NextGen Player - Canada's Premier Gaming Blog

Free Video Game Perk "Really Happening" Says Tsilon.ca Founder

2012-01-26T17:52:00.008-05:00

By Paul Hunter

"Are you on the list?" That's the question that was posed to me in an image that appeared in my inbox at 2:30am today. Preceding this question was a very direct message intended "for any naysayers who doubt the offer is coming", says Tsilon.ca founder Mister C.

The offer in question is one I posted on Sunday, detailing the free video game perk to every active G-List member that is supposed to be appearing on the Canadian ARG-style website www.tsilon.ca around mid-February.

The image includes a website address, http://bit.ly/ThisIsReallyHappening, which redirect back to the Tsilon.ca homepage. I'm not sure what the intent of the redirect is, other than perhaps another display of the quirky (and often times, cryptic) messaging this site is known for.

A deeper look into the background of the image shows some mysterious code snipped from one of the most popular multiplayer first-person shooters of all time. Guess what? It isn't Halo!

A quick Google search of the source code indicates it was taken from Quake III, a game that places a strong emphasis on multiplayer action.

Whether or not this source code implies a deeper meaning in the below message is not clear, however it worth noting that the Tsilon.ca "testing area" also includes code fragments from video games.

Here's the image I received (click to see a larger version):

Personally, I think the reason Mister C chose Quake III code is because he's hoping Tsilon.ca is going to sh-sh-shake things up.

We'll know whether or not this free game perk is real in just a few short weeks. Until then, cryptic images (yay!)

Next G-List Perk Is $99 Nintendo 3DS

2012-01-23T23:52:00.004-05:00

By Paul Hunter

$249.99? That price is so last year. It looks like the next G-List Hardware perk is about to go live in a week's time and it's a Nintendo 3DS for $99.

How do they do this? I have no idea, and it's futile to wonder anyway. I mean, I've been asking the "Misters" for several weeks how they're getting such great deals. The answer I got back? "Some organizations have been very generous to our cause".

Umm, sure. So long as these organizations are giving out Groupon-esque video game perks I won't ask any questions. Well no, that's a lie. I'll ask questions and undoubtedly get a cryptic response that will make me want to stop asking questions.

Leaked Memo Shows Free Video Game For Every G-List Member

2012-01-22T13:09:00.018-05:00

By Paul Hunter

UPDATE: I was just informed by a www.tsilon.ca founder that this perk is "Canada only at this time." Have fun, fellow Canucks! /UPDATE

Raise your hand if you're old enough remember the Nintendo Power free Dragon Warrior I giveaway in the early 90's. It was an incredible deal: purchase a subscription of Nintendo Power and they'll send you a free copy of Dragon Warrior I. I remember subscribing simply because this deal was too good to be true. Check out the Enix America memo, dated November 1990, announcing the promotion.

According to a leaked memo that came across my desk, the creators of Canada's "first fraternity for gamers", www.tsilon.ca, are preparing to 1-up this Nintendo Power promotion.

The promotion, which the leaked document says could roll-out in mid-February, will entitle all G-List members to one free video game with a retail value equal to or less than $60.00 CDN. The offer is valid for all current generation video game platforms including Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, PS Vita, PSP, and PC. The memo states that any game on these platforms are eligible, with the exception of limited editions and collector's editions. Gaming accessories are also excluded.

In the PDF of this memo I received, pieces of information were blacked out, including the names of the sender and receiver, the name(s) of the people who green lit this perk, and the exact location where this promotion will go live.

A request to a www.tsilon.ca rep to substantiate the contents of the memo was replied with confirmation of a "free game for any active member." Furthermore, I was told that 48-hour advance notice will be given before this promotion goes live.

Click on the leaked memo below to enlarge:

No information has been given as to what the "teaser" refers to, nor the process G-List members will need to follow to in order to redeem for their free game.

Upon asking what happens if 1,000 new members join the G-List community, a rep from the site said it's for "every active member, no joke." I started doing the math on 5,000 and 10,000 new members and couldn't believe the potential cost of this promotion.

In order to become a member of www.tsilon.ca, individuals must solve four locks that gate entry into the site. Once in the site, G-List status is obtained after "leveling up" to 10, which is done through solving video game trivia questions, answering daily trivia questions, or participating in video game challenges. As noted in the leaked memo, G-List members will be eligible for the free video game.

The Nintendo Power promotion is credited with attracting thousands of new subscribers to the monthly publication and helped launched the Dragon Warrior series in North America. According to Chris Kohler, author of Power Up, this promotion allowed Enix America to bring over the next three iterations of Dragon Warrior; moreover, Nintendo themselves profited immensely since the magazine was "essentially a 100-page monthly ad for Nintendo products".

One has to wonder if this G-List promotion will attract as much attention?

G-List Sightings

2012-01-22T05:21:00.000-05:00

By Max Cole

Not to get all X-Files on you, but the other day the above image landed in my inbox. It was given to me by "Mister E". That's not to be confused with the "Mister C" whom offered to meet me at the Royal Fairmont hotel downtown Toronto.

After visiting www.tsilon.ca and joining the G-List, I discovered a "Mister J" was a community member. I also heard another member of this mysterious organization also showed face at the Assassin's Creed: Revelations launch in Toronto.

While I don't have much information on who these people are, they are feeding me quite a bit of content, including these apparent G-List sightings:

Come on, an advertisement at Yonge-Dundas Square and a projection next to the C.N. Tower? Are these real...or clever photoshops?

Let me know what you think in the comments section.

Mister E Reveals the Next G-List "Perk"...In Honour of My Birthday?

2012-01-17T18:37:00.002-05:00

By Max Cole

Listen up G-List Members. The mysterious "Mister E" sent me an email today announcing the newest perk, apparently in honour of my birthday -- what a nice guy.

The perk is a $50 offer code for CinemaNow for G-list members who hit Level 15 XP. The codes are going to expire on February 28, 2012, which means we got lots of time! If you attempt to redeem after this date, sorry but you'll be out of luck. We're super cool though and of course we're going to redeem right away.

Once you've got the $50 in your account, now that's when you can take your time (there's no expiration once redeemed).

Each gamer will need need to enter the code at the following URL to add the credit to their account:

https://canada.cinemanow.com/GiftCardRedeem.aspx

So...who's with me? Let's get the codes! ...but first, I'm off to celebrate mah bifthday with some yummy cake. And that my friends, is no lie.

Max out.

Giving Away "Haywire" Advance Screening Tickets for Ottawa and Halifax, Jan. 19th

2012-01-15T11:20:00.012-05:00

By Paul Hunter

As I tweeted earlier this month, we'll be having lots more giveaways in 2012 here on NextGen Player. I'm happy to announce we have some advance screening tickets to see Haywire, starring Antonio Banderas, Michael Douglas, Ewan McGregor, and MMA fighter Gina Carano. I have double pass tickets for Ottawa and Halifax on January 19th. Tickets will be given away on a first come, first serve basis. Tickets are VERY LIMITED!

How to enter and locations after the break.

Method #1: Enter via Twitter

1. Follow @NextGenPlayer on Twitter.
2. Simply tweet “@NextGenPlayer I want to see see Haywire in [choose Ottawa or Halifax]”

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Method #2: Enter via Facebook

1. Like NextGen Player on Facebook.
2. Simply post on the NextGen Player Facebook wall “@NextGen Player I want to see see Haywire in [choose Ottawa or Halifax]”

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Here are the locations/times:

Halifax
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Show Time: 7:00 PM
Empire 8 Park Lane

Ottawa
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Show Time: 7:00 PM
Empire 7

Here's the movie trailer:

As a reminder, we'll be handing out tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis, so act quickly if you want to get in on this!

Founder of Mysterious thereisnolist.ca Gamer Website Comes Forward

2012-01-12T23:07:00.001-05:00

By Max Cole

I love discovering a good mystery. When I was younger I got hooked on The Three Investigators, Tintin and Scooby-Doo. When I was older my tastes moved on to Twin Peaks, Lost, Heavy Rain and Professor Layton. A message that is tightly wrapped in convoluted mythology has always captivated me; how did this all start? what surprises are coming next? where will this end up? More importantly, what does this all mean? These questions pique my curiosity like nothing else can.

So imagine my surprise on December 14 when I realized that a good mystery had just discovered me...

December 14, 2011
I received an email message from M.E. stating that he is a big fan of my writing and offered me a chance to join the "G-List". He explained that this group offers perks, and referenced a deal for a $95 PlayStation 3 LED 3D monitor (normally $500). As proof of the legitimacy of this offer, he points me to a highly active thread on the popular Canadian deals website RedFlagDeals:

http://forums.redflagdeals.com/sony-playstation-3d-display-bundle-95-g-list-1117360/

Check it out, 34 pages of conversation, 498 replies. This thread is clearly on fire. On the first page of this post a forum member named "niwdog23" posted a picture of the G-List screen which clearly shows a Hardware deal for the 3D PlayStation TV for $95. Below there is an order confirmation showing that yes, this person snagged the TV for that exceptionally low price.

Okay, great. Some guy got a deal. I had a look at the website M.E. pointed me to -- http://www.thereisnolist.ca -- and it was evident after a minute of browsing that it was a password protected website. Moreover, it appeared as though you needed to obtain multiple keys in order to gain admission. Not to sound arrogant, but I quickly dismissed the website. It was holiday review crunch season and getting wrapped up in a time-sucking ARG was the last thing I needed. I'll have a look in the new year, I thought.

Although days went by, there was one section on that website that kept on replaying over and over in my head:

That guy in the video, as I'm sure many of you know, is Shaun Hatton, co-host of the Electric Playground and one of my closest friends in the video game industry. What in the world did Shaun have to do with this? Even with that thought in my head, I was just too busy with the holiday. I will ask in the new year.

Oh, and M.E.? I looked at the email address and it said "mistere". Mister E, ha! Funny, kind of.

December 15, 2011
Mister E writes me and answers my question about what the G-List is. Here is his description:

Our mission is simple: be the destination for gamers to congregate, share interests/stories, and get cool perks for being on the G-List.

Mister E invited me to join the G-List and take advantage of this $95 3D PlayStation TV offer, and noted that the offer expires in mere days. By this point I was interested, but I just couldn't be bothered given my tight schedule. Sure, the TV was cheap and would have been cool to get, but I didn't want the hassle of figuring out these codes. I asked Mister E if he could just give me the passwords. All right, I admit it, that was lazy of me. By this point I had already parked the idea of getting on this G-List until the new year.

January 5, 2012
Three weeks to the day, Mister E emails me, says:

Hello Paul,

I hope you and Nextgenplayer are enjoying 2012 - Happy New Year.

Would you be interested in meeting in person to discuss our project? Mister C is happy to give you an exclusive, in-person interview.

Great! Perhaps this is legit, as I thought. But who is this Mister C? I thought it was Mister E? This was getting stranger by the minute. After a few days of banter I finally agreed to meet Mister C on Tuesday,
January 10 at 6:00pm inside the Fairmont Royal Hotel in Toronto.

January 10, 2012
It's meet day. I'm filled with excitement, trepidation, elation, suspense, fear, and everything in between. I had agreed to meet a total stranger in a downtown Toronto hotel with minimal foreknowledge of what was to be discussed. "Was I insane?", I thought. Mister C sent me the following text message at 5:38pm:

At this point I still didn't have a first or last name, in fact the only clue I had was that it was a 778 area code which I immediately recognized as Vancouver. Ok, so HQ is in Vancity. That's a start.

6:05pm
I receive a text message from Mister C to meet him at the Epic restaurant on the main floor.

Once there, the hostess asks me "Table for one?". I chuckle and say "No, I'm actually here to meet a guy...umm I only know him as Mister C". "Right this way", she says, and takes me straight to him.

Mister C was not facing me when I arrived, and was wearing a jacket and hat. He turns around, takes off his jacket and hat, and formally greets me as "Mister C". Okay, clearly this guy has a particular distaste for first names. He takes off his jacket and hat. I have an image of him in my head but my description will likely be very generic: white male, around 30, brown hair, short on the sides/back and longer on top, maybe 4", on the slender side. I know, not very descriptive. And no, I didn't take a photo, but in retrospect I wish I had sneaked one.

Mister C explains that he's about to show me something very few people have seen. He says "up until now we've had everyone sign a strict NDA". Apparently I was the first person Mister C has shown this to who had not been muzzled. Mister C was very forthcoming, informing me that I'm free to talk about our meeting to the public. Apparently, there is a group of "Misters", more than just C and E whom I've spoken to. Not only that, some of the Misters are in fact women, and furthermore, two of the Misters are friends with me on my personal Facebook page and follow my work closely. (Sidenote: this is creepy). The group of Misters met some time ago about the possibility of opening their PR door to one reporter in Canada -- Mister C said I was his "number three choice". He elaborated, said that another Mister convinced the group that I should be their number two choice. And then somehow I wound up being their top choice (not sure the rationale, perhaps I was distracted by the whiskey sour I had just ordered.). Then an offer came: "Paul, we are willing to talk to you as our exclusive reporter for the next 6-12 months. If this is something you would like, we will refuse to talk to any other media outlet," Mister C says. An exclusive offer? The reporter in me found this hard to say no to.

But I didn't answer him. Mister C told me to think about it for 24 hours. That was 48 hours ago and I still haven't given Mister C my reply. But he knows my answer, and I know this because Mister C did his homework.

There was a point in our conversation where Mister C asked me if I liked the TV series Lost. Of course I did, I watched all six seasons, every episode. This show was practically a religion for me. Drawing a parallel to the ABC show, Mister C called his creation the "Lost of video games". Fair enough, I could see that from my brief experience on his website three weeks prior.

Not only is his creation like Lost, I'd have to say his entire demeanor is straight from the show. Mister C knew me like a bestfriend would, it was clear from the get-go that he's been following my writing for some time. Remember when the Lost survivors encountered the Others and were shown books containing information of their life? Our conversation was that freakishly too-close-for-comfort. I assumed the Misters, who are friends with me on Facebook, were funneling Mister C information on me.

We moved on to the meat of the discussion -- his website http://www.thereisnolist.ca. Finally! Mister C showed me a screen with six codes, and said you need to unlock four of them to obtain the entrance password for the website. Here's the website:

http://tsilon.ca/

After unlocking the password, users are then allowed to enter the site and create a community profile. When asked what he was trying to create, Mister C called it a "fraternity of hardcore gamers". If you recall the RedFlagDeals link at the top of this article, that was the home screen. There were sections for Retail, Hardware, Software, Products/Services, Trade-ins, DLC, Mobile and Media. Mister C quickly gave me some highlights:

* Ubisoft has offered a free Turkish Armour DLC outfit for Assassin's Creed: Revelations
* Victor Lucas has uploaded at least one exclusive video
* Cinema Now offered 25 free monthly rentals
* Click magazine offered a free subscription and digital download to their magazine, along with exclusive magazine covers for G-List members

Seriously?

And that's on top of the $95 3D PlayStation TV? This is insane.

Furthermore, Mister C said there would be a perk to get a reduced price on the PlayStation Vita bundle. I really can't divulge any more because I need more proof before I will believe this.

Every new member of this forum begins at Level 1 and are encouraged to gain levels with the promise of receiving additional perks as they rise in level. To gain a level, members can answer gaming trivia questions. There are four tiers of questions ranging from easy to super hard, and the harder the questions you answer the more experience points you gain. Once you reach Level 10 you officially become a member of the G-List. Mister C said that there are some well known people who are members of the G-List, including a television actor and a supermodel. I had a look at the community forum section of the website and indeed there were hardcore gamers discussing various topics (some threads had 80+ replies, indicating a fair level of activity).

Mister C also hinted that Future Shop is involved with this project as well, as the RedFlagDeals post would corroborate. Have a look, the guy who claimed this deal checked-out at Future Shop. I have no idea what the nature of this relationship is, nor do I know the details of the relationship with the other apparent content providers such as Ubisoft, Click Magazine, Victor Lucas, and Cinema Now.

Our conversation concluded in a dramatic way. Mister C looked down at his watch and said I have "5 minutes" before he "disappears". I asked him rapid-fire questions, and when my time was up he stood up, shook my hand, and left as he promised. I was speechless. As you can see from the length of this post, I am typically far from speechless.

Oh, and to add to the weirdness, Mister C gave me the following bill signed using his pseudonym:

What in the world did I just experience?

And the 3D Toshiba Laptop Winner Is...

2012-01-06T23:16:00.005-05:00

Happy New Year everyone!

I'd like to take this opportunity to announce our winner for the 3D Toshiba Laptop (drum roll please)...and the winner is: Rebecca from Calgary, Alberta!

Congratulations Rebecca!

I'd also like to give a big thanks to everyone who participated in this contest. We received thousands of entries on Twitter and Facebook, much more than we thought would enter to say the least! Stay tuned in 2012, there will be more prizes and giveaways. We'll be announcing new contests right here on NextGen Player, as well as on our Twitter and Facebook accounts, so keep your eyes peeled.

Here's to another year of great video games and exciting movies!

Sincerely,
NextGen Player Team

New Year, New Toshiba 3D Laptop Contest!

2011-12-22T00:01:00.013-05:00

To celebrate the coming new year we have received a brand new Toshiba P755 3D laptop (model# PSAY3C-0CP010) valued at $1,149 and we're running a contest to give it away to a lucky reader!

The sleek P755 3D laptop is infused with Toshiba's famous quality and style, offering the power to multitask, watch movies or play games. The laptop features a generous 15.6” diagonal TruBrite HD display, a 2nd Generation Intel Core i7-2670QM processor and a 750GB hard drive for storing all your favourite content. In addition, the laptop includes an integrated webcam with Wireless-N, a Blu-ray disc reader and a wide range of ports to connect your favourite devices.

The laptop has been provided to us courtesy of Toshiba of Canada.

To enter, simply tell us what you want to "play" or to "watch" in 3D on the Toshiba laptop (it can be a real or imaginary 3D product -- be creative!), using one or both of the two methods indicated below:

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Method #1: Enter via Twitter

1. Follow @NextGenPlayer on Twitter.

2. Simply tweet (and fill in the blank): “@NextGenPlayer I want to play _______ in 3D!” or "@NextGenPlayer I want to watch _______ in 3D!"

For example: "@NextGenPlayer I want to watch Captain America in 3D!" or "@NextGenPlayer I want to play Battlefield 3 in 3D!"

Reminder: Keep your tweet under the 140 characters allowed by Twitter.

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Method #2: Enter via Facebook

1. Like NextGen Player on Facebook.

2. Simply post on the NextGen Player Facebook wall (and fill in the blank): “@NextGen Player I want to play _______ in 3D!” or "@NextGen Player I want to watch _______ in 3D!"

For example: "@NextGen Player I want to watch Captain America in 3D!" or "@NextGen Player I want to play Battlefield 3 in 3D!"

---

Only one entry per Method (Twitter/Facebook) per day will be accepted.

The contest will run from 12:01am EST on December 22, 2011 to 11:59pm EST on January 3, 2012.

One (1) randomly selected winner from all eligible entries will be drawn in Toronto at 8:00pm EST on January 4, 2012 and the winner will be contacted privately via their Method of entry (Twitter/Facebook) with prize details.

Grand Prize: One (1) Toshiba P755 3D laptop (model# PSAY3C-0CP010) valued at $1,149

To redeem the Grand Prize, the randomly selected winner must provide, after being contacted, their full name, mailing address, age and successfully answer a mathematical skill testing question.

This contest is open to all legal residents of Canada. You must be 18 years or older to enter the contest. For more details on our general contest rules, click here.

Good luck to everyone.

Cheers,
NextGen Player Team

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Launch Video!

2011-11-21T22:53:00.002-05:00

By Paul Hunter

As we all know, this weekend saw the much anticipated launch of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for Nintendo's Wii. I was down at the launch event, which took place at in the Sears Court of the Toronto Eaton Centre, with the phenomenally talented Paulo Rubio from RubioFilms (http://rubiofilms.com) and we captured all the excitement and fanfare surrounding this historic launch. Check out our video coverage, including an interview with Future Shop's very own Laurent Tremblay, Entertainment Coordinator for the Future Shop downtown Toronto location!

Zelda: Skyward Sword Launch Video from Rubio Films on Vimeo.

Giving Away "Immortals" Advance Screening Tickets for Winnipeg

2011-11-06T20:10:00.005-05:00

By Paul Hunter

If you've been following our Twitter account (@NextGenPlayer) you'll know that I've been giving away free advance screening tickets to see Immortal on November 10 at 7:00pm. This is a quick announcement that I still have two double passes to give away for Winnipeg. If you're interested, emailed me at contestATnextgenplayerDOTcom.

Finalists Announced for the First Ever Canadian Game Development Talent Awards

2011-10-25T01:15:00.001-04:00

By Paul Hunter

The Alliance numérique, in collaboration with the Canadian Interactive Alliance, have announced the finalists for the first-ever Canadian Game Development Talent Awards, which will be taking place in Montreal on November 2, 2011.

This new award show has seven distinct categories recognizing the creativity and achievements within Canada's video game development community. For the inaugural awards show, five individuals have been chosen for each category.

The 2011 nominees are:

Animator of the Year
Aaron Bouthillier (Shank)
Cristinel Bostan (Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood)
Matt Hammill (Gesundheit! for iOS)
Roxy Liao (Fight Night Champion)
Yvan Deschamps (A Space Shooter for Two Bucks)

Designer of the Year
Jean-Francois Dugas (Deus Ex: Human Revolution)
Kris Piotrowski (Sword & Sworcery EP)
Mary DeMarle (Deus Ex: Human Revolution)
Matt Rix (Trainyard)
Preston Watamaniuk (Mass Effect 2)

Programmer of the Year
Chris Thiffault (Undergarden)
Frédérick Blais (Michael Jackson The Experience)
James Hall (Dead Rising 2)
Jean-Philippe Auclair (Flash 11 Molehill)
Stéphane Girard (Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood)

Emerging Talent
Alexandre Fiset (Spider-man: Shattered Dimensions)
Annie Dickerson (Blokhead)
Gerald Orban (Skate 3)
Jared Thomson (Jetpack)
Richard Flanagan (Fract)

Audio Professional of the Year
Fabien Noel (Splinter Cell Conviction)
Mathieu Jeanson (Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood)
Michael McCann (Deus Ex: Human Revolution)
Simon Ashby (Wwise)
Steve Szczepkowski (Deus Ex: Human Revolution)

Producer of the Year
Casey Hudson (Mass Effect 2)
David Anfossi (Deus Ex: Human Revolution)
Marie-Jo Leroux (Driver San Francisco)
Mark Darrah (Dragon Age 2)
Vincent Pontbriand (Assassin’s Creed : Brotherhood)

Visual Artist of the Year
Craig Adams (Sword & Sworcery EP)
Derek Watts (Mass Effect 2)
Jeff Agala (Shank)
Jonathan-Jacques Belletête (Deus Ex: Human Revolution)
Kun Chang (Osmos)

This new award show immediately follows the Montreal International Game Summit and will take place in the Hilton Bonaventure.

For more information check out the official website at: www.talentawards.ca

Review: Gears of War 3

2011-10-23T17:15:00.001-04:00

By Paul Hunter

Seems rather fitting that the developer behind the genre-defining Gears of War 3 is called Epic Games because if there ever was a video game describable as poetry in motion this would be it. Albeit a gritty, gruesome poem filled with despair, destitution and desperation. Don't tell me you were expecting rainbows and lollipops?

It's been nearly three long years since fans have had a chance to play a new Gears of War game, and the wait has been worth it. Our war-torn hero Marcus Fenix and the now beard-sporting Dom return to continue their bloody crusade to stop the Locust Horde, and the even more deadly Lambent creatures, in a three-way battle that spills more red juice than a Saw marathon night.

Equipped with their signature chainsaw-teethed Lancers, the Coalition of Ordered Government (aka COG) soldiers, or what's left of them at least, receive word that the thought-to-be-deceased father Adam Fenix has actually been kidnapped and is still alive. A retrieved data disc shows that Adam is not only alive, but may have a means of wiping out the new Lambent threat that is poisoning the world with their highly reactive yellow Imulsion goo.

Graphically, Gears of War 3 doesn't stray too far from its predecessors, which is certainly welcome here. The Unreal Engine which powers this game presents some of the most fluid and high fidelity graphics you'll see on a home console, and this time around the crispness is even more defined. The mostly greys and browns that permeates the ravaged world of Sera still take up the majority of the game time, however a lush tropical environment, an immersive underwater chapter and a richly detailed Thrashball stadium set piece provide some much-needed visual variety.

If life on Sera was rough in Gears of War 2, this time around it's all-out hell. The survivors and Stranded that populate this world distrust the COG even moreso, and justifiably so after the Hammer of Dawn rainfall and the sinking of last remaining safe haven, Jacinto. Every encounter with denizens of the makeshift outposts is visceral and more believable than in the last two games, and overall the world of Gears of War 3 is more grounded. While the story has its predictable moments, the dialogue is better also, although it rarely surpasses the cliche one-liners you'd hear in an 80's Stallone film. This is Gears of War people, not Shakespeare!

The highly explosive Lambent creatures add a distinct visual flair in this war adventure, and sometimes their violent discharge upon death literally shakes whatever foundation you're standing on. Their yellow gunk sticks everywhere, leaving most battlefields a mucusy mess. Particle effects are top-notch, culminating in the best smoke effect you'll see in a console game, along with superb yellow beams of sunlight that reflect elegantly on varied surface types, and the partially destructible environments that look really cool as they crumble and crack.

Did I mention the Campaign is awesome? Well it is, even though it doesn't break a lot of new ground. Epic Games played it safe and did what they know, refining here and there, while never really creating any new jaw-dropping moments like the first time we saw a Berserker in Gears of War 2, but it's still solid all the way. The Campaign can be played local split-screen co-op, online co-op, and even 4-player online co-op for the very first time. Trust me, it's way easier playing with a partner, although the AI controlled players are remarkably smart in this game, even killing all the grunts while you focus on eliminating the boss target or flip some switches. For an added challenge, Campaign mode includes an Arcade option which adds a point system to each chapter and encourages friendly competition amongst teammates.

Oh did I mention multiplayer? A Gears game wouldn't be a Gears game without well-thought out and robust multiplayer modes, to which it has in spades. I know, I know, Gears of War 2 had a lot of problems with its online multiplayer, but believe me these shortfalls received a lot of attention this time around. Matchmaking is simple, intuitive and quick, and the menu system has never been easier to navigate.

First up we have Versus mode which contains seven game type variants including Execution where eliminations can only happen through executions, the self-explanatory King of the Hill and the two-player teams in Wingman. Team Deathmatch gives opposing teams of four a pool of 20 lives each, which eventually winds up being a last-man standing type scenario. Whereas in the campaign you'll mostly be running and stopping, in Versus mode you'd best not stand around too long or you'll find an enemy sawed-off shotgun pointed squarely at your head. Teamwork really plays a central role in Team Deathmatch since each death drops your life count by one, making revival all the more central to your game strategy.

Horde mode returns and pits up to four players in a 50 wave battle with increasingly more challenging flocks of enemies. Round one begins with more benign creatures such as the squirrely Tickers that claw at your knees and the slow and lumbering Butchers with their oversized meat cleaver. Every ten rounds you'll encounter a boss battle and wage war with the most menacing Locust and Lambent foes the game has to offer. Some of these bosses are a few stories tall and have ample firepower to mop the floor with your remains, so careful strategy is required to overcome them. Blurring the line between a third-person action and a real-time tower defense game is a new monetary system that rewards players with cash for each kill or enemy down you perform which can be used to build fortifications. Defenses include barriers that slow down and harm enemies, decoys that distract and confuse them, and turrets and sentries for intense firepower. Horde mode itself is probably enough to justify getting this game.

Beast mode is the just the inverse, you play as the Locust and Lambent armies as you march towards the human holdouts with guns, spiked maces and meat cleavers in fist. As you fight through 12 rounds of successfully more challenging opposition you gain access to even more powerful brutes such as the heavy bombing Boomers, the creepy Giant Serapede and if you really want to raise hell there's always the (nearly) unstoppable Berserkers.

All the while you're playing each mode there's a Level-up system that ups your rank as you gain experience and win victories. As you progress through levels you'll unlock new weapon skins, characters, weapon executions and special mutators that alter the gameplay in some manner. With such a robust level-up system you'll be playing all modes of Gears of War 3 for some time to come.

As if all this wasn't enough, there's even a handful of new weapons to play with including the Retro Lancer, a variant that includes a bayonet at the tip and can be ram full-speed into your opponent's gut. There's also the Digger which shoots burrowing explosives as it travels underneath enemy cover and as mentioned above there's the Cleaver, which is essentially a butchers knife on steroids.

If it's not clear by now, Gears of War 3 is unquestionably a must-have game for fans of the series or the action genre. It's easily worth the cost of admission and ultimately the biggest challenge is juggling your personal time for the first few weeks you have the game because you'll want to play it over and over again. The multiplayer modes are insanely fun with a few buddies and there are enough unlockables, hidden collectibles and Easter eggs to keep you busy for a long time to come. While the Marcus story arc has come to an "end", and the epic trilogy over, there's no bigger final bang than what we have here. Bring on the DLC!

[This article originally appeared on the Future Shop Tech Blog]

Gears of War 3 Launch Event Coverage

2011-10-23T16:55:00.012-04:00

By Paul Hunter

To celebrate the launch of the third and final installment in the epic story arc starring COG veteran Marcus Fenix and his longtime comrade, Dominic Santiago, Microsoft Canada held a spectacular launch party featuring COG Ink tattoos, locust meat, a lancer carving expert, and so much more. Here's how it all went down:

About a week ago I received a package in via courier containing a small, vacuum-sealed bag (see image left) inviting me to the Gears of War 3 Launch Event in Toronto. Of course, this wasn't any ordinary sealed bag, it looked like a bloody mess and naturally that was the whole point. The content of the bag was a piece of hacked up Locust, the humanoid, bestial creatures that threaten humanity in the Gears of War series.

In case you're interested, the "Nutrition Facts" on the front reads:

------------------------------------------
Serving Size: 1 Package
Amount/serving % Daily Value
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Blood: 100%
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Gore: 100%
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Excitement: 100%
------------------------------------------

Pretty ingenious marketing I must say. In case anyone thought it might be a good idea to sample some of the Locust meat sealed in the bag, the bottom has a very direct warning stating "NOT SAFE FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. This is FAKE MEAT and is made from plastic." Drats, and I was really hoping to taste some of those repulsive looking ground-dwellers too. To get a sense of how disgustingly fantastic this event invite was, here's a picture of the reverse side of the bag:

Appetizing indeed.

Fast forward to the weekend and Microsoft held the event at The Hoxton, a sprawling pub venue located on King West. Hundreds of eager gamers lined-up for their chance to play "the most anticipated game of the year" according to Microsoft (and they could be right...unless Modern Warfare 3 would like to dispute this). Inside the location the lights were turned way down and most were replaced with red bulbs giving the whole place an eerie gore-like feeling to it. Seemed appropriate enough considering the game is rated M for Mature and the back cover warns of "Blood and Gore" and "Intense Violence", but if you've played other Gears of War games you already have come to expect this.

Scattered around The Hoxton were a number of themed stations ranging from a tattoo table, where fans could get the Gears of War 3 logo, or the COG skull symbol spray painted onto their bodies. There was also a meat carving station dishing up Locust meat pitas (so I guess I did end up eating Locust meat!) which were wrapped in Gears of War 3 promo material, a "Lancer" carving professional who used a chainsaw to carve out a fresh COG from a large block of wood, and a green screen area where fans could hold authentic lancers and superimpose themselves into the game.

Naturally, there were plenty of gaming stations around the room where fans could play some Team Deathmatch, or check out what Gears of War 3 looks like in 3D thanks to a station set-up by LG. In the four hours I was at the event there wasn't a single moment where any of the game stations were vacant, showing just how popular this franchise is, and how eager fans are to get their hands on it.

All in all, a really successful event. Congrats to Microsoft Canada for pulling off what could easily be described at the best gaming launch event of the year. Well done, and game on!

As a special treat, check out some of my event photos below:

[This article originally appeared on the Future Shop Tech Blog]

Nintendo Confirms 3DS Expansion Slide Pad For Japan

2011-10-23T16:50:00.001-04:00

By Paul Hunter

In what has to be Nintendo acknowledging that their 3DS should have had dual-analog nubs from the get-go, the company has announced an expansion Slide Pad attachment just six months into the portable gaming system's lifespan. The expansion fits around the Nintendo 3DS system giving it an additional analog nub on the right side, along with three additional shoulder buttons. Named the "3DS Expansion Slide Pad", the peripheral is expected to hit Japan stores on December 10 and will cost ¥1500 ($19.50).

Given that dual-analog sticks have been the industry norm since the PS1, at least on the home console side, it was rather curious that Nintendo only included a left analog nub when their 3DS system launched this past March. Sony experienced first-hand with their PSP what happens when they include just a single analog nub -- tremendous fan outcry -- and have since added a second analog nub to their upcoming PS Vita next generation portable.

Let's be honest, the Expansion Slide Pad is aesthetically atrocious. It looks bulky, clunky, and gives the rather eloquent 3DS device an uneven look to it. However, looks aside, what really matters is how does it feel, and most hands-on reports have been positive (example -- see IGN editor Richard George's impressions here). Nintendo is holding their cards tight and is currently showcasing the attachment, but no games compatible with the attachment are playable at time of writing.

As mentioned above, the expansion adds three shoulder buttons, an L2, R1, and R2, and utilizes the Nintendo 3DS' existing L1 button. Since the add-on extends out the right, it covers the existing R1 button on the Nintendo 3DS, and adds two new shoulder buttons above the right anaolg stick.

The expansion acts a cradle for the Nintendo 3DS, effectively increasing the size and making it less "portable" overall, which could deter some gamers. You have to wonder if Nintendo is already planning a new, sleeker version of the Nintendo 3DS with the dual-analog sticks and four shoulder buttons built-in.

Rumours of the attachment circulated last month when French gaming website 01net reported about the existence of a new 3DS that would incorporate a right analog stick. Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu confirmed the 3DS add-on earlier this month, and Capcom's Monster Hunter 3G was the first game said to be compatible. Since then, more game have been confirmed to be compatible including Biohazard Revelations (Resident Evil: Revelations outside of Japan), Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D, Ace Combat 3D: Cross Rumble, Dynasty Warriors VS, and Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.

Given that the 3D capabilities of their new handheld has yet to drive large consumer demand you have to wonder if Nintendo is shifting its attention toward dual-analog controls, and effectively beating the PS Vita to the market.

Nintendo has yet to announce whether the 3DS Expansion Slide Pad will come to North American shores.

[This article originally appeared on the Future Shop Tech Blog]

Review: Hobo With a Shotgun

2011-10-23T16:45:00.001-04:00

By Paul Hunter

Look out Hope Town, there's a new Hobo on the streets and he's out to seek justice one shell at a time. To call Hobo With a Shotgun a gorefest would be like calling Evil Dead a Sunday picnic. Yet beneath the gratuitous violence there's a moving story about corruption and exploitation that makes this film much more than just another blood-soaked grindhouse flick.

The Dartmouth, Nova Scotia-born Director Jason Eisener was given a chance of lifetime with Hobo after his faux trailer was picked by Quentin Tarintino and Robert Rodriguez as the winner of their Grindhouse trailer competition. The original trailer (see on YouTube here) quickly became a cult phenomenon that garnered hundreds of thousands of fan views and was eventually picked up by Alliance Films for nation-wide release in Canada.

From two minute trailer to an full-on 86 minute feature length film, Hobo With a Shotgun is one of those films that has cult status potential much like The Warriors achieved back in the early 80's. The movie stars horror film legend Rutger Hauer (The Hitcher, Blade Runner) as the eponymous hobo vigilante who takes a train to Hope Town (with has spray paint over the city sign reading Scum Town) to fulfill his dream of buying a lawnmower to open up his own landscaping business. What he finds is a town full of the worst corruption imaginable, crime is rampant, sexual predators roam free, and the drug and sex trades fuel the local economy. After watching the sadistic capitalist named Drake (Brian Downey) and his stooge sons Slick (Gregory Smith) and Ivan (Nick Bateman) behead an uncooperative citizen openly on a residential street, our homeless hero decides to take the law into his own hands. Instead of buying his dream lawmower, the Hobo decides to purchase a shotgun and make these degenerate terrorizers pay.

What ensues is a bloodbath of bodies exploding and heads rolling as the Hobo systematically starts at the bottom ridding the streets of lowly thugs, exploitative filmmakers, and perverted pedophiles. Along the way our Hobo meets up with a prostitute named Abby (Molly Dunsworth) who provides him with shelter and warmth away from the streets and the armed citizens that have been persuaded, rather underhandedly, to locate and murder him. Eventually the Hobo sets his target on a particular sex offending police officer before aiming the barrels of his shotgun on Drake and his heinous empire.

If all this seems a little over-the-top, you're absolutely right. Some of the scenes are a bit to take in, and can be downright shocking to watch. Whether or not it's too much is really going to be the determining factor of your enjoyment of this film. If you can stomach the blood and guts what you'll find is an entertaining film filled with deep, moral questions and unquestionably memorable scenes. The dialogue in the film is surprisingly funny, with each scene having some very memorable one-liners (usually highly offensive too) such as "You and me are going on a car ride to hell, and you're riding shotgun!" What's great about this movie is that every scene seems so well thought out and distinct, usually involving Hauer blasting away an evildoer such as a pimp or a pedophile in a comedic manner, it would be near impossible for this film to not to become a grindhouse classic.

Not only is this a superb film, but there are extras galore. For starters, there's a special Shotgun mode contained on disc one featuring commentary with Jason Eisner (Director), John Davies (Writer), Rob Cotterill (Producer) and David Brunt (Grindhouse Trailer "Hobo"). With this mode enabled, as the film plays a shotgun icon appears on screen and if you press Enter on your DVD remote a behind-the-scenes look at how that particular scene was produced will begin.

On disc two there a documentary called "More Blood, More Heart" that presents the making-of and contains acting spotlights of each character ranging from Rutger as the Hobo, Dunsworth as Abby the prostitute, the evil brothers Nick Bateman (Ivan) & Gregory Smith (Slick), and more. This piece also has an interesting look at David Brunt, the original Hobo on the Grindhouse trailer, and how they selected Rutger Hauer to replace him for the feature film. There are also Deleted Scenes, a short Alternate Ending, Video Blogs, a Camera Test Reel, Fangoria interviews with Rutger and Eisener, the original Grindhouse trailer, and the Canadian/US theatrical trailers. That's an awful lot of additional bonus content and if you enjoy the film you'll have hours of bonus content to root through.

This is going to be a really polarizing film and you're either going to love it or hate it. If you enjoy 80's grindhous-style movies in the same vein as Rodriguez's Planet Terror or Tarantino's Death Proof then you'll enjoy this film immensely. After watching this film it'll be forever etched into your memory, which could be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how much gore you can stomach. One thing is certain though, taken for what it is Hobo is awesome, and it's lasting appeal is without question.

[This article originally appeared on the Future Shop Tech Blog]

Review: Red Riding Hood

2011-10-23T16:25:00.001-04:00

By Paul Hunter

The tale of Red Riding Hood has endured for centuries thanks to its compelling story filled with rich imagery, supernatural lore, and its underlying themes that strikes a resonating chord with the coming-of-age crowd and adults alike. Numerous college lectures, thesis papers and books have attempted to analyze the so-called subliminal theme of sexual awakening buried within the subtext of the fairy tale, and it's this very theme that director Catherine Hardwicke seems to have latched onto when creating her modern day adaptation of the classic tale.

Aside from the flowing red cape that adorns our young and naive Valerie (played by Amanda Seyfried) who plays the leading role in the film, there's nothing in the film that even remotely resembles the classic fairy tale and in fact you'll probably only remember it's derived from Red Riding Hood source material because the hood is so blatantly crimson red against the drab medieval setting. Even the wolf, apparently not cool enough to be a real wolf, has been changed to a ferocious werewolf that has the ability to morph into human-form during sunlight hours and even has limited telepathic powers. Even on its own, the story of Red Riding Hood is a constantly changing target which never seems to settle into a consistent tone, dipping into gothic horror during some moments, then into a Twilight-esque teenage heartthrob flick the next.

The plot is about as cheesy as it gets, which has our wide-eyed Valerie betrothed to the gorgeous young blacksmith Henry (played by Max Irons) from the wealthiest family in town, yet she is madly in love with the poor woodcutter Peter (played by Shiloh Fernandez) whom she's loved her entire life. Not wanting to proceed with the marriage arranged by her parents, she plots to run away from Daggerhorn (that's really the name of the village) with Peter, only to have her plan stymied by the big bad werewolf. What results is a teenage love circle that could easily be an episode of Jersey Shore, mixed with hand-me-down sets that look like they were borrowed from the Twilight series.

While the dialogue as a whole rarely seems to advance beyond campfire chatter, once Father Solomon (played by Gary Oldman) arrives with his plan to destroy the wolf, his commanding voice delivers some memorable speeches. As a whole, the only two characters worth their weight in gold are Oldman and Seyfriend, and the pair carry the entire weight of the film on their shoulders. The handsome gents vying for Valerie's hand feel like deadweights that are only present to sexualize the film with unnecessary masculine tension that never seems to rise above artificial and campy.

Technically, Red Riding Hood comes to Blu-ray mixed in 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio, and is presented in 2.40:1/1080p/AVC. This encoding is quite bold, delivering some vibrant reds and warm amber hues mixed with deep blacks and crisp whites, all without much distortion. For the most part, the enclosed village of Daggerhorn fits its medieval setting with it's bleak textures further sullied with a light camera haze that reduces the depth, amplifying the feeling of claustrophobia. On the audio side the movie fairs even better with booming bass sounds and thumping medieval rave sequences created by Alex Heffes and Brian Reitzell. Sound effects really deliver as well, with snarling wolf sounds, crackling campfire flames and fierce battle sounds enhancing the overall mood.

Extras include picture-in-picture commentary with Catherine Hardwicke and cast and crew, casting and rehearsal tapes, gag reel and deleted scenes, as well as an "alternate cut" that's used as a main selling feature but really only amounts to about an extra minute of footage. Overall, most of the bonus features are forgettable, aside from perhaps the "Making of the Score" which is an interesting look at the recording of the film's soundtrack, and "Before the Fur...Making the CGI Wolf" which shows how they created the furry villain.

Had Catherine Hardwicke stuck closer to the source material perhaps there might have been more suspense and wonderment behind the film. What we have here though is a convoluted gushy love mess that never quite picks up traction nor drags you in. Amanda Seyfried and Gary Oldman deliver powerful performances which almost make this movie worth watching, but alas they're both dragged down by a sludge of haphazard writing and mediocre supporting roles. The entire experience looks greats, and sounds even better, but it's really hard to appreciate the artistic elements of the film when there's not enough substance to keep your attention hooked.

[This article originally appeared on the Future Shop Tech Blog]

Future Shop Hosting Midnight Openings For Batman Arkham City

2011-10-17T07:46:00.000-04:00

By Paul Hunter

To celebrate tonight's launch of Batman: Arkham City for Xbox 360 and PS3, Future Shop is hosting midnight openings at select locations across the country.

The first purchasers of the game will receive a Future Shop exclusive DLC of the Dark Knight costume designed by comic-book icon, Frank Miller. These same fans will also qualify to receive a complimentary copy of Batman Begins on Blu-ray ($22 value) and a $10 credit towards Ubisoft's upcoming Assassin's Creed Revelations (available November 15).

Additional midnight opening and day one offers include branded Batman: Arkham City merchandise of posters, t-shirts, keychains and music download cards.

To see if your local store is having a midnight opening, check out the Future Shop event page: www.futureshop.ca/arkhamcity

Lollipop Chainsaw Trailer

2011-08-15T21:01:00.005-04:00

By Andrew Shin

Looks like the infamous SUDA 51 and Grasshopper Manufacture are at it again. Really, how can you go wrong when they've collaborated on recent successes like Shadows of the Damned and No More Heroes. Now they're getting in on the zombie action with Lollipop Chainsaw. Think beautiful high school cheerleader by day and zombie hunter by night...hmmm, wonder if Buffy the Vampire Slayer was of any inspiration.

From the looks of the trailer below, it appears SUDA 51 and Grasshopper are coming up with something promising.

Review: Captain America: Super Soldier

2011-08-15T19:10:00.008-04:00

By Andrew Shin

This summer has been a blockbuster for Marvel, having released two enormous theatrical releases in Thor and Captain America. All this in anticipation for the expected 2012 release of The Avengers – which in my opinion will be the mother of all superhero movies. But while that's still a bit of time away, much of the hype this year was absolutely for the Captain America movie. Undoubtedly this is due to the fact that the good ol' Cap is one of Marvel's biggest franchise characters. And just like any other live action superhero movie that came before it, a movie based video game was made to support the launch of the film. Now, anyone familiar with the movie tie-in video game genre can attest to how horrible these games typically are. That being said, Captain America: Super Soldier is one of the few exceptions as it delivers a gaming experience that is fairly entertaining.

What makes this game worth its price tag ($50 CAN) is the intuitive control scheme and combat mechanics that closely resembles that of Batman: Arkham Asylum – a game that redefined and set the bar for what an epic superhero game should be. The fighting system in Captain America: Super Soldier is fluid and satisfying in its execution. Punches, kicks and acrobatic moves can all be strung neatly together for hard hitting and effective combinations. This is especially rewarding when you face off against numerous opponents at once and employ multiple combo moves to take them out. On the defensive side of things, you have the ability to pull off various counter moves like “weaponizing” an enemy (basically using their own weapon against them) and deflecting a bullet with your shield directly back at your attacker. Additionally there are a number of upgraded special moves that are eventually added to your arsenal and really makes you feel like you are the super soldier Cap himself. More importantly, Captain America's trusty shield is gets its own special treatment in the moves department with abilities such as shield tossing five enemies at once, locked-in targeting shield throw and a powerful shield charge to put a real hurting on those Hydra scum.

While controls and fighting mechanics are the highlights of the game, the mediocre visuals and level designs prevent this game from being extraordinary. The character models are quite well done, but everything else beyond that looks and feels like game graphics from about three years ago. Generally environments and textures lack sharpness and effects such as explosions exhibit a certain sloppy execution. In terms of level design, for the most part the game felt uninspired and predictable. There is an attempt to be open world in some capacity with an underground tunnel system that allows you free access to all different parts of the Hydra complex, but at the end of the day it becomes evident that it's really linear in design with very limited freedom. The one redeeming quality of the level designs are the various collectable items scattered all throughout the game. Collecting these different items unlocks upgrades, concept art, alternate uniforms and other goodies that make it hard to resist a full exploration of each level – yes it’s addictive.

One other item to note is the challenge mode. Once again, this concept is very reminiscent of the challenge mode in Batman: Arkham Asylum. The difference here is that they're all quite easy to complete and achieve gold ranking. Since there are only 10 challenges in total, you do go through them quickly and as a result it doesn't provide too much in terms of replay value.

Captain America: Super Soldier offers up more pros than it does cons and is a worthwhile purchase especially if you are a comic fan, a Captain America fan or someone who enjoys a decent 3rd person action game. It's just plain fun to play and definitely is one of the better superhero movie based games to date.

Pros:
– fluid and rewarding fighting mechanics
– clean and simple control scheme
– collecting items to unlock goodies is addictive
– character models are visually great

Cons:
– subpar game graphics and effects
– uninspired level design

NextGen Player gives Captain America: Super Soldier a 3.5 out of 5

Review: Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D

2011-08-01T17:15:00.005-04:00

By Paul Hunter

While FIFA seems to be grabbing the spotlight these days, let's not forget that Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer has been quietly progressing on the sidelines into a solid soccer franchise. As the only soccer title available on Nintendo's new hardware there's no FIFA to compare it to, but based on its own merits PES 2011 3D has enough fancy footwork to kick this one straight between the goalposts.

If there is one launch title that serves as a showcase for the Nintendo 3DS capabilities, PES 2011 3D would be it. While the gameplay basics feel like they haven't changed much since the PS2 era, it's really the eye-popping 3D graphics that sets this game apart. For the first time ever in a soccer game you can see field depth during gameplay, which greatly enhances the ability to spot the distance between players and the net.

The default 'Player' view is from a top-down over-the-shoulder perspective which technically looks impressive as you gaze across the entire pitch and feel a real sense of 3-dimensional space. With the 3D slider flipped up to the max the depth is eye-popping as each pass, through-ball and shot sends the soccer ball deep into real, palpable space.

Controls are pretty simple and feel similar to those found in the recent PSP outings. That means some of the refinements found on the console versions have been lost -- such as 360 degree Total Control passing -- but overall the game is extremely playable. Player movement is done with the circle pad or D-pad, kicking and passing is done with the four face buttons, and you can perform tricks or speed boosts using the shoulder buttons. The lower touch-screen is used to display the field radar and you can also assign defensive and offensive tactics with hotkeys with can be employed mid-game by tapping on them. It's an elegant and intuitive layout, my only complaint is that when the action heats up it can be a little far to have to look down at the lower radar given the "black space" between the two screens.

While the main modes in PES 2011 3D are deep and rewarding, there just aren't enough of them when you compare this version to past iterations. Included in the game are the UEFA Champions League and Master League game modes, which are deep and rewarding on their own merits, but gone is the popular Become a Legend mode. Oddly enough there's also no training mode which is surprising given the game is targeted at the more casual audience of the 3DS and also given how complex some of trick shots are to perform. The lack of online multiplayer functionality is even more disappointing, but at least you can go head-to-head over local wireless (there's no download play so two game cartridges are required).

Despite the lack of modes and online features what's included is pretty solid. For a handheld game the graphics are surprisingly good and 3D visuals offers a pretty compelling reason to check out the game. We'll have to wait another few months to see if FIFA will step it up come this fall, but in the meantime you can't go wrong with PES 2011 3D.

[This article originally appeared on the Future Shop Tech Blog]

Back To School Guide: Video Game Hardware

2011-08-01T17:01:00.002-04:00

By Paul Hunter

We all know that Back-to-School time can be a daunting and stressful time, especially when deciding what technology and gadgets to get that school-aged someone in your life. We've covered a lot of popular Back-to-School topics here already on the Tech Blog, ranging from picking the right smartphone to what specs you'd want in a laptop, but of course we can't forget what's going to be on every teenager and young kid's mind -- new video game hardware.

The fall season is going to bring a flood of hardware devices to choose from, and to help you navigate what's hot I've gone through the process of compiling what I feel is the best of the best:

PlayStation Vita
At this year's E3 Expo Sony announced that the true successor to their PlayStation Portable, the new PS Vita (which means "Life" in Latin) will be available "in the global market" this coming holiday season. While no release date has been given yet, there has been rumours speculating it could be out as early as this October. No matter the date, the PS Vita is sure to be many gamers wishlist with its gorgeous 5-inch multitouch OLED screen, dual analog joysticks, front and rear cameras, sixaxis motion sensing, and both front and rear touchpads. Two models are going to be available at launch, $249.99 for a wi-fi only model; $299.99 for 3G (prices in US dollars). Of course video game hardware is only as good as the software that powers it, and to that extent, there's a lot to look forward to. Already announced are sequels to Uncharted, Killzone, Wipeout, Resistance, LittleBigPlanet, Silent Hill, ModNation Racers, among others. Definitely plenty of reasons why this is going to be a must-have device when it finally comes out.

Nintendo 3DS
Sure Nintendo's had a rough start getting consumers to pick up their new glasses-free portable device, but it's certainly not for lack of capabilities or great games. Perhaps it was its $249.99 price tag, and to that end, the company recently announced that on August 12th they're dropping the price all the way down to $169.99. I've had a Nintendo 3DS since day one have reviewed several great games here on the Tech Blog such as Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition, Pilotwings Resort, and LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean 3D. Then there's of course The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, which is my favourite game yet on the Nintendo 3DS (review coming shortly), and there are plenty of hot titles on the horizon such as a new Kid Icarus, Mario Kart, Super Mario, and StarFox.

Kinect for Xbox 360
It's been a pretty slow year for Kinect following it's high intensity launch last November, but just because software has been trickling in doesn't mean Microsoft isn't readying a whole slew of compatible games comes this fall. The controller-less motion device which uses your body to navigate menus and play games has been touted as the "fastest selling consumer electronic device ever" having pushed over 10 million units in less than five months, now that's impressive. At this year's E3 Expo Microsoft announced a barrage of Kinect compatible games in production, including voice control in Mass Effect 3, using voice commands for your pets in Sims 3: Pets, a hand gesture gun customization feature in Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, using your arm as a lightsaber in the upcoming Kinect Star Wars, and casting spells with your body in Fable: The Journey. In addition, Microsoft also announced that they would be adding enhanced voice control to navigate the Xbox menus. To play music say "Xbox Music", games say "Xbox Games", and movies say "Xbox Video", then instantly you'll be taken to where you need to go. Microsoft has also launched Kinect Fun Labs, a new hub on the Xbox dashboard which showcases numerous new apps that utilize the Kinect sensor and are available for download. These apps (called Gadgets) enable you to perform actions such as scanning your body to create realistic avatars or use your hands to spray sparklers. While some of the games mentioned at E3 won't be out next year, there are some great games expected to drop this holiday season including Dance Central 2, Kinect Sports: Season Two, Forza Motorsport 4, Kinect Star Wars, a new Raving Rabbids, The Gunstringer, and The Sims 3.

Stay tuned for more Back-to-School guides including upcoming holiday video games and peripherals!

[This article originally appeared on the Future Shop Tech Blog]

Review: Nintendogs + Cats

2011-07-05T01:26:00.003-04:00

By Paul Hunter

As the best-selling first-party franchise on the Nintendo DS, Nintendogs was a shoe-in to get a sequel and Nintendo was smart to bring it out on their brand new Nintendo 3DS platform. As if owning and raising a virtual puppy wasn't already cute enough in 2D, the introduction of the third dimension adds even more charm to this franchise, and it's really the closest you'll ever get to owning a dog without, well, actually owning a dog.

Let's be straight here, if you've played the original Nintendogs this game is pretty similar in most regards. The interface in Nintendogs + Cats is pretty much a carbon copy of predecessor, although there has been minimal graphical upgrades such as better textures for your pet's fur and house furniture. Gameplay consists of selecting your first puppy from the local dog kennel and just like in the original game you will spend most of your time bonding with your furry friend, taking it for walks and teaching it tricks.

The new sell points here are the inclusion of full stereoscopic 3D, which literally lets your pet pop out to lick your face or shake a paw, and as the title implies, for the first time ever the franchise is introducing breeds of cats. The 3D effects are really impressive and give your dogs and cats much more of a lifelike feel than before. The visual depth really becomes apparent as your dog darts around your home while interacting with toys such as balloons or a frisbee. Surprisingly cats add very little to the game since they behave much like their real-world counterpart, i.e. independent and aloof. Whereas you can teach your dog up to three tricks a day, don't expect much interaction with your cats aside from buying them climbing towers and feeding them dry mix and water.

Progression in the game happens very linearly, when you first start out there are nine breeds of dogs to choose from such as Beagle, Shiba, Dachshund, Great Dane, and Golden Retriever. Once a breed is selected you can choose from different types such as a Tricolor Beagle or a Lemon & White Beagle depending on your preferences. Purchasing your first dog will blow most of your budget so in order to get a second dog, or your first cat, you'll need to earn more money through winning dog competitions or selling items your dog finds during walks at the local Second-hand Store. Competitions range from Lure Coursing which has your dog chase a lure that you slowly wind towards the finish line, Disc Competition where the objective to throw a frisbee for distance and have your dog catch it, and Obedience Trail where points are awarded based on how your dog responds to specific commands. Each competition is only available twice during a real-world 24-hour period, which is irritating when you want to earn cash for more pets, pet accessories, or to remodel your home.

What's nifty is after your dog gets familiar with your house you can then name it by recording its name using the Nintendo 3DS microphone. Your dog will responds to its name when spoken back into the microphone, and as your dog learns obedience it will come to you more quickly, as well as perform tricks on command. One drawback is that you have to speak very plainly, without background noise, for your dog to hear you properly, and if you pass your Nintendo 3DS to a friend don't expect your dog to recognize other voices.

Aside from the usual grooming, bonding and trick learning, you're also able to take your dog for walks throughout the city. Walks happen down a straight path, with the odd intersection where you can change direction, and there are a few places to visit such as the local park to practice disc throwing and a cafe that makes treats for your canine friend. Of course you can also customize your home through purchasing furniture such as a dog bed or a living room sofa.

Nintendogs + Cats is a great showcase title for the Nintendo 3DS and I can see this game appealing to a wide range of gamers based on its charming appeal and pick-and-play gameplay. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to own a dog or a cat, but aren't sure if you want to put in all the effort required to maintain a real one, Nintendogs + Cats is the next best thing.

[This article originally appeared on the Future Shop Tech Blog]

Review: LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean 3DS

2011-07-02T17:01:00.007-04:00

By Paul Hunter

There's no denying the popularity of the LEGO video game franchise. They're cute, witty and with pick-up-and-play controls they perfect games for the whole family. If you have any young buccaneers in your home you might want to consider picking up the Nintendo 3DS version, which packs all the fun of its console counterpart, but also adds some pretty neat 3DS exclusive features. Let's take a look at what this game has to offer.

The basics of the game remain close to what's seen on home version, including collecting studs, red bricks, pirate doubloons, and ships in a bottle. Each character specializes in a certain class with specific abilities, such as the blacksmith who can hammer blue bricks, the dual-sword swashbuckler that can scale vertical wall, and our famous wobbly pirate Jack Sparrow who can detect buried treasure with his trust Compass.

While the environments are taken from the console version, how you progress through them are different on the 3DS. Puzzles have been tweaked, or changed altogether, giving the portable version a fresh feel. The cutscenes have also been borrowed from the console version, however some scenes have been cut to fit the smaller storage of the cartridge, and most cinematics have 3D effects that really makes the visuals pop out.

That brings me to the major change with the 3DS version, the 3D visual environments. Even since the Nintendo 3DS was introduced I was looking for a game that is actually more playable with the 3D effects, and I've finally found it. One of the dreadful aspects of previous LEGO games has been the platforming sections which often leads to unintentional deaths due to miscalculating the distance between platforms. Well on the 3DS version spotting the depth is intuitive and the platforming sections can be completed more precisely with little to no accidental deaths. Even better, there are hidden areas scattered around each area and the 3D effects lets you easily detect hidden entrances or items lying behind obstacles just off the beaten path.

The 3DS version also includes a cool Pirate Duel multiplayer mode with nearby owners of the game using the portable device's StreetPass feature. Players select a series of attacks and blocks for their LEGO Pirate and when you encounter another player with StreetPass enabled a battle is initiated. Winning battles nets you experience points and your Pirate can move up ranks which unlocks a ton of bonuses ranging from extra health, new moves and even new characters.

Everything that made the home version fun is retained on the Nintendo 3DS version, and if you're a fan of the Pirates of Caribbean franchise you won't want to miss this. While the game is a tiny bit scaled back, the added 3D effects and Pirate Duel mode makes this the definitive version in my opinion. Not only is it everything you'd want in a LEGO game wrapped into one, but best of all you can take the game with you wherever you go.

[This article originally appeared on the Future Shop Tech Blog]

Sony Names The New PSP Remaster Engine

2011-07-02T13:49:00.005-04:00

By Paul Hunter

Have you heard? PSP games are being remastered for the PlayStation 3, and now the middleware technology that bridges the two platforms has a name: the PSP Engine. The first PSP game to be ported to the PS3 is going to be Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD, at least in Japan, and when it comes out expect plenty of graphical enhancements.

The graphics of the PS3 version, including monsters, fields, equipment, as well as Felyne Comrades, are more gorgeous and vibrant than ever, and will deliver dynamic gameplay when played on the large TV screens, said Sony.

According to a press release issued by Sony in late May, the PSP Remaster titles will deliver a richer and more immersive gaming experience on the PS3 through enhanced high-definition graphics as well as through additional new features such as compatibility with the PS3 Wireless Controller, new add-on content or stereoscopic 3D support. In addition, gamers will be able to utilize the save game data from the original PSP game for the PS3 versions, and can transfer their save game data between the two systems. This cross-compatibility will allow gamers to enjoy the same game at home on a large TV screen or on the go with the PSP.

Although the PSP Remaster series has only been announced for Capcom's Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD, that hasn't been stopping other companies from announcing remastered versions of popular PSP titles.

Announced at E3 this year were two collections -- Sony's God of War: Origins Collection and Konami's Metal Gear Solid HD Collection -- that both feature PSP games remastered with improved visuals and other enhancements for the PS3.

In the case of God of War: Origins Collection, which features enhanced versions of God of War: Chains of Olympus and God of War: Ghost of Sparta, the team at Ready At Dawn Studios is putting both games on a single Blu-ray disc, fully remastered in 1080p and stereoscopic 3D. The collection will also have full PlayStation Network trophy support, be compatible with the PS3's Dualshock controller (with rumble support), and will be playable in Dolby 5.1 / DTS surround sound. Bonus content will include DLC contents from Ghost of Sparta – God of War: Game Directors Live roundtable video and Legionnaire Kratos & Forest of the Forgotten.

Konami is also preparing a remastered version of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker as part of the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection coming in November. On top of numerous graphical enhancements (seen in a video here) the game will also be the first to take advantage of the new "Transfarring" system, which allows PS3 Peace Walker players to transfer their saves to the PSP and continue playing while on the move.

[This article originally appeared on the Future Shop Tech Blog]