Video Games

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Sunday Link-Off: Blinded Me With Science

We’ve reached the end of another week at Lowdown HQ. For the last week, I haven’t known which day of the week it was but I always know when it’s Sunday. And as a special treat to kickoff today’s links, here’s the blog debut of Marloes Horst.

With the new Three Stooges movie coming out this weekend (which I’m terrified to actually watch), I think now’s a good time to look back on the history of the original Three Stooges. (Neatorama)

Some movie lines are more quotable than other but did you know there’s a science behind which quotes are the most memorable. Researchers at Cornell have cracked the code. (The Independent)

And just for fun, here’s a behind the scenes look at Jeopardy with a Jeopardy champion. (Warming Glow)

After the jump, both sides of The Masters duel, the Better Business Bureau looks at ME3 and Russia’s version of a customer complaint department. Continue reading →

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Sunday Link-Off: Happy Easter Time

Despite the fact that I’m an atheist, even I’m willing to admit we’re more SEO-friendly by referencing Easter. Anyway, here’s Xenia Deli. She’s a Beach Bunny Swimwear model along with another famous model who we’ll have a little later on.

We all know that athletic departments wield serious power on college campuses but nothing rivals the sway of Notre Dame’s football program. Sexual assault accusations against Fighting Irish football players tend to end badly for the accuser. (Deadspin)

As Jackie mentioned yesterday, Chevy Chase is in the middle of a feud with Community creator Dan Harmon. What he didn’t mention is that Chase has a pretty lengthy history of being an asshole. (Gawker)

Darren Dreger gets a lot more respect from fans and media than I remember him getting while at Sportsnet. I’m not saying that TSN’s PR machine has turned him into a respectable inside but it is a remarkable change from host to insider. Anyway, he’s still an idiot. His Vezina vote is for Marc-Andre Fleury despite the mountain of evidence that suggests that Fleury is a below average netminder. (Driving Play)

After the jump, Tim McCarver’s greatest fear, EA tries to make amends for ruining BioWare and a Nickelback parody. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Headlines

I can’t believe it’s already Wednesday. Normally I wouldn’t complain about a week going by too quickly but this week is just ridiculous. Maybe it’s because I’ve been so wrapped up in the 2012 Hottest Canadian competition. Anyway, here’s Irina Shayk. And for once let’s avoid the obvious “And speaking of ridiculous” jokes that I ten to make.

There is lots of info that we do know about the murder of Trayvon Martin but what is fact and what is rumour accepted as fact? (Miami Herald)

To use one of his own catchphrases in his honour, Jason Whitlock does the damn thing in comparing George Zimmerman to OJ Simpson and the effect that the 24-hour news cycle has played in each story. (Fox Sports)

Speaking of OJ, a private investigator is releasing a book in which he proves that OJ was not only not guilty but innocent of murder (yes, there’s a distinction there). (With Leather)

After the jump, the state of the sitcom, trolling could become illegal and Yoda speaking correctly. Continue reading →

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Console Wars: Will The PS4 and XBox 720 Kill Console Gaming?

For the last couple of years, rumours have been flying about the next generation of video game consoles. Since, at least, the introduction of the Playstation 2 and original XBox, it seems as though the balance of power (and money) in video gaming belonged to the consoles. Very few if any big games weren’t released on console. However, with some of the recent rumours about the PS4 and the XBox 720, the console manufacturers could destroy themselves to help publishers. Continue reading →

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The Bear and the Gang – Episode 1 – Video Games

It’s Episode One of the hotly anticipated Boston Bruins’ webseries The Bear And The Gang. In this episode, The Bear does battle with Brad Marchand in some video game hockey. Also starring Rene Rancourt and Jack Edwards.

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Wednesday Link-Off: Sporting Madness

Well, we’ve hit the ground running today. First, we opened up the voting on the final four of our 2012 Hottest Canadian contest. Now we have the mid-week links. And let’s kick off today’s WLO with Behati Prinsloo who you might recognize from Victoria’s Secret TV commercials.

Fifteen years ago Monday was the infamous line brawl between the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche. As a Wings fan, I’m obliged to lead off with this link. I’m also obliged to point out that we kicked their asses! (SportsGrid)

While this story is about the NBA, I’m sure the same principals can apply to the NHL. Is there a way to prevent teams from tanking to get the first overall draft pick? To put it another way, is there a way to disincentivize incompetent management? (True Hoop)

With Tiger Woods winning his first PGA Tour event since 2009, the only story heading into The Masters is Tiger Woods vs. Rory McIlroy. (Golf.com)

After the jump, Mike Tyson’s one man show, all about Assassin’s Creed III and they sure get excited over winning money in Australia. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Twitter Wars

It’s a busy week on the blog this week between the Hottest Canadian bracket and our 2012 F1 season preview. But we still have time for the mid-week links. To kick things off, we have… Miley Cyrus? I guess she’s not banking on Disney dollars anymore. And that’s a good thing.

The latest Twitter feud wasn’t so much a fight as an absolute massacre. It was Norm McDonald vs. Rick Reilly. If this was a boxing match, Norm would’ve won by KO in the first sixty seconds. (Awful Announcing)

For such an influential man in many lives, Don Cornelius’ death went by without much of a mention. The Times profiles the man and his fall from grace. (New York Times)

The new purpose of the Gawker Media Group is to out people behind anonymous comedy Twitter accounts. This includes their recent investigation of @DadBoner. (Deadspin)

After the jump, March Madness, the science of video game difficulty and Community returns tomorrow. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: #3

I should be playing Mass Effect 3 right now but my hard drive had to suffer a catastrophic failure in January and cost me two (and a half) saved characters. But with ME3 out yesterday, it’s only fitting to lead-off with Yvonne Strahovski.

We all know that Rush Limbaugh is a moronic, misogynistic blowhard whose views lower the intelligence of everyone that hears them. Fortunately, after his latest tirade and thanks to the power of social media, Rush’s advertisers are leaving in droves. (Think Progress)

Speaking of advertising, since the NBA is expecting over two-thirds of teams to lose money this season, they’re looking at selling ads on jerseys. (Sporting News)

Mass Effect 3 is out! Let me repeat that to reflect my excitement: MASS EFFECT THREE!!!!!1!!3! Here’s a pretty detailed, but not spoilerish, review. (Kotaku)

After the jump, Valve’s secret project, another reason why newspapers are dying and the obligatory ME3 trailer. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Valentine’s Hangover

Valentine’s Day is over and most guys are very much poorer as a result. Single guys, however, can pick up the pieces because they have money. Anyway, here’s Kate Upton from her SI Swimsuit cover shoot (like you guys would let us get away with anything else).

Jeremy Lin came to Canada last night to do battle with the Raptors. But just what is Linsanity? The New Yorker examines why he’s become an overnight sensation. (The New Yorker)

Mr. Hilary Duff Mike Comrie has announced that he is retiring after yet another hip surgery. It’s been an odd journey for the heir to a Canadian furniture store empire. (Puck Daddy)

The CBC has launched CBC Music which is a free streaming music service designed to compete with the Spotifys of the world. The third song I heard was Rush so I like it. (CBC News)

After the jump, the best WWE Raw of the year, Ahmed Best thinks Jar-Jar could’ve been loved and Commander Shepard is still alive. Continue reading →

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Wednesday Link-Off: Still Standing

On Sunday, we featured Canadian model Kim Cloutier. Today, we have another Canadian model, Andi Muise. You can’t say that we don’t produce some great talent in the Great White North.

Do you have to be smart to win Jeopardy or can you teach yourself to win? One of Jeopardy’s all-time greats, Roger Craig, shared his secret prep methods. (Esquire)

Canada is a great nation in space. We have the Canadarm up there and now we have the first Lego man is space. (Toronto Star)

While SOPA and PIPA want to kill piracy in America, it is playing a vital role in the world. There are some things that would be lost for all of time if pirates hadn’t kept them alive. (Technologizer)

After the jump, how Bill Simmons got hired, the first computer password also sucked and what if fire flowers were real. Continue reading →