So I'm not sure how many people out there have read Daemon or Freedom by Daniel Suarez but this new gaming App for the iPhone from Finnish Developer Grey Area is similar enough to scare the bejesus out of me. It basically creates a gaming world based on your current city, using a combination of GPS and Augmented Reality. It even populates it with enemies and quests and allows for a brand of open world faction based PvP that has you hunting down other people in the real world.

From Massively:

"Gameplay consists of exploring, hunting down rogue spirits, and obtaining new spells as you level. Casting spells is accomplished by drawing rune-like shapes on the iPhone's screen, and players can also join one of two factions and battle other players in the same area of the game world."

This could mark the next step in 'Social Gaming' if it succeeds, and really an evolution of how immersed we're willing to be in a gaming world period.




http://www.greyarealabs.com

Visual Remixers (and by that I mean they create mixes, songs and samples using video clips instead of audio clips) Eclectic Method created an 8Bit mixtape that's pretty awesome.

Eclectic Method - 8 Bit Mixtape from Eclectic Method on Vimeo.

Yesterday, The Old Spice Guy was creating Youtube video responses in real time to Tweets and Facebook questions. Cliff Bleszinski got a reply- and apparently chainsawing faces is more gratifying when done shirtless.

@OldSpice
Youtube

In what I assume is retroactive justification for taking away OtherOs capabilities, I received this email this morning from Sony:

"From time to time, it may become necessary for SCEA to provide certain content to you to ensure that Sony Online Services and content offered through Sony Online Services, your PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, the PSP (PlayStation Portable) system or other SCEA-authorized hardware is functioning properly in accordance with SCEA guidelines.

Some content may be provided automatically without notice when you sign in. Such content may include automatic updates or upgrades which may change your current operating system, cause a loss of data or content or cause a loss of functionalities or utilities."

And if you don't like that? They tacked this on to the end of it:

"If you do not agree with the new Terms of Service and User Agreement or Privacy Policy, please contact Customer Service to terminate your PlayStation(R) Network account(s) and do not visit PlayStation(R) Network or our websites."

So now, if I do not agree to this, not only would I terminate my PSN account, but I am advised not to visit their network or websites.

Playstation Terms of Service and User Agreement V6.0

Microsoft is auctioning off custom made and celebrity signed/skinned Xboxs in celebration of their millionth console being shipped.

"To celebrate the sale of 1 million Xbox 360 consoles across Australia and New Zealand, we’re auctioning off one-of-a-kind consoles to raise funds for the David Peachey Foundation. There will also be a unique Halo console designed by Oscar-winning, Richard Taylor of New Zealand’s Weta Workshop. The winning amount for the Halo console will be matched up to $10,000 by Microsoft New Zealand for a donation to Cure Kids." - Konsoles For Kids

If you don't care for the Halo-and-gunfire themed Xbox shown above, you could always bid on the crystal-studded XBox, or Russel Crowe's Gladiator-Hood Face. (He's so ANGRY.)



Kotaku - Xbox Charity Auction

Bornrich.org - Microsoft celebrates millionth console with limited edition Halo Xbox 360