Xbox 360 Kinect Launch Titles Announced

Microsoft has announced the launch games for its upcoming Kinect motion controller for Xbox 360. Here’s the list:

Microsoft has announced the launch games for its upcoming Kinect motion controller for Xbox 360. Here’s the list:

Kinect Adventures
Kinectimals
Game Party: In Motion
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1
Your Shape: Fintess Evolved
Dance Central
The Biggest Loser Ultimate Workout
DanceMasters
EA Sports Active 2
Zumba Fitness
Kinect Sports
MotionSports
Deca Sports Freedom
Kinect Joy Ride
Adrenalin Misfits
Fighters Uncaged
Sonic Free Riders

I know that most of you are longing to add four fitness games to your library, but what about the other titles? Do any of these Kinect launch titles interest you?

This Week’s Videogame Releases

Kirby’s Epic Yarn — my favorite game of E3 2010 — is out! What? You need to hear about other games too? Oh fine. There’s actually a bunch of interesting titles coming out this week. Fallout New Vegas will be popular with enthusiast gamers (it’s actually #1 on the Amazon charts as of this writing). Fight fans will want to give EA Sports MMA a look. Want some fun with peripherals? Power Gig: Rise of the SixString features a real guitar as its controller. Time Crisis: Razing Storm gives PlayStation Move owners some visceral shooting fun. DJ Hero 2 is out for gamers that want to spin and fade.

Really though, you should all be buying Kirby’s Epic Yarn…but do let me know what games you’re planning to buy this week.

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011: Road to WrestleMania Screens

THQ sent over a batch of screens from SmackDown vs. Raw 2011’s “Road to WrestleMania” mode. Featured WWE Superstars include John Cena, Randy Orton, The Miz, and Christian. These screens illustrate some of the best writing ever made for a videogame. Check ’em out and let me know what you think (please)!

[nggallery id=23]

Coffee Talk #229: What Kind of Headphones Do You Use?

Whether it’s playing games, listening to music, or watching a movie, a good pair of headphones can drastically alter your experience. Today I’m going to talk about the headphones I use and get some recommendations from you.

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Christina Aguilera being single, your ALCS/NLCS predictions, or touchscreen phones having more bacteria than urinal handles, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Whether it’s playing games, listening to music, or watching a movie, a good pair of headphones can drastically alter your experience. Today I’m going to talk about the headphones I use and get some recommendations from you.

I’ve been using the same headphones for the last eight years and am extremely happy with my gear. At home, I use Grado’s SR125 open-ear cans; they offer incredible sound quality at an incredible price — the SR 125s sound as good or better than cans that cost two to three times as much. On the road, I opt for in-ear headsets with foam tips. The foam tips completely rule at blocking out airplane noise. My Etymotic ER-4Ps offer a perfectly balanced sound, while my Shure E4Gs offer more bass and a sound most people prefer for pop music.

What kind of headphones do you guys and dolls use?

NPD Console Sales Figures Top 10 Games of September 2010

Here are NPD Group’s top 10 videogame sales figures for September 2010. As some of you know, NPD has scaled back the information it reveals for free. Game sales are no longer broken out by platform. Sadly, hardware numbers are no longer given either. Scientists have predicted that console flame wars will be reduced by 28.8 percent due to NPD Group’s decision. Anyway, here are the numbers:

  1. Halo: Reach (Microsoft, Xbox 360)
  2. Madden NFL 11 (Electronic Arts, 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, PSP)
  3. Dead Rising 2 (Capcom, 360, PS3, PC)
  4. NHL 11 (Electronic Arts, 360, PS3)
  5. FIFA Soccer 11 (Electronic Arts, 360, PS3, PS2, PSP, NDS)
  6. Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep (Square Enix, PSP)
  7. Mafia II (Take-Two 360, PS3, PC)
  8. Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions (Activision Blizzard, PS3, 360, NDS, Wii)
  9. Metroid: Other M (Nintendo, Wii)
  10. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Activision Blizzard, 360, PS3, PC)

I was pleasantly surprised to see Dead Rising 2 so high on the list. I underestimated its popularity. RPadholic smartguy was surprised to see a PSP game crack the top 10, but that’s just a testament to Kingdom Hearts’ popularity. The new NPD format combined with declining Wii sales makes this list look funny; it’s kind of weird not seeing New Super Mario Bros. and Wii Fit Plus on the list.

Anything in September’s top 10 surprise you? Show everyone that you’re better than Michael Pachter and analyze this (please)!

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

I want to be playing Enslaved and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow this weekend. A bunch of my industry friends are done or nearly done with these games and their reactions are all over the place. I need to see what all the fuss is about.  The bad news is that I’m hitting the road, so no PS3 or Xbox 360 for me. Good thing I’ll have my trusty DS and Pokemon SoulSilver to keep me busy on the airplane. Plus, I want to download a new Mew and start EV training him.

How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?

New Splatterhouse Screens Feature Blood and Splattering

Namco Bandai has released a batch of new screens for the upcoming Splatterhouse. A modernization of the classic beat-’em-up arcade game (also popular on TurboGrafx-16), I had fun checking out Splatterhouse for Shacknews at E3 2010. The art is super stylish and the gameplay offers ludicrous violent.

Check out the screens and let me know what you think (please)!

[nggallery id=22]

Dance Central Track List Revealed

Harmonix and MTV Games have revealed the complete song list for the upcoming Xbox 360 Kinect game Dance Central. This November you’ll be able to shake your booty to the following:

Harmonix and MTV Games have revealed the complete song list for the upcoming Xbox 360 Kinect game Dance Central. This November you’ll be able to shake your booty to the following:

  • Audio Push – “Teach Me How To Jerk”
  • Basement Jaxx – “Rendez-vu”
  • Beastie Boys – “Body Movin’ (Fatboy Slim Remix)”
  • Beenie Man – “King Of The Dancehall”
  • Bell Biv DeVoe – “Poison”
  • Benny Benassi – “Satisfaction”
  • Cascada – “Evacuate the Dancefloor”
  • Christina Milian – “Dip It Low”
  • The Commodores – “Brick House”
  • Craig Mack – “Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)”
  • Dirty Vegas – “Days Go By”
  • Eric B. & Rakim – “Don’t Sweat the Technique”
  • Fannypack – “Hey Mami”
  • Jay Sean ft. Lil Wayne – “Down”
  • Kool & The Gang – “Jungle Boogie”
  • Kylie Minogue – “Can’t Get You Out of My Head”
  • Lady Gaga – “Just Dance”
  • Lady Gaga – “Poker Face”
  • Lipps Inc – “Funky Town”
  • M.I.A. – “Galang ‘05”
  • Nelly Furtado – “Maneater”
  • Nina Sky – “Move Ya Body”
  • No Doubt – “Hella Good”
  • Pitbull – “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)”
  • Quad City DJ’s – “C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train)”
  • Rihanna – “Pon de Replay”
  • Salt-N-Pepa – “Push It”
  • Snoop Dogg/Pharrell – “Drop It Like It’s Hot”
  • Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em – “Crank That (Soulja Boy)”
  • Technotronic – “Pump Up the Jam”
  • Wreckx-n-Effect – “Rump Shaker”
  • Young MC – “Bust A Move”

As I mentioned last June, Dance Central was one of the coolest things I saw at E3 2010. It’s one of two Kinect games that actually looks interesting.

Are any of you planning to pick up Dance Central? What songs are you looking forward to playing? “Brick House” is aweome!

Coffee Talk #228: Game Delays That Break Your Heart

Sony has announced that Gran Turismo 5 has been delayed…again. It’s comical at this point, but I’m trying not to laugh because I have the utmost respect for Polyphony Digital. The delay got me thinking about other delays. Have you ever had your heart broken by a game delay? Was there a game that you wanted so badly that its delay crushed your soul?

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the Chilean miner saga, Gilbert Arenas faking an injury so a teammate could play, or your favorite park, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Sony has announced that Gran Turismo 5 has been delayed…again. It’s comical at this point, but I’m trying not to laugh because I have the utmost respect for Polyphony Digital. The delay got me thinking about other delays. Have you ever had your heart broken by a game delay? Was there a game that you wanted so badly that its delay crushed your soul?

Today’s Coffee Talk is another gamer therapy session. Share your sad stories and let’s try to help each other get past some painful game-delay memories.