Bored? Depressed? Ready to give up on life?
2:51 PM, January 31, 2007
This video will turn that frown upside down!
When does the PS3 become cool again?
2:10 PM, January 31, 2007
Sony is already making official noises about a PS3 price cut in Japan in order to hit its sales targets.
Once that cut happens -- and I think it's pretty much guaranteed to happen if Sony executives are speculating about it on the record -- then it's only a matter of time before those cuts wash up on our shores.
Assuming Sony can cut $100 off the U.S. prices, where would that leave the PS3? Well, the 20 GB model would then cost the same as a premium Xbox 360, and in fact the two consoles would then have nearly identical specs. But the PS3 would also include Blu-ray.
At that point, I think the 60 gig PS3 becomes kind of pointless, even though the built-in wi-fi is nice.
I'm also willing to bet that that's when the PS3 suddenly starts to look a lot more interesting to mainstream gamers. Almost all the best third-party 360 games are slowly migrating to the PS3, anyway, so Microsoft loses both its pricing advantage and its game library advantage.
And for the price of a premium 360, you get both the PS3 game machine and a really quite good Blu-ray movie player.
Of course, Microsoft could then counter with its own price cuts.
But that would only be good news for gamers.
PSP System Update 3.10
12:37 PM, January 31, 2007
The 3.10 System Software update for the PSP is now available.
The updates includes:
• Support for PLAYSTATION®Network titles has been expanded.
• You can now play MPEG-4 AVC format video files under LocationFree Player
• "Conserve Memory" has been added as an option in "View Settings" under Internet Browser.
• Settings "Dynamic Normalizer" has been added as a feature under "Sound Settings."
Sony says Wii is an "impulse purchase." Wha?
10:38 AM, January 31, 2007
From Next Generation: "Sony believes Wii is currently selling to casual gamers rather than committed gamers".
I'm fairly committed to my Wii. Uh, that sounds funny.
Texas Gamer - First Look at new GRAW 2 trailer
9:49 AM, January 31, 2007
Our firends at Ubisoft just sent over the latest trailer for the upcoming Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2. Dont know about you, but I am getting all tingly inside in anticipation of it's release.
Note: This just in...Ubisoft just sent out a release stating that a single player demo is now available for download on Xbox Live!
January 30, 2007
New Xbox Live games!
4:48 PM, January 30, 2007
New Xbox Live games are on their way: List here via Kotaku.com
January 29, 2007
Who would have thought this a year ago...
11:21 AM, January 29, 2007
Stream your PC media to your Wii (oh, and PS3)
11:12 AM, January 29, 2007
January 26, 2007
Sad, sad Ghostbusters news
4:48 PM, January 26, 2007
2 Months Later: Life with Wii and PS3
3:10 PM, January 26, 2007
So which system could I live without? Which would I recommend?
Seriously, those are tough questions.
It's amazing to think back to last November with days-long box-store camp-outs for PS3's and a sad, luke-warm reaction for Nintendo's new system. Flash-forward a couple months to find unwanted PS3's stacked to the ceiling of my local stores and the elusive Wii's transformed into everyone's holy grail. Just like the fickle buying "public" my favorite system has flip-flopped back and forth.
Here's why I like each one:
Wii:
I know WAY more people that own Wii's than any other system I have ever bought. This translates to more fun trading Mii's (online personal characters that you create on your Wii), more fun with online messaging and more fun with bragging conversations.
Also, Wii was a massive hit at our house over the holidays and now everyone in my family owns a Wii (parents included). Each family get-together turns into a Wii-for-all. There's never been a game system that appeals to so many people within my friends and family.
Other things I love about the Wii: Wii sports, the weather information, the virtual console and the controllers.
PS3:
I love the DVD/Blu-Ray player. It has now replaced my regular DVD player. I'm addicted to high-def movies.
I love the downloadable games (Sodoku, Grip Shift, MotorStorm demo and Gran Turismo HD). And, to my surprise, I use the web browser way more than I imagined I would.
Of the games I've purchased, I've enjoyed Resistance, Tony Hawk and Call to Duty 3 the most, but so far the other features of the PS3 make me happier.
What I don't like:
Wii:
Nothing available that's as fun as Wii Sports.
The News and Weather features took forever to go "live."
The VC games aren't quite "there" yet.
Online features have way too much security for adults.
PS3:
Not enough good games.
Constant systems updates that take FOREVER!
Online store not as cool as the Xbox 360 or even the Wii.
Controller already falling apart.
My recommendation: Xbox 360! Just kidding.
I think I use each system equally and each has their own advantages. I need a few more months to work this out. I think it's going to come down to the games and at this point no one has spectacular games. A killer app can really make a system.
Wii might get original games for download
12:07 PM, January 26, 2007
According to CVG, Nintendo might be starting a "Games Channel" that would users to download new (not classic) games for their Wii.
I really expected this to happen.
Wii News now live
12:02 PM, January 26, 2007
According to the fine folks at Kotaku, the Wii News service (powered by AP) is now live. I'm actually excited about this... news headlines via a cool 3D globe navigation system is very cool.
A whole day early! Even cooler!
January 25, 2007
Nintendo sells 3.2 million Wii's. Weeeeee!
7:04 PM, January 25, 2007
Wow, that's a lot of Wii's: read article here
Wii Drum Hack
4:59 PM, January 25, 2007
It's over a month old, but I thought this was cool.
Turn your Wii-mote into a drum machine:
January 24, 2007
Crackdown demo makes good
11:17 AM, January 24, 2007
The demo finally made it to the Xbox Live Marketplace on Tuesday with a massive 1.24 gig download. Surprisingly, for me at least, the download was quick.
As I began single player demo, I was under-whelmed. Nothing was really impressing me (cell-shaded graphics, sparse environment) until I hopped into my police-issue super-car and jumped out into the Crackdown world. Then this game goes nuts.
You play a police officer in charge of ridding Pacific City of gangs and their kingpins. As you pursue the local thugs you can find or earn power ups to increase your strength and jumping ability. The more jumping you can do, the more places you can go and the more baddies you can take out.
The best way I can describe it is a cartoony Grand Theft Auto with better action, better power-ups, better sound, better cars and better control. Oh yeah, and insane violence. You have only 30 minutes in this sand-box demo to do whatever you want (races, crime patrols, missions, jumping)... 30 minutes flies by like the time warp that occurs when you hit the snooze button on your alarm clock.
For the demo, the developers allow you to power-up you character quicker than what will happen in the final game. This is such a savvy move by the game's creators. It really has me excited about the final product.
As for the gameplay, Crackdown is fantastic fun. You're not limited to just following missions and simple shooting. As you get stronger, almost anything that isn't bolted down can be used as a weapon. Fling cars into a crowd of gang members, hurl a dumpster into traffic, use bodies as bowling balls... it's a blast.
The sound is great too. The guns sound awesome and pack a real kick to the game. Oh, and the music, presented the way your used to with GTA (in the cars), is top notch... the demo has real songs by real artists that I know!
I tried online co-op a few times, but it usually ended in frustration. After being booted out of the lobby several times and having to restart the game, I was place into combat with another gamer who vanished mid-game. I'm holding out for vs. mode in the release version.
I'm happy that the Halo 3 beta promise will mean this game will have huge online support and gamer support in general. It's going to be a good February.
PS3 update
10:50 AM, January 24, 2007
Gizmodo reports that Sony has launched the 1.50 software update for the PS3. It supposedly fixes PS1 and PS2 backward-compatibility issues. I would verify this if I didn't have to work.
January 23, 2007
What I am looking forward to in 2007
5:33 PM, January 23, 2007
Here's my "most anticipated" list for 2007.
Send us yours (use the comments below).
1. SSX Blur - Wii
2. Forza Motorsport 2 - Xbox 360
3. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots: PS3
4. God of War II - PS2
5. Burnout 5 - PS3 and Xbox 360
6. Super Mario Galaxy - Wii
7. Project Gotham Raching 4: Xbox 360
8. MotorStorm: PS3
9. Halo 3: Xbox 360
10. Battlefield: Bad Company: Xbox 360 and PS3
11. Gran Turismo: PSP
12. Sega Rally Revo: Xbox360 and PS3
13. Lair: PS3
14. Warhawk: PS3
15. Gran Turismo 5 (???): PS3
Crackdown demo appears
2:16 PM, January 23, 2007
Get ready to wait: it's a 1.24 gig download! Good news, it's single and multiplayer modes.
First round of Halo 3 Beta invitations, now closed
10:40 AM, January 23, 2007
Seems that gamers are already receiving their email invites to join the Halo 3 Beta testing.
According to Halo3.com, the first round of registration is now closed and invitations should be arriving from now until Jan. 26.
There are two additional methods to get invitations including buying a copy of Crackdown for the 360. Additional details here.
Make sure you have all your bases covered if you want to get in on this.
January 19, 2007
Texas Gamer Review - Viva Pinata
3:58 PM, January 19, 2007
Didn't for a minute think I was going to enjoy this game as much as I did. Check out the reivew.
Wii cheaply?
11:37 AM, January 19, 2007
And to make the deal sweeter, there is a downloadable coupon that will save you $40 (download coupon here).
Remember, these are rumors, but at least the coupon is legit.
MotorStorm delayed
11:01 AM, January 19, 2007
GameStop's website is now giving a March 6 release date. So, not too bad. Shall we make a bet that it gets pushed back further?
January 18, 2007
No Crackdown demo :(
4:05 PM, January 18, 2007
Looks like the Crackdown demo didn't make it to Xbox Live last night. No doubt due to the crazy ice storms around the country.
It's promised to be available before the end of the month. I'm anxious to see if it's worth pre-ordering to get in on the Halo 3 beta testing.
Sigh.
Need a Wii? Maybe Sunday.
10:09 AM, January 18, 2007
Rumors say that Best Buy stores will have Wii's in stock (minimum of 15) this Sunday monring (the 21st).
Supossedly this announcement will be included in Sunday's newspaper flyer for the store. Make sure you get an early copy of the paper if you're planning to go!
January 16, 2007
Ghostbusters mashes with Gears of War?
11:30 AM, January 16, 2007
The internet has been buzzing about this footage that recently surfaced on YouTube. It's supposedly a Ghostbusters game done in the vein of 'Gears of War.' The company and developers behind the footage seems to be ZootFly. Their site shows some projects in development for the PC and the 360.
Please let this be real:
UPDATE!: This statement is now on the ZootFly site:
Ghostbusters and TimeO
We are very glad to see the overwhelming response to the Ghostbusters prototype movies. What you’ve seen is indeed in-game footage of early prototypes on the Xbox 360, running on ZootFly’s proprietary engine. Due to licensing issues, further development of the Ghostbusters game hit a bump on the road, but everybody here at ZootFly is working actively on resolving the challenges with the owners of the Ghostbusters IP.
Not to lose the momentum, a part of the ZootFly team is currently working on an original game called TimeO, which is closely related to Ghostbusters. The game follows the adventures of two die-hard New Yorkers. They get trapped deep in the shadow world of a parallel New York. The city itself is a war machine threatening to wipe out our world and they have three days to stop it.
As soon as the Ghostbusters IP issue is resolved, the whole team will go back to Ghostbusters. In the meantime, please enjoy these two movies.
January 13, 2007
Catching up with id Software
2:37 AM, January 13, 2007
There are probably only two Emmy award statues in all of Mesquite, and they both belong to id Software.
Earlier this week, the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences handed out several Technology Emmy Awards to some of the most well-known companies in the gaming industry.
Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony all garnered shiny trophies, as did id, the firm that essentially created the first-person shooter.
One award went to John Carmack, co-founder, technical director and all-around big brain at id Software, for his work on Doom, while the company overall won another Emmy for the technology in Quake.
The folks at id have won a lot of accolades over the years, but Todd Hollenshead, id’s chief executive officer, said the Emmy awards emphasize just how mainstream gaming has become.
“It’s certainly a very cool thing,” he said.
CLICK to read the rest.
January 12, 2007
Things that I do not believe...
4:18 PM, January 12, 2007
Microsoft is rumored to be on the verge of buying Capcom.
I doubt it.
While 360 fanboys would be pleased, the price tag would probably be something close to $1 billion or more.
According to Capcom's 2006 annual report, the video game publisher had sales of just over $600 million last year and reported a net profit of about $60 million.
Given that succesful companies like Capcom typically sell for at least double their annual sales, the asking price would be astronomical, even for an outfit with pockets as deep as Microsoft's.
Still, the thought of franchises like Resident Evil, Devil May Cry, Street Fighter and Mega Man becoming Microsoft exclusives would probably be enough to leave Sony executives curled up in the fetal position in a dark room.
Texas Gamer Review - Call of Duty 3 (PS3)
2:17 PM, January 12, 2007
I re-enlist for some more WWII action. This time on the PS3. Check out the Texas Gamer review.
January 11, 2007
2006 console hardware sales
6:02 PM, January 11, 2007
Fanboys ignite!
Okay, so NPD just released the sales data every gamer nerd has been slobbering over.
So let's dig in.
January 10, 2007
Own a Freedom V wireless guitar? Important info
4:43 PM, January 10, 2007
I previously wrote about the awesome Freedom V wireless guitar controller from The Ant Commandos. Well apparently some rockers are losing their wireless signal while playing. Fret not....get it FRET not...here's a quick fix from The Ant Commandos team.
The last shipment of Freedom V Wireless guitars were sent to the US with a different type of black foam in the battery pack. That foam's material is causing the batteries to lose connection, ultimately resulting in a lost wireless connection. Removing this foam padding from the battery pack will solve the issue.
Now Rock On!
January 9, 2007
Texas based id Software nabs an Emmy
2:32 PM, January 9, 2007
Just saw this release and thought I'd post since they're honorary Texans based out of Mesquite, Tx. Way to go guys!
Victor update: I actually just got off the phone with id CEO Todd Hollenshead, talking about the Emmys, id's next game, the Nintendo Wii, World of Warcraft, video game piracy and all sorts of other fun stuff. I'll be posting the details soon.
Guitar Hero on 360 to offer downloadable tunes!
12:54 PM, January 9, 2007
From the press release:
The rock gods have spoken, and are pleased to announce further details on Activision, Inc.’s Guitar Hero II™ on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, which will feature a variety of new exclusive downloadable content through Xbox Live Marketplace®, along with over 70 finger-melting tracks. The franchise that has rocked the video game industry is set to go on another highly-anticipated world tour this spring, and fans will now enjoy sharply remodeled HD visuals for the next-gen platform, and be able to shred their new Gibson-shaped X-Plorer axes to impressively pulsating audio sweetness on the Xbox 360.
Move to the top of my most wanted list!
January 8, 2007
I fell into a burning ring of fire
11:15 AM, January 8, 2007
Well, my Xbox 360 gave up the ghost last night. While browsing some photos on my PC via Windows Media Connect, my console froze.
I turned it off, restarted and got the fun, flashing red ring 'o death. Reset all the cables, remove the hard drive, offer fervent homage to the dark lord of crashed game consoles. None of it worked.
The really funny part -- and by funny I mean kind of almost impossible to believe -- is that the crash happened not five minutes after I read on Kotaku how one of the site's writers, Brian Ashcraft, had his Japanese 360 go belly up.
I literally read his post, turned off my laptop, fired up my 360, and five minutes later was staring into the abyss (I think it might have stared back into me).
But fear not, gentle reader. Since it was a review unit from Microsoft, I should hopefully be getting a replacement before too long.
My console was actually part of the intial launch batch of systems from 2005, and I thought I had dodged a bullet, since Microsoft has admitted that there was an unusually high number of defects in that first run. So much for dodging.
Doug Note: I know it's going to happen to me soon. I have been lucky so far!
Victor note: Hey Daniel, I don't know about the Halo 3 edition (since it isn't out yet), but the Elite is definitely susceptible to red ring syndrome, although I have heard far fewer reports of Elites going code red.
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Red ring of death thats something to be scared of when it happened to me i didnt know what to do
I really want to know. Can the ring of death happen to the newer 360's like the custom halo 3 one, or the elite?
New 'Gears of War' maps only days away!
10:12 AM, January 8, 2007
According to Kotaku (and some press releases) Epic will offer two FREE 'Gears of War' maps for download on Xbox Live for the 360.
The descriptions of the maps are as follows:
"Raven Down: A Raven Helicopter has gone down in the middle of a large scale battle with the omnipresent Locust Horde. Gears have taken out the Seeder and gamers join Delta Forces moving into the crash site from all angles to search for survivors."
and
"Old Bones: In an attempt to eradicate any traces of human history and culture, the Locust Horde has emerged under Sera's Capitaline Museums and has begun to destroy them brick by brick. Each gamer's mission is to help the Delta Force recapture the museums before all remnants of humankind's existence are obliterated."
These freebies should be available for download on January 10th!
January 5, 2007
What will Bill say?
11:23 PM, January 5, 2007
This coming Sunday at 6:30 pm in Las Vegas, Bill Gates will deliver the pre-show keynote speech at the annual Consumer Electronics Show. Last year, he unveiled the external HD-DVD drive for the Xbox 360 during his oration.
So let's guess what Xbox rumors he's going to finally fulfill or debunk this time around.
*The biggest rumor currently floating on the fetid winds of the Internet is that an updated 360 with a built-in HDMI port and a 120 gigabyte hard drive is on its way. That sounds reasonable, and the larger drive is long overdue. There's also some thought that the new console might include a built-in HD-DVD drive, as well, for HD-DVD movie playback. That one seems doubtful, though. I think Microsoft is a lot more excited about digital delivery -- downloading movies and shows through Xbox Live -- than it is about fighting another stupid format war.
*If the updated 360 is unveiled, I'm guessing it means the welcome death of the Core system. That hard drive-less abomination will likely slip into oblivion, while the current premium system slips down to the $299 price point and the updated console -- supposedly code-named Zephyr -- glides into the $399 slot.
*Speaking of digital delivery, here's hoping Microsoft is ready to announce that tons of new content -- particularly HD content -- is coming to the video download service. It's a technology whose time has come, and Microsoft could really take the lead in designing the future of digital entertainment.
*Expect Bill to also announce that Microsoft has in fact hit the 10 million 360s sold threshold. That was Microsoft's biggest goal for the system by the end of 2006, and I'm sure everyone on the Xbox team was given one of those "failure is not an option" lectures.
Those are my predictions. I'll check back in after the speech.
Victor update: Well, how'd I do? Not so well.
Nice PS3 accessories from Sony
10:11 AM, January 5, 2007
Up first is the Blu-Ray Remote Control, nicely priced at $24.99. Now you don't have to look like a dork when trying to impress your friends with the virtues of HD movies.
Keep in mind, this is no average remote. It's Bluetooth based. Meaning you can't use it to control any other IR devices in your home theater set-up. It will only work with the PS3. That is, until manufacturers start using Bluetooth for their remotes.
The other new accessory is bestowed upon us from the big "S" is (are) the PS3 branded component cable(s). This is for all you non-HDMI HD people out there. They look very nice... all metal capped and shiny... and bargain priced at $24.99. When I got my PS3, I initially bought some 3rd party cables for three times as much... they were horrible (interference and crackly audio). Buy the Sony cables (the old PS2 cables work wonderfully too), they look nice and work great.
January 3, 2007
More news about the Halo 3 Mulitplayer Beta
3:04 PM, January 3, 2007
Microsoft just released some news about some other ways to get in on the HALO 3 Mulitplayer Beta this spring. Click on the link to read the official release.
January 2, 2007
My favorite games of 2006
10:58 AM, January 2, 2007
• Loco Roco (Sony PSP)
This is still the most surprising and entertaining video game experience I had in 2006. Goofy music, terrific graphics and spectacular game-play finally gave the PSP a killer app. The Christmas / Holiday level (offered as a download on the Playstation site) was the icing on the cake.
• Battlefield 2 (Xbox 360)
I know this was a PC port, but this was one of my favorite online gaming experiences of the year. It's just playing Army as a kid, but now you can see all the things you only imagined.
• Gears of War (Xbox 360)
GoW was the 800 pound gorilla of 2006. The most hyped and anticipated game for any system (maybe ever). Thank goodness it met my expectations (and apparently everyone else's).
• Wii Sports (Wii)
Any game that can coax non-gaming family members into playing for hours on end must have that "special" something. By the way, I'm now a Wii Bowling Pro and everyone is going down. Hear that, Dad?!
• Lumines II (and Lumines) (PSP, Xbox Live Arcade, Mobile Phones)
My favorite original PSP launch title made its way to a spectacular sequel, the Xbox 360 and my RAZR phone. Now I can play the coolest puzzle game anywhere. And I did. And I still am.
• Burnout Revenge (Xbox 360)
Still the most exciting and ridiculously fun racing game on any system. Upgraded graphics, achievements and new smash and crash intersections kept this from being a lame port from past-gen machines. The soundtrack rocks, too.
• Dead Rising (Xbox 360)
The GTA of the zombie genre. Almost like a sandbox of the dead. Great gruesome fun that lasts a good long time. I smell a franchise... or is that a walking corpse?
• Brain Age (Nintendo DS)
This quirky non-game took me right back to sweating over my SAT's. Who thought school lessons would make a fun video game? Should be required playing for all students.
• Project Gotham (Microsoft Wireless Racing Wheel edition) (Xbox 360)
Take my favorite racing game of 2005, add the greatest steering wheel accessory ever made, and you have a whole new level of living-room racing. The perfect example of how an add-on can make an old game new again.
• Resistance (Playstation 3)
I know I dogged it at first, but after several days of playing I realized what a great first-person shooter this is. It's a blast online and is about the best $600 game out there.
Texas Gamer Review: Zelda-Twilight Princess
9:12 AM, January 2, 2007
Now that was a vacation! But I'm back and sorry I could not publish this earlier. Definitley worth watching. Still the best game available for the Wii right now and probably the best Zelda to date.
- Bored? Depressed? Ready to give up on life?
- When does the PS3 become cool again?
- PSP System Update 3.10
- Sony says Wii is an "impulse purchase." Wha?
- Texas Gamer - First Look at new GRAW 2 trailer
- New Xbox Live games!
- Who would have thought this a year ago...
- Stream your PC media to your Wii (oh, and PS3)
- Sad, sad Ghostbusters news
- 2 Months Later: Life with Wii and PS3
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