Villains. Editor’s BLURB by Dave Giarrusso DIGITAL reetings, gang! Welcome back for another heapin’ Ghelpin’ of Digital Press goodness. Or badness, since this issue is all about villains! If you’ve been with us for a while, you might remember that we devoted issue #37 to the videogame heroes. In the interest of equal time, we fi gured we’d better get crackin’ on the evil-twin counterpart issue. In the movies, we often see villains who are much more interesting than the PRESS heroes. Star Wars had Luke and Anakin, but everyone wanted to BE Darth Maul or Darth Vader. Everyone, including Anakin himself! Whether or not it’s the promise of unlimited power or those nifty black outfi ts is anyone’s guess. DIGITAL PRESS # 53 In the land of videogames though, it’s typically the heroes who get top JULY / AUGUST 2003 billing. Pac-Man stars in over a dozen different games, but the monsters are Founders Joe Santulli just part of the supporting cast. Pengo kicks so much Sno-Bee ass that casual Kevin Oleniacz gamers don’t even recall the Bees. And really, Donkey Kong was much more Editors-In-Chief Joe Santulli charismatic as a villain. You probably already see where I’m going with this... Dave Giarrusso Sometimes you’ve just gotta be BAD. Whether your stepping into the virtual Senior Editors Al Backiel Jeff Cooper shoes of Donkey Kong, Shang Tsung, Tommy Vercetti, or the Olsen Twins, being John Hardie the bad guy is often much more fun than being the hero. Sean Kelly So here there ya have it, gang. Grab a pizza and an ice-cold soda, kick back Staff Writers Larry Anderson Ian Baronofsky and join us while we BRING ON THE BAD GUYS! Tony Bueno Roloff de Jeu Don Evanoff Editors. Howard Hirsch Villain’s BLURB by that S.O.B., General Ahkboob Keita Iida Russ Perry Jr. ah! Digital PIGS! Your acts of aggression will not be Don Rogers tolerated! We will defeat you, Digital Pigs! Pursue me Scott Stilphen B Laura Truchon and you shall swim in pools of your own blood! You will Monique Trulson never survive my mega-powerful electric chair! I will use all the powers of my baby milk factory to grind you into dust Production Liz Santulli under my mighty boot heel. Fear me... or be destroyed! Art Dave Giarrusso I’ll buy YOU for a dollar! Special Thanks Bill Kunkel Todd Rogers Bossk In this issue page Subscription Info ON THE COVER Digital Press is published bi-monthly, six Villians issues per year. Subscription rates: US: $10, Editor’s Blurb 2 by Todd Rogers Canada: $15, Outside of North America: Reader Retaliation (mail) 3 $18. Single issue rate: $2 The Wacky World of Al 4 Todd “Mr. Activision” Rogers is this Back Issues On the Prowl 8 issue’s distinguished guest cover A limited supply of back issues is available upon request if you’re very nice, have loads Random Reviews 12 artist. Though his vanquished gaming of games to trade, or have lots of cash. Random Reviews LITE 17 competitors might consider ToddZilla DVD de Jour 18 a “villain,” he’s ironically quite a Entire contents ©2003 Joe Santulli. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or DP Funnies 19 nice guy and loves to talk games. Just remember that if you’re playing in part without prior written permission is 20 Questions 20 prohibited! All game images are © their against Todd, you’re probably gonna Note-worthy back respective owners. Digital Press and the get taken to school. Villain. Hero. Are DP staff are not responsible for unsolicited they really all that different? materials. Printed in the USA. 2 Digital Press www.digitpress.com www.digitpress.com Digital Press 3 P.S. I say the video game’s name share of collectibles. Look already USA 37c (Cubivore, Pinobee, etc.) so much at PlayStation Dragon Ball Z GT or because I dont like calling them “it”, if Suikoden II; N64’s Harvest Moon; even DIGITAL that makes sense :) GameCube titles like Cubivore are starting to Hi JIm, buzz among the collector I picked up Pinobee sect as “hard to fi nd.” As from EBgames when it long as there are gamers was released. It was a there will be game $9.99 title at that time collectors. (about two months Game ON. - Joe Santulli ago). I guess it may be rare someday, I don’t Sonic Boom like the game itself I saw Sonic Adventure Limited Edition PRESS at all though, it’s very typical of that for the Dreamcast in the rarity guide shovelware stuff that’s been coming and was wondering if you know where out - so few good games among the I could fi nd a picture of this game? The PSX recent library. pawn shops in my area have been As for the PS2 game I don’t even getting in Dreamcast games at a dabble in rarities for game systems Pining for Pinobee steadier rate lately, so I’d like to keep still in production. Look at what’s an eye out for it. - swlovinist Hi, hows it going Joe? I was at Toys happened with Kakuto Chojin or Air R Us earlyer today and I saw Pinobee Force Delta Storm. They were both Here’s a picture of the front cover. for the Playstation for $19.99. I have “sure-fi re” rare titles but they’re both Notice the “Limited Edition” text never seen this game come out before very easy to fi nd now either because just below the logo - that’s the only except on the Game Boy Advance. they’ve been re-released (AFDS) or cosmetic difference between the Have you heard if Pinobee for the because they may have never been covers of limited edition and the PSX is hard/rare to come by because that uncommon to begin with (KC). regular edition. We have more images this is the fi rst time I have ever seen Enjoy your games though! That’s of the back of the jewel case and of Pinobee on the PSX and Pinobee what they’re really for. - Joe Santulli the CD itself (both of which proclaim came out last year on PSX. I did not the Limited Edition status of this version) have enough money available at the Digital Press webiste, today to pick Pinobee Color me www.digitpress.com! up, so I hid Pinobee Collectible and I am going back I’m relatively new to to pick Pinobee up collecting, but I really tomorrow when I have enjoy it. some more money. Can anyone attend Also today I bought the gaming expo or is it Magic Pen Gel for the limited to certain people Playstation2 for $34.00 or by those in certain at my work, Gamestop. professions? I have a feeling this one is going to get Are you still actively collecting hard/rare to get, I had this same exact systems such as N64 and more feeling when Cubivore fi rst came out recent systems? Do you think there’ll for Nintendo GameCube and I never eventually be a collectible market 10 bought Cubivore. I am kicking my years from now with todays systems self in the ass every single day for not similar to the way Atari, Colecovision, picking up Cubivore when I had the et al have today? chance. Cubivore is so hard to come Thanks in advance for your by. Thats one reason why I did not pass feedback. - CueWarrior up Magic PenGel I do not want to Hi there, have anymore regerts like I have with Got a gripe? Thinking of thanking The Classic Gaming Expo is open Cubivore. Plus my work (Gamestop) us? Cooking up a question? Address to everyone, of any age. See http: only got in three copies Magic PenGel. all your eloquent e-mails to us //www.cgexpo.com for details. What do you think about Pinobee for at [email protected]. If we As for collecting, you might say the PSX and Magic PenGel’s rarity? respond to your letter in a fantastic I’m an extremist - I collect for all Thanks again so much for your time. future issue, you’ll be able to brag to systems, new and old. And I believe - Jim”Video Game Master” Combs your fun-lovin’ friends and family! that all systems will have their 2 Digital Press www.digitpress.com www.digitpress.com Digital Press 3 N cart called Johnny Tractor (and his VILLAINY, or Noted Video Game Hoaxes pals) was also fabricated complete am writing this Sega Neptune System for Sale with labels, logo and the same green I column in keeping Perpetrator: EGM (?) and yellow color scheme. A message with the theme and A very believable website with was posted to the RGVC newsgroup as a belated April pictures and selling price was Fools’ joke. First off let constructed. There actually was a me say that I don’t Neptune system in development. It was I like to encourage supposed to be a combination regular practical jokes Mega Drive or Genesis and the 32X when it comes to video games. I take upgrade. This would have cut down on my games very seriously. When I see the costs. I must admit to being taken something in print, I naively take it as in by this one because this would have Gospel. Unless of course it is so obvious been a highly collectible prototype Lee Krueger’s “John Deere” Atari 2600. it can’t be believed.