2011

As 2011 comes to a close, take account of all the lessons you've learned this year. Aspire to build up your life a bit more in the coming year, and keep an eye out for gainful and rewarding opportunities.

2011 was one of the biggest years in gaming that I have seen so far, and I can tell that so much more is on the horizon! I'm very glad to have witnessed such advances and strides, and I can't wait to see what's coming. I'm also glad you all enjoyed my Gaming Favorites of 2011, and as we march forward into 2012, Get Tuitt will be there to give you opinions that weren't asked for in the first place. As per the picture above, you all know what I'm looking forward to! Be safe and remember, when you can't do it, Get Tuitt!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

FAVORITE: Rayman Origins

Released November 15, 2011

Like De Blob 2, I can say from experience that playing Rayman offered me a nice break from slaying dragons or hanging Russian terrorists. I’m not sure if it was meant for younger audiences, but this one certainly gave me more fun that I bargained for.

Rayman has to save his friends from bad guys in this side-scroller, and it’s clear that Ubisoft put the effort in to make it as colorful and long as possible. Honestly, it’s like Mario, but a lot goofier and for the Xbox 360!

Rayman Origins trailer

FAVORITE: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Released November 11, 2011

With the exception of the Mass Effect series, there aren’t many RPG’s that I can identify with. Skyrim, however, is one of the best RPG’s I’ve ever experienced. The main story revolves around the prophesized return of the Dragonborn, a being with the power to use the power of the dragons to defeat them.

Along the way, I looted everything and everyone. Unfortunately, I got so sidetracked by the sheer volume of tasks and dungeons to explore that I forgot what the story was after a while. It’s a game that boasts great graphics, stellar soundtrack, and DRAGONS! I’m glad it won Game of the Year, and I hope to see lots of downloadable content… not that Skyrim needs it since it is so immersive as it is.

Skyrim trailer

FAVORITE: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Released November 8, 2011

A battle across many countries is exciting enough, but I couldn’t wait to finish the McTavish/Soap vs. Makarov story arc of “I’m gonna kill you dead”!

The name recognition alone makes COD a winner, but I continue to enjoy the fast-paced action that seems to be unique to Call of Duty, but universal to shooters these days. As this gaming giant grows and grows, I’m pretty sure that there will be another next year.

COD: MW3 trailer

FAVORITE: Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

Released November 1, 2011

Every time someone asks me what Uncharted is about, I simply tell them to think of it as a modernized Indiana Jones. And it is! Nathan Drake has had some awesome adventures, and it goes without saying that his search for the Atlantis of the sands is the best one yet. He follows clues, collects treasure, and exerts a plucky charm with every line. To say that he resembles Nathan Fillion is my opinion, but it’s damn close!

With heart stopping quick time events, and great cut scenes, Uncharted 3 blew me away. And every time I play it, I feel like I’m watching a movie the whole way through. Sometimes it’s bad because I’m not sure where the cut scene ends and the game play begins.

Uncharted 3 trailer

FAVORITE: Batman: Arkham City

Released October 18, 2011

The Dark Knight is back in one of the most epic sequels of 2011. Since Arkham Asylum, a portion of Gotham has been walled off to house the criminals and psychopaths from the asylum and Blackgate prison. Obviously, something is awry, and Batman is on the case as he enters the bowls of fortress known as Arkham City. But to his surprise, it quickly becomes a desperate fight to save his life along with trying to stop something called Protocol 10.

I absolutely loved the first game, and was completely excited for the next installment. The combat system was more fluid, including more gadgets, takedowns, and allows for the character to disperse more goons at once. Not only can you play as Batman, though. Catwoman, Nightwing, and Robin are playable in the challenge missions. Catwoman, however, has her own missions within the campaign, as well. It is rumored that the Dick and Tim get their own campaign missions, but we’ll see. For now, this has to be in my top three favorites of 2011.

Batman: Arkham City trailer

FAVORITE: Forza Motorsport 4

Released October 11, 2011

Shiny cars. Beautiful tracks and environments. Epic racing. That is all!

Forza 4 trailer

FAVORITE: Gears of War 3

Released September 20, 2011

Back in college, I never saw the appeal of Gears of War. I was a Halo guy, so it wasn’t a top priority for me. But I figured I would give it a shot, and since I enjoyed the first game, I figured I’d see it through until the end. Since I’ve finished the trilogy, I still don’t understand the plot as a whole very much, but I enjoyed chain sawing an alien in half!

Marcus Fenix and the gang are back to save humanity… again. This time, they’re going after the queen bee. Like Bulletstorm, the story rides shotgun while the action takes the wheel. Bloody mayhem is what ensues and I was blown to pieces on more than one occasion! 

Gears of War 3 trailer

FAVORITE: Deus Ex Human Revolution

Released August 23, 2011

An in-depth RPG shooter that takes place in the near future! With a dialogue wheel that reminded me Mass Effect and Dragon Age 2, I found myself carefully selecting responses because like those games, your words and actions determine the outcome of the game as a whole. I enjoyed tweaking my augmented abilities so they could work to my advantage. There were so many ways to go about completing a mission that I felt empowered when making tactical decisions.

Advances in cybernetics have given humanity a second chance at having a normal existence. People can now have limbs, organs, etc replaced with cybernetic tech, but is this all too good to be true?

Adam Jenson is a private security enforcer that happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. After an attack on his employer and the apparent death of his girlfriend, Adam is left broken. He is repaired and given augmentation to sustain him, but as he searches for the truth, he is thrown into a global conspiracy that is likely to prevail is he doesn’t intervene.

Deus Ex HR trailer

FAVORITE: Red Faction Armageddon

Released June 7, 2011

Following the events of Red Faction: Guerilla, the last of the Mason brothers accidentally unleashes a dormant race of killer insects upon the populace of Mars. They’re quite fast, vicious, and hungry for flesh. Thankfully, the player is given a plethora of weapons, tools, and technology to combat these insects.

I had a lot of fun playing this one since the buildings are destructible and can be repaired. The monsters were fast and tough, but it helped to be able to shift to your next target on a whim. The game didn’t sell very well from what I saw, but I enjoyed it for the mass destruction, third person shooter it was.

Red Faction Armageddon

FAVORITE: Infamous 2

Released June 7, 2011

Who doesn’t want superpowers? What if everyone hated you because of those powers? Cole McGrath can relate to that in what is one of the best exclusives for the Playstation 3. Cole can manipulate and generate electricity, but this time around, he has super-powered friends to help him out. Traveling to New Marai (which isn’t like New Orleans at all), he seeks to amplify his powers in order to take part in a prophesized battle against The Beast. Ominous enough for you?

As the story goes on, we learn that Cole’s powers are growing, and that he can absorb parts of other powers to become stronger. Players essentially have a choice between fire and ice, and each choice leads you further down the paths of good or evil. Actually, the more deeds (good or evil) you do in the city will determine whether the citizens praise you as their savior or revere you as a demon. There are two different endings for each side, and it’s worth playing the game over to see how the other pans out. 

Infamous 2 trailer

FAVORITE: LA Noire

Released May 17, 2011

Developed by Rockstar Games, the third person, open world crime thriller gave me a run for my money. The game’s development went well, especially because it boasted some of the best motion captures in the business. It definitely showcased the graphics to their full extent and I think a sequel would be well warranted.

Following the story of Detective Cole Phelps, the player is charged with solving a string of murders to catch a vicious serial killer. It’s everything you want from a great crime drama (mystery, lies, smooth-talking gumshoes), and all the rawness that comes with it. Honestly, it was difficult to look at some of the crimescenes due to their graphic nature. That says a lot considering I’m no stranger to video game violence.

While the game is long and certainly rewarding, I think it might have lasted too long. The formula for solving crimes became evidently repetitive; survey the scene for clues, talk to witnesses, apprehend suspects, determine if you nabbed your man, and repeat. Toward the last quarter of the game, I found myself struggling to get through it. I was relieved when it ended, but I was determined to finish the story. Trust me, it’s sad. 

LA Noire trailer

FAVORITE: Mortal Kombat

Released April 19, 2011

As a kid, I wasn’t allowed to play Mortal Kombat games. Some of my friends in elementary school were playing it, but I was too afraid of getting caught if I snuck over to play. Time went on and I lost interest in fighting games, but I sincerely hope you’ll give this rendition of Mortal Kombat a try. With all the Street Fighters and Street Fighter-esq games out there, ripping someone’s head off for a Fatality was a breath of fresh air.

I’ve never been knowledgeable about the MK cannon, but throughout the campaign, a lot of people die. The amount of blood and violence in that game is fantastic, and I’m happy to say that I’m a fan.

Mortal Kombat trailer

FAVORITE: Crysis 2

Released March 22, 2011

An odd entry into the list, I’m sad to say that I never finished Crysis 2. The first person shooter was beautiful; graphically, it was quite stunning. Seeing New York City in ruins had never been so realistic, yet I wasn’t satisfied. I had certain expectations for the game, but the abilities weren’t as I thought they would be.

I agree that having many different tactical options on the battlefield is warranted, and that the abilities (invisibility, super strength, invulnerability) have to be limited to prevent players from using them as a crutch. My problem is that I am not used to limited superhuman abilities in a video game. It forced me to be a lot more creative in battle with few resources. I’ve since realized that only a few games really challenge me anymore, which is why I look forward to finishing it in my spare time.

Crysis 2 trailer

FAVORITE: De Blob 2

Released February 22, 2011

Not many people knew about this one. As someone who sold games for a living, this was a game I tried my hardest to sell. It was a great deal of fun, and I reached the end feeling like that was all I needed in a video game at the time. With cute comedy and likable characters, De Blob 2 is an entry I’m proud to have played. Although the game was meant for younger audiences, it was a nice breather from the everyday, shoot’em up titles.

The story centers on the actions of a paint blob called Blob. He has the ability to absorb different colors, and apply them to his environment. When Comrade Blank and his army of Inkies try to make the world dull and gray, it’s up to Blob to save the day! 

De Blob 2 trailer

FAVORITE: Bulletstorm

Released February 22, 2011

Trash talking, alcohol drinking, foul-mouthed fun from beginning to end: my kinda game! Bulletstorm is a menagerie of combos, points, and, well… bullets! I was a bit skeptical about playing this game because I’m a gamer who enjoys the story and loves it just as much as the game play. But then I realized that some stories are just fluffing surrounding the meat and potatoes of the game.

And that’s all the story was compared to the violence and sheer gratification of killing a group of enemies in a certain way. Maxing out my points was the purpose if I wanted to upgrade my weapons. Epic Games definitely gave players something to hold them while waiting for Gears of War 3, and it truly helped fans get their taste until then.

Bulletstorm trailer

FAVORITE: Dead Space 2

Released January 25, 2011

The best selling survival horror game series returned to kick off this year. Fighting hordes of mutated human corpses in closed spaces wasn’t my scene since I watched my dad play Resident Evil 2 back in the day. The third person shooter provided an intense gaming experience, as I found myself liking the fact that I was fearful of what was around the next corner.

The main character, Issac Clarke undergoes mental deterioration as he makes his way through a space station overrun with Necromorphs. I have to be honest and say that I’ve never been more terrified of my surroundings than I was playing this game. The visions of his dead girlfriend, coupled with some intense dismemberment made Dead Space 2 a creepy, but very enjoyable game.

Dead Space 2 trailer

My Favorite Games of 2011... GO!

I’ve played a lot of games this year. When I say I’ve played a lot of games, I mean to say that I’ve played a LOT of games. Whether I tried something out for a better understanding to sell the game, or for my own curiosity. As 2011 comes to a close, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite games of the year. I will post each game individually to make it a bit easier to follow.

Maybe you share my favorites, or maybe you disagree and have a favorite of your own. If so, feel free to leave a comment on any of the games that will be posted over the next few days. For now, let’s delve into my favorites of 2011!

Motion Gaming... The Future?

I heard a rumor stating that the next Microsoft console will be 100% controller free. This means that motion gaming will be a thing of the future via Kinect. What do you gamers think about that? Are we that far into the next generation that you’d be willing to give up controller-based gaming?

I’ll be ready to drop my controller when I can play in something like Stark Trek or Tron. Playing with a controller has dominated the last forty-something years in the business. What if motion gaming took over? To me, it would be something if we could switch over to motion gaming, but we’d have to faze the controller out. It seems as though everyone wants to have some type of motion capability in their games from Forza 4 (Kinect) to Tiger Woods 12 (PS Move), and even in upcoming games like Metal Gear Solid Rising and Mass Effect 3.

Maybe it’s not just a bandwagon anymore like I originally thought it would be. Perhaps it’s the future of gaming, but how should developers move forward? From the games that have been fitted with motion control, do you think gaming is taking a step into the future or taking a turn for the worse? Thoughts, opinions?

DLC... the bane of my gaming existence!

From Red Dead Redemption to Alan Wake; Call of Duty to Halo, downloadable content can be quite irritating. Map-packs and weapon upgrades are a bit understandable, but are extra story missions necessary? Story missions are classified as extra content that tells a part of the story that was originally left out or added to lengthen the main campaign. It seems quite unnecessary, as well as costly. How many gamers have purchased a game and find that they are paying extra just to fill in the gaps? How many times have we been subjected to a full-price game that hasn’t been completed?

Any Assassin’s Creed title after the first one has at least a few story missions that are released after the actual game. Take AC: 2 for instance. They tell the story of how Ezio Auditore was involved in some influential events in history with Chapters 12 and 13. They also fill in the gaps between Chapters 11 and 14 in the main campaign. My problem with this is that Ubisoft clearly had an idea as to what they wanted to do with the story, yet they couldn’t add those two campaign chapters until later on. Wouldn’t that mean that the game is incomplete? If I buy a game at full price (games usually sell at $59.99), and play through the entire story mode only to realize that there are pieces missing…

Let me put it this way; If a new book came out, and the author chose to withhold three chapters in the hopes that readers will buy the next book just to see what happens; it doesn’t seem very cost effective for the reader, especially when the reader has to pay $30 for the initial book. Does that mean that they now have to pay an additional $15 just to flesh out the plot? I’ll continue for those of you who still don’t get it.

Red Dead Redemption GOTY... finally!

Since the announcement of a Game of the Year strategy guide surfaced for Red Dead Redemption, fans have been waiting patiently for the game version to follow. That wait is finally over now that Rockstar has officially announced Red Dead Redemption: Game of the Year Edition. To be released in about a month, Rockstar compiles all the redemption-rific add-ons and such to rope in the core audience, as well as newcomers. This edition will include all current DLC, including:

-Legends and Killers

-Undead Nightmare

-Liars and Cheats

-Outlaws to the End

-Solomon’s Folly

-A new hardcore mode to make the west more treacherous

Priced at $50, it will bring all the gamers to the yard and realize it’s better than yours. This edition will drop on October 14, and Rockstar implores you to heavily consider purchasing it for you collection.

Batman: Arkham City Collector's Edition Announced

It’s time to suit up and jump into action once more, and what better way to do that than with the Batman: Arkham City Collector’s Edition. A black and white statue of the Dark Knight is accompanied by an art book, original movie, and soundtrack for the game. But the statue is the clincher, and it looks awesome. The game is out on October 18, 2011.

Nintendo 3DS vs. Playstation Vita... Fight!

I’m torn. I have not been into handheld gaming for a long time. I briefly had a PSP and DS (not at the same time), and either the technology or the games available turned me off from my purchases that I quickly returned.

I used to own a Gameboy Advanced and I enjoyed playing Pokemon. Those were the games to play when I was younger, but that was all I played. Perhaps I should have branched out a bit, but I didn’t see the need since the majority of the games I played were on the Playstation 2 and the Nintendo 64. By the time I reached high school, I sold my Gameboy, and that was that.

Nowadays, I find myself drawn to the next-gen handhelds, but not because I’m crazy about a particular brand. I love the technology and capability that each one advertises. Now, I have toyed around with the 3DS and I cannot say that I am entirely impressed with the end product. First, there aren’t many good 3DS titles yet, and the older DS titles are not 3D compatible. That is a drawback for me, but not a deal-breaker. Then again, glasses-free 3D is the only thing that makes the 3DS stand out from the other models. It seems more like a gimmick than a game changer, and definitely something I would immediately drop substantial coin for.

With front and rear facing cameras, dual touch screens, and a gyro sensor to integrate movements into your gaming, I’m hooked on learning more about the Playstation Vita. It shines in many ways, bringing Uncharted to the handheld device and bringing WiFi into the mix, but will it prove to be as dynamic as advertised?

What do you think? Will the 3DS maintain it’s appeal and status, or will the Playstation Vita swoop in and bring down the house? Which would you buy?

New DLC for New Vegas

Fallout New Vegas is some new DLC coming out. Old World Blues is set to release on July 19^th and will reveal the truth of the Big Empty. Be sure to get it and play it over and over!

Tali to be unmasked in Mass Effect 3?

According to thegamingliberty.com, Bioware is deciding whether or not to unmask a fan favorite in Mass Effect 3. Tali’Zorah, has only been seen in her environmental containment suit during the series. If you chose her as your romantic interest in ME2, there is a small tease as Commander Sheppard takes off her opaque mask, but the audience is still left to wonder what lies underneath.

The talks of revealing Tali’s face in Mass Effect 3 have gotten some of the fans riled up. Will she be pretty? Will she be hideous? Her entire race is condemned to wear containment suits since due to an inept immune system, but how great would it be to get a glimpse of her face? Then again, there are some fans that will wish to leave it a mystery, as it’s not important in the grand scheme of the series. And there are others that wish for her to be ugly.

Perhaps the developer will choose not to cross into dangerous territory. Expectations will be high on either side of the spectrum, and it will definitely be interesting to see. As superficial as it is, Bioware has yet another challenge ahead of them.

Batman: Arkham City 12 minute Gameplay

Can you contain your excitement? I can't either! Click the link below to check out the 12-minute game play trailer for Batman: Arkham City dropping October 8th. Video courtesy of Warner Bros. and That Video Game blog.

http://www.thatvideogameblog.com/2011/07/01/batman-arkham-city-12-minutes-of-pure-gameplay/

Rant 7/1/11

A woman called the store and asked for Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Xbox 360. Now, I knew that the game couldn’t possibly be on the 360. There are legal and ownership reasons why those beloved Nintendo characters aren’t on a Microsoft or Sony console.

I kindly explained to the woman that the game in question is only playable on the Nintendo Wii. She proceeded to tell me that she and her daughter saw it on the website, but she didn’t specify what website she got this information from. Then, she put her daughter on the phone to ask me for Super Smash Bros. Brawl on the Xbox 360. I kindly explained the same thing to her, and it seemed like she understood as she bid me farewell.

Hours later, the same mother called the store again. This time, she was looking for Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Nintendo. She didn’t specify which Nintendo console she wanted the game for, but it didn’t matter. Super Smash Bros. Brawl in only playable on the Nintendo Wii. And as I told her that I had the game in stock for the Wii, she said that she didn’t want the game on the Wii. Here is what was said:

Her: I’m looking for Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Nintendo.

Me: We have it in stock for the Wii.

Her: I don’t want it for the Wii. I want it for the Nintendo.

Me: The Nintendo, ma’am?

Her: You know… the DS

Oh! Of course… because if I say Nintendo, people should automatically know that I’m talking about the DS. For all I knew she could have been talking about the NES. I informed her again that the game in question was only made for the Wii. She insisted that the website said that it was for the DS despite my efforts to make her understand that the game she is looking for doesn’t exist on the consoles she mentioned! I even explained that there were two Super Mario titles on the DS and that might have been what confused her, but she swore on the bible that the information she got from some website was correct. So, while I still had some sanity left, I agreed with everything she said and hung up. I wish I could have asked her where she was getting her information.

She couldn’t have gotten it from Gamestop.com because it’s only listed for the Wii. Bottom line, if you found it online, real or imaginary; purchase it online. Because I obviously have no idea what I’m talking about. What is the moral of this story? If it’s online, it must be true.

Multiplayer in Mass Effect 3... Yes or No?

According to metrowny.com, not only will Mass Effect 3 sport Kinect compatibility, but it will also be equipped with a multiplayer option. The article says that the multiplayer won’t interfere with the campaign missions; rather, they will be side quests that players may embark on together.

It’s common knowledge nowadays that Bioware wants to continue making games based in the Mass Effect universe. It has even been suggested that the next ME game will be an MMO, which would be perfect in this particular universe. Playing as a Turian assassin would be a delight, and it goes without saying that it would satiate the majority of the Mass Effect fanbase.

Not feeling the DS...

Recently, I got a chance to play around with the Nintendo DSi XL. I can’t really make a solid opinion on it as I didn’t have enough time to explore it completely. I will say that Ultimate Mortal Kombat isn’t very good on the DS. I mean to say that even though the franchise may work well for consoles, the controls may not transfer well to a handheld.

Playing Mario Kart made me realize that recycling the same game for each new console gets you the big bucks. It’s ridiculously fun, extremely addictive, and it raises some nostalgia leading back to the golden days on the Nintendo 64. With some new tracks, but the same game play, I have a better understand of the phrase ‘if it ain’t broke’.

Again, I can’t give a definite ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on whether or not I’d get the system for myself. It’s difficult because I haven’t been into handheld gaming since the Gameboy Advanced. My initial thoughts on it are that it may be for a younger audience since the majority of the games are for children (nixing Mortal Kombat). But it also doesn’t compel me to hold onto it, nor does it convince me that the 3DS is worth upgrading to. Thoughts? Opinions? Can someone convince me of its greatness?

Rant 6/21/11

For his Father’s Day address, Obama was telling fathers to invest more time into their kids. He was saying that fathers should encourage education over excessive recreation. I appreciate that gamers might have taken his comments the wrong way, but he wasn’t bashing gamers or the people that play them.

Obama seems to value family, and it’s only right that he be allowed to share his thoughts around. I was fortunate enough to have two parents who spent time with me and pushed me to have a better life than they did. Some kids can’t even get one parent to take them to the playground once in a while. Our president was saying that shouldn’t be the case. Gamers, I love you guys, but let’s chill out, eh?

Mass Effect 3 tops the list

According to Electronic Entertainment Design & Research (EEDAR), Mass Effect 3 is the most promising and most anticipated game at E3 2011. Analyzing page views from top sites like IGN and comparing those views to pre-orders, tweets, and message boards determine this outcome. Below is a list of the top five games that have been searched and viewed the most since E3 2011:

1. Mass Effect 3 - Electronic Arts - BioWare

2. Battlefield 3 - Electronic Arts - DICE

3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Bethesda Softworks - Bethesda Game Studio

4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 - Activision Blizzard - Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer & Treyarch

5. Assassin's Creed Revelations - UbiSoft - UbiSoft Montreal

The Collector's Edition for Mass Effect 3 has also soared in pre-order sales on Amazon.com. Along with many others that are most anticipated, these lead the way so far. This is the year for a lot of big titles, the end of some stories, and the beginning of new ones. Stay tuned!

(Info from escapistmagazine.com, thatvideogameblog.com, and masseffect.bioware.com)

RUMOR: Next generation consoles

With the announcement of the Wii U, there have been rumors circulating that indicate Microsoft and Sony are developing next generation systems. Is it that time once again? Because Nintendo only officially unveiled the controller for Wii U, it’s difficult to say whether it’s going to be a success or not. And nothing warrants a new console race since both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 sport a majority of the features that Wii U claims to have and them some.

With a six-inch controller that is reminiscent of an I-Pad, the Wii U aims to touch hardcore gamers along with its base fans. Yes, it brings a new level of gameplay to the Wii along with some awesome titles, but next generation consoles don’t seem necessary.

Microsoft still has a lot of potential to be explored with the Kinect, and it would take a lot away from that process if they developed a new console. And during their press conference at E3 2011, they seemed to be more focused on Kinect compatibility and pushing the limits of that technology.

Sony has a lot to make up for since the Playstation Network crash, but the PS Move is still in its test phases. Even with the new Playstation Vita coming out this holiday season, Sony is still trying to bring the Playstation 3 into its own.

In short, it doesn’t seem like any of the companies are ready to begin another generation of gaming consoles until they’ve done all they can with the current generation. Although there are rumors that Microsoft will announce their latest console next year, it would seem quite rushed. The companies aren’t ready, and the gamers aren’t ready.

Robin breaks into Arkham City

That’s right! Robin will be a playable character in the challenge mode of Batman: Arkham City with his own gadgets, moves, two maps, and an extra outfit to boot. This is a pre-order bonus only available to customers who pre-order the game at Best Buy. Here is the description on the Best Buy website:

“While supplies last, pre-order the game for an exclusive downloadable Robin character. Robin is a fully playable character in the new and improved challenge mode in Batman: Arkham City. The Tim Drake Robin pack is available exclusively to fans who pre-order the game from Best Buy on Xbox 360, PC and PS3.

Robin comes complete with his own unique gadgets and special moves, and will be playable in all challenge maps in the game, as well as two additional challenge maps that are included with the pack: Black Mask Hideout and Freight Train Escape.

The pack will also contain a bonus Red Robin character skin.”

For those who aren’t familiar with Arkham City, pick up Arkham Asylum and see what you’re missing. Batman: Arkham City is available on October 18, 2011 for the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.

Is Kinect Integration the new demand?

So far, the handful of games for the Kinect have been geared toward families and younger audiences. Few of those games have been hits, but Microsoft aims to change that. A few A-list titles were said to be compatible with Kinect at E3 2011. From Ghost Recon to Mass Effect, a surge has begun in an attempt to reach out to hardcore games.

Future Soldier’s motion-related gun customization looks quite nice, but will players be able to use Kinect push through the game with just their motions? Mass Effect 3 sports a voice recognition feature that allows players to select dialogue options and dish out simple movement commands for their squad. The first question that comes to mind is: why can’t I just use my headset for that? It is, indeed, cool, but is it worth paying $149.99 for voice recogniton?

And now, Kinect compatibility has been announced for Halo Anniversary. It is unknown what the features will be, but will gamers be turned on or put off by one of many additions to the modern classic?

It seems as though Microsoft is pushing harder to rope in more Kinect fans by spreading to the well-known games. Will they succeed in their conquest? Stay tuned.

New Wii, and now a new Playstation?

Nintendo has long since announced a successor to the Wii console. It supposedly has HD capability with a blue ray disk drive and possible 3D compatibility. Heh, right! A friend of mine mentioned that if Nintendo does release a new system, it’s only as good as the competition makes it out to be. This means that if the next Xbox and Playstation are announced at the same time or shortly after this new Wii, it means that it may be a force to be reckoned with.

Super Mario’s home company has even gotten a bigger jump on Sony and Microsoft by having playable consoles at this year’s 2011 E3 convention in Los Angeles. And now, Sony says that they have officially begun development on a new Playstation. Nintendo definitely upped the stakes, and Sony has no choice but to continue in the console race since the Playstation Network debacle has left them a bit crippled. Also, if Nintendo and Sony are announcing new systems, Microsoft won’t be far behind with a new Xbox.

Speculation aside, these companies will either stay in the game, or stand aside, but the competition will be fierce. More on this soon, but check out the articles below!

http://www.thatvideogameblog.com/2011/05/27/work-on-the-next-playstation-begins/
http://gear.ign.com/articles/116/1163325p1.html

Playstation Network Down... Still

Anyone buying Dirt 3? How about any other game that has multiplayer capabilities? With the Playstation Store still down, no one can enjoy those features, making the Playstation 3 a little less desirable. Players are so discouraged that some have traded in their PS3 games for something to keep them busy while Sony gets their stuff together. Other have even resorted to trading in the Playstation for an Xbox 360… really?

It’s hard enough on Sony trying to deal with lawsuits from a giant security breach, but do you have to stop supporting them altogether? Die-hard fans of the PS3 have given up their stations for the 360, which is great, but it seems a bit extreme. The network won’t be down forever as Sony has promised to have the entire PSN up and running by the end of May, according to punchjump.com. That is just vague enough to work out if it’s working in the next week, but that it won’t cause major backlash if they can’t accomplish that goal.

Besides, Sony has the gumption to leave their network insecure, why shouldn’t we take their word for it?

Gears of War 3 Lancer Replica for Pre-Order!!!

For those Gears of War fans, I totally called it! Epic games has released pictures of the life-sized Gears of War lancer replica that will be released with Gears of War 3. It’ll be available for pre-order at Gamestop and can be bundle with each version of game. So, when the game comes out, I can imagine there will be people playing with their lancers in the parking lot at the midnight!

http://gamersheep.com/2011/05/gears-of-war-life-size-lancer-now-available-for-pre-order/
http://www.gamestop.com/toys/gears-of-war-3-retro-lancer-bundle/91046

Is Sony Going Down?

Since the first hack a few weeks back, the Playstation Network has been down and out, leaving loyal consumers on the fence about whether their loyalty will continue. Thousands of customers are at risk since personal information was rumored to be stolen, but Sony hasn't given any accurate details as what was taken and what wasn't. But now it seems like everyone is taking on the corporate giant because it was just hacked again.

First off, how does this help anyone? It doesn't. Public information is compromised, and people are losing their jobs because of this. Are people out there just bored or is this some kind of message? Check out the article below and see for yourself.


http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/219507/sony-hacked-again/

Modern Warfare 3

After the Treyarch/Activision debacle a few years back, it's finally happening. The rumors of the third installment of the Modern Warfare series was confirmed within the last week, and the teaser trailers have been released. The continuation of the series seems to be the final installment, as Soap and Price continue the fight. From the trailer, it looks as though there is a massive attack underway on the entire world. We got a glimpse of the Russian invasion attempt of the east coast in Modern Warfare 2, so maybe this will be on a more global scale. For the sake of the players, I hope it will be an explosive end. For now, let's wait for the actual trailer that is said to be released at the E3 convention next month.

Still writing, still believing...

-V

Rant 4/12/11

I always figured that if a parent wanted to send their kids to school with lunch, it was their right since they are responsible for the child’s livelihood. It’s just common sense to pack your food and bring it to school/work if you can’t afford to eat out all the time.

So, it’ll eat me alive if I don’t ask, but… what the hell are our leaders thinking? Banning homemade lunches to help with nutrition issues is something I don’t understand. Let’s forget the fact this is one of the last things they should be worrying about. This issue, if you will, is nothing more than a mystery for fiction writers. When I say that, I mean that the article posted below can only be read as fiction because of how ridiculous it is. And if you read it as fiction, you deserve a medal for reading it completely without suffering an aneurism.

They’re trying to protect students from their own unhealthy eating habits if they were to bring lunch from home versus eating a school lunch. And I thought I was being idiotic. How can you protect someone from unhealthy eating habits if you don’t live with them and are not their primary caregiver? How can you protect someone from unhealthy eating habits… period? We pump our foods with enough chemicals that if concentrated, they could be used to kill prisoners on death row.

But I digress; restricting homemade lunches seems a bit excessive if you consider the fact that every human vessel is different. We’re like whiskers on lions; no pair of whisker patterns is alike. Trying to create general health guidelines is impossible because there are no set guidelines we can follow. If there is anything I took away from watching ER, one extra aspirin tablet might be the difference between relieving a headache and passing a bloody stool. And if that’s the case, please call your doctor immediately for medical advice about the side effects.

We can’t predict the healthiest course of action for our kids anyway because no kid (who is adept at eating mom’s peanut butter and jelly with the crust cut off) will go for it. The only way administrators can get this ‘only in school’ initiative to pass is if they have a gigantic buffet. In undergrad, I couldn’t get enough of the cafeteria because they had everything: stir fry, pizza, stuffing, salad, kosher, burgers, and eight flavors of ice cream to take the edge off.

If students had a buffet line waiting for them at lunch period, I don’t think parents would have such a problem with the Brown Bag Ban of 2011 (I dubbed that myself). If not, there is no reason to restrict students from bringing lunch from home. I guarantee that no one is going to agree with the reasoning behind it since schools are already serving unhealthy solutions to the problem. I’m not sure if they still have them, but along with pizza and hamburgers, my high school had a separate counter for big chocolate chip cookies, candy bars, and funnel cake… FUNNEL CAKE! And let’s not forget the extra vending machines that also served candy bars and Snapple. The only way I could possibly make it worse is by saying that they occasionally served brownies with globs of chocolate frosting. Sometimes they had macadamia nuts in them with no warning label… because if you’re trying to control what kids eat, don’t forget to ignore the ones with severe nut allergies.

After learning that, there is no way you can tell me that the diets of our children can be entrusted to any school administration. Keep in mind that I’m not a spokesperson for being fit and eating healthy, but it seems to be something we can wait on in the United States, especially in New Jersey. I just went to a Board of Education meeting where they voted on who received raises and who get fired. It wasn’t pretty, but can we divert our attention to hiring more teachers instead of this? Figuring out a healthy diet for students should be a job for parents. And in The Book of Things We Need to Worry About, banning homemade lunches is on page 137 after “Which Jersey Shore Cast Member Gets Paid The Most”?


Check out the article here:

http://www.foodconsumer.org/newsite/Politics/Politics/lunches_from_home_banned_in_public_school_0411110350.html

Young Guns: Perfect Day to Day 5

In his office, Norman typed furiously behind his desk. Standing, he was too anxious to sit as he brought up documents and deleted them. There was only one thing left to do, but it would have to be quick. He didn’t have much time left.

Opening the video recording program on the desktop computer, he ripped the portable camera out of the top desk drawer and plugged it in. Norman took in a deep breath and pressed ‘Record’

He spoke low and fast, leaving no detail left unsaid. The man stared at the camera a moment and let his heart bleed, “I thought I had more time… time to show you everything my father didn’t have time to show me.”

“I guess I haven’t been the best dad, but I tried to teach you right from wrong. And I tried to give you a life without worry, but my past has caught up with me. This encrypted information is yours to keep or destroy. I leave the choice to you.”

Then, a crash came from the room beyond his office. His time was up. Looking back to the screen, Norman said one last thing, then pressed ‘Send’. The message was away, and there was a loud crack as the door to his office caved inward.

Norman lifted his leg to the desk and pushed, but not with his strength. He learned to use it as the other did, but like the other powers, kept it hidden. The desk flew toward the individual at the door, but the effort was quickly impeded. Chunks of mahogany scattered across the floor as the large piece of furniture was smashed.

Before Norman knew it, the figure was standing less than a foot away gripping his neck tightly. Flung across the room, shattering the dry wall and sending him into the adjacent office. He tried to suck in a breath, but could only take in short gasps. His body ached as he lay there; too stunned to make the attempt to stand.

He felt large fingers grip his neck, and he was lifted; his feet scrapped along the floor as he struggled. Norman looked down to the figure amidst his choking. Despite his situation, he had succeeded as a smile curled across his cracked lips, “You won’t beat him.”

With that, Norman felt the grip around his neck tighten as his body was flung. He impacted the window, crashing through it. The pavement laid sixteen stories below, but it came closer and closer as his body descended. With his final breaths, Norman saw the stars and the moon; constellations dance along the night sky in their beautiful formations as an eternal black washed over him.

Borderlands Review

Borderlands was released on October 20, 2009 by 2K Games and Gearbox Software. The game is a first person shooter RPG and is rated M for Mature by the ESRB.

It has been described as the first attempt at a First Person Shooter Role Playing Game, which is a very successful attempt. You play as one of four character types; the Hunter, Siren, Berserker and Soldier. Who you choose will ultimately affect your special techniques, but that’s it. It doesn’t matter how you kill and destroy as long as you kill and destroy- and there’s a lot to be done.

The story plops you down in the middle of a dangerous, backwater planet know as Pandora. A world of scavengers, deformed psychos and monster rejects from the movie The Relic give the player plenty of foes to contest with. And there are more than enough baddies to keep you busy throughout as you complete over 100 quests in search of the Vault. The legendary Vault is said to contain many treasures and ancient artifacts, and it’s up to you to find it. A mysterious woman guides you on your treasure-hunting journey, contacting you before and after important events that shape the tale.

Unlike Fallout, there is no morality system. This means that every decision you make isn’t judged and used to shape the story and how you play the game. When you shoot that mutated midget who comes out of nowhere, it doesn’t affect the game. Borderlands is strictly a shoot and loot game with, again, a lot of baddies. Depending on the type of character you choose in the beginning, firefights could turn out differently with each specialty.

The graphics in Borderlands are quite appealing to say the least. Everything has a cartoon-y outline to it that makes the environments and characters pop with life. The characters look as though they belong in the world you’re traversing, and they sound like backwoods hillbillies, which also makes them fit. The game has a plethora of weapons to use and upgrade with individual designs and a unique feel to each of them. The developers definitely took the time to polish these features and focus on the details of this title. The only thing that bothered me was the fact that the detail of the environments wouldn’t load right away after a loading screen. This was something I noticed early on, as well as throughout much of my playthrough, but it wasn’t something that hindered my game play.

The controls left me feeling in control and everything was quick and responsive according to my playing style. I found myself able to reload and switch weapons sufficiently in the middle of huge gun battles, and I loved the customization mid-battle. Driving the vehicles is what threw me off since they were too quick for me to actually get a handle. The driving mechanics are reminiscent of Halo, but way too loose for my kind of playing. Again, it wasn’t too much of a hindering factor, as everything else seemed to exceed my expectations.
One aspect of the Borderlands that multiplies the fun tremendously is the ability to gather three of your friends and play the story together. It really shows how much fun you can have when playing with others because it ups the ante on the level of enemies and just how many there are.

For example, one of my friends is a level 14 Hunter, so all of the enemies we faced were leveled accordingly. This helped me level up and use certain weapons and equipment I wouldn’t have been able to use so early on in single player. When looting enemies and crates, it is important to communicate and share weapons, ammunition, and even money if you’re looking to upgrade your weapons or buy health packs. Although, you can choose to ration the supplies between your teammates, or horde everything for yourself. The decision is up to you as your group fights through Sledge’s Safehouse. ;-)

The bottom line is that Borderlands is extremely addicting and had me up until the wee hours of the morning saying, “Okay, one more mission.” Then, the sun rose six missions later and I had no idea where my night went. The replay value is quite high, and the endless customization, missions and enemies will keep you coming back for more. I highly recommend adding this title to your collection. Borderlands gets a 8 out of 10!

Still writing, still believing…

-V