It was posted earlier today on the official Xbox website that Halo: Reach is available for download as we speak. However, there is a catch for fans who wish to get the game a month in advance. The only thing standing in your way of Halo-monium is $1250. Yes, you will be able to play Halo Reach TODAY if you’re willing to make an investment of $1250.

Don’t believe us? Check out the below image of the cost. This is directly from the Microsoft website. Still don’t believe us? Check out the link below the image to go to the official Xbox website. Break out your credit cards, people. It’s going to be insane to see if someone actually goes through with it. Continue Reading

There are 4 sniper rifles to choose from in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Among these, the Intervention bolt action sniper rifle has to be one of the most disappointing sniper rifles in the game. It surely is used by professional players due to the single fire and smaller clip capacity, but really, it’s nothing compared to the Barrett .50 cal. Though the Intervention is very powerful and may kill opponents with a single bullet, the Barrett seems to have an even higher chance of granting that.

The Barrett also has a semi-automatic capability which allows users to fire as fast as they can pull the trigger. This can kill in one bullet when combined with stopping power and a silencer. And it also has the capability to kill with one bullet without a silencer and with any other perk attached to it.

The Intervention however, fires with a bolt action capacity. This means the user must recock the gun, which takes up extra time to fire another shot. And in my own experience, and from some of my friends’ experiences, they get a lot of hit markers, whereas, with the Barrett, they can easily snipe enemies from afar with ease and usually with single bullets. And, on a side note, the Intervention sounds much more menacing in single player (Just as some other guns).

I believe that this sniper rifle should have been made a one hit kill in order to promote its use over that of the Barrett’s. Infinity Ward seems to have made lots of mistakes, but I believe this is among the ones that should really have been fixed a long time ago. Either way, these sniper rifles are used depending on their user’s preference. They all accent the styles of their users in their various ways in the end.

Golden Eye on the Nintendo 64 is, without question, one of the more notable First Person Shooters in history. Rareware delivered a new perception for First Person Shooters on consoles forever with it’s unique controls which brought in a new style of FPS’ to consoles. During its release, it was much considered the “Call of Duty” of our time. It had a lot of attractive attributes including a stellar multiplayer and a fun campaign to flow through. Golden Eye was such a major title on the N64, that when people say “Golden Eye”, it’s always referenced as the Video Game and not the actual movie.

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There have been so many updates and changes to Modern Warfare in the past. Some include the ridding of the Javelin glitch, the care package glitch, the introduction to 1st person Tactical, and the ridding of 3rd person cage match.

First of all, why in the world did they make 3rd person cagematch in the first place? That’s just screaming an invitation for boosting. At least, in my opinion, it should have been first person, rather than ridding of it on the whole. Infinity Ward did a good thing ridding boosters, huh? NO.

Well, I don’t know what was going through IW’s mind in creating a “Barebones Pro” game mode. It allows for 4-8 players to partake in Team Deathmatch and Free for all. The problem is, with this new game mode, a minimum of 4 players can freely boost or play ranked private matches with each other. What a way to eliminate boosting, eh? Well, either way, this game mode eliminates killstreaks in the process. With this, there is no air support to be worried about whatsoever.

Another problem, however is the abundance of “Noob tubes” and rocket launchers. The first I’d played today included both of these on one team. Also, they got smart and combined danger close to their classes. An instant recipe for disaster. Well, either way, this new mode seems to be very unpopular, for me and my friends played free-for-alls with each other to test who’s the best, really. It’s a fun mode and all, but no one seems to really like it. No one has the guts to get rid of their killstreaks.

Though it is a pretty foolish addition to Modern Warfare, it still can serve to be fun. To be very blunt and honest, me and my buddies like the fact that a ranked private match is available. We’d do things like shotguns only, no scoping and quickscoping only, knives only, and things of the sort. In my opinion, Infinity Ward should just make these modes available in their own separate lobbies. But then again, this mode accomodates for those who like improvising with their party-mates.

In the end, Barebones Pro (and Objective Barebones Pro) seem to be an interesting addition. Though it does add the unfortunate idea of boosting, it at least doesn’t promote 10th prestige hackers. So that’s the lesser of 2 evils, I guess. (Like they really would promote that) But in a sense, if people have to boost, they get discouraged from prestige hacking and things of that sort.  It shows that people still want to put SOME effort into leveling up. (Though it is among the worst ways to do so)

I’d recommend this game mode for those who want to earn experience and mess around. It’s much more innovative to play and earn experience by fighting against your familiars instead of repeatedly getting spawn raped by strangers who spend their whole lives playing this game. It also adds more freedom in game choice as well. So that’s another plus. Either way, decide whether this mode is good for you and base it on your thoughts. Happy gaming!

This submachinegun is known as the most overpowered and overused weapon in its category. I know that it’s among the best, but sometimes, things feel a bit too unfair for the enemy. Gimping it down with a second perk like, hardline or cold-blooded still seems unfair, for the natural stopping power allows it to be powerful without the extra boost. Combined with the silencer (suppressor), the recoil is cut tremendously. With this, sniping with this weapon can be a doable if not simple feat.

With this weapon, not too many other submachineguns can be seen on the battlefield. I’ve only seen this weapon, the MP5 and the P90 scattered throughout. It is a great gun when you use it, but really, it seems to be overused and overly depended on by many players. It is also very tiring to see the kill feed loaded with UMP 45 kills. Has anyone ever noticed this, or is it just me?

This is a great gun, however, even in my opinion, but even I know that it takes little effort to effectively use this gun. In all actuality, it seems that most all of the suppressed submacs in this game is just simply overpowered. Though this can be a minor problem, I think Infinity Ward should have done something about this anyways. Well, whatever happened happened. Hopefully, they overpowered weapons like this out of future titles such as Black Ops or even of Modern Warfare 3.

Gaming has come a long way since the good ol’ Super Nintendo days. Developers and video game hardware companies such as Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft have found ways to up the dosage in Graphical ability, CPUs power, Online Networking and addicting video games. It’s no surprise to me that video gaming has become the top form of entertainment in the last 10-15 years. This industry has proven itself to be not only the best form of entertainment, but an economical powerhouse as well.

I’m not going to bore you with details regarding sales. It’s a mistake and a shame to leave gamers, such as you, bored about the industry we’ve come to love. This industry is built upon fun. Not just for hardcore gamers, but for casual gamers as well. Why do I bring up casual gamers? They’re gamers too. This is something that most of us hardcore gamers need to understand and not rag on.

As you may know, E3 just passed a week ago. Each company showed off some pretty sweet new hardware and games that will garner our hearts for years to come. Inspite of the great announcements shown at E3, Hardcore gamers have found a way to down each company for presenting what they’ve shown on the “Casual Card.” Microsoft presented a new name for the highly “anticipated” Project Natal, which is now “Kinect”.

Microsoft went up on that E3 stage and showed off what their handsfree, motion-sensing device was capable of achieving. It was nice to see what it was capable of and it’s something I may pick up upon release. Not because I found it exciting. I simply want to test out the device and see what the commotion is about. Unlike most I actually give an attempt to try out a game before I fully judge it. It’s the way things should work. How is one going to judge something when they haven’t tried it? It’s pathetic, actually.

First Impressions? Understandable. However, one must also have a second impression. Hell, even a third impression. As much as it sounds like I’m trying to back up Microsoft, I’m not. My first Impression of Kinect is quite downbeat. It didn’t show to be a powerful device up on stage. But you know, I’m going to test it out before I fully judge.

Microsoft’s Keynote was criticized harshly for being “too casual.” Here is where I back up the Casual Gaming market.

I have an understanding why hardcore gamers, such as I, put together complaints about E3 being too casual. However, we need to hold off on what we have to say and think for a second.

Casual Gaming is not bad at all. What is casual gaming to us? Games that we can’t stay addicted to for hours? Games that lack compelling stories? Games that are fun and that anyone can play? Games that typically don’t have blood and gore?

These aren’t the best reasons for hating casual gaming. Perhaps someone can come up with a better reason or reasons for hating the casual gaming industry, but these are ones that I’ve always come across on forums and other gaming sites. And you know, I completely understand! I’m like the rest of you! I enjoy knocking the head off some dipshit online! I enjoy being able to chainsaw some monstrous alien from ass to head. I get it.

I’ve seen and played some of the most addicting casual games in recent times. My favorite game to play is Rock Band 2. I love how it can immerse you into this fictional world of rock. Not only is it fun, it’s a great way to bring you and your friends closer together. It’s always the most requested game at my kickbacks and parties. It’s fun and immerses players for a long while, no matter how skilled one is. Rock Band is one of those casual gaming experiences that can truly bring a great deal of fun for everyone, hardcore or casual. Rock Band has proven to the world of gaming that casual gaming is fun and gives “Casual Gaming” a better meaning. Harmonix has totally set the standard for making a great experience and has shown us that casual gaming is fun with their musical based franchise. Rock Band 3 said to be released later this year. With a new keyboard peripheral, added vocals and the new “Pro Mode”, the music genre will take flight in a whole new direction and bring in a broader audience. Rock Band 3 will feature a lot more songs each with their own style of choice. Now if they added “The Hamster Dance” to the Rock Band Music store, my life would be complete.

Surely one may argue that it’s only one game. How else can I prove this? Simple. “The Chick Magnet.” Mr. Sackboy himself. That’s right- I’m talkin’ LittleBigPlanet. In addition to Harmonix, I truly believe MediaMolecule has set the standards of a great casual experience on a hardcore platform: The PS3. Combining a new intuitive platforming element, level creator, superb graphics, an expansive community of levels, a soundtrack appealing to all, and 4-player support, MediaMolecule has delivered an extraordinary experience for gamers of any skill at any age. The game is cute, graphically appealing and fun! It’s one of those games that anyone can pick up and play with their son or daughter. It’s also one of those games I can pick up and play with everyone here at the GCN and get competitive with. Yeah, it’s not on a competitive standard as, let’s say, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 or Modern Warfare 2. However, it conveys a great experience for us here at the GCN and our friends all across the board. LBP is also a title you can feel great about after a few hours of level designing or community exploring. With a sequel coming later this year, I can’t imagine how expansive the world of LittleBigPlanet will be. Pretty massive, I bet.

With LittleBigPlanet already mentioned, I may have already marked both the beginning and ending spectrum of the Casual gaming market, but it doesn’t stop there. The Nintendo Wii is a console that has been heavily criticized for shinning too casually. I’ve had my fair shares of “Nintendo is too casual for me.” That hasn’t stopped me from playing the Wii. Beginning with Nintendo’s mascot, Mario.

Mario has shined in our hearts for many years now. From Goomba raping to World Cup Striker Soccer- Mario has been there. Not only does he make a great hardcore experience, he can also bring casual gamers a mass load of fun. Mario Strikers: Charged was a game I played for quite a long time on Wii. I enjoyed the gruesome, head knocking, nut-busting, Peach raping, mature (did you catch my sarcasm on that?) soccer escapade that is Strikers! The games are fairly quick n’ pleasurable. Mario not only participated in soccer, but he host massive parties as well. On a giant game board! Dude, how much cooler can that get? Okay, well not much. Nevertheless, Mario Party assembled fun for players of any skill. Personally I didn’t care much for Mario Party 8. The game wasn’t up to par with its predecessors as much as I liked it to be. It did bring fun for my casual friends. Beats the hell out of playing Monopoly though.

The more recently released New Super Mario Bros Wii set in well with fans of the older Mario platformers. The game accumulated a lot of respect from hardcore gamers and casual gamers due to its fun, simplistic gaming style. I certainly pick this game up every so often when I’m with friends. Hell, I’ll pick it up even when I’m alone in my dark depressing room. It certainly brightens up my room thanks to the colorful presentation it has to offer.

Many of you are probably disagreeing with the last few games I’ve mentioned. No surprise here. Regardless to such stubbornness, most of you can agree with Nintendo’s Super Smash Brother Brawl for the Wii. The nut-cracking mayhem continues to flare whenever inserted into the Wii console with 4-player support. SSBB not only brings a competitive edge to the table for the hardcore guys, it can also cause the casual audience to break each other’s balls for a very, very long time. Believe me when I say I’ve experienced waiting nearly an hour to play my copy of Brawl because of how my casual gamer friends were addicted to it. It’s chaotic. Avoid the wires and thick GameCube controllers that may be tossed around. Whatever you do don’t pit two GameCube controllers against one Wiimote w/nun chuck and one Wiimote w/o nun chuck. There will be a major argument there. You have been warned.

All these games mentioned are only a few I can come up with for this article. There are a lot more to be added. The point still stands- Casual Gaming can be a diversion from the hardcore games. I’m tired of hearing Fanboys ‘nade bombing each other by using “Casual” as a negative term. Casual games drive the market of video gaming as well. As stated before I’m not going to bore you with sales and details. All you need to know is that Casual gaming brings a lot of revenue to the Gaming Industry. Casual games appeal to all- regardless of skill, availability, or age. It’s probably one of the tactics in your argument you used convinced your parents to buy a Wii. You sly dog you!

Impression Update 1 [3/20/10]

It’s been 16 years since we last seen Sonic the Hedgehog in his prime. Well, to be honest here, it’s been 15 years for me since I’m a 16 years old gamer with only having a year of gaming experience at the time of the “Needlemouse” Sonic era.

Since then, I’ve been a hardcore Sonic fan purchasing everything Sonic possible including the mixture of screw-ups Sega developed over the last few years. I can honestly say, as a true gamer and a realistic Sonic Fan, that the 1991-1995 era of Sonic were the best in True Blue’s lifetime. The speed of the games was perfect.  jumping on platforms at high speeds while destroying Badniks was satisfying and fun. It was because of Sonic that I turned away from Mario for a long period of time. Sonic the Hedgehog was able to pull off a lot that Mario wasn’t able to touch. Why? Because “Sega does what Nintendon’t.”. I felt I was raised with the perfect game and I will never look down at that point in time. Ever.

Since then, I’ve been hoping for a game that may bring Sonic back to his old Sega Genesis roots. Sega answered back with an announcement regarding the latest sequel to Sonic and Knuckles: Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode 1 brings back the old Sonic the Hedgehog 2-D gameplay and style. I was very pleased to see that the first Zone in Sonic 4 resembles Green Hill Zone and all the old Sonic the Hedgehog intro Zones.  I’ve seen very little gameplay footage of Sonic 4 that contained Sonic running through “Splash Hill Zone,” the first Zone in the game. It was filled with loops, jumps, Badniks and a background with many trees and Sonic-like landscapes. In one of the acts there was a beautiful background with an ocean, with a nice blue sky filled with large clouds. Perhaps the clouds got to me when I saw the image. Sonic 4 has a notable graphical style. I noticed some slight Cell-shading within items and Sonic himself. They aren’t recognizable right off the bat, but the graphical style is there. Either way, the game looks damn sweet because of the way it reminds me of the Genesis Sonic days.

In the video footage I saw, the running and action was very light. When Sonic jumped he floated in the air for quite a long time. I also noted that his spin dash move was slow, not matching his speed. The leaked footage was most likely a pre-rendered version of the game that can be tweaked between now and it’s release date.

Sonic Team added the homing attack feature to Sonic 4. This adds a small bit of fear and relief. Fear, because I thought the classic Sonic games did well without the homing attack, and if anything, I want Sega to stick to the classic Sonic the Hedgehog formula as much as possible. Relief because it’s a Sonic move that will be useful.

Sega recently updated the Sonic the Hedgehog 4 game site with a track listing for the game based off of “Splash Hill Zone” I loved the track Sega provided us! It’s identical to the classic sonic music. None of this cheesy rock music we have recently heard in the last few Sonic titles.

I can’t say much about Sonic 4 due to the lack of footage and images Sega has provided regarding the game, but what I can say is that I’m most certainly rubbing my hands together for Sonic 4. The only thing we veteran Sonic fans can do is wait, hoping Sega doesn’t screw this up.

Keep looking back at THIS article as I update you on my impression of Sonic 4 as the days go on!

Yet another glitch hits Modern Warfare 2.

Infinity Ward’s “Modern Warfare” has been a Glitch and Hacker-fest since it was released in November for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. The company has already released quite a few patches to fix such hacks and glitches; like the “Javelin Glitch” and the “Prestige” hack. But much like my character after a pain in the ass “glitch” match (which is riddled with bullets from unexplained deaths and constant glitches) the game still seems to be riddled with horrible problems. The latest is the “Ice Skating” glitch.

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