Game Cheats

Learn the Inside Scoop To Video Game Cheats, Reviews and Previews

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:24:34 +0000

You know, nobody likes a cheater. But when it comes to discovering video game cheats, "cheating" isn't what you're doing. I prefer to think of it as "discovering shortcuts, tips and tricks," or video game hints.

Video games have gotten so complex, since the days of Rubix Cubix and Donkey Kong, that the game authors have purposely thrown in some back doors and other shortcuts to aid the exhausted players. However there is a problem, most of these back doors are so well hidden that these same authors have to leak the game cheats or no one would ever find them on their own.

Video game cheat sheets, codes and game hints are sort of useless if you don't own any video games. Well I'm sure if you have games you probably beat them fast with the aid of cheat sheets, but with online video game stores you can beat more and pay less!

Any web site worth visiting will not only have video game reviews and cheats for you to peruse, but they will also have game walkthroughs. Video game walkthroughs differ from cheats in that they actually "walk you through" the process of achieving some goal. Video game cheats, on the other hand, are often cryptic one or two liners like "Enter xx892 in the password field."

There are different types of video game reviews. Each have their good and bad points. The other most common writer of video game reviews are the actual end users. While an end user will generally have spent a great deal more time actually playing the various video games on the most popular video game systems, you'll often find that they are men and women of little words. It's not unusual to see a review that says "Wow! Kick A** man. I love it!" Now, that's probably actually saying quite a bit about a particular video game, but -- your opinion may vary.

You should remember that you don't want to invest in a video game until at least a couple of people have taken the time to write a review of the game. Of course, if everyone took this advice then there wouldn't be any video game review on any game web sites, because everyone would be waiting for someone else to write the review.

Right up there with video game reviews are video game previews. A video game preview is a lot like a movie trailer. They bundle all of the really thrilling parts together and give you a quick peek hoping that you'll believe that the entire video game is actually as cool as the 90 seconds of video game previews that they let you get a view at.

The video game industry is at a crossroads. With more and more people clicking the play game online switch, and video game systems like XBox 360 and all of the XBOX video games out there, all the other gaming is considered back in the day. As more and more video game systems opt for Internet connectivity like the new XBOX 360, you're likely to find that you never have to play video games alone again.

About the author:

Please visit my website at: http://www.cheats999.com Where I review the hottest new video games and cheat sheets for your gaming pleasure! My name is Charles Edwin and I'm looking forward to you joining our newsletters valued a $24.97 for free!! EB Game Deals... http://www.couponwhale.com/deal/Visit-EBgames-com-the-online-authority-on-gaming-and-the-home-of-hard-core-gamers-496.html

Video Game Addiction Equals Babies Starving

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 21:44:44 +0000

Young couple accused of neglecting young children to surf the Web and play computer video games.

In Reno, Nevada a couple authorities say were so obsessed the the Internet and computer video games that they left babies starving, suffering other health problems have pleaded guilty to child neglect.

Michael and Iana Straw had two children, a girl ll months old and a boy 22 month old. Authorities found these two children very malnourished and near death last month after social working took them to a hospital. According to prosecutor Kelli Ann Viloria the children are doing much better, gaining weight and are in foster care.

"Michael Straw, 25, and Iana Straw, 23, pleaded guilty Friday to two counts each of child neglect. Each faces a maximum 12-year prison sentence."

According to prosecutor Viloria the couple was too distract by online computer video games, namely the fantasy role playing "Dungeons & Dragons" series, to give their children proper care.

“They had food; they just chose not to give it to their kids because they were too busy playing video games,” Viloria told Reno's local publication.

The status of the Children when found.

When police found the girl and took her to the hospital the staff there had to shave her hair because it was matted with cat urine. "The 10-pound girl also had a mouth infection, dry skin and severe dehydration."

The brother was also treated for starvation as well as a genital infection, because of a lack in muscle development he had difficulties walking, investigators say.

The father, "Michael Straw is an unemployed cashier, and his wife worked for a temporary staffing agency doing warehouse work, according to court records."

Michael received $50,000 from inheritance that "he spent on computer equipment and a large plasma television, authorities said."

American Medical Association ponder Video game addiction

"While child abuse because of drug addiction is common, abuse rooted in video game addiction is rare, Viloria said."

Last month, doctors at an American Medical Association dismissed having video game addiction as a mental disorder, stating more research need to be done. Some argued it was like alcoholism while other felt there was solid evidence that is was a psychological disease.

It is hard to know whether or not video game addiction is a true psychological disorder. It is very possible, seeing people pull all nighters playing computer video games, pausing only to use the bathroom, not even eating is problem in this writers mind.

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Playstation 3: Enjoy the Modern Games

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:20:42 +0000

Playing video games on a computer or a TV monitor is popular among kids and teenagers. However, the adults and elderly persons can also find several video games for them. The overall interface, graphics and sound quality of the latest games have improved now. The gamers can find attractive story line and computer added help links at different places in the game. To play these modern games, one needs to have advanced gaming consoles. Looking at such evolving needs, many consoles manufacturing companies have enhanced their products.

The video games consoles industry is expanding with a rapid speed. A number of inventions have taken place in the recent times which have contributed to the success of this industry. The gaming consoles are manufactured with the help of advanced technologies and the result can be seen in the form of the designs of the latest gadgets. Trying to learn a new foriegn language is easy using Rosetta Stone Language Software on the Sony Playstation. People want to keep such consoles in their home so that they can play the modern games anytime they feel lonely.

The PlayStation 3 is a game console which has been produced by Sony Computer Entertainment. It has a huge demand in the global markets and it competes with some other leading brands like Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Nintendo’s Wii. Basically, it is like a mini-computer which has a large amount of processing power. It has many benefits which can be stated as the following.

* The PlayStation 3 is not only useful for playing games but also for listening to music. One can watch videos, movies, view pictures, and connect with friends.

* It is light in weight; therefore it is convenient to carry from one place to another. In other words, it can be said that this is a portable device which can be used anywhere.

* It has a wireless internet connection which enables users to connect with friends and other players. One needs to get registered on the specified website and once it is done one can play games online.

* The wireless controller is given with PlayStation 3 games which enables users to learn the gaming functions in an easy manner.

* Since there are no wires in this equipment, it becomes an efficient and well designed device.

* Trying to learn a new foriegn language is easy using Rosetta Stone Language Software on the Sony Playstation.

* It is compatible with a number of videos and other file formats which enable users to load videos on any computer.

* It has a huge storage space to save the games that makes it better than the other gaming consoles.

The 3 game PlayStation gives a thrilling experience to the players. It has been acclaimed by both the experts and the game lovers worldwide. Sony PlayStation 3 is available on several different websites. These online places offer gaming consoles at reasonable prices. Users can also take benefit of various schemes and deals which are provided by these sites. Such schemes keep on changing from time to time so that maximum users can be benefited.

While downloading the 3 free PlayStation from the websites, one must take care of certain points. Many download sites are available to the gamers, but the best option is to become the registered member of a well-known portal. One needs to pay a nominal amount of membership fee for this purpose. The members can download the PlayStation 3 Games at much lower prices. Many sites are full of viruses and spyware, therefore the users should be extra careful while downloading the games. It is always better to pay one time membership fee than paying time and again for downloading each game.

The users should look for the instructions given on the portals before downloading the games. It would be better to take the game from the site where 24/7 customer support facilities are provided. The 3 free PlayStation consoles are based on Blu-ray technologies which make these as one of the advanced gadgets to play the games. Sony PlayStation 3 is the latest console produced by Sony. It is the better version of the PS 2. A number of unique features have been added in this device to provide a world class product to the users.

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Do gadgets make gaming more fun?

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 16:47:59 +0000

There’s a revolution going on in gaming. Some of today’s most popular games are played not with a controller, but with a guitar or drum sticks. The Wii remote introduced video games to senior citizens. And then there’s this vest that pokes you in the ribs when you take a hit in “Call of Duty 2.”

Peripherals — add-on gear for console and PC gaming — aim to make gaming more accessible, more realistic and more fun. Sounds promising, but we’ve heard these claims before. Remember the P5 virtual reality gaming glove? OK, how about the Virtual Boy? If the answer is “no,” you’re not alone.

Flight-simulation joysticks, steering wheel controllers and elaborate foot pedal systems have been available for years. “Duck Hunt,” for the Nintendo Entertainment System, used the NES Zapper light gun in 1984. But until recently, the really popular games were played with a regular controller or, on a PC, with a mouse and keyboard.

So what’s different this time around?

In a word: Wii. Nintendo’s console has ripped the mass market wide open. According to industry analysts NPD, Wii outsold both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 in 2007, despite chronic supply shortages.

Games like “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band” are making gaming more accessible to a broader audience. If you’ve ever held a guitar, you can rock out in “Guitar Hero.” No strings on the plastic axe you use to rock out in this game — just buttons.

Peripherals based on familiar items — it's no accident that Nintendo calls the Wii controller a remote — opened gaming to folks that don't know a PS3 from a 360.

“For some that may be intimidated by a traditional controller and the learning curve, these (games) offer a more intuitive experience,” says Anita Frazier, video games analyst at NPD. “That’s key to getting the uninitiated to try gaming.”

Big points for game design

U.S. game sales reflect the accessibility of peripheral-based games. “Guitar Hero III” and “Guitar Hero 2” together sold 4.61 million copies for PlayStation 2 last year, just shy of the number one game, “Halo 3.”

But no intuitively shaped input device can compensate for a poorly-designed game. For every mega-hit Wii game, such as “Super Mario Galaxy,” there are several not-so-great cash-ins that vanished without a trace.

“If the gameplay in ‘Guitar Hero III’ hadn’t been so solid,” says Game Developer magazine senior editor Brandon Sheffield, “you’d be seeing a lot of guitar peripherals in thrift stores and landfills, alongside light guns, virtual reality headsets and track balls.”

A great site we found Wii Console Reviews is http://www.wize.com

Blaming The Game????

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:18:20 +0000

Say what you will about Jack Thompson, but the attorney-turned-anti-video-game crusader has what can only be described as a breathtaking genius for transforming ghastly national tragedies into shining moments of self promotion.

On Friday, police were still struggling to figure out why a seemingly polite, well-respected graduate student named Steven Kazmierczak had shot and killed five students at Northern Illinois University and then turned the gun on himself. But Thompson had it all figured out. Faster than you can say wild speculation and reckless sensationalism, he leapt in front of Fox News cameras and suggested that video games were to blame.

“We find from brain scan studies out of Harvard that if you get started playing, for example, violent video games you are more likely to copycat the behaviors in the games,” Thompson said in a rambling commentary that had nothing to do with what the interviewer had actually asked him. “The disturbing thing that keeps popping up in many of these…is that you can rehearse these type of massacres on simulators, which are called video games.”

During his brief air time, Thompson made sure to plug a book he’s written (which I will not plug here). Then, fresh off the boob tube, he began firing off press releases to various Web sites, trumpeting his screen time and flashing a photograph of himself in all his broadcast glory. (Look ma, I’m on TV!)

And in what can only be construed as an attempt to terrify grandmothers everywhere, Thompson declared in a “news” release: “We have a nation of Manchurian Candidate video gamers out there who are ready, willing, and able to massacre, and some of them will.”

The Northwest Herald and New York Post have since reported that Kazmierczak's former dormmates say he used to play the popular first-person shooter “Counter-Strike.” Though Thompson is now using these reports to make himself sound like a prognosticator extraordinaire, the truth is he's simply playing the numbers. The fact is, one would be hard pressed to find a young man of Kazmierczak's age who has not played video games. Indeed, The Herald reports that Kazmierczak's dormmates said playing "Counter-Strike" was a common activity among the students living in the building — none of whom have opened fire on their classmates.

While the video game connection remains tenuous at best, what seems far more pertinent are initial reports that Kazmierczak previously had been placed in a psychiatric treatment center and had recently stopped taking antidepressant medication.

This is not the first time Thompson has put his mug in front of every camera possible immediately after a mentally disturbed gunman has opened fire on innocent people. When last we spoke with the controversial Florida attorney, he was blaming video games for the massacre of 32 students and faculty at Virginia Tech last April.

Not-so-funnily enough, while Thompson's misinfomation-laced pronouncements claim that the shooter — Seung-Hui Cho — had a passion for violent video games, a governor-ordered review of that horrific incident found no connection whatsoever with games. Instead, what the review panel found was a young man with a long history of psychiatric illness and a student who fell through the cracks of a deeply flawed mental health system. In fact, according to the the extensive 260-page report, it's unclear if Cho — who was passionate about books (gasp!) and not video games — ever played anything more aggressive than the kid-friendly "Sonic the Hedgehog."

Needless to say, video game players and proponents are collectively rolling their eyes in disgust at Thompson’s latest attempts to use a nightmarish tragedy to further his own cause and beat his own drum.

“Blaming video games for the behavior of the mentally-challenged is vile on many levels,” Hal Halpin, President of the Entertainment Consumers Association, wrote in a public statement.

“My opinion is that Jack is a distraction from the real issues,” said Jason Della Rocca, executive director of the International Game Developers Association. “When these kinds of tragedies occur, it’s horrible, horrendous and sad, and it’s very difficult for people to wrestle with the real issues. It’s easier to say, ‘Oh it was those video games that brainwashed him.’ That’s much easier than saying our society is messed up, people don’t take care of each other, teachers aren’t in control, there’s rampant bullying, and there are no parents at home because they have to work two jobs.”

In his personal blog, Della Rocca also posts an interesting e-mail conversation he had with Thompson after the Virginia Tech shooting. In it, Thompson challenges Della Rocca to a series of gaming debates and explains that they each stand to net $3,000 or more per event. Della Rocca declined this money-making endeavor, though not before suggesting they instead agree to a free debate...which Thompson declined.

“Not only must we question what good is this guy actually doing, but we should be questioning his motive,” Della Rocca said. “That is to say, are these massacre chasers profiting inappropriately from the deaths and fears of these tragedies?”

When games aren’t turning our children into a bunch of gun-wielding psychopaths, it seems they’re turning them into a bunch of Fatty McFattersons. Or so Steve Easterbrook, CEO of McDonalds UK, suggested to The Times of London.

“Kids are sat home playing computer games on the TV when in the past they’d have been burning off energy outside,” he opined during an interview about the role the golden arches have played in rising obesity rates.

To his credit, Easterbrook admits that obesity is a “complex” problem. At least on that point the developers over at Persuasive Games agree. They say that obesity is, indeed, a complex problem with no simple solutions. They also suggest that, among other things, it just might be fast food that makes you fat.

I know, I know! What a bunch of loons with loony ideas about how the world works. One of those loony ideas: They made a video game about the labyrinthine and systemic problem behind America’s ever-expanding waistline. Aptly enough, this little simulation game is called “Fatworld” and it’s free to download at www.fatworld.org.

I took a few moments to speak with Ian Bogost, the brain behind “Fatworld” (and the author of the book “Persuasive Games: The Expressive Power of Videogames”). While games frequently get a bad rap for being violent diversions forged in very mouth of hell itself, Bogost believes that video games are, in fact, a medium uniquely suited to presenting complicated and thought-provoking issues to the public at large.

With that in mind, he created “Fatworld” to be an exploration of the intricate relationship between obesity, nutrition, socioeconomics and politics.

“Unlike television or even novels, instead of telling stories, video games represent systems and complicated interactions between multiple dynamics,” Bogost says. “They're a model of the world rather than an individual story within it.”

And so you start “Fatworld” by creating a character — selecting body shape, age, socio-economic class, and predispositions to things like heart disease and diabetes. In “Sims”-esque style, you lead your character through daily life, choosing what foods to eat and buy, whether to exercise (or not). You can acquire and run restaurants and the types of food you put on the menu will affect the health of the people in your town.

Meanwhile, you can stroll on over to the Govern-O-Mat to change government food subsidies or bribe a politician, and you can visit the Health-O-Mat to check on how your character is faring. (Using vending machines to affect government and health care policy is a bit of divine commentary, I think).

Throughout it all, the choices you make affect your character's health — you’ll watch yourself get fatter or thinner, live a long life or die. Yes, the game plays a little clunky here and there (the exercising mingames especially), but if "Fatworld" stumbles at times in the gameplay department, it more than makes up for it in the thought-provoking department.

“If anything, what I hope to do with the game is to show that any simple answer is wrong,” Bogost says.

Stick that in yer McNugget hole and eat it
For those looking for a game that feels plenty comfortable pointing the finger of blame at fast food, check out the free “McDonald’s Video Game” at www.mcvideogame.com, which gives players a satiric peek at the ugliness that goes into the making of a Big Mac.

Welcome to McDonald’s. Would you like a side of rainforest deforestation with your double-hormone beef patty? Mmmm, mmm good!

Business Drive is Par for the Course

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 19:55:22 +0000

I was watching the feature film A Gentleman’s Game on cable. It’s a great movie, but it was on the Golf Channel, so I had to put up with long commercial breaks . . . and I mean long commercial breaks. I wanted to watch the movie, not the commercial breaks. But, if you’ve got to watch something you don’t want to see, you may as well learn something from it.

There were three hosts that made comments about the movie during the breaks. There were five theater seats in each of the two rows on the set. Two of the hosts sat in the front row with three empty seats between them and the third host sat in the second row just off center for a nice, relaxing Japanese set composition.

The plot of the movie revolved around Timmy, who was a caddie for a private golf club. He loved the game and had a perfect golf swing.

During a commercial break the three hosts talked about golf swings, and noted that they each knew many golfers who had the perfect swing and a seemingly perfect golf game, and yet they never won tournaments. On the other hand, they saw golfers with bad swings, who won tournaments in spite of their form. Golf is about failure and overcoming failure time after time they theorized.

People watch golf on TV and they always say that they watch to improve their game as they see what the pros do. I think, however what these TV golf fans do is become hooked on the drama . . . like watching reality TV or soap operas.

Great golfers are those who make bad shots, and then go on to the next shot. All golfers make bad shots, so it’s easy to see ourselves in the roles of bad-shot golfers. And, we feel the triumph when bad-shot golfers reverse their worst moves and win.

Winners are those who have the desire and drive to win. They brush aside the bad shots, the bad luck bounces, the wrong club choices; and they focus on winning. Is business any different?

How many times do we fail in business? Every time a prospective client says no, we fail. Every time we offer a new product or new service we take a chance of failure. Winners are those who overcome resistance. Winners alter their game plan along the way to success. The triumph we feel is even greater when we experience it personally.

We need to continue swinging, whether the swing is perfect or not. Bad moves in business can be overcome. We make bad choices and sometimes have bad luck bounces, but business winners are those who have the drive and determination to succeed. And in business that should always be par for the course.

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Lost Odyssey Game Review

Thu, 14 Feb 2008 17:12:15 +0000

Lost Odyssey doesn't push any role-playing game boundaries, though that won't come as a shock to anyone familiar with Mistwalker's previous game, Blue Dragon. However, in the case of the developer's newest effort, that isn't always a bad thing. Yes, there are times when it feels like more of a relic than it does a true next-generation game, particularly in light of the tweaks made by other modern Japanese RPGs such as Persona 3 and Eternal Sonata. Yet while it may borrow liberally from the genre's older gems, Lost Odyssey is a game worth playing, most notably for its fascinating story and its brooding protagonist, Kaim.

Jansen is the perfect foil to Kaim's constant seriousness.

Kaim, along with several other characters in Lost Odyssey, is immortal, though the origin of his immortality is left purposefully unclear at the outset of the game. It's hard to get a handle on Kaim at first; he's the strong, silent type, the prototypical moping hero with a soulful scowl and a deep well of unfathomable secrets. The game takes its time with his character development, but as information slowly unfolds, it's hard not to empathize with his internal struggles. But he doesn't struggle alone, and Lost Odyssey doesn't neglect the rest of its fascinating cast. Lady pirate Seth, kind queen Ming, the noble Tolten, and several others provide ample companionship, and their lives intersect in some surprising--and not so surprising--ways. It's a serious tale, but comic relief is plentiful, and most of it comes from inadvertent spy Jansen, a flamboyant ladies' man who manages to be both annoying and irresistibly charming.

Lost Odyssey is about its characters, not about its plot. In fact, the main story follows a more or less predictable path, pitting you against a villain you spend half the game knowing very little about. No, it's about self-discovery and the timelessness of the relationships we develop. Kaim and his immortal companions unlock memories during the course of the game, and they are presented in simple but effective sequences in which the memory is recounted via stylized text, accompanied by pretty static images and subtle music cues. It makes for a good amount of reading, but if you skip past these memories, you will miss the game's most touching and heartfelt moments. The main story doesn't often reach those same heights, and a good number of the game's countless cutscenes ramble aimlessly and end up feeling like filler. Yet Lost Odyssey's concluding hours, as predictable as they are, make you feel, and that alone makes this a saga worth experiencing.

This yarn takes place in a fully realized fantasy world in the midst of revolution both political and magical. On your journey you'll certainly see your share of clichéd caves and forests, but there are plenty of beautiful vistas to behold: rocky seaside cliffs, looming castles swarming with mysterious spirits, and portside towns with colorful cobbled streets. Lost Odyssey's art design clicks, from Kaim's lazy strand of hair to detailed enemy-character models. The depth-of-field blurring that stuck out in Blue Dragon is used more subtly and to greater effect here, particularly during the game's most dramatic scenes. However, on the technical side of the coin, Lost Odyssey is a near disaster. Nothing here should be taxing the Unreal 3 Engine, yet the game suffers from a grossly erratic frame rate. In a turn-based RPG, that's not a game killer, but it's so prevalent that it often charges through the fourth wall to remove you from the fantasy and remind you that you're playing a game. Insanely long loading times follow suit, to the point where you will wait close to a minute after a cutscene, only to discover that another scene follows. Make no mistake, Lost Odyssey is an artistic beauty, but in light of other games that use the same engine--and other RPGs on the platform--it doesn't look so incredibly good that it should perform so poorly.

Aim rings add subtle but noticeable effects to the flow of battle.

Thankfully, the game is an aural delight, and it owes a lot to its pretty soundtrack. Some of the soundtrack is predictable, like the Final Fantasy-tinged battle music, although that’s not too surprising when you consider that the score was created by longtime FF composer Nobuo Uematsu. Still, many of the tracks are standouts. In particular, the atmospheric strains played during unlocked memories are wonderfully moody and match the text perfectly. The English voice acting isn't bad, and Jansen, Ming, and Kaim are particularly well voiced. On the other hand, Mack and Cooke are acted with the usual hyperactive hamming that child characters so often fall victim to. Regardless, there are other language options, so if you'd rather listen to the original Japanese voice cast, you have the alternative.

The gameplay itself doesn't reach the same zenith as the story, though it's solid in and of itself. Combat is your standard turn-based affair, though there are some twists, chief among them the aim rings. Any character can wear a ring that confers upon its wearer one or more bonuses, such as a chance of inflicting poison, extra damage against spirit enemies, and so on. This isn't so special on its own, but the effectiveness of the bonus is completely reliant on your actions in battle. Whenever you order a party member to perform a standard attack, a circle will appear around your target while a larger one encircles the screen. To receive the full benefit of your ring, you hold a trigger down to shrink the larger circle and release it when it has shrunken to the size of the smaller one. The better your timing, the more potent the bonus, and if you are too far off, you don't get any benefit at all. You craft the rings yourself with ingredients you can purchase from merchants or find in the spoils of battle, and it's as simple as heading into the game menus and choosing which ring you wish to fashion. The bonuses themselves don't seem all that potent on their own, but equipping the right rings against the right enemies, along with the subtle effects of other items and spells, can have real consequences in battle.

Lost Odyssey features eye candy galore, but it chugs more than it should.

Another addition to the combat is the defensive bonus applied to characters positioned in the back of your formation by way of the strength of those in front. As front-facing combatants get attacked, that bonus depletes, which makes attacks against those in the rear more powerful--and this applies to your enemies as well as to your own party. This gives way to some interesting spells and abilities, along with some tactical considerations, given that you can't always easily do damage to the powerful spellcaster in the back without first weakening the lesser enemies in the front. Of course, there are other considerations in play, such as attacking enemies that have an elemental affiliation with a spell of the opposing element. Nevertheless, both rings and guard bonuses are slight but welcome additions to the formula.

Unsurprisingly, spells and abilities are the most important facets of Lost Odyssey's battles. Be prepared: Many of these battles are challenging, so you'll need to have a tight grip on each character's unique skills. Mere mortals have more or less predetermined skill sets, so their roles in combat are generally obvious. On the other hand, immortals have just a few innate skills; instead, you need to learn more of them from mortals by linking to them and battling together until the immortal has gained use of them. Once every available character has joined your party, this brings up some unique possibilities. Is it worthwhile to bench one mortal in favor of another, simply in order for Seth to earn a desirable spell, even if that mortal isn't the right choice for your current circumstance? Do you bring in another immortal, knowing he will revive after defeat in a few turns, and forgo an active link for the time being? Either way, Lost Odyssey finds a pleasant balance between preset character roles and player-controlled development.

Although these additions are welcome, they aren't groundbreaking, and other aspects of the game are decidedly old-fashioned. Combat intro sequences are far too long and take the time to showcase the most uninteresting elements of the battle environment before focusing on the characters themselves. Protracted introductions are part and parcel of turn-based RPGs, but in Lost Odyssey, they plod on interminably, taking a lot of time to show absolutely nothing of interest. In fact, many of the game's less savory elements are also sluggishly paced to the point of boredom. At one point, you'll have to endure two yawn-inducing fetch quests in a row; a short time later, you'll light a series of torches in a minigame of sorts that reduces the emotional impact of the surrounding scenes and feels pointless. Other annoyances crop up as well, such as an area littered with holes that are hard to see; if you fall into one, you're sent back to the start of the dungeon.

Kaim doesn't always have a lot to say, but his memories speak volumes.

Getting the most out of Lost Odyssey will require a bit of patience, even from those used to the slower pace of the genre. However, the gameplay subtleties and character-driven narrative are rewarding enough to make it worth the occasional frustration. No, the game breaks no new ground, and it suffers from some inexcusable technical glitches. But if you stick with it, you'll find a compelling emotional drama, delicate adjustments to an age-old formula, and a unique and balanced skill-development system. Kaim's journey is a memorable one, and if you like turn-based RPGs, you'll want to experience it for yourself.

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Sega Superstars Tennis

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 16:57:18 +0000

All of your old Sega friends are here for a few volleys on some wild-looking courts. We went hands-on.

Nobody has dared to step up and release a tennis game yet on the Wii, given the unchecked popularity of Wii Sports' inaugural tennis game. But finally Sega and Virtua Tennis 3 developer Sumo Digital will break the tennis seal on the Wii in March with Sega Superstars Tennis, a brightly colored and whimsical tennis game with a slew of familiar Sega characters thrown in. The game isn't just for the Wii--unsurprisingly, it's also coming out on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, and Nintendo DS--and we got to try close-to-final versions of the game on the 360 and Wii at Sega's San Francisco headquarters.

You've seen this formula before: Take a popular, simple sport such as tennis, mix it with a game company rich in recognizable, beloved properties and characters, and you've got an accessible action game that will appeal to a relatively wide audience. It's worked for Nintendo for years, and Superstars Tennis follows the same basic outline. At the outset, you've got eight classic Sega characters to choose from--Sonic, AiAi, Ulala, Beat, Nights, and Dr. Eggman among them--and each character has a specific prowess (speed, control, spin, or power) and unique special move you can bust out during a match. You'll be able to unlock eight more characters as you play, including a couple of "really old Sega friends," though of course Sega wouldn't tell us who they are. (Michael Jackson, unfortunately, is not one of them.)

There are plenty of new characters, courts, and songs to unlock here.

The gameplay here is about as straightforward as you'd expect. You have a regular power swing and a slice, and you can mix the two up for other kinds of shots. Your special-attack gauge is represented by a star underneath your character that will slowly fill up as you successfully keep up a volley with your opponent. Most of the special attacks we saw involve confusing your opponent or cluttering up his or her side of the court. Sonic morphs into Super Sonic, at which point his shots will take random angular turns after he makes them. AiAi flings a bunch of banana peels onto the other side of the court with every shot. Eggman similarly throws a few electrified, spiky balls over the net. These special abilities last for only a few shots, and you lose them after someone scores a point, so they aren't exactly match-winners in their own right. However, they can still give you an advantage at times.

Superstars Tennis has the standard single-match and tournament modes you'd expect out of a sports game, but we were most intrigued by the superstars mode, which gives you a number of themed missions to complete that will subsequently unlock new content (such as the aforementioned characters, new courts, and new music tracks). In the House of the Dead challenges we tried, we had to hit balls across the court at an endless wave of zombies that were shambling toward us. In a follow-up mission, we had to score a specific number of aptly named "zombie combos" by taking down two or more zombies with one shot. Another Jet Set Radio-themed mission had us skating around the court with Beat to pick up spray-paint cans being tossed in front of us, and in the second version of this challenge, we had to use these color-coded spray-paint cans to fill in a design on the opposite side of the court in a sort of paint-by-numbers fashion.

The PS3 and 360 games will feature online play, whereas the Wii will give you a variety of control schemes.

The game is certainly oozing with Sega-themed presentation elements. You'll recognize most of the music from the games represented here, and each game has at least one court styled after it. For instance, the Space Channel 5 court is decorated with lots of kitschy neon lights and shiny surfaces, and is surrounded by dancing Morolian spectators. And you know it's always going to be a party on the Latin-themed Samba de Amigo court. Unfortunately, the various courts don't have any bearing on the gameplay, but at least you get numerous changes of scenery as you play through the game.

The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of Superstars Tennis will support full online play, and we had no problems playing a smooth match on the 360 against a member of the Sumo Digital team in London. The Wii game will unfortunately lack online play, but on the other hand you've at least got three distinct control schemes. One lets you point and click with the Wii Remote to control your player; one has you turning the remote on its side and using it as a traditional gamepad; and what will likely be the most popular one will have you control your character with the Nunchuk analog stick and perform your swings with the remote, Wii Sports-style.

Xbox Game Rentals - Rent your Favorite Xbox Games

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:58:26 +0000

If you've been living on this planet for the last year, you will know how invaluable online video game rentals are to the serious gamer. Are all online rental companies created equally and do they support the game consoles you own. Today, we will be investigating into which rental club offers the best quality selection of Xbox video game rentals.

Our team researched a number of online game clubs to see which one offers the best selection of Xbox video games with quality points awarded to the clubs who had the best selection of new releases, classic Xbox games, and hard-to-find games as well. Out of 7 online rental game clubs, only 3 were viable and worthy enough to put this analysis to the test. These clubs were Gottaplay, GameFly, and Intelliflix, 3 of the major players within the online game rental realm.

Gottaplay Xbox Rentals
Gottaplay rental company is fast becoming one of the best online rental game companies in the US, trailing right next to GameFly. They are the first online company of their kind that offers phone support to all their customers, along with a massive game selection. Gottaplay has a large selection of Xbox games within their arsenal, here are the stats that we came up with:
1. Xbox Game Selection: Roughly 600 Xbox titles
2. New Release Titles: Carried all New Releases
3. Classic Game Titles: Many Xbox classics were included such as Halo, Soul Caliber, and other great titles of the past.
4. Hard-to-Find Games: Many games that we never even knew about were included within their selection. If you want to play a game with little or no popularity, Gottaplay has this covered as well.
5. Xbox 360 titles: Roughly 50 Xbox 360 titles and growing.

GameFly Xbox Rentals
GameFly has been leading the online video game rental revolution for quite some time and were the first advertised company to make this service public. This company is the oldest and many believe the leader within the game rental world. One thing is for sure, when it comes to Xbox game rentals, they sure don't lack in selection and quality. Lets take a look:
1. Xbox Game Selection: Roughly 700 Xbox titles
2. New Release Titles: Carried all New Releases. Even carry up-to-date cheats, walkthroughs, and reviews of all their latest titles.
3. Classic Game Titles: Many Xbox classics were included. Coudn't really find any Xbox title was not included in their inventory.
4. Hard-to-Find Games: Many games that we never even knew about were included within their selection, but most of their game selection comprised of newer titles.
5. Xbox 360 titles: Roughly 60 Xbox 360 titles and growing. They offer cheats, reviews, walkthroughs, and instruction manuals located within their website.

Intelliflix Xbox Rentals
Intelliflix has definately reached out to a market that some gamers have been requesting for years. That is movie, game, and adult titles selection all within one central online gaming facility. This company had a great selection of Xbox rentals available when considering the wide market area that they cover with video games and movies. Although their Xbox game rentals weren't as hefty as the top 2 competitors, they were definately worth mentioning.
1. Xbox Game Selection: Roughly 400 Xbox titles
2. New Release Titles: Carried all New Releases and have posts of up-and-coming releases as well.
3. Classic Game Titles: Many classics were included.
4. Hard-to-Find Games: Yes, they had these covered as well. You will find a wide array of games you never knew were invented within this selection.
5. Xbox 360 titles: Roughly 35 Xbox 360 titles and growing. Still a great selection of newer titles.

Honestly, you really can't go wrong with any of the 3 rental clubs mentioned above. For more of a diverse and massive selection, I would highly reccommend GameFly next in line to Gottaplay. They definately have the market covered within this category of console games.

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Copyright John Hinkle - http://gamerentalguide.com/reviews.htm

Halo is the game that shows no signs of ending

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:36:26 +0000

It has been almost a year since the highly anticipated and extravagantly successful Xbox game "Halo 3" was released by Microsoft Game Studios. Today , 6.5 million copies later, the game has received reviews and awards that would and did make any die-hard gamer drop everything they were doing, even work, to rush right out and buy one, and "Halo 3" is now offering a little something more to its very loyal fans.

November 9, 2007, is a day that will be remembered fondly by those who fought the midnight crowds to get their hands on what would become the most popular Microsoft Xbox game ever distributed, and a day that would be forever resented by those who camped out and came away empty handed. On this great day in gaming history, a little more than 6,500 well-known retailers opened their doors at midnight in what would become the greatest shopping frenzy in gaming history.

The frenzy was so great, that employers reported that there were quite a few sick days taken on November 10. Some say it was due to the "Halo 3" flu. Well the "Halo 2" flu season is again in full swing as Microsoft recently announced the release of its greatly anticipated "Halo 3" Multiplayer Map Pack on June 28.

The multiplayer expansion pack, which is the first of its kind for a console title, contains nine new multiplayer maps to push gamers' skills to their limits and will be available in both retail outlets and via Xbox Live™. The retail package also features two new videos: an animated short from the single-player story in New Mombasa and a mini-documentary that includes interviews with the map designers, combat strategies, and fly-throughs of the new maps. The retail pack also allows gamers who prefer offline play via System Link and split-screen to upgrade their Halo 3 experience with new maps.

As a special bonus and thank you, Xbox Live subscribers got an early chance to check out four maps from the Halo 3 Multiplayer Map Pack in late April. Two maps, Containment and Warlock, were presented by Mountain Dew at no cost to Xbox Live subscribers. Two additional maps, Sanctuary and Turf, were available for purchase via Xbox Live. The final five maps became available on June 28.

Set in a Forerunner environment on Delta Halo, Containment is a massive, icy, outdoor environment suitable for vehicle combat and large team objective games such as Capture the Flag. Warlock, a small to midsized indoor arena set in ancient Forerunner ruins, offers ample opportunities for a variety of game types such as Territories, Slayer, Team Slayer, and more.

Located in the streets of Old Mombasa near the wreckage of a downed Covenant Scarab, Turf is a midsized asymmetrical urban combat environment with narrow streets, dark alleyways, and easily defendable buildings. The sunlit remains of an ancient Forerunner temple, Sanctuary is a medium-sized symmetrical environment excellent for Capture the Flag, Assault, Territories, and Slayer games.

As you can see, if you're not one of the many that has been infected by the "Halo 3" flu, you may be missing out on a great deal of gaming fun. Is it possible that I can see a sick day in your immediate future as you catch up on lost time?

About the Author

By Adam Lenk

For more Halo related tips and articles visit Halo Rules

The New Sony PS3 Gaming Console: What Gamers Are Lining Up Along Blocks For

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 15:57:08 +0000

Die-hard gamers and video gaming entrepreneurs have been braving the malls for the much-awaited Sony PS3. Some were successful in grabbing the latest from Sony in the gaming industry while others were not. Sony promised only a 400,000 PS3 units nationwide for its initial introduction into the U.S. market which is quite minimal compared to the number of gamers all over the U.S. It seems the demand for the PS3 are increasing and with the supply decreasing due to production problems as reports say, gamers across U.S. have been lining up and rushing in only to come out empty-handed and disappointed. In an attempt to grab the last few units, some gamers and customers are now even shopping for their Sony PS3s online which is definitely not a bad idea when you think about the long lines for block along brick and mortar video gaming stores.

However, this limited supply and increasing demand of the PS3 has already been predicted. The market’s interest and anticipation has been given enough time to build up with the Sony PS3 coming a half year later than expected.

Some of those waiting in line for the PS3 - that are selling like hotcakes across stores and shops across the U.S. - are actually not only buying these neat gaming console from Sony but are hoping to give them for Christmas gifts. Due to the limited stocks, some customers are also up for reselling their newly-purchased PS3 at a much higher price and gaining profit.

So what can people expect from the new Sony PS3?

Sony PS3 is excellent for gamers with high definition television sets. With Sony PS3’s 1080p, only the clearest resolution is available for the visually-discriminating gamer. An added bonus to the Sony PS3 is also the Blu-Ray Disc Drive that plays DVDs and CDs.

Some gamer reviews have given Sony PS3 a grade lower than what they have given Nintendo’s Wii though. For one, gamers miss the tremor and shaking effect when firing a virtual gun. However, the verdict on the video gaming console war is definitely far from over yet. Sony PS3 has just been released and the video gaming market can definitely wait a year more from the Sony PS3’s launching for more games and innovation. Gamers and Sony loyalists can definitely expect more to come for the Sony PS3.

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Be A Video Game King With Online Video Game Rentals

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:35:55 +0000

Are you a video game buff? And you keep hosting and attending video game parties frequently, despite the fact that they, at times, get too heavy on your pockets? And being a video game buff, it remains your wisest ordeal to review the game as and when it enters the market?

Come on. You can overcome this unnecessary expense. No I am not telling you to restrict your video gaming passions. Rather go for online video game rentals and find a total answer to all your video gaming.

For all this and more, all you need to do is visit a website offering you online video game rentals and place the order as per your choice. Many times, the games which are short on stock in the market are available for rent online. And by getting the new title release on rent, you can write reviews and enjoy being the real king of video games.

But before you go for online video game rentals you must know many aspects regarding online video gaming and video game rentals beforehand.

First things first, what is a video game rental? If you order an online video game rental, you get an access to an online video game on rent at the complete comfort of your own home. As you order online, the games are sent to you online only. You can definitely browse and order the video games online, as per your choice.

But before you do so, you must ask- if you want to play one game or many games at a time. Check for the fact if shipping cost of the game is included in your subscription or it may come as a surprise expense to you. Most importantly, check for the fact if the website offers the games that are compatible to your game platform or not? This is essential as most of the websites support Xbox and Playstation2, but they do not have games for original Playstation.

Always compare the prices and offers, well in advance. Even if the prices offered by various sites seem similar to you, they make a huge difference in the long run. While the prices are all in a similar range, it may seem a minute difference in the beginning. But over the course of a year, the difference adds up hugely.

There are literally innumerable video game sources on the internet. And you can very easily have access to video game rentals for all the popular game titles for major systems such as Xbox, GameCube, Playstation2, Nintendo DS and GameBoy Advance.

The popular video game websites such as GameFly, Gamerang, GameznFlix and Gplay offer you thousands of game titles on rent. You can avail the benefits by subscribing with these webmasters for $15-20 per month. The multiple picks at a time, definitely, are more beneficial to you. Your rental habits can also decrease the cost of your future deals with the website.

Now as you know the ease at which these electronic game rentals are available at, you might again ask why you should pick a game rental rather than buying it. The answer to this query is simply the fact that the rental deal is far cost-effective as compared to a total game buy. Within a few dollars you get to know if the game is worth a purchase or not.

You certainly get to know if you need to buy or just rent the game for a small period of time. If you loved the time spent with your video game rental, you can decide to buy the game. Online video game rentals also help you rack up the new genres of video games, prior buying them.

You can also avail video game rentals from video game rental stores and movie rental outlets as well. But online video game rentals undoubtedly remain the most convenient source for video game rentals.

Video game rentals in fact decide for the ratings of most popular games. The most popular online video game rental picks are: 'Madden NFL 06', 'NCAA Football 06', 'God of War', 'Sid Meier's Pirates!', 'Destroy All Humans' and 'Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith'.

Now if you want to know the downsides of the video game rentals, my answer to you is there is none. The problem, if any, is you must remember to send the games back on time. So happy video gaming!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Scintillating PS2 Game Cheats

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:37:39 +0000

I love ps 2 game cheats. Well…no one loves a cheater. But when it comes to discovering video game cheats, cheating isn't what you're doing. I prefer to think of it as discovering shortcuts, tips and tricks, or video game hints.

Most ps 2 game cheats have gotten really complex since the days of PacMan. The game authors have even thrown in back doors and shortcuts to make life interesting for the player.

The problem is most of these back doors are too well hidden. The authors are forced to give information on their whereabouts or no one would ever find them.

Many video games offer game cheats. "Finding Nemo" is a good example. Did you know that there are at least six video game cheat codes hidden there? If you play a video game online, like XBox Live, there are a whole slew of video game hints available.

Of course ps 2 game cheats and game hints are sort of useless if you don't own any video games. And that's where video game web sites come in.

Video game cheats, on the other hand, are often cryptic one or two liners like enter xx312 in the password field.

Professional video game reviews are typically written by paid reviewers who work for video game magazines. These are generally well-written, in depth, and definitely worth reading.

The other most common writer of video game reviews are the actual end users. If purchasing ps 2 game cheats, the key point to remember is that you don't want to invest in a video game until at least a couple of people have taken the time to write a review of that game.

The video game industry has been participating online. As more and more video game systems opt for Internet connectivity, you're likely to find that you never have to play video games alone again.

The ps 2 game cheats provide great help when playing these games. Does time fly when you play these games? Does with me! Check out more games ps 2 game cheats.

Hot Coffee Settlement Site Percolating

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 19:59:17 +0000

Customers offended by Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas sex minigame can now sign up to receive checks from class action suit.

With Grand Theft Auto IV finally issued a concrete release date (again), Take-Two Interactive may finally be getting the chance to fully put the San Andreas Hot Coffee scandal behind it. The publisher agreed to settle a class action lawsuit centered around the controversial minigame last November, and gamers can now visit an official Web site to sign up for their piece of the settlement pie. Under the terms of the settlement, Take-Two will be offering a handful of remedies to customers, from an exchange program to replace AO-rated versions of the game with M-rated discs to cash payments. In order to claim the benefits, customers will have to swear that they bought a copy of the game before July 20, 2005 (the day San Andreas was rated AO for Adults Only by the Entertainment Software Rating Board), and were "offended and upset by the ability of consumers to modify and alter the game's content" with the mod. They also have to swear that they wouldn't have purchased the game if they'd known about the mod, and would have returned the game upon learning of the mod if they thought they could. Anyone with a copy of the original San Andreas can exchange it for a replacement disc without the objectionable content. Those who have a detailed receipt from the purchase of the disc can get a cash payment of $35 or 75 percent of the purchase price, whichever is less. If someone submits a credit card statement or canceled check made out to a store that sold the game, that person can get reimbursed for the lesser of $17.50 or 35 percent of the purchase price. Even gamers without proof of purchase or even a copy of the game are eligible for restitution. Those who swear to the approximate location and date of purchase can get $10 if they also send in a San Andreas disc to be replaced, or $5 if they no longer have the disc. Take-Two has said it will spend at least $1 million on settlement benefits, but its out-of-pocket costs as a result of the agreement will be capped at $2.75 million. If the total number of claims against the publisher amounts to more than that, the cash payments will be trimmed across the board on a prorated basis. By signing up to receive benefits, customers are waiving their rights to sue Take-Two over the Hot Coffee issue on their own. Those who want to retain those rights must opt out of the settlement agreement in writing. For more details, visit the settlement site.

XBOX Fight Night

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:50:36 +0000

If you are one of those video games aficionados currently addicted to shooter games or fighting playing games online, you are not alone. Games like “Fight Night 3” from Xbox 360 or perhaps the worldwide Xbox favorite “Halo 2”, that is still making history through the fun play of both national and International audiences through online multi-gaming experiences. Not only can you start having the excitement of playing it with your brother or friend back home, if you are in the states you can play with Canada, Pakistan, China, Australia, Brazil, Puerto Rico and many other places to shout “I beat you and I will beat you again”, “Wow you are really horrible, even my 10 years old brother can beat you with his eyes closed”, among many other adrenaline “Who is the boss” type of rush comments to a guy thousands of miles away from you.

Personally, one of the best games for Xbox 360 right now is “Fight Night 3”. That is if you are into the adrenaline mode and like to sweat when things are not going the way you like in one of those Roy Jones Jr vs. Oscar De La Hoya types of matches. In that video game you can choose from over twenty plus fighters and you get to re-live old time matches along with ESPN commentators, Madison Square Garden at your back and even pre-fight weight count rumbles. It does not get any better when you see our Oscar De La Hoya being beaten in a pre-fight weight certification area, and then you live when De La Hoya hammers and beat to the punch Joe Frazier and Ali. Not sure how that comes close in our reality world, however, I believe that is of interest to any boxing fan wishing to encounter and position themselves in matches where the differences are between 40-50 pounds between opponents. One of the most realistic developments through the game is when a fighter is delivered an uppercut upon being low on stamina and has a major cut in one of the eyes. You will hear the sound of the head currently having a 4th of July explosion while seeing all the ketchup spread all over the air in slow motion before the fighter gets KO to the floor. Some make call this game exciting and others see it just to violent even for grown ups.

Then there is Halo 2 still with a worldwide video games buzz. This game has been so successful that they are even in the final stages of finishing the production of the soon to be released “Halo 3”. If Xbox 360 console was hard to get even four month and even five months later after launch, I can’t imagine the best game ever to hit the Xbox market being re-released in a final version shortly. The beauty of this whole Xbox addiction remains through games like Halo and subsequent versions. Not only you get hooked one, two or three hours without having nothing to drink or eat, but time passes and immediately upon finishing or taking a break you think that you have only played 15 minutes.

Are games like these addictive or therapeutic? In my conclusion as a gaming fan and video games addict, it is both therapeutic and addictive at the same time. It is my believe that many of us mix positive therapy and addiction as equal words with the same definitions. In all, Xbox 360 games along with their many competitors will remain a force to a billion dollar market that should never stop growing. Games like Halo and Fight Night 3 are here to stay. Have fun while you have the fortune and time to enjoy them.

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