[GameRatty] tag: wisconsin

GameTap Thursday: Grimm Violates Cinderella's World; Lionheart and Elements of Destruction

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:39:53 +0000

GameTap Thursday is once again upon us, and there are some pretty cool offerings available this week for subscribers–which I will get to in a moment after I tell you the news about American McGee’s Grimm Volume 2.

As usual, the newest episode of Grimm (Cinderella) is free to play for the first 24-hours of release–which is good news. The other thing I wanted to tell you about is that next week there will not be a GameTap Thursday because of Thanksgiving–instead next week it will be GameTap Tuesday instead and a new episode of Grimm will be available to play for free until Friday, November 28. Episode 13, The Golden Goose definitely seems to be an appropriate game to play during Thanksgiving.

Here are the offerings this week for GameTap subscribers:

American McGee’s Grimm Volume 2, Episode 12: Cinderella: Poor Cinderella–what a strange, sad but magical life she had. She started out as the lovely, only child of a rich family only to lose her mother and see her father marry an evil wench with two equally evil daughters. When her father dies she is turned into a scullery maid by the wicked step-mother, only to find happiness when she is rescued by the kingdom’s prince. Too bad for her though, because Grimm does not believe in happy endings and he is ready to prove to her just how much he loathes them.

Lionheart: Legacy of the Crusader: Reflexive Entertainment and Interplay’s 2003 action-RPG that utilizes the SPECIAL role-playing system made famous by Fallout. The game takes place in an altered version of medieval times, where demons and magical creatures roam free. In addition to deep character customization, the game also employs familiar Diablo-style hack and slash mechanics with an epic score and top-notch voice acting.

Elements of Destruction: Valusoft’s strategy and simulation game where players assume the role of Dr. Edgar Herbert, who uses his strange inventions to summon and control natural disasters. The game plays like Sim City in reverse - rather than building up a city and controlling its population, your goal is to destroy it. The game was developed by Codebase, a “punk rock” developer hailing from Madison, Wisconsin that was also responsible for Zombie Wranglers and Screwjumper! for the Xbox 360.

No new games were added to the free category this week, but GameTap has over 143 of them, so I’m sure there is something there you would like. Remember, to play the free games you still have to sign up which you can do at the official GameTap website.

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Related Articles at Gaming Today:

European and North American PSN releases (Nov. 6)

Fri, 07 Nov 2008 00:32:27 +0000

We’ve got some great content and some strange offerings today. If you haven’t already played Metal Gear Solid 4 there’s a demo to try out now. Why it’s being released so late in the year is beyond our comprehension. Some more time sensitive items are costumes for LittleBigPlanet. The free ones are for the space costume and the Halloween mask. For one week only we can get the Week One costume for £3.99/€4.99. A bit pricey but it’ll sell like Sackboy shaped hotcakes. Tom Clancy’s Endwar is following the limited time only trend with a free Enlistment Pack for one week. We got some songs for Guitar Hero: World Tour artists such as Blind Melon and Foreigner that happen to be more expensive than Rock Band 2 songs. And of course there’s the usual small helping of video content.

Episode 6 of Qore is out in the US and it looks at the gaming culture in Tokyo as well as some exclusive footage from the ever so elusive Home. Much like the European update we get new LBP costumes and Guitar Hero World Tour tracks to download.

European Update

Full Games

Spin Jam PS1 classic (£3.99/€4.99)
Theme Park PS1 classic (£3.99/€4.99)

Demos

Alone in the Dark: Inferno
Metal Gear Solid 4

Add On Content

LBP Spacesuit costume (free)
LBP Halloween Mask costume (free)
LBP Week 1 T-Shirt costume (£3.99/€4.99 one week only)
LBP MotorStorm costume (£1.59)
Tom Clancy’s Endwar Enlistment Pack (free one week only)
NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Storm Storm Pack # 1 (free)
“Rock And Roll Band” - Boston (£1.59/€1.99)
“No Rain” - Blind Melon (£1.59/€1.99)
“Jesse’s Girl” - Rick Springfield (£1.59/€1.99)
“Hot Blooded” - Foreigner (£1.59)
Neversoft Track Pack (free)
Guitar Duel Track Pack (free)
Classic Rock Track Pack (£4.79/€5.99)

Videos

Bayonetta Trailer
Launching the PSP-3000 Series video
BioShock Launch Trailer
Tomb Raider Underworld “Beneath the Surface 2″ Video
Tom Clancy’s Endwar “Mission Objectives Briefing” Trailer
Need for Speed Undercover Trailers
Pure Trailer

Wallpaper and Themes

BioShock Theme (£0.79/€0.99)
Soul Caliber IV Wallpapers

North American Update

Demos

Metal Gear Solid 4
NCAA Basketball ‘09

Add On Content

LBP Spacesuit costume (free)
LBP Halloween Mask costume (free)
Tom Clancy’s Endwar Enlistment Pack (free one week only)
NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Storm Storm Pack # 1 (free)
“Waiting for the Rapture” - Oasis ($1.99)
“The Shock of the Lightning” - Oasis ($1.99)
“Bag It Up” - Oasis ($1.99)
Oasis Track Pack ($5.49)
“Another Way To Die” - Jack White & Alicia Keys ($1.99)

Videos

Killzone 2 Helghan Trailer
MotorStorm: Pacific Rift Courses & Environments
Resistance 2 TV Spot
Bayonetta TGS Trailer
FIFA ‘09 “Inside the Game” Part 3 Gameplay
FIFA ‘09 “Inside the Game” Part 4 Be a Pro
Guitar Hero World Tour Ted Nugent Vignette
MotoGP ‘08 Trailer
MotoGP ‘08 Trailer # 2
NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Storm TGS Trailer
NBA 2K0 OBF Soldiers
Tom Clancy’s Endwar Infantry Strategy Video Briefing
Tom Clancy’s Endwar Mission Types Video Briefing
Tomb Raider: Underworld Beneath the Surface - “What Could Lara Do”
Standard Operating Procedure Trailer
Tinker Bell Trailer
Sleeping Beauty: 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition Trailer

Wallpaper and Themes

University of Alabama Theme ($1.99)
University of Wisconsin Theme ($1.99)
Bikini Fashion Show Theme ($1.49)
Sexy Ninja Girls Theme ($1.49)
Spider Webs Theme ($1.49)
Tomb Raider Underworld Themes
High Velocity Bowling New Characters Themes
PixelJunk Monsters D Theme

PlayStation Store Update

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 21:37:41 +0000

Hey, everyone. It’s time again for the PlayStation Store weekly update.

Qore

Qore Episode 06: November, 2008 ($2.99 for episode / $24.99 for Annual Subscription)
Episode 06 of Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network travels to Tokyo to take an up-close look at the gaming culture, but still keeps things close to “Home” with an exclusive peek at the new virtual community.
File size: 1.63 GB

Add-on Game Content

LittleBigPlanet Halloween Mask Costume (free) - Limited time offer
A seasonal exclusive costume for SackBoy!
File size: 1.04 MB

LittleBigPlanet Spaceman Costume (free) - Limited time offer
A new costume for Sackboy!
File size: 1.04 MB

Tom Clancy’s EndWar FirstWar Enlistment Pack (free)
Enlist for the FirstWar on PLAYSTATION Network! This FREE download unlocks three exclusive unit upgrades – one for each faction – that you can acquire during campaigns. Be quick, this temporary offer is only available for the first week that the game is available in stores!
File size: 193 KB

NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja STORM Pack 3 (free)
Download Storm Pack 3 and unleash legendary ninja Shizune as your support character in battle. The Storm Pack 3 also contains new Ultimate Mission to engage!
File size: 100 KB

Guitar Hero World Tour
For all song credits please visit www.redoctane.com.

“Waiting for the Rapture” - Oasis ($1.99)
“The Shock of the Lightning” - Oasis ($1.99)
“Bag It Up” - Oasis ($1.99)
Oasis Track Pack ($5.49) - this track pack includes all of the above singles.
“Another Way To Die” - Jack White & Alicia Keys ($1.99)

File sizes: 33 MB - 50 MB (singles), 129 MB (track pack)

Rock Band
Build your Rock Band library by purchasing these song game tracks. For song credits, visit www.RockBand.com.

“Ladybug” - The Presidents of the United States of America ($1.99)
“Feather Pluckn” - The Presidents of the United States of America ($1.99)
“Dune Buggy” - The Presidents of the United States of America ($1.99)
The Presidents of the United States of America Pack 01 ($5.49) - this track pack includes all of the above singles.
“I Don’t Care” - Fallout Boy ($.99 - limited time offer)
“Use Me” - Hinder ($.99 - limited time offer)

File sizes: 22 MB - 34 MB (singles), 72 MB (track pack)

Game Demos (free)

Metal Gear Solid 4 Demo
He’s a living legend on a final mission. His objective: Terminate his own life. Get your free copy of the playable demo for Director Hideo Kojima’s record-breaking worldwide mega-hit, METAL GEAR SOLID 4: GUNS OF THE PATRIOTS! Experience the intense thrills of stealth infiltration as you avoid enemy detection on a battlefield that changes moment by moment with every action.
ESRB Rated M
File size: 1.36 GB

NCAA Basketball 09 Demo
Control the speed of the game like never before as your force your team’s style of play on your opponent in NCAA Basketball 09. Your ability to set the tempo from the opening tip and adjust your play according to on the fly feedback from real NCAA Division I coaches determines your success. An all-new game engine provides authentic college styles of play including up-tempo transition game, trapping defenses, structured half-court sets and many more tools to allow you to play to your team’s strengths. Grab the momentum and take control of the game - Set the Tempo with NCAA Basketball 09.
ESRB Rated E
File size: 1.19 GB

Game Videos (free)

Killzone 2 Helghan Trailer
Download the latest KZ2 trailer the way it was meant to be seen - in HD!
File size: 80 MB (HD), 131 MB (1080)

MotorStorm Pacific Rift Courses & Environments
File size: 69 MB (HD), 112 MB (1080)

Resistance 2 TV Spot
File size: 26 MB (HD)

Bayonetta TGS trailer
File size: 74 MB (HD)

FIFA 09 “Inside The Game” Part 3 - Gameplay
File size: 283 MB (HD)

FIFA 09 “Inside The Game” Part 4 - Be A Pro
File size: 149 MB (HD)

Guitar Hero World Tour Ted Nugent Vignette
File size: 58 MB (HD)

MotoGP 08 Trailer
File size: 68 MB (HD)

MotoGP 08 Trailer 2
File size: 78 MB (HD)

NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Storm TGS Trailer
File size: 78 MB (HD)

NBA 2K9 OBF Soldiers
File size: 46 MB (HD)

Tom Clancy’s EndWar Infantry Strategy Video Briefing
File sizes: 75 MB (HD)

Tom Clancy’s EndWar Mission Types Video Briefing
File sizes: 96 MB (HD)

Tomb Raider: Underworld Beneath The Surface: “What Could Lara Do”
File sizes: 56 MB (SD), 186 MB (1080)

Movie and Blu-ray Disc Trailers

Standard Operating Procedure Trailer
File sizes: 99 MB (HD), 129 MB (1080)

Tinker Bell Trailer
File sizes: 133 MB (1080)

Sleeping Beauty: 50 Anniversary Platinum Edition Trailer
File sizes: 166 MB (1080)

PS3 Themes

University of Alabama Theme ($1.99)
File size: 4.92 MB

University of Wisconsin Theme ($1.99)
File size: 4.95 MB

Bikini Fashion Show Theme ($1.49)
File size: 5.19 MB

Sexy Ninja Girls Theme ($1.49)
File size: 4.96 MB

Spider Webs Theme ($1.49)
File size: 4.65 MB

Tomb Raider: Underworld Theme (free) x2
File sizes: 946 KB - 1.66 MB

High Velocity Bowling New Characters Theme (free)
File size: 2.30 MB

PixelJunk Monsters D Theme (free)
File size: 1.48 MB

Zombies!!! board game to eat video game brains

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:30:00 +0000

It's time to get the shotgun out of the cupboard, as Twilight Creations announced plans to bring its popular tile-based board game, Zombies!!!, to Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network as well as Steam in 2009. The company describes these as the 'initial' platforms for the project, and we fully expect Zombies!!! to scuffle onto others should the creeping undead take hold.

Interestingly, the game is being handled by Wisconsin-based Big Rooster, the same Big Rooster that recently had another tabletop-to-video game translation, Talisman, canned by would be publisher Capcom. Here's hoping that Zombies!!! doesn't suffer a similar fate, or at the very least if it does it can drag itself up from the grave.

[Thanks, J]

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Obama ads not just in Burnout Paradise

Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:30:00 +0000

Filed under: Microsoft Xbox 360, Politics

With its Burnout Paradise tour underway, the Obama campaign has moved into other swing games that they feel they have a chance in, including 18 different Xbox Live titles. There are some obvious, classically blue games like Guitar Hero 3 and The Incredible Hulk, as well as more surprising choices, NBA Live 08 and NFL Tour among them. Shockingly, even NASCAR 09 is in play in 2008, and will receive the first Democratic media blitz in that game's history this year. (When asked if they would be moving the campaign into Cabela's Most Dangerous Hunts, the Obama representatives laughed a little bit, then walked away.)

But you may not be able to find the ads just yet. In this election, where a voter lives is, in some ways, almost as important as what games they play. The ads are only targeted in Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Montana, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Nevada, New Mexico, Florida and Colorado, all states where early voting is accessible and easy.

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Barack Obama courts video game voters with in-game ads

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:03:48 +0000

You know the political scene's really heating up if a presidential candidate starts wooing video gamers for votes.

Reports have come in that Presidential nominee Barack Obama started an advertising campaign in 18 games, so don't be surprised if you suddenly drive by an Obama ad when you're racing in Burnout: Paradise.

Looks like the ad campaign will only run on Xbox 360 games, as it's being handled by Microsoft-owned in-game ad firm, Massive Incorporated. Other games that are included in the campaign are Madden, NASCAR, NBA, NHL and Skate. Republican nominee John McCain "passed" when approached an offer for ad space.

Electronic Arts explains that the campaign only targets 10 different states: Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Colorado, Indiana, Montana, North Carolina, New Mexico, Nevada, and Wisconsin. Incidentally, all of these states (save Wisconsin) went for George W. Bush in the last election.

Now for those who are interested in the politics of the situation, bear in mind that it was the Obama group that approached Massive with the idea for in-game ads. Also, Massive does not endorse either candidate, and are treating the ads as a TV network or radio station would.

This isn't the first time Obama campaigned in video games though. Early last year, he (or at least, his avatar), campaigned in Second Life.

Hillary Clinton gives her stand on video games and the media

The Legendary Music of Queen Hits SingStore October 2 on PS3

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 10:07:52 +0000

Something you may not know about me is the fact that I am not a huge fan of karaoke games like Sony SingStar. The reason why is that the thought of someone ruining great songs intentionally in the comfort of their homes annoys me. Why can’t they get drunk and make fools of themselves in a bar like everyone else? Well, that is because not everyone is a drinker, and the majority of the people who play Sony SingStar are not old enough to even get in a bar. Regardless, it ruins the self satisfaction I get when I make fun of these people.

However, news this morning via a press release from Sony has me feeling a bit better about karaoke games because the gaming giant indicated that instead of going ahead and releasing the much promised SingStar: Queen for the PS2, they have decided to let loose two new packs featuring a sort of “best of” compilation for the PS3. That is great news for Queen fans who are too shy to dress up in gold short-shorts and do their best Freddie Mercury poses down at the local pub; unfortunately, for those who like Rock Band instead, still no Queen on the horizon and I personally think that EA and MTV should make that their next priority.

Anyway, if you are interested in downloading the Queen packs for your SingStar, here is what you have to look forward to - including songs from the soundtrack to the first “Highlander” movie (which is so full of win it makes my head spin):

Ultimate Queen 1:

Bohemian Rhapsody
One Vision
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Breakthru
Bicycle Race

Ultimate Queen 2:

We Will Rock You
Another One Bites The Dust
Who Wants To Live Forever
I Want It All
We Are The Champions

On October 2, log into the SingStar store and get to downloading this healthy dose of Queen where each pack will run you about $10 (£4.49 in the UK). Now, what I want to know is, why they chose to omit “Fat Bottom Girls”? Maybe the sexual connotations in the song were not right for the underage crowd, but it is still a fantastic song that needs to be included if you expect to get the full Queen experience.

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Related Articles at Gaming Today:

Church answers if killing in video games is a sin

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:08:12 +0000

We all know that religion and politics don't mix. But how about religion and games? We got a glimpse of that imagined scenario as we found this Q&A portion from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

"Is kiling in video games a sin?" This basically is the query, and it is rather interesting what WELS had to say about it.

Q: I'm very sure that killing/suicide stealing and anything like that is not accounted as an actual sin if it's only in video games. But I'm still not very sure, when I play video games, I'm not murdering at heart because I would never try to take the life of any living thing. And whatever is a video game can't die because it's not alive in the first place, video games are a false alternate reality...

A: As normally defined, taking the life of another in video games (as in acting or in any other fantasy situation) is not a sin against God's prohibition to murder. If, however, what is done in the video game is an expression of hatred or callous disregard for human life, then the heart and motives are wrong, and then it is sin in God's eyes...

For the record, however, obsession with video games can involve other departures from God's will... Typically, this can involve a colossal misuse of valuable time and also end up diverting time and attention from more useful and valuable pursuits that better glorify God and serve our neighbor...

So while they did not flat out say that killing in videogames is wrong, spending too much time with it most certainly is, because it involves "departure from God's will." You know what, I do have an added question to that. What about killing zombies? I mean, they're dead already, right? And it's a matter of self-defense cos if you don't kill them, they'll kill you. Only, you won't be dead dead, cos you'll be one of them. What about then?

Actually, to be serious about it I'd have to agree that being obsessed with video games is wrong, even without the 'God's will' bit. It's just not healthy, right? It strains the eyes, you don't get to do any stretching, you're cooped up all day in your house, you don't find a girlfriend - or if you do have one, you end up losing them ... Basically it really could just shut you out from the rest of the world. Moderation is still the best way to go about it, I suppose.

Still, that was a very interesting question, don't you agree? It gives you quite a lot to think about. So, what do you think?

Church answers if killing in video games is a sin

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:08:12 +0000

Q: I'm very sure that killing/suicide stealing and anything like that is not accounted as an actual sin if it's only in video games. But I'm still not very sure, when I play video games, I'm not murdering at heart because I would never try to take the life of any living thing. And whatever is a video game can't die because it's not alive in the first place, video games are a false alternate reality...

A: As normally defined, taking the life of another in video games (as in acting or in any other fantasy situation) is not a sin against God's prohibition to murder. If, however, what is done in the video game is an expression of hatred or callous disregard for human life, then the heart and motives are wrong, and then it is sin in God's eyes...

For the record, however, obsession with video games can involve other departures from God's will... Typically, this can involve a colossal misuse of valuable time and also end up diverting time and attention from more useful and valuable pursuits that better glorify God and serve our neighbor...

Church answers if killing in video games is a sin

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 18:08:12 +0000

Q: I'm very sure that killing/suicide stealing and anything like that is not accounted as an actual sin if it's only in video games. But I'm still not very sure, when I play video games, I'm not murdering at heart because I would never try to take the life of any living thing. And whatever is a video game can't die because it's not alive in the first place, video games are a false alternate reality...

A: As normally defined, taking the life of another in video games (as in acting or in any other fantasy situation) is not a sin against God's prohibition to murder. If, however, what is done in the video game is an expression of hatred or callous disregard for human life, then the heart and motives are wrong, and then it is sin in God's eyes...

For the record, however, obsession with video games can involve other departures from God's will... Typically, this can involve a colossal misuse of valuable time and also end up diverting time and attention from more useful and valuable pursuits that better glorify God and serve our neighbor...