Gaming

Call yourself a gamer? Then maybe you can answer this question: what game warranted the most critical acclaim last year? Was it PC's Crysis? The Xbox 360's Halo 3? The Wii's Mario Galaxy? Or multi-platform smash Rock Band? Although all of the above ... are certainly worth checking out, during the recent Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences' (AIAS) announcement of nominees for Interactive Achievement Awards (IAA), Xbox 360 and PC hit Bioshock swept up. Released in August of 2007, Bioshock mixes art deco design and a 1950s sci-fi flair to create a rather unique shooter experience. The ... (view more)

Way back in November, I reported on the release of Crysis on PC. Hailed as one of the most beautiful (though not particularly brilliant) shooters released in 2007, some critics went so far as to call Crysis -- made by Crytek -- the greatest ever ... graphical achievement. Now, those gorgeous visuals might be headed to Sony's big black console, and it might just mark a much-needed exclusive for the struggling system. Similar to the Xbox 360's flagship franchise Halo, Crysis' story follows the frightening invasion of earth by a hostile alien species. Also like Halo, Crysis' main character is ... (view more)

Still not completely convinced that parents are fanatical about Nintendo's new video game console, the Wii? Here's evidence that anyone will play the motion-sensitive device -- even the bloody Queen of England! According to reports from British ... newspaper The People, the Wii was originally a present for grandson Prince William from long-time girlfriend, Kate Middleton. After peeking over Willy's shoulder for a while, The People finds that Queen Liz "begged to join in." Surprisingly, the Queen proved quite the video game talent once she did. "She played a simple ten-pin bowling game and by all ... (view more)

Part of the appeal behind Nintendo's stylish little Wii this holiday season comes from the nature of its gameplay. Boasting motion-sensitivity, it challenges gamers to swing and swipe their way to victory in Wii Sports tennis or boxing. With kids ... and parents alike getting off the couch, Nintendo has advertised the console as great exercise and a healthy alternative to those lazy systems from Microsoft and Nintendo. But, is it true? According to a study by researchers at Liverpool John Moores University in England, not so much. The study examined boys and girls aged thirteen to fifteen, ... (view more)

The days of Tickle Me Elmo might be long over, but the holiday rush for that must-have toy remains an annual phenomenon. In fact, for the last two Decembers one device has been at the top of most kids' (and heck, parents') Christmas list: the ... Nintendo Wii. Now, it seems at least one retailer is taking serious advantage of that demand. In a recent investigation, Ars Technica revealed retail outlet Slackers' 'scalping' of Nintendo's cute little console. According to employees, the owner of the store took his orders of the Wii -- so desperately sought this Christmas -- and placed them on eBay ... (view more)

So, Billy wants a new guitar this Christmas? By gosh, those things are expensive. He'll probably just give up, like he did with the drum set, piano, and karate. Why not just get him that Guitar Hero game? That's been the opinion of many parents and ... gamers in the last year, with video game sales -- led by a new music genre -- completely rocking other entertainment sources. According to a report from the NPD Group, total video game sales (including both hardware and games) have rocketed to $10.5 billion through October 2007, about $3.5 billion more than last year at the same point. (Source: ... (view more)

Known for consistently referring to Second World War veterans as "the Greatest Generation," Tom Brokaw recently took a time out to slam Generations X, Y, and Z. In a radio tirade last week, he lashed out at kids today and "what they see in video ... games." Brokaw's rant was in response to last Wednesday's slaying of six Von Maur employees by 19 year old Robert Hawkins. Hawkins entered the store clad in a hooded sweatshirt, carefully concealing an assault rifle before unleashing death upon those around him. Brokaw saw the incident as indicative of a larger problem facing American teens. (Source: ... (view more)

Are 'great' game exclusives dead? According to a recent report from Reuters, that may very well be the case -- even as the game industry ramps up for what might be its most successful Christmas, ever. The article from Reuters focuses squarely on the ... impending release of long-time Sony fan favorite "Metal Gear Solid 4", one of the most anticipated titles for Sony's PlayStation 3. So, what does this have to do with the end of 'great' game exclusives? In a sense, Metal Gear Solid 4 (MGS4) is the last of one very unique type of game: the third-party exclusive. These are titles that are developed ... (view more)

Scared off video game consoles because of their price? Many casual fans are, and until Microsoft and Sony can knock some buckaroos off the bottom line, many critics believe the industry will only play a tertiary media role. But, is that about to ... change? According to Activision executive Bobby Kotick, it just might. Kotick, a key player for one of the video game industry's most prominent and long-standing publishers, recently stated that he expects consoles to sell for under $200 before Christmas, 2009. (Source: gameinformer.com ) Why? To bring in the mass-market. Hey, it's worked for Nintendo ... (view more)

Somewhere in a small Silicon Valley cubicle stands a life-like replica of Darth Vader. The statuesque figure has the same ominous mask, cape and light saber that have become synonymous with the character since first appearing on the silver screen ... decades ago. What sets this replica apart from the millions of others that appear at conventions and theme shops all across North America is this one represents the next generation in technological innovation. If people were impressed with what the Nintendo Wii could do, they ain't seen nothin' yet! Darth Vader is actually a prototype for a mind- ... (view more)