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Gearbox, in a "very special" announcement video, have pushed the release out on Duke Nukem Forever from the original May release to June. See the video below: Some may worry, but we here at Gamercide have full faith in Gearbox and know they need the extra time for making sure this game gets the polish it deserves. It also gives us more time for the impending demo, whenever that comes out. Click here to view the article

Classic Collection of PC Adventure Games Available for One Week Only Partial Proceeds to Benefit Five Worthy Causes SAN RAFAEL, CA – September 3, 2010 – Telltale Games, the leading independent digital publisher and developer of episodic interactive entertainment, today announced the release of The Great Adventure Bundle 2010, a collection of six current and classic PC adventure games assembled into a single bundle for one low price of $19.95. Beginning September 3 and available for one week only, players can purchase The Great Adventure Bundle 2010 which includes: Hothead’s Penny Arcade Adventures, Episode 1, Daedalic’s The Whispered World, Activision’s King’s Quest Collection, Deck 13’s Jack Keane; plus Telltale Games’ own Puzzle Agent and Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space. In addition, Telltale announced that 25 percent of each purchase of The Great Adventure Bundle 2010 will be set aside for five charitable causes, including: Childs Play, Electronics Frontier Foundation, World Wildlife Fund, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Nyota e.V. As an incentive to participate, Telltale’s will build in bonus games that will “unlock” and become available for play as soon as certain unit-goals have been met. States Dan Connors, CEO of Telltale Games: “The release of The Great Adventure Bundle signals the launch of our third-party publishing program, and is not only a great value for our fans, but also a great way to support five great causes.” The Great Adventure Bundle is available from September 3 through September 10 for $19.95 at http://www.telltalegames.com/adventurebundle/gab2010 Click here to view the article

As many Xbox Live Gold members probably have, I received the following email today in reference to the new pricing structure that takes effect for new and renewing Gold members on November 1st. Amazon is offering 12 month cards for $40 right now, so stock up if you don't want to pay the new price. Take a look at the email below: Click here to view the article

SAN MATEO, Calif. – August 23, 2010 – Capcom, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced the appointment of Kazuhiko Abe to CEO and President of Capcom U.S.A., Inc. and CE Europe, Ltd. Abe is responsible for the overall management of North American and European business operations and will oversee the activities between the U.S. and European offices in order to promote efficient international operations. Abe joined Capcom in 2003 as General Manager of Management Planning and in 2006 became the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for Capcom in Japan. Prior to joining Capcom, Abe worked for various institutions such as The Mitsubishi Bank and telecommunications service provider Hikari Tsushin, Inc. before taking the role of Executive Officer at Intuit Kabushiki Kaisha. Click here to view the article

First Episode of the Epic Five Game Comedy Saga Now Available SAN RAFAEL, Calif. – April 15, 2010 – The curtain rises today in Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse with the premiere of the first episode, entitled The Penal Zone, on PC, Mac, and PlayStation® Network, exclusively for the PlayStation® 3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system. Telltale’s landmark series returns for the biggest, best looking, most bizarre installment yet as the dog and rabbit detective duo battle an onslaught of fearsome villains bent on acquiring the source of Max’s newfound psychic powers. With new episodes releasing monthly, season passes are available now for the full five game series for $34.95. The PC and Mac version can be downloaded at http://www.samandmaxgames.com/thedevilsplayhouse. “With The Penal Zone launching on four separate game platforms, the new season of Sam & Max is the biggest episodic premiere in Telltale’s history,” said Telltale CEO Dan Connors. “This series has been about pushing boundaries, from humor and story to episodic gaming as a whole. The Devil’s Playhouse continues that tradition, and it’s easily the deepest, most visually stunning season to date. We can’t wait for players both new and returning to dive in.” Also available on the iPad, The Penal Zone was a launch title for Apple’s new tablet device and is available now for the introductory price of $6.99 on the App Store. As Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse begins, Max’s latent psychic abilities emerge after discovering ancient and arcane artifacts coveted by the universe’s most despicable villains. In The Penal Zone, Sam & Max investigate the root of Max’s new powers in the shadow of an invading gorilla warlord that is stomping around the city – searching for the artifacts, taking prisoners and spreading chaos. Sam & Max is Telltale’s longest running series to date and a prime example of the company’s unique expertise in storytelling and cinematic production. The franchise’s latest installment has some of the best animated character performances in a game, presenting an experience on par with today’s feature theatrical releases. For more information please visit http://www.samandmaxgames.com/thedevilsplayhouse Click here to view the article

Bungie said they would have a "Multiplayer Bomb" to drop later this week, is this it? If so, it looks pretty great. This may or may not be Halo Reach, but if it's not, it should be. Take a look at the video below. Edit: It appears this is the official trailer. Bungie's YouTube page has been updated with it. Click here to view the article

All of us here at Gamercide would like to wish our resident old man the best birthday ever!! PK, we love ya man . . . Click here to view the article

Major Nelson released a video showing the new Xbox 360 controller that is slated for November 9th. It sports a newly improved D-Pad and new more comfortable triggers, as well as newly colored face buttons.. The D-Pad twists and becomes an actual D-Pad instead of the disc based pad of the current design. The new controller will sell in a Play And Charge Kit for $64.99. It remains to be seen how well it performs, so I'll reserve judgment until I get my hands on one. Take a look at the video below and let us know what you think in the comments or on the forums. Quick edit: The video with Major Nelson doesn't show it well, so here is a closeup of the new D-Pad in both positions. Click here to view the article

With the newest rhythm games edging closer and closer to released, Harmonix has released the full set list for the game. When the game comes out we will get the standard guitar, drum, and vocal parts but we will also have the new keyboard instrument as well. Not only that, but the 3 part vocals that were first introduced in Beatles Rock Band are also present. There are quite a few tweaks that Harmonix has made to the game as well, but most of that is window dressing for the set list. Take a look after the break and let us know what you think. 2000s: • Amy Winehouse, "Rehab" • At the Drive-In, "One Armed Scissor" • Avenged Sevenfold, "The Beast & the Harlot" • Dover, "King George" • The Bronx, "False Alarm" • The Flaming Lips, "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1" • HIM (His Infernal Majesty), "Killing Loneliness" • Hypernova, "Viva La Resistance" • Ida Maria, "Oh My God"* • Juanes, "Me Enamora" • Metric, "Combat Baby"* • Paramore, "Misery Business"* • Phoenix, "Lasso"* • Poni Hoax, "Antibodies" • Pretty Girls Make Graves, "Something Bigger, Something Brighter" • Queens of the Stone Age, "No One Knows" • The Ravonettes, "Last Dance" • Rilo Kiley, "Portions for Foxes"* • Riverboat Gamblers, "Don't Bury Me...I'm Still Not Dead" • Slipknot, "Before I Forget" • The Sounds, "Living in America" • Tegan & Sara, "The Con" • Them Crooked Vultures, "Dead End Friends" • Tokio Hotel, "Humanoid"* • The Vines, "Get Free"* • The White Stripes, "The Hardest Button to Button"* 1990s: • Faith No More, "Midlife Crisis"* • Filter, "Hey Man, Nice Shot" • Jane's Addiction, "Been Caught Stealing"* • Maná, "Oye Mi Amor" • Marilyn Manson, "The Beautiful People" • The Muffs, "Outer Space" • Phish, "Llama" • Primus, "Jerry Was a Racecar Driver" • Rammstein, "Du Hast" • Smash Mouth, "Walkin' On The Sun"* • Spacehog, "In the Meantime" • Stone Temple Pilots, "Plush" • Swingin' Utters, "This Bastard's Life" 1980s: • Anthrax, "Caught in a Mosh" • Big Country, "In a Big Country" • The Cure, "Just Like Heaven"* • Def Leppard, "Foolin'" • Devo, "Whip It" • Dio, "Rainbow in the Dark" • Dire Straits, "Walk of Life" • Echo & the Bunnymen, "The Killing Moon" • Huey Lewis and the News, "The Power of Love" • INXS, "Need You Tonight"* • J. Geils Band, "Centerfold" • Joan Jett, "I Love Rock N' Roll"* • Night Ranger, "Sister Christian"* • Ozzy Osbourne, "Crazy Train"* • The Police, "Don't Stand So Close to Me" • Roxette, "The Look"* • The Smiths, "Stop Me if You Think You've Heard This One Before" • Tears for Fears, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" • Whitesnake, "Here I Go Again"* 1970s: • The B-52's, "Rock Lobster"* • Blondie, "Heart of Glass" • Bob Marley, "Get Up, Stand Up" • Chicago, "25 or 6 to 4" • Deep Purple, "Smoke on the Water" • Doobie Brothers, "China Grove"* • Elton John, "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" • Foreigner, "Cold As Ice"* • Golden Earring, "Radar Love" • John Lennon, "Imagine" • Lynyrd Skynyrd, "Free Bird" • Queen, "Bohemian Rhapsody"* • Ramones, "I Wanna Be Sedated" • Steve Miller Band, "Fly Like an Eagle" • T. Rex, "20th Century Boy" • Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "I Need to Know" • War, "Low Rider" • Warren Zevon, "Werewolves of London" • Yes, "Roundabout"* 1960s: • Beach Boys, "Good Vibrations (Live)" • David Bowie, "Space Oddity" • The Doors, "Break on Through (To the Other Side)"* • James Brown, "I Got You" (I Feel Good) - Alternate Studio Version* • The Jimi Hendrix Experience, "Crosstown Traffic"* • The Who, "I Can See for Miles" Click here to view the article

TELLTALE ANNOUNCES SAM & MAX: THE DEVIL'S PLAYHOUSE EPIC FIVE GAME COMEDY SAGA DEBUTING ON PLAYSTATION® NETWORK A psychically empowered lagomorph battling unusual and fearsome villains can mean only one thing: Freelance Police Sam & Max are coming for a new series of monthly episodic games. Telltale Games' Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse premiere episode The Penal Zone will release April 15th. This series will be Telltale's first for the PlayStation® Network, exclusively for the PlayStation®3 (PS3 TM) computer entertainment system. The games will also release on PC and Macintosh. As Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse opens, Max has been bestowed with a set of powerful psychic abilities from an unusual ancient source that he'll wield against the strongest and strangest foes the Freelance Police have ever faced. Join gaming's greatest dog and rabbit sleuths as they investigate the source of these powers, with manic Max exercising new and amazing abilities with each episode. Max's shape shifting, teleportation, mind reading and future sight powers prove particularly useful as intergalactic simians, eldritch gods, under-dwellers and an arcane scholar ruthlessly hunt down these powers for their own evil ends. The teaser trailer released today at www.samandmaxgames.com/thedevilsplayhouse gives a peek at the skewed humor of The Devil's Playhouse. The very first in-game screenshots and new concept art are also posted at the site. "Telltale continues to excel at channeling Sam & Max's extremely peculiar sensibilities," said Sam & Max creator, Steve Purcell. "For each subsequent season they somehow manage to toss ever more mind-addling scenarios at the Freelance Police. The creative team inhabits these characters so well that if I were their parents I'd be worried about them." The PC pre-order for the series which begins today at www.samandmaxgames.com/thedevilsplayhouse includes a FREE game episode from the Telltale library along with exclusive membership in the Freelance Police "Elite Forces" -- all for just $34.95. Freelance Police Elite Forces members will gain access to a private forum for scheduled chats with Sam & Max creator Steve Purcell and Telltale designers along with first look posts about upcoming episodes before they release. Additionally, these customers will get special deals at the Telltale Store over the course of the season, as well as custom forum avatars and desktop wallpaper downloads. The pre-order for PlayStation users is expected to begin March 18th on the PlayStation Network. "With Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse, we're bringing PlayStation fans five months of exciting episodic content and continuing our commitment to deliver exclusive, innovative gaming experiences to the PlayStation Network," said Rob Dyer, senior vice president of publisher relations, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "The unhinged humor, unforgettable cast and irreverent undertone of this enduring franchise are aspects we expect will resonate with our audience, and both Telltale and SCEA can't wait to deliver." Click here to view the article

IRVINE, CA - JANUARY 5, 2010 - Atlus U.S.A., Inc. today announced METAL SLUG XX, a side-scrolling, arcade-style, run-and-gun shooter for PSP (PlayStation Portable) system, exploding with the same winning formula of over-the-top action and cartoon mayhem that has kept METAL SLUG a premier franchise for over a decade. Frantic and fun, serious METAL SLUG fans and casual gamers alike can relive the glory and charm of old school cooperative arcade play, teaming with a friend via ad-hoc multiplayer to outrun and outshoot hundreds of enemies and liberate as many prisoners as possible. Choose between six zany METAL SLUG characters and shoot through seven action-packed levels with varying obstacles, numerous enemies, and diverging paths. Confident players can put their skills to the test by playing more than 70 mission-based trials in "Combat School." With its unmistakable style and personality, nostalgic gameplay, more than 70 missions, and the ability to play with a friend, METAL SLUG XX is the definitive portable METAL SLUG arcade experience. Consider yourself the ultimate METAL SLUG fan? Purchase Leona, a seventh playable character with her own unique abilities, via PlayStation®Store for only 99 cents. METAL SLUG XX is currently scheduled for release on February 23, 2010 with an MSRP of just $19.99. For more information, please visit the website www.atlus.com/metalslugxx. Click here to view the article

Zen Studios has had a steady stream of new tables for their really great pinball simulator Pinball FX2. As all my other table reviews has shown, even someone who isn't a huge fan of pinball and have a blast with these tables. Will Sorcerer's Apprentice keep this trend rolling? Here's the rundown of the table's story. Jake and Amanda come face to face with an Evil Sorcerer in his citadel. The kids have no choice other than to fight the Sorcerer and his summoned creatures by using their pinball prowess and a specter named Whisper. A fairly simple premise but once you get down to the pinball, things get really interesting. The table has a ton of rail chutes and ramps that are integral to the different table missions. With spinning towers and magical trees, your ball is sent literally all around the table and with practice you'll rack up millions of points and complete each mission. Collecting the obsidian throughout will eventually lead you to the final showdown with the Sorcerer. Also, be sure to note the 4 flippers on the table. The flipper at the very top left of the table can be obscured in some views, but once you know it's there, it really becomes one of the most important aspects of the table to complete the challenges and different locations. Speaking of challenges, there are tons included in the table. Creepy Cellar, Freaky Forest, Tower Crawler, Stairway Hurry Up, Whisper Hideout and Gates to the Void all bring a huge variety of things to do on this table. One challenge has you playing a game within the game almost by using Jake's slingshot to shoot spiders on a miniature table. As with the other tables, the challenges ramp up the replay value very well. All in all Zen Studios has become the "go to" studio if you want a great tie-in pinball table, but this latest release shows that a tie-in IP is not necessary for them to make a great pinball table. 3 new achievements to go after, tons of different challenges, and the overall low cost (240 MSP or $3) really should entice even the non-pinball fans out there. It may take a bit of practice to get good at any of the tables, but once you do you will get hooked. Click here to view the article

BloodRayne hasn't had the best track record. A couple of lackluster action games from the last console generation probably doesn't have many excited for this new iteration. Will the drastic departure from the original's style be enough to win over new fans? Let’s delve in to this 2D blood fest and see what we get. When WayForward announced they were working on a Bloodrayne title for XBLA, it was a pretty big shock. Their last game, A Boy and His Blob was really. A button dedicated to sucking the blood out of your enemies is a HUGE departure from the dedicated button for hugging. I've never been a fan of the Bloodrayne series, but I think I've been converted after this one. Graphically this is a stunning 2D sidescroller. The look of the game is very reminiscent of the latest Castlevania games. Backgrounds move independently from the foreground and enemies jump in and out from all directions. The game animations flow seamlessly between each other, much like Bayonetta. Enemies are extremely varied and are all just as well designed as Bloodrayne herself. The soundtrack is also another strong point for Bloodrayne Betrayal. From the title screen you get piano ballads worthy of being in any game music aficionado's collection. A mix of gothic rock and those same piano ballads are played throughout. Later they do become a little repetitive but overall it's a great soundtrack. There's even a hidden version of it that will make any 8-bit gamer smile. With one melee attack button and one shooting attack, there is a huge variety of moves to be done, which was surprising. By moving the analog stick you can change the variations. There is also a bite attack that you can suck the blood of your enemies to gain energy or infect your opponents and later detonate them like bombs. A little more exposition in the moves would have been nice, but discovering what Rayne can do is part of the charm. The main stumble here is in the platforming. Like most 2D action games it relies on platforming sections and platform puzzles for a large portion of the game play. However, Rayne doesn't control well enough to make these sections fun. Also, the game is pure old school NES era difficult. Lightweights need not apply here. Even some experienced gamers will fall prey to the occasional cheap death. All said and done, Bloodrayne Betrayal has a great old school feel with impressive new school graphics. From the start you will be drawn in by those graphics and the music will keep you around for a while. If you stick with the game you'll be rewarded with a deep fighting experience that gaming veterans will find enjoyable. If you're easily frustrated by harder games, I'd say give the demo a try and see if it's worth your money. Click here to view the article

Cutting fruit. Sounds simple right? Well, when put in game form it becomes an astonishingly addictive concept. You are a ninja whose sole purpose is to cut fruit. Previously it was limited to the mobile market. Deft finger flicks would allow you to slice through fruit and avoid bombs. Can Halfbrick bring this same game play to Kinect? If you've played the mobile version, you know the deal here. Fruit is thrown up on the screen and you have to use your hands to slice it. Slicing multiple fruit at once gives you multipliers and you gain more points. Occasionally, game ending or point sapping bombs will be thrown across. Don't slice those. "Slicing" may be a bit generous here. While the mechanic works great, it becomes more of a flailing of your arms than precise ninja like skills. It's not as easy to pick up and play as the mobile version, but overall it works much better than anticipated. There are multiple game modes to keep you entertained. Classic Mode asks you to slice as many pieces of fruit as possible without slicing a bomb or missing 3 pieces of fruit. Arcade Mode adds in bonus bananas that can double your points, freeze the timer, or put everything in slow motion. Zen Mode is pretty straightforward. You get 90 seconds to slice as much fruit as possible. No bombs. Halfbrick has also added in multiplayer. Competitive 2 player mode highlights fruit red or blue and slicing your opponent’s fruit reduces your points. There is also team based multiplayer where you are out to get more points than the opposing team. It really was the most fun I have had in any Kinect multiplayer game to date. Last, but not least is Challenge Mode. When you go to this mode, your Fruit Master gives you different goals to achieve. They will range from generic "Score 250 in Classic Mode" or it will pull directly from your friends list and tell you to beat the highest score. It became addictive trying to beat the others on my friends list and gloating to them over messages when I finally did. The only drawback to the game is the menu interface. The hands-free control just feels clunky and will cause frustration when you select something you didn't mean to select. It is a small problem, but really did frustrate me at some points. Especially in the unlockable screen. Speaking of unlockable, there is a lengthy list of new blades, backgrounds, and shadow textures to unlock. As with the main menu though, selecting these is an exercise in frustration. Halfbrick really did a great job of taking a dead simple mobile game and translating it to the Kinect. Menu problems aside, the game is addicting and chock full of fun, especially with friends. There's nothing more satisfying than getting that 9 hit combo at the last second to beat your friend's high score. I highly recommend this to any fan of the mobile versions of the game. Now, go my pupil and slice some fruit. Click here to view the article

Twisted Pixel and Zen Studios have teamed up to bring us another table in the number one pinball simulator on gaming consoles, Pinball FX 2. Ms. Splosion Man graces us with her presence in this latest release. Does it live up to the standards set by Marvel and the other Zen Studios tables? Splode on through and let’s see. Big Science labs is the setting for this latest entry and much like the 2 games in the series, none of the experiments are going quite as planned. With Splosion Man captured, she will have to utilize all the gadgets in the lab to save him from the Mighty Eternal. Much like the full non-pinball game, the main goal of the table is to 'splode' as much as possible to save him. The aesthetic of the table really does a great job of conveying the feel of the Splosion Man universe. Bright colored explosions, the now classic Ms. Splosion Man voiceovers, even the alternating colored light gates all make their way to the table. As with the Marvel tables, Ms. Splosion Man is another hit for Pinball FX 2. Any fan of the game or the Splosion Man series would be doing themselves a disservice by skipping this table. Graphically the table is great and gives you tons to look at. The sound is, as with the Splosion series, top notch. In short, go get it. Click here to view the article

Zen Studios has maybe the best pinball simulation game on the market today with Pinball FX2. In my previous review I mentioned that the upcoming Fantastic Four table. With its release, do we get another great addition to the already stellar table lineup? Keep on reading comic fans and let's find out in Gamercide's first "Quick Review" As with all the other tables, Zen Studios has done a great job capturing the feel of the Fantastic Four comics. Artwork for the table is colorful and quite impressive for a pinball game. Each character is represented in great detail and put their powers to good use as you play through the missions. Voice work is very well done, as is the case with all the Marvel tables. Game play is where the table takes a slight hit. Sure, just hitting the bumpers and pins is a blast, but when it comes to getting the missions down, the learning curve ramps up quite a bit. Getting the necessary angle to the Baxter Building can be a little frustrating. However, once you get things down you will be ruling the table with a Galactus like fist. Impressive graphics and sound really make you feel like you're playing around in the Marvel universe. Hearing the voices of the characters being so well done, as well as seeing things like Reed Richards stretching around the board bring a lot to the table. The slight frustration in learning curve can be easily overcome by spending a little time getting used to the angles and where/when to shoot the ball. Overall, this is another great addition to Pinball FX2. The new table is available now and I highly recommend it to any fan of the Fantastic Four or pinball. I can't wait to see what Zen comes up with next for a newly converted pinball fan. Click here to view the article

Category: Games Released: September 6, 2009 Seller: Victor Alonso Padilla Gonzalez (Happy Nutz Studio) Current Version: 1.0 (iPhone OS 3.0 Tested) File Size: 9.3MB Current Price: $0.99 Rated 4+ The Breakdown Popnus is a match 3+ style game with a twist. You are free to move the pearls wherever you want. This allows you to setup your own strategy of how the pearls disappear. The Important Stuff This game plays very similar to Bejeweled or even Hexic, but allows for a TON more freedom in movement than those games. You can not only move your nus (pearls) up, down, left, or right by one space, you can pretty much move them anywhere on the board. This freedom of movement gives you the chance to setup strategies for how the pearls fall and disappear when matched. This simple change also brings more challenges. In classic mode, there is a time limit for each level, so you can’t sit and ponder too long. There is also an “auto-pop” feature that once you match 3 or more pearls, they automatically pop. In survival mode, certain pearls turn in to bombs and you must get rid of them as quickly as possible before they explode. If they explode it’s game over. There are also puzzle modes where you get a task to complete, such as get a certain combo chain or score certain point totals. Tips and Tricks - Be sure to watch the clock. You can get caught up in setting up your pearls that you lose track of time. - Bombs are bad. Get rid of them quickly, leave strategy at the door. Reaction I’m a huge fan of the match 3 games. Bejeweled and Hexic have been two of my favorite games for a long time. Now, Popnus has been added to my short list of puzzle games as well. I really enjoy the new freedom of movement in the game. It makes you think even more than any of the other games in this category. Setting up a domino type effect of chain combos is REALLY rewarding when it works the way you plan and oh so frustrating when it doesn’t work out quite right. When the clock starts winding down and you’re setting things up, a feeling of frantic pressure washes over you as you try and finish setting up your scenario. Even more frantic is the survival mode. I played one game that I had more than 6 bombs on-screen at once and I was pulling my hair out trying to figure out which ones to get rid of first. I really didn’t think there was much more that could be done in this genre, but I am pleasantly surprised by how wrong I have been about that. I can highly recommend this to any puzzle game addict, like myself. Spawn gives this one an 8 out of 10 Click here to view the article

Developed by: Harmonix (PS3/360); Pi Studios (Wii) Published by: MTV Games Distributed by: EA Distribution Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii Players: 1-6 Rated T for Teen by the ESRB The Breakdown Take the already popular Rock Band and mix it with one of the biggest bands in the world, The Beatles. Throw in a developer that absolutely loves The Beatles and you will get The Beatles: Rock Band. The Important Stuff Let me preface this review by saying this, it will be a little skewed because I am a huge Beatles fan. From the beginning intro video, all the way through to the very end of the story mode, you can tell Harmonix has the same love for the group as any Beatles fan does. Apple Corps obviously saw this in the developer as well, by giving them unprecedented access to photos, recording studio sessions, and many extras that will be new to fans. The sometimes overprotective owner of the rights to The Beatles franchise also gives Harmonix the rights to allow full downloadable albums, starting with Abbey Road soon after the games release. Keep in mind that Beatles music can’t be legally downloaded from ANY of the download services as of yet, so this is a huge deal for Harmonix. Harmonix took a definite “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach in the game. The basic structure of Rock Band is still intact here. The only major addition is the 3 part harmonies on the vocals. You can have up to 3 people on one microphone or 3 separate mics. Each person can sing the same part or choose a harmony to sing for maximum points. The lead guitar, bass guitar, and drums are still here and for the most part unchanged. The only difference here is really with the drums. Instead of playing whatever you want on the drum fills, you will actually be playing Ringo’s drum fills. In drum trainer mode you will also learn Ringo’s drum beats. The track list in the game is outstanding for fans as well. You get 45 songs on the disc and 1 downloadable song available right out of the gate. “All You Need Is Love” is available as a timed exclusive for download on the Xbox 360 day one and all proceeds are donated to charity. In career mode the tracks coincide with The Beatles’ actual career and every minute is a joy to play. Graphically, the game shows off the love for the property. As you get to the Abbey Road studio tracks, the game seamlessly goes in to what I refer to as the “Dream Sequences”. Instead of the Fab Four just sitting around the studio playing, these dream sequences coincide with the songs. In “Yellow Submarine” you get an underwater sequence that is akin to the actual video for the song. In “Here Comes the Sun” you get to see the guys in a hot air balloon as certain lyrics float through the clouds. The character models are true to life and as you progress through the career, their appearances change accordingly. This is a far cry from Guitar Hero 5’s terrible renditions of artists passed. With each star you collect in career mode you can gain pictures of some behind the scenes looks at The Beatles. Each picture has a description to accompany it and as you gain more pictures you will gain prizes. These prizes can be behind the scenes videos or audio, as well as some really nice exclusives, such as a look at one of the Christmas cards that the band sent to its fan club members. The card was also accompanied by a recording of the band singing Christmas songs and you get a reproduction of that audio as well. The extras in the game are truly a fans dream come true and will provide replay value to try and get everything there is to gain. Reaction As I said at the beginning of the review, I am a huge Beatles fan. I’m sure if you’ve read this far in, you can pretty much tell what my reaction to the game has been. Sure I know this is just Rock Band with a different soundtrack, but it is THE soundtrack to me. The Beatles play the music that I can listen to any time and love it. Harmonix did such a great job and showed so much love to the property. Graphically the game couldn’t be any more of a joy to look at. The character models, the backgrounds, the dream sequences, and even the extras in the background are all detailed and look exactly like they should. The lip syncing to the music is spot on and looks totally natural. The location graphics are recognizable for the most part. From the Ed Sullivan stage to the Abbey Road Studio rooftop, it’s all here and it all looks great. The songs chosen for the soundtrack truly do show off The Beatles catalog. Playing Paperback Writer, Yellow Submarine, St. Pepper…The list just goes on and on. I never ran in to a song that I didn’t like to play. Almost all the classic favorites that everyone knows are here, or will be available soon through DLC. There are some more obscure songs that bigger fans will easily recognize, but may draw in a new audience for those songs from people that may not know them. Knowing that Abbey Road, Rubber Soul, and Sgt. Pepper are all coming soon as well as more albums of DLC is also a huge draw. DLC is something that Harmonix has always done well with Rock Band, so I’m sure we’ll see more albums and songs announced fairly soon. If I am forced to nitpick something in the game, it would have to be the difficulty level. I normally play on Hard. Carpal tunnel syndrome keeps me from playing on Expert for more than one or two songs, so I play Rock Band and Guitar Hero games on Hard and I am normally challenged enough to not get 5 stars on every song. In this case, I was able to 5 star every song on Hard the very first time I played through them. I never had to play a song more than once. I can only deduce that Harmonix did this so you could feel comfortable playing guitar (Lead or Bass) and still play vocals as well. This did give me a sense of actually being a member of the band. Doing both was quite fun and did offer more of a challenge, so I can forgive the rather low difficulty on guitar. Drums, as always, are a challenge for me and I only did a few songs. That said, I did have a blast playing as Ringo. Knowing that I was playing his actual drum beats was pretty awesome. Overall, I absolutely loved every aspect of the game. The opening video had me grinning from ear to ear and as I played through the game, I found myself wanting to watch the background videos and missing some notes. The tracks chosen are amazing and I immediately purchased “All You Need Is Love”. I look forward to filling up my Xbox hard drive with every album offered for the game. The difficulty will be a turn off for some more advanced players, but playing the game with a mix of people is really awesome and it makes for a great addition to your music game fueled parties. As a Beatles fan, all the extras were a joy to read, watch, and listen through. I can’t say enough how much I loved this game. Due to the difficulty, I can’t give it a perfect score but it is as close as possible for a music game in today’s saturated market. Ladies and gentlemen….The Beatles!!! I give them a 9 out of 10!!! Photos via Gamespy http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee135/spawn622/Beatles/Beatles1.jpg Click here to view the article

Category: Games Released: August 10, 2009 Seller: Blue Fang Games Current Version: 1.05 (iPhone OS 3.0 Tested) File Size: 15.2MB Current Price: $0.99 Rated 9+ (Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence) The Breakdown Lion Pride is a line drawing management game in which you play as a pride of lions that must hunt different types of prey to stay alive. Miss your prey and your entire pride could die. The Important Stuff This game plays a lot like most management style games, but the added twist of playing as the lion pride is quite refreshing to see. The prey types of warthogs, antelope, zebra, and cape buffalo all require different strategies to take down. As your intended prey come on screen you must draw a line to each animal. Draw the line slowly and your lion will slowly creep up to the intended prey. Draw the line quickly and the lion will sprint towards the animal and pounce. This may seem like a simple premise, but the different animals all seem fairly smart and some of the animals will require multiple lions to take down. As you traverse the 8 stages and advance through the survival mode more and more elements are introduced, whether it is different prey, more lions (male and female), or the dreaded enemy of the lions, the hyena. Hyenas will either take your prey or scare them off, leaving you with no food for your pride. Tips and Tricks - Be sure to sneak up on your prey and pounce when you’re close - Make use of the “stun” feature while your lions are feeding - Cape buffalo require 3 lions to take down Reaction Now, I’m not a huge fan of management style games. They just aren’t my thing. That being said, I did enjoy this game quite a bit. Better score tracking and maybe a little more prey and more varied enemy types would be a definite plus, but aren’t a huge detriment to the game. The graphics bring a fun and cartoony look that everyone will enjoy. Overall this game was much better than I expected and has earned a place on the “Games” page on my phone, instead of being relegated to the “Reviews” section. Spawn gives this one a 7 out of 10 Click here to view the article

With the release of another Marvel character themed table for Pinball FX 2, Zen Studios has brought us another amazing table to their pinball simulator. This time Captain America gets the royal treatment with a World War II themed table that doesn't disappoint. Every detail of the table is well done and screams Captain America. Bright colors and array of different lights, bumpers, and spinners all animate to bring the table alive. You'll see Cap standing guard over the table and the villains coming and going as necessary. Voice work and animations are solid and the missions available are extremely varied. Whether you are searching for Bucky and the Howling Commandoes or facing off against Red Skull and Baron Zemo, the missions are well thought out and just challenging enough not to frustrate. If you've been waiting for a great Marvel themed table to get in to Pinball FX 2, this one is the best of the bunch thus far. Impressive graphics, varied missions, and more than enough is offered to keep you coming back for more. At a very reasonable 240 Microsoft Points or $2.49 on PS3 ($9.99 for Pinball FX 2 is required as well); this table is more than worth it. Click here to view the article

Developer: Zen Studios Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios Distributor: Microsoft Game Studios Platform: Xbox 360 (XBLA) Mode: Single player, Multiplayer I’m going to be honest I've never been a huge fan of pinball. I have never been good at it, no matter how hard I try. However, there was something about Pinball FX 2 that caught my eye. Be it the colorful tables, the licensed characters, or hope that this could be the pinball game that finally breaks me out of my funk for pinball. Did it succeed? Read on and let's find out. Pinball FX 2 really isn't a game unto itself. It is a free base of the game that allows you to try each table before you buy them. This sounds weird, but in this case it really does work. If you test out a table and decide you like it, go buy it. Also, if you have the first Pinball FX your tables import over in to the new shell and they get a graphical and physics upgrades. Tweaks are found throughout the multiplayer and the competitiveness of the leader boards really does make the game shine. While playing, you get updates on who is the best among your friends on each table. If you're getting close to beating a friends score, you get a countdown as to how many more points you need to beat them. Along with the ever growing amount of achievements (Which, if you're like me, you compare these just like a scoreboard.) there are a couple of other types of scores to try and outdo your buddies. Superscore is your cumulative score across all the tables. Pinball Wizard is a combination of your Superscore along with your friends' Superscores. There's also hot seat multiplayer and split-screen multiplayer. This game is literally jam packed with features. Game play in Pinball FX 2 is flawless. Each table has its own feel and the licensed tables are very well done. Tables ranging from Street Fighter II, Rocky and Bullwinkle, and Marvel superheroes all capture the aesthetic of the characters. The Marvel tables include a table each for Spider-Man, Wolverine, Iron Man, and Blade (With an all new Fantastic Four table coming soon). All of which are extremely fun and really are what sold me on the game. The original tables are really fun as well. Ranging from a Roman theme to super secret spies and a ton more, they are all varied enough that if you get tired of one, it is easy to exit out and go to a different table and start the fun all over again. With new tables releasing frequently, they all do very well to keep you coming back for more. The recently released Mars table is one of the best yet. Plenty of "missions" to complete and new achievements to try and get, the Mars table feels like none of the others offered to date. As I'm sure you can tell from everything you've read, I really enjoyed Pinball FX 2. As a gamer who has never really enjoyed pinball, this game does a great job of selling you and making you feel like you're really standing at a machine pumping quarters in to get a higher score than your friends. Graphics are amazing for each table and do well to keep things interesting. Going in I was hesitant to get in to the game, but once I started playing, I had numerous late nights trying to beat my friends’ scores. Good job Pinball FX 2 and Zen Studios for turning this non-pinball fan in to a pinball junkie. Head over to the Xbox Live Marketplace and try out Pinball FX 2. Click here to view the article

88 miles per hour, a DeLoreon, stolen plutonium, 1.21 gigawatts, and a Flux Capacitor. Those are the things it takes for time travel to be possible. Thanks to Doc Brown we know this and understand it. Sort of. I mean, what the hell is a gigawatt anyway. I guess for the purposes of this review that's neither here nor there. Just know this going in, Doc is in trouble and it's up to you to control Marty and figure out what's going on and save Doc.The game starts in a very familiar way, but with some subtle differences. Einstein is loaded in to the DeLoreon and sent 1 minute in to the future. This is where things that you thought you knew, go off the rails. Once you take control of Marty you are put in Doc's lab to get a feel for how things will play. The controls handle well for an adventure game. Using the left control stick you will guide Marty around in the lab and run in to a few familiar characters. You'll also recognize quite a few of Doc's inventions and items from the movies around his lab. As you search for clues to determine Doc's whereabouts, you will use some simple dialogue trees to talk with familiar and new faces around Hill Valley. Combine the bits of dialogue with different environmental elements and you get the main portion of the gameplay. These play out like puzzles. Taking the cues from the conversations and actions that characters take, you use different things in the area to solve these puzzles. It really does make for a good combination and you rarely feel stuck, which is big in a game like this. Controls are a bit hit and miss here. They work well enough but a get awkward every once in a while with certain camera angles and environmental elements getting in the way. It's not a game breaker but a little more refinement would have been good. Graphically the game looks good. All the characters are easily identifiable from a glance and they really fit in with the overall aesthetic of the game. It's when the characters start to talk that the game really shines. The voice acting is truly top notch. Bringing in Christopher Lloyd was the greatest idea and A.J. LoCascio does an amazing job as Marty. There are times that even the biggest fan of Back to the Future would be hard pressed to identify whether it was really Michael J. Fox or A.J. The game is broken in to 5 episodes and as you play through they get progressively better. The game stays very true to the series and is a very welcome addition for fans. The disc based version of the games on PS3 are the exact same as the PSN versions (All the episodes are available on PS3, PSN, PC, and iOS devices.) and that's really my only major problem with the games. It would have been really nice to get a few extras on the disc. Maybe a version with commentary by the voice actors and designers or even have Bob Gale come in for commentary. Small quibbles aside, any fan of Back to the Future should pick up every episode and play through them and relish every moment of the continued story. So, don't be a slacker like the McFly's and go pick this up. Click here to view the article

Twisted Pixel is known for their breakout Xbox Live Arcade Games The Maw, ‘Splosion Man, Comic Jumper, and Ms. ‘Splosion Man. Will their first disc based game live up to the standards of their previous endeavors? Will The Gunstringer be the first “Must Buy” game for the Xbox Kinect add-on? I’ve played it and in the paragraphs below, I will answer all of these questions. Not to spoil it or anything, but the answer is YES!! As I said, Twisted Pixel is known for their XBLA games. Their wit and comedy are infused in to every game and The Gunstringer is no exception. Right from the start you are give a sense of how things will go down. You are The Gunstringer, a double crossed cowboy that has come back to life as a skeleton marionette to take revenge on your posse. Sure, it sounds like a simple enough setup; however the presentation of the game as a miniature theatrical production makes things a lot different. As such, the characters and backgrounds are made out of everything from cardboard, to wood, to pipe cleaners. Also, being a theatrical production, all this takes place in front of a live studio audience. At key moments you get glimpses of audience reactions and there is also the occasional human hand intervention in to the story. This really does add to the effect of the game. It’s great fun to see an audience reaction as you smash the face in of a half crocodile, half lumberjack creature, or to see a somewhat Mystery Science Theater-esque crowd in front of sections of the game, cheering and high-fiving each other. The aesthetics of the game really go a long way to making you enjoy the game even more and the ending sequence had me laughing so much I kept losing control of my guns on-screen. Speaking of controls, this may be the only problem I have with the game. You control The Gunstringer’s movements with one of your hands (Depending on whether you’re left or right handed.) and with the other you control the guns, sword, or fist. Each level starts with you picking up The Gunstringer and getting started with the level. With your free hand you aim your “gun” as if you were a child playing cops and robbers. As you select up to six targets with the reticule, you jerk your hand back as if the gun has been fired and you are dealing with the recoil. Simple enough controls for the weapons and this work outstandingly well. I never had a problem with the gun controls in a standing or sitting position. Controlling The Gunstringer on the other hand can be a little tougher. Some of the finer movements can be bothersome and aren’t as precise as they should be for dodging and jumping sections in the game. There are also sections that have The Gunstringer behind cover, peeking out to get off a few rounds to take out enemies. Again, this can be bothersome due to the controls, but isn’t game breaking. I put this problem more on the Kinect than the game itself. Honestly, a patch may be able to help some. As it stands, the controls work quite well for the most part. Graphically, the game is done really well. The overall look and variety of locations and enemies is very well done. Also, as with most Twisted Pixel games, everything has enough variety and seems to be so lovingly crafted that you want to see more and more of each level. Don’t get me wrong this isn’t an on rails version of Red Dead Redemption, but everything looks great. Sound is also on par with the other Twisted Pixel releases. The narrator brings a lot to the game. Constantly giving commentary on what is going on with The Gunstringer or his surroundings. This isn’t commentary at the level of Bastion, but it is extremely close. Also, the soundtrack really is amazing here. As with the other XBLA releases, each tune for each level is catchy and you will seek out the soundtrack, if for nothing more than the ending song. The Gunstringer truly shapes up to be a top notch Kinect game. There is technically nothing here that couldn’t have been accomplished on the Wii or Playstation Move, but the character really does lend himself to being on Kinect. Twisted Pixel’s humor, wit, and presentation all add up to create one of the most unique and fun experiences I’ve had with Kinect. Before The Gunstringer, the Kinect really had become a fancy Netflix, video, and music controller. The Gunstringer really should be in any Kinect owner’s game library. Also, being Twisted Pixel’s first DVD based game, the full package is jam packed with extras. You get the first DLC, The Wavy Tubeman Chronicles (Which I will review soon), and a copy of another great Kinect title, Fruit Ninja Kinect (Which I reviewed here). So, to answer my previous questions: Will their first disc based game live up to the standards of their previous endeavors? This is a yes. Will The Gunstringer be the first “Must Buy” game for the Xbox Kinect add-on? Oh heck yes! If all this hasn’t convinced you to buy this game, then you should probably sell your Xbox and go buy a book. Click here to view the article

Ever wanted to crush Napoleon with a giant boulder? How about Marie Antoinette, Louie XIV, or Leonidas? In Rock of Ages, that's just what you'll get the chance to do, if you can smash through their castle door before they smash yours. Part tower defense and part Marble Madness, with a Monty Python sense of humor is what is on tap here. Read on to find out if the game rolls to victory or gets smashed with a resounding fart. From any other developer the concept of Rock of Ages would just be odd, however ACE Team is known for Zeno Clash. Rock of Ages is a 3rd person/1st person fighting action-adventure game. So combining genres is nothing new for them. You play the main story as Sisyphus. If you don't know the story of Sisyphus, he is a character in Greek mythology that is punished by Zeus. His punishment? He is forced to roll a giant boulder up a hill, only to watch it roll back down, for all eternity. Through a very Monty Phython-esque intro video, this story is told. However, unlike the mythology, Sisyphus gets tired of rolling the boulder and decides to use it to escape. Thus begins our adventure through time. As Sisyphus, you will roll your boulder through five different time periods. Each new level, you are given a castle and tasked with protecting your gate with towers, cows, dynamite barrels, and catapults. Here in lies the big problem with the game, the tower defense mechanic. While not completely bad, it truly is the weakest link in this chain of events. You are given a rather large play area to build your units that are used to protect your castle. As with most tower defense, you pay money for each unit. The bigger the unit the more it costs to build. While this sounds good in theory, the cursor for placing units is a little tough to control. Also, the AI is sometimes overpowering. Easily placing its units on the field with lightning speed while you are dealing with the unwieldy cursor. The mechanic gets some better as you get used to it, but never quite feels right. The Marble Madness portions of the game are where the real fun begins. Once your minions have constructed your boulder you are given the option to add armaments to it such as spikes, flames, etc. These will make it not only more powerful when it hits the enemy gate, but also more resilient to the enemies defenses. As you roll down the hill you will be smashing and jumping the defenses that your enemy has set up. Smashing enemy units will net you more cash to spend towards setting up your next round of units after you hit the enemy gate. When you are near the enemy gate you want to try and gain as much momentum as possible and hit that gate as hard as you can. If you are able to smash through the enemy gate before he gets through yours, he or she will scream in terror. Upon smashing the enemy leader you will continue to the next round. There are 2 modes of Split Screen or Xbox Live multiplayer. War is the exact same as the main story mode. SkeeBoulder has each player rolling down a hill smashing different items littered around to increase the score and then aiming at a target to gain multipliers. It is fun for the first few rounds but becomes extremely repetitive as it never changes. More options for SkeeBoulder really would extend the life of multiplayer. Instead we get a couple of modes that are good to goof around with but never fully develops in to something with staying power. Overall Rock of Ages is a fun game. The Monty Python visuals are a big draw for me and the Marble Madness-esque sections are a blast. Tower Defense and Multiplayer are lacking in polish but don't drag the game down all that much. ACE Team has come out very strong with their second game. With a little more time spent; I think this could have easily been a sleeper hit. I'd recommend giving the demo a try. I’m willing to bet you laugh more than once. Click here to view the article

Twisted Pixel’s 5th original IP, The Gunstringer Is Now In Stores Sept. 13th, 2011 - Austin, TX - Today is a red letter day for Twisted Pixel, as their first retail title, The Gunstringer, hits shelves nationwide. In The Gunstringer, you control the fiery gun-toting marionette through his adventures, combining solo platforming and shooting mechanics into fun, competitive action with a full suite of collectibles, unlockables, abilities, rewards and more. Our story begins with you buried alive and left for dead by your former posse. As a skeleton cowboy marionette you begin your journey of revenge, aided only by your gritty resolve and trusty pistol. Track your betrayers down, one by one, and bring justice upon them. They will pay a mean price on their own turf, from the plains of the high desert, to the swamps of the bayou, to the east Asian mountains, down to the depths of the undead underworld. Nothing can stand in your way, nothing will stop you on the vengeance trail. As a special bonus to celebrate the release of The Gunstringer, players can also download a free add-on pack for the game at launch called The Wavy Tube Man Chronicles which pits players against the time-traveling son of Wavy Tube Man, the first boss players battle in the game. As “The Stranger”, fight side by side with Wiley Wiggins as Future Buddy and Aisa Palomares as Future Vixen in this full live action epic. And let’s not forget the always unpredictable Lloyd Kaufman of Troma Films as Doc Lloyd as you aid him in reclaiming his stolen Time Traviz device. Along with the disc for The Gunstringer, the retail package will include a token code for the full downloadable version of Fruit Ninja Kinect via Xbox LIVE. Fruit Ninja Kinect is an amazing evolution of the slice-em-up genre created by Halfbrick, which brings the worldwide mobile gaming phenomenon to Kinect so you can use your arms as blades in an epic battle against the world’s most delicious produce. All this for $39.99 and in stores now! Click here to view the article