How To Properly Sell A Copy Of Rock Star

Without a doubt, this auction manages to speak for itself. I have to admit, I was tempted to post the link to this auction, the pic and nothing more.

However, I will take some time to describe an auction that really doesn’t need one. We all know that by throwing a picture of a hot girl holding the item for sale into your auction, you can (and will) slightly boost its selling price.

Well, how about you include two hot girls? And a game that’s going to be relatively hard to find this Christmas? And the two girls are going to deliver the game to you on Christmas day? And said two girls are both softcore porn models?

Well then, now you’ve got something.

As much as I look forward to asking her to bang on my drums when it arrives, I can’t help but looking at that pic and worrying about receiving a box that has already been crushed.

Source: Gamesniped

Is tomorrow's Clapton playing 'Guitar Hero'?

In a recent South Park episode, we see two of the show's main characters, Stan and Kyle, rocking out to the video game Guitar Hero as a roomful of their friends watch, rapt.

As they're playing, Stan's father walks in, asks, "You kids want to see something really cool?" and starts to play an electric guitar.

For a moment, the room is dead silent. Then, Stan asks, incredulously, "Dad, what are you doing?"

"I can actually play a lot of these songs on a real guitar," the father responds. "Want me to show you boys how?"

Stan spits back, "That's stupid, Dad."

Well, maybe not, say guitar teachers. In fact, the immense popularity of the hit Guitar Hero franchise--the third iteration of the game, Guitar Hero III, brought in $115 million during its first week on the market--may be the best thing that has happened to the instrument, to rock 'n' roll, and to guitar instructors, in a long time.

"I have an overwhelming feeling that my business is safe for years to come when I see kids playing Guitar Hero," said Dan Emery, owner of New York City Guitar School. "These kids are really enjoying playing Guitar Hero, and they're really being turned on to old classic rock" via the game.

More from CNet News

Smarty Pants Lets Gamers Show Off Their Brainpower

With 20,000 questions and a filter that sifts by age, everybody has an equal opportunity to win the intelligence crown.

Smarty Pants uses 1 to 4 Wii remotes for dancing, spinning the wheel, and making intuitive gestures to play. Four-player action allows players to team up with friends and family for plenty of fast-paced multiplayer fun.

ESRB: Everyone

Official website

Fantasy Aquarium by DS video game released

Growing UK games publisher, Mercury Games today released more screen shots and a video from fourth coming relaxing simulation games “Aquarium by DS” and “Fantasy Aquarium by DS” both for the Nintendo DS.

Just like keeping fish in real life, the fish need to be fed and have their tanks cleaned. “Aquarium by DS” allows the player to keep the usual types of fish that one would find in a fish tank including Clown Fish, Angelfish, Neon Tetra and Guppy. While “Fantasy Aquarium by DS” allows the player to keep fish which could never be kept as pets in a tank such as Blue whales, dolphins, Seals and sharks.

Aquarium by DS and Fantasy Aquarium by DS are due for release in February 2007. The SRP will be £19.99/ €24.99.

GripShift video game races on Xbox Live Arcade

Sidhe Interactive, industry leading developer of cross platform titles, today announced that their award-winning driving platformer title, GripShift®, is headed to Xbox LIVE Arcade (XBLA), the premier destination for digitally distributed, high-definition original and classic games. Available this year, the Xbox LIVE Arcade-exclusive title features updated graphics, improved controls and additional single and multiplayer content, including new Challenge courses and a Deathmatch mode.

"Veteran players and newcomers to the game will both find something to love in this definitive version of GripShift," said Mario Wynands, Managing Director of Sidhe Interactive. "We've added a substantial amount of new content, including new single player courses and a multiplayer Deathmatch mode for players bent on dominating their friends or climbing to the top of the leaderboards."

GripShift brings the action online to Xbox LIVE Arcade with an abundance of new content, including upgraded graphics, Deathmatch mode and new race courses. Additionally, unlockable achievements and TrueSkill Leaderboard functionality will keep Xbox 360 owners coming back to race their way to glory!

For more information on GripShift, please visit: www.gripshiftgame.com.

Stranglehold - Short Film Contest Starts Today!

Midway Games Ltd launches the European Stranglehold short film contest powered by Eurogamer at www.massive-d.com.

Today, Midway Games Ltd announced the start of the European Stranglehold™ short film contest powered by Eurogamer. As of now, amateur directors can create their own Stranglehold short films at www.massive-d.com and enter their creation into weekly competitions to win exclusive prizes.

The competition will run over eight weeks, with winners selected and voting reset to zero every week. The weekly winners will receive a limited edition game console with a Stranglehold design, while the overall winner will enjoy a luxury trip for two to Hong Kong. In addition, Midway will be giving away games signed by acclaimed action director John Woo to lucky registered users who have participated in the voting.

“The European Stranglehold short film contest powered by Eurogamer is a fantastic way for us speak directly to game fans from the three largest European markets and challenge them to participate,” says Leonie Manshanden, European Marketing Director for Midway Games Europe. “This activity is an elemental component of our pan-European, multi-million Euro campaign supporting the launch of Stranglehold, and is the largest that Midway Europe has ever implemented.”

Until mid-January, users can create their own custom-made Stranglehold short film on the amazing www.massive-d.com website. There are over 160 all-time classic films, texts, and sound clips available to be

pieced together to make their very own, 90 second short film.
About Stranglehold™

A collaboration with world renowned action film director John Woo's Tiger Hill Entertainment, Stranglehold allows players to experience the excitement of true next-gen action as you take on the role of Inspector Tequila created by John Woo for his influential action film, "Hard Boiled" starring Chow Yun-Fat. Ensnared by a crime boss with a gripping secret, Inspector Tequila is forced to cross the line from sworn duty to bloody revenge. Engage your enemies with intense cinematic gun battles and cause massive environmental damage in real-time or revolutionary slow-motion Tequila Time.

Penumbra: Black Plague video game developers diary...

Introduction
Welcome to the first Penumbra: Black Plague developer diary! In this part we will focus on some of the improvements we have made to this stand-alone game since Penumbra Overture and elaborate on some of the game features.

Overture vs Black Plague
Black Plague is a sequel, however we did not just want to settle with what we had and only make minor improvements. Instead we aimed to really evolve as game creators and that has meant identifying imperfections in our previous game and remove them completely.

One of the challenges we've faced when creating a game, is that we become very attached to our creation and that makes it more difficult to objectively identify these imperfections. We also get used to the elements that make up a game and have a hard time imagining how first time player perceive specific features.
Examples of such imperfections are technical features, where improvements are easy to evaluate because we can use simple metrics (frames per seconds, visual quality etc) to determine if they are better then last time. At the same time there are other imperfections related to gameplay and the quality of a gaming experience where it is a lot harder to determine if and when these have been fixed.

Thankfully we have a great bunch of people trying out new ideas and we use their feedback to see if our improvements have been successful. We have also gained a lot of knowledge through the feedback from our first game, all of which has made us better at judging what works and what doesn't.

More to follow...

Corrosion - Cold Winter Waiting video game annouced

UK based games developer Viperante is proud to announce production of their brand new adventure game: “Corrosion: Cold Winter Waiting” for PC, and the launch of the game's official website.

About “Corrosion: Cold Winter Waiting”
Corrosion: Cold Winter Waiting is a dark, shocking, uncompromising, and fear charged horror adventure game, that casts the player in the role of Sheriff Alex Truman as he attempts to break the monotony of life by piecing together the history and origins of a disturbed and unidentified car crash victim.

Set entirely underneath an idyllic country farmhouse, in the deserted and claustrophobic confines of a mysterious and secret underground complex, players will explore a place nobody knew existed, and uncover a twisted past that gets more and more terrifying with every corner turned, every door opened, and every note read.

What happened beneath Cold Winter Farm? What does it have to do with the stranger, who survived a terrible crash, only to sit and mutter the farm’s name? And if the place is supposed to be deserted, what do you keep seeing out of the corner of your eye?

Backed by atmospheric pre-rendered 3D scenes, and a chilling yet beautiful score, Corrosion: Cold Winter Waiting weaves a tangled and brutal tale of love, revenge, jealousy, and bitter rivalry to create a horror experience that will bring new meaning to the concepts of hope and trust, and leave you questioning whether what you know, is really what you know!

Key Features:
- A vast and detailed storyline
- Engaging and realistic characters
- Puzzles integrated logically into the story
- A large and exciting location with many secrets
- 1st person style interface and control system
- 1024 x 768 screen resolution
- Detailed and atmospheric pre-rendered 3D backgrounds
- An original and emotive score

Production on Corrosion: Cold Winter Waiting has been underway for more than six months, and the projected release date is August 2008.

For more information visit the official site at: www.coldwinterwaiting.com

The Storyline
Deacon Oaks is a small and quiet town, where nothing bad ever happens. Sheriff Alex Truman has a peaceful life dealing with lost dogs, trivial disputes, and a few drunks here and there. He should be the happiest lawman in the world. But there's just one small part of him that longs for some excitement, for something that would break the monotony he doesn't even realise is eating him alive.

One cold November night it seems his unspoken wishes may have been granted when he’s involved in a car accident with a man who appears suddenly in the middle of the road. Alex is fine, but the man ends up in hospital with a broken leg, and several cracked ribs. Nobody knows who this guy is or where he has come from, and to make matters worse, he won’t speak. Finally the town has its first real mystery, and Alex is overjoyed. But that joy is to be short lived.

With no way of finding out the man’s identity, he’s moved to the local state mental health facility, and life in Deacon Oaks goes back to normal, until two months later when Alex gets a call informing him that the “road guy” has at last spoken. Three words were all he would say – “Cold Winter Farm, Cold Winter Farm, Cold Winter Farm”, over and over again.

Alex has no idea what it means, but he does know that Cold Winter Farm is on the edge of town, and that’s good enough. The mystery is back, and Alex wants to get to the bottom of it right away. Problem is, the biggest storm in fifty years is heading towards town – he’ll never make it out to the farm and back before the storm hits. But Alex doesn’t care – something deep inside is driving him – he has to know who the “road guy” is, and he has to know now. Abandoning all rational thought and ignoring the warnings of his deputy, he grabs the keys to the 4x4 and heads out.

Ten minutes after he arrives at the farm, the storm is so out of control, that it uproots a tree, which falls onto the house, crushing the roof, and trapping him in the basement. That’s not all though. The fallen tree has opened up a hidden doorway, which leads to a secret corridor. At the end of the corridor is an elevator, and the only place it can go is down. With no chance of being rescued until the next day, and with the overpowering need to find answers drowning out the fear he feels, Alex decides to take the elevator down.

But what will be waiting for him at the bottom? Will it explain the origins and identity of the “road guy”? Will it explain why the “road guy” was walking in the middle of the road, in the middle of the night, in the middle of the freezing winter? Will it explain why he wouldn’t speak for two months? And if it does, will the answers be simple, or will they be ultimately more disturbing and terrifying than anyone could imagine?

August 2008 Games Conventions tickets onsale now

GC - Games Convention (21 to 24 August 2008)

Advance ticket orders end on 17 December 2007

Christmas tree, goose and Christmas cake - still not found that perfect Christmas present? With the GC Christmas campaign GC fans can secure their exclusive ticket for the games event of summer 2008 and brighten up the Christmas of friends or family. The tickets come packed in an original Christmas greeting card with optional GC winter hat, they can be booked in advance up to 17 December 2007, ensuring that they are under the tree in time for Christmas Eve. "This helps to shorten the wait until the beginning of the GC on 20 August 2008", smiles GC Project Director Peggy Schönbeck.

And: This original Christmas gift also saves money. There are no advance sales fees and the ticket also entitles the holder to free travel to and from the Leipzig exhibition centre in the zones 110, 151-156, 162-168, 210, 221-225 and 231-234 of the Mitteldeutscher Verkehrsverbund public transport authority during the period of the GC. Further information and the online order form can be found at www.gc-germany.com.

First screens of video game - Supreme Ruler 2020

Paradox Interactive released today the first screen shots for the real-time strategy title, Supreme Ruler 2020, scheduled for release during Q2 2008.

Developed by the Canadian studio Battlegoat studios, Supreme Ruler 2020 is a strategic and tactical geo-political game where direct control of the military and the policies of a nation becomes the key to survival.

Will your leadership take you to new heights of power or will you be nothing more than a footnote in history?


Review information on any other region in the world
Control of Spain is crucial to controlling access to the Mediterranean


After reviewing information on other regions, decide whom you want to make deals with
The Middle East…the source of oil or of instability and conflict?


Review what commodities are helping your economy
The Middle East…the source of oil or of instability and conflict?


Review information on any other region in the world
An alliance with Cuba can prove very useful for any move against the southern United States

Devil May Cry mobile phone video game

Mobile game to be released alongside Devil May Cry 4 on the home console

Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced that Devil May Cry, a full 3D adventure based on Devil May Cry 3 on the Playstation 2 (PS2), will be available for mobile phones across Europe from February 2008.

The highly anticipated Devil May Cry for mobile immerses gamers in a gothic supernatural world where Dante, a mercenary whose speciality is tackling paranormal cases, opens up the battle between good and evil.

Featuring over 10 hours of gameplay in over 45 missions, Devil May Cry takes the player on a journey of fast and frenetic combo driven combat and mind-bending puzzle solving, typical of the highly successful Devil May Cry series on the home console. Set in a dark unforgiving underworld, Devil May Cry boasts stunning 3D environments and characters, including an array of fearsome enemies. With an arsenal of weapons at Dante’s disposal, including the Rebellion sword and the Ebony and Ivory pistols, and a “style” rating at the end of each stage, players can take advantage of combos and multiple weapon usage to maximise their high score.

With the path of the game left in the hands of the player, different routes open up new puzzles, new enemies and new weapons to master.

Devil May Cry will be available from all major European mobile phone operators and www.capcom-world.com from February 2008.

Game for Mobile Phones – "Crazy Frog Racer"!

MobilityZone Ltd, a mobile phone games developer & publisher, announced the acquisition of a worldwide exclusive license for the most famous character to emerge from the web and mobile phones, Crazy Frog.

The first games from the Crazy Frog series of games, “Crazy Frog Racer” is ready now

Description
The frog is back!
Ride with The Annoying Thing in a high octane riot through cityscapes and underground mayhem.
Blast your opponents, picking up many power ups and super boosts.
This is your chance to either join The Annoying Thing or help beat him.

Game features
- Variety of Game modes including
- Up to 20 levels
- 3 Crazy Frogs with different abilities to choose from
- 7 opponents to fight with
- Up to 8 players on the track (behind character view)
- Number of weapons, items and power up’s during the course
- Up to 10 mini-games
- Dozens of quests to pass trough the race course
- Great player animations and behaviors
- Many track obstacles and objects
- Online feature – collect points and then send it to server
- Different weather conditions – real impact on the game play

Game Modes
- QUICK RACE: Single race, just pick up random road, a character and be the first on the finish line. Gain points to write your name in online high score.
- STORY: about 30 different races to pass trough during the mode. Each one with different combination of quests, mini-games and conditions player needs to pass.
- CHALLENGE: Around 30 different quests unlocked after pass in Story Mode. Examples:
- Finish with 50% energy
- Eliminate 3 contenders before race is over
- Grab 30 bonus crowns
- Finish the race without using speed up pods
- On each checkpoint last one will end the race, be the first one on the last checkpoint to win the game (just like eliminator mode in Burnout series)
 And more…

Supported phones: All major handsets in the market (more than 700 handsets).

Empire Interactive And The Bitmap Brothers Announce Extra Content For Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe

Empire Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of Silverstar Holdings and veteran British developer The Bitmap Brothers, today announced they will be releasing a range extra content for their Xbox LIVE Arcade title Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe.

Over the coming weeks a steady stream of content will be made available for download. Last week’s Theme Pack, containing four exclusive backdrops and a tiled Xbox blade, is followed up by this week’s addition of 4 new downloadable 3D Arenas, each with 3 variants, giving players even more customisable options.

Ian Higgins, CEO Empire Interactive said, “Offering extra content enables users to tailor the unique Speedball experience to their own individual taste and offers additional promotional opportunities to increase awareness and downloads.”

Since its release on 17th October, Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe has generated tremendous downloads on Xbox LIVE Arcade and received extensive coverage and rave reviews in the gaming press.

“…one of the all-time classic retro games.” Official Xbox 360 Magazine; Review Score 8/10

“…the sort of game that makes Xbox Live Arcade one of the most exciting gaming platforms around.” Euro Gamer; Review Score 8/10

Mike Montgomery, of developers Bitmap Brothers commented, “The extra content, and in particular the arenas, players and strips, dramatically enhance game play and make a real contribution to making Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe the definitive package.”

Regarded as a break-though title that took the sports genre to a new level, the Bitmap Brothers classic, Speedball, was first released for the Amiga in 1990 and quickly became a huge success. However it wasn’t until the release of its sequel, Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe that the title reached new gaming heights and sold over 2 million units. It is still considered by many to be one of the best games of all time. The Xbox LIVE Arcade version is a perfect conversion of Speedball II: Brutal Deluxe but with the addition of an all-new High Definition version, more teams and downloadable content, whilst still retaining all the classic elements that have made it a firm favorite amongst gamers.

At a cost ranging from 100MP to 150MP the extra content releases will please both hard-core fans and new generations of Speedball gamers.

Content: - Release Date:
Theme Pack - 31/10
Arena Pack - 07/11
Gamer Pics 1 - 14/11
Super Star Players - 28/11
Team Strips Pack - 12/12
Gamer Pics 2 - 09/01

Advanced Tactics video game Update

Brand new 1.02 update on your desk and awaiting approval, Herr General

Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and VR Designs (www.advancedtactics.org) are pleased to announce that a new update for their popular World War II turn-based strategy game, Advanced Tactics: World War II, is now available. This latest 1.02 official update brings over 20 fixes, balance tweaks, and improvements to the table. Specifically, many minor bugs were fixed, the Europe at War scenario has been updated, unit costs were tweaked a bit, and the balance of units like scouts, flak, level bombers, heavy tanks, and more has been improved.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said, “Advanced Tactics has been enormously well received by gamers and critics alike and this update is yet another step in the right direction for VR Designs. Advanced Tactics has so much solid gameplay and replayability that we expect it to stay on your hard drive for ages and never get old. You can count on Matrix Games and VR Designs to continue to improve and support this wonderful game.”

Victor Reijkersz of VR Designs added “Thanks so much for the overwhelming community support I’ve received from fans. Your feedback has added tremendously to the continuing success of Advanced Tactics and we plan on continuing to improve this great gaming system as time goes on. The next update is already in the works!”

Advanced Tactics is a versatile turn-based strategy system that gives gamers the chance to wage almost any battle in any time period. The first module in this series is Advanced Tactics: World War II, which allows gamers to command a mighty army and storm across Europe. Complete with a streamlined interface and an addicting style of gameplay, Advanced Tactics offers a unique and infinitely replayable experience for any strategy fan.

Depending on the scenario, you can decide what your towns should produce, which HQs receive reinforcements, how your chain of command is formed, what sort of troop and equipment mix you put in each unit, if you use air, land, or sea strategies or maybe even call in the paratroopers – the possibilities are endless! Almost any type of strategy or tactic can be used effectively in Advanced Tactics. Perhaps the most powerful feature in Advanced Tactics is the ability to generate random maps and scenarios, giving the player endless hours of strategic fun without having to repeat a single battle or campaign!

Get more information on Advanced Tactics: World War II from its official Matrix Games webpage. This update will bring the game up to version 1.02 and is comprehensive.

Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion v1.01 Patch and updated Demo

Today we have for you the first patch for our recently released product, Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion. This v1.01 Patch includes a number of user requested changes, bug fixes and editor enhancements. We have also added a great deal of material to the game manual itself since many players have asked for more details on all the new changes in the expansion. The full patch details and download link are listed below.

In addition to the v1.01 Patch, we have also updated the Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Demo. The new demo includes all the relevant v1.01 updates.

Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion v1.01 Patch
Please note, this is a PATCH for the Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion and will only work for the Battlefront.com English language version. This patch will not work with any non-English version of Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion at this time.
Separate patches for the other language versions will be released in the future.

v1.01 Version History:
GAME ENGINE CHANGES
- fixed an AI destroyer unit combat error
- fixed an AI upgrade unit error
- fixed an animation replay error
- fixed a MINOR country Corps purchase error
- paratroops that are preparing and engineers that are fortifying are no longer hidden under FoW
- subs caught in sea ice no longer raid convoy lanes until sea ice clears
- subs now use the following rules:
- Silent
- Sub can pass through hidden enemy units except for a Destroyer under FoW
- Sub cannot attack convoy lanes
- Hunt
- Sub cannot pass through hidden enemy units under FoW
- Sub can attack convoy lanes
- Note, a Sub will dive (if a dive is successful) when attacked and move away under either Silent or Hunt mode
- transfer of capitals now reduces that country's morale the same as it would if an ally were to surrender
- transfer of capitals now increase occupier's morale the same as it would if it forced the surrender of a country
- any country tha t has a capital transferred to a disconnected area loses its current production/queue items
(complete wipe out) unless the transfer location is connected to the current location of the capital (pre-transfer) or
to any of the Industrial Center locations for that country
- fixed a script handling error for #CONDITION_POSITIONs
- fixed a Paratroop glider sound error when playing under Military unit icons mode
- fixed a Paratroop drop and new unit selection error when Fortifications are destroyed or a Paratroop unit takes
landing casualties
- surprise encounters will now only apply the 'Hidden Attacker Readiness Bonus' to decrease attacker losses and not to also
increase defender losses as was previously the case
- fixed an 'add_unit' bug when minors are activated
- fixed a resource mpp calculation error that did not include Fortresses if a value was assigned to them
- fixed a bug where custom combat supply loss values via the Editor were not being read in game

EDITOR RELATED CHANGES
- fixed the military unit bitmaps to show some differentiation between tactical bombers and strategic bombers
- replaced Manstein with Bittrich in the Wacht Am Rhein scenario
- removed all incorrect references to O'Conner in the 1939 and 1940 campaigns and replaced them with O'Connor
- fixed a SURRENDER_2 script error for the surrender of Italy
- added several new Axis Middle East OFFENSIVE events
- added several new Axis Middle East TRANSPORT events
- added several new Axis Middle East GARRISON events
- added several new ACTIVATION#3 events
- added #PRODUCTION_LOST= entry to localization.txt
- fixed a Polish campaign victory condition error
- fixed several Spanish Civil War campaign errors
- updated Manual with several new entries regarding c hanges in Weapons and Warfare

File Details
Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion v1.01 Patch
Filesize: 124.75 Megabytes

Link to Patch download site:
http://www.battlefront.com/products/sc2/sc2_wwe/patch.html
Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion Demo (v1.01)

This demo includes two playable campaigns, Fall Weiss which depicts the German invasion of Poland and Wacht Am Rhein, better known as the Battle of the Bulge. Multiplayer modes are di sabled in the demo but both campaigns are playable against the AI as either the Axis or the Allies.

Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion incorporates a huge list of new features frequently asked for by the fan community, including a bigger world map, new units, enhanced naval movement and combat rules, a deeper weather model, additional terrain types and resources, the simulation of roads and railways and a greatly extended editor with the ability to add in scripted Image and Sound events and much more.

This demo does NOT require Strategic Command 2 Blitzkrieg to already be installed, however the full game does.
Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion is currently available for sale. More details can be found here: Official Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion Website - http://www.battlefront.com/products/sc2/sc2_wwe/index%20.html

File Details
Strategic Command 2 Weapons and Warfare Expansion v1.01 Demo
Filesize: 93.05 Megabytes
Link to Demo Site:
http://www.battlefront.com/products/sc2/sc2_wwe/demo.html

World's Largest Multi-Game Home Arcade video game

Featuring a 120-inch high definition projector the Dreamcade Vision 120 is Wii compatible this monster delivers a larger than life gaming experience to arcade fans!

Dream Arcades (http://www.DreamArcades.com), is the leader in providing high-quality, low cost home video arcades unveils this season's hottest arcade product, the Dreamcade Vision 120. The Vision 120 comes complete and ready to play with more than 145 classic arcade games, including all of your favorite classic games from Atari, Midway, Namco, Digital Leisure, and Capcom as well more than 7,000 classic console games. The system also supports Nintendo's Wii console and even includes a wireless sensor bar.

Retail price is $3,999 and the Dreamcade Vision 120 can be found online at www.dreamarcades.com.

"Ever since my childhood I have dreamed of playing with classic arcade characters." says Michael Ware, Owner of Dream Arcades. "Now this dream can become a reality with this Dream Arcades system featuring a projection screen so large that Street Fighter characters appear life sized and others like the ghosts and zombies from Ghosts 'n Goblins and Pac-Man are almost scary!"

Dreamcade Vision 120 Features:
. High powered projector - Bright enough for daytime use!
. 120-inch Portable projection screen - makes it simple to set up, move, and store
. Dreamcade 2.0 Gaming PC - modern PC games can be played using authentic arcade controls
. More than 145 classic arcade games including Ms. Pac-man, Centipede, Dig Dug, and many more.
. Free year's subscription to more than 7,000 classic console games via Console Classix, including games for Atari, ColecoVision, NES, SuperNES, Sega Genesis, Sega Master System, Sega GameGear, and GameBoy.
. Component and HDMI video inputs for your Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or Nintendo Wii for the ultimate in modern gaming as well as classic arcade games.

Arcade Control Panel Features:
. Lighted trackball - For authentic gaming action on games like Centipede and Missile Command
. Spinner - To play retro classics like Warlords, Breakout and Pong
. Full arcade control panel with additional side buttons allows playing nearly any game from Street fighter to MAME pinball as well as modern games and classic console games through Console Classix
. Removable control panel - Gives you the ultimate versatility

Blu-ray Disc Movie Sales Across Europe Surpass 1 Million Units

Blu-ray disc accounts for 73% of High Definition discs sold

Total Blu-ray Disc movie sales across Europe have topped one million units, it was announced today by the Blu-ray Disc Association European Promotions Committee. Of the High Definition movie discs bought by consumers year-to-date in Europe, 73% were in the Blu-ray Disc format and 27% were HD DVD, according to sales data provided by Media Control Gfk International.*

The only High Definition packaged media universally supported by the film, music, gaming and computer industries, BD is the #1 selling High Definition packaged media. The one million sales figure relates to movies: if BD game disc production is added into the equation then total number of discs produced for sale in Europe already exceeds 21 million units. The so-called ‘PlayStation effect’ is important since it is creating major economies of scale and makes BD disc replication cost effective.

Blu-ray Disc movie sales experienced their highest weekly sales since the inception of the format, in week 44, topping 66,000 units. * This is due to the launch of new release titles such as 300, Spider-Man 3, Die Hard 4.0 and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End releasing in some markets.

“This is an important milestone for Blu-ray Disc in Europe and proves once again that whenever consumers have the choice they decide overwhelmingly in favour of BD,” stated Frank Simonis, Chairman of the Blu-ray Disc European Promotions Committee. “Early indicators show that the Christmas holiday season will be exceptionally good for Blu-ray Disc across all categories from packaged media to standalone players and BD capable games consoles.”

Blu-ray Disc has become the first High Definition movie format to sell more than one million discs in Europe, with Blu-ray Disc's sales lead over the rival HD DVD format increasing each month since the PS3’s release in March, outselling HD DVD by 2:1 YTD and 3:1 since the launch of the PS3.

The launch of the PS3 in March was seen as a turning point for the Blu-ray Disc format across Europe, with weekly movie sales of Blu-ray Disc titles averaging between two- and five-times the amount of HD DVD sales week over week.*

The best selling Blu-ray titles year-to-date are 300 – the number one selling title in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Benelux and Sweden and Casino Royale - the number one selling title in UK and Ireland.

News of the 1 millionth Blu-ray Disc sale in Europe was met with pleasure in many of the leading Hollywood studios. Bob Chapek, Worldwide President, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment believes that this news is the prelude for an exponential growth period in BD sales.

“Blu-ray will inevitably prevail because Blu-ray delivers what consumers want: True High Definition picture without compromise, the best sound quality, the best choice in content, the most in special features, and of course the most disc storage capacity. No tradeoffs. No compromises,” commented Chapek.

Notes to Editors:

Blu-ray Disc is a next generation optical disc format developed for High Definition video and high-capacity software applications. A single-layer Blu-ray Disc holds up to 25 gigabytes of data and a dual-layer Blu-ray Disc holds up to 50 gigabytes of data. This greater storage capacity enables the Blu-ray

Disc to store over six times the amount of content than is possible with current DVDs, and is particularly well-suited for High Definition feature films with extended levels of additional bonus and interactive material, as well as next generation computer games.

Also, Blu-ray Disc features the most advanced copy protection, player backward compatibility with the current DVD format, connectivity and advanced interactivity. Showcasing picture quality with six times the resolution of DVD and theatre quality “uncompressed” audio for the purest digital sound, the cutting-edge discs also feature enhanced and integrated menus, games, High Definition bonus materials and Java-encoding for more dynamic and sophisticated interactivity.

Nintendo DS Passes Game Boy Advance Sales Record, Wii Becomes Must-Have Gift

In the first week of the 2007 holiday shopping season, Nintendo of America has sold more Nintendo products than at any other time in its history. This includes more than 653,000 Nintendo DS™ portable video game systems, 350,000 Wii™ home systems and millions of games and accessories throughout the United States - and the season is just getting started.

Nintendo DS set a new all-time sales record for Thanksgiving week, eclipsing the previous mark of 600,000 Game Boy® Advance systems sold during the same period in the United States in 2005. Nintendo DS remains on track to be the top-selling video game system of 2007.

Nintendo's 350,000 Wii systems represent the highest one-week U.S. sales total outside of its launch week one year ago. Wii has been dubbed the must-have gift of the 2007 holiday season and has been placed at the top of numerous gift lists. Nintendo has repeatedly increased its shipments and its fiscal-year sales forecast for Wii in an attempt to meet soaring demand. Wii reached 5 million sold in the United States faster than any video game system in history, after only 12 months of availability there.

Both Wii and Nintendo DS have continued their yearlong momentum into the holidays without altering their prices. And both remain attractive values for shoppers: Wii has an MSRP of $249.99, while Nintendo DS has an MSRP of $129.99.

"As shoppers look for ways to maximize their limited holiday spending money, they turn to gifts that can be used by the entire family," says George Harrison, Nintendo of America's senior vice president of marketing and corporate communications. "Wii and Nintendo DS offer something for every member of the family. They're the most fun video game experiences at the most affordable price."

With higher gas prices and fuel costs, and the lukewarm expectations for the 2007 holiday shopping season, Wii and Nintendo DS might be just what Santa ordered: Thirty-five percent of consumers said they plan to spend less than they did last year, according to a survey conducted by Opinion Research Corp. for the Consumer Federation of America and the Credit Union National Association. Similarly, a USA Today/Gallup Poll showed that 25 percent of Americans expect to spend less on gifts this year than they did in 2006.

Note that the internal Nintendo of America numbers referenced in this release represent sales from Sunday, Nov. 18, through Saturday, Nov. 24.

Remember that Wii features parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other Wii features, visit Wii.com.

Ben 10 Skins A Blast Down Under for DS video games

Wrapstar has teamed up with D3P to produce Ben 10 skins for a promotional campaign in Australia.

The Ben 10 skins were used as a promotional giveaway with copies of the new Nintendo DS Ben 10 game in an exclusive deal with Australian retail giant Toys ‘R’ Us.

The campaign has been so popular that over 600 units were sold in the game’s first week of release, more than any other format or retailer down under.

Wrapstar has much previous success with producing promotional skins. Past pre-order campaigns have included skins for EA’s My Sims title as well as Atari’s Arthur and The Invisibles and Tamagotchi.

Wrapstar skins are a distinctive way to customise, refresh and protect gaming machines and iPods. Made of unique high-quality cast vinyl, the skins are designed to maintain a vibrant, glossy finish and to resist general wear and tear. Wrapstar’s top-secret special adhesive also ensures that no sticky goo is left behind on your device upon removal of the skin.

The range now includes many new and existing designs as well as promotional skins and licensed designs, such as Wrapstar’s Rugby Football Union (RFU) skins.

Wrapstar Managing Director Max Haddow says, “Wrapstar’s Promotional skins allow publishers and developers to brand gaming machines with their titles. These act as a constant reminder to the user as well as having the added benefit of continual advertisement of their brands to a wider audience. The benefits of using our skins as an added value, pre-order campaign or bundle deal has seen huge uplifts in sales of the software, particularly with Ben 10”.

The full range of designs can be viewed on the website at www.wrapstar-skins.com

Wrapstar skins are available online via Amazon and GAME and the RFU range can be purchased in-store at Twickenham or online via RFU.

Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock (PS3) Review

Unleash your inner Rock Legend! (Sort of)

I admit it. I fell for the craze. After skipping the first two Guitar Heroes, I fell for the temptation of part 3. I pre-ordered it! I paid the somewhat ridiculous amount of $102.99 for the bundle. And you know what? It was worth it. Is it a perfect game? No. Is it a revolutionary game? No. Is it great fun? That’s a resounding yes.

Gameplay :

If you don’t know what Guitar Hero is about, you have been living under a rock. But just in case you are one of the few cavemen left on Earth, Guitar Hero 3 gives you the opportunity to rock like a superstar at your very own house (or cave). Using a guitar-shaped controller with colored fret buttons, a whammy bar and a strum, you follow on-screen cues with timing and rhythm to match the guitar sounds of classic songs like Guns N Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” and Iron Maiden’s “Number of the Beast”. And that is all there is to it.

Since this is my first Guitar Hero game, I found the experience to be a breath of fresh air. Getting used to the guitar controller takes some time, especially in the medium, hard and expert difficulties, which require the use of the pinky finger, a finger not normally used in any gaming experience. However, if you stick around, you will start nailing those notes and rocking like a pro. I have never played a real life guitar. I can’t even dance, I have no rhythm…but I still learned to play. So if you are one of those guys who is somewhat interested in the franchise but has not given in yet because of these concerns, rest assured that with some practice you will learn to play. The neck of the guitar has five colorcoded buttons. One green, one red, one yellow, one blue and one orange in that order. You need to hold the button (or buttons) indicated in the screen while strumming to play a note. The whammy bar comes into play during extended notes, where you are able to hold the notes and move the whammy to change the sound of the note and get extra points. You also need to tilt the guitar to activate star power. During the songs some of the notes will appear in star shapes. Playing the entire series of notes with this shape without missing one will earn you a small amount of star power. By tilting the guitar with the star power meter full, you will double your score multiplier for a short time. This causes the screen to turn blue and shiny and every note you play will be worth double the amount of points. The idea is to use star power when you have a 4x multiplier, so that it doubles to 8x and nets an insane amount of points.

The game’s main attraction is the career mode. Here you will progress trough several tiers of songs, each located on a different venue. Beating songs in the career nets you cash that you use to unlock new stuff from the shop and also unlocks the next tier of songs. Songs range from incredibly easy like Foghat’s “Slow Ride” to insanely difficult like Slayer’s “Raining Blood”. But all songs are beatable with some practice, at least in the easy and normal difficulties (more on that in a minute). As your band gets more famous you will be challenged to Guitar Battles by famous guitarists like Tom Morello and Slash. Beating them unlocks an encore song and also the next tier.

More from 411.com

Meet the Mario Maestros Who Have Videogame Music Rocking Concert Halls

Illustration by Ronald Kurniawan
Tennessee Williams. Aaron Copland. Dizzy Gillespie. Some of the nation's most respected artists have been honored onstage at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, over the past few decades. On a recent evening, it was Sam Greszes' turn.

Greszes, a lanky 18-year-old Northwestern University student, wasn't being feted for his contribution to American arts and letters but for his costume: He waddled onto the main stage of the concert hall dressed as a human-sized, L-shaped Tetris piece.

This wasn't the Kennedy Center Honors but a performance of Video Games Live, a 135-minute showcase of music from arcade, computer, and console titles, arranged for and performed by a 66-piece orchestra and a 16-person choir.

To win the best-costume prize, awarded just before the show began, Greszes beat out a Mega Man, two Marios, and a whole lot of Links. As he took the stage — cutting from side to side as he approached the podium in imitation of a Tetris piece — the thousand-strong audience erupted into a raucous bout of hooting.

More here from: WIRED

Flaws and all, 'Crysis' still a good video game

"Crysis" is a good game.

I have to say this in advance because it's true. It's a very good game. It's hard to stop playing once you start, but what stands out once you're done are the flaws. The game is not perfect and while the good parts may be mostly subtle, the problems are definitely obvious.

The first major problem, oddly enough, is the graphics. Before its release "Crysis" was anticipated for its cutting edge, photo-realistic imagery. And I'm sure it has that ... if you've paid more than $5,000 for your computer in the past couple months. For the rest of us, we'll have to settle for the graphical settings turned down to a mix of medium and high and a lower resolution, which seems like a waste.

However, even on medium, the graphics, while not quite what we were promised, are much better than many other games. Individual leaves and blades of grass are rendered and lit. From a high enough point you can see most of the island on which the game takes place. Everything from the buildings to the trees are destructible and can be used for cover. Wildlife crawls and flies around, and the sun rises and sets. But in order to see all the flora and fauna on my 2.4 GHz Intel Core2 Quad and my Nvidia GeForce 8600 GTS, the texture detail has to be turned down and anti-aliasing turned off. It's disappointing since all the promotional screen shots were apparently taken on the very high setting so that's what one expects it to look like.
The story is good by shooter standards,but there's a reason I didn't mention it before the graphics. A few years ago it would be more than you would expect, but in the age of "Bioshock" it feels like a tacked on excuse to shoot people. You're a Special Forces soldier sent to a remote island to rescue an archeology team from North Koreans who accidentally unleash an alien invasion. It does the job but isn't the genre's new high water mark by any means.

Crysis takes the best parts from several different shooters. The recharging health and energy are very reminiscent of Halo's health and shield, but rather than always providing protection the energy also powers your suit's other abilities. These abilities -- speed, strength, armor and cloak, all of which behave just like they sound -- are all very useful depending on the situation so switching them on the fly becomes crucial. The vehicle system isn't just reminiscent of the Battlefield series, it appears to be lifted directly from it. The handling and physics feel almost identical.

This brings us to the second problem. The game tries to be too many things at once. It mixes too many different styles and doesn't do any of them really well. The scarcity of ammo, the cloak and the Far Cry style ability to hide in the bushes suggest it should be a stealth game. At the same time, the sheer quantity of enemies, the annoyingly short life of the cloak and the focus on very noisy vehicles make it resemble a trigger-happy action shooter.

What this results in is an occasionally frustrating experience as you desperately try to sneak away from a dozen enemies because the stealth aspects of the game make it nearly impossible to take them all on. The action aspects of the game make it nearly impossible to get around them.

The reason they're so hard to avoid is because they use remarkable teamwork. They talk to each other intelligently and call for help, going so far as to flank you and lay down suppression fire. (Ironically, while they interact with each other very well, they often fail to notice getting shot in the back when you're using a silencer unless someone else sees it and tells them. The developers must have spent so much time on communication they forgot self-preservation.)

The other gameplay flaw is that the mild puzzle aspects inserted in the otherwise freeform gameplay, either through poor level design or poor planning, turn into desperate scavenger hunts. For example one assignment is to take out two tanks. (I promise that while this may seem like a spoiler now you'll thank me when you get there.) It's impossible to do so with the gear you have, a fact you only figure out after trying. The secret -- and this took me some time -- is to go across town to find a rocket launcher hidden behind a counter. With two tanks and what seems like half the North Korean army after you. That's really not a lot of fun when you don't even know what you're looking for or even that there is something to look for.
The final problem and probably the most severe is that "Crysis" has a midgame identity crisis. The first part is a rare sandbox shooter. You're given a goal and, aforementioned scavenger hunts aside, many methods of handling it. Not just predetermined routes which you can choose from either, for the most part the destructible environments really let you use your creativity to solve problems.

Then, for reasons I still don't understand, it becomes more of a traditional corridor shooter. Just when you're getting used to the freeform, wide open gameplay, it throws you into tunnels and hallways. Then it switches again to what amounts to a long escort mission before finishing with a rail shooter. Why does it give up on the core aspect of its gameplay as soon as the player gets into it in favor of the least popular of all mission types? I couldn't even begin to guess.

For all its flaws, "Crysis" is a good game. It's not the next "Half-Life" or "Halo." but it's well above average for the genre. It's a jack of all trades complete with the traditional lack of mastery. If you have the computer to handle it, there's no reason that you shouldn't pick it up. You'll be impressed by the visuals and satisfied by the first segment of the gameplay, and the freeform aspects mean you'll want to replay it just to see what you can do differently. But if your processor is anything less than dual-core, you're better off passing until affordable hardware catches up.

Source: Contra Costa Times

Video games to blame for England's failure to reach Euro 2008

West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green has blamed the increasing popularity of video games among English boys for the country's failure to reach the finals of the Euro 2008 football championships.

The in-form England international, who saved a penalty to ensure a 1-1 draw with the Hammers top-flight London rivals Tottenham on Sunday, was overlooked by former national coach Steve McClaren for last week's key qualifier with Croatia at Wembley.

Instead McClaren gave a competitive debut, in a match where England had to get a point to have a chance of making it through to next year's tournament in Austria and Switzerland, to Aston Villa's Scott Carson.
Carson gifted the visitors an early lead when when he failed to get his body behind a 30-yard shot from Portsmouth midfielder Niko Kranjcar.

Croatia were on their way to a 3-2 win and England coach Steve McClaren on his way to the sack.
Following the defeat, all sorts of theories were advanced for England's poor performance, including a lack of technique and misplaced notions of innate football superiority.

But Green cited an economic cause as a reason for England's failure.

"We would have the best team if we could go into every household and throw away every PlayStation, Xbox and video game.
"We have the players and the best league in the world. The way the game is played here is so different though.

"Watching the Premier League is like Formula One - it's that quick - and then you go to an international game and it's like a game of chess.

"Other countries seem to bring on world-class players, countries like Argentina and Brazil where often it's football or nothing.
"In contrast we live in a country where we have choices and perhaps the will to do it, the need to escape your own situation, is not so clear."

Green, given his England debut by Sven-Goran Eriksson, now in charge at Manchester City, said another overseas coach, such as Portuguese former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, should replace McClaren.

"For England, it should be the right man for the job. A Swede gave me my debut so I'm not one to say it must be an Englishman.

"I wouldn't look further than Jose Mourinho. He has the character and know-how to deal with the job as well as the passion."

Source: AFP

The Simpsons Game - Review

Genuine humour is a notoriously difficult thing to carry off in a video game. The fact that the player is in control of the pace means the all-important element of comic timing is utterly compromised. As a result there has been only a handful of games blessed with the ability to make you laugh out loud. Thankfully, it's now possible to add another to that elite group.

The Simpsons Game is funny, then. As you might expect, much of the humour relies on the player having some familiarity with the TV show, but the vast majority of the gags will amuse even if you've been locked in a time capsule for the past two decades and have bypassed The Simpsons craze altogether.

Rather than take the easy option or creating a game that sticks slavishly to the plot of the recent cinematic outing, EA has wisely decided to create a unique experience and has packed the product with a quite frankly insane amount of fan service. If you're a passionate gamer, you'll lap up the sharp observations and satirical comments featured within The Simpsons. Fun is poked at high-ranking mascots, game designers and general video gaming clichés (predictable 'weak spots' on end-of-level bosses, for instance), all in the typically cutting Simpsons style.

Although other companies have taken similar steps and produced knowingly 'post modern' hits (such as Nintendo with its WarioWare franchise), the acerbic humour seen in The Simpsons is head and shoulders above anything that has been before. EA is arguably the last company you'd expect to encourage this kind of wonderfully anarchic mickey-taking, but it should be commended for not pulling any punches.

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The publisher also deserves praise for acquiring the services of not only the original voice actors, but also the scriptwriters who make the TV show such a riot. Couple this with several minutes of animated cut-scenes and you have an experience that is faithful to the source material in a way few other licensed games have ever managed.

It's a bit of a shame, then, that underneath these wonderfully polished trimmings the actual core game itself isn't tremendously arresting. Unlike the DS version – which was rather hampered by the modest hardware – the PSP edition takes direct inspiration from the home console versions of the game. It's best described as a 3D platformer, although there are brawling elements included as well.

Each member of the Simpsons family possesses two standard attacks and a variety of different abilities, each ideally suited to overcoming the particular problems and obstacles that litter the levels within the game. Sadly, you can't tackle the stages with a character of your choosing but some missions do involve another family member, which adds a much-needed touch of diversity to proceedings.

Presentation is somewhat inconsistent. The graphics are obviously scaled down from the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, resulting in some rather angular-looking character models, but everything moves along at a fair old pace. Level designs, meanwhile, range from decent to downright ugly, but much of their appeal lies in the fact that they reference familiar locations in the TV show. Lastly, the 3D camera is prone to causing some serious headaches during play and cannot be relied upon to always give you the best view of the action.

The sound fares better. As previously mentioned, several members of the original cast have been drafted in to provide their vocal talents exclusively for the video game and the sheer amount of spoken dialogue contained within the game means you don't get annoyed with any constantly repeating phrases. The music is also extremely faithful to that heard in the show.

When we reviewed the DS edition a while back we were a little disappointed by the rather slim play time. Alas, the same criticism applies to this version, too. With a few days' solid play you'll breeze through the game quite easily, and there's precious little here in terms of replay value.

One can imagine that when EA decided to snap up The Simpsons video game licence, it set itself the task of making the best piece of software ever based on the animated family. Thanks to the humour, above-average gameplay and incredible authenticity, it's undeniably succeeded. But, of course, you have to put things in perspective and consider the generally awful standard of past Simpsons games. Nevertheless, EA's effort comes with a cautious recommendation.

Source: Pocket Gamer

Experts test the video game systems in time for Christmas

Game on!
With videogame systems expected to be among the hottest gifts this holiday season, the Big 3 are slugging it out for superiority.

Consoles from Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony are more powerful — and more fun — than ever, as gamers continue to benefit from high-stakes competition.

Deciding which system is best is highly subjective. Nintendo's Wii is the most affordable, it's games are cheaper and fans say its motion-sensing controls make it a better deal at any price. But hardcore gamers tend to shun the Wii, considering the novel controls a gimmick.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 has such a powerful built-in computer — capable of downloading and storing movies — that enthusiasts say it outmuscles the competition. Gamers can play each other online, though the software giant charges $50 a year for the privilege.

The September release of Xbox's wildly popular "Halo 3" game has it on top of the heap — for now.

Sony's PlayStation has a little bit of everything and the company's online store makes it easy to download games and movies. A new, top-of-the-line model has an 80-gigabyte hard drive and comes with the hit dirt track racing game "MotorStorm."
Your Money sought out Mike Krahulik and Jerry Holkins, the duo behind the popular Internet comic strip penny-arcade.com, for their unique and expert critiques of the computer gaming triumvirate. They've been making fun of video games since 1998, but we got them to be serious (well, kind of) to help you make the right choice.

Nintendo Wii
Nintendo's $250 Wii is only a bit more powerful than its predecessor, the GameCube, but that hasn't stopped it from selling more quickly than it can be made. What sets the Wii apart is its unique motion-sensing controls. Hold the Wii remote like a baseball bat and swing, and your character gets a double, like in "Wii Sports." Turn it like a key to open a door, like in the science-fiction shooter "Metroid Prime 3: Corruption." Or flick it for a midair spin, like in "Super Mario Galaxy."

The cost means it's going to be the choice for price-sensitive parents. It's got a lot of family-oriented games, too.

Fans are looking forward to next year's Nintendo fighting game "Super Smash Bros. Brawl," which features Nintendo's most memorable characters.

Penny Arcade's Take: It'll keep flying off the shelves. "Adults associate video games with Nintendo," Mike Krahulik said. But it probably won't satisfy the appetites of the hardcore all by itself. "I don't think there's much meat there," Jerry Holkins said.

Penny Arcade's Pick: " ‘Super Mario Galaxy.' It's a work of genius," Holkins said.

Microsoft Xbox 360
Microsoft's Xbox 360 is the leader of the pack, riding a wave of success after the September release of "Halo 3." It comes in three different flavors: a $279 Arcade model with no hard drive to save games, a $350 Premium unit with a 20GB hard drive and a $450 Elite system with 120GB of storage and HDMI video output, aimed at videophiles who plan on downloading aplenty.

Like Sony's offering, the 360 offers a full-featured online gaming experience, but Microsoft charges an annual fee of $50. The 360 has perhaps the most diverse library of worthy titles, with high-concept thriller "BioShock" and far-future roleplaying game "Mass Effect" both garnering some of the highest critical praise this year.

Penny Arcade's Take: Don't get a 360 without a hard drive. "If you are serious about playing games, you can't get that Arcade model," Jerry Holkins said. "That system is not a good buy for consumers."

Penny Arcade's Pick: The realistic war simulator "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare," is prime, Holkins said. It's "like playing through an action movie." Krahulik named the first-person thriller "BioShock" as his topper. Both agreed "Halo 3" is the game to get.

Sony PlayStation 3
Sales have been picking up recently with the availability of a $400 model that comes with a 40-gigabyte hard drive and a copy of the summer blockbuster "Spider-Man 3" on Blu-ray disc. There's also the $500, top-shelf version, which is good for downloading movies, games and original PlayStation titles.

But gamers said the only system-exclusive games worth the $60 are "Resistance: Fall of Man," "Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction" and the treasure-hunting adventure "Uncharted: Drake's Fortune." Next year will see the release of much-hyped and PlayStation-exclusive sequels, like the stealth action title "Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots" and role-playing game "Final Fantasy XIII."

Penny Arcade's Take: "There's not much of a reason to buy one this holiday season," Mike Krahulik said. Next year "is going to be their year," Jerry Holkins said. Penny Arcade's Pick: "Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction" is pretty much pure fun," Krahulik said. "It's very Pixar," Holkins agreed.

Source: New York Times

Make your own little foggy fog

This is my new little paper tribute, this time to my favourite walking about in the fog game by Konami. Silent Hill 2 is one of tubbypaws’ number 1 games and I always play every time I am worried that I have brought too much cuteness into the world.

You can make your own little foggy fog game papercraft if you print out this pattern on card or thick paper, cut it out and stick it back together (as long as you don’t stick it back in the exacted same way you cut it out or you will end up with just a flat piece
of paper). Click on the little image of the pattern to make it bigger. It’s not so hard to make, just try your best. I found it helped to use a pair of scissors to cut it out as training a kitten to nibble out the pattern could take years and would be something you would have to really dedicate your life to.

Get the plan here