Cut To The Chase Blog

Turn To Page One

2011-06-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

I am in the process of developing a new blog/podast/website tiny media experience.

This blog will remain for archival purposes. All of my future endeaveurs will take place at -

Gamer Win Hands Down

See ya there!

Kelley

When Heavens Divide

2011-05-26T15:10:00.000-07:00

Rumour has it that MGS: Peace Walker for the PS3 with all new bells and whistles, such as trophies, 3D and Move support. Very cool stuff indeed! I'm sure we will find out more in the next few weeks.

I also have to report that this blog will be shut down very soon, this site will remain as an archive. However, I will be launching a whole new blog and web site in the near future!

Stay Tuned...

3DS Late Impressions

2011-05-08T23:01:00.001-07:00

What can I say? The 3D is amazing. There are a few decent games out for it. The majority of time I spend with it, is playing regular old DS games on it.

There's nothing to watch. The online store is not up, thus no games or apps to download. The web browser is non-functional.

I make the joke that, "The handheld plays itself more than I play it". Referring to the system's unique street pass functionality.

Sadly, the $250 toy gathers dust.

Roger Rabbit 2 Test Footage

2011-03-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

Posted bellow is test footage from an unproduced Roger Rabbit prequel in 1998. It is a horror story of epic proportions why the flick wasn't made. I ain't even going to get into it. Hunt the 411 online homies. For now here ya, discovered and posted by Cartoon Brew.

3DS Reviews Are Streamin' In

2011-03-19T07:52:00.000-07:00

In the first of big North American Nintendo 3DS reviews, IGN.COM fires off on the latest handheld. Their wrap up -

"The 3DS is truly a remarkable device and a compelling expansion to Nintendo's handheld gaming platform, but it is far from perfect. Though the 3D experience has its moments of absolute brilliance, it can be short-lived due to the imprecise nature of glasses-free 3D technology, with distortion, ghosting, and user discomfort. The 3D also takes its toll on the device's battery life, which limits total gameplay time to anywhere between two to five hours. But despite its technical shortcomings, Nintendo's innovative software is what truly makes the 3DS a compelling device. Though the launch lineup is devoid of any landmark titles and many larger games like Kid Icarus and Zelda won't release until later this year, there is plenty of fun to be had between the pre-installed AR applications and games like Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition and PilotWings Resort. There is also the issue of price. The Nintendo 3DS has an MSRP of $249.99 – no small sum – and many may find it hard to justify given the currently limited 3DS software lineup, poor battery performance, and the certainty of future hardware revisions, but for purists, it's a small price to pay for getting into Nintendo's glasses-free 3D gaming revolution at the ground level."

Wow! That about sums up and confirms my love and fear of the device. I'm excited for it, yet at the same time I have a concern about it's shape. I've never been a fan from the original DS to the DSi of their overall design, there is something that is just so damn uncomfortable in my hands. How the edges of the system just dig into your palm, providing discomfort. I was hoping the 3DS would have been a total re-design, to fix this issue and provide a fresh new start.

Nope.

As for games, I know I am definitely picking up Madden and Ridge Racer. I'm not sure about other titles. I love Dead or Alive, but we'll see. I ain't getting Street Fighter IV. Hell No! Too bad for me, it's the killer app for the launch. Capcom did it. Not even Nintendo is coming out with a killer app for their hardware this time. Street Fighter is friggin' button mashin' fighter, the last thing I wanna be is absolutely pissed off playing a handheld game. No way. Not on launch.

Pac-Man Animated Series DVD Is MIA

2011-03-16T15:55:00.000-07:00

A little while ago, it was reported that the 1980's Hanna-Barbera Pac-Man cartoon was finally going to hit DVD in 2011. Now, it's MIA. The latest info has been found out, thanks to tvshowsondvd.com. The long but not forgotten animated show, featured 2 seasons of adventures alongside a Christmas Special. The show is available to purchase as individual episodes for the X-Box 360, via X-Box Live. Sadly, this is only so in the U.S.A.

I was looking forward to a full DVD with restoration and perhaps some interviews plus, historical retrospectives to make a handsome package. *sigh* As a child of the 80's and a huge Pac-Man fan since his initial arcade release, the animated series on DVD is something I've been wishing for, for a long, long, long, long time. I'm surprised that the WB and Hanna-Barbera didn't jump out with a DVD set, especially with Pac-Man's 30th Anniversary last year. Ms. Pac-Man turns 30 this year, so who knows? Maybe there is still some hope.

Thus, the foreseeable future, it looks like YouTube and other video hosting sites is the only way this piece of video game history can be seen worldwide.

Next Generation Portable Preview

2011-03-10T11:37:00.000-08:00

IGN.COM has a wonderful little video, which I have embed bellow, where the boys discuss and give impressions about the system. I have to say, the system looks beautiful. I can't wait to get one, hopefully at the end of this year. I'm predicting a November launch with a $299 price point. The preview, done at GDC, calmed the crew down there plenty, when they where informed that the Uncharted title demonstrated was only a demo. Thankfully it was for them. I'm tired of hearing them being pissed/concerned about the damn controls. I thought they looked pretty slick, with touch and track pad controls. When the final game launches, I have a strange feeling one will be able to play with "updated NGP" controls or with the "classic" scheme.

Pac-Man Update 2011

2011-03-09T07:03:00.000-08:00

Toru Iwatani was at GDC last week and discussed the creation and legacy of his legendary Pac-Man arcade game. That game alone was my childhood. From Pac-Man to Ms. Pac-Man to Super Pac-Man, I loved them all. Then came the 80's cartoon series, the toys, breakfeast cereal, ect. It was the first multimedia, video game iconic event. Awesome stuff. His GDC presentation is embed bellow.

Wendy's has Pac-Man toys for the kids. So if you're a Wendy's or Pac-Man fan, you might wanna check'em out.

Finally, it is Ms. Pac-Man's 30th Anniversary this year. Hopefully, Namco has something to celebrate about her. Even though she was an unofficial, Midway hack of the original Pac-Man arcade game. Hopefully, the Japanese game developer understands the successful arcade history of the title, especially it's huge success in North America.

The Next Generation Portable Exists

2011-01-27T06:02:00.001-08:00

"On the rear of the portable, there is a touchpad that is the same size as the screen. In the game demo I played of upcoming NGP title Little Deviants, players use the rear touchpad to manipulate cute balls around a lush cartoon landscape. But by pressing on the rear touchpad, it appears as though players' fingers stick up underneath the terrain, altering the landscape." - Kotaku

The PSP2 has just rocked the Earth at Sony's Japanese press conference. It features front touch OLED screen, rear track pad, dual analogue sticks, Six-axis motion control, trophy support, Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity. Demonstrations of a new Uncharted title, Metal Gear Solid 4 and Yakuza 4 were shown.

"This game used the model data and environments from PS3, and it was exported directly to NGP," Kojima said, adding "On NGP, we can enjoy the same quality as the PS3." - Kotaku

Holy crap!

Also demonstrated was the latest Monster Hunter game for the original PlayStation Portable to show off backwards compatibility. No there is no UMD drive, it will be compatible with your existing PlayStation Network Store PSP purchases. Games for the new portable will be delivered on the PSN and on flash cards for retail stores.

Tech info copy and pasted from the PlayStation Blog, because I'm lazy like that ;) -

Key NGP features:

* Multi-touch 5-inch organic light emitting display (OLED) as the front display
* Multi-touch pad on the rear of the device
* Dual analog sticks
* Two cameras (front and rear)
* Software titles on small, dedicated flash memory-based cards
* Three motion sensors, gyroscope, accelerometer and electronic compass
* Wi-Fi and 3G network connectivity
* PlayStation Network access, including ““LiveArea™”, “Near” and “Activity” log features Trophy Support
* NGP will be able to play PSP titles, minis, PS one classics, video and comics from the PlayStation Store.

Now, the technical specs:
CPU - ARM® Cortex™-A9 core (4 core)
GPU - SGX543MP4+
External Dimensions - Approx. 182.0 x 18.6 x 83.5mm (width x height x depth) (tentative, excludes largest projection)
Screen
(Touch screen) -5 inches (16:9), 960 x 544, Approx. 16 million colors, OLED
Multi touch screen (capacitive type)
Rear touch pad -Multi touch pad (capacitive type)
Cameras - Front camera, Rear camera
Sound - Built-in stereo speakers
Built-in microphone
Sensors - Six-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer), Three-axis electronic compass
Location - Built-in GPS
Wi-Fi location service support
Keys / Switches - PS button
Power button
Directional buttons (Up/Down/Right/Left)
Action buttons (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square)
Shoulder buttons (Right/Left)
Right stick, Left stick
START button, SELECT button
Volume buttons (+/-)
Wireless communications Mobile network connectivity (3G)
IEEE 802.11b/g/n (n = 1×1) (Wi-Fi) (Infrastructure mode/Ad-hoc mode)
Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR （A2DP/AVRCP/HSP）

Dead Space 2 - Twice The Fun On PS3!!!!

2011-01-25T20:41:00.001-08:00

EA is on fire. They ripped the "survival horror" genre right outta Capcom. Where Resident Evil 5 was slow and repetitive, Dead Space felt fast and exciting. The best way to describe Dead Space to the uneducated, it's the feature films "Alien" and "Event Horizon" slammed into a blender, resulting in a fresh take on the aging video game genre.

I finally played a good chunk of the original Dead Space. It's presentation is stellar. Controls and gameplay are polished. It feels so cool to wonder around the bowels of a tin can space ship, jumpin' around in zero gravity and blasting away monsters. You could probably hunt down a copy of this original treasure for 20 bucks.

Today, Dead Space 2 arrives on store shelves. I have a PlayStation 3 and luck be told, for the same price of either the X-Box 360 or PS3 editions, Sony's gathered all the riches. The Nintendo Wii "exclusive" Dead Space: Extraction comes bundled with the PS3 edition, complete with new goodies such as Move support, HD visuals and trophies. Hell, the game is literally the first real killer app for Sony's motion controller. I haven't played Dead Space 2 yet, I'm waiting until I finish the original. However, I have played Extraction, which serves as a prequel to the series. What can I say? Yeah, It's worth picking up the Move bundle to play this on-rails, space shooter. It's fun, fun stuff!

All this space horror is getting me all nostalgic for one title. EA's first venture into space survival horror. Heck, it literally was the original survival horror game, long before Resident Evil.

"IGN has called it the first "fully formed vision of survival horror as we know it today," citing its balance of action and adventure, limited ammunition, weak weaponry, vulnerable main character, feeling of isolation, storytelling through journals, graphic violence, and use of dynamically triggered music—all of which were characteristic elements of later games in the survival horror genre." - Wikipedia Entry

EA released Dynamix's Project Firestart, an explosive Commodore 64 exclusive title which is amazing. I played the hell out of it as a kid and it scarred the crap outta me! It's wonderful stuff and worth taking a look at through the wonder of emulation.

Happy hunting!

MotorStorm: Start Your Computations For Time Warp!

2011-01-13T19:28:00.000-08:00

So I'm playing MotorStorm Arctic Edge on my couch. The PSP GO is firmly in my hands, with beautiful game visuals being displayed on my SONY HD television via component cable. Suddenly, I begin a new race and a funky dance, clubin' tune kicks in with William Shatner proclaiming a line from Star Trek IV, "Start your computations for time warp!"

Holy crap! This game just put me into the zone!

The song is "Timewarp" by Sub Focus. That little bit of Shatner dialogue is part of the song. I've never heard of the song, nor the group before. That's why I love playing video games, you have opportunities to see and hear things you never have before. MotorStorm's soundtracks are pretty sweet and definitely worth playing the game to listen to the great music alone. Luckily, the series is also fantastic playing.

I love playing Arctic Edge. It's a winter wonderland of off road vehicles. Plus, it reminds me of living in "The Great White North" in winter. Looking out my window, the land is all beautifully covered in snow. My favourite vehicle is the snowmobile. My dad and I love driving sleds in winter time and when I can't go ridin', I'll play my little portable MotorStorm game in it's place.

I love the MotorStorm series. It was the first game I played when I purchased a PlayStation 3. The original MotorStorm caught the industry by surprise, it was the best reviewed and selling title in the early days of the PlayStation 3's life. I received the game for free when I purchased my PS3 from Best Buy in the summer of 2007. Firing up MotorStorm for the first time was awesome. The graphics blew me away. Heck, the game still looks amazing even for a first gen title.

Today, we've had a PS3 sequel, a PSP title, and a 3D downloadable version on the PlayStation Network featuring several of the franchise's greatest tracks. In April, it continues again with MotorStorm Apocalypse on the PS3, fully in 3D! It looks awesome, I won't lie. The latest title goes post-apocalyptic, with huge wasteland environments and triggered, race affecting, cinematic flare. It officially launches on April 12th and I can't wait.

I just had to share my joy and to offer an option to Gran Turismo 5. I love both franchises for obvious, different reasons. For those who wanna go crazy and yet still rely on plenty of driving skills and techniques, then I offer you the selection of MotorStorm.

Time to hit the dirt!

The Sh*t Hits The SingStore Once Again!

2011-01-12T12:09:00.000-08:00

What appears to be a monthly update for SingStar, the SingStore has been blasted with 65 new songs. More songs! More dance! More guitar! More song packs! It definitely is worth the wait. Hopefully, every monthly update will arrive with 60+ songs.

No Doubt arrives with classics and modern fare. A-ha arrives with fresh tracks and Lionel Richie classics galore. Awesome! Here is today's complete release, nicely copy and pasted for your enjoyment.

Songs

* 3 Doors Down - Kryptonite
* a-ha - Foot Of The Mountain
* a-ha - Shadowside
* Alicia Bridges - I Love The Nightlife
* Aqua - Barbie Girl
* Billy Ray Cyrus - Achy Breaky Heart
* Blur - Beetlebum
* Boyz II Men - I'll Make Love To You
* Cher - If I Could Turn Back Time
* Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen
* Edwin Starr - War
* Ellie Goulding - Guns & Horses
* Florence and the Machine - Kiss With A Fist
* Hinder - Lips Of An Angel
* Hoobastank - The Reason
* Jodeci - Freak N You
* Joe McElderry - Someone Wake Me Up
* Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby
* Keith Urban - Who Wouldn't Wanna Be Me
* La Roux - In For The Kill
* Lionel Richie - Hello
* Lionel Richie - All Night Long
* Lionel Richie - Angel
* LL Cool J - I Need Love
* Lloyd - Get It Shawty
* Maroon 5 - This Love
* Mika - Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)
* Morrissey - You Have Killed Me
* N-dubz Feat. Mr Hudson - Playing With Fire
* Ne-Yo - Because Of You
* No Doubt - Just A Girl
* No Doubt - Running
* No Doubt - Ex-Girlfriend
* No Doubt - Hella Good
* No Doubt - Don't Speak
* OneRepublic - Stop And Stare
* Orson - No Tomorrow
* Pearl Jam - Alive
* Pereza - Estrella Polar
* Pulp - Common People
* Queens of the Stone Age - Go With The Flow
* Razorlight - America
* Robert Palmer - Addicted To Love
* Robyn - Be Mine
* Rockwell - Somebody's Watching Me
* Scissor Sisters - Take Your Mama
* Sophie Ellis Bextor - Murder On The Dancefloor
* Squeeze - Tempted
* Sum 41 - Motivation
* Susan Boyle - Amazing Grace
* Talk Talk - It’s My Life
* Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World
* The Bravery - Believe
* The Christians - Harvest For The World
* The Clash - Rock The Casbah
* The Commodores - Easy
* The Commodores - Three Times A Lady
* The Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup
* The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger
* The Police - Don't Stand So Close To Me
* The Supremes - Stop In The Name Of Love
* The Velvet Underground - I'm Sticking With You
* The Wonder Stuff - A Wish Away
* The Wonder Stuff - Size Of A Cow
* will.i.am Feat Cheryl Cole - Heartbreaker
* Yeasayer - O.N.E

Add-ons
Guitar:

* Blur - Beetlebum
* Florence and the Machine - Kiss With A Fist
* Hoobastank - The Reason
* Kaiser Chiefs - Ruby
* Maroon 5 - This Love
* OneRepublic - Stop And Stare
* Orson - No Tomorrow
* Pulp - Common People
* Razorlight - America
* The Clash - Rock The Casbah
* The Fratellis - Chelsea Dagger
* The Police - Don't Stand So Close To Me

Dance:

* Aqua - Barbie Girl
* Billy Ray Cyrus - Achy Breaky Heart
* Britney Spears - Born To Make You Happy
* Dexy's Midnight Runners - Come On Eileen
* Lou Bega - Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit Of...)
* The Foundations - Build Me Up Buttercup
* will.i.am Feat Cheryl Cole - Heartbreaker

Song packs
a-ha

Island Records

Lionel Richie and The Commodores

No Doubt

Oklahoma!

Merry "Post" Christmas and Happy "Post" New Year's! :)

2011-01-03T08:11:00.001-08:00

Ho! Ho! Ho! Yo! Yo! Yo!

I hope all of your holiday cheers were eventful, full of cheer, laughter and crunk!

Now with 2011, we have a new year to look forward to some exciting new tech. We can all look forward to the upcoming Apple iPad 2, plus their inevitable updates to their iPhone and iPod line.

Nintendo will be releasing the brand spanking new Nintendo 3DS. This I am personally very excited about. Hopefully I'll be able to purchase a 3D copy of Tron: Legacy for the device! ;)

Finally, it's happening. We are all excited. Sony's PSP phone will be out this year and the big one... the PSP 2! Expect the direction of the PSP 2 to take, a true portable HD experience in the palm of your hand with full backwards compatibility, dual analog nubs, touch screen and track pad built in. UMDs will go the way of the dinosaur and will be replaced with an SD card device storage solution. It will have built in, 32gb flash storage. Those are my predictions.

As for games I have acquired as gifts or New Year's shopping include -

Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Sweet!
EyePet - So cute!
Gran Turismo 5 - Hell Yeah!
Red Dead Redemption - Amazing!
The Shoot - Tons of fun!

Did you like my quick, sound bite like comments? I did!

Here's to 2011! Let the excitement begin!

Thoughts On Gran Turismo 5

2010-12-21T10:16:00.001-08:00

Note: My experience with Gran Turismo 5, is after implementation of patch 1.05 which was very significant.

Apparently, I am not supposed to enjoy, like or favour this title at all. Isn't this the car simulator I'm supposed to complain about?

I've found that gamers and reviewers are so focused on their "negative" aspects of the game. They don't like the menu system, which I didn't have a problem with and was a huge improvement over Gran Turismo V: Prologue. They dislike the load times which is understandable but again, I don't have a problem with them. Many of them don't even like the experience of the simulator because, well, it isn't a video game. Last time I checked the box cover, it does indicate that it is "The Real Driving Simulator". Even on the back of the cover, no where it states that it is a "video game".

Look, the Gran Turismo series is the Mona Lisa of race car experiences. If you want the MAD Magazine version, then go ahead and play Need For Speed or Burnout. Please, go right ahead. What I am saying, is that literally, Gran Turismo is digital art. It's an experience like no other. From presentation to the actual driving experience, it is art. You don't play it with full throttle, jammin' explosions. You drive in Gran Turismo. You take your time. You earn the right to drive "premium" cars. It will take time, patience and perseverance. Again, if that isn't your bag, than don't play the simulator.

Quick note: Again, I didn't mind the load times and I didn't even install the title. I sadly, don't have 8 gigs of storage to do so. Yes, the load times are a bit of wait. Yet, the simulator can be an intense driving experience, and the load times allow myself a bit of breathing room between each race.

Terrance Malick's The Tree of Life

2010-12-15T10:27:00.000-08:00

Malick is a friggin' national treasure. A true living, cinema legend who makes film like no other.

Most films we goto the theatre are generally "six pack of beer" experiences featuring dazzling drunkin' delights, cocktail napkin scripts and cinematography my cat could capture in his litter box. Look, I enjoy my theatre fair like the next Old Spice wearing, Budweiser drinkin', and Maxim magazine reader, but every once and a while it's nice to stretch out. Terrance Malick flicks are those escapes.

You have probably heard of his recent epics like The Thin Red Line and The New World, two of my favourite films of all time. Now we have The Tree of Life, which still remains a mystery even after you watch the embed trailer bellow. If you are new to Malick or curious, I recommend watching a Blu-Ray or High Definition version of one of his flicks in the afternoon on a Sunday. Relax, grab a cup of coffee, wrap up in a blanket and prepare to be mesmerized.

I can't wait to see his latest epic!

Peace Walker Is The PSP game of The Year

2010-12-14T15:43:00.000-08:00

Unlike Spike TV, IGN.COM had much more sence when it came to decide their PSP game of the year.

Not that I need a video game news media site to decide what is right and wrong for myself, I'm an adult. I'm a big boy and can decide on my own. However, I can respect differences of opinion and enjoy a good PlayStation community. IGN's PlayStation Beyond is possibly my most favourite and entertaining video game podcast I listen to. Plus, I have to send out huge props to Greg Miller and his endless pursuit of telling listeners how damn good the PSP is and how phenomenal a game Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is. IGN.COM has finally delivered the goods.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker has won the following PSP awards -

Best Story
Best Co-Op Game
Coolest Atmosphere
Most Addictive Game
Best Visuals
Most Bang For Your Buck
Best PSP Game of The Year

It scored seven out of nine awards. It cleaned house, much like Peter Jackson's Return of The King did years ago at the Oscars. The two it lost out to were "Funniest Game", which is understandable and "Best Competitive Multiplayer", which is also understandable since the game isn't online.

Congratulations to Peace Walker! Now for the love of Jesus, God, and Christmas, go pick up a PSP people!

North American SingStar Fans... Our Time Has Come!!!!

2010-12-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

SingStar is one of those great party games that is huge across the pond, but not in North America. As of lately, things are about to change.

The addition of being able to play guitar and to dance with the Move controller to certain songs, makes the game more robust and fun. If you are a fan or wanna get on with the excitement, I really recommend picking up the new SingStar Dance bundle and a PS Move set as well. Parties are fun with it my friends and it offers a different experience to Rock Band and Guitar Hero. I honestly prefer SingStar to the competition and it's not just because I'm a Sony fan boy, I just find it easily more accessible, interacting with the music videos is a blast, and you don't need plastic instruments taking up space in your living room. Plus, if you have the Move bundle, the game will record your performance and take photos during it.

In the past, living in North America and being a fan has been frustrating. Updates to the SingStar store were very tiny. You were lucky to get a handful of songs from time to time. As of today, the official PlayStation Blog has announced all of that has changed.

Starting Wednesday, November 15th, song updates to the European and North American SingStore will be universal. North American fans will now have access to the European store content, thanks to Universal Music, to a tune of 60 plus songs including a crap load of Lady Gaga and Bon Jovi. Hell yeah! Plus, more songs will feature dance support so you can get your groove on.

This is exciting news! I can't wait for Wednesday!

The full 411 can be found HERE.

Kratos Wins At Spike TV's VGAs

2010-12-12T12:20:00.000-08:00

Spike Television's Video Game Awards 2010 happened last night to much excitement and anticipation, that is, if you even give a crap. The show was entertaining, I actually watched the entire event from start to finish.

God of War: Ghost of Sparta won best Handheld Portable Game of The Year. Fitting for a God. Yet, the competition included Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

Look, I love Ghost of Sparta. I love Kratos, but Peace Walker is awesomer. It's the game that keeps on giving. 60 hours into the game, I haven't completed all of the extra mission nor the "Monster Hunter" challenges. Heck, I haven't even unlocked everything. Plus, there is all of free downloadable goodies from Kojima Productions to enhance the game. The game gives and gives... and give some more. Plus, no offence Kratos, it's a better game than Ghost of Sparta.

Pac-Man 30th Anniversary Goodies Released!

2010-12-01T10:05:00.000-08:00

This is gonna be a huge post, discussing not only the sick release of new Pac-Man games, but also the lack of communication Namco has with their fan base.

Mysterious Pac-Man Game Release #1 - See that arcade machine on the left, that brand new "Pac-Man's Arcade Party" cabinet is now out in bars, arcades, hotels, Chuck E. Cheeses and available for sale. I had no idea this arcade machine even existed. No word. Nothing even on the Namco Networks Blog, which BTW hasn't been updated since April 6th.

Mysterious Pac-Man Game Release #2 - Pac-Mania is a fun and interesting take on Pac-Man, which adds the ability to jump over ghosts in a 3D isometric mazes. It was released on the iPod Touch/iPhone on November 17th without mention on Namco Games. It's available for $1.99 and I'm sure it's a blast. Thanks Namco for the 411?!?!?!?

Mysterious Pac-Man Game Release #3 - Pac-Man Championship Edition DX is out now on the PlayStation Network and X-Box Live. It was barely mentioned on internet video game news sources before it's release, I stumbled upon it's existence literally days before it came out. Again, wouldn't it kill Namco to throw out something on their official homepage a month or two to get the fan base excited?

Mysterious Pac-Man Game Release #4 - Pac-Man Championship Edition for the PSP/PS3 is available in Europe as a MINI title. Somehow this completely dodged yesterday's North American PSN update. In fact, we haven't heard anything about this title since the summer of E3 2010. I don't even know if this game will come to North America and there hasn't been any word on it on the North American PSN Blog. Oh look! Here's a trailer...

Mysterious Pac-Man Game Release #5 - The Namco Museum Megamix was just released and is an updated version of the original Wii's Remix edition. It features a nice collection of arcade classics including Pac-Man and Pac-Mania and some new Wii crap. It was released with very little fanfare and I stumbled upon it at Wal-Mart for $18.99. Nice price! Once again, modern Namco Museum collections do not include the arcade game Ms. Pac-Man. Namco just hates the game for some reason and I don't know why?

The only game that was released with knowledge and a bit of hype, was the Wii release of Pac-Man Party. Which is out now.

Well there you have it, you can finally start your Pac-Man 30th Anniversary celebrations at the end of 2010! Now go get some Pac-Man games and have fun.

BTW Namco, could you please inform your fan community about what is going on with your beloved mascot?!?! You could easily do it at your own 30th Anniversary Pac-Man Website. I believe you, the reader, easily understands the situation here. A crap load of brand new Pac-Man content has just come out and no one, absolutely no one in the fan base knew about it.

PSP GO is Still $139.99/$149.99!

2010-11-28T11:50:00.000-08:00

Amazon.ca is selling the PSP GO black or white Digital Bundle for $149.99.

Best Buy Canada is selling them for $139.99 for an entire week.

I am going to provide a little bit of simple math for you. The current PSP GO Digital Bundle contains 80 dollars worth of games for free. You receive LittleBigPlanet, Socom 3 and Ratchet & Clank for free. So you don't even have to buy anything else when you purchase this bad boy. The games included are awesome. Period. End of line.

Let's say you purchase the bundle for $150, you actually purchased the device for only $70 bones.

That's not hard math. It's pretty easy to understand.

Look, the PSP GO is the best portable game player on the market. Period. End of line.

It's also a pretty kick ass multimedia machine and I can not recommend enough to everyone TO RUN OUR AND BUY ONE NOW! THEN GO HOME AND DOWNLOAD PEACE WALKER FOR $19.99! ;)

Peace Walker Is A Huge Success For Konami

2010-11-28T07:07:00.000-08:00

Black Friday deals are still available on the PSN and if you don't own it, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is $19.99. You might want to pick it up!

Since it's world wide release in the summer of 2010, within six months the title has sold nearly 1.5 million units for Konami and Kojima Productions. IGN PSP dug up the information from Konami's Official Web Site. This information was released on November 4th, 2010 and dose not account for Back Friday sales nor the upcoming Christmas shopping extravaganza.

So happy success to Snake, Kojima Productions and Konami!

PSP GO's Are $139!

2010-11-26T05:57:00.000-08:00

I believe this is the first time in Canadian shopping history that crazy, awesome American "Black Friday" price deals are happening in "The Great White North". Now, all I've done is scan my local Best Buy flyer, so there are possibly a ton of great deals elsewhere but here are the Sony exclusives happening all week at the electronics giant.

PSP GO's ARE $139.99! Again... PSP GO's ARE $139.99! Now is the time. Run, drive, bus, hitchhike, whatever you have to go to get down there, get one now! You still receive $80 worth of free downloadable games when you purchase this which include Socom 3, Ratchet & Clank, and LittleBigPlanet. Awesome stuff!

There Is So Much SEGA Goin' On!

2010-11-23T06:26:00.000-08:00

Sonic Colors is out for the Nintendo Wii and DS.

Crazy Taxi was released last week on the PSN and tomorrow on X-Box Live.

Chu Chu Rocket was recently updated with plenty of new content for the iPod Phone/Touch/Pad.

Gunstar Heroes was released yesterday for the iPod Phone/Touch/Pad.

Vanguish was released on the PS3 and 360 a few weeks ago to rave reviews.

So there ya go. I'm sure one of those games on the list should interest you. Honestly, all of them should be on your Christmas list.

Indeed. Yes, indeed.

Pac-Man Cartoon Finally Hits DVD!

2010-11-17T13:16:00.000-08:00

When I was a little kid way back in the early 1980's, I'd wake up every Saturday morning with excitement for the day's cartoons. With a big bowl of Pac-Man cereal in tow, I'd sit down in front of that magical, glowing box as it displayed wonders of animated light. I had my Coleco Pac-Man tabletop beside me, as I awaited patiently for one cartoon in particular, Hannah-Barbera's Pac-Man.

Looking back at it today, it was an interesting take on the video game classic. I mean, there isn't exactly a plot with the original arcade games Pac-Man or Ms. Pac-Man. You just ran around the maze eating dots while being pursued by ghosts. So how did Hannah-Barbera deal with this when making an animated series?

Flinstone's + Pac-Man = Pac-Man The Cartoon Series!

Simple math isn't it? For the most part, it worked.

The show was cute, fun and colourful. Now, nearly 30 years since it's debut it is finally arriving on DVD thanks to Warner Bros. It will be released sometime in 2011.

Thanks to Superheroes-R-Us for the 411!

Pac-Man CE DX Storms X-Box Live! Next Week For PSN!

2010-11-17T12:10:00.000-08:00

The mysterious Pac-Man Championship Edition DX game has been released on X-Box Live. It will launch on the PSN, next Tuesday. Hooray!

Below is a video from Joystiq showing off how awesome it is!

Pac-Man's 30th Anniversary Exists! UPDATED!

2010-11-15T11:44:00.000-08:00

You see that arcade cabinet on the left? Apparently, Namco didn't forget about Pac-Man's 30th anniversary. Even though his birthday is celebrated late May, all of the little yellow guy's goodies ain't coming out until the end of 2010.

Thanks to Arcade Heroes for the 411, Namco is releasing a brand new Pac-Man arcade cabinet. It will feature Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man and Galaga once again like previous cabinets. Only this one will also include 10 more Namco classics such as Dig Dug and Pac-Mania. Nice!

Namco has released a brand new trailer for Pac-Man Championship Edition DX. It sure looks sweet. Yet, no details on it's release has surfaced, nor for the Sony PSP edition of Championship Edition.

We're waiting Namco...

Update!

On Tuesday, November 16th Namco will be releasing 2 Pac-Man themed Wii titles. The first is Pac-Man Party, a party/mini-game collection which I hope the living crap is good. Plus, a brand new Namco Museum is coming out. The Namco Museum MegaMix is an updated version of the previous Namco Museum Remix. The MegaMix will include 18 arcade classics such as Pac-Man, Super Pac-Man and Dig Dug alongside updates of the Wii specific games. It will retail for around 20 bones. Nice! That's a great deal Pac-Fans!

Chu Chu Rocket Is Out! Dreamcast! Sales!

2010-10-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

In my continuing adventures of partying like it's 1999 with the likes of Sonic Adventure on my PlayStation 3, the Power Stone Collection/Crazy Taxi on the PSP GO and now finally, we have Chu Chu Rocket on the iPod Touch/Phone/Pad.

Chu Chu Rocket was released way back in early 2000 on the Sega Dreamcast. It was the first console, online worldwide multi-player game. My memories of the Sega Dreamcast are pure gold, the same goes for this particular title. The DC system included a 56k modem, which Sega supported greatly. It was a defining gamer moment, that first time I logged online and played with gamers worldwide. Awesome stuff!

Chu Chu Rocket is an amazing, fast paced j-puzzle game that you've never experienced before. It's crazy fun and addictive. It's one of those Sega titles you play and you're instantly thinking, "Why the hell isn't Sega releasing this game on every gamer console available?" The game has only been released in it's original DC version and as a launch title for the GameBoy Advance, way back in the summer of 2001. This alongside other great Dreamcast titles, has stuck in the minds of gamers forever. A true gem amongst others, that are just finally being re-released again for a new generation to enjoy.

The iPod Touch edition is great stuff. It controls surprisingly well for a game designed for a DC controller. It's another one of those great, pick up and play games that you can spend a few minutes or a few hours to enjoy. It retails for $4.99 on the App Store and is worth it. Get it now! With this release, Sega has a number of tites on sale for .99 cents. These include Ecco The Dolphin and Streets of Rage. Sweet!

I you wanna play like it's 1999, here are a list of Dreamcast titles you can acquire right now and start rockin'. Go for it!

* Sonic Adventure - PlayStation Network Store/X-Box Live - PS3/X-Box 360 - $9.99
* Power Stone Collection - PlayStation Network - PSP-3000/PSP GO - $9.99
* Crazy Taxi - PlayStation Network - PSP-3000/PSP GO - $14.99
* Chu Chu Rocket - Apple App Store - iPod touch/phone/pad - $4.99
* Samba De Amigo - Retail - Nintendo Wii - Price Around $19.99

Future Dreamcast titles re-released:

* Crazy Taxi - End of November 2010 - PlayStation Network Store/X-Box Live - PS3/X-Box 360 - $9.99
* Space Channel 5 Part 2 - Spring 2011 - PlayStation Network Store/X-Box Live - PS3/X-Box 360 - $9.99
* Sega Bass Fishing - Spring 2011 - PlayStation Network Store/X-Box Live - PS3/X-Box 360 - $9.99

StuffRadio - Episode 11 - Downloadable Games

2010-10-27T07:47:00.000-07:00

This wonderful podcast features my buddy Tyler and myself as we discuss video games, movies and other fun things. I think we're approaching our tenth year recording podcasts. Enjoy the show!

* Show Description *

Kelley and Tyler focus on downloadable games from Costume Quest to Sonic The Hedgehog 4. Holiday titles are discussed as more Sony 1st party titles disappear while Nintendo continues to have a strong X-Mas lineup. Tyler rants Metroid: Other M and Kelley talks iPod Touch Gameloft titles.

DOWNLOAD DIRECT LINK

ARCHIVED SHOWS HOMEPAGE

Cut To The Chase Cast 2010 - Episode 04

2010-10-18T12:54:00.000-07:00

after a millennium in the making, we finally present a new episode of the Cut To The Chase Cast. Episode 4 features such awesome topics as Tron: legacy, Valkyrie Chronicles II, Sonic The Hedgehog 4, The Hobbit and much, much more!

Enjoy!

Direct Download Link

Podcast Archives Homepage

Pac-Man Party! Time To Party! Oh... Crap...

2010-10-13T17:14:00.000-07:00

This game celebrates Pac-Man's 30th Anniversary. It's much better than the 25th Anniversary celebrations we had. Releases such as Pac-Man World 3, a brand new Pac-Man arcade cabinet and the Namco Museum 50th Anniversary Collection.

Yep, this game is gonna be so much greater!

Oh... Crap...

Crazy Taxi... I Choose You!!!!

2010-10-13T17:04:00.000-07:00

After the awesomeness that the Sonic Adventure DC port to next-gen consoles was, you expect more from SEGA. Well now there is more. Much, much more!

Here comes CRAZY TAXI!

It'll be available in at the end of November. A little over a month dawgs! For $9.99, it launches November 23rd on the PSN and on the 24th for X-Box gamerz.

WORD!

Sonic Returns

2010-10-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

This blog has become very Sonic themed as of recently and that is awesome! It's a great time to be a new or old Sonic fan alike.

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 arrives tonight on the PSN. In a month, Sonic Colours hits the Wii and DS. Both titles are receiving huge buzz.

Here are a couple of trailers to pump you up!

WORD!

Sonic The Hedgehog Is Out! It Was Released Late Night, Oct. 6th!

2010-10-07T10:58:00.000-07:00

I live in the heart of Canada aka "The Great White North" with a Central Standard Time-Zone tick-tocking away. At around 9pm last night, the iTunes store was updated with Sonic The Hedgehog 4. I about spilled my crunk juice in excitement as I preceded to download Sonic's latest 2-D adventure, 15 years in the making.

Well it wasn't really 15 years in the making, it just sounds so cool to say that. It's like the advertising for Jurassic Park. "An Adventure 65 Million Years In The Making!" As sweet as it sounded, the marketing slogan started to sound really stupid after away.

I'm off topic, back to SONIC!

Quick impressions. There are 4 zones available with 3 sub-levels available and a boss battle at the end. So you have access to 24 stages of game play. Plus, apparently there are 2 exclusive, iPod Touch/iPhone levels which I believe are accessible when you complete the "main" game.

The game totally feels like playing "Sonic The Hedgehog 4". It plays, sounds and looks(in HD of course) like a natural progression from Sonic 3/Sonic & Knuckles. It's really damn good and I mean that.

The game is $9.99, which is a premium downloadable price on iTunes. Is it worth it? Hell yeah! It's great stuff! I feel although future installments, which nobody knows how many there will be, will cost less. We're just paying a premium for the introductory package. I expect Episode II to be priced around $6.99. The same ideology can also be applied to the console editions which are retailing at $14.99. I could see their future installments costing around $9.99.

I am having a blast with the title. It really is a true sequel to the classic Genesis/Mega Drive titles and I'm pumped up for future episodes. I expect 2 more, a trilogy of Sonic The Hedgehog 4 would be awesome! The number 3 has a nice "ring" to it.

It's Out Now In The U.K.! Expect It Late Tonight On N.A. Stores!

2010-10-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

Look at that. As soon as I log out, they pull me back in!

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 is right now on the U.K. iTunes store. Argh! Poop! I have to wait a whopping 24 hours. Well, not really.

The North American iTunes store should update with the title late, late tonight. Maybe around midnight we'll get it. Man, it's gonna be a long wait. Like many of us, I've waited 15 years for this baby!

Here's the scoop from the U.K. store. Let the copying and pasting... BEGIN!

Description
The sequel fans have waited 16 years for is finally here - Sonic The Hedgehog™ 4 Episode I!

Featuring enhanced gameplay elements, including the classic Sonic Spin Dash, and the versatile Homing Attack, Sonic 4 picks up right where Sonic and Knuckles™ left off.
_________________________________________
2 EXCLUSIVE LEVELS!!!
Two exclusive levels build specifically for the iPhone & iPod touch using the accelerometer.

NEW MOVES
All of Sonic's classic moves are available, including the newer Homing Attack which will add a new level of control and excitement.

CLASSIC SONIC STAGES
Race through 4 unique zones containing 4 acts each as well as 7 special stages.

SPECIAL STAGES RETURN
A staple of the Genesis-era games, the special stages return allowing fans to collect the 7 Chaos Emeralds and unlock Super Sonic.

REVAMPED CLASSIC BOSS BATTLES
Dr. Eggman returns with new and improved mechas and will go berserk when he accumulates damage.

¬¬
GamePro - “…this looks and feels like a genuine Sonic game, deserving of the "4" attached to its title.”

IGN – “After an afternoon in its presence it's become seared in our conscience just like the classic levels of the early Sonics – and surely that's reason enough to have faith in Sonic the Hedgehog 4.”

Direct Link Here

Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Arrives October 7th On iPod Touch!

2010-10-06T16:45:00.000-07:00

Zoom! Dash! Spin!

Just look at the trailer. Like holy crap... It's the greatest thing of all time!p
This is the 295th post for my blog. I'm so happy for myself. It takes time, dedication, money,
and power to be this good and to be this good takes AGES! Hmmm... Get it? AGES is SEGA backwards! Oh, that old Sega European "Mega Drive" advertising campaign was pretty sweet.

You know what I'm going to do to celebrate?

Get myself Sonic The Hedgehog 4 for my iPod Touch 4!

WOOT! Sweet! Awesome!

The game will then be released a half a week later on current gen systems, on their respected, regular network store updates. The Wii version on October 11th. The PS3 edition on October 12th and the XBox 360 version on October 13th.

I'm excited about gettin' the Touch version because I'm going to be outta town on the weekend and I'll be able to take a little bit of the new magic with me.

With Sonic Adventure released only a few weeks ago on the next-gen consoles, Sonic The Hedgehog 4 just around the corner, and Sonic Colours arriving next month in stores... This has truly become the season of Sonic!

Welcome back buddy!

I missed ya... *sniff*

SEGA Super Loves Mobile Devices!

2010-09-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

Apparently companies like Square-Enix and Namco-Bandia are huge developers of butt loads of mobile content for your favourite device. There is so much too list from them that I'll pass, instead I'll focus on some non-interesting Sega news. ;)

In the span of one month, can you believe it that the PSP has been graced with two giant sequels to two giant Sega IPs? Wow! Japan loves the PSP! All I can say is, "thank you."

First we have the sequel to one of the greatest games in the last 10 years, Valkyria Chronicles II released exclusively for the PSP. Up next is the one I've been waiting for, Phantasy Star Portable II. Oh hell yeah! Gotta love it yo! The titles have been released in both UMD and digital formats. :)

The mobile lovin' doesn't end there. A few days ago, Sega held a special game day for the press focused on the iPod Touch/iPhone. Coming very soon is a new franchise entitled Kingdom Conquest which is described as a free MMO. That's cool. Maybe Sega will finally be the company to get me interested in such a gaming genre. The Sega genesis classics Altered Beast and Gunstar Heroes will hit the platform as well. Exciting stuff!

Now for the mega-ton announcements... Drum roll...

The Dreamcast classic Chu-Chu Rocket! and the brand new Sonic The Hedgehog 4 are hitting the iPod Touch/iPhone! Sweet!

All of these newly announced goodies are all going to be released this fall. Awesome!

* * * *

STOP THE PRESS! STOP ALL THE PRESSES!!!!!

This just in. I just got this handed to me from my lacky, but it has been announced that Valkyria Chronicles III is coming to the PSP! Nice. Thanks Sega!

New iPods Invade North America September 7th

2010-09-06T14:33:00.000-07:00

Last week, Steve "God" Jobs unveiled the yearly, refreshed iPod line. The "shuffle" got its buttons back. The "nano" is now completely redesigned and features the sweetest, tiniest touch screen on the planet. Finally, the "touch" has been updated and is a true "iPhone without a contract".

So, tomorrow like millions of other tech dawgs I will be purchasing the new "iTouch" with all those fancy new features. Now the blog will be reviewing Apple content alongside my lovely Sony goodies.

Not only has the iPod line been refreshed, sadly so are their prices.

Specifically, the brand new "iTouch" in Canada will run you -

8GB Model - $249.99
32GB Model - $319.99
64GB Model - $429.99

Compared to last year's models, especially the 8GB model, prices have exploded. I loved the fact that in North America, the last generation 8GB "iTouch" cost $199.99. That was a great introductory price. Now the price has been jacked up 50 bones. Argh. I understand you are getting FaceTime and the new processor and much, much more. I had hoped that Apple would have killed the 8GB storage and upgrade it to 16GB so the new price would be warranted. Guess what? Nope. Bummer.

I was thinking of purchasing the 64GB model because I am a man who enjoys his storage, but the price is astronomical. I just can't fathom having close to $500 worth of technology in my pocket after taxes. Argh. So the 32GB model is the way I'll be rolling.

Regardless, I am still super pumped up about getting up early tomorrow and buying my sweet new toy. Have fun tomorrow folks and enjoy the new tech! ;)

Ghost of Sparta PSP-3000 Bundle Debuts

2010-08-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

I am Kratos! Raaarrrrr!!!!

On November 2nd, 2010, my latest adventure God of War: Ghost of Sparta arrives on retail shelves. It will reveal secrets of my powerful origin as I plan to defeat Zeus and all who oppose me.

Raaarrrrr!!!!

You can participate in my adventure or if you don't own a PSP, purchase my special PSP-3000 bundle, crafted by my loyal Spartan army to defeat the enemies in my way.

The bundle will include -

- A Black and Red Two-Toned PSP-3000

- God of War: Ghost of Sparta UMD Game– After God of War concludes, Ghost of Sparta begins with the story of Kratos’ ascension to power as the God of War.

- God of War: Chains of Olympus PlayStation Network Downloadable Game Voucher – Before the events of God of War, experience Kratos’ journey during the 10-years of servitude to the Gods of Olympus in one of the most highly acclaimed action titles of all time!

- Kick Ass – UMD Movie

- 2 GB Memory Stick Pro Duo

Contents fit for a God of War. Rarrrr!!!!!

Head over to the Official PayStation Blog for complete details and more pictures of my godly PSP.

Rarrrrr!!!!!

Chilean Miners Pass The Time With PSPs!

2010-08-30T07:20:00.000-07:00

The trapped Chilean miners incident marches on as messages of love and hope are delivered to the workers. The miners will possibly be trapped beneath the Earth until Christmas or even longer. Messages of love from your family is great and all but how are those poor souls really supposed to pass the time with? Why playing PSP of course!

Gizmodo is reporting that the trapped miners are receiving PSPs to help pass the time. Sweet!

Now these guys can get a crackin' on Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker! That's a kick ass game to pass the time with. I'm over 54 hours into that epic and still counting. Awesome! I just had to share this story, it's just too cool!

Namco's Really Gotta Lighten Up

2010-08-29T07:43:00.000-07:00

The gang over at techdirt have discovered that a kid who re-created Pac-Man, has been contacted by the Namco empire to take it down. The game was developed using the simple programing language Scratch. The whole story can be read here.

From Scratch's Official Site - "Scratch is developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab, with financial support from the National Science Foundation, Microsoft, Intel Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, Google, Iomega and MIT Media Lab research consortia."

Yeah, Namco's really gotta chill out on this one. The language is designed for kids to get them interested in programming. I doubt a kid's version of Pac-Man is gonna put a dent in all them iTouch/iPhone/iPad sales.

James "The Man" Cameron's Camera Tech

2010-08-28T06:58:00.000-07:00

I haven't updated my blog forever. Sadly, real life plays a far greater roll and the fun blog is placed aside. Now: No More! I'm back and ready to take action!

Apparently there was some kinda German video game show that happened last week, which I'll have to catch up and comment on later. Today however, we have two sweet videos from Attack of The Show featuring James "The Man" Cameron as he explains Avatar 2 and his brand new awesome 3-D camera technology. It is great stuff! Enjoy!

Two Great Movies At The End of Summer

2010-08-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

The Expendables and Scott Pilgrim VS The World are summer flicks. They should have opened somewhere in the beginning or middle of the sunny season. Instead, they appear at the end. Where I live, summer is over. It's cool, cloudy and rainy. Burrrr...

In theatres, one can watch Stallone and the gang blow up crap awesome and beat the snot out of bad dudes. The Expendables is glorious fun. It is the stuff of 80's action movie dreams are made of. It's paced better, more rewarding and constructed a hell of a lot better than the movies of the gone era. We've seen this film before. Good guys take on bad guys and win. The Expendables just does it better than the rest. The action scenes are epic. The flick ends and I had a stupid grin from ear to ear. Thanks Sly, you rock! The scene with Stallone, Schwarzenegger and Willis is awesome. I was waiting my entire life for that one scene!

Scott Pilgrim VS The World is for the ADHD generation. The movie is explosive in imagery and action. I couldn't stop laughing during the flick. My only complaint is that once and awhile, the pacing seemed off resulting the flick grind to a stop. Example: right at the beginning with Scott and his high school girlfriend, the setup felt long and tedious. It needed to be tightened up. Plus, moments after the thunderous action scenes felt boring as hell. I still highly recommend seeing it. It's visually awesome and hysterical!

Madden 11 Is Out

2010-08-10T11:32:00.000-07:00

Madden 11 is out for every single video console and handheld in the galaxy. I picked up the PS3 edition and awaiting to purchase it on the PSN Store later today. I'm very curious about the iTouch/iPad edition of the game. I played Madden 10 last year on the iTouch and found it very enjoyable. This year's looks even more impressive. EA is just rockin' the franchise, It's awesome to see it hit Apple's platform in style.

There are a million reviews out on the internets for the latest pigskin experience. So instead of reading more thoughts of it, let's look at the past and how Madden was started.

Over at EDGE, they have a wonderful article detailing the origial, the very 1st Madden game ever made. The game hit not only the Sega Genesis but the Commodore 64 as well. Check out the article HERE.

Also, IGN presents a very deep and sweet look at the entire history of the Madden franchise. It can be found HERE.

Now it's off to play this year's edition...

How Do I Complete Chapter 5 of MGS:PW?!?!?

2010-08-08T15:49:00.000-07:00

This post has a few partial spoilers to Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. I ain't spoiling the story or all of it's wonderful secrets. I am going to keep my description very brief. Still, if you haven't played this epic adventure you may wanna skip this. You've been warned!

As many of you know, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is a HUGE GAME. MEGA HUGE. It's the BIGGEST MGS GAME EVER!

After one has completed Chapter 4 and the gorgeous cinematic's unveil it's awesome ending, the credits roll and then BOOM! In text the game proclaims that it will be concluded in Chapter 5.

WTF? Argh! Didn't I complete this baby?!?! Leave it to Kojima to keep us guessing and continually rewarded. ;)

So how does one get to the final, final battle in Peace Walker? Straight from Prima's Essential Guide is the following description:

- Complete Zadornov Search 6

- Mother Base must have been upgraded to two plants. When your Intel Team reaches Level 40, development on the second plant will begin. At that point, complete 13 missions other than Target Practice: No Limit or training missions to complete construction.

- You must have gathered all the basic parts for Metal Gear ZEKE, and must have the railgun installed. Metal Gear ZEKE cannot be assigned to an Outer Ops Team.

- After fulfilling the requirements above, complete three additional missions (other than Target Practice: No Limit) to trigger the call from Kaz informing you that Zadornov has escaped his cell again.

- Load Target Practice: No Limit (Extra Ops Mission 001) and climb the stairs to the second floor to find Zardornov. Approach him to trigger a cutscene. After the cutscene the mission begins.

There ya go! Good luck! Big phat props to Prima and their sweet guide. It's worth picking up to help you discover all of the game's hidden secret's and how to kick major ass during all of the missions.

Cut To The Chase Cast 2010 - Episode 03

2010-08-07T19:59:00.000-07:00

Kelley and Kathy discuss summer movies such as Inception, The A-Team and Kick Ass. They also review Suikoden, Persona 1 and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

Direct Download Podcast Here

Podcast Homepage Here

Walking In Peace Earns Konami Big Money

2010-08-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

Snake racks in the money for Konami HQ and Big Boss Kojima. To date, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker has sold over 1.06 million units worldwide. Sadly, this dose not include those mysterious PlayStation Network purchases. Who knows how many people obtained the title digitally? A clue may lead in Konami's first quarter official sales data.

During the months of April to June, Metal Gear games have sold a total of 1.27 million world wide. The official Konami info strictly states the data as "METAL GEAR". So it may include sales of Metal Gear Solid 4 or Peace Walker digital purchases.

The fact is that the title has sold over a million units within two months of release.

Congratulations to Kojima and Konami! The game deserves great success.

Thanks to VGChartz and andrasang for the 411.

Rarr! I'm The Ghost of Sparta! I Come With Pre-Order Bonuses!

2010-08-02T14:33:00.000-07:00

I am Kratos! The God of War! Rarr!

My latest adventure, God of War: Ghost of Sparta arrives November 2. If you pre-order now, you'll receive a Spartan army size of rewards including exclusive PSP/PS3 themes, avatars and a video documentary featuring the directors of my adventures.

Rarr! Pre-order now! Visit the PlayStation Blog for more details...

Rarr!

Madden 11 PSP Bun... Wait! What? There's Another PSP Bundle?!?!

2010-08-02T07:51:00.000-07:00

In a little over a week, Madden 11 arrives for the PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2 and 3. Yes, they are still making a PS2 version once again. Wow! Madden 11 for the PSP and PS3 will allow gamers to export their franchise between both versions. This is a feature we fans have been dreamin' about for a long time.

Now look what we have here. A brand new PSP-3000 bundle, celebrating the release of the beloved pigskin game. This package includes a black PSP-3000 and a copy of Madden 11 on UMD. There are no additional PSN downloads included, nor a movie or memory stick. Still, the package only costs the price of the PSP unit itself, $169.99.

I however, highly recommend the Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker PSP-3000 bundle. It costs a little bit more, $199.99 but you get more content and it's worth it. Plus, the green PSP-3000 is pretty sweet.

If you still don't have a PSP. Here's a detailed article I wrote explaining all the sweet things the mobile device can do.

Cheers!

New Tron Legacy Trailer! Earth Explodes In Anticipation!

2010-07-23T15:07:00.000-07:00

There ya go! Didn't that just make your weekend? Your welcome. Tron Legacy arrives in Theatres mid-December. The world nor I, can not wait!

X-Mas LittleBigPlanet 2 Collector's Edition Announced... X-Mas Gets More and More Expensive

2010-07-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

This isn't it all shocking, it just adds dents to my wallet. We already have a Gran Turismo 5 Collector's Edition announced and now look what we have here. A LittleBigPlanet 2 Special Super Duper Sackboy Edition, sweet!

Included are a number of digital download goodies, bookends to help organize that ever growing PS3 collection and finally a very adorable 7" stuffed Sackboy. Just look at him. He's all cute and sh*t! I just wanna snuggle him.

Retailing for $79.99, Canucks will probably be able to purchase it at an EB Games location much like the God of War III Collector's Edition.

Hmm... I have an itchin' to play a bit of LittlebigPlanet 1 now.

Our Prices Are Insane! Burnout Legends On PSN For $9.99!

2010-07-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

Ever since Sony unveiled their new PSP promotion, they've been firing on all cylinders and backing up my favorite mobile device. The last PSN Store update once again brought us a number of PSP UMD Legacy price drops. Among them are two of my favorite EA titles.

First, we've got Medal of Honor: Heroes. Oh yeah! You know it wasn't that long ago when EA's WWII series was king of the FPS. Then, the trilogy of bad happened. Medal of Honor: European Assault, Vanguard and Airborne. Ouch! Them hurt bad. During that troubling period, EA Canada out in Vancouver developed a heaping helping of awesome with their portable version of the series.

Medal of Honor: Heroes for the PSP is fantastic stuff. It dropped in price on the network store to $9.99, it's well worth it folks. A sequel was developed for the PSP and the Wii easily titled, Medal of Honor: Heroes II. EA Canada showed off impressive work with this one-two punch of WWII power. Both titles feature a fantastic single player campaign as well as full online battle modes. Download the original title right now! It's that damn good. You may even be tempted to get it's sequel right after, available for $19.99. Sadly, a Heroes III ain't happening. *sniff* :(

Next, we've got a very unique and beloved racer. You know it. You love it. It's a compilation of the greatest tracks with a mixture of new ones. We've got Burnout Legends. Portable Burnout... I'm in heaven! Nothin' like being anywhere, anytime during the day and busting out my PSP GO and playin' a quick round of Burnout. It's $9.99 as well. Do not pass this baby up! Those who've only played the very kick ass Burnout: Paradise City, will wanna experience the origins of this franchise and Legends is a fantastic start.

Stay tuned for more articles focusing on discounted treasures, those buried goodies that you may have mistakenly skipped by.

Peace out!

Gran Turismo 5 Keeps It Real, Yo!

2010-07-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

Eventually, you just fall in love with a series.

Gran Turismo has always interested me, I was never a super fan. Over time, I grew into one.

I'll always remember visiting some family up in Edmonton. Checking out the West Edmonton Mall, going to movies and eating at great restaurants. While checking out my cousin's apartment, her husband to be busted out his PlayStation and wanted to show me one hell of a cool racer. I didn't know what it was. He turned on Gran Turismo and it looked amazing. The realism. The cars. The courses. A simulator that took so much care in recreating reality.

There have been car simulators before, particularly on the PC with such series as Test Drive. However, Gran Turismo blew all of them out of the water. Even that first, low resolution, PS1 game is still phenomenal. I hope it will be released as a PS1 classic on the network store some day.

Today, I love playing Gran Turismo on my PSP. What an amazing job the gang at Polyphony Digital did on that one. I still fire up GT5 Prologue once and a while, but I've slowed down on that one. I want the real deal now. Prologue is great stuff, but it was just a taste. The final game is insane with greater graphics, realism and more cars than any simulator before.

Gran Turismo 5 releases November 2. Alongside it, is a sweet collector's edition that I must own. Nearly a thousand cars are available to collect and drive. I already have a head start on my garage. Every vehicle collected and unlocked in the PSP edition will be available for GT5. The games share garages. Awesome!

I can't wait for Gran Turismo 5 and you should too. The game will be in 3D for those lucky enough to own a 3D television. Plus, there is Move support as well. The game is so feature packed, makes it worth the long development wait.

Here's that sweet E3 2010 trailer of theirs. Enjoy!

Inception Is The Movie of The Summer

2010-07-16T15:23:00.000-07:00

Chris Nolan is the man. We are in the presence of a cinematic genius my friends. The man who brought you Batman Begins, The Prestige and The Dark Knight crafts films like no other. Whenever I sit in a theatre with his vision projected onto the big screen, I am blown away. He is a master storyteller and filmmaker. I wanna be Chris Nolan when i grow up.

Inception is his latest masterpiece. In a summer of sequels, reboots, movies based on video games or TV shows, Nolan battles them all with an original summer flick like no other. Inception has great talent behind and in front of the camera and it shows.

Yeah, Predators was a hell of a lot of fun but Inception is the real deal. Go see it now!

Midway... Finish Him!

2010-07-16T15:13:00.000-07:00

You know, I do play other games besides Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker. One I recently purchased is Midway Arcade Treasures Extended for the PSP.

Developed by retro fan favourite Digital Eclipse, the attractive compilation of classic arcade games includes -

Defender
Joust
Mortal Kombat I, II & III
Rampage
Spy Hunter
Xenophobia

Nice. In total, 21 arcade classics are represented. I have to admit, being able to play Mortal Kombat II, Joust and Xenophobia on the go makes me very happy.

Midway Arcade Treasures Extended s available for the PSP on the PlayStation Network Store for $9.99. This is stuff you can't pass up on. A great compilation and a great price.

32 Hours of Peace Walking and Counting

2010-07-14T16:09:00.000-07:00

I can't stop playing this game. I still haven't unlocked or completed all of the Extra Ops. Nor have I discovered all of the game's secrets. Heck, I haven't even completed the "true" ending to Peace Walker, Chapter 5: Outer Heaven. I did compete the main story, 22 hours into the game. There is so much to do, so much to discover, so much to play that it has "Game of The Year" written all over it.

I haven't written or recorded a podcast to review the game yet because I still feel I haven't put a dent into it. I love replaying missions. Receiving better ranks and recruiting new soldiers. CQC brings a smile to my face. Developing new items and weapons is bitchin'. Rescuing prisoners is so damn cool, I giggle in delight just thinking about it.

All I can say is that this game is worth purchasing a PSP for. You have to get the bundle and enjoy what is possibly the greatest Metal Gear Solid title ever.

Kratos Returns

2010-07-10T18:57:00.000-07:00

Look at this game. It is a PSP game. It looks amazing! God of War: Ghost of Sparta will be available this fall alongside a special PSP-3000 bundle. Again, another kick ass title in the PSP's library. There are no excuses anymore to not own one.

UPDATE: Did you know this game has won 9 E3 2010 awards. Here they are!

Game Critics — Best Handheld Game (WINNER)
Kotaku.com — Best PSP Game (WINNER)
X-Play & G4tv.com — Best Handheld Game (WINNER)
Machinima.com — Best Handheld Game (WINNER)
GameTrailers.com — Best PSP Game (WINNER)
GameSpy.com — PSP Game of Show (WINNER)
Game Informer — Best Handheld Game (WINNER)
IGN.com — Best PSP Game (WINNER)
Ripten.com – Best PSP Game (WINNER)

Check out the The Official PS Bog for the full scoop.

Epic Reaction... It Is Coming Soon!

2010-07-05T17:42:00.000-07:00

"Lol Never seen a reaction as big as that for Mario..not even at E3." - Hypothedragon, YouTube Comments Page

Free Wi-Fi At Starbucks

2010-07-05T12:48:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you are familiar with the Starbucks experience. It can be a 6 to 8 dollar price point for a coffee and some kinda backed goodie. Well, now the price doesn't appear to be too steep.

I am posting this absolutely mind shattering blog post from a Starbucks location with the thanks to their free Wi-Fi service from Bell.

Hooray!

I remember back in the day, a week ago that is, that one had to purchase internet minutes and crap just to get online. Now, things are different.

All locations in Canada and the U.S.A. now provide the free service and this makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Word! Keep it real! Now I'm gonna get back to my coffee... Damn, they make a good cup. ;)

Canada Day Rocks!

2010-07-01T22:42:00.000-07:00

Now this is the kinda post I love to write!

As you know this is a Sony Blog. In particular, a Sony PlayStation line blog. It is also written and posted up in Canada. Home of kick ass beer, Olympic winning hockey teams, RUSH, Elisha Cuthbert, the Saskatchewan Roughriders, more kick ass beer and homeland of Neil Blomkamp, the awesome dude who directed District 9.

As far as I know, out of the three big gaming companies, Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony... Sony was the only company who happily acknowledged Canada Day and gave PlayStation 3 owners a sweet gift.

On July 1st, Canada Day, Sony launched the video download/purchasing store to the PSN. Hi-Def movies and television shows can be rented and SD versions can be purchased. Sweet!

That's not all! Canucks who visit the store within the next couple of weeks will receive a voucher to download and keep a SD copy of Charlie's Angels for free. The voucher will be e-mailed to the visitors within 10 business days of their visit.

Awesome! Thank you Sony!

Happy Canada everyone!

iPhone 4 Oh No's

2010-06-30T20:54:00.000-07:00

I love Apple products. Their form and ease of function. The iPad is awesome stuff. I love how slick and sexy it is. Then there's the other side of me that is always disappointed.

I held back on the purchase of an iPad because of the pricing. It's a total consumer munching device, with productivity to boot. You wanna buy plenty of goodies for it and store it on board for ease of access. I couldn't own one unless I purchased the 64GB model. I am more than happy owning the Wi-Fi only edition, I have no interest in 3G. The 64GB/Wi-Fi model will run me back $749 in Canada... Before taxes. I'm writing this blog post on a $299 HP Notebook with 160GB of storage... Before taxes.

I know my Netbook ain't no iPad. However, the price was right and she's a tough little bugger. I love my Notebook.

Let's put this into another perspective.

You could go pick yourself up the following and still have change to spare...

$299.99 - PlayStation 3 - 120GB Model
$199.99 - Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker PSP-3000 Bundle
$50 - PlayStation Network Card for Online Store Purchases
$29.99 - Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of The Patriots
$29.99 - Grand Theft Auto 4
$10.00 - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Blu-Ray

$619.96 Total... Before Taxes.

$749.99 and all I get is an iPad? Kinda sucks...

I'm running off topic.

The iPhone 4 was just released to great sales and hype, thanks to Apple's Kool-Aid. There have been more occasions of hiccups and users aren't happy.

Check out this article from The Apple Blog with the latest 411.

Users Are Not Pleased With iPhone 4

2010-06-27T08:34:00.000-07:00

Wow! I didn't see this coming...

Users of previous iPhone models, would fall into great depths of dropped calls and service. Many speculated that it was the service provider AT&T's, fault. The iPhone 4 appeared to have resolved this issue with a fairly robust hardware redesign.

Visiting a few of my favourite Apple blogs, things aren't appearing to be doing so well.

"The iPhone 4 antenna issue is a very real one for Apple. While no one is certain what is causing the issue, it appears that when held with the left hand, assumedly connecting the two antennas, the signal drops significantly, often cutting off data and any phone calls." - Seth Weintraub, 9 to 5 Mac Apple Intelligence

Umm... Okay.

Apple officially responds to the public with, "Gripping any phone will result in some attenuation of its antenna performance, with certain places being worse than others depending on the placement of the antennas. This is a fact of life for every wireless phone. If you ever experience this on your iPhone 4, avoid gripping it in the lower left corner in a way that covers both sides of the black strip in the metal band, or simply use one of many available cases."

Umm... Okay. Again.

I'm sure over time the issue will be resolved... Hopefully. In the mean time check out Gizmodo's article about the iPhone 4 and it's redesign. Interesting read.

Finally, Hitler is displeased with the situation as well. Here's another classic "Fallout" spoof!

He's Upset About the iPhone 4 Antenna from MG Siegler on Vimeo.

The Engines That Drive The Hardware

2010-06-21T10:49:00.000-07:00

hardCOREware.net has a fascinating article comparing the engines of the newly unveiled Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, Sony PSP and Apple iPhone 3GS.

The 3DS appears to have output visuals similar with the modern competition, a welcome change compared to the aging visuals of the DS.

Check out the article HERE. It's a great read.

The Awesome Stuff At E3 2010 Everyone Missed

2010-06-18T07:05:00.000-07:00

At this year's E3 2010, Sony provided another strong presence with emphases on 3D gaming and pricing/details on the new Move controller. A few surprises remained with Value now committed to the PS3 platform with Portal 2 and their Steam service. The long rumoured new PSP ad campaign featuring Marcus was very successful. Check it out.

Very funny stuff! There were still a number of surprises, things quietly announced during and after Sony's press conference. Here they are...

On stage, Jack Tretton announced that the brand new PSP God of War title arriving this fall will be available in a hardware bundle. Cool! Quietly placed within journalist's goodie conference bag is the very PSP that will be included. It's a gorgeous black/red PSP-3000! Look at it in awe. It is beautiful stuff! Thanks Kotaku for the 411.

* * * *

Why wasn't this title shown during the press conference? This would have been perfect. Another PS3 exclusive downloadable PSN title that looks beautiful and unique. It would have blown the socks off a lot of fan boys. The developers of Flower have a new title in development called Journey. it looks gorgeous.

...when we are hiking in the wild, we become tiny and weak again. These feelings make every other person we encounter much more important and enjoyable. We greet them, giving them genuine and useful help. We might travel together for a period, learn from and rely on each other. Struggling against the dangerous nature together, somehow, makes us warm and powerful inside... - Jenova Chen, Creative Director of thatgamecompany

I can't wait for this title! Get the info at The Official PS Blog.

* * * *

Let's wrap this up with a couple of side announcements during Sony's conference. A Sly Cooper PS3 collection will be arriving this fall. It will include Move enabled mini-games, HD visuals and trophy support. Awesome.

PixelJunk's Shooter exists! It looks sweet! Why wasn't this pumped up at the press conference?

Patapon 3 exists as well. Again, why wasn't this pumped up at the press conference?

Finally, Singstar will incorporate Move functionality as you sing and Dance. Very cool! I love me some Singstar and now I can bust a Move! I already boogie while I sing, I might as well get some points for doing so.

Enjoy the rest of E3 2010 Sony fans!

Cut To The Chase Cast 2010 - Episode 02

2010-06-07T17:11:00.000-07:00

Cut To The Chase Cast 2010 - Episode 02

Kelley and Kathy discuss recent movie news, the iPhone 4, Monster Hunter Freedom Unite and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker for the PSP.

Click Here For Direct Download

Click Here For Podcast Homepage

New PSP Promotions... Wait! What?!?!?

2010-06-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

People of North America. Are you sitting down? If not, you must. Good. Here's the word...

Sony has finally unveiled new PSP promotions! Holy crap! Calm down. This information is very real, even in the face of disbelief.

Starting right now, two new PSP campaigns begin. With the PSP GO, Sony announces...

If you purchase a PSPgo system from today through March 31, 2011, you will receive an e-mail with a PlayStation Network voucher to download three games absolutely free! With premiere titles such as LittleBigPlanet, Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters and SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 3, the PSPgo “Digital Game Pack” offers you an $80 value while giving you access to a great variety of our biggest games to get you started gaming on-the-go.

Wait! What? This is real?

Yes it is my friends and I can confirm that ALL OF THESE TITLES ROCK! This is finally a great value for new purchasers of the PSP GO system.

For PSP-3000 new and old owners alike, UMD explosions occur as...

we’re excited to introduce a new $9.99 “Favorites” software line. Featuring a healthy variety of your favorite titles, this new value line will reconnect you with some of your old favorites or introduce you to titles you haven’t played before. Initial Favorites games will include:

* Ape Escape: On the Loose
* Buzz! Master Quiz
* Hot Shots Golf Open Tee
* LocoRoco 2
* Patapon 2
* PixelJunk Monster Deluxe
* SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo
* Syphon Filter: Logan’s Shadow
* Twisted Metal: Head On

These titles are also available on the PlayStation Network Store for PSP Go owners as with the newly reduced price.

OMG! I'm about to faint... Call an ambulance...

Good job, Sony! Nice to see a little love and attention to my favourite portable device. :)

Check out the official announcement HERE.

Straight From The Horse's... Snake's Mouth!

2010-05-31T20:53:00.000-07:00

Sony has updated the PSP section on their official North American website with information about next week's super-duper arrival. The Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Entertainment Pack arrives on Tuesday, June 8th and retails for $199.99. The package includes the movie 2012 and it'll be available as a downloadable voucher for U.S. purchasers. In Canada, the movie will be included as a UMD disc. Direct from Sony here is their official description. The official page can be accessed HERE.

Metal Gear Solid®:
Peace Walker Entertainment Pack
Gaming Without Borders

Hideo Kojima, the father of all stealth action games, has created Metal Gear Solid®: Peace Walker exclusively for the PSP® system. Telling the story of Naked Snake creeping through Columbia during the depths of the Cuban Missile Crisis, Konami crafts one of the deepest PSP® system games ever. The only thing you need to enjoy it? A PSP-3000 system. Its 4.3” LCD screen perfectly displays acclaimed art and enhances new gameplay features and classic stealth moves. The PSP-3000 system also enables a unique multiplayer experience with four-player CO-OP gameplay, where four friends can team up to create a CO-OP ring and move in a new “snake formation.”

Together, Metal Gear Solid®: Peace Walker and the PSP-3000 system form the perfect bundle: a slim, portable handheld and the right game to make it shine. To complete the package, we throw in a 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo™ that can hold TV shows, movies, games and other good stuff downloadable from PlayStation®Store. You’ll also get a PlayStation®Network Movie Voucher for 2012 and everything you need to get started with your PSP-3000: an AC power cord, AC adaptor and a battery pack.

Metal Gear Solid®: Peace Walker Entertainment Pack Details

* Includes code to unlock in-game content including the Stealth gun and FOX T-shirt.
* A true continuation of the ever-evolving franchise directed by Hideo Kojima.
* 4 player “CO-OPS” gameplay that introduces the all-new “Snake Formation”.
* With 2GB of memory, the compact Memory Stick PRO Duo™ allows you to save your PlayStation®Network downloads, as well as store your videos, photos, music and more.

Contains:

* Green PSP-3000 system
* Metal Gear Solid®: Peace Walker UMD® Game
* 2012 PlayStation®Network Movie Voucher
* 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo™
* AC Power Cord
* AC Adaptor
* Battery Pack

The Music of Peace... Live!

2010-05-30T17:08:00.001-07:00

Donna Burke is the talented singer/actress who performs "Heaven's Divide" for Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker. Every MGS game before has had a gorgeous, vocal melody which encaptures the characters and plot of the title. I can still remember completing the original MGS with a great sense of accomplishment, excitement and emotion. Then the credits would roll and the beautiful song "The Best Is Yet to Come", would play. Much like it's unexpected fantastic plot and memorable characters, the gorgeous finale song made the game even more amazing. Oh, the glorious memories.

Today, "Heaven's Divide" is MGS latest memorable melody. Below, is Donna's performance of the song live. It was performed during the game's "completion ceremony" press conference in Tokyo, Japan. It is spectacular.

The MGS Peace Walker Bundle Movie Revealed

2010-05-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

When the Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker bundle was announced some time ago, it was mentioned that a movie was going to be included. Looking around at Amazon.ca, I can 100% confirm what the mystery film is. Prepare to be blown away!

Roland Emmerich's 2012

Sweet! I enjoyed 2012, thought it was a great ride. It stars John Cusack, Oliver Platt, Woody Harrison and Danny Glover as they battle to survive the elements as the world ENDS! Dun! Dun! DUUUNNNNNN!!!! ;) Honestly, it's fun stuff.

In the U.S., it'll be available as a downloadable movie voucher from the PSN Store. Up here in The Great White North, that's Canada dawgs! We will be receiving it as a UMD disc. No problem. It'll save room on our memory stick duo's for games. ;)

I also recommend rounding out your MGS package with the following -

Step 1 - Download the awesome Metal Gear Solid: Philanthropy fan film.

Step 2 - Head over to PSP Video Converter, download this fantastic free program and convert Philanthropy for your PSP.

Step 3 - Slap that baby onto your memory stick duo. Then...

Step 4 - SHAZAM! Your ready to rock your PSP with more awesome Snake goodness!

The Only Fan Film You Need To See. A MGS One!

2010-05-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

"...It’s awesome. I felt like crying for their love towards Metal Gear. It’s also a well made movie. I can’t wait to see the next part." - Hideo Kojima / The Man, The King, The Legendary Creator of The Metal Gear Series

Those words were written from Hideo Kojima himself about the fan film Metal Gear Solid: Philanthropy. The flick is awesome. An amazing accomplishment that not only respects the source material but is a hell of a great viewing experience. There's action, a neat plot and some great Snake dialogue. Go download it for free and watch it again and again.

Check it out HERE.

Google Pac-Man Will Live Forever

2010-05-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

One of the many surprises for Pac-Man's 30th Anniversary was Google's playable logo which was unveiled on May 21st, Pac-Man's official birthday. Those fearing the disappearance of Google's awesome surprise, will be in luck! Click HERE to play this gem whenever you please. :)

Easter Egg: Insert 2 Coins to play a co-op game of Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man! Pac-Man is controlled with the cursor keys and the Ms. is controlled with W, A, S, D.

The PS3 Move Only Does Everything

2010-05-26T10:29:00.000-07:00

...The reception from journalists, as well as gamers, has totally overwhelmed us! We also found ourselves in the middle of the rising motion gaming discussion as many of the stories call out that our game already does what Natal is trying for: Kung-Fu Live uses full-body skeleton tracking to track the player’s moves in real-time. Thus, people have been saying that our game and tech using the PlayStation Eye is stealing the thunder from Natal. LOL! - Teemu Maki-Patola / CEO, Virtual Air Guitar Company via PS Blog

Wow! It looks like the PlayStation Move can do everything the Nintendo Wii and what Mcrosoft's upcoming Natal can do.

The PS3 ad campaign ain't lying. It only does everything!

Dawg! I Got A MGS PSP-3000 Bundle, What Can It Do?

2010-05-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

This is a fun little article I wrote, displaying the PSP-3000's functionality. It'd probably would be more appropriate to post it on June 8th, when Peace Walker and the PSP bundle arrives in stores. You know what? I think it's better to do it now! It'll help pump you up even more for a PSP. Enjoy!

* * * *

So you finally got one. That Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker PSP-3000 bundle tempted you to the break down of purchase. Well then congratulations! For $200, you have an explosive portable entrainment device. Enjoy it! You will! ;)

In this article I am going to showcase some of the awesome things the PSP can do. Here we go!

Big Screen - 4.3 inches of viewing pleasure compared to an iTouch's 3.5 inch. Included is a resolution of 480 x 272 pixels and approximately 16,770,000 million colors displayed. It's big, beautiful and makes you appreciate visual content on the go.

Wi-Fi Goodtimes - You can surf the net with a decent mobile browser, download games/demos directly from the PSN Store and connect to you PlayStation 3 to access the big console's content. You can also play with gamers online around the world or with a group of buddies in the same room.

Awesome MP3 Player - Got tunes? Got MP3s? No problem. Just drag and drop them into your Memory Stick Duo Pro and listen to your heart's content. The output quality is gorgeous. Supported file types include MP3, MP4 and WMA.

Share Those Photogenic Memories and Movies - That 4.3 inch screen is put to good use when you load it up with your photos. Plus, you like movies? Why not watch some flicks or your favourite TV show on the go? Great stuff!

Give Someone Special A Call - SKYPE functionality is built in. If you have an a account and a Wi-Fi connection, then give your buddies a quick call. Organize to get together and play some PSP. It is time well spent. :)

Internet Radio - I love .977 and all their Internet radio stations. With your sweet PSP and a Wi-Fi spot, you can rock out to the 80's, 90's or whatever you like.

Killer Games - I saved the best for last. Let's see. You can play PlayStation 1 classics like Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy 7, Resident Evil 2 and Castlevania: Symphony of The Night. PSP Minis like Age of Zombies and Monsters (Probably) Stole My Princess. Big titles such as LittleBigPlanet and ModNation Racers. The God of War series may have ended on consoles but it continues on the PSP. Games and great games and bitchin' games... Oh yeah, you picked up the MGS bundle. That means you already have one of the awesomest games on the planet in the palm of your hand. Get playing it!

There ya go. Congratulations on your purchase! Enjoy Peace Walker and all the sick things you can do with your PSP-3000.

Pumped Up For Peace Walker

2010-05-25T10:49:00.000-07:00

Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker is only weeks away. I am pumped up big time for it! To help pump all of you out there, I present to you via the magic of YouTube is G4TV's Icons Metal Gear Solid special.

Icons was a half hour of great television which provided a chunk of video game history about particular topics such as Pac-Man and Dragon's Lair. The program also featured interviews with legendary game developers. Obviously with the words "history" and "interviews" killed the fantastic show, it would have lasted longer if it featured bikini girls bouncing around. Sadly, Icons is no more but it will live forever on YouTube.

Here is the episode focused on Metal Gear Solid. Enjoy!

Pimp Your PSP-3000... Snake Style!

2010-05-25T09:26:00.000-07:00

Video game accessory manufacturer Hori, is releasing a PSP-3000 set full of Peace Walker goodies. Included is a beautiful case, cleaning strap and code to unlock an additional character in Snake's latest adventure.

Very sweet! I'm not much of a gaming accessory guy, but this set is just to awesome to resist. Go get your Snake face on and check out the full details HERE.

So Long Sony, Hello Multiplatform

2010-05-25T08:54:00.000-07:00

Much like Bungie's move last month, Sony's 2nd-party Insomniac Games has gone multi-platform and has striked a deal with EA. Wow! Good for them. Unlike Bungie, it seemed that Sony and Insomniac enjoyed a great relationship with each other. The studio was able to work in multiple gaming genres as opposed to Bungie and Microsoft, which was just shooter after shooter after shooter.

I think it's great to see the studio striking a deal with EA and possibly working on some new IPs. This doesn't mean you're going to be see Resistance on the Wii. Nope, the Insomniac IPs that were worked on at Sony, stay at Sony. Just like the Halo franchise staying with Microsoft.

Best wishes to you sir's! I can't wait to see what the future has in store.

Happy B-Day You Awesome Big Yellow Guy, You!

2010-05-21T14:15:00.001-07:00

It's Pac-Man's 30th Anniversary today. So go celebrate dammit! Go play the game. Now! Right now!

PSP 2? Hmmm...

2010-05-17T20:11:00.000-07:00

The rumours just don't stop, do they?

Around the internets and interwebs, word that the mysterious PSP 2 will be unveiled soon. It may even be shown at E3 2010. Interesting.

Looking into my crystal ball...

The PSP 2 will not be unveiled during E3 2010. However, it may be shown at TGS 2010.

Why?

We have a Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker PSP-3000 coming out on June 8th. Also, Sony just announced a Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep PSP-3000 bundle coming out September 7th. E3 is just around the corner, starting June 15th. TGS starts September 16th, giving Sony a little extra time to sell more PSP-3000's. BTW, a new God of War game is coming out at the end of the year for Sony's portable.

With all this PSP 1 action going on, I just can't see it's sequel being seen anytime soon.

Who knows? I could be wrong. A PSP 2 would be pretty sweet but my gut is just telling me "NO" on this one just yet.

Holy Mickey! Kingdom Hearts Is Finally Hitting The PSP In The West!

2010-05-17T12:36:00.000-07:00

Kingdom Hearts, it's been a long time.

I love the Kingdom Hearts series, the Square Enix/Disney collaboration is amazing, fun and gorgeous. It just tickles the fan boy inside me. Now comes word that Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, will be released in North America on September 7th. Not only that but Sony is releasing a PSP entertainment pack that will include the game and a PSP-3000 for $199.

Very cool!

Snake Grooves To His Own Beat

2010-05-15T22:18:00.000-07:00

Snake busts a beat with his own exclusive Sony Walkman within their Wearable Series of MP3 Players. With over 10 hours of battery life and audio support for mp3, AAC and WMA file types, the 2 GB storage device is a convenient and attractive way to listen to music.

To celebrate Peace Walker's release, the exclusive Walkman will be available at Sony Style stores and online. I'm not sure if the product will be available at Sony Style Canada. I hope so. If not, it looks like I'm gonna be going for a trip across the border. ;)

Sony's full press release is below -

The new Sony Walkman W Series, model NWZ-W252, features a convenient lightweight, wearable and water resistant design. New camouflaged styled KONAMI's "METAL GEAR SOLID: PEACE WALKER" version allows for exclusive access to original designed characters.

The new Sony Walkman W250 Series features a wearable, lightweight and water-resistant frame that ensures proper functionality during extended periods of activity inside or outside.

The "METAL GEAR SOLID: PEACE WALKER" themed Walkman comes pre-loaded with the video game soundtrack, available nowhere else in the U.S. Additionally, the limited edition version comes packaged with a coupon code, allowing gamers to unlock original designed characters and special Walkman apparel.

With 2 GB of maximum capacity, the new Walkman W Series can hold approximately 470 songs (4 minute length MP3 playback at 128 kbps). The model also features a quick charge function, allowing for up to 90 minutes of use from only three minutes of charge time. Full battery life is approximately 11 hours.

Additionally, the new Walkman comes with Content Transfer software, allowing you to move music files of playlists straight from your PC or iTunes library (not including DRM files). Just click on a file, then drag and drop into Content Transfer.

The "METAL GEAR SOLID: PEACE WALKER" themed Sony W Series Walkman will be available in June for about $60 at www.sonystyle.com and Sony Style retail stores nationwide.

Kojima's Most Excellent World Tour

2010-05-13T19:56:00.000-07:00

I loves me the internets, especially YouTube. Presented bellow are a few videos posted by users showcasing Hideo Kojima's MGS: Peace Walker's world tour.

Thank you, awesome dudes who posted this Metal Gear goodness.

LittleBigPlanet 2 Invades PS3's Winter 2010

2010-05-10T11:12:00.000-07:00

Rumours of a LBP2 have been circling the internets for months. Today, The Official PlayStation Blog, confirmed the speculation that the lovable title does indeed exist with a Winter 2010 release. Very exciting news indeed!

Hopefully, Media Molecule learned plenty from the first edition of the series. I'm crossing my fingers that the tutorials and creation process is much easier this time.

From the horse's mouth -

"LittleBigPlanet has always empowered users to create their own levels by utilizing the same tools as the development team. Now in LittleBigPlanet 2, we’ve upped the ante, giving players the ability to not only make better levels, but completely new games – think top-down racing games, multiplayer shooters, flying side-scrollers, RPGs, etc. The possibilities are really endless."

Sweet! Here's the official trailer.

This Is Awesome!

2010-05-09T06:32:00.000-07:00

I laughed my ass off at this one. This is definitely a reason why I love the internet!

Enjoy!

iPad Arrives In The Great White North May 28th!

2010-05-07T15:02:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs is ready to invade my country. Help us Captain Canuck!

The iPad arrives at your friendly neighbourhood Best Buy on May 28th. Great Scott!

It will price at -

Wi-Fi models will run ya $549/$649/$749.

Wi-Fi + 3G models will cost $679/$779/$879.

Wow! Man do I ever love my little HP Netbook 210. ;)

Snake Sells Solid In Japan

2010-05-06T15:46:00.000-07:00

One month to go until Snake infiltrates North America, until then Japanese gamers have been experiencing the awesomeness that is Peace Walker. Today, sale figures have come out.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker within 1 week in Japan has sold 434,000 copies.

That's awesome! Considering MGS has never been a gigantic seller across the pond. All of Kojima's advertising, tie ins and Monster Hunter Freedom Unite cross overs has paid off. Expect the title to have long legs and continue to sell in the far East for some time to come.

PSP IS READY FOR KRATOS ONCE AGAIN!

2010-05-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

OMG! Here we go! The greatest news before E3 2010!

Ready At Dawn alongside Sony Santa Monica Studios are hard at work on a brand new God of War game. Their last collaboration was the epic God of War: Chains of Olympus, a title still considered one of the greatest for the portable gaming device. Today, they continue Kratos adventure with Ghost of Sparta!

The game is scheduled for a release later this year. Like Chains of Olympus, it will be a prequel explaining the origins of Kratos and his family.

Again... OMG!!!! ^_^

MGS: Peace Walker English Demo

2010-04-30T14:46:00.001-07:00

This is a quick post. I don't think I've ever mentioned you can easily download the english demo for Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

Get it directly from Konami right HERE.

Enjoy!

The 101st PS One Classic Was Just Released

2010-04-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

It's Star Wars: Dark Forces. Hooray! Guess what the 100th PlayStation One classic was?

XS Junior League Dodgeball

What the hell is that game? I have no idea.

I wish Sony would have just reversed the two. My brain prefers that the Star Wars game would have been the 100th release. Oh well.

Dark Forces is a very early 1st person shooter, we're talking about the era when the original Doom games were released. It looks, sounds and feels dated. It's a treat for Star Wars fans or those of the game itself. I get a kick outta playing it on my PSP. It takes me back to kinder, gentler time.

I wouldn't recommend it for everyone. Check it out if your a Star Wars fan. It's not bad for 6 bucks.

Snake Walks For Peace In Japan

2010-04-30T13:12:00.000-07:00

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker just released in Japan TODAY!

The biggest Metal Gear game in history is exclusive to the PSP platform and for those who can speak Japanese, order here. Enjoy you lucky Japanese folks. *sniff* :(

The perfect Famitsu scoring game will be released in North America on June 8th. Yep. A Month and a half later. *double sniff* :(

Monsters (Probably) Stole My PSP Minis

2010-04-28T11:15:00.000-07:00

When the PSP GO launched in North America on October 1st, 2009, the PlayStation Network Store was updated with a ton of PSP specific content.

UMD Legacy titles such as the Sega Genesis Collection, Sonic Rivals and God of War: Chains of Olympus, hit the network alongside the long awaited PSP edition of Gran Turismo. Another great addition was adding a library of budgeted, smaller PSP games.

Apple's iPhone/iTouch has a vast variety of unique, budget style games available numbering in the thousands. Development is very cheap for Apple's platform, so cheap in fact you can get cracking at it right HERE. Wow! That wasn't so hard, was it?

Sony saw a great opportunity in this new market and introduced their version entitled PSP Minis. This library has grown significant over time. I'll start reviewing some of these little pieces of heaven.

Monster's (Probably) Stole My Princess is an old school, action packed platformer in which you star as The Duke, aka Dracula. In it you take down giant monsters who (probably) stole your princess. The Duke jumps atop ledges as the monsters climb high to escape. Each ledge you jump on acquires a bonus point. This increases if you don't jump on the same ledge twice. As you climb higher and higher, attacking the monster with a third strike defeats him. The levels are intense as one tries to acquire a high bonus while attacking a quickly escaping monster.

Production value's are high. Beautifully animated creatures and detailed environments are all here. The audio is also impressive. This Mini is definitely worth it's $4.99 admission price. It is great stuff.

Solid Gold Walker

2010-04-26T16:37:00.000-07:00

1UP.COM has highlights of a recent Hideo Kojima interview with Famitsu Magazine celebrating Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker going gold. Going "gold" in the video game development world simply means that the game is complete. It's ready to be shipped to retailers for happy boys and girls.

Highlights of the interview include -

"Nearly all the things one can do with a portable system are in here... It's just a huge amount of volume! I can hardly even ponder over it all. We wound up having to shift the release date as a result, but there was so much content that there was no way we could run QA on it all in time. I've never experienced anything like this before."

Cool! Sounds awesome Hideo Kojima! What else you say?

"This is only the beginning. I have things I want to do in the future that I can't do on the PSP -- but I can see, thanks to Peace Walker, that game design is not the problem with my new ideas. My take-home from this project is as massive as it was with the first Metal Gear Solid, but it's sort of hard to put it into words. We did too much here, really, and so if I list it all out, it'll sound like the project was a failure. Really, I just want people to try it out, to give it a play. Some aspects of it are experiments for the future, but I think the core game design is as true as it's ever been. In my mind, I've got the same 'Now I've done it!' feeling going that I had when we made the very first Metal Gear."

Bitchin'! I need a time machine to zip me ahead to June 8th.

3D Gaming At A Graphical Price

2010-04-26T11:25:00.000-07:00

The news isn't a shocker. To produce a game in stereoscopic 3D, the hardware that's spitting out the image literally has to produce two images of the same game to create the effect. The hardware of course, is working a little harder resulting in the 3D effect requiring graphical sacrifices of the overall game. However, these sacrifices appear to be not crushing.

"WipEout HD was originally 1080p at 60Hz - obviously a good foundation to start from but in making the 3D build of this we had to go for two 720p images... Because it was 60Hz we could just drop to 30Hz and in actual fact that was it. There was no more work to do. That worked. It took very little time getting the game into 3D; there were very few problems with WipEout.", SCEE Senior Development Manager Simon Benson.

Sweet! Sounds great. What about bigger retail, graphical experiences like Motorstorm: Pacific Rift? Benson explains...

"Our geometry was already fine and we had lower resolution/lower fidelity models that would render at 30Hz for the split-screen mode, so we started with that... All we need to do now is find some pixels, so we turned to the hardware upscaling and again tried to squeeze as much as we could from optimization. But given that the game was already finished, there wasn't much headroom to find there. The compromise of some hardware upscaling and some more optimization managed to get us to the point where we could get the game working. But the important point was to avoid the frame-tearing... In the original game we varied field-of-view a lot to give speed cuing and acceleration cuing to the player, But in the 3D you don't really need that any more - you get it for free. 3D gives you that regardless. So we just made the field of view more natural."

Cool!

Check out the entire interview at EuroGamer. It's fascinating, awesome stuff!

Snake Recieves Another Perfect Score

2010-04-24T21:18:00.000-07:00

Big time Japanese video game publication Famitsu, has awarded Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker a perfect score. Snake receives a 40 outta 40. It now joins the ranks of such legendary epics as The Legend of Zelda: Orcarina of Time, Soul Calibur and Kojima's own Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of The Patriots.

Congratuations to Kojima Productions!

I can't wait to play this!

After Burner Climax... Sega, This Is More Like It!

2010-04-23T10:47:00.000-07:00

I've loved Sega all my life. Even through all the highs and lows. Just speaking the name SEGA in a sentence brings a tingle of joy to my soul. Sega means Sonic, Phantasy Star and great arcade games. When After Burner Climax was announced for the PlayStation Network I was excited.

After Burner Climax is a return to Sega's great joy. The original release was in arcades, back in 2006. You'd pilot an F-14D Super Tomcat, F-15E Strike Eagle or F/A-18E Super Hornet through 20 stages of adrenline pumped action. The stages are available through progressive branching paths. Plus, each fighter plane have their own in game balances.

Climax's visuals are gorgeous. It's soundtrack is exciting. Sega tickled the child within me. Oh, the glorious memories and new one's. It's available right now for $9.99 on the PSN Store. Get it!

Thank you, Sega.

Time To Throw The Pigskin

2010-04-23T08:50:00.000-07:00

I was going to skip Madden NFL 11 this year. Then EA Sports keeps pulling me back in.

A recent trailer showcases it's new, innovative features. It looks awesome. Also, Madden 11 on the PS3 and PSP will be compatible. you can play your career at home on your PS3 and when you are traveling, you can copy your career progress to your PSP. That is awesome as well.

So yeah, looks like I'll be gettin' Madden 11 this year. Argh.

Click here to access the official Madden NFL 11 website.

Official PS Blog Plays & Completes Peace Walker... THREE TIMES!

2010-04-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

It's pretty cool writing this blog. Writing what I like. Slammin' down unedited opinions. To be able to post pictures of Candice Swanepoel. Oh... living the dream.

Then again, it'd be pretty sweet to hit the big leagues and write for let's say, THE OFFICIAL PLAYSTATION BLOG. Why you ask?

Damn! Becuase Sid Shuman, Senior Social Media Specialist of that particular awesome blog has completed Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker Three times already. Oh, the glory! Curse you Sid! You lucky guy! Click HERE to access his article which details his game play experiences. It's great stuff!

Well you know what I can do that the PS Blog can't?

BBOOOOJJJJEEEE!!!! There ya go!!!!

*sniff* I wanna play Peace Walker too!! *double sniff*

;)

Will Trophies Ever Be Added To MGS4?

2010-04-18T19:33:00.000-07:00

In the early 1980's, Jack "Big Boss" Snake established Outer Heaven. Located in the region of Galzburg in South Africa, it was a heavily protected fortress. In 1995 his son, Solid Snake would infiltrate the complex and destroy Metal Gear. This would lead to NATO to bomb the fortress, leaving it no more.

So what the hell does this have to do with the photos of Candice Swanepoel? She's a South African supermodel. There ya go. That's the Metal Gear connection. I thought, what the hell? It's so much easier just to throw a boring picture of Snake in this post, but I went for the extra mile for you, the fans and wanted to spice this sucker up! Your welcome.

Let's get on with the post's topic. Will trophies ever be added to Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of The Patriots?

If you don't see them added to the game the day Peace Walker hits store shelves on June 8th, then I wouldn't hold by breath. There is also the possibilty that a mega edition of MGS4 will be released in stores with trophy support. Again, I wouldn't hold my breath for this either.

I know there were special edition releases of all of the console editions of the MGS series, but my gut is just sayin' "no" this time. Why? Well if you look at the previous games, their re-releases were justified. They added all the funtionality of the games releases worldwide, missing elements thrown in the European editions would finaly make there way in the special editions making a complete package. Plus, Kojima and the gang would throw in a bunch of extra awesome crap to round out the package. With MGS4, the whole package was complete. The game was perfect. Nothing needs to be added. Plus, you got Metal Gear Online for free and online support for MGS4 adding neat things to the title for well over a year.

Only time will tell. I'd love trophy support for one of my favourite game's of all time. However, I wouldn't be to shocked if it never happened.

Stop The Press! OMG! Stop The PRESSSSSS!!!!!

2010-04-16T06:12:00.000-07:00

MEGA NEWS 1

In Canada, PSP GO's are on sale at BEST BUY locations for $199.99 for 1 week (April 16-22). It's time to pick one up dudes.

MEGA NEWS 2

Starting in MAY, the North American PlayStation Network Store will be updated on Tuesday's instead of Thursday's. Reason why? To beat Microsoft at their own game. X-Box Live store updates on Wednesday.

BOOOOOJJJEEE!!!!

There ya go MS! Sony just 1up'ed ya.

Word!

Cut To The Chase Cast - 2010 - Episode 01

2010-04-15T19:07:00.001-07:00

Kelley discusses the PSP's 5th Anniversary, looks at the explosion of recent Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker news and the recent launch of the iPad.

Direct Link Download

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This Just Kinda Came Outta Nowhere...

2010-04-14T11:57:00.000-07:00

This is good. This is positive. A brand new LittleBigPlanet site popped outta nowhere containing some great stuff.

IGN has created a great site entitled, LittleBigPlanet Factory. Included are game design guides, videos and community creations all at your disposal. Check it out and enjoy!

The Music of Peace

2010-04-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest accomplishments of the Metal Gear series is it's music. Sweeping, gorgeous, beautiful melodies that provide excitement, adventure, fear and love. Just as excited I am for the high adventure, political intrigue and awesome action of Peace Walker, it's music is just as important. Below is a video featuring the vocal single for the upcoming game entitled Heaven's Divide. Epic and operatic, it's everything you expect from series creator Hideo Kojima. It is awesome stuff!