rage

Joey Kaminski joins the cast of The 404 today to talk about the next iPhone, Sprint's $20 billion deal with Apple, and whether or not the new video game Rage is worth the long wait.

If there's anyone who should know how to make legendary video games, it's got to be Id Software co-founder John Carmack. Largely responsible for classics such as Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Quake (basically the games that invented the first-person action shooter), there's no game maker, save for Nintendo's Miyamoto, who comes close in terms of influence or reputation. (See our E3 2011 interview with Carmack here.)

It's no surprise that Rage has received its fair share of hype. Now that we've had our hands on the final product, here's what we think:

Jeff:It's impossible to play Rage and not immediately think of games like Borderlands and Fallout 3. The game draws so many similarities to the former that veteran players may find things a bit redundant in not just atmosphere but gameplay as well. Both games are a looter's dream, but Rage succeeds at delivering a much more polished and complete package.

Rage places the player in the role of Ark member, a project designed to continue the human race in anticipation of a meteorite impact that will destroy most of if not all life on Earth. The game begins with the Ark member awakening some time after the collision. Of course the world is now a shell of its former self and, surprise, surprise, you're not exactly welcome in it.

Narratively speaking, Rage starts off with an impressive sequence, but never really is able to achieve the same sort of cinematic awe. Voice performances are strong and likable, highlighted by the instantly recognizable John Goodman.… Read more

Today on preGame we've got an early look at Rage, hitting consoles and PC on October 4. Then we'll battle a giant colossus in our demo of the PS2 HD reboot for PlayStation 3, Shadow of the Colossus. Shadow makes up one half of the highly anticipated rerelease, the Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection. For CNET's full take on the game, check out our review here.

Today's demo of Rage includes strong language and violence. Viewer discretion is advised.

Want to be a part of our live taping? Make sure you head to http://cnet.com/live/pregame … Read more

The RageGage smash pad, originally created as an anger outlet for enraged drivers across the political spectrum, just went partisan with the Obama Basher.

The $19.99 gadget is an extension of the original RageGage, which, as my colleague Amanda Kooser notes, "looks like a mutant hockey puck with a squishy center." Just turn up the volume on the device and smack away until you feel relieved of your fury. It's like a high-tech version of a stress ball.

As the name implies, the Obama Basher lets users virtually bash the president in what its creators call a modern twist on the classic "Whac-A-Mole" game.

When swatted, the Obama Basher responds with one of more than two dozen messages, including "Whoa! Can't blame Bush for that one!" and "Somebody, bail me out! Please!" It should be noted that the voice delivering these commander-in-chief snippets sounds less like Fred Armisen and more like a character out of "My Name is Earl." … Read more

Rejoice, World of Warcraft n00bs. The massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is now free to play for up to 20 levels. That means players can now take as long as they need to get familiar with the game before they have to pay a subscription fee.

The game's developer, Blizzard Entertainment, has eliminated the prior free 14-day trial period in favor of the new beginner system, which it's calling World of Warcraft Starter Edition.

The move is brilliant considering that WoW, which was first released in 2004, is known for immersing users in a deep game world. The limited trial seemed too short a time to get acclimated to the rich virtual landscape.

Although the trial subscription had its limits, WoW remains wildly successful, reaching 12 million subscribers in 2010. Will the new trial model help increase the MMORPG's user base? … Read more

Road ragers have traditionally had several options. They can flip off the other driver, drive aggressively in return, or grit their teeth and bear it. Now they can add smashing the living daylights out of a gadget to the list.

The $19.99 RageGage smash pad looks like a mutant hockey puck with a squishy center. Turn up the volume on the device and wail away with your fist until you feel better. Think of it as a high-tech version of a stress ball.

The RageGage isn't a comforting companion. It will hurl insults at you if you fail to pound it hard enough. It might call you a wuss or question your manhood. I'm not sure how that's supposed to help you calm down, but it does encourage you to let it all out.

Why stop at having a RageGage in your vehicle? Carry it with you in your laptop bag. Put it on your desk for post-business meeting relief. Stash in it your pocket for your visit with the in-laws.

The RageGage plugs into a computer via USB and can be used as a game controller for games that require smashing things. Games matching that description are downloadable from the RageGage site.

New sounds and celebrity impersonator voices are available to customize your RageGage and you can share your anger with your buddies on Facebook.

The next time someone cuts you off in traffic, put away your middle finger. Keep your foot off the accelerator. Don't roll down your window and scream. Just take it all out on the RageGage.… Read more

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--Net neutrality is a difficult concept to sum up in a pithy slogan. But it was a nice day for a protest in Northern California.

Several dozen people gathered Friday here in Charleston Park--a public park steps from the Googleplex--to protest Google's proposed Net neutrality guidelines developed with Verizon Communications. They trotted out the usual "hey hey, ho ho" and "what do we want/when do we want it" chants, hoping to make their voices heard as about two dozen Googlers on their lunch breaks watched in bemusement.

The group was not … Read more

Brace yourself for a lot of video game news on today's episode of The 404 Podcast as we discuss Wilson's obsession with throwing pigs at cats, Street Fighter experts offering lessons for $50 an hour, Rage running on an Apple iPhone, and BioShock Infinite!

Fresh off the success of this year's BioShock 2, the creators of the original game just announced a complete reimagining of the franchise in the form of BioShock Infinite. The original BioShock enjoyed countless game of the year awards, thanks to its creative storytelling. Ken Levine, creative director at Irrational Games, tells us … Read more

Id Software held an eye-opening demonstration of the company's latest project, Rage, at this week's QuakeCon 2010. However, instead of demoing the first-person shooter on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or the PC, CTO John Carmack actually showed Rage on an iPhone 4. CNET sister site Gamespot was there covering the action.

Sure enough, the game is able to run at a staggering 60 frames per second (see video below) with all of the lighting effects and textures we've come to expect from a standard console title. Carmack went on to say that lack of buttons on an … Read more