Thanks to Gamespot.com, I was able to get into the exclusive Multiplayer beta test for Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. As a fan of the previous Call of Duty games on Xbox 360, I was thrilled to get a token to the Beta test. My thrills did not stop with the code, after the 1GB download from Xbox Live, I was ready to strap on my flack jacket and head into war to fight for my country, which ranged from the US Marine Corp to British S.A.S to Russians to Middle Eastern Soliders.
Gaining experience points is the basis of Call of Duty 4. You get points for completing different objects like killing and opponent or shooting down a helicopter. The more experience points you earn the more you level up, earning you more weapons, features, game modes, perks, and even the ability to customize your soldier/class. I for one have created the Jack Bauer class.
The beta included 3 maps: Overgrown, Vacant, and Crash. Overgrown is takes place in a Russian forest. A lot of this map is open fields, but if you are a sniper there are plenty of good hiding spots, including a barn and some abandoned buildings.
Vacant is another map that takes place in Russia. I happen to always do well in this map so it is my favorite of the Xbox 360 Beta. In this map, you spend most of the time sneaking around an abandoned single story office, but the is an old train yard with empty train cars to hide and attack from.
The last of the maps is Crash, which reminded me of “Black Hawk Down”. This map has everything from roofs to abandoned buildings to a downed helicopter and some open space. This map is a lot of fun to with the different places to hide and attack from.
After experiencing the beta, I know the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is going to be the 2007 Game of the Year. Some might think that it is a bold statement, especially with the much anticipated Halo 3 hitting stores this Tuesday, but after playing in both betas, Call of Duty is going to be the better game. Personally, I can not wait for this November to see the full version of this game.
Rock on, Guitar Hero 2 from Red Octane has finally hit the Xbox 360 and it does not disappoint. For almost two years, only Sony Playstation 2 owners could enjoy the thrill of being on stage in a rock band but now the Xbox 360 world can enjoy the same rush. The great thing about Red Octane’s Xbox 360 version is that it is not just a port of the Playstation 2 version. There is a lot of added features and content for just Xbox 360 users. There are additional songs, downloadable content, and online leaderboards.
For those not familiar with the gaming phenomena the Red Octane has created with the Guitar Hero series, here is how it works. You strap on the Gibson X-plorer guitar, which has a five color fret buttons on the neck, a strumming bar, and whammy bar. The game play is simple in concept and hard to master on the hard difficulty levels. I started on easy and loved every minute of my rise to stardom. On easy, the game only involves 3 of 5 the five color frets, making it very easy to get accustomed to being a Guitar Hero. As you play the game, you will notice that the notes appear as they do on the X-plorer guitar and as the notes pass onscreen you tap the same color buttons on the fret board and strum the guitar. You score points for each correct note and by stringing notes together you create combos and combos lead to multipliers. You also can gain star power by hitting all the correct notes of certain sections of the song and when you fill your star power meter and activate star power, you become the focus of the stage and earn double the points and don’t forget to use your whammy bar for added points.
The rock meter tracks how you are doing in a very simple way, green you are rocking, yellow you could be better, and red, well red means you suck. Too much time in the red and you fail the song.
Career mode is where you will spend hours upon hours rocking out in small high schools gyms till you hit the big time. Career mode is also where you will unlock the massive soundtrack of the game. Oh yeah and as you progress in career mode you will unlock outfits and guitars to enhance your stage persona. But, don’t fret (ha ha guitar pun), if you get stuck on a song, there is a practice mode that allows you to practice whole or part of songs at a speed you are comfortable learning at.
The last part of Red Octane’s Guitar Hero 2 that should be mentioned is the multiplayer mode. There are two types of play, one where you share a song and cooperative. In the first mode you and your partner trade of sections of a song. In cooperative mode, which is much more fun, one player takes lead guitar and the other is base or rhythm guitar.
The only negatives I have about this Red Octane’s rockin’ Guitar Hero 2 is the lack of online play and cost of the downloadable content through the Xbox Marketplace. But I attribute the high cost due to Microsoft and not Red Octane.
So you wanna be a rock superstar? And live large A big house. Five cars, then Red Octane’s Guitar Hero 2 is the game for you.
Below is the track listing in stages and download content thanks to Wikipedia
† - denotes rhythm guitar as alternate instrument for song in co-op mode (all other songs feature bass guitar)
bold denotes song performed by the original artist (all other songs are covers)
italics denotes Xbox 360 exclusive tracks Soundtrack
1. Opening Licks
• "Surrender" – Cheap Trick • "Possum Kingdom" – Toadies • "Heart-Shaped Box" – Nirvana • "Salvation" – Rancid • "Strutter" – Kiss † • "Shout at the Devil" – Mötley Crüe (Encore)
2. Amp-Warmers
• "Mother" – Danzig † • "Life Wasted" – Pearl Jam • "Cherry Pie" – Warrant • "Woman" – Wolfmother • "You Really Got Me" – Van Halen • "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight" – Spinal Tap † (Encore)
3. String-Snappers
• "Carry on Wayward Son" – Kansas • "Search and Destroy" – Iggy Pop and the Stooges • "Message in a Bottle" – The Police • "Billion Dollar Babies" – Alice Cooper • "Them Bones" – Alice in Chains • "War Pigs" – Black Sabbath (Encore)
4. Thrash and Burn
• "Monkey Wrench" – Foo Fighters • "Hush" – Deep Purple • "Girlfriend" – Matthew Sweet † • "Who Was in My Room Last Night?" – The Butthole Surfers † • "Can't You Hear Me Knockin'" – The Rolling Stones † • "Sweet Child o' Mine" – Guns N' Roses (Encore)
5. Return of the Shred
• "Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo" – Rick Derringer • "Tattooed Love Boys" – The Pretenders • "John the Fisherman" – Primus • "Jessica" – The Allman Brothers Band † • "Bad Reputation" – Thin Lizzy • "Last Child" – Aerosmith † (Encore)
6. Relentless Riffs
• "Crazy on You" – Heart • "Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart" – Stone Temple Pilots • "Dead!" – My Chemical Romance † • "Killing in the Name" – Rage Against the Machine • "Freya" – The Sword • "Stop" – Jane's Addiction (Encore)
7. Furious Fretwork
• "Madhouse" – Anthrax • "The Trooper" – Iron Maiden • "Rock This Town" – Stray Cats • "Laid to Rest" – Lamb of God † • "Psychobilly Freakout" – Reverend Horton Heat • "YYZ" – Rush (Encore)
8. Face-Melters
• "Beast and the Harlot" – Avenged Sevenfold • "Carry Me Home" – The Living End • "Institutionalized" – Suicidal Tendencies † • "Misirlou" – Dick Dale • "Hangar 18" – Megadeth • "Free Bird" – Lynyrd Skynyrd † (Encore)
Downloadable Content
Guitar Hero Track Pack 1 (30.87 MB, 500 MSP) – Released April 11, 2007
o "Bark at the Moon" – Ozzy Osbourne o "Hey You" – The Exies o "Ace of Spades" – Motörhead
Guitar Hero Track Pack 2 (30.64 MB, 500 MSP) – Released April 11, 2007
o "Killer Queen" – Queen o "Take It Off" – The Donnas o "Frankenstein" – The Edgar Winter Group
Guitar Hero Track Pack 3 (32.71 MB, 500 MSP) – Released April 11, 2007
o "Higher Ground" – Red Hot Chili Peppers[4] o "Infected" – Bad Religion o "Stellar" – Incubus
Guitar Hero Track Pack 4 (44.15 MB, 500 MSP) – Released July 11, 2007
o "I Wanna Be Sedated" – The Ramones o "Smoke on the Water" – Deep Purple o "You've Got Another Thing Comin'" – Judas Priest
My Chemical Romance Pack (33.53 MB, 500 MSP) – Released August 14, 2007 o "Famous Last Words" – My Chemical Romance o "Teenagers" – My Chemical Romance o "This Is How I Disappear" – My Chemical Romance
Bonus Songs
All bonus songs are performed by the original artist
• "Raw Dog" – The Last Vegas (Winner of the "Be a Guitar Hero" Contest) • "Arterial Black" – Drist † • "Collide" – Anarchy Club • "Drink Up" – Ounce of Self • "Elephant Bones" – That Handsome Devil • "Fall of Pangea" – Valient Thorr • "FTK" – Vagiant • "Gemini" – Brian Kahanek † • "Laughtrack" – The Acro-brats † • "Less Talk More Rokk" – Freezepop † • "Jordan" – Buckethead • "Kicked to the Curb" – Noble Rot • "Mr. Fix It" – The Amazing Crowns • "The New Black" – Every Time I Die • "One for the Road" – The Breaking Wheel • "Parasite" – The Neighborhoods • "Push Push (Lady Lightning)" – Bang Camaro • "Radium Eyes" – Count Zero • "Red Lottery" – Megasus • "Six" – All That Remains • "Soy Bomb" – Honest Bob and the Factory-to-Dealer Incentives † • "The Light That Blinds" – Shadows Fall • "Thunderhorse" – Dethklok • "Trogdor" – Strong Bad † • "X-Stream" – Voivod • "Yes We Can" – Made in Mexico
Microsoft Announces Use of HDi Logo by Toshiba and Major Hollywood Studios
PR NEWSWIRE
Posted: 2007-09-20 09:31:03
REDMOND, Wash., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. today announced that its trademarked HDi(TM) logo will soon appear on all Toshiba HD DVD players. In addition, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment will include the HDi logo on packaging for HD DVD movie titles beginning in the fourth quarter of this year. HDi technology is Microsoft's high-performance implementation of the interactivity layer for the HD DVD format, which has taken the movie-viewing experience to an entirely new level with such advanced features as network connectivity and community scenarios. HDi is also a trademark of Microsoft, as recognized by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in its July 2007 notice of allowance for trademark.
As Microsoft's implementation of the mandatory interactive layer in HD DVD, defined as Advanced Navigation by the DVD Forum, HDi immediately began delivering unprecedented and unique experiences for consumers when it was launched in April 2006. Early movie titles such as "The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift," "Miami Vice" and "Mission: Impossible III" received immediate acclaim for their interactive HD DVD experiences -- from picture-in-picture director's commentary to graphical interfaces with tailored movie specifications -- all available without stopping the movie playback experience.
"With Microsoft's HDi technology, Toshiba is able to offer consumers a consistent movie-watching experience in a way that simply isn't possible with today's DVDs or available with any other format right now," said Jodi Sally, vice president of marketing for Toshiba America Consumer Products. "Advanced navigation using Microsoft's HDi technology has been offered on all of Toshiba's HD DVD players -- from the models introduced last spring to our third generation of models that are shipping today."
Based on easy-to-program Web standards, HDi provides studios with a familiar and simple development environment, resulting in a digital canvas of unlimited possibilities. With support for interactivity mandatory on all HD DVD players, HDi allows for advanced features that can be played back on any HD DVD player or drive.
"For studios to truly enhance and change the way people watch movies, HD DVD provides the features and the flexibility we need to offer a personalized experience," said Ken Graffeo, executive vice president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and co-president of the North American HD DVD Promotional Group. "Web-enabled network features made possible through HDi are particularly compelling because they bridge the gap between physical media and the Web-based world of the MySpace generation."
Studios supporting HD DVD are already delivering on promises of expanding their offerings with Web-enabled network (interactive) features on shipping titles such as "300" and "Blood Diamond" from Warner Bros., "Heroes: Season 1" from Universal and the upcoming "Transformers" from Paramount. The ability to download new trailers, buy ring tones and other merchandise, and share favorite bookmarked scenes with other HD DVD owners are just a few of the features now available on discs from studios supporting HD DVD. Universal recently announced that all day-and-date titles moving forward will include Web-enabled network features powered by HDi.
"As the market for high definition evolves, consumers will want more out of the next generation of DVD than just superior picture and sound -- they'll also want to personalize their experience and tap into fan communities for their favorite movies and TV shows," said Amir Majidimehr, corporate vice president of the Consumer Media Technology Group at Microsoft. "Using Microsoft(R) HDi, studios can bring these interactive experiences to life in a way never seen before. We're helping our studio supporters push the envelope with new features that are not only redefining how people experience movies at home, but also changing the way studios approach the filmmaking process."
Microsoft HDi technology powers the interactive capabilities in every stand-alone HD DVD player on the market as well the HD DVD drive for Xbox 360(R). More information about HDi can be found at http://www.thisishddvd.com .
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
As a life long baseball fan (GO PHILLIES), who has been playing baseball games since Nintendo Baseball, I was extremely excited when I heard that Wii was going to have its first true baseball game. I had downloaded the demo of The Bigs on Xbox 360 and truly enjoyed it. The bigger than life home runs, the 120 mph fastballs, to the sound of bones breaking when you bean someone, this game was the first non realistic sports title I had played since NBA JAM and NHL OPEN ICE and the folks at 2k7 really did a great job on their second baseball title of season. But, that was the 360 demo version; the Wii version falls short in my estimation. I knew the graphics would not compare to that of the 360, but I did not buy a Wii for its graphics. What I was excited about was the ability to play virtual baseball in my living room and by virtual baseball; I mean swinging my bat (Wii remote) and throwing pitches (Wii remote) just like if I were on the diamond once again. Where this game falls short and becomes a disappointment is the sluggish controls and sometimes unresponsiveness of the Wii remote. The pitching is extremely hard to control, you need twist you had one way and throw forward for one pitch and then turn it the other way for another and despite sitting through the on disk tutorial TWICE, I could not get the pitching down. I chalked this up to just being a part of the learning curve. Well, I said to myself, Tamer, you were never really a pitcher, your strengths were always at the plate, so I stepped up to the plate as the best team in the National League, when not decimated by injuries, the Phillies and had the side struck out, only getting a piece of the ball 3 times. Again, I chalked this up to the learning curve. Next inning, I lead off with the 2006 NL MVP, Ryan Howard and 1-2-3 strikeout, not so unrealistic, but again the side was struck out and I thought to myself, this can not be just me. Well as frustrating as hitting and pitching is, fielding is much worse. I could not make a catch to save my life and forget about throwing to the right base. In the end, I was very disappointed in The Bigs for Wii. What was supposed to be a fun cartoonish larger than life baseball simulation, left this former little leaguer and current coach dejected and frustrated. Hopefully next year’s version will be easier to control and more responsive. But for right now leave the Bigs for Wii on the bench.
I have been waiting for this game for months. I loved Fuzion Frenzy on XBox and couldn't wait to see the nex-gen version. I bought this game on its release date and wish I would have waited for a used copy. First and foremost, why did they remove "Fuzion Frenzy" from the game? That was the best part of the game, risking your points and stealing your opponents. Second, the announcer is extremely annoying and his quips are repetitive to the point of hurting the game. Also, how hard is it to announce the winning players name. Player 1 wins the tournament, this is nex-gen and the game can't announce the character. If you loved Fuzion Frenzy 1, you might be disappointed in this "upgrade." I sure was.
Normally I would write more, but I wouldn't want to waste any more of your time on this game.
I just finished this game and I have to say it was one of the most enjoyable gaming experiences I have had on Xbox 360. As a huge fan of the Pirates of the Caribbean Movie Franchise this game fits in very well with the brand. If you have yet to see At World’s End and want to be surprised DO NOT play this game, the game follows the movie very closely and let’s you play at most of the vital scenes as well as some creative storylines not found in the films.
The game is visually stunning and the sound shook my living room. The characters look almost exactly as they do on the big screen. As for the game play, it is relativity easy, but that is what makes the game so enjoyable. It can be played by children and adults. As for its reply value, I feel this game can be played over and over again. There are many hidden elements to the game that are not easily found and I for one will play this game again just to find the hidden items.
I highly recommend this game for anyone who is looking for good family fun or a break from the first person shooters and grand theft auto type games currently flooding the video game market.
In the end you will remember this day as the day we all caught Captain Jack Sparrow and he is alive and well in our video game collections.
As a life long baseball fan/player, I am ashamed to say, until today, I had never seen Field of Dreams.I am glad I finally took the time to watch this incredible story.The movie stars Kevin Costner (Robin Hood, JFK, Bull Durham) as Ray Kinsella, a farmer in Iowa who begins to hear voices in his cornfield tell him “If you build it, he will come.”So Ray decides to plow over a portion of his farm to build a baseball field.Ray is sitting with his wife Annie, played by Amy Madigan (Carnivàle), wondering why he built this field, when his daughter Karin, played by Gaby Hoffman (Uncle Buck, Volcano) and says “there is a man on the lawn,” and there he was, Shoeless Joe Jackson, played by Ray Liotta (Goodfellas, Identity) and begins to play baseball with him.Shoeless Joe then tells Ray there are others and next we see there are 9 players enjoying the game.
But the voices don’t stop and Ray goes on cross country journey to find Terence “Terry”Mann played by the great James Earl Jones (Star Wars, The Lion King) who in his legendary voice preaches a great speech about Baseball.Upon finding Terry in Boston, he and Ray, travel to Minnesota to find Dr. Archibald "Moonlight" Graham, played by Hollywood Legend, Burt Lancaster.Everyone one has a dream or wish in the film and in the end on this field, dreams do come true.
As for the technical aspects of the DVD, the colors are bright and vibrant and the sound is crisp and makes you feel like you are right there, which is everything you expect from HD-DVD.There are not many special features but the one include are entertaining and interesting.Some the special features are “From Father To Son, Passing Along The Pastime” (great feature); deleted scenes; feature commentary; roundtable with Kevin Costner, Bret Saberhagen, George Brett and Johnny Bench; Galema, IL pinch hits for Chisholm, MN; The Diamond in the Husks (another great feature about the movie site and how it truly is a Field of Dreams; Bravo Special: From page to screen; and The Field of Dreams scrapbook.
As I mentioned above, I am glad I finally watched this great movie.If you have never seen it or haven’t seen it in HD-DVD, rent it or buy it.Whether you have a regular DVD player or getting the HD experience this great film will last the test of time because at Terry Mann says “there is always one constant in life…BASEBALL.”In closing, go out and buy yourself some peanuts and crackerjacks and get your copy of Field of Dreams, cause this HD-DVD is a grand slam.
