Guitar Hero Games For All Video Consoles - Are They Any Good?

By Amanda Isbitt

What could be better than living the life of a rock star? Who cares if your fans are all in your living room, you are the man, or woman! Into the world of video games has come the latest interactive game. Guitar hero takes you from the role of interested observer to full rock and roll participant. In other video games, you have a controller and varying views that draw you into game play but with the invention of the guitar controller, you get a full-on experience tough to find in other games.

Guitar Hero has come out with six different games so far for a plethora of platforms. It was made available for Playstation 2 & 3, Xbox 360, and PC and more recently for the Nintendo DS. With the exception of the DS, game play and peripherals have been much the same on all platforms. Of course, due to the size of the DS a full size guitar controller was not practical so the creators came up with a guitar grip that plugs into the second slot of the console. One major difference between platforms is that Guitar Hero 3 can be played online with the Xbox 360 console only.

Overall, the impact of this game has been phenomenal no matter which console it is played on. Game play includes different levels of difficulty, tour and arcade mode, cooperative play as well as competitive.

Guitar Hero was challenged last year with the release of Rock Band, a similar game idea but one that incorporated the whole band. You could play guitar, bass, drums or sing with Harmonix answer to Guitar Hero. The challenge would be short lived, as the equipment did not quite measure up.

Soon, RedOctane and Activision will follow up this challenge with Guitar Hero World Tour. Kids and parents alike have been waiting with baited breath for the latest release in the Guitar Hero family. The play promises to be intense as drums and vocals are added. Another plus is that though the new guitar is awesome you do not have to purchase it to play. If you have the earlier version of the game, the guitar will be compatible. They have also announced that for Xbox 360 the Rock Band instruments will also work. This is not the case for Playstation 3, though Sony says they are working on making the units compatible.

Guitar Hero World Tour may very well be on the Christmas list of all little girls and boys. If past performance is any indication that is, in 2008 Activision released that total sales from the Guitar Hero franchise has exceeded one billion dollars. The craze has led some bar and grills to have a Guitar Hero night instead of karaoke. One in New York reported that business triples on those nights.

It is obvious that Guitar Hero has just begun to make an impact on the kids that play and sounds like their parents as well. A terrific idea that has so far been perfectly executed. Look for the new release soon and expect that all the kids are going to want one.

For all of the latest products and news visit Guitar Hero Games

Dead Space - PlayStation 3 Review

By Gabriel Chau

Silent Hill: Homecoming was somewhat disappointing mainly because of its outdated graphics. I know it is not sufficient to judge a game solely based on game play. Although new elements were added to the game such as new combat system and new item/weapon navigations. And I was not happy with the new navigations by the way because you can waste your healing item, mainly the serum which heals you completely, by accidentally move your L3 button and have it selected without even knowing. The game play was kind of expected and I was really hoping for graphics that are next-gen. Ok, enough ranting and time to move on.

Dead Space generated a lot, and I mean A LOT of hype with all the animated trailers, comics and game trailers. Does this game live up to all the hype generated? I would, with no doubt say YES.

Story and controls

The story is about a repair ship which crash landed on a large mining ship called ISHIMURA. And as you can imagine, all the horror begins here and almost right away. Some of the controls are rather different from say, Call of Duty, like in order to run, you need to press L3 (move) and L2. The new controls might take a while to get used to but nothing major. If you have been keeping up with your first/third person shooting skills, the aiming should not be a problem either. Again make sure you aim the hands and legs and not the body unless you want to waste ammo. You can also treat your gun as a melee weapon at close range as well as pressing L2 for some foot stamping.

Game play and graphics

Dead Space uses a new and innovative user interface for accessing your items, weapons, map and missions etc. Its actually a holographic screen that is projected right in front of you in real time. So for example, you can have the map up and move around at the same time. So far I though, I can't feel the "survival" part of this game because you get lots of ammo and healing items, I've picked up so many that I have to put them in the safe. (I'm playing on normal not easy by the way) Finally, safe points are in many places so I don't really have to worry about having to restart from far back.

Speaking of which, there is also a store which you can buy healing items, upgrade your suit, called the Rig which increases the amount of items you can store as you go, new weapons, power nodes which are for upgrading your Rig's max health(which is your health) and your weapons' damage, ammo capacities etc. Weapon upgrades using the power nodes are performed by accessing another system though.

Even though both Silent Hill:Homecoming and Dead Space are survival horror, the former doesn't really make you jump like Dead Space does. Being a survival horror fan for so many years, I'm pretty used to all the scare moments but I was constantly on my toes while playing Dead Space and got a few jumps actually.

First thing first, I'm sure everyone would want to know about this, YES the game supports 1080p high definition video output. Strangely it defaults to 720p similar to Call of Duty 4. It will only output to 720p unless you explicitly set your console, in my case PlayStation 3 to only output 1080p. And speaking of graphics, it is VERY graphical with tons of blood and body parts all over walls, floors, windows and anywhere you can imagine.

Also just to mention there's no online multiplayer component, it would be even better if there was but with this game, it doesn't really matter because the single player is just that exciting. And besides, I'm not sure how you can design the multiplayer side based on the story, hmm maybe there could be two races, the humans and those mutated humans? Just a thought.

Sound

Sound effects are top notch as well, you can hear random screams, objects banging onto other objects. One thing I dislike and makes this game a little bit less difficult and cuts some of the suspense is every time before monsters start coming at you, you will know because you will hear some "horror" noise. So whenever you hear it, you can pretty much expect to ready your limb cutting gun. But like I said before, I still managed to get a few scare from my 2 hours of play time.

Final Verdict

Is this game worth the $59.99? I would definitely think so, at least I didn't regret buying this game like I did with Silent Hill: Homecoming. For those looking for a sci-fi + survival horror and those that are into limb cutting, then Dead Space will be the game.

There may be a part 2 if I find anything that's worth mentioning so keep checking back! I will also be reviewing MotorStorm: Pacific Rift demo tomorrow so stay tuned!

For more images please visit my blog. Feel free to check out my site! Project Mobius

Game Raises Questions

By William Torpey

Where there's smoke there's fire, the cliche declares.

As with all cliches, there may be something to that, but, in the words of a great old song, it ain't necessarily so.

The smoke we speak of today refers to the great plumes that have been billowing above the United States post offices since August 1986 when an Edmund, Okla., postal worker killed 15 colleagues. Incidents of "crazed mass violence" have been occurring at an alarming pace over the last decade.

These incidents hit home with me because of my hometown, Yonkers, N.Y., (remember Son of Sam?) and my present abode, Darien (remember the bra strangulations of area prostitutes, with religious overtones?) Each had postal employees who were accused of heinous crimes.

Also, my late brother was a former Darien, Conn., and Pompano Beach, Fla., letter carrier, and my daughter, who lives in Maine, once worked for the Portland post office.

All this came to the front burner recently when the Associated Press reported that a computer game called "Postal" drew the criticism of outraged post office workers.

In the game, a disgruntled, raincoat-clad man takes to the street, shotgun in hand, and shoots down police, pedestrians, a marching band, church-goers. As men and women fall, bleeding, the shooter mutters, "Going Postal." Only the title and the muttered phrase liken the game to mail carriers.

One union official pointed out that it's unfair to depict postal workers as "violent terrorists" and referred to a planned national boycott of the video game. Postmaster General Marvin Runyon worries that the game perpetuates a stereotype and does a "grave disservice" to postal employees.

Certainly, the U.S. Postal Service cannot be held criminally liable for the sins of its employees. There is, however, a whole lot of smoke, and it's probably a good idea for the top administration to look into its policies and management /hiring practices (Just look at the machinations within the Internal Revenue Service.)

I vividly recall the angst of a local letter carrier who told me on several occasions in 1970 about management practices that involved, for example, supervisors timing his route to compare their estimates to the time it took him to complete his rounds. Sounds good, but it's the kind of thing that doesn't leave employees with a feeling of good will.

Postal workers are often unfairly maligned for everything ranging from late mail deliveries to poor window service and bad manners.

"Postal," the game, is not only unfair to post office workers but it adds to a flood of undesirable video games, television shows and movies that negatively influence our nation's youth.

Sure, violence and gore sell! But that doesn't mean responsible people have to use it to make a buck. Not only is it something that wastes our youngsters' time, but it prevents them from pursuing more fruitful and uplifting activities.

Wouldn't it be a good idea for the House Judiciary Committee, after completion of its review of the IRS, to take up the policies and practices of post office management?

I am a retired newspaper reporter and editor, having worked for The Hour newspaper of Norwalk, Conn., for 32 years. I am a 1964 graduate of New York University where I majored in journalism and minored in marketing under a public relations program. I served three years in USA Army in Public Information in Germany and Colorado, 1954-57. I currently hold the position of Adjutant with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Robert F. Garrison Post 3350 in East Rockaway, New York. I am a lifelong fan of Bing Crosby, the greatest singer of the 20th Century and an Oscar-winning movie actor. I am a hubpages.com author who writes on a wide variety of topics. For more of my work, please visit my Profile Page at the following address: http://hubpages.com/profile/William+F.+Torpey

Indiana Jones Lego Game For Wii - Top Toys For Boys

By Jennifer Schindel

As a mom to three boys, I'm always on the look out for great, age-appropriate games. We own the Nintendo Wii so if I can find a game that combines challenging fun with a little bit of aerobic activity, I'm a satisfied mom.

For more than 20 years now, the name Indiana Jones has been synonymous with action and adventure. With the latest release of the brand-new Indiana Jones movie, a whole new generation is introduced to the swash-buckling archaeologist. With this comes a wide range of merchandise, including the Indiana Jones Lego Game, which can be played on your game console or online.

Many of the characters found in the game come right from the movies themselves, including Indiana's father, Henry Jones Senior. You'll also discover Indy's true love, Marion Ravenwood, and sidekicks Sallah and Marcus Brody. Some characters can only be found in games made specifically for your gaming console. There are also several adventures for players to master, from finding the Ark of the Covenant to making their way through the Temple of Doom.

You'll also find many fun extras that come with the game. There are 10 different wallpapers that come with the game for your use, as well as 73 different avatars for you to choose from. And for an added bonus, you can get your own Indiana Jones: the Original Adventure stickers and coloring pages too.

Within the game itself, players can choose to be Indiana Jones and fight their way through all the cool locations from the first three movies, and can even use the trademark whip to fend off enemies and swing over dangerous terrain. And because the characters are Legos, you can mix and match pieces to make your own silly characters.

With all the violent games on the market today, it's nice to know that there is a game out there that can be played by kids of all ages. Lego has done a good job of keeping the action non-violent and have even gone so far as to keep the Nazi characters swastika-free. It's good, clean fun with plenty of challenges and adventures to entertain the whole family.

If you've always dreamed of being the great Indiana Jones, then the Lego game is a great way to get in on the adventure. With Christmas just around the corner, you want to shop early to avoid disappointment, so get more information about the Indiana Jones Lego Game at http://www.indyjonesforwii.com

EA Sports NHL 09 Review For the XBOX 360

By Scott Boehler

EA Sports' NHL series has had sort of a roller coaster history. Back in the 90s, EA owned the hockey market with its NHL 9X series on the old Sega Genesis. EA had never been able to match that success with future generation gaming consoles. The NHL 2K series of hockey gaming became sort of a cult favorite for a few years in the early to mid 2000s, as EA seemed to be spiraling towards obscurity.

Then came NHL 08, and everything changed. A totally re-done game engine and revamped game play, including the introduction of create-a-play, put EA back on the map in a big way.

EA Sports NHL 09 starts where NHL 08 left off. It has excellent game play and graphics and will be easy to pick up for those familiar with NHL 08. There are many sliders that can affect different facets of the game to help different levels of players enjoy the gaming experience. Not much has changed this year to last year's version, which is actually a good thing (some companies try too hard to change what isn't broken). The have kept in the franchise modes, exhibition modes, and create a player mode is there with a new and exciting "be a pro" mode which allows you to create a player and have him advance through a team's system while you play as just him on the ice. It is quite immersive.

The skill stick innovation from the prior NHL games is back and this year the defense also gets to take advantage of the skill stick for even more realistic defensive controls.

The AI in this game is just as good as the last installment. No longer can you fly down a ring and continuously pass to the slot for one timers. After a while the AI catches up to your strategy and will adjust accordingly forcing you to adjust your gameplay.

Online play is fun as well this year with EA Sports Hockey League. Players can now join leagues online and compete with each other for the championship

All-in-all a great game. Wish the goalie play was a little more realistic, I can't seem to get the sliders to perfect that. But I truly do recommend this game.

Scott Boehler http://www.philliesdiary.com

Nintendo DS Game Reviews - The Price is Right

By Michelle Strait

I was excited when I learned The Price is Right was coming to the Nintendo DS. The show is fun to watch, and I wanted the chance to play in my own home. The game is good, but it could have been better. No one will consider The Price is Right as a Nintendo DS top game - but judge for yourself.

The Fun Stuff

Most of the fun elements from the show are in the game. Fans of the show will be able to play along with ease.

Most of the popular Price is Right games are included. You get:

Cliff Hangers (my favorite)

Plinko

3 Strikes

Bonkers

Check-Out

It's in the Bag

Master Key

Hole in One

Money Game

The announcer explains how to play each game before you start. So even if you don't watch the show, the in-game instructions help you along. Basically, you have to figure out how much things cost, which is why the show is called The Price is Right.

You also get a chance to try your luck on Contestants Row. If you win there, you play for money and prizes on the stage.

The cool thing is you get to play onstage even if you lose on Contestants Row. You won't find yourself stuck there like people on the show who never make it to the stage.

The famous Price is Right wheel is also present in the game. Like on the show, the goal is to spin the wheel and get as close to 100 as possible without going over. If you go over, you're sent back to Contestants Row. But if you've lost too many times, the whole game ends.

The Not-So Fun Stuff

This game is very slow compared to other Nintendo DS games. The loading time between games is slower than I've ever seen. You spend a lot of time waiting for the next game or scene to appear. It's seems more time went into graphics and sound than actual gameplay or speed.

Another annoyance is the in-game disclaimer. The disclaimer is long, and it scrolls on the screen each time you start the game. There's no way to skip it or increase the speed.

The Game is Fun...But

The Price is Right for the Nintendo DS isn't the best game around. Could it have been better? Yes. Is it a total waste? No. If you like the show, you'll probably enjoy the game.

Visit http://nintendods-topgames.com/ for all your Nintendo DS needs. Check out the current recommended game and find the best Nintendo DS top games and accessories.

Nintendo DS Game Reviews - Hell's Kitchen

By Michelle Strait

I enjoy watching Hell's Kitchen. I also enjoy cooking games like Cooking Mama. So I figured this game would be a good combination of the two. The game is good as a time management game like Cake Mania. But it's not a true cooking game like the other Nintendo DS top games Cooking Mama and Cooking Mama 2.

Not Exactly Like the Show

In this game, you are the owner of your own restaurant. But you also have to greet customers, seat them, take their orders, prepare the food, serve the food, and then accept payment.

This is more of a management game than a cooking game. The actual cooking is limited to clicking on ingredients and timing them to finish cooking at the same time. You never prepare anything. That's nothing like most cooking games in which you have to actually boil, cut, chop, mix, and fry the food.

Listening to Chef Ramsay's comments also get annoying after awhile. It's funny at first because he curses and it gets censored just like on the show. But it gets old quick because he says the same things over and over.

Some Cool Things

The most fun thing about this game is seeing how far you can get. And if you're like me, you won't find this game easy to beat.

The game gets harder as you go along. In the beginning you have easy recipes and few customers. But as the number of customers increase, the recipes get more demanding.

Managing the restaurant isn't easy. You have a lot of responsibility, and you must excel in everything. Mad customers are no good. If they get mad enough to leave, then you're in big trouble. Chef Ramsay will get furious and close your restaurant if you make a mess of things.

One unique thing about this game is the recipe book. The game has real recipes created by Chef Ramsay. So if you like to cook, you can copy the recipes and cook them at home.

Final Rating

If you like the show, you might get a kick out of this game. But if you're looking for a cooking game that gives you more control over preparing the food, this isn't for you. Like I said, this game is more like Diner Dash or Cake Mania instead of a real cooking game like Cooking Mama. Also, this one is intended for adults and teens.

Visit http://nintendods-topgames.com/ for all your Nintendo DS needs. Check out the current recommended game and find the best Nintendo DS top games and accessories.

Nintendo DS Game Reviews - World Championship Poker

By Michelle Strait

World Championship Poker for the Nintendo DS is one of the better casino style games available. It's on my list of Nintendo DS top games because of its wide-variety of game selection.

Terrific Poker and Non-Poker Game Selection

The best thing about Nintendo DS World Championship Poker is its variety of games. Many poker players think Texas Hold Em is the only legitimate form of the game. Perhaps people who think that simply watch too much television.

It's almost impossible to turn the channel without seeing a televised poker game. But if you think Texas Hold Em is the only game in town, then you're missing all the fun.

The Games

My favorite poker games are Omaha Hi/Lo and 7-Card Stud Hi/Lo. So it was a surprise to learn that the Nintendo DS version of World Championship Poker includes these games. And even better, there are twelve games in all on this one cartridge. The games are:

* Texas Hold Em

* Double Flop

* Pineapple

* Omaha

* Omaha Hi/Lo

* 7 Card Stud

* 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo

* Baseball

* 5 Card Draw

* Deuces Wild

* Video Poker

* Blackjack

Playing the Game

The fun starts when you play career mode.

In career mode, you walk around the virtual casino in search of a game. The top screen offers a 3D first-person view of where you are in the casino. At the same time, the bottom screen displays an overhead view of your location.

The casino tables each have a different game. You find a table with the game you want, and then tap the table with your stylus to play.

Some tables have quick games that allow you to win a quick buck and move on, like the video poker game. For more involved play you'd pick a tournament table to compete against computer opponents.

Your Opponents

The computer opponents in this game are 3-D models. You see them while they play, and each has their own name, face, and body.

Your opponents are also animated and make certain movements and sounds each time they play a hand. This is fun at first, but gets annoying and repetitive the longer you play. It also makes each hand longer than necessary. Luckily, you can turn the animations off under the options setting.

Thanks to the wireless networking function, you can play the Nintendo DS version of World Championship Poker with friends. Of course, this only works if your friends are within range, and also have a Nintendo DS and the World Championship Poker game. Once connected, everyone can play most of the games together. The only downside is you're unable to name your player in wireless mode. So you have to remember which character is yours.

Overall Rating: Five Poker Chips

I recommend this game for anyone who enjoys portable gaming and poker. You can practice your skills without sitting in front of your computer or waiting for a live game.

It's also a great way to pass time while waiting in line or stuck in a waiting room. So if you're interested in portable poker gaming, get a copy of World Championship Poker for the Nintendo DS.

Visit http://nintendods-topgames.com/ for all your Nintendo DS needs. Check out the current recommended game and find the best Nintendo DS top games and accessories.

Nintendo DS Game Reviews - World Series of Poker 2008

By Michelle Strait

I almost didn't buy "World Series of Poker 2008: Battle for the Bracelets". When it comes to Nintendo DS top games, there usually isn't a casino game in the bunch. Why, you ask? It's because most casino games are disappointing. This is not a casino game, but I figured it would be more of the same. Thankfully, I was wrong. This game is a union of portable gaming and poker that actually delivers the goods.

World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Your Home

The Nintendo DS version of World Series of Poker is based on the famous World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournament. Hundreds of poker players compete for a seat at the final table, with dreams of winning big bucks and a coveted gold WSOP bracelet.

Just like in real life, the game allows you to play against virtual versions of some of the top poker players. Annie Duke, Jennifer Tilly, Johnny Chan, and Phil Hellmuth are a few of the top poker players in the game.

Playing World Series of Poker 2008 for the Nintendo DS

The object of the game is to become a champion Texas Hold Em player. You reach the top by squashing your competition and winning all the tournaments.

Unless you're great at Texas Hold Em, you'll spend more time starting over than gloating over your victory. I'm not that good at Texas Hold Em, and you can tell by the number of times I go bust in this game.

There are different modes of play in the game. If you're successful in Career Mode, you'll eventually reach the main event. The main event in the game is like the final table in the real life tournament. I've never made it that far, so good luck to you.

After you have a few wins under your belt, professional players begin inviting you to various Vegas casinos for cash games. And there's also a heads-up option where you compete one-on-on against six professional players. When you manage to beat all six of them, you face Phil Hellmuth. I've also never made it this far, so once again, good luck to you.

Playing Options

In addition to career mode, there are quick play and multiplayer options.

Quick play allows you to play short games without affecting any games saved in career mode. So if you've kicked butt in career mode, but tank during quick play, your career mode rating remains intact. And the quick play option lets you play with others nearby using a Wi-Fi connection.

Quick play is fun because you can customize your game. You can choose the number of players, pros or amateurs, starting cash, limit or no limit game, blinds, and location.

The Downside: Limited Poker Variations

If you're looking to play poker games other than Texas Hold Em, this isn't the game for you.

There are plenty of poker variations, but this particular game only includes Texas Hold Em. To play games such as Omaha or Stud, check out World Championship Poker, which is another good selection.

World Series of Poker 2008 also includes a helpful training option. This is great for people unfamiliar with poker, but who want to learn the game. Phil's Poker School is a tutorial narrated by poker professional Phil Hellmuth. While you play a hand on the bottom screen, the top screen has a video of Phil Hellmuth giving you instructions.

In-Game Options

Other options under training include Same Hand Jam, which let's you pick two hole cards (your starting cards) and play nine rounds with them. There's also poker hand rankings and a Texas Hold Em guide.

Overall Rating: Five Poker Chips

I recommend World Series of Poker 2008 for poker players who love Texas Hold Em. The lack of game variation was a bit disappointing, but the superior training section made up for it. Overall, this game deserves a spot with other Nintendo DS top games.

Visit http://nintendods-topgames.com/ for all your Nintendo DS needs. Check out the current recommended game and find the best Nintendo DS top games and accessories.

Mercenaries 2 World in Flames - Great Game, Fantastic Theme

By Simon Bailey

Mercenaries 2 World in Flames is a new third person shooter from EA which was developed by Pandemic Studios. The game is the sequel to the 2005 hit: Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction.

Set in an open world environment in modern day Venezuela during a war broken out as a result of an oil dispute in the South American country. As a mercenary, the hospitable climate creates a great many opportunities.

The in-game story follows the main character, hired by a guy named Solano to rescue the top Venezuelan Army General, Carmona. However, once rescued, the person who hired you makes an attempt on your life to avoid payment.

You manage to escape, taking a bullet to the behind in doing so. The games focus then shifts to you planning revenge on Solano.

Taking control of a great many vehicles (thought to be around 170) and weapons, your character has the chance to build a private military company, recruiting your own mercenaries to help fight your cause.

The game is absolutely fantastic, but the them to the game, which came out of the media campaign is truly fantastic. Reminiscent of a hip hop style musical, the song talks about how sweet revenge will finally be. Performed by the Wojahn Brothers, the song is available on the Mercs 2 website and is called Oh No You Didn't.

Interestingly, on release of the game, EA took over the Last Stop petrol station in Finsbury Park London, where they transformed the station into a military bunker and gave away £20,000 worth of petrol.

Simon writes for the Online Spy Shop who offer spy equipment, including voice recorders, spy phones and internet monitoring solutions.

Review of the Upcoming Resident Evil 5

By Musa Aykac

The newest episode of the survival horror series Resident Evil 5, has now been scheduled for release in March 2009, after being pushed back by Capcom from its original release date in October 2008. After the major success of resident evil 4 in 2005, there is much higher expectations this time around for the horror genre game, although information on the game is very shady at the moment (not much being said I see, great to see that they want to keep there users in suspense!) it evolves around the main characters Chris Redfield and Sheva Alomar as well as a few other team members.

The game itself is set to start in a shady alleyway a bit like the beginning of resident evil and then make its way to Africa, there will be some new aspects to the game such as a predicted split screen mode in which you can play, besides this it is said that the game will not only be set in the dark. The franchise is now looking to also bring the game to lightness, not to mention the different types of weather conditions. The game somewhat has a starching resemblance to Black Hawk Down.

The outbreak is set to be in full swing by the time Chris Redfield and his fellow team get into the action. The zombies will be a lot wiser and will be able to use weapons, a bit like in RE4. Chris will basically be looking to discover the origins of the progenitor virus seen in resident evil code veronica.

The combat will be more or less similar to what we have seen in older versions of the game with shooting, stabbing and fighting.

We all know that this will be a major hit for Capcom, since the rejuvenation that RE4 brought to the dying series. Resident Evil 5 looks to have the same concept as its predecessor, but with that extra bit of humph. It will be interesting to see Resident Evil being based in another country and we all know how big Africa is and the developers can take major advantage of that.

Already looking likely to take the best game of the year award for 2009. I would just like to warn you that RE5 will be telling one great heck of a story and with the combined processing power of the PS3 and Xbox 360 we look to in for a zombified treat!

Compared to all other horror games such as dino crisis or silent hill, this beats them hands down.

Looking for Heating Oil Suppliers and Central Heating.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 Vs Fifa 2009

By Musa Aykac

Well the time of year has again approached where the two rival football games go head to head in the Christmas war. Who will come out the most successful? Who knows, only time can tell. But let's have a look at both games and rate each one.

Fifa 2009

First we take a look at Fifa 2009, the game which is highly anticipated every year looks to have improved itself on the game play side of things. From the start Fifa have this time wanted to get the game completely right, they begun the creation of Fifa by gathering criticisms from gamers and critics and it has sure paid off.

The game is much more improved then as of previous years, including ball physics and the collision system. You can also switch the camera view to any specification that you would like. But it does not end there, Fifa have made some amazing additions to the game such as the Be a Pro Seasons mode, the Adidas Live Season, and the 10-on-10 football. This all sets Fifa up to potentially dominate the football games industry once again.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2009

Well pro evolution soccer look to have put its gear stick on full throttle, and have realised they needed to bring back the game that won so many peoples hearts on the PS2. The game play is very much similar to that of its golden days, but it looks as though PES have not really considered the graphics side of things very well.

But the positive site of things is that the game play is very natural in itself and not to mention that they have the UEFA champion's league licence, they also have Manchester Utd's and Liverpool's licenses, but besides from that the rest of the players have obscure names.

Conclusion

Well in my eyes there can only be one winner, Fifa's new revamped look and game play over the last few years has set them up to dominate the gaming industry. There graphics completely trumps over those on PES, and with Fifa owning a lot of the unique licences, PES still has a long way to go. The once dominating football game for the PS2 has been outwit and outrun by the all so mighty Fifa.

This being said though, the overall game play of PES does still grow on you after a while, but as technology progresses that just is not enough and more needs to be done.

Compared to all other football games these two knock the socks off the rest.

Looking for Heating Oil Suppliers and Central Heating.

What Are the Most Popular Car Racing Games?

By Mike Selvon

Thirty years ago, you could actually find individuals who could not explain what a video game system was. Today, virtually everyone has heard of an X-Box or a PS3. With the popularity of these gaming systems came the advent of many popular video games.

One of the most popular genres is the car racing games. These games depict very realistic characters and vehicles. Age does not seem to come into play, as everyone loves them. However, there are certain types of sports auto racing games that are more popular with certain age groups than others.

One of the auto racing games that has stood the test of time is the Need for Speed series. The series first appeared on the car auto racing game scene in 1998. It has been a gaming favorite ever since. All of the games in this series are similar in one aspect; they offer no frills thrills to the gamer. The gamer is offered a variety of races and then attempts to win.

By winning through the different races the players are able to unlock different vehicles, different tracks and even special features that will allow them to extend their game play and give them even more exciting gaming play. This very popular series of car racing videos has won the hearts of many gamers and continues to grow in popularity.

One of the most popular car auto racing games with younger individuals is the Mario Kart series. This series of car racing games has truly stood the test of time. Many older individuals remember playing the original Mario Bros games, and Mario Kart keeps those characters alive and up to their old tricks. The game combines some of the old familiar types of play, such as collecting coins with driving go-karts and facing new challenges.

Mario Kart can be great fun for even the gamer that really isn't into auto racing games. It provides lots of action and fun and the continuing amount of titles keep you longing for the newest game to play in this fantasy auto racing category.

Car racing games seem to appeal to individuals of all age groups and even to people of all walks of life. Some individuals love to play all types of games, while others are more into car racing sports games. Whatever type of game the gamer loves to play, there are many different auto racing games available on the market to keep them paying for hours.

A free car auto racing gift awaits you at Mike Selvon portal site, where you can enrich your knowledge further about the car racing games.

Star Wars The Force Unleashed - Ups and Downs

By Joe L. Peyton

Ups

First off, the game had amazing graphics. The characters, the environment, and the CGI cutscenes were very detailed and clear. Walking around in the different worlds it took you too I could not help but admire the background scenery while I was slashing up rebels.

As far as the game play goes, it was fun running around cutting up Imperial robots and cloners. Most of the game was about getting to a specific place and in the process half the galaxy was in your way trying to stop you. If you're into the constant saber slashing, this game is diffidently for you.

The storyline was good. It was a remake of the graphic novel that followed after the third movie where Anakin turned to the dark side. You play as Vader's unknown apprentice the whole time. Quite a few plot twists and the ending left off to the beginning of the fourth movie.

Downs

Although the game play was fun, it wasn't as outgoing as I hoped. Killing hundreds of Imperials over and over using different combos, powers, and lightsabers was cool, but afterwards it just became redundant.. I would of preferred more of a role playing environment that gave you more freedom to walk around and speak to the people around you. The customization of your outfit, lightsaber, and different spells were as close to an RPG that this game was going to get.

The game was too short.

Excellent story line, but it just seemed to abruptly stop. The gameplay levels were not long, and the cutscenes were not much longer. The game should of had more levels and cutscenes. I feel like they might have cut to much out of the graphic novel that the designers thought were irrelevant. But like every Star Wars fan, nothing Star Wars is irrelevant...

Overall I believe it was worth the time to play the game. I enjoyed beating it and others who have done the same will probably say that as well.

Joe Peyton is a webmaster of http://www.nutz4art.com/ where you can view our large selection of Star Wars prints and posters.

Fable 2 Review

By Cameron Bankord

Introduction:

Fable 2, the long awaited sequel for the massively popular RPG 'Fable,' on the original Xbox. Massively denounced for its promised features and ridiculed developers, Peter has publicly stated that he has learned his mistakes and will offer a fully dynamic world this time around. Unfortunately, the only aspects of this game that are dynamic is the economy. There are a few things that might change the world depending on your alignment and reputation, but these subtle changes do not make a huge impact on the game environment. For example, you have a choice later in the game to destroy 'Oakvale,' if you decide to slaughter the town, you will eliminate the 'Temple of Light,' which almost ruins your chances to become good later in the game if you are fully evil. However, if you go with the good decisions, the 'Temple of Shadows' will be destroyed. This is predictable later in the game and there are very few moments where events like this occur. Unlike the first fable, this game offers two different schemes for alignment, corrupt or pure, and evil or good. Fortunately for these schemes, they do factor in neutrality and change your looks throughout the game in 9 unique appearances. Some of these look amazingly cool and you will either feel like a hero in the game, or an evil warrior that slaughters innocent children like no tomorrow.

Story:

You start out in the streets as a poor boy with your sister, looking to make money for this special device that grants a wish. Once you have received this item, your one wish is to live in a castle, due to the oncoming winter that you may not survive being homeless. You are awoken from your sleep as Lucien "the evil dictator" orders you to stand in a magic circle in his castle. Lucien shoots your sister and you because you are one of the four heroes of Albion. Your whole mission is to stop Lucien from resurrecting the spire and exacting revenge for killing your sister.

Gameplay:

Boy with a sword

The Game-Play aspect is much improved over its predecessor. It's fluent and simple to switch styles of combat, between ranged, magic, and combat. The targeting in the game is amazingly simple to use, and very accessible later in the game. Once you upgrade your characters styles, it is possible to auto-aim and sub target specific points on your enemy. The melee combat is deep and hard to master, but simple to use and efficient. The game allows you to button mash if necessary. Will combat was somewhat annoying to me; you must charge your spell up which takes around 5 seconds minimum. This process only allows you to use one spell at maximum capacity during a battle. Spells in this game do not offer enough variety, only taking back a few from the first game, some of the fan favorites are lost and offer no buffs whatsoever. After a battle is over you are rated on how well you dispatched your enemies and receive bonus experience, if you did well and used advanced techniques. You are able to create a combat style unique to your own character, by either ranged (skill), magic (will), or melee (strength). These three attributes encompass your characters abilities and create your hero in Albion. However these abilities can be maxed-out within a few days and do not offer variance or limits when playing, so your character cannot become specialized when playing with a buddy or various people over Xbox Live. This was the same with Fable 1, but it wasn't a co-op experience back then. The multi-player portion of the game is a huge let down. You are unable to use your unique character you've built in other people's games. This will promote players to stay in their world and play alone. Furthermore the camera of the online portion is ridiculous, you are unable to move it and both of the players must stay on one screen. I have played multiple games with friends and this camera has ruined the entire experience for me. Sometimes you are unable to move due to the camera, so they have integrated a teleport button just incase this happens. Fortunately the online experience has a few good things going for it. You are able to change the settings of how the experience and gold are distributed between the two players and the innovative way to the games lobby. The whole lobby is the world; you are able to chat to players in almost an MMORPG like experience. This is refreshing and a letdown due to how the games online component could possibly be great.

Fortunately you are able to do practically everything in the game with your buddy, If you are able to get someone to join your world. Unlockables in this game are difficult and unrewarding. I had spent over 4 hours looking for 50 silver keys around the game and received 50,000 gold for it. All of which is useless because the games economy is extremely easy to take advantage of. If you buy out every house in the game you will make 20,000 gold every 5 minutes. You are also able to cheat the game by changing your Xbox system clock and receiving billions. This ruins the whole experience of the game and is aggravating due to the crappy reward for all of the hard work. Most of the rewards earned can either be bought from the shop, or are inferior to equipment that you have already earned by doing a simple quest. Silver keys are easily found throughout the game and more than 75% of the chests only require 20 keys at most, and all of these chests have junk in them. Unfortunately the game is also cheated in other areas, such as experience. You do not have to fight one bit in the game to max out all of your abilities. All you have to do is become rich and buy your way to the top, due to the unbelievable experience potions that offer nearly 70,000 exp for only 4,000 gold. Once you have bought up the stock, you are able to sleep a week and re-purchase the potions again. This ruins the whole game because players who cheat the game with the system-clock can also just glitch their characters to the top. The dog in this game is fairly smart but sometimes has trouble navigating over obstacles and you will find yourself running in circles trying to find its dig spot. This will become painfully obvious when you follow it and all of a sudden the icon stating, "dig spot" disappears and you are 100 yards off the beaten path. There is no mini-map in the game, instead a breadcrumb trail was added that leads you to your current quest. This is accommodating, but the trail sometimes doesn't know where its going and you will find yourself running the wrong way multiple times and asking yourself "WTF Q+A?" The environment has its ups and downs; you are able to explore 90% of what you see in the world. I sometimes get lost in it and I've spent around 30 hours in the game.

However, you are able to fast-travel, and not that it's a bad thing, but players who do so are missing out on the great game world. All of the buildings and shops are purchasable, even little cottages you find throughout the game-world can be bought out. The civilians of Albion are at the mercy of your doing, you are able to set rent, and evict npcs if you will. It's great watching bewildered citizens roam the streets, asking themselves why and where they will get their next paycheck. Surprisingly one thing that I thought would be in bulk in this game was the amount of clothing and appearance options. Unfortunately this isn't the case, it actually has less options than the original Fable. This is horrible due to it being an online experience this time around. I for 1 would love to have a unique looking character with rare loot received from a dungeon. However fable isn't that type of game, and appearance options are secondary to the actual game, it would be nice to actually have something others would have a hard time getting though. Not be a pessimist, but the only accomplishment this game offers game play wise is the innovative world lobby that is almost like an "MMORPG," and the lush free-roaming landscape. This game is far better than the current RPGS on the 360, but the game is just riddled with bugs and could be so much better than it is in its current form.

Graphics:

Graphically the game is great, very smooth, and the environment only extends to that fantasy immersion. It's no Elder Scrolls IV, but it is up there in the graphics department. The textures through the world look amazing and the art direction is top notch. Every square foot of the world feels like a piece of art. I couldn't have asked for a better world than what was given in this installment of the fable franchise.

Sound Design:

Sound design in the game is horrible; there will be delayed sounds and expressions. This will make the game feel like it's skipping on your 360. It's because it is, the game skips like no other, sometimes actually freezing the game for a few moments when trying to navigate to your start menu. Personally this game made my Xbox sound like a generator with a fan and a few rocks inside. Although the voice actors are done quite well, every person in the game sounds like they're from Great Britain for some reason. Sound effects in the game are perfect, it's almost hard to tell like sounds and it doesn't sound repetitive.

Man with dog

Final Thoughts:

This game has many flaws that would scare away most gamers if they knew them, but it also provides great entertainment. It is fun, but not necessarily worth a buy unless you enjoy replaying games. The replayability for this game is great due to the astounding amount of ways you can play it. This is not a game that you play by yourself for hundreds of hours, it is a game that you get on once in a while, do a side mission, and hopefully it doesn't get boring. The game doesn't reward you enough to keep playing once you have unlocked everything the game. I regret buying it just because of these reasons. I have completed the game 100% and I don't see myself playing it anytime in the near future. Once and if 'Lion Head' fixes the online play, it is definitely a buy.

Source Material: http://www.gameogasm.blogspot.com

Gaming - The Next Big Titles in the Video Games Scene

By Rich Thorp

In the constantly chaotic world of video games, it is easy to lose track of what will be the hottest titles on release, especially in a time where there are simply so many to choose from. Let's take a look at some of the big titles that are going to be making waves in the coming months.

Gears of War 2

Marcus Fenix and crew return in the eagerly anticipated sequel to the massively popular Gears of War. The adventure continues with our heroes utilizing bigger and better weaponry, fighting it out in breathtakingly detailed environs. Take the battle online with Xbox's unparalleled Live Network introducing new modes, maps and weaponry. Excitement regarding the return of the Xbox 360 powerhouse game has reached fever pitch ahead of its November 7th release!

Dead Space

Teaser snippets and leaked info on this space survivor have got fans looking forward to a new breed of horror gaming. As with the best from this genre, you play an everyman hero stranded aboard a space vessel, struggling to combat the lurking terrors with what little equipment you can scrape together. Early reviews have been glowing, putting the scare factor of this title on par with the notorious Silent Hill series. Apparently banned in some countries, this game promises to take you to the extreme!

Little Big Planet

This strange offering on the PS3 is actually being touted as one of the most innovative games of all time. Seemingly a simple platformer, this game actually draws its appeal from massive online capabilities, allowing players to create their own character and environments and share them with other players around the world. It's fun, looks cute and promises to keep players hooked with endless possibilities.

Tomb Raider Underworld

The first lady of gaming returns in November, with Lara Croft's next generation debut already looking better than ever. Continuing the story arc that began with Tomb Raider Legend, Lara is on the trail of Thor's mystical hammer, leaving no cave unturned in her pursuit. Crystal Dynamics promise us environments on a scale never seen before, and Lara has been developed further to be more realistic and potent than ever!

Final Fantasy XIII

Oh c'mon, I had to throw this one in. It's probably still more than a year away, but the next installment of the world conquering franchise is keeping fans hooked with trailers and info leaked at the notoriously teasing rate. What we've seen so far looks unsurprisingly excellent, and the mere concept of Final Fantasy coming to the Next Gen consoles promises a gaming experience unlike any other.

Rich is a gaming expert who writes for the pop culture/memorabilia site Starstore.com and its blogs, covering the latest and greatest in film, video games, TV, music and comics merchandise and collectibles.

Yes! You Can Replace Your Gym Membership With the Nintendo Wii Fit!

By Peter Sicoli

You have paid a good sum of money for your gym membership fee for a year, but you can hardly make it there once a week, let alone three times a week! Whatever reasons or excuses you have for not being able to go to the gym, here's good news for you. Introducing Nintendo Wii Fit, the ultimate game machine for those who want to exercise and have fun at the same time. Wii Fit uses a balance board called the Wii Balance Board peripheral. This is where you stand on, in order to start playing the various games. The Wii Fit comprises of 40 different activities, such as yoga poses, balance games, muscle-toning games and aerobics.

Wii Balance Board is a better choice than going to the gym, especially for those who are extremely busy. By purchasing your very own, you will be making a lifetime investment. There will be no need for gym membership fees or renewals, and there is no need for you to drive to the gym. You will save a lot of money by saving fuel or money for transportation. You don't have to buy separate gym equipments for different needs because you can use Wii Fit for all your exercising needs. Whether you are trying to lose those extra weights or tone your body muscles, you can achieve your goals by using the cardiovascular activities.

The Nintendo balance board game allows you to exercise in the comfort of your home and therefore, keeping you safe. There is no risk of being chased or bitten by dogs when you are jogging around your neighborhood. You don't have to worry about being robbed or being a victim of any crimes. There is no traffic to watch out for and you can focus on your exercise routine without any interruptions. For those in countries with extreme cold or hot weather, Wii Fit is perfect as you can exercise indoor. Even if it is snowing outside, you can still break a sweat in the warmth of your living room.

Using the balance board game as a fun and interactive game as a motivational tool, you don't have any excuses to avoid exercising. You can exercise alone or with your friends and family. Make it as a compulsory family activity or a weekly fun activity with your best friend. It is better to exercise with someone who can motivate you and keep you going on. Even if you don't have a home exercise room, you can always play your sports games on your Nintendo Wii in your bedroom or living room. Since you will be having so much fun on your Wii Fit, there is no pressure of trying to exercise. This is excellent for those who are self-conscious or shy about their appearance. You can sweat all you want at home without worrying about how you look. After all, as long as you're exercising and keeping fit, that's all that should matter.

For months this game has been very popular and it is sold out everywhere. Perfect for health buffs and those who are just getting started on their exercise regimes, Wii Fit Balance Board Game is an absolute must-have. For the new age in you, try the yoga poses, which include various balance and stretches. There are also aerobic exercises, muscle-toning games, and balance games. From rough football actions to delicate yoga stretches, the the Nintendo Wii offers a little something for everyone. The author of this article is Peter Sicoli. Peter owns and operates JP Global Games a successful video game information marketing company.

The Scoop on Free MMORPS

By Lee Desormeaux

Free role playing games online. Oh so sweet!

It used to be not too long ago that when you wanted to play a really cool RPG, (or any game for that matter) you had to have a console, a game, an extra controller for that extra person, etc. And you'd probably play solo for the most part.

Then the event of online games came, where we were enabled the power and the fun and exciting experience of playing our favorite pastimes with others... and not just in the same living room or basement!

Now, there are thousands and thousands of games on a variety of topics in this theme, and the best part is, for a good many, you can have literally hours upon hours of fun for no money at all.

Free online MMORPGs are a fad that are going nowhere, they are here to stay, and that is a fact. They are easy to download, and all they cost is your time. Sound to good to be true? Well, 'tis the world in which we now live. :)

Online gaming--and even better, online gaming for free!--is more than just a personal sport of sorts, in which you can play in your spare time, but it is a phenomenon that has swept the world of video gaming off its feet in a variety of ways. We're talking whole communities, of thousands--and in cases millions!--of peopel brought togetehr to adventure via the online system.

Free online games, where you learn not only how to kill dragons and giant insects, but life skills, cooperation, sharing, humbling and being humbled--and let's not forget the joy of faction and guild wars!--the whole shabang!

Because it used to be that it was all fine and dandy to go on live chat with a friend or two--or your own small group of friends and whatnot, but now whole entire worlds are available with common goals--tons of "strangers" to meet, and even the odd "enemy" to make, if it ever comes to that. (Lol).

Playing these games gives people a chance to make a multitude of friends, and learn things of value, believe it. The economy factor on some games is taken so seriously by some people, that actual jobs have been created as a result! Well, those are at least for the big boys anyway...

This author has been playing online for a while himself, and I can tell you I've learned a thing or two about people and about the market life with these games! And the neat thing is that these mediums act as so much more than that, as briefly mentioned, and yet for most people, (those who don't want to take it too too seriously ;) ) you will hardly notice that you or your kids are learning real life lessons...you're too busy having too much fun.

So why did I write this? To let people know that you can play online games, for free, and enhoy yourself in the process.

Create a hero! Conquer! Have endless hours of fun.

And pay nothing!

This author recommends two really good free games at this exact moment for you. Got free time? Got little to spare?

Fly For Fun (FLYFF) will dazzle you.

Rappelz, another massive and long game, bedazzle you.

In both of these, you will be kept occupied, challenged, and will make friends, join guilds, fight real life peoples' enemy characters if you like, or simply solo around and laugh at or with other persons' comments.

Have a blast, all for free!

For more, visit: http://video-game-reviews-libra.blogspot.com/ Lee Desormeaux is a reviewer and author on many subjects, who tries and tests (often with his equally fun-loving wife) a variety of hobbies and interests. Lee Desormeaux is an online and soon to also be offline author, as well as reviewer, affiliate business marketer, freelance worker, and general philanthropist. His motto is: "If you yourself do not try or indulge in that which you proclaim to know, shame on you!" Online since the internet came out, Lee lives in Canada with his wife and are a couple proud to say what they mean and stand being their words.(And we honestly just have too many interests!)

So What is Guitar Hero?

By Colin Dorman

Have you ever played an "air guitar"?

I have.

Many times when listening to my Sex Pistols, Sham 69, or Stranglers records (Yeh, I know, I'm showing my age now).

But playing the "air guitar" has often been looked upon as a bit "geeky", yet it's something most of us have done and still do.

Well, Guitar Hero brings the art of playing the air guitar literally screaming and kicking into the 20th Century and out of the closet.

Playing the air guitar is now actually seen as cool and hip, especially if your good.

I was first exposed to the game at my local Mall when I saw groups of teenagers round a video game machine thrashing away on a "guitar" shaped "instrument".

So what is Guitar Hero?

In the "game" players flail away on guitar-shaped controller and try to replicate the moves of the guitarist playing a popular song.

In essence its a bit like guitar karaoke.

What makes it unusual and unique is it comes packaged with a guitar peripheral modeled after a black Gibson SG rather than using the console's standard controller.

The game's guitar has no strings; its fret board features five colored buttons that you press with your left hand as you hit a plastic strumming bar with your right.

Its appeal is in the ease of playing and "learning" to play the guitar to recreate your favorite bands and songs.

It "makes you feel like you're a guitar player without having to practice for years and years," says Ted Lange, an associate producer and in-house guitar expert at Red Octane, the company that makes "Guitar Hero."

Published by Red Octane in partnership with Activision it has become a huge success and has achieved cult status already amongst its many loyal "followers".

The development of Guitar Hero was inspired by Konami's Guitar Freaks arcade game, which at the time had not seen much exposure in the North American market.

In total, four games have been released for video game consoles, while games have been released for mobile phones and the Nintendo DS hand held gaming system.

But I predict there is more to come as the game garners mass appeal.

The Heroes

Another popular element of the game is its characters, or the Guitar Heroes featured.

Each character has been given a rich and believable history making the characters more "real" and "alive". Add to this some real Guitar Heroes such as "Slash" and suddenly the line between real and unreal becomes blurred.

Popular characters included Johnny Napalm, a punk rocker looking not to dissimilar to Sex Pistols lead singer Johnny Rotten.

Then there's God of Rock, Axel Steel (any guesses to his "true identity?), Izzy Sparks, Slash, Judy Nails, Lou, and Metalhead to name a few.

What makes it different?

Guitar Hero is different because guitar playing is seen as a showy and flashy thing to do.

It's always been revered and the worlds top guitarists are adored and emulated by their millions of fans who aspire to play like them.

Everyone has, at some time, played the "air guitar" usually locked away in your bedroom with just you and your records.

This is what has given the game its mass appeal and popularity.

It has tapped into this and dragged the practice of playing the air guitar out into the open and made it mainstream and "acceptable".

Add to that alcohol, members of the opposite sex, or the same sex, and it becomes like going to a party in your parents' basement

In New York Guitar Hero nights have quickly become a hit in some bars and pubs and competitions are a regular event.

In fact McFarlane Toys, makers of the Guitar Hero action figures, recently sponsored a Guitar Hero competition prior to the Metallica concert at Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Ariz.

The competition was open to everyone and took place near the fountains adjacent to Jobing.com Arena on the huge video board.

There were loads of cool prizes given away, including t-shirts, Guitar Hero video games and McFarlane's own Guitar Hero action figures.

There is already a huge amount of merchandising surrounding the game with custom guitar consoles, soundtracks, statues and now action figures.

McFarlane Toys, one of the USA's biggest toy manufacturers, has announced that they have signed a deal in partnership with Activision to produce action figures based on the hit video game.

Some of the most popular characters in Guitar Hero are to be represented in McFarlanes series of Guitar Hero's action figures and they will even be producing packs of individual, customizable guitars for them.

So it looks like 2009 could be the year to brush the dust off your air guitar break out that old pair of torn jeans and t-shirt and head to the local Mall.

If you haven?t seen or heard of Guitar Heroes yet you will.

Because, with the right marketing and product placement I predict this could become as big as Karaoke was in the 80?s.

Until next time

Keep rockin' :-)

Written by Colin Dorman Write a review and earn $50! http://www.mcfarlanes-figures.com/action-figure-reviews-competition.html See All The Latest Guitar Hero action figures and collectibles http://www.mcfarlanes-figures.com/guitar-hero.html

Have You Seen Gears of War?

By Colin Dorman

Gears for War is an Xbox futuristic third person shoot 'em up game that has won over 30 gaming awards since it was released and has a huge base of loyal fans.

The game was released in 2006 exclusively for the Xbox 360 and quickly became one of the most popular and talked about games on the console.

It succeeds in delivering one of the most heart-pounding and graphically thrilling experiences available for the Xbox but if that isn't enough to hook you there's always the team-based multiplayer online game.

In 2007 the game sold over three million units worldwide, and was the fourth best selling game of the year.

In Gears of War you are thrust into a deep and harrowing story of humankind's struggle for survival against the Locust Horde, a nightmarish race of creatures that surface from the bowels of the planet, bent on the destruction of humankind.

Out numbered and outpowered you and your ragtag squadron of soldiers have to defend humankind from the ever present Locust Horde.

You are Marcus Fenix, the Delta Squads reluctant war hero and leader who leads the Delta Squad on a series of perilous and adrenaline-pumping missions against the onslaught of the Locust Horde.

The game is has now become so popular that it is available across multiple platforms with the PC game looking even better and sharper than the original Xbox 360 version.

All in all with its great choice of weapons, an excellent multiplayer package, and an action-packed story with cinematic quality graphics Gears of War is a terrific action game with great interactivity.

Not Just A Game

With its excellent cinematic quality graphics it was only a matter of time before Gear for Wars would get the movie treatment.

New Line had planned on a summer of 2009 release but realistically it looks more likely to be the summer of 2010.

Gears for War Action Figures

NECA Toys recently announced that they have granted Amazon.com the exclusive retail rights to their licensed Gears for War Bundle Lancer Replica and 'Headshot' Locust Drone Action Figure for the USA and Canada.

Any customers who pre-order the Lancer replica will also receive a free copy of the standard edition of the Gears of War 2 game for Xbox 360™ and be eligible to upgrade to the Limited Collector's Edition of the game for an additional $10.00.

The Lancer life size replica gun and Gears of War 2, developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios, are scheduled for simultaneous release on November 7, 2008 and will be available for $139.99.

But that's not all, also scheduled for release is NECA's exclusive "Headshot" Locust Drone action figure with metal COG tag replicas, which will retail for $19.99.

With its signature chainsaw bayonet The Lancer Assault Rifle is one of the most popular weapons in the Gears of War universe.

NECA used 3D data direct from the Gears of War 2 game in order to produce an accurate and detailed electronic Lancer replica, which is 36 inches in length and runs on three "C" batteries.

The Locust Drone is a nasty enemy in Gears of War, and the "Headshot" Locust Drone has is a new version of the original action figure depicting the merciless foot soldier taking an unfortunate Longshot Sniper Rifle blast to the head.

The "Headshot" Locust Drone comes complete with real metal COG tags, a nod to Gears of War's intrepid Delta Squad.

As with any popular game the amount of merchandise and collectible memorabillia will only increase in bith quantity and value as the game gains in popularity and with the upcoming release of the new game and and movie it seems likely that Gears of War will be with us for some time.

My advice, if your a collector get collecting now.

If you're a gamer, get the game and try it.

I don't think you'll regret it.

Have fun and happy gaming!

Written by Colin Dorman Write a review and win $50! http://www.mcfarlanes-figures.com/action-figure-reviews-competition.html Are You A Gears Of War Fan or Collector? http://www.mcfarlanes-figures.com/gears-of-war.html

QueenAlice - The Site for Casual Chess on the Web (A Review)

By Timothy Trimble

I've been playing chess since I was 15 years old. I was in the Chess Club in school. And I remember the big media blitz on chess during the Boris Spasky versus Bobby Fisher matches. Whew! That was a long time ago. But I'm still a big chess player. As such, I'm always on the lookout for a good internet based chess client where I can hang my chess hat. In my initial search I tried many different sites. I even paid for membership on one of the sites for awhile. But then I came across www.queenalice.com!

QueenAlice is a web based chess site that provides correspondence chess playing in a very laid back and non-intimidating environment. What attracted me to QueenAlice was the need to be able to play some chess with some of my remote friends, by making moves when I had the time. Which is where QueenAlice shines! When a player makes a move, QueenAlice will send an email to the opponent, letting them know that it's their turn to move. Moves can be spread out for up to 14 days per move or up to 90 days per game. The email message contains a layout of the board and a history of the game moves.

One of the features that I use the most on QueenAlice is called the "Think" gear. When you click on this, you can move pieces around the board and try out different move combinations, without affecting the actual game. Then when you're done trying out your "what if" positions, you click on the gear again and go back to the original board setup.

Currently there are just a little over 600 players, from all around the world. There is support for multiple languages and players can contribute to new translations if their language is not currently supported.

Players can play rated or nonrated games. Ratings are provisional during the first 25 games, and then the player gets an "established" rating. The rating calculations are posted on the site for review. There are also ongoing Round Robin and Swiss System tournaments.

The ART of Software Development in QueenAlice is in the feel of the site and the dedication of the author Miguel. The theme of the site is taken from the book "Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll. The site itself is very easy to use and does not promote the "pretentious" attitude found on many chess sites. It's the perfect place to go for a "casual" game of chess. Miguel has done an excellent job of putting the site together. He's always avalable to listen to comments and recommendations made by the users. Much of the feel and functionality of the site is due to comments from the players. There is an active forum on the site where players can discuss chess tatics, site functionality, or just life in general topics. I have found QueenAlice to be an excellent location for playing chess with many of my friends who are not computer or internet experts. It's very easy to register and begin playing without having to jump through a lot of techical configuration hoops. And the site is currently free to use. It has been during the past few years that I've been using it. There is a minimal amount of advertising on the site, but it does not get in the way of playing or using the site.

Now if you're looking for high end chess discussions with international chess masters and advocates, then you'll be happier on other sites like The World Chess Network, The Red Hot Pawn, or The Internet Chess Club. If you want a casual game of chess, with some very friendly folks, on a very easy to use site, then QueenAlice is THE place to go. Now if they could just figure out how to serve expresso with each game. Check it out at www.queenalice.com

Timothy Trimble, The ART of Software Development Timothy Trimble is a award winning, freelance writer, and software developer. He has written a book for Microsoft Press, articles for significant computer industry trade magazines, and is currently working on his second computer technology book to be published in early 2006. He is the Blog publisher of The ART of Software Development which can be found via his web site at http://www.timothytrimble.info Proud member of http://www.WordBrains.com

N - Classic Gaming with a New Twist (A Review)

By Timothy Trimble

If you've ever wasted hours or even days on playing a video game on your old Commodore 64, then chances are it was a game called Load Runner. Well, it's amazing how this genre has come back full circle. "N" is such a game. Developed in Flash by Raigan Burns and Mare Sheppard, of Metanet Software Inc.

My first sight of this game was from watching my son play it on his computer. I instantly became mesmerized by it's smoothness and the intricate details in the movement of the main character as it moves, flys, jumps, and falls thoughout maze after maze of enemies and bonuses. I especially took note of the simplicity of the game. Finally, someone has released a game that one can sit down to and play without having to crack open a 20 page instruction guide. But don't be fooled! There are over 200 levels to get through! And what amazes me, is that after watching my three sons play this during the past few weeks, they've yet to finish the game! They're totally hooked. The family PS2, with its adrenalin pumping shooters, 3-d ray traced, real-time graphics, and total game play immersion - sits cold and alone. Only to be touched if one of the boys is waiting for their time on the PC with N.

The ART of Software Development in N, is not just in the finished product and its ability to capture the gamer. Its also in the fact that Raigan and Mare have published source and tutorials on their web site, which explains the technique and process of developing this wonderful game. And we not just talking a few rapid paragraphs here! This is a full blown tutorial on Collision Detection, Physics, Movement, Geometry, and Mathmatics. With pictures and diagrams too! For anyone who wants a full blown education on the science of game design and development, this is the place to go!

I can't say enough about this amazing game, the Metanet website, and the kindness of the developers. There is heart in the offices of Metanet Software Inc.! I have no doubt that we'll be hearing more about Raigan, Mare, and Metanet! You'll find this quote on their web site: "We're not professional -- that's our strength." That pretty much sums it up.

You can check out N at: http://www.harveycartel.org/metanet

Timothy Trimble, The ART of Software Development Timothy Trimble is a award winning, freelance writer, and software developer. He has written a book for Microsoft Press, articles for significant computer industry trade magazines, and is currently working on his second computer technology book to be published in early 2006. He is the Blog publisher of The ART of Software Development which can be found via his web site at http://www.timothytrimble.info Proud member of http://www.WordBrains.com

MMORPGS: World of Warcraft, a Review

By Stefan Pratter

Introduction

If you're into computer games, you probably have heard of World of Warcraft, the latest hit produced by Blizzard Entertainment, and you're probably aware what an MMORPG is. If you're not, let me explain it quickly. A MMORPG is a massivly multiplayer online roleplaying game that allows thousands of players to play in a persistant game world.

World of Warcraft currently entertains close to 7 million people world wide. It has drawn many of the mmorpg veterans but also introduced a lot of new people to the genre. Why is world of warcraft so successful? Well. I think it comes down to more than one thing.

First of MMORPGs are usually not that easy to get into, often the player is presented with a akward interface, tons of options and a lot of things going on around them in general the first time the log onto the game. Blizzard has done a pretty solid job in keeping the interface simple and stupid, allowing even newbie players to get into it at a quick pace. Hints and Tips help guide the true MMORPG newbie along as well. When the developers of the game created the interface, and gameplay in general their goal was for it to be easy to get into it, but to be hard to master.

They have definitely accomplished the first part, the second part can be argued about. What defines a good player in an MMORPG basically comes down to two things.

1) Does he know his character and the abilities

2) Does he pay attention

There are no twitch skills involved, and in my opinion if youre looking for a competitive game, current mmorpgs - including WoW - are not the place to look at. If you want skillbased competition stick to RTS and FPS games.

The second thing that makes wow so successful is mostlikely the name of the producer and their huge fanbase - which they deserve by all means - after having released such great games as the diablo and warcraft series, which were all huge hits.

Let's get to the review part :)

Character Creation

Like every MMORPG or MUD out there the journey always begins with the character creation. You get to pick your site - alliance or horde , your race and a few visual features. Character customization is definitely one of the game's weakest points, the diversity and amount of features to select and change for character remind of Everquest which was released almost 8 years ago. You get to chose

* between a handful of faces

* skin tone

* between a handful of haircuts

* between a handful of facial hair styles

* hair color

It is probably not a huge deal, and its certainly nothing game breaking, a bit more would have been nice though.

First steps

As you take your first steps within WoW, getting used to the user interface, you will quickly notice that the game is very quest driven. You can earn most of your character's experience via quests, you will still be grinding mobs for exp once in a while though.

The starting quests also lead you along nicely, out of the starting area to the bigger towns and into the deep dungeons

The world

The amount of detail that was put into the world of warcraft is amazing and stunning. The cartoony style may not be everyones cup of tea, but whether you like it or not you cannot dismiss that the world has a lot of character. It is filled with content too, and you will find yourself stumbling from point of interest to point of interest.

The dungeons

The dungeon instances, which are zones that belong to you and your group, while pretty linear most of the time are also amazingly done. The boss encounters are fun, and the best loot is gotten from doing instance runs. The dungeon instances are supposed to be the group part of the game (aside from pvp) and it would be unwise to enter them alone unless youre like 20 levels stronger than the mobs inside the dungeon.

The way to 60, and beyond

Most people ive talked to tell me they have the most fun leveling their characters to level 60, because it is quick paced most of the time, and only slows down rarely. The quests are done well, and there is just so much to discover.

Once you hit 60 youre basically stuck with three things to do though

a) do instance runs (raids) for items

b) grind monsters for money

c) pvp

Now this might sound as if it should be enough. But the core problem is this: there is no character advancement beyond 60 other than getting items. These items are gotten by raiding elite dungeons with your guild, playing the bazaar game or by gaining rank while pvping.

Right now, if youre a raider, you raid so you can raid more. There is no reason to take that super dagger of stabbing into a normal 5 man dungeons and just carnage stuff left and right, other than for the sake of carnageing - is that even a word.

The game at this point, 2 years after its release, direly needs some alternate advancement, luckily the expansion (The Burning Crusade) is right around the corner, so that should help out some for now.

Server Issues

This is were i have an axe to grind, so pardon my rant

Ever since wow was released , the game has had severe sever stability issues. I guess they did not expect the kind of amount of people to buy the game back then and got surprised. Not a big deal, most of the MMORPGs face server issues the first few days of the game's release, even if is not as popular as wow.

But even after 2 years of development it is sad and annoying to see that the same server problems still exist, while not as severe, and the servers need to go down for maintenance weekly.

Content Updates

We all know it, Blizzard likes to do things correctly, and they always take their time. The thing is, that this is a MMORPG. People need to be handed new content almost constantly, waiting 3-4 months between content updates that deliver content that was promised to be in the game when it was released just seems weak. Then again i can certainly appreciate the amount of work that must be needed to create the content. It wouldnt be so bad if there was actually some way of alternative character advancement.

This review may sound a bit harsh and dont get me wrong, WoW is an amazing game, and what the artists did is just mind boggling. I leveled 3 characters to level 60, and as i was progressing along through the vastly different world zones of the game there was always this thought on mind.

Wow is an amazing online world, but it is as if they do nothing with it. Where is the dynamic world, that i imagined when i first read about WoW in 2002. There has been a world event of the opening of a raid instance that involved the players gathering resources for a month or two and then battling in a war like scenario to unlock the dungeon. While this is definitely a step in the right direction it is not enough. Next generation MMORPGs need to be developed with dynamic behaviour in mind. The world needs to change and feel less static.

Fazit

World of warcraft is a great game, and you will definitely enjoy leveling your character. After that it is uncertain, you will have to see for yourself. Doing raid instances can be fun, unless you dont like to rely on people. PVP can be fun too if youre into that kind of thing. Heck, even trying to amass huge amounts of virtual money can be fun to some people.

Stefan Pratter is a developer of the free browser based MMORPG Lands of Kazram - http://www.landsofkazram.com

Enigma: Rising Tide Review

By Neal Stevens

SINGLE PLAYER REVIEW

Enigma lives! Tesseraction has released a single player offline version of their upcoming massively multiplayer naval game and it lives up to its potential and then some. Playing Enigma offline gives you a chance to see what this game is all about and train for the upcoming Virtual Battle of the Atlantic (and Pacific, since the Japanese/British are part of this).

Enigma is set in an "alternate history", "one that begins in 1936 but in a world as it might have been had Germany won World War I". The Germans drove the British Empire from Europe and into alliance with the budding Japanese Empire. Together, the Nippo-Anglo faction faces off against the German monarchy and an expansionist United States joins the war to make a unique three-sided conflict. No Pearl Harbor, no Hitler, no Nazis, no Soviet Union. With each mission you are kept current with newspaper headlines and briefings from HQ.

There are over 35 single training missions and six separate campaigns in which you play as a destroyer, corvette, PT boat, or a submarine, for a total of over 90 missions with two difficulty levels, easy or difficult. The campaign structure is scripted and to progress you must complete each mission and live to tell. Each mission is an instant encounter at sea. There is no Aces-style hunting or tracking. The mission starts just after your lookouts make contact and the action is about to begin. The single player version does not have time compression, nor an in-game save feature. When you start a mission, you have to finish it. Getting pinned by escorts and waiting them out can take hours--real life hours. Like any good captain there were occasions where I was forced to take her deep, cut the engines, and trust my luck while I was away from the room.

Enigma makes no pretensions about being a full-blown simulation and it isn't. Be that as it may, the level of combat and the essential elements needed for an authentic naval game are there. Enigma is no arcade game by a long shot. Enigma allows first-person control of guns but all other stations are integrated in a command-style interface. Firing torpedoes is done by casual aiming, there's no TDC to operate. While I personally would be more satisfied with some kind of tangible input into target-motion analysis other than just "eyeballing" it, with all the pace and lethality of Enigma battles, it's sufficient. No player-controlled method of damage control is present, nor can you send radio messages. Aside from this and the lack of TDC, Enigma gives the simulation player most of what he could wish for in a naval game.

Enigma has AI that makes you say, "Ouch!"--enemy ships can put the hurt on you. Poke your periscope up in the middle of an armed convoy and you are plastered with tracer fire so dense, you can feel the hate and desperation of the crews aboard the merchants. Destroyers behave aggressively with tenacious, if somewhat predictable, tactics. The ships and planes are based on historical models with some modifications. Subs carry a realistic loadout of around 22-26 torpedoes. They reload much quicker than real WWII subs could, usually in a couple minutes. However, being that this is an alternate history, that can be explained by hydraulics that were actually employed on the German Type XXI U-boats that were developed at the end of the war (the real war). Destroyers, corvettes, and PT Boats (motor torpedo boats) have varying kinds of armaments-depth charges, torpedoes, hedgehogs, and guns.

All ships contain a small radar/sonar screen that gives you updates on surrounding vessels. When you play as a submarine, the screen can be interpreted as the sonar map usually found on subsims like Silent Hunter and Aces of the Deep. I was pleased to note that the indicated positions while submerged are not precise and the closer the range, the better the contacts. Tesseraction did a good job on finding the middle ground between giving the player information and withholding information he should not have depending on the tactical situation. Combined with the alarm bell that rings every time your sonar guy detects an incoming torpedo, you are equipped with fair and accommodating sensors.

Enigma has an easy mouse/keyboard interface to learn and it has the best voice control I've ever experienced in a subsim (in the same league as Sub Command). With no special mike set-up I was able to change speed, headings, depth, fire weapons, and more just by muttering into a mike. It allows you to keep one hand on the mouse, one on the keyboard, and simultaneously issue helm and weapons orders.

Graphics are a strong point for Enigma--especially the ocean wave effect. It is as close to looking out a porthole in a real ship as anything I have ever beheld. The ocean surface has very good textures, motion, and definition. The waves have sharp, white crests that are several notches above Silent Hunter II. Your sub or ship is a constantly moving platform on the surface and adds to the challenge of hitting targets with the guns or holding your binocs steady. The ocean battlefield varies from calm seas, to heavy seas, to flat-out gales with rain and blustering wind sounds. Just incredible.

Ships and subs are rendered with great detail. Not only are lifeboats, guns, portholes, screws, and antennas illustrated with inspired detail, but the decks, windscreens, and surfaces have a weathered look that straight away adds to the sense of watching a real ship in a real ocean. Hard-charging escorts part the seas with a frothy bow wave and subs leave foam on the surface when they dive (although the foam lingers too long, as if it is designed as a targeting key). Along with the voice control, Enigma graphics earns high praise.

An ample sound suite accompanies the good graphics. I enjoyed the whistling of falling bombs, changes in engine sound linked with vessel speed, ocean sounds, interior sub sounds, especially the sonar pings, and ricochet sounds. When your sub is damaged by depth charge attack, you can hear breaking glass and light bulbs and threatening water leaks. Sounds are directional, too, a plus. I noticed enemy screw sounds when in a underwater submarine were missing. Some of the best sound effects include the death scene, when your boat is fatally wounded. Water rushing in, rivets popping, and hull creaks accompanied by the slowly dimming lights... the effect is appropriately stark and eerie. Finally, you’re treated to a musical score with different anthems for each faction.

This wouldn't be an adequate review without noting the physics of the Enigma. It's easy to see that Tesseraction put a lot of effort into making the ships interact with the ocean in a convincing fashion, and they succeeded. Ships appear to be engaged in a constant dance with the ocean surface. Smaller boats such as the PT boats require a constant hand on the helm--they are pitched about by heavy seas. I also noted that when you are using the binoculars and en enemy ship hits you with a round, your view is drastically jolted, requiring time to readjust your sighting. Same for the sub cabin under depth charge attack. The display is visibly shaken after near misses. That's realism, simulation or not.

One thing Enigma has going for it in spades is ambience. The graphics are so good and the action is so compelling you will not mind repeating the same missions over and over. Some scenes caused me to marvel--watching my sub advance on a squadron of distant escorts and seeing the flash of their muzzles followed an instant later by a streaking, smoke-trailing, death-tipped shell and an audible whi-zzz! The color and moodiness of the stormy skies and towering waves touches the seadog in you. When the action really gets going with circling destroyers, skulking subs, merchants burning--planes dive bombing! torpedo bells ringing! shells splashing!--Enigma rules the ocean. While it is an action game, in some ways Enigma is more simulation than Silent Hunter II. When you are in the control room, you really are in a control room. Executing a crash dive makes the room tilt noticeably. Tesseraction knows how to suspend your imagination.

With the development emphasis on the eventual multiplayer action, there is no random mission generator, scenario editor, or dynamic campaign. Offsetting this is the implied assurance that since Tesseraction will be releasing upgrades on a three month cycle, that could include new mission packs. And when they get the online version completed (Dec 2003, we hear and hope), most players will be facing off on the Internet.

It's funny but much of what separates Enigma from Fleet Command is the first-person view from the bridge; and Enigma is distinguished from Fighting Steel by a vastly superior representation of the ocean. Yet, a host of other details and engineering touches make Enigma superior to most naval games that have come before it. The AI is better, the pacing is geared for action, the voice control works, and the environment is thoroughly engaging. Enigma promises fun and action in a superior ocean landscape and the single player version delivers completely. If Tesseraction is able to forge ahead and bring new versions and enhancements to Enigma as promised, including the massive multiplayer component, Enigma will have a lock on the naval game community. If you like naval games in general, you'll like Enigma. If you love good naval games, you'll love Enigma. This is truly a good naval game.

Neal Stevens is the editor of Subsim.com and contributing author of the coffee table book United States Submarines.