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Sony Announces PS3 Slim, PSP Minis at GamesCom 2009

GeekSugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:35:30 -0700

Although I'm not in Germany attending the GamesCom 2009, I've been anxiously awaiting the announcements to flow in from the upcoming conferences. First up, and admittedly the one I've been waiting for, is Sony's announcement of a thinner and cheaper PS3.

Launching on Sept. 1, the PS3 Slim will come with a body that's 33 percent smaller, a big 120 GB hard drive, and will set you back just $300 - $100 less than past PS3 price tags. But if you don't mind the current PS3 heft and can't hold off until September to get your hands on a console, you can now purchase an 80 GB PS3 for the same $300 price. Plus, getting your presale on has never been easier, as both Kmart and Sears have listed the PS3 Slim on their websites for presale already.

But that's not all coming out of the Sony camp today in Germany. Get the deets on the new PSP Minis when you read more.

PSP Minis are smaller, downloadable games that are limited to 100 MB in size, specially made for your PSP Go. When the PSP Go launches this Fall, there will be 15 Minis available for you to download and play right from the on-board store - titles like Tetris and Fieldrunners have already been confirmed. Think of Minis as an app for your PSP Go - small, quick, and fun titles that will cost less to download than a full-scale game.

Geeky Gaming Controller Ornaments FTW!

GeekSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:50:58 -0800

Can you really put a price tag on joy? I say no cause that's exactly what I felt when I stumbled across these amazing Controller Ornaments. For a mere $25, you can have your own collection of gaming controllers that span decades - from Super NES to PS3 to Sega - so there's sure to be one that satisfies your inner gaming goddess. Sold as a set of seven, the acrylic ornaments come in four different colors, but without your string or hooks, so you'll have to fashion your own way of getting them on your tree.

Don't celebrate with a Douglas Fir? I've already thought of several different ways to incorporate these into my everyday life after the holidays. Window ornaments, wall art, even sealed into the top of a DIY outdoor table. See? I bet you can come up with a few on your own.

Sgt. Pepper Headed to the Rock Band Music Store Tomorrow

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 03:50:21 -0800

September was a big month for The Beatles in the gaming world when The Beatles Rock Band hit the market. I went crazy over it during a sneak peek at E3, and was not disappointed when I got my own copy. Although The Beatles have not always been so chummy with tech, times are a-changing as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band makes its way to The Beatles: Rock Band music store tomorrow for your Xbox 360 and Wii systems, and will be available on your PS3 on Nov. 19!

Although I'd love to, I can't really throw down for their special edition digital collection, so I'm stoked at least to get to play along on one of my favorite games. To see how much each track from the album will set you back, just read more.

Individual singles from the record like "When I'm Sixty-Four" and "Lovely Rita" can be purchased for $1.99 each (or 160 Microsoft Points on your Xbox), while the entire album can be downloaded for $13.50 (1080 Microsoft Points). Wii owners can rock out with The Beatles tomorrow as well, but you'll be paying $2 a pop or 200 Wii Points for the tracks.

Eidos Pulls Out All the Stops For Batman Arkham Asylum

GeekSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:05:25 -0700

Although I haven't had a chance to dive into the full release version of Batman: Arkham Asylum since it landed in my mailbox on Monday, I did get a taste of the action while at E3. From the 15 minute demo that I witnessed, I can tell you that the game is kinda creepy, but totally awesome. . . especially when you're playing in combat mode.

But before I can divulge any details about the game, I have to give some props to publisher Eidos - Arkham Asylum came packaged with my very own emergency straitjacket kit! You know, just to make sure that if things get out of hand while I'm playing, someone can subdue me properly. Nice touch!

Batman: Arkham Asylum starts with you trapped in (what else?) Arkham Asylum, trying to track down The Joker who is plotting your demise with the help of a gang of fellow inmates. Combat is in a free flow style, which means if you combo moves and hits, you can max out your experience and kick major butt with power moves. The controls were nice and smooth, and were easy to get the hang of. But some of the best parts about the game are the stealth and detective modes. Learn more about these features and others when you read more.

In detective mode, you can see through walls with a special visor to detect heat signatures, fingerprints, and even smell cigarette smoke and alcohol on the breath of your enemies before they can see you. In Stealth, you can use your silent skills to take down The Jokers' posse without others seeing or hearing. Plus, using your batarang and working with the architecture of the building - like perching on ledges and hanging upside down on poles like a bat - helps you take down your enemies faster, while racking up the skill.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is available now online and in stores for your Xbox 360 and PS3.

Get Your Game On: May Releases

GeekSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 08:00:56 -0700

May is yet another month packed full of movie-to-game titles that I hope (fingers crossed) will be as awesome as the films are. I've been putting in mega OT with Mario Kart and GTA IV, and I hope to add a few more to my schedule this week to give you more in depth reviews so that you can make an informed decision on which ones are worth dropping some cash on! Which games are you looking forward to? Are they not on my list? Let us know which are on your must have list in the comments below!

**New Video Game Releases (May 2008)**
Why You'll Love It	Console/Price	Release Date
Iron Man - I got a sneak peek of the film, and I'm hoping the game is as jam packed with action as the movie! Plus, with Robert Downey Jr. lending his voice, the game should transition from the big screen just fine!	XBox 360,PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, DS, PC, $30 to $60	Out today! Get it online.
Speed Racer - The film of the same name starring Emile Hirsch takes to the small screen with this fast paced racing game. Bonus - you get to use the Wii Wheel!	DS and Wii, $30 and $50	Coming May 6.
Chronicles of Narnia - Prince of Caspian - The next installment of the Chronicles has the Pevensie children traveling back to Narnia, which is ruled by an evil tyrant in this movie tie in.	Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, Wii, DS, PC, $30 to $50	Out May 15.
Wii Fit - Not only is it one of my May Must Haves, but it's on Fit's list as well! Wii Fit is finally hitting the shelves this month after much anticipation so you can work, balance, and sculpt your way to fitness, the Wii way!	Wii Fit, $90 with Balance Board	Work it out May 21.
UEFA Euro 2008 - Players from over 50 European soccer teams that are realistically modeled? Sign me up! Not to mention that this is one game that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat, just as you are when Manchester plays Chelsea.	Xbox 360, PS2, PS3, PSP, $60	Out May 19.
Myst DS - The classic PC puzzle game from the '90s comes to the DS where you figure out puzzles to unlock a mystery on a deserted island. One of my all time faves when I first started playing games!	DS, $30	Get it on May 20.

Get Your Game On: December Releases

GeekSugar — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:00:11 -0800

With visions of Hungry Lumas still dancing in my head and some seriously calloused fingers from shredding it up Guitar Hero style, I would have to say that this has been a satisfying year for gaming indeed. Now that game releases are slowing down to a crawl for the holiday season, there are a few good choices left and a slew of movie-to-game titles if you are looking to pick up something for yourself or trying to cram for last minute gift ideas. Not only are games a great gift, but so are gaming bundles and game rental subscriptions for those budding geeks in your life. Check out these great December releases and stay tuned - as much as we loved gaming in 2007, there's sure to be some amazing things in store for 2008!

**New Video Game Releases (December 2007)**
Why You'll Love It	Console/Price	Release Date
Nights: Journey Of Dreams - A follow up to the beloved "Nights: Into Dreams" from Sega Saturn, this new Wii installment is sure to bring back fond memories a la Super Mario Galaxy.	Nintendo Wii, $49.99	Coming December 19th
The Golden Compass - Based on Philip Pullman's novel and now a big hit at the box office, you take on the role of Lyra, making your way through mystical lands as you search for missing children.	PSP, PS2, PS3, XBox360, Wii, DS, PC $29.99 - $59.99	Out Now. Get it here
Alvin And The Chipmunks - Not only have these little guys had a TV series, but now they star in a feature film and a video game where they battle their way through the "Rockathonpalooza"! What can't these critters do!?	Wii, DS, PS2, PC, $19.99 - $49.99	Out now. Purchase it online.
Beowolf - You have seen the movie, now play the game. You play as Beowolf - a Norse hero- leading your army into battle. The fact that you have the power of 30 men should make this easy, right? Right!?	PSP, PS3, XBox360, PC, $19.99 - $49.99	Out now. Buy it online
Rock Band for PS2 - The ultimate band experience hits the PS2 and will have you and your band mates putting in some extra practice time. Score some much needed points with the neighbors and make sure your encore ends at a decent hour!	PS2, $49.99 for the game, $159.00 for the bundle	Get it Now. Order it online.

Resident Evil 5 Review: Bottom Line? It's Really Fun

GeekSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:03:52 -0700

After partying it up at the SF Resident Evil 5 launch event, I was more than excited to really dig my teeth into the game over the weekend. Although it comes onto the scene after the massive popularity of Resident Evil 4, RE5 really takes over where the original left off - with Chris Redfield large, in charge, and out to track down the source of the Umbrella Corps bioweapons, which have been used to turn an entire African country of Kijuju into "Majini" or evil spirits if you speak Swahili.

If you aren't good at third person shooters, or just don't play horror titles in general, I encourage you to pick up this game and give it a try anyway. Not only is it really fun, but it sucks you right in. And even if you aren't familiar with the RE franchise, it's totally OK - you can pick up the plot right away, plus, you get a history lesson throughout the game via facts that are splashed across your screen while scenes are loading.

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Obviously, not all is well in this fictional African country, so to find out what I love (and kinda hate) about this game, just read more.

Forget all the criticisms you've heard about the plot not being good enough, or not being up to par with other recent games like Metal Gear Solid 4. The bottom line is, this game is really fun. I turn this game off at the end of the day being totally satisfied. Mostly because I love my shotgun (it does some pretty good damage), but also because the graphics are great, the controls are easy to pick up, and the sounds of far-off evil spirits really get me in the mood to take them down and save the country. Woah. I'm turning into G.I. Jane or something over here.

Another great feature in RE5 is the co-op play. For the first time, you and a friend can battle the Majini together. Better yet, if your partner gets tired of blowing through humans possessed by evil spirits, they can leave then come back any time they want. That's right folks, you don't have to go at it alone - a friend can jump in whenever she feels like it. Which is a really good thing since one of the more irritating points in the game is your AI partner, Sheva Alomar. Be warned - this chick has some issues. She's supposed to be there to have your back, but sometimes when you're in the middle of a serious battle, she may disappear to look for ammo, herbs, or hey, even some gold coins. There was one time when she was supposed to "cover me" in a dark tunnel since I picked up a lantern to light the way, but when it came time to give said cover, she was no where to be found. I swear, if you want something done right . . .

Overall, Resident Evil 5 is worth the pricey $60 sticker. Although you might find some frustrations, mostly with your AI partner, the fact that you can't organize or switch your weapons in a paused menu environment (which proves tricky when you run out of bullets in your shotgun and need to switch to your magnum with a bunch of possessed tribal guys coming after you), and the restricted movements while shooting (you can't even shoot and run at the same time), I think you'll be able to overlook all that and enjoy the ride.

Resident Evil 5 is out now for $60 on your Xbox 360 and PS3 systems.

Get Your Game On: January Releases

GeekSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 08:00:31 -0800

Welcome to 2008! Hopefully by now you've caught up on all the awesome titles that are coming your way this year. This time, let's switch gears and focus on the games that will be available sooner rather than later since I know you're all itching to get started on expanding that game collection. I can't think of a better way than to start off a new year than spending those holiday gift cards on some great games that you can enjoy all year long!

**New Video Game Releases (January 2008)**
Why You'll Love It	Console/Price	Release Date
Endless Ocean: Dive, Discover, Dream - How would you like to spend some time exploring what's under the sea with an endless supply of oxygen and a camera? I know I would. Just think of it as a virtual vacation!	Nintendo Wii, $29.99	Coming January 21st.
Samurai Warriors: Katana - Playing through a game wielding a samurai sword (or long range rifle, cannon, or boomerang if you prefer!) an all-in-one hand has never been more satisfying!	Nintendo Wii, $49.99	Out January 15th
Burnout Paradise - The joy of destruction is back with this Burnout installment, only this time Paradise City is open and free for exploration! Fun stuff like online play and license photo capabilities make it worth the $60 price tag!	PS3 and Xbox 360, $59.99	Get it January 21st
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games: DS - Mario and Sonic's Olympic fun comes to the DS!	Nintendo DS, $34.99	Out January 23rd
Pursuit Force: Extreme Justice - A band of hell raising villains have plotted a major takeover - while you're at the altar! Good thing for you, you're a chopper pilot and your fiance is a super cop. Oh, and did I mention that you are both members of the crime fighting crew Pursuit Force? Never mess with a woman on her wedding day!	PSP, $29.99	Coming January 29th
Bomberman Land - Battle Modes and now Story Mode - where you make your way through various levels - bring this classic to life on the Wii. Look out for "wii mode" where you take full advantage of the Wii remotes point and shoot capabilities.	Nintendo Wii, $29.99	Get it January 30th

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Get Your Game On: February Releases

GeekSugar — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:02:14 -0800

**New Video Game Releases (February 2008)**
Why You'll Love It	Console/Price	Release Date
Devil May Cry 4 - In this fourth installment of Capcom's uber popular series, you play newcomer Nero as you hunt demons, natch.	PS3, XBox 360, $59.99	Available now. Purchase it online.
Karaoke Revolution Presents: American Idol Encore - If you didn't make it to this year's auditions, at least you can keep up with the competition in this Idol-tastic karaoke game.	PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, $39.99-$69.99	Out now. Purchase it online.
Jumper - Based on the upcoming movie starring Hayden Christensen and Rachel Bilson, you play as a "Jumper" who can teleport anywhere in the world at any time. Sweet!	PS2, Xbox 360, Wii, $39.99 - $59.99	Coming Feb 14th.
The Experiment - In this PC game, you are using security monitors to help guide a woman to safety through an old grounded ship where she is being held captive.	PC, $29.99	Available Feb 15th.
Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None - In this adaptation of the best selling novel, you and 10 other guests must find your way through an estate, trying to stay alive while you search for an unseen serial killer.	Wii, PC, $29.99	Get it Feb 25th.
Patapon - If you liked Loco Roco, you'll love this rhythm based action game for your PSP. A totally cute, totally crazy 2D platformer that will keep you entertained for hours.	PSP, $19.99	Out Feb 26th.

Burnout Paradise Review: The Good, The Bad, and The Awesome

GeekSugar — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 13:20:05 -0800

Throw away everything you thought you knew about the Burnout series - this is a new breed. I have been uber excited to get my hands on Burnout Paradise since I heard about the open gameplay it offers. It might make you a bit confused at first, but stick with me here - the more you play, the more you will appreciate its complexity. The concept of BP is that you can roam around Paradise City, finding new roads, making killer jumps and smashing through gates, all in between events. You still have the familiar comfort of competing in race after race after event if you wish, but now you have over 200 miles of roads to explore in addition to all the awesome challenges that Burnout is known for. There's a lot to cover, so keep reading to find out what I thought was good, bad and totally awesome about Burnout Paradise.

The Good: The events in Burnout Paradise are still completely satisfying. Start by burning rubber at a stop light at one of over 120 intersections in the city. Marked Man and Stunt Run are new, while the Classic Race, Road Rage and Burning Route are familiar and even more intense now that you have so many streets to navigate to get to the finish line. You can even jump online with up to seven other players and compete in challenges together. Online play is easy, and even more geeky if you have a Playstation Eye or Xbox Vision Cam to see (and hear) each other while taking them down.

To see more about what I didn't like about the game, read more

The Bad: Although Burnout has amazing (and seamless) online capabilities, unfortunately only one local player is allowed in this town. You can still race with your buds, but they gotta stay home and have their own copy of the game. . . Bummer! Another thumbs down is the soundtrack. Although the track list is long – with artists like N.E.R.D. and Avril, since both the Xbox 360 and PS3 are media players, I would rather listen to my own tunes that I have stored there.

The Awesome: Burnout offers something that other racing games out there can't: Free will. I love the fact that I can take on a challenge, and then decide I want to go and explore the mountains, ending up finding miles and miles of unmapped roads, jumps and billboards to smash through. Plus, when you've hosted online play, you can create your own custom races from start to finish from anywhere on the map. And don't think that they skimped on the visuals in place of a sprawling city. Checking out the sights distracted me more than once while I was competing and led to a less than favorable race finish. The slow motion crashes show you just how dedicated the developers were to keeping you glued to the screen, even when your car is mangled.

Overall, this is one game that has major play value, and I'm it sure will be taking over my console for weeks to come. Burnout Paradise is now available for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Get it online or in stores.

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