What Do You Get When You Mix Your Skillz And Throw Free Games In It? Why Test Your Skillz Of Course!!

Yes, the first week of the grueling competition for the games has finished its first week. Apparently, only one person entered, which I guess is ok considering this was our first week. So in that case, he is the winner. If you forgot, last week's challenge was to make a spinoff of the famous Attack of the Show! sketch "HOMEROWED!" This week's winner is from Doug with his "YOU GOT CLUCKED" saying. In his attacking, he takes a rubber chicken, hit people with it, and yell "YOU GOT CLUCKED" Good job Doug, 5 pts is going your way and making you #1 on our leaderboard. Congrats. Ok, for this week's challenge, I want you to make your own Instant Messenger. What we mean is is that we want you to make a whole new unique name for an instant messenger. Here is our example, Distachat (Yeah, that the best we could come up with.) If you are feeling lucky, you can even name some unique features about you instant messenger. If you really want to get into this, you can even make a picture of your instant messenging service which will really get you bonus points. In your e-mail, please include your entry, your name (which will probably be shown, so put an alias if needed), and if you would like, your website which we will put a link for. Send them to testyourskillz@gmail.com. Ok, for this challenge we will give you to next Tuesday at 5:00 pm EST U.S. time. If you have any questions regarding this challenge, please leave them in the comments. GOOD LUCK!!

This just in: IE7 available to the public!

Finally, after a couple months of waiting, Internet Explorer 7 is out for the public! It's supposed to have tabbed browsing, tougher security, a history-flushing feature, and something that warns you if you go to a phishing site. It sounds like it'll give Firefox a run for its' money, and might just land itself a job as my default browser for a while. I just downloaded it and have to reboot now, so I can't tell you what I think about it just yet, so here's linky again for the full report and the link to download it. By the way, it's only compatible with XP because it's still technically a beta.

Nintendo's DS Lite

Rumors have been going around for a while, and now it's finally official: Nintendo is releasing a new DS! The name is Lite, DS Lite. The main point is to make it smaller. Much smaller. It's going to be 1/3 the size of the original DS and 20% lighter. I have one question though, with it being that thin, will it still play GBA games? Anyway, right now it's set to come out on March 2nd in Japan for 16,800 yen (about $145) and sometime later in the US. Now to the important part, the design. It's obvious that Nintendo is trying to make the DS more like the Revolution when it comes to design. Also it looks like an Apple product, joy. So, it's small, light, and looks like an iPod....is that all? Not exactly. Also, there's this little symbol on the top half when it's closed, I think it's the DS symbol (the 2 screens on top of each other). That looks really cool. Also, the power button's not on the inside anymore...I'm guessing it's on the bottom or side. Aside from moving some other stuff around, that's the new DS. I have mixed feelings about this thing, just like everyone else. I mean, I just bought my DS last summer, and even though I love it, I don't exactly feel like buying a new one so soon. I actually think the old one looks pretty good. That aside, I'm still considering it. Looking at reader comments from the article I read, they have the same feelings. My feelings are somewhere around this guy's :"Oh wow... Not only does it look like an Apple product, it even comes with the "Damnit!, I just bought one" feeling as well." Oh well....we'll see how it goes...Opinions?

Disney buys Pixar

"Walt Disney has announced that it is buying Pixar, the animated studio led by Apple head Steve Jobs, in a deal worth $7.4 billion." Yes, that's right, Nemo has been found by Mickey Mouse. So, now the unstoppable Sir Jobs works for Disney...joy... Most people saw this coming, considering Disney and Pixar's distribution deal was set to expire after the new film, "Cars". So, what's next for Pixar and Disney? Well, after "Cars", there are rumors about "a rat living in a fancy Parisian restaurant, tentatively titled "Ratatouille"", which may be coming out in 2007, and maybe Toy Story 3 in 2008. However, a blog I read regularly reported that Toy Story 3 was cancelled Tuesday. Oh look! Here's linky again to bring you to the full story!

Remembering the Challenger

It's been 20 years since the Challenger space shuttle went down, 73 seconds after it went up, and now, America is looking back on it positively. No, I don't mean they're glad that the crew of 7 died, including who would have been the first teacher in space, I mean, they're looking at it as helping pave the way for the space program. So, let's take a pause for the crew of the Challenger, who died in the name of science on January 28th, 1986........................Ok, pause over. Anyway, MSNBC has an interesting article on 7 false myths about the disaster. I thought it was pretty cool, but you'll probably think it's the stupidest thing in the world. Here's my little friend linky again to bring you to your destination.

Myspace banned in Gilmore, California

In Gilmore, California, Myspace has been banned for school students.I'm not surprised by this at all. Heck, people under 16 aren't even supposed to use Myspace. I get why they banned it, young students can post personal information like where they live, which could end in them getting killed or something like that. Also, if they're under 16, they're lying about their age. I'm guessing the fact that a student recently got killed there who was an active Myspace user is why this came about. Myspace probably didn't have anything to do with her dying, but still.

iTunes 6.0.2

Sometime during the middle of the day today, Apple released iTunes 6.0.2. I know, it sounds like just some stupid little upgrade, but there are actually 3 new features. First of all is the Ministore. What it does is show you information about other albums by the artist and a bunch of other stuff when you select a song in your library. It's kind of cool, but really, not much of anything. Also, with this new version, you can turn your own videos into iPod format through iTunes, which is pretty cool. The last new feature is pretty stupid. It's called AirTunes. It lets you stream a song to up to 3 different wireless home theater systems. Pretty useless. Overall, if you have fast internet, you might as well download it, but if your bandwith is precious, don't bother. If you want it, click my little friend named linky.

One little thing.....

We got a comment from one of our usual readers about the new segment saying he doesn't have good photoshopping skills, so he think it'd be a waste of time. We'd just like to say - YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO A PICTURE! We already said that I thought.....but again, you can just do a text thing. A picture would just get you a better score. So, got it guys?

TYS Prizes

I said I would go into the prize part of the new segment soon, so here I am. The actual prize system is going to be either: each month the person with the highest points gets a free game or certain point levels will get you games. If we choose the points levels one then we'll also allow you to get G-mail invites with your points. We're still debating that though. Anyway, if you're wondering about the points, you get 5 for a 1st place, 3 for a 2nd place, 1 for a 3rd place, and 1/2 a point for just trying. Also, if you make comments on 10 posts, you get a point. By comments we mean relevant comments, not "I like touching squirrel's tails". Ok, every week, we'll add the points into your scores. The top 10 point holders will be shown on a leaderboard on the sidebar. That's about all there is to say so far, but we'll keep you updated.

Ok Zam, I'll Take Test Your Skillz for $1000.

Clue: Your challenge is to make a "HOMEROWED" spinoff. Yes, it is now time for our first edition of our new segment Test Your Skillz! Ton has already explained the basics for you. This weeks challenge is a spinoff of Attack of the Show's famous sketch, "HOMEROWED". For those of your who haven't seen it, Kevin Rose (once a host) hits people over the head with a keyboard and yelled "YOU'VE BEEN HOMEROWED!" (Click here to see the video to know exactly what it is.) Now you can either make a picture of just turn in a saying, or even a video if you are feeling lucky (please, you own work.) Here are a few examples that Ton and I have made, we take a telephone, hit people on the head, and say, "You've been SPEED-DIALED!!" Another one is when you hit people with an iPod and say, "YOU'VE BEEN CLICK-WHEELED!!" Now that is what we are looking for. You can make it pretty, design a nice logo for it, like I said before, you will get a ton of bonus points for making a video of you hitting people with your item and yelling the saying, but you don't have to. Now, here is the deal, we do prefer Photoshop. Please no MS Paint. Now I know what some of you are saying, "Nooo, I don't have Photoshop." Well I luckily have a solution. It's called GimpShop. It is pretty much a, um, less advanced version of Photoshop, but it is basically the same thing. It has many of the same tools as Photoshop, and guess what, IT'S FREE!!!! Just click here and download it for your OS. It works on many Operating Systems. So there is your challenge. Now if you have any question, feel free to ask in the comments. You have til Monday night at 8:00 USA EST time to turn it into the email address testyourskillz@gmail.com. We just want a picture, video, or something saying what it is and what you hit them with. GOOD LUCK!

Introducing....our new segment.......

Test Your Skillz!!! Yes, that's the name of our new segment. We've been working on getting this together for a month or 2, and finally it's here! First of all, I want to say that we WILL be giving away games starting sometime next month. Ok, well, we'll give you a problem of sorts each week, and you have to come up with an idea for it. Don't get it? Well, it's like....We'll ask you to make a slogan and/or logo for GM2. Then, you could make a slogan, logo, or both. Of course if you do both you'll score higher. So the whole reason you're doing this is to win prizes. Well, as of now we'll be giving out games around $30, maybe more. Also we'll give out G-Mail invites if you don't have them already. I'll explain the prize system in another post later in the day. Now, we'll give out the challenges on Tuesdays and you'll either have one or two weeks to complete it depending on how hard we think it is. To get it entered, you gotta send the pic and or saying to testyourskillz@gmail.com by 8:00 PM on the Monday before we give out the next one. That's all for now. I'll post prize info in a while and Zam'll give out the first challenge soon too. Good luck to you all.

Happy (almost) 6 month b-day Gamer Mania 2! You're getting so big now!

Ok, we've been around for just under 6-months and we think we're doing pretty well. However, it's time for some changes. After all, we are getting older. I know I think you'll like what we're doing and I'm pretty sure Zam does too. For one thing, it's time to say bye bye to Release Recap and Flash Friday. They were so 3 months ago anyway. We're gonna keep Marked Down Mondays and Website Wednesdays because we think those are pretty popular. Don't think we're lazy because we're getting rid of 2 "segments", we're not. Starting this week, we're adding new, improved segments that will be much more.....fun.....We've already got one in the works that will most likely be going in tomorrow. I'm gonna keep it a surprise but let me tell you 2 things - it will include giving away games and you'll need your digi-brush ready. Of course that's not all we're changing, I mean come on, we're turning half a year old! We're most likely gonna make at least one more segment, maybe two. Also, we're going to make sure we start doing more of our reviews and previews that you all like so much. That's all for now from the GM2 big-blog-birthday ceremony. See ya tomorrow for the unveiling of TYS! Whoops, did I just say the initials of our new segment? Oh well. Begin singing Happy Birthday riiiiight.....NOW!

Marked Down Monday

• Here's a 3-in-1 SUPER DEAL! First, with any Portable DVD player or DVD recorder, you get 2 free DVDs(deal #1). However, the 2 free DVDs have to come from a selection of DVDs that are on sale for 2 for $20(deal #2)! If you want to do the PDVD player part of the first deal, you can choose this PDVD player for only $70(deal #3)!
• A 4GB Compactflash card for $130. Actually it's called a Microdrive, but don't let those big words fool you, it's a CF card.
• Lastly, a 6GB USB Hard Drive (Flash Drive) for $120. However, it's sold out online, but maybe your local Best Buy has one in stock.

That's all the deals for today. Sorry about the listage, but i was doing other stuff today.

Website Wednesday

Ok clowns and dolphins of all heights, it's time for Website Wednesdays! Welcome to the Gamer Mania 2 restaraunt, where we bring you the best sites you can eat. Our special beverage today is PXN8.com. I know all you people are cheap and don't have enough money to even buy a good block of cheese, and that's pretty bad. So obviously you don't have Photoshop. That's why there's PXN8 (uhh..Pixinate? Yeah, let's go with that). So Pixinate is an online photo editor that lets you do all of the basic tasks for free. Just upload you're picture and crop away! Now that you are nice and refreshed, why don't you have a PowerGramo platter? Powergramo isn't as much of a website as it is a program. This is great for all you people who love to pretend they're on CSI (I know you're out there). In case you don't already have Skype, go get it, cause you'll need it to use PowerGramo. What this does is allows you to record your Skype conversations so you can turn your friend into the police if they're smuggling cows over the Kentucky border. Cool. Go get it for free or pay $20 for the professional version so you can sound professional just like all the other professionals that bought this. If you don't want a PowerGramo platter, you could always go to our AllExperts buffet. Here, we have professionals that will answer your questions about anything. Heck you can even become a professional in something (like professional frog jumping). I don't see the whole point of it, but it sure sounds professional. Finally, for dessert, take a look at this! What do you think those are? Peoples? Turtles? Two-Headed Puppy Monsters? Well you're all wrong! They're CGI heads!!! Fooled you didn't I? I think that's pretty cool that they can make CGI look so real. Imagine seeing that in video games soon...cool... Now where's my tip?

Super Mario World Review

Now it is time for a review with probably the most popular and loved video game character of all time. Yes, I am of course talking about Master Chief. Ha ha, did I fool you? No I really meant Mario. Yes, Mario, Mario, Mario. If you ask any adult with no video game experience at all who is a video game character, they are going to of course answer the Shigeru Miyamoto's short princess saving plumber. Well in this review, I am going to review Super Mario World for the SNES and the GBA (which is pretty much the same game.) Now, let's start with the story. Apparently, while air baloon riding with Mario & Luigi, Princess Peach is captured by the big spiked turtle dude, Bowser and is taken to his castle. After finding out about this, the plumber bros. have to go and save her in a weird world. Now that you have some background let's get on with the juicy stuff, the actual criticizing and the compliments. First, I will start off with the good. The game play is SO fun that you just don't want to put it down. You beat it so many times and just want more. Such as me, now I grew up with this game and I have beaten it about 125 times and still want more. The reason for this is that I don't think I found everything yet. There are so many secret levels and so many hidden shortcuts and various things of that nature it's just so hard to stop playing. One rule in the world of gaming, if you think you have beaten the game, YOU DIDN'T! This means of course (well, in most games) that you haven't found everything you could have done in this game yet. There got to be a shortcut you haven't found or a small important item you haven't gotten yet. That applies to this game to a high extent. Just the other day when I was beating it for say the 110th time I found a whole new level I have never even seen before. It is incredible the hidden things in this game. Ok, I know you don't want to hear me jabbering about hidden things in games all day, so here is the rest of the good things. There are so many levels. There are a ton of levels you can play through smashing the coopas. Oh, I would say maybe from 50-75 levels, but take note, that is an estimate. They are all extremely fun, unique, and very satisfying. Next, the colorful, 2-D environments are very beautiful. It is really eye catching. Very beautiful. There are a lot of enemies with good AI, but not the best. But hey, it's a 90s game, what do you expect. It is pretty good though. They do follow you. The only problem I have with that is that a lot of times when you hit the coopas and hit them into their shell and you are about to hit the shell to shoot at a enemy, IT COMES OUT AND KILLS YOU. Ehh, it's annoying. Um, there are a lot of other things that are good. Ok (dun-dun-dun) it's now time for the bad. Oh, not the dreaded bad. Well, luckily in this one, THERE'S NOTHING. The only thing is the one thing I listed before about the AI and coopa coming out of the shell and killing you. Overall, the game is really good. This is actually one of my favorite games (and no, this verdict is not going to be biased.) So this game is so incredibly simple and very fun. You need to go and pick this one up. Super Mario World gets 5 coopa smashing, pipe traveling, princess saving plumbers, out of 5. Zam, out.

Hmm, I Need A Good Deal, Maybe I Should Ask Marked Down Mondays!!!!

Yippee, its now time for deals, deals, deals. Here they are:

Great Cell phone Deals, Amazon.com, Most free with service plan, but rest a low, low, price.

Lexar 256MB Flash Drive, TigerDirect.com $13.99

19" LCD Monitor - TigerDirect.com - $199.99

250GB Harddrive - TigerDirect.com - $79.99


Now, I know it's not much, but the cell phone deal page if FULL of deals. So go save some money.

"It's Mine!" "No, It's Mine! "Children, Settle Down, There's Enough Flash Fridays For Everyone!!"

Yay, it's finally time for the only segment that makes the internet fun. This week, not very good in the finding them category so here is something Ton and I have been playing non-stop all week. Have you ever seen "Family Feud"? Either with Richard Dawson, Ray Combs, Louie Anderson, or Richard Carn, it's all still the same.But, for those of you who don't know what Family Feud is, here is a short explanation. Pretty much two families who 'Feud' each other. In the game, the Family Feud staff surveyed 100 people to various things and you have to guess what was the top answer given, the second top answer given, etc. Well after hearing about it, want to play it? Well here you go. I know, I know, these are all over the internet, but this one is pretty good and very well done. Hours of fun. Ok, ok, its a Java game, but hey, its an internet game. Well it is still definitely something to do when you are bored or just any ol' time. . So go and check it out at this pretty blue link that you all like. Shiny!

A No-Release Recap

I was looking to see what I had to do for Release Recap....and no matter where I looked, I couldn't see any games that came out aside from a few UMD movies. This must be a historic week: one without game releases....so bye....

"Happy Aniversary Honey, Look What I Got For You." "Huh, Honey, I'm Speechless. That Is The Most Spectacular Website Wednesdays I Have Ever Seen."

Yes, it time for Website Wednesdays!!!! I couldn't find any good sites except one, so that is what I am sharing. Ever go to forums or myspace profile comments and see these people with these amazing picture things made from simple characters you generate on a keyboard? Thinking, "Man, I wish I could do that." Well guess what, now you sorta kinda can!!! In this art gallery on the net with many of them. This form of art is called ASCII. This is simply a bunch of computer characters that form a sort of picture of art form. It looks very cool. Well on this site, they have a giant archive and gallery of them. Remember when I said you can make your own, well if you aren't that lazy (well, none of you) then you can see these and try to make your own. Well if you are one of those that doesn't want to spend time doing that, that is what the right click-copy is for!!!! Oh the wonderful art of copy and paste. Well these art forms include many things including very well done axes. Very amazing stuff. Go and check it out at this link.

Marked Down Monday

Sorry guys, but this is gonna be a list again. Zam and I have been playing a game online all night, sorry. However, I have a bunch of good deals still:

• Tons of $9.99 DVDs - Great movies like The Notebook, Constantine, Kingdom of Heaven, and Anchorman for only $10, linkidy link link.
• If you happen to go into Target, you can get DVDs like Be Cool, Phantom of the Opera, and Hotel Rwanda for $10
• Also, while you're at Target, if you happen to stumble upon Ultimate Spiderman [console], Nintendogs, or GUN, you'll notice that the price tag has been cut to $25
• Prince of Persia: Two Thrones in all it's glory - only $30!!!!!!! For some very odd and stupid reason people haven't been buying it...Linky goodness (PS2 version)!
• The first sale on a 360 game - Quake 4 for $50
• Lastly, not a deal, but a contest. If you buy anything at Best Buy.com by the 6th, you will have a chance at winning an iPod Nano or an XBOX 360.....cool........