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Archives for November 2007

In the mail…

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Clive Barker's JERICHO

Thanks to the fine folks at M80, I received a copy of Clive Barker’s JERICHO. I am going into this game completely blind, as I haven’t been following this game’s development or anything. I recently read a couple of reviews, and while they aren’t glowing, I’ll give it a fair shake.

I will be posting my initial impressions as always, but here are a few things to tide you over:

Review scores are all over the place:

Planet Xbox 360 scored it an 83.
Gamespy gave it 3/5 stars.
IGN.com gave it a 5.6.

Some juicy screenshots after the jump:
[Read more…] about In the mail…

November Releases

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A feature I’ve been wanting for this site for a while is a look at the video-game releases for the month. With the holiday season and the glut of games that are released around this time, I figured now would be as good a time as any to start. So here are the releases for the month of Novemeber.

A couple of things to keep in mind: the release date I’m listing is what Amazon.com has listed. I haven’t checked each individual game for a change in release date. The links also go to the respective Amazon page. I haven’t included every game, which means I haven’t listed “Catz 2” or “Beowulf: The Movie: The Game.” Most of the games I’ve listed are games I want to play or I’m at least remotely interested in. I’m going off the assumption that may readers would also be interested. I’ve also grouped the games I’m most interested in at the top of each section and I’ve tried to sprinkle in a little commentary where I can. Please excuse any ommissions or errors in advance.

Xbox 360 banner

Mass Effect (Nov. 20th) – This is probably the only sure purchase for me this month. While most people hold BioWare in high regard, I’m not as enamored. I have very fond memories of Baldur’s Gate but I only played KoToR for a few minutes and I thought Jade Empire was a button-mashing turd of a game. That being said, Mass Effect still looks mighty tempting. I’m looking forward to a good RPG on the 360 and I’m pretty sure Mass Effect will be it.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare(Nov. 5th) – Call of Duty 4 looks awesome. Amazing. Tons of fun. I’m still not picking this one up. With all the unlockables and other hooks to get me to play it exclusively, I just can’t do it. I’d rather play Halo 3 and have a life.
Assassin’s Creed(Nov. 13th) – This is one that I had initially be very interested in, but that interest has waned a bit. Reports of really complicated controls and not delivering on promised game-play has me cautious.
F.E.A.R. Files (Nov. 6th)
Cabela’s Big Game Hunter(Nov. 6th) – Can someone clue me in here? How are these games fun? And who the heck are buying them?!
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga(Nov. 6th) – Looks fun, but I must resist.
Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action(Nov. 6th)
Blacksite: Area 51(Nov. 6th)
Popcap Arcade Hits Volumne 1(Nov. 12th)
Avatar: The Burning Earth(Nov. 12th)
WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008(Nov. 13th) – Want me to buy a WWE game? Put Big Boss Man in it.
Need for Speed: Prostreet(Nov. 13th)
Soldier Of Fortune: Payback(Nov. 13th) – Rag dolls are magic.
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men(Nov. 13th)
America’s Army True Soldiers(Nov. 15th) – I’m in yer Xbox, subvertly recrootin’ ya.
College Hoops 2K8(Nov. 19th) – Respect for Greg Oden, your 2K8 coverboy.
Rock Band(Nov. 20th) – I’ll probably be the last person to play Rock Band/Guitar Hero.

Wii banner

Super Mario Galaxy(Nov. 12th) – I still don’t have a Wii. The fact that this game comes out in two days and I won’t be playing it physically pains me. I have owned a Nintendo console before the first Mario came out for each system (I’ve usually had one at launch) and Galaxy is the first one that will come and go without me. I am sad. I hope to rectify the situation soon.
Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn(Nov. 5th) – As a huge Fire Emblem fan, this will also be an immediate purchase once I am a Wii owner.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games(Nov. 6th) – My childhood weeps for this game.
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Nov. 6th)
Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey(Nov. 6th) – I’ve got a four year old girl at home. I would be the biggest hero ever if I bring this home.
My Word Coach(Nov. 6th) – Me fail English? That’s unpossible!
Cabela’s Big Game Hunter(Nov. 6th) – Shooting virtual deer seems wrong with the Wiimote.
Spongebob Squarepants: Atlantis Squarepants (Nov. 12th)
Need for Speed: Prostreet (Nov. 13th)
Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 (Nov. 13th)
Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 (Nov. 13th)
Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles (Nov. 13th)
WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 (Nov. 13th)
Cars: Mater-National (Nov. 19th)
Wii Zapper with Link’s Crossbow Training (Nov. 19th) – Can you use Link’s Crossbow in Cabela’s Big Game Hunter?
Soul Calibur Legends (Nov. 20th)
Trauma Center: New Blood (Nov. 20th) – Trauma Center on the DS was an exercise in futility. I can only imagine the Wiimote would only exacerbate the issue.
AMF Bowling Pinbusters (Nov. 20th)
Cranium Kabookii (Nov. 27th)
Puzzle Quest: Challenge Of The Warlords (Nov. 27th)

Nintendo DS banner

Contra 4(Nov. 13th) – This may be the only DS game I pick up this month, but it’s been a long time since I’ve played a Contra game, and I’m due.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Nov. 5th)
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Nov. 6th)
Build-A-Bear Workshop (Nov. 6th) – I made fun of this game a while ago. I guess they’re actually making it.
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker(Nov. 6th) – I may pick this one up.
Panzer Tactics (Nov. 6th)
World Series of Poker 2008 (Nov. 6th)
Ontamarama (Nov. 6th) – Didn’t Wyclef sing a song about this game?
Ultimate Mortal Kombat(Nov. 12th) – I don’t think 2″ fatalities would do it for me.
Cooking Mama 2: Dinner With Friends (Nov. 13th)
Orcs & Elves(Nov. 13th)
Mario Party DS(Nov. 19th) – Will they ever stop making these games?
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings(Nov. 20th)
Geometry Wars: Galaxies(Nov. 27th) – I love me some Geometry Wars, I just can’t see how this could be done successfully on the DS. Hopefully I’m wrong, but we’ll see.

PC banner

Everquest: Rise Of Kunark (Nov. 13th) – I haven’t purchased a PC game in a long time (I got EQ2 for free) but I’ll definitely be picking up this expansion up. It’s 40 bucks, but it’s got all the previous expansions and adventure packs. This is a no brainer for EQ2 players.
Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance (Nov. 5th)
Empire Earth 3 (Nov. 6th)
Crysis(Nov. 13th) – AKA bring your rig to its weak, sorry, 3 GHz knees.
Unreal Tournament III(Nov. 13th) – Ditto.
Soldier Of Fortune: Payback (Nov. 13th)
Universe At War: Earth Assault

PS3 banner

Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Nov 6th)
Bladestorm: The Hundred Years War (Nov. 6th)
Blazing Angels 2: Secret Missions (Nov. 6th)
Assassin’s Creed (Nov. 13th)
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune (Nov. 13th)
Need for Speed: Prostreet (Nov. 13th)
Medal of Honor Airborne (Nov. 13th)
WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 (Nov. 13th)
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men (Nov. 13th)
Soldier of Fortune: Payback (Nov. 13th)
College Hoops 2K8 (Nov. 19th)
Rock Band (Nov. 20th)
Time Crisis 4 (Includes Guncon 3) (Nov. 20th)
Timeshift (Nov. 27th)

PSP banner

Silent Hill Origins (Nov. 6th)
The Simpsons Game (Nov. 6th)
SOCOM: Tactical Strike (Nov. 6th)
Warhammer 40k: Squad Command (Nov. 6th)
WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2008 (Nov. 13th)
Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops Plus (Nov. 13th)
Sonic Rivals 2 (Nov. 13th)
Aliens vs. Predator Requiem (Nov. 13th)
Medal of Honor: Heroes 2 (Nov. 13th)
Atari Classic Evolved (Nov. 20th)

October in Review

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I’ve never done this before, but I’ve always liked it when other blogs I read do their monthly reviews. So I thought I’d give it a try. Time to take a look at the month that was.

It seems like it’s been pretty much Halo 3 and Portal around these parts in October. Sure, we chatted about more than that, but I was pretty much playing Halo 3 exclusively (still am) and my posts had a decidedly Halo 3 slant. I’m actually disappointed to report we only had 16 posts this month. Again, I blame the amount of Halo 3 being played on the drop in post frequency.

Nat brought up the fact that’s he’s got a long list of games he wants to finish. I have one, too. It’s too long to admit. We were discussing this very topic one night on IM and I mentioned that since November is “National Novel Writing Month” we should hijack it and make it “National Finish a Game Month.” Me personally, I want to finish Halo 3 and find all the skulls. If there’s time after that, I want to eventually finish Pokemon Diamond. But one game at a time. Feel free to join us in the “NaFiGaMo.” Something like that.

So what posts got the most traffic this month? I get a lot of traffic from search engine referrals so some of the top posts are actually older posts. The top five posts for the month of October were:

5. Dead Rising is dead to me.
4. MMORPG Sports (Part I)
3. Resident Evil 4 Translation Guide
2. Halo 3 stats ready to go
1. Halo 3 Stats and Stats Galore

There are a lot of people looking for Halo 3 stats. I happy to provide some hopefully useful information.

Of course, along with the regular searches for things like “Halo 3 Stats” and “Resident Evil 4 translations” I get some funny search terms. A few:

“tickling me” – This one baffles me. Sometimes I wish I could see into the mind of the person searching for something like “tickling me.” Maybe something crawled up his shorts and just really wanted to know what that thing that was “tickling him”? I wish I knew. Or maybe I’m glad I don’t. Of course, that’s not half as bad as the person looking for “tickling pee.” I just… Stop. Sadly, this eventually ends with someone looking for “tickling till pee.” I blame Nat.

“deer buttons” – They’re right next to the moose zippers and the bear patches.

“eve is boring” – EVE Online might be boring, but I can’t vouch for eve. Maybe, maybe not.

“gears of war wallet” – Didn’t Jules own one of those?

I could go on, but I’ll spare ya.

So what about November? I’d really like to increase my posting frequency. I often feel like I’m neglecting you guys when I go a day or two without posting. It’s been great having Nat around to help, I just hope to get more content out on a daily basis. With the holidays quickly approaching, we’ll definitely have some timely content for that. Hopefully with the bad weather will also bring some more blogging time. Here’s to great November. Let me know if there is something you’d like to see me cover!