Maybe it was poor marketing or bad beta participant selections? Or perhaps bad timing with all the focus on the successful Halo 3 Beta and the highly anticipated Forza 2? Regardless of the reason, the 360 now has a title that will be sadly unheeded. Shadowrun is by far the freshest idea to hit the FPS scene with compelling features that expand game-play like never before. Yet the word on the street is stay clear of this one. And I ask, why? Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like the majority of the badmouthers haven’t even played the the darn game yet.

Well I played it, and here’s what I gotta say about it.

Hardcore FPS fans must have this game in their collection. Shadowrun is not for casual gamers. With over 20 different weapon, magic and tech gadgets equippable in countless combinations among four character roles, you can create your perfect FPS personality. Weather it’s a 3 foot tall dwarf with a Rocket Launcher and Shotgun or a monstrous giant Troll with a ninja sword, the possibilities seem endless.

Former Halo fans have every reason to pick up this game. Did you hate having to re-spawn just to get slaughtered by a dual wielding jackass over and over? Well it’s not gonna happen here after mastering the unique game-play. If the only thing you like about Halo 2 multiplayer is the Party System then you are in for a treat! ‘Cause it’s back, just like you remember, with a few extra features Bungie ignored (Like voting to boot griefers out of your party).

OK, so it retails for a full 60 bucks and only returns you 9 maps and no Story mode (there is still a single player mode). The developers claim that there is no story mode because they set all their efforts to balance the multi-player. Well… it shows. All I’m asking you to do is try this game before the badmouth bandwagon picks you up. So go rent it, borrow it, there’s even a demo available on the Marketplace; just play it.

Anyone who cringes at the thought of yet another FPS release should not overlook Shadowrun. You may just discover that it can be an exciting and intense First Person Shooter game that you and your buddies can have good times with. Expect a thorough review from XBLR soon. -Rust.

Nintendo Power magazine unearths the news that Geometry Wars: Galaxies is drifting its way to the Nintendo Wii and DS. Jam packed with an extensive single-player campaign and multiplayer modes, the franchise is multiplying in a new direction. And the best part: It’s a Nintendo exclusive.

The most popular game on XBLA with the most anticipated sequal gets sucked away from loyal 360 owners. Many hearts will break when graced with the reality that Microsoft let this one fly away. Did Nintendo pay top dollar for exclusivity? It may be far-fetched to think that GeoWars is a system seller (especially since Retro Evolved fans already own the system). But, Nintendo is playing Top Dog by retrieving this smash title.

Even the Geomety Wars champion, K4rn4ge, says, “I may just have to buy a DS or a Wii.”

Each platform will utilize its unique traits to enhance the shape-shooting action: the Wii version will feature motion controls and the DS will use the touch screen. Oh, and purists need not be worried about the new additions to the game — the original XBLA version will be included, as well. Expect a Fall release.

From IGN.

It’s no secret that the big wigs are getting paid for the work and ideas of the small independant nine-to-fivers. Well we’re actually six-to-tenners since we already have a nine-to-five… but back on point. I gotta wonder if Sony has connections with Kotaku, ’cause this kick-in-balls vibrates all the way up to my teeth.

“Your life. Your network. Your home.” - March 2007. Now let’s go back in time to October 2005, as this was said on our first podcast: “Your game. Your voice. Your radio.” Does that ring a bell? Maybe not for most of you, since we only got about hundred downloads off that show at the time. But we’ve been using it ever since and I’ve been proud to call LIVE on LIVE my home for the past 38 shows. (That’s 76 weeks in XBLR time!)

So is it really ridiculous to think that the slogan was stolen from us? It’s not so absurd when you consider this… A HUGE chunck of our organization (some could argue all of it) is dedicated to Xbox LIVE, which is Home’s direct competition. It is ones job, atleast when you’re getting paid for it, to know what the rivals are up to. So when you look at Xbox Live as a product, it is impossible to ignore the community that supports it. Your game, your voice, your radio has been supporting it for a year and a half, with recognition, before the Xbox 360 launched, before Sony announced that there would be no unified online structure for the PS3.

I should have went to law school, cause I’m probably the only one with the balls (atleast what’s left of ‘em) to sue Sony. After all, it is my life. Maybe if I look in my network hard enough, I could find a lawyer for the job. Now don’t get me wrong… It’s flattering that they like our ideas, I’m thrilled that they want to take them; but, can we get a little credit, please?

I didn’t think so either. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go rent Erin Brockovich and watch it in my radi-I mean, uhh… home.

In any circle you run in, the silent majority is 2K puts out a much better product than EA. NBA 2K7 outsold NBA Live 2007 in Next Generation sales. NBA 2K7 won “Best Team Sports Game” on Spike TV’s Video Game Awards 2006, over Madden! Maybe the majority is not so silent any more.

The ironic part (for those of you that don’t know the history) is that 2K Sports exists ONLY because of the mindless mistake EA made in the past. Do you remember the Sega Dreamcast? Well, EA never signed with them to make games for that console. So SEGA had no choice but to create its own brand of sports: The 2K Series. Who would have thought it would turn out to be the best source for sports games? Certainly not it’s cocky competitor.

It looks like EA is losing money, so we can expect to see the Marketplace flood with content very soon. Seems as though when people buy the full retail product, they prefer the complete game. Don’t worry EA, Chip’s got a Band-Aid® for ya.

-Rust.

First, kudos to Microsoft for continuing to update the BackCompat list. Considering it’s been a long time since the last update, I thought they were trying to sweep the whole project under the rug. BAM! We now have over 30 games added including “what the gamers wanted” like Shenmue II, Far Cry and Psychonauts. Horay!

Booo! Where is the game this gamer wants, Midtown Madness 3? I can even play it on my cell phone, but not my 360!? Obviously I’m being a sourpuss, but why is a Microsoft game not on the MICROSOFT Xbox 360 BackCompat list? This game is right up with the best of them and just may be the coolest multi-player racer on Xbox Live. With team based, 8-player, Red vs Blue game modes it adds replay value that a standard checkpoint time trial racer doesn’t. Driving real cars like a Hummer H2 and a Koenigsegg CC, or a Dump Truck to a 1967 Ford Mustang 2+2 Fasback, MM3 also offers 12 extra FREE downloadable cars to go along with great gameplay. Including two full PERFECTLY recreated maps (Washington DC and Paris) all free roaming and no loading screens, MM3 goes way beyond innovation.

But back on topic… “This game is simply not in demand.” WHAT? Take this! And That! You know what? XBLife.com would not exist today if not for MM3. Infact, here is the kicker!!! XBL Radio would not exist if not for Midtown Madness 3. That is the honest truth. I NEVER would have met MrCarpalTunnel, we never would have joined the MM3 leagues over at MM3Racing.com. That website would never have morphed into xbleagues.com and then take its present form as XBLife.com! There’s lots of history here…

Let us have MM3, please. If you come to Austin, I’ll give you free portrait pictures. Or… I know a place that makes the best Philly Cheese Steaks, my treat! What do ya say?

Thanks to Totally 360 for the heads up!

-Rust.

A little bit ago, Major Nelson did a interview with Chip Lang, EA’s Vice President of Online Commerce. Major Nelson seemed to ask Chip all the right questions and if you listened to the first interview, Chip seemed to dance around all of the answers. At least that is what you thought! Rusty and I were scouring Major’s site and found something very interesting, a hidden interview with Chip Lang. It looks like it was done twice, one with honest answers and one done with answers that will keep the EA higher ups happy. You can guess which one made Major’s show, but what you wouldn’t believe is that we are publishing the “other” interview to show you the real truth behind EA’s Marketplace Strategy.

So if you would like to check out this awesome, real and uncut interview,

click here, (right click, save as)

BTW guys, in case you didn’t know, it is a parody.