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Georgia men arrested for returning 'games'


Like all crime, the meticulous effort three Georgia men put into buying, opening and selling games -- only to return the seemingly unopened boxes for a refund -- didn't pay. Atlanta's Fox 5 News reports that 29-year-old Levar Thornton, 19-year-old Michael Cunningham and 18-year-old Tyrell Myers managed to swap game discs for blank CD-R media using games purchased from 11 area Wal-Mart stores, amounting to 200 returns in all.

Once the retailer eventually got wise to the scam (guess it had enough of customers complaining their "unopened" games contained blank discs), police arrested the trio, who were found with 400 shipping receipts on them. Evidently, they had sold the swiped software via eBay to tune of at least $10,000, according to Wal-mart's estimated losses.

We're not exactly sure what to make of this final detail: The report states that all of the stolen games were for Xbox 360.

[Thanks, User_Name!]

GameStop robbery foiled by ceiling, locks


How can we tell that the dude who attempted to rob a Pittsburgh GameStop last night is a real gamer? Just look at his methods: The would-be burglar climbed through air ducts and in through the ceiling of the store, Sam Fisher-style. But when he realized that both the front and back doors of the building were locked, he retreated through the same vent.

A Nintendo Game Counselor consulted about the crime said that if the thief had looked inside the glowing sphere in the corner of the store, he would have found a blue key for the door. Ouch, random criminal, so close.

[Thanks, David]

Frat treasurer says he stole money to buy games


Jose R. Tavarez, treasurer of the Delta Theta Sigma fraternity at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is accused of stealing $12,000 from the group. Tavarez says that he took the money to buy video games because his bank card is linked to his parents and "he did not want them seeing that he spent his money on the games."

So embarrassed about his video game habit that he stole? We'd love to know how far he'd go to cover up paying to join a fraternity.

[Via GamePolitics]

EA announces MySims Agents for Wii, DS


We always had this sneaking suspicion during our time in MySims' adorably rendered township -- an inkling that some great criminal presence was operating just below the surface of those colorful suburbs. Your quiet, saucer-eyed neighbor, Julia? Drug pusher. Mike, the lawyer from down the street? Human trafficker. Allie, the six-year-old daughter of Julia? Terrorist.

If bustin' scoundrels makes you feel good, you'll be pleased to hear Electronic Arts just announced MySims Agents for the Wii and DS. Though there will probably be some slight variations in gameplay, both titles place you in the patent leather shoes of a special agent tasked with bringing down some scurrilous lawbreaker using gadgets, Columbo-esque clue tracking and a little help from some similarly skilled neighbors. Look for the games to sneak out this Fall.

Counterfeit DS sellers busted in UK


For the first time in the nation's history, a couple have been caught selling counterfeit DS systems. The dastardly duo set up shop in Kent, and were nabbed with 40 counterfeit handhelds. The two were unloading the units on unsuspecting eBay shoppers, with Bromley Trading Standards Department and local police catching the criminals.

On top of the systems, the bust also resulted in the capture of faulty power units, game-copying devices, and 150 counterfeit games for the DS and GBA. Authorities suspect the couple made upwards of £50,000 during the month of December alone, and have been at this for at least two years. Remember, kids: crime doesn't pay. Unless it's the month of December and you're willing to go to jail for a long time the following month.

Children's home robbed, local businessman replaces stolen Wii


It's good to know the holiday season wasn't all fist-fighting and theft, as a real heart-warming story has emerged from the UK. You see, last weekend, the Hunter family had left home to attend a wedding, only to return and find their home had been broken into and trashed. As one would expect, a few items were missing, most notably the Nintendo Wii Santa left for their two young children.

Enter Dundee businessman Charlie Kean of Kean Slaters, who stepped forward (among the many other local individuals who've helped this family get through this tough time) to provide the family with a new Wii, as well as some games. Currently, the criminals have yet to be apprehended by authorities.

Two men arrested in Ireland for selling fake Wii consoles

In Northern Ireland, a pair of men were apparently selling counterfeit Wii consoles (no, not the Vii). When searching a car in the New Lodge Road area of Belfast, police discovered several counterfeit consoles. The men, aged 19 and 22, were then detained by police.

We'd just like to take this moment to warn that it could happen to any of you. If you're still desperate for a console (you should be able to track one down at a store by now, if you check early enough every day, we would think) and using services like craigslist or eBay, take caution. The person selling the Wii could be trying to pull the wool over your eyes.

Pennsylvania man assaulted by brass knuckles over PS3

An 18-year-old man was punched in the face with brass knuckles and then kicked during a dispute over the ownership of a PlayStation 3, the Tribune-Review reports. Here's how it went down: the unidentified victim went up to a group of about 30 people 9:30PM in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, curious to know why people were gathered there. Next thing he knew, it was brass knuckles in the face and his PS3 was taken from him.

Now the police are searching for four men who assaulted him, as they were not apprehended at the scene of the crime. Maybe it was best not to approach a large group of people gathered on a street corner after-dark with your PS3, huh?

[Via Kotaku]

Law of the Game on Joystiq: Let the punishment fit the crime

Each week Mark Methenitis contributes Law of the Game on Joystiq, a column on legal issues as they relate to video games:


We've be hearing a lot about the Thai cabbie killing lately and how it was (or wasn't) caused by Grand Theft Auto. In the wake of that tragic murder, there have been two major groups of outcries. The first has been the call to regulate games; one we have heard all too often. The other has been a call to revise criminal penalties; one which is not only new, but speaks to the core theory behind criminal law: the theory of punishment. Criminal law theory is something that is universal in all of our criminal codes, but isn't often discussed. It's this "theoretical" approach that we'll look at today. You may agree or disagree with my particular thoughts on the theory of criminal law, but it's more important for everyone to understand a theoretical approach to criminal law so that we can come to our own conclusions about true "justice."

The concept of criminal law starts with some basic political philosophy. In order to have a society, there has to be a set of rules by which that society operates. Whether you want to view this as the social contract in a Locke/Hobbes/Rousseau manner or through some other philosophical lens, the basic need for rules and order in a society is more or less the same. This need for rules gives rise to the concept of the law, and one of those concepts is the boundaries of behavior that stray into what we, as a society, feel need to be punished. This is the basis for all criminal law, be it a crime against a person or a crime against property.

Continued →

Unsolved Crimes offers more clues about gameplay

Anyone who was around thirty-some years ago (or saw the movie Summer of Sam) might know that New York City wasn't the safest of places during the 1970s. That's why we're even more intrigued by the realistic-looking adventure game, Unsolved Crimes, which takes place in this crime-filled setting.

The game should be releasing this fall (in the UK, at least), and centers around a rookie detective. He (and therefore, you,) must figure out the circumstances behind the disappearance of aspiring model Betty Blake. The game will focus on the one overarching storyline, but will include other mysteries for you to solve as well (à la Hotel Dusk). In fact, the press release boasts that there are eight different cases to solve.

Also like Hotel Dusk, you'll have to pay close attention to detail so that you can answer questions later (in addition to point-and-click adventure gaming and action-packed shootouts). Check out the new screens in the gallery below for more of an idea of what to expect.

Gallery: Unsolved Crimes

Unsolved Crimes, revealed!

Take a dash of trenchcoat, a hint of hat, and a pinch of grizzled police chief. Bake it for 24 hours under a forensic microscope, and BAM! Unsolved Crimes is born. The lack of realistic detective work on the DS needs to be addressed, and these new gallery screens for the upcoming adventure look extremely promising.

You'll be treated to fully 3D environments, a rather detailed case inventory system, and perhaps even driving segments. If Empire Interactive can replicate intricate investigative scenarios and rustle together a reasonably complex detective tale, then Unsolved Crimes won't stay unsolved for long. That is, people will buy it. And finish it.

Gallery: Unsolved Crimes

WRUP: She shouldn't have eaten the pizza rolls edition


Seriously, she only brought it on herself. Sharing is caring.

In all seriousness, we were looking forward to the release of Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles this weekend for some crime-solving fun, but after checking out the reviews and discovering our localized version would only get half the game the Japanese currently enjoy, we're doubting if the man is as tall as he's said to be.

With that said, we don't know how this weekend will unfold for us, from a game-playing perspective. So, what will we play? Wait, who cares! We're just some jerks who blog. Let's find out from more important people what they'll be enjoying this weekend.

What will you be playing?

Promotional Consideration: The Usual Suspects



This week's creative but confusing installment comes from Leo Burnett Milan, the same advertising firm behind "Communion Day," the first Promotional Consideration ad (and one of the smartest) we ever featured. The print piece presents a police lineup of criminals and ne'er-do-wells, suspects for an unspecified crime -- really, it's less of a "whodunit" than it is a "what does it mean?" Step past the post break and peer through this one-way mirror to solve the mystery yourself!

Continued →

PSP used in unsavory upskirt shots

Now we know why the PSP is selling so well in Japan. It's all because the PSP can double as a gaming device and a cleverly disguised covert camera for train perverts. Just like what happened in this shameful story of a 59-year old Nagoya technical college deputy head, who allegedly took some upskirt shots of a 19-year old female.

The incident happened on the Nagoya Kintetsu train line. The local TV news constructed the images seen above which retell how the crime went down. As for the fate of the old dirty man, he's been arrested under Japan's anti-stalking laws. The PSP has probably been confiscated.

[Via Destructoid]

Crook nabs 360, replaces with original Xbox


We've covered our fair share of Xbox thievery stories in the past, but this one is different. In this case, the criminal involved seems to have a particularly evil sense of humor. An Xbox 360 was stolen from a hall government member at Northwestern University in Illinois. According to the victim, the 360 was locked in a closet on May 11. The victim realized the crime had been committed when he opened the closet on May 22 -- still locked -- to find the 360 had been replaced with the original (and decidedly less svelte) Xbox 1.

We're certainly not condoning the crime -- we hope the thief is caught and the 360 returned -- but we have to admit that is one helluva burn.

[Thanks, Jim. Via Binge Gamer]

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