Library of Games

Byrd's Nest #9: How Sports and iTouch games saved my gaming life.

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Byrdie) — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 01:18:00 +0000

When school started this year realized something. My daily habit of killing aliens, Nazi's and other generic polygon inhabited foes would be disrupted by a minor annoyance called homework. Alas my horrendous foes would be playing second bannana to triangle therom proofs and the crafting of a literary analysis. And as the school year has progressed into October I realized something. I have not an alien and/or Nazi since August. I have simply been too tired/busy to continue that art for the time being. What have I been doing with that time? Playing Madden and Doodle Jump.

These games are the perfect solution to any gamers bust schedule. Doodle Jump is maybe the most addicting thing mankind has invented since the invention of illegal narcotics. My precious seconds of no homework are squandered on the perfecting of platform jumping and alien killing. Doodle Jump is just a perfect game for you busy gamers.

Secondly when I actually get a chance to play a console game. I will usually put in my most coveted game (at the moment) Madden 11 (review coming shortly). Madden's shockingly improved gameplay which makes playing an exhibition match as quick as possible, along with the fact that I am a sports fan has allowed me to waste away weekend hours simply scoring touchdown after touchdown while taking bragging rights from my father.

I know what you're going to say. I'm not a "true gamer" beceause I'm only playing "casual" Madden and Doodle Jump and if I was a true gamer I would put games before grades. Blah Blah Blah. Yada Yada Yada. You know what? I don't give a crap. I love games but simply don't have the time to play traditional shooters and action games. I still love video games and am currently enjoying games that allow me to quickly play an enjoyable game before I go back to my busy schedule. And who knows. I might have some time to kill Nazis soon.

-Matthew Byrd Gamertag: ColonelByrd95

iTunes GameCenter Review

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Byrdie) — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 02:15:00 +0000

Itunes's GameCenter is a good idea executed poorly. GameCenter is basically Xbox Live for the iTouch/iPhone. You have a username, freinds, games and achievements all controlled from a central hub. This is controlled by Apple. Think of it as an Apple sanctioned Open Feint. The games on it, although limited, are great ranging from favorites Angry Birds and Tetris to newcomers like Plunderland and UFO on Tape.

Now there are a lot of bad things about GameCenter. It activates very weirdly as it only activates when you start a game and it only does that periodically. Achievements are not officially sanctioned by Apple so games achievement number, achievement points and value vary wildly from game to game making it very annoying to keep track of achievements. Also for all you iTouch owners GameCenter only works with an internet connection so unless you're at home you'll probably lose achievements if you decide to game outside the house.

Despite the difficulties, GameCenter is a great concept that if fixed could bloom into a great gaming interface for all Apple mobile devices.

Written by Matthew Byrd: Gamertag: ColonelByrd95

Weekly Update 9/6/10 "Ugh" edition

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Byrdie) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 01:28:00 +0000

2. Assassin's Creed Brotherhood multiplayer beta dated

The Assassin's Creed Brotherhood multiplayer beta which is a PS3 exclusive was dated this week. Aspiring assassin's will be able to test out the multiplayer on October 4th. Beta invites will only be given to people who have pre-ordered the game.

1. Apple launches gamecenter

This week Apple launched the Appe GameCenter- a hub for all the games for the ITouch and IPhone. The gamecenter includes social networking, leaderboards and for the first time, achievements. Although only a few games are available for gamecenter now- more will be added soon. IPad owners (like LOG's Taylor Bayless) can expect gamecenter at some point in November.

You'll probably notice only two news items this week. That's beceause as fall begins there will be less news items and more games coming out so expect more shorthanded weekly updates in the coming weeks.

Mean Streets: Mafia II review

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Byrdie) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:54:00 +0000

I love Mafia movies. If you told me you would be watching Goodfellas at yopur house, you should expect me to show up on your doorstep with a bowl of pasta. As much as I love Mafia stories, I haven't played, or for that matter found, a really good Mafia game. Mafia II has changed that.

Mafia II tells the story of Italian American WWII vet Vito Scaletta and the rise and fall of his Mafia career. The story is pitch perfect in it's tone, mood and pacing. Long, well-written dialogue scenes are followed by gritty gun fights which set the tone for a realistic Mafia tale. This game is more Goodfellas then it is the Godfather as it's set in small scale operations and shows how the mob really operates. Also the way the missions play out is pitch perfect. When things are going smoothly, the missions play out nice and easy and when they go downhill the pace gets frantic and fast paced.

Empire Bay is one of the greatest game settings I've ever seen. I would put it up with Rapture as the city is astounding it it's detail and integration. Slum areas and nice neighborhoods give the city and identity, instead of being just one big bland city. People look different in different neighborhoods and the music ties it all together. The radio blasts the sounds of Bobby Darin, John Lee Hooker, Buddy Holly, Muddy Waters, The Cadillacs and many more, giving the city an authentic feel. Music changes as the years go by and really make you feel that your in a certain time and place.

Gunplay is astounding too but in a different way. Instead of having all powerful weapons, you have effective, realistic weapons which are all different, unlike other games. Machine guns riddle down people while shotguns blow them against the wall. The weapons handle perfectly and add to the overall experience.

Now a few things keep this game from being perfect. The checkpoint system is atrocious and the distance between checkpoints is very annoying. I once had to start a mission all over again that I had completed and gotten the achievement for the mission and had quit. However since the checkpoint does not coincide with the end of the mission, I had to start the whole mission over again. This and smaller annoyances keep this game from perfection.

Pure and simple this game is a masterpiece. It is the culmination of excellent writing, great gameplay and a wonderful enviorment. Any gamer would be proud to have this game as part of their collecetion. This game is up there with Mean Streets and Goodfellas as one of the greatest Mafia tales ever told. This game is a work of art.

Weekly Update 8/30/10 "Duke Nukem" edition

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Byrdie) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 03:00:00 +0000

5. Dead Space 2 multiplayer announced

Dead Space 2 developer Visceral games announced this week that the highly anticipated (mostly by me) game will feature multiplayer mode. While no further details were given, it can be assumed that the inevitable, soldiers vs. necromorphs mode will be available. Rumors are persisting that the multiplayer will be Left 4 Dead esque. More details to come.

4. Killzone 3 gets a release date

The highly anticipated (and hated by LOG's Kaillif Ammen) shooter got a release date this week at PAX. Fans will be slaughtering Helghast's on Febuary 22nd 2011.

3. Call of Duty Black Ops adds currency system

Treyarch seems to be adding something new to the established Call of Duty multiplayer mode. A new currency system is added, meaning as players move up, instead of getting perks and guns atomatically you will get money for you to buy new perks and weapons. We'll see in the coming weeks if this angers or pleases the hardcore Call of Duty fanbase.

2. Metroid: Other M divides gamers

The highly anticipated Metroid: Other M was released this week to very divisive reviews. G4 and Game Informer gave Other M extremely low reviews while other publications like Wired and IGN praised the game. Our review will be coming in the next few days.

1. Duke Nukem Forever is actually coming out

After a nearly 15 year wait, Duke Nukem Forever is finally coming out. It was announced at PAX this week that 2K games gave the game to Borderlands dev Gearbox studios and a playable demo was released at PAX. The infamously delayed game will be released next year for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC

Byrd's Nest #8: What Environment means for a game

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Byrdie) — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:35:00 +0000

When BioShock: Infinite was announced I became increasingly guilty that I had never finished the first BioShock. So last week I went back and finished it. And when I did, I came to a realization. A realization that along with graphics and gameplay, environment is one of the most important things about a game. Not only does it keep the player excited about the game, it sets the mood and tone of the game. But instead of droning on on the importance of environment, I will give you three examples of how environment is important in the game.

1. USG Ishimura (Dead Space)

When Issac Clarke first arrives on the derelict, Necromorph infested planet cracker, the USG Ishimura, he is met with a stunningly eerie sight. A darkly lit place with pools of blood and garbage across the floor. You hear metal shifting in the pressurized ship and above you chains rattle, suggesting you are not alone in this room. This immediately sets the mood for this excellent sci-fi survival horror game. As the game chugs along you realize that only half the scares come from the actual Necromorph's. The other half comes from the ship itself. Dark corridors and blood stained walls set a creepy atmosphere. Creaking metal and rolling air tanks create an almost unbearable sense of paranoia which causes a scream when the Necromorph finally pops out. The environment sets up the big scare by creating a series of little scares to heighten tension. This is an example of an environment lending itself to the experience and enhancing the game by helping create an environment which helps to make the experience of the video game more enjoyable.

2. Rapture (BioShock)

Rapture is not a simple environment. It is a character within itself. It's walls hold many mysteries. What makes Rapture truly great is not it's creepy rooms, blood stained walls of flooded corridors. But instead what it stands for. Rapture is a metaphor. It is a metaphor for the danger of pure philosophy. It is a warning that pure philosophy will always fail when implemented in real life. The art deco and Greek symbols and names represent Ayn Rand's dream of a Objectivist utopia and the blood and dark rooms represent how that dream is doomed to fail. By creating an environment which in itself offers political commentary, helps elevate the game the environment is in, to a work of art.

3. Empire Bay (Mafia II)

Empire Bay is not great simply because of it's pure graphical beauty. It's great because of it's shocking realism. Empire Bay is completely real. Take the neighborhood diversity for examples. You get slum areas like Little Italy and Sand Island, and then the beautiful neighborhood's of Greenfield and West Side. This diversity along with realistic AI, great graphics and detail it helps the experience. By the seeing the slum areas where your character grew up, you see their motivations for joining the Mafia. By giving us this wonderful environment for the story to play out in, Mafia II helps to create a gritty realistic mob tale that the environment complements. The environment helps to make the game a realistic and satisfying experience.

Weekly Update 8/23/10 "Dog Days and Playboys" edition

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Byrdie) — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:12:00 +0000

5. First Bioshock 2 single player DLC detailed/dated

The first single player DLC for 2K's Bioshock 2 was detailed and dated earlier this week. Minerva's Den has the player control a new Big Daddy who works alongside Dr. Tenenbaum to defeat Rapture's evil computing system in Minerva's Den. The DLC will feature new weapons, plasmids and a new Big Daddy type. The DLC will release on August 31st for PSN and XBLA for $1o on PSN and 800 Microsoft Points on XBLA

4. DeathSpank sequel announced

Merely a month after the first DeathSpank was released, the sequel was announced by developer Hothead studios. DeathSpank II: The Thongs of Virtue will include new co-op characters, bosses and weapons with a more modern/sci-fi campaign then the first one. DeathSpank II releases next month for PSN and XBLA.

3. More Red Dead DLC details

The fouth out of five known Red Dead Redemption DLC packs, the Liars and Cheats pack was detailed earlier this week by Rockstar. The pack will offer online Poker, Liars Dice and Horse racing games. It will also include a new rifle, the Explosive rifle, 7 new gang hideouts, 4 new hunting grounds and a tower defense-likemultiplayer mode. The pack will be bundled with the Free Roam pack for free. The pack releases on September 21st costs 800 microsoft points and costs 9.99 on PSN. The fifth DLC pack, Undead Nightmare was also detailed. It will be a single player DLC with John Marston fighting zombie animals and humans. No release date or price point were announced.

2. More Realtime Worlds drama

The bankrupt developer behind APB and Crackdown has even more drama surrounding it. According to Game Informer and G4, sources inside the company are saying that Realtime Worlds heads lied to APB publisher EA on things like game costs and development problems. On top of that ex-employees are apparently not recieving any form of royalties that were guaranteed in their contracts if they were fired. We will bring you more Realtime coverage as it unfolds.

1. Playboy launches game label.

Notorious men's magazine Playboy has announced that they will launch a game label which creates and distributes game through Playboy's website. Their first game is Poisonville, an action-MMO in the style of APB which apparently dosen't suck. The name of the label is shocker... Playboy games.

Written by Matthew Byrd: Gamertag: ColonelByrd95

The votes are in! "What are YOU getting this Holiday?"

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Gloqwi) — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:00:00 +0000

The 3 week long poll has finally come to an end! We asked what highly anticipated video game YOU were getting this Holiday season, and the votes are in! Guess who got the most votes? I'm telling you right now, it wasn't Just Dance 2.

8 votes-

Halo: Reach

7 votes-

3DS
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

6 votes-

Rock Band 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Metroid: Other M

5 votes-

Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep
Kirby's Epic Yarn

4 votes-

LittleBigPlanet 2
Epic Mickey

3 votes-

Sonic Colors

2 votes-

Medal of Honor
Mafia 2
Fable 3
Final Fantasy XIV
Sonic 4: Episode 1
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm

1 vote-

Kinect
Fallout: New Vegas
Dead Rising 2
Michael Jackson: The Experience
Killzone 3

I'm not surprised at Halo's position on the list, but I didn't know there was that much anticipation for Assassin's Creed Brotherhood! Maybe I'm the only one not excited for it. And the 3DS is getting all the attention it deserves.

Rock Band 3 is getting some good attention with Call of Duty, but once again, I'm surprised by the excitement behind Other M. I'm not hearing a lot about it and it's coming in just mere days! Bad PR?

Once again, everyone except me seems to be excited for Kirby's Epic Yarn. And I know most die-hard Kingdom Hearts fans already got their hands on the Japanese version of Birth By Sleep.

I'm kind of shocked that LittleBigPlanet 2 isn't higher on the list! It stands right next to Epic Mickey, which doesn't seem to have any hype behind it at all (not saying I'm not interested in it!)

I still haven't seen a single thing for Sonic Colors, and I never will unless there are good reviews for it. Seems people want it, though! There must be something in those gameplay videos...

Medal of Honor has been getting some pretty lackluster reception for it's beta, but it seems that people will still be goin' out to get it. Mafia 2 is the first of all these games to come out and has been getting some really mixed reviews, so I recommend you check out the demo or rent it. Fable 3 surprisingly doesn't seem to be getting much attention from the general public and neither is FFXIV. I'm surprised people still voted for Sonic 4: Episode 1 (as you can see, I'm a Sonic Skeptic) and Need for Speed seems to have some unexpected attention. Shocked that WoW: Cataclysm didn't get more votes than it did.

And with one vote comes Kinect. Hey, that's 1 more vote than Move got. I would say wait for a price drop, but if you reallllly want it by this Holiday, go ahead! A shock that Fallout: New Vegas is this low on the polls, but Dead Rising 2 doesn't seem to be getting any attention at all. For the Michael Jackson fan who is also getting Kinect, have fun! And I f******* hated Killzone 2, so I'm happy Killzone 3 only got a single vote.

That's it for that poll! Now comment and vote on our newest one that will affect the YouMedia space directly: "What songs should we get for Rock Band?"

Dark Chambers: Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light review

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Byrdie) — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 22:12:00 +0000

I am not a Lara Croft fan. I never played a game and never saw one of the two movies. So I was jumping into the Lara Croft world for the first time with this XBLA title from developer Square Enix. This game takes place in some Central American ruins were Lara Croft finds "The Mirror of Smoke". An ancient artifact which holds the soul of Xolotol, the keeper of darkness. When Vasco, the local warlord, steals the Mirror, Xolotol is set free as is his archnemesis, Totec, The Guardian of Light. Now Lara Croft must defeat Xolotol and return the Mirror of Smoke to it's shrine before sunrise or the world will drown in the blood of Xolotol's empire.

This is an arcade style game with an isometric camera view. The camera is perfectly placed and I found no unneccesary difficluties resulting from the camera view. Gunplay is also pulled off perfectly. The mechanics are flawless and easy to pick up. Action-packed moments when your are surrounded by enemies are thrilling and fun. This and awesome weaponry like Lara's Pistols, automatic rifles and rocket launchers add an action-packed experience which gives off the atmosphere of a summer blockbuster.

The enviorments are gorgeous. I found no visual hiccups in the game and the enviorments are incredibly realistic. The trees shake in the wind, walls are dirty and grimy and fire is extremely realistic. Lara's weapons are fully realized on screen and decimated enemies are schredded apart on screen in a fantastically visceral and fun way. This game sets a new standard for XBLA and PSN graphics.

Exploration and puzzles are some of the trademarks of the Lara Croft universe. So naturally fears arose when an arcade-style, gun play heavy game was announced. But don't worry Lara fans, this game dosen't throw away it's roots as there are plenty of artifacts, relics, weapons and red skulls for you to find throughout the game. The physics-based puzzles in finding these collectables are awesome. You will feel like a true explorer after completeing these aweome puzzles. Exploration is extremely fun and is highly reccommended. You will find many fun and hidden collectables that help make the game last.

Now for the bad. The game has poor pacing difficulty wise as the last 4 level amp up the difficulty to 11. You will be screaming and yelling at your television for about the last hour of the game and a controller toss isn't out of the question. Although the voice acting of Lara is superb the other two characters, Totec and Xolotol who are supposed to be Mayan are voiced by American actors which takes away from the immersiveness of the game.

Co-Op also adds tons of replayabillity to the game. Lot's of teamwork is involved as Lara and Totec must use each other to get across areas and solve puzzles. This adds a great buddy experience to the game as well as adding hours of fun to an already great game.

This game is a thrill ride. With a perfect mixture gunplay and physics-based puzzles along with thrilling chases and bossfights, Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light is a can't miss arcade title evokes a well made summer blockbuster movie. This is a can't miss title and will certainly make the wait for your favorite fall games much more enjoyable.

Written by Matthew Byrd: Gamertag: ColonelByrd95

Byrd's Nest #7: How Rock Band 3 will save the Music Industry

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Byrdie) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 06:29:00 +0000

It it undeniably that the Rock Band franchise has changed the music industry. Several songs on the Rock Band Network have outsold the song on iTunes. Older Bands can reconnect their music to a younger generation and indie bands can try to go mainstream by releasing songs in Rock Band. Rock Band is already shaping up to be a revolutionary game. With new peripherals, new songs and endless importing, Rock Band 3 is primed and ready to be one of the defining games of it's generation. But it will also change the world in another way. It will save the music industry.

Look at the setlist for Rock Band 3. How many songs from 2000 and on do you see? No that many. What you will see a lot of is songs from anywhere between the 60's and the 90's. A mixture of Classic Rock bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Ramones, The Who and Whitesnake and New Wave bands like Tears for Fears, Devo and The Cure. Crunching the numbers it appears the average song come from somewhere between 1975 and 1988. So why are there so many classic songs instead of modern songs. Because most modern songs suck.

Whether it's Ke$ha, Lady Gaga or Katy Perry. Music has reached an oversaturation of shallow, materialistic, 3-minute ballads on clothes, parties and drinking. Music used to mean something. It was an art form. Now it's bargain bin trash. And no one bothers looking back at all the great songs of past generations. I have asked several of my peers who the bands listed above were and I was met with either confusion or talking about how bad and lame they were. It's a shame. However, as corny as this sounds, Rock Band 3 is here to save the day.

With it's awesome retro soundtrack, Rock Band 3 could help popularize good music. The Beatles: Rock Band sparked a new interest in The Beatles among a younger generation. Why can't this game do the same except on a broader scale. It could get people thinking. Why should I listen to this modern pop crap when I can play/listen to these awesome Rock Band tracks. It could completely change how the music industry thinks. Instead of a pop focused industry, it could be a rock focused industry. Think about it. It's not that crazy.

Written by Matthew Byrd: Gamerag: ColonelByrd95

Rock Band DLC Extrabonanza!

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Gloqwi) — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:24:00 +0000

Listen up folks! If you guys are on this website but have never even heard of YouMedia before, than this might get you interested in visiting!
As most of you people who go to YouMedia know, we have the full Rock Band set there, and we have games Rock Band 1 & 2, The Beatles & Green Day Rock Band, and soon to be getting Rock Band 3.
Now, we also have $20, and we want YOU (that's right, you!) to tell us how to spend it! Now, I have this list of DLC, and I want you to tell me which songs to buy!
With around $20, we can get around 10 songs, so vote wisely!

Queen -
Killer Queen
Somebody to Love
Fat Bottomed Girls

David Bowie-
Queen Bitch

Nine Inch Nails -

The Collector

Burn

Nirvana -

Smells Like Teen Spirit

Breed

Jimi Hendrix -

Spanish Castle Magic

No Doubt -

Hella Good

Spiderwebs

The White Stripes-

Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine,

Fell In Love With A Girl

The Who -

Baba O'Riley

Kiss -

Calling Dr. Love

Gorillaz -

Clint Eastwood

Journey -

Don't Stop Believing

Avenged Sevenfold -

Afterlife

Ozzy Osbourne -

No More Tears

Foo Fighters -

The Pretender

This Is A Call

All My Life

DOA

AFI-

Miss Murder

Joe Satriani -

Satch Boogie

3 Doors Down-

Kryptonite

Iron Maiden-

Run to the Hills (Original Version)

Red Hot Chili Peppers -

Suck My Kiss

Independent Pixel 2 - Cave Story

libraryofgames@gmail.com (8bit_Ghost) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:33:00 +0000

For the second special of Independent Pixel, I'd like to bring in a special gem, and not to much surprise, it's a rather well-known cult-classic of a game. This game is Cave Story by Studio Pixel (haha, similar name!), and it gathers much inspiration from classic platformers such as Metroid and Castlevania, but has many special bits that make it a wholly new experience.

^A difficult boss battle halfway through the game (Screenshot of the Wii version of the game) ^

Cave Story starts out giving you absolutely no idea of what is happening, or what you should do. In fact, the game doesn't even give you a weapon to start with! However, as things quickly progress, you come across the rabbitlike Mimiga people, who are being terrorized by some sort of Doctor, and you realize that you're needed immediately for help. the story quickly gathers speed from there, but gameplay also evolves, requiring you to understand better of what to do. while the game is extremely short (4-5 hours), there some other twists that help remedy the feeling of a quick game.

^An important point of the game. What is Egg No. 00? (Original PC graphics of the game) ^

During the course of the game, you'll come across many choices which are extremely hard to pass up. In fact, the difficulty of the game skyrockets if you make a certain choice. Even still, these choices can be extremely rewarding, including increasing the length of the game, and revealing even more of the increasingly curious story.

As for the gameplay, everything progresses in a linear fashion. You will acquire different weapons throughout the game, each of them with a similar quality: the ability to level up to a more powerful state. However, taking damage will reduce the strength of your currently equipped weapon. Other gameplay interests are quests that will keep you in a specific area for a while, hunting for key items and whatnot (i.e. components for a bomb, lost puppies, etc)

^The graphical difference between the PC and Wii versions of the game^

As for the graphics, well, it really matters whether or not you're playing the PC version or the Wii version. Even still, both games feature a nice "cel-shaded" effect that is visually pleasing and looks very nice in motion. Even more differences are apparent in the Wii version, which has an option to return to the original music and graphics of the PC game, and features a boss attack, a timed run through the hardest level of the game, and a game mode where you can play as a female NPC from the story: Curly Brace.

Platform: PC/Wii
Rating (ESRB) : E10+
Price: PC = FREE, Wii = 1200 Nintendo Points ($12)
Unofficial English PC Site / Official Wii Site

-Final Words-

Whether you play the PC version or Wii version is up to you, but when it comes to better quality and playability, the Wii version is best. Even though the PC version is free, it can only be found as a fan-translation (The original game is Japanese). But either way, the game and story is extremely compelling, and you may leave wondering if, sometimes, you made the right choices in your playthrough.

~8bit_Ghost

Weekly Update 8/16/10 "Gamescom and Bankruptcy" Edition

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Byrdie) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:42:00 +0000

5. Mass Effect 2 is coming to the PS3

Microsoft exclusivity was struck a crushing blow on Tuesday when Bioware announced at Gamescom that Mass Effect 2 will be available for the PlayStation 3 in January 2011. Microsoft might be struck an even more crushing blow in the months to come as it was rumored that since you could transfer your character from one installment to the next, the heavily anticipated Mass Effect 3 might be on the PS3 as well.

4. Insomniac announces next two titles

Although singing a deal with EA to make multiplatform games, developer Insomniac announced 2 sequels to their PS3 exclusive franchises. Resistance 3 was announced for a 2011 release at Gamescom on Tuesday. A live action trailer revealed little except for possible game locations. St. Louis, Missouri and New York, New York. Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One was announced at Gamescom on Tuesday for a Q4 2011 release. New features include four player co-op and a new story for all those Ratchet and Clank fans out there.

3. Release Dates Galore!

Several games were given release dates at Gamescom this week. Portal 2 will be releasing on February 9th 2011. DJ Hero 2 will be releasing October 19th 2010 and Michael Jackson: The Experience will be releasing on November 18th 201o.

2. Setlists for Fall Music games announced (Or Leaked!!!!)

This fall's big Music game releases, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, Michael Jackson: The Experience and Rock Band 3 have had some or all of their setlists released (or in Harmonix's case leaked) *This will be discussed in greater detail in tomorrow's podcast*

1. Developer Realtime Worlds goes bankrupt

Crackdown and APB developer filed for the British equivalent of Bankruptcy on Tuesday. The bankruptcy has been cited as caused by APB's, Realtime's GTA style MMO, financial failure. After several cutbacks in the wake of APB's disaster the company finally gave up and filed for bankruptcy. Activision is currently meeting with Realtime employees and it is rumored that a buyout may occur soon.

Written by Matthew Byrd: Gamertag: ColonelByrd95

Independent Pixel 1 - Rhythm Games

libraryofgames@gmail.com (8bit_Ghost) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 00:09:00 +0000

So, for the first special of Independent Pixel, I have two games of extremely similar style to show you. The first game is BIT.TRIP RUNNER, a videogame made exclusively for WiiWare by Gaijin Games.

BIT.TRIP RUNNER's premise is simple. You never stop running, you always run at the same pace, and you'll stay in the same part of the screen during the entire level. However, you must hit the proper commands to jump, duck, kick, spring and block in order to make it to the end of the level, or you will have to restart the whole thing over again. With each level filled with gold and point-multiplying powerups to nab, each level will keep on challenging you even after you've beat the game. Collecting all the gold in a level will grant you a bonus challenge at the end, and if all gold is collected there, then you might just get a perfect if all possible points have been collected. Also, doing actions correctly adds to the music and beat of the level, and the song will evolve when you nab a score multiplier. With 36 levels, a soundtrack that will stick to your brain, guest tracks by Anamanaguchi, and colorfully sharp visuals, this game will keep you busy for a good long time.

Platform: Wii
Price: 800 Nintendo Ponits ($8)
Rating (ESRB) : E
Official Website

The second game is an even more independent experience, programmed by only one person. This game is Ninjammin Beat-jitsu by 9BIT Studios, a game that falls under similar qualities of BIT.TRIP RUNNER, but has its own unique quirks.

In Ninjammin Beat-jitsu, you control, well, a ninja. Kinda. He also will keep on running, but there are some new things that make this game different. First of all, you'll come across "notes" to press to activate certain abilities, such as jumping off of walls or sliding across zip-lines, you'll also come across bonus notes, which will increase your score, and enemies as well, in which you must slash away at them in quick-time sequences. While this game can be rather punishing like BIT.TRIP RUNNER, it has checkpoints in each level, and missing a note won't always mean instant restart. In fact, deliberately missing a note may lead to a secret area, which in turn might win you a bonus if you're lucky. With sharp silhouetted graphics, an amazingly fun original soundtrack, secrets to find, and a goofy storyline, this game will also keep you coming for more. Best of all, it's free! So why not check it out?

Platform: Windows OS
Price: FREE
Rating (By Guesswork) : T
Try it out now!

-Final Words-

Both games are extremely unique in their own way, and can be fun as well, but both have their problems. Often, the flail for the correct button will get you restarted, and sometimes, you'll have a "why didn't that work right" moment. Beyond those problems, however, both games are equally exhilarating and fun, and will keep you occupied for good moments to come.

(Note: Ninjammin Beat-jitsu can be downloaded and played on a PSP. try it out!)

~8bit_Ghost

Independent Pixel - Special by 8bit_Ghost

libraryofgames@gmail.com (8bit_Ghost) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 22:23:00 +0000

Hello to all of those gamers out there now! Possibly on this site! Maybe....

.....Hello, thin air!

Anyways, Here is a good question. What IS Independent Pixel? Well, instead of you hearing about the newest Nintendo, Sony or Microsoft release and all of its huge glory, you'll be hearing more about the back-aisle releases, ones you'll find to be much more unique and adventurous than what you'll usually see. The games that maybe only a few people worked hard on to entertain you, unafraid to make massive risks that no other game publisher would dare make. The software called an Independent Game.

You'll find them everywhere, such as on the Xbox Indy Section, or deep in the depths of the Wii Shop Channel, and very often, all over the internet. My duty is to find the gems in those areas and dig em up, so that you can see how maybe a small handful of people decided to make something amazing.

I'll try to host reviews and previews of indy games whenever I can, so stay around for a unique gem each time!

~8bit_Ghost

He's Got Open Field: NCAA Football 11 Review

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Byrdie) — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 15:08:00 +0000

Before I start, let me explain something. I'm a hardcore football fan and hardcore sports gamer that fell off the bandwagon a few years ago. Every year I would rent, or if I had the money, buy the latest Madden or NCAA title. Between the two, I always preferred Madden. But with the release of EA Sports and Tiburon's new title NCAA Football 11, that might change.

The newest feature this year is the Locomotion Running Engine, which makes the running game much more fluid and realistic than it has been in the past. For example, in past NCAA titles, if you were at the goal line and you ran just past the end zone line, you suddenly stopped, somehow breaking Newton's first law of physics. Now when you run past the line you slow down and stop. This adds more realism and less eye rolling for the player. Locomotion improves the offensive lines' blocking as there are more holes than in previous games and the blocking is much more realistic. I found myself running more than in any previous NCAA title.

The presentation is also superb. The graphics are some of the most realistic I've ever seen in a sports game despite the occasional hiccup during touchdown celebrations. Shadows, realistic weather effects and player interaction are all great graphical additions to the game.

The two other modes, besides straight up exhibition play, are the Dynasty and Road to Glory modes. In Dynasty mode you’re the head coach of a team for an unlimited amount of seasons. This mode is incredibly addictive. Whether you are reading news stories on the season progression, recruiting or just plain playing the game, Dynasty mode is a fun experience which will take up hours of your playing time (in a good way). Road to Glory mode is a bit of a step down. This mode allows you to play as a player from the High School playoffs through your Senior year of College. While it is fun it's less addictive and fulfilling than Dynasty mode and only needs to be played once.

Now for some of the negatives. The commentary is getting very old. I could've sworn I heard the same bits of commentary in the 2006 edition. The pass blocking is atrocious and you will often find yourself surrounded by two or three defensive linemen about to sack you. Receiver magnet catches still exist and cornerbacks are extremely overpowered. It seems as if every receiver is double covered. It appears as if this was the year of the run. Hopefully next year they can fix some of the passing problems of this years' installment.

NCAA Football 11 is a great game. The new running mechanics and graphics add more realistic and fun and add to the football gaming experience. Dynasty mode will keep you hooked for hours and you'll be trying to school your buddies for months to come. NCAA Football 11 is a solid title with minor flaws. If you’re a football fan and a gamer, you must pick this title up.

Written by Matthew Byrd: Gamertag: ColonelByrd95

Byrd's Nest #6: The Tragedy of NFL 2K5 (and what it means for all of gaming)

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Byrdie) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:08:00 +0000

When a sports gamer hears the words NFL 2K5, they have a bittersweet reaction. Sweet because, despite coming out six years ago, the game is still regarded as one of the greatest sport video games ever made and bitter, because of the aftermath of the critical success of 2K5. This aftermath has had repercussions that extend to this day not only in the sports gaming world but also to video games as a whole. This is the tragedy of ESPN NFL 2K5.

NFL 2K5 was released in August of 2004 as the next installment of the NFL 2K series. At this time Madden was still king of the NFL game world so NFL 2K5 was considered just another launch trying to challenge Madden's throne. However, this game was different. The commentary was the most fluid most gamers (myself included) had ever heard in a sports game and is still one of the best commentaries I've ever heard. The gameplay was astounding and the graphics were mind-blowing at the time. The ESPN presentation has yet to be matched in modern gaming as SportsCenter shows in Franchise Mode have yet to debut on Madden. The Crib mode allowed you to customize your own mansion with sports memorabilia, in-game bobblehead trophies, and for the first time in a game, actual achievements were unlocked in game. For these and many other reasons, NFL 2K5 is still lauded to this day as the greatest sports video game ever made and for a launch price of only $20 it out sold the $50 Madden that year. Gamers and critics alike couldn't wait for the next installment. But they were about to get a rude awakening.

Madden publisher EA and developer Tiburon were shocked at the success of 2K5. They immediately signed an exclusivity deal with the NFL and NFLPA (NFL Player's Association). This meant only EA could make NFL games. Because of this, the only option sports gamers have in terms of football games is Madden and as of recent years Madden games are downgrading in quality. Why? Because they don't have to improve. They have a monopoly on licensed football games. Hockey, basketball, college football, and baseball don't have any of these deals except for football. It's an illegal monopoly.

Now, there is hope. 2K sports, the developer of the NFL 2K series is currently challenging EA in court for the reasons stated above. If they win there could be future NFL 2K games which means an increase in quality of both Madden and 2K games. Now if 2K wins this could set a new standard for all of gaming. It means non-IP licenses given only to a single company will not happen. So for example the US Army can't sign a contract with Activision saying that US Army soldiers can only appear in Activison games.

So in conclusion, NFL 2K5 represents the best a sports game can be, but also represent something much more meaningful - the future of video game licensing of non-IPs. 2K5 is a landmark game for many reasons, but this may be its most important contribution to gaming.

Written by Matthew Byrd: Gamertag: ColonelByrd95

Weekly Update - 8/9/10 - "Sounds Like a Call of Duty Release Date" Edition

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Byrdie) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 22:00:00 +0000

5. Batman: Arkham City revealed

The sequel to British studio Rocksteady's surprise hit, Batman: Arkham Asylum was "announced" in the September issue of Game Informer (a trailer was shown at the Spike VGA's last December), but new details emerged this week including the cast confirmation of Two-Face, Joker, Harley Quinn and Catwoman, amped up Riddler challenges, rivaling gang factions for Batman to beat up and a bigger, darker and better environment for all those little Batnuts. The release date was set for Fall 2011.

4. Crysis 2 delayed

The sequel to the popular 2007 PC shooter was delayed this week in the continuing trend of delayed video games. The new release date has been confirmed as March 22nd, 2011 in North America and March 25th everywhere else.

3. Red Dead Redemption Legend and Killers pack released

The first of 4 new Red Dead DLC packs was released this Tuesday. The Legends and Killers pack allows gamers to wield the deadly tomahawk as a weapon in single and multiplayer. 9 new multiplayer locations including Thieves Landing and Blackwater and 8 new multiplayer characters. The DLC costs 800 Microsoft points or $10 on PSN.

2. Tropico 4 announced

The game which took so many hours out of so many people's lives (most notably LOG's Kaillif Ammen) Tropico 3 is getting a sequel. Tropico 4 was announced. Developer Haemimont games announced the 4th installment in the city building franchise. New features announced included negotiating factions within your citizens, a third superpower peer pressuring you, and new depth for many gameplay mechanics. Tropico 3 has been announced for a Q2 2011 release date.

1. BioShock Infinite announced

Irrational Games announced their next project this week. A BioShock "spin-off" of sorts. BioShock Infinite will take place in 1912 on a steam-punk airship called Columbia the player takes control of Booker Dewitt. A detective who is sent to the secret flying city to find a women named Elizabeth. Although there are almost no similarities between the first two Bioshock titles and this one are apparent it is still being labeled a BioShock game. It will be released in 2012 for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Written by Matthew Byrd: Gamertag: ColonelByrd95

Library of Games Podcast: Kinect Edition

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Gloqwi) — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 03:08:00 +0000

We went to Navy Pier and got to get a hands-on experience of Kinect, the new motion control attachment from Microsoft for the Xbox 360 that you don’t need a controller for! We got to play Harmonix’s Dance Central and Kinect Sports’ Track and Field mini-game! Listen to what we think of it now!

Intro and Outro: "The Four of Us Are Dying" by Nine Inch Nails

Hosted by Stanley Ng, Kaillif Ammen, Matthew Byrd, and Taylor Bayless

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Library of Games Podcast via iTunes (iTunes must be installed on your computer)
[RSS] Add the Library of Games Podcast to your RSS aggregator (what's RSS?)
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly (right click and click 'save link as')

Well, how da ya like me NOW!?!?!

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Gloqwi) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 03:30:00 +0000

UPDATE: I removed the file, so the player doesn't work anymore, but expect the actual podcast episodes to be up soon!
This is fantastic news! I might actually be brought to upload the podcasts now! I know absolutely NO ONE listens to the podcast because of how hard it is to just take a listen to it. I've been trying to remedy that by uploading to PodBean, but it never seemed to work out very well. Now, I realize that you have to upload the podcast first, then make the post about it later (Because if you try uploading while making the post, there is a high chance that the upload will fail).

Okay. Don't get so hyped up right now. I've only got it to work with a really simple upload (it was episode 10.5), but if it works with the other episodes, expect MUCH more coming from my end! Here! Have an EASY listen to episode 10.5 without downloading it!

My Interpretation of LIMBO

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Byrdie) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 18:54:00 +0000

WARNING: THIS ARTICLE IS FILLED WITH SPOILERS!!!!! IF YOU WANT TO PLAY LIMBO WITHOUT SPOILERS DO NOT READ!!!!!

LIMBO as LOG member Kaillif Ammen says if very vague with little description and back story. For this reason LIMBO is up for a lot of interpretation. The following is my interpretation of the story of LIMBO.

As I described at the beginning of my review, Limbo is in Catholic theology Purgatory. From the title I feel the boy is traveling through purgatory which composes of the two evils of Earth. The dark scary forest filled with dangerous life forms and the cold, solitary city filled with dangerous machines and no life. It is the two sides of Earth - Nature and City. Purgatory is representative of the evils of earth. Now why would a little boy and his sister be in purgatory? Well continuing with the Catholicism, a lot of Purgatory's residents are un-baptized babies and children. Children not baptized by the Catholic Church are doomed to Purgatory. So most likely the boy and his sister were raised in a non-Catholic household, most likely Protestants, Atheists, Jews, Muslims etc.

Now as for the enemies you encounter in the forest. There has been some speculation by LOG members Taylor and Kaillif that you provoked the spider and children enemies by simple walking towards them. I disagree. The spider is ten times your sides and could probably kill most of the inhabitants of Purgatory. The spider is a monster which tried to kill you and which the Boy must kill in order to survive. The other children are also non-Catholic inhabitants of Purgatory and have, in my opinion been driven insane by the sheer terror of living there lives in Purgatory. So in their madness they have banded together to destroy any living thing in Purgatory that they sense as a threat. The Boy is the threat. The last living creature is the mosquito. The mosquito was in your way to finding your sister. Your sister meant more to the Boy then the mosquito so using the mosquito is his only option to find his sister. It had to lose its leg.

Now the big one, the ending. In my opinion the Boy and his Sister died in some sort of accident, probably a car accident and they are now stuck in Purgatory. The ladder to heaven is too high for either of them to reach. They are now stuck in Purgatory together and in my opinion will be driven insane by Purgatory and join the other children in killing newcomers to Purgatory.

LIMBO is an incredibly deep, sophisticated and stunning game. This is simply my interpretation of the events of LIMBO. There are numerous different interpretations you can put on it and this is only one of them. The fact that so many interpretations can be put on it is a testament to why this is a must play game and a definite masterpiece.

Written by Matthew Byrd: Gamertag: ColonelByrd95

Byrd's Nest #5: Why Kinect Will Fail [UPDATED]

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Byrdie) — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 04:07:00 +0000

[UPDATE: Price corrected]

Microsoft has put everything behind Kinect, it's new motion control device releasing this fall. They've treated it like a new console launch with launch titles, super hype at E3 and Comic-Con and a ton of build up. However it is all in vain. Kinect is has been doomed from the moment it was debuted at E3 2009. Now before I sound like a cynic, let me outline three fundamental reasons why Kinect will never connect with gamers, casual and hardcore alike.

1. Ninetendo already took Kinect's audience.

Microsoft has made it no secret that Kinect is designed for casual gamers with it's advertising and slew of family friendly launch titles. However that audience might not be there anymore. It's been three years since Ninetendo gobbled up gamers with there family friendly Wii. Basically everyone and there brother has bought a Wii. Ninetendo owns the casual market. No one with a Wii will cough up $150 dollars in a recession for something they already basically have. So Kinect will not sell since it's target audience is already satisfied.

2. The Launch Titles Suck

When Microsoft unveiled the Launch titles at this years E3 one thing jumped off the page. Most of them were bad. Kinect sports is a blatant Wii rip off. Kinectamals although cute looks unappealing. Kinect Racing is seemingly clunky and the rest are truly forgettable. The only intriguing titles are Harmonix's Dance Central and Kinect Adventures but neither would make me shell out ~~$270~~ $250(~~$60~~ $49 a game) for them. All the Motion Control in the world is nothing without good games for that Motion Control.

3. Lack of Advertising

While most hardcore gamers have heard of Kinect there have been no attempts at mainstream advertising of the device. I've talked to some of my non gaming and casual gaming friends (Microsoft's core audience) and most have no idea what it is. With only two months to release date this is perplexing. In an age where Red Dead Redemption and Call of Duty have advertising on network TV it is unacceptable for Microsoft to have no mainstream advertising. Without enough hype Kinect won't sell. Heck, nothing can sell without hype.

So there you have it. The three reasons why Microsoft's appeal to the Casual will be in my opinion, one of the biggest busts of this gaming generation.

Stanley's Tactics And Strategy (STAS) [Left4Dead2]

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Pershire) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 21:24:00 +0000

Boomer

Boomer Strategy

The boomer is a slow and very fragile special infected, but its a very crucial and powerful special infected. Its primary attack is to vomit bile onto the survivors and attract hordes of common infected onto the soiled survivors, the bile will also temporary blind the survivors. Its special attack is when the boomer is deprived of all its health it will explode bile out, the explosion will also stun the survivors.

Since the boomer is a slow infected most times you have to spawn ahead of the survivors, you can try to find a sharp corner the survivors have to go through or you can jump off a ledge, jumping off a ledge onto the survivors will delay the vomit attack,but the survivors might shoot you from the surprise and trigger your bile explosion.

The boomer is a powerful infected, but it alone is not that strong even if it vomits on all 4 survivors. Working together with other special infected is the best option for boomer users. What the boomer does it causes confusion amongst the survivors and more importantly it creates a great opening for other special infected to kill each survivor off individually.

The boomer has a very noticeable growl and can be easily identified. That is why its very advantageous to spawn at your ambush spot at the last second.

Survivor Counter-Attack!!!

Since the boomer can vomit on multiple survivors at once its best to keep a little bit of distance between each other, but not too much since the boomer is not the only special infected out there. One very important thing is pay attention to sharp corners if u see a boomer arm do not go after it you can try to shoot through the wall of aim the its arm (it is very low on health after all).

When you see a boomer and you know its not going to vomit soon the most crucial thing to do is shove it off and back away for a clean shot at it. Doing this will save other survivors from being caught in the bile explosion. Doing this before or after it vomits are both great, but preferably before it even has a chance to vomit.

When vomited on the best thing to do is throw a pipe bomb as it will attract most of the horde away from the survivors and give the survivors time to regroup. Never throw a bile bomb after vomited on, the survivors that have been vomited on will be the primary targets for the common infected. Another way is if no one has a pipe bomb go crouch in a corner and pul out a melee weapon, this will thin out the horde, save you some health, and you will eventually get you sight back.

One last but very important thing is teamwork. The boomer becomes one of the strongest special infected when put together with other special infected and the survivors become a lot more aggressive then they can breeze past.

VOTE ON WHAT YOU ARE GETTING THIS HOLIDAY

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Gloqwi) — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 16:11:00 +0000

You see that huge white box at the right of the screen? That is probably the largest poll of all time.

Okay, probably not.

But still, that whole list took me about half an hour to compile, and I want EVERYONE you and I know to VOTE ON IT! Use this post to comment on what YOU are getting, or mention something I DIDN'T SOMEHOW PUT ON THE LIST! Here are the current choices...

Kinect (Novermber 4)
Move (September 19)
Halo: Reach (September 14th)
Rock Band 3 (October 26)
3DS
Gran Turismo 5
LittleBigPlanet 2
Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep
Call of Duty: Black Ops (November 9)
Medal of Honor
Fallout: New Vegas (October 19)
Metroid: Other M (August 31)
Dead Rising 2 (September 28)
Mafia 2 (August 24)
Fable 3 (October 26)
F.E.A.R. 3 (October 20)
Tron: Evolution (November 1st)
Sid Meier's Civilization 5 (September 21)
Crysis 2 (Q3 2010)
Assassin's Creed Brotherhood (November 16)
Sonic Colors (December 7th)
Final Fantasy 14
Kirby's Epic Yarn
Space Invaders Infinity Gene (Console Version)
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm
The Agency
Michael Jackson: The Experience
!!!!! JUST DANCE 2 !!!!!
Killzone 3
Split/Second
Sonic 4: Episode 1
Epic Mickey
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
Or SOMETHING THAT I SOMEHOW DIDN'T PUT ON THIS LIST!

Once someone puts ONE vote in, I can't change any of the answers, so VOTE!

Also, if you have already voted, use the scrollbar at the bottom of the widget to see the results!

Another Point of View: Limbo

libraryofgames@gmail.com (Gloqwi) — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 18:30:00 +0000

This is another review of the XBLA game Limbo. To see the main review by Byrdie, click here.

Limbo is REALLY open to interpretation. So open that it would probably piss a lot of people off. The story telling in the game is so vague, that you would probably miss the fact that "you are looking for your sister" up until the very end of the game (halfway through if you REALLY pay attention) unless you read the game summary. The open end-edness of the game is one of the largest selling points of the game, so if you want a story that is concretely there, don't get this game (I'm pretty sure that the only word that ever appears in that game is HOTEL. No spoken dialogue. Heck, no vocal sound effects whatsoever).

You'll also have to put that together with the world of the game. The game world itself is rather empty as well. The game has a really chilling vibe that is actually very appealing. The world is full of death (your own and the deaths of others) and other things that would make you cringe (spikes, electric boards, and brain-sucking leeches). There's also a weird satisfaction to the game when you overcome the things trying to impede your progress throughout the game. I say this because most hindrances in the game meet some gruesome deaths.

The game has fairly difficult puzzles and the game explains its mechanics pretty well (after a LOT of trial and error, though). This difficulty then SPIKES about 2/3rds into the game and will drive you pretty close to the edge and you may have to look at a walkthrough if you are not a usual puzzle gamer. The game is REALLY short (about 3 hours at least) but the puzzles near the end can get you stuck for a pretty long amount of time (not including optional puzzles that will gain you the achievements in the game).

FINAL VERDICT: If you are really into the "deeper meaning" kind of games, this is definitely for you. If you've wanted a different gaming experience, this is also for you. This game is fairly reminiscent of Braid in that it's a puzzle-platformer with a vague underlying story, but it doesn't have the brilliant impression that Braid gave me. To me, this game is trying to be really smart, but fails to give you even a hint of what the game wants to mean. It was a nice experience, but I don't think it's worth the $15 price point. To call it a masterpiece is really a bit of an overstatement.

Written by Kaillif Ammen, Gamertag: Gloqwi