Games and gear

Did this geek spend 11 months filming a stop-motion arcade tribute?

It's good to have hobbies. Some people just have more unusual hobbies than others. Michael Birken says he spent 11 months playing with Post-it notes. He wasn't writing memos or reminders, he was sticking them on the wall to create an elaborate stop-motion video tribute to his favorite classic games. He calls it Post-it Note Arcade.

The video includes footage of both Ms. Pac-Man and Mario. Birken says he recorded actual gameplay footage and then printed the images out, one frame at a time, to replicate on the walls around his office. He spent holidays and weekends posting the little pieces of paper up and filming the results. It's probably just as well his co-workers didn't have to witness this madness.… Read more

Rumor Has It: Apple getting serious about games?

This week, some old-time rumors reared their heads.

Rumors of a Facebook phone resurfaced after a rather cryptic invite went out last week to "Come see our new home on Android." What could it mean?

Amazon has something secret up its sleeve -- possibly. A former Windows Phone exec recently stated on his LinkedIn profile that he's working on something "secret" and "wonderful." Could Amazon finally be letting its Amazon phone cat out of the bag? Let's hope not.

And finally, not to be outdone, Apple supposedly held some secret meetings at the Game Developers Conference … Read more

The 404 1,241: Where we rip from the rich and seed to the poor (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- The first call from a cell phone was made 40 years ago today.

- The Verge interviews Marty Cooper, father of the cell phone.

- Recalling 1993: Step back 20 years in NYC's past.

- Catching up with the TV show release group responsible for recording, distributing torrents.… Read more

Rockstar reveals GTA V box art

The Grand Theft Auto V machine seems to be shifting gears as we slowly climb toward that mid-September launch date.

After the second official trailer hit the Web, fans eager for more information on the next GTA title found themselves twiddling their thumbs with just a slow trickle of screenshots to slake their thirst. … Read more

The 404 1,240: Where we celebrate Aunt Jill's annivorcery (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Goldman CEO Blankfein: Equality is good business.

- Subscribe to Jill's podcast on iTunes and send your questions to askjill@jillonmoney.com.

- Follow Jill Schlesinger on Twitter.… Read more

Video games meet Little Golden Books

We've seen some pretty gosh-darn adorable fan art, but L.A.-based illustrator Joey Spiotto's take on Skyrim, Portal, and BioShock takes the biscuit.

Using the art of classic Little Golden Books, Spiotto (aka Joebot) has managed to visually explain the affection and nostalgia that gamers will have for these game titles in the years to come.

"As the sun sets on this current generation of video games, I've been thinking about some of the classic games that people will still (hopefully) point to years from now and hold them up as games that made a … Read more

The 404 1,239: Where we swear we're not cops (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- In Jeff's words, April Fool's is a day for unfunny people to tell jokes. With that, I'm pretty sure this prank was posted two weeks early.

- The OPMOD/ThinkGeek Battle Mug: an elegant drink receptacle for a more civilized age.

- Boston police go undercover online to stop DIY punk shows.

- Latest Japanese schoolgirl trend: Fake Dragon Ball attacks.

- Walmart may get customers to deliver packages to online buyers.

- Sales of twin-size beds drop as Tweens demand bigger beds...for their tablets.… Read more

The 404 1,238: Where we open up for Bayside (podcast)

Leaked from today's 404 episode:

- Listen to the music of Bayside and check them out at one of their upcoming shows.

- Nick's clothing label is called Born and Bred, and 404 listeners can save 20 percent off all merchandise with code BB404.

- Follow Nick Ghanbarian and Born and Bred on Twitter

Episode 1,238

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Apple again said to be planning game hardware

Apple is once again rumored to be planning a game controller.

Citing developer sources, Pocket Gamer says Apple has been floating the idea of a physical controller to developers at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, which wraps up today. The publication adds that such a device would be unveiled at a press event next month.

Pocket Gamer's report says Apple actually has a space reserved at the show for meeting with developers, but that it's using a false name to fly under the radar.

An Apple spokesman declined to comment on the report, citing company policy.… Read more