Punch. Punch. Kick!

Before the Wii came along, I was downloading every bit of Arcade goodies I could get my hands on from the Xbox Live Arcade, but post-Wii launch, it's been getting little love from me due to the Virtual Console and the plethora of NES gaming memories.

However, I am happy to say that Xbox Live Arcade has succeeded to catch my eye once again, you vixen you!According to Kotaku which is according to XboxWorld.nl, which I can't read because I am not bi-lingual despite what doctors might say.... Double Dragon will be hitting down on XBLA in MARCH; for a mere 400 MS points. Not too shabby.

The best part; Online Co-op!

The 2nd best part? Enchanced Version!

Now I'll admit I'll probably play quite a bit on the old school pixelated goodness version, but its always nice to have the option to bump it up to a bit smoother graphics.


Original Graphics [click to enlarge]

Enhanced Graphics [click to enlarge]

Although with 1st party power houses like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, and Mario Kart 64 in their arsenal, Microsoft will have a hard time competing for my attention from the Virtual Console, especially once Nintendo rolls out original content for the VC similar to how MS does with the XBLA.

Either way, Gamers win! Hooray!

Latest Editions

So with all this Retro Gaming I've been doing, I've been neglecting my Next-Gen games and consoles. It all started with that blasted Wii and its tempting Virtual Console! Damn you!

However, recently I got sucked back into Rainbow Six: Vegas for a bit, and then picked up Lost Planet for the Xbox 360 and Wario Ware: Smooth Moves for the Wii when they came out.

First Impressions?

Lost Planet:
Single Player is cool once you get the hang of it, the alien bug enemies remind me of Starship Troopers [which I love] so its nice to send a shotgun blast to the face of a giant insect attempting to rip you apart. The VC [Vital Suit] mech units add a lot of cool moments to the gameplay as well. Especially when hovering around, trying to get an aim on that sweet sweet weakspot of the alien foe.

Multiplayer wise, I wasn't too impressed. When playing Elimination aka deathmatch aka kill everything, it felt a little bit too much like Star Wars: Battlefront to me. A whole slew of guys running around with no purpose or goal shooting anything that moves. Not even able to really duke it out with one guy, because you'll be fighting off four other guys at the same time.

I prefer a more personal Deathmatch, when you can actually use tactic and have some good firefights, not just all out pointless firing.

I did find one gametype I'm rather fond of though, because it gives some purpose to the mission. Fugitive. Basically, everyone against one guy! It gets good when theres 15 against 1 and he still manages to win.

Team Elimination wasn't too bad either, if you've got a good team and everyone is working together you can get some good matches going.

Overall, I'm having a good time when I play, but I can imagine I'll be through with this game as soon as I fight my way through the Single Player, as Multiplayer is fun, but nothing thats going to keep me playing too far from now when something else catches my eye.

Wario Ware: Smooth Moves on the other hand.

This game is Awesome!

From the moment you start, its crazy fun. With an endless amount of mini-games and different ways to use the Wiimote, I found Wario Ware: Smooth Moves to be my new favorite [mini-game] game for the Wii. Leave Rayman Rabbits and Super Monkey Ball alone... this is where its at!

Basically you play through a load of mini-games as fast as you can, using all types of different gestures and motions with the wiimote. Its great when you have multiple people playing, so that you can laugh at the ridiculous moves they have to do to win some of these games. Great game to play with your friends, spouse, or dog.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with both of them and have added them to the Game Room Collection with glee!

'Dee....Dee....Dee.....Doo.'

The game I personally spent days upon days on, perfecting the perfect backwards ricochet green turtle shot to catch Luigi exactly on the train tracks in Kalamari Desert to ensure the train hit him and secured my lead, is coming to the Wii's Virtual Console on Jan. 29th.

Thats right... THIS MONDAY!

This news comes straight from Nintendo just after the amazing release this Monday of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past! One great game after another.

If Nintendo keeps up this tradition of delivering my favorites week after week, it can't be too long before I'm seeing Goldeneye, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and BattleTanx crossing my Wii's VC.... okay okay... maybe not BattleTanx, but the first two for sure!

Speaking of Goldeneye, I just set up the original N64 version of it in my game room, along with its original strategy guide in mint condition and plan on going through it again in the next week or two, rebeating the speed runs to unlock all the goodies [Big Heads anyone?!].

Not to mention an open invite to anyone interested in heading over to the old den and throwing down in some old school Goldeneye multiplayer.... many Remote Mines will be used.

Before You Read; Watch This!
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/395291/xbox_360_tilt_controller_finished/
[why can't I use embed codes? Why oh why?!]

Very Nice.

This impressive mod of an Xbox 360 controller to include Tilt Motion sensor is from Adam Thole, and according to Adam, instead of using the left analog stick for your movement, you simply tilt the controller. The button feature of the left analog stick is still intact, but you don't need to use it to move your character / vehicle / pov because that is being taken care of by the tilting.

Pretty impressive work there Adam, how can I get a hold of one of these Tilt Axis Controllers?

Well, he's got you covered there too, Adam threw his original creation up on the ole' Ebay for your bidding pleasure, you can throw your hat into the ring for it here. As of the time of this posting, it was already up to $100 big ones.

Have no fear however, Adam claims to be "working on what I can do to meet demand for these things."

That is of course until the Microsoft Recruitment Squad [MRS] swoops in to buy this guy up, in preparation to make this go commercial.

Something we'll see on the Best Buy shelves within the next year? I think so.

[First seen at Kotaku.]

Thats right...

Today is, in fact, Virtual Console Monday for the Wii, and that means new old school games hit our consoles. What game[s] you might ask:

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

Personally, I've been recently re-playing the Gameboy Advance version of this classic over the past few weeks and I'm still stoked to get it on my VC.

The game is going for a standard 800 Wii Points which is basically $8 bucks! Pocket Change compared to the amount of enjoyment you'll get out of this SNES golden child.

Along with the SNES classic it looks like Sega has a few titles hitting down as well including: Comix Zone, Bonanza Bros. and Gain Ground. The games are scheduled to hit sometime today according to Kotaku.

I know the first thing I'll be doing when I get home! Boo-yah!

Link: Faces of Evil

Okay... So typically I'm not one to advocate someone getting shot in the face, but I'm always willing to make an exception. That exception? The Phillips CD-i disgracing of our beloved childhood video game characters through the form of failed partnerships.



The Phillips CD-i Video / Game Console

Whoa... nice one there Phillips, with your ginormus VCR lookin' console there.

I know, I know. Everyone was jumping on the CD format console bandwagon, and you just couldn't be left behind, could you?

So heres the beef behind this failed attempt to join the Video Game craze of 1993.

Nintendo had plans for a CD-add on for their then current system the SNES.

They had first went to Sony to set up a deal which later fell through. Leading soon after to the release of Sony's Playstation. After that failed partnership, Nintendo struck a deal with Phillips.

A deal that involved the rights to several beloved Nintendo Characters to be signed over to Phillips for limited use, for a few titles for this new CD add-on. Those characters included Link, Zelda, Gannon, Mario and Luigi [to name a few].

Needless to say, Nintendo decided not to move forward with the CD-add on, and dropped the partnership with Phillips. However, Phillips still had rights to create a game based on those characters. Hence;



Link: The Faces of Evil

A New Interactive Animated Adventure, with absolutely no involvement from Nintendo or Zelda's creators / developers. Instead, this task was handed to Animation Magic, Inc.

Who, in their infinite wisdom, decided to take everything we know and love of our young Hyrulian hero Link and his Adventures, and strip them; then replace them with some horribly written 1980's sunday morning cartoon dialogue, a bad plot line, and oh yeah, its a game as well, so might as well throw in some poorly thought out action / adventure side-scroller gameplay.

Have we killed everything they knew and loved from the original Zelda?... Alright... we're good to go then.



Is that Lipstick and a bouffant?!

Oh, and I forgot to mention. They managed to develop this masterpiece 100% completely in MS Paint.....[or so it would appear]. Way to go doucheholes.



Some of the glorious gameplay...



Oh Link.... you're such a card!

Sadly, Link: The Faces of Evil was just the first of three tragedies to strike the Zelda community in the form of CD-i releases. It was soon following by two more releases bearing the likeness of The Zelda Franchise, including:


Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon

Which is basically the same exact title as Link: The Faces of Evil, except this time Animation Magic, Inc. decided to spice it up a bit and make Zelda the lead heroin! Way to innovate there guys! The results... much the same:


What an improvement!

Now, instead of a young hero in a green tunic, you have a young hero in a Pinkish purple tunic... original...

Considering both of these titles came out on the same day, too many differences shouldn't have been expected. Lastly, however, it seemed Phillips had finally taken the hint. Animation Magic, Inc. was dropped, and a new developer was brought on to round out the Phillips CD-i Zelda series with Zelda's Adventures by Viridis.



Attempting to return to the tride and true formula The Legend of Zelda on NES had perfected, they went for a somewhat over the head perspective, dropping the cartoon-y side-scroller gameplay, and returned to traveling a massive overworld, visiting towns and townspeople to obtain clues before venturing into dungeons.


Zelda's Adventures

Slightly better than the previous two, this one at least attempted to go back to its roots, however you still play as Zelda [hence the title] which I feel is a slap in the face to any Zelda title, as Link should always be the protagonist.

As much as I'd like to say it however, this wasn't the end of the disgracing the CD-i has left in it. Before the evil reign of Phillips CD-i was over, they managed to churn out an equally sub-par Mario title, by the name of 'Hotel Mario'.


Intro Screen to Hotel Mario

Returned is the horribly cheesy MS Paint-esque Animation, along with a complete stray from the foundation that was the NES / SNES Mario titles.

As they did with the Zelda franchise, they went in a completely different direction [my guess; South]. Hotel Mario was a puzzle game, where you would visit different hotels comically named after real hotels, and attempt to shut all the doors while stopping various goomba and koopa troopa looking creatures that enter.


A'looka ovea tha Luigi! Itsa Bargin Bin!

Something tells me this could have done a lot better, if they branded it with the Super Mario Super Show, and sold it as an adaptation of that, opposed to a completely original idea / brand. Then again.. what do I know?

At last... it was over.

The Phillips CD-i met an all too timely end, popularity of the console and its titles died in the US, with it lasting a bit longer in the UK, and eventually everyone moved on to titles they could be proud of, such as The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and Super Mario 64.

Now there thats how you innovate a franchise!

[/rant]

Only moments later, Mario was ripped apart by a scantly clad gang of Flight Attendants, School Girls, and Nurses... [if not, then I want my money back.]

If you absolutely do not get this [read this]; It'll explain the inspiration.

For future copyright infringing comics / artwork, check out The Console[r]!

"Sweet Potato Vines!"

Just when you thought typing couldn't get any more awesome. They throw in Zombies to the mix! Didn't see that one comin'..... did ya?!

Well nether did I.

So for those of you, unaware, of the ability to kill the undead, simply by the power of your typing, I'm about to hit ya with some knowledge.


The Year:
2000

A Zombie infestation has taken over a nearby town and island, the citizens are helpless to defend off the relentless Zombie hordes threatening their very way of life [and brains].

Sure, the government could probably come in, out smart, out gun, and out walk these dumb witted lifeless corpses feeding off the brains of the living, but that would be too easy.

Instead... lets send in you!

Have no fear though, young hero! We wouldn't simply just throw you into a city full of undead maneaters without some protection.

Here... take this:


A Sweet Ass Backpack and Keyboard!

Because 'Now You're Playing With Power!'... oh wait.. wrong console.

Okay... you're kinda screwed.

I mean, if we gave you a backpack, then at least you could store supplies, weapons, and other inventory for use in slaying the Zombie horde, but bad news bub. Thats no backpack, its just a sweet as Dreamcast with shoulder straps.... sorry.

Don't worry though, its full loaded with one tight-ass chest level Keyboard.... uh... uh?

Alright! Our budget was tight alright.... Guns and Ammo refused to sponsor this little adventure so we had to go with what we've got.... sheesh... just get out there and lay down some typing devastation alright!


Eat Keys Zombie Scum!

PC! IQ! MP!

Whew... that was close....

In this remake of the SEGA classic Arcade zombie slay-fest known as 'House of the Dead 2', you use the power of the keys to hold back the undying hunger of the Undead.

With each successful keystroke goes a round to the moist soft head of the corresponding zombie. Finish the entire world to take him to the ground, and receive a score / rank for the speed and accuracy of your skillz [to pay the billz].

Type too slow and you're ground beef buddy. If your typing skills aren't up to par however, have no fear, theres help on the way!


@my !!1!1!! H@rry!!1!!!1!

Thank god! Its our Elite... possibly handicapped, Agent backup in the form of two Text to Speech savvy business people. [HELLO. HOW ARE YOU THIS EVENING.]

And here I was thinking we were doom...

This game has it all!

Typing, Mental Retardation, Zombies, Sweet Ass Backpacks...

Seriously, what more could you ask for in a title?

Nothing. The answer is nothing.

Not to mention that, but it has various game modes [Arcade, Story, Tutorial, Drill, Boss Battle, etc.] where you can test your skills against a variety of enemy and challenges. The boss battles are exceptionally fun, considering you're given a random string of words to type out before he attacks.

Successfully finish the series of words [commonly known as a sentence] and block the attack. Otherwise, its AXE TO THE FACE BABY!

My favorite of the series of words that I've come across being:
'Vanilla Ice Cream Hat'
'Give me a poem!'
and finally
'Sweet Potato Vines!'

......

Classic.

If Zombie slaying and human race saving isn't your thing.

Yet you can't get enough of typing games [trust me, I know I can't] then theres still a game for you!


Mario Saves The Day!

Haha... and you thought I could go a post without mentioning my favorite plumber.

Think again stinkwad!

Mario, as Mario does, was not to be outdone by some two-bit Zombie hack. He decided to have his own typing adventure. Use your key-bility to advance through the Mushroom Kingdom, squashing Numbers, Letters, and Punctuation on the side of turtles that slightly resemble Koopa Troopas as you go.



So next time you need to look busy at work, or pretend you're typing up a homework assignment, pop in these bad boys and slay some zombies or save mushroom kingdom while you're at it. Two birds with one stone... Booyah!



Both of these fine gaming experiences can be found on the PC, while the Typing of the Dead is also available on the Dreamcast, as long as you have the Dreamcast Keyboard to boot.

So what are you waiting for, those zombies aren't going to Key themselves now are they!

Go scavenge you a copy of these bad boys... you won't be disappointed... really... they're awesome...

Many many kudos to dko5 for scowering the interwebs to find a downloadable version of Typing of the Dead and sending it over to me this evening for me to lay down some keys on some unsuspecting zombs [zombie + noob = zombs]!

It has begun...

I've always had the dream of having an amazingly awesome game room, complete with every console known to man, a TV for each, and the walls lined with games to correspond with each of their respective platforms. Ah.... what a dream.

Well, over Holiday I took that first giant leap towards achieving it.

After some digging, some bidding, some buying, some bartering, and finally some stealing. I've managed to accumulate in just 1 short week all of the systems you see above. Which include:

Along with those systems, about 142 games across all platforms, which can be found listed on the right-hand column of www.fourzerotwo.com.

Now given, I did already own some of these systems before this week [i.e. Xbox 360, Wii, Super Nintendo] but the rest I acquired through means of searching the ole' attic back home, some bidding on eBay, and some scowering of a few shops.

The plan is to set these babies up in my new Game Room so that I can relive my childhood anytime I feel the urge.

Meanwhile, I'll be adding new games, consoles, and accessories whenever I get the chance, so if you're a big Vid Game nerd like myself, keep posted for updates as they come.

You're probably wondering. Where's the Turbo-Graphix 16.... the Playstation.... the Intellivision!!

Well, I'm not finished yet. Right now I'm focusing on NES and beyond, and then I plan on hitting up some of the older systems such as Intellivision, Commodore 64, Atari 2600, and likewise.

As for Playstation. No thank you.

There will be absolutely no Playstation product in my game room. That includes PS1, PS2, and ESPECIALLY PS3!! As far as I'm concerning, Sony can eat it. Sorry.

So far I'm missing quite a few hand helds. I made sure to get my original love [Nintendo Gameboy] simply for a little Links Awakening action, and will focus on the rest of the ump-tenth hand helds Nintendo and Sega has graced us with over the years.



Metriod [NES] w/ Yellow Label

Here is one of my pride and joys of the recent additions.

The original Metriod for NES which is already a amazing game, was actually reproduced with a Yellow Label after its original pressing with the Grey [pixel art] label.

The re-pressing is actually harder to come by then the original, go figure, but to be as anal as possible, I made to search out both. I kinda prefer the Yellow label. Regardless, its the same classic game on both cartridges.


Metroid [NES] w/ Gray Label

Some other awesome finds during the birth of my Game Room Collection was the various versions of Super Mario Brothers for NES. Including:

Apparently there are two versions of the SMP + Duck Hunt + WCTM which has Mario with red pants and White Shirt, and then one with Mario with a Red shirt and White pants.

I have yet to come across all four versions of Super Mario Brothers, however thus far I have snatched up Super Mario Brothers standard, Super Mario Brothers w/ Duck Hunt, and then the rest of the Mario collection with the original Mario Bros. [arcade classic]



Sega CD + Sega Genesis

This is what pushed me over the edge and finally made me take the step to start gathering my collection for the game room. While on Holiday I came across a Sega CD + Sega Genesis with about 10 complete games with it. I'm talking boxes, instruction manuals, and discs all intact and in mint condition!

I was blown away that this gem was just sitting in a lonely room back home never being used. So I asked the current owner if they mind parting with it, along with the games, an an unused Nintendo 64 that was laying next to it, and they had no objections.

I then tested them all out, worked perfectly, boxed them up, and shipped them back to California to arrive when I did. How awesome is that?!

After that glorious find, I sought out after the rest! Check out the cool games that were with it under the Sega CD and Sega Genesis section to the right on fourzerotwo.com!

Now I don't plan on obtaining every video game every created at the moment. Right now I'm just interested in collecting the consoles I loved growing up, along with my favorite games on each of them.

If any of you have some awesome little collections going, let me know! I'd love to hear what cool little finds you've made. Meanwhile, once I get all these new consoles hooked up at the ole' house, a Retro Gaming party will be had!

Meanwhile, check out the dynamic lists to the right, because I'll be updating as I find / buy / collect more.

[Hi-Def Trailer Here]

Watch that trailer and tell me it doesn't get you hyped for this game!

I've been keeping my eye on the development of this beauty for quite some time. I mentioned it a while back when there was a contest to get your voice as a superhero in the game.

Since then, there has been some awesome developments made and this has shaped up to be what the Super Hero genre of video games has been missing all these years, a Team!

Not just any team, but the largest selection of Super Heroes ever put into a game.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance is boasting a combined cast of over 140 characters!

Thats not even the icing on the cake. You can team up with up to three friends and form an unstoppable 4-man Super Hero posse that you can either take on co-op and play through the entire game or take the action online with competitive combat.

Now thats what we've been missing all these years! No game ever captivate what it means to be a Super Hero. The powers are always dumbed down, and its always you against the world.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance looks to be filling that void, and bringing back the team mentality to Super Hero Leagues. You're no longer fighting alone. I can't wait to grab some of my fellow geekcore buddies, talking control of our childhood fravorite crime fighting heroes, and taking it online!

Who Will You Choose?

Ever since I was a kid, I've always been an X-Men fanatic. I use to watch the cartoon series on FoxKids when I was younger, and collected the complete comic book series before that. I'm talking old school X-Men now, none of this new stuff.

Back in the days when Wolverine wore those great bright Yellow, Blue, and Black tights. Ha!

Now those were the days.

Wolverine is always my first choice. I like his 'take no lip' attitude.

Not to mention, how could you pass up the titanium steel skeleton and the ability heal yourself?

To round out the squad, I was thinking a little Spiderman as my back up, Iron Man for air support, and some Silver Surfer to sure things up.



The Zeros.

I can't wait to unleash carnage on unsuspecting Super Villians in some 4 player Co-op, in addition to facing off in online combat!

Link Dump:
Marvel Ultimate Alliance Trailer [Hi-Def]
Official Website

Console Murder.

Visual On Target.


I had a run in with Sam Fisher last night as I tryed out the latest in the Splinter Cell series.

Needless to say, the meeting did not end in my favor.

Upon attempting to play the first mission, it began to freeze and prompt me to restart.

After several freezes and restarts during the first mission it eventually [within the hour] quit turning on period.

In addition, I started to recieve the '3 red lights of death' from the Ring of Light. Indicating a hardware failure.

Being that I had one of the first wave consoles, I wasn't surprised that this would happen at some point.

Have no fear however, I have another one being picked up as we speak, and plan to have no gaming interruptions.

Sam Fisher: Console Covert

From what I got to play of Splinter Cell: Double Agent, it was amazingly impressive. The graphics were superb, as they always are with Tom Clancy / Ubisoft titles. Which I suspect was the cause of the meltdown of my system.

In all reality, I don't actually blame the game or Ubisoft for the malfunction, the console was obviously having some issues, and I believe the intense graphics and processor demand of this superior next-gen game was the straw on the camel's back.

So no hard feelings Sam Fisher, for the assassination of my X360 Unit.

Besides, if this didn't happen, what excuse would I have to make that awesome graphic of Sam Fisher stealing my Xbox360? Exactly.

As I said, I am having another console sent over this afternoon or this weekend. So hopefully I'll be back in the game in no time.

There are way too many great titles hitting the shelves to be out of commission for any length of time.

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Hitting Xbox Live Marketplace Tomorrow!

You can download the demo for Tony Hawk's Project 8 tomorrow on Xbox Live Marketplace.

You'll be able to skate around Concrete Park and check out some of the new features and if I do say so myself, one of the coolest innovations in skateboarding games I've ever seen.

'Nail The Trick'
This new feature allows you percision control of your feet when attempting to land and combo tricks. You go into a zoomed-in sorta slowed down time that focuses on your feet, which allows you to control each foot with the left and right joysticks.

Just like in skateboarding, timing and reflex are key. Kick your feet at just the right moment, using the left joystick at just the right place on the board to get the perfect spin on your deck.

I personally thing this is whats been lacking from skateboarding games of the past. Now you can really get into the game.

Its not just button mashing like a 2D fighting game to do combos no longer, now you have awesome control of your feet, and determine exactly what you do and how you do it in your tricks.

Maybe now, I can finally get a darkslide down.

Check out the video of the 'Nail The Trick' feature here, you'll see what I mean!

'Filmer'

This is a new feature as well, that allows you to follow a cameraman around and land the tricks he calls out. It requires fast reflexes and even quicker hand eye coordination. He calls it out, you land it. Pretty simple eh? We'll see.

'Spot Challenges'

These are objectives and goals throughout the game that you can do at will at anytime. They all build to the progression of the game, but you can choose how you do them and when you do them at your own pace.

I've been looking forward to this edition since I got to get some time alone with it at E3 this past year. Not to metnion that Tony Hawk was there doing some of the tricks in person on a massive half pipe we had set up next to the Call of Duty 2 booth.

The war has begun.....

The Year; 2060. The place. Earth.

The Strogg army has invaded, forcing the humans on the defensive. The GDF [Global Defense Force] have answered the call and have sent our armies to the front lines. Through unified efforts and teamwork, the Strogg can be defeated, without such efforts, we are hopeless.



Tactical Squad Combat

Quake Wars: Enemy Territory is upon us. Taking us to the frontlines of the Strogg invasion of Earth.

Except this time, you're not alone.

Activision, ID Software, and Splash Damage have teamed up and put together the most impressive multiplayer strategic squad shooter I've ever seen! Using a reinvented and super advanced version of the Quake 3 Engine, and revolutionary new texturing techniques, the game looks breath-taking!

Enemy Territory use to be a free MOD made by the Splash Damage squad for Return To Castle Wolfenstien; which was insanely popular. Enemy Territory takes players to the struggle that started it all between humans and Stroggs, which plays out in the Quake series. Now players are thrusted into the global war that started it all in this multiplayer focused title that demands teamwork and requires relentless tactics.

In Quake Wars: Enemy Territory, the player can choose between two sides:



The GDF

The Global Defense Force is made up of human soldiers from all nations on Earth. They have formed an international alliance to defend Earth from the technologically superior invading alien armies of the Strogg.

The game takes place in the early stages of the war between the humans and the strogg. Well before the events of Quake II.

You must take control of one of five classes:
Covert-Ops
Engineer
Field-Ops
Medic
Soldier

Each with their own unique ability and essential asset to the team as a whole.

In Quake Wars: Enemy Territory, your 12-man team will have to complete several objectives that hinder the enemies ability to wage war in order to win against the Strogg army. Every mission requires participation from each specific class, so team work is essential. No squad without teamwork will survive.



Covert-Ops

My GDF class of choice. The Cover-Ops.

Cover-Ops role is to infiltrate enemy lines, hack into their bases systems to disable their deployables, use covert tactics to spy on enemy positions and movement to rely back to their squad, and recon their advance.

The Cover-ops is armed with a N38 Sniper-rifle and smoke grenades.

Unless Cover-ops can get behind enemy lines and disable their defenses and deployables, the Strogg army is unstoppable, with the ability to bombard our troops with heavy plasma artillery attacks.

Each class plays an essential role to the mission and must work together to win.


The Strogg

This ruthless invading army is well armed, well equipped, and battle hardened. They didn't come to make peace, and they hell as sure didn't come to negotiate terms. They came for one reason, and thats total domination. Not to mention to turn humans into Protein shakes.

Whether you choose to fight for the resistance and defense of Earth as the GDF or choose the side of the invading scum of the Strogg army, there is one thing in common. Strategy!

The Strogg also have five different classes of soldier:
Constructor
Infiltrator
Oppressor
Aggressor
Technician

Each with their own strengths and weaknesses, however, together, they are a force to be reckoned with.


The Infiltrator

My Strogg class of choice. When it comes to strategic tactic shooters, I'm all covert baby!

Much like Cover-Ops in GDF, the Infiltrator's job is to get behind enemy lines, any way possible, and disable their defenses and deployable. Any way possible eh?

Thats right, The Infiltrator has the ability to use the fallen GDF soldiers you slain's bodies as disguis and sneak behind enemy lines. Equipped with either a sniper rifle or advanced lacerator. The Infiltrator is a valuable asset to the team as a whole. You also have the ability to deploy a drone to fly overhead and recon information on enemy movements and positions which you rely back to the team.



Complete Carnage!

It is the Strogg's job to prevent the GDF from completing their objectives, and by doing so, winning the battle.

If the GDF's job is to repair and hold a destroyed bridge in order to get their vehicles across, then its the Stroggs number 1 priority to get to that bridge and prevent the repair of it by GDF engineers at all costs.

If they succeed, the Strogg will be pushed back to defend their base. Holding ground and defending objectives is essential to the Strogg army, and can only be done through percise team work and tactics.

That means making sure to get behind enemy lines to disable defenses, setting up plasma artillery to give supressive fire from above, and holding key positions to stop advancement. Through the use of advanced technology, such as drones and anti-personnell bots that shoot on site. The Strogg have a technological upper-hand in the battle for Earth.

Activision hasn't announced publicly which platforms this amazing title is going to be available on, but let me tell you that no matter what the platform you're playing it, this 12 on 12 tactical frag fest is a must have for the hardcore or competitive player!

The casual or laid back gamer may find this a bit complex and intense for their liking, but if you are prepared to enlist and put together a well trained, well equipped 12 man team of friends, then you are going to go into orgasmic seizures when you get your hands on Quake Wars: Enemy Territory!

You can check out the official e3 trailer here, to get an idea of what I'm talking about and see exactly why I'm so hyped about this game!

Meanwhile, I'm going to be honing my skills, and preparing to meet you on the battlefield.

Link Dump:
Quake Wars: Enemy Territories [Official Site]
Activision [Publisher]
ID Software
Splash Damage

Media + Resources:
Screenshots
Trailer

Xbox Live Smack Talker: Now with 98% less effort!

This 'handy' little new invention plugs up in-place of your headset, and allows you to record 5 pre-set taunts for use at whim, or even use one of the 5 pre-recorded default taunts programmed in.

Because, honestly, who has the time anymore?

I could waste precious breathe and energy taunting the players myself after an amazing headshot, or I could simply let the Smack Talker do it for me!

Is it me? Or do I see my Aqua Teen Hunger Force soundboard getting some more use out of it after all?!

"Powers.... I have em'!" - Master Shake

"I wasn't put on this planet to listen to meat!" - Master Shake

"You're both yo-yo's. Shut up ya yo-yo's!" - Master Shake

"I don't have the blood you crave!" - Master Shake

....and many more! [many = one]

And can you believe this bad boy is only small price of $29.99

What a steal!!

You will never believe what I just found!

So get this! I was preparing for the massive Infinity Ward Community Party this weekend [which was AMAZING btw], photos and videos of that to come VERY SOON, but back on topic. I had to clear some space in my trunk for some Xbox360s I was taking to the party.

So I open up my trunk and it turns out its filled with junk that I completely forgot about when I moved to Los Angeles! It was awesome!

I had printer paper that I thought we were out of, I had old CDs I thought I had lost, and even some Simpsons Monoply!!!! Ohhh yeah. There is nothing like scoring Burn's Manor and owning for the rest of the game due to the sweet mansion you put on there! Take that Cletus's shack!

As awesome as that is, its not the coolest of cool which I found lurking in my trunk. About a year or so ago, I was at some thrift store in Kentucky and came across a Super Nintendo for $1!!! Can you believe that! One double cheese-burger at McDonalds and I can get one of the greatest video game consoles ever! So I snatched it, and shortly after, at the same store, I found a copy of Super Mario Kart for SNES under some old ratty books! SCORE!

All in all, I threw down about 200 pennies and walked away a winner.

The sad thing is, I didn't have an RF Adapter so that I could hook up the damn thing, and it was missing its other component. So I vowed to stop somewhere and get those, but got distracted with the whole Los Angeles thing.

Well this past weekend, I popped open that trunk and was in happy land when I saw my lost treasure! A beautiful SNES and copy of Super Mario Kart!!!

Well, the weekend before this one, Emily, Dan, Heather, Caroline, and I all went over Mike's apartment to eat Turkey Lasagna that they were fixing. Why? Because, much like a grumpy orange cat I love, I can't resist free Lasagna!!

So while the goods were being cooked we were sitting around playing Counter Strike Source on the PC when I seen a SNES cartridge on top of a dresser. It was Jungle Strike, some cheap 2-D helicopter shoot-em up which was one of the many generic games the then Electronic Arts was pumping out.

So it turns out that Mike had his original, yes thats how Hardcore he is!, ORIGINAL Super Nintendo Entertainment System and not only that ladies and gents, but he had a copy of one of the greatest games to date.... Zelda: A Link To The Past! [pee panties]

My nerd senses were a tingly as the joy over took my face. So we break this bad boy out and spend the next hour or so until the food is done swording it up in some old skool Zelda action.

Back to the main subject at hand however! So now that I've found my SNES and my copy of Super Mario Kart, I will be returning to the casa de Mike and throwing down the Mario Kart gauntlet!!!

Whose with me?!

I know Mike's down! So if anyone has an SNES controller and wants to throw down in some classic Super Mario Kart schooling, drop me a line or leave a comment and we'll all head over Mike's scarcely furnished apartment and rekindle our child hoods!