Internet allows blind man to experience life’s greatest joy: playing Ocarina of Time

The Worldwide Leader in News, CNN, has just broken the story that blind gamer Jordan Verner has been able to beat the second greatest game ever, Ocarina of Time, with help from some internet friends. CNN, apparently aware of the transcendent experience that is OoT, correctly decided the story was worthy of publishing in the most prominent portion of their site.

The story begins with one of Verner’s internet assistants, Roy Williams, demonstrating what it’s like to play the N64 classic without sight. He then quickly admits that such a task may seem “ultra nerdy,” but it is quickly revealed that his efforts are for a truly grand cause. Williams, along with two others, spent two years writing explicit instructions for every move required to beat Ocarina without being able to see. Verner took their instructions, and had his computer read them out to him, so that he might experience the glory of what Huffington Post affectionately refers to as “the Zelda.”

[source]

The Dungeon: Nerd Olympics 2010 part 3/4

Activision fires creative talent, preps for thorough Call of Duty rape

Not satisfied with the rape and subsequent death of their Tony Hawk and Guitar Hero brands, games publisher and evil empire Activision has unleashed a plan that will see their Call of Duty series destroyed in a similar fashion.

Yesterday, the company fired Jason West and Vince Zampella, the two lead developers at Call of Duty‘s main development house, Infinity Ward. Apparently, the two disappeared early in the day, and Activision sent “bouncer-types” to police their former studio. The bouncers were probably there to keep the pair out, but then again, maybe they were sent to intimidate everyone who was left.

Activision’s official reasoning: “The Company is concluding an internal human resources inquiry into breaches of contract and insubordination by two senior employees at Infinity Ward.” My best guess is that West and Zampella were focused on the long term health and creative growth of the franchise, a direct contradiction to Activision’s entire business strategy.

Following the firing, Activision immediately announced their plans for destroying their own cash cow. Another CoD game will come out in 2011 from an unnamed developer, and yet another game, this one being of the action-adventure genre, will also be released at some point. Activision also hopes to bring CoD to Asia.

If you have any doubts about the company’s level of evil, have a look at the piercing eyes and devious grin of Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, pictured above.

Sources: Kotaku, Kotaku