Originally via game girl advance:

I rather like Joystiq’s commentary, so I won’t attempt to re-write the wheel:

Have you ever had this thought while playing Guitar Hero? “I’m really enjoying simulating playing guitar, but I just don’t feel like a big enough tool.” Luckily, Nitrous Roxxxxxide (extra Xs added for emphasis) and Jada Toys have your back with the officially licensed Guitar Hero Air Guitar Rocker.

Basically you strum a magical pick across a very demonic-looking belt buckle and one of 10 different songs (only five of which are licensed) comes streaming from a speaker that you’ll also have attached to you. What’s more, it doesn’t require batteries, as it runs on pure human dignity (this feature still not confirmed). This video from CES makes it seem as if it works about 80 percent of the time, which maybe is to be expected, considering it’s only going to set you back $30. Look for it (or don’t) in March.

So maybe it is because I’ve been preying on the bank accounts of the parents of [umm…] designing for young children lately that Smart Girl’s Playhouse caught my eye. For those who don’t know (so everyone), Smart Girl’s Playhouse is a collection on casual games for girls ages 3 and up.

What absolutely convinced me to put my $15 on the counter was the branding on the back of the package:

As my rather snarky younger brother phrased it, “Starting them on the road to Bejeweled a wee bit early these days, are we?”

As you can see below, xkcd is funny.

CBS 5, of the Bay Area, reports on Faceball. Flash video included, but un-embeddable??? Interesting.

[via Waxy]

Here’s the interview. My first thought was, “Wow…Ian is wearing a suit.”

Well I’m on the fence about adding this one to the avant game list, but I do find it pretty damn amusing.

What is Faceball?
At its simplest level Faceball involves two people hitting beachballs at each other’s faces. At a deeper level it’s a vehicle for the release of personal animosity, and the Shaming of the Weak.

The word of the street is that Faceball was invented by the staff over at Flickr. Check it out here, flickr photos here, and vimeo videos here.

invisible rope. gg.

I don’t have a source to attribute this to, but to whoever did this:

I like your style.

Here’s a nice little bit of humor from the Onion that people should enjoy:

Second Life Makes Dream Of Owning Fictitious Coffee Shop Come True

HAILEY, ID—As a teenager, Kerry Jarrett never thought she would have the opportunity to own and operate a completely fabricated coffee shop and performance space. But thanks to Linden Lab’s popular Second Life digital world, Jarrett, 31, has turned her dream into a virtual reality.

“As long as I can remember, I’ve pictured myself owning a multipolygonal 3-D representation of what a coffee shop might be in the real world,” said Jarrett, who has invested hundreds of real dollars and thousands of actual hours in Never Bean, her digital pseudo-business in Second Life’s popular Scurfield district. “Since I’ve never been too interested in inventory tracking, accounting, or interacting with people except inside a complex computer simulation, running this simulated coffee shop has been the greatest experience of my life.”

Jarrett’s shop is popular among Second Life regulars for its atmosphere, its 24-hour availability, and its location between the T-Mobile dealership and the 10,000-foot glowing green penis.