Rock Band Blitz Review

XBox 360

September 29, 2012 by Jacob Krol

Rock Band Blitz Review

Our friends over at Harmonix have sent us Rock Band Blitz for us to review! We will be testing out the Xbox 360 version, and as many of you know this is Harmonix’s latest game. The last Rock Band we saw was Rock Band 3, but this is different and yet similar to Rock Band. Rock Band Blitz brings a whole new way to play the game and it bring’s it right to your hands. You get 25 songs with the purchase of the game, and can access many of your other Rock Band songs. But should you go out to the marketplace and by Rock Band Blitz? We will answer that in the full review which begins now!

Game Play

Many of you have most likely played at least one song on Rock Band, whether it was the original or you’ve been a fan up to Rock Band 3. Rock Band Blitz is a different experience all together. No longer do you have plastic instruments, you now control the game with your controller. The experience is very different, but is very addictive and super fun. And one person controls all of the instruments. And in order to get a good score you have to play all of the instruments and keep leveling them up. Power-ups come in very handy when trying to level up and when just generally playing the game. Each instrument is on a different lane on a highway, there a 5 lanes in total. This is a very unique way to present the game. You can play the drums, bass, guitar, microphone(sing), or the piano. You can level up when you reach “checkpoints” and these appear at different points in the song. If all of the instruments are off level “1x” for example, you new lowest level would be “2x” and you could go up to level “4x”. Whichever the level is that has no instruments on it, and the instruments are above it then this level becomes your lowest one. This adds to the fun of the game, and power-ups help you level up sooner. In each lane you can have up to 2 notes at a time, you control these with your button pushing. The in-game currency are coins, you can use these purchase many different power ups. You ears coins as well as “cred” when you play songs. And you then save up your coins to spend on power ups, which in return let you earn more points. There are 3(three) different categories for power ups, those being Note, Overdrive, and Interment. All of these help you increase the amount of coins and “cred” that you earn, and in the end make you a better player. Many of your are probably asking what “cred” is, and this is pretty much XP. Harmonix did a great job with the game play in Rock Band Blitz.

Soundtrack

Harmonix has previously done a great job with the soundtrack for the Rock Band and Dance Central series, and as you may have guessed they have accomplished this yet again with Rock Band Blitz. Once downloaded and installed you get 25 tracks immediately for your enjoyment. You get songs like We Are Young- Fun. ft. Janelle Monáe, One Week-Barenaked Ladies, Jessie’s Girl-Rick Springfield, and many more great tracks! Let’s say you want a larger track library, like many of the songs you know and love from Rock Band 3. Well you can use entire library of songs from Rock Band 3 DLC in Rock Band Blitz! Export for Rock Band 3 songs are not yet available, only DLC. And the 3,500 + library of songs released for Rock Band DLC will work with Rock Band Blitz as well! You can also import the tracks from previous Rock Band games like AC/DC, Rock Band 2, Green Day, and almost every other track pack. And they will be releasing much more DLC from the newest and hottest artists and bands every week. So stay tuned for many great new songs!

Rock Band World

Social is becoming a very common word in many games, and it plays a large part in Rock Band Blitz. It brings many new great features to Rock Band Blitz, which as you can tell is already an awesome game. Rock Band World is the new Facebook companion application to Rock Band Blitz. You connect to the service with your Xbox Live Gamertag or PSN ID, via a simple setup step in the game’s menu. In the application you can set up your own profile, see your high scores, see your friends high scores, search the entire library of Rock Band songs available, set goals, and start “Score Wars”. You probably wondering what a Score War is, well it is a unique way to play with your friends or foes. You choose a song and then challenge a certain person to score war. You either accept of decline the score war in the actual game itself. It is a really cool feature that allows you to play and challenge your friends. And of course you get coins, cred, and bragging rights if you win. Overall, Rock Band World is a great part of the game that brings it to the next level.

Bottom Line

Rock Band Blitz is an awesome game, that brings back many memories of the classic game Rock Band. And for the price of 1,200 Microsoft Points it is worth it. You will get a lot of fun out of the game and you can include your friends in that fun with Rock Band World. You get a game with a unique and great social experience. You get 25 songs out of the box, and many songs from previous Rock Band games work in Rock Band Blitz right away. You also have access to all of the DLC currently available and the new DLC that arrives weekly. I highly suggest Rock Band Blitz to any gamer, as it will give you hours and hours of fun. And if you’re not sure about spending the points just yet, try out the free demo. I have a feeling you will go out and spend the points though. For More Information On Rock Band Blitz, Please Click Here. We would like to thank Harmonix for providing us with a retail copy of “Rock Band Blitz For The Xbox 360″.

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August 31, 2012 by Jacob Krol

Angry Birds Trilogy Unveiled; Coming To Xbox 360, PS3, And 3DS

Angry Birds is finally making its way to some of the biggest gaming systems on the market! It will be coming to the Xbox 360, PS3, and the Nintendo 3DS. The game will be called Angry Birds Trilogy and will have Angry Birds, Angry Birds Season, and Angry Birds Rio. This is the first time any Angry Birds game is coming on a disc, it got it’s start on the mobile platform and then moved to the PC. Since then they have made Angry Birds toys, shirts, stuffed animals, board games, and much more! On the Xbox 360 it will work with the Microsoft Kinect. And on the PS3 it will work with the PlayStation Move. The Nintendo 3DS version will work with the popular StreetPass feature. Rovio is calling it a Collectors Edition, it will feature better graphics, new features, and more. Angry Birds Trilogy is being made and developed by Activision. It will cost $39.99 on the Xbox 360 and PS3, while the 3DS version will cost $29.99 . No exact release date has been announced yet, but it should be available by the holiday season. Be sure to check out the gallery below!

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August 6, 2012 by Jacob Krol

The Amazing Spider-Man Review(Xbox 360)

Our friends over at Activision have sent us The Amazing Spider-Man for the Xbox 360 for us to review. The video game picks up right at the end of the latest Spider-Man movie, and we are saying this with certainty. It does help to see the movie first, as the video game gives most of it away and it will help you understand it more. But is The Amazing Spider-Man the next game that you should go out and buy? We will answer that in the full review, which begins right now!

Story-Mode

There is only one game mode in the Amazing Spider-Man, and that is the Story-Mode. However, there are mini games inside of this mode. The story itself picks up right at the end of the movie and it try’s to pull you in. Within the first 5 minutes you know almost all of the characters and what happened during the movie. The story begins in the Oscorp building in NYC, and things turn badly quickly. As they are still dealing with Dr.Conrad’s work, we don’t want to give too much away but he was a main character in the movie and does a play a big part of the video game. You are on a mission to save the city, as a virus has impacted many people and more people are getting infected by the day. This will lead you on adventure through New York City, both on land and in the sewers. However, after a while the story does become repetitive and does feel like ,at times, you are doing the same mission over and over again. Die-hard fans of the Spider-Man franchise will enjoy the game and missions will be fun. I wish that Activision tried to make the chapters and their missions a little more different. The mini games are you helping the police, and many of those missions are you trying to catch cross specie monsters. This will let you continue enjoying the game long after the story is actually done. Spider-Mans one liners will leave you with your face down with disappointment or happy, while some of them are corny others are funny. But they do get repetitive quickly. Overall, the story mode is okay and die-hards will love it.

Graphics And Game-Play

Activision did an amazing job on the graphics, a truly outstanding job. While Spider-Man does look really life-like, the environment could be better. The graphics of the cross species are similar to the ones in the movie, some of them don’t look very tough and yet they are super hard to kill. The environment of the buildings on the inside are really nice, while they could have done a little more work on the outside of the buildings. Although web-swinging through the city is great, you get to see the sights of Manhattan which from a far and the sky look really nice. The games feels very cinematic and will remind of you a movie. The cut scenes is what Activision did best in this game. They look really nice and look as if they were taken from a movie. They also help you get better at game play as they give you hints on what to do and how to defeat your enemies. And at time they add some comic relief to the game. While the Game-Play of The Amazing Spider-Man is generally very nice, there are some glitches. For instance when you want to Web-Rush to a certain target it doesn’t always follow your command. So, if the game doesn’t listen at first, try to try again. Being able to upgrade your powers, like stealth takedowns and general attacks is a nice feature. But the fighting of the game is very repetitive, it is usually the same fight over and over again. For non-die-hards this may seem annoying but, die-hard fans should enjoy the game.

Bottom Line

The Amazing Spider-Man is a nice video game, that continues the story from the latest Spider-Man movie. It’s graphics are amazing but, the game play and story mode can become repetitive at times. If you are a big Spider-Man fan I would definitely recommend the game to you, if you are not you will enjoy the game. But it may get too repetitive for you after a while. Either way I do suggest you see the movie itself first, before playing the game. The Amazing Spider-Man will cost you around $59.99 and is available now. For More Information On The Amazing Spider-Man, Please Click Here. We would like to thank Activision for providing us with a copy of “The Amazing Spider-Man For The Xbox 360″.

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August 1, 2012 by Jacob Krol

Spec Ops: The Line Review (Xbox 360)

Our friends over at 2K Games have sent us Spec Ops: The Line for us to review. For starters this is not your average 3rd person shooter, it brings emotion to the tablet and a new environment than what most gamers are used too. You have to think before you shoot the gun and think before you make your next move. But, should you go out and get Spec Ops: The Line? We will answer that in the full review which begins right now.

Game Play

The Campaign mode will suck you into it, and you will like it. It is a very original story, that brings you throughout the entire map. After each level you’ll be asking your self questions. You have to think about each move that you make, and the games forces you to do this. The goal of the entire game changes quite rapidly, and you may find yourself confused at certain points. But all of this leads up to an amazing ending, we will not share that with you as you should experience it for your self. You enter the game as a special guest, but you are playing as Captain Martin Walker. And you mission is to look or find Cornel John Konrad and the Damned 33rd, his battalion. He originally was trying to evacuate Dubai after a wave of deadly sandstorms, however it did not go as planned. Game play is similar to that of Gears of War, but aiming it much more difficult than others on the market. There is o auto aim, so you have to get exact hits. Exact hits because ammo is super hard to come by, and the enemies get harder as the game progresses. Squad command’s are a huge help, by simply tapping “RB” you can tell your soldiers who to kill. This helps if they can get a one shot kill, instead of you wasting more ammo to do the same job. When you go in to do a neck stab or an up close kill, they use some special graphics for that. Cut scenes come in handy, not only are they done really well, they fill you in on information that is very important to the game. Your other soldiers will communicate with you and try to help you out as well. Keep in mind that you can take ammo from the enemies you kill. Surviving is difficult, while you can regain health it doesn’t always come quick enough. They are usually a lot of enemies coming at you all at once, cover and squad command will become your best friends. Thematic music will let you know what kind of situation you are in or getting into. The environment can help you, Sand is like another weapon for you. Although the first time you can see and go through a sand storm you will have no idea what is happening, but it lets your progress with the game. For instance breaking a glass ceiling that had sand on top of it will injure or kill the enemies above the ceiling and on the ground below. So definitely use the sand to your advantage. The health system is corny, as it changes the way it counts it through out the game. And it just adds to the difficulty of the game, being that ammo is hard to find and enemies get harder as it goes a long. The game is still super fun though. Online modes is where the game could have been done better, it is very similar to everything else that is on the market. The main differences is that you can use the environment to your advantage, and the weapons are better. However, they are very similar and I feel they could have incorporated the story line in to the game much better.

Graphics: The Game Environment

2K Game’s designers did an amazing job with the graphics on Spec Ops: The Line. The setting is very unique and vast, they took a lot of attention into detail. From the sand, to the cars, to the enemies they took care with everything. The Sand Storms are scary and freaky the first time you encounter them, they pull you into the story. However, they do add yet another challenge to an already challenging game. Graphics for the soldiers are amazing, within the first 5 minutes you see what the dead bodies will look like and you begin the fight. The cut scenes look like they could be their own movie, the designers really did an amazing job. It look really life-like, which helps keep the player interested. Although the story line it self is very engaging and makes you think about the game. But it is nothing without good graphics. At times I wish the sand storms didn’t blind your vision so much, as it makes you unable to see and most of the time results in you being killed. You also repel or drop in the game a lot, and it is a very smooth graphic. On multiplayer the graphics do lag a little bit, but for the most part they stay the same as they were in the campaign. However, the roughness of them does increase. Overall, the Graphics of this Spec Ops: The Line are gorgeous and add to the game’s greatness.

Bottom Line

Spec Ops: The Line is an amazing game, and is most certainly one of the best 3rd person military shooters on the market. While it is not comparable to Call Of Duty, as it is covered base and the story line is much different, it almost opens up a new category of 3rd person shooters. The unique environment filled with sand and sand storms is awesome at times, but other times it can be very annoying. The jokes that the other soldiers crack during the simulation help to keep the story line lively. The health the system could be improved, as it works differently throughout the entire game. However, the game is still fun and quite enjoyable. The online modes are very similar to other in the crowded market, and they could have had a game changer with special modes. Overall, Spec Ops: The Line is an amazing game and you should definitely check it out! Spec Ops: The Line for the Xbox 360 retails for $59.99 . For More Information On Spec Ops: The Line, Please Click Here. We would like to thank 2K Games for providing us with a copy of “Spec Ops: The Line for the Xbox 360″.

Sam Block Contributed To This Review
July 11, 2012 by Jacob Krol

Dirt Showdown Xbox 360 Review

Our friends over at Codemasters have sent us Dirt Showdown for the Xbox 360 for us to review. This is the first title under the Codemasters Racing label, and is the next game under the Dirt franchise. However, this is not Dirt 4, this is simply a game that does some stuff really well but is missing some pieces. This is more of an arcade and part game, but that does not mean you will not enjoy it. Now, let’s begin the full review of Dirt Showdown for the Xbox 360!

Graphics And Audio

Codemasters has done a pretty good job with the graphics of this game. The scenery is filled with fireworks, lights, fans, and much more! Both when you are playing one of the modes and when you are just browsing the menus. The graphics of the vehicles are very nice, you can even customize them to extent. You can choose who your sponsor is, and each sponsor gives you a different paint job. And of course you can choose from different vehicles, each with their own unique design. When your driving, the wheels due shown movement and you can certainly tell that your car is moving. It feels very similar to the graphics in Dirt 3 and the other Codemaster titles. The menus have great graphics with entertaining and smooth backgrounds and the transitions have the same effects as well. The courses them self look similar, but the graphics and special features differentiate them. For instance on one course you may have ramp after ramp after ramp, while on the other course you may be dodging sections of the road that have been flooded out with water. And the ramps have fireworks being launched on all sides of your vehicle as you go over them. The tracks become similar very quickly, and I wish that they included other tracks with the game. Maybe they will update it in the future. In terms of Audio, they have an okay selection of music but, I quickly got tired of the narrator. Luckily, if you go into settings you will be able to lower him and eventually turn him off. If you don’t do well it will insult you, and it make up words and cracks jokes that aren’t funny. Audio of cars crashing and driving is done well, and sounds very life like. And if you crash your car will looked damage, all the way until you can’t drive it anymore and are re-spawned.

Game Modes, Multiplayer, And Online

Dirt Showdown has a very limited number of game modes in Single player, and these are the same exact modes (for the most part), that you will find in multiplayer. Let’s being with the showdown tour, this would be the campaign of the game and it is a very small one. You start off by choosing the sponsor, that is available. From there it will present you with a table filled with different race events, that you unlock by completing the one before it. These can be knockout’s, 8 ball, rampage, head2head, and race off. Many of these races are also available to play, without starting a campaign. In knockout the goal is to eliminate the other players, this is a common goal throughout the game. You go on to a platform, and try to kick other people off and break their cars. They could have made this a survival challenge or the last one who stays on the platform, and this would have added more fun to the mode. 8 ball is a race with may different twists and turns, and you might end up hitting other opponents when you have to cross the road to get to the other side. This is by far the best mode of the game. Head2Head is very similar to the Gymkhana mode of Dirt 3, and I feel that they could have made it much better. I feel that the best way to play the game is to play with other friends in split screen mode or multiplayer, but either way you get tired of seeing the same tracks and cars over and over again. Codemasters wants you to be social with this game, from introducing Racenet to connecting to YouTube, you will be hit with many pop-up windows asking you to join or add these services. Racenet is their way of building a social network, that let’s you share your scores and compare your self to other players. There are also certain events that are only available to Racenet members, and you will get free in-game cash once you activate your account. Racenet is a nice platform, but I feel that they are pushing it too much. The YouTube connection is show you can share your race videos online with everyone, and you cans see other people’s videos. They do not push this a much as Racenet, but if your video is good (you must have some major skills) you may end up getting some rewards.

Bottom Line

Dirt Showdown for the Xbox 360 is a good game, but I feel it is a small game. It does not feel as good as Dirt 3, and is not Dirt 4. It is more of a n arcade game that has some good modes and some not so good modes. If you are a huge Dirt fan and have loved the games in the past, than I think you will really enjoy this game. It has more of what you love, and you will have fun with the career, Racenet, and multiplayer. If you are a first time fan who is interested in checking out the Dirt series, I would not recommend going out and getting this game. I think you are better off waiting for Dirt 4, as it will give you a better introduction to this game and will be worth the money. Dirt Showdown has suggested retail price of $59.99, it is available at your local BestBuy, GameStop or Target. And you can get it online for a bunch of retailers like Amazon. For More Information On Dirt Showdown, Please Click Here. We would like to thank Codemasters for providing us with a copy of “Dirt Showdown for the Xbox 360″.
July 3, 2012 by Jacob Krol

Max Payne 3 Review(Xbox 360)

Our friends over at Rockstar Games have sent us Max Payne 3 for us to review. It is the next game in the popular Max Payne series. It is also Rockstar Game’s next big hit and not only did they have a huge launch but, they have an extensive line of Downloadable Content coming the very near future. We are testing out the Xbox 360 version of Max Payne 3, and a popular feature that many of you have loved is back. And yes that is Bullet Time and they have revamped it. Now, let’s start with the full review of Max Payne 3.

Story Line And Game Modes

Now, the story line in Max Payne 3 is amazing. When playing the game you get pulled into the story very quickly. I don’t want to give too much away, but I will talk a little bit about the story line. No longer are you in New York, Max is now working in Sao Palo, Brazil, but there are flashbacks throughout the game that both fill in the different pieces and keep the story moving a long. There are a lot of cut scenes, which let the game load, give you info, and keep you entertained. You not only play in Brazil, but you also venture into Hoboken New Jersey! One thing to note is that your enemies and the other characters you are fighting, are hard from the beginning. And as expected they do get harder throughout the game, this is where painkillers and extra ammo come in handy. So, you should always explore the different rooms and locations, the painkillers and ammo are usually hidden. But, you will eventually find them. There are also some collectible guns that you can find throughout the game. They are gold and they light up, so they are almost impossible to miss, but they come in handy and usually have extra ammo. You’re partner throughout the game is Raul Passos, and he will help you out when the times get tough. As we mentioned before, painkillers are still in the game. Max has still not gotten over the events that took place in the earlier games, so be sure to get them as they will help you out in the game. The great weapon wheel that was found in Red Dead Redemption is now in Max Payne 3, it makes it super easy to select your weapons of choice, and to see the current status of ammo in each weapon. The graphics of the weapons themselves, are amazing. Rockstar has put so much work into the graphics, and the result is an amazing gaming experience. So, that is a quick summary of the story line, but it does not tell the whole story. Rockstar has also included some other game modes in Max Payne 3. I personally really liked Arcade Mode. It let’s your replay the previous levels, and the end goal is to get as many point as possible. This mode does integrate right into the Rockstar Social Club, which gives you an even better gaming experience. There are 2 modes in Arcade Mode, those being Score Attack and New York Minute. Score Attack will award you the player point for certain types of kills and how the different mechanics that you use. For instance a headshot will give you more points, that killing the person will 3 separate shots. Next, we have the New York Minute(my personal favorite), which will make you go super fast. First of all you should know that a New York Minute is 60 seconds. When you go in the timer starts off at 1 minutes and begins to tick down, for each kill you get time is added. A regular kill will award you 3 seconds, while a headshot will give you 5 seconds. So, I suggest you make your shots wisely. Now, move onto too Multiplayer modes in Max Payne 3. First of all you get booth Death-match and Team Death-match, and one difference that you will notice from other games that offer this is the level of customization. Essentially it is either you against everyone else or your team against the other team. The maps have awesome graphics, everything is so detailed and they relate back to the story line. Payne Killer is the next type of multiplayer mode and it is a really good one. 2 people in the match are selected to be either Max or Passos, and everyone else is trying to kill them. And whoever kills them become them. It is very similar to man-hunting, as everyone is trying to be you. Here is the twist you don’t know who Max or Passos is until the first kill in the game is made. Whoever, gets the first and second kills becomes Max and Passos. It let’s you play as the main characters of the game against real people, which allows you to show off your skills as the main man. And last but not least we ahem Gang Modes, which takes different parts of the Story Line and uses them in Multiplayer. Using the power of story mode with multiplayer is an awesome idea, as you never know what is coming next in this mode. You are fighting with other players in your Gang on multiplayer, yet it still has a surprise because you don’t know what is coming. Rockstar hit a home run straight out of the park with the story line and the many different game modes of Max Payne 3!

Graphics And Bullet-Time

As we said earlier Rockstar games did an amazing job with the graphics, this is one of the game that you have to play to really see all of the detail and handwork that they put into this game. From the land, to characters, to the guns, and everything else, it shows that video games can look really real. The characters actually look like real people for once, in most video games this is something hard to find. Time of day look more real, in some cases you can see the sunset and it looks as if you are really there. From the club scenes, to the dock, and all the way to riding in helicopter the graphics stay at the same amazing level, that Rockstar has achieved. Now, Bullet Time has always been a huge part of Max Payne, and since then we have seen other game copy it. But Rockstar is brining it back and making it better than ever. It can make or break your living or dying in the game, and it can change the entire story line in a brief second. But, if you use it right your end goal will be what you wanted. You now have the option to execute someone if they are close to you and you know have a more realistic shot and dodge system. Dodging a bullet in this mode, makes it much more realistic and gives you more time to react. The best feature of Bullet Time requires painkillers, if you have a painkillers and you are about to die you will go into “Last Man Standing”. This will let you get your health back and continue without having to restart. You get to kill the enemy who was about to kill you, but keep in mind you better have good aim.

Bottom Line

Max Payne 3 is an amazing game and was definitely worth the long wait. The story line will drag you into the game, and make you apart of it. This game could be made into a movie, the story line is that good. The cinematic cut scenes will fill you in sometimes on what is going on, or sometimes give you more questions to ponder. All of the different game modes will give you tons of fun even after you finish the story mode. Then we have the amazing multiplayer, which will let you have loads of fun with your friends and experience different types of gaming. Rockstar Games has put so much work into the graphics, and it really shows. Everything looks really and it all runs so smoothly, really have to give it too them for the amazing graphics. You also get the return of Bullet Time, and with all of the updates they have made too it, the return is very welcomed. Overall, Max Payne 3 is by far the best shooter of the year, and I am not sure if anyone, not even Rockstar, will be able to top it this year. Max Payne 3 is available for purchase for an MSRP of $59.99 . For More Info On Rockstar Game’s Max Payne 3, Please Click Here. We would like to thank Rockstar Games for providing us with a copy of “Max Payne 3″.
June 16, 2012 by Jacob Krol

Microsoft’s Xbox Roadmap Leaks Out!

The Slide Show Has Been Removed Off Of Scribd, By The Request Of Covington & Burling, LLP(Law Firm That Works With Microsoft). This May Prove That It Is Property Of Microsoft And May Still Be Some Of There Plans For The Next Model’s Of The Devices.

Rumors have been around for quite some time regarding the next Xbox, and huge news has broken today regarding it. While we won’t be seeing the next generation Xbox this year, it should be announced in 2013, with an estimated availability of holiday 2013! And they are calling the new Xbox in the leaked roadmap, the “Xbox 720″. This has been the rumored name for quite some time. They also have a new Kinect coming soon. Now, the new Xbox 720 is trying to be the 1-box for everything in your entertainment system. It will feature 4x-6x games, Full XTV support, Blu-Ray, CD, DVD, Online Content, New Core Titles For Both Xbox And Kinect Games, Bring Your TV Service To The System, 3D/HD Movies, Xbox Application Store, New User Interface, And New Services That are Exclusive To The Xbox 720! The new Kinect features an HD RGB Camera, 4-player tracking, better 3D play space(deeper, wider, closer), Improved Voice Recognition, and more. Keep in mind that this is a leaked document, and some of the specifications may not be true. They could have already scraped this plan, but hopefully they go on this path. It does show many of the stuff that was announced at E3 this year. Let us know what you think in the comments below and be sure to check out the full 56-page slide show below!

Full 56-Page Slide Show Below

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March 27, 2012 by Jacob Krol

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 Review (Xbox 360)

Our friends over at EA Sports have sent us Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 for us to review. We will new reviewing it for the Xbox 360 and the companion system the Microsoft Kinect! Yes, this is the first simulation to use the Kinect for the full game. Thus it is eliminating the need for controller complete as well with the “See It-Say It” feature. Now, let’s dive into the full review of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13!

Microsoft Kinect Integration

Image Courtesy Of EA Sports

Now, one of the key features in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 is that it takes full advantage of the Kinect. Yes, now you can get the full golfing experience in the comfort of your home. It also works without the Kinect, so if you don’t own one you can still use the controller. Now, playing golf on the Kinect is quite simple, it has almost the same form of when your are actually playing. We have to give EA some compliments for this feature, the Kinect tracks the player almost perfectly every single time. Granted here and there, it may not do the best job but, for the most part it works great. To swing, stand in front of the Kinect and put your hands together. Swing them to the right hand side to pull back, and then your ready to hit the ball. Just move your hands to the left and you can tee off. It will also grade how well your swing is, this way you can get better. When you swing your entire body is being tracked, this way you get the most accurate sing possible. You can also aim your shot by using your hands, we had some trouble with this, but after you get the hand of it you will be good to go. To zoom in you close your hand into a fist and then move your arm to where it should go. Once the aiming is done, if you physically crouch down you can get a different view of the shot. Now, you can also navigate the entire game with just you as the controller. It works basically the same way as any other Kinect game. You control it by swiping your hands, to the left, right, up, or even down. To go back all you do is simply slide your hand to the left. The voice command or “See It-Say It” feature is one of the best the game has to offer. You can just saw “Change Club” and it will give you all of the available clubs to choose from. It completes the controller free experience. There are other says like, “Change Stance”, “Ask Caddie” and many more.

“Tigers Legacy” Game Mode And Country Clubs

One of the newest game mode’s in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 is Tigers Legacy. It let’s you relive some of Tiger’s greatest golf moments. You start from when he was a child, all the way to present day and then even to the future. You will play as “Toddler Tiger, Youth Tiger, Junior Tiger, Amateur Tiger”, and many more! You start off with Tiger’s appearance at the age of 2, when he was on the “Mike Douglas Show”. You have to both get 3 shots in the net and get a hole in one. You will get play as Tiger during some of his greatest accomplishments. Throughout this mode you are trying to achieve Tiger’s greatest goal, which is to break Jack Nicklaus’ major championship record. If you are good enough, you will eventually beat this record. Now, all of the different versions of Tiger are available as characters that you can play as throughout the game. Have you ever dreamed of being a member of a Country Club? Well with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 that dream now becomes a reality. You will be able to make your own or join another exclusive country club. You can play games with your friends and unlock downloadable course for you to play. When you join a Country Club you start to earn “Status Points”, you can gain more for every round that you play. You can use these points to level up yourself or use them to level up the club. If you have the most points for that week you will become “Club Champion”, this means that you will be invited to the ”Club Champion Tournament”. Here is where you can show your stuff, and keep in mind that you are playing for your club. This feature is also integrated with the web, there is a free website that you can go to track your stats, create your own Custom Live Tournament, and schedule matches for future dates. Country Clubs is a great feature that you will enjoy.

Graphics

In comparison to last years version of Tiger Woods PGA Tour, this years game brings forth better graphics and visuals. For starters there is a new audience system, which makes them much more realistic. They are more detailed and they will no longer react the same way every time, they have many more reactions. Now, since there are different years that the game is being played in, they have crowds for the 200′s, 1970′s, 1990′s and more. This way the game looks more realistic. They also have improved the broadcasting, and they sound more realistic and Jim Nance will be giving introductions to the famous courses you are playing on. The course graphics have also been improved, they have better on-course cameras. This way you can feel like you are actually at the game or are watching it on the television. Nature elements such as clouds, trees, and light have all been updated as well. And as usual the animation for the golfers have been updated to look like their real stance, and this is thanks to motion capture technology. Overall, the improve to the graphics make the game more enjoyable.

Bottom Line

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 for the Xbox 360 is an awesome game. It is definitely one of the best Kinect games on the market and is one of the more realistic ones. EA did a great job with the Kinect feature and it really shows when playing the game. It really feels like you are out on the course and playing golf, when reality you are at home. The voice controls feature just brings the level of a controller-free game to the next level. The Country Club feature will allow you to compete, play, and have fun with your friends. Tigers Legacy lets your relive some of his greatest moments and even some of the future moments. I hope they continue to add to this feature and keep it for next years game. Overall, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 is a great game, if you like Golf be sure to go out and get it and if you like sports I would recommend taking a look at it. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 is available today March 27, 2012 in North America and will be available worldwide on March 30, 2012. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 retails for $59.99 . For More Info On Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13, Please Click Here. We would like to thank EA Sports for providing us with a copy of “Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 for the XBox 360″.
December 11, 2011 by Jacob Krol

Yoostar On MTV Review (Xbox 360)

Our friends over at Yoostar have sent us Yoostar On MTV for us to review. When i first heard about this game, i thought it would be fun to play. Especially with your friends or at parties. Ah but, does it live up to all of the hype around it? We will answer that in the full review. Now, let’s get started with the full review of Yoostar On MTV!

Game Modes

Haven’t you always wanted to be MTV? With Yoostar On MTV, you can be in some of there most popular TV shows or star in some music videos. Either way your to bound to have some good laughs all around. For instance you can star in the Jersey Shore, Rob And Big, Sweet 16, and many more. You get a total of 82 Scenes with the game, that includes both TV Shows and Music Videos. Now, if that is not enough for you there is a ton of downloadable content for you to choose from. However they do cost money, so make sure you like the scene. Now playing the game is very simple. It puts you into the show or music video. It can be compared to Karaoke if you will. First you choose the show or music video you want to be in. Then you choose the character, if there are more than one available. Then you set up the screen by stepping out then stepping into the character place. And your read the lines that get highlighted in orange. Or if you would like you can improve your own lines. In music videos you just sing along to the lines. Overall, the different options for performing in Yoostar On MTV will keep your entertained for hours!

Technology

Yoostar On MTV has come along way since the original Yoostar. In terms of putting you into the scene it looks a lot more realistic. It doesn’t show the background any more ,for the most part, it will just show you the actor/actress. And if for some reason it doesn’t work, you can just use the built-in troubleshooting menu to get some help. First you have to step out of the Kinect’s view that way it can identify the background. Then you jump back in and position your self with in the lines of the character. If it doesn’t work well the first time, it gives you the option to re-do the process again that way you can get it perfect. The technology that Yoostar On MTV uses is amazing and definitely makes the game much better.

Bottom Line

Yoostar On MTV is a great game that will give your hours of fun. It is great for playing by yourself or playing it at a party with all of your friends. It really puts you into the action and it makes the party much more fun. There are many different scenes and music videos available right not he disc that will keep your entertained. If you’re looking for even more roles to star in just check out the Store. Some of the Downloadable Content is even free and the prices are not too bad. I would recommend Yoostar On MTV to any Kinect owner as it is a great game to have in your collection. Yoostar On MTV retails for the low price of only $29.99 and it is available now. For More Info On Yoostar On MTV, Please Click Here. We would like to thank Yoostar for providing us with a copy of “Yoostar On MTV”.
December 11, 2011 by Jacob Krol

Red Dead Redemption Game Of The Year Edition Review (Xbox 360)

Our friends over at Rockstar Games have sent us Red Dead Redemption Game Of The Year Edition for the Xbox 360 for us to review. When the game first came out, it was very popular. But, is it worth it to get the Game Of The Year Edition? Now, let’s get started with the full review.

Games Modes

Red Dead Redemption Game Of The Year Edition have some different modes to choose from. The newest feature is a single player mode in Red Dead Redemption. It also features both a single player and multiplayer version of UnDead Nightmare. This takes John Marston on a brand new journey. As he tries to defend off a mysterious Zombie attack. It also, includes all of the games add-ons and all of the pre-order content for the original edition. They all come with Red Dead Redemption Game Of The Year Edition. In the all new hardcore mode, it makes the game much more difficult. For instance it reduces your health by half, and takes much longer to regenerate. The game no longer looks automatically on to enemies, you have to do that to your selves from now on. And if that wasn’t enough, it adds more feature that makes the game even harder. If you were a huge fan of the orignal release of Red Dead Redemption, then i would recommend getting the Game Of The Year Edition. They have revamped some of the other modes as well. For the most part they keep the game the same way, that way it preserves it originally ideas. They definitely improved the graphics as well. We all knew that this version would eventually come and know that it is here, I am glad to say that it was worth the wait.

Graphics

As your know in Rockstar Games newest title L.A. Noire, they were amazing graphics in it. Well, it is the same for Red Dead Redemption Game Of The Year Edition as well. They worked very hard on making the graphics insane, you will think you are actually riding the horse through the town. There is no delay when playing the game as well. When you start moving with the controller, your character on the screen immediately moves. You can change the brightness of the game at the beginning, that way it looks best on your screen. Overall, the graphics in Red Dead Redemption Game Of The Year Edition are great!

Bottom Line

Red Dead Redemption Game Of The Year Edition is a good game. If you enjoyed the original Red Dead Redemption, than i would definitely recommend that you get this game. If you have the original version and never got any of the DLC, then i suggest that you get the Game Of The Year Edition. You will enjoy playing the campaign, the DLC, and the multiplayer modes. The game is available also for the PS3, as well as the Xbox 360. It is available now and it retails for the price of $49.99 . For More Info On Red Dead Redemption Game Of The Year Edition For The Xbox 360, By Clicking Here. We would like to thank Rockstar Games for providing us with a copy of “Red Dead Redemption Game Of The Year Edition For The Xbox 360″.
November 22, 2011 by Jacob Krol

DreamWorks Super Star Kartz Review (Xbox 360)

Our friends over at Activision have sent us DreamWorks Super Star Kartz for the Xbox 360 for us to review. It is another racing game and it is quite similar to Mario Kart. Now, let’s get started with the full review of DreamWorks Super Star Kartz!

Game Modes and Controls

There are multiple game modes in DreamWorks Super Star Kartz. On the Xbox 360 you have different modes that fall under Races and Battles. I enjoyed races more than the Battle modes. You can different racing modes, there are quick races or you can do 3 different tracks in a down. One thing, that took a while to get used to was that it only comes with so many different modes and charters unlocked right when you get it. You will have to unlock the other features of the game. You have to get achievements to unlock the other characters and maps. On the maps you can tricks and you can go one speed increasers, that will make you go faster. There are also shortcuts in the different tracks. The battles modes are very similar to that of Mario Kart, it is where you battle other players. This mode is fun as well. The online mode is fun as well, you just have to make sure there are others players online to play agasint. Overall, DreamWorks Super Star Kartz offers many different game modes, that will keep you busy and you will have fun playing them.

Graphics

The graphics in DreamWorks Super Star Kartz are pretty good. The characters are from many of DreamWorks most popular movies. They seem to be a little choppy, when they are on the carts. They are better in the cut scenes, then in the game for the most part. The environment graphics are really where they worked hard. It does pay off, the environment graphics can be compared tot he setting in the actual movie. For instance the Shrek’s Swamp course has the same feel of the actual swamp from the movie. This is usaaly the same for the other tracks as well. Overall, the graphics are pretty good in DreamWorks Super Star Kartz but, some areas could be improved.

Bottom Line

DreamWorks Super Star Kartz is a good game. It is very similar to Mario Kart, but DreamWorks has added there own twist to it. It will keep you busy, with the different tracks and characters. You also have plenty of achievements to unlock. It is very fun to play with others, it is a great party game. It also works on Xbox Live, so you can play with people who have the game. Keep in mind that to play online you need an Xbox Live Premium subscription. I would recommend this game to a younger generation of games, who like DreamWorks characters and racing. DreamWorks Super Star Kartz retails for $29.99 and is available now. You Can Get Your Copy Of DreamWorks Super Star Kartz, By Clicking Here. We would like to thank Activision for providing us with a copy of “DreamWorks Super Star Kartz for the Xbox 360″.
November 13, 2011 by Jacob Krol

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Review (Xbox 360)

Our friends over at Activision have sent us Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 for the Xbox 360 for us to review. It is one of the most awaited game of 2011, and it was worth the wait. We will let you know in the full review. Now, let’s get started with the review Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3!

Campaign Mode

Modern Warfare 3 picks up where Modern Warfare 2 left out. Price and Soap come back and they are big characters throughout the game. You are not just one character throughout the game, you switch from character to character. At times you may be fighting for the Americans,but then the next mission you are playing for Russia’s side. However, all of the mission link together. The controls are quite easy to use and are familiar to past Call Of Duty Games. My favorite mission has to be the second mission. It is the water mission of the coast of New York City. The boat scenes are amazing and it really shows off the true power of the graphics. It takes skill to be able to make it through all of the explosions and then land safely on the carrier. This mission really shows off everything that is great about Modern Warfare 3. The final mission in the game, is also very good. I don’t want to spoil the ending, so you will have to play the game to find out. Just keep in mind that if you don’t get it the first time, keep trying until you get it in the end.

Graphics and Multiplayer

Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 has amazing graphics! Activision worked really hard on the graphics in this game and boy did it turn out great! The game looks amazingly realistic. You will feel as if you are actually in the battle. Multiplayer mode in Modern Warfare 3 is different from Call Of Duty Black Ops. The great map Nuketown that was found in Black Ops is not the type of multi player your will find in Modern Warfare 3. There are some new technologies that were added to the multiplayer, like a mini helicopter, drones that launch grenade, and new mines. They will help make the game more fun for everyone. The best part of Multiplayer, is the new Call Of Duty Elite. It is the new online site for Multiplayer Games in Call Of Duty! It keeps track of all of your stats like number of kills and much more. You can see all of them online via the Call Of Duty Elite Website. There is also a console app, and mobile apps for smartphone are coming very soon! There is both a free version and a paid version. The paid version will cost you $49.99 but, it comes with a boat-load of great features. One of the great features of the paid version is that you get all of the DLC for free, that is the ones that come out during the 9-month season. You Can Get More Information On Call Of Duty Elite, By Clicking Here. Overall, the graphics and multiplayer in Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 are some of the best parts of the entire game.

Bottom Line

Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 is an awesome game. We said before that it was one of the most anticipated games of the year, and it does deserve that title. The graphics and campaign alone, are 2 great reasons to add this game to your collection. The campaign takes around 6 hours to complete, and after that you will love the multiplayer and other modes that the game has to offer. Call Of Duty Elite adds to the multiplayer and all people who own this game should at least get the free version. Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 for the Xbox 360 retails for the price of $59.99 . You Can Get Your Copy Of Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 For The Xbox 360, By Clicking Here. We would like to thank Activision for providing us with a copy of “Call Of Duty Modern Warfare For The Xbox 360″.

Please Note: Activision has provided NJTechReviews with a copy of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 for us to review.
November 12, 2011 by Jacob Krol

Big League Sports Review (Xbox 360)

Our friends at Activision have sent us Big League Sports for the Xbox 360 for us to review. It is one of the latest sports game for the Kinect. But is it a game the you have to add to your library? We will answer this in our full review. Now, let’s get started!

Game Modes

In Big League Sports you can play 6 different sports. They are Golf, Football, Baseball, Soccer, Basketball, and Hockey. All of them are great and will give you fun for hours. You can play with up to 4 people at once for anyone of the games. In total there are 18 different modes but, there are 3 for each different sport. We are going to highlight our 3 favorite sports. Keep in mind that all of them are fun. The first one is Golf- this one is quite entertaining. The 3 modes are Driving mode, Putting Challenge and Big League Golf. The first two help you build up the skills you will need to play in the Big League mode. Big League mode is found in all different sport categories. In driving mode you practice hitting the golf ball, this is a skill you will need. Putting challenge is where your practice putting, you will also need this skill. Then you move into Big League Golf, this where it all come together and you play a full game of golf. The Next sport is Football, the 3 modes are TD Toss, Field Goal, and Big League Football. In TD Toss your practice being the quarter back and try to throw the football to get a touch down. In field goal you practice kicking for a field goal. Big League Football is where it all comes together, this is where you show off all of your skills that you have learned. And our last sport that we are going to be highlighting is Hockey. It’s 3 modes are Slapshot Challenge, Goalie Gauntlet, and Big League Hockey. Slapshot Challenge is where you go head to head with the net and try to score a goal. Goalie Gauntlet is where you are the goalie and don’t let anything past you. Big League Hockey is where you play a game of hockey, well sort of full game. Overall, Big League Sports is great. It is especially great to play at party or with your friends.

Graphics And Game Control

The graphics in Big League Sports are okay, they are not the best we have seen. In some cases when we were playing Golf, the ball did look like a baseball a little bit. For the most part the graphics were good and they get the job done. As far as game control goes, it gets your whole entire body moving. For the most part it’s not real sports. It is as close as your will get without actually going out and playing these sports though. The sports are real but, sometimes the way you play it could be better. They are not completely life-like, that is the way you control it. For the most part though Big League Sports is good.

Bottom Line

Big League Sports is a great part game for the Kinect. Playing it alone for a long time can get boring. So invite your friends and you will have a blast. There are 18 different modes that will keep the party going for a long time. It is a game that you would want to add to your arsenal of awesome Kinect games. Big League Sports for the Xbox 360 retails for $39.99 . You Can Get Your Copy Of Big League Sports For The Xbox 360, By Clicking Here. We would like to thank Activision for providing us with a copy of “Big League Sports For The Xbox 360″.
November 10, 2011 by Jacob Krol

Grease Dance Review (Xbox 360)

Our friends over at 505 Games have sent us Grease Dance (Xbox 360) for us to review! It works with the Kinect on the Xbox 360. You may have guessed it from the title, but it is another dancing game for the Kinect. These games have been flooding the market, a many of them have been great hits. Is Grease Dance another? You will find out in our full review. Now, let’s get started with the full review of Grease Dance!

Game Mode’s

Grease Dance has many different game modes! It is not just dancing but, it is also karaoke. So you can dance and sing to all of your favorite songs from Grease! First all of the let’s see what songs you have to dance and sing to you get, Grease, You’re the One That I Want, Summer Nights, We Go Together, Greased Lightnin’, Hound Dog, Tutti Frutti, Sandy, Jailhouse Rock, Rock Around The Clock, Born To Hand Jive, and Rock’n'Roll Party Queen. So, basically all of the songs from the movie. Now there are different dance modes. You can dance by yourself, this is a good way to get used tot he controls. Then you have the Multiplayer Modes. First off is Versus, this is when you both do the dance and try to beat one another. The dancer with the highest score wins. The you have the 4 different Challenge types. Any of the 4 can happen during the song. You have Freeze where you have to stand as still as possible. Go Wild is where the player with most energy get the points. Pose is when you get into the correct pose that is on the screen and hold it. Then you have Action, the first dancer to finish doing all of the actions wins. This may be the most fun way to play the game. Then you have Co-op mode, when one player dances and the other player sings. Your score is combined at the end. You also Team Co-op, which is identical to Co-op mode except it 2 teams with 2 people, and you want to try to beat the other team. Overall, Grease feature many different Game Mode’s that will keep the party going.

Graphics And Game Control

The graphics in Grease are nice. They are different from the graphics in Dance Central 2. They are meant to stay with time frame of the movie and the songs. They are very 3-demsional, and the background’s capture the time. In the corner of the screen while you are dancing you will see your self, in the corner. Under that you will see the dance moves, then there are 2 players on the screen. Then will dance the moves that you have to do. Overall, the graphics are great. The game control is pretty simple. It uses the same technology as most Kinect games. You move the arrow by using your actual arm. As in Dance Central 2, you can control it with your body, controller or voice. You can control Grease Dance with your voice, but hopefully this will be a future update to the game. Overall, the control and graphics of Grease Dance are good.

Bottom Line

Grease Dance is good game. However, if you’re not big fan of Grease and absolutely love this music, it probably isn’t the game for you. You may want to go with Dance Central 2 instead. However if you do really like Grease by, all means gets this game. It will give you hours of fun. You will love dancing and singing to great tunes of Grease. Grease Dance is now available and costs $49.99 . You Can Get Your Own Copy Of Grease Dance, By Clicking Here. We would like to thank 505 Games for providing us with a copy of “Grease Dance For The Xbox 360″.
October 20, 2011 by Jacob Krol

NBA2K12 Xbox 360 Review

Our friends over at 2K Sports have sent us NBA2K12 for us to review. It is one of the years most anticipated games of the season. And past NBA2K games have been rated the best basketball video game on the market. Is that still true for NBA2K12? We will find out in our full review. Now, let’s get started with the full review of NBA2K12 for the Xbox 360.

Graphics and Presentation

NBA2K12 improves many different things from previous versions of the game, including the graphics. The players, stadium, and crowds looks very lifelike. Let’s start off with the players, they look very life-like. From they way they move to the way that they are designed, they look much more accurate than in pervious versions. Most of the face do not look weird, but they do look like the actual players. The players on the bench and in the crowd, now act and respond to what is actually happening in the game. It makes it much more realistic. The same goes for the people in the crowd, you can see the hometown fans get up and cheer as your home town team scores the winning shot! The mascots look and do the same various crowd energizing moves, that they do ion real life. All of this makes the game much more realistic. While playing the game you will notice the stadiums, and how they look almost exactly like the ones in real life. This bring the game play to next the level. The way the game is presented can be compared to and actual television broadcast. It has instant replays, a pre-game, halftime report, and end of game recap. It also features commercials for other game and sponsorships. For instance it is not just the halftime report, but the “HP Halftime Report”. The play-by-play has also gotten more accurate and will make your feel like you were watching an actual game. Overall, the improvements in the Graphics and Presentation help to make NBA2K12 one of the best basketball games ever!

Gameplay

The gameplay in NBA2K12 is great. It still has the same great game controls as last year, and some new ones that you will defiantly enjoy. For instance the new Stick Shooting method give you more control over your shot and the different shots that you can do. You have more control over how the ball is shot and how you release the ball. The computer mode of defense is pretty hard, if for some reason you throw a bad pass, there is a good chance the opposing team wills steal it. You are given a lot more control in NBA2K12, you have to navigate your self around he court, instead of having the game doing some of the work for you. Many people will like the new-found freedoms in the game. Overall, the gameplay will make NBA2K12 fun for everyone.

Bottom Line

NBA2K12 is a great game, one of the best basketball games on the market, if not the best. The improvements from last year version can be seen in every single part of the game. The improvements in presentation alone make the game a must have. You will think you are watching a basketball game on TV, because of how realistic the play-by-play and total presentation of the game is. The graphics have been improved on a lot as well, making the game much more life-like. The new Gameplay controls will make the game fun for everyone. I would recommend NBA2K12 to anyone looking for a great basketball game, as it the best Basketball game of the year! You Can Get your NBA2K12 Copy, By Clicking Here. We would like to thank 2K Sports for providing us with a copy of “NBA2K12 for the Xbox 360″.
October 5, 2011 by Jacob Krol

Verizon Unveils FiOS Xbox 360 Entertainment Experience

Today Verizon and Microsoft made it official that they will be brining Verizon FiOS entertainment experience to the Xbox 360. While it is not out yet, it will be coming soon. If you are a Verizon FiOS TV and Internet Customer who is also a Xbox LIVE Gold Member, you will be able to bring select TV Channels to your Xbox 360. You will be able to experience Verizon FiOS in a brand new way, and if you have the Kinect you won’t even have to pick up the remote control. Verizon vision and idea for the future is “The Borderless Lifestyle”, meaning that you can access what you want “anytime, anywhere, any device”. It is a great idea and we cannot wait to see the whole idea come to life. Having Verizon FiOS on your Xbox 360 will open up a whole new world of possibilities. I cannot wait to get my hands-on with this new feature. We will update when we have more info but, in the mean time check out the Press Release below and their blog post on this great new feature here: It’s Official! FiOS TV Soon Coming to Xbox, Complete with Kinect .

Press Release

Verizon and Microsoft Announce New FiOS TV-Powered Entertainment Experience, Coming Soon to Xbox 360

Companies Collaborate to Offer Live, Multichannel HD TV, Integrated with Kinect, in the United States via the Xbox; Expands Verizon FiOS Customers’ Borderless Lifestyles

NEW YORK and REDMOND, Wash. – Verizon and Microsoft Corp. today announced an agreement that will open the door to a new FiOS TV-powered entertainment experience for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system. Using a Verizon-developed software application, FiOS TV and Internet customers who are also Xbox LIVE Gold members will be able to view popular live TV channels through their Xbox consoles without any extra hardware required. This holiday, Verizon will bring a selection of popular live TV channels to Xbox 360 and will be a leader in delivering live, multichannel streaming HD TV, integrated with Kinect, via the Xbox.

The new collaboration is an important expansion of the breadth of entertainment available on Xbox 360 and the latest move by Verizon to break down old technology barriers and provide customers the freedom of a borderless lifestyle where they can connect with what they love on all their favorite devices. Utilizing Kinect for Xbox 360, FiOS customers will be able to easily discover and enjoy content in extraordinary new ways, all without having to pick up a remote control.

“By bringing the technologically advanced Verizon FiOS TV service to Xbox 360 and Kinect, we are advancing our vision to provide the best in entertainment in extraordinary new ways,” said Tom Gibbons, corporate vice president of the TV & Service Business for the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. “Xbox 360 brings all your entertainment, friends and family together in one place, and we look forward to introducing Verizon FiOS TV to the console this holiday.”

Verizon’s vision for the future – the Borderless Lifestyle – can be summed up in four words: anytime, anywhere, any device.

“We want to make everything our customers want or need to do, easier and more convenient, by putting the power of our technology in their hands – through the Internet-connected devices they use every day,” said Eric Bruno, vice president of consumer and mass business product management for Verizon. “The Borderless Lifestyle is about erasing old technology boundaries and freeing consumers to enjoy entertainment on their own terms. FiOS TV on the Xbox 360 will tap into the magic of Kinect to transform the way people interact with TV, providing a game-changing entertainment experience for our customers.”
September 27, 2011 by Jacob Krol

NicktoonsMLB Xbox 360 Giveaway!
We just did the full review of NicktoonsMLB for the Xbox 360 (You Can See NJTechReview’s Full Review Of NicktoonsMLB For The Xbox 360, By Clicking Here.) Nickelodeon was nice enough to give us 3 Copies of NicktoonsMLB to giveaway to the NJTechReviews Readers! That is right, 3 people will win a copy of NicktoonsMLB for the Xbox 360! It is one of the Best Baseball Games on the market and will provide loads of fun for everyone in the family! To enter, just tell us who your favorite Nicktoons Character is and why, by leaving a comment below. Also, be sure to like and follow NJTechReviews on Twitter (http://twitter.com/NJTechReviews) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/NJTechReviews)! Good luck to everyone! The giveaway will run from September 27th at 5:00PMEST till October 3rd at 6PM EST! You can see the full Giveaway Rules below. Be Sure To Check Out Our Review Of NicktoonsMLB For The Xbox 360, By Clicking Here. Good Luck!

Giveaway Rules:
- Leave a comment below, stating who your favorite Nicktoons Character and Why.
- Make sure to provide us with your name and email
- “Like” us on Facebook(http://www.facebook.com/NJTechReviews) and “Follow” us on Twitter(http://twitter.com/NJTechReviews)
- “3(three)” people will win “1(one)” copy of NicktoonsMLB for the Xbox 360
- The Giveaway Runs From September 27th @5:00PM EST to October 3rd @6:00PM EST.
- “Nickelodeon” has provided NJTechReviews LLC “3(three) Copies Of NicktoonsMLB for the Xbox 360” for giveaway on njtechreviews.com .
Good Luck!
September 27, 2011 by Jacob Krol

NicktoonsMLB Xbox 360 Review

Our friends over at Nickelodeon have sent us NicktoonsMLB for us to review! It is the newest game from Nickelodeon and 2KPlay on the market. It combines America’s past time with Nickelodeon, the combination has to be great right? It brings back some old, classic, and new nick charterers as they either play with or face off against the Major Leaguers! Now, let’s get started with the full review of Nicktoons MLB!

Features

NicktoonsMLB lets you play baseball as your favorite Nicktoons Characters. There are also some custom baseball fields, that are based off of Nickelodeon shows that you can play ball on. The characters that you can play as are from new, classic, and old nick shows. You can play as Spongebob Squarepants, Larry the Lobster, Ren & Stimpy, Invader Zim, and many more. You combine your favorite Nicktoons with players from the 30 MLB teams! If you have a Kinect for Xbox 360, you can play NicktoonsMLB. The controls for the Kinect are more complicated than using a controller but, overall they are very easy. It is simple controls that will be familiar to you, if you have played any other Baseball video game on the Xbox 360. NicktoonsMLB is also similar to The Biggs, it features the same special plays and other features that many people will like. Overall, NicktoonsMLB is an awesome game that has many great features.

Games Modes

There are 4(four) different game modes in NicktoonsMLB, all of them are great. Let’s start off with a pick-up game. It is like an exhibition game, and it is a great way to start out with the game. You will go in and pick your regular MLB Team or if you want to just pick all Nicktoons Characters. Either way you will end up getting Nicktoons characters on your team. From, there you can go off and play some ball. The next mode is Tournament, this is like the season mode in other Baseball games. Here you can play as your favorite MLB Team, and at the very end of the tournament you face off against the Nicktoons. You have to play around 5 teams before making it to the championships. The Tournament mode was our favorite mode of NicktoonsMLB. Then you have the Showdown mode. This were you pick your favorite MLB Players of Nicktoons payers and you face off against each other for one game. And the last mode is the Distance Derby. This is like the home-run derby that happens every year around the MLB All Star game. You choose either one MLB Player or Nicktoons player. Then you go out and hit some home runs, and if you hit certain targets you get more points. It is a fun mode, where you can test out your hitting skills. Overall, all of the different game modes in NicktoonsMLB will keep you entertained for a very long time.

Bottom Line

NicktoonsMLB is a great baseball game. It captures all of the important features from any other baseball games and combines it with the fun of Nickelodeon. It is a great game for the young and the old. The one thing that i wish it had was more stadium choices, hopefully this will come in an update. And at the price of only $39.99 ,for the Xbox 360, it is a great price for a great game that will entertain the whole family. You Can Get Your Copy Of NicktoonsMLB, By Clicking Here. We would like to thank Nickelodeon for providing us with a copy of “NicktoonsMLB”. Also, be sure to check out the NJTechReviews and Nickelodeon Giveaway for a copy of NicktoonsMLB(Xbox 360)!
September 5, 2011 by Jacob Krol

Microsoft Unveils Modern Warfare 3 Xbox 360 And More

Earlier this week Microsoft unveiled there Limited Edition Modern Warfare 3 Xbox 360! The limited edition console included 2 custom wireless controller, 320GB HD, Cold Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, customs sounds for the unit, and a customized unit with graphics from the game. You also get a one month subscription to Xbox live Gold. The console set will be released on November 8, 2011 and will cost you $399. You can pre-order it today at select retailers. Microsoft is also releasing 2(two) limited edition accessories, they will be in stores on October 11. The first is the Xbox 360 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Headset. It gives the user the power to chat with friends hail playing the game, it also works with mobile phones because it is “Bluetooth Enabled”. It has a custom design that matches the limited edition console, it includes charging cradle, ear gels, Xbox Live Token for an exclusive download and ear loops. It will cost you $60.00. They will also be releasing a Xbox 360 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Wireless Controller. The main features of the controller are the custom design and the transforming D-pad that can be rotated to adapt to the user’s game play. As an added bonus you will also get an exclusive Xbox Live Token for a download; The controller will retail for only $59.99 . The Console itself will be available on November 8 and the accessories will be available o October 11. Overall, it will let you show your passion and love for the franchise. You can see the full Press Release below and be sure to let us know if you go out and get one.

Press Release

SEPTEMBER 2ND 2011 12:30 PM PT

Xbox 360 Limited Edition Call of Duty: Modern

Warfare 3 Console, Wireless Headset with

Bluetooth and Wireless Controller

Today at the Call Of Duty XP event in Los Angeles, we announced the Xbox 360 Limited Edition Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Console and two limited edition Modern Warfare 3 themed accessories. Here are the details:

This limited edition console includes a customized console with graphics from the game, along with two custom wireless controllers, a 320GB hard drive, a copy of “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3,” as well as custom sounds when the console is turned on. Here are the .WAV files of they what they sound like: power on/off and disk tray eject.
A one month Xbox LIVE Gold subscription to Xbox LIVE is included, as well as exclusive avatar items that show your Xbox LIVE friends you’re one of the lucky ones to own this coveted console.

The console will launch on November 8, 2011 in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and EMEA for $399 (U.S. ERP), and you can pre-order today at participating retailers.

In addition to the console, Xbox 360 will be releasing two limited edition accessories, both shipping to stores October 11:

The Xbox 360 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Wireless Headset with Bluetooth provides the ability to chat with friends during multi-player game play or with Bluetooth®-enabled mobile phones, PCs and other devices. Its artwork matches the custom console and includes a charging cradle, ear loop, ear gels, and an Xbox LIVE token for an exclusive download for $69.99 (U.S ERP).

The Xbox 360 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Wireless Controller allows you to show all your friends your passion for the franchise. The controller includes exclusive artwork and a transforming D-pad that can be rotated to adapt to the user’s game play, as well as an Xbox LIVE token for an exclusive download, all for $59.99 (U.S. ERP)

July 21, 2011 by Jacob Krol

Microsoft Unveils Limited Edition Star Wars-themed Xbox 360

Limited Edition Star Wars-themed Xbox 360

Well, it is a big day for Microsoft today. They have announced a limited edition Star Wars-themed Xbox 360. It will be a bundle, and it is in honor of the release of Kinect Star Wars. So, as you can see they want to start it off with a splash. The Xbox 360 it self looks like it is R2-D2. It is a gorgeous design. The wireless controller for the Xbox 360 is gold like C-3PO. The Kinect Sensor it is not being left out, it will be Stormtrooper-White. Overall it adds for a gorgeous design. The Xbox 360 will have a 320GB hard-drive inside. The outside of the Xbox is awesome, the R2-D2 design is really cool. It was announced at Comic-Con earlier today. The Bundle comes with 2(two) games, “Kinect Adventures” and “Kinect Star Wars”. “Kinect Star Wars” will immerse the player into the world of Star Wars. You will physically experience “Jedi-Traning” and use the force; as well as a lightsaber. Of course you will use your whole body, not a controller. David Dennis ,group program manager for Xbox, had to say this, “There were probably a few Star Wars fans in the audience who can’t wait to become the Jedi with their trusted droids C-3PO and R2D2 alongside. Rabid Star Wars fans tend to congregate at Comic-Con, so we decided to announce there and geek out right alongside some of the biggest fans around,”. He also explained the amount of attention that was put into the details of the design, “The Xbox team worked closely with LucasArts to ensure the Kinect game and Xbox hardware faithfully captured the details, characters and themes of the Star Wars universe,”. Denis ended with is, “For the biggest fans, Star Wars was a franchise you literally grew up with over 10 years. We’ve all had countless mock lightsaber duels with friends. This game is the first time you get to become a Jedi in the Star Wars universe on your own TV, and it’s going to be awesome,”. So as you can see people are very excited about getting there hands on the game and on the entire new limited edition Xbox 360 Bundle. We still do not have pricing yet for the Xbox 360 Bundle. “Kinect Star Wars” is going to be released in the Holiday season, so as the release date approaches more info will be coming. You Can Learn More About “Kinect Star Wars\”, By Clicking Here. You can see the full Press Release below.

Press Release

The Droids You’re Looking For: Xbox 360 Limited Edition ‘Kinect Star Wars’ Bundle Announced

Microsoft and LucasArts unveiled a limited edition Star Wars-themed Xbox 360 bundle to celebrate the release of “Kinect Star Wars.”SAN DIEGO – July 21, 2011 – Microsoft and LucasArts are celebrating the release of the “Kinect Star Wars” game with an Xbox 360 Kinect bundle that boasts the Jedi Council’s seal of approval.

“Kinect Star Wars” Bundle Announced

“Kinect Star Wars” BundleMicrosoft unveiled a limited edition “Kinect Star Wars” bundle at the 41st annual Comic-Con International. The hardware includes an R2-D2-themed, 320 GB Xbox 360 console, which features unique sounds from the Star Wars movies; a Stormtrooper-white Kinect sensor; a gold C-3PO-themed Xbox 360 wireless controller; and an Xbox 360 wired headset.

During a panel presentation today at the 41^st annual Comic-Con International, Xbox and LucasArts unveiled a limited-edition “Kinect Star Wars” bundle aimed at fans of one of the biggest movie franchises of all time. The hardware includes a custom R2-D2-themed 320 GB Xbox 360 console, which features unique sounds from the Star Wars movies; a white Kinect sensor; and a gold C-3PO-themed Xbox 360 wireless controller.

The bundle will also include copies of “Kinect Adventures” and “Kinect Star Wars,” which invites players into the Star Wars universe. The game will allow fans to physically experience Jedi training and wield the Force – and of course a lightsaber – right in their living room through controller-free gameplay.

“There were probably a few Star Wars fans in the audience who can’t wait to become the Jedi with their trusted droids C-3PO and R2D2 alongside,” said David Dennis, group program manager for Xbox.

“Rabid Star Wars fans tend to congregate at Comic-Con, so we decided to announce there and geek out right alongside some of the biggest fans around,” said Dennis.

Attention to detail was a critical part of the project, and the results should delight Star Wars fans around the world. The Xbox team worked closely with LucasArts to ensure the Kinect game and Xbox hardware faithfully captured the details, characters and themes of the Star Wars universe, Dennis explained. In fact, they had to win approval from the Jedi Council itself – a real LucasArts team that vets all Star Wars-related products.

“For the biggest fans, Star Wars was a franchise you literally grew up with over 10 years,” Dennis said. “We’ve all had countless mock lightsaber duels with friends. This game is the first time you get to become a Jedi in the Star Wars universe on your own TV, and it’s going to be awesome.”

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