Xbox 360 HD player with free films
- Free films offer open in Ireland until end of January
Buyers of the of the Xbox 360 HD-DVD player in Ireland will be offered the chance to redeem five free films for the add-on. The Xbox 360 player (pictured right with the games console) retails at around €170, while the offer runs until January 31, 2008.
The player is currently facing a massive advertising push by Sony’s rival high definition format Blu-ray. The Sony format is included in the company’s PlayStation 3 console.
The two HD formats have been lined up by their backers as the successor to the DVD. Both are in a format war last seen with VHS and Betamax in the 1980s — like then, it is unlikely the two formats will survive in the medium to long term.
The Xbox offer includes 13 titles from Warner Brothers, Universal, Dreamworks and Paramount. These are: Serenity, the Chronicles of Riddick, Hulk, Children of Men, the Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,
Troy, Full Metal Jacket, Corpse Bride, the Prestige, Swordfish, Black Rain, Dreamgirls, and Word Trade Center.
Orla Sheridan of Microsoft Ireland said: “The HD-DVD player for Xbox 360 gives customers a high quality and affordable way to enjoy state-of-the-art HD-DVD movies. We’re delighted to enable everyone to enjoy the technology to the full and offer some fantastic movie releases, completely free”.
REVIEW: Assassin’s Creed
Developer / Publisher: Ubisoft | Format: PS3
Assassin’s
Creed is finally here. After months of anticipation and hype, we can
all finally decide for ourselves if it was worth the wait. Hype
is a dangerous entity, more often than not it can raise expectation so
high that nothing short of God and Mohammed rising from the dead and
playing deathmatch on Quake will suffice.
How to make the perfect Assassin’s Creed cocktail. Take one part GTA,
one part Crackdown, throw in some Hitman and stir till set. Taking
place both in the present day and in the Middle East during the third
crusade, AC has you take on the role of an upper level member of a
secret society of assassins. Following a disastrous mission you are
demoted and must work your way back up the ranks to your former
position. To accomplish this you must first dispatch a number of
targets, who just so happen to be spread across three separate cities,
each one separated by an expanse of land.
The cities are large and open with plenty of depth and room for
exploration. To identify a target you have to seek out information by
eaves dropping on conversations, pick pockets for maps and other
information all the time avoiding the notice of the city guards and
patrols. Alert them to your presence and they be all over you like,
cream cheese on a bagel.
The cityscapes on offer in AC are breathtaking. From the wide open
market places, to towers which touch heaven. And it’s all in the game,
if you can see it then you can go there and climb it. AC most
impressive attribute is how the developers managed to fit all this in,
it’s astounding that the near photo realistic environment and
characters work so well. Add to this that when standing atop towers you
can literally see for miles. Next gen consoles finally have a game
which tests their graphical capabilities and they come out on top.
The only real negative draw back to the gameplay is the repetitive
feeling of it all. There is no real variety. you run around, pick some
pockets, eavesdrop a little, jump like a mad man and kill the odd
enemy. And thats about it. Don’t misinterpret that, it’s not a bad
thing but a little variety would have been nice. actually there is one
other slight draw back, the bizzare storyline is at times
incomprehensible. It takes place in a lab in the 21st century for some
of the running time. By the end of the game it’s difficult to figure
out what just happened.
Assassin’s Creed is more than capable of overcoming it’s plot
difficulties and offers such a wild array of places to explore that
you’re literally spoilt for choice. To not explore the game on either
the PS3 or 360 would be a shame. Forget the hype, and decide for
yourself.
GameStop expands with new shops in Finglas, Gorey, Castlebar, and Limerick
Games retailer GameStop is continuing to expand on its Irish locations with new stores recently opened in Finglas, Gorey, and Castlebar, while Limerick is to get a third store.
GameStop Ireland will have 50 shops under its control by the end of the month, including two in the UK.
The retailer has massively expanded since the US games giant bought up and re-branded independent Irish retailer GamesWorld in 2003. In the last two years alone, it has nearly doubled the number of locations in the Republic and the North.
Its parent company runs 5,000 stores across Europe, the US, and South America.
Xbox launches student karaoke contest
Xbox have launched a rock ‘n’ roll karaoke competition aimed at college
and university students in and around Dublin.
The karaoke contest, Songs of Praise, kicked off last night at the
Village on Wicklow Street, it will continue at the NUI Maynooth student
union bar on Tuesday.
The overall winner will receive a Gibson electric guitar worth over
€2,000. And each of the seven heat winners will walk away with an Xbox
360 package worth over €1,000, including a console, Guitar Hero III,
and other games.
There are six other dates between now the finals at the Button
Factory (formally the Temple Bar Music Centre) on December 6. These
include nights for DCU, UCD, DIT, and TCD. There is also a second
general night at the Village next Sunday, December 2.
The karaoke addicts will be given a rest with Phantom FM’s
DJ Sinead NiMhordha playing sets between karaoke stints. The Xbox 360
game Guitar Hero III — in which user play the game using a guitar — is
also on playable at the nights.
The Songs of Praise karaoke night is a regular on Sundays at the Village;
the Dubliner called it “Dublin’s best Karaoke Night,” the Irish Times said
it was “Dublin’s most successful and only credible Karaoke”, while the
Guardian said “now firmly established as the city’s place to go on the
Lord’s Day”.
The dates in full are: Tuesday November 27 at the NUI Maynooth SU
Bar; Wednesday November 28 at the DCU SU Bar; Thursday November 29 at
the UCD SU Bar; Sunday December 2 at the Village; Tuesday December 4
at the Odeon for DIT; Wednesday December 5 at Radio City for Trinity
College; and the finals on Thursday December 6 at the Button Factory.
Free tickets to the event can be got via getpraiseatxbox360.com.
REVIEW: SmackDown vs. Raw 2008
Developer: THQ | Publisher: Yukes| Format: XBox 360
games have a somewhat long and sordid past, which is somewhat fitting
considering that the games generally involve men in tights grappling
with one another. The release of THQ’s WWE SmackDown vs. Raw series
was a turning point, gone were the kitsch elements, replaced with a
fast fluid fighting system which managed to capture the essence of
wrestling.
This year there are a number of changes, most noticeable is the new
superstar styles. Each wrestler has two sets, all of which vary in
considerable ways. You can if you so wish use it to perform a number of
underhanded moves, or simply make your wrestler stronger. The decision
is yours. Personally the inclusion of the ECW extreme rules is most
welcome. Why punch someone when you can repeatedly smash them over the
head with a sledge hammer.
The most successful change to the gumeplay is the refined control
system. The right analogue stick is now used for a variety of moves,
with submissions, grapples and other various wrestling moves mapped to
it. The right analogue stick was used in previous entries for
grappling, this yea year everything feels a low more fluid. There’s no
random button bashing as was prevalent in years gone by.
24/7, from the name alone you can guess what it’s about. Or maybe not.
24/7 is the latest gaming mode and one of the least successful changes
to the game. Taking single player and the managerial aspect of the game
and putting them together, sounds good doesn’t it. Unfortunately it
doesn’t quite work. While mixing both together is a sound idea, it just
comes across like a cheap copy, turning both modes into chap imitations
of past successes. The worst sin is that it feels like something that
was tacked on at the last minute, which is inexcusable. That’s not to
say that it’s not enjoyable. The matches are still as good as ever, bar
the collision detection which has always been ropey.
Overall SmackDown vs. Raw is a lot of fun to play. While the single
player 24/7 mode is a disappointment, the overall sense of fun which
prevails makes it a worthwhile purchase, even for nor fans of the sport.
COMPETITION: Assassin’s Creed
UPDATE: The winners were: Barry White from Limerick, and Gavin Fitzgerald from Tralee, Co Kerry.
We’ve got a treat for all you gaming fans out there. We have two copies of Assassin’s Creed on the PS3 and two rather selective designer Assassin’s Creed bags up for grabs. All you have to do to be in with a chacne of claiming on is answer the following question.
Q. Ubisoft Montreal were previously responsible for bringing which 80s gaming favourite back?
Answer via the comments section below.
Competition rules: Staff, contributors, writers, reviewers,
or employees of this website, its partners or of any companies and/or
organizations that are involved with the competition, or their
families, may not enter. We (this site, and any companies and/or
organizations involved) reserve the right to cancel without notice any
competitions if deemed necessary. Entrants must be residents of
Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. Age restrictions may apply
when the prizes have age ratings and/or restrictions. Entrants must
give us a valid email address, winners will only be notified by email,
and asked for a delivery address — the winners names and general
location (ie County, or city) will be also published. Winners will have
four working days to reply to our email, after such time a new winner
will be selected. No cash alternative is offered for these prizes. We
reserved the right to extend the duration of a competition and/or
withholding prizes in the case of poor response or an inferior quality
of entries. Multiple entries may be disregarded. Answers to silly
questions do not need to be correct. The closing date will
sometimes be on the page of which the competition is on; entries will
only be accepted at our decision after such date. The Editors decision
is final.
REVIEW: The Simpsons Game
Developer: EA | Publisher: EA | Format: XBox 360
Simpsons Game, sounds like yet another lazy tie whose sole purpose is
to part fans with their hard earned cash. The unimaginative name, may
conjure these images but once we get past this initial phase what you
discover is a game which doesn’t smack of lazy cash in but is
actually quite a lot of fun.
First impressions are always the most important, and playing inside a
living breathing GTA like Springfield certainly impresses. Racing
around a 3D Springfield meeting characters from the show is something
that has never really been tried in any of the past games. The story
revolves around Marge’s attempts to get computer games banned, before
realising that the entire town is trapped inside a video game. Shortly
after this an Alien invasion commences and they town and its
inhabitants are plunged into chaos.
The script is very well implemented and is at times quite funny, and
this coupled with the polished presentation bodes well. Shame then that
the gameplay is such a let down. Most of the games is standard
platforming fare where you generally get to run around and jump alot
all the time smashing at the controller. The gameplay elements have
always been the low point of any Simpsons game in recent memory and
this one is no different. While making fun of clichés may be funny,
having to wade through level after level of repetitive run and jumping
is neither fun nor entertaining.
The Simpsons Game is going to be massive, I wouldn’t be surprised if
it’s the best selling game of the year, but this will be down to the
fans love of the show and not the game its self. While not terrible,
the game is sorely lacking in original ideas, and as such it’s hard to
recommend it when there are so many truly great games out there.
GAA hurling PlayStation game released
Sony Computer Entertainment Ireland yesterday released the first non-manager hurling PlayStation 2 game, Gaelic Games: Hurling, and the second GAA-licensed football title.
The games were created by Australia games development studio IR Gurus, the developers of the much-criticised Gaelic Games: Football. As with that game, the new games are endorsed by the GAA.
As Sony publishes the games, all are exclusive to the companies PlayStation 2 console, and will not at any time be released for the Xbox or Wii.
Both games feature the commentary of Micheál O’Muircheartaigh. The games allow for users to control all current county teams plus New York and London, in “photo-realistic” digital versions of Croke Park, Casement Park, and Pearse Stadium as well as nine other stadiums.
The developer says Gaelic Games: Football 2 includes career mode, improved graphics, an all new control system, new tactics so you can set your team’s behaviour, club teams and team editing, and a mission mode to replay historic matches.
The games support up to four players on the one PlayStation 2 console, but no network play. EyeToy is supported, allowing games to put their faces onto in-game players.
“The [first] game it self lacked in certain areas: I’d certainly love to see it progressing on the game it self and taking the whole thin forward”, Niall O’Hanrahan, managing director of Sony Computer Entertainment Ireland told Games Toaster earlier this year. But he added it was “a phenomenon success; it was an Irish game for an Irish audience, for an Irish market”.
“The GAA is delighted to welcome for the first time in its history the licensing of a hurling computer game,” GAA president Nicky Brennan was quoted in media reports about the new releases. “We are
delighted to work with Sony as they strive to bring two of Ireland’s national sports to a medium that many individuals can enjoy”.
REVIEW: Ratatouille
Developer: HEavy Iron | Publisher: THQ | Format: PS2
Reviewer: Craig Gallagher Surely
it ranks up there in the pantheon of inspired ideas, a rat with
culinary talent. Ratatouille, is one of those simple yet genius ideas,
that will have most asking why they didn’t think of it before.
Ratatouille the game is based upon the Pixar film of the same name, but
unlike its cinematic counterpart, the game is aimed squarely at the
kids market.
The gameplay is pretty straightforward. You take on the role of Remy,
and spend your time collecting, sneaking, jumping, and engaging in
numerous other activities associated with the platforming genre.
The game is a hybrid of numerous other games, and not just action
adventure platforming titles. The game is set in one large continuous
world which has you returning to the same place. As you go from stage
to stage, you are faced with numerous different forms of game. From
charting rough waters using kitchen utensils as a boat to cautiously
crossing on a tightrope. Expectations of repetition are quickly
dismissed by the sheer variety of different gaming types on offer.
While none are particularly new, they have been combined in such a
manner that the game sees fresh and new. While adults may find the game
to be lacking in depth, children will eat it up. Perfect fodder for any
kids Christmas stocking.
REVIEW: TimeShift
Developer: Saber | Publisher: Vivendi | Format: XBox 360
Reviewer: Craig Gallagher TimeShift
could quite easily have been yet another mediocre shooter, but when
developers Saber Interactive switched publisher they were given an
extra year development time to bring the game up to scratch. Thankfully
this additional time wasn’t wasted and what we received is an
innovative and fun shooter which is a hell of a lot of fun to play.
The story concerns our hero’s quest to restore the Space Time Continuum
after a collegue of his steals a time travel suit, called the S.S.A.M.
and travels into the past drastically changing the Earth’s timeline and
inserting himself as supreme leader of all. The action kicks off in a
new 1943, where futuristic weaponry and vehicle are now commonplace
amongst the burnt and blown out buildings.
The ability to control time isn’t a new additon to gaming, we’ve seen
it in a number of titles, most famously Max Payne and its follow up.
What’s different about TimeShift is that here it has a purpose and is
integral to the plot. As the game progresses you begin to utilise your
powers I more complex ways, from slowing time to steal enemy weapons
before sitting back to watch as they fumble about in confused
ignorance, to stopping time entirely as you wade through individual
frozen rain drops.
The games main drawback is the rather uninspired single player. The
linear path and overtly simplistic gameplay really holds the game back
and never allows it to reach its true potential. The ability to play
God with time does add significantly to the single player, more than
compensates for the at times lack struck linear feeling.
Online the game comes into its own. To properly implement the time
based side of the game, would be impossible online the developers have
circumvented this by giving gamers access to time grenades. These are
rather useful and fun to use. Thowing one at the feet of an approaching
enemy and then shooting him down is insanely gratifying.
TimeShift is an enjoyable FPS, that may not deliver what we hoped for
but is still a blast to play. The innovative gameplay and superb online
elements make it a must own for any serious FPS fan.