pikachu

PETA wages war on Pokemon for virtual animal cruelty

Pokemon has begun his struggle for freeman and liberation, fighting his trainers, doling out group hugs and going to protests... in PETA's alternate universe, that is.

The animal rights group has launched a campaign against Pokemon Black and White 2, saying that the game condones animal cruelty and that its creatures are treated like abused animals.

"The amount of time that Pokemon spend stuffed in pokeballs is akin to how elephants are chained up in train carts, waiting to be let out to 'perform' in circuses," PETA wrote on its Web site. "But the difference between … Read more

Smash Bros., brought back and demade

Super Smash Land is a classic and faithful imagination of a "what if" scenario that undoubtedly plagued the minds of the original series' fans. What if Nintendo had ported one of its most successful franchises to its most successful handheld? Would we have seen more Smash brawls than Pokemon battles on the playground?

Regardless, Dan Fornace has brewed up a simple and nostalgic tribute to the Super Smash series. SSL features four stock characters, with two unlockables. Controls have been simplified to two attack buttons to emulate the original Game Boy experience.

In addition to pixelated renditions … Read more

Pokemon's Pikachu gets a Lego up

Strictly for the kawai factor, here's Pikachu, the yellow mascot from anime franchise Pokemon, getting a leg up to Lego Land. Master Legosmith "Fredoichi" made the little guy for his little daughter.

That said, the overall effect seems to be like that of a deer (or yellow mouse in this case) caught in the headlights rather than the cuddly, cheery Pikachu fans are familiar with.

(Source: Crave Asia via Kotaku)

DSi charger powers up on Pikachu theme

One of our editors has a collection of sunflower-bright Pikachus on his table, and whether by subliminal influence or otherwise, this Pokemon-themed DSi charger caught my attention.

This one targets young players, though Pikachu collectors well outside that tender age range won't think twice about getting their mitts on it. Personally, if push came to shove, I'd put money down anytime on everyone's favorite exuberant yellow Pokemon over a certain saccharine pink feline. To charge, just slot your DSi or DSi XL into the Poke Ball slot. Too bad this Pikachu doesn't discharge electricity through his cheeks … Read more

Gadgettes 100: The 100th Episode!

One hundred action packed episodes of Gadgettes! We recap the history of our segments in this week's episode. And who's that special guest knocking at the door? Listen and find out! Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 100

PinkWatch Sanyo Xacti DMX-HD800 camcorder offers palm-size HD shooting for $468 http://dvice.com/archives/2008/07/sanyo_xacti_dmx.php

Samsung thinks patronizing women will get us into tech; Engadget agrees http://www.popgadget.net/2008/07/samsung_thinks.php

Hot Asian Gadget Audio slave: Gadget nut turns Pikachu into a ‘musical’ instrument http://dvice.com/archives/2008/07/audio_slave_gad.php … Read more

Only in Japan: The cute snowplow

Only the Japanese could find something kawaii in a machine so utilitarian as a snowplow. Not only that, but the "Yuki-taro" combines the country's cuteness fetish with another national obsession--robots.

Pink Tentacle says the driverless machine is no ordinary plow, guiding itself by GPS and video cameras embedded in its eye sockets to make sure that it gobbles every bit of snow in its path, Pac-Man style. Unlike traditional counterparts, the Yuki-taro compacts the consumed snow into blocks that can be stored and used as a refrigeration source.

We pray, though probably in futility, that they … Read more