There has been a swirl of mystery around the new J.J. Abrams film, but who wouldn't expect that after the success of Lost and it's internet entities? Like Lost, Abrams is using the internet for viral marketing.

In fact, my source tells me that the final design of the monster has not yet been decided. Well if I was Abrams, I wouldn't tell anyone, not even the cast, what it looked like unless I wanted it to get leaked out. Let's face it. Stars leak things too.

The origin of the monster is said to be Japan. One of the main characters is wearing a Slusho shirt. Japan is where the Slusho drink is manufactured. Another of the main characters is leaving for a job in Japan. A Slusho job? The history of the Slusho company involves finding some secret ingredient from the deepest parts of the sea.

The official Website. Currently if you go there, you can click and move around 5 or 6 different photos. None of them reveal much, other than a distinct timeline of what happened. This closely follows the footage from the trailer. Also, if you click on the corner of the photos and drag real fast, you can flip the photos over. Some of them have writing. If you leave the official website open for at least 6 minutes, you will hear the monster's roar.
The official Slusho website. Confirmed by Abrams' camp to be connected to the film. Pretty nifty little Flash site with a lot of interesting revelations. Particularly in the "History" section. A quick read-through lends more to the "monster from the sea, upset by Slusho" theory.

I know, some of you have probably seen it. However, there are still many who have not had a chance. I think it's important people see the red band trailer for this film, because the green band trailers (if there are any) just wouldn't have the same effect this trailer has.

Oh yeah. This movie is gonna kick ass. Why was I even worried? I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have!

Direct from the set of the new Batman film The Dark Knight comes this handycam footage of the new "BatCycle", lovingly called "the BatPod". As with all of our leaked video footage, we think it speaks for itself. So sit back and enjoy!

**Second Update 9/10/07**
No Fall update 9/10...
http://rated-m.blogspot.com/2007/09/xbox-360-fall-dashboard-update-not.html

**Updated with new PHOTOS!**

We have come across the leaked information about the coming Fall XBOX 360 dashboard update. We have also discovered that this update may just happen when the XBL service goes down on September 10th! Microsoft has been working hard to keep this under wraps, deleting threads on their forums and asking partners to do the same. However, we contol the media, and refused to be contained! So here in it's full glory is the list of what to expect in the Fall update!

* Compatibility with 3rd party wireless controllers
* Compatibility with messenger pad
* Xbox Live Vision firmware upgrade, sharper image filtering
* Many more Vision Cam settings
* New screensaver settings - when away from Xbox 360, screensaver will play for optional time, before screen goes dark
* New Xbox Live Arcade blade - where you can download, play and learn about Xbox Live Arcade
* Brand new “web based adver-games” flash games which aren’t downloaded, but are playable bite sized games, accessed via new Xbox Live Arcade Blade
* New Screensaver option in Themes and Gamer Pics option in Marketplace blade
* New functionality with Messenger, works with chatpad
* New XNA Game Launcher for those that have the program, new options
* New language, time and date settings
* New “advertising opportunities” in gameplay
* Xvid support
* New “favourites” option via Xbox Live Arcade, can rate according to preference
* IPTV Functionality - support for TiVo like PVR options. Will be able to record TV direct. Options include source by channel, director, actor and distributor
* Filter friends list, will be able to filter friends via games
* New clan support - will be able to launch clan games direct from dashboard, can “fold” friends into new clan category in friends list
* Better translations in settings and other options for Japanese, German and Spanish languages
* New quick option to delete via X Button in memory viewer
* Option for having downloadable In-game content not inform when completed download
* Option for having video content not inform when completed download
* Faster settings for viewing unfinished video content downloads
* New option in Games tab - beta and others, will be launcher for MMO and multiplayer betas
* New option in Marketplace Games tab, search by letter, can be inputted via text pad or console
* Smarter game settings - you can be messaged via publishers about new in-game content for your games
* Picture in picture functionality for DVD Drive and some other updated settings
* Improved USB Keyboard settings
* Improved voice chat settings in game and from dashboard
* Faster response times to Redeem Code settings
* Option to play a Redeemed Code game straight after redeeming code
* Console will now recognise low Hard Drive space, will inform you immediately if can’t download current item, will automatically download next available that is able
* Increased space size for gamerpics and dashboard themes
* Themes can now be animated
* Themes may now have sound effects
* Better slideshow capabilitiesm new options added. New sound effects and integration with Hard Drive/ PC music capable
* New estimated timer for downloads, informing how long download will expect to take

Photos below of the new Clan Blade








Photos Courtesy of: http://www.xboxlife.dk/

We bring you today an awesome teaser trailer circulating the theaters as we speak. The teaser for the long awaited Dark Knight.

All we can say is, sit back and ENJOY!

We have finally provided for you what you really want. A trailer for the new Iron Man film. Granted, this is the trailer from the Comic-Con 2007 show less than 2 months ago, but it is the official trailer from what we have heard.
According to the director, the trailer will be shown across all venues on the 10th and 11th of September.

The only possibility is that the trailer shown in 3 days time is merely a teaser, and the one below will be the full theatrical trailer. I guess we will all see for sure in 3 days! At any rate, enjoy!

That's right all you happy COD4 beta testers! You can officially level your guy up to 16 today, unlocking new weapons and perks. The cap increase should go live by 2pm Pacific.

Also, according to the developers, the cap will continue to raise throughout the beta, allowing testers to experience most of what the MP has to offer.

We've been open for quite some time now, and the look of the site had grown quite stale. So I figured it was time to upgrade the visuals around here. If the site looks different all of a sudden, don't panic. Anyways, we like it, and hope that you do too.

No, I am not going to do impressions of Blue Dragon characters, no matter how much you beg me to say "I won't give up". Instead, I just wanted to post a few opinions I have on this game.

I picked this game up today, and played it for exactly two and a half hours. The thing is, it still felt like I had just begun in terms of story.

As for character development, there was plenty of that, and of course, that is where i feel this game shines. BD features a class system similar to the Final Fantasy series. Unlocking and then leveling up new jobs is a huge part of the game.

Graphically this game is simply amazing. From the awesome character designs of Akira Toriyama to the dramatic camera angles during battle, the game looks simply amazing. Except one thing... As awesome as the character models are, I feel their lack of real time expression (not in cutscenes) kinda takes away from the emotion of what's happening. Don't tell me for a second it isn't possible, there have been plenty of games to do it. But really, that is my only graphical gripe.

The music is what you would expect from Nobuo Uematsu. It really doesn't dissapoint me at all as a fan of his work. But on the other hand, I wouldn't necessarily call it award winning either. It suits the game, and it doesn't distract. It is beautifully composed, but many times it seems like I've heard the song before in another game... and this isn't Uematsu's fault one bit, it's his niche, and he's good at what he does.

As for the story, well it hasn't advanced a whole lot for me in the time I've played, but that may be mostly due to me exploring every rock and tree stump for cash or exp, and grinding a bit. The English voice acting is FAR better than, oh say...Enchanted Arms (Makoto lol), but I still feel the Japanese voices sound the best.

Combat in this game is simple but addictive, a trademark of Sakaguchi-san. Really, all in all, this game really shines because of the people involved in it's creation. It doesn't feel like it was treated as standard fare. It's very well produced, and so far a very clean game.

My only other gripe so far is that the 3 disc set came stacked. Yeah, stacked. I was lucky to not have any scratches, but I know of people who weren't so lucky. Oh well, US always gets the screwjob in the packaging department...just look at Bioshock.

Overall, I am happy I picked this game up. It is a definate buy for RPG fans.

So our friends across the pond in the UK, and even over in Austrailia got a much better looking Bioshock game case for their limited edition than we got here stateside. Check the photo below and let the drooling and jealousy commence.

Many people have been writing in requesting the soundtrack list of all the music in the game. Here is everything I have found so far. Feel free to add to this in the comments section...

So here you go!

LICENSED
Beyond the Sea - Bobby Darin
If I didn't Care - The Ink Spots
The Best Things in Life are Free - The Ink Spots
Papa Loves Mambo - Perry Como
Bei Mir Bist du Shon - The Andrew Sisters
How Much is that Doggie in the Window? - Patti Page
Brother Can You Spare a Dime? - Bing Crosby
Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams - Bing Crosby
It's Bad for Me - Rosemary Clooney (George Clooney's Aunt)
You're the Top - Cole Porter
Night and Day - Billie Holiday
Nutcracker (Waltz of the Flowers) - Peter Illyich Tchaikovsky
The Party's Over - Judy Holliday
Please Be Kind - Frank Sinatra
Jitterbug Waltz - Fats Waller
It Had to Be You - Danny Thomas
Oh Danny Boy - Mario Lanza
20th Century Blues - Noel Coward
World Weary - Noel Coward
The Party's Over - Noel Coward
God Bless The Child - Billie Holiday
Just Walking In The Rain - Johnnie Ray
La Mer (Beyond the Sea Instrumental) - Django Reinhardt
Wild Little Sisters - ?

ORIGINAL SCORE
BioShock Main Theme (The Ocean on His Shoulders)
Welcome to Rapture
Dr. Steinman
The Docks
The Dash
Step Into My Gardens
Dancers on a String
Cohens Masterpiece
The Engine City
Empty Houses
This is Where They Sleep
All Spiced Up

LIMITED EDITION SOUNDTRACK
Beyond the Sea - Moby, Oscar the Punk Remix
God Bless the Child - Moby, Oscar the Punk Remix
Wild Little Sisters - Moby, Oscar the Punk Remix

First, I direct you to our previous article, which revealed the truth behind Larry Wachowski's rumored sex change.

http://rated-m.blogspot.com/2006/07/wachowski-brothers-are-no-more.html

Posted over a year ago, we had no inkling of how far his transformation would go...until now.

Here is a shot of larry a few years back, when he fist began taking the female hormone therapy:

Another photo, about a year and a half later:

And this newly released photo from a rare public appearance earlier this year:

The duo will now just be known as "The Wachowskis", dropping the "brothers" part of their name. It is expected that Larry, now called Lana, will actually speak to the press about this for the first time, but not until after the Speed Racer film is out. The current feeling is that his sex change could hurt the family image the Speed Racer film is going for.

It is also expected that Andy will do all the press for the Speed Racer film, with Larry/Lana staying in the background for the above reason.

Dateline NBC is still rumored to have exclusivity of Larry/Lana's first public interview, but it has to be on his terms, not theirs.

More on this as we get it!

We have come across a video of an unreleased Plasmid, removed from the game at the last minute due to time constraints. Could this be what we get in the way of DLC? Absolutely, says our sources. The possibility of more game areas opening up is not likely, but instead, the addition of all the Plasmids removed from the game at the last minute (I have heard of 5) will be what we receive in terms of DLC.

So now we wait. in the meantime, enjoy this video!

The Major Nelson blog was recently updated in the twitter section with the information that Forza 2 has officially sold a million copies! This comes after a free three car DLC pack, plus another car for only 50 points! Sounds to me like another hit franchise under Microsoft's belt!

Source: http://www.majornelson.com/

Nowadays, online petitions seem to be a fad. Any time someone doesn't get their way, a new one springs up. This is no exception for the new content intended for the Gears PC version.

Earlier, we reported that it is indeed intended for the marketplace. There was unfortunately no announcement at E3 regarding this, or cross-platform play. I stand by what I wrote, and believe in time, the announcments will come.

Some people however, are not as optimistic. So one fumed gamer set up the obligatory online petition to bring that content to the 360 as well. It seems to be off to a good start, but in the end it will most likely lack the raw numbers needed to make a statement. If the public speaks, companies will listen. The people have already saved Family Guy and Jericho.

Perhaps with enough signatures, the right people may take a look. But in my opinion it is irrelevant because I am confident this content will come to the 360 regardless.

http://www.petitiononline.com/58798/petition.html

I know, I know. You've seen it everywhere. E3. What used to be the grandest of stages in the video game world, now reduced to a crappy, worthless show.

I know it wasn't just me that was feeling bored, and a bit betrayed. Betrayed by the ESA.

What was good about E3? Well for one, the games. All 3 showed off some amazing product, but we'd seen MOST of it before. Nothing really to wow you about a game you've been seeing and hearing about for the last 2-3 years. In fact, to be fair, I'll list my opinions on the strongest and weakest of each of the big three.

Nintendo:
Strong - Mario Kart, Weak - Wii fit

Microsoft:
Strong - the strongest fall line-up in over a decade, Weak - gears content not yet announced for 360

Sony:
Strong - redesigned PSP looks great, Weak - no "wow factor", price drop not enough

If I could pick a winner, I'd have to give it to MS this year. The "Sony Defense Force" will most likely not agree, but it is my opinion that the 360 game line-up far overshadows that of both other consoles. Sure, Killzone 2 looks alright. But it doesn't look as good and clean as Halo 3, PGR4, Mass Effect, Bioshock, or even Too Human. And to me, Killzone 2 didn't deliver on the "killer app" thrills it needed to.

I think the loser this year is Nintendo. They had by far the weakest show. They showed Mario Kart, which was good, but we already knew it was coming. Nintendo needed to come out and do more than just throw their numbers in our face. "Nintendo has been sold out 33 weeks" they happily proclaim, and to be honest I don't understand why. I love the Wii, don't get me wrong, but even the PS3 is starting to have a busier release schedule than the Wii. I'm sick of ports I played a year ago.

To Sony's credit, they showed off a fine selection of games, but all of their key titles got pushed to 2008, obviously because they'd rather let the Halo hype die down...if that's even popular.

The NCsoft deal is a bad move for Sony, but perhaps behind the scenes it is Sony trying to aquire NCSoft's portfolio into their SOE brand. If SOE outright aquires NCSoft, perhaps some good may come of it. Having NCSoft games on the Station Pass for example would be really big. But NCSoft isn't doing so well lately. Revenues from Guild Wars sales are slipping, subs for COH/COV have dropped significantly in the last 6 months, Auto Assault had to be shut down, and more people play Lineage 2 on illegal private servers than play on the legal ones.

The BEST thing Sony has at their disposal is a great console. Yeah, I said it. But Capcom and the other devs are right. $100 isn't enoough. Sony needs to come down at least $100 more. At $400, the PS3 could realistically compete in the video game market, and may serve to give Blu-Ray an even bigger boost.

Nintendo needs to keep wowing us before we all get bored. Wii fit looks innovative and all that, and I laughed that it called Reggie fat. But I wan't games, not gadgets. We really needed to be shown something big, something to make us keep talking about them.

As for Microsoft, they are seeming to peak right now. I am worried that after this strong year, they may fall short on heavy hitters to keep up wowed. There are a few notable exclusives in the future to speak of, Fable 2 for example. But Microsoft is gonna have to keep up the pace to even think of coming ahead in the console war.

If Sony drops another $100 off the system price, then we finally have a console war. It up to you now Sony. The ball is in your court.

So why do I think E3 sucked, if I had so much to say about it? Well this year we were shown too much stuff we have already seen the last year or two, and not enough stuff we've never seen. The highlight of the show in this regard is Silent Hill 5. But even still, no real surprises.

Having been lucky enough to attend E3 twice, I can tell you that this new E3 just has none of the flair, excitement, mystery, showmanship, and quality. You can tell it in the developers. Hell, some of them refused to even show. Some of them made comments on stage about how they wanted the REAL E3 back. And alas, G4 is scrambling to fill in gaps with what would have before been beautiful floor footage.

I hope the real E3 comes back. And I hope Sony gets their shit together soon. They can show off all the games in the world, but they need a cheaper console to play them on. That alone is the key to Sony turning this around.

We found this video floating around of the Vista version of Gears of War. However, this content shown is the very content the 360 owners will be getting via DLC!

Furthermore, we hear that Gears will indeed support cross platform play via Live.

UPDATE: After YouTube yanked the video, the guys over at http://www.xboxic.com found an alternate link from one of their users. I have used the clip there, so I want to extend my thanks to Xboxic for covering the story, and staying up on it after YouTube intervened.

UPDATE: YouTube has pulled down the videos. I had no back-ups, nor any warnings from YouTube. The videos will no longer be available.

So GameTrailers.com went ahead and did a side-by-side cap of The Darkness on both PS3 and XB360. Their video shows the PS3 version having normal looking colors and darkness settings, while there is definately something wrong about the 360 side of the screen. It looks purposely brightened, and very washed out.

The the game launches on both systems, and to 360 owner's delight, the game featured a graphical adjustment setting in the menu. Right away, it became obvious what GameTrailers had done. They used a horrible setting, and misrepresented the game and the 360 console itself.

So we here at Rated-M.com thought we'd go ahead and show you the setting differences ourselves. You can see the washed out over-bright setting that GameTrailers used, as well as some of the more appropriate settings vith vibrant colors.

NOTE: this was not an HD capture, but a Standard Definition capture. So at 720p and higher, it further improves vibrancy of colors (obviously).

We all hate those stupid banner ads that try to fool you into clicking on them. Then there are the annoying ones with the looped video clips of people dancing horribly. But this has got the be by far the most tasteless and exploitative banner ad yet. Click on the below photo to see the animated image.



As you can see, this sad excuse for a banner ad is already trying to fool you into a click by asking a question you never get to answer. And while the question is valid, the giant syringe pointing at Chris Benoit's head, which then turns into a skull, is just in bad taste, and downright rude.

The link took us to yourgiftpro.com, one of those scam sites that trick you into signing up for offers with the promise of items you never receive. We have contacted yourgiftpro.com for comment, but they never got back to us.

Despicable.

I am not a fan of TMZ.com most of the time. I consider them to be tabloid for the most part, despite the fact that they don't make up stories. Amid the britney, Lindsey and Paris stories, there was this following article about WWE wrestlers who have died. The odd thing is that most died from the same thing...massive heart attack.

Please take the time to check it out. I hate to send TMZ a hit like this, but the article is well done, with pictures etc. Even if the article name is exploitative.

http://www.tmz.com/2007/06/26/world-wrestling-deaderation/

The following information was released by TVWeek.com:

"WWE Chairman Vince McMahon will apologize for the three-hour USA Network tribute to pro wrestler Chris Benoit that aired Monday night, sources said.

The WWE and USA Network have received complaints about the tribute, which was hastily produced after Mr. Benoit, his wife and their son were found dead in their Georgia home Monday afternoon.

Authorities said Tuesday that Mr. Benoit strangled his wife and suffocated his son, then took his own life. But WWE and network officials were unaware of the circumstances of Mr. Benoit’s death when the tribute was assembled, sources said.

The WWE canceled its regularly scheduled “Monday Night RAW” event on USA Network Monday night and aired the tribute in its place.

Mr. McMahon will address wrestling fans tonight on Sci Fi Channel’s live Extreme Championship Wrestling event. He also plans to address speculation that Mr. Benoit’s actions were the result of steroid use.

The WWE plans to resume its regular wrestling telecasts, which air on USA Network, Sci Fi Channel and the CW"

This is in addition to all of Benoit's merchandise, tributes, etc getting yanked from the WWE.com website.

Sources close to Johnny Nitro are reporting that Nitro does not want the belt he won in Benoit's place. He considers it tainted and "bad luck". Expect WWE to place the ECW belt on someone else, and have it come back to Nitro later, when he feels more comfortable about taking it.

WWE is also rumored to be forcing councelling for wrestlers and their families, not just in bereavement of a lost friend, but also to help prevent this from happening again. WWE may install this forced councelling into their wellness program.

WWE has also restructured much of their website, removing tributes, merchandise and other Benoit stuff completely without a trace. There are rumors that even DVD covers will be changed to edit the murderer out.

Earlier today, WWE began pulling down all references of Chris Benoit from their website, including merchandise, and even the tribute information on his superstar page.

It was replaced with old stories temporarily, including the McMahon is dead stuff, and all Benoit items were listed as "discontinued".

Fans an press both pummelled WWE representatives to find out what was going on. Of course, WWE denied knowing what was going on, and now the site is back to normal.

However, now WWE.com is also listing this case as a double murder/suicide.

And now the details of how he killed his family and himself reach news media, and it is most certainly disturbing...

From TMZ.com:

"Several Atlanta-based law enforcement sources have told TMZ Benoit may have strangled his wife on Saturday, then smothered his son in his bed a day later. Investigators refuse to officially comment, pending final confirmation by the coroner on the cause and time of the deaths.

One source told TMZ that Benoit was texting friends during Sunday's WWE "Vengeance" Pay-Per-View program -- possibly watching the show with his son, who may have been alive at the time.

According to sources, Benoit then hanged himself Monday in a weight room inside the family home."

Police confirmed this morning to ABC that this is in fact a double homicide/suicide investigation.

Also revealed were the following gruesome facts:

All 3 were found in separate rooms. Time of death places Benoit murdering Nancy first Saturday night. He then murdered his son sometime Sunday morning. Then almost 24 hours later, he commits suicide. Benoit's body was found in his personal weight room.

It is speculated that Benoit killed Nancy in the heat of an argument, possibly about her leaving him with their son. Then, as his son wakes the next morning, Chris decides to kill him as well.

What happened in the hours in between the deaths and his suicide is not known, but it is known that Benoit never left the house during this time. He stayed in there with their corpses for almost 24 hours before finally making the decision to kill himself rather than face prosecution.

Sources inside WWE told ABC that Saturday night, Benoit sounded calm on the phone, and really only described his situation as a "family emergency". Benoit, who was supposed to win the ECW belt that Sunday at the PPV, turned the belt down and said something along the lines of "I don't want it, give it to someone else". And WWE did just that. Johnny Nitro, who took Benoit's place in the ring, got the belt Benoit was supposed to get.

Several major news media outlets outright refused to even look at this story at first, believing it was indeed another hoax like McMahon's death. However, with TMZ.com, ABC, and CNN covering it now, this story has broke wide open. There are plans this week for coverage of this case on CNN's Nancy Grace.

Autopsy results are due later today.

More as this breaks.

Earlier today, the Benoit family were found dead in their Georgia home. Chris Benoit, Nancy Benoit (former Pro Wrestling manager "Woman"), and their seven year old son Daniel were discovered dead around 2:30pm local time. The Sheriff's department has announced that these deaths are being investigated as a homicide.

Just last night, Chris Benoit didn't show for the WWE Pay-Per-View "Vengeance" due to what commentator Tazz called "personal reasons". Benoit reportedly flew home immediately to handle a "family emergency".

There were no doubt some fans who heard this thinking it was part of the show, like Vince McMahon's elaborate death on RAW. However, this is not part of a storyline. In fact, McMahon today broke kayfabe and reappeared on RAW to announce that tonight's show had been cancelled and is now a Benoit family tribute.

To further detach the McMahon fake death from the real Benoit death, WWE.com has removed all references to the McMahon death on it's main page...and for obvious reasons. This is a very odd and shocking death, much like the untimely death of Ms. Elizabeth. I applaud McMahon for abandoning his fake death storyline while this tragedy unfolds.

Something about this doesn't sit right with me, and when the autopsy results on the family come back tomorrow, I pray that it isn't determined that this was a murder-suicide.

I recently got ahold of some interesting info regarding the Microsoft/FASA game Shadowrun. Thre appears to be a comic book under way as we speak for the series. I was not told who is penning it, or if Marvel will publish for them again. I was told that the series would be based on the game directly, and give players a great story to follow.

I was also told that this is not the only Microsoft venture that will be made into a comic book. No names were specifically mentioned for any of these, but possibilities could be another Perfect Dark series, or perhaps even a Kameo series.

The final tidbit that was mentioned was that Blinx is making his return, both in a game and a possible 3D animation feature film.

Take this as you will. I trust my source, but as always until it is officially announced, it is strictly a RUMOR.

After spending many hours with the PC version of Two Worlds, I am here now to set the record straight. this game is nothing at all like Oblivion. Seriously, it barely even has a handful of similarities.

However, this game shares similarities with other great RPG's. Combat plays out like Fable. Button mashing melee with an alternate spell button. The spell can be changed with another button. On the PC version, the game also has a World of Warcraft like toolbar, from which a simple number press can activate a spell instead.

Combat is really nothing special though. In fact, sometimes it can be a bit frustrating. Oblivion has FPS perfect controls, so your level of maneuverability was outstanding. However in Two Worlds, you'll often accidentally run into a bandit camp filled with 30 bandits, and have a hard time turning around to get out. Maneuverability is in the toilet, so you really have to be careful in tight places. You do get a backwards jump, and yes you can turn around. But even still, you'll notice the sluggish maneuverability.

Combat can be a bit more fun once you start learning new techniques, like kicking sand in the enemy's face. However, techniques like this happen at random, with a % chance to trigger based on your spec.

That brings me to the next part, skills. Skills aren't in trees like EQ2 or WoW. Instead, the bubbles can be upgraded with points at any time. Some of them require special training, some of them come from the start. Like WoW though, which skills you upgrade determine what kind of fighter (or mage) you'll be.

Spells fall into many different schools, including fire, air, water, necromancy, etc. Spells are upgraded two ways. You can find new spell cards on monsters and enemies, and upgrade the potency of each school of spells in your spec tree by using skill points. Your defensive and melee skills will suffer if you put all your skill points into spells, so be careful!

When you level up or complete certain quests, you will receive skill points and/or attribute points. Attribute points work just like any standard PC RPG of the last decade and a half. In fact, this game plays out more like Titan Quest than anything. Sure, the combat and the POV aspect match games like Fable. But the core of it, from the quests to the exploration of the world, is very much like Titan Quest, or any of the games that used the Snowblind engine.

Another huge similarity to those games is the inventory and loot system. You get a hell of a lot more space in Two Worlds than in those other games though. You'll also recognize the portal system, which was standard for the aforementioned games.

Conversation in this game is drab. The voice acting is horrible. Monotone, stale, and downright boring. Thank god for subtitles. Unless you have a high tolerance for pain, you'll probably end up reading this game more than listening to it.

The minimap resembles fable's a lot. The main map is more like Titan Quest. Of course, you get the standard "fog of war" covering everything until it is discovered. While I enjoy "fog of war" sometimes, I don't think it worked for this game. You wander off and die somewhere, you ressurect at a shrine surrounded in black. Now you have to explore and navigate your way back. Easy enough, right? Not so much. taking the road isn't even safe in this game. You are constantly running into mobs of wolves, bandits, orcs and more. These enemies aren't always easy to kill, so you can see how getting lost can be a bad thing.

Remember the mobs in Dungeon Lords? Yeah, that's about what they are like in this game. Not easy to take down, and fights can be to the wire...all the time.

Character models are the worst thing about this game. They got the bodies right, but the faces. DEAR GOD THE FACES! The developers tried to do something like Bethesda did with Oblivion, where certain sections of the face can be adjusted with a slider. Unfortunately for Two Worlds, this makes most of the NPC's look like retarded aliens. I'm not kidding. You'll also be dissapointed in the lack of character customization. You can only be one set guy, much like in The Bard's Tale, and only key features of your guy can be adjusted.

The rest of the graphics are decent. They aren't the best of the generation, but they are not bad either. Without HDR, the game would feel bland, and sometimes the shadows seem excessive. The day to night change is nice, but it happens way too fast.

The sound effects and music are ok. I wasn't blown away by them, and you probably won't be either. It wasn't horrible, just nothing special.

I won't get into the story other than you are some mysterious bounty hunter, who for some odd reason, everyone already has heard of. The story isn't bad, in fact it's better when read. The voice acting kills it. I know I already mentioned it, but it really is bad.

Internet play is just like the Snowblind games and Titan Quest. Actually throw Diablo II in that mix, as I forgot to mention it earlier.

Overall, I liked the game. It isn't as good as I had hoped, but I had fun playing it. The false association with Oblivion is really gonna burn people, which I think will burn this game. People expecting Oblivion are going to be downright dissapointed, and will probably return this game right away.

For that reason alone, I say rent this one or wait for a demo. Decide whether you like it or not. There will be people who like this game. It is not a horrible game. It just isn't what you expect it to be...at all.

My Verdict: RENT before you BUY

Afterthought:

There is a huge misconception that this game has no loading screens. While that is true for most cities and a few dungeons, there definately ARE load screens, particularly for most dungeons. I don't know where this stupid rumor got started, but add that to the list of wrong expectations of this game.

I meant to start on my Spider-Man 3 PC review this evening. I had it installed and ready to go. Except it wouldn't play on my card. Don't laugh yet. I have an ATI Radeon x850xt PE PCI-e 256MB card. It is by no means ancient.

However, it does not support Pixel Shader 3.0. Spider-Man 3 for PC requires 3.0.

So there you have it. I already have to upgrade my card...

Let this be a warning to all who consider the PC version of this game.

Jet and Jackie will finally appear together in a martial arts film, a remake of "Journey to the West". This project has been rumored for years and it is now finally a reality. Jet Li will take on the role of the legendary "Monkey King", and Jackie will play "Sha Monk", which fans of the story will know better as "Tripitaka" the Shaolin Monk.

But that isn't even the half of it. Martial arts fans, prepare to wet yourselves...Also signed on is legendary choreographer YUEN WOO PING!

So you thought Jet was done with martial arts for good? Not true. He only ever said he was done with "period wushu films" like Iron Monkey, Fearless, Hero, etc. This movie is a done deal, it is definately gonna happen. Check out additional information at the bottom of the article!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0865556/

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ib191236ae685199e59a8d04694bcdbd2

Stay tuned as more developes in this story!

Yeah, you read that right. The Wachowskis are indeed back at it, this time writing and directing the upcoming Speed Racer live action film. Speed Racer though? WTF is that all about? Have the Wachowskis both gone fruity now? I'm sorry, but Speed racer is one of those things you never think of remaking in live action simply because the premise would be too stupid.

Will Larry be listed as Linda? Is the sex change complete? How will this affect marketing the film?

So far, Christina Ricci, Susan Surandon and John Goodman have joined the cast. I will reserve judgement until I see a trailer.

For the past story on Larry becoming Linda, see below:

http://rated-m.blogspot.com/2006/07/wachowski-brothers-are-no-more.html

The following trailer was the winner of a contest with SXSW, and attached to theatrical releases of Grindhouse both in Canada and at the Alamo.



Word is, this is one of two films to be made into a full feature from a Grindhouse fake trailer. The other is "Machete"! Thank goodness tarantino and Rodriguez took some risks with Grindhouse. It totally paid off, in more than one way!

The rumors are true! Feast your eyes on the following video, which is set in a remake of the classic map Zanzibar!

It seems that the idiots behind the hoax still won't quit. In fact they insist that this is real despite every shred of evidence against them.

But that is not why we are here today folks. Today we hope to prevent all of you from getting ripped off...majorly. The idiots behind the hoax are now asking for $20 via PayPal to show the secret, something to which a friend of mine was victim. I had warned him it was not real, but the guys insisted they would show him how.

So he paid. They logged in, and logged out. So now my friend is fighting the charge though PayPal. Sucks to be him, right? Well don't let it be you!

You have been warned!

Please help support Rated-M and click on our Google banner. It only taks a second to do, and costs you nothing. This will help us pay for server fees, design and content, etc.

Thanks in advance!

LotusFilms invites you all to view the great documentary film about the homeless, Suriving the Streets. The best part? You can watch it FREE!

http://www.lotusfilms.us

This film's file is suitable only for DSL and Cable connections. There will have a 56k version up soon.

Please give the browser a few minutes to connect, and don't forget to vote for the film at IMDB.com!

Another video direct from EA, this time showcasing MySims for the Wii and DS. This game looks to dethrone Animal Crossing as the cutesy wutesy town simulator! Watch the teaser and judge for yourself!

Enjoy this custom video from Electronic Arts, in which Lily Allen's "Smile" video is redone using The Sims 2! I know it seems like a weird idea, but Lily sounds just as good in Simlish as she does in English!

The second big Halo 2 map pack story of the week comes in the purchase of the maps themselves...or lack of purchase that is.

Early on it was discovered that you can get the new Halo 2 maps for free from an XB360 using a specific exploit. I will not detail the exploit here, as I have agreed to Bungie's terms in return for their time.

It doesn't matter though, as those who used the exploit will soon be forced to pay for the maps. When calling a source within Bungie today, I was told of a few methods they will be using to combat the exploiting. The first method will be a "possible patch to detect unpaid map packs". The second method will be an IP tracer.

"We record the IP addresses of all connections to the halo 2 matchmaking system and the downloader. Regardless of which Gamertag the player used, they all will share the same IP address. We know exactly who they are."

But how can they possibly get all the thousands and thousands of players who did this? "We have some ideas, and are working with Microsoft to deduct the fee from player's Live subscription time if they used a Live card or directly from their listed credit card on their MAIN GAMERTAG."

Before you get your panties in a bunch though, they will be notifying as many players as possible to be honest and pay up. Those that don't will be charged. I was not given a time-table, but look for this to happen very soon.

So by now I am sure you have heard the rumors about some kids on GameFAQs that claim to have found a hidden Halo 1 pistol on Tombstone, one of the two new Halo 2 maps.

Here are both threads:

http://boards.gamefaqs.com/gfaqs/genmessage.php?board=562116&topic=34796576

http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=10575840&postRepeater1-p=1

A quick readthrough of both threads will tell you what you already suspect...that this is in fact BOGUS! However, if the following modder's screenshot doesn't prove that the handgun is only scenery, we have something that may.

As if a slew of racist PSP camaigns worldwide, and one of the worst absolute US marketing campaigns ever for a gaming system weren't enough, Sony sinks to a new low in their new EU commercials. Perhaps it's better if you just watch for yourself...but I don't get what Sony's thinking...associating the PS3 with taking a dump...now THAT is living! LMAO!

Before I start, let me say that I know this game is not out yet. I know that it is unfair to do a review for an MMO this early in it's life. That being said, This game has hardly changd much at all since Alpha, which is a BAD thing. Plus, it does not stop other publications from voicing their opinions, so I don't care. I think people DESERVE to know what they are getting themselves into.

First of all, the graphics are hardly better than Guild Wars. This game runs on a modified DDO engine. In fact, in Alpha, the engine was so similar it was immediately obvious the direction they were taking this game.

Secondly, the game world is very small. Unmounted you can practically cross the entire landscape in less than an hour. In Vanguard for example, it would take you 30 mins just to reach the next town. Another problem is the frequent and long load times. After about 20 minutes of playing it is painfully obvious that this game is a load hog.

Third, don't expect any variety from the classes what-so-ever. Just a glance at the official site's descriptions of them will show you just that. Due to this, the group mechanic is HORRIBLE. The way fights play out in a group fashion are barely similar to the standard MMO type (tank, DPS, healer). However the classes all feel the same in the end, and in group roles, people will often NOT know their role at all, because they are not comfortable with the class-types in comparison to a real MMO.

Combat, just like the graphics, borrows heavily from the DDO infrastructure. The combat skills are weak, and often times this alone is what makes the classes seem boring and non-descript. When fighting, there is no uniqueness to any of the classes, even the most "unique" class in the game.

Crafting is boring and simple, with no real reward for dedicating to it. PVP is almost non-existant except for a poorly constructed "good vs. evil" PVP set-up where one team will temporarily play as monsters and baddies. Not saying PVP is important to me, but if it was, I'd be sick with disgust.

My biggest qualm. The lore. How can someone presume to alter what Tolkien had perfected? Quest and story lines in this game not only alter Tolkien's story, they drastically change certain aspects of it at a certain point in the game.

The day Turbine announced the bargain bin monthly fee, I knew they had no faith in their MMO. They feel like they need to lower themselves to the standards of Guild Wars, Phantasy Star, etc by placing that price point. While they hoped it may turn some heads in their direction, it is only obvious that LOTRO will just be a source of income while they develop something better...if Turbine can even DO that anymore.

When will developers learn that MMO's based on popular movies/books just don't do well? SWG, MxO, and now this? LOTRO gets the biggest PASS of them all. You'd be better off playing a free MMO called Flyff. It's free and muh better produced than this game. As for me, I'll stick with Vanguard until the next big thing comes out...cause one this is for sure...LOTRO is NOT that big thing.

OUR VERDICT: PASS

I came across this last night and my jaw hit the floor.

LEGO Ultimate Collector's Series Millennium Falcon

The price tag is hefty, but this is easily one of the coolest collectibles I've seen in a long time.

Rated-M now has it's very own comic series based on the amazing Vanguard: Saga of Heroes! This first issue begins the tale of an Imperial Captain who has a run in with a very dangerous Monk! Stay tuned for future issues!

http://home.insightbb.com/~lotusfilms/vanguardkojani.pdf

http://www.kikizo.com/viewer/imageview_forums.asp?http://xs411.xs.to/xs411/07044/psm3feb.jpg

The above scan shows that no matter what Sony does, Microsoft will always be one step ahead of them. People can say what they will, but think of this...you NEVER see Sony games advertised in OXM...

Anyways, as I have been saying and will say till the end...one more nail in Sony's coffin.

Major Nelson caught this. I can't believe Sony is willing to stoop so low. What a bunch of thieving assholes!

http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2007/01/25/psp-connect-using-pgr3-screenshot.aspx

Sony is one step from the edge of the cliff.

Check out my screenshots from my personal experiences in the Vanguard beta! This is an amazing game with amazing visuals. This game is sure ot surpass the competition, as the wrd on the servers is that this is what EQ1 fans have been waiting for.

The photo journals are linked in my personal blog:

http://blog.myspace.com/lotusfilms

Make sure you leave some comments!

UPDATED! More added as of 1/17/07!

Please check out the new artist M.A.N.T.I.S at MySpace. Currently, he has launched a collection of his classic instrumentals from 1998-2001, and in the coming weeks he will be releasing some tracks off his new album entitled "The Mantis Strikes".

http://www.myspace.com/mantis2007

Since the year has now come to an end, I'd like to share some of the best and worst of 2006 with you, including our choice for 2006 GOTY! Let's get underway!

Biggest mistake of 2006: A lot of you think I'm gonna say "the PS3 launch". However, I think someone screwed up this year a lot more than Sony. You see, the PS3 just needs time to get off the ground. My pick for biggest mistake is Kurt angle leaving the WWE for TNA. Since leaving Vince, his story lines have suffered, and he has to job to an overrated wrestler like Samoa Joe.

Biggest surprise of 2006: Britney Spears' crotch shots. I wasn't ever expecting to see hew twank, but there it was for the world to see. Thanks for the memories Britney!

Biggest letdown of 2006: Sony's PS3 launch. Notice I said the launch, and not the system. I feel the PS3 has potential. But there is no denying that Sony fucked up real bad this time around, and has paid dearly for it in sales and popularity. The poor design of their kiosk units doesn't help matters much, as it causes systems to overheat and freeze up in stores. This obviously doesn't leave a good impression with Average Joe and Jane Walk-In who may just be in the market for a new system.

Most underrated item of 2006: Microsoft's Zune player. Definately the iPod killer MS promised it to be, but no one knows what the hell a Zune is yet. MS wanted to obviously keep the focus on their 360 console, which has hurt this amazing little piece of machinery. Hopefully their ad campaign will kick into full gear in 2007. This little movie and music player deserves our attention.

Most viewed Rated-M story of 2006: I have a lot of viewers, and with my stat counter, I have tracked the most viewed story of the entire year. I was surprised that this story got as much attention as it did, but you fans have spoken! You all want to know about the WWE's Mickie James' alleged porn career! So for you fans, here are the links to refress your memory:

Original Story / Follow-up

Most controversial Rated-M story of 2006: Without a doubt, this would have to be the leaking of the Transformers teaser, and the posting of it on Digg.com. The story went to the first page in a matter of hours. Again, I never expected so much attention behind this, but Paramount was genuinely pissed. to this day, I will still not reveal my source, but it matters not anyways. Within 48 hours of me posting the leaked trailer, they went ahead and released it officially via their website, and in much better quality. I guess they figured "if you can't beat em, join em". Below, you'll find the links to our Transformers coverage, as well as the original Digg.com story.

Transformers Coverage at Rated-M / Digg.com post

Console of the Year 2006: XBOX 360. Without a doubt. It had a slow start, but to look at the line-up now is intimidating. What sealed the deal for me was the key release of a few strong titles, titles that cemented the 360 as a mainstay in the console world. 2006 saw the release of Saints Row, Dead Rising, Oblivion, Gears of War, Viva Pinata, and WWE Smackdown VS. Raw 2007 (the 07 was cancelled for the PS3!). Also this year, XBL proved to us all how neat the internet can be when integrated into your gaming lifestyle. DLC for games, downloadable demos, and the great XBL Arcade (yes, I know I hated it, but it has really really grown on me). Nearly flawless and very safe, I feel it's worth the fee. Anyways, after a rough start, this system picked up steam to gain the top spot as out 2006 Console of the Year! Can PS3 pull off the same, and take our 2007 honors? We will see!

Game of the Year 2006: Here it is guys, the one you've been waiting for. Our pick for GOTY 2006. A lot came out this year that I feel is worthy. Dead Rising, Oblivion, Gears of War, Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and Final Fantasy XII are my contenders.We have chosen Gears of War as our pick for GOTY 2006. Sure, graphically the game is the best there is at the moment. But the game is much more than that. Great production value, perfect controls, lagless online, fun co-op and SP (though a bit short), and the coming FREE DLC pack are all parts of why we chose this game. Rarely does a game ever live up to the hype. Gears had tremendous hype, and lived up to every single second of it.

So Ken Kutaragi, the "father of the Playstation", was forced to step down. By now, you all have heard the news in some form or another. Some of you (and by some of you I mean the rabid PS3 fanboys sending me hate mail) don't think it's a big deal at all. Just a normal day of operations at Sony. Well not so fast there bucko, this is VERY significant, and I'm about to tell you why.

Ken Kutaragi has been the driving force behind Sony's foray into gaming since the start. Known worldwide as the father of the Paystation, he has had a hand in all of Sony's gaming consoles, including PSP. He has also been the face and mouthpiece of the Playstation, but none moreso than the PS3 and PSP.

In short, he is the man who talked all the shit and couldn't back it up. He is the man that made all the promises that he couldn't keep. Sony finds him responsible not only for the failure of the PSP, but the imminent failure of the PS3.

Now before you go get your panties into a bunch, the PS3 hasn't failed yet, and it still has potential. However, there are some things you need to factor into this equation.

A.) Kutaragi hyped the PSP as the GameBoy killer, when obviously it wasn't. It was pretty, but cost way more than gamers wanted to pay. Even now, the core system itself struggles to sell in the face of Nintendo's juggernaut, the DS.

B.) Again, Kutaragi hyped the PS3 to be Jesus Christ walking on water, there is nothing else. Also pretty and overpriced, the system has failed to live up to the hype created for it.

C.) Then comes the defects. Let's forget that the PS2 laser fiasco never happened. Forget that it took 4 years and a class action lawsuit to fix it. What about the thousands of PS3's beginning to crash worldwide? Well the majority of them are due to the same thing that happened at TGS. The system is overheating in the small space afforded to it in the kiosks. People who walk into GameStop usually walk in to find the PS3 froze up. bad publicity.

This is all the latest in a string of fuck ups from Kutaragi, from the defective PS2's to the millions spent on crappy advertising for the PSP (like the racist ads here in the states calling mexicans dustballs, and the black vs. white ads overseas), to the millions spent on faulty kiosks that are causing false impressions in potential buyers.

3rd Party developers are taking once exclusive titles to the competition, and day by day, things look worse and worse for Sony.

So it's still not a big deal? Well what if Nintendo had fired Miyamoto-san, the father of almost every single popular Nintendo IP? Or what if Microsoft suddenly canned Peter Moore? Well considering that the Playstation is primarily Kutaragi's brainchild, we feel this is a big deal.

Will Sony pull out of this slump and reposition themselves? Or is it simply over for them before it even began? We will just have to wait and see. We here at Rated-M don't have high hopes, though we hope that 1st party games like Lair and Heavenly Sword can restore people's faith in this arrogant company.

Stay tuned for more.

We all know the sad truth behind the PS3. It costs too much to make, and there have been so many technical issues with it even after it's rather unseuccessful launch, that Sony was obviously headed into a downward spiral.

Following the failure of the PSP, and the imminent failure of the overhyped PS3, Sony has shelved Ken Kutaragi, the face of the PS3.

Reputable site Financial Times reports the following:

"Ken Kutaragi, the maverick Sony engineer behind all three generations of PlayStation games consoles, will on Friday become chairman of Sony Computer Entertainment in a management reshuffle that could foreshadow the company’s exit from video games hardware.

The surprise move, though technically a promotion, removes Mr Kutaragi from the day-to-day running of Sony’s games division at a critical moment.

With the PlayStation3 only just past its difficult launches in Japan and the US, Sony is desperate to ensure that its complicated machine triumphs in the holiday shopping season. The company described the changes as “strengthening” its management line-up.

In the longer-term, the PS3 faces stiff competition from Microsoft and Nintnedo and a European launch next March for which some analysts fear it is not fully prepared.

Replacing Mr Kutaragi as Sony Computer Entertainment’s global president and chief operating officer will be Kazuo Hirai, a veteran of SCE’s US division, who prematurely claimed four years ago that the era of console wars was over.

Investors know Mr Hirai as a slicker, more confident presenter than Mr Kutaragi. He is also understood to have stronger working relationships with American, European and Japanese games makers.

Analysts said that Mr Hirai’s promotion to a global role at SCE could mark a critical shift in management thinking, with Sony changing its emphasis so that the current generation of games console will be its last as a hardware manufacturer.

“The appointment of Hirai could be the start of a shift from hardware to software,” said Yuta Sakurai, an analyst at Nomura. “I cannot now imagine a PlayStation4.”"

So in a nutshell, financial advisors are now predicting that Sony will go the way of Sega, and just make software, which has always been their stronger point. I can't say we didn't see this coming. Sony has been in the red for years, hardly ever turning a profit in the videogame industry. Mark our words, this is the end.

For the full report from Financial Times, please visit the source link below!

SOURCE: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/f6728ed8-8095-11db-9096-0000779e2340.html

G4TV made this parody commercial which pits PS3 vs. Wii in the style of the stupid, lame, retarded, misinformed Mac commercials.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-9136575504838642038

I laughed out loud at this one. I really, truly did.

Braziliian metal band MegaDriver has based their career on remaking classic video game music in heavy metal. You MUST see this website. Browse the list of free songs, take what you like, and be sure to give these guys props!

http://www.megadriver.com.br/sitev2.html

Sent to us by a viewer, I submit the below for your curiosities. Ok, what happened here? Well some unlucky chap was playing Wii Sports WITHOUT the wrist strap, and WHOOPS! the Wii remote flew right out of his hand, and right into his new HD projection TV.

That's what you get for not following directions!

EDIT: It seems this problem is quite widespread, I have come across a collection of people who this has happened to. Check HERE for those stories.

Enjoy this funny Youtube video of someone making a milkshake with a Wiimote.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IevMrQMp-to

There has been a lot of talk about the PS3 and the Wii recently. Obviously Nintendo is doing something right, because one look at the tally on http://nexgenwars.com/ tells you that Nintendo has twice as many Wii's in homes as Sony has PS3's, and the poll puts Wii heavily in favor to win the "war".

Everyone has their own opinions, and I have mine. So here we go.

Basically the Wii itself is like any other system out there. Sure, the technology inside the box is unique, as well as the GUI interface. But at the core, it's just a console. The one thing that really sets Wii apart is the controller (ok, and the name...there I said it). The Wii remote supports an astonishing degree of motion sensitivity, and it is very precise in the point and click area as well. The controller is light, and comfortable no matter which way you hold it.

The console itself is very small, about the size of the PSOne mini or smaller. It runs quiet, and never gets warm. The auto-feed disc loading is done well, and the console gives you plenty of room to get your finger in the center hole of the disk for safe removal. It is also very easy to hook up, as Nintendo systems always are. I took it out of the box and was playing Wii sports in no time.

The controller applies well to an in-game environment. In Wii Sports, the Wii remote acts as your baseball bat, bowling ball, golf club, tennis racket, etc. For each sport, you hold the remote like you would the real equipment. Unfortunately, the boxing segment of the game is the only part that uses the nunchuck. The two handed gameplay is exactly the right step in the direction of interactive boxing games. A new Punch-Out would work famously with this control scheme.

Wii Sports has been called a demo to some, but it's not really. It is more like the limited gameplay these same titles would have had back on NES. Wii Sports really feels like Classic Nintendo. The game inspires people to get off their lazy ass and actually PLAY with your system, and for that I love it. There are even a training mode and a fitness mode (think Brain Age) to keep you busy. There is stat tracking, and to keep your score, you have to stay consistant in your skill. Yes, you can lose points.

Also I should mention that I played with my mom, sister, and wife. We all had a blast as a family. I think the fact that the Wii can bring people together like that is something that more people should talk about.

As for the Wii online, there isn't much as of yet. I really like the way their marketplace is set up, and I think the pricing of classic games is fair. I like the fact that the Cube controller works well with almost all the classic games, meaning that you won't have to track down one of the elusive classic controllers this holiday. Cube controllers are cheap and abundant. I suggest a Wavebird.

The Wii does support the USB dongle for wireless access, but be cautioned that the dongle won't work for all PC set-ups. For the same price as the USB adapter, you can get a wireless router at Wal-Mart. The Wii was surprisingly easy to set up for online with a router, and I give kudos to Nintendo for making it so simple.

I have two complaints. One, Wii Sports should have came in a clamshell DVD case. I know it's not much of a big deal, but the first time I removed my disk from the package, the staples on the instruction booklet made a small scratch. This pissed me off of course, so I keep my disk in a seperate clamshell right now. Second, they promote ease of hook-up with the USB adapter, yet if you have problems getting hooked up, the website is not a good place to go for help. You are better off calling Nintendo directly. Microsoft definately has the edge with their website, but that really doesn't hamper the Wii system one bit.

Overall, the Wii is an impressive hardware. We all know that it's graphical power isn't as high as the competitors...who cares. Nintendo did one thing that the other guys did not. They give you a new way to play the same old games. Gaming hasn't evolved (graphics aside) in a very long time. I think the last evolutions that were as significant as the Wii's controls would be Super Mario 64 and the SegaNet/XBL online infrastructure. Finally gaming can feel fresh and new again.

If you can find one of these systems this holiday, please do yourself and your whole family a favor. Buy it, and perhaps pick up Red Steel, Zelda, and/or Excite Truck.

Verdict: BUY

Thanks to some crazy Koreans (I love yall!), the PS3 can now live up to the inflated price tag. For $600 the damn thing better cook your lunch! Well that's just what it does! See the below link to find out what I'm talking about! If this doesn't make you laugh, you need the stick surgically removed from your ass.

PS3 Grill

You know, I'm not really sure what people were expecting from this game. The horrible reviews state-side kind of confuse me. The game is not THAT bad. The number one thing I hear people bitching and moaning about is the controls. So let me start there.

Some say this game has a steep learning curve. It is not in the slightest bit steep. In fact, I'd go so far as to say that this game is one of the easiest controlling shooters ever. The point and click shooting is absolutely the coolest thing about this game. If ever the arcade rail shooter genre (Area 51) and the traditional FPS genre (Halo, Half-Life) could blend, this is most certainly the way to do it. The pointer is very acurate if you calibrate it right, and mixed with the strafing and ducking behind cover, you can have a very satisfying shootout...particularly if you know what explosive environmental objects are in your area!

The nunchuck half of the controls work well too. It's basically the left stick from any controller ever made, with two extra buttons. One button jumps, the other ducks. Jumping is used occassionally, but ducking behind cover is a necessity. Perhaps that is the part that people just don't get. If you run into a room full of people with machine guns, expect to get shot. Another great feature of the nunchuck is the ability to interact with the environment by flipping tables for cover, picking up weapons, and opening doors.

The sword fighting. This deserves it's own section. Just like you can't run into a room ful of people with machineguns and expect to not get shot, you can't wildly swing your sword and expect not to get hit. The sword fighting in Red Steel feels more like a mini-game, which is unfortunate because it's so fun. The block/parry style of sword fighting really impressed me, and the fact that the nunchuck is used to the fullest extent also impresses me. You just don't get as many sword fights as you want, as this is primarily a shooter. But one thing kept crossing my mind...the Dynasty Warriors first person sword game from Koei. I can't wait.

Graphically, this game is not bad. Really. We all know the Wii's power, and there is no arguing that other next-gen games look better. But in 480p, this game has it's moments. I think with a little more time to polish this game, it could have truly looked better. I absolutely believe that the Wii can do so much better in this department.

However, graphics aside, I experienced a very unique and fun shooter. Red Steel feels a lot like Golden-Eye 64 in the way that combat is played out. Even the multi-player beckons memories of that classic. The story isn't enthralling, the graphics lack polish...but if you pass this game up for those reasons, you may miss out on one of the better Wii games. If you go into this game with ducking for cover and parrying with your sword in mind, you may really enjoy the deep combat system. This is a very great start for shooters on the Wii, and if anything, Red Steel proves that the Metroid game is going to work very well with these new controlls.

Oh, and for those of you complaining that your arms get tired, not only does Red Steel not require over exertion, it even has a setting in the menu that recognizes small sword strokes instead of large ones. But since most of the complainers probably never read the manual or bothered to adjust settings, they would never have known this.

My verdict: BUY

You know, there are a lot of people I talk to that won't bother with this game because of the kid-toned outer shell. But what they miss is one of the better sim creation games to ever hit a console.

For those of you who don't know much about the game, and want to know what it's like, it basically combines elements of these great games:

Sim City
The Sims
Harvest Moon
Black & White
Animal Crossing

But while it has elements of all those great games, it still manages to stay fresh and unique.
Rare has also done an outstanding job or recreating the feel of the Nintendo-era Rareware. This feels very much like a Nintendo product. The musical score is IMO the third best of the year (Gears Of War and FFXII round out the top 3). Done by the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, it definately creates a feel all it's own. This is great news to those that didn't want to hear "cartoon style" music through the whole game.

While this seems very much like a kids game it is very complex. Maybe I don't give kids enough credit, but I can't imagine the 10 and under crowd being able to handle this. On the flip side, this game's appeal can reach far and wide. Any age can find a way to enjoy this, as long as you have an open mind going into it. Parents, this game IS kid safe, and if your youn ones like it, you can hook up a second controller and help them out through a sort of co-op.

I'm not going to bother giving this game a number. Numbers confuse people and muddle up what is truly good about a game. Instead, I will just say that I am seriously impressed with this game, far more than I ever thought I would be. Take that as you will, but in my eyes this is a keeper.