Microsoft to Show Off Project Natal on MTV June 15th May 16, 2010
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in : Microsoft, Video Games , 1 comment so far
June is almost here and that means a couple of things: school is almost over, summers almost here, the NBA Playoffs are in full gear, and the major video game conference E3 is almost upon us.
This year’s E3 looks to truly be epic, with promises of more info on the Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Move, Xbox 360 Project Natal, and who knows what else! Now as we’ve done in years past, we’ll have all the info on all the awesome, need-to-know stuff out of E3. But for those of you who want to follow one of the biggest announcements live, Microsoft and MTV are teaming up to broadcast the whole Project Natal announcement featuring CIRQUE DU SOLEIL commercial-free on MTV, Tuesday, June 15 at 3:30 PM ET, and will be replayed on MTV’s other networks– Nick at Nite, mtvU, MTV Hits, and Logo– Tuesday, June 15 at 9 PM ET.
MTV’s other network, Spike TV, will also be showing off other Microsoft Xbox 360 announcements such as demos of games like HALO: Reach, Gears Of War 3, and Fable III. Called “Xbox 360: The Future Revealed” that show airs LIVE on Monday, June 14 from 1:30 – 3 PM ET.
Madden This Year or Backbreaker? May 7, 2010
Posted by Zev Rosenbaum in : Video Games , 2comments
Another year, another Madden and frankly, I’m getting bored. Sure, this year promises new features and “under-the-hood” tweaks, but is it enough to keep us interested?
Backbreaker, a new football game for Xbox 360 and PS3 and created by 505 Games, hopes to dethrone Madden from being king of football video games. Since Madden still has exclusive rights to the NFL, Backbreaker won’t be able to use the teams and players of the NFL. However, that’s just a small hindrance once you see the trailer for Backbreaker (which you can find after the break). This fledgling game makes use of the “Euphoria” engine, which promises the most spine-cracking, bone-bending tackles of all time.
And the best part? Since all the tackles are calculated on the fly based on mass and velocity (physics…. ugh), every tackle is new and action packed. Forget seeing the same boring tackle over and over. Get ready to see running backs fly, and quarterbacks flip as defensive linemen ram straight into them. Here’s a trailer so you can see what I’m talking about. So, are you sick of Madden too? Let us know. Backbreaker hits shelves on June 1st.
Nintendo Announces the Black Wii– Now with Wii MotionPlus and Wii Sports in the Box! May 3, 2010
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in : Video Games , add a comment
Thinking of getting a Wii? Then listen up– Nintendo today has dropped word on a really nice update to Wii bundle. Now, not only do you get the Wii with a Wiimote and Nunchuck controller and Wii Sports, but also the Wii Sports Resort and the Wii MotionPlus add-on, all in a new black color! This is all in addition to the current white Wii (which should also get the updated bundle), and in probably the best news here– the price stays the same at $199.99 when this starts on May 9th (only a few more days away– so hold off on that Wii just a little longer!).
Here’s what we want to know: is a new color and a much-improved standard offering and cheaper price gonna make you wanna go with a Wii over a Xbox 360 with Natal or PS3 in 3D and with PlayStation Move? Let us know in the comments.
Halo Reach: Multiplayer Beta – Impressions April 30, 2010
Posted by Chaim Gartenberg in : First Look/Reviews, Video Games , add a comment
Master Chief Not Included.
As you may or may not know, the Halo Reach (next Halo game) Multiplayer beta’s going live in a few days for anyone with a copy of Halo 3: ODST. After playing a few rounds of Multiplayer, here’s my impressions:
First off – Jetpacks. Yes, you can get a Jackpack. And it is awesome. Really awesome. Basically – you hold down the Jetpack button. And you fly. You have a certain amount of fuel, that recharges, but it’s pretty awesome. Adds a whole new dimension – personal favorite of mine. But in general, there aren’t only jetpacks, but load-outs of a sort – Bungie (makers of Halo) has several preset load-outs, with Armor Abilities – no more will cloak and overshield be found on the map, instead replaced by coming with a set ability – Sprinting, Evasion, Cloak, Armor Lock (lock down in place, invulnerable, then kinda explode – it’s pretty cool). And my personal favorite, the jetpack, as described above. What you choose can be swapped out at any point when you’re respawning.
The graphics have been completely redone, and look fantastic.
Controls have actually been tweaked from the previous games, and the default control is different from that of Halo 3. Those comfortable with 3′s control would do best with the “Recon” setting, which changes “X” to grenade switch from LB, with LB now being equipment.
Dual wielding is out, and grenades have been trimmed down to just regular and energy (sticky). unfortunately, I was only able to try the Slayer and Cpature the Flag modes (with their new variations, like Headhunter, where you collect skulls for kills and get them to a selected drop point, or Capture the Flag with 3 flags.) Other modes that will be included will be an Invasion mode (which looks incredible – a multiphase gameplay, unlocking better weapons and vehicles as time goes on), and Generator Defense (Hold down 3 generators with a team from a fortified position against an advancing 3).
Of the two new maps so far, Sword Base, a multi-level map, with a bunch of bridges crossing between two sides over a big hall, is pretty fun, as is Powerhouse, which is a bit more open, and bears some similarity to High Ground from Halo 3.
So far, I’m liking Reach’s multiplayer. I’ll update once the new game modes go live.
Nintendo Kinda-Announces the 3DS March 24, 2010
Posted by Chaim Gartenberg in : E3, Video Games , add a comment
For now, just mentally insert a “3″ in there.
So. Here we are again. That original silver DS you bought 6 years ago is beginning to show it’s age – and even the later generations of the DS – the DSi and DSiXL – aren’t holding your interest so much. But that’s about to change. See, Nintendo this morning let loose a press release – announcing that there will be a next-gen Nintendo handheld – the 3DS. Like the DS, it’ll have 2 screens – but the 3 part? Well, to quote the press release – “games can be enjoyed with 3D effects without the need for any special glasses.” That’s right. Portable. 3D. Gaming. With no stupid glasses.
So that’s the good. The bad? Well, that’s pretty much it. Backwards compatible with DS/DSi games, two screens (assumed from the whole “DualScreen” thing), and 3D gaming. And that’s all Nintendo’s saying. They’re aiming for a release sometime within the next year (at least in Japan) – and that’s pretty much it. Nintendo’s planning to announce more (I’m hoping to see some hardware…) at E3 in June – we’ll keep you posted.
To see for yourself – the press release can be found here (note: PDF link)
Everything You Need To Know About God of War III March 15, 2010
Posted by Zev Rosenbaum in : Video Games , add a comment
Lovers of blood, gore, and killing the Greek gods are waiting anxiously for next Tuesday, March 16. That’s the day that God of War 3 is coming out and this game will conclude the biggest and toughest path to revenge that has ever been written into a video game. Click to read more on what’s new, whats old, and what is just plain awesome in God of War 3.
Sony Officially Announces the PlayStation Move Motion Controller March 10, 2010
Posted by Zev Rosenbaum in : Video Games , 1 comment so far
We saw a brief glimpse of it last year at E3, and we have not seen much of it since. However, last night at the Game Developers Conference in San Fransisco, Sony unveiled new details about the upcoming PlayStation Move– Sony’s wireless “wand-like” motion-sensing controller.
The Move will be made up of two parts very similar to how Nintendo has it with the Wii– the main “wand” (the one in the pic above with the wrist strap and giant glowing circle on top) is officially known as the Move, and will have smaller wand like controller (seen on the left) called the sub-controller. As you can tell these look very similar to the Wii’s Wiimote and Nunchuck, and they function very similarly but are also very different. For example, unlike on the Wii, these are going to be used in both casual as well as much more intense games such as the upcoming SOCOM 4 (which, as anyone who has played SOCOM before knows, it’s no Mario). So how else are they different? Well…
- The PlayStation Move uses the PlayStation Eye video camera (which Sony has had around in some form since the PS2) to track your movements and motions, and couple with that circle on top of the Move, look to provide a very accurate sense of exactly what your doing.
- The Nunchuck part of the controller, will not connect to the Move. Instead it will utilize the PS3′s built in Bluetooth to wirelessly sync up with the Move and the PS3 (unlike the Wii’s Nunchuck which needs to be connected into the Wiimote).
- The circle on top of the Move isn’t just to help the Eye sense where you are– it also changes color depending on what game you are playing and how fast your moving your controller (as seen above with the blue).
- Sony also has unveiled a list of starter games, and one in particular is called Sports Champion– which is like Wii Sports just a lot better looking. The next version of Sony’s hit SOCOM series– SOCOM 4– which is slated to be released this fall, is going to support the use of this controller, which should definitely put a new spin on the SOCOM experience, and looks to be the first real test for this new controller to see how it handles itself in an intense game.
Sports Champions on the PS3
Like Microsoft’s Project Natal for the 360, the PlayStation Move will be launched sometime around the holiday season (Sony, again like Microsoft, is viewing this like a major console launch) in either a bundle with a new PS3, by itself, or in a “Starter Kit” bundle with a PS Eye, controller and game for under $100 (which if you ask us looks to be a very solid deal).
One thing that I can’t though seem to wrap my head around is why Sony put an extra X and an extra O on the sub-controller, considering the Move already has them? I guess we will just have to wait to find out what their purpose is for when E3 rolls around June 3rd, and more info on the Move is sure to be announced.
If you want to see the first trailer for the PlayStation Move or more pix, check out Joystiq’s post on the Move here
Info and pix from Joystiq
PSN Down? [Update-- All Looks to Be Working Again] March 1, 2010
Posted by Zev Rosenbaum in : Video Games , add a comment
If you haven’t been able to get any trophies, load any data (or lost any data like trophies or saved games), sign onto the PlayStation Network, or even play any games on your PS3 over the last 24 hours then you’re probably confused as I was initially and pretty upset. What happened? Its because you have a “fat” PS3, otherwise known as any PS3 that is not a PS3 Slim. The error (Error 8001050F for those who want specifics) is why us ”fat” PS3 users have noticed that our date has gone back into the past to the mystical year of 1999, or 12/31/99 to be exact. Y2K anyone? This internal clock error has been the cause of failed PlayStation Network logins, and even the inability to play certain video rentals and games! Sony has given updates saying that they are working as fast as they can to fix this problem, and are predicting this error to be solved by tomorrow morning. Has your PS3 caught the time traveling bug or are you still here with us in 2010? Leave a comment below. We will post any updates that come our way on this post.
Update (8:30 PM EST): People have been testing out their PS3′s and they are running fine. Not everyone’s PS3 has lost trophies and other game data, but if you did then here’s what you do to get it back: just launch the game that has lost trophies, and the game automatically links with your PSN account online and all your trophies should reappear. You also can go to Settings and Date and Time and set your PS3 to sync the date and time online. Sony also has officially confirmed on their PlayStation Blog that PS3′s should now be good to go, and judging from the amount of people that are playing Uncharted 2 online, we’re gonna go ahead and say its once again safe to turn your PS3 on.