PLAYSTATION 3
Borderlands Launches in Plano with developers
GameStops around the country stayed open until after midnight last night to welcome the arrival of a the new game, Borderlands. Two GameStops out of the thousands around the country, though, had something a little extra. One of the GameStops in Plano, Texas, had over a dozen employees from the Plano-based developer. They were there to meet the fans, and autograph anything people wanted.
The night started around 9, when the management ordered pizza, and opened up some copies of Borderlands to put in demo stations. There were four-player setups in both Xbox 360 and PS3 flavors, along with a couple single player stations setup. Throughout the night, gamers would share the play time and watch each other.
Around 10 pm, a few Gearbox employees began to trickle in, with the crowd growing over the next hour or so. All in all, about 15 employees showed up, mostly developers, who immediately jumped into interacting with everyone. They answered questions about their involvment in the game, and signed game covers, manuals, guides, posters, t-shirts, and anything else the fans could offer up. They played down their own celebrity status, but seemed to enjoy themselves.
At some point during the night, a small man dressed as the iconic cover art character began making the rounds, getting his picture taken, and posing for the fans. We were told the costume creator was also responsible for the Barney costume, but it's hard to tell which is more scarey.
At 5 to midnight, everyone who had purchased the game lined up to receive their discs, completing their own personal Collector's Edition. Less than 100 copies of the game were sold, so everyone in attendance definitely has a little piece of history spinning in their console.
Next month's launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will definitely eclipse the night in numbers, with about 450 pre-orders at this single location already. Borderlands can only launch once though, and for a lot of people, it will be a night they will never forget.
For more pictures, visit our Borderlands Launch gallery.
Review & Contest: The Beatles: Rock Band
It's been a while since the last major entry in the Rock Band series has been made, with only track packs to hold us over in the mean time. Most of those have been pretty well received, but those are not really any more than a collections of songs that can be downloaded one by one off the Rock Band music store. Rock Band: The Beatles is a distinct departure from the Track Pack idea, with an entire game based around a single band. The Guitar Hero franchise has done similar type games for Metallica and Aerosmith, but some may argue that The Beatles have a much broader appeal, and are more well known. Will Harmonix do them the justice they deserve, or fall just short of the mark? Read on for our review.
[Update: Congrats to our winner, Kaza2929! Hope you enjoy the game! Look for more contests coming soon! ]
Review & Contest: Rock Band Country Track Pack
It's been almost two months since our last Rock Band Track Pack Review, so its time for another! If you remember our AC/DC LIVE Track Pack Review from last year, or the Classic Rock Track Pack review from just a couple months ago, you'll probably have a pretty good idea of how this review is going to go. But there are a few differences, could those make this Track Pack any different? You'll have to read the rest of the review to find out, and of course, enter our contest to win the game!
[Update: Well, not one single person left a comment before the deadline, so we'll just hold onto the game and give it away at a later date.]
Review: Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
Capcom has been releasing updated and not-so-updated versions of their classic games, and now continues the tradition with an updated re-release of Street Fighter 2 Turbo. With shiny new graphics that mimic the old arcade versions, the classic gameplay is brought into the current generation of consoles. But does it hold up, or should we all get our SNES consoles back out and play the original? Read on for the full take.
Review: AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack
Do you love AC/DC? Do you have a guitar, set of drums, or microphone that works with Rock Band? Seriously, do you LOVE AC/DC? And can you not wait for about 6 months to play some AC/DC Songs? If you answered yes to all the above questions, then you should definitely pick up the AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack for Wii, Xbox 360, or PS3 (whichever you have the equipment for, obviously). Other than that, you probably shouldn't, and that's the only reason for the rest of this review.
2008 Holiday Buyer's Guide
With Christmas only a few weeks away, we at Realm Media Networks wanted to give you a little guide on some good buys for the gamer in your family. Whether it's your husband, wife, child or parent, there's should be something on the list to satisfy everyone.
Bargains
Sometimes your looking for a way to make a big impact, without a big investment. Here are a few ways to do that, without straining your budget.
Metal Slug 7: $30
A fun shoot-em-up that will provide enough of a challenge to keep someone interested for hours. This is only available for the Nintendo DS, but that just makes it the perfect game to play on the way home after a Christmas vacation.
Bioshock (Xbox 360): $30
One of the best games from 2007, Bioshock is now budget-priced, and is a worthwhile addition to any library. With an unrivaled story and great graphics, this game will keep the attention of any gamer for hours.
Microsoft Points / Wii Points / Playstation Network Card: $20
So much content for the new systems is only available online, and many gamers overlook it because it requires a bit more work to purchase. Braid, Bionic Commando: Rearmed, and even Uno on the Xbox 360, Tetris Party, World of Goo, and Super Metroid on the Wii, or Echochrome and Super Stardust on the PS3 are all available, but only through the online stores.
Above Average
Tons of new games have been released recently, and even though most gamers would love to have them all, they can't usually afford that. If you're looking for a good title to round out their collection, try one of the following.
Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe: $60-$70
Combining great graphics with all the classic characters, along with a whole host of characters from the DC Comics Universe, this title appeals heavily to the Mortal Kombat fans. And if you need any help learning all the moves, be sure to check out TRMK, our Mortal Kombat site.
Bioshock (PS3): $60
Although it originally was only available on the Xbox 360, this great title is now available on the Playstation 3.
Little Big Planet: $60
Only available on the PS3, this cute platformer is easy enough for kids, but has elaborate enough tools that older kids (and adults) can spend hours making their own levels.
Rock Band 2 (Disc Only): $60
With over 100 songs available once you purchase this game, anyone with a set of plastic instruments would be missing out without this popular sequel. The only reason someone might not already have it is because they've grown tired of the rhythm game genre, but with so much new content, it's likely the whole family will want a turn.
Premium
Sometimes you just want to go big in your gift giving, no matter the cost. Or maybe you want to get one big thing that could be used by several people throughout the year. Here are a few suggestions.
Rock Band 2 / Guitar Hero: World Tour Complete Band Kits: $190
Few kids (or adults) would be able to refrain from a rock marathon once they saw either of these sitting in the living room on Christmas morning. If you're willing to relinquish the TV for the rest of 2008, this will be a purchase that they will probably still be playing next year.
Nintendo DS: $130
With hundreds of great games, many budget priced, you can't go wrong with this as a gift for anyone interested in gaming. That is, if they don't already have one.
Xbox 360 (Premium 60 GB): $299
If your neighborhood gamer is still playing on a GameCube, Playstation 2, or original Xbox, you've probably heard them bemoan the fact that they aren't any new games, and how the systems aren't high definition. The Xbox 360 is a great choice for a new system, with lots of great games, and the best online experience. The current holiday bundles even include two family-friendly games, making it a great family gift.
Every gamer is different, so it's always good to find out exactly what they're interested it. If they want any of the items on this list, you can be sure they will be a good buy, and well appreciated.
Review: Bionic Commando: Rearmed
Capcom continues their retro arcade titles with a new release of an old classic: Bionic Commando: Rearmed. It's not a new adventure of an old hero, it's simply an update of the graphics and sound of the original, with the core game mechanics. But is that enough to be worth the price of admission?
