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Mario Sports Mix Gets Cover Art & More Details….

In barely under a month, Mario fans everywhere will be able to get their hands on the Italian plumber’s newest title, Mario Sports Mix. With the release date now fast approaching, Nintendo have released an official cover art and given a few more details for the title which will be coming to the U.S. on February 7th, to the U.K. on February 4th and to Australia on January 27th. As you can see above, the cover has now also been shown and while it may not win any awards on creativity, it does show a good portion of the game’s cast tearing it up it the four different sports within the game, hockey, basketball, volleyball and dodgeball, so I would say it gets the job done just fine.

Nintendo also released some more information about some of the features and arenas which will be included in Sports Mix as well:

Mario Sports Mix presents these four familiar sports – but with a Mario twist. Players can choose from a variety of playable Mushroom Kingdom characters and can even challenge Mario and friends directly by playing as their own Mii characters. Each game contains a number of Mushroom Kingdom power-ups that can turn the tide of a game in an instant, such as banana peels, green shells and even mini mushrooms. In over-the-top Mario sports fashion, each character can unleash his or her unique special move that ranges from Mario’s fire dunk in basketball, to Yoshi’s rainbow attack in dodgeball.

Players can also hold their matches in a number of interesting venues. For example, the Wario Factory has conveyor belts that affect how the players move on the court, while in Peach’s Castle, fountains go up and down to block certain areas of the net in Volleyball.

Up to four friends who are in the same room can join in the fun, while up to four players can compete online via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Players can play online against friends with whom they have traded friend codes, or anonymously against other opponents.

This newly announced online function should be a great addition that for myself will add in many more hours of replay, as long as the servers perform well anyway. I am also glad to see the interactive courts coming into play with this one as I can imagine these will have some hilarity (nothing is like shoving Luigi into something explosive in a Mario Sports title). All together, this game is shaping up quite well, and even though I am not a huge fan of the Miis being in the game, the roster as well as environments are jam packed and this very well could be Mario’s best sports outing to date. Be sure to check back as I am sure Nintendo will be releasing even more information and we will bring it to you as soon as we see it.

Dead Rising 2: Case West Achievement Help

Some of you may still be having trouble with the achievements; like MasterAbbot, who has been begging for me to help explain to him how to get the handy man achievement. It really isn’t that hard… but you know, he’s pretty slow.

Below I have compiled some useful videos (a whole bunch) to assist anyone that may be having trouble with the “Handy Man”, “Professional Photography”, “Petty Vandal”, and “Savior” achievements. Keep in mind, that I got all these videos from youtube and none of them are my own. I simply thought they were the most helpful of the ones I found, and compiled them all here in hopes that they can help some of you as well. I’ve also included some of my own advice, but the videos do most of the explaining. I hope this helps some of you get the more difficult achievements.

Handy Man
Can be done over multiple Playthroughs

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y70h_7zsDhc&feature=player_embedded[/pro-player]

Professional Photography
To confirm if you got the picture check the little green check mark in the PP sticker after you take the picture and make sure your 1000 experience points pop up. You can go to the main menu and check your pictures, as well as delete them if your camera is full.

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqRnBVGD5Qk&feature=player_embedded[/pro-player]

Petty Vandal
Has to be done on one playthrough, but isn’t very difficult.

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq0W21IN8m0&feature=player_embedded[/pro-player]
[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCp03Ult5Ig&feature=player_embedded[/pro-player]
[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8Mud8Lto4o&feature=player_embedded[/pro-player]
[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qc4TB2OA4Uo&feature=player_embedded[/pro-player]
[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2jA_CTfpNA&feature=player_embedded[/pro-player]

Savior
Must be done in one playthrough, and not everyone appears immediately. Some of them only appear after a certain case or time.

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB-yWwdQgYo&feature=player_embedded[/pro-player]
[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI9hz9QJba0&feature=player_embedded[/pro-player]
[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWM43b_54wI&feature=player_embedded[/pro-player]
[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewwih8RW0FE[/pro-player]

This Week On XBLA (1/3/2011)

This week doesn’t include much “interesting” stuff to enjoy your first week of the new year; unless of course you like buying virtual clothes for your avatar.

The Deal of the week includes a whole bunch of random clothes for your avatar, and there isn’t really any connection between them. It is as if whoever was picking these closed their eyes and just randomly selected some clothes to put on sale.

Here’s the full list of Deal of the Week Avatar items now available:

(Deals end January 10th)

The XBLA game this week is “IloMilo”, which has been available for a while. We told you how to get it early back in November. If you didn’t feel it was honorable to pick it up that way, you’ll be able to pick it up officially, on Wednesday January 5th for 800 Microsoft Points. Our review for the game will be released in the early hours of the same day, for those of you who are still iffy on purchasing it.

Zombie Runaway iPhone Beta Open Now

Feel like getting a taste of a game that hasn’t even been released yet? Well first of all you need an iPhone, if you have that then you are golden to enter Com2uS’ newest open beta. They are looking for some Beta testers to their upcoming game Zombie Runaway which looks to take the whole zombie idea and put a new spin to it.

Rather than killing zombies or running away from zombies, you are the zombie. More importantly you are the only zombie left alive and the humans are out to destroy you so that they can finally abolish zombies from the face of the Earth. Now you can’t just let that happen now can you? Nope, as you will be using various items to avoid the different obstacles that they throw at you and survive.

If you want to enter into the beta then take a look at the image below and follow the steps on it to get yourself right into the beta.

Morrowind 2011 mod updates Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind to beautiful state

Now we’ve heard about The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and the fact that not only will it be using a brand new gaming engine, but it appears to be a more direct sequel to Oblivion. So what about previous Elder Scrolls games… specifically Morrowind? Well though the game itself came out a long time ago that doesn’t mean that there aren’t any fans still playing the game and loving it.  Especially considering the PC versions of the Elder Scrolls games are open to be modded at will.

Now thanks to a modder calling himself Warwon Morrowind doesn’t have to be an old looking game anymore. Morrowind 2011 is a mod compilation that Warwon has put together that makes Morrowind look as if it was developed using not only today’s technology, but even better than that. The graphics are absolutely gorgeous as you can see in the video below. You can find the mod’s website here and follow his instructions as to how to download and install these graphical updates.

Also keep in mind that these graphical enhancements don’t come without a cost, obviously you will need better computing equipment to run the game, as well as enough room to store the massive 4GB mod. I don’t have Morrowind myself for the PC but I did play it back on the original Xbox and I can say that these graphical enhancements are simply amazing from what we can see in the video.

Dissida 012[duodecim]: Final Fantasy gets a little jiggle to it

Now we’ve seen games that have placed their entire concept around jiggle physics (Dead or Alive Xtreme anyone?) but more often than not there really isn’t much emphasis on it, and on other times it is put in simply for a reality factor. But then again when a game is rated by the ESRB they have to of course cover anything that they may find objectionable and make a little description for it.

We’ve seen the ESRB give humorous descriptions of action games like Bulletstorm and then games that feature very suggestive content like Record of Agarest War and of course they’d have to give Dissida 012[duodecim]: Final Fantasy a visit and let us know what exactly the game will be rated and what it will contain. The game itself will be getting a T for Teen rating so no major worries there but the way that they describe the game is hilarious.

You can find the whole description below but let me give you a hint as to the funny part; it involves Tifa and the zoom camera function. Now most people who play games are getting older and some of these jokes are growing stale and a bit redundant now personally. But alas here is the description:

This is an action game in which players compete in one-on-one battles with characters from the Final Fantasy universe. Players engage in hand-to-hand combat in 3D arenas and use axes, swords, boomerangs, and magic spells (e.g., energy balls, summoned creatures) to drain opponents’ life meters. Battles are highlighted by cries of pain, colorful explosions, and slow-motion sequences that zoom in on defeated characters. A handful of female characters wear revealing outfits that expose large amounts of cleavage; some of these characters’ breasts also jiggle during combat. Some in-game text in also contains suggestive material (e.g., “Here’s a better idea: ‘Zoom camera into Tifa’s cleavage!'”). Various portrait galleries depict partially nude female characters; the general shapes of their bodies are displayed instead of actual detail (i.e., no nipples or genitalia). The words “a*s,” “damn,” and “hell” appear in the dialogue.

Johnny Cash and Free Tracks coming to RB3 Today

Johnny Cash and Free Music trackS?! What more could you be asking for? When I say “Free” music Tracks, I’m not talking about a band called “free”. I’m talking about them costing absolutely nothing! All these tracks release today, and you can check out the full list below.

Johnny Cash Pack 011080 Microsoft Points (160 Microsoft Points each.)

  • “Cry, Cry, Cry”
  • “Don’t Take Your Guns to Town”
  • “Five Feet High and Rising”
  • “Folsom Prison Blues”
  • “I Got Stripes”
  • “I Walk the Line” *
  • “Tennessee Flat Top Box” *
  • “The Ballad of Ira Hayes”
*80 Microsoft Points per track for a Pro Guitar/Pro Bass upgrade
Rock Band Free Pack 01FREE!!
  • Abnormality – “Visions”
  • Anarchy Club – “Get Clean”
  • Bang Camaro – “Night Lies”
  • Breaking Wheel – “Shoulder to the Plow”
  • Libyans – “Welcome to the Neighborhood”
  • The Main Drag – “A Jagged Gorgeous Winter”
  • Speck – “Conventional Lover”
  • The Sterns – “Supreme Girl”
  • That Handsome Devil – “Rob the Prez-O-Dent”

Look for them on the XBox Live Marketplace, today!

Catherine Demo Coming To Xbox Live (includes trailer)

Catherine is slightly odd, and by looking at the trailer you can probably tell; however, very little details of the actual game have been released. This is particularly odd since the Japanese release date is a little over a month away.

Luckily a demo is incoming, which will give possible buyers the chance to find out what Catherine is all about. The game’s director, Katsura Hashino, confirmed that a demo is incoming via a post on the game’s official blog, where he also addressed feedback he’d received regarding Catherine. However, since the blog is in Japanese, it is possible that this demo will only be available for Japanese Xbox live users.

Hashino noted that “many people are excited” about Catherine, but acknowledged a sequence of confusion, with concerns including, “If it’s sexual, I can’t buy it” and questions like “I’m gonna buy this, but what kind of game is it?” A trailer for the game is below and honestly, it only succeeded in confusing me more.

All will be “hopefully” revealed when the demo for Catherine is released (possibly only in Japan), which will supposedly be at some point ahead of the Japanese date for the game’s launch on February 17th. I’m hoping to see this Demo Available everywhere, because this trailer is so weird it got me interested; however, I’ll probably be sadly disappointed…

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqVOssrCTd8&feature=player_embedded[/pro-player]

Newest L.A. Noire screens show off some face work

Now there has always been that uncanny valley between real life and video games. What that means is that there never really has been a truly life like appearance of a character in a game that could relate to real life. There have been great graphics that is for sure but even then there is always that uncanny valley. L.A. Noire may not have the facial designs to overcome that valley but they are trying their best.

With their latest release of screenshots L.A. Noire has shown off a batch of different faces within the game. We see the different facial emotions that one wouldn’t normally expect within a game such as worry lines appearing on the forehead of a character or wrinkles appearing as they concentrate on something. These different subtle emotions will most likely bring the characters to life in L.A. Noire, and as long as everything else falls into place we may be seeing some of the best emotion exhibiting characters to date.

APB Reloaded closed beta to possibly begin February

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Remember when APB was first released? Well not many people do as the game met with it’s unfortunate demise shortly after it’s release due to many different factors. A few of these factors were poor reviews among the public and also a very small user base that dwindled as the game began to sink fast. That doesn’t mean however that the developers of the game were willing to let it die however.

APB will soon be re-released as a free to play version of its old self and will be titled APB Reloaded. But those who are willing to get a taste of the game early will soon have a chance to get into the closed beta that will begin in February according to a tweet on APB Reloaded’s official Twitter. You can sign up now on the game’s official website though there have not been any invites sent out yet of course. There has been no announcement of what changes have been made to the gameplay, if any, but I’m sure that they will be discovered quickly after the beta begins.