Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Noire

So on May 17, Rockstar releases L.A. Noire. The game has been in production for 7 years and it's shaping up to be a pretty awesome one. For a first that I've really seen, this game has you play as a Cop in '40s and '50s L.A. chasing down the bad guys. It's supposed to take a lot from the Noir genre of film and that style of coloring.

Anyone else pretty pumped for this game?

-=Trap=-

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Hitman: Absolution

The news broke recently that Square Enix has trademarked "Hitman: Absolution." The fifth game in the Hitman series is supposed to be released this year, and I'm psyched. Blood Money was a fun game, and while I'm not normally a huge fan of third-person shooters (TPS?) I do love the Hitman games and I'm hoping this one lives up to the name.


Anyone else looking forward to this most excellent series' continuation?

Friday, April 22, 2011

WoWza!

So as a former WoWaddict, I still keep up to date on patches, etc. I have no idea why, but it's fun to see what's coming out soon. The patch notes for 4.1 are out.

Holy. Crap.

I quit playing soon after the release of Cataclysm, but dang if these patch notes don't make me drool. Especially as a former mage, the buffs to Arcane and Frost are nuts.

Strangely enough though, the thing that makes me consider playing again the most is the Guild Challenges. I've always been a very social gamer, and a very social person, so the guild system in games has always been a huge draw for me. The guild levels and achievements Blizzard released did a lot to foster a fraternal spirit in players. Adding something else just amps that up.

The patch notes are up on the front page of http://mmo-champion.com
So here's a couple questions for you.

1.)  Are you a social or solitary gamer? Meaning do you prefer to game with other people (while in vent, teamspeak, etc) or alone.

2.) If you've played or currently play WoW, are you looking forward to 4.1?


-=Trap=-

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Wait for Next-Gen Consoles?

According to several sources, Microsoft and Sony are holding off on releasing their next-gen consoles until 2014. The companies, with Sony just announcing it is halting production of the PSPGo are reportedly on a timetable that will have the replacements for the Xbox 360 and PS3 on the shelves in 2014. 

Three years! Dang, that's a long time, especially considering the 360 was released in 2005! A nine-year generation for the Xbox console? That's more than twice the amount of time from the original Xbox to the 360. 

With Nintendo reportedly debuting the successor to their Wii at E3 this year, makes you wonder if Microsoft and Sony will get their heads out of the ground and speed it up a bit?

So my dear fellow gamers, what features are you looking for in a next-gen console? Personally, I'm hoping for some sort of upgraded motion-sensor, maybe a completely controller-less console?

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Geek, Nerds, Dweebs and Dorks, Oh My!

So an argument I've been having with my roommate lately is whether I'm a nerd or a geek. I hold that I'm a geek, and I use several coherent arguments to back up my thesis. I was looking for something to determine once and for all what category I fit into.

Lo and behold, I find this. The Venn Diagram of Geeks, Dorks, Nerds and Dweebs.

 I still hold that I'm a geek, I'm above average intelligence and I'm obsessed with many things.

What category are you in?

Monday, April 18, 2011

Black and Yell-I mean White.

So the biggest game of March was Pokemon White. The second biggest was Pokemon Black.

Why am I posting this you might ask? Well, partially because Dogshep beats me if I don't. The other part is because I'm honestly curious as to a.) if you bought the new Pokemon, which edition you bought, and b.) did anyone buy both, and if so, which one do you prefer? I mean, I get that they're the same game. I never really got into Pokemon when I was a lil'tyke (gasp! the horror! I was a Sonic kid, leave me be!) and so it's always made me a bit curious as to why people pick the editions they do, personal preference or some more... nefarious motive. Leave a comment and let me know.

-=Trap=-

Sunday, April 17, 2011

A Game of Thrones.

Ok, so I realize that we're a gaming blog, and we thus, ya know, post about games.

A Game of Thrones counts, right?

The HBO Adaption of George R.R. Martin's "A Game of Thrones" premieres tonight.

It. Looks. Amazing. I don't know how many of you have read the books, but it's an epic series, I completely recommend it. The adaption looks like it'll be amazing from the previews. It appears to hold true to the books as well.

And I can't watch it. I'm at college, without a TV to watch it on. So, if anyone out there watches it, let me know how it is! It's on at 9pm on HBO.

Battlefield 3 for free?




Not really. But it's a catchy title... Checking out IGN today I noticed that there's a new(ish) game called Battlefield Play4Free. It's basically a Battlefield type game... that you play... for free.

I might do a full review later, but I just wanted to make sure you checked it out.


IGN Review: http://pc.ign.com/articles/116/1162213p1.html

Saturday, April 16, 2011

I need a (Guitar) Hero...

So Activision just officially put Guitar Hero on the shelf. In February, they announced they would no longer released DLC for the franchise, then backtracked and gave fans a couple more months of songs, but as of now, the series is on hiatus until further notice. They've said that it's not being cancelled, they're just "not making a new one for next year."



So makes you wonder, why the vacation for the series? Rock Band has been steadily gaining in popularity, and I'm not going to lie, I've played both and I do prefer Rock Band, but with Guitar Hero having sold over $2,000,000,000 in sales (Yes, that's 2 Billion with a B) it's sorta like shutting down a gold mine because you found diamonds in it instead....

Eh, we'll always have Guitar Hero III though, right?

-=Trap=-

Battlefield 3

***SPOILER ALERT - This video shows most of a mission***


So Battlefield 3 looks absolutely amazing. Set in the current day it reminds me more of Modern Warfare than older COD games. I truly think that Battlefield 3 could take over Call of Duty in the PC market if they allow for people to run their own servers, and make some PC mod tools.

What are your thoughts? Currently I'm loving it, but am spending too much time playing games to unlock Portal 2 than anything else. Post your thoughts below!

***Remember! There is a Portal 1 contest below for a free copy of Portal 1!***

Friday, April 15, 2011

Nintendnew?

The rumor mill is running wild that at this year's E3 Nintendo will be unveiling their new console, to be released late 2012! Reports are that the console will be HD resolutions, although it's not stated if it will be more family-geared console, like the Wii, or geared towards more of a gaming mindset.


This comes after the rumor that the Wii will be dropping to $150 in price on May 15th. I don't know about you folks, but I'm pretty psyched for the next gen consoles to come out.

So here's a question for y'all - What's your preferred console? I'm a 360 man myself, but the Wii is a fun family activity too. Leave a message in the comments and let me know, I'm interested to see what our readers think. And no, you can't say "PC" as I'm sure some of you want to do. 

-=Trap=-

Marketing 101


Edit2: Go play Wonderful end of the world if you have it. If not, play any game. Idling DOES count, so keep your computer on tonight playing a game! More game time = sooner Portal 2 release!

Edit: I made a video for you. Make it go viral. I dare you.

-----------------------------------

In a brilliant marketing campaign by Valve, they have released the following:

http://www.aperturescience.com/glados@home/


Portal 2!!!


Big update about to happen in 30 minutes... but I figured I would start off with a giveaway!

Once we hit 50 comment (no commenting twice, or you'll be disqualified) will receive Portal 1 for FREE!

Aka I have more copies of this than I know what to do with... so I'm giving one away!

So if you haven't checked it out: http://www.aperturescience.com/a/b/c/d/g/h/abcdgh/

Age of Empires Online

http://www.ageofempiresonline.com/ Go sign up for beta... so we can talk about it. Username ingame is dogshep. Hit me up.

No I can't actually review it. That's not legal (NDA). But it does offer (from the public site):
  • Familiar Age of Empires gameplay
  • Download and play from almost anywhere
  • Game continues to evolve over time
  • Cooperative multiplayer quests and trading
  • Empire creation and resource management
  • Historical setting, easy-to-use RTS controls

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Portal 2 Update

Really quick update for you guys:

http://www.aperturescience.com/a/b/c/d/g/h/abcdgh/

that is all.

This was a triumph.

Edit: And some more links for you:

http://www.g4tv.com/images/4079/screenshots-the-legend-of-zelda-ocarina-of-time-3d/67575/

2D pictures of Zelda: OOT 3D.

Portal Casemod

So with my subscription to CPU Magazine, I've seen quite a few original and jaw-dropping case-mods. Today I found a pretty awesome new one. With Portal 2 being released soon, Reddit user Ulyssanov posted a photo of his Portal-themed mod.

Anyone else have any custom cases that they've found? I've seen some pretty original ones, including one made entirely of wood. Toss us a link in the comments!

-=Trap=-

Magicka

You stupid piece of crap game you should never have released in such a shoddy way. You should go take your game off steam and hope that one day someone will steal your source code and rewrite you game so multiplayer actually works.

That's what went through my mind for the three hours we played multiplayer last night. I say played lightly, because most of the time we sat there waiting for someone's magicka.exe to restart... I swear that game has more issues than Final Fantasy XIV... and that's saying something. Yes this is an amazing game... but FIX YOUR CRAP SERIOUSLY. Why, after this long, do we STILL have random drops from clients for no reason? Why, after this long, AND AN EXPANSION, do we still have a character flip around, so all his controls are backwards... including beams?

Paradox, please create a patch that fixes multiplayer. I love this game, I really do. But it is currently unplayable for co-op.

So viewers, have you played magicka? Have you played it multiplayer? What was your experience in the game? Let me know below!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Call of....Minecraft?

So pretty much everyone likes Call of Duty. Everyone also pretty much likes Minecraft.

What about their illegitimate son?

Ace of Spades is a new freeware FPS/building game where you play as a member of a team in a WWI-esque battle of Capture the Flag. The physics engine looks pretty awesome (For instance, if you remove the bottom bricks of a construction, it tumbles down) along with a real-time map that shows you all of the current construction happening.

It's in Beta 0.22 right now, but promises to be a pretty legit game.

You can find it at http://ace-spades.com/

-=Trap=-

More Portal 2!!!

According to PC Gamer, the new level update in Audiosurf is a song played in Portal 2.... and they agree that Portal 2 could launch early! (here)

Since sources are saying that the single player comes before co-op, so my plans of unboxing and playing immediately with a friend were kind of ruined... but oh well. I shall unbox it (I don't know why I'm saying unbox... when I got it from steam), and start playing. Expect a review of it shortly after launch (within a day or two hopefully). No spoilers will be given, but you we will give you an idea about the game. Although, if you're not planning on buying it after how amazing Portal 1 was... I don't know what's wrong with you, and you should probably stop reading my blog... because you obviously don't like video games :-D

I will most likely be doing a review on Magicka, since half of you don't seem to have played it. So expect some FRAPS time, and a decent review within a few days.

PS: I lied. This music was created by a player, not Valve.... but here's hoping that it's in the game!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Magicka: Vietnam

The first expansion to Magicka has released!

Magicka is a pretty sweet game that Shep showed me a while back. You control a wizard, using the elements (fire, ice, water, air, etc) and combining them into different orders to unleash unique spells. The game was released back in late January, and to have an expansion already is pretty sweet. I haven't tried it yet, anyone out there that can tell us how it is?

-=Trap=-

Facebook!

You heard it right folks, we're now on facebook! Check us out here!!!

Nostalgia time folks!

Today one of my friends sent me a link to a video that had part of Yoshi's Island's theme song. I got so excited I went and played it a bit! That involved finding an N64 controller, hooking up the N64, and finding the cartridge. Then it reminded me about my other N64 games... this took me a good hour or two of going through just a few minutes of each of my games and finding where I was save-wise.

Zelda... still stuck at the Water Temple... in need of a new game. Stupid key bug... :(... Super Mario had two 120 star saves, a 20 star save (complete using stair hack), and a new game. After playing around with the face for a while anyways... ah the start screen that took hours away from our lives.

I then went and plugged in my original xbox with all my games backed up to it (yay mod chip!). I played some NFL Street 2, and remembered that I should always play the Patriots, and always pick the fattest players. That is how you win (#winning). So after playing all the older games (I don't currently have an NES or SNES), I decided that I would ask you guys what older games still give you the same excitement that they first gave you when you played them the first time.

Below, I want you to list your favorite N64, SNES, or NES games. To get you started I will post mine:

1. Goldeneye N64
2. Super Mario 64 N64
3. Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island N64
4. Duck Hunter/Super Mario Bros NES
5. Zelda: Ocarina of Time N64

To get you in the mood... here's the theme song from Yoshi's Island


So let me know your favorites. Post them below, and we'll see how your favorite games stack up!

New Portal 2 Video

With the release for Portal 2 being imminent, Valve has launched another one of the famous Dave Johnson's commercials. This one is Aperture Science looking for money... I don't want to give anything away... so just watch it!


Wasn't that awesome? I just installed the boots in my site. Try to land my site on it's head... I dare you. Can't do it. Good job boots.

Monday, April 11, 2011

APB

So one MMO I was reaaaalllly tempted to try, but never did was APB. I mean, Cops -v- Robbers in an MMO? It looked awesome! But.... I was glad I hadn't invested time in it when it sadly closed doors only a short time after launch. A bit later, it was bought out, and now APB Reloaded is gearing up for open beta. The game will be FTP, and much like LoTRO, have an ingame store to buy more content.

Anyone interested in trying out the revamped game? I'm not hugely excited about the ingame store, but the game itself looks pretty legit. (Heh, or....not legit if you're playing a con.)


-=Trap=-

PS: The shower smiles in a politician.

More Portal 2 Goodness!

IGN "recently" posted a great video of them going to see the first parts of Portal 2 co-op. Watch the video! This is VERY sweet, and you should be excited... and go preorder.

Edit: Of course I wanted to see more..... so...





Early release?

According to sources... Portal 2 might come out early. Shocking I know... but believe it... if you dare (end of the week!). If you haven't heard about ARG or anything... check out the Steam Forums HERE. Go join their IRC, or check Google if you want to help out on the project. More information should be released soon to add to the puzzle! I personally just pre-ordered, so I can play when it comes out.

I also started playing Dungeon Siege 2 again, going to try to actually get through the entire campaign this time. Anyone else play? Or even heard of it? I can do a review or even stream some game play if you guys want. Just let me know!

Cheating using Google? Not anymore!

There's currently a daily quiz offered by Google that will let you cheat... and Google for the answers! Sound weird? That's because you've most likely been yelled at by someone while playing Scrabble, or doing some type of trivia, when you checked you cell phone (legit reasons right? sureeeee). Unfortunately there is no prize, except giving you more knowledge... but knowledge is power right? Don't you want the POWER? POWERTHIRST!

Article here: http://www.cnn.com/2011/TECH/web/04/11/google.trivia.game/index.html

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Pokémarriage

I've seen quite a few original marriage proposal ideas from geeks online, but this is a pretty legit one. Granted,  I was never really into Pokémon growing up, but even I knew the whole "I choose you!" thing.




Even though I'm single, and will be for the foreseeable future...(FOREVER ALONE) I can still appreciate awesome marriage proposals... Any other interesting marriage proposal ideas y'all have seen online?




-=Trap=-

Bioshock Infinite

Did you ever want your name in a video game? You could tell all your friends... you have friends right? You're not just surfing the internet in hopes of finding friends... Well if you are... Trap will be your friend. He needs more friends. Right Trap? Friiiiieeeennnnddds. But ya... Your name. Bioshock. You know I don't really like Bioshock. I bought (yes I BOUGHT games, SHOCKER!) Bioshock one and two... btu meh really. It's good stuff, but could do with Co-op. I lot of games could do with Co-op you know... like Mario... OH WAIT THE WII *rushes off to play*

http://pc.ign.com/articles/116/1160771p1.html

Friday, April 8, 2011

Portal 2

G4TV has an entire photo gallery with new Portal 2 Screenshots!

What are your thoughts? What are mine? I'm FREAKIN EXCITED! This is the sequel to a game that was developed by a VERY small group of people, as a SIDE game to the orange box... and now.... wow. This game has gone SO FAR. So who else is excited? I will be buying it as soon as my wallet allows... and then playing COOP (did you hear? it's COOP). So much excite.

http://www.g4tv.com/images/4060/screenshots-portal-2/67325/


Wowza

So Dogshep and I are both reformed and recovering WoW addicts. We played decently hardcore, and we were pretty good. Dog played a Warrior from his first day, and I swapped a little bit until I settled on a mage.

We were both alliance, and enjoyed playing it, but the one thing I'd always wanted was a Raptor mount. The troll racial mount was just awesome. Maybe it's the little kid in me that secretly still wants a T-Rex to ride around and terrorize the neighbors, but riding a raptor just looks cool.

The only ones available were the insanely hard to get then, and now impossible to get Swift Razzashi Raptor from ZG, and the not as good looking skeletal one from archeology.

Now, however, the WoW TCG has a raptor code to match the Spectral Tiger.
The Savage Raptor.


This tempts me back to WoW just so I can finally get one....

-=Trap=-

λ or.....?

So the Lord of all that is delicious and good in gaming, Gabe Newell has taunted the internet...


Anyone want to explain this? So far, I've heard that the image name "Berets or Scoop" is an anagram for Reboot Process.

Others have suggested it's about Black Mesa or HL2E3.

Eh, whatever it is, if it's from Valve, it should be legit.

-=Trap=-

Pokemon Black and White Global Link


http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/711692/pokemon-black-and-white-global-link-has-a-launch-date/

Took them long enough! Would have been nice if there was a sticker on the package that said "only partially works"! Oh well :) Reading further apparently the Japanese earthquake delayed it... can't really get mad at them for that. So who plays Pokemon? Yes me. I'm 21, and still play. What's it to you? It's a good game! :) I've started getting into EV breeding and such, and it's pretty fun. I might post my friend ID at some point, but meh right now.

~dog~

What do?


That is all.

More Minecraft!


You wanted an epic server? Check it. This is truly epic... omg... so much epicness is here.


Minecraft Release!


Notch posted today that Minecraft will release on 11/11/11! This is awesome in many ways...

1. It is a birthday present to me.
2. " "
3. It's freakin Minecraft!!!

Mass Effect 3


No multiplayer? Still? Come on now.

Joystiq reports there will be no multiplayer in ME3.... not... cool... at... all.

Wait for it...


Nicely linked by a friend, this is truly awesome. Keep reading until the last one, you will enjoy it!

Oh really China?


This is an awesome thing I was linked to recently. Apparently the Chinese are masterminds at fooling tourists.... and this is no exception! Check it out at the link below!

Say what?!

This is an obligatory first post. Yep. It's here.

This blog will be random pieces of awesomeness from around the internet from either Trapmage or Dogshep. If anyone wants something specific posted... too bad. We don't want to post your crap (unless it's good, then we do, and you should contact us).

That's all for now. I will be adding more stuff later.

Dog