Good lord did I miss a lot of news or what!? 

Gamespot getting held to the fire for finally showing even they aren't immune to a corp. take over.  IMO it's just a matter of time before IGN and other so called reliable gaming web sites get busted for their actions of taking big money from publishers in return for favorable review scores.

I say what now? to the IGN podcasts and other podcasts that makes light of this tactic being used. It does exists and it so happens that it took a firing of a big time reviewer to bring all of this to light.

Exactly why I say you cannot always go by what these sites say when it comes to game reviews. Anyway I've been playing games, games and more games. From Rock Band to the recently purchased Vice City stories for my PSP it's been busy.

This combined with going out with friends and having a social life it takes away from posting here on a regular basis.

So what's next?

Next game up for me is UT3 for PS3, honestly I am excited and can't wait. I also got my Blu Ray movies and added Casino Royale to my collection. It was a gift from a friend, you could say an early Christmas present. 

I also borrowed Jean De Arc from a co worker and I have to say the game is hard.

In the vein of Final Fantasy Tactics it employs tactical game play mixed with strategy.  I'm not used to this type of game play but I have to say I am hooked and it gives me something different to play for my PSP besides the GTA and Syhon Filter type games.

Speaking of which the new GTA looks awesome, as well as the new Street Fighter game but alas I can't fall for the hype until I get to play it.

What will be the biggest disappointments of 2008 be? I'm just saying Capcom has to deliver on this. Show us something and not just pretty eye candy.

Last but not least the Fall Update for the 360, ugh it's good but man the XBOX Originals equals disappointment. I could be reading into all this way to much and MS may have the best of intentions for the gamer in mind. But honestly isn't the offering of games that are already backwards compatible on a disc media mind you, that this is just an attempt to sell more overpriced 120 gb HDD.

Maybe not, but why couldn't they add achievements and all the other goodness that even an ancient game like dig dug has?  I don't know that I will buy Xbox Original games.

What I do like however is that everything from movies, to tv shows are easier to find, I have not tried Divx support yet LOL ugh yeah anyway another topic for another time! 

Greek-

I picked up Mass Effect yesterday at my local EB games but wasn't able to play it until early this morning.

These are just my impressions of the game, character creation while awesome I was a little disappointed in the pre set options and the lack of variety in hair, beards etc.

My understanding was you can make your Sheppard look anyway you wanted. That's not the case all I'm saying is a little more would have what the doctor ordered.

Graphically the game looks awesome, the Citadel is breathtaking when you land on that 2nd level the graphics are something to behold. The game pushes the 360 but how far who really knows. Everyone keeps saying that this game maxed out the 360 graphics capabilities.

When I hear thing's like this I laugh, for one it's a style and secondly the 360 is only as good as the developers and how they code and program games. We can't say for sure if this game does max the 360 capabilities out graphically but until I hear from Bio Ware, the 360 still has plenty of untapped horsepower.

Those graphics do come with a price in the way of frame rate troubles and texture pop in and this game is no exception. The textures in certain parts load in slow so you can see them being popped in or drawn in. Which sucks, reminds me of Halo2 single player campaign for the Xbox. Another annoyance is the little hiccups the frame rate suffers from randomly.

Voice acting is cool except for Seth Green, now I love the family guy and all. But couldn't Bio Ware pick another character for him to voice over. I mean the character does not go with his voice and it's not only annoying but disturbing to watch.

Other then the small technical issues the game is a blast and does have a classic sci fi look to it. From the uniforms to the people that in habit places through out the game.

It's off to work for me but if you can get over the technicalities of Bio Ware's latest master piece you won't be disappointed. I'm currently playing as a Vanguard class for my character. I can't say if this is GOTY with Rock Band and Mario being strong contenders but it's in the running for sure.

Greek-

First I'm throwing two updates down before work, yeah I have to work on Thanksgiving which sucks but the pay is good.

First update is about the PSP store anyone can access on their PC. Sony launched the new store which allows you to download games, wall papers, themes, demos and PSone classics.

Looks like the Playstation store on the PS3, however this is awesome for PSP users such as myself. I guess that 4GB card is coming out of my bank account soon so I can take advantage.

Seems like it just launched, but it's a step in the right direction and a cool thing none the less. However it is a little disappointing that I have to connect my PSP to my PC and download and install software on my PC.

Maybe there is a direct version on the PSP and I don't know about it. Anyway look for of this in the coming weeks as more content goes up.

Playstation store for PSP users

Greek-

IMO this is the game of the year, I know we have so many other game's out there this year.

To say this maybe a little premature considering one of the biggest features of the game isn't even online. However this game has me hooked, hence the reason for this late posting.

I picked this game up at 10 am this morning and it took me about 35 mins or so give or take to setup the drum kit, the Fender, and then that was it. I just stopped playing this game at 11:34 pm.

Now don't get me wrong, I wish Harmonix would have put Band World Tour online. I think that maybe the biggest drawback to the game. Honestly it isn't doing anything more then Guitar Hero with regards to online play.

But time and time again it was said by everyone, that this game is best enjoyed and played with other people locally. I would like to know when consoles will get an MMO or anything that will connect people massively. The console generation is not there yet. Let's face it though the game has an awesome set list and the single player hooked me for about 12 hrs or close to it.

Easy difficulty is pretty boring, but Medium maybe almost on par with the Guitar Hero games. I had a hell of a time playing Fortunate Son but just like Guitar Hero practice makes perfect.

When it comes to the set lists, seems like Rock Band took most of the night when compared to GH3. For some reason and I really can't place or understand why but I had more fun playing this game then GH3.

Maybe it's the guitar, perhaps but I did find myself switching to play drums 3 times tonight. Let me just say I still suck at the drums but playing Bon Jovi "Wanted Dead Or Alive" is like playing nothing else. Stepping on the bass pedal is awesome and IMO everyone needs to experience that at one time or another, you feel powerful when commanding the drums.

Signing I suck at which is why I don't sing but hell with it, it was fun but it's hard keeping your voice level with the tempo bars.

One thing however and I have a couple gripes, first the the little headset connectors that plug into your Drums and the Fender so you can connect with the 360's proprietary headset connection. Well one of my connectors has a short in it, and I have to hold it in place to keep from the voice cutting out. Which sucks cause I can't shoot the shit with friends over LIVE while I play.

Secondly, the voice quality on the Fender sucks balls to the 2nd power. The Les Paul from Guitar Hero 3 has it's quirks but it's a lot better when talking through the headset.

Third gripe is the length wires that connect to the USB hub, It would be nice to space everything out a little bit. I mean you don't wanna be hugging the person next to you while playing.

I guess nothing's perfect and the Guitar Hero 3 Les Paul's had issues as well, really we all know this stuff get's play tested (or at least I hope it does) to a degree so some equipment will fail through the cracks undoubtedly.

I still have Mass Effect to play but won't be getting into that game until next week or the following week. Rock Band will keep me other members of the family busy, my cousin's husband will probably end up my band mate. I got him hooked on Guitar Hero 2 and 3.  Plus he can really play the drums so for him this will be an experience like not other.

In the end that's what Rock Band is a social party game that brings people together for a excellent time. For those of us who can't really play these instruments in real life this is the closest thing ever.

This will be the last pre order I will most likely do for a game, I heard all of this non sense about the game being limited. While that's true for certain people it was hardly the case for me. I could have gotten this game at my local Walmart at 7am this morning.

My tags were up for renewal and so after that I went to Walmart to pick up some ass wipe. Well big mistake cause curiosity killed me, I just had to know. Wouldn't you know it 10-15 Rock Band Special Editions laying on wood pallets right in the middle of the electronics dept up for display.

This was the case when I bought Gears Of War on launch day as I found that game at another Gamestop with a lot of extra copies. I think games can and do sell out but very few games actually sell completely out to where you cannot find them.

IMO it depends where you live I suppose but it pissed me off to no end. 

Rock Band was worth it for me at least, even if that meant getting Mass Effect one or two weeks later, plus the downloadable content.  Which is still high but was nothing like Guitar Hero 2's debacle.

Over the Xbox Live Market Place I did purchase the Metallica Pack, Fortunate Son, Juke Box Hero and My Sharona. I plan on purchasing the Queens Of The Stone Age and Police packs. With all of the DLC coming out it will make Rock Band last that much longer for me. Paying 179.26 plus another 12.50 plus tax for some MS points, I never thought I would plunk 200.00 or more on a game. I guess they hooked me, and not everyone will want to or can afford this game.

200.00 is a lot of loot for a game plus content, but this is the day and age we gamer's live in now. Like it or not it comes with the territory....

I'm going to bed, tomorrow it's more Rock Band before work.

Greek-

Awesome enough Drake was released Friday early this week much like Rachet And Clank.

WOW this game I have to say is why I bought a PS3, top notch and first a little ass kissing and congrats to Naughty Dog cause so far this game is like a little slice of heaven.

I once again lucked out and found this game at the same local Super Target where I purchased my copy of the Eye Of Judgment. Currently I am on chapter 3, a level before the demo that was released on PSN a couple weeks ago.

Animation wise everyone is saying including myself that Assassins Creed has the best climbing animation's ever. Think again cause this game can rival Assassins Creed in the animation dept. Bar none the game is a beauty and this like Rachet really shows off the colorful palette that the Playstation 3 possess.

I'm not exactly sure the size of the game on Blu Ray but none the less the game is just beautiful. Graphically the game is top notch, it's a different style then Assassins Creed but it is equally just that good. Plush jungle setting's, water running down rocks that leave a shinny sheen on them.

Bright and vibrant plant life to dark dungeon like tomb's that you would find in Ms. Croft's adventures.  Speaking of which the climbing in the game is almost just like Tomb Raiders. Which isn't a bad thing I mean that climbing system is pretty sweet so why not copy it to a degree. I can't be mad at the developers for doing this cause IMO the system works.

The game does contextual button timing presses to perform certain actions like pushing carts, pushing boulders etc. Again it's ben done to death but not a bad thing considering it is done right. The game also has pop and stop gameplay like Gears Of War. IMO I liked the style in GOW and I like here too, being able to take cover and fire from it is nice. I has not having a cover system in games now days, Graw's sucked balls, but R6 did it right.

Don't think I am comparing this game to any first person shooters, all I'm saying is this game borrows from other game's play mechanics but does so with respect. The control system and gameplay is top notch. Puzzle's however are pretty easy so far. Which Is okay for me cause IMO there is nothing worse then getting frustrated and stuck on some puzzle which takes you out of the game.

I hate having to solve puzzle's that become a chore to do, many of times they have ruined the whole experience for me. Which one of two thing's happen either I trade the game in or don't play it for another 6 months. By that time I have to rely on guides. Another thing I hate doing is using guides when I get ultra stuck, it's like questioning my man hood.

Thankfully though the developer see's this and doesn't throw any puzzles that maybe to difficult,

When you come across them however you do see the select button come up which is your journal you get in the beginning of the game which helps you solve them. For those of you that have not played it let's just leave it at that.

Other little touches I have found in the game so far, when you swim your clothes get wet and it has that dark wet looks, very awesome. Also treasure is another thing I have found. The funny thing is though for these little items you find you get a gamerscore from them. Yeah this is a PS3 game that has metals with point's.

Can anyone say Trophy Room in HOME next year?

Achievements with game's sell and you can bet your asses that Sony want's in on what the phenomenon  that MS has created with them. Hell I bought Assassins Creed on the 360 over the PS3 cause of them. One thing achievements do is add replay ability to the game. It draws the game out for a longer period of time and most of us collect crap like flags in Assassins Creed for the point's. If this were last generation most of us would have said the hell with flag collecting and move on.

Bottom line if your a PS3 owner and you haven't got this game, RUN and find it NOW. IMO this will perhaps not justify the PS3's lofty price tag but it will take away the sting. COD4, Assassins Creed, Rachet, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, EOJ, Heavenly Sword and now add Uncharted Drakes Fortune to this list. Must have's for any Playstation3 owner.

Now I gotta get back to this awesome game.

Greek-

I'm back home from work been home for a little bit, I have to go through my daily routine of web browsing and checking out all the stories I missed while away at work.

First before we begin if you don't want to know what the twist is don't read but if so and you don't care read on.

*************************************************************************************************************

Anyway back to what I was going to post earlier about this game, I'm most of you already know about the Animus a machine that let's our hero jack into to go back into the stone age's and take out whoever the target maybe.

I guess this is a machine that takes you back to your ancestry days and let's you play Assassin. Maybe this twist ruined it for most reviewer's? Hard to say but IMO jacking into the past and living out the days of your ancestors would be cool, I don't get what the big deal is here.

Sure it is taking from the Matrix in a way but let's not forget what the Matrix really was a total VR world controlled by the machines. So to compare this with that mythos is not accurate at all.

Here in Assassins Creed your like an experiment for these scientist and are pretty much forced to go back in time via the Animus.

The Animus also is where you go to look at your settings as well, like screen adjustment and options menu and so fourth. I think it is a creative way of doing things and something that IMO is well thought out idea.

Sure It's just a menu system but the way it is pulled off is a slick interface. Anyway our Hero Altair really looks like this:

Pretty unimpressive but in the nether worlds he is a true bad ass. Maybe the development team could have done a little bit better in the costume they give him in the world of today but it's no big deal.

His living quarters really is not all the impressive either. Which brings me to this question why is he here and what he is trying to find out by going back and Assassinating people? Revenge, what is the motive the game really does not explain all this that well and I can see reviewers getting a little pissed about this aspect of the story.

Also if there is a part two and three I am hoping Jade Raymond and company can give us a little more insight of the characters history and so fourth. Also why in the hell is he doing this. I mean the scientist are a bunch of pushovers so I can't imagine that they have him by the balls that much to force him to do this.

I will see how all this comes into play the more I get into the story, but why wasn't all this shown in the previews? Was UBI soft keeping this a secret and that close to the hip?  I believe secrets can still be kept in the gaming industry to a degree, maybe a this point they were hesitant to reveal everything.

Don't forget not so long ago all they kept showing were gameplay builds of the leap of faith off the top of the steeple into the stack of hay.  Also the moving through the crowds and all that. I really don't though how reviewers would be so shocked by the scientific twist in the game.

For one it's at the very beginning of the game, and in cut scenes you can see little hints matrix type little code in white and go up and down the screen in spots to indicate your in a Virtual Reality. Was it a necessary evil for the developer give all this away pertaining to the story at the very first level?

If you think about it, in a way yes since all the training is revolving around the Animus system. It really reminds me of Metal Gear's VR simulator system, as in Metal Gear Solid for the Playstation one. Where you could practice sneaking past enemies and honing your skills.

One thing that the game does do in the very beginning is fast forward memory lapses or take you to different parts in your memory in the very first part of the game which is a little annoying but nothing really big.

So I mean is the whole simulation twist a big let down? Not really it's been done before and I'm glad the developers were up front cause if I played through the entire game just to find out I was in a VR simulation I would have been kind of pissed.

Sure the plot twist would have been well I guess cool, but very meh. This morning I was surprised when I first played the game this morning but I'm over it. Do I think the game deserves the average score it got? No, for one thing worse game have been rated higher and why was that. The publisher paying off the site for exclusive right in return for a favorable score.

Should the game have gotten a 10/10 no way, not even GTA or Halo deserves a 10/10. No game is perfect hell not even Mario Galaxy, site's and magazines are way to liberal with review scores.  Setting a game up for so much hype month after month in previews and what not only frustrates a gamer when the site or magazine come back with a less then stellar review.

I mean these sites and editors see the game along the development can they not tell these things? Or is it just so they can collect hits on their sites and or sell magazines on the news stand. I read reviews just like everyone else but lately you cannot trust these outlets cause even they have their own agenda and spin. 

The game is IMO this creative and and brings it's own take on virtual reality, while it will not garner any Game Of The Year awards. It is an excellent title that deserves to be played by gamers abroad and yes it does have it's quirks that any game does and has had since any game before and after it.

Let's face it, the game is good and one of the stand outs in a above average year for games. Just because a couple reviewers are perhaps disappointed or jaded by the story behind Assassins Creed does that mean that you should take their opinion and word as gospel, I think not.

The game strives to be different in a way like Bioshock was. Sure maybe not as creative but none the less well worth the experience and one that can be in anyone's game collection.

After I finish AC I hope there will be a second game and even a third, but for now I'm happy with what I have in this game.

Greek-

What is there to say, I picked the game up at 10am today. UPS was late so of course the Gamestop employee's were freaking out cause there were about 5 of us waiting in line for the game.

I don't want to comment on the spoilers until tonight, but the game does have a sc-fi type twist that was unexpected but a pleasant surprise IMO.

Maybe this is why the reviews were negative but on the other hand if reviews spent so much time previewing this game I don't see how they could not been aware of the game's futuristic implications.

I don't understand how this is getting a 7 first and foremost.  I will say that if you attack an enemy and then attack another one. Both will then starting fighting you, the reason why you don't want to do this at first is because of your weapon set in your first battles. To me this part of the AI is not a game breaker as other sites have claimed. 

You cannot fight off two enemies at once with a short sword, your an Assassin not a Knight, not certainly not some action hero that kills everyone.  Your an Assassin the game walks you through at the beginning of the game learning how to "Assassinate" targets and go through crowds etc.

Like I said I can't understand the negative reviews, anyway what I believe is that when the game was previewed all of the gaming public was led to believe that the game took place In the old times, Jerusalem and Damascus. But what the game is and what we have seen are a little different.

I was under the impression the game's entire story and premise was taking place back in the day. So even I was a little surprised.... SPOILERS

Actually I decided not to post any spoilers until tonight's update when I get home that way the news will be out which it already is. I want to spend more time talking about other things with this game.

Anyway I will talk about the other side of Assassins Creed tonight as I think it takes a twist on this game. Like I said the game kind of took a left field on everyone and gave us something a little different.

But is this a bad thing? I give Jade Raymond the UBIsoft kudos for taking this direction. For one thing it shows somebody out there is willing to be a little different from the pack and secondly it's IMO creative.

On the other side I can see how this turn of events may have pissed off reviewers and thus the lower then expected scores. Actually I don't see what the big fuss is about sure it was exactly what everyone wanted but does that make it a horrible game?

I think from my playtime the whole twist adds a cool element to the game, it's definitely something that has made me think of other possibilities and where this franchise may decide to go if there is another AC. Could you imagine a midlevel or modern day Assassins Creed IMO that's something that hasn't quite been done.

Moving on the graphics are sick, top notch on the 360. I really have not noticed any glitches yet as I am only an hour or so in the game. But I watched the Game Trailers review so I know what to expect. One thing I think they over looked was the AI comment of their review. In the training part of the mission you have to take out a guard low profile style which means stealth.

After you kill him and are standing back a little ways in the distance another guard discovers the body with you standing there he detects you and you run up the ladder. The thing the review doesn't mention is that this guard has what is called an alert system.

He didn't see me right away cause his alert level was not RED yet. Is this why they think the AI is dumb? I can't answer that but seems like by Game Trailers not divulging this information hurt their review in the process. Sure it has a lot to do with what i will talk about tonight but none the less, they still should have mentioned that guards and such has an alert level that can be tripped.

Perhaps I am just to early in the game but so far the AI is not that stupid I have played worse games where the AI completely does knuckle headed crap. I will have to play more to seek the answer to the question. But like I have said the alert system the NPC have could be the reason.

Control wise the game gets another mark, however I think it's a little to easy jumping from platform to platform. You can also see elements from Prince Of Persia in this, like running up walls etc.  Later in the game you have to walk across beams which again is a little to simplistic. Your basically glued to the beam seems like as there is not any balance indicators and you can move across the beam pretty with little hassle. I would have love to have seen some sort of balance system be put into place as I think that would have given a challenge but whatever.

IMO if your curious and don't want to fork over 59.99 like a did just for a single player walk through. Then go rent, I'll be playing this tons more and will do every mission that I possibly can.

I'll be back tonight for another update right now it's time for me to go to work!

Greek-

First it's awesome that MS has put original Xbox original games up for download, unlike the Playstation Network where you can just download PSone games and play them on the PS3 and PSP.

Kudos to MS, secondly another congrats to MS on Live's birthday. I will be renewing my gold membership as I have made many friends since launch day back in November 2005. It really is a HUGE week for the Xbox community, IMO it is the premiere online gaming service bar none. I can't say that I am or have been really impressed with Sony's efforts thus far.

With this new service the good folks at Microsoft announced that as part of Live's birthday they will be rolling out downloadable Xbox games of yesteryear, Halo, Pyschonauts, Crimson Skies what's not to like here all terrific games.

The problem however is the of course the price, 1200 ms points. In other words 15.00 per downloadable game. Not a bad deal but MS sure isn't really throwing any saving's my way that's for sure.

When I first heard the new my initial reaction was awesome now I can buy the over priced 120gb hard drive. But as I just got to thinking about it, why download a game I can buy BC for 9.99 or less at my local game store? I like to ask question's and while all you may think I'm nit picky it's for a reason. See  I don't mind the 49.99 a year for Live and I don't even mind the content on Live all though there is quite a bit that is over priced.

It just seems a little over priced IMO, maybe I am wrong and the beauty is if I don't want to buy it I don't have too. Many will I can guarantee and hell I may down the road. I would ask at least they could include some form of achievements for the 15.00. I mean if paper boy can have achievements why not HALO?

Another thing I'm wondering about is the download time for these games, and file size. With Live being so differing for everyone on speeds I do wonder how long a Xbox game will take to download? 

Whoever said the classic gaming scene is dead made an understatement for generations to come. The Wii with it's 8 to 16 bit army, and Xbox Live Arcade with both classic, last generation and indy games all widely available on the 360. Plus the PS3 with it's downloadable games. One has to wonder how much money is really being made on repackaged oldies? 

I'm not going to stand on my soap box saying how bad this all is, I'm just saying a little more price sensitive options would have sweetened the deal. Moving a long then you have the on demand service which I'll have to try out. I don't know if this on demand service is something that has to do with Netflix rumors, or how it will differ from the PPV movies that you can download now.

More details I'm sure in the coming weeks.

So onto more Assassins Creed news, gamespot chimed in with a 9.0 score. I do care no, am I getting the game tomorrow yes!  IMO that's all that matters, look at TeamXbox giving a 9 to Need For Speed while IGN the same site that now owns TeamXbox gave it a 6.8. Hey like I have said different strokes for different folks that's all reviews are. 

Uncharted scored really good, I'm looking forward to playing this on my PS3 and hopefully soon with a Dual Shock 3 controller. I know I going to pay the premium and basically get raped money wise but I just cannot wait until Spring 08 for one.

Next week we have Rock Band which I was able and lucky enough to pre order at a local gamestop up here. They had four left and I am firmly starting to believe EA CEO John Ricatello about this game being limited in fashion.

At first I passed the comments off as building the hype, but after reading that our neighbors to the north will not be getting this game until December I started thinking maybe the preorder was not so bad.

Just today I called about 6 stores and only two stores were selling bundle pre orders. Gamecrazy on Pecos, and Gamestop on 120th ave in Northglenn, CO were doing the preorders still. Surprisingly enough the Gamestop I decided to preorder at had 4 left and after my order it now stands at 3 and today was the last day this store would be taking preorders. I figured this beats camping out at Bestbuy at midnight or taking a chance at Walmart. So I chose the less of the two evils, sorry to say but many gamers could be waiting until 08 to play Rock Band. Hell even the PS2 allotment was filled and if that does not say something then I don't know what will.

I think even Mass Effect has an excellent chance of selling out it's first couple weeks after release. Many gamers are saying this could be Game Of The Year, in a year when a Halo game is released that's also saying a lot. Maybe not a huge message and Mass Effect could possibly fall victim to the more popular Master Chief but you never know!

Tomorrow I plan to put up pictures of Assassins Creed and impressions. I'm sure it will be a love fest and I am well aware of the combat, jumping and AI in this game.

Personally this game has been to long in the making and I have waited for what seems a life time to play this game. So tomorrow marks a long journey that started back a couple years ago when I first laid eyes on the game. This IMO also marks that last of most preview games we seen at X06 except the Banjo game Rare is supposedly still working on.

For many of us Assassins Creed marks the end of what was and beginnings of what is still to come on the 360 and PS3.

Greek- 

For one I posting this before work cause as I scavenge the message boards on this game.

I'm reading that IGN and I read the minor spoilers in the TeamXbox review, now why is this happening? I can't answer this but it's garbage and talk about ruining a game for the rest of the gaming public.

When will review sites be held accountable for taking bribes and pulling shit like this? Is there no honor in reviewing games anymore, or is everyone just jaded after a while?

I will give kudos to Game Trailers as they did not put any spoilers in their review.

Also where in the fuck did all these 9, and10's come from if there are glaring A.I issues and there are as pointed out in the GT review. This just goes to show everyone out there that the best choice is your own.

AC will be a love it or hate it affair bar none and with all the mixed feelings this morning it's pretty obvious the game was over hyped by everyone!

I pre ordered the game and paid it off, I have played a lot worse for full price so even though the game is not perfect it's still fun and that's what counts. The trust in gaming site reviews are diminishing with seemingly a lot of high profile reviews.

Sure it's just all opinion and I understand that these sites need to exist but when you start pulling unacceptable crap to get excusive's and add spoilers then the journalism aspect is compromised and goes out the window. It's really no wonder why game the gaming public including myself really does not trust what these review sites rate games.

Another reason why I believe all the "previews" they post are worthless. Any developer can change the game code overnight and just because they seen it a month ago does not mean this will be the final retail version! Me personally I prefer the final hands on experience and the final retail version we all get to play. Not some preview build that promises nothing just like a demo.

In other news, I was able to pre order Rock Band. Honestly I can't wait for this game and Mass Effect and Uncharted which are all games that will be purchased next week. Plus the Dual Shock 3 controller....

It will be the first item I ever imported from outside the US, cool way cool !

Greek-

I really didn't know what to name this post so we'll just go with this.  Everyone maybe wondering WTF this is about.

Let me explain, the beginning of the month I was contemplating what in the hell to buy this month. With so many games someone has to be left out in the cold, I will be passing on Kane and Lynch and Need For Speed Pro Street until December.

But what I will attempt to pull out of my gaming ass this month in the way of purchases may either be the stupidest thing ever or one of the months where I bought a crap ton of games.

So what ahead in the coming weeks on the this blog:

This week Assassins Creed: Xbox 360 version

Next week: Uncharted: Drakes Fortune: PS3

                    Mass Effect: Xbox360

                    Rock Band:Xbox360

In the coming weeks or the week after Dual Shock 3, that's right I'm one of these dumb shit's that will pay 74.95 plus shipping for a controller. See I can't help it I need rumble on the PS3 and come hell or high water I will secure one. 

For one Assassins Creed looks to be the shit literally, I mean the crusades old Jerusalem mixed in with some stealth killing, climbing up steeples what's not to like. Sure It may get repetitive and it may have some issues but until the reviews come out or other gamer opinions that highlight the pro and cons of the game we'll have to wait and see come the 14th.

Onto Uncharted: Drakes Fortune, the hunt for El-dorado is on, the demo sold me and I think Naughty Dog along with Assassins and COD4 and let's not forget Rachet and Clank may have very well saved Sony's ass this year. The game looks adventurous and it's different. The combat has stop and pop style gameplay, light on SixAxsis control which is a good thing. Plus the graphical style shows what a power house maybe lurking under the PS3's hood.

Now I will buy a single player game only for 59.99, sure to some that's a huge waste of money but when I was wee lad that's all there was. We weren't spoiled with Xbox Live or Playstation Network. So this part of me still exists in my gaming way of thinking. Everyone is different look at people that paid full price for Shadow Run this year. They like online only and felt it was worth the experience, bottom line nobody should tell you how and what to spend your cash on!

Moving along we have the big daddy called Mass Effect, I'm not to impressed with the stripper vids or the lesbo sex scenes cause they look lame! However that's why I'm not buying this game. Everyone should be buying this game for the simple fact this game could be the greatest Bioshock game ever!  Frankly I don't want to miss out on this game. I have heard it is so good it's like playing through a movie. Sure the game can't be perfect for the simple fact it maybe a little to ambitious, had there ever been a game like this in the history of gaming just based on sheer scope?  I think not.

There have been epics but this game could very well turn out to be one of the best ever. I don't know about you gamer's out there but I can't miss out and I will most likely be purchasing the collector's edition. Now if you have read previous posts you know that I hate them. But this maybe an exception to the rule you get a guide to the universe whatever that means but I am hoping it has useful information pertaining to the game. Of course the extra DVD and the art book which maybe good.  

If you don't believe me check out Wired's out unwrapping of the game:

Unwrapped: Mass Effect Limited Edition

I bought the Lost Planet, Gears Of War and Prey and Rainbow 6 collectors and thought they were all crap. This one however looks to be different cause you get your moneys worth. Plus look at the pictures the game comes is housed in a separate case from the metal tin. We shouldn't see a repeat of the Halo3 debacle with scratched disks.

Then finally we have Sing Star combined with Guitar Hero and what do you get ROCK BAND! Throw in some drums. DLC in the way of albums, online play where you can name your band and create a logo what's not to like? This is like Guitar Hero to the 10th power and beyond. This can never replace a real band but for us that are not skilled or don't want to eat countless baloney sandwiches while sleeping on a mattress in a cold apartment shared by 3 to 4 other dudes, this is the only way to get the band experience safely and of course drug free!

Rock Band is a game that you will need to play with other living people out there to get the full experience and I do plan on doing that. I got made fun of by my roommate last year for playing Guitar Hero 2, but why was that?  It's because he did not understand the concept and what people don't understand they criticize.

A few weeks later I loaned my copy and Guitar out to his brother who is a gamer and knew of this game, well turned out that he knew some females that loved the game so go figure. Hey just because were gamers doesn't mean were nerds living in mom's basement.  A gamer can be me, you or anyone and anyone can play Rock Band without shame.  I will still keep both Guitar Hero games and as well I will pick up Rock Band. I love Rock Music. I live on Metallica, Kiss, Korn, Slayer, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Rush and list goes on. If you don't love Rock music then you need not apply for this game.

I'll also be picking up Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops Plus for my PSP.  My wallet will hate me but gaming is a way of life, maybe an addiction at times. This year especially with every game being stacked this week and next the month of November 07 will go down as one of the greatest ever in gaming history.

My list up top may pale in comparison but IMO for this month these games are the best bet and the most bang for my buck. I don't have a Wii just yet but I may get one soon so I can play Super Mario Galaxy. Why not, I have the PS3. 360 and PSP all I'm missing is the Nintendo love.

Honestly right now I'm glad I am single and don't really have to worry about dates and female issues.  Hey maybe if I met a lady that was into gaming just as much as me then it would be a totally different story. 

Anyway's I plan to buy all these games, Rock Band however will prove the most difficult.  I will have to camp as I didn't preorder the game, looking back at this it was a mistake but hell I don't care how cold it is I will wait for this game.

If not then I'll be the first inline at my local Best Buy, Circuit city or wherever I decide to wait at. So stay tuned for the unboxing video of that game, this month is about to get crazy. 

November will be the month where I Rock out with my Cock out!

Greek-

It's been a good but busy weekend for me, first my attempts to secure a copy of Mass Effect failed. Which honestly I don't care that I was not able to get a copy I can wait like everyone else. 

I had no idea about what had took place at Kmart and Toys r us this weekend, I heard about it Saturday night went to Game faqs Mass Effect board.  Then I scrambled and got on the phone and well nothing, the Kmart off of 120th in Broomfield, CO has the game but advised they can't sell it until the 20th.

I tried at least 6 Kmarts in all, the one up in Greeley, CO which is like 57 miles away had it but sold out very quick either that or the employee that sold the game was busted and they pulled the game off store shelves.

Then tonight my Toy r us store in Westminster, CO also had the game but was sold out. However the Toys R Us website has it in stock and supposedly you can order this game. Also throw in the fact that Walmart got into the act with their website listing the game for sale.

If this changes and gamer's who ordered off the website this weekend get screwed that's lame IMO. I hate to say it but the retail chain is filled with gaps and holes, from disgruntled employee's to other's who simply don't give a rats ass.

Which leaves me with this question, this is by far more wide spread then the Bioshock screw up so why not just release the damn game? Guaranteed some one will post spoilers a full week before the game releases. Also since this year has been filled with release date being broken what's in store for gamer's next year?

Will we have to wait a couple extra days as publishers hold off on shipping one to two weeks to retail outlets in advance?  Hard to say but like I've said before 2007 has been a crazy year for release dates.

Now to on the other gaming activities that went on,  early Saturday night I got paid cause of the Veterans Holiday. Whenever there is a holiday I get paid over the weekend. Pretty sweet deal huh?

I could have gotten drunk, went to the strip club which is great and all but I just didn't feel like doing all that. Instead in my gamer ways I purchased Rachet and Clank for the Playstation3. I know I said that I would hold off into December for this game but how could I resist? 

I figure if I am to enjoy my PS3 I better get to buying some games for it. I played the game for 3 hrs today and it's a great game. I miss platforming games in general which you don't see to many now days.  If your a Rachet fan and have a PS3 for sure pick this up. The SixAxsis controls aren't half bad and Insomniac from what I can tell so far just puts enough in there so it's not overblown like Liar.  Is it the best game bar none for PS3? I can't say it is the absolute best cause Resistance Fall Of Man and Ninja Gaiden Sigma are very good game as well.

Does anyone owe this game at least a rent and a probable purchase down the road? I'd say to them again yes, the graphical style is very colorful and has a lot going on in the backgrounds to bring the environments to life. I can't really agree with the whole pixar comparison I have been reading about. If any game is even close to that level it would be Mass Effect IMO. Sure the game is beautiful but let's not get carried away jut yet. Were still a generation or more from that IMO.

My last thought on this game would be for those of you on the fence about the PS3 in general. After playing this game and seeing that COD4 did not sacrifice anything concerning the level of the PS3 quality. Also after all games like Assassins Creed which hit store's this week BTW, all in all my perception and my optimism had risen a bit on the Playstation3 in general.

Speaking of Assassins Creed did anyone see the new PS3 add? This is what I have been talking about in regards to Sony's marketing. Someone is ready some message boards and listening to podcasts. This is what they need to do and the new ads are among the best and sends a clear message that the PS3 is and all around powerhouse. Not any of this stupid floating babies and the PS3 breaking glass confusing WTF moments. Those early ads were brutal and whoever did those ads you suck! 

Now onto AC or Assassins Creed, which platform does one buy the game for?

Assuming that both game's are on par with eachother and the only difference is the achievements on the Xbox 360 and perhaps SixAxsis controls on the PS3. If there are any implemented of course. It's a hard choice to say the least, I did pre order the game for the Xbox360. If I did only own the PS3 I would get it for that rightfully so.

I am still playing COD4 which I plan to throw together some videos of me sucking it up and basically it's to test the Eye Create and Playstation Eye out. Even though it's bare bones I'm still exploring what all I can do with it. 

I'm off to play some COD4....waiting until the 14th for Assassins Creed is way to long. 

Greek-

Well let's get started cause I have a ton to get to this morning. First thing's first the Mass Effect videos of the stripper's and lesbo love scenes IMO are LAME.

What was it I read on Kotaku tonight about it oh yeah subtle can be sexy to. It can but also lame and can put a gamer to sleep. Why even have them in there BIOWARE?  Lame filler shit that very few of us will enjoy, unless there is a reason for all this then I can see. Otherwise if all this serves no purpose in the game why is it in there? It would be cool if it can replenish health or has something to do with the game play, we'll all find out come the 21st. It could be the coolest or lamest thing ever in a videogame.

Now on to the 2.0 firmware update and just a quick thought as I sit here looking at the information bar. What's the point of this feature, the only thing I see is a waste of space that has a bunch of advertisements for PS3 and PSP games. If Sony could perhaps partner with some websites like PS3 fanboy to plug then that would be again cool. Having just lame ads and useless information leaves me to wonder who the genius is that thought this idea up.  

Also why don't they have some cool themes in the PSN store instead we get all these flower and pink themes. Oh well I guess it's better then something but guaranteed you wouldn't find that on my PS3.

I'm not even going to go into the Kaz interview he did this week on various websites. Just read this on the BC, taken from (Kaz Hirai discusses recent Sony events), see below:

This morning I downloaded the 2.00 update I have to say it's basic but pretty cool.

The informational bar is a neat feature and something the 360 really doesn't have, other then that it's good but Sony needs to do more. I think they are getting there.

Not to much to say really, PS3 owners get improved chat features but still no private chat functionality. I'm not understanding why it's is taking so long to implement this into the Playstation Network.

Everyone chats with friends while playing games on the 360. Does Sony just think people do not like to do this? One reason why the PS3's network features and the PS3 experience feels so closed off and you always feel like your in a offline environment.

Then we get themes, which is cool and it's already on the PSP but that's good Sony is making this cross platform and why not it should be easy enough to implement.

Other then that overall the 2.0 firmware update is a good thing.

Now on to Eye Create, the camera software for the PS3 that works with the Playstation Eye. I snapped some pictures below to test it out, I plan on making some COD4, manhunt and Castlevania pictures as well. I figure it would be a cool thing to add to the old blog here.

I did make a COD4 video but someone ruined it by sneezing in the background so I'll start that over from scratch. I would love make a Drake video tonight but the thing is you can't play a PS3 game and capture it at the same time. But if I could have used my Playstation Eye with with my PC SONY!  But you can't which is mind boggling case the eye toy you can. Oh well, see below for the pics I snapped with the Playstation Eye.  

No to bad really and a lot more clear then my crappy 3.0 mega pixel cheap camera that I have been using.  The software itself is very basic and well bare bones and Im not holding my breath for future updates. Still though IMO this camera is a ton better then the 360's Vision Camera and who know's I could resurrect the Vision Camera Chronicles with this camera.

Anyway I plan to play Uncharted Demo tonight honestly that will be sweet! 

Greek-

As of now I'm in a gaming quagmire of sorts.

I'm going to be limited on money this month, precisely about 200.00 give or take. I know It's that bad, the problem however is one that I cannot get out of my head.

See I really want Rock Band even though I have Guitar Hero 2 and 3 for the 360. Music games are addicting and Rock Band is the closest I will ever get to really playing a guitar or drums. I really hate when someone posts on message board to go spend 100.00 for "real" guitar lessons.

My answer to these jack asses, is that for one I barely have time to workout, play games and spend 8 hours at work supplementing my gaming habit. Let alone the energy it takes to put up with your friends shit at times.

This goes for many of us that simply don't have the time to spend a few c notes on a real guitar to learn on. That combined with taking the time to learn how to read music and your looking into at least a 6 month endeavor that may or may not turn out. Actually it's probably a lot longer then 6 months considering you have to learn every intricacy of an instrument and most of all practice your ass off to learn a few songs.

While on the other hand I can pop in a game sync my wireless Les Paul and rock out with my cock out to Maiden over and over again. You do the math and I ask which is more appealing? Sure playing a real guitar will probably get you laid more often then not, honestly there are more ways then one to get that.

My reasoning for Rock Band, now however the flip side of this. At 169.99 plus tax is Rock Band worth it's weight? It's cool to be able to do everything like play drums and break some windows while singing and shred it up with some hot ass fret work. I wonder though how long before I get tired of playing and I can't play at night. My living situation is one right now where I do have to limit my play time in the wee hours of the morning.

One thing for sure that is turning me off of Rock Band is the price and that freaking USB hub to connect everything into to. Plus the space the drums will take up etc. I could honestly think of a lot of crap right now to talk me out of this purchase. The other thing is that you have Assassins Creed releasing next week which got a 9.5 on game informer. Which IMO is Bull Shit, nothing like giving the same game on two different systems the same score.

Are you telling me the PS3 and 360 versions are the same graphically, and control the same. What's this shit with these review sites pumping out generic reviews all of a sudden? IGN just did it with COD4, hello I wanna know why I should buy the PS3 version over the 360 version of the game. That fucking GI review told me jack and shit. I can bull shit with the best of them too, and type out two pages of what makes the game awesome and not so good while being very vague and not going into details. It's a bunch of lip service to play it safe and not to piss on anyone's shoes.

If there is one thing I have learned is that the same game on two different systems are NOT always the same. It's lazy journalism IMO that these sites are now partaking in this. Look at the 16 bit days Mortal Kombat, and other games were not exactly the same on the Genesis and Super Nintendo. If this were the case then we would not have multiple systems to play on.

Rant over, sorry but these sites claim they know everything about gaming but they haven't showed me anything.  Look at the last page of TeamXbox's review of Fear Files

One of the better enemy A.I. systems devised. Multiplayer support is welcomed.

It didn’t look good then, and it doesn’t look good now.

An important storyteller in this somewhat spooky game.

Multiplayer support and two decently-long episodes equals a good bit of gaming for fifty bucks.

We’ve seen it all before, save for the interesting enemy A.I.

Overall Score NOT an average

Look above at the graphics score, how lazy is that?  Sorry sparky when Fear was released back in the day the graphics were good. Not top notch mind you but I remember this game getting reviewed pretty damn high back then. One reason why it was eventually ported to the 360 and PS3. If your going to be this lazy why not just be truthful. When your not passionate about the work forget it cause it shows.

Anyway back to what I was really going to post before I got off on this rant. For the price of Rock Band I can pick up Assassins Creed, MASS EFFECT, Uncharted Drakes Fortune and maybe squeeze out Metal Gear Portable Ops Plus for the PSP.

On the other hand will Rock Band be limited like EA's CEO John Ricatello is claiming?  After all EA does have to sell copies of this game for it to succeed and prove worthy when facing Activision and the Guitar Hero franchise? The best way to sell anything is to create a demand for the product.

How hard will Rock Band be to find come December considering it's the heart of last minute shopping for the holidays? I would imagine very hard but it's hard to justify one game Vs three to four games.  Another thing is I'm impatient and when these games are released can I wait on the sidelines until Rock Band is released.

I don't know if that is possible, I know for fact I am not the only gamer in this situation. Many gamer's will decide which games are the must have's versus the x-mas gift from aunt sally. Suppose this is just food for thought, this month will be interesting for sure.

Anyway the Drake demo and the 2.0 PS3 firmware update are on tap for tomorrow's update.

Greek-

I consider myself a somewhat experienced vet when it comes to tactical shooters having played most of the original Ghost Recon games on the original XBOX. Also the latest edition's of the Clancy shooters, GRAW2 and R6 (Rainbow Six).

When I saw Infinity Ward show off COD4 for the first time in public at this year's e3 I was both amazed and skeptical. Amazed in the fact the game looks wicked sweet, can honestly say I would be hard pressed to find a game that looks better.

Sorry Epic but Gears maybe dethroned as best looking 360 game to date. The training level in COD4 while looks good the matted background looks like shit. It's only when you get past this into the first level, the tanker level that you can see the graphics come to life.

Going back to my initial thoughts, skepticism also entered into my mind cause IMO Tommy C's franchise is the king ding when it comes to tactical shooters and shooters in general. You know use sniper fire from above to cover your mates on the ground below you, also use teams of two man coverage to clean out alley's and close quarter area's.

But COD4 can be tactical but it's also very Call Of Duty and has elements of past shooters. It's the combination of the two that makes this an awesome experience and I have to say that while the Graw games are different and this maybe comparing apples to oranges. However I have to say COD4 so far from what I have played is uber sweet and maybe my new favorite over the Clancy games.

Sure Graw and R6 are intense shooters, IMO there nothing compared to this game's ambiance. Intensity personified is what COD4 can were on it's sleeves, the game has that COD feel but seems like it's amped up times 10.

While anyone could argue all of this, IMO COD4 just took it to a new level and yes even over HALO3. I said it, no worries though as I'm going to compare the two cause it would be a moot point and not a very fair.

Now why is this so much better?

For one the weapons switching is easy pressing the Y button, secondly enhanced grenade ability before your completely dead you can still get a kill with a nade on someone. Third using the dpad for heavy weapons like grenade launchers, night vision, claymores and C4 explosives.

Oh yeah and I forgot holding the RT button and then tapping the LT button for quick switching between targets. Also the frame rate is top notch and again the graphics are sickness. Just think what could could have been like on a much larger scale. The beginning of the Marine missions when you get swept into the city via a helicopter will put any gamer in awe.  

Why hasn't this been done before? My hats off to Infinity Ward cause the quick toggle between targets is sweet ass! Maybe it has been done before but if it has I can't think of a time when I used it.

Honestly I almost skipped this game today and bought Rachet and Clank, my 360 collection consists of mostly shooters. While there awesome I'm getting tired of playing them. Take COD3 and Graw2 IMO those games while awesome were not the experience that Graw and COD2 were. I think because they came out so soon after the originals it for me at least dampened the sequels.

Note to publishers it's one thing to release sequels with in a year and a half but an entirely different thing to cash in on the franchise to fill the void left by other games getting delayed. I got burned out bar none, and I also got tired of Killing Mexican rebels in Graw.

What COD4 does best is like one review said take ideas out of today's headlines, issues like extremism in the middle east whiles mixing it up with the old Russian nukes missing which is okay but at least it's a better setting then Mexico for two games in a row!

Another reason why I give this props, terrorists in other games are lame and they don't even resemble the terrorists of today. Also it makes killing them that much more enjoyable and Infinity Ward has the balls IMO to convey the situation of the world as we see it and are living in today.   

Anyway I have yet to play the online but seems like Infinity Ward pretty much ripped the pages right out of the Halo book. Normally I would fault them for doing so and being unoriginal but if the Halo system didn't work so well it would be easy.

The good thing is the Halo lobby system is unmatched to this day on consoles, imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. If it works and it's not broke why not copy it.

I would recommend this game to anyone that thirsts for a revival of the shooter genre and is burned out on WW2, and or is sick and tired of Master Chief. COD fans and even Tom Clancy fans have a new favorite and please Infinity Ward keep the Call Of Duty series in your hands alone.

Having said all this praise I do have a few gripes about the game, for one the length could be a factor for most. Also the achievements don't look to be all that with most of them being obtained in the single player mode. While the single player is sweet the meat of the game is online. That's good for some and also bad if you don't enjoy online gaming.

Lastly anyone who has ever played a COD game owes it to themselves to at least give this one a buy and if not a rental for sure depending on your budget. There is a ton here to like and will keep the online gamers busy for months to come.

That's the update for tonight...  night all

Greek-  

We'll I just wanted to post a quickie before bed.

Months and Months we all have waited for this month, I'd say since X06 last year possibly.

With tomorrow it all starts and possibly this could mark one of the greatest gaming month's we all have ever seen. It launches with CALL OF DUTY4 which I will be picking up locally here in Colorado at around 10am.

I did not pre order so I'm going to run or literally drive 80mphs to pick this beauty up.  This game is easily one of the best games review wise for the year and could end up being game of the year. 

Sure it has Halo3, Bioshock and the fabulous Orange Box to contend with. If COD4 can pull off multiplayer right and give us all something to chew on in the single player campaign then it may very well end up game of the year, nothing is impossible.

Next week also I will be picking up Assassins Creed as I have waited for this game forever. Along with Metal Gear Portable Ops for the PSP, Kane and Lynch, Need for Speed Pro Street will have to wait until December.

This all kind of sucks cause with so many games, not only is it hard to choose what to play but not everyone can afford all these games this month. I admit some games will have to stay in a wrapper until I am ready to play the game.

I still want to play Rachet and Clank as well, unfortunately I keep hearing about this game called Uncharted: Drakes Fortune that keeps popping up in every podcast I listen to. That my friends is what has held me off from Rachet and Clank until yet again December.

This along side Mass Effect on the 20th or so will most likely prevent me from getting Rock Band to possibly 2008. I hate to say that cause I want that game too, so for me it's either pick up a ton of great games or pick up Rock Band.

Which I would but the only problem I have with this scenario is that I have both Guitar Hero games for the 360. In a way while I would do a lot of stupid shit to get a hold of Rock Band it will most likely have to wait a month or so.

Which brings me to my last point will this month be the last month in a long time that we see so many releases stacked like this back to back? How can publishers expect to sell the copies needed to turn a profit on a game if the gamer can't decide which game to buy or may only have enough loot for one or two games per month.

I think in a way publishers maybe their own worst enemy in this regard and I hope it is not stacked like this for a long time. For the first time I am actually or better yet praying for a month or two month gaming drought. All the tittles coming out this holiday season will sell well into 2008, hell I know for myself I will still be buying games that released this holiday well into 2008.  Another reason why now in hindsight the GTA4 release was smart on take two's part.

Also I will leave you guys with this parting thought. The last two night's on television I have seen a revival of sorts for the much talked about Playstation3. The new commercials I have happened to catch were the Simpsons and Rachet and Clank games.

All I can really say is kudos to Sony, for once they are running an add campaign for the 399.99 PS3 that is worthy competition for the 360. Sure Sony won't catch the 360 this year as they are what 6 million or more console sales behind MS. But what it will do is set the table for next year where Sony really has to go balls to the wall if it is to survive this console generation and before the PS3 is written off for good.

Sony keep it up, however I would love to see more games featured like COD4 in the new tv spots. This would let gamer's know that COD4 is on another console besides the 360. Just a thought.

Greek- 

Good morning where ever you maybe, I'm very tired right now cause I just got off a Guitar Hero3 co-op bender. Trying to achieve 500 to 1000 note's in a row can be tiresome and a process.

That is however not what this post is about, a few posts back towards the end I ranted about Manhunt2. I still feel everyone has their panties in a bunch concerning this game.

Sure I'm single and without any children, I can say that I would not let my kid new MATURE rated games. I use caps on that word, cause seems to me that parents now day's don't educate themselves to much when it comes to video games.

We could get into the whole video game child killer escape goat debate. Honestly it's been beaten to death like an orderly in Manhunt2. I read all of the debate on the message board concerning the PSP edition of this game. Modified PSP system's with CFW or custom firmware can in fact remove the filter or should I say weak filter that supposedly blocks out the act's of murder.

I also read all the reviews IGN doing there all in one money shot and giving one review for the PS2, and PSP system's. That was yesterday when I read that my apologies if it's changed. Do I agree with the score?

We'll yes and no, more on this in a second. See I did in fact purchase a copy of Manhunt2. I chose the PSP version simply because I still do not own a Wii. That may change but I'm waiting for Super Smash Bros. Brawl before I decide to take the Wii plunge.  I said no to the PS2 version cause well playing this on my PS3 through backwards compatibility maybe fine and all but no rumble controller so it's a no go.

Plus the fact I'm strapped for cash due to the fact COD4 is coming out next Tuesday or Wednesday. So I had to save some money and what a good way besides pirating the game. So this is why I chose the PSP version of Manhunt2. Considering myself a Manhunt veteran having played through the Xbox version with microphone so I could hear the director shout sweet nothing's in my ear, I am very familiar with the premise and mechanics of the franchise.

Hide in the shadows and pick and choose your spots and battles. I wanted to see what the fuss and hoopla was about so before work I stopped in my Gamestop and picked up a copy. One quick side note here, you want your product to sell well among the masses? Well slap a M rated or better yet an AO rating and ban the game and people will buy a product there not supposed to have or experience. Nothing sells better then controversy and the perceived feeling of I'm not supposed to look at this disgusting filth! 

Back to the story, what do I think? 

For one it's a solid game amid the technicalities the game suffers on the PSP. Framerate issues plague the game at times during melee combat with more then two enemies at a time on screen. One time I thought my PSP slim was going to freeze,luckily it did not. Another thing I am not fond of is the control with the analog nub. By no means is it bad, I'd say it is average at best. The best example I can give you is when your trying to hide in a dark corner you have back Daniel into the corner.

That's because you use the analog nub to control the character which makes the camera auto adjust. There isn't any way to set the camera or manually adjust it. Which sucks for the above mentioned situation, it can make certain thing's difficult for the player.

I know that's not what you all want to read about, but I have to mention these hiccups not only cause that's what my play time consisted of, also though I have to make everyone aware this game is not going to win any game of the year awards which we all knew to begin with.

Now onto the best part the executions, at this point I have seen a couple and I got to say if the British get all bothered by this I would hate to see what else they consider for the ban hammer. This coming from a country that allows nudity on regular television. Britain is not exactly the most conservative country when it comes to culture. Don't let those accents fool you.

Basically you hold the square button down in the PSP version to target the enemy ala Syphon Filter style which triggers a recital or sorts and once you get close enough then a cut scene triggers and you see a poor version of scrambling the scene. Kind of like when we all used to watch scrambled porn on cable. That maybe a sick comparison but the effect from what I have seen so far is not that bad.

The acts themselves can be violent and to trigger those the longer you can hold that square button down the more violent the execution becomes. Honestly though if anyone can't separate reality from the real thing which is what the censors all up in arms about, those people need serious help. It's something they have had all their life's but again what do the censors attribute mental instability to? An easy target, videogames.

The gaming nation is huge and if we all just broke down and started a killing rampage the end of the world would have been here and gone. Come one people think and parents educate yourself's before you get manipulated by your own offspring for sakes, it's easy I used to do it to my mom all the time.

She's great don't get me wrong and she raised me right. But like so many parents out there that have not a clue as what there kids are up to or decide to mentally and physically ingest into their bodies it's no wonder the government is telling parents how to raise their children now days.

Manhunt the original so far IMO is more sinister and dark then part 2. Maybe I'm desensitized to thing's which could be possible. But you wont see me watching faces of death or even the Exorcsist which I still have not seen to this day. However I can see past what the game tries to be from the reality. It's a fun but average game for any system.

Everyone needs to take a step back before they go throw stereotypes out on the gaming public. The people IMO who play the game for what it is a game first and foremost are not going to go out and rob people, kill people or even get into a fist fight.

What they including myself want to see is what the big deal is about and the experience of something no normal human would want to actually go through. The unknown factor is huge, and it's that feeling of not knowing what will happen when you play the game it also what makes the game a trip.

It's like comparing this to a horror flick, it gives you that sense of helpless and a dire situation. I have met people that are into hardcore horror flicks and read magazines like fangora and even collect horror movie memorabilia they know it is a hobby and passion just like video games.

They know the difference between right and wrong and what comes with that price morally. You don't see people on tv blaming Jason, or Freddie for taking out a strip mall or school !?  IMO when we live in times like this that we let the psychotic people influence our own perception of entertainment and better yet how we live our lives is indeed truly a sad day.

Going back to the game, the game is gritty and the PSP graphics are sweet. I would agree with other's that this very well could be graphically one of the best PSP games out there. The filter's they put on screen is simply sweet and gives the game it's own look and feel. Rock Star did one hell of a job in this department I just wish they would have done this type of work with the camera system.

So far I just can't say this is worse then the original Manhunt, infact so far I think that game worse.

Just my opinion, which we are all entitled to still right?

Greek-

Halloween was very good in the fact that nothing happened to my 360 in the way of the RED RINGS OF DEATH like last year.

So I am thankful for that, also my Les Paul only gets the sticky keys over Xbox Live matches for some reason. I played this morning and last night offline and it work's fine. I have no idea what's up, I don't know if it's the connection from the neck or if it's an XBOX LIVE thing.

Interestingly enough It isn't doing this when I play single player modes. Fast forward to today and on my lunch break I decided to take a trip to the best buy two blocks from where I work, to purchase the Guitar Hero3 companion pack. If you read TeamXbox you will recall they did an article as to what this is.

Basically just a CD from the game music, 3's and 7's, Miss Murder, Slither and some other songs are on here. Another factoid over the Best Buy website it lists a price of 9.99 while in store it has sticker of 13.99. Be sure to have an employee price check it just in case.

Anyhow the great thing about the companion pack is that it comes with a code for 2 downloadable song's from AFI, Marilyn Manson, and FlyLeaf. The Manson song IMO is killer and hell it's ten dollars.

I said why not and bought the CD if nothing else it's a solid CD and I can rip to my Ipod or PSP.  Another thing I also seen at Best Buy was the face plates that can I guess be snapped on to the Les Paul. I am not sure how this works, I may try to pick one up this weekend for 14.99.

The only ones I have come across is the Motley Crue, Kiss, and Sex Pistols. The Kiss one is the face plate I will be after cause I love Kiss. Only if I seen a Metallica one that this purchase of the companion pack would not have happened. But I get the feeling that we will not see one.

One can only hope for a Metallica face plate for our Les Paul guitar's. Just don't hold your breath for one, that could be fatal.

Greek- 

Already I'm running into problems with my Les Paul wireless guitar controller for Guitar Hero 3.

It all started this morning when I was playing a Co-op match with friend playing Metallica's ONE. The night before the controller was fine and the night before that no problems.

I was playing bass and half way through I noticed that when I pressed the green button, the fucking note would not register. The red fret button was having the same issue.

I was experiencing a true WTF moment. There was no lag in the Xbox Live match so I cannot attribute the problem to that excuse. Honestly I can't say what's worse about the whole GH3 launch a faulty Les Paul or going to Walmart and finding out your bundle has an old controller in with Guitar Hero3.

Bait and Switch tactics has no place in the gaming space, gamer's pay enough money for these games. Yes it is up to us to watch for these techniques. I ask though why did this even occur? It is the responsibility of the publisher to work on guitar shortages. Activision had plenty of time to manufacture the Les Paul's and it is ridiculous on their part to bundle old controller's in with a new game.   

Red Octane shame on you and shame on Activision you both can get my "F you" (orange lounge radio podcast reference)  of the week. Another point I would like to make about a review I read on this game either on IGN or Gamespot about the frame rate problems when activating star power.

I just have to say that is right on the money, I mean Neversoft kicked ass with this game but something's about GH3 makes it not as good IMO as Guitar Hero 2. Which sucks cause I paid 108 plus tax thanks to MS Xbox 360's wireless technology that we all must pay for. Moving along I love the game but the above mentioned thing's I have experienced while playing this game dampers it for me all around.

While I will keep playing until my fingers or arms fall off which ever happens first. I get the feeling that the field is now wide open for a ROCK BAND invasion and IMO has an excellent chance of kicking GH3 off it's stand to claim the title of must have. It does have a price higher then Guitar Hero3 working against it and it also has all of it's component's wired. Admittedly I did have my doubts but look at the games features of World Tour and Solo Tour and the ability to play 4 instruments and you essentially have 4 games in 1, granted you can form a band online or with friends.

In Guitar Hero3 I can't even do career co-op over Xbox Live what up with that developers? Wow Activision you first stick it to 360 owners who bought GH2 with announcing GH3 shortly after then you finally stick an online mode in but it's sub par at best. Very disappointing, learn how to listen to gamer's and do some more homework!  

If EA and Harmonix can keep the controller issues to a minimum and deliver what they say the game will promise then we may have something and Activision along with Red Octane has something to worry about.

I'm about ready to put the game on and play and see if my Les Paul fret buttons are jacked or if that was a fluke this morning over Xbox Live. If it is the controller you can bet your ass Gamestop will give me another Les Paul, if you have the receipt you have the power.

Last comment of the night before it's play time, PSP firmware update 3.72 let's you listen to music and then view a slides how from the photo option on the XMB.

I'm not understanding this cause I was able to do this with my PSP slim from day one! Maybe this is for older PSP models?  Anyway I thinking my PSP game in November maybe the sadistic Manhunt 2. The big debate between right and wrong in video gaming continues.

Trust me if you see what they did to this game it's all hype, sure the game is fun and I would pick it up just to shove it up the ass of the committee in London that put the AO rating on this game causing all the controversy to begin with. 

The game is average and honestly short of breaking the game and starting over from square one what was ROCK Star supposed to do?

Manhunt was worse then this game in the fact that you could see the actions, you can't really see the executions cause the screen goes all discolored and your lucky to see anything happen. I read an interesting article in the new EGM on this subject, the cover with Ninja Gaiden2.

I would also like to know when this industry and the 3 console manufacturers included are going to grow up with the rest of us. Sure I can watch movies like faces of death that shows real death mind you and other shit hollywood allows that can really fuck with your head,  but god forbid the gaming industry release mature content.

I got this to say all you PTA soccer Mom's out there you can SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASSES!

Also ROCK STAR I will purchase this game no matter how mediocre it is just to give out a big FUCK YOU to censorship in the gaming industry!

Greek-

Well after spending sometime with this game it kicks major ass. I can't even imagine what ROCK BAND will be like come this November.

So far I've taken on Tom Morello in a boss fight and it's pretty wicked plus it adds an extra element to the game. So far my Les Paul seems fine and I know there is a failure rate as well this time around. But like I said my Les is so far so good!

It looks like a repeat of the last launch which sucks but what can you do. I guess it's to be expected but IMO when you have time to manufacturer  products like this failure rates should not be there, but then again that's if we all lived in a perfect world.

I'd say right now I'm through a good portion of easy and it's damn fun. IMO this game has a better song list then Guitar Hero2. Graphics are improved, when I first heard about this game I was pissed because I had just bought part 2 earlier this year . But I have to say after a good play through that pissed off feeling just melts away. Then again I just re-bought part to but I'm glad I did cause never know when you will need a second controller.

Seems like I'm finding more fun with this one, the lip synching the background animations with the props on stage etc this game seems more improved which is a good thing.

The lag issues with the wireless guitar I've notice is pretty minimal all though sometimes I swear I hit the note and it doesn't register so I may hook the explorer up and give it a run to see if there is indeed lag.

Speaking of which the Les Paul is heavier then the Xplorer, but the strum bar IMO on the Les is far better and tighter then the Xplorer. It maybe just me but it certainly does feel different. I like both guitars so I really don't have a personal preference. But one thing I don't like about the wireless guitar is that it takes regular AA batteries.

Red Octane should have made the 360 version so it could house the battery packs we use for our controllers. I can't speak for every 360 owner but it would have been a hell of a lot better then going through 2 AA for wireless connectivity. 

I guess you can't have everything and it's a small gripe, and I guess it could be worse hell the PS3 has those ugly looking dongles. Another thing Iv' e noticed is the animated cut scenes are cool but they don't make much sense! Neversoft could have done something better I think with the cutscenes cause they really don't have anything to do with your character.

Also tilting the Les Paul up for star power is more responsive then the Xplorer guitar I barley tilt it and it activates which makes it a lot easier and it helps when you trying to string notes together. It seems like I can do that a lot easier in this game as well. I don't know if it's me or if this game easier then GH2 on the easy setting . I'm sure medium is going to be a different story all together.

It's time for me to go back to playing Guitar Hero 3, fans will not be disappointed as neversoft has done the series proud once again. Boss Battles kick ass and what do ya know this one had co-op to which makes it even sweeter.

Greek-