Today's PSN Update

Today along with the new firmware update is some new content for the Playstation Store. Joust is now available for download in the downloadable games section. Also available are 7 new trailers. Among them are: MLB 07: The Show, Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, and Championship Sprint. So if you own a PS3 and can get away from playing your games for a while go check out the new content, and while your at it make sure you download the new firmware update too.

PS3 Firmware Update 1.80 to be Released TOMORROW

Latest PLAYSTATION 3 Firmware Update Provides PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and DVD Upscaling Remote Play on PSP (PlayStation Portable) via the Internet and DLNA transfer of media content also enabled

London, 24 May 2007 - Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) announced today availability of the latest version of the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) firmware. Version 1.80 features upscaling of PlayStation® and PlayStation 2 games, and DVD movies up to full 1080p HD resolution when viewed on a compatible HD TV set.

The capability to upscale DVDs to HD quality is a feature normally only associated with top range DVD players, and its inclusion in the latest firmware upgrade now allows PS3 owners with an existing DVD collection to dramatically enhance the viewing pleasure of their DVD collection when viewed through a compatible HD TV set1. Not only can DVD movies be enhanced to full 1080p HD quality but so too will PlayStation 2 and PlayStation games be upscaled to provide much improved gaming pleasure.

In a comprehensive update to PS3's already impressive capabilities, Version 1.80 also allows users to enjoy Remote Play on their PSP across the internet, allowing them to access their PS3 anywhere in the world where a broadband internet connection is available2.

Version 1.80 also allows users on a home network to seamlessly view and play rich media content such as images, music and video on their PS3, that is stored on their DLNA3 enabled devices such as PCs and laptops elsewhere in the house, reinforcing PS3's credentials as a home entertainment hub that truly deserves pride of place in the Living Room.

A host of other enhancements include the ability to print photo images stored on PS3's hard disk or inserted storage media to a selection of Epson printers.

PS3 owners will be able to upgrade their PS3 with the latest Version 1.80 firmware from 24th May 2007.

[From Kotaku]

Finally some good news for PS3 owners.

Guitar Hero III Announced

We all wanted another one, and today Activision has fulfilled our wishes. The new game which I am calling Guitar Hero III (not the official name at this time) will be made available to all Next-Gen consoles and the PS2. Plus, they will all sport WIRELESS guitars. Though all the tracks have not been announced Activision has promised that there will be more tracks on this installment of the game than any other. At this time the announced tracks are:

• Paint It Black (by The Rolling Stones)

• Cherub Rock (by Smashing Pumpkins)

• Sabotage (by Beastie Boys)

• The Metal (by Tenacious D)

• My Name is Jonas (by Weezer)

• Knights of Cydonia (by Muse)

• Rock And Roll All Nite (as made famous by Kiss)

• School's Out (as made famous by Alice Cooper)

• Slow Ride (as made famous by Fog Hat)

• Cult of Personality (by Living Colour)

• Barracuda (as made famous by Heart)

[From GamePro]

And bet there will be more to come. So for those of you who are sold now, the game is scheduled for a Fall '07 release, just in time for the holidays.

This Weeks XBLA Wednesday Releases

Another double release today for the Xbox Live Arcade. Today's releases will be:

Name: Xevious
Price: 400 Points
Availability: All Xbox Live members
Dash Details: Size: 13.5 MB■Single player ■Hi-Definition ■Control your Solvalou ship and destroy the XEVIOUS forces! Use blasters against air-based enemies and bombs against ground-based targets. Destroy And or Genesis to earn bonus points! Unique enemies, interesting BGM, a variety of scrolling background environments and many hidden gameplay features differentiated XEVIOUS from other shooting games released at the time. XEVIOUS was released in 1982 and became an instant classic

Name: Rush'n Attack
Price: 400 Points
Availability: All Xbox Live members
Dash Details: Single Player, Xbox LIVE Multiplayer 1-2, HD (High Definition). Download the full version of Rush'n Attack and get all four levels of difficulty, plus a complete set of twelve achievements. So many POWs and so little time! Relive the Cold War from your warm cozy couch.
Size: 39.9 MB (approx.)

[From Major Nelson]

Bad Sony! Take That Foot Out of Your Mouth

Jack Tretton the SCEA President and CEO recently had an interview with Gamepro. In the interview Gamepro asked Jack's opinion on the rumor of Microsoft adopting the Folding@Home project that, well Sony was first to adopt. Here is his response:

"I think what's very important to us, and I think is great for our consumers, is the pride that it gives you as a company to say that we're helping to fight and research Alzheimer's and that 250K people signed up in less than 60 days. And what we're doing takes 30 times longer on a PC, and that's a great testament to the PS3, but it's more a real feel-good thing to take your machine when it's idle to help contribute to that cause.

So if other companies can help contribute to that, I think that's great. But let's face it, if your motivation is for PR, to me, that's a little shallow. We go out of our way, correctly so, to make sure that we don't try to sell PS3s on Folding@Home. We try to look at it for just what it is, which is great community service for a great cause, and I think to look at it as a marketing platform is something that a company certainly wouldn't want to do. I'm certainly not insinuating that's Microsoft's motivation, but I'm not even sure how relevant it is to what were doing.

Would they be even having this conversation if we weren't doing it? I don't know. I would guess that the medical community would take help from anywhere they could get it, but the commentary that I heard is that Stanford isn't sure that [the Xbox 360's processing abilities] would help them very much, which is odd to be because if it helped at all, it seems like they would welcome it with open arms.

It's really ugly territory to get into, but let's take fighting a disease and see if we can get some credit for that. It's not a cool game to play one way or the other, so I don't want to even give the impression that that's our motivation and I'd be very disappointed if they're looking for PR value or to try to suck off some of the goodwill that we're doing."

So they don't want folding at home for PR value or to sell the PS3?

"takes 30 times longer on a PC"

"does it when the machine is idle"

"not sure if the Xbox 360 could help"

"let's take fighting a disease and see if we can get some credit for that."

"try to suck off some of the goodwill we're doing"


Lets go through the checklist:

1.) Brag about how much faster your PS3 is than the PC- CHECK

2.) Brag even more because the PS3 does it while it's idle- CHECK

3.) Put down your competition because your "Not sure they can help"- CHECK

4.) Take credit for fighting disease- CHECK

5.) Make Microsoft the bad guy because they want to help- CHECK


Not trying to sale the PS3 or get good PR huh? Doesn't sound like it to me. And well if they actually do end up finding the cure for cancer, you'll never here the end of it.

Nintendo Annouces Summer Lineup

Today Nintendo has announced this years summer lineup and it has some goodies in it too! Here it is:

Wii:

• Mario Strikers Charged: July 30 - Nintendo
  
• Metroid Prime 3 Corruption: Aug. 20 - Nintendo
  
• Battalion Wars 2: September - Nintendo
  
• High School Musical: Sing It!: Aug. 14 - Disney Interactive
  
• Madden NFL '08: Aug. 14 - EA
  
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour '08: August - EA
  
• Space Station Tycoon: August - Namco Bandai
  
• Brunswick Pro Bowling: August - Crave
  
• Dave Mirra BMX Challenge: August - Crave
  
• Pinball Hall of fame: The Williams Collection: Aug. - Crave
  
• Brothers in Arms: September - Ubisoft
  
• Looney Tunes: Acme Arsenal: September - Warner Bros.
  
• George of the Jungle: September - Crave
  
• Boogie: Fall - EA

[From IGN]

DS:

• Picross DS: July 30
  
• Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day: Aug 20
  
• DK Jungle Climber: Sept. 10
  
• Chibi-Robo: Park Patrol: Sept. 24
• SimCity: July (Electronic Arts)
  
• Namco Museum DS: July (Namco Bandai)
  
• Drake & Josh: July (THQ)
  
• Glory Days 2: July - (Eidos)
  
• Madden NFL '08: Aug. 14 (Electronic Arts)
  
• High School Musical: Makin' the Cut!: Aug. 14 (Disney Interactive)
  
• Heroes of Mana: Aug. 14 (Square-Enix)
  
• I SPY: Fun House: August (Activision)
  
• Jewel Quest Expedition: August (Activision)
  
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour '08: August (Electronic Arts)
  
• Worms: Open Warfare 2: August (THQ)
  
• Luminous Arc: August (Atlus)
  
• Mega Man Star Force (Pegasus, Leo, Dragon): August (Capcom)
  
• Operation: Vietnam: August (Majesco)
  
• Turn It Around: August (Majesco)
  
• The Wild West: August (Majesco)
  
• Full Metal Alchemist Trading Card Game: August (Destineer)
  
• Drawn to Life: September (THQ)
  
• Zoey 101: September (THQ)
  
• Crayola Treasure Adventure: September (Crave)
  
• Nancy Drew and The Deadly Secret of the Olde World Park: September (Majesco)
  
• Holly Hobbie & Friends: September (Majesco)
  
• Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trials and Tribulations: September (Capcom)
  
• Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck: September (Warner Bros.)
  
• Pet Luv Spad & Resort Tycoon: September (Activision)
  
• Animal Genius: September (Activision)
  
• George of the Jungle: September (Crave)
  
• Jam Sessions: September (Ubisoft)
  
• Professor Brainium: September (Destineer)
  
• Indy 500 Legends: September (Destineer)

[From IGN]

Sounds good can't wait for Metroid Prime 3.

This Weeks VC Update

Today Nintendo has released 3 more Virtual Console games. They will be drum roll please:

Donkey Kong Country 2™: Diddy's Kong Quest™ (SNES®, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): In the sequel to the immensely popular Donkey Kong Country™, Diddy Kong® gets the spotlight, along with his girlfriend, Dixie Kong™ - a great little monkey with a dangerous ponytail. The action starts on the wreck of King K. Rool's Gangplank Galleon that has apparently broken up on a reef offshore from the Kremlings' Island. Diddy and his friends will have to work together to rescue Donkey Kong®, exploring all the hidden areas of the Kremlings' island: a spooky haunted forest, treacherous swamps, a giant beehive oozing with sticky honey and lava-filled caves, just to name a few.

Streets of Rage™ 2 (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, 800 Wii Points): To celebrate their defeat of the Syndicate exactly one year before, Blaze, Adam and Axel met for drinks. The next morning, Axel received a frantic phone call from Eddie "Skate" Hunter, Adam's younger brother, whom he was living with on the edge of the city. Blaze and Axel found Adam and Skate's house wrecked, and a picture showing Adam chained up at the feet of Mr. X. The city then once again returned to its nightmarish state as criminals ran rampant. Unable to contact their old friend in artillery, Axel and Blaze team up with Skate and Max Thunder to free the city and rescue Adam from the Syndicate. It is up to you to take down Mr. X once and for all.

Blazing Lazers (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): Blazing Lazers is a vertical-scrolling shooter that was praised for surpassing the limitations of the hardware of its time. Players control the extraordinary firepower of their Gunhed Star Fighter to take on the Dark Squadron that has begun its invasion of Earth. Collect power-ups to increase your ship's battle strength so it can cut through enemies and defeat the bosses in all nine areas. Of course, as part of the "Soldier" series, the game contains a good combination of fast-paced speed with catchy, drum-propelled background music, coupled with the Field Thunder that can be used to destroy enemies in one fell swoop for the ultimate sense of satisfaction. With its fine-tuned difficulty levels, Blazing Lazers is a shooting game that anyone can enjoy.

[From Kotaku]

GRAW 2 DELAYED on PS3 AGAIN

Ubisoft has announced that Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 will not make it to PS3 owners in June as anticipated, instead they have assigned a new release date of August 31st.

[From PS3 Fanboy]

With this being the second delay of this game, which was suppose to be released in March I'm beginning to wonder if Ubisoft like Sony.

80 GB PS3 CONFIRMED (For Korea)

At first there were two available PS3 consoles, a 20 gig and a 60 gig. Now that Sony has discontinued the 20 gig there is only one available console, which is the 60 gig. Announced today was the new 80 gig console. The console, at this time, will only be released in Korea. The new console will be released on June 16 for a price of 518,000 Won ($558) for the Koreans this is the only PS3 console that will be available to buy in this region. Just like the previous 60 gig that was released in Europe earlier this year, the new console will be "identical to the European model in terms of all other technical specs [apart from the size of the hard drive]." Which means this console to will be lacking the backwards compatibility chip the consoles in Europe lacked. When Sony was asked about any future plans of the console they replied with "We have no plans to release the 80GB model PS3 in Europe at this time."

[From Gamespot]

Like they said in Europe at this time. They didn't mention North America or Japan. Prediction: You will see them soon.

New Releases: Week of 5/20

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End-(360, PC, PS2, Wii, PS3, DS, PSP)

Halo 2-(PC)

Odin Sphere-(PS2)

UFO: Extraterrestrials-(PC)

Dawn of Mana-(PS2)

Naruto: Ninja Council 3-(DS)

WarTech: Senko no Ronde-(360)

Brooktown High: Senior Year-(PSP)

Death Jr. and the Science Fair of Doom-(DS)

Marvel Trading Card Game-(DS)

Major League Baseball 2K7-(GBA)

The New York Times Crosswords- (DS)

XBLA Wants YOUR Opinion On New Games

Over at Gamerscore Blog they want your opinion on games you would like to see come to the Xbox Live Arcade. So head on over and let your opinion be heard!

Starcraft 2 Officially Announced

We all knew it was coming, the only question was when. Well the answer is now! Although the game was officially announced there is still no date available on its release. Also released was the official Starcraft 2 website you can get to it by clicking here. For those who haven't seen it yet here's a clip of the announcement trailer:

Riddick CONFIRMED for Next-Gen

From CVG:

A next gen redux of the splendid Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay is underway with developers Starbreeze finally confirming Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena which is due to debut on Xbox 360 and PS3 before the end of this year.

Dark Athena will be more than a simple port of the original game though, which went great guns in its original Xbox incarnation and really put Starbreeze on the development map. Dark Athena will apparently boast an additional 40 per cent single-player content set on board the scavenger ship Dark Athena. What that means we can only guess, but it certainly sounds intriguing and it looks like some kind of assault will be in order.

However, word is one of the main attractions of Dark Athena will be a superb multiplayer mode, with visceral hand-to-hand combat and shiny shiv action featuring heavily if it follows the course of the original game.

So there you have it Chronicles of Riddick: Assualt on Dark Athena, look for it on shelves later this year for the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Wii Passes the 7 Million Mark

According to VGChartz in the latest worldwide console sells, the Wii has now sold 7.09 Million units. Just ahead is the 360 with 9.71 Million and the PS3 comes in last with 3.31 Million.

Xbox 360 Owners Being BANNED

From Gamerscore Blog:

Keeping Xbox LIVE Fair

One of the great things about LIVE and the unified community is that we work hard to create a level playing field for all gamers and have a no tolerance policy towards inappropriate behavior like hacking or cheating. As part of our commitment to our members, we do not allow people that we have detected to have modified their console to connect to LIVE. This is an important part of our efforts to try and maintain a fair gaming environment for the large majority of gamers that play by the rules. This topic is more important than ever given the recent release of the Halo 3 beta. As a result, some consumers that try to login to LIVE who we detect have illegally modified their console will get an error code (Status Code: Z: 8015 - 190D) when trying to connect to the service. These users will not have their account automatically banned from LIVE, but they will no longer be able to access the service from the console they modified.

We have stated in the past that customers can only enjoy access to the Xbox LIVE community through the use of a genuine, unmodified, Xbox console and we will continue to enforce this rule to ensure the integrity of our service, the protection of our partners and the benefits of our users.

I don't have a problem with this just as long as innocent people don't get hurt in the process.

Another PS3 Blunder: PGR 3 Used to Promote GT... Again!

Kia's Spanish website was the culprit this time. In an attempt to compare the Kia to a Ferrari, the automobile company used a car from obviously PGR 3 (can tell by the license plate). The only problem with this is well the giant PS3 in the the picture.

Warhawk Beta Update

The upcoming PS3 game "Warhawk" is having a Beta that will be going public on May 24th, 2007. In order to take advantage of this beta you must register on the PlayStation site. I guess this gives you PS3 owners something to do while Halo 3 Beta is out.

Halo 3 Beta FIXED and EXTENDED

According to the Bungie website the Crackdown patch has been deployed and the Halo 3 Beta is now ready to play. As a result to the wait Bungie has decided to extend the beta date. The new date for the beta to end is now officially Jun. 10th at 11.59 P.M. PDT. That's a whole extra 4 days, not so bad for a less than 24 hr. wait.

Halo 3 Beta to be patched by 12:30 A.M. at the LATEST

According to Joystiq the Halo 3 Beta Crackdown patch will be available at the LATEST to Crackdown owners by 12:30 A.M. EST on 5/17. Also the Bungie website mentions that the update, which will be available as a Crackdown patch, will be available in the next 3 to 6 hrs. Man I hope they make this deadline or they will be facing an even deadlier wrath of Halo fanboys.

Bomberman LIVE is a Go

Just today Hudson officially announced that they were releasing Bomberman Live in a WORLDWIDE launch later this summer. Check out Kotaku for the entire press release. Oh and by the way I found you guys a leaked video. Enjoy!

Midnight Club: Los Angeles Announced

Last night Rockstar officially announced the release of Midnight Club: Los Angeles for the PS3 and Xbox 360. The game is due out early next year. No details of the game at this time.

Killzone 2 Beta to Go PUBLIC Later This Year

From CVG:

It's not just 360 fans that are getting online FPS-beta-testing love this year. Oh no. It's been confirmed that PS3 owners have a public beta of the upcoming Killzone to look forward to.

Posting on the killzone.com forums, Seb Downie (under the alias 'motherH') revealed: "Of course there is going to be a public beta. I have always said that any game that has an online mode needs to go through a public beta to ensure it works as intended." We agree (give us more demos).

"More on a beta later this year," were his concluding words, leaving us to stew over when the beta may arrive and how you guys can ensure you get in on the action. More as it breaks.

For all you PS3 owners out there you can blow off all that dust, you might actually be able to play a game on it. Who would have thought?

Halo 3 Beta DELAYED

According to Rithum News the owners of Crackdown will be delayed in downloading the new Halo 3 Beta. The article also mentions the release of the Beta which has now been changed to 5/17 at 5:00 A.M. EST. This is not good, I was really looking forward to playing the Beta today, you would have thought with all the hype over this Beta Bungie really would have made sure this thing would work, but oh well things happen I guess. Come on you can do it less than 24 hrs. away, just 24 more hours.

Halo 3 Release Date CONFIRMED

According to the official press release one of the most anticipated games of the year, Halo 3, will be available on September 25, 2007. The official words:

In a year when Hollywood is launching its biggest blockbusters ever, a video game is set to conquer them all. “Halo® 3,” the final chapter in the groundbreaking “Halo” trilogy, is set to shatter day-one entertainment sales records when it is released worldwide beginning Tuesday, Sept. 25. Created by legendary developer Bungie Studios and exclusive to the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system, “Halo 3” will set a new standard for interactive storytelling and social gaming by engaging consumers worldwide in Master Chief’s epic battle to save humankind. “Halo 3” will be available to audiences around the world starting Sept. 25 and will release in Europe on Sept. 26.

I'm sure you wont forget this date, but just in case mark it on your calender.

PS3 Users "Sharing" Downloaded Games?

From Game Stooge:

Apparently, some PS3 users are buying downloadable games such as flOw and Calling All Cars and then allowing friends and even strangers to also download a copy for free through some clearly questionable online exploits which they refer to as “sharing.” Essentially, this allows multiple PS3 users to download and have immediate access to the game while only one user actually pays for it.

Now, those who know more about this practice report some significant disadvantages to “sharing.” First, the sharer’s credit card account information, including online “wallet” contents, are accessible to the sharee. Second, “sharing” may inadvertently cause the sharer to lose his or her rights to the game if their PS3 loses data or needs to be replaced.

This sounds cool, but the disadvantages takes that "coolness" away.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl Countdown

The new web site for the upcoming Wii title Super Smash Bros. Brawl now has a countdown until the launch of the site. The site has a countdown of 6 days left which means it will launch on May 21st at 11:00 A.M. EST. If you want to check it out here's the link.

360 HD DVD Player Update

Along with the May dash update is the HD DVD update which can be downloaded the next time you pop in a HD DVD while signed on to Xbox Live. The new update will contain many improvements, features, and upgrades. From Major Nelson:

Added option for user to select from the following audio output formats via TOSLINK or HDMI: o Digital Stereo (2 channel PCM) o Dolby Digital 5.1 o DTS 5.1 o WMA Pro Added "Dynamic Range Control" toggle for digital audio output Improved HD DVD networking support Improved HD DVD title compatibility Improved performance with MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 1080p via HDMI is supported on the Xbox 360 Elite with HDCP compliant displays Improved parental controls If you don’t have access to Xbox Live, this update will be available for download from Xbox.com later this week.

Limited Time flOw Discount

For all those people out there who own a PS3 the game flOw will be available for a discounted price of $5.00 instead of the normal price of $8.00, but as mentioned before this is a limited time offer, to receive this discount you must download flOw by May 23rd.

"Aegis Wing" -- FREE XBLA Game On 5/16

"Aegis Wing" will be available for FREE this week only so make sure you download it before the Halo 3 Beta or you may forget. The official press release:

Xbox LIVE Arcade Intern Project Game "Aegis Wing" Launches This Week as Free Gift to Gamers

REDMOND, Wash. -- May 14, 2007 -- This Wednesday, team up with up to three of your friends and prepare yourselves for intense side-scrolling, sci-fi shooting action in "Aegis Wing." Originally conceived by three Microsoft Corp. interns over the course of a summer, "Aegis Wing" will be available for free to all Xbox LIVE® Silver and Gold members in North America for a limited time. "Aegis Wing" will be available for download on Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360™ beginning Wednesday, May 16, at 2 a.m. PDT.

"Aegis Wing" is a 2-D side-scrolling space shooter that combines epic space combat with fantastic visuals, and is set to a rich symphonic soundtrack. It is set in the year 2105, when humanity must flee a dying Earth for the distant world Europa. But this new home is soon threatened by a powerful alien race, the Araxia. With stolen Araxian technology, the Europa fleet develops an experimental star fighter and assigns four ace pilots to test it. The Aegis Wing is born, and it becomes your mission to wield this new technology as humanity's last hope for survival.
Up to four players can play together either locally or over Xbox LIVE to defeat waves of nefarious Araxian ships and bosses, and can even combine spacecraft in two-, three- or four-ship formations to access powerful Super Weapons.

"Aegis Wing" was originally conceived by three students - Scott Brodie, Danny Dyer and Matt Monson - during a summer internship at Xbox LIVE Arcade. The students worked in tandem with Carbonated Games - the creators of fan-favorite, UNO® - to bring the game to the Xbox LIVE Arcade community. The full version of "Aegis Wing" is being released on Xbox LIVE Arcade free of charge and will be available for a limited time.

Game Features
• Amazing environmental art
• Full symphonic soundtrack
• Up to four-player simultaneous cooperative multiplayer gameplay, either locally on the same Xbox 360 console or over Xbox LIVE*
• Ability to attach your ship to your wingmen's spacecraft to gain the "turret" ability and increase the firepower of the Super Weapons
• Four Super Weapons: the Hades Beam (wreaks total destruction), the Gorgon Burst (wipes out incoming fire and disables enemy spacecraft with an electromagnetic pulse), the Arcus Missile (a heat-seeking missile) and the Lambda Shield (deflects incoming fire back at enemies)
• Six epic missions and several memorable boss encounters to fight through

Where Can I Get It?
You can download "Aegis Wing" beginning Wednesday, May 16, at 2 a.m. PDT on Xbox LIVE Arcade. "Aegis Wing" will be available for download in North America only. "Aegis Wing" is rated E for Everyone, with Mild Fantasy Violence.

New Motorstorm Update Available Jun. 7th

MotorStorm for PS3 - New Downloadable Content Announced

Show the world how fast you really are with the new MotorStorm Time Attack mode.

Since its March 6th launch date, MotorStorm on the PLAYSTATION 3 has been solidified as the must have off-road action adventure title of the year. The wild and dirty ride continues with the availability of new downloadable content. Sony Computer Entertainment American along with the development team at Evolution Studios is delighted to announce the arrival of the Time Attack Mode, a new and cost-free automatic patch exclusively for MotorStorm on the PLAYSTATION 3.

In Time Attack gamers can set their best times on each track with any available vehicle classes, then race against ghost laps in subsequent Time Attack races. Extra-fast times will see your ghost laps automatically uploaded to the global leader boards for others to compete with. Additionally, gamers will have the option of racing against up to seven ghosts at a time, beat their friends' efforts then let them have their ghost lap to prove it. Players can race against their own recorded ghost, take on the best runs recorded by other players (downloadable from the online leaderboards), or try and beat the expert ghosts from Evolution.

The Time Attack mode will be unlocked with a free key that will be available on the PlayStation network store starting June 7th. Before installing, please load MotorStorm from the Blu-Ray Disc, select "Online", an appropriate game universe, and install any updates if prompted.

PLAYSTATION 3 gamers will also have access to new and improved additional downloadable games and content. These upgrades include:

1. Game List Improvement
- 'Game Status' is now displayed with the game list in the online lobby making it easier to find a session where you'll be able to join and race promptly.

2. Host Identification
- Within the game lobby the host is now clearly identified by a 'host' icon visible to all players and updated during host migration.

3. Boost Exploit
- A bug involving the boost system that allowed a player to use boost in an exploitative manner has been resolved.

4. Buddy List Size
- This has been updated to support up to 50 friends.

5. Text Cut-off
- When playing in standard definition all messages will now display as intended.

6. Improved Stability Online
- Online gameplay stability has been improved.

7. Audio issues
- All known issues with 5.1 / 7.1 surround have been fixed. Audio issues within the front-end have been resolved.

8. Player Ranking
- Players were found to be ranked incorrectly due to a bug. Because of this all online rankings will be reset and the ranking system should now function correctly. Evolution and Sony apologize for this measure but it will result in a fairer and more stable ranking system for all players.

9. Auto-Start
- Races will be forced to start after a fixed countdown which should dramatically reduce the waiting times in lobbies. Hosts may delay this countdown up to three times.

10. Save Data Corruption
- When quitting the game using the PS button it was possible to corrupt the save game data. This will no longer occur.

11. Lobby Information
- Upcoming track and current lap details will be displayed in lobbies.

12. Vehicle Damage
- When restarting a single player race during a death camera the damage wasn't always reset at the start of the next race. This has now been resolved.

13. Missing Audio
- Audio effects were missing from the death camera, these have now been reinstated.

14. Name Tags
- Added ability to switch the player name tags on / off during online races using a single button press (L1).

New PS3 Firmware Update 2.0?

From Kotaku:

The PLAYSTATION®3 system software version 2.00 update includes the following:

Users
You can now password-protect user accounts.

Settings
[Dynamic Normalizer] has been added as an option under [Sound Settings].
[Energy Saver] has been added as an option.
[Equalizer] has been added as a feature under [Music Settings].
[Full] has been added as an option for [DVD Wide Display] under [BD / DVD Settings].
[Photo Settings] has been added as an option.
[PS / PS2 Settings] has been added as an option.
[RSS Channel Settings] has been added as an option.
[Sample Rate] has been added to [Audio CD Import] under [Music Settings].
[Screen Saver] has been expanded under [Display Settings].
The method of selecting an output resolution has been changed in [Video Output Settings] under [Display Settings].
[Theme Settings] has been added as an option.
[Zero Unused Disk Space] has been added as an option under [System Settings] > [Format Utility].

Photo
Additional slideshow effects have been added.
[Photo Effects] have been added as a feature.
Wallpaper feature has been added.
[Zoom] has been added as a feature.

Music
Additional visualization effects have been added.
CD information can now be entered.
Three-speed fast forward and fast reverse has been added as a feature.

Video
Files can now be played sequentially.
Three-speed fast forward and fast reverse has been added as a feature.
You can now select [Zoom] under [Screen Mode] when playing video files saved on the hard disk or storage media.*.
*An appropriate USB adapter (not included) is required to use storage media with some models.

Game
Support for PLAYSTATION®3 format software titles has been expanded.
XMB™ (XrossMediaBar) is now accessible during gameplay.

Network
[RSS Channel] has been added as a feature.

Friends
You can now have multiple chat sessions.
You can now select an image to use as your Avatar from [Photo].

Other
Date and Time is now shown when the PS button is pressed.
File sorting has been changed.
[Help] has been added as a feature.
Playability status with the PS3™ system has changed for some PlayStation® and PlayStation®2 format titles.
To check on the latest status, visit the search site for compatible titles.
[Secure Delete] has been added as an option.
Some PLAYSTATION®Network features have been revised.

Even though all of this is just speculation it's hard to believe that someone would go through so much trouble to make all of this up.

This Weeks VC Update

This week on the Wii Virtual Console there will be 3 new games added. They will be Pac-Man (NES-500 pts), Ninja Gaiden (NES-500 pts), and Ninja Spirit (TurboGrafx-600 pts). To get more details on these games that are available as of now click here.

Forza 2 Demo Hits Live

Released today was the new demo to the highly anticipated Forza 2 game which is to be released later this month. The demo includes several cars, one track, and can be downloaded for the very low price of FREE.

New Crackdown Content NOW Available!

Announced yesterday was the new DLC for Crackdown. Surprisingly, today it was released. Included in the download is three parts: the patch, the Free-For-All pack, both which are free, and the Gettin' Busy Bonus pack which will cost 800 MS points ($10). Major Nelson has posted 4 videos of the content in action which can be found here. Here is one of the four:

Saints Row For PS3 CANCELED

Saints Row was originally a Xbox 360 exclusive and was being ported to the PS3 has been canceled. Instead there will be a simultaneous release of Saints Row 2 for both platforms next year. THQ's official word on this matter is:

"We think the most important thing for the Saints Row franchise is to have a simultaneous ship into a larger installed base next year. We think the bigger opportunity is a multiplatform launch."

I guess that's another exclusive to add to the 360 (for the second time).

Calling All Cars Finally Hits PSN

After being delayed Calling All Cars is finally being made available to all PS3 owners. The price you ask? $10. The game will also support up to 4 players and be in a full 1080p resolution. This just may be a reason to buy the PS3. Sike!

New Crackdown Update Details

A huge update for Crackdown has been announced. The update will come in three installments. Two which will be FREE of charge. The first update will address many issues to the game:

• The option to turn on crime has been replaced by an option allowing gangs to be completely reset in the main campaign.

• If you're searching for the last 50% of the game's hidden orbs and 20% of the agility orbs, the sound these orbs make will be heard from a much greater audio range, making them much easier to find.

• Agents with 4-star strength can now slam down on the ground after a jump by holding the attack button, which causes both a devastating attack on the point of impact, as well as blast damage in the surrounding area.

• If taking cover behind a low wall, agents can now fire at a better downwards angle.

• Lock-on targeting has been improved, and live enemies take precedence over corpses in terms of target priority.

• Fire hydrants are no longer nigh-indestructible.

• Stunt Rings have improved visibility.

• "Lefty flip" for vehicle control has been removed, meaning that left-handed players can aim with the left stick, but still steer with the right stick.

• Limpet Charges (and the new Proximity Mines) will not disappear even when not within visual range.

• Explosions that occur anywhere within the city can be seen as long as the player has a clear vantage point.

• Interaction with the ramp truck has been improved on all vehicles, not just the SUV.

• Camera movement has been improved for both vehicle stunts and long plummeting jumps.

• The player-on-player lock-on has been eliminated, but an agent can be hit by another agent with a head or leg shot by using normal targeting.

The second update called the Free-For-All pack will contain several game enhancements:

• Keys to the City: This alternative play mode starts you off with a clean slate and several customizable options, such as the ability to give your character as high a skill level as desired. In fact, the new "Super Agent Agility" and "Super Agent Strength" levels will allow your agent to perform feats previously unimaginable. Players can produce weapons and ammo in an instant, and also spawn ramp trucks and agency vehicles at any point on the map, thanks to the mode's pop-up cheat menu. Of course, achievements and leaderboards will be disabled for this mode.

• Vehicle Impounding: Agents can now grab any vehicle of their choice and place it for storage in the Agency Garage. The game will also notify the player as to which vehicles are absent from their collection.

• Co-op Trophies: Players that win against opponents in time trials during co-op mode will be awarded with an image of a trophy next to their Gamertag.

• Achievements: Two new achievements will be offered for those who choose to only partake in the free downloadable content:

Confiscator (40 Gamerscore) - Impound all vehicles in the Agency Garage.

Psych Out (100 Gamerscore) - Complete all Time Trial missions at the Psychotic Difficult level.

And as if this wasn't enough there is also a third pack called the Gettin' Busy Bonus Pack, which will cost an undisclosed amount of MS points. This pack will include:

• New Vehicles: Three new vehicles will be added to the agency garage, including the Agency Patrol Buggy (mentioned in our previous report), the Agency Pursuit Vehicle (a souped-up race car), and the Agency Armored Vehicle (a tank). The Buggy's special weapon will be a roof-mounted mini-gun that can be independently aimed, while the tank will be able to fire rockets.

• New Equipment: Five new weapons have been added to the Agency arsenal, including the MSK "Lobber" (a gun that fires homing mini-rockets), the EX1 "Proximity Charge" (a proximity mine), the HRX "Harpoon" (players can harpoon criminals and attach them to moving vehicles), the MZ360 "Mini-Gun" (unrivaled in the number of rounds fired per minute), and the VS1 "Cloaking Device" (which makes players nigh-invisible and off radar detection).

• Street Racing: In order to adjust to the massive reduction of crime, agents have now taken to passing their time in street races that are scattered across the city. The races number six in total (both on and off road), and players can race against up to 11 other opponents, including a co-op player over Xbox Live.

• New Game Types:

Max-Agility Rooftop Races - Nine new races have been added, and only 4-star agents need apply.

Stockpile - Collect orbs in the fastest time possible. Can be played in either a co-op or vs. mode.

Checkpoint Chase - Starting from the Agency Garage, players race to reach an identified point somewhere in Pacific City. Getting there first gains you a point, and the first to 10 points wins.


Rocket Tag - One agent is given a rocket launcher with a ton of rockets. The other is given a pistol. The "hunter" agent simply has to defeat the other with just rockets, while the "hunted" agent needs to avoid the rocket blasts for 60 seconds.

• Achievements: Achievements marked with a "*" are accessible as long as one co-op player has purchased the add-on pack. Those marked with "**" requires both players to purchase the update.

Stockpile Supreme (10 Gamerscore) * - Complete any stockpile mini-game in less than 2 minutes, 30 seconds.

Flippin' Crazy (20 Gamerscore) * - Complete three flips of any type in a single jump in any vehicle.

Body Armor (10 Gamerscore) * - Attach five corpses to a single vehicle using the Harpoon gun.

Street Racer (20 Gamerscore) ** - Win all Street Races using any vehicle.

Street Racer Elite (150 Gamerscore) ** - Win all Street Races using all available vehicles.

Sounds like a great update especially for Crackdown fans like me. I can't wait, just hope that it's released after Halo 3 Beta.

PSP Lite?

From Next Generation. A rumor of a possible new "lighter" PSP version is once again on the horizon. Many questions are left to be asked, but you know Sony isn't talking.

Guitar Hero II: Rock the 80's Update

Announced today were several tracks from the add-on pack to Guitar Hero II: Rock the 80's edition. Seven tracks total were announced among them were:

I Wanna Rock (by Twisted Sister)

I Ran (by Flock of Seagulls)

Round and Round (as made famous by Ratt)

I Want Candy (as made famous by Bow Wow Wow)

Metal Health (as made famous by Quiet Riot)

Holy Diver (as made famous by Dio)

Heat Of The Moment (as made famous by Asia)

That's good news for Guitar Hero fans. Lets just hope they don't charge an arm and a leg for them.

Be Back Soon!!!

Hi everyone! I just wanted to say sorry for not posting in such a long time. Just to fill you in a little, I am a college student and I'm currently busy with my college work. I sincerely apologize for not being here for you guys, but I will be back as soon as I can and will try to post as often as I can in my busy life. I will be off on summer break soon and will return back to posting normally, until then...GAME ON!!!

More PS3 Goodies

Nyko sure has been real busy lately. Today they announced lots of peripherals for all you PS3 fans out there. Among those are a charging base which will allow you to charge up to 4 PS3 controllers, Wireless headset, Intercooler, HDMI and Non-HDMI cable, 10 foot cable for play and charge, and finally a play adapter which will let you connect you PS2 controllers to your PS3. So all you PS3 fans out there put in you PS2 controllers and remember the good old days of rumble because you wont be seeing it anytime soon.

3 New Wii Titles Coming to Virtual Console

From Gaming Bits:

"Nintendo has announced the following Wii Virtual Console titles, available from the Wii Shop Channel today, (1.8.07) at 9 a.m. Pacific time:

Gradius® (NES®, 1-2 players, 500 Wii Points): Across the galaxy, there exists a distant planet known as Gradius. Gradius' peaceful existence has been brought to an end by an intense space invasion by a race known as the Bacterion. To save the planet, the hyperspace fighter Vic Viper has been deployed to fight the Bacterion invasion. Players pilot the Vic Viper through seven stages, shooting and dodging through deadly obstacles, while using various power-ups, including missiles, lasers, options and shields. The Vic Viper's target is the enemy fortress, Xaerous. The only way to end the war is to plunge deep through the enemy forces and destroy its very core.

Soldier Blade® (TurboGrafx16, 1 player, 600 Wii Points): A new shooter in the "Star Soldier" tradition. Players play as an SIA (Special Interception Airforce) pilot flying the heavy assault fighter "Soldier Blade." Players face the Zeograd invasion force with weapon attacks that change each time they grab a power-up item. Players can unleash three different kinds of attack depending on the color of the power-up item. New features, such as the "Gunbody" option for avoiding enemy attacks and the "Burst Out" system (which has a different effect depending on the power-up level), add a strategic element that requires players to make snap decisions about which items to grab and when to use special attacks. Awesome boss battles await players at the end of each operation. Playing in "CHALLENGE" mode requires players to try to get as many points as they can in a limited amount of time.

Dungeon Explorer™ (TurboGrafx16, 1-5 players, 600 Wii Points): Dungeon Explorer is a multiplayer action/role-playing game where up to five players can play at the same time. The story takes place in underground dungeons. Players can choose from eight different character types: Fighter, Thief, Warlock, Witch, Bishop, Elf, Bard or Knome. Depending on the character, the types of magic, attack strength and movement will all vary. To survive, players most know all about their enemies' weaknesses. Players also must know about the special attributes of each magic spell and use them to their greatest advantage. In team-play games, working together is the key to victory. Any combination of Wii Remotes and Nintendo GameCube™ controllers can be used in multiplayer games."

360 Guitar Hero 2 Confirmed

It has been confirmed Guitar Hero 2 for the 360 to be released in March. It will feature lots of downloadable content, better graphics, and the new X-Plorer controller designed for the 360. Here's a quote from Dusty Welch head of publishing:

“With its large integrated hard drive, Xbox 360 provides an incredible platform for facilitating downloadable content. We believe there is no better title to feature micro-transactions than a music game like Guitar Hero II, where the content is the basis of your experience. The relationship with the Xbox Live Marketplace creates endless possibilities for exclusive content.”

Wii to Get Recharge Pack From Nyko

It's just funny how Nintendo wouldn't release something like this. Oh well here it is if your interested.

Gears Update Details

Sometime today Gears of War will be getting a patch released to fix some of the bugs in the game. Here's the details:

• Fixed aspect ratio distortion when using VGA cable with 4:3 displays at resolutions higher than 640x480
• Fixed voice issue with new players joining Player Match games in progress
• Players can now get the Achievement for "Dish Best Served Cold" when using Troika turret to kill RAAM
• Fixed rare situation where host could loop countdown and never start match
• Fixed rare situation where players could get stuck after chainsawing in multiplayer
• Reduced Grenade Tag melee distance
• Enabled "Strict" NAT check on host to prevent possible connection issues
• Optimized server browser queries to return results more quickly and prevent scroll bars from hiding quality of service icons
• Reduced number of possible revives in Execution to match Warzone
• Removed host name from Ranked match server browser
• Disabled security cameras in Ranked matches
• Ranked matches now require balanced teams (3v3 or 4v4)
• Increased penalty for quitting a Ranked match to -50 points
• Added additional cheat detection code
• Additional housekeeping updates

Dreamcast Still Alive in '07

Sega Nerds has announced there will be 3 new Sega Dreamcast games available for pre-order from play-asia.com .

2 New Maps for Gears

Mark this date down on your calendar because starting Jan. 11 two new maps for Gears of War will be available FREE of charge. The new maps are Raven Dawn and Old Bones. Here are the maps outlines:

"Raven Down: A Raven Helicopter has gone down in the middle of a large scale battle with the omnipresent Locust Horde. Gears have taken out the Seeder and gamers join Delta Forces moving into the crash site from all angles to search for survivors.

Old Bones: In an attempt to eradicate any traces of human history and culture, the Locust Horde has emerged under Sera's Capitaline Museums and has begun to destroy them brick by brick. Each gamer's mission is to help the Delta Force recapture the museums before all remnants of humankind's existence are obliterated. "

Over 10M 360s Sold, IPTV to Come to 360

Here's a clip from the Press Release:

Xbox 360 and Microsoft TV: Together Expanding the World of Games and Entertainment
In a move that will combine the power of Xbox 360 with Microsoft TV IPTV Edition, Bach provided an early look at a new service, IPTV on Xbox 360. The offering is expected to deliver world-class TV experiences such as digital video recording capabilities, with gaming, movie viewing, and even voice and video communications. Tapping into an expanded set of entertainment experiences, users will be able to watch their favorite sporting event live while chatting with their friends, for example, or participate in a match on Xbox Live® while they record a TV program in the background. IPTV on Xbox 360 is expected to be available to consumers by holiday season 2007 and will be offered by providers that are deploying TV services based on the Microsoft TV IPTV Edition software platform.
"Our goal is to make entertainment more personal, more interactive and more social," Bach said. "IPTV on Xbox 360 and Xbox Live are powerful examples of ways we are bringing together the worlds of gaming, TV viewing and community to make it easy for people to access and discover their favorite content and share their personal experiences with the communities they are part of."
Microsoft TV IPTV Edition continues to strengthen its position in the market with deployments under way with five of the world's largest service providers and trials with 11 additional companies, representing a footprint across 14 countries on four continents.
Bach also showcased the strong momentum behind Xbox 360 and highlighted the company's success in delivering high-definition viewing experiences with HD DVD. Exceeding expectations by hitting the 10.4 million-console-sold mark this holiday season, Xbox 360 is the leading next-generation games and entertainment platform. It is also the largest social network in the living room, with 5 million Xbox Live members.

Wii Wireless Nunchucks on the Way?

Mat Brummit from Verdicts has said an unconfirmed source has revealed that Nintendo is working on a wireless nunchuck for their very popular Wii. After many complaints of the restriction and distraction of the cord on games that require much movement.

PS3 Sells More Consoles than 360?

Sony announced today that they sold over 1 Million consoles in North America since launch. Here's a quote from arrogant pricks:

"SCEA went to great lengths to help meet demand for PS3, including airlifting systems into North America on a weekly basis to ensure a steady stream of units were available to consumers throughout the holiday season," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, SCEA. "The fact that we were able to reach the one-million mark faster than our top-selling platform, the PS2, further validates the strength of the PlayStation brand and our belief that consumers are ready to experience true high-definition gaming." ... "Reaching the one million mark for PS3 is the first of many major milestones for us as we head into a new year. Even more impressive, is that we were able to accomplish this feat while successfully managing two other gaming platforms--PS2 and PSP," said Tretton. "With three PlayStation platforms now available to gamers, 2007 will be about software and delivering innovative, new experiences and award-winning franchises to consumers, both through retail and through our online PLAYSTATION Network."

Innovative and new experiences they say, well I say where? And from the last time I checked I don't think the PSP needs any managing.

1up, EGM, and Others to be Sold to the Highest Bidder!

Ziff Davis, who currently owns 1up, EGM, and others, may be selling the popular portals after a reported loss of revenues this past quarter. Read the article here.

New 360 Peripherals Coming Soon?

A recent poll to Xbox Live members hints to some new peripherals and software upgrades coming to the 360. Among these are an 80GB hardrive, a black controller with backlit buttons and rubberized grips, an old school joystick for Live titles, a keyboard device for text, a built in browser, and an online store where music downloads could be purchased.

Xbox 360 v2 Video: Fact or Fiction?

Though I don't want to believe it, it's hard to deny when it's in your face.

The Colors of the PS3

Is black not your color? PCN has all you need. Next is silver.

Oblivion Expansion The Shivering Isles

The new expansion of Oblivion called the Shivering Isles will include 30+ more hours of gameplay. Unlike the Knights of Nine, Shivering Isles will add a whole new land to discover. It will be divided into 2 parts. A northern side called Mania and a southern side called Dementia. Players will be able to travel between the worlds freely through a door in a statue located in the Niben Bay near Bravil. The Shivering Isles will change according to what the players do in the game and will include more quests, dungeons, and creatures. The Shivering Isles is slated to be released in the Spring of 2007 on the PC no word on the release of a 36o or PS3 version as of yet, but with the release of Knights of Nine on the 360 an update would seem likely.

CES Microsoft 360 Annoncement Leak?

According to Team Xbox Bill Gates and Robbie Bach will announce at CES that Microsoft has sold 10.4 Million units since launch and the 360's capability to be used as a STB for IPTV. Could this also be a good time to mention a new version of the 360? Possibly.

Blu-ray vs. HD DVD is it Over? Pt. 2

Time Warner Bros. plans to release a dual format disk at CES. This disk will feature the ability to play HD DVD content and Blu-ray content. There is even talk of the possibility for all three formats: DVD, Blu-ray, and HD DVD. This could be a good move for all the movie companies and for the consumers by doing so they do not have to chose a side in the war, they can just use one disk to make everything; One disk, one player, no confusion.

PS3 Absolutly NO Rumble!

Yet another downfall to the PS3. NO Rumble whatsoever. You already knew your controller didn't have rumble, but guess what, so will everything else. Here's a quote from Sony:

"All PS3 games are programmed for the SIXAXIS which doesn’t have force feedback, therefore the force feedback in the wheels won’t be recognized."

So if all games are programmed for the SIXAXIS that means NOTHING will have rumble not just the steering wheels. Another plus for the 360.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Update

The next Metroid game in the series has just been played by Gamepro in an invite only gaming session. From the looks of it Gamepro was very impressed. Here's a clip from the article:

"Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Definitely stole the the show. The graphics looked amazing -- better than Halo 2 on the Xbox without a doubt -- and the levels showed off sparkling details, proving the Wii is far more powerful than the Gamecube. Out of all the games we played, the Wii controller seemed most at home with Metroid."

Maybe playing it on the Wii won't be so bad after all.

Release Date of Bioshock Confirmed

The highly anticipated game Bioshock has just been confirmed to have a June 2007 release date for the Xbox 360 and PC. No word yet on the PS3. I know what I'll be playing this summer.

New 360 to be Released?

Some recent photos of the Xbox 360 have been reported by Engadget. The new 360 codenamed "Zephyr" is said to be released "soon" and features a HDMI port, 120 GB drive, and much cooler 65nm processors. Although the photos are unconfirmed, Microsoft has commented on the new system by saying "We have seen all types of claimed leaked photos like this show up online and as a standard policy we don't comment on speculative items." If you noticed they didn't deny it. Will this be Xbox 360 v2?

EA Game Price Cuts

Effective as of January 5, 2007 EA will cut the prices on a good many of their games. Just to name a few:

Fight Night Round 3
PlayStation 2 - Was: $39.99 New: $19.99
PSP - Was: $29.99 New: $19.99
Xbox 360 - Was: $59.99 New: $29.99
Xbox - Was: $29.99 New: $19.99

Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
Xbox 360 - Was: $49.99 New: $29.99

Madden NFL 07
Xbox 360 - Was: $59.99 New: $49.99
Xbox - Was: $39.99 New: $29.99
GBA - Was: $29.99 New: $19.99
GameCube - Was: $39.99 New: $29.99
PlayStation 2 - Was: $39.99 New: $29.99
PSP - Was: $39.99 New: $29.99

The Godfather
PlayStation 2 - Was: $39.99 New: $19.99
Xbox 360 - Was: $59.99 New: $39.99
Xbox - Was: $29.99 New: $19.99


You can get the whole list at Game Invasion

Blu-ray vs. HD DVD is it Over?

LG has announced a new dual Blu-ray/HD DVD drive that it will unveil at next weeks CES. Is this the end of the war?

PS3 Not Selling?

The highly anticipated and overrated PS3 console has fallen upon a time of grief. This picture was taken by Brian Crecente of Kotaku at Best Buy (don't bother counting it is 31). What a sad time for Sony.

For the Gamer is Back In Action

Patrick here just telling you that I'm back from my long vacation and that For the Gamer is back in action. I will be back soon with some more posts, until then leave me some comments about what all of you have gotten over the holidays.