Gears of War 2 was announced as expected, but nothing earthshattering has been revealed about the game yet. The trailer is very awesome, even if it does not show off any in-game footage.
I was really impressed with Microsoft's showings as a whole. Too Human looks great which has me quite excited. I've been following the game since it was a Gamecube game, and it's awesome to see it ooze quality after all of the changes it has gone through.
Ninja Gaiden 2 is going to be ace as well. Talk about a bloody game...
HD-DVDeath
Welp, Toshiba finally pulled the plug on their HD-DVD format this past week.
What does that mean for you, the avid movie buff?
I'll explain all in this Thursday's edition of the Chanticleer. Check it out!
New Mario Kart Wii information has surfaced from Web site Wii Insider. The information is in dutch, so you'll need a translator to uncover the goodies. Click here to read the full article.
I am pleased to see that Koopa Troopa will be returning to the series. He was my favorite character in Super Mario Kart, but I had to settle for Toad in the other games.
The most interesting piece of info deals with the supposed release date of the game. The site claims that the European date has been set for April 25th, which is supposedly 15 days after the game launches in Japan. Could we be playing Mario Kart Wii in less than 2 months? I highly doubt it, but I'm crossing my fingers.
GDC 2008
It's time for the annual Game Developers Conference held out west. This year promises to be bigger than ever, so expect a surprise or two to surface over the conventions four day period. Many games are rumored to appear such as Gears of War 2 for the Xbox 360. Rare's newest Banjo game should be in attendance, along with their highly rumored XBLA version of Goldeneye.
A 360 model with a Blu-Ray drive is the current big rumor on the block. I wouldn't expect to see it this week, but Microsoft might feel that waiting would only hurt them in the long run. Hopefully we'll get a glimpse this week.
Sony does not have a keynote, but I would expect to see at the very least new Killzone 2 footage. Sony is riding high after a very successful sales month in January, so it will be interesting to see how they carry the momentum into the second half of quarter one.
A Crysis port could be at the show, and would probably end up on both 360 and PS3.
Microsoft is thinking about the gamer this Valentine's Day by updating the list of Xbox Originals that can be downloaded on the Xbox 360.
Ninja Gaiden Black, Sid Meier's Pirates! and Black were added on Monday.
They were added to a lineup that features Halo, Crimson Skies and Psychonauts among others.
I really love this feature of the 360, but it proves that a bigger HD is needed. 1200 Microsoft points is well worth it for many of these games.
Ninja Gaiden Black is especially worth the price of admission. The game was one of the best original Xbox games, and still holds up very well to this day. I highly recommend that everyone check this game out before the sequel hits in a few months. The punishing difficulty may turn some gamers off, but I suggest to keep trying. The game is extremely rewarding.
The big news this week in the technology world deals with Microsoft's bid to purchase Internet giant Yahoo. The Redmond based behemoth has reportedly offered $44.6 billion dollars for the company.
The addition of Yahoo would give Microsoft a much needed boost in the war against Google, the current king of online advertising and searching.
You can read the full story on Yahoo News(Oh the Irony!)
Devil May Cry 4
Devil May Cry 4 will be released this week on the 360 and PS3. Capcom's hack-and-slash phenomenon is the first major release of the year, and is definitely worth checking out.
A demo is available on both consoles for people to check out the game before they commit to the $60 asking price. I leave you with a video of someone playing through the demo.
This week marks the first video game related podcast on The Chanticleer Web site. Matt McRae and myself aim to discuss games on all platforms. The first episode features the Wii, and how the party game has shaped it's lineup in a big way. We also touch on some of the games you will be playing the first half of this year including Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Wii Fit. Be sure to check it out here .
GTApril
Rockstar Games announced this week that Grand Theft Auto 4 will be released on April 29, 2008. April 29th just happens to be the last day of final exams at our great university. A heck of a way to open up the summer vacation I must say.
Several sites were given the opportunity to play an upgraded version of the game last week. Many people walked away impressed as it seems Rockstar has done their job of fixing the big issues that were present when the press last got a whirl at the game in October. GTA4 is set to be the biggest multi-platform game of the year, and the coming months should be exciting as we see the final product take shape.
Help Wanted
I am currently in the process of writing a story about MMORPGs and their impact on college students. If you or somebody that you know is addicted to World of Warcraft or any other MMO game, I would love to discuss it with you. The goal of this story is not to single out or embarrass anyone. I simply want to show the effects of the games, and how we can help people that dedicate their lives to playing them. Send me an e-mail and I will get back to you as soon as possible.
I was hoping to begin the year talking about the many games I had played over the Christmas holiday. Unfortunately, my 360 became victim to the Red Ring of Death curse that has become a nationwide problem. I wrote up a small description for gamers who are unaware of what exactly I am talking about for The Anniston Star's technology blog, Pushing Buttons. I have included it below, and I hope that next week I can share some impressions of the games I missed.
If you’re like me, coming home to your favorite video game console can be one of the best ways to relieve the stress of a long day at work/school. For many Xbox 360 owners, however, starting up that system only adds to the stress. A console malfunction dubbed the “Red Ring of Death” has taken the life of thousands of Xbox 360 consoles with no end in sight.
Many 360 gamers have experienced the dreaded “Red Ring of Death” while booting Microsoft’s latest console. The problem, which is indicated by three flashing red lights on the system’s “Ring of Light,” is the result of the Xbox 360 unit overheating. At this point the console is essentially dead and must be exchanged at the store of purchase(barring warranty life), or sent off to Microsoft for repairs.
Microsoft initially stated the problem was a rare one, but changed their stance last July by extending the limited warranty on the console to 3 years. This extended warranty applies only to Xbox 360 systems that suffer the “Red Ring of Death.” Microsoft claims that repairing the consoles will cost them over $1 billion.
Many retailers, such as the popular video game store GameStop, will only offer refurbished units in exchange for a faulty Xbox 360 under store warranty. These stores simply cannot afford to replace broken 360 consoles with brand new systems.
The “Red Ring of Death” has become quite the phenomenon in the video game world. YouTube is filled with videos regarding the problem, with the majority featuring a humorous take on an otherwise disappointing situation. One of the more popular videos features a band by the name of Distended Warranty. Their song, “Red Ring of Death,” is a hilarious look at the process of sending the unit to Microsoft.
Successfully starting the Xbox 360 can be a game of its own. Be sure to take a big breath before you press that power button the next time.
This weeks Chanticleer features my top 10 games of the year list. The year of the dolphin was filled with tons of great games, and so many terrific titles did not make the list. In todays update, I want to list several more quality games from 2007 that should not be missed.
Playstation 3
Heavenly Sword: Heavenly Sword is a brilliant Ninja Gaiden clone that features beautiful graphics and fantastic combat control. The games downfall lies in length, but give Heavenly Sword a rental this holiday season. You'll be glad you did.
Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction: Ratchet & Clank make their PS3 debut in a big way. Insomniac delivered a strong quality title that fans of the series would be crazy to miss.
Xbox 360
Crackdown: Crackdown took sandbox style gameplay to the next level when it released back in Feburary. Another short but sweet game, Crackdown promoted user metagames to extend replay value. The game is my absolute favorite cooperative experience of the year.
Nintendo Wii
Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition: One of the greatest games of 2005, Resident Evil 4 returns to the Nintendo Wii complete with an updated control scheme. Capcom's thirller serves as one of the greatest games on Nintendo's newest console, and also gives the system a strong mature rated title.
