New GTA IV Trailer – Same City, New Look!

The Grand Theft Auto series has definitely gone through a lot the last few years. From its humble roots as a top-down game in its London debut, to its GTA III rebirth with Liberty City, and then followed up with GTA Vice City and San Andreas, it looks like the GTA IV series is going to ramp up the graphics engine that seemed to be the one Achilles heel to the entire GTA franchise.

I can still remember firing up GTA III, thinking to myself, ‘wow, this concept of free environment gaming is cool… if only they could get tighter graphics this whole universe would be cooler..’

Well gamers, if you’re anything like us, you’ll be excited for GTA IV’s new trailer as it will give you the same addictive gameplay that we’ve all been accustomed too, but now with the cooler backdrops and environments we we’re all hoping for. Seems like Rockstar finally decided to up the ante!

Word on the street is GTA IV is going back to its NYC-based roots, aka Liberty City! Based on this teaser trailer alone, my only criticism so far seems to be the fact that the characters still look a bit stiff (not much body movement, and you would think they’d work on facial animation to match vocals this time around) but still, its early, and the art direction and mad design-style that the GTA series is known for still seems alive and kicking so here’s hoping they get everything right before the fall release.

While this is still a teaser, (and funny enough includes a soundtrack that seems to be ripped right off of Spiderman) and not much info except the release date (10/16/07) is shown… it definitely gets the job done – and that’s to get the hype out early on this game.

Source / Rockstargames.com

Xbox360’s “Black” Version is Real; Dubbed Xbox360 Elite!

 

 

Well just when you’d think the Xbox360 “Black” version would wind up to be a bad April fool’s joke, turns out Microsoft doesn’t bail out this time but instead pulls up and delivers on the rumored system as Xbox360 Elite!

 

Guess Game Informer did have the first word on the street! (see previous blog post) The funny thing is while this sounds cool on paper, doesn’t the black Xbox360 leave a little more to be desired? While it could be just that the pics don’t do it justice, this Xbox360 Elite rendition seems a little dull on the finish. Maybe because I’m more of a gloss than flat-matte kind of gamer. But then again, too much gloss, and you end up seeing your fingerprints all over the system!

 

Anyway its good to know some new stories actually push thru!

Source Xbox360.com / Gamerscoreblog.com

 

Xbox360’s “Black” Version is Real; Dubbed Xbox360 Elite!

 

 

Well just when you’d think the Xbox360 “Black” version would wind up to be a bad April fool’s joke, turns out Microsoft doesn’t bail out this time but instead pulls up and delivers on the rumored system as Xbox360 Elite!

 

Guess Game Informer did have the first word on the street! (see previous blog post) The funny thing is while this sounds cool on paper, doesn’t the black Xbox360 leave a little more to be desired? While it could be just that the pics don’t do it justice, this Xbox360 Elite rendition seems a little dull on the finish. Maybe because I’m more of a gloss than flat-matte kind of gamer. But then again, too much gloss, and you end up seeing your fingerprints all over the system!

 

Anyway its good to know some new stories actually push thru!

Source Xbox360.com / Gamerscoreblog.com

 

Turtle Power is Back, but is it any good?

Back from the grave, it’s Turtle-time! Images from movieweb.com

Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael & Michelangelo. Oh, and we can’t forget good ol’ Master Splinter.

…. Man, I used to love these guys.

And as a kid who grew up in the 80s and 90s, I remember really loving the entire empire: from comics, to toys, cartoons, and movies, this was a marketing blitz I really dug. At the time, the characters were refreshingly cool, fun and with the whole ninja “cowabunga” movement… you gotta admit, it was a fun time to be a kid.

In fact, much of my afternoon doodles in classes were built on redrawing these fun little turtles-in-a-half shell characters. But more than a decade later since the last billing, you got to wonder which marketing genius gave the green light for this new rehash?

Guess its the same guys who know how to take any franchise and kill it to death.
Funny thing is, most of the time, it works.

People buy into the new movie, whether it’d be good or not, just to see the newest outing of “Turtle Power”. And they don’t do this just to their own. This is the same kind of mindless marketing ‘get quick cash scheme’ that the games industry does for every movie-related tie-in. Now the movie industry is just doing it to itself, with another simplistic sequel rehash. Think of it as rehash cannibalism.

Making Green off the Green. Makes sense to us. But why not improve the story?

But when there is so much extra cash that you can make of existing (albeit old) franchises, can you truly blame the company? The funny thing, like every initial movie franchise before the cash-in, there was once a true original story and concept that producers, directors, writers, all had to come up with and create.

So when a series dies after three sequels and is resurrected 14 years later, maybe all we truly can do, is be glad there was one last hurrah. Heck, if they got even a decent rating, I’m happy, knowing it didn’t go to far south like other franchises.

Who knows, if turtles can tap into the kids market, maybe they’ll even do a better rendition for the 2^nd comeback.

It’s worked for Batman & Superman. Why not for “Turtle Power?”

Who knows maybe next time they’ll get it right. Unfortunately this might be the last rendition if “TMNT” doesn’t get even a decent reception.

Best thing to do, if you’re not up for it is to vote with your buying power.SJ Mercury News has declared this movie in one word. “Boring”. But what do you think?

Personally, I’m just happy the ‘boys’ are back; but best believe I’ll wait for the DVD.

Source /Movieweb.com / MercuryNews.com

 

Could a rumored Black Xbox360 really be around the corner?

In April’s upcoming Game Informer – the world’s #1 circulated video game magazine according to wikipedia, (thanks mainly to its GameStop heritage) GI has verified that the long-rumored black Xbox 360 is not only true, but is just around the corner, set to arrive next month. Already an established rumor, the black Xbox360 has been rumored even since late last year through a Best Buy ad.

This new version, code named Zephyr, will have a HDMI output, 120 GB hard drive, no internal HD-DVD support, and retail for a price of $479. To complement the system, black Xbox360 accessories will also be made available.

Yet, don’t forget gamers what month is exactly next month. With April creeping up in just two weeks, and this being a ‘rumor-breaking’ topic, don’t forget, all could fall upon a simple “April Fools” media buzz. So far, Microsoft is denying any rumors of an additional color scheme.

While the story seems to be legitimate as the senior editor of Game Informer declared in Kotaku, reinsuring its readership that “Game Informer doesn’t run fake news in any of their issues” let us not forget that GI itself sponsors an annual “Game Infarcer” feature.

Even if it is true at $479 who will pick it up? With Xbox360s slow growth the past few months, its going to be a tough sell for Microsoft to win over new customers, but might be appealing to collectors. If anything, the black Xbox360 might generate some hype to move a few more units, but if this update is only an added paint job, don’t expect this move to one up Microsofts position with its competitors.

2G4G Truth or Fiction?: For now, we say we’ll have to see it to believe it.

Source / GameInformer.com / xbox365.com / Edgadget.com

Back On The Grind…

Hey Gamers, just wanted to put a post that I’ve been out with a cold the past few days which results in a lack of posts, but we’re still alive and new posts will be up soon.

That said, the most interesting news with us is we’re gearing up to get our blog service updated.  More details to come but our plans are to get the site more functional.  Just know we are still progressing via a soft launch, with a official launch to come soon.

Not bad for being our 2nd month out the box.

Back On The Grind…

Hey Gamers, just wanted to put a post that I’ve been out with a cold the past few days which results in a lack of posts, but we’re still alive and new posts will be up soon.

That said, the most interesting news with us is we’re gearing up to get our blog service updated.  More details to come but our plans are to get the site more functional.  Just know we are still progressing via a soft launch, with a official launch to come soon.

Not bad for being our 2nd month out the box.

Street Fighter II Tournament at San Jose State University!

And in local news…

There’s going to be a Street Fighter 2 Tournament at San Jose State University to benefit the Gulf Coast Civic Works Project. Alll those interested in participating register at sf2tournament@gmail.com.

$10 dollars Registration fee.
All proceeds go to the Gulf Coast Project.

The Tournament will begin sometime in April, with the Date to be announced. (soon)

Show your skills- 1st prize is a $150 dollar Visa Gift Card and 2nd Prize is a $50 dollar Gift Card.

Source / Dandiggity

Youtube Picks: Heavenly Sword

Our Youtube picks for the day is based on last Monday’s Heroes show… if you’re still curious about Heavenly Sword, check out this video as it is a behind the scenes take on the game, by the developers.

Images by Heavenly Sword, Ninja Theory.com

Developed by a relatively still new game company out of England called Ninja Theory, the game is clearly beautiful and hopefully its gameplay will be as fluid and fun as its looks!

Super Mario Galaxy trailer!

Super Mario… new game… need I say more? Press play already!

(you won’t regret it, this looks like THE Mario-app for Wii)

Source / youtube.com