OXM's Francesca Reyes

Recently I had a chance to talk shop with Official Xbox Magazine's editor-in-chief Francesca Reyes. She's cool, funny and a blast to talk to. Its filled with insightful, humorous questions from me and laughter filled answers (which, unfortunately, you can't hear) from her. Here's our conversation.
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TT: Before November there seemed to be a lot of trepidation from Microsoft’s end with the upcoming launch of Nintendo and Sony’s new systems. Nobody really knew for sure how the 360 was going to be affected. But in all honesty, Bill Gates must have a Julia Roberts sized grin on his face because everything he’s planned has more or less fallen into place. His console was the number one seller during November and December, Xbox Live Marketplace has no competition, online play is miles above anything else available and the best games on the market (Gears, Halo 3, Oblivion) are on the 360. All of this was done without Halo 3. Is there anything Microsoft could’ve possibly done better?
FR: I don’t think so but I think they also got lucky with the PS3 and Wii being in short supply. Microsoft also did do a lot of things right. They have a solid library and they’ve filled all of the slots gamers are interested in.
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TT: After all the things I’ve mentioned, why isn’t the Xbox 360 selling more units?
FR: There’s an argument that can be made that people aren’t ready for the next-gen level. The PS2 is still a huge seller so I think people are still hesitant. You also really need an HD for a next-gen console and a lot of gamers are not ready to invest in an HDTV. With prices coming down you’ll probably see more of a bump.
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TT: What are your impressions of the Wii? Is its motion sensing controller a novelty? Will we eventually see something like it on all consoles in the future?
FR: I love it! I haven’t played a lot of the games but I really do like it. I agree with people who say Nintendo takes games in another direction. Unlike other systems its just a gaming system with a lot of cool features. They really focused on the gaming experience. As for the motion sensing feature, part of me thinks there’s no going back. Its kind of like rumble. Why would you take a step backward? I think future iterations will have some aspects of it.
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TT: What are your opinions of the PS3?
FR: Its okay. There’s nothing about it that’s blowing me away. When it all comes down to it, its the games. Right now there are no games for it and in the next couple of months there doesn’t look to be anything for it either. The PS3 has to compete against the Xbox, which already had established games and is already a developed machine. I will get a PS3 at some point but it will really depend on the games. That and the $600 price point is a bit steep.
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TT: In an interview in Japan recently Bill Gates said the Wii was Xbox’s biggest competitor, is he counting the PS3 out to quickly or is he right on?
FR: I think if he’s counting out the PS3 he’s doing it too quickly because we don’t know what Sony has in store. No one thought Dead Rising could be a huge seller for the Xbox 360 and the PS3 might have something like that. Maybe he discounted the PS3 on purpose to add a little bit of salt to the wound (the PS3’s horrible launch) but I still think Sony shouldn’t be counted out at all.
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TT: In a recent entry on my gaming blog, I mentioned that as an owner of all three systems I use my Wii with my family, my 360 as my primary adult gaming machine and my PS3 as a very expensive DVD player. Isn’t this how Microsoft should be targeting their audience? If their biggest competitor is the Wii, shouldn’t they be differentiating that the Wii is a kid console and the Xbox is an adult console?
FR: I think it would be dangerous to say that your console is only for adults. Its like the difference between the PSP and the DS. The PSP is more fragile and more expensive and because of that I certainly wouldn’t buy it for my 7-year old. If that kind of mentality goes into selling consoles you leave a demographic out. I think Nintendo and Microsoft are trying to reach the same audience. I don’t think you’d see Gears of War on the Wii but they both have their own built in audiences and are still trying to reach wide audiences.
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TT: The whole Blu-ray/HD debate seems like a dead issue. Is buying a $200 HD add-on for my 360 worth the money, or is it like buying a Betamax?
FR: I read some blurb recently that Blu-ray is winning the war and then I’ll read the opposite. I think its far from over because there’s not enough people to buy the kind of equipment you need for those types of players. Its kind of like broadband, there’s a lot of people who still don’t have it so its too early to tell. That and the jump in picture isn’t really big enough from DVD to really want one.
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TT: Lets look forward a little, how do you see each console shaping up during 2007?
FR: I think the Wii will continue to have a solid year, building on the momentum it already has. As long as Nintendo keeps making games and consoles, it will do well. For Sony it all depends on the games and right now most of their games are cross platform. Multi-platform has really hurt the PS3, which is quite a reversal from last-gen. What Sony really needs is a killer app, a console exclusive. A killer app is more powerful than the price of the system because gamers have no trouble spending money for a system if it has a great game they want to play on it. A price drop would be a smart move that may save them but it would be a desperate one.
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TT: What game should I most look forward to this year?
FR: Besides Halo 3? A lot of guys in the office are stoked about Mass Effect. I haven’t played it yet but it looks gorgeous. The story elements have a lot of gamers excited. I’m also really looking forward to Bioshock. It looks really different than a lot of games out there. And of course, Halo 3, which you know is going to be good and will sell. In 2008, Resident Evil V and Marvel Online. Who knows what they’re going to be like but I’m looking forward to them.
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TT: Time for some role play – your’re on a deserted island with a TV and your choice of a next-gen console, what do you choose and why?
FR: That’s actually really hard. The Wii could tell me the weather back home but I think I’d have to pick the Xbox 360. Its library of games and many ways to communicate with others is great. The point system would keep me busy.
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TT: Last question, when in the world will Cyberball, the greatest robots-playing-football game ever be released? Who do I have to kill for this to happen?
FR: (Laughing) I don’t know. You never know with Microsoft because they’re Xbox Live Arcade titles are sometimes surprising. You’d probably have to ask Atari, since they still have the rights to the game but as soon as I hear anything, I’ll email you.
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terry.terrones@gazette.com

The Review: Lost Planet Extreme Condition

Running through snow is never easy but my friends are counting on me so I have to hurry. Its bitter cold and the longer I’m outside, the closer I get to freezing to death. Just as I’m about to enter a building to seek warmth, the ground begins to tremble and a giant creature that looks like the sick love child of a spider and a lobster emerges out from the ground and is coming straight for me. I think I’m in trouble. Good thing I bring a rocket launcher whenever I go snowshoeing.
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Giant monsters, snow storms that will make every gamer from Colorado feel right at home and game play that feels like “Starship Troopers” on planet Hoth? This is “Lost Planet: Extreme Condition,” the first must own game of 2007.
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In “Lost Planet” gamers play as Wayne (party on Garth!) on an ice plant called E.D.N. III, 150 years in the future. The colonized planet seemed like a winter wonderland until the human inhabitants discover an aggressive, giant, insect-like race called the Akrid. Most of the colonists have left, leaving you and your three pals, who found you as frozen as popsicle after escaping an Akrid attack that killed your father, to fight off strange beasts and snow pirates (and no, they don’t ice skate as far as I know). While the premise sounds as far fetched as a typical episode of “Lost,” its kitschy in an endearing way.
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Game play is a blast, literally. “Lost Planet” is all about shooting, from Akrids of all different sizes to pesky snow pirates (giggling like little girl), there is always something new to target just around the corner. Typically a game with a premise this simple can become repetitive and dull but not “Lost Planet.” The combat is enjoyable because it offers such a wide variety of ways to take on an opponent. Tons of cool weapons, unique environments and fun to control vehicles make the game a playground of destruction.
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The game presentation in “Lost Planet” is first rate. The weapons sound distinct and powerful, mechs scream from being awoken from their frozen slumber and the voice acting is cheesy to the point of humorous. But the graphics is where the game really shines. The snow looks beautiful as you trudge through it, with powder flying through the air. Snow pirates (snorting milk out of nose) fall dramatically when shot and the explosions look so real, I can almost feel it singeing my face. While the single-player is way too short, “Lost Planet” makes up for this with a great online feature with as much flavor as the International House of Pancakes. In my first online game, I played with gamers from England and France. Sweet!
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The only complaint I have with the game is that the levels are a little too long, sometimes lasting 30 - 45 minutes and for Achievement hogs like myself, the points are spread out among 35 different Achievements! 35! Of course if you have more patience than I do (which most 5-year olds do) this doesn't matter. “Lost Planet: Extreme Condition” is so much fun, it might just give “Gears of War” and “Halo 2” a run for their money.
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Lost Planet: Extreme Condition
Price: $59.99 - $69.99
Players: One (16 online)
Formats: Xbox 360
Category: Sci-Fi Shooter
Rating: T (Teen)
Grade: A-
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Top 5 Things I Wouldn’t Mind Losing
1. My short term memory problem
2. My student loan balance
3. Twenty pounds
4. My irrational fear of butterflies
5. My short term memory problem
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terry.terrones@gazette.com

Could it get any slower?!?

The post-Christmas gaming drought is killing me! I hate this time of year! Since the holidays, only one decent game has come out (Lost Planet) and after a few levels its gone stale. Oh its pretty enough, but the levels are just too long. I've beaten Call of Duty 3, Gears has lost its luster and Winning Eleven Soccer 2007 has been a big disappointment (look for a review soon). Crackdown better bring some relief, otherwise I'm going into my GTA cave until June.

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Since the gaming front is as cold as Britney Spears career, gaming news is pretty hard to come by as well, hence the lack of Mole posts. Here's the best I could dig up from the last two weeks.

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Halo 3 Beta FAQ - I nabbed this directly from bungie.net.

Q: Is Halo 3 beta registration closed?
A: Yes, phases one and two of the beta have already ended. If you haven’t received an email by this point, then you were not one of the lucky few.
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Q: Is there no other way?!
A: If you didn’t get in to either phase, then you can still get in by buying Crackdown , releasing in the US, on February 20th . Inside every launch copy of Crackdown is an invite to the Halo 3 beta.

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Q: How will the Crackdown invite work?
A: Once the Halo 3 beta has been activated (start date is still TBD) you simply go to the Downloads menu in Crackdown to download the Halo 3 beta. After that, you will need to launch the Halo 3 beta from within Crackdown. You will need an Xbox 360 with a hard drive and an Xbox Live Gold account.

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Q: I’m an experienced beta tester with a PhD in Astrophysics and a minor in messaging Bungie to whine about the beta. Why wasn’t I invited?
A: Microsoft did not choose beta testers based on merit, that would take far more manpower than is realistically possible. Phases one and two were both essentially lotteries or contests. Bungie was not actually responsible for those contests, but rather your local Microsoft Games Studios division. Messaging Frankie, Sketch, KP or any other Bungie employees is futile.

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Q: When does the beta start?
A: The beta will not start when Crackdown is released. The beta will go live when it’s ready, which should be sometime this Spring. The team is currently busy whipping the included content into shape. Our goal is to deliver a fun, solid game experience though it will still very much be a “beta.”
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Q: How long will the beta last?
A: The beta will only be playable for a limited time. Exact timing is still TBD.
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Q: Are there multiple phases to the beta?

A: Not really. The term "phase" applied to the beta registration process. Participants from phases one and two as well as those using Crackdown will be able to get their copy of the beta at the same time. The participants from the Friends and Family program may be able to start playing shortly before the others, however.

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Q: What can you tell me about the Bungie Friends and Family program?

A: Not much, at the moment. As we've said, it's just a method for Bungie to get some of its closest community friends into the beta. As we mentioned above, this program will start at a period shortly before the others, the extent of which is yet to be determined.

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Q: How many players are going to be in the beta?

A: A lot, many thousands. Let's just say, you won't have trouble finding a match.

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Q: How many maps, gametypes, playlists, etc. are we going to see in the beta?
A: Just enough to get the testing data we need while providing a fun game experience yet still leave everyone wanting more. The exact scope is still being finalized.

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Q: Will the party system be implemented in the beta?
A: Yes, you will be able to find your friends, join their party and enter matchmaking with them, in playlists which support parties.
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Q: Will we be seeing anything that we have not yet seen from the Alpha screenshots (and leaks) in the beta?

A: There are bound to be a few surprises in store for fans. And seeing a fuzzy cell phone video of the alpha doesn’t even begin to come close to actually playing yourself on an HD television with maps that are several months further along in development.

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Q: Will we see the function of the mysterious X button?

A: Yes. Whether or not it’ll still be mapped to X is subject to change. And honestly, it won't be all that surprising. Just cool.
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Q: Please tell me I get to blow stuff up with the laser.

A:You get to blow stuff up with the laser. Try lining stuff up and then firing through it all. Preferably without teammates in or around said stuff.

Q: Will we all have to sign NDAs and never speak of the beta? Will you try to contain screenshots and movies coming out of the beta?

A: Nope. In a perfect world, maybe, but it's hard enough when the participants are just a few thousand MS employees, let alone thousands and thousands of Halo fans. We don't expect anything in the beta to remain a secret. The beta will be covered by a normal user agreement, with lots of caveats about the fact that it's not finished, only lasts for a short time and so on.

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Q: What kind of data and feedback is Bungie looking to glean from the beta?

A: We’re looking for a lot of things. Mainly the kinds of things that you cannot otherwise accomplish without the mass of people we'll have, such as stress-testing all of the backend stuff and networking. We’ll be keeping an eye on our forums for general feedback, but the primary goal is to gain valuable technical information that’s only possible when we have tens of thousands of simultaneous players across the world.

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Forza Motorsports 2's car list - The game will have over 300 models, here are the first 50 that I know of. The game comes out in May.

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2005 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti, 1994 Ferrari F355 Berlinetta, 1999 Ferrari 360 Modena, 2002 Ferrari 575M Maranello, 1991 Ferrari 512 TR, 1998 Ferrari F355 Challenge, 1984 Ferrari GTO, 2004 Ferrari F430, 2003 Ferrari Challenge Stradale, 1987 Ferrari F40, 1995 Ferrari F50, 2002 Ferrari Enzo Ferrari, 1969 Ferrari Dino 246 GT, 1964 Ferrari 250 GTO, 1967 Ferrari 330 P4, 2005 Lamborghini Gallardo, 1988 Lamborghini Countach LP5000 QV, 1997 Lamborghini Diablo SV, 2005 Lamborghini Murcielago, 1999 Lamborghini Diablo GTR, 2006 Maserati GranSport, 2004 Maserati MC12, 2003 Porsche Boxster S, 1989 Porsche 944 Turbo, 1982 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.3, 2006 Porsche Cayman S, 2004 Porsche 911 GT3 (996), 2007 Porsche 911 Turbo (997), 1987 Porsche 959, 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 (997), 1995 Porsche 911 GT2, 2003 Porsche Carrera GT, 1970 Porsche 914/6, 1973 Porsche 911 Carrera RS, 1955 Porsche 550 Spyder

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Rainbox Six Downloadable content - I just picked this game up last week (stupid Ubisoft refuses to send me free games, jerks!) and have been thoroughly enjoying it. Yeah, I'm late in warming up to a game that came out in November but at least I'm getting into it now. Downloadable content will be coming out at the end of March (waaay to long after its been launched in my opinion) for a yet to be determined price. Check out what you get below.

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Three Brand-New MP Adversarial Maps:

• Doscala Restaurant – A well-known Italian restaurant that is located in the heart of Las Vegas near Fremont Street.

• Marshalling Yard – A service yard situated in the center of an industrial district.

• Roof - A coffee factory has been overrun in the continuing gang violence that is wreaking havoc in this Mexican border town.
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Two Revisited And Relit MP Adversarial Maps:

• Border Town – Redux

• Killhouse - Redux
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Two New Modes:

• Assassination mode - The goal of the Attackers is to eliminate a high-value asset of the Defenders, who in turn will try to defend and escort the VIP to his extraction zone.

• Total Conquest - This is a team-oriented, static control-point game mode where each map contains three Mobile Radar Installations (control points). To win, a team must activate and maintain control of at least one of the three Mobile Radar Installations for a given period of time.

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Xbox Live Rewards Program - If you're as addicted to Achievement Points as I am I have good news for you. Microsoft is now going to give you prizes for being a point pig, at least for a little while. From Feb. 12 to April 12 MS is kicking off the Old Spice Challenge where gamers are...um...challenged with earning 1,500 points in a 60-day period. Why is it sponsored by Old Spice? Because you'll need plenty of deodorant after sitting on your ass for 60 days trying to eek out 1,500 achievement points.

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Depending on how many points you have when you start, you are eligible for a variety of prizes.

Level 1: 0 — 4,999 : Gamer Picture, Contra (Xbox Live Arcade), level bump to next level

Level 2: 5,000 — 9,999 : Level 1 package, 100 Microsoft Points, T-shirt, level bump to next level

Level 3: 10,000+ : Level 1 package, 200 Microsoft Points, T-Shirt and Fuzion Frenzy for Xbox 360.

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Of course there is a catch. This promotion is only available for Xbox Live Gold members 13 years and older and most prizes are only available for the first 70,000 to get to 1,500 points. You'll still probably get a theme and gamer pic but thats about it. It may suck that everyone won't get anything but who cares? Its a brilliant idea. Getting prizes for being the point pig that I am? That's like getting paid to write about video games. If you haven't signed up yet go to www.xbox.com/rewards to register and get your game on quick.

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terry.terrones@gazette.com

Reader Rant: Battlefield 2

Reader Robert Cloutier earns the
honor of being the first reader to get his rant posted (John X and Frosty you should be ashamed). He gets into BF2 a little late in the game but here's his rant on how it could be better.
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I just started playing Battlefield 2 in November 2006. I know I came into it a little late, but I knew it was time I tried something else besides Counterstrike. I really enjoyed this game. It feels like your are on the battlefield working together to become victorious. Teamwork is a very important angle the game offers and to go alone, only lessens your chances to winning. Forming squads, and the team speak option allow you to communicate to others to set up attacks or to defend your base with honor. After showing this game to a few of my friends, we were soon on line and forming our own squad. Every night we would get on BF2 to explore new spots and frag anyone who called us noobs. After a few months of getting seasoned, I have begun to find the flaws of this game.
Certainly the most frustrating thing I've encountered are the Jets. They certainly have an unfair advantage. As a grunt on the ground, it is not very fun to get bombed every 2 minutes without being able to retaliate equally. While I feel they have a place in BF2, The jets should have to land at their own base to get resupplied rather than just fly over any base. I also think that the supply crates the commander uses to fix artillery and vehicles is unjust.We all know dropping a magic box from the sky can't fix anything without someone there. I believe only engineers should be able to repair items.
With the recent release of BF2142 , many veterans of BF2 have left the past to enter the future. With that said, the possibilities that EA Games/Dice would make any new changes to BF2 seem bleak. I guess it is not cost effective for a software company to invest in an older game. But my investment of $29.95 for this game was certainly worth the adrenaline filled nights on the battlefield.
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Robert Cloutier
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terry.terrones@gazette.com

Kahhn!!! The Star Trek Legacy review

Multicultural space cowboys who battle fierce aliens, seek out new life and civilizations, have cool gadgets and seduce curvaceous green babes while boldly going where no one has gone before. That’s “Star Trek,” one of the greatest and most popular television shows of all time and one of my personal favorites.
Like millions of other Trekkies, I’ve been following the exploits of the Federation since getting hooked on original series reruns as a kid. Now this amazing universe is available in video game form in “Star Trek Legacy.”
As a fan I’m excited about playing a Trek game but as a gamer who knows the poor history of television shows turned into games (see “Starsky & Hutch”, “Dukes of Hazzard”) I’m a little leery.
So is the game any good? As Mr. Spock would say, it would be illogical not to pick up this title.
In “Legacy,” gamers play as the five main Trek captains (Archer, Kirk, Picard, Sisko, and Janeway) that cover the timeline of the series. As you would expect, the plot is vintage Trek. Its complicated, involves the Borg and neatly ties the franchises together.
Game play consists mostly of starship battles, lots of them. You’ll trade shots with Romulan, Klingon and Borg ships but the combat is much more complicated than just shooting photon torpedoes at an enemy. “Legacy” is about tactical combat, controlling one to four ships to fight as a group. This game requires more brain than brawn.
“Legacy’s” game play does have a very steep learning curve (a lot of ships to control, always diverting power and making repairs, ships maneuver slowly) but if you’re willing to be patient the payoff is worth it. Getting to be a participant in massive battles with phasers blasting away, taking heavy damage and starships filling the sky is impressive.
The game presentation is solid with nice graphics, particularly the starships, but where “Legacy” really excels is with its audio. The sound effects are authentic Trek, and the five captains from the show provide their vocal talents for the game but not their likenesses (sorry, no shots of William Shatner squeezing into a Starfleet uniform).
Online play is also available, giving you a chance to test your skills against other Trekkies. Its not very deep and doesn’t offer too many options but its still a lot of fun.
While “Legacy” warps deep into the Trek universe, it does have one very annoying flaw. The levels are way too long, lasting between 30 - 60 minutes. This wouldn’t be so bad if you could save during a mission but that’s not an option, you either beat the level or play through it all over again. Yikes!
But hey, who cares about a poor save feature when you get the chance to cruise outer space with Picard and Kirk? It sure doesn’t bother this Trek fan. Now if you’ll excuse me, Data needs me in transporter room 3.
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Star Trek Legacy
Cost: $39.99 - $59.99
Players: 1-2 (4 online)
Formats: PC, Xbox 360
Category: Space Combat Sim
Rating: E 10+ (Everyone 10 and up)
Grade: A
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Terry’s Top 5 Star Trek Quotes
1. Spock: Logic dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
2. Khan: Ah, Kirk, my old friend. Do you know the Klingon proverb that tells us revenge is a dish that is best served cold? [dramatic pause] It is very cold in space.
3. Kirk: Kahhnnn!!!
4. Scotty: I canna change the laws of physics!
5. McCoy: I’m a doctor not a (bricklayer, psychiatrist, mechanic, engineer, scientist, escalator, magician, coal miner).
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terry.terrones@gazette.com

PSM's Chris Slate

Last week I spoke with Chris Slate, editor-in-chief of PlayStation Magazine. We discussed the slow start of the PS3 and what lies ahead for the latest round of consoles.
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TT: I hate to start off on a rough note but listen to this quote from Gabe Newell of Valve in the February issue of Game Informer:
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Gabe Newell: 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.”
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Ouch! If that quote isn’t a kick to the head I don’t know what is, the problem is I agree with him. What went wrong?
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CS: I have heard that quote before and while Sony certainly doesn’t need to start over, they definitely got so much wrong. They made some grand promises but haven’t delivered. Their games show no discernable difference between the 360 and they have fewer games. Most people see that the 360 is cheaper and has more games so they choose it instead. I think their business model had holes in it. The biggest thing the PS3 had going for it is the PlayStation brand and they over relied on it. The lack of units available before Christmas hurt as well. But I do think it’ll be a different story next year.
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TT: What can Sony do to recover from such a terrible launch?
CS: That’s the big question right now and to be honest I’m not sure what the answer is. The most obvious thing they need to do is level the playing field by dropping the price but who knows when that will happen. The only thing they can do is weather the storm and develop their gaming library with a few killer titles. There might also be some untapped power on the PS3. Early PS3 games look as good as year old Xbox 360 games so there could come a time when PS3 games look better.
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TT: If a console has great games, it’ll do fine, where are the great games for the PS3?
CS: It has some really good games but is missing a Mario or a Halo that even a non-gamer can recognize. The PS3 does have “Resistance” but it didn’t really do anything new. When the Xbox 360 came out they ran into a similar problem where gamers were playing the same game as before but now it had better graphics. The problem is gamers are less patient with the PS3 because they are used to better graphics so they expect the games to be better. Its still early in its life cycle so the PS3 can still do well but they have a big hill to climb.
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TT: Did Sony make a horrible gamble on the Blu-ray system or is too early to tell?
CS: I think its too soon to tell. DVD’s weren’t a success overnight so maybe one day it’ll be the new big thing that makes the PS3 more valuable. Right now Sony is selling the PlayStation franchise as a computer entertainment system. You almost never hear them refer to the PS3 as a gaming machine. The PS3 is attractive because you get a lot of things at one price. The problem comes when you do a lot of different things well but you don’t do one thing the best and right now the PS3 is lacking as a game system.
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TT: What are your impressions of the Wii? Is its motion sensing controller a fad or will it be in all future consoles?
CS: I think to some degree it’s a fad because beyond “Wii Sports” there’s not much use for its controller. I have one at home and I really enjoy it but it’ll take time for developers to figure out how to best use the control scheme. I do think that of all three companies (Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony) that Nintendo has their heads on the best because they make great games without losing money. Its an interesting comparison between Nintendo and Sony. Nintendo has no problem being known only for games while Sony tries to be all encompassing. Its kind of like Apple’s approach with the iPod. It just seems hard for Sony to define what their focus is.
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TT: What are your impressions of the Xbox 360 so far?
CS: I like it quite a bit, aside from some early quality assurance issues. I don’t think what they’ve offered is much different than Sony but its at a cheaper price. They just seem to be one step ahead of Sony in every area. They have some killer app games and “Halo” has become a cult phenomenon. I do feel the PS3 and 360 have exactly the same strategy but right now Xbox is delivering more. One of the major advantages the PS3 does have is with Japanese developers like Konami and Square Enix who are PS3 exclusive, at least for the time being.
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TT: How do you see the console war shaping up during 2007?
CS: I think it would be hard for anybody to pass Microsoft this year. I think, by numbers, it’ll be number one. I think the Wii will be number two but the PS3 will be gaining.
Beyond this year? Its tough to tell. The industry is up for grabs, which is good for consumers as companies are giving their best shot. But I do think the real console war is between the PS3 and 360.
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TT: PS3 exclusive game I should most look forward to this year?
CS: Metal Gear Solid IV from Konami is still a PS3 exclusive. Naughty Dog is working on a “Tomb Raider” type game that should be good. “Gran Turismo 5” may come out this year but its 50/50. At this point in the year it’s a little early to tell. We’ll know a lot more around June or July at E3.
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TT: Final question – you’re on a deserted island with one TV and your choice of console, what do you choose right now and why?
CS: Right now? Oh, boy that’s tough. If I’m just playing games, I’d pick the Wii because I could play “Wii Sports” over and over again. As much as I enjoy the PS3, I’ve always been a Nintendo fan.
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terry.terrones@gazette.com

College Hoops 2K7 Review

What do you think of when you hear the words “college basketball”? Drunken frat boys in blue face paint coming up with creative chants to insult the opponents best player? Mascots throwing haymakers at each other? A bald former coach yelling at the top of his lungs for no apparent reason? Ah yes, the pomp and pageantry of college hoops.
But what’s a college basketball season without a video game to go with it? Fear not, the gaming industry has come to the rescue with “College Hoops 2K7”. Now if your wildest dream was to have the Cameron Crazies cheer you on (which means you need some serious counseling), it can finally come true in this great college hoops sim.
The game presentation in “College Hoops” is fantastic. The home crowds are a loud, raucous bunch chanting “Defense!” or “Get that ball!” They’ll even yell “Three!” when you take a three point shot and “Moron!” when you turn the ball over (okay, I made that last one up).
The announcing team of Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery and Bonnie Bernstein do an excellent job and there’s a pre-season, Selection Sunday and College Hoops Tonight show if you are in desperate need of some television in your video game. Hundreds of real coaches are in the game and cheerleaders come out doing flips during time outs as a guy with a mop dries up wet spots on the floor. Sweet!
A deep create-a-player feature and tons of game options, from practices to tournaments, (in practice mode you can play knockout and monkey in the middle just like in elementary school, yeah!) show this games attention to detail.
Of course none of these bells and whistles mean a thing if the game ain’t got swing, but game play is where “College Hoops” really shines.
Just like real basketball, the best chance you have of scoring is to swing the ball until you have an open shot. Crosscourt passes, a risky move in hoops, are frequently picked off. The AI defense will adjust to your style of play so if you score with one player all the time (like a high rated created player) you can expect to get double and even triple teamed. Throw in realistic player animations and you have an almost perfect basketball sim, almost.
Maneuvering around the main menu is a pain as the button functions are different then in standard games. The right stick, used as an alternate shot stick, doesn’t feel natural. The text is in the game is way too small and the graphics are hit and miss. From a distance the courts, crowd and players look good but up close they look like sunburned zombies.
While “College Hoops 2K7” has a few small flaws, its solid game play and its authentic college feel make it a championship contender.
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College Hoops 2K7
Cost: $19.99 - $59.99
Players: 1-4 (8 online)
Formats: PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360
Category: Basketball Sim
Rating: E (Everyone)
Grade: A-
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Terry’s Top 5 Basketball Quotes
1. Patrick Ewing: "We might make a lot of money but, we also spend a lot of money."
2. Larry Bird: commenting at the ceremony when his Indiana State No. 33 jersey was retired: "We had a special team. We played together, played to win, and everyone knew their roles. ...Everyone knew I was going to take all the shots."
3. Charles Shackleford: "Left hand, right hand, it doesn't matter. I'm amphibious."
4. Magic Johnson: on how well he and James Worthy work together: "It's almost like we have ESPN."
5. Charles Barkley: commercial for basketball shoes, 1993: "These are my new shoes. They're good shoes. They won't make you rich like me, they won't make you rebound like me, they definitely won't make you handsome like me. They'll only make you have shoes like me. That's it."
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terry.terrones@gazette.com

What the...?

Close your mouth! You're attracting flies. I know the site looks different but it needed a make-over more than Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton combined. All of the old entries are still here if you're feeling sentimental and this updated layout will allow me to do a few new things...I think. Since it would be awfully egotistical of me to just talk about the new and improved blog (although I did put my picture up, so maybe I'm just a little full of myself), here is some recent gaming news.
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Saints Row to the PS3 - It what continues to be a disturbing trend for Sony, the PS3 will get a great game months after its already been on the Xbox 360. This time the table scrap is Saints Row, set to come out sometime this spring. While I commend Sony for getting a very good title on its system, this is just another reason gamers can use as an excuse not to get their overpriced console
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2K back on the field - This week 2K Sports announced it will get back into pro football with All-Pro Football 2K8, coming out this August. While EA has the license on NFL players, a little healthy competition with 2K Sports (who always make solid sport titles) should be good for gamers. Innovation in the Madden series hasn't really been a strong suit for EA since its agreement with the NFL, maybe this will force them to get more creative. They could start with making those combine mini-games for created players OPTIONAL.
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Mercenaries 2 has a new home - Mercenaries 2: World in Flames finally has a publisher. The first Mercenary game was published by LucasArts but now Pandemic will be working with EA. The sequel is set to come out for the PS3 sometime this year. I'm sure Sony execs are giggling like little girls about having a console exclusive. That makes 3!
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terry.terrones@gazette.com

The Mole: WoW

Here's the latest news in the world of gaming.

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No surprise here - Blizzard announced that they sold 2.4 million copies of "Burning Crusade" worldwide within 24 hours of its release, 1.2 million of those in North America. Pretty sweet numbers for an expansion.

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Closed but not completely - Bungie has announced its first round of Halo 3 beta registrations is now over. If you haven't received an email confirmation already, you might want to try one of Bungie's other two ways to sign up.

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The Rule of Three program is open to players 17 and older in the United States and Canada who have access to an Xbox 360 with hard drive, an Xbox Live gold subscription and a copy of Halo 2. Participants are required to play three hours of Halo 2 multiplayer online during the period beginning Feb. 1 at 12:01 a.m. EST and ending Feb. 3 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

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After that time is over, the first 13,333 players who have met the requirements and registered at http://www.halo3.com/ will be invited to participate in the Halo 3 beta test.
Finally, invites will be included in specially marked boxes of the upcoming Xbox 360 title Crackdown when it’s released Feb. 20. The disc itself will serve as a key to join the beta when it becomes available this spring. Registration is limited to one beta invite per person and gamertag.

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Gears on the PC? - Could "Gears of War", one of the 360's most popular games, be coming to the PC? Check out this quote from Epic VP Mark Rein in a recent interview with Game Informer:

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"We’ve always said that at some point, Gears would come to PC, or could come to PC. We demoed it. The first year at E3 we demoed it, it was on a PC. It’s not a question of if it can run, it’s a question of when’s the right time, and when do we have the right people to do it and is it the right platform for it? So there’s no final decision on that yet. Right now, it’s an Xbox 360 exclusive. If you want to play Gears, go buy a 360."

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Okay, so Epic's awesome game could come to the PC. At least its a possibility.

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And the winner is... - Last week the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences (ooh, sounds posh) announced its nominees for the 10th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards. I had no idea that there even were Interactive Achievement Awards, let alone that there have been 10 of them but below is a list of nominees anyway. While I'm all about giving game creators the recognition they deserve, there are a ton of categories. Is this really necessary? It'll take about 2 days to hand all these awards out. When you have a category called "Game Most Likely to Destroy Your Marriage", you know you have too many categories. Lets not turn this into the Academy Awards. Anyway, winners will be announced February 8th.

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Overall Game Of The Year: Gears Of War, Wii Sports, The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Guitar Hero 2, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

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Computer Game Of The Year: Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Company Of Heroes, Battlefield 2142, Prey, Age of Empires III: The Warchiefs

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Console Game Of The Year: Gears Of War, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Wii Sports, Guitar Hero 2, Viva Pinata

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Outstanding Innovation in Gaming: Wii Sports, Nintendo Brain Age, Gears Of War, Viva Pinata, LocoRoco

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Outstanding Achievement in Animation: Gears Of War, Daxter, Lego Star Wars II, Rayman Raving Rabbids, Fight Night Round 3

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Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction: Gears Of War, Final Fantasy XII, Call Of Duty 3, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas,Viva Pinata

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Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack: Guitar Hero 2, SingStar Rocks!, FIFA '07, Marc Ecko's Getting Up, Scarface

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Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition: Call of Duty 3, LocoRoco, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Black

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Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design: Call of Duty 3, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Company of Heroes

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Outstanding Character Performance - Male: Gears of War, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Bully, Lego Star Wars II, Daxter

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Outstanding Character Performance - Female: Saints Row, Desperate Housewives, Viva Pinata, Bully, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

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Outstanding Achievement in Story and Character Development: Sam & Max Episode 1: Culture Shock, Saints Row, 24: The Game, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Dreamfall: The Longest Journey

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Outstanding Achievement in Game Play Engineering: Wii Sports, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Gears Of War, Company of Heroes

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Outstanding Achievement in Online Game Play: Call of Duty 3, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter, Gears of War, Chromehounds, Battlefield 2142

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Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering:Viva Pinata, Resistance: Fall of Man, Gears Of War, Call of Duty 3, Company of Heroes

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Outstanding Achievement in Game Design: Wii Sports, Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Company of Heroes, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Nintendo Brain Age

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Sports Game Of The Year: Tony Hawk's Project 8, MLB '06: The Show, NBA 2K7, FIFA '07, NBA '07

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Strategy Game Of The Year: Company of Heroes, Star Wars: Empire at War, Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle-earth II, Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends, Medieval II: Total War

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First Person Action Game of the Year: Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas, Resistance: Fall of Man, Prey, Half-Life 2: Episode 1, Black

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Fighting Game of the Year: Fight Night Round 3, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon, WWE Smackdown VS RAW 2006, Tekken: Dark Resurrection

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Racing Game Of The Year: Test Drive Unlimited, Burnout Revenge, Excite Truck, Full Auto 2: Battlelines, Need For Speed: Carbon

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Role Playing Game of the Year: Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Final Fantasy XII, Final Fantasy III DS, Titan Quest, Phantasy Star Universe

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Children's Game of the Year: LocoRoco, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team Disney's Kim Possible: What's the Switch, Over the Hedge, Legend of Spyro: A New Beginning

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Action/Adventure Game of the Year: Gears of War, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Saints Row, Daxter

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Handheld Game of the Year: LocoRoco, Elite Beat Agents, New Super Mario Bros., Nintendo Brain Age, Lego Star Wars II

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Massively Multiplayer Game of the Year: Eve Online: Revelations, Guild Wars: Nightfall, Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach, Auto Assault

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Family Game of the Year: Rayman Raving Rabbids, Viva Pinata, Guitar Hero 2, Lego Star Wars II, Nintendo Brain Age

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Simulation Game of the Year: Microsoft Flight Simulator X, Sid Meier's Railroads!, Tourist Trophy

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Downloadable Game of the Year: Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects, Virtual Villagers: A New Home, Diner Dash: Flow on the Go, Bookworm Adventures, Plantasia

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Mobile Game of the Year: Orcs & Elves, Tropical Madness, Duckshot, Brothers in Arms 3D

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terry.terrones@gazette.com

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