link love 06-11-08

On photographing your anime and game figures. [via tomopop]
And somewhat related, taking better photos for etsy and ebay.

Also somewhat related, I’m sold on the NECA release of action figures based on the original Mirage Studios version of the turtles. My dilemma is deciding whether I want the current release or if I should wait for the black & white series 2 coming later this year.

Not counting the brief performance at the Spike VGAs, Video Games Live finally makes its way to Las Vegas this weekend. VGL is a great show, and someone we know well may be making a surprise guest appearance. Need tickets? Here’s a set on ebay going for cheap.
Update: They’ve posted the news, get ready to see Hell March live!

And finally, that didn’t take long.

Divers Dreamcast demo vid

I’ll take more photos and dig into it a bit once I’m back in town, but for now, here’s a quick preview:

Hurray Divers 2000!

I won I won I won! No accessories, but I’ve no plans to teleconference and will make due with a spare keyboard for now. Now I need to keep an eye out for the standard aqua Dreamcast controllers that originally shipped with the model…

Hrm, two right wings.

Close-up view

I wonder how common this is, or if there’s just one other unlucky schmo out there with two left wings. We’ll see what Atlus says.

Update: They’re shipping out a replacement. Thanks, Aram!

I have no self discipline.

The response.

Dear Chris Ainsworth,

Dreyer’s Loaded is classified as a Frozen Dairy Dessert. Frozen Dairy Dessert is defined as having more whey and less dairy and there by it does not meet the standard of identity of Ice Cream as set by the FDA back in 1929.

Loaded.

Absolutely nowhere on the packaging for Dreyer’s Loaded will you see the words ice cream. Why is this? Or more importantly, what does or doesn’t this stuff contain that prevents it from being called ice cream?

Is there a regulatory body that determines such things?

UPDATE: Dreyer’s responded.

All I want for Christmas…

Not content with an already unwieldy play list, I went out and bought a PSP last night, along with a 4gig memory stick, Loco Roco, and FF VII: Crisis Core.

Haven’t tried Final Fantasy yet, but I love Loco Roco. The art direction is brilliant, the music is wonderful, and the gameplay is a blast. Assuming the mission design remains consistent, I can easily see this becoming one of my favorite games. I’m a big fan of Feel the Love on the DS, too, as well as Parappa, Rez, Okami… I guess there’s something about those alternative art styles that really gets me. Maybe they evoke a subtle refresh of the sense or feeling of newness?

Any of you have other PSP recommendations or must-play titles?

Swap Meet Day

This morning we hit the Broadacres Swap Meet, a large outdoor swap meet on the northern end of Las Vegas Blvd, well beyond the Strip. Sitting on 40 acres, this place has pretty much everyone you’d want, especially if everything you want is toiletries, Mexican wrestling masks, and tv remotes.

One of many cable tables.

Along with my first sunburn of the year, I came out with the following:

While there were tons of video game merchants, most were overpriced and I didn’t want to drive my fiance nuts as I dug around for the occasional jewel. Almost picked up an ESPN Dreamcast, but it was missing the modem/broadband bits, so I passed. Sega Saturns were strangely common for some reason, saw more Saturn consoles than Saturn games.

On the Best Buy HD-DVD Gift Card.

So Best Buy announced earlier this week that they’d be giving away $50 gift cards to those of us unfortunate enough to buy into the HD-DVD format. This just landed in my inbox:

Our records show that you may have purchased an HD DVD player from Best Buy™. Recently, Toshiba announced that they will no longer produce HD DVD players, and movie studios decided they will no longer release new movies in HD DVD.

At Best Buy, we are dedicated to making sure you always have the right technology for you. That is why purchasers of an HD DVD player are eligible to receive a Best Buy™ gift card. To confirm your purchase, please call us at 1-888-BEST BUY (1-888-237-8289) with your receipt handy.

If you are interested in trading in your HD DVD player and HD DVDs, check out our technology trade-in service at BestBuyTradeIn.com where we will accept HD DVD hardware and software in exchange for a Best Buy gift card based on its market value.

We truly appreciate you as a customer. If you have further questions, please go to BestBuy.com/hddvd.

I called and asked a few questions. Anyone who purchased the HD-DVD player with a Rewards Zone card should automatically receive the Hah Hah Wrong Format Sucker Here’s Fifty Bucks Gift Card in a month or so. Everyone else, as the email above states, can call with their receipt (yeah, the same receipt they probably sent away in the envelope for the free movies offer) and get things sorted out for a free card.

Maybe I’ll use the gift card for HD-DVD movies.