I can remember where it all started. Many months ago I noticed a friend playing a strange game on her laptop, while she was working I might add, and out of curiosity asked what the game was. She told me that it was Farm Town on Facebook and so I decided that I might give it a try. I ended up forgetting to check it out until a month or two later when I somehow came across Farmville. Certain that this was the game that my friend had told me about I started playing. It was not until the next day that I asked her about it and she told me that I was playing the wrong game. So, of course I started playing both last August and wrote this (what is now an out of date) article on the two games.
At one point I honestly did give up playing Facebook games, but a friend recently sucked me back in. When I say in, I mean dear God where has my life gone the last six weeks. I am currently playing Farmville, Cafe World, Fishville, Roller Coaster Kingdom, Island Paradise, Zoo World, and now Zynga's newest of the new PetVille!Thank God I don't have a job or I would have been fired by now. "Ummm...why were you late for work?" "Oh, well....I had to stay up until 3am to collect my chicken eggs on my island so no one would steal them....Actually, do you mind if I leave early? I almost have a level 3 mastery in green tea. I forgot to harvest this morning because I was two busy reading the feed trying to get those extra servings of mac n cheese..." Yeeeaaaahhhh, no.
I know there is a show on television with Dr. Drew helping sex addicts and I am almost starting to wonder if social gaming will be the next big addiction. It is legal. It is a time waster. For the most part it is free. Most importantly the more you play the more stuff you want to unlock and master. The addition of "ribbons" is enough to keep me going. Just when I only have one or two ribbons left they add more!!
Yes, I think I need help, but let me harvest in Farmville first, I am only 151 points away from level 34!!
For the last while I have been talking about the upcoming update. As of Tuesday, the update went live and of course I made sure to tweet from my xbox almost right away. After that? Well, it might be safe to say that the novelty wore off fairly quickly.
Facebook
One of the first things I noticed when I logged on to Facebook is the news feeds on the home page. I think that being able to see my friends' status updates would have been FAR more exciting back before social gaming. More than half of what pops up in my news feed is that so-and-so has used Farmville, Yoville, etc. Being the Zynga game addict that I am, I am glad to see that my friends are playing too, but these are not the updates that will improve my game. There is no option of seeing that there is an ugly duckling up for adoption or rewards for ribbons available.I understand that I would not be able to get these items, but at least I might know that they are there and rush off to a computer. Now, I also know that not everyone plays these games, so there is really no reason why these types of messages should pop up on my xbox at all.
One thing that I really do like is being able to see my pictures in slideshow format. What can I say? I look awesome on the tv! Ok, back to reality. While I do like this option I do not think it is really needed. With Windows Media Center I can do right from files on my PC which tends to be more up to date. Of course there is a possibility that you might want to pull up your friends' pictures on your television and watch a slideshow, but even though I really love my friends I can't really see that happening outside of a wedding or some other really awesome party.
The one thing I was really looking forward to is under the friends section. The ability to be able to find friends that are also on Live is an exciting feature for me. Unfortunately, so far I am very disappointed. Out of over 700 friends at only tells me I have 3 friends on Live and one more that I do not have on my Live friends list. On launch day I was pretty disappointed and figured it was because people are still at work or class and figured that it would improve in a couple of days. Well, it is now Friday and no such luck. I am sure this will change as more people start using Facebook on Live, but it makes me wonder if people are even interested in doing so.
Overall, I think using Facebook is pretty pointless. Finding Facebook friends on Live could become helpful, but has not been for me so far. Not being able to access my Facebook games is a major drawback for me. I understand not wanting to promote these games, but at least give us something exclusive. Exclusive games that can only be played on xbox Live and stats that are automatically placed in Facebook status updates. Or, at the very least make it so our feeds update when we play a game or unlock achievements!
Twitter
Ah Twitter. So simple and so addictive. Well, until the novelty wears off. I honestly think that I would have LOVED this feature a year ago. I started using Twitter August of 2008 and was addicted within a couple of months. Even before I had my iPhone I was tweeting an insane amount throughout my day. Now I am pretty much over it. I no longer use twitter to get my news and I hardly ever update twitter with the exception of this blog. There is a possibility that I will use Twitter more now that it is on xbox, but I honestly feel that my television can be of better use such as gaming or watching any number of television shows.
One of the things that I think could have made this more useful is pretty much the same as what I said about Facebook. If Twitter automatically updated when I played a game (which I already do through a third party website) or when unlocking achievements, I would be very excited! I do like that there is an option to retweet, but that is about it. Twitter is just too accessible in other ways to make this at all useful.
Zune
I will admit that I had never looked at the Zune website before finding out that it would be part of the update. Unlike the first two features I talked about, I think this one could be really awesome for a lot of people! With Zune on xbox you can rent and/or buy movies, tv shows, music, or music videos and you don't need a credit card to do it since it uses Microsoft Points. The reason why I say this is good for some is that while buying movies is not expensive it might be higher than buying single disk versions at a store or on Amazon.com. I personally am a fan of two-disk copies of movies which are generally more expensive and so I am a little torn on what I will do in the future. The good side of this is that if you purchase a game on your xbox you will be able to also download it on your computer. Also, movies that have been purchased on the computer will be available on the xbox through your home network.
I am also divided on the idea of renting movies. I have stated in the past that I am disappointed with the collection of streaming movies on Netflix. I also seem to keep the movies I get in the mail for long periods of time. If I only watch four movies a month I would probably save money buy renting from Zune over Netflix, but the issue of selection still comes into play. While it appears that Zune has more recent movies available for rental, several of the movies I would have chosen where only available for purchase and at least one of them (Star Trek) is on my "two-disk + digital copy" to buy list. Even with that being the case I will seriously consider stopping my Netflix and going with Zune at least until summer when I tend to watch more movies.
Last.fm
If you have used and liked Pandora you will like Last.fm. This is by far my favorite feature that was added during the update. If there is anything I am willing to not watch television or play games for it is music. There are so many times that I am doing something in my living room other than watching tv, but I want something to listen to. This generally ends up being hours of local and national news which is probably the most depressing thing to listen to in any given day. Now sure I could listen to music on my computer, but the truth is that my computer speakers are really not the greatest. The other thing that I enjoy is that I am not only listening to music that I already own and with that comes that possibility of discovering something new. Stations are based on an artist that you already like. For instance, I picked one of the stations that was listed as popular and ended up hearing music that I never before would have considered listening to. I probably still would not buy some of the music, but it was by no means unenjoyable.On the other hand, I also heard a band that I absolutely loved back in the day and will now probably try to see if I still have the CD I bought way back when. Premade stations range from classical to country to metal to emo.
The latest update sure has its flops, but the additions of Zune and Last.fm will probably make up for Microsoft jumping on the Twitter/Facebook band wagon. This all days make me curious about what they will do next!
If you have not already heard, New Super Mario Brothers was released last Sunday making it a good week for me. This is one of those games I have been waiting years for and I am sure that I am not the only one. I guess the real question is, is it everything I hoped it would be?
One of the things that really bothered me about past Mario games was that in order to play with friends you had to take turns. Looking back, I really feel sorry for all my friends that I forced to play Mario who did not have a Nintendo at home. I am pretty sure they did not have all that much fun watching me complete most of the levels. Not to mention I knew where all the hidden items were. Not fun for all, but fun for me;-) Now we can play with our friends in co-op play. Not only that, but you can work together or be a little more competitive. I personally find the game more fun when playing with someone else. That is not to say the game is not fun when played solo, but, in my opinion, I find the game more enjoyable in co-op. The best part is that you can add and remove players while you play. So, you don't have to start a new game because you have friends over!
Another aspect that I enjoyed about the game is something that I really liked about Super Mario 3 and that is the map screen. I like being able to see where you have been, being able to replay boards, and the special Toad huts where you can earn special items. I remember being really excited by that back on my NES and am glad that it has continued.
One of the things that I found difficult about the game is that movement has a different feel to me. You know when you watch someone else playing a previous Mario game and you fingers tap or your head bobs because you instinctively now the timing of the game? Well, that might not happen for you here. For those of us that have been playing for the last 20 years or so and have a good sense of "Mario timing" this game might throw you off a bit. This might be because of the "waggle factor." I know the game is on Wii and all, but it is hard to break 20 years of, well lets call it training. When I play Mario, "waggle" is not instinctive for me, unlike in Mario Kart. Not to say this isn't something that can be overcome, but I really did expect more of the same feel and timing that I am used to.
Oh, and did I mention that Bowser's kids are back? Overall, I really like this game and it was worth the wait. Now, Nintendo just has to make sure that the upcoming Mario Galaxy 2 lives up!
I am obviously very excited about New Super Mario Brothers Wii coming out and I thought this video is a great example of teamwork within the game. This version of Mario is supposed to be fairly difficult and it will be interesting to see if teamwork makes it easier for players or if it is just as hard as playing solo. Either way, this is going to be fun!
Didn't make it into the preview and dying to access your Facebook/Twitter/etc on your 360? Well, the wait is almost over. The update is coming and will be available on Tuesday, Nov 17. I don't think this will be life changing for anyone. Including myself and I am WAY too addicted to Facebook. Let me play Farmville/Fishville/Cafe World on Facebook through my 360 and I would probably be a little more excited, but then again...can't I just use my computer and my 360 at the same time?
Halo Waypoint went live today on 360 (even if you are not in the preview program) and so I thought I would check to see what it is all about. The first thing that popped up was that I got an avatar reward. So far so good!
Waypoint is, "the central location for exclusive Halo screenshots, articles, and videos." This includes Halo: Legends an anime anthology that is premiering exclusively on Waypoint.
The "career" section checks your achievements in Halo and then tells you what "Career Milestone" you have reached. I have reached Career Milestone 3, which means that if you have played more than an hour of Halo yours should be higher than mine! If you ever wanted to coordinate your achievements from all things Halo (Halo 3, ODST, DLCs, etc.) into super achievements then this area might be your first stop. Getting these achievements will not increase you gamerscore, however, you have to increase your gamerscore to get these "achievements."
The "Intel" section of Waypoint appears to be where you will find all the latest news on Halo. There are videos, interviews, images, tips and tricks, etc. They say that this area will be updated everyday, so there should almost always be something new and interesting to see. There is also a "Welcome to Halo Waypoint" video that shows viewers the ins and outs and what to expect.
I have to admit that I think this is a really cool idea. Halo really might not be my thing, but for those who are big fans of the game I can see how this would keep them interested and entertained. If they did this for every game, it could easily get out of hand, but I think it would be interesting if there were more features like this for other games.
It seems that e-mails have been sent out notifying some PS3 users that their Netflix discs are shipping and should be received as early as tomorrow. These discs are required to stream Netflix movies on PS3, but should be a temporary annoyance. So, now that you will be able to stream movies what do you plan on watching?
Been waiting to get your hands on Rock Band 2 for even less than the August price drop? Well, good news is here. Now at select retailers (including Amazon) Rock Band 2 Special Edition is $99.
Track List:
* Abnormality - "Visions"
* AC/DC - "Let There Be Rock"
* AFI - "Girl's Not Grey"
* Alanis Morissette - "You Oughta Know"
* Alice in Chains - "Man in the Box"
* Allman Brothers - "Ramblin' Man"
* Anarchy Club - "Get Clean"
* Avenged Sevenfold - "Almost Easy"
* Bad Company - "Shooting Star"
* Bang Camaro - "Night Lies"
* Beastie Boys - "So Watcha Want"
* Beck - "E-pro"
* Bikini Kill - "Rebel Girl"
* Billy Idol - "White Wedding Pt. I "
* Blondie - "One Way or Another"
* Bob Dylan - "Tangled Up in Blue"
* Bon Jovi - "Livin' on a Prayer"
* Breaking Wheel - "Shoulder to the Plow"
* Cheap Trick - "Hello There"
* Devo - "Uncontrollable Urge"
* Dinosaur Jr. - "Feel the Pain"
* Disturbed - "Down with the Sickness"
* Dream Theater - "Panic Attack "
* Duran Duran - "Hungry Like the Wolf"
* Elvis Costello - "Pump it Up"
* Fleetwood Mac - "Go Your Own Way"
* Foo Fighters - "Everlong "
* Guns N' Roses - "Shackler's Revenge"
* Interpol - "PDA"
* Jane's Addiction - "Mountain Song"
* Jethro Tull - "Aqualung"
* Jimmy Eat World - "The Middle"
* Joan Jett - "Bad Reputation"
* Journey - "Anyway You Want It"
* Judas Priest - "Painkiller"
* Kansas - "Carry On Wayward Son"
* L7 - "Pretend We're Dead"
* Lacuna Coil - "Our Truth"
* Libyans - "Neighborhood"
* Linkin Park - "One Step Closer"
* Lit - "My Own Worst Enemy"
* Lush - "De-Luxe"
* Mastodon - "Colony of Birchmen"
* Megadeth - "Peace Sells"
* Metallica - "Battery"
* Mighty Mighty Bosstones - "Where'd You Go"
* Modest Mouse - "Float On"
* Motorhead - "Ace of Spades "
* Nirvana - "Drain You"
* Norman Greenbaum - "Spirit in the Sky "
* Panic at the Disco - "Nine in the Afternoon"
* Paramore - "That's What You Get"
* Pearl Jam - "Alive"
* Presidents of the United States of America - "Lump"
* Rage Against the Machine - "Testify"
* Ratt - "Round & Round"
* Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Give it Away "
* Rise Against - "Give it All"
* Rush - "The Trees"
* Silversun Pickups - "Lazy Eye"
* Smashing Pumpkins - "Today"
* Social Distortion - "I Was Wrong"
* Sonic Youth - "Teenage Riot"
* Soundgarden - "Spoonman"
* Speck - "Conventional Lover"
* Squeeze - "Cool for Cats"
* Steely Dan - "Bodhitsattva"
* Steve Miller Band - "Rock'n Me"
* Survivor - "Eye of the Tiger"
* System of a Down - "Chop Suey "
* Talking Heads - "Psycho Killer"
* Tenacious D - "Master Exploder"
* Testament - "Souls of Black"
* That Handsome Devil - "Rob the Prez-o-Dent"
* The Donnas - "New Kid in School"
* The Go-Go's - "We Got the Beat"
* The Grateful Dead - "Alabama Getaway"
* The Guess Who - "American Woman"
* The Main Drag - "A Jagged Gorgeous Winter"
* The Muffs - "Kids in America "
* The Offspring - "Come Out & Play"
* The Replacements - "Alex Chilton"
* The Sterns - "Supreme Girl"
* The Who - "Pinball Wizard "
For the last couple of days I have been pretty torn on what I should do. No, this is not some major life decision, but I still have not been able to decide. This week I received Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition as a gift. I have been waiting for this edition to come out for months and have wanted to play Fallout 3 since well before I had a 360. The problem is that now that I have it I feel that I should finish Oblivion first. For some reason I feel like I should finish one massive game before really getting into another. So, I started to wonder if I am the only one that feels this way.
Ok, back to Oblivion:
level: 12 Oblivion gates shut: 3 Places Found: 45 Quests Completed: 59 Knights of the White Stallion: Knight-Errant Arena: Bloodletter Thieves Guild: Shadowfoot Mages Guild: Magician Fighters Guild: Apprentice Blades: Knight Sister Dark Brotherhood: Eliminator Order of the Virtuous Blood: Sister Court of Madness: Tourist Current quest: Blood of the Divines/Allies for Bruma
Yeah I know, that part was a boring read, but here is the gist of it. I am getting towards the end of the main quest line and some of the faction quest lines, but I still have a long ways to go in other factions. I also have not even begun Shivering Isle. I probably could finish the main quest line sooner than later, but it would probably be better if I did more faction quests in order to level up. It seems to me that this is all going to take a lot longer than a couple of days (26 of 60 achievements unlocked). Especially since Allies for Bruma, while being an optional quest, takes a lot of time.
Boo! I LOVE watching shows like Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures and I think it is very interesting to have a video games version of that type of television show. Ghostwire: Linked to the Paranormal is the first game to be released exclusively for the DSi and not the DS. There is finally a reason to use the camera in a game. I am not sure if this game is going to be as fun and scary as watching some of my favorite shows, but it is exciting to see that DSi exclusive games are coming and how its features can be used. Ghostwire: Linked to the Paranormal is expected be released late 2010.
Ok. So the University of Michigan football team might not be living up to its own historic standards, but that doesn't meant that Ann Arbor doesn't still squeeze over 106,000 spectators into the Big House on Football Saturdays. I know that not everyone is a Michigan fan and so does Microsoft. They have recently introduced the University Collection in the avatar marketplace.
I have mentioned several times I want a DSi, but I am still concerned about buying one only to have the price drop a month later. Now there is a rumor that the DSi will be getting a screen size update, but only in Japan. I should point out that Nintendo has called the rumor speculative. On the other hand, the original source of this rumor has a history of getting the story right. I really have a hard time making the decision to buy a DSi when it seems that there is a lot of speculation that if true could make me really regret my purchase. If this rumor is true and it is released in Japan it would probably only be a matter of time for the luck to spread to other countries. I know Nintendo is doing well, but is anyone else worried about giving them a lot of money just for something else to come out within six months?
*EDIT*
Ok. So, I wrote this last night before going to bed and what did I wake up to? This:
(Credit: Nintendo Japan)
Nintendo has taken the wraps off a new version of the DSi handheld that sports larger 4.25-inch dual screens. The portable gaming unit will be considerably bigger than current and previous DS and DSi models. It will be dubbed the DSi LL in Japan where it goes on sale on November 21 for 20,000 yen (about $220). In Europe, the unit will be known as the DSi XL when it appears on store shelves in the first quarter of 2010. Nintendo did not provide details on a possible North American launch.
The DSi LL's larger screens require a much larger housing than the original DSi
(Credit: Nintendo Japan)
Tor Thorsen has additional details on the DSi LL/XL at GameSpot. But, with the possible exception of some bundled DSi Ware titles, this is exactly what it looks like: a supersized version of the DSi. We're still scratching our head as to who would actually want one of these, since we've always felt the pocketable aspect of the DS/DSi was one of its great advantages. On the other hand, many of us never expected Nintendo titles like Wii Fit to achieve megahit status, either.
What about you: would you be interested in b
As lame is this probably sounds, I really liked Excitebike for NES when I was a kid. I don't really remember it being overly difficult, but I did really enjoy being able to make my own courses. If you also enjoyed playing this game oh so long ago then you might be happy to hear that on Nov. 9 Nintendo will be releasing a WiiWare version called Excitebike World Rally. If you don't want to wait until Nov. 9 or want to reminisce about the original Excitebike then it is available for 500 Wii points on the virtual console.
Personally, I really think that at least some achievements should be "leaked" before a game is released. I love achievements and I almost always check a game's achievements before buying the game. There is one game I probably would not have bothered buying if I had read the achievements before hand. I honestly do not think that, generally speaking, letting people have a sense of some of the achievements would turn them off to the game. I do think that it would help generate some excitement about the game. Not because achievements make or break a game, but because, at least in this case, I think that any news is good news. So many games are coming out this holiday season that I would think that anything that helps set you apart from the other games and makes players more interested is a good thing. Besides, achievements are available online so quickly that most people can see them before they make it to the store. Why wait?
* Master Assassin - Unlock All Trophies (Platinum)
* The Birth of an Assassin - Be reborn as Ezio Auditore Da Firenze. (Bronze, 20G)
* Arrivederci Abstergo - Break out of Abstergo. (Bronze, 20G)
* Welcome to the Animus 2.0 - Enter the Animus 2.0. (Silver, 20G)
* The Pain of Betrayal - Complete DNA Sequence 1. (Silver, 30G)
* Vengeance - Complete DNA Sequence 2. (Silver, 30G)
* Exit the Son - Complete DNA Sequence 3. (Silver, 30G)
* Bloody Sunday - Complete DNA Sequence 4. (Silver, 30G)
* Undertaker - Discover the Assassin's Tomb inside the catacombs under Santa Maria Novella. (Silver, 20G)
* The Conspirators - Complete DNA Sequence 5. (Silver, 30G)
* An Unexpected Journey - Complete DNA Sequence 6. (Silver, 30G)
* Bleeding Effect - Complete training and reenter the Animus. (Silver, 30G)
* The Merchant of Venice - Complete DNA Sequence 7. (Silver, 30G)
* The Impenetrable Palazzo - Complete DNA Sequence 8. (Silver, 30G)
* Masquerade - Complete DNA Sequence 9. (Silver, 30G)
* Bianca's Man - Complete DNA Sequence 10. (Silver, 30G)
* The Prophet - Complete DNA Sequence 11. (Silver, 30G)
* The Vault - Complete DNA Sequence 14. (Silver, 30G)
* An Old Friend Returns - Escape the hideout. (Gold, 100G)
* Myth Maker - Find the 8 statuettes in Monteriggioni. (Bronze, 5G)
* Vitruvian Man - Unlock all 20 pieces of Subject 16's video. (Bronze, 20G)
* Street Cleaner - Hide 5 dead bodies in a Bale of Hay. (Bronze, 10G)
* Fly Swatter - Kick a Guard while using the Flying Machine. (Bronze, 5G)
* Messer Sandman - Stun 4 guards at once by throwing sand in their face. (Bronze, 10G)
* Doctor - Perform an Air Assassination on a Poisoned NPC. (Bronze, 20G)
* No-hitter - Kill 10 enemies while remaining in conflict without being hit. (Bronze, 20G)
* Kleptomaniac - Pickpocket 1000 Florins. (Bronze, 10G)
* Lightning Strike - Sprint for 100 meters. (Bronze, 10G)
* Sweeper - Sweep 5 guards at once by using a Long Weapon. (Bronze, 10G)
* Venetian Gladiator - Discover the Assassin's Tomb inside Santa Maria della Visitazione. (Bronze, 20G)
* I can see your house from here! - Discover the Assassin's Tomb inside the Torre Grossa. (Bronze, 20G)
* Hallowed be thy name - Discover the Assassin's Tomb inside the Basilica di San Marco. (Bronze, 20G)
* Prison Escape - Discover the Assassin's Tomb inside the Rocca di Ravaldino fortress. (Bronze, 20G)
* Choir Boy - Discover the Assassin's Tomb inside Santa Maria del Fiore (The Duomo). (Bronze, 20G)
* Assassin For Hire - Complete your first assassination mission for Lorenzo Il Magnifico. (Bronze, 10G)
* Macho Man - Defend a woman's honor. (Bronze, 10G)
* Steal Home - Win a race against thieves! (Bronze, 10G)
* Show your Colors - Wear the Auditore cape in each city. (Bronze, 10G)
* Handy Man - Upgrade a building in the Stronghold. (Bronze, 10G)
* I like the view - Synchronize 10 View Points. (Bronze, 10G)
* High Dive - Perform a Leap of Faith from the Top of Florence's Giotto's Campanile. (Bronze, 10G)
* Mailman - Intercept a Borgia Courrier. (Bronze, 10G)
* Tip of the Iceberg - Use your Eagle Vision to scan a Glyph in the environment. (Bronze, 10G)
* A Piece of the Puzzle - Unlock a piece of Subject 16's video. (Bronze, 10G)
* Art Connoisseur - Buy a Painting from Florence and Venice. (Bronze, 10G)
* Podestà of Monteriggioni - Reach 80% of your stronghold's total value. (Bronze, 30G)
* Perfect Harmony - Tint your clothes with those colors: Wetland Ebony and Wetland Ivory. (Bronze, 10G)
* In Memory of Petruccio - Collect all the Feathers. (Bronze, 30G)
* Red Light Addict - Spend 5000 florins on Courtesans. (Bronze, 10G)
* Man of the People - Toss more than 300 florins on the ground. (Bronze, 10G)
* Victory lies in preparation - Get all Hidden Blades, Item Pouches and Armor upgrades for Ezio. (Bronze, 10G)
If you own a PS3 and a subscription to Netflix you will be happy to know that soon you will enjoy the same streaming experience that 360 owners have had the last many months. When I heard that Netflix was coming to 360 I have to admit that I was very excited. I currently pay to rent 3 movies at a time and unlimited access to streaming movies. I really hated streaming things on my laptop and so being able to watch these movies on my television through my gaming console seemed like it would make a huge difference in my movie viewing life.
The truth is that it really didn't. I am not saying that this isn't big news, but I don't think it is as big as some people are making it out to be. In order to get access to the streaming movies you have to have a subscription through Netflix. That means that you can already have access to all the movies available online and more. Again, this is just me, but I was hoping to not really have to worry about getting movies in the mail and that just wasn't the case. Most of the things that I actually wanted to watch were not available online. There were movies available that I ended up putting in my queue, but was more just because I could rather than things I actually wanted to watch. Of course, I am sure that in the future Netflix streaming movies will be up to par with the mailed DVDs. The good news is that if you already have Netflix then this new PS3 feature will not cost you a dime. Is Netflix a great service? Yes. Is it nice to be able to stream movies? Yes, but in my experience this was hardly life changing.
Earlier in the week I displayed my annoyance about how third party memory cards will no longer be usable after the update. Well, I have some good news. It turns out that the storage devices will not become totally useless. The problem with the third party devices is that Microsoft is concerned with people's ability to cheat when storing their profiles and other game data on these devices. What does this mean for you if you have a third party device? It means that you will still be able to store things like pictures and music, but you will no longer be able to access profile or game data. I still hope that Microsoft will consider making their units comparable in price in the future, but if they do not at least we still have another option to store all the "extras".
Oh! I should probably mention that I really reallyreally hate when people cheat and this is a prime example of how people that cheat can really screw the rest of us over. I am glad that Microsoft takes cheating more seriously than say Nintendo, but it would be really nice if unicorns walked the earth, no body went hungry, and assholes who are too weak to man-up and play the game would stop cheating.
We all know that the new 360 update will feature Twitter and Facebook, but what you might not know is that it is possible that you might be getting screwed over as well. Well, you and anyone else that uses third party memory cards like this instead of Microsoft ones such as this. Obviously the companies that sell the third party memory cards are very upset and you should be too!
Lets say you realize that you need a new memory card and head over to Amazon.com. This is what you will find:
Xbox 360 Max Memory Card 2GB by Datel = $39.99
Xbox 360 Memory Unit 512MB by Microsoft Software = $39.99$24.99
Hm. The actual list price is the same but there is a huge difference between 2GB and 512MB. Once this update goes live users of third party cards will get a warning saying that they most transfer everything from the memory card to the internal or risk no longer being able to access the data on the card.
So, what happens once Microsoft has the monopoly on their already overpriced product? They only time a monopoly is good, imo, is when I am the one that has a hotel on Boardwalk.
I have mentioned before that while I do not own a PS3, God of War III is a major contributor in my desire for one. Back in September Sony announced that they would be releasing the God of War Collection (PS3 exclusive of course) where players can experience God of War and God of War II in 720p HD. Check out the new trailer!
I am still really excited for New Super Mario Brothers Wii! There are a lot of games that some people think are more fun when played with others, but I tend to not be a fan. This is mainly because playing with friends usually means offline for me and I cannot stand split screen. It drives me nuts. Maybe if I were playing on a 60" television...actually...nope, tried Mario Kart on a 60" and it still drove me crazy. So, I am very much looking forward to New Super Mario Brothers Wii because of its co-op play. No split screen and it looks like a lot of fun!
I am sure all of you Xbox 360ers out there remember the last preview. If you were totally jealous that I got to be in on the preview over the summer then here is your chance to get in on the next update preview.
Microsoft has announced that they have opened up the sign-up for the beta. Depending on what you are into, this update may or may not be up your ally. I have been addicted to both twitter and facebook for longer than I care to admit, but I am not sure them being available on 360 is going to change my life. (Well, unless I can play Farmville on my 360. Yes, I am still playing that crap.) I am sure that there are numerous possibilities on how these two could be useful or fun on the 360, but I think they will have to offer something more than the websites or iPhone apps already give us.
I should also mention that Zune will also be available on the 360 after the update as well. A Zune Pass gives user unlimited music and video streaming and 10 song downloads per month. Microsoft Points can be bought through Zune and can also be used to purchase music and videos. I don't usually play music on my 360, but this could be nice in the future if linked to any of the music genre games. Until then, I have no problem continuing to use Netflix to watch movies and television shows instead of paying for a second monthly subscription.
I think this next update will be a "nice to have" update. Nothing that I think most people really feel is needed (or even wanted for some), but merely just a few extra bullet points on the comparison charts. If you do want to try to get in on the beta then make sure you fill out the survey here: xbox.com/xboxliveupdate
Hope you picked up a few extra shifts last week because you will need the large paycheck this week! Here are some of the games coming out this week:
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Exclusive to the PS3, Among Thieves is the sequel to 2007's Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. In this action-adventure/shooter players take on the role of fortune hunter Nathan Drake. Among Thieves offers online multiplayer, competitive and co-op, however offline multiplayer is not available.
Available for PS3 and Xbox 360, Brutal Legend is an action-adventure game that stars Jack Black as roadie Eddie Riggs. In the amazing heavy metal themed open-world game, combat is fun for hardcore and casual gamers alike. Not into heavy metal? Me either, but this game still rocks (pun semi-intended). The game features cameos from some of the gods of heavy metal, but length of the soundtrack list puts some music games to shame!
* "A Serpentine Crave" - Bishop of Hexen
* "Ad Notics" - Rotting Christ
* "Am I Evil?" - Diamond Head
* "Angel Witch" - Angel Witch
* "Angels Don't Kill" - Children of Bodom
* "Assault Attack" - Michael Schenker Group
* "Back at the Funny Farm" - Motörhead
* "Battle Angels" - Sanctuary
* "Battle Hymn" - Judas Priest
* "Believer" - Ozzy Osbourne
* "Betrayal" - Lita Ford
* "Birth of the Hero" - Tvangeste
* "Blackout" - Scorpions
* "Blitzkrieg" - Deathstars
* "Bomber" - Girlschool
* "Breadfan" - Budgie
* "Cathode Ray Sunshine" - Dark Tranquillity
* "Children of the Grave" - Black Sabbath
* "Crack the Skye" - Mastodon
* "Cremation" - King Diamond
* "Cry of the Banshee" - Brocas Helm
* "Dawn of Battle" - Manowar
* "Deadly Sinners" - 3 Inches of Blood
* "Destroy the Orcs" - 3 Inches of Blood
* "Diary of a Madman" - Ozzy Osbourne
* "Die For Metal" - Manowar
* "Dr. Feelgood" - Mötley Crüe
* "Drink the Blood of the Priest" - Brocas Helm
* "Fast as a Shark" - Accept
* "For the Glory Of" - Testament
* "Free Your Hate" - KMFDM
* "Frost" - Enslaved
* "Girlfriend" - Kabbage Boy
* "God of Thunder" - Kiss
* "Goliaths Disarm Their Davids" - In Flames
* "Hall of the Mountain King" - Savatage
* "Her Ghost in the Fog" - Cradle of Filth
* "High Speed Dirt" - Megadeth
* "Holiday" - Scorpions
* "Ignisis Dance" - Wrath of Killenstein
* "In the Black" - Motörhead
* "Insomnia" - Dark Fortress
* "Kickstart My Heart" - Mötley Crüe
* "Lay It Down" - Ratt
* "Leather Rebel" - Judas Priest
* "Live Wire" - Mötley Crüe
* "Loke" - Enslaved
* "Love Dump" - Static-X
* "Machine Gunn Eddie" - Nitro
* "March of the Crabs" - Anvil
* "Marching Off to War" - Motörhead
* "Master Exploder" - Tenacious D
* "Murmaider" - Dethklok
* "Metal Church" - Metal Church
* "Metal Storm/Face the Slayer" - Slayer
* "Metal Thrashing Mad" - Anthrax
* "More Than Meets the Eye" - Testament
* "Mr. Crowley" - Ozzy Osbourne
* "Mr. Scary" - Dokken
* "Narita" - Riot
* "Never Say Die" - Black Sabbath
* "Nightstalker" - Cloven Hoof
* "No Love Lost" - Carcass
* "Oblivion Instrumental" - Mastodon
* "One Shot at Glory" - Judas Priest
* "Overnight Sensation" - FireHouse
* "Painkiller" - Judas Priest
* "Progenies of the Great Apocalypse" - Dimmu Borgir
* "Pure Evil" - Iced Earth
* "Queen of Desire" - Ostrogoth
* "Queen of the Masquerade" - Crimson Glory
* "Riding the Storm" - Running Wild
* "Rip the System" - KMFDM
* "Road Racin" - Riot
* "Rock Bottom" - UFO
* "Rock of Ages" - Def Leppard
* "Skeleton on your Shoulder" - Coroner
* "Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck" - Prong
* "So Frail" - Mirrorthrone
* "Soul Thrashing Black Sorcery" - Skeletonwitch
* "Stigmata" - Ministry
* "Still of the Night" - Whitesnake
* "Sulphur Injection" - Apostasy
* "Superbeast" - Rob Zombie
* "Swords and Tequila" - Riot
* "Symptom of the Universe" - Black Sabbath
* "Tag Team" - Anvil
* "Technical Difficulties" - Racer X
* "The Axeman" - Omen
* "The Beautiful People" - Marilyn Manson
* "The Hellion/Electric Eye" - Judas Priest
* "The Metal" - Tenacious D
* "The Somber Grounds of Truth" - Bishop of Hexen
* "The Wild and the Young" - Quiet Riot
* "Thieves" - Ministry
* "Through the Fire and Flames" - DragonForce
* "Thus Spake the Nightspirit" - Emperor
* "Tornado of Souls" - Megadeth
* "Warriors Dawn" - Slough Feg
* "(We Are) the Road Crew" - Motörhead
* "Welcome Home" - King Diamond
* "Wheels of Steel" - Saxon
* "When the Night Falls" - Iced Earth
* "Witches" - Candlemass
* "World of Hurt" - Overkill
* "Y.R.O." - Racer X
* "Youth Gone Wild" - Skid Row
* "Zoom Club" - Budgie
Brutal Legend (360) Brutal Legend (PS3)
Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition
If you are as lame as I am and have not played Fallout 3 yet, here is your chance. Remember the Cold War? Fallout 3 is a futuristic example of what could have happened. The Game of the Year Edition offers the original Fallout 3 game as well as all 5 of the DLCs!
Time to use that Wii Balance Board for something other than Wii Fit. Incorporating the balance board, the game features both real Olympic sports as well as other winter oriented activities. There is also in-game customization that includes the use of Miis and an in-game store.
JU-ON: The Grudge is a haunted house simulator based on the Japanese movie "Ju-On." The American movie "The Grudge" was based on the Japanese version. This hunted house simulator is said to be the first of its kind. Using the Wii mote as a flashlight the game focuses on instant scares over depth and story (but isn't that true of most scary movies as well?).
Surprise...surprise...Jim Sterling has written another article about Bayonetta. "How Bayonetta is blatantly hotter than your girlfriend" is one in a long line of articles where Jim has made me wonder what exactly he is over compensating for. Make sure you check out his article from the above link. Here is my response:
She technically walks around naked ALL THE TIME:
I spend most of my day naked and I don't cover it by hair.
Having a suit made of hair is actually hot and not disgusting:
Did you know that more bacteria grows on hair than the inside lock on a bathroom stall door? That is why body hair is called a scent trap.
She kills angels:
As you said, angels don't exist...neither does Bayonetta
Supermodel proportions:
Wait a minute. Did you read what you wrote? "...she is also based upon the hottest examples of physical perfection in the world." Then you followed it with, "...but actually they're not attractive at all." So, does she look like a supermodel or not? Are supermodels hot or not?
She will gyrate her hips on command, for free:
You have to pay women? Sucks to be you. By the way, even Hitler had a girlfriend that he didn't have to pay.
Bayonetta has guns strapped to her feet:
Sorry, I don't do the foot fetish thing. Putting something near someone's feet does not automatically make it sexy.
She can summon BDSM devices at will:
Not sure that a guillotine is the same as nipple clamps. Besides, the guillotine was invented as a more humane way of execution. It's purpose was not to humiliate, but to kill people quickly instead of using multiple strikes with an axe or sword.
She doesn't look like Sarah Palin:
The shear fact that you had to bring this up is a pretty good sign that there is a strong resemblance.
You can press her buttons anytime:
"Bayonetta is obviously a woman who will respond to any and all imput..." Hey, don't blame women for your inability to satisfy. It really isn't that complicated.
Just fucking look at her!:
Yes, that is EXACTLY the problem. That is all you can actually do. The real thing is so much better.
I am really starting to wonder if I am going to like Bayonetta. I was really excited about this game but, thanks to Jim, I am starting to think that Bayonetta might just be more slutty than sexy. Maybe being a female has clouded my perception, but I think that constantly being told how hot someone is just isn't sexy. I guess that means that my pre-first impression is that the over sexualized nature of this game is going to annoy me, but I hope that Bayonetta proves me wrong.
Dawn of Discovery is a sequel in a series of games. While I had played the next most recent 1701 AD, I had played it on PC and thought that this series would be a good buy for the Wii. The fact that the game is also $15-$20 cheaper on the Wii sure did not hurt my decision.
Dawn of Discovery is a city building game that I would say is somewhere between SimCity and Civilization. In order to build your settlement you must find an island. Of course, there are several things to consider when choosing the island. Size is obviously important if you want to build the settlement to one of the larger classes. As your settlement grows more buildings and bonuses become available. So, choosing an island with room to grow is fairly important.
The second, and perhaps the most important thing to consider is the resources that are available on the island. Not every island can produce everything a settlement needs to grow. When choosing an island in the beginning it is wise to find one that will give the most basic of needs. As the settlement grows it is possible to find other islands to settle in order to expand the empire.
There are two gameplay modes available when you play Dawn of Discovery, Story Mode and Continuous Play. Story Mode is pretty much a very very long tutorial. There are seven chapters to play through with each teaching different aspects of the game. If you have played any of the games in the series then it would probably not hurt you to much if you went straight to continuous play. The game is rated 10+ and so the storyline is right up there with watching The Care Bears. In the Story Mode players take the role of William, the handsome and peace loving prince. William of course has a jealous brother who feels that war is the only way to succeed and *spoiler alert* it is no surprise that in the last chapter peace loving Prince William must eventually go to war and capture his evil brother. Oh, did I mention that Prince William gets to marry the beautiful and exotic princess in the end? *yawn*
While the game is fairly simple to play, a lack of planning can make it more difficult. Any mistakes are fairly easy to correct, but with good strategy players might be able to avoid most mistakes altogether. Some of the areas that I had trouble were mainly in maintaining enough goods to keep my citizens happy at the social class that they were in at any given time. As the population increases it puts a strain on resources. The reason this is a problem is because there is no easy way to gauge supply and demand. If the population's needs become greater than the supply a warning message is given, but if you do not have the resources to increase production the population quickly reverts to lower class levels taking their high tax dollars with them. A lack of income makes it even more difficult to increase production if the population needs several things at the same time.
Another problem I had with this game is that there is a serious lack of any real information. At times players are offered to pick a new technology that will give some sort of bonus. Sounds good, right? I am sure it is if there was any indication what these technologies actually do. Even when in the construction menu there is no information about these special buildings. Some are obvious such as houses and churches, but I still have no idea what a tea house actually does. I actually never even figured out how to save my game! There are points in Story Mode where it suggests that the game be saved, but that is about as close as it got for me. I honestly hope this is not a problem in Continuous Mode.
I know there seems to be a lot of negatives about this game, but I actually did enjoy playing it. The negatives that I have stated do make the game fairly frustrating at times and would probably make the game downright infuriating if the game had been any more complex. The good news is that the game is pretty simple and that might have just been its saving grace. The game is simple enough to understand and problems are simple enough to fix that even though the faults in the game could be major, they end up not effecting gameplay all that much.
I think that in the future I might give the PC version a try. I have a feeling that it will be much more in depth, which if the problems with the Wii version are not fixed could be a major waste of $50!
Dawn of Discovery (Wii) Dawn of Discovery (DS) Dawn of Discovery (PC)
I think it might be fair to say that I have been looking down on the Nintendo DS and DSi for a long time. Any recent interest that I have had in the Nintendo handhelds was solely based on the E3 coverage of Scribblenauts. Then for some reason I decided to take a look at the games that are offered for the Nintendo DS and DSi. Within an hour my Amazon Wishlist jumped up 50 items.
I think it is pretty obvious that in the areas of graphics and hardcore games the DS is not going to compete with PS3 or 360. I will also say that, in my opinion, there seems to be a lot of CRAP out there for the DS. All that being said, I can see how a lot of the games/software could easily cure daily boredom.
I often find myself not wanting to buy games due to the shear fact that I also like to watch tv. With only one tv in the apartment I really have to decide if I would rather play the flavor of the week game or watch any of the 30 (probably more) tv shows on my DVR. This is usually the problem with a lot of the Wii games. While I really do like Animal Crossing: City Folk, I am not sure I like playing it more than I like watching Heroes, Top Model, Flash Forward, LOST, or any of many others. With a handheld console this is obviously less of a problem.
The other thing that makes the DS/DSi more of a consideration for me is that I am a full time student that has to park two hours before my classes if I want to find a spot at all. I am sure I could find lots of productive ways to fill these 8 hours a week, but I usually end up in a reading room listening to podcasts. If I had a DS/DSi I could spend those 8 hours listening to podcasts while playing Peggle Duel Shot.
Another important consideration is that new games for DS/DSi seem to be a third of what they are for PS3 or 360. It is really not hard to find games for PS3/360 that are in the $50-$60 range while new DS/DSi games are around $20. What does that mean to me? Well it is pretty simple. I am far more likely to shell out $20 once every week or two, but $60 makes me really have to think hard even if I haven't bought a new game for months. Plus, if I spend $20 on a game and it turns out that I don't really like it I won't hate myself nearly as much as wasting $50-$60.
Ok, so there has to be a downside. My main downside is that with all the price drops there has not been one for the DSi...yet. I have no idea if there will be one, but at a price only $30 less than a Wii, I think it might be a little high. That is not to say that $170 is outlandish, but I am personally not ready to shell out that much money right now. Will it be on my Christmas list? Yes, but there is a lot of other things I can spend that kind of money on. If the price does drop to the $100-$130 range than it will probably make it to my "to-do" list for the week. That being said, I should also note that the DS lite is around $130.
Overall, I could easily see myself having a Nintendo DSi in the next 6 months. (My birthday is in March.) I don't really foresee a lot of you running out and buying a DS/DSi tomorrow, but I do hope that you will at least give it and it's collection of games a look.
Check out the Arcade 140 store here for all your gaming needs.
Ok. I admit it. I generally prefer to do my karaoke singing at the bar, but now there are so many music games out there that we can all pretty much stay at home. Before I had my son I knew where to find karaoke every single night of the week. I even met my boyfriend at karaoke. So, now that I spend a little more time at home I have been trying to figure out the best way to feed my karaoke addiction.
Rock Band and Guitar Hero These are obviously major winners in the music game market. While both look really fun, it would be really hard for me to play the whole band by myself. Not only that but I am only really interested in singing and not the rest of the instruments. The good news is that I do not need to buy the full bundles for what I want out of these games. I always have the option to buy the software and a universal mic.
Karaoke Revolution and Lips Number One Hits In case you hadn't already guessed, these games are singing games. They are both coming out in the near future and are sequels. Just like Rock Band and Guitar Hero both of these games have downloadable content that is added on a fairly regular basis. Given the fact that my biggest interest is singing it is really nice that the original LIPS Bundle comes with two universal mics. Both of these games obviously also focus on songs with a lot of vocals which is not always the case with the band style games.
You might remember awhile back that I was talking about how I had been playing Oregon Trail on my iPhone. Since my fondness for the game has not diminished I have to say I was excited about the news that Oregon Trail will be released as DS ware. I am not excited because I plan on buying it for the DS since I already have it for iPhone. Plus, I sadly don't actually have a DS.
I am excited about it because I think this is a good game for kids. Sure it is not going to teach kids everything there is to know about trail life...Actually, it won't even teach them some of the really interesting things that you get to learn later in life, but it might get them curious. I think the more opportunity there is for kids to learn, and have fun doing it, the better.
As for the DS playing adults, Oregon Trail is a fun and cute game. It is not going to take a lot of brain power as some of the other games out there, but it is far more entertaining than others. I think the best reason to play Oregon Trail as an adult is that it brings back memories of playing it as a kid. It is a small price to pay for a trip down memory lane.
Mini Ninjas is one of those games that I really wasn't sure if I was going to like. Even though I thought it looked cute it is too easy for games like that to be so family oriented that it just isn't fun for anyone over the age of six. I think my Grandparents throwing out my "My Little Pony" board game when I was little is a perfect example. Luckily for me, I actually enjoyed playing this game.
Mini Ninjas is one of those games that you can play with your family in the room. While it could be considered a family game there is actually no coop play which I think is a major downside to this game. Not sure why someone would make a family game that can't actually be played with family members. It is not to say that it is not fun to play by yourself, but I think this is the biggest downfall of the game.
While there is not coop play, players do have the ability to switch between different characters in the game. As usual, different characters have different abilities and so character choice is important depending on what the player is trying to accomplish.
The fighting in the game is not that complicated. Even though it is fairly simple I still found it fun and entertaining. I also liked that the game lets players interact with the environment more than I expected. I am not saying that this game gives players wide freedom to run about the countryside, but for example, there is some fishing and wall climbing in order to get helpful items.
If you are a hardcore gamer that prefers hardcore games, this is problem not the game for you. If you are a casual gamer that wants to play a game with a little adventure, I would give this a try. Of course, this game is also good for younger players ages 10 and up. However you look at it, the demo is always free!
If you have not already heard, and don't already own Fable II, then you might be interested in today's big news. Fable II has been broken down into episodes and are now downloadable for the 360 under "Games on Demand." The best part about this is that the first episode is FREE!
The first episode will not take you that far into the game. It is, not surprisingly, designed to give you just enough of the game to leave you wanting more. Once you reach the end point of the chapter you will prompt you to buy the next episode. This of course is an attempt to get us all excited about the upcoming release of Fable III.
When I first played the original Fable game I was playing it on my laptop. I never got far into the game since I never sit at a desk and it is hard to use a mouse on the arm rest of the couch. So, I was pretty excited to give Fable II a spin when I got a 360. While Fable II is "the best-selling role-playing game of all time on Xbox 360" I really didn't get into it. I like the graphics, combat, and overall concept, but there are a few things that turned me off about the game. I like achievements. I like playing a game and feeling like I have something to show for it. While there are some achievements like this one: "The Archmage - A Hero must kill five human enemies with one spell." There are many more that are more like this: "The Romantic - Take a villager on a perfect date, or tag along to one. Location and expressions are all-important." It just really isn't what I am looking for in a game. Isn't dating in real life tiresome enough? Yes, I could play the game without all the social interaction, but I could also just play a different game.
Considering the popularity of this game as well as the series, I am pretty sure I am out numbered about not being all that satisfied with Fable II. The good news for those of you who have not yet given it a try is that you can try it for free! If after playing the first episode you decide you want to continue, I suggest buying the full game on disc as it is under $30 used and the free downloadable episode is 1 of 5.
Last year I got hooked on The Biggest Loser. Being me, I couldn't just sit and watch the show. I had to make sure that I was eating the most fattening high calorie foods I had in the house while watching the show. This of course worked for the first half of the season, but once the contestants had lost a significant amount of weight I started to feel guilty and had to put the cheeseburger down. Now that a new season has started I have decided to put the hot dogs and mac n cheese down and maybe give working out a try.
My Fitness Coach for the Wii might be the best affordable work out tool I have ever used. The simplest way to explain it is that it is like watching a work out DVD that most of us have hidden in the back of a closet somewhere. This, however, is so much more. It is actually tailored to the person that is using it.
When using My Fitness Coach for the first time, users start by creating a profile. Creating a profile is not as easy as entering height and weight. This program actually tries to identify the users fitness level and areas that need improvement by having them do different exercises. This takes about 30 minutes, but in the end the program has a better chance of meeting the user's needs.
Once users are ready to start their work out they will find a few more differences from this program and others. One of the main things that I personally really like is that the program asks users if they have certain types of equipment such as a heart monitor or a step. The workout can then be tailored to the equipment that is available.
The program is also good about creating a workout that fits the fitness level of the user. At certain points in the workout users are asked about how they are feeling after certain sets. It is best to be honest here. If the user is barely hanging on to stay alive and say otherwise then the program will continue at a level that is not suitable. If the workout is too difficult then the odds of working out in the future are pretty slim.
Overall, I really think this is a great exercise tool. It is not as cute and fun as Wii Fit, but I think it might be better suited for a long term fitness goal. The ability to use or not use fitness equipment that is already lying around the house is a major plus in my book. Users also do not need to buy the Wii Balance Board which makes My Fitness Coach even more affordable. With so many exercise options out there for the Wii it is nice to find one that really does give so much bang for the buck.
While I have never been a big fan of rock I have to admit that I am really looking forward to this game. Sure players who do listen to rock will have more of an appreciation for the game, but I honestly think that this will be something that most people will enjoy playing.
Even not being a fan of the genre I am looking forward to seeing what this game really has to offer other than the music and humor. Sure that is a major drive to play the game, but I have a feeling that this is going to be great all around. Guess we will find out when the demo comes out tomorrow Sept 17!
