When the first UFC game was released many years ago it wasnt exactly hailed by critics or fans for its gameplay. But with UFC 2009 Undisputed, is this the game that MMA fans have been waiting for? Read to find out. 

Graphics: When you first play UFC, you realize that the game is just stunning to look at. The character models are very identical to their real life counterparts and other things like sweat detail and the facial damages like cuts and bruising really add the realism of the game. Also for the most the part the presentation is fairly solid, the introductions from Bruce Buffer are amazing, but the menus are dull and it would have been nice to actually see the fighters walk into the octagon instead of them just being there when you start a match.

Sound: The commentary in the game is some of the best I’ve heard in any sports game. Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg really make you feel like you are watching a UFC event on television. I mean these guys give you information on things like fighters training habits, their past matches and things really get good when you do things like submission and continuous strikes you really hear them get into the match.

As for the soundtrack you have your standard heavy metal songs which are typical in the world of MMA, so the soundtrack was average at best. The sound effects on the other hand sound like the real thing, everything from the matt slams to body hits sound like they were taken from an actual UFC match.

Gameplay: UFC features a deep control system that may throw some people off at first, but it just takes some practice and when you do learn it, you’ll be very satisfied with the end result. There are also five different fighting styles to play with and each one is as balanced as they are deep to master. Some of the problems I have are when I’m actually in the octagon and this is due to the fact that majority of your wins will be knockouts, because submissions can be very tough to pull off and sometimes you can be knocked out with one punch and your matches will rarely go to the judges for a decision.

The career mode in UFC is definitely some of the most fun you’ll have with game. The career mode will have you creating your own fighter and you take him on a path to become UFC champion. But along the way you’ll do things like setting training schedules, sparring, tweaking your stats and earning sponsorships. The only problem I have is that your fighter never ages, so it basically means that he can fight forever which I don’t quite understand.

Other modes include classic fights mode, where your job is to recreate the same outcome of one of the many classic UFC fights they give you. If your able to overcome the challenge then your rewarded with a the real life montage of the classic match. There’s also an online mode where you can either play ranked or player matches and for the most part the game holds up very well online. However there was a time when my headset started to cut out.

Final Word: Once you learn the controls and start getting the hang of things, UFC can be a deep and fun fighting game and with its hand full of game modes it’s sure to have some longevity to it. So in the end UFC 2009 Undisputed is a solid first entry to this reborn franchise and its a must have for any fan off the sport and to any one that is looking for a fighting sports game.

The reason to be revealed in this chapter is known as The Massacre. Microsoft is about to reveal two courses of action that will result in a devastating blow to both Sony and Nintendo, simultaneously.

Before we begin this chapter, I must urge you to read the previous articles if you have not done so already. My reason for insisting is that we are on a journey to reach a certain outcome. If you choose not to read the previous articles, you will not have a solid foundation for the main concept that will be presented later on. As a result, neither will you be able to comprehend all the important aspects of this argument, nor will you enjoy this experience at the level you truly deserve. Therefore, I will provide you with the proper tools to journey back in time, if you ever choose to do so; the links to the past are as follow:

(Chapter One: The Beginning): http://www.hiphopgamershow.com/?p=8866

(Chapter Two: The MMO): http://www.hiphopgamershow.com/?p=9583

(Chapter Three: The Newcomer): http://www.hiphopgamershow.com/?p=9642

(Chapter Four: The Ally): http://www.hiphopgamershow.com/?p=9734

(Chapter Five: The Paradigm): http://www.hiphopgamershow.com/?p=9825

(Chapter Six: The Following): http://www.hiphopgamershow.com/?p=9927

Back to the topic at hand, let us begin the next chapter, in our journey, that will reveal to you yet another reason for Microsoft’s domination in 2009.

19 ) 3DV:

In February of 2009, Reuters mentioned reports regarding Microsoft buying 3DV, a company that specializes in motion-detection technology, for 35 million USD. The specific technology, developed by this company, that caught Microsoft’s attention is the ZCam, particularly its potential gaming and teleconferencing applications. Let me explain, at CES last year, 3DV revealed the ZCam, a small Web-camera-like device that is able to detect movement and interaction in 3D space. Furthermore, they showed off a  playable boxing game that worked extremely well, in addition to demonstrating the ease of interacting with the displayed interface. In other words, by using gestures, you navigate through the displayed categories “Minority Report style”. Imagine the possibilities if Microsoft decides to implement such a technology for Xbox Live!

To make things even more interesting, according to Arstechnica, a recent report revealed a type of sensor bar that will allow gamers to control their games using only their body. Gamers would not have to hold any device, and the system would have the ability to focus on the player and ignore any other movement in the room.

With Don Mattrick, Senior VP of Microsoft’s Interactive Entertainment Business Division, stating that “Microsoft is gearing up for a big presence at E3 which will completely transform how people think about home entertainment”, it would be wise not to take this technology lightly.

If Microsoft is about to reveal a new motion-detection technology that will be implemented into their games, the ZCam  is highly likely to be it. After all, everyone that actually tried it felt its superiority to the Nintendo controller. The difference is that this technology works without having to hold any peripherals. If we also add to the equation the next generation graphical power that the Xbox 360 offers, Nintendo might soon be up against a worthy opponent that would have the potential to finally claim the Wii throne.

20 ) Price Drop:

If we look at the steady console sales, the high attach rate, the declining failure rate due to the newly manufactured consoles, and the company’s price drop pattern in the last three years, it would be logical to expect that Microsoft will most likely drop the price of the console again, and when that happens, which console do you think gamers would rush out to buy? It is no secret that another price drop would give the Xbox 360 an unfair advantage over the competition.

In addition, despite Xbox Live being the superior online service, it is only a matter of time before the free PSN catches up. Meaning, it is only a matter of time before the price of the online service plays a major role in the decisions that gamers make when choosing a console to acquire. Therefore, I believe that the Xbox Live being free is only a matter of time. It would not make sense to suddenly announce Xbox Live as a free service; hence, I would expect Microsoft to gradually drop the price of the Xbox Live Gold Membership subscription throughout the next two years before declaring it as a free service, which will give them more time to profit from it; I would also expect it to be free by the end of 2010.

Lastly, with a console price drop and a possible Xbox Live Gold Membership subscription price drop, which console do you believe will have the upper hand this year? Make no mistake, if Microsoft drops the price of the Xbox 360 again this year, which it will, Sony will be in for one hell of an uphill  battle.

As we come to the end of this chapter, we find ourselves at our final destination. However, that destination will not be the end of our journey as we will still need to find the secret room hidden deep within this palace that lies before us. As we carefully search the rooms of the palace, we stumble upon a doorway that leads to a hidden path that would take us deeper into the heart of this palace. At the end of that path lies a room concealed only by a delicate curtain. As we pass the curtain to enter the room, we are suddenly blinded by the light that is emanating from within. As soon as our eyes adjust, and we begin to open them, we find ourselves in the presence of the final reason that we have been searching for throughout our long and endless quest. That reason will set forth a chain of reactions that will never be undone; that reason will be our final chapter. Throughout time, it has been given countless names; however, the name that this reason is well known by is…………The Unveiling.

God Bless You All

Master Samo

Hip-Hop mogul Jay-Z has reportedly bought out the remainder of his business contract with Def Jam Records, including his unreleased Blueprint 3 album obligation, for roughly $5 million.

ONE NATION UNDER JAY-Z: As Roc Nation, Jay-Z’s new home under the Live Nation umbrella, takes shape, the hip-hop superstar has reportedly bought back the last remaining record on his IDJ deal for what some say is a whopping $5 million, raising a number of intriguing questions. How does the album figure into the plans of Roc Nation’s brain trust, which also includes the A&R-savvy Jay Brown and Tata, as well as Jay-Z’s business manager John Menielly? How will it be marketed and distributed? Will Roc Nation employ a traditional distribution channel or take the LP direct to retail? Or alternatively, will the new company make it part of a rumored arrangement inside a major? Every one of the Big Four is reportedly eager to make such a deal. (5/20p)

thisis50

Check out the new footage from Quantic Dreams upcoming psychological thriller, Heavy Rain. The game which was confirmed as a 2010 release on GametrailersTV, is the follow up to Quantic Dreams well received first game, Indigo Prophecy. The trailer shows off a short scene from the final game, and showcases one of the 4 playable charcters in the game FBI agent, Norman Jayden. The game which is story focused really wants the player to feel that their actions affect the story and it does. If one of the 4 characters dies the story keeps going, and if they all die then thats when the game will come to an end. The game though will contain hundreds of different outcomes depending on how the player plays the game. The trailer above may be completely different every time it is played due to the way Heavy Rain is set up.

Video Courtesy of 1Up

As we near the end of our journey, our next chapter unfolds, and within it lies the reason known as The Following. Microsoft is determined to increase the Xbox 360 following by charming the casual gamer with fascinating content, captivating gamers that are not interested in Achievements with tantalizing challenges, and enticing Achievement addicts with intriguing simplicity.

Before we begin this chapter, I must urge you to read the previous articles if you have not done so already. My reason for insisting is that we are on a journey to reach a certain outcome. If you choose not to read the previous articles, you will not have a solid foundation for the main concept that will be presented later on. As a result, neither will you be able to comprehend all the important aspects of this argument, nor will you enjoy this experience at the level you truly deserve. Therefore, I will provide you with the proper tools to journey back in time, if you ever choose to do so; the links to the past are as follow:

(Chapter One: The Beginning): http://www.hiphopgamershow.com/?p=8866

(Chapter Two: The MMO): http://www.hiphopgamershow.com/?p=9583

(Chapter Three: The Newcomer): http://www.hiphopgamershow.com/?p=9642

(Chapter Four: The Ally): http://www.hiphopgamershow.com/?p=9734

(Chapter Five: The Paradigm): http://www.hiphopgamershow.com/?p=9825

Back to the topic at hand, let us begin the next chapter, in our journey, that will reveal to you yet another reason for Microsoft’s domination in 2009.

17 ) Casual Games:

With games like Kodu coming out in 2009, it would be quite hard not to see that Microsoft is determined to break through the casual gaming sector. The game is supposed to be Microsoft’s answer to Sony’s Little Big Planet. Regardless of whether or not it succeeds in its attempt to go head-to-head with such a great title, the fact is, Kodu is only the beginning.

For those of you that are not familiar with the title, Kodu is a visual programming tool designed to be accessible for children and enjoyable for anyone. Its programming model is so simple that players can actually program just by using the gaming controller.

This simplicity is achieved by placing the programming task in a complete simulation environment. The user programs the behaviors of characters in a 3d world, and programs are expressed in a high-level, sensory paradigm consisting of a rule-based language based on conditions and actions. Thus, it would be quite accurate to state that casual games will be one of Microsoft’s new directions.

In fact, according to Joystiq, Microsoft has recently announced plans to acquire BigPark, a newly-formed studio composed of a team of industry veterans that previously worked on franchises like Need For Speed, SSX, and NBA Street. The studio is specifically focused on online social play and digital distribution. Hanno Lemke,  CEO of BigPark, suggested that his company’s upcoming Xbox 360-exclusive title, which has been in development for more than a year, would be in line with what it had released before. Meaning, it will be a casual title aimed at broadening the Xbox 360’s target audience. Lemke has also stated that the title would be playable at E3 09, and has hinted at more titles being on the way by explaining Microsoft’s reason for acquiring them with one question: “It obviously goes beyond one game, right?”.

Lastly, according to several sources, Rare is currently working on three casual games for the Xbox 360. It is not clear whether these titles will be community games or Kodu-like titles. Regardless, one thing is clear, Microsoft is taking yet another step towards expanding its target audience, and as a result, it might even start competing with Nintendo.

18 ) Achievements:

In an interview with Gamasutra, according to Aaron Greenberg, Director of Product Management for Microsoft’s Xbox Division, Xbox 360 gamers have unlocked a grand total of 2.5 billion Achievements and earned a collective Gamerscore of 52 billion points in the process; that is almost 150 achievements per Xbox Live member!

According to Greenberg, Achievements are also driving incremental game sales on the Xbox 360. He points out that the console’s attach rate of eight games per system is the highest, ever, for any platform; Achievements are a big part of that.

Achievements are now an industry standard. When used effectively, they can teach players new skills, tempt them to explore new areas, and teach developers how to improve their games.

In fact,  Achievements have been an unexpected phenomenon in this generation. More importantly, according to Kombo, in December of 2008, a source from inside Microsoft has given Europe-Nintendo a juicy piece of information; starting at an unspecified time in 2009, Microsoft will begin patching Achievements into original Xbox titles, starting with Halo and Fable; following that, they will be aiming to update the entire back catalog by Winter 2009. According to the same source, this is to get gamers interested in original Xbox titles. Furthermore, each game will have 500 Achievement points. If this does happen, not only would it tempt new gamers to play the back catalog of the original Xbox, but it would also entice Achievement addicts to go back to the original Xbox catalog to raise their current Gamerscore.

According to Kotaku, Microsoft Game Studios sent out a survey on Achievements to its beta program invitees. There was an array of questions that included multiplayer achievements, user generated Achievements and what types of Achievements players liked. There was also a mention of displaying a player’s favorite Achievement on their Gamer card as well as Non-Gaming Achievements like “Film Buff: Watched 50 DVDs”.

Non-Gaming Achievements would be a very smart way to get Achievement addicts more involved in areas on Xbox live other than games. For example, getting an achievement for downloading four movie trailers would be a smart way to promote  movies in general. More importantly, giving gamers an incentive to download game trailers, game demos, Xbox originals, and XBLA games by giving them Achievements is a very interesting way to both promote products and augment the Achievement addiction, that gamers already have even more.

Moreover, according to several sources, Microsoft is currently working on ways to reward gamers for their achievements. Meaning, in addition to the sense of pride that gamers have regarding their Gamerscore, Microsoft will be giving them a way to utilize that score.

Lastly, based on what Microsoft is attempting to accomplish with Achievements, it would be quite interesting to see how this idea actually plays out.

Now that we have come to the end of this chapter, we can look forward to the next one. In it, two immortal knights, unleashed by the Ancient Being, are set to annihilate the Dark Army, that lies ahead, in what can only be described as……………….The Massacre.

God Bless You All

Master Samo