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Daily Tech: Motorola Unveils DROID, Coming Nov. 6

GeekSugar — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:30:31 -0700

Powered by Android 2.0, the new DROID smartphone from Motorola will be available on Nov. 6 from Verizon Wireless for $200 - Engadget
Play multiplayer Grand Theft Auto IV for free this weekend on Xbox Live - CrunchGear
Google's new navigation app for Maps is free, beyond amazing, and will be available on Android OS 2.0 devices - Gizmodo
The fourth Apple store in Manhattan is getting ready to open its doors - CNET
Verizon has debuted their new BlackBerry Storm2 commercial - RIMarkable
It's giveaway time on GeekSugar! Log in for your chances to win one of these AT&T Smartphones - GeekSugar

Barack Obama Makes an Appearance. . . In Grand Theft Auto?!

GeekSugar — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 04:00:26 -0700

I knew Barack Obama was tech-savvy, but I didn't know it extended to gaming! Obama's campaign has purchased ad space inside 18 video games, including Madden '09 and Grand Theft Auto.

He is, not surprisingly, the first ever presidential nominee to run ads inside games, and without being partisan, I have to say that I'm kind of impressed. The ads will be run on billboards and signage (which is the kind of advertisement you guys said you didn't mind as much), and will encourage people to vote and to register to vote.

Very noble, but I'm envisioning a pixilated Barack Obama cracking down on Nico and his cohorts, personally!

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Grand Theft Auto 4, Atari-Style!

GeekSugar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:00:04 -0700

Feast your eyes on this rendition of The Minus World's version of the Grand Theft Auto IV art - done up in classic Atari style! Check out the link for many other versions of modern games made to look like Atari times. They're fun recent vintage, and remind you that as fancy as graphics and storylines get, we'll always love the originals.

Do You Blame GTA For Teen Killing Taxi Driver?

GeekSugar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:30:56 -0700

In another round of GTA related crimes, a Bangkok teen has been sentenced to death after stabbing a taxi driver multiple times. His reason? He wanted to see if it was as easy to steal a cab in real life as it is in the controversial Grand Theft Auto game.

The 18-year-old student, who is known to be quite the obsessed GTA player, says that he didn't really mean to kill the victim, that he only started stabbing the driver when he began fighting back.

I know GTA has had a bad rap from the get-go, but I'm gonna put the blame where blame is due on this one: the kid with the knife. Do you blame GTA's influence for this incident?

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Teens Blame Grand Theft Auto For Their All-Night Crime Spree

GeekSugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:00:39 -0700

It seems that this little video game out in the world known as Grand Theft Auto tends to get people riled up - just check the comments on this post and that post, and it turns out that the game also riles people up in the real world, and has turned into an inspiration of sorts.

Just ask the group of teen boys who went on an all-night crime spree of mugging and bashing cars with baseball bats and crowbars. After they were apprehended, a police spokesman for Nassau County, New York, said that the boys admitted they were "emulating the character in that Grand Theft Auto game" (oh, that naughty Nico!).

I've got my bucket of popcorn ready to see how this case and its defense plays out. What do you guys make of all this?

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Does Violence or Sex in Video Games Bother You?

GeekSugar — Fri, 09 May 2008 06:30:50 -0700

I love that nearly every night this week, Conan's done a different version of a PG-rated GTA IV, but I've also been thinking lately that not only are we at a high point of sex (Stripper Pole Wii, anyone?) and violence (got to give credit where credit's due, GTA, who's got both) in our video games, but there's also a healthy helping of family friendly and positive games - like Wii Sports.

My friends got into a heated debate the other night about the significance of violence in video games, and what it says about our society, but I definitely feel like it's your choice to buy the games. However, I really appreciate the ratings system, like in movies. Then again, I expect my opinion to change when I have kids. What do you think?

GTA IV's Cop Tracking GPS Comes to Life

GeekSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:00:04 -0700

If you've been spending excessive amounts of time playing GTA IV this week, (and who hasn't - it has racked up $500 million and sold six million copies already), then you have come to know and love the GPS system that not only tells you where you are going, but tells you where the cops are once you've committed a crime! I, myself, have been known to shout out loud at my BF to "go the other way!" because of the 5-0 is on his tail.

So what if we could take the best part about Nico's GPS system and use it for ourselves before we get caught breaking the law? That's exactly what Speed Trap is for. To hear more about Speed Trap, read more.

Speed Trap is a new Google Maps mashup that lets you check out your city for speed traps and photo enforcement cameras. . . before you hit the road. Members log in and pinpoint locations as they find them, so you can now go about your merry way without worrying if the police are hiding behind that shrub just off Canyon Road. Just enter your address or zip code to zoom in on the monitored areas. Speed Trap does require a registration, but thankfully, it's free. You can also send the map right to your portable nav devices, you know, in case you need it! Although no one here is telling you it's OK to speed, it is kinda nice to know where the hot spots are. We all run late from time to time, don't we?

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Conan O'Brien Plays the "PG" Version of GTA IV

GeekSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 14:00:26 -0700

With millions picking up copies of Grand Theft Auto this week, the game is already coming under fire for its violence and sexual content that can be unlocked by players. Well funnyman Conan O'Brien got wind of this news and actually got his hands on a copy of the new "toned-down" version of GTA IV, which was created in reaction to all the criticism. A must-see indeed!

GTA IV Expected to Sell Six Million This Week!

GeekSugar — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 10:00:30 -0700

Niko Bellic is here baby, and he's not messing around! The hard driving, and often controversial Grand Theft Auto IV from Rock Star Games hit the shelves yesterday, attracting geeks and non-geeks alike to local Best Buy and GameStop stores for their midnight release of the biggest game of the year. Previous Grand Theft Auto titles met a mountain of backlash for depicted violence and sexual content, and this title is no exception. Although some critics who are bashing the game admit they haven't even played it yet, the newest installment is getting perfect scores from game reviewers across the globe.

With sales expected to hit upwards of $360 million dollars from six million copies sold this week alone, those numbers beat out previous record holder Halo 3, for most units sold in the first week. Although I haven't had a chance to dive in yet, I'm sure there were some gamers out there calling in sick to work yesterday! Were your thumbs warmed up for one of the many midnight releases?

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Grand Theft Auto IV Coming April 29

GeekSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 03:10:22 -0700

Get ready gamers, in addition to some great titles being released this month, Grand Theft Auto IV for PlayStation 3 and Xbox will be making its way to store shelves April 29. TeamSugar user Calamari spotted this racy GTA IV ad while cruising the bus yesterday, and it got me that much more excited for its release. With complete online multiplayer functionality that will support up to 16 players on both Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network, this game is sure to be a summer hit!