|
|
June 2010 - Posts
-
Aaaaand last, but not least, we come to the final night of Video Game Week (sniff). Oh boy what a night it was! None other than Nintendo's own Reggie Fils-Aime took time out of is busy schedule to show Jimmy Donkey Kong Country Returns. The game looks like all of the fun that you remember from the SNES days, but the real suprise came when Reggie whipped a 3DS out of his jacket pocket and let Jimmy fondle it (jealous). Watch and want.
|
-
Thought that we forgot, huh? Jimmy got to play Killzone 3, in 3D, no less. It was a bit envy inducing watching Jimmy oooh and ahhh at the 3D effects while we watched a flat blurry screen (it looked fantastic before they went to 3D), but hey, why be a hater? Enjoy!
|
-
Game developers take note: Wanted is how you bring to video game life a movie license that revolves around bas-assery. Instead of artificially inflating a game's length to give it a supposed "depth" most developers go with, Grin went with a less is more approach. Wanted provides five (separate story line) hours of satisfying bullet-bending, round-exploding shooting with Mr. A-hole himself, Wesley, and a sense of "cool" that permeates through the source material. Its short length also makes the -- relatively easy -- trophies fun to unlock and extends the play time to 15-20 hours. Perfect for some trophy-whoring. Technical hiccups mar the experience a bit (i.e. not being to hit visible limbs because the enemy is technically behind cover) but still worth the price of admission. You may have missed it at launch, but the game's ultimate drop to $10-15 make it so worth it now.
Grade: A-
|
-
So my plans went a bit awry; I haven't finished Date's Inferno yet, but somehow I managed to finish Resistance 2, Killzone 2, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. I am now chewing on Uncharted 2 and about to dig into Dead Space today. Now, on to my shameful thoughts:
Resistance 2
What can I say about R2? It's a pretty good game, but was a bit of a disappointment to me. After the first Resistance, I thought that Insomniac would go "Way Big" on the sequel. Not so much. Part 2 was essentially just more of the same; linear corridor shooting and contextually appropriate gun placement. The game really picked the action up about 80% of the way through (a little late) and had an ending that left you wanting more, but I won't spoil it. Is it worth $29.99? If you have a 360 (and all the shooters available for it), I wouldn't suggest it as a must have purchase, but if you only have a PS3, then it's well worth the price of admission.
Kill Zone 2
![Killzone 2: DLC Bundle Pack [Online Game Code - Game Add-on]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51o%2BHFpL8XL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful game. Did I mention that it was beautiful? This game was the subject of sooooo much hype before it was released. When I brought this game home, there were a few good things that stood out to me; the graphics were awe-inspiring, the guns had a real "weight" to them and the sound design was exemplary. I also noticed a few not so good things as well. You can only carry two weapons at a time (one, if you consider that you can't drop the default pistol), shooting aim is a bit off and the viewing angle seems a bit narrow. I always felt like my character was a dwarf wearing parade horse blinders. The enemy A.I. was ruthless and aggressive (both good) and the final boss was frustratingly fun. Despite it's flaws, $29.99 is a fair asking price for this one.
Stars Wars The Force Unleashed:Ultimate Sith Edition
This game is like that not so cute person that makes everyone wonder what you see in them. This game has draw-in issues, extremely linear level designs, the enemy A.I. probably scored less than a 200 on the SAT (some enemies would literally stand right next to me and do nothing at all), and the Quick Time Event's were trite and made the God of War QTE's look 100% interactive. With all of that said, somehow, this game is really fun. I could not stop playing it once I started and I played in from beginning to end in a few days. It's just one of those things that can't be explained. I am by no means one of those people that love anything and everything Star Wars, so take this as a legitimate statement: It is an extremely fun and entertaining beat 'em up that actually has a more than decent story. The regular version is worth way more than the $19.99 price tag; if you can find the no longer produced Ultimate Sith Edition, it's well worth the price too (it will save you $30.00 on DLC).
The pile of shame is starting to shrink a little by little, so stay tuned and I will keep you posted on more games that you should dust off and play.
|
-
So, I suppose I should probably bring this story to your attention, since I was the one that did all the original defamation, but once-closed-down-by-Activision fan project 'The Silver Lining' is alive and less than two weeks from being in your hands. If you missed the chaos the first go-round, 'The Silver Lining' is a fan-made sequel to King's Quest 8 that was labored over for eight years, only to have Activision squish the project as they were approaching release. Months of negotiations later, Activision has rescinded their cease-and-desist order and granted Phoenix Online (a studio more than deserving of the name now) a non-commercial license to release the game. Episode one of 'The Silver Lining' is going to be available on July 10th (I guess it's episodic now? Maybe it always was and I never noticed...) and, judging by the trailer, it appears to have some kind of fairy tale themes involved. Definitely a Beauty & The Beast reference, and I thought I saw maybe a Rapunzel and Sleeping Beauty in there? Anyhoo, congrats to Phoenix Online. And congrats to Activision for generating some public PR for a change. One Of Swords's blog even reports that a "thank you Activision" thread has popped up in POS's official forums.
|
-
Okay, some better-than-last-post info about Dead Rising 2. Capcom finally announced the street date for North America is September 28, 2010. Still no word on the download only Dead Rising 2: Case Zero, the DR1/DR2 tie-in game, but I think it's safe to assume late Summer, a 2-6 weeks before DR2 hits stores.
|
-
Welcome to New Releases for the Week!
Video game release highlights include LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, PSP, DS, PC), Singularity (Xbox 360, PS3, PC), Naughty Bear (PS3, Xbox 360), N3II: Ninety-Nine Nights (Xbox 360), plus a few more gems...
Our recommended new release of the week will go to Naughty Bear (PS3/Xbox 360).
Naughty Bear is an open world style action game for Xbox 360 in which players take on the role of the dangerously disturbed teddy bear, Naughty Bear as he seeks revenge against the fellow teddies that left him off the guest list for a birthday party. Full of comic mischief, in-game exploration opportunities, stealth scare tactics and of course carnage, players wrack up points as they cross enemies off their list and avoid retribution for their actions in gameplay that will ensure that you never turn your back on a teddy bear again. Additional features include more than 30 unlockable levels stuffed with weapons caches and multiplayer options.
Deals on this week's releases include:
Check out the full list of new video game releases (USA) for the week of June 28, 2010 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, and PC! As always, release dates are subject to change, slip, slide, and be fairly unpredictable.
|
-
Nintendo's head honcho, Reggie Fils-Aime, guested on last night's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" and he dropped quite a bomb on viewers: the 3DS will not be wrapped neatly in anyone's gift wrappings this Christmas. In America, anyway. Japan is still expected to get the revolutionary portable out by the end of 2010.
In a way, it's unexpected to see such a big product miss the holidays this year but when you're Nintendo? It doesn't matter when you release. Just like Apple at the moment, they can do no wrong and will sell out day one. Get your pre-orders in...the latest the 3DS is expected to land in the States by March 2011. 
|
-
For those of you wound to the bit for more Dead Rising 2 info...this isn't it. But instead, Capcom announced today the coming release of a live action Dead Rising movie, Zombrex Dead Rising Sun (Dead Rising, Rising Sun, get it?), put together by their R&D head Keiji Inafune. That's right. Mega Man/Resident Evil 2/Onimusha/Ducktales Keiji Inafune.
From the Capcom press release:
"Written and directed by Keiji Inafune, Capcom’s global head of research
and development, Zombrex Dead Rising Sun follows two brothers as they
try to escape the zombie outbreak that has hit Japan. Exploring the
darker side of human nature and filmed entirely on location in Japan,
Zombrex Dead Rising Sun, both pays homage to the zombie movies of the
1960s and ‘70s and provides links with the videogame world of Dead
Rising® ."
And if you watch the trailer...well, you can judge for yourself. To me, it looks like "Generic Japanese Zombie Movie", though the wheelchair of doom you get a flash of looks kinda sweet, and is the only part that looks like the Dead Rising vein.
The movie will be released episodically in eight bits sometime this summer, but the distribution method has been vaguely listed as "free", so right now it can only be assumed to hit PSN, XBLM, as well as Youtube and Capcom's website.
|
-
 Ever since EA Sports announced that it's much beleaguered NBA Dead Live franchise was going under the knife (thank goodness) everyone has been wondering what to expect from the newly named NBA Elite 11. NBA Live has been a shadow of it's former self ever since moving to the PS2. Yes, I said PS2. I don't think there has been a game worthy of the EA Sports brand in a looooong time. Elite has been kept hush hush so far, hopefully for good reason. Well, we may not know much more than we did yesterday, but we now know who the cover athlete is and how the graphics are shaping up.Let us know if you think this franchise can recover or if too much damage has already been done.
 EA has released these screen shots alongside the cover of the game on their web site.  Basketball phenom Kevin Durant is a no brainer for the cover athlete of a
"brand new" franchise. Let's just hope that this game can live up to
the unreal play of it's franchise face for the 2011 season. 
|
-
 I am sorry, but this is just too funny. 505 Games has revealed that a Unibear (a teddy bear with a Unicorn horn) will make appearances on Perfection Island, but for a short time only. It is gonna be your job to try to catch (and most likely kill) this poor creature. If you are able frighten this creature to the brink of insanity, you will gain an exponential amount of naughty points, as opposed to a normal amount of points for just killing it out right. I can't wait to cut off it's horn!
|
-
Guess what folks, everybody's most cordial duo are going from 60 frames per second to 6 panels per page. In case you haven't heard DC/Wildstorm announced a while back that they would be producing a Kane and Lynch comic book that is set to debut this August. Since that announcement, mum has been the word, until today when the first two covers were released for us to gawk at. The art looks pretty good and the pen man (Ian Edginton) is by know means a slouch when it comes to writing. We will keep you updated as we hear more news.
 
|
-
Happy Naughty Bear Day! In celebration of the release of this odd and quite original game, developers 505 Games have released another creepy, yet cuddly video trailer for their fuzzy murder simulator. I have watched it at least three times today and will probably watch it at least three more times. Are you picking the game up? Let us know.
|
-
With the launch of the iPhone 4, Zynga, the developers of Farmville (a.k.a. digital crack) have launched their uber popular Facebook game Farmville on the Apple App Store for free.
From the developers:
Plow, plant and harvest on the go 24/7! FarmVille, the most popular game on the web, is now available on your iPhone. Current FarmVille players can access their existing Facebook farm, and new users can create a farm.
Choose from a variety of seeds to grow beautiful fruits and vegetables. Earn coins and XP to decorate your farm or expand your acreage. Work faster with vehicles like tractors and seeders, and rear livestock including cows, sheep, and pigs. The more you help your neighbors, the faster you’ll level up. Exclusive iPhone/iPod items available!
A Facebook account is required to play FarmVille. Creating a Facebook account is free.
Farmville is compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. Requires iOS 3.0 or later.
Check it out: AppStore - Farmville 
|
-
Lefties Are NOT Happy with the iPhone 4!
The iPhone 4 launch today was greeted with huge lines as the masses decended on Apple Stores across the country...
With any new gizmo launch, news of "issues" seem to be the norm and the iPhone 4 is not the exception. Display issues and a reception bug that appears to target those who hold the phone in their left hand (lefties just can't catch a break...) appear to be the top two problems. It does appear that the reception issues may have been known by the eager Apple Store staff as they seemed very eager to push the "rubber bumper" accessory that apparently helps the signal issue...
About the iPhone 4:
The iPhone 4 has all the features associated with an iPhone; only major changes from the iPhone 3GS are listed below. The most noticeable difference is a new industrial design. The primary structure is a stainless steel frame, which additionally acts as both antennae. The internal components of the device are situated between two panels of chemically strengthened aluminosilicate glass. Additional changes include the Apple A4 processor; a high resolution display, marketed as "Retina Display"; and an embedded video conferencing application, FaceTime. 
|
-
It looks like Windows Phone 7 will be hitting the shelves some time in October of this year, according to Mich Matthews MS Senior VP of Marketing, during the Cannes Lions 57th Annual Advertising Festival (sounds like fun). She just kind of nonchalantly mentioned this "secret" release window while introducing the next speaker/presenter. This is great news for all of us tech heads as the previous release window was holiday season 2010. That's a little too vague for or tastes. Bring it on MS!
|
-
He's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack. It's Super Jimmy, the champion and protector of gamers everywhere! Swooping in to bring our basement hobby to the forefront of mainstream media! For Video Game Week Night #3 we got to take a sneak peek at a very early version of Need 4 Speed:Hot Pursuit. Criterion is developing this game, so of course it looks fantastic and you know the final product will be polished. When Jimmy took the wheel, steering looked a bit difficult, but that can probably be attributed to how early in the development cycle the game is. What do you think? Check it out Hawtheads!
|
-
 The NY Times is reporting that the iPhone 4, like its predecessors, is carrying on with suffering from dropped calls. Apparently, the super-antenna that runs all the way around on the outside of the phone is the culprit. When touched in certain ways (you know, like when you hold it to talk), your flesh contacting the metal band causes a substantial drop in signal reception (This should only be a problem for new iPhone users).  Engadget is also reporting that yesterday Steve Jobs responded to a concerned customer, telling them that they were basically just in a poor coverage area. Then today Apple issued a statement acknowledging the problem and offered two very scientific solutions: get a cover for it or hold it "correctly". It never ceases to amaze me that after 4 iterations, the greatest phone on the planet is really bad at being a phone. But none of this really matters though, as Apple has proven over and over again. The iPhone 4 will continue to sell like crazy and everyone will be be just fine.
|
-
A couple weeks ago I did a quick report on some neat gaming related eBay items I saw. I feel like there's plenty of interesting stuff on eBay that gamers would like to be in the know on, so I'll try to make this a semi-regular feature, so long as the market bears unusual gamer stuff up for auction. I know this kind of stuff amuses me; if it doesn't you, there's probably some new Halo screenshot somewhere you can pick apart as a reason to cancel your pre-order somewhere... 
First up, ending in just under two days, so strike fast collectors, is a rare SNES cart combining Mountain Bike Rally, Project Manager, and Speed Racer. Sure, no one gives two dooks about those games independently, but to be able to pack them all on the same cart is something of a rare find. 6 unique bidders have got the price up to $320 as of this writing. A decent sum to be sure, but it hasn't yet hit the reserve, so we'll have to see where this gets to. 
As the kind of jerk that always wants to do Vocals on Rock Band, this next one particularly caught my eyes. A rare Lips Number One Hits edition that came with two wireless microphones, bedazzled with Swarovski crystals. A contest prize originally, only 100 of these sets (that 200 mics for the Liberal Arts Majors) were produced, so it's a rare find indeed. Only two cats have bid on it thus far, with two-and-a-half days left on the auction as of this writing, getting the price up to $256.79. No, I have no idea where that number came from. The reserve on this hasn't been met yet either (seriously, people still use 'reserves'?--Just Buy It Now, you greedy bastards), but some of the fine print hints that the seller may be looking in the $680 range. Good luck, buddy. 
Finally, something that ties in with my other article today, Honey Peach for the NES has cropped up on eBay. One of the storied three "nudity games" on the NES, one bid has started the show off at $199. Despite the seller writing a product description that sounds like a Beavis & Butthead transcript, this might be an interesting one to watch, as these seldom show up on the open market. Oh, and this guy is trying again. Seriously, dude. Aim a little lower. I'll make sure people see the auction.
|
-
 E3 has come and gone, and with it, a ton of new games and toys to get our nerdgasms all aflutter. Glasses free portable 3D systems, motion-controlled gamer interaction, and retro-fitting our current games with 3D are all tech that had convention attendees buzzing.
But at the end of the day, what a bunch of unwashed, over partied bloggers (you guys know I only say it out of love) think about the hottest prototypal and pipe-dream tech really doesn’t mean a thing. The people who really rise as the standard bearers for the next new thing aren’t gamers. They usually aren’t even technophiles. They’re the pornographers.
The worst kept secret in the tech world is that whatever tech the Adult Entertainment industry adopts quickly becomes the new standard. Polaroid , VHS, DVD, pay-per-view, credit card verification software, streaming video, Flash video: all of them owe some allegiance to people’s desire to see each other doing the nasty that helped them to become popular. 
The Adult Entertainment industry is now starting to turn its eyes onto 3D television. Hustler announced last week that they’ll be undertaking their first 3D pornographic film, a spoof on Avatar named (apparently by a Wayans brother) “This Ain’t Avatar XXX“. A couple Asian studios have already been working in the 3D space, with inspirational titles as “3D Zen and Sex”.
So what about our other gaming toys, how can they be co-opted into the sex industry. Vivid Entertainment, the world’s largest Adult video producer, was recently turned down on their offer to Sony to create an Adult Video-on-Demand service that ran on Playstation Network, and have since turned to Microsoft, using the same pitch for Xbox Live (Note: Sony doesn’t; want to allow you to pay for overpriced porno movie downloads, but continues to put obligatory sex mini-games in the God of War series. Just sayin‘). The Big Three have traditionally shied away from Adult Entertainment publicly, and though that has been more of a reaction to opposition by major retailers to carry any AO-Rated products, the possibility of Microsoft inviting Vivid onto their networks looks remarkably slim.
Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo’s collective avoidance of the adult industry has produced deaf ears for the few mouths vocalizing for using motion controls in Adult Entertainment games. I personally don’t see the thrill here, but you have to admit there is a market out there. And it’s not as though our motion control games don’t already have us performing lewd acts, whether it be purposefully or by pure accident. It’s just the idea of coming out and saying “this content involves simulated sex controls” openly and freely that scares the pants off on the big wigs.
So where’s the line drawn? How far can the media go before they make investors and board members nervous. I’ll tell you one thing, judging by last year, I’d run out and buy stock in Konami if you have any money lying around. Last year, Konami’s Love Plus for the Nintendo DS, a “girlfriend simulator” (essentially Nintendogs for the lonely Otaku boy set) sold 100,000 copies in Japan in its first month, nearly half of that in the first week. Not bad for a game that’s designed to appeal to a limited audience, namely the lower tier of Otaku who have given up on social interaction completely. I’m talking low-ball. This dude married his.
Well, Kinect already has its Nintendogs, the so-adorable-my-two-year-old-watches-it-on-a-loop Kinectimals. So how long is it until Konami whips up a Love Plus for the Kinect or the Move? Or even Illusion, publisher of the infamously graphic and hardcore Sexy Beach series--as explicit as the escapades in their games are now, I can imagine they’d love to get ahold of some motion control technology. And with Bill Gates talking about wanting to adapt Kinect for PC's, the ability of the Microsoft to control Kinect-useable content could quickly get out of hand.
So where are we, the consumers? Powerless. Unless you spend enough money on porn each month to nudge the industry a certain direction. All the rest of us can do is sit back and see where the inhabitants of those unfurnished month-to-month rentals in Van Nuys will take us…
|
-
![Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51M--3U4tRL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Blu-ray Movie Releases for the Week of June 22, 2010
Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season drops this week on Blu-ray. In addition we have some additional treats in the form of Green Zone, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and She's Out of My League!
This week's recommended Blu-ray movie title is Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season .
Here is the full list:
- Green Zone (2-Disc Limited Edition + Digital Copy) [Blu-ray] ~ Matt Damon, et al. (Blu-ray - 2010)
- Entourage: The Complete Sixth Season [Blu-ray] ~ Kevin Connolly, Adrian Grenier, Kevin Dillon, and Jerry Ferrara
- She's Out of My League [Blu-ray] ~ Jay Baruchel, T. J. Miller, Mike Vogel, and Nate Torrence
- A Star Is Born (Blu-ray Book) ~ Judy Garland, et al.
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (Blu-ray 3D) ~ Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan, and Andy Samberg
- Remember Me [Blu-ray] ~ Robert Pattinson, et al.
- The Bourne Trilogy (The Bourne Identity | The Bourne Supremacy | The Bourne Ultimatum) [Blu-ray] ~ Matt Damon, et al.
- Red Desert (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] ~ Richard Harris, et al.
- Hung: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray] ~ Thomas Jane, Jane Adams, Eddie Jemison, and Charlie Saxton
- Dire Straits Alchemy (20th Anniversary Edition) [Blu-ray] ~ Dire Straits
- The Last Station [Blu-ray] ~ James McAvoy, Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren, and Paul Giamatti
- Death Race 2000 (Roger Corman's Cult Classics) [Blu-ray] ~ David Carradine, Sylvester Stallone, Mary Woronov, and Simone Griffeth
- Riverworld [Blu-ray] ~ Tahmoh Penikett, Laura Vandervoort, Mark Deklin, and Peter Wingfireld
- Close-Up (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] ~ Mohsen Makhmalbaf, Abolfazl Ahankhah, and Mehrdad Ahankhah
- Guyver: Complete Box Set [Blu-ray] ~ Andrew Love, Brian Jepson, and Chris Patton
- Tromeo and Juliet [Blu-ray] ~ Jane Jensen, Will Keenan, Valentine Miele, and Maximillian Shaun
- Afro Samurai: The Complete Murder Sessions [Blu-ray] ~ Samuel Jackson, Mark Hamill, Ron Perlman, and Lucy Liu
- Michael Jackson: The Secrets of a Legend [Blu-ray]
|
-
-
Jimmy Fallon's guest #2 for Video Game Week (Jimmy, you absolutely rock) was Mark Lamia, the Studio Head of Treyarch, the developers of Call of Duty: Black Ops. The game looked very impressive. Jimmy took the reigns, jumping into a chopper and engaging in wanton destruction and a dog fight with another copter. MMMMMMM...gaming goodness. Check it out!
|
-
Mr. Fallon, we sooo love you. The host of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon has always been a one man advocate for the game industry; he has had developers as guests and exclusive game premiers in the past (Cliffy B announced Gears 3 and Bulletstorm on the show), but this week he is making late night history. Dubbed "Video Game Week" Jimmy Fallon is bringing on guests from the game industry and giving main stream America a sneak peak at five of the hottest items in gaming.
Monday night's guest was Kudo Tsunoda of Microsoft. He brought the Microsoft Kinect with him. He demonstrated a rafting game (which iCarly star whats-her-face made it look really difficult). Kudo then went on to best Jimmy in a game of track hurdling. Check out the video below.
|
-
For the past few days the battery life on my EVO has been dying faster and faster. At first, I thought that it was just my imagination, but then I started monitoring the not so slow death of my battery. After about four days, my battery was down to lasting about three hours in standby mode (with wi-fi off, auto syncing off, email off... EVERYTHING THAT MAKES THE PHONE GREAT-OFF!!!). I also noticed that the phone was getting really hot, and today I actually shut the phone off because of the heat that was coming from it. The Sprint tech checked it out and said that there was definately something wrong with the handset, but he had not seen this problem before. Thankfully, he ordered me a new one right on the spot. I also spoke to a manager at a Radio Shack that said she has had several EVO's returned with this issue, so it is apparently not just an issue with my EVO. Are any of you having this problem with your EVO? Hit up the comments section and let us know. 
|
-
-
-
Welcome to New Releases for the Week!
Video game release highlights include Transformers: War for Cybertron (Xbox 360 / PS3 / Nintendo Wii / PC / DS), WipeOut (Nintendo Wii), Sin & Punishment: Star Successor (Wii), plus a few more gems...
Our recommended new release of the week will go to Sin & Punishment: Star Successor (Nintendo Wii).
A Classic N64 Sequel Emerges on Wii
Take aim and blast your way through a post-apocalyptic world packed with nonstop arcade shooter action. Sin & Punishment: Star Successor is the long-awaited sequel to the Japanese Nintendo 64 cult-classic. This series debut in North America delivers an intense, adrenaline-soaked thrill ride that never lets up from start to finish as Isa and Kachi go on the run and on the defensive, shooting everything as a host of enemies try to hunt them down. Sin & Punishment: Star Successor brings one of a kind shooter gameplay created by the undisputed masters of the genre.
Check out the full list of new video game releases (USA) for the week of June 15, 2010 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, and PC! As always, release dates are subject to change, slip, slide, and be fairly unpredictable.
|
-
 
The Medal of Honor Beta runs 6/21/10 - 7/18/10, and features two modes (Team Assault and Combat Mission) set across two maps: Helmand Valley and Kabul City Ruins. Both modes pit two teams of 12 players against each other. The Beta will be available on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 versions.
Pre-order Medal of Honor over at Amazon, and get access to the Multiplayer Beta. Access codes will be e-mailed to begin arriving on 6/21/10.
Medal of Honor is set to ship on October 12, 2010 on PC, Xbox 360, and PS3.
Check it out: Amazon - Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor Description:
Operating directly under the National Command Authority, a relatively unknown entity of Operators. Over 2 million Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines wear the uniform. Of those, approximately 50 thousand fall under the direct control of the Special Operations Command. The Tier 1 Operator functions on a plane of existence above and beyond even the most highly trained Special Operations Forces. Their exact numbers, while classified, hover in the low hundreds. They are living, breathing, precision instruments of war. They are experts in the application of violence. The new Medal of Honor is inspired by and has been developed with Tier 1 Operators from this elite community. Players will step into the boots of these warriors and apply their unique skill sets to a new enemy in the most unforgiving and hostile battlefield conditions of present day Afghanistan. There is a new enemy.
|
-
-
What's Hawt: EA's first foot forward since losing the WWII first-person shooter crown and it looks great. The visuals are nice and the multiplayer plays well enough to stand with the best of them. And having the former makers of Modern Warfare games as -- potential -- development consultants should only help elevate Medal of Honor's quality further.
What's Not So Hawt: Quite possibly too similar to Modern Warfare 2? I didn't get to try out the single-player portion of the game but from what multiplayer showed me, it may be aping MW2 too closely. The level I tried out felt like a remake of the "Crash," but with less camping spots. If you loved MW2's multiplayer, Medal of Honor should deliver, but for the rest of us...the campaign will be the one to watch for some innovation. Hopefully.
Overall Demo Hawtness:
7/10 -- Modern Warfare 2 Plus
|
-
 Engadget is reporting that a relatively unknown company, Digital Media Professionals, is providing the GPU for the upcoming Nintendo 3DS. What's even more impressive is the specs that DMP are stating make this handheld potentially much more powerful than you would think from the E3 demo of the unit. DMP claims that the video below was completely rendered on a Nintendo 3DS, using their chip. Impressive...
SOURCE:ENGADGET
|
-
 A special shout out to @KimTheGamer for tweeting the link to this absolutely hilarious video. If you are a fan of horrible rap/RB, Halo and boning, then you will love this. Click and crank it up!
|
-
Earlier in the week, I told you about my brief experience with looking at 3D stills through Nintendo's 3DS but that wasn't enough. I braved the long line Nintendo had going for their newest portable at E3 and here's the games I got to see (playable and non-playable):
Playable (or, the "cashing in" titles)
Ridge Racer
Ridge Racer on the 3DS was not a pleasant experience. Sure, the car you had under your slide pad control popped up in front of you but, come on, it's Ridge Racer with nothing of note ever happening on its vanilla-plain tracks and even the handling wasn't so great. Here's one that's looking for the quick launch buck.
Dynasty Warriors
Koei's title was one that actually showed off a bit of what the 3DS is capable of: throwing you into a three-dimensional field where you can sense where enemies are in relation to your avatar. Simply walking around proved to be a great sensation. But, again, it quickly reminds you that it's just another Dynasty Warriors and the 3D effect doesn't alleviate too much of that.
 DJ Hero 3D
Activision's DJ offering wasn't too bad. It didn't go overboard with the 3D effect and used it in subtle ways. The DJ platter familiar to DJ Hero fans hovers on top of the 3DS' display giving it great distinction to the background and gameplay area -- especially when you activate your specials. The fire surrounding the platter looks sooo purrty in 3D.
Non-Playable (or, the great potential titles)
Kingdom Hearts 3D demo
Don't be alarmed! There wasn't a new Kingdom Hearts title announced when you weren't looking...all this video showed was a few scenes of the first Kingdom Hearts in 3D. The effects were OK -- battle sections nicely represented how it'd feel to fight in 3D space with Sora -- but, most importantly, it showed off the system's graphical capabilities on par with PSP. Crisp and beautiful...this was PS2 Kingdom Hearts running on a Nintendo portable.
Paper Mario
Paper Mario's demo was one of the the non-playable titles I saw that used its 3D effects in ways encouraging different layers of depth. Mario was on a middle plane while the environment took up the foreground and background. It wasn't flashy, but showed off what a platformer could do to spice up their gameplay on 3DS.
 Metal Gear 3D: Snake Eater the Naked Sample
If there was a show-stopper for illuminating what the 3DS could truly offer, it was the Metal Gear 3D demo. Right from the start, Kojima and co's logos popped out at you in eye-popping 3D and further into the demo as you crawl around through the grass to come across a scaly, realistic snake on the attack. All with visuals rivaling PSP's graphical capabilities -- and maybe even exceeding them. It was the best thing to see at Nintendo's 3DS booth and it was just a video! Knowing Kojima, the gameplay should prove successful, as well.
Nintendo 3DS will be launching in the US before March 2011...after trying out some of the games on display, I will be one of the first in line to get one. Yes, even if the only thing available to me is launch dreck like Dynasty Warriors. 
|
-
What's Hawt: Heavenly Sword meets Uncharted, but now platform agnostic! It was kind of odd to go hands on with Enslaved holding an Xbox 360 controller making me think: "Wait...Xbox doesn't get these kinds of games." Well, it does now and it's one to seriously get hyped for. This is Ninja Theory's next game following the above-average Heavenly Sword and it looks like they've upped their game for this title. The environments are beautiful, facial animations spot-on, and the combat fluid -- just like Heavenly Sword's -- but Enslaved transcends its roots and presents a much more solid presentation. The world's interesting, the characters have something to say, and looks to (successfully) try new gameplay experiences. This game can't come out soon enough.
What's Not So Hawt: Know that Enslaved is heavy on adventuring with a sidekick. Fortunately, that sidekick is a bad-ass chick who just-so-happened-to-enslave-you-to-bring-her-safely-across-a-post-apocalyptic-wasteland. From the demo I played, it didn't seem like I was babysitting my character's captor so here's hoping that they keep that up throughout the game when Enslaved goes gold.
Overall Demo Hawtness:
9/10 -- More Uncharted-Like Gaming is Never a Bad Thing
|
-
-
What's Hawt: Brutal combat as you remember it from Mortal Kombat II with added technical moves and a genuine sense of impact when hits connect. The reboot to the classic franchise wasn't playable at this year's E3, but seeing it demo'd in front of me definitely got me pumped to get my hands on it. The visuals are a gritty, in-your-face gorefest that one of the developers kept calling "disgusting," so are they giving the fans what they want? Oh, yeah. Mortal Kombat is one to look forward to when it releases, especially considering that it's on a 2D plane again, adds a super meter, and the lack of dial-in-a-combo mechanics should be a welcome change for fighting fans.
What's Not So Hawt: Non-playable on the show floor but seeing the developers go ape-$&%! on each other yielded no hiccups in the gameplay or weird glitches. It looks ready, now we play the waiting game 'til players can get their grubby hands on the final, retail build.
Overall Demo Hawtness:
9/10 -- Set Aside the 3D, Here's Your Fatalities on a 2D Plane Again
|
-
What's Hawt: Swing a virtual golf club! Unfortunately, that's something already being done with Tiger Woods on the Wii. The game seemed to run well and detect motion accurately enough but based on the demo, I didn't see anything spectacular or particularly interesting setting it apart from the competition.
What's Not So Hawt: An also-ran to Tiger Woods on the Wii for PlayStation's Move peripheral. There was no real indication as to which game is better, but based on price alone...you can get the same experience on the Wii for a cheaper price. The game has golf's current bad boy, John Daly, lending his ridiculousness to the game, why not take advantage of the license and create golf outside the box?
Overall Demo Hawtness:
4/10 -- Just Another Golf Game...
|
-
 Harmonix's booth at E3 this year was incredible. Sure, they showed off what the next iteration in the Rock Band series will offer (read: it's awesome) but the one thing that will blow everyone's mind when it launches is Dance Central.
The game is the developer's attempt at creating the next "bar game" or the next mainstream, exciting product that will sell Kinect. Not to you or me, probably. But the popularity of dance shows and b-boy face-offs on TV is indicative of the audience reach this game will have.
I really had to applaud the people who manned up and hit Harmonix's dance booths that turned nerdy media folk into dance machines. Dance Central exercised the Xbox 360's Kinect capabilities and it worked! The game gives you an avatar you dance in front of and there's a circle at your feet that the player moves to. Based on your timing and body position, you get points similar to Rock Band and Guitar Hero.
Failing? The dancer's legs start turning red to let you know to get back into it. It never became too much of a game but not just a bunch of random body movements either. From what I saw, it looked accurate and fun -- maybe more so in the privacy of your own home -- and if Harmonix and MTV Games position correctly, it changes everything.
Sony's marketing mantra? Officially redacted. 
|
-
What's Hawt: What Capcom does when they get the Marvel license again and backed by the proven success of Street Fighter IV. A mixture of comic book-style graphics with the characters you expect, tag matches, and the madness of the most memorable fighter on the Dreamcast all those years ago. Blasphemous talk towards Soul Calibur? Don't care...bring on your best 3 characters and we'll "talk" about it next year when MvC3 releases. Or...maybe not. Capcom seems to have refined the controls to be more skill-based than the button-mashing nature -- my personal preference -- of the titles that came before.
What's Not So Hawt: A bit slower than you may recall from the MvC2 days but faster than SFIV. It's a Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom that will actually sell, if you will. Also, the rise in production costs due to graphical style (polygonal models vs. MvC2's sprites) will keep the character select count a bit lower than last time. Capcom estimates about 40 characters will be available when the game launches next Spring.
Overall Demo Hawtness:
9/10 -- My Stock: Ryu, Wolverine, and Spider-Man. Bring It.
|
-
-
-
Yup. That headline says it all. Kinect pre-orders at Amazon for $150, with a November 4th release date. This is the same set of stats we saw earlier this week from Gamestop, when we were all hoping, "Well, maybe it's just a place-holder price...", but it's looking more like the norm.
Not only that, but Kinect Games are pre-ordering as well. AT A $60 PRICE POINT! What the...remember Nick...family site...family site...
That's right, Kinect exclusive titles like Your Shape Fitness, Kinectimals, and Kinect Joy Ride and the rest are pre-ordering for the same price as your Maddens and Mass Effects. Chew on that: Joy Ride, the XBLA game that everyone panned for probably not being worth ten-bucks at E3 last year, is now 60 bones, American.
I thought, Microsoft, your strategy was to inject new life into the 360, not sell us a brand new console. Because $210 for an accessory and a game is console prices, not "addition" prices. A Wii comes with a controller, two accessories, and two games for only $200. Heck, for less than the $150 the Kinect costs, I can buy a brand new Playstation 2, and a whole slew of Eye Toy games.
Hopefully some bundles are on the horizon, to be announced close to release date, or I predict Kinect being a big holiday season disappointment...
|
-
To celebrate E3 Week, but Amazon is back again with another All Playstation 3 Gold Box Event!
To kick things off both PS3 and Xbox 360 gamers can grab Battlefield Bad Company 2 for $39.98 (Save $20).
Tactical destruction in Bad Company 2 is taken to new heights with the updated DICE 'Frostbite' engine. Unlike in the first game in the series, which featured considerable, but limited destructible game environments, in Battlefield Bad Company 2 players can now take down entire buildings or create their own vantage points by blasting holes through cover, thereby delivering a unique dynamic experience in every match.
As always, hourly lightning deals will be sprinkled throughout the day (Thursday) as well...
Check it out: Amazon All PS3 Gold Box Event
 
Deal of the Day:
Lightning Deals:
 
|
-
-
What's Hawt: Harry's hoodie physics are incredible! Oh, and the game will be trying on Gears of War-branded boots on for a change. A strange move, for sure, but moving the franchise into a new genre got me to try out the game so it shouldn't have trouble attracting those gamers with a secret crush on the boy wizard. Harry will not shoot "bullets" but all his different powers will work as such. There will be "sniper" spells, "rocket" spells, and so on. That, and a cover mechanic.
What's Not So Hawt: The off-center camera is too close and the controls could have used an adjustable sensitivity option. There were quite a few times that I got headaches from the camera's awkward position and the framerate suffered a bit, as well. Although, the latter usually gets optimized last so we'll see how the other two concerns fare when the game actually ships.
Overall Demo Hawtness:
![]() 8/10 -- Young Potter Grows Up and Takes on the Horde, err, Magical Enemies
|
-
-
-
 Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand last, but certainly not least, Sony's E3 press conference (courtesy of G4TV). Enjoy.
|
-
A teaser trailer for legendary Super NES RPG Secret of Mana recently cropped up on Square-Enix's YouTube page. Sure, I'll give you the link, but the above picture has all the more info you're going to get out of the 0:38 second video. (Okay that's a lie--the Mana Beast growl over the Square-Enix logo made me giggle a bit.) No details as of yet, but we'll definitely make sure you're in the loop as soon as we are. And why am I the one bringing this up? Chris and Carlos are the phone geeks. Oh, yeah, because I'm the retro geek and RPG geek. I forgot.
|
-
Are you one of the millions of people that are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the next chapter of the acclaimed fantasy series Final Fantasy. Well, Square Enix (Squeinx?) is here to help you prepare for the big XIV. Square has posted a benchmark tool so that you can make sure that your PC can run the game smoothly and magically. Now don't run off expecting to get a beta or actually play, this is a static application. This download does use actual game scenes and characters to test your machines wares, but no game play. What are you waiting for? Get it right now!  
|
-
 Gamespot has posted the Nintendo press conference (arguably, the best of the three) in it's entirety. If you haven't watched it yet, watch the video now, it is really impressive.
|
-
-
What's Hawt: Retro-graded Donkey Kong before the nonsense that was banana-collecting in Donkey Kong 64. This is the project Retro Studios went to work on after their excellent Metroid series reboot games. The difficulty you remember from the SNES days is present in DKCR and co-op and -- even -- motion controls are well implemented. Nice 3D graphics with busy environments are present, as well!
What's Not So Hawt: Not much. It is Donkey Kong Country as you remembered it except...I can't help to wonder what Retro Studios could have done if they had really reinvented the franchise. Did Nintendo hold this over their head as if to say: "Fine Retro, do this and then you can make the next game you really want to make." We'll find out whenever we see their next project surface, I guess.
Overall Demo Hawtness:
9/10 -- Donkey Kong Rap is Strong
|
-
-
-
-
-
-
What's Hawt: The same team who brought you Hunter: The Reckoning, High Voltage Software, return with The Grinder and it's a Gauntlet-style co-op game that puts an extra emphasis on Borderlands-style story mixed in with a bit of House of the Dead: Overkill grind house elements. Essentially, it is the spiritual successor to Hunter that fans have been yearning for.
What's Not So Hawt: In talking with the developer, the team doesn't seem too sure on how they'll approach single-player so don't hold your breath that this may be playable solo. Or, that it would be fun anyway. Online is still being worked on and they've yet to find a publisher for the title. So if you'd like to help The Grinder see the light of the day, fans need to promote it.
Overall Demo Hawtness:
7/10 -- House of the Dead Overkill Sprinkled into my Gauntlet. Oh, yeah.
|
-
-
In the midst of E3-mania, Microsoft has finally announced the final edition of their motion controlled system, the once called Natal/newly christened Kinect is Xbox’s answer to Minority Report, a controller free, motion sensitive user interface for the Xbox 360. And, right off the batch, they’ve got a line-up of 15 launch titles ready to hit the stores this holiday along side Kinect. Are you ready? No, really, are you ready?
So while everyone is either lauding or poo-pooing the Kinect and it’s software selection, I’m too busy wondering about the logistics. Because I’m just that kind of shmuck. How, exactly is the Kinect going to integrate with the average living room? Better yet, how is it going to integrate with MY living room. Our living is set-up with the television in a corner position, on top of a stand that picks the TV about 2-feet off the ground, and fit’s the footprint of the TV exactly. So, naturally, I’m worried when every screenshot or video of Kinect shows it in a room like this:
  
Meanwhile, most people that I know have living rooms that look like this:
 
Unless, like myself, they have kids. Then is looks like this:
 
So now, I’m panicked. The majority of publicity images for Kinect show the television raised to standing eye-height, with the camera positioned beneath the screen. The ever-happy-to-perform actors are standing about three to eight feet away form the camera, and have roughly a six to eight-foot horizontal space to play in. So what percentage of Xbox owners have a spare eighteen-square foot of unobstructed space in front of their Xbox TV? No idea--I don’t know that anyone’s ever surveyed it.
I know I certainly don’t have that kind of space. I could, but I’m going to have to completely rearrange my living room to do so. Not having a flat-screen set, the TV cabinet has close to a three foot depth, so taking it out of the corner to make a usable play area is going to result in quite an ugly projection into the room. Moving bookcases and completely removing the coffee table are going to be a requirement as well, as will removing the recliner, as my only other option would be to back it up in the way of the front door. Hopefully, the camera can be placed on either the top or below the screen (similar to Wii's Sensor Bar), as otherwise, with my cabinet having the same footprint as the TV, I’m going to have to custom build a new TV stand so I can properly position the camera.
So, how about you? Is your house “Kinect ready”? I’ve been working on getting ahold of Microsoft for some specs on recommended usage, but haven’t heard back yet. I’ll let you know as soon as I do. In the meantime, if you’re eyeballing Kinect seriously, start looking at your living room and consider re-evaluating the lay out…
|
-
I came out of the Nintendo E3 '10 press conference just a bit ago and was impressed by most of the 'wares shown. Thought Nintendo was dumping Retro for Team Ninja? Nope. They just had better things to do...like Donkey Kong Country Returns. And the completely-out-of-left-field Kirby's Epic Yarn? Wow, can't wait to try that out.
Most importantly, though, Nintendo demo'd their upcoming Nintendo 3DS. A launch date was not cemented, but they did show off the graphical capabilities -- besides 3D -- with Kid Icarus Uprising. Yes, Patrick. The prediction you made on the last GamerDeals Podcast came true...
So, how was the actual machine? In a word: impressive. The upper-screen reminded me a lot of the PSP's nice, hi-def display and the "slide pad" proved more comfortable on your thumb than the PSP's annoying nub stick.
No actual gameplay was shown besides rotatable 3D images of Mario on Yoshi, Link striking at you with his sword, Samus in suit and -- by far the most impressive -- a screen with Pikmin characters surrounded by beautiful jungle foliage.
The doors have yet to open to E3, but I'll make sure to get some hands-on time with the device and let you guys know how it stacks up when gameplay is involved soon.
[Image Source: Joystiq]
|
-
Nintendo just announced The Legend of Zelda:Skyward Sword, it's new entry in the storied franchise. What is not much of a surprise is that the Wii Motion Plus and nunchuck will now function as Link's sword and shield. As exciting as this may seem at first, I think it is actually the worst fear of most hard core Zelda fans. We were hoping for an epic re-imagining of the franchise, a sorely needed fresh and original reboot. I am not one to doubt Nintendo's ability to pull the fat out of the fire, but I think a lot of people just lost initerest, at least for now. Let's hope that Nintendo didn't show us the best this game has to offer just yet.
|
-
-
   G4TV.com has posted the entire Microsoft press conference from yesterday, we them sooooo love them for this. This video shows some serious footage: Call of Duty:Black Ops, Gears of War 3, Halo:Reach..Dig in Hawt Heads.
|
-
The Nintendo 3DS was officially revealed today (Reggie took the time to take more than a few cheap shots at Sony while doing it). This new portable has the ability to display games in, you guessed it, 3D. Nintendo has included what they are referring to as the 3D slider, which can be used to adjust the depth of the 3D effect or turn it off all together.
Next up, graphics boosts bells n whistles and controls. Nintendo has integrated a motion sensor, a gyro sensor, an analog pad, and 2 cameras (able to take pictures and lets you view them in 3D). It doesn't stop there either, as this little beast can play movies in 3D as well.
A video presentation of Kid Icarus was shown and the graphics easily rivaled what we have seen on the Wii. Yes, I said Wii, not DS. Nintendo has finally joined the 21st century and made a machine with some graphical muscle. Other company's that are on board: Capcom, EA, Activision, Ubisoft, and Konami is making a Metal Gear Game. D-Pad, analog, touch screen, 3D and camera? CHA-CHING!
|
-
Welcome to New Releases for the Week!
Most video game publishers are taking a week off for the E3 conference as the pickins are quite slim this week ... Highlights include Toy Story 3 (Xbox 360 / PS3 / Nintendo Wii / PSP / DS), Pirates Plunderrrr (Nintendo Wii), plus a few more gems...
Our recommended new release of the week will go to Toy Story 3 (Sony PSP). Make sure to get your order in for Toy Story 3 The Video Game at Amazon for a free $10 video game credit!
Check out the full list of new video game releases (USA) for the week of June 15, 2010 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, and PC! As always, release dates are subject to change, slip, slide, and be fairly unpredictable.
|
-
The Medal of Honor Beta runs 6/21/10 - 7/18/10, and features two modes (Team Assault and Combat Mission) set across two maps: Helmand Valley and Kabul City Ruins. Both modes pit two teams of 12 players against each other. The Beta will be available on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 versions.
Pre-order Medal of Honor over at Amazon, and get access to the Multiplayer Beta. Access codes will be e-mailed to begin arriving on 6/21/10.
Medal of Honor is set to ship on October 12, 2010 on PC, Xbox 360, and PS3.
Check it out: Amazon - Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor Description:
Operating directly under the National Command Authority, a relatively unknown entity of Operators. Over 2 million Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines wear the uniform. Of those, approximately 50 thousand fall under the direct control of the Special Operations Command. The Tier 1 Operator functions on a plane of existence above and beyond even the most highly trained Special Operations Forces. Their exact numbers, while classified, hover in the low hundreds. They are living, breathing, precision instruments of war. They are experts in the application of violence. The new Medal of Honor is inspired by and has been developed with Tier 1 Operators from this elite community. Players will step into the boots of these warriors and apply their unique skill sets to a new enemy in the most unforgiving and hostile battlefield conditions of present day Afghanistan. There is a new enemy.
|
-
I may have gotten into my second E3 as "media" but I am in no way an industry expert -- yet. As a regular of web site "meet ups" such as Kotaku and Playstation.Blog's yearly traditional fan gatherings, though, I can attest to quite a few things if you ever plan on hitting one up yourself.  *PlayStation.Blog Traditions: At its first meet up at Mama's Hot Tamales last year, PlayStation.Blog gave away attendee passes for E3 and allowed gamers in to Sony's press conference for E3 2009. This year was no different, the first 100 people in line for their meet up got the same treatment for this year's E3. Be There: Hours beforehand. We're talking early morning or, maybe even overnight for next year's. You'll want to start camping outside whatever venue they decide to throw their meet up that year early. Last year wasn't too bad since the bulk of the people that showed up lazily arrived about an hour before show time. Not so this year, kids were out there partying -- in line -- much sooner. 2010 Venue Grade: B- The Ciudad bar in downtown LA was great...as far as space went. Mama's Hot Tamales offered a richer atmosphere and amazing service, though. Understandably, the venue would have to be larger this year, but it did miss some of the "soul," if you will, of last year's gathering. It was OK, though. Being in the same room as Metal Gear Solid director, Hideo Kojima, made up for some of that.  *Kotaku Traditons: Open bar -- for half an hour. The E3 meet up not to be miss as far as networking is concerned. Prominent writers and game makers are a regular sight at every Kotaku blog meet up and it was no different this year. Be There: About an hour and half beforehand. Since Kotaku's gatherings don't promote ever giving anything away, you're safe showing up a bit late. Although, it seems like they set their bar tab relatively low every time they throw one of these things. This year's record? 45 minute hosted bar. 2010 Venue Grade: A Kotaku's choice of venue this year, The Broadway bar, was such a great place to set the mood for some good ol' fashion social drinking that made me wish they never return to the Golden Gopher...ever. Two-story, lightly dim bar, and attentive bartenders provided a perfect environment for taking in drinks with industry folk. Just make sure to get as many drinks in before the tab goes empty. 
|
-
OK, here we go. I have been keeping to my word and trying eat through my gigantic Pile "O" Shame. I beat God of War III and Halo O.D.S.T.; I also started Dante's Inferno and Red Dead Revolver. Let us reflect.
God of War III was, from a game play standpoint, is exactly what you would expect after playing I & II. No real surprises, just an extremely polished and satisfying beat em' up action game. A lot of people complained about a lack of originality, but when you have something as good and successful as this franchise, you don't really make drastic changes. What was different and surprising was the cinematic presentation and graphics; absolutely jaw dropping. In the beginning of the game I kept dying over and over because I was focusing on the visuals and not paying attention to what I was doing. The only real gripe that I have is the last 30 minutes of the game. Without spoiling anything, I just have to say that it seemed a little tacked on and unnecessary. What's my retro verdict? If you like pure action and haven't played this yet, I say buy it, it's well worth full price.
Halo O.D.S.T., where do I begin? First of all it is not the same old Halo, for the most part. I enjoyed the majority of the campaign, save for the few areas that were a little too dark. The dark levels were supposed to add suspense and make you use more strategy, but it mostly annoyed me. The mechanics are on point though; guns have good weight, shooting feels solid and the enemy A.I. is probably the best in a Halo game to date. The major complaint that I have is the campaign length. Due to my hectic work schedule, I don't like my games to be too long, but O.D.S.T. is quite short and abrupt (and that says a lot coming from me). As a matter of fact, I thought that the ending was a cut scene; I turned to talk to my wife and when I looked back at the TV, the credits were rolling. Uh, really? Right now, $29.99 is the most I would pay for this game.
I am very early into Dante's Inferno, about two hours, and so far, I must agree with the majority of the gaming press. It's a God of War clone. I mean a shameless clone. God of War 2.5 is probably a better name for it. Now that's not necessarily a bad thing, it's just that you should definitely play this before GOW III, or it will feel a little "been there, done that". Maybe it differentiates itself later on, as I am still in the early stages, so I will let you Hawt Heads know in my next Pile "O" Shame.
I have not played enough of Red Dead to make any statements at all so stay tuned.
|
-
Um yeah...
Mass Effect 2 is discounted to $19.99 at Kmart.com (cough... not Target... cough...).
Highly recommended at this price if you can snag a copy...
Check it out: Kmart.com - Mass Effect 2
Mass Effect 2 is the sequel to BioWare's hit space-based role-playing game (RPG), Mass Effect. A single player adventure, Mass Effect 2 allows players to continue the adventures of the fully customizable series hero Commander Shepard, as you take on a whole new adventure and a new cast of supporting characters. Additional new features include the ability to import game save files from the original Mass Effect game to continue the adventure in an unbroken fashion, a new damage system, a new, more flexible dialogue game mechanic and more.
|
-
 Right when HawtWired goes to E3 and away from retailer options, they decide to drop a bomb on us: Mass Effect 2's is going $20 cheap at Targets everywhere next week. Our review graded it an A+, our highest honor, so you may want to run (run!) when the deal goes live Sunday morning.
And, what about your lowly editors at this here site? I think the EIC, Patrick Wright, has just found a way to reward the staff for covering the big show all week long. Well, besides the mad-ca$h-money salary we get already, of course. 
|
-
Like Bejeweled? Always thought it needed more RPG elements? Well, Puzzle Quest for iPhone, the game you've always been looking for, is FREE this weekend on the App Store. The developer did a weird thing with the title that split the original PC/DS/PSP/XBLA/etc. game into two parts and both are collected for your -- free -- gaming pleasure.
If, for some reason, Galactrix was your first foray into the franchise...don't let that sour you for the game that kicked it off. Go download! 
|
-
The long-awaited PSN download version of FFIX will finally be hitting the PlayStation Store next week right when E3 kicks off on Tuesday, June 15th. Remember, your purchase will allow you to play the game on Sony's blu-ray player, aka the PS3, and via your PSP.
I suggest going the portable route as those amazing PS1 graphics you so fondly remember? They may not look so pretty without the use of rose-tinted glasses and the advent of HDTVs nowadays. Swoop up the game for $10 and take it on the go, I'd say. 
|
-
Wow, those are some long titles. Makes writing the headline for this post quite ridiculous. Nevermind that, though. What is interesting is Kotaku's findings that we may see sequels to Mass Effect, Dragon Age, and Dead or Alive revealed at the big show this year.
It's not too surprising to see BioWare's titles rumored to make an appearance, but Dead or Alive? That franchise's last entry was back in 2005 soon after the Xbox 360 was released. And it hasn't aged too well -- espcially compared to heavy hitters like Soul Calibur IV and Virtua Fighter 5. We'll see if Tecmo can reclaim the same shock and awe they received when Dead or Alive 3 was shown way back when the original Xbox launched. Especially now with Itagaki out of the picture.
|
-
Stumbled on this one while cruising eBay: 8 factory sealed copies of Friday the 13th for the NES. At the time of this writing, the price is up to $162.51, which works out to a little over 20 bones for each, with just under a day left to bid, if you're in the mood to drop a couple hundred just to be my personal hero. I can't even describe the level of giddy 80's nerd kid this brings out in me. 
Also in my eBay cruisings, somebody's trying to unload one of the Final Fantasy Crystals that Nintendo Power gave away in 1990. Only 50 of these were made, so if you're a die-hard Final Fantasy fan, you might want to take a look. But I'm betting that if you're a hardcore Final Fantasy fan, you aren't sitting on the quarter-million opening bid the owner's placed on it. Really? A quarter-million dollars? You really think anyone with that kind of cred gives a rat's patoot about an Nintendo Power contest from 1990? Oh well, maybe someone will prove me wrong. 
Of ACTUAL collector value is this Egg EG-26 Nintendo Game & Watch, new-in-box. A fevered bidding war has got it up to $825 over 8 unique bidders as of this writing, and there's still 4 days left, so it might be fun to watch it over the weekend and see where is ends up.
|
-
Next up in the rumor mill: T-Mobile? Far and away the best example that no one knows what they're talking about when it comes to Apple switching up to providers other than AT&T. Most people believed that -- if anyone -- was to get Apple's wonder-phone it would be Verizon but considering T-Mobile uses a similar wireless technology it makes more sense to cheat on AT&T there.
What do you guys think? After all, you don't need to be an expert to chime in...everyone can throw their two cents into the pot. "Expert analysts" are just as confused.
|
-
Mr. Exclusive himself, Geoff Keighley, tweeted earlier that Tomonobu Itagaki, he of Ninja Gaiden and alleged sexual harrasment fame, will be revealing his new game tonight on GameTrailers TV.
I've yet to try it, but Bayonetta is the game that supposedly supplanted Ninja Gaiden's action-game reign. The first Xbox Gaiden was incredibly hard and is one of the few titles that kicks your a$$ and makes you love it the more for it. Guesses in what genre whatever he announces falls in? I'm thinking lawsuit simulator played out Phoenix Wright-style... 
|
-
Okay, let me first admit, flat-out, that I have no legitimate source on this. Heck, I don't even have an illegitimate source. This is, at its grandest, wild delusional speculation on my behalf. But I'm going to take the chance, drop my cajones on the chopping block, and call Final Fantasy 3 (US) on Virtual Console this month, maybe even next week. What's the impetus for my wild speculation, other than still being on the adrenaline high from hating my day job? Well, in December, Virtual Console saw Final Fantasy hit the stage. Three months later, in March, Final Fantasy 2 (US) hits. Three months later is...? That's right, June. This month. And having just confirmed Final Fantasy IX for PSN next week, in addition to all the E3 hooplah kicking off scant hours away, the timing just seems right. Of course, I wouldn't put it past Squenix to throw me a curve and drop Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy V or (if there's a God) some Dragon Warrior fare. And that'd be just fine with me. I'm going to call it a win, even if you don't.
|
-
 Microsoft is not sitting still when it comes to WP7. Here is a video presentation from the TechEd conference from a couple of days ago.It is quick look at the current build of the UI, but the main focus is on cloud computing and using Sharepoint. It looks like MS if really focusing on positioning this as the go to handset for business power users. Looks amazing and I like-eee.
|
-
-
The pricing on Power Gig: Rise of the SixString game and instruments has been revealed at several bundle pricing points for the Xbox 360 and PS3:
It has also been revealed that the guitar can plug into any guitar amp to play outside the game. This is a more advanced alternative to Rock Band and Guitar Hero, but who knows how it will stack up with this price point...
Power Gig: Rise of the SixString is set to release on October 5, 2010 and is available for pre-order at Amazon.
Check it out: Amazon - Power Gig: Rise of the SixString Guitar Kit
Product Detail:
Power Gig: Rise of the SixString will transport players to an entirely new universe, with its own mythology, politics, settings, heroes and villains, where music rules all. On the gameplay front, Power Gig uses new technology that represents the next evolution of music performance games to provide all players — from casual gamers to the hardcore, from those who have never before picked up a guitar to those who play guitar on a regular basis — with a more authentic and fun experience. The game offers two overarching modes of play. In addition to traditional beat-matching that will be familiar to fans of the band game genre, Power Gig also introduces the option to switch on chording, or chord play. Chording presents the added challenge of playing the game using chords that require specific finger placement on the strings. As players progress through the game, becoming more comfortable with a genuine guitar and potentially choosing to play real power chords, they will find that the byproduct of playing the game is coming away from it with an understanding of some real-life guitar fundamentals.
|
-
So I’ve been in a bit of a retro mood as of late. And I mean serious retro, not like “Super Mario World” retro. Whippersnappers. Games that, as my wife laments continuously, are from before she was even born. And the best way to do that (without making a trek to the attic and trying to figure out how to convert a VHF adaptor to an HDMI plug) is Xbox Live’s Game Room, that plucky little devil that’s been out for a while now, peddling ancient Arcade, Atari, and Intellivision code to us in a system that has worked very successfully for the movie industry--selling our childhoods back to us.
As I’m playing marathon versions of the 2600 version of Millipede (and trying to quell that nagging voice in the back of my head that keeps going on about how I have it and a real trackball upstairs), it occurred to me that Microsoft has a nice little racket going on with this “free” game.
Okay, back up. If you missed the hype on Game Room, it’s a virtual arcade space on the 360 that has emulated code for original Arcade machines, and Atari 2600 and Intellivision cartridges. You can try the games out for 10 minutes free. After that, you shell out money for either a play session (40 MS points/50 cents), or for unlimited freeplay on Xbox or PC (240 MS points/3 dollars), or freeplay on both (400 MS points/5 dollars). Any games in your friends arcades are free to play as well, so clever distribution can earn you and your friends a lot of cut-rate quarter jockeying. But the most awesome part, if the advertising is to be believed, is that the main game is FREE!
The free game--okay, let’s call it what it really is, an emulator with better than average polish--grants your own arcade, which you can decorate any way you want. Sort of. The menus show you a large selection of arcade themes and items you can use to decorate…about half of which are locked off until you “Level Up”.
What’s that? Pseudo RPG elements in my emulator arcade? You bet! See, many items are awarded when your play profile Levels Up, and you level up by playing games and meeting certain targets for points in a sessions, length a session goes without ending, and total play time of the individual title. The targets come in three tiers and are awarded medals in a traditional scale of Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Each medal awards you a number of points (1, 3, and 5, respectively), and every twenty points you receive, you gain a level.
Simple enough, right? But that’s where this “free” game loses is freedom. See, should you be adamant enough to want to unlock everything and gain the maximum level of 20, you’ll need to buy the games. Now, I’ll admit I’m unclear on some facts, mostly because the damned things aren’t forthcoming. Seriously, Google ‘Xbox Game Room’ and you’ll get lots of adverts, press releases, and news stories, but very little in the way of solid mechanical information on how Game Room plays.
From what I can tell, the demo plays are non-medal awarding. I haven’t tried out the single play, for the same reason I don’t rent games--because I’m that guy, so no personal knowledge is available as to whether or not medals are available there. But if you can Gold Medal all three categories on the first try on multiple games, then Twin Galaxies wants to talk to you, and Billy Mitchell want to RUIN YOU! As for the friend arcade, no word on if those are medal-able, because all my Xbox Live friends were apparently born after the death of the arcades and have no idea how one block firing a block at another block equals the total breadth of combat in World War I. Whippersnappers.
Okay, math time. Remember, you have 20 levels, at 20 points a piece. A game will allow you up to three medals at five points apiece. Buying the game at 3 dollars each, to unlock the whole arcade will run a scant…
20 levels x 20 points each = 400 points
3 medals x 5 points each = 15 points
400 points / 15 points a game = 26 2/3 games, round up to 27
27 games x $3 each = $81 dollars
… 
EIGHTY-ONE DOLLARS?! To get total access to my “free” game will cost me, bare minimum, eighty-one dollars. Assuming that the title actually has three available medals, as some of the Atari and Intellivision titles, particularly two player ones, only have one available medal (total play time). Then assuming that you have titles that you’re dedicated enough to triple gold all 27 (which, let’s face it, if you’re obsessed enough to want that level 20, you’re obsessed enough to triple gold 27 games). Either of those situations don’t apply, get ready to shell out MORE
Remember when Avatar Items hit the scene, and everyone ranted that it was foolish to pay real money for virtual clothing (then promptly ran out and dropped three bones on a Boba Fett mask). We’ve gone a step past it here. Avatar Items, you know right off the bat that you’re paying money for virtual crap, but the Game Room décor is presented as being free, but half of it requires that you pay far out the nose for.
And that my friends, getting you to pay money for free items, is a level of evil genius that even Bobby Kotick envies from his high throne on Coruscant.
|
-
 If you guys played the original Trine, you know it wasn't that good. Wait...that wasn't the general consensus? For me, the game offered really great trophy-whoring opportunities -- as most every trophy was worth at least a silver -- but the actual gameplay didn't impress. Atlus says they'll be bringing the high-production values series back for another try with Trine 2. Not to be completely disparaging, I thought the visuals were incredible for the DLC title but if they manage to pull of gameplay mechanics that are less glitchy and easier to manage, I can see myself going for another platinum trophy in that world again. You guys looking forward to Trine sequel? 
|
-
We rumored the return of Sonic Adventure and Crazy Taxi before, but now it has been confirmed by the company itself that the mentioned games will be seeing release on Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network by September this year.
Sega wasn't too heavy on the details, but each title will feature leader board and achievement/trophy support and will even sport higher resolutions. Still, no mention of Jet Grind Radio, though. I would midnight download it, call off work, and tell them I would not be returning until I 100% that game...announce it, Sega! 
|
-
I have nothing to say about this near 8 minute trailer, except, SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEL!!!! (That was in my best girly voice) Man, this looks promising. Gone is the other worldly fighting tournament, in it's place a real world competition among psychopathic killers; Scorpion being released from prison to wipe them all out; his payment for all of this? A chance for a revenge kill(?) of his nemesis Sub Zero. MORTAL KOMBAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (In my best manly voice).
|
-
Warner Brothers has just announced a new Mortal Kombat Game for 2011. It doesn't follow the last few MK games that have been done in 3D; it is a 2D fighting game with 3D graphics (think of the new Street Fighter).This brings back the old fighting style that made MK such a hit to begin with. The trailer is awesome and as long as they continue to tweak the graphics, to get away from the cartoony look of the past few games, this game should rock.
|
-
sdas 
|
-
weqewq 
|
-
-
 Microsoft has spent the last two years denying the existence of a Zune Phone. Everyone was wondering why? The Zune desktop software is,arguably, far superior to iTunes. The Zune HD itself is elegant, powerful and user friendly (although poor marketing, MS's weakness has all but caused it's poor sale). Why would you not include this functionality in a future handset? Well, what's in a name? It appears that the new Windows Phone 7 is embracing Zune whole heartedly. Razorfish, the marketing company that MS has hired to get their fat out of the fire, has just released this commercial that highlights the bond between WP& and Zune. The commercial looks really good and has me more excited that before. Let's see, MS Office Suite, Zune software and XBOX Live integration...sign me up!
Zune and WP7 OS from Panders.tv on Vimeo. 
|
-
Aaaaand the trailers keep coming. The E3 trailer for Transformers:War for Cybertron has hit the air waves. For those that haven't had their transistors tuned to the correct frequency, this game is considered by most to be the first Transformers game that may actually be worthy of the franchise name. There are two different campaigns in which you can lay as an Autobot or a Decepticon and basically play through the struggle for control of Cybertron's economy that eventually lead to our favorite robots coming to Earth. This trailer makes it look really good, let's hope that it pans out.
|
-
"Even though Portal 2 will arrive slightly later than planned, all life on earth won't instantaneously stop as every molecule in your body explodes at the speed of light, which is what would happen should a rip ever appear in the fabric of Valve Time," said Valve in a press release about game-making being hard and the delay of Portal 2 to 2011.
Disappointing? Yes. Surprising? No. After all, this is the company that has yet to deliver on their regularly-scheduled episodic content with the Half-Life 2 episodes. We all know how that turned out, don't we? What is it, four years and counting for HL2: Episode 3? Oh, well. Another year equals more time to polish our next adventure as co-op Aperture science experiments, I guess... 
|
-
 Remember those classics in the header there? Well, maybe we can forgot about "Jurassic Park III" (with appropriate v-raptor swipes as the "three") ever existing. And, well, the original sequel wasn't too great either...regardless! Telltale, makers of modern "text" adventure games Sam and Max and friends, will be bringing back "Back to the Future" and "Jurassic Park" to a console near you in adventure game form winter 2010. "We were very interested in bringing them into the interactive space, but they're not exactly the kind of properties that lend themselves to the stereotypical shoot-'em-up style of gameplay," Universal Studios Interactive VP Bill Kispert said about going adventure instead of a typical gaming route with Telltale Games' reimagining of their movie franchises.
|
-
The third dimension in Spider-Man Shattered Dimensions has been revealed by Marvel and it looks gooooood. Spidey 2099 is the latest version of the web slinger to be revealed as a playable character in Activision's upcoming action game. The combat and graphics in this new trailer take thing up a notch from previous showings. It looks like we won't find out which Spidey is the 4th and final Spidey until E3 (hope it's not caveman Spidey) which is a bit of a relief; publishers have been releasing so much material before E3, we may not even need to go this year. Check out all the webby goodness and enjoy.
|
-
Phew! And here I was thinking that my lack of support by Gamefly'ing Yakuza 3 was going to keep Yakuza 4 out of my hands. Apparently, the series' first entry onto PS3 territory in the States has spurred the announcement that Kazuma Kiryu's fourth adventure will be making it out here some time in the near future.
He saved his orphanage, now what's next? Well, from the sounds of it, Yakuza 4 introduces different playable character that all interact and connect similar to movies "Amores Perros," "Traffic," and "Babel." At least, that's what the cover art makes it seem like, anyway. 
|
-
Yup. DJ Hero 2 has been officially announced after tons of rumoring and executives dropping the name in several earnings calls...now we can rest assured that Activision will not stop until it makes some money off this thing. Oh, yeah, and the original will be getting DLC mixing Lady Gaga's "Just Dance" and Deadmau5's "Ghosts 'n' Stuff" available today until June 14 for FREE.
In all honesty, DJ Hero was quite good...unfortunately, it's a new music franchise release after much of the music game genre has faltered off a bit. I picked the game up for $50 at Toys R Us not too long ago, so I'm guessing the turn tables are, at least, out in people's homes now. I'd be down to buy just the disc this time around...how about you guys? 
|
-
 It's official! The iphone 4 has been officially unleashed upon the world (well information about it, at least). let's get down to what we know so far, without all of the fluff. - Pre-Orders June 15
- US release on June 24.
- Video conferencing using front facing camera (over wi-fi only, blah!) that only works from iphone 4 to iphone 4, called FaceTime
- 960x640 display (whew)
- Larger battery- 7hours of talk, 6 hours of browsing (over 3G), 10 hours watching video, and 40 hours of music play
- 5 MP camera (really Apple?)
- Comes in black or white
- New and improved antenna system
- Using A4 processor, also used in the ipad
STAY TUNED, WE WILL POST AS WE GET MORE INFO...  
Source: Engadget, PCWorld
|
-
So Valve announced that they have pulled any new information on Portal 2 at E3 and have shut down speculation that Half-Life 2, Episode 3 would be revealed in LA next week.
That leaves me to wonder: what's their game? You know what I haven't heard too much about lately? Counter-Strike. They have their industry-indie-darling-turned-rockstar with Portal 2, team-based multiplayer already patched and updated with Team Fortress 2, most likely hard at work with whatever's next for Half-Life 2, so that leaves us with super-competitive Counter-Strike, right?
Maybe they revamp the franchise and get some fresh, new faces into the mix again. Via Modern Warfare 2-style upgrades? Am I completely high/drunk/cross-faded here? Let me know in the comments... 
|
-
The ESRB, as per usual, has brought us yet another game release leak by way of officially rating Sonic Adventure for PSN. As Destructoid points out, an XBLA port of the original Dreamcast title has been rumored in the works forever and ever ago now, but this is first we hear of it coming to PSN, too.
Makes me feel a bit odd. This is the game that was supposed to stave off the oncoming onslaught that was PS2's awesomeness for Dreamcast as a launch title back in 1999! And it was great....at the time. Soon came the sequels and Sonic's sidekicks started to wear thin. Oh, well. If you've never tried out the first Sonic Adventure, now would be the perfect time to jump in. And, remember...look out for Jet Grind Radio's release soon, as well. 
|
-
-
If our last post about the Deus Ex game did not get you excited, then this is for you. The newly released E3 trailer is freakin awesome! I don't want to spoil it, so I will try to contain mt excitement a bit. It comes off like a big budget summer blockbuster trailer. I mean, any game where a guy punches through a wall, then grabs another dude by the noggin and snaps his neck is alright in my book. Got'cha a wee bit curious? Watch this hot trailer and you Hawtheads tell us what you think in the comment section.
|
-
Welcome to New Releases for the Week!
Releases are starting to pick up a notch before the summer lull... Highlights include Green Day Rock Band (Xbox 360 / PS3 / Nintendo Wii), Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 (Xbox 360 / PS3 / Nintendo Wii), Metal Gear Solid Peacewalker (Sony PSP), Megaman Zero Collection (Nintendo DS), plus a few more gems...
Our recommended new release of the week will go to Metal Gear Solid Peacewalker (Sony PSP). Make sure to get your order in for Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker at Amazon for a free $10 video game credit! In addition they are offering a free $20 credit on all version of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 , and a $10 credit on Green Day: Rock Band as well...
Check out the full list of new video game releases (USA) for the week of June 7, 2010 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, and PC! As always, release dates are subject to change, slip, slide, and be fairly unpredictable.
|
-
We haven't heard too much about Nintendo's successor to DS aside from the vague promise that it will release before March 31 in Japan and will encorporate 3D effects without the use of special glasses. IGN put up a feature on what -- based on "off the record" accounts -- the system might be packing under the hood:
"Several developers that have experienced 3DS in its current form have reported, off the record, that it has processing capabilities that far exceed the Nintendo Wii and bring the device with abilities that are close to HD consoles such as PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360."
I've long abandoned my two DSs. A super-powerful handheld like the one suggested above may bring me back to the portable Nintendo fold. How about you guys?
[Image Source: IGN]
|
-
-
Destructoid put a story up earlier reporting that the above pic is the latest leak out of Activision's E3 2010 portfolio. Yes, publishers will be trying to bring you back to the good ol' days of '97 America when GoldenEye brought shooters to the console fold -- successfully.
From what D'toid gleams, it looks like Activision will be focusing on remaking the same levels, weapons, and split-screen of the original plus 8-player online modes. Hmm. Would you guys be excited to get back behind the gun of the now-ancient mechanics and simplicity of GoldenEye? Or, have Modern Warfare 2 and Halo 3 since surpassed the classic title? 
|
-
 This is hilarious. Androidguys posted this video (originally posted on dogsniffingbomb.com). The animated short shows "Stevie" introducing the iphone 4 and going over the "new" features for this year's incremental upgrade. When Jobs states that you should get Android for porn, the hilarity ensues. Please check this out!
|
-
 Here is the video portion of the HTC EVO 4G Review-Part 1. I hope this helps any of you that are thinking about getting this phone, but haven't had a chance to see it yet. Crank up the volume because I didn't realize that my mic level was set so low (sorry). Part 2 will have better sound and lighting.
|
-
Attention really late adopters...
Gamestop and Amazon are matching deals this week in celebration of this weekend's release of the downloadable "Resurgence Pack" on the Xbox 360.
Grab the game for $49.99 (save $10) plus get a free 1600 Microsoft Points card ($20 value) + free shipping.
The Resurgence Pack is 1200 points, so you will have 400 points to buy some goofy avatar outfit...
Amazon also throws in their infamous $5 MP3 credits as well (plus no tax in most states), so they have a bit of the upper hand on this deal...
Check it out:
|
-
Ok, now that the EVO 4G is 24 hours old, it's time to move on to the next big thing(s). The BBerry addicts over @ Berryscoop have posted a Chinese video of Blackberry OS 6.0 (really RIM, the US is right next door!). My Google Translate kept failing so I wasn't able to read anything on the site. I am posting this before watching it because I just want to get it out to you guys asap. Look for an update later with thoughts and impressions.
 Pics courtesy of Berrytimes.        Looks soooooo YUMMY!
|
-
Pfft, forget about the Crackdown-killer, the real deal is baked and ready to ship:
"#Crackdown2 has passed cert, thanks for the fantastic work by all. Load up those trucks, Agents. We're heading out," proclaims the game's developer Ruffian Games' Twitter feed
The original Crackdown was a game I played to death (and yet, never beat!) back when it was released in 2007 -- mainly for its strong co-op component. The sequel will be adding four-player co-op and competitive multiplayer with up to 16 players. It made me a bit queasy at first to know Realtime Worlds would not be developing the sequel to their baby but no worries, Ruffian Games is composed of ex-RW members with knowledge of the previous game's strengths and weaknesses. Who better to make the follow-up to one of the best games this generation?
We'll see if my confidence in the dev team rings true when Crackdown 2 releases on July 6. 
|
-
Long-rumored sequel to Nathan Cole's original adventures in inFamous is in the works for the PS3. GameInformer is reporting that there will be additions to the game such as a new look, new powers, and will be set in a new city.
Interestingly enough, there is no word on the possibility of co-op play that would lend itself well for this type of game. I remember it being billed as another Crackdown but ultimately, for me, it was a bit of a letdown. The graphics and controls were great but it felt a bit devoid of soul...co-op could have alleviated that a bit for me. Yes, yes. It's about a singular hero and his story, but I would have gladly traded that in for PS3's version of Crackdown.
Also, guess this means Sly Cooper will be further shelved for a later date... 
|
-
I got up bright and early this morning to make sure that I did not miss my rendezvous with my new mistress, and boy is she sexy! I am not the only appointment that she had on her card, though, as many others were waiting patiently to be with her as well...but, it's alright, because there is plenty of her to go around.  When I arrived at my local Sprint Store (Metro-Atlanta) there were plenty of people that woke up a bit earlier than I did. Everyone was Everyone was friendly and really excited about the newest SUPER PHONE to hit the market. The process was swift and painless; there were plenty of reps, plenty of cash registers and plenty of smiles. My entire transaction took about 10 minutes. I am working on a three part review: - Unboxing/Out the box impressions
- After a few days of use
- After a full week of real world apllication
So check back later today for part one, in the mean time, hit the link for more pics from Sprint and Best Buy today. 
|
-
Konami's first foray into the world of Lucha Libre, Mexico's version of the WWE, will be pulling no punches at this year's E3. The Japanese game publisher will be hosting a live wrestling match in the middle of the LA Convention Center for Mexican-developed Lucha Libre AAA: Heroes del Ring.
Not just a simple exhibition match, either. The current Lucha Libre champion, Dr. Wagner, will be facing a new challenger and the winner will be featured on the game's cover. Sounds like this year's E3 is a return-to-form two years after going tame in 2007-2008. Bring on the spectacle! 
|
-
Web site Gearlive is reporting that one of Microsoft's big E3 announcements is a paid subscription service for hulu on XBOX Live. This is definitely reason to get excited. Ever since hulu c#@k blocked the PS3 and Windows Mobile from accessing its site, a lot of people's big screen Hulu action has been sorely lacking. Even as excitement ensues, though, the big question is how much will it cost? If you already have Live and Netflix, then you are coughing up about $180 a year as it is; depending on the price, it might be better to buy a low end PC and just hook it up to your TV. Microsoft should carry the cost on this one, it's a free service on the internet, so it should be free on Live. That's is just my humble opinion. Hit up the comments section at let us know what you think.
|
-
 Ok, just one more day. Everybody calm down. We need order here! The EVO 4G FINALLY comes out tomorrow and it couldn't be soon enough. As if we weren't already going crazy, Sprint released the first official commercial for everyone's favorite handset yesterday. It is very reserved and focuses on being "first". The commercial is nice and I hope that Sprint follows up with more commercials that stick in your brain, this may be the phone that turns the company around. Happy EVO Eve everyone!  Photo courtesy of Mobiletechworld
|
-
Spider-Man:Shattered Dimensions was (check our post) revealed to the world a couple of months ago; you take on the role of four different Spider-Men in four different, uhh, dimensions. Well, while we are still wondering about Spidey #2 and #3, the kids at Marvel stayed up late last night and hung a new trailer out to dry, a Villain's trailer. You get a great gander at the Goblin, Kraven and Hammerhead getting is A@# handed to him. Check it out.
 
|
-
![Alice in Wonderland [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61z3DeNeQrL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Blu-ray Movie Releases for the Week of June 1, 2010
Alice in Wonderland drops this week on Blu-ray. In addition we have some additional treats in the form of Life, The Wolfman, War of the Worlds, and Bad Boys!
This week's recommended Blu-ray movie title is Alice in Wonderland .
Tumble down the rabbit hole with Alice for a fantastical new adventure from Walt Disney Pictures and Tim Burton. Inviting and magical, Alice In Wonderland is an imaginative new twist on one of the most beloved stories of all time. Alice (Mia Wasikowska), now 19 years old, returns to the whimsical world she first entered as a child and embarks on a journey to discover her true destiny. This Wonderland is a world beyond your imagination and unlike anything you ve seen before. The extraordinary characters you ve loved come to life richer and more colorful than ever. There s the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp), the White Queen (Anne Hathaway), the Red Queen (Helena Bonham Carter), the White Rabbit (Michael Sheen) and more. A triumphant cinematic experience Alice In Wonderland is an incredible feast for your eyes, ears and heart that will captivate audiences of all sizes.
Here is the full list:
- Alice in Wonderland (Three-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo + Digital Copy) (Blu-ray - 2010)
- Life (narrated by David Attenborough) [Blu-ray]
- The Wolfman (2-Disc Unrated Director's Cut) [Blu-ray] ~ Anthony Hopkins, Benicio Del Toro, and Emily Blunt
- U2: 360° at the Rose Bowl [Blu-ray]
- War of the Worlds [Blu-ray] ~ Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Tim Robbins, and Miranda Otto
- Kelly's Heroes/Where Eagles Dare (Action Double Feature) [Blu-ray] ~ Clint Eastwood
- Bad Boys [Blu-ray] ~ Martin Lawrence, et al.
- Disney Parks: The Secrets, Stories and Magic Behind the Scenes [Blu-ray plus DVD and Digital Copy] ~ Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and Walt Disney
- The Man with No Name Trilogy [Blu-ray] ~ Clint Eastwood, et al.
- Life [Blu-ray] ~ Oprah Winfrey
- Heartbreak Ridge [Blu-ray] ~ Mario Van Peebles, Everett Mcgill, Bo Svenson, and Moses Gunn
- Band of Brothers with The Pacific Part One [Blu-ray]
- Absolute Power [Blu-ray] ~ Clint Eastwood
- NFL New Orleans Saints: Road to Super Bowl XLIV (Post-Season Collector's Edition) [Blu-ray] ~ Drew Brees
- Class of Nuke 'Em High [Blu-ray] ~ Janelle Brady, Gil Brenton, and Robert Prichard
- The Red Baron [Blu-ray] ~ Matthias Schweighofer, Til Schweiger, Lena Headey, and Joseph Fiennes
- The Rookie [Blu-ray] ~ Charlie Sheen, Raul Julia, and Tom Skerritt
- Pale Rider [Blu-ray] ~ Michael Moriarty, Chris Penn, and Richard Dysart
- Crossing Over [Blu-ray] ~ Harrison Ford, Ashley Judd, Jim Sturgess, and Ray Liotta
- The Stranger [Blu-ray] ~ Steve Austin, Adam Beach, and Erica Cerra
- Gauntlet (1977) [Blu-ray] ~ Pat Hingle, William Prince, and Douglas McGrath
- The Enforcer / Sudden Impact (Action Double Feature) [Blu-ray] ~ Clint Eastwood
|
-
The good ol' US can stop being jealous of the UK because the Dell Streak is coming to our shores! In case you missed the memo, the Streak is a 5' MID that runs Android (like everything else these days) on a WVGA display. It's specs are comparable to the power house smart phones that are flooding the market now: - Capacitive Touch Screen
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
- 5 MP camera (eh) w/flash
- GSM phone capabilities.
- 1 GHz Snapdragon Processor
- 16 GB Internal Memory
Throw in a rumored partnership w/Amazon for digital content and it's looking pretty darn good. Arriving in the later part of next month for $500 unlocked, grab one if you don't have an EVO 4G by then :-) 
|
-
 The end is nigh...or so it would seem for iPad 3G owners -- like myself -- that bought the device to take web productivity and online access wherever they go unfettered by limited data plans. AT&T announced earlier today that they will be revamping their online services by removing "unlimited" from their options and instead offering customers data plans of 2GB/month for $25 and 200MB/month for $15. AT&T's reasoning being that a grand majority of its customers don't even reach the 2GB a month allotted to them and will give subscribers more "affordable" wireless internet options. At the very least, if you are currently under the unlimited plan, you can continue on it but I'm sure they'll find a loophole or two down the line to force you to switch...
|
-
This may come as a surprise, but there are other MMORPG's out there besides WOW. The latest expansion, EVE Online:Tyrannis, was released last week and developer CCP is hoping to get a little time in the spotlight. The original EVE Online was released in 2003 to mixed reviews. Over time, through updates and expansions, EVE has won over hundreds of thousands of players and developed a loyal cult-like following with it's deep and engrossing game play.
EVE is a science fiction game that let's you compete against other players in order to become the dominant force within the EVE universe. The ecosystem in the game is run by the players, in a truly persistent universe where you are playing with thousands of people at a time. In the EVE universe being a savy business person is just as important as being a conquering warrior. There are multiple roles that you can choose from, so most anyone should be able to find something that suits them.
There are several things that set this game apart from others in the same genre:
- You can play with up to 50,000 other players at once, on the same server
- You can purchase game time with virtual money earned in-game
- Your skill set increases while you are off-line, so that cuts down on grinding
- All expansions are free of charge
- You can defeat players at much higher levels than you through cunning and strategy
EVE may not be for everybody, but since CCP is offering a free trial, why not try it out, it just might WOW you.
|
-
Welcome to New Releases for the Week!
Releases are starting to pick up a notch before the summer lull... Hightlights include Alpha Protocol (Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC), Backbreaker Football (Xbox 360 / PS3), The Sims 3 Ambitions (PC), Tetris Party Deluxe (Nintendo Wii, DS), plus a few more gems...
Our recommended new release of the week will go to Alpha Protocol (Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC). Make sure to get your order in for Alpha Protocol at Amazon for a free $10 video game credit!
Check out the full list of new video game releases (USA) for the week of June 1, 2010 on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, Sony PSP, Nintendo DS, and PC! As always, release dates are subject to change, slip, slide, and be fairly unpredictable.
|
|
|
|