While in class yesterday, I was introduced to a toolbar expansion for Firefox called Stumbleupon, which based on the interests you choose, will send you to website pages with said criteria. As I went through the customization process for the toolbar, I found gaming was one of the interests, so I check marked it to see what cool things might come up. Within about 10 minutes of use of Stumbleupon I found this amazing video for San Andreas, that helped me figure out something I could do to pass time until Halo 3 or GTA4 arrives.

I’m quite excited now to go back an venture the streets of San Andreas, searching for things I had never thought of doing. Should keep me plenty entertained ’til the big titles drop.

And speaking of biding time until Halo 3, what are you doing during the wait? Diving into Skate or Stranglehold? Re-playing through Halo 2 on Legendary? What has your attention off of the week and a half wait?

While the Halo 3 hype keeps spinning, XBL Radio found this article at Shacknews.com. In an interview with Bungie content manager Frank O’Connor they discussed HALO 3 features: Some known some unknown.

O’Connor went on to say, “we already now see there will be a need for more smaller symmetrical maps … I think [content packs] will be, if not more frequent, more predictible and smoother.”

Some tweaking by Halo staff showed off possible new game-types for multi-player mayhem. O’Connor revealed that testers created a baseball game-type with rocket launchers and gravity hammers. “They even got bases in,” Hmm if only Bonds had a Rocket Launcher… Perhaps now clans may have “A League of their Own”.

There was also some brief talk about the secret Peter Jackson project. All O’Connor would comment on is that the project “continues on pace” and that Bungie producer Curtis Creamer and cinematics director CJ Cowan still managed to crash a Warthog into a wall.

With Halo3 arriving on store shelves in the upcoming weeks, news like this make it appear to be a multi-players ballpark! Swing Away Bungie… Swing Away!

First off let me say Congrats to Steve519. He is expecing a new addition to his gaming clan. It seems like a lot is changing for our Steve. Earlier this week he announced a new cast called “The Gamer’s Pub”. Now we find out that his wife actually does like him. Or does she?

I’m not saying anything here (one knows I’m not one to gossip) but…

After PAX Steve leaves Rusty and LIVE on LIVE. Rusty was the only one who ventured around the apartment the night I was there. He left evidence in the restroom sink. So without getting to much into the C.S.I. area… I have to go Hmmmm

I’m just messing with ya Steve519.

Congrats and welcome to the new age of less free time from the Staff of XBL Radio.

achievement -
1 : the act of achieving : ACCOMPLISHMENT
2 a : a result gained by effort b : a great or heroic deed

We are going into the 3rd calendar year with the Achievement system, which Microsoft implemented along with their XBOX 360 console. So I took time to reflect back on my past achievements that I have won. WOW! Were they all over the place! They were from 50-200 to 600-900 point per game. With that said I don’t know what that means. Am I a quitter when it comes to playing all the way through games or are the Achievements to hard to get.

It seems that gaming companies follow a trend with the achievements they put into their games: Sport games seem to be easier in achieving your goals. Racing games I find myself on the short end of the stick. First Person Shooters I’m landing right in the middle of the achievement grade card. Then there’s the arcade, which to my surprise looks to be the most consistent over all.

But you have to ask yourself: Is this because the arcade is where I go to get my quick fix? Therefore you don’t play those games long enough to get all there achievements? I don’t know the answer.

But there is one thing I do know; that your gaming skills don’t reflect your Gamer score. This score is to be a reflection of games you have played on the Xbox 360. But it seems the mirror is cracked.

I wish we all would be able to look at our True Skill stats. This would reflect a truer depiction of your gaming skills. As of now the current Achievement system is an indicator of who has a Gamefly membership and who doesn’t.

TOG out!

Dear Friends,

It is my sad duty to announce that FASA Studio has officially closed its doors. Today was the official last day of employment for those of us who had not moved on to other positions within Microsoft Game Studios. While the rumors have been circulating forever, we chose to wait on an official announcement because we didn’t want people’s attention distracted from our last product, Shadowrun, a game we love.

As a testament to the team’s commitment to Shadowrun, we released three title updates to improve the product even after the team learned we were losing our studio. We have kept our Community Manager and Technical Support Manager on the job to aid and support you and will continue to do so while people continue to play our game. I am pleased that about half of us have found great positions elsewhere in MGS and Microsoft where they can share their experience and passion with the great people there.

But now, as the last of us say our goodbyes to each other, I’m saying goodbye to you on behalf of a group of talented and dedicated professionals who busted their humps for the love of the game. I am proud to have worked with and represented them to you and know that wherever they go, they will continue to kick a#$.
Link to their forums

The Wii is for casual gamers? If you only play the Wii, you’re not a hard core gamer? Who knows? But those type of statements have crossed gaming sites, podcasts (including ours) and print all over the gaming world. But there is one thing for sure. The Wii makes money.

“Today, the Financial Times reported that the three-way race between the next-generation consoles has a new frontrunner. Citing cumulative sales data through the end of July, the British newspaper’s Japanese correspondent is claiming that the Nintendo Wii has now sold more units worldwide than the Xbox 360, despite the latter’s year-long head start.

According to the Times, approximately 9 million Wiis were purchased across the globe as of July 31, just barely overtaking the 360’s 8.9 million units sales during the same period. Both platforms were far ahead of the PlayStation 3, which sold only around an estimated 3.7 million units internationally.”

To read this story in full head over to game spot.

Rusty Ranchero and Steve519 host
LIVE on LIVE The Gamers Roundtable™

Topics include…
COD4 Betta Discussion.
Bio Shock, gamers roundtable style.
Game Reviews: What’s the standard?
EA’s Studio Showcase: From Rock Band to Wii.

Show Wrap-Up with Rusty and the gang…
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XBL Radio’s Special Announcement. Staff members quit, unions are made…
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It is that time again, ladies and gentlemen, for yet another news update. I have alot to get through, so let us get started.

Now until recently, I have not been a fan of the Guitar Hero series, and I’ll briefly tell you why. It is not because I hate the price of the game, the songs, or the boss battles. It is simply for the fact that I was timid to step into this new genre of gaming. When I did eventually get a chance to play this rockin’ title, I found out how much fun I was missing out on.

After sitting around this weekend looking for a story to write about, something caught my eye that I could not let get away. I have found out from articles posted on filefront.com, and on gamerevolution.com, that the first Guitar Hero to be released for the Wii will include online play. It will not however, include Downloadable Content at this time. For what reason I am not sure of, but here is what a representative from Red Octane had to say about it.

“There will, in fact, be Online gameplay for the Wii when Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock launches in late October. However, there will not be Downloadable content available on the Wii at launch. That, we are still working with Nintendo on.”

DLC or no, I’m still excited to see how this game will do on the Wii.

After looking through some articles on gamespot.com the other day, I found out some more interesting info about this game. One of these articles talked about the bosses that we will face in Guitar Hero III. Here is a short list:

1. Bret Michaels, lead singer from Poison: You face him in the second boss battle in the game.

2. Tom Morello, lead guitarist from Rage Against The Machine: He is the third boss that you will face in the game.

3. Slash, lead guitarist from Guns n’ Roses: Not sure which boss fight he is, but it is said that he will be a part of the rhythm game for Guitar Hero III.

Redoctane.com has info about the prices for the bundles for each system, and also about what extra items are included in these bundles. Both the Xbox 360 and PS3 bundles will be priced at $109.99, and the Wii Bundle will be priced at $99.99. And here is a list of what each bundle includes (other than the game and the guitar, which is wireless):

1. Custom faceplate
2. Dual Gig Bag: Not sure what this means
3. T-shirt
4. Custom 2″ wide strap
5. Keychain
6. Sticker Pack

For more info on these bundles, visit redoctane.com. I cannot wait for this game to come out so I can rock out with the best of them. Until next time, take care gamers, and ROCK ON!

B4

Links to articles:
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6178075.html
http://news.filefront.com/guitar-hero-iii-online-play-confirmed-for-wii/#comments
http://www.gamerevolution.com/news/view.php?id=3179

I wanted the Summer to end with a BANG. It ended with a thud (or dud). Shoot ‘em up, starring Clive Owen and Paul Giamatti, opened at my local cineplex and I (like a gamer with an avid FPS habit) rushed out to see it. I anticipated 300 minus 299 men and the abs of steel. You know; action/blood/dis-membered limbs. All the forementioned with a great cast. I’m a huge fan of Owen (Sin City/The BMW commercials) and Giamatti (Priviate Parts/and meeting him on Broadway as he appeared in The Iceman Commeth) However even talent and the green-screen couldn’t save this bullet-ridden popcorn film. The plot had more holes in it than Pacino’s final Scarface scene.

Heres the rub: A man observes a bad situation and becomes involved in a “protect the baby” device. Not a-la Raising Arizona style (although there is a grab the baby from the street scene). No this baby is used as a shock attempt to movie-goers. Consequentially the baby has the best lines in the film. So while were along for the ride, or in most cases shoot-out set pieces, Giamatti sets out to kill the baby and the boy scout. All this allows us to have a shoot-out in an alleyway, a shoot-out in a brothel, a shoot-out in a warehouse, (can you see where this is going?) a shoot-out while making a baby, a shoot-out while jumping from a plane, and a shoot-out in a home. O.k. there are a lot of shoot-outs.

So most of you FPS fans like me may think, “Wow this sounds cool?” Well I’m here to tell you: if it were a game it would be. However this is a movie. So I expect plot, plausibility, and some form of respect for my movie going dollar. I would have felt more satisfied eating raw carrots. Which by the way is how our protagonist passes the time and passes away several bad-guys. I for one wish Elmer Fudd had shown up with that shotgun.

It would have fit into the script seamlessly.

-Carpal Out

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