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  • New Super Mario Game: Finally!
    Posted Thursday, October 15, 2009 3:36 PM by atx 6speed | 0 Comments

    I've been an avid gamer for many years. I have owned many game consoles, including the Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, Sega CD, Sega 32X, Game Boy, Game Gear, Nintendo 64, Playstation, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Wii, Xbox, and Xbox 360. To say that I have dedicated far too many hours of my life (and too much money) would be an understatement. I have always been a fan of the Mario series of games, but as of late it seemed as though Nintendo had run out of ideas and the Wii wasn't offering Nintendo enough ways to innovate the series. The answer? Don't innovate at all...well, maybe.

    Nintendo's latest offering, New Super Mario Bros., is a throwback to the side-scrolling platformers that made Nintendo well-known for simple, entertaining (and money making) games. The side-scrolling levels are back. Yoshi as a rideable character is back. A simple method of control (Wiimote held horizontally) is back. It seems like Nintendo has finally gone back to its roots and that is definitely a good thing. There are a few suprises thrown into the mix, but these aren't necessarily "bad" surprises.

    The first is the ability for 4 players to play at once. This style of gameplay, much like Ninja Turtles 4: Lost In Time, is representative of an arcade-type game and is definitely at home on the family/group oriented Wii. If a player dies at any point in the level they can be recovered by "popping" them out of a bubble that appears at some point during the level. 

    The game will include new items and power-ups available throughout the level, including a propeller-suit and a penguin suit. Aside from making Mario look kitchy and cute they give him the ability to fly and freeze objects, respectively. Pretty self-explanatory.  Players will also be able to compete with one another throughout the level for accolades, such as most coins collected, points earned, etc.

    A third new feature in the game is the use of "super guide," a Wii-exclusive feature that lets a player pause the game, complete the level, and come back to it at any time. The feature is available to those playing solo who have failed to pass the level 8 or more times. I am not quite sure if I like the idea of this feature, as it doesn't offer the same old-school challenge of having to replay the entire level, plus I personally don't see how or why this is different from the standard pause function. Regardless, it doesn't seem to be a requirement to use the feature, so more adventurous users can skip it altogether (although they'd just probably pass the level to begin with).

    The game is Shigeru Miyamoto's (creator of all things amazing at Nintendo) attempt at bringing single-player gameplay to a multi-player environment. While this isn't something new (Ninja Turtles: Lost in Time, The Simpsons Arcade Game, and Little Big Planet have done this) it certainly is a new and welcome addition to the Mario line of games, which seem to have run dry of ideas lately.

    The game is available on November 15th and will definitely be a welcome addition to any gamer's collection, including mine :)




  • XBOX 360 An Excellent Choice For The Loved One In Your Life
    Posted Sunday, December 09, 2007 4:33 AM by BlitzM3 | 0 Comments

      After reading blogs from fellow users talking about the Nintendo Wii and the Sony Playstation 3, I wanted to chime in on another console that I feel will honestly deliver for anyone looking for the next generation gaming experience at a value price.  As it becomes harder to find a Nintendo Wii and PS3's situation looking a bit grim, the XBOX 360 has various price points and versions of it's console to satisfy every gamer in your life.  They go as follows:

      XBOX 360 Arcade - Priced at $279, this console is your basic setup and includes 5 titles from the XBOX Live Arcade lineup, including Pac-Man Championship Edition and Uno.  These Arcade titles are perfect to play with your kids and your library can be expanded by using Microsoft Points to purchase additional Arcade titles such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Prince of Persia and others!

      XBOX 360 Pro - Priced at $349, this is your starter console for the gamer with a mix of casual and hardcore in him or her.  Packed with two outstanding games in Forza 2 (racing) and Marvel Ultimate Alliance (team based combat), this system includes a 20 GB hard drive, a wireless controller for the ultimate space to play without the chords, an HD AV cable, a wired headset, and other features. 

       XBOX 360 Elite - Priced at $449, this console is the top of the lineup and recommended for the hardcore gamer who wants the best in HD gaming.  This system comes in all black in a tip of the hat to the original XBOX and includes a wireless black controller, an HDMI cable for the best HD video experience, a 120 GB hard drive for ample save space as well as space for television shows and movies by way of the XBOX Live Marketplace, and a full one-month subscription to XBOX Live Gold as well as many other features!

      The XBOX 360 is complimented by XBOX Live, the leading online console gaming experience with a community of over 8 million subscribers so there is always someone to play with online.  The Live Marketplace delivers fresh new movie and television content with new additions coming every week.  Some of the recent updates to the system have included college football, new seasons of Family Guy and South Park, and hosts of television stations such as NBC, CBS, ESPN, MTV, and more.

      An addition that was made by way of the Fall Update recently is the option for parents to set a timer on the system so they have full control over how long their kids play.  Any amount of time can be specified and your decisions are secured via password set by you.  Other Family Friendly features are available so parents have full control over their kids playing experience.

      Of course the gaming library is fantastic and continues to grow each.  Last year delivered great hits such as Gears of War and this year has been no exception.  The 360 has lead the industry in console exclusive hits such as BioShock, Mass Effect, and Halo 3.  Other titles you are sure to enjoy include the various EA Sports titles, Call of Duty 4, Guitar Hero 3, Rock Band, Eternal Sonata, and hundreds more.

      So for those of you who are looking to add a video game console to your kids holiday lineup this Christmas or maybe one for yourself that will deliver a solid gaming experience each time, I would highly recommend an XBOX 360 in any of the various choices above.  You won't be disappointed!

  • Wii Fitness
    Posted Monday, July 16, 2007 11:24 AM by jlbrazell | 4 Comments

    If you're lucky enough to have snagged a Wii, check this out! There's a new game coming out called "Wii Fitness." The traditional Wii games are already good for people who want a workout, but the new games were designed with fitness in mind.

    I'm guessing this will appeal even more to women. Game developers are finally catching on - but that's another story.

    BTW, if anyone wants to trade me electronics or cash for their Wii, please post it in the trading collection on iTaggit. I'd give anything, basically.

     

  • Christmas PS3 Blues
    Posted Thursday, November 30, 2006 9:52 AM by James G | 0 Comments

     

     by: Rob O'Neill

    Patience is a virtue, and you're going to have to be pretty virtuous if you're one of the millions of UK PlayStation Fans awaiting the arrival of the PS3. As if it wasn't bad enough we had to rewrite our letters to Santa this year (because it now won't hit our shelves until March), we're also all going to be green with envy as the web fills up with the usual reviews, cheats, and walkthroughs etc from sites in the States where they will get their hands on the console from November 17th.

    Personally, my patience (lost my virtue a long time ago) ran out already, and my craving for HD gaming led me to the XBOX 360. I suspect many others will do the same this Christmas and I don't blame you. To not release the most hyped console of all time for Christmas has got to be the craziest decision Sony has made (apart from the choice of software packed with their MP3 Walkman - but don't get me started on that one). It can't even be based on format because the PS3 will be region free, and you can play any PS3 game on it no matter what part of the world you bought it from.

    If you do decide to cut your losses and go for the XBOX 360 you won't be disappointed, I certainly haven't been. But you should be aware that in their hurry to steal the HD gaming market, Microsoft left a couple of jobs as 'work in progress'. Although the list is growing, the XBOX 360 still only plays a handful of original XBOX games. If you're starting afresh that?s fine, but if you've got a hefty back-catalogue of XBOX titles you were planning to play then that?s a real bummer. Backwards compatibility was a target that simply wasn't reached in time for release and early release was obviously of greater importance to Microsoft than it appears to be for Sony.

    However, if you're a PlayStation purist, or simply do not fancy the XBOX 360 or the Nintendo Wii, then your virtue will be well rewarded. Although I find it difficult to understand some of Sony's business decisions, I can fully understand the hype surrounding the PS3. It will be without doubt the most powerful domestic games console available, boasting the 'Cell' processor, twelve times faster than processors found in top range PC's. The PS3 will also offer 'Blue-ray' technology which Sony are heavily promoting to take over from DVD, as well as offering free 'out of the box' online gaming (broadband connection required).

    All of this extra 'oomph' inevitably comes at a cost, and you should expect to pay more for the prestige of owning such a machine. You'll also need to keep an eye on game prices too from November and compare them to its rivals, afterall there is no point owning the thing if you have to rob a bank every time you want something to play on it. On the plus side it will play any PS2 or PS1 titles you have tucked away.

    Whatever you decide, have a happy Christmas, and keep on gaming !

    About The Author

    Rob O'Neill is owner of Console Fun, the one stop shop for information on video games consoles including XBOX, XBOX 360, PS1, PS2, PS3, PSP, Nintendo GameCube, Wii, and DS.

    http://www.consolefun.co.uk

  • Violence in Video Games - Is it acceptable?
    Posted Thursday, October 12, 2006 12:46 PM by James G | 2 Comments

    Violence in video games never was much. Such as blood in Mortal Kombat and Doom. But has it now got a bit out of hand? Such as GTA: San Andreas and the new release "Saints Row" are all about theft, street crime and assault. Is it time we did a "Nintendo" and started cutting down the violence?

    Now seriously. You're probably thinking that I'm an idiot and that I'm just a classic gaming freak so what am I on about. Well you're right that I love classic gaming, but that's just off subject, but I've seen my peers that are around 10-13 and seen them playing GTA: Libery City Stories on their PSP, or they told me that they often go home and play San Andreas or Saints Row.

    Now the real reason kids to adults like these games is firstly because they are challenging. Sometimes the missions can be quite difficult, but the main reason is all the blood and shooting and killing. Yes. That's video game violence, and not only that but there is a lot of drug and sex scenes in GTA and similar games.

    This is fine for a more mature audience, but that links to another problem. Kids and teenagers wouldn't be able to go and purchase a 15/18 rated game in a shop, but their parents could, and the chances are they will.

    If this continues to happen, street crime and assault and street theft will continue to get larger and more violent. This has been proved by the American Psychological Association, as they claim that the games unintentionally fill youth with aggressive thoughts, aggressive behaviour and angry feelings.

    For example in the UK, knife crime as seriously gone up in 2006 due to these types of games.

    It's not really the game makers fault for this, it's mainly the parents to blame. But companies such as Rockstar Games and THQ should cut down the violence amounts, and the prostituion (especially in GTA) and drugs and anything that you wouldn't want a young mind to be en-tranced to.

    By the way, when I said "Did a Nintendo", it meant to go back to the way Nintendo originally was in the 8bit and 16bit era, providing entertainment without the need to go to violence and all that.

    What's your thoughts?

    Thanks for reading this article.

    Oliver

    Oliver Earl I <3 Classic Gaming Support me and visit my website at: www.classicville.co.nr

    Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Oliver_Earl