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Logitech PlayStation 3 Driving Force GT Racing Wheel

2011-01-01T11:41:00.000-08:00

Product Features

a. 24-position realtime adjustment dial: Fine-tune brake bias, TCS, and damper settings on the fly for unprecedented control over your car's performance.
b. 900-degree wheel rotation: Go 2.5 times around lock to lock, just as you would behind the wheel of many real cars.
c. Force feedback technology: Feel every inch of the road for maximum control and the ultimate racing experience.
d. Gas and brake pedals: Get precise throttle and brake response with true-to-life pedals.
e. Sequential stick shift: Go through the gears for the ultimate in control.

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The Logitech Driving Force GT PS3 Wheel is an excellent driving wheel with a good build quality at a solid price point that will satisfy any casual or avid racer. Unfortunately not every game makes correct or full use of driving wheels, but the ones that do (e.g. Gran Turismo 5) create a surreal driving experience that will satisfy any driving fan.

For the purist that must reproduce the true racing experience in his or her house, we would still suggest the Logitech G25; it is, however, more than twice the price of the Driving Force GT.

It's a good sized box, about the size of a Logitech 2.1 PC speaker package. As shown on the box there was an instruction booklet, pedals and wheel (with integrated shifter).

What I was really surprised to find in the box, and it might have been a toss-in for some promotion because I don't see it mentioned on Logitech's site, was a full copy of Gran Turismo 5: Prologue. If you already have it, then use this copy (if you get one) as a gift I suppose. If you didn't have a copy, you will be so freaking happy they included one, it does the wheel justice while other games don't:

After spending time with this wheel and especially Gran Turismo 5, I would have to say that you cannot review a driving wheel, or al teast this driving wheel, without having a copy of Gran Turismo 5 to test with. The experience is so much better with GT than it is with other "arcade" racers that it's a night-and-day difference. More on that later though under "Driving Experience".

For anyone that has used a force-feedback wheel in the past 10 years, I think the form factor of these things has always been the same. A life-sized steering wheel attached to a tapered base that is fastened to a table or desk of some kind using clamps or grips of some kind; this is very similar:

As you can see the steering wheel reproduces all of the 17 or so buttons you find on a standard PS3 controller. The red wheel and "enter" button on the bottom right can be used for navigation and confirmation as well as in-game adjustments for games that support it (like Gran Turismo 5).

I'm not sure what the split-circle +/- does on the bottom left, I never got it to really do anything in any games.

In addition to the full-sized wheel the base unit includes an integrated shifter. The shifter doesn't have much play up or down as it behaves more like those auto-shifters (flappers) you find on some higher end cars that let you drive in automatic or shift automatically if you want. It just clicks up or down as you are driving and a spring re-centers it when you let go. It doesn't click "up" or "down" into position like a gear shifter, it's more of a toggle action.

Of course you have your pedal plate. I'm a size 11.5" and the plate felt like a nice size, sturdy, good resistence on the brake and gas and my foot never fell off it or slipped off. It's a perfect size.

I did find that the pedals stood upright a bit too vertical, so sitting in a chair and playing, my foot was always cocked up when I was off the gas or break. This made switching from gas to brake with 1 foot uneasy for me and I ended up driving with both feet instead; I just couldn't flip from gas and then cock my foot up enough to clear the brake as I moved it over to the left to push it back down. What ended up happening is that the side of my foot would hit the break as I moved my foot to the left and push the whole pedal pad over.

I would also point out that the pedal pad would be perfect on carpet because it integrates a retractable spike-strip on the bottom of it that can click out, and dig into the carpet. On hard/wood floors like I have, it was moving around a little bit, so I secured it by pushing it up against the table you see in the picture above. I believe there are little rubber feet on it but they don't do as good a job stopping it from moving as the carpet-spike-strip would if it was on carpet.

Keep that in mind if you are on a hard floor and don't have a way to secure it in place, I'm sure putting it on a mat on your hard floor would work fine (like a yoga mat) or something else that will cause it to stay put.

Hooking it all Up
====================================

As with all racing wheels since the dawn of mankind, you fasten the wheel base that everything hooks to, to a table or desk using clamps that tighten to hold it in place:

If you don't have a table or desk that this can be fastened to, you will need to get one if you plan on using this. I lucked out in that our coffee table had a lip on it that I could hook to, but I have a friend that has a low coffee table that he hooked the wheel to that provides a lack-luster driving experience as he is bent over the wheel.

Someone else that came over to try the wheel out didn't have a coffee table at all in front of his TV and was wondering how he would use it; my only comment to him is that he couldn't unless he had something to hook it to.

The base unit is front-heavy with the steering wheel; meaning if you didn't secure it to the table, it would happily fall steering-wheel-first off the table onto the ground. You can't just set it on something and use it; it needs to be clamped down.

Also you will want it attached to something sturdy because you can get to fighting with the force-feedback and turning the wheel and moving quite a bit while racing. This could move whatever you have the wheel attached to in more vibrant racing moments; something I did with our coffee table because it has wheels on it.

For example, if you tried to hook this to a bar stool or something, I don't think that would work out really well.

After getting the base-unit in place, everything plugs to it into sockets in the back of the base-unit, right behind the shifter. You will plug in:

* Power Adapter
* Pedal Plate
* PS3

The wire length between all 3 of these things is pretty liberal, so unless you are trying to spread yourself across your entire living room you should be OK.

The shortest connection is from the pedal plate to the wheel (understandably, since the two will always be near each other) and uses what looks like an old-school COM port connection.

In what I consider the most important connection, the base-unit to the PS3, Logitech was pretty generous. You have a 10' or 11' USB cable to connect to your PS3. In the picture above I am about 10' from the PS3 and that is about as far away as I am going to get without a USB extender.

The power adapter also had a generous lead on it, which I plugged into the wall behind me, about a 5' run total and there was still plenty of slack on that cable.

For those curious, the power adapter is one of those "huge bricks that I have to plug in and will cover a bunch of other plugs" types. The prongs themselves are set high enough on the brick though, that if you are plugging into a wall socket, you can use the top or bottom socket without blocking the other one.

If you are using it on a power strip, I'd suggest making it the last plug off the power strip so it hangs off and doesn't block other plugs cause it will. It's a bit bigger than a deck of cards or there-abouts in size.

Build Quality
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My gut reaction out of the box was "meh" honestly. I have used force-feedback wheels in the past and only once can I remember being impressed with the non-plastic build quality.

However, after using the wheel for a while and playing quite a few games with it, I came to find the build quality above-average. The wheel is solid feeling, it's got a leather-wrap feel to it, the force-feedback is dynamic and consistent and the pedals were sturdy and performed well. If you want to turn the force-feedback up, the wheel can really wrestle with you, so if you like a powerful experience, you can certainly get it with this wheel.

The pedals didn't feel amazing to me out of the box, but playing with them I didn't have any complaints, besides the comment above about how vertical the pedals stand.

The gas is easy to depress but sping-loaded in a firm fashion to make it somewhat hard to push down with your hands. And the brake is firmly spring loaded, but in a smooth, shock-absorber way that makes it satisfying to use and feels more like a real car.

The shifter does feel a little rinky-dink because it's just a plastic knob on a metal pole that is attached to a spring-loaded click-shift mechanism.If you want that tactile feedback, you'll want to get the Logitech G25 Racing Wheel.

If you are a build-quality nut and don't mind paying for you, you really should be looking at the Logitech G25 Racing Wheel; that's more of a direct race-car replica, complete with metal parts, full shifter, clutch, etc. But it's more than twice the price of this wheel (just a warning).

Driving Experience
====================================

First a list of the games we tried (in alphabetical order):

* Burnout Paradise
* Dirt
* Gran Turismo 5: Prologue
* Grid
* MotorStorm
* Nascar '09

The "awesomeness" of this wheel (and I imagine all racing wheels) depends 100%, completely on how well the game you are playing implements it.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2011

2011-01-01T11:37:00.000-08:00

Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 is the 2010-2011 version of Konami's long-running, video game soccer franchise. The tenth release in the series overall, Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 refreshes the popular series by merging the best features that earlier iterations have presented to video game footballers worldwide over the years, along with new features that will carry the franchise into the future. Combined features include: 1,000+ new motions available in-game; unprecedented control over every pass, shot, throw-in; drag-and-drop functionality for team management; the ability to map favorite moves to the analog stick; an online Master League and much, much more.

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Freedom of Play Lifts the Game to New Levels

Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 is here and brings digital soccer to the next level. Central to the heart and soul of PES 2011 is the idea of freedom of play. This freedom invigorates the series with the most advanced set of gameplay improvements ever attempted by the Winning Eleven Production game development team, coupled with the greatest stride in new content. The result is a game that allows total control over every element of play – even online – to give the most lifelike soccer experience next to actually putting on a uniform and taking the field.

Key Game Features
Lionel Messi in the Argentine national uniform splitting an opposing defense in Pro Evolution Soccer 2011
Take total control on the pitch on offense, defense, online or offline.
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* Total Control - PES Productions has enhanced the 360-degree passing ratio, offering unprecedented levels of control over every pass, shot, throw-in, through ball and lofted through balls. Users can pass the ball into space, and move their play with total freedom. Players must precisely weight their passes and second-guess the runs of their teammates and exploit their movement. Players even can apply pressure on opponents to force them off the ball.
* Shot and Stamina Gauge - In addition to the generic power gauge, the Shot and Stamina meter details the player's exact level of fitness. Constantly sprinting will have an adverse affect on performance and statistics.
* New Defender AI - Defenders now hold their positions naturally, instead of chasing balls that enter their area and work to close down the attacker to force mistakes.
* Animation and Player Physics - PES Productions has totally reworked every element of in-game animation. These additions will become clear before even kickoff, with the players enjoying fluid, natural movements, with more realistic acceleration and inertia than ever before. The physicality between players is also improved, which was a priority requested in PES forums. Jostling and blocking now looks stunning, while there is a larger variety of convincing tackling styles. Ambient animation also adds immensely to the in-game atmosphere, as players behave realistically when off the ball, and walk and run with a variety of individual styles.
* Speed of Play - The new level of control means that PES 2011 enjoys a more varied pace of play, which depends on the situation at hand. The game will burst into life as counterattacks come into play, but players can dictate the pace via slow build up or exploiting available space to surge forward. It is harder to make long runs from midfield, and successful play will depend on making quick passes to create space.
* Aesthetics - PES 2010 showcased the best likeness' in a football game, and PES 2011 ups the ante further. Facial animation has been enhanced, but the key advances are over 1000 all-new animations which have been recreated from the ground up using over 100 hours of motion captured footage yielding more organic runs, turns, throw-ins, tackles, and interaction.
* Tactical and Strategy - The PES Productions team has implemented an all new 'Drag and Drop' mechanism that can be used in every aspect of team management. These settings are also animated to promote better understanding of the plays that have been altered.
* Feint settings - PES has always offered a wide range of subtle skills, feints and turns, but PES 2011 allows users to map their favorite move sequences to the right stick, making them more accessible than ever before.
* Master League Online - PES 2011 marks the online debut for its much-loved Master League element, with players bidding against each other for the world's best players, and attempting to build a squad that can compete with the best against online peers all over the globe.

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit

2011-01-01T11:30:00.000-08:00

Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit is a high energy racing game that brings the Need For Speed franchise back to its racing/chasing roots. The game allows players to experience a massive open-world game environment from both the perspective of a racer or a cop bent on shutting down racers. Players on both sides have access to a wide range of real, high-performance vehicles, as well as weapons, equipment and power-ups that heighten the excitement of the race and chase. Additional features include: Need For Speed 'Autolog,' a powerful in-game social media communication system; 1-8 player online support; leaderboards; and PlayStation trophy support.

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A Revolutionary Addition to the NFS Franchise

In Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit players experience the thrill of the chase and the rush of the escape as they play through full careers as both a cop and a racer – solo or connected. The blistering speeds, brutal busts and heart-stopping getaways are all connected via Need for Speed Autolog. This network not only connects friends for epic head-to head pursuits and races, but also enables players to compare performances and stats, thereby setting the stage for the ultimate in friendly competition.
Gameplay

A throwback to earlier games in the series, Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit allows players to experience the thrill of the chase from either the perspective of a racer or the police, with police cars constantly chasing racers. Set along 100 miles of road situated in fictional Seacrest County, the gameworld of Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit is fully open-world, meaning that players can go wherever they want and race or chase whomever they want to. Players have access to a career mode regardless of which side they are on, and police and racers both have access to differing power-ups to give them an extra edge in a pinch. Cars available in-game are realistic replicas the pantheon of high-performance vehicles available in real-life, with cops and racers having equal access to most cars featured, but some being exclusive to either side. Additional features include: Autolog, which allows players to communicate and compare stats via a social media type network, 1-8 player online game support and multiple play modes.
Key Game Features

* Career – For the first time in Need for Speed history, players will experience the gripping and heart-racing action of both cops and racers. Hot Pursuit seamlessly links a tremendously deep and fully-defined single player career with a groundbreaking multiplayer experience across all race modes. In the end, whether playing online with friends, taking on friends challenges or the single player career, players will earn bounty that levels them up and unlocks new cars, weapons and equipment.
* Need For Speed Autolog – In Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit, your friends drive your gameplay experience. Need for Speed Autolog is a revolutionary system that connects friends directly to each other's games, enabling them to compare and share all their experiences, pictures and challenges. Need for Speed Autolog instinctively delivers challenges based on what your friends have been doing, creating a hugely dynamic, socially competitive experience.
* Weapons and Equipment – Enhance the intensity of the pursuit using multiple weapons as the heat level increases during a pursuit. Whether taking down suspects with a variety of cop weapons or using evasion equipment as a racer to outsmart the cops, players will always have a method for gaining an edge over their opponent.
* Cars – Experience the thrill of driving the world's most desirable high performance cars at incredible speeds. Feel the power of busting suspects in supercharged cop interceptors like the Lamborghini Reventon or outsmarting the law as a racer in high-performance supercars like the Pagani Zonda Cinque.
* Multiplayer Support - Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit contains 1-8 player online support as well as leaderboards.

Fallout New Vegas

2010-12-10T07:55:00.000-08:00

Product Features
Platform: PLAYSTATION 3 | Edition: Standard

a. Feel the Heat in New Vegas--Not even nuclear fallout could slow the hustle of Sin City. Explore the vast expanses of the desert wastelands - from the small towns dotting the Mojave Wasteland to the bright lights of the New Vegas strip.
b. Feuding Factions, Colorful Characters and a Host of Hostiles--A war is brewing between rival factions with consequences that will change the lives of all the inhabitants of New Vegas.
c. New Systems--Enjoy new additions to Fallout: Special melee combat moves have been added to bring new meaning to the phrase "up close and personal".
d. An Arsenal of Shiny New Guns--With double the amount of weapons found in Fallout 3, you'll have more than enough new and exciting ways to deal with the threats of the wasteland and the locals.
e. Let it Ride--In a huge, open world with unlimited options you can see the sights, choose sides, or go it alone. Peacemaker or Hard Case, House Rules, or the Wild Card - it's all in how you play the game.

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Experience all the sights and sounds of fabulous New Vegas, brought to you by Vault-Tec, America's First Choice in Post Nuclear Simulation. Explore the treacherous wastes of the Great Southwest from the safety and comfort of your very own vault: Meet new people, confront terrifying creatures, and arm yourself with the latest high-tech weaponry as you make a name for yourself on a thrilling new journey across the Mojave wasteland.

Description:

Welcome to Vegas. New Vegas.
It’s the kind of town where you dig your own grave prior to being shot in the head and left for dead…and that’s before things really get ugly. It’s a town of dreamers and desperados being torn apart by warring factions vying for complete control of this desert oasis. It’s a place where the right kind of person with the right kind of weaponry can really make a name for themselves, and make more than an enemy or two along the way.

As you battle your way across the heat-blasted Mojave Wasteland, the colossal Hoover Dam, and the neon drenched Vegas Strip, you’ll be introduced to a colorful cast of characters, power-hungry factions, special weapons, mutated creatures and much more. Choose sides in the upcoming war or declare “winner takes all” and crown yourself the King of New Vegas in this follow-up to the 2008 videogame of the year, Fallout 3.

Enjoy your stay.

KEY FEATURES:

* Feel the Heat in New Vegas! Not even nuclear fallout could slow the hustle of Sin City. Explore the vast expanses of the desert wastelands – from small desert towns to the New Vegas strip – and see the Great Southwest as could only be imagined in Fallout.

* Feuding Factions, Colorful Characters and a Host of Hostiles! A war is brewing between rival factions that will change the lives of everyone in New Vegas. The choices you make will bring you into contact with friends and foes, and determine the final explosive outcome of this epic power struggle.

* New Systems! Enjoy new additions such as a Companion Wheel that streamlines communication with companions, a Reputation System that tracks your actions, and the aptlytitled Hardcore Mode. Plus, special melee moves and real-time combat mechanics give you new ways to fight.

* An Arsenal of Shiny New Guns! With double the amount of weapons found in Fallout 3, you’ll have more than enough exciting, new ways to deal with the threats of the wasteland. In addition, a new weapons configuration system that lets you tinker with your toys and see the modifications in real time.

* Let it Ride! In a huge, open world with unlimited options you can see the sights, choose sides, or go it alone. Peacemaker or Hard Case, House Rules or the Wild Card – it’s all in how you play the game.

About Bethesda Softworks
Bethesda Softworks, part of the ZeniMax Media Inc. family of companies, is a premier developer and worldwide publisher of interactive entertainment software. Titles from two of the world’s top development studios – Bethesda Game Studios and id Software – are featured under the Bethesda Softworks label and include such blockbuster franchises as DOOM®, QUAKE®, The Elder Scrolls®, Fallout®, Wolfenstein™ and RAGE™. For more information on Bethesda Softworks’ products, visit www.bethsoft.com.

About Obsidian Entertainment
Obsidian Entertainment is an entertainment software development company passionately dedicated to making high quality, next generation games for Windows PC and console systems. Obsidian was founded in 2003 by five game development veterans who've produced, programmed, and/or designed award-winning role playing games for a variety of platforms over the last 15 years. The five founders are: Feargus Urquhart, Chris Parker, Darren Monahan, Chris Avellone and Chris Jones. Many of Obsidian's talented employees have worked on award winning products for organizations such as Black Isle Studios, Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts, Neversoft, and others. Obsidian Entertainment's Web site is located at www.obsidian.net.

ZeniMax, Bethesda Softworks and related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. RAGE, ID, id Software, ID TECH, and related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of id Software LLC in the U.S. and/or other countries. All Rights Reserved.All other trademarks or trade names are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.
Product Description
Welcome to Vegas. New Vegas. It's the kind of town where you dig your own grave prior to being shot in the head and left for dead...and that's before things really get ugly. It's a town of dreamers and desperados being torn apart by warring factions vying for complete control of this desert oasis. It's a place where the right kind of person with the right kind of weaponry can really make a name for themselves, and make more than an enemy or two along the way. As you battle your way across the heat-blasted Mojave Wasteland, the colossal Hoover Dam, and the neon drenched Vegas Strip, you'll be introduced to a colorful cast of characters, power-hungry factions, special weapons, mutated creatures and much more. Choose sides in the upcoming war or declare "winner takes all" and crown yourself the King of New Vegas in this follow-up to the 2008 videogame of the year, Fallout 3. Enjoy your stay.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

2010-12-10T07:48:00.000-08:00

Product Features
Platform: PLAYSTATION 3 | Edition: Standard

* Choose from multiple authentic character classes, each with their own signature weapons and killing moves. With richly-detailed maps and a wide variety of unique multiplayer modes, you'll never fight the same way twice
* As Ezio, a legendary Master Assassin, experience over 15 hours of single player gameplay set in the living, breathing, unpredictable city of Rome
* Recruit and train promising young Assassins. Deploy them across the city as you see fit, or call upon them to aid you in your quests
* Collaborate with real historical characters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Niccolo Machiavelli and Caterina Sforza
* Swiftly eliminate your enemies using tools such as poison darts, parachutes, double hidden blades, hidden guns, and an advanced flying machine at your disposal

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Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is an epic action game for PlayStation 3 set across a blend of present and historical time periods, that places the player in the role of the leader of a Renaissance-era guild of assassins out for vengeance against the remnants of the Knights Templar. Set primarily in Rome, this sequel to the critically acclaimed Assassin's Creed II features returning characters from the previous game and includes new features such as the ability to command members of your guild in combat, a new arsenal of weapons and multiplayer game support in which players can assume different assassin characters.

Story
Live and breathe as Ezio, a legendary Master Assassin, in his enduring struggle against the powerful Templar order. He must journey into Italy’s greatest city, Rome, center of power, greed and corruption to strike at the heart of the enemy. Defeating the corrupt tyrants entrenched there will require not only strength, but leadership, as Ezio commands an entire brotherhood of assassins who will rally to his side. Only by working together can the assassins defeat their mortal enemies and prevent the extinction of their order.

Multiple Ways to Play
Expanding on the game world woven across the first two games in the franchise, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood provides players with multiple ways to play. In single player mode you take on an engrossing campaign playing as Ezio, the hero from Assassin's Creed II, who has now risen to the level of Master Assassin. Here players scour the expansive environment of Renaissance-era Rome, tasked with ridding the Eternal City of the continuing stain of the Templars and in the process ensuring the survival of the guild of assassins. You are not in this alone though. Additional AI members of your guild are at your command, and can be summoned to your aid if need be. In addition to this, for the first time in the Assassin's Creed franchise players can compete with other would-be assassins in multiplayer action. In multiplayer modes players choose from a range of Assassin characters, each with their own backstory, unique weapons and assassination techniques. Choose your assassin character, utilize the virtual reality capabilities of Abstergo Industries' Animus technology and match your skills against other assassins from around the world. There's no time like now to join the Brotherhood.

Deadly Weapons Arsenal
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood features a wide variety of weapons, depending on the mode of play. In single player players primarily utilize Ezio's weapons of choice, the hidden blade and crossbow, while in multiplayer modes players gain access to a wide variety of weapon, depending on the character they choose to play as. Examples of this include: the Axe, wielded by the Executioner; the Fan, used by the Courtesan; the Syringe, the tool by the Doctor; the Dagger, used by the Priest; the Switchblade, carried by the Prowler; and the Claw, used by the Nobleman.

Key Game Features

* As Ezio, a legendary Master Assassin, experience over 15 hours of single player gameplay set in the living, breathing, unpredictable city of Rome.
* Recruit and train promising young Assassins. Deploy them across the city as you see fit, or call upon them to aid you in your quests.
* Collaborate with real historical characters such as Leonardo DA Vinci, Niccolo Machiavelli and Caterina Sforza.
* Use your hard-won currency to revitalize the crumbling capital city. Rally the citizens to your cause and unlock extra factions and missions.
* Swiftly eliminate your enemies using tools such as poison darts, parachutes, double hidden blades, hidden guns, and an advanced flying machine at your disposal.
* Choose from multiple authentic character classes, each with their own signature weapons and killing moves. With richly-detailed maps and a wide variety of unique multiplayer modes, you’ll never fight the same way twice.

Product Description
Live and breathe as Ezio, a legendary Master Assassin, in his enduring struggle against the powerful Templar Order. He must journey into Italy’s greatest city, Rome, center of power, greed and corruption to strike at the heart of the enemy. Defeating the corrupt tyrants entrenched there will require not only strength, but leadership, as Ezio commands an entire Brotherhood who will rally to his side. Only by working together can the Assassins defeat their mortal enemies and prevent the extinction of their Order. And for the first time, introducing a never-before-seen multiplayer layer that allows you to choose from a wide range of Assassin characters, each with their own unique weapons and assassination techniques, and match your skills against other Assassins from around the world. It’s time to join the Brotherhood.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

2010-12-10T07:38:00.000-08:00

Call of Duty: Black Ops is a first-person shooter with stealth and tactical play aspect that puts players in the role of a shadow soldier fighting in a variety of historically representative fictional Black Ops missions of the Cold War era. Created with the input of actual Black Ops soldiers from the time, the game mixes traditional Call of Duty tactical shooter gameplay with new gameplay options designed to expand the players' experience. Additional features include extensive multiplayer options, along with new vehicles and explosive new weapons

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Putting Out the Hotspots of the Cold War
Follow-up to 2009’s blockbuster Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops breaks new ground in the Call of Duty series and the video game industry at large by delving into the not-so cold conflicts of the Cold War.

Black Ops solidier with face in shadow from Call of Duty: Black Ops
Relive the Cold War COD style.
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Inspired by the experiences of real Black Ops soldiers of the era, the missions of Call of Duty: Black Ops take the player to a wide variety of settings, ranging from snowbound mountain strongholds in historical Soviet held territories, to the jungles and urban settings of Vietnam War era SE Asia. Throughout all, care has been taken to maintain the traditional essence of Call of Duty style combat, while also introducing new types of player action that add to the gameplay experience. Additional features include co-op, versus and team-based multiplayer options, new vehicles like the SR-71 Blackbird and lethal new weapons such as explosive-tipped crossbows.

Key Game Features

* Seventh installment of the Call of Duty series, based on the live fire conflicts of the Cold War era.
* Diverse variety of play setting ranging from urban air and ground combat in SE Asia, to snow combat in Soviet region and jungle combat.
* Blending of traditional COD, and new first-person character scenarios designed to both retain the essence of the COD gaming experience and ensure constantly flowing and varied action.
* New arsenal of weapons and vehicles tied to the Cold War era, including the SR-71 Blackbird and sited explosive-tipped crossbows.
* Wide array of play modes including single player, local multiplayer versus and online co-op and multiplayer.

3-D Game Features

* Fully playable in stereoscopic 3D: the game will be compatible with 3D-ready HDTVs and 3D PCs utilizing state-of-the-art active shutter 3D glasses, delivering true depth of field and an unprecedented level of immersion that is perfectly suited for the Call of Duty action experience.
* Awesome 3D experiences: aim down the sights of your weapons, fly in helicopters, rappel down mountains, move through highly detailed environments and more.
* The experience is seamless to use with a simple menu option to enable stereoscopic 3D or disable it at any time whether playing in the single player campaign, multiplayer or Zombie mode.
* Playable in both 3D and non-3D on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Call of Duty: Black Ops for Windows PC is NVIDIA(R) 3D Vision(R)-Ready and supports stereoscopic 3D gaming using 3D Vision active-shutter glasses and NVIDIA GeForce GPUs. For Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system consoles, 3D features require a compatible 3D-ready HD TV.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

2010-03-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

Other products by ACTIVISION :Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Product Features
Platform: PLAYSTATION 3 | Edition: Standard

Epic single-player campaign picks up immediately following the thrilling events from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
The definitive multiplayer experience returns, with a host of new perks and enhancements
New cooperative SpecOps mode, the perfect combination of Modern Warfare's single player intensity and the addictive replayability of its multiplayer
Special Ops Mode allows two players, either alone or with a friend, to engage in unique mission play and features split-screen functionality.
Modern Warfare 2¿ contains new and updated weapons, new weapons attachments, and a variant of the multiplayer weapons customization system from `Call of Duty 4¿, now available in the single player campaign.

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Modern Warfare 2 is a first-person tactical shooter and the sixth entry in the popular Call of Duty series. True to its name and following the lead of its predecessor, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, it places players in modern combat settings, as opposed to the WWII environments of the earlier Call of Duty games. This modern approach brings with it new weapons, action and options. Coupled with a variety of gameplay modes including single player, multiplayer and the co-op Special Ops Mode, it is destined to be one of the most popular games of 2009 and a worthy addition to the Call of Duty series.

Story
The storyline of Modern Warfare 2 picks up where the events of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare left off. The ultranationalist Russian leader Zakhaev has been eliminated, but it seems that his lieutenant, Vladimir Makarov, is an even bigger danger. Having made a successful play for power, Intel indicates that he is extending the reach of his influence well beyond the borders of Mother Russia, causing a stir in the international community and prompting the involvement of Task Force 141. Task Force 141 is an elite multinational unit made up of Navy Seals, Delta Force operatives, British SAS and CIA. In the single player campaign you are Sergeant Gary "Roach" Sanderson, with the hero of Call of Duty 4, "Soap" MacTavish, promoted to Captain, making an appearance as an NPC (non-player character) and your commanding officer. The elimination of Makarov and his underlings at any cost is your number one priority, regardless where the fight occurs.

Gameplay
The latest release in arguably the most successful tactical first-person shooter franchise of all-time, gameplay in Modern Warfare 2 follows the same winning and time-tested structure of earlier games in the series. In the single player campaign players are aided by AI squad members as they take on a series of missions aimed at eliminating Ultranationalist forces. Each mission is built around a particular objective, with players utilizing some level of guidance from NPC characters, including "Soap" MacTavish, and aided in navigation by the game's heads up display (HUD). Along the way players will be able to utilize a wide variety of weaponry and and vehicles, as well as be able to customize weapons with gadgets attached to them.

Endless Ocean: Blue World

2010-03-07T19:35:00.000-08:00

Other products by Nintendo :Endless Ocean: Blue World

Product Features

The ocean is teeming with life. Hundreds of real-life species are there to be discovered, from seahorses to giant whales.
Are the local fish sick or agitated? Players can view their health status and then use a tranquilizer-like tool to zap the ones in need of rehab with healing energy.
The game also includes a storyline that players can follow as they choose. The plot involves Oceana, a woman who investigates the ¿Dragon¿s Song,¿ which her father, a prominent ocean explorer, was searching for just before his death.
While at Nine Ball Island, players can become friends with a dolphin and teach it some new tricks. When ona dive, players can even bring along the dolphin, which players can hold onto for extra fast swimming.
For the first time in the series, friends who have broadband Internet access can connect and dive with one another via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection, while using the Wii Speak¿ microphone to converse.

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Journey into the blue once again with this Wii game where players get to explore the ocean and interact with its sealife. Endless Ocean: Blue World builds on the ocean experience first introduced with Endless Ocean™.While the last game emphasized relaxation, this one is designed with more adventure in mind. Divers might find themselves escaping from or calming down attacking sharks, exploring shipwrecks or finding treasure. Endless Ocean: Blue World also has more creatures and improved graphics designed to fully immerse players in an ocean environment that they can freely explore at their own pace.

Synopsis
Dive back into the Blue again! Endless Ocean 2 will take you on a relaxing adventure where you'll discover ancient ruins, treasure, exotic reefs and much more. Not only will you get the benefits of an enhanced graphical look, but you'll also have the opportunity to meet more marine life and even run into dangerous situations. Best of all, this time around you wont have to do it alone! Nintendo's Wii Speak technology allows you to connect online with a friend or family member to communicate and dive together. So don't forget your diving buddy!

Key Game Features:

The ocean is teeming with life. Hundreds of real-life species are there to be discovered, from seahorses to giant whales.
Are the local fish sick or agitated? Players can view their health status and then use a tranquilizer-like tool to zap the ones in need of rehab with healing energy.
The game also includes a storyline that players can follow as they choose. The plot involves Oceana, a woman who investigates the “Dragon’s Song,” which her father, a prominent ocean explorer, was searching for just before his death.
While at Nine Ball Island, players can become friends with a dolphin and teach it some new tricks. When ona dive, players can even bring along the dolphin, which players can hold onto for extra fast swimming.
For the first time in the series, friends who have broadband Internet access can connect and dive with one another via Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection, while using the Wii Speak™ microphone to converse.
Players: 1, 2 via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection

Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition

2010-03-07T19:29:00.000-08:00

by Capcom :Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition

Product Features
Platform: Xbox 360

Features new modernized third-person action game control variations as well as the return of the traditional Resident Evil 4 control schemes.
Gold Edition extras including all of the original content, two new episodes, four new costumes, an updated Mercenaries Mode and online RE5 versus mode.
Two playable characters in the standard campaigns, including new character Sheva Alomar, an African BSAA agent tasked with investigating the epidemic.
New cooperatively-focused gameplay that revolutionizes the way that Resident Evil is played. Chris and Sheva must work together to survive new challenges and fight dangerous hordes of enemies.
Quick-Select inventory system that allows items to be traded between characters. To add to the intensity, all inventory management is done in real time; items can even be assigned to the directional pad for instant access.

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Experience the thrill and terror of the infamous Resident Evil franchise like never before with the Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition. Featuring Chris Redfield of the original Resident Evil and new partner Sheva Alomar, a West African agent of the Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance (BSAA), this sci-fi action/survival game is packed with hordes of fast-moving, quick-thinking enemies that represent a whole new breed of unimaginable undead evil. The Gold Edition features every exciting play option found in the initial releases of the game, including two-player co-op, powerful new weapons and real-time inventory management between players, but also includes all RE5 console version download content released to date. This includes new episodes and costumes, an improved Mercenaries Mode, and online versus mode.

Story
From the ashes of old conflicts, a new terror arises. The Umbrella Corporation and its crop of lethal viruses have been destroyed and contained, but a new, more dangerous threat has emerged. Years after surviving the events in Raccoon City, Chris Redfield has been fighting the scourge of bio-organic weapons all over the world. Now a member of the Bio-terrorism Security Assessment Alliance (B.S.A.A.), Chris is sent to Africa to investigate a biological agent that is transforming the populace into aggressive and disturbing creatures. Joined by local BSSA agent, Sheva Alomar, the two must work together to solve the truth behind the disturbing turn of events.

Exciting Two-Player Co-op Mode
The new cooperative gameplay element focuses on the realities of a dual-agent mission, highlighting the ways in which Redfield and Alomar must work together to survive the unexpected, while still allowing them to split up and work alone. To help you maximize the potential of this setup, two-player online and offline co-op modes ensure that you have options when aligning yourself with a partner.

Dragon Age: Origins

2010-03-06T10:19:00.000-08:00

Other products by Electronic Arts :Dragon Age: Origins

Platform: PLAYSTATION 3 | Edition: Standard

* Scalable combat options that let you decide the level of control you have over your party, including NPCs. Issue orders, set your own tactical AI, or take control of any party member to lead the charge.
* 6 possible playable preludes known as ‘Origin Stories’ which along with your play, define how your hero character will see the world, how it sees you and sets the tone for the entire story.
* Travel across the vast and varied lands of Ferelden; from the conspiratorial halls of the last great dwarven city, Orzammar, to the untamed snarls of the Korcari Wilds.
* Dragon Age: Origins will give you deep character customization options including: class, race, appearance, abilities, and equipment.
* At the heart of the storm sweeping across Ferelden. Decide the fate of nations, people and, ultimately, yourself. Just remember: for every choice, there is a consequence.

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Gameplay
Dragon Age: Origins is a 3D oriented RPG based in a dark, heroic, fantasy realm where moral choices have a lasting impression on the people you meet, the members of your own party and the world around you. The inclusion of subtitle "Origins" in the game's title refers to the six unique origin stories available to new heroes as a new game begins. Each of these has an impact on the player's motivations and his or her experience, and renders a unique prelude, path, and possible ending(s) to the game. There are many different endings to the game based on the origin story of the character and the choices you make as you play through the game. The game features three character classes--warrior, mage, and rogue--and three races of being--Human, Elf or Dwarf--that can assume these classes. Although most game elements, such as weapons, magic, etc., are available to any character, each class and race has different strengths, abilities and affinities which lend themselves to better utilizing different elements.

Story
In Dragon Age: Origins the survival of humanity rests in the hands of those chosen by fate. You are a Grey Warden, one of the last of an ancient order of guardians who have defended the lands on the continent of Thedas throughout the centuries. Betrayed by a trusted general in a critical battle, you must hunt down the traitor and bring him to justice. As you fight your way towards the final confrontation with an evil nemesis, you will face monstrous foes and engage in epic quests to unite the disparate peoples of a world at war. A romance with a seductive shapeshifter may hold the key to victory, or she may be a dangerous diversion from the heart of your mission. To be a leader, you must make ruthless decisions and be willing to sacrifice your friends and loved ones for the greater good.

Kingdom of Paradise

2008-09-24T22:29:00.000-07:00

Product Features

a. Create your own martial arts style by combining more than 150 skills, yielding countless combinations.
b. Easy to control with simple one-button operation, unleashing deadly sword actions.

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c. Download new shields, skills and a sword via Infrastructure Mode to develop your swordsmanship skills.
d. Show off and exchange your skills with wireless connectivity using AdHoc mode.
e. Expand your arsenal of moves by finding and collecting various skills as you progress.

PlayStation 3 80 GB Metal Gear Solid 4 Pack

2008-07-28T05:06:00.000-07:00

Product Features

a. "Metal Gear Solid 4" game
b. DualShock 3 Controller
c. Voucher for free downloadable "Pain" game
d. Blu-ray player
e. 80 GB storage capacity

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As DVD playback made the PlayStation 2 more than just a game machine, hefty multi-media features make the Sony PlayStation 3 an even more versatile home entertainment machine. Features such as video chat, Internet access, digital photo viewing, and digital audio and video will likely make it the central component of your media set-up. Still, it is first and foremost a game console--a powerful one at that. Now you can own this powerful console and start playing the most anticipated game of the year, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, right out of the box!

Under the Hood of the PS3
The PS3 features IBM's "Cell" processor and a co-developed Nvidia graphics processor that makes the system able to perform two trillion calculations per second. That's approximately 320 times more calculations per second than the PS2. Along with the traditional AV and composite connections, it also boasts an HDMI port, which delivers uncompressed, unconverted digital picture and sound to compatible high-definition TV and projectors. The system is capable of 128-bit pixel precision and 1080p resolution for a full HD experience.

Grand Theft Auto San Andreas

2008-06-20T21:34:00.000-07:00

Product Description
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Greatest Hits brings back the incredible action of the hit game series. Carl Johnson left the San Andreas neighborhood of Los Santos five years ago, when it was being ripped apart by drugs and gang violence. When he returns in the early 90s, his mother has been killed, his family has fallen apart and his childhood friends are criminals. When crooked cops frame him for murder, he decides to save himself and his family by taking over the streets. Advanced role-playing elements -- Unlike previous GTA characters, Carl can swim and he needs to eat to survive Side missions help develop skills that come into play later -- from working out at the gym to gambling in a casino Features well-known actors voicing characters including Samuel L. Jackson, comedian David Cross, Andy Dick, and rapper Ice-T Soundtrack includes Dr. Dre and Tupac Shakur

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Product Features

a. Drive through the largest GTA environment ever -- The game has three cities players can explore, for a gaming area 5 times larger than Vice City
b. Recruit new characters into a street gang and take over by leading drive-by shootings against rivals Steal all-new vehicles, including bicycles
c. Improved fighting elements -- smoother hand-to-hand combat, plus the ability to hold a weapon in each hand
d. New graphics elements as cars get dirty and even rust, the longer you drive them
e. Advanced role-playing elements -- Unlike previous GTA characters, Carl can swim and he needs to eat to survive

Grand Theft Auto IV

2008-06-20T21:24:00.000-07:00

What does the American Dream mean today?

For Niko Bellic, fresh off the boat from Europe, it is the hope he can escape his past. For his cousin, Roman, it is the vision that together they can find fortune in Liberty City, gateway to the land of opportunity. As they slip into debt and are dragged into a criminal underworld by a series of shysters, thieves and sociopaths, they discover that the reality is very different from the dream in a city that worships money and status, and is heaven for those who have them and a living nightmare for those who don’t.

Beginning with the 1997 release of the original Grand Theft Auto, the GTA series has been one of the most prolific, controversial and down right entertaining franchises in video games history. This pedigree of success guarantees that the highly anticipated eleventh game in the series, Grand Theft Auto IV, will garner at least as much attention if not more.

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he Plot
Grand Theft Auto IV is a brand new adventure in the GTA universe following the experiences of Nikolai "Niko" Bellic, a new immigrant from an undisclosed eastern European country whose troubled pa st and the persuasion of his cousin Roman have brought him to the fictional Liberty City. Unfortunately, Niko’s search for the American Dream and a much needed fresh start, hits an immediate snag when the rags to riches story Roman spun to pique Niko's interest is exposed as not only a complete fabrication, but a ploy to enlist Niko’s well-known skills as a tough guy against the ample list of enemies clamoring for Roman’s debt-ridden blood.

Because Roman is the only person Niko knows in Liberty City he begrudgingly accepts his role as Roman’s protector despite the deception. But as time goes on Niko comes into his own, and his experience on the wrong side of the tracks proves more valuable than he could have ever imagined as he fights for survival and later supremacy on the crime ridden streets of Liberty City.

Game Environments
Based on several of the boroughs of New York City and parts of New Jersey, Liberty City, familiar to players of previous games in the series, has been entirely redesigned for GTA IV. Players can expect visible detail down to the weeds growing in the cracks in the sidewalk, cars and buildings of visibly different ages and a much greater level if verticality in the buildings and bridges that they are able to explore as Niko moves through the city streets. In addition, pedestrians in GTA IV are much more realistic. No longer simply moving cardboard cutouts, these NPCs are intelligent, modern, human representations that laugh, cry, eat, drink, use cell phones and ATMs, and talking amongst themselves regardless of Niko’s interaction with them.

Gameplay
Historically GTA games have focused heavily on mission-based play, requiring successful completion of fixed tasks in order for players to progress through the game, but this has changed to a great extent in GTA IV. Players will experience an entirely new and exciting emphasis centered on the blending of on-mission and off-mission play, resulting not only in an increased sense of realism, but more interesting and unrestricted gameplay.

Features
Aside from the car jacking and a detailed city environment here are the new features for GTA IV:

1. Improved combat system - Now you can use cover and also a target lock system, which allows you to take out targets with greater ease and accuracy. Plus, you can engage in some hand-to-hand combat if you can't get your hands on a piece quick enough.
2. Cell phone - Not just for basic phone calls anymore. Use your in-game cell phone to receive missions via SMS, snap photos, and ZiT (tag) songs that can be downloaded exclusively on Amazon.com/mp3.
3. Free time - In between missions you can take advantage of "me" time. There are gentleman's clubs, comedy clubs, bowling alleys, and bars, which all house unique activities.
4. Take a break from the storyline - A variety of side missions allow you to help run a car service, "borrow" cop cars, assassinate targets, help solve problems for those on the street, or take to the air with stunt jumps that are scattered all over the city.
5. Control your own fate - Throughout the game choice moments will arrive causing you to make a decision that will affect relationships and money.

Multiplayer
Give Niko a rest and create your own multiplayer "hero." GTA has added multiplayer modes allowing you to take your creation out to play online in competitive, co-op, and free form modes. Competitive mode has you fighting against the cops, jacking cars, or racing to finish odd jobs. Co-op challenges you and your friends with various tasks including Hangman's NOOSE where you are responsible for escorting a wanted kingpin to a safe extraction point. Freeform lets you and 15 others lose on Liberty City. Use this mode to hit up the bar and play virtual darts versus each other or head out to the streets and set up your own drag races. If you can dream it, you can do it in Freeform mode.

ZiT: We'll Spot The Song For You
When playing Grand Theft Auto IV, if you hear a song that you are interested in buying as an MP3, all you have to do is dial ZiT-555-0100 on your in-game mobile phone and a text message will be sent to you with the name of the artist and the title of the track. The next time you log in at the Rockstar Games Social Club, you will find 30-second previews of all the songs you have ZiT'ed while playing the game. You can add them to your basket there and click to purchase at Amazon MP3, or you can find them all at www.amazon.com/gtamusic.

God of War

2008-06-20T21:21:00.000-07:00

Product Features

a. Fight for your life against creatures taken from Greek mythology
b. Challenging puzzles and incredible platform levels - Scale walls and mountains, and head out to sea -- all while facing hundreds of deadly opponents
c. Face off against multiple foes in unbelievable situations - from a demonic temple to the high seas
d. Collect magic and upgrades to upgrade your swords and give you incredible powers and a near-unlimited variety of new attacks
e. Amazing graphics bring the slaughter and carnage of Kratos' quest to vivid, terrible life

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Product Description
Unleash the power of the Gods and embark on a merciless quest as Kratos, an ex-Spartan warrior driven to destroy Ares, the God of War. Armed with lethal double chainblades, Kratos must carve through mythology's darkest creatures - including Medusa, Cyclops, the Hydra and more, while solving intricate puzzles in breathtaking environments. Driven by pure revenge, nothing can stop Kratos from achieving absolution.

Tenchu DS:Dark Secret

2008-06-20T21:17:00.000-07:00

Product Features

a. Strike at a friend!: Prove your mettle with the metal by challenging friends to a local wireless multiplayer match! Tenchu: Dark Secret boasts three unique modes and a whole host of options to keep each match fresh and fun. Whether you're creeping through a bamboo forest to imbed a dagger in your friend's back or setting a trap to steal his precious dumplings, you're going to need a towel to wipe the sweat from your hands!
b. Shop Online!: New a new bamboo trap? Short on shurikins? Just hop online! Tenchu: Dark Secret allows players to buy, sell and trade items via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. You can choose to transact with either friends or strangers.

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Rikimaru and Ayame, mainstay ninjas for Lord Gohda, return in another Tenchu adventure. This time, they're tasked to rescue a princess who has escaped from the clutches of her evil husband. They soon found themselves trapped in a village surrounded by enemies who're after the girl. To get out of the situation, the ninjas will have to rebuild the village by performing over 30 missions in and around the village.

The above, in a nutshell, tells the story of Tenchu: Dark Secret, another obligatory big-name arrival onto the dual screens of the DS. Unfortunately, while challenging stealth sequences and sweet attacking moves are commonly associated with Tenchu on various consoles before this, its DS counterpart doesn't exactly enact the same kind of adulation. True enough, Dark Secret tries to make you do a lot of things, especially with the variety of items that you can use to inflict pain on your enemies. However, weak enemies undermine that intention, and supposedly highly skilled ninjas in the game end up becoming one-trick ponies, simply because the enemies just aren't worth their salt.

The half-baked enemies in Dark Secret are a result of some fundamental gameplay issues. If you didn't already know, the Tenchu series adds stealth elements to the traditional ninja action genre. Quietly taking out your enemies is therefore part and parcel of the game. Now, if you've played a stealth action game, you would have experience the pressure of patiently waiting for the right moment to kill an enemy. Where should you hide so that he won't see you? When will he turn his back towards you so that you can sneak up for a kill? Will he do a sudden u-turn when you're sneaking up? All these experiences ensure that you will get a sense of achievement when you successfully perform a kill. Sad to say, these stuffs are almost non-existent in Dark Secret.

While the game still encourages stealth play (you get more points if you remain invisible throughout a level), the horrendous AI means that you will most probably breeze through the levels with ease. To put it bluntly, the enemies in Dark Secret are either too blind, or too stupid. They seem to have mastered the art of being oblivious to the surroundings, and will not notice your presence even when you are standing right beside them. The enemies' span of movement is also very limited. In the unfortunate event that you do get noticed, you can easily retreat to a far away area for hiding. The guards will usually let you go, and will forget that you even existed when you resume your sneak attack. As a result, despite the game's wide array of inventory at your disposal, you'd find no incentive to use them.

Nevertheless, if you want to derive more fun from this title, you may still want to try out these items, which are categorized by types. A trap type item like bamboo traps, for example, can be laid in the path of an unassuming enemy. A trick type item like a poison dumpling, for example, is commonly used with the intention to immobilize an opponent temporarily. A projectile like the shuriken is often used for attacking someone from a distance. You can also combine the use of items to create combo attacks. For example, a directional timed-bomb can be used to propel an enemy towards a desired direction. By placing another trap in that direction before hand, you can inflict further damages on the unsuspecting victim. Sadly, the weak AI puts all these good ideas to waste - why should you bother to lay a trap when you can easily slash these buggers till eternity?

To be fair, the game does attempt to make you kill your enemies with different methods. It has a reasonable selection of enemy types, including bandits, samurais, rival ninjas (in both gender), crazy bears (!) and the occasional bosses. Whenever you effectively kill one of them, you will "collect" a picture for your Kill Gallery. For example, if you laid a bamboo trap on a crazy bear, and successfully killed it, the picture will show the poor bear being "bamboo-ed" to death, together with the Japanese/ Chinese character "Pierced". Since there're many ways to kill an enemy, a completist may find it compelling to collect all these pictures by experimenting on these many ways to kill. Some of these methods are easy to achieve, while others are a little trickier. For example, I accidentally killed a bandit when he stepped onto my bamboo trap, and jumped in pain into the water. He eventually drowned to death, earning me a "Drowned" picture in the process. These pictures can also be sold in exchange for money, so that you can buy items from the shop. If you don't intend to do so, you can use materials that you collect during the missions to create these items. You'll have to learn to make items though, and the learning process usually takes place after you rescue a villager who has the skill in making a certain item.

These distractions aside, Dark Secret is essentially just an average game. The experience is further made worst by the lack of variety in the missions, which can be summed up in one sentence: kill everyone in sight. You may be asked to protect a villager, or prevent enemies from invading your territory, or infiltrate an area, or kill a boss. Regardless of the mission purpose, you will end up killing whoever you see on the map anyway. After half an hour of going through the motion, you will probably be glad that each level takes at most five minutes to complete.

The game also utilizes the double screens of the DS effectively. The fighting action takes place on the top screen, which is also used for cut-scenes. The touch screen will usually show a handy map during a level, interrupted only when you earn a Kill Gallery picture. During a cut-scene, the touch screen also shows the written text, which makes up the bulk of the story-telling. On the topic of cut-scenes, you may want to note that they are presented in manga-style static drawings. I believe that most people would prefer cinematic cut-scenes, but I find this approach rather refreshing, even though some may call it cheap. The over-the-top brush stroke writings also provided a nice wuxia feel to the overall presentation.

It's therefore a pity that the in-game graphics pale in comparison. The action appears pixelated, and the landscape doesn't alter from a very limited selection of maps. If the game wants you to go through the motion for 30+ missions, it should at least provide more diversified environments for you to do so. The audios in Dark Secret aren't any impressive as well. The game uses some random Japanese-style music in an attempt to match the Ninja theme, but they end up sounding boring and forgettable. Voice-overs are limited to unintelligible groans and moans, and sound effects are so standard that you won't notice them.

Like many games in the market right now, Tenchu: Dark Secret has also multiplayer and online features. A Wi-Fi marketplace, which provides the opportunity for you to trade items online, is included. The game also has a multicard versus feature that allows up to four players to participate wirelessly in some mini-games. If you really enjoy stealing rice dumplings from your friends, this would be a chance to boost your dumplings count. Otherwise, the features feel rather run of the mill, and are not exactly inspiring.

To summarize, I'm rather disappointed by the quality of this game. It isn't exactly a failure, but it just didn't produce a more engaging playthrough. The game shows some good potential with its inventory system, but it wasted it away by being lazy with the other aspects of gameplay. If you are a Tenchu fan, the best way to approach this game is to treat it as if it had never happened.

Tenchu: Return from Darkness for Xbox

2008-06-20T21:13:00.000-07:00

Product Features

a. Collect weapons, from traditional ninja swords to ranged weapons -- use them wisely to accomplish your goals, in multiple deadly missions
b. Immersive stealth-based action as you try to approach your enemies as silently as possible, moving in for the kill, and escaping without being seen
c. Earn new abilities and fighting combos as you advance through levels filled with espionage, theft, and assassination
d. New spells like the blinding magic and the viper potion enhance your ability to attack&disappear
e. Battle it out in beautifully rendered levels, including a two exclusive to Xbox - a samurai mansion and a deserted pagoda

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When evil reemerges, so must those who silence it. The violent rebellion and civil strife that have torn through the heart of 16th century Japan appear to be drawing to a close. Also coming to an end is the Azuma ninja clan's year of mourning in honor of the tragic death of Rikimaru. Alas, this long-awaited serenity may be short-lived.

The mysterious Tenrai has begun a quest to conquer the country by amassing an army of ninjas and lords of darkness. Your master, Lord Gohda, has called upon you, a cunning stealth assassin, to stop Tenrai and his disciples before all is lost. Live by honor. Kill by stealth.

Features:

a. Experience online stealth ninja action via Xbox Live, playing with a friend in 2-player co-op mode featuring all-new stealth kills or choose from 20 playable characters and go head to head in Death Match mode.
b. Take advantage of all-new abilities and tools. Drag and hide dead bodies to avoid detection or use ninja mind control to make your enemies turn against each other or commit suicide. New unlockable abilities include being able to camouflage yourself against a wall and an emergency evasion move that you can use to escape an enemy's combo attack. New grand master items include a viper drink that makes you 3 times stronger and a flash bomb that makes everyone within range dizzy.
c. Complete unique mission objectives, including espionage, theft and assassination. Uniquely crafted levels allow you to determine the most efficient way to achieve your mission goals. Multiple game endings-based on your earlier decisions in the game and unique enemy placements-keep bringing you back for more.
d. Explore 11 incredibly detailed levels, including 2 new single-player maps, Samurai Mansion and Deserted Pagoda Temple, featuring realistic lighting and weather effects, breakable items and authentic character animations.
e. Master new combo attacks, including stealth and jumping moves, played out in breathtakingly gory detail via an improved fighting engine. Take the role of 3 characters-Rikimaru, Ayame and one unlockable character-utilizing over 20 authentic ninja weapons and tools. Earn new abilities and combos by racking up stealth kills. Improved gameplay balance with re-tuned enemy AI and new enemy and item placement force you to think on your feet.
f. Pair up in 6 multiplayer levels with 2 mission modes: cooperative team-oriented missions and death match mode where you and a friend sneak up on each other as opposing ninjas.
g. Enjoy 2 exclusive new functions for hardcore or novice players. The Restart function allows you to restart a mission with all the items previously collected. The Continue function, designed for novice players, alleviates the frustration of dying early in pitfalls and having to return to the beginning of a mission.

Product Description
Tenchu: Return From Darkness is an updated and expanded version of the incredible Tenchu: Wrath Of Heaven. Advanced graphics, superior AI and all-new gaming features bring the adventures of Ayama and Rikimaru to life. Follow the trails of criminals and traitors, and strike from the shadows, destroying all who stand in your way! Extra maps, new cut-scenes and Xbox Live capability with 2 player co-op gameplay

Tenchu: Fatal Shadows

2008-06-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

Product Features

1. Kill multiple enemies at once with new and improved stealth kill combos
2. Play as either Ayame or Rin, collecting weapons and items for more powerful attacks and defense
3. Avoid detection by moving bodies and swim under the cover of water out of enemy site
4. Three gameplay modes, 18 levels, refined gameplay mechanics and tons of unlockables

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Tenchu Z

2008-06-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

Product Features

a. Experience enhanced ninja play with the Ki meter
b. Enlist the help of fellow ninjas
c. Master the new stealth kill system

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Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga

2008-06-20T20:59:00.000-07:00

Product Features

a. Play through the events of all 6 Star Wars movies in 1 videogame for the first time ever
b. Solve puzzles that encourage creative thinking through the use of teamwork and unique building situations
c. New characters bring the total count to over 160; upgraded Character Customizer
d. Enhanced Force powers; new power-ups; new Challenge mode; revamped levels
e. Wii version provides motion-sensitive inputs for exciting new ways to control the LEGO Star Wars characters

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Building on the success of both LEGO Star Wars "block-buster" videogames, LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga enables families to play through the events of all six Star Wars movies in one videogame for the first time ever.

Features:

a. Families can commemorate the 30th anniversary of Star Wars by playing through the events of all six Star Wars movies in one videogame for the first time ever.
b. Solve puzzles that encourage creative thinking through the use of teamwork and unique building situations only possible in a LEGO galaxy far, far away.
c. Adds new levels, new characters, and new features to the fun, creativity, and tongue-in-cheek humor that made LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game and LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy such huge hits.
d. New levels, such as Episode II's never-before-played high-speed pursuit of bounty-hunter Zam Wessell, further complete the entire Star Wars story.
e. New playable characters like Watto, Zam Wessell, Boss Nass, and more bring the total count to over 160.
f. The upgraded Character Customizer includes all Prequel Trilogy characters for the first time, while also expanding its customization options well beyond those in LEGO Star Wars II, for millions more possibilities. Create cross-Trilogy mash-up characters like Han Windu and Lando Amidala.
g. New game features include enhanced Force powers, new power-ups, and a new Challenge mode.
h. Levels from the original LEGO Star Wars are revamped to meet the gameplay evolutions of LEGO Star Wars II.
i. The Wii version provides motion-sensitive inputs that give you exciting new ways to control your LEGO Star Wars characters.

Product Description
Building on the success of both Lego Star Wars videogames, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga enables families to play through the events of all six Star Warsmovies in one videogame for the first time ever. Developer Traveller's Tales has brought the action to the Nintendo Wii, with motion-sensitive inputs that give you exciting new ways to control your Lego Star Wars characters, while also adding new characters, new levels and new features. The upgraded Character Customizer includes all Prequel Trilogy characters for the first time, while also expanding its customization options well beyond those in Lego Star Wars II, for millions more possibilities. Create cross-Trilogy mash-up characters like Han Windu and Lando Amidala. New game features include enhanced Force powers, new power-ups, and a new Challenge Mode. Levels from the original Lego Star Wars are revamped to meet the gameplay evolutions of Lego Star Wars II. ESRB Rated E10 for gamers aged 10 and up.

Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

2008-06-20T20:54:00.000-07:00

Product Features

a. Mario and Sonic, 2 of the most beloved icons in the world, join forces for the first time, at the Olympic games
b. Play as or against a range of familiar characters including Mario, Sonic, Luigi, Knuckles, Yoshi, Tails, and more
c. Select favorite playing style with 4 player types to choose from--all-around, technical, speed, and power
d. Compete in stylized Olympic venues; choose from track and field, archery, skeet shooting, table tennis, gymnastics, and more
e. Single Match, Circuit, and Mission modes; unlockable stages; up to 4 players can play together on the Wii

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Two of the most beloved icons in the world, Mario and Sonic, are joining forces to star in Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games. Developed exclusively for the Wii video game system and the Nintendo DS system, this momentous agreement marks the first time these two renowned stars have appeared together in a game.

Featuring an all-star cast of characters from the amazing worlds of both Mario and Sonic, players will be able to compete as or against a range of familiar characters including Mario, Sonic, Luigi, Knuckles, Yoshi, Tails, and more. Innovative usage of the Wii and DS control systems to maneuver your favorite character will allow players to race the likes of Mario and Sonic down the 100m track, leap over the high jump, or churn water in a swimming heat, all while competing for the much sought-after Olympic gold medal. With up to four players on the Wii and on the DS, the stage is set to catch the fever this holiday with Mario and Sonic.

Features:

1. Compete in stylized Olympic venues with authentic sports and events to choose from including track and field, archery, skeet shooting, table tennis, gymnastics, and more.
2. Select your favorite playing style from the all-star cast of Mario and Sonic characters with four player types to choose from: all-around, technical, speed, and power. Examples: Mario (All-around), Peach (Technical), Yoshi (Speed), Bowser (Power), Sonic (Speed), Knuckles (Power), Tails (Technical), Amy (All-around).
3. Game Modes: Try out each event individually with Single Match mode, compete for the highest overall score in a series of events in Circuit mode, or take on challenges created specifically for each character in the Mission mode. Up to four players can play together on the Wii. DS allows up to four players to compete via wireless connection.
4. Unlockable stages where familiar items from the worlds of Mario and Sonic enhance the challenge of each unique event.

Product Description
Two of the most beloved icons in the world, Mario and Sonic, are joining forces to star in Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. Developed exclusively for the Nintendo Wii, this momentous agreement marks the first time these two renowned stars have appeared together in a game. The game's all-star cast of characters including Mario, Sonic, Luigi, Knuckles,Yoshi, Tails and more. Innovative usage of the Wii control system to maneuver your favorite character wil allow players to race the likes of Mario and Sonic down the 100m track, leap over the high jump or churn water in a swimming heat, all while competing for the much sought-after Olympic gold medal. With multiplayer capability up to four people, the stage is set for Olympic excitement with Mario and Sonic! ESRB Rated E for Everyone.

Namco Museum

2008-05-21T01:07:00.000-07:00

Product Features

a. Ms. Pac-Man.
b. Dig Dug
c. Galaga
d. Pole Position

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Nothing lends itself better to portable gaming than the arcade classics. They're addictive, replayable, and fun--plus it's nice not to have to pump endless streams of quarters into them. That's what makes Namco Museum such a must-have title for the Game Boy Advance system. People too young, or too impatient, to enjoy a good coin-op had better stop reading now.

Like the PlayStation and N64 versions, Namco has packed a few of its best games onto the cartridge. For the GBA we get only five titles (four are listed on the front of the box, but Galaxian is also included). We have two versions of Ms. Pac-Man (one that shows the whole maze but is dreadfully small, and another that scrolls), Galaga, Pole Position, and Dig Dug. They are lovingly ported, complete with all the music and sound effects intact. What we don't get is the amusing Museum portion and trivia found on other versions.

Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga are the real winners here. Both are perfect renditions complete with all the extras (music, colors, sound effects, and bonus stages/cartoons). The controls on these two are also perfect. Pole Position is amusing, but features twitchy controls and pales in comparison to other GBA racing games. Galaxian, on the surface, seems the same as its sequel, Galaga, but it isn't. The fire rate is much slower, so the pace of the game is different. Galaga is certainly better, but Galaxian is a nice addition regardless. Dig Dug is a classic, pure and simple, and it still plays well. It rounds out the collection nicely.

Arcade fans, especially those who used to line up (or line their quarters on the machine) to play these games, will be very pleased with Namco Museum. Those unimpressed with retro gaming probably won't be converted. However, here's hoping we see more arcade classics in the future, because I can't think of a better platform for these than the Game Boy Advance.

Pros:

a. Perfect recreations of arcade classics
b. A nice, diverse slate of games
c. Nice of them to include two versions of Ms. Pac-Man

Cons:

a. Pole Position isn't so hot anymore
b. No Museum features, such as trivia questions

PSP 2000 Console - Piano Black

2008-05-21T01:03:00.000-07:00

Product Features

a. WiFi capability
b. Internet access
c. MemoryStick Pro Duo storage
d. Use a MP3 audio and MP4 video player
e. See movies on UMD

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The PSP is the first truly integrated handheld entertainment system designed to handle multiple applications — music, video, communication, and wireless networking, with games as its primary driver. PSP brings an unparalleled gaming experience to a handheld platform, allowing users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality, full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio. With graphics rendering capability comparable to that of PlayStation®2, PSP features a 4.3-inch wide screen, high-resolution TFT display. PSP also adopts a newly developed, proprietary compact but high-capacity (1.8GB) optical disc, Universal Media Disc (UMD), as its storage medium.

Official Nintendo Wii Wheel

2008-05-21T00:57:00.000-07:00

Product Features

a. Wireless Racing Wheel
b. Precision Control
c. Adjustable Steering Sensitivity
d. Requires a Wii Remote Controller (not included)
e. 0.63 Lb.

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Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga

2008-05-20T19:11:00.000-07:00

Product Features

1. Play through the events of all 6 Star Wars movies in 1 videogame for the first time ever
2. Solve puzzles that encourage creative thinking through the use of teamwork and unique building situations
3. New characters bring the total count to over 160; upgraded Character Customizer
4. Enhanced Force powers; new power-ups; new Challenge mode; revamped levels
5. Wii version provides motion-sensitive inputs for exciting new ways to control the LEGO Star Wars characters

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Building on the success of both Lego Star Wars videogames, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga enables families to play through the events of all six Star Warsmovies in one videogame for the first time ever. Developer Traveller's Tales has brought the action to the Nintendo Wii, with motion-sensitive inputs that give you exciting new ways to control your Lego Star Wars characters, while also adding new characters, new levels and new features. The upgraded Character Customizer includes all Prequel Trilogy characters for the first time, while also expanding its customization options well beyond those in Lego Star Wars II, for millions more possibilities. Create cross-Trilogy mash-up characters like Han Windu and Lando Amidala. New game features include enhanced Force powers, new power-ups, and a new Challenge Mode. Levels from the original Lego Star Wars are revamped to meet the gameplay evolutions of Lego Star Wars II. ESRB Rated E10 for gamers aged 10 and up.