Gamer Tag 360

WE'VE MOVED

2008-06-15T22:13:00.003-04:00

From this day forward, you can find the new and improved Gamer Tag 360 right here.

Play Value podcast one of the best available

2008-06-15T09:48:00.003-04:00

Everybody loves free stuff.

When I bought an iPod, the first thing I gravitated toward was the podcasts. They're all free, and some of them are truly extraordinary.

Among those I'd call the best of the best is a gem from ON Networks. It's called Play Value and gives a deep insight into the history of video games. I especially enjoyed Atari vs. Nintendo.

Here's the website. I'd highly recommend you either watch them on the web, or download them to your iPod, Zune or whatever you young people own these days.

Replay: This article brought to you by...

2008-06-14T21:54:00.003-04:00

... In case you missed it on Toronto Thumbs.

Picture this: You pop Metal Gear Solid 4 into your PS3. The cinematic introducing the game begins with a close up shot of Solid Snake’s boots, then the camera pans up his dark jeans to the waist where you see the Levi’s logo. The shot begins to pull back and you see Snake pull a cigarette from his pack of Marlboros. He puts the pack away and takes a big swig of his Budweiser before using a Bic lighter to spark his smoke.

That may well be the future of gaming, and that horizon was brought closer by Sony’s recent announcement that the company will be introducing “dynamic in-game advertising.”

Mind you, such ads likely (hopefully) won’t be quite as obvious as the above scenario. In fact, Sony Computer Entertainment’s senior vice-president, Phil Rosenberg, went so far as to say in the company’s news release that the ads will benefit gamers.

“Ads that are organic to the environment not only benefit developers and advertisers, but also create a richer experience for gamers,” he says.

I may be in the minority when I say that I actually like the idea, if it’s done intelligently; that means no “This game brought to you by” messages, no interruption to the game play for embedded ads and no Coke ads in alien universes. The ads need to lend realism and credibility to the gaming experience, real products in likely places that don’t have big look-at-me signs above them.

It’s not a new concept. Movie makers have been doing product placements for decades. And they do it well, without taking anything away from the film. I’d imagine game developers should be able to incorporate the idea with flair.

So what do gamers get in return? I’m sad to say we probably won’t see cheaper games. But we may well see more game developers hop into the fray as a new source of revenue opens up the playing field a bit. We’ll see tougher competition as game developers fight for your attention. That will mean better games in the long run, hopefully.

* Image courtesy of Toronto Thumbs

Finally, a song pack to look forward to

2008-06-13T11:35:00.004-04:00

It was music to my ears when I heard Coldplay will be coming to Guitar Hero 3, via the online music store.

Seems that Rockband and Guitar Hero's music stores are filled with garbage (or maybe I'm simply deprived of good, recent rock and alternative music). I've been sorely disappointed with the music EA and Activision have been adding to the song lists post-release.

According to Team Xbox:

Included in the song pack is the hit single "Violet Hill," from the band's highly anticipated new album, Viva la Vida, which is set for release on June 17, 2008. The pack also features Coldplay's first smash hit "Yellow" that earned them a legion of fans worldwide, as well as the upbeat and melodic tune "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face" from the Grammy® Award-winning album, A Rush of Blood to the Head.

This is great news. I can't wait until June 19.

After this announcement by Activision, EA's Rockband best get "in the game."

Survey says: Games are good for the disabled

2008-06-11T20:04:00.004-04:00

It seems video games are the prescription for what ails ya.

A new survey done by Information Solutions Group has found casual video games, especially simple puzzle games, help people who are suffering from physical or mental disabilities. The study was done on behalf of pop cap games, makers of casual games such as Bejeweled and Peggle. So take it with a grain of salt.

Games are said to have helped people cope with depression and ADD. It also helped distract those with physical disabilities from their pain.

For me playing games can be depressing, especially when some 12-year-old keeps killing me and tea-bagging my dead body.

The survey is nicely summed up here.

Ninja Gaiden 2 demo review: cut short

2008-06-10T00:29:00.003-04:00

If you like hacking people's extremities off with really cool weapons and sweet looking acrobatics, you won't be disappointed by Ninja Gaiden 2. However, if you like the camera to react properly, you may want to steer clear of this much anticipated offering.

But by all means, download the free demo off Xbox Live.

The demo for Ninja Gaiden 2 is a beautiful and fun intro to the game. And for the record, this looks like a great game and, most of the time, plays like one too. I just plain hate the camera. Hated it with Ninja Gaiden Black. Hate it with this game too.

The demo is an hour of hack and slash button mashing. It gives you access to three main weapons from the start: your trusty blade, a massive scythe and claws that make you feel like Wolverine. You also get a moon staff near the end of the demo.

One thing I loved was that once you take an enemy's limbs off, he will continue to crawl after you. If he grabs you, he'll unleash a devastating suicide attack.

The game play is fast-paced. And it's challenging. So go download it and have fun.

Replay: It's not easy beating games

2008-06-10T00:24:00.002-04:00

In case you missed this when it was posted on Toronto Thumbs.

+ + +

I was surfing the Internet on the weekend when I spotted a columnist arguing video games have become too easy. The article featured a picture of someone's grandma, with her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth in concentration. She’s holding a Wii controller.

It was then that I thought to myself in desperation, “Perhaps I have fallen prey to game developers morphing me into a (gasp) ‘casual gamer.’” After all, I did buy Viva Pinata last week. And I did finish Halo 3 on normal. And I did buy NHL 07 for the easy achievements. And I do play Guitar Hero on medium.

Still, I can confidently answer the question posed by the Blend Games columnist — “Do gamers have it too easy these days.” No, gamers are not being catered to as drooling buffoons who can’t find the ‘start’ button without a tutor.

Sure I beat Halo 3 on normal. Then I beat it on legendary, with a little help from my friends. And it was hard. And if that’s too easy, try doing it on Legendary with the iron skull activated, a setting that forces you to start from the beginning of a level if you die. I also beat Gears of War on casual because insane is too, well, insane for me. But I've recently started playing it on hardcore. I started playing Rock Band on medium to get the hang of the drums, now I play it on hard. I can only beat a handful of songs on expert.

You see, game developers are allowing gamers to play at their comfort level — in some cases, to ease into the game. That’s not making it too easy. It’s simply a sign of the times.

Back in the olden days of gaming, before Nintendo, before Atari, waaayyyyy back to the arcade days, when there was Donkey Kong and Pac Man, games were designed for one purpose: to eat as many of your quarters as possible in as little time as possible. That’s when games were hard . . . because hard was profitable. Then along came Atari, then the Nintendo Entertainment System, and games became much easier because the game developers wanted you to take your time. They wanted you to become immersed. There was no longer a burning need to part you penniless from the arcade so some other chump could plunk money into the machine.

That’s the natural direction games have evolved; developers want you to spend time in front of the television living in their game world because then you’ll buy the downloadable content, not to mention the sequels. If you frustrate the gamer by making the tasks too difficult, repetitive or meaningless, you lose him.

And that’s why games have become, in some ways, even more challenging. You can now play online against other people who play as much as you do — maybe even more. There’s challenge in not getting your bum handed to you by a 12-year-old whose thumbs have become one with the analog sticks on his Xbox controller.

Thankfully, when I’ve been humbled by my online foes, I can turn on Guitar Hero and rock away to my favourite tunes on medium. And oh yeah, where is that start button again?

Ninja Gaiden 2 demo now live on Live

2008-06-07T11:53:00.002-04:00

Hey kids; The Ninja Gaiden 2 demo is now available in the U.S. and Canada. So go download it off Xbox Live.

Crime rate skyrockets in Liberty City

2008-06-06T22:32:00.004-04:00

According to a reliable news source, crime in Liberty City has been skyrocketing.

Just read this quote from one of the residents: "I was shot 14 times on my way to work today, including twice by police. That is unacceptable."

The news article says the surge in crime began on April 28 at midnight. More than 830,000 civilians have been murdered — nearly one-tenth of Liberty City's total population. Also, 35,000 vehicles have been reported stolen, "many of which were then driven illegally over sidewalks and pedestrian walkways before plunging into the nearby Humboldt River." Drug trafficking and prostitution have both increased.

DS to put out Guitar Hero bundle

2008-06-05T20:06:00.004-04:00

Via Wired's website, news that Nintendo DS will be putting out a bundle with the hand held Guitar Hero game.

The bundle is expected to sell for about $180.

Rock Band 2 has a tough act to follow

2008-06-05T18:34:00.005-04:00

Xbox Fanboy has gotten its hands on possible cover art being sent around by EA along with some sort of survey. Both look pretty much the same as the original box art.

All in all, its nice to know there's a sequel in the works.

But the big question is, what will Rock Band 2 add to the pot. With Guitar Hero: World Tour adding that sweet drum kit, the largest list of tracks yet and the ability to write your own tunes, Rock Band 2 will seriously have to up the ante... maybe with a keyboard??

First comes Aerosmith, then comes Metallica?

2008-06-02T23:44:00.003-04:00

For Metallica fans fretting over why Aerosmith got its own dedicated Guitar Hero game, there may be justice after all.

Gamespot is reporting Activision is planning to release Guitar Hero: Metallica in 2009.

Dear Nintendo DS: It's not you, it's PSP

2008-06-02T01:38:00.008-04:00

My wife teased me today, saying I finally crossed the border – from a dedicated Xbox fanboy into the Sony camp.

For those who don’t know, I make a sport out of trying to convince people the 360 is better than the PlayStation 3. I’m in recovery now though, and have conceded that if you’re looking for a Blueray DVD player, a PS3 is probably for you. Still, if you like good games, go with the Xbox.

It's true, I admit it. I've been wanting a PlayStation Portable (PSP) for a while now. When I bought a Nintendo DS last fall, I put a lot of thought into whether I wanted a PSP or a DS. I finally settled on a DS because I wanted to play Super Mario Bros. and the new Zelda, which are both awesome and have gotten a lot of my time. Still, I've had unfaithful dreams about the PSP since buying the DS. And I finally had my chance today to pick up a mistress.

EB Games has a good sale on until June 22: trade in six games with a value of more than $8 and get a PSP core for $20. So I traded in a bunch of games – including New Super Mario Bros. and Zelda: the Phantom Hourglass (sorry, DS, it's not you it's me) – and got a sexy new black PSP with a beautiful screen and gorgeous body. I charged it tonight and checked on it a few times until finally the orange charge light went out, telling me it’s ready for action.

I haven’t had too much of a chance to really get into it, but the screen is truly amazing. Also, there is so much multimedia potential with this device – you can watch movies, play music and surf the web. Oh yeah, you can play games too. I bought God of War. When I played it for the first time I was flabbergasted. The graphics are much, much sharper than the DS.

The only trouble is that I have to shell out more cash to get a memory stick. I realized after hitting the first save point in God of War that I need one just to save my game; no hard drive… argh! Also, a protective case is a must. The screen is pretty, but scratches easily. And if I want to upload video or music, I need the proper cable. So the accessories add up.

Overall, though, I think me, the PSP and the DS can all hide under the covers tonight and play … if my wife doesn’t kick us all out.

(Disclaimer: The pic isn't of my wife, but some girl that I found on Kotaku.com)

It's not easy beating games...

2008-06-01T20:31:00.003-04:00

I'm trying to write once a week for my good friends over at Toronto Thumbs (bookmark their site; it's awesome). I've got my first column on the site now, so go check it out. And post a comment while you're there.

Something to look forward to...

2008-06-01T00:04:00.004-04:00

Xbox's famous Major Nelson says he expects that the demo for Ninja Gaiden 2 will be out next week.

I enjoyed Ninja Gaiden Black, so I plan on playing the demo.

Here's the TV ad, if you haven't seen it.

G-Day is 10/27/08

2008-05-31T17:48:00.004-04:00

People keep asking when Guitar Hero World Tour will be shipping and what it will cost.

The game will ship on Oct. 27, 2008, and will cost $189.99 for the Band Kit, which will include the drum kit, microphone and guitar — same as Rock Band. If you just want the game and the guitar, it will cost you $99.99. And if you simply want the game, it'll set you back about $50.

But let's be real here. We only care about this game because of the cool drum kit. Period.

Thanks Engadget!

Buffett the toast of Rock Band next week

2008-05-30T18:51:00.006-04:00

Jimmy Buffet's coming to Rock Band.

Harmonix announced this afternoon that Buffett's hits Margaritaville, Cheeseburger in Paradise and Volcano will be included in next week's Music Store update.

My neighbour is a huge Buffett fan and bought Rock Band after I introduced him to the joy of playing fake instruments (I can has cheezeburger from Harmonix as reward?). I can't wait to tell him the news.

Meanwhile, according to one of Rock Band's developers: "Jimmy Buffett rerecorded the three songs for exclusive use in Rock Band, turns out he really digs the game."

Buffett, it seems, gets it: These types of music games are the best thing that could happen to musicians. It gives an opportunity for bands to attract new fans they may never have been able to reach. And the rockers don't even have to go on tour.

Oh yeah, better mention Harmonix is also adding three Disturbed tracks.

Songs sell for $1.99 each (160 Microsoft Points) or $5.49 (440 Microsoft Points) for the pack.

GOAL! Xbox 360 sponsors pro soccer team

2008-05-29T23:38:00.006-04:00

I don't even like soccer, but I can't wait to get my hands on one of these jerseys.

Major League Soccer franchise, the Seattle Sounders, announced Thursday that they inked a deal with Xbox 360, making Microsoft's console the official jersey sponsor. The jerseys will make their debut when the team takes the field for the first time in spring 2009.

The green and blue jerseys are branded with "Xbox 360 Live" on the chest, and they look amazing.

You may know the MLS because of the Los Angeles Galaxy, the team that signed soccer icon David Beckham.

Beyond Good and Evil 2 announced

2008-05-28T16:32:00.010-04:00

I remember picking up a used copy of Beyond Good and Evil for Nintendo's GameCube several years ago. I bought it on a whim because the main character, in photojournalism style, used a camera to record a government conspiracy. It looked fresh. It looked interesting.

I was amazed when I played it. In fact, I kept my GameCube all these years just so I could play Beyond Good and Evil again when the fancy struck.

The game was never a huge seller, but it did drum up a cult following. However, the game's developer Ubisoft was never firm on a sequel.

So I nearly jumped out my seat when I read this afternoon that Ubisoft has confirmed at a news conference in Paris that the sequel is in development. The company released a short trailer for the game and screenshots -- the graphics look stunning. No other details were announced, not even an expected release date.

Chances are the game will be released cross-platform.

Guitar Hero drum video

2008-05-28T13:28:00.004-04:00

We've seen pics of the Guitar Hero 4 drum kit, but here's a short video with a little bit of play action. Maybe my wife will reconsider and let me buy them . . . they look so pretty.

Rock Band brings the romance back

2008-05-27T17:36:00.004-04:00

Salon writer Rachel Shukert has written an entertaining piece about how the video game Rock Band brought the romance back into her dysfunctional relationship with her video-game addicted hubby.

It's definitely worth a read.

Here's my cobbled together abbreviated version using article excerpts:

The man I married is on the couch in the living room, his eyes glassy as he diddles the control on the Xbox, blowing to smithereens shadowy figures lurching across the screen. We haven't spoken in several hours.

I storm back to my desk and type the phrases "my husband" "addicted" "video games" "HELP" into the search engine. Hundreds of links appear.

"If you don't stop playing that game right now, I'm filing for divorce!" I holler.

Ben bought the game (Rock Band) over the holidays, lugging the huge box home on foot through the New York winter slush. I knelt beside it on the floor, brushing the beads of oily precipitation from the damp lid.

. . . the Xbox and I have been engaged for some time in a cold war based on the doctrine of mutually assured destruction: If I touch it, I'll break it, and then Ben will kill me.

. . . when I sit down at those fake drums something transforms in me.

Note after blinking colored note on the screen explodes with our rock. The fake crowd roars. I fake drum faster. Our fake band, Sex Baby, embarks on a fake world tour on our fake jet, playing fake stadiums in all the fake capitals of Europe. Our fake selves grace the covers of fake magazines, and our fake fans number in the millions. When our fake manager calls to tell us we've been invited to play the fake Hall of Fame showcase in fake Stockholm, my real husband turns toward me, and smiles.

EDIT: I just read a number of comments posted by people at the end of the Rock Band story on Salon's website and was flabbergasted at how much indignation some people seem to have against those who game. One person even posted a Bible scripture (out of context and misquoted, of course) saying that video games are childish.

Video games are a hobby, just like baseball, pool, knitting, gardening, reading and cooking; to each their own. Not that this blog needs to be an apologetic. Still, people do often pigeonhole gamers as childish, wondering when they will "grow up."

There's a difference between enjoying a hobby and playing World of Warcraft 40 hours a week while ignoring your wife, kids, job and household duties. Don't judge a person by his Xbox.

Gears 2 heating up

2008-05-27T15:05:00.002-04:00

An Xbox Fanboy reader has spotted an interesting detail in the recent magazine story about Gears of War. According to screenshots featured in the mag, the game looks like it will have a flamethrower.

But more interesting to me is how heavily people are frothing over this game. Everything that comes out in the media gets uber-analyzed. It reminds me of a another game that came out not long ago for the 360...

Master Chief gives musical monks a boost

2008-05-26T11:05:00.002-04:00

A group of monks in Vienna are praising God, and Halo's Master Chief, for rocket launching their latest chant album into the Top 10 list on the UK's music charts, according to a report in The Sun newspaper.

The group of Cistercian monks were recruited by Universal Records after Halo: Combat Evolved zoomed into video game history with millions and millions of sales -- the game's theme song features eerie Gregorian Chanting. Obviously, some savvy minds at the label smelled a profit, so they put ads into religious newspapers looking for some chanters.

Apparently, the monks -- who are not allowed access to TV, but can use the Internet -- sent a YouTube video to Universal, and the label liked it. Thus, Chant: Music For Paradise was born.

“It appeals to all different people. I’ve had Amy Winehouse fans come to me and tell me how much they like the music. I know who Madonna and Amy Winehouse are as I listen to the radio in the monastery," the monks' spokesman Father Karl told The Sun.

Ironically, the monks' album beat Winehouse's record Back to Black, which came in at No. 13, on this week's charts.

“Our success is nothing short of a miracle,” said Karl.

Guitar Hero's drums rock the casbah

2008-05-26T10:10:00.003-04:00

Toronto Thumbs has a nice peek at Guitar Hero 4's drum kit.

The music game franchise is putting out its next game a la Rock Band, with the addition of the new instrument. I dished out $200 for Rock Band, and no matter how fancy pants the new addition is, my wife probably won't let me justify another massive cash handover for more fake instruments. Sad face.

Just for fun...

Viva cheap games! A Kameo appearance...

2008-05-25T13:41:00.007-04:00

I love cheap games. And it just so happens Best Buy has one of the best sales I've seen in a while.

The store is selling four Xbox 360 titles for $9.99 each. Normally, at that price they're trying to ditch the latest bit of movie knock-off garbage. But this time, they're selling some good ones - most notably, Viva Pinata and Kameo (click the names for reviews). I picked up both.

They're also selling Vampire Rain and Ninety Nine Nights. I wouldn't waste your hard-earned $9.99 on those two though. I'm not even wasting time linking to their awful reviews.

The sale ends May 29.

Xbox's gay banhammer

2008-05-25T04:18:00.014-04:00

Xbox is coming down hard on gamertags these days. (For the uninitiated, gamertags are basically aliases gamers use to identify themselves online). Take "theGAYERgamer," for example. This poor chap sent a letter to the Consumerist complaining that Microsoft bonked him with the banhammer because his name was a gay reference. Here's the letter (more gamertag360 comment after the note from "theGAYERgamer"):

Consumerist,

I have had a bad morning. Last night when i tried to sign into my xbox live account "thegayergamer" I was told that it had to be changed. I figured that it was just from people reporting it as an offensive name being that the greater Xbox live community isn't exactly welcome to gay people, i spend a lot of time muting people on Halo3. I assumed that once i called Microsoft they would straighten things out.

I talked to a supervisor there, Roxy, who told me that she didn't personally find the fact that my gamer tag had gay in the name offensive, but that the greater Xbox community did, so i would have to change it. I hope I'm not the only person who finds this don't ask, don't tell policy disgusting... eek

From Grant, thegayergamer

Now Microsoft may have gone off the deep end a bit here.

The Xbox Live community isn't always know for its politeness - I had to mute one lady recently after she began calling me unhappy names, mostly f---face. And the mainly 13-year-old boys who run around teabagging people after they've killed them play loose and fast with anti-gay comment: Follow the link and be p repared to plug your ears if you want some examples. So it's understandable that Xbox would want to limit chances of a repeat of the xxxGayBoyxxx montage.

However, completely limiting any use of the word "gay" in a gamertag seems a bit... discriminatory. I'd imagine xxxStraightBoyxxx would pass the gamertag litmus test. Like it or not, the gay community games. Otherwise, there'd be no need for sites such as Gay Gamer. And if you're living under the rock that says gays don't got game, then you probably still think girls don't game. (If you do, go splash some water on your face, wake up from your stupor and click here.)

Back to the issue at hand. It's way too easy for Xbox to overreact and start banning every name that may offend. But they need to take a deep breath, swallow their pride and do this on a case-by-case basis. Otherwise, you run into situations such as the latest controversy, in which Richard Gaywood definitely got the short end of the stick.

What do you think?

Is that a rocket in your pocket?

2008-05-25T03:03:00.002-04:00

One of the best Halo 3 features is the ability to take screenshots - or videos - and share them with other players. This is one of the favourites I've taken.

In retrospect, this would have made good art for the 'Xbox's gay banhammer' rant above. Hindsight 20/20.

Gears 2 is looking sweet

2008-05-24T21:00:00.000-04:00

Xbox fanboy has the goods on a magazine article detailing Gears of War 2 multiplayer, and it's looking pretty amazing.

Click here for the preview.

Halo plays of the week No. 3

2008-05-22T17:37:00.001-04:00

Not the best one yet, however ESPN's Halo 3 top 10 is still entertaining. The five-kill laser shot is most impressive.