I don’t have kids, but if I did, they’d be the perfect excuse for me to buy a toy like this for myself. Apparently, a Tampa area woman bought an ‘Elmo Knows Your Name‘ toy for her toddler son. The doll connects to a computer to learn the kid’s name and other phrases, for a more personalized experience in cute. What she did not realize, however, is that Elmo loves murder. After a battery change, the doll began saying “kill james”. James being the name of the kid. No one knows why or how this happened, though I suspect that James owes Elmo a lot of money. That’s exactly what this country needs, more violent two-strike convicted felon children’s toys. Perhaps a Strawberry Shortcake who says, ‘Death to America’?

 
Source Engadget via TBO
Image from TBO

Filed under: Toys | Games — Roy @ 1:21 pm

Okay, you got me. I LOVE The Simpsons, and for some reason there has been an inundation of Simpsons related products lately. So what’s this you say? Well, it’s an Etch-A-Sketch. Umm… hmmm… guess there aren’t really any specs to an Etch-A-Sketch. All I can say is Awesome!

You can pick one up from Perpetual Kid for $14.99.

[source coolest-gadgets]

Filed under: Toys | Games — Santi @ 12:56 pm

Oh, my god! Say what you want, but I like cute plush toys. I have in my “collection” Nemo, Stitch, and Snuffleupagus. Gizmo may be next. I imagine that like the real Gizmo, you should probably do your best to keep Gizmo dry due to the batteries. On the plus side, evil mogwai probably won’t pop out of this one’s back if you do happen to spill a drop.

Continue reading Humming Gizmo Plush Toy

Filed under: Gadgets | Technology, Toys | Games — Santi @ 8:09 am

Sooooooooooooooooooooo Cute!

You can pick up these awesome figurines for $20 from Firebox.com (unfortunately only from their UK site, so shipping might be a pain).

Not much to say about these as they are just figurines. All I know is that I want to go play some Mario Bros. now.

[source geekalerts]

Filed under: Toys | Games — Santi @ 10:28 am

ThinkGeek has started to sell a USB webcam fashioned in the shape of The Simpsons most infamous Mr. Burns designed to clip on to the top of your laptop (in case you didn’t have one built-in there already). I love it, although my obsession with The Simpsons may make me a bit biased! This is the second webcam I’ve posted about in the past couple weeks. The unfortunate thing is that I don’t really know anyone who currently uses a webcam. At the same time people keep coming up with the greatest ideas for webcam designs!

Now if it only played clips of Mr. Burns to help manage you through the day.

[source GeekAlerts]
[source ThinkGeek]

Filed under: Computers, Gadgets | Technology, Toys | Games — Santi @ 10:34 am

There’s a short list of things that have made me cry. LEGO’s are on that list. Arranged chronologically, it’s somewhere before my first experience with Microsoft Word 6.0 (circa 1995) and maybe a year after that time my balloon flew away. As a sidenote, I have never known how to pluralize this product, so bear with me. Anyway, like most people, Legoes are as close as I will ever get to building an Imperial Star Destroyer, and for that, I say thank you Denmark for your finest export. Here’s to 50 more years of instructions with confusing perspectives and so many pieces that I find it doubtful, at best, that I was the only kid brought to tears.

50 years is the gold anniversary. I don’t have any gold, so the color of this text will have to do. Happy Anniversary. If we both make it to your century mark, maybe I can do a little better.

Filed under: Toys | Games — Roy @ 8:22 pm

Chances are you’ve already heard about the ridiculous criticism of Mass Effect by Kevin McCullough. (note: original article no longer online) You’ve probably also heard his apology, and seen the Fox News segment that ran shortly after the apology was issued. That segment got Electronic Arts to fight the good fight and request a correction; understandable, but still like Vader defending Luke in Return. Then things got really strange: Jack Thompson comes out and defends Mass Effect, a game rated M! That’s a bit like the Pope defending Stalin, for those of you who haven’t followed Mr. Thompson’s hijinks.

Tip ‘o the cap to Joystiq for great coverage.

Filed under: Video Games — Max @ 7:08 pm

I love my Wii. It is not without its criticisms, but I am rarely given reasons to actively complain. My biggest irk in the last year, besides that three month stint it spent in the box right before Metroid Prime 3 came out, is the wired nunchuk controller. The Wii has few “next-gen” claims about it. It’s really only given that distinction for its chronology and not for any truly “next-generation” functionality. Motion controllers could have been solvent for the Gamecube and the cost would have probably just brought it in line with its Sony and Microsoft counterparts. Wireless controllers, however, make it seem like it belongs in this generation of gaming. For me though, the wire linking the remote to the nunchuk has always been enough for me to complain. It’s not a long wire and it rarely constrains my movement, but something about it makes me willing to pay, oh I don’t know, $30 for a wireless solution. Luckily the stars have aligned.

Nyko showed a wireless nunchuk attachment at CES that should be priced at $30 and is looking like a release by February. For thirty bones, there are attachments of certainly more dubious utility. I’ll be picking one up.

Link

Filed under: Gadgets | Technology, Video Games — Roy @ 4:21 pm

For the uninitiated: First there was Guitar Hero. It was exciting and innovative, so people played and sequels were made. Then after that franchise changed hands, Rock Band was born. The idea? Extend the fun of being a star guitar player to the other parts of the band and get your friends involved at the drum, bass and vocal positions.

Now, somebody out there wants you to never leave the house. The Stage Kit for Rock Band features an “Interactive Light and Smoke Stage Show” for the game on Xbox 360. It was found on GameStop’s website with image and description. While both have since been yanked, the page is still live with the release date of June 23rd. $99.99 is all you’ll need to soak up the last of your will to be productive.

If the word ‘Interactive’ means anything close to the lights and smoke playing with the beat of the music, employers are going to have to start giving out fat raises because the value of leisure time is about to skyrocket on June 23rd. And not because of the summer solstice.

Link

Filed under: Gadgets | Technology, Video Games — Roy @ 12:47 pm

MacWorld 2008 keynote is Tuesday. I, personally, will spend the morning furiously refreshing Engadget looking for ultra-portable laptops and aluminum clad Blu-Ray drives I really cannot afford. (Fortunately, Visa doesn’t know that yet) Until then, there’s a flash game of significant merit that might be worth your time. I have always wanted to be Steve Jobs. I don’t have a lot of dreams, but that one is on the list. There’ll be a poll on how depressing that is some other day. Anyway, this game puts you in his shoes collecting items for his keynote in Pac-Man-style, avoid-the journalists/ghosts gameplay that is sure to entertain the family for at least a commercial break during Sunday football.

um, go Chargers.

Link

Filed under: Video Games — Roy @ 2:25 pm