Back, Bitches!

I'm back on Xbox Live, so be sure and add me, if you haven't already.

XTankyTankX

Possibly changing that shortly. I'll keep you posted :3

The Yo-Yo Dance

Up, down. Up, down... I have good days, and not-so-great days. Sometimes I feel, as I put it "a bit blue". I've wondered whether or not what I have constitutes actual depression sometimes, but I don't imagine so, at least not at this point. This time last year? Probably. But they say that's caused by a chemical imbalance in your brain, would that mean that situational unrest doesn't count? No idea.

I'm beginning to suspect that everyone has some secret, silly sort of dream or desire. Something they know is completely absurd but can't help but want in their heart of hearts. For me, it's music. I have tried countless different instruments, but I've got the stupid fingers, no way around it. I can't carry a note, my voice cracks and is completely unstable. But when I'm on my own, at home cleaning or driving someplace, I BELT it out. I'm not musically inclined, and it's not realistic AT ALL to try and pursue it, but it's silly and fun and makes me feel good.


Overall, and despite myself, I'm really, really happy right now.

Here's something rad: Kick Ass Kicks

Optimistic Pessimist

     As I get older (yeah, I'm 23, don't roll your eyes at me), I feel that traits I had as a child, and growing up, become stronger and more defined. Like skills being honed as I sleep. I've always been an introverted personality, but profoundly loyal to those closest to me, albeit not very openly. Nowadays, I generally have no problem letting someone know how important they are to me, and the circle of people I hold dear is larger than it has been in the past (although still fairly modest). On the other side of the coin, I find nearly everyone else around me completely insufferable and obnoxious. They seem to yammer on and on about the most asinine of topics, creating a cacophony of just... pointless noise. They make some comment, not a joke mind you, but a simple remark, and chuckle to themselves, then other people put on these fake smirks, and I just blink at them. Get to the point. I don't care.

     Maybe it's the lack of spare time I have allotted to me these days. I've always been easily irked by senseless time squandering in a work and/or school environment. I guess that comes down to an "I don't know about you guys but I have other shit to do let's wrap this up please" type attitude. Anyway, I'm out for now. Werk times is go.

Here's something rad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iY4gtoyLpqE

Can't Win? Change the Game.

So I've been wanting to meld my personal blog/webcomic site into this one, for simplicity's sake. I really thought a WordPress format would work well, but I've been so busy lately I haven't had a chance to learn to use it. So, for now, this blog with be functioning as a combination personal blog, game review/general geekery blog. Just an FYI.

Also, this is rad:
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/10/14/michael-j-fox-recrea.html

Cheers.

D'oh!

The good news? There will be a US release of two new Doctor Who titles, Doctor Who: Return To Earth for the Nintendo Wii, and Doctor Who: Evacuation Earth for DS, both coming this winter. In addition to the titles, there is also a whole slew of peripherals coming out for both systems, including a Wii Remote designed to look like the 11th Doctor's sonic screwdriver, and a DS stylus modelled on the screwdriver which will be bundled in accessory packs featuring official artwork of the Doctor and companion Amy Pond.

The bad news? Most fans of the series are, shall we say, less than stoked about the new Doctor, played by Matt Smith. In addition, the fact that the games are only being released on the DS and Wii does not bode well at all. Since the console's release, Wii's track record for developing playable, let alone good, quality games has been poor at best. Not that Doctor Who games in general tend to be spectacular. All in all, I'd love to see these games come out and be amazing (Hell I'll settle for decent), but I'm not holding my breath. I'd call it a bittersweet victory for long-time fans of the series. 

Official Story via Nintendo

The Cake is Not a Lie

And by "cake" I of course mean "Xbox Live price increase". Of course. Look for the following changes November 1, 2010:

- 1 month: $9.99
- 3 month $24.99
- 1 year $59.99

Microsoft is defending the decision by claiming that inflation (Live was originally launched in 2002) and added features make the increase worthwhile. No word on whether or not Sony plans the same for the Playstation Network, but odds are good, given the trend of the two companies for running even on price points. According to Jesse Divnich, VP of Analyst Services for Electronic Entertainment and Design Research (EEDAR):

"When originally launched in 2002, a Gold subscription cost the same as an AAA video game, $49.99. When taking into account for inflation ($50 in 2002 is roughly $60 in 2010) and the additional services available to Gold subscribers in 2010, such as ESPN, Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Last.fm and Video Kinect, a $10 price increase still represents an incredible value to consumers"

So, will gamers fork out an extra $10 a year to keep playing their Halo and their Call of Duty and Madden? Is that really even a question? I'll let the good folks at PA sum this one up:

Geeking Out

So Telltale games, publisher's of the successful Sam & Max game series, just announced a new Back to the Future project. I very nearly jumped out of my seat to yell the news at everyone on my floor, but somehow I don't think it would've been appreciated. This is the more recent BttF game since Back to the Future: Part III for the Sega Genesis was released in 1991. Not alot in the way of details at the moment, although it seems there will be an entirely new plot to be explored. It is confirmed that Christopher Lloyd has been signed on for voicework, and Bob Gale, screenwriter for all three films, will be working with game developers on the plot of the "5 Episode" series. No news on whether or not Michael J. Fox will be lending his talents to the game. Let us pray.

The only other information being confirmed by Telltale Games as of yet is that:
1.) The DeLorean time machine will be making an appearance (I should certainly hope so).
2.) The game will feature characters from the movies, and the likeness' of the actors.
3.) At least a portion of the game will take place in Hill Valley.

So... yeah, super vague on the details for the TIME being (lololololol- sorry).

'Kay, Imma Liar.

So, I decided that since there have been so many effective re-listings of E3's "Best o' Wii" I'm going to go ahead and skip the "Part 2" to my previous post. Like you even noticed. I did, however, recently come into a very interesting bit of information on a new bit of Wii software, along with a new peripheral for the system (see, it's still Wii related). This holiday, THQ will be releasing the uDraw Game Tablet, which will come bundled with uDraw Studio game software.

There have been a couple of additional titles announced to be released with the uDraw tablet, including Pictionary, and Dood's Big Adventure (yeah idk either). The uDraw bundle is priced at $69.99, and the additional games at a respectable $29.99 each.

No, I Will Not Title This with a "Wii Pun"

A while back I was perusing ign.com, and came across a list of the "Top 50 NES Titles". Ah, actually it may have been SNES. Either way, I was stunned to think that there were so many good titles for such an old console, coming into it's own just after video games so nearly went the way of the dinosaurs. Yet now, when you'd be hard-pressed to find a home without at least two different consoles, there are barely 50 PLAYABLE Wii games, let alone really amazing, noteworthy ones. So what with the stunning lack of worthwhile Wii titles, I've decided to compile a two-part list. The first part will be currently available Wii games that are worth playing, and whether or not you should rent or buy. The second will be upcoming titles you should check out. Please, if you think I've missed something, comment on this post and let me know.

Games to Check Out Now:

• Super Mario Galaxy 1 and/or 2 (Buy) - It's essentially the same game whether you pick up the first or second, which is basically Super Mario 64. It's a 3D Mario platformer. You know the genre well, and Mario kicks ass at it. It's a good system. You'll want to buy one (or both) of these, since there's such a vast amount of gameplay to be had.
• Ookami (Buy) - You may have played the original on PS2, and while it is the same game, with little to no additions, I'd still recommend picking this one up. It's a beautiful game, easy to pick up and play, and highly addictive. You'll want to play this one through to the end, and be thorough in collecting all of the extras, so it's much more worth it to buy a copy.
• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Rent or Buy) - So, everyone really liked this game... According to the internet. Although everyone I've ever spoken to directly has had more or less the same reaction: "Meh." It's not bad, mind you. But as a Zelda fan myself, I just wasn't crazy about it, which is why I'm giving it the "Rent or Buy". Maybe you don't give two wits about LoZ games, pick it up, and love it. As I said, it's not bad for what it is. Or, maybe you're a game snob and can't see past that fact that it IS a LoZ game and decide you hate it. I'll let you judge for yourselves.
• No More Heroes 1 and/or 2 (Rent) - A solid game, which utilizes the Wii's motion control surprisingly well, outfitted with quirky Japanese writing, makes either of these a solid play. I only recommend renting them because they're both relatively short, and you could get through each in about a week. Less if you are unemployed.
• Super Smash Brothers Melee (Rent or Buy) - If you played SSB on either N64 or GameCube, you already have a good idea of what to expect on this one. A four-player beat 'em up with a whole slew of classic Nintendo characters (plus Sonic), and a variety of stages from various titles. It's basically the first two games, with improved graphics, and a crap ton of additional stages and characters. Not as fun on your own though, so if your an anti-social hermit this may be one to rent, rather than buy.
• Mario Kart (Rent or Buy) - "See: Notes on Super Smash Bros. Melee" ... Okay, I'll not be quite that lazy. But honestly, with the exception of our good buddy over at The Sunshine Empire, I don't really know anyone who loved playing Mario Kart solo enough to warrant purchasing it.
• Mad World (Rent) - A fun, violent, hack-and-slashy game, not too strong a storyline, but defiantly a very interesting game aesthetically. Again, not a long enough game to be worth more than a single  weekend gaming binge.
• Animal Crossing (Rent) - Every time an Animal Crossing (or Harvest Moon) game comes out, I do the same thing: I get super stoked, fawn over every image and preview that comes out, reserve it, pick it up same-day, play it NON-STOP for about 3-4 weeks, then never touch it again. This short-term satisfaction is not untypical of the series, as it is a lot of fun, but gets repetitive rather quickly.

Part 2 to follow...

Awesome Geek Cakes are Awesome

I went on a cakewrecks.com binge. Here are the results for you to enjoy, without wading through all the muck of hilariously dreadful cakes.

Don't forget to show some love to Cake Wrecks!

New Xbox 360 Arcade Unit Revealed?

Amazon's German site has listed an "Xbox 360 4 GB Arcade System Bundle", available for pre-order, with a  release date of August 20, 2010. It's not specified what form the 4 GB of storage will take, although it is likely to be either a USB stick or internal flash memory, rather than a hard drive as some had hoped (but let's be honest wasn't too likely). For the moment, the price is set at €149 ($190 USD), though Microsoft stated last month the new Arcade unit will be $199 when it hits the US.
Currently, the slimmer version of the 360 is flying off of store shelves; our store is selling out as the shipments come in the door, reminiscent of Wii sales a couple Christmases ago. Check out the link to the listing below.

Amazon Germany's 360 Arcade

Tragedy Strikes!

So... I was pulling clothes out of my washing machine, when I heard something tumble out of a pair of pants and fall with a loud "clank" to the bottom of the machine. I peered into the basin and to my dismay found that I had washed my recently missing PokéWalker. It still looks alright, save for some trapped moisture behind the screen, and for one brief, fleeting moment, I toyed with the idea it might still work, after all, Nintendo makes notoriously durable systems. But alas, even after leaving it out overnight, it was dead. I was concerned I might have to restart my game completely, or do without a PokéWalker. I knew I could acquire a new one on eBay, but dratini was still locked inside the broken Walker, and I knew the game only allows one PokéMon out in the device at a time. After some research, I came up with a much more satisfactory solution, which I thought I'd share here, to save you the time.

(Dratini nooooooo!- Image © Nintendo)

 First of all, skip eBay when purchasing your new  PokéWalker, as they run anywhere from $25-$30, often without shipping. You can actually buy a brand new one from the Nintendo website for under $15 with standard shipping.

Nintendo Store

Additionally, you don't need to restart your game if you should wind up with a PokéMon "stuck" in your Walker. Via Bulbapedia:

"A Pokémon that has been transferred onto a Pokéwalker isn't actually sent to the device, but rather copied and the data for the Pokémon is sent. The targeted Pokémon is instead put aside, and can't be used in the game, until the data has been returned to the game. Therefore, if a Pokéwalker is lost or damaged, the Pokémon is not lost. Pokémon can be restored to the game it was taken from if a Pokéwalker is lost or broken by pressing and holding Up, Select, and R at the Pokéwalker connection screen. The Pokémon will be returned to the PC box with its level or happiness unaffected."

So all is not lost if you lose/damage your PokéWalker, although ultimately, I'd still advise you just keep an eye on it, rather than having to purchase a new one.

(Image © Nintendo)

NOTE: I got my new PokéWalker, and had to look up how to reset it. I found my solution, and the new Walker is working wonderfully, but so you know, while you will be able to keep all the paths you've unlocked, you will also lose all of your watts. Bollocks.

"How to reset your PokéWalker: From the main menu, select 'Connect to PokéWalker'. Hold down on the directional pad (+) and X, then L. After you see caution click 'Yes' and it will reset."

Hulu Coming to PlayStation 3 in July, Xbox 360 in 2011

Don't cancel your Netflix account just yet kids, this won't be a free alternative. Hulu Plus, a new ad-supported, subscription based service currently available for the iPhone and iPad (invite only for the time being), looks to essentially be a slightly more expensive version of Netflix, minus the physical DVD. The new service, hitting the PS3 in July of this year, and 360 sometime after the holiday, will run $9.99 per month. I suppose if you've got an iPad and/or iPhone and one of the two more loved next-gen consoles (sorry Nintendo), it may be worth it to switch from Netflix to Hulu Plus. Maybe they'll have a much better selection of shows. Can't say as of yet but I'll try and get access to someone's Hulu Plus account and get back to you. For now, me and my Wii are sticking with Netflix.

(image via boingboing.net)

For more info, check out the Hulu Blog.

Controllers? Where We're Going We Don't NEED Controllers

Microsoft had their Xbox 360 Media Briefing earlier today, the highlight of which is, of coarse, Microsoft's newborn brain baby Kinect (formerly Project Natal, hitting North America November 4, 2010), a controller-free, motion-activated system for the Xbox 360. But before getting into that, let's pull back and go over some of the other highlights.

- Alan Wake, which was released just last month, is already a hit game, with stellar reviews. Well, July 27, the first piece of downloadable content, Episode 7 "The Signal" will be available for free if you bought the game new (look for a coupon in your case).

- Gears of War 3, set for release in April of 2011, will offer up 4-player multiplayer. The gameplay footage looked to follow in the tradition of it's predecessors, with a couple sweet looking new foes and of coarse, the female Cogs as playable characters.

- The much anticipated new Halo title, Halo Reach, whose mutliplayer beta was the largest in console history, will feature for the first time in the franchises history, space combat.

- Personally excited about this one, Fable III, set five decades after the conclusion of Fable II, looks to bear your typical RPG plotline, two brothers, one grows into a corrupt king, the other (our protagonist, of coarse) grows up secluded in the country, and must rise up to overthrow his evil sibling... Also, the collector's edition comes with a Boxer!

- For all you FPS fans, there was a tantalizing first look at gameplay for Call of Duty Black Ops (which hits 11.09.10), including what is presumably an opening scene, where you crawl through a tunnel, and a helicopter flight level. Per a recent three-year licensing agreement between Microsoft and Activision, as of the November release of Black Ops, all CoD add-ons and map packs will be launching first on the Xbox 360.

- Metal Gear Solid Rising, the latest from Kojima Studios, looked pretty hack-and-slashy on the surface, but you DO get to cut a van in half, which is always a plus. There even appears to be a sort of "slow-mo targeting mode" so you can lay your beat down with precision.


Annnnnnddd.... KINECT! With sensors that pick up sound and motion, and featuring 3D depth sensors, an RGB camera, motorized tilt, and a multi-array mic, this device looks to be vying for some of Nintendo's Wii fanbase (so, nintendwhores and middle-aged yuppies). In the initial demo, we see that one can sign in with a simple wave, Kinect recognizes you and signs you into your Xbox Live account. You can also navigate (on a basic level) through the Live menu using voice commands. In addition, using Windows Phone 7 (because people have that, right?) you can connect your cell phone to your Live account. VideoKinect looks pretty promising, you can live chat with friends and family using Live or Windows Messenger, and even watch videos together. It also tracks your movement and automatically follows you if you move around the room- no adjustments required on your part!


ESPN has signed an exclusive agreement with Microsoft to offer Live members thousands of live and on-demand games in HD. They will also offer trivia you can play with your Live friends as you watch the game. Best of all, if you're a Gold member, ESPN on Xbox 360 is completely FREE. I love that word.

Finally... called it! Microsoft has announced a new, Xbox 360 "Slim" (no official name given the system, other than "The New Xbox 360"). It's a smaller, more streamlined console, sporting a deep glossed black finish, built-in WIFI, a massive 250 GB hard drive, Kinect-ready (naturally), and with a very friendly $299 price tag. This baby shipped to retailers on June 14, 2010 and should be available for purchase later in the week.

Watch the whole thing online, at gametrailers.com

I came.

So if you've been living under a rock, which was in the woods, buried far underground, and held captive by the mole people, you may not have seen the Mortal Kombat Rebirth promos floating around. Maybe. So far very little official info on it, except that it looks AMAZING and Warner Bros is involved. And yeah, that's Michael Jai you see cast as Jax, and Jeri Ryan as Sonya Blade. YEAH.

October Launch Date for Project Natal

Anticipation mounts as we approach June, and this year's E3. There are several large announcements in the works, not the least of which being Microsoft's Project Natal, a motion control system for the Xbox 360. According to Syed Bilal Tari, marketing manager of the entertainment & devices division at Microsoft Saudi, specific dates are as of yet unavailable, but will be finalized and announced at E3, along with the customary lineup of launch titles for the new system.

Further details will be posted as they become available.

MegaMan Fan Film

Nice little slice of fandom, complete with obligatory bad acting and cheesy graphics.



"MegaMan"-Fan Film from Eddie Lebron on Vimeo.


More info: http://megamanfilm.com

Nintendo Announces US Release for Black Wii

The black Nintendo Wii console, already available in the Asia and Europe, has been announced for official US release. The new console will include the Wii Sports game (included in the originally released white counterpart), along with last year's sequel, Wii Sports Resort. Also included are the Wii Remote (or as some affectionately refer to it, "Wiimote") and Nunchuck, as well as  Wii Motion Plus attachment, which improves the controller's accuracy. The new bundle will maintain the $199.99 price, and the new "goodies" included therein will extend to the white consoles as well.

According to Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime: “By including even more of our top-quality hardware and software in the basic Wii system package, we’re extending that commitment to entertainment and value. Now more than ever, consumers can count on Nintendo to deliver inclusive fun and advanced motion controls at a mass-market price.”

Or in other words "parents will keep buying the Wii instead of PS3 and 360 because it's cheaper and comes with more stuff". Looks like Nintendo's aiming to maintain that spot as #1 selling next gen console. I'd also like to note that the black console will unfortunately not have HD capabilities, as some had hoped...

The new console goes on sale this Sunday, May 9 (pick one up for mom, or you don't really love her).

More on the Nintendo 3DS

As a brief follow-up, this video of an upcoming DSiWare game shows what the gameplay on the 3DS may look like.

Nintendo Announces 3D Handheld

The Nintendo DS (originally released in 2004), and it's offspring the DS Lite, DSi, and newly released DSi XL, is currently the best selling handheld gaming system of all time. Earlier this morning Nintendo announced the upcoming release of their newest Dual Screen incarnation, the 3DS (working title).

(The Nintendo DS Lite)

The new system, set for release in March of 2011, is said to incorporate stereoscopic displays, which will not require the user to wear polarized glasses (much like the 3D advertisements popping up in recent years). The system will also be able to play every original Nintendo DS title, and sport front and back-facing cameras, like the DSi. 

While little is now known about the specifics of the system, further details are said to become available at the 2010 E3 Expo, held in Los Angeles in June.

(For all the old folks... Nintendo's first 3D handheld, which led to hours of eye bleeding.)

Xbox 360 Slim

 (360 Slim? Obviously a doctored image of a Slim PS2 but interesting nonetheless.)

Rumors abound about the possible release of an Xbox 360 "Slim". The original whisperings began surfacing when Sony released the PS3 Slim, but increased to a murmur when a "leaked Microsoft memo" hit the internet. The memo, since heralded as a hoax, made mention of a name change for a yet unreleased version of the console, indicating that "XBOX Lean" and "XBOX Granite" have given way to "XBOX Pure." Obviously "Xbox Lean" implies a slimmed-down version of the console, although I'm not thrilled with the idea of "Xbox Pure", since it may indicate Microsoft will be further following in Sony's footsteps and dropping the hardware that supports original Xbox titles. ZERO BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY FTL.

Things jumped to a dull roar as images of a smaller 360 motherboard popped up. According to pcworld.com:
"The motherboard reportedly packs the CPU and GPU onto a single chip--that'd be it purportedly hiding under the CoolerMaster fan"

Several questions remain, not the least of which is "How will the old hard drive fit onto a leaner model?" and "Will there be any red-ring-esque issues upon launch?" Nothing official has been announced as of my writing this, but we'll do our best to keep you folk(s) posted.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

**NOTE: This is an old review, one that I did for the old site. I had it on hand and wanted to go ahead and get something up. I KNOW it's kind of irrelevant now. I know.

When the demo for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed hit the Xbox Live marketplace, everyone with a 360 and access to the internet dove into what was essentially the first level of the game, plus several advanced force abilities unlocked. And there was much rejoicing. I was among many who salivated at the crisp graphics (no stranger to the console), and took a childish delight in chucking storm troopers into oblivion. Let's jump forward here for a moment. It's barely a week after the game's release, and I'm standing in GameStop, game in hand, ready to trade it in. "But how could it have come to this?" Well I'll tell you, but you won't like what I have to say very much. One of the principal issues lies in the game's length. It is around 10 hours long, with virtually no replay value because of certain control hindrances to be later identified. One might argue that the publisher has plans to release additional levels later on. Levels you buy off of Xbox Live. For money. Wait... I just paid sixty dollars for half a game?

As you advance through the game, you begin to realize that the targeting system has little to no sense of priority, so many times while attempting to zap an enemy you find yourself instead blasting yourself to kingdom come, because you've accidentally detonated a nearby bomb. Similar to God of War, when you've done enough damage to an enemy, you are directed to follow a sequence of on-screen prompts, resulting in you character performing a sort of finishing move. Unfortunately, the buttons you hit in the sequence are the same ones you attack with, so you occasionally trigger the event without realizing it.

Perhaps one of the most frustrating aspects of the game is the fact that you can hit an opponent with your lightsaber, which should cut them in half, and they won't even get knocked back. However if YOU take a hit you're sent flying, and it takes so long to get back up that during melee battles you get tossed around like a rag doll.

I won't say there aren't any positive elements to the game, it looks gorgeous, and the voice acting is excellent. However, gamers shouldn't have to rely on graphics and voice work as the selling point for a game, especially with the high quality play possible on the next-gen consoles. If you've got to play this one, rent it or buy it used.