So instead of hacking to compromise security, the next best way is call the cops. This new modus is being used to wreak havoc on the lives of XBox Live ‘enforcers’. They’re basically the men and women (Microsoft employees) who make sure cheaters on the XBox Live network are punished. Now the cheaters are fighting back with prank messages to local authorities who answer the distress calls by sending over SWAT to a designated house.

The most publicized hoax so far involved Eric Neustadter, whose house was surrounded by SWAT at four in the morning. They were responding to a text message that claimed armed Russians had staged a home invasion and hurt Neustadter’s son.

Fortunately nothing serious happened and the whole brouhaha subsided when police were able to get in touch with Neustadter himself.

The Neustadter siege happened n August 29. Prior that reports were already c ... Read more »

f the experience leaves you traumatized, don’t complain of not having been warned. So what’s this Drawastickman.com website? It’s a gaming experience that will mess with your mind. As its name suggests, the interface lets you draw a stick figure then–how about just go visit the site and discover its wonders?

The illustration above is already quite a revelation. Anyway, if you still don’t want it to be spoiled, then by all means give it a go.

If you’re just plain curious (spoiler alert!), here’s what happens when you take on Drawastickman.com:

First, simple instructions compel you to draw a stick figure (or any shape) with your cursor. Long story short, there’s a box, a balloon, a dragon, and a couple of sharks.

Weird? it will mess on your grip with reality. What’s the point? Something to do with being creative.

So yeah, if you’re really bored and craving di ... Read more »

Valve has today announced that they are pushing the release of their new DotA 2 forward considerably and now are hoping to get a beta released launched "as fast as possible”. Valve are now going to take the current version of Dota 2, which has The International set of heroes, and release a beta version as soon as possible to more players.

Valve explains:

"Our original plan was to spend the next year or so in beta, adding new features and slowly growing the number of heroes until we reached a level of parity with Dota 1, at which point we’d release Dota 2 to the world” - ”But the feedback we’re seeing everywhere is that people just want to play it, even though there’s still a ton of heroes yet to be implemented. We’ve also seen that the folks who are already in the beta are chomping at the bit to show everyone else some of the fun games they’ve ha ... Read more »

If you like a good first person shooter (FPS) game but find the use a guns a little boring now, a new FPS game currently in development called Warco allows you to engage in the action using a video camera to shoot the action rather than a rifle.

In Warco instead of securing bases or capturing strongholds or flags, the game provides various scenarios each with its own objectives along the line of  story leads. Which you then need to capture in the most compelling way using your trusty video recorder, without getting shot or injured. Watch a demo of the new Warco game after the jump.

Warco is being developed by Tony Maniaty, an Australian journalist who’s experienced with reporting from war-torn areas. He’s teamed with filmmaker Robert Connolly and games studio Defiant Development. The idea of the new game is definitely different but I not sure how a multiplayer mode would work.

... Read more »

Not much of a backstory for this odd pic. Apparently someone at reddit posted it up, claiming his dad received the statue for a 20 year stint at Nintendo. Pretty sweet. Did the dad get a raise too? Unknown. But it sure is a fine way to appreciate employees, giving them free swag and all.

If our eyesight doesn’t fail us, engraved on the base is "Thank You For 20 years…” can’t make out the rest though it must be glowing gratitude. There’s also a tiny plaque below it.

The recipient of this impressive Super Mario statuette is allegedly a senior manager at Nintendo and joined the gaming giant in 1991. Now that’s a career, ladies and gentlemen.

Maybe it would also be sensible to give out statuettes when firing people so that the sting isn’t so cold and impersonal. Oh wait, sounds like a terrible idea. Our bad.

Source ... Read more »

A new trailer released on the Xbox Marketplace website today has revealed that a new demo of the highly anticipated racing game Forza Motorsport 4 will be arriving on October 3rd.

Forza Motorsport 4 is a racing video game currently in development by Turn 10 Studios for the Xbox

360. It will be the fourth instalment in the Forza Motorsport series. You can view the new Forza 4 –

Making of the Bernese Alps trailer in full HD after the jump, which reveals the new demo’s arrival date.

Unfortunately no demo details are revealed in the new trailer but it does show a little of how much work

has gone into creating the new game and s ... Read more »

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play android 2.3.4 Gingerbread update is scheduled to be launched next month, and now it looks like the update will bring a new feature to the Xperia Play which has yet to be announced by Sony Ericsson.

The Xperia Play in its current form is capable of recording video at a 800 x 480 resolution, but now it would appear that Android 2.3.4 will add the ability to record HD video in 720p.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Play android 2.3.4 Gingerbread update is scheduled to be launched next month, and now it looks like the update will bring a new feature to the Xperia Play which has yet to be announced by Sony Ericsson.

The Xperia Play in its current form is capable of recording video at a 800 x 480 resolution, but now it would appear that Android 2.3.4 will add the ability to record HD video in 720p.

The guys over at the ... Read more »

Today Cyanide have released a new official launch trailer for its new Game of Thrones – Genesis PC game which is set to launch next week. The Game of Thrones title is an adaptation of the bestseller series "A Song of Ice and Fire” by George R.R. Martin which has also been made into a TV series.

The new PC game allows players to engage in battles to shape the Kingdom of Westeros, but not only through military conquest, as Genesis also gives you the option to use cunning diplomacy or brutal economic tactics to win.

"Plunge into the heart of the continent of Westeros for a minute, while a Targaryen king is preparing to battle the Houses seeking to claim his Iron Throne. From the kingdom of Dorne in the South, to Winterfell and the famous Wall in the North, many will be the people he will have to subject to his rule. Military conquests, treachery, or diplomac ... Read more »

If you are thinking of upgrading to a Sony PS Vita gaming console but were worried that you might not be able to join in the fun with your other friends if they stick with their PSP consoles. You will be pleased to know that the Sony PSP and PS Vita consoles will be able to play and talk together with out a problem via the Ad-Hoc mode.

So you can now download the same games on to both consoles and play in Ad-Hoc mode. Even though Ad-Hoc games are not quite as abundant in the west as they are in Japan at the moment.

But you can expect a number of new games to make it more accessible especially with respect to the multiplayer hunting genre and now with the PS Vita region free more games will be available to play worldwide. Just ma ... Read more »

Earlier today the highly anticipated Diablo III beta started for a lucky chosen few, who have now been able to test out the new game.

But don’t worry if you haven’t received a beta invite via email in the first wave of invites as Blizzard is

still issuing invites to selected participants in future waves.

If you are still waiting for the illusive beta invite there are a few videos after the jump that should

keep you going, including some Witch Doctor’s beta gameplay. Enjoy!

If you are looking to keep up to date on all news related to Diablo 3 and haven’t yet

check it out, Blizzard ha ... Read more »