Top Games of 2011 for Your Christmas List

There were hundreds of games that came out this year with the hype of being the can't missing game of the year or innovative, but few games lived up to expectations.  These Top 5 games made the list because you get what you paid for, and none are a waste of the investment in a tough economy.

1. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.  It's a never ending game.  Loaded 1000s of missions including a mainstory that will keep you busy for weeks.  It's by far the best game of the year.

Hot Deals on Black Friday 2011 for Video games and Equipment

I'm making a list of the best games and deals on black friday.  The Best Deal are Highlight with Bold.  I believe no matter what, the price won't drop below this. 

Walmart 1 Day only
For $28
Xbox 360
Call of Duty Black Ops
Batman Arkham City
Battlefield 3
Gears of War 3
Madden 12
For $10
Bioshock 2

Playstation 3
For $28
Infamous 2
Madden 12
Killzone 3
For $15
Heavy Rain
God of War 3

Wii
For $28
Michael Jackson
Just Dance 3

Kmart 1 Day
Xbox
Battefield 3 $34.99
Madden 12 $39.99
NCAA Football $39.99
Metal Gear Solid Collection $39.99
Need for Speed Run $39.99

Game Stop 1 Day
XBox 4gb System $149.99
Nintendo DS $99.99
Nintendo Wii Super Mario Bros Bundle $149.99


Xbox 1 day
Rage $30
Venetica $9.99
Borderlands Game of the Year Edition $19.99
Gears of War 3 $39.99
Forza Motorsports 4 $39.99
Portal 2 $29.99
Crysis 2 $29.99
Dead Rising 2 $19.99


PS3
Madden 12 Hall of Fame Edition $59.99
Dynasty Warriors $29.99
Battlefield 3 $39.99
Street Fighter IV $19.99
L.A. Noire $19.99
Resident Evil 5 $19.99
Grand Thief Auto IV $9.99
For $14
Rachet Clank Future a Crack in Time
Uncharted 2
Heavy Rain

Review: Dragon Ball Z Ultimate Tenkaichi

If you are a fan like me, then you have been following with a great deal of energy and effort, Dragon Ball Z  Ultimate Tenkaichi release.  I won't leave you waiting, here is my review of the best DBZ game ever to hit a console.

Review: Rage plus an easter egg from AMC's Breaking Bad

The media hype surrounding Rage had every gamer tv show and magazine calling it the game of the year before it hit the shelves.  Now that it is out lets see if Rage pioneered the world of gaming or added to the bin of wash-ups that did not live up to the hype.

Review: Gears of War 3

Epic games goal this year was to close out the Gears of War trilogy with definitive 3rd person shooter gameplay of this generation while wrapping up the storylines along the way.  Lets see if they succeeded.

Review: The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword, Final Gift to the Wii

If you dare call yourself a gamer, then you know who Link and Zelda are.  Engaged in another epic journey of self improvement, discovery, and good vs evil Zelda: The Skyward Sword creates a last spark of fantasy for the dying Wii system.

Review: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Bethesda has always excelled at creating games with expansive worlds and engaging content, and they have went beyond expectations to unprecedented levels no one thought possible with its lastest edition The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim

Review: Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 is the game all gamers have been waiting for since MW2 but did  it live up to the hype in its 2 years of development?

New Avatar Series, Legend of Korra

BURBANK, Calif., July 21 /PRNewswire/ — Nickelodeon, the number one producer of television animation in the world, has greenlit a new series from the creators of the hit animated TV show Avatar: The Last Airbender, it was announced today by Brown Johnson, President, Animation, Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group.

Game of the Year: Batman Arkham City + Secret to Next Batman Game Plot

Developers at Rocksteady did not disappoint with Batman: Arkham City.  From the beginning, you are in full control of Batman and his many gadgets. You are free to roam and investigate the tough thug filled streets, roof tops and alleys even “Crime Alley” the place where journey for Bruce Wayne to Batman all began.

Review: Battlefield 3 Lays Down the Challenge to All Games of 2011

When it comes to virtual battlefields, Battlefield 3 is a consistant bastion in its own league.  The refinements and new elements make this third installment feel fresh, and sets the stage of expectations for the stream of highly anticipated game releases of fall 2011.

Review: Dead Island "Epic Fail"?

 

In 2006 , developers at Techland promised the challenge of a survival game on a zombie-infested open island with an emphasis on melee combat. Dead Island was hyped to include an experience system with innovative combat, layer by layer of skin damage, and complex gameplay, but a myriad of glitches and invisible walls gave birth to the horror of the game itself...

Review: Resistance 3 With a Prayer Our Hero Delivers Big Time

Resistance 3 is a welcomed revisit to a 'new world' of RPG/Action Shooters.  If you're a fan of  Insomniac Games' Resistance series then you have noticed that every game was designed differently because the developers never quite got it right until now!

REPOST, Interview with Lead Actress of Homefront:Hannah Cabell

I caught up with one of my favorite actresses, Hannah Cabell.  Those of you who recently played the game 'Homefront' will recognize her as the empowering voice of Rianna.  Here is what Hannah had to say about being a voice over actress in the video game industry.

Microsoft Doing a McCarthyism Banning of Random Xbox 360s

Shockwaves have been sent through the Xbox 360 owners community since Sept 5, 2011 due to a random banning of the Xbox 360 console by Microsoft with McCarthyism like accusations and no proof that wrongful acts have been commited by the consumer.

First Look at Cat Woman in Batman:Dark Knight Rises

Catwoman makes her first appearance in the last film of the Batman Trilogy: Dark Knight Rising.

Catwoman will be played by Anne Hathaway, a seasoned actresses who gained fame for her roles in the Devil Wears Prada and Princess Diaries.  Hathaway, the 28-year-old actress, joins returning stars Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine.  To see the photo click on the link:

New Trends at E3: Uncensored Lewdness That May Upset a Few Parents

E3 2011 had some eyebrow rising titles make its way to the press and potential consumers that may cause some controversial questions directed towards to the censorship board by angry unaware parents.

The video gaming industry has been a constant secret grotto where visual pixel art has been questioned for its obvious display of graphic content and lewdness.  Several titles such as Dead Rising for excessive violence or Grand Theft Auto for its sexual content have push the ESRB censorship boundaries, but this year at E3 a few titles have gone to another level.

Zelda Skyward Sword E3 2011

Gamers are taken back to the kingdom of Hyrule to get reaquainted with Zelda and rescue her from another epic kipnapping with our favorite hero, Link in Zelda: Skyward Sword.

Developers promise an interesting challenge incorporating the Wii MotionPlus: Wii U-verse and Wii-remote features into the game.  In addition to the sword, there are items such as a mechanical flying beetle to grab items from a distance, a whip, and series staples such as bombs, a slingshot and a bow, which can also be controlled with the Wii MotionPlus.^[1]

The New Playstation Revealed

The next-generation in Sony's handheld portable consoles is due for release during the holiday season of 2011.

The Vita will allow users to access their PSN account anywhere they like, making use of its PlayStation Store and Qriocity music services.

"Project Icarus" Revealed: Bioshock Infinite E3 Trailer Launched

I've always had a keen interest in 2k games development of the lastest Bioshock release, Bioshock Infinite. 

Since 2k Games parted ways with the original designer Ken Levine, the series hadn't been the same. Due to to a lack lust in sales for Bioshock 2, Irrational games came back to Levine and Levine had a concept that not only took Bioshock out of the under water prison, but to an infinite place metropolis in the sky. 

The Bible Comes to Video Games E3 2011

Yes you are reading the right post.  The Bible has found its way to video games via a multiplatform named El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron.

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is a third person action game featuring 2d platforming developed by Ignition Entertainment.  The game is inspired by the Book of Enoch centered around the character Enoch and his war against the angels who want to destroy mankind. Along Enoch's quest, he will be aided by Lucifel, as well as the other four Archangels: Michael, Raphael, Uriel, and Gabriel.

Nintendo Wii U controller

The Wii U controller is a device in and of itself. It contains a 6.2” touchscreen. When playing a game on the Wii U, you can switch the display from a TV to the controller. The console will synch with the controller and stream the display to your now handheld device. It doesn't actually host the game itself, it mere corresponds as a handheld display.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Gameplay Demo

Halo 4 E3 2011 Trailer

Ninja Gaiden 3's Blood Lust Pushes Combat Speed to New Heights

Ninja Gaiden 3 starts out with Ryu Hayabusa getting a request from the Japanese Self-Defense Force, the Ministry of External Affairs. He is sent to London where he fights terrorists.  Combat is incredibly fast.  It's a mix with the button combo command sequence made famous in Heavenly sword and God of War.

Mass Effect 3 debuts E3 2011

The all out galactic war has begun.  The earth has been taken and the Reapers have laid a path of destruction in their wake.  Commander Shepard and his forces are fighting a counter assault and you are dead center in the conflict. The choices you made in the 1st two games determine many outcomes of Mass Effect 3.

A Female in Gears of War 3?!

Sorry guys, the sausage party is over.  Developers at Epic have heard the outcries by many female gamers, and they finally have decided to incorporate females into the apocalyptic world of Gears of War(GOW).

I suppose the potential genocide of humanity has finally convinced the administrators of the resistance forces to let females defend themselves against the plague of Locust trying to take over earth.  Four new playable female characters will be introduced: Samantha Byrne, Anya Stroud, Queen Myrrah, and Bernadette Mataki to the Gears of War world. 

Play as Catwoman or Batman in Batman: Arkham City

Tired of only playing as Batman and beating the crap out of the rogue gallery and their gang of lowlifes?  Thanks to the developer's at Rocksteady Studios you can crack the whip and pounce on a few villians as Catwoman in Batman: Arkham City.

In this lastest installment, not only will you play as Batman but you will have the option of playing as Catwoman.  Catwoman, Selina Kyle, will have her own storyline and set of moves that will not only seduce but dish out a serious S&M hurting on her pursuers. 

Mass Effect 2: The Arrival Review

A lot of hype surrounded Mass Effect 2 lastest Downloadable Content (DLC), "The Arrival."  The major reason this DLC is different from any other DLC is that it fills in the holes left at the end of Mass Effect 2, and it details the player on the revelations leading to the calamity that will unfold in the highly anticipated sequel Mass Effect 3 due to be released the 1st quarter of 2012.

Nintendo's New Console "Project Cafe"

On June 7, 2011, Nintendo Plans to announce and display a new console called the 'Project Cafe'. According to IGN the Nintendo the new console will "out perform the PlayStation 3's NVIDIA 7800GTX-based processor. Similar to the Xbox 360, the new Nintendo system's CPU will be a custom-built triple-core IBM PowerPC chipset, but the clocking speeds will be faster."

Press Schedule for E3 2011

I don't know if the public can get in on this day but on June 8 tickets are available ranging from $25 to $75.  Listed below is the Press Schedule June 7, 2011.

• Sony E3 2011 Press Conference
• Microsoft E3 2011 Press Conference
• Nintendo E3 2011 Press Conference
• EA E3 2011 Press Conference
• Ubisoft E3 2011 Press Conference
• Grand Theft Auto 5
• Bungie's First Post-Halo Game
• Halo 4
• Bioshock Infinite

Interview with Actress Hannah Cabell

I caught up with one of my favorite actresses, Hannah Cabell.  Those of you who recently played the game 'Homefront' will recognize her as the empowering voice of Rianna.  Here is what Hannah had to say about being a voice over actress in the video game industry.

How did you get your first SAG/AFTRA voice acting job for video games?

Hannah: I have actually only worked under AFTRA contracts for video games - I don't know if it's a recent change, but in my experience AFTRA handles more of the interactive media side of the business. My first job was for 'Grand Theft Auto - The Ballad of Gay Tony'. I got that from an audition; Rock Star had me in for both vo and motion capture, but ended up hiring me just for the vo part of it.

Review: Fable 3

The Fable franchise consistent increased focus on strong writing has given voiceover actors scripts filled with nuance, and Fable 3 is no different. With next-gen graphics that enabled developers at Lionhead Studios to tap into the subtle communication of body language the Fable franchise pioneered game characters that emoted in a way was without equal.

In Fable 3, you play as one of the two children by the hero from Fable 2.  All the good and prosperity your father achieved in Fable 2, has turned into an evil dystopia in Fable 3.  In this sequel, it is your job to restore order  and reunite the kingdom of Albion under the forces of good.