reviews. previews. podcast. and more...

Join sisters NinJaSistah and Pandalicious and the rest of the ESH Crew each day as they discuss video games, tech gadgets, anime, manga... pretty much everything within the geek chic lifestyle.

From Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, and PC game reviews, previews, news, and gushings to audience questions and rumor mill seeding galore you'll find it here at ESH!
First Nerdgasm of 2010: ESH@CES Las Vegas!
 

Goings On



Search through the goodness that is ESH. Want to see if we are writing and chit chatting about the crap you're interested in.

Twitterings

     

    Advertisements



    Archives

    CES Coverage

    We went to CES and here's what we saw and molested.

    E3 Coverages

    One stop shopping for all of the ESH E3 goodness.

    Xbox 360 Stuffs

    Check out crew rantings on the XB360 platform.

    PS3 Things

    Yeah, we've talked about Sony stuff too, check em out!

    Wii Little Bits

    Get your Nintendo bits and bobbles here.

    Oh Hai! Anime-niacs

    Peep the stuff we've written about on the anime tip.

    Manga Love

    We less than three manga as well, so peep the manga reviews.

    ESH Photo Galleries

    Check out the snapshots we've taken at events and more here...


    Dirty Rotten Lies And the Lying Liars That Tell Them

    posted @ 1/12/2007 08:58:00 PM by Ninjasistah
    Ok, so I'm at CES right, sitting in one of the chillout rooms taking a break and there are these two dudes talking. I try not to eavesdrop, but I can't help myself. One guy [I'mma call him Jed] Jed starts in on the heavy impress on the second dude.

    Why am I writing about this here? Because Jed was explaining to dude two [I'mma call him Dave] how awesome it is to play Guitar Hero on his PS3. Now we all know, that until Nyko releases their PS3 Play Adapter, using the custom guitar controller to play GH or GH2 is impossible. She no workie cap'n. So I initially let Jed go on with his piece trying to make Dave think he's cool and up on thangs, but he's insistant that wailing on the guitar is great, and that the response time is so much better now on the PS3 at which point I can no longer contain myself. I have to say something. But what?

    Do I completely out this guy for being a douche bag liar to Dave and ruin his chances to look like a hip dude? Do I keep my mouth shut and allow Jed to go on being a lying liar when I know the hard that his untruths can do? Dilemma, dilemma. I tell myself to just focus on the free danish and let Jed to to impress the hell out of Dave. What harm can it do me right? So I start to ignore them again and try to enjoy the chillout spot. But the guy keeps going on and on and on and on about how great GH is now that's it's on Blu-Ray [which it ain't] and how cool the controller is and finally the camels back is broken. NinJa opens up her big yap and proceeds to [ever so gently] rip this guy a new one. No, the guitar controller can't work on a PS3 but the regular controller can. The game itself is not yet on Blu-Ray but Harmonix is working on a fix. Jed goes, "Oh really? Huh." Dave now looks Jed up and down and all his credibility is gone. And me, I now get the rest of the "what do you know about the PS3" questions.

    Yes, NinJaSistah... douche bag buster since 1989.

    Labels: , , ,

    Finish what you start...

    Share this via:
        

    Bully Review by Geek Woman

    posted @ 11/24/2006 05:31:00 PM by geekwoman
    Bully turns out unexpectedly to be Rockstar Games' tongue in cheek response to criticisms of their games. Despite of the feigned outrage by video game hater Jack Thompson, this game is actually harmless fun. There isn't anything in this game that you wouldn't find in an average American comic book from 1955 or in any anime today.



    The game play consists of running missions where you make deliveries, or escort nerdy kids to classes and protect them from bullies. The game takes place in a school of unruly toughs where you play as an average boy who is just trying to make it to class and have a little fun. You are scored and earn money by finishing missions. You also go to classes such as art, english, chemistry and gym. Each class is a series of mini-games that increase in difficulty as you progress. The game would benefit from a wider range of classes to go to, and a better arrangement on the way that all the missions are timed. It would be even more fun if you could take your time going through it so that you can see and try everything along the way. It would also be better if you could hold more items.

    You have a meter in the upper right hand of the screen that tells you how much trouble you are in. As you commit acts of truancy, violence, or trespassing then you need to find ways to hide or lower the amount of heat you are under. It is set up similar to the way that you get Wanted by police in Grand Theft Auto. You can't die in the game but you can get Busted or Knocked out. If you get in trouble and skip class or other problems there are immediate repercussions. bigger boys called "Prefects" will come along and try to bust you or beat your character up. You can evade them by hiding in lockers, or trash pails. Contrary to popular belief the game doesn't really reward misbehavior.

    If you do well in the classrooms at the mini games you get rewards such as a can of soda, or the skateboard. In chemistry class if you pass then you are able to take a chemistry set back to your room with which you can make fire crackers. By beating bullies that are preying upon weaker kids you can get their "weapons" such as a sling shot. Once you have it there are various uses for it, Who wouldn't want to hide up a tree and nail a few over pumped macho football players?

    The camera in the game could have used to be more refined it doesn't respond quickly enough to turn around during a fight sequence. If you are in a hurry to escape the prefects, your character may get stuck in a wall or other minimal obstacles that shouldn't be impeding the action.

    There is a peace sign that you can use to make peace as an option as well.

    The graphics are more detailed than expected as well. They are well done and you'll see things in the art class or library that you expect to find in real life. However the scenery isn't very interactive. Outdoors the game gives you more to explore and interact with. There are a variety of pick ups and missions that you can commit all sorts of vandalism with.

    Your character can change outfits that are mainly limited to the school uniforms and aren't very imaginative. The environments and backgrounds are homogenous and average. Like the usual Rockstar games it isn't about the look of the game, as it is about the activities. The facial artwork is better than the rest of the graphics.

    The music in the game is limited to monotonous baselines. It is boring and it is a flaw to have such lame tunes backing up a game put out by "Rockstar". The voice acting is one of the best things about the game. Like Grand Theft Auto that has a funny sound track, the background comments made by the NPC's that you overhear are just hilarious. Guys walking around will say things like "My butt itches." "I think I spend too much time playing RPG's." "Your Mama hits harder." " How did I get mayonnaise on my pants?" " If the sky fell on my head I wouldn't feel worse than I do right now." "I know I'm a good kisser, I practiced for years on my arm." "I can't believe people like condiments, I mean they are like snots or something."

    The game is a riot. It's fun, it's pick up and play. You don't have any learning curve to deal with. It is all straight forward. You can sit down with it and enjoy lots of laughs and have a good time. It is a game that doesn't feel like work. You go to class or not, you play missions or not. You can blow things up, beat people up and be as criminal or truant as you want to. If you want to be a good kid, then you can do that too. It is basically a mirror of real life. In spite of the vagaries of life that present themselves, the choice of how you react is up to you. There are Bullies, Prefects that pick on you and a generally hostile environment that puts unfair amounts of pressure on kids in both directions. Good and bad are portrayed in a ratio that is a reflection of what any high school is like today.

    This game may just be Rockstar's back handed apology to female gamers for the infamous Ho's in Grand Theft Auto. If you want to get attention from the girls in the game and kiss them, you have to offer them candy or flowers, and dress nicely to impress them. Hitting them over the head does not work in this game.

    It is a shame that there isn't an option to play as a female student. The story-line is familiar from just about every high school genre anime on TV. In anime girls get into fights and pull off all of the antics that you find in this game. The game is devoid of sexism, and T & A. The girls are expected to be treated with at least a modicum of respect.

    Whether it's rats that tell on kids, beatings, bribes, stealing from weaker kids, and making the nerds pay for protection none of it is new or shocking. Those high school horrors aren't limited to one gender or another. Kids are cruel on both sides of the schoolyard. There aren't any guns or killing, just mayhem and silliness.

    Once again we have what might be expected to be a "guy game" that girls will enjoy. I know plenty of girls and women who play GTA and the whole gamut of WW2, and the other war games. Enlighten up dudes, we don't want Barbie - we want this game right here. Design me a female, gum chewing, pigtailed, kung fu fightin' girl, in a leather jacket to play as, and put her in the sequel to this game, and don't forget to pay me my royalties for the idea.

    This game exemplifies the reason why people should play a game through before they open their mouth and start complaining about it. This game gets all up in your face and says "Buy an F'ing Sense of Humor America". It doesn't advocate violence or encourage kids to be anything that they are not. It is original in the way that Rockstar gives us a slice of life that some people might not want to look at or deny that has always been right there. If Grand Theft Auto taught us that "It's Hard Out There for a Pimp" then Bully shows us that it is just as hard out there for a teenager. I give Bully a 5 out of 5 for misbehavior rock on Rockstar Games.




    Labels: , , , ,

    Finish what you start...

    Share this via:
        

    Show Me the Violence!

    posted @ 11/19/2006 10:15:00 AM by Douceswild
    The release date of the controversial PS3 title Bully has come and gone. Many individuals and organizations which will remain nameless (mainly because we’ve called them out on numerous past occasions) tried to have the release halted because of its “excessive violence against classmates and teachers”. So after having played the game, I’m here to ask you, how violent do you feel?

    I’m pretty sure that any gamer worth his achievement points already knows what the game is about. If you’ve been hiding in a cave somewhere or frozen in a block of ice, then I’ll summarize it…and then slap you with a minus 50 dkp! You’re a delinquent named Jimmy Hopkins who has been kick out of numerous schools and now Bullworth Academy is your destination. After being dropped off by your mother on her way out of town with her new husband, you start your semester avoiding and/or taking a stand against bullies and performing tasks/errands to work your way up the social ladder in between going to classes AND taking exams in the form of mini-games.

    Now let’s get back to the topic. Before the release of Bully, we were pounded with warnings and rants from, again, those who shall remain nameless, about the game advocating violence against other students and teachers and BLAH BLAH BLAH! I’ve completed the entire game and the level of violence is so minimal that it can hardly even be classified as an action title. The whole “violence against teachers” thing is kind of ironic because most of your interaction with the teachers is centered around getting THEM out of trouble like covering up their inner-staff affairs and drinking problem. There’s a part of the game that even requires you to expose a teacher’s test answer-selling scam. Help me to understand this. How is any of this supposed to make me violent? Does retrieving a classmate’s stolen diary or helping a bunch of geeks find their trading cards put you in a killer frame of mind?

    I’ve played my fair share of violent games and Bully is everything but violent. There are no pimps or prostitutes and your “deadly arsenal” consists of things like a slingshot and firecrackers. I’m no expert gangsta but I doubt that would be too effective in a drive-by. So I have a message for our favorite group of protesters and anyone who said Bully would cause riots and misbehavior in youths:

    Until someone discovers a Hot Cappuccino mod that enables me to get it on with the head cheerleader or the school skank, YOUR CLAIM IS BANANAS, B-A-N-A-N-A-S!


    Labels: , , , , ,

    Finish what you start...

    Share this via:
        

    Inuyasha a Long Term Relationship

    posted @ 11/09/2006 09:58:00 PM by geekwoman
    I've been watching Inuyasha since 1994. Back then it was only on once a week at 1:30 AM. Now I see it on Cartoon network on weeknights On demand and on Netflix. tonight I am watching the disk with the last of the Band of Seven on it. The whole Mount Hakushin and the mummified saint are pretty deep stuff. Kikyo has a big role and she is still acting as a priestess in the final chapter of the Band of Seven. It is her spiritual power that in the end purifies one of the biggest "bosses" if you will. A saint turned to the dark side by Naraku.

    I was watching some other episodes and I wrote this other blog when I was watching these. Inuyasha is a series that can be enjoyed by people of different ages and walks of life. There are so many things to find in it. There is the character of Kagome who is a student priestess and archer for young girls. Inuyasha is an action character with a big sword for the boys. However there is this whole other cultural layer to it. Inuyahsa can be appreciated on a deeper level too. I often think about all the philosophical interpretations and spiritual information in it.

    A while back my other half went out to a toy con and brought me back an action figure of Kikyo from Inuyasha. Since my partner only occasionally watches the show, and so picked up Kikyo for me without knowing her significance. Kikyo is the most enigmatic character and my favorite. She is a priestess who was deceived by a demonic monster called Naraku. Kikyo and her lover Inuyasha were turned against each other by the demon's lies.

    Later in the story Kikyo is conjured up by a sorceress from her bones and graveyard soil. This resulted in Kikyo's walking the earth as an undead priestess. In life she had unusually strong powers of purification and spiritual strength. In death she is a formidable shade that wanders the earth. She seeks vengeance for her betrayal. But through her undead journeys she contemplates the yin and yang of her existence. She says that "Dark is light, good is evil, love is hate." Her "life" as an undead spirit in a cold body countermands everything she believed in as a priestess, however she lives and still attempts to carry on good works. Yet her existence is cursed and anathema by the very tenets that she once believed. Her life is a paradox.

    I'm watching the pivotal two episodes On Demand where Kikyo finds out who betrayed them, and discovers that Inuyasha was not the one who killed her. The origins of the sacred jewel are discussed and there are many references to Shinto mythology. The series touches upon much of the animism and demonology that I find out more and more about every time I studied Shinto.

    When I was in college, my "inner voice" kept whispering Shinto... Shinto in my ear. It's like an "ear worm" of a song when it happens, sometimes my intuition comes to me in that way. At the time I didn't "get" Shinto. I had been studying Wicca with all the long winded spells and elaborate altars and robes. Maybe back then I thought that was more powerful. At this point in life I feel closer to Shinto, closer to just the Earth and maybe even closer to understanding Zen. I have studied so many different paths and boiled them down to just the essence that is left. I even have my own huge pink rose quartz sacred jewel in front of me here.

    Kikyo is an interesting role model. She is there to teach us that we are not supposed to become a captive of time like Kikyo, no matter how bad we are hurt, no matter who it is that betrays us. Kikyo is forced to be a living dead girl that can never escape her past. It doesn't have to be that way for us

    Labels: , ,

    Finish what you start...

    Share this via:
        

    So Notta Fanboy

    posted @ 11/08/2006 04:37:00 PM by Ninjasistah
    I have to say, I'm getting tired of being accused of being a MS fanboy. Seriously, I am really starting to take offense man.

    Allow me to explain why, with my top 5 reasons that I'm not a fanboy. [I'm too tired to come up with ten.]

    It seems like whenever we share an opinion that's pro-system, or pro-exclusive console title, we get labeled as a "fanboy" with that system. It would be cool if it was just being labeled as "a video game fanboy," that I could handle with minor objections, but the dismissal of the ideas and thoughts put together on the sole basis of being a mega fanatic, well, plain old pisses me off.

    So I've taken the time to compile this list of reasons why I'm not a fanboy to help those who like to use the "you're a fanboy, end of argument" clause know when it's appropriate and when it's not. It's a service I'm happy to provide you with so you can fight flame wars on a whole new level. Here goes.

    • No.05: All Consoles Are Welcomed
      I own or have owned at some time at least one hand held device or console from one of the major manufacturers. Sega Game Gear, Gamecube, Xbox, Playstation 2, Sega Genesis, owned em' all. In order to have the "fanboy" label stick, you have to be a console elitist.
    • No.04: I Read Many Gaming Mags, Not Just One.
      Yeah, you see that right, ok just wanna make sure. I do not have a paid subscription to any gaming magazine, but I do read many of them. EGM, OPM, OXM, CGM, Play, Game Informer, in addition to a few online mags. This means I hear about titles, games, and music from all the big [and small] development houses. To be worthy of the "fanboy" title, I'd have to pick one console and only read info about it... blocking out all other bits of info about other systems.
    • No.03: All System News Is News To Me
      New game releases on all systems are newsworthy or worthy of my attention. I'm going to be looking forward to Red Steel with the same amount of enthusiasm and curiosity levels that I have for Heavenly Sword and Halo 3. Not just the drawbacks or game glitches of other systems are worth noting or being aware of. I have to know a little bit about gaming in general in order to be able to form an opinion about it. If you haven't played Halo how can you honestly say it sucks? If you have never experienced the joy that is Amplitude, what is your basis for saying that your time is better spent kicking a dead squirrel? None, ya fanboy!
    • No.02: I Will Own All The "Next Gen" Consoles
      With very little need for thought I've already decided to own all of the next gen consoles. It may take some time due to lack of product on Sony or Nintendo's part, but as they become available I will buy them. I already own an XB360, but I'm already looking at ways to pick up the Nintendo and Sony boxes before the year is out. I like getting my hands on all the boxes so I can know what is fake and reality when it comes to each platforms ability, or lack there of. This way, when OPM says the graphics are 20 times better on the PS3 than XB360, I can fire up both systems and see for myself. I don't have to take the word of a possible "undercover fanboy" sway me one way or the other. It also keeps me from spouting off something I read as fact when it might just be wishful fiction.
    • and finally

    • No. I'm A Girl
      If you are going to accuse me of being a fanatic, get your terminology right. I can't be a "fanboy" as my physiology strictly contradicts this. I have boobs, and lady parts... that are all natural and if anything, would dictate the use of the term "fangirl" if you [after reading all of this list] still think the term applies.


    Now I'm not saying that "fanboys" exist, hell, some of my closest friends happen to be fanboys. They do lead [mostly] productive lives and are great members of society, but many of them do need to have much of what they say when it comes to their console "loyalty" kinda go in one ear and out the other. I had one of my friends swear before Bob that the new chip in the XB360 was a suped up secret chip that IBM developed for the government but as a personal favor to Bill Gates sold to them for use in the XB360 instead. If I'm lying, may Bob strike me down as I type.

    Well, I for one, feel better now. Enjoy your day... see you in Gears of War on XBLive bitches!

    Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,

    Finish what you start...

    Share this via:
        

    Rumble On Wii Warriors

    posted @ 10/29/2006 09:11:00 PM by Ninjasistah
    NinJaSistah in the spot to be on a fine, fine, football afternoon to share with you some news about the Wii. [Don't get all in a tizzy, I wrote this originally at 2 in the afternoon... Blogger was havin' issues again so just be glad I finally got this thing posted.]

    Moving on.

    In between beers [Guinness if you're curious] and football games [can't BELIEVE New Orleans lost to Baltimore, dammit Reggie, you're a receiver, not a QB!] I've spared a few moments to share with you some wonderful news I've heard about the Wii. Well, more directly, the Wii Nunchaku remote.

    There seems to be a debate about the Wii Nunchaku [the little analog stick dongle for the Wiimote] having a rumble feature. There was a post on the Gaming Tengoku blog that linked to a quote from the NeoGAF forum about a quote from the British magazine EDGE. The forum post didn't link directly to the EDGE article, but I'll help them confront all the naysayers out there. Nintendo's own website SAYS the Wiimote has a rumble feature. This should not be any big news. It's good to know, since SIXAXIS won't have the feature, and makes me curious if the lack of force feedback will be a big noticable difference or not. Now, from the looks of all the attention that this got on Digg with people calling this wrong, inaccurate, and a rumor, I thought I would run with my very own flaming rumors and unconfirmed speculative thoughts through untraceable links and pure flights of fancy, in order to show people what actual bullshit looks like. Maybe that way, when the real info hits, it won't be mistaken for bullshit. Let's test it.

    What is to follow is totally unconfirmed, in all liklyhood never going to happen and as such, should be regarded as incorrect, impossible, or as blatant lies for the sake of entertainment only.

    Not to be outdone by Nintendo, Sony has decided to add in the ability for your PSP to operate your PS3 wirelessly, anywhere. Got to pee? No need to stop the gaming fun, bring your PSP along and you can continue playing your game as you "drop the kids off at the pool." Gotta go to work? Again, not an issue as Sony has you covered with their new PLAYONOYALP system, you can continue to play your PS3 games from your cubical computer, LP2 printer, or fax machine! Sony really means it when they say "Play B3yond!" I heard this over at the forums on the d00dI'mJokin.net website

    Not to be left behind in the race for next-gen game console dominance, Microsoft and Take 2 Interactive in a joint partnership with Dairy Queen are going to create a new XBlive experience for the Gold level members. The new "Just Dip It!" program, not to be confused with Nike's "Just Do It" campaign, will reward XBLive Gold members that (1) pre-pay for 4 years of the XBLive service and (2) can teabag Jack Thompson in public with free small Blizzards, Single-Dipped cones, or Sundays each Friday during their tenure as an XBLive Gold member. Dive right in to the fun with XB360, Take2 Games, and Dairy Queen, and "Just Dip It!"

    You see my friends, THAT is what you can list as being "inaccurate" or "unreliable." Something that is listed on a manufacturers website that you can find by Googling the words "wii controller+rumble" and get in the FIRST FREAKIN RESULT... not bullshit.

    You all my now return to your previous gaming playing, anime watchin', and general geekin' out.

    Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Finish what you start...

    Share this via:
        

    Daily News: Want a Cheaper PS3? Sony Says Wait Til 2007!

    posted @ 10/26/2006 11:27:00 PM by evermore
    In today's news:
    • Sony shoots off mouth
    • Midway shoots wrestling fans
    • Philips shoots light and wind at gamers
    • Shoot, I'll go to this kind of prom
    • Shooting silver bullets


    Should you wait on a PS3? Sony says so! The following doesn't come from a fanboy site -- it comes from the New York Times, who spoke to Nobuyuki Oneda, Sony's chief financial officer: "Mr. Oneda said he expects the company to mark down PlayStation 3 prices in 2007 once the supply problems are solved." See? Even Sony thinks the PS3 is priced too high.

    Midway shoots wrestling fans: If you were at a pro wrestling match in Orlando Monday night, you might be immortalized in an upcoming video game. The staff of Midway Games filmed crowd footage and recorded noise and chants for the upcoming debut Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling video game. According to PWInsider.com, "The level of detail (in the game) was said to be so precise you could see a scar on (wrestler A.J.) Styles' lip that he suffered from a Samoa Joe bout."

    Philips' amBX immerses you in game: Know how Philips' Ambilight washes the wall behind the TV screen in a light whose color is complimentary to what's currently on the screen? Now imagine that along with sattelite lights, sounds, wind and rumble features for your keyboard and your wrist. It's called amBX and is due out early next year for PC games. To get everything will set you back $399 and requires games that are specifically coded for amBX to get the full effect, but if it catches on, it's gonna be hot. Ryan Kim of the San Francisco Chronicle played around with it a little and says, "It makes games seem a little more cinematic and full. And when done right, a software developer can use the lights to help cue players as to where to go by lighting up one light."

    Kids bored with prom come up with anime theme: The teen services director of the Tecumseh District Library in Michigan was listening to kids in the library's anime club talking about the prom. "They didn't know if they were going," she said, "because it's the same all the time." That gave her the bright idea of incorporating an anime theme in a prom party. According to the story in the Tecumseh, Mich., Herald: "Attendees were encouraged to come dressed as their favorite anime character.... Regular prom traditions were preserved, including the crowning of a king and queen. In a wry spoof on the royalty ritual, the crowns were cardboard and came from Burger King."

    Trinity Blood: Chapter 1: In the distant future after the destruction brought about by Armageddon, the war between the vampires and the humans continue to persist. In order to protect the humans from the vampires, Vatican has to rely on other allies to counter the situation. The protagonist, a priest called Peter Abel Nightroad, travels through the countries as a representative for the Vaticans. However, he is also part of "Ax", a special operations group controlled by the Cardinal Catherina. His encounter with a young girl called Esther will determine the struggle and survival between the human race and the vampires. So there.


    Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Finish what you start...

    Share this via:
        

    Fill in the Blank

    posted @ 10/25/2006 11:20:00 PM by evermore
    I've seen this too many times: well-meaning advice columnists talking about things they have no knowledge about, so when it comes time to give advice, they tell everyone to fear the thing they don't understand.

    I was reminded of this by such an advice columnist named Marguerite Kelly, who writes for the Washington Post and is syndicated throughout the U.S. On Oct. 20, a reader asked about the advisability of giving her 8-year-old daughter a Nintendo DS for Christmas. Kelly, naturally, was appalled, immediately warning the reader of the possibility (Possibility? You must mean certainty!) of gaming addiction.

    Although you can read the whole thing here, I will also reproduce the answer portion of the letter below. But instead of referring to video games, I'm going to let you choose which dangerous thing the daughter ought to be protected from. Just choose from a list of real (and imagined) dangers for yourself:

    You're wise to hesitate. , like television and the computer, can create dissension at home and even get a child addicted to them -- if you let them.

    Just as children know exactly how many times a parent will nag before she blows up, so does your daughter know how many times she has to beg for something before you give in.

    Give your daughter only if you can afford it, if you can set reasonable limits and stick to them, and if you're willing to if she tries to negotiate for more time whenever she . You can always let her check out , like a book from the library.

    Since too much is bad for anyone, especially a child, your daughter shouldn't be allowed to , nor should an 8-year-old be at for more than two or three hours a week or for more than two hours a week. This will give your daughter time to read, do her chores and her homework and play with her friends and her little sister.

    The key, as usual, is moderation. Too many will make the family room look like but you needn't outlaw all of them. Many have no violence, sex or profanity and some require players to strategize more than Monopoly does, though not as much as chess. Insist, though, that your child teach you, her dad and her little sister how to and that she let you have occasional turns, too, so she won't get isolated from the family.

    It's as important for parents to with their children as it is for them to read their children's books or go to their PTA meetings. You don't have to read every book or go to every meeting, but the more involved you are in your daughter's activities, the better you will know her interests, her abilities and her friends.

    It's also important that she be as well as .

    It's fine that she tells you what she wants for Christmas, but she should also be figuring out what she has to buy or make for family and friends. She will only do that, though, if you remind her frequently and if you take her to to find for Dad and Uncle Bob, to pick up the she needs to make for her grandma and buy fake to decorate she's giving to Aunt Tilly. These kinds of gifts will teach generosity and empathy to both of your girls, which is absolutely necessary. If they don't learn these virtues at home, they may never learn them at all.

    Before you decide whether to give your daughter , make sure she plays with a few more times, since some children get bored with rather quickly. If she still wants one, expect to pay . Choose the ; it's supposed to be simpler, lighter and better.

    Whether you give your daughter for Christmas or not, she should love and



    Labels: , , , ,

    Finish what you start...

    Share this via:
        

    PS3 Online Details

    posted @ 10/15/2006 01:43:00 PM by Ninjasistah
    Back from New York, with a few tidbits to share with you.

    First off, I found some details on the net about the PS3's online capabilities. You may already know about this stuff, but I did not, and was pleased [finally] to see all of this stuff.

    So here's the list of stuffs:
    • Multiple User Profiles
    • Master Accounts
    • Web 2.0 Compliant Web Browser
    • The majority of the online experience is free!


    Now lets examine these talking points.

    Multiple User Profiles
    For anyone that will be sharing a system [like a frat/sorority house, roommates, family homes, this is going to come in handy. The PS3 will support multiple user profiles on the system [saved to the hard drive] so each individual user can sign in to their profile and have their account settings and preferences on hand. No worries about saving stuff over on other people's profiles by accident here. Oh joy!

    Master Accounts
    Tied in with the multiple user accounts above, you will be able to set a master account on the PS3 when you get it. Think of the master account as root [geeksters only] the master account gets to set boundaries and admin all sub or associated accounts. This will be a big help to parents as they can set themselves up as the Master Account and allow their kids to setup associated accounts. With their Master Account, parents can limit the amount of time an associated account can spend in the Online Store, or even online I would imagine. This may be a big selling point on the PS3 for families in this day and age of shielding the chillrens from the world and whatnot.


    Web 2.0 Compliant Browser
    This was an interested one to see, a full blown web browser. No crippled browsing capabilities here folks, which is long over due I think. Read your GMail, check out what's going on here at ESH, watch some viral videos, it's all here. I think this feature will prove to be invaluable if Bluetooth keyboards can be used easily with the system. Give me a box that I can game on and take time out to check my email, Myspace, and update this site all at the same time, and I'll be spending a LOT of time in front of the tube on the regular.
    - and finally, my fav -

    The Majority of the Online Experience is Free!
    Yes, I'm not stuttering... it's free... well most of it is, anyway. All of the online services [which include voice/video chat and normal multiplayer gaming] are free once you sign up. The only things you have to fork over some dollahs are when you decided to buy items from the Playstation Store, downloadable content crap or subscriptions to MMO games, which, I think is fair.

    Now, there's a lot more going on in the article I read that mentioned these nuggets of info from, but I found these things to be the most interesting to me because if implemented well these elements will make the PS3 box a strong entertainment box. What? Surprised I said that? You shouldn't be, I'm a gamer first and foremost... so any news on tech implementations that will make my experience as a gamer more enjoyable or easy to manage will get my positive attention. My objections or negative opinions of the PS3 box have always been on Sony's attitude towards the consumer, the price point, and lack of forethought on the launch. I think once the lasers are fixed and working properly, box production is up, development for the box becomes a little easier for game developers, and the price comes down a bit, that the PS3 will be a strong gaming box... just not before then.

    Seeing these few facts about the online aspect of the box gives me hope that at least some forethought and conversation about making the gaming experience better for gamers has been going on at Sony in some marginal way. It doesn't wipe out all the previous condescending comments, or superiority complex things that Sony has been inflicting on the gaming community of late, but it's a step toward mending that bridge.

    Labels: , , , , , , ,

    Finish what you start...

    Share this via:
        

    Ut Oh! MTV to Acquire Harmonix

    posted @ 9/22/2006 05:09:00 PM by Ninjasistah
    MTV, you know, the Music Television station that brings you the likes of Laguna Beach, The Hills, and all that Real World vs. Road Rules crap going to buy Harmonix Music Systems [of Guitar Hero and Amplitude fame] for $175 million in cash. I have to tell you, reading this news sends a shudder down my spine. According to this article from the New York Times website the "goals of the deal...are broader than putting the MTV logo on a Harmonix game box: for instance, the company wants to offer visitors to its Web sites, its new virtual worlds and its planned mobile services the ability to play along with, or remix, their favorite songs."

    I don't know about you, but I remember the old MTV Music Generator games... and they sucked. They actually made me NOT like music for a while. I became very anti-music because of those games and started reading a lot of Edgar Allen Poe's stuff. This is not a lie nor is it an exaggeration. The "Music Generator" game would have been the last in my forray into music or rhythm based games had it not been for Harmonix and Frequency. Frequency restoreth my soul.

    But now I'm not so sure about this here acquisition. I hope MTV just buys the company and asks the already installed base of programmers how best to include their [MTV's] stuff into the Harmonix framework and not the other way around... else disaster lies ahead for all of us.


    Labels: , , ,

    Finish what you start...

    Share this via:
        

    A Star Wars Game That Doesn't Suck

    posted @ 9/21/2006 03:13:00 PM by Ninjasistah
    How absolutely novel an idea.

    I recently got a copy of a demo for Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy and I have to say, it's actually fun.

    Now before you get all pissy with me understand the difference between "good" and "fun". The Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic games were good [actually they were very, very, good], but I didn't have "fun" playing them. I thought the sound effects were great, the characters were perfectly designed, and I felt like I was playing Star Wars; just like the game was designed to make me feel. But I didn't have fun playing it which is why I lost interest in it very quickly.

    I've tried both KOTOR games as well as the Jedi Academy game and again found myself displeased with the slow gameplay and pace of the story, so I moved on to a new game. With all the previous Star Wars games I had expressed leaving a bad taste in my mouth, I avoided the first Lego Star Wars game like it had rabies. From all the things I had read about various Star Wars games they were always falling short in some area that I just knew would piss me off. LucasArts tries hard, I know they do, but for me and millions of fans out there the games did not satisfy. If I am completely honest with you all, I would not have tried this demo if Evermore hadn't asked me my opinion on it last evening. Deciding his question deserved answering, I popped the PS2 demo disc in my console and waited for the game to load.

    As the opening music and screen made their appearance I found my old skepticism creeping up on me, and even though I wanted to be able to bring an unbiased opinion to the game, I'd be lying to you if I didn't fess up to this before I continue on. I was ready to be let down again, and initially I was. I found the controls to be the most awful I had ever used. Even when I wasn't touching the controller the characters would slink around and continue to move on me making nuance movements nearly impossible. I was about to stop playing completely when I remembered that I was using a wireless controller that I hadn't used in months. A quick power cycling and the controls started handling properly. Trust me, this makes a WHOLE lot of difference.

    Lego Star Wars II is just plain fun. It's kooky in its use of humor, for the true original trilogy nutball fanatic the game stays true to how we remember the movies. Han shot first, bitches! With the controller working properly I was able to jump, dodge and get my general inner Jedi on. The game lets you change between characters in your party. So you can be R2 for a moment in order to open some doors or interact with other computers or be Obi Wan to use some force skills on items. It all runs kinda seamlessly, one button for attack, one for jumping, one for character swapping, and the left side of the controller for movement... the way it should be. But it's the tongue in cheekiness [is that a word?] of the game that makes it enjoyable. This article would have been done hours ago but for the fact that I've been addicted to the demo for that long. By the time I finish this I will have added the XB360 version of the game to my Gamefly queue and as a result of my funtime pleasure having I am considering upgrading my account to the 3 game plan.

    Sure you can tweak your Lego Star Wars avatar as you like with body pieces you acquire through gameplay and whatnot, but that's not where the fun of the game lies. I think it's because it's simple, doesn't take itself seriously, and stays true to what fans of the original movie franchise enjoy is what makes this game one of those, "damn, I can't put it down" type of games. It's not super next-gen, it's Lego people fer crying out loud, but you should do yourself a favor and add this one to your queue.

    If for no other reason, get the game and share it with a Star Wars geek you know. Fun times will be had by all. Greedo Bombs...need I say more?




    Labels: , , , , , , , ,

    Finish what you start...

    Share this via:
        

    Stuck In Detroit

    posted @ 9/19/2006 09:05:00 PM by Ninjasistah
    What's a gal to do? I was flying back to VA from a family funeral today and got stuck in Detroit, Michigan with little other than my laptop, free toothbrush, and a five dolla voucher for breakfast in the morning. =/

    So I started on a top ten list while sitting at the airport waiting for the hotel shuttle to pick me up. I'm not going to give you the whole top ten, just the first few...to wet your appetite. [That and I haven't finished writing the rest of it either.]

    First order of business? We need to discuss why you all should be lining up at your local Best Buys or at least making friends with the stock boys over there quickly. Amazon.com has sold out their first batch of pre-orders on the Nintendo Wii...long before they could send out their "we are now taking pre-orders for them" email. [Which I was on and am STILL pissed that I missed out on getting my pre-order in...but what ca you do.] In the mean time, I thought I would share with you my top 10 reasons that you should be getting up off your ass right now and getting excited about system launch on the horizon.

    With no further [than necessary at any rate] delay, here are reasons 10 through 8. Enjoy !

    Reason No. 10: Group play people!
    The Nintendo Wii allows for 4 players using the new Wii-mote to play games from day one. No multitap adapter needed here. Get your girls, tell them to bring their boys, and Wii can make some noise. Seriously. I need more people to play against, and I have a huge TV to play em on.

    Reason No. 09: It is Backwards Compatible.
    Now, not a lot of people were GameCube fans, but they should have been. There were a lot of fun games to play or grab your attention for short gaming time periods on the console. [I have always personally felt that the system got a bum wrap as being a system or THE system for kids.] You gots yer ports for your old memory cards [no need to buy transferring software and hardware like some other systems we know] and ports on the back for your old controllers. What more do you need? Oh yeah, you can just put your old lil 8cm disc in the system and run them...no external "special drive" needed to get them up and running. So even if for some un-freaking-forseeable reason you don't like the game that comes bundled with the system [or any of the 30 virtual console games available at launch, or the 20 or so Wii games ready at launch you picky bastid you] you can hearken back to your good old WindWaker days and get busy with it.

    Reason No. 8: Dude, it's FREAKIN TINY!
    Have you seen the size and the WEIGHT of the XB360 or the new PS3? Have you been working out? Cuz you are going to need to get your chunky butt to the gym to be hauling these things around, where the Wii is about the size of 3 DVD cases laying on top of each other on their sides. And it's a fraction of the weight, so all the chubbly wooblies out there will be able to lug it around from place to place without breaking a sweat. Rock on!

    More reasons to follow...represent bitches!

    Labels: , , , , , ,

    Finish what you start...

    Share this via:
        

    A Game by Any Other Name...

    posted @ 9/02/2006 11:02:00 PM by Ninjasistah
    "His mama named him Clay, I'mma call him Clay!"

    I have not been a big fan of Rockstar to begin with. I have enjoyed a few of their games, not to the point of pre-order or anything like that, but I did have a lot of respect for their refusal to cave under the "video games are killing/ruining our kids" pressure. That took serious balls. I respect having and exercising your balls. And Rockstar had been exercising their balls on a regular basis until the recent game name change. They stuck it out when they were first pressured about the game and kept developing it. They continued to weather the storm when the waters got rough with mounting protests outside their office buildings. They seemed to flex their balls at every turn and so my respect grew.

    Rockstar Games this week changed the name of a game they are releasing in October 2006 called, "Bully" to "Canis Canem Edit" which means "dog eat dog" in Latin. As a professional and individual capable of educated thought processes, I understand why Rockstar felt the need to make this change. The folks over at Rockstar must be tired of the flack they have been receiving over the Bully game; tired of the protests and weary of the constant barrage of negative press from the mass miss-informed public.

    I mean, look back over the past year...with "Hot Coffee" problems, the FCC inquisition, and Jack Thompson declaring that they are responsible for all that is unholy in present day America the name change must have seemed the easiest of decisions to make in order to gain some sort of reprieve. [Let's face it, when Adam Sessler ends up defending you to your buddy and mine Jack Thompson, you probably need all the rest and positive press you can get your hands on.] So change your products name to something that will not aid in triggering more negative responses. Really, I do understand it...but at the same time, it seemed like a total "wuss" move to me. I am not afraid to say that a little piece of me died that day.

    But back to the game. The main thing that I got my attention about this new game Bully was how the game's basic plot line resonated with me. The game is about a character going through school having to either face or run away from bullies. I was picked on elementary school [being the only black kid didn't help, but neither did being the shortest kid in school either] and in high school [being the only black female in my school to get into an ivy league college didn't help me get a superlative in the yearbook let me tell you] so the idea of a video game that would allow me to avenge my younger self against the embodiments of my former tormentors really interested me. Then I started thinking that it could be therapeutic for me, and not only me but other gamers as well. This game might allow players to express any feelings of repressed anger or resentment that they may have to be released in a safe and controlled environment. Wouldn't that be a great thing? If people used the video game to blow off steam as opposed to self-medicating using alcohol, drugs, or resorting to violence?

    It would wonderful if people would recognize video games as the fun diversions they are meant to be, but the politicians and "family values" groups won't allow that to happen. These groups that say they want to protect children from sex and violence refuse to address the issues that make kids choose these outlets for their emotions or how to handle them in the first place. No, they will continue to harass the people at Rockstar, make appearances before the media with no real or educated arguments and just out right dog this game...but in my heart of hearts I hope that the Rockstar dog eats their dog.

    So from today until the end of time this game will always be Bully to me.


    Labels: , , , , ,

    Finish what you start...

    Share this via: