Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Episode 30: More Game For Less!

Sadly my streak of not playing has continued. Been busy but that will change soon. Anyway, let's not waste time and dive into the new stuff.

First big release of the week is another movie turned video game, The Amazing Spider-Man coming to PS3, Xbox360, Wii, DS, and 3DS. This picks up right AFTER the events of the movie and you'll face Spider-Man classics like Rhino, Scorpion, and Lizard. If you pre-order from Amazon you'll unlock the ability to play as Spider-Man creator, Stan Lee!


The only other big release this week is Spec Ops: The Line for Xbox360, PS3, and PC. You play as a spec ops captain who must search the ruins of Dubai after it's buried by a sandstorm for a founding member of Delta Force.


2 big DLC's coming our way this week. First up, the Dawnguard DLC for Skyrim hits Xbox360 this week (it will come to PS3 and PC in 30 days). This DLC adds vampires to the mix and you can choose to be a vampire or fight them as part of the Dawnguard vampire hunters. If you go vampire, you'll actually be able TO FLY! Costs $20 and adds about 10 hours of gameplay.


Also available via DLC this week is Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut for FREE! This is the extended ending fans have been asking for.


In other gaming news, THQ has signed on to make games for the Lingerie Football League. Nintendo's 3DS XL will hit stores in August with a much larger screen and redesigned case. Details are slim at this point but rumor is you may be able to earn prizes (like Microsoft points) thru your Xbox 360 achievements starting this fall. There is an Assassin's Creed mobile game in development. And lastly, Aubrey Plaza from Parks and Recreation did a commercial for World of Warcraft that was too edgy for TV. Pretty damn hiliarous though.


And that about wraps things up for this week. I've still got some storyline to finish up in Skyrim before grabbing the new DLC so I need to get working on that. Plus, I still haven't played Gears of War 3 since I got my new controller and headset so I want to get that on my schedule as well. We'll see how the week goes. Until next time, get out there and get your game on!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Episode 29: Braves, Bats, and Balls

Sadly, my gaming streak has run dry for a bit. I've been staying so busy with work and birthday festivities that I haven't played ANYTHING in a week or more. I don't count apps on my phone as "gaming" but next week I should have time to dive back in.

First on the list of new games this week is Brave: The Video Game coming to Xbox360, PS3, Wii, Vita, 3DS, and DS. This is based off the movie (and I NEVER have high hopes for a movie video game). The archery mini-game is Kinect and Playstation Move compatible.



The only other mass release this week is LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes coming to Xbox360, PS3, Wii, Vita, 3DS, and DS. Superman, Wonder Woman, and The Green Lantern join the caped crusader and Robin to face off against Lex Luthor and The Joker. As with all LEGO games, everything is in LEGO style animation.



Coming to DS this week is Pokemon Conquest. This game takes Pokemon to a new place with a play system similar to that of  Final Fantasy Tactics. Your Pokemon strengthen as your bond with them grows as well.



Last of the new stuff, Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor comes to Xbox360 Kinect. You control your guns with the controller but you can body gestures to start your engine and interact with your tank crew.



In other gaming news, the Diablo 3 real money auction house is live. Thus far it will cost you around $3000 (that's real money) to outfit your character in the best gear available. Also, the Xbox Live app for iPhone and iPad now lets you play movies, start games, and launch apps from your console via your smart phone.

And that about does it, I won't be gaming much this weekend as I'll be in California for a radio conference but I'll be back next week with more gaming goodies. Until then, get out there and get your game on!

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Episode 28: Cheerleaders & Chainsaws

In case you missed it, E3 was last week and had some HUGE news. Click here to check out a full recap of what went down.

Also, in my world of gaming, Diablo 3 has still been my only gaming vice. I have been dying to play some Gears of War 3 with my new controller and headset but haven't been able to get the gang online at the same time. Maybe this week. Anyway, let's dive into the new releases this week.

First up, my favorite game title in recent history: Lollipop Chainsaw coming to Xbox360 and PS3. You play as a cheerleader who takes on a zombie horde with a chainsaw (all while carrying the still-living severed head of her boyfriend). It plays like a better developed Duke Nukem and looks like the old school Grindhouse style horror movies from what the trailer shows.


Next up, get dirty with DiRT Showdown on Xbox360 and PS3. This is the 4th in the DiRT series featuring a racing tour, demolition mode, trick mode, and multiplayer mini games.


Lastly this week, Gravity Rush lands on VITA this week. You play as a girl named Kat who finds a cat that gives her the power to control gravity which she uses to defend her home city from monsters.


Also in the world of gaming, Angry Birds is coming to consoles with an updated HD version. Kinect has a new game on the way called NBA Baller Beats which plays like the dance games but you use a real basketball to keep the beat and in harder modes work in crossovers and pump fakes. Could actually be a useful tool for learning ball control and dribbling. Here's a trailer:


Nintendo's announcement of the Wii U was probably the biggest of E3 this year. I think it's going to be another flop (possibly worse than Wii or Gamecube) but here's the hard data if you're interested:


And that does it, a few new games, some fun stuff on the way, and all you need to know about the Wii U. Until next week, get out there and get your game on!


Release Date
Title
Consoles
June 18th
"Pokemon Conquest"
DS
June 19th
"Brave: The Video Game"
Xbox360, PS3, Wii, Vita, 3DS, DS
June 19th
"LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes"
Xbox360, PS3, Wii, Vita, 3DS, DS
June 19th
"Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor"
Xbox360
June 26th
"The Amazing Spider-Man"
Xbox360, PS3, Wii, 3DS
June 26th
"Spec Ops: The Line"
Xbox360, PS3, PC
June 26th
"Guild Wars 2"
PC
July 10th
"NCAA Football 13"
Xbox360 and PS3

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Episode 27: E3 Madness!

If you haven't heard the Electronic Entertainment Expo (or E3) is going on this week and that means TONS of new games and toys, but we'll get to that in a minute. As for myself, still been rocking nothing but Diablo 3. I finished Normal on my Witch Doctor (Deekae) and started a Monk (Burl) to play offline so I can pay more attention to the storyline.


Before we dive into E3, here's what's coming this week. First up, Madagascar 3: The Video Game lands on Xbox360, PS3, Wii, DS, and 3DS (just in time for the movie's release this weekend). You play as the main characters from the movie trying to escape a circus in Europe.


The only other new release this week is Inversion coming to Xbox360 and PS3. In this game you are in pursuit of the mysterious Lutadore and certain parts of the city change the direction of gravity. Destructible environments also play a big role.


Now, let's dive into E3! Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 released 5 minutes of gameplay video and announced Xbox360 will continue to get first dibs on DLC. They also announced Call of Duty: Black Ops Classified which will be a Vita exclusive. Speaking of Vita, Assassin's Creed III: Liberation was announced. It will be set in the 18th century and will contain the first FEMALE assassin in the series.

In software news, Microsoft announced an app for Xbox360 called SmartGlass that will allow you to connect your smart phone or tablet to your Xbox360. PS3 announced an app called Wonderbook that will be used to read special digital books. Harry Potter author J. K. Rowling is writing the first called Book of Spells that will let you cast spells with the Playstation Move while reading.

Now to the fun stuff, NEW GAME TRAILERS! I'll list them all at the bottom but my Top 5 are Avengers: Battle for Earth, South Park, Halo 4, Devil May Cry, and Forza: Horizon. (Posted below in order)


Other trailers that were released include Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Medal of Honor: Warfighter, Dead Space 3, Dance Central 3, Sound Shapes, Hawken, and Watch Dogs (which apparently stole the show on Monday). If you want to keep up with the rest of the excitement at E3, watch more trailers and release announcements, and more: CLICK HERE TO GET THE FULL SCOOP!

And that does it, lots and LOTS of new stuff coming, E3 madness this week, and more Diablo 3 in my personal gaming future. Until next time, get out there and get your game on!


Release Date
Title
Consoles
June 12th
"Gravity Rush"
Vita
June 12th
"DiRT Showdown"
Xbox360 and PS3
June 12th
"Lollipop Chainsaw"
Xbox360 and PS3
June 18th
"Pokemon Conquest"
DS
June 19th
"Brave: The Video Game"
Xbox360, PS3, Wii, Vita, 3DS, DS
June 19th
"LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes"
Xbox360, PS3, Wii, Vita, 3DS, DS
June 19th
"Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor"
Xbox360
June 26th
"The Amazing Spider-Man"
Xbox360, PS3, Wii, 3DS
June 26th
"Spec Ops: The Line"
Xbox360, PS3, PC
June 26th
"Guild Wars 2"
PC