SOURCE – http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/06/ea-red-alert-3-looks-best-on-ps3-thanks-to-delay/

Since changing its tune about “skipping” a PS3 release of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3, citing the platform’s “exotic and tough” development climes, EA Los Angeles actually says its time learning the ins-and-outs of the architecture has been for the best.

Speaking to 1UP, producer — and former games journo — Greg Kasavin claims the PS3 version (the “Ultimate Edition”) is the best-looking of the bunch, sporting better water effects and more detailed units. In addition, the “general color palette” is somehow improved. As we’ve previously reported, the PS3 release of Red Alert 3 is launching with free DLC maps and includes a whole bunch’a bonus material (making-of clips, bloopers and other vignettes).

The moral of this story: Developers can make PS3 perform some neat tricks if they just take the time to get to know it. Sometimes simply over a cup of coffee; other times while tackling one of those team-building obstacle courses together.

Well, we all know by now the PS3 packs a deal of great content and features. There are many factors to consider as a consumer when purchasing a console. We’ve all seen the power 360 has to offer and it was limited on Gears of War 2. Online play and features continue to grow with new content flooding in the store every Thursday; it is amazing how far the PS3’s online experience has come since launch date. Besides that, it also packs one of the best Blu-rays on the market, though not the cheapest, which are for obvious reasons, but well worth the money. Take a look.

1. Power: Killzone 2 showed off the true power of the PS3; just goes to show that you need to take your time with developing games. Below there’s a quick video showing the difference in Sony’s latest achievement power wise over the 360. As far as power goes Sony has just entered their 3rd year and what a year it’s starting off to be. After the Killzone 2 experience, people are wondering what’s next and can it be topped. The answer is; other games which will show its full potential will be Uncharted 2, Heavy Rain, WarDevil, MAG and more.

2. Free online is a very important factor. Gamers know content will cost money, but why pay a double fee for your internet on your computer and another for your console. Sony is bringing out games that are online only which will give a lot of success to their free online service. Games such as Warhawk & Socom. But that’s not it, SCE is also giving us MAG, which is an online only game which can hold up to 256 players in one game, this is unheard of on console gaming. The Agency and DC Universe are great examples of great online based games. A free online network with these online exclusive games will definitely raise the bar. The constant firmware updates will soon surpass the features of the 360 if they continue to grow as much and as fast as they do and the online experience itself will be better.

3. Finally Blu-Ray; a few games have features movies in the same disk as the game such as Strangle Hold, there will be plenty more games coming out that will contain this feature which will definitely increase the sales of games and movies .

Sony has been called many things and while there were many people that believed they were moving too fast including DVD games on their PS2, they stuck to their guns and pulled out on top. Sony now is said to be moving too fast with Blu-ray technology on their PS3 but they feel confident on their abilities to succeed. A free online experience is always better than one you have to pay for, hands down. Aside from online experience & Blu-ray, the PS3 also packs a lot of power and it is still to be fully unlocked.

KRS One- The Real Hip Hop is over (Nelly Diss)

KRS mops the floor with Nelly’s face. I put this up because I want people to know to not to fuck with KRS One.

There are two rules of Hip Hop
Rule #4080 Record company people are shady
Rule #4081 Don’t Battle KRS ONE!

Since the new year began, Playstation 3 fans have been all riled up constantly saying, “This is the year of the PS3. Sony is going to kill the Xbox 360 this year.” While Sony may have the better lineup in 2009 at the moment, I wouldn’t count out Microsoft or Nintendo just yet.

Now to start off, I want to say that I think the PS3 has a great 2009 lineup with games such as Killzone 2, Uncharted 2, inFamous, Flower, Yakuza 3, etc. There are just some things I want to inform fanboys about their lineup. God of War III, M.A.G, and Final Fantasy XIII Versus are not coming out this year. You guys can keep holding onto a glimmer of hope that they will come out, but they aren’t. God of War III will be out next spring, we have not heard anything about M.A.G since E3 2008, and Versus is not coming out till after Final Fantasy 13 is released. I’m mentioning these games because there are a lot of fanboys who throw out these games as the reason why 2009 is the year of Sony.

I also want to mention Heavy Rain. Seriously, I don’t get the hype around it. We have only seen a couple of screens and a couple of trailers. The only gameplay the world has seen is a bunch of quicktime events. I like the idea they are going for, but are you really willing to spend $60 for an interactive movie? Maybe, they will prove me wrong but I don’t consider that a AAA title. At least, until more information comes out it should not be receiving the hype it is. Altogether though the PS3 has a very strong ‘09, but people need to stop heckling the other consoles.

Microsoft and the 360 has received a lot of unnecessary bashing because of their game lineup in 2009. People are saying that there is nothing the 360 can do to put itself on the PS3’s level. Really? The console that has had equal or better game lineups every year since the PS3 came out is going to die because they are starting off year slow? Weren’t Microsoft fanboys saying the same thing about the PS3 in 2007 when they had Halo 3, Mass Effect, and Bioshock all come out exclusively for the console? Now look how the tide has turned. Microsoft is going to announced at least 2-3 unannounced titles between now and E3 2009. If I were to guess, they would be the new project Lionhead Studio is working on, a Rare project, and maybe Mistwalker’s new IP that Sakaguchi mentioned on his blog a few months back.

Anyway, I’m tired of the PS3 fanboy being so close-minded about this. They think this is the original Xbox were talking about and that Microsoft is ready to fold. No, they aren’t. Look at their current exclusive lineup for 2009: Halo Wars, Halo: ODST, Ninja Blade, Star Ocean 4, GTA: Lost and Damned, and multiple Fallout 3 DLC. On that list, you have two Halo games, the biggest JRPG of the year so far, what looks to be the best console RTS of the year, and expansions to two of the best games of 2008.

Now don’t give me that crap that Lost and Damned and Fallout 3’s DLC aren’t really a whole game, or that it’s just DLC. DLC is map packs, costume packs, and online maps. These are games that are 7-12 hours long. That’s the same length or longer than Killzone 2, Halo 3, etc. These are full length games for half the price. They just don’t have the hype around it because gamers have been there and done that. Yet if anything, these games are a safer bet than the PS3’s exclusives. People know what they are getting because both GTA and Fallout 3 were classics. We don’t know if the PS3 games are going to live up to the hype or not. Hopefully, but you never know.

Don’t count out Microsoft because they are going to announce some heavy hitter games for the Fall. Remember that Gears of War 2 wasn’t even announced until Spring of 2008, and no one was talking about Left 4 Dead until E3 2008.

Also why do people continue to count out Halo 3: ODST? This game is being developed by Bungie who continually have a high pedigree in games. Every Halo game they have made in the past have won Game of the Year awards. This game is going to feature a 5-7 hour campaign and online. It’s pretty much a full length Halo game minus Master Chief. Wait, until we see gameplay and hear more news on this game before considering it a non-factor.

Then we have Nintendo. Honestly, they have a better lineup than people think. This includes MadWorld, The Conduit, Monster Hunter 3, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles – Echoes of Time, Sin and Punishment 2, Punchout, and Wii Sports Resort. You add that onto the fact that Nintendo is bound to announce a major game at E3, and 2009 looks pretty good for the Japanese console maker.

Now I understand that it is Nintendo, so people are hesitant but these are quality titles. Monster Hunter is completely huge over in Japan. It’s one of the most well respected titles over there, and the same goes for Sin and Punishment 2. Both games should have Western Wii owners very excited. The Conduit and MadWorld are simply fun games. They may not have the graphics of Gears 2 or Devil May Cry 4, but people play games to have fun and these games will deliver that. Also if you are a fan of Final Fantasy, then this may the only home console Final Fantasy game you see all year. Nintendo is improving their lineup this year over last year. They will be competing with Microsoft and Sony until the end of the year.

Is 2009 the year of the Playsttion 3? Maybe it is, but this year is far from over. Microsoft and Nintendo are not going to sit around and let Sony get all the hype in the industry. Currently, I agree that Sony has a stronger lineup, but I understand that Microsoft will not sit around and be pushed around. E3 this year will be the most exciting this gen because all three consoles will have big announcements. 2009 is the year of the gamer and not a specific console.

SOURCE – http://negativegamer.com/2009/03/06/interview-with-the-hiphopgamer/

The world of the gaming enthusiast press is expanding at a staggering pace. Where there were just a handful of sites and blogs three or four years ago, now there are dozens starting up every day. We have sites covering our beloved gaming from every conceivable angle. This site right here being one of them.

Another such site is HipHopGamerShow.com, the home of Gerard Williams, aka The HipHopGamer. Blending the worlds of Hip Hop and gaming into a growing community of loyal fans, I don’t think anyone could doubt the unique style of The HipHopGamer.

NG: So, what is Hip Hop Gamer, and how did it all begin?

HipHopGamer is now a brand representing the urban side of videogaming. For many years when people talk about video games the first thing that comes to mind was little nerdy kids on there pc’s or consoles playing games and talking about geeky tech and electronics, but there’s a whole other community out there full of gamers from the hood that go hard at playing games as well so now that hiphopgamer is here and it’s real it brings a voice and change to what people label as a gamer now. It all began when I was only focusing on doing music but I really didn’t like the shady shit going on in the music industry, I always loved games my grandma (HipHopGranny) put me on to that so one day I was looking at DLB’s videos and they were interesting but then he stopped so I was like was up what’s going on, then I was watching Judge Mathis and he said find something that you love to do and get paid for it and that’s when it hit me. HipHop and Videogames both are my passions so let me put it together and make some money and create entertainment and now I’m doing a interviews with the great staff over at NegativeGamer.com

NG: How well does Hip Hop and gaming fit together?

HipHop and Gaming fit together perfectly because hiphop is a art form and a culture and gaming shares that same message. HipHop is very competitve just like you have game tournaments you have rap battles just like hiphop has slang gamers have slang Example in gaming people say “you got owned” or “your a noob” in hiphop people say “you wack” or “that’s gangsta” but it really fits together because hiphop is music and music is in games games have action and interactivity hiphop has action on stage and interactivity with the people so yes it’s a perfect match. HipHopGamer embodies the perfect combination of rap skillz and game knowledge for both industries to be represented together

NG: Where do you get your news and info about video games from?

I get my news from many sources, game developers, fellow journalist, fans, games themselves that I play, and what ever pops up on the internet I utilize and make entertaining.

NG: Who, or which sites or publications, do you most respect in the industry?

I respect Torrence Davis (www.thebitbag.com) big time Adam Sessler (X-play) Gamesonsmash.com, thekoalition.com, and more just too much to name

NG: Are there any you don’t have any love for?

Fuck bingegamer.net and planetxbox360.com

NG: What do you think brings people to your site and to your opinions over others?

People come to my site more because they can identify with me better and also I speak from a gamers perspective, as well my energy and musical talents are very entertaining as well and that’s exclusive to me no one else does that. Also I have a show that comes on every Sunday and a newly announced show called “GAME BEEFS” that’s really cool and that’s getting attention as well. Also I respond to my fans consistantly so it’s like my fans are my friends and that’s important to me you don’t get that from IGN, or Gamespot but you get that from me HIPHOPGAMER. Also when you go to sites like IGN, Kotaku, those aren’t real people who the hell is IGN it’s not a person it’s just 3 letters you know so someone like a Greg Miller can get fired and no one would really care cause IGN will still be standing and people follow IGN not the people behind the site as for me people follow me so where I go they go and that’s the power of my site it’s more personal than others and gamers like that.

NG: What do you think the biggest change in the “enthusiast press” (i.e. blogs) has been over the past few years, and where do you think HHG fits in?

The biggest change is that there’s more people being critics as opposed to just real gamers having fun and hiphopgamer fits in because I bring back the fun in gaming Example when I did my E3′08 coverage many many people said that was the best coverage over IGN, G4, and that’s major right there but the reason why was because you see me and Aaron Greenberg duke it out, as well as me and Major Nelson, I had my Michael Patcher and Ted Price holding the heavyweight belt during the interview and shit my man Cliffy B I challenged them right there and told him I’ll beat him down in Gears I mean it’s gaming fun with these higher ups that people love to see and fans don’t get chances to see that so I bring it to them.

NG: There is always a lot of talk about bias, fanboys and controversy. Do you think most of it is BS, or are these genuine issues gamers are bringing up?

Some are BS and Some are actual real issues but fanboys will always be fanboys and me personally I like fanboys to me it’s fun and it’s business and soon you’ll see what I mean on the business side of things but fanboys they never gonna go away so I just fuck with them back. But on real issues I feel that some sites and people may hold back cause of the corporate duct tape they got around there mouth but me I say what I wanna say as long as I can back it up with some good sense then it is what it is

NG: How do you deal with idiot gamers? You know, the ones that just spout utter nonsense.

LOL Idiot gamers I deal with them by allowing them to be Idiots or if it’s too outrageous I get them banned from sites and trust it’s been done already so they can fuck with me if they want to.

NG: Following on from that, do you feel the number of idiot gamers are increasing, and is that a problem?

Idiot gamers increase everyday but it doesn’t bother me I actually look at them as there idiots. It’s not a problem it’s reality and that’s what I’m about the only it’s a problem is if these idiots come in my face with bullshit then we’ll have a problem other than that let youtube shine on the idiots out there lol you feel me

NG: Is there a “console war” going on? If so, who’s actually fighting and who will win (if anybody)?

Of course there’s a console war going on but the fight is between Microsoft and Sony. Who’s actually winning I would say Microsoft cause of there online presense but Sony I feel is producing more of what we want to see from next gen games and Killzone 2 is just the beginning

NG: How do you deal with negativity (in all its forms) within the industry?

Well the negativity I deal with it with prayer and patience. I use it as feul to make myself better at what I do and that right there is why I’m so popular today in the gaming industry

NG: Where do you see yourself and HHG going in the future?

I will have my own show on national TV, I will make a lot of money, and I will release album, and clothing line within 4 to 5 years that’s my goal and I beleive and have faith that it will happen

NG: Finally, what is your most hated game and why?

Vampire Rain is the worst fucking game ever created. Play and you’ll see why that’s all I’m a say about that and as for NegativeGamer.com I LOVE YA’LL and thanks for doing a interview with me enjoy the show this Sunday and GOD BLESS TO YOU ALL peace.

SOURCE – http://www.ps3center.net/news/2431/gamestop-stock-drops-13-due-to-amazons-new-tradein-service/

Amazon.com is the internets largest online retailer, GameStop is the nation’s largest seller of used games they are now at war. Yesterday Amazon announced a new campaign to start purchasing used games from consumers for credit they could use at Amazon.com. After they made this announcement GameStop’s stock dropped a whopping 13%. This move by Amazon threatens GameStop’s greatest source of income, their used game sales, because if people start trading their games in to Amazon then GameStop has fewer used games to sale. Currently Amazon’s trade-in prices are higher then both GameStop and GameCrazy as CNET News has prepared for you to see a small comparison.

This move by Amazon may cause some cut in the number of titles that GameStop sees but I’m not sure how significant it is. I generally don’t trade in any games unless I’m trading towards a game I don’t have enough money to purchase that just came out. Amazon’s system wouldn’t help me out then because I would have to wait several days in order to receive my credit and then several more days to receive my game. That’s just my take but it won’t be everyone’s. Read the full write up over at Variety and check out Amazon’s new service here.

Who thinks this will affect GameStop a lot and who thinks this new service is just a joke?

Sup yall,  Agent-X here. I Downloaded the Yakuza 3 demo off of Japanese PSN. The game likely will not see release in US/EU for quite some time as previous installments of the series took a long time to reach our shores and Yakuza Kenzen , still has not made it here yet. Yakuza 3 is a PS3 exclusive.

The Yakuza games are loved by some Shenmue fans and hated by others, who are bitter about there being such games in existence while there is no Shenmue III. I understand Shenmue III is long overdue. As is Shenmue Online.

Enough tribute to Shenmue this is about Yakuza 3. I start with the graphics, they are vibrant and smooth near masterpiece level. The hair on some character models looks a bit odd though at times. Hair is one of the hardest things to render though. The in game graphics are not as detailed as the cut scene graphics, but it was not a big difference and it did not bother me. Overall it is visually stunning.

The Game-play it is solid and smooth, very fun it felt the same as previous Yakuza’s but smoother. The mini game Boxcelios was very fun, and graphically impressive for being a mini game. Unfortunately in the demo the little Virtua Fighter 5 Arcades where not playable.

There where 3 weapons in my inventory , a Staff, Nun-chucks, and brass knuckles. I felt overpowered wielding any one of these weapons, but sad that they eventually broke after extended use as always.

No thug stood a chance against me with bare fists. One guy with corn rows in the stardust had the nerve to pull out a Samurai sword after me handing him his arse all over the club , I just dashed back or to the side deftly avoiding his strikes and continued to hand him his posterior. The game-play is intense when your meter builds up you can grab folks and smash them into walls and what not , as always. Only this time after the fights over they look not just hunched over cowering, they look beaten and bloody.

The sound was not pleasing to me , not enough atmospheric sounds , your in this vibrant city walking around but it does not sound like a bustling city. Its only a demo though. There is no English, or English subtitles in the demo the combat though transcends words.

There was a part where I was dating this chick and she seemed really into me I ordered us wine , dinner and chatted with her (me selecting japanese lines of text not knowing what they where)  Sadly,  I  had to put the game down before I could find out if this would lead to  a revealing of breasticles though.