I couldn’t be any more excited by the hype and hoopla surrounding Ubisoft’s recently released Assassin’s Creed. No matter how the game fairs in the hands of the critical gamers en masse (Dawngrrl Review forthcoming – 2 hrs in!) it is the stunning production value that garners my girly girl attention. That’s right my beloved playfellows, Assasin’s Creed was produced by the stunning Jade Raymond, a chic chick; a smart, swanky, sexy gamer grrl!

Apparently, one summer found her indoors where she diddled a controller day in and day out, the result of which was a drive to make games herself.  Raymond went on to get a computer science degree from McGill University in Quebec, and her first job was programming games for Sony. A few years later, she moved into a producer role at EA, and she has since been producing games. “She’s French-Canadian. Somedays, she’s mostly Canadian and can be quite pleasant. Today, she’s obviously French.” Name that movie?  How much French vs. Canadian influence goes into her career may be a mystery, but the work she produces certainly puts her in the same arena as the testosterone filled influential of the gaming world, and all I can say to that is “Bravo honey!”

Raymond spends most of her surf time on Engadget, Bluesnews and Gamespot and her tube time shared between Lost, Alias, 24, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and Six Feet Under. While I found her list of game favs a bit narrow (Resident Evil 4, Prince of Persia Sands of Time, Intelligent Cube, Tekken 3, Incredible Crisis, PaRappa the Rappa, Zelda: Ocarina of Time), I can admit to a love of Resident Evil and Price of Persia myself, and only wonder if Assasins Creed will make it on that list. 

There has been lots of press around this pretty poppet and along with it some vulgar comics of her slob knobbing some nasties. I can’t say I am surprised, in fact, it’s almost a rite of passage, or a hazing so to speak. She made it to a niche place in the gaming world, and being rewarded with pornographic reference material is par at best. My guess is that she’ll get over it, I certainly would. Ubisoft has her back, and hell, maybe she’ll get to date the Master Chief or Altair himself. 

Gamer girls are not all sitting around in sweatshirts, ponytails, and converse high tops.  We wear make up, like shiny things, cry at sad movies and still love to blow things up with a grenade launcher.  Jade Raymond is a perfect example; she’s hot, girly, and she plays (and produces) video games.  That is what makes this honey my crush of the month!

Kiss Kiss

Dawngrrl Gametart

Boy Genius asked me if I was singing a different tune in the console wars since my new addiction, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, released for the PS3.   It’s so much fun and visually awesome - by far the best looking game I’ve played.   Give me NGS for all the consoles though and I think I would still play on it on the 360.  Though I am admittedly curious to see a comparison of game that good, i.e., if it’s the harnessing of the PS3’s potential or if the 360 can pull off a game that spectacular looking as well.  Notorious hardware failures aside - I’m still whistling dixie about the Xbox.  Live simply has no competitor and the controller is entirely comfortable contrary to PS3’s under weighted Sixaxis thats far too small to hold comfortably.  

PS3 Lowers price - Still the top wallet muncher!

The PS3 drops a benjamin but still holds the highest tag of the trio.  The 80GB console bundled with Motorstorm (One of the better I’ve played on the PS3) is supposed to be available here in August for the low low price of just $599.  You can only buy 3 Wii’s for that.    

Microsoft does too love the little people!

Even though all you little ankle biters are out there shouting conspiracy (again) about how they knew the boxes were faulty and should have delayed RTM, I am sending a Gametart kiss & kudos to Redmond for stepping up. That’s right folks, MS has extended its warranty on the 360 to 3 years post purchase due to the infamous Red Ring of Death (three flashing lights indicating a hardware failure).  As a side note: whoever you are that named the blue screen of death and now the red ring of death please get outside for some sunshine and leave the comic book macabre mentality in the dark place.

Chick WOW Player gets popped for relationship with 17 year old!

No kiddng.  The 31 year old Austrailian woman, Tamara Boone (left) met her beloved boy somewhere in the wide world of warcraft.  She flew to the states, North Carolina where the 17 year old minor lived with his parents, to pick up her boy toy and return to the outback.  The folks didnt like the idea of their son MIA and called the cops who arrested Tamara at the train station with a US Postal Worker (huh?).  She gets charged with child abduction and thrown behind bars.  Sigh.  Young love. 

What box do you fit in?

Tor Thorsen for Gamespot.com reports on industry standard research that sections us out into six sub categories of gamers and estimates who is wielding the spending sword: Avid PC Gamers, Secondary Gamers, Avid Console Gamers, Casual Kid Gamers, Heavy Gamers, Mass Market Gamers.

“Although they make up just 2 percent of the gaming public, “Heavy Gamers” own an average of 2.8 consoles and 1.9 portables. They play a whopping 39.3 hours a week, mainly on the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii, and buy a budget-busting average of 13.1 games every quarter–or roughly 4.5 games each month.”

According to this, BG and I are heavy gamers because we buy 4 or 5 titles a month and have all the systems, though its been a long time since I plugged in for 39 plus hours in a week.  Maybe during the teenage years of my Horde warriors life, but that’s even pushing it.  Interesting article though.  After looking at these numbers, I feel pretty good about my game to life balance, but a little concerned on the game to checkbook balance …Eeeek!

Kiss Kiss

Dawngrrl Gametart

It was never a matter of “if”.  Acquiring the elusive but necessary third party to complete boy genius’ entertainment system has always been a matter of “when”.  We were just stopping to pick up a few things while we were out, perhaps check out any games or DVD’s on sale, when from behind me I heard the words “Oh my god they have one.” in a very familiar voice.  I turned and looked at the bottom shelf and sure enough, the angels sang and a bright light shone down from the heavens landing smack on the gleaming white, and very solo, Wii gaming system. 

It was by far the least expensive of the big three, and as you can see, the smallest.  I am a 360 junkie without a doubt for lots of reasons, and not just a sense of loyalty.  It’s technically sound, it’s interface it intuitive and customizable per gamer, the online community is very slick and the games and graphics are awesome.  I don’t think the PS3 can even compare, even if it wasn’t the most expensive of the  bunch.  Ahhh but the Wii, the compact, inexpensive non HD Wii, has an uber fun sense of style with a sense of humor to match. 

The Wiimote could be the coolest thing since sliced bread, it’s like an air mouse, that somehow has remarkable accuracy. The interface is hilarious, clean, super intuitive and combined with the Wiimote makes things like typing, registering, browsing the web etc, very easy as compared to the XBOX and PS3 style of virtual keyboard input.  Everything you have heard or read about how fun Wii sports is, is flat out true.  I wont go into each sport, but take a look at my “Mii” (The Mii is the virtual representation of yourself.)  in the bowling game.  In one short 3 letter word .. fun!  I’ll get back to you on Zelda, The Twighlight Princess, as soon as I can distract BG enough to snake the Wiimote. 

kiss kiss,

Dawngrrl Gametart

From a recent article on Wired:

“According to a survey conducted by Gametart, a game rental service in the UK, chicks who game get more lovin’ than those who don’t. Out of a sample of 200 ladies (or should that be “laid-ees”?), the ones who gamed got, erm, fragged 1.1 more times a week than those who didn’t.”

“It’s official – women who play video games have sex more often! Gametart, the UK’s largest online games rental company, carried out the survey throughout January to see how the recent influx of the likes of Pink PSPs and DS Lites would affect gamers’ sex lives across the country.”

The rest of the article can be read at http://blog.wired.com/games/2007/02/female_gamers_h.html

I won’t confirm if this happy little factoid is true for me or not, but I will say this: Last year BG introduced me to Word of Warcraft, for Xmas he bought me a DS, for Valentines Day hebought me the Burning Crusades…  SUPAHFLY!

And here I thought they figured us for being too into our video games to stop and get a little jiggy.  Damn good thing us chick gamers are so good at multitasking.  And Gametart?  Seriously, that’s my new last name!

Kiss Kiss,
Dawngrrl Gametart

It wasnt exactly boredom, there were other territorties to quest through, other realms to explore. Yet there I sat, in STV, full of lush green foliage, exotic plants and animals, surrounded by tropical waters, and filled with a plethera of quests, and I just didnt want to leave. It seemed like there was always something to do, always somewhere to go, and my little blue skinned dead warrior girl was happy. Until all the quests were completed, and all signs pointed to leave my beloved paradise. There I stayed, for almost 2 months, wandering aimlessly around Booty Bay, so close to a Lvl 45 I could taste it, but incabable of doing anything about it.

Last week, I found myself in need of a sword fight and finally brought down Mok, my final STV target. I stopped at the weapons trader and repaired my gear, packed my things, picked up a few more healing potions at the auction, and I waved goodbye to my beloved homeland. With a quick stop in Tanaris, I found myself in the Swamp of Sorrows with a new and exciting load of quests! I’ve been running along the dark coast tusseling those nasty murlocs, snappers, and crawlers. Last night, my tenacity was rewarded with the beating down of gold light that surrounded me and in a flash I was 46.

I think I got my warrior groove back now, and I am going to find new lands to comb and new horizons to explore! I am going to try and tempt BG to come grind with me and burn it up towards the crusades even if it’s just to be able to say, “We were there!” , “We did it!”, “We saved the world!”…..of warcraft!

For the Horde!

Kiss Kiss,
Dawngrrl