Busy Gamer News: November 2009 Archives

Busy Gamer Podcast - Week of Nov. 1, 2009

This week we look at the Halo Waypoint beta, Netflix on PS3 and Wii, Farmville on Facebook, Halo 3: ODST, Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time and more.

Our goal is to provide 10-15 minutes of news and helpful commentary every Sunday so that you'll have a great jumping off point for your busy gamer week. Here's what we pack into each episode:

The week's game releases
A quick look back at the previous week's releases, news and downloadable content highlights
What we're playing/mini-reviews
Giveaways
Comment of the week

All in a tight package you can easily consume during even the shortest commutes!

Please share your own thoughts and comments about the podcast here and on iTunes!

Download the podcast here or, if you can, please subscribe at iTunes!

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 1, 2009 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Game Releases - Dragon Age: Origins, Lego Rock Band, Band Hero, Jak and Daxter and Ultimate Sith

As promised in the Busy Gamer Podcast, here is the complete list of games due for release this week for PC/Mac, portables and consoles (plus some recent releases that slipped out when we weren't looking):

DS: A Christmas Carol, Agatha Christie: ABC Murders, Band Hero, Barbie and the Three Musketeers, Battle of Giants: Dragons – Bronze Edition (DSiWare), C.O.P. The Recruit, Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom, Hidden Mysteries: Titanic, Horse Life Adventures, Imagine: Babyz Fashion, Jewel Master: Egypt, Jewel Quest Mysteries, Junior Brain Trainer, Junior Classic Games, Lego Rock Band, My Baby First Steps, Need for Speed: Nitro, Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: New Year's Celebration, Sparkle Snapshots (DSiWare), Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron, Style Savvy, Viking Invasion (DSiWare) and Wire Way
iPhone: 33rd Division, Big Buck Hunter Pro, Cliffed, Command & Conquer: Red Alert, Earth Dragon, Eliminate, Garters & Ghouls, Metallica Revenge, Rally Master Pro 3D, Real Deer Hunting, Romance of the Three Kingdoms Touch, Spring Fling, Transylvania Adventure, Wheeler's Treasure, Wolfenstein 3D Classic Platinum (free upgrade from Wolfenstein 3D Classic) and Zombie Attack! Second Wave
Mac: None
PC: Dragon Age: Origins, Flight Deck 6, Football Manager 2010 and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Ultimate Sith Edition
PS2: Band Hero, Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier and Jurassic: The Hunted
PS3: Band Hero, Dragon Age: Origins, Jurassic: The Hunted, Lego Rock Band, Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Ultimate Sith Edition
PSP: Ghostbusters, Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier and Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron
Wii: Academy of Champions: Soccer, "Aha! I Got It!" Escape Game (WiiWare), Band Hero, Barbie and the Three Musketeers, Buck Fever, Carnival King (WiiWare), Dream Salon, Family Card Games (WiiWare), Fighting Street (Virtual Console), My Baby First Steps, Need for Speed: Nitro, Food Network: Cook or Be Cooked, Hidden Mysteries: Titanic, Hooked! Again: Real Motion Fishing, Jurassic: The Hunted, Lego Rock Band, R-Type (Virtual Console), Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage, Ultimate Party Challenge, We Cheer 2, We Wish You a Merry Christmas and Yoga for Wii
Xbox 360: Band Hero, Dragon Age: Origins, Dreamkiller, Jurassic: The Hunted, Lego Rock Band, Pro Evolution Soccer 2010, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Ultimate Sith Edition and Wallace & Gromit Episodes 2-4 (Arcade)

So, what will you be picking up - or is this week a pass? Any games we missed? Please let us know...

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 2, 2009 9:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Wii and DS Stuff - Aha! I Got It!, Carnival King, Family Card Games, Bobsled DS demo, Dragons, Vikings, Foo Fighters and Nirvana

Here are this week's downloads, demos and videos for the Wii and Nintendo DS:

WiiWare: "Aha! I Got It!" Escape Game ($5), Carnival King ($7) and Family Card Games ($5)
Virtual Console: Fighting Street ($8) and R-Type ($5)
DSiWare: Battle of Giants: Dragons – Bronze Edition ($8), Sparkle Snapshots ($5) and Viking Invasion ($8)
Rock Band 2 tracks ($2 each; due Tuesday, Nov. 3) "Best of You," "The Pretender," "Wheels" and "Word Forward" by Foo Fighters, "Fake Friends" by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and "About a Girl," "Blew" and "School" by Nirvana
DS Demos (via Wii): Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Bobsled Race, plus repeats Bakugan Battle Brawlers, James Patterson Women’s Murder Club: Games of Passion and SpongeBob's Truth or Square
Game Videos: "Aha! I Got It!" Escape Game, Animal Crossing: City Folk, Bakugan Battle Brawlers, Band Hero, Battle of Giants: Dragons – Bronze Edition, Cabela's Big Game Hunter 2010, Carnival King, Cars Race-O-Rama, Family Card Games, Imagine: Babyz Fashion, Infinite Space, Madden NFL '10, Need for Speed: Nitro, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Nostalgia, Planet 51, Rock Band Metal Track Pack, SimAnimals Africa, Style Savvy, Tony Hawk: Ride and Viking Invasion

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 2, 2009 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

GrrlGotGame - Moves you know by heart: Videogame clichés and the games that killed them

WARNING: This story discusses specific story points from multiple games. They're so old you probably already beat them or don't care anyway. Whatever. You've been warned.

Do you cringe around large bodies of water? Does the idea of walking with a friend from Point A to Point B hold as much appeal as sticking your hand in the garbage disposal? Is the third time always the charm? If so, you may be suffering from Videogame Cliché Syndrome™ - brought on by prolonged exposure to painfully obvious gaming moments. We're here to help. Here are some of the most common clichés found in videogames today, and games that have atoned in some way. We're not saying playing these games will cure you - but they may give you hope that one day, videogames will be cliché free.

Oh, and for the last time, spoilers ahead, OK?

Help! I fell in the water and never learned how to swim!
There seems to be an epidemic of adult videogame characters that can't even dog paddle their way back five feet to a wall. It's gotten so bad I expect someone to fall into a giant slushie and die a horrible death in the near future. The obvious answer - don't go near the water! - is never the easy one. Inevitably, you will be on a boat with hostiles knocking you around, walking on a half-inch ledge above the ocean, or driving recklessly while pursuing or escaping in a car that has no control whatsoever.

The early Grand Theft Auto games were particularly bad, as you had to sit through a dramatic recreation of your AI drowning before resetting to... well, I don't like to talk about it. Rockstar Games atones with Grand Theft Auto IV. Not only can you swim, you're a regular Michael Phelps. During one mission, I jumped out of a helicopter into the water and proceeded to swim back to Manhat - I mean, Algonquin. A trip that would normally take me days on foot went relatively swiftly. Bonus points for letting me climb aboard a yacht and jack it.
This hot chick is wounded and needs me to carry/defend her as we walk through a sea of enemies.
Ah, the escort mission - so loathed, and yet, a standard ~~crutch~~ feature of first-person shooters and RPGs. And yes, I know it's not always a hot chick - but you have to admit, it is rather common. Other factors you can pretty much count on: The escort will be wounded, requiring you to either carry her or walk really, really slowly. Oh and there's going to be an insane number of zombies/people/animals/traps to evade. (Presumably, they smell the blood. Well, maybe not the traps.)

Escort missions can play a major role in Dead Rising. While technically side missions, completing escorts are the key to leveling up quickly, getting one of the better endings, and generally staying entertained between mass zombie slaughter sessions. The difference? You get credit the second they join your party and extra points if you save her/him from a psycho. Most escorts are in decent shape - they can walk, and if you give them a weapon, they'll go all Charles Bronson. Plus you can give them health items to chug (I recommend wine for fast pick-me-ups), making it easier to get them back to safety.

Or, you can just abandon their asses and let the zombies get them. You still end up ahead in the game for having tried. Granted, you won't get the bonus level points for dragging them all the way back to the control room, and it won't count toward your final rescue tally, which helps determine which of the 10,000 endings you get.

But it will distract the zombies for a minute while you make a run for it, and isn't that what really matters?
Crates... why'd it have to be... Crates.
Move them! Stack them! Whack them! Hide behind them! Slowly go insane looking for a key hidden somewhere in the world's biggest crate factory! No, it's not a challenge on The Amazing Race. (Well, maybe it was, but not in this case.) It's our frenemy: the crate.

We all know the rules. If you see one, bash it - and hope you don't break your weapon (or hand) because this particular wood crate is reinforced with titanium steel. Play enough Tomb Raider games, and you'll be rearranging crates in your sleep. Walk through Resident Evil, and you'll wonder if that crate sitting behind the grocery store has a plant in it. (Or a snake. Screw you, Resident Evil 4.) Just don't ignore it. If it's in the game, it probably has a purpose.

Portal forever changed the way I looked at crates with one simple achievement: Heartbreaker. I'm not going to spoil this one, because if you haven't played the game, you'd laugh. No, seriously. It sounds completely, insanely stupid what happens between you and a very special cube. And when the sudden but inevitable moment of betrayal comes... you will feel it.

I have the Companion Cube earrings to prove it.
Three is the magic number.... Yes it is.
And last but certainly not least, the one cliché that will never die: the rule of three. How do you know you're in a boss battle? Well, first, there's the James Bond moment where the boss explains it all in a 20-minute cinematic. Then, just when you are entering your videogame coma (or getting back from the fridge/bathroom), the boss unleashes hell in the form of a bunch of annoying minions.

The minions are a distraction, of course. The real action is back at the boss, who is forming his/her/its own attacks while the minions keep you busy. The catch: You have to get through the minions to get to the boss, knock down their health, and get the inevitable first big reaction. You know, when the boss takes over and does something to indicate that hey, that hurt! Then, everything resets, the minions come back and the whole damn cycle begins again.

We're going all the way back to Hunter: The Reckoning on the first Xbox for this one. The vampire boss in this one gave me hell for weeks, as his particular attacks (and minions) were very, very difficult to overcome. Then, it finally occurred to me - it's awfully bright outside. Rather than take the traditional 1-2-3 ,you're it attack, I wailed on the boarded-up windows, which the developers thoughtfully made breakable. It still took me several tries to take him down, but when he did fall, it was spectacular.

Was that the official way to win? I don't know - probably. But for once, I didn't feel like I was playing whack-a-boss with a giant, pointless hammer. It felt like I was problem solving and fighting an actual battle, instead of just getting past this level of the game.

Have a favorite cliché that I didn't cover? Share it in our comments section!

Posted by GrrlGotGame on November 3, 2009 10:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Hack This Game - Left 4 Dead 2 demo

The newly released Left 4 Dead 2 demo omitted one major bit of fan service - the ability to play as ZOMBIES in versus mode. Fortunately for PC players, there's a hack to give you the full taste of the game before you buy. Visit www.l4dmods.com to download a plug-in and detailed instructions. If you join an existing game (no plug-in required), simply use the command "set_infected 1" to become undead in the game - unless the server has this blocked or you're designated as a survivor by the host. Your zombie fun is limited to 2v2 for now, but it'll keep you happy until the full game releases Nov. 17...

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 4, 2009 11:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

PlayStation Store - Military Madness, Numblast, Foo Fighters and Nirvana, plus free Brutal Legend maps and LittleBigPlanet costumes

Here's what landed at the PlayStation Store this week (including some little freebies!):

Military Madness: Nectaris ($10)
Numblast ($5)
Brutal Legend Tears of the Hextadon Map Pack (free) with Circle of Tears and Death's Fjord maps, plus an axe, the Blade of Ormagöden - Note: These are free for two weeks only, and just on the PS3
LittleBigPlanet Anniversary and Spaceman costumes (free)
Topatoi Arcade Style Pack (free) with 14 unlockable bonus levels
Way of the Samurai 3 Weapons DLC (free)
Dragon Age: Origins Stone Prisoner ($15) and Warden's Keep ($7)
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 Character and Mission Pack ($10) with Carnage, Psylocke, Magneto, Cable and Black Panther plus 4 missions, and Juggernaut playable character ($2) - there's also a compatibility pack (free) so you can still play friends who have the Character and Mission Pack
PS1 for PS3/PSP: Gex ($6)
Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Foo Fighters Pack 03 ($7 or $2 each) with "Best of You," "The Pretender," "Wheels" and "Word Forward," Nirvana Bleach Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) "About a Girl," "Blew" and "School" and track ($2) "Fake Friends" by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
PSP: Ben 10: Alien Force ($20), Ben 10: Protector of Earth ($15), Class of Heroes ($40), Creature Defense ($8), Crimson Room: Reverse ($8), Dissidia Final Fantasy ($40), Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground ($15), Ghostbusters ($30), Numblast ($5), Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron ($30) and Star Wars Clone Wars: Republic Heroes ($30), plus Rock Band Unplugged tracks ($2 each) "Waking the Demon" by Bullet for My Valentine and "Toxicity" by System of a Down
Demos: Military Madness: Nectaris and Trine, plus MotorStorm: Arctic Edge (PSP)
Game Videos: Assassin's Creed II, Dragon Age: Origins, God of War Collection, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, Nier and Numblast, plus Qore ($3 or $25 a year) featuring Assassin's Creed II and ModNation Racers
Themes: Tekken 6 (free), Family Guy ($2), Roadkill ($2) and DarkMatter Quadrilogy ($6)
Wallpaper: FIFA Soccer '10 and Tekken 6

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 5, 2009 5:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Xbox Live Marketplace - Halo Waypoint, Left 4 Dead 2 demo, Wallace & Gromit, Foo Fighters, Nirvana and free Brutal Legend maps

The big news this week on Xbox Live Marketplace is the release of the free Halo Waypoint, which (as we discussed on last week's podcast) isn't so much a game as a marketing tool to get you to buy and play more Halo games. It will feature a full-episode preview of the Halo Legends animated series this Saturday only, so you'll want to download it for that - plus you get a free Waypoint Monitor (think Guilty Spark) to hang with your avatar.

Here's what else is new on Marketplace:

Arcade: Wallace & Gromit Episodes 2-4 ($10 each)
Brutal Legend Tears of the Hextadon Map Pack ($5) with Circle of Tears and Death's Fjord maps, plus an axe, the Blade of Ormagöden - Note: Not free on Xbox 360, only PS3 for a limited time
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising Skirmish Pack ($5)
Dragon Age: Origins Stone Prisoner ($15) and Warden's Keep ($7)
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 Character and Mission Pack ($10) with Carnage, Psylocke, Magneto, Cable and Black Panther plus 4 missions, and Juggernaut playable character ($2) - there's also a compatibility pack (free) so you can still play friends who have the Character and Mission Pack
Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Foo Fighters Pack 03 ($7 or $2 each) with "Best of You," "The Pretender," "Wheels" and "Word Forward," Nirvana Bleach Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) "About a Girl," "Blew" and "School" and track ($2) "Fake Friends" by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
Lips tracks ($2 each) "Hold On" by En Vogue, "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You" by Glenn Medeiros and "I'll Stand By You" by The Pretenders
Games on Demand: Battlefield 2: Modern Combat ($20)
Demos: Left 4 Dead 2, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 and NCAA Basketball '10
Indie Games (usually $1-10 each): Antigrav Racing Championship, Lodestar 1000, Mirror, Scare Me, Snaker Ace, Space Milkman, Squid Yes! Not So Octopus!, They Came From the Ground and Tiger Storm
Game Videos: Army of Two: The 40th Day, Assassin's Creed II, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, FIFA '10, Grand Theft Auto IV The Ballad of Gay Tony, Red Faction: Guerrilla, The Saboteur, Splinter Cell: Conviction and Tony Hawk: Ride
Themes: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 ($3 each) and History Channel (free)
Pictures: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 ($1 each), Call to Arms (free, enters you in sweepstakes), History Channel (free; one enters you in sweepstakes) and McDonald's (free, enters you in sweepstakes)
Avatar Items (usually priced $1-5 each): Band Hero and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 5, 2009 5:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Free Stuff Friday - Mercenaries 2: World in Flames

This week's prize, for one lucky winner, is the PC version of Mercenaries 2: World in Flames.

The game is an open world third-person shooter set in modern Venezuela where you play as mercs Jennifer, Chris or Mattias and battle through destructible environments.

If this sounds like your kind of game, well, maybe this is your lucky week!

To enter:

Continue reading "Free Stuff Friday - Mercenaries 2: World in Flames" »

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 6, 2009 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (40)

Busy Gamer Podcast - Week of Nov. 8, 2009

This week we discuss Bejeweled Blitz for iPhone, Left 4 Dead 2 demo playable zombie hack, Plants vs. Zombies, game cliches and more. It's our shortest podcast yet!

Our goal is to provide 10-15 minutes of news and helpful commentary every Sunday so that you'll have a great jumping off point for your busy gamer week. Here's what we pack into each episode:

The week's game releases
A quick look back at the previous week's releases, news and downloadable content highlights
What we're playing/mini-reviews
Giveaways
Comment of the week

All in a tight package you can easily consume during even the shortest commutes!

Please share your own thoughts and comments about the podcast here and on iTunes!

Download the podcast here or, if you can, please subscribe at iTunes!

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 8, 2009 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Game Releases - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, New Super Mario Bros Wii, Bejeweled Blitz iPhone and Braid PS3

As promised in the Busy Gamer Podcast, here is the complete list of games due for release this week for PC/Mac, portables and consoles (plus some recent releases that slipped out when we weren't looking):

DS: Bomberman Blitz (DSiWare), Call of Duty: Modern Warfare - Mobilized, Chaotic: Shadow Warriors, Disney Jonas, DJ Star, Dragon Ball Z: Attack of the Saiyans, Dragonology, Fairyland Melody Magic, Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands, Hot Wheels: Battle Force 5, Petz Nursery, Phantasy Star Zero, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Satisfashion, Spectral Force Genesis, Style Lab: Jewelry Design, Style Lab: Makeover, Sushi Go Round, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Arcade Attack, Wedding Dash and various Electroplankton (DSiWare)
iPhone: Asphalt 5, Bejeweled Blitz (as free add-on for Bejeweled 2), Cell War, Flatspace, Fore, Gravity Sling, Guess the News, Harbor Havoc 3D, The Isle of 8-bit Treasures, Jelly Car 2, Karnival, Rope Raider, The Settlers, Virtual Villagers 3 and Word Spin
Mac: Darkest of Days and Mahjongg 4 Deluxe
PC: Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Final Fantasy XI: Ultimate Collection, King Arthur, Liong: The Lost Amulets, Mahjongg 4 Deluxe and WorldShift
PS2: Dora the Explorer: Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom and Pro Evolution Soccer 2010
PS3: Braid, Buzz! Quiz World, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Chaotic: Shadow Warriors and Dragon Ball: Raging Blast,
PSP: Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble and Pro Evolution Soccer 2010
Wii: Arcade Shooting Gallery, Baby & Me, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare - Reflex, Chaotic: Shadow Warriors, Cybernoid (Virtual Console), Dragon Master Spell Caster (WiiWare), Excitebike: World Rally (WiiWare), Free Running, Frogger Returns (WiiWare), Harvest Moon: Animal Parade, Hot Wheels: Battle Force 5, Jambo! Safari: Animal Rescue, New Super Mario Bros Wii (Sunday, Nov. 15), NBA 2K10, Pop'n Music, Pro Evolution Soccer 2010, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, Smart Kids Journey to Adventure, Team Elimination Games and Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap (Virtual Console)
Xbox 360: 0D Beat Drop (Arcade), Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Chaotic: Shadow Warriors, Dragon Ball: Raging Blast, Encleverment Experiment (Arcade), Final Fantasy XI: Ultimate Collection, Hasbro Family Game Night, NBA Unrivaled (Arcade) and Stoked: Big Air Edition

So, what will you be picking up - or is this week a pass? Any games we missed? Anything slip (as these inevitably do)? Please let us know...

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 9, 2009 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Wii and DS Stuff - Dragon Master Spell Caster, Excitebike: World Rally, Frogger Returns and Madagascar Kartz DS demo

Here are this week's downloads, demos and videos for the Wii and Nintendo DS:

WiiWare: Dragon Master Spell Caster ($5), Excitebike: World Rally ($10) and Frogger Returns ($5)
Virtual Console: Cybernoid for C64 ($5) and Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap for Sega Master System ($5)
DSiWare: Bomberman Blitz ($5) and Electroplankton mini-games ($2 each)
Rock Band 2 tracks ($2 each; due Tuesday, Nov. 10) "Smash It Up (Part II)" by The Damned, "Club Foot" by Kasabian, "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground," "Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine" and "Icky Thump" by The White Stripes - Note: "Family friendly" tracks also work with Lego Rock Band.
DS Demos (via Wii): Madagascar Kartz, plus repeats Bakugan Battle Brawlers, James Patterson Women's Murder Club: Games of Passion and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Bobsled Race
Game Videos: Animal Crossing: City Folk, Bakugan: Battle Brawlers, Band Hero, Ben 10 Alien Force: Vilgax Attacks, Bomberman Blitz, Dragon Master Spell Caster, Excitebike: World Rally, Frogger Returns, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Need for Speed: Nitro, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Nostalgia, Planet 51, Sonic & Sega All-Star Racing, SpongeBob's Truth or Square, Style Lab: Jewelry Design, Style Savvy, Tony Hawk: Ride, TouchMaster 3 and Where the Wild Things Are

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 9, 2009 2:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: 'No Camping' T-shirt

If you're the online multiplayer gaming type and/or against overnighting in the great outdoors, you'll want this XL "No Camping" logo t-shirt. We won this from the Intel booth at Penny Arcade Expo '09, so it also doubles as PAX swag!

This giveaway is a bonus for those busy gamers who are vigilant and/or lucky. We'll ship the prize out to the first qualified person who posts a comment. The usual rules apply, except that there is no random drawing. You can't win two consecutive instant wins (Nebenator, chips99 and dwb6 are out on this one), so if this isn't something you really want you should pass on this and wait for the next. We plan to do more of these from time to time in addition to the regular weekly drawings. Follow me on Twitter if you want a head's up before we post Instant Wins (there are more in the queue!).

To enter:

Continue reading "Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: 'No Camping' T-shirt" »

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 10, 2009 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Be Careful Out There - Torchlight update is reinstall, not patch

If you're playing Torchlight purchased at Perfect World or directly from Runic Games, be aware that the v1.12 update is not a patch but a full rebuild of the game - so you'll have to reinstall. Some people have reported lost saves and mods, so before you install you might back up the Torchlight folder in your AppData folder just in case. If you do lose saves etc., check your Recycle Bin. The version number will be wrong (still says v1.11) and some mods may crash your game if they add files outside of the mods folder. If you bought from Encore, the update is a patch (and Steam is rumored to be coming as a patch as well), so don't uninstall these. For more up-to-date details, watch this community thread...

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 10, 2009 11:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: New ECA tee

Today's instant win prize is also a piece of Penny Arcade Expo '09 history: The new Entertainment Consumers Association t-shirt (size M). In the new design that debuted there, the slogan - CONTRARY TO POPULAR OPINION, THESE DO NOT MAKE ME A KILLER - is now printed below a sea of PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii controllers shaped into the skeletal outline of a submachine gun.

This giveaway is a bonus for those busy gamers who are vigilant and/or lucky. We'll ship the prize out to the first qualified person who posts a comment. The usual rules apply, except that there is no random drawing. You can't win two consecutive instant wins (rob is out on this one), so if this isn't something you really want you should pass on this and wait for the next. We plan to do more of these from time to time in addition to the regular weekly drawings. Follow me on Twitter if you want a head's up before we post Instant Wins (there are more in the queue!).

To enter:

Continue reading "Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: New ECA tee" »

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 11, 2009 9:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: AOTS t-shirt

If you're a fan of G4's Attack of the Show (and if you're not, why not?!), you'll want this nifty large tee donated by Ballardgirl1.

This giveaway is a bonus for those busy gamers who are vigilant and/or lucky. We'll ship the prize out to the first qualified person who posts a comment. The usual rules apply, except that there is no random drawing. You can't win two consecutive instant wins (William McManus is out on this one), so if this isn't something you really want you should pass on this and wait for the next. We plan to do more of these from time to time in addition to the regular weekly drawings. Follow me on Twitter if you want a head's up before we post Instant Wins (there are more in the queue and we'll tease the next batch in our Sunday podcast!).

To enter:

Continue reading "Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: AOTS t-shirt" »

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 11, 2009 12:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

iPhone App Watch - Bejeweled Blitz

I know that Bejeweled 2 is a great game (I have it for the Xbox 360 and have played it countless times on the Web), but I had no desire to pick it up again for the iPhone.

Until today, when they added Blitz mode.

If you read our site regularly, you probably already know that GrrlGotGame and I were sucked into the Bejeweled Blitz beta on Facebook. This free game - essentially an ad for the full version of Bejeweled 2 on PC, albeit a really cool and fun ad! - lasts 60 seconds and your score is doubled and then added to your other Facebook friends' totals to enter you to win weekly prizes.

I got pretty good at the game when it was beta, and then they finished it and it all went to hell. Now I can barely break 50K points. They glitzed up the graphics, removed the option to easily restart a failing game (I used to right click the Flash app for a superfast reboot but now that's been blocked), allowed you to stack your matches (instead of waiting for the current cascade to end) and added a finishing move, the Last Hurrah, which explodes any unused bonuses at the end of your minute.

Bejeweled Blitz mode for iPhone

That, combined with a busy work schedule, left me NOT playing Blitz much - maybe once a week just to register a score for the prize drawing. But the iPhone version is portable and uses the old style Bejeweled 2 interface so the gems appear crisp against the background and matches are easier to spot. Also, restarts are two taps away, and it even includes auto-hints by default. Truth be told, this is a little unfair to the people stuck playing on Facebook since they have to mouse over to a hint button, which wastes precious seconds. But, considering my recent score record, I'll take it.

I do want to suggest that PopCap seriously consider rebalancing the prize levels. With everyone but me easily breaking 100K, each week I find I'm ranked at the top level - the laptop drawing - before I even play. Not that I wouldn't want to win a tricked out computer, but the odds must be astronomical by now and I'd be almost as happy winning a free game or Chuzzle. So consider either boosting the scores for each prize level, or make people at the higher level also eligible for the lower prizes.

Is it worth $3 (to get the full Bejeweled 2 for iPhone, which includes Blitz as a free mode)? Probably - it was for me. If you're not sure, try the Facebook app for free. If you get hooked and want to play away from your computer, then do it.

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 11, 2009 1:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

PlayStation Store - Braid, Star Trek: D-A-C, Pinball Heroes, new Pain mode, MX Vs. ATV Reflex demo and White Stripes

Here's what's just landed in the PlayStation Store:

Braid ($15)
Star Trek: D-A-C ($10)
Pain Fat Princess Character (free) and Speed Oocher Mode ($2)
Rag Doll Kung Fu Mistress of Mime and Shaolin Scarecrow characters (free)
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 Costume Pack ($4)
PS1 for PS3/PSP: Command & Conquer: Red Alert ($6)
Guitar Hero 5 Lenny Kravitz Track Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Fly Away," "Lady" and "Let Love Rule"
Rock Band/Rock Band 2 The White Stripes Pack 01 ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground," "Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine" and "Icky Thump" and SpongeBob SquarePants Pack 02 ($3 or $1 each) with "A Day Like This," "Employee of the Month" and "Ridin' the Hook" plus tracks ($2 each) "Smash It Up (Part II)" by The Damned and "Club Foot" by Kasabian - Note: "Family friendly" tracks also work with Lego Rock Band.
PSP: Bubble Trubble ($5), Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble ($40), Pinball Heroes tables themed after High Velocity Bowling, Hot Shots Golf, Pain and Uncharted ($4 each) and Rock Band Unplugged tracks ($2 each) "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" by Dropkick Murphys and "Excuse Me Mister" by No Doubt
Demos: Inferno Pool, MX Vs. ATV Reflex, NCAA Basketball '10 and Star Trek: D-A-C
Game Videos: Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time, The Saboteur and Star Trek: D-A-C
Themes: Ratchet & Clank Dynamic ($3), Deep Space Theme ($1.50), Dita Von Teese ($2), Junkyard Girl ($2) and Road to China ($1.50)
Wallpaper: Tekken 6
PlayStation Home - aka Sony Progress Bar and Marketing Channel - Items (usually priced $0.50-7.50 each): Assassin's Creed II

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 12, 2009 6:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Xbox Live Marketplace - 0D Beat Drop, NBA Unrivaled, MX Vs. ATV Reflex demo and White Stripes

Here's this week's Xbox Live Marketplace updates, summarized for your convenience:

Arcade: 0D Beat Drop ($10), Encleverment Experiment ($10) and NBA Unrivaled ($15), plus Puzzle Bobble puzzle packs ($3 each)
Guitar Hero 5 Lenny Kravitz Track Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Fly Away," "Lady" and "Let Love Rule"
Rock Band/Rock Band 2 The White Stripes Pack 01 ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground," "Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine" and "Icky Thump" and SpongeBob SquarePants Pack 02 ($3 or $1 each) with "A Day Like This," "Employee of the Month" and "Ridin' the Hook" plus tracks ($2 each) "Smash It Up (Part II)" by The Damned and "Club Foot" by Kasabian - Note: "Family friendly" tracks also work with Lego Rock Band.
Lips track ($2) "Shut Up And Drive" by Rihanna
Games on Demand: Crash of the Titans ($20), Dance Dance Revolution Universe 2 ($30) and Monopoly ($30)
Demos: MX vs. ATV Reflex
Indie Games (usually $1-$10 each): Armor Valley, Avatar Rockets, Experiment 12, The Flashlight, Flytrap, Head Shot 2, Kissy Poo, Lemonade Ltd., Snaker Ace, StarField Battle, Tank-tastic! and yOm_fury
Game Videos: Army of Two: The 40th Day, Assassin's Creed II, Avatar, NBA 2K10, Nier, Red Faction: Guerrilla, Saints Row 2 Ultor Exposed and The Saboteur
Themes: Planet 51 ($3) and Gillette Champions of Gaming (free)
Pictures: Gillette Champions of Gaming (free)
Avatar Items (usually priced $1-$5 each): Assassin's Creed II and DJ Hero

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 12, 2009 8:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Free Stuff Friday - Pick and Win: Spider-man 2 or USA Today Crosswords

This week's giveaway is another Pick and Win, this time for the Nintendo DS fans out there.

Are you an action gamer who wants to spin webs and bludgeon bad guys in Spider-man 2? For what it's worth, the game was part of the DS prize pack we won at the first ever Child's Play Charity auction. So it's a little piece of history, at least for gamer geeks.

Or are you the contemplative type who likes to carefully consider clues before tapping in your answers to both English and Spanish-language puzzles in USA Today Crossword Challenge? This was released as a Gamestop exclusive a couple years ago, which makes it hard to find.

You can only pick one, so make it count!

To enter:

Continue reading "Free Stuff Friday - Pick and Win: Spider-man 2 or USA Today Crosswords" »

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 13, 2009 12:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (40)

Busy Gamer Podcast - Week of Nov. 15, 2009

This week we discuss the Xbox 360 dashboard update releasing Tuesday with Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm and Zune Marketplace, Torchlight, World of Goo and Condemned 2, offer short yet in-depth reviews of Bejeweled Blitz for iPhone and Plants vs. Zombies, and more. All in about 13 minutes!

Our goal is to provide 10-15 minutes of news and helpful commentary every Sunday so that you'll have a great jumping off point for your busy gamer week. Here's what we pack into each episode:

The week's game releases
A quick look back at the previous week's releases, news and downloadable content highlights
What we're playing/mini-reviews
Giveaways
Comment of the week

All in a tight package you can easily consume during even the shortest commutes!

Please share your own thoughts and comments about the podcast here and on iTunes!

Download the podcast here or, if you can, please subscribe at iTunes!

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 15, 2009 1:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Game Releases - Assassin's Creed II, Left 4 Dead 2, God of War Collection, Lego Indy 2 and LittleBigPlanet PSP

As promised in the Busy Gamer Podcast, here is the complete list of games due for release this week for PC/Mac, portables and consoles (plus some recent releases that slipped out when we weren't looking):

DS: Arcade Bowling (DSiWare), Art Style: Digidrive (DSiWare), Assassin's Creed II: Discovery, Bermuda Triangle: Saving the Coral, Discovery Kids: Spider Quest, Foto Frenzy, Hands On! Tangrams, Imagine: Artist, Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight, Lego Indiana Jones 2, My Ballet Studio, My Hero: Doctor, My Hero: Firefighter, Petz: Dogz Talent Show, Petz: Hamsterz Superstarz, PhotoWorld, Planet 51, The Princess and the Frog, Robot Rescue (DSiWare) and Salon Superstar
iPhone: Auditorium, Call of Duty: World at War - Zombies, C64 (re-release with 3 games added: International Basketball, International Baseball and International Tennis - plus Bruce Lee coming soon!), Ghosts 'n Goblins: Gold Knights, Ground Effect, Jet Car Stunts, Outer Empires, Snow Moto Racing, Totemo and the (mostly) free TouchPets Dogs
Mac: The Sims 3: World Adventures Expansion
PC: Canada Hunt, Lego Indiana Jones 2, Left 4 Dead 2, The Mystery of the Mary Celeste, The Princess and the Frog and The Sims 3: World Adventures Expansion
PS2: SingStar Latino
PS3: Assassin's Creed II, God of War Collection, Lego Indiana Jones 2, NCAA Basketball '10, Peggle, Peggle Nights, Planet 51, Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen!, SingStar Latino and Tony Hawk: Ride
PSP: Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, F1 2009, Lego Indiana Jones 2, LittleBigPlanet and Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Tagforce 4
Wii: Bermuda Triangle: Saving the Coral, EA Sports Active: More Workouts, F1 2009, Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures (Virtual Console), JumpStart: Escape From Adventure Island, Just Dance, Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight, Lego Indiana Jones 2, My Ballet Studio, Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution III, Planet 51, Pokémon Rumble (WiiWare), The Princess and the Frog, Rec Room Games, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen!, Street Fighter II: Champion Edition (Virtual Console), Sushi Go Round and Tony Hawk: Ride
Xbox 360: Assassin's Creed II, Diner Dash (Arcade), Gyromancer (Arcade), Lego Indiana Jones 2, Left 4 Dead 2, NCAA Basketball '10, Peggle Nights (Arcade), Planet 51, Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen! and Tony Hawk: Ride

So, what will you be picking up - or is this week a pass? Any games we missed? Anything slip (as these inevitably do)? Please let us know...

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 16, 2009 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Wii and DS Stuff - Pokémon Rumble, old school Indy, Sgt. Pepper and (finally!) WiiWare demos

Here are this week's downloads, demos and videos for the Wii and Nintendo DS:

WiiWare: Pokémon Rumble ($15)
Virtual Console: Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures for Super NES ($8) and Street Fighter II: Champion Edition for TurboGrafx16 ($7)
DSiWare: Arcade Bowling ($2), Art Style: Digidrive ($5) and Robot Rescue ($2)
The Beatles: Rock Band tracks ($2 each; due Tuesday, Nov. 17): "Fixing A Hole," "She's Leaving Home," "Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!," "Within You Without You," "When I'm Sixty-Four," "Lovely Rita," "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)" and "A Day In The Life"
Rock Band 2 tracks ($2 each; due Tuesday, Nov. 17) "Beautiful Thieves," "End Transmission," "Love Like Winter," "Medicate" and "The Leaving Song, Pt II" by AFI, "Walk Like an Egyptian" by The Bangles and "New Fang" by Them Crooked Vultures - Note: "Family friendly" tracks also work with Lego Rock Band.
WiiWare Demos (via Wii Shop, promised only through the holidays): Bit.Trip.Beat, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord, NyxQuest: Kindred Spirits, Pokémon Rumble and World of Goo
DS Demos (via Wii's Nintendo "Marketing" Channel): Cooking Mama 3: Shop and Chop plus repeats Bakugan Battle Brawlers, Madagascar Kartz and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Bobsled Race
Game Videos: Band Hero, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare - Reflex, C.O.P.: The Recruit, Hot Wheels Battle Force 5, Infinite Space, Lego Indiana Jones 2, LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias, NBA 2K10, Need for Speed: Nitro, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Rabbids Go Home, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, Robot Rescue, Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage, Tony Hawk: Ride, Wii Fit Plus and Your Shape Featuring Jenny McCarthy

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 16, 2009 11:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: Men in Black DVD

Today we have a surplus DVD we thought someone who enjoys this site might like: the 2-disc Men in Black limited edition complete with visual commentary, collectible booklet and limited edition features including scene editing workshops and a concept art animated morph gallery.

This giveaway is a bonus for those busy gamers who are vigilant and/or lucky. We'll ship the prize out to the first qualified person who posts a comment. The usual rules apply, except that there is no random drawing. You can't win two consecutive instant wins (Brian is out on this one), so if this isn't something you really want you should pass on this and wait for the next. We plan to do more of these from time to time in addition to the regular weekly drawings. Follow me on Twitter if you want a head's up before we post Instant Wins.

To enter:

Continue reading "Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: Men in Black DVD" »

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 16, 2009 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

Do Some Good - Child's Play 2009

It's that time of year again, when people nag you to do the right thing. We wouldn't bother you about this, but the cause is great and the cost is small. With Child's Play, you can quickly find a game, book, movie or toy and donate it to your nearest children's hospital or, perhaps, one that has helped you or your family in the past. Anyone who has had to spend even a few hours at one of these places knows how a small gift or good book can make a huge difference in a time of great trauma or difficult treatment. Our own son has benefited more than once, and it meant the world to him. ("I got this for being brave," he said after getting 7 stitches on his chin.) You could donate cash, but the big drive is to order items from wishlists created by each of the nearly 70 participating hospitals. The campaign also doubles as a big wakeup call to those (like the mainstream media) who seem to think gamers are a bunch of antisocial wackos. We have big hearts, and once a year we get to wear them on our sleeves. Give whatever you can...

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 17, 2009 9:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: Dawn of the Dead DVD

Whether you want to honor this week's release of Left 4 Dead 2 or just think that zombie movies are fun, we offer up Zack Snyder's directorial debut: the unrated director's cut DVD of the 2004 remake for Dawn of the Dead with Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames and Mekhi Phifer.

This giveaway is a bonus for those busy gamers who are vigilant and/or lucky. We'll ship the prize out to the first qualified person who posts a comment. The usual rules apply, except that there is no random drawing. You can't win two consecutive instant wins (Nebenator is out on this one), so if this isn't something you really want you should pass on this and wait for the next. We plan to do more of these from time to time in addition to the regular weekly drawings. Follow me on Twitter if you want a head's up before we post Instant Wins.

To enter:

Continue reading "Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: Dawn of the Dead DVD" »

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 18, 2009 12:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)

Be Careful Out There - Facebook games and scammy, spammy offers

If you play free Facebook games, you've no doubt been hit up for a credit card or offers to get advantages in games such as Farmville or Mafia Wars by sharing personal information or taking a survey. Zynga, the maker of these (and other) games has been reported to have taken money from small, relatively unknown companies that may scam or spam people who accept their offers. Shortly after we began playing Farmville (which we resisted for quite some time and still can't figure out why we keep going at it), reports like this began surfacing about this issue. We ignored them and kept playing, but only because we never play "free" games where you can't succeed without buying or trading information for in-game currency or items, just as we recommend never buying cheat codes from publishers. It just encourages them to continue milking these shady methods of game design, which quickly sucks the fun out of them...

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 18, 2009 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: Terminator 2 Blu-ray

Our last Instant Win for this week is a Blu-ray of Terminator 2. Truth be told, we accidentally bought this one twice (more than that if you count the laserdiscs and regular DVDs over the years!) and our mistake is someone else's gain. You do need a Blu-ray player or PS3 to enjoy this prize.

This giveaway is a bonus for those busy gamers who are vigilant and/or lucky. We'll ship the prize out to the first qualified person who posts a comment. The usual rules apply, except that there is no random drawing. You can't win two consecutive instant wins (Melissa V is out on this one), so if this isn't something you really want you should pass on this and wait for the next. We plan to do more of these from time to time in addition to the regular weekly drawings. Follow me on Twitter if you want a head's up before we post Instant Wins.

To enter:

Continue reading "Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: Terminator 2 Blu-ray" »

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 19, 2009 9:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)

Busy Gamer Review - Plants vs. Zombies

Too busy to devote 12+ hours a day to your gaming habit? Here's a review that's sensitive to your needs: Short and focused on just the things that a busy gamer like you really needs to know.

Busy Gamer Review - Plants vs. Zombies

Reviewed On: PC. Also available for Mac and is expected to eventually be released on iPhone and Xbox 360.

All we want to do is eat your brains... and sear ourselves into your eyes.

In a Nutshell: Tower defense game that pits you against the titular zombies. All that stands between the brain-crazed monsters and your front door are five lawn mowers and the ability to sow a variety of weapon-y plants, including one that rather resembles a certain villain from Little Shop of Horrors. (Not Audrey II, please don't sue!) Plants perform a variety of "attacks," from shooting peas to hypnotizing zombies into attacking their little buddies.

Early zombies are dumber than a box of rocks, with later additions gaining specific advantages. For example, an undead athlete can pole-vault over certain plants that stop other zombies in their tracks. The game gets exponentially harder around level 10, when the sun goes down and the tombstones pop up. Players must up their strategic thinking, selecting the plants they think will best suit their needs in upcoming levels. The game automatically flags doomed decisions ("This level will be extremely difficult without..."), which can be a lifesaver in double-digit levels.

Zombie-flavored mini-games break up the tower defense monotony. Bowling for Zombies appears early enough in the game that most players should get to it in the average trial period. Whack-a-Zombie, a whack-a-mole inspired mini-game, appears much later - and is difficult enough to make users rethink their purchasing decision. Alas, you can't replay mini-games outside of adventure mode or gain access to survival mode until you complete the main campaign (15 levels in all).

Learning Curve: Ridiculously easy in the beginning, then turns it up to 11 around the 1 hour mark - or about the time your free trial period expires. (Coincidence? I think not.) Strategic thinkers will survive the zombie onslaught longer than those who just plant whatever looks cool. Good peripheral vision doesn't hurt in the later levels, either. Don't be fooled - after level 9, a very strong strategic mind and an itchy mouse finger will be required to survive the onslaught. Great for tower defense enthusiasts, bad for people looking for a relaxing solitaire replacement.

The Save Game: Save and exit at any time by clicking the menu button. All progress is saved. When returning to the game, you have the option to continue from where you left off or restart the level.

Family Factor: The zombies are very comical, but might freak out very small children. No blood, but some mild comic violence: Zombie arms and legs fall off when hit by certain plants. Zombie heads roll. One plant swallows zombies whole. When a zombie inevitably makes it into your house, the words "Zombies ate your brains" appears in big, drippy green letters. (You don't see the big event, however.)

Buy or Skip? A very solid purchase for tower defense fans who enjoy casual games. If you aren't sure - or just don't want to spend the dough - play online at popcap.com. The site retains your progress even after you leave. You will have to sit through the occasional ad as there's no such thing as a free game.

On a Personal Note: I avoided this game for a long time despite reading constant reports of friends losing entire afternoons to its charms. I finally went online to check out the game during some downtime and found it oddly captivating. That led to me downloading the trial so I could avoid the ads and, finally, shelling out for the full game.

Our 6-year-old has become obsessed it, choosing Plants vs. Zombies time over his much loved - and rare, during the school week - Pokemon Pearl time. He did report one zombie nightmare the day after seeing it for the first time, but said it was OK, he knew it wasn't real. He has started availing his fellow 1st graders with Plants vs. Zombies stories, just in time for parent-teacher conference time. Oh, goody.

More Busy Gamer Reviews:

Posted by GrrlGotGame on November 19, 2009 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

PlayStation Round-up - PS3 and PSP system updates and new store downloads

This week, both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable received system updates, which you'll need to download before accessing the online store again. Here's what is new in PS3 v3.1:

Facebook linking. This is tucked away under Account Management and lets you choose whether to share Trophy, purchase and any specially designated in-game events to Facebook. To access Facebook in its entirety, you'll still need to use the Web browser.
Improved Photo section with a grid that displays more images at a time.
PSN Friends List improvements with color selection for your friend bar.

On the PSP, the new features in v6.2 include:

Digital Comics Reader, which you'll download when you click on the reader icon in a new section called Extras. Alas, the service doesn't launch until December (and you'll likely have to pay for most comics) but a free sample is promised "soon."
Video/photo playlist sync from PC to PSP using Media Go v1.3.

Finally, here is what's new at the PlayStation Store:

Ad Hoc Party (free) allows PSP games with ad hoc features to play online via PS3.
Peggle ($10) plus Peggle Nights add-on ($5)
Pain Flavor Flav character ($2)
High Velocity Bowling Psychedelic '60s and Techno Modern ball packs ($1 each)
Way of the Samurai 3 Accessories (free)
PS1 for PS3/PSP: Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver ($6) and Resident Evil 2 ($6)
Guitar Hero 5 Kiss Track Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Modern Day Delilah," "Lick It Up" and "I Was Made For Lovin' You"
The Beatles: Rock Band remainder of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album ($13.50 or $2 each) with "Fixing A Hole," "She's Leaving Home," "Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!," "Within You Without You," "When I'm Sixty-Four," "Lovely Rita," "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)" and "A Day In The Life"
Rock Band/Rock Band 2 AFI Pack 01 ($8.50 or $2 each) with "Beautiful Thieves," "End Transmission," "Love Like Winter," "Medicate" and "The Leaving Song, Pt II" plus track ($2) "Walk Like an Egyptian" by The Bangles - Note: "Family friendly" tracks also work with Lego Rock Band.
PSP: Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines ($40), Circles ($4), D-Cube Planet ($4), Echoes ($4) and Rock Band Unplugged tracks ($2 each) "California Über Alles" by Dead Kennedys and "You're No Rock 'n' Roll Fun" by Sleater-Kinney
PS3 Demos: Smash Cars
PSP Demos: LittleBigPlanet, PixelJunk Monsters Deluxe and Promethus
Game Videos: Army Of Two: The 40th Day, Assassin's Creed II, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Critter Crunch, FIFA Soccer '10, Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier, Madden NFL Arcade, Pain Flavor Flav, Peggle and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
Themes: Peggle (free) and Celtic Maidens 2 Premium Plus ($2)
Wallpaper: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Peggle and Topatoi

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 19, 2009 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Xbox Live Marketplace - Gyromancer, Diner Dash, Peggle Nights, free Forza 3 Hyundai Pack and Sgt. Pepper

Here's what's going on at Xbox Live Marketplace this week:

Arcade: Diner Dash ($10) and Gyromancer ($15) plus Gyromancer Map Pack ($3 for three additional middle stages) and Peggle add-on Peggle Nights ($5)
Forza Motorsport 3 Hyundai Car Pack (free) with the 2010 Hyundai HKS Genesis Coupe, 2010 Hyundai Rhys Millen Racing Genesis Coupe and 2010 Hyundai Forza Motorsport Genesis Coupe (to unlock, you need to earn in-game credits in Season Play)
Guitar Hero 5 Kiss Track Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Modern Day Delilah," "Lick It Up" and "I Was Made For Lovin' You"
The Beatles: Rock Band remainder of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album ($13.50 or $2 each) with "Fixing A Hole," "She's Leaving Home," "Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!," "Within You Without You," "When I'm Sixty-Four," "Lovely Rita," "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise)" and "A Day In The Life"
Rock Band/Rock Band 2 AFI Pack 01 ($8.50 or $2 each) with "Beautiful Thieves," "End Transmission," "Love Like Winter," "Medicate" and "The Leaving Song, Pt II" plus tracks ($2 each) "Walk Like an Egyptian" by The Bangles and "New Fang" by Them Crooked Vultures - Note: "Family friendly" tracks also work with Lego Rock Band.
Lips Marvin Gaye Song Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)," "Let's Get It On" and "What's Going On"
Games on Demand: Grid ($30)
Demos: Tropico 3
Indie Games (usually $1-10 each): Aardvark, Aesop's Garden, Alderman, Crisis Nuclear Holocaust, The Earth Move With The Moon, Inside Lacrosse's CL2010, Jumper Robot, Marvelous Galaxy, Ultimate Arcade Chat Rooms, Wool and Xmas Taxi
Game Videos: Army of Two: The 40th Day, Assassin's Creed II, Avatar, Encleverment Experiment, Fairytale Fights, Final Fantasy XIII, Just Cause 2, Madden NFL '10, Mass Effect 2, Polar Panic, Resident Evil 5, R.U.S.E., The Saboteur and Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing plus Left 4 Dead 2 and Lego Indiana Jones 2 video strategy guides ($1 each)
Themes: DJ Hero Premium ($3), Madden NFL '10 ($3 each), Peggle Nights Premium ($3) and Old Navy (free)
Pictures: Dragon Age: Origins ($1 each), Peggle Nights ($1) and Old Navy (free) plus American Express and Harvest Hits (free; both enter you in sweepstakes)

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 19, 2009 8:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Free Stuff Friday - Pick and Win: Final Fantasy X or 24

This week, we have another Pick and Win for the PS2 gamers - and those with early versions of the PS3 that support backward compatibility.

You could turn to a Japanese RPG with Final Fantasy X (generously donated by Ballardgirl1).

Or play for action with the 24 game featuring a new Jack Bauer adventure set between seasons 2 and 3 of the TV series.

What. Do. You. Do?

Either way you want to go, enter here:

Continue reading "Free Stuff Friday - Pick and Win: Final Fantasy X or 24" »

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 20, 2009 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (40)

Busy Gamer Podcast - Week of Nov. 22, 2009

This week we discuss Assassin's Creed II with a first look and tips, Child's Play 2009, PlayStation 3 and PSP system updates, scammy offers in Facebook games and more. All in just under 12 minutes!

Our goal is to provide 10-15 minutes of news and helpful commentary every Sunday so that you'll have a great jumping off point for your busy gamer week. Here's what we pack into each episode:

The week's game releases
A quick look back at the previous week's releases, news and downloadable content highlights
What we're playing/mini-reviews
Giveaways
Comment of the week

All in a tight package you can easily consume during even the shortest commutes!

Please share your own thoughts and comments about the podcast here and on iTunes!

Download the podcast here or, if you can, please subscribe at iTunes!

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 22, 2009 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Game Releases - Tekken 6 PSP, Madden NFL Arcade, Borderlands zombies, Hello Kitty Party, Scene It? Twilight and Your Shape

As promised in the Busy Gamer Podcast, here is the complete list of games due for release this week for PC/Mac, portables and consoles (plus some recent releases that slipped out when we weren't looking):

DS: Castle Of Magic (DSiWare), Fighting Fantasy: The Warlock of Firetop Mountain, Hello Kitty Party, myNotebook: Blue (DSiWare), Winter's Tail and more Electroplankton mini-games (DSiWare)
iPhone: Cabby, Castle Frenzy, Chuck Norris: Bring on the Pain, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Implode, MiniSquadron, Mission: Deep Sea, Monopoly, OMG Pirates!, Pocketball, Ravensword: The Fallen King, Rogue Planet, Smashed, Snowy's Christmas Pinball, Star Wars: Trench Run and Titi Totems
Mac: Star Wars The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition
PC: Book of Unwritten Tales, Mystery Case Files: Dire Grove, Treasure Island and Twin Sector
PS3: Borderlands The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned expansion (DLC), Karaoke Revolution, Madden NFL Arcade, Puzzlegeddon and Revenge of the Wounded Dragons
PSP: Tekken 6
Wii: Bit.Trip Void (WiiWare), A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia (Virtual Console), Chicken Riot, Cocoto Surprise, Coldstone: Scoop It Up, Cook Wars, Harvest Moon: My Little Shop (WiiWare), Karaoke Revolution, Learning with the PooYoos: Episode 1 (WiiWare), Little Tournament Over Yonder (WiiWare), Marines: Assault on Terror, Rec Room, Rogue Trooper: Quartz Zone Massacre, Scene It? Twilight, Super Mario Kart (Virtual Console) and Your Shape featuring Jenny McCarthy
Xbox 360: Borderlands The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned expansion (DLC), Karaoke Revolution, Madden NFL Arcade (Arcade) and Puzzlegeddon

So, what will you be picking up - or is this week a pass? Any games we missed? Anything slip (as these inevitably do)? Please let us know...

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 23, 2009 10:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wii and DS Stuff - Super Mario Kart for Super NES, Bit.Trip Void, PooYoos, Avatar DS demo and Tom Petty

Here are this week's downloads, demos and videos for the Wii and Nintendo DS:

WiiWare: Bit.Trip Void ($6), Harvest Moon: My Little Shop ($12), Learning with the PooYoos: Episode 1 ($5) and Little Tournament Over Yonder ($8)
Virtual Console: A Boy and His Blob: Trouble on Blobolonia for NES ($5) and Super Mario Kart for Super NES ($8)
DSiWare: Castle Of Magic ($5), myNotebook: Blue ($2) and more Electroplankton mini-games ($2 each)
Rock Band 2 tracks ($2 each; due Tuesday, Nov. 24) "Miss Independent" by Kelly Clarkson, "Our Lips Are Sealed" by The Go-Go's, "Who Knew" by P!nk and "American Girl (Live)," "Even the Losers (Live)," "Here Comes My Girl (Live)," "Mary Jane's Last Dance (Live)," "Refugee (Live)" and "A Thing About You (Live)" by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - Note: "Family friendly" tracks also work with Lego Rock Band.
DS Demos (via Wii's Nintendo "Marketing" Channel): Avatar plus repeats Bakugan Battle Brawlers, Cooking Mama 3: Shop and Chop, Madagascar Kartz and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Bobsled Race
Game Videos: Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, Bit.Trip Void, Call of Duty Modern Warfare: Mobilized, A Christmas Carol, F1 2009, FIFA Soccer '10, Harvest Moon: My Little Shop, iCarly, Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight, Learning with the PooYoos: Episode 1, The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Lego Rock Band, Little Tournament Over Yonder, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3, Need for Speed: Nitro, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, Pokémon Rumble, Rabbids Go Home, Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage, Super Mario Kart and Ultimate Party Challenge

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 23, 2009 5:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

PlayStation Store - Madden NFL Arcade, Borderlands zombies, Diner Dash, Gravity Crash and Tom Petty

The PlayStation Store updated early this week, and along with it a half-price sale on several games: Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao and Smash Cars ($7.50 each) and Bomberman Ultra, Comet Crash, Flower, The Last Guy and Prince of Persia Classic ($5 each). Here's what's new to the store:

Diner Dash ($10)
Gravity Crash ($10)
Madden NFL Arcade ($15)
Borderlands The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned ($10)
LittleBigPlanet Rare SuperStar Shirt ($5)
Dragon Ball: Raging Blast Warriors on Earth Pack (free)
PS1 for PS3/PSP: Backstreet Billiards, Command & Conquer, Dino Crisis, Fighting Force, International Track & Field and Reel Fishing ($6 each)
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Eye of Indra 2 motion comic ($1)
DJ Hero David Guetta Mix Pack 01 ($8)
Guitar Hero 5 Neversoft Thanks The Fans Track Pack (free with "You Really Like Me" by Davidicus, "From the "Blue/Point of No Return/T.T.R.T.S" by An Endless Sporadic, "RockNRola" by Nancy Fullforce, "Lemon Frosting" by Bunny Knutson, "Love Holds It Down" by Dom Liberati and "Guilty Pleasures" by Tony Solis
Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Live Anthology Pack 1 ($10 or $2 each) with "American Girl (Live)," "Even the Losers (Live)," "Here Comes My Girl (Live)," "Mary Jane's Last Dance (Live)," "Refugee (Live)" and "A Thing About You (Live)" plus tracks ($2 each) "Miss Independent" by Kelly Clarkson, "Our Lips Are Sealed" by The Go-Go's and "Who Knew" by P!nk - Note: "Family friendly" tracks also work with Lego Rock Band.
PSP: Blast Off ($3), Bloons ($4), Fortix ($5), Kahoots ($4.50), Let's Golf ($7), LittleBigPlanet ($40), Pinball Fantasies ($7), Tekken 6 ($40) and Disgaea 2 characters ($2 each)
Demos: Comet Crash and Gravity Crash
Game Videos: Assassin's Creed II, Avatar, Dragon Age: Origins, Final Fantasy XIII, MX vs ATV Reflex, Planet 51, Polar Panic and Resident Evil 5 Lost in Nightmares
Themes: Afrika Dynamic ($3), Assassin's Creed II ($1.50), Cavalier ($1.50), King Zumo ($1.50) and Yuefeng: Fire Prince ($1.50)
Wallpaper: Topatoi

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 24, 2009 11:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

GrrlGotGame - Assassinate Harder: Killer tips for Assassin's Creed II

(Mild) Spoiler Warning: The following article discusses elements of Assassin's Creed II. Specific storylines are NOT discussed. However, elements of the game may be revealed or construed from hints below. You have been warned.

Bodies are piling up all over Italy. Gold chests are just lying around, waiting to be looted. And that sound up on the rooftop? It ain't Rudolph, and it definitely ain't St. Nick. That can only mean one thing: No, not Lara Croft. OK, that can only mean two things: But in this case, it's... Assassin's Creed II!

Part clanging swords, part button masher, all engrossing. It's the game that will make you laugh and, unfortunately, cry. (YouTube has the details, if you want to know what's in store for THAT level. Buona fortuna!) As if all that wasn't enough, you've got to balance inventory and bring home the Florins for a vaguely Sim City section of the game. In other words, something for everyone - a platformer tonight!

Having spent enough time with the game to actually feel my thumbs go numb (I only wish I were making this up), I've come up with some tips to help you get more from your game. Last chance to turn around: SPOILERS AHEAD.

Do the weird stuff early... and often
AC II is partly a sandbox game, with side missions, collections and random encounters floating around. It's more Grand Theft Auto than Fallout 3 though. So far, I haven't run into any random character who asked me to do a favor. It's more about knowing the options and taking advantage of them early - before the main quest turns you into Italy's Most Wanted poster boy.

Here are some things to knock out first:

Continue reading "GrrlGotGame - Assassinate Harder: Killer tips for Assassin's Creed II" »

Posted by GrrlGotGame on November 25, 2009 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Xbox Live Marketplace - Madden NFL Arcade, Borderlands zombies, free Guitar Hero 5 pack and Tom Petty

Here's what has landed at Xbox Live Marketplace this week:

Arcade: Madden NFL Arcade ($15)
Borderlands The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned ($10)
DJ Hero David Guetta Mix Pack 01 ($8)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 November updates (free) with added teams and squad data
Dragon Ball: Raging Blast Warriors on Earth Character Pack (free)
The King of Fighters XII background music packs ($2-4 each)
Way of the Samurai 3 Weapon Parts ($1)
Guitar Hero 5 Thanks The Fans Track Pack (free with "You Really Like Me" by Davidicus, "From the "Blue/Point of No Return/T.T.R.T.S" by An Endless Sporadic, "RockNRola" by Nancy Fullforce, "Lemon Frosting" by Bunny Knutson, "Love Holds It Down" by Dom Liberati and "Guilty Pleasures" by Tony Solis
Rock Band/Rock Band 2 Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Live Anthology Pack 1 ($10 or $2 each) with "American Girl (Live)," "Even the Losers (Live)," "Here Comes My Girl (Live)," "Mary Jane's Last Dance (Live)," "Refugee (Live)" and "A Thing About You (Live)" plus tracks ($2 each) "Miss Independent" by Kelly Clarkson, "Our Lips Are Sealed" by The Go-Go's and "Who Knew" by P!nk - Note: "Family friendly" tracks also work with Lego Rock Band.
Lips Colbie Caillat Pack ($5.50 or $2 each) with "Fallin' For You," "Realize" and "The Little Things"
Games on Demand: Lego Indiana Jones ($20) and Saints Row 2 ($30)
Demos: Jurassic: The Hunted
Indie Games (usually $1-10 each): Avatar Casino Slots #1, Balloon Blocks, ButtonHoldingExtravaganzaParty, Catch22, City Rain, Gravity, The Impossible Game, Jump Duck, A Killer's Dream, Life, Neo Terra, Platypus and Txingurri
Game Videos: Just Cause 2 and Madden NFL Arcade plus video strategy guides for Wolfenstein ($1 each)
Themes: Assassin's Creed II Premium ($3), Bayonetta Premium ($3) plus American Express and LG (both free)
Pictures: American Express, Doritos and LG (free; one enters you into sweepstakes)
Avatar Items (usually priced $1-5 each): Fallout 3 and Transformers 2

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 26, 2009 10:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Free Stuff Friday - Halo 3: ODST

This week, we have a special "Black Friday"-calibur giveaway: Halo 3: ODST for Xbox 360.

We ended up with two copies, so here is your chance to get an A List title that redefines Halo gameplay once again with a squad of elite Orbital Drop Shock Troopers who are NOT Master Chief and thus don't regenerate shields.

You will have to rethink how you play, watch your health and enjoy the atypical noir setting. There's even a complete radio program a la I Love Bees embedded in the game that's unlocked by (how else?!) accessing phone booths across the city of New Mombasa.

If that's not enough, there's co-op, a disc of the complete Halo 3 multiplayer maps plus Forge and the new Firefight game mode where you and your buddies ward off wave after wave of enemies.

Already have it? Makes a great holiday gift!

Enter here:

Continue reading "Free Stuff Friday - Halo 3: ODST" »

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 27, 2009 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (157)

Busy Gamer Podcast - Week of Nov. 29, 2009

This week we review Halo 3: ODST, offer another exclusive Assassin's Creed II tip, deliver the latest game release and DLC news and more in just under 12 minutes!

Our goal is to provide 10-15 minutes of news and helpful commentary every Sunday so that you'll have a great jumping off point for your busy gamer week. Here's what we pack into each episode:

The week's game releases
A quick look back at the previous week's releases, news and downloadable content highlights
What we're playing/mini-reviews
Giveaways
Comment of the week

All in a tight package you can easily consume during even the shortest commutes!

Please share your own thoughts and comments about the podcast here and on iTunes!

Download the podcast here or, if you can, please subscribe at iTunes!

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 29, 2009 12:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Game Releases - Avatar, Rogue Warrior, LOTRO Siege, MX vs. ATV Reflex and Chipmunks 'Squeakquel'

As promised in the Busy Gamer Podcast, here is the complete list of games due for release this week for PC/Mac, portables and consoles (plus some recent releases that slipped out when we weren't looking):

DS: 7 Wonders II, Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, Avatar, Bookworm (DSiWare), Dreamer: Zoo Keeper, Empire Deluxe, Foto Face: The Face Stealer Strikes (DSiWare), Learn Science, Master of Illusion Express: Mind Probe (DSiWare), Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes, MX vs. ATV Reflex, Picture Perfect Hair Salon, Reader Rabbit Kindergarten, Safecracker: The Ultimate Puzzle Adventure, Sudoku Challenge! (DSiWare), Th!nk Logic Trainer and Th!nk Logic Trainer: Kids
iPhone: A.D.D., Aqua Forest 2, Battle for Wesnoth, Connect 4, Cross Fingers, Delicious Vinyl DJ, Encroachment, Harry Potter: Spells, Hills and Rivers Remain, I Dig It Expeditions, iHack, Launchball, PathPix Pro, Skater Nation, Stair Dismount and Voltron
Mac: The Seventh Dragon
PC: Avatar, Dirt 2, Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood, Luxor Adventures, Rogue Warrior, The Seventh Dragon, Strike Force: Red Cell and Zombie Driver
PS3: Avatar, Call of Duty Classic, MX vs. ATV Reflex and Rogue Warrior
PS2: Martial Arts: Capoeira Fighters
PSP: Avatar, Martial Arts: Capoeira Fighters and MX vs. ATV Reflex,
Wii: Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, Avatar, Bittos+, Christmas Clix (WiiWare), The Combatribes (Virtual Console), Copter Crisis (WiiWare), My Zoo (WiiWare), Reader Rabbit Kindergarten, Solomon's Key (Virtual Console), Storybook Workshop, Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 4 (WiiWare), Th!nk Logic Trainer, Th!nk Logic Trainer: Kids and Yoga for Wii
Xbox 360: Avatar, Call of Duty Classic (Arcade), MX vs. ATV Reflex, Rogue Warrior and Strike Force: Red Cell

So, what will you be picking up - or is this week a pass? Any games we missed? Anything slip (as these inevitably do)? Please let us know...

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 30, 2009 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wii and DS Stuff - Christmas Clix, Copter Crisis, My Zoo, Bookworm, Fotoface and Nirvana

Here are this week's downloads, demos and videos for the Wii and Nintendo DS:

WiiWare: Christmas Clix ($10), Copter Crisis ($5), My Zoo ($5) and Tales of Monkey Island: Chapter 4 ($10)
Virtual Console: The Combatribes for Super NES ($8) and arcade game Solomon's Key ($6)
DSiWare: Bookworm ($5), Foto Face: The Face Stealer Strikes ($8), Master of Illusion Express: Mind Probe ($2) and Sudoku Challenge! ($5)
Rock Band 2 tracks ($2 each; due Tuesday, Dec. 1) "Come As You Are (Live from MTV Unplugged)," "Lithium (Live at Reading)" and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana and "Don't Tell Me You Love Me," "(You Can Still) Rock in America" and "You're Gonna Hear It From Me" by Night Ranger - Note: "Family friendly" tracks also work with Lego Rock Band.
DS Demos (via Wii's Nintendo "Marketing" Channel): Repeats including Avatar, Bakugan Battle Brawlers, Cooking Mama 3: Shop and Chop, Madagascar Kartz and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games Bobsled Race
Game Videos: Animal Crossing: City Folk, Christmas Clix, Clipnote Studio, Copter Crisis, Daniel X, F1 2009, Karaoke Revolution, Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes, Need for Speed: Nitro, New Super Mario Bros. Wii, NHL 2K10, Planet 51, The Princess and the Frog, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and Tales of Monkey Island

Posted by Gamewatcher on November 30, 2009 11:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Busy Gamer News

News, reviews and advocacy for gamers who have a life.

November 2009 Archives

November 1, 2009

Busy Gamer Podcast - Week of Nov. 1, 2009

November 2, 2009

Game Releases - Dragon Age: Origins, Lego Rock Band, Band Hero, Jak and Daxter and Ultimate Sith

Wii and DS Stuff - Aha! I Got It!, Carnival King, Family Card Games, Bobsled DS demo, Dragons, Vikings, Foo Fighters and Nirvana

November 3, 2009

GrrlGotGame - Moves you know by heart: Videogame clichés and the games that killed them

November 4, 2009

Hack This Game - Left 4 Dead 2 demo

November 5, 2009

PlayStation Store - Military Madness, Numblast, Foo Fighters and Nirvana, plus free Brutal Legend maps and LittleBigPlanet costumes

Xbox Live Marketplace - Halo Waypoint, Left 4 Dead 2 demo, Wallace & Gromit, Foo Fighters, Nirvana and free Brutal Legend maps

November 6, 2009

Free Stuff Friday - Mercenaries 2: World in Flames

November 8, 2009

Busy Gamer Podcast - Week of Nov. 8, 2009

November 9, 2009

Game Releases - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, New Super Mario Bros Wii, Bejeweled Blitz iPhone and Braid PS3

Wii and DS Stuff - Dragon Master Spell Caster, Excitebike: World Rally, Frogger Returns and Madagascar Kartz DS demo

November 10, 2009

Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: 'No Camping' T-shirt

Be Careful Out There - Torchlight update is reinstall, not patch

November 11, 2009

Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: New ECA tee

Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: AOTS t-shirt

iPhone App Watch - Bejeweled Blitz

November 12, 2009

PlayStation Store - Braid, Star Trek: D-A-C, Pinball Heroes, new Pain mode, MX Vs. ATV Reflex demo and White Stripes

Xbox Live Marketplace - 0D Beat Drop, NBA Unrivaled, MX Vs. ATV Reflex demo and White Stripes

November 13, 2009

Free Stuff Friday - Pick and Win: Spider-man 2 or USA Today Crosswords

November 15, 2009

Busy Gamer Podcast - Week of Nov. 15, 2009

November 16, 2009

Game Releases - Assassin's Creed II, Left 4 Dead 2, God of War Collection, Lego Indy 2 and LittleBigPlanet PSP

Wii and DS Stuff - Pokémon Rumble, old school Indy, Sgt. Pepper and (finally!) WiiWare demos

Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: Men in Black DVD

November 17, 2009

Do Some Good - Child's Play 2009

November 18, 2009

Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: Dawn of the Dead DVD

Be Careful Out There - Facebook games and scammy, spammy offers

November 19, 2009

Free Stuff Bonus - Instant Win: Terminator 2 Blu-ray

Busy Gamer Review - Plants vs. Zombies

PlayStation Round-up - PS3 and PSP system updates and new store downloads

Xbox Live Marketplace - Gyromancer, Diner Dash, Peggle Nights, free Forza 3 Hyundai Pack and Sgt. Pepper

November 20, 2009

Free Stuff Friday - Pick and Win: Final Fantasy X or 24

November 22, 2009

Busy Gamer Podcast - Week of Nov. 22, 2009

November 23, 2009

Game Releases - Tekken 6 PSP, Madden NFL Arcade, Borderlands zombies, Hello Kitty Party, Scene It? Twilight and Your Shape

Wii and DS Stuff - Super Mario Kart for Super NES, Bit.Trip Void, PooYoos, Avatar DS demo and Tom Petty

November 24, 2009

PlayStation Store - Madden NFL Arcade, Borderlands zombies, Diner Dash, Gravity Crash and Tom Petty

November 25, 2009

GrrlGotGame - Assassinate Harder: Killer tips for Assassin's Creed II

November 26, 2009

Xbox Live Marketplace - Madden NFL Arcade, Borderlands zombies, free Guitar Hero 5 pack and Tom Petty

November 27, 2009

Free Stuff Friday - Halo 3: ODST

November 29, 2009

Busy Gamer Podcast - Week of Nov. 29, 2009

November 30, 2009

Game Releases - Avatar, Rogue Warrior, LOTRO Siege, MX vs. ATV Reflex and Chipmunks 'Squeakquel'

Wii and DS Stuff - Christmas Clix, Copter Crisis, My Zoo, Bookworm, Fotoface and Nirvana

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About November 2009