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