We Be the Crew.
Whoa! Philip's computer crashed. This explains why there was no update Thursday. Ice Blue made a phone call to Philip to talk things over. He hopes to be back on Monday. He will have to reformat his entire hard drive (ack!) and there was pretty important stuff on there... nevertheless we will make it through this. Oh, try and guess this album reference... hehe...-AKP-

Ice Blue: Philip's comp died.
Infinity_Yak: My computer died in October, and I lost everything back then. I was back in less than a week ;) Here's to a quick reformat!
 

Grabbing Hands.
Sales of violent games in 1999 went down from past years. Do gamers now feel more guilty for their addiction to violent games? Naw. It's just because of Pokémon. And Donkey Kong. Pokémon, as you know, accounted for about $355 million of the gaming sales in the US last year. ($80 million from Pokémon Blue alone.) So, since most gamers were buying Pokémon instead of, say, Duke Nukem, sales of games with Mature ratings dropped from 2.6 mil in 1998 to only 1.2 mil in 1999. That's well over half of a decrease in sales... Most politicians, developers, retailers, and other important people will use these statistics to say that gamers in the United States aren't nearly as interested in violent games anymore, when the fact is that the most popular games, such as Donkey Kong 64 ($86.4 million in sales, 1.4 million copies sold), just happened to be top-sellers in 1999. Make sure to mail your favorite developers and retailers and tell them that you are still interested in violent games. Sure, we all enjoy Pokémon once in awhile, but great games like Resident Evil and Tomb Raider, shouldn't be cancelled or delayed simply because developers think we're not interested. And also, we have to make sure that retailers will keep plenty of copies of these games on the shelves.-AKP-

Ice Blue: AKP... "Ass-Kicking Pikachu" comes to mind.
Foy: Foy! (Special Edition album references tonight if you didn't know...)
Infinity_Yak: Get real politicians, video games don't kill kids, lame kids kill kids. The only person who ever died because of video games was this guy who had a heart attack while playing an intense berzerk session. Arrest the machine, and start doing the jobs taxpayers pay you money to do!
Adrock: Stupid Taxpayers! Oh, wait... that's us isn't it... damn...

Munch munch munch...
The Jazzman eats pellets... er... he reviews Pac-Man, Special Color Edition. Also, Neovid (dramatic music) writes his (GASP) fifth MST.
Click on the green guys before they lay the proverbial smack down. -JPC-

 

No Monkey Rap Here
Be honest, how many of you hate it when you have a giant monkey throwing objects at you.
(Everyone raises their hands)
Long ago, Donkey Kong used to actually be the bad guy. A delicious reader sent me this link. A perfect translation of the old Game and Watch, Donkey Kong. Java-lized for your protection. -JPC-
Don't have too much fun.

 

Talk to the hand
pokemonabode.com updated. Why do I care? Because we're hosting thier new chat, that's why! The Pokemon Abode becomes the 4th sight to empoly the use of #blue. So crack your knuckles, drink some alcohol, and get ready to suck up to the big boys, in person. -JPC-
(Warning, Pokemon Abode requires the use of Shockwave Flash)

Is this thing on?
This isn't something I'd normally do... but I'll let you in on a little secret. The combined minds of Philip Wesley and the Jazzman bring you (they flash their Captian Planet rings) the DMG Ice Cartography! No, it's not a medical procedure, it's a (soon to be) feature. It's not finished yet. So don't complain about how ugly it is, or how few games there are. This is just to get some feedback. Take a look, get the general idea of it, and send in some suggestions. -JPC-
Fear it.

Now I have to repair their damage...
Well, I'm back! I got my computer on-line again. Brilliant. Almost all restored to that former shine and now my computer is not as "dippy" as it was before. I have more space, a better sound card, better stuff all around! (Although.. eventually... I need to replace my horrible CD-ROM drive.) In a somewhat ironic manner; I present to you my review for Survival Kids! As well as a nice update to The Bin and the iMuse. The Bin updated with a reader review of Red Alarm for the Virtual Boy by Robb and a review of Sonic The Hedgehog: Pocket Adventure for the Neo Geo Pocket Color by myself. Snowflake updated as well... it would have updated more; but it was kind of.. delayed. Anyways, take a look at those reviews. Oh, the Survival Kids review has the unusual distinction of being the largest review in file size at 17 KB. Remember; these are TEXT files. No KB clutter. Just 17.2 Kbs of words. This review is now the biggest review on the site. And will probably remain that way.. until someone writes an awesome and long review that beats 17 KBs in size. The previous "Biggest Review" was 15.4 KBs and it was my review on Pokémon (Red/Blue). -PAW-

Jazzman: I have some rather large reviews myself. Take a gander at my R-Type DX. *Jazzman struts around like he's some kinda big shot.*
Philip: But he still must die. ;)

Extend Game.
Umm.. small update to the Resident Evil for GBC preview. Just the box art, and a few screenshots we missed before. Oh, Konai started a "Bemani" website. I want to see the Bemani GB 1st and 2nd mixes in the USA. Click on the dancing green person to see the website and then click on CONTACT to see information on how to find phone numbers for Konami of America. Call and demand. The game requires a bare minimum of translation; because it is mostly in English and the GBC games are cool. Do it. Go... now. -PAW-

Jazzman: No, my finger hurts.
Philip: Please don't tell me why..

Just a reminder!
Until MARCH 15th; Burger King can give you free small fries for your Pokéballs. So remember! You have until MARCH 15th to turn in your balls to Burger King. It's okay to give them your balls. You get small fries for doing this. -PAW-

Philip: The rest of the staff doesn't seem to be responding or on-line.. weird.. *pulls out a box* Sock Monkey, GO!
Sockey Monkey sits there silently thinking Sock Monkey thoughts.

NPD TRST is umm.. funny.
Okay, I couldn't think of a good joke for them this time. Just click it.. okay? It's for January 9th to January 15th, 2000 and it will surprise you. -PAW-

Jazman: Why did the NPD TRST cross the road?
Philip: I don't know.. but it sounds scary.
Sock Monkey sits there silently thinking Sock Monkey thoughts.

Stacked Actors
4Kids and Rare are together now... why? Goodness.... well.. to represent Jet Force Gemini and Perfect Dark. Both of which will be on the Game Boy Color later this year. This means, T-Shirts, stickers, books, maybe even soundtrack CDs and a cartoon. Admit it.. you would watch a Jet Force Gemini cartoon. LCI will handle those type of tv/movie rights and we can only hope. Who will be Lara Croft? Who cares! I wanna know who will be Joanna Dark! -PAW-
Ice Blue: Perfect Dark and 4Kids?  Isn't that an oxymoron?
Adrock: Hopefully we won't see anything in the form of... Conker cartoons.
Jazzman: Joanna! I choose you!
 

Learn to fly
We have worms. Or rather one of our readers named Armacham does. Worms Armageddon that is. Does Armacham like it? Does Bruce Willis die in it? Oh, just read the review. And the very kawaii Mew Barrymore returns to give us a look at Castellian. What's Castellian? Well... it has a mutant frog. Mutant Frogs is special. -PAW-

Ice Blue: Philip has worms... I have blue virii...
Philip: That's funny... oh! I hired someone new today! Here's that Little Cuban Boy!
Little Cuban Boy: I wanna go home.. you scare me.
 

Gimme Stitches
The incredible Josh Nickerson has made me into a comic strip character! Wow. I'm both flattered and scared. Anyways, it's cool. Check it out! Umm.. click below on it to see it! Yeah! Awesome! Other Adjectives! Yippee! Gratuitous Exclamatory Words! Umm.. clicky clicky. -PAW-

Ice Blue: How does he know what you look like (to draw you)?  o_O
Charlie Brown: Good Grief.
Philip: The Snowflake updated.

Two for the road.
Boxxle and Double Dragon 2 get written up by a reader named Ryu Hayabusa. Well, you know the drill. Two new Reader Reviews. Umm. Yeah! Sorry.... slow news night. Mmkay! Not too funny tonight; oh, well. Umm.. why not take a look at this thing I made a while back by clicking HERE. I don't remember if I showed it to anyone. But it is funny. -PAW-

Adrock: Hehe... this Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen game is so cool... I forgot how fun playing "fetch the game" with my dog was.
Jazzman: You mean this isn't a coaster....?
Philip lifts up his glass: My bad..

Killing game
Album references tonight! A tough one.. see if you can guess. Once again, there is bad news. The Pokéballs of death have struck yet again. The second death to be caused by the Red and White balls from the Burger King Big Kids Meals -which are made in three sizes- occured Tuesday. This time, it was a FOUR-MONTH old boy named Zachary Jones in Indianapolis, Indiana. Apparently, half of the toy ball was in the childs crib. May I cuss here? Okay, fine. But what the HECK was that thing doing in the childs CRIB? I mean, honestly. The first death was a 13-Month girl in Sonora, California last year in December. Like, I mentioned before; please take the balls AWAY from children under 3 (DUH!) and to your local Burger King. For your participation; you will recieve a FREE order of SMALL FRIES. You can do this until March 15th, 2000. If you are a complete idiot and don't know what to do after seeing all the signs (In two languages) or hearing about it on the RADIO, and the TV NEWS. Call 1-800-775-0625 and get smart. Oh, and on a last minute thing.. looky what Pokémon Abode picked up! That's my kinda trade.. okay.. forget I said that. -PAW-
Infinity_Yak:  I have always claimed that Pokemon would somehow cause deaths.  With the seizures in the TV show, and these pokeballs of death, what can be next?
Philip: The marbles debut soon.
Random Blue Virus: PokéPlague...
Ice Blue: Woo... small fries for giving back an item that might be worth a lot in a few years.
 

Knowhere?
Hey. Don't get e-screwed. A diligent reader pointed this out. After all, we can't expect EAGB to catch/expose all the bad guys can we? I mean, seriously, we at DMG Ice want to go "solve some crimes" too. So.. avoid these auctions, those games don't exist/and or are "cracks". You know, those un-nifty little things like that copy of "Sonic the Hedgehog" which is just a Sonic sprite in the game "Speedy Gonzales". Avoid. And if you want to see how very EASY it is to make a fake game picture.. I added a link to last years April Fools joke. --PAW-
"Fake... "
"Fake"
"Easy to do.."

Infinity_Yak:  With a title like "Super Donkey Kong 5" Can you really expect it to be legit?  I mean, have they ever had numbers in DK game past 3?  Think about it, then call the dream police! 
Philip: The Dream Police... oh no.. not Agent Smith!
Paranoid guy: The government polices your dreams, too?  It's a conspiracy, man!
Ice Blue: "We all know conspiracies are dumb."
 

Love in Vein
Props to reader dm97! Not only did dm97 expose that bad thing above; but there is a new IMPORT review of a legit copy of Beatmania 2 GB now, thanks to dm97! Check the import review of the title and the first one. Then.. go to www.konami.com and demand those games make it to the States. ;) -PAW-

Jazzman: Hello? Konami? Is your refrigerator running?...
Konami:  Lemme check.... yup!
Infinity_Yak:  Maybe you should run out and stop it!
Ice Blue: Fun-E!
 

Mirror Saw
Apparently Jazzman is a thinking animal. Check out this editorial he wrote a while back and just recently "discovered" on his Hard-Drive. I think it was chewing on the wires in his Mac. You know, Macs taste like fruit. Umm.. Piky told me this. Yeah. And because of the music game.. and Brian C asking.. I updated the iMuse. I also feel a little.. over-friendly. Here is a random link as well to something pretty nifty. -PAW-

Jazzman wipes the apple off his chin.
Philip: Save me some iMac.
Ice Blue wipes the grapefruit off his chin.

Umm... hay-do-ken... chu?
The Card Hero SPEAKS! Listen! The Game Boy has.. CLEAR voice this time... I mean.. da-ang... I have no idea what he is saying; but it's cool. And by clicking around.. you'll find other sound clips from the game.. very clear and crisp. Click on the bottom and be scared by the commanding voices that.. arise. It's all in Japanese; and I have no idea what he is saying; but it's cool. -PAW-
"whoa"
Adrock: Coo-Tah-Bah-Rey!
Philip: Oh.. Ku-su.

Sorry man.. don't hurt me.
Yesterday, I was careless.. I accidentally forgot to add Ice Blue's comments.. so I compiled yesterdays news into the ARCHIVES... WITH the comments intact. 'Mkay? E-mail trouble.. somehow I think I lost a few reviews sent to my philip@dmgice.com e-mail... if you sent some.. please.. umm.. resend them. Okay? -PAW-
Ice Blue: Go and read my stewpid comments..
Philip: You know you want to.
Adrock: Whoops, I forgot to care. J/K ;)

Umm... hay-do-ken... chu?
TDo you NPD what I NPD?
You know the drill. NPD TRSTS stats for January 16th - 22nd, 2000. Click on in it! -PAW-

Adrock: Once PK Card comes along... they'll have to make it the top 6-10 :-P
Ice Blue: I dunno, Brain... but if Jimmy cracked corn and no one cares, why does he keep doing it?
Philip: Don't forget Pokémon Attack and  Pokémon 2 Gold and Silver!
Jazzman: Don't forget 'THQ's Classic Hits'...   um.... yeah...

It's so Mickey.
Mickey's Racing Adventure gets reviewed by "The Avardancer" (Me!), and some awesome readers review.. "The New Pokémon World Theme Song" -With lyrics-, Bionic Commando: Elite Forces, Duke Nukem, Rampart, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3, and the game: Deja Vu: The Casebooks of Ace Harding. Nice. Something for everyone. Just the way it should be. Oh, yeah. Cool. Click on in. -PAW-

Ice Blue: Hey Mickey, you're so fine... or not.
Philip: Oh.. we beat 600!

If you're going to San Francisco.
Don't forget to wear a flower in your hair. Or at least make a reservation to see "Building the World of Pokémon" at the Radisson Miyako Hotel in San Francisco, California on Feburary 4th! It starts at 6 PM and to go; you need a reservation. To get a reservation; send an RSVP e-mail to prin@cgjsf.org or a FAX to 415-777-0518. Or write a letter to
Consulate General of Japan
50 Fremont Street, Suite 2200
San Francisco, CA 94105
The event is being held with Viz Communications, The Japan Society of Northern California, and The Japan Information Center. It will center on what Pokémon is; the history of Pokémon; and what new things will happen to it later. The speakers at the event include: "Tsunekazu Ishihara (President of Creatures Inc.), Masakazu Kubo (Executive producer of the Pokémon TV series and movie), and Takashi Kawaguchi. (Director of the planning division of Nintendo Co. Ltd.) -PAW-