The Powet Community is reeling from the midnight screenings, and more of us will be seeing The Dark Knight this weekend. Join in the Batman: The Dark Knight discussion after you see the movie. Spoilers will be filling the thread soon, so don’t peek until you been there. Trust me. Don’t wait. Skip lunch for a week to save money if you have to, but see this. Batman Begins sat atop my own personal list of favorite comic movies and this delivers far greater a story and performances. The Dark Knight is the flick to beat this summer. Sorry Iron Man, Sorry Hulk, Sorry Indy. We had fun, but you can’t kill the Batman.

The Dark Knight Thread (spoilers)

Button Mashing is old and busted. Drumming is the new hotness!
[Read the rest of this entry…]

This is the latest in Powet Editor Zac Shipley’s series on video game culture in Madison, WI for TheDailyPage.

Games + Learning + Society brings massive multiplayer world to life in Madison
by Zac Shipley

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama mentioned in a speech on Father’s Day that kids need to put down the video game controllers and pick up books. His message was clearly that while a book can be educational, playing a game is not. However, at the Games+Learning+Society Conference this week at Monona Terrace, hundreds of people working at the intersection of gaming and learning have worked to prove not only that games can be educational, but that many already are.
Continue Reading…

If you missed out on the original SNES game or the Playstation re-release, you’ll be given a new chance this holiday season to get your hands on one of the best games ever made, period.

Square has seen fit to re-release Chrono Trigger. Sounds like they’ll be tossing in a ‘new dungeon’ as well as modifying the game to make use of the dual screens and some touch commands. But, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it: They won’t make it a 3D conversion like some of the recent Final Fantasy games on DS. This video above is from the Playstation version. No word if those new anime cut scenes will survive to the new DS version, but all are available on youtube if you’re clever.

If you never played Chrono Trigger, and there are a lot of you, then know this: its the only Japanese RPG I ever played, and I played it enough to see all the endings, including the very hard one. Its the classic story of boy meets girl, girl falls into time warp, boy saves girl, robot punches dinosaur, world falls into peril, magic kingdom summons alien, etc, etc. But its really fun with engaging combat options that do away with random battles and grinding, as well attacks that combine character abilities, and enough time travel puzzles to make Marty McFly’s head spin.
Join us in our forums to talk about what you loved about the game, or leave a comment asking us what the fuss is about.

Official press release follows
[Read the rest of this entry…]

The latest in my series for TheDailyPage/Isthmus Newspapers profiling Madison, WI’s gaming scene.
This entry focuses on Jimmy Choi’s efforts to keep Soul Calibur and the spirit of the arcade alive.

Read on: Reclaiming Madison gaming camaraderie with Soul Calibur tournaments

See also: CaliburForum and Madison SC Community

Good News: Nintendo Power has confirmed that Mega Man 9 is not only a reality, but coming to WiiWare as a retro-awesome throwback to the NES days. The BBPS has scans straight out of the magazine showing the series has abandoned all Zs and Xs and visual upgrades.
But lets dial back a bit: The original leak from the Austrailian ratings board a month or so ago said Mega Man 9 had been rated as a “multiplatform” title. Capcom’s comment? “NP only has part of the story. More to be learned later.” Capcom’s hearty support of Microsoft and Sony’s download services with Street Fight HD Remix, Wold Of The Battlefield, and Bionic Commando suggest they’re not above sharing this with all consoles.
I suppose you want to know who the new robot masters are and I’ll tell you: Magma Man, Galaxy Man, Jewel Man, Concrete Man, Hornet Man, Plug Man, Tornado Man, and Splash Woman.
I just hope the music is up to par.

George Carlin, one of the greatest and most prolific comedic minds of all time has died. He stayed on stage until the end, releasing his final HBO special March 1. He was 71.
I hope he rests in peace, but given the content of his comedy, you know he’s not in heaven or hell.

Following the break, his most famous routine: The Seven Words You Can’t Say on Television. Obviously, don’t watch these videos at work. Join us in the forums and share your favorite George Carlin routine. [Read the rest of this entry…]

Sean Orange and Zac Shipley ponder the future of Marvel entertainment after being blown away by the new Hulk!
[Read the rest of this entry…]