Nitendo 3DS Review

Nintendo pushes technology forward with the release of the 3DS. Full Review Inside.

The Nintendo 3DS, is one of Nintendo's greatest achievements allowing users to play video games in full 3D without the need of glasses. It uses Autostereoscopy to achieve the 3D effect and uses a slider to turn it on and off. The 3DS takes the same design as the Nintendo DS, but resembles more of a DSi design than anything else since it doesn't have the slot on the bottom to play GBA games and is smaller compared to the DSi XL. The 3DS has many features and is probably one of the few devices that will push technology forward.

The 3D:

Lets face it, its called the 3DS and this is what draws the crown. Like stated before the 3D effect is done using Autostereoscopy. The best way to describe the 3D is to look outside your window. The 3D doesn't pop out like you would see in the movies and I have yet to see the PS3 or a Home 3D movie to judge whether this is done the exact same way. The 3D basically pops in rather than pop out. You still get all the same effects as you would in 3D. You have your foreground, middle ground and background.

You control the 3D via the slider that is located on the top half of the 3DS. This slider adjust the image so you can get a better view of the 3D effect. When viewing the 3DS Screen you are not stuck at one angle like others claim. I found that the 3D can be viewed from several angles if the slider is in the middle. Of course different people might experience different results. I almost never found myself putting the slider all the way to the top and when I did I lost focus and my eyes had to readjust. After stopping for a few minutes after about 5 minutes of gameplay I did get dizzy and felt that I was going to pass out. Keep in mind when using the 3DS, use it when you are well rested and adjust the slider to a position that makes you feel comfortable.

I think the 3D is the biggest draw of the 3DS. That's why it's called the 3DS and not the Nintendo next generation handheld or the DS2. Saying that the 3D is not the 3DS's best feature is like saying the engine on a Ferrari is not the best feature.

The Design:

The Design of the 3DS is clam shelled. On the outside you have 2 cameras which are capable of taking 3D pictures, The 3D slider bar, the Wi-Fi slider, the volume slider, the stylus, and an SD Card reader with a 2GB SD Card. Within minutes of getting the 3DS I swaped out the 2GB Memory card for a 4GB.

On the inside you will have 2 screens. The top screen is where all the action happens on the 3DS. It has a resolution of 800 x 240 or 400 x 240 per eye. The bottom screen is the touchscreen which has a resolution of 320 x 240. On the top of the 3D screen, there is a 3^rd camera which you can use to take pictures of yourself or video chat if Nintendo allows it in a future update. All 3 cameras have a resolution of 0.3MP.

The controls have stayed the same for the most part with the exception of the Circle Pad which acts as a Joystick. The circle pad has a rubber outer layer for grip. I am disappointed in the D-Pad as its a bit smaller and doesn't seem as responsive when you're touching it. The 4 letter buttons are also very small and close in together. The letter buttons do stick out a bit more than the DS version and you do get some feedback but if you have big fingers than it can be difficult to press them.

The Start and Select buttons have been relocated at the bottom of the Touchscreen and in the center lies a Home button which you can use to go back to the main menu. Pressing the home button will take you to the main menu but will not kill the application until you select a different application. This is very convenient as any accidental pressing of the home button doesn't prevent your game from being lost. Pressing the Power button will give you 2 options; either turn off your 3DS or leave it on stand by. Leaving your 3DS on stand by will allow you to trade information with other 3DS users or have various features activated when playing a game. You can also put your 3DS to sleep on on stand by, by simply closing your 3DS. Do keep in mind that closing your 3DS and pressing the stand by button yields 2 different results. You can close your 3DS with a game inside still running and when you re-open it again, the game will continue where you left off however pressing the power button will immediately kill your game or task and you cannot go back to your game. It will however allow you to go back to the Home Screen. One annoyance is that the LED light will always stay power light will always stay on.

The 3DS feels very sturdy and it looks like it can withstand a fall of 3 feet. I am however not going to be testing this as the 3DS cost me $250. The metallic finish does add a nice look to the 3DS and you won't have to worry about fingerprints. It is big, but if you have big pockets you will not have any trouble carrying the 3DS around and will not need a backpack. I have several pants with big pockets, even some dress pants that nicely fitted the 3DS inside of them. I also had enough room to put my cell phone along with it. However I do not recommended the 3DS for jeans or shorts with smaller and tighter pockets and it will get uncomfortable.

The Software:

The 3DS software is designed similar to the Wii and it's channel system. When first booting up the 3DS there is a slight delay when it powers up. I actually though that I may have received a defective device when I first turned it on as it took 10 seconds probably more for anything to show up. I wasn't keeping track of time as I was literally pissing myself when I didn't see anything come up for a while. When it does boot up finally, you will be guided to set up your 3DS with wi-fi, your birthday, time and date etc. When powering off your device and turning it back on it can take from 5 to 8 seconds for the 3DS to fully power up. This means that nothing will show up on the screen for at least 5 to 8 seconds.

The 3DS has several channels available such as Mii maker, 3DS camera, Music player, Street Pass Mii Plaza, Face Raiders; a game where you take pictures of different people's faces and shoot them, Activity Log, Download and Play, Settings and of course the good old Health and Safety information. There are also empty channels which can be used for the 3DS virtual console or other channels which Nintendo has yet to release.

Nintendo included 2 mini games (or 6 if you count each AR Card as a seperate mini game) which you can play if you do not yet won any 3DS games. These games are Face Raiders and AR Games. Face raiders is basically an FPS game where you take pictures of several different people and shoot them until you defeat the last boss. There are a total of 6 levels but you can take pictures of as many faces as you can. The faces also have animation and sound effects. AR Games is a set of 6 different cards each containing a different mini game. In order for them to work you must align the cards with the camera in a well lit place and wait for it to load. These cards are required if you are to continue playing the AR Games.

Even though Nintendo did include a few mini games it does feel that the 3DS is not complete. First of all there is a web browser button but pressing it will notify you that the browser has been disabled and should be available within a future update. There is also no way of watching movies at this time or a converter. This of course will hopefully come with future updates. There is a movie included with Nintendo's latest update which shows some random guys playing with cups. Why would Nintendo think we would enjoy this I do not know.

The Games:

With the launch of the 3DS we saw some great titles released and some not so great ones. What's really disappointing is that there is no Mario, Zelda, Metroid etc. We do however get Pilot Wings Resort and some Puppy game because when I think Nintendo I think Puppies. Thank god for 3^rd party support because we do get to play such great titles as Madden NFL Football, PES 2011, Ridge Racer, Asphalt, Samurai Warriors, and Street Fighter 4.

The games resemble 3DS carts but with a little nudge on the side which prevents the software from going into a non 3DS device such as the regular DS. DS game carts do fit in nicely though and it is backwards compatible, however you will not be able to play in 3D with regular DS games. This does have me a bit worries as game carts are usually 8 to 512mb in size limit so bigger games would be a problem on the console. This however is an uncertainty as no one really knows how big they could get in memory but there's always that doubt.

The Graphics:

In terms of graphics the 3DS does have decent graphics when compared to the regular DS. If anything I would say the 3DS has Gamecube or PSP like graphics. Of course because this are just launch titles no one knows how better the graphics can get so as of this time there is no way of judging the true power behind the 3DS.

The Price:

This is what will most likely put off many potential buyers. The 3DS currently sells for $249.99. In my opinion this is a pretty hefty price tag but you are getting a 3D capable device. If you have the cash to buy the 3DS I say buy it and don't wait for a price drop because it could be minimum 1 year before there is a price drop and that's just guessing. It took the Wii several years to receive a $50 price drop and it could be the same with the 3DS. For those holding out for a better version of the 3DS it can also be several years before a new version comes out.

The Battery Life:

Battery life is the single most important thing on a handheld console heck even on cell phones. You can have the greatest gadget out there but with a poor battery life you might as well just have a rock. Battery life depends on a few components such as having Wi-Fi on, 3D on, High Volume and Brightness. With everything to the max you could get between 2.5 to 3 hours of battery life. This can increase if you turn off the Wi-Fi when you are nowhere near a connection or when you are not using it. Turning down the brightness also helps increase battery life and lowering the volume also helps. If you are in a noisy area headphones will also help out or you can turn off the sound all together and just read what's on screen.

If you travel a lot you might consider purchasing a car charger or another wall charger and leave one at home. Battery life is disappointing but for regular use I say it should be enough and just turn off your 3DS when you are not using it.

The Verdict: Buy

At $250, the 3DS is well worth the price tag if you are looking to game on 3D. If you are not looking for 3D gaming then the regular DS or PSP will do just fine and you can get those for a lot less. Specially the PSP 3000 which is $130. It does have a few design flaws which won't get fixed because of hardware and the software is far from perfect but eventually it will get to a point where you will be able to do anything on your 3DS and by anything I mean watch movies and play video games in 3D.

While not the strongest launch line up, there are a few titles worth checking out on the 3DS and I personally recommend: Madden, Asphalt, PES 2011, Street Fighter 4 and Samurai Warriors. There are also a few titles which will launch in April that will keep the library of games growing. \

Performance: Gamecube/PSP like graphics in 3D with great detail. The 3D can be viewed in several angles with the 3D slider in the middle settings. 10

Design: The 3DS is bulky but it does feel like it can take a drop (although not recommended). The Circle Pad is a nice addition and responds very well. The letter buttons and D-Pad could have been bigger. 8

Price: Might turn off potential buyers but it could be years before a price drop or a new 3DS model to comes out. 7

Software: Practically everything is disabled and there’s no reason for Nintendo to put a video of guys playing with cups. Boot up times take 8 seconds. The AR Games and Face Raiders are nice mini games that show off the 3DS until you purchase a game. 6/10.

LifeSpan: Short battery life that only lasts 3 to 5 hours depending on your settings but for the most part it should be enough to get you through the day. 6/10.

Total Score: 74/100

"Into the Dark" DLC for Dungeons --Available Now

New content for Dungeons adds new levels, maps and more




Ridgewood, NJ, March 30, 2011 --Kalypso Media USA, Inc is pleased to announce the release of new content for Dungeons, their strategy/sim game where it's good to be evil!

The new DLC pack includes one new campaign mission (adding approximately 1.5 hours of additional gameplay), 10 new sandbox-mode maps and 19 new prestige gimmicks for just $3.99 USD.
The new content is available for purchase now via the Kalypso Launcher within Dungeons, and will also be available on April 4 via digital distribution services.

For more information about Dungeons, please visit www.dungeons-game.com. Dungeons follows the misadventures of the foremost of all Dungeon Lords, who spends his time luring heroes into his labyrinthine creations with the promise of treasure and a good fight --only to be trapped by his ingenious devices.
In Dungeons, our protagonist falls victim to a devious plot hatched by his vile, nasty and thoroughly vicious ex-girlfriend and finds himself at the bottom of the underworld hierarchy and the top of the dungeon pile. In his world, that is about as bad as it can get.

Our lord must have his revenge, and make his way back down the dungeon levels to his rightful place --but first he must deal with his new bosses, the three despicable Dungeon Lords who stand in his way. At his disposal are his dim-witted goblin minions who dig tunnels and build rooms to lay out his lair and trap ever stronger and braver heroes who dare to enter, not forgetting to plot his revenge against his ex-girlfriend and his new bosses who think it’s great fun to bombard him with useless tasks.
It goes without saying that a malicious and sneaky creature such as our Dungeon Lord has more than a few tricks up his sleeve. Revenge will be sweet indeed.

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 'Reverie' Downloadable Content Now Available

Time to dust off that Lords of Shadow Game.


Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today revealed that 'Reverie,' the first add-on package for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, is now available on the PlayStation®Network for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. In this debut add-on package, players will return to the Castle as Gabriel to help Laura, the former servant to the vampire Carmilla, destroy the unruly evil that was previously kept in check by the recently slain Queen. 'Reverie' will also be available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft soon!

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12: The Masters in Stores Now

Fans of All Ages Can Now Experience Iconic Golf Course and Tournament


REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS), announced today that Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 12: The Masters has shipped in North America. For the first time in franchise history, players can experience the rich history and tradition of the Masters Tournament and begin their own journey to become a Masters champion. The game is available on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Wii™. The game also supports PlayStation®Move and Wii MotionPlus™ motion controllers.
In addition to the opportunity to play Augusta National Golf Club, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 12: The Masters offers a series of enhanced and innovative features, including a completely revamped career mode, all-new caddie system, fresh broadcast presentation, new courses and PGA TOUR golfers. For the first time ever, EA SPORTS™ laser-scanned every hole at Augusta National Golf Club to provide players with the most authentic digital representation of the Masters Tournament. Every tree, every azalea, and every undulation in every green was recreated down to the smallest detail.
 
"We're excited to bring our fans the immersive and authentic Masters experience that they've been anxiously waiting for," said Nick Wlodyka, Executive Producer for EA SPORTS. "This has long been the number one feature our fans have requested, so we've pulled out all the stops for this year's game to ensure that our players feel as though they're actually stepping foot onto the historic grounds of Augusta National Golf Club. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12: The Masters caters to a wide range of gamers and golf fans, and the Masters Tournament integration will help introduce our award-winning franchise and the game of golf to a whole new audience."
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 12: The Masters contains various enhancements and innovative features including:

• Career Mode: Beginning a career as an amateur, players work their way through Q School, the Nationwide Tour, and the PGA TOUR.
• Caddie Mode: Players pair up with their own caddie, who provides strategic advice to help them become a more successful golfer.
• Masters Moments: Players relive and play through memorable, historic moments of the Masters and see where they measure up against some of the sport's greatest legends.
• Courses and Players: Players can choose to play as or against more than 20 professional golfers, including new additions Zach Johnson (2007 Masters champion), Rickie Fowler (2010 PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year) and Bubba Watson (2011 Farmers Insurance Open champion). In addition to Augusta National Golf Club and its Par 3 course, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 12: The Masters features 14 of the world's most celebrated courses, including Royal Melbourne Golf Club (Australia), St. Andrews Links, and Pebble Beach Golf Links.

For the first time, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 12: The Masters for the Wii will feature Wii Balance Board functionality. Designed to promote golfer balance, the feature allows players to earn "Balance Points" to activate a power shot. Mini-golf, a family-friendly mode which originally debuted in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 11, is available again with the inclusion of five courses, including a new Boardwalk style layout.
Augusta National Golf Club, its Par 3 course and 19 courses are included in the Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12 Collector's Edition, developed exclusively for PlayStation 3 while 25 courses are featured on the Wii.
In the lead up to the Masters Tournament, EA SPORTS has unveiled a series of marketing initiatives to extend awareness of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 12: The Masters.

• EA SPORTS Golf Preview Show: From March 19—April 9, EA SPORTS is airing a syndicated television show giving fans a preview of the 2011 golf season. The broadcast includes an exclusive interview with Tiger Woods about his favorite memories and tips for attacking Augusta National's second nine, a roundtable discussion with writers and editors from Golf Digest and Golf World looking at golf's major storylines and players to watch, insights from Rickie Fowler about how he's using Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12: The Masters to prepare for his inaugural appearance at the Masters, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this year's game. To view segments from the EA SPORTS Golf Preview Show, visit www.facebook.com/TigerWoodsPGATOUR.
• Advertising Campaign: On March 21, a 30-second television commercial began airing nationally. The spot, entitled "List of Champions," features past Tournament footage of former Masters champions such as Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus alongside gamers playing the course through Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters. Narrated by broadcaster Jim Nantz, the commercial highlights the ultimate fantasy of this year's game — consumers' first-ever chance to play the Masters.
• Courseview: EA SPORTS recently introduced a new up-close, panoramic view of all 18 holes at Augusta National Golf Club utilizing course imagery from Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 12: The Masters. Launched on Facebook, Courseview puts viewers on the course and offers a 360^o tour of each hole. The graphics utilized in Courseview are the result of an intensive and innovative new process undertaken by EA SPORTS to bring Augusta National Golf Club to life in the game. To view Courseview, visit www.facebook.com/TigerWoodsPGATOUR.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 12: The Masters is developed in Orlando, Fla., by EA Tiburon and retails for $59.99 on Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and $49.99 on Wii™. Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 12 Collector's Edition, exclusive for PlayStation®3, is available for $69.99.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® 12: The Masters will go on sale worldwide on April 1.
For more information about Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12: The Masters, visit http://www.easports.com/golf or follow the game on Twitter at www.twitter.com/EASPORTS_Tiger and Facebook at www.facebook.com/TigerWoodsPGATOUR.
For in-game assets, go to www.info.ea.com.

EA SPORTS is one of the leading sports entertainment brands in the world, with top-selling videogame franchises, award-winning interactive technology, global videogame competitions, and breakthrough digital experiences. EA SPORTS delivers personal access to the emotion of sports through industry-leading sports simulation videogames, including Madden NFL football, FIFA Soccer, NHL® hockey, NBA ELITE basketball, NCAA® Football, Fight Night boxing, EA SPORTS MMA, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR® golf, and EA SPORTS Active.

 Check back within a few days for the full review of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 for the Xbox  360 and Playstation 3.

Our Home's Fox Deity Vol2 Review.

The last volume of this 2 volume series.

It's been a few months but finally Our Home's Fox Deity Vol2 has been released on DVD. Our Home's Fox Deity is abut a Fox deity or goddess who has been guarding the Takagami family for generations but has been sealed for playing pranks on people. She is then released by Toru and Noboru, Sons of the last princess of the Mizuchi family, Miyako, but only under the condition that she must protect them at all times with the Mizuchi's family helper, Ko. In Vol1 we see the relationship develop between the Takagami brothers and Kugen as well as Ko. Vol2 continues this relationship but it may not be as enjoyable as the first 12 episodes in Vol1.

If you have purchased other NIS anime titles you will know that they come with 2DVD's and an Art Book. The art book has episode guides as well as wallpapers. But for this release NIS America decided to release a Bonus feature DVD which contains the launch events of Our Home's Fox Deity DVD in a few select areas in Japan. These are followed by a Q&A of the actors and actresses in several locations who talk about the DVD. This is a nice addition and I do wish NIS America would include more of these interviews or making of videos.

While the extras DVD is a plus in my book, I will have to say that I do not like the Box Cover at all. Vol1 was in an all white cover but Vol2 is in a pink cover which sort of stands out from my collection. The image is also in low quality making it seem as an old DVD anime from the 1980. NIS America has promised to reprint the DVD covers with a better image but that should take a months time to complete. That was 2 weeks ago so for those waiting you have to wait another 2 weeks as of the writing of this review. Even with the new DVD covers, I still don't like the choice of color for it and it kind of makes me want to put the collection in a dark corner where no one can see it or ask questions about it.

From Vol1 you will see that this is not an anime that will take one plot to tell but actually tells the story in several plots while following the every day life of Toru and Noboru. In Vol2 Toru does not get into as much trouble as he did in Vol1 where every single demon was out to eat him, but he does get kidnapped and attacked. Episode 13 is a filler episode where we meet someone who was really close to Kugen in the past. We also meet a female student who goes up to the stage and starts singing with Noboru showing interest. Episodes 14 – 18, Toru receives a box addressed to him and opens it to find a girl inside who is a Shiro who has been sealed away. The Shiro belogned to the Oni clan and have concluded that Kugen stole her and ask her to return it. Toru and Kugen decide to give her back seeing as the Shiro did belong to them in the beginning.

In the following episodes the Oni decide to release the Shiro only to have her turn on them. The shiro leaves to find Toru. The Oni once again start looking for her only this time they hire a soul eater to help them track her down and defend them against anything or anyone that stands in their way. Shiro fights the soul eater only to be badly injured and the only way to rescue her is to seal her away once again. Toru agrees to this and the Shiro is sealed. The Oni also learn that sending the Shiro to Toru's house didn't happen by chance and that one of their members had done it intentionally.

While all this chaos is going on we also see a sub-plot between Sakura and Noboru with Sakura trying to impress Noboru in every turn. Sakura is then aproached by Momiji and asks about Noboru. Sakura then gets jealous but does not want to admit her feelings for Noboru. While this is going on there is a werewolf attack in the town with rumors spreading about a few students who have been bit and turned into werewolves themselves. Noboru is then attacked by a werewolf only to be saved by a hypnotized Sakura. Noboru is then invited to a party at Momiji's penthouse only to be captured by werewolves. Kugen comes to Noboru's rescue and cures all the wolves from the disease and returns them to normal.

The series does end on a sour note. Not that anything was left out but nothing else was really explained after that. They don't explain what becomes of the relationship between Sakura and Nobory and they don't really explain the origins of Kugen's Sister/Brother. I wish the creators would have taken one episode to describe the origins of Kugen and her Sister but sadly they didn't.

Verdict: Rent, Borrow.

There you have it the Vol2 which closes the chapter for Our Home's Fox Deity. Not a bad anime but I wish they would take the time to explain more towards the end. The episodes felt a bit dragged and the side adventures that Kugen had weren't at all interesting. It does provide a few laughs here and there but the story is a poorly constructed. Not the best Vol but it still worth it to check out if at best borrow it from a friend who owns it.

 

Sega Genesis Classic Collection: Gold Edition Review

Sega Genesis on a PC?

If I could name a mascot that has plenty of ports than a boat yard I would have to say that mascot is Sonic the Hedgehog. Ever since the demise of the Dreamcast he has been in almost any for of console version from Gamecube with his Sonic's Mega Collection Plus to last years release of Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection. This year he makes an appearance in the PC version of Sonic's Ultimate Collection, Sega Genesis Classic Collection: Gold Edition with other mascots from the golden age but does this collection stand on it's own or is it time to retire the old titles and move on to the new ones?

When I first installed SGCC, I was also installing another program and when SGCC finished installing, it gave me an error message and told me to reinstall it again. So I reinstalled it and everything was working fine so I guess when you're installing this game you shouldn't have any other programs running? I don't know. When you first boot up SGCC you will be thrown into an interface that's as basic as plain ice cream. If you don't hear music don't worry your speakers aren't broken and you haven't gone deaf either. That's because there is no music. From this interface you will select a game and watch a preview of the screen on top. Still no sound is played.

There are a total of 46 games, all catergorized in 4 volumes within the Graphical User Interface. which is great but I think it should have included other titles as well. For example it doesn't have Sonic and Knuckles which is probably one of my favorite genesis games however it does have Sonic Spinball for some reason and Columns I and II . It also doens't have any Phantasy Star Games. I also wished it had 3^rd part titles as well such as Maximum Carnage, Earthworm Jim, Mortal Kombat etc.

While it doesn't have certain titles, the games included in this collection are fun and no matter how many times you've played these games in the past or in other consoles, they're still fun to play. Sonic 1, 2 and 3 are still great games. Gunstar Heroes, Streets of Rage, Ristar, Shinobi II, Vectorman, Comix Zone, Super Thunder Blade, etc. All games can be played via the keyboard, although a PC controller is highly recommended for simpler gameplay. A wireless one would be better so you can sit back and relax. The only downside is that you must always press Esc if you want to save or exit the game. You must also use your mouse to switch volumes. It doesn't just allow you to keep pressing right or left to switch.

Since this is a collection it's hard to judge it graphically, each game has it's own distinct look. However the game does support 1080p and fullscreen mode which can't be said for most of the Genesis Collections in the past even Sega's own Playnet service which has you playing on a small screen on your computer. It also doesn't require a powerful computer to run this game. It can still run on an old pentium 4 computer with 1.6GHZ and all it requires is a video card with at least 32mb of dedicated memory.

There's really nothing much to say about SGCC that hasn't already been said in other collections. It's great for PC gamers who want to relive the old days but with a PS3/360 version released last year, people who already played that might not play this. Granted they both a few different games within their collection but most people will not play all the games. If anything I would just recommend this game to have it in the office and play it during your lunch break since it is a PC game and can run with the bare minimum of the computer specs.

Verdict: Buy

SGCC is available at retailers for $29.99 but I've seen them as low as $9.99 so if you find one that is $9.99 I say purchase this title. It has 46 games, half of which you would not touch but it is a great deal considering that these titles are available on other consoles for download for $5 each. It's fun for short burst of gameplay when you are busy while using the computer. It runs on the bare minimum so you can practically take it with you where ever a PC is available.

CAPCOM CONFIRMS NEW RESIDENT EVIL®: OPERATION RACCOON CITY AND DEMO VERSION OF RESIDENT EVIL® REVELATIONS

Latest iterations of horror coming to home console, PC and handheld

San Mateo – March 29, 2011 – Capcom® a leading worldwide developer and publisher of videogames, today announced Resident Evil®: Operation Raccoon City, is in development for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and PC. In addition it was also confirmed that the forthcoming Nintendo 3DS™ title, Resident Evil®: The Mercenaries 3D,will ship with a playable demo of Resident Evil® Revelations.

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is collaboration between Capcom and Vancouver based studio Slant 6 Games and is scheduled for release this Winter. Since the launch of the first title 15 years ago the Resident Evil® series has enjoyed phenomenal success, selling over 45 million units worldwide to date. This latest offering will take the series in a completely new direction and offer a style of gameplay yet to be seen from the franchise.

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City delivers a true third person team based shooter experience set within the dark and sinister Resident Evil universe and a reinterpretation of the events depicted in Resident Evil® 2 and Resident Evil® 3. The setting of the Resident Evil universe not only provides a rich backdrop to the action but delivers a unique and thrilling triple threat battle. Zombies and Bio-Organic Weapons (B.O.W’s) add to the mix as players not only compete against an opposing squad but also tackle this third unpredictable element, creating a brand new style of gameplay and breaking the conventions of traditional team based shooters.  

It is September 1998 and the action centers once more on the ill-fated Raccoon City and the horrific consequences of the deadly T-virus outbreak from the Umbrella facility. With a cover up required, Umbrella orders an elite team into Raccoon City to destroy all evidence of the outbreak and eliminate any survivors. Hearing of this plan, the US Government dispatches its own special forces to uncover any evidence that exposes the cause of the viral infection and Umbrella’s actions. Players take on the role of an Umbrella Security Services soldier (U.S.S.), competing alone or in four player co-op in a battle against all the competing forces at play in Raccoon City.

Expect the return of original Resident Evil enemies, iconic landmarks such as the Raccoon City Police Department and fan favorite characters, including Leon S. Kennedy, who as a rookie police officer in Raccoon City is on your hit list to eliminate. Players will experience a retelling of classic moments from past titles Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3 and watch the events unfolding from the menacing perspective of the Umbrella Security Service, giving fans the chance to rewrite the history of the Raccoon City outbreak.

In addition, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City will deliver a number of competitive online multiplayer modes. Each one of these will provide a unique gaming experience thanks to the three way combat between the Umbrella Security Service, US Special Ops and threat of zombies and B.O.W’s that could only exist in the deadly and twisted Resident Evil Universe. 

Purchasers of Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, scheduled for release in the coming months, will get an extra taste of horror thanks to the addition of a playable demo of Resident Evil Revelations. Set on board an ocean liner, the demo lets players take control of one of the full game’s characters, Jill Valentine, as she explores the ship’s dark interior, killing any mysterious creatures that emerge from the shadows. A brand new title built from the ground up for the Nintendo 3DS, further details on Resident Evil Revelations will be revealed at this year’s E3.

Steam Free Game for the Weekend 03/26/2011

Play Lead and Gold for Free this weekend only.


If you have Steam installed on your PC, you can download Lead and Gold for Free to play this weekend until Monday at 10AM. You can also purchase the full game for only $2.50 if you like it.

action and fast-paced gunfights. Engage in gritty battles in beautifully rendered classic Western settings. Players will test their mettle in genre-specific game modes and levels tailor-made for satisfying team play.

Lead and Gold features the unique synergy system, which provides power-ups to encourage co-operation and team tactics. This system accentuates the frantic shooter and objective-oriented gameplay by rewarding players who focus on cooperation and play as a team.

• Four playable characters with different strengths and weaknesses, adding depth and variety
• A multitude of different game modes and settings, all with a distinct feeling of the Old West, providing increased longevity
• Lead and Gold: Gangs of the Wild West uses the synergy system to reward players that play as a team
• Game modes and mechanics are designed to be easy to understand

System Requirements

• OS: XP/Vista/Windows 7
• Processor: Dual-core processor (Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or AMD Athlon X2 5200+ 2.6 GHz)
• Memory: 1.5 GB RAM
• Hard Drive: 2.0 GB free space
• Graphics: DirectX 9.0c/Shader3.0 compatible, VRAM 512 MB (NVIDIA GeForce 7800 series or ATI Radeon X1900)
• Sound: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound cards
• DirectX®: DirectX 9.0c

Portal 2 Pre-order Bonus.

Right now if you pre-order Portal 2 from amazon for either the PS3 or Xbox 360 you get $20 off towards a future purchase on amazon which means it can even apply to the Nintendo 3DS. The game also has a $5 discount which brings the price to $54.99.

Amazon still taking 3DS pre-orders.

If you haven't pre-order your 3DS game console but would still like to, you can pre-order it via Amazon. On top of that you will also get a $25 gift voucher to use on any 3DS game. Also remember that Amazon does not charge taxes for certain states and they also offer free shipping.

RANGO: THE WORLD EXPANDS WITH NEW CHARACTERS, CUSTOMIZATION OPTIONS, GAMES AND QUESTS

Step into the shoes of a desert critter.

New York – March 24, 2011 – Shine your boots and loosen your spurs! Rango: The WORLD, the online multiplayer universe inspired by Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies animated feature film Rango, is live with brand new content!  Funtactix, a worldwide developer of innovative, browser-based games, announced today the launch of its first expansion to Rango: The WORLD, which includes new characters, customization options, games, quests and more.   

Rango: The WORLD Expansion Includes:

·         New Game: Try your hand at the wildly fun Super Timms Arcade in the Game Center

·         New Achievements: Explore the expanded world and unlock 35 new achievements

·         New Character Accessories: 125 new clothing items to cater to your funky style

·         New Furnishings: Spruce up your own personalized hub with new chairs, decorations, pictures, plants and more 

Jump into Rango: The WORLD to create your own character and join your pals as you set out to explore the dynamic world of the movie, including the town of Dirt and its surroundings. Along the way you’ll encounter the colorful characters from the film, embark on quests, compete in games and customize your own personal corner of Dirt. Now it’s your turn to become the hero! 

Visit www.RangoTheWorld.com to sign up for a free account and start playing today!  

CAPCOM BRINGS THE AWARD-WINNING RESIDENT EVIL® 4 AND RESIDENT EVIL CODE: VERONICA® X INTO THE HD ERA

2 of the greatest and classic games get an HD make over

San Mateo, CA — March 24, 2011 — To kick off the 15th anniversary of Resident Evil®, Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games today announced that the highly acclaimed Resident Evil® 4 and Resident Evil Code: Veronica® X will be released as downloadable titles for the Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. Scheduled for release this fall, both titles have been enhanced with upgraded visuals as they make their debut on high-definition consoles.

Resident Evil 4 , which received numerous “Game of the Year” awards when it debuted and currently stands as one of the best-reviewed games of all time with an incredible 96 ranking on MetaCritic, challenges you to experience it all over again with support for trophies and achievements along with the visual upgrades.

As Leon Kennedy, players will explore a town overrun by cultists, mutants and mind-controlled villagers as they unravel the mystery of Resident Evil 4. Also, this release will contain all the bonus content available in previous versions of Resident Evil 4, including the Separate Ways epilogue.

In Resident Evil Code: Veronica X, the year is 1998, three months since the total destruction of Raccoon City and Claire Redfield is still in search of her missing brother Chris. While investigating an Umbrella facility in Paris, Claire is captured and transported to the remote Rockfort Island, where she awaits her death. 

Then an inexplicable air raid hits the island, and though this frees Claire, it also accidentally releases t-virus samples and B.O.W.s, which thrust Claire back into the world of survival horror once again.  Claire teams up with a fellow inmate Steve Burnside, but insane island commander Alfred Ashford and his evil sister Alexia set their sights on ending the duo with their sick and demented games.

The Resident Evil franchise, which pioneered the horror genre in video games, has sold over 45 million units since 1996 and spawned a series of successful motion pictures that have grossed over $750 million worldwide. The Resident Evil brand has also expanded into action figures, comic books, novels, apparel, beverages and more. As part of the 15th anniversary, Resident Evil fans will get a chance to celebrate the past, present and future of the franchise with exclusive apparel and merchandise, in addition to games like Resident Evil 4, Resident Evil Code: Veronica X,   Resident Evil®: The Mercenaries, Resident Evil®: Revelations and other surprises.

I recently started playing code Veronica for the dreamcast and forgot how great the resident evil series was. Resident evil 4 changed the way we played the game and resident evil 5 continued it. But if you want to experience the way the series was meant to be played you can check out the resident evil titles available on the gamecube, dreamcast and playstation.

Duke Never Comes Early - 2K Games Announces Shortest Delay in the History of Duke Nukem Forever®

After 15 years (and six short weeks) the King is almost back! So what else is new.

New York, NY – March 24, 2011 – 2K Games and Gearbox Software announced today that Duke Nukem’s glorious comeback in Duke Nukem Forever® will now explode at retail on June 10, 2011 internationally and June 14, 2011 in North America on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC. With gamers jumping out of their seats and waiting in line for hours to play the game at PAX East, it appears that the fans have spoken - Duke Nukem Forever is worth the wait.
 
“In case you haven’t heard, Duke never comes early,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “We’re committed to deliver a laugh-out-loud, politically incorrect experience that people will talk about for years to come. We thank Duke’s fans for their continued patience - I promise this won’t take another 15 years.”
 
The incredibly unapologetic Duke Nukem Forever is the video game realization of the ultimate Hollywood summer blockbuster on steroids. Starring the iconic and legendary titular character, Duke Nukem Forever promises to reinvent the key ingredients necessary to create a summer smash hit that’s boiling over-the-top with irreverent humor, catchy one-liners that will make your mama blush, and frantic, bone-shaking action sequences that will simultaneously rock your world and neighbors’ walls. A statement from Randy Pitchford, president of Gearbox Software, is available to view at the following location - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Za0ho-vvkXU.
 
“I'm very sorry for the added delay. We've all been working extremely hard and are very eager to deliver the game to you," added Pitchford. “I’ve been thinking of these lyrics from the great country song, ‘He's The Duke’ - ‘He told us if we waited we could Come Get Some, but I never knew Forever was going to be so long.'  If you're like me, June cannot come quickly enough."
 
In the interim, Duke Nukem Forever fans can pay their respects to the King by visiting the official Duke Nukem Forever website - www.dukenukemforever.com. It’s loud, lewd and definitely Duke approved. The site provides fans with stimulating content that will ease their eagerness, including Duke’s Boobtube channel and The Duke Cave, featuring babe and alien surveillance. Fans can also “come get some” by pre-ordering the game, along with the Balls of Steel edition, while supplies last. 
 
Duke Nukem Forever will be available internationally on June 10, 2011 and in North America on June 14, 2011. For more information on Duke Nukem Forever, including where to pre-order a copy, please visit www.dukenukemforever.com. Duke Nukem Forever is rated M for Mature by the ESRB.

We've been waiting for this game for 15 years, I just wonder of the game truly is worth the wait.

Nintendo Doesn't want to work with Garage Developers.

And the hypocrisy begins.


Garage developers otherwise known as independent developers are developers who break away from tradition and develop their own games. This has all been made as much as I hate the company but I do appreciate what they've done possible by Apple. All you need to do is own a Mac or other "sources" with a Mac, download their SDK and start programming your App and release it on the App store. There are many games available and as a programmer myself I thank them because now its possible for people like myself to get out and make a name for ourselves in an industry where if you do not have experience they won't even look at your resume.

The reason why it's hard for independent developers to make it big is because of companies like Nintendo that shut the door. Pair that with companies that won't hire fresh college graduates and all we have left is a piece of paper and a huge bill for wasting 3 to 4 years of our lives. Nintendo of America president Fils-Aime has stated that Nintendo will not work with Garage Developers now or in the near future possibly for as long as he's alive.

"I would separate out the true independent developer vs. the hobbyist," says Fils-Aime. "We are absolutely reaching out to the independent developer."

"Where we've drawn the line is we are not looking to do business today with the garage developer. In our view, that’s not a business we want to pursue."

"When we talk about the value of software, it could be a great $1 piece of content or a $50 piece of content," he says. "The point is: Does it maintain its value over time or is it such disposable content that the value quickly goes to zero? … We want consumers to see value in the software, whatever that appropriate value is. And we want to see that value maintained over time."

I think Fils-Aime is just being hypocritical as their software is pure garbage on the Wii and Nintendo DS. It's rare for another 3rd party developer to score big in their console and even then Nintendo's own titles are pure garbage. It's true a $1 game cannot compare to the hard work gone into a game that's worth $50 but at least when you purchase a $1 game that is not worth it you go "Damn this game sucks, but it's only a dollar". What if you purchase a game that is worth $50 and it sucks. You're really screwed then. This is the case with most Wii games as well as DS games.

I just think that Nintendo is cutting out the small developers that can't afford their expensive SDK and of course Nintendo is a company that's sole purpose is to make money. The Wii is a great system but with the lack of great software it's just sitting there gathering dust or is being played by the casual group who does Yoga. Really? Is that Nintendo's market now. They don't care as long as people buy the Wii and all the money goes into their pockets they don't care what people say about the Wii. It's really sad to see a company lose their soul the way Nintendo did, before they were about innovation and coming up with the next great game and game console but now it's all about how much hardware they could move without backing it up with great software.

I think that Nintendo will eventually crumble under it's own weight and ignorance. It may be a while but when it does, I know I will be laughing. This is coming from the person who owned a all 3 systems back in 2000 but only purchased software for the Gamecube even went far enough to defend that it had great titles.

Source

Steam Free Game for the Weekend.

Play Monday Night Combat until Sunday for Free on Steam.


If you want to play something new this weekend but don't have the cash to fork over for a new game, Steam is now offering Monday Night Combat for Free until Sunday at 1AM.

About the Game

Monday Night Combat is a class-based, third-person shooter… and the most popular lethal sport of the future! It blends intense combat, finishing moves, and gameshow-like challenges and rewards to produce an action experience unlike any other. Why fight for “honor” or “duty” when you can fight for the real American dream: cash, fame and endorsements?

Key Features:

Co-op
Blitz mode allow players to defend their Money Ball against armies of robots by themselves or four player co-op over Steam. During various Blitz challenges, players can spend money earned by destroying bots to build defensive turrets around the Moneyball, upgrade one of six unique character classes, or set off robot crushing environment hazards. The Challenges vary from a ten round Exhibition Blitz to endless robot waves of ever increasing difficulty in Super Sudden Death Blitz. Money earned from each Challenge goes into a persistent Lifetime Earnings that allows players to unlock over 370 ProTags, create custom classes, and get ranked on Leaderboards.

Competitive Multiplayer
Crossfire mode pits teams of players against each other over Steam. Each team is supported by an endless stream of robots fighting on their behalf; overwhelming your opponent’s stream, upgrading your Pros, and base defenses will be the key to your success!

Customizable Characters
Each Pro caters to their unique style of play and comes with their own set of upgradeable skills. Customize those skills and abilities even further with a variety of unlockable products in the Custom Class feature.

Persistent Stats
Every game of Monday Night Combat earns the player money that goes towards their Lifetime Earnings. Lifetime Earnings can be spent on unlocking custom classes and buying earned ProTags. How much Lifetime Earnings you have also determines what level you are. Monday Night Combat keeps a large set of persistent statistics for all aspects of gameplay. MNC features over 370 ‘ProTags’ which are customizable tags you can show off to other players and friends.

Dedicated Servers
Host multiple instances of MNC dedicated servers. Full stand alone client coming soon.

Editor support (Coming Soon)

System Requirements

• OS: XP(SP3)/Vista/Windows 7
• Processor: 2 GHz Processor
• Memory: 1 GB RAM
• Graphics: DirectX 9.0c/Shader3.0 compatible, VRAM 512 MB (NVIDIA GeForce 7800 series or ATI Radeon X1900)
• DirectX®: 9.0c
• Hard Drive: 2 GB of free space
• • Sound: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
  •  
  • To play the game just head on over to Steam and look for Monday Night Combat. If you don't have Steam you can download it for free.

Battle Los Angeles Gameplay footage.

Here is a short video of Battle Los Angeles for PC. In this video I show a bit of gameplay footage and quite possibly the dumbest scene in the whole game and trust me for this game that is saying a lot.

First Nintendo 3DS Commercial.

Soon you will be seeing this everywhere.


The Nintendo 3DS is sold out in Japan and chances are it will sell out here and if you have kids that want the 3DS and are constantly seeing this commercial then you are in trouble. Anyway here is the very first commercial for the handheld which launches on March 27 which is 10 days from now.

Battle Los Angeles Game Review.

An Alien invasion doesn't look all that bad after playing this game.

Battle Los Angeles is a movie where aliens come and take over the world. When I saw the trailer I thought to myself this is going to be a great movie and was really excited. I have yet to see the movie but during the time before the movie came out there was also an announcement from Konami saying that they will publish a game tie in with the movie Battle LA. Boy did I get real excited, the trailer blew me away and there’s going to be a game tie in boy this is gonna be great. Boy was I seriously, seriously wrong about this one. Not the movie but the game which isn’t available as a physical copy but through DLC. Let me give you this warning that once you play this game, there is no going back.

 

At the start of the game you are given a narration of how strong people thought the human race was voiced by William Shatner. At least that’s what the narration sounds like. Either that or the narrator took voice acting lessons from William Shatner. We are then introduced to a broadcast that explains the phenomenon and the places that are currently being attacked. You are then given an introduction to you Staff SGT Nantz who will lead you through this mission and bring you back alive. Then of course we realize that we are taken the role of the William Shatner impersonator who is in fact a marine. 

 

Your mission while roaming through the streets of Los Angeles is to kill as many aliens as you can. Of course there is no way of telling if you are in fact in Los Angeles as the streets don’t have names. Your weapon of choice is what appears’ to be an M-16 or an M-4 and a Sniper Rifle which you will need to pick up.   You will also use a Bazooka which you will use to take down enemy space ships and from time to time you will use a Gun Turret. You are extremely limited in weapons as those mentioned are the only ones that are available. You can also throw grenades but at times they are so ineffective you might as well not use them.

 

Moving your character is also a pain. You are limited when sprinting and if you get tired then you are unable to move. This is very annoying when trying to run across the field while aliens are trying to kill you. The aliens no matter who they are shooting will always hone in on your position every time you are in the picture. Your fellow marines could help you but their AI is so dumb down you’d actually wish they get taken out. It wasn’t until I started using a game controller that I started to enjoy this game a bit but figuring out which key’s work is difficult as the game will still show you keyboard commands. 

 

You are also limited to the amount of enemies you will fight. You will either fight an alien who is multiplied times a million as well as the same alien with a turret and of course a spaceship whose operator must have discovered Rum while on earth. Actually Rum wouldn’t hurt when you are playing this game. As a matter of fact any alcoholic beverage is necessary when playing this game. As a matter of fact I think these aliens have spent too much time in LA as they will shoot you gangster style or even shoot you while doing the moon walk.

I don’t know how closely the game relates to the movie since I’ve yet to see it. Michelle Rodriguez’s character, Santo’s is in the game. She is voiced by a confused voice actor who doesn’t know whether to play her as a Brit or American as her voice will change while playing the game. Seriously did anyone made any suggestions while writing the script for this game. The dialog sounds very cheesy and you can’t help but to turn off your speakers. In one part of the game your Shatner impersonator said if anyone was great for the job and would get them out alive it would be his staff sergeant Nantz. In one scene he is informed that if they use radio communications, the aliens will track them down and kill them instantly. This is said twice to him and he himself says who cares and tries to communicate with the chopper that is flying over them. The chopper is shot down instantly. There are also times when the SGT yells out if anyone is hit and then a soldier will say I’m hit. Seriously this wouldn’t be bad but they are saying it every 2 minutes. Sound effects aren’t also the best. Your gun sounds like a paintball gun and the music is barely audible. That’s not to say that the music is bad though but it is overshadowed by bad dialog and sound effects. 

 

The story is told comic book style where the characters are drawn out and voice bubbles pop out every time they say something. This isn’t actually bad and I would say it’s a passable way to tell a story since the characters move. There are however a few times when the art was questionable and you couldn’t make out what they were doing. One example is when Santo’s saves the civilians and calls in a helicopter you can see within the chopper 2 soldiers playing patty cake. I don’t know if that is what they are really doing but it looks like they are playing patty cake but hey in times like these I’m pretty sure fighting aliens can turn anyone into a 4 year old girl. Visually the game looks amazing. It’s probably the only great feature in the game. If the developers would have spent more time on this game, then it would have been a great game. There are a few effects though that could use some work but overall if I were to show you some screenshots of this game, no doubt about it you will want to find out more information on it.

Battle LA is very limited on what it has to offer even in game time. At the most it takes 1 hour to beat the game and there aren’t very many unlockables. You can unlock Movie Mode, Double Physics and Tough Guy when you beat the game in each category of Easy, Medium or Hard. Beating the game in hard mode in the beginning does not unlock Movie Mode or Double Physics as you must beat the game in each difficulty. You can also unlock some dev videos and art work although playing this game more than once is asking for too much. There is no multiplayer although as stiff as the characters are and play, you might not even touch it.

 

Verdict: Wait for a price drop.

Currently Battle LA sells on Steam and Xbox Live for $9.99 for that price I think what you are getting is still too expensive. I would say skip this game in general but it is kind of fun to play if you have a game controller. However because of all the negatives it’s better to wait for a price drop of $1.99 or less and since steam is always having sales, it shouldn’t take too long for this game to have a price cut.

GamePlay: The most generic shooter you will ever play coupled with stiff animation and you have a bad combination. 3/10

Graphics: I was shocked at the graphics because they are truly amazing. If only the developers would have made the rest of the game better. 9/10

Sound: Very painful bad dialog will keep you from taking this game seriously.  2/10

Story: Game is suppose to follow the movie’s plot and if it does it might put off anyone willing to watch the movie if they haven’t. 4/10

LifeSpan: 1 hour of gameplay max unless you want to go back and unlock all extras which is not recommended. 1/10

Total Score: 38/100