Episode 40: Bonus Content Bonanza!

So it looks like there is a big old pile of NOTHING coming out this week as far as major releases. However, there are several big expansions coming this week.

The 4th and probably final content collection for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be available from Xbox Marketplace on Thursday. It will include 5 new maps, 2 of which were available for Elite subscribers earlier and 3 are brand new.

Skyrim's 2nd expansion, Hearthfire, is available today for Xbox360. This one allows you to purchase land, build a house, and adopt a child with your in-game spouse. Speaking of Skyrim expansions, it looks like Dawnguard may never make it to PS3 as developers are STILL struggling with programming problems.

Our last expansion for the week is for The Sims 3 on PC and Mac and is called Supernatural. Now you can create witch, wizard, werewolf, vampire, zombie, and fairy Sims. You can also brew magic potions and decorate with supernatural goodies like magic mirrors.

And that's about it for new stuff this week. In other gaming news, Madden 13 sold almost a million copies IN IT'S FIRST DAY! It was also trending HUGE on Twitter getting mentions about every 6 seconds.

Lots of expansion goodies to check out (I'll be getting back to Skyrim here soon to play both of the expansions on there) and hopefully some new games coming soon. Until next time, get out there and get your game on!

Episode 39: Madden Holiday 2013

I hang my head in gamer shame each week when I start this blog and realize it's been another week since I've played ANYTHING! Summer is just too busy for me to play because I can't just play for a minute and move on, I'm a gamer. I need hours to get into my games. Fall is coming tho but we'll worry about that later, now... time for new stuff!

The biggest release this week is obviously Madden NFL 13 on Xbox360, PS3, Wii, and Vita. Calvin Johnson of the Lions is gracing the cover this year (beware the Madden Curse!). Kinect will allow you to control the line of scrimmage by voice and you'll also be able to control your career from your smart phones.

In an attempt to revive the dying music games genre, Rock Band Blitz lands on Xbox360 and PS3 as a downloadable. Instead of using instruments this time, you play with a regular controller. Doesn't sound exciting to me and I actually enjoyed Rock Band and Guitar Hero games.

Mass Effect 3: Leviathan hits this week and is the first expansion for single player campaign adding details about the Reapers origins and new characters, weapons, and upgrades.

Guild Wars 2 brings a new twist to classic PC MMO gaming this week. The story changes based on player's actions and it's free to play after purchasing the game!

Playstation is getting 3 big collections this week: God of War Saga will feature all 5 games remastered into one HD collection. Ratchet & Clank Collection will feature all 3 games in HD and Infamous Collection will have both games in HD.

And that about wraps it up for this week, still a lot of big games coming as the holiday season gets ever closer. Hopefully I'll find a minute to play SOMETHING. Until next time, get out there and get your game on!

Episode 38: Gaming Forecast

Another fairly quiet week with only 2 major releases this week BUT I do have a nice list of trailers to share from upcoming games. But first...

Counter Strike: Global Offensive makes its way to Xbox360, PS3, PC, and Mac this week. It's the 4th in the anti-terrorism series and features some new game modes to explore.

The only other big release this week is Transformers: Fall of Cybertron coming to Xbox360, PS3, and PC. This is the sequel to Transformers: War for Cybertron continuing the story of the civil war between the Autobots and Decepticons on their home world of Cybertron.

Now let's take a look at some trailers of what's coming later in 2012...

Star Wars 1313

Dead Space 3

God of War: Ascension

Army of Two: The Devil's Cartel

Assassin's Creed III

Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified (PS Vita)

And there you have it, a couple of games to keep you busy and PLENTY of games to look forward to. Until next time, get out there and get your game on!

Episode 37: Sequel City

Sadly my summer of non-gaming has continued. I do have some downtime again this weekend and hopes of getting some Diablo 3 back into my system but we'll see if it actually pans out this time. Anywho...

Only 2 major releases this week but both are highly anticipated sequels!

First up, Darksiders II makes its way to Xbox360, PS3, and PC. This time you play as Death (one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse) and battle the forces of Heaven and Hell to try and reverse mankind's extinction.

Also out this week, New Super Mario Bros. 2 hits 3DS. This time the focus is more about coin collecting and there's a new Coin Rush mode where you get one life to run through 3 levels as fast as you can.

That's the only MAJOR releases but there's quite a few other games coming out this week.

Dust: An Elysian Tail comes to Xbox360 as a downloadable. This is the game that won Microsoft's Dream.Build.Play. contest.

Papo & Yo lands on PS3 as a downloadable this week. You play as a kid who solves mysteries with his beastly friend named Monster.

The Last Story is a Japanese import coming to Wii this week where you play as a group of mercenaries looking for work.

And lastly, our only M Rated game of the week is Sleeping Dogs coming to PS3 and Xbox360. You play as an undercover cop trying to bring down a Chinese gang. 

That's it for the new stuff, in other gaming news:

Another gamer has almost died from playing for too long. A 15 year old kid in Ohio spent 4 or 5 days STRAIGHT playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and when he finally stopped and went with his mom to visit family he collapsed 3 different times. Gaming is great but doing anything for 96 hours or more is very unhealthy. Even the sleep deprivation alone can kill. Game smart!

Speaking of Call of Duty, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has released a new trailer showing off the multiplayer and some new features.

And lastly, Assassin's Creed 3 will land on PS3 October 30th with an hour of additional content not on any of the other versions of the game.

So there you have it, lots of new games out there, tons on the way. Until next time, get out there and get your game on!

Episode 36: Free-To-Play

Let's not waste time and dive right into what's new this week.

Coming to PS3 and Vita is a music based game called Sound Shapes. This is basically a high tech version of the music maker from Mario Paint on SNES. You make music with shapes.



Persona 4 Arena hits PS3 and Xbox360 this week. It's a tournament fighter where you play in a TV world where characters fight using their alter egos.



Lastly, coming to Xbox Arcade this week is Hybrid which is a first person shooter that features jetpacks for air combat.



In other gaming news, Star Wars: The Old Republic is going free-to-play! Most of the game will now be free to all players but some content will require the $14.99 monthly subscription.

Nintendo is finally putting some more grown up content on their console with Mass Effect 3 announced as a launch title on the Wii U (no launch date has been set yet). FIFA Soccer 13 and Madden 13 will also be launch titles for the Wii U.

Speaking of Mass Effect 3, the Leviathan expansion pack will be coming later this summer. Here's the trailer:



And while we're talking expansions, Skyrim's expansion Dawnstar is now live on PC. The creators aren't happy with how it's running on PS3 so they haven't set a launch date for PS3 yet.

A new trailer for Pokemon Black Version 1 and Pokemon White Version 2 hit the web. Both games will release October 7th.



And lastly, Jay-Z is an executive producer for NBA 2K13 and his style can be seen everywhere from the soundtrack he chose, the menu designs, and even his style of artwork in the layouts. Hits stores October 2nd.

And that wraps it up for this week, still a few games trickling in each week but the big stuff will come flooding in as we get closer and closer to the holidays. Until next time, get out there and get your game on!

Episode 35: Back From The Dead

Been kinda slow lately but this week we actually have 3 big releases coming our way!

First up, Risen 2: Dark Waters hits PC, Xbox360, and PS3 this week. It's a pirate RPG where you face sea monsters while defending islands from the wrath of the ancient gods.

Deadlight hits Xbox Arcade this week. You play as a guy who is trying to find his family in Seattle after a zombie apocalypse. 1200 Microsoft Points ($15).

And the 8th in a series of excellence, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance comes to 3DS. Similar concept as usual, you play as Sora and Riku and team up with various Disney characters in Disney worlds. Leonard Nimoy plays the villian this time around.

Also in gaming news, World of Warcraft has another expansion coming September 24th called Mists of Pandaria. This expansion adds the new class of Monk which can heal, tank, or DPS and the new race of Pandaren which will be the first race that can join Horde or Alliance! They are also adding Pet Battles where you can battle 3 on 3 with other players and a new skill system. Obviously, new instances, remade older dungeons, and more will come as well.

Speaking of MMOs, a new trailer for Planetside 2 hit the web and this game looks bad ass! FPSMMO.

The voice talent for 007 Legends will include current Bond, Daniel Craig, and Moonraker's Jaws, Richard Kiel. Game hits stores in October.

Olympic stud Michael Phelps admitted recently he's a big Call of Duty fan and plays upward of 30 hours A WEEK on Xbox.

And that about wraps it up for this week, a few games to keep you busy, lots of excitement on the way. Below is the 10 most anticipated games coming in the next few months and until next time, get out there and get your game on!

 

Date	Title	Date	Title
8/14/12	"Darksiders II"	10/9/12	"Fable: The Journey"
8/28/12	"Madden 13"	10/30/12	"Assassin's Creed III"
9/18/12	"Borderlands 2"	10/30/12	"Need for Speed: Most Wanted"
10/2/12	"Resident Evil 6"	11/6/12	"Halo 4"
10/2/12	"NBA 2K13"	11/13/12	"Call of Duty: Black Ops 2"

Episode 34: Death By Diablo

Got some crazy gaming news to share but first, let's dive into the new releases this week.

First up, coming to Xbox360 and PS3 this week is miCoach by Adidas. It's another exercise game but this one has the distinction of sport-specific training hosted by pro athletes like Dwight Howard, Ana Ivanovic, and Eric Berry.



Sony's exclusive this week is Foosball 2012 coming to PS3 and Vita. This works with Playstation Move and will include cross play between the console and handheld. And it's exactly what it sounds like, you play foosball.



Last on the new list, Xbox360 has a pair of exclusives for Kinect this week is Wreckateer. You use a catapult to launch things at a medieval castle. Simple idea but looks pretty fun.



And NASA has released a free game for Xbox Kinect called Mars Rover Landing to promote the August 6th Mars landing! Very cool!



No real "major" releases but a few new games to keep you busy this week. Now, on to the news.

An 18 year old kid in Taiwan DIED from playing video games. He spent 40 HOURS playing Diablo 3 nonstop and when an attendant found him passed out at the cafe he'd been at, he tried to stand and collapsed and died. Authorities speculate he may have had cardiovascular problems from sitting still for so long (possibly a blood clot that formed and broke loose when he stood up).

Sam Raimi has dropped out of the World of Warcraft movie because of schedule conflicts with his upcoming Oz: The Great and Powerful but that movie is coming soon so the WoW movie COULD BE FILMING or at least starting soon!

EA hasn't made any official statements on Battlefield 4 BUT the game is happening. If you pre-order the Medal of Honor Warfighter Limited Edition you'll get access to the Battlefield 4 Beta next year!

I must have missed the memo but there's a new console out there called Ouya and it's built on the Android platform but meant to be played on TVs instead of phones or tablets. It's a very interesting concept and they are asking for donations right now to move to the next step. Click here for more info and to donate.

And before we wrap things up, here's a new trailer for Resident Evil 6!



And that does it for this week, a new console in the works, a warning about playing games for too long, and lots to look forward too. Below is a list of coming titles so until next time, get out there and get your game on!

2012 Game Forecast	The Most Anticipated Releases	Consoles
August 14th	"Darksiders II"	Xbox360, PS3, PC
August 19th	"New Super Mario Bros. 2"	3DS
August 21st	"Counter-Strike: Global Offensive"	Xbox360, PS3, PC, Mac
August 21st	"Transformers: Fall of Cybertron"	Xbox360 and PS3
August 28th	"Madden 13"	Xbox360, PS3, Wii, Vita
September 11th	"NHL 13"	Xbox360 and PS3
September 18th	"Borderlands 2"	Xbox360, PS3, PC
September 25th	"Dead or Alive 5"	Xbox360 and PS3
October 2nd	"Resident Evil 6"	Xbox360 and PS3
October 2nd	"NBA 2K13"	Xbox360, PS3, Wii, PSP , PC
October 7th	"Pokemon Black and White 2"	DS
October 23rd	"Medal of Honor: Warfighter"	Xbox360 and PS3
October 23rd	"Forza Horizon"	Xbox360
October 30th	Assassin's Creed III	Xbox360, PS3, Wii, PC
October 30th	"Assassin's Creed III: Liberation"	Vita
October 30th	"Need for Speed: Most Wanted"	Xbox360, PS3, PC
November 6th	"Halo 4"	Xbox360
November 13th	"Call of Duty: Black Ops 2"	Xbox360, PS3, PC
November 18th	"Disney's Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two"	Xbox360, PS3, Wii, PC, 3DS
November 20th	"Hitman: Absolution"	Xbox360 and PS3
December 4th	"Far Cry 3"	Xbox360, PS3, PC