Roger Ebert started some sh*t when he stated that games could not be art… The Cultist from the Miami New Times would like a word with you, sir. He cites 5 games that can be considered works of art, including our very own Bit.Trip BEAT.

“Famed movie critic Rogert Ebert recently said that video games will never be works of art. Overnight, he and his thumbs became major objects of ire for gamers across the globe. And although he later apologized and retracted his statement — no doubt due to internet trolls bombarding his website and uploading hate videos to YouTube — Ebert raised an interesting question: Can video games exist on the same cultural level as movies or literature?”

See the full article here.

What do you guys think? Can videogames be considered art? Discuss via our high-tech, web 2.0 commenting system below.

Just wanted to give you guys a heads up… For those of you who own the PS3 version of BlazBlue Continuum Shift and want to battle our friends across the pacific, you’ll have to wait until 8/5 since Japan won’t get their patch until that time. Sorry for the inconvenience. That is all.

…Rebel 1… FIGHT!

The ground-breaking High Definition 2D fighter BlazBlue makes its triumphant return

to home consoles! Do you have a ticket to Kagutsuchi, cuz the hype train is coming!

Torrance, CA (July 27th, 2010) – Aksys Games, a publisher of interactive entertainment products, proudly announces BlazBlue: Continuum Shift, shipping out to stores today!  The first BlazBlue Playstation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360 versions were recently top 4 finalists for the VGA Awards, and Aksys Games is proud to announce we will be bringing the arcade sequel to the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation 3 system!

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift inherits all the key features of its predecessor while adding a few twists of its own. Tsubaki, μ-12 and Hazama will join the ranks of the veterans, who will be reborn with additional moves to their arsenal. With new modes like Beginner Mode and Tutorial Mode, even fighting game beginners can pull off combos like the pros and dive right into the action.

“If you’re not on the hype train this time, you’re missing out on the latest greatest 2D game from Arc”, exclaims Gail Salamanca, Marketing Director of Aksys Games. “GET HYPE, CHOO CHOO”!

BlazBlue Continuum Key Features:

• New Modes featuring Beginner Mode, Tutorial Mode and Challenge Mode!

Beginner Mode encourages a wider audience with an easier control scheme, anyone can jump right into and play! Tutorial allows the novice and pros to practice everything from the basic mechanics unique to BlazBlue. Challenge Mode offers advanced players character-specific combos and missions.

• Take over Kagutsuchi by creating your own army in Legion Mode!

Defeat the enemy armies positioned at various locations on the map. The ultimate goal is to color the entire map with your color by defeating all the enemy hubs. Recruit enemy soldiers by defeating them!

• Brand new characters, stages, soundtracks and moves!

Welcome Hazama the mysterious performer, Tsubaki the valiant female knight and μ-12.

3D dimensionality and 2D visuals integrated seamlessly with every stage. Four completely new stages with composer, Daisuke Ishiwatari’s seven banging new songs for Continuum Shift!

• Online battling domestically and overseas!

Players can battle others from around the world via the PlayStation®Network and Xbox LIVE network. Players can not only search for matches, play games, and observe matches online; they can also chat with friends while playing.

If there ever was an opposite to yesterdays hate mail, and I do mean HATE mail, this review from Gamers Daily News would be it.

“When BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger was released it was hailed as the obvious successor to Guilty Gear, maintaining that series’ tradition for detailed character designs and a very in-depth engine. Unfortunately, what started as modest balance problems later became so severe that a major update was necessary. Yet instead of a balance patch, we’re getting a sequel in BlazBlue: Continuum Shift, and the result is quite good. $40 will net you a much improved version of the original game, with new characters joined by significant tweaks to the old cast and game rules, most of them for the better.”

Read the full review here.

We get alot of fanmail, but normally they’re the kind where people shower us with words of kindness and affection. The following is not one them.

“F@*K YOU F@*K YOUR MOTHERS F@*K YOUR SISTERS F@*K YOUR WIVES F@*K YOUR BROTHERS F@*K YOUR DAUGHTERS F@*K YOUR ENTIRE F@*KING FAMILIES YOU SONS OF F@*KING WHORES I WILL FIND AND RAPE EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF UR FAMILIES IF U RELEASE THIS GAME AS UTTERLY DISGUSTING AS IT IS IN THE US, I WILL F@*KING RAPE THEM MARK MY WORDS U PPL ARE THE WORST F@*KING GAME DEVELOPERS I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY F@*KING LIFE, MARK MY F@*KING WORDS SO HELP ME GOD I WILL SEARCH AND FIND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR C@*T DAUGHTERS AND WIVES AND I WILL RAPE THEIR GUTTS OUT TILL THE ONLY THING LEFT OF THEM IS THEIR ROTTEN FLESH AND EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU WILL BE SITTING THERE WITNESSING THIS TRAGIC EVENT WHILE FEELING JUST AS HAPPY AND EXCITED AS I AM, I WILL RAPE THEM SO HELP ME GODDDDDD I WILL MAKE IT MY LIFE’S GOAL YOU DESPICABLE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF WHORES YOU PEOPLE ARE DONNNNEEEE, I WILL MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF YOU TO ALL THE RETARDED DISGUSTING GAME COMPANIES OUT THERE U PEOPLE WILL ROTT FOR THE DISGUSTING MESS U HAVE DONE HERE”

Hate much, guy?

OH SNAP there is another Valeria pillowcase for sale on eBay! If you weren’t able to get your hands on the first one, this is your chance to get your hands on another, identical pillowcase. To celebrate, the picture above shows you the naughty side. How lascivious!

We sure like to toot our own horn around here but I think in this case this is a well-deserved honor for Commander Video.

“As a whole, the Bit.Trip series is an amazingly well designed throwback to the days of Atari and 1980s game design. Our favorite of the bunch so far, Bit.Trip Runner, features the franchise mascot, “Commander Video,” in a series of platforming levels that span over an amazing 50 challenges. It’s also a pretty fast-paced experience, as you’ll race through several worlds crammed with retro-styled enemies and obstacles, all set to an impressively catchy soundtrack supplied by famous chiptune punk band Anamanaguchi.”

See the full article here.