You Got The Megaton Hammer!

After a few days of speculation, Nintendo has went ahead and released the new Zelda Wii artwork that Shigeru Miyamoto revealed on June 2nd. There's not much to say about it since it's well, artwork, but it's nice to see the high res image (click it to make it bigger). I wonder who that ghost-like lady is.. Thoughts?

Capcom Fires On All Cylinders

Last week Capcom held Captivate '09, the developers annual media conference and lineup showcasing. It's the perfect time for them to announce details relating to upcoming games, and more importantly, allows the privileged press hands-on time with the titles. This time around, Capcom showed off their most anticipated games, including: Dead Rising 2, Lost Planet 2, Dark Void, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, and Spyborgs. All information from the event will be grouped within this post.

First up, we have the first full trailer for Dead Rising 2. I'm not too crazy about the new main character's look, but am willing to give the game a try regardless. Expect lots of new weapons, extreme amounts of blood, and most important, hordes of zombies. The DR2 engine can currently reach a max of an insane 7,000 zombies on screen at one time. 

Next, we have a gameplay video for Lost Planet 2. Key features of the game are four player co-op, in-depth character customization, and insane boss battles. Much like Shadow of the Colossus, you can climb onto giant beasts and slay away, but it even takes it one step further. You can go inside the monsters to kill them from the inside, while other players battle from the outside.
Another gameplay video, but this time it is for Dark Void. The real selling points for this title are obviously the ability to fly around the world (The Rocketeer, anyone?), vehicles, weapons, etc. The thing that intrigues me most is the vertical gameplay, which looks pretty interesting and uncommon.
This fourth video is a new trailer/gameplay combo for Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles. The team behind the game is promising to present some of the best Wii graphics yet by using effects like illumination, lighting, and filters. Atmosphere seems to be a key part of this new entry in the RE series.


Finally, some new screens were released to show off the new look of Spyborgs. The team behind the game scrapped the old look, after the internet practically exploded with negativity. I was one of those who didn't necessarily like the old look, but was willing to wait and see more. Now I can say that I'm so glad they changed the look. It definitely looks to be one of the prettier Wii games to date. I've posted my favorite screen, click over for the rest here.

The Majini Rise Again

Developer/Publisher Capcom announced today that the Resident Evil 5 DLC, called Versus Mode, will go on sale tomorrow for both Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The content will contain two different competitive game types: Slayer's Rule and Survivor's Rule. In Slayer's Rule, players will compete in order to see who can kill the most Majini in a certain period of time. Survivor's Rule pits players head to head, as they try to kill one another. Versus Mode will run fans of the series 400 Microsoft Points or $4.99 on the PlayStation Network.

With only three achievements left to acquire, I'm closing in on getting RE5 to 100% complete. I'm definitely down to give the multiplayer a shot and add even more replayability to the game. Some consider the DLC as just a cheap way for Capcom to make money, while others suggest it is definitely worth the price of admission. So it will be interesting to see how well Capcom's latest RE5 addition sells. 

One thing is for sure, as gamers this is basically our future. It's not surprising to see Capcom do this kind of thing in an age where Rock Band's DLC sales tally up to over 40 million downloads. That's essentially an extra $40 million dollars that Harmonix/EA get to put in their pockets, and it's going to continue to grow. Don't get me wrong, I understand the difference between additional modes and additional songs, but it's really just smart business. But I'll be drawing the line if we're forced to buy a blank disc and buy every piece of a game via DLC.

Apocalypse Meow

A few weeks ago I posted news of a trailer released by developer The Behemoth at the Tokyo Anime Fair. And now I'm here to present you with another trailer that came out of the same event, but from a totally different category of entertainment. Above is the trailer for the 12 episode animated series Cat Shit One, which is based on the 90's manga of the same name. 

AICN describes the plot as follows: Packy, Botasky and Rats are special operations experts working in a private military company. Every day they are embroiled in combat somewhere around the world. In the first episode, they intend to come to the assistance of a hostage captured by guerrillas demanding the withdrawal of the US Army, but instead become surrounded by a large number of guerrillas.

The CGI animation is said to rival that of Pixar, which is definitely impressive, and totally shows in the trailer. I love the departure from what I consider the typical CGI movie (i.e. cute, talking animals) and putting a more mature spin on it. It's pretty interesting how each nationality fighting in the war is depicted by different animals. For instance, the American is a rabbit, that kind of reminds me of Peppy Hare from the Star Fox series. The animated series of Cat Shit One is set to be released in early 2010.

The Behemoth Unleashes New Beast

For the past few months, indie developer and 2D geniuses The Behemoth have been teasing a new game on the official Behemoth dev blog. Today the company came through on their promise to finally pull back the curtain on the now untitled third game at the Tokyo Anime Fair. I've been so ecstatic to see what the team behind Alien Hominid and Castle Crashers have been up to, and the early trailer they released didn't disappoint. For me personally, The Behemoth's games always feel full of love.. all the way from the gameplay to the unique 2D art style. The Behemoth also left some questions unanswered, as no console or price were announced. No price is understandable because the release date is sometime in 2010, but no console makes me wonder if it'll be multiplatform. Definitely going to be interesting to see how this game develops over time, but I'm glad we got to see this much so early on in development. Enjoy!

An Army of.. Zombies?

Late last night developer Treyarch unleashed a new trailer that shows what Call of Duty: World at War fans can expect from the upcoming DLC map pack. The highlight of the entire package is an additional zombie map, entitled "Verrückt." Or simply put, a zombie asylum. I played the nazi zombie mode over a friend's house after they raved about how great it was. Now I've become addicted and would recommend it to anyone who is a fan of L4D or just zombies in general. Basically the sypnosis is that you're enclosed in a building and have to see how long you can survive against a horde of zombies. You board up windows to obtain money, purchase randomly chosen weapons, and have to use teamwork in order to stay alive. The DLC also contains three other multiplayer maps, which will all be available when the generically-named "Map Pack 1" is up for download on Xbox 360 and PS3 on March 19th. 
(I'm not sure if the zombie mode is included in the Wii version of the game or not, but where is the love?!). 

Anarchy Heads to DS

We're only three weeks away from the release of Rockstar's latest installment in the Grand Theft Auto series, GTA: Chinatown Wars, and the company has finally released some gameplay footage (embedded above). Fans of the franchise are finally able to see how the DS's unique capabilities are taken advantage of and just how beautiful the game looks. Taking innocent lives and causing chaos has never looked so sweet!

While I'm on the subject of GTA, Rockstar has also shown they have every intention of promoting the game through TV commercials and a van tour leading up to its March 17th release. Die hard GTA fanatics can head out to one of the 52 scheduled stops to try out the game before it drops. Those lucky enough to go can even score some free bonuses like Rockstar bags, posters, stickers, etc. The dates of the tour can be found here. One of the stops is literally 20 minutes or so from my house, so expect lots of pictures and impressions. Screens, wallpapers, and videos of the game can be found here.

Third Place & Still Talking

It's no mystery that Microsoft's Xbox 360 continues to sell well. Nintendo's Wii is a monster in itself, practically destroying the sales charts every month. And then there's Sony's PS3. After a rather impressive showing at CES (while completely skipping over PS3/PSP), Sony put out a press release that is considered an insult by many gamers (myself included). Let's forget the fact that Sony's press release fails to compare PS3 to the Xbox 360 Pro and Elite models. The release refers to the 360 as having "multiple upgrades and additional external devices, putting a burden on the wallet and adds clutter to the entertainment center." Wait.. what? The only external peripheral that exists is the now outdated HD-DVD player. The 360 headsets are tiny and so is the Wi-Fi adapter. Let's also forget that the Wii obviously doesn't need HDMI, etc to succeed. Yet Sony goes on to call the Wii simply a "comprehensive entertainment solution." Not sure what that makes the PS3, but alright. What bothers me the most is that this is SONY. Sony's taking shots while they're in third place and one begins to wonder "who are they to criticize others?" If the PS3 was putting up great numbers, I could totally see their argument, but really? I'm still not convinced that Blu-ray is the future and I'm sure as hell not upgrading all the hundreds of DVD's I own. Finally, I'd just like to point out that Sony forgot to add one more column to the chart above, and that's 'Good Games'. I'm not saying PS3 doesn't have any because there are a few I'd like to play myself. But it doesn't warrant the price of admission. It's statements like these that make me realize Sony still doesn't get it. Sony: Lower the price of the PS3 so the every day consumer can afford it and offer some great content to entice said consumers to buy it. Then we'll talk.

Now I'm even more interested to see December 2008's NPD numbers, which will be released on January 15th. I'll just let the numbers speak for themselves, as they'll sum up my whole argument quite nicely.

Factor Defunct?

It seems even the Christmas holiday can't stop bad gaming news from rolling in. Developer/publisher Midway released a press release last week that revealed they were forced to cut half of their staff and cancel "non-core titles." Perhaps the biggest blow is the troubles that gigantic developer/publisher EA are facing. And just yesterday fellow blogger Raith posted about Free Radical closing their studios. Now, over the past week we've heard all kinds of news regarding Factor 5 in a similar situation.

It all started when a Factor 5 employee wrote in his blog about how the company was essentially falling apart. Apparently workers weren't getting paid and financial stress is continuing to pile up. But that employee removed his post immediately after realizing it was being spread around the internet, and assured the gaming community that Factor 5 is fine. A few days later an insider source claimed that the blog post was real and that 37 team members from Factor 5 had been fired. Finally, word came from IGN's Matt Casamassina via a messageboard post that he had heard from another source that Factor 5 has in fact closed their doors for the last time.

The latter half of this information seems a bit "he said, she said," so I'd take it with a grain of salt. Matt Casamassina also said he tried contacting Factor 5's President, Julian Eggebrecht, but he didn't return his call. One thing is for sure, something is definitely going down at Factor 5; whether it be team downsizing or the abrupt closure that's being reported. I personally find it odd that Mr. Eggebrecht hasn't come out and publicly denied these rumors.

As a side note, I hope I'm not the only one who is recognizing a trend here. Think about it, what do the two companies (Factor 5 & Free Radical) have in common? Well, consider that they both developed incredibly expensive games for PS3 (Lair & Haze).. games that essentially flopped. And with the troubling economy America is in, these announcements aren't that hard to believe. Stay tuned, as I expect Factor 5 will make some sort of announcement in the near future.

Tecmo Scores Another Touchdown.

REVIEW: It's been nearly 20 years since developer Tecmo released an entry in its now retro Tecmo Bowl series. Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff stays true to the basic concept of football, but also breathes new life into the series and the idea of an alternative to the juggernaut that is Madden. The addition of super abilities, cutscenes, customization, and Wi-Fi play are all welcomed features that enhance the overall experience. This title is sure to keep the player entertained without the hassle of having to know much about football.

Graphics: The entire game is basically an SNES title, which means everything is 16-bit. While this is a look I welcome in certain instances like this one, I can't help but wonder how it would have looked with better detailed players, environments, etc. The use of strictly sprites is a total throwback to satisfy old fans of the franchise or those who dig retro games. The cutscenes are a colorful addition and provide a bit of satisfaction when you score, create a great defensive play, etc. With all of that said, look elsewhere if you want to see what the DS is capable of when pushed to its limits.

Audio: The new score of music that the dev has added is one of my least favorite parts of the whole game. It feels like there aren't very many new tracks, causing them to become repetitive, and as a result, they're just plain out annoying. After you've heard them a few times it'll start to get on your nerves that there aren't more songs. None of them are particularly catchy, which I think is something that is key with video game music: a tune that is stuck in your head afterwords or moves you emotionally. It is a football game, so the music should motivate you or get your adrenaline pumping, which it fails to do. There is one good side to this though-- the original Tecmo Bowl music is an unlockable. I immediately switched to the old score as soon I got it, and I recommend anyone who buys this game does the same.

Controls: Taking a cue from games like Phantom Hourglass and Dragon Ball: Origins, everything can be controlled with the stylus. That includes things like player movement, menu navigation, and stat adjustment. In game the top screen showcases a virtual scoreboard and the touch screen displays all the action on the field. Using the stylus for menus is fine, but I soon realized using it to move your players is less than ideal in a sports game. The problem comes in when you pick a play and are trying to locate an open receiver on the field-- with your hand covering essentially half of the screen. It's just so much easier to use the button combinations to execute your plays, that way you can see everything on the screen clearly. It works fine for navigating the many menus in the game, but it feels like a case of "let's throw touch screen in for the hell of it!" Simply put, not every game needs to use the touch screen, use it for the things that improve the gameplay, not hinder it. However, the simplicity of the button combinations allow for anyone to jump right into the game and enjoy it.

Gameplay: Exactly what you'd expect from a Tecmo Bowl game; simple, yet addictive. The diversity of the modes help entertain multiple audiences. "Quick Game" allows for players to play in quick, short bursts, whereas "Season" lets players keep playing through a full schedule of games. And for those who want to take their team online, there's WiFi multiplayer with either registered friends or random players. Tecmo has also added the ability for you to edit every player's speed, power, control, accuracy, etc. On top of that you can name your own team, name your players, choose from a set of team logos, change your team colors, and fully edit your playbook. The customization adds a ton of replayability and die hard fans coming back to make their team the best. Skill Points are acquired by doing well in "Season" mode, and used to increase a player's unique ablities. For instance, you can make your QB throw a high speed pass, let a WR dive 2 yards after he's tackled, or allow your RB to juke around an opponent. Acquiring these skill points give players an incentive to play through "Season" mode and let them use their skills against friends or strangers over WiFi.

Judgment: Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff is definitely worth the price of admission ($30). And it's always nice to have another 16-bit game, in an age of gaming where graphics are arguably everything. The addition of customization options and WiFi play provide a reason to come back and play a little football everyday. Minor gripes are that the audio becomes annoying quickly, and the AI can be frustrating at times. Neither are a deal breaker, but it's good to keep them in mind when deciding to purchase this game or not. I specifically recommend it to fans of the past installments, football fans, and those who are tired of buying the newest Madden every year. Tecmo Bowl fans can rejoice because the franchise is back in a great way, and I'm stoked to see what Tecmo is cooking up for the Wii version! This entry in the series gets an A-.

And the Kick is Off...

PREVIEW: That's right, a sort of reminder for a little game coming out soon, and no, it's not Animal Crossing. You might ask, why cover Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff and not Nintendo's next blockbuster? Simply put, it takes a lot for me to get excited about a DS game; the last game I picked up for the handheld was Advance Wars: Days of Ruin. That's pretty crazy considering that this will put an end to a 10 month absence of buying DS games. And now I'm here, to give you just a little taste of why I'm stoked to play 2D football again.

I guess I might as well start off by admitting I'm an addict; I love football. Over the past 8 years or so it has become my favorite sport hands down. My world has become totally encompassed with just about everything relating to football. Every Sunday you'll find me with my brother or Dad, sitting in front of the TV, watching games all day. Recently I've become a stat fanatic, rattling off the best performances of the weekend. It's just something that will never change now-- I can only imagine what the NFL will be like when I have kids (the horror!).

Hopefully that gives you a better idea of where I'm coming from and why I'm talking about the new installment of Tecmo Bowl. One of the biggest draws to this game is the amount of customization it offers. You will be able to choose from various team colors, create emblems, name your players and cities, and handpick your special abilities. Players will also be able to compile a complete playbook; picking plays from whichever team(s) they want. But the biggest feature that Kickoff boasts over its previous installments is the inclusion of wireless multiplayer, as well as Wi-Fi matches. (There is even an option to trade players with friends over Wi-Fi.).

With only 3 days till launch, what more can football fans ask for? And the truth of the matter is, you don't even have to be a football fan to enjoy Tecmo Bowl. It takes football makes it into a simplified game so that anyone can enjoy it. Many oldschool gamers consider it one of the best games of all time. This new iteration is clearly aimed at that same audience of players who can still enjoy 2D gaming, in an era of gaming where graphics are essentially everything. If you enjoyed past entries of the series, it's a definite day one purchase. And if you've never played one before, you're missing out on some oldschool fun. You can expect a full review some time later this week. It's time to dust off your DS and pick up the pigskin, as Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff rushes into stores on November 18th!

Gotham Knight Leaves Me Hungry

I should preface this 'article' by saying how big a fan of Batman I am, especially in his animated form. Batman: The Animated Series is one of the few shows from my childhood that sticks out in my mind. On top of that, I'm a huge fan of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, so I had pretty high expectations before watching Batman: Gotham Knight. Apparently I set myself up for disappointment, and I'll explain why.

The first main gripe I have about this sort of mini-movie is the fact that there are only 6 stories, where the majority only run about 15 minutes, if that. Furthermore, B:GK was pretty much advertised as a sort of story extension that would go beyond Batman Begins, leading into TDK. However, aside from two stories, it really doesn't do that at all. Also worth noting is the fact that only 2 of the stories even have established Batman villains in them. It's incredibly difficult to introduce new characters to an audience when the story only runs for 15 or so minutes. New characters come off as undeveloped, rushed, and boring when compared to villains like Scarecrow.

Another problem that I have with the compilation is that the storylines feel like they are meaningless. There's nothing really ever at stake, no sense of urgency, no sense of fear that you get from practically any other Batman movie. At times it feels as though the 6 stories aren't even connected and they don't lead you into TDK like they were supposed to. I'd rather they have been 6 progressive stories that actually relate to the Christopher Nolan films. It feels like they exist just because, and for me personally, there is only one that has some redeeming qualities in it's story.

"Have I Got A Story For You" This is probably the part that I disliked the most, on both a storyline and art level. Without spoiling too much: all it essentially contains is a group of kids who have all run into Batman on the same day. They recall what happened at their encounter and prove that everyone's intrepretation of Batman is different. The ending is pretty cheesy and the whole story feels pointless and a waste. This particular story could have taken place at any time; it doesn't fit into the break between BB and TDK at all.

"Crossfire" At least this story somewhat relates itself to the two films. The setup is that a conflict has arisen between different factions of the mob in Gotham City, and naturally, Batman is trying to fix it. Two cops are also trying to help out; one who believes Batman is a vigilante, and the other who defends him. The shootout sequence is one of my favorite parts in this 'episode'. There isn't much else to say about this portion, it has a better art style than that of the first, but no real "wow factor."

"Field Test" This story borrows a lot from "Crossfire" and that allows it to fit into the film adaptations a bit as well. There is another problem inside the mob of Gotham City and Batman sets out to resolve it. However, it really irked me how the art team didn't model the character Lucius after his film counterpart, Morgan Freeman. How cool would it have been if he actually looked like the character?! He still had the wit and charm though, I'll give them that. The best part of "Field Test" is the new device that Batman gets.

"In Darkness Dwells" This is by far my favorite story of the whole disc and I think it's the only true gem in B:GK. It seems like a total throwback to Batman: The Animated Series. They included some actual villains in here, imagine that! Scarecrow and Killer Croc make appearances and help create a cohesive plot. As many of others have said, if you can only watch one part or choose to only watch one, watch this!

"Working Through Pain" This makes the package take a step back in a sense; you go from something so great in "In Darkness Dwells", to this. The story details how Batman learned to deal with pain, only it's done through a flashback. And he's really in pain in present time, which is an odd, yet nice tie-in. Again, this chapter could have taken place at any time, not just between the films, so it fails in that aspect. Altogether it's a pretty mediocre story, especially because of the lackluster ending.

"Deadshot" This chapter comes in a close second place in my book. It introduces Deadshot into Nolan's universe and is quite action packed. It's great to have another portion where there is an actual memorable villain! The fighting sequence on the train is entertaining and I love how they did the zoom in/out on Deadshot's gun. Watch this one if you have the time as well.

Like I mentioned at the beginning of this article, I set myself up for disappointment. I had expectations going into seeing this, which usually leads to dissatisfaction. I may also come across as very critical, but I really expected a lot from B:GK. The majority of the stories are boring, lifeless, and don't relate to the gap between BB and TDK. The different interpretations of Batman and unique art styles used are pretty impressive. I feel as though they nailed the art and the story is totally missing. I wish the 6 chapters were connected or related in some way, but they feel all over the place and disorganized. I also wish that they turned this idea into a coherent animated series or something of the sort. However, there are a ton of extras included on the disc as well; they make it somewhat worth it, I guess. Most notable are the 4 episodes of Batman: The Animated Series that are on it. I'd suggest just giving it a rent or borrowing it from a friend, unless you are a huge Batman fanboy. As an alternative, watch some old episodes of Batman: The Animated Series; you'll be way more entertained and you can probably find them for free.

Why So Serious?

So I thought it'd be good to actually be awake and even more important, let The Dark Knight sink in a little, before I wrote anything about it. Now I've had a few hours rest and have also been thinking about the movie ever since I left the theater. The bottom line is, it's great, fantastic, amazing-- it's every positive word you can think of. But the one that sums it up the best? Masterpiece.

The full storyline is interesting by itself, however there are several major plot twists that make you think "what the hell is going to happen?" It's pretty intense. And then there is the acting, which is most obviously overshadowed by Heath Ledger's performance as The Joker. Speaking of which, he did a beyond terrific job capturing the villain's insanity and makes you the viewer believe that he's really a psychopath. He portrays one of, if not the, best villains of all time. In the back of my mind I knew it was Heath Ledger under the makeup, but I couldn't understand how. He really became The Joker and it shows in every scene he's up on the big screen. I could gush and gush about his performance, but there are other actors in the movie as well. Christian Bale (Batman), Aaron Eckhart (Harvey Dent/2 Face).. and even 'smaller' roles like Michael Caine (Alfred), Maggie Gyllenhaal (Rachel), Gary Oldman (Lt. Gordon), and Morgan Freeman (Lucius). I thought they all brought stellar performances and all deserve a special mention in this because without one of them it wouldn't be the same. Every character in The Dark Knight contributes to the grand scheme of things in their own way.

Whoever wrote the script needs a raise. The catchphrases of The Joker and witty comebacks by Alfred and Lucius stay with you even after the film is over. After seeing it, you'll most likely find yourself repeating lines aloud over and over again. It starts off action packed and throughout the whole movie you are taken on a roller coaster ride of emotions and really evolve in a way with the characters. I found myself cheering for The Joker at times, not because I'm evil, but because what he was saying was so true and believable. I could go on and on, unfortunately there's a lot I can't talk about without spoiling the movie. So I'll leave you with this, The Dark Knight is a movie you have to see; there is no option. Even those who aren't fans of Batman will fall in love with this genuine package of greatness, I guarantee it. I hope that everyone out there gets a chance to watch it soon because it's really a movie you have to witness in the theaters themselves. The atmosphere is one of a kind. So do yourself a favor and go see it, now!

Zombies Rising On Wii.

Remember that top-secret Capcom game that NGamer teased us about a month ago? It's all but official now (expect a press release later in the day); Dead Rising is coming to Wii. Apparently the camera view has been changed to mimic that of the Resident Evil series and there have also been Wii 'waggle' controls implemented for various actions. Seeing as how great RE4: Wii Edition turned out, I can't help but be excited. There are also talks of a new boss being added into the game and possibly new weapons. It makes sense that Capcom would add content, sort of like they did with the Wii version of RE4. Who knows what all will be added to the Wii iteration of Dead Rising, but when Capcom officially spills the beans, I bet we will get a ton of info. Take that you lackluster Nintendo E3 2008 conference! Capcom is bringing the goods! And as if you couldn't tell already, I'm stoked to kill some more zombies, Wiimote style!

Source

Based On A True Story.

Alright, so maybe Fatal Frame: Mask of the Lunar Eclipse isn't really based on a true story, but it might as well be. The little bit I've seen of it has me fully ready to jump into a world unknown to me. We've seen a few scans from Japanese magazines in the past and have been waiting patiently for more information on the title. I might also add that personally it's one of my most anticipated Wii games and I'm disappointed it wasn't shown off by Nintendo at E3! But with only fifteen days until it releases in Japan, we've finally gotten a better glimpse into what we can expect from the next entry in the survival/horror franchise. Below is a montage of videos that have appeared on the Japanese version of The Nintendo Channel. Enjoy!

The Final Countdown

Well, it's finally that time of the year again. Rumors are popping up and everyone is left puzzled as to what will happen in a little under two weeks. That can only mean one thing; E3 is approaching! The Los Angeles event kicks off on July 14th and lasts until July 17th. We're sure to get a great deal of news, especially out of the Nintendo conference, considering they have kept quiet the past few months. Will we finally see Animal Crossing Wii? Will the long-rumored Kid Icarus revival be revealed? Where's the first party DS support? These and so many more questions will ulimately be answered by Nintendo's most influencial members.

Let's not forget Microsoft, who in my opinion, has just as strong of a lineup. With games like Gears of War 2, Halo Wars, and Too Human all set to make an appearance. The most interesting thing from this conference will be to see how Microsoft plans to broaden their userbase; all of the aforementioned games appeal to the core gamer. That's great fan service to current 360 owners, but what will be their answer to Nintendo's Wii? Microsoft can say they aren't in competition with Nintendo all they want; bottom line is they are.. and losing.

And last, but certainly not least, Sony. I have no idea what to expect from their conference. A price drop is doubtful since they've stated numerous times that's not in their plans. One would think that they have to have a great presentation since PS3 sales are mediocre at best. But there are still some interesting titles to be shown off, which include: LittleBigPlanet, PixelJunk Eden, and Resistance 2.

One thing is for sure, you're bound to be happy, no matter what console you own. I think that we're in for a great show-- hopefully that comes to fruition. We've got 11 days to find out, but for now I'll let the speculation continue. What do you think is going to be announced or revealed? Does any one company have an advantage to take the highly coveted "E3 crown" this year?

Ah yes, and here's a countdown to watch while you wait:

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Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold

Just wanted to follow up Raith's previous posts with the semi-official trailer for MadWorld. I only say 'semi' because it was pretty much leaked online, so it's not the best quality by any means. Sega of America contacted YouTube to take down the video, which pretty much guaranteed that it was real footage. So here it is, we finally get to see it in all it's glory! The art style alone looks phenomenal. Add in cutting people up with your chainsaw arm, slamming enemies onto a wall of spikes, ripping out hearts, and shoving street signs through your enemies' face. The result? A truly epic looking game coming to Wii. I'm a sucker for ultra-violent games and will definitely be keeping my eye on this one!

EDIT: Since my original post, the official trailer and announcement have been released.

Panic Takes Over U.S. Capital

That title sounds really serious, but fear not. A few days ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to go check out the Honda Civic Tour in Washington D.C., but more importantly, see Panic At The Disco for a second time. The supporting acts were Phantom Planet, The Hush Sound, and Motion City Soundtrack.

I've been to other concerts in the D.C. area, but nothing as huge as the DAR Constitutional Hall. I mean, wow, that place is as classy as they come. Consider most of the presidents attend at least one event at DAR during their term(s). Anyways, back to the concert itself. It was great to go since it had been over 2 years since I originally saw them live. And luckily I got to go with my brother and a group of our friends, who all went together the first time we saw them, which made the experience that much more enjoyable. It's been awhile since I've been to a show in general, the last being Underoath in 2006 I believe (has it been THAT long?). So I felt totally out of the loop, but I love the atmosphere of a live show; the bands signing autographs, friends, fans, music, and the cute girls, yeah I said it! It's just an experience I think everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy at one time or another.

This concert was nothing short of amazing-- these guys put on a great live show. After hearing their new album, I was a bit puzzled as to how they would pull off the new songs live. Come to find out they arranged them so well with actual instruments, tambourine and all. One of my favorite moments was when Brendon asked everyone in the audience to take off their shoes and do a little swing dancing down the aisles (DAR has carpeted floors!). Another was when the rest of the band left the stage and Brendon played a song all by himself, just him and a guitar.

The set list was a pretty good mix of old and new songs. I figured that they would push their new album since it only came out a little over a month ago. The old songs were still fun to dance to, everyone was having a great time, and the new ones were just as easy to vibe with. The set list is listed below:

We're So Starving
Nine In The Afternoon
But It's Better If You Do
Camisado
Behind The Sea
Lying Is The Most Fun A Girl Can Have Without Taking Her Clothes Off
I Constantly Thank God For Esteban
The Green Gentleman (Things Have Changed)
I Have Friends In Holy Spaces
I Write Sins Not Tragedies
Time To Dance
Pas De Cheval
Mad As Rabbits

I could probably go on and on about how much I enjoyed the show, but that probably wouldn't be too entertaining to read. I actually waited in line for a little over 30 minutes in between sets to buy a shirt, it was literally a mob of people. If the Honda Civic Tour is coming your way, do yourself a favor and go check it out. I have finals next week and then I will be done with classes for the semester, so you know what that means. Yes! it is that time again, Warped Tour is right around the corner! I'll be heading out to the event on July 16th with a group of friends, so expect a lot of pictures and impressions.

Some Thing Has Found Us.

I'll admit, I didn't know exactly what to expect going to see Cloverfield. The only thing I really knew was that it was a monster flick, but would it be any different than others? Would it live up to the hype? I found it genius how they used the unknown and people's curiosity to promote the film, but that's a whole other post in itself. It must have been nerve wracking for them to wait and see if people would bite. Apparently it worked!
Without giving away too many details, I might as well set up the general synopsis for Cloverfield. It's present day and all is peaceful on planet Earth. A small group of friends in New York City decide to plan a suprise going away party for their good friend Rob. Rob was lucky enough to be promoted to Vice President at a company in Japan. The party his friends throw is in celebration of his accomplishment and to remember all the good times they spent together. Unfortunately, the party comes to a sudden halt, as the power flickers and news reports talk of an oil tanker that has capsized. Realizing how close they are to the attack, our group of friends rush outside to get a better view of what has happened. Growls, screams, explosions, blood, and falling debris. New York City is under attack yet again.

Now that you know a little more about it, I think it's time for me to say that I really enjoyed Cloverfield. I found the way the story unfolded (sort of like Blair Witch) to be especially effective. This technique really draws you in that much more and makes you, well, frightened. I can only imagine what it would be like if something of this magnitude happened in real life. But I think that Cloverfield is crafted in a way that makes it somewhat believable. If this were to happen, this is exactly how people would react-- in utter chaos! The monster is without a doubt the big draw of the movie, but "it" only acts as a backdrop for the rest of the film. It's more about how these group of friends deal with such a gruesome and horrific event. Don't get me wrong, my face had a huge smile across it every time they showed the monster. The pacing is perfect, it starts out slow and as it goes along, more of the monster is revealed. The directors clearly wanted to keep their audience on the edge of their seat. For instance, the guy sitting next to me was literally leaning forward in his chair, in a hope of catching a glimpse of the monster. Again, genius.

To finish this off, I'm not a very big fan of monster movies. But for some reason, Cloverfield just did it for me. I think it has some beautiful shots if you can appreciate the way the movie is shown. The special effects team really deserves a lot of credit for making everything look so believable and blending it all in with the real world. Even the dialogue can be praised for being so witty and sarcastic. It goes without saying that I obviously liked Cloverfield. It was worth every penny to me and at $9.50+ tax, it's no joke. If you haven't seen the movie yet, I strongly recommend it. Get a friend or two together, sit back, and enjoy. It's really something you'll want to see with someone else and see on the big screen (with incredible surround sound.) The only thing that made me a little disappointed was the fact that it's only 80 minutes long. It kind of ended abruptly, whereas I wanted it to keep going on. But it's better than it being drawn out any further I suppose. And just as a tip, stay after the credits roll!

SOME THING HAS FOUND US
1-18-08

Brawl Countdown

Hey everyone! This is my first post and what better time to start?! To go along with the posts below by Ku and Raith, I've created a countdown until Brawl launches in North America. So now you have something to do while you're staring at your monitor and anticipating launch day like the rest of us! Unfortunately, Brawl has been delayed yet again-- so I updated the countdown accordingly. Hopefully that'll be the last time I have to change it!