Hey guys, Christmas is only a few months away and I know many of you kids are busy creating your Christmas lists and the parents out there are trying to figure out what to get their kids. If they don’t own a PS3 you should probably think about buying the new model for them, but if they do own one check out some stuff being released before Christmas that I guarantee your child will love!
PlayStation® innovation evolves to entertain Australian families this Christmas
Gran Turismo® 5 Australian launch confirmed for November
Yahoo!7 catch-up TV service PLUS7 arrives on PS3 this September
MUBI movie streaming of classic and independent cinema confirmed
New model PlayStation®3 consoles to launch with extra storage
PlayStation®Move arrives September 16
Classic games at pocket money prices with the new PSP® Essentials range
Hey Fighting game fans, I know you probably hate the circular D-Pad as much as I do while playing fighting games. Well, Microsoft has come up with a solution and Major Nelson presents it in this video below.
My personal opinion is that this won’t help much, the PS3 D-Pad is still going to be preferred in fighting games, due to the separate buttons. This new Xbox 360 D-Pad will just enable the easier finding of each separate direction but still has the problem with pushing the button at the wrong angle to mess up a combo. I think Microsoft Completely missed the point of all the complaints.
Check out the video below, and here are some extra words from Major Nelson.
“In addition to the new d-pad, the matte silver controller also features concave analog sticks and gray A,B,X,Y buttons for added style.
The controller will only be available with the new Play & Charge Kit that will launch on November 9th for US $64.99.”
The Summer of Arcade may be over, but don’t worry! In microsofts need to cluster XBLA releases under one theme we are about to hit THE GAME FEAST! yes, that’s right! 4 new games all under the title of the game feast. Out of the titles, only one has to do with food (Super Meat Boy) and they aren’t even being released around thanksgivings. Too bad, now they have used up a perfectly good food based theme for games released around thanksgivings.
Here are the titles that will be included in The Game Feast!
September 29: Hydrophobia, 1200 Microsoft Points October 6: Comic Jumper, 1200 Microsoft Points October 13: Pinball FX 2, Tables purchased individually, free import from original Pinball FX October 20: Super Meat Boy, Pricing TBD
Can’t wait until September 29th to start off the Game Feast, then check out these games which will be arriving slightly sooner.
September 8:Plants vs. Zombies, 1200 Microsoft Points September 8: Dance! It’s your Stage, 800 Microsoft Points September 15: Sonic Adventure, 800 Microsoft Points
Below are also some upcoming Deals of the Week. I am definitely looking forward to the Resident Evil DLC, I don’t have any of them yet and will be buying all 3 if they discount all 3. However, if they just discount the versus mode, I will not be buying that. They need to entice me with all the DLC or it is no sale.
Last but not least, we have DLC releases, who’s ready for the Free Toy Box add-on for Crackdown 2 coming this Thursday!? I know I am!! September 2: Crackdown 2Toy Box available at no cost to Crackdown 2 owners; 560 Microsoft Points for additional content and available worldwide September 7:Mass Effect 2Lair of the Shadow Broker , 800 Microsoft Points September 7:Dragon Age: OriginsWitch Hunt , 560 Microsoft Points September 7: Rock BandSnoop Dog 8 Single Tracks, 160 Microsoft Points for each track and available worldwide
*Current schedule. Subject to change. All content may not be available in all Xbox LIVE regions.
That’s right you heard me! Polyphony Digital has stated that owners of the most anticipated racing game this year will have to endure a 10GB Install to be able to experience the best possible performance whilst playing Gran Turismo 5
But you have the option to only install 250MB which is the mandatory amount of room for the installation, but if you want to play the game with the smooth play experience then it looks like you shall be waiting a while once getting home and unwrapping the seal, I can only imagine how long it will take to complete a 10GB install
Gran Turismo 5 is officially released on the 3rd of November
Story
“Set two years after the Willamette incident and three years before Dead Rising 2, Dead Rising® 2: Case Zero introduces main protagonist and former motocross champion Chuck Greene providing a link between the original game and the events that await players in the gambling paradise of Fortune City.” [Via Xbox.com]
The game starts out with a pretty long cutscene, followed by another long cutscene that explains pretty well what is going on without any need to have played the first game. Chuck drives up to a gas station in Still Creek to fill up on gas. While filling up Chuck gives his daughter a shot of Zombrex in order to keep her from becoming a zombie. They both enter the gas station to get some food, and the car is stolen. If you think that is bad, zombies then proceed to attack.
The goal of Dead Rising 2: Case Zero is to find another dose of Zombrex for Chuck’s daughter, and then get out of the town. Along the way you will uncover more story and be filled in on what is happening leading up to Dead Rising 2.
Gameplay
While Dead Rising 2: Case Zero is a really good stand alone game, it is really meant to be played and treated like a Demo. Case Zero is a small chunk of what everyone can expect from the full Dead Rising 2 game. Case Zero is actually chapter 0 in the story, so in retrospect Case Zero is more like DLC for a game that hasn’t even come out yet.
The game only lasts 12 hours in game, which is equivalent to about 3 to 4 hours in real time. While this may seem like a time limit, it isn’t that bad and fits well with what is going on in the game. Depending on your gameplay style, you may or may not beat the game in the allotted time (and pretty much loose) but you can always retry and luckily your money and stats transfer over to restarts so that the next game is easier and even more fun. The first time I played I got distracted with killing tons of zombies and pretty much wasted the entire allotted time building weapons and killing zombies. I didn’t even get the zombrex for Chuck’s Daughter. That may sound bad, but I just restarted and attempted the story a second time. I get distracted easily though, so I again didn’t finish in the allotted time. I’ve played through quite a few times now and have enjoyed myself each time.
Zombies and Weapons, what more could you want? As chuck says to his daughter, “I can fix anything” and it seems pretty much make anything as well. Chuck has a pretty demented mind to think up some of those weapon combinations, such as the Drill Bucket which you plop onto a zombie’s head and after a bit of drilling the head is destroyed and the body falls limp to the ground. While there are normal items that can be used as weapons all over Still Creek, they are weak and ineffective. The basic weapons should only be used as last resort and you should always carry around a combination weapon for massive zombie slaughter. Scattered all over the place are weapons that have a wrench symbol on them which means they can be combined with something else to make something better. The real trouble and fun comes from trying to figure out what else to combine it with to make the better weapon. The combinations found in this game are just a small portion of the large amount in Dead Rising 2, but there is just enough here to wet your appetite for the buffet to be found in the retail game.
Audio & Graphics
The audio and graphics are supposedly the same as those found in Dead Rising 2. Based off of that, the graphics are pretty good and the audio is nice as well. The squish and thump of killing zombies, to the clank of missing a zombie and hitting a metal pole instead are all extremely appealing. Along with melee weapons, guns sound extremely nice as well and are quite nice.
This isn’t exactly the place to put it, but this is probably the first game where I’ve been annoyed by some pointless programmed AI. There is a guy on the roof that you meet later in the game that tells you where other survivors are for you to save them. He passes time by randomly shooting zombies that are located on the floor; problem is that if you are killing zombies there he will occasionally shoot you which is extremely annoying. He hass even shot me a few times while I was on the roof talking to him.
Achievements
The achievement list is very nice, that will have you doing everything you can within the game. It isn’t possible to do everything in one playthrough, so multiple playthroughs will be required. It may be possible to do them all in one playthrough, but it would be very hard and you would have to plan every minute in advance. Killing 1000 zombies must be done in one playthrough, but spending $100,000 in the pawnshop and building all available combo weapons can be done in multiple playthroughs since money and combo cards transfer to the newest game every time you reset. Overall the achievement list is well done and a lot of fun.
Below is the achievement list: Still Creek Savior – 20 – Save all the survivors in Still Creek. We Ride To Fortune City! – 20 – Escape Still Creek with Katey. Chop Shop – 20 – Defeat Jed the Mechanic. Zombie Hunter – 10 – Kill 100 zombies. Zombie Exterminator – 20 – Kill 1,000 zombies. Small Town, Deep Pockets – 20 – Spend $100,000 in the pawnshop. Part Way There – 10 – Find and return a bike part. Ready to Ride – 20 – Rebuild the bike. A Taste of Things to Come – 10 – Build a combo weapon. A bigger taste… – 20 – Build all available combo weapons. Locksmith – 20 – Unlock all the doors in Still Creek. Clueless No More – 10 – Purchase a clue from Dick, the pawnshop owner.
Overview
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero is an extremely good game. It is a lot of fun and leads to tons of hours of zombie bashing and trying to escape the town. While the game should be treated as DLC for a game that is not out yet, it doesn’t remove from the fact that it does an extremely good job at being a standalone game. For anyone who hasn’t played the first Dead Rising, you may have trouble getting a handle on the gameplay but after messing around for a while it becomes simple and a lot of fun. Dead Rising 2: Case Zero acts as a demo that you must buy. The game does an extremely good job at introducing players to the concepts that will be in Dead Rising 2; however, if you want to find out what happens next you will need to buy Dead Rising 2 when it comes out. A five dollar price tag is also pretty inviting.
I give Dead Rising 2: Case Zero
She cooks, she gardens, and now she babysits. Mama is back in action and headed to the Nintendo Wii for the newest entry in the popular “Mama” franchise which has sold nearly 7 Million units since release. Yes, the series mainly appeals to the female gamers out there but the solid gameplay and charm have kept the Mama games successful and still fun to play over the years.
Within the game, there are six different babies to choose from, each with a unique look and set of activities such as rocking the baby, teaching the baby to walk, taking photos, changing the baby’s clothes, and peek-a-boo. Babysitting Mama also honestly looks to be the perfect gift for any little girls in the family as the game will have a real plush doll that the WiiMote will fit right into then they can watch their newborn come to life as they enjoy 40 babysitting activities from feeding to bathing to playing. The game also features a two player mode.
So if you have a little gamer in the family and are looking for the perfect gift for the holidays coming up, Babysitting Mama has you covered and will be launching in November of this year for the MSRP of $49.99. Check out these new screenshots below showing off some of the newly added features and games withing Babysitting Mama.
With the HUGE release of Dragon Quest IX earlier this year, many RPG fans have been waiting for the next big release from Nintendo on the DS, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn. The problem was we haven’t really had an official street date, until now. Nintendo has officially announced a date for the highly anticipated entry into the Golden Sun series for November 29th.
Along with this info, Nintendo also gave a nice preview to the plot in the official press release:
Offering a planet-sized world of adventure to explore and conquer, Golden Sun: Dark Dawn puts the raw power of the elements in players’ hands. Each of the game’s playable characters is capable of carrying Djinn, spirits that imbue their owner with unique and powerful abilities. Players can collect more than 70 unique Djinn, granting them the ability to summon mighty deities who unleash devastating attacks that fill both Nintendo DS screens. Djinn powers can also be used to navigate puzzling dungeons and overworld environments that will have players flinging fireballs to burn away obstacles, freezing water to raise platforms, or summoning whirlwinds to create bridges out of floating objects.
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn takes place 30 years after the events is Golden Sun and Golden Sun: The Lost Age, both of which came out on the Game Boy Advance. In this entry, players will be introduced to a new generation of heroes that are struggling to survive in a radically changed world. Players will start out on a journey to save a lost friend which will suddenly turns into a dramatic quest to save the land from catastrophe as players are drawn into a world full of magical energy.
This will be one of the biggest portable releases this year for the Nintendo DS and now that we have a date, fans of the series can now comfortably place a pre-order for the newest entry which will be released right in time for the holidays. Check out the trailer if you haven’t seen it yet below and don’t forget to mark your calenders for November 29th when Golden Sun: Dark Dawn is released!
With recent news of one console charging more on it’s services comes news of a refreshing price drop from Nintendo on their latest portable consoles. Effective Sept. 12, the new suggested retail price of the Nintendo DSi system will be $149.99, while the new suggested retail price for the Nintendo DSi XL system will be $169.99. The Nintendo DS Lite model will remain at a suggested retail price of $129.99.
“We know shoppers want to get the maximum value out of every dollar they spend,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Our new Nintendo DSi prices make it easier than ever for consumers to access the tremendous variety of games, applications and social tools on the Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DSi XL systems.”
This is awesome news for the holidays that should push the consoles into even further success sales wise before the 3DS drops next year. Through the end of July, total Nintendo DS family hardware sales are more than 42.3 million in the United States alone. Those are certainly some big numbers for the console that keeps giving with over 1300 titles.
All these games are pretty good. Zeno Clash is short, but definitely worth that price. Galaga Legions is actually pretty but pretty fun at the same time, check out the demo and see if you like it. Alien Breed is pretty fun, and definitely worth 400 so you can prepare for episode 2. The Alien Vs Predator DLC is up in the air. The online comunity of that game is pretty dead and you probably won’t get much use out of the DLC, hopefully this deals revives the online a bit for a week at least.
The Deals will last until September 6th, 2010.
This week also sees the release of “Dead Rising 2: Case Zero” which is only delayed in Japan (Sorry Japan, but you’ll have to wait a bit longer). We’ll be having the review up tomorrow if you are unsure about the game, but it is only 400 MSP and prepares you for Dead Rising 2 which releases in September. So if you like Dead Rising, you should definitely take a look at this game.
Dead Rising 2: Case Zero Releases Tuesday August 31st.
Gearbox has confirmed that it is going to release a GOTY edition for borderlands that will include all 4 of the DLC via Twitter. Although it was pretty much a no brainer that it was going to receive a GOTY edition, that and there was a leak for a GOTY edition guide on the gamestop website.
Borderlands Game of the Year Edition is scheduled for October 2010 and will have the game and all four DLC add-ons – The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned, Mad Moxxi’s Underdome, The Secret Armory of General Knoxx and the upcoming Claptrap’s Robot Revolution DLC. There is even a bonus map included, though the purpose or reason for the map is unknown.
