Gaming

Here's a new one for the copyright infringement crowd: Guitar Hero publisher and long-time video game staple Activision is being sued by 1980s one-hit wonders The Romantics for using a pseudo version of their song "What I Like About You". Needless ... to say, it isn't much of a 'rock and/or roll' attitude. The lawsuit was filed against Activision last Tuesday in a U.S. District Court in Detroit, Michigan. The California publisher is being sued for unspecified damages for the "What I like About You" version it uses in Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s, a stop-point between the more popular Guitar ... (view more)

Last year there were few hotter items than the world's newest video game consoles, the Sony PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii. Both launched in November, both were highly anticipated, and both instigated massive line-ups that inevitably led to some ... profane language and marked frustration. This year, the dynamics of the console war have certainly changed. It may surprise our readers to hear that many gaming critics are now predicting a big season for Sony. For the last year, the PlayStation 3 has been stuck in a distant third position behind Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii, despite real ... (view more)

Console gamers have been getting it lucky in recent months. With the release of Halo 3, a new Ratchet and Clank, and anything Wii, PC gamers -- despite the impressive history of their platform -- have been left on the outside looking in, at least ... recently. That's not the case as of last week with the retail release of anticipated PC shooter Crysis. Some critics are calling it the greatest graphical achievement yet, as the game's overall rating challenges the console world's heaviest hitters. (Source: gamerankings.com ) Developed by Crytek and published by hegemonic gaming power Electronic ... (view more)

In the past, I've shared my difference of opinion with PC World's local gaming expert, Matt Peckham. However, in a recent blog he's brought up a fine point many gamers have and will continue to use in defence of their hobby: a double-standard exists ... between games and movies when it comes to violence. At the current moment, Rockstar Games' Manhunt 2 is the most controversial title to arrive on home consoles in some time. The original Manhunt placed the player in the position of a criminal who must survive a maze of dark levels occupied by brutal, merciless murderers. The only way to survive ... (view more)

Seems the old lady isn't quite dead yet. The Queen of the gaming world's last generation, the Sony PlayStation 2, has been given a facelift, tummy tuck, and reconstructive surgery in hopes to add a bit more punch to the Japanese gaming company's ... holiday fight. Although it hasn't been long since Sony last unveiled a slimmed-down version of a console first released shortly after Y2K, the company seems determined to offer yet another, even slicker edition of the system. The freshly updated PS2 will retail for 16,000 yen, or $140 US, when it hits Japanese retail outlets in about two weeks' time ( ... (view more)

Still pondering which console to buy for the kids (or yourself) this holiday season? Microsoft just made its bid with the official release of the Xbox 360 Arcade, retailing for just $279.99. A couple days ago I reported on Sony's attempt to woo ... gamers to its system by dropping the price of its 40GB PlayStation 3 to $350, and its 80GB edition to $500. That prompted one PC World journalist to suggest that it was about time everyone gave the Blu-ray, WiFi-packing console a chance. But, what does a PC World writer know about console games, anyway? In Microsoft's favor, the Arcade introduces a ... (view more)

According to PC World game expert Matt Peckham, it's about time we all got on board and bought a PlayStation 3. After one heck of a miserable year, it seems Sony finally has something going with its big black console. So, what's the reason to jump ... on board now? Price, of course. Although Sony's PS3 once retailed for an astronomical $600, it will soon be available (with 20GB less storage, mind you), for $400. That's the result of yet another price drop coming Friday, November 2. For the record, Sony's 80GB model will also drop in price, from the lofty $600 to $500. (Source: ctv.ca ) Peckham ... (view more)

A few weeks ago, I reported that Nintendo expected its Wii to, even a year after release, again sell out at Christmas time. Those that do get their hands on the sleek little console shouldn't expect to pay any less, either. The Japanese gaming ... company plans no price cuts by the time Santa makes his annual visit. With its competition at Microsoft and Sony announcing fairly sizeable price chops, it's a bit surprising Nintendo hasn't even entertained the idea. In an interview with Reuters, Nintendo senior marketing VP George Harrison said, "We'll stay at $249 for the foreseeable future. We are ... (view more)

The video game industry has long been the target of crazed lawyers and out-of-touch politicians. Now, a new game simulating drunk driving -- yes, drunk driving -- is sure to raise some more eyebrows. But not so fast: don't expect to turn your ... Wii-mote, tilt your PS3 pad, or jam on the trigger buttons of your Xbox 360 any time soon. Called "Booze Cruise," the game sounds like an extremely irresponsible "Grand Theft Auto" clone. However, it's actually meant to be an educational tool. In fact, it was developed as a school project by University of Calgary professor Jim Parker and ... (view more)

Too lazy to get off your duff, pick up a guitar, meet some friends with purple mohawks, and form a band? Me, too. That's why it's pretty likely that Electronic Arts' "Rock Band" is going to be a hit, even if the price point seems a bit steep. Gamer ... or not, you've probably heard of Guitar Hero. Like the Nintendo Wii, it's brought many casual players into the next-gen fold, offering untraditional approaches to gaming. Although Guitar Hero III is slated for this fall, it's being overshadowed by industry giant EA's Rock Band. Rock Band, which ships November 23 for Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, ... (view more)