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Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Animator vs. Animation

I ran into this flash animation over at DeviantART a few years ago and it is truly amazing. Not sure if I could find a better flash animation if I wanted to, although I'm sure there's others out there that's even better, but for now, this one takes the cake. Absolutely fantastic work. This is the type of flash animation that would inspire others to be flash animators themselves.

Note: Unfortunately, the flash animation itself cannot be embedded on blogs, which means you'll have to click the image in the middle of the image below to go directly to the site, but trust me, it's worth the visit.

Animator vs. Animation by *alanbecker on deviantART

Monday, November 24, 2008

Left 4 Dead - When Things Go Horribly Wrong

This video is great. It's great not only because Left 4 Dead is a great action-packed, zombie-filled game, but also because of the guy who yells(or screams?) for his life while getting ambushed and eaten alive by blood-thirsty zombies. And it all happened because of one simple thing... his plan to get him and his team from point a to point b.. failed.. miserably.

Very entertaining.

WARNING: Contains lots and lots of cussing.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Netflix/Xbox 360 Combination Works

http://www.montparnas.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/xbox360-netflix.jpg

So I finally got the nerve to sign up for Netflix to test out the new Netflix/Xbox 360 functionality that's included with the New Xbox Experience upgrade.

I have to say that I am pretty impressed with the whole Netflix/Xbox 360 integration. I've read some forum posts where users are saying that the service sucks, how the quality along with the selection of movies is not great, etc, but I don't know where their coming from with that. Sure.. there's only a small library of 12,000 movies/TV shows to choose from with some that are new releases while most of them are older, but really good movies like Scarface, Crimson Tide, etc. Only a small amount are actually in HD, but what's available is pretty damn good, such as Season 1-3 of Heroes and 30 Rock, among others.

The non-HD movies/TV shows are basically DVD quality, while the HD movies/TV shows are crystal clear.

The way it works is you add movies/TV shows to your Instant Queue on the Netflix website and within 15-30 seconds, they will start showing up on your Xbox 360. Displays box art with some information about the movie or TV show. Once you press Play, the system starts determining your connection strange(1-5 bars) and whether or not the movie or TV show is in HD. After this, it starts buffering and plays instantly. Also supports Resume.

Overall, the video/sound is absolutely stellar, no lag whatsoever. However, you must have a pretty good connection speed in order to get the most out of the Netflix/Xbox 360 combo.

The only thing left for them to add is... MORE MOVIES, especially more new releases and more HD content. Hopefully in the future this will happen and at $8.99/m for unlimited streaming, not a bad deal at all.

If you have an Xbox 360 with an Xbox Live Gold Membership and already are a Netflix subscriber, you have nothing to lose but a whole lot to gain. If you aren't a Netflix subscriber, I suggest signing up for a free two week trial to test it out and you'll find out you won't be dissapointed.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Video of the Day: Bike Hero

This video freakin' rocks.

So someone basically took the same gameplay mechanics from Guitar Hero: World Tour and turned it into this. I'm impressed to say the least. Very entertaining video.

See for yourself:

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The New Xbox Experience Impressions



After having spent some time with the New Xbox Experience, I have to say that I really am finding the new look really appealing in almost every way. It looks slicker, cleaner and more organized than ever before. Plus with a slew of new features such as:
  • Avatars: As soon as you download the NXE, you can begin creating your avatar. There's a bunch of options to choose from.
  • Netflix movies: If you're an Xbox Live Gold Member/Netflix subscriber, then you can stream movies from Netflix to your Xbox 360. There's a very nice selection of thousands of movies.
  • Install games to the H/D which means no more loading from the disk and no more scratch disk errors, etc. The only two drawbacks to this is that you must keep the game dvd in the tray or else you can't load the game from the H/D and the fact that it can take up a good amount of storage.
  • Indie games: For the first time ever, gamers can download games straight from the indie developer community and some are only 200 MS Points.
  • Party system: Chat with up to 7 friends at once
  • New themes designed just for the NXE.
  • ...and more!
I'm overly excited about this new change Microsoft and the Xbox 360 team has made and boy has it been worth the wait!

Tomorrow, the floodgates open as everyone on Xbox Live will be able to experience the New Xbox Experience for themselves!

Monday, November 17, 2008

Welcome to the New Xbox Experience

So I was playing some Gears of War 2 co-op with my friend Wap(from the band Holophrase, check 'em out!) when suddenly I got disconnected from Xbox Live because of an Update prompt. I obviously knew that the NXE will be underway this coming Wednesday so I thought that it was just a preparation update to get ready for the big launch. But for some reason, it was taking longer than I thought it should be and BAM, it said it was downloading the New Xbox Experience.

I was pretty surprised, so I headed over to Major Nelson's blog to see what was going on and that's when I saw his post stating that they were letting 10,000+ gamers download the NXE a few days early.. but the only catch was, you had to of signed up for the NXE Preview Program several weeks ago. I did that but had forgotten about it.

Wow... this is a very cool surprise. Can't believe it. Very exciting stuff!

I'll make an update as soon as I play around with the NXE more.

In the mean time, I took some screenshots:













Sunday, November 16, 2008

Randon Off-Topic Post #7: American Dad - One Hell of a Comedy

American Dad is freakin' awesome. Sure, they are the same creators who created Family Guy but the comedic stuff they offer in American Dad I'm finding to be much more funnier than that of what's in Family Guy.

I think that The Simpsons is still the King of Animated Sitcoms, but you have to admit that American Dad has some priceless moments.

Here's an episode of American Dad that aired yesterday, very, very funny:

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Random Off-Topic Post #6: Drawing of a Spider submitted as payment?

What is the world coming to? Some woman from a company e-mailed a man telling him that he owes them a sum amount of $233.95 as his account is overdue. What does the man do you ask? He basically sends her a drawing of a Spider as payment.

Read it... and prepare to laugh:

spider-2.jpg

Friday, November 14, 2008

Random Off-Topic Post #5: Equilibrium Kicks Ass



I forgot just how much Equilibrium really kicks ass. This movie stars Batman's Christian Bale and is basically set in a world where Emotion is outlawed to prevent violence and wars.

Here's some of the best fight scenes in Equilibrium, part 1:


And part 2:

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Hitler Banned From World of Warcraft

Okay, this video is almost as funny as the last one I posted about Hitler getting banned from Xbox Live.. still funny nonetheless though!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King Midnight Madness


Death Knight, the brand new hero class in WoW: WotLK

Well.. the midnight launch for easily one of the biggest of any expansion pack to date, Wrath of the Lich King for the 12 million strong subscriber base, World of Warcraft begins.

I was into World of Warcraft a few years ago, but kind of dropped from it, not sure why exactly. Probably because of too many other games. I do wish I was still into WoW however, so I have an excuse to go to some of these insanely put together events like at Fry's Electronics in Anaheim, where their putting on a huge event for the fans.. developer signings, probably prize giveaways, etc. Lots of fun to be had!

Honestly, not even sure why I wrote this blog post in the first place. Not sure why.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Left 4 Dead Demo Available NOW! (Better Late Than Never Right?)

http://media.moddb.com/images/groups/1/1/7/wave.jpg
Be sure to choose the right weapons and have lots of ammo... these zombies are fast!

Yes, yes I know this is a tad late, as the Left 4 Dead Demo became available this morning, but well.. whatever, I like to remind people of these things to whoever is actually reading this blog, hmm...

Anyways, if you have an Xbox 360 and/or PS3, stop what ya doing and download that demo NOW! The zombies of Left 4 Dead demands it so! Do it or else they'll be really angry with you, but not much they can do about it; you'll just blow their heads off with your trusty shotgun.

Okay, I'm done.

*takes deep breath*

GO DOWNLOAD IT NOW!

*End*

Monday, November 10, 2008

Mirror's Edge...

http://img360.imageshack.us/img360/1725/mirrorsedgetw2.jpg
Don't look down!

...should be pretty cool. We'll see when the game gets released. Possibly a rental at this point. Played the demo and it made me want to get the game, but who knows right now. So many games and not enough time to play them all.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Left 4 Dead Demo - Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse



At the midnight launch of Gears of War 2, I decided to go ahead and pre-order the zombie action game Left 4 Dead to get early access to the Left 4 Dead demo, but that obviously wasn't the only reason I pre-ordered the game. I knew the game would be good, but didn't know how good it would be but knew it would be good nonetheless because it's being developed by Valve Software.

So a few days later, I finally received an e-mail from GameStop with the early access code that would allow me to play the demo early before the demo officially becomes available on Nov. 11(this Tuesday).

I went ahead and booted up my Xbox 360, entered the 25 digit code and started downloading the demo(over 1gb). While I waited I played some Gears of War 2 and eventually the download was done.

As soon as I loaded the demo, the recently released over 4 minute intro trailer of Left 4 Dead started playing(awesome in HD!). After this, I finally was able to start playing the singleplayer campaign(no one was online playing at the time).

There's two levels in the demo to choose from. Each one is pretty damn long, around 20 minutes each, so a total of 40 minutes worth which is pretty long for a demo.

Left 4 Dead is unlike any other zombie game I've ever played before. If you think L4D is similar to Dead Rising, think again, because you'd be dead wrong.

The zombies in L4D are extremely fast, they don't walk slow; they're out for blood and BRAAAAAAAAAAAINS after all! The gameplay is awesome and with three other people you rely on, it makes things really interesting. If you get attacked by a zombie, they come and help. If you're down but not out, they revive you then immediately start healing you.

There's a creature in the demo called a "Boomer". If you get too close, the creature throws up on you which basically has a scent that attracts lots and lots of zombies so definitely kill the Boomers at a distance. Another thing that can attract zombies is setting off car alarms or anything that makes loud noises.

I think Valve definitely has another winner on their hands. Look for Left 4 Dead on store shelves Nov. 18, 2008, and if you haven't pre-ordered it yet or not sure if you should, definitely reconsider after you've played the demo, cause hell, I did.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Need help defeating the Locust Horde in Gears of War 2?

Gears of War 2 Walkthrough

Well, if you do in fact need help, then head on over to Mahalo's Gears of War 2 Walkthrough and watch it be built out live. Keep in mind that the walkthrough is a "work in progress" and that not everything is covered yet.

Additionally, Mahalo took the liberty of creating walkthrough videos to go with the insanely detailed walkthrough of Act 1-5. Also note that not all videos have been uploaded yet, but they should be in due time.

Here's the playlist of the walkthroughs so far, enjoy:

Friday, November 7, 2008

Gears of War 2 - Beyond the Hype

http://images.slashdot.org/articles/06/11/gears1.jpg

Gears of War 2 has just been released to retailers nationwide on November 7, 2008. Was Gears of War 2 bigger than the hype every thought possible? I'd have to say, definitely.

Gears 2 is so much bigger in story, gameplay, mulitiplayer, etc than its previous counterpart, Gears 1. Yes, it's safe to say that Gears 2 is Epic Games biggest game to date and most EPIC(pun intended) game they've ever created.

I really have no words to describe the awesomeness of Gears 2 other than to just say, PLAY the game and play it proud!

Now get out there Soldier and kick some Locust ass!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Gears of War 2 Is Tonight!!!



And so the day has finally come. Gears of War 2 will finally hit store shelves at midnight tonight and as previous games I've mentioned in other posts, I'll be right there anxiously waiting in line.

WOW... I feel like it was just yesterday when I first played the original Gears and couldn't stop playing it, single-player(beat it on Insane) and of course multiplayer.

I think Epic Games has definitely outdid themselves this time as Gears 2 has to be their biggest and best game they've ever created in the history of the company(although Unreal Tournament still remains to this day as one of my all-time favorite games).

Gears of War 2... can't wait!

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Gears of War 2 - Just Over 24 Hours

And now the excitement of getting my hands on Gears of War 2 really sets in as one of the biggest games this year will be released in a little over 24 hours as the game launches at midnight tomorrow night! I can't even begin to express of how much I've been looking forward to Gears 2.. gonna be awesome!

This is a really cool trailer by the way:

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Gears of War 2: Marcas Fenix and Dom Interviews

Found an interview awhile ago and thought I'd post it. Pretty awesome interview, specially when John DiMaggio(voice of Marcus Fenix and Bender) does the voice Marcus Fenix. Pretty damn cool.

Speaking of which, John DiMaggio and some of the other voice actors behind Gears of War 2 will be in attendance this Thursday at the Universal City Walk's GameStop for the midnight launch of Gears of War 2. The man himself, no longer known as CliffyB, but Cliff Bleszinski rather will also be there signing autographs, along with Xbox Live's Major Nelson who will be MC'ing the entire event.

They are going all out for the Los Angeles event which is awesome, probably because I live in LA. Sorry to the folk in New York, Washington and London, although I'm sure those events will still be great.

More info available here....

Anyways, onto the interview:



Special side note: Oh yeah, almost forgot... don't forget to vote in this historic election which may never happen again, or will it?

Monday, November 3, 2008

Gears of War 2 Reviews



My most anticipated game of 2008 is just about here, literally just a few days away.

Today, reviews have been pouring in. So far the online review site Metacitics has a review percentage of 96% and GameRankings.com having a review percentage of 95% which is definitely a great start, considering all the major sites have reviewed the game thus far.

Anyways.. down to business, below you'll find reviews from various gaming sites that I think you'll be most pleased wth:
  • GiantBomb (5/5): "Gears of War 2 intelligently builds on the successes of the first game, resulting in an immensely appealing sequel that is better in almost every way."
  • GameSpy (5/5): "Epic's highly anticipated sequel is indeed bigger, better, and more badass than its predecessor."
  • TeamXbox (9.6): "Despite a few minor missteps in the way the story and action play out, and a few forgivable technical blemishes, Gears of War 2 is about as close as you can get to the perfect gaming package. Now the waiting begins for 3."
  • IGN (9.5): "If you haven’t figured it out by now, Gears of War 2 is what’s going tosell Xbox 360s this holiday season. It has non-stop action, freshgameplay, varied environments, an engrossing storyline, multiplayerthat will have people busy for years to come, and some of the nastiestand coolest kills I’ve seen in a videogame."
  • GameTrailers.com (9.5): "It's not absolutely perfect, it's fairly similar to the first game, andit can be boiled down to a simple war game about killing aliens. ButGears of War 2 delivers on all its promises and accomplishes almosteverything a big sequel should--keeping its distinct identity whilebuffing up in every possible category."
I'm thinking Gears of War 2 is an easy contender for "Game of the Year", yeah, that's about right.

This Thursday at midnight cannot come soon enough cause I'm freakin' inching to get in there and beat the living hell outta them Locust and try my hands(have played it and it freakin' rocks!) at the new(and possibly the best) multiplayer gametype, Horde Mode.

The countdown is on!

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Left 4 Dead Intro



A few days ago, Valve released an intro movie to their anticipated blood bath of a horror game Left 4 Dead which aired on TV first then eventually made its way to Valve's awesome service, Steam.

The video is a whopping 4 minutes and 39 seconds and is available in HD(via Steam) and even offers a format for the iPod and iPhone.

This intro movie is just a taste of what's to come on November 18, when the game gets released. Looks very, very good and is another game to watch out for. And what's more... four player online co-op, gotta love it!

Wow... just "bloody" wow!

Saturday, November 1, 2008

Gears of Wars 2 - Less Than One Week



Possibly my most anticipated game of 2008 is just about here... less than one week away... this coming up Thursday at midnight to be exact!

Gears of War 2 is gonna be awesome, lengthier story, new weapons, new enemies, new multiplayer game modes and more!

Friday, October 31, 2008

It's Halloween!

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-1/87116/HappyHalloween2_2007_300.jpg

Wow... it's already Halloween. What better way to celebrate Halloween than to play *gasp* EA Redwood Shores' *soon to win many awards* and scary as all hell, Dead Space. Buy it, enjoy it, and get scared like you've never been scared before!

Oh yeah... remember kids, do not eat all your candy in one helping(did that once... not a good idea).

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Random Off-Topic Post #4 - Sons of Aranchy



Here's a really jammin' new show which debuted in September of this year and airs on FX(lots of great shows on that channel!)

The show is about a motorcycle gang(Sons of Anarchy) who hang out, have fun, etc.. and they're also gun runners.

Definitely a great show to watch and Hellboy's Ron Pealman is in it.

Here's the pilot episode:

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Random Off-Topic Post #3 - My Own Worst Enemy

The new NBC show, My Own Worst Enemy, is pretty awesome. It's about Henry Spivey(played by Christian Slater) who is also Edward Albright, a secret operative working for a secret government agency. Henry obviously doesn't know this until he suddenly wakes up on the job wondering what the hell is going on. Pretty damn intense.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Fallout 3 - Prepare for the Future [Reviews]

http://www.scoutingforgames.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/fallout-3-2.jpg
This is what the world will look like in a few hundred years...

Fallout 3 is a smashing success with most critics who have reviewed the game thus far.

My own personal opinion on the game after spending a good amount of time playing it today.. I have to say that Fallout 3 is definitely a game that deserves to be in everyone's gaming library, especially those who love RPGs.

The world in Fallout 3 is huge, probably bigger than that of Oblivion's world. Lots of action to be found in the "Capital Wasteland". The story is strong, the gameplay fierce and the whole character customization, weapons, level upgrades, etc, top notch.

Don't take my word for it though, play the game yourself and you decide. But in case you want a second opinion, check out the reviews below:

  • 1up.com (A): "Faults be damned, though; this is the kind of hugely ambitious game that doesn't come around very often, and when it does, you'd be a fool not to play it and enjoy the hell out of it and look forward to the day (next-next-gen?) when the fidelity of open-world RPGs takes another big step closer to the uncanny valley's far side."
  • GameSpy (5/5): "Yes, Fallout 3 is a lot like Oblivion (with guns!), but it's a superior game in nearly every way, as it features a more engaging storyline, impeccable presentation, and hundreds of hours of addictive gameplay. While the jury is still out on whether or not
    hardcore
    Fallout enthusiasts will accept the game as part of the storied franchise, Fallout 3 is a must-have title for most RPG fans, as well as one of the finest games of this generation."
  • IGN.com (9.6): "It's a fantastic game with incredible atmosphere that offers fun in so many different ways that you're almost sure to get hooked. This is one of the best games you'll play this year."
  • VideoGamer.com (9): "As I said up at the top, this is a massive game: in a month that's seen the release of five or six of the year's best titles, I reckon this is the absolute peach. It's packed with interesting places, with choices to make, with that nebulous sense of adventure you only find in the best RPGs. And after a long wait, it's finally here."
  • GameSpot (8.5): "No matter what platform you own, you should play Fallout 3, which overcomes its issues by offering a deep and involving journey through a world that's hard to forget. It has more in common with Bethesda's Elder Scrolls series than with previous Fallout games, but that is by no means a bad thing. In fact, Fallout 3 is leaner and meaner than Bethesda's previous efforts, less expansive but more intense, while still offering immense replay value and quite a few thrills along the way. Whether you're a newcomer to the universe or a Fallout devotee, untold hours of mutated secrets are lurking in the darkest corners of Washington."
And in case you're still not convinced, buy the game, it's that easy, buy the game and enjoy everything it has to offer.

By the way, this Fallout 3 Fat Man video rocks!

Monday, October 27, 2008

Fallout 3 Midnight Launch

http://gamextract.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/fallout-3-3.jpg
Hey.. uh... wtf you looking at? Want me to shoot ya in the face or somethin'?

So tonight is the midnight launch of the 10+ year(?) in the making game, Fallout 3. Note that supposedly the game has been in development for 4 or so years, but the last game, Fallout 2 was released 10 years ago.

I'll of course be there at my local GameStop waiting to purchase the behemoth of a video game(think Oblivion size) but I don't know, I can't help but feel like I'm not as hyped up about Fallout 3 as say a game like Gears of War 2.

Probably because there are so many other big freakin' games being released this Holiday season that I can't be excited about them all(or can I?). Plus, next week(Thursday at midnight)... FINALLY the wait is almost over, Gears of War 2 will hit store shelves and I'll be there in line waiting patiently to get my hands on the highly anticipated title.

Here's one of them teaser trailers for Fallout 3 to tide ya over until tonight:

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Random Cool Video #4 - Dead Space Achievement

This "Achievement Hunter" video is freakin' hilarious!

The achievement that is being showcased is "Ragdoll Check" which means you must kill at least five enemies using the gravity wells. I won't say anything else.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Random Off-Topic Post #2 - It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia



Okay, this show on FX freakin' rocks. It has to be the single most funniest "adult" comedy sitcom I have seen in a long, long time.

Honestly, I never even knew the show existed before Hulu introduced me. Hulu is like the best video streaming service on the net and the best part... totally freakin' free! Has lots and lots of other shows, as well, but not only that, movies too! Even older shows are available on the service.

Anyways, back to the topic at hand.. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a remarkable, very funny show and anyone who even slightly has a sense of humor must watch it, unless of course, they already are. Be warned though, there is some pretty offensive topics they talk about and bring up. If I didn't know any better, a lot of the stuff they do is ad-lib, but who knows.

Oh yeah... the show is about five people who all run a bar, Paddy's and they basically joke about every single thing known to man. They all come up with different schemes, crazy, crazy ideas and what not.

Great show, great set of actors and Danny DeVito(as Frank Reynolds) is even in there. You can't go wrong with that guy.

Highly recommended!

Here's one of the funniest episodes in my opinion:

Friday, October 24, 2008

Random Off-Topic Post #1 - Saw V

http://www.firstshowing.net/img/saw-v-teaser-poster-big.jpg

The latest in gut-wrenching, bloody/gory trap filled movies, Saw V is the next installment in the horror film franchise.

I'm seeing the movie tonight and absolutely cannot wait. Looks really good and I especially can't wait to see how it all ends(although there is supposed to be a sixth film in the works). I've seen 'em all and equally enjoyed them all and this one will be no different, except for a lot more blood, gore and new cleverly built torturous traps and contraptions.

Saw V will be THE movie to watch just in time for Halloween.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Gears of War 2: Last Day

Remember the last ad for the original Gears of War, Mad World? That commercial was freakin' inspiring and awesome. They really know how to bring emotion into an action-packed blood filled game.

Well, there's a new ad in town and it goes by the name "Last Day" which has the same kind of feeling and emotion as the last ad. The ad was also designed by the same team who brought you Mad World. But is "Last Day" better than "Mad World"? I'd have to say "No" as Mad World had something(can't pinpoint it) that the other one does not have. I don't know. You be the judge.

P.S.: Two weeks from tonight(midnight) and Gears of War 2 will be released!

Gears of War 2: Last Day


Gears of War: Mad World

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Master Chief Spotted in Fable II

When I bought Fable II, I actually picked up the Collector's Edition, although it is a very poor water downed CE, it's still worth the price. I've seen much better(BioShock CE, GTAIV CE, hell, even Spore CE), but because you get less, the CE is in fact less, $10 less to be exact.

Anyways... the only thing worth mentioning in that CE is the code that unlocks a special armor and sword, but not just any armor and sword, THE armor and sword... Master Chief's MJOLNIR spartan armor and the Covenant Energy Sword(pictured below).

Isn't that cool? I guess that's where Master Chief went(if you've played and beaten Halo 3, you'll know what I mean).

Master Chief Suit #1 by you.
Master Chief Suit #2 by you.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Fable 2 - What The Critics Are Saying

http://www.dignews.com/admin/screenshoot/fable_2_art_07.jpg

So finally, the long anticipated wait is over and Fable II was released. About an hour in(played it at work, slept after staying awake for 24+ hours, now finally playing it at home) and I must say that Fable II is an amazing achievement in gameplay, art direction, sound/music/voice over work, and everything else you'd want in a truly great sequel.

I think one of the coolest features in Fable II is the heroes trusty Dog which can attack enemies, detect dig spots and treasure chests and more. Too awesome!

What are the critic saying you ask?

Look below for the answers:

  • Eurogamer (10/10): "Inclusive and often thought-provoking, this is a daring portrait of a game-world with all the failure cut out, and it's hard not to love a game that loves you so much in return. Fable II will charm you, thrill you, and leave you very, very happy."
  • G4TV's X-Play (5/5): "Playing Fable II is an absolute pleasure. Between the combat, the humor, and the multitude of small details, I found it decidedly difficult to put it down to get some sleep or tape the show."
  • Official Xbox Magazine (9.5/10): "Fable II really is everything Molyneux promised the first time around. It’s funny, deep, emotional, epic, and, yes, wildly charming. We’re already eager for a second playthrough, and we’re betting a lot of you will have exactly the same reaction."
  • Xbox 360 Achievements.org (9.4/10): "Fable 2 is what people in the industry would call a “killer app”. It’s a title that you could most definitely buy a console for. I mean, what other games out on the market at the moment give you such an interactive and consequential world. Other games claim to have done it, Fable 2 has done it. Chalk this one down as a “must buy”."
  • GameSpy (9/10): "Fable II presents you with difficult, meaningful decisions that shape the development of the world around you. You'll experience life from a young age and see your character grow up to become a powerful force in Albion. Whether or not you become a force for good or for evil is completely up to you. We thoroughly enjoyed Fable II, and heartily recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good role-playing game."

So, in other words, go out and buy Fable II as soon as you can get to your local video game retailer.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Fable 2 - Midnight Launch

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h239/tillyferrari/Fable2Background_01.jpg

I'm heading to GameStop in a half hour to pick up the highly anticipated sequel Fable II. Already the reviews are coming in and are saying that the game is a true sequel and many times bigger than the original.

Can't wait to get my hands on it and play it!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Random Cool Video #3 - Duke Nukem Talks Trash

This Duken Nukem prank is classic.

So someone plays a Duke Nukem soundboard over Ventrilo which of courses SUPER pisses off someone while everyone else in the room was pretty much laughing their asses off.

Genius to whoever set this thing up.

WARNING: Lots and lots of cussing.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Random Cool Video #2 - Hitler gets banned from Xbox Live

This video is over a year old, but it's still awesome and funny as hell and I'm sure 5 years from now it'll still be funny.

Friday, October 17, 2008

LittleBigPlanet Delayed?



When I woke up this morning, I was looking through my google reader feeds and noticed that the highly anticipated platformer video game LittleBigPlanet was being delayed in Europe, ONLY Europe I might add.

When I got to work today, I soon found out that the Europe delay was only the beginning and that the "create-all" game was being delayed worldwide.

The reason? I guess a forum poster made a post stating that in one of the stages Media Molecure put together, that Qur'an was being referenced in the background music which caused a last minute delay.

So when will the big game be released you may ask? Within a week from the origjnal release date(Now Oct. 27). That's not that bad, considering it could have been a month or even a 2009 delay, ya never know when it comes to Sony.

In the mean time, watch a documentary about the creation of Sackboy:


Thursday, October 16, 2008

Random Cool Video #1 - Trogdor

This is one of my favorites e-mails from Homestar Runner, extremely awesome flash website, for those who have no idea what this is about.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Gears of War 2 - The Horde


The Brumak, new juggernaut sized enemy in the game ... that you will be able to fight

Gears of War 2 is looking better and better every time I watch a video, especially the many different types of Locust Horde.

Take the Bloodmount for example; this creature is pretty damn vicious. The thing uses its arms to walk and if it gets too close to you, you're history. These Bloodmounts can even walk on top of obstacles to get to its prey and most importantly, they're fast. If you see one of them, I'd stay back as far as possible or else just run for your life cause you won't last long if they get to you.

Here's a video of some of the developers discussing the various new enemies in the game:

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Max Payne gets revenge this Friday

Max Payne Photos

The long-awaited Max Payne movie is just about to hit the big screen this Friday. The movie looks awesome and I do think Mark Wahlberg looks the part of Max Payne, but guess we'll have to wait to find out how well he performs it.

I'm a huge fan of both games(Max Payne and Max Payne 2: The Fall of Max Payne) so I hope they do a good job producing the movie. There have been so many bad video game to movie adaptations that could have been better produced. I think Max Payne might have the potential to be one of the best video game to movie adaptation releases in ages, but I could easily be wrong. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

How's a trailer of the action-packed movie:

Monday, October 13, 2008

Dead Space is gonne be one hell of a ride!

http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r37/thexboxdomain/5--screenshot_viewer_medium.jpg

Dead Space, the newest in survivor-horror games. The game has been getting some great reviews and those who have actually reviewed it are saying it's extremely scary and bloody/gory(my kind of game).

This could have easily been hit or miss, seeing how this is a new franchise developed by Electronic Arts. Who would have known if they could pull it off or not. But it appears that they have.

Here's a few reviews from various gaming websites:
  • GamePro.com (5/5): "Dead Space is a riveting survival horror game, unflinchingly violent from start to finish. Blindly unpredictable and incredibly intense, Dead Space keeps your heart pumping the entire game."
  • PGNX Media (9.3/10): "Dead Space shows the beginnings of a very strong franchise. EA Redwood Shores nailed the genre with Dead Space. On one hand, you have a very violent and gory game with tons of action. On the other, you have a fulfilling and well-told story with plenty of plot twists. Holding them together is a superb atmosphere that truly immerses you into this world. Essentially, you’re looking at a must-have."
  • GameSpot (9/10): "An incredibly atmospheric and disturbingly gruesome deep-space adventure that will haunt your dreams and leave you begging for more."
  • GameDaily (9/10): "Proof that space travel is a bad idea unless it's in a video game starring scary aliens with overbites."
  • IGN: (8.7/10): "Call it science fiction survival horror, but Dead Space does the genre proud with an engaging story; action that's tense, fast-paced and extremely violent; as well as atmospheric qualities that will get under your skin and make you jump."
There you have it folks. All in all, Dead Space is an easy BUY NOW, not later type of game. It arrives on store shelves this Wednesday. And just a reminder, when you get the game, be sure to crank up the speakers, turn off the lights, and be ready for one hell of a ride that will scare you until you suddenly wake up.

Dead Space - "Zero Gravity" Trailer

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Combat Arms - Online FPS Action

http://www.g4g.it/g4g/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/combat_arms_01.jpg

When I was at E for All on Oct. 3-5, I encountered a game that they had on display. I've honestly never heard of it, but it's a fairly new game, around 3 months old, launched on July 11, 2008.

Combat Arms is a "free" online war-inspired first-person shooter developed by Doobic Studios and published by Nexon.

The game is pretty damn intense and completely free. There are aspects of the game that you must pay for however, with NX cash, such as character models, certain weapons, name changes, etc in what is called the "Black Market".

Also, after each match, you earn GP(in-game currency) which can be used to purchase character/weapon customization and so on.

The gameplay is fast and a lot of fun. The graphics, because the game is free, aren't equal to Call of Duty 4 or Gears of War, but that shouldn't matter anyways.

There are 10 maps and four game modes:
  • Elimination (Team Deathmatch)
  • One Man Army (Deathmatch)
  • Capture the Flag
  • Search & Destroy
This is a great "pick up and play" type of game. Lots of great weapons and fast-paced action. I highly recommend Combat Arms to anyone who is a FPS fan. Get downloading now and see ya on the battlefield!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Bowser's Minions Have Something To Say

This video is so freakin' hilarious!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

The "Master Chief Sucks at Halo" Series

I know these videos are over a year old, at least the first few are, but I can't help but think of how truly awesome they really are.

The creator, DigitalPh33r, is a real genius for creating these brilliant videos. They are hilarious. Don't know how the hell he did it, but what a great job!

I think my personal favorite is "Master Chief Sucks at Halo 3". Pure brilliance!

Here are the three videos in the series:

Master Chief Sucks at Halo


Master Chief Sucks at Halo 2


Master Chief Sucks at Halo 3

Finish the Fight... again?

http://api.ning.com/files/j4EpQvsMTdmtQIvr6n5OjZcBz-Z8cJVuTg-qVv3h4CvrogjtsEH9UgaHQY6xNHsbNmevLj8WsSgxF-THlFgIoNN1ZwuTchWQ/halo3.jpg

Bungie finally announced the prequel campaign to Halo 3 called "Recon" at the Tokyo Game Show during the Microsoft Press Conference.

Master Chief is still "resting" somewhere in the universe, but because of that, a new hero must rise. There's little detail of what this new chapter holds, but I guess we'll have to wait until Fall 2009.

The new announcement trailer awaits:

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

The countdown begins...

...to one of the biggest Xbox 360 games of 2008, Gears of War 2! Less than one month away and the Horde will be able to run no longer.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Gears of War 2: 100,000 Kill Achievement



It's crazy... I know this is pretty late, but Seriously? Seriously 2.0 is a 100,000 kill achievement in Gears of War 2. That's five times of what it was(20,000 kills) in Gears of War. That's INSANITY! It'll take years! Well, maybe not years, but sure in hell will take long enough. Too long. I'd have to literally play the game 8 hours a day for at least 6 months before scoring that awesome achievement. Maybe I will, that's if I'm unemployed at the time, cause if I still have a job, it won't be happening anytime soon, or it will just take longer.

BUT, there is one good side of that achievement... killing Locust in Horde Mode counts(and every other mode), which makes things a lot easier. Probably easier killing Locust than it is killing actual players. lol.

Gears of War 2: Horde Mode Booth

Here's a screenshot I took of the Gears of War 2 booth, but just one screenshot. As soon as I took out my camera, they immediately told me they don't allow camera/video use, just like on Friday. I had to basically ask if I could step back, then take the screenshot, as long as it wasn't directly of the screens.

Besides, taking a picture or recording some gameplay of the game in action will not do the game justice; you have to experience the game full on to get the most out of it. It'll look really bad on YouTube anyways.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Gears of War 2: Horde Mode

http://www.xbox.com/NR/rdonlyres/0D49F9E4-B06E-4D03-8D27-0DDA3A0A61AF/0/gearsofwar2_marcus_1280.jpg

I got the chance to experience Gears of War 2 at E for All 2008 on Friday.

The only thing that I was able to play was the new game type, Horde Mode. Basically in Horde Mode, there's waves of enemies that you must kill at all costs. Obviously wave 1 is the easiest(like 6 enemies), but it eventually gets tough(REALLY tough). What's cool though is the fact that the same enemies aren't always there. As you continue to complete each wave, different and much stronger enemies start appearing out of the wood works. You can play Horde Mode over Xbox Live with up to 8 players(I believe that's the number, but not positive).

Another cool thing about Horde Mode: When you die, it's not game over. You can watch your other team mates via the "Ghost Camera" take down each and every enemy in the current wave. If they're successful, you live to fight another day. But if they fail, then it IS game over. You can either start from that current wave(although everything remains the same, you'll have to find weapons and more ammo) or you can select to start over from the beginning.

Much like the singleplayer and multiplayer from Gears of War, you can revive your team mates as they fall, but make sure you're near by because there is a timer(I'd say you have about 20 seconds to revive them) or they die and have to wait until the wave is complete or fails.

I would have taken a screenshot or video of the game in action(or of the booth), but camera/video use is restricted. I'll try again today, just not positive I'll be able to.

Anyways.. Gears of War 2 is definitely shaping up to be one hell of a game(Game of the Year worthy for sure). The game is set to be released on Nov. 7, 2008. I pre-ordered my copy.. have you?

Update: Correction... asked yesterday about how many can play in Horde Mode over Xbox Live and the person who works at the booth said 5. Other modes will be up to 8 players.

Gears of War 2 - Horde Mode: Interview with Cliffy B

Thursday, October 2, 2008

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