The game Uncharted 2: Among Thieves delivers very good graphics and the voice-acting as well as dialogues equal the quality of blockbuster films. The character development and story are certainly exciting and intriguing with each turn and twist as it keeps a firm grip on the controller. Also, the game presents an unmatchable power with ease as the character Drake wakes up on a derailed train that hangs off a cliff amidst snow covered mountains.

Also, it takes the players into the depth of Himalayas, magnificent tropical locations, Nepal war-torn streets and gun fights over the train tops that is speeding through scenic countryside. This game presents a twisting story that is long and displays love connections, back stabbing and also past friends reunions. Playing, the first Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is important, as it has characters recurring and several original references.

The characters in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves revolve around Nathan Drake trying to put together the lost mission of Marco Polo, the well-known explorer who left with 600 passengers and 14 ships, and returned with 18 passengers and only one ship. Nathan Drake stumbles across the secret mission of Marco Polo to Shambala while piecing the clues together in the aim of recovering the Cintamani Stone. During this venture, he comes to know that Zorin Lazarevic, a psychotic criminal is also focusing the stone and now it becomes inevitable for Nathan to destroy artifacts before it reaches wrong hands. This new version of the game will please the players as Elena and Sully are returning to assist the new adventures of Nathan.

The development of characters in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is one of the best in the history of video games as it is difficult not to get personally involved with each character. The dialogue style among the characters is well written. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves offers beautiful visual scenes similar to movies or other fine video games. The breathtaking scenery exhibits the perception perfectly and makes every detail even more realistic. Even, small things such as Nathan`s tracks over the snow ice or high buildings, or the wind blowing his hair or rippling water is paid much attention, making this game to appear very realistic.

The advantage of playing the game Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is that it features competitive as well as co-operative multiplayer. The multiplayer feature allows the game players to take part of Nathan, Chloe and Sully, while the feature missions involve gunfights and teamwork. The players have to be ready to assist their comrades in case they are injured critically or grabbed by the enemy. Also this game allows the game players to choose their character models such as Sully, Nathan, Chloe, Elena and other new characters. The competitive multiplayer allows ten players maximum to play with each other.

Basically, the controls are the same as original with few twists. The gamers can enjoy walking over fallen logs and can throw grenades without using the SIXAXIS motion controls. It is also easy to clutch the ledges in this version of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves avoiding walking on the edge as the hint button is available on the D-pad. Overall, the game has scored high among the players and has successfully captivated lots of attention.
You can have access to articles about game consoles in Portuguese language from page Game_Console. Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for Polomercantil.
Also, check our review of the game here.

If you are a console gamer or you are an Xbox passionate, you will encounter many technical problems or issues on a short period of time. If you have an Xbox 360 you will see that all the technical problems are shown as a combination of red lights on the flashing quadrant, called “The Ring of Light” or ROL. The most encountered red light flashing problems are the Xbox 360 one red light technical issues. There are many combinations of Xbox 360 one red light problems, all of them being classified in the Xbox 360 Manuals and Tutorials.

There are many reasons for the appearance of the Xbox 360 one red light technical issues. The most important reason of this problem is the hardware failure. It can be easily repaired by turning off your Xbox gaming console, by disconnecting and reconnecting all the console’s cables, and then turning on your Xbox.

Another method of repairing the Xbox 360 one red light problem is by turning off your favorite gaming console, and then remove the Xbox Hard Drive. After making all this, it will be a very good move to turn on your console and test again for the Xbox 360 one red light error. Also, it is recommended to run alternate tests by connecting and disconnecting the Xbox Hard Drive. By making all this, you will see whether the technical issue occurs only when the Xbox Hard Drive is connected, or not.

If the Xbox 360 one red light problem is still occurring after doing all the suggested actions from above, it will be wise to contact the Xbox Customer Service from the Microsoft Company. There are highly specialized technical teams at the Microsoft Technical Support, that are willing to help you at any technical issues which you will encounter now or in the near – by future. So, call them if you are not able to repair yourself your favorite gaming console.
If you want to know more about how to repair yourself the Xbox 360 one red light problem or any other technical issue that you encounter regarding the Xbox 360, please visit Xbox 360 red light fix guide review, and Check the Xbox 360 Red Light Repair Video Tutorial.

Roaming around in IMDB, I decided to pick up a few names of movies into games releases which should come out on screens this year 2009. There is a list with short descriptions.

The Legend of Spyro (2009) by Daniel and Steven Altiere – I’ll start from this one – one of my favorite game and favorite actors (Gary Oldman as Ignitus and Elijah Wood as Spyro) and it is obviously the best one from this list. Looking forward to see this animation.

Another movie which I can’t pass through is Kane & Lynch (2009) – based on Eidos video game. Last we heard is Simon Crane (an assistant director on Hancock and Troy) is attached to direct and Bruce Willis was actually in negotiations to play the part as Kane.

Spy Hunter (2009) written by Michael Brandt (2 Fast 2 Furious and Wanted) and Stuart Beattie (Australia, 30 Days of Night, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End, directed by Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil and Mortal Combat) – action/adventure movie as James Bond.

Tekken (2009) – waiting for release of this action movie. Screen writers of Lara Croft suppose to present us something special with Luke Goss (Hellboy II and Blade II) in leading role. We hope that our expectation will come true.

Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009) – directed by Andrzej Bartkowiak (Doom, Cradle 2 the Grave and Romeo Must Die) and stars Kristen Kreuk (Lana Lang on Smallville) as Chun Li. Based on a famous and loved by many video game: many spectacle fights and beautiful legend.

Clock Tower (2009) – all fans of horrors are welcome! This film is based on famous survival horror game from Capcom. The screen play has elements from the game though it has it’s original story which is rejoicing. Brittany Snow (The Pacifier, Prom Night) is staring. Directed by Martin Weisz (The Hills Have Eyes II and 60 Seconds). As for me – I probably would watch it… once.

Sabotage 1943 (2009) – Again, Uwe Boll is on the stage! The movie is based on the video game Velvet Assassin (actually, it is coming out only this year!), tells about a British spy in the time of World War II. What to say? Have you seen movies of Uwe Boll? Are you going to do it again? Still, I couldn’t pass through.

Finally action/horror  movie Castlevania (2009) – written by Paul W.S. Anderson (see above) and Ian Jeffers, directed by Sylvain White (Stomp the Yard and Trois 3: the Escort). Cast is unknown till now and the date of release is moved on 2011. I guess the name should be different for this movie, for example, “Dracula Begins” – it would increase a popularity, don’t you think?
By Yanita. Logo Design

Score: 8.0

Genre: Music Rhythm

Single-player length: 25 hours

Difficulty: 6

Developer: Neversoft Entertainment

Publisher: Activision

Release Date: 10/26/08

Systems: Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii

Pros
- Drums, vocals and band play add a lot to the series
- Online band competitive and co-op modes
- New guitar gameplay challenges

Cons
- User created songs aren’t fun
- Not as many interesting or updatable challenges as Rock Band
- Too similar to Rock Band

World Tour follows in Rock Band’s footsteps by adding drums, vocals and a band career, but it also adds a few new features. A robust song creator engine lets you create your own songs and download others’ songs, but the resulting songs are all low quality productions that aren’t as fun to play as original popular songs. While the drum and vocal gameplay don’t differ much from Rock Band, the guitar gameplay does include a few new features that will challenge seasoned veterans in new ways.

The main addition to the series is the inclusion of drums, vocals and band gameplay modes that are nearly identical to the experience created by the first Rock Band game. The only difference from Rock Band’s drums and vocals gameplay is that you can use your star power at any point during a song rather than waiting for drum or vocal solo sections. Each instrument has solo sections, but they are only used to give you bonus points rather than starting your star power. Activision made a new set of drums for World Tour that includes cymbal pads raised above the other drum pads and a new guitar with fret buttons further down the neck. Don’t worry if you already own older versions of these instruments. You don’t need to buy these new variations to play the game.

Each of the instruments, including the bass guitar, has its own career mode. In each career, you’ll progressively tour the world and unlock new and more difficult songs. For each set you complete, you’ll receive money for how well you perform, which you can use to customize your character’s clothes, hair, instruments and a wide variety of other features. You can also use your earnings to gain access to a few exclusive sets of songs. If your primary interest is to unlock all of the game’s songs, you can also choose to change the game’s difficulty to progress beyond the harder songs.

In addition to simply playing songs, you’ll also face off against famous musicians during your career. Guitar Hero III handled these encounters with a battle mode where you had to make your adversary fail a song by using powerups that made the song more difficult for your opponent to play. World Tour simplifies these encounters by merely asking you to perform the song well enough to prevent the audience from completely favoring your opponent, which is much less challenging. After you defeat famous rockers, such as Jimi Hendrix, Ozzie Osbourne and Billy Corgan, you’ll be able to perform using their likenesses.

The Band career mode is also nearly identical to the Rock Band gameplay where you go on stage with at least one other friend to play the same songs and earn cash to further customize your characters. The main difference is that you can’t directly save each other from failing songs. The game handles saving members by letting the band share star power among its members. The result is that your group will need to collaborate and use the star power strategically. If one member is missing a ton of notes, then the band will need to let the other members earn the star power and tell him to use it to ensure everyone doesn’t get booed off stage.

World Tour is clearly trying to broaden its audience by lowering the overall difficulty settings and adding the new beginner mode. The Guitar Hero series is known to have more difficult note patterns, but World Tour has noticeably easier note patterns that also fly by at a slower speed. As a result, the Rock Band and World Tour difficulties are virtually identical. The new Beginner difficulty serves to allow people completely new to rhythm gaming to play by simply hitting any note at the correct time without having to switch fingers between notes.

While drums and vocals are included for the first time in the series, the guitar gameplay also changed to add new note patterns. There are some new sections with multiple notes that you must hold down that begin at varying points. Some other notes only require you to press the fret buttons to play them. Removing the need to strum the guitar for these sections makes the game easier and detracts from the feeling that you are playing a famous song. The only reason it seems that they included these simpler notes is to give people a reason to buy their new guitar. The latest guitar includes buttons positioned closely together lower on the guitar neck, which are easier to glide across in these simpler sections. Don’t worry if you want to play the game with an older guitar you shouldn’t have any problems by using the standard fret buttons.

The last main change to the series is the ability to make your own songs and download other gamer’s songs. Initially, this sounds like a cool new feature, but it doesn’t amount to a very large addition. Making your own songs involves choosing an instrument and playing notes to record your song. You can also record notes for each instrument to generate a song that a full band can play together. After you finish creating the song’s notes you can alter the sound further with various effects such as giving the guitar track a twang or metal effect, the song’s tempo and a wide variety of other features. Then, you can upload your creation for others to play and rate. If you just want to download other people’s songs, you can easily find the most popular songs based on the ratings other players give them. While the creation process is robust, the actual songs have a low sound quality. The highest rated songs generally have a great sense of rhythm, but they just aren’t as engrossing as playing the well-known songs heard on the radio.

World Tour includes quite a few online multiplayer game modes. You can face off against another guitar, drum or vocals player to see who is better at playing an entire song or alternating sections of the same song. Guitar players can also play the battle mode, where they compete to play a song more accurately while using powers to increase their opponent’s difficulty. As you play in the Battle mode, you earn a wide variety of powers that invert note patterns, remove the whammy bar’s effect, or make some notes impossible to play. You can also play songs co-operatively on the guitar with a friend.

If you can’t get enough band mates together locally, then you can fill in missing members with online players the game finds for you. You can also get your band together to play songs competitively against another band online. The only problems I found with the band gameplay online is that it is very difficult to find someone to sing songs, but that’s not the game’s fault. Even if a singer joins your band, many players quit because they can’t sing the song that is chosen by other members. I presume this happens because it is much harder to sing songs than it is to play them with an instrument.

The gameplay options and modes are quite expansive, but it would have been nice if updatable challenges could have made it into the game. Rock Band 2 includes a variety of challenges related to playing groups of songs from the same band, genre or decade with particular instruments or as a band. The developers constantly update the challenges list to ensure players never get bored with the same list of challenges. This constantly updated list of challenges gives the game a great sense of variety as players endlessly challenge themselves to get the highest score in all the different leader boards.

The game includes a lot of songs that you can play in 4 different careers, but there is also a great online shop that offers an expanding library of new songs to download and play. Taking its cue from the Rock Band store, you can sort songs according to artist, decade and album to easily find the style of music you like. You can also preview songs before purchasing them, which increases the chance you will try something from a band you haven’t heard before.

The game includes over 90 songs, which are all master recordings. In addition to popular songs ranging from classic rock to the latest rock songs from this decade, the game also includes some pop and country hits, such as Beat It and On the Road Again, which further expands the game’s appeal. A lot of the game’s draw depends on if you like the songs included with the game, so make sure to review the song list before buying the game.

Guitar Hero World Tour pushes the series to match Rock Band’s offering by including drums, vocals and band gameplay while also adding new guitar note patterns. The varied and expansive online game modes and growing downloadable song library ensure that the game will keep you entertained for quite some time. The engine used to create new songs offers a great deal of options, but the resulting lower quality songs will likely only interest the most hardcore of rhythm gamers who enjoy a good challenge. Many of the game’s changes simply match Rock Band’s features and fail to push the series or genre forward a great deal. Overall, World Tour is a good game that will keep gamers rocking until the next game is released, but it is also showing that the genre’s creativity may be peaking.
Rabid Rabbit from http://www.Poweredupgamers.com. Far too many sites lose track of letting people know if games are fun regardless of how much hype and marketing the game receives. We go beyond the hype to give you critical and honest game video and written reviews, opinions, images and gameplay videos. Our growing list of readers enjoy posting in our forums and competing for high scores playing games in our arcade. Come join our community if you are interested in truly honest commentary and reviews.

Sony rolled out the new iteration of their successful PlayStation 3 line, called the PS3 Slim. Needless to say, it is much like its older brother, the PS2 slim, in the concept that it is smaller than its predecessor. However, some new things have been added to the console along with some controversial deletions.

New PS3 Slim with Matte Finish
There was much changed about the new console. Instead of the piano gloss black, you have a matte finish. A lot of people don’t like this better but I do. This is due to the fact that the original PS3 was a dust and fingerprint magnet. Hopefully, the new finish fairs better than the original.

PS3 “Fat” vs. PS3 Slim
Apart from the finish being different, this model also weighs a good bit less, has actual buttons instead of sensors for power and eject, and is missing the PSU switch on the back of the console. Not really a pro or con, just different. Like the other PS3’s, this one comes with your usual wireless controller, adapter, power cord and USB charging cord.

The Good
The new model comes with some upgrades thanks to Sony. One of the most important would be the new CPU/GPU. The new processors are now on a 45nm process, and subsequently use less power. I’ve seen numbers ranging from 70-100 less watts during game play compared to the release 60 GB model. This is why the console can afford to be so small. It also will probably have a better future than the PS2 slim had due to the heat issues that plagued it. Also, due to the redesign, the CPU and GPU are said to be faster now, however, I have found little difference other than the console menu seems snappier. This is something you can keep and eye on for later most likely. PS3 games still don’t take full advantage of the current cell architecture, so it’s a toss-up.

The next addition will definitely benefit those who will use the console as an entertainment device. Audiophiles, rejoice! PS3 now supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA audio. Those with high-end receivers will be able to appreciate the benefit of the new audio formats. This truly adds value back to the Blu-ray group who just want to watch movies. With the price at $299, its a good piece to get just for that.

Those of you, like me, who have noisy PS3 also will benefit. The new slim model, on average, is 10-15 dB quieter than it’s predecessor. This really helps with those who are trying to watch movies. I would have to crank my speakers up to compensate for the ridiculous amount of noise coming from the fan in the old PS3. My 40GB PS3 sounded like a fighter jet taking off, this slim has a low hum. This is due to the previous mentioned point that the CPU and GPU produce less heat.

The new PS3 has a better disc drive, which prevents disc scratching while spinning the disc. Those of you who have Xbox360’s that have make rings on the disc would definitely appreciate this.

The hard drive is upgraded to 120GB and is swappable. Any SATA laptop drive will fit in it. Since there are 500 GB drives out now, that’s a whole lot of content.

Bravia Sync is now on the new system. Those of you who have Sony TV’s will benefit from this due to the fact that it allows direct control of the system with your TV remote. Other than that, its one of the less important updates due to the fact that most people have Vizio, Sharp and Samsung TV’s. I have a Bravia II 42″ LCD, so it is a nice feature.

The Bad
Like the 40 and 80GB PS3s, this model does not have PS2 compatibility. Sorry folks, but those of you who actually play PS2 games probably have a PS2 handy. I’d say dig it out and hook it up because I doubt Sony has any plan to resurrect the format.

Linux compatibility is now gone. Those .01% of you who even thought of this as an important feature might be afraid from buying the slim now, however, Linux does run on PC’s too, so I’d stick with that instead of your PS3. Something about an OS like Linux doesn’t make me nuts about putting it on a game console with a controller. I’d suppose it would be nicer with a Bluetooth keyboard, but honestly, doesn’t seem like quite the loss its cracked up to be.

The PS3 cannot stand up vertically by default anymore, due to the size reduction and the oh-s%@t factor of the wobble when it starts spinning a disc. To make it vertical again, you have to pay for a $24 dollar stand. I’d wait on this until a third party makes one for cheaper. Personally for me, it’s not an issue.

There are no SD or compact flash slots on this PS3 like the ones found on the original release PS3’s. While this has been gone since the release of the 40/80GB PS3’s, it’s still a loss.

The disc drive makes a louder noise now, but that’s more of a gripe than a concern (see above).

The Results
The main purpose for me to buy the new system was two main points:

1. Not to sound like a generator
2. Upgrade the hard drive

Due to the fact that Sony wants $200 to fix your PS3, I was stuck in the middle. I don’t play PS2 games, and I certainly didn’t care about Linux. So, it was worth it to me. I’d rather have a new system under warranty than a re-certified one.

So, who would want this?

Depends on your situation.

For those who do not have a PS3, look no further. It’s cheap, doesn’t use as much power, doesn’t sound like a prop-plane, and has plenty of goodies to keep you satisfied. It gives the Xbox a run for its money due to its match of specs. Also, the reason I went to PS3 is the fact that online play is free.

For those who want to run Linux, don’t buy because it obviously won’t work (That goes for all five of you! Buy a 6-year old Dell on craigslist to get the same result.)

PS2 gamers may want to stay away if you don’t have a working PS2 handy.

Pros:
* Bigger Hard Drive
* Quieter and less heat
* New features for audiophiles, better sync with Bravia TVs
* Smaller and lighter
* Cheap, especially for a Blu-ray player of this quality

Cons:
* Compatibility took a hit with the loss of PS2 games and Linux
* Can’t stand on its own
* Drive is a bit louder

Overall, I’d recommend it. It’s hard to say to who due to the fact that most people have an older PS3 that does the same. But for those who want to enter the PlayStation side of things or want a multimedia player, then look no further.

Rating: 4/5
Gregory Carvlin, Writer/Editor at RogueDeals.com. The original review is here.

PS3 and Xbox 360 are liked by the majority of gamers, yet the views and opinions differ from one person to another mostly based on the quality of the game hardware. PS3 and Xbox 360 are the next generation game consoles from Sony and Microsoft, and they are hugely popular as both consoles have great features. Yet debating which one has an edge proves to be difficult.

Xbox 360 game console was launched before PS3 and offered games more quickly than PS3. Apart from the benefit of having a plethora of games, the highlighting factor was the price of the Xbox 360, which was lower than of the PS3, and as a result, the Xbox 360 was able to achieve good sales performance. PS3 had its own catchy features such as the game play, superb graphics and a library of games similar to the Xbox 360 library size.

The hardware of PS3 is higher than Xbox, besides PS3 had integrated WiFi, gigabyte Ethernet connection connecting the net to play online games and an integrated web browser that allows browsing websites and playing videos through YouTube. Xbox 360 also features Ethernet connection, besides WiFi functionality can also be added. PS3 has wireless controller with built-in battery charged through USB port. Xbox 360 has regular DVD drive, and PS3 has blue ray drive promoting high definition movies.

PS3 has hard disk with higher capacity, yet a higher capacity disk is required as the majority of these games can be installed on the hard disk and the hard drive can be easily upgraded without any hurdle. Xbox 360 models come with component cables that are ready with high dimension while PS3 comes with regular AV cables and the HDMI cable. Xbox 360 offers a headset attaching the controller that facilitates chatting with friends online while PS3 does not offer any headset, but the blue tooth can be used for chatting.

Xbox 360 had a lead until 2007 with a definitive edge in gamed consoles while PS3 platform was lesser in comparison to the Xbox 360 version. But, recently, the PS3 platform has offered great games and is ultimately coming with exclusive games such that both the consoles have games in plenty. However, in India, only 65% of the games are available despite the fact that the games are launched only after a few weeks of international launching.

Xbox 360 offers multiplayer experience that can be played online over the globe and this service is known as Xbox Live and is a paid service while on the other hand PS3 online comes free of charge. However, Xbox Live has more adequate features than PS3 online and is a mature service, but PS3 is also catching up, besides the online playing is showing great improvements. Conversely, PS3 online service is more robust as it uses dedicated internet servers in comparison to Xbox Live that uses P2P for connection and that depends on the host connection that is frustrating at times.

Xbox 360 has had unreliable hardware pieces, leading to a hardware failure known as RROD, and owing to this, Microsoft increased the warranty period to 3 years. PS3 relates to no problems such as RROD. However, buying from a repute retail shop that offers warranty is highly recommended. Buying game consoles from gray market is strictly cautioned. It may end up saving you some money, but the product warranty may not be the best.
You can have access to articles about game consoles in Portuguese language from page Game_Console. Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for Polomercantil.

When the Xbox 360 was first released, there were a large number of individuals who waited for hours in hopes of being able to purchase one. In fact, Xbox 360s are so popular that is likely that you have one inside your home right now. No matter how old you are, it is always fun to play video games on an Xbox 360.

Despite the fact that individuals of all ages play Xbox 360 games, the majority of players are teenagers. Teenagers love video games and the Xbox 360 is one of the most popular ways to play those games. Many teens and parents of teenagers wonder which Xbox games they should purchase. Below is a list and summary of ten of the most popular Xbox 360 games for teens.

1. The Elder Scrolls: IV Oblivion
The Elder Scrolls: IV Oblivion is the sequel to The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. The third game in the series won multiple awards and it is apparent with Oblivion’s popularity that the fourth installment is just as good, if not better. The Elder Scrolls is role playing at its best. This one player game allows players to choose exactly who they want to be, whether it be good or evil.

2. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
Set in the future, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced allows teen players to use new weapons to avoid the traps that are set for soldiers. Standard Xbox 360 setup allows one to four players, but Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighters is also compatible with Xbox Live. Xbox Live makes it possible for up to sixteen players to play a game together even when they are located on opposite sides of the world.

3. Call of Duty 2
Call of Duty 2, the sequel to the original Call of Duty, is an amazing war game with outstanding visuals. The game is based around World War II and players must overcome enemies and other obstacles. Due to a split screen feature, Call of Duty 2 can be a multiplayer game. Up to eight players can play together via Xbox Live.

4. EA Sports: Fight Night Round 3
Sports fans will enjoy playing the popular game from EA Sports that is titled Fight Night Round 3. Fight Night Round 3 allows players to become their favorite boxer. Boxers can be customized, and fights from the past can be reenacted with changed outcomes. EA Sports: Fight Night Round 3 is designed for one or two players; however, it is also compatible with Xbox Live.

5. Project Gotham Racing 3
Unlike the above mentioned Xbox 360 games, Project Gotham Racing 3 is not rated T for Teen. The game is rated E for Everyone, but it still has teenagers in mind and is a great alternative for those who dislike fighting games. Players are able to select and customize their own cars to race around the world in multiple race settings. Project Gotham Racing 3 is a one or two player game, but it also works with Xbox Live. In addition to more players, Xbox Live also introduces new racing challenges that are not available offline.

6. Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
In Battlefield 2 Modern Combat players are literally dropped into the middle of disaster. Players must decide which side they want to be on and then fight to win. The game is designed for one player, but additional players can be added with the use of Xbox Live. In fact, up to twenty four players can compete with or against each other online.

7. Burnout Revenge
A large number of teenagers are unable to drive. Even if they were, there are some things that you just can’t do in a car unless you are playing Burnout Revenge. In Burnout Revenge, players select the car of their choice and set up car crashes. With Xbox Live, four drivers can pit their cars against each other and with offline, play up to two players can compete. Burnout Revenge is rated E for Everyone.

8. Kameo: Elements of Power
Kameo: Elements of Power is a game that combines action, adventure and fantasy all into one. Players become Kameo. The goal of the game is to help save her family from an evil troll king. Players can change their character into multiple monsters to defeat enemies. Kameo: Elements of Power is a one or two player game that can be played on or offline.

9. NBA 2K6
NBA 2K6 is rated E for Everyone but is a game that is highly popular among teenagers. At first glance, NBA 2K6 appears to be another sports game, but the reality is that it is so much more. In addition to playing basketball, it is the player’s responsibility to generate extra income through product endorsements. Once money is made, players can use it to purchase new items for their homes. NBA 2K6 can be played with one or two players.

10. Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie
Players, whether they enjoyed the King Kong movie or not, are sure to love playing Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie. When playing the game, players are able to be the human character, Jack, or the gorilla, Kong. Whichever player a character chooses to be, there is excitement, battles and enemies waiting on the other side. Peter Jackson’s King Kong: The Official Game of the Movie is a one player Xbox 360 game.

All of the above mentioned Xbox 360 games are highly rated among teenage gamers. Do you need a gift for a teenager or do want to purchase a game yourself? If so, then check out the large collection of Xbox 360 games designed for teens.
Mark Robbins is a gamer providing valuable tips and advice on the xbox 360 console, Gameboy Advance game cheats, and PC game cheats.

As a serious gamer myself, I love to see games before they hit our shores here in North America. But more than that, I am always looking for the hottest and most unique games I can get my hands on. Unfortunately, many of those games just don’t come to our side of the ocean from Japan. Typically, since the days of the original Nintendo NES, Japanese gamers have enjoyed much more unique and often times much better games than their North American counter parts.

I’ve been very fortunate to be able to play many of these Japanese games while I was living in Japan, but when I returned back home to Canada, I simply could not find many of the games that I had played with such pleasure while in Japan. So I searched, researched and found exactly what I needed to be able to just put those Japanese games into game console and really start playing again. What I found was a Mod Chip for my PlayStation console. And I’ve been using mod chips ever since then. Having most recently purchased and installed my Xbox 360 Mod Chip into my system – and I’ve got games from Japan on the way.

So just what IS a mod chip? Let me explain. A modification chip or mod chip is a device used to play import, backup or home brew games. Mod Chips first came into “fame” when die hard, hard core gamers who were tired of the slim offerings that were made available for them in the USA, wanted to get their hands on the often better and more unique Japanese games that were coming out for their game console. This is nothing new, even the Nintendo NES has a device that allowed gamers to plug Japanese Famicom cartridges into their USA NES system so that they could play those really unique Japanese games, or the latest Mario offering that was only available (or came out much sooner) in Japan.

Mod chips are available for all the major video game consoles, including the Xbox 360, Xbox, Sony PSP, PlayStation, Playstation 2 and GameCube. Almost all modern console gaming systems have hardware-based schemes which ensure that only officially sanctioned games may be used with the system and implement regional lockout similar to the scheme used in DVD movies. The specific technical nature of these DRM systems varies by system, and may include cryptographic signing (Xbox), intentionally unreadable sectors (PlayStation and Sega Saturn), custom optical media (GameCube and Dreamcast) or some combination thereof. Mod chips are available also for some DVD players, to defeat region code enforcement and user operation prohibitions.

Mod chips typically require some level of technical ability to install. Most commonly, mod chips must be soldered on to a console’s motherboard although there are no-solder install kits (which instead rely on the precise positioning of electrical contacts within the case) which work with some revisions of the PlayStation 2 and Xbox hardware.

As console systems got better and better, a whole following of home brew developers starting making their own software for their consoles. Software like the Xbox Media Center (XMBC) as well as their own little games and programs to stream video and audio. But in order to play/run this software, users are required to be able to load unsigned/home brew code onto their system. This is where mod chips come in. Not only do they allow you to play the latest game offerings from Japan, which as stated earlier, are often much better both graphically and in the way of originality than the games that are for the North American market.

As with any new system, and the new mod chips that first come out – we’re always hit with loads of “compatibility” issues. Much like when the PS2 mod chip first came out, they had chips (different chips) for each “version” of the PS2 console. And the Xbox 360 mod chips are no exception. The very first chips that came out were for very specific “versions” of the XBox 360. First, it was a mod chip for the Samsung drives, which means that if your XBox 360 had a Samsung DVD drive, then you needed to buy an Xbox 360 mod chip that worked on the Samsung drive to bypass the current firmware.

Then, the Team Underdog chip came out, this chip had 2 versions. One for the Samsung drives, and the other for the LG/Hitachi drives. So again, you were “stuck” having to find out exactly which Xbox 360 you had in order to select the right chip for your console.

Now, as with most developments in the mod chip manufacturing world, eventually, some very smart programmers and developers finally get it right. Naturally, it is common sense to assume that customers would be much more likely to buy a mod chip for their Xbox 360 is they could do away with the “version” checking, and buy a chip that they KNOW will work in their Xbox 360 console. Of course, when they take it apart after receiving their chip, they WILL have to find out which model they have, so they can use the right installation directions – but they don’t have to fret or worry that the chip they have purchased may NOT be compatible with their XBox 360.

Much like any product, customers want the peace of mind of knowing that what they are buying will simply just WORK, and in the case of mod chips, will work in their Xbox 360 console regardless of the version of the Xbox 360 that they purchased.

It comes the Globe 360 Xbox 360 Mod Chip. The Globe 360 is the world’s first Xbox 360 mod chip that is compatible with ALL DVD drives currently on the market! Rather than having to figure out which model drive you have, the Globe360 Xbox 360 Mod chip works in ANY drive model to date. And the home brew software that is available is outstanding – and I expect it to get a whole lot better. My Xbox already acts as a complete media center, even streaming Google Videos directly from the Internet. And my PlayStation 2 has been transformed from just an awesome games machine to a DVD player, DivX player, MP3 player, and streaming content directly to the console from the Internet makes it something that I could not do without.

To sum it up, if you have an Xbox 360, then you should really consider getting an Xbox 360 mod chip. Not only will you be able to protect your expensive investments by making backup copies of your own original games, and putting the originals away for safe keeping, but you’ll also open up a whole new world of games that you simply would not be able to play otherwise. There are truly very unique (and playable) Japanese games that we’ll simply never see otherwise. And if home brew or cool utilities, applications or add-ons are your thing, then having a mod chip is an absolute must.
By Heavy Metal Music and Bands

I could spend all day playing an adrenaline-fueled shooter over Xbox Live. I love nothing more than running raid after raid in World of Warcraft, but when it comes to playing a game with a bunch of people, live or in person, nothing compares to Rock Band. Harmonix and MTV Games offered this little piece of melodic wonderment to the world last holiday season and, despite some unfortunate hardware malfunctions, met with thunderous applause from rock star wannabes everywhere. Now, a mere nine months later, a successor is ready to take the stage. The only question is, will Rock Band 2 be more like a Metal God or a Garage Band.

First, let’s take a look at the core game. For those of you living under a rock, that’s ill-equipped with gaming devices, reading material and commercial television, Rock Band allows up to four players to take the reigns of musicians in an up-and-coming band with the sole purpose of hitting the big time. Whether you choose lead guitar, bass guitar, drums or vocals, you’ll use your rhythm, coordination and talent to play along with notable songs in music’s past and present. Thankfully, this perfect blend of accessibility and outright fun is returning for its latest incarnation.

Now that we’ve gotten that arduous task out of the way, we can move on to some new goodies that are offered so prominently in sequels. First, Rock Band 2 is throwing in some amazing online modes into the mix, allowing band mates to link up from all over the globe. This is seen through local and global online competitions that include World Tour and Battle of the Bands, both of which give you, the gamer, an opportunity to compete against individuals and entire bands to see who truly is the God of Rock. If you worry about how you look more than how you play, the game’s character creator has been given the once over to allow for more fashion, tattoos and bling. Finally, if you’re an owner of the original Rock Band and you’re dreading the constant switching of discs, fear not. Rock Band 2 is not only backwards compatible for downloaded content, it also has a Disc Export Feature for exporting the tracks from the original into your new game.

Sure, MTV Games’ franchise has solid and addictive gameplay, a hefty pile of online features and enough songs to offer something for everyone. While each of these very positive comments should have you salivating and waving cash at a game store clerk, what really makes Rock Band 2 shine is the fact that anyone from teenager to grandparent can pick up an instrument, strike a pose in the living room and jam together in perfect, gaming harmony.

SUMMARY
Rating out of 10

Gameplay: Whether you’re playing alone or with a group, Rock Band 2 offers accessible fun for all ages and enough songs to satiate any taste. (9.0)

Graphics: While you’ll spend most of the game looking at tiny dots on streaming frets, spectators will enjoy custom created characters and cool light shows that truly encapsulate the concert feel. (8.5)

Sound: It’s what the game is all about, and it does it flawlessly. (9.5)

Entertainment Value: Re-playability galore and plenty of online features make Rock Band 2 a solid purchase whether you need to buy instruments or not. (8.5)

Originality: Sequels are far from original and the music genre is chock full of contenders. But while originality may be lacking, the concept is delivered better than any game currently in the genre. (6.0)

Overall Score: 8.5
By Produkte Neutral Getestet

PlayStation 3 is the video game console of the seventh generation era and the third in the series of the PlayStation. PS3 is Sony’s response against Nintendo’s Wii and Microsoft’s Xbox 360. The launch will be done on November 2006 in the United States and Japan. In Australia, Asia and Europe, the PS3 will be available in the market on March 2007. The delayed date of release in the Australasian and European regions has been charged to the shortage of blue-ray drive diodes.

Sony announced that the PlayStation 3 would be released in two configurations. The first one is the premium version. Units with this configuration come with Blu-ray disc drive, USB ports, Wi-Fi connectivity, memory card readers and an internal 60 GB hard drive. The alternate version, on the other hand, has only a 20 GB internal hard drive and does not come with Wi-Fi features and memory card readers. However, the user has the option to upgrade the hard drive and connect memory card readers via adapters. The Wi-Fi feature, however, cannot be installed. With the Blu-ray drive, PS3 users can play movies and game discs. Because a Blu-ray disc has a capacity of holding up 54 GB of data, users will not have to want for additional media space.

The portable hard disks provide the system with the required storage space needed for PlayStation Network applications, downloads and other files. For the games, the hard drive will also be used for saving game points. In the United States, the expected pricing release of the 20 GB is $499 and $599 for the 60 GB. In Japan, the price lists about $430 for the 20 GB. Sony has chosen to set an open price for the Japanese retailers for the 60 GB model. Meanwhile, for the European release, the 20 GB and the 60 GB versions cost $550 ad $660, respectively. In Australian regions, the premium model will retail for $680 while the 20 GB will retail for $570.

The PS3 console is elegantly designed to feature pleasing lines and curves. The sides of the PS3 appear to expand outward, hardly enclosing the hardware in it. Moreover, the PS3 case is outlined with a highly developed cooling system to deal with the heat output released from the system power supply and the Cell processor. Many would expect that because PS3 consumes much power, the system would sound significantly noisy. But actually, the PS3 operation is remarkably quiet. Early models of the PlayStation 3 consoles were in silver, white and black. However, the initial release will only include black.

To add an extra touch of sophistication to the design, Sony made use of quality material choices. In official previews of the design, the exterior of the PS3 console looked to be opaque and glossy black. The system casing, however, appeared to be dark and partially transparent black. And with the curved shape of the console top, users will have to stack the PS3 at the topmost layer of their equipment. The PS3 console weighs 11 pounds and its dimensions measures 12.8” x 3.8” x 10.8”. The PS3, just like the other consoles, can sit horizontally or placed vertically on common AV racks. Users of the PS3 do not have to worry about unintentionally damaging their movie or game discs while changing the position of the console.
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