Sony Offers Free Car With Gran Turismo PSP Purchase Via PSN

Posted on October 2, 2009 by geelw

I bet you’re all excited as you click away over to to the PSN Store about the mind-blowing prospect of having a REALLY big box delivered by the Fed Ex guy, huh? Well, guess what: that’s not a REAL Nissan 2009 GT-R Spec V in Metallic Blue you’ll be getting, Speed Racer. Nope, it’s a great in-game ride you can stick in your burgeoning garage and use to rake in even more rides, though. With over 800 cars and 35 tracks, this warn up for GT5 is something I’ll be hooked into for a while, that’s for sure…

Oh, the free car deal expires on October 15, 2009 – so get your cash and get this NON-clunker for your PSP or PSP go today!

Dragon Age: Origins Update #5: The City of Denerim

Posted on October 2, 2009 by geelw

This week, lets take a little trip to one of Dragon Age: Origins’ huge cities, the capital of Ferelden, also known as Denerim. It’s a nice place to visit, but you all know how the rest of that old saying goes, especially if the real world is beckoning you away from more play time with BioWare’s upcoming epic Action/RPG. Well, grab that passport anyway, this is only a short hop today!

By the by, I missed an update regarding the game’s soundtrack, so I’ll just quickly report that the very talented Inon Zur is doing the music for the game. A well-respected composer of film, TV and game scores, he’s done some great work in games such as Shadow Ops: Red Mercury, Lineage II, Fallout 3, both Crysis titles and many others. Meanwhile, back at the travel agency, your cart is ready – shall we get on with the tour?

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Review: Obscure: The Aftermath

Posted on October 1, 2009 by geelw

Platform: PSP/PSPgo

Developer: Hydrovision

Publisher: Playlogic

# of Players 1 (Wi-Fi: 1-2)

Rating: M (Mature)

Official Site

Score: B

Even if you’ve never played the original Obscure on the PC, PS2 or Xbox, Obscure: The Aftermath makes for a great slice of survival horror now available in portable form on the PSP. This scary single or co-op experience puts you in the shoes of a handful of college-age jock, loner and babe types who set to put an end to a deadly plague of sorts brought on by ingestion of some rather nasty black flowers. There’s a lot more to the plot than that, but this is one of those games where telling too much kills a few key plot twists. Despite a few visual bumps in the code, the game both looks and plays great on the handheld and overall, it’s a hellish ride well worth taking… provided you don’t mind the “B” movie silliness some of the dialog provides.

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Review: DIRT 2 (PS3)

Posted on September 25, 2009 by geelw

Platform: PS3/Xbox 360

Developer: Codemasters (Racing Studio)

Publisher: Codemasters

# of Players: 1 (Online: 2 – 8)

Rating: T (Teen)

Official Site

Score: A

Accessibility is the prime mover DIRT 2 uses perfectly to keep players of all skill levels coming back for more. Whether you’re a rally newbie interested in the sport thanks to the X Games or a grumpy veteran player shaking his or her fist at Codemasters for “Americanizing” the game in the past two installments, there’s definitely something for you (and everyone in between those two extremes. Stick a controller in your hands or sit in front of your expensive steering wheel setup, lock in your difficulty and take the phone off the hook – you’re not coming up for air unless it’s your virtual ride taking to the skies on an awesome jump. Fantastic visuals, near perfect handling and a solid racing experience await anyone looking for one of the best racers this year. A few bumps in the road keep this from sheer perfection, but the Joe Gamer crowd will barely notice the problem areas.

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Now Shipping: Twice the Horror (or Obscure, Meet Dead Space)…

Posted on September 25, 2009 by geelw

Two horror-themed titles have shipped for next week’s big release hoedown doozy of a game avalanche. There are also a ton of cool games in other different genres coming as well next Tuesday (and onward), so here’s a quick heads-up for you on some of what I’m looking forward to:

Dead Space Extraction (Wii) and Obscure: the Aftermath (PSP)are headed to retail on September 29th (as are Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga (Wii) and a bunch of other stuff I’ll post once I find time to compile the listing). Anyway, here’s a bit more on both titles (and a nice trailer for the Obscure sequel)…

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Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising Goes Gold

Posted on September 25, 2009 by geelw

Just a little bit longer… Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising has gone gold and is set to hit retail on October 6, 2009. Naturally, Codemasters is going all out with a bunch of cool stuff happening on the game’s official web site. Peek below for a few screens, boogie on over to the game’s site and go pre-order what’s looking to be one of the best modern tactical military games to date.

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Fallout 3 News: Broken Steel + More DLC on PS3, GOTY in October for All

Posted on September 25, 2009 by geelw

PlayStation 3 owners can now commence with the dancing around the room stuff, as they finally get to catch up on what’s happening in the Wasteland their 360-owning buddies have been bragging about for some time now. Bethsoft has released the first in a series of download content packs for the PS3 version of Fallout 3, Broken Steel, for a paltry 10 caps (or $9.99).

In addition, the next few weeks should be a regular beefsteak mine bonanza for PS3 owners as more content becomes available. For those of you who’ve never played the game, have no broadband access or just want a physical product you can hug as you sleep or send off as a gift to your favorite person (Hey, I’m your new friend, right?), there’s also the upcoming Fallout 3: Game of the Year Edition, set to hit retail on October 13, 2009. Details you want, Details you got – (cut, paste):

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Half-Minute Hero Demo #2 Arrives On PSN

Posted on September 25, 2009 by geelw

Xseed Games loves you, y’know – they just released the second of two demos for their upcoming PSP exclusive, Half-Minute Hero through the PlayStation Network Store and it’s a doooooozy. Fun and ridiculously funny, but it’s short and really cool to the point that you’ll break a nail or something after playing it so much. Xseed is of course, hugely unapologetic about your busted fingernail and has released the following statement:

We are excited to release the second of two downloadable demos for our upcoming hi-speed RPG, Half-Minute Hero. This demo will feature Evil Lord Mode, a real-time strategy game where players will take control of the powerful, and obnoxiously gorgeous, Evil Lord.

In this mode players must summon monsters to fight enemies.

Summon monsters are divided into three types: Brutes, Nimbles and Shooters. Enemies are also divided up into the same categories. Each type of monster or enemy has advantages/disadvantages towards another type of monster or enemy. Figuring out the best strategy to use against each type is the tricky part. When the time limit reaches zero, the reign of evil is over.

See? Totally unapologetic! Anyway, go download the demo and try the game out – keep the Band-Aids handy just in case your nails are weak (more calcium and natural gelatin in your diet helps, as well). Half-Minute Hero will be released in October 2009 at retailers across North America.

Pinball Hall of Fame: The WIlliams Collection Rolls Onto PS3, 360

Posted on September 23, 2009 by geelw

In the “It’s about time!” department: Crave has announced that Farsight Studios latest collection of classic pinball tables (in handy digital form), Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection is now available at retail. If you’re looking at that cover art and wondering “What’s pinball?”, well… that’s exactly WHY you need to spend the $40 on this one. Me, I grew up playing pinball (back in 1972, Gottlieb’s ‘Batter Up!’ was my introduction to the silver ball) and I was a big fan of FarSight’s PHOF: The Gottlieb Collection from a few years back, so this new set of silver ball oldies should be a real treat.

Anyway, here’s a bit of the press release:

“The Pinball Hall of Fame franchise was built on delivering the highest level of authenticity to the most discerning pinball players,” said Betsi Gijanto, executive vice president, Crave Entertainment. “With three brand new Williams tables, leaderboards, the 4-player multi-play option and high-definition graphics, Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection for Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 upholds that standard while providing gamers with everything they’d expect on the latest game systems. Value-priced at $39.99, Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection is destined to become a classic in many gamers’ libraries.”

True to the franchise, Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection, developed by FarSight Studios, offers 13 Classic Williams tables from the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, including three new tables: Medieval Madness™, The Tales of the Arabian Nights™ and No Good Gophers™. In addition, the award-winning franchise is marking its debut on Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 with online leaderboards and trophies, multi-player for up to four players and HD Compatibility (1080i and 1080p). The game also features expanded table goals and bonus features throughout.
Rated “E10+,” (Everyone 10+) by the ESRB, Pinball Hall of Fame: The Williams Collection is now available at major retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $39.99

– go buy a copy already!

Review: The Beatles: Rock Band

Posted on September 23, 2009 by geelw

Platform: PS3/Xbox 360/Nintendo Wii

Developer: Harmonix Music Systems

Publisher: Electronic Arts

# of Players 1 – 6 (Online: 2 – 6)

Rating: T (Teen)

Official Site

Score: A

You don’t need to be a die-hard Beatles fan, hardcore Rock Band groupie or even a blazing fast Guitar Hero to appreciate The Beatles: Rock Band. Harmonix has come up with a supremely accessible Magical Mystery Tour through some of the best of the Fab Four’s catalog and thanks to the stellar presentation, this is one Ticket to Ride that will leave you Feeling Fine up to Eight Days a Week. If you’re a Rock Band fan looking for the game to be a big step forward, you may find Something lacking. The experience isn’t quite the Revolution you’re probably expecting, but after A Hard Day’s Night of rocking, you’ll find the game has its ways of making you Twist and Shout ’til the cows come home.