We got a chance to look at an advanced preview of the new Amazing Spiderman. Does it live up to the hype or is it destined to go the way of the awful movie video-game? Read on to find out!
One of the things that I was afraid of when previewing the game was that the game might be too rushed. This is generally what plagues video-games that are made from Movies, but I am happy to report that the game play did seem to be well thought out. I’ll tell you about my favorite bits before I get to what I thought could use improvement.
One of the things I love doing with the Spider-man Character in any Spidey Video game is webbing around the city free-form. This is what made Spider-man one of my favorite superheroes. I would imagine myself with those amazing powers to somersault and zip around the city via web. This is what makes playing Spider-man great and the developers nailed it. Spider-man really seems real and there is a sense of tension when falling all the way down to near ground levels before Spider-man suddenly shoots a new web, swinging upwards in the nick of time. It’s absolutely brilliant! So what’s so new about that? Well, they’ve added the ability to choose where you will web to next while in mid swing. The cool part is, based on your surroundings, Spider-man dynamically uses objects around him or in his path to get to the destination that you’ve selected. So he doesn’t just miraculously appear where you wanted him to or magically web through solid objects. He interacts with them by using them or somersaulting over them in unique and different ways to get to the destination you’ve chosen. Not only that, but you can chain these together for the ultimate Spidey-Experience! You can’t really destroy or damage buildings around you which was a bummer, but Spider-man isn’t exactly known for his destructiveness so it’s all good. You have all the normal stuff like collectible comics and figurines, or side quests and random thugs to take out. Other than the Iguana fella, we didn’t get to see any other characters that might be revealed in the movie or later on in the game.
A few items of note though are that there really isn’t a life bar for better or for worse, nor do you have to run around looking for web cartridges as they automatically replenish. Some fans may take issue with this. Also, I wasn’t too impressed with the character design of the baddies – but since it was an early build I expect the team to polish the characters up a bit.
Long story short, I am cautiously optimistic about the game and will be picking it up as the game-play was intriguing enough to give it a shot. Check the trailer below:
Nokia teamed up with Niki Minaj for a performance smack-dab in the middle of Times Square today. Taking over some of the biggest electronic screens in Times Square, Niki Minaj performed a few numbers from her new album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.
The performance was delivered to kick off the launch of Nokia’s new Windows Phone the Noki Lumia 900. The phone is now available state-side for a cool $100 bucks on AT&T. The phone is 4G LTE capable and has been hailed as one of the sexiest physical designed phones thus far.
If your a fan of the original XCOM game “UFO: Enemy Unkown”, then you will no doubt be happy to hear that Developers have been hard at work with a refresh of the popular series.
We had the privilege of being able to take a quick look at a Demo and see the new trailer found here. As a fan of strategy games, this game really seems to really test the gamer’s skills. What I was most impressed with is the fact that it takes the best from RPGs, Shooters, and Strategy games and makes a hybrid of all those genres. You have complete control over your squad and can assign weapons and gear at your base which you also have complete control over designing. Another really intriguing aspect of the game is the fact that each squad member is unique and will not come back if killed in action! So all of your hard work – for better or worse dies with that member. This adds an added dynamic to the game that ups the ante a little bit every time you play a level.
We got a chance to speak with Garth DeAngeles and Greg Foertsch so check out the video below:
We took a look at Nokia’s first Windows Phone 7 Phone the Nokia Lumia 710. Wary about this new relationship? See below to find out if it’s all a hype or the real deal.
Likes
Form Factor
The Nokia Lumia 710 is a very handsome phone. It’s not oozing sexiness, but it’s close. I love the clear black display that Nokia has going on – it makes everything on the screen pop. The shape is simple and elegant. As a phone that won’t break the bank, one certainly won’t feel ashamed to pull it out in public.
Metro
Windows Phone’s new Metro stylings go surprisingly well with the elegant physical form of the device. It’s got beauty and smarts too. The best of both worlds. The UI is super slick and extremely fluid. I rarely stuttered or lagged at all and the minimalist design of the apps underscores the brilliant display. The screen is only 3.7″, but you don’t feel cheated. The UI is also very intuitive. I haven’t used Windows Phone 7.5 a great deal, but I never felt confused or out of step at all. I also love linking the multiple numbers and email address I have for the same person together. Microsoft really paid attention to those little details which really made the experience refreshing. I was also able to sync my contacts from my old phone via Bluetooth in less than 2 minutes. Linked my facebook and twitter accounts and it was off to the races!
Ease of Use
Simply put, this phone was just a pleasure to use. There may not be as many Windows Phone 7 apps as there are iPhone apps, but there was definitely something for most people to enjoy. Nokia also adds to the party with select apps of their own like Nokia Maps, Nokia Drive and Contacts Transfer to name a few. I was also quite impressed with the Office Suite – especially Outlook. I usually hate to check my emails via phone because it can get quite confusing and annoying, but it was a dream on the Lumia 710. I could carry on full blown conversations while out of the office which I will classify as a good thing in this write-up, and a bad thing for my social life.
Dislikes:
Battery Life
The battery life wasn’t atrocious, but I will say that I needed to charge by the end of day with moderate use over wifi which kind of hampered my experience a little. Even while idle, I found the phone needed charging even if I didn’t use it for the majority of the day.
Size/No Expandable Memory Slot
I found myself wanting a bigger screen simply because I enjoyed the experience so much. The guts are surprisingly premium, with the whole 9 yards of sensors and chips. You can find the complete breakdown here. It also comes with 8 Gigs of internal memory, but no ability to upgrade which is a little annoying if you’re like me and don’t like being told what to do.
Overall:
My overall impression of this phone is that it’s a sleeper. Understated elegance in the simple yet alluring form factor. Surprisingly simple yet quite functional OS make for a pleasant user experience. Wifi/Bluetooth connectivity, FM Radio, 3D accelerometer, 2 microphones etc… . I wish the phone was a little bigger, and lasted a little longer, but I was definitely impressed with using it. If you’re not interested in the flash, and need and need a simple and effective phone to keep up socially and even work-wise – check this phone out.
I got a chance to test drive Lincoln’s all new MKZ Hybrid Luxury Vehicle all around New York City. To be honest, I’ve never driven a Lincoln before and I always thought the brand was for, how do I say it, the generation ahead of mine. I will say, the style and perks with the all new MKZ were a pleasant surprise. See my thoughts below.
Likes:
Body
I was very intrigued by the style of the MKZ. It is slightly aggressive, yet refined. It also has “the car next door” look to it which means it is slightly unassuming. I think the style fits quite nicely because you don’t reek of pretentiousness after you open the car door to step out. One is also pleasantly surprised when he takes a peek inside to find leather seats and a smartly laid out dash. “Smart Gauge”
This really came in handy as I drove around. It’s almost like an app for making sure you are being as fuel efficient as possible at all times. It literally delivers real time information on how much electricity vs fuel you are using. I could take a quick glance at the dashboard and make certain decisions based on that information to help ease the pain the next time I went to the gas station. Fuel Efficiency
41 MPG! I didn’t try my luck and drive all the gas out – but I believe that number. After driving for a while I never felt anxious about how much fuel was left. If anything, I started to get maniacal about checking how much energy I was saving over on the battery meter on the Smart Gauge. This is a huge factor and can’t be understated especially with gas hitting around 4 bucks a gallon.
Sync
Not a huge amount to say here other than the fact that I really liked how simple it was to sync my mobile device to the car. I also synced my music and contacts to the car’s onboard memory and I could immediately call the last person who called me or who I had called. I could dial anyone I needed to or command my playlists – all via voice control.
Dislikes:
Lack of Opulence
So you remember earlier on in this post how I said “you don’t reek of pretentiousness when you open the car door?” Well, I kinda wish I did – just a little. Inside was very nice, don’t get me wrong, but I felt almost guilty about how down to earth the car was. I really would have liked some over the top items like TVs in the back or something. Everything was so useful. The rear parking camera, the blinky-lite every time there was oncoming traffic. It’s just so practical it made me a little nuts! Where was the Champagne dispenser? Navigation:
I did have a little issue here. I tried on several occasions to get directions to certain areas around the city and found myself trying over, and over, and over again to make the computer understand what I was saying. Then I had to confirm my selections with the number associated with the place I had described on the dashboard which I found quite a bit more distracting than I would have liked. In the end, I just gave up and used my mobile phone’s map for directions.
Summary:
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun it was to drive this vehicle. Saving money at the pump always puts a smile on face! It’s a car no one will make fun of you for driving, but it is a little unassuming. The sync interface is really good and I can’t wait for it to be updated so that it’s even better. You really get the feel that most cars will have some system like it standard in the next few years.
I’m sure you’ve heard of Sony’s new handheld gaming system called the PS Vita. You know about the 5″ screen, and the front and rear facing cameras. You may also know about it’s wi-fi, 3G, and Bluetooth connectivity. However, have you actually handled one? Held it gently in your arms and played the day away? If not, then here’s your chance! Sony has set up 8 “Social Clubs” around the country for people to go to, to experience the Vita. The eight towns are: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, New York, Boston, Chicago, and Austin. You can go here for more information. I went to the one in New York located at 154 Stanton Street, New York, NY. They hooked us up with free snacks and beverages as well as let us play as long as we wanted on the Vitas strewn across the many tables in the room. The hip decoration and trendy music made for a vibrant and cool experience. You also get to sign up for free which locks you in to the possibility of winning a Vita for yourself. If you haven’t gone yet, you better hurry as the promotion ends on the 22nd!
A couple of the games you’ll be able to play are listed below. There’s also some pretty cool footage of some of the games and their developers, so click the links below.
If you’re a fan of Baseball there’s a good chance you’ll be interested in 2K’s announcement that they are partnering with SPIN Media, the premiere source for media discovery, to release a sound track for the new game. The game release date is March 6th, 2012. This is the first time SPIN has collaborated with any video game. Check the full PR Release below:
2K Sports partners with SPIN for Major League Baseball® 2K12 Soundtrack
Featuring exclusive original track from G-Side – free to download on SPIN.com;
Plus artists Bass Drum of Death, Grouplove, Skrillex, The Vaccines, and more
New York, NY – February 16, 2012 – 2K Sports today announced that they have
partnered with SPIN Media, the premier resource for music discovery, to create a
13-song soundtrack for the upcoming Major League Baseball® 2K12, the eagerly
anticipated next iteration of the popular MLB 2K series, which hits stores
nationwide on March 6, 2012.
The release of MLB 2K12 marks the first time that SPIN has collaborated on a video
game soundtrack and the first time 2K Sports has worked with a music media company.
The baseball-loving team behind SPIN jumped at the chance to curate the game and
enlisted a hard-hitting team to select the songs.
The resulting playlist covers all bases with a wide range of musical genres from
hip-hop and electronic, to rock and pop, and includes both established and emerging
artists, reflecting the true diversity of baseball fans. Earning themselves the
unofficial title of “most valuable players,” Alabama rap duo and SPIN breaking-out
artists, G-Side, recorded an exclusive original track called “Put Me in the Game” –
hitting a home run with the fresh, futuristic, synth-heavy beat.
G-Side’s exclusive track, which is inspired by “defying odds to achieve something
greater in life,” can be downloaded for free at SPIN.com/mlb2k12 starting February
21. The rest of the soundtrack will also be available to stream.
"When the match is right, music and sports can complement each other in a profound
way, so curating SPIN’s first video game soundtrack was an exciting challenge. We
were thrilled to be asked by 2K Sports, and took seriously the responsibility of
sharing some of our favorite tracks with MLB fans,” said Charles Aaron, SPIN
Editorial Director. “Many special thanks, of course, go to G-Side for providing an
awesome new track."
MLB 2K12 features AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander on the cover
along with a robust list of features and game modes, improved gameplay, and the
return of the $1 Million Perfect Game Challenge, which will award one MLB 2K12 gamer
the coveted grand prize. SPIN’s hand-picked soundtrack bolsters an immersive
baseball experience.
“This year’s soundtrack is easily the best yet thanks to SPIN,” said Jason Argent,
vice president of marketing, 2K Sports. “They are experts in the music industry and
our fans are really going to enjoy the playlist they selected when playing MLB 2K12.
Music is a key element in our sports titles, so when we’re working hard to create
the best, most authentic experience for fans we expect the soundtrack to follow the
same beat.”
The complete track listing for the MLB 2K12 soundtrack includes:
1. Bass Drum of Death, "Get Found"
2. Explosions in the Sky, "Trembling Hands"
3. The Cool Kids, "Boomin'"
4. The Vaccines, "If You Wanna"
5. G-Side, "Put Me in the Game"
6. Grouplove, "Colours"
7. JEFF the Brotherhood, "Shredder"
8. My Morning Jacket, "Holdin On to Black Metal"
9. Skrillex, "Nice Sprites & Scary Monsters"
10. Telekinesis, "Please Ask for Help"
11. The Joy Formidable, "Austere"
12. Atmosphere, "Just for Show"
13. Pretty Lights, "Hot Like Dimes"
MLB 2K12 is rated E for everyone by the ESRB and will be available March 6, 2012 for
the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation® 3
computer entertainment system, Wii™ system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment
system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Nintendo DS™ and Windows PC.
the title is not misleading at all. Sony has come up with the idea, as promotion for the new installment of Twisted Metal for Playstation3 coming out on the 14th, to hook a fully automatic weapon up to a server and a webcam. They are allowing lucky winners to remotely shoot at an ice cream truck in the middle of the dessert. All you sick and twisted individuals interested can sign up here with your facebook or twitter account.
Activision announced that come Jan 24th, Call of Duty Elite Members will have access to post-release content. This content will be released monthly for the next 9 months. Yup NINE MONTHS! Those with Xbox Live Accounts will get the first dibs with content for other consoles coming later.
The new content will include new multi-player maps including Central Park and the Italian seaside. I’m pretty excited about this new package as MW3 is, in my opinion, the best in the series to date. If you’re an Elite Member, you can go here for more info: http://www.callofduty.com/elite/go-premium
Full Press Release below:
BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT RELEASE OF THE YEAR GETS EVEN BIGGER WITH UNPRECEDENTED NINE-MONTH POST-RELEASE CONTENT SCHEDULE AVAILABLE FIRST FOR CALL OF DUTY® ELITE PREMIUM MEMBERS Call Of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3’s Season of Monthly Content for Call of Duty Elite Premium Members Kicks Off January 24th on Xbox LIVE Santa Monica, CA – January 10, 2012 – Modern Warfare® 3 blazes into 2012 with the debut of all-new multiplayer maps Liberation and Piazza, the front line of the Modern Warfare® 3 Content Season for Call of Duty® Elite, nine consecutive months of epic downloadable content that commences January 24th for Xbox Live users. Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI), revealed today that the content will be available first for Call of Duty® Elite’s premium members on Xbox LIVE, followed by additional platforms at a later time. From January through September, Call of Duty Elite premium members on Xbox LIVE will receive regular updates of all new content totaling at least 20 content drops. The Modern Warfare 3 Content Season for Call of Duty Elite will include a broader variety than ever, with brand new multiplayer maps, Special Ops Missions, new game modes and more. While Call of Duty Elite premium subscribers get the new content first, as promised, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 fans who want to buy the content a la carte as they have in the past, will be able to purchase the content via Modern Warfare 3 Content Collections. “The mammoth launch of Modern Warfare 3 and the breakout success of Call of Duty Elite were just the beginning. Call of Duty Elite provides an ?always-on’ connection to our fanbase, and the MW3 Content Season is the ultimate way to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the Call of Duty community and provide tremendous value to Call of Duty Elite premium members, said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. With the Call of Duty®: MW3 Content Season for Call of Duty Elite we are delivering on our promise of more new content, more often, and with more variety than ever. With three studios collaborating on the first season, the breadth and depth of material on tap is truly extraordinary. It’s rare you can successfully execute both quantity and quality, but thanks to the expertise of our developers, the reach of Call of Duty Elite and the passion of our fans, we intend to deliver. All content drops for Call of Duty Elite premium members will occur once a month, starting in January for Xbox Live users and will continue through the year, ending in September. During the first three months of 2012, Activision will release five different content drops on three occasions in January, February and March, first on Xbox Live, followed by additional platforms at a later time. The first two Content Drops will be multiplayer maps also playable in Modern Warfare 3 Survival Mode that throw combatants into a war-torn Central Park and an Italian seaside village. Liberation is a vast, militarized landscape, ripe for long-range sniper and LMG fire, with mounted turrets on either end that lend power to anyone brave enough to expose themselves in exchange for deadly firepower. Piazza is the idyllic Italian getaway that is anything but, where tight corners and branching pathways pose great risk at every turn. Close-range combat dominates in Piazza, where attacks from behind, above and below are an ever-constant threat. The third Content Drop will be available for download in mid-February and two additional Content Drops will go live in March, as premium Call of Duty Elite members will receive new content once a month through September. Also in March, the first Modern Warfare 3 Content Collection will be available for purchase by the entire Call of Duty: MW3 player community on Xbox Live. To celebrate the launch of each new content drop, Call of Duty Elite will run specialized events for real-world prizes throughout the nine-month Season. Additional details about the Modern Warfare 3 Content Season for Call of Duty Elite and Collection series will be announced throughout the year. The Modern Warfare 3 Content Season is co-developed by Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is rated “M” (Mature) by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence and Strong Language. For more information on the Call of Duty: MW3 content drops, season of content, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Call of Duty Elite visit www.callofduty.com/mw3 and www.callofduty.com/elite. To become a Call of Duty Elite premium member, go to http://www.callofduty.com/elite/go-premium. For additional Call of Duty Elite updates and information, visit www.facebook.com/callofdutyelite, and also via Twitter @CallofDutyElite. Published by Activision and developed by Beachhead Studio, Call of Duty Elite is a comprehensive social gaming network offering a deep and innovative service for all registered Call of Duty players. Call of Duty Elite provides “always-on,” universal communication between the platform and the game. Players can access Call of Duty Elite via web or console—to connect with friends, plan multiplayer matches with their Clan or social Group, configure load-outs, access comprehensive stats and interactive heat maps, and much more. About Activision Publishing, Inc. Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.
We got a chance to check out the Xperia PLAY 4G for the last few weeks and I’ve definitely got some opinions on the phone. Read further to find out what they are!
Likes:
Design
When looking at the phone, it honestly looks like a business device. The chrome and shiny back really look sleek. The 4″ screen doesn’t look over-sized and it’s not a device you would be ashamed to pull out on the train or around others. You really can’t tell that this device is meant for gaming until you slide out the game pad.
Software Tweaks
Sony has skinned Android Gingerbread (Ice Cream Sandwich’s predecessor) and overall its pretty nice. It’s mostly visual tweaks like widgets and the way you get around the app-tray. None of these tweaks are groundbreaking but they add some extra pizzazz.
Games
This is what you’re waiting for no doubt. I really like the fact that there are games specifically designed for this device. They also have great titles. I’ve been playing Sims for the last week. The graphics for playing games like Asphalt 6 were great and the phone rarely stuttered in those high-speed moments. This phone really takes you away from the lower quality games and makes you want to spend money investing in decent games because you can play them better with a direction pad, touch pad and physical buttons.
Dislikes:
Size
The look of the device is great, but it’s pretty heavy and the game pad really makes the device look thick. I totally understand that the space is needed for physical game buttons, but it really detracts from the beauty of the phone. If this phone could slim down, it would look a lot nicer.
Buttons
I’m really talking about the the Android buttons here. They are really thin and are situated in a sort of arc at the bottom of the phone which is kind of annoying. It’s really hard to hit any of them without looking since they are so close together and not linear. I also didn’t like the left and right bumper as well as the volume rocker all on the same side. It’s really cluttered on the right side and the left side is pretty much barren except for the micro USB slot and 3.5 mm jack. I really would have liked to see the bumpers a little smaller and perhaps doubling as the volume rocker when a game is not being played. Or maybe even one of them as a physical camera button when in camera mode. I definitely understand the need for the game buttons to only have in-game use, but they are just so big so you really can’t ignore them. so why not use them?
Touch Pad
The two touch pads are really neat, but I just can’t get used to them. The area is so small it’s difficult for me to really game effectively. However, it is more sensitive than the D-Pad I’ve found, but I’d rather have a more sensitive D – Pad in the end.
Summary:
I love the concept. It’s a phone that plays games. Well. It has a directional pad built in along with the other bells and whistles that come with a normal game controller. But it’s also a phone. This is awesome, and if you like to play games on your mobile device you should really consider this phone. However, I found that the phone and game portions of the device didn’t mesh as well as they could. You really can’t use the directional pad or touch pad anywhere other than in a game. For the rest of the time, half of your phone is unusable which I think is a real shame. I think Sony Ericson should have ditched balance and went with one of the characteristics. A gaming device that makes calls or a calling device that plays games with an emphasis on one or the other, but this phone seems to be balanced exactly 50/50 which I think hurts it a bit. But what do I know – check it out for yourself!
