Right now, I’m in the horrible process of looking for a house.  I imagine it’d be easier with a Realtor on my side, but I’ll get there eventually.  Right now I’m just trying to score something good for as cheaply as I can, even if it needs work.  The one good thing about that is, when it needs work, I can pretty much do whatever I want with the place.

Maybe I can take a cue from the Burntwire Brothers from the Acaeum D&D forums, who took two years and built their own epic Dungeons & Dragons room.  Just check out these images of this awesome room.  Yes, it looks cool, but that’s not the half of it.

While it looks rustic, the room is actually high tech.  The lights come on when someone enters the room via a hidden motion detector hidden behind the keyring by the door (you need the skeleton key to get out of the room).  There’s a dimmer switch.  Within those pillars, there are hidden speakers and a surround sound system in the walls.  There’s also a hidden fog machine and a strobe light to set the mood for the games.  How cool is that?!

The windows are stained glass, there are four hidden closest behind those portcullis gates, and the room is also decorated with framed D&D artwork and props from the first Dungeons and Dragons movie.  Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve got the ultimate geek playground.  I’m completely green.

So are you interested in obtaining a copy of Beatles: Rock Band?  Well, don’t pay full price; Amazon’s got a deal for you.  Specifically, the Deal of the Day.

The Beatles edition of Rock Band is on sale:  PS3, PS2, Wii, Xbox 360… whatever system you want the game on features a version of the game that’s on sale.  There’s both a deal on individual games and on the bundle packs, the limited edition bundles, and, well… pretty much every hard copy version of the game has seen its price slashed for this daily deal.

When I say daily, I mean daily.  This deal expires at Midnight Pacific Time tonight, so if you’re interested, you’d best hop on board.  I’ve not played the game yet, but at this price it’s definitely interesting.  I still wish I could pick up the guitar only, though.

In what is one of the worst-kept secrets in gaming, Sega has finally revealed what their long-talked-about “Project Needlemouse” is.  In case the combination of “needle” and “mouse” didn’t give it away, Sega revealed plans for a new Sonic The Hedgehog game, Sonic the Hedgehog 4 to be released on the Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation3.  The catch?  It’s going to be an episodic game (initially), released in bits and pieces via the WiiWare, Xbox Live, and PSN networks.  Episode 1 is expected to be released this summer.

The game is going to skip all the various shovelware Sonic titles that have leaked out in recent years, and is going to be a direct sequel to Sonic The Hedgehog 3.  Thank goodness; maybe we can finally get another good Sonic game!  While I’m not sold on episodic games in general, this one might actually be worth buying, assuming Sony keeps it entertaining and avoids the Pokemon-style trap of Sonic Adventure 2’s Chao-raising minigame.

If you’re like me and have been eagerly awaiting the debut of Netflix streaming video on the Wii, you now know when to start getting antsy.  After months of speculation, Netflix will bring its streaming service (via disc ala the PlayStation 3) to the world’s most popular video game console.  I’ve already signed up; go here and get in line with me, won’t you?

The estimated arrival is Spring 2010; that means it’s only a couple of months away!  Huzzah!

As a dedicated fan of Netflix and streaming video on demand in general, this is great.  I’ve been trying to think of a way to get to watch Netflix On Demand in places other than my computer chair, and short of buying a Roku or some other dedicated box, I couldn’t come up with anything besides hooking my laptop to my TV.  Now I won’t have to add something else to my pile of electronics in the entertainment center to get the most out of my Netflix subscription!

Amazon’s been publishing some interesting details of their year, and of great interest to video game fan boys around the world are the numbers from Amazon’s video game store.  Of the 10 best-selling video game items of 2009, guess how many of them weren’t Nintendo or Nintendo-related?  If you said one, you’re right.

The only non-Wii product to make the top 10 was the Xbox 360 version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.  The Playstation 3 controller came in at 11th.  Even as the Wii sales start to decline, the amount of products they’ve moved has just been incredible, even if the quality hasn’t been up to snuff.  The Wii has been a money-printing machine for Nintendo.

The question is, how will they keep up the profit parade?  I’m not sure they can.  I don’t think there’s ever been a video game system to cross over so completely and become so… omnipresent.  Wiis are everywhere, from the old folks’ home to the suburbs.  Even if they’re not getting played, they got sold and that’s a major accomplishment.

Now this?  This is epic.  This Christmas Lights Hero display is one of the coolest ideas for holiday decoration that I’ve ever seen.  This is better than the Mr. Christmas display, even if the song isn’t terribly Christmassy.  Maybe they can modify that light show for when some Brian Setzer holiday songs hit Rock Band’s DLC store?

I really, really wish I could come up with something like this.  This makes my Christmas decorating (and Halloween decorating) look like a pile of random lights and garbage cans.  Wow.  Kudos to whoever pulled this particular show off.

Alice, from the Wonderland blog, has been working tirelessly to put together an appropriately-themed Nerd Christmas tree.  For example, instead of the standard Santa Claus heads or whatever, her tree is going to be decorated with things like these excellent video game controller ornaments.  How awesome are those?

Unfortunately, a check of creator useyourdigits’ Etsy page says these particular ornaments are currently sold out.  However, there is a promise of more of these laser-cut acrylic ornaments; hopefully, they’ll be available before the holiday season is upon us in full.  If not, you can always pick up a set before next year’s tree decorating season and hang onto them for awhile.

What better to get you in the Christmas mood than a synchronized Christmas dance performed by some colorful robots?  Nothing, that’s what!  Well, aside from robots in Santa hats, but because I haven’t found that one yet, this will have to do for a starter course.

Is your holiday shopping all done?  Mine… isn’t even close.  But hey, at least I’ve started it now, so I’m ahead of the game!

Source: Make

If you’re one of the few people in the world who doesn’t have a Wii, and you’re looking to get your hands on the Wii Fit bundle, then you’re in luck.  Gaming Bits passed along this bit of information.  Between now and November 22, if you buy the Wii Fit Gaming Bundle from Amazon,  you’ll also get a nice $50 Amazon gift card that you can use at a later date.

I have to say, I’m a huge fan of gift cards and gift certificates and that sort of thing.  I like having the ability to buy whatever I want.  As much as I like random gifts, and I do love them, I just find it’s a lot easier to shop for others when you just fork over cash and get a little credit card they can use themselves on whatever.  Maybe they’d rather have gasoline or food than a sweater, you know?  I know it’s not as personal, but it’s infinitely more useful.