Philippines Apple Store Now Online

I received the news in my e-mail, and it was pretty cool. Now you can order products right after Steve Jobs announces them, you won't have to go through traffic and fill forms to get that MacBook you were lusting form, and you don't even have to pay extra for shipping (when purchase is above 3000 pesos) nor engravement.

Yes, engravement.

Well, my dad decided to take the new Online Store for a spin, and after he made his Apple ID, credit card credentials included, he bought a 4th ten iPod nano as my youngest brother's Christmas gift with free engravement of his name for identification and bragging purposes, LOL.

Anyway, as any online store should be, shopping is relatively painless, and the nano is surprisingly cheaper than in SM or Hong Kong even! Of course, it doesn't apply to the whole product line, but the extras are cool, and you have one extra color to choose from when you order online for the nano (Product Red for AIDS foundations).

Plus, you cab configure extra parts for new Macs. Unsatisfied with that 250GB hard drive? Expand it! Something like that...

Potentially and personally, the most exciting thing about this is that Apple is one step closer to completing its Philippine tour, ending with a locally flavored iTunes Store as well.

I can't wait to see how the nano will look like with an actual engravement. When my brother does get it in the next 3 weeks or less, I will be sure to review it for you all.

Posted with LifeCast

GAME PREVIEWS: Street Fighter IV Video Impressions and Mario Kart Wii!

OK, GDC's currently on, and I can't wait for the new Nintendo announcements, which should be big. For now, though, I've got Street Fighter Video Impressions which is literally my impressions on Street Fighter IV's videos, and my Mario Kart Wii feature. So yeah, it won't be the most accurate representation of a preview, but hey, can't hurt to write, right?

Street Fighter IV (XBox 360, PS3, Arcade)
It's a highly anticipated return of the legendary fighting franchise, but I think the game is going to fall flat headfirst.


Trailer
The trailer was pretty, darkly impressive, but you won't see any of that stylized cinematic 2D-3D fusion fighting action in the game proper. Yeah, there's great art direction going on from the man who brought us the character designs and art direction from the classic Street Fighter II, but I'm just not flat-out impressed. But don't take my word for it. There are a few new game mechanics such as the "revenge meter" and "focus attacks" as well as a slew of classic and new brawlers in the mix. Plus, the finishing special moves are cinematic and cool!

In 2D!
Plus, the fighting's in 2D- just the way it should be played, so who knows, it may be a pretty solid installment for the series. But for now, all I see is the same complex combos (not that I'm complaining about them), renamed meters and nostalgia reliance.Come on!
If Capcom wants to impress, they better show off what they've actually fleshed out. Otherwise, it will be just another over-hyped disappointment. And you know that there has been a lot of that. You've been there before, I've been there before, everyone's been there before. Why? Because the same applies for the movies. But hey, I'm dabbling on different territory!

FEATURE: Mario Kart Wii

Have you ever wondered what the world would be without that plumber? He revolutionized platforming, he has appeared in sports games innumerable and now he's back with his trendsetting racing game, Mario Kart designed for the Wii.It has become the subject of several rip-offs such as Crash Team Racing for the PS1, but since this is the original, you can expect a lot of the racing action everybody loved since well, 16 years ago! Its DS counterpart has become subject to praise from several professional gaming journalists, with X-Play's Morgan Webb even proclaiming it as "the best kart racer of all time". My experience, especially with multiplayer, of that specific game can also attest to that statement, bold as it can be.

CAPTION: How mobile can a steering wheel get?

And going back, Mario Kart Wii will be bringing a whole lot of favorites back: Split-screen multiplayer matches, online matches, online scoreboards, power sliding, drafting and 16 courses from past iterations. And for an even fresher change of pace, they've included bikes wherein you can just tilt the Wii remote up to perform acrobatic moves that increase your speed. And judging from the pictures, they can be used simultaneously.

CAPTION: Back from the dead- Split Screen Racing! And something new- Bikes!

16 more new courses, a constantly updated (online!) Battle Mode (which gives the player objectives to perform tasks) and a mobile steering wheel sweeten the pot. If this isn't something that will make Wii fans salivate, other than Super Smash Bros., then I don't know what. It's being released in the "Early 2008" timeframe which is kinda vague, but good to hear nonetheless. It ships with that steering wheel and is also like Super Smash Bros.- it has 5 five control schemes: GameCube controller, Wiimote, Wiimote and Nunchuk, Wiimote and Steering wheel, and Classic Controller. Can't wait.

Brace yourself for courses so daring in Early 2008.

ON X-PLAY: Hello Kitty... MMO???

Watch out Ms. Ileto wannabe's 'coz the kitten's going online. No, not a website, but an MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) of sorts where you can customize avatars, communicate with other kitties, get skills and even go farming. Yup, Sanrio's trying to take over the world again. Will WoW ever compare?

*UPDATE
Just saw the screenshots. The game's presented in 2.5D with very colorful backgrounds that prevalently uses a garish pink... Just as expected. And I can't even believe that fans are going overboard for this thing. And what's with the HP? And why fighting (mentioned below)? Hmmm... I don't know whether to describe it as stupid or wrong. But I'd like to see how they die. >:) EVIL, EVIL ME. Good news for those who want to actually try this though, it's free and requires no subscription whatsoever.

Why do I get this strange feeling that there's already a Japanese version? (Note the ugly fonts.)

From the original X-Play article:
Watch out World of Warcraft: Hello Kitty is going MMO. Welcome to Kitty Town, b*tches.

Hello Kitty Online, the Sanrio-sponsored adorabiltiy simulator, is going into Beta, which means YOU can apply. Do it. You know you want to.

In addition to the standard MMORPG features such as customizable avatars, guilds, skill systems, and player economy, some of the unique Hello Kitty Online features are under the cut. Click it. The kitten says you must.

• Unique game world: a persistent, beautifully designed environment where thousands of players and NPCs live, explore and quest in a magical world with real and imaginary zones such as the Flower Kingdom, Tokyo, Paris, Moscow, and more. Real world locations offer players the ability to learn about those places.
• Unique NPCs: players will encounter and interact with popular Sanrio characters such as Hello Kitty, Badtz-Maru, My Melody, Keroppi, and many others, all animated with a variety of contextual facial expressions.
• Free to play: Hello Kitty Online is downloaded and played free of charge. There are no subscription fees.
• Character upgrades: the Item Mall allows players to use real money to purchase special items and upgrades for characters.
• Player housing: players can build and customize their own houses after acquiring the necessary licenses and materials. Houses depreciate over time and need to be maintained properly or will fall in disuse. A homeowner can invite someone to visit by making an in-game telephone call, and the player called will automatically be transported to the house if she agrees.
• Crafting system: Hello Kitty Online has an extensive crafting system with output such as tools & weapons, farming implements & furniture, a wide variety of cooked dishes, and clothing for decorative and stat-modifying items. Raw materials include wood, minerals and metals, and crops.
• Farming: players can run their own farms, which offer extra storage room and have the potential to produce important raw materials. The farming system incorporates a number of variables such as fertility, pest infestations, and crop characteristics.
• A different focus: although it has a sophisticated combat system, unlike other MMORPGs combat need not be a primary objective for players of Hello Kitty Online. There are many puzzles to be solved, mini-games to compete in, story lines to follow, and adventures to experience