Saturday, July 31, 2010

Rock Band 3 revealed along with new keyboard controller

06/10/2010 Rock Band 3 revealed along with new keyboard controller

Rock Band 3 revealed along with new keyboard controller screenshot

USA Today brings us a detailed look at Rock Band 3. The brand new 25-key keyboard controller is also revealed. The keyboard can be used as a MIDI keyboard, and the note highway will shift so the correct keys are covered.

New guitars are also going to be released along with Rock Band 3That take advantage of the new Pro mode. One of the guitars will not even be fully functional Fender guitar! Expect to improve the user interface functions too, such as drop-in-and-drop multi-player game and the ability to change the song 's difficult without rebooting.

Wow, that keyboard controller looks really hard. You all excited?

Rock Band '3 ': Keyboards are key [USA Today  via GoNintendo]

[Update:Hit pause for a list of some of the songs that will Rock Band 3.]

2000s
Combat Baby -- Metric
Dead End Friends -- Them Crooked Vultures
Get Free -- The Vines
Lasso -- Phoenix
Me Enamora - Juanes
Oh My God -- Ida Maria
Portions of Foxes -- Rilo Kiley
The Hardest Button to Button -- The White Stripes

1990
Been Caught Stealing -- Jane's Addiction
At the same time - Spacehog
Plush -- Stone Temple Pilots
Walkin' on the Sun -- Smash Mouth

1980s
Crazy Train -- Ozzy Osbourne
Here I Go Again -- Whitesnake
I Love Rock-n-Roll - Joan Jett
Just Like Heaven -- The Cure
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
The Power of Love -- Huey Lewis and the News
Sister Christian - Night Ranger

1960s-1970s
Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Break On Through -- The Doors
Crosstown Traffic -- Jimi Hendrix

'Rock Band 3': the songs announced so far [USA Today -- Thanks, Suff0cat!]




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David Jaffe not working on new Twisted Metal =[=update=]=

05/25/2010 David Jaffe not working on new Twisted Metal [update]
Aside from answering questions about the current state of documentary film and divulging his current love affair with Black Rock Studios' Split/Second, Eat Sleep Play head David Jaffe is busy bustin' through speculation about his current game project. "By the way, I WISH we were making a new Twisted Metal. Manufacturing [] game you 've been working on it tons easier because the core of your project is already there. This new game design Tho things? The man who is hard ... So I 'm so stressed these days? "Jaffe recently tweeted .

Jaffe also suggested that his studio's current project is unlikely to be revealed during E3. "Sony has not asked us and given it's 3 weeks away, my guess is u r correct: no Eat Sleep Play game at E3," he tweeted, busting through his own expectationslast year. Thus, it 's supposedly running on a machine-game , but it's not Twisted Metal ... uh, the Indiana Jones (mine) kart racerWe 've all been waiting for, or what?

Last Updated: David Jaffe told Joystiq via email this morning, "As for my Twitter, I stand by what I said: we are not making a new Twisted Metal altho [sic] I think one would be fun to do ... but we simply do not. In addition, game play Eat Sleep will not be at E3 2010. I can 't say that we are working on because he' s not my place. "

[Via CVG]

JoystiqDavid Jaffe not working on new Twisted Metal [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 May 2010 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Friday, July 30, 2010

Nintendo UK took 'The infamous Wii List' and made a video

06/05/2010 Nintendo UK took 'The infamous Wii List' and made a video

Though there have always been plenty of "hardcore" games on the Wii, Nintendo's marketing push for the console has generally remained focused on the budding "casual" market. Watch families play Wii Sports on the couch! Watch random travelers play Metroid Prime 3 at the airport! Nintendo seemed to be saying "Focus on the people, not the game! People are marketable! Games are not!" That's just one of the reasons that the Wii has gained a reputation for being an "amateur console".

Now Nintendo playing catch-up. Along with the release of a black Wii (which apparently makes Wii "less than amateur" for some of them) Nintendo UK has put out this video showcasing some of the newer "traditional" games on the console, and set to a potentially-irritating "ROCK AND ROLL" soundtrack. Since it's rated Pegi 16, the video lacks some of my personal favorites, like Silent Hill: Shattered Memories and No More Heroes 2, but there is still plenty here to like. Any person or thing that spreads the word about Little King's Story is alright by me.

We 'seen this kind of "Wii list" on message boards and online chat for years. In fact, the first time I wrote one myself before Wii was released. Someone Shoryuken.com said something about how to "Wii won 't have a good game", and I immediately responded with "WRONG! Metal Slug Anthology, Trauma Center: Second Opinion , LoZ: Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime 3, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl are going to be AWESOMEZ!"

Do you think that this random internet stranger was swayed by my oh-so-convincing list? I doubt it, and I also doubt that this video will convince anyone who has already decided against the Wii to change their minds. There is a chance that those who don't follow videogame news and/or have otherwise ignored the Wii might get something out of it. How about you? Did this video do anything to change your perspective on the Wii?

Nintendo UK releases the most ridiculously hardcore Wii promo video I've ever seen- [GoNintendo]




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Nintendo UK took 'The infamous Wii List' and made a video

06/05/2010 Nintendo UK took 'The infamous Wii List' and made a video

Though there have always been plenty of "hardcore" games on the Wii, Nintendo's marketing push for the console has generally remained focused on the budding "casual" market. Watch families play Wii Sports on the couch! Watch random travelers play Metroid Prime 3 at the airport! Nintendo seemed to be saying "Focus on the people, not the game! People are marketable! Games are not!" That's just one of the reasons that the Wii has gained a reputation for being an "amateur console".

Now Nintendo is playing catch-up. Along with the release of the black Wii (which apparently makes the Wii "less amateur" to some) Nintendo UK has put out this video showcasing some of the newer "traditional" games on the console, and set to a potentially-irritating "ROCK AND ROLL" soundtrack. Since it's rated Pegi 16, the video lacks some of my personal favorites, like Silent Hill: Shattered Memories and No More Heroes 2 , but there is still plenty here to like. Any person or thing that spreads the word about Little King's Story is alright by me.

We've seen these kinds of "Wii lists" on message boards and internet chats for years now. In fact, the first time I wrote one myself was before the Wii was even released. Someone on Shoryuken.com said something about how "the Wii won't have any good games", and I immediately responded with a "WRONG! Metal Slug Anthology , Trauma Center: Second Opinion, LoZ: Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime 3, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl are going to be AWESOMEZ!"

Do you think that this random internet stranger was swayed by my oh-so-convincing list? I doubt it, and I also doubt that this video will convince anyone who has already decided against the Wii to change their minds. There is a chance that those who don't follow videogame news and/or have otherwise ignored the Wii might get something out of it. How about you? Did this video do anything to change your perspective on the Wii?

Nintendo UK releases the most ridiculously hardcore Wii promo video I've ever seen- [GoNintendo]




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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Lucia is no pushover in the Dante's Inferno DLC

04/30/2010 Lucia is no pushover in the Dante's Inferno DLC

Lucia is no pushover in the Dante's Inferno DLC screenshot

Newly Dante's Inferno "Trials of St. Lucia" DLC is now out and as the launch trailer shows us, Lucia is no pushover. In fact, she's an all around badass. I don't know, something about a gothic-like woman holding a giant scythe is just ... sexy.

That's not all we got for you! OH NO! After the break are a couple of more Dante's Inferno DLC videos walking you through the game. Act now before thirteen more posts are written thus knocking this post off of the front page!

"Trials of St. Lucia" is now out for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Anyone planning on getting the DLC?




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EverQuest II goes free-to-play

07/28/2010 EverQuest II goes free-to-play

Sony Online Entertainment offering a completely separate "Extended" free version of MMORPG; will operate parallel paid iteration; beta start date scheduled for around August 17.

The massively multiplayer online market has proven to be a hotbed for announcements thus far this year. Both Dungeons & Dragons Online and Lord of the Rings Online have gone free-to-play, hype is building for World of Warcraft's Cataclysm expansion, and BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic is marching ahead for its 2011 debut. Today, Sony Online Entertainment added more fuel to the fire, announcing EverQuest II will adopt a free business model…with a twist.

Sony wants free to play to be fun to play.

SOE--which recently cut 4 percent of its staff--will unleash a free version of the popular MMO Everquest II titled EverQuest II: Extended. The game will operate parallel to the paid version, and will be effectively a separate game from EverQuest II.

Instead of adapting the entire EverQuest II to the free-to-play model like Dungeons & Dragons Online and LOTR: Online, SOE is bifurcating the game, and will release two distinct entities. Players will have the option of taking part in the subscription-based game, or the completely free game. Extended will give players access to all the paid game's zones, including those added with the game's Shadow Odyssey expansion.

Extended will adopt a microtransaction business model, whereby players can purchase power-up potions, armor, classes, races, weapons, mounts and more through the marketplace. Additionally, Extended will use a smaller Web-based application download model allowing would-be players faster access to the game.

EverQuest II: Extended is currently pegged to release "on or around August 17." For more on the upcoming release, check out the game's FAQ at EverQuest II's Web site. Additionally, SOE compiled a membership matrix for the game's multiple patronship levels.

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"EverQuest II goes free-to-play" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:53:04 -0700



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Harmonix plays up Rock Band 3, Dance Central

07/25/2010 Harmonix plays up Rock Band 3, Dance Central

Comic-Con 2010: Members of the core Harmonix in Tears For Fears "wants everyone to rule the world," declare new songs for the upcoming game rhythm.

Who Was There: John Drake, the manager of communications for Harmonix, was leading the panel and was joined by Rock Band 3 senior designer Sylvain Dubrofsky and Dance Central's lead designer Dean Tate.

"Rock Lobster" is coming to Rock Band 3!

What They Talked About: Before the panel started, six members from Harmonix played Rock Band 3 using the new peripherals created specifically for the game. Rock Band 3 now includes a Pro mode where players jam on plastic instruments that go beyond colored buttons. For more information on the game, please read GameSpot's preview of Rock Band 3 from the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo.

Drake showed off the Mad Catz wireless Mustang pro-guitar controller that had six nylon strings and more than 100 buttons so that you can play every note that's on a real guitar. A keyboard and a bass guitar are also part of the new peripherals that encourage players to learn actual notes.

Dubrofsky talked about wanting Rock Band 3 to appeal to a wider audience and add even more of a challenge to existing players. Tutorials have been included to guide newcomers along, and he talked about focus-group testing where Harmonix was able to get an idea of how each type of player approaches the game.

He mentioned that Rock Band 3 was, "trying to get non-musicians more attached to music and come out of this with some talent."

Both Dubrofsky and Drake wanted to highlight that players would be learning real-world skills through gameplay.

Before going into the Dance Central portion of the panel, Drake announced the following songs for Rock Band 3: "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears, "Rock Lobster" by the B-52s, and "Foolin" by Def Leppard.

Dance Central uses Microsoft's Kinect and lets players perform 600 unique moves through choreographed songs. Songs that have already been announced include "Funkytown" by Lipps, "Hella Good" by No Doubt, "Poison" by Bell Biv DeVoe, "Poker Face" by Lady Gaga, and "Body Movin" by the Beastie Boys.

For those learning how to dance, there is a Break It Down mode where the game will walk dancers through each step, making it easier to learn some of the trickier steps.

At the end of the panel, Drake announced three more songs for Rock Band 3, which include Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful People," Filter's "Hey Man Nice Shot," and Foreigner's "Cold as Ice."

For Dance Central, two other tracks that have been confirmed include Snoop Dogg's "Drop It Like It's Hot" and Salt 'n Pepper's "Push It."

Tate did confirm that there is a multiplayer mode that hasn't been shown yet, but it involves dancers alternating and competing against one another.

The Takeaway: Harmonix has taken it a step further and moved the music genre into a realm where it's not exactly considered edutainment, but gamers from all backgrounds can learn what it is like to play a real musical instrument.

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"Harmonix plays up Rock Band 3, Dance Central" was posted by Sophia Tong on Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:28:21 -0700



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Arachnid Cricket Pro 300 Soft-Tip Dart Game

[[[Arachnid Cricket Pro 300 Soft-Tip Dart Game]]]



Discription : Arachnid CricketPro 300 Electronic Soft-tip Dart Game features: 8 player Cricket - 36 Games - 175 Options, 13" target area, 8 player score display, 4 player score display shown simultaneously, 7 cricket games, 4 sets of cricket tri-color LED's shown simultaneously, Tournament spider in trademarked tournament colors, Voice record feature - the computer calls out your own recorded name when it is your turn, Micro thin segment dividers dramatically reduce bounce-outs, Single in/out & double in/out features, Bounce out amend feature, NylonTough segments improve playability and durability, Solo play feature, Player handicap feature, Sleep mode and reset feature, Includes 6 soft-tip darts & extra tips, AC adapter, Mounting hardware, Game instructions, and Operating manual. One year warranty against defects.


More review coming soon.

This is a good dart board for those who just play for fun in the basement w/friends (like myself), serious players should spend more for a better board.
The thing that really sets this board apart from other boards also in the <$100 range is the big display. It's worth getting this one vs. saving $30 less & having a small/single player display.

Pros: all the cricket games; the easy to see display (w/cricket scoring); can have up to 8 players.

Cons: a lot of bounce outs, and sometimes stick in the dart, but don t sign up ', (even when thrown hard), external Bullseye will spin. I 'm guessing that these problems with a lot of darts <$ 200.

This is hard to explain, but my reason for 2 stars is based on feel. The Cricket Pro just has a plastic, cheap feeling. The reason I bought it was becasue it has 4 displays for cricket. The bulls eye that spins is absolutely ridiculous and makes it feel even cheaper. Halex is better built and I like the sound when it hits the board.

This is a very nice dart board with many games to keep you entertained. It has 4-player simultaneous scoring. It shows green when a number is hit once, yellow/orange for twice, and red for 3 times. It flashes red when the number is closed out and should no longer be hit. It allows 8 players, alternating between the first 4 and second 4.

Only grumble that the bulls eye spun when hit, it would be turned down and neutralize the effects. This can sometimes cause it to not register. Otherwise, a big board!

The Arachnid Cricket Pro 300 electronic dart board will keep you on your toes thanks to the unique voice record feature, where the computer calls out a recorded name to announce the next turn. This board features 36 games with 170 options, including seven cricket games, and it can accommodate up to eight players. It has a 13.5-inch target area, four sets of Cricket tri-color LEDs, and a scrolling display that shows an opening greeting, game and option menu, and individual dart scores. The micro-thin segment dividers dramatically reduce bounce-outs, while the NylonTough segments improve playability and durability. Other features include solo play feature, sleep mode, Play On and ranking features, and player handicapping.

Specifications:

  • Target area: 13.5 inches
  • Number of players: 8
  • Number of games: 36

What 'in the box?
Electronic dart board, six soft tip darts (with extra tips), AC adapter, mounting hardware, game manual, and printed operating instructions


Amazon.com Product Description
Buy here (at discount) Arachnid Cricket Pro 300 Soft-Dart Board Game

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Hands-on: Puzzle Quest 2

05/25/2010 Hands-on: Puzzle Quest 2
"So would you call this a return to form?" I asked Infinite Interactive's Steve Fawkner right before I picked up the controller to play Puzzle Quest 2. "Yes, very much so," he replied. Fawkner isn't shy about admitting that Puzzle Quest Galactrix

And from my short play session, it seems that's exactly what they got. A lot has changed from the first Puzzle Quest, and while fans will miss a few things (my beloved Druid class is gone!), most of the changes are in service to, and succeed at, making the game more fun.

Gallery: Puzzle Quest 2 (XBLA)

Continue reading Hands-on: Puzzle Quest 2

JoystiqHands-on: Puzzle Quest 2originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 May 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mega Man Legends 3 teased at Capcom panel

07/23/2010 Mega Man Legends 3 teased at Capcom panel

Comic-Con 2010: Publisher trots out creators behind its upcoming slate, including Mega Man Universe, Okamiden, Ghost Trick, Bionic Commando Rearmed 2, and Sengoku Basara.

Who was there : Nine Capcom developers, producers, and translators, including Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune, Okamiden producer Motohide Eshiro, Ghost Trick producer Hironobu Takeshita, Sengoku Basara producer Hiroyuki Kobayashi, and Bionic Commando Rearmed 2's Ray Jimenez.

What they talked about: The "Capcom 2010 and Beyond!" panel was advertised as a comprehensive look at its coming lineup, full of trailers and news about Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Dead Rising 2, Okamiden, Ghost Trick, Bionic Commando Rearmed 2, Sengoku Basara, and a new game announcement from Inafune.

Inafune's comments should give Mega Man Legends fans plenty to smile about.

After introductions for the packed panel, the session started off with a new Dead Rising 2 trailer done in the style of a Fortune City tourism video, emphasizing the abundance of improvisational weapons available to players and ending with the September 28 release date.

Kobayashi started off talking about Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes, the latest installment in Capcom's Dynasty Warriors-style action series. Although the game is set in feudal Japan, the trailer shown for the audience made it clear that historical accuracy is taking a backseat to colorful characters with superhuman abilities.

Players can choose from more than 15 characters in the final match, Kobayashi said, plowing through thousands of enemies range melee attacks and a wide choice of weapons, including firearms. Kobayashi compared the game 's attention to measures to Devil May Cry, which he also produced. The game will be launched on October 12 in North America, Wii and PlayStation 3.

Jimenez was up next to talk about Bionic Commando Rearmed 2. Set for release on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade early next year, the game introduces a jumping ability to the series. Anticipating that series purists would bemoan the loss of one of Bionic Commando's defining traits, Jimenez stressed that the jump wouldn't change the game too much, and Rearmed 2 would still be exceptionally hard. That said, he acknowledged that it was added to make the game a little easier for people who were frustrated by the lack of jumping in previous games.

Okamiden for the DS was up next. Set months after the conclusion of the original Okami, the DS follow-up sees Amaterasu reborn into the wolf cub Chibiterasu, who with the help of a variety of partners, must once again use the Celestial Brush power to bring life back to a world threatened by a froglike Demon King.

Chibiterasu is an adorable little scamp.

Eshiro said the game re-creates the world of the original PlayStation 2 title, calling it a no-brainer to bring the game's Celestial Brush mechanic to the DS, where players can already draw on the touch screen. The result is a smoother, more intuitive experience, he said. The developer is also packing new puzzle-solving elements into the game. Okamiden will arrive in stores early next year.

Capcom's other DS game received its due next, with Takeshita briefing the audience on Ghost Trick. It's a new mystery game from Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney creator Shu Takumi, so Takeshita assured the audience that they can expect the same variety of engaging characters. In Ghost Trick, the player takes control of a man who woke up dead and with a case of amnesia. The gameplay boils down to two simple commands: possess and manipulate. Ghost Trick is set for a winter 2010 release.

After Ghost Trick, it was time for Marvel vs. Capcom 3, which drew a loud cheer from the Comic-Con crowd. A trailer of the game showed off a variety of characters and some of the series' signature crazy combos, with Devil May Cry's Dante getting a murmur of approval and Deadpool inspiring an ovation. Since that game has its own panel set for tomorrow's Comic-Con coverage, it was time to move on to the session's big finish, Mega Man Universe.

Inafune introduced both the game and Ito, who is producing the title for the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. He also recapped the history of Mega Man, dating back to his work creating the original NES game in 1987. He said he is stopped by Mega Man fans in the West more often than in Japan, but the one common trait is that they always proclaim to be "the No.1 Mega Man fan." He joked that anyone wanting to lay final claim to that title should show up for a fight at the Capcom booth later, and then he quickly retracted the suggestion to laughs.

Moving on to Mega Man Universe, Inafune admitted that the recent trailer announcing the title was vague, and he began to explain the thinking behind it. Everyone has their own idea of what Mega Man is or should be, Inafune said. So the idea behind the game was to retain as much of the 8-bit look and feel of Mega Man as they could, while at the same time allowing people to project their own idea of what the character should be on the game. The goal is to let gamers play as the Mega Man of their dreams.

The producer then threw armfuls of foam Mega Man blaster arms into the audience, bringing an end to the show.

Quote: "Americans tend to pronounce my name as 'take s***.' But please be assured this game is anything but s***."--Hironobu Takeshita, introducing himself and Ghost Trick.

The takeaway: Capcom has a diverse list of games waiting in the wings, but the big thing for most visitors, no doubt, was teased about Mega Man Legends 3.

Who knew?: In Japan, Mega Man is known as Rock Man. The name was changed for American audiences, even though Inafune didn't like the new moniker. He thought "Mega Man" was goofy, but Capcom USA execs insisted on it, just like they insisted on the infamous package art for the game.

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"Mega Man Legends 3 teased at Capcom panel" was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 20:38:45 -0700



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Monday, July 26, 2010

30 Tricks & Tips with a Magic Thumbtip DVD, Includes a Vanishing Kit with Thumb Tips and a Silk

[[[30 Tricks & Tips with a Magic Thumbtip DVD, Includes a Vanishing Kit with Thumb Tips and a Silk]]]



Discription :


More review coming soon.

Thumb is difficult. To a great tip, it does not fit on the thumb. The Council is thick. Look somewhere else better to finger tip. I had years ago and a lot of fun with it. This is nothing like the old tip I did. Silk is not good quality. No review DVD. NO stars for this production, but the focus is fun.

I got these in the mail yesterday and i opened it up and wow! the dvd explained tricks i had never thought of! the thumbtips are made of a stiff rubber i think. the dvd tells you how you can make a thumbtip bigger or smaller to fit better. it comes with 2 reality thumbtips wich are a bit tanner than in the picture but thats no big deal with the correct handling the thumbtip is invisible. if you listen to the dvd and practice i can tell that this can be the most powerfull prop youll use!
good luck, I strongly recommend this product





Buy here (at discount) 30 tricks and tips for working with Magic Thumbtip DVD, includes Vanishing Kit with thumb tips and silk

Poster Raises Funds for Disabled Gamer Charity

07/22/2010 Poster Raises Funds for Disabled Gamer Charity ITFS is easy to forget that some people who want to play video games just canft. AbleGamers, charitable effort to make sure that the games are available for children with disabilities, announced a new fund-raising campaign on Monday. The organization offers a 350 limited edition 18 x 24 posters created by Justin D. Rousseau. Signed and numbered "Everyone can Gameh [...]


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Poster Raises Funds for Disabled Gamer Charity

07/22/2010 Poster Raises Funds for Disabled Gamer Charity It's easy to forget that some folks who want to play videogames simply can't. AbleGamers, a charity dedicated to making sure that games are accessible those with disabilities, announced a new fund-raising campaign Monday. The organization is offering 350 limited-edition 18? x 24? posters created by Justin D. Russo. The signed and numbered "Everyone Can Game" [...]


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Increase Your Puzzle IQ: Tips and Tricks for Building Your Logic Power

[[[Increase your IQ Puzzle: Tips and tricks to build your logic Power]]]



Discription : Learn how to take the "tease" out of brainteasers, and increase your puzzle IQ with this eye-opening guide to solving puzzles. Revealing the basic principles and strategies of cracking logic problems, it shows you, step-by-step, how to solve ten of the most common types of puzzles, from basic deduction conundrums to more complex mathematical bafflers. Packed with practice puzzles and offering hours of amusement and mental challenge, Increase Your Puzzle IQ gives you the know-how you need to decipher even the most puzzling of puzzles.

Why are 1997 dollar bills worth more than 1980 dollar bills?

In a box there are 20 balls, 10 white and 10 black. With a blindfold on, what is the least number you must draw out in order to get a pair of balls that matches?

Which clock keeps the best time? The clock that loses a minute a day or one that doesn't run at all?

I have two current U.S. coins in my hand. The two coins add up to 15?. One of the coins is not a nickel. What two coins do I have?

How much dirt is there in a hole that is 1 foot wide by 1 foot long by 1 foot deep?


More review coming soon.

This book is a great way to avoid some of the pitfalls and intimidating obstacles faced by puzzle-solvers -- whether you are a novice or an *expert.*



Humans love puzzles. They appear in artifacts thousands of years old and are part of every culture. One can open almost any newspaper in the United States and find a crossword puzzle and some other kind of problem for solution. Logic puzzles are also popular and can be used to teach the basics of mathematics and problem solving. Furthermore, the skills needed to solve them can be learned, and this book is designed to teach them.

There are also some points in this book that mathematics teachers could incorporate into their classes. For years I have used alphametics in my introductory classes in programming. They are an excellent example of coding a series of nested loops that exhaustively searches for a solution. I have also occasionally used a logic problem as a filler in mathematics exams as high up as advanced calculus. Students seem to enjoy them.
If you are fascinated by puzzles and would like to improve your skill, then this is a book for you. Many puzzles are presented and solutions to all are included. Happy puzzling!



Are there games that keep tripping you up? Puzzles that make you want to kick yourself when you discover the answer? Marcel Danesi's book can change all that. He walks you through the most common types of puzzles and shows you how to navigate the pitfalls of each so that you can avoid being taken in by misdirection. You'll learn how to systematically work out solutions as you follow him step by step through detailed examples and then practice on puzzles that will make you feel like your genius self again. But if you're already a master, just buy this for the puzzles themselves--they're terrific!
Amazon.com Review
Buy Here (for discount) Increase Your Puzzle IQ: Tips and Tricks for Building Your Logic Power

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Crytek Dev On Fun vs. Realism In Game Guns

07/22/2010 Crytek Dev On Fun against realism in the game Guns

Read the rest of this article at Slashdot.





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Tennis Magic: 150 Magic Tricks Designed To Supercharge Your Game

[[[Tennis Magic: 150 Magic Tricks Designed To Supercharge Your Game]]]



Discription : You either know the solution or correction that will give you the results you want, or you don't!

Enter Tennis Magic - a unique problem-solving guide is loaded with dynamic, practical solutions to the most pressing problems.

You've got questions, and Tennis Magic has answers - and they're not just theoretical. Here, each answer to your tennis questions is a solution - presented as a powerful, easy to learn trick.

With Tennis Magic, everything that has traditionally been taught as a skill has been distilled into a series of tricks that live in the present rather than the future. Once you learn a trick, you've got it - and learning them is fast, easy and fun. Sure, you'll continue to polish them, but in every important aspect you own them from day one. They work the very first time you actually use them, and things only get better from there.

Remember: Slow progress and constant frustration are not intrinsic parts of the learning curve. There is a better way!

So if "Big fun - good game - sooner!" is your objective, then get happy: These tricks will enable you to respond quickly and effectively to virtually any tennis challenge. With the help of Tennis Magic, players around the world are breaking free of their old limitations, and improving their games like never before. Tricks rule - so learn one today, and use it today! There's no better time to start playing like a pro than right this very minute.


More review coming soon.

I enjoyed this book. The promotional description oversells it, but it's still good and useful.

Magic Tricks? I just want to play better tennis. The title turned me off of the book initially and then the price. It costs about two to three times what other tennis books cost. But I did the "click to read inside" and I felt I learned some good tips right away so I bought the book to see what the rest of it was about.

And the good advice just kept popping out page after page.

The book is not organized by chapters of ideas but rather by question and answers. You find your question and read the answer. I find that I do better with the book when I have an actual question in my mind than just reading the questions in order with their answers. Having that mental conversation makes a huge difference. I'd say this book is actually worth about 20 or so private lessons so it is a good value.

Finally Mallory is an engaging writer. So he keeps you hooked and thinking about what is going on. I cannot say the same for the some of the Pros I've taken lessons from!





Buy Here (for discount) Tennis Magic: 150 Magic Tricks Designed To Supercharge Your Game

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Red Faction: Armageddon Updated Impressions

07/20/2010 Red Faction: Armageddon Updated Impressions

We get up close and personal with an alien infection from the upcoming third-person shooter Will '.

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo last month, we saw a demo

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Unlike Red Faction: Guerrilla, you shouldn't have any qualms about destroying everything in sight; in fact, that's what you're supposed to do if you hope to leave behind a safe path for survivors. An icon in your radar will indicate which structures need to be taken down. We talked about the new magnet gun that smashes two objects you fire at together in our last preview

Another thing that the nano forge can do (which we didn't see) is fire off a shockwave that acts as an area attack to disable creatures in your vicinity. This disables them and causes them to fall back, giving you time to focus and pick off one alien at a time. Durall explained that this new feature gives players more options and changes up the gameplay experience. We'll learn more about the other uses of the nano forge another time, as the focus of our demo was on the aliens. The first enemies we encountered were the creepers, which are spiderlike fast-moving aliens that attack in a pack. The aliens send creepers out as part of the first wave to take out any humans that might get in the way. They have leaping attacks and a ranged spit attack, so even if they aren't very durable, in large numbers, they can be quite annoying. Their role is to neutralize the area so that the disease can continue to spread without having anyone get in the way.

Don't underestimate these guys, especially when they come in packs.

The next group we faced were the ravagers, a much larger alien species that stands upright and is more cunning than the insectlike creepers because it uses the walls and ceilings to its advantage. Agile and stronger, ravagers are the defense lines and keep you from destroying what they're trying to build. These are two of the weakest aliens that you'll encounter in the game, and Volition isn't quite ready yet to reveal other details at this point. Durall gave us a bit of backstory by mentioning that Dr. Capec from the original Red Faction had encountered the same aliens and was performing tests on them. The mutants that resulted from those experiments were what you faced in the initial game. These aliens have been buried underground for a long time now and have only recently awoken. It seems that there's more of an emphasis on the story this time around, as THQ is delving into the lore by partnering with the SyFy channelcollect live action two-hour movie pilot, the game ships called Red Faction: Origins. History will follow with Alex Mason 'son Jake and take place between the events in the guerrilla and Armageddon.

We'll be keeping a close watch on the game in the months to come, so stay tuned to GameSpot for more details on Red Faction: Armageddon as soon as they become available. The game is currently set to be released March 1, 2011.

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\\ "Red Faction: Armageddon Updated Impressions " was posted by Sophia Tong on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:10:59 -0700



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Strawberry Shortcake Trick or Treat Bag Purse

[[[Strawberry Shortcake Trick or Treat Bag Purse]]]



Discription : Includes: Bag.


More review coming soon.

I ordered this to go with my adult Strawberry Short Cake costume as a purse. The size is perfect to hold my keys, wallet, and some make-up for touch ups, so I'm very pleased with that. Seems pretty small for a trick or treat bag, though, as not much else will fit in it (or I could just be greedy :-D ). The design leaves a lot to be desired, though. The colors pictured are not true to the product. The handles and leaves are more of a lime green. They have a faded and sort of dingy look. The fabric is also a matte fabric, so there is no sheen. The pink strawberry portion also isn't as bright as shown, but a little closer to it.

My biggest problem is the quality. It is a Halloween prop for me, so I wasn't expecting Prada quality, but the strap ripped off the first time I put the bag on my wrist, with nothing in it. It also came with lots of snags and pulls in the pink part. It serves my purpose, so I fixed it and will use it, but I'd really recommend thinking about just what you want to do with it before paying.







Buy here (at discount) Strawberry cake purse or handbag purse

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Capcom creating Mega Man Universe

07/17/2010 Capcom creating Mega Man Universe

Publisher confirms downloadable PS3 and Xbox 360 game including crossovers with Street Fighter, Ghouls n' Ghosts, more.

In 2008, Capcom took its original action game mascot back to his roots with Mega Man 9 for downloadable services on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii. That game succeeded in part because of its slavishly faithful take on the original franchise formula, but today, Capcom announced a new retro revival for the Blue Bomber that will apparently push the envelope a bit further. The game in question is Mega Man Universe, the title for which the publisher trademarked in April.

Mega Man universe will see familiar faces.

A teaser trailer for Mega Man Universe (embedded below) shows the hero blasting the minions of Dr. Wily in multiple art styles (including a 2D pixel-art version and a stop-motion animated miniature wearing the blue-and-yellow getup from the original Mega Man NES box art). Naturally, the cannon-armed cyborg assimilates the abilities of others in order to get the job done. But in addition to swiping the boomerang blade-arm of the evil robot Cut Man, Mega Man turns completely into versions of other Capcom characters, like Street Fighter's Ryu and Ghosts 'n Goblins' Arthur.

The clip suggests Mega Man Universe will contain more Capcom crossovers, as it features a dream arcade of the publisher's efforts, including 1942, 1943, Final Fight, Magic Sword, Darkstalkers, and Bionic Commando, as well as cabinets for games starring Ryu and Arthur. The teaser ends with a logo for the game and the tagline, "Your world. Megafied."

"This is something that you have never seen before, and we have included some hints into this teaser trailer," Mega Man series producer Kenji Inafune told GameSpot. "If you take a look closely, you will be able to imagine a lot of different possibilities. So try and use your imagination, and you may figure out what makes this game special."

Beyond the cryptic promises, Capcom released few details. The game will launch on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Store, and the publisher has promised it will deliver "the core experience fans want," on top of its innovations. Despite the Mega-moniker in the title, the publisher also proclaimed that "imagination is the star of the game."

No release date and price have not yet announced the Mega Man universe, but more details are expected at the next week in San Diego Comic-Con . For more on the game, check out GameSpot's interview with Inafune.

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"Capcom creating Mega Man Universe " was posted by Brendan Sinclair on Fri, 16 Jul 2010 09:00:18 -0700



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Saturday, July 17, 2010

Z.H.P. trailer might be greatest trailer in the universe

07/16/2010 Z.H.P. trailer might be greatest trailer in the universe

Z.H.P. trailer might be greatest trailer in the universe screenshot

Just...just watch the trailer above. It's for the latest game from the team behind Disgaea: Z.H.P. ~Unlosing Ranger VS DarkDeath Evilman~. Damn skippy. See that? SEE THAT? That's the effing title of the game. It's stunning, and you should definitely see this game in action. My PSP is seriously stoked for this title.

Did you see the equipable weapons? Sexy-Jiggling boobs? Prinny hats? Fourth-wall breaking self-awareness that only Japanese developers seem capable of doing, this title is straight up awesome. In a presentation of the title last night NIS President and CEO Souhei Niikawa mentioned that this title is going to be the next big game from the Disgaea team, equal in customization and depth of play to their other hit. Another thing you'll notice is that the title seems to focus on the single character himself, as opposed to a squad of SRPG warriors. The video above is running in real time, and the goal for the game is to make an SRPG that, while turn-based, runs so incredibly fast that it might almost be an action game. Clearly, it's a unique take on the SRPG design front.

Seriously, this game is out-of-control awesome. Now let's just see if NIS can make this baby into their next star. See it one the PSP later this Fall.

 

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