Video Game Freedom

E3 2011: VGF is "socially there"

2011-05-31T19:41:00.006-04:00

In previous years, VGF took you "virtually there" to the biggest video game event of the year.

In 2011, VGF will take you "socially there" to the Electronic Entertainment Expo from June 6 through June 10 - cool graphic forthcoming.

You experience all of the news, reactions, and insights from this year's E3 on Facebook and Twitter.

So "like" us at http://www.facebook.com/VideoGameFreedom and follow us at twitter.com/vgfreedom.

So get ready and join the conversation as we take you "visually there."

VGF is going social

2011-04-12T19:57:00.004-04:00

A month without an update?

It's because all our base are belong to them.

Why not checkout VGF on Facebook and Twitter for all the up-to-date (and current) news and reviews from VGF.

Facebook

facebook.com/VideoGameFreedom

Twitter

twitter.com/vgfreedom

Dream Bingo

See you there!

The Legend of Zelda Turns 25

2011-02-21T19:41:00.004-05:00

Happy 25th anniversary to the Legend of Zelda series.

For a great overview of the series, visit this amazing feature on 1up.com.

Sony reveals the PSP2...Next Generation Portable

2011-01-27T17:44:00.007-05:00

It's been a while VGF fans, but the announcement of something codenamed the "Next Generation Portable" warrants a quick post.

That's right, word is officially out on the Sony PSP2 - again codenamed Next Generation Portable or NGP for short.

This PSP brethren packs an impressive list of features:

Multi-touch 5-inch organic light emitting display (OLED) as the front display
Multi-touch pad on the rear of the device
Dual analog sticks
Two cameras (front and rear)
Software titles on small, dedicated flash memory-based cards
Three motion sensors, gyroscope, accelerometer and electronic compass
Wi-Fi and 3G network connectivity
PlayStation Network access, including ““LiveArea™”, “Near” and “Activity” log features Trophy Support
NGP will be able to play PSP titles, minis, PS one classics, video and comics from the PlayStation Store.

The new handled is supposed to perform at the same level of the PlayStation 3 according to Sony representative at the Tokyo press event thanks to the quad core ARM Cortex A9. That's right - the NGP is more powerful than your desktop. No word on price, but analysts are projecting somewhere in the $300 to $350 range, a full $50 to $100 more than the upcoming Nintendo 3DS. No word on 3D functionality at this time.

Presumably, Sony has distributed development software to publishers which can easily port PlayStation 3 titles on NGP or perhaps allow for PS3 downloads on the PSN.

The NGP is certainly an intriguing new handheld, but can it beat the innovation of the Nintendo 3DS? The PSP's pitfall is its lack of a robust software library, can the NGP succeed with its predecessor faltered?

Sorry for the delay

2011-01-08T12:38:00.003-05:00

Sorry VGF fans!

VGF is on a minor hiatus and will return shortly. In the meantime, vote for your pick for the best video game in 2010 in the VGF poll located to the right of the post. Can't find your pick? Leave a comment below and tell us why it should have made it on the list.

Game on.

VIDEO: VGF's Black Friday Holiday Gift Guide

2010-11-24T18:58:00.006-05:00

Thanksgiving is just about here and many gamers are looking for the best deals of the season during Black Friday.

Take a look at the first-ever VGF video which is the VGF Black Friday Holiday Gift Guide to review some of the best games this season and where you can go to find the best prices.

Motion Controlled Madness: PlayStation Move and Microsoft Kinect impressions

2010-11-19T15:42:00.005-05:00

Yesterday, I finally had the chance to play both the PlayStation Move and Microsoft Kinect one right after the other.

It was my second bout with Sony's entry into the motion controlled world with the PlayStation Move and it was first experience with public humiliation while trying my hand (feet, head, etc.) at Microsoft's Kinect.

Lets start with the Move.

Just as I thought, it looks, feels and plays just like the Nintendo Wii. Sure, it's a little more sensitive and responsive than the Wii, but it certainly does not track motion 1:1 in real time.

I've only gotten to test drive the Move in a demo version of Sports Champions, which comes bundled with the PlayStation Eye and Move controller bundle for $100.

In the demo, my options were limited to disc golf and table tennis. Both were fairly responsive and looked beautiful in the process, but the PlayStation Move controls felt a bit stale, almost like it's copying something that was released four years ago...

Nevertheless, the Move was responsive, although not exact and sometime sluggish. Force feedback with the Move wand is a nice addition especially in the table tennis demo.

Sony took another page for Nintendo's book and charges an extra $30 for a PlayStation Move Navigation Controller (a nearly identical concept to the Wii's Nunchuk) or $20 for the PlayStation Move Shooting attachment, a glorified piece of red plastic similar to the Wii Zapper.

If nothing else, the Microsoft Kinect does away with pricey accessories which justifies its $150 price tag.

The Kinect certainly receives some style points for innovation although the camera doesn't appear all that clear when you see your staticy face on the screen during calibration.

The Kinect seems less responsive than the Move although it's hard to judge either in a traffic-heavy electronics store, especially the Kinect which relies solely on its camera.

Kinect Sports seemed to have a wider variety of interesting games that display the capabilities of the Kinect. Some carefully timed mini games are a bit challenging though given the lag time I experienced with the Kinect. I had a hard time properly (and foolishly) positioning my hands, feet and body for a goalkeeper mini game for example. Not to brag, but it seems that the Kinect's reaction time wasn't as fast as mine which resulted in a disconnect in the experience.

The Kinect seems like the more innovative and versatile peripheral between the two although you look pretty silly when you have to hold your arms over your head to begin a game.

The problem facing both the PlayStation Move and Xbox 360's Kinect is the lack of enticing software. Both Sony and Microsoft have yet to release a game to really convince PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 owners to take the plunge, let alone Wii owners.

In the end, both motion controllers add a new level of gameplay to its respective console and is a surefire holiday gift for families.

Is Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood worth its lineage?

2010-11-16T17:29:00.004-05:00

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is on shelves today and Gamespot.com gave the sequel to VGF's 2009 Game of the Year, Assassin's Creed II, an 8.5 out of 10:

The new online multiplayer in looks to be a refreshing addition to an online multiplayer community saturated with first-person shooters. However, the game initially feels like an expansion from Assassin's Creed II rather than another, full-fledged addition to the series as the Gamespot.com review suggests.

Is this praise warranted or is this a game that was released too soon?

Nintendo 3DS receives a Japanese release date, names launch titles

2010-10-02T19:06:00.005-04:00

First off, sorry of the lack of activity on VGF as of late (including the lateness of this particular set of news). I've been focusing my attention in a few different directions as of late and my soon begin to do some writing for Gameinatrix.com which is very exciting.

Nevertheless, Nintendo announced the Japanese release date and price for its new 3D handheld - Nintendo 3DS.

The console is set for release on Feb. 26 in Japan at a price point that converts to about $300 U.S. A North American release will likely follow one to two months later so save some room in your Easter basket.

A new, Japanese announcement trailer accompanied the announcement last week. Does anyone read Japanese?

The Nintendo 3DS is also backwards compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color titles via the Virtual Console similar to the Nintendo Wii, so be prepared to again fork out some cash for games you already own. The Nintendo 3DS should play Nintendo DS game, but it is unclear if the system will play Game Boy Advanced cartridges - but, what's their incentive?

The Nintendo 3DS will launch with 10 title including a 3D upgrade to the 1998 classic - and arguably the greatest video game every made - "The Legend of Zelda" Ocarina of Time." Check out a full list of launch and announced titles via Gamespot.com:

Spring 2011
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D--Nintendo
Nintendogs + Cats--Nintendo
Pilotwings Resort (working title)--Nintendo
Pro Baseball Spirits--Konami
Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle--Level 5
Ridge Racer 3D--Namco Bandai
Samurai Warriors Chronicle--Tecmo Koei
Steel Diver--Nintendo
Super Monkey Ball (working title)--Sega
Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition--Capcom

Unspecified 2011
Kid Icarus: Uprising--Nintendo
Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D - The Naked Sample--Konami

To Be Announced
Chocobo Racing 3D (working title)--Square Enix
Star Fox 64 3D--Nintendo
Animal Crossing (working title)--Nintendo
Dead or Alive: Dimensions--Tecmo Koei
Paper Mario (working title)--Nintendo
Mario Kart (working title)--Nintendo
Resident Evil: Revelations--Capcom
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D--Capcom

How Super Mario has changed in the last 25 years

2010-09-14T17:44:00.015-04:00

Super Mario, the world's favorite plumber - and perhaps world's favorite video game character - celebrated the 25th anniversary his debut title Super Mario Bros. yesterday.

Who knew 25 years ago, a simple Italian plumber in red overhauls created by Japanese video game producers would eventually manifest into one of the most well know characters in popular culture.

To celebrate this milestone, Nintendo has released a rather impressive video and website celebrating 25 years of its poster boy.

Lets take a look at how Mario has changed throughout the years.

1981
Donkey Kong

Super Mario was not always super, or even Mario for that matter. Mario made his first "unofficial" debut in the 1981 classic arcade game Donkey Kong. He didn't jump as high back then, and for whatever reason jumping on things didn't hurt as much after this arcade debut.

1985
Super Mario Bros.

Anything and everything relating to Super Mario originated from the classic Super Mario Bros. This is Super Mario in his original, purest and "pixeliest" form. If you listen closely enough, you should be able to hear the classic Super Mario Bros. overworld theme in your head with just a glance of the original Super Mario.

1988
Super Mario Bros. 2

Three years brought a lot of detail to Mario's new look. It's surprising how much more detail the Nintendo could squeeze out of a simple character model. This is the first glimpse of Mario as we know him today.

1990
Super Mario Bros. 3

Again Mario's look changes ever so slightly. In fact, the Super Mario we see in Super Mario Bros. 3 (arguably the best Super Mario title) is not as detailed as in his previous bout. The Mario we see in SMB3 is a bit of a hybrid between the classic Mario in Super Mario Bros. and SMB2.

1990
Super Mario World

A new console, a new Mario. The Italian plumber's first and only game on the Super Nintendo brought back a look similar his SMB2 visage. This is also the first time we see a few different shades in his clothing.

1996
Super Mario 64

After six long years, Mario finally rose again and this time in a new dimension. Super Mario 64 was the first time we could critique Mario on a low-polygonal level and it's quite noticeable now. It was sure great to finally see Mario run and jump in a 3D environment.

2002
Super Mario Sunshine

After another six years, we finally see the return of Mario with a little hardware this time. Mario's look stays rather consistent albeit in much more detail. I just wish Super Mario Sunshine was a little longer.

2007/2010
Super Mario Galaxy/Super Mario Galaxy 2

Lets speed ahead to the Mario we now know and love. He's not all that different from what we saw in Super Mario Sunshine - probably because the Wii isn't any more powerful graphically than the Nintendo GameCube. Nevertheless, Mario has matured a tad bit from the two-dimensional, pixel-filled hero of yore.

Happy 25th Mario!

Final Fantasy Football: Cheerleaders - Rikku, Oerba Dia Vanille, Yuffie Kisaragi

2010-09-04T17:32:00.003-04:00

Most of the nation is crazed about their fantasy football picks.

Gamers are organizing their Final Fantasy Football selections.

Final Fantasy, the more than 20-year-old video game franchise, provides more than enough characters and attributes to warrant an official fantasy football selection. There is even a couple Wiki "Uncyclopedia" entries on the topic, so you know it's legit.

Over the next week VGF will showcase the best picks for the ultimate Final Fantasy Football team taken primarily from the franchise's most recent endeavors. Who's your pick?

Previous picks:

Running Back - Zidane Tribal

Tight End - Cecil Harvey

Kicker - Tidus

Fullback - Barret Wallace

Quarterback - Cloud Strife

Wide Receivers - Sephiroth, Squall Leonhart, Tifa Lockhart

Cheerleaders
Rikku, Oerba Dia Vanille, Yuffie Kisaragi
Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy VII

At the risk of sounding or seeming overly sexist there is a reason here. Any Final Fantasy fan could tell you that recent installments of the series have nearly all featured some sort of bubbly and cheerful female character. As you can see they try to evenly space these "girlie girls," but they are near copies of each other and the perfect (and very cheerful) support for your team on the field.

Final Fantasy Football: Wide Receivers - Sephiroth, Squall Leonhart, Tifa Lockhart

2010-09-03T18:00:00.014-04:00

Most of the nation is crazed about their fantasy football picks.

Gamers are organizing their Final Fantasy Football selections.

Final Fantasy, the more than 20-year-old video game franchise, provides more than enough characters and attributes to warrant an official fantasy football selection. There is even a couple Wiki "Uncyclopedia" entries on the topic, so you know it's legit.

Over the next week VGF will showcase the best picks for the ultimate Final Fantasy Football team taken primarily from the franchise's most recent endeavors. Who's your pick?

Previous picks:

Running Back - Zidane Tribal
Tight End - Cecil Harvey

Kicker - Tidus

Fullback - Barret Wallace

Quarterback - Cloud Strife

Wide Receivers
Sephiroth, Squall Leonhart, Tifa Lockhart
Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII

Wide receivers have to be strong, agile and accurate. Final Fantasy villain champion Sephiroth, Final Fantasy VII hero Squall Leonhart and one-third of the Final Fantasy VII love triangle, Tifa Lockhart, represent all three qualities. Indeed, there are other Final Fantasy heroes that could fill this role such as, Firion or the Hero of Light, could easily fill in at times. These particular may have the best chemistry with quarterback Cloud Strife (ok, maybe not Sephiroth). Look for these heroes on the Final Fantasy Football field soaring and crushing defenders.

Final Fantasy Football: Quarterback - Cloud Strife

2010-09-02T17:41:00.003-04:00

Most of the nation is crazed about their fantasy football picks.

Gamers are organizing their Final Fantasy Football selections.

Final Fantasy, the more than 20-year-old video game franchise, provides more than enough characters and attributes to warrant an official fantasy football selection. There is even a couple Wiki "Uncyclopedia" entries on the topic, so you know it's legit.

Over the next week VGF will showcase the best picks for the ultimate Final Fantasy Football team taken primarily from the franchise's most recent endeavors. Who's your pick?

Previous picks:

Running Back - Zidane Tribal

Tight End - Cecil Harvey

Kicker - Tidus

Fullback - Barret Wallace

Quarterback
Cloud Strife
Final Fantasy VII

The unlikely leader of Final Fantasy VII is a noble pick for perhaps the most important player on the field. The notorious Final Fantasy fanboy favorite, Cloud Strife does possess quite a bit of leadership skills. Remember Cloud's coordinated assault against Jenova and Sephiroth in the Northern Crater. Besides, if he can wield that big of a sword with any accuracy, I'm sure he can throw a football.

Final Fantasy Football: Fullback - Barret Wallace

2010-09-01T17:26:00.001-04:00

Most of the nation is crazed about their fantasy football picks.

Gamers are organizing their Final Fantasy Football selections.

Final Fantasy, the more than 20-year-old video game franchise, provides more than enough characters and attributes to warrant an official fantasy football selection. There is even a couple Wiki "Uncyclopedia" entries on the topic, so you know it's legit.

Over the next week VGF will showcase the best picks for the ultimate Final Fantasy Football team taken primarily from the franchise's most recent endeavors. Who's your pick?

Previous picks:

Running Back - Zidane Tribal

Tight End - Cecil Harvey

Kicker - Tidus

Fullback
Barret Wallace
Final Fantasy VII

Like the running back, the fullback can run the football. However, the fullback doesn't rely so much on speed as he does on power. Why not through a machine arm wielding ally in the fray? Barret has the lethal force and sheer strength to rip apart any defensive line.

Final Fantasy Football: Kicker - Tidus

2010-08-31T17:08:00.003-04:00

Most of the nation is crazed about their fantasy football picks.

Gamers are organizing their Final Fantasy Football selections.

Final Fantasy, the more than 20-year-old video game franchise, provides more than enough characters and attributes to warrant an official fantasy football selection. There is even a couple Wiki "Uncyclopedia" entries on the topic, so you know it's legit.

Over the next week VGF will showcase the best picks for the ultimate Final Fantasy Football team taken primarily from the franchise's most recent endeavors. Who's your pick?

Previous picks:

Running Back - Zidane Tribal

Tight End - Cecil Harvey

Kicker
Tidus
Final Fantasy X

The blitzball star and protagonist of Final Fantasy X is one of the few Final Fantasy characters with experience in professional sports. However, his skills would be best served as a kicker of any fantasy football team. This being because blitzball is a game primarily played using your feet to score. I'm sure those skills are transferable out of water and on the turf.

Final Fantasy Football: Tight End - Cecil Harvey

2010-08-30T17:34:00.005-04:00

Most of the nation is crazed about their fantasy football picks.

Gamers are organizing their Final Fantasy Football selections.

Final Fantasy, the more than 20-year-old video game franchise, provides more than enough characters and attributes to warrant an official fantasy football selection. There is even a couple Wiki "Uncyclopedia" entries on the topic, so you know it's legit.

Over the next week VGF will showcase the best picks for the ultimate Final Fantasy Football team taken primarily from the franchise's most recent endeavors. Who's your pick?

Previous picks:

Running Back - Zidane Tribal

Tight End
Cecil Harvey
Final Fantasy IV

The tight end position is one of the most versatile on the field. Often the last man on the offensive line, the tight end can choose to block oncoming defensemen or join in the foray as an elible receiver. Only a dynamic hero will do. Enter: Cecil Harvey. This dark knight turned paladin is the master of shifting "jobs" and is effective at both roles making him the ideal tight end. Might as well throw in Cecil's trusty airship force (and the world's greatest professional sports team), the Red Wings, as a steady offensive line.

Final Fantasy Football: Running back - Zidane Tribal

2010-08-29T16:26:00.004-04:00

Summer is ending and gridiron madness has taken hold of much of the nation as the National Football League's preseason completes its third week.

Many college pigskin seasons begin this week and the NFL will kickoff on Sept. 9 forcing many football fans to make their official fantasy football selections.

Although many gamers have championed their third national championship in NCAA 11 or fourth super bowl ring in Madden 11, what about the rest of the video game community?

The time is now for football fanatics and gaming gurus to collide. Behold: Final Fantasy Football.

The more than 20-year-old video game franchise provides more than enough characters and attributes to warrant an official fantasy football selection. There is even a couple Wiki "Uncyclopedia" entries on the topic, so you know it's legit.

Over the next week VGF will showcase the best picks for the ultimate Final Fantasy Football team taken primarily from the franchise's most recent endeavors. Who's your pick?

Running back
Zidane Tribal
Final Fantasy IX

This former bandit leader is known for his speed and agility. The pint-sized hero of Final Fantasy IX would make an ideal running back easily slipping through defenders. Although he may be the savior of Gaia, Zidane's quirky tale may prove an inconvenient trait and an easy target for defenders to make a quick tackle. Nevertheless, expect a wide variety of touchdown celebrations from the master of theatrics and member of the Tantalus Theater Troupe.

A web-based gaming diversion: Record Tripping

2010-08-26T17:31:00.005-04:00

The state of web-based gaming seems to fluctuate from the creative to the overly monotonous.

Surprisingly enough, a majority of web-based games are played by middle-aged women likely because many resemble classic puzzle titles with approachable controls.

I stumbled on a unique web-based game and 2010 Webby award-winner for best game called Record Tripping by independent game designers and brothers John and Dan Bell.

Like all good web-based games, Record Tripping isn't hard to understand and doesn't take up much of your time. All you need is your mouse with a scroll wheel.

The basic premise circles around manipulating different objects around the principle of reversing, speeding-up and slowing down a "record." A brief tutorial shows players how easily each task is done. Holding down the left-button on the mouse will slow the record, scrolling up speeds-up in the record and scrolling down slows it down. That's it!

The audio for our record is a narration of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson's 1895 children's tale "Alice in Wonderland." However, the player's manipulation of the audio is coupled with a different songs in a contemporary music selection for of the game's five levels. The sound of record scratches gives the player a sense of manipulating your own mixed person of songs by the Gorillaz, Spoon and Death Cab for Cutie while in the process of playing the game.

Each level presents a new challenge using the same principle and controls described in the tutorial, but in different ways. You'll manipulate the wind, a clock or a safe combination in the same way you scratch the game's tutorial vinyl record. The game's creative scenarios are reminiscent of game such as the time-altering and award-winning Braid for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

The game's presentation is well polished to makes for an enjoyable (and free) experience.

Video game world record holder Billy Mitchell reclaims Donkey Kong crown

2010-08-19T17:32:00.001-04:00

Last night I finally got a chance to view the 2007 documentary "The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters" and I highly recommend the strangely compelling look at competitive realm of arcade gaming.

The film focuses on newcomer Steve Weibe and his attempt to break a world record in the arcade classic Donkey Kong set by the crafty arcade gaming expert Billy Mitchell, whom is portrayed as a bit of a villain in the film, in 1982.

Nevertheless, the film is fantastic and well-crafted.

However, earlier this year, Mitchell's 1,050,200-point world record was broken by New York resident and 35 year old Hank Chein.

Since most of the film surrounds the official ranking on gaming scorekeeper Twin Galaxies, I decided to check it out and I found that a new world champion was very recently crowned. Billy Mitchell again reclaimed the thrown as the world record holder for Donkey Kong with 1,062,800 points breaking Chein's record by a mere 1,100 points.

The record was set a matter of weeks ago on July 31.

It seems as though Billy Mitchell refuses to let his Kong crown go.

NPD Report spells a bad omen for the Sony PSP

2010-08-13T17:10:00.004-04:00

Word is spanning across the web that recent findings from market research agency, The NPD Group, show the Xbox 360 has overtaken the Nintendo Wii in the number of units sold last month for the first time since 2007.

The Microsoft console outsold the Wii 443,500 units to 398,400 units and many are claiming the new slimline Xbox 360 may be the cause.

However, what's more alarming is how terribly the PlayStation Portable is selling.

The PSP ranked fifth in the hardware list with only 84,000 units sold. Next on the list is the hand held's younger, albeit beefier, brother the PlayStation 3 with 214,500 consoles sold in July.

The 130,500 unit difference is bad enough, but what's worse is Sony's hand held competitor, Nintendo DS, outsold the PSP by 314,400 units and was the second most sold console with 398,400 finding their way to gamer hands last month.

A pitiful display by the five-year-old hand held is awful news for Sony and is likely the result of its overpriced move with the PSP Go and continued popularity and success of the Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi and Nintendo DSi XL.

The PSPGo's $250 price tag and wifi dependence has likely turned off gamers who are less accustomed to consoles without physical media - although the Apple iPad may be changing that philosophy. Older versions of the PSP retail cheaper, at $169.99, but that price point is near the Nintendo DSiXL for an older model of the console.

Nevertheless, it all comes down to games. Despite the success of "Metal Gear Sold: Peace Walker," the PSP game library is dwindling almost as quickly as the Nintendo Wii's. Like Nintendo, Sony has been forced to rely on first party titles to keep it afloat such as games from the "God of War" and "Little Big Planet" franchises.

It's time for the Sony PSP to reinvent itself in a different way than the overpriced PSP Go otherwise it will soon be PSP Gone.

Would you buy a $250 Nintendo 3DS? Details coming Sept. 29

2010-07-29T17:21:00.008-04:00

The Nintendo announced and showcased the Nintendo 3DS, the gaming giant's next iteration into the hand held foray, at Nintendo's E3 2010 press conference (although it was more or less announced earlier this year) to a bonanza of hype.

Could the hype and excitement for the world's first non-glasses 3D entertainment device warrant a $250 price tag? One analyst thinks so.

Industry analyst Michael Pachter of financial and investment firm Wedbush Securities told CVG any price below $300 will allow Nintendo to quickly sell 10 million consoles. He said Nintendo may also be in a position to sell the 3D console's software for a higher price, from an average of $25 per title to $29, placing it more inline with Sony's PlayStation Portable.

Nintendo will make a formal announcement on Sept. 29 concerning a new product announcement, likely the launch date and price of the Nintendo 3DS according to Computerworld.

The question is, would you pay that much for the Nintendo 3DS?

I felt foolish when I forked out about $500 for my PS3, but we're looking at a price that is nearly equivalent to the $299 PS3 slim models. Granted, the overpriced PSP Go currently retails for $250 so Nintendo isn't that far off, but it seems like the $100 jump from the Nintendo DS's original price point and at least $60 more than the Nintendo DSi XL is a little too far.

What do you think?

Renaming the "working title" in video games

2010-07-12T15:14:00.016-04:00

Every project needs a title even though creators often don't commit to an official title.

However, in the video game industry, often times the "working title" of a console or game often becomes the only title that sticks in the minds of gamers...or the largest retail chain in the world.

A Walmart advertisement in my local Sunday newspaper listed the new Microsoft "Project Natal" as an "revolutionary new way to play" this fall. I'm not sure when the advertisement was pieced together, but the world has known the new motion-controlled camera peripheral for the Xbox 360 as the Kinect for nearly a month now.

Luckily the retailer's website is aware of Microsoft's Kinect and it's $149.54 price tag.

Who could forget that the Nintendo Wii was first called the "Revolution" for several years before it receive its laughable name. Previously there was the Nintendo Ultra 64 (Nintendo 64) and the Nintendo 64DD ("DD" standing for disk drive) which never came to fruition.

Of course every "The Legend of Zelda" game always has a working title of "The Legend of Zelda."

At least Sony conveniently unnamed it's "motion controller" before dubbing it the "PlayStation Move" earlier this year.

Every game has some sort of working title during development since game producers are so eager to show off their software that they don't bother to take the time to name it. A simple google search for working titles in video games gives us "Heroes on the Move," "Silent Hill 8," "Vectorman," "The Shoot," and of course Sony's blockbuster holiday hit "Motion Fighter."

I'm waiting for game to have the "working title" of "working title," that's something that's easy to remember.

A lot of times we are caught using the "working title" of a game or console for so long we have it ingrained in our minds. Project Natal is a clear example of this which is why I still have a hard time calling it the Konact...Conict...Connect...Kinect.

Roger Ebert Admits He May Have Been Wrong About Video Games as Art

2010-07-01T19:38:00.003-04:00

After an onslaught of 4,547 comments, film critic Roger Ebert conceded that he may have spoken too soon after he posted an entry on his blog video games can never be art.

Today, Ebert ate a few of his words in a new blog post where he sites the "don't knock it 'till you try it" defense as the error of his ways:

I was a fool for mentioning video games in the first place. I would never express an opinion on a movie I hadn't seen. Yet I declared as an axiom that video games can never be Art. I still believe this, but I should never have said so. Some opinions are best kept to yourself.

Ebert said he has not played many video games aside from "Cosmology of Kyoto" (which I'm not aware of) and the 1993 classic "Myst."

I should not have written that entry without being more familiar with the actual experience of video games.

However, he does mention that Sony Computer Entertainment's "Shadow of the Colossus" does come close to art and even admits that video games do have the potential to become art amongst some fumbling of words:

What I was saying is that video games could not in principle be Art. That was a foolish position to take, particularly as it seemed to apply to the entire unseen future of games. This was pointed out to me maybe hundreds of times. How could I disagree? It is quite possible a game could someday be great Art.

Ebert does give a clear definition of art and notes that video games could not be considered art by technicality because video games are not created primarily for their beauty or emotional power: neither are many films, nor are many Academy Award winning films.

Nevertheless, it was very nice of Mr. Ebert to concede that he could not be an accurate judge of video games since he has not played many himself. It was a stupid comment to make in the first place with a world littered with opinionated and die-hard video game fans.

The fact still remains that video games can and should be considered an art form.

E3 2010 leftovers: Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit

2010-06-23T18:27:00.004-04:00

That's right, one of the best racing franchises returns with Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit.

The Need for Speed series took a nose dive when it branched to the ulta-modification, street racing genre with the Need for Speed Underground series and the franchise hasn't recovered since.

However, the follow-up with the 2002 classic Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2 could promise to remarry great arcade-style racing with the world's coolest cars and epic police chases.

Look for this one in the Fall or check it out right now, below:

E3 2010: Sony Press Conference Reactions

2010-06-15T22:45:00.006-04:00

It's round three and Sony's last on the list. Lets find out with the home of the PS3 and PSP has in store with the new PlayStation Move. Checkout all of the happenings and reaction below.

Of course Jack Tretton is eager to boost how great the Playstation 3 and PSP are, blah, blah.

3D's the thing for Sony as well. A few downloadable titles are available now in 3D using everyone's "3D capable" PS3's and Sony's ridiculously overpriced 3D Bravia TVs. Again, Sony's priced themselves out of the fun. 20 more 3D titles are set to hit the PS3 by March 2011.

Killzone 3 in 3D. The effect is lost when you're not in the audience with 3D glasses. It begs the questions though, can you play these games without a 3D tv? Nevertheless, Killzone 3 looks just as intense and just as beautiful as it's predecessor and the new jet pack is awesome. Coming February 2011 and will be compatible with the PlayStation Move.

Other 3D games will come from the Motorstorm and Sly Cooper franchises as well as Gran Turismo 5 3D. Also on-board is Crysis 2, Mortal Kombat, Shaun White Snowboarding, Ghost Recon Future Solider, Tron Evolution and NBA 2K11. Games like The Fight, the new Eyetoy game and MLB 11 The Show will utilize both the Move and 3D technology.

I find it hard to believe they sold 7.2 million PS2's last year.

Next is the PlayStation Move. As well as know the Playstation Eye and new PlayStation Move controller work together to give one-to-one precession movement. However, Sony - like Nintendo - felt compelled to have game developers tell us why this thing is so great. I love how Sony's big advantage over the Kinect are its buttons.

Sorcery is a Move-exclusive. Casting spells are as easy as flicking your wrist in the direction you want to attack. It appears to work fluidly with the actions of the player and looks incredibly responsive. Using the different magical abilities together and seamlessly with the Move actually made an otherwise mediocre game look like a lot of fun. It should be one to keep an eye on until it hits store shelves in Spring 2011.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11, I don't care to comment.
Heroes on the Move looks to be a plateformer featuring six of Sony's franchise characters such as Jax, Daxter, Sly and Ratchet.

Sony also announced a massive cross-promotional deal with Coca-Cola to feature Move titles on Coke products which I'm sure cost a pretty penny.

Kevin Butler of commercial fan presented what was seemingly a stand-up routine poking shots at Microsoft and Sony. Also known as a bit of a waste of time.

The Move will move out in North American on September 19. The Playstation Move controller will sell for $49.99 and the navigation controller will cost $29.99. PS3 owners without a Playstation Eye can purchase a bundle featuring the Playstation Eye, Move controller and Sports Champions game for $99.99. Those who want to start from scratch can own a PS3 and the bundle for $399.99. Sony will launch with 15 to 20 titles on day one and 4o more during the holiday season. Some pre-existing titles will incorporate a software update for Move compatibility.

Sony's montage for the Move doesn't show too many launch titles to be excited about.

Next we turn to the PSP.

InVisimals uses a camera attachment to the PSP, another God of War game finds its way with God of War: Ghost of Sparta, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, an Ace of Combat game and others. More than 70 titles will hit the PSP by December.

Playstation Network is next. Sony's E3 booth is available on Playstation Home which is pretty cool.

Little Big Plant 2 where, as we know, you can create even more content and even game modes.

It seems that Sony didn't have much more to show aside from a few game trailers, an announcement that Portal 2 is coming to PS3, Dead Space: 2 will include a Move-optimized version of Dead Space: Extraction, Gran Turismo 5 races in November, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Final Fantasy XIV and a new Twisted Metal game for the PS3 (it's been a while since we've seen one of those).Overall, Sony's presentation was a little more exciting than Microsoft's, but Nintendo was the outright winner of the year. Sony's 3D strategy is a little suspect considering the outrageous cost by purchasing a 3D Bravia TV just to play game in 3D. That's not going to happen.

Keep your Bravia, I'd like a Nintendo 3DS please.

E3 2010: Portal 2 trailer

2010-06-15T22:45:00.004-04:00

Perhaps one of the best games in this generation and one of the greatest puzzle games ever made, Portal, will finally receive an encore this year on the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3. Here's a first look at Portal 2 which isn't due for release until 2011.

E3 2010: Nintendo Press Conference Reactions

2010-06-15T17:20:00.007-04:00

Day two kicks off right away after a so-so-showing from Microsoft. Nintendo looks to liven things up with the new 3DS as well as a new Zelda title for the Wii. Take a look at all the action and reactions from Nintendo's E3 2010 press conference.

Of course, Nintendo's press conference begins with Reggie Fils-Amie taking about the "buzz" of technology and the experience of playing video games. Then of course, Zelda.

A short preview and demonstration is shown for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. This time the Wii's controls are more intuitive to the movements and functions of Link. As with Twilight Princess, the Wii remote functions as Link's sword and the nunchuk acts as his shield. However, added precision with the Wii Motion Plus and a few other tweaks may make Link's next adventure a breathe of fresh air for the series. However, poor Shigeru Miyamoto had some trouble at times because it looks like the game was not as responsive as it could be, certainly less so than the Kinect seen yesterday although it was likely because of some sort of WiFi interference. Let's hope that's a bug that can be worked out before the game launches in 2011.

Mario Sports Mix is actually a surprising game that is pretty exciting. It looks like Mario Sports Mix will include volleyball, hockey, dodgeball and basketball in classic Mario chaos. This one's coming, again, in 2011.

Wii Party allows players to connect with other Wii users across the globe to play a variety of mini games. It could be entertaining for a weekend, but that's about it. Just Dance 2 now looks like it's a few steps behind Microsoft's Kinect.

Golden Sun: Dark Dawn will arrive this year. Based on the quick preview, Dark Dawn seems to have the overhead view very similar to the Zelda titles on the DS with battles that look nearly identical to Final Fantasy game in their heyday.

Goldeneye returns exclusively to Nintendo this year as well. For whatever reason it looks like the visuals are all too similar to its 1996 counterpart, but Daniel Craig is voicing James Bond in this one. It instantly has the same look and feel as the original. This may be one to watch and is certainly a pleasant surprise.

Disney Epic Mickey actually looks very cool. Visuals are reminiscent of Kingdom Hearts and in the game Mickey can paint or use thinner to create or remove obstacles in the environment. It's fair innovated and could be a great treat later this year.

There will be a new Kirby game in Kirby Epic Yarn and Metroid: Other M hits stores on August 31 which could go either way. Sorry, the video I was watching cut out at this point.

Donkey Country Returns! Just as Mario returned to his routes in New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Donkey Kong is doing the same with a new game that rekindles some of the best gameplay from the SNES with updated graphics while maintaining a lot of the original gameplay. This looks like an instant must-own this Fall.

The rest of the show was dominated by the uber-cool Nintendo 3DS. It looks just like a Nintendo DSi with a 3.5 inch widescreen display, analogue stick on the lower half above the directional pad, and full 3D graphics without 3D glasses.

The amount of depth displayed in 3D is determined by a slider on the side of the unit and only the bottom screen will be a touch-screen, like the DS, but that bottom screen will not project a 3D which is disappointing.

Nintendo upped the graphics on the new 3DS and installed motion sensors and a gryosensor (whatever that is) to pair the new hand held a little closer to the Wii.

However, most interesting is the Nintendo 3DS will take photos via two cameras on the front of the console to be viewed in 3D and 3D movies will be available for the little bugger as well.

Kid Icarus Uprising is announced as a launch title for the 3DS and is revealed as Nintendo's secret "Project Sora." It looks absolutely outstanding for a hand held game and revives old memories of a franchise long forgotten. Plus, oh boy, Nintendogs +cats. Luckily, a slue of other developers have jumped on board promising games from the Resident Evil, Metal Gear Solid and Kindom Hearts franchises. When we'll actually see any of these games is an entirely different matter.

Nintendo concluded its presentation with one of the worst promotional videos ever made and a hooky barrage of attractive women with Nintendo 3DS hand helds strapped to their wastes ready to show those in the theater. No footage was shown because you apparently have to physically view the console for the 3D effect to work. Importantly, no release date was set for the 3DS.

Overall, Nintendo's presentation was far better than Microsoft's showing with a hefty bunch of Nintendo titles to certainly wet the appetite. Add the new 3DS and Nintendo has brought a lot for gamers to be excited about in the next year.

E3 2010: Sony's Press Conference

2010-06-15T14:00:00.001-04:00

Haven't had enough motion controllers yet? Then take a look at Sony's press conference and what's in store with the PlayStation Move.

Free TV : Ustream

E3 2010: Nintendo Press Conference

2010-06-15T11:00:00.001-04:00

Day two is underway and it's up to the house that Super Mario built to wow the E3 crowd. Take a look at Nintendo has in store at this year's E3 and perhaps our first look at 3D gaming.

Free Webcam Chat at Ustream

E3 2010: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

2010-06-14T22:15:00.003-04:00

Take a look at the return of Ezio in Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood coming November 16 to the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Grab more info at the game's official website.

E3 2010: Microsoft Press Conference Reactions

2010-06-14T17:01:00.008-04:00

Today is day one of E3 2010 and Microsoft took the stage first with it's E3 press conference. Here's a look at what happened and some thoughts on what Microsoft's presentation had to showcase.

First up was Call of Duty: Black Ops. We've seen a lot of footage of this one for a while, but this was the time we say gameplay in action. It looks to follow in-step with other games in the franchise. This time look for some fantastic visual detail in the game's jungle settings and what looks to be some exciting gameplay while flying a helicopter. All add-on and multiplayer packs are set to launch first on the Xbox 360 through 2010 although I believe Microsoft has already tied that up until this point anyway. You can expect Call of Duty: Black Ops on the Xbox 360 - and likely the PS3 - on November 11.

Next was Metal Gear Solid Rising. This time it's Raiden in the drivers seat and it looks like the main point is to "cut" your way through the game. Although a connection with the new Kinect was not officially announced, it looks like players will be using the motion controlled system to make precise cuts into character in what looks like a very bloody game. No launch date was set although we'll likely have to wait until late 2011 or later.

Everything from that point forward was announced as "only available on the Xbox 360." That perhaps means that Metal Gear Solid Rising will likely find it's way to the PS3 (and perhaps Wii, although that's highly doubtful).

Gears of War 3 was showcased in a four-player, story-based cooperative mode. It looks to take the best of Resident Evil 5 and throw it together with classic Gears of War gore and mayhem including newly mutated enemies.

Fable 3 takes place 50 years after the events of Fable 2. I've never played any of the Fable games, so I'm not sure how significant of a title the third installment will be. It ships out on October 26.

Developer Crytek is creating an Xbox 360-exclusive Codename Kingdoms. Get your gladiator on.

Halo Reach continues the story of Halo from the beginning. Looks like a lot of your typically Halo action with the addition of what looks like space combat. It appears no release date was given.

Finally the Project Natal turned Kinect. It's voice recognition is pretty impressive and the entire Zune library is now available on Xbox LIVE. VideoKinect looks like a possibly versatile by allowing Xbox 360 users to video chat with those on a PC running Window's or on an Xbox 360 all with sleek motion controls with the wave of a hand (can't tell how you select though). The ability to watch videos together makes for great conversation pieces and camera moves and focuses on the speaker as they move. Space-age technology.

A new partnership with ESPN will allow for more than 3,500 sporting events to be streamed on the Xbox 360. Amazingly, the new service is free for Xbox LIVE Gold Members. However, ESPN means no hockey.

The showcase of some of the titles we'll see from the Kinect begins with a little girl playing with a baby tiger named skittles, once and for all showing just how stupid you can potentially look while playing the Kinect in Kinectimals.

You can look equally stupid running in place in Kinect Sports. Then there's Kinect Joy Ride and Kinect Adventures (the game splits to a split-screen mode when another player walks into the action).

Your Shape: Fitness Evolved from Ubisoft showcased a great example of what the Kinect is capable of. The Kinect scanning a body image and tailor makes menus and exercises based on your body type. It actually looks like something you might lose weight from because it requires full body movement unlike Nintendo Wii versions.

Dance Central looks like a next-generation DDR. Also the epitamy of how stupid you can look while "dancing" on the Kinect. Nevertheless, it's sure to be a kit with the Jonas Brothers/Twilight crowd.

Kinect launches in the U.S. on November 4.

A new Star Wars using the Kinect was showcased in Jedi lightsaber-wielding fashion complete with force powers coming in 2011. Not sure how you're supposed to move through the environment and the visuals seemed a little cartoony. Hopefully not something based off of the "Clone Wars" t.v. show. We didn't get to see much of it to form a lasting opinion.

Forza Motorsport was able to pull off controls with the Kinect while maintaining a seamless 60 frames per second. The controls actually looked very responsive and the visuals were as beautiful as ever. The game also allows you to have a 360-degree look around each car and even allows you to focus on specifics such as the lights. This could open a gateway for a new way of advertising content by allowing the player physically move around the product, and in this case, even sit in the product. Too bad Forza fans will have to wait until 2011.

Finally, the "new" Xbox 360 was unveiled. It is smaller, quieter and blacker. The new Xbox 360 has a 250 GB hard drive and 802.11 N WiFi built-in making it the fastest wireless console on the market. The new console ships today and should find their way to store shelves by next week with a price tag of $299 unless you were in attendance and received the fancy, external-hard-drive-esque console for free. It looks like rumors are often true at E3.

Overall, Microsoft's media event was about showcasing the Kinect and giving us a little more insight than what we saw last year with the Natal. It certainly has a lot of potential with voice commands, video chat and - of course - fluid motion controls. It will be a matter of seeing the Kinect operate in practice. However, Microsoft's focus on the Kinect overshadowed its software titles. Certainly Halo Reach, Gears of War 3 and Fable 3 are all exclusive titles that Xbox 360 owners can be excited about, but it was evident that the Kinect is Microsoft's primary focus. We saw what Nintendo's focus on the Wii's motioned controlled novelty did to any solid titles on the console and it's highly likely Sony will make a similar mistake with the PlayStation Move, but the console giants can't forget about their core gaming fans in the pursuit of the Nintendo Wii's Grandma market.

E3 2010: Microsoft's E3 2010 Press Conference

2010-06-14T13:20:00.003-04:00

Microsoft's E3 2010 press conference has been delayed until 1:30 EST. However, you can catch all of the action and news live on VGF below. Look for reactions a little later on:

Free Videos by Ustream.TV

E3 2010: Killzone 3 Launch Trailer

2010-06-13T23:00:00.004-04:00

E3 doesn't kick off until tomorrow, but we receive our first taste of trailer glory with the first look of Sony's Killzone 3 for the PS3.

Although the trailer doesn't hint at a release date (likely not until 2011), the new trailer features a snowy environment called Frozen Shores filled with our favorite Helgast foes as well as a few new weapons and what looks to be a pretty sweet jet back.

Gather more intel at the game's official website and expect more information during Sony's E3 press conference at 3 p.m. EST on June 15.

Be sure to checkout with else to expect from E3 2010 and follow coverage all week on VGF.

E3 2010: Microsoft's Project Natal called Kinect with an upgraded new look for the Xbox 360

2010-06-13T22:24:00.005-04:00

In Sony-esque fashion it seems that Microsoft is the guilt party of this year's first pre-E3 leak.

Rumors have circulated quickly after an Italian video game website called "Console Tribe" allegedly posted a leaked advertisement for an upgraded version of the Xbox 360 with the software giant's Project Natal motion-controller/camera renamed as the Kinect.

According to the Italian site, the new Xbox 360 will arrive with built-in WiFi and a 250 GB hard drive.

Of course we'll all know what's fact and what's fiction tomorrow at Microsoft's press conference scheduled for 1 p.m. EST tomorrow.

Take a look at what to expect from E3 2010 and look for continued coverage on VGF all week.

E3 2010: Microsoft hosts a pre-E3 Natal event

2010-06-10T21:53:00.004-04:00

Although it's less than five days away, E3 just can't come fast enough for Microsoft.

The software giant will hold a special "Natal related" pre-E3 press conference this Sunday at L.A.'s Galen center. The event promises a live performance by Cirque du Soleil.

Microsoft will recap full coverage of the special event at xbox.com, the Inside Xbox channel and on Xbox LIVE.

Microsoft will hold its media event at E3 at 1:00 p.m. on Monday. Nintendo will follow at noon on Tuesday and Sony will raise the curtain at 3 p.m.

In the meantime, take a look at the what to expect at E3 2010 and stay tuned to VGF for all the highlights and reactions to the happenings at the greatest gaming expo in the world.

What to expect at E3 2010

2010-06-03T20:31:00.006-04:00

It seems like just yesterday that Microsoft and Sony jumped on the Nintendo bandwagon and announced motion controllers for the Xbox 360 and PS3.

Turns out it was almost a year ago and the Electronic Entertainment Expo is returning in just under two weeks on June 15-17 at the L.A. Convention Center. Checkout the E3 Expo 2010 official website for more information.

In 2008, VGF had a list of 15 different expectations for E3 2008, many of which were either unfulfilled until 2009 when they were overshadowed by the Natal and PlayStation Move.

So this year, lets look at a few things we desperately hope to see and hear more about at the premier video game expo.

Some details on the Nintendo 3DS.
More Natal and PlayStation Move details, release dates, games, anything.
Word on the mysterious new Zelda title for the Wii.
More information on Gears of War 3 and Halo Reach.
Let's see what Little Big Planet 2 can do.
Rumors have circulated that there will be a pay option for a premier version of the PlayStation Network, is this true? What are the other guys up to?
How epic is Epic Mickey?
New Metal Gear Solid, Sonic, Half-Life, Portal, etc? Where's our favorite franchises?
Whatever happened to the lame Wii Vitality Sensor?
How painfully aggressive will Nintedo's Reggie Fils-Amie be?
Still holding on from last year: Kingdom Hearts 3 please.
Can Call of Duty dominate again or will the new Medal of Honor steal some thunder?
What's Rockstar's Agent?
Details on the next Beyond Good and Evil.

In the meantime, the editors from 1up.com pieced together a list of the "Top 50 Most Anticipated Games of E3 2010." Checkout the videos below:

Super Mario Galaxy 2 receives outstanding reviews

2010-05-24T19:20:00.007-04:00

In an unfamiliar move by Nintendo, the second standalone Super Mario title on a single console hit shelves yesterday in the form of Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the Wii.

To give you an idea of how rare of an occurance this is, the last time more than one standalone Super Mario title was released on a Nintendo console was the original NES. This time it only took 2 1/2 years to boot!

Nevertheless, Super Mario Galaxy 2 has received raving reviews from nearly every sector of the video game media.

Luckily VGF is here for your one-stop-shop for all the reviews you need of the Italian plumber's next plunge.

Gamespot

10 of 10

1up.com

Gametrailers.com

Little Big Planet 2 launching later this year

2010-05-10T16:29:00.005-04:00

In the video game industry, it seems all rumors are true.

The recent rumors swirling around a follow-up to the Playstation 3's 2008 award-winning, create-your-own blockbuster "Little Big Planet" were confirmed yesterday when a post on the official Playstation.blog announced "Little Big Planet 2" is coming our way later this year.

The next installment will expand the 2.2 million levels of user-generated content will all new tools to craft new masterpieces. These now include customizable characters in the environment.

Users can also create their own cinematic cut-scenes using the in-game directing interface.

However, the most notable change is the ability for users to create their own game. Examples include top-down racing games, multiplayer shooters, flying side-scrollers and even RPGs.

Find out more on the game's official website. The official trailer is below:

Boy Scouts to Offer Loops and Pins for Video Gaming

2010-05-03T16:08:00.002-04:00

The times they are a-changin'. The days of yore when Boy Scouts would help and old woman across the street or build a camp fire are soon passing us by and making way for a new generation when an astute knowledge of video games warrants a belt loop or academic pin.

What a beautiful age we live in.

The Boy Scouts of America have announced that Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts can earn a belt loop or academic pin for knowledge comparing video game consoles, how to teach others to play video games and pricing for video games, as well as how to manage video game usage along side homework, chores and other activities you "should" do.

Boys are also repeatedly encouraged to play video games that are age appropriate.

My personal favorite requirements are listed below:

Play a video game with family members in a family tournament. The new family game night.

Play an appropriate video game with a friend for one hour. Like that one is hard.

Play a video game that will help you practice your math, spelling, or another skill that helps you in your schoolwork. Good luck finding one of those. Although "The Oregon Trail" should count, but that might be a little dated for today's hooligans.

Compare two game systems (for example, Microsoft Xbox, Sony PlayStation, Nintendo Wii, and so on). Explain some of the differences between the two. List good reasons to purchase or use a game system. Birth of a fanboy.

Get all the details on the official requirements page.

A Case for Video Games as Art, or Roger Ebert is an Idiot

2010-04-20T16:56:00.006-04:00

If you're a fan of video games you have no doubt run across some media site, blog or irritated tweet referencing a recent blog entry by noted film critic Roger Ebert who wrote that "Video games can never be art."

Even Ebert admits that "never" is a bit of a weighted word, but I am absolutely shocked that a film critic would feel this way about an emerging medium and be completely wrong in the process.

He spends most of his time refuting a presentation made at USC by Kelle Santiago, a video game producer and designer, who catalogues various (perhaps not the best) examples of video games as art.

She lists downloadable games Braid, Flower and another I'm not familiar with - Waco Resurrection. I'm not sure how she goes about her argument suggesting each as art, but Ebert is quick to to consider Santiago's three examples as "pathetic."

Ebert is also quick to forget the struggles the film industry faced during it's infancy. The 15-second long reels in Edison's Kinetoscope were viewed as nothing more than minor amusements and were certainly not considered art-worthy by any means. It wasn't until the first Academy Awards in 1929 until motion pictures were considered an art form - nearly 40 years after Edison introduced his little gimmick.

Ebert also spends considerable time toying with the definition of art, but forgets the division between unfairly classified "high" and "low" art - film is still considered the latter.

I would bet that a commonly held interpretation of art could be explained as a piece of creative word that stimulates not only thought, but challenges either the limitations within its medium or society to some degree.

Video games are the only interactive medium allowing the player a choice in his or her actions. Yes, it's a game with a motivation and goal, but video games are becoming much closer to film than Mr. Ebert would ever dare to consider.

Take the Metal Gear Solid or Final Fantasy franchises for example. They both feature less gameplay than cinematics a majority of the time. The interactive nature of a video game in this case create a closer emotional connection to the story that transcends film. After all, to reject video games as art is to reject film as art.

As for the inability to compare any video game or game creator with great art or artists, you have to examine what each had done for the industry. When you look at how video games and video game artists have stimulated the medium, names such as Shigeru Miyamoto, Hideo Kojima and Will Wright come to mind as do Super Mario Bros., Metal Gear Solid and The Sims.

I'm Sorry Roger Ebert, but you're wrong and I'm sick of the image of video games as a mindless medium for teenage boys.

Video games are art.

UK Woman Claims the Nintendo Wii Made Her a Sex Addict

2010-04-16T15:42:00.002-04:00

You read the headline correctly, Amanda Flowers (perhaps a fake name) says that a fall while playing Wii Fit has turned her into a sex addict.

She was allegedly diagnosed with persistent genital arousal disorder after damaging a nerve while falling on the Wii Balance Board in the process of playing Wii Fit.

She now claims she needs to satisfy her delicate disorder 10 times a day and the slightest vibration can trigger a reaction.

Yes, the 24-year-old is single.

No word on if she plans to file any sort of law suit against Nintendo (imagine how that disclaimer would read).

Depending on how you look at it, one more reason why more women should or shouldn't get into gaming.

Gears of War 3 Premier Trailer

2010-04-13T10:30:00.006-04:00

I don't claim to know much about the Gears of War franchise other than it is one of the premier series' on the Xbox 360.

However, I do know that the April 5, 2011 release of Gears of War 3 is slated to mark the end of the trilogy.

With the teaser trailer "Ashes to Ashes" launching today, development studio Epic Games is looking to wrap of one of the most successful series' on the Xbox 360 to date.

It looks like it's "Brothers to the End."

April showers bring more data storage? Xbox 360 and PS3 see media storage upgrades

2010-04-06T16:11:00.006-04:00

Spring has sprung, we've hopped past Easter and now the Summer is only about two months away so there's only one thing on the minds of folks in the video game industry - data storage.

Confirmations are fleeting everywhere that an Xbox 360 firmware update will finally allow 360 owners to use USB flash drives for additional media storage. That means game data and other media can now be backed-up and stored outside of the Xbox 360.

But just wait a minute.

Much like the PS3, the size said external media storage devices cannot exceed 16GB and must be larger than 1GB. That quickly dashes one's hopes for circumventing Microsoft's pricey hard drive upgrades by attaching a 1TB external hard drive.

To add insult to injury it is unclear if third-party flash drives are even compatible with the Xbox 360 as Microsoft announced Xbox 360-branded flash drives manufactured by SanDisk. To make matters worse, these 8GB and 16GB USB sticks are priced at $40 and $70 respectively. That's more than twice the price of most USB flash drives.

If you need to back-up your Xbox 360 on an external drive, try your 4-year-old plastic flash drive first.

The Blu-ray Disc Association also announced an upgrade in the storage size of new Blu-ray discs called BDXL.

These high capacity recordable and rewritable discs use three to four recordable layers allowing 100GB to 128GB disc capacity. This a major increase from many existing 25GB and 50GB Blu-ray discs.

A press release by the organization lists the upgrade as ideal for commercial segments such as braodcasting, medical and document imaging enterprises. Why not games?

Since the Blu-ray disc is the physical media format of the PS3, why not integrate upcoming video games on this mega-Blu-ray beauties?

This could also easily pave the way for cross promotion and conglomeration between media by packaging a Blu-ray copy of a popular film release with the video game tie-in on the same disc. This coupling could also easily work the other way by pairing the upcoming expansion to last year's Street Fighter IV with the critically acclaimed (not really) 1994 film starring Jean-ClaudeVan Damme.

The association also announced the IH-BD (Intra-Hybrid disc) format. The IH-BD incorporates a single BD-ROM layer and BD-RE layer to "video, but not overwrite, critical published data while providing the flexibility to include relevant personal date on the same physical disc" according to the press release.

I'm not sure what the gaming application is here, but I'm sure it could mean something.

VGF Magazine issue 2 April 2010 is active

2010-04-01T15:30:00.008-04:00

It's not an April Fools joke, it's official, the next issue of VGF Magazine is active today!

I'm very pleased to introduce the 12-page follow-up to November's first issue of the magazine. This issue features Scott Daly, a former high school classmate of mine, who is a student at the College of Creative Studies in Detroit, Mich. He illustrated the zombie cover as well as designed the layout for pages 3-6 which include the Third Annual VGF Awards.

You can order your issue through MagCloud.com for $2.75. Your copy will be mailed directly to your mailbox.

Here's what's included in this issue:

REVIEW: Assassin's Creed II

FEATURE: Third Annual VGF Awards

REVIEW: Final Fantasy XIII

FEATURE: Bizarre Video Game News

OPINION: What the Apple iPad means to gaming

...and more

Order your copy of the latest issue of VGF Magazine today!

Five things video games can learn from movies

2010-03-31T09:23:00.005-04:00

As the convergence of media continues and more film and video game franchises combine by crossing into each medium, why not look at what each does well and implement those techniques into the other?

In other words, what can video games learn from the film industry and what can the film industry learn from video games?

Below is part one of a two-part series looking at what each industry could learn from one another.

So what can video games learn from movies?

Great Story

There are clear examples of amazing storylines, plot development and characterization in video game, but many console bouts boil down to "go kill the bad guy." If the industry is ever to be legitimized and taken seriously the epic tales players meet should be something players can engage in. It is the only interactive medium after all.

Something called editing

A truly great film can not exist without great editing and video games desperately need to follow suit. Sometimes it's due to graphical missteps in a game's cinematic sequences and sometimes its a lack of attention or background in editing, but video games often miss the mark when choosing when to cut away from a shot or scene or even in repetition of gameplay (there is editing some editing work there too). Editing is a powerful tool and can alter a viewer's perception of what's happening on the screen - The Kuleshov Effect.

Music is important

Once again, too few video game developers understand the importance and impact of a good musical score. Instead, we find billowy and repetitive themes that add little to the experience aside from additional noise. Just as how music can cue a specific emotional response to what's happening on the screen in a film, unique and distinctive musical pieces can diversify the experience in a video game with each environment creating it's own personality by not only its artistic palette, but music as well.

Try some metaphor, symbolism, and motifs

The difference between a "movie" and a "film" is contingent on its artistic merit. As in great literature, one of the most expressive ways content in any medium reaches the realm of art is through creative and expressive techniques such as metaphor, symbolism, and motifs. Video games have never attempted to reach the next dimension of expression with these techniques in a visual and interactive medium where it is easy to tie-in a visual motif in association with a character or gameplay element.

Sometimes less is more

Flashy visual effects, massive boss battles and an innovative physics engine is the recipe of the day for many video game titles. Although there is nothing wrong with this formula, it's sometimes better to go back to the basics. Games like Pac-Man, Tetris and Frogger are not just classics because of their popularity during the dawn of the medium, but because they are simple, timeless entertainment. "Casablanca" never had any explosions, car chases, scantily-clad woman or 3D CGI (cough, Avatar, cough) to warrant it a film masterpiece, it was the mastery of its writing and brilliance of its acting that made it a classic despite its technical inferiority. Video games can make a conscious effort to focus on the core of a great game, such as its gameplay and story, the fanfare should come second.

Nintendo announces new handheld with Nintendo 3DS

2010-03-23T10:45:00.003-04:00

Nintendo made a tease of an announcement today that it will release a new handheld called the Nintendo 3DS.

The only information in its paragraph-long press release aside from its name is that it is planned to be fully backwards compatible with all DS and DSi games, will launch in Japan within the next fiscal year and more details on the console are set to be released at E3 beginning June 15.

That miniscule amount of information hasn't (and won't) stop media mongers from speculating exactly what the Nintendo 3DS will be. Is it just another upgrade to the DS? An entirely new handheld plateform? Will it even play games in 3D?

We have seen videos across the internet about 3D motion via head-tracking a la some sort of camera.

Arcs Technica posted a video showcasing how the 3DS could function by using the DSi camera as the unit for head tracking:

Medal of Honor shows its resemblance to Modern Warfare

2010-03-16T15:44:00.007-04:00

Electronic Arts's long-running first-person shooter franchise "Medal of Honor" is finally taking it's first steps in a "modern" direction when it's newest title - aptly named "Medal of Honor" - hits shelves this fall.

The game's release will come three years after Activision's "Call of Duty" franchise launched "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare." Ironically, the development team from the first two "Medal of Honor" titles defected in the early 2000s to create their own development studio.

Now it seems like EA is trying to play catch-up by mimicking a lot of the visual look of the first two "Modern Warfare" installments with it's newest title set in Afghanistan.

Check out the latest trailer for "Medal of Honor" below:

PlayStation Move coming to PS3 consoles holiday 2010 priced under $100

2010-03-11T12:00:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, Sony finally announced the name and gave a little more insight into its newest motion controller, the PlayStation Move.

Sony made the announcement yesterday at a press conference at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. You can watch the entire presentation below:

The PlayStation Move is a combination of a the Playstation 3 iteration of the Playstation Eye camera; a wand controller which features a multicolor, light-emitting diode sphere and a secondary controller for character movement similar to the nunchuk on the Nintendo Wii. This combination is Sony's answer to the Nintendo Wii and its motion controller - just four years late - and Microsoft's up-coming Natal for the Xbox 360.

Sony has released the most information on the Playstation Move on it's European blog filled with photos and a trailer:

The new Move is slated for release Holiday 2010 and is reported to cost less than $100. Sony is also suggesting that Move features can be added to existing games since integration of the new controller poses low technical demands on PS3.

Be on the look out for more information relating to the Playstation Move and Xbox 360 Natal on VGF.

New York man breaks Donkey Kong world record

2010-03-10T17:21:00.003-05:00

It's been about a week and a half since the closing of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada., but records are still being broken - in the world of video games.

Hank Chien a 35-year-old plastic surgeon from New York, NY., broke the world 1,050,200-point world record on the original Donkey Kong arcade game held by Florida resident Billy Mitchell. Mitchell was filmed claiming the previous record in a 2006 documentary called "King of Kong."

Chien's record of 1,061,700 points was set in 2 hours and 35 minutes.

The official gaming scorekeepers, Twin Galaxies, confirmed the record and has a full interview with the new world champion.

In the interview he discusses his strategy:

Well there aren't many secrets left in Donkey Kong and I'd be glad to share what I know. I think in the past there were some secrets, but these days it's more a matter of execution. First, getting the bottom hammer on the barrels boards is absolutely crucial for breaking 1M. Not just getting it either, but knowing when to get it and how to steer the rest of the barrels down after you get it. But what really pushed me to the world record is what I call "barrel grouping" and running down ladders to re-jump groups. You get more points by jumping barrels in groups than you would individually and you can run down ladders to re-jump the same group and get even more points. You have to get good at recognizing when the barrels will group and when it's safe to run down ladders. You can do that anywhere on the screen, but I find near the top of the screen to be the safest. Even there, it's not risk free.

He also provides some inspirational hope to the youth of the world:

As one notable Donkey Kong record holder says "It's in your DNA." While I do believe there is some truth to that, I also feel it's really a combination of DNA and practice. Don't be afraid to shoot for the stars, just stay away from my record.

Finally, here shares an interesting experience that was a request of a mother and her son that could make for a story all on its own:

That does reminds me of a funny story....I have this video on YouTube of me doing a perfect speed run of the hardest board on Super Mario Galaxy. A mom and her daughter found the video and emailed me asking if I could pass that board for them if they sent me their memory card. I asked "Is this for you or your daughter?" She reluctantly told me "Both!"

Top Five Final Fantasy Games of All-Time

2010-03-09T18:49:00.010-05:00

Today marks the stateside release of Square-Enix's thirteenth numbered title in it's long-running RPG series with "Final Fantasy XIII."

Culminating for more than 20 years, the Final Fantasy series has been honored with making mages cool, Chocobo a household name (in gaming households) and level-up a term of endearment.

To honor the newest installment of the crowning achievement that is the Final Fantasy franchise, lets take a look at some of the best Final Fantasy games of all-time.

5. Final Fantasy X

Although the game suffered from not only linear gameplay, but an incredibly linear story it was a visual masterpiece on the Playstation 2 and continued the tradition of wonderfully crafted music by composer Nobuo Uematsu.

4. Final Fantasy IV

Originally unreleased in the United States, Final Fantasy IV has been hailed by many as the best Final Fantasy of the 2D days. Main protagonist Cecil showed gamers that multidimensional can exist in video games.

3. Final Fantasy IX

Having perhaps the best music in the series, Final Fantasy IX is proof that you can't judge a game by its abrupt departure in artistic design from a successful series. FFIX has an amazing story that spans a satisfyingly long journey.

2. Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy VII needs no introduction nor does the game's protagonist and antagonist. In one of the most amazing and unforgettable video games ever created, FFVII has the perfect blend of unrelentless RPG mayham and instant classic of a storyline. FFVII is near perfection in every way and is a stable in the video game canon.

1. Final Fantasy VIII

Final Fantasy VIII matched its predecessor in every way while exceeding it with slightly more engaging characters and a much better visual palette. FFVIII is quintessentially everything the series stands for with the most dynamic blend of gameplay and drama in any video game ever made.

Playstation 3 Glitch Resolved?

2010-03-01T23:34:00.003-05:00

A new update on the official Playstation blog states that Sony's PS3 glitch blunder may be over for millions of upset PS3 owners.

The post in its entirety is below:

We are aware that the internal clock functionality in the PS3 units other than the slim model, recognized the year 2010 as a leap year. Having the internal clock date change from February 29 to March 1 (both GMT), we have verified that the symptoms are now resolved and that users are able to use their PS3 normally.

If the time displayed on the XMB is still incorrect, users are able to adjust time settings manually or via the internet. If we have new information, we will update you through the PlayStation.Blog or PlayStation.com.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

No firmware update? It was just some stupid error with PS3 consoles thinking this is a leap year? How does that affect trophies or other game content?

It seems that Sony needs to release more of an explanation for it's blunder.

Playstationary: Millions of Older PS3 Models Suffering from Playstation 3 Calendar Glitch

2010-03-01T11:14:00.017-05:00

Millions of Playstation 3 owners - myself included - were met with a peculiar and annoying "glitch" yesterday that has Sony panicking.

Owners of the non-slim versions of the Playstation 3 failed to connect to the Playstation Network preventing access to online content via the PS3 and also seems to affect games for off-line play.

Media outlets are suggesting that the glitch is somehow related to the date turnover from February to March and is affecting trophy information and possibly corrupting system information.

The console's date and time have reportedly been reset on many systems and the bug seems hit console regardless of connectivity to the internet or not suggesting an internal software error and not an external attack.

Jeff Rubenstein, social media manager with the Playstation Network, wrote on the official Playstation blog that Sony has identified the issue and are working to resolve it:

"Know that we have narrowed down the issue and have engineers working to restore service even as you read this. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you, and genuinely appreciate your patience while we work to resolve this."

You can follow the status of Sony's resolution on their Twitter page.

PC World has pieced together a pretty concise list of what is known about the glitch thus far.

Playstation 3 owners should be mindful of their usage for the time being because I attempted to play "Bionic Commando: Rearmed" last evening and my full version was somehow reset to a demo mode and I later received a message saying the game was corrupted after I tried to relaunch the title.

Furthermore, I was unable to play "Assassin's Creed II" and re-directed to the XMB because of a trophy malfunction.

UPDATE: Sony has confirmed that the malfunctions on older PS3 units are due to a "bug in the clock functionality incorporated in the system." They hope to resolve the issue within 24-hours according to Patrick Seybold, senior director of corporate communications and social media for Playstation wrote:

"In the meantime, if you have a model other than the new slim PS3, we advise that you do not use your PS3 system, as doing so may result in errors in some functionality, such as recording obtained trophies, and not being able to restore certain data."

Video Game Freedom Reaches 100,000 Unique Hits

2010-02-23T18:13:00.008-05:00

It took about 2 1/2 years, but Video Game Freedom has finally made it.

Today, VGF reached more than 100,000 unique hits!

Since its launch in October 2007 VGF has seen numerous transformations including multiple redesigns, renaming, rebranding as well as some experiments with podcasts, reviews, features and news.

Last October, VGF launched "VGF Magazine" as a print supplement to Video Game Freedom. The March issue of "VGF Magazine" will be active shortly and will feature a cover illustration by graphic design student Scott Daly.

You can view some of his work at scottdaly.com.

Here's to many more hits and with your help we might be able to break 1 million some day.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves steals 10 awards at the 13th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards

2010-02-19T11:31:00.005-05:00

2009 will soon be remembered of the year when everyone announced they were jumping aboard Nintendo's ship with both Microsoft and Sony announcing motion controllers.

However, it should also be considered the year of "Uncharted 2: Among Thieves."

Taking home a whooping 10 awards from last night's 13th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards hosted by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences.

The Playstation 3 exclusive and follow-up to the 2007 action-adventure series swept every technical award the academy could provide as well as adventure game of the year and overall game of the year beating out "Assassin's Creed II," "Batman: Arkham Asylum" and "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" in that category.

This is the second consecutive year a Playstation 3 exclusive title has won the overall game of the year award.

Developed by Naughty Dog, Uncharted 2's 10 awards is the most ever awarded to a single game with two more awards than last year's "Little Big Planet" and one more than "Half-life 2" which was awarded nine.

You can check out the winners of the 2009 VGF Awards in the next issue of VGF Magazine heading to MagCloud.com next month.

Check out the full list of winners from the 13th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards below:

Overall Game of the Year:

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Portable Game of the Year:

Scribblenauts

Casual Game of the Year:

Flower

Fighting Game of the Year:

Street Fighter IV

Racing Game of the Year:

Forza Motorsport 3

Sports Game of the Year:

FIFA Soccer 10

Role-playing/Massively Multiplayer of the Year:

Dragon Age: Origins

Action Game of the Year:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Adventure Game of the Year:

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year:

Brutal Legend

Family Game of the Year:

The Beatles: Rock Band

Social Networking Game of the Year:

FarmVille

Outstanding Innovation in Gaming:

Scribblenauts

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction:

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Outstanding Achievement in Game Design:

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Outstanding Achievement in Portable Game Design:

Scribblenauts

Outstanding Achievement in Character Performance:

Mark Hamill as The Joker in Batman: Arkham Asylum

Outstanding Achievement in Sound Design:

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Outstanding Achievement in Soundtrack:

Brutal Legend

Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition:

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Outstanding Achievement in Adapted Story:

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Outstanding Achievement in Original Story:

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering:

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering:

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction:

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Outstanding Achievement in Animation:

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Microsoft Xbox Consoles Losing Xbox LIVE Support

2010-02-05T09:52:00.004-05:00

Xbox LIVE general manager Marc Witten made a surprising announcement today for gamers still clinging to their giant black box known as the original Microsoft Xbox.

As of April 15 - tax day - Microsoft will eliminate Xbox LIVE support for all Xbox games played on the Xbox and Xbox 360. Meaning the days of yore fragging on "Halo 2" will soon be a thing of the past.

In the posted press release, Witten said those still using the service on the Xbox will be notified of the change:

And as we look down the road, we’ll continue to evolve the service with features and experiences that harness the full power of Xbox 360.

No word on any other changes that are in-store of the 23 million strong community such as any mention of a free alternative outside of a Nintendo Wii or Sony Playstation 3.

However, by whipping the slate clean, this could make way for further Xbox LIVE integration for the NATAL this Fall:

I believe we’ll look back on 2010 as a landmark year in gaming and home entertainment, and I couldn’t be more excited about what we have in store with “Project Natal” and LIVE. The LIVE community is the driving force behind everything we do, and it’s because of the community that ground-breaking experiences on Xbox continue to be possible.

"Sonic the Hedgehog 4" racing to consoles this summer

2010-02-04T14:39:00.007-05:00

Sega made a surprising announcement today that everyone's favorite fast-paced marsupial Sonic the Hedgehog is finally returning to where he belongs - in two-dimensions.

This summer "Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode 1" will launch on Nintendo Wii, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony Playstation 3 consoles as well as one unnamed platform as a download-only game.

16 years after Sonic's last 2D appearance in "Sonic and Knuckles," the same gameplay full of spin dashes and rolling attacks will make its way into the all-new game returning to the Genesis-era.

Details will slowly be released at the game's official web site, but the mere title implies that this may be the first of many installments of the game.

What the Apple iPad Means for Gaming

2010-01-27T18:00:00.004-05:00

When Steve Jobs announced the new iPad touch-screen tablet device today, it came as a shock to no one.

After weeks of speculation Jobs, the Chief Executive Officer of Apple Inc., revealed the device that looks like an overgrown iPod Touch or iPhone and pretty much is.

The iPad will feature a 9.7 inch LED-backlit, IPS touch screen display, Wi-Fi (and 3G on some versions) internet access, 10 hours of battery life and all of the other snazzy features you would come to expect from Apple in a 0.5-inch thick and 1.5-pound package.

Pricing for the device ranges from $499 to $829 for 16 GB to 64 GB storage versions of Wi-Fi only and Wi-Fi/3G versions of the new iPad.

Amongst Apple's glorification of the device is a photo of gaming on the device.

With access to thousands of apps already available in Apple's arsenal - many including video games - the new iPad could certainly be considered a potential threat in the handheld gaming market.

The iPad's 9.7 inch screen blows the Sony Playstation Portable-3000's 4.3-inch screen and Nintendo DSi's two 3.25-inch to make the new Apple gadget the largest screen of any handheld device on the market.

Certainly a large screen and multi-touch capabilities would allow for customizable controls for any game developed for the tablet or enhance the already existing library of video game titles.

The X-factor will be the iPad's 1GHz Apple A4 processor and graphics capability. Although Apple is calling the A4 "revolutionary" and "energy saving" it might not pump out the necessary juice to compete with Nintendo and Sony if Apple wanted to position the iPad in direct competition with the next generation of handheld devices from both companies.

Also, the iPad is slated to display only up to 720p HD visuals at 30 frames-per-second. Once again, that is ahead of the curve, but maybe not far enough when the handheld gaming standard is likely to reach 1080p at 60 frames-per-second in the near future.

Nevertheless, the iPad will certainly become another huge seller for Apple and technology phenomenon and possibly a formidable adversary if Apple decides to take its current gaming library in a new gear.

Dante's Inferno Demo Review

2010-01-19T18:45:00.002-05:00

Oddly, a stroll through Hell is nothing new for video game fans.

I'm not talking about the dark ages of the Nintendo 64, I'm talking about the various video game incarnations of the dismal abyss mostly notably the "Devil May Cry" series.

Electronic Art's will soon release "Dante's Inferno" a very loosely-based video game translation of Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy" written in in the 1300's.

The demo release of the game places protagonist not too surprisingly named "Dante" in a quest to reunite with his slain wife Beatrice - similar to the epic poem.

However, what ensues is an all-too-familiar camaraderie of hack-and-slash action, combo upgrades, magic, and command-based finishing moves.

Basically "God of War" in nearly every way.

A static, yet constantly repositioning, camera work is nearly identical to the popular Sony-exclusive series as is the overall visual flurry of blood splatter and weapon flinging fan fare.

It's certainly not a bad thing to mimic one of the most popular video game franchises as of late, but "Dante's Inferno" is almost exactly "God of War" in every possible way.

In fact, if you mix "God of War" and "Devil May Cry," plus you take a little polish off of each, you have "Dante's Inferno."

Certainly not a bad first-apperance in the free demo, but it feels like more of the same.

Video Game Statistics at a Glance

2010-01-16T19:00:00.008-05:00

Source: Online Education

VGF does not confirm or deny the accuracy of this information. Enjoy!

Netflix on the Nintendo Wii, but no HD

2010-01-15T17:13:00.001-05:00

As it was long anticipated, on-demand media service Netflix announced Wednesday that it will launch its streaming video service on the Nintendo Wii next spring.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 was the first home console to utilizes the service in 2008 and last October, Netflix announced it's services arriving on the Sony Playstation 3.

Like the PS3, the Wii version of the service will require a disc to launch the service using the Nintendo Wii's built-in WiFi connection.

Netflix members will have access to the service with a $8.99 monthly subscription.

This gives the on-demand media giant access to the Wii's 3 million unit install base, however, the service is subdued compared to other home consoles because the limitations of the Wii itself.

No high-definition video output.

This means that Wii owners looking to enjoy Netflix's video streaming service on their HDTVs may be sadly disappointed that they cannot view content in HD because the Nintendo Wii only outputs up to 480p the highest quality standard-definition video output.

Nintendo had hinted at an HD-capable version of its home console, but has yet to release the Wii HD.

The recently announcement by Netflix is a clear demand for an HD-capable version of the console forerunner.

New Super Mario Bros. Wii Review

2010-01-11T18:00:00.003-05:00

9.0 out of 10

In all the gaming sphere there is and will never be any shortage on the number of nostalgic gamers longing for a chance to to re-kindle the glory days of everyone's favorite Italian plumber.

Finally, after nearly 20 years Super Mario has returned to a new two-dimensional adventure on a Nintendo home console in "New Super Mario Bros. Wii."

However, "New Super Mario Bros. Wii" feels less like an original title and more like 2006's "New Super Mario Bros." for the Nintendo DS on the Wii.

Certainly, Mario and Luigi return to their natural form in classic 2D side-scrolling action featuring levels reminiscent of "Super Mario Bros. 3" and "Super Mario World," but that same style was originally mimicked in the Nintendo DS version of the game.

The same visual palette, world map overview, and general feel of the DS is nearly identical to the new Wii iteration. Call this a bad thing? No way.

Fans of classic Super Mario festivities who do not own a Nintendo DS but have a Nintendo Wii in their household will delight in the nostalgic charm of the game.

Additionally, returning power-ups from the original series and DS installation are met with new surprises from a helicopter-propelled hat, ice "fire" balls, and a penguin suit each adding an new layer to gameplay - and a comical twist as well.

Most notably - however - is the multiplayer gameplay. Never in a 2D "Super Mario Bros." adventure have two (let alone four) players played at the same time creating chaos on the screen and adding a new level of cooperation and competitiveness to the series.

"New Super Mario Bros. Wii" may not win any awards for an amazing story, groundbreaking visuals, or revolutionary gameplay, but it does what it is supposed to do perfectly - revive exactly what made the "Super Mario Bros." series so successful classic, 2D gameplay.

Too bad the cruise down memory lane ends a little too abruptly. Here's hoping for future installations of the series and a revamp in other classic Nintendo series.

Attempted Drug Smugglers Hide Cocaine in a Playstation

2010-01-04T18:02:00.006-05:00

Despite tightened international airline safety precautions, a pair Argentinians from Buenos Aires were recently taken into custody in an Italian airport for attempting to smuggle drugs.

The courier method: Sony Playstations.

There is little by way of official information on the incident, but authorities allegedly discovered 10 Kilograms of cocaine and hashish in five Sony consoles traveling with the duo.

No word on the generation of a Playstation console, but the illegal paraphernalia passed through airport security x-rays and the consoles were reportedly operational.

The two would have absconded with the drugs if drug-sniffing german shepard dogs hadn't caught them in-route.

It all begs the question, does that count as a breach of warranty for modifying a console?

Sorry for the brief hideous with the holiday season and a few occupational changes have prevented me from paying as much attention to VGF as of late - for that, I am sorry. Be on the lookout in the coming week for the VGF picks for the top ten games of the decade!

Mother calls 911 because of her son's late-night gaming fest

2009-12-22T17:30:00.003-05:00

A Roxbury, Mass., mother had enough.

"I woke up in the middle of the night and saw the light on in his bedroom," 49-year-old Angela Mejia said.

Frustrated and frantic, Mejia did all she could to subdue her 14-year-old son at 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning so she called 911:

"I called (police) because if you don’t respect your mother, what are you going to do in your life?"

The teenager had been playing "Grand Theft Auto" against his mother's wishes.

When officers from the nearby Boston suburb's police department arrived they quickly convinced the boy to carefully place the controller on the floor and go to bed.

The single mother of four had made little progress in convincing her son to sleep over playing video games and made the 911 call in a final act of desperation.

"Sometimes I want to run away, too. I have support from my church, but I’m alone. I want to help my son, but I can’t find a way."

No one was arrested in the incident.

What are your thoughts?

What does it mean when a mother has to call the police to stop her child from playing video games?

Bad parenting? Or has video game obsession gone too far?

Man marries a Nintendo DS video game character

2009-12-17T20:19:00.004-05:00

A surprising story out of Japan today as cnn.com reported a 27-year old Tokyo man has married a video game character.

You read that correctly, a grown - or allegedly grown - man has married his virtually girlfriend from the Nintendo DS dating game "Love Plus."

The man who understandably only gave the name "Sal 9000" married Nene Anegasaki this past week in front of a collection of friends and broadcast on the internet for everyone to see.

According to the CNN report, Sal 9000 understands his marriage is not legally binding - however - he said a living, breathing girlfriend is no longer a necessity:

She doesn't get angry if I'm late in replying to her. Well, she gets angry, but she forgives me quickly.

The CNN video is below:

The game as interactive simulation where virtual girlfriends interact with players communicating primarily through speaking to the DS although the game eventually prompts users to "kiss" the screen. That's not to mention the possibility of the game's other potentionally freaky features.

Sorry English speaking gamers, the game is a Japanese-only title thus far.

Sal said he has even taken Nene with him on vacation to Disneyland and Guam:

If addiction is playing this every single day, then you might call me addicted

Another video report on Sal 9000 and his new bride:

Nevertheless, if this Japanese man doesn't signify the decline of physical communication as a result of the digital revolution, I don't know what is.

What do you think? Can you replace human interaction with a video game? What video game character would you date?

Halo Reach Debut Trailer

2009-12-13T20:48:00.004-05:00

At "Spike TV's Video Game Awards" Bungie Studios unveiled a first glimpse of the next installment of the "Halo" franchise.

The prequel to 2001's widely popular first-person shooter "Halo: Combat Evolved," "Halo Reach" is said to feature the elite military unit called "The Spartan Project" on the military supply planet aptly named "Reach" - hence the game's title.

Those interested in the playing the game's beta next year will need to own a copy of "Halo 3: ODST" to receive an invitation. "Halo" fans will have a long wait to "reach" with the game's release slated for Fall 2010.

More information on "Reach" can be found at the game's official site at Bungie.net.

15 Years of Playstation

2009-12-03T17:10:00.003-05:00

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the Japanese launch of the Sony Playstation.

Although the Sony console didn't make its way state-side until 1995, the CD-ROM based video game system quickly left an impression on the industry resulting in to subsequent console releases as well as a handheld.

Tackling the Sega Saturn and eventually winning-out against the Nintendo 64, the Sony Playstation introduced a new alternative in the gaming market and provided game developers a cheaper format for which to design games.

The release of the Playstation 2 in 2000 precluded a record-breaking sales figure of over 130 million units sold and was the first console to embark on Sony's 10-year life cycle which is barely holding on into 2010.

The console giant later released its first bout into the handheld gaming market with the Playstation Portable in Japan in 2004 and later the US in 2005. It was Sony's attempt to release Nintendo's stranglehold on the market although it has proven unsuccessful thus far playing second banana to the Nintendo DS.

Finally the 2006 release of the Playstation 3 was Sony's first misstep as the former console leader dropped to third falling behind the Microsoft Xbox 360 and the widely popular Nintendo Wii. Combating criticism of difficult development from game makers despite the consoles powerful "cell processor," Sony also priced itself out of reach from many gamers with an initial $599 price tag. Only until Sony's recent price drop has sales finally swung back in Sony's favor.

Nevertheless, with nearly every milestone video game title making its way to a Sony console in the last 15 years it is hard to ignore the importance of Playstation's impact on the industry.

To illustrate the point, below is a list of just a few popular franchises that were first launched on a Sony console:

Resident Evil
Tomb Raider
Metal Gear Solid
Gran Turismo
Silent Hill
Devil May Cry
Kingdom Hearts
Tekken
Medal of Honor
Ratchet and Clank
Twisted Metal

Medal of Honor Engages Modern Warfare

2009-12-02T18:19:00.004-05:00

Just weeks after Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's record breaking release Electronic Arts made an announcement yesterday that the company's popular first-person shooter franchise Medal of Honor will receive a much needed restart.

In a press release the company wrote the typically WWII-only FPS series will explore modern conflicts through the eyes of the elite Tier 1 Operator a military entity under the National Command Authority.

According to the release, development studios and EALA will handle the single-player campaign while EA DICE will design the multiplayer side of the new title set to launch on the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC in Fall 2010.

These two studios are coming together to deliver a world-class Medal of Honor that is poised to re-set and re-boot the franchise for a new generation.

No news on the gameplay of the shooter as of yet, but the story will surround a band of fictional soldiers as they interact with not-so-fictional events in Afghanistan.

Sean Decker, VP and General Manager of EALA, said the new title simply named "Medal of Honor" is going to focus heavily on its narrative.

EA has always been an advocate for telling the soldiers’ story. The new Medal of Honor follows that tradition. We felt it was important to tell the story of today’s war and today’s elite soldiers via today’s most relevant medium – videogames.

It appears that players will encounter possible moral delimmas when facing real life events in one of the most violently active corners of the globe according to the release.

Inspired by real events, Medal of Honor reveals the mission of today’s most elite American soldier – his will, his mindset and his uncompromising professionalism.

As of now there is little on the game's official web site aside from a 9 second video that simply shows what is likely to be the game's tagline "I fight with my mind. My hands and my weapons are an extention of my will."

Finally, eager fans of the series ready to see the franchise take a step away from the oversaturated World War II genre can get a first-look on Spike TV’s 2009 Video Game Awards at 11 p.m. EST/8 p.m. PST Saturday, Dec 12.

VGF Magazine on Sale!!!!

2009-11-30T21:28:00.005-05:00

Yes its been on sale for over a week now, but now it really is On Sale!!!!!

Order your copy of "VGF Magazine" today for only $1.60 thanks to MagCloud's holiday sale. All magazines are 25% off and that of course includes "VGF Magazine."

Place your order and support VGF.

VGF 2009 Holiday Gift Guide

2009-11-26T18:51:00.005-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone and like I was told by a source earlier in the week "Gobble Gobble."

Hopefully you're awake from your turkey nap and ready to get back to bed from some of tomorrow's "Black Friday" doorbuster deals.

That being said, make sure you are prepared with the knowledge of this year's hottest video game for the gamer in your life. To lend you a helping hand, below is a list of biggest games this holiday season by console and genre:

Wii Exclusive
New Super Mario Bros. Wii

Poor Wii owners haven't really had much to celebrate this year, but leave it to Nintendo to release at least one must-have Nintendo title per year. "New Super Mario Bros. Wii" is not only that title this year, it is one of the hottest games across all consoles this holiday season. Young gamers and older Mario fans will have an amazing nostalgic trip playing Mario in his original 2D glory in an all new game.

Xbox 360 Exclusive
Halo 3: ODST

Sure it's not Master Chief, but it is Halo. Halo 3: ODST focuses on an "Orbital Drop Shock Troope" unit as you traverse an open world first-person shooter environment. Although it did not receive as high marks as other games in the "Halo" series, "ODST" is sure to please any Xbox 360 and "Halo" fan - and there are a lot out there.

Playstation 3 Exclusive
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

This sequel to the 2007 PS3 action-adventure title is also one of the year's most critically acclaimed games. "Uncharted 2: Among Thieves" does everything a sequel should by being bigger, longer and more beautiful. Couple that with a thematic style fully integrated with gameplay and you have the biggest Playstation 3 exclusive holiday release of 2009.

Nintendo DS Exclusive
The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

Although this title is not available until Dec. 7, "The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks" is certain to be a game DS owners will love this coming holiday season. This time series hero Link is a train conductor traveling across Hyrule. The game is sure to utilize many of the same gameplay mechanics of the DS the same way it's predecessor "Phantom Hourglass" did in 2007.

Playstation Portable Exclusive
Little Big Planet

If you're not a PS3 owner, but have a PSP you need to get your hands on "Little Big Planet" for the PSP. It's PS3 brother own numerous awards last year including "Game of the Year" from the Interactive Achievement Awards and this year's PSP version of the 2D side-scroller is certain to light up your PSP very soon.

First-Person Shooter
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Breaking the world record for the biggest entertainment release with over $550 million in sale the first week "Modern Warfare 2" is on the top of every first-person shooter's wish list. Blending a solid story with a deep multiplayer experience and new co-operative modes and you have a golden release already enjoyed by millions across the globe. Remember to click here for VGF's preview-review of "Modern Warfare 2."

Action-Adventure
Assassin's Creed 2
Xbox 360, PS3, PC

Early reviews are showing that this year's sequel to the 2007 action-adventure title builds on the city-scaping thriller. Italian assassin Ezio Auditore di Firenze (like you need to be told he is Italian) races across rooftops, streets, and waterways to seize his pray in this open world, time traveling title. Like "Uncharted 2" this sequel is bigger and better than its brilliant predecessor.

Rhythm Game
The Beatles: Rock Band
Wii, Xbox 360, PS3

Sure it's a band-exclusive game, but it's "The Beatles." Showcasing one of the world's greatest musical groups in a game that is well polished and meets gamers with a non-abrasive difficulty, "The Beatles: Rock Band" is sure to please. Add two full album track packs - and another in December - and you have a game that will continue giving beyond 2009.

Order "VGF Magazine" TODAY!!!

2009-11-19T19:40:00.004-05:00

It's up and it's live!

You can now officially order your copy of the very first issue of "VGF Magazine" today!!!

For only $2.00 plus shipping and handling you can can order the inaugural issue of the published supplement to VGF!

Following the link below to order your copy through MagCloud.com:

"VGF Magazine"
issue 1. November 2009
http://magcloud.com/browse/Issue /41743

Included in this issue:

"The Best of Video Game Freedom"

REVIEW: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
FEATURE: Six Health Care Solutions from Video Games
OPINION: Motion Controls Alienate Core Gamers
MOVIE REVIEW: Milk

Delivery usually arrives in about a week and please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments when you receive your copy.

Please order and support an independent video game journalist!

Preview-Review - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

2009-11-17T18:19:00.006-05:00

Yes, it sold over 40 million copies the first day of its release.

Yes, there is a mission where players can choose to massacre innocent civilians in an Russian airport.

Yes, you can choose to bypass that mission with no penalty.

Finally, yes, it is likely to receive several video game honors and awards.

Just in case you haven't heard any of the pervasive hype surrounding this year's biggest video game release, I'm talking about Infinity Ward's and Activision's "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2" the direct sequel to 2007's "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare."

In a series first, "Modern Warfare 2" continues the story of its 2007 predecessor with the formation of a new Russian ultra-nationalist Vladimir Makarov as he rekindles the throne of the fallen Imran Zakhaev to cause more havoc and destruction in another go around.

The strange thing about the "Call of Duty" series is that the plot of any given title takes a backseat to its intensive and explosion happy gameplay although many of the games' most dramatic cinematic moments are fueled by the basics of what's happening in the story. As a result, you don't find yourself paying much attention to the finer details of the story although what's going on can have a profound emotional impact when intense, emotional heart strings are picked.

With that being said - and without my completion of the game - "Modern Warfare 2" doesn't seem to break any ground in a narrative sense even though the game has received a lot of publicity from it's risky "Russian Airport" scene.

Thankfully, the same great gameplay from the series returns.

Anyone familiar with the previous two installments of the series can literally pick up and play the game from the title screen. It's refreshing to experience a series built on consistency rather than trying to reinvent its gameplay - I'm looking at you Final Fantasy.

Veteran's of the series can expect the same great campaign and multiplayer experience with the addition of two-person "Special Op" missions. However, I don't know if it's just me, but I can't seem to figure out how play with another person online in a tactical mission without inviting someone from my friends list.

I've personally spent the majority of my time in the game's in-depth online multiplayer matches. A few added upgrades make the experience a more balanced bout with "death streaks" which allow you to even the playing field after being killed a consistent number of times. There are also new challenges, a customizable emblem tag, and new "kill streaks" to keep things interesting in the same great experience millions of "Call of Duty 4" and "World at War" fan have enjoyed.

However, it seems as though these additions may be a little too forgiving. I understand there are some real..."gifted players" that reached level 60 by the time I purchased the game last Saturday (giving them 5 days to do so), but the average level of players is in the 30s. I haven't really played the game that extensively and I am already at level 11.

You are given a wide array of bonuses from things such as taking revenge on a player that just killed you or by saving another teams mate. This yields quicker level progression and makes the acquisition of those levels feel less rewarding.

Nevertheless, "Modern Warfare 2" is more the same.

It's the same great gameplay, brilliant visuals, dramatic presentation, and rewarding multiplayer. In this case more of the same is a good thing.

However, this consistency does not move the series much further and "Modern Warfare 2" seems to ever so slightly dissatisfy its monumental hype.

Video Game Freedom

E3 2011: VGF is "socially there"

VGF is going social

The Legend of Zelda Turns 25

Sony reveals the PSP2...Next Generation Portable

Sorry for the delay

VIDEO: VGF's Black Friday Holiday Gift Guide

Motion Controlled Madness: PlayStation Move and Microsoft Kinect impressions

Is Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood worth its lineage?

Nintendo 3DS receives a Japanese release date, names launch titles

How Super Mario has changed in the last 25 years

Final Fantasy Football: Cheerleaders - Rikku, Oerba Dia Vanille, Yuffie Kisaragi

Final Fantasy Football: Wide Receivers - Sephiroth, Squall Leonhart, Tifa Lockhart

Final Fantasy Football: Quarterback - Cloud Strife

Final Fantasy Football: Fullback - Barret Wallace

Final Fantasy Football: Kicker - Tidus

Final Fantasy Football: Tight End - Cecil Harvey

Final Fantasy Football: Running back - Zidane Tribal

A web-based gaming diversion: Record Tripping

Video game world record holder Billy Mitchell reclaims Donkey Kong crown

NPD Report spells a bad omen for the Sony PSP

Would you buy a $250 Nintendo 3DS? Details coming Sept. 29

Renaming the "working title" in video games

Roger Ebert Admits He May Have Been Wrong About Video Games as Art

E3 2010 leftovers: Need for Speed III: Hot Pursuit

E3 2010: Sony Press Conference Reactions

E3 2010: Portal 2 trailer

E3 2010: Nintendo Press Conference Reactions

E3 2010: Sony's Press Conference

E3 2010: Nintendo Press Conference

E3 2010: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

E3 2010: Microsoft Press Conference Reactions

E3 2010: Microsoft's E3 2010 Press Conference

E3 2010: Killzone 3 Launch Trailer

E3 2010: Microsoft's Project Natal called Kinect with an upgraded new look for the Xbox 360

E3 2010: Microsoft hosts a pre-E3 Natal event

What to expect at E3 2010

Super Mario Galaxy 2 receives outstanding reviews

Little Big Planet 2 launching later this year

Boy Scouts to Offer Loops and Pins for Video Gaming

A Case for Video Games as Art, or Roger Ebert is an Idiot

UK Woman Claims the Nintendo Wii Made Her a Sex Addict

Gears of War 3 Premier Trailer

April showers bring more data storage? Xbox 360 and PS3 see media storage upgrades

VGF Magazine issue 2 April 2010 is active

Five things video games can learn from movies

Nintendo announces new handheld with Nintendo 3DS

Medal of Honor shows its resemblance to Modern Warfare

PlayStation Move coming to PS3 consoles holiday 2010 priced under $100

New York man breaks Donkey Kong world record

Top Five Final Fantasy Games of All-Time

Playstation 3 Glitch Resolved?

Playstationary: Millions of Older PS3 Models Suffering from Playstation 3 Calendar Glitch

Video Game Freedom Reaches 100,000 Unique Hits

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves steals 10 awards at the 13th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards

Microsoft Xbox Consoles Losing Xbox LIVE Support

"Sonic the Hedgehog 4" racing to consoles this summer

What the Apple iPad Means for Gaming

Dante's Inferno Demo Review

Video Game Statistics at a Glance

Netflix on the Nintendo Wii, but no HD

New Super Mario Bros. Wii Review

Top Ten Most Influential Video Games of the Decade

Attempted Drug Smugglers Hide Cocaine in a Playstation

Mother calls 911 because of her son's late-night gaming fest

Man marries a Nintendo DS video game character

Halo Reach Debut Trailer

15 Years of Playstation

Medal of Honor Engages Modern Warfare

VGF Magazine on Sale!!!!

VGF 2009 Holiday Gift Guide

Order "VGF Magazine" TODAY!!!

Preview-Review - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2