Pac-Man CE DX is utter insanity!

Not sure if you guys and girls have heard of Namco's most recent downloadable release, Pac-Man CE DX. If not, it's pretty freakin' incredible.

The game mixes up the format quite a bit; As Pac-Man passes sleeping ghosts, they awaken and follow him in a snake-like fashion. As you navigate through each grid, you'll collect pellets and fruit pieces to unlock new grid sections. Once your trail of ghosts gets long enough, gobble up a power pellet and each the entire row in one foul swoop.

The gameplay is insanely addictive, so much so I've been playing nonstop. The above video is my personal playtime, and current high-score. Can you do better? Let me know!

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Microsoft launches Kinect for Xbox 360

Screw you controllers!

Microsoft has finally launched their controller-less motion sensor, dubbed Kinect. The $149.99 add-on is compatible with any Xbox 360 console, even those sleeker, slimmer models, and comes bundled with casual favorite Kinect Adventures.

Are you picking one up today?

1501 posts, and they all taste like rainbows!

Can you believe this is the 1,501st post on this ye' olde site? Well it's as true as true can be.

Sorry for the lack of updates lately, as I've been consumed with Kirby's Epic Yarn. The game is absolutely incredible, and if you haven't picked up a copy, do it immediately.

It's also the start of the busiest gaming season around. In just a few short months, we are expected to play Rock Band 3, Call of Duty: Black Ops, GoldenEye 007, Donkey Kong Country Returns, Sonic Colors, and Disney Epic Mickey. Phew, I'm out of breath!

Great things to come so stick around, and we'll be right back after these commercial messages.

Sonic Free Riders launching with Kinect in November

Those excited to get their body's on Microsoft's magical Kinect sensor will only have to wait until November 4th. But what new game will be your free motion debut?

Sega is bringing Sonic Free Riders to Xbox 360 on Kinect's launch day. Take a look at the newest trailer, and be prepared to sweat.

Kirby unravels this Sunday with Epic Yarn

Kirby is returning to consoles with an all new adventure. From Good-Feel comes Kirby's Epic Yarn, a reimagining of the series that throws our beloved pink fluff ball into a transformable strand of yarn. Set in a colorfully adorable fabric based world, Kirby can turn into an array of objects while on his journey, including a submarine, tank and even a dolphin. And with Prince Fluff, the game is fully playable in 2-player co-op.

This Sunday marks the release of Epic Yarn for Wii. To celebrate, take a look at the latest gameplay trailer, featuring his evil foes King Dedede and Meta Knight, both in fabric form.

Obama, Bush and Palin join NBA JAM roster

The NBA Jam series has never been a stranger to hosting celebrity players mingling with the game's impressive list of NBA talent. Since the Jam franchise hasn't seen a release this decade, EA Sports knew they needed to add some current newsworthy heavy hitters to the mix.

The company has announced a whopping list containing just some of the special celebrity and political figures featured in the game; George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Hilary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Dick Cheney, John McCain, Sarah Palin, The Beastie Boys.

Not a bad list, eh? Discover all these and many more in NBA Jam, on sale today for Wii and later this holiday for Xbox 360 and PS3.

Vooks

Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3DS vs N64 screenshot

As we all know based on the epic pool of saliva resting on the lower part of our keyboards, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is getting remade for Nintendo's upcoming handheld, the 3DS.

Take a look at some comparison screenshot between the new version and the Nintendo 64 classic. Quite amazing, amiright? Ocarina is set to be one of the many titles launching near the 3DS' announced March 2011 release date. I for one, can't freaking wait.

GoNintendo

Sonic 4: Mad Gear Zone trailer

SEGA is revealing more and more of the ever-alluring retro goodness that is Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1. The game, set for a staggered console release starting October 11th on WiiWare, is looking better and better by the day.

Check out the latest gameplay trailer, featuring the game's Mad Gear Zone. No relation to the Mad Gear of Final Fight fame. Enjoy!

Nintendo 3DS release date confirmed: Arriving March 2011

Nintendo of Japan has just announced a February 26, 2011 release date for Japan for the upcoming 3-D capable handheld (for roughly $299), the Nintendo 3DS. North America and Europe will receive the console this March 2011.

The handheld will also feature a Virtual Console of its own, featuring GameBoy and GameBoy Advanced titles. There is also a new Mii Creation studio that will allow users to create Miis based on their own photos taken with the 3DS' dual cameras.

IGN

Eye Pet Review

Monkey around with Move.

Cats, dogs, dolphins... unicorns. You name an animal (real or not) and odds are there is a pet sim for it. But until Platypus Wrangler is released, Sony has put together what may be the most immersive pet sims to date.

I speak of course, of EyePet.

*Warning: Real pets will be jealous of how much attention you give the EyePet.*

EyePet is one off Sony's brand new PlayStation Move titles. The Move control scheme allows PS3 gamers motion controls using the Move controller and the EyeToy (the PS3's USB camera) to track player movements. This new level of interactivity allows you to... well... interact, with the EyePet.

The EyePet itself is nothing short of adorable. It's a small, fluffy, simian creature that will steal the thunder of real household pets everywhere (for a time). It coos, purrs, yips, laughs, and responds to player stimulus. And you can customize it from fir (or feather) length and color to adorable outfits. But how does it work?

Pimp your EyePet.

Unlike other Move titles (which only use the EyeToy to track the controller) EyePet uses the camera to show players on their TV screen. The EyePet itself is then layered over the screen image, making it look like the little scamp is in your living room (or whatever room you are playing in). The effect is nothing short of charming, but there are a few catches.

One hurdle in the EyePet experience is the setup. Before being introduced to your Pet you have to watch a tutorial on how to rearrange your room for playing. In a nutshell, you need to clear the room of any clutter (toys, coffee tables, etc.), achieve mid-level lighting, and place your EyeToy about knee high off the floor.

It's not a huge inconvenience, but if you had to move a couch everytime you wanted to play Call of Duty it would dampen the experience a smidge.

Another obstacle is the video quality of the EyeToy itself. If you watch an EyePet commercial you'll notice that it's shot in HD, showing a pristine clarity between players and their EyePets. This illusion sadly isn't replicated in-game. The EyeToy is a USB camera after all, and its grainy footage clashes with the digital bliss of the EyePet itself.

I don't know what camera they're using, but it's not an EyeToy.

Interior decorating and oversold camera quality aside, there's a lot to like about EyePet. For starters, the Pet itself repsonds to all kinds of stimulus. Clap and it looks to you. Wiggle your fingers on the floor and it will pounce. Reach out to pet it and you can see its fur respond accordingly to your carresses.

Let me put it like this. At one point I was petting my EyePet slowly trying to get it to go take a nap. My dog Gucci saw me making pat motions to the air and came over to investigate. As soon as Gucci entered the frame my EyePet became startled and quickly jumped out of Gucci's way. That's some impressive tech.

Another level of immersion comes from the use of the Move controller. Selecting a toy like the glove and ball replaces the controller (as it appears on the screen) into said toy. So on-screen, it looks like the player is actually holding a cartoon baseball glove. It may not sound impressive, but seeing it in action sparks your imagination regarding the potential of Move.

The EyeToy does more than put players on the screen too. For example, players can teach their Pets to draw in one of two ways. You can draw on the screen with the Move controller OR you can actually draw on a piece of paper, hold it up to the EyeToy, and watch as your pet attempts to replicate your art. I know it's a simple scan process, but the sense of immersion is pretty awesome.

And that's just a piece of the pie. You can draw things like simple cars, which turn into in-game items after your pet draws them too. Draw a car, your pet copies it, then you can drive it around and watch your Pet chase it. It's no Gran Turismo, but again the tech is impressive.

To progress through the game you need to complete the Pet Program. The program gives you 4 objectives to complete a day over the course of 15 days. These can be sports challenges (like knocking down a set number of pins in bowling) or photo challenges (taking a pic of your pet doing a specified activity).

Helping your EyePet hatch is a pretty magical moment.

As you progress you'll also need to do other pet related tasks. Bathing, feeding, and medical check ups are routine and make use of the Move controller. When bathing your furry friend, the Move controller can be a water hose, a shampoo bottle, and a hair dryer. Sure these tasks become a little tedious, but the cuteness and adoration of your EyePet as you clean its stink away make it all worth it.

Tying this whole package together is a tutorial character known as The Professor. Giving regular updates in his worst Doc Brown impression, The Professor is a tough pill to swallow. Kids may appreciate his corny humor as he walks them through the game's various functions, but as an adult gamer (one who LOVES SpongeBob mind you) the frequent input from The Professor was annoying. Luckily, his presence diminishes as you progress through the game.

The Game (7/10)
EyePet works on two levels, as a pet sim and a tech demo. Moreso as a tech demo. The Pet is a real charmer but sadly, after a week it seems to go the way of the Tamagatchi. It's hard to come home everyday and stress over feeding your EyePet when you're real pet needs some TLC.

I put EyePet to the test and let my 4 year old nephew take a turn. In two minutes he was over the wonderment of being on the TV screen and the cuteness of the Pet, proceeding to try and hit it with the controller. Granted the opinions of a 25 year old and a 4 year old make for a weak demographic study sample, but I'm a 10 year old at heart.

The Time (8/10)
EyePet can be knocked out easily in a week, faster if you don't mind piddling with your PS3's internal clock. And the daily tasks of Pet maintenance don't eat up a lot of time either... in theory. Sometimes you'll jump into the game for a quick feeding and you'll see that you're pet needs a bath, or a checkup, or wants to play, or all of the above. At that point the pick up and play factor takes a backseat to human emotions.

The Verdict
The gist? EyePet is a functioning and immersive pet sim, but the wow factor has about a week of longevity. My time with my EyePet has me excited for the possibilities of Move. But other than as a showpiece to friends I don't plan playing through the Pet Program again anytime soon.

I remember when all my friends had Tamagotchis and I had to have one. It (who I named Iggy) was super cool for like a week and then I lost it somewhere in my room. For two months I would wake up in the middle of the night as my lost Tamagotchi beeped in hunger. I never found it, but the beeping eventually stopped and I can only assume the worst.

EyePet is a technologically advanced Tamagotchi that at times can wow players with its immersive gameplay. But I can't promise that it won't suffer the same terrible fate as poor, poor Iggy.

Some people just can't take criticism.

iCarly 2: iJoin The Click! boxart

Here's your first look at the new boxart for Nickelodeon's iCarly 2: iJoin The Click video game. Set for Wii and DS release, the game puts the player in the role of a new student, who will interact with the usual favorites from the iCarly TV series.

"One of the unique characteristics of the show and a key factor in its success is the show's interactive integration of its fans," said Activision's David Oxford. "With the program continuing to reach new ratings milestones and with our first iCarly game being very well received, we've developed a fresh new take on the game that allows fans to immerse themselves in the world of iCarly and to fully interact with its awesome cast of personalities."

The game is set to release this fall.

Super Mario Kart 's old school TV ad

Don't you miss the dedication that went into video game commercials? Back when the Internet was nothing more than a way to use your Juno email accounts, video game publishers actually had to spend their money advertising their upcoming games with commercials!

Sure, some video games get the TV ad treatment, but the percentage is pretty slim compared to the days of yore.

Check out this retro Super Mario Kart commercial for nostalgia sake.

Nintendo to announce 3DS price/ release date on September 29!

 Hold onto your hats, folks. Next Wednesday, September 29th, Nintendo is gearing up to spill the beans on the company's upcoming handheld, the Nintendo 3DS. Specifically, we'll find out when we can get our hands on the 3-D capable device, and how much it's going to cost us.

The 3DS is the first gaming handheld of its kind, that introduces 3-D gaming without the need of special glasses. It's also fully capable of displaying 3-D motion pictures, and allows users to capture their own 3-D images.

Stay tuned...

Disney Epic Mickey's "Journey" trailer

With Warren Spector's much anticipated Wii title Disney Epic Mickey on the horizon, fans of Walt Disney's magical world of beloved and forgotten characters are getting eager to relive the magic. Thankfully, we have a new Epic Mickey trailer that gives you a brief overview of the story.

I got my hands on the game at E3 this June ,and it surely does not disappoint. Are you as excited as we are to play a brand spanking new Mickey Mouse video game on Wii?

Epic Mickey is set for a November 30th release.

Halo: Reach Review

Great Halo Game or Greatest Halo Game?

Let’s cut to the chase. Halo: Reach is the quintessential Halo experience. Bold statement? Yes. But here’s why.

Reach is the swan song for franchise helmer Bungie Studios. While Microsoft plans on churning out more Halo titles in the future, the creators of Master Chief are stepping away from the Halo universe to pursue other adventures. That said, it’s evident that the Bungie staff put every ounce of their heart and soul into Reach.

Starting with the campaign mode, Halo: Reach is the most cavalier spirited Halo title since the original. Players control Noble 6, the aptly named 6th member of the Spartan Noble team. Noble Team has been charged with carrying out high-risk ops on Planet Reach, the last remaining human stronghold against the Covenant forces.

And from the get-go, it’s evident the planet of Reach is in trouble.

This Spartan eats trouble for breakfast. With soy milk.

As Noble 6, you go through a total of ten missions with the rest of Noble Team. These stages include everything you’d expect in a Halo game: epic battles, close quarters firefights, intense vehicle sequences. Plus crazy fun new additions like space combat, and new weapon loadouts like jet packs and holograms leave you feeling like a brand new Spartan.

Speaking of Spartans… In the original Halo, Master Chief is seemingly the last of his kind. Not so in Reach. Each mission pairs you up with one or more members of Noble Team, breathing some camaraderie into what has generally been a lone wolf franchise.

And for the most part it works. By the end of the game I was generally concerned about my squad members. Small talks in between skirmishes reflect on characters’ pasts and the sacrifices of each person really add some oomph to the narrative.

All the while the story reminds the player in a truly grand fashion that the planet itself is at stake as well as all of humanity. In a word, epic.

Nobles 6 and 2 looking their best. Tim Gunn would be pleased.

Not only does Halo: Reach have an epic new story, but the look of the game is better than ever. Bungie gave the Halo-verse a graphics overall to produce some of the most stunning backdrops to ever grace an FPS. Cascading mountains, lush valleys, all beautiful to behold despite the constant onslaught of enemy fire.

I touched on the new weapon loadouts earlier, but let’s elaborate. Loadouts include sprinting, drop shields, armor lockups (temporary invulnerability), and yes… jetpacks and holograms. The names pretty much explain it all but trust me when I say Halo + Jetpacks = win. And strategically sending out a holographic clone of your Spartan to draw enemy fire opens up all kinds of doors for combat tacticians.

But all of these amazing campaign features don’t have to be experienced alone. Up to four people can play through the campaign together and the difficulty scales with each added player. Halo: Reach is arguably the most difficult Halo title to take on solo, so expect a strenuous trek with four people.

There’s also that whole online Matchmaking thing. It’s back and it’s awesome. Hop into games with other players to take down foul-mouthed eleven year olds or build stages from scratch in The Forge to throw down in with your friends. Sign up with the Halo Waypoint community service and you can link your accolades from Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo: Wars to your Reach account.

And every last detail of online matches can be tweaked in a startling number of ways, ensuring that players have all the creative control they could wish for. Throw in fresh weekly challenges and Matchmaking is the gift that keeps on giving.

"I'm the king of everything!"

For those seeking the ultimate challenge, Bungie has put some polish on the Firefight mode introduced in ODST. Simply take on continuous waves of enemies under a constantly scaling difficulty for as long as you can. Simple in theory, but only the most hardcore of Halo fans will be able to obtain the “1,000,000 Points in Firefight” achievement. Break out the Mountain Dew and black tar heroine, that’s gonna take a while.

It should also be noted that doing anything in Halo: Reach earns players credits which they can spend on armor pieces. You can buy everything from helmets to grenade laced fanny packs and make your Spartan as unique as you. There are a ton of armor additions to buy and it will take a hefty commitment to "catch 'em all." These cosmetic changes carry over into cut scenes and of course online play.

The Game 9/10
So what we’ve got here is a decade in the making labor of love. An epic story of survival and sacrifice, improvements to critically praised gameplay, and an online legacy coveted by its competition. Again, Halo: Reach is the quintessential Halo experience.

The Time 9/10
Checkpoints are abundant in Reach’s campaign allowing you to pick up where you left off versus starting a level from scratch on a new play session. The campaign’s ten stages can easily be knocked out in a weekend, but the online matchmaking is where you’ll get your money’s worth.

The Verdict
If you’ve ever taken part in Master Chief’s adventures, I cannot stress to you enough the delight of going into combat with Noble 6 and the brave souls of Noble Team. A love letter to its fans, Halo: Reach is the most enthralling chapter in Bungie’s book.

Tokyo Game Show 2010 brings big gaming announcements

This year's Tokyo Game Show is wrapping up, but the convention brought with it quite a bit of mega-sized video game news. Here's a run down of the big announcements:

-Capcom announces Devil May Cry reboot, simply dubbed DmC.
-Team Ninja announces Ninja Gaiden 3, as well as Ni-Oh.
 -EA shows off new horror action title Shadows of the Damned.
-Dead Rising: Case West announces as Xbox 360 exclusive epilogue.
-EA displays new My Garden video game for the Nintendo 3DS.
-Steel Battalion coming to Xbox 360 as a Kinect shooter.
-Grasshopper Manufacture readying bloody action title "Codename D" for Kinect

Are you excited about any of these big announcements?

PlayStation Move released today

That's right folks. Sony's motion controller for the PS3, the PlayStation Move, is now available. For $49.99, you now can enjoy motion controlled action on the PS3. You can also get the optional PS Move Navigation controller for $29.99 (pictured above). Now it seems the console really does everything.

Will you be taking part in the Move?

PS3's Move kills Wii's Mii? Never!

The gaming industry is truly the only medium that slings mud like little girls on a playground. Sony and Microsoft bashed the Wii to hell, claiming motion controls weren't worthy of Nintendo's success. Tomorrow marks the launch of Sony's own motion controller, the Move, and based on the above ad, it looks like things are getting dirty.

Take a look above to see just what happens when you mix Nintendo's Miis with PlayStation 3's Move controller.
GameInformer

Wii and DS Shop Update: September 13, 2010

Nintendo DSiWare
Castle ConquerorPublisher: CIRCLE Entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Mild Cartoon Violence
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Castle Conqueror is a real-time strategy game for casual gamers. You play as a commander who must resist the empire and save the lives of the people. Lead your soldiers into battle, seize the enemy's castle and gain victories until you destroy the empire on the mainland. The rules are simple. Use the stylus on the touch screen to select the player's castle and send your army to storm the enemy's castle in real time. Capture the castle and destroy your enemies to earn gold that can be used to upgrade your commander's abilities and to buy items that will help you win more battles. Select commanders and different cards to upgrade your army or castle. If you've managed to occupy the enemy's castle by the end of a battle, you win the game!

Crazy PinballPublisher: dtp entertainment
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: Find fun pinball action just like at the arcade. Five fantastic tables and plenty of themes ensure awesome variety. Go hunting for points with the Safari Flipper, or zoom from one goal to the next with the incredible Deep Sea Flipper. Set records that will blow your friends away. Crazy Pinball is the ultimate portable pinball experience.

myNotebook: Tan™Publisher: Nnooo
Players: 1
Price: 500 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: myNotebook allows you to take notes wherever you are. Just pop open your Nintendo DSi™ system and jot down your thoughts. Make a list and cross it off, or even play your favorite pen-and-paper games (games not included). You can personalize your notebook by drawing on the cover or by changing the paper type with 24 unlockable squared and lined paper styles. Use the pen or pencil to make notes or doodles and then erase the bits you don't like. With five ink colors, you'll always be able to make your notes and doodles look stylish. myNotebook also includes 128 pages to write on, plus the ability to export your pages to your Nintendo DSi Photo Album.
 

New WiiWare and DSiWare titles have arrived thanks to Nintendo this morning. Want to know what they are? Continue reading below, silly head!



WiiWare
Adventure on LOST ISLAND - Hidden Object GamePublisher: Ateam Inc.
Players: 1-4
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 500 Wii Points™
Description: Discover hidden-object fun for kids and adults. Quickly find items in every stage to complete this adventure. Work together or compete in each stage to find items and help the game's hero find a way home. From seashells to sparkling jewels, do your best to find all of the hidden objects as fast as you can. During this adventure you will also confront ghosts and a dragon in action stages. Each stage can be played by up to four players for great gaming fun. 


Nintendo

NBA Jam boss battle gameplay trailer

A brand new gameplay video has surfaced showing off the incredible boss battles featured in EA Sports' NBA Jam. Launching October 5th on the Wii, boss battles will pit players against some of the league's finest old and current players.

In the video, you'll see Dwayne Wade, Larry Bird, and a few others to get excited about. This game is looking better and better each day.

GameTrailer

Chris Gore: Film expert, controller modder

You probably know film expert Chris Gore from his movie reviewing gig on G4's Attack of the Show. While cinema may be his forte, he's a gamer at heart.

Not content with PS3's launch controller, the SIXAXIS, Gore decided some modding was necessary to take advantage of the controller's tilt motion sensing. With the help of some super glue, Gore added a handle to the center of the controller. It's pretty badass, like a cross between Sony's upcoming Move controller and the SIXAXIS.

I'm pretty jealous of the creation. What about you guys?

Twitpic

Mega Man Meets Little Big Planet

The only thing cooler than retro Mega Man goodness is creating your own retro Mega Man goodness. Capcom has shed some more light on the gameplay features of Mega Man Universe and it has been revealed that character customization and stage creation will be a big part of the experience.

Creating your own Mega Man isn't just about the cosmetics. As you play through the game you will collect different parts to use that not only change Mega Man's physical appearance, but his abilities as well. This opens a world (or universe) of ways to play through the game, but won't this feature be wasted on having only a set number of stages? Hrmmm...


Enter stage creation. As you can see in the screenshots below, when in stage creation a grid of squares covers the screen allowing you to place tiles in each square. These tiles can be walls, ladders, enemies, obstacles... whatever your 8-bit heart desires.

Will all of this creative power be as deep as Little Big Planet? Doubtfully. Will it be everything a Mega Man fan could ask for? We hope so. Check back soon for more news on the expanding Mega Man Universe.

PlayStation turns 15 today!

Sony is celebrating 15 years in the video game industry, as the company's first console PlayStation celebrates a milestone. Released on 9.9.95, Sony's entrance into the video game industry took place at a time when Sega and Nintendo were dominating forces. Not many could have guessed that Sega would leave the hardware market behind becoming solely a publisher and developer.

Since its release, Sony has gone on to release their popular PS2 and PS3 consoles, as well as several iterations of their PSP handheld. But we can never forget that it all started with the original PlayStation.

Happy birthday PS!

Inafune's Mega Man Universe

No time for talking! Click the video above to watch Mega Man creator Inafune-san talk about his latest creation, Mega Man Universe.

Note that Inafune rocks the Abercrombie & Fitch.

Two For One Atlus Games

Like crazy JRPGS? Like saving money? Well brace thyself, because Atlus is giving gamers a two for one deal that will help you save some serious gil.

Players who pick up retail or PSN copies of Atlus' new PSP strategy RPG Knights in the Nightmare (which releases on 11-9) will receive a promo code good for a digital download of Yggdra Union for PSP. Just to show you the quality of said free swag, you can check out GamePro's perfect 5 star review of Yggdra Union here.

So don't over analyze strategy fans, November 9th is the time to strike!

Atlus

Wii Party Commercial Contest

Party games are the common clay of the Wii landscape and sadly it's a frontier filled with third party developed garbage. Until October 3rd that is. Wii Party (see what they did?), a party gamed developed exclusively by Nintendo hits stores and they want you in their commercial!

We've all seen the commercials of ethnically diverse and attractive people playing Wii games and smiling, but here's how you can get in on the action. Click on the link below to, tell Nintendo why they should party with you, and submit a picture of your hot self playing a Wii game. Easy peasy.


Will Wii Party be a hit like Sports Resort or will it go to the land of misfit shovelware like Wii Music? Unlike most websites, we won't know until we play it but don't let that stop you from partying with Nintendo!

Wii and DS Shop Update: September 7, 2010

Right on cue, Nintendo has released their weekly collection of WiiWare, Virtual Console and DSiWare titles for your downloading pleasure. Check them out below!




WiiWare

Fenimore Fillmore "The Westerner"
Publisher: Revistronic
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone) - Cartoon Violence, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
Price: 1,000 Wii Points™
Description: Welcome to the West! Come and see the fastest cowboy in action. Visit a typical Western town with a grand saloon, a sheriff's office and a bank. Meet the classic doctor, the powerful "master of the land," an industrious pioneer and men and women who raised a great nation with their blood, sweat and tears. But there are things that cannot be helped, and one of them - very typical in the West - is the continuous fighting between farmers and cattle ranchers. While farmers used to win the sympathy of most people, cattle ranchers had more money, more men and more power. Only a cowboy as peculiar as Fenimore Fillmore could side with the farmers when the rest of the cowboys are paid by the merciless and sinister cattle rancher.

Virtual Console

SAMURAI SHODOWN III
Original platform: NEOGEO
Publisher: D4 Enterprise
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: T (Teen) - Blood, Use of Tobacco, Violence
Price: 900 Wii Points
Description: This is a fighting game released in 1995 as a sequel to the previous year's release of SAMURAI SHOWDOWN II. Though this is the third installment in the series, the story takes place between the first and second installments. Players can choose from 12 samurai seeking to defeat Zankuro Minazuki. Along with minor upgrades from the last version - such as the ability to press buttons to fill your rage gauge and the ability to defend in midair - you can also select from slash and bust personality types for each character. Each type has its own set of special moves you can take advantage of, effectively doubling the amount of characters you can play.

Nintendo DSiWare

Simply Mahjong
Publisher: Engine Software
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points™
Description: Simply Mahjong gives you exactly what you want: pure mahjong on your Nintendo DSi system. Mahjong is a Chinese tile-matching game. The tiles are arranged in a special pattern with their faces upward. A tile is said to be open if it can be moved either left or right without disturbing other tiles. The goal is to match pairs of identical tiles. The game is finished when all pairs of tiles have been removed from the board or there are no exposed pairs remaining. The simple game design and easy, intuitive controls make it a game that the whole family can enjoy. The game features 50 puzzles in each level to provide hours of fun.

My Exotic Farm
Publisher: BiP Media
Players: 1-2
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: My Exotic Farm is an exotic farm simulation game. In the beginning, all you own is an empty field, a few pennies and a single parrot. If you feed and take care of it, the parrot will make feathers that can be sold. With this money, you can buy new animals at the Farmers' Market and purchase equipment from the shopkeeper. Little by little, as your farm builds up, you will unlock bonuses including a well, a great green macaw, a guard dog and a 4x4. You can also exchange animals with your friends who play My Farm or My Exotic Farm.

Music on: Acoustic Guitar
Publisher: Abylight
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Price: 200 Nintendo DSi Points
Description: It's like having an acoustic guitar in your pocket! Play your favorite songs easily with the predefined chord option and enjoy the high sound quality. Hear the fingers on the frets and the nails while strumming. A directory of more than 900 chords shows you how to place your fingers on a real guitar and lets you listen to them when selected. Five different styles will accompany you to set the mood: Pop Rock, Soft Rock, Country, Ballad and Blues. Other features include a palm mute function, a metronome and the ability to save up to 10 sessions.

Nintendo

Talkback: Labor Day and the games you'll play

Celebrating Labor Day in the U.S.A. typically means lighting up the grill, drinking a cold beer and listening to some crappy Jimmy Buffet CD. But for us nerds, we're also playing a video game or two.

The Adam Ballard and I are both -- separately -- delving into Metroid: Other M. So far, I think it's a really great entry in the franchise. Although some of the dialogue for Samus Aran is reminiscent of a 12 year old's diary, it's still been a blast.

What games are you guys playing on this wonderful Monday, free of work and school?

Debut trailer for Bit.Trip Fate

The next title in Gaijin Games' intriguing Bit.Trip series is upon us. The upcoming WiiWare game Bit.Trip Fate brings us back to the days of sidescrolling shooters, in an 8-bit world. Follow Commander Video as he progresses through obstacle ridden levels.

With chiptune music, high action and power ups, Fate looks to make itself a Gaijin fan favorite. Check out the first trailer for the game above.
GoNintendo

James Bond returns in new GoldenEye 007 trailer

"I also like to live dangerously,..." oh wait, that's from Austin Powers. Anywho, the folks at Activision have their hands full, releasing two upcoming Bond titles on the same day. HD consoles will have James Bond: Bloodstone to look forward to, and Wii owners get the revamped N64 classic GoldenEye 007, both set for November 2nd release.

Check out the latest behind-the-scenes trailer from developers Eurocome, in anticipation of the new Bond.

The Tanooki's Exclusive Interview with Simon Curtis

 If you don’t already know the name Simon Curtis, you need to. Some of his younger fans may know him from his role on Nickelodeon’s Spectacular!, and a spot on a little known Disney show called Hannah Montana. But since earlier this year, the 24-year-old has focused his multi-talented efforts on his first album, titled 8Bit Heart. Released in March, the 13-track electronic collection contains tunes that range in topic from Simon’s Atari-playing days, to an Android love affair, effortlessly flowing from bass-driven pop, to sweet love songs. With the occasional voice-over track laid over chiptunes to serve as narration for the audio adventure, 8Bit Heart ultimately is a cohesively crafted piece of musical perfection. And did I mention the entire album is free off Simon’s official website? If there is any new singer/songwriter/performer to keep your eye on right now, it’s Simon Curtis.

I had a chance to interview the self proclaimed “Boy Robot” to talk about all things gaming, tech and of course, his upcoming album:

Jason Leavey: So Mr. Curtis. What’s it like being the original “Boy Robot?”
Simon Curtis: Haha, I must admit it’s a lot of responsibility. Lots of games to play, lots of gadgets to oogle over, electronic music to make, etc. It can be a lot to handle!


JL: What inspired the album’s [8Bit Heart] apparent technology influence?
SC: The entire project was inspired by my love for 8-Bit video games, science fiction, and 80’s fantasy movies (The Neverending Story, The Dark Crystal, etc.) We used old Commodore 64 sounds to create modern electronic pop tracks. Once I had the idea for the concept I was totally enamored.

JL: So I take it you would classify yourself as a techy?

(more…)

Sonic Adventure Hits XBLA September 15th

Microsoft's Major Nelson is always a cheery bloke for confirming things in the world of Xbox. And his latest list of release dates should have Dreamcast fanboys dizzy with ecstasy (the emotion, not the drug... or maybe both). Sonic Adventure will be released on the XBLA September 15th for 800 Microsoft Points ($10).

News of Dreamcast titles coming to XBLA and PSN has been in high circulation lately but this is the official start of the Dreamcast revival! The last (and short lived) console to come out of the Sega camp has a die-hard fan following that fell in love with its quirky, ambitious, and charming titles.

So what other Dreamcast games can we expect in the near future? The only two specifically referenced in prior reports were Sonic Adventure and Crazy Taxi, the prior being the only one set in stone for release. But we DC fanatics can hope all day long to see games like Seaman, Jet Grind Radio, PowerStone, Chu-Chu Rocket, and Shenmue (f#ck you haters!) in the near future.

A montage of why my high school GPA suffered.

Regardless, of what does and doesn't happen, one thing is for sure... on September 15th, we're gonna party like it's 9/9/99!

Final Fantasy XIV's Open Beta

Square Enix junkies and MMO enthusiasts assemble! Square is opening the Final Fantasy XIV beta to the public this Tuesday at 7PM PST. Holy mating moogles Batman that's tomorrow! Here's what you need to know to get you started.

For starters, this open beta will be for the PC version of the game only. The PS3 version of XIV has been delayed until next year due to RAM concerns with the system and the still-rumored Xbox 360 version is said be coming even further down the pipe. If you were lucky enough to participate in the closed beta Square will let you go ahead and intsall the open beta client now instead of waiting until tomorrow like the rest of us schmucks.

But how long will the open beta last? Final Fantasy XIV (PC) hits retail shelves September 30th, a mere month away. And those who pre-ordered the Collector's Edition will get even earlier access and be allowed to start on September 22nd. You can look for the beta to be cancelled close to the 22nd-30th window because Square, like any old fashioned capitalist company, would prefer to charge you for its services rather than let any mooching continue.

If you're curious to see how well XIV will run on your current gaming rig, you can download the official benchmark here. Simply run the benchmark program and you will have a pretty good idea of how much horsepower you'll need to run the game.

Why get a real job when you can be a sellsword in such a beautiful land?

Final Fantasy XI, the first online entry in the Final Fantasy canon, was a financial and critical success in the world of MMOs. We'll continue to keep a close eye on XIV's progress so check back often for more news of chocobos, behemoths, and ton berries!

Gran Turismo 5's Massive HDD Install

These days it's not uncommon for your more massive games to include optional hard drive installs. This process saves chunks of game data to your hard drive which cuts down on how often the game will have to check the disk for information.

For example, Metal Gear Solid 4 can take up 4 gigs of hard drive space on your PS3 in exchange for faster load times. Sacrificing 4 gigs may seem like a lot of space to give up, and it is. But Kaz Yamauchi, producer on Gran Turismo 5, has tweeted that an optional HDD install for GT5 will take up 10 gigs on the PS3 of many a racing fan.

The 10 gigs will help the game run "much smoother" according to Yamauchi. The Gran Turismo franchise is praised for its realistic graphics and stellar driving experience, but it is also home to one of the most dedicated fan bases in gaming. Is 10 gigs too much to ask hardcore racing fans? Probably not. Curious gamers in general? You betcha.

The guy in the red polo is clearly jealous of Mr. Yamauchi's racing suit.

We'll let you know how smooth the 10 gig install is when Gran Turismo 5 hits retail shelves this November.

Nintendo slashes prices of DSi and DSi XL

Looks like Nintendo is prepping the world for the upcoming release of the Nintendo 3DS handheld, because the company announced price drops for both their DSi and DSi XL handhelds.

Nintendo will cut the price of the $169.99 DSi to $149.99. The DSi XL will drop from $189.99 to a mere $169.99. The DS Lite will remain at its $129.99 price point.

Both price cuts go into effect on September 12th.
GameSpot

Epic Mickey getting epic Collector's Edition

As seen on the webstore for Toys R Us, Warren Spector's upcoming Wii project Epic Mickey will be released as a standalone software title, as well as an exclusive Collector's Edition bundle.

Pictured above, the bundle will come with a slew of goodies, including Wii Remote skin, a DVD packed with behind the scenes footage, and a 5" Mickey Mouse collectible figurine. For $69.99, this is a pretty great deal if you ask me.

Epic Mickey is set for release November 15th.
ToysRUs

Classic Controller gets SNES makeover

If this isn't the coolest controller mod, I don't know what is. A creative genius came up with the idea to remake the Wii's Classic Controller with some Super Nintendo flare. The colors are awesome, the inspiration is incredible. I want one today!

The only complaint is that the artist didn't use the Classic Controller Pro for the impressive redesign. Once you go Pro, you never go back.

TinyCartridge

Fallout: New Vegas achievements leaked

Gearing up for an October launch, Bethesda's upcoming Fallout: New Vegas is sure to be another promising entry in the series of post-apocalyptic survival titles. But what would a modern next gen software title be without a roaring list of skill-defining achievements?

A list of 50 achievements with mission titles has appeared on Xbox 360 Achievements. Take a look below, and get ready for action:

-New Kid – Reach 10th Level (10g)
-Up and Comer – Reach 20th Level (20g)
-The Boss – Reach 30th Level (30g)
-Ol’ Buddy Ol’ Pal – Recruit any companion (10g)
-The Whole Gang’s Here – Recruit all companions (25g)
-Crafty – Craft 20 items (15g)
-Mod Machine – Install 20 weapon mods (15g)
-Walker of the Mojave – Discover 50 locations (10g)
-Master of the Mojave – Discover 125 locations (10g)
-Globe Trotter – Discover all snow globes (25g)
-You Run Barter Town – Sell 10,000 caps worth of goods (15g)
-Blast Mastery – Cause 10,000 damage with energy weapons (15g)
-Love the Bomb – Cause 10,000 damage with explosives (15g)
-Lead Dealer – Cause 10,000 damage with guns (15g)
-No Tumber Fumbler – Pick 25 locks (15g)
-New Vegas Samurai – Cause 10,000 damage with melee weapons (15g)
-Stim-ply Amazing – Heal 10,000 points of damage with stimpaks (15g)
-Desert Survivalist – Heal 10,000 points of damage with food (15g)
-Old-Tyme Brawler – Cause 10,000 damage with unarmed weapons (15g)
-Jury Rigger – Repair 30 items (15g)
-Hack the Mojave – Hack 25 terminals (15g)
-Artful Pocketer – Pick 50 pockets (15g)
-Outstanding Orator – Make 50 speech challenges (15g)
-Know When to Fold Them – Win 3 games of Caravan (10g)
-One Armed Bandit – Play 10 spins of Slots (10g)
-Little Wheel – Play 10 spins of Roulette (10g)
-Double Down – Play 10 hands of Blackjack (10g)
-Caravan Master – Win 30 games of Caravan (30g)
-The Courier Who Broke the Bank – Get banned from all the Strip’s casinos (30g)
-Hardcore – Play the game from start to finish in Hardcore mode (100g)
-Ain’t That a Kick in the Head – Completed Ain’t That a Kick in the Head (10g)
-They Went That-a-Way – Complete They Went That-a-Way (25g)
-Ring-a-Ding-Ding – Complete Ring-a-Ding-Ding (25g)
-The House Always Wins – Complete The House Always Wins (30g)
-For the Republic – Complete for the Republic (30g)
-Render Unto Caesar – Complete Render Unto Caesar (30g)
-Wild Card – Complete Wild Card (30g)
-All for Nothing – Complete All for Nothing (15g)
-Veni, Vedi, Vici – Complete Veni, Vedi, Vici (15g)
-Eureka! – Complete Eureka! (15g)
-No Gods, No Masters – Complete No Gods, No Masters (15g)
-Come Fly With Me – Complete Come Fly With Me (20g)
-Talent Pool – Complete Talent Pool (20g)
-Return to Sender – Complete Return to Sender (20g)
-Arizona Killer – Complete Arizona Killer (20g)
-You’ll Know It When It Happens – Complete You’ll Know It When It Happens (20g)
-G.I. Blues – Complete G.I. Blues (20g)
-That Lucky Old Sun – Complete That Lucky Old Sun (20g)
-Volare! – Complete Volare! (20g)
-The Legend of the Star – Complete The Legend of the Star (20g)

The Tanooki

Nerd Orgy Planned for Horny PAX-goers

Great news pervs! A Seattle-area man has posted a Craigslist ad, calling for an orgy welcoming anyone who's in town for the PAX expo next week. The man says the "friendly adult party" is for any willing nerd in town, serving as a perfect escape between all the sweating and drooling you'll likely be doing on the show floor. Here's the ad:

Okay, I thought it might be fun for a bunch of us like minded adults to get together in a hotel room and have a friendly adult party. This will be Friday night, with a possibility of a Saturday encore. Any who are interested please email me so we can get this set up. All sizes and shapes welcome!

Apparently, the post was updated, claiming that the ratio of men over women was a bit higher than intended. Looks like the sausage party is in true need of some willing female participants. Any ladies want to make a few dozen men happy?

Craigslist
via Kotaku

DJ Hero 2 Tracklist Revealed!

I hope you like scrolling through long lists because Activision has released a doozy of a tracklist for DJ Hero 2. Releasing this October, DJ Hero 2 features artists from Afrika Bambaataa to Young Jeezy and all walks between. Real heavy hitters include Kanye West, Lady Gaga, and (brace yeself) Metallica.

Ready for that prior mentioned scrolling? Check out the full setlist below:

2Pac feat. Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman - "California Love Remix"

50 Cent - "In Da Club"

Adamski - "Killer"

Afrika Bambaataa and The Soul Sonic Force - "Planet Rock"

Armand Van Helden - "I Want Your Soul"

A-Trak - "Say Whoa"

B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars - "Nothin' On You"

Basement Jaxx - "Where's Your Head At"

BlakRoc feat. Pharoahe Monch & RZA - "Dollaz & Sense"

Busta Rhymes - "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See"

Calvin Harris - "I'm Not Alone"

Chamillionaire - "Ridin'"

Chic - "Good Times"

Chic - "Le Freak"

Clinton Sparks, DJ Class, & Jermaine Dupri - "Favorite DJ"

Daft Punk - "Human After All"

Damian Marley - "Welcome To Jamrock"

David Guetta & Chris Willis - "Love Is Gone"

David Guetta feat. Kid Cudi - "Memories"

David Guetta vs. The Egg - "Love Don't Let Me Go (Walking Away)"

Deadmau5 - "Ghosts N Stuff"

Deadmau5 & Kaskade - "I Remember"

Deee-Lite - "Groove Is In The Heart"

Dillinja and Skibadee - "Twist 'Em Out"

Dizzee Rascal & Armand Van Helden - "Bonkers"

DJ Qbert - "Super Battle Breaks"

DJ Shadow - "Midnight In A Perfect World"

DJ Shadow feat. Q-Tip and Lateef The Truth Speaker - "Enuff (DJ Fresh Remix)"

Donna Summer - "Bad Girls"

Edwin Starr - "War"

Eminem - "Not Afraid"

Estelle feat. Kanye West - "American Boy"

Flo Rida - "Low"

Flo Rida feat. Will.I.Am - "In The Ayer"

Gorillaz feat. Mos Def & Bobby Womack - "Stylo"

Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five feat. Melle Mel & Duke Bootee - "The Message"

Harold Faltermeyer - "Axel F"

House Of Pain - "Jump Around"

Iyaz - "Replay"

Janet Jackson - "Nasty"

Justice - "D.A.N.C.E."

Justice - "Waters Of Nazareth"

Kanye West - "Heartless"

Kanye West - "Love Lockdown"

Kaskade & Deadmau5 - "Move For Me"

Kelis - "Acapella (David Guetta Extended Mix)"

Kool & The Gang - "Jungle Boogie"

Lady Gaga - "Lovegame"

Lady Gaga - "Bad Romance"

Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis - "Just Dance"

Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz feat. Ying Yang Twins - "Get Low"

Lil' Wayne - "Go DJ"

Lil' Wayne feat. Static Major - "Lollipop"

LL Cool J - "I Can't Live Without My Radio"

M.I.A. - "Galang"

M|A|R|R|S - "Pump Up The Volume"

Major Lazer feat. VYBZ Kartel - "Pon De Floor"

Malcolm McLaren - "Buffalo Gals"

Metallica - "The Day That Never Comes"

Missy Elliott - "Get Ur Freak On"

MSTRKRFT feat. N.O.R.E. - "Bounce"

Nas feat. Keri Hilson - "Hero"

Naughty By Nature - "O.P.P."

Nelly - "Hot In Herre"

New Boyz - "You're A Jerk"

New Order - "Blue Monday"

Newcleus - "Jam On It"

Nightcrawlers - "Push The Feeling On (MK Mix 95)"

Orbital - "The Box"

Pirate Soundsystem - "Bashy Bashy"

Pitbull - "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)"

Pussycat Dolls feat. Busta Rhymes - "Don't Cha"

Rihanna - "Pon De Replay"

Rihanna - "Rude Boy"

Robin S - "Show Me Love (Stonebridge Radio Edit)"

Salt N Pepa - "Push It"

Sam Cooke - "Chain Gang"

Sam Sparro - "B&G" a/k/a "Black & Gold"

Sean Paul - "Infiltrate"

Sean Paul - "Get Busy"

Snoop Dogg - "Who Am I (What's My Name)?"

Snow - "Informer"

Soulja Boy Tell 'Em - "Crank That (Soulja Boy)"

Sparfunk & D-Code - "Apocalypse"

Stevie Wonder - "Superstition"

Talib Kweli - "Get By"

The Chemical Brothers - "Leave Home"

The Chemical Brothers feat. Q-Tip - "Galvanize"

The Crystal Method - "Busy Child (Still Busy After All These Years Remix)"

The Jackson 5 - "ABC"

The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Mase & Diddy - "Mo' Money, Mo' Problems"

The Prodigy - "Omen"

The Prodigy - "Firestarter"

Tiesto - "Speed Rail"

Tiesto & Sneaky Sound System - "I Will Be Here"

Tiesto vs Diplo - "Come On"

Tiga - "You Gonna Want Me"

Timbaland feat. Drake - "Say Something"

Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson & D.O.E. - "The Way I Are"

Tweet feat. Missy Elliott - "Oops (Oh My)"

Walter Murphy - "A Fifth Of Beethoven"

Warren G feat. Nate Dogg - "Regulate"

Wayne Smith - "Under Mi Sleng Teng"

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - "Heads Will Roll (A-Trak Remix )"

Young Jeezy feat. Kanye West - "Put On"

1UP

And Let There Be... a Bible MMO

Mark your church calendars for September 6th because that's when the beta for The Bible Online goes live. The Bible Online: Chapter 1 - "The Heroes" is a browser based MMO that puts players in control of Abraham and his descendants Isaac and Jacob. The gameplay looks to be Sim-City(ish) in nature, with a major focus on balancing resources as you navigate your way through the events of Genesis.

Dr. Alan Kim, president of FiAA GmbH says, “The Bible Online is developed for players of all ages to easily get closer to the Bible, while enjoying the game. The Beta is planned for the 6th of September. We plan to service the game in most of the European languages by the end of the year. We will also develop following chapters to cover all the stories of the Bible.”

Every story in the Bible? I don't know how kindly parents will take to certain side quests like "Help King David collect 200 enemy foreskins so he can marry Saul's daughter." (See 1 Samuel 18:27). But then again, I'm not a parent.


The Bible Online is free-to-play, compatible with all existing browsers, and starts beta testing in to weeks. According to on FiAA GmbH employee, beta testing will continue until "It is finished."

VE3D

Even more Marvel vs. Capcom 3 footage!

Just when you thought you saw all the Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds gameplay footage that you'd see for one night, I come in and give you more!

Enjoy several minutes of Viewtiful Joe, Iron Man, Thor and more battle it out as universes collide. You're very welcome.

Why Aren't You Playing - ExciteBots: Trick Racing

We're going to be starting a new feature on OLG called "Why Aren't You Playing." We know how busy you are, with school, work, drinking booze, playing Solitaire, knitting, whatever. But there are so many games out there that you haven't been playing. They may not be the newest games, but they're amazing, and you need to get them like now.

Tonight's title is the most creative racing title on Wii, or probably any console for that matter. From Monster Games in 2009 came the unexpected ExciteBots: Trick Racing. The sequel to the Wii launch title ExciteTruck, ExciteBots let users race in animal and insect themed kart-bots. Your main goal is to execute as many tricks as you can while on the open road. You can pull off mid-air spins, back flips, or fly through rings to earn "stars." The amount of stars you get in each race will determine your ranking. And while you're racing, you can unlock different in-game mini-games to take part in, like shooting a soccer ball into a goal, or slamming a pie into a clown's face. Yeah, it's that crazy.

The game is so diverse, between the wacky level design, to the in-race mini-games, to the bots themselves. I highly recommend anyone who has a Wii and loves a good racer to try it out. You won't regret it.

For more information about this game, visit One Life Gamer's game review here.

Super Mario 2 coasters are 8-bit awesome

I often find that placing my condensation creation cola on a nice wooden table will result in an epic fail of mass proportions. Luckily, Etsy user LittleMommaErin's took care of preventing my circular ring of death with a lovely set of Super Mario Bros. 2 coasters!

Created out of perler beads, this set includes some notable Mario 2 items and baddies, all featured in the notorious slot machines after each coin-retrieved level. At the low price of $13, this is a perfect gift for any retro enthusiast.

Etsy