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Archives for June 2009

It’s finally back in the game [E3 2009]

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I’ve got an E3 post coming up shortly, but I quickly wanted to post how excited I am that EA has announced that the “Create A School” feature is finally back in the game.

This was a mainstay in all the NCAA games I played on the Gamecube and has been sorely missed in the recent 360 versions. I’ve already played around with the create-a-school website and I whole-heartedly approve.

I just wish I could figure out how to link directly my team (The North Royalton University, named after my high school) but if you know how, let me know. Here’s a screen grab of my unis:

Create a Team

A New Renaissance

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Even though the title is redundant, some of us here—namely one—is taking a trip down a little overlooked road that 136 million other people may have travelled.

The PlayStation 2 library is massive.

I owned a PS2 for almost a year before trading it in. I had done some IT training and as a result received five Xbox’s. Sadly, looking back, the Xbox became my main console. I did experience some titles such as Gran Turismo 3, Ico, and Maximo. Metal Gear Solid 2 was in that mix and a few other titles I honestly cannot remember. The PS2 was a DVD player that played games in our house.

A month ago as I was hyping myself up over Infamous, (oh, yeah, we are going to chat that dude up) Brock had mentioned to me that it was being developed by Sucker Punch, who according to him, had, “created the best PS2 game of all time, Sly Cooper 2: Band of Thieves.” He mentioned I should give it a try because, well, my PS3 is backwards compatible

Alright. I couldn’t play the second title without the first, so why not? The following day I walked in to the sweaty, greasy place that is my local Gamestop (first time this year) and picked up both titles for a total of $10.

In short, it was the best gaming deal of my life.

The PS2 library had opened up to me. Sly Cooper and the Thievius Raccoonus was a wonderful title and even though I’m only half way through the sequel I am thoroughly enjoying it. You can actually see a lot of Sly’s mannerisms in Cole McGrath’s motions in Infamous.

I eventually went back to Brock and hit him up for some more titles. At over 2,400 games, there’s got to be some other great games waiting to be played and easy to find. It looks like there is. My only criteria to Brock is that I wanted to overlook JRPGs at the moment. Of course, that cut out a chunk of the titles, but I can wait on those.

Today, for the second time this year, I walked in to Gamestop, ignored the up-saler-salesman and started to go through the PS2 bins.

  • Maximo: $3
  • The Mark of Kri: $4
  • The Thing: $5
  • Freedom Fighters: $5
  • Gladius: $8
  • Red Dead Revolver: $10

Adding the Sly games, Shadow of the Colossus (which I got with the Sly titles for $10), Rogue Trooper (I don’t remember where I got that one), and Kingdom Hearts II (a weird Target impulse buy at $20) that brings my PS2 library at eleven titles for $75.

In some ways I’m glad I waited. I know that many of those titles were on other systems, but from what I’ve read they are definitive on the PS2.

I’m all ears as to what other titles you guys may recommend I try. In the mean time, I’m set for summer. Seventy-five dollars for ten AAA games or $60 for one new one that I’ll probably play 5 hours at the most? No brainer.

Too Human Too Cheap…Among Others

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too_human_coverBecause we are true to you we go out of our way to remind you of special things. This one is almost eight months old.

We gave Too Human a Rent rating and mentioned you should buy it when it’s a budget title. Amazon is selling it for $20 right now.

This now makes it an amazing exclusive title for your 360. Let me know if you have it and we’ll play some co-op.

And because we’re feeling saucy, you can get Bully: Scholarship Edition for $20 as well. We gave it a Buy rating.

It’s A Me, Conan O’BRiiiiiiiaaaaan

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The internet + people = amazing coincidences?

UPDATE: The video is no longer there thanks to the butt-funks at NBC Universal. And they wonder why they are almost dead last in ratings right now.

UPDATE 2: The butt-funks have posted the video on their alien website Hulu.

 

IP law is the pits. I give you FREE advertising, and you make it hard for me to do so. Idiots.

9

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I saw this trailer a couple nights ago on The Ultimate Trailer Show. I can’t get this trailer out of my head. I’ve watched a dozen times and it doesn’t get old. So even though this has nothing to do with E3 or video games or anything else, I’m still posting it because it needs to be seen by all.

Actually, don’t waste your time watching the embedded version. You need to get yourself to Apple’s Trailer page and download the 1080p HD version. It is well worth it.

While the movie looks amazing and intriguing, I am a trailer junkie and this trailer has made it in to my top-5 all time trailers. I should put that entire list together one of these days.

I Want to Be Held in Your Hand

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Some quotes from various blogs reporting at E3:

“Microsoft’s new motion controller is a camera, that uses object, movement, and voice recognition to deliver a new kind of immersive gaming experience.”

“We’ve seen Paul’s Höfner bass, John’s Rickenbacker 325 guitar and George’s Gretsch Duo Jet guitar. All that’s missing is Ringo’s drum kit. Until now.” (That’s three guitars, a set of drums, and three mics—Nat)

“Ubisoft announced Your Shape, a new fitness game for the Wii. But more interesting than the game itself is how you “play” it — with a new Wii camera peripheral that reads your body positioning.”

“Red Steel 2 may not have multiplayer, but it does have Wii MotionPlus. No, make that, it requires the Wii MotionPlus add-on.”

“Nintendo announces the Wii Vitality Sensor, a device that attaches to the tip of the player’s finger that measures their vital signs and helps them relax.”

“Richard Marks was here to show off the first PlayStation motion controller, the PS2 EyeToy. The latest camera will enable “a completely new set of experiences” using a new controller.”

This is my response:

NO!

I imagine that some are excited by this, but I am sick of buying one-shot peripherals. I have enough plastic as it is and I’m nowhere near close to what some people have. Of course, it’s all here to stay. This is truly the over-priced-plastic-device waggle age.

I, for one, am taking back my living room.

Thanks to Kotaku, Joystiq, and 1up for the quotes.

Watch As Bioware Fixes Star Wars

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George, please, watch and take notes as we see Bioware show us what (clearly, this is what they are doing) a duel between Obi-Wan and Vader (what we wanted—not Anakain) could have been.

Star Wars: The Old Republic is an MMO I’m starting to take an interest in.

Crackdown 2 Trailer

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The city is infected? Sounds like zombies. I have to let out a sigh here.  In videogaming terms, I think zombies are the new WWII. Shoot, we’ve got WWII games with zombies now.

Oh, and the video is lightly spoilerly (I made that up). If you’ve not played the first game. It makes for an interesting premise knowing how the first game ends.

I don’t know if we’ll go crazy here with E3 stuff. (That’s Tony’s call). However we all love Crackdown. So there.