BM2 Love Angel: Games

Gimme the grid!!!

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 17:04:22 GMT

One of the problems that I face as a gamer, an employer and a house"wife" is the lack of time for gaming.

After spending the whole day in front of the computer, trying to decode invoices, expense notes and reconciliations, I generally get home wasted. Even though I do bring out my sports clothes hoping that I will have the chance to burn some calories and get in shape again, most of the time, my plans remain just plans.

What can you do when real life gets in the way? Go handheld!
Some time ago, I made a video showing my collection of portable game machines. They have been my constant mates that I take with me anywhere I go.

The (P!nk) PSP has recently become my GPS as well. Having it always in my bag is a matter of necessity.

My other companion is my (pink) DS Lite. I leave my MP3 on it and one of my puzzel addictions: Sudoku (Gridmaster).

Maybe you will think that I am crazy for playing with numbers when I already have to deal with them during the whole day at the office. However, I love it. I find it so exciting...
Yeah! Exciting!!!

Most of my sleepless nights are also spent with the grids. I just take to bed and it is all about fun.

For the Xbox Live Arcade fans, the version available for download is also a sweetie. Highly recommended as well.

My DS's battery must be almost fully charged by now. See you all soon!

*grid on*

Technorati tags: Sudoku, Gridmaster, DS, Lite, P!nk, pink

Flower

Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:32:39 GMT

Of course that Gears of War 2 is the greatest game shown in E3 08 so far. And sincerely, I don't think any other title can surpress it. However, another game has caught my attention and believe it or not, it is a PS3 one. The name? Flower.

It might sound funny because they are completely different from each other, but it is just that magic of beautiful images, nature and an incredible soundtrack.

I have just watch a demonstration on Gamespot's live show with Kristin "Batgirl PMS" Reilly and I am even more in love.

If you haven't seen anything from this game, here is a video for you. Enjoy it!
For more info on the game itself, check PS3's website.

*game on*

YouTube - Flower for PS3 in HD part 1. E3 08

MS Conference

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:42:26 GMT

Even though I missed the end of the Microsoft's Conference (my neighbor rang on my door), I would like to write a little bit about my general impressions.

First of all, I miss Peter Moore. I am a big fan of him and his charisma. Nothing against Don, but no one can beat Peter's charm.

I loved the new Dashboard. It does look nice and easy to use. The only question is about all the money invested in themes... That kind of hurt the feelings of my wallet. I am looking forward more details on it.

One thing no one can deny is that the Avatars are cool. Not childish like the Wii ones, but they are very cute too. I like it. Mine will surely change of hairstyle as much as I do.

About the news: Gears of Wars is and will continue being THE Game! I am delighted by the demo of Cliffy B. I loved the first title and I am sure that I will adore the second one as well. I am so going to pre-order it asap!

Lips looks sweet. I do have Sing Star for the PS3 and I am fan of the genre. This is a must have for me without a doubt. Mainly with the songs that you can use from Zune. However, I hope it will work with other MP3 players and there is no sign of Zune coming overseas (ever).

Films for Europe?!? Yay!!!!!!

They finally discovered us and it makes me a happy angel. Nothing about the titles though. I guess I will have to wait a little longer for that.

Rock Band 2 is bringing a lot of sweetness too. More than 500 songs until the end of the this year??? AMAZING!!!!!!

Last, but not least, I am happy with the FF XIII news. I am not a FF fan, never played any of the games, but I think it is a great step taken by both Square Enix and Microsoft.

For the rest, too much was shown and I need to digest the information further. It is just the beginning of E3 and the conferences. A lot is still to happen.

Game on!

EDITING: Via the blog of Acey Bongos, I have found this letter from Marc Whitten giving more information about the Dashboard and its changes. It does enlight a lot of questions. See it on the Gamerscore Blog.

Why the late hype?

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:44:38 GMT

I don't know whether anyone is finding strange my sudden hype for an "old" game like Diablo II. If you are, let me explain it to you...

The thing is that I had the chance to be at the Blizzard Worldwide Invitation in Paris in the end of June. I worked at the booth of amBX and I was then and there when Diablo III was announced.

I went nuts! I am a major fan of Diablo and I couldn't believe I could hear the announcement on the spot.

Well, needless to say that after coming back, I got myself a copy of Diablo II (I had played only the first one a little after its launch) and I spending some quality time with it since then.

Man! I LOVE that game!!!

Great gaming everyone,

Angel.

MSN Games

Fri, 27 Apr 2007 07:13:03 GMT

During this week, I returned to my origins and spent some time playing on MSN Games. I went for Mahjong this time. It was hard, but it was also fun as usual.

I am reading now an article on Gamerscore blog about new releases and I am going to post it here as well:

"New titles added to GameSpring
The folks at MSN Games have just added five new games to GameSpring! That's five more delicious, full-featured casual games piled on top of an already-brimming buffet table of all-you-can-play goodness. The latest additions are Abundante!, AquaPark, Super Collapse: Puzzle Gallery, Sparkle, and Zodiac Tower, all puzzle and action/puzzle games. (For those who've been counting, this puts us within a pup's whisker of 100 GameSpring titles... you just know there's going to be some serious celebrating here once we hit that milestone.)
With GameSpring's new quarterly and yearly pricing, it's as little as $7.99 a month to play every game included in the service. (My 2 cents' worth: start with Bookworm Adventures, Diner Dash 2, and Pizzy Frenzy! Mmmmm, Pizza Frenzy...)"

There are some nice screenshots on Gamerscore Blog. Enjoy them!

*game on*

Angel

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Technorati tags: games, MSN Games, Gamerscore Blog

Command & Conquer

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 16:55:19 GMT

I have just read it on XUG and I decided to share it with you all:

"EA announces Novel based on Command & Conquer Game Series
Electronic Arts and Del Rey, an imprint of Ballantine Books at the Random House Publishing Group, announced today that Del Rey will publish a novel based on the critically-acclaimed Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars computer and videogame on May 29, 2007 in the US and Canada. The novel will release in the U.K. and Germany in the months following. The game is available now for the PC and will be in stores May 10, 2007 for the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system.
In COMMAND & CONQUER: TIBERIUM WARS, the novel by Keith R. A. DeCandido, the year is 2047 and the stakes could not be higher. Tiberium--a self-replicating alien substance that has infected the Earth--is spreading like a radioactive ice age. The Global Defense Initiative, a high-tech alliance of the world's most advanced nations, is fighting to contain Tiberium, but Kane, the megalomaniacal leader of the Brotherhood of Nod has other plans for Earth. Kane's secret society turned superpower is bent on using Tiberium to take control and transform humanity into his twisted vision of the future. In the midst of battles throughout the world, a third alien race emerges, and all-out war rages over Tiberium. The fate of the planet rests in the balance."

I like the idea even though I haven't even played any of their titles or the demo on the Marketplace. It is just the concept itself that attracts me and I think it is very promising.

You can read the complete announcement on Xbox Users Group.

How many of you have already downloaded the demo? What are your opinions about it?

*build on*

Angel

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Technorati tags: Command & Conquer, novel, EA, games

This Week on Xbox.com

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 08:30:19 GMT

In Europe, we have a session called "This Week" on the site Xbox.com. The editorial online right now is from AceyBongos and it is about Halo 3.

As I know that many of my readers are major Halo fans, just like Acey, and that not everyone stops by the International site for the UK, I decided to help you out and post about it.

Here you go:

"It’s tough being a Halo fan. Remember the wait before Halo 2 arrived on the original Xbox? The anticipation, the nervousness, the sheer impatience of twiddling thumbs before your next dose of supreme console FPS action?
And now we’re waiting for Halo 3, undoubtedly the biggest game hitting Xbox 360 this year (decade? Millennium?). But praise be to Master Chief! Because this time the wait will not be quite as painful. Yes, in the months before Halo 3 hits there’ll be plenty to keep your MJOLNIR suit oiled up and ready for action.
First of all, even though Halo 3 is on the horizon Halo 2 is still going strong, consistently topping the most-played games list on Xbox Live two-and-a-half years after it launched. The reason for this is that Halo 2 is totally backwards compatible, meaning that even if you’ve never played the game you can pick it up and play it straight away on your Xbox 360. And we’ve got a very good reason why – Bungie just released two brand new maps for Halo 2. Even better, both maps are remakes of the Hang ‘Em High and Derelict multiplayer levels from the original Halo: Combat Evolved game, so long-time fans of the series will get a kick out of revisiting old stomping grounds re-imagined for 2007. The maps, Desolation and Tombstone, are available now through Xbox Live."

The article continues on Xbox.com.

*and the countdown goes on*

Angel

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Technorati Tags: Xbox.com - AceyBongos - Halo 3 - This Week on Xbox.com - games - editorial

EA: Women 'too big an audience to ignore'

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 18:07:27 GMT

All this "I don't know when I will have a job again" talk, left me a little bit worried about making certain investments. When I heard about the Women in Games Conference in Wales a couple of weeks ago, I still didn't know about XL being postponed. Going to UK twice on the same month was something I couldn't afford at the moment, so I had to pass it. A pity for sure, but I at least can follow things up on Gamespot since they have a representant there.

Good to read that we might be few (at least, I wish ALL women were gamers), but we are not forgotten (anymore).

Enjoy the reading:

EA: Women 'too big an audience to ignore'
While underlining the female demographic's importance at the Women in Games Conference, EA VP Sharon Knight said developers should avoid making games that only target women.

By Emma Boyes, GameSpot UK
Posted Apr 19, 2007 9:23 pm CET
NEWPORT, Wales--Electronic Arts vice president of Europe Online, Sharon Knight, believes that if game developers and publishers were to ignore the female audience, it would be "a great waste." Knight was the first speaker at this year's Women In Games Conference at the University of Wales, the fourth such annual event.
Making games which appeal to both genders will only increase the success of the medium, she believes, and create potentially hugely successful titles. She gave the example of the film Titanic, which surpassed Star Wars as the most successful movie of all time, because "women loved it, they went to see it in droves, they went to see it multiple times."
That said, Knight thinks it's a mistake to try to create games solely for a female audience. "If you look at how other media forms have tapped into women, for example, you don't see movies and music being exclusive to men," She said. "Women enjoy all forms of entertainment. We [at EA] want to avoid making 'pink games.' Women enjoy many of the same features in gameplay as men do. The way EA sees it is there's a lot of untapped potential out there."
Knight believes a big reason the Wii has been successful is that women find it more accessible than other consoles. "The Wii levels the playing field," she said. "You don't embarrass yourself--you can grab it and right away start having fun. ... [Wii games] don't require the same investment to learn and to master how to pick up and play [as other consoles' games]."
EA's The Sims, one of the most popular franchises of all time, has a 65 percent female audience, said Knight. However, she admitted the series' success was more of a happy accident. "No, Will [Wright, the creator of the game] was definitely not targeting the game at women," she said, laughing. "It just resonated. I think it was at the brink of the whole 'who do you want to be?' trend. You can make an avatar that you play as yourself, as a character that looks a lot like you, or you can be somebody wildly different. Now you're seeing that everywhere."

I liked what I read. One thing that still bothers me in Europe is the fact that the non-mainstream gamer is still (too much) ignored. Women are a good example of that and the marketing people seem to take the female gaming market for granted around here.

I am not saying that we are all hardcore shooters, however we are the ones who have a great influence in decisions, mainly when money is the topic in discussion. Take from mothers, sisters and wives the old-fashioned concept that gaming is for men and you have a huge market in front of you. If only they knew that with an Xbox 360 they can play UNO and Pac Man as well as Viva Piñata and Lego Star Wars, they would be the first ones standing at video games sessions of the popular markets, choosing the best titles for their beloved ones.

This misconception has to end!

There is still a lot to happen and blaming games for all the urban massacres doesn't help. However, I am happy to know that there is at least some efforts being done to have this sad scenario to change.

*girl power*

Angel

Link to GameSpot

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Technorati tags: games, Girl Power, Gamespot, Women in Games Conference

News from Infinity Ward

Sat, 21 Apr 2007 07:51:56 GMT

First, I read it on the site of TeamXbox. As I couldn't believe my eyes, I had to go check my friend Fourzerotwo. Only him, Community Relations Manager for Infinity Ward, could show the light to the thruth.

His present blog entry says:

"Amazing Things To Happen On April 28th:

1758 - James Monroe, 5th President of the United States is born.

1788 - Maryland becomes the seventh state to ratify the Constitution of the United States.

1932 - A vaccine for yellow fever is announced for use on humans.

(Then nothing really happened for a long time.... but now....)

2007 - What goes down this April 28th is equal to, if not surpasses, the magnitude of any of those."

Let the countdown begin.

*game on*

Angel

Gears of War Wallpaper Pack

Tue, 17 Apr 2007 19:31:28 GMT

Yesterday, Gamespot put up 4 official Gears of War wallpapers on their site.

I loved them all!

The four are at 1024 x 768 and look really sharp. Highly recommended!

*chainsawing the problems*

Angel

Link to GameSpot.

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Technorati tags: Gears of War, GoW, wallpapers, official, Gamespot

Another Guitar Hero Q&A

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 18:23:48 GMT

Q&A: RedOctane's Kai Huang

Founder and president of the California-based company spills the beans on Guitar Hero III, how he came up with the idea, and why some great songs aren't in the game.

By Emma Boyes, GameSpot UK
Posted Apr 16, 2007 5:28 pm CET
It's about 11 a.m. on the corner of Piccadilly and Park Lane in central London, and a team of journalists are standing outside the Hard Rock Café where the Guitar Hero "rock bus" has been parked. The rock bus is a double-decker coach, wrapped from top to bottom in a Guitar Hero advert. The interior has been done up to look like a tour bus--on the first floor is a mini bar with seating and cushions to chill out, along with a series of bunk beds for rockers to crash out in after too much partying. The top deck features a huge plasma TV, along with a PlayStation 2, an Xbox 360--and of course, the Guitar Hero games and controllers.
Sitting on one of the two leather sofas upstairs is Kai Huang, RedOctane's founder and president. Huang is the man widely lauded as being the person who originally thought up the idea for the Guitar Hero game, thus starting the hugely popular series and generating a series of similar spin-offs. California-based RedOctane was founded in 1999, starting out in the early days as a peripherals manufacturer. The company is now also the publisher of a number of games, including Guitar Hero. RedOctane was bought by Activision in 2006.

Kai rocking out on the rock bus.
The first two games in the series, Guitar Hero and Guitar Hero II, were developed by Harmonix, a company which was then bought out for $175 million by MTV Networks last year. Recently, Harmonix has announced its own music game, titled Rock Band, which will be heading to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Guitar Hero III will therefore change hands and be developed by Activision's internal studio Neversoft, maker of the Tony Hawk games.
GameSpot sat down with Kai Huang on the Guitar Hero rock bus to ask him all about the next instalment in the franchise, along with his personal favourite tracks and what he thinks of Rock Band.

Check out the whole article on GameSpot.

*rock on and on*

Angel

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Technorati tags: Q&A, Guitar Hero, bus, London, Red Octane

Girl Power!!!!

Sun, 15 Apr 2007 15:15:37 GMT

You girls & guys know how seriously I take female gaming (for obvious reasons). One of the complaints we unfortunately have to repeat is the lack of female characters in some titles. However, there is still hope. And this home comes in the shape of Splinter Cell Double Agent.

Here are the details from Ubisoft:

"The development team of Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Double Agent™ brings you brand new Multiplayer contents available for download, including a new character (the Spy Girl) and two new maps.
The news maps will take place in Kinshasa and the secret base of the NSA. For the first time in the multiplayer mode of Splinter Cell, you will be able to play in the daylight. This will be even harder for you to succeed in your mission.
Discover the new Spy Girl character, coming along with its own set of skin and animations, that will allow you to play with a nimbler and faster character.”

Isn't it awesome?!? I am very excited!!!

No date or price has been announced, but it is already something to look forward to.

*happy (girl) gaming*

Angel

Technorati tags: games, Splinter Cell, Double Agent, Ubisoft

XCN Q&A: Boom Boom Rocket

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 15:20:26 GMT

XCN Q&A with Design Manager BBR: Craig Howard

Bizarre’s involvement with XBLA is synonymous with Geometry Wars – how do you think people will react to Boom Boom Rocket?

Well we hope people react to it positively!  Boom Boom Rocket has been designed as an inviting game for players of all ages. The goal has been to make an accessible game that uses the synergy of visual and audio stimuli to drive the player to higher scores. We hope they’ll become absorbed within the experience.

Could you explain the background of how BBR came to be developed at Bizarre?

We were approached by EA’s Pogo Studio with the game’s concept. They were keen to work with us given the success of Geometry Wars, and we were interested in working on a new IP with such a cool idea behind it! EA presented us with a barebones concept, which we then worked together to develop into the game BBR is today. Whilst the bulk of the design and production was done at Bizarre, Pogo Studio have been involved in virtually every step of the development process. That goes from initial concept development right through to marketing and PR.

Please give us an overview of how Boom Boom Rocket plays.

Keeping true to our initial design principles, the game is an extremely simple concept to pick up and play. You need to simply detonate the fireworks in time with the music. There are four different colours of firework (yellow, blue, red, and green), which correspond to the colours of the face buttons on the Xbox 360 pad. Press the appropriately coloured button when the firework reaches the detonation bar. It’s easy.
The fun comes in the execution. The fireworks get really fast, and you’ll find that it’s fun to pull off the tougher combos after a bit of practice.

And can you try to sum up the sensation of playing BBR?

It’s a combination of intensely beautiful fireworks and pounding familiar melodies that will invoke the desire to improve on your previous scores as you strive to be as one with the game. We hope that both novices and experts will find something to like in BBR… we’ve aimed the game to appeal across a very wide demographic.

What kind of visual experience does a game of BBR create?

The visual goal was to create the most spectacular firework display ever seen in video games. I’ll let you be the judge of whether we’ve achieved that or not!
We are doing lots of custom trickery to allow us to throw around tens of thousands of particles to create some jaw dropping displays. The lighting is also important so we dynamically light up the city and the smoke with the explosions.
The Bonus mode takes this goal and moves it off the scale!
Obviously this would be no good if we couldn’t maintain the arcade perfect speed of 60fps, so the guys have worked hard to ensure we don’t drop frames during gameplay.

Geometry Wars is seen as quite a hardcore game – is BBR hardcore in a similar way?

One of the strengths of Boom Boom Rocket is that players of all ages can pick it up and enjoy the game. This is not to say that we have alienated the Hardcore players. We have spent a lot of time engineering subtlety and depth into the scoring mechanics; this will give the players lots of scope to improve their score. We also have an Endurance game option which continuously speeds up the song until the player can’t keep up. We see this as a very large challenge to the hardcore who will really be able to shine on this mode.

Do you see BBR encouraging people to have high score battles with the people on their friends list?

Definitely! Boom Boom Rocket has a combined leader board that tallies your best performances for each song, This will allow you and your friends to easily see who is the best overall in the game.

What kind of Xbox Live features are you implementing in BBR?

Boom Boom Rocket will feature Xbox Live leaderboard support.

Are you planning to create DLC for BBR?

We have included DLC functionality for the game, but nothing has been finalised yet. It really comes down to what gamers tell us after they get their hands on the game. If they want extra content, we’ll do it. Rest assured we’ll be listening very closely to our forum post launch.

BBR will feature remixes of classical music. Why did you choose this genre, and are you concerned that it will put off certain sections of the audience?

The most important factor when looking at the in-game music was that we wanted tunes that have strong melodies and hooks for the players. We decided to base the music on classical music, as no matter what music you listen to its inevitable that you would have heard many classical tunes in Films, TV and advertisements.
The classical tunes were a seed for Ian Livingstone to work with and he has managed to create some tunes that are distinct and uniquely Boom Boom Rocket.

Will you be able to play the game to your own custom soundtracks as in other titles like Def Jam: ICON?

We did consider the possibility of you being able to play with your own soundtrack early on in the games lifecycle. After a bit of research it was quite apparent that rhythm action games are based on the tightness of the level design to the music. So we channelled our energy into crafting really detailed and playable levels instead… this is really where the game shines.
However, we have dropped in a full visualiser, which will choreograph a fireworks display to any music stored on the HDD. It’s not playable, but it’s a nod to those who want to see their own tracks up in lights.

Rhythm action games seem to be becoming increasingly popular these days. What other games have influenced you in the creation of BBR?

We are big fans of lots of rhythm action games here, and it’s hard to not be influenced by some of the better ones. These might be DDR, Guitar Hero. Pop n Music or Samba de Amigo. However, we think BBR has a unique style and gameplay… certainly we don’t think we’ve just copied what was already out there.

Q Entertainment has just announced that it will be bringing Every Extend Extra Extreme to XBLA. How do you think BBR will shape up against it?

E4 is very different in its core mechanics so we don’t consider Boom Boom Rocket as a competitor. We are big fans of Q entertainment’s games and look forward playing it.

What pricepoint should we expect for BBR, and what is your view of XBLA pricing at present?

You can expect to pay 800 MS points for Boom Boom Rocket. This is a price which was set by Electronic Arts, but one which Bizarre is really happy with. Obviously we put GW out at 400 points at launch, but BBR is a much larger game with much larger development costs, and ultimately more gameplay.
GW had 1 person working full time on it. BBR has 7 full timers at last count… so it’s an order of magnitude bigger!
Generally we think that XBL pricing is a little high, especially for some of the “remade” titles. However, consumers will vote with their wallets. We know that people won’t buy it if the price is unfair, so we hope that people see 800 points for BBR as a decent investment.

What kind of Achievements are you creating for BBR, and what do you think of the Achievement system?

We have a wide range of achievements in the game to help everyone feel that they are making progress. There are some easy wins such as the ‘Bonus Schmonus’ Achievement that is awarded when a player activates the bonus run for the first time. On the other end of the spectrum is the ‘Carpal Tunnel Syndrome’ achievement that requires the player to get an A rating or above on all 10 songs.

Finally, what’s in the future for Bizarre’s involvement with XBLA?

We’re huge fans of XBLA, and it’ll come as no surprise to hear that we do intend to keep very involved in this area. We have some more announcements to make… watch this space (or more precisely, watch www.bizarreonline.net!).

I felt in love for that game the first time I saw it. I will be getting some extra MS points to buy this weekend.

Technorati tags: Q&A, Questions & Answers, XCN, games, Boom Boom Rocket

More on Guitar Hero II

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 18:21:46 GMT

XCN Q&A with the Developers of Guitar Hero II: Ted Lange, Associate Producer, Red Octane

Q: For all the ones who do not know the game Guitar Hero, can you explain what's the story of the game and how will it be measured if you are a good or a bad player?
A: You are a up and coming rocker. You have to work your way up from a small club to the sell out stadium jamming to some of the greatest rock songs of all time. This is done by hitting the right buttons on your guitar controller and strumming at the same time. This really gives you the feeling of being a true guitar player.
Q: What benefits will this game have over the PS2 Version? What are the differences?
A: Downloadable content is the biggest addition, but we also have online leader boards. There is also upgraded graphics and sound on all characters and levels. Its really a great step above the PS2 version.
Q: The game has received very good reviews despite it is very similar to PS2 version. How do you think it can be improved in a future Xbox 360 version?
A: Games can always be improved. I think we just touched on the graphical improvements. There is also room for online, more expansive story modes and multiplayer modes. You can go on and on with what can be better and we have a lot of ideas that we have yet to implement.
Q: Could it be possible to add an editor for songs stored in Xbox hard drive in the future?
A: Anything is possible. An editor is something we've looked into before, but we really want to make sure we deliver a great overall experience before we start letting users create their own data.
Q: What kind of multiplayer modes do you have in Xbox Live?
A: We currently don't have Multiplayer on Xbox Live. We wanted to make sure we worked out every last detail so that when we do add in online multiplayer it will be just as good of an online experience as it is offline.
Q: Does the game support the Xbox Live Camera?
A: Currently no.

Q: How has been your experience with Xbox Live and in which ways would you like to improve the game through this service?
A: I love Xbox Live. It's probably the best online service available and it makes adding content to games simple. Downloadable content is the biggest way we can improve our game and that is what we are really looking to. We can have limitless possibilities with Live.
Q: What sort of downloadable content there will be? Will there be downloadable content from well known international bands as well, or just the Indies that are completely unknown in other corners of the world?
A: We plan to keep all fans very happy by giving everyone a little bit of everything they want. So I would say yes to all of those.
Q: We hear music tracks will be available by Xbox Live Marketplace. Will you group these tracks together in a pack or will you be able to purchase them as individuals. Will they be grouped by music genre?
A: We are planning on grouping tracks at this point. Most songs can be grouped by genre, but who knows you may see an Indie pack or even a Sitar pack. The possibilities are endless.
Q: Tell us something about the multiplayer game modes, how many players can join a game, which game modes do you created for GH2?
A: GH2 is two players. We have co-op, and two different versions of versus mode.
Q: Can you verify the rumour of the halo mjlonir theme being part of GH II's early downloadable content?
A: I have no idea where that came from or where it started, but Master Chief won't stop calling me. He wants his song in the game so I may just have to include it or else get a needler sicked on me.
Q: Is it possible to use custom tracks or only ones included or downloaded from the marketplace? Can we jam along to own tracks?
A: Currently no.
Q: How about making a Drum hero game?
A: We've been researching all sorts of instruments. Kazoo Hero is looking very promising.
Q: I was surprised to learn that the guitar controller was wired. Why have you not produced a wireless guitar? Will one be released in the near future?
A: Microsoft held very closely to their wireless technology while we were making GH2 360. As for the future we'll have to wait and see.
Q: The new port on the guitar, will this be for effects pedals and such?
A: Very smart you are. You just might have to wait and see though.
Q: Why don't they have a left handed guitar? It's not as simple as turning the guitar over. The tremolo arm is up to high then and the buttons are reversed. Is this something you will be looking into creating for us left handed people?
A: We've thought about it and it may happen sooner or later.

Guitar Hero II Q&A was brought you buy: BM2 Love Angel

Technorati Tags: XCN - Q&A - Guitar Hero II - Xbox 360 - games

Talking about RAWK! Guitar Hero 2 TV Ad

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 17:31:06 GMT

From AceyBongo's blog:

RAWK! Guitar Hero 2 TV Ad

Been keen to share this with you for ages now, but today I was finally allowed to send out the new Guitar Hero 2 TV ad to the Xbox Community Network sites so here ya go - for those about to rock, we salute you!

Video: Guitar Hero 2 Xbox 360 TV Ad

The XCN sites also have an interview with Ted Lange, Associate Producer of Guitar Hero 2 at RedOctance. Check out your local Xbox Community Network sites here.

Seriously, seriously can't wait to get this on Friday. Someone was playing it in the office today and I was sick with envy. I also got weirdly excited because I noticed that you get stickers with the bundle so you can customise your guitar - get in!

And - oh my god - did you hear about Rock Band? It's the new game from Harmonix, the original developers of Guitar Hero, and it takes the game's idea to its logical conclusion - letting you play as part of a fully-formed rock and roll band! Bass guitar, lead guitar, drums and a mic for the singer will all be part of the experience, and since MTV is publishing the game the musical line-up should be ridiculous. CVG has more on Rock Band here, including word on what that mysterious port on the bottom of the Guitar Hero 2 Gibson X-Plorer guitar is for...

Let me know what you think of the Guitar Hero 2 ad. I just saw it on the real telly on E4, which was weird.

I'm off to practice my rock stance.

I am really looking forward this game!

free myspace layout

Gears of War Xbox Live Global Tournament

Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:29:29 GMT

Gamers Set to Battle Their Way to Worldwide Domination in the Gears of War™ 2007 Global Xbox LIVE® Tournament

Microsoft announces the Gears of War 2007 Global Xbox LIVE Tournament with prizes that include a trip to Prague, Czech Republic, and an invitation to compete in the Grand Final.

Microsoft® Game Studios and Epic Games, Inc. today announced the Gears of War 2007 Global Xbox LIVE Tournament, presented by the World Cyber Games, offering gamers the opportunity to curb-stomp and chainsaw their way to the Grand Final in Prague, Czech Republic. The tournament promises nonstop thrills over Xbox LIVE.
Gears of War players across the globe will have the opportunity to compete in ranked matches on Xbox LIVE for four weeks of leaderboard play. The top 11 finalists in the world with the highest individual scores will receive the grand prize, a trip for two to Prague—the setting that influenced the game’s “Destroyed Beauty” scenic imagery—to compete in the Grand Final in July. The grand prize includes a four-day, three-night trip to Prague with round-trip coach air transportation for the winner and a guest, standard hotel accommodations, basic ground transportation in Prague, and a $200 Visa gift card.
The top four eligible ranked players from each participating country will win a three-day, two-night trip to their country’s 2007 World Cyber Games National Championship event. The trip includes round-trip transportation for the winner, standard hotel accommodations, and a $300 Visa gift card. Secondary prizes include an Xbox 360™ package—boasting an Xbox 360 Pro System console, Viva Piñata™, Project Gotham Racing® 3, Xbox LIVE Arcade Unplugged Volume 1, Kameo: Elements of Power™, and a 12-month Xbox LIVE subscription, as well as Gears of War bonuses such as faceplates.
Registration for the tournament begins March 29 and continues through April 29, while official play begins April 9 and continues through May 6. Winners will be announced in May. More detailed information, including full eligibility requirements, official rules and registration, can be found at this address starting March 29.
“We are thrilled to offer the chance for gamers across the world to come together and share the glories of blowing apart someone into little chunks,” said Cliff Bleszinski, lead designer for Gears of War. “May the best man, or Locust, win.”

Link to Xbox Live Tournament

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Technorati Tags: Gears of War - Xbox Live Tournament - Global - Games

I bought VF5 for the PS3...

Sat, 24 Mar 2007 12:13:21 GMT

... I sold VF5 for the PS3.

Yes. That is exactly how it went.

On the launch here, yesterday, I decided to get myself a copy of the game since I have been much more into fighting titles these days. I also had a friend saying that it was fun, so I went for it.

After forcing myself to play it for an hour, I gave it completely up. It is absolutely not a game to be played with that horrible (and expensive) PS3 controller.

My fingers are hurt of me trying to work the combos and throws out with those silly buttons.

My disliking the controller is not something new. In fact, it is one of the reasons I never really played with any PS console. I hate that thingie.

This time however, I wanted to try my best and play "fair" as any real gamer, but my plans went down the drain. VF5 is the only launch game that interests me (who needs Resistance when they have GOW?!?). It is true that I am a DOA fan and a Tekken hater, but so far VF was neutral to me.

Anyway, I decided waiting for the Xbox 360 version. I am sincerely hoping that with a decent controller, I will be able to get things done and have fun with the title...

Today, I went back to the shop where I had bought, at about 36 hours after getting it, to sell it back. For now, I am just happy that I got it entirely refunded.

*happy gaming*

Angel

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Technorati tags: games, Virtua Fighter 5, PS3, Xbox 360

Survey

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 16:15:53 GMT

Hi everyone,

I have just taken a survey on gaming and I want to share it with you all. It doesn't take long and it is very interesting.

Feel free to check more about it on www.myspace.com/xeodesign.

*happy gaming*

Angel

Unlock Bonus GRAW 2 Multiplayer Headgear

Sun, 11 Mar 2007 11:08:05 GMT

From AceyBongos:

Unlock Bonus GRAW 2 Multiplayer Headgear - Details Here!

I've been lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 ahead of its launch on Friday, so I was especially excited when Ubisoft got in touch to tell me about a really cool feature in the multiplayer aspect of the game. Basically, if you have a saved game for Rainbow Six: Vegas and Splinter Cell: Double Agent on your Xbox 360 you'll unlock extra headgear! Here's the deets from Ubi:

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 – Unlockable Headgear

GRAW2 features some exclusive bonuses that can be unlocked upon given conditions. Extra headgears can be unlocked simply by having a saved game of Rainbow Six Vegas and/or Splinter Cell Double Agent.

How it Works

GRAW 2 searches your Xbox 360’s hard drive and if it finds a saved game of Rainbow Six Vegas and/or Splinter Cell Double Agent, it will unlock the multiplayer headgear. If neither game has a saved game on the hard drive, then there will be 4 headgear selections that are ‘locked’ in multiplayer with a description about how they can be ‘unlocked’.

If the owner of GRAW2 has:

1) GRAW2 and NO saved games of R6: V and SC: DA, there will be 4 slots of MP headgear that are locked. There will be in-game text explaining how to unlock these 4 headgear.
2) GRAW2 and R6V. 2 sets of headgear mimicking R6: V will become unlockable in MP.
3) GRAW2 and SC: DA. 2 sets of headgear mimicking SC: DA will become unlockable in MP.
4) GRAW2, R6V, and SC: DA, they will have 4 extra headgear unlocked.

Christian Allen, MP Creative Director at GRAW2 developer Red Storm Entertainment, said:

“A bunch of our fans not only play Ghost Recon, but other Tom Clancy titles as well. Having unlockable headgear in GRAW2 multiplayer is a way to reward them and to incorporate other Clancy franchises into our game.”

I think it's ace that publishers are rewarding gamers for playing their other titles, especially when the titles in question are as good as Ubi's. What do you think? Do you think other publishers should reward you for playing their games in this kind of way? Or are there other rewards you would like to get from publishers for being loyal to their franchises?

Ready to unlock these sweeties?

*happy gaming*

Angel

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Technorati Tags: games - GRAW 2 - headgear - unlock

Games taken seriously

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 20:03:54 GMT

After my disappointed article of two days, I feel extremely happy to read this article published on GameSpot. It is based on the thoughts of Ichiro Otobe, Square Enix Executive, on his keynote entitled Serious Games Summit.

The industry has evolved. Making a game is not something that one can do that easily (I am not talking Arcade or anything XNA-related, ok?) and the whole process takes a lot of time and money. As a result, gaming has lost its amateurism and reached the level of professionalism it has now, with a very promising future.

Gaming isn't for the little kids with social problems (anymore). I game, you game, everybody games! It is whether with their next-gen consoles, high quality PCs or even with their portable phones (no offense to some hardcore and old-school gamers that don't agree with it).

How do you catch the attention of this crowd from all sorts of backgrounds, education, ages and so on? How do you convince this mass that gaming is a hobby like watching TV, going to a bar and playing soccer in the weekends? How do you show these people that there money is not being wasted when they acquire the coolest machine on the market? And mainly, that building a collection or simply investing in new titles on a regular basis is not just throwing away money, but keeping up with new technologies?

It is not an easy task, but we can make it. In some cases, we better make it!

The quality of the new releases are already remarkable for the most part. Interesting and intelligent games are being produced and if they really invest on enlarging their targets, it is better for everyone. I would love to have some matches with my mom. ;-)

I look forward nice changes. I hope that this will be a first step to change, once and for all, the negativity that insists in haunt the gaming industry.

*love ALWAYS*

Angel

Source: GameSpot

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Technorati tags: Games, serious, new projects

Video games X behavior

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 10:11:54 GMT

I have just found two interesting articles on video games.

As it is still morning, I am going to start with the positive one. Not that it mentions something new. Any real gamer knows that already for ages, but when you read the title "Violent videogames don't make killers: study", it is impossible not to feel happy.

All this pressure that comes from the media, trying to confuse parents and institutions has been only damaging the industry and showing a weakness in our society. Creating a problem that doesn't exist prevents us from seeing the truth. It is very easy to blame Doom or Grand Theft Auto, but how many more people play titles like them and aren't violent at all.

For more details on the study go here.

Another, but less exciting, reading is "Survey Says Link To Video Game And Unsafe Is 'Indisputable' -- Which, Of Course, It Isn't". Well, let me not blame the article but the survey itself.

I just wonder whether we will be answering silly questions like "Do you play racing games?" when signing an insurance contract.

How far are we going? It is not even a reason to joke anymore because it seems that anything bad that happens are a fout of gaming. Don't we talk about the lack of structure on the roads, the fact that vehicles are build to drive up to dangerous speed (this is something I will never understand) and all the background of the drivers themselves? It feels to me like cleaning the dirty under the carpet, which is very worrying.

No one mentions how video games improve your reflexes. Reflexes that play a very important role when driving. When will the truth behind this non-sense will come up?

Anyway, check the article from the guys of Techdirt here.

*nice weekend everyone*

Angel

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Technorati Tags: games - behavior - study - driving - violence

GRAW 2

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:31:18 GMT

Today, I had the chance to attend the Press Event of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2. It was the first time the game was presented in Benelux (BElgium, NEtherlands and LUXemburg).

Unfortunately, I was given time to do an interview like I did last time with Rainbow Six Vegas, which made me very sad for being such a big fan of the title and having so many things that I would like to know. However, I got some videos and pictures of the game that I would like to share with you.

My impressions on the game were the best. It looks awesome and it plays really cool. I found the controller a little heavy because I generally play with maximum sensitivity, but it is surely something that with practice, one gets accustomed to. The basics are the same as on GRAW though. It feels natural to play it.

Mexico and USA are going to be differently showed on the game and the environment (horizontal or vertical) will play an important role on the weapons used, etc.

The multiplayer is fun. The engine runs great and the maps are of a nice size. This time, the country is Panama. The MP is going to be like a leg of the SP. There are more Co-op missions this time (six if I am not mistaken). Even though I couldn't count (neither ask), I saw quite some cool maps and different types of match besides Sharpshooter. Light and shadow play a greater role than night and day this time. On the same level, you find completely different environments that you can use according to your need.

I wish I could have asked more details about the clan support, but...

Alicia Diaz is still a character on the SP mode, but if there is a female character on the MP, how much we can customize the game and other questions remained (unfortunately) unanswered.

Now, besides the Drone, we have the Mule. It will be used as a weapon supplier or a shield, depending on the need of the gamer. On a game that will be both horizontal and vertical depending on your location.

The Mexicans are with you this time. They will offer you support and fight by your side.

There are three levels of difficulty that are called Risk. Don't be shy to play at Low Risk to get to know the game. And as on all Ghost Recon games, do go playing suicidal soldier. Look for cover, evaluate your chances and take your best shot.

No details were given on achievements, PC version or (free) downloaded content. GRAW 2 is still a work in progress so it is too early to go in such details.

Anyway, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 is a great shooter. If you like action and tactics, your HAVE TO add it to your collection.

Videos available on my Soapbox and YouTube.

Game on,

Angel

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Technorati Tags: GRAW 2 - games - Ubisoft - Press Event

Gamers make better surgeons, study says

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 12:01:47 GMT

I have already seen hospital that have consoles for their surgeons to 'practice' their reflexes with games. However, this is a (small and symbolic) study that turns facts into numbers.

Even though this research counted with the participation of only 33 surgeons, its results are interesting to say the least.

I hope that such kind of initiative would be taken to a higher level. That instead of just a couple of individuals participanting in such a study, we would have enough 'samples' to make better comparison and evaluation.

Gaming is for kids, for teenagers, for adults, and anyone who wants to play. They don't create murders or induce violence in innocent people. Games can be good for the sight, they stimulate social contact and are a safe past-time.

If you like gaming just like I do, be sure that there is nothing to be ashamed of.

*happy gaming everyone*

Angel

Source: Engadget

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Technorati Tags: Gaming - study - surgeons - games

Guitar Hero II - Xbox 360 - Video Game Preview

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 16:34:59 GMT

I have never played Guitar Hero, so I am dying to change it and to bring it for my 360.

Every news I read include the changes (for better) of the controller, sorry - guitar - and I like it.

And you? Are you getting GH II as well?

*happy gaming*

Angel

Source: Yahoo! Video Games

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Technorati Tags: Guitar Hero II - Xbox 360 - games - preview - Yahoo! Video Games

BM2 Love Angel: Games

Gimme the grid!!!

Flower

MS Conference

Why the late hype?

MSN Games

Command & Conquer

This Week on Xbox.com

EA: Women 'too big an audience to ignore'

While underlining the female demographic's importance at the Women in Games Conference, EA VP Sharon Knight said developers should avoid making games that only target women.

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Gears of War Wallpaper Pack

Another Guitar Hero Q&A

Q&A: RedOctane's Kai Huang

Founder and president of the California-based company spills the beans on Guitar Hero III, how he came up with the idea, and why some great songs aren't in the game.

Girl Power!!!!

XCN Q&A: Boom Boom Rocket

More on Guitar Hero II

Talking about RAWK! Guitar Hero 2 TV Ad

Gears of War Xbox Live Global Tournament

Gamers Set to Battle Their Way to Worldwide Domination in the Gears of War™ 2007 Global Xbox LIVE® Tournament

Microsoft announces the Gears of War 2007 Global Xbox LIVE Tournament with prizes that include a trip to Prague, Czech Republic, and an invitation to compete in the Grand Final.

I bought VF5 for the PS3...

Survey

Unlock Bonus GRAW 2 Multiplayer Headgear

Games taken seriously

Video games X behavior

GRAW 2

Gamers make better surgeons, study says

Guitar Hero II - Xbox 360 - Video Game Preview