I’m sitting in the Virgin America gate at JFK waiting for my flight to Seattle and I come across this tidbit of news. I’m both stoked and bummed at the same time. I’m stoked because this is a pretty rad deal for Mariner’s fans and I grew up rooting for them, which explains my hatred for the Yankees, but I’m bummed because I forgot my DS at home.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Nintendo Fan Network, it’s a network for DS owners at the ballpark that gives you player stats for the home and away teams, MLB updates, and SMS/chat service with other DSers in the stadium. You can also order food, watch live video, listen to radio coverage from KOMO and compete against others in mini-games and trivia. A new feature launching this weekend is Pitch Effect, which will let fans see the trajectory of each pitch, speed and placement.

It was tested last year and fans had to pay $5, which is probably the cheapest thing you’ll find at the ballpark, but its free this season. Awesome. Someone in Seattle want to take me to a game and let me borrow your DS?

We’ve been talking quite a bit about our reader meet-up on May 1st in New York City, but we didn’t want the West Coast (you and I both know it’s the best coast) to feel left out, so we’re having an admittedly smaller meet-up on Friday the 25 in Seattle.

You’ll get a chance to meet with Yours Truly, our own Devin Coldewey, and Peter Ha’s flying in via Virgin America from NYC just so you can yell at him.

We’re also working on getting reps from a few of our favorite local tech companies there as well, so it’s a good time to see what we insiders get to experience. Mostly the “no comments” and “are you nuts?”

We’ll be meeting at six o’clock and going till eight at the wonderful McLeod Residence in Belltown, which has a fully stocked bar. And there will be a very special CrunchGear drink special.

If you’re interested in attending, email me at tips@crunchgear.com and let us know so we can make sure to get everyone in. See you there!

Here’s your chance to get a little bit of exposure and see what everyone else in the Indie Game community is up to. IndieCade 2008 is set to take place July 10-13 in sunny Seattle (it’ll actually be at Open Satellite in Bellevue) and they’re looking for submissions to be showcased at the show.

Call for Submissions:

Indiecade invites independent game artists and designers from around the world to submit interactive media of all types – from art to commercial, ARG to abstract, serious to shooter – for consideration. Work-in-progress is encouraged.
A diverse jury of industry leaders will select entries for top prizes at the IndieCade @ Open Satellite Festival. All entries for the Festival will also receive consideration for presentation at the other 2008 IndieCade international showcase exhibitions.

Submissions Deadline: April 11, 2008 at Midnight PST.

IndieCade

Rarely do I give Comcast praise, but today I feel I must. The cable company monopoly will be adding six new HD channels to its catalog in March, just in time for my birthday, and they’re good ones! Well, most of them.

Those of you who are still using standard definition need to seriously think about your futures. You’re holding the rest of us back, and I’m starting to think it’s time to cut the dead weight.

After the jump, the new channels, and what I think about them! Because it’s Friday and you care!

Read More

For the last half hour, East Coasters have been having their way with Leopard, meaning about 20% of the Macdorks along the Atlantic are currently installinating the hot new OS. As the world turns, each timezone will get its own chance as the 6:00PM launch time passes.

Your truly will be heading down to the University Village Apple store to talk to total nerds Apple users to gauge their reactions to the new OS. Or at least its box, as it takes awhile to install.

If you’re in the Seattle area and want to meet up, feel free. If you’re going to be there at 6:00 to join the fun and want to say hi, drop me a line at matt at crunchgear dot com and I’ll promise not to make fun of you, new friend!

Also, upgraders are encouraged to tell us about their first impressions over at BFF, it’ll be interesting to see what works, what doesn’t, and what should.

Does this look like a man who would steal from Apple?

The University Village Apple Store in Seattle was mysteriously robbed of serviced laptops and refurbished iPhones that were waiting to be restocked early Monday morning. It seems the burglars came in through the ceiling and even swiped one of the technicians pimped out laptops that was locked down in the cubicle area. Coincidentally our very own Matt Hickey has been trying to sell us ‘discounted’ iMacs and iPhones since Monday afternoon. Is it just coincidence or was Matt one of the culprits? I’m not sure, but I got a bitchin deal on a new 24-inch iMac. :)

Laptops stolen from Apple Store [Seattle PI]

Score one for my homies on the West Coast, the first iPhone kiosk has gone up in Seattle. The display is looping a video of the UI, docks to charge your iPod while you drool over the video and “alarm sticker things.” It’s making our own Matt “Hawt Scoopz” Hickey dance around the store and do his happy dance. If you have them in your town, send us the pics!

Read More

Seattle contest and the rest-of-the-country. We’d like to thank everyone who took the time to enter. In our book, you’re all winners. Except you, Ryan Stickney of Seattle, WA. While we do love creativity, the image above was not on the list of photos for the contest. Also, there is no Crunchgear/Zune logo page, also a disqualifying infraction. He did, however, include an image of unicorns humping Cold-War style, so he gets honorable mention. Otherwise, we’re a little disappointed at the turnout of the Seattle contest. When we were giving away tickets to see Band of Horses with Zune Insider, you guys were ravenous. When we make you actually work for it, not so much. Next time we’ll keep it simple so as not to disturb your rainy day hangover.

We’ll be randomly drawing two names from the dozen or so qualified entries right now, and we’ll be getting a hold of the winners shortly. Remember, if you can’t be at Minnie’s at 9AM, you forfeit your breakfast, your Zune, your Belkin Kickstand case, and notoriety. Forfeit, we say!

The rest of you who’ve been slugging it out for the remaining Zune across the country: Nice work! While some of the entries are just lame, many of you went above and beyond the call of importunity. Well done. Our crack panel of celebrity judges are currently pouring over the gigabytes of submissions and will select a winner shortly. Stay tuned here to see the winning entry.

And for those looking at the Win A T-Mobile Dash contest, fear not, it’s still going on. All you have to do to win is help impel our editor John’s no cellphone for 30-day cold-turkey detox. Can he do it? Only with your help. And if you’re the best helper, you’ll get a T-Mobile Dash, since he won’t need it.

Thanks everyone, and thanks to Cesar from Zune Insider for the hookup, the nice people at Belkin for the Kickstand cases, and to The Stranger for double Slogging us (Seattle Reference).

Zune Insider to give two lucky Seattle residents the chance to win on Monday, November 13, a Zune and a high-end Belkin leather. That’s a full day before they’re unleashed upon the world.

So here’s the full deal: Two winners will receive a Zune at a special breakfast on Monday at Minnie’s in Belltown with Cesar from Zune Insider, the wonderful band the Secret Machines and yours truly. If you’re down with indie rock, you most likely know who this band is, and you most likely love them, no touching though—at least not without asking.

After breakfast, we’re off to Westlake Center, where the band you just enjoyed your eggs and sausage with will rock faces at a super special show. And then, later that evening, you’ll be invited to another formerly-secret show, this one with the lovely Blonde Redhead at the War Room (but remember, there is no fighting in the War Room) on Pike and Harvard, where we will drink booze.

So what is it you have to do to win this Price Is Right-worthy prize package? We want you to show us how much you love CrunchGear and Zune. We want you to print out this document. Then we want you to have a photograph taken of you holding this document with four places around Seattle in the background: the Fremont Troll, the arrow over the Cha Cha, Safeco Field, and the Experience Music Project building-blob-thing. Once you’ve got all four photos, email them to matt at crunchgear dot com with the subject “Seattle Zune Contest.” We’ll randomly pick two winners from the pack. Make sure to include your name and a phone number. Your deadline is Sunday at Noon, got it?

You don’t necessarily have to live in Seattle, but it’ll help for the photos. And, in order to get your free Zune and Belkin case, you MUST be at the breakfast on Monday morning in Seattle, SO MAKE SURE YOUR MONDAY IS OPEN. If not, we’ll go the next lucky Seattlite.