The Week in Review – Plants, Prisons and Interpretive Dance

In this week’s edition, “zombies on the lawn” lead to inmates on the loose, and Marvel takes heat over its Happy Meal toys.

Braid Becomes Even More Artistic

There are a number of ways you could tell someone about a videogame, but one of the most unusual has to be turning it into an interpretive dance and performing it in front of an audience. That’s what a troupe at Chaparral High School in Parker, Colorado did with the game Braid, turning the game into a ten part piece that lasted over an hour. Hit the link for a video, y’know, if you like dance and all. (link)

Ubisoft Drops Draconian DRM for R.U.S.E.

Ubisoft will not use its much hated “constant internet connection required” DRM that has garnered so very much ire from gamers for strategy game R.U.S.E. Instead it will make use of the much less hated Steamworks. Sadly, it’s not a time to start singing that the witch is dead, she is just wounded, as Ubisoft will continue to use the DRM on other games. (link)

Valve Hints at Plans to Defend Some Ancients

The thing about Ancients is that – as wise and powerful as they are – they’re awfully fragile, and therefore need a lot of defense. What’s that? They’re buildings? Ok, you’ve caught me, I’ve never played a game of DotA, but thousands of others have, and it looks like Valve might be getting ready to turn the mod into a full-blown game, following the registration of a DOTA trademark. Hit the link for more details. (link)

Zombies (and Plants) Lead to Prison Break

For a so-called casual game, Plants vs. Zombies is pretty darn addictive, so much so that if you have a job where concentration is in any way important, you should probably avoid playing at work. This was something a prison guard in the Phillipines had to learn the hard way, after landscaping and the walking dead distracted him long enough for prisoners to purloin his keys and escape. “Whoops” doesn’t seem to quite cover it really. (link)

Marvel Takes Heat for Human Torch

What’s the worst thing about a Happy Meal? Not enough fries maybe? Burger not amazing? Perhaps that patronizing bag of carrot sticks? Well, according to the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, the worst part is the horrifying toys that come with the food. Apparently the Thing, and his catchphrase “It’s Clobbering Time,” will incite violence all across the nation. Good thing we were warned in time. (link)