The Slug

Drew Carey Needs "Price is Right" Improvement

(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

The Slug made no bones about how we felt about Drew Carey becoming host of "The Price is Right." We weren't pleased with that decision. So we gave him some time to settle into his new daytime gig before passing judgment. However, he's been at it for over a week now, and we can remain silent no longer. Yesterday's episode sent us over the edge. Although Carey is a little better than we originally expected — granted, those expectations were really, really low — The Slug can't tolerate these three things:

1. Carey has developed a nervous twitch where he'll fumble with his coat pocket on camera. Maybe he's just checking to make sure $500 is in there, in case a contestant's bid is exactly right. Whatever the reason, it drives us nuts. Keep your hands out of your pocket!

2. Before playing Barker's Bargain Bar (thankfully they didn't change the game's name) Carey has a running joke that the game is named after Ezekiel Barker, the "founder" of "Price is Right." That's not funny — or respectful to the dude who the game is actually named after.

3. Carey keeps flubbing Bob's "help control the pet population" spiel at the end of the show. Even when he gets it right, his delivery sounds completely forced. If he doesn't truly care if the audience spays and neuters their pets, he shouldn't say it.

Real Estate for Sale in Middle-Earth

(AP Photo/HO/Turbine)

You'll soon be able to own your own virtual home in Middle-earth. That's because "Lord of the Rings Online" is introducing player housing on Oct. 24. The homes will cost up to 20 gold pieces. The interiors can be customized and decked out with hundreds of items. Dwarves will dwell in Ered Luin. Men will maintain residences in Bree-land.  Elves will exist in The Tower Falls. And hobbits will hang in The Shire. How precious! 

The Name of the Game

(AP Photo/HO/World Cyber Games/Marcus R. Donner)

As you might have heard, The Slug was in Seattle last weekend. One of the reasons we traveled to the Emerald City was to attend the World Cyber Games Grand Final. It's sorta like the Olympics for gaming geeks. More than 700 competitors from 74 different countries battled in games like "Gears of War" and "Counter-Strike" for $448,000 in prize money. Team USA ended up nabbing the most medals. You can see our report on the action in this week's "Up Down Left Right," the AP's weekly video game video.

Let the World Cyber Games Begin

(AP Photo/Derrik J. Lang)

The World Cyber Games Grand Final — could that name be any longer? — kicked off here in Seattle last night with an Olympic-like ceremony. We've covered gaming competitions before, but we've never seen any video game contest as epic as the WCG Grand Final. Competitors from all over the world are battling each other  in multiplayer matches in games like "Gears of War," "Counter Strike" and "WarCraft III" throughout the huge Qwest Field Event Center. You can be a spectator online or in person. The action continues through Sunday.

Ring! Ring! It's "Heroes" Calling!

(AP Photo/HO/Gameloft)

While everyone else was waiting in line for "Halo 3" last night, The Slug attended a preview event for Gameloft's "Heroes: The Mobile Game" at the Nokia flagship store in New York. Granted, the game looks more like "Double Dragon" than "Bioshock," but it's kinda cool 'cause you can fly around the city as Peter, teleport through a museum as Hiro and kick butt in a casino as Jessica. Most partygoers were bogarting the phones, but we did get to play the Jessica levels, which were far less annoying than any of Ali Larter's scenes last season.

Put Down That Controller and Design a T-Shirt

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

We don't usually do posts about contests or sweepstakes. We're a pop-culture blog, not the freaking Publishers Clearing House. However, we wanted to tell you about Threadless' "E for All" T-shirt design competition for the following three reasons: First, we had a chance to visit Threadless headquarters a coupla years ago for this asap story so we know they're on the up and up. Second, the prize is truly grand: a $400 airfare gift card, lodging, Nintendo Wii, $2,000 and admission to the first-ever "E for All" video game extravaganza for you and a friend. Third, looks like we probably won't get to go to "E for All" so maybe you'll let The Slug be the friend you take since we're the ones that told you about the contest in the first place. Pretty please? 

Favoritest Photo of the Week: Worlds Collide

(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

What happens when you mix America, Italy and China? See above. Our Favoritest Photo of the Week comes to us from the other side of the planet where the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel opened this week. Just like the Venetian in Las Vegas, there's even a faux canal with singing gondoliers. (We once witnessed a proposal there ourselves.) Sail away with the original caption:

Gambling tables are set inside the casino during the opening ceremony of the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel in Macau Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007. Casinos like the Wynn and Sands have already helped this southern coastal Chinese city surpass the Las Vegas Strip as the world's most lucrative gambling center. American billionaire Sheldon Adelson aims to take a step further with the US$2.4 billion (euro1.8 billion) Venetian scheduled to open Tuesday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

"Price is Right" Set Makeover is a Winner

(AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

We're not too excited about Drew Carey taking over Bob Barker's role as "Price is Right" host. We were disappointed in his game show prowess after attending the first "Power of 10" taping. However, if these photos originally posted on Golden-Road.net are totally true, we're flipping out over the new "Price is Right" set — in a good way! Luckily, the traditional layout remains, but the new colors and icons are deliciously retrotastic. If you wanna see this baby in person, you can get tickets from CBS.

Set Your Wii Remote to Stun

(AP Photo/HO/Bethesda)

Here's some news that will surely please Trekkers and Wii geeks alike: Bethesda Softworks has announced that the first "Star Trek" game is coming to the Nintendo Wii (and Sony PlayStation 2) this fall. "Star Trek: Conquest" is set in "The Next Generation" era. The strategy space game will allow Wii captains to maneuver their starships throughout the galaxy with Wii remotes. What? No using your Wiimote as a phaser? 

Comic-Con Jealousy

(AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

As you could probably tell, we weren't at Comic-Con this year. Boo. However, we don't want to leave you out in the cold if you weren't able to get down to San Diego for all the hot geekiness. So let us point you in the direction of our colleague (and "Up Down Left Right" co-host) Ryan Pearson's asap dispatches from the convention floor. We're so jealous! He was hanging by Jessica Alba's side, found five really cool things, watched awesome teaser trailers and interacted with fans.