Aliens + Sega + WayForward = What's likely to be my last must-buy DS game

Actually, Aliens: Infestation will be my second-to-last must-buy DS game should Professor Layton and the Last Specter hit the streets after Sept. 30 (the former game's release date).

Regardless, I'll be picking up this WayForward-developed, Sega-published piece of software at some point this year. Why? Well, for starters, it's based on the Alien franchise. (Both Alien and its sequel are on my short list of all-time favorite films.) Second, it looks like a 16-bit game--which, in my mind, is pretty much always a good thing. Third, it plays like a Metroidvania title according to 1up.com's recent preview. (All of the above and more are on full display in this 13-minute video, by the way.)

The only aspect of Aliens: Infestation that I'm not completely sold on at this point is its cover art (above). I wouldn't say it's bad, but I wouldn't say it's menacing, either--and menacing is exactly what I expect from anything and everything related to this classic franchise.

See also: 'Curiosity of the day: Square's Aliens game' and '8-bit Ellen Ripley'

The Backloggery

As I'm sure some of you are well aware, I'm a sucker for social media. After all, I've got deviantART, Facebook, Flickr, Formspring and Twitter accounts at the moment.

Actually, I added one more site to that lengthy list a few weeks ago: The Backloggery.

What's the point of this particular site, you ask? Basically, it helps you keep track of your gaming backlog. You don't just use your Backloggery account to track the games you own but have yet to play, though; you also use it to track games you're currently playing (by giving each one a status update, of sorts) as well as games you've already completed (which can be tagged "beaten," "completed" or "mastered).



Another cool thing about The Backloggery: You can connect to other gamers and not only compare collections but compete with them--basically, you earn points for every game you beat--as well.

If that sounds at all interesting to you, I'd highly recommend signing up for your own Backloggery account here. (After you do that, be sure to add me--http://backloggery.com/thegaygamer--to your "multitap," OK?)

Kirby Returns to Dreamland

According to the folks at Siliconera, the name above will be attached to the Wii-based Kirby game when it's released in North America this autumn. A nice nod to the puffy pink character's first adventure, don't you think?

Now all we need is for Nintendo of America to announce a release date for this game--as well as one for Rhythm Heaven Wii (which I'm guessing will undergo a similar name change sooner rather than later), of course.



Speaking of Kirby Returns to Dreamland and Rhythm Heaven Wii: If both games do, in fact, make it to North American shores before 2012 dawns, my Wii is going to get an honest-to-goodness workout during the last quarter of the year--especially since The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is also expected to hit store shelves before the holidays.

(Via siliconera.com)

Mike Tyson says: 'The movie was okay'

The following illustration makes me think a lot more art should be inspired by--or make use of imagery from--Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!

Oh, and most of said art should be rather obtuse like the piece below.

Don't get me wrong, art that uses game imagery in a more straightforward manner--like this Soda Popinski illustration--is cool, too, but I generally prefer art that displays some creativity and individuality.

Speaking of which, the painting above was produced by deviantartist melonjaywalk, who shares that it "was done as a gift for a friend of mine based on some of her favorite things--which included movie reviews and The New Yorker."

(Via melonjaywalk.blogspot.com)

Two reasons tomorrow will be the best day of 2011

Good news for those of you who lack patience: Both of the above-mentioned reasons are covered by and in the following video:



Yep, tomorrow will be the best day of 2011 because that's when Minna no Rhythm Tengoku (aka Rhythm Heaven Wii) will hit the streets in Japan.

Real talk: Based on what I've seen of it thus far, I fully expect Rhythm Heaven Wii--which has yet to receive a European or North American release date (harrumph!)--to compete with the GBA original for the title of "Best Rhythm Tengoku Game."

Admittedly, it'll only be competing against two other games--the first of which was released for the GBA in 2006 and the second of which was released for the DS in 2008/2009--but both of those titles are among the best rhythm games ever released, so the winner of said contest shouldn't be considered chopped liver.

(Via tinycartridge.com)