This Week's Game Purchases

Another week, a few more games in the ol' collection. What did I pick up? Read on, read on. . .

Perfect Dark Zero (Xbox 360) - My renewed interest in the Xbox 360 has led me to raid the system's back catalog. I've had the 360 since its lauch, but very few titles have compelled me to purchase them -- particularly at the NexGen price of $59.99. PDZ didn't interest me at $59, it became attractive at $29, but at $9.99 it became a must buy! I enjoyed Perfect Dark on the N64, who doesn't like the high-tech spy stuff? If it holds my attention for a few sittings the wait will be worth it. . .I'll let ya know.

Super Smash Bros. BRAWL (Wii) - I had not intended to purchase Brawl, as I believe it's really not much different than the GameCube's Smash Bros. Melee (or the N64 version for that matter). Unfortunately, my opinion was overruled by my two demanding sons -- they just could not be convinced the version we already own is just as good as the new one. Full price for a retread -- it hurts, it hurts. . .maybe it'll surprise me.

What'cha been playing?! Not a Whole Heck of a Lot Edition

Whew! Between the short week, the Lost season finale, and plain ol' being tired, I put very little time into gaming this time around. I did, however, listen to a variety of videogame podcasts! Apparently a big Microsoft event happened recently and one lucky podcaster attended a talk by designer Peter Molyneux on Fable 2. The talk must have been pretty good, because the excitement ended up rubbing off on me! With Fable 2 a ways off from playable, the only thing I can do was turn to next best thing:

Fable: The Lost Chapters(Xbox) -- So how well does Fable stand the test of time? Pretty well! The visuals are top notch, and the story progresses pretty well. . .my only complaint is that the tutorial section of the game is a little too long. Thankfully I'm past that and beginning to enjoy some quests. Overall the experience is sound, and if you haven't played it, it's well worth picking it up. . .especially since a used copy costs around $6 used at your local Gamestop.

Fable plays well on the Xbox 360 as well. There is some slight sound glitching, but it's not something that detracts from the game. GET IT! This game is recommended.

Remembering Tom Vu

You may not know this, but I'm a huge proponent of Tom Vu's techniques. I've never actually gone to his seminar, but I did get to go to a Tom Vu rally in New Haven some time around 1990 when his infomercials were at their peak of popularity. Tom Vu emits such a powerful aura of success; I believe being near him for that short time has had a lasting impact on my life to this day.

Is it no wonder that my life today so closely mirrors Tom's cira 1989? Perhaps I should start up a seminar series as well. I now understand the social obligation Tom was answering when he began sharing his secrets. See for yourself:

"Do you think these girls like me? NO, they like my money!"

Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core (PSP) $25.99 at Amazon

Now this is a great Deal of The Day from Amazon. Crisis Core for $25.99! Metacritic score 83. This is one of the best possible games to get for your PSP. . .I dare say it's almost worth buying a PSP for (your tastes may differ) . GET IT!

Zero Punctuation Wednesday

This week Yahtzee tackles The World Ends With You. . .a RPG for the DS that "does things different." Being a JRPG fan of sorts, his final comments leave me hopeful that its a good game. Perhaps I'll pick it up at some point, or then again, maybe I'll just curl up in the corner.

What'cha Been Playing? All Mixed Up Edition

Despite the holiday weekend, there's always time for some game playin'. This week I've been mixing it up old skool. . .well, these games certainly aren't TOO old, but they're far from the recent releases that are the usual fare elsewhere. This crop of games marks a clean break from what I had previously been playing - no GTA, no Mystery Dungeon, etc. Why is that? Who knows. My games playin' muse doesn't reveal her secrets too easily.

Yakuza (PS2) - Set in modern day Tokyo, you play the role of a misunderstood mobster. This game is a keeper -- I've been playing it on and off for a long time and I keep coming back. Fun game play, great story and just the right difficulty. If you've ever wanted to visit Tokyo, you can do worse than buying his game; the developers really nailed the feel of Tokyo. If you've spent any time in the city, you'll feel right at home minus all the thugs that always want to beat you up. Who knew there were so many tough-guys in the big-city waiting around to pick fights?? This game is highly recommended. Must play. . .

Civilization III (PC) - A ways back, I was a big Civ2 geek. I picked up Civ3 a few years ago and never really spent much time with it - UNTIL NOW. What is it about Civilization that makes one stay up to 3am?? My civilization has been in decline from the start, yet it keeps hanging on. . .turn after turn I grow a bit and then shrink back down almost to nothing. I'm at the brink of extinction now. . .perhaps I should start a new game??? If you've been itching to find out what it's like to rule the world (or at least your little corner of it) look no further. Civilization's the real deal. . .Recommended.

Beautiful Katamari (Xbox 360) - I have to say it: If you've never played a Katamari game, pick one up for whatever system you own. One version or another has been released for PS2, PSP and now Xbox 360. Many people complained about the 360 version because it looks like the developers didn't do much to up the ante on the game play or graphics. Others complained about the price. . .I believe it was released as a full-priced game, whereas the original (PS2) debuted for a mere $20. Well. . .PROBLEM SOLVED! You can pick up a brand new copy of this game for $20 at this point. Regarding the graphics: think of them as remarkably crisp and clear on your new 1080p HDTV. Highly recommended.

Saints Row (Xbox 360) - No offense, but whoever said Saints Row was a GTA killer, or how it forced Rockstar to evolve and innovate their gameplay mechanics, has been smoking something. Now, understand, I didn't spend more than a hour with this game - mostly because I was compelled to turn it off after the first few missions - but I really don't see how Saints Row competes with the last-gen GTAs let alone what's possible with the current crop of consoles. Needless to say, the game didn't convert me into a fan. I will give it another shot, but even for the $20 I paid for it, I don't think this game is worth it. Not recommended.

What have you been playing?

Ninja Gaiden II (Xbox 360) $53.99 at Buy.com SHIPPED

Just picked this up off the wire: Buy.com is having a sale on Ninja Gaiden II which is slated for release on 6/2/08. Pre-order it now for $53.99 and get free shipping. A fantastic deal!

Fade into You

I look to you and I see nothing / I look to you to see the truth

Zero Punctuation Wednesday: Painkiller

Yahtzee takes Painkiller on. . .and likes it.

Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock Bundle (Wii / Xbox 360 / PS3) $59.99 at Amazon

Amazon's reduced the price of the Guitar Hero III by $30 across all consoles for today only. . .Get it while its still in stock!

UPDATE: On top of the Guitar Hero bundle, Amazon is have rhythm game deals all day in the Gold Box. CHECK IT OUT.

Alone in The Dark (Xbox 360) $10 off + Bonus with Pre-order at Gamestop.com

Gamestop.com is offering $10 off ($49.99) on the new Alone in The Dark game for the 360. To sweeten the deal, they're also throwing in a soundtrack CD and an Gamestop exclusive T-Shirt. Nothing will be cooler than showing up to a party 10 years from now wearing this shirt. Take it from me. . .The other day, a Walmart dude told me my EB Games exclusive Dreamcast shirt was cool -- its THAT easy! 9/9/99 - BELIEVE.

I've been hearing about Alone in The Dark for a while and its getting a lot of positive press. I loved the original, but got burned on a version I bought for my Saturn. It sounds like this one could be a winner. If you like your games all horrorshow like, CHECK IT OUT!


Don't forget coupon code SAVER for free shipping!

Haze (PS3) 53.99 at Buy.com SHIPPED

Buy.com is running a special on Haze pre-orders. This game is a console exclusive to the PS3 and will be released on 5/21 -- just a few days from now! $53.99 gets you the game without any pesky shipping charges. . .GET IT!

Dragon Quest Heros: Rocket Slime (DS) $14.99 at Amazon

Dragon Quest Heros: Rocketslime (DS) is a fantastic title (Metacritic score: 83). I paid the full price of admission ($29.99 I believe) and it was worth every penny. Paying $14.99 should be a no-brainer. GET IT!

We've Got a Bigger Problem Now. . .

History does repeat itself if one doesn't pay it heed.

Die on our brand new poison gas / in a desert in Afghanistan!
Making money for President Reagan / and all the friends of President Reagan!

Price Drop: Beautiful Katamari (Xbox 360) $19.99 at Amazon

My renewed interest in the 360 got me searching for some games that aren't shooters. I'm a huge fan of Katamari Damaci (PS2), though the follow-ups in the series were never as special as the original. Beautiful Katamari is the first 'nex-gen' entry in the series, and it does a fine job if you're not expecting a big leap in story, graphics or game play mechanics. $20 is a great price for this game! GET IT!

What'cha Been Playing?

After several weeks of playing the same few games, I'm finally beginning to branch out and explore new horizons. Where did I travel exactly? Let's find out!

Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaro's Treasure (Wii) - Combing through the videogame bargain bin usually ends in disappointment, but last Sunday I came across a true treasure: Zack & Wiki. Despite the hype this game got from the enthusiast press when it was released, it just didn't end up selling well. If you can find the game, you'll likely get it at deep discount -- mine was $20 at Walmart (YMMV). Zack & Wiki has very high production values, makes reasonable use of the Wii controller, and has fantastic puzzles. The game is a ton of fun, and don't let the kiddie look fool you: the difficulty ramps up pretty quick. Highly Recommended.

Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3 / Xbox360) - I'm still going strong with this one; actually my progress is sort of slow and steady. GTA 4 is really holding my attention. I'm at the second safe-house, I've been tooling around doing jobs for Brucie and helping Manny this is public access TV show -- I really do believe he sincerely wants to clean up the streets. My only gripe remains the radio stations available in Liberty City. . .much like real-life radio, there is little going on that really interests me. IMHO, San Andreas rules the roost as far as GTA sound tracks go. Who can get enough Danzig? As always, GTA is highly recommended.

Bioshock (Xbox360) - I started playing this last week and I'm still plodding along. It's a good game, but the fact that it's an FPS concerns me. I tend to lose interest in first person shooters quickly. Perhaps I'm burned out from marathon sessions of Doom 2 and Duke Nukem 3D? So far Bioshock has held my interest, and I'm thinking that the game play will continue to evolve in ways that ultimately engross me. How else could this game get such high reviews???? So far, this game is merely recommended. I'll let you know.

What have you been playing???

Sega Genesis Collection (PS2) $14.99 at Amazon

The Sega Genesis Collection (PS2) is now $14.99 at Amazon. Why pay all that money for DLC when you can buy all the games at once for a fraction of the price? Just one game from this collection costs $8 on Wii's Virtual Console. . .if its been released yet. If you have a Playstation and are interested in some of the best games ever made, this is a must buy.

This collection includes:

• Decap Attack starring Chuck D. Head
  
• Ecco the Dolphin Ecco II - The Tides of Time
  
• Ecco Jr.
  
• Kid Chameleon
  
• Flicky
  
• Gain Ground
  
• Golden Axe I
  
• Golden Axe II
  
• Golden Axe III
  
• Phantasy Star II
  
• Phantasy Star III - Generations of Doom
  
• Phantasy Star IV - The End of the Millenium
  
• Ristar
  
• Shadow Dancer - The Secret of Shinobi
  
• Shinobi III - Return of the Ninja Master
  
• Sonic the Hedgehog
  
• Sonic the Hedgehog 2
  
• Super Thunder Blade
  
• Sword of Vermilion
  
• Vectorman
  
• Vectorman 2
  
• Virtua Fighter 2

Is Shenmue 3 on its way??

I had to pass this along. It looks like the possibility that Shenmue 1 and 2 will be ported to Nintendo's Wii has resurfaced. Shenmue isn't only an underappreciated title that was beloved by most who played it, but it was also supposed to have 16 chapters.

Shenmue 1 and 2 only account for the first 6 chapers in the game. Where have the remaining 10 chapters been hiding? In rumor and speculation hell! With the demise of the Dreamcast, the cold reception of Shenmue 2 on the Xbox and the game's staggering development costs, Sega has been a little gun-shy with their Shenmue investment money.

Needless to say, it's quite jarring to finish up Shenmue 2, only to realize that there are no official plans to complete the story! Any fan worth their salt holds out hope that someday Shenmue 3 will be made. Who doesn't want to get behind the wheel of a forklift again? Now, with only a rumor that 1 and 2 will be ported, I think's more than a stretch to say that the fabled 3rd game is on the way. With that said, logic does dictate that if this port is done, and people buy it, it's a forgone conclusion that they would have to follow up with something! No???

Sega *has* begun paying attention to it's older, popular franchises. . .even beyond Sonic. Nights anyone? Yakuza, which it somehow spiritually related to Shenmue has also found success (at least in Japan). Perhaps they'll snap out of their 5+ year funk and begin making good games again. One can only dream. . .

No More Heros (Wii) price drop at Amazon

No More Heros (Wii) has been given a price drop to $29.99 at Amazon. This game was released somewhat recently, but it never really found an audience with the Wii crowd. It's a quality game (Gamestats score: 8.6) and is made by the same team that brought us the unusual Killer 7.

Zero Punctution Wednesday

This week Yahtzee goes to town on Grand Theft Auto IV! I noticed the same thing about those lamp posts. . .I wonder what they're made of?

Crush for PSP $14.99 at Amazon

Crush (PSP) made the 'best of' lists for 2007 with a dubious honor: Best Game Nobody Played. It's known for being very innovative and a lot of fun. I've been meaning to pick it up, and now that it's $14.99 I think I just may do it! GET IT NOW.

Happy Monday: Hexonexxon

"concrete pillow exxon dreams hidden hierarchy no one in power taking blame"

Videogame Pile-o-Shame - Part 3 - AAA Madness

see: Videogame Pile-o-Shame - Part 1 - "The Room" , Videogame Pile-o-Shame - Part 2 - RPG Edition

The interesting aspect of any gamer's pile-of-shame is that it's generally filled with great games! With rare exception do I purchase a bad game. . .the games on this list remain unplayed because other games in different genres drew my attention away. In this week's crop of titles, we'll see the depth of my madness: three of the five listed are top-selling, AAA titles!

Let's go. . .

• Phantom Brave (PS2) - The "spiritual successor" to Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, how can a gamer go wrong?? Disgaea is revered by many as one of the best tactical RPGs ever made. . .and I can attest to the reasons why. Phantom Brave follows in that tradition and as such, this game should be calling to me. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten to it yet and it collects dust on my shelf. Tactical RPGs are well represented in my pile-o-shame -- this is something I need to consider when the next one calls to me.
  
• Kingdom Hearts (PS2) - Though Kingdom Hearts 2 is the better regarded of the series, I've always meant to give this game a spin. I believed I picked it up at a buy-2-get-1-free event at Gamestop a while ago, and unfortunately I never got around to playing it. I hold out hope that my kids will notice it and check it out. . .who knows.
• Final Fantasy XII (PS2) - For shame! Another victim of the Christmas rush. I did play through about an hour of the game, but as many know, an hour doesn't get one very far in a Final Fantasy game. This game's visuals are INCREDIBLE. I do implore anyone who likes RPGs to check this game out. . .millions of Final Fantasy fans can't be wrong! As an aside, I own just about every one of these games across all platforms, though I've played very few of them. The one that's gotten a lot of play is the new FF VII: Crisis Core (PSP) -- CHECK IT OUT.
  
• Shenmue II (Xbox) - Now this one is embarrassing. I'm a huge Shenmue fan! I thought the original Dreamcast game was one of the best games ever created and I still harbor a bit of anger towards my wife for harassing me during its final unpausable cut scene. Why oh why didn't I take to the second game?? To be fair, I did get through quite a bit of this game, but I had to repeat one too many book moving missions and I guess I just couldn't take it anymore. I still have my save, and I'm still pining for the next chapter in the series. . .what are the odds that I'll pick this back up? SHENMUE fo' EVAAA!!!
• Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (PS3) - another AAA title. Wow does this game look and play great. . .it's a total must-buy. I was really starting to get into it and got to a point where I had trouble moving forward. Rather than reduce the difficulty level, I just quit playing. Frustration: the mind killer. Anyway, Drake's Fortune is a real showcase for what the PS3 can do. I got this game for Christmas, and unfortunately (no pun intended) only one game got my attention this past Christmas season: ROCK BAND. I think I'm kind of done with Rock Band, so now maybe I can go back and play the games I missed because of it -- or maybe I'll just play GTA 4 instead. PAH!

What have YOU not been playing??

Treat Your Mother Right

Mr. T is well known for the love and respect he has for his mom. Watch this video and I think you'll agree that no one says "Happy Mother's Day" more eloquently than Mr. T.

$10 off Mass Effect for PC with pre-order

Bioware just let me know they are offering $10 off the PC version of Mass Effect with a pre-order at selected retailers. Mass Effect is a RPG that was recently released for the Xbox 360 and was warmly received by players and critics alike (Metacritic score: 91). If you're interested in playing it on PC, it looks like now could be the time to jump.

GET IT!

What'cha Been Playing?

Too many games, too little time. This is a week of (mostly) more of the same -- its tough to lose interest in games that are this good! One item of note: working on the chronicle that is my Videogame Pile-o-Shame, I unearthed a treasure! Every soul can't be saved, but at least this one has been rescued from the annals of the unplayed: Growlancer Generations.

Growlancer Generations (PS2) - While I was pulling together the best of the games I own, but haven't played, I came across this title. Growlancer Generations contains the first two games in the Growlancer saga. They are each tactical RPGs and I'm having a lot of fun with the first one. Generations was published by Working Designs, and if you're hard-core enough to know who that is than you should probably run out and buy this game immediately (if you don't already have it). I can't say the game is for everyone -- it sure isn't fast pace, but its rewarding all the same. Recommended.

Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3 / Xbox 360) - The freeze bug has been fixed for those (like me) who play on a PS3. I wasn't affected too much by the bug, but I did experience it once last Saturday night. I've been moving through the single-player game at a pretty good clip. I'm at about 20% complete, though much of the city still isn't available for me to explore. I'm having a lot of fun, the story is good, and the game play doesn't get old -- what more could a gamer ask for? I anticipate this won't be the last time it makes the list. Highly Recommended.

Mystery Dungeon: Shiren The Wanderer (DS) - Yes, I'm still playing this game. It is a lot of fun, but I'm concerned my interest in it nearing an end. I've gotten far, but as anyone who's played a Roguelike knows, a simple mistake can knock one straight back to the beginning of the game. . .and mistakes happen a little too often! So, yes, I'm back at the start of my journey again, and I fear this trek may be my last. . .STAY TUNED! Highly Recommended.

Late Entries. . .

Bioshock (Xbox360) - I have been holding off on purchasing this game since it came out late last year. I have always expected that it would be released for the PS3 sometime late this year or early next. Rumors are still flying around to that affect! Anyway, games for the 360 seem to drop in price quickly after they're released, and Bioshock is no exception -- I could no longer ignore that the game can now be had for $39. I've not played it long enough to cast a true verdict, so all I can say is there will be more to come on this one.

Grand Theft Auto III (PS2 / Xbox) - I played through the first few missions -- this series has come a long way! Like I said about GTA 4: the structure of these games are all very consistent, but my-oh-my how far the controls (and visuals) have come! You'll gain a true appreciation for how much games have advanced in the past few years when you play this one. Some genres can stand the test of time (RPGs) and some cannot (3D action games?). My advice? Stick to the newer releases of GTA -- this one is a little too tough to take. Not Recommended.

What have you been playing??

Gadget Purchase of The Week

As discussed in last week's gadget purchase post, I'm assembling the necessary components to make my ASUS eeePC more desktop friendly. When I started this mini-project, I believed I had plenty of PC parts in my basement to cover the basics: monitor, keyboard and mouse. My monitor is an old 17" MAG (I'll get to my issues with it later), but it turns out my mouse and keyboard combos are all PS/2 type instead of USB. That just wouldn't do.

I did a quick search to see if it would be worth it to get a PS/2 to USB converter and the short answer on that is NO -- the converter is as expensive as a brand new keyboard and mouse set! I'm all for bringing old equipment back into service for new and creative uses, but I'm not going to pay a lot extra to do it. Wouldn't that defeat the purpose?

I took a trip over to Staples to see if they had a wireless keyboard in stock and I found an unbeatable deal on the Microsoft Wireless Laser Desktop 2000 (pictured above). It's a fully wireless keyboard and mouse. The set was marked down from $99 to $54.99 and also had an instant $25 coupon, making the total price $29.99! This offer expires today, so if you want a very nice wireless keyboard and mouse for your PC, head down to the store or pick it up online NOW.

In general, Staples isn't the best place to go for a bargain ($20 USB cables come to mind), but I've found they have some pretty amazing deals from time to time. When they have markdowns combined with instant rebates and such, they're basically paying you to carry their merchandise out of the store -- good stuff!

Regarding the monitor: I'm using it right now and its flashing an flicking all over the place. This ol' MAG has seen better days. Perhaps next week we'll be discussing my new flat panel! These big ol' CRTs are oh so 1998.

Grand Theft Auto Strategy Guide $13.59 at Amazon

Grand Theft Auto Strategy Guide $13.59 - I don't know what's going on, but it looks like retailers are discounting the GTA 4 strategy guide. If you're out this weekend, resist the temptation to purchase the guide at full price.

PS3 Dualshock 3 Controller $44.99 SHIPPED at Buy.com

PS3 Dualshock 3 Controller $44.99 - $10 off with free shipping. . .not bad at all. The Dualshock 3 brings rumble back to the Playstation. I picked one up when I bought GTA4 -- The experience is exactly what you think it will be.

Xbox 360 Deals: Bioshock $38, Ninja Gaiden 2 - free $10 giftcard with pre-order

Two new deals over at Amazon:

• Bioshock (Xbox 360) $38 -- Great price for one of the best games released last year. Metacritic score: 96
• Ninja Gaiden 2 (Xbox 360) -- Free $10 giftcard with pre-order.
  

Zero Punctuation - Mailbag Showdown!

It's Wednesday again, how time moves so quickly. This week Yahtzee has it out with several Nintendo zealots over his review of Super Smash Brothers Brawl for Wii. For those keeping score: at this point, our family has decided to pass on the latest Smash Bros. because we're still having fun with the last one. Go Gamecube!

Videogame Pile-o-Shame - Part 2 - RPG Edition

See: Videogame Pile-o-Shame - Part 1 - "The Room"

The Pile-o-Shame, it grows and grows. How many games could it be? Today I'll feature five more games from this ignominious grouping; several of which are blockbuster AAA titles! Let's get started. . .

• Kingdom of Paradise (PSP) - this game is supposedly very good! In the beginning of the PSP's life, there weren't a lot of titles to choose from -- especially RPGs. Kingdom of Paradise came out at around the same time as SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo (PSP) and I bought both. I played through SOCOM but KoP sat. I've recently started carrying this game, as I really do want to play it. With all hope, I will be able to remove it from this list soon.
• Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of The Lions (PSP) - There's no good story here. I got the game for Christmas, I carry it around with me, but I haven't played it yet. The good news is I continue to put off buying Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness (another tactical RPG that is singing its siren song to me) because I haven't played this one yet.
• Final Fantasy X (PS2) - A local video store was closing down several years ago and I got it for a good price. I began playing it, but the opening cinematic is very long and cannot be paused. My wife kept talking to me, demanding that I do things, etc., more or less interrupting the experience. I never played it since. For those that don't know, FF X is supposedly one of the best in the series. I've been robbed.
  
• Gears of War (Xbox360) - Gears is a true AAA title. Lots of people have played the hell out of this game! I got it for Christmas, but I don't think that's to blame. I fired the game up, started playing and proceeded to be bored. . .I just could not get into the gameplay. Shooters sometimes fool me -- I played way too much of Doom 2 and I'm burned out on the genre. Not playing Gears can be called a good thing as it has been sited as a source of the 360's Red Ring of Death failures. Supposedly it works the GPU so hard, the console's motherboard melts! It's best to leave the 360 to playing DVDs. . .great design.
  
• Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner (PS2) - for shame! Another game that's still in its plastic wrapper. I WILL play this as I am a big fan of the series. . .I just haven't gotten to it yet. Perhaps I shouldn't be so ready to preorder RPGs with so many in this pile?

What's in your Pile-o-Shame??

26" LCD HDTV - $330 at Buy.com

Westinghouse 26" LCD HDTV (720p / 1080i) - $330!

I had to pass this along -- this is an amazing price on a HDTV. I did a little research, and people loved the picture but they were having an issue with the sound syncing correctly with it. The good news is there is now a firmware update available from Westinghouse that resolves the issue. With the fix in place people are very happy. . .without the fix, not so much!

Down in It

While I watched this live on my TV, JX was stuck in a traffic jam in upstate New York. I suppose not joining him was one of those regrets that never actually materialized.

I thought I was trapped then, little did I know that it was only the beginning.

Gamer Deals

Assassin's Creed $29 (Xbox 360 / PS3) at Gamestop
free shipping with coupon code SAVER

Gamestop has an amazing deal on brand new copies of Assassin's Creed (Metacritic score 81). While the 360 version has enjoyed price cuts for a while, the PS3 version has remained full price -- until now! This is a great game for a very good price. . .

Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy

For those not in the know, the original Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy text adventure game by Infocom, is free to play on the BBC Radio 4 website. I spent some time playing it and ended up getting killed by a flying brick -- game over. This game, Zork, Wishbringer, Planetfall and many others were big favs. There's actually still a following for homebrew Z-machine games - I'm personally fond of the Doctor Who adventures.

GO!

May's Top-5 Must-have Games

It looks like everyone is giving Grand Theft Auto IV plenty of room to breath, as any release of note falls toward the end of the month. The number 1 most anticipated release this month should come as no surprise to anyone: Wii Fit. Nintendo has already sold over a million units in Japan, and in North America expectations are even higher. Is it a coincidence that Wii Fit is being released in the same month as Mother's Day? Walmart doesn't think so.

The top most anticipated games of May:

1. Wii Fit (Wii) - 5/21 - Nintendo's high-tech bathroom scale replaces the need for expensive personal trainers. While it may have the potential to put Roldo out of a job, I think the price point is too high on this one. Also, how many plastic Wii doo-dads can survive in your typical livingroom ecosystem? Wii steering wheels, blasters, guitars, racquets and now this -- something's got to give.
   
2. Haze (PS3) - 5/20 - Drink nector and become a killing machine, drink too much and you go crazy. There has been a lot of mixed reaction to this game - from what I've seen it looks interesting. Let's hope developer Free Radical Design can pull it together!
   
3. Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures (PC) - 5/20 - This MMO based on the Conan mythos is generating a lot of excitement. Could it be that veterans of mega-mmo Word of Warcraft are searching for the greener grass on the other side? Perhaps not, because if even a small percentage of WoW's players were interested, I would have listed it as number one.
   
4. Boom Blox (Wii) -5/6 - Stephan Spielberg's game design debut! While many have cast a suspicious eye toward this title in the past, those that've gotten their hands on it recently are very excited. The Wii's library needs a boost -- perhaps Boom Blox is a step in the right direction.
   
5. Quake Wars: Enemy Territory (PS3 / Xbox 360) - 5/27 - Having been out for a long time on the PC, Quake Wars is finally coming to PS3 and Xbox 360. This game experiments with the Quake forula by moving toward the on-line, team-based combat that makes the Battlefield series so compelling. Fast-forward 50 years in the future on the Quake time-line: you and your buddies are still showing the Strogg who's boss. I suppose the big difference this time around is that us humans have learned to worked together. If military history is any indication, this should provide us with a great advantage this time around.
   
6. [BONUS ROUND] SingStar (PS3) - 5/20 - The game that's been at the top of the European charts is finally coming to North America. SingStar drops the pretension of Rock Band, opting to focus on the most important part of any piece of music -- the singing! Think about it: what would ABBA's Dancing Queen be like without the words? Nobody wants that. Over the coming months we'll find out if SingStar's recipe for karaoke can captivate us in the same way that it does with the rest of the world.
   

This Week's Gadget Purchase

Cables To Go 7-Port USB 2.0 Hub

I recently purchased an Asus Eee PC. The Eee is part of a new category of ultra-compact, highly affordable laptops. The concept was originally made famous by the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative, which intended to make $99 laptops available to children in developing nations. The idea caught fire, only not in the remote jungle outposts where it was originally intended. Laptops of this kind are now selling extremely well to affluent people all over the world who are willing to sacrifice processing power for a tiny form factor and an attractive price.

Apparently I'm one of those people, and at $399, who could pass up a small laptop that can double as a full-fledged (albet somewhere underpowered) PC? This is where the Cable To Go 7-port hub comes in. Like many people who've owned many PCs over the years, I have a lot of perfectly serviceable PC parts in my basement. My intention is to create a docking station so I can use my Eee PC with a full-sized keyboard, mouse and USB hard drive -- the Cables To Go hub will be the brains of the operation.

It's got plenty of ports and can be mounted permanently to the underside of a computer table. With the included power adapter, it'll have no problem driving my mouse, keyboard, a Western Digital Passport USB hard drive, and in the future, a pair of USB speakers. I also intend on using a 17" monitor with the laptop in a dual display configuration. Good stuff!

I researched a number of hubs, and this is the best one I could find. . .GET IT.

Kirby's Adventure (NES)

For those of you who have a Wii and have not explored the treasures locked inside the Virtual Console, this one is for you.

Kirby's Adventure, originally available for the NES, has been on the virtual console for some time. It's a fantastic platformer of the same caliber as any of the Mario games. It's fun to play, has tons of levels, and it has impressive graphics. Sound interesting?

If you don't happened to have a Wii, you don't have to miss out. The game was also re-released for the Gameboy Advance as Kirby: Nightmare in Dreamland. Of course, if you still have an original NES hooked up (as we do), you can also find the original on ebay. This game has aged very well, kids love it, and you can do much worse with five of your dollars. Quit it with the Wii Sports and try something else.

What Ever Happened to Sinead O'Connor?

PROOF: GTA IV Toned Down

What'cha been Playing? GTA 4 Edition

Indeed, what have I been playing? Well, the better question is, what has EVERYONE (with a PS3 or 360 that is) been playing? Word on the street indicates Grand Theft Auto IV is a big deal - it's even been spoofed on Conan O'Brien. I think its safe to say that GTA IV is the must-play game of the week. . .and next.

Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3 / Xbox360) - I spent many hours since Tuesday playing this game. It's very good, but I will say the core game play and feel haven't changed much over the years. The control is much improved over previous installments and so are the graphics. Liberty City is amazing. . .you've probably heard it all before. I think GTA 4 will appeal to a wider variety of gamer this time around (if that's possible), as some of the play mechanics are much easier to deal with and the multiplayer is supposedly out of this world (I haven't tried it yet). I'm not as impressed with the radio stations -- I've yet to find a station that plays music that I want to hear. You think Morrissey flat out refused to sign the contract? Come on! Overall, this is a must buy game for anyone with a nex-gen console. It's also a good reason to buy a PS3 or Xbox360 if you haven't done so already -- Highly Recommended.

Mystery Dungeon: Shiren The Wanderer (DS) - I'm still playing this game? Even with GTA IV in the house? Yes! I can't say enough good things about Mystery Dungeon. . .it's just great fun. It's almost a shame GTA came out this week; it is taking me away from the magic of Shiren The Wanderer! This game is a must buy for any DS owner that's sick of training their brain. Reaffirmed: Highly Recommended.

Videogame Pile-o-Shame - Part 1 - "The Room"

Every gamer has games that, for one reason or another, are purchased but are never played. This happens for a number of reasons: good deal, lots of must-buy releases in a short period of time, buy 2 get 1 free used games, and last but not least. . .Christmas! These games end up on a shelf, under the TV or in a closet somewhere -- they are in our pile-of-shame.

Over the coming. . .weeks? (god, could the list be that long?) I intend on highlighting recent-gen games in my collection that have this dubious honor. I have to stick to games from the past few years, otherwise I might get too embarrassed with how much of my collection can be categorized as shameful. Also, do you really want to hear about the Saturn titles I've neglected??

Perhaps as I go through my collection, I'll rediscover these titles and actually start playing them! Without further adieu, please welcome, in no particular order, the initial entries in my Videogame (((PILE-O-SHAME))).

• RPG Maker 3 (PS2) - I picked this up brand new in the bargain bin about a year ago. The World's Best RPG really is at the tips of my fingers - I could be a game designing superstar! or maybe not. . .anyhow, I should have learned from RPG Maker (PS1) because I bought that and never used it. My most prolific time as a game designer was actually in 1984 with the Commodore 64 -- at least it had a keyboard. I wrote several adventure games with EA's Adventure Construction Set - Doctor Who was a master work! But I digress. . .
• Assassin's Creed (PS3) - I did play this game. . .for one evening while my wife was visiting St. Paul, MN. I actually made it through the first set of missions and into the first real city - it's a fun game! Why did I never pick it up again? I don't know, did nature intend men to be monogamous?
  
• Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life (GC) - I've purchased Harvest Moon games in the past, I believe for my Gameboy Color, and I never really got into it. Is there a trend here? I thought my kids would like the game, but unfortunately they had no interest. Another one for the pile.
  
• Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops Plus (PSP) - This is an expansion for MGS: Portable Ops (which I actually played). It adds multiplayer, VR modes and stuff. This game belong to the highest level of gaming shame: its still in its plastic wrapper! Portable Ops Plus is a causality of the Christmas rush. . .some day I'll get in there and show it who's boss!
• Silent Hill 3 (PS2) - I picked this up at an independent game shop in New Haven, Connecticut while I was visiting a friend -- you don't find those too often. That place was magical and I was compelled to give it my support. I got other great games at the same time, all of which I played: Einhander (PS1), Fear Effect (PS1), Bushido Blade 2 (PS1) -- great stuff! I did start out in the game, cruised around the mall, made it to a creepy food court and an even creepier back-offices and just kind of stopped playing. Who knew there were such things behind the Barnes & Nobel? I played through Silent Hill 2, why not 3?? Who knows. I own all the games with exception to the much maligned "The Room", and I'm pretty excited about Silent Hill 5 (PS3) -- I hope that doesn't end up on this list as well!

The Perfect Watch

A year or two ago, I was on a search for the perfect watch. I wanted something arcane -- something that took a trained eye to read. I looked and looked, but apparently, this product category was under-represented in the marketplace. Only the old-standbys were represented:

• The Moon Face Watch
• Grandpa's Classic All-Metal Watch
• The Digital Watch (don't panic!) and its kissing-cousin The Calculator Watch
  
• The Classy Watch with the Leather Band(TM)

Needless to say, they all seemed lame to me. I just couldn't find a decent watch that suited my tastes -- until now that is!

Tokyo Flash makes these models and they are exactly what I was looking for. They have a lot of models to choose from and each one has an alternate universe charm.

Check out the collection!

Zero Punctuation Thursday, God of War: Chains of Olympus

Today on Zero Punctuation, Yahtzee discusses the finer points of God of War: Chains of Olympus for the PSP. GO!

Persona 3: FES

For those of you that are into (or interested) in Japanese RPGs and also happen to have a Playstation 2 laying around, Persona 3 has been re-released as Persona 3 FES. Persona is a part of the long running Shin Megami Tensei series, of which I am a big fan. Some may recognize some of the art in the game -- I've used character images from Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne as avatars in the past.


The original version Persona 3 was released last summer to critical acclaim and good sales. Unfortunately, as it is the case with most Atlus titles, the initial run was small and the game quickly became difficult to find. FES resolves all that and adds a lot of extra gameplay at a budget price.

CHECK IT OUT.

The Music of Our Youth

I can't say that my tastes have been drawn too far back in time lately, though I have been known to binge on music from my past from time to time. I was very much into Iron Maiden in the '83-'84 time frame. If I remember correctly, Aces High was their latest, though I only really owned their eponymous debut album that had some different singer. Number of the Beast was overrated, but Charlotte the Harlot RIPPED!

I remember the nights where I sat up in a tree and listened to Churchill talking about fighting on beaches and streets on my Walkman, and they were good times. Speaking of that, my buddy at the time had that Chuck Wagon game for the 2600 -- that was great too. Anyway. . .feel free to rock out to this video -- it captures everything Iron Maiden was about.

Press play to ROCK!!1