New Xbox 360 Dashboard Update Review (ESPN included)

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Microsoft started out the month of November with a free software update for its Xbox 360 users. The new UI gave users the feel of an upgraded console to a certain extent. The main reason for this was to make the Xbox Kinect compatible, some of the additions included ESPN, Zune unlimited music program, upgraded Netflix, life like Avatars and a slicker dash among many other things. But how does it fare?

Espn: My favorite new feature! As a huge sports fan this was the biggest announcement for me at E3 2010. As I'm typing this, I'm actually watching the Celtics play the Bucks on it now(in OT!). Now let me explain the new app.

Espn Xbox is Espn3 and Espn.com merged together. You can Live stream pretty much every game that Espn 1 & 2 shows except for (MNFl). Also for some reason the NFL won't even let them show highlights just pics. Once you enter the app you have the option to watch a live game, watch a replay of a game or watch some highlights. I live in the highlight section, gone are the days when I have 2 sit through highlights that I don't care about, or sit through news about a sport I don't care about. You have the option to pick you favorite sports then see only news and highlights from that sport. Want to see Miami Heat highlights no problem just click on it, want to see Randy Moss latest interview no problem just click on it, want to rewind that amazing dunk by Kobe no problem.

Now hows the quality? Depending on your connection, most of the time you have a HD option which looks amazing! Im watching it now in HD with wifi from a G router so that shows alot there.
This App isnt perfect its still missing full shows like PTI, Mike and Mike and Around the Horn among others. Also No NFL highlights (just news), No NBA or MLB games not being shown on
Espn already. I KNOW this app will get better so be patient.

Netflix: Search bar added & new look. Search Bar not only shows you what is available to stream but it shows what is available in the entire netflix database

Overall the new look and the new additions are great, so many tweaks actually to many to name. Besides minor glitches which will be fixed shortly(ie avatar clothes/awards problems) this is a great Dashboard update! Not as ground breaking as the NXE but hey its free.


8/10



NBA Elite 11 Cancelled! Read What Happen....

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For those who don't know NBA elite was cancelled yesterday & now NBA elite 12 has a new developer. EA Tiburon, yes the Madden Developers. Lets look at this from different angles.


1.Dear EA how the hell are you going to cancel a game that already went gold? WTF! For those who don't know. EA gave out copies of the game at the Elite 11 launch event. Hence the reason why it was sold on eBay, here's the link below. Credit to Kotaku.com



2. Kevin Durant- The cover boy for NBA Elite didn't come cheap (yes 2k11 cover boy cost way more), how is that spent money justified? Will they use Kevin Durant again? Doubt it.


3. NHL developer team vs Madden developer team - EA's NHL franchise is amazing, it basically killed 2K's NHL game(not by buying them unlike Madden) so EA trusted them to lead the way with its NBA franchise. They re-branded it and gave NHL10 game director full control. In my opinion this was a great move. It seems that EA didn't truly understand that even Rome wasn't built in a day so they rushed Elites development. Once the game went gold EA execs wasn't happy with the negative demo reviews. They immediately blamed EA Canada for not fulfilling promises, shortly after the layoffs. Several reports say that EA laid off over 100 developers but none in the Madden offices.


Madden is EA's cash cow, in August Madden sold over 2 million copies. Yes! 2 million in one month! So EA feels like anything they touch turns to gold, well I actually met and attended a class held by EA Tiburon General Manager Phillip Holt. Let me tell you they are amazing! The amount of work that team puts into Madden every year is astronomical. Personally I don't think they can turn Elite around but what do you guys think??


Will Madden suffer now?

Will EA Tiburon turn around NBA Elite?

Should they use a brand new engine??


Let me know..

Sonic Fan Remakes Sonic Music

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Today is Music Monday and truthfully I'm so burned out right now. That I couldn't even think of a countdown. But I did however find something cool for you Otakus and Geeks out there. A Youtube user by the name of Ubergrau. My favorite work of his is the Green Hill Zone.

Green Hill Zone


Carnival Night Zone Remake


Final Boss Remake Orchestrated / Rock


Angel Island (Sonic 3) - Remake 2009



Aquatic Ruin Zone (2009) - Remake


Christopher Nolan Titles The Next Batman Movie

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Christopher Nolan has named the next Batman movie. The next and last of Nolan's Batman movie will be called "The Dark Knight Rises." I'm very excited about the title and I hope it has something to do with the ending. Nolan also stated that "The Riddler" will not be in the movie. So much for seeing the master of riddles. Now this leaves for us to question and debate, who will step in to be the next baddie. Who do you think will be enough of a threat to face Batman in the last film? I personally think Nolan will go with someone pure left wing like Hush, Blackmask or Penguin. Either we will have to wait and see.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2 Review

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"What you seek you will find." Yoda said. Not exactly Yoda, what we sought was a great follow up to the original Force Unleashed. Instead we got a very short game that could of been an DLC, on PSN or XBOX Live. Even though The Force Unleashed 2 is bigger and badder, does that mean it's worth the buy?

Story - The story follows the events after the first game. Starkiller is on Komino uncertain whether he is himself or just a clone. After a fail training with Lord Vader. Starkiller escapes on a mission to find himself and answer the question of his true identity. The story is nothing special and can't compare to the first one. The story lacks emotional depth and the use of Yoda and Boba Fett is poorly used. Instead of the story exploring Starkiller's constant inner conflict with light and dark. We get a Starkiller that is one dimensional and has a one track mind, his mission is finding his love Juno Eclipse. Nothing else matters to him beside that. The story leaves you with even more questions such as where the hell is The Emperor? What is the progress of the Death Star? How far are we from Episode 4? The ending will also leave you disappointed as it setups for another installment. Just when the story is getting good it ends.

Gameplay - If you played the first game then move on along. The gameplay is the same with a few tweeks. Starkiller is still a walking force bomb. All powers are intact like Force Lighting, Force Push, Force Repel, Saber Throw and many more. New additions are the Jedi Mind Trick. Players can trick enemies to attack each other, or kill themselves. It's pretty funny watching a Stormtropper just give up on life. The Jedi Mind Trick is very useful when you have multiple enemies on the screen. Another new tweek is the Force Sense. The map that many gamers found annoying is gone. The Force Sense replaces the map and by pressing the up on the d-pad, the force will guide you to your destination. This is a welcome, but not really needed. Since the game is so linear and the design doesn't take different routes its not needed. You can't get lost in this game. Like the last game players are able to upgrade their powers and lightsaber skills. This time however it's not as in depth. You earn your point and upgrade, you don't get to choose your lightsaber skills at all. The game is normal level even on the hardest setting. Once you put your force levels to at least two the game is easy. The boss levels are easy once you recognize the patterns, however it is really epic. The final battle with Vader was amazing. My major problem with the game is that it's really short. It should take you to 4 to 5 hours max to beat. It's really short.

Gameplay Video


Graphics - The graphics are beautiful. It's a nice upgrade from the first one. The rain on Komino is one of the best I've seen this year. LucasArts make sure that players gets the Star Wars feel. The only thing I didn't like was a little glitch I found in the elevator. Sometime Starkiller will become a ghost and you can see through him. But this rarely happens, there was a little hiccups on framerate through my gameplay, but otherwise that the graphics is amazing. Nothing put me a smile on my face than the Stormtroppers getting their limbs chop off with each swing. It's a beautiful site to see.

Sound - It's John Williams music that we know and love. Do you really expect anything less from him? Have you ever played a Star Wars game where the music wasn't on point? The music is beautiful and fits each cutscene very well. I love the use of "Anakin's Betrayal and The Immolation Scene." The screams of the Stormtroppers are a delight and the voice acting is top notch. There is no over acting in this game. I still wish James Earl Jones would play Vader, but it's still good.

Replay Value - The game features two endings, the dark and light. After you see those endings and complete the challenge mode there is nothing to do.

Final Grade C- The graphics are beautiful, gameplay has some new tweeks. The story is one dimensional, flat and lacks emotional depth that you expect from Star Wars. The Force Unleashed 2 has some heart, but lacks the spirit of the force. Even with a few epic set pieces the game is way too short to even suggest to die hard fans. Final Grade C-.


Scariest Videogame Of All Time (Justin's Choice)

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I have played a lot of horror games in my 23 years of living on this earth. However no game has ever made me drop the controller, or completely turn the game off like "Fatal Frame 2 Crimson Butterfly." I know saying that a game is the scariest of all time you better have a reason. Well here are some of my reasons why I think it is.

1. This can actually happen to you to some extent. Granted there won't be such thing as a Camera Obscura. However the chances of meeting a ghost is way more higher than meeting a Zombie or Alien. What Fatal Frame 2 Crimson Butterfly does is bring us atmosphere unlike any other. The dark corridors, the sounds of ghost talking through the walls. It gave gamers a great feel of what it would be like to be in a Japanese Horror flick.

2. The scares are amazing. Besides the creepy atmosphere and voices of the dead echoing around. What really makes is this game scary is that you never know when the ghost will appear. The ghost can be anywhere. I remember the scariest moment in this game is when I saw the ghost kid. I was in a room and hand to use the camera to search for a clue. I position the camera up and then boom in the ceiling was this scary looking ghost kid. I always find kid ghost to be more scary then the adult ones. Needless to say I drop the controller and turn the game off.

3. The story makes for a great horror game. Ghost are always trying to possess or make you do their bidding. In part 2 the ghost are trying to finish a ritual which involves two sisters. How scary can that be? A village of dead ghost running after trying to sacrifice your life. Yeah I would be freaked out. But don't take my word for it look at some videos below.







Ne-Yo Panel At New York Comic Con

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Hey everyone! I want to tell you about my experience with Ne-Yo. I got his autograph and some video from his panel that will be up soon. Ne-Yo, along with his album, is writing a comic book that is called The Libra Scale. This is also the name of the album. Each song represents what is going on the comic. Here is the story. Jerome and two of his friends work together as garbage collectors. They were going their thing when a man appeared with a proposition. He will make all three of them heroes with special powers to save the city. However, they must follow three rules: 1. Protect the city at all cost. 2. Tell no one when, why, where or how you got the powers in the first place. 3. DO NOT FALL IN LOVE. For me I can deal with the first two but the third one is a bit of a stretch. Jerome and the others were a bit skeptical about the last rule too. Although who wouldn't want to have super powers? So they all agreed. This is when the songs come in. I'll give you the story of Beautiful Monster but watch his music videos to figure the rest of the story. Of course Jerome fell in love with a girl named Pretti Sinclair and some of his powers transfered into her witch made her evil. Now Pretti has self- declared herself mayor and is taking over the city. That is the story behind Beautiful Monster. She is beautiful but a evil little vixen at the same time.
For me I love the storyline. I think it's unique in its own right. Tell me what you guys think. Do you think this will be something you can get into while reading or do you think its a waist of his talent and should stick with singing. Well I like it but thats just me. Tell me your thoughts in the comments below. Anime Rules!!!!!!!!!!!!





Michael Jackson: The Experience: Hands On Impression

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Hey my Otakus and Geeks. I know I've been busy with school and other things. A girl's work is never done lol. Anyway I had a blast at Comic Con. I will talk about meeting Ne-Yo, Funimation and the many more later. Today I wanted to talk about the Michael Jackson game coming for the Wii. Jamila from GirlGoneGeekBlog.com and myself went on stage to play the new game. This is a really fun dance game to play.

Gameplay - The game is a dancing game. We were playing the game with the song "Beat It." To play the game you hold the Wii mote and follow the choreography of the song. It works very well and you get to choose who do you follow. You can follow Michael as the lead or the back up dancers. Jamila and I were the back up, but there were times I found it hard to keep up, due to the controls. But the game will be one of the best dance games to come out in this year. The demo had a variety songs to choose from like, "Smooth Criminal" and "Billie Jean." Billie Jean seem to be the easiest to do, and Smooth Criminal seem to be the hardest. The game is going to be huge for those who want to dance like Michael. The presentation is great and each song has Michael as he appeared in the videos to guide you. If you want to be like the glove one, this is going to be the game to get. Our video of Jamila and I playing will be up later. Stay tuned. Mike Rules!!!!