The other day when I was at a local department store, I decided to take note of prices and what was in stock. Here is what I saw from each of the three main console companies:

First is Sony. There were plenty of slim PS2’s in stock for the price of around $130. The games had a price of about $20-$30 on average. The PSP’s price was around $180. The games were selling from $20-$40. Finally, the PS3. The store seemed to be overflowing with them, and it’s no wonder with the price of the console at $600 and games selling for upwards of $60.

Next is Nintendo. There was the DS that was selling for about $80 and the game for around $30. There wasn’t anything really special to comment on for the DS but I saw something that was pretty rare. There was a Wii in stock (Though it’s probably gone now) and it was selling for $250 with games selling for $40. And for the Gamecube, I happened to overhear an employee telling another customer that they were trying to get rid of all Gamecube games except for Zelda: Twilight Princess. The console was selling for its usual price of $100 and the games were selling for about $20-$30.

Last but certainly not least is Microsoft. Their XBox 360 appeared to be doing very as there were only a few in stock and I saw a couple people buy a 360. They had both varieties, the $400 and $300 and the games were selling for $50 mainly, though there were plenty of $40 games a few $30 and $60 games.

So in conclusion, PS3s weren’t moving but 360s and Wiis were going off of shelves with the PS2 still attracting a few buyers, and in the handheld side of things PSP and DS had been going at a fairly healthy rate.

Comments are encouraged.

-Unstable

NOTE: All prices are USD.

 

A few of the songs that will be on Guitar Hero III have been announced. What I’ve learned is that the game will be 1980’s themed and this is just the first batch. Here’s the list:

 

ORIGINAL RECORDINGS:
“Cult of Personality” by Living Colour
“Paint It Black” by the Rolling Stones
“Cherub Rock” by Smashing Pumpkins
“Sabotage” by Beastie Boys
“The Metal” by Tenacious D
“My Name Is Jonas” by Weezer
“Knights of Cydonia” by Muse
COVER SONGS:
“Rock And Roll All Nite” as made famous by Kiss
“School’s Out” as made famous by Alice Cooper
“Slow Ride” as made famous by Foghat
“Barracuda” as made famous by Heart

(Source: GameSpot.com)

 

The game is going to be for XBox 360, Wii, Play Station 2 and Play Station 3.

More details later and comments are uncouraged!

-Unstable

When I first set my eyes upon this game, I was pretty sure it was going to be another normal racing game. Watching my step brother drive around on a bike playing this game, I realize now that this game is anything from normal, it’s completely mad!

Like other games, there are many levels to unlock plus unlockable bikes and racers. I was amazed at the range of levels, from farms to supermarkets! During this game, you can complete many different challenges, but I prefer to drive about acting like a complete freak (called freestyle), as you probably will do if you purchase this game.

This game takes you to a whole new level. What I love about this game is that its freestyle, completey. It lets you go wherever and whenever you want to go, there are no limits. FreeStyle Metal X is a completely crazy game. It’s not one of those games with ridiculous restrictions, you can get killed by animals and you can even kill them too. I had a ton of fun endlessly killing the poor wolves included in this game.

However there is not just freestyle and challenges, you can race the area champions, do freakishly cool stunts (that really give you hydrenalyne) and race big air style.

Sound: 8.5/10

There is non stop hardcore rock music in the background, and of course the painful shrieks of your driver as he takes one step closer to his death.

Graphics: 8/10

Great graphics! Brilliant, but the only thing that annoys me is the low quality of trees, apart from that excellent.

Overall: 9/10

Awesome game, it has everything you would want in it, plus more. I strongly encourage you to buy this game, it will fulfill weeks of endless enjoyment.

Welcome To…

Today, I will be giving you a preview of God of War II.

March 13th, the release date, is an important date! All fans of God of War are eagerly waiting for it. Cory Barlog, the game director, has released that the game is completely finished! Now we wait. I will keep you updated if anything changes.

I don’t normally write about PS2 games, in fact I don’t even have one anymore. So, why am I writing about this game coming out on a console I don’t have? Well,the first Arena Football game by EA Sports came out last year and I thought was awesome, and this one looks to be even better. It features teams from the AFL and AF2 (The Arena Football minor league). One of the new things is a mode that has you create a player and follow his career starting out in the AF2 and try to get him to the AFL and win an Arena Bowl.

Overall, this looks like one hell of a game and just may be enough to make me want to get another PS2. 

Comments are encouraged

-Unstable

After the success of the SEGA Mega Drive, SEGA releases the Mega Drive Collection (for the PS2 & PSP) on 2nd Febuary ‘07 (Europe).

This game is great value, it offers over 30 titles, and a big chunk of the 80s and 90s gaming era. It’s packed with great unlockable arcade games and interviews with SEGA developers.

There isn’t a great difference between the different version (PS2 & PSP). The PS2 includes impressive scan-display, while the PSP offers different types of displays to chose from.The PSP offers Wi Fi, while the PS2 doesnt. However the most noticable difference is the unlockable bonus games.

The collection will include Sonic The Hedgehog, Phantasy Star series, Shinobi II and Golden Axe.

This really is a essential game for SEGA lovers. It is one of the most up to date, but yet satisfying classic game to date. Even if you have only played a few SEGA games in the past, this is the time to play a few more.

“Turn the Tide” is the main idea behind the latest installment in the NCAA Football series by EA Sports. This shows how much momentum has to do with college football.

Gameplay: 8/10

The gameplay in NCAA Football 07 is very nice on the 360, which I have it on. It seems like a lot of issues with the gameplay have been resolved compared to the XBox version of 07, like much smoother in-game play and some pretty entertaining mini-games; Bowling, where you try to go 10 yards to the endzone in 1 play to get a “strike” or in 2 for the “spare” and Tug of War where the first team to get either a safety or touchdown wins and this game works by elternating offense and defense every other play.

Graphics: 9/10

The graphics are excellent and detailed, much like its NFL counterpart Madden NFL 07. Every detail is visible. Even the field looks realistic towards the forth quarter by showing where the players had been treading and by making it even look wet when it rains.

Audio: 8/10

The audio is good and the voices are clear. The crowds sound realistic and so do the referees when they have to call a penalty. Not much else to talk about here though.

Overall: 8.5/10

Overall, this is a pretty good game that deserves to be picked up by anyone who is even slightly into college football, whether you’re a mild mannered KU Jayhawks fan or an enthusiastic USC Trojan fanatic.

Comments encouraged.

-Unstable

Another amazing game for the Sims. It was released the 19th of December, 2003 across Europe and I’m still playing it!

The game features 2 modes, Bustin’ Out and FreePlay. Bustin’ Out lets you live your life, but it sets goals for you. You have to make friends, get promotions, earn money and finally get the Mansion of evil Malcom.

When you first play as Bustin’ Out, after creating your sim, you start living with your mum. She naggs you to get a job, as you get jobs you get friends. Eventually you’ll be able to move out into one of your friends houses. As you social life develops, so will your work life. You will start getting promotions, and all it takes is 10 promotions (in a career of your choice) to get Malcom’s Mansion. This mode is pretty fun, but too easy to complete.

Whilst you’re getting bored with that, freeplay is great. It’s normal Sims, with lots of unlockable items and new careers.

Graphics: 7/10

Not great graphics, but they do the trick.

Gameplay: 7.5/10

Its a great game, but gets pretty repetive.

Sound: 7/10

Not too much sound, but enough.

Overall: 7.5/10

Lara Croft is back and celebrating her 10th anniversary. The game is out on most platforms including PlayStation 2, PC and Playstation Portable.

Many gamers were disappointed with Legend on PS2, complaining because the game looked like a re-vamp of the original game.

Crystal Dynamics reps mentioned they are taking a more thorough approach to the new version. The game will be more simple and include the same storyline as the original. That was, however, quite confusing, so Crystal Dynamics says the new one will explain itself better.

But as Legend’s gameplay was quite bad, many people have been put off of buying this game as it will play like Legend.

Lara can now shimmy along at various speeds. There is no reason to have to stand in the correct place to jump since when she jumps she can latch on to surfaces.

Lara can now also flip and turn gracefully around her enimies.

We are pretty curious to see her in action!

The latest game in the Madden series made by EA Sports came out in August of last year. It’s an amazing football game.

The graphics are excellent and detailed. You can see practically every detail including individual members of the crowd, the wrinkles on the referee’s face(I’m not sure if that’s a pro or con :p ) and the mud on the jerseys.

The gameplay could be improved a little bit, but it’s still good like it always has been. It just lacks the QB vision that there was in its predecesor though a feature that allows you to control a lineman or fullback has been added to the game.

The audio is good with a good soundtrack and you can hear the audibles from the Quarterbacks and Linebackers. The referees also sound realistic, almost as if you’re at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City or historic Lambeau Field in Green Bay watching a game.

Online isn’t lacking either with many games you can have. You can either do one of several minigames or play in a game against someone. This is especially great with XBox Live on the XBox 360.

I hope that after reading this more people go out and buy this. It’s not just a game, but an experience with everything from real stadiums to real teams and players. Beware though, it may end up consuming your life.

-Unstable