Tag Archives: xbox 360

Sexism in FPS Gaming: A Trend Worth Stopping

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For the most part, guy gamers are a welcoming lot. Most of the time when I find myself in a lobby with “GIJane,” “Mocha_Mandy,” “annies_gotta_gun,” and the rest of the [G!RL] clan the guys in the lobby are very hospitable and things end up being a lot of fun. In fact, if I’m being honest some of the best times I ever have in FPS games have been, hands down, when female gamers come into the lobbies. This environment creates a much more universally fun aspect to the experience of gaming by bringing in an “unexpected” social environment.

Nevertheless, why is it that so many male gamers are disrespectful towards girls in online video game lobbies, especially FPS games, before and after a match? Is it because some guys think that first-person shooter games are gender specific, and that girls should stick with playing stereotypical “girly games”? Or, is it because there is an allure of invisibility to the world of gaming; one which provides hecklers with an opportunity to say whatever they want without the repercussions?

These Moms will top the boards in Black Ops.

In my experience, negativity typically begins in the FPS realm as certain guys feel the need to give condescending “gameplay tips” or make Duke Nukem-esque comments (and we all know how things worked out for that guy's career...). This is especially true when there is a female gamer at the top of the scoreboard. Male gamers HATE to lose to female gamers.

I don’t get it... getting outplayed should bother us, but it should bother us in a way that makes us want to get better, not hate our competition. This is especially true when the hate is simple based on differences of gender. Just because video games hold a “male dominated” stigma doesn’t mean male gamers should get infuriated to being bested by female gamers. Look, my wife has never once thrown a spatula across the kitchen in a fit of rage because I made a great tasting dinner... she just says “damn, good job!” and enjoys the spoils of my success at the grill. Correspondingly, I have never once thrown a controller across my man-cave when she scored higher in a free-for-all than I did...I just say “damn, good job!” and sit back to listen to all the trolls with lower KDR’s when we get back into the lobby.

Now, it’d be easy to say that sexism in gaming is “just teenage boys making stupid comments”, but I believe that to be a misguided and oversimplified notion. You see, gaming isn’t just for teenagers anymore. Gone are the days of video games being reserved for middle school children who are good at math and computer science and are forced to sit at the “nobody” table. Gaming has evolved and with that evolution has created its own niche and become popular amongst a much wider age bracket than the video games of yesteryear. Correspondingly, the typical “average age” of the modern gamer is now between 15-28. Now, let’s don’t get all Chris Hansen "To Catch a Predator" here. These observations are not to say that all 28 year old men in a Call of Duty lobby are putting down, degrading, and hitting on 16 year old girls... but if you're a gamer who has a sense of maturity about you (no matter what your age) and you are tolerating those who disparage girl gamers, what does this say about you? And what kind of precedent does this set?

All in all, nobody likes to be patronized, nobody likes masochism, and it is inarguable that the world of gaming would be a much better place if these two mindsets were non-existent. But, alas, negative attitudes do exist, and the only way to stop stupidity is by taking action: kick out of the lobbies those to choose to show off their lack of knowledge, or simply press the handy “mute” button so that the only person they can talk to is their ignorant selves. Obviously, the only thing these types of comments do is make it even more difficult for girls to recognize themselves as gamers...is this really what we want as the future of gaming?? I mean think about it, without female gamers, we would never have situations like this…

 

httpv://youtu.be/_eJmYKN_1QE

Extra geek cred for appearances by a rapping Seth Green,
Battlestar Galactica's Katee Sackhoff and Stan Lee.

 

At the end of the day, we all have the same goal: to have fun playing our favorite games while striving to possibly find ourselves at the top of a scoreboard every once in a while. So, I leave with this: as a guy, it has always been my personal observation that things work out much better in the long-run when you leave a lady remembering you as the provider of a good experience... why should this rule be any different in the world of gaming?

 

Cheers,

JohnnyWayne_

Twitter: @JohnnyWayne_


 

DLC: Damn (gamers) Love (to give publishers) Cash

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Obviously, the title of this article is not what the acronym DLC truly defines. These three letters create an abbreviation for the phrase “Downloadable Content,” which is most commonly used when referring to DLC for PC games or current gen consoles (the 360, Wii, and PS3). But, is this title very far from the truth of what a DLC is?

As gamers, what is it about downloadable content that makes our mouths water and eyes widen? DLC packages provide gamers with a proverbial teat from which we can milk out every ounce of entertainment within a game we have come to know and love. By downloading new content into seasoned games we make our games new again...effectively creating a novel experience within a comfortable environment. However, does that want of content and unbridled love of gaming give developers the right to milk our wallets for every ounce of greenery as well?

From a marketing perspective DLC’s are genius. Instead of asking gamers to pay $100+ for an “all inclusive” game on release day, developers have created a mantra of smaller transactions (typically $10-$15) for smaller “packs” of downloadable content spread out along the lifespan of a game. This, according to proponents of the strategy, keeps material fresh and creates a “new” experience for gamers throughout a longer time frame than the core game would be able to accomplish alone.

However, from an opposing point of view, that of a hardcore gamer who is going to pay for this type of content on a continual and loyal basis, the DLC mantra feels eerily akin to nickel and dime tactics employed by big business. When engaging in the pros and cons of this debate, many gamers point to the fact that this “new” content is routinely complete and ready to play when the core game is released. For example, and you knew this was coming, the Call of Duty series reportedly has many, if not all, of their multiplayer maps created before the core games are released.

Hmm, does this mean that we are paying for “new” content, which by definition isn’t new at all? That is absolutely what it means. However, is this wrong, or just good marketing?

I argue both. You see, at the end of the day video games are a business, and a VERY large one at that. In fact, the video game industry typically generates an income of $2.6 billion annually (Baylor University), enough to fund the annually salary for the President of the United States about 6,500 times (based on a reported $400,000 per year for the President; feel free to check my math if need be). So, as a business, the gaming industry and those who run companies within it have an interest in making money, you won’t find me having any problem with that.

What you will find me having a problem with are the misperceived principals of honesty that front as a Wizard of Oz curtain covering DLC releases. Major developers allure gamers into thinking that this content is always new; a freshly developed packaging of content for which the developers used feedback from the audience in creating new and improved content for us to utilize. However, as mentioned before, there is nothing new or improved about the content. Generally speaking, DLC is simply old content that hasn’t been taken out of the packaging yet.

What becomes even more infuriating yet, is the direction in which major gamesakes are taking their DLC mantra. Take, for example, two of the most well know upcoming titles on the market: Modern Warfare 3 from Activision/Infinity Ward and Battlefield 3 from EA and the Dice development studio. If you have somehow missed that these two titles have laid the framework for some very direct and heated competition, you might want to create yourself a YouTube account and start watching a few videos.  

Activision and IW struck first with their highly controversial release of information about Modern Warfare 3's use of the COD Elite program: a subscription based service which will entitle members to perks such as improved map and weapon analytics, weapon stat tracking, player career tracking, and dedicated website access (just to name a few). Correspondingly, Dice struck back with a few extras of its own, namely pre-order bonuses and day one DLC that could add aspects to the gaming experience within BF3 without having a subscription based price scale. Obviously, these two are at each other's throats to win over the market. In fact, this competition has become so inflamed that the CEO from Ea released a statement saying that he wants “Call of Duty to rot from the core…” I don’t know about anyone reading this, but where I’m from, them’s fightin’ words...

httpv://youtu.be/ppz3JZ0xA6k

However, the competitive nature of gaming is not problematic for me. What is problematic is the way EA and Dice are handling the DLC for Battlefield 3.

(*Note: please refrain from "you're just a MW3 fanboy" comments here. Remember, this is an artilce on DLC, not subscription based content and, therefore, I will be discussing BF3's controversial DLC decision, not MW3's Elite program. Subscription based services are a totally different issue deserving its own write-up and conversation)

Now, I’m not going to go into all the meticulous details of the controversy here, it would take too much time to cover everything and if you’re reading this you have probably already familiarized yourself with the issue anyway. Nonetheless, the controversy in a nutshell is this: Battlefield 3 will be released with a “preorder claus” of sorts, one which offers extra weapons for the game and a DLC which is purchasable on day one of release.

This is a prime example of how DLC can become just another way to gain money, rather than a way to provide content for gamers who love the art of gaming.

Why? One, there should NEVER be an in-game advantage purchasable for players on day one which allows people to buy themselves a better kill-to-death ratio. Skill should always be the one variable which sets players apart, not bank accounts. Two, if these things are available at the beginning of a games release, why not add them to the original game for us to enjoy? Are we, as customers, not paying for a game and the development that has gone into that game as it is when it hits the shelves on release day?

My rule for DLC is this, if it has been created and can be made available when the games goes live, then it should be free. Why? Because as gamers we are paying for the development of a game up until the release date, the actual point of sale. However, if something is made that adds a new enjoyable element of the game, which developers had to come up with and create after a game’s release, then sure, by all means offer it to us at a reasonable cost so we can then expand that game’s experience.

Think about how many good relationships this would generate between video game corporations and gamers. If Ea/Dice were to simply release BF3 with the content readily available up to the date of release at no "extra" charge to gamers, would that not win over MANY people who already feel that Activision is a company only interested in their customers wallets? Could that show of good will and good faith not help to tip the proverbial odds in Battlefield's favor in a big way?

At the end of the day, this is what i know: I know that I am a brand-loyal kind of guy. If a brand treats me well, I will return with my wallet in hand to continue purchasing products from that brand until the relationship is tarnished. For me, the way in which a developer, publisher, and/or company handles the DLC for their release is the variable which proves whether or not they have as much respect for the gamers buying their product as we have for the games they are making. Correspondingly, video game publishers are not going to stop doing something that makes them money until we, as the ones giving them those funds, cease to hand over cash until they provide us with content worth spending it on.

Cheers!

JohnnyWayne_

Twitter:@JohnnyWayne_

[In the latest episode of our podcast we discuss EA and DICE's decision on DLC: http://www.gamersriot.com/archives/2743]

Does 2011 Suck for Gamers? We Debate!

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*A forward, by Nelly. 

So here we are almost half way through 2011.  As per usual, the gaming industry has been hitting us with tons of new titles, even news of new consoles on the horizon.  If you remember back to 2010, there was big talk of just how great *this* year would be for gamers.  The hype machine was working overtime and we were walking around with bibs, as to not drool on ourselves every time we thought about all the fantastic games in the pipeline.  But has this year lived up to the hype so far?  Two of our resident Rioters, Ben and Matt, duke it out.  Enjoy. 

Matt: My eyes were bright and I was optimistic for the future. Gas was under $3 and my brother had just found the warps to take him to level 8 in Super Mario Bros. Papa Cheeks was full of cheesecake and owning Super Meat Boy. We were knee deep in a discussion about video game when we were over taken with glee because of the promising titles on the horizon. We concluded that 2011 was going to be the greatest year for games ever! Man times were much more simple back at the Christmas of 2010. 2011 was going to be the year that justified our undeniable love for games. Now I sit here, almost at the half way point on 2011, and I am left with a table of underwhelming games, (thank Marvel V. Capcom 3, Homefront, Crysis 2, Brink), a stolen credit card (thanks PSN), and herpes (thanks whore).

Merry Christmas Bitches
Merry Christmas Bitches

Not to say that there has not been some bright moments this year. January got things off to a kick ass start. Little Big Planet 2 delivered what it promised, a fun platformer for the arty hipster kid in all of us. Bulletstorm also came out of nowhere. That game seemed to throw so much freshness up the industry’s ass that I think Epic Games and People Can Fly earned 500 skill points for its release.  Now before you start flaming on me, I understand that it's another shooter and the online doesn't have the best experience or many various modes. But did anyone expect anything from Bulletstorm to begin with? Who could forget about how Dead Space 2 made my mother disgusted and horrified at the same time? It seemed that January had more hits then a hooker who partied with Charlie Sheen. 

But then February came and it was like someone let out a fart at the party. Not to say that Killzone 3 (KZ3) and MVC3 were bad games but did either really live up to the hype that surrounded them?  (Yes, I said it.) KZ3 has sold 1.49 million copies worldwide.  It is loved by many people out there.  But sorry to break the news to you fanboys, it couldn't live up to the hype. All we heard before it's release was how KZ3 was the COD killer. The stage was set KZ3 vs. COD:BO, Kevin Butler was ready for action.  We were told that after KZ3 other FPS will have a new standard to live up to. Then it was released and it just didn't connect with the casual fan. This past week (in it's 11th week of release) KZ3 sold an impressive 30,000 units. Now compared to COD:BO which (in it's 26th week of released) sold 33,000.  So much for the "killer hype". It was supposed to be the game that changed the FPS genre until the next game that changed the FPS genre. Instead it went unnoticed by most.

Kevin Butler Ready for War

Then MVC3 was supposed to take us back to the days when a button smashing war was better fought with a balanced team that juggled their opponents. Instead the gameplay and cheapness of the game voids any skill and fun that the player may have.

Ah but March will get us back on track. “It will be better, it has to be better.” This was one of the lies I kept telling myself over and over again. We had the new IP Homefront coming out and it will be a breath of fresh air that brings the war home. It sounds and looks like balls to the walls fun. Instead we were treated to a 4 hour enema. With its lack of innovation and single player campaign, Homefront turned out to be another clone. However Crysis 2 was going to be the better game of the two all along. I mean when the first one came out it looked amazing and the environment was destructible. We were also able to go anywhere we wanted within the world [but Crysis 2 was filled with invisible walls.]

As gamers, we kept playing and it seemed that April would become our savior. We had 3 huge releases coming out on the 19th and there was a title for any fan. When that came we all rejoiced and walked away with some great games. Well maybe Xbox fans did because Sony would soon piss on our legs and tell us it was raining. As every gamer knows, the PSN was hacked and the situation will go down in gaming history. So the true experience of two games that were released on that day will forever be tainted. Socom 4 (which relies heavily on its multiplayer) has given gamers no reason to buy it at no fault of its own. For about a month, Portal 2's co-op (which adds valuable campaign time) could only be enjoyed by half of the gaming landscape.

Mortal Kombat has been the truly shining moment that this spring delivered. After years of disappointing the family, the father of brutal fighters was home on Easter. The revitalized franchise is selling a ton of copies and everyone seems to be satisfied. Many also believe that Portal 2 is one of the greatest games of all time. Singlehandedly with the release of these two games things were starting to look up. May even has a slate of promising new IPs which has us gamers excited.

Brink is finally here and well it seems like it showed up a little too early to the party. From all reports the game is average. The release of Brink best sums up 2011 as a whole right now. There has been a lot of hype and a lot of excitement in the gaming community but someone has let the air out of our balloons. This year was supposed to be amazing, with the best slate of games we had ever seen but instead its been just an average year. The best shooter to be released this year has been the Gears of War 3 beta.

It’s not that the games that have been released this year have been bad, the industry as a whole has just been blah. The games are suffering from being average and the lack of innovation has killed some of the new releases. Remember when everyone got a Kinect and a Move? Where are the games for them? Let’s not start the PSN debate either. When my brother, cousin and I talked last Christmas we were expecting to be blown away. Instead I feel like King Hippo after Little Mac punched him in the stomach. But I’m still hopeful.  LA Noire has me wet in the panties. Infamous 2, Gears of War 3, and Uncharted 3 all look amazing.  Of course, I have gotten this far without mentioning the 3DS launch for a reason. Even that was a let down. Maybe I’m just a disillusioned gamer or victim of the hype machine but 2011 just hasn't lived up to the hype.

Ben: There's so many problems here.

We have just been handed one amazing game (Portal 2) and one is landing on our doorstep (LA Noire). We are staring down at an incredible looking E3. We are about to see a new platform from Nintendo that rivals our our current gen consoles. Infamous 2 is two weeks away.

Marvel vs Capcom 3 "voids any skill and fun that the player may have..." 

Wait. What? MVC3 is being played and talked about by every fighting game aficionado around. I follow a few on twitter and everyone is playing it. New tournaments are popping up around the country every week and guess what game is part of their showcase.... MVC3 (and MK) hold the most talked about games position on many websites.

From the message board based site Gamefaqs, most talked as of today:

XB
01 L.A. Noire
02 Call of Duty: Black Ops
03 Mortal Kombat
04 Fallout: New Vegas
05 Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
06 Modern Warfare 3
07 Marvel vs. Capcom 3
08 Brink
09 Mass Effect 3
10 Gears of War 3

PS3
01 Mortal Kombat
02 L.A. Noire
03 Call of Duty: Black Ops
04 Marvel vs. Capcom 3
05 BlazBlue: Continuum Shift
06 Demon's Souls
07 inFamous 2
08 Super Street Fighter IV
09 Gran Turismo 5
10 Final Fantasy XIII

Now, I know one website doesn't speak for all of us but it does have many vocal users and a hefty percentage of that base are playing and talking about Marvel Vs. Capcom.

The other "underwhelming" games you mention are fine games. But, you speak as though you actually believed Killzone was going to be a "CoD killer" and no one with any sense ever called it that. No one actually believed that it was going to "change the FPS genre." Who even says that? SONY Marketing Department, I'd guess. If you ever hear that a game is a supposed "*insert popular game* killer," then you are being sold to.

And, what's the big disappointment with it being what it was? Was it average? Above average? Oh no! Same goes for Brink. It's average! Oh no! Crysis is average!? Oh no! Homefront didn't magically transport us to our hometown thats been taken over by Korea like all that marketing said it would! That's shocking!

Plenty of people like those games, by the way. Killzone and Homefront especially. Just because each game doesn't speak to every person, or make it into Game of the Year talks, it doesn't make them a failure in any way. It is a shame that most people have that mentality. There are people out there playing these and enjoying them. I have had no problems finding games to enjoy, have you?

What year are you comparing it to? When was the last time that a new Elder Scrolls, Killzone, Capcom fighter, MK reboot, Infamous, Valve game, Uncharted, Diablo, Star Wars MMO, Nintendo Handheld launch, Nintendo new console (I could really go on here) approached all in the same year. There's a slew of new properties and amazing new concepts. What is your basis for comparison? When did all that happen before?

You can't just name off what you feel are disappointments of the past few months and call the year a bust. Games and consoles are getting cheaper than ever. Stores (and Steam) have sales every day and free games are on the rise. Esports are bigger than ever. This brings so much exposure and money into our hobby. And, you can rest assured that any night of the week you can watch your favorite competitive game from some amazing teams and players live. Downloadable games are all over the place and provide cheap entertainment and provide massive innovations. Played Minecraft yet? On the retail side, you'd have to unplug your TV and internet in order to make a bad purchase these days.

Gaming Utopia? Maybe not but 2011 will not go down in the books as a letdown.

So what do you think?   Make sure to comment and let us know.  Just be polite or have your post horribly mangled :)

Follow us on Twitter: @GRpodcast and @SweetMattTreats

Play with Matt on PSN: TeamHellion

Play with Ben on Xbox and Steam: Oaklore

Friend us on Raptr: SweetMattyTreats & Beneviolent

Dead Island, Welcome to Paradise

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Dead Island is a game being developed by Techland, and it has a lot of people excited includng me. Especially after the games announcement trailer which consisted of zero game-play, but was so well done and entertaining that it started quite a buzz around the internet. It was a short video playing mostly in reverse of a family that was trying to survive the sudden outbreak of zombies on the island. Its a must see, so here it is.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Old41bsSXU

Now after that trailer I was thinking to myself WOW this is gonna be great. I can't wait to see some real game-play for this game. Fortunately we got another trailer just the other day that including some game-play.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZKvp-13j-E

Who knew that you could make killing zombies look so pretty.

Now lets get onto the features of Dead Island. It's got the always fun first person melee combat. Which is a big part of the game. Theres lots of hacking and slashing to level up your character. Because at the start your a zombie slaying noob who can get winded after just a few swings of your weapon so you want to choose your attacks wisely. Until you grind out enough XP where you can just unleash fury at your disgression. Dead Island also has four player co-op in which friends can join and drop at any point online. It also has weapon customization in which you can upgrade and enhance weapons throughout the game by taking them to workbenches and tweaking them. The weapons also have durability and will require constant repair. One of the coolest features of Dead Island is its set in an open world that's free to be explored. Sweet!!!

Check out the latest interview featuring about 10 minutes of open world gameplay.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DwWp_HN5fM

We'll be able to get our hands on Dead Island on August 1st on PC, Xbox 360, and PS3. Hopefully I'll see you all in Banoi.

Warp: The Little Game that Might…

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Download Fever

I am a victim of download fever. I saw Pacman Championship on Playstation network and I downloaded it. I have spent at least $100 on hundreds of download games for my IPhone. I love playing new games. Unfortunately download fever usually leads to regret and wasted money. Download games pale in comparison to their fully produced bigger brothers and in the end are usually a waste of time.


Small Download Games Vs Full Retail Games

At PAX this year I could certainly make the distinction between the download games and the fully produced ones. The DL games relied heavily on a Tetris-like gimmick. They simply found a classic game play model (Tetris, Columns, Street Fighter II, Zelda) and copied it with a small new twist. For people who never spent hours playing Tetris, Columns, Street Fighter II, or Zelda this is not too bad. I don't want to play those games anymore though. I want something new.


Now maybe new requires a lot of money, research, and technology that just isn't available to indie developers or small side teams in development companies. Maybe the cost of bringing something new is just too high for new comers.


Trapdoor's Warp at PAX

warp
 

But then I got a chance to see a Warp demo at PAX. I walked up to this unassuming booth that had only one screen showing the game. There was almost no line and so I jumped in. I won't bore you with a play through because you can watch it for yourself but I was impressed. The visuals created a unique theme and when combined with the very tight controls gave the game its own character.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUR_5vprHFk


Now I certainly wasn't playing a new game concept. The concept of sneaking around guards had been done to death in all the Metal Gears. But it was a fresh interpretation of the concept. The little alien trying to escape from the government lab wasn't trying to be Solid Snake or hoping to imitate Link. No, he had his own personality in the way that he was animated and the way that he interacts with the environment. I didn't feel like Trapdoor was checking boxes to make sure that they lived up to an older title. I felt like they were making something new.


That is when the Trapdoor representative at the booth told me that Warp is a downloadable game to be released on XBLA, PSN, and Steam! (Note: Steam is not final but will be released for PC). After playing Warp I thought the game was just another system release game. It was simple, true, but beautifully executed and extremely polished. I could see myself controlling the little alien all the way to his moment of freedom.


Maybe my time playing Metal Gear and Beyond Good and Evil made me ready for this. Maybe the lack of titles in that area of the game market has created an opening for Trapdoor to make this type of game and have it go big. All I know is that I want it now and I don't want to have to wait for summer 2011!

The Secret

ea
 

 Maybe the secret to Warp polish is the fact that it was designed and developed by employees who left major development companies. Maybe it was the fact that they linked up with EA Partners to get the resources that they needed to go big with this game. Maybe it is the fact that they are from Montreal and have access to Universal Health Care and French television.


All of my research into Warp has left me with one question though: How big is EA Partners and how are they a part of all this? I will have to save that for another article!

Episode 61:Crysis 2 Second Opinion, Mobile gaming, Nintendo 3DS is it Worth it?

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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:46:22 — 97.4MB) | Embed

 Hello Fellow Goomba's!

Welcome to another episode of Gamer's Riot. Here on the show today we have the return of James, to talk about everything. We go over our last thoughts of Crysis 2, and why Papa doesn't like it. But if you have a Xbox 360, or ps3 you should play it. Even though the crysis in Japan is still going, it doesn't mean we won't review the 3DS. By the time we get to Nintendo we fly off the rails and end up starting a riot of grand proportions. 

So don't get scared, it's not the FBI hounding at your door for the R.Kelly music you downloaded, it's just us Gamer's Riot!

Intro is from the game Crush for the PSP by composer Matt Coldrick. Remixed by djpretzel over at ocremix.org

Thanks for listening. Click here to subscribe in iTunes.

Duke Nukem Forever Is Coming Out In May.. I Mean June….

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Duke Nukem Forever is just a couple months away. I can't wait to punch an alien in the jewels and tickle doors that look like a..uhmmm....a well nevermind. The game is full of hilarity and is finally coming out this year. At least were all hoping it's going to be released this year. It's probably just a big hoax and they never really had any intentions of releasing the game. Who knows until we actually have the game in our consoles or PC's and were actually playing it. Until then, enjoy the guys over at Gearbox having some fun with the release date.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6fFKkmIrWM&feature=player_embedded

Lego Star Wars III

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The Lego games have always been fun to sit down and play. There's just something rewarding about smashing little brick people into smithereens.  Now with Lego Star Wars 3: The Clone Wars coming out today for all the gaming consoles and your PC. Your wondering to yourself should I rush out the door and risk exposure to the sun to play a Lego game. Well if you wanna play as Lando Calrissian you better butter up with some SPF15.

That's right! you can play as the suave Lando Calrissian in the third installment of the Lego Star Wars series. I mean who wouldn't want to play as Lando is beyond me. Everyone wants to play as the person who betrays their friends. Oh wait, well at least he made up for it.

Aside from Lando being a playable character this time around the game looks really good for being based in the Lego Universe. I mean just check out the screen shots.

But do keep in mind it is another Lego game. Which is both good and bad. The Lego games will always get a few good laughs out of you while enjoying a pretty solid game play experience. They do seem to lack the replayability that can justify a purchase from me. So I recommend buying it if you absolutely love the Lego Universe games. For the rest of us toss it on your gamefly queue. It's worth a play through at the very least.

Halo: Reach Defiant Map Pack

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The new Halo: Reach maps are here for your enjoyment today. There's 3 of them bundled together in the Defiant map pack for 800 Microsoft points on Live. Check out the trailer and the official descriptions of each map before you rush to your 360 to spend ten bucks.

- Condemned: Condemned takes place aboard Orbital Station Gamma, a massive space station high in orbit above the planet Reach. Prior to the Covenant's overwhelming invasion, Orbital Station Gamma provided long range communications for UNSC fleets and a vital lifeline between Reach and Earth. During the Battle of Reach, the station suffered terrible punishment at the hands of the Covenant but a few fortified sections remain intact, fully pressurized, and ready for combat. Condemned supports 6 - 12 players in a variety of action-packed game types, including Team Slayer, Team Objective and Free for All.

- Highlands: Highlands takes place on the top-secret Military Wilderness Training Preserve on Reach. The Preserve is a large, wooded area where Spartan super-soldiers trained long before the war with the Covenant began. During the Battle of Reach, the Preserve was the site of key battles between the alien invaders and a group of Spartans who used their familiarity with these UNSC training grounds to significant tactical advantage...but not everyone who enters these woods makes it out alive. Highlands expands the fight with massive-scale engagements for 8 - 16 players in Big Team Battle, Team Slayer and Team Objective.

- Unearthed: Unearthed takes the battle for Reach to a large Titanium mine and refinery located in the Viery civilian sector of the planet. This particular mine was built to take advantage of the exposed titanium inside a massive meteor crater. The titanium produced here is used in much of the UNSC hardware, from the chassis of the Warthog to the meters-thick armor plating of capital ships like the UNSC Pillar of Autumn. While this facility was quickly abandoned when the Covenant arrived on Reach, it still has significant tactical (and economic) value and it won't be long before both humans and Covenant return to battle for control. Unearthed allows up to 4 players to launch a counterassault against the Covenant in Firefight and Firefight modes such as Generator Defense.

Now get out there and crush some 12 year old's dreams. Show NO MERCY!!!

Portal 2

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"Portal 2 is Valve's most innovative title and will be launched with a first-class campaign this April," said Doug Lombardi,Valve's vice president of marketing. Now, that's what I like to hear from a marketing director. Hopefully it's true because this title just seems ripe for so many new features and gameplay quirks.

The Numero Uno thing that has me excited is the vast potential of the co-op. I can see countless hours of staring blankly at the monitor and scratching my head as a buddy and I try to figure out a puzzle. Hopefully, I don't go through multiple keyboards trying to figure some out. Fortunately, none of the puzzles in the first Portal were extremely hard. Some may have taken some toying around or trial and error but they were more than manageable.  Despite that, they instilled you with a good sense of accomplishment once completed.  There's nothing like putting a portal on the ceiling and then one right underneath your feet to create an endless loop of falling until you built up enough momentum to launch yourself to another platform or area. The original game was chock full of fun and humor from beginning to end, thanks to your instructor, GLaDOS (Genetic Lifeform and Disk Operating System), guiding you along.

So get out there and preorder Portal 2 and show some love for the innovative and creative titles. Supporting titles like this ensure more are developed in the future. The number one thing the game companies are going to listen to is your wallet, no matter how much they say they're listening to the fans.

Portal 2 is coming out April 21st on PC, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3. Steam even has a "5 bucks off" deal if you preorder now.

Portal 2 might even have CAKE.