A first person look at GTA IV.

This is brilliant.

GTA IV is already an amazing looking game. I remember my first steps into the game world and being totally blown away by the level of character and detail in there. I woul dgo so far to say as the city is actually the best character in the game.

Some clever so and so has made a 1st person mod for the PC version of the game, and has posted the results up on youtube for everyone to see. It just shows that by shooting into the eyes on Nico Bellic, the already detailed city almost takes on a new life. It look stunning!

UK gets dedicated gaming channel.

Well, I guess it had to happen sooner or later.

The gaming trade site MCV is reporting that Ginx, the company behing the Bravo show Gameface, will launch a full channel dedicated to gaming this November for all satellite and cable viewers.

Apparently the early morning shows, or the first shows that appear on the channel depending on how you read it, will cover news and reviews, with later programs going a bit more into detail about the industry, with documentaries and gaming reports.

I'm not really sure how I feel about this. If it's well researched and does away with the usual rubbish that you get on shows such as Gameface, i'll probably tune in. Maybe with the huge runaway sucess of the Wii and the floodgates opening to the more "casual" gaming crowd the channel could find an audience.

But what's wrong with having something a bit more......adult? Grown up? I'm in my mid-thirties now, and I would quite happily sit down every week and watch something of the caliber of Gameswipe by Charlie Brooker. But make it all flashy with screeching kids reviewing games and i'll quickly switch channel.

Anyway, i'll report back and give my thoughts when the channel launches later this year. In the meantime, i'll catch up with a few episodes of an old friend.

Dead Rising 2 VERY Ltd Edition.

Capcom are really going for broke with this collectors edition for their upcoming zombie-fest, Dead Rising 2.

This fantastic set is STRICTLY limited edition, and it comes with the following:

+ Dead Rising 2 Game (Xbox 360 or PS3)
+ Poker set in a black high-impact case sporting the Fortune City logo and including:
+ 100 poker chips- 4 different colors featuring the Fortune City logo
+ 2 decks of ‘blood-stained’ custom playing cards featuring character art
+ 5 green dice
+ 1 ‘blood-stained’ dealer chip
+ Fortune City Visitor Map featuring the game map and ads for Fortune City locations and attractions
+ Terror is Reality XVII admission ticket with redemption code for the unique Psycho skills pack downloadable content
+ One Dead Rising 2 High Stakes Edition will contain the ‘Golden’ Terror Is Reality XVII admission ticket, which is redeemable for Burt the Zombie, a 6’ Dead Rising 2 zombie replica.

I'm not sure if this is a U.S only offer, but it looks amazing. And you'll probably see it going for at least double the price when the sets hit Ebay.

Pop over here and see the delights you will get.


Dead Rising 2 is due for release on 24th September, 2010.

Tabloid in gaming news story horror!

Another un-biased article from everyones favourite cat litter-tray liner, The Sun.

Apparently, 17yr old Zach Richardson is GLUED to his Xbox for anything up to 17 hours a day!

He's so hooked, he doesn't wash, he hardly eats, he's loosing his friends and his girlfriend is threatening to dump him! He's basically being a 17yr old teenager.

His mum, Louise, has apparently stated "there is nothing I can do to stop him playing. I don't want to upset him by taking his consoles away". Here's an idea love....risk the minor tantrum he'll have and take it away if you're that bothered.

So once again the blame lies on the lap of videogaming, rather than in the responsibility of the parents.

Read all about it in the U.K's most popular daily shite spout here!

New Halo: Reach live action short.

It seems to be a daily occurance that a new Halo: Reach video is released. Mind you, with over £4.2 million in the bank for an advertising campaign you would think that you'll be seeing a whole lot of this game by now.

This is a thing of beauty. It really just goes to show that a live action Halo movie could be the business.

I'll stop blabbering, watch the film.


Halo: Reach is due for release on 14th September, 2010

One amazing custom Mass Effect rifle.

Now THIS is impressive.

Harrison Krix, a 28-yr old graphic designer, has constructed what can only be clssed as THE greatest gaming model i've ever seen.

He's constructed a full size replica of the M8 Avenger assult rifle from the Mass Effect games, and it's stunning. It looks about as close to what you think the gun would look like in real life, with weathered parts and light up bits. The decals alone are absolutely spot on.

Go and check out his work. It's mighty impressive!

http://volpinprops.blogspot.com/2010/08/mass-effect-m8-avenger-assault-rifle.html

Dead Rising Challenge.

Capcom's Dead Rising on the Xbox 360 was one of those games that when it was initially announced, I was as exicted as any videogamer would be if they loved the zombie genre. I followed all the news, screen shots, videos, literally anything I could get my hands on to find out more.

Like many though, when the game came out those waves of initial excitement soon died with a slightly dodgy control scheme and an abomination of a game-save system. It put me and many other people off the game. I never really played it. I ran around, levelled up by one or two levels, but that was it. Never saw anything else of the story, never fought any of the psychopaths in the game (I did see the guys in boiler suits driving around in the hummer outside though...escaped convicts I seem to remember).

Anyhoo. Dead Rising 2 is looking a bit special (although I am on my guard after this being the same feeling I had with the first game) so I though i'd set myself the challenge of actually finishing the first game. Now i'm not going for 100% or all the achievements, just to see a few of the psychopaths, how they fit into the game and whatever nuggets of story i'll pick up.

I'll be letting you all know how I get on at this task, and maybe even shout out for a wee bit of help!

Wish me luck!

Mass Effect 2 Shadow Broker DLC incoming.

YIPPEE!

Bioware have announced the release date for the new "Shadowbroker" DLC for Mass Effect.

The DLC features Everyones favourite blue skinned beauty as she attempts to track down the elusive Shadow Broker and recover the dead remains of Commander Shepard.

The DLC adds new research, the shadow broker intel center and 5 new achievements. More interesting from my point of view, is that it also allows you to continue your romantic relationship with Liara.

The DLC for Mass Effect 2 has been hit and miss. The weapons add-ons were a bit meh...but I really enjoyed the overlord DLC. And if this current batch is anything like the Mass Effect 2 graphic novel with the same storyline, it'll be fairly exciting for those of you who have yet to read it.

The Shadow broker DLC is due for release on 7th September, 2010.

Price: 800 Microsoft points

http://masseffect.bioware.com/info/dlc/

Halo Reach countdown?? Countup??

Well. Not exactly sure what it is, or indeed how long it's been up, but i've been pointed in the direction of a website for Halo Reach.

There is nothing on it at the moment, except a strange looking arm-type machine and a countdown clock, simply stating "The monument to Noble team will be live in......." and numbers counting down.

It's going to give up the details in a little under two hours!

I'll report back later!

http://www.rememberreach.com/

*UPDATE*

The site is now live. Basically, all you get to do is place a little star on what seems to be a constellation made up of Noble team. As soon as everyone fills up the available start field you're told that you will get notification. So nothing too major....but a nice little tribute to those boys and girls who gave their lives defending Reach!

There is another nice little live action short showing events leading up to the fall of Reach. No Spartans or anything in it, just your everyday people making decisions. Again, it's well made, and quite poignant!




Just make the live action film dammit!!


Halo: Reach is due for release on the 14th September, 2010.

Xbox 360 Iron Man mod.

Now I have seen some great looking console mods over the last few year, but this one is REALLY impressive.

A young man named Zacharia Perry Cruise is the guy responsible for this work, and it's epic. Not only for the bang on colour scheme, but for the light up Arc reactor on the side! It even has the Stark Industries Logo on the Hard drive.

It's up for auction on Ebay at the moment, and is currently at around $620, with 11 bids.

Mighty impressive!

http://cgi.ebay.com/Custom-Red-Ironman-Xbox-360-HDMI-Falcon-120G-Hard-Drive-/220658110163?pt=Video_Games

Modern warfare 2 is the biggest selling UK game in history.

Well well. I guess it's champers all round at Activision today.

GFK Chart track has just announced that Call of Duty: Modern warfare 2 has become the biggest selling title in the UK.....EVER!

It steals the title from the former champ, Brain training on the Nintendo DS. It has manages this feat in a little over 10 months, and it's only ever been out of the entertainment top 10 for 3 weeks.

Brain training took around 36 months to overtake the last biggest selling game in the UK, which was GTA San Andreas.

So will gamers show the same kind of love for the Call of Duty series and make Black Ops the new number 1 title in the UK this time next year? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Metroid: Other M trailer.

A new live action trailer for the new Wii game, Metroid: Other M has surfaced.

It's pretty well done, kind of in the style of the infamous Gears of War adverts, and I have to say I like it.

Then I also have to say get behind me Satan, as I don't have a Wii.....and this is SERIOUSLY tempting me!



Metroid: Other M is due for release on the 3rd September, 2010.

New Left4Dead DLC incoming.

Valve have announced a new DLC package for Left 4 Dead and the sequel, "The Sacrifice".

The new DLC lets you play a chapter as the original cast from Left 4 Dead that leads up to "The Passing" DLC content, showing how the group actually met up with the guys from the second game. Added to that, you can now play with the cast from Left 4 Dead 2 through the "No mercy" level from the first game....a particular favorite of mine.

Playing as the characters from the first game in "The sacrifice", you will now be able to decide who gets killed off, rather than have it decided for you (hooray for Bill!!).

The DLC is compatible with both games in the series. If you have one, the other or both, it'll work.

Free for PC users, no word on pricing for the Xbox 360 version as of yet.

(You will need to scroll through to chapter 4 in the video to see the details)

Call of Duty: Black ops snow level.

As everyone and his dog knows, the new Call of Duty: Black Ops hits us this year.

Some of the promo footage is already doing the rounds, and i'm sure you've all watched it and made up your mind of you're going to get it or not already. If you are, and i'm one of those people, have a quick look at this video. It's pretty damn cool.

Starting off as a pilot in a SR-71 Blackbird, you direct the troops on the ground before zooming to the squads point of view in the mission. Cue crossbow killings and a mighty impressive window breach and clear!

If Treyarch can keep up this much excitement and levels of detail throughout the whole game, it may not leave such a sour taste in the mouth as Modern Warfare 2 did for quite a few gamers.


Call of Duty: Black Ops is due for release on 9th November, 2010.

Spartans VS Pirates!

Oh dear!

Looks like those crazy old pirates are at it again.

Modders at the website Game-Tut.com have apparently found a back door into Microsofts servers and downloaded Halo: Reach.

The game (which is currently available to download at the bargain price of $1250 from Microsoft) is available to reviewers ONLY with a special code. The modders have found a way past that, and have downloaded the full game. They say that they will not release it to the public and certainly won't release any spoilers, but already certain websites (and indeed Bungies own forums) are awash with videos and spoilers about the campaign.

Now i'm not entirely sure why Bungie released it for reviewers as a downloadable piece of software anyway. Surely just posting out a disc or dropping it around to the review team in person is the best bet. The temptation for the hardcore in the modding scene to bag what is arguably THE biggest game of the year was obviously too much for them to take.

Bungie have basically stated that Halo fans should stay away from forums and videos if they don't want the experience ruined. Will this be too much of a temptation for some gamers? After both Halo 2 and Halo 3 were leaked before the street date i'd imagine some people are playing the game as we speak.

As for me, well. I'm certainly looking forward to the game. But I think I can hold on for just that short while until it hits the streets.

The question is........

.....can you?



Halo Reach is released in the U.K on 14th September, 2010.

Rock Band 3 setlist leaked?

Well well well. With the Gamescom event in full swing, many attendees are getting more than they bargained for.

One such attendee went to see what Harmonix were up to with Rock Band 3. Whilst demoing the game and scrolling through the tracklist, the guy obviously didn't know some sneaky so and so was recording his actions. The recordee then went on to play back his footage in super slo motion and wrote down the full Rock Band 3 setlist for us all to see. So.......let's just have a peek at what Harmonix had in store for us this year.

TRACKLIST:

Dio – Rainbow in the Dark
Huey Lewis and the News – The Power of Love
Ida Maria – Oh My God
Jane’s Addiction – Been Caught Stealing
Jimi Hendrix – Crosstown Traffic
Joan Jett – I Love Rock and Roll
Juanes – Me Enamora
Metric – Combat Baby
Night Ranger – Sister Christian
Ozzy Osbourne – Crazy Train
Phoenix – Lasso
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
Rilo Kiley – Portions of Foxes
Smash Mouth – Walkin’ on the Sun
Spacehog – In the Meantime
Stone Temple Pilots – Plush
The Cure – Just Like Heaven
The Doors – Break On Through
The Vines – Get Free
The White Stripes – The Hardest Button to Button
Them Crooked Vultures – Dead End Friends
Whitesnake – Here I Go Again
Yes – Roundabout
B-52?s – Rock Lobster
Def Leppard – Foolin’
Filter – Hey Man, Nice Shot
Foreigner – Cold as Ice
Marilyn Manson – The Beautiful People
Tears for Fears – Everybody Wants to Rule the World
David Bowie – Space Oddity
Bob Marley & The Wailers – Get Up, Stand Up
INXS – Need You Tonight
Poni Hoax – Antibodies
Rammstein – Du Hast
Roxette – The Look
Tokio Hotel – Humanoid
HIM – Killing Loneliness
Maná – Oye Mi Amor
Slipknot – Before I Forget
War – Low Rider
Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers – I Need To Know
Blood, Sweat, & Tears – Spinning Wheel
Chicago – 25 or 6 to 4
Faith No More – Midlife Crisis
T.Rex – 20th Century Boy
Rush – TBD
Avenged Sevenfold – Beast and the Harlot
Amy Winehouse – Rehab
Anthrax – Caught In A Mosh
The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations (Live)
Devo – Whip It
The Police – Don’t Stand So Close To Me
Queens Of The Stone Age – No One Knows
The Ramones – I Wanna Be Sedated
The Smiths – Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One Before
Steve Miller Band – Fly Like An Eagle
Tegan and Sara – The Con
Warren Zevon – Werewolves Of London
The Bronx – False Alarm
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird
Riverboat Gamblers – Don’t Bury Me… I’m
Still Not Dead
Blondie – Heart of Glass
The Who – I Can See For Miles
James Brown – I Got You (I Feel Good)
John Lennon – Imagine
Big Country – In a Big Country
Primus – Jerry Was a Race Car Driver
Echo and the Bunnymen – Killing Moon
Dover – King George
Raveonettes – Last Dance
The Sounds – Living in America
Phish – Llama
Paramore – Misery Business
At the Drive-In – One Armed Scissor
The Muffs – Outer Space
Golden Earring – Radar Love
Elton John – Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)
Deep Purple – Smoke on the Water
Hypernova – Viva La Resistance
Pretty Girls Make Graves – Something
Bigger, Something Brighter
Swingin’ Utters – This Bastard’s Life
Dire Straits – Walk of Life
Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1

So. Pretty much something for everyone. I for one am EXTREMELY excited at the prospect of playing the offerings from Big Country, Primus and of course Rammstein. I just love the whole package in fact.

Rock Band 3 is due for UK release on October 29th.

EDIT:

Harminx have responded to the leak. It's a little tongue in cheek!

Rock Band 3 Setlist OFFICIAL Comment from Harmonix on Vimeo.

Hello world!

Hey guys, Tony here.

This is my second attempt at a blog, seeing as how I was obviously far to busy to keep up with the other one (busy as in lazy).

So this place will be filled with my gaming news, thoughts, reviews and other such gaming delights.

More details to follow as the blog evolves, so please keep involved with the process. I'd liek to hear your imput too!

That's all for now. See you folks soon.