Introducing the PlayStation Move: Sony’s shameless Wii knock-off

Do I really need to say anything? Sony just re-revealed their PlayStation motion device, now officially called the PlayStation Move. The device is in every way a clone of the Wii, and what that system did three and a half years ago, sans class, innovation, and aesthetic appeal.

Sony plans to underwhelm audiences this holiday season with Wii rip-offs like Sports Champions (you can probably guess what that title apes). Expect a package including a PS Eye (needed for this new device), PlayStation Move, and a game to retail for under $100. Bits and pieces of that package will also be available for lesser amounts.

The nunchuck attachment, which you can see alongside the Move pictured above, will be sold separately, and is called the PlayStation Move Subcontroller. Not kidding. Does Sony genuinely believe the casual audience which has embraced the Wii is in any way interested, or even capable of pronouncing, the “PlayStation Move Subcontroller”?

Image source: NeoGAF

Sources: engadget, IGN

The Dungeon: Nerd Olympics 2010 part 4/4

RUMOR: Katy Perry to voice Smurfette

Rumor has it that famed girl-kisser Katy Perry is in talks to voice the sole female Smurf, Smurfette, in the upcoming live-action/CG-animated major motion picture The Smurfs.

Hey, if that’s true, I can’t disagree with the choice, although the very concept of a CG Smurfs movie scares me more than a little. Consider this: the original Smurfs were pretty friendly looking guys when they were simple 2D animations, but what would they look like as detailed 3D renders? Maybe it’s just the more carefully illustrated Smurfette images I just dredged up on Google Image search still haunting me, but I can’t picture these things being anything other than bulging blue abominations.

Perry would join Alan Cumming, George Lopez, and original Smurf-voicer Jonathan Winters as a Smurf, along with whatever human Neil Patrick Harris is signed up to play. No word on who will be playing Gargamel yet.

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Distributing violent video games gets you 3-5 in Venezuela

Following his pronouncement earlier this year that “those games they call ‘PlayStation’ are poison… some games teach you to kill,” Venezuela’s socialist president has returned for another round of game-hating.

Last Wednesday, a new law came into effect in his country called the “Prohibition of Violent Video Games and Toys,” and it pretty much precludes anyone from having any fun in Venezuela. Here are some of the new law’s highlights:

1. Violent video games: Video games or programs that can be use on personal computers, arcade systems, video game consoles, portable devices or mobile telephones, or any other electronic or telephonic device, that contain information or images that promote or incite violence and the use of weapons.

2. Violent toys: Objects or instruments that in form mimic any kind of weapon used by the National Bolivarian Armed Forces, weapons of war used by any other nation, citizen or state security forces, as well as those that, though not promoting war, establish the kind of game that stimulates aggressiveness or violence.

Article 13. Those who in any way promote the purchase or use of violent toys or video games as defined by this law will be punished with a fine of between 2,000 and 4,000 tax units.

Article 14. Those who import, manufacture, sell, rent, or distribute violent toys or video games will be punished with 3 to 5 years in prison.

This law seems rather broad. In addition to violent video games, it sounds like kids won’t have access to any kind of toy guns or toys with guns. Mr. Hugo Chavez must not have had a childhood.

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