Amazon Blogs

Lucky Shops Amazon for: Coveted Shoe Lines

Coclico, a Lucky favorite, has been turning out feminine, chic shoes for nearly a decade. Created by fourth-generation shoemaker Sandra Canselier, the collection continues to impress with understated detailing and beautifully simple shapes that call to mind the French countryside. Here, a few of our most wanted.

Coclico “Revolute” sandals, $275.95, Coclico “Orion” sandals, $308.95, Coclico “Lotus” sandals, $349.95

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What are You Playing This Weekend? - Xbox 360 and PC Freebies

Yup, it's part way into the weekend. So, what are you playing? Me I'll be attempting to get the most out of my Xbox LIVE membership and taking advantage of the three most recent demos to hit LIVE: X-Blades, Red Faction Guerrilla multiplayer demo and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10. I believe that there was an earlier released Red Faction Guerrilla demo, but not multiplayer, so this one isn't entirely new, but I believe the other two are. Regardless, we are talking free here, at least if you are a LIVE Gold member. In that case you are just getting your money's worth.

So what about you? If not any of these demos, what's on tap?

Update - Steam has a Team Fortress 2 freebie going from the 21st to the 25th too, so PC gamers might want to take a peek there.

--Hobson's Choice

"Batman Arkham Asylum" Poison Ivy Trailer

Batman Arkham Asylum has been delayed, so it is more important than ever that its PR machine keeps rolling along. The latest example of this is the trailer for the game's most recently announced villain, Poison Ivy. Yup, more female trouble for Batman. Check it out and look for the game on Xbox 360, PC and PS3, hopefully on its new release date of September 1st.

--Hobson's Choice

New "Star Wars Battlefront" Games for PSP and DS

Good news for handheld gamers who are also fans of that galaxy "far, far away." It looks like LucaArts at some point in the near future will be releasing versions of Battlefront for the PSP and DS. This is totally unofficial at this point, but since the ESRB has descriptions of the two games up, it is safe to say that something is in the works. Here are to two games, according to a Kotaku post that took notice of the ESRB listings:

Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
Platform: PSP
Rating: Teen
Content descriptors: Fantasy Violence
Rating summary: "This is an action game in which players experience different battles from the Star Wars universe. Presented in a third-person perspective, the game allows players to engage in space, land, and air battles or build troops and upgrade armies in a strategy-based mode. Players can use laser guns (i.e., blasters), explosives, and lightsabers to destroy enemy robots (i.e., droids) and humans who often cry out in pain when attacked. During one dramatic cutscene sequence, an unarmed man is sliced by a lightsaber, while another character is shot in the back with a blaster."

Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
Platform: Nintendo DS
Rating: Everyone 10+
Content descriptors: Fantasy Violence
Rating summary: " Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron is an action adventure game in which players experience different battles from the Star Wars universe. From a third-person perspective, players engage in space battles, 'speeder bike' chases, and top-down battling. The ground battle includes constant laserfire combined with hand-to-hand combat using 'lightsabers.' A depleting health bar and various "yelps" indicate damage inflicted upon certain characters."

 --Hobson's Choice

Summer Saving Solutions from ENERGY STAR

Believe it or not, it is already Memorial Day and time to prepare for the heat of summer and high energy bills. Fortunately, there is still something cool about summer beyond how much fun you’ll have.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program offers simple solutions for how you can keep comfortable without having to pay huge energy bills.  And, you’ll be helping protect the environment, too!

Did you know that the energy used in an average home costs more than $2,200 a year and contributes more greenhouse gas emissions than a typical car? With ENERGY STAR, you can save more than $700 while you reduce greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

“A few simple changes will help create real reductions in high summer electric bills and provide a hefty cut in greenhouse gas emissions in the bargain,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “It’s important that we all do our part to confront climate change, especially when it can help save money during these challenging economic times.”

Here are your simple solutions for saving money while you stay cool this summer:

• Set your programmable thermostats at a higher temperature for when you are away and try not to override settings throughout the day. Using a thermostat properly can save you up to $180 per year in energy costs. Visit www.energystar.gov/pts for more information.

• Run ceiling fans in a clockwise direction to create a wind-chill effect that will make you “feel” cooler. Remember that ceiling fans cool people, not rooms -- so turn them off when you leave the room.

• Make sure you don’t have lights on unless you need them and replace incandescent bulbs with ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). Lights, particularly incandescent lighting, generate a lot of heat. ENERGY STAR CFLs use two-thirds less energy and generate 75% less heat than conventional bulbs.

• Inspect your duct system for obvious signs of leaks and disconnections (most houses leak 20 percent or more). Seal any leaks with foil tape or a special sealant called “duct mastic.” Also consider insulating ducts in unconditioned areas (like the attic, basement or crawlspace).

• Seal air leaks around your home to keep the heat out and the cool air in. The biggest air leaks are usually found in the attic or basement, but also come in around doors, windows, vents, pipes and electrical outlets. Use caulk, spray foam or weather stripping to seal the leaks. And add more insulation to keep your home cooler this summer.

• Maintain your cooling system. Check your system’s air filter every month at a minimum and change the filter every 3 months. Remove leaves, dirt and other debris from around the outdoor components to improve air flow and efficiency. Have a qualified professional tune-up your system with a pre-season maintenance checkup and, if it’s time to replace your old system, look for models that have earned the ENERGY STAR.

• Use drapes or blinds to block light from coming into your home during the day. You would be surprise how much heat is generated just by sunlight coming through windows.

Visit EPA’s ENERGY STAR @ home tool for more summer saving solutions.

~Thanks to the EPA and ENERGY STAR for this post to Amazon Green Scene.

Esquire's 75 Movies Every Man Should See

Along with Megan Fox on the cover, the June 09 issue of Esquire features "75 Movies Every Man Should See."  More than just a list of movies, the short descriptions of the movies themselves makes it memorable. 

Here's just a few examples in random order:

• Iron Man: He’s just a man doing his best with the superpowered robotic heart that the good Lord gave him.
• The Terminator: Enough said.
• Glengarry Glen Ross: Because no matter what line of work you’re in, first prize is a Cadillac, second prize is a set of steak knives, third prize is you’re fired.
• Blade Runner: Daryl Hannah, scary and doll-like, before she became scary and doll-like.
• Platoon: War.
• Citizen Kane: Long, slow, excruciating, heartbreaking self-destruction. With newspapers.

I don't know how they could have overlooked Transformers, transforming talking robots with firepower seem pretty manly to me...

Anyway, check out the list in its entirety here and let us know what you think. 

-darrenv

Spoiler Alert: Nintendo Fav Featured in "Punch-Out!!" for Wii

Of course "features" isn't quite the word. Nintendo fanboy fav Donkey Kong is more of a hidden boss in Punch-Out!! that a post on GoNintendo this morning brought to light. Nice move on Nintendo's part to sprinkle an Easter egg or two in the game. Sorry for the spoiler if anyone has not seen this yet, but I warned you. Anyway, check out the fairly long, although a little shaky video of Little Mac taking on DK below.

--Hobson's Choice

"Fight Night Round 4" Graphics and Audio Trailer

Maybe it is just the fight fan in me, but Fight Night Round 4 is looking better and better. Personally I'm not so interested in all the slow motion effects, but it is cool to see the realism of the punches on the boxers during a fight, the diverse list of boxers, as well as the way that audio effects are linked to how your fighter is doing in the ring. Also, it features an improved ability to fight inside if you are a shorter fighter, as well as use your reach effectively if you are taller. Again, realism is nice. The only thing better would be the ability to fight dirty, and thus also the need to protect yourself against a dirty fighter; headbutts, low blows, etc. Regardless, I'll be picking this one up when it releases on June 30. Whether you are a fight fan or not, take a look at the trailer below and see if you don't feel the same.

--Hobson's Choice

Rolling Stone Gets in the Game with "Rolling Stone: Drum King"

Are you tired of music/rhythm games yet? The folks over at 505 games are hoping not. They've secured a partnership with Rolling Stone Magazine to bring Rolling Stone: Drum King to the Wii. Does the world need another music simulation game, especially one limited to drumming via the Wii Remote/Nunchuck controller configuration? Sure it does. Just think of all those Wii owners who also happen to be would be wild children on the skins. Anyway, looks like the game will come with several of the features Guitar Hero and Rock Band players have come to expect: character customization, color-coated tablature (followed through motion control and peripheral buttons), etc., and a multi-generational Rock song list made up of 30 covers.

I'm sure that 505 games is hoping for the same success/industry pull with Rolling Stone that Harmonix has enjoyed through its partnership with MTV on Rock Band. Maybe they will even get it, although it seems doubtful seeing as the game is shaping up to be a whole lot less cool that that, features all covers and is a little late to the music sim party. I could be wrong though. There are a whole lot of Wiis out there, and the game does have some sort of multiplayer, which might help. We shall see. The game releases May 26th, so just a few days away. Check out the track list below:

• All Star - Inspired by Smash Mouth
• Banquet - Inspired by Bloc Party
• Be My Baby - Inspired by The Ronettes
• Blister in the Sun - Inspired by Violent Femmes
• Born to Be Wild - Inspired by Steppenwolf
• By the Way - Inspired by Offcuts
• Can't Get Enough - Inspired by Bad Company
• Can't Stand Losing You - Inspired by The Police
• Cissy Strut (instrumental) - Inspired by The Meters
• Click Click Boom - Inspired by Saliva
• Direction - Inspired by Starting Line
• Feel Good Inc. - Inspired by Gorillaz
• Fight the Good Fight - Inspired by Triumph
• I Fought the Law - Inspired by The Clash
• In Too Deep - Inspired by Sum 41
• Let There Be Drums - Inspired by The Ventures
• Lifestyles of the Rich and the Famous - Inspired by Good Charlotte
• Mickey - Inspired by Toni Basil
• No One Knows - Inspired by Queens of the Stone Age
• On Top of the World - Inspired by Boys Like Girls
• Pull Me Under - Inspired by Dream Theatre
• Saturday Superhouse - Inspired by Biffy Clyro
• She Sells Sanctuary - Inspired by The Cult
• Song 2 - Inspired by Blur
• Soundgarden - Inspired by Spoonman
• Stay With Me - Inspired by Faces
• The Take Over, The Breaks Over - Inspired by Fall Out Boy
• The Final Countdown - Inspired by Europe
• We Will Rock You - Inspired by Queen

--Hobson's Choice

Video Game Announcement: "Aliens vs. Predator"

It looks like Sega has secured the rights to the merchandising of the Aliens vs. Predator for gaming and as such have plans for a whole series of new games. According to a posting on the SEGA Europe Blog the first will be Aliens vs. Predator, which will be available on Next-Gen and the PC platform in early 2010. The game is being developed by UK outfit Rebellion Developments. Their first big game was the original Alien vs. Predator for the PC back in the 90s. They've of course done a whole lot more since then, but in a way this has got to be seen, and probably is design to be a bit of a homecoming for the game. The video below doesn't tell or show you much about the game other than that players will be given the choice of playing as a human, predator or alien. Each choice has its own storyline too. Sounds good. Like I said, don't expect too much from the trailer below, but take a look anyway. There is also more detail on the game at the SEGA blog link above. So hit that if you are so inclined. 

--Hobson's Choice