Where...is...CYBERBALL!?!

This morning Microsoft announced 10 games that will be coming out sometime this year on Xbox Live Arcade. Here are the titles and their descriptions.

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“3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures,” from developer Wanako Games and publisher Sierra Online, allows gamers to putt their way through 36 fun-filled holes of manic minigolf action on wild courses that range from the Old West to outer space and feature a bevy of crazy hazards and obstacles.
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“Alien Hominid HD” from The Behemoth features side-scrolling, hysterical cartoon action with a quirky twist and exclusive Xbox Live Arcade features.
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“Band of Bugs” from NinjaBee is a fast-paced tactical strategy game that offers gameplay deep enough to satisfy tactical genre fans and friendly enough to appeal to casual gamers. Creative gamers can even design their own levels with the built-in level editor, then play them solo or over Xbox Live with friends.
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“Castlevania: Symphony of the Night” from Konami is a faithful version of this legendary classic updated for Xbox Live Arcade and featuring the game’s full soundtrack and memorable side-scrolling vampire-hunting action.
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“Catan,” from developer Big Huge Games Inc. and publisher Microsoft® Game Studios, is a faithful remake of the immensely popular strategy board game.
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“Eets: Chowdown” from Klei Entertainment Inc. is a completely revamped version of the popular PC title of the same name. It offers new items, 120 new levels and the exclusive debut of Marsho Madness, a high-adrenaline action game in which players must keep the impending evil marshmallows at bay.
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“LUXOR 2,” from developer MumboJumbo LLC, sets a new standard for action puzzlers as players match and shoot their way through the land of ancient Egypt.
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“Paperboy,” from developer Digital Eclipse and publisher Midway, is a classic coin-op hit, specially enhanced for Xbox Live Arcade.
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“Root Beer Tapper,” also from developer Digital Eclipse and publisher Midway, features fast-paced reflex action as players scramble to keep thirsty patrons happy without dropping root beer mugs in the scramble to earn the biggest tips.

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“Worms” from developer Team 17 Software Ltd. features armies of adorable weapon-toting worms locked in tactical combat.

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While there is nothing wrong with any of these titles (I'm really looking for "Paperboy", another game long over due) did you notice something missing? Maybe the greatest robots-playing-football-game ever perhaps? Who's laundry at Atari do I have to wash in order to get this freakin' title? Who's office do I have to clean? At this point I willing to pucker up faster than an "Apprentice" contestant to play this game. "Gauntlet" and "Paperboy" are both Atari games and they're both on XLA, so what's the hold up? Quit making me look at screenshots on foreign websites that I can't understand. I'm starting to get that don't-have-a-prom-date-three-days-before-the-big-dance feeling of desperation. Help a brother out!

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terry.terrones@gazette.com

The One Way the PS3 Can Become Gaming Caviar

I know what you're thinking. I just got done slamming the PS3 and now I'm saying it could become gaming caviar? (The pic on the right is from a trip to Napa last August with my brother. If you go, skip it. Stick to wine. Trust me.) That's right, the PS3 STILL could become the next-gen console winner but it all depends on one thing, and it doesn't even have to do with games.

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So what is it? A phone call from Hideo Kojima after console purchase? A free toaster with every PS3? Nope, believe it or not, its the included Blu-ray player (waiting for you to stop laughing).
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Okay, your lack of faith in Blu-ray is understandable. Up to this point the whole Blu-Ray/HD debate has been about as relevant as who has the creepier fast food mascot (the Burger King King nudges out Ronald McDonald by just a little). But Blu-ray is the only chance the PS3 has to be competitive. Sony isn't going to clean up on console exclusives, not with so many multi-platform releases. They certainly aren't going to be competitive online (see Xbox) or when it comes to innovations (take a Wii). That leaves the PS3 with the only edge it could possibly have, the next home video movie data storage unit, the Blu-ray.

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The DVD will be replaced at some point, whether we like it or not (I'm in the Not category, considering my substantial movie library) and at this point in time the Blu-ray looks to be the format that will eventually do the job. Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, 20th Century Fox, MGM and of course Sony and just a few of the big guns backing Blu-ray and if they're backing it, it typically means Blu-ray exclusive. Those companies alone might just be enough to make a difference in this particular showdown but its two other companies that will turn the tide - Walt Disney and Apple. I never, ever bet against Bill Gates, but if he's got to compete against Mickey and the iPod? Um, uh...let me think it over.

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Even if Blu-ray replaces DVD's, Sony still needs a few things to go its way for the PS3 to be successful. It needs you. It needs consumers to decide that DVD's are out of date and it needs you to buy an HD TV to make that Blu-ray player worth it. Basically, they need you to get high tech before the PS3 is out of date. Will that happen? Maybe, if you see yourself doing those things in 3 - 5 years, which is possible. Gamers, who are known to be technophiles, might turn to the PS3 as their primary movie format if Blu-ray wins out. Non-gamers could see it as a cheaper alternative to a Blu-ray only player or (after its price drop) as a nice two in one system movie/gaming system.

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Of course, all of this is pure conjecture. Who knows what will happen five years from now? Heck, five years ago, I didn't even know what an MP3 player was and didn't have a cell phone. Now I couldn't imagine my life without either one (okay, I could live without the cell). For Sony it comes down to this, its Blu-ray investment has to pan out. If it does, hello caviar. If not, hello cheese and crackers.

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terry.terrones@gazette.com

An Open Letter to Sony

Dear Sony,
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I'm sorry, I have some bad news for you. I know its seems like I've been picking on you a lot lately but its about to get worse. Your sleek, expensive console likely can't recover from its horrible launch. This is hard for me to admit because I bought one of your expensive DVD players but I guess this proves the adage, "the truth hurts."
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Lets just make it easy on everyone and admit your system was more disappointing then the Rosie O'Donnell/Donald Trump fued (I was hoping to get a Celebrity Boxing match out of it). Think I'm full of it? I'll let my top 5 do the talking.
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Top 5 Reasons Why the PS3 is Toast
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1. No Killer Apps - Why are there stacks of PS3's on store shelves? Because video game consoles live and die on games, not technology. The Wii is a perfect example. If the games are there, the system will sell, plain and simple. The PS3 has no killer app that make gamers want to buy the system. Resistance: Fall of Man you say? Sorry, but not good enough. Metal Gear 4 and Final Fantasy? They won't be out until late this year. So should a gamer invest their money in a system with no great games? They aren't so far and with no great titles looming on the horizon, they won't be anytime soon.
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2. Price Point - Mmm...$250, $400 or $600? Which would you rather pay for a video game console? For the a lot of people who buy consoles, especially parents who buy them for their kids, a cheaper system just makes more sense. A $600 system that does pretty much what the $250 and $400 console does doesn't seem like a good financial decision. A PS3 price drop would be a smart move, but at this point it would more or less mean Sony was admitting defeat.
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3. The PS2 - Surprisingly the PS3's biggest adversary isn't the Wii or the 360, it is its little brother the PS2. The PS2 was a huge seller this Christmas due to its large library of games and a great price point. Nintendo fans (tired of the GameCube) were ready for an upgrade as were Xbox loyalists (who always played second fiddle to the PS2). Evidentally Sony fanboys aren't.
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4. Multi-platform games - ...are killing the PS3. There is nothing on the PS3 that you can't get on another system and its more than likely already been out for awhile. With very few console exclusive games (or games that are really must owns) there are just no titles identifiable with the PS3 to make it a must have system.
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5. The Wii and Xbox 360 - If the PS3 was the only system available, I wouldn't be calling for its head but this is a buyers market. The Wii and the 360 offer more innovation, better games and greater online features at a lower price. And considering the number of great titles coming up for the Xbox 360 alone (have you heard about this game called Halo 3?), the gaming quality will be hard for the PS3 to match anytime soon. As my grandpappy used to say - Why eat hamburger when you can have steak?
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So there you are Sony, proof that your system is a bigger dud than Lindsay Lohan's latest album, the "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" video game or even the movie "Battlefield Earth". But don't feel bad, you still have a strong brand name and I'm more than willing to help you design the PS4. For a small fee.
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terry.terrones@gazette.com

The Mole

Before I get into the latest news on the gaming world front, I just wanted to let you know that Thursday afternoon I'll be interviewing Official Xbox Magazine's editor-in-chief Francesca Reyes and PlayStation Magazine's Chris Slate about the state of next-gen gaming consoles.
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These interviews will either be on the blog or in an article in the paper sometime in the next week or so but (keeping with my New Years Resolution to be more interactive) if you have any questions you are dying to ask these gaming journalists, drop me an email and I'll see what I can do. On to the news.
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Making the world of a great game even bigger - Bethesda announced late last week that the Shivering Isles expansion for the Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion will be released this spring for the Xbox 360 and Windows PC. The expansion adds a new plane of Oblivion, the realm of Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness. The new content will be seamlessly integrated with the original game, so newcomers and experienced players will be able to explore the area.
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According to www.gameinformer.com the Shivering Isles features a landscape completely different from that of Cryodiil’s, divided into Mania and Dementia halves. The prince’s realm is in danger of being destroyed, and he calls upon the player’s character for help. Along the way, characters will encounter fiendish new dungeons and more than a dozen new enemies. Fortunately, craftsmen are on hand to forge custom armor and weapons. No word yet on the cost of the expansion (free would be nice) but I guarantee it'll be worth it.
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I said "duty" - Last Thursday Activision announced that its Valor Map Pack is now available on the Xbox 360 for 800 Microsoft Points ($10). It includes 5 new multilplayer maps and close quarter combat experience. Frankly, with all of the options online right now (Lost Planet, Gears, etc.) I think Activision is a little late with an expensive map pack. This should have been released 2 months ago and for free. I have better ways to spend my money.
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Finally, WoW action figures! - For those of you just dying to do your best "40 Year Old Virgin" impersonation, you're in luck. DC Direct is in the final stages of at least four figures from the World of Warcraft universe. Once you pick up one of these babies, you're guaranteed to get a date for the weekend!
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Take that Sony and Microsoft! - Check out these recent quotes from Valve's Gabe Newell in a recent interview in the February issue of Game Informer magazine when asked his opinion on the PS3 and Xbox 360:

"The PS3 is a total disaster on so many levels. I think it’s really clear that Sony lost track of what customers wanted and what developers wanted. I’d say, even at this late date, they should cancel it and do a “do over.” Just say, “This was a horrible disaster and we’re sorry and we’re going to stop selling this and stop trying to convince people to develop for it.” The happy story is the Wii. I’m betting that by Christmas of next year, the Wii has a larger installed base than the 360. Other people think I’m crazy. I really like everything what Nintendo is doing.”

On the 360...

"Microsoft has so many problems with Vista; I wish they were focusing more on the thing that runs on hundreds of millions of PCs rather than six million proprietary clients. Vista really shows a lack of focus on making a better consumer platform. I came out of the Windows group, and right now, I’d go with a Macintosh as being a better solution for most consumers than a Vista-based PC. It’s shocking to me. If you’re an XP user, you’re going to be more comfortable upgrading to an Apple than Vista."

I'd agree with his take on the PS3, at this point its been a huge disappointment. As for his view on the 360, I think he's full of it. First of all, he doesn't even talk about the 360, he rambles on about Windows Vista, an unrelated topic when it comes to console gaming. Also, I mentioned in my Wii console review last Friday that the Wii is a great system but its a family oriented thing. I just don't see its appeal to the typical gamer demographic.
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As someone who owns all three systems, let me elaborate. When I want to play games with my family (including my "Ugh, you're playing games again?!?" wife), I use the Wii. When I want to play online or have fun blowing peoples heads off, I use the 360. And the PS3? At this point, I use it strictly as a DVD player.
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I guarantee you I'll be asking Francesca and Chris their take on Newell's statement.
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terry.terrones@gazette.com

Now its your turn

Since I'm always looking for another way to connect with other gamers, starting next week I'll be running a section called "Reader Rants".

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This is a feature where I run your article on gaming on this blog. Whatever you write about - from your favorite/least favorite game to the lack of respect you feel your favorite console gets - its all up to you. If you feel passionate about something that concerns gaming, heard some rumor you hope comes true, have a great idea you want to share, a funny story, or feel so angry about constantly being nickeled and dimed by EA for downloadable content - you now have a place to be heard. Right here, for everyone to see.

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While this is a gaming blog, peripheral gamer conversation is certainly encouraged. Accessories, TV's, PC's, controllers, furniture, sound systems, internet providers, cell phones, modems, iPods/iTunes, helpful websites, cheat codes, walkthroughs, great game stores or employees and anything that enhances the gaming experience is up for discussion as well. And since gamers are big fans of music, television and movies and there is a lot of crossover/comparision/competition from those other mediums, feel free to chime in about that too (And if you really want some back and forth with me personally, write about any of the following: Miami Vice, Classic Battlestar Galactica, Star Trek, Star Wars, Sliders, retro games, Spider-Man vs. Superman, The Beatles, U2, Coldplay, the Atari 2600 and grape soda in glass bottles).

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Here's how you can participate. Send an email with whatever you want to discuss to my Gazette address listed below. Make sure its no more than 2,000 words and there is nothing in it offensive or tasteless. I plan to run entries every Friday but it depends on the response I get (if its as good as my mailbag response, lets just forget I ever brought this up). That's it.

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I'm looking forward to reading some good emails. There have certainly been some good comments on my posts in the past and I'm hoping this leads to some fun blog entries to read.

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terry.terrones@gazette.com

Rock me Amadeus

Music and video games have had a long, happy marriage. Their the media version of my grandparents. Most gamers could recognize some of the oldest and most popular games by their theme song alone (Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, Super Mario Bros.) . Of course, there were plenty of games where the music was so bad and so repetitive, you'd stab yourself in the ear with an ice pick just so you wouldn't have to listen to it anymore (Shaq Fu, with Shaq's rap music?!? Gahh!).

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Back in the day, whether you liked the music or not, you were stuck with it. Not anymore. Video games are reaching crazy levels of customization from face plates to avatars and of course, music.

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As a music lover, I love listening to my own tunes while playing games, driving and fighting games in particular. Since I've been looking for an excuse to talk about music on a video game blog, here are the Top 5 bands that I listen to while playing video games.

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Top 5 Bands to Listen to While Playing Video Games

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1. The Beatles - The greatest rock band of all time, don't even bother arguing with me about it, you'll never convince me otherwise (I've mentioned this before, my mother's from Liverpool, she brainwashed me from inside the womb, I couldn't change how I feel about this band even if I wanted to. Not that I want to.). Their early days have a lot of fast, rockin' songs and their older stuff full of psychedelic, kooky, fun stuff. The best thing about the Beatles is their tunes fit any game.

(Favorite songs to play: Anything from Rubber Soul or Hard Day's Night)

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2. U2 - What do you know? The second greatest band of all time makes my list. I love their slower stuff but it doesn't really fit with video games. A lot of their newer stuff, especially from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, really rocks and works great while playing games.

(Favorite songs to play: Elevation, The Saints are Coming, Vertigo)

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3. AC/DC - Okay, this is a no brainer. Do I really have to explain why one of the rockingest (ooh, I just invented a new word) bands of all time makes for great fighting or driving music? I didn't think so.

(Favorite songs to play: Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution, Its a Long Way to the Top if You Wanna Rock and Roll)

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4. The Clash - Gotta love that ska punk sound. These guys rock, have a great collection of cool songs and are just plain fun to listen to even when you're not gaming. I actually prefer them for driving games then fighting games but either way they're great.

(Favorite songs to play: Rock the Casbah, Train in Vain)

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5. Coldplay - Alright, go ahead and laugh. I'll wait...are you done yet? No? I'll wait some more...okay, I'm done waiting. Coldplay is one of those bands you either love or I hate (I love, my wannabe 12-year old rock star son hates) and you wouldn't think their sound would be a good fit for video games but it does. Mostly those spacey or ethereal games like Star Trek Legacy or Prey. I certainly wouldn't play Mortal Kombat while listening to Coldplay but those other games? Oh, yeah.

(Favorite songs to play: Only Superstition, Speed of Sound, Politik)

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terry.terrones@gazette.com

And the next-gen console winner (so far) is...

...the Xbox 360. According to the January NPD report, the Xbox 360 earned a 51% market share outselling the PS3 and the Nintendo Wii combined during November and December. Last month alone, there were 1.1 million 360's, 604,200 Wii's and 490,700 PS3's sold.

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But the 360 wasn't even the best selling console. The PlayStation 2 was outsold Microsoft's console by 300K units (the DS remains #1, selling 1.6 million units in December). To date, Sony has sold 37.1 million PS2's in North America. Wow! And just in case you're curious, the top 3 selling games of 2006 were Madden, The New Super Mario Bros and Gears of War.

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So why is the PS2 still selling? Why isn't the PS3 making the PS2 as obsolete as the 360 has made the original Xbox?

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Contrary to popular belief, its not an availability issue. Sure, around its launch the PS3 was as hard to find as snow shovel at a hardware store (at least in Colorado) but right now finding a PlayStation 3 is a piece of cake. Why? Two big reasons -there are no games for it and it costs $600!

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The lack of a killer app is killing (pun intended) the PS3. With a few exceptions, there are no games on the system that you can't play on the 360 or the Wii and even those exceptions aren't driving gamers to buy the console like a Halo 3 or a game of that magnitude would. Throw in its weak online features (store, communicating with friends seriously need work), its generic menu, its lack of innovation compared to its competition (the 360's online play and the Wii's controller), the PS2's affordablitly and its no wonder there are a bunch of PS3 consoles collecting dust on the shelves.

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Things have gotten so bad, Bill Gates isn't even afraid of the PS3 anymore. Check out this recent quote from Billy during an interview on Japanese TV:

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“The strength of Nintendo…has been very impressive, and I think surprised a lot of people--and the strength of the Wii. We see Nintendo as the toughest competition”

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And right now, can anyone honestly say that he's wrong?

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terry.terrones@gazette.com

Building the perfect racing game

Racing games are like New Years Eve. Whenever one comes around I'm hopeful and excited. But after its come and gone, I'm always left disappointed. I want to love racing games, I really do, but they just won't let me. There is always something about them that feels like somethings missing.

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Why am I bringing this up now? Because of Need for Speed Carbon. I was playing it last week for a review I was working on (yeah I know its late but I can only write about 1 game a week, so sue me) and liked a couple of things about the game but overall wasn't that happy with it. This led me to think of some other racers I liked (PGR3), thought were just okay (Test Drive Unlimited) or didn't like at all (Starsky and Hutch?!? Gahh! ). Each one of these games had something worthwhile about them but when stacking all of the racing games from the past few years on top of each other, they make the genre feel pretty weak. So why not take the best of these games and make 1 great game? Good idea.

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Here are the concepts I would "permanently borrow" from other games to make the perfect racing game.

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Connectivity and open-endedness (from Test Drive Unlimited) - I loved the huge, open-ended world of TDU. I still can't get over how massive it is. I also thought the constant connectivity was a great feature, although in my perfect game you could turn it off if you wanted.

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Why TDU isn't the perfect racing game: For me, the average graphics (for the 360 anyway) and driving mechanics hurt this game.

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Cheesy storyline and live action sequences (from Need for Speed Carbon) - Most racing games don't bother with having a plot, which is understandable since you spend most of your time um, driving. But what I like most about the last two NFS games is the humorous (I hope its intentional) story lines and live action sequences. I like the idea that there's some kind of motivation behind my racing besides just making money. That and the scenes are a 10 on the Unintenional Comedy Scale. I should also add that outracing cops and making buildings and water towers fall on their cruisers is also endlessly funny. So I'd probably throw some of that in my perfect game as well.

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Why NFSC isn't the perfect racing game: Many of the new features aren't very good and it just feels like a Most Wanted expansion pack. Its racing lite.

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Heidi-Klum-beautiful-graphics (from Gran Turismo) - I've never seen cars as beautiful as the ones in the GT series. Well, not in a video game anyway. The attention to detail that Kazunori Yamauchi puts into his games is unmatched.

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Why Gran Turismo isn't the perfect racing game: This game is waaay too technical. I don't care that the Mini Cooper I'm driving actually does drives just like a Mini Cooper. Its a video game, give me some leeway. While I appreciate its depth, its overwhelming and can be a drag.

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Satisfying yet challenging driving controls (from Project Gotham Racing 3) - PGR3 earned the highest ratings I've ever given to a racing game, most of that was due to the fact that it has the best driving controls of any racer I've ever played. The cars were easy to pick up and drive but if you dedicated time to learn their subtle nuances, an experieced driver could learn all their little secrets and blow a rookie driver out of the water. Unlike Gran Turismo, the cars in PGR3 drive realistically but not too realistically. Its the perfect blend of imitation and fun.

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Why PGR3 isn't the perfect racing game: As I've already mentioned, my perfect racer is open-world and PGR3 doesn't qualify. I also like my cars to show a little damage, which brings me to...

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Destructibility and get-out-of-car-ability (from Grand Theft Auto) - Yeah, yeah I know, the GTA series isn't a traditional racing game. Go ahead you racing purists, laugh all you want. I don't care, its got some great concepts that I'm "permanently borrowing" anyway. I like my cars to get banged up. I don't want them to blow up after I hit 4 light posts like in GTA but I think some damage adds a little bit of realism. Again, my goal is real but not too real. If I have to pay to have my car fixed up, I can deal with that. Games where vehicles take no damage are unrealistic and allow me to drive as crazy as I want. That's not what good racing is about. Good racing should penalize you, but only a little, for taking damage.

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I also like being able to get out of a car and not being just a faceless driver. I know a couple of other games have tried this (lets all pretend SpyHunter: Nowhere to Run never happened) but GTA does it best. Do I have any idea how this will work in my perfect? Um, no. I do know that its a cool feature.

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Why GTA isn't the perfect racing game: The cars getting destroyed too easy, the controls are a little loose for a racer and "technically" its not a racing game.

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Downloadable maps and vehicles (courtesy of the Wii's, PS3's and Xbox 360's online services) - While I don't like EA sticking it so hard to consumers with its downloadable content, I do appreciate the option of adding features to a game if I so choose. In my perfect game, I'd have clothes, cars and upgrades as in-game unlockable features; while new maps, very rare cars and even new homes/garages would be downloadable online for a very small fee. Why even charge? Just to seperate the more serious gamers from the casual ones who are only renting or borrowing the game.

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Well, there you have it, the perfect game. I don't think its too much to ask for. Now if some developer reads this and incorporates "my" ideas into a racing game, you better hire me as a consultant or you'll hear from my lawyer. Also, I get first dibs on the name. I'd prefer Sonic Death Monkey Racing Adventure or Kathleen Turner Overdrive or Mad Max's DUI Checkpoint. Something classy like that.

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terry.terrones@gazette.com

Guaca-mole

Pac-Man's lady friend - Beginning tomorrow, Ms. Pac-Man will be available on Xbox Live Arcade for 400 Microsoft Points. I know what you're thinking. What about Cyberball? I asked, no information on when its to be released yet. Gahh!

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Gears downloads - Tired of those Gears of War maps yet? Yeah, me too. Well help is on the way, starting tomorrow gamers can now download two new maps from Xbox Live Marketplace for free. That's right, free. Check out these descriptions straight from Microsoft.

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Raven Down: A Raven Helicopter has gone down in the middle of a large scale battle with the omnipresent Locust Horde. Gears have taken out the Seeder and gamers join Delta Forces moving into the crash site from all angles to search for survivors.
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Old Bones: In an attempt to eradicate any traces of human history and culture, the Locust Horde has emerged under Sera’s Capitaline Museums and has begun to destroy them brick by brick. Each gamer’s mission is to help the Delta Force recapture the museums before all remnants of humankind’s existence are obliterated.

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Sounds good to me.

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Hunk of burning love - The World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Limited Edition isn't even on sale yet but its fetching quite a nice price on ebay. Stores are no longer taking pre-orders on the limited edition expansion pack (which will sell for $69.99) so its going for up to $200 online right now. Yikes!

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New Wii Online Services - The Wii online service gained a little muscle with the addition of two new features: Orb and FineTune. Orb allows for Wii owners to stream media straight from your PC to your Wii. This includes music, video, photos and even documents. I haven't tried it out yet but it sounds cool. The FineTune service is accessed from your Wii Opera browser and allows gamers to create custom radio stations and play lists with over two million tracks to choose from.

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Looks like the Wii is giving the 360 some competition on the downloadable market. And the PS3? Unfortunately for them, well behind the curve.

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And finally... - Happy anniversary! January marks the one year anniversary of the gaming blog. Thanks to all of you who read along.

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terry.terrones@gazette.com

Space...the final frontier

Before I post the most recent news that has been filling my in-box while I've been away, let me share some events from the last two weeks.

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I've been flying all over the place and I've been in more airports than a contestant on the Amazing Race. Well, that's how it feels anyway. I spent a week in my own personal Mecca - Boston (love the city, love the food, love the East Coast attitude and love the sports teams - except the Patriots). I came back to Colorado for a couple of days then headed out to Las Vegas for a short vacation.

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Now Vegas is an odd place for my wife and I to go for a vacation because neither one of us gamble. Its almost like going to a Bronco game for the food. But its not like there's nothing else to do, the town has turned into a very family friendly place with plenty of attractions, two of which were perfectly suited for me - the Cirque du Soleil Beatles Love show and the Star Trek Experience. I won't go into the details of the Beatles show but just take it from a huge Beatles fan whose mother is from Liverpool - its psychedelic, the music is fantastic and if you have a chance I highly recommend seeing it.

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As for the Star Trek Experience? Its a Trekkie's dream come true. I'm not kidding either. There was a guy in line in front of me paying for his ticket and he was telling the guy working there that he'd been looking forward to it all year. All year! (Insert your own joke about how lonely/single/nerdy this guy is here.) While I wasn't looking forward to it all year, it was the first place we went to on our first day out in Vegas.

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Walking into the Hilton I felt like a kid on Christmas day and when I finally saw the entryway (after having to walk through a bar and slot machines of course) I was in nerd heaven. Replica's of the original Enterprise, the Enterprise D (see pic) and Voyager hang in the air. Quark's Bar, at the lower level of the facility is a mix of Star Trek set design. A little Borg here, a little Federation there. There's guys dressed up like Star Trek characters, a very cool gift shop, a Star Trek museum and two fun interactive "rides" that feature actors playing Star Fleet officers.

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Of course I dragged my wife with me to all of this. These are the times when a marriage can really be tested. Let me explain. Every guy has a geeky side and I mean EVERY guy. I guarantee you even tough guy Chuck Norris has a nerdy side. Maybe he collects stamps or baseball cards or knits sweaters for cats, I don't know, but I guarantee you he does something only his wife knows about. So how did my wife, who already has to deal with my love of gaming deal with being at the Star Trek Experience (and the only woman within a parsec I should add) for 3 hours? With a sense of humor and a positive attitude. But I'm sure if I ever dress up in a Star Fleet uniform, my butt will be kicked to the curb. Enough about me, on to the news!

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Who's really number one - Last week EA announced that Madden '07 was the number one selling game of 2006, selling over 5 million copies on ten different platforms. The company stated that the first week of sales accounted for 2 million of those copies.

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While I do enjoy the game and can't think of another sports title I'd rather play, EA seriously needs to fix its create-a-player feature on its Xbox 360 version. Having to go through all of those button mashing drills just to create a player who's overall ranking is a 25 sucks. Make it optional EA!

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Halo 3 Betamax - I mentioned a few weeks ago that Microsoft is looking for gamers to sign up for its Halo 3 beta test, which you can still sign up for at www.halo3.com. Well now you can increase your chances of getting chosen through two different methods according to my Microsoft contact:

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1. Qualifying over Xbox Live and then being one of the first 13,333 Halo 2 gamers to register for the Rule of Three program at www.halo3.com in early February - Beginning Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007, at 12:01 a.m. EST, all gamers need to do is participate in at least three hours of “Halo 2” multiplayer sessions, via Xbox Live, before Feb. 3, 2007, at 11:59 p.m. EST and then be among the first 13,333 to register at http://www.halo3.com. The “Rule of Three” program is currently planned for gamers in the 50 United States age 17 years and older who have access to an Xbox 360 Pro console or an Xbox 360 Core console with hard drive, a valid Xbox Live Gold subscription and the “Halo 2” game. Gamers around the world are encouraged to visit http://www.halo3.com in the coming weeks for more information on the “Rule of Three” program in their region.

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2. Purchasing the upcoming game Crackdown - When Crackdown hits store shelves, gamers eager to take home a copy of the highly anticipated exclusive action title for Xbox 360 will find marked boxes of Crackdown that include an invite to participate in the coveted “Halo 3” multiplayer beta program when it becomes available. When the “Halo 3” multiplayer beta surfaces in spring 2007, owners of “Crackdown” with access to an Xbox 360 Pro console or an Xbox 360 Core console with hard drive and a valid Xbox Live Gold subscription simply need to load their copy of “Crackdown” into Xbox 360 and use the disc as a key to download the beta from Xbox Live Marketplace and join the battle in “Halo 3” multiplayer. “Crackdown” will be available in the U.S. on Feb. 20, Asian territories on Feb. 22 and European markets on Feb. 23.

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I guess if you really want to participate in the Halo 3 beta you'll follow up on these other two ways. Playing three hours of Halo 2 isn't exactly demanding and Crackdown sounds great anyway so maybe its something most gamers will end up doing regardless. If anyone ends up getting picked, let me know.

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terry.terrones@gazette.com

2006 Year in Review

As we say hello to what should be an exciting 2007 ( Wii's and PS3's actually being available) lets look back at 2006.

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What a great year for gaming! The Xbox 360 has come into its own and has given Bill Gates exactly what he wanted, a good head start over Sony and Nintendo. All of the next-gen consoles are out now (Should we call them current-gen consoles now? If so, what do we call the PS2 and Xbox? Junk?) so the console wars have officially begun. Throw in the incredible popularity of handheld (well, at least the DS) and PC games into the mix and gamers are now in a world that is finally starting to recognize video games as a main stream form of entertainment. Gaming is getting some long overdue respect.

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Below I've listed my Top 5 favorite and least favorite games from 2006 and also my most anticipated games for 2007. If you read my weekly gaming article, you've probably seen these already but after reviewing them I decided I liked what I picked (I should mention that Zelda on the Wii is a very close #6 fav game). I'm always looking for some feedback, so if you agree with my list or feel I left something out let me hear it.

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Lamest Games of 2006

1. The Outfit - Proof that the WWII shooter is near its end.

2. Yakuza - Yakuza is "craptacular" in Japanese.

3. The Da Vinci Code - Even worse than Tom Hanks hair in the movie.

4. Spy Hunter: Nowhere to Run - Drive, don't run away from this game.

5. MLB Slugfest - Major League Baseball doesn't want its players on steroids, so don't put its video game on steroids.

(Dishonorable Mention: Those games from Burger King)

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Best Games of 2006

1. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Huge world, engrossing game play and the voice of Wonder Woman (Lynda Carter) ?!? The most fun I've had gaming in 2 years.

2. Call of Duty 3 - I loved the new innovations made to this years title and the online play is a blast.

3. Gears of War - Just about lived up to the hype designer Cliffy B was spewing for months.

4. Guitar Hero II - Great title that should only get better when released on the newer consoles (think downloadable content).

5. Dead Rising - Are zombies ever not fun in a video game? If Capcom could somehow include zombie monkeys in DR II, it'll rank even higher.

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Most Anticipated Games of 2007
1. Halo 3 – Here’s what you can expect with the release of this title: long lines, giddy gamers everywhere, cats and dogs living together and world peace.
2. Grand Theft Auto 4 – Expectations are high from one of the greatest, most innovative franchises ever and Rockstar never disappoints.
3. Metal Gear Solid 4 – A new game with Solid Snake? Count me in.
4. World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade – I’m excited about this and its only an expansion pack.
5. Star Trek Online – An MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online Game) set in the Star Trek universe makes this Trekkie’s head spin.

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terry.terrones@gazette.com