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.