Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Episode 17: Fairways & Bails of Hay

Still eagerly counting the days till Diablo 3 hits stores. Good thing I've had Skyrim to DEVOUR my time until then. But enough about me, let's talk gaming...

Nintendo apparently took the week off and Sony doesn't have much going on either this week. Not that Microsoft is having a bumper crop but they win 3:1:0 this week.

Hitting Xbox360 and PS3 this week is Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13. The game that has set the bar for golf gaming is taking the next big step this year adding Kinect support for Xbox360. Now you will be able to adjust your natural swing to nail that difficult shot. They are also adding Legacy Challenge mode where you face off against Tiger starting as a toddler and continuing through to future Tiger.



And here's a cool video of Tiger Woods trying the game out on Kinect for himself:



Speaking of Kinect, Country Dance All Stars lands on Xbox360 today. The first 2 Country Dance games were Wii exclusives but this version will be Kinect exclusive (for now at least). The soundtrack includes a bunch of country heavyweights like Braid Paisley, Randy Travis, and Lady Antebellum.



The only other big release this week is also Xbox360 only, Capcom Digital Collection. This combines 8 recent Xbox Live Arcade games into one disc including 1942: Joint Strike and Bionic Commando Rearmed 2.

That's it for the big releases this week, let's see what else is going on out there:

Those who were up in arms about the ending to Mass Effect 3 can rest a little easier. One of the co-founders of Bioware (the company that made the game) posted a very lengthy message (Click here to read the full message) saying they will address fans complaints and provide "more closure" in a future content download. Not sure exactly what that means but we will see.

For those who can't wait till June for Darksiders 2: Here's a nice trailer showing Death whipping some angel ass.



Sony may be quiet this week but that won't last long: The highly addictive Little Big Planet franchise is adding a kart racing game called Little Big Planet Karting later this year.



It was also mentioned that a sequel to Epic Mickey will be coming our way later this year so keep that in the back of your mind. And that about wraps things up for this week, a handful of games (although, Tiger Woods is big enough to get it's own release week) and lots of goodies to come. Until next time, get out there and get your game on!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Episode 16: Long Live The Dead

The biggest news in my world of gaming is the announcement that DIABLO 3 WILL LAUNCH ON MAY 15TH! I've been waiting for this game for around a decade (basically since Diablo 2: Lord of Destruction came out). Pre-orders are available starting today (I'll be getting mine today).

More news from the world of the dead, Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City hits Xbox360 and PS3 today. You play as a member of the Umbrella security team who has been sent in to cover up the outbreak. This one will include a 4 player co-op for the campaign.



Silent Hill: HD Collection is also hitting Xbox360 and PS3 today. It features remastered versions of Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams and Silent Hill 3.



Last on the dead list, the first full trailer for The Walking Dead video game made it's debut during an IGN web show. Click here to check it out (trailer is around the 8:00 mark in the video).

Also hitting stores today, Ninja Gaiden 3 for Xbox360, PS3, and PC. I refuse to play these games because they are SO FREAKING HARD! For players who like the precision and stealth type of games, get ready to fall in love. This time Ryu will face off against terrorists with the "Dragon Sword" absorbed in his arm.



The last big release this week is Armored Core V for Xbox360 and PS3. This installment focuses more on tactics and landscape to take down the competition. Online 5 on 5 combat features an "Operator" on each team who acts as the field general calling out orders and overseeing things.



Other big news from the gaming world, Call of Duty: MW3 Collection 1 will open the 2 new Spec Ops missions and 4 multiplayer maps the Elite members already have available to the public today.

Apparently the ending of Mass Effect 3 wasn't up to par for a growing number of gamers and they are fighting back! A petition, online donation site, and video have been built to try and fight for a new ending to be made. Click here to check it out.

Lastly, and possibly 2nd most exciting news this week for me, Skyrim is about to drop an update with some badass new melee kill moves and FINALLY adding kill cams for ranged and magic kills. Being a dual caster myself, I can't wait!



Before I call it a day, I thought I would share an interesting statistic I found: OVER HALF of American households have AT LEAST one game system in them. And 65% of those are in the living room. We are quickly becoming the majority :)

Well, that does it for this week. Lots of new games and tons of buzz about what's to come. Until next week, get out there and get your game on!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Episode 15: Zombies Galore!

With the season finale of Walking Dead coming this weekend, it seems almost appropriate we've got a double dose of zombie action coming this week.

First up, Silent Hill: Downpour makes its way to Xbox360 and PS3. Once again, you play as someone (this time the sole surviving prisoner from a bus crash) who finds themselves alone in Silent Hill and must survive to escape.



Also hitting stores with zombies in tow, Yakuza: Dead Souls for PS3. In this 6th Yakuza game, you fight to save Kamurocho from a zombie outbreak instead of battling with rival gangs.



For the sports fans out there, FIFA Street hits Xbox360 and PS3. Similar to most soccer games only you play "street" style with 5 or 6 players per team on a smaller court.



If you're craving a little one-on-one fighting action, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations lands on Xbox360 and PS3. Like the other Naruto: Ultimate Ninja games, you fight as characters from the show.



The other big release this week kind of left me scratching my head. It's a downloadable PS3 game called Journey. You traverse the desert heading toward a distand mountain. The strange part is the people you encounter along the way... that you can't interact with! It's supposed to represent how 2 stangers meet online and realistically all you know is they are human. Not sure if it's a side scroller, first person, or what.



Also in gaming news, screenshots from the upcoming Game of Throns MMO (not the RPG coming in May) which will be out by year's end hopefully. Here's one:



There is a HUGE update coming for Star Wars: The Old Republic. It will add new species, abilities, pvp, and more. Check the vid for all the new changes.



Looking ahead, Medal of Honor: Warfighter will be launching Oct. 23rd. Here's the official trailer.



And that about wraps things up for this week. As for me, I'm still buried in Skyrim and haven't played much else. I did just purchase my 2nd house (Hjerim) and am currently trying to track down all of the Stone of Barenziah's which of course keeps taking me to various places and new quests and all kinds of distractions so who knows where I'll end up next.

Well, until next week, get out there and get your game on!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Episode 14: Don't Fear the Reapers

The buzz has been HUGE but if you haven't heard, the biggest release this week has got to be Mass Effect 3 coming to PC, Xbox360, and PS3. This is the final chapter of the Mass Effect trilogy and as Shepard you are trying to unite the galaxy against the Reapers (an advanced machine race bent on eliminating all organic life).

Mass Effect 3 features a star studded cast of voice overs including Martin Sheen, Seth Green, Tricia Helfer, Carrie Anne Moss, and a few others the sci-fi fans will recognize.

One of the coolest things about the Mass Effect series is that decisions you make not only affect the game you are playing, but the next game in the series! So if you've played the other games, your experience will be much different from players new to the series as well as other veterans making it a truly unique gaming adventure.

If you're new to the series and have 20 minutes to kill, watch these videos for a damn good recap of the past 2 games:





Along with Mass Effect 3, there is a pretty good sized list of games hitting the market this week.

Grab your favorite Louisville Slugger and oil up that glove, Major League Baseball 2K12 hits PC, Xbox360, PS3, PS2, DS, and PSP this week and The Perfect Game Challenge is back with it. The players with the 8 best perfect games will compete at the end in a tournament worth $1 million!



PS3 owners will also have the choice of getting their baseball fix from MLB 12: The Show (also on Vita). The coolest new feature there being you can "crossplay" and switch MID-GAME from your PS3 to your Vita and vice versa.



Capcom is at it again with what may be the best mashup fighter ever, Street Fighter x Tekken! Not rocket science here, Street Fighter characters and Tekken characters face off. Bonus fighters include Pac-Man, Mega Man, and Cole from the Infamous games.



For the aerial combat fans, Top Gun: Hard Lock hits Xbox360 and PS3 this week. Has nothing to do with the movie except that you fly in a jet.



So there you have it, lots of games hitting the market and Mass Effect 3 obviously being the biggest news out there.

Before I head out, I wanted to tell everyone to stop by and visit my buddies over at Power Ups Not Included for some great gamer blogs, podcasts, insights, and all kinds of gamer chatter.

Until next time, get out there and get your game on!