Press Start to Play

What's On?

2006-08-19T14:00:00.000-04:00

As always, we have the latest scoop on what's available for currently existing online gaming services for your downloading pleasure...

Xbox Live:

"What's on," you ask?

Absolute crap. Nothing. Zilch. Unless the thought of pay-per-download Chromehounds (Xbox 360) weapons tickle your fancy, there is absolutely nothing new worthy of discussion available for download.

Xbox 360 football fanatics fans waiting for their latest edition of Madden football might want to check out some of the latest themes and picture packs available on Live.

If you haven't checked them out already, there are some trailers available for a couple of upcoming games, including Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy, Madden NFL '07, and Just Cause.

Next Wednesday, MS will continue their Xbox Live Arcade Wednesdays with the release of Texas Hold 'Em Poker. What's even better is that the game will be free for the first 48 hours. So, make sure you get on Live this Wednesday if you're interested in snagging yourself a free copy of this game.

And that's pretty much it for this edition of, "What's On." Hopefully, things will kick up a few notches in the next few weeks.

Currently Playing (8/19 - 8/26)

2006-08-18T17:47:00.000-04:00

With all the Madden fans counting down the days for "Maddenoliday" on August 22nd, and everyone else waiting for any kind of news related to the upcoming next-gen releases from Sony and Nintendo, djkibblesnbits reminds us that there are still plenty of games out there to tide you over until then.

Dead Rising (Xbox 360): It's been a long time since I've played a game that was as frustrating as this one, but yet somehow kept me coming back for more a couple of hours later. This just might be the first game on the 360 that'll make me throw my controller out the window in frustration, only for me to run all the way down to get it back, apologizing profusely to it. "I'm sorry 360 controller, I'm sorry." (Look out for my review of the game real soon...)

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Xbox 360): The grip that Oblivion has had on my life has been replaced by Dead Rising, but that still doesn't mean that Tamriel doesn't have enough for me to do to warrant a comeback every once in awhile. Hell, I still haven't even gone through half the game's story line!

Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth (Sony PSP): I was so happy to hear that Square-Enix decided to port this wonderful Playstation classic to the PSP. With original copies selling for more than $100 on eBay, I was afraid that I would never get a chance to own this classic for myself, when suddenly, the powers that be at Square decided to remake this game for the PSP. Sure, there is very little that has changed from the original to the PSP port in terms of graphics and gameplay, but then again, that isn't so bad now, is it? Especially considering this is one of the best RPGs that came out for the first Playstation. Can't wait till this game's sequel comes out for the PS2 this fall.

Classic Gaming Wednesday

2006-08-16T08:44:00.000-04:00

Once again, here we are with another Classic Game of the Week. Because, after all, you can't go forward unless you know where you've been!

The other day, I was reading a review about the recently released, Dead Rising, in which the reviewer called the title's zombie-killing/survivor-saving premise, "innovative."

I couldn't throw the magazine away fast enough.

Don't get me wrong, Dead Rising is a great game, but no self-respecting game journalist would ever call this game "innovative" unless their idea of "old school" begins with the 32/64-bit generation. But fret not, folks, because unlike many gaming critics, we know a thing or two about our gaming history. And when it comes to zany, zombie-killing, lawnmower-using mayhem, we know for a fact that there has yet to be a game that tops the fun factor of Dead Rising's spiritual, 13-year old granddaddy, Zombies Ate My Neighbors.

Released on both the Sega Genesis and SNES, the LucasArts developed ZAMN was released in the US in Fall 1993, and quickly became one of the 16-bit era's undeniable classics. The premise behind the overhead shooter is that basically, monsters have somehow taken over a generic suburban town, leaving the town's residents to a "fate worse than polyester!" Practically every single major horror movie monster known to man decided, for whatever reason, to go after this particular town, and now, every resident is in danger of meeting a rather grotesque demise. Enter Zeke and Julie, two teenagers that are the only residents that have the cojones to go head-to-head against these supernatural baddies and save their neighbors from certain doom. Armed with super soakers filled with holy water, footballs, plates, weed-wackers, lawn-mowers, and popsicles (just to name a few), you control either of these spunky teens as you race against time to save your neighbors across 55 levels of horror movie mayhem. Whether you're facing Chucky dolls, Jason-wannabes, werewolves, or crazed cheerleaders, each level comprises of references to pop-culture (circa 1993) from various movies, novels, songs, and even games, making each level different from the last.

Zeke and Julie to the rescue... gotta have the 3-D shades!

Zeke, taking a weed-wacker straight to his demented clone

What makes ZAMN so fun is that between the constant spoofing of the horror movie genre, the variety of power-ups and weapons, the inspired level design, and the overwhelming multitude of enemies and bosses, this game just keeps you coming back for more. Even now, with the dawn of next-gen upon us, ZAMN can still keep you glued to the TV for hours. And, what makes this game even more addicting is that you can play simultaneously with another player, making this one of the greatest co-op games of all time. (Hell, not even today's Dead Rising has a co-op mode...)

Trampolines are the best way to escape a swarm of zombies

So, if for whatever reason, you have not played ZAMN, you seriously need to stop what you're doing right now, head outside, grab a copy of the game for either the Genesis or the SNES (the Genesis version has red blood, if you care about having uncensored games), get a friend to come over, and enjoy some classic gaming that's guaranteed to keep you hooked for hours. Get yourself gameducated, and learn a thing or two about the greatness of the 16-bit era. And if you see someone call Dead Rising innovative, make sure you smack them in the face with an agitated soda can and scream, "Zombies Ate My Neighbors!" Sure, you'll look like a complete psycho, and most people won't know what the hell you're talking about, but at least you'll know. And that's what it's all about, folks.

Modern Day Sequels?
After the release of ZAMN, LucasArts and Konami released the game's sequel, Ghoul Patrol, a year later, but unfortunately, everything that made the first game so fun didn't fully translate into the second title. As a result, the sequel became a critical and commercial bomb, and the franchise was effectively killed after that.

There have been no modern-day remakes or ports of the original game thus far, but the game has a sizable enough fanbase to at least hope for one.

Fun Fact: The zombie-spoof movie, Shaun of the Dead pays homage to ZAMN when the movie's protagonist uses a trampoline to jump over a fence to get away from oncoming zombies. There is also a ZAMN game poster present in the protagonist's shed at the end of the movie.

What's On?

2006-08-14T13:17:00.000-04:00

Once again, here we are, giving you guys the latest scoop on what's available on currently existing gaming services for your downloading pleasure. Unfortunately, it's slim pickings this week...

Xbox Live:

Another week, another download available on Xbox Live Arcade. What incredibly overpriced retro game is on there this week? Why none other than Pac-Man, of course! Yes, folks, the most whored game in the industry has just hit yet another platform, and at 400 Microsoft Points ($5), you too can get in on the two-decade old action.

From a demo standpoint, there hasn't been anything uploaded to the service since the last time, so, for those hoping for a Gears of War demo or something will be sadly disappointed. However, Dead Rising has some content available for download, if you're interested in that sort of thing. There are 8 new costumes that can be downloaded for free, so, if you want to get your style on while you kill off thousands of zombies, then go ahead.

And that's pretty much it, folks. Like we said before... "slim pickings." Just do yourselves a favor and check out Dead Rising if you're looking to do something with your 360 in the meantime.

Currently Playing (8/11-8/18)

2006-08-11T18:11:00.000-04:00

Little by little, the dog days of summer are coming to an end, and game releases are beginning to pick up again. Here's djkibblesnbits with the games he's been playing recently

Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Xbox 360): As of now, I have almost 80 hours of play time logged in this game, and I haven't even gotten through a 1/4th of the game's main story yet! Everytime I complete a side quest or two, there's always about four or five more that pop up. And how many f'ing Oblivion gates are there?! Sheesh! At this point, it looks like I'll have logged way over 200 hours before I can even sniff the game's ending. But, I'll love absolutely every minute of it, though.

Advance Wars: Dual Strike (Nintendo DS): This little game is gem that's getting overlooked by many of the other wonderful games that are out for Nintendo's super-handheld. I wish I could play me some Advance Wars over Nintendo Wifi, however...

Dead Rising (Xbox 360): Psst... I have a little secret to tell you... I have yet to get the full game... but that doesn't mean that I don't want to play the living crap out of it, though. I have this game running around in my head every single day. I'm dying to get my hands on a copy. If that isn't desire, I don't know what is.

"SEGA!!"

2006-08-11T10:50:00.000-04:00

That oh-so-wonderful news about the Sega Genesis Collection got us in a rather nostalgic mood about the good ol' 16-bit days. Check out this classic Sega ad, advertising the "Streets of Rage II Genesis Bundle!"

The Sega Genesis Collection: A Retro Gamer's Wet Dream

2006-08-11T09:27:00.000-04:00

In this age of super-powered video game systems, it certainly looks like the 16-bit era is still holding it down. Between the success of Xbox Live Arcade, successful Nintendo classic re-releases, and retro collections galore, older gamers are taking a stand and are saying in unison, "No!!! Take back your fancy, schmancy first-person shooters and, plastic 3D characters, and give us some classic gameplay!"

Well, it looks like the folks at Sega have certainly answered the call. Introducing the Sega Genesis Collection, a 30 game (yes, thirty) compilation of many of the greatest Sega games from the 16-bit era. What games, you ask? Well, check 'em out!

Alex Kidd - The Enchanted Castle
Altered Beast
Bonanza Bros.
Columns
Comix Zone
Decap Attack
Ecco the Dolphin
Ecco: The Tides of Time
Ecco Jr.
Eternal Champions
Flicky
Gain Ground
Golden Axe
Golden Axe II
Golden Axe III
Phantasy Star II
Phantasy Star III
Phantasy Star IV
Ristar
Shadow Dancer: Secret of Shinobi
Shinobi III
Sonic the Hedgehog
Sonic the Hedgehog 2
Super Thunderblade
Sword of Vermillion
Vectorman
Vectorman 2
Virtua Fighter 2

Did you see that list? There are some incredible classics in there. The Phantasy Star series? Vectorman? Golden Axe?! Wooooo! Hell, they even threw in Altered Beast, one of our very own "Classic Games of the Week" from about a month ago.

We need the "Sega scream" back in our lives

Now, there are some questionable omissions from this list. What happened to the Streets of Rage games? And the two 16-bit Shining Force titles? Space Harrier? And who could forget Michael Jackson's Moonwalker? (almost a guaranteed entry for "Classic Gaming Wednesday...") Don't get me wrong, this collection wipes the floor with every other compilation that's been released thus far. It's just rather weird that Sega would include titles like, Ecco Jr. and the horrible Genesis version of Virtua Fighter 2 over any of the super classic, Streets of Rage games, for example. But whatever. Personally, I'm completely psyched that the entire 16-bit collection of Phantasy Star is included.

With the number of games that are missing from this list, we all know what that means... Sega Genesis Collection II...

Oh. I almost forgot. The collection is coming out for the PS2 and for the PSP. (16-bit on the go? Yes!) One can only hope that these games are emulated perfectly, or else we'll have one of the most disappointing collections ever created. (ahem, Sega Smash Pack Vol. 1, ahem)

This Sega wunder-collection is due out this fall.

Classic Gaming Wednesday

2006-08-09T21:50:00.000-04:00

Yes, we've been bad. Very bad. Two weeks passed by without a "Classic Gaming Wednesday." But fret not, because we're back with a goodie, and a "classic" in every sense of the word. So, without further ado, here's the Classic Game of the Week, because you can't go forward unless you know where you've been!"

It's hard to imagine a more fitting game to be the "Classic Game of the Week" than Metroid, which celebrated its 20th Anniversary, three days ago. The game itself, which would go on to sell bajillions of copies in the US and Europe, spawned one of the most beloved series in the Nintendo stable, and at 20-years old, continues to impact gaming to this very day.

Early on, things almost didn't get off the ground for bounty hunter, Samus Aran. When Nintendo released Metroid on August 6, 1986, for the Famicom Disk System in Japan, the game was met with lukewarm sales as Japanese gamers practically ignored the title. Thankfully, Nintendo decided to go ahead and port the title a year later for the NES in the US and European markets, and it would be there that the original Metroid would go on to become one of THE definitive classics of the 8-bit era.

In Metroid, you take command of kick-ass human bounty hunter, Samus Aran, the galaxy's most battle-hardened "Space Hunter." When the dreaded "Space Pirates" attack a spaceship containing a powerful organism from the deserted planet of SR388, the Galactic Federation calls Samus into action to recover the organism. However, Samus quickly discovers that the Federation's worst fears are realized; the Space Pirates found a way to multiply the organism and utilize it as a bio-weapon. Known as "Metroids", these huge, floating, amoeba-like parasites have the ability to suck the life-force out of any living thing that they attach themselves to within mere seconds, instantly killing their victims. Because the Metroids have an insatiable appetite for life-energy, they continue to feed until there are no more potential victims for them to kill, making them perfect weapons. With little time to waste, Samus spares the pleasantries and lands right on the Space Pirates' home base on the planet, Zebes. It is at this point where you take command of Samus as you embark on a quest to wipe the Metroids and the Space Pirates off the face of the planet.

Those Space Pirates ain't know who they messin' wit!

Armed with an incredibly powerful cybernetic suit, Samus can withstand an incredible amount of damage and can fire powerful beam weapons at enemies. The suit also allows Samus to turn into a morph ball in order to roll through tiny spaces that are otherwise unreachable. Throughout the course of the game, you'll eventually find powerups for your suit, such as Hi-Jump Boots and additional beam weapons, which allow Samus to reach areas that were once off-limits.

What made Metroid stand out from other games was the title's incredible nonlinear design, which was an innovative mix of platforming and exploration. At first, you'll notice that as you're playing the game, there will be areas that you can obviously see that need to be explored, but you don't have the proper means of getting there. As you move on, eventually, you'll acquire suit upgrades that will allow you to pass through these previously unreachable areas, therefore getting you closer and closer to your ultimate battle with Mother Brain, the leader of the Space Pirates. This game mechanic, which was incorporated by the late Metroid producer and Nintendo design legend, Gunpei Yokoi, would be copied and adapted to many other games that were released long after the original release of Metroid, such as Konami's Castlevania series and Capcom's Mega Man series.

Turning into a morph ball would help you here...

There are so many things that contribute to why Metroid is among gaming's most memorable classics. Between the level design, the "can't get it out of my head" soundtrack, the numerous encounters with Metroids, the epic boss battles, the power-ups, and Samus' sheer ability to kick ass, Metroid was, and still is, one of the best gaming experiences ever. And who could forget the game's classic ending, where you discovered for the first time that the character you had been controlling throughout your mission on Zebes was actually, gasp, a girl! (Assuming you got the best of the game's five endings) Metroid was the first game in history that featured a female protagonist who did not need to get saved at some point by a hero. And with the legendary "Justin Bailey" code, one could play as Samus without the suit, revealing her true identity for all to see.

The wonders of the "Justin Bailey" code...

If you haven't checked out Metroid at any point in your life, you need to stop what you're doing RIGHT now, go out there, and get yourself a copy of this game. Between the millions of used NES copies still on the market, the hidden copy of it in the GameCube game, Metroid Prime, and the GBA re-release in the "Classic" series, you have no excuses. Besides, it's Samus' 20th birthday. You owe it to her. Take her out for a spin. Relish and ENJOY this gaming classic. And then come back and tell us what you thought. For everyone else, just run through this game and challenge yourself to beat it under an hour. If you can, you, my friend, still got it.

Kill them Metroids for old times sake

Modern Day Sequels?
You bet! After the release of the original Metroid, Nintendo released Metroid II: Return of Samus for the original Game Boy, which on its own merits, is another gaming classic. Then, there was the absolutely incredible sequel, Super Metroid for the SNES, which was many a Metroid fan's dream come true. Then, after a hiatus, the Metroid series came back in 2002 with a bang with the critically-acclaimed Metroid Prime for the GameCube, which saw the series' successful translation into 3D. Old-school fans who wanted to experience Samus in her old 2D environment weren't left out, as the excellent GBA game, Metroid Fusion was released. Then in 2004, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes was released for the GameCube and Metroid: Zero Mission, a remake of the first game, was released for the GBA. Nintendo re-released the original Metroid for the GBA in 2005 as part of the "Classic NES Series." And finally, in 2006, Nintendo released Metroid Prime: Hunters for the Nintendo DS, a 3D game in the same vein as the other "Prime" titles for the GameCube.

Currently, Nintendo is working on the the final piece of the "Prime" trilogy, called, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption for the soon-to-be released Wii. It is safe to assume that with all the action Samus has received in the past few years, we won't be seeing too many Metroid titles in the immediate future. Thankfully, every single title that has been released since the original has been excellent, and all are games that one should experience at some point in their lives. The same cannot be said about many other gaming series.

Fun Fact: Story-wise, Metroid was inspired by the movie, Alien, the 1979 classic starring Sigourney Weaver. Between the whole "deadly alien" aspect and Samus' gender, Metroid and Alien have quite a few things in common. To pay homage to the movie, Samus' recurring Space Pirate nemesis, Ridley, was named in honor of Alien director, Ridley Scott.

E3: Just Taking a "Chill Pill"

2006-08-07T18:17:00.000-04:00

In case you haven't heard the news (hard to imagine who hasn't, especially anyone remotely interested in gaming), the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) has officially been reduced in size by the "Powers That Be." Apparently, the largest annual event in gaming got a bit too large for its own good, with the "press and industry only" week-long event attracting close to about 50,000 visitors this past May.

Because E3 has become an event that many gamers have come to look forward to every year, the news that E3 was being reduced in size came off as an incredible disappointment to many. Last week, thousands of blogs, news outlets, podcasts and AIM profiles sounded off about the event's pending reduction and collectively bemoaned the "Death of E3."

Here at PSTP, however, we're not going to join the cyberspace bitchfest. Why? Well, for starters, E3 really isn't dead. It's just smaller. Sure, attendees no longer have to wait in long lines while getting trampled by cosplayers and fanboys (and going deaf in the process), but seriously, is anyone going to miss that? I don't know about you, but if I were getting paid to report on the latest games as a journalist, I wouldn't want my chance to preview a demo getting spoiled by some rancid-smelling Halo fanboy. And I damn sure wouldn't want to stand in line for over five hours just to get a chance to play the latest hardware, like many had to go through just to get a chance to play with the Nintendo Wii. If anything, I think that as gaming fans, we're all going to benefit from a smaller E3, because journalists will be able to get more hands-on time with the latest systems and games and will get to give us more information during the event. I honestly think it'll work out for all sides involved.

But, the Independents!?

Some have decided to carry the "independent developer" flag and bemoan the loss of Kentia Hall. "Oh, where are they (independents) going to go now?"

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm all for small indie developers. But let's be real. When was the last time you saw a Kentia Hall product get any kind of real coverage from mainstream media during E3? The most you might see is a quick three paragraph summary about some of the most "interesting" things that were there, and that coverage usually centers around some of the most ridiculous products ever conceived in gaming. In other words, Kentia Hall coverage is usually nothing more than filler with some shock value thrown in for good measure. When you see Kentia Hall coverage, it's usually because news from the main floor of the show has slowed to a trickle. The truth is, E3 was never really a good venue for small indies, because it was just too big. With so many things vying for your attention on the main floors, no one actually went to Kentia Hall because they legitimately wanted to. The big booths cast too large a shadow on the independents, effectively keeping them unfairly out the loop based on appearances alone. As a result, it was hard to take anything in Kentia seriously when the bar was raised incredibly high by the big developers.

At one point in E3's early days, Kentia Hall made sense. Because it was the only real gaming convention of its day at the time, it made sense for anyone developing gaming products to have a booth there. But now, with so many expos to go around, independents would be better suited to a smaller venue where they would be able to stand out on their own merit. Perhaps someone could put together an independent gaming expo?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

While we feel that E3's downsizing is, overall, a good thing, we do acknowledge that E3 2007 can still turn into a complete disaster. With this whole, "invitation-only" business, we just might see companies playing favorites and only allowing specific media outlets to take a stab at their wares. Bashed Sony too much last E3? Well, don't you even think about getting an invite to their section next year. Pulled an IGN and padded review scores? Then step right up and get an exclusive Halo 3 hands-on experience and get to watch Xbox chief, Peter Moore, flex his guns!!!!

You can get all this, if you give "Kameo 2" a 10!

Seriously, a smaller E3 can be extremely successful, but if the event turns into nothing more than a bunch of closed-door meetings instead of the open free-for-all that it was in the past, then E3 will truly be dead, all in the name of "exclusive coverage."

And then, only then, will be join the bitchfest.

They Say "Inflation", We Say, "Womp, Womp"

2006-08-07T17:21:00.000-04:00

Today, the folks over at Kotaku published a blog entry that briefly discussed Metafuture's ongoing analysis of mainstream game reviews and their apparent antipathy for scores that fall below "7" on a 1 - 10 scale. As of this time, Metafuture has only compiled data for mega gaming sites, IGN and Gamespot. Upon looking at the data, Kotaku's Florian Eckhardt agreed that the IGN numbers did look rather suspicious, while giving Gamespot the benefit of the doubt.

However, when Joystiq grabbed the story, Blake Snow posted the numbers from both IGN and Gamespot and insinuated that judging from the data, journalists from both sites get paid by game companies to review games favorably.

While I'm not going to sit here and defend IGN, I will rise to the occasion for Gamespot, and whatever other game review publication gets judged solely based on the information provided by Metafuture.

Gamespot's average review score is about a 6.7, which places the average game at about a "fair" rating, according to Gamespot's own rating scale. The folks at Joystiq apparently believe that if a rating system is based on a 1-10 system, then the average game score should be at about a "5," and that any publication that has higher review averages than that is padding their scores for the benefit of huge gaming companies.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Think about it. We were all at school, at one point or another. I don't know about you, but if I ever came home with a 67 (out of 100) and tried to show it off to my parents like I accomplished some big deal, I'd get my ass slapped back to the Stone Age. Sure, I passed, but that don't make it acceptable in the least bit. The only score that would be sure to please the parental units were ones that ranged from 90-100. Anything in the 80's was "acceptable."

Or what about when we rate people on how good they look? If a friend told you that they met someone that's interested in you, and you asked where that person stood on a 1 - 10 scale, would you get all excited if they told you "6?" Hell no! And what about a "5?" You'd tell your friend to go jump off a cliff!

The reason is that "5" ain't "average," people. That's failing, no matter what way you slice it. Any number below that, and it's just a matter of whether or not getting hit by a car is more pleasurable than getting your toes smashed by a falling hammer.

So please, spare us the whole, "5 is average." No it ain't. It's failing. And an average score of 6.7 just means that there's a lot of barely passable stuff out there. It doesn't mean that Gamespot's reviewers get paid across the board to pad their scores. They're just scoring according to how we all have grown accustomed to interpreting the "1 - 10" scale. Nothing more.

Now, IGN, with their average score of 8.0... that's a different story...

Gaming Fo' Your Ears!

2006-08-06T15:41:00.000-04:00

Podcast, podcast, podcast.

It seems as if everytime we blink, someone out there decides that they want to start podcasting. (Or as Microsoft calls it, "blogcasting") With all the applications that have sprung up in the past year, any peanuthead with a computer and a microphone can create a podcast, and when it comes to the genre of gaming, there is no exception, as thousands of die-hard gamers have apparently all decided that they are incredible radio show hosts.

Right.

Sadly, there are a lot of gaming podcasts out there that just plain suck. If is isn't some super-nerd talking about how fast they "pwnd", it's a dipshit sucking on some corporate huevos (cough*IGN*cough). But, in the midst of all that utter crap, there are a few jewels that really stand out. Whether they stick to specific genres and systems, entertain, inform, or any combination thereof, the following podcasts are actually not too bad...

Orange Lounge Radio:

As the winner of the 2005 Podcast Award for "Best Gaming Podcast," the folks at Orange Lounge are the current standard bearers for gaming podcasts. (At least until the 2006 award winners are announced...) While OLR is actually a 24-hour radio station dedicated to playing videogame-related music, the station's gaming podcast is broadcasted live on Sunday nights, and then split into two parts and uploaded to podcast streams on Monday and Wednesday nights. The show itself is a mix of gaming news and discussion (with a dash of digression thrown in every once in awhile), and features a call-in segment in which listeners can Skype-in and talk about anything gaming related for all to hear. While the callers themselves can be rather lame, repetitive and just downright juvenile, the show's hosts are far from that, as they are well-informed, honest, and at times, will have you laughing to tears with their on-air antics. What makes the show work is the wonderful interaction that they get from the OLR Chatroom, which is packed with listeners that tune in every week during the show's live broadcast. With all the topics that get brought up within the chatroom, the hosts behind OLR usually fly by the seat of their pants during the broadcast, making every episode unique and entertaining.

Orange Lounge Radio's website

Gamestation Radio:

There's only one word to describe this podcast: mayhem. While other gaming podcasts tend to be a bit more on the serious side, dedicating much of their time to discussing current events in video games, Gamestation tends to go off on the deep end and consistently deliver hilarious episodes that border on the point of insanity. Basically, each episode is dedicated to a specific topic dealing with video games, such as "video game hotties", "crappy games", and "video game movies," and the show's five or six hosts (you never know considering how many friggin' voices are speaking at the same time) go back and forth, offering their opinion on the topic. Whether they're making fun of each other, games, current events, or just plain having fun, this podcast is definitely guaranteed to make you laugh hysterically at least once per episode. If you're looking for a more "serious" gaming podcast, don't look here, because Gamestation gets down to the very reason why we all play video games: sheer fun. The only gripe we have is that the show isn't updated nearly as much as the other podcasts listed on here.

Gamestation Radio's website

Dreamstation CC:

Straight and to the point. That's the phrase I would use to describe the Dreamstation podcast. Every week, the guys behind Dreamstation release a pre-recorded podcast that covers all the major gaming news from the previous week, and does so in a rather straightforward way. The hosts at Dreamstation don't get off topic too often in order to keep each podcast episode as short as possible. (Unlike most of the other podcasts on here, which hit the 2-hour mark without breaking a sweat.) Dreamstation bleeps out their curses, so if you're worried about the little kiddies, this podcast might be more up your alley. If you're looking for entertainment, Dreamstation may not necessarily be for you, however.

Dreamstation CC's website

Sidescrollers:

The self-proclaimed "best gaming podcast ever" certainly gives every other podcast a run for their money with their weekly combination of brief gaming news, game-related insight, and interviews. Sound-wise, Sidescrollers is among the best sounding podcasts on the web, and doesn't sound like an old AM radio station. The podcast itself is a small part of the Screwattack.com website, which has some of the downright funniest gaming content available on the web. The podcast itself never creeps over the 40-minute mark, so it doesn't drag on and on, and even if it did, there's never a dull moment with these guys. The guys behind Sidescrollers are pretty much casual gamers, so they're certainly not going to bore you with super-duper gaming facts thrown in just to sound all self-important. If you're a casual gamer yourself, this is for you.

Sidescrollers Podcast website

Gamer Andy:

Any show that has an official "F-bomb counter" MUST be promising. Don't gather the kiddies to listen to this one, folks, because the folks at Gamer Andy are not afraid to vent on air about whatever happens to be pissing them off in the gaming world. Pissed off about Sony's recent PR disasters? Gamer Andy is right there with ya. A certain game too hard to beat? Gamer Andy feels your pain. This is a podcast for those that are looking for a no-holds barred podcast that features hilarious commentary, great interviews, and at times, just sheer insanity. The show does frequently pass the 1 hr 30 mark, so if you're not into long podcasts, then this might not be your cup of tea.

Gamer Andy's website

So feel free to check out these podcasts! They're all free, so it doesn't hurt to at least download them once just to see if they strike your fancy. And if anyone out there has any other suggestions for podcasts, feel free to drop us a line!

EDIT: The "Gamer Andy" show is aired live on Thursday nights from 7PM - 9PM PST, and then later released as a podcast for everyone who couldn't catch it live. Check the linked Gamer Andy site for details. (Thanks, Andy!)

Making the Most Out of Your (Dead) "Rising" Quickie

2006-08-06T15:24:00.000-04:00

With Capcom's release of Dead Rising on the Live Marketplace, it seems like everyone and their mother has thus far gone and downloaded the demo, only to be disappointed over the strict 15-minute time limit imposed on it. As short as it may be, the folks at Capcom still managed to pack quite a lot of stuff in there for you to play around with, and the wonderful guys at Joystiq have posted a little guide detailing what weapons, power-ups, and clothing you can find throughout your little zombie adventure in the mall.

Check it out: Dead Rising Demo Guide (Joystiq)

What's On?

2006-08-05T20:05:00.000-04:00

Every week, the folks here at PSTP will highlight the latest and greatest happenings for all the console and handheld gaming online services and let you know what you need to keep an eye out for.

(Note: Unless otherwise noted, all the information below is reflective of what is currently available on US servers, and may not accurately represent what is available in other markets.)

Xbox Live:

After experiencing a rather extended dry spell shortly after E3, Microsoft has all of a sudden ramped up the activity on Xbox Live. Just when we were getting ready to stop checking out the Live Marketplace for new content, all of a sudden, we have tons of new stuff available to choke up our 20 GB hard drives with. As far as demos go, Microsoft has released GTA clone, Saint's Row (Read: gangbanging, stereotypes, and certain criticism from politicians), Ninety-Nine Nights, a Dynasty Warriors-like title that's good fun in small doses, and the highly anticipated zombie-sandbox game, Dead Rising. Dead Rising is particularly fun, though we wish that Capcom didn't tease us with the 15-minute time limit contained on the demo. We want more zombie antics in the mall! But, I guess they DO have to get us hyped up to buy the real game after all, eh?

Haven't you ever wanted to be stuck in a mall? With zombies?

Live Arcade finally got the one game that people have been salivating over since it was announced early on in the 360's lifespan, Street Fighter II: Hyper Fighting. It's no secret that this game will quickly become THE best-selling game on Live Arcade in the service's short history. At 800 Microsoft Points ($10), this is a wonderful trip through memory lane for anyone who ran to their nearest arcade to get a taste of SF II during the early-90's. It's great to see that after 15 plus years, this game has aged gracefully. Of course, one could argue that Street Fighter Anniversary Collection is money better spent than this straight-up no frills version of SF II... (Gotta wonder why Microsoft has yet to make the Anniversary Collection playable on the 360...)

Hadoken!!!

Playstation Underground:

While technically this isn't an "online service" in the same vein as Xbox Live, nonetheless, Sony has begun to take advantage of the PSP's online capabilities and is offering downloadable demos on their "Playstation Underground" site for PSP owners. Currently, one can find painless downloadable demos of Loco Roco, the uber-cute rolling blob game that has gaming editors wetting their pants, and World Tour Soccer '06. However, if you're one of those people that refuses to update the latest PSP firmware in order to play homebrew, then "it's no soup for you!" (Version 2.8 required)

You cute f'in bastards.

When the PS3 finally launches, hopefully, we'll see more wonderful downloadable content coming out of Sony and their announced Xbox Live-type service.

So, check out that content, and if we missed anything, don't be shy and drop us a line!

Damn You, Blogger!

2006-08-02T19:53:00.000-04:00

Unfortunately, thanks to some technical errors on Blogger's part, we haven't been able to post here on PSTP in the past couple of weeks. But fear not, folks, because everything is back under control. Starting tomorrow, look for features coming up, including Classic Gaming Wednesday for the past two weeks, as well as some stories that are lighting up the gaming world right now... including the apparent downsizing of the mega-gaming event known as "E3..."

So, stay tuned!

Classic Gaming Wednesday

2006-07-19T14:31:00.000-04:00

As always on Wednesday, here's the Classic Game of the Week. Because, remember, you can't go forward unless you know where you've been!

Back when "Animal Crossing" came out on the Gamecube in 2002, everyone and their mother was obsessed with trying to obtain all the old NES games that you could collect as gifts from the various animal townies you encountered throughout the course of the game. While there were plenty of classics that were up for grabs, the one game that everyone salivated for was "Punch-Out!!". Some of the game's younger players, however, never quite understood what was the obsession with trying to obtain the "Punch-Out!!" emulator. Sure, they understood the desire to collect all of the NES games that AC offered, but, to actually want to play them? It just didn't make sense to them. Why would you want to play an old 8-bit boxing game for any extended amount of time?

Because this ain't just some ol' 8-bit boxing game, youngbucks. This is friggin' "Punch Out!!". And regardless of how old it is, you can still pop this game in (after blowing on the cartridge about 20 times, of course) and have the time of your life with it. It's a "timeless classic" in every sense of the term and because of that, "Punch-Out!!" is our Classic Game of the Week.

Back in 1987, Nintendo's "Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!" graced NES systems around the world and introduced players to the underdog, everyman protagonist dubbed, "Little Mac," who is determined to climb up the ladder of the WVBA (World Virtual Boxing Association) and become World Champion (with your help, of course). After facing a variety of oddball opponents spread throughout three boxing circuits, you eventually earn the right to participate in the "Dream Fight," in which you finally get to face the game's title character, Mike Tyson. Three years later, when Nintendo's licensing agreement with Tyson ended, Nintendo changed the name of the game to "Punch-Out!!" and replaced Tyson's image in the game with a character named Mr. Dream.

'I'ma eat your children! Er, I mean, I'll fight you..."

What makes "Punch-Out!!" so fun is its combination of incredibly quirky characters and great "easy to learn, hard to master" gameplay that keeps players coming back for more. Whether you're facing a loser Frenchman, a drunken Russian, or a dancing Spaniard, you can be assured that each match will be fun, challenging (especially in the later levels), and full of silly stereotypes. The key to succeeding in the game is to learn your opponent's attack patterns so you could dodge their hits at the right time, ring up "Stars" (which enable you to unleash a furious jumping uppercut when used), and to watch your stamina.

Little Mac was really "little."

Growing up, there were three gaming achievements that were guaranteed to impress your friends around the schoolyard; beating "Contra" without the Konami Code, getting past the fifth level in "Ghosts 'n Goblins" (never mind actually beating it!), and coming out with a win against Mike Tyson in the "Dream Match" in "Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!". Tyson's videogame representation is arguably one of the cheesiest friggin' bosses in the history of gaming, and anyone who could beat him has definitely got skillz. While Mr. Dream, the character that replaced Iron Mike after 1990, has the same moves, there was that key something that made a difference when you stepped into the ring with the sprite representation of the "Baddest Man on the Planet." Call me superficial, but I will always consider the Mike Tyson version of "Punch-Out!!" to be the real version of the game. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I find it easier to swallow losses in match after match against the former heavyweight champion of the world than some random fictional character. Either way, that last match is a doozy, and remains an incredible test of skill for even the most experienced of gamers. To this day, there are still people who proudly proclaim that they were able to "beat Tyson/Mr. Dream" in "Punch-Out!!" (myself included), simply because it remains to this day one of the most celebrated gaming achievements around.

Cheesy bastard!

So, whether you're facing Glass Joe, Great Tiger, Soda Popinski, or Mike Tyson himself, "Punch-Out!!" was, and still is, an incredible game that will bring a smile to anyone's face from the moment it boots up. "Punch-Out!!" is NES gaming at its absolute finest, and is certainly worthy of a spin this week in honor of Classic Gaming Wednesday. If you don't have the game in a closet somewhere, you can find copies of "Punch-Out!!" just about anywhere they sell classic NES games, and if you're lucky, you might even find the licensed Mike Tyson version. If that doesn't sound appetizing to you, there's the very real possibility that Nintendo will re-release the game as part of the Wii's "Virtual Console" feature. And that, my friends, would be a very, very good thing.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Modern Day Sequels?
Nintendo released the sequel, "Super Punch-Out!!" for the SNES in 1994. (a gaming classic in its own right) There haven't been any other installments in the series since then. Out of all the classic games that Nintendo has in its back catalog, "Punch-Out!!" remains one of the few that have yet to see life as a standalone game on one of its current systems. Outside of the "Animal Crossing" emulator, the game has yet to see life outside of the NES.

Fun Fact: The character, Soda Popinski, was actually originally named "Vodka Drunkenski" in the Japanese version, but thanks to NIntendo of America's self-censorship, the name was changed in order to avoid referencing alcohol to minors. However, Drunkenski's mid-match quotes remained from the Japanese version, such as "I can't drive, so I'm going to walk all over you," or "I drink to prepare for a fight. Tonight, I am very prepared!"

Sony Beginning to Produce PS3s

2006-07-19T12:24:00.000-04:00

According to the folks over at Next-Gen, Sony has started to churn out PS3s in anticipation of its launch in November. Thus far, they're getting about 200,000 out the door a month, with yields expected to increase as more manufacturers come online in the next few months. The news has yet to be confirmed by Sony, however.

Even if this is true, unfortunately for Sony, it looks as if they will suffer the same kinds of manufacturing delays that plagued the Xbox 360's launch last year. And with rumors circulating that "Cell", the advanced IBM processor that powers the PS3, will have incredibly low yields , there's a real possibility that the PS3 launch can be an even larger debacle than the Xbox 360.

Sony sure has been getting an incredible load of negative press ever since E3 came and went. Between eroding developer confidence, perceived arrogance, allegations of racism, greater consumer interest in the Wii, and the death of UMD (just to name a few), it's no wonder that market analysts are beginning to mark the end of Sony's dominance of the video game industry.

At this point, Sony couldn't even BUY good PR.

15 Years of "Final Fantasy IV"

2006-07-19T11:00:00.000-04:00

There are few gaming franchises out there that get fanboys' blood pumping more than Square-Enix's "Final Fantasy" series. It seems as if the second someone mentions "Final Fantasy", the fanboys come out in droves and begin to engage in heated debates over which game was their favorite, which characters kicked more ass, and whether or not FF VII ruined the franchise forever.

Well, today just so happens to be the 15th year anniversary of the one Final Fantasy title that established the gold standard for all other subsequent sequels: Final Fantasy IV. People can talk all they want to about how the first three Final Fantasies rocked, but let's be honest with each other here; until FF IV came out, Final Fantasy was Phantasy Star's bitch. For an entire generation of American gamers, FF IV (released as "Final Fantasy II" in the US) was the one game responsible for popping a lot of people's RPG cherries, and became one of the first games in American history to be gripping enough to get people to call out sick from work/school just to play it.

Jeremy Parish, over at Toastyfrog, pays proper homage to the occasion with a blog entry dedicated to the RPG classic. Make sure you check it out right here

So, Happy Birthday, Final Fantasy IV! You're still pretty damn awesome, 15 years later.

Currently Playing (7/16 - 7/23)

2006-07-16T10:57:00.000-04:00

With an incredible heat wave slated for most of the continental US, here's djkibblesnbits with his list of games that will give him an excuse to stay indoors this next week.

1) Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem: I never got the chance to play this game when it first came out early on in the Gamecube's lifetime back in 2002, but now, thanks to the wonderful folks at Gamefly, I can now take the time to play through one of the most underrated gaming classics of the current gaming generation. How's it going, you ask? Let's just say that all the acclaim it received is well-earned...

2) Final Fantasy IV Advance: I remember when I first played through FF IV all the way back in 1993 at a friend's house... I was never the same after that... Now, years later, I'm reliving my youth and playing through FF IV's Lunar Ruins, finishing up the game that I had officially ended back in December. Can't wait till FF III is released for the DS!

3) Mario Kart DS: I pulled off the greatest move ever the other day on some kid from Japan... I actually avoided his blue shell and won the duel! Yessssssssssssssss.

4) The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion: ....Oblivi-crackkk... Hmmmmm....

Don't Go Into That Building? Why?! Because, It's "Condemned!"

2006-07-14T16:24:00.000-04:00

Shortly after the Xbox 360 launched in North America, the folks at Monolith Productions got Sega to publish the survival-horror game, "Condemned: Criminal Origins," for Microsoft's then shiny-new console. While it's been more than 8 months since the title's release in North America, I figured that, being the rather dry gaming summer that it is, why not play catch up and see what thrills the title has to offer.

And after running through the game, it must be said that this game does indeed have plenty of thrills to "boot." (Heh, heh, a wonderful "no-prize" to those people who can get the pun.)

Those looking for a completely radical shift in storytelling for survival horror games will be disappointed to discover that there really isn't much different here from the thousands of other horror games released in the past decade. You play as a cop (an FBI agent, to be exact), who has to investigate a murder scene that apparently involved a serial killer. Of course, the place you're going into happens to be dark, and you happen to be the only person who can do the job, AND, there's something rather supernatural about the whole thing. Sound familiar? I thought so. I mean, it's only the same backstory and setting that you can find in just about every other popular survival horror game. To be fair, the game takes a different turn after about the first level or so, when the story veers away from the traditional survival horror game formula and actually has more in common with movies like "Seven" and "Silence of the Lambs," than games from the "Resident Evil" and "Silent Hill" series. Without giving too much away, you basically chase after a serial killer while trying to deal with your own personal demons (heh, heh), getting past crazed homeless people, collecting dead birds (not sure why...), and staying away from a local police force that mistrusts you. It gets rather interesting as you go on, and there are definitely some "holy shit" moments as you progress through the game's creepy levels.

Okay...maybe I will...

As you chase after your suspect throughout the game's ten chapters, you are required to use some special FBI-issued forensic tools to collect evidence and track your target's trail across the game's expansive levels. Thankfully, because your character has good "instincts," you always know when to start searching for clues thanks to an onscreen prompt which alerts you to press a context-sensitive button in order to whip out a device. (Your character always knows what device to select, so you don't have to fumble around with the different forensic tools in order to get your evidence). The tools themselves range from a digital camera to a sampler, which evaluates a specific target's chemical make-up. All the information you collect somehow automatically gets sent over to a remote lab via a mobile videophone for evaluation. The tools are pretty cool, but by the time you get to the later levels, the whole novelty behind data collection gets rather old. Because of your "natural instincts," collecting evidence becomes nothing more than a glorified game of "find target, press button." Don't let the whole "evidence" thing fool you; you're certainly not being asked to use your brain to uncover clues. No one's going to mistake "Condemned" for "C.S.I.", that's for sure.

Checkin' for clues...

Some people have mistaken "Condemned" for a FPS, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. Sure, the game does take place in first-person, and you do get to fire off some guns every once in awhile, but this ain't no "Doom 3." Instead of going through level after level, blowing homeless bums and other freaky perps into smithereens, you are asked to completely beat the snot out of them using an assortment of wonderful blunt objects such as crowbars, pipes, street signs, 2x4s, and even mannequin arms. "Condemned" features an incredibly deep and realistic-looking melee combat system in which you have to learn how to find the right combination of attacking and parrying in order to defeat your enemies without sustaining too much damage. Each weapon you grab has its own set of attributes that affect your attacking speed, power, and ability to block. The enemies you encounter also tend to have some great A.I., so they will be doing everything they can to catch you off guard, including hiding behind corners, initiating head-fakes, cursing you out, and of course, stopping your attacks with parries of their own. However, you can always disarm your enemies using a tazer, which temporarily disables your enemies long enough for you to run up to them, take their weapon, and then use it against them. There is a catch with the tazer, however; you can only use it once before you have to wait for it to charge after about 30 seconds, so it's not like you can run through the game abusing it. With that said, the melee system is pretty balanced and certainly provides a rather different experience from games before it.

Sometimes, you'll run into actual firearms, but unfortunately, you're not allowed to reload in the game, so many of these guns are only good for about 5-7 shots and then that's it. At the very least, you can then turn the guns themselves into melee weapons, but only for a limited amount of time, as the guns tend to break after a few successful hits.

Graphically, "Condemned" is a great-looking game. It's clear that the people at Monolith spared no expense to use the 360's processing power to create the incredibly grotesque and expansive gaming environments that you'll run into over the course of the game. They also did some great things with the lighting; at some points you might find yourself literally jumping at the sight of your own shadow. And with the variety of locales that you'll go through from level to level, you'll certainly see first-hand the amount of work that Monolith put into making environments that'll make you want to play with the lights on, whether you're running through an abandoned department store, or an empty train station. Combine the graphics with the incredible sound that the game features, and we're talking 'bout a pretty complete package as far as "horror" is concerned.

Bad attempt at a slam dunk?

For whatever reason, "Condemned" connects to Xbox Live to post "high scores," but honestly, I could really give two shits about how I compare with others at completing the game. It almost seems as if Monolith just put in the "high score" aspect of the game just to appease Microsoft's desire to have every game whore out Live. I mean, if you care about that kind of thing, go ahead and knock yourself out as you attempt to replay the game again and again to obtain a good global ranking, but outside of acquiring a few Achievement Points, there really isn't a good reason to replay the game again and again. Once you beat the game, you really have no incentive, from a "fun" perspective, to replay the game again. I went back through some levels to pick up some Achievement Points that I missed the first time around, and it certainly wasn't as fun as when I first played. It almost felt like it was a chore to go back to those levels. So, the game's replayability is questionable.

Speaking of Achievement Points, it's not too hard to obtain them, and unlike other 360 titles, each award actually unlocks special content within the game, such as "making of" videos, character and level sketches, "outtakes", and special FBI files that fill in some holes that were not explained within the main game's story arc. As a result, you actually have an incentive to obtain the A.P.s. The hardest AP to get is the Gold Melee Award, which rewards you for completing the entire game with melee weapons only. It's certainly not too hard to obtain, but unfortunately, there's a slight bug in the game that affects whether or not your 360 recognizes the Achievement. In this case, you might have to replay it over and over again just to get it to register, which is not fun at all.

"Condemned: Criminal Origins" is a great game that's certainly worthy of at least a weekend rental, if only to experience the kinds of thrills that the guys at Monolith have created on the 360. Average gamers should finish the game in about 15-20 hours, so it's certainly possible to finish the game in a weekend. Play this game with the lights off and the sound up, and I assure you that you will be playing one of the scariest games ever created. Guaranteed.

PROS:

1) Decent storyline that will keep you playing all the way to the end.

2) Looks and sounds great.

3) Will scare your ass off.

4) Melee combat system is well-balanced, hard-hitting, and innovative. Getting hit with a sledgehammer never looked so damaging.

CONS:

1) Some levels are just too big and dark for their own good; real easy to get lost. (ahem, Grid 4 Subway Tunnels, ahem)

2) At times, the game's checkpoint system proves to be incredibly annoying. You can't save whenever you want to, and instead, have to wait to reach a certain point before you can save. This can be real bad when you have to keep on replaying through hard parts over and over again just because you couldn't save.

3) Forensic tools get kind of old after about the 4th Chapter.

4) You get the feeling that there's going to be a sequel... too many questions left unanswered. Like... why the hell is everyone nuts in the first place!?

Shouts to Gamespot.com for some of the images posted here!

Oh, Gaming Mascots, Where Have You Gone?

2006-07-14T05:50:00.000-04:00

There's an interesting article that was published on the wonderful gaming industry news site, Next Generation that asks the question, "Whatever happened to the videogame mascot?" Using Sega's mascot, Sonic the Hedgehog, as an example, Eric-Jon Rössel Waugh points to the rise and fall of the blue speed demon thanks to corporate mishandling and making games, "just for the sake of there being more Sonic games in the world."

It's an interesting article, and one that I'm sure will get gamers who grew up with mascots to get a little teary-eyed. But hey, at least we have Mario, right?

"CULTURE: Mascots and Messages" (Next-Gen)

EDIT: Fixed broken link to Next-Gen article.

Microsoft: Host a Party in Your Pantalones! (Or at least your house)

2006-07-13T16:16:00.000-04:00

I was running through Microsoft's Xbox website, when I ran into a link that led to an announcement for "Xbox Live Arcade Party-in-a-Box." According to the page, Microsoft is giving away (while supplies last) a free Papa John's pizza, 1000 MIcrosoft Points, and a code for a free music download for those looking to host a "Wednesday Night Arcade" party. This promotion is running alongside M$'s push to release five titles over a five week span on Arcade.

Sorry, I know it says "Party-in-a-Box," but there's no liquor involved. And no more than one pizza pie, either.

All they ask in return? Take pictures and be a corporate whore for an evening.

Sound good to you? Well, drop them a line and let 'em know you want to host a party!

Party-in-a-Box website

"Prey"-ing on Live

2006-07-13T15:41:00.000-04:00

For you 360 owners looking for something to do on Live during this rather slow gaming summer, check out some of the more recent uploads on Live, courtesy of the folks at Microsoft.

1) "Prey": It took about 10 years for 3D Realms to release this FPS, but they finally did it (unlike their other, yet to be released project, "Duke Nukem Forever," ahem...). This demo is friggin huge at over 1 GB, but it'll definitely entertain you for about 45 minutes. I haven't played the full version yet (since, after all, it did only come out this week), but if the free demo is any indication of the actual game, it looks like it's going to be good fun for those looking to tear through yet another FPS to pass the time. Disgusting-looking levels and weapons? Check. Defying the rules of gravity? Check. Savage aliens? Check. Native-American folklore? Check. And funny ass commentary, courtesy of main hero? Check, check, check. So, at least go and download this bad boy, see what it's like, and then go frag some biznatches in the demo's multiplayer mode. (It's already in the top-10 Live multiplayer list according to Microsoft, and that's just the demo!

2) "Frogger": We've been waiting for Microsoft to release more titles on Xbox Live Arcade (where's Street Fighter?!), and all we get is friggin' Frogger. WTF?! I'm sorry, but seriously, this is one of those titles, that while, yes, it's a classic, it's been whored out way too much. I don't see the need to waste five dollars to buy a game that's worth 2 cents in this day and age. Definitely nothing to get too excited about. On the bright side, M$ is expected to release another Arcade title every Wednesday for the next five weeks or so, including Street Fighter II on August 2nd...let's see if they stick to that release schedule.

3) "NCAA Football 2007" Yawn. Yet another EA sports title release, except this time, we're getting college football for the first time on the 360. As of now, I don't see it on Live yet, but it's supposed to be on there any minute now.

If none of these tickle your fancy, well, you could always pop in Crack, er, I mean, Oblivion...

RIP to Sony UMD: We Barely Knew Ye

2006-07-13T12:26:00.000-04:00

According to the good folks at Kotaku, Target department stores are going to stop carrying UMD movies, a couple of months after several movie houses decided that they were going to abandon releasing movies for the format altogether.

When the Sony PSP was released over a year ago, the Sony hype machine was quick to declare victory by announcing that sales of UMD movie titles had quickly made the proprietary UMD format a "resounding success". In an effort to cash in, studios doubled their efforts to release as many movies onto UMD as they could, and within a few short months, close to about 500 titles were available on UMD. However, these studios would soon realize that the brisk UMD sales figures that Sony quoted early on in the PSPs lifespan only happened as a result of the fact that early adopters were looking for SOMETHING to pop into their brand-new $250 devices, especially at a time when there weren't nearly enough good games available for the handheld upon initial release.

As time went on, consumers got hip to the whole UMD-format thing and realized that they really weren't all that great to begin with. So, people voted with their dollars, and now, it's safe to say that the UMD movie format is practically dead.

So, in retrospect, why did yet another Sony proprietary format fail? (Betamax, Mini-Disc, ATRAC, Memory Stick)

A) Cost: At $20-$30 bucks a pop, UMD movies are waayyy too expensive, considering that people could get far superior DVD versions of these movies at $10-$20. Combine the price with the fact that the UMDs did not come close to offering the extras that people have grown accustomed to on DVDs, and you have a recipe for certain failure.

B) Lack of playback devices: Sony never had any plans to release a product that allowed consumers to play their UMDs at home, so, when you combine the price of the UMD movies, with the fact that you could only watch them on one device, it really didn't make sense to buy them.

C) Poorly made movies: Some UMD titles were released so haphazardly, that they didn't even feature chapter menus, which made searching for specific scenes in movies an incredible chore. Once again, why are you going to pay so much money to have a broken viewing experience? All that technology, just to relive the days of VHS playback? No, thank you.

D) Ripped Movies: Ironically, the PSPs ability to play digital versions of movies straight off Memory Sticks might have quickened the demise of the UMD format. Think about it: people really did want to watch movies on their PSP, but they didn't want to pay $30 a pop for the ability to do so. The solution? Rip movies from cheaper DVDs, re-encode them into a format that the PSP could understand, and BAM, you can watch movies on your PSP. It isn't the easiest thing to do, but where there's a will, there's a way.

Knowing Sony, they might just blame the fact that UMDs failed because of "piracy", even though the truth is that the format failed because of their stubbornness in sticking with expensive pricing. I don't know about you, but I would much rather spend a quick $5-$7 for a movie on UMD rather than spend three hours encoding a full-feature movie to UMD, wouldn't you? At a price like that, it's a friggin' impulse buy.

So, now... anyone think history is going to repeat itself, again, when Sony finally releases Blu-Ray to the world?

The above picture courtesy of the folks at Gizmodo

Hands-On With the DS Lite

2006-07-12T13:12:00.000-04:00

It certainly feels as if everyone and their mother out there in the blogging world already got their grubby hands on a DS Lite, so we feel as if we're the last ones who were invited to the party. Regardless, like our parents are always apt to say, "everyone else ain't [us]," so here are our own personal impressions, courtesy of djkibblesnbits.

From the moment you take the handheld out the box, you realize that this version of the DS is a completely different animal from the first one. While the original DS (hereby forever known as the Clunk) felt kind of cheap and flimsy, the Lite's springy buttons dramatically improve the feel of the handheld. The power button has been moved to the right side of the case (no more accidently turning off the system with your thumb), and the microphone has been moved above the bottom screen, right at the joint where the Lite folds down. Based on looks alone, the Lite's iPod-ish look gives it that "high-tech" look that the Clunk lacked, especially when comparing it to the once superior-looking Sony PSP. At the same time, while the Lite has a shiny finish like the PSPs, for whatever reason, the Lite does not feel nearly as fragile and sensitive as the Sony handheld. Still, you wouldn't want to shove this baby in the same pocket as your car keys or something. (Hell, yes, you CAN put it in your pocket, unlike both the PSP and the Clunk!) It may not be priority #1 with the Lite, but I would suggest that you get yourself a sleek little case that can match the style and grace of the oh-so wonderful looking Lite.

Outside of the look, the biggest improvement is the backlighting on the two screens, which makes the light about 20-40% brighter than the Clunk. Trust me when I say that this new backlight makes gaming on the DS soooo much better. You pop in any game that you might have played on the Clunk, and I'm telling you, you're going to see colors and textures that you never thought were programmed into the game to begin with. Who knew a little more backlighting could make that much of a difference?

There's a huge difference in backlighting...

The battery life on the Lite is not as good as the Clunk's (about 8 hrs), but it really isn't that big of a difference from the original's 10 hr lifespan. That's still about 2-3 times better than the power-hog PSP's paltry battery life. The Lite's charger input is smaller than the Clunk's original, Firewire-like input, so, you're not going to be able to use the old charger for the new system.

Hmm...I see where the inspiration came from

Sound-wise, the two systems are about the same. Both have normal headphone ports, so you don't have to go and buy special headphones for the DS Lite, which is a good thing.

Because the Lite has been reduced in size, one of the things that was sacrificed was the size of the GBA port. Now, when you stick your GBA games into the DS Lite, the cart sticks out instead of fitting snugly into the handheld's shell. It's not unlike the way original GB carts stuck out of the GBA SP. The cool factor dies down a little bit when you have a cart sticking out on the bottom, but it's not that bad. And when you don't have a GBA cart to cover the bottom port, NIntendo has kindly provided us with a port cover that goes perfectly with the DS Lite. No more worrying about dust getting into the GBA port, as you did with the Clunk.

Overall, the DS Lite is an incredible revision, and certainly worthy of a purchase, should you already own the Clunk. I'm telling you, once you play games on the Lite, you can't go back to playing games on the original. And at $129, you're not paying anymore than what the Clunk costs, so go ahead and live a little.

And if you don't have a DS, period, well, you certainly can't go wrong with jumping on the bandwagon, beginning with the DS Lite. As far as other colors are concerned, currently, only the polar white version is available in the US, but there are other colors available in other countries that you could import. And given the fact that the DS is not region-coded, you can buy a DS anywhere in the world and play a game from any region.

So what you waiting for? Go get one!

Classic Gaming Wednesday

2006-07-12T12:29:00.000-04:00

Once again, it's Wednesday, so here we are with yet another Gaming Classic for you to tear through. After all, you can't go forward if you don't know where you've been!

"Rise from your grave!"

Back in 1988, Sega released the arcade classic, "Altered Beast" in Japan, and then shortly brought upright cabinet over to American shores a few months later. Before long, the game, a side-scrolling, 2-player, beat-em-up, became popular enough for Sega to whore off the the game and port it to a number of systems, including DOS, Atari 2100, Amiga, the NES, and of course, Sega's own gaming systems, the Master System, and the 16-bit Sega Genesis. When the Genesis was first released in the US, Sega offered Altered Beast as a pack-in, thus making it one of the most-played Genesis games early on in the system's lifetime.

Like many other stories found in video games during this time period, the background story behind this game was a bit corny, if not confusing. Basically, you control some guy who has been brought back to life by the Greek God, Zeus, and you have to go and rescue the Greek goddess, Athena, from the clutches of minor Underworld God, Neff, who somehow kidnapped one of the most kick-ass gods in Greek mythology and holds her hostage. Along the way, you run into these "Spirit Balls" (how original!) which are like steroids or something for your main character. Every Spirit Ball you collect makes your muscles get all huge, and if you collect three of them, you turn into a beast. ("Balls turn me into a BEAASSSTT!!!") You can turn into a werewolf, a tiger, a bear, or even a flying dragon, depending the level you're on, and when you do eventually turn into a beast, the music changes, and all of a sudden, you're rocking out to some upbeat music, killing random enemies as you go along.

More steroids than Barry Bonds...

The control scheme is rather simple, like almost every game from this era (punch, kick, jump). While the action is dated by today's standards, there's something that still cool about controlling the beast, with that whole music thing going on around you. If you gather a few friends around when you play this game, it's almost guaranteed to get everyone smiling and having fun with this little bit of nostalgia, all while you blow through the levels and make fun of the game's design.

While there have been numerous ports of the game, you can find the best versions on the Sega Genesis and the Turbografx CD (Japanese version-only). Sega released the Sega Smash Pack Vol. 1 for the Dreamcast, which featured an emulated version of Altered Beast, but sadly, this port is incredibly awful, and really isn't worth playing. The Sega Master System version isn't bad, but if you don't have it already, it'll be harder to track down this system and this game rather than just getting an old Genesis version, which you can find practically everywhere they sell classic consoles. Recently, there was a port of Altered Beast for Tapwave's Zodiac handheld, but it wasn't worth the media it was printed on, unfortunately. Just stick to the Genesis version. You can't go wrong.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Modern Day Sequels?
In Japan, there was a 3D sequel to the original game, entitled, "Project Altered Beast" for the PS2. There were plans to release the game here in the States, but thankfully, the idea was canned after it was poorly received by Japanese gaming critics. It was hyper-violent, incredibly bloody, and had little to do with the original, save for the beast-changing part. There was also a recently GBA game, published by THQ, titled, "Altered Beast: Guardian of the Realms," that was more like the original game, featuring new beasts, and new destructible environments, but in this case, they stuck so close to the original blueprint, that the game looks as if it could've been made on the Genesis instead of the more advanced 32-bit GBA.

FUN FACT: Many gamers consider the title theme and the music from the first level of the game to be among gaming's most instantly recognizable gaming soundtracks of all time.