Why would Sony green light this horrible crime against humanity? According to the bleeding heart information site Toward Freedom one of the ingredients needed is an “unrefined metallic ore, coltan. After processing, coltan turns into a powder called tantalum, which is used extensively in a wealth of western electronic devices including cell phones, computers and, of course, game consoles.” Now common sense may lead you to the idea that Sony is more than likely just one of many electronic manufacturers which would use this powder. You may also do a little digging and realize that it is mined from other places that apparently do not use the equivalent of slave labor from the locals.

But Toward Freedom has determined that Sony’s Playstation 2, with it’s huge demand and short supply, was the catalyst that:

“prompted Rwandan military groups and western mining companies to plunder hundreds of millions of dollars worth of the rare metal, often by forcing prisoners-of-war and even children to work in the country’s coltan mines.”

“Kids in Congo were being sent down mines to die so that kids in Europe and America could kill imaginary aliens in their living rooms,” said Ex-British Parliament Member Oona King.

Sony (like many other electronic giants) has since stated that they actively work to avoid purchasing the material from that region, although researcher David Barouski says that it would be statistically impossible to avoid it completely.

My thoughts on this are simple… who cares? It is not Sony’s responsibility to police or govern the local mining companies that happen to provide a raw material to another company which refines it, to another company that turns it into the final piece that they put in their products. That is what their local police and government are for. And if those two bodies are corrupt then the locals should grow a pair and revolt like many other civilizations have throughout history. I’m all for a global social responsibility to an extent, but I just don’t think we need to shed a tear for every injustice that occurs, or in this case happened several years ago. Maybe Sony should release a free game to build awareness on the PSNetwork, get Leo DiCap’ to do the voice for the main character and make everyone feel a little more humanitarian at the end of the day.

It seems the common attitude among the game making community was that E3 is a bit of a waste at this point. Sure E3 was always supposed be industry only, but at least the kids from the trenches (retail employees) could make there way to the general show floor and regale their customers with tales of incredible technological sites and scantily clad models.

Now E3 has been designated “invite only”, and is strictly for the press and retail corporate suits. The press is fine, but corporate retail? Why do they need any kind of event, the buyers only go by what has the best target market potential, demographics, and gross margin price points. Take it from someone who managed an Electronics Boutique for many years, if it where up to the corporate office the shelves would only be stocked with used games, hint guides and extended service plans.

Let’s look at what some industry veterans are saying about how they feel in regards to the current E3:

Mr Mario himself, Shigeru Miyamoto, was quoted as saying…

“For a very long time, E3 was an event where — and certainly Nintendo included — catered specifically to the core gamer. Now we look at more … an opportunity for us to introduce new concepts and new types of play that we intend to bring to the broader audience, particularly because of the media that gathers at E3 now.”

that’s his polite way of saying…

“sorry real gamers, but this show is to make sure retail tools stock the shelves with our guaranteed money makers, but don’t worry we’re making real games that we’ll show you later. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge”

Even more blunt and to the point is Dave Perry’s (he made Earthworm Jim) statement…

“The concept is broken, it’s expensive, messages are diluted, consumers are ignored (remembering that the future of this industry is DIRECT connections with consumers – not retailers), the ticket policies are stupid, and if the entire industry (worldwide) doesn’t participate, it’s not real anyway.”

that’s his impolite way of saying…

“F**k you E3! UR teh ST00p1d2! OMGLOLBBQ :p”

So there you have it, another year, another poop E3. But all is not lost, there are other events, the industry is still up overall, and each faction of fanboys can safely say their system won this year since there was no clear cut victor.

Yes, Sony fanboys can begin their aria of lament in reaction to this truly logical move by the JRPG giant. From a numbers standpoint it only makes sense for Sq’Enix to multi-platform this upcoming blockbuster for the US release, although there is speculation about the Japanese release oddly enough. It’s been a long time in developement and must be reaching a budget of astronomical numbers. To neglect a 10 million plus user base would be insane, and considering Final Fantasy is one of those major franchises that sells just as well in the West as the East it’s really a no brainer. Let’s hope that FF fans aren’t as bitter as all those Devil May Cry fans were when their franchise played both sides of the fence.

The other big news in my eyes was the Netflix partnership, which just makes perfect sense. The 360 is really starting to solidify that mythical position as the living room one-box that the whole family will center around for all their entertainment needs.

Well I for one am looking forward to the other camps big news, it should be a pretty heated competition for one-ups this year.

But hopefully we will get some sweet morsels amongst all the half confirmed rumors, new classics, and great sequels lined up. Or maybe it will be the same ol’ same ol’. With a few key players ditching this years expo one has to wonder if E3 is the mighty juggernaut it once was, and if it’s not will they reconsider public attendance?

I once attended what many consider the weakest E3 in Atlanta many, many years ago, and even that was an awe inspiring whirl of marketing and scantily clad femalians all trying to impress the largest collect of nerds and dweebs just north of a Star Trek convention. And really isn’t that who big game companies should be trying to impress? A big blowout show is not needed for the press who already sees this stuff everyday with backstage passes and invites to developers all year long, or the retail buyers who only care about numbers and market research. I say give this event back to the people, hell charge a nominal entrance fee, I’m sure most video game fan boys and small time news bloggers would jump at the chance to see this sort of venue. Look at how well PAX, or comic and sci-fi conventions do.

Well that’s all for now, and if you haven’t done so already go help out Microsoft by clearing out their old inventory at a discounted price, come on, everybody’s doing it.

But in all honesty did anyone have any doubt? I mean Blizzard didn’t get to be one of the biggest players in the PC gaming pantheon by being stupid. As a matter of fact they’re one of a small handful that has had real success in the PC realm and proven that it can be done when done right. Diablo is a landmark franchise, and the first is practically legendary, wasn’t it really more a matter of when, rather than if?

And with talk of a new BIG announcement, that really should have been the only clue needed to figure out it was Diablo 3. WoTLK is already known, Lost Vikings would not be considered BIG news (sorry Viking fans), and not to call the Blizzard devs un-original but they are not know for new franchises. And why should they? If they continue to hold to their solid design, incredible style, and maintain fun-factor they should be able to milk Starcraft, Warcraft and Diablo for a few more iterations.

For all those who stuck by their Diablo vote for the big reveal, give yourself a pat on the back. UR teh W33Nerz!

Who is that company you ask? Easy… McDonalds! Clearly this is a game about a clan of medieval Grimaces who must reclaim their land from an invading army of Fry-kids. To prove my theory I ran the collection of mystery images being trickled via Blizzard through some Mc-filters in a photo program to discover the below exclusive, found only at Thunderpudd.com. Behold and bask in all it’s glory Blizz-fans…

Not that this answers any questions, but it does help add fuel to the fire and should let all you internet sleuths with more time on their hands than I get crackin’ at your wild speculations. Have fun kids

As you may or may not recall EA had some similar issues raping their employees of their labored hours without fair compensation. Those kids stood their ground in court and finally got paid out accordingly, as well as set some standards here in the good ol’ US of A for software giants. Let’s hope that if these Japanese developers and staff are accurate in their claims that the court system will rule in their favor as well.

Or if worse comes to worse, Microsoft of Japan may just have a nice little in house Japanese development studio to help win over the local populace with bouncy fighting games and ninjas.

It appears that some of us who hopped on (get it…) the Wii Fit craze are not giving 110% like we should. So no more Mr Nice Balance Board, and friendly generic trainer for us, now we have fitness guru Jillian Michaels to shame and inspire us to be more beautiful.

Yes kids the first of what could be many celebrity sponsored fitness games is being developed in time for the holiday 2009 season by, we learned are lesson about trying to make anything original-Majesco. Dubbed “Jillian Michaels’ Fitness Ultimatum 2009” the game is said to feature the title character in some virtual form to help us all get the ultimate six-pack abs as opposed to reaching for another six-pack of soda. For those unfamiliar with Jillian, she is a fitness trainer who gained recent fame as one of the pretty people on NBC’s Biggest Loser show who yells at fatties until they cry and lose weight, and occasionally lose weight and cry.

All I know is I can’t wait to pay $30-$50 to have some ripped chick giggle at my jiggle and inspire me to make more use of my Wii Balance Board. Sure she may not be as friendly as that little animated accessory, but how can I trust that a virtual trainer without abs of steel is giving me the right advice anyhow?