Shopping Guide - Franchise games and sequels dominate store shelves this holiday season

Just in time for the holiday season, here is my video game shopping guide.

My editor added "Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe" so I take not claim in that.

Also, be on the look out for the official VGF game guide in a couple of weeks:

Featuring a breadth of killer titles, the lineup of triple-A holiday games also features a breadth of subtitles.

High-profile franchise games and heavily-anticipated sequels dominate the store shelves, with few original titles getting a heavy holiday push.

For those shopping for a gift for a video game-crazed loved one, the following games may include the perfect one - or the perfect "2."



"Call of Duty: World at War" (PC, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS)

Following one of last year's greatest games, "Call of Duty: World at War" returns to the roots of the series: World War II.

Although widely criticized for looking a little too much like its predecessor, "World at War" focuses on the Pacific Campaign as you play as American, British and Russian soldiers. Look for "World at War" to feature the industry's premier online multiplayer experience for a game that is sure to be a must-have for first-person shooter fans.



"Gears of War 2" (Xbox 360)

This Microsoft Xbox 360 exclusive is claimed to look, play and sound very close to its predecessor - which is fantastic when it is the sequel to one of the most widely acclaimed games in recent years.

In "Gears of War 2" you reprise your role as the hardened killing machine of a man named Marcus Fenix, who, with the help of his Delta Squad soldiers, takes the war with the "Locust Hoard" deep into the Earth.

"Gears of War 2" adds new weapons, new environments and new multiplayer features to culminate in a package that is easily equal to the 2006 classic. Xbox 360 fans will not want to miss the opportunity to play this gem of a game.



"Resistance 2" (PS3)

"Resistance 2" is another sequel that is bigger and better than its predecessor.

"Resistance: Fall of Man" was an original and notable launch title for the Sony Playstation 3 because of its stellar visuals and engaging environments. The original game had you play as Sergeant Nathan Hale as you battle through Britain after an invasion by an alien race called the "Chimera."

Click HERE for the full story.

Review - Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party

7.5 out of 10

Of all the innovative ways the Nintendo Wii allows games to be played, never have gamers been required to use their butts.

Ubisoft wants to change that.

The company's newest title for the Nintendo Wii, "Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party," utilizes your glutes to sled on a yak, surf in space, break it down on the dance floor and enjoy all the pleasures you never thought you could have in the self-proclaimed "first game in the world that you can play with your rear end."

"TV Party" is the third game in the classic "Rayman" series to feature the Rabbids, hilarious rabbit-like creatures.

However, this time the Rabbids have found their way into your television set, where you can play a plethora of mini-games based on television spoofs. You will partake in activities from shooting zombie chickens on the "Cult Classic" film channel to cooking burgers to feeding them to a giant whale creature on the "Raving Channel."

Click HERE for my full review at cm-life.com

Gaming Addiction Found to be Social, not Psychological

A recent story from Gamespot UK reported that Keith Bakker, the founder of the Smith & Jones centre on gaming addiction in Amsterdam, said video game addictions are a social ailment and not psychological.

Reportedly speaking on the BBC, Bakker said his institute had orginally believed video game addicition was a compulsion in the same way a gambling addicition functions. However, new findings show the contrary.

"These kids come in showing some kind of symptoms that are similar to other addictions and chemical dependencies... But the more we work with [them] the less I believe we can call this addiction," he said. "What many of these kids need is their parents and their school teachers: this is a social problem."

According to Bakker, playing video games is a response to being bullied in school and makes up for a lack of communication skills.

I personally never thought a video game addicition was a psycological condition. I figured it was only a psycological problem to the extent that compulsive gamers feel they need to play video games to avoid other social contact.

As with anything else, video games should only be played in moderation with other things.

You know it is a problem when it interfers with other aspects of your life such as school, work, and family.

Sometimes you need to just put down the controller or sign out of WoW.

10 Years of Excellence - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

It is hard to imagine that it has been 10 years today since Shigeru Miyamoto's masterpiece "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" was released.

In 1998, America was not involved in a conflict in Iraq, the price of gas was $1 or less, there was no such thing as an iPod, Xbox, or the Nintendo Wii. There was the Nintendo 64 and a promising new future of gaming in three dimensions.

N64's "Super Mario 64" gave mastery to 3D gaming, but it was "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" that perfected it.

My choice as the greatest video game of all-time, "Ocarina of Time" still has as much of an impact today as it did 10 years ago.

Crafting a masterpiece in visual display, ingenuity of controls, cleverness of puzzle design, and excellence in its musical score to create a video game that transcends button mashing and ascends to a level of art.

I remember first entering the Deku Tree and making my way across a new landscape of possibilities in game design that can never be repeated. The soothing music in the Deku Tree brought both mystery and darkness in a Nintendo title that I had not experienced until "Ocarina of Time."

Having completed the first three temples as the young Link, I had thought my journey was nearly over until I found there were five more for me to explore as the older, more mature link.

"Ocarina of Time" certainly captivated and encompassed everything a video game should be with a widely engaging story and my first experience with cinematics in a video game that crafted a beautiful tale of courage and discovery.

The shear depth of the game was well worth its original $60 price tag with side quests that often rivaled the "Final Fantasy" series in depth. Each new side quest or task worked to foster new relationships not only between Link and the game's many supporting characters, but between the player and the game itslef. In this way, Link really does live up to the original meaning of his name - to be a link between the player and the game.

Strangley enough, I remember dreaming about the game at night and being completely stumped in the Fire Temple deep within Death Mountain. Only a truely good game can have you that puzzled.

Alas, I remember actually crying as I watched the final credits roll because "Ocarina of Time" was the quintessential game that forever solidified my love of gaming. I simply did not want the experience to end as it far surpassed any expectations I had as an 11 year-old gamer.

"The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" is the greatest and most impactful video game I have ever had the pleasure of playing and it is surprising that 10 years have past since it was first released.

I strongly suggest to anyone who loves video games to treat yourself to one of the greatest experiences you will ever have in what can now officially be considered a classic.

48-Hour Film Competition: Prices

Unrelated to video games, I spent some time last week working on another passion of mine - film making.

This is a film that we shot in one night as part of a 48-hour film competition. I did most of the cinematography as well as helped piece together the story.

We were given the criteria of:

Theme - Money Isn't Everything
Piece of Dialogue - I don't need your excuses
Setting - Car
Scene - a chase scene
Object - a bag of dirty laundry

Following this criteria, we devised the following. Enjoy:



Sorry for the pause in gaming info, it is paper season I'm afraid. However, I am working on some new content so be ready for new posts soon.

The Year of the 9.0

Strangely, this holiday line-up could be categorized as "The Year of 9.0" at GameSpot.com.

If you look at the year's top holiday releases, GameSpot has given nearly every one the same score - 9.0.

Checkout the list below:

Gears of War 2 - 9.0

Resistance 2 - 9.0

Fallout 3 - 9.0 although 8.5 on PS3

Dead Space - 9.0

Little Big Planet - 9.0


Is it merely a coincidence that each of these high-profile games are equally well crafted? Or is GameSpot having a difficult time debating whether they want to hold one title higher than the others? Maybe they are just afraid of the backlash from fanboys?

Perhaps financial constraints have some factor if one developer purchases ad space over the other. It could also be likely they purchase the same amount.

With two other high-profile releases this week (Call of Duty: World at War and Mirror's Edge) launching this week, it will be interesting to see how the reviews turn out.

Little Big Planet Review

9.0 out of 10

After over a year and a half of development and recent controversy, Sony's quirky side-scrolling adventure "Little Big Planet" arrives on the Sony Playstation 3.

"Little Big Planet" is one of the most basic, yet oddly complex, titles in video game history.

At its heart, "Little Big Planet" is a game of creation and customization.

You begin the game as a character named Sackboy, moving across a 2D side-scrolling environment only to realize that you are actually running through the game's opening credits as pictures of the developers take the place of the game's physical structure.

Check out my full review by clicking the link.