The official achievment list for the upcoming XB360 game Saint's Row has been released. To see what you'll be looking for in the game, head on to the link below!
Source: http://www.achieve360points.com/game/saintsrow/
N3, or Ninty Nine Nights, is one of the most eagerly awaited titles of the fall. Already released in some regions, buzz is starting to spread about this game. Well starting today, you can see for yourself. The N3 demo has hit XBL Marketplace!
The demo weighs in at 587.43 MB, but is sure to be well worth the download. N3 hits US shelves in just a few days, 8/15/06.
You may have noticed that we are sporting a spiffy new design. However, some of the links in our sidebar are still not working just yet. We will have those working in the next day or two. In the meantime, enjoy the new design!
Our Blogger site is still up by the way, so we haven't slighted those of you who loved that format. We will be using Blogger to handle our news content until we can come up with something better. From now on, http://www.rated-m.com will lead to the main page, and http://rated-m.blogspot.com will lead to the news section. You can stil laccess the news from the main page, so please update your bookmarks!
We would love to hear from you about the new design, so feel free to leave us a comment!
We were the ones to leak the Transformers movie trailer, forcing the studio to release it on the net earlier than expected. We brought you a first look at the teaser poster as well as a shot of the model for Bumblebee. Now we bring you yet another shot from the set of the film! This time, it's US soldiers under attack from the Decepticons!
Enjoy the photo, and check the links below in case you missed our previous coverage!
http://rated-m.blogspot.com/2006/06/transformers-done-michael-bay-style.html
http://rated-m.blogspot.com/2006/06/transformers-teaser-trailer-to-precede.html
http://rated-m.blogspot.com/2006/06/world-exclusive-transformers-trailer.html
http://rated-m.blogspot.com/2006/06/paramount-pictures-responds-to-leaked.html
Now that the Saint's Row demo is out in stores, the buzz is moving like a freight train. There were many skeptical gamers wondering whether or not this game would be just another pretender like Driv3r, The Godfather, True Crime, and many others who have tried to capitalize on GTA's thunder.
We are happy to announce that this game indeed has what it takes to compete! Of course, many people will call this game a GTA clone, however, let's not forget that this is a true next-gen game. With things like full customization of cars, clothes, and your home, plus tons of great missions, online play and the HAVOK engine, this game stands to raise the bar and force the GTA team to improve on their own formula! This is so far the only game that I have played that has fully recreated the feeling that GTA originally gave us all.
Those of you who want to play this game now can get the demo by pre-ordering at most retailers. If you can't find it in a store near you, don't fret. The demo hits the XBL marketplace on August 1st. The game is due to hit the streets on August 29th. Something tells me many of us will still be playing the demo until the game's release!
http://www.saintsrow.com/
For those of you who haven't seen it yet, the new TMNT teaser is up on the official site. This CG Animated film is the product of the rebrorn project that John Woo walked out on years ago (yeah, another US project he backed out of). This time around, the film looks MUCH better graphically, and looks to follow the same intensity of the comics without sacrificing the comedy we have grown to love.
Check out the official site and see for yourself:
http://tmnt.warnerbros.com/
Thanks to my friend Allen Hudson for the heads up on this!
One of the most underrated martial artists in the west, Donnie yen is in my opinion "The New Master". I mean this in no disrespect of course to Bruce Lee's legacy. The reason I say this isn't because Donnie Yen is a brilliant fighter (which he is), but because of everything else that makes him great in addition.
Yen is a great film director. He has worked with every great martial arts movie director in Hong Kong, from Tsui Hark to Yuen Wo Ping. He learned from the best. Where Donnie really shines though, is in his genious martial arts choreography. Again, much of what he knows of choreography, he has learned from Yuen Wo Ping, the best in the business. Yen grew up woring with Yuen, who also gave him his first big break.
Most Americans who aren't really into importing movies from Hong Kong don't know about Yen. However, he has been in a few key films here in the states. Playing bad guys in both "Highlander: Endgame" and "Blade 2", he also choreographed for the two films. He also played the villain in "Shanghai Knights". A few of his fine Hong Kong performances have made it here to theaters. The "Iron Monkey", one of the best martial arts films of all time, and the absolutely superb "Hero". Most people also don't know that he choreographed the action scenes in Capcom's "Onimusha 3: Demon Seige".
Donnie is every bit as good a fighter as Jet Li, and when they go toe to toe in films you see two geniouses at work. One of Donnie's most memorable scenes was against Jet Li in the film "Once Upon A Time In China 2". The choreography was brilliantly done by Yuen Wo Ping, who had actually trained both fighters throughout most of their careers. Donnie really proved that he could keep up with the man some feel is the best martial artist alive.
One of his newest masterpieces is "Sha Po Lang (SPL)", in which he both choreographed and starred. Sammo Hung played the roll of his career in this film. His acting alone deserved an award. Wu Jing, one of the brightest new stars, and another genious fighter, plays an awesome villain. Donnie Yen has like a 20 minute UNCUT fight with Wu Jing that will absolutely blow your mind. Donnie shows in this film exactly why I call him "The New Master". His blending of Brazilian shoot fighting, Kung Fu, and even a little Muy Thai into one flowing style is exactly what Master Lee was looking to accomplish with Jeet Kun Do. To not have one style, but all styles. This film is to this day one of the best fight films of all time. There is still buzz about this film almost 3 years later. You have to see this film.
Donnie is getting more and more exposure stateside, so expect to see a lot more of him in the coming years. "SPL" and the masterpiece "Seven Swords" are both coming stateside, and Donnie plans to bring his newest film, "Dragon Tiger Gate" stateside as well. For everything he has done, we here at Rated-M give him our highest recommendation.
http://www.donnieyen.com
Well this is a hard time in the Rated-M family. A dear friend of our family became very ill with Acute Leukemia (AML) as of late. We would really appreciate your prayer in this time of need. If you are interested in reading more about the situation her immediate family has opened a website on her behalf.
http://kristenfund.com/
UPDATE: Over a year later, and we have the big follow-up news on this story! Check out the below link for more on the story covered in this article:
http://rated-m.blogspot.com/2007/08/larry-wachowskis-sex-change-is-complete.html
It is no big secret that Larry Wachowski
A source close to the brothers say that Larry is indeed now officially Linda. The major aspects of the surgery have been complete for some time now, and he (I'm sorry, "she") is now undergoing further hormone treatment and psychological therapy. He has also legally changed his name. The change has put a tremendous strain on his relationship with his brother, but Andy sticks by him regardless of his choices. The source also mentioned that Linda, formerly Larry, is contemplating leaving film for good. This was recommended by his therapist. If he does stay in the team, he obviously won't be a "he" anymore, so the team would be called simply "The Wachowskis
So what of his long time affair with the famous dominatrix Mistress Ilsa? Well Larry has always been fascinated, if not obsessed, with lesbianism. So he would still be "gay" so to speak, but in the woman + woman category. All of his most recent public appearances were as a woman, save his court appearance, in which he was still very effeminate.
Will Linda ever come out to the public and admit what has happened? That all depends on how the therapy goes. For now, all we can do is wait and see where this goes. There is word that Andy is writing again, so perhaps the project can bring the Wachowskis back together. I have also heard from another source that Dateline NBC
Some of you may still be in denial about what has been happening, so if you like, you can take this with a grain of salt. However, if you want to see how far larry's rabbit hole really goes, Check out these links, just a few of the many reports of tis change that are out there:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,181389,00.html
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/story/188724p-163325c.html
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9138137/the_mystery_of_larry_wachowski/
When it comes to Hollywood, there are generally two types of filmmakers. The kind that cater to studio desires and box office numbers, and the kind that makes the films they want no matter what. Today, I offer you three directors who make what they want...David Lynch, David Fincher, and David Cronenberg.
David Lynch
David Lynch is probably one of the strangest and most misunderstood filmmakers of all time...and you know what? He likes it that way. Lynch's films are mostly visionary pieces of art meant to be analyzed to the depths. Filled with symbolism, strange characters, and beautiful photography, Lynch's works are all unique within his world. Some people feel they share a theme, like hell, or limbo. When asked, Lynch merely says that the meaning of the films is to make you come up with your own theories. It's doubtful that he would reveal the links between his works. It would simply kill the mystery.
While most of Lynch's films are very odd and not for everyone, I highly recommend viewing "The Elephant Man". It is certainly Lynch's most cohesive piece, and on my list of best biopics of all time. If you are in the mood for something a little more strage than that, check out "Blue Velvet" or "Eraserhead". If you want something really out there, check out http://www.davidlynch.com and watch shorts and series like "Rabbits". You can also pick up films like "Lost Highway" and "Mulholland Drive".
David Cronenberg
Cronenberg is one of my all time favorite filmmakers. The man is a pure genius. His two latest films, "Spider" and "A History of Violence", are superb examples of how to be cutting edge. "Spider" follows the story of a mentally disturbed man, brilliantly played by Ralph Fiennes, who begins to have flashbacks that unlock the secrets of his past. This is a great film for fans of character studies, but due to the pacing of the film, it may not be for everyone. "A History of Violence" is a fast paced, in your face crime drama/mystery/action film. Viggo Mortensen plays a family man who's past is beginning to catch up with him. Ed Harris is simply amazing in this film.
If you wish to further explore Cronenberg, check out films like "eXistenZ" (my personal favorite of his), "Rabid", "Scanners", and "The Fly". Cronenberg has a long history of filmmaking that encompasses many different genres. If you start digging, you will find that he has ade some really amazing films!
David Fincher
Ah, Fincher. How I love thy films! Fincher doesn't have as long a list of films as the other Davids, nor does he go back as far. However, Fincher has one of the coolest styles of filmmaking out there today. "Se7en", "Fight Club", and even "Alien 3" are just a small part of what David Fincher has done for film. It's not the titles themselves, but the way the stories are portrayed. Like the other two Davids, Fincher can make normal films like "Panic Room", but he also is the master of mindbenders like "Fight Club" or "The Game".
Unfortunately, that about covers the films he's done. Despite the short list, the man has created a legacy that will surely go on for years to come. He is currently filming "Zodiac" based on the real life Zodiac killer. Let me tell you, if anyone can do this bizarre true story, Fincher can!
There you have it folks. The three Davids. Make a trip to the local video store, or hit up the net to find gems by these guys. If you like alternative filmmaking, you won't be dissapointed! Of course, fans of these guys already know this. Hopefully some of you that haven't seen many of these films will become new fans!
First of all, I want to thank all of you for your support for Rated-M.com. Thanks to readers like yourself, this site has become one of the fastest growing indy sites on the net! So as our popularity grows, we decided to take a second look at the way we bring you content. Our most popular articles are our exclusive editorials and our breaking news. So because we see what you guys like to read, we are focusing on those things more and more.
Starting today, we are launching an all new feature to the site called "Rated-M Recommends:" in which we share with you some of the things we love from all formats of entertainment. Some of the things may be popular, others may not. However we offer our insights only to share our personal opinions on these things.
We have also decided that our daily news will slow down. For one, 99% of you guys most likely get your news elsewhere, like GameSpot or IGN. The last thing you want to do is read the same story a dozen times. So we have decided to limit our news output to exclusive breaking news, such as out FF3 delay story, the Mickie James WWE story, and one of our most viewed stories, the Transformers trailer leak.
We are always open to suggestions, whch you can deliver via the comments section on this site or our coming forums. We are also opening a new e-mail address exclusive to your feedback. The forums and e-mail addy will appear in the next few days.
Thank you again for all of your support! Continue to visit us daily for new articles, and be sure to tell your friends about us!
Sgea and From Software announced on their website that the first round of DLC for their popular mech combat game Chromehounds will be free to download on the 19th of July! Here is what was posted on the official forums:
"We're happy to announce that the first downloadable pack of new content for Chromehounds will be unleashed next week. And it'll be free!
SEGA and FromSoftware have made the decision to offer the pack free of charge by way of a thank you to HOUND pilots around the world. As you may know, we experienced some tricky server-load problems right after launch, and we hope this will go some way to saying thanks for sticking by the game.
The pack will be available to download via the Xbox Live Marketplace at 00:00GMT on 19th July.
PACK CONTENTS:
Light Arms
http://tinyurl.com/n8mdn WP_SG003 A sniper cannon for fast, furious engagements. Features a smaller magazine to reduce weight.
Heavy Arms
http://tinyurl.com/njkgb WH_HC034 An improved HC1500/D, for those in the know. A giant cannon with massive destructive power.
Assist Part
http://tinyurl.com/mlkec AX_AM002 Additional armor with an enhanced KE defensive profile. It’s shaped to better turn bullets.
Colour Pattern
http://tinyurl.com/o3y3q WWII Tricolor Camouflage A brand new World War II inspired camouflage pattern.
Enjoy!"
So there you have it folks! Chromehound addicts rejoice! The 19th is gonna be awesome!
Source: http://boards.sega.com/chromehounds/viewtopic.php?t=778
XBOX Live has been seeing a flood of content as of late. The newest demo to hit is the LOTR: BFME II demo. Test out this awesome RTS, and decide for yourself if it's the best RTS on a console!
City of Heroes/Villains will get a double XP weekend pertty soon. We got the press statement, which says the following:
"NCsoft is giving City of Heroes and City of Villains players a boost to their characters with a “Double XP Weekend” where players will earn twice the usual experience points for all activities that result in an XP reward.
The double XP weekend will start at 9 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, July 21 and ends on Sunday, July 23 at 9 p.m. Pacific Time.
The “Double XP Weekend” will give players the opportunity to level up their characters and gain access to many of the new features available in both City of Heroes and City of Villains.
The “City of” games have recently been updated with Issue 7: Destiny Manifest which introduced the action-packed mayhem missions to City of Villains and added the PvP zone, Recluse’s Victory, where heroes and villains fight for control over a future version of Atlas Park.
For more information on the “Double XP Weekend” go to www.cityofheroes.com or www.cityofvillains.com."
There ya have it, wannabe comic book stars! Put on your spandex and your cape and cowl and get ready for some action!
We are proud to be the first to announce the arrival of the NCAA Football 2007 demo on XBOX Live! The demo weighs in at a heft 1.05 GB, and pits Florida VS. Florida State! This demo just went live, so be sure to jump right on and grab it!
As always, stay tuned to Rated-M.com for more breaking news!
Microsoft buying a company isn't big news these days. They suck up all the little guys like a vacuum. However, when the company is question is Rockstar games, the small news becomes a supernova. I want to point out that at this point, neither company will comment on this buyout, so we are merely looking at the facts that are out there and speculating on how it will go down.
Take-Two has been a huge force in the gaming world, buying up small indie companies and bringing them into their collective. However, Rockstar has caused them far too much pain in their tenure with T2. Most notably, "Hot Coffee" cost the company a lot of money in fines and a full scale recall, and further tarnished Take-Two in the faces of the government and the ESRB.
A short time after the "Hot Coffee" fiasco, Take-Two's New York office was severely damaged in an office fire, destroying everything inside. All their records, hardware, software, everything. This hurt them badly. Take-Two has to relocate all of their employees, and considers filing for bankruptcy.
Take-Two is called before the congress to discuss GTA and the upcoming games "Bully" and "Snow". Congress warns that if either game is released, take-Two will face even further investigation and scrutiny.
E3 2006. A spectacular E3 for Microsoft. Peter Moore blows us away with the GTA 360 announcment and te now infamous tattoo. GTA IV is scheduled to launch on 360 first and PS3 a short time later.
The very next day on G4TV, Peter Moore sat down with Kevin Pereira for a shocking announcment. This is the one that would cause al the controversy! In the interview, Moore revealed that just prior the the interview he was doing, he signed a contract of exclusivity, and that GTA IV was now "Only on XBOX 360". Kevin asked Moore how he managed to steal away such a huge title from Sony. Moore stated that Rockstar were "smart businessmen" and that they "knew what they were doing".
After E3, no one was talking. Rockstar, Take-Two, Sony, Microsoft...nobody. Until Sony makes a statement that would almost collaborate what was happening behind the scenes. Sony co-CEO Jack Tretton commented in an interview about the deal, saying the following:
"There's no question that having the Grand Theft Auto franchise helped us a lot and helped us sell some units, but I don't think the battle would be any different with or without Grand Theft Auto.
If you look at our first-party library and the franchises that we've brought to market over the course of PlayStation 2, we have a very formidable first-party library of exclusive software that will help define us."
In other words, Sony claims they don't need GTA.
Take-Two is hit again by the ESRB, this time behind Oblivion's rating. Due to the fact that the PC version has a player created nude mod, the ESRB forces T2 to re-rate the game from T to M. Take-Two and Bethesda claim that this is all the fault of Rockstar, GTA, and the "Hot Coffee" situation. They say that if "Hot Coffee" never happened, the ESRB wouldn't have been so strict in this case.
Take-Two announces that they have cancelled the game "Snow" in which you sell, smuggle, and distribute drugs, saying they didn't want any more controversy, and that it "just isn't a good game".
Rockstar Games fires over half of it's employees, including one of the co-founders of Rockstar. A massive firing of this sort is almost ALWAYS indicative of a buyout. A huge mass firing is usually done to cut the fat, making room for employees of the purchasing company. This sends shockwaves throughout the industry.
And now most recently, Take-Two announced that it is in fact being investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding stock option grants given to employees between 1997 and today. A Federal investigation is exactly what the company doesn't need at the present time.
Despite the number of great titles they have on the shelves, T2 continues to lose more money than they are making. Certainly selling off the company that keeps them under scrutiny and investigation would help them in two ways. First, they would make a sweet sum of cash from the deal. Knowing MS, they were willing to pay a hefty sum to snatch Rockstar from T2. Second, cutting the only controversial developer on their roster would ensure the company could rise again to the levels in which it once was...this time without the added controversy that Rockstar brings.
Losing Rockstar also isn't a huge deal to T2, since their only two premiere franchise titles were GTA and Midnight Club. Most of Rockstar's other games have been considered flops by the press and players alike. T2 still has 2K games, which is one of the largest publishers on the scene today, as well as many other smaller companies.
Expect an official announcment about this buyout in the coming months. All the facts lead up to this buyout, so at this point, judging on the facts presented here today, we are 99.9% sure this is happening behind the scenes. If you all think back to the Rare buyout, certain details were very similar in the way they went down.
Stay tuned as we cover this story further, and remember, you heard it here first...on RATED-M.COM!
The newly reborn Acclaim games, which has dedicated itself to localizing free Asian MMO's for the states, announced today that they have begun open beta for their first game, BOTS! From the official press release:
"We are pleased to announce the start of Open Beta for BOTS, a free multiplayer online action game. The Open Beta phase means that everyone can register and play right away. Since the beginning of Closed Beta, thousands of players have experienced this unique fast-paced fighting game. With the assitance of more than 250,000 game hours logged by closed beta testers, the full version of BOTS is ready for release.
Visit http://bots.acclaim.com/downloads/game.htm to begin your adventure! Players that have already registered can continue using their current account. Closed Beta testers that have previously played the game will need to uninstall the older version of the game and download/install the new version of the game.
The Open Beta version of BOTS introduces all new maps for all three types of gameplay: Sector story mode, PvP and team PvP Base mode. In addition, new items are available including parts for all three BOT types, new skill packs, shields, shoulder parts and guns. Players will also be able to reach level 99, the highest level in the game. Open Beta participants will be able to prepare themselves for the launch of the game, when Acclaim introduces more than 50 money items such as transformation packs, wings, head parts, mini-bots, special items and much more!"
We are very happy to see Acclaim back at it, no matter how they do it. I grew up with this company through the Nintendo Era. To see such a behemoth crumble before your eyes is never good. However, watching a Phoenix rise from the ashes is terrific. I just hope Acclaim can hold on this time!
Auto Assault isn't a horrible game by any means. It's actually pretty fun. However, it just isn't worth the monthly fee. Perhaps a sign of this is the fact that just a few short months after the game's launch, they are merging all servers into one big server. From the official Press Release:
"Since Auto Assault® launched earlier this year, we’ve had the pleasure of finding a community that is vocal, helpful and truly cares about the game. You, the Auto Assault® gamer, are vital in helping us to create a unique experience unlike any other online role playing game.
One of the things thatyou’ve told us is that you would like to see all servers merged into one to allow more community-oriented play. Therefore, on July 13th, all existing Auto Assault® servers will merge, bringing us all together as one big, happy, warring, power-sliding, flame-throwing family.
What does this mean to you? Well, you’re going to see many more people around in-game, but you also might need to make some decisions. For example, you may need to determine which characters to keep – 12 characters per account is the limit. There are a few other factors you’ll need to consider. You can find out all the details of the merge and what it means to you HERE.
By merging the servers, you’re going to make new friends and enemies and even have the pleasure of forming a convoy with your European brothers and sisters - or you can just blow them up…all in the spirit of International relations. Auto Assault® is going global!
In addition, this move makes it easier for our team to create more inclusive in-game events, including tournaments, meet-and-greets, drop and spawn events and more.
Let the games begin"
Usually a server merge doesn't happen this early in a game's life, so this could be indicative of the state of the game so far. Another factor showing the poor financial performance of this game is the fact that many retailers no longer carry the game. GameStop actually gives Auto Assault away when people buy Guild Wars. Unfortunately, people aren't buying that game either.
So what should NCSoft do at this point? We think they should adopt a program like SOE's Station Pass. A "one price plays them all" fee. This may boost sales and playership on many of their games, Like City of Heroes/Villains and Auto Assault. Who knows what they will actually do.
Yeah, you heard it right. Prey, the long delayed and lon gawaited game is only 4-6 hours long. Below we show you a screenshot showing the final boss battle save at just over 5 hours. Further more, people across the net are claiming to have beaten it in under 5. $49-$59 for a 5 hour game? NO THANKS!
From Software recently launched the official Tenchu XBOX 360 website. The game, tenatively titled Tenchu Senran, is shaping up to be a hot game! The site is in Japanese, but you can check it out for the cool gameplay videos!
Source: http://www.tenchu.net/
So we managed to get some kind of official word on the Mickie James
"Unfortunately I missed this topic this weekend, but to end all discussion on it, the photos in question are not legitimate, they are of another individual. I've personally verified this with the original magazine publisher. For confidential reasons the name of the woman who does appear in the photos cannot be given out, but I can confirm that it is not Mickie James
We believe that the artist is in fact Tabatha Stern, which can be seen on the R.B. Kane website under the tour section "Famous Anus". Yeah, I know...porn and the silly shit they come up with. Anyways, there is your answer. It seems that Mickie James
Source: http://www.mickiejames.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=225
Source: http://www.rbkane.net/
Sega has released HOTD4 Special in Japan, and this machine is HOT! Featuring an enclosed booth with a pair of huge flat screen HDTV's, the game is tailored toward 2 player muti-play. The gun, which resembles an Uzi, has force feedback and rate of fire change. So far, this unit is only available in Japan. No word whether Sega intends to release this in other countries where Arcades are slowly dying.
Rated-M.com is also working on a special feature regarding the very state of Arcades in the US. Will Sega be a factor? Stay tuned! For now, check out the official site. It's in Japanese, but there are some awesome pictures as well as some high-res wallpapers!
Source: http://hod4.sega.jp/top.html
EA has patched the LOTR: BFME II game a second time today, this time clearing up the server connection issues people were having. Although in the official statement they claim they applied it over the weekend, we can confirm tha tthe patch was not active until today. People still had the connection problem as of last night.
Here is the official statement:
"Hey everyone,
We applied a patch to the servers over the weekend that should correct the login issue that some players were having. We would just like to verify that those of you who had to do the login workaround each time to get online, no longer have to and you can get online to Xbox Live and the game just perfectly now. Please verify you can get online with no issue. Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend with the game, its a huge hit! We are taking Xbox Live by storm!
APOC"
Well there ya have it. Seems EA is getting pretty fast at fixing problems. This is good news, and proof that EA intends to stay one the the premiere developers on the market today.
Source: http://forums.ea.com/mboards/thread.jspa?sls=2&tstart=0&threadID=87547
A friend of mine sent me a couple of photos that look to be environment screenshots from GTA4. This is definately along the lines of what people are expecting form the game, so these should make many people drool. We have no official confirmation as to whether these are real or not, but the damn photos do look convincing, that's for sure. Until we get official confirmation, all we can do is speculate. For now, enjoy the photos!
So there are these semi-hardcore porn photos floating around the net that people claim are of WWE
I suggest that you be your own judge. Now I shall always stay dedicated to not posting porno directly on this site, nor will I ever host it on my servers. However, there is a long standing discussion about this very topic on the wikipedia website for this beautiful diva. The links to the photos just happen to be there. I wont say where, but they aren't hard to find.
Why would I even bring this issue up you ask? Well remember the porno that Chyna
The question I pose is, if these are real, will Vince McMahon
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickie_James
While browsing the net, we came across this thread at the popular (and sometimes extremely immature) GameFAQs that outlines everything from how to dupe items to how to find rare creatures and items to my personal favorite, how to access a test level on the 360 version by using one of the DLC patches! You can also find out two different ways to clear the 360 HDD cache and do some very odd enchants.
The thread also posts links to Oblivion sites and maps and more. If you play Oblivion on the 360, you gotta check this thread out...and tell em Rated-M.com sent ya!
Source: http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=927345&topic=29065359&page=0
A rumor was spread around the net that FarCry was coming to the Wii. Supposedly, Amazon (which has been known to post bullshit items for sale in the past) had this listed as an item for sale. However, the link has been promptly removed. Some will still say that they pulled it down as damage control due to them leaking the info. The truth is that the Wii most likely cannot handle a game like FarCry, even with it's built in Havok physics processor.
We will be contacting Ubisoft first thing tomorrow for a follow-up, but we already know what they are going to say...and so do you.
Source: http://gonintendo.com/?p=3554
Source: http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000GJ0J1A/qid=1152264333/sr=8-7/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i7_xgl14/701-4308060-5425939 (the link the listing WAS at)
Lord of the Rings: Battle for Middle Earth II came out a few days ago to lackluster response from players, despite stellar reviews from the press. Sure, the controls are great, but the game is not without it's problems. Day 1 the game had to be patched due to excessive frame-rate dipping. The patch didn't fix the problem entirely.
Then there is the problem many have with not being able to log into the EA servers to play on XBL. After being hammered with calls, Microsoft decided to make an official statement on their website on how to alleviate this problem.
"If you are playing this game on Xbox Live, and you get hung up at the 'Connecting to EA Servers' screen, we are aware of the issues and working with EA on this. In the meantime you can get online the following way:
1.) Sign in and start the game
2.) Select Xbox Live
3.) This is where you will sit “Connecting To EA Servers”, at this point, press the 360 button on the controller and sign out, but don’t go back to the dashboard
4.) Once signed out, sign back in again.
5.) Go back to the game, it will say “the active gamer profile has been signed out”, press A to continue.
6.) Select Xbox Live
7.) You get connected
Thanks for your patience as we work on addressing this.
Major Nelson Xbox Live Director of Programming"
There you have it folks, a rigged way to get past the problems until EA can roll out yet another patch for this game. Seems to me that this game wasn't ready. What happened? Oh well. Feel free to voice your opinion or experiences here in the comments section.
Source: http://forums.xbox.com/5267853/ShowPost.aspx
One of the more bizare things I have seen of late is a Christian Halo 2 clan called "The Christian Halo Union". The bizare thing isn't that they are Christians that play Halo 2, but that they decide to use a violent game in which you murder each other over and over to promote the Lord's word.
The clan isn't huge, nor is it very prosperous, but they have been hitting all the message boards advertising their clan and spreading the word. People will have their own opinions of this, and I certainly have mine. Preaching while playing a violent game like Halo is like stopping in a titty bar to enjoy the naked women and pass out religious flyers while you are there. I can understand where they are coming from I guess, but it still seems a bit off to me. So what do you think? Let us know in the comments section provided below!
Source: http://www.bungie.net/fanclub/103120/Group/GroupHome.aspx
According to CNN Headline News this morning, "Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest" has now taken the number two highest grossing opening weekend of all time, a record previously held by "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" with $108.4 million. The number one spot holder is still "Spider-Man" with $114.8 million, but CNN/HN stated this morning that when the final numbers are in and counted, Pirates should sail well ahead of that.
Despite reviewers like Entertainment Weekly scoring the film really low, calling it boring and pointless, we expect this film to be one of the biggest box office holders of all time.
Check back with us tomorrow for the official tally, as well as our full review!
Well after having a 5 hour fuck up and almost losing all my data, I got to thinking! What are some of the best free apps on the web? ( Fyi be very careful if you try to install MAC OSX on your main pc it can cause you hell!!! www.OSX86project.net)
So after a complete reformat I decided I would only use free apps to help keep my pc up to date from viruses and spyware. After a few hours searching around I have developed a list of apps that I find very useful for most pc users.
1. AVG Anti Virus Free Edition
Provides a great anti-virus suite with restoring capabilities with taking very minimal system resources.
Link: http://www.download.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html
2. Windows Defender
Who better than to protect you from spyware then the people who made it possible to run on your machine...( I like this proggy cause it lets you see what programs are running from where)
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
3. Spybot Search and Destroy
Has a great tendancy to find any spyware Windows Defender may miss. Very easy ui.
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/
4. U torrent
Not really a defense program but man this has got to be the coolest torrent program I have ever used. It has a great Win32 gui and dosent use java like Azureus which frees up resources.
http://www.utorrent.com/download.php
This is just a simple list I put together for Apps I believed that are very useful. I am sure there are many more and I would appreciate some feedback to what YOU believe is needed in everyday WINDOWS life. Please only refer free programs.
Sony Online Entertainment has been under fire from subscribers and the press far too often. Today we take a look at why, and outline their future endeavors.
There is no doubt that SOE is a great company. They have had a rich history in the world of MMO's, with EverQuest being the cookie-cutter template for what an MMO should be like. However, in today's world, things aren't looking so bright for the company. What happened to the company? Where did they go wrong?
First and foremost the largest hit SOE has taken recently is due to the butchering of Star Wars Galaxies. The company saw fit to change the entire game not once, but twice...the second time being the worst. The "NGE" is now a lesson for other MMO developers on what NOT to do to an MMO. To drastically change the game so far into it's lifespan isn't the worst thing. What really hurt was they alienated their userbase by removing almost every class in the game, including my favorite, the Creature Handler. I played personally as a Master CH/Master TK from launch until the NGE, when both of the classes I played dissapeared. SOE says this change is sticking, despite execs admitting they lost a HUGE number of their subscribers.
Another dissapointment from SOE was the launch of EverQuest 2. SOE had hoped the old school EQ players would be wowed with the new game, but it didn't quite work out that way. Gamers tha twere used to a rich, involved, and sometimes complicated MMO were offered a watered down WOW clone as their favorite games' predecessor. Most EQ players said "no thanks" and stayed with EQ. Don't get me wrong here, I love EQ2. I love the game for what it is. It has some great content, but when you really get into the game, you find out that it's now become a pissing contest between EQ2 and WOW. The two games are so often copying eachother that it makes you wonder who had which idea first. To help aleviate this problem, SOE is now offering "progression servers" for EQ1 that allow you to breeze through the original game at an accelerated pace. This is to prepare gamers for the long promised cross-over quests that SOE announced so long ago. Can SOE win over some of the old timers? It remains to be seen.
Another problem that plagues EQ2 is the now infamous "DX9 out of memory error". I am a victim of this, as are many of the players of the game. SOE would have you believe that it is all of our individual PC's causing the crash, but the gamers (including some very tech savy ones) feeel that this is a software issue. SOE refuses to admit that this is their problem. Instead they say that everyone just has "bad RAM". You can see a long running thread about this very issue by clicking the link below.
http://eqiiforums.station.sony.com/eq2/board/message?board.id=tech_support&message.id=129453&view=by_date_ascending&page=1
Then there is Matrix Online. SOE thought they could save this dying MMO by buying it from Warner Bros. Unfortunately they couldn't do that. The game is in the same piss-poor state it was in before SOE took it over. Why they decided to buy a failing game when they were already having problems is beyond me. At any rate, MXO is just one more failure that SOE can put on their list.
On the same front, SOE also bought the rights to a DC Comics MMO that Warner had in development, and most recently bought publishing rights to Vanguard: Saga of Heroes, an MMO that can't seem to find it's way onto shelves. Will either of these games be able to help SOE recoup some of their losses? We will have to see.
PlanetSide. Well, it is what it is. I call it another failure from SOE, others call it an awesome game. Despite people's views on this game, it still feels like an empty game most times when playing it, and obviously is another piece of fat SOE needs to trim. Match with that the dastardly hacking of the game that we reported on a few weeks ago, and you have yet another negative for SOE.
What about SOE's console outings? Well EQOA for the PS2 was an awesome game, albeit toned down from the original EQ. It still has somewhat of a user base left, and still gets some cool updates like new areas and such. but perhaps the greatest thing in my mind that SOE has done in recent times was the development of Champions of Norrath 1&2 and the Untold Legends games for PSP. I love the top-down hack and slash RPG, and using the awesome Snowblind engine further accentuates the awesomeness of these games. Can they keep the same feel with the PS3 version? We hope so. It seems SOE is ready to listen to gamers, at least regarding certain products. Complaints about the player model from Untold Legends PS3 prompted SOE to quickly change the model to a more serious, less cartoony looking figure.
With new MMO's on the horizon like Age of Conan, Tabula Rasa, Warhammer Online and LOTR Online, SOE has a lot of work to do if they want to stay competitive in this booming business. Our view is that SOE needs to be more concerned about their player base and our opinions and less concerned about making a quick buck. SOE needs to realize that veteran players are what keeps an MMO alive. Alienating the veterans in hopes of gaining all new subscribers is bad business.
Let us know what you think! Feel free to post a comment in the section provided below this post!
Today we look at VONGO, a new internet pay service offering films and "shows". What many people don't know right off the bat is that VONGO is owned and operated by Starz Inc. That means that you will only have access to whatever films Starz has under license when you pay for the service. Additionally, when Starz loses the rights to whatever film, you lose access to it.
They don't go out of their way to tell you this information either. When you sign up, you are notified outright of these things, but upon watching their TV ads or visiting their website, the Starz name is nowhere to be seen. Don't get me wrong, Starz Inc. is a great network of channels with great movies. They have come a long way since their meager beginnings. However, it seems a bit shady up front that the first time they really mention Starz to you is when you actually sign up.
The service is $9.99 a month, and includes unlimited downloads of whatever films Starz has under it's belt at the time. The films can be watched while they download, but people may see the standard pausing of the film for buffering when doing this. While subscribed to the service, VONGO says that you can transfer the flms to removable devices like video iPods, but only while the movie is under rights to Starz. So I ask, does this mean that you must constantly check the Starz catalogue to make sure your current copy of Deuce Bigalow is legal? I suspect that when they lose license to a film, they would notify you of this fact so that you don't inadvertently break the law.
The service also offers a pay-per-view service, though it's not the type of pay-per-view offered by your local cable or satelite provider. Basically VONGO offers users who do not pay the $9.99 monthly fee an opportunity to download select films from their library for $3.99 a pop. So in a nutshell, you can't order the latest Roy Jones fight through this service.
You can also watch Starz live through VONGO, which is also in a streaming format. However, the quality is not as awesome as they claim. It is actually below VHS quality in most cases due to the format that they use to stream the films. If you watch these films on a small screened portable device, you probably won't notice much. However when viewed in full screen on your PC you may feel like you are watching a mediorce quality pirated film.
Last but not least is their program itself. The VONGO program is indeed a small file size like they claim, and has numerous features to make you feel like you've got your money's worth. For example, the program uses targeted marketing, which will recommend specific films for you depending on what you view the most. You can also check out reviews and info for almost every film in their database.
All in all, this is an ok beginning for VONGO. It's more convenient than NetFlix because you can download as much as you want whenever you want, no need to send stuff off and wait for the next one to get there. On the flip side, the library is simply too small to compete with a mainstream video rental company, whether online or in a brick and mortar location.
I suggest anyone considering VONGO try out the 14 day free trial, or simply sign up for the free non pay account just so you can have a look at what they have to offer. You may not find what they have to offer worthy of the $9.99 a month.
Source: http://www.vongo.com
We have uncovered a release date for the upcoming game Halo 3. The online retailer futureshop.ca, a Canadian company with a good reputation, is taking pre-orders for the game. They list the estimated date as November 30, 2007. Ok, so the site says estimated. However, I have heard this date come up a few times in conjunction with Halo 3, most notably from a Microsoft rep. My local FYE also has a Halo 3 poster touting pre-orders for the same date.
Could this be the real deal? We think so. First, it's a notable date for Microsoft. They always seem to release their big guns in November. Then there is the statementPeter Moore said on G4TV's coverage of E3. He stated that the real console war wouldn't happen until Christmas season of 2007. the strategic placing of Halo 3 at this time of year would almost ensure MS stays in the game through that Christmas.
At any rate, Bungie hasn't officially announced anything, so this is all mere speculation. However, don't be surprised if the game really does drop on that date, and as always remeber you heard it here on Rated-M.com first!
NOTE: Best Buy lists the game as March of 2007, but we know that is way too early.
Source: FutureShop.ca
Fresh on the heels of yesterday's news that the DS game Final Fantasy III was delayed, we have yet another date change to report.
The new, and final date is now October 4th, with an October 3rd ship date. We have been assured by GameStop corporate that this is indeed the final date handed down by Square/Enix themselves, and that the previous date was a misprint.
To further confirm this, GameStop has updated their website to reflect the new date. Also picking up the story is GameSpot. We are proud tha twe brought it to you first, we just regret that we had the wrong date initially.
Source: http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=180155
Source: http://www.gamespot.com/search.html?type=11&stype=all&qs=final+fantasy+III
I was tipped off by a viewer that the HALO alternate reality game (ARG) ilovebees2 has been siezed by the FBI. Upon going to http://www.ilovebees2.com I was informed that my IP address has been recorded and that an agent may contact me soon. What is strage is that this site is owned and operated by Bungie along with the original ilovebees.com (the original site remains unchanged). no word yet from Bungie on what is going on here, but my theory is that it is another hoax type thing to promote yet another game, possibly Halo 3. The ilovebees2 site has been used in the past to promote Oblivion and the 360, so at this point it's anyone's guess.
IGN.com did a write-up on the site (http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/693/693770p1.html), but the article pre-dates anything that's going on now. If your balls are big enough, visit the site for yourself, but keep in mind, "an agent may contact you soon", and remember, you saw it here first on Rated-M.com!
Today we look at the first 8 months of the XB360's life, and take a look into the near future for the system. I hope you all enjoy this special edition article!
The Hardware
The system got off to a rocky start. A lack of systems on the shelves matched with the boisterous over-reserving by many retailers left a lot of people burned right at Christmas time. Then came the reports of overheating systems. Then the urban legends began about houses burning down, 360's exploding, and all kinds of other rediculous shit. The truth is that the launch had about 1-2% defective units. This is quite normal, and rather low in comparison to the PS1 & 2 which both had around 15% of their launch systems come back defective. At any rate, the system is fine now, and accessories like the Nyko Intercooler get rid of the overheating worries. The system does have a lot of useless accessories though...
The Games
Some people's biggest complaint about the 360 is the lack of titles. I shouldn't have to remind everyone that the first year of a system's life is ALWAYS the slowest. that being said, there does seem to be a lack of QUALITY games available for the system, but perhaps we can help you find one to hold you over until the Fall. Rather than go through every single game and all their ups and downs, I will just gve you my top and bottom 5.
TOP 5
5.) Call of Duty 2
I was torn about this one... I love this game, and it is obviously better on the PC. However, the 360 port is really nice, probably the finest PC to Console port out there. On top of that, the online community in the game is still alive and kicking, and with 3 downloadable map packs and more on the way, you can bet it will stay that way.
4.) Dead Or Alive 4
Some of you may not agree with me on this one, especially since I placed it above COD2. However, the quality of this game is what next-gen is all about. Plenty of unlockables, both easy and tough achievements, and awesome (but a tad laggy) internet play make this a winner in my eyes. If the eye-popping visuals don't make you squeal, perhaps playing as a Spartan from HALO will... This is one hell of a fighting game!
3.) G.R.A.W.
Well it's no surprise that this ended up in the top 5. Personally, I find this game a bit hard, but the quality of visuals and gameplay promise more than just a few hours of gameplay. Add to that a downloadable expansion pack on the marketplace, a dedicated XBL community, and the promise of even more updates and you have a winner.
2.) Kameo
An amazing game all around. Rare has been on my bad side lately, but this redeemed them to me. I played this game for the Cube at E3 a few years back and loved it. It used the traditional Zelda controls, and it looked nice. Years later the game emerges a polished platforming gem, even better than the original Cube version! This is yet another game with some awesome DLC...a co-op mode through XBL and numerous costumes are amoung the extras you get here. Highly recommended.
1.) Oblivion
I don't think there are many people that disagree with me here. This game set the bar for future games across all consoles. A work of graphical and technical genious, Oblivion offers you infinate possibilites of how you play. Don't get me wrong, Oblivion has it's problems just like any game, but they are easily looked over. You can sit down and play this game for an hour and end up in a 8 hour session. Incredibly immersive, intuitive, and challenging, Oblivion is hands down THE best 360 game out there.
HONORABLE MENTION
1.) Rockstar Presents Table Tennis
Yeah, it's table tennis, but it's damn addicting! You must try this game! This is rumored to be the graphical engine tha tthe next GTA will use. If so, we are all in for a treat!
2.) Fight Night Round 3
One of the most visually stunning games I have ever seen, and hella fun to boot! PS3 doesn't get this until November, same game, same graphics, no extra features. Go ahead, rub it in the Sony fanboy's faces!
3.) Condemned
This game was the true underdog of the 360 launch. It got passed up by so many people mainly because they didn't know what the hell it was. Part survival horror, part FPS, part CSI, this game was one hell of an awesome play-through. The only thing this game was lacking was online deathmatches, but I can forgive them. This game is for the 360 what Chronicles of Riddick was for the XBOX. It's a reinvention of the way FPS are played, and if you haven't checked this one out yet, you need to. However, the gore and scares can be a bit intense for some people...you have been warned.
BOTTOM 5
5.) Perfect Dark Zero
This was a hard game to place in the bottom 5. I like it, but unfortunately I am a minority. The game is well crafted, sporting gorgeous graphics and a great story line, however most people hated the shooting. I call this "Halo-itis". Most of the people that hated this game forgot the series that got it started. they have all become Halo addicted pussies that can't handle a tough game where you can't always one-hit-kill. Yeah, I fucking said it...so what? Deep inside you all know it's true. The original PD as well as Golden-Eye had the same exact type of armor system. But alas, those games are both old and outdated now. People want fast, furious, BOOM HEADSHOT, pwn da nubz...this game didn't have it. What it did have was fun and challenging, but when you beat the game, the fun is over. The XBL play was sub-par, probably the game's biggest shortcoming in my eyes, even after the new maps. This game gets on the bottom 5 merely because everyone hates it. If you admit you even own it, you are indeed a man confident in yourself.
4.) Blazing Angels
This game is beautiful, however graphics can't always save a game. The horrible controls top off over a dozen other horrible things about this game. If you can get past the crappy controls (most people can't), you MIGHT find a decent game under there somewhere.
3.) Tony Hawk American Wasteland
Don't get me wrong, I like this game ok and everything, but it is nowhere near next-gen quality. I can't justify paying $60 for a shitty half-assed port of a previous generation game. There is no reason a 360 game like this should have muddy, blurry textures. I would consider this game for $20, but that's even pushing it. Also, on a personal note, I hate the direction Tony has gone with his games. Tony Hawk USED TO be all about promoting skateboarding as a respectable professional sport. However, this is the third game that incorporates "Jackass" style destruction and assinine stunts that have NO place in the real skateboarding world. I don't want to say that tony sold out, but it seems like he fucking did it...promoting what he used to speak against. The only light at the end of this tunnel is that Tony Hawk 8 is supposed to be a return to the TRUE sport of skateboarding minus the retarded "Jackass" stunts. No retarded kid in a wheelchair in my skateboarding game please! kthx...
2.) King Kong
Great movie, shitty game. Ok the game wasn't that horrible, but for cripes sake you could beat it in one sitting! How many people paid $60 for this shit, beat it the same night, and were pissed at themselves? Another case of "good graphics don't make a game", and another case of "maybe for $20". In my opinion, they should have just made the entire game out of the 3rd person Kong levels and beefed it up...but oh well.
1.) EA Sports Launch Line-Up
The EA Sports offerings up until FIFA were just abysmal. It seems that EA really skimped on the sports titles, with Madden, Tiger Woods and others all changed or altered for the worse. Tiger Woods 360 only had a few of the courses available for the other consoles. I thought the 360 was supposed to be more powerful...why couldn't they fit it all in? Despite their shitty line-up at launch, EA redeemed themselves with Fight Night Round 3.
DISHONORABLE MENTION
1.) Batllefield 2
A decent game ruined by both the shitty XBL interface and the even shittier community. Who the fuck wants to play the same level over and over and over and over and over again? Did I forget to mention that it's also the level that was released in the demo? Come on people! EA game us a method to vote at the end of a match, and everyone always votes for the demo level. Why not just make it random like Halo 2? At least it would add some variety. Another problem with this game is that it is merely a port of the console version, when the system could have handled the PC version just fine. Also the shadows were all fucked up...checkerboard and glitchy. No downloadable content...
2.) XBL Arcade
How does MS react to our dissaproval of the lack of games? By getting us to pay for shitty arcade games with shitty achievements. To top it all off, these games are mostly too expensive considering a lot of them started off as free internet games on PC. On the bright side, they are adding Street Fighter 2 and Mortal Kombat 1-3, but will they cost us an arm and a leg? Who knows...
3.) Backwards Compatibility
Why the fuck is barbie Horse Adventure backwards compatible, but most of the XBOX's first party titles aren't? Why no Morrowind? Why no DOA series? now Peter Moore says they probably won't keep their promise of 100% backwards compatibility? WTF!!!
XBOX LIVE
The best feature of the system is the XBL network. The most secure gaming experience on a console to date, XBL offers gameplay of all varieties for almost all of the current and coming 360 games. On top of that you can download updates for games, some free, others not. You can download movie trailers, music videos, and even game demos. One of the greatest things I have seen MS do is to offer the average gamer 3 exclusive demos straight from the E3 floor that you could download in your home. I think we can all agree that the Lost Planet demo kicked ass! not to mention the world premiere of the Halo 3 trailer on the marketplace! This is hands down the 360's best feature. If you aren't on XBL, you aren't experiencing the 360. Nuff said.
THE FUTURE
This Fall is gonna be hot for the 360. The following is a list of games due out before Christmas:
Prey
LOTR: BFME2
NCAA 07
Madden 07
Dead Rising
Forza 2
Viva Pinata
Gears of War
Saint's Row
WWE Smackdown VS. Raw 07
Tony Hawk 8
Stranglehold
Need For Speed Carbon
Chromehounds
Fable 2
Enchanted Arms
N3
Too Human
Crackdown
That is not even a complete listing. There are even more than that. On the gaming front, this is shaping up to be one hell of a Christmas! How will it all turn out for the 360 with 2 new systems on the horizon? We will just have to wait and see! In the meantime, enjoy your stay at Rated-M.com, and feel free to express your thoughts on this article in the comments section below!
That's right folks, we have breaking news here about the DS killer app Final Fantasy III. After E3, FFIII was given a September 12th release date, along with the Dragon Quest DS game. However, as of Tuesday, GameStop and EBGames have changed the date to October 10th. Dragon Quest stays at September 12th.
Why delay the game? Does it need more work? Not likely. We bet the reason is more likely that Square wants to spread out their properties. Releasing FFIII on the same day as Dragon Quest for the same system may cut into sales of the Dragon Quest game. Placing them a month apart seems more prudent, as more people will be likely to pick up both Dragon Quest and FFIII rather than be forced to choose between the two.
Another good reason for the October 10th date is that it places the FFIII game right in the path of the Wii launch, and you can bet on some connectivity between FFIII and FF Crystal Chronicles.
At any rate, the game hasn't been delayed much beyond it's previous date. Stay tuned for more updates on this story!
Rated-M.com is hiring for the following positions:
News Editors (3 positions)
HTML/Coding (1 position)
We are also hoping someone would donate their server space to us. When I ran UDCW.net, the owner of ultimategamez.com gave us his server space to use. We will gladly host a banner ad to whomever donates the space.
Those interested in positions, please e-mail me at the address below:
Jason Triplett
lotusfilms@hotmail.com
RE: Rated-M.com positions
ECW wrestlers Rob Van Dam and Sabu were pulled over the other night by Ohio state highway patrol for a traffic violation. Found in the car was an untold amount of an untold narcotic.
Vince McMahon, who now owns ECW and holds it under the WWE's Wellness Policy, was quick to "lay the smack down" on these two wrestlers. RVD was suspended for 30 days without pay, and Sabu was fined $1000. This alone implicates RVD as the possessor of said narcotic.
The duo are due in court tomorrow on possession charges, possible trafficking, driving under the influence, as well as whatever the original driving violations were.
Stay tuned for more on this as it breaks!
You read it right folks. Dallas Austin received a 4 year prison sentence for smuggling coke into the UAE. The next day, he is set free. The conviction stands (not in the U.S. though), and I doubt that he can ever return to that nation, but the question still stands...Did his fame and money come into play in this decision?
Most likely. We all know what happens to REAL people when they smuggle drugs into other countries. "Midnight Express" anyone? This decision is complete bullshit, and it just promotes the fact that money can buy you out of anything.
So Sports Illustrated for Kids gave the Nintendo Wii a November 6th release date. First of all, what does a crappy sports rag know about video games? Judging from past articles and reviews in the magazine, apparently not much...
We don't think that the November 6th release date is real at all, and we have our own reasons to believe this.
1.) Most of the Wii launch games are currently in system at Gamestop, EB Games and GameCrazy for an October 2nd ship date, which would make the release October 3rd.
2.) Games and game systems primarily launch on Tuesdays. October 3rd is a Tuesday. On the flip side of this, Nintendo did ship the DS Lite early and gave it a Sunday release date here in the states. However, the launch was unsuccessful in terms of numbers.
3.) Most of the release dates of the "big guns" from Microsoft have been shifted around to match the October 3rd date. Gears of War, Forza 2, and Viva Pinata are amoung the 7-10 games scheduled to hit the 360 that week. Most of these games were previously scheduled to match the PS3 launch. This is undoubtedly due to Peter Moore going ga-ga over the Wii. He says he doesn't fear the PS3 launch, but couldn't stop talking about Nintendo.
4.) Nintendo wouldn't want to risk a launch so dangerously close to Sony's. Granted, the PS3 launch looks incredibly weak, and the price point is well above what most people are going to pay. However, the early adopters that have to have anything and everything Sony no matter what it is, could really hurt Nintendo's launch financially. Nintendo says they aren't in competition with Sony and Microsoft, but we all know that's a load of shit.
Logistically launching a month ahead of Sony would be more prudent. The month head start would put the Wii in homes and get the word of mouth started. A month ahead of Sony wuld mean the Wii is on it's 3rd or 4th shipment, meaning there should be plenty of Wii's on shelves when there are no PS3's.
If Nintendo DOES launch a mere 12 days before Sony's behemoth, Microsoft could come out the winner. With no Wii's or PS3's on shelves, gamers might look at the 360 and it's awesome fall line-up, not to mention systems on the shelves ready to buy. That's our view. Stay tuned as we cover this story to see how it realy unfolds.
John Woo has left the production of the film adaptation of the popular video game Spy Hunter. Woo was set to direct the film, and had reportedly already shot a lot of footage. Woo decided for whatever reason to pull a Bryan Singer and go about other projects, abandoning his current one.
However, the current state of video game movies is very poor, so I can't say Woo made a bad decision. So is the film dead? Not at all. A new director is being chosen to finish Woo's work, and The Rock is still on the project. Hell, he had better be. He already lent his likeness and voice to the new Spy Hunter game. You can't have The Rock in the game and not the film. How awkward would that be?
Anyways, the studio promises a new director to be announced soon. Stay tuned as we cover this story!
Dallas Austin is a world famous music producer, having worked with the likes of TLC, Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Pink, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson...the list of names goes on and on. On May 19th, he was detained and arrested at the airport in Dubai for possession of a small amount of cocaine. He was on the way to Naomi Campbell's birthday party (who is also a rumored coke-head).
Well earlier today, Dallas plead guilty on all counts, stating "it was an accident". Now first of all, how the hell do you forget you have coke in your possession as you cross into Arab country? I mean for cripes sakes, the penalty for trafficking in the United Arab Emerates is death by beheading!
Well, fear not. Mr. Austin is not losing his head. When his sentance is passed down tomorrow, authorities expect a 2-3 year term in Arab prison. Check back with us tomorrow to find out his fate!
