E3 Announcement of Halo 4

Ok I have to get this out! I am so excited for the upcoming release of Halo 4, and to my great joy I just found the E3 footage of the game that played at the convention. I was thoroughly impressed with what I saw. Not only does it seem like 343 industries is doing a brilliant job of adding on to Halo’s legendary story, but they are doing so in their own way without destroying the game’s reputation. Although there is still a lot about the game that will be impossible to determine until its official release, I am comforted to know that, so far, this new release is going according to Bungie’s original plan.

I did have one concern about the actual gameplay footage that I saw. It seemed very reminiscent of Halo 3’s first mission titled Sierra 117. Although this critique is only based on watching the short 5 minutes of gameplay that are available on YouTube, it will be interesting to see how the game turns out. Despite this, I have no doubts that I will be purchasing a copy of this game.

What do you guys think about this new installment in the Halo 4 franchise and do you support 343 Industries in their endeavor to continue the Halo legacy!

 

 

First Insight into the Upcoming Post-Apocalyptic Game Metro: Last Light

Today I was on YouTube and I just happened to stumble across the short film Metro: Last Light. It was actually an add on a video, and for the first time in history I did not choose to skip it after 5 seconds. In fact, I sat through the whole 4 minutes in a complete awe. Now, I am sure many of you know a lot about the game Metro 2033 which is based off of the Russian Novel with the same name. Metro 2033 is a post-apocalyptic style survival/first person shooter game, reminiscent of games such as Fall Out. The game takes place mostly underground in the Metro below Moscow, hence the name. Well, a first look into the sequel to this game has just been released in the form of this live action film. Here it is!

If you were not completely blown away by this film then I don’t know what is wrong with you! This is truly one of the best short films I have ever seen and it just makes me all that more excited for the release of Metro: Last Light. I’ll admit that I actually have never had the opportunity to play Metro 2033, but I am sure I will be picking up a copy of this game when it comes out early next year!

Let me know in a comment what you guys think of this short film and if you plan on buying Metro: Last Light in 2013!

BioShock Infinite Postponed untill 2013!!

Over the last few months I have made a few blog posts regarding the game BioShock Infinite. Well, just recently it was announced that the game will be delayed until early 2013. The game is now scheduled to be released on the 26th of February. This four month delay is supposed to allow the game developers to make minor but necessary tweaks to the game.

The creative director of the game, Ken Levine, made the announcement and commented on the matter, saying, “BioShock Infinite is a very big game, and we’re doing things that no one has ever done in a first-person shooter.” He continued to convince the fans that the wait is worth it, adding, “it means a bit more waiting, but more importantly, it means an even better BioShock Infinite.”

Many of the fans seem to be growing weary of waiting, as this game has been in the works for an extremely long time. The first trailer was released late last year and since then fans have been told to sit tight and wait. I have never played a BioShock game before so this wait does not really affect me, but it does make me excited to see what the final product will look like. I may even go out and buy the game when it comes out in 9 months.

What are your opinions on the postponed BioShock release? Are you happy that the developers are taking the time to make sure they release a perfect game or do you wish they would speed up the release process? Let me know in a comment!

Preordering The Amazing Spider-Man = Stan Lee and a Rhino!!

If you are fans of both the Spider-Man movies as well as their video game counterparts, then I am sure you already know all about The Amazing Spider-Man game that is set to be released on June 26th. Well, if you are actually a dedicated fan of Spider-Man then you are probably going to be preordering this game, right? If so, then you have a lot of pretty swag preorder incentives to look forward to!

There are actually two main preorder options for this game. The first is to order the game through GameStop‘s traditional preorder route. This would mean laying down a 5 dollar advanced payment and then paying the rest when the game actually comes out. If you choose to do this, then you will be given the “Rhino Challenge.” This will allow you to actually play as Rhino, who is essentially a big gray beast with a massive horn and a very attractive face. You can go around smashing and killing things to your heart’s content with this African destruction machine!

watchvideogames.com

The second preorder option is through Amazon. If you reserve a copy of the game through this method, you will be allowed to play as the infamous Stan Lee. And this is no ordinary Stan Lee, but a Stan Lee blessed with Spider-Man abilities! For those of you who are unaware, Stan Lee is pretty much the father of all comic book super heroes.

comikazeexpo.com

Overall, these seem like some pretty good incentives to go out and buy a copy of the game! I can’t say that I will be preordering this game for sure, but I am likely to pick up a copy sometime later on down the road.

So what are your opinions on this new Spider-Man game? If you are going to preorder it, which route do you plan to take? Let me know in a comment!

Positive Effects of the Wii for Kids with Cerebral Palsy

news.sky.com

It is a well-known fact that the current generation is spending a considerable amount time playing video games. Some would argue that we are so attached to our virtual machines that we are missing out on key aspects of daily life, such as being social. Well, a contrasting study was done on kids with cerebral palsy (CP) which showed that it may actually be the opposite for these kids.

The study focused specifically on active video games, especially the Nintendo Wii and its vast assortment of different physical games. The study monitored 17 different kids with different severities of CP as they played four different Wii games: Wii Bowling, Tennis, Boxing and Dance Dance Revolution (DDR). They monitored the kids’ physical responses to the gameplay, such as their muscle activity. In the end, the data showed that active video games did have a positive effect on kids with mild CP. The low-key physical exertion required to play active video games along with the rewarding aspect of beating games and leveling avatars encouraged the kids to do repetitious physical movement which may promote neuroplastic change.

On top of these benefits, the kids also highly enjoyed playing the games. This allowed for increased attention spans and longer exercise sessions. Although this method for promoting physical activity in kids with CP does not replace traditional outdoor activities, it is a good way to mix up the routine and provide a fun a new way to get daily exercise.

What do you guys think about this new evidence that shows the positive aspects of the Wii and other physical gaming consoles? Do you believe that this is a good way to help kids with cerebral palsy train their muscles and get more exercise? Let me know in a comment!

Who Wants an Xbox for $99.00??!

ShinyShiny.tv

Just recently Microsoft has announced that they are offering a very special deal on the new Xbox 360. If you have been long awaiting your chance to score an Xbox but you just can’t seem to come up with the cash, well then you may just be in luck because Microsoft is lowering the price of a new 4GB Xbox 360 with Kinect to just $99.00.

If you think that this sounds too good to be true, well then you are correct. The catch to this deal is that it comes with an Xbox Live package. In order to qualify for the Xbox discount, you must be will to sign up for 2 whole years of Xbox Live at $14.99 a month. This is nearly double the price of an Xbox Live membership if you pay annually. If you compare the two different methods for purchasing an Xbox along with an Xbox Live subscription, buying the $99.00 dollar will actually cost you about 10% more. On top of that, the deal only qualifies for the 4GB Xbox, and it locks you in for a 2 year contract so you have no way of cancelling your Xbox live membership without paying a cancellation fee.

Although this may seem like an obvious marketing ploy by Microsoft, you have to keep in mind that this may be what makes the Xbox affordable to many low income families. If you pay off your Xbox over a period of 2 years it will have a dramatically smaller impact on your immediate financial status, even if it means paying a small amount more.

So what are your thoughts on this new offer from Microsoft? Do you think that it will attract more people to buy a new Xbox or will most people realize Microsoft’s mischievous ways? Let me know in a comment!

New Family Guy Video Game: Back to the Multiverse!!

GameRant.com

If you are a fan of both Family Guy as well as video games, then you will be excited to hear that a new Family Guy video game will be released in September of this year. The game will be titled Back to the Multiverse and is in fact is already listed on Amazon as a placeholder.

The game revolves around the Road to the Multiverse episode of Family Guy from the Eighth season. In the episode, Brian and Stewie set out on an adventure through a multitude of different alternate universes via Stewie’s magical universe transportation remote. As they travel through the fabrics of reality, they eventually get stuck in a universe where humans are subservient to dogs. Brian is eager to further explore this universe, but Stewie is ready to leave. This results in the two fighting over the remote and accidently destroying it. They are forced to locate the dog version of the Griffen family in order to retrieve dog-Stewie’s universe remote to allow them to get home.

I am very excited for this game. I have always been drawn to games like The Simpsons: Hit and Run as well as many of the older Family guy games and I feel as if this is the perfect setting for the next installment in the Family Guy video game series. I think that the setting is perfect as the Multiverse episode is one of my favorites. The game will be released on both Xbox 360 as well as the PlayStation 3 on September 25th, 2012.

Tell me what you guys think about this new Family Guy game. Do you enjoy video games based off of shows like Family Guy or do you think that it’s just a ploy for companies to make more money? Let me know in a comment!

Treyarch Announces Call of Duty Black Ops 2!!

TheInquirer.net

If you recall my blog post last week, I reported on a leak that revealed that Call of Duty Black Ops 2 was in the works and was set to be released on November 13th. Well, as of today Treyarch has officially made an announcement confirming the game and the date for the release is still the 13th.

This will be the first Call of Duty game that takes place in a futuristic setting. In fact, the game is set in 2025 when terrorists hijack those weird remote controlled airplanes you can buy at Walmart and use them as weapons. Although I have always been more drawn towards Call of Duty’s Modern Warfare games, I feel like this Black Ops 2 release has a lot of potential. The idea is very new and different, and for that reason it is likely to draw a wide audience. I am sure I will get a copy of this game and I will probably put up are review when it comes out.

What are your thoughts and opinions on this new Black Ops 2? Do you like the idea of a futuristic Call of Duty game, or do you think they should let Halo take care of the futuristic settings and stick to their roots? Let me know in a comment!

Sony Announces its First Arena Fighting Game: All-Stars Battle Royale!!

game-insider.com

How many of you consider Super Smash Bros. to be one of the best arena fighting games every created? Well if you are a fan of this style of game play as well as a fan of PlayStation characters, then you will be thrilled to find out that Sony is coming out with its own arena fighting game and incorporating many of its star characters. The game will be titled PlayStation 3 All-Stars Battle Royal. The game is, in fact, so reminiscent of Super Smash Bros. that many fans are calling Sony out on ripping off of the game. Personally, I can see this side of the situation, but I believe that the game has the potential to epic and I think that Sony will add its own spin to the game.

The characters that have already been announced include Sly Cooper, Twisted Metal‘s Sweet Tooth, Killzone‘s Colonel Radec, Parappa the Rapper, Kratos and Fat Princes. The objective of the game is to allow the characters to retain signature fighting styles from their original games in order to create verity and versatility through character choice, as well as incorporating different elements of each character’s environment to make a fun, good looking map pack. If this sounds exactly like Super Smash Bros. don’t be alarmed, Battle Royal is taking it a step further. Sony is not only basing maps off of the characters, but in fact combining different map elements from different characters to create environments that fit every situation.

The list of confirmed characters is expected to grown considerably in the near future as Sony attempts to cater towards its audience and make a game that all different fans from all different backgrounds will enjoy playing. Sony stated that it is specifically listening to fans about what characters to include in the games and how to make sure they don’t disrespect the loving memory of some of their fans’ favorite characters.

The game is set to be released during the holiday season this year, and I know that I am very excited for this game. I might even have to go buy a PlayStation 3 just so I can play it.

What do you guys think about this release? Do you feel like Sony is ripping too much off of Nintendo or are you just excited for a possible epic game? Let me know in a comment!

Call of Duty Black Ops 2 Leaked on Web!!

ign.com

It seems as if a Call of Duty Black Ops 2 is on the way, as a picture of a preorder card for this exact title was just leaked on the web. The card indicated that the game will be available on November 13, following their usual schedule for early fall release dates. Although the preorder card does not give away anything specific about the game other then its release date, it seems to confirm the Treyarch will be following their pattern of splitting up the Modern Warfare releases with traditional Call of Duty Games.

So tell me what you guys think about a new Black Ops game. Did you like the first one or did you think it was a failure in the Call of Duty series? Do you plan on buying this new Call of Duty game when it comes out? Let me know in a comment!