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Papercraft fanatics can do just about anything with their medium. While most projects tend to revolve around blocky, super-deformed, video-game characters, sometimes the crafting obsession meets the keen eye of a sculptor and yields something almost indescribably brilliant. Look at this Game Boy [via Behance]:

My brain is having a difficult time accepting that this is made from paper. Sure, once you look at it for a while you can make out the texture and skillful paper layering, but it is still quite impressive. The back has a meticulously crafted slot that  allows you to insert paper cartridges.

You can find a classic gray version, a couple of cartridges, and tons of folded and pre-folded pictures at Behance. 

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If a manager instructed me to complete a project by "crafting items," I'd back away slowly and call Human Resources.

News Blips:

A university professor believes that translating elements of video game culture into the contemporary workforce serves as an essential form of motivation. By establishing a clear victory condition and an incremental reward system similar to those found in video games -- such as utilizing a World of Warcraft-esque progression style for academic studies -- those workers of the "gamer generation" would be able to easily apply techniques learned from video games. "It will be up to management, often of pre-gamer generations, to figure out how to educate themselves to the gamer culture, and how to speak to it most effectively," said the professor. I wonder what business trips would be called. "Raids"? [ITNews]

Joystiq reports that Microsoft is planning to add USB storage support to the Xbox 360. According to documents received by the website, a Spring 2010 system update will bestow consumers with the capability of storing Xbox Live Arcade and Indie games, Games on Demand, DLC, title updates, and even disc-based games. However, you'll only be able to use 16GB of the free space on your storage device. Way to go, Microsoft: You've caught up to modern times -- sort of!

Google, Intel, and Sony have combined resources to create an ambitious multimedia platform called GoogleTV. Google hopes to establish a niche within the television market by giving consumers easy access to the Internet and applications through the Android-powered GoogleTV. The project includes an entirely new generation of televisions and set-top boxes provided by Sony. How long will it be until we see useless Twitter updates like this: "Hi, everyone! I'm typing this from my TV right now." [NY Times]

An enigmatic website given to players who earn the platinum trophy in God of War 3 hints to yet another addition to the series. Loading up the website doesn't reveal much, apart from a raging thunderstorm and a peculiar symbol reminiscent of a Spartan shield. Speculation so far has suggested a handheld release or the possibility of co-op support. Whatever it is, I want it have a loud-mouthed Spartan yelling about madness and dining in hell. [GamersMint]

Got any hot news tips? Send 'em over to tips@bitmob.com.

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The Bitmob Mailbag is back and ready for your questions. If you want to be a part of the fun, submit a query to Letters@Bitmob.com subject: “Mailbag” and you just might get your question answered. There’s even a small chance it will be answered correctly! 

Hey Bitmob,

I thought you guys might get a kick out of the Castle Crashers animal orb coasters my girlfriend and I made. Check 'em out:

Pictures of the individual coasters are located here.

Thanks!
 - Alex

Aaron: I played about ten minutes of Castle Crashers and thought it was pretty dumb. However, I don’t find those coasters to be dumb at all -- they’re really cool! I think I like the angry-looking Cardinal the best, but the Troll is pretty awesome as well. Thanks for sharing, Alex!

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I was overjoyed when I learned that Red Dead Redemption will feature cattle herding. Then I promptly dropped another coin into my "phrases that cause face-palms" money jar.

Video Blips:

• The spaghetti-Western vibe runs strong in this featurette for Red Dead Redemption. Perhaps the next game won't include the standard grizzled loner protagonist with only a gun and a horse to keep him company. [GameTrailers]

Continue after the break for the opening cut-scene to Lego Harry Potter, some gravity-defying chaos in the Just Cause 2 launch trailer, and a commercial for the PlayStation Move that would make Doc Brown proud.

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Editor's note: Brian's choices in this second edition of the Ultimate JRPG Buyers' Guide for RPG Haters show that Japanse role-playing games are more than just grindy dungeon crawls. Never judge a genre by its stereotype. -Jason

One day isn't a long time, so unless you're one of my robot employees, you probably haven't had the chance to complete any of the JRPGs I suggested in the first portion of my Ultimate JRPG Buyers' Guide For RPG Haters. Even if you were able to devote a few hours of your day to Super Mario RPG, Mother 3, or Terranigma, perhaps you weren't as enthralled by those titles as I was.

Fortunately for those of you I've failed, I'm here with another round of unique JRPGs that may temporarily distract you from the antics of Marcus Fenix and Dom.

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If only there was a way to print those digital Final Fantasy 13 pictures, then you could make your own physical art book for under 10 bucks! 

News Blips:

Square Enix releases the Final Fantasy 13 Larger-Than-Life Gallery, a digital art book, for the iPhone/iPod touch. The app features high-resolution images of the FF13 world, a clock and calendar function, and costs $8.99. I'm left a bit confused how something on the pocket-sized iPhone could be considered "larger than life" -- whose life? 

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I'm a little late on this month's top 10, but thanks to Andrew Hiscock (himself a familiar face in the top 10), I now have the 10 most-read community submissions from the month of February.

Did you make the cut? There's only one way to find out!

10) The Not-So-Secret History of Video Game Peripherals -- Jeffrey Michael Grubb   

9) Breaking Mafia Wars: Casual Gaming Meets Hardcore Gamer -- Sam
Bardelson        

8) BioShock 2 Review PS3 -- Michael Wenzel         

7)  Five Time Wasters That Are Worse Than Playing Video Games -- Brian Shirk      

6) Dudebro II: The Birth of a Meme and How NeoGAF Began Its First Video Game -- Andrew Hiscock    

Hit the jump for the rest of the top 10

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If I ever apply for a game-design job, I wonder if I could put WarioWare D.I.Y. down on my resume.

Video Blips:

• This tutorial in making your own microgames is giving me all sorts of Mario Paint flashbacks. Based off of Lesson 2, though, I think that this would all be a little too much for eight-year-old me. [GameVideos]

Continue after the break for the Dragon Age: Origins -- Awakening and God of War 3 launch trailers. Plus, a Battlefield: Bad Company 2 spoof on a controversial Modern Warfare 2 ad.

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When the Pokémon Pikachu toys first launched, it was impossible to separate me from my glorified pedometer. Every step counted as I sought to earn watts to satisfy my adorable traveling companion.

Pikachu walked with me, played, napped, and generally melted my heart with each gift I gave him. I never imagined I would be without him until the day his battery died and I could not find the right screw driver to open him up to replace it.

The horror of letting Pikachu die like that caused me to slip the gizmo into a box of random junk I wouldn’t touch again until I moved out of my parent’s house.

That was years ago. My drive to walk to satisfy a digital character went dormant, but I assumed it was gone. That was until the Pokéwalker entered my life.

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Editor's note: We all have a different spin on it, but it seems like most people tend to game for escapism or empowerment. Is that good? You know what, I'm going to think about that more after I play some SteamBirds.... -Demian

Bitmob is a unique place. I know that isn’t really a special statement or even something that hasn’t been said before, but it's true. We have a number of different people from multiple locales all working towards a common goal: intelligent discussion about the entertainment and technology that we all love.

Because of our differences, we're in a position to learn about and explore those cultures, viewpoints, and backgrounds that we may not be familiar with.

We’re all here because we love to play video games and discuss the culture surrounding them. But the question this edition of Mob Rule seeks to answer is: “Why did we fall in love with gaming in the first place?”

So without any further fluffing on my part, here are the answers your fellow community members came up with:

Andrew J. Hiscock says: I play video games because I need something I can control. Few things in life provide the rules, the constraints, and the agency a video game does. You have distinct tasks, and the ability to perform them. I love achievements, beating games, and side quests, because these are minor goals that I complete with relative ease. Conversly, I don't control my job, my household, or much of what I do in my day-to-day routine. Not that I'm complaining -- most of the time I'm happy to be along for the ride.

But video games provide a balance for me. For a small portion of each day, I am at the helm and in full control. In the grand scheme of things video games are unimportant, sure, but even if the rewards are illusionary, they are nonetheless rewarding. The feedback loop in games is great enough that I can always rely on it, even if I never get that in real life most of the time. 

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The motion control frenzy that's underway within the industry is no laughing matter -- the risk of striking embarrassing poses in your underwear in order to swat a virtual tennis racquet is more prevalent than ever before.

News Blips:

Speaking with IndustryGamers, Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime is skeptical about the PlayStation Move. Citing a lack of motivation from consumers to invest into the PS3 for its motion controls, Fils-Aime also remarked upon the industry's inattentiveness to the consumer perspective. "One of the things I find very interesting about this industry is that people don't seem to want to look at propositions from the consumer viewpoint. And I think that's very troubling." Take cover -- this could be the start of a nerdy slap-fight between Sony and Nintendo.

Game designer Cliff Bleszinski (Gears of War) gives his support to Microsoft Natal. In an interview with IGN, the design director for Epic Games (who is also known as CliffyB) expressed his interest in motion controls, including Microsoft's Natal project that utilizes unique tech from Epic. "I think Natal’s going to be very big, and Microsoft’s using our technology on a number of products to make Natal-based video games."

To mark the June 8 release of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Sony will be releasing a limited edition "spirited green" PSP bundle. Along with the game, the bundle includes a vibrantly green PSP, a 2GB memory stick, and a coupon for a free PSN movie. Standard in-game bonus content -- such as exclusive camouflage and weapons -- rounds out the bundle deal. No word yet on the possibility of the new PSP giving gamers a refreshing mint flavor when held. [1UP]

Kotaku reports that freezing issues are cropping up within the Western release of Final Fantasy 13. Players have claimed that in-game actions are impossible whilst still being able to access the various menus, coupled with extremely loud sound effects. While not a widespread problem, there were similar issues with the Japanese version of the game. Wait a minute -- am I lead to believe that there's more to this game than flashy lights and loud noises?

Got any hot news tips? Send 'em over to tips@bitmob.com.

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Editor's note: Michael has got some fun and helpful guidance for those you looking to become better game-advocate emissaries. My advice? Do read this article. -James

You love games. They’re a part of your identity -- a part of your personality. You grew up stomping turtles, throwing fireballs, and toppling mad scientists. Now, you’re an adult -- or soon to be one. It’s time to be a responsible and productive member of society.

Thankfully, that doesn’t mean giving up who you are. It was OK to be a gamer growing up, and it’s OK to be one now. Regardless of the fact that video games are now more socially acceptable and prevalent in our society than ever before, we have a right to express our love of games in public. We don’t have to hide who we are.

Gamer Style

Do feel free to wear game-related t-shirts in public. Your attire should always be an expression of who you are, so wear what feels natural. The trick is to remain appropriate and presentable. Wear clean, wrinkle-free, tasteful shirts. Simple designs and abstract game imagery generally work best, though you can’t go wrong with retro shirts. Best of all, they act as great conversation starters!

As a side note, it may be a good idea to invest in some quality slacks and a blazer that complements your shirt selection. I’m no fashionista, and you don’t have to be either. But being able to break free of the “t-shirt and jeans” look will diversify your style and make your apparel suitable for all but the most formal occasions.

Don’t wear greasy, dirty, or faded game shirts in public. Save those for hot days at home or for house painting. You want to take pride in your appearance no matter your personal style, and that old Metal Gear Solid pre-order shirt just isn’t going to look flattering. In fact, game shirts with massive logos often look gaudy, so avoid them altogether if you can.

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