It was announced on the PS Blog that Sony services such as; the PS Store, and account management and registration, Playstation Home, as well as its Music and Video Unlimited services will be unavailable. Those who were logged in before PSN was shut down will still be able to play only, but the chances of playing with another person are slim to none.  It was taken down today at 8 AM, Pacific Time and will continue until 9 PM, Pacific Time. It’s great that PS has taken for a while, it gives you, the players, a little “You-Time” to play some single-player for a while. Now if you were looking for some DLC’s, well, you will have to wait a while til you can get the new Saints Row: The Third – GenkiBowl VII.

Speculation point’s finger to the company’s recent trademark which was file last year, “Yami no Mori”, which roughly translates to “Dark Forest” or “Forest of Darkness”. Could it be hinting to a new area or location in the world of Dark Souls?

It could be possible, seeing as how the game has many hidden areas that can only be access by finding invisible paths or breaking down walls, it wouldn’t be so difficult to plant in a new location and just pile stuff in front of the entrance. For now, we wait for further news from the developers themselves to verify the rumour, and even if they say that it’s a fake rumour, we won’t take ‘no’ for an answer! So stay tuned for more as we stay up to date with the latest info! Until then, Praise the Sun!

“The last store I called was the Best Buy by my house and they said okay, we have three copies, two are on reserve and one is here available,” said Lomon Sar. “She charged the card, it was $108… She put my name on the box.”

Upon arriving at the store for his purchased merchandise, he was told that they no longer had any copies left. He even had asked the employee about his information, he say’s that they had told him that they had no information on him whatsoever and that he was not even registered into their database.

“He says what’s your name and starts typing in my name and he couldn’t find anything. The manager deleted me off their system! Like, took me out of the system! Took all my information out of the system everything,” said Sar. “I put my hand up to my head and said look I’m so pissed right now I could blow this place up right now. That’s how mad I am!”

Not only threatening to blow up the Best Buy store out of anger, but to also gun down the employees as they walked out of work.

Sars was refunded by the Best Buy store his $108 but he also has been subjected to a criminal summons for a misdemeanor in disorderly conduct and trespassing.

“Investigating officers issued a criminal summons to a man who threatened to carry out his own version of modern warfare at the electronics store. Fortunately, this situation did not end in violence,” said Aurora Police Detective Bob Friel.

Battlefield 3 isn’t supposed to be humorous or comical. The soul intensity in Battlefield stands strong in the third installment, and that’s how it’s supposed to be. True Battlefield veterans know what I’m talking about. It’s a more serious title, for the most part, and BF3 stays true to this by maintaining the essence of the Battlefield name. Sure, people aren’t dolphin diving this time around, but that’s besides the point.

Bad Company, as a spin-off series, re-introduced the franchise’s core elements with a more humorous approach by adding in more simplistic gameplay tweaks that weren’t present in Battlefield or Battlefield 2.Unfortunately, console gamers were introduced to this side of Battlefield first, sticking as their definition of what the franchise is as a whole. Don’t get me wrong, I love Bad Company, and many of my readers know this to be true, however I know what Battlefield is as a franchise, and I also know the true elements that build up the franchise.

The source of complaints from console gamers is becoming more apparent: They’re so caught up in Bad Company 2, expecting Battlefield 3 to be a sequel to DICE’s console spin-off. At any rate, I’m assuming the source of the complaints stem from a Bad Company 2 expectation. There hasn’t been a numerous amount complaints, I’m only noting a small percentage of people complaining across the internet about how the game takes itself too seriously and how it’s a bit more difficult to handle.

With all this said, please note the differences between the C and the F.

Battlefield 3 is not Bad Company 3. 

BF3 ? BC3

“The world pauses their iPods and rushes to their MacBooks and iPhones to confirm the news.”

- Anonymous

As you may be aware that Apple’s former CEO, Steve Jobs, recently passed away. He was known to the world as an innovator and who’s reputation as a visionary lead us one step closer to a future where technology has never gone before. Despite his complications of him battling his cancer, Jobs didn’t let it put him down and continued his work and further expanded the technology. He revolutionized the entire industry and paved ways to new inventions such as the iPod, iPhone, and Mac. His legacy remains for what he created impacted our daily lives for the best and in more ways than you would expect. He touched our inner kids with his brilliant ideas and shared it through his contributions at Pixar. A true legend in the tech world. A true geek who can be recognized as one of the best entrepreneurs of modern day. He will be missed and the world won’t be the same without him. Although, he will continue to live on within us for he has left a legacy for the better.

Visuals
As the previous instalment, the graphics were beautiful and visibly stunning. Sometimes I wondered, “Is this real life?” of course not! Otherwise I would be in jail for pickpocketting and assassination. In Revelations, we break away from the Italiano vistas we have been accustomed to in AC II and AC:B and return to back to the land of turbans, camels and sand. Lots of sand! As we travel through Constantinople, not Istanbul, during the time of the reign of the Ottoman Empire, be sure to expect lotsa warm colours, such as reds, oranges, and yellows. As always, we are given large vistas and beautiful scenery. The afternoon sun is partially blocked by an overpowering mosque and in the shade of that tree is a man being murdered by a a blunt swing to the head while the doctor goes around “healing” people–and what’s that? Oh, she’s just been poisoned. Ah, yes the wonders and sights of the Assassin’s Creed universe.

One of the new locations for the multiplayer is called the “Knight’s Hospital” and you won’t believe where it takes place. I’ll give ya time to think–too late! A Knight’s Hospital! The whole location revolves around this large hospital and it is a dangerous place to be. Whether you’re on the ground being assassinated from above or you’re on the top running around frantically trying to escape your hunter, it makes for a fun place when playing in the new mode, Artefact Assault.

Audio

Music
BAFTA award winning composer Jesper Kyde takes up the opportunity once again to compile a large and unique original soundtrack for Assassin’s Creed Revelations. Having worked on the music for ACii and AC:B, his unique style and originality has made the Assassin’s Creed series take on a whole new feeling. With the setting takes place within the Middle East, he is planning on incorporating a sort of Italo-Greko-Arabic hybrid. If you are as much a big fan as I am of the Assassin’s Creed music, you’ll be picking up the Original Soundtrack on November 15, same day as the release for the game.

Sounds
Do you hate the sound of a skull being cracked open like a baked potatoe? Or the flushing of blood seeping out of a man’s open neck? Or maybe you hate the loud boom of a hidden gun. If you answered yes to any of those be prepared to “suck it!” because the SFX are incredible. Through out the multiplayer you will encounter unique sounds that will become ever so common. Every sound and every movement will make you paranoid. Occasionally, you might murder a bystander just for looking at you funny, whatever the case is, be prepared to explore a variety of sound effects. My recommendation for a full audio experience, pick “The Bombardier as your avatar and crank up your tube to max volume. I guarantee you’ll have a good time.

Along with the sound of a beating heart when your’e near your victim, you will now also hear soft whispers whenever your pursuer is near, so keep on your toes.

Multiplayer Gameplay
As with the previous title’s multiplayer mode, on the available BETA the modes Wanted and Manhunt. Along with those two, a new multiplayer will be included, called Artefact Assault.

In Artefact Assault, the whole area (“Map” if you will) will be divided into two halves. On one side is your team’s side, in this area you are considered a hunter with the ability to kill in order to protect you artefact. Items like Poison and the Hidden Gun can be used to stop your foe. Passing across the stage, you will encounter a large red barrier. Beyond the barrier you will NOT be able to kill and the items such as Poison and the Hidden Gun are useless. Tread across the barrier… You are now being hunted. As long as you stay on your side and they stay on their side, no one can kill anyone.

The Abilities and Weapons from the AC: Brotherhood Multiplayer have also returned along with some very new ones. One examples would be Land-Mine with cause a minor explosion in a small area that detonates as soon as the area is entered by your oppponent causing your foe to become immobile for a few amount of seconds. Another new ability allows the player to activate all chase breakers within the vicinity, meaning that all trap doors close and all the levers shall be pulled down. A trap door will only open if you or your teammates approach it, so there is no need to worry about if you accidentally use it while your friend is between those doors. On the other hand, if your opponent has used it… Well, you just have to accept your fate

Thoughts and Impressions
Overall, I believe that Assassin’s Creed Revelations has surpassed it’s predecessors by 10xfold. It has removed some annoying features, improved those that needed repair and added new ones as well. Bringing in the first game of the instalment and intertwining it with ACii/AC:B will surely be a spectacle and will most probably answer most of my questions that have been burning inside of me since the the first game. WHY DID EZIO STAB LUCY!? WHO HE HECK IS SUBJECT 16?! WHY CAN’T I KILL THE DOCTORS!?  Ahem.  If your’e still having second thoughts on buying this game (which at this point in time you should have no second thoughts), don’t give into the thoughts. I assure you this is one must-buy game for this year.

And please remember; Vittoria agli Assassani!
Nothing is true, All is permitted.

The fundraising for the museum has been collecting money for quite a while now. It seems that the creators need donations from gamers, friends, family or anyone who gives two cents about video games. Literally, two cents… Or any donations that you can conjure up. It seems that there is no other Museum in the world completely dedicated to all things that are Video Games, but with some help and donations, America could have the worlds first VideoGame Museum located in sunny California–I mean Sunnyvale, California. The target amount of $30,000 will help In creating additional charities to support the project. They have reached a total amount of $32,320 and continue to take donations to fully support the project.

Their vision, as stated in their own words, “We’re taking the necessary steps toward creating a physical museum, research facility, and reference library to honor and archive the history, hardware, software, events and people of this industry. Currently, a small portion of the museum is put on display each year at the annual Classic Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. In addition to serving as a workshop for our archiving efforts, the museum will house interactive exhibits to educate the industry and public alike as to the storied history of the videogame industry. The museum will also feature special events and keynote presentations from key historical industry figures and will eventually play host to the annual Classic Gaming Expo.”

If you’re interested in donating, contacting for info. or getting their latest updates,  visit  their website at http://www.vghmuseum.org/news.shtml. You’d better hurry if  you’d like to be part of this grand spectacle, as there are only 5 days left to donate.

I thought about writing this article for quite some time. Being a gamer in my late thirties, I have to admit that I really have issues with the modern-day gamer.

Maybe I am just getting older? Maybe I am just stuck in the past?

I am going to try and give my own personal views between the gamers of today and how it was for gamers twenty-plus years ago.

Back in those days it was Peace, Love and Mario. Now we have War, Hatred and Call of Duty Sucks!

The Internet opened doors to may gamers to give his or her own point of view. The problem is that a majority of these views are slanted and negative.

In the early 90′s we had the Super Nintendo and the Sega Genesis. We had magazines like EGM, Nintendo Power, Game Informer and Game Fan (which launched in 1992). These magazines acted as a gateway for gamers. If we needed news we would turn to EGM and Game Fan. We did not have the Internet telling us what we should and should not like. We also did not have the line of negativity that we do these days.

As far as fanboyism was concerned we had the Nintendo camp and the Sega camp. The farthest a war would go was commercials saying Nintendon’t. We didn’t have these articles saying that a game company was doomed. Sure we had our share of horrible games, but those days were much different. We as gamers didn’t have the form of anger and hate that most modern gamers now seem to have.

Back in the 1980′s and early 90′s we found out about game systems through friends. The school yard was the place to learn about upcoming games. Back in those days if you brought a Gameboy to school you were cool. If you went to the local Electronics Boutique and Babbages, you would head about the upcoming games.

Those were also the days where I did not have to worry about some 10 year old kid calling me words I never even though they would know at that age. I also did not have to worry about racism or hatred being broadcast on my living room television. You can blame both Xbox 360 and PS3 for these type of issues. I’ve heard it all on both systems over the past 5 years.

Where are we going as gamers? Where are we going as a gaming community? Where the hell did all of this negativity and hatred for others likes and joys come from? Sure you can have your own opinion about someones favorite game or system. But don’t they also have the right to enjoy what they want without it being bashed and skewered to no end?

Gaming 20 years ago was like night and day compared to today’s gaming community.

Those were days that I really long for. These days there seems to be too much negativity online. Everybody and their grandmother seem to have a blog or website. Sure, Gaming Console Network is just another website as well. Basically our words are just another opinion in a sea of growing opinions.

But I am starting to get away from what my point is. If you look online you will find a wealth of negativity. This ranges from games to game companies and game systems. How many “The Nintendo Wii U system is doomed” articles have we witnessed in the past six months? Who knows how this system will sell? The same was said almost six years when the Nintendo Wii was introduced.

The same was also said when the Playstation 3 hit the market. The extremely high price tag resulted in countless negative articles. But many years later the Playstation 3 system saw a few price drops and is selling extremely well on a monthly basis.

You can also throw Microsoft in the mix. I can remember countless negative articles about Kinect. Yet the peripheral is selling extremely well for Microsoft. I am personally not a fan of Kinect, but there are millions out there that seem to love it.

We can also look at Duke Nukem Forever. The game took forever and a day to finally see the light of day. Once it was released it got totally hammered by the gaming press. Yet the game is really not as bad as the scores it received. The game received countless “1 out of 10” scores.  I always look at game reviews as a term paper that you do for class. Anything below a 6 or 60 is downright horrible. If you receive a 1 or 10 out of 100 that game should be classified as “unplayable”. Last time I checked Duke Nukem Forever was a playable game. It was far from perfect, but it was at least somewhat enjoyable.

These day’s people just love to trash things, whether it be a game company, game or developer. It is like this century is the century of negativity. Like it is the “in” thing to hate or bash something. You can look at the Call of Duty franchise to see what I mean. The franchise sells millions, yet there is a undying hate among the gaming community.

Gaming in the 1980′s was pure and simple! Those days kicked ass!

I know most of the younger gamers don’t get the point of this article. I lived through the Atari downfall and the rise of the NES. I also lived through the days when the Arcade was a thriving place that was always fun to go and hang out. Games like Pac Man and Donkey Kong were awesome and fun to play.

We never complained about the amount of pixels in a game.

We never complained about being noob tubed.

We never complained about campers.

It was a simpler time for gaming and gamers. And I honestly miss those days.

Now we have “The Wii U will fail” and “Battlefield/Call of Duty Sucks”. We have countless “The Nintendo 3DS is doomed” articles. We have everyone trying to squeeze their own opinion into spaces around the internet. We have websites that compare every pixel and frame rate on games for the Xbox 360 and PS3. We have websites counting how many games and systems are sold every week and month.

Maybe it’s just me, but I miss the simpler days of gaming. When it was all about just having fun and staying up until 3am trying to beat a game. There seems to be far too much negativity in gaming these days. Sony fans hating Microsoft fans, Microsoft fans hating Sony fans. And for some reason it seems that everybody hating on Nintendo these days. With all of the negative press about the 3DS and the upcoming Nintendo Wii U, it’s just disheartening for an old-school gamer to take.

Maybe one of these days gamers will just go back to enjoying games, and not nit-picking every single detail about a game. Maybe people will praise other game systems instead of bash them to no end. Maybe the three game companies can exist without all of the fanboy hostility.

Maybe…