couple of dogs starring intently like I'm a postman, the mini wet market with a cat waiting for scraps, and of course, the mosque (yang tersergam indah) and the Istana with a different view of the stadium.

The end result: 1 hour 19 minutes. My friend was saying that any longer and that I would be out of the qualifying time. But no worries, I just decided not to put the pedal to the metal. Normally I would finish a 10km run in an hour :).


I didn't even need to queue to get a drink of Milo or 100 Plus, testament to the low participant count. Anyways, do join the run next year as the finisher medal given out is pretty nice; looks like some Superman thingy.

Grand Theft Auto Central

This week marks the release of GTA IV, and over here at Nine Over Ten 9/10, this post is dedicated to all things GTA, from where to get the game, guidebooks, and even a trip down memory lane to great granddaddy GTA and grandma GTA 2.


So, all geared up for GTA IV? If you haven't got a current-gen console, you'd probably need one in the form of an Xbox 360 or a Playstation 3. Yup, it's a release across the board but if you own a Wii, go play Okami instead.

Where to get your copy of GTA IV? Folks living in the States, Canada and even the U.K are fortunate to have good video game distribution networks (retailers, stores) and they are also spoilt for choice in terms of online options.

One way of purchasing GTA IV is via Amazon.com; the game is available for pre-order for both the Xbox 360 (click here) and Playstation 3 (click here) versions and are eligible for Super Saver Shipping.

For us over here at Malaysia, it would seem that we have to rely on parallel importers to get our GTA fix, or purchase from online sites such as Play-Asia. Like Amazon, Play-Asia has both versions of the game available for pre-order. Click here for the Xbox 360 version and click here for the PS3 version.

GTA 4 Guide Books are available at Amazon.com (click here) and Play-Asia (click here) as well.

While you won't see Rockstar Games release GTA: Vice City as freeware, you can take a free walk down memory lane on the original Grand Theft Auto and GTA 2, courtesy of the said developer. Where to get them? Head over to this link.

Now, if I just can get a PS3...

Weirdest/Coolest FMV on the Nintendo DS

The use of full motion video is getting pretty common place among Nintendo DS games, with the usual suspects such as the Final Fantasy series of games leading the way. Even the boxing game, K-1 World GP (Japanese import) utilizes FMV for its intro.

Most of the time, these FMVs are CG spectacles, designed to awe more than anything else. But have you seen anything that actually have you chuckling?

Here's one:

That's the FMV intro for Hissatsu Kung Fu: Kanji Dragon and it references old Chinese Kung Fu movies and even the Karate Kid, but look out for the Nintendo DS Lite in some scenes. The game requires knowledge of Japanese kanji characters (you write them on the touch screen) and when done succesfully, translates to kungfu moves to defeat your on screen enemy. Think Street Fighter where you have to write your combo moves instead of mashing buttons.

As you might expect, I couldn't go far with the game since I'm handicapped by my lack of kanji knowledge but for those of you out there with written Japanese knowledge, this is an interesting game to check out.

Hissatsu Kung Fu: Kanji Dragon is available at Play-Asia, click here for purchase details.

Retro Video Game Ads

1989. A year, where game ads in publications such as EGM, as well as game packaging, do not match that of the contents of the game itself. The cover might show a buffed-up Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo, but in game graphics potray him as a few pixels short of being Mario.

And you'll find that in order to maximise money spent on ads, game publishers will advertise their entire catalogue of games in a single ad, hardly something you see these days.

Here are some of my favourite ads, from the very first issue of EGM..and yeah, 1989 is the only other time besides the Cold War where you can hear the phrase Soviet Mind Game. LOL.


If you have not download the very first issue of EGM, it's available in PDF form at Retromags. Click here for details.