Despite EA’s effort to appease the masses by taking the Taliban name from their upcoming release, Medal of Honor, GameStop still refuses to sell the game on military bases around the world. According to Kotaku, a spokesman for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service Public Affairs told them of the decision. Although the decision isn’t necessarily a shocker, it will undoubtedly hurt sales, which is exactly what Electronic Arts needs to avoid considering the mass amount of competition in the gaming industry this fall.
The idea that a game that advertised itself using the Taliban name and the input from US military special forces personel won’t be supported or played on military bases is certainly ironic. Just last night an ad featuring Medal of Honor aired during Monday Night Football, and it was a minute long montage of commentary from the mysterious military minds. It begs the question: Was that footage shot on a military base?
Either way, people will buy Medal of Honor. Which they should. The beta was successful and certainly showed it to be a solid addition to the first person military shooter genre. Sales numbers will tell everyone exactly how good or bad the decision was to use the Taliban name as an advertising scheme.
Here’s a goody for those who want it. 2K and Gearbox are are rewarding those who purchase the Borderlands Game of the Year edition. They will receive exclusive access to the Duke Nukem Forever First Access Club (meaning, first crack at the demo). So not only do you receive Bordlands with all the DLC till this point but be one of the first to play Duke Nukem Forever, which will include other surprises. No word yet when players will be able to receive the demo but we’ll fill you in when we get more news.
EA’s Medal of Honor series has always sought to create a game to honor the people who serve our country with the utmost bravery and honor. Unfortunately families of fallen solders don’t see it that way. EA is trying to cover up their faults and mistakes to come out looking like the spilt milk never happened. Guessing that the outrage of people being able to play as the Taliban in the soon to be released Medal of Honor game finally knocked some sense into people at EA to either change the name of the opposing force. I’m sure that the families with fallen soldiers over seas appreciate the gesture that they finally decided to take them out, but still are outraged that they put them in the game in the first place. All in all I guess if there enough people that are outraged and against something in a game, the developers may eventually listen and change some content.
We all know that the 3DS is the next big thing that will be sought after when Nintendo decides to release it here in the states. In Japan they’re already setting the 3DS price at ¥25,000 ($300 US), which is fairly steep for the system itself, but for it being the next generation handheld console and us game fanatics is $300 really that much? The 3DS will a 3.53” autostereoscopic 3D top screen with 800×240 resolution (400 pixels for each eye) and a 3.02” bottom touch screen with 320×240 resolution. It has three 0.3MP cameras – one inner and two outer – to deliver the stereo-3D effect and take stereo-3D pictures. It includes a motion sensor, a gyro sensor, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n controller, a Slide Pad that allows 360-degree analog input and so on. An adjustment slider that can increase, decrease or disable stereoscopic 3D (S3D) effect. The console uses DMP Pica 200 graphics processor. As announced previously, it will have a slot for SD cards as well as support cartridges for previous-gen DS systems. So for all it’s worth and all this goodness would it be too much if Nintendo asked for $300? Tell us what you think about the pricing, would it be fair or would a number closer to $200 good and why?
Ubisoft has always aimed for immersion in their games, and to immerse yourself further into their games they’re teaming up with Facebook. How you ask? Ubisoft will set up a game on Facebook that will coincide with the game. The more you play on Facebook the more stuff you’ll be able to unlock on the console game. Not only will you be able to unlock new things such as missions, but currency and experience will be gained when you play the Mafia Wars like Facebook game. The game is to hit Facebook tomorrow October 1st, as if we don’t already spend enough time on Facebook currently, this is sure to make us stay glued to the game.
Sonic Adventure for the Xbox Live Arcade reminds us how far Sonic games have come. This game was released over a decade ago on the Sega Dreamcast and they wowed everyone with the first full 3D experience with our blue speedy hero. However, it did come with it’s share of problems though. Does Sonic Adventure retains the same experience as it did over 10 years ago?
Sonic Adventure on Xbox Live Arcade is a port from the Dreamcast version. It does have a bump in HD visuals, shiny textures, smoother character models and solid framerate (with a few slow moments). This might be as far as it goes however. Everything else seems to remain the same and does not age well. The story is forgettable and the voice work for some people is either tolerable or downright annoying. We knew they weren’t good then but didn’t know how bad.
The one good thing that Sonic Adventure does have is its nostalgic tunes and sounds. Sega did a good job on its soundtracks. The game has some rock, jazz, and cute chao music (That’s not a genre but that’s best way to describe it). Familar ring chimes, enemy sounds, and other familiar sounds are aplenty here. Now I am a true Sonic fan so my enjoyment for the music maybe a bit to enthusiastic but one can appreciate its humbling beginnings into the 3D realm.
Gameplay can vary since you play as more then just Sonic in this game. Sonic himself is high speed action, Tails is similar but utilizes his flying capabilities, Amy is a slowed down version of the three. Knuckles has a treasure hunting focus but can glide, Big and E-102 offer a unique experience themselves. The most common problem amongst most of them is the camera system. It had seemed very experimental then but should have had some correction for this port. Controlling Sonic while in high speed was more of a burden at times then a pleasure. Each character gameplay is flawed but magined to get the job done then. Although all these problems still persists the gameplay is enjoyable. Many elements will bring back fond memories like entering a hub world where your character interacts with the locales, offering intel or irrelevant info for the story.
Sega also added a emblem system to offer more depth. Complete certain chalenges(some character specific), and earn emblems. Since this game is on the Xbox Live Arcade, emblem collecting means more gamer points. There is also a leadership board where players can compete for the best time trials. Another addition to the Sonic Adveture experience is Chao raising. Collect and nuture the Chao and have them compete in racers in all their cuteness. Dreamcast had wh犀利士 at was known as a VMU (Visual Memory Unit) which allowed you to take a specific Chao for pet raising similar to a Tamagotchi, unfortunately that will not translate on the XBLA.
To concluded, Sonic Adventure for the xbox live Arcade is a game for Sonic Fans but are not sure how much time you’ll want to put on this. Its not a spectacular game by far, however for only 800 ms points ($10) and those who love Sonic will appreciate the game. Sonic has never really had the 3D platform space down and probably never will but he has come a ways since this rendition.
We also want to point out that some DLC had made its way to Xbox Live dubbing it a directors cut package, allowing you to play with a new character and new missions. Had this been included would have made the game a steal with new content that all can enjoy but for an extra 400 ms points making the total $15 for a game that has such issues, would have to be left for the purchaser to decide if its worth the buy.
Uncharted 2 is finally getting a Game of the Year edition! For a $50 game you get $35 worth more of goodies and downloadables, what downloadables you ask? Well you’re in luck because they’re listed down below.
PlayStation Heroes Skin Pack
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune Multiplayer Pack
Uncharted 2 Siege Expansion Pack
Currency Multiplier which grants Double XP up to level 10 in Multiplayer
Golden Guns option for the AK-47 and the 92FS 9mm pistol for use in Multiplayer
Early access to “Revenge” Booster – you still have to purchase it with in-game cash!
Uncharted: Eye of Indra – Motion Comic Bundle (which includes Episodes 1-4)
Uncharted: Eye of Indra – Rika Raja and Daniel Pinkerton Character Skins
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves – Avatar Pack 1
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves – Avatar Pack 2
Uncharted Avatar Pack 3
Uncharted Avatar Pack 4
Pinball Heroes – Uncharted for the PSP
How’s all those goodies sound? Plentiful if you ask me, not too many games will give you $35 worth of downloadables included into the price. So be on the lookout for Uncharted 2 Game of the Year edition October 12th.
2K Games and Gearbox Software announced today that fans can now join the downloadable insurgency that is taking place on Pandora in Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution. Players can download the fourth add-on content pack in the Borderlands series and take on the evil Ninja Assassin Claptrap via Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 for 800 Microsoft Points, the PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 3 and PC for $9.99.
Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution invites recruits to attempt to beat down the deadly Claptrap revolution either as a lone gunman or in co-op teams of four treasure hunters using many of the more than 17 million unique weapons available in the game. Brave volunteers will find themselves caught in the lethal crosshairs between the Hyperion Corporation’s fortified armadas and the ever-growing army of homicidal Claptraps and “Claptrap-ified” enemies led by one of the most eagerly awaited characters in the franchise’s history – the cunning Ninja Assassin Claptrap.
There’s been tons of speculation if Black Ops will have a zombie co-op mode or not, and with the release of it coming in less than two months away some teasers have been dropped. The original website gknova6.com, that was originally created has changed a bit. Now the site is filled with what looks to be like a security room with monitors filled with videos of what looks to be a zombie outbreak. In the top left of the screen past the windows is what looks to be a scientist until he walks off and later returns scratching and screaming to get into the security room. All in all I think it’s safe to say there will be zombies in Black Ops in some shape or form, and even if there isn’t I know I’m gonna have to make believe there are.
It is now confirmed that Enslaved: Odyssey to the West™ is now available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360. It’s also worth noting that additional premium post-launch DLC will be available after the game ships. The paid DLC will feature a side story starring Pigsy, the comical porcine character who helps Trip and Monkey in the main storyline. Players must have the retail game in order to access the DLC content. More details on this premium DLC will be shared in the coming months.
