We are happy to announce that the Saints Row DLC we previously broke the story on is officially out on the marketplace. You get the entire pack for a mere 100 marketplace points.

To see what is included, please chck the following posts:

http://rated-m.blogspot.com/2006/09/world-exclusive-saints-row-dlc.html

http://rated-m.blogspot.com/2006/09/saints-row-dlc-videos.html

One note, developers say that people who DON'T own the clothes will not see them on you in game. However, at this price, why WOULDN'T people get it?

BTW, you can still get this pack FREE at your local GameStop/EB by taking your MU to the in store kiosk.

Who is "The Jessie Project"? Well, besides being the first Rated-M Indie Band of the Month, they are a very unique band made up of Jessie Lynn, RudeMoody, and F. Xavier Calabrese. A mix-up of rock, techno and 80's hip-hop, their songs are a fresh break away from the norm. The band has a wide range of sounds. From the slow and dramatic to the funky rock to the club bangers, each song sounds unique and different. Jessie does a great job of showcasing her voice over the blend of syles, definately showing how versatile she is. You can't easily compare TJP to another band either, which is another thing I like about them. We forsee good things in the future of this trio!

I had a chance to speak with TJP's RudeMoody about the band.

JT: How long have you guys been on the indie music scene?

RM: The band has been around for about four years, but the current lineup is
less than a year old. The debut album, "Break The Radio", was mostly
RudeMoody doing all the music production and Jessie Lynn singing. The new
stuff will still have that retro/electronic/industrial vibe we began with,
but with our new guitarist, Frank, we're taking it to a higher level. Check
out "Behind These Eyes" to see an example of our more "mature" sound. It's
been described as "70's hard rock mated with modern electronic music".

JT: If you could describe the indie music scene in one word, what would you
choose?

RM: One word? VITAL. The pop music scene is mostly over-produced,
over-calculated "product" to be spoon-fed to people too lazy to look for an
artist or band that they can really connect with. Our song "Break The Radio"
is about that - the decline of mainstream music as an art form. Some of the
indie music scene can truly amaze the uninitiated with it's diversity and
creativity. Check out our website for more of our thoughts on that subject.


JT: How did you guys come up with the name for your band? I know the singer
is Jessie, but how did you arrive at the name you did?

RM: It was the name of the original folder on Rude's hard drive that he was
working out of when he was making a three-track demo for Jessie Lynn. After
a while, we decided to go on the web and share some of our work, and the
positive feedback inspired us to do more. Then, after the enthusiastic
response we got at our first real gig, we were psyched enough to put
together a full album. Now, with our new guitarist, the tunes are much more
musically complex and nuanced; he was the missing-link we needed to advance.
We still keep the name "The Jessie Project" because it's straightforward and
describes us well - the music is a constant learning experience and evolves
into whatever it ultimately becomes.

JT: How would you describe the state of indie music on the net today? What I
mean by this is, with MySpace, CDBaby, MP3.com and many other sites, do you
find it easy to self promote and sell your stuff, or do you think there is
more that could be available?

RM: There's plenty of ways to get your stuff out there. Without the web, indie
bands would still have to sell 45's out of the back of their van. Now, you
have access to people across the world. It's cool to know that there are
radio stations in Europe playing our stuff right now, thanks to exposure on
MySpace and similar sites. Although, we think bands need to spam less and
let people discover their music on their own. MySpace seems to be a
popularity contest with bands these days. A band will have ten-thousand
"friends" and maybe only a couple hundred really like their music. What's
the point in that?

JT: If you could collaborate with one musician, famous or not, who would it
be and why?

RM: Your own music is a collaboration of sorts - just as life experiences shape
your personality and mentality, the music you've been exposed to affects
your style and your own creation, both consciously and subconsciously. So
we'd say that all musicians have already collaborated with the ones they've
admired. Check our bios on our website for our influences and to figure out
a more direct answer.

JT: What are some of the passions that drive you as a band?

RM: True-life experiences in love and relationships, a general anger towards the
current state of the world and the apathetic mentality of the average joe,
and, of course, the drive to artistically express oneself.

JT: What is in the future for TJP?

RM: We've got about four songs done towards the completion of our second record,
and hope to finish it by the end of the year, while doing some shows here
and there to keep sharp. We'll be making some more videos and posting them
on our website, too. After the new album is pressed and done, we'll kick it
into high gear and take it wherever it takes us.

JT: What do you want the world to know about TJP?

RM: Our music is a combination of three people's distinct visions, combined,
evolved, and brought to life to the best of our abilities. It is from our
hearts and our souls. It is not designed to please everyone and rake in a
quick buck. We hope to help open the eyes of some of the people out there
and show them there is more to music than the stuff you can buy at WalMart.
As we say on our website, "An emotional bond cannot be bought, or sold, or
played in rotation. The art of one person will connect only to whom it was meant for."

JT: Thanks for your time!

RM: Thanks, Jason. We appreciate the support!

So head on over to http://www.thejessieproject.com and see for yourself. You can find MP3 downloads, videos, bios and more. I'm fond of DeadEye, Day of Confession, and the Break the Radio video!

Now, according to my moles at blockbuster a few choice games are now 19.99 new and even one is 9.99 new. I'm not sure if this is in every store, but all you have to do is call them up and ask to verify. As far as I know this isn't a sale, but the markdown for these games.
19.99 titles:
Far Cry Instincts Predator
Full Auto
Burnout Revenge
Perfect Dark Zero Col. Ed.
9.99 Titles:
College Hoops 2k6

Also, I was in my local Walmart when I spotted an empty rack for a new demo disk for the 360. It apparently contained demos, music videos, and more. If anybody can get a hold of one, then let us know so we can post what's contained on the disc.

By now, many of you have heard of the shitty pre-order plan that GameStop/EB was launching. Forced to trade $50 worth of stuff for your reserve? WTF? So I did a little digging. I called 15 GameStop and EBGames nationwide this morning (even one in Hawaii, where this was rumored to come from). Most of them had heard of this promotion, but all said it was fake. The marketing never made it to stores, the district managers never mentioned this once.

So where did the above poster come from, if not from GameStop? We think it is a doctored photo. The guy who took the photo made sure to put on it that it wasn't photoshopped. Well if that is so, then why didn't the promotion start today? Why have no stores gotten news or marketing for this "event"? Simple, this is a cut and paste of real marketing made to look like something it's not. A few scans, then a rough photo of the finished product to make it seem believable.

Well being the digger of news that I am, I called corporate, who promptly told me that their pre-order plans had not been finalized as of yet, and in now way were they going to begin on the day mentioned, or in that particular method. They still didn't 100% deny it, but I think that says it all.

Whoever created this hoax gets the 100% bullshitter of the month award!

Thanks to my friend Rameen Yousefi for the heads up on this whole story.

ok, I know you all want the date of the patch. But the thing STILL isn't done. However, the devs are adding some great things to the mix to hopefully quell some of the crybabying going on. The additions include 4xAA (was 2x) and the ability to toggle v-sych. No more tearing!

This is a great start, hopefully it continues to improve.

Source: http://developer.saintsrow.com/forums/showthread.php?t=4375

We have chosen 19 lucky winners in our TDU free car code giveaway! Please check your PM's in our forums, and look out for an e-mail from us (lotusfilms@hotmail.com). Congratulations to the winners!

NOTE: The code must be entered on

http:www.testdriveunlimited.com/presell.

The Oblivion contest is running just a bit longer, then it is gone for good too, so make sure you get on that one too!

Stay tuned for more great contests and giveaways!

We have 19 codes for the pre-order car for Test Drive unlimited, the Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe, and we are ready to give them out!

The codes will be distributed amoung 19 registered users of our forums who post in the appropriate topic.

YOUR ENTRY MUST INCLUDE NAME AND E-MAIL ADDRESS OR IT WILL NOT COUNT!

All entries will stop within 24 hours of this posting and the winners will be chosen.

If you have entered to win the Oblivion Horse Armor, you may still enter this one too! Visit the link below to enter!

http://s2.excoboard.com/exco/thread.php?forumid=136533&threadid=947523

So it seems the Wii is going to be 250 bucks. That's great, as it's way cheaper than both of the next gen systems! Also it's dated for Nov. 19th so...get your wallets ready...November is going to be a BIG BIG month.

Today we give you two different inside looks at the new tin case included in the FFXII Special Edition exclusive to GameStop/EB. The pictures featured here are actual photographs of the real retail case. The link below them will take you to GameStop.com's artist rendering of the same case.

UPDATED: Added the box art for the U.S. version's regular edition as well (by request)!

Front and back seperate.

Outside opened.

Inside opened.

Regular Edition box art.

Artist rendering (via GameStop): http://www.gamestop.com/gs/ffxii/ffxii_casedetail.html

Even though Forza 2 might be delayed, you can still head to your local GameStop/EB and pre-order the game. Securing a reservation gives you a code for an exclusive in-game car, the Nissan Fairlady Z.

The code is picked up at time of purchase, and even GameStop.com reserves can get in on the action. Head to the link at the bottom of the page to reserve it online, or head to your local GameStop today.

Enjoy!

Source: http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=200187

Recently, we brought you news of the Wii and PS3 kiosk units, and when you can expect to test them in stores. Today, however, we have something much better for all of you. We have an exclusive first look at the units themselves!

At this time, the demo game set to play in each unit over the holiday season has not yet been determined, but this is what the units will look like in your local game store!

As always, we will continue to bring you the hottest news, so stay tund to Rated-M.com for more great stuff!

With two new consoles coming out in just a few more weeks I do want to remind everyone what happened last year around this time.

Think back to September 05 where every Ebgames, Gamestop, Game Crazy, Babbages, and any other place that is taking your money to ensure that you will have an Xbox 360 on launch day. "Wait! There isn’t enough you will have to wait until next shipment" says an employee of Ebgames. Everyone started pointing the finger at Microsoft even though Microsoft had never stated how many each store would get. Why would the game stores screw us over like this? Well I went in and dug deep and spoke to a few Ebgames employees and found out exactly why they will Pre-order items without having the supply to back it up. Every time you preorder an item that money is put on deposit in that store's bank account, so to sum it up we are giving all these stores free money because of the interest that is building up on our preorder $$$. Ok so for games this isn’t a big deal but when we are talking about system consoles it’s another story. Many of these retailers purposely over pre-ordered the 360 to get more money in the bank.

Now with two system launches coming very soon is this sham going to happen again.

HIGHLY LIKELY WITH THE PS3
Sony has stated many times that the console will be shipping in very small quantities and the rumor around the EB mill is that they are going to take as many pre-orders as they can regardless if it will not have a system for the person. I for one find this to be complete and utter BS. It’s all a scam to screw us into making their pockets that much deeper. Sure a few of you will get your system on launch day and this doesn’t apply to you but for the 100k + it is. Do not let the retailers fool you this time. Hopefully this situation is also repeated with Nintendo. I have not heard too much about their expected launch specs but Nintendo in the past has been known not to disappoint.

So I've been sitting at my computer for weeks trying to decide the right approach for doing this review. I was going to go all IGN and professional on it and highlight key points and what not. But then I realized...this isn't IGN. So I'm just going to give you my straight up opinion on the matter. Dead Rising is the kind of game that you are going to either love or hate. Myself, I adore the game with every fiber of my being. The reason for this is simple. The options. There are so many ways to kill zombies in this game, that you will forget how many you've done. Each weapon feels different in my opinion too. For instance when you smash a Zombie with a sledgehammer, the effect is drastically different then if you sliced them in half with a katana, and this is where the game shines. A lot of people complain about the save system in the game. However, I see it as a herald back to old school gaming where you had to make choices carefully, and didnt have Save points every second. That adds a lot of intensity to the game. Another area where this game shines is the storyline. The fact that you can decide to do the case files to uncover bits and pieces to the mystery was an amazing way to play it out, because you are never really sure what's exactly going on until the very end when it all comes together. The only thing that really bugged me, which I'm sure bugged 9/10ths of the people who played this game, was Otis and his walkie talkie. It wouldn't have been so bad if you could attack while on the walkie talkie, but you can't and when you get mauled by a Zombie while listening to him, you have to pick the phone up all over again and listen to his rambling all over again. Other than that, this game is like a golden prize at the bottom of a crappy cereal (the game being the prize, and the summer slump being the crappy cereal). So in conclusion, I believe that EVERYONE who owns a 360 must at least play this game once.
Final Verdict : BUY IMMEDIATELY. STOP READING THIS AND GET UP AND GO GET IT!

We have obtained information about the special edition of Smackdown Vs. Raw 2007 for the XB360. Apparently, the 360 will be the main version of the game, and thus will be the only version getting the SE.

The SE includes an embossed metal case, bonus disk from a WWE box set, and a limited edition of "The Ultimate WWE Trivia Book". Best part is, it's currently listed as the SAME PRICE as the regular! Below are photos of the pre-order marketing package, with a close-up shot of the SE features.

Before you start flying off the handle, and start calling me an insensitive prick, let me first explain why I feel the way I do. I will say first and foremost that I feel bad for all the families involved in this tragedy. That being said, I am sick of the way 9/11 has gone from national tragedy to media circus.

I am sick of the way TV stations and movie studios exploit 9/11 for their own personal gain. I am sick of the way that politicians use 9/11 as a pedestal on which to place themselves higher. You know, 5 years later, we have half a dozen Hollywood films about 9/11, but for all the millions the films cost to produce, there is still no true memorial. 5 years later, ground zero still isn't fully cleaned and restored. 5 years later, moe and more soldiers are dying, and more and more terrorists are trying to kill us. 5 years later and the governemt is still lying about what happened that day.

At what point do we stop treating this tragedy like a free press event? It's a matter of time before we start seeing the official 9/11 pizza, and the twin towers bobblehead. That is the way this is headed. It's 5 years later, and nothing has changed, and that is a greater tragedy and a greater disrespect to the families of those who died.

On this day of national mourning, I recommend checking out the site http://www.letsroll911.org. It is filled with info about the tragedy that our government has kept hidden from us. It lists documentaries which dig into these facts. I also express my condolences for the families involved, and condemn our government for the despicable way in which these events had traspired over the last 5 years.

I said my piece. You don't have to agree, but I thank you for reading.

We have decided to allow unregistered users to post comments to our articles. We have kept it only registered users until now, but decided that perhaps tha twas too strict. However keep in mind, flames, rude comments, and vulgarity are not allowed. I still hold the switch folks, and I will gladly delete any posts I do not find appropriate to the site.

UPDATE: I have called both the local San Diego post office and the national 1-800 number. I was given two totally different answers. This is leading to a lot of confusion. The San Diego branch confirmed this story, saying not to even bother bringing in items marked "Made in China" or "Made in Korea". The guys at the 1-800 number said there is nothing official in the computer about this, and that normally it depends on what the item is, and where it is going...not where it was made. So what's the deal? Continue to send me any reports of this happening in your neck of the woods!

ORIGINAL STORY: Ok. I have some disturbing news to report to all of you today. I am hearing reports from viewers nationwide that the USPS has banned shipments of any item that is marked "Made in China" or "Made in Korea". As you all know, toys, electronics, gaming consoles/games, music CD's, and so much more are mostly all made in China.

One particular incident happened in San Diego, when a viewer was trying to ship a simple Barbie Doll. The USPS opened the package and told her tha tshe couldn't send it because of the ban. they would not explain why, just that they could no send it at all. The package was going out of state, but not out of Country.

This grows even more disturbing, as I continue to get reports from views across the country about this strange ban. So we ask why? Why right at Christmas time do you ban the shipment of items "Made in China"? Is it because of tensions with N. Korea, and China's support of the country?

So we say to the USPS, thanks for ruining Christmas. Many children will not get their toys this year because you all want to be dicks.

We say to you viewers, please continue to tell us of these happenings, and we will try to get to the bottom of this.

We have been following this story since day one, when we broke the news to you guys. We reported that the content for Saints Row wouldn't show to other people online, and we wanted to find out why. Well today, a developer at Volition finally gave me an official statement:

"It will work when it needs to. I'll say it officially, in bold text: You probably shouldn't use the DLC until it's officially released.

It's not available everywhere, for one (for instance, you can't get it in Illinois) - and it's been released prematurely. We're not mad at people for having it- we just want them to understand that it won't function properly until it's officially released, and it's because it wasn't planned to be released at this time."

Thank you to Volition for finally clearing this issue up.

Over at the developer's forums, Saints Row developer "V-HarlequiN" made a revealing post about the upcoming patch and the DLC. many people want to know WHY the DLC is out before the path, and this guy has the perfect answer.

UPDATED: Added the contents of a second statement from the same dev, going further in depth.

"Some DLC can be created partly before the game even hits the shelves - it gives artists something to do while we wait for Microsoft to accept the game and for duplication to be done, neither of which happens overnight.

Patches on the other hand require the game to be out before they can be started, since until peope actually play it and say "Hey, I have a problem", we won't know what needs to be patched, if anything at all. Patching is also an enormously complex process, since while fixing problem A and B you might inadvertantly break something that was working perfectly well before. This is especially likely in a game the size of Saint's Row, so each step of the patch has to be made as carefully as possible.

Patching and DLC are also made by two seperate teams. DLC is predominantly artists, Patching is predominantly programmers. The creation of one does not appreciably delay the creation of the other.

I believe the patch also has to go through Microsoft for approval before release, and that would take an indeterminate amount of time.

So even we don't currently know exactly when the patch will be released, but I can assure you we're working very hard on it indeed (well, I'm not, but the programmers are), we want it out as soon as possible too."

The following is the most recent response from the same dev (from a different thread, also linked below):

"We've covered this ground before, but I'll cover it again (and probably add it to the FAQ).

The game was tested online, thoroughly before release. Not only by Volition's internal team, but also by THQ, other THQ studios, and Microsoft itself. None of the problems you guys have had were discovered during those tests or it would have been fixed before hitting the shelves.

So, how come all these problems were missed? It's all a question of numbers and probability and that sort of thing.

How many people tested it before it came out? Maybe 500 or so total - and it's doubtful more than 100 were testing it at any given time. That's a lot of testing by the way, more than most games probably get.

So how many people, so far, have checked out Saint's Row's multiplayer? Perhaps a few hundred thousand. Maybe a few tens of thousands at any one time (I don't have the accurate figures, given that it's Sunday night).

So the chances of a couple of hundred thousand people finding the exploit for Clothing is far greater than 500 people testing it. It only takes one of those thousands to find it, and it'll spread like wildfire. Likewise we had no way of knowing we would have such apparent lag until we had thousands of people playing all at once. It's just not something that can be tested "in the lab" as it were.

As for how hard the guys are working to get this fixed, well, you don't know what you're talking about. Nothing that is done in under two weeks could be considered even remotely stable and worthy of release, and that is how long these guys have had to work on the patch - since we didn't know it was needed until SR went live at the end of August. Even when it's finished being written it still needs to have additional testing to ensure it doesn't cause something far worse to occur, and that also takes time. Then it has to go through the channels for approval - if it has an issue at any step along that road then it's back to the beginning and you all have to wait even longer.

So be a little patient. When it's ready it will be released. If we rush it, it will actually mean an even longer delay for you guys."

There you have it. A logical answer to the question you have all wanted to ask.

Source: http://developer.saintsrow.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6157
Source: http://developer.saintsrow.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6383

For those of you 360 owners who haven't yet tried the awesome GOTY material Oblivion, Wal-Mart is running an in-store sale on the popular game. You can pik it up right now at your local Wal-Mart for a mere $49.00.

Great value for a great game. I can confirm this because I saw it with my own eyes as of yesterday, and was told that this is a nationwide sale. They did not know how long it would last, so make sure you pick one up right away!

NOTE: The sale is for the in-store locations ONLY. Their website still reflects the full retail price.