BadPower.com Blog

You’ve seen the video, now here’s a closer look at some screenshots from the game and the story that drives the next multi-platform installment of Final Fantasy.

Under the rule of the Sanctum, the sky city of Cocoon knew a long and prosperous peace, but the Fal’Cie from the “lowerworld” of Pulse awaken from their slumber and curse humans, turning them into the I’Cie, the magic-wielding servants of the fal-Cie.

Those branded with the mark of a I’Cie have to fulfill their Focus or “face a fate harsher than death itself.”

“After thirteen days of fates intertwined, the battle begins,” according to the press release.

“We know that our fans have been eagerly awaiting the next installation of the franchise – FINAL FANTASY XIII will exceed all expectations,” said John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix, Inc. “Coming simultaneously to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 for the first time, FINAL FANTASY XIII will be available to all players who are looking for the most immersive gaming experience of 2010.”

As I mentioned when I posted the Final Fantasy XIII video earlier today, Leona Lewis will be providing the theme song for the latest Final Fantasy. My Hands , which hits stores in her second album on Nov. 17, was chosen because the developers said they felt it fit the game’s “powerful themes and strong female protagonist.”

The game, which hits in Japan on Dec. 17, will feature a a new “ultimate active time battle system” that allows players to execute numerous commands in a single turn with a multi-slot ATB gauge. Player will be able to choice between inputting individual commands in each slot for consecutive attacks, or expending multiple sots at once to activate more damaging attacks.

The game also adds a new game mechanics called Paradigms, that allow you to assign one of six gameplay roles, like Commando or Medic, to your characters.

A new summon system introduced Gestalt Mode, which allows players and their transformed Eidolons to fight as one through simple button commands.

Are you ready for Final Fantasy XIII? You’ve got four months to prepare… unless you’re importing it.

Over my years covering video games I’ve seen my share of business cards, from the unusual to the hard to find. I’ve stacked up cards of cardboard, paper, plastic, metal and wood. But this is the coolest business card I’ve ever seen.

Do you see it in the picture?
Look a little closer.
Yes, that minifig is the official business card for LEGO universe producer Ryan Seabury…
…and it’s killing my business card.

Every Halloween the city of West Hollywood blocks off about a mile of Santa Monica Boulevard for the West Hollywood Costume Carnaval.

This year about 400,000 people from all over Southern California converged in costume to walk around and have a good time. As always, the Nintendo love was ever-present.

Royal Caribbean took delivery of the world’s largest cruise ship today, but the crew of the Oasis of the Seas have been using a high-tech simulator to prepare to take over the monstrous 16-deck, 225,282 gross ton cruiser.

The STAR Center in Florida uses incredibly realistic high-tech bridge simulators to prepare a crew to take over a ship. The simulator features walls of screens that display the view from a ship’s bridge as well as all of the controls found on board. The simulator can recreate anything from a calm day to 70 knot winds and seas up to ten meters high.

The video shown through those screens include accurate modeling of landscapes and buildings and of course the instruments track the details of the sea bottom and even the currents from port to port.

The idea of the center, Larry Reimer, instructor at the Star Center, says, is to simulate reality, not to simulate a video game.

“If you get into it playing it like a video game then you don’t accept it as reality up there on the bridge,” he said. “If you’re on a simulator and you make a mistake, you don’t have to go into a court of inquirer or write a report, you just press the reset button and you start again.”

There aren’t much details, but game designer Luc Bernard dropped some screens for an upcoming iPhone game his team is working on.

SteamPirates is described by Oyoji Games as a role-playing game for the iPhone and PSP Mini by the team behind Mecho Wars and Fried Green Apps.

The images show a woman and animals in steampunk Victorian garb. No date has yet been set.

It was only a matter of time before Chunk Norris’ beard realized that people were having fun on the iPhone and it wasn’t involved.

Count your lucky starts CNB doesn’t come for you. Instead, Norris and facial hair have teamed up with Gameloft to launch their own iPhone game: Chuck Norris: Bring the Pain.

Prepare your fingers, because you’ll be taking charge of mini Chuck Norris in this game as he fights his way through the Cambodian jungle in search of prisoners of war. The game include three environments, 13 levels and, you better be sitting down, TWO Chuck Norrises.

I’m surprised Apple approve a game that can kill you by touching it, but it looks like they’re going to.

Cosplay Fever, set to hit UK stores later this month, documents the growth of cosplay in the UK with more than 300 photographs of costumed fans.

Photographers Peter Lumby and Rob Dunlop will be displaying photos from the book at an open exhibition on Oct. 20 at Hi sushi Salsa in London.

Here’s a taste:

The $30 Blue Blood kit from XCM as seen on Technabob via Slippery Brick.

There are loads of video game arcades in Tokyo, but there is only one Brian Crecente. We think. Maybe there are two, maybe there are three. Who knows. In this gallery of arcade pics, can you find him?

Bonus points for those able to i.d. the arcades.