GIBryan Blog

I Never Realized How Much Green Day Ripped Off Other Bands Until Their Game Came Out

Bryan Vore — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 20:40:00 GMT

I played through the entire Green Day: Rock Band career last night alongside Sean, Ben, and my buddy Ross to get the "Won't Make It for Dinner" achievement (reach the credits within 12 hours as part of a 4-player band) and had a great time. But I couldn't believe how much these guys have consistently and blatantly stolen from other songs throughout their career. Don't believe me? Take a listen for yourself.

There are plenty of instances throughout the track list in Green Day: Rock Band that sound a little too familiar, but you just can't put your finger on it. The following examples do not fall into that category. These five comparisons showcase undeniable, brazen theft. How has Green Day not been busted after all this time?

[Note: I tried whenever possible to link to official band videos. In Green Day's case, they have blocked embedding so you may have to follow the link to watch the video on YouTube.]

I have GI's Matt Helgeson to thank for this first example comparing Green Day's "Warning" to "Picture Book" by the Kinks

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Green Day, "Warning"

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The Kinks, "Picture Book"

Crime: Grand Theft Guitar Riff

I actually remember "Brain Stew's" lifting of the riff from one of Chicago's hits back when it came out. The plagiarism memories all came rushing back last night.

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Green Day, "Brain Stew"

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Chicago, "25 or 6 to 4"

Crime: Grand Theft Guitar Riff, Second Count

I had never heard this particular Green Day track before playing it yesterday, but I liked it better when it was called "Main Offender."

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Green Day, "Horseshoes and Handgrenades"

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The Hives, "Main Offender"

Crime: Complete Song Hijack

"Jesus of Suburbia" is nearly ten minutes long and for the most part it sounds pretty original, that is, until you get to "Summer of '69."

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Green Day, "Jesus of Suburbia" (go to the 2:20 mark)

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Bryan Adams, "Summer of '69" (go to the 0:30 mark)

Crime: Vocal kidnapping

Obviously, Green Day have sold millions of records and 99 percent of their songs are huge hits with completely original melodies. I was just flabbergasted at the above examples. Have you heard other Green Day songs that sound a little too close to something else while playing their Rock Band game? Post your findings in the comments section.

Sweet iPhone Deal: Defend Your Castle

Bryan Vore — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:35:00 GMT

We don't do a lot of iPhone coverage on the site, so I decided to kick off a blog on the topic. Many of us around the office play plenty of games on iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches, and most likely many of you do too. However, it's not easy to sift through the dump trucks of games that show up on Apple's App Store every day. So in order to narrow things down a bit I'm going to focus on games that are both good AND a good deal. Sometimes free even.

Today's Sweet iPhone Deal is Defend Your Castle by XGen Studios. As I write this, the game costs zero dollars and is totally fun, so get it for free while you can (previously, it's been priced at $1 to $2. Still a good deal!). Flash gamers may remember Defend Your Castle from all the way back in 2003 when the original debuted on the web. Others will remember the game from its revamped appearance on WiiWare in 2008.

Like the title says, you must stop little stick men from destroying your castle by flicking them into the air with your fingers or thumbs and letting gravity take care of the rest. You can also upgrade your castle walls and convert enemies into ally archers, wizards, repairmen, and suicide bombers. The career is split into distinct rounds that throw more and more guys at you each time, which equals more points to spend on increasingly expensive upgrades.

The iPhone version is the best edition of Defend Your Castle out there. The touch screen allows you to take care of enemies faster and more easily than with a mouse or Wii remote, and several updates have added new features like achievements that aren't available in any other version.

All right, enough reading! Go download it and let me know what you think in the comments. Also, feel free to nominate future Sweet iPhone Deals in the comments or email me directly at bryan@gameinformer.com.

GI Fitness Battle: Jeff Wins Edition

Bryan Vore — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:47:00 GMT

After seven weeks of exercise and healthy eating, Jeff Cork has lost 25 pounds and won the Game Informer Fitness Battle. Even though the rest of us will have to pay up and buy him one game each, we all made significant strides in losing weight and adopting a more healthy lifestyle. As of week seven, the official results are:

1) Jeff C: -25
2) Bryan: -17
3) Dan: -10
4) Meagan: -10
5) Annette: -9

And a speech from the victor:

Well, it’s over. Fortunately, I started out so out of shape that I still have a ways to go before I hit my ultimate goal weight. The 25 pound mark is certainly a nice milestone, however. I have to say I feel better than ever since losing the weight. My wife says she’s sleeping better now that my bloated carcass isn’t snoring through the night. Since it’s winter I haven’t spent much time outside with the kids, but let’s pretend that I can keep up with them now or something. (That’s what old people usually say when they shed extra pounds.)

Jeff's old life

Mostly, I’ve settled into a nice new routine. I’m more aware of what I eat now that I cook most of my meals from scratch. I get up extra early to exercise, which gives me an energy boost throughout the morning. That could be a mental disorder, but I’ll take what I can get. I think the changes that made the biggest differences were cutting out alcohol and doing a better job of controlling food portions. When an errant hamburger can knock out the calories burnt during an hour of running, it’s critical to take diet into account.

I’m hoping we’ll get around to a round two in the near future. Being accountable to other people was a huge inspiration, and the thought of beating Dan kept me going throughout this short experience.

GI Fitness Battle: Week 7

Bryan Vore — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:00:00 GMT

Five Game Informer editors are squaring off in a weight loss competition to shed 25 pounds. Every week they weigh in on Wii Fit Plus to see who's working it and who's sitting out. Jeff Cork has crossed the finish line, but can he hold that loss for the required three straight days?

Tune in Thursday to see if Jeff can keep the weight off to officially win, and also get Annette's weekly results.

From left to right: Meagan, Jeff C, Dan, Annette, and Bryan.

Week 7

1) Jeff C: -9.7
2) Bryan: -4.0
3) Annette: -2.3
4) Meagan: +0.2
5) Dan: +1.3

Total Approximate Tally

1) Jeff C: -25
2) Bryan: -17
3) Dan: -10
4) Meagan: -10
5) Annette: -9

Jeff C:
After working my tail off for the past few months, I’ve finally hit my goal weight. Now I just need to hit that weight three days in a row to claim the prize. With any luck, that should be a cinch. Full disclosure: There’s no way I could have possibly lost nine pounds in a week. That would be absolutely insane. Last week I may or may not have consumed a bunch of water before the weigh in to throw everyone off my scent. I knew I was only a few pounds away from the goal that week, and I was worried that Dan in particular might do something crazy to catch up to me. Yeah, it’s completely sneaky, but whatever. This past week I was in Vegas for DICE, but I managed to eat well and exercise just as I would have if I’d been at home. And it looks like it paid off. We’ll see in a few days…

Bryan:
Well, who could have expected Jeff would drop ten pounds in a week? Even though he's the first to cross the line, I'm feeling good about this week. I believe a four-pound drop is my best weekly weigh-in yet, and that's nothing to sneeze at. Besides, Jeff was right on the line so there's always a chance his weight could bump up slightly and start the three-day counter over again.

Meagan:
I was hoping that the competition would drag on a bit longer, but looks like the main event is over. Still, I am up for a second tier competition with the same sets of rules. I am getting really close to my initial goal of 15lbs, then will see if I am satisfied and switch to maintaining my weight instead of lowering it. As for my results this week in particular, I last weighed in on Thursday so not much time has passed. I don’t even really consider a .2lb increase a gain, more just fluctuation between days. So even though it’s my first increase since we started, I am not very concerned. I am very motivated to shed that last five lbs in the next two weeks, though, so I figure I am on the right track. More of the same should work!

Dan:
Jeff sucks.

To follow the fitness competition, type "GI Fitness" in to the search field or hit the blog tab above the story.

GI Fitness Battle: Week 6 [UPDATE]

Bryan Vore — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Five Game Informer editors are squaring off in a weight loss competition to shed 25 pounds. Every week they weigh in on Wii Fit Plus to see who's working it and who's sitting out. Both Dan and Meagan are out of town this week until Thursday so we'll have to see if they can maintain healthy eating and exercise practices on the road. At this point, Annette has jumped up to first place in the weekly results after last week's tough showing. Bryan continues to shed meager slices of weight, but not enough to take advantage of Jeff's slip up week.

Original post on February 15, 2010.

[UPDATE] Dan and Meagan have weighed in so we finally have the full week 6 results. Check out the updated info.

From left to right: Meagan, Jeff C, Dan, Annette, and Bryan.

Week 6

1) Annette: -1.8
2) Meagan: -1.5
3) Bryan: -0.7
4) Dan: +1.3
5) Jeff C: +1.8

Total Approximate Tally

1) Jeff C: -17
2) Bryan: -13
3) Dan: -12.5
4) Meagan: -10
5) Annette: -6.5

Annette:
After last week's setback, I returned to my usual diet and exercise regimen, and lost nearly 2lbs this week. I will continue to exercise everyday with P90X and eat healthy, and will hopefully have a consistent showing over the next couple weeks. My weight fluctuates so much it drives me crazy! I could just look at a pizza slice and gain a pound! My one concern is I'm leaving the country on a work-related trip Sunday, so I'm unsure how that will affect my diet, or eating habits as a result of jet lag. It could work in my favor. It could set me back a pound or two. I guess we'll have to wait and see next week when I return!

Meagan: [UPDATE]
I was sure I was a goner this week, and prepared for it to be my first gain of the competition. But somehow I evened out pretty well. I didn’t eat ridiculously unhealthy the four days I was out of town, but I ate more than usual to be sure. The seafood, sushi and sandwiches weren’t so bad, I worked out twice, and only had half a beer the entire trip. I do, however, remember opting not to substitute out my bacon for fruit at breakfast, and a fair amount of cheese on a plate of nachos I ordered while holed up in my room working late. And then there was some cake. Still, I’m not going to squander my results, deserved or not! Considering our next weigh-in is only 4 days away, I don’t expect super stellar results. But now that I’ve hit that 10lb mark, I feel pretty good!

Bryan:
It was heartening to see Jeff finally lighten up on his strict regimen. After his massive losses over the last couple of weeks, this slight gain puts some wind back in my sails. However, I had lots of fun myself this weekend with friends and family, and that always comes with not the healthiest food and beverage choices. I don't see too much of that kind of action coming in the next couple of weeks, so I'm hoping to really take care of business.

Dan: [UPDATE]
Considering what my last couple of weeks have consisted of, I’m totally fine with putting on a little over a pound. I haven’t had many chances to work out at all thanks to my dad’s visit and two work-related trips, so it’s been nothing but sloth and junk food for some time now. I have two friends visiting from Kansas City this weekend, so that will continue my “forced” unhealthiness for a couple more days. After that, I don’t have any visitors or trips until mid-March, so I’ll soon be back on track and hopefully catching up with Jeff.

Jeff:
This weekend was a killer. I didn't have a lot of free time to exercise, but I ate as though I had. I only have a few more days at home until I hit the road again for work, so I need to focus on maintaining my routine as best as possible. I'm not too worried about it though. This is a game of overall trends, not short term blips on a chart. Watch this space in about three weeks for my victory post.

To follow the fitness competition, type "GI Fitness" in to the search field or hit the blog tab above the story.

GI Fitness Battle: Week 5 [UPDATE]

Bryan Vore — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:00:00 GMT

Five Game Informer editors are squaring off in a weight loss competition to shed 25 pounds. Every week they weigh in on Wii Fit Plus to see who's working it and who's sitting out. This week, Jeff's out of the office, Dan loses weight while eating terribly, and everyone else just coasts along.

Another Tuesday post this week. And Jeff C is out of town so he won't be weighing in until Thursday. Be sure to check back here for an update of his results, which will hopefully suck.

[UPDATE] Unfortunately, his results did not suck. Check out the numbers below to see how close Jeff is to total victory.

From left to right: Meagan, Jeff C, Dan, Annette, and Bryan.

Week 5 [UPDATE]

1) Dan: -4
2) Jeff C: -3.1
3) Bryan: - 0.9
4) Meagan: -0.4
5) Annette: +2.4

Total Approximate Tally

1) Jeff C: -19 [barf]
2) Dan: -14
3) Bryan: -12.5
4) Meagan: -8.5
5) Annette: -4.5

Dan:
This is definitely my most confusing weigh-in yet. My dad was in town for the last four days, and in that period I didn't work out at all, I ate SmashBurger, buffalo wings, two pizzas, probably 30 beers, and unlimited mozzarella sticks, nachos, meatballs, and little smokies during the Super Bowl. Considering these factors, I expected to weigh in between 4 and 6 pounds heavier than I did last week. To my surprise, I managed to lose 4 pounds on what must be the most awesome diet ever. I might be onto something here with the whole "don't exercise and only eat crap" approach.

Jeff: [UPDATE]
My weigh in was a bit late because of some travel, so my numbers could be slightly bigger than what they would have been a few days ago. Still, I’m happy that I lost anything at all. I made use of the hotel gym and avoided beer (even though it looked delicious and everyone else was imbibing), but the few meals I did grab were pretty bad for me. I cut back on portion sizes in an attempt to minimize damage. It looks like we’re entering the home stretch, so it’s time to make sure I’m pushing myself as hard as I possibly can.

Bryan:
Mass Effect 2 is beaten (my Paragon playthrough at least) so I'm back to exercising. The huge snowfall that blasted the midwest over the last few days has provided a nice alternate shoveling workout as well. Unfortunately, the Super Bowl happened this weekend so wings, meatballs, and nachos worked against all of the sweating I did. Those first ten pounds came off so much easier!

Meagan:
I'm not particularly happy with this week's meager loss, but it comes somewhat expected. I've been feeling pretty under the weather since Wednesday of last week, so it's been hard to get myself motivated to work out when crawling under a blanket and napping sounds much more appealing. Still, the aches and pains are starting to go away, and I plan on coming back with a workout vengeance this week. I am really motivated to hit that 10lb mark as soon as possible especially considering that Dan and I will be out of town from Sunday the 14th till Wednesday the 17th. That means we can't weigh in till Thursday. While the extra few days should, in theory, give us an edge over the competition, I am scared silly at the thought of eating out four days in a row. I know it's possible to make healthy food choices on the road (and I already checked, our hotel has a 24-hour gym!) but it's still tough to say no to steak dinners and malt beverages after a hard day's work. Moderation is key, and I am going to try my best to not blow my progress while out and about!

Annette:
So while I did well during the week with good eating and exercise habits, I fell off the wagon as the week came to a close. P90X can definitely get exhausting, especially the yoga that goes on for 1.5 hours. I took a break from the workouts and went on a few social outings that involved very unhealthy habits. I'm not at all surprised at my results this week and deserve this setback. It has only encouraged me to do better next week.

To follow the fitness competition, type "GI Fitness" in to the search field or hit the blog tab above the story.

GI Fitness Battle: Week 4

Bryan Vore — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:46:00 GMT

Five Game Informer editors are squaring off in a weight loss competition to shed 25 pounds. Every week they weigh in on Wii Fit Plus to see who's working it and who's sitting out. This week, Dan actually gains weight despite his most rigorous workout routine yet.

Sorry for the delay on this week's post. Jeff was out of the office on Monday so we had to push back the weigh-in a day. Next week's post will also be on Tuesday the 9th due to absentee editors.

From left to right: Meagan, Jeff C, Dan, Annette, and Bryan. [Dan's line got messed up this week. See below for his true results.]

Week 4

1) Jeff C: -6.8
2) Meagan: -2.4
3) Annette: -2.2
4) Bryan: -1.8
5) Dan: +0.7

Total Approximate Tally

1) Jeff C: -16
2) Bryan: -11
3) Dan: -10
4) Meagan: -8
5) Annette: -7

Jeff C:
Whew! I didn’t expect to see a number like this week’s result, and I don’t expect to ever again. I’m not putting too much stock into the number, since weight can fluctuate so wildly from day to day—and throughout the day as well. I added some more cardio time to my weight training, which I think helped. When we started this competition I wasn’t able to do steady-state cardio for any real length of time, but that seems to be changing. As fun as it is to see numbers dropping, I’m more inspired when I realize that I’m able to run longer than I was physically able to at the start. Also, Dan sucks.

Meagan:
My new motto is “slow and steady wins the race.” Well, that may not be entirely true, considering that Jeff now has lost twice the amount of weight that I have, but I am happy with my 2lb loss per week even if it hasn’t positioned me as a front runner. As far as changes to my routine, I started P90X last week and it is kicking my butt in every way possible. And in the best way possible. Although every inch of me hurts now, I think that using the videos 3-4 times a week between my normal cardio workouts is going to help me get the results I want in terms of toning my arms and so on. All and all, 8lbs is nothing to scoff at, and I am well on my way to losing those 15lbs that I’ve been trying to get rid of for the past five years. Things are getting exciting!

Annette:
I’m still pushing through P90X and showed modest weight loss results this week. While it’s not as awesome as last week’s results, I’ll take it considering my performance the first couple weeks of the competition. My current routine seems to be working well. Now that my body no longer hates me for doing P90X, I may inject more cardio into my workout schedule. I plan on working a little harder this week, though. If I lose three pounds next weigh-in, I will be down a total of 10 pounds!

Bryan:
I have no problem blaming Mass Effect 2 for my less-than-impressive results this week. If I wasn't stuck on the couch playing this *** fantastic game, than I wouldn't have missed out on hours of exercise. Add this to the fact that I went to three birthday parties for my favorite future-sister-in-law (hey, Lori!), all with delicious, calorie-rich foods. Next week, ME 2 will be out of the way and I'll be back on track.

Dan:
Something’s awry here. My last week was probably the most exercise-intensive week of my life, and I still managed to put on 0.7 pounds. I’ve done P90X every day, and I usually followed that by running anywhere between 3-5 miles. One of my goals for this competition was to be able to run 3 miles in 30 minutes, and I did that twice over the last week. So basically, I’m not really sure how I put on almost a pound this week. The only thing that makes sense to me is if it’s muscle weight, but I’ve focused far more on cardio than anything else. I’m definitely concerned about the next couple of weeks, because my dad is visiting Minneapolis this weekend and that means several days of drinking and eating nothing but crap. After that I’m going on two trips for work, so that means travel food. I’m expecting some subpar weigh-ins for about two weeks before I can kick it back into high gear.

To follow the fitness competition, type "GI Fitness" in to the search field or hit the blog tab above the story.

GI Fitness Battle: Week 3

Bryan Vore — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:43:00 GMT

Five Game Informer editors are squaring off in a weight loss competition to shed 25 pounds. Every Monday they weigh in on Wii Fit Plus to see who's working it and who's sitting out.
The big shocker this week? Annette destroyed nearly everyone.

From left to right: Meagan, Jeff C, Dan, Annette, and Bryan

Wow, the P90x people are not kidding around. Both Dan and Annette broke personal records since our competition began. Dan also ran four miles on Saturday in addition to his normal workout, so his crazy pre-weigh-in stunts are back in full force. At least he's eating now. Meagan is contemplating the P90X dark side, while Jeff and Bryan keep on truckin' with their steady programs.

Week 3

1) Dan: -4.9
2) Annette: -4.2
3) Bryan: -3.3
4) Meagan: -2.2
5) Jeff C: -2.0

Total Approximate Tally

1) Dan: -11
2) Bryan: -10
3) Jeff C: -9
4) Meagan: -6
5) Annette: -5

Dan:
I’m officially back on track after last week’s unflattering showing. Most of the credit goes to P90X, because it’s been relentlessly kicking the crap out of me for the last week. Now that I’m not starving myself, I’m actually getting through the day without being constantly hungry, plus I have energy to work out when I get home. Considering I’ve never really done any weightlifting, some of the exercises have definitely resulted in soreness the next day, but I won’t be complaining as long as I keep losing weight. This week was the best weigh-in so far, as we all lost a decent amount. I’m happy as long as I’m beating Jeff.

Annette:
After a couple weeks of no results I started P90X. After a week of P90X I lost a few pounds. Enthused about the results? Yes I am. Now it’s just a matter of keeping this up for the next few weeks with a 2lb loss here and there. I must also note another change to my weight loss approach: I’ve been eating more. After a lecture/scolding via Jeff C. I was told I need to eat more during the day to boost my metabolism, and essentially not die during the intense workouts . With that said, I’ve been eating six times a day, which includes healthy snacks and small meals. I guess it’s working. I’m hoping these results continue week after week, as Meagan and I plan to catch up with the boys!

Bryan:
It's hard to imagine coming in third place after losing over three pounds in week, but when everyone's kicking tail like this I guess I can't rest on my laurels. I'm actually surprised that I lost this much considering my weekend. I had my typical Friday cheat dinner with the Mrs., went to a Motion City Soundtrack show and had a few drinks during and after, and spent all of the rest of my time loafing on the couch playing Mass Effect 2 and watching the Vikings go down in flames. NO EXERCISE AT ALL. I've gotta get back on the elliptical tonight before I lose my routine.

Meagan:
My results this week are encouraging. I’m glad that I am shedding pounds at a steady rate, but I would be lying if I said that the 3+ pounds per week club is motivating me to step up my game. Last week the only major changes I made was increasing what I eat daily. I am forcing myself to have small meals and snacks throughout the day to keep my metabolism going. I think it’s a move in the right direction considering that I get hungry less often and avoid moments of weakness when it comes to unhealthy snacks. Overall, it’s a better lifestyle change, too. I’ve never been one to eat breakfast, but I’ve found I’m actually looking forward to it now. As far as exercise, I’ve been looking for a bit of variety, and plan on joining the P90X club later tonight. If I can get results like Annette and Dan next week, I will be happy! I really want to close the gap and make the whole competition more interesting. But all and all, I am stoked with the whole process so far. It’s fun watching everyone inch that much closer to their goals!

Jeff C:
Even though I dipped to the third position, I’m still confident about the challenge. The key is consistency, and I’ve settled into a routine that’s both challenging and easy to maintain. It won’t lead to any of the big losses (and subsequent regains) as other plans might provide, but it’s a nice, steady progression that will ultimately lead to victory. I think one of the more interesting things about this competition is how differently each of us is approaching it. Dan and Annette are trying out that P90x thing and throwing in some random cardio whenever they can, Bryan is sticking to a cardio-only program, and I’m mixing cardio with weight training. Meagan is the wild card, since she didn’t really need to lose much weight to begin with.

To follow the fitness competition, type "GI Fitness" in to the search field or hit the blog tab above the story.

GI Fitness Battle: Week 2

Bryan Vore — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:32:00 GMT

Five Game Informer editors are squaring off in a weight loss competition to shed 25 pounds. Will the second weigh-in be repeat of last week's results or will a new champion rise to the top? Check out the surprising numbers.

From left to right: Meagan, Jeff C, Dan, Annette, and Bryan

Oh, how the skinny have fallen. Dan decided to actually eat this week and has gained back some of last week's ridiculous nine pounds lost. Jeff and I have kind of swapped results this week, making him frighteningly consistent so far. Meagan's keeping up with losing two pounds a week and Annette gained just a touch, though she says she has a new plan in works

Week 2

1) Jeff C: -4.6
2) Bryan: -2.6
3) Meagan: -1.8
4) Annette: +0.4
5) Dan: +2.9

Total Approximate Tally

1) Jeff C: -7
2) Bryan: -6.8
3) Dan: -6
3) Meagan: -3.8
4) Annette: -0.5

So what do the participants think of this week's results?

Jeff:
Well, it looks like Bryan and I are just swapping numbers for the time being. After Dan’s miserable showing, we’re all in the same spot, too. Actually, it’s not entirely Dan’s fault. His stunning initial results were clearly unsustainable—don’t blame him, blame biology. This next week, I’m going to continue doing what I’ve been doing. I’m eating loads of healthy foods and exercising regularly. I think there’s a misconception that you have to starve yourself or eat horribly boring food to lose weight. I’m still eating burgers, steak and all that good stuff, but I’m just doing a better job of pairing it up with good sides. I think next week will be critical, since Dan won’t be able to blame any potential shortcomings on travel. Bwah ha ha.

Bryan:
I'm feeling good about my consistent second place ranking. This way I'm still near the top, but I don't have a target painted on my back. During the week it feels like I do an awesome job at eating right and exercising. In fact, Fridays have been my lowest weight days of the week. My problem is the weekends. I'll take a day off of working out and cheat more with eating. The worst was eating Pizza Hut stuffed crust pizza with lasagna and breadsticks on Sunday night during the Golden Globe awards. It sounded like such a good idea at the time, but I've paid for it every Monday and Tuesday so far.

Meagan:
Two weeks in and I’m feeling good. The competitive air around the office has been fun to play off of and has inspired Annette and I to run up and down eight flights of stairs before we eat lunch each day. Our goal is to do two laps today. I think we can manage. But so far, so good. I’ve never been one to drop weight fast, and as such have decided to keep weight lifting even if it is counterproductive to winning the competition. In the end I would rather get closer to my goal body type (toned arms and abs) than sacrifice building muscle in order win the competition. Still, 4lbs in two weeks isn’t bad! My only struggle at the moment is diversity in my diet. I’ve been eating enough, but mostly the same thing – lots of veggies, chicken and so on. I need to make it out to the grocery store and pick up some fish and other lean meats in order to curb cravings and avoid reaching for something quick and unhealthy. Overall though, I am super stoked to keep moving forward in this competition. Perhaps I will even catch up to the boys with some extra hard work!

Annette:
After today’s weigh-in results I’ve decided to switch up my regimen. For the past two weeks I’ve committed myself to cardio and muscle toning exercises (jump rope, treadmill, floor exercises, resistance bands). I’m careful with what I eat, control my portions and completely stay away from junk and alcohol, and still managed to gain 0.4lbs! Granted, this slight weight fluctuation could be attributed to my giant earrings, thicker socks, a sip of water or any other variables since it’s such a small amount. Still, I’m not happy with my results, or lack thereof. I decided to start P90X and am sticking to the “lean” track of the program per reader recommendations. At this point I’m dead last. I may not win, but if I can still get in fantastic shape while maintaining some of my curves and feel healthier overall, that’s fine with me. It’s still early in the race though, and I’m not giving up! I just know this P90X thing is going to totally whoop my ass.

Dan:
I’ve known for about a week that today was going to be a rough weigh-in. After all, I had Sunday’s dinner at an all-you-can-eat Brazilian meat-on-a-stick place (I’m sure that’s the official terminology), had my share of beers at WWE Monday Night Raw the next day, then spent the rest of the week on a trip, which means plenty of overeating and the requisite In-N-Out visit. To top it all off, I went to the Vikings-Cowboys game yesterday and had plenty of beers and gigantic soft pretzels. Coupled with the complete absence of working out for a week, I knew I wouldn’t match the insane 9+ pounds I lost at the first weigh-in. I put on three pounds over the week, so it’s time to get serious again. After reading tons and tons of positive reviews on Amazon, I decided to try out the P90X workout program. After all, it has to be good if Ashton Kutcher is tweeting about it, right? My first workout with it is tonight, and I’m fully expecting to collapse on the floor exhausted within about 20 minutes.

To follow the fitness competition, type "GI Fitness" in to the search field or hit the blog tab above the story.

GI Fitness Battle: Week 1

Bryan Vore — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:14:00 GMT

Five Game Informer editors are squaring off in a weight loss competition to shed 25 pounds. After a week of working out and eating well, the results are in. If you missed last Friday's introductory posting, check it out here if you'd like some background on the competition.

From left to right: Meagan, Jeff C, Dan, Annette, and Bryan

As you can see from the Wii Fit chart above, everyone managed to lose weight in the first week. Who's that jerk with the black line? It's Dan, or Starving Dan, as I have decided to call him. Here's the current rankings on pounds lost:

1) Dan: -9
2) Bryan: -4
3) Jeff C: -2.5
4) Meagan: -2
5) Annette: -1

This week we'll take a look at the competitors' strategies:

Dan:
My strategy lies in a mixture of eating way better and way less than I usually do, along with a lot of running. When I started this competition 8 or 9 days ago, my mile time was 11:30 and I've worked it down to 8:12 as of yesterday. Outside of the treadmill, I'm spending a lot of time with the stationary bike and sit-ups. Phil Kollar mentioned to me that EA Sports Active was surprisingly effective, and I learned he's definitely right. I combined the game with some gym-quality resistance cords, set the intensity to the highest level, and the game kicks the crap out of me in about 30 minutes every time. Tracking my exercises and calories with the iPhone app Lose It! has been incredibly helpful as well.

Bryan:
I bought an elliptical last year and it's been collecting dust for the most part. So now this is a good opportunity to start to get some worth out of it. Right now I'm finally getting around to watching The Wire (on season 2 right now) while I work out so it's not excruciatingly boring. Dan showed me an iPhone app called Lose It! Where I can track eating and exercise from day to day. Trying to hit under calorie budget for the day provides kind of a gaming feel to the proceedings. Plus, I like stats!

Jeff C:
My strategy is simple: Load up on cream-based stew and beer in the morning and eat ice cream just before bed. (And maybe sabotage the competition.) Mostly I'm just being much more vigilant about what I'm eating and going to the gym on a regular basis. Another strategy is to start off by being the heaviest, ensuring victory.

Meagan:
It's complicated: eating healthy and working out. In reality, I am changing my diet a bit and pushing myself harder to get more out of my workout time. I already do 60min on the elliptical each morning while I watch TMZ (really guilty pleasure) and The Daily Show. I'm just pushing myself a bit harder now. Sometimes I use my cat as a free weight while running. For some reason he likes to be picked up while I work up a sweat. As far as food, the hardest thing for me to cut is beer. But I've done it before, and I will do it again. Also, lots more water and fresh fruits and veggies. I usually keep veggies around, but now they act as my free food whenever I get hungry between meals. Perhaps I will staple a photo of Leeloo to the wall in front of my elliptical.

Annette:
I have the good fortune of having a gym in my apartment building so I've definitely been making use of the fitness selection there since the competition started. I also have been using aerobics DVDs and will soon start jumping rope (once I get a jump rope). Music usually helps me through the workouts. I figured if I mix up the kinds of workouts I do I won't relapse into laziness. I've eliminated all junk food from my apartment and just keep healthy food and snacks in my cupboards so I have no choice but to eat healthy when I'm hungry. To keep track of my workout and eating activity I use the iPhone LoseIt! app with Dan and Bryan. We can see each other's stats so it's always a motivator to see your competitor has lost 400 calories from elliptical work. That usually is enough to get me on a treadmill to run twice as hard.

To follow the fitness competition, type "GI Fitness" in to the search field or hit the blog tab above the story.

GI Editors Square Off In Cutthroat Fitness Competition

Bryan Vore — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:30:00 GMT

Rolling into the Game Informer office after the holidays, several editors felt the repercussions of too many cookies, pies, and other assorted treats. So instead of just making an empty resolution that we’d quit after three days, five of us decided to make it interesting.

Annette, Dan, Jeff Cork, Meagan, and I have made a wager in which the first person to lose 25 pounds receives a video game from each of the other contestants. Every Monday we’ll weigh in using Wii Fit Plus to verify how everyone’s coming along. Since it’s such a large amount to lose, we’re expecting the contest to last several months before a victor is determined.

Keep an eye on the blog section if you’re interested in tracking our progress or if you’d like to share some of your own New Year’s fitness resolutions. To start off, I asked all of my rivals to share why they were interested in losing to me in this competition. I’ll start:

Bryan
It's the time of year for resolutions and I've wanted to get more active for a while now. The problem has always been incentive. Why would I work out in my free time when I could do absolutely anything else? I even put a TV in my exercise room to sweeten the pot, but that didn't work either. The competitive nature of this competition is just what I need to really get going on this. I just picture the slack jawed look on everyone's faces at weigh in when I totally destroy them.

Annette
This is something I've been thinking about for a while. For a few months last year I'd start some hardcore diet and routine, and quit within two weeks. I did this repeatedly. With this competition I'm really looking forward to losing a few extra pounds, eating better and just being more active overall. This whole thing originated after Dan and I talked about weight loss goals for the year and figured the best way to encourage us gamers to lose weight is to, well, make it competitive. News spread of what we were doing around the office and next thing I knew there were five of us weighing in with Wii Fit to kick off the competition. Chocolate started "mysteriously" appearing on my desk the past couple days courtesy of my competitors. Things are going to get ugly.

Dan
I spent two weeks back at home over the holidays, during which I exclusively ate crappy food and drank a lot with old friends. From what I hear, this is not healthy. I think the moment that sealed the deal was when my grandpa looked at my gut, said "I wouldn't even want to be in a car with you! What the sam hell's the matter with you?" and then put his ear up to my stomach and made baby sounds. This is not something that is supposed to happen, so I knew it was time to get in shape.

Jeff Cork
Through a patented combination of excess and sloth, I've managed to bulk up nicely over the past few years. It's been ridiculously fun, but it's probably not the most healthy way to live. Also, I like to get free games. Looking at who I'm up against, it's basically a done deal. The competitive angle definitely helps.

Meagan
I work out nearly every morning and, for the most part, eat pretty healthy. But there is always room for improvement. Especially when you plan on cosplaying as LeeLoo Dallas from The Fifth Element at SDCC this year. Belly shirts = scary. Initially I was a bit hesitant to join the 25lbs club. I tried to create a second-tier group interested in losing a cosmetic 15lbs, but when no one was found I decided to jump on board. I'm a bit competitive. I don't know if I will (or want to) lose the full 25lbs, but the way I see it, the competition is a way for me to trim down a bit with the support of some friends. I am a big proponent of healthy body images and being comfortable in your skin, so I am okay losing the competition if I am uncomfortable dropping the full 25. But I will take it day by day and see how it goes.

Super Mario World Totally Owns Super Mario Bros. 3

Bryan Vore — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:03:00 GMT

In light of our recent Top 200 Games of All Time feature I thought I’d settle the matter on the best Mario game ever. Many people choose Super Mario Bros. 3 and don’t realize that they’re completely wrong. Super Mario World is way better. If you still need convincing, here are five really great reasons.

1)GRAPHICS
Just look at that these guys. Can’t you see that World is better? 3’s shoes are the same color as his shirt for chrissakes!

2)CAPES ARE COOLER THAN FURRY SUITS
Do you think Batman and Superman would still be around if they wore silly tails and fuzzy outfits?

3)THE WIZARD SUCKS
3 was in a really dumb commercial that lasted 100 minutes.

4)TASTIER LEVELS
World has stages like Donut Plains, Cookie Mountain, and Chocolate Island. What does 3 have? Grass Land, Desert Land, Pipe Land. Gross.

5)DINOSAURS
World rides around on the back of a freakin’ dinosaur that will eat absolutely anything. 3 prefers to hop around in a big green shoe.

Weezer - The 8-bit Album

Bryan Vore — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:05:38 GMT

So I realize this chiptune take on Weezer has probably been around for awhile, but I just heard about it and figured at least two other people in the world hadn't yet. This is for you guys!

Despite the blue album cover art, the songs range from Weezer's early material like Jamie to the latter day crap. I personally prefer the instrumental tracks to the ones with some dude trying to sing over the top.

Track list:

1) Island In The Sun (Belmont's Revisal) - videogame orchestra
2) Holiday - Anamanaguchi
3) El Scorcho - Tugboat
4) The World Has Turned And Left Me Here - Bit Shifter
5) You Won't Get With Me Tonight - PDF Format
6) Hash Pipe - seal of quality
7) In The Garage - OxygenStar
8) You Gave Your Love To Me Softly - :(
9) We Are All On Drugs - Rabato
10) Jamie - Unicorn Dream Attack
11) Come To My Pod - Mahamajama
12) Why Bother? - I Fight Dragons
13) Buddy Holly - nordloef
14) I Do - arcadecoma.

So what do you think of the tracks? Any chiptune aficionados have a gauge on the overall quality?

Why Capcom Owned TGS

Bryan Vore — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:54:21 GMT

While many gaming companies had at least one or two big announcements and/or new playable levels at Tokyo Game Show, Capcom destroyed all with its ass kicking lineup. Here’s a quick rundown:

Lost Planet 2: Four player co-op was up and running for what will be the third episode in the final game. You start out in a chopper that, of course, quickly gets blasted out of the sky. Next you battle two blind akrid minibosses that use some kind of sonar to sense where you are. Then you hop on a crazy train and work to activate a ridiculous canon to take out an equally ridiculous work akrid that’s rampaging behind.

Super Street Fighter IV: Sure, this wasn’t announced at the show, but it was shown by special appointment. T. Hawk, DeeJay, and new fighter Juri round out what will be eight total new additions to the SF IV lineup. Online lobbies, a spectate mode, and new less annoying theme song are promised. Plus, all characters are unlocked from the start so you don’t have to go through that painful process again.

Dead Rising 2: We got a whole evening to play both single player and multiplayer sections for the first time. The single player area allowed us to run wild in a casino using items like a stuffed swordfish and a canoe paddle with chainsaws attached to the ends to maim 300 zombies in 10 minutes. The prize? A mechanized wheelchair with machine guns taped to the sides. The ensuing bloodbath was a thing to behold. Multiplayer was lots of fun as well, where you run over zombies from inside a metal ball, flick them with a moose antler helmet, and run them down with a chainsaw equipped motorcycle.

Ghost Trick: Ace Attorney godfather, Shu Takumi, has turned his focus in a new direction, an adventure game in which your dead character’s soul possesses objects in order to stop innocents from being murdered. The animation is simply stunning and the hook lends itself to some intriguing puzzles.

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars: Capcom debuted Dead Rising’s Frank West as a new playable character for the U.S. version. He can summon zombies and runaway shopping carts, stun opponents with his camera flash, bash dudes with golf clubs and baseball bats, and even don a Mega Man costume to unleash a screen filling Mega Buster blast.

Resident Evil 5: Alternative Edition: OK, so adding motion controls to RE 5 may or may not work well on the PS3, but at least we’re finally seeing how a big game would incorporate Sony’s new motion controller. Even if you couldn’t give a crap about the controls, the new campaign chapter covering the flashback of Chris and Jill’s raid of the Spencer mansion is plenty to get excited about. It sounds like 360 owners will be able to download the new content as well.

Okamiden: Chisaki Taiyo: Sure, all of the Clover guys are off running Platinum Games, but the director of Okami Wii, Kuniomi Matsushita, is heading this one up so it’s not like they’re starting from scratch. Even though Okamiden will take a graphical hit on DS, drawing on the touch screen for ink attacks is pretty much the ideal control scheme for the series. Plus, it’s friggin’ cute as hell!