Tag: Videogames

FFXIII-2 Noel Kreiss Getting Ezio Auditore DLC Costume

Square Enix has announced that Final Fantasy XIII-2’s Noel Kreiss will be getting a special Assassin’s Creed costume. Through the magic of DLC, you can make Noel look just like renowned videogame assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze. The price and release date for this DLC has not yet been revealed.

I’m not sure how I feel about this. Ezio is super cool, but Ubisoft has been whoring him out to other companies. It’s weird that he’s going to be in Soulcalibur V and Final Fantasy XIII-2. This whole French-Japanese connection is bugging me out…but of course I’m going to download the costume. Crossovers are cool.

How do you feel about FFXIII-2 having Assassin’s Creed DLC?

Xbox Live Cyber Monday Sale

Microsoft has a bunch of games slashed for Cyber Monday on Xbox Live. These deals are for today only…because there’s nothing Cyber about Tuesdays. Here’s what you can pick up: Mortal Kombat Arcade Collection (400 points), Dungeons & Dragons Daggerdale (600 points), Beyond Good & Evil (240 points), and Risk Factions (200 points).

Any of these deals appeal to you?

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What Are You Playing This Thanksgiving Weekend?

Thanksgiving has a special place in my heart as a long gaming weekend. I think I posted this story on G4tv — as a kid, I used to rent games the Wednesday before Thanksgiving since the local video store was closed for the holiday and I’d get a free day of rental. Ah…good times.

This weekend I really, really want to spend a chunk of time playing The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, but I have a shoot in Chicago that will break up the time. Skyrim deserves days of uninterrupted attention. I received a code for the “Treasures of the Sun’ DLC for Dungeon Siege III. I’ll definitely be playing that. Perhaps it will make the perfect appetizer for Skyrim….

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

Coffee Talk #424: Your Black Friday Goals and Wishes

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are nearly here! The next week is going to be nuts for brick-and-mortar stores as well as online retailers. Today I wanted to see if there are any deals you’re looking for. Are you hoping to snag some great games for a…

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 awesome Dan Henderson vs. Mauricio Hua right at UFC 139, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s return to the ring, or the ESRB starting a new rating system for mobile software, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are nearly here! The next week is going to be nuts for brick-and-mortar stores as well as online retailers. Today I wanted to see if there are any deals you’re looking for. Are you hoping to snag some great games for a cheap price? Perhaps you’re in the market for a new console. Maybe you want a new phone, tablet, or other consumer electronics device? Kindly share your Black Friday/Cyber Monday goals and wishes with your fellow RPadholics.

As for me, I’m actually going to be on a Black Friday shoot in Chicago. Paying me was pretty much the only way you’d get me to a shopping mall on Black Friday. I greatly prefer online shopping. I’ll be keeping an eye out for deals of all sorts, but the only thing I’m really looking for is a soundbar. I don’t have enough room for a full 5.1 or 7.1 system. A soundbar would be a step up from my TV speakers without taking up too much space.

Now it’s your turn! Kindly share your Black Friday wish list. Are there any stores you’re going to be scoping out? Any of you going to brave the midnight opening?

This Week’s Videogame Releases (WWE 12, Tekken)

The onslaught of excellent games has slowed down, but there are still some hot game releases left in 2011. Leading the way is WWE 12. I’m sure it will be another fine wrestling game from THQ, but I’m also sure there’s at least one good reason the writing won’t be as stellar as the Shakespearean scripts found in previous games. Fighting-game fans have a pair of releases to look forward to this week. Tekken Hybrid offers loads of Tekken gameplay in one package. The King of Fighters XIII takes a storied fighting franchise to the next level.

Any of you picking up new games this week?

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

I so want to be playing Skyrim this weekend, but I have a shoot in Chicago. Yes, it’s another one of those trips that has me spending more time in the air than on the ground. Good thing I enjoy flying. I’ll be counting on iOS games to entertain me in the friendly skies. The usual suspects of Civilization Revolution, Quarrel Deluxe, and Jetpack Joyride will be joined by newcomer TubeHero. It’s a cool music/rhythm game with futuristic graphics. Think of it as Guitar Hero meets Wipeout. Plus, the name totally cracks me up. I can picture Beavis and Butt-Head giggling for hours saying, “TubeHero.”

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

PETA vs. Mario: The Great Tanooki Controversy

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has gone after an unlikely target: Nintendo’s Mario. As many of you know, Mario dons a tanooki costume in Super Mario Bros. 3 and more recently in Super Mario 3D Land. PETA sees Nintendo’s use of the tanooki suit as encouraging animal cruelty. The organization even made a game called Super Tanooki Skin 2D that denounces Nintendo. Here’s more from the site:

When on a mission to rescue the princess, Mario has been known to use any means necessary to defeat his enemy — even wearing the skin of a raccoon dog to give him special powers.

Tanooki may be just a “suit” in Mario games, but in real life, tanuki are raccoon dogs who are skinned alive for their fur. By wearing Tanooki, Mario is sending the message that it’s OK to wear fur.

I’m not a fan of fur by any means, but PETA’s campaign seems completely misguided to me. Nintendo is one of the most family-friendly developers and publishers in gaming. Mario is one of the most wholesome videogame characters in history. Legendary designer and Super Mario Bros. creator Shigeru Miyamoto is a known animal lover. Surely there are better companies for the organization to target, no?

Never for a second did I think that Nintendo had malicious intentions with the tanooki suit. It’s simply a cute costume that gives Mario silly powers. Does PETA honestly think that kids are going to be all, “Hey, know what would be awesome? Wearing fur!” after playing as Mario in the tanooki suit?

Naturally, I want to hear your opinion on this matter. While PETA certainly has a point in a literal sense, is it being misguided in going after Nintendo? Do kids get the message that wearing fur is okay from seeing Tanooki Mario in Super Mario Bros. 3?

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This Week’s Videogame Releases (Mario! Zelda!)

It’s a Nintendo sandwich this week with Super Mario 3D Land kicking things off and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword wrapping it up. In between those Nintendo games are fine titles like Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, Need for Speed: The Run, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Saints Row: The Third, Rayman Origins, and Kinect: Disneyland Adventures.

Any of you picking up new games this (absolutely loaded) week?

Sony Unveils UMD Passport Program For PlayStation Vita

Sony Computer Entertainment has unveiled information on the UMD Passport program, which allows PlayStation Portable owners to re-download their games on the PlayStation Vita for a reduced cost. Details for the program apply to the Japanese market, but hopefully a…

Sony Computer Entertainment has unveiled information on the UMD Passport program, which allows PlayStation Portable owners to re-download their games on the PlayStation Vita for a reduced cost. Details for the program apply to the Japanese market, but hopefully a similar (or better) solution will be available globally.

PSP owners will have to download a program, insert their UMD games into their system, and connect to the PlayStation Store. Once this is done, a downloadable version of their (participating) game will be available on the Vita for ¥500 to ¥2,400 (roughly $6.50 to $30). An initial list of participating publishers and games was posted by Sony but, again, this applies to the Japanese market.

I like that Sony is rewarding its PSP customers with this program. I also expect many gamers to bitch about having to re-purchase their games. The reality is that there was no easy solution for this “problem”. No matter what Sony did, it was going to get dinged. I see it as a, “Hey, they’re trying!” situation.

What do you think of the UMD Passport program for PlayStation Vita? Is Sony doing its best to reward loyal customers? Or is it double dipping?

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What Are You Playing This Weekend?

This weekend will be all about the PlayStation 3 for me. My copy of Disgaea 4 finally arrived (thanks Ted!) and I can’t wait to jump into it. I love, love, love tactical RPGs and it has been way too long since I’ve enjoyed one. That changes this weekend. Hopefully I’ll have time for The ICO and Shadow of the Colossus Collection too. I love that a whole new generation of gamers will get to experience ICO. Hell, I’m glad I get to experience it again!

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