GTA IV in March?

Just in time for my birthday - I wasn't planning on posting anything until after the new year but after I saw this reservation card in Target today I couldn't help myself. Me and the boy were walking around enjoying our post-Christmas time off. While he was picking up an iTunes gift card, I naturally wandered over to the game section. I saw this reservation card in the 360 and PS3 sections (ooh, it also comes with a free console wrap with purchase!). The date was a little surprising, everything I've heard up to this point was leading to an April release. I am now even more excited about this upcoming March which besides containing my birthday, spring break and the fun of gambling in the NCAA tournament will now include a 24-hour GTA IV marathon.

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Other Random Crap - If you haven't tried out a wireless headset yet because you weren't really into paying out $100 or more for it, I have some good news. Yesterday I picked up a fine pair at Radio Shack that was on sale for $30. They're the store brand, currently $10 off and work great. I can't believe I went this long without a set. I can now hear every single background noise that I've been missing because I couldn't always blast the volume. I guess the sound of explosions and rifle fire at 3am wakes people up and makes them grumpy bears. But now I can turn the volume up to 11! Of course in 10 years I'll be as deaf as Pete Townsend but at least my wife is happy...I recently reacquired Crackdown. If anyone is interested in playing some co-op let me know, I still haven't earned the co-op Achievements yet.

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coloradojoemail@yahoo.com

2007: What a Year!

Doesn't get much better than this - Before I take a little time off for the holidays, I had to take a look back at the amazing year that was 2007. Personally, I'm not really the type to take time to reflect on everything I've done, its a little hokey, but after taking some time to think about it, I realized this year has been an incredible one. In 2007 I snagged some big interviews as OXM's Fran Reyes, PSM's Chris Slate, ESRB President Patricia Vance, and X-Play's Adam Sessler and Morgan Webb appeared on the blog. In the summer I attended my first E3 as a gaming journalist and set a personal record for most posts in a month and most times I've yelled at a digital camera. In October I got to go on a Zero-G flight and Game 4 of the World Series (those are more personal than game related but I just wanted to brag). And to top it all off, last month I got my first assignment for a national gaming magazine. To quote the great thespian Keanu Reeves...whoa!

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So what's up for 2008? I have no freakin' clue. I had no idea that 2007 would be so great, but I do have some goals for next year. 1. Get consistent freelance work from OXM and use that to get even more work in the industry. 2. Head out to LA for another E3 tour of duty in July and give even better coverage than before. 3. Start up the Coloradojoe podcast with my brother and Eli again, it was a lot of fun to do and I miss doing it. I think I can actually get some industry people to come on this time. 4. Do more interviews, which I really enjoy. Some people I'd like to talk with, that I sincerely think I'd have a shot at, are 2K's Ken Levine, EGM's Dan Hsu, Kotaku's Brian Crecente, and Geoff Keighley. Since I got my start as a writer in sports, I'd also love to get some interviews with pro athletes talking videogames. 5. Visit Sony Online Entertainment in Denver and take a tour of their offices. I've been meaning to do this since E3 when one of the PR reps invited me to come take a look. I plan on taking him up on his offer. 6. Building some kind of community on the blog. I have no real notion on how to start this but I've always wanted this blog to be more interactive than it is, I just don't know how to go about doing it. LAN parties? Clan parties? Monthly beerfests? If you have any ideas, let me know. 7. Add more content on different subjects. Again, something else I don't know how to do but having a section on this blog about other topics (fantasy football, music, sports, pop culture) would be nice. Or maybe Eli and I will finally get around to starting our own website, an idea we've been tossing around for months. 8. More contests. XBLA downloads, games, gift cards...I can see giving stuff like that away. 9. Play GTA IV for 24 hours straight. I'm very devoted to my all time favorite franchise.

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I hope all of you have a happy and safe holiday and thanks for reading the ramblings of a small town game writer. The almost 30,000 hits this nonadvertised site received this year is the fuel that keeps me working hard and trying to improve.

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See you in 2008!

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coloradojoemail@yahoo.com

Don't You...Forget About Me

Yeah, that's right, another 80's song for the title of a post. Just be greatful there's not a Simple Minds pic above - I was very tempted to do a Best Of or some kind of Year In Review but after the horrendous VGA's and the no-I-didn't-even-know-it-was-on G4TV end of the year awards I figured there wasn't any point. Why beat a very dead horse? Instead I wanted to slurp some games that came out this earlier this year but due to the late release of some gaming heavy weights, have pretty much been ignored. The good thing about the titles I'm about to list is that you can now get them on the cheap, so if you're still shopping for a gamer or want to recommend an inexpensive title someone can pick up for you, these little gems will do the job.
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Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, PSP) March - I'm a huge fan of the GRAW series. I love the game play, really enjoy the control I have of the squad, and the game presentation is top notch. The multiplayer was a blast too. GRAW 2 also came out pretty quick after its very successful predecessor, always nice.
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The Darkness (Xbox 360, PS3) June - This game is just flat out weird and I mean that in the best way possible. Kooky storyline, weird superpowers, gun play, Nazi's...this game had it all in one bizarre package. Its great game that was completely overlooked.
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Call of Juarez (Xbox 360, PC) June - I love videogames set in the old west. This started with the Konami arcade classic Sunset Riders which I used to play with a bunch of frat brothers in college. Today the western market remains pretty much untapped so when a game like Call of Juarez comes along I'm pretty stoked. An interesting two-character storyline, nice graphics, corny-to-the-point-of-funny dialogue and some sweet shooting mechanics make this title worth your time.
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Crackdown (Xbox 360) February - Crackdown sold big, mostly because it was the last chance people had to participate in the Halo 3 beta (doesn't that seem like 2 years ago?), but beneath the H3 beta sticker on the cover was a great game on its own. Playing a cop with super powers in a corrupt city was like playing GTA on steroids. I played this title a ton the first half of the year. In fact, according to my Xbox 360's blog on www.360voice.com, its my second most played game this year, right after Halo 3. Mmm...I traded this game in months ago. I'm feeling a little nostalgic, I think I need to call Fritz at GameCrazy and see if he has any used copies.
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coloradojoemail@yahoo.com

The Final Countdown

Now you have that crappy song by Europe in your head, ha! - I'm sure you're all enjoying this picture of 80's one hit wonder Europe. Long live the man-perm! The reason I bring up their classic is because you only have 7 more shopping days until Christmas. That's right, all of you slackers out there better get in gear. Since you more than likely have a gamer in your family, I've written up a holiday gaming guide covering all the major systems for you to reference as you shop. If this looks oddly familiar, don't be alarmed, I actually wrote this a few weeks ago and it ran in the Indy the first week of December. Since then I've had a chance to spend more time with the games I recommended and a few others I hadn't played retail versions of yet. What you see below is word for word what was in the paper but I threw in some additional comments in italics.

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Game On! - There has never been a better time to be a videogame enthusiast. Right now, gaming fans are enjoying the industry’s Renaissance, Industrial Revolution and Blue Period all at once. Not only are the games better than ever, but gaming is a big business rivaling music, TV and movies as its $1.1 billion sales in software and hardware in October alone will attest. Chances are you’re either a gamer or know someone who is - and why wouldn’t you be? From kids just learning to read to blue haired, little old ladies and everyone in between, there is literally something for everybody.

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The holiday season is when companies flood the market with their best titles and this year the choices are better then ever. But how do you decide which games are worth your hard earned dollar this Christmas? That’s easy, check out the handy dandy gift guide below for the must haves for every noteworthy platform. Games are categorized by system, age level and ESRB ratings for your convenience.
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Xbox 360
Mass Effect (M) - If you have a television, you probably couldn’t help but notice that a little game called Halo 3 came out in September. It was sold everywhere (even at 7-Eleven’s!) and had almost as much hype surrounding it as The Bee Movie. Halo 3 is certainly a must have, but don’t ignore Mass Effect, the incredible role playing game that’s an Xbox 360 exclusive. Gamers create their own human character and explore the universe as a soldier commanding the crew of the SSV Normandy. An engrossing plot, beautiful graphics, deep game play, an open-ended environment, and the chance to make critical choices that affect the story arc make Mass Effect a sci-fi, choose-your-own-adventure classic. You need this game, you want this game, and your life will be shallow and meaningless without it.
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For Kids: Viva Piñata: Party Animals (E) – This is a great game for kids to play together, with a wide variety of mini-games and races.
For Family: Rock Band (T) – If you ever wanted to start your own version of the Partridge Family with plastic musical instruments, this is your chance. The full edition comes with a drum kit, guitar and a mic.
For Adults: Halo 3 (M) – There’s plenty of other quality candidates on the 360 for adults (Bioshock, Call of Duty 4, The Orange Box, Assassin’s Creed) but if you own a 360, you absolutely have to have Halo 3. Kind of like how everyone in America was issued Frampton Comes Alive in the 1970’s.

- If I had to write this over again, I'd have to seriously consider replacing Mass Effect with Assassin's Creed or Halo 3. The game is just soooo big, its almost overwhelming. If I finish this game before GTA IV is released I'll be amazed. That and I picked a horrible class type. Stay away from Vanguard's, they suck. I also wish I could've given more love to Rock Band but space restraints prevented me from slurping it too hard. And finally, I wasn't terribly impressed by my early peek at SceneIt but I've been pleasantly surprised by the final version. Its alot of fun.
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Nintendo Wii
Super Mario Galaxy (E) – One of the most recognizable and beloved characters in videogame history is Mario, the plumber with the embarrassingly clichéd Italian accent. Even a beauty pageant contest would recognize him. Mario has carried Nintendo for ages and does it again this year with Super Mario Galaxy. Mario is in a 3-D space universe, chasing Bowser down in order to save his dear Princess Peach. Stunning environments, cool new power ups, and a fun two player co-op, join the always guaranteed to be addictive game play.
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For Kids: Mario Party 8 (E) – Nobody does games for kids like Nintendo and this party game (with Mario of course) can be enjoyed by up to four people.
For Family: Smarty Pants (E) – A fun trivia game with 20,000 questions the whole family can take part in.
For Adults: Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles (M) – The great survival horror franchise has a different look on the cute, little Wii but its just as creepy.

- I'm pretty satisfied with what I have here. Super Mario Galaxy is fantastic.
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PlayStation 3
Uncharted Drake’s Fortune (T) – The PS3 has taken even more of a public beating than Britney Spears and both deserve it. It has few console exclusives (of the games below only Ratchet and Clank is PS3 only), its online service pales in comparison to the Xbox 360’s despite being free, and just like Britney it isn’t kid friendly. Despite all of that, the PS3 just needs a few games to call its own and its back in business. Uncharted Drake’s Fortune is a step in the right direction. This stunning title where gamers control Nathan Drake, a descendant of Sir Francis Drake, plays like an up to date version of Tomb Raider minus the busty brunette.
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For Kids: Ratchet and Clank Tools of Destruction (E 10+) – This humorous game is the fifth in the franchise and is still going strong.
For Family: The Simpsons Game (T) – Funniest. Game. Ever.
For Adults: Assassin’s Creed (M) – A refreshingly different take on a common gaming theme – killing people.

- The PS3 was tough, there's just not many must-have exclusives and the family/kid selection for it are abysmal. I again would have to consider replacing Uncharted with Assassin's Creed but, just like with the 360, was trying to stay console exclusive. Out of the big three, the PS3 easily has the weakest lineup and I really wanted to rag on it in the article I wrote but didn't have the space.
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Other Systems
Still haven’t chosen a side in the console war? No problem, there are still some sweet options for you too. If you’re a PC, PS2, DS or PSP owner the industry still cares about you. Everybody else? You’re screwed.
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PC: Crysis (M) – There are plenty of great options for PC gamers (Tabula Rasa, World in Conflict) but this alien invasion game set in 2020 is the best.
PlayStation 2: Guitar Hero 3 (T) – If you don’t have a next-gen console don’t worry, you can still play this great game on the PS2.
Nintendo DS: The Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass (E) – Grab your tights and play the first Zelda game on the DS.
PlayStation Portable: Manhunt 2 (M) – If you’re looking for a handheld game where you can kick guys in the groin (and who isn’t) this controversial title is for you.
- Eli gave me some direction with the PC section, thanks bro. I would have loved to have recommended more DS games (Mario Party, Contra 4, CoD4) but...you know the drill by now.

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More crap - Sensible World of Soccer (800MS points) and Tempest (400MS points) come out on XBLA this Wednesday..."Comedian" Patton Oswalt seems to agree with my take on the VGA's, and he was a presenter. Check out his myspace page...If you were checking out the latest OXM for my short Tiger DC piece don't bother, its in the issue that comes out next month.

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coloradojoemail@yahoo.com

Where to Buy Games

Customer service blows nowadays. Nobody who works retail gives a crap about the customer anymore, they just watch the clock and want you out of their hair as soon as possible, making you feel like you're intruding on their time when they're supposed to be doing their job. Worse yet, it doesn't seem to matter what kind of place you go to, nobody really seems to know anything about the product they're selling. Cars, applicances, electronics, restaurants...you name it, the people who sell can only spout out what they've been told or read in a brochure.

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So when you finally find a place with great customer service and an intelligent staff, you remember it. Or at least I do and become a client forever. I've had the same mechanic for years, always go to the same guy if I have problems with my computer, go to the same music shop for new equipment and repairs, and naturally, go only two places when I want a videogame. Lucky for you I'm willing to share the two best places in town to get games, but if you don't live in Colorado Springs you're on your own.

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My Favorite Store for New Games: GameCrazy (Academy and Palmer Park) - Best Buy, Circuit City, Target and Wal-Mart have nothing on this store when it comes to new games. The staff is knowledgeable and my man Fritz especially (pictured up top) knows his stuff. Antony is a great guy too. Whenvever I need to buy a game that for some reason didn't get mailed to me (stupid Ubisoft and Eidos!) I come here. If there's a midnight release for a game that I just can't wait for, I come here. If I'm looking for a great place to get some real value for a trade-in, I come here. If I just want to shoot the breeze with some other guys who are just as into games as I am, I come here. In fact, everytime I come into this GameCrazy I'm usually there for at least 30 minutes just hanging out and talking games with the staff or other gamers who are just looking around. You can't find that at a chain store. This is the place I go to for new games, I can't remember the last time I bought a new game from anywhere else.

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My Favorite Store for Classic Games: Video Game Exchange (Platte and Union) - You've probably driven by this store and thought nothing of it, until you notice the 3ft ceramic Mario standing outside. I love walking in this store, its like stepping back in time. You name the classic console and its in this store - N64, Atari 2600, Sega Genesis, Nintendo, Super Nintendo, Sega Dreamcast, PS1's...you name it, you can find it and games for it here. This summer when I was feeling nostalgic for my high school days I came in and bought an NES along with Mike Tyson's Punchout and Super Mario (I'm going to be grabbing Zelda sometime soon). I was so happy with my purchase that I came in later and bought a SNES to relive my college glory years when I dominated my frat in NHL '94 and Madden '94. I also picked up one of the greatest games of all-time, Empire Strikes Back. Its a great store, and even though I don't go into it very often, its easily the best place in town to get your retro game on.

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So there you have it, the best stores in town for any type of game you're looking for. Don't bother going anywhere else.

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coloradojoemail@yahoo.com

The Spike TV Video Game Awards Suck

And I hope they burn in hell! - The Video Game Awards were on Sunday night. Did you watch? Didn't think so and I know why. I know I'm ruining any chance of ever appearing on the Spike TV Video Game Awards but I could care less, its a crap show. So I guess I'm officially saying goodbye to my dream of presenting an award onstage while wasted with a cast member of Jackass.
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The show does nothing but perpetuate the myth that all gamers are teenage virgins with no social skills, which I found strange because gamings biggest demographic are men in the 25-40 year old age group. So what exactly do the Video Game Awards bring to the table? A show loaded with celebs who probably have no clue how to turn a console on (except for those 2 guys from Chuck) but are on the show just for the sake of making the fanboys in the front row scream and make a futile attempt to draw ratings? Check. A ton of women in little to no clothes to once again reinforce the lamest joke in the gaming book that gamers are nerds who can't get laid? Check. A stream of lame gaming jokes that only a non-gamer might find even slightly amusing (have you heard about the Red Ring of Death)? Check. Award categories of a questionable nature (say hello to the Most Addictive Game Fueled by Dew winner!)? Check. What a joke!
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Now don't get me wrong, I'm for anything that helps to bring gaming some well deserved attention. Its certainly lacking in the respect department when compared to movies, music and TV despite being just as big a business and in many ways, way more entertaining. I hate to sound like Rodney Dangerfield, but gaming just doesn't get enough respect. Most people who aren't familiar with the industry still treat gaming like toys and overlook its importance. I'm also very much for the video game industry having its own award show, and because of that I have to give Spike TV some props for having the stones to take it on. My problem is how they go about it...with no respect for the industry. It seems like whoever puts together this show isn't a gamer, but just slams a bunch of things together that they think gamers would enjoy seeing.
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Gamers are funny people with a great sense of humor and the ability to be self-deprecating, so that has to be a part of any kind of program catered around gaming. But when it reaches down to the lowest common denominator for a joke or as a pathetic attempt to bring in an audience, it goes away from what the heart of what gaming is - pure fun. If we want to present ourselves as a viable form of entertainment and not as a novelty, we have to let the best sides of gaming come to the forefront, not the worst. The creative geniuses who make and develop games (while shy as hell) should be the ones at the forefront getting the attention and being lauded upon. Not Tila Tequila. Steven Speilberg, Martin Scorcese, James Cameron, George Lucas, Joss Whedon, and JJ Abrams are just a few of the people behind some of the greatest TV shows and films, gamings versions of those guys should be heralded as well.
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Until we start treating our own industry with the respect it deserves, no one else will either.
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Other random stuff on a snowy Tuesday - Three new maps (Foundry, Rats Nest, Standoff) hit Xbox Live today for download on Halo 3. They sell for a hefty 800 MS points, but if you're not a diehard you might decide to wait until Spring you can download them for free...Yesterday 2K announced that spring will see the release of Don King Presents: Prizefighter on the Wii, DS and 360. King's gift for self promotion was evident in the press release.
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"In all my years working in professional boxing, I have never seen anything come as close to recreating the thrill, the intensity, the courage and the spectacle of the sport," said legendary boxing promoter Don King. "Don King Presents: Prizefighter is more than a game -- it is a glimpse at what life is like in and out of the ring for these incredible athletes."
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Here's hoping the game offers some Lucious Sweet type moments where you can bribe punching bags to take falls and bribe judges.
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coloradojoemail@yahoo.com

Three Headed Monster

The past couple of weeks I've been in gaming heaven with the three headed monster of Rock Band, Mass Effect and Assassin's Creed taking up almost all of my time. Sure I played a little NCAA 2K8 (for the points) and some Tiger Woods '08 (for a downloadable content review for OXM) but nothing has been more fun then rotating the big three through my 360.
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The great thing about this unusual menage a trios is they all offer something completely different. If I feel like being social, Rock Band is there. If I feel like playing a sci-fi choose your own adventure with some hot human-on-alien action, Mass Effect is ready. And when I'm having a stressful day and I want to stab someone in their virtual groin, Assassin's Creed is where I go. When I get tired of one, I move on to another and with no big releases on the horizon I'm glad I have more than one game to keep me busy.
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To be perfectly honest, I have to admit that of the three I'm enjoying Assassin's Creed the most and I'm surprised. When I saw it at E3 it was a big disappointment. The story didn't sound interesting and the game play felt unfinished, but now I can't get enough of it. The twist on the storyline was completely unexpected, the controls are unique to the genre and require skill but its done in such a way that it feels like a natural build up, and the game is absolutely stunning. Best of all, Creed is just a different type of game, you can't compare it to anything else out there. The 360 is littered with endless shooters and sports titles and this game doesn't fit either, not in its game play or its one of a kind setting. Sadly with Halo 3, CoD4, Mass Effect and Rock Band getting so much love, Assassin's Creed will fly under the radar just like the equally good BioShock. Don't let that happen, this game deserves your time.
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So what are you playing right now? Let me know.
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coloradojoemail@yahoo.com

The Most Important TV Event in the History of Videogames

At least that's what the subject line of the email said - Some PR rep sent me the press release below. It goes without saying that this rep has a gift for hyperbole, but I guess she did her job and got my attention.

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The Most Important TV Event in the History of Video Games to Air Exclusively on DIRECTV’s Channel 101 - Top Teams from Around the World Compete in the Championship Gaming Series World Final for the Coveted Dew Trophy and $1,000,000 Prize Purse. DIRECTV, the nation’s leading satellite television service provider, is making sports history once again with the exclusive live broadcast of the inaugural Championship Gaming Series (CGS) World Final. The competition will take place December 6-14 at the Sony Studios in Los Angeles where more than 100 of the world’s top professional gamers will compete for the league’s first-ever World Champion title and a share of the $1,000,000 prize purse. All the action will be captured live and in HD on DIRECTV’s original entertainment channel, The 101, starting December 6 at 10pm ET.

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The CGS World Final will be the first-ever international gaming event to present all the action live, as it happens, allowing fans at home to experience the match-ups like any other sport. The groundbreaking coverage will commence with the start of CGS World Final on December 6 and broadcast three hours of single elimination competitions each night leading up to the championship game on December 14.

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The playoffs will feature the top CGS teams from around the world as they compete in PC and console based games. Valve’s Counter-Strike: Source and EA’s FIFA 2007 are the official PC games for CGS while Tecmo’s Dead or Alive 4 (DOA4) and Project Gotham Racing 3 (PGR3) from Microsoft Game Studios will be played on Xbox 360. Each round of the World Final is single elimination and the last team standing will receive the coveted Dew Trophy as well as $500,000 in prize money.

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CGS World Final event schedule is as follows:
December 6: CGS World Final press conference December 6: First round day 1 December 7: First round day 2 December 10: Quarterfinals day 1 December 11: Quarterfinals day 2 December 13: Semifinals & Itagaki Challenge December 14: Final
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Xbox Live Update - If you turned on your 360 today you were greeted with the fall update. Rejoice in the new family timer, Microsoft's attempt to appeal to those ridiculous family watchdog groups who spend more time worried about games they never play while they let their kids watch Saw III. Other new features? A few orginal Xbox games are available for download, as are free themes and picture packs for them (no puchase necessary), some organizational changes and the new friends list features....and that's about it. Nothing really groundbreaking. I do like the options now available on friends lists. I was talking to my brother this afternoon while he was at work and asked him who the people were on his friends list to see if I wanted to send an invite to any of his buddies I know. Gamers can now also make adjustments to their bio where they can add their name, where they live and a short quote. Again, not really anything earth shattering but at least MS takes the time to continuously fine tune its already great online service.

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Well its about damn time - Finally some Bioshock DC! Considering how competitive the gaming market is, Bioshock finally adding some downloadable content almost 4 months after its release is a shame. Its such a great game, it needed this plasmid shot in the arm 2 months ago. At least its free for both PC and 360 gamers. Below is a list of the new content, also included is a new widescreen feature option.

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Four Plasmids and Gene Tonics:
- Sonic Boom: Hurls creatures and objects back with a blast of force
- EVE saver: Enables Plasmids to use less EVE
- Vending Expert: Reduces prices in the vending machines
- Machine Buster: Increases the amount of damage players deal to cameras, bots and turrets
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Achievements (exclusive to Xbox 360):
Gain 100 points for “Brass Balls,” by beating BioShock on the “hard” difficulty setting without dying

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coloradojoemail@yahoo.com

Breaking Up (with the PS3) Is Hard To Do

Dear PS3,

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Hey, how ya doing? Its been awhile since we've talked hasn't it? Yeah, things have been a little off since we got together a year ago and that's why I'm writing this letter. I should have written this months ago but like the old saying goes, breaking up is hard to do. That's right PS3, I'm sorry to say it but I'm just not that into you.

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Its not that I didn't try. When we first met it was so exciting. You were so beautiful and curvy. You even smelled nice. You came with some baggage (that crappy Talladega Nights movie) but I quickly got over it and we started to have some fun together. Sadly, the fun didn't last. There just wasn't that much to you and I quickly lost interest. I kept looking for something for us to have in common but lets face it, there wasn't much I couldn't get from you that I couldn't get from someone else that was better or much cheaper. I know that's a horrible thing to hear but I just want to be honest. I was looking for something unique and special and you're not it. You just don't stand out and I can't wait until your online service or Solid Snake finally show up to save us because that probably won't be enough. Look, I'm sure there are others who will find you attractive but I have to move on. In fact, I already have.

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Before I started seeing you I was spending alot of time with the Xbox 360 and there are no signs of that stopping. Sixy (that's my pet name for her, isn't it cute?) and I have had our share of problems (there was this one instance with these red rings that I thought would be the end of us) but we've worked things out and its been great. Then last year, around the time I met you, I met yet another console called Wii. She's a cute little thing and has kind of become a little sister to the 360. As you can see PS3, I have a nice little family here. A console for me and a console for the kids and wife, there just isn't a place for you. I know I've had a long history with you and your family so don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for all you've done for me. But the fact of the matter is relationships are a two way street. I'm willing to give you my time and money but if you have nothing to offer in return why keep you around? So I'm letting you go and saying goodbye. I know the holiday season is a tough time for this kind of news but I need your trade in value for some new games and an HD-DVD player. I know what you're thinking, "you're dumping me for an HD-DVD player?!? Aren't you the guy who wrote about not choosing sides yet?!?". You're right, I might end up with this generations Betamax but I've already switched it on more times this week than I've switched you on in the past 6 months. And don't forget it was 1/3 of your price and I got some games too, so there.

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I wish you well PS3, give me a call when you turn 4. Maybe then we'll have something in common again.

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Best wishes,

Terry

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coloradojoemail@yahoo.com