New Xbox Live record met

Last week, shortly after the release of war game Goliath Modern Warfare 2, Microsoft's Major Nelson reported via Twitter that Xbox Live had reached a new milestone. For the first time ever, over 2 million users were signed on to Xbox Live all at once.

That calls for some oversized text to be aligned in the center as a means of celebration. Ready?

Happy 2,000,000 Xbox Live!

New 'Brutal Legend' maps announced

The umlauts are well-known, the game has gotten its fair share of notoriety, and even the game's creator Tim Schafer has made an appearance on late night TV. Now, on Nov. 19, the first piece of downloadable content for Brutal Legend will be available.

The map pack, called Tears of the Hextadon, will feature two new maps. The first is called "Circle of Tears." Here's how the press release describes it: "Vile waters have carved a rough-hewn circular battlefield into a forsaken land that players must circumvent to destroy their opponent."

Saucy. And the second map, "Death's Fjord?" "Players find themselves on an icy mountain pass with a dense cluster of fans that lie below, waiting to be harvested by those brave enough to capture them without cover from enemy attack."

Wow. Also, everybody who purchases the map pack will receive a free in-game axe, the Blade of Ormagöden. That game is so metal. Here's the intro video to the game:

'Bioshock 2' dated

Remember when back when Bioshock was getting all those "Game Of The Year" accolades? Seems like yesterday. So will its sequel be a worthy follow-up?

Find out on Feb. 2, 2010, when Bioshock 2 is released worldwide for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. Here's a look at the game's multiplayer gameplay trailer from this year's PAX.

Review: 'The Beatles Rock Band'

Leading up to the release of The Beatles Rock Band, Dhani Harrison, one of the game's designers and son of George Harrison, talked about how the experience of the game led some testers to tears. The game was a tribute so touching, that even veterans of the music industry began to tear up. Me, the cynic, didn't buy it. I love The Beatles, but come on. It's a video game. It can't be that emotional.

And then I played it.



OK, let's get the technicals out of the way, first. There's nothing innovative as far as the basic instruments go. If you've ever played Rock Band or Guitar Hero, you'll know what to do. The harmonies are certainly a nice addition, especially if you're like me and switch between singing Paul's part and John's part in the middle of the song. Also, if you've got some friends who can really harmonize, you're set.

The game takes you through the career of The Beatles, from the Cavern Club to the Ed Sullivan Theatre to the studio and, finally, to the roof. Unlike previous Rock Band games, there's no flexibility in the game's animated sequences. There's no room for a guy with a mohawk and mustache wearing flannel to sing "Yellow Submarine." That's Ringo's job.

Every song, likeness, and animated sequence is treated with guarded reverence. As a matter of fact, the game is so peaceful and smiley that it's hard to imagine John Lennon ever frowning or any of the four of them ever having an unpleasant moment.

But aside from mild deification, the game's bias leans toward a message that The Beatles were always in favor of: love. The game isn't, "You, the rock star, sky rocket to success." This is a game where you study the various eras of The Beatles. Meanwhile, the entire experience is blanketed by love.

There are enough extras to give any Beatles fanatic an excuse to buy the game, and the achievements really push you to get the most out of the game. And, of course, there's the promise of fully downloadable albums in the future, with Abbey Road, Sgt. Pepper's, and Rubber Soul already announced, so the replay value is excellent.

I mentioned that I, too, found this game emotional. It's hard to describe, really, but all throughout "Dear Prudence," a smile was inexplicably plastered on my face. As the song ended, I sighed a breath of wistfulness, as though I was there when The Beatles broke up.



It's a beautifully designed game and a wonderful experience. I'm already itching for DLC. Hopefully, they'll let us have a turn at some of those solo albums (I'm looking at you, Ram).

An Xbox E3 Roundup

OK, so this one is going to have to be a bit more abridged, but here are some of the highlights from Microsoft.

Xbox 360

- Assassin's Creed 2 gets a November 17 release date. Trailer.
- The Beatles Rock Band is looking amazing. Harmonizing vocals, downloadable Abbey Road, awesome plastic instruments and an awesome intro video.
- Brutal Legend still looks great. Jack Black gets electrocuted and Ozzy Osbourne joins the line-up (meanwhile, Dio mysteriously disappears from it). Trailer.
- DJ Hero exists. Trailer.
- Final Fantasy XIII looking at a 2010 release date. Trailer.
- Halo 3: ODST gets September 22 release, will feature four-player co-op. Trailer.
- Left 4 Dead 2 is luckily not titled Left 4 Dead Again and will hit stores on November 17 (alongside its assassin brother listed above). Four new characters will be featured in gameplay. Extremely violent trailer.
- LEGO Rock Band looks charming, totally unnecessary. Trailer.
- Metal Gear Solid Rising is coming to the Xbox 360. Teaser trailer.
- Project Natal is revealed - it's like a Wiimote for the 360. Cool?
- Tony Hawk Ride to be played with a skateboard peripheral controller. Great Yeah Yeah Yeahs-laden trailer.
- XBLA Summer of Arcade to feature TMNT: Turtles In Time Re-shelled, 'Splosion Man, Marvel Vs. Capcom 2 and Monkey Island Special Edition.
- Oh, and Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm, and a special Games On Demand service were all announced for Xbox Live. Again, cool?

OK, so that's the bulk of it, folks. Any notable omissions? I ran through this really fast.

New this week: Lost & Damned Street Fighters edition

It's finally here: February's equivalent to Christmas. No, not Valentine's Day. Nobody cares about that. I mean the week where they finally release one of the only games that I'll spend a substantial chunk of my paycheck on.

Street Fighter IV, 360/PS3 (02/17) - I'm not sure how many hours in my lifetime I've spent playing any game with the Street Fighter moniker attached. The number is probably embarrassing. Honestly, Capcom needs to stop taking my money, though. They keep producing excellent work. With Mega Man 9 already in the can and with Street Fighter IV, Resident Evil 5 and Bionic Commando all coming out soon, where's all this money supposed to be coming from? Street Fighter IV looks like an excellent addition to the franchise and I am nothing short of excited to get my hands on it. Here's the trailer, but please excuse the terribly written dialogue.



Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned, XBLA (02/17) - This is the first of two Xbox 360 exclusive expansions for GTAIV. You play a biker in a gang and you get more music and achievements. This is excellent news for those who rushed in to finish that game after it initially came out.

Some excellent Xbox 360 deals this week

I don't mean to alarm you, but there are deals going on this week that are so outrageous, they could well be a matter of national security.

OK, so that's an enormous overstatement.

Still, take heed that Geoffrey Giraffe is selling a 12-month Xbox Live Gold subscription for $29.99. In the meantime, Old Man Amazon is offering Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned with three months of Xbox Live Gold for free.

Even if you already have a subscription to Xbox Live, this could save you money on your next 12 months before that subscription runs out. So bust out the wallet, money bags! Times are tough! Microsoft needs that money!

HSM karaoke game announced, 4-year-old girls still screaming

That's right, Disney Interactive Studios announced yesterday that they just love money. Therefore, they're going to release Disney Sing It: High School Musical 3: Senior Year, a game with a title that's far too short.

DSI:HSM3:SY, which looks suspiciously like HTML code, will feature songs from all three High School Musical movies. Sing solo! Sing with friends!

The game will release February 17 for the Xbox 360, PS3, PS2 and Wii consoles. There's no word about whether or not this game is going to be compatible with the Lips, Rock Band or Guitar Hero: World Tour microphones.

But take heed. If you're over the age of 13 and are playing this game on the Xbox 360, all of your friends on the system can see how many achievements you've gotten while playing the game. So ask yourself: how brave are you?

What to Buy Your Kids for the Holidays - Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 is yet another favored gift for the holidays. So if you know someone who is getting one, show them that you care by buying them something for it. It should be noted that, unlike the Wii, many of the games have themes of violence (unless otherwise noted). Still, here's a rundown of essentials.

* = also available on PS3

THE BASICS - The games and accounts every Xbox 360 owner should have (you know, unless they hate violence).

Halo 3 (violent)
BioShock (somewhat less violent) *
The Orange Box *
An Xbox Live Gold account - this is about 60 percent of the gaming experience. Live is a must.
A Netflix account - because you can watch movies instantly on your Xbox.

THE FAMILY GAMER - Here are games that aren't violent and are fun for the whole family.

LEGO Batman *
LEGO Indiana Jones *
Viva Pinata
Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise
Banjo Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts

THE MUSICIAN - For the 360 virtuoso.

Singer - Lips
The guy with roommates or friends - Rock Band 2 *
The loner guitarist who stays in his room - Guitar Hero II or Guitar Hero III*

THE JOCK - A few games for the sports savvy.

Madden NFL 09*
NHL 09*
Burnout Paradise (racing)*
Forza Motorsport 2
NBA 2K9*
FIFA Soccer 09*

THE TRIGGER-HAPPY - You know someone who digs violence in their games? Here are some ideas.

Grand Theft Auto IV*
Gears of War 2
Fallout 3*
Call of Duty: World at War (latest Call of Duty game)*
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare*
Left 4 Dead (zombies)

THE PUZZLE MASTER - For the person who is a natural-born problem solver.

Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution*
The Orange Box (for Portal)*
Fable II
Mass Effect

THE STAND-BY - "And I guess that I just don't know." - Lou Reed

Xbox Live Microsoft Point Cards - This is how they get the games they've been craving for so long off of the Xbox Live Arcade. It's a great gift and it's not in disc form (and often, less expensive than most games).

BUY THEM SOMETHING ON THE XBOX LIVE ARCADE - If you're more tapped in to the gaming world, you can jump in and actually purchase them a game off of Xbox Live. Here are a few really good games on the XBLA.

Braid
Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
Castle Crashers
Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix*
Portal: Still Alive
Mega Man 9*

Another fine group of choices for your friends and family. Again, please leave a comment if you feel I've omitted anything extremely important or if you have any questions about what to buy this holiday season. On to the PS3.

Games of 2009: Multi-Platform (Part 2)

Because you can't fit 'em all in one post, here are more games coming in 2009. All of these don't have definite dates (but will probably turn up sometime next year).

- Bionic Commando, PC + PS3 + 360 (TBD) - A remake of the Bionic Commando game from 1988. This one looks much more interesting and fun.

- Brutal Legend, PS3 + 360 (TBD) - A hugely unique platformer starring Jack Black and Lemmy from Motorhead. Here's a violent trailer, but the important thing is to remember how extremely metal it is to be violent.

- Bioshock 2: Sea of Dreams, PC + PS3 + 360 (TBD) - The sequel to the critically acclaimed (and totally awesome) game. Here's a fantastic teaser trailer.

- I Am Alive, PC + PS3 + 360 (TBD) - A game with a trailer that legitimately gives me the creeps. I Am Alive takes place in the home of my college, Chicago. A large-scale disaster destroys the city and this Ubisoft game focuses solely on survival. Here's the teaser.

- Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2: Fusion, all platforms except PC and PSP (TBD) - A sequel to the mediocre Marvel Ultimate Alliance game. But this time, the heroes' powers merge! What?!

- Tekken 6, PS3 + 360 (TBD) - Another Tekken game, more fighting. Always wonderful.

- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (TBD) - Coming in the autumn of 2009, this is the yearly installment of calls of duty.

- Terminator Salvation, all platforms except PSP (TBD) - The surprisingly interesting looking game to coincide with the film

- Guitar Hero: Metallica, all non-handheld devices except PC (TBD) - Guitar Hero with Metallica. Probably the hardest game in the series.

Games of 2009: Multi-Platform (Part 1)

There are a lot of multi-platform games coming out in 2009. Here's a look at a few notables (SPOILER: it's primarily sequels).

- 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, PS3 + 360 (1/19/09) - But of course. The man needs his own game. We can only pray, for Fiddy's sake, that Kanye West doesn't release a game on the same weekend.

- Skate 2, PS3 + 360 (1/23/09) - The sequel to the Skate game that is slowly usurping the Tony Hawk's long gilded throne.

- Afro Samurai, PS3 + 360 (1/29/09) - An adaptation of the extremely cool Cartoon Network anime baby of The RZA and Samuel L. Jackson. Here's the link to the very violent, very good trailer.

- The Godfather II, PC + PS3 + 360 (2/12/09) - A sequel to The Godfather game and an adaptation of The Godfather II film.

- Street Fighter IV, PS3 + 360 (2/19/09) - The long-awaited next chapter in the Street Fighter series. And it looks amazing. That said, here's an extremely unfaithful looking trailer.

- Damnation, PC + PS3 + 360 (2/24/09) - A great looking first-person shooter.

- WWE: Legends of Wrestlemania, PS3 + 360 (March 09) - Another Legends of Wrestling game (featuring Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin on the cover). How is it different? Well it must be - they're actually making another one!

- Splatterhouse, PS3 + 360 (4/30/09) - A remake of the TurboGrafyx 16 horror beat-em-up. Looks surprisingly violent!

- Batman: Arkham Asylum, PC + PS3 + 360 (5/31/09) - A surprisingly good looking Batman game. It looks darker than before and a little more faithful to The Caped Crusader. It totes the pen of Paul Dini (who did Batman: The Animated Series), the voice work of Kevin Conroy for Batman (also from The Animated Series) and Mark Hamill as The Joker (you know - that Mark Hamill).

- Ghostbusters, all platforms (June 2009) - A sequel to the Ghostbusters movies starring the original Ghostbusters themselves. The Wii version is more cartoony and the PS3/360 versions will be more faithful to the actual actors appearances.

Games of 2009: Xbox 360

Before I look at the great games of 2008, let's look ahead at what's in store (at the moment) for 2009. Here are a few primary games that are (currently) exclusive to the Xbox 360. (Or are only otherwise being released on PC, but who really cares about that, right?)

Halo Wars (3/3/09) - It's a Halo game, alright, but it isn't being developed by the team at Bungie. There could be reason for shark-jumping concern (see also the second and third Matrix films), but still, it's being anticipated by the Halo junkies of the world.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope (3/3/09) - An RPG that takes place after World War III. Everybody has moved to space (or the "star ocean") and fighting is choppy and commanded by clicking on the word "attack." Here's some gameplay footage.



Halo 3: ODST (TBA) - Another Halo game? Correct. It's a stand-alone expansion on the Halo 3 story, except this time, you don't play Master Chief. You play an Orbital Drop Shock Trooper (or ODST, hence the name). Apparently, since the ODST doesn't have the armor of Master Chief, the game is more stealth oriented than previous Halo titles.

Forza Motorsport 3 (TBA) - The sequel to Forza Motorsport 2, which was detailed in BTVG's past by Griffin McElroy.

Velvet Assassin (TBA) - Aside from having the sassiest name of all the stealth games in history, this game is also takes place during WWII.

Alan Wake (TBA) - The team from Max Payne brings another psychological action thriller featuring another awesome fake dude name.



Mass Effect 2 (TBA) - Yet another sequel for fans of the original Mass Effect monster.

Untitled Soulja Boy game (TBA) - The renowned expert on the game Braid is getting his own game. Thank Odin.

Snoopy's Call of Duty

At long last, he will catch the Red Baron. And he's going to do it in style.



Snoopy WWI Flying Ace hits the Wii and Xbox 360 in early 2009. In related news, Charlie Brown is Still Incredibly Sad needs no virtual outlet.

The Alex Ross "MK vs. DC" Collector's Cover Art

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe is coming out this November. I'm honestly not thrilled about the crossover thing. Granted, I really loved Kurt Busiek's incredible JLA/Avengers crossover miniseries, but there's something a bit bizarre about the DC guys going against the Mortal Kombat guys.

Anyway, so for the "Kollector's Edition" (ugh), they've decided to commission one of the most universally renowned artists in comic history for the cover - Alex Ross. Aside from doing great cover art for comics by the dozens, Ross is the artist for two of my favorite graphic novels: Kingdom Come and Marvels. If you haven't read them, do. It's great stuff. Anyway, here's a look at a video thanks to the guys at Joystiq.



Take a look at the full cover.


Wow. I don't know, maybe Alex Ross missed his calling. Perhaps he can provide the cover art for the next Mega Man game or, perhaps, Punch-Out!! Perhaps he can come up with a painting for a revamp of Burger Time, and then, after seeing the painting, game developers will rush for the rights to revamp Burger Time.

After all, the man did do a beautiful portrait of The Ambiguously Gay Duo.

New Xbox Experience Dated

I've been looking forward to this announcement for quite some time. The New Xbox Experience - the redesign of Xbox Live - is coming on November 19 across the globe. That's right, it's about time that you can stream movies from Netflix, make a cute little avatar and enjoy your Live experience with a hint of class.

You know what game I'm excited for on the New Xbox Experience this fall? Stackenblochen Live.

But in all seriousness, this is one of the reasons why I've been looking forward to getting an Xbox 360. That, and being able to stop pushing nothing but Wii news in your faces. BELIEVE.

Creating Your Xbox Avatar

Are you ready to create yourself in virtual form? You know, the kind of you that has an extra scar or two or perhaps some fancy rings that you've never been able to afford? Well the virtual you can afford a couple of rings, and what the heck, how about a non-descript jersey?

Well, when the New Xbox Experience jumps inside your console, you'll need to figure out how many rings to wear. Here's how you do it.

<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-US&amp;playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:af0e0dcd-5cff-43a2-bd32-4841fe6a89d1&amp;showPlaylist=true&amp;from=shared" target="_new" title="Avatars in the new Xbox experience">Video: Avatars in the new Xbox experience</a>

Although it's just a new attempt at expanding on Nintendo's success with the Miis, it's still a fairly interesting prospect.

2K Sports Announces "NHL 2K9" Zamboni Games (Really)

So what's new in NHL 2K9? You don't care? Well I'll tell you anyway!

- There are (friendly) Zamboni competition games!
- A revamped fighting engine!
- Custom Stanley Cup celebrations!
- Use the Wiimote as a hockey stick!
- User friendly controls!
- Six-on-six online capability!
- What? SPECIAL GUESTS THE HUNTINGTON BLIZZARD!

Wait? I made the last one up? Darn. NHL 2K9 releases September 9 for all major platforms. You can play a free demo now on the Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network.

My Xbox the Fortress

Do you want your Xbox 360 to stop overheating as quickly and look like a bomb shelter? Look no further than the Lian-Li PC-XB01!

So what are the perks (aside from putting you back an extra $150 or so)?

- The built in fan prevents overheating!
- It's so sleek!
- It'll ruin your warranty!
- It's quieter!
- In order to use it, you have to completely take apart and rewire your Xbox!
- It's so sleek!

I mentioned sleek twice? Well, look at it. How can you not? Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to use one-tenth of the price of this machine to buy a giant fan and sit it behind my Xbox.

EA Casts Lumos on New Harry Potter Game Cover

Well, we're over halfway through 2008, and although the Harry Potter book series is through and done with, there's still two more films left. You know what that means? That's right - two more mediocre and/or awful video games based on the movies! There's no big news on the game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, but there is some box art available for viewing. Check it.


Does it meet the confringo expectations? I assume not. It's pretty much the cover for every other film and game, except this time Harry is slightly older and perhaps even more intense than before (if that's possible). Look out behind you, Harry! It's Alan Rickman! It's true - there's an evil worse than He Who Must Not Be Named himself.

The game is set to be released this November.

E3: The Netflix News

I've mentioned a few times the hush-hush word about a possible Xbox/Netflix fusion plan. Well it has finally been officially announced. Some clever hackers had already come up with a way to do this, but now it has been made completely user friendly. Check it out.

This comes on the heels of other things that are all a part of the new Xbox experience. Translation: I need to buy one for my new apartment.

Mega Man Back in 8 Bit!

I like that the gaming industry is starting to wise up and realize that they need to go back to square one. There's a reason why people still play the original Mario games and Mega Man games. But instead of just going back to the original format, Capcom are taking it a step further. They're going back to the bare bones of graphics: 8-bit!

Mega Man 9 will be released for WiiWare, Xbox Live Arcade, and the PlayStation Network. There are over a dozen new levels and 50 new enemies to battle. What's more, the character designs are being directed by Keiji Inafune, the original character designer of Mega Man. Oh, and did I mention the announcement of the first ever female boss? Authentic, new, and awesome. Can't wait.

"Who's Next" Not Being Released for Rock Band, Evan Disappointed

I love Who's Next. It's my favorite album by The Who. Upon initially hearing the news of the album being included as downloadable content for Rock Band, I was giddy (you can read my giddiness in action here).

But they couldn't get all of the master tracks, so they're releasing a greatest hits compilation instead. OK, fine. Whatever. If that's what they have to do, that's OK. But we were so close! I don't necessarily want their biggest hits or Townshend's favorites or anything like that - I want to be able to play my favorite album in its entirety in video game format. I'm a record collector and there's a lot to be said about an entire album from front to back. This album is a classic. It's much better than The Cars by The Cars or Doolittle by Pixies. I just wanted for it to happen so I could sing "The Song is Over" while my friends played the drums at my side. Is that so much to ask? And that's the end of my whining rant. Here's what is being released, including a few tracks from Who's Next.

“Amazing Journey”
“Baba O'Riley”
“Behind Blue Eyes”
“Eminence Front”
“Going Mobile”
“Leaving Here”
“My Generation” (LIVE)
“Real Good Looking Boy”
“Sea & Sand”
“Summertime Blues” (LIVE)
“Who Are You”
“Young Man Blues” (LIVE)

Each track will cost $2 individually or $19 for the entire thing. I'll probably get most of them, but I'm still disappointed. You can read a lengthy love poem from me to Who's Next at my other blog.

Kmart Leaks Xbox 360 Price Cut

Can you smell the poor college students on the horizon? They could be stampeding toward your local Kmart. They're on the eve of actually being able to afford an Xbox 360 (you know, if they don't get groceries this month).

The Xbox 360 20 GB console, pending if the photo on the left is a clever PhotoShop job, is being priced at $299.99 according to this Kmart advertisement. The release is dated July 16th, the week of E3. Curious, isn't it?

Thanks Xbox 360 Fanboy.

Tomb Raider Portal

Oh that zany Lara Croft. Always getting into new tomb-related shenanigans. Well, it looks like she has another adventure on the horizon.

Eidos Interactive just launched "Tomb Raider Portal", a website for Croft fans to find the latest in Tomb Raider news and art. Above is a photo of the upcoming Tomb Raider: Underworld. The game will be out in November 2008 for every platform (except the PSP). The game is the first to be designed specifically for the next-gen consoles, so the adventure should be more interesting than the last (especially because it involves Norse mythology, finally).

Check out the website for behind the scenes news, screenshots, and even a new exclusive Tomb Raider podcast. Sounds good, right?

The B-Team Wrestling Company Video Game Update

TNA iMPACT!, or the wrestling company that hired 75% of your favorite WCW wrestlers from your middle school years, has confirmed a new feature for their upcoming video game. Downloadable wrestlers will be available depending on the system. Likely, this feature won't be available on the Wii or the PS2.

I wonder what wrestlers will be downloadable. Bill Goldberg? Jimmy Snuka? Scott Hall? Ooh, maybe "Macho Man" Randy Savage (or Bonesaw)!

Rumor: Xbox 360 Miis Comin' Up

You know this cuddly Miis that you get on the Wii? Well Xbox is taking that idea, making them more realistic, and putting them on their system. Now you can have a Mii avatar without having a Wii. It's rumored to be coming out at the end of the year.

This sounds like the first attempt by either of the two systems to incorporate Nintendo's innovative ideas that could actually turn out well. It doesn't seem to off-putting or disenchanting (like the Microsoft "Wiimote"). Thoughts?

Become a Street Fightin' Man...in February

What? A Rolling Stones reference this early in the day? I guess I'm feeling sassy.

As of now Street Fighter IV is set to be released on February 3 of next year. However, you can pre-order it on Amazon right now. They even included the cool teaser art that I included above (thanks Amazon). The price is the standard $59.99 and the page I've linked to is for the 360 version, but the PS3 version is also available.

If you hadn't noticed, I'm pretty excited about this game. Maybe I'll even pre-order it (eventually...I do have plenty of time, after all).

Guitar Hero: Metallica Coming to PS3, Xbox 360, Wii in 2009

I was severely disappointed to hear about the production of Guitar Hero: Aerosmith. There are a lot of bands that rock a lot harder than Steven Tyler and the gang. They could have made Guitar Hero: Led Zeppelin or Guitar Hero: Bo Diddley for that matter (may he rest in peace).

Let me be clear: I love music. It's not a surprise by any means, but it's the truth. I may not be a metal head of any kind (in any sense of the term), but I'm legitimately pleased about the release of Guitar Hero: Metallica for the PS3, Wii, and 360 in the first quarter of 2009.

I've never been a huge Metallica fan. I mean, I'm happy that they're playing Bonnaroo this year (a festival I've attended twice, never to return again). They're also easily the best modern metal band. I suppose I prefer Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin on the whole, but Metallica took what those groups did and manipulated it into what metal is today. Metallica's songs are fast, heavy, and powerful, which is perfect for a title like Guitar Hero. Also, at this point in time, the franchise will have not only guitars, but also drums and vocals (as mentioned before).

So what does everybody think? Are you more likely to buy Aerosmith or Metallica?

New Resident Evil 5 Trailer

Here's a new trailer for Resident Evil 5, which is set to release in 2009 sometime on the PS3 and 360. It's bloody and violent and all that nonsense, so don't watch it unless you're 18 or older (and don't say I didn't warn you).

That's right - it's going to be in Africa. What's more, it takes place near a series of active volcanoes. Awesome.

Street Fighter to Hit PS3, 360, and PC (and not the Wii)

A new video game store opened in Chicago that exclusively sells retro video games. In the store, they have a SNES set up where you can play Street Fighter II. My roommate and I played it - I chose E. Honda and he chose Ryu. Now if Tyler would've let loose a solid Hadouken, I would've been pretty easily defeated. However, I managed to pin him into a corner with my hundred-hand slap. Thus, I won. That's why I'm excited about the release of Street Fighter IV.

Street Fighter IV will be released for the PS3, 360, and PC (and not the Wii). No release date has been set, but I'm pretty excited about the game. Here are some facts about it that I found from our friend, Wikipedia (who quoted other sources which I looked at and confirmed, so don't judge me).

1 - The game's story arc takes place between Street Fighter II and Street Fighter III.
2 - This game includes all of the original characters from Street Fighter II, as well as Akuma, Dan, and Fei Long.
3 - There are three confirmed new characters. Crimson Viper is some strange spy character from the States, El Fuerte is a luchador from Mexico, and Abel is a French martial artist.
4 - I'm excited.

Guitar Hero to Jump the Shark

I won't ramble on too much, but Guitar Hero IV, set to be released later this year, will include more instruments, including a drum kit and vocals according to Activision CEO Bobby Kotick (in an interview with Conde Nast Porfolio magazine). Hmm...this all seems so familiar. Perhaps it's because my copy of Rock Band does exactly the same thing.

Has Guitar Hero lost its way? I talked to my roommate Glenn about his appreciation for Rock Band vs. Guitar Hero. He likes both games. We play Rock Band from time to time, but only when we can get the other to play it. It's harder to get into it by yourself. It's definitely not a game that's very much fun when you're playing it alone. Enter Guitar Hero, a game that's fun both when you're alone and with your friends. Glenn prefers Guitar Hero because you can play it solo without feeling like a fool.

Guitar Hero IV doesn't need to be Rock Band II in order to succeed. It just needs to be itself again. People still bought Guitar Hero III in the face of the much-cooler Rock Band and people will still buy Guitar Hero IV. They just need to keep improving their song choice, graphics, and maybe add a couple of motifs in there that players aren't used to. So, people of Activision, get it together. Don't be Rock Band. It's like every sitcom mom ever said to any sitcom son or daughter - just be yourself.

SEGA Announces Four Upcoming (Violent) Video Games

Today, SEGA announced they have four new games in development. There isn't a lot of information known, but let's look at what we have already.

The first game is called Madworld. This game looks INCREDIBLY violent and is basically a cross between No More Heroes and Frank Miller's Sin City. The game is completely in black and white, other than the bloodshed. But here's the rub - it comes out for the Wii. It's always nice to hear about an incredibly violent addition to the Wii's repertoire. Here's a trailer, but be cautioned that it's extremely violent.

The next game is a Nintendo DS game called Infinite Line. The game is described to be one of the most complex RPG titles the DS has seen. In the game, you can control multiple spaceships at one time. The game also offers over 200 characters to select. I don't know, maybe this game is going to end up giving me the 'too much space on my iPod' problem where I can't decide what to listen to.

The third game is called Bayonetta. The game is directed by the creator of Devil May Cry, which shows great promise. The teaser trailer is below, but again, it's quite violent.

The last game has no name or title or concept or anything - it only has a name behind it. It's being created by Shinji Mikami, the creator of Resident Evil.

So that covers most of the major platforms while still sprinkling in some pretty awesome concepts and names. Can't wait to check out some of these beauties.

Microsoft: Don't Buy GTAIV for the PS3

When Grand Theft Auto IV is released, it's heading out for the 360 and the PS3. Apparently, the PS3 version has a 5-minute install time before you can initially play the game. How do I know that? Microsoft told me so.

In an e-mail to users, the Xbox Team points out that in the time you could take to install the game, you could have all ready boosted a dozen cars on the Xbox. That's cold as ice, Microsoft. Let's keep it clean, shall we?

Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe

So far, the confirmed line-up includes Sub-Zero, Scorpion, Batman, and Superman. The game will probably play along the lines of a better version of Marvel vs. Capcom. There are no fatalities this time around - I doubt DC Comics was cool with the idea of The Martian Manhunter having his heart ripped out (in other news, I just had Plastic Man-related nerdy fits).

Anybody else looking forward to Kano vs. Hal Jordan? Oooooh boy this is going to be fun. It's coming out this fall for the PS3 and 360.

The Fab Four Debut a Song on "Rock Band!"

That's right - Mick, Vince, Nikki and Tommy are releasing a brand new song exclusively on Rock Band. Mötley Crüe, baby!

If you were wondering, I really don't care much for them. Really, the only hair metal band song that I ever really, legitimately got into was "Photograph" by Def Leppard. "Saints of Los Angeles" released yesterday on the Xbox Live Arcade and will release tomorrow on the PLAYSTATIONStore. The song will join the likes of "Simple Man" by Skynyrd, "Message in a Bottle" by The Police, and "Call Me" by Blondie. "Saints of Los Angeles" marks the first song to be debuted on Rock Band.

I'd make a "Kickstart My Heart" pun, but it's way too early for that.

Iron Man: PS3 and 360 Exclusive Suits

That's the PS3 version.


And that's the 360 version.

And I'm still excited.

Best Buy: Uh...You Guys Want Some Cheap Video Games?

Skip the shower, slap on the deodorant, and throw on the black t-shirt, because it's time to run to Best Buy. Don't worry about how you smell, just go!

Or you could just go to the Best Buy web site. I hope you didn't stop reading, because I could've saved you some time and gas. Oops.

Anyhow, Best Buy is having a buy one, get one half off sale on select Xbox 360 and PS3 games. Needless to say, they're all terrible. In addition to Frontlines: Fuel of War for the 360, here's the list.

Xbox 360 & PlayStation 3
Burnout Paradise
Turning Point: Fall of Liberty
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men
Devil May Cry 4
Turok
Assassin’s Creed
Frontlines: Fuel of War

God, this is worse than Backyard Wrestling. What a bottom of the barrel sale. Sale ends on April 4, but I don't know if any of these are worth price + half price + shipping and handling.

(P.S. to the moms and dads unfamiliar with the titles above, they are all wonderful games for your pixelated-blood thirsty children.)

Microsoft: No 360 Blu-Ray, Japan Sales Hilariously Low

Earlier this month, Microsoft nixed rumors of the Xbox 360 getting any Blu-ray love from Sony. So for those of you who bought HD-DVD players, keep believing. Maybe you'll finally find that copy of The Rookie with Dennis Quaid for $3 at the flea market - that is a bargain for a lot of handsome and easily digestible drama. Sorry for the late report.

Also, the Japanese apparently aren't buying the Xbox 360. At all. In the last two weeks, a little over 3,000 units were sold in the country. Why?

Theory A) Japanese gamers are outraged due to a lack of Seaman 3.
Theory B) Japanese teenagers are too busy buying pasta, after being hypnotized by this amazing commercial.

I'm so hungry all of a sudden - I must find spaghetti.

By the way, if you watched all of that, you are a champion.

Netflix Looking for Microsoft Love?

I don't know if you remember, but a little over a month ago, I reported on a Netflix survey that invaded the blogosphere in a pretty substantial way. To refresh your memory, a Netflix survey asked users whether or not they'd like the option of instant movie streaming using the PS3 or the Xbox 360.

Well, even though Netflix still isn't compatible for instant streaming on Macs (again, thanks Steve Jobs), they themselves have mentioned the notion of teaming up with Microsoft (but not Sony quite yet). The statement said that they surveyed users about the notion of streaming films on the 360.

Here are the facts, people. The Netflix site was down all day Monday, they're telling the masses about the prospect of getting compatible with Microsoft (maybe to put some pressure on ol' Bill Gates), and it looks like they've been doing plenty of remodeling.

Personally, I would love this. It would be that much more incentive for many people to join either Netflix or Xbox Live, and since I already have both, this would be fantastic.

Sonic Unleashed(?)

Looks a lot like the original Sonic platforms for the Genesis, right?


So there isn't an official announcement, but there has been a slew of rumors over the weekend. Sonic Unleashed is possibly making it to Xbox 360, PS3, and the Wii. From the sound of it, no official announcement will be made until E3 or May. It looks like a cross between a next-gen Sonic the Hedgehog and a follow-up to Sonic and the Secret Rings. Either way, it looks intriguing.

SEGA's Take on Iron Man

Say it with me, everybody.

I AM IRON MAN.

Anybody else giddy?

More Awesome Game Music

The rest of the video game industry is probably starting to get intimidated by the success of the Rock Band and Guitar Hero soundtracks. It's hard to get attention for your game's soundtrack when you're up against the heavyweights. However, the folks at 2K Sports are keeping their heads up.

Getting help from Matador Records, Sub Pop Records, and Pitchforkmedia.com (my favorite music news site), 2K Sports has drafted a pretty heavy-hitting soundtrack for MLB 2K8. It features some of my favorite artists, so here's the track list (I got it from Pitchfork - the * indicates tracks that they picked).

Battles: "Atlas" *

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: "Need Some Air"

Blitzen Trapper: "Wild Mountain Nation" *

Dinosaur Jr.: "Almost Ready" *

Jay Reatard: "My Shadow" *

Kasabian: "Reason Is Treason"

LCD Soundsystem: "Watch the Tapes" *

Modest Mouse: "Dashboard"

Peter Bjorn and John: "The Chills"

The Cars: "Moving in Stereo"

The Cool Kids: "88" *

The Cure: "Never Enough"

The Flaming Lips: "The Wand (No MF Edit)"

The Hold Steady: "Stuck Between Stations" *

The Presidents of the United States of America: "Cleveland Rocks"

The Revolution Fox Experiment: "Hyper Charlie"

The Strokes: "Someday"

And with the curveball, the theme to "The Drew Carey Show." Man, this game's soundtrack rules.

Hey reader, do I talk about music too much on my blog or should I keep it rolling?