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Burnout Paradise – Big Surf Island June 8, 2009

Posted by xerocube in : Playstation 3, Racing, XBOX 360 , add a comment

Criterion Games is releasing the latest expansion to Burnout Paradise on June 11th, 2009. This pack with be available for both XBOX 360 and Playstation 3.

This will be the first, and hopefully not last, map expansion to the, already expansive, game. Gamers will be treated to 15 new events and an additional 10 online freeburn challenges.  For those treasure hunters, there are another 45 billboards to crash and a bunch of smash gates.

For the 360 folks, there will be 5 new achievements:

For the PS3 folks, an additional 10 trophies are up for grabs:

Price? Rumors have it listed at 1000 Microsoft Points on Xbox Live and $12.99 (€12.99|| £9.99) on the PSN. Should be good times ahead… I’ll see you on the island!

Unreal Tournament 3: DM-Spectrum May 21, 2009

Posted by xerocube in : Action, PC, Previews , add a comment

It’s been a while since I have been genuinely interested in an Unreal Tournament map. If this trailer is even remotely on point, then we all have something to look forward to in the world of UT3.

DM-Spectrum from Matthew Bradley on Vimeo.

Matt Bradley goes on to say:

The initial concept for Spectrum was to subvert traditional deathmatch playstyles by forcing the player to use lights to navigate and kill enemies. The level is completely designed around this idea, thusly it has a fairly simple layout. There are 3 floors, the 2nd and 3rd floor open out onto the main hall in order for the coloured cubes to be easily visible for most of the time. Most of the walls are curved in order to help the player get out of trouble even if they are running directly into a wall. Every boundary has a smaller white light to signify it.

The cubes also serve a purpose. They help to keep the level paced. Each coloured cube represents a different area of the map. These areas are colour-co-ordinated to match the cubes. When a player is in one of these areas the corresponding cube lights up notifying other players. As one learns the map they should be able to find enemies without too much hardship.

The buzz this is creating should lead to an interesting payout. Let’s hope Matt has great success with this and starts a new modding push in the community.

Rock Band Song Releases – Week of 5/4/2009 May 1, 2009

Posted by xerocube in : Playstation 3, Rhythm, Wii, XBOX 360 , add a comment

Franz Ferdinand 3-pack (440 / $5.50)

Individual Songs (160 / $2)

Dead Rising 2 information (via Kotaku) April 28, 2009

Posted by xerocube in : Action, Adventure , add a comment

Apparently, I am hungering for more Dead Rising 2 information. Here is a snippet from Kotaku’s impressions of the game.

Kotaku – Dead Rising 2: 7,000 Zombies and Plenty of Chainsaws – dead rising 2

The original Dead Rising may have been a technological breakthrough, a wonder of body count and open-world exploration, but what really sold it for me, and for many, was the game’s heart.

It had personality, most of it packed into gruff photojournalist lead Frank West. So when the curtain was raised on Dead Rising 2 last week, I was hoping for a glimpse at the game’s soul. What we got instead was a detailed run through of its engine.

Dead Rising 2 wasn’t built on the shambling corpse of Dead Rising, instead Canadian developers Blue Castle started from scratch creating a new engine written specifically for the new game.

“What we are showing you today is something completely new,” said Dan Brady, CEO of Blue Castle Games. “It is not based on the engine used in Dead Rising one, this is a completely unique and original engine written specifically for Dead Rising 2.”

This article talks more about the technology of the game, so don’t expect much about the plot. But it is still an interesting read.

Dead Rising 2 – First Full Trailer April 28, 2009

Posted by xerocube in : Action, Adventure , add a comment

I loved Dead Rising. I thought it was a fantastic game, great story, fun gameplay, and, most of all, good zombie killing times. And now, the sequel. I had my doubts, but it this trailer can be believed — I think I have found my first must have game of the year. Check it out!

Gears of War 2 – Thoughts on the Title Update March 26, 2009

Posted by Archbishop Xero in : Action, Articles, Misc., XBOX 360 , add a comment

My gaming crew have been super stoked in anticipation of the new Gears of War 2 title update. With all the improvements, bug fixes, and everything, we were convinced it was going to be a whole new gaming experience. And it was… to a point. It was refreshing to see several tweaks and improvements, and they definitely made the game play differently.

I have to admit that I like the new experience system. It has given me a small sense of accomplishment, as I’d never gained that elusive 2nd Rank in the prior experience system. However, a major complaint is that I can no longer quit out of a game after the gameplay is officially over — forcing me to wait 25 seconds before being dumped back into the lobby. If I exit before I am put in the lobby, I get docked 1500 experience points. WTH? I finished the match, why penalize me?

But I do have to ask, is it too much of an issue to patch some of the geometry issues in the maps (specifically the one in Pavilion allowing cheaters to hop a shield through a shuttered doorway)? Or find a way to keep us from consistently getting sucked into cover when trying to run past a corner? I can’t tell you how many times I have been stuck on columns trying to get to a certain point.

And while the game does play significantly better, I just wish there was a way to effectively eliminate cheaters. I don’t care if I win or lose, as long as I have a fighting chance. I’d rather been firmly shutout by a skilled player or a frakkin’ lag-switcher that leeches all the fun out of the match.

Rock Band DLC: Week of January 20th, 2009 January 16, 2009

Posted by Archbishop Xero in : News, Playstation 3, Rhythm, XBOX 360 , add a comment

For you Rock Band owners, here’s what’s coming out next week for Rock Band 1/2:

I am planning on picking up the Steve Miller Band and Mute Math tracks.

Free Rock Band Track – “Headphones On” by Miranda Cosgrove December 2, 2008

Posted by xerocube in : Party, Promos & Events, Rhythm, XBOX 360 , add a comment

Fresh from Major Nelson’s feed, I have learned there is a free track from Rock Band today. I have provided a link below.

I haven’t listened to the song, so I cannot personally attest to the quality of the track. However, it is free, so no harm for trying it out, right?

Xbox LIVE Marketplace | Rock Band | “Headphones On” | Miranda Cosgrove

Left 4 Dead Acheivements Revealed October 20, 2008

Posted by Archbishop Xero in : Action, News, XBOX 360 , add a comment

French gaming site, Succès Full, has revealed Left 4 Dead’s Acheivements for the 360. My favorites include:

I have been looking forward to this game for a long time. Zombies… co-op game play… “custom” games for each play through… looks like a winner. I can only hope this game captures the player as well as Half Life 2. If so, we are in for a treat.

Follow the link for the full scoop: Acheivements

Rock Band DLC – Week of 10/21/08 – Nirvana Edition October 17, 2008

Posted by Archbishop Xero in : News, Playstation 3, Rhythm, XBOX 360 , add a comment

Here’s the Rock Band DLC for this week. It’s a been a while coming, but next week we’ll see 7 Nirvana tracks! More importantly, it’s from their Nevermind offering. Sadly, “Come As You Are” and “Smells Like Teen Spirit” aren’t being made available. We’ll have to manage with these 7 master tracks.

The full Nirvana 7 Pack will be priced $10.99 (880 Microsoft Points) or $1.99 (160 Microsoft Points) per track.

I, for one, am looking forward to “Polly” and “On A Plain”. These promise to be good times.

Availability:

Rock on!