Quick thoughts on Pushmo, a 3DS eShop gem

After completing 100 puzzles on Pushmo, an Intelligent Systems game available on the 3DS eShop for $6.99, I will tell you I have already gotten my money's worth, and I'm not even halfway through the game.

The game involves strategically pushing and pulling stacks of blocks on a grid to work your way to the top and save poor little children squished inside them. As crazy as that sounds, it's so much fun. The controls are simple and tight. The graphics aren't flashy or anything, but they don't really need to be. It's a colorful game that's easy on the eyes.

The 3D effect is subtle and works well given the circumstances. It's easier to see where to push and pull the blocks. But if you want some extra battery life, the game is completely playable without the 3D on.

The beginning levels are very easy, as they introduce you the gameplay. But once you progress through the game, the difficulty ramps up. Levels consist of murals like a little chick, and random Tetris-like blocks of different colors. Having only completed the first 100 puzzles, there was plenty of variety. I look forward to the rest of the game.

Also, there's the level creator mode to make your own kinds of puzzles and share them around the world. I haven't messed with this option yet, but looking around the Internet, there's plenty of creativity going on.

Check out my full review soon on theoaklandpress.com.

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More people with too much time on their hands: Angry Birds Christmas Light Game

With the holiday season comes extravagant Christmas light decorations.

So why not an Angry Birds Christmas theme? Well these people did, turning their house into an Angry Birds game, with all the sound effects and music from the game included.

According to the video info, it runs on two computers and 10 Light-o-rama 16 channel controllers. More than 20,000 lights are used, and it apparently only costs one cent of electricity per game. The controller is long enough for people to play in the streets.

With three buttons, the left shoots to the left, center to center, and right to right, and the longer you hold the button, the higher the shot goes. So this definitely took some time and effort to put together.

Justin Verlander on cover of 2K Sports' MLB 2K12, tweets it out to followers

Finally! A Detroit sports star on the cover of a sports video game.

Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander tweeted out to his followers what the cover of 2K Sports' MLB 2K12, featuring himself, looked like. It's pretty awesome.

So what future Detroit stars could we see on video game covers? How about Calvin Johnson on Madden? (And the cries of "Noooo the curse" come out) What about Nicklas Lidstrom for EA's NHL franchise? He more than deserves it.

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Do you want to play Myst again? Now you can on the 3DS in March

Remember Myst? That PC game that took the world by storm back in 1993? It's been re-released numerous times on various gaming platforms, and now it's coming back again on the Nintendo 3DS.

According to reports, the classic adventure game will arrive March 27, 2012. The 3DS version will include six areas for players to solve various puzzles in, including the RIME Age that was not in the original PC release. As expected, the game will be presented in 3D fashion.

I've played Myst to completion back in the day, but only dabbled in the newer releases over time. If the 3D effects are good, I wouldn't mind exploring that mysterious island once again.

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Sony releases PS Vita launch info for U.S., including game and memory card prices

The PS Vita launched in Japan recently and U.S. gamers have been waiting anxiously for what's in store here.

Well on Sony's blog, most of the details have finally been released, including what games will be available and memory card prices.

25 games will be available on launch day with prices ranging from $9.99 to a whopping $49.99 for premium titles. Games will be available at retailers and on the PlayStation Network, which would explain the cheap $9.99 price. But $50 for a handheld game? Are we ready for that?

Sony's launch titles will be:
Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational
Little Deviants
ModNation Racers: Road Trip
Uncharted: Golden Abyss
wipEout 2048
On PSN only will be Escape Plan, Hustle Kings, and Super StarDust Delta.
The launch window titles, presumably available sometime after launch day, are Gravity Rush, MLB 12 The Show, Reality Fighters, and Unit 13.

Third party launch day games are:
Army Corps of Hell
Asphalt Injection
Ben10 Galactic Racing
Blazblue: Continuum Shift Extend
Dungeon Hunter Alliance
Dynasty Warriors Next
F1 2011
EA Sports FIFA Soccer
Lumines Electronic Symphony
Michael Jackson The Experience
Plants vs. Zombies (PSN only)
Rayman Origins
Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen
Tales of Space: Mutant Blobs (PSN only)
Touch My Katamari
Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3
Virtua Tennis 4: World Tour Edition
Launch window games include LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, Disgaea 3: Absense of Detention, Ninja Gaiden Plus, Ridge Racer, Silent Hill: Book of Memories, and Supremacy MMA: Unrestricted.

Each PS Vita system will come with six AR Play Cards and a voucher to download augmented reality minigames.

Memory card prices for the PS Vita have been a hot-button issue, with many taking their frustrations online about how expensive they were rumored to be. The official retailed prices are as follows: $19.99 for a 4GB card, $29.99 for 8GB, $59.99 for 16GB and $99.99 for 32GB. They are slightly lower than rumored prices, but are still expensive, especially when you pretty much need them to play games. A whole range of other accessories are priced, too.

The PS Vita releases Feb. 22 with a WiFi model at $249 and 3G version at $299. The system itself is a deal, but once you add on a memory card and a few games, you could be investing $400-$500 at launch.

Dedicated gaming handhelds are getting a bad rap these days thanks to the media's love for smartphones. But Nintendo has bounced back greatly from their early struggles with the 3DS. I really hope the PS Vita turns into a successful system. Competition is always a good thing.

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Get tricky in EA Sports' SSX, coming Feb. 28 to Xbox 360 and PS3

EA Sports has released a little tease to those familiar with their arcade-style racing SSX series. The first look gameplay trailer for SSX shows off snowboarders speeding down snowy mountains and performing death-defying tricks. Don't try this at home, especially the bouncing off the helicopter parts.
It will be available Feb. 28 for Xbox 360 and PS3.

Pinball FX 2's Marvel Pinball: Vengeance and Virtue review is up

Click here to read my review of Zen Studios' latest Pinball FX 2 release of Marvel Pinball: Vengeance and Virtue.

Meet the characters of Final Fantasy XIII-2 in new trailer

Here are the characters to keep an eye on in Square-Enix's upcoming game Final Fantasy XIII-2. Snow's hair looks...interesting. And where's Sazh at?

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Reports: Sony's new handheld, the PS Vita, sells 321,000 units in first two days in Japan

According to reports, Sony's new gaming handheld, the PS Vita, sold 321,000 units in its first two days in Japan. Now is this a good number or bad number? Well, we don't really know yet. There are many factors in play here.

Sony shipped 500,000 units between the two versions available for the Japanese launch: The more expensive 3G version and the regular WiFi unit. So launch day wasn't a total sellout, but we don't really know how many of each version were available and what they sold. There were claims that Sony shipped an additional 200,000 units to meet demand. Probably not true, but if so, that wouldn't bode well.

For comparison's sake the 3DS launched in February in Japan, and the first two days sales were slightly more at 371,000 units. But notice the time comparison. February is a slow time of year. PS Vita is shipping right smack in the holiday season and couldn't beat it. And that's with a much more favorable launch lineup than the 3DS had.

Nintendo also gave the PS Vita some tough competition recently, too. Japan loves, loves, loves the Monster Hunter series, and the new 3DS game, Monster Hunter 3G, sold more than 500,000 units between Dec. 5-11, according to Media Create. This boosted 3DS hardware sales to more than 350,000 that week alone. Don't forget about Mario Kart 7 or Super Mario 3D Land either. If the 3DS manages to top the PS Vita launch sales, Sony really won't be happy about that.

Of course, that's comparing a full week of 3DS to just two days of PS Vita sales, but the bigger the launch day sales, the bigger the demand is. Selling 321,000 units in a couple days is a healthy launch for the PS Vita, however I expected somewhere closer to the 400,000 range, since it is the holiday season and Sony's first gaming handheld, the PSP, was a hot item in Japan.

In the end, it's way early to determine the fate of the PS Vita. With any system, it's always what happens after the launch that gives you an idea on how successful a system is. The 3DS struggled mightily after a successful launch, but has since rebounded greatly. The hardcore techies will buy anything right away; it's how you get a hold of the stragglers that's real important.

The PS Vita launches Feb. 22 in Europe and the United States.

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Rayman Origins sells 50,000 in November, and that's a shame

Ubisoft's critically acclaimed 2D platformer Rayman Origins, which released on the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii in November, only sold 50,000 units that month, according to a report from Eurogamer.

Having bought and played the game, I'll tell you this: It deserves a lot more than that. It's just that fun. The art style for this game is amazing. The levels are filled with crisp colors, the backgrounds are begging to be noticed, character animations are fluid, and the music and gameplay are top notch.

Each level has so much depth to it, where collecting as many Lums as you can helps go toward many unlockables. It's not a drag to collect these as you learn a variety of moves throughout the game, and the levels complement these additions to your arsenal. Hidden areas in each level will keep you coming back for more. While it's not too challenging in the beginning, the later worlds put your skills to the test.

And let's not forget about the thrills of chasing down a treasure chest in secret levels filled with tight spaces, wall jumps, long jumps, moving walls and much more. Kind of like the bosses in Super Meat Boy, a ridiculously harder 2D platformer, it's a nonstop obstacle course. Don't fall behind or you're done for. You'll start over a lot, get frustrated, but the reward for completing these is worth it.

Rayman Origins is the type of 2D platformer I would like to see New Super Mario Bros by Nintendo become. I want to see longer Mario levels with all kinds of platforming obstacles. They like to make us collect the three Star Coins in each level but there could be more. How about collecting as many regular coins as you can (kind of like the Lums), which can be used to unlock new levels and worlds? The difficulty of these games can be ramped up. Wouldn't it be fun to chase down the Koopa Kids in one of those nonstop obstacle courses, with Goombas, Thwomps, Koopa Troopas, Boos, and other classic enemies getting in your way?

There are different ways to look at why Rayman Origins only sold 50,000. When it's all said and done, it's still a 2D platformer, and some will wonder if spending $50-$60 on this type of game, which is generally shorter in replayability, is worth the money. I don't follow that notion. Nintendo offers a lot of fun in their New Super Mario Bros games that are worth the full price, as does the Little Big Planet series with its unique gameplay. Even Donkey Kong Country Returns brought back the good ol' days of the popular SNES platformer.

This brings up name recognition. Introduced in 1995 on the PlayStation, the Rayman character kind of fell out of the spotlight in the mid-2000s, being replaced by the Raving Rabbids characters in a bunch of party-type games. Rayman doesn't have that special bond with people like Mario or Donkey Kong.

But the biggest thing of all is this game got completely overshadowed by an onslaught of new releases. The holidays are a time where the big guns come out. You had Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which shattered records. Battlefield 3 wasn't far behind and now has a massive following. Other titles were Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Assassins Creed: Revelations, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Super Mario 3D Land, and Saints Row: The Third among others. So many games, so little time. Would Rayman have fared better if it released after all this?

Maybe December will be better for Rayman Origins. It's been a long time since we got a proper Rayman game, and it would be a shame to see it buried in the bargain bin so soon. If you're eying a last-minute holiday gift, take a look at this one. You can't go wrong with it.

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Quick thoughts on newest Pinball FX 2 tables: Marvel Vengeance and Virtue

So after playing the newest set of Pinball FX 2 tables, Marvel: Vengeance and Virtue, here is how I rank them.

1. Thor: I love this table the most. The fire and ice theme that splits the table is beautiful. There's a lot going on visually like a giant serpent along the left side, and Thor will hop around the table fighting enemies during various missions. There are lots of ramps that aren't hard to shoot at.

2. Moon Knight: I'm not too familiar with this Marvel character, but the table is also visually stunning with a slick silver color dominating the table. Like Thor, there are other baddies that will come out during missions you'll have to conquer, adding to the visuals. Shooting the ball into the moon is also satisfying, as it starts a fun minigame.

3. Ghost Rider: Of the four, this is the most radical. It's a small table and everything is packed together. The devil will taunt you a lot, and executing shots is more difficult here and requires precise timing. Oh yeah, you can shoot the pinball out of a shotgun at targets. That's fun stuff.

4. X-Men: Compared to other Marvel tables, it's the most plain-looking of them. You got Magneto in the middle and Professor X in the bottom left, but visually it's just bright colors and a lot of ramps. Magneto will occasionally stop your ball with his powers and whip it away. Ramp shots activate pretty much everything, and you'll see your favorite characters in the dot matrix display.

Check out my full review next week on theoaklandpress.com.

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Nintendo releases 10 free Gameboy Advance games to 3DS Ambassadors

The wait is finally over. Nintendo has released the final 10 games for 3DS Ambassadors as a way of saying "Oops, sorry about that massive price drop after you bought the system for $250."

They are the following:
F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island
Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Metroid Fusion
Wario Land 4
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames

I can't wait to dig into these games. Some I have played before like Minish Cap, Yoshi's Island and Mario Kart, but it's been so long it'll be fun all over again.

The games are available if you logged into the eShop prior to the price drop. Here is how you get them:

1. Log into the eShop
2. Go all the way over to the left and click on Settings/Other
3. Click on Your Downloads
4. If you're an Ambassador, you'll see the list of games available which you'll be able to redownload.

It's kind of funky to "redownload" the game you haven't before, but that's the way to do it.

Enjoy these free games. It's pretty rare for a company to treat their customers like this.

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GBA Ambassador games for Nintendo 3DS revealed for Japan, UK

When the big 3DS price drop occurred, Nintendo promised the early adopters 20 free games for paying $250 for the system when it launched. We already got the 10 NES games a while ago and those gamers like me have been waiting...and waiting...and waiting some more on when the 10 Gameboy Advance games would be coming.

Well, now reports are coming out that 3DS owners in Japan and UK are receiving SpotPass notices that the games will be available on Friday, Dec. 16. Those who visited the eShop before the price drop will be able to download these games for free, just like the NES ones.

The 10 games available in these territories are:
F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
Super Mario Advance 3: Yoshi's Island
Legend of Zelda: Minish Cap
Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones
Kirby & The Amazing Mirror
Mario Kart: Super Circuit
Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Metroid Fusion
Wario Land 4
WarioWare, Inc.: Mega Microgames

There's no confirmation for North America yet, but it is very likely this list will stick. And if so, it is quite a package. A Zelda game, Mario Kart, F-Zero, Kirby, Metroid, this is an impressive variety of quality games. And they're all free, for those of us that paid the extra $80 anyway.

While the GBA list is much more impressive than the NES one, Nintendo didn't have to do any of this. Those who buy new tech items know the risks they take. You're going to pay big in the beginning, and price drops will happen. Even though the 3DS went down in price a lot more quickly than anticipated, Nintendo didn't owe us anything. But giving away not 5, not 10, but 20 free games, it shows you they do care about their customers, especially the loyal Nintendo fans that jumped on the 3DS train from the start.

Get even tinier random thoughts at www.twitter.com/JeffHoard921

Sony shows off PS Vita game trailers

While the PS Vita releases Dec. 17 in Japan, it won't be hitting the U.S. or Europe until Feb. 22. But here are some game trailers Sony has released to tide you over.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss


Escape Plan


Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational


LittleBigPlanet


Little Deviants


Wipeout 2048


Hustle Kings


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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 hits $1 billion mark in 16 days, beating Avatar record

Activision announced Monday, Dec. 12, that their really, really, really, really big smash hit, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, has surpassed the $1 billion mark in just 16 days after its release on Nov. 8. In a press release, they stated this has broken the $1 billion milestone one day quicker than James Cameron's blockbuster movie Avatar.

Now comparing video games, which typically cost $50 to $60 a piece, to movie tickets, which can range from $5 to $20 depending on where you go, is debatable in the grand scheme of things, but Activision pulled the "entertainment" card here, so bragging rights go to them. It also helps to release a game at the beginning of the holiday season, too, when video game sales skyrocket.

So will the next Call of Duty game break this record? Who knows? The bar has been set really high now. The franchise has been repetitive for the past few games now. However that hasn't stopped people from buying them.

So all you Call of Duty haters out there, you might as well deal with it. This game's gonna sell no matter what. But don't get angry. Just think of it as Activision boosting the economy. We need it these days.

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What we've learned from November U.S. video game sales

The holiday season is the biggest time of year for video game sales. With the month of November come and gone, here are few things to take notice of.

Hardware down, software up: According to NPD Group, hardware revenues were down 9 percent to $982.4 million, while software sales were up 15 percent to $1.67 billion. Hardware revenue shouldn't be too surprising, since the consoles are in their late stages of life when price drops generally occur. Software sales got a huge bump from big releases like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Xbox 360 is the new Wii: Xbox 360 sold a whopping 1.7 million units in November, reaching heights the Wii used to be making a few years ago. It's also the best November ever for the system. It's 6 years old, which is normally the end of a console's lifespan. But here it is breaking records. Microsoft has been pushing it to become an all-in-one media center, and it looks to be working. Oh yeah, the Kinect is a hot ticket, too.

The end of the Wii is coming: Nintendo reported Wii sales at more than 860,000. Don't get me wrong, those are decent numbers, but the Wii was topping well over a million units in previous Novembers. The release of the much-anticipated The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword helped give it a boost, with sales over 600,000 in its first week. But a severe games shortage has struck the Wii, especially from third parties, which are hurting sales. Nintendo can only do so much on their end with games like Zelda and Donkey Kong Country Returns. It's not the juggernaut it once was, as Xbox 360 is taking the spotlight. Also, Nintendo's new console, the Wii U, is on the horizon, maybe even coming out next year. Once released, it'll be time to put the Wii to bed for good.

3DS proving critics wrong: Nintendo's new handheld has been criticized greatly about how it just can't compete with smartphones. Why pay more for games when you can get all the fun for 99 cents? After sluggish sales after launch, Nintendo slashed the 3DS price to a more reasonable $170. Since then, sales have picked up. The 3DS sold 795,000 units in November, which brings its total past the 2.37 million units the DS originally sold in its first year in the U.S., according to Nintendo. And this is just eight months in and a big December still to go. Why the big sales? Well, the system is finally delivering on games. Super Mario 3D Land sold more than 625,000 units, making it the fastest selling portable Mario game in U.S. history. And Mario Kart 7 just released earlier this month. It's simple: Games sell systems.

Call of Duty is king of the world: Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 topped the software charts (no shocker). It sold 7 percent more than Call of Duty: Black Ops did in its first month last year, which puts it around 9 million copies across all platforms. For all the complaints about how Call of Duty is the same old shooter, people do not care at all. Battlefield 3 from EA was third on the list, and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was sandwiched between the shooters in 2nd.

PS Vita in trouble?: Sony reported a 70 percent increase from November 2010 in PS3 sales, which would put it around 900,000 units. Not bad, but compared to Xbox 360, they can't be too happy. PSP sales? Who cares? It's all about their new handheld, the PS Vita. Wait, it actually hasn't released yet. It will in Japan on Dec. 17, but won't in the U.S. until late February. OK, I get there's limitations on how much they can produce at once. Releasing worldwide requires lots of units up front and a lot of time and effort. Japan going through an earthquake probably didn't help the production of things. But man, missing the holidays has got to be a killer. November and December are the two most important months of the year. Sure, the 3DS didn't release until March in the U.S., but it didn't have any competition either. The PS Vita will be going up against two monster titles in Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7. Other games for the 3DS like Resident Evil: Revelations will be out, too. Don't forget about those dreaded smartphones either. The Vita looks to have a quality launch lineup, but it's also $250, which is a great price for what's in the handheld, but will people pay that when the 3DS is so much cheaper with quality games, too?

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Nintendo mastermind Shigeru Miyamoto not leaving Nintendo yet, but don't panic when that day comes

I like to write my blogs really late at night. So when I heard the "news" that Nintendo great Shigeru Miyamoto was stepping down from his lead design position at Nintendo to focus on developing smaller games, I thought yeah, that's kind of a big deal. He is one of those most influential video game designers out there, and the father of Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong and many other franchises that have captivated millions around the world.

So I wrote a little blog on my thoughts about Miyamoto and the future of Nintendo. I normally publish the next day where I can tweet it out when more people are usually up. And it's a good thing I waited.

After Wired broke the news in an exclusive interview on their website, Nintendo shot back, saying it was all a big misunderstanding. He's not leaving his position, they said. Miyamoto wants the younger designers to start taking more responsibility and things like that.

Regardless at what the full story really is, Miyamoto isn't really leaving Nintendo at all. From reading the Wired piece, he really wants to focus on developing smaller games for the company. He's spent a lot of time mentoring his younger designers so that when that official retirement or stepping back day actually comes, the panic mode button won't be pressed at Nintendo. He's been kind of an overseer of game production as of late, so I'm sure there's plenty of up-and-comers there who have been taking good notes to make sure the Miyamoto legacy lives on.

And if Miyamoto was to focus on smaller game projects, he'll have more time to think up of all kinds ways to keep us entertained. And since he wants to have a bigger part in game development, kind of like back in the day with his NES successes, I'm not gonna complain about that.

Nintendo's online reputation could get a boost by that as well. Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network always gets original games that aren't on Nintendo's Wii system. Maybe these smaller games would make their way onto the Wii U and 3DS as downloadable titles. Miyamoto would be the perfect person to deliver those goods.

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Alec Baldwin's airplane outrage seems a little too convienent for gaming company Zynga

Alec Baldwin reportedly got kicked off an American Airlines flight for not putting his cellphone away because he was really into a game. Oh, those crazy celebrities. Always thinking they're above the law, causing some ruckus. Mr. and Mrs. Big Shots. Yadda yadda yadda. But I had to think about it for a second. If Baldwin was partaking in a very important phone call at the time (he's a big shot celebrity, so it's possible), I can totally see him going a little berserk.

However, under these circumstances, it just doesn't add up for me. Sure, it's very likely he was killing time playing a cellphone game. Totally can see him playing a game or two. But he reportedly went off on the flight attendant when asked to put the phone away, saying how he couldn't put "Words With Friends" away. Details are sketchy on how he acted out on the plane, but it all comes back to this: He was playing "Words With Friends," which is a Scrabble-like game where you compete with other players by building words with tiles.

The "30 Rock" star even tweeted out "“flight attendant on American reamed me out 4 playing Words With Friends while we sat at the gate, not moving.” Even his spokesman got in on it. “He loves ‘Words With Friends’ so much that he was willing to leave a plane for it,” said Matthew Hiltzik.

Of course, all ended well for Baldwin, he is a celebrity after all. He just moved right on with life by getting another flight. No harm, no foul. Something a normal person would never get away with. If I was on a plane and heavily into a game, you know what they'd do to me if I pulled this? Police escort off the plane, interrogation, ticketed, locked away, who knows what else.

But all of this seems awfully fishy, and dare I say a publicity stunt? Baldwin was so specific, saying that "Words With Friends" was so amazing and like it's the greatest thing in the world. Celebrities love to get paid and endorse all kinds of stuff. But why endorse some random game like this?

Well, "Words With Friends" was acquired by Zynga, a browser-based gaming company. What's Zynga been up to these days? Getting ready for their initial public stock offering, where they are planning to seek up to $1 billion. According to Business Week, the company is offering 100 million shares at $8.50 to $10 a pop. And this web IPO could be the biggest since Google. Mmm money, money, money.

Hmmm, is there a little side deal going on that no one knows about? "Hey Alec, we'll pay you so-and-so if you go out there and go crazy for this game of ours. We like money." "Sweet, shouldn't be a problem. I like money, too." So Zynga gets some extra publicity for its upcoming big day, and Baldwin gets in the spotlight once again. Win-win for both.

And there's my conspiracy theory for today.

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Thor coming to Pinball FX2 as part of upcoming Marvel 4-table pack; trailer released

Zen Studios and Marvel Entertainment have announced that Thor is the final character in the upcoming Marvel Pinball: Vengeance and Virtue four-table pack, joining the "virtuous" side with X-Men. The "vengeful" characters are Moon Knight and Ghost Rider.

In the Thor table, pinball fanatics will travel throughout the Nine Realms and defend Asgard against Thor's mischievous half-brother Loki and the power of the Destroyer armor. Other evils to be seen are the fire demon Surtur, and the ruler of the Frost Giants, Ymir. Thor and his almighty hammer can be seen in the trailer, along with his special lightning attacks and animations.

Marvel Pinball: Vengeance and Virtue will be available on Dec. 13 for PSN (as DLC for Marvel Pinball) and Dec. 14 for Xbox Live Arcade (as DLC for Pinball FX2). It will cost $9.99 on PSN and 800 Microsoft Points on XBLA.

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Quick thoughts on Rayman: Origins by Ubisoft

I recently got Ubisoft's new game Rayman: Origins for the Xbox 360. Here are my quick thoughts after playing through one world of gameplay.

* Crazy and funny opening cinematic to explain story...if there is one. Rayman and his buddies seem to be snoring too loud, and this angers an old grandma who unleashes baddies all over the world. Rayman eats a lot to while sleeping. The gibberish talking really adds to the charm of this game.

* Graphics are very colorful, and there's lots of detail in the foreground. Backgrounds are gorgeous. A perfect example of 2D platformer in a 3D world.

* Saving those little pink balls with ponytails, or electoons, is crazy fun. Gotta beat up on old grandmas to save them. Awesome.

* Being just a 2D platformer, the levels so far are surprisingly long. You want to collect as many lums as you can to complete each level's electoon medallion, so that will keep things busy. My one complaint about the newer 2D Mario games are the short levels. Rayman has that beat for sure.

*Controls are responsive. Not too difficult so far, but this is just the first world. I expect that to ramp up later on.

Rayman: Origins is available for the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii.

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Would you pay $30 a year to play Tetris? No, seriously, would you? WHY would you?

In what should be an Onion article, and a tiny part of me hopes it still is, Gamasutra is reporting that EA Mobile and The Tetris Company have launched a new Tetris game for iOS devices like iPhones, iPod Touches and iPads with a paid subscription option.

The game itself only costs .99 cents, which is typical for an app, and features a "Marathon One Touch Mode" control scheme for iOS devices. There's also a Tetris Log, which offers various challenges, tracking line-clearing progress and assigning ranks to players.

But if you're really passionate, and I mean really passionate about Tetris, you can become a member of the T-Club. Oh yeah, that sounds awesome. Members will get exclusive downloads and content, premium Tetris Log challenges, and a booster for ranking up faster. But this will cost you $2.99 a month, or $29.99 a year. And no it's not a joke.

I can't say I'm too surprised by this. This is what's been happening to the video game industry for some time now. More content getting taken out of games and being offered as paid DLC when it used to be free. Long-time gamers like us sit in our rocking chairs, reminiscing about the good ol' days of being able to unlock extra content using actual skills instead of credit cards. Well, now that gaming is mainstream, that is no more. And we're stuck with money-grabbing ideas like this one.

But can I blame these companies? No, they're in it for money. And people are willing to pay for it. These subscription options for games are becoming more popular. Pay money upfront to get future DLC content at a minor discount. We saw it with Gears of War 3. Activision reported that after six days from launch, there were 1 million Call of Duty Elite premium subscribers. It took a year for services like Netflix and Hulu Plus to reach that.

In the end, it's people's money, so they can spend it however they want. I'll never subscribe to any of these services because I don't play one game so much for it to be worth it. That's why I never got into World of Warcraft. Plus, paying money up front and relying on the game developer to deliver their promises later? No thanks, sounds too risky to me.

Back to Tetris, why would anyone want to pay $30 a year for it? It's Tetris. There's not a lot gameplay variety going on here. Is an extra $30 a year worth it to rank up faster? Premium content you don't even know about? Instead of paying that, why not just pick up Tetris Axis for the 3DS for around the same price and get so much more with it? And no subscription fee?

Who would take Tetris serious enough to do this? Well, maybe this guy.

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Zen Pinball now on App Store and Android Marketplace; free pinball table offered

Zen Studios announced Dec. 1 that Zen Pinball is now available on the App Store and Android Marketplace for NVIDIA Tegra-powered smartphones and tablets. On the go and crave a game or two of pinball while waiting in long lines or commuting? Well, here's your chance.
The free pinball platform download features Marvel Pinball series tables that include popular characters like Wolverine, Fantastic Four and Captain America. Original pinball designs from Zen are also available.
Zen is giving those who download the platform a free copy of the Sorcerer's Lair table. Like on consoles, future table releases can be purchased as DLC.
Game features are similar to consoles as well, which include achievements for all tables, leaderboards, a hot seat multiplayer mode and rule sheets for each table.

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Justin Bieber and his buddies are impressed with the 3DS in latest music video

Bieber fever has hit Nintendo.
In his latest music video, Justin Bieber teams up with Mariah Carey to spread holiday cheer in their duet of "All I Want For Christmas Is You." It shows Bieber and his friends shopping for presents, and what do they spot to fill their shopping carts with? Well, first Bieber seems to have his eye on Mariah in a provocative-looking Santa costume, but then he notices the big stack of Nintendo 3DS game systems. As you see in the video, Bieber looks really impressed with those 3D visuals. And Mariah.
But seriously, it's a clever marketing ploy on Nintendo's part. What better way to get the 3DS on kids' minds than have teen sensation Justin Bieber go crazy for it?
And another thing, isn't it kind of creepy the way Mariah and Bieber are staring at each other? Selena Gomez can't be too happy about this one...

Black Friday good for Nintendo; sales high for Super Mario 3D Land, Zelda

Nintendo's not in that much trouble after all if Black Friday sales have anything to show for it.
According to a USA Today report, sales for Super Mario 3D Land for the 3DS and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for the Wii are looking great. Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime said sales for Super Mario 3D Land have topped 500,000 units since it launched Nov. 11. Sales for Zelda, which launched Nov. 20, are at 535,000 copies.
Hardware sales were no different. In what is a complete shocker, the Wii sold more than 500,000 units on Black Friday alone, Fils-Aime said, which makes it the best Black Friday ever. For a system as old as the Wii is, that is completely amazing, especially with the games drought the Wii has been through lately.
Also, Fils-Aime said first-year 3DS sales have already surpassed the first year of DS sales, and this is only eight months in. The DS sold 2.37 million units in its first year in the U.S. when it released November 2004. And the holiday season is just getting started for Nintendo, with Mario Kart 7 for the 3DS set to be released Dec. 4.
Smartphone gaming killing handheld systems? Not yet people.

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Test out the PS Vita early...if you're in the area of these 5 U.S. malls

Sony has announced the PlayStation Vita Mall Tour, taking place through Dec. 30 at a whopping five malls spread out across the United States. Doesn't seem like much of a tour, but hey, if you happen to be in the area, why not check it out?
Malls are:
Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, Calif.
Discovery Mills Mall in Lawrenceville, Ga.
Gurnee Mills Mall in Gurnee, Ill.
Potomac Mills Mall in Woodbridge, Va.
Grapevine Mills Mall in Grapevine, Texas 
Games showcased during the tour will include Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Little Big Planet. Prizes will also be handed out.

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Sony announces first-party launch titles for PS Vita in Europe, other information

News is slowly trickling in about Sony's upcoming handheld, the PS Vita. Recently on Sony's European blog, they announced first-party games that will be available during the system's launch on Feb. 22 in Europe, which is also the same date for the North America launch.
These titles include the much hyped Uncharted: Golden Abyss, WipEout 2048, Little Deviants, ModNation Racers: Road Trip, Everybody's Golf, Gravity Rush, MotorStorm RC and more.
Many other games are in development, too, including Ridge Racer, Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7, and Lumines Electronic Symphony.
Connectivity to the PS3 is a key part of the Vita system. Games like MotorStorm RC allow for both PS Vita and PS3 players to battle against each other in this racing game. Gotta go somewhere? When applicable, a game on PS3 can be saved to the PS Vita, and then you can take it on the go with you.
Besides playing games, the PS Vita will have social applications as well like Facebook, FourSquare, Twitter and Flickr.
I eagerly await more news on the U.S. front as the launch date gets closer, but this gives some idea on what's going on. In Japan, the PS Vita will go on sale in December.

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Mario Kart 7 trailer showcases new and classic tracks, new power-ups

Nintendo released a new Mario Kart 7 trailer, and the game looks like it'll be another classic.
The new hang-gliding and propeller attachments will take racers through the air and underwater. All the classic characters like Bowser and Donkey Kong are back, along with a number of new ones to unlock. I noticed the Waluigi Pinball track will be making a return in a remixed form. Can't wait to try that one out.
And I love that new power-up, the Tanooki tail. First, you get to tail whip Goombas and Koopa Troopas in Super Mario 3D Land, and now you get to tail whip fast-moving karts. What a fun looking power-up to add to the series.
And that begs the question: Will PETA cry foul again after the whole Tanooki suit fiasco from Super Mario 3D Land? Those poor racoon dogs are now tailless because of this game. How sad.
Mario Kart 7 for the 3DS is scheduled to be released Dec. 4.

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Gary Garcia, half of songwriting duo Buckner & Garcia and co-writer of "Pac-Man Fever," dies at 63

Lots of quarters were pumped into arcade machines during the video game craze of the 1980s, and Pac-Man was a big part of it. Pac-Man was so popular that pop duo Buckner & Garcia wrote a song that turned out to be a classic. "Pac-Man Fever" reached the top 10 in the Billboard Top 100 in the United States.
Unfortunately it was reported recently that Gary Garcia passed away in his Florida home on Thursday, Nov. 17. On the homepage of www.bucknergarcia.com, Jerry Buckner wrote a special tribute remembering his lifelong friend.
"The pain of losing his friendship is immeasurable to me. He was a kind hearted, loving, caring person who was always there for me and can never be replaced in my life. I loved him like a brother and will miss him beyond words," Buckner wrote.

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Quick thoughts on Fossil Fighters: Champions for the Nintendo DS

During my first couple hours of Nintendo's latest DS game, Fossil Fighters: Champions, I can already tell you that this is a complete Pokemon clone. Not that that's a bad thing, but it plays just like it. Gotta collect all those colorful dinosaurs, or vivosaurs as they call them in this game. Good use of the touchscreen controls to chip away at those fossils.
Check out my full review of this game at www.theoaklandpress.com next week.

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Do want: West Coast Customs builds life-sized Mario karts

I've played Mario Kart for years and always thought it would be cool if these existed in real life.
Well, West Coast Customs and Nintendo teamed up to make that a reality. On display at the L.A. Auto Show in the lobby of the West Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center through Nov. 27 are two karts based on the next game of the popular franchise, Mario Kart 7. There is the classic Mario Standard kart, with a glider attachment for soaring through the air, and the Luigi Bumble V kart, which resembles a bumblebee and has a propeller attached for underwater navigation.
Visitors of the show will be able to take photos of the karts and play a sample of Mario Kart 7, which releases Dec. 4.
Want to win one of them? GameStop PowerUp Rewards members will have the opportunity with the Epic Reward Giveaway program. To be eligible, members must make a trade or purchase at a GameStop or on GameStop.com during the month of December. Members get two entries with a purchase. The winner will be announced in February. For more info, visit www.poweruprewards.com.

The following photos are provided by Nintendo of America.

Reggie Fils-Aime, president and COO of Nintendo of America, and Ryan Friedlinghaus, founder and CEO of West Coast Customs, unveil two life-size Mario Kart-themed vehicles.

Reggie Fils-Aime gets behind the wheel of the Luigi Bumble V kart.

Ryan Friedlinghaus points out key features of the life-sized Mario Kart to Reggie Fils-Aime.

Reggie Fils-Aime and Ryan Friedlinghaus play Mario Kart 7 on the 3DS.

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Activision gets richer. Call of Duty: MW3 makes over $750 million in five days

Activision can add more money to their swimming pool. Scratch that. They need lots of swimming pools.
The company announced today that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has smashed the entertainment record for five-day sales, raking in more than $750 million worldwide. This breaks last year's record of $650 million from Black Ops, and two years ago of $550 million from Modern Warfare 2, according to Charttrack and retail customer sell-through information.
According to Microsoft, more than 7 million multiplayer hours for MW3 were recorded by end of launch day, and more than 3.3 million unique gamers played MW3 in one day.
"As I have said all year, we have been singularly focused on making a spectacular game for our fans, and nothing else. Our incredible teams at Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games have done just that," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO, Activision Publishing, in a press release. "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 continues to thrill core gaming enthusiasts as well as draw new people into the medium, which is not an easy balancing act. But it takes more than a great game. I would also like to thank our incredible team for the pulling off the launch of the year, as well as our retail partners around the world. But most of all, I want to thank our fans. They are our toughest critics, and our biggest supporters, and none of this would be possible without them."

Check out my review of Call of Duty: MW3 here.

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PETA continues to make a joke of itself with Super Mario controversy

One of the highlights of Nintendo's new game Super Mario 3D Land is the ability to don the Tanooki suit that players loved in Super Mario Bros. 3. Mario dresses up like a racoon, can flutter around the world, turn into a statue, and tail whip the heck out of enemies. Good, harmless fun, right?
Wrong, according to PETA. Apparently they're not happy that Mario is wearing a fur suit of the tanuki, a racoon-dog that's popular in Japanese culture. Because of their fur coats, PETA says it helps promote the animal-skinning industry.
They didn't just come out with a simple statement about this. They launched a "Mario Kills Tanooki" campaign and created a Flash game where you chase down Mario to get your fur back. I won't link the game here, because it's just that bad.
This isn't the first time PETA's gone after video games about their complaints of animal abuse. They've also complained about stabbing a rat in Battlefield 3.
Back to Mario, this has to top the list of ridiculous efforts by PETA to spread their message about animal mistreatment. Are they afraid that all the children that play this game will all of a sudden go out and skin every racoon they see? Ridiculous. All Mario does in the game is grab a leaf and he's magically in the suit. Oh, yeah, the tanuki is also known for its shape-shifting abilities, too, which is what Nintendo was likely going for.
But after all these years of Mario games, why would PETA attack the Nintendo icon now? All those poor Koopa Troopas (you know, turtles) have suffered years of abuse from being hopped on and kicked around. Those poor squid-like Bloopers and other fish Mario loves to attack in the games. And don't get me started on Yoshi, who eats everything in sight to help out Mario. Disgusting.
Maybe PETA should quit worrying about the virtual world and focus on the real-world issues of animal cruelty. But bringing up "controversies" like these, people will just continue to laugh...and laugh...and laugh some more at them.

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Dress up like a nerd with Dead Rising 2: Off The Record's final DLC pack

Capcom's DLC journey with Dead Rising 2: Off The Record ends with the Cosplay Warrior costume pack. Now zombie killers can dress up Frank West in facepaint and homemade cardboard armor just like comic book and anime enthusiasts around the world do. And the costume isn't pretty, much like many amateur cosplay costumes all over the Internet.

Skill pack bonuses for this costume pack include a 25% increase in PP generation, every attack gives extra PP, and special "warrior" style attacks using a practice sword and shield.

Those who want to level up faster than normal can purchase it on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC for $1.99 or 160 Microsoft Points.

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Jon Bon Jovi gets his Mario on: Pictures from Super Mario 3D Land launch event

Nintendo recently celebrated the launch of their newest 3DS game Super Mario 3D Land by turning Military Island at Times Square in New York City into a mini 3D Mario World complete with warp pipes and a flag pole finish. Here are several photos from the event distributed by Nintendo of America.

Rocker Jon Bon Jovi and his family pose with other visitors at the event.

Visitors enjoy the festivities.

Aimee D., Jacqueline J. and Derek C. from Westchester, N.Y., pose in front of "Mario's World."

 Benjamin S., 5, of Long Island, N.Y., plays inside "Mario's World."

Super Mario 3D Land review; Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 thoughts upcoming

Check out my review of the 3DS game Super Mario 3D Land, which releases on Sunday, Nov. 13, for $39.99, by clicking here.

Coming soon to The Oakland Press, I will give you my thoughts on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

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Become a firefighter, pay to cheat in new Dead Rising DLC packs

Today, Capcom released two DLC packs for Dead Rising 2: Off The Record, which features original Dead Rising hero Frank West.

The Fire Fighter skills pack will give players immunity to fire damage; increased speed when carrying or assisting survivors; the ability to kick doors open; and a new attack and more durability with the fire axe. For those who really love firefighters, the pack only costs 160 Microsoft points, equaling to $1.99.

And since DLC can be a little mind boggling at times, this next pack will certainly anger many veteran gamers. The Gamebreaker pack allows players to change the way they play the game. Features include Instant PP for quick leveling up, God mode, super speed, dumb zombies, big head mode, and more. Yes, you are paying to cheat. Remember when cheat modes were free? Or had to unlock them doing certain tasks like in N64's Goldeneye? These different modes are fun to mess around with, but I would never find myself paying for something to make the game easier.

For those interested, the Gamebreaker pack is available for 400 MPs, equaling to $4.99.

If you happen to be in Times Square this weekend, take an adventure inside Mario's world

Nintendo's much anticipated 3DS game Super Mario 3D Land hits store shelves Nov. 13, and to celebrate they will turn a part of Times Square in New York City into a Mario 3D world on Nov. 12. Life size warp pipes, trampoline coin jumps and a flag pole finish just like in the game will await participants.

Gamers will also have the opportunity to play the game in advance of the next-day release. Those who attend will have the chance to nab a set of Tanookiears and tails featured in the game. Get hungry? A Mushroom Kingdom pizza truck will be nearby handing out free mushroom pizza slices to the first 1,000 people on site that tweet using the #SuperMario3D hashtag.

Can't wait to buy the game on release date? Nintendo will reward its biggest fans by allowing them to buy the game early at Toys R Us in Times Square.

The event starts at 10 a.m. Nov. 12 at Military Island at Times Square, located on Broadway and 7th Avenue between 43rd and 44th streets in New York City.

Check out my review of Super Mario 3D Land later this week at theoaklandpress.com.

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Capcom is betting you'll pay $50 for Resident Evil: Revelations on 3DS

Capcom's done some crazy stuff in relation to the 3DS. They pulled the plug on Megaman Legends 3, which sparked an uproar on the Internet. To fight off the used game industry, they eliminated the ability to delete your save data on Resident Evil: The Mercenaries. Another uproar ensued.

Now they've done it again. The much anticipated Resident Evil: Revelations game releasing early next year will have a slight price boost. Typically 3DS games retail for $40, but Capcom's new game will cost $50, unprecedented for a handheld title.

Crazy? Risky? Maybe, but the company gives logical reasons for doing so. According to Kotaku, Capcom claims the new title will boast more than 20 hours of gameplay, and have 3D cutscenes that will make you leave the lights on at night. "A true console experience on a handheld device," all the content in the game will require a 4GB cartridge, which adds to the price.

The $50 price point equals to what most Wii games retail for, and is not far off from Xbox 360 and PS3 games at $60. But handheld games are typically much less. Regular DS games normally cost $30-$35.

When it was announced that 3DS games would cost $40, I thought that was maximum handheld software should go for. Most handheld games don't have the depth or content to justify console-like prices.

And, of course, people will bring up the whole smartphone issue, of gamers moving away from more expensive games, which is just plain silly. People don't buy smartphones for games, and while casual gamers crave the 99 cent ones (more because of the cheap price if anything), there will always be a market for dedicated handheld gaming systems for hardcore gamers. Yes, there are more expensive games for smartphones, but not enough yet to have an impact.

That said, I don't doubt Capcom's claim that Revelations will feature a hefty amount of original gameplay. From the trailers and previews I've seen, it definitely looks like it's worth $50.

We'll find out next year if people will bite on it.

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Couldn't they have found a couple better scores to promote Dead Island on television?

Note: The video above is not the exact commercial, but it sounds and looks just like it. You can use your imagination on where the scores would be.

Second note: I'm reviewing a video game ad. That's just crazy.

If you're a Walking Dead fan like me, you've probably noticed the same commercial over and over promoting a recently released game called Dead Island, developed by Techland and published by Deep Silver. Big shocker, it's a game about zombies.

Now, the game released with a lot of hype, mainly due to its very emotional trailer filled with tear-jerking sad music and reverse slow motion effects...mixed with zombie mayhem. Reviews for the game were so-so. Lots of 8 outta 10s. Some worse, some better.

Now this TV spot I'm seeing is mimicking that original trailer with the same tear-jerking sad music and zombie mayhem. Of course, since the game's been out a while, they wanna hype it up and get it noticed again, especially since the big holiday season is approaching. So adding review scores and quotes are the logical way to do this.

First review score shown: 4.5/5 from Gamespy. Nice. A nearly perfect score.
Second review: 8.5/10 from Game Informer. OK, not a bad number but the .5 helps some.
Third review: 9.5/10 from EGM. Bingo, another great score to promote it.
Final review: 8/10 from MSNBC.

First off, MSNBC? How do you go from three gaming sites to a regular news site? Was Fox News not available? Secondly, while 8/10 is in no means a bad score for a game, it's not really great number to use when promoting it to a massive audience. Especially when this game retails for $60 on PS3 and Xbox 360 ($50 on PC). An 8/10 tells me, "I don't really need this now, I'll just wait for a price drop."

If you wanna sell a game to people, you need great review scores. I'm sure there were better reviews to go with besides Game Informer and MSNBC.

And with an ad like this, playing sad, sad, music, and showing slow motion effects and end-of-the-world mayhem, this makes it look like - as some would say - one "epic" game. Except those 8/10 and 8.5/10 scores throw everything off.

Those are not epic.


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More pinball action as FarSight Studios announces The Pinball Arcade

I love pinball machines. When I went to Las Vegas, I had to go to The Pinball Hall of Fame museum and check out their pinball collection. At Oakland University, the annual Michigan Pinball Expo brought much more of these machines with free play galore (of course, gotta pay the admission price, but totally worth it.)

On my Xbox 360, you'll fine some tables of Zen Studios' Pinball FX 2 game. While it's more over-the-top and not too realistic in the ball physics department, it's still a great game for a great price, and they occasionally release new tables over time. There is also Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection, which includes some historic tables like Black Knight and Funhouse.

Now FarSight Studios has announced The Pinball Arcade, which will bring even more licensed tables to the virtual world from Williams, Bally, Stern Pinball and Gottlieb. The first four tables will be Tales of the Arabian Nights, Ripley's Believe It or Not, Theatre of Magic and Black Hole. They promise this will be the first of many licensed tables. The game is scheduled for release in early 2012 for the iPhone, iPad, Android, Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, PS3, PS Vita, 3DS, Windows and Mac.

I'm pretty excited for this news and am curious at what the future tables might be. Who wouldn't love playing The Terminator, The Simpsons, Family Guy, Addams Family and so many more classic tables without the worries of pumping in quarter after quarter? If it's a fair price - Pinball FX 2 tables cost around $2-$3 each - then I'll definitely be adding more pinball action to my collection.

Tidbits of Nintendo's 3DS Internet Presentation

Nintendo's pre-recorded presentation about the 3DS was held Friday, Oct. 21, and covered a wide range of topics involving the new handheld. Here are a few of the items talked about:

New game announcements include Pushmo, a 3D puzzle game; Lost Heroes, a role playing game; Thruspace will be coming to the eShop; and 3D Classics of Kid Icarus and Kirby's Adventure.

3D video recording for up to 10 minutes was announced, along with other video announcements of Hulu Plus, Red Bull and Eurosport sports videos, and what may be the most interesting of all, Michael Jackson's Thriller video starring the cast of "Shrek." That.....should be interesting.

Firmware updates include new StreetPass Plaza dungeon and puzzles, with the quest game now allowing two Miis/heroes to fight along side each other. There will also be the ability to transfer 3DS software to other 3DS units. Other eShop improvements will be coming, too.

The much anticipated Mario Kart 7 hits stores in December, and the game will install a Mario Kart Channel/App where you can download player data and jump right into the game. There will be 8-player online and community features have been added.

For a pre-recorded presentation, I would say it wasn't too bad. The 3DS has been knocked around for its lack of games, but this holiday should change all that. Nintendo is still the king of handhelds and don't expect them to go down for a long, long time.

Reports: PS4 games development in early stages

Reports have surfaced from Develop that games for Sony's next console, likely named the PS4 for obvious reasons, is in the "very early stages" of development. Of Sony's 16 first-party studios, it is unknown which of them may be doing work.

Reminder: These are still just rumors, which there have been plenty of lately in the gaming console world as the Wii ( released in 2006), PS3 (2006) and Xbox 360 (2005) are very likely entering the late stages of their life. Around 5-6 years into a console's lifespan is a good time to start announcing what's coming next. We know Nintendo has the WiiU up their sleeve, which they announced at the recent E3, and could possibly be released next year.

But Sony and Microsoft seem to be not rushing into the next generation. Sony's focus now is the upcoming release of its new handheld, the PS Vita. Microsoft is riding high on its Kinect add-on.

Other than Nintendo, I wouldn't expect Sony or Microsoft to release any new consoles next year; maybe late into 2013 at the earliest. Console gamers seem pretty content with what is out there right now. (I know PC gamers hate that idea!)

PS Vita hits U.S. February 22

At the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco, Jack Tretton, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment of America, announced the news handheld gamers have waited for: The PlayStation Vita will launch in the U.S. on Feb. 22.
Along with playing games, the new handheld will offer native social applications, Near and Party, to connect with friends and other PS Vita users. It will also offer other social networking applications like Facebook, foursquare, Twitter and Skype.
More than 100 games are in development for the system, including Sound Shapes, Uncharted Golden Abyss, Assassin's Creed and much more.
The system has a 5-inch OLED screen, dual analog sticks, front and rear touch panel, and dual cameras.
The cost will be $249 for a Wi-Fi version and $299 for 3G support.
The news comes as preorders have begun in Japan, which will see the system in December.
Will the world be ready to pay $250 for a handheld system? It didn't seem that way when the 3DS released at the same price, which Nintendo shortly after slashed the price to $170 due to under-performing sales. However, the lack of software at the beginning of its lifespan I believe played a major factor in that.

Initial thoughts after Batman: Arkham City purchase

1. No instruction manual, go online to view it. Boooooooooooo. I actually like looking through it. Cheap. Cheap. Cheap.

2. Exclusive playable character: Catwoman. Yeah, buy this game new and you get this. Buy this game used. Sorry, outta luck. Again, boooooooooooo. Not only is it a hassle for new purchasers to add in these codes, this hurts the people who don't have the money to spend $60 on a game. I know companies hate the used game industry, but this only promotes more piracy. If they're worried about it so much, maybe lower game prices to $50? Hah! That'll never happen.
However, there are reports that Gamestop is giving out free Catwoman codes with used games. Maybe we'll see more of that in the future.

Final Fantasy 13-2 Adventures trailer - looks like more plot confusion to me

I'm not big into the Final Fantasy series. I played a few of the older games much later in life, I, II, III, etc., but with so many other games out there, I never really felt the rush to play many more. I picked up FFXIII a month or so after its release at a cheap price ($35 so why not?) and gave it a shot.
I had fun with it. I read a lot of hate from the FF crowd about the linearity, lack of towns and bad characters, but those things didn't seem to bother me much (except for Hope and Vanille, they definitely got on my nerves). After completing the game, I felt I got my moneys worth, and that's the important thing to me.
However, understanding the plot is another story. I found myself questioning the story many times watching the cutscenes, and I did something I normally never do in video games, read the datalogs. Reading about the l'Cie, fal'Cie, Pulse and other technobabble did not help me out.
Which brings us to FFXIII-2 and the recently released Adventures trailer. Here we see all these characters again, which starts right where we left off at the end of the first game. Here, Lightning gets whisked away by a mysterious dark force. Time travel plays a key role in the game.
Time travel? Oh boy. If there's anything that can make a plot a mess of things, it's time travel. Add it to this game? I don't know what we're in for but hold on for the ride.
I predict many plothole topics to come up online after this game comes out next year in the U.S.