Is This A Scare To Remember?

Platform: Xbox 360, Playstation 3
Players: 2 Players
Developer: Capcom
My Score: 8.5/10

Gameplay: After joining the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA), Chris Redfield is off to a small town of Africa called Kijuju. After arriving, He meets Sheva Alomar (another BSAA agent). After hearing a weird noise from a nearby radio, the city clears out. Chris and Sheva then starts noticing that the town isn’t all as it seems. The controls of the game is very similar to Resident Evil 4, so many fans won’t have a problem getting used to the controls. For newcomers, the original controls are annoying. The developers has created a new control scheme just for newcomers that they will love…and yes, it does work.

Graphics: One word….whoa. that’s what you will be saying after you pop the disc in for its first spin. The visuals are amazing. It’s not Killzone 2, but the graphics shine for attention while scaring you at the same time. The models of Chris and Sheva look amazing. Chris’s clothes looks like you could actually grab it, while his hair blows through the wind. Enemies could use a minor touch up from time to time but it isn’t a serious case.

Sound: Capcom has never failed when it comes to sound. From Devil May Cry, to Resident Evil 4. The sound is nice and crisp. Gunshots, and enemies screaming there lungs out is addicting. It makes you want to keep firing that gun until it’s last bullet.

The Developer‘s Eye: Can you believe that this game was created by the same engine as Dead rising? Well, its true. Capcom makes the Framework MT engine sweat its guts out rendering the visuals of this game at 720p. The upgraded engine shows that the Xbox 360 is not maxed out. (as some people think.) Each frame contains at least 3 million polygons, and 120 million polygons per second. (real nice) The Xbox 360 version has more crisper graphics than the Playstation 3’s version. While Xbox 360 plays normal, the PS3 version uses the same technique as Killzone 2, which is blur the polygons that are far away or when frame rate issues occur. Capcom began development on the engine through its upcoming PC version first, Capcom then ported the version to Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. The frame rate is solid with minor issues. What many people may not know is that Capcom was thinking on porting Resident Evil 5 on the Wii, but the Wii was not strong enough to even play the title screen. Therefore, the Wii is receiving Resident Evil: Dark Side Chronicles.

Online: The 2 player co-op is extremely fun. Once you get online with a friend, you wouldn’t want to play the game alone again. The game gives you a choice between playing with a random player or a friend from your friend’s list. Smooth online experience with player chat throughout the whole game, even the cut scenes.

Final Thoughts: Many people believe that this is just a upgraded version of Resident Evil 4 but its far from it. Online co-op creates a new way to play survival horror games, and I will not be surprised if upcoming games will have this feature in the near future. The story is great and deep but some newcomers will have a little bit of catching up to do. The Playstation 3’s version has a 5gb install, but its worth it. And for everyone else, grab this game, grab a friend and get hooked online! Must Own.
-3D (Joey)

ps3.qj.net

A new game from Spiders Games is sounding like an intriguing mix of Prince of Persia and “Total Recall.” The game is titled Mars. Three guesses where the game is set.

The game begins 200 years after the colonization of Mars, and 70 years after the air was made breathable. But when the planet began to change its orbit, some of its inhabitants mutated from increased radiation from the Sun.

The game is a blend of beat ‘em up action and RPG gameplay, banking on lighting and environment to create a unique form of gameplay. Light can be used as a weapon, such as exposing enemies to the Sun’s rays. I’d like to say it sounds intriguing, but it has too much of an Anne Rice twang to it. Still, I’m curious to see how they’ll pull it off.

The story also promises a complex setting of political and religious intrigue. You’ll also be able to choose between two characters, which fits into the classic knight/mage dichotomy. First is Seth, an elite solider skilled with weapons. Second is Pandora, a technomancer who uses “devastating magic.”

The game will be released for the PC, but looks like it will be a PlayStation 3 exclusive on the console side of things. A publisher is yet to be announced though. Read more about the game after the source link.

kotaku.com

Take-Two Interactive has shipped over 13 million copies of Grand Theft Auto IV, the company announced today, revealing sales of more than $256 million for its holiday 2008 quarter and a $50 million loss.

GTA IV figures were dated to January 31st, prior to the release of the first downloadable episode The Lost And Damned. Both sales and losses were up from the same quarter from the previous year, with sales up by $16.4 million, losses increasing by $12.4 million. Take-Two said that higher marketing, legal fees and R&D costs led to the increased losses.

Grand Theft Auto IV sales reached 10 million in its first four-and-a-half months on the market, with the next 3 million taking five-and-a-half months.

The parent company of 2K Games and Rockstar Games pointed to quarterly sales led by Grand Theft Auto IV, Carnival Games, NBA 2K9 and Midnight Club: Los Angeles.

2K’s Carnival Games franchise, which includes Carnival Games, and Carnival Games MiniGolf, has shipped over four million units worldwide since launch, Take-Two noted.

xboxinsider.net

Just like we speculated in our article, Big Sisters are confirmed for Bioshock 2. The new issue of the American Gameinformer magazine as the inside scoop on the new Big Sisters and apparently features a 10 page look at your return to rapture. What is key to note is, the forum post by REZBLUE is absolutely correct and this was posted a few weeks ago!

“

I shouldnt say this but who cares. My college teacher is actually working on this game, well the character rigging and animations, he showed us some models from the game.Nobody will believe me I know but when it comes out you will see, there are Female Big Daddys this time around. Maybe they are grown up little sisters taking on the role of their past protectors idk but they look cool. Same concept but their bodys have a distinct female form, not bulky and they have blades instead of drills.

They also have this weird spherical cage ornament on theit backs with pink bows tied to it.

Alma is once again beckoning you to visit a city of paranormal chaos and terror with new DLC available in April!

F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, developed by Monolith Productions and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, will deliver a new dimension of paranormal horror, cinematic combat and highly kinetic action with the release of new downloadable content that will be available beginning in April. The new content will include a “Toy Soldiers” map pack that will allow players to experience multiplayer from a new perspective, as well as a premium theme and picture pack.

F.E.A.R.2: Project Origin is a blend of advanced visceral combat mixed with seamless game pacing set inside a sinister and paranormal universe that begins shortly before the ending of F.E.A.R. A Special Forces squad is on a routine mission when the city of Auburn is rocked by a supernatural explosion. Alma, a girl with immense power and a thirst for revenge, has unleashed her wrath upon the city and thrown it into chaos. Tension builds as the squad must combat enemy forces and the supernatural as they struggle to find a way to stop Alma and uncover the mysterious forces arrayed against them before it’s too late.

F.E.A.R.2: Project Origin is rated “M” for Mature and is available now for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows.

Artist: Madcon

Song: Beggin

Album: So Dark the Con of Man (2007)

Review:

This song is smooth. Yeah, it’s not hardcore hip hop and the group isn’t made up of the best lyricists, but for Hip Hop fans looking for a fun song to drive to this is it. The song might sound familiar as it was used in an Adidas commercial a few months back. The beat and song are inspired by a 1950’s song also called Beggin which was performed by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

The group, Madcon, is originally from Norway and are actually pretty big in Europe. Some consider them the biggest hip-hop draw in Europe. In the past, they have been compared to a poor man’s Outkast and Gnarls Barkley. This song was their first major hit in the states, and it took almost a year for it to get major radio time in the US. The beat is a great uptempo beat, and while the lyrics aren’t the strongest it is still a solid song. If you want something uptempo and fun, but is original and fresh I recommend you download this song ASAP. If not, then it’s always good to hear hip hop that originated from different countries. Take it for what it is, and not what it could be. It balances fun hip hop with a smooth beat.

Score: 3 out of 5

-MattG

(Hip-Hop White Boy)

Cesar Comanche- Hands High

Hot beat by 9th Wonder. I mean mellow as fuck. Lyrically the song is tight. Got to listen closely though. The beat though is top notch. 9th does it again. I was told this beat is similar to one by Pete Rock, but 9th made it more unique and more his own I guess.

Yesterday, we released the bottom half of our Top 10 video game opening cinematics list. Today it is time to get to the good stuff. These games opening cinematic are the cream of the crop for the video game industry. They don’t make the game great, but they do give the gamer a great first impression. These cinematics show how gaming and movies are beginning to blur, and how games can provide an emotional/cinematic expierence.

Here’s the Top 5…..

5.

Assassin’s Creed

Badass… Just a simply badass cinematic.

4.

Killzone 2

The graphics in this are simply incredible. The speech given by Emperor Visari is chilling, and creates an amazing mood. The gamer feels like they are in the middle of a war of epic proportions.

3.

Kingdom Hearts

Square, again! These guys know what they are doing when it comes to opening cinematics. The music is great, and the fact they go for a abstract style is great. They leave the story they are trying to tell up to the viewers imagination in this trailer. Not too many games go for this. Do you know what’s going on exactly? No, but it’s still great. The music is fantastic and so is the art style.

2.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

War. War has changed. ‘Nuff Said

1.

Final Fantasy VIII

Simply the best. This game was made over a decade and still looks great. The music by Nobuo Uematsu is as good as music you see in movies nowadays. This was revolutionary for the time. At the time, this was the best looking console game that I’d ever seen. It has great art style, graphics, music, and has withheld the test of time.

Explore Tomb Raider: Underworld as an entirely new character: The Doppelganger
Tuesday 10th March/…Eidos Interactive today announced the release of the second downloadable content pack for Tomb Raider: Underworld for Xbox 360. Exclusive to Xbox Live, Tomb Raider: Underworld – Lara’s Shadow allows gamers to experience Lara’s universe from an entirely new perspective: that of the Doppelganger.

With faster movement, shadow powers and a melee attack that decimates enemies with devastating accuracy and speed, the Doppelganger will open up all new gameplay mechanics, areas and puzzles which wouldn’t be possible while playing as Lara Croft. Tomb Raider: Underworld – Lara’s Shadow is available now for 800 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live Marketplace.

Technological breakthrough combines the convenience of Video on Demand and next generation gaming with the widespread penetration of cable and IPTV. Allows gamers to play without a console or theTechnological breakthrough combines the convenience of Video on Demand and next generation gaming with the widespread penetration of cable and IPTV. Allows gamers to play without a console or the need to physically purchase games need to physically purchase games.
London: March 10th, 2009 – Playcast, an innovative start-up company, announced today of the availability of its Playcast gaming system, which is set to bring high quality interactive entertainment to the largest existing digital media distribution platform in the world – TV. Not only that, this unique system requires no changes to the cable network, the customer’s on-site equipment (set-top boxes) or the games themselves.

Playcast is a complete gaming service solution for Cable and IPTV operators. The service brings next-generation IP owners to hundreds of millions of connected households, with the added benefit of established billing, customer care and support systems already in place via the cable operators themselves.

Playcast’s system uses groundbreaking new technology to deliver PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 quality games, on demand, to ordinary Cable or Telco set top boxes via standard cable telephone lines. This field proven technology uses ultra high-speed processing to handle off-the-shelf games and distribute the game’s audio visual output as digital video. The technology has already seen operation on a live cable system and the high quality end-user experience has been validated by experts and gamers alike. The Playcast system also allows for seamless integration between TV and games, bringing new business opportunities for publishers, broadcasters and advertisers.

“Playcast represents a quantum leap for gaming on demand,” said Guy De Beer, CEO of Playcast. “While Cable TV systems currently offer only rudimentary games at best, Playcast marks the start of new generation of game distribution. Finally, the TV space and real games unite to deliver exciting new ways of reaching users”.

“Hundreds of millions of video on demand transactions are made every single day, so the potential in bringing this volume of business to publishers and allowing them to capitalise on their back catalogues is very significant,” commented Playcast COO & President of Media, Alon Shtruzman. “We need to keep in mind that for the user, it’s a whole new ball game, literally – imagine watching a football match on a cable sports channel and being able to trigger a version of FIFA or Pro Evolution featuring the same teams at the touch of a button. With our console-free service and cost effective pricing models our target audience goes way beyond the hard-core gamers.”

The Playcast service has been in a closed pilot with a tier-1 international operator since February 2008, with extensive market research and dedicated focus groups confirming the console quality of experience. The service is scheduled to launch with limited coverage in April 2009, before rolling out full national deployment in the summer of 2009. Playcast is in advanced evaluation phases with the world’s leading Cable and IPTV operators, and expects to reach major markets in the US, Europe and Asia during 2009 and 2010.