The Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2009 has come and gone and we’ve got the cool party pictures below to prove it!  Many of the developers we met talked about the return of casual gaming to the mainstream.  Proof of this is a look at the profits from games like WiiFit, iPhone games and other ‘pick up and play’ games that are meant for people of all shapes and sizes.  One of the larger booths at the show was the OnLive booth which is a platform that streams popular video games from a server for you to play on your TV, Mac or PC (similar to the GameTap subscription based platform).

The atmosphere at GDC is casual and friendly – we bumped into people like Tommy Tallarico (Video Games Live), Robert Bowling (Infinity Ward), Cliffy Bleszinski (Gears of War), David Crane (Pitfall/Activision creator), John Romero (Doom/Id Software) and many more!  The most talked about key-note was from Nintendo (as expected) in which they laid our their plans for upcoming games and more on the new DSi.  We got a first hand look at some upcoming Activision titles like Wolfenstein, X-Men Origins: Wolverine and Ultimate Alliance 2 which all looked promising! Thanks to EA Battlefield, Astro Gaming and Rock Band for throwing cool parties during GDC!

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Our friends over at Retrogaming Shirts have unleashed their new designs for the upcoming Spring 2009 fashion season!  These amazing t-shirts were designed by Roland Strunk – the guy behind the cool COIN-OP TV four year Anniversary t-shirt!  Take a look at the new designs and be sure to fill your shopping cart up with some retrogaming goodness!

http://www.lowrez.de

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Rob Welkner & Hailey Bright – hosts of COIN-OP TV LIVE have been making the rounds lately in different media outlets.  If you want to hear a candid group interview with Hailey Bright done by The Collective (a fan-show for www.TheStream.TV network) then you can listen to that mp3 here: The Collective ep 424!  Robert Welkner had a chance to sit down with the team from BusyGamer.com and answer numerous questions about COIN-OP TV and the latest DVD Volume 2 production – you can read that interview here: http://www.busygamer.com/blog1/?p=3006.  Both Rob & Hailey will be out of town next week for the Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco.  If you are planning to attend – please msg one of us so that we can connect face to face!

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Patrick attended the BAFTA Video Game Awards last week. The event took place at the Park Lane Hilton in London and all of the major players of the video game and UK entertainment industry were present.  In addition to the award ceremony, Atari founder Nolan Bushnell received a BAFTA Fellowship Award for his contribution to the development of the computer game industry.

Infinity Ward’s ‘Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare’ stole the show with Robert Bowling accepting three awards for Gameplay, Story and Character and the Game Award of 2008, which is the only award voted by the public.  Video game celebrities and designers hustled into the award show and were treated to a ballroom full of console games and other treats.  Even though the atmosphere was black tie and upscale – it was a good chance to meet and mingle with the greats behind the games!

List of the BAFTA Winners!

ACTION & ADVENTURE: Fable II
ARTISTIC ACHIEVEMENT: LittleBigPlanet
BEST GAME: Super Mario Galaxy
CASUAL: Boom Blox
GAMEPLAY: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
HANDHELD: Professor Layton and the Curious Village
MULTIPLAYER: Left 4 Dead
ORIGINAL SCORE: Dead Space
SPORTS: Race Driver: GRID
STRATEGY: Sid Meier’s Civilization Revolution
STORY AND CHARACTER: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
TECHNICAL ACHIEVEMENT: Spore
USE OF AUDIO: Dead Space
BAFTA ONE’S TO WATCH AWARD in association with Dare to Be Digital: Boro-Toro
GAME Award of 2008: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

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TheStream.TV network moved into a brand new facility in February 2009!  COIN-OP TV LIVE is one of the founding shows on the network and continues to produce fun and entertaining shows about the video game industry, people and events.  Brian Gramo is the founder and executive producer behind TheStream.TV 3.0 which now boasts a 1,400 sq ft. facility with 5 sound stages, including a full band stage and on-going interactive center and a 24 channel sound board for live band performances.  All shows will get a face-lift in the new studio and grow even bigger as the year progresses – be sure to stay tuned for all the excitement!  COIN-OP TV LIVE broadcasts live on Thursday nights at 8pm pst / 11pm est on www.TheStream.TV.   Behind the scenes photos provided by BlankLogo Photography.

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COIN-OP TV DVD – VOLUME 2
NOW AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM

COIN-OP TV DVD Volume 2 is now available on Amazon.com.  Volume 2 features the best COIN-OP TV episodes from the second year of production with hosts Robert Welkner, Taryn Southern, Danielle Kotzias and Hailey Bright!

COIN-OP TV brings you unique interviews and event coverage from all over the world.  DVD Volume 2 includes interviews with Eugene Jarvis (Defender creator), Cliff Bleszinski (Gears of War), Tommy Tallarico (Video Games Live), Falcoon (King of Fighters SNK), Donald Hayes (World Record Holder), Leonard Herman (Author of Phoenix: The Fall & Rise of Videogames), Adam Wood (World Record Holder from The King of Kong movie), numerous artists from the ‘I am 8-bit’ art shows from 2005 and 2006, a Galaxian tribute and more!

All episodes have been re-mastered for DVD – featuring over 90 minutes of content! Bonus content with never before seen audition tape with Cyndee San Luis (host on upcoming Volume 3 release) and Top 5 Arcade Games with Hailey Bright!

COIN-OP TV DVD Volume 2 can be purchased through Amazon.com at this link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001U3YNDG

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