"Loaded with multi-touch, accelerometer, and 3D graphics, Zune HD makes portable gaming even more exciting. All to the sound of your favorite music. Download free games from our catalog of popular titles like Vans Sk8: Pool Service and Audiosurf Tilt.", says Microsoft's Zune Site.Not one to allow Apple to comfortably situate itself atop the movie gaming market, Microsoft has rolled out some titles for the Zune HD. These titles range from new properties to some existing licenses. One of the advantages right off the bat for the Zune HD as a gaming platform -- and by extension as a mobile device in general -- is that it takes advantage of Microsoft Points. Read More...

Last week, Nintendo announced that "for the first time" Link and Zelda will team up to save Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. When I first came across this bit of news, I honestly didn't think much of it. Don't get me wrong -- I'm looking forward to the next adventure with Link on the DS -- but after playing it at E3, I have had modest expectations on new gameplay. The more I thought about this new bit of news, the more excited I got. After 20+ years of waiting to be saved by Link, Zelda is coming to the forefront to assert herself as a dominant character in the series. Read More...

Hope you're already dressed and ready to head on out the door. Where are you going you might ask? Well to your local GameStop of course. Why? Here's why, cdv Software Entertainment USA has announced a new Divinity II – Ego Draconis pre-order incentive program. As of today (11-9-2009) customers who pre-order the game from GameStop will receive the exclusive Blood Echelon Armor and Weapon set, while supplies last (of course). The Blood Echelon is a select lodge of elite Dragon Slayers who have earned the highest of distinctions on the battlefield. Their elite armor and weapon set includes: Blood Echelon Armor – Sturdy as granite and shaped to intimidate, Blood Echelon armors set new standards in the art of war Blood Echelon Weapon – The Claymore, the Frontline Slayers' might weapon of choice, cleaves armor like it was mere flesh. Read More...

When dealing with the end of the world and pretty much the end of days, what would you expect your goals to be? Probably get laid one last time. Go on a drunken binge. Maybe even see what it is like to kill a person. Maybe even go looting through treasure chests that you may find around the world while riding a horse for 100 miles. Doesn't that sound about right for the general populace of the world? Well what about the horseman of War? Read More...

The bad gets worse. PC gamers have often been on the short end of the stick on gaming for awhile now except for one thing: Multiplayer. Mods, dedicated servers, better clan support, and VOIP programs like Ventrilo and Teamspeak usually make the PC multiplayer experience better than their console counterparts. Modern Warfare 2, which is poised to be the best selling FPS of all time, is only full of disappointments to the PC crowd unfortunately.Dedicated servers have already been taken away from the PC version and now comes more. Read More...

Ratchet and Clank has enjoyed a really good run these past 7 years, and A Crack in Time is a great cap to the "future" series. In what may be the final game in the series, Ratchet must rescue Clank from Dr. Nefarious (the villain from Up Your Arsenal, the third game in the series). Before we get in to deep, let's get a quick glance back at the Future trilogy thus far. In Tools of Destruction, an evil tyrant named Tachyon set out to revenge against the Lombax's for destroying his race. This is the first hint we get that Ratchet isn't the last Lombax in the galaxy. Read More...

Reinventing the Vinyl WheelYour palms sweat heavily as you approach the stage. There's a twitch, a solitary twinge of excitement racing through your veins and ready to explode from the tips of your fingers onto the vinyl that awaits you. The lights flicker and flash and the crowd roars as you make your entrance. You deftly weave between songs and paradoxical rhythmic patterns, cross-fading between sultry sirens and heard edged break beats. You match the intensity of the crowd with every pull of the record, every scratch rivaled by their increased volume. Read More...

Are you a fan of the CBS hit show 'Criminal Minds'? I know I am. Ever wonder what it would feel like to work for the BAU (Behavioral Analysis Unit)? To work along side with JJ? Hell yeah! Well wonder no more as CBS Consumer Products has teamed up with casual games developer, Legacy Interactive, to launch 'Criminal Minds' the video game. Ariella Lehrer, President and CEO of Legacy Interactive has come out to say, “Legacy Interactive is thrilled to be collaborating with CBS Consumer Products to expand our Hollywood Hits. Criminal Minds is an intelligent and sophisticated television series that will translate wonderfully into an interactive gaming experience. Read More...

Since the Wii has come to market and the need for keeping those WiiMotes charged and useable has been a concern for hardcore gamers. So then the rechargeable AA batteries got pulled back out and WiiMote specific chargers began to get pumped onto the scene. Some were good. Some just horrid. But they all kept things working as long as it was just the WiiMote you had and nothing else. Not even the gel jacket to protect TV's around the world. These chargers were workable as long as you didn't care taking the extra time to slide out and disassemble everything to charge the batteries or swap in new ones. Read More...

Infinity Ward recently announced that their upcoming Modern Warfare 2 won't be supporting dedicated servers, something that PC gamers have 99% of the time, replacing it with something called IWNet, a proprietary server system ran by Infinity Ward themselves. Before we get ahead of ourselves, let's make a list of pro's and con's. Pros: Less Cheaters Less Lag Better Matchmaking No Clan Servers No Custom Configs Cons: No Mod Support Chance that IW could disconnect and end servers at anytime for any reason No Clan Servers No Custom Configs Unable to play on “favorite” servers, only way to play with same group of people is to be in the same party or clan While console gamers have never had their own dedicated servers (save a few games like Section 8, Evolution 4x4, and a few others), it's rare for a PC game to do away with it (and yes, COD4 had dedicated servers). Why this move was made is beyond anybody's idea however it seems that Infinity Ward would like to either Nazi their PC players Pave the way for a pay-for service Get rid of Modders Genuinely want to get rid of hackers Announce that they are taking it away, to drive some gamers away, then announce that they will include it, and gain even more gamers to it due to the news (IE: New Coke) Kill the ability for pirated copies of MW2 to be played online. Read More...

Social Networking strikes again! On the Civilization Fanatics' Forums Sid Meier, legendary creator all thing Civilization, has just announced that they will be creating a Civilization project called Civilization® Network™ via Facebook. Thats right, one of your favorite social networking sites will now encompass the engrossing game of Civilization. The game will be Free-to-play, which is a change from all the "mini-transaction" games we see all over Facebook currently. According to Sid, the game is slated for a 2010 full release: I wanted to let you know we’ll soon be looking for beta testers to help us develop a unique new way to play Civilization. Read More...

Ahhh, the soothing sounds of a hype train pulling into the station. With two weeks remaining until the release of Band Hero, Activision has now finally released the final set list for the game. On top of that, they divulged methods and pricing for importing the tracks from Band Hero to Guitar Hero 5 and vice versa. As far as the song listing goes, you will utter "Sweet Song!" as many times as you say "Huh? Read More...

So what is this game then if it isn't the next IP for the Jurassic Park franchise? Pretty much another dinosaur shooter style game with one major twist that others do not have. What would this twist be? Not that you are another space marine traveled through time and space and ends up in a jurassic era, but that you are a "normalish" adventurer and weapons master. That and you have been transported back in time with loads of ammo and weapons to hunt and kill the monstrous and angry dinosaurs of the jurassic era, via the Bermuda Triangle. Yep, that's right. Read More...

Yesterday, Activision released the track listing for the bonus 2-CD pack of Jay-Z and Eminem for the DJ Hero Renegade Edition. As a person who is readily suspicious of special editions and collector's edition, I had my doubts about DJ Hero's special pack-in when I saw that the jump in price from the regular edition was 80 US Dollars. With Wednesday's track listing release for the big addition to the original product and what exactly it will be, it really begs the question if what you're getting is worth the price of admission. Looking at Gamestop's web listing for DJ Hero Renegade Edition, you get: DJ Hero Renegade Edition Includes the following items: DJ Hero Game Renegade Turntable Controller featuring premium metal controls and finish Hardshell Turntable Carrying Case that converts to performance-ready DJ stand Exclusive JAY-Z and EMINEM 2-CD pack featuring unreleased tracks and collectible case designed by artist Shepard Fairey Looking at the track listing of the 2-CD set and being a fan, albeit not a huge stalker-level fan, I was really impressed at what is being included especially a brand new track. Read More...

While just under a month out, Activision is already thinking about keeping people playing their new action rpg, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. Maybe you've heard of it, maybe not. My bet is that you have. But that isn't what this article is about here, at least not totally. This is about the fact they are adding in one of the best characters to join the good fight. That character is Carnage. That's right! Read More...