Pojo's Friday News Page
August 25th - 2006

Mum attacked as lover goes berserk over Xbox

A MUM (British for the American Mom) was rushed to hospital after her boyfriend threw a tin of paint over her - in a row about an Xbox. Paul Simpson, 25, flew into a rage and tipped the 2.5-litre tin of white satinwood over Andrea Clyne's head and body. The couple had gone out to celebrate Andrea's 16-year-old brother Stuart Caie getting his first interview as an apprentice electrician. But when they returned to their Aberdeen home to find Stuart using Simpson's Xbox, he just lost it. FullStory

Odd And Proud

IN A CULTURAL GALAXY far, far away — and throughout the hallways of the SeaTac Doubletree Inn — starship commanders rubbed elbows with alien babes. Swashbucklers sidled past scientists. Swollen-eyed writers admired fairy wings.

The 29th annual Norwescon, the area's longest-running science fiction/fantasy fan convention, had just launched, and the constellations of fandom's ever-expanding and fragmenting universe already stretched into a series of conference rooms. FullStory

Japan: Sony, Dell Must Investigate Battery Safety

The two companies need to investigate why Sony batteries caused Dell laptops to burst into flames in Japan and elsewhere.

A Japanese government ministry Thursday ordered Sony Corp. and Dell Inc. to look into what went wrong in the Sony batteries that've caused some Dell portable PCs to burst into flames in Japan and elsewhere, adding to the two companies' woes. FullStory

Apple Recalls 1.8 Million Notebook Batteries, Will Provide Free Replacements

Apple said Thursday that it will provide free replacements of PowerPC-based notebook batteries affected by its recall with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The Apple recall, announced Thursday by the CPSC, involves 1.8 million lithium-ion batteries for iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 laptops sold between October 2003 and August 2006. The batteries cost about $130 each, according to the commission. FullStory

Pre-Order Pokemon Mystery Dungeon & Receive Rescuer's Guide

Nintendo announced today that everyone who pre-orders Pokemon Mystery Dungeon (either Blue Rescue Team for DS or Red Rescue Team for GBA) at select retailers will receive a free Pokemon Mystery Dungeon Rescuer's Guide. The guide features a preview of the game and other Poke-info. FullStory

Nintendo to rock new DS Lite colors

Nintendo on Thursday announced that it will rock new Nintendo DS Lite colors to retail starting Sept. 13. The company will introduce Onyx and Coral Pink to retail to join the current option, Polar White. FullStory

Full Metal Manga: Anime Quest Reaches Big Screen

THE adventure began on the terrible night Edward and Alphonse Elric tried to use alchemy to bring their mother back from the dead. They knew human transmutation was forbidden and paid a terrible price for their act: Ed lost his left leg; Al nearly died; Ed sacrificed his right arm to preserve his brother’s soul in an empty suit of armor. The robotic prostheses he later received earned Ed the title of the Fullmetal Alchemist. FullStory

Gen Con So Cal
The West Coast Hobby Gaming Event of 2006

ANAHEIM, CA. (August 16, 2006) North America¹s largest hobby gaming show is gearing up for its West Coast show -- Gen Con So Cal will take place November 16-19 in the Anaheim Convention Center in California. For any one into games, whether electronic, interactive, tabletop or role-playing Gen Con is the place where enthusiasts of all ages come together with some of the industries best and brightest designers, manufacturers and distributors to share in all things gaming. This 96-hour, non-stop, four-days of tournaments and exhibits snap, crackle and pop synapses for all who attend.

Gen Con LLC¹s flagship show, Gen Con Indy (Indianapolis), is North America¹s largest hobby gaming convention, which has been successfully held for the last 39 years in the Midwest. In 2003, the company launched a Gen Con show for the West Coast, creating Gen Con So Cal to better cater to those living on the West Coast.

³In the four yeas we have been producing our Gen Con So Cal show‹turnout by attendees and exhibitors alike has increased each year,² said Peter Adkison, CEO of Gen Con LLC. ³This year we anticipate an even better show, with more attendees, exhibitors, events and show highlights unmatched on the West Coast. We look forward to making Gen Con So Cal ³The Best Four Days in Gaming!²

At Gen Con So Cal gaming enthusiasts don¹t simply ³walk the show² they can actually participate in over a thousand gaming events. These events include interactive game play, hobby-related events, and computer gaming. Attendees also join in card games, board games, role-playing games, live-action role-playing games, seminars and workshops ranging in topics from how to develop games to how to paint miniatures.

The four-day event will feature an expanded electronic gaming and anime areas, events such as Upper Deck Entertainment¹s Pro Circuit featuring the Marvel Trading Card Game Vs system and Yu-Gi-Oh tournaments, Magic: the Gathering Trading Card Game tournaments, True Dungeon, a life-size dungeon adventure, Dungeons and Dragons role-playing adventures, a collectible auction, a costume contest, a Kids Track, and a LAN arena, to name just a few.

Gen Con So Cal is open to the public Thursday, November 16 through Sunday, November 19 with gaming events offered 24 hours a day. Attendees must purchase a badge to gain entrance to the show. Badge pre-registration runs through October 13, 2006, noon PST. On-site badge registration starts at 5pm on Wednesday, November 15. A four-day badge is $55 with pre-registration, or $65 on site. A one-day badge is $30 with pre-registration, or $35 on site. Children 8 and under are free with an accompanying adult. For more information and to register, call (800) 529-EXPO or visit www.gencon.com.

Gen Con is a name that has been one with the gaming world for over 39 years. It began as a meeting between some friends to play games in Lake Geneva, USA - thus the name Gen (Geneva) Con (Convention). Today that name lives on in the gaming industry as the places to go to get the goods. Gen Con has expanded to more than three shows worldwide. There are shows in Europe, Indianapolis (USA), and California (USA).

Gen Con So Cal will be moved to the Los Angeles Convention Center in 2007. This move will better serve the entertainment industry, so prevalent in the gaming industry and more importantly make Gen Con more accessible to consumers who wish to see the latest and greatest in all things gaming.