feminism . fangirlism . gaming

Blogs? I haven't blogged since my second year of high school. My God, this feels bizarre.

The blogs are a rather great idea. Writers can post about things that are game related but may not qualify as news. Or rather, if there are pieces of news I consider notable enough to be included here as well.

Most of you reading these blogs won't recognize my handle, probably because I do little more than lurk the forums. You'll find my activity is restricted mostly to posting news, game reviews, videos, and running rampant across (moderating) GameGrep.

By the way, thanks a buttload, Howard.

Oh, and I hate you people with your massive monitors. Adjusting the background image of my blog is killing me, so some of you are just going to have to see white! I give up.

Peace.
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That's really the best way I can describe this whole situation, sparked by my previous blog post and an image of my menstrual fluids/blood. As it turns out, menstruation is practically a no-no.

I've talked to a couple Supermods, briefly contacted by another, and from what I understand none of them appear terribly offended by the image or find it inappropriate. The one who removed the image did it because he's looking out for younger readers, or so he tells me. Speaking with another, we both agreed that Neoseeker is not the proper forum for such a topic, that some levels of intellectual discussion are still beyond Neo because of its more juvenile population.

I don't know if any actual complaints were filed, but the complaint forum and IRC seemed devoid of such, so if any were made, they were by PM. The majority of responses I received in the blog comments and by PM were positive, however, and for that I am grateful. Even some of my fellow Neo staff have expressed their frustrations over the removal of the menstrual blood image.

It's quite sad though, that a site which contains movies and screenshots from games that depict prostitutes, (alien) dismemberment, disembowelment, war time atrocities, being mooned by a leprechaun, etc. would need to remove an image of blood that is devoid of violence or sexual content because some people can't accept where it came from (a woman's vagina). Even more amusing is that the photograph was not included in the shortened version of the blog, which has a title featuring the word "Menstruation." Readers actually need to click that title or "read more..." to see the image of that blood.

But some people want to be offended just so they can cry about it later. The Supermods will contemplate what to do when they manage to meet up. Hopefully, we can reach the compromise I discussed with one of them, but it's all been incredibly vague, especially considering the blogs are new territory for them as well. For now, the original post will remain without the "controversial" photo, though a link to it may eventually be allowed.

It's important to say that I'm actually not personally offended by the removal of the image, though it is a personal piece that's being censored. This is mostly because I do understand the way people are, and it isn't necessarily just the guys at Neoseeker who feel their e-peens are being threatened. Or maybe it's because I'm too busy laughing my ass off at the absurdity of this entire drama. It's just a plastic container of blood. People eat animal blood. People bleed, man or woman. People exist because every month, women bleed out of their genitalia. And cramp, and bloat, and have really bizarre food cravings -- the list of symptoms can go on forever.

I just shake my head and shrug, then laugh because really, what can you do? Female sexuality is still a touchy subject, even though females as sexual icons is so openly accepted without question. Why should Neoseeker be exempt from this unfortunate social contradiction?

Rawr, said Godzilla as he ate handfuls of Japanese like French fries.

Thanks, Jamie.

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UPDATE Here is the original image. It's been decided by the Supermods that a link is appropriate, provided I also give fair warning about the contents. I'd say this entire blog entry is a warning in itself!
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OKAY GUYS, if you frequent our news section on the front page or GameGrep, then you've probably already heard about Neoseeker's invitation to attend a preview event at Activision HQ for their upcoming X-Men Origins: Wolverine game! Excuse the exclamation points and CAPS, but I am rather hyper at the moment, seeing as how it's Friday and I just finished my news quota. Also, lots of conventions lined up over the course of the next few months.

SO, yeah, I am pretty bad at keeping up with these blog posts, especially since I've had two reviews in less than two weeks, this preview event thingy, and the write-ups. Thanks much, Greg, for accompanying me.

Anyway, here's a link to the X-Men Origins: Wolverine preview at Activision HQ in Santa Monica:


READ IT, READ EVERYTHING WE WRITE!! Seriously, this game might actually be worth checking out despite the bad rep movie-related games get. The Xbox 360, PS3, and PC versions are by Raven Software, and if you know anything about games, then you'd understand why this is GOOD NEWS.


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GameGrep is a good place, overall. Users can post video game related stuff, whether it's news or just a NSFW YouTube vid... but damn, it really shows what kind of shit other sites will write sometimes.

I'm sure glad the gaming community still has this outdated view of girls. I mean, even with all the statistics pointing to a growing female demographic, gamers still think we're mostly *bleep* so lacking in coordination that our gaming interests are restricted to the Wii or some music game. Okay, so music and dance games require a lot of coordination, but come on, we like a good shooter as much as anyone.

So out of frustration, I came up with an idea to write a list of games to play with your lover on Valentine's Day. It's on the front page right now, if anyone wants to take a look:

Holiday Special ♥ A Gamer's Valentine's Day
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Give people the tools to write about themselves and they will. They will write about the most pointless shit you can imagine. Oh, but that's not fair because in our own minds, we are the center of our individual universes, the boundaries of which do not extend beyond the earphones of an iPod or the keypad on a mobile phone. Or are mp3 players and cell phones outdated? What do they call them now -- media devices?

Noticed something on the NeoBlogs front page today: a Top Blogs panel. What is that, exactly? It sure as hell can't be based on comments because I've noticed some people are racking up over 20 or 30 comments per entry (albeit those are usually the same 2-4 people bantering back and forth about God knows what). Hits, perhaps? I'm going to vote for "hits" 'cause that'd be *bleep*ing awesome. Why would that be *bleep*ing awesome? I direct your attention to the picture. Admittedly, I don't exactly fit in with the rest of the bloggers in terms of content.

Speaking of which...

Some of the staff think that NeoBlogs has potential not only as a means for bored... kids... to write about themselves, but also a way of promoting the website in general. A few of us noticed that not everyone is even aware we have a front page, or what the hell it's even for. Shit, it's totally possible that the vast majority of forum addicts and bloggers don't care about hardware and games, but...

Okay, we'll ask. How many of you guys actually give a rat's ass about hardware and video games? How many of you don't and frequent Neoseeker only for the blogs and forums?

There, that's out there now. If there's any interesting news on the front page or new reviews up (that I know of), then I'll post them here. Most of them are written by... me... because I can actually keep track of those. Ideally, if you follow a link of my article to the front page, you'll take some time to look at other bits of news written by cool people like Sean, Leo, Kevin, and the occasional volunteer writer -- I'M TALKING ABOUT YOU CHRIS HIGGINS AKA lord monkey. As for reviews? Well, they're often posted on the forums, so hey, you should read them!

So! My previous post was mostly about the Dawn of War II review that went up this weekend, written by yours truly. Once again I must credit Adrian for being so awesome and dealing with the people I really hate talking to (PR guys), thus fetching games to be reviewed by Neo staff.

Here's the link again because I am now a Dawn of War II whore, and Sean needs to get it soon. There's co-op fun to be had!


Screenshots, trailers, and a whole lot of WIN. Another piece of awesome is yesterday's Xbox LIVE announcement for Lost Planet 2, and Capcom has leaped up a few notches in my book thanks to Takeuchi-san and Oguro-san. The trailer was pretty *bleep*ing sweet too, comprised entirely of in-game footage. If you guys have an Xbox 360, check it out. If not, try Google.

Lastly, Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is so also a big glass of awesome. I always joke about how my DS cries itself to sleep at night because I only my Xbox 360. As of the late, the TABLES HAVE TURNED. My 360 has become the family DVD player with the exception of my recent excursion with Mirror's Edge. What's the appeal anyway? Could be my inherent love for crime shit. You're looking at one of the biggest Law & Order fans ever...

Adrian has managed to hook me up with a review copy of Halo Wars, which should be arriving this week in the mail. Keep an eye out for Neoseeker's review, yeah?
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... I wanna bang Master Chief pretty freaking bad. He's that badass, and if you don't wanna throw yourself at this guy, there is something terribly wrong with you.

For those who keep up with gaming news, there's been tidbits implying Microsoft will be churning out a new Halo game some time in the future before you can start a family. Before I can start a family, for that matter.

I'm not old T__T even though I'm hitting 23 this month.

Anyway, thought I'd play with that "Halo 4" thing a bit with this Sunday's article. As usual, it's kinda-sorta-serious-but-not-really, so have fun with it. Would have posted it sooner except a blackout this morning punched our cable provider in the nuts.


Oh, I'm no fangirl. Not in the slightest! Ahem.

Also, changed the banner and background of the blog. Might do so again if I'm not satisfied within the next few hours... and I probably won't be. Doesn't mean I'll change it though. I also noticed my blog is first in the Top Blogs panel and has been for a week. Remarked to Sean that it confuses me because my posts don't wrack up too many comments... so it's difficult to gauge just how many people visit my page of green and foreign shit.
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After several days of minimal sleep, I've finally published the Resident Evil 5 review for Neoseeker. On time, too! Embargo date was lifted at noon PST today.

For those who are interesting (and I know you all are), here's the link:


Enjoy the read, because I'm half dead from it... even shoved some news on the front page. You'll read the review and like it too!

Overall a solid game, I thought, but you'll need to click the link for more information. Capcom included a lot of disclaimers in the review guides, telling us what not to reveal and all that... but honestly, it's Capcom. The spoilers people have been posting online can be guessed within a few minutes into Resident Evil 5.

But like I said, a good game, and I highly recommend it. And in case you were wondering, I did finish it, it some help from a friend (co-op test subject) who probably hates video games forever now.

Now I must go consume Korean bbq and gorge on tonkatsu. And perhaps take a well-deserved nap afterward.
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First of all, I think Twitter is fairly stupid as far as social phenomena go. We're too easily swept up by this New Age networking bullshit. First joined Facebook some years ago when it was still exclusive to college kids, and I liked it then.

It was simple, clean, didn't have a collection of creepy stalker users trying to friend you for no reason. It was just a networking tool. Okay, some people did use it as a popularity contest, but that's about it. NOW look at it... travesty. Facebook's only redeeming quality now is that it isn't a visual shitfest like MySpace... thank goodness they finally cleaned it up.

Now it just looks like Twitter. I can see value in its existence as a tool, like so many other things. Add in a generally weak-minded population, however, and shit goes downhill.

Yeah, speaking of which, Neoseeker got a Twitter account some time ago, not sure if there was an announcement anywhere. Regardless, I'm letting you all know that we ARE on Twitter, and unlike a few other staff members, I'm biting my tongue and posting on it.

We're still working on an efficient way of getting you guys news during big conventions like E3, setting up a live feed, all that good stuff. Twitter might be playing a big part in that, though I hope the main office does come up with something more substantial by then.

So far, we're using Twitter to post some interesting news from our front page. Jamie occasionally interjects with some personal anecdote, yadda yadda.

Check us out on Twitter.

Update: If you don't have Twitter, you can subscribe to Neoseeker's Twitter RSS feed. Sean introduced me to that yesterday.
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Neoseeker didn't officially review Grand Theft Auto Chinatown Wars, but I like to endorse awesome games with Sunday Musings even if we didn't do an official review.

So this Sunday, I bring you a mini-review of Rockstar's GTA Chinatown Wars for the DS, which I received as a birthday present earlier this month.


I never thought I'd give a DS game such a generous score. It's funny, too, that this game kind of reminds us there's still a distinction between core and casual gamers. I don't actively think about it, nor do I consciously label games "core" or "casual," but I did note in the mini-review that this game might confound purely casual gamers a bit.

Anyway, must eat burgers and prepare for Resident Evil 5 co-op goodness. Have a nice Sunday, guys.
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Okay, so I finally got the Zeno Clash review up not too long ago, and it's on the front page now. For those who are here now, reading this entry, I'll throw the link your way as usual: Neoseeker reviews Zeno Clash!

It's not a bad game at all. I thought I would score it lower at first, given some frustrations I had, but looking over our new review guidelines and thinking a bit more on the game, I decided it didn't deserve anything lower than a 7 / 10. That's not what I gave it, technically, but you'll find out for yourself if you just click the link.

So back when I got the review code, the e-mail from ACE that Adrian forwarded to me said not to publish our review until April 21 (today), when the game is released. I pestered Adrian a bit about an actual TIME, since most companies also include an exact time on top of the date. He told me midnight... and I... was kind of "WTF" about that.

After publishing the review just now, I looked around the Internetz to see if the game had popped up on anywhere else. The other scores didn't bother me so much as their publish dates. Some were published as early as April 19, while others came out on April 20... I find myself saying, "WHAT THE *bleep*?!" yet again.

Seriously, did ACE intentionally delay our review or did they just spit out some arbitrary publish date and then simply not care when other websites published early?

I ALMOST want to drop the score even lower out of spite, but that would be quite unprofessional. Hmph...
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Played some Guild Wars this weekend. Wee. Same old, same old. And don't you guys just hate it when you've spent a day cleaning shit out of your room or house, only to find that place doesn't look any different when you're finished?

Gabe and I might be heading out to Hollywood tomorrow for the LA Games Conference, which is more business-oriented. I say "might" because I am just feeling under the weather, and it's going to last for most of this week, if you catch my meaning.

I'm talking about menstruation, by the way. PMS is beyond imminent at this point.

Also, we've gotten and replied to invites from EA for E3 this year, and I'm pretty excited because they're going to be showing us some stuff from Mass Effect 2, a game I look forward to more than Christmas -- don't actually celebrate holidays, but you get what I mean.

There will be some other stuff, but the floor tour seems to be mostly EA SPORTS games and these titles I'm not exactly excited about. Guess you'll be hearing from us. My Asus Eee PC works wonderfully, so when I'm sitting at a press conference, I can update you guys via Twitter or, if Neo gets things worked out, our front page.

No Sunday articles as of late because I've been totally drained by stuff. Will possibly have a topic for this coming weekend that I've been noodling, but we'll see.

SCEA sent an invite a while back, but they never followed up with the additional info. Well, most stuff comes pouring in during May anyway, which is when I'll be overseas visiting family in Taiwan.

Update: Oddly enough, I got an email from SCEA right after I posted this entry. They must be monitoring my Internet activity!
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Okay, after some technical difficulties (a LOT of them, actually), we finally got our write-up for last week's LA Games Conference published. It not a very kind read, for certain, but we felt the event warranted an editorial-type report. This is basically what I've been working on this past weekend instead of the usual Sunday Musing.

It was definitely an interesting experience, and the article plus today's Internet-related and other technical issues have left my brain totally fried. Okay, so it was all wrapped up last night, checked it this morning to make sure everything was okay. Looked good to go, didn't get published because I thought someone else was going to do it for us.

Screw it, we did it ourselves. Only, when I went to check the article after it was published, I noticed more than half of the entire first page missing, as in the *bleep*ing content had been consumed by some kind of *bleep*ing black hole where articles go to die.

So yeah, it's not the usual Sunday Musing business, but I may write one of those eventually based on our report of this year's LAGC. We usually post these things on our Twitter, as well, but the editorial is rather negative, and some the event organizers are watching us on there. Sticky situation. Anyway, you can find it here: Neoseeker visits the LA Games Conference.

Also, I checked the thread where I posted my Demigod review (yes, THAT controversial shitfest) and saw up to 33 posts. Pretty funny, I thought. At least the drama over that crap has died down somewhat. Ugh, speaking of reviews, major mix-up over an upcoming one.

Son of a bitch.

And I am aware my blog background isn't loading. Some issues with the host and crap. Technology will be our downfall, death to the Internet, blah blah blah grumble grumble.
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Okay, another week has gone by with no editorial, but that's because I've been working on Neoseeker's X-Men Origins: Wolverine "Uncaged Edition" review.

Yeah, yeah, bet you guys thought we weren't gonna do that after the preview and all. The game got here late, which is why the review is also late, but at least they sent over some... foam... claws. All reviewers probably got a pair, eh. They're hilarious, kinda itchy on my skin though.

So anyway, this is also the reason I've virtually spammed our video section with X-Men Origins: Wolverine trailers and stuff. Used a couple in the actual review, along with some lovely pictures of Wolvie brutally slaughtering everything in his path.

My favorite has to be the one of him beating a guy to death with his own arm. Check it out: Neoseeker reviews X-Men Origins: Wolverine

In other news, HOLY *bleep* Fable II DLC tomorrow!
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Wow, so Sean sent me an article this morning about Dell's latest trip to realm of political incorrectness. After reading it, I decided that the manufacturer did indeed deserve the cake of epic fail.

I have to say, I got a laugh out of it, and I know some of my co-workers enjoyed my take on the subject, which you can find on our front page. Seems Dell has been trying to reach the female consumer demographic and decided that the best way to go about this is by renaming themselves "Della," just for the ladies. Della even has its own website, away from the MANLY products on Dell's MANLY-MAN main site.

The entire site in general is kind of insulting to my intelligence, but I'm willing to let it slide. It's what they had on their Dell Tech Tips page that really irked me.

quote

3. Eat better: Find recipes online, store and organize them, and watch cooking videos.
4. Get organized: ‘Remember the Milk’ is a free, tweakable online task manager that’s easy to use.

What. The. Shit. Really? I mean, seriously? Screw you up the ass too, Dell. I may have stood up for them in the past for your reliable warranty service, solid products, and fair prices, but they really need to fire the moron who came up with that shit.

If you go to the Tech Tips page now, they've changed it to be more neutral overall, though I'm wondering why they even need a special suggestions page for Della. It still carries a mild condescending tone, though an Editor's Note a the top of the page states they've made some changes since the angry e-mails and letters flooded Dell HQ. It's definitely not the *bleep*ing apology they should be issuing.

Least they could do is make a Tech Tips page for MANLY Dell consumers, too... which must also be incredibly stereotypical. Turnabout is fair play, bitches. Article on Neoseeker front page is here, in case you're interested in more details and original links. Boy, am I *bleep*ing glad I bought my netbook from Asus.

Note: The original blog post had a lot more swearing, but the *bleep* tags really killed the flavor.

Update: Just received my E3 2009 Media All Access badge in the mail. Appointments are looking full, kinda of worried but excited at the same time.
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Yeah, I'm taking a break from editing and writing and asset hunting right now to post a blog entry. An entry related to Neoseeker. Yes, I am a little off.

With E3 over, our articles are now backlogged, meaning for the next week, you'll still be seeing E3 2009 news popping up on the front page. Hoping Howard keeps the special E3 section up longer because I've been so busy editing Gabe's stuff I haven't actually gotten a chance to post more than two or three of my own write-ups!

And I have some juicy stuff coming up, too, including Halo 3: ODST and Mass Effect 2 behind-the-scenes info! Some other interesting games you guys might be interested in are Batman: Arkham Asylum and Relic's 40k console title Space Marine. Okay, so maybe that's just me... yes, I do love me some Space Marines...

At any rate, you can keep up with it all on the forums as well, as Mishtram was kind enough to post an E3 thread for our writings. What a trooper; seriously, kiss that dude or something.

Neoseeker on E3: News, Previews, Videos and Information!

Or keep an eye on our Twitter:

Neoseeker (neoseeker) on Twitter

OR keep checking GameGrep. No, wait, don't check GameGrep, unless you ignore all the other sites and pay attention to us ONLY. US. ME. GOT IT? Yes? Good, thanks.

And honestly, I know the big guys like IGN and GameSpot (and *cringe* Kotaku) get special treatment and all that... shit, ESPECIALLY IGN and GameSpot, seeing as how IGN had their own meeting room to work from (instead of having to share the Media Lounge) and GameSpot had a frickin' BOOTH. Both groups got fed, too... LACC catering, wtf. But they also get to see a lot of the same stuff we see, write the same stuff we write -- except when they throw their weight and money around for exclusives. And yet when people see "IGN" or "GameSpot" tagged onto an article (speaking about GameGrep in particular), it's like these guys are prophets from God. I respect IGN though, more or less. They're my favorite out of all the said big guys.

No, I'm fine. Really.
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Just when you thought it was safe to come out, I've gone back to writing Sunday editorials. Oh, I assure you, good citizens of Neoseeker, that this is not a drill. I have, in fact, written and posted a Sunday Musing on the front page.

Half sensible, half not, here's the latest Sunday editorial for you guys:


Indeed, with E3 2009 right around the corner, a lot of websites are writing E3-related news, mostly predictions and useless stuff like that. Oh yeah, and booth babes... guys seem to be all over themselves after hearing about the return of booth babes.

Well SCREW THAT, I say, because every damn show has chicks. The ones at game conventions just happen to look slightly more whore-ish. What these shows need are BOOTH BOYS. Hell yeah, gimme those hunks.

Also, new "Meet the..." video from Valve, but it's not on the official site so I've linked to a YouTube video for now -- something I'm not usually fond of doing for articles. Pretty sure it was leaked, doubt they care. Other than that, have a lovely Sunday evening. Stay cool, don't waste water.

Update: Yay, the video's officially out, and we've got it on our own video section now.


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Ah, Memorial Day weekend. I trust most of you are looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow unless you've got plans with friends and family? As for me, I will probably still be writing for Neoseeker, but I do plan to take it easy anyway. News is often slow during national holidays, but not completely absent.

Had a great time chillin' with friends yesterday, fighting an ant invasion last night and this morning. Now, I bring you today's Sunday Musing, which feels especially snide. Could just be me, but to be safe, I hope you are not particularly sensitive if you plan to read the blog-article-eddy.

Have a read, if you'd like: Sunday Musing: How to Be a Successful Video Game Journalist

As always, don't take this too seriously, emo kiddies. Enjoy the rest of your extended weekend.
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There's supposedly going to be an EA feature on the front page next week, highlighting our E3 news updates. We'll be updating during the conferences so keep an eye on Neoseeker's front page! We're predicting that E3 will absolutely destroy Twitter, but if you're interested, you can follow quick updates from:

• Neoseeker http://www.twitter.com/neoseeker
• tekmosis http://twitter.com/tekmosis
• VeGiTAX2 http://twitter.com/vegitax2
• RabidChinaGirl http://twitter.com/rabidchinagirl

Also keep an eye on our blogs, as a few personal notes may appear on them! Most of all, follow Neoseeker during E3 2009! We'll be working very hard to bring you all the latest news. And I'll be in a world of womanly pain.


Pictured:

• ASUS Eee PC 1000HE 10" Netbook
• Zune 30GB Digital Media Player (Black)
• Nintendo DS (Onyx)
• LG Chocolate phone in case I need to dial 911
• Neoseeker business cards
• little notebook w/ Sharpie Pen
• Nikon COOLPIX leather sleeve
• MobileMate SD Memory Card Reader
• some goodies for Jamie and Sean
• feminine hygiene items

Not pictured:

• Nikon COOLPIX S200
• new bottle of Pamprin Maximum Strength Multi-Symptom Menstrual Relief
• Wet Ones Sensitive Skin Hands & Face Wipes

I think my plans for Monday are about set, and that should be the toughest day to plan for because Microsoft, EA, and Ubisoft are all holding their briefings at different locations -- NOT at the LACC. Just to be extra annoying, they're not exactly providing excellent transportation so we can't just meet at the LACC and hitch a ride from there. Instead, Gabe and I will be hopping a few extra stops via Metro Link and hoping for the best.

On top of this, Microsoft must've decided they wanted to be special and are holding their conference at the Glen Center at USC. That's 2.5 miles from EA, who are on the same stretch of road (Broadway) as Ubisoft. Thanks a lot, 'cause EVERYONE loves walking around that area of Los Angeles. Very scenic and safe, you know. My ass. Seriously, if they were gonna do that shit, why couldn't they shell out for transportation to a few more hotels or the LACC? Instead, they've done very little to accommodate attendees in an area that is less than savory. But then, most attendees probably aren't 5'3" Asian chicks like myself... or just haven't got a clue.

Luckily, Jamie is being nice and will be letting me hitch a ride in his cab after Ubisoft gets out, so I won't need to walk that creepy stretch of road from the Los Angeles Theatre to the Metro station. I SHOULD be okay from there. Hey, I may be from Los Angeles County, but I'm not prepared to get kidnapped / shanked / raped / murdered.

At least from Tuesday through Thursday, all conferences and appointments are being held at or near the LACC, with the exception of Nintendo and Sony. But they've always provided transportation to and from the convention center.

Wish us luck!
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I was standing in the kitchen earlier today, minding my own business, when I noticed an object on the porch. I'm expecting a game from KOEI, but my PR contact told me via email that he'd let me know whenever they were sending out retail review copies.

Admittedly, I felt a sense of dread, since I'm still worn out from E3 and all the post-E3 work. My brain is little more than a pile of goop, after sitting too long in a fryer.

Scuttled outside and found out the package was from Activision. Wasn't actually expecting to review anything, and Adrian usually tells me ahead of time when he's got a review lined up for me. May just be an automated thing, since I reviewed X-Men Origins: Wolverine for them. And just like that game, this one came... LATE.

Well, at least I don't need to deal with the embargo date. Just gotta get this one out ASAP, is all. It's been out for a week already! And if you haven't already guessed, the game in question is Prototype.

I mean, new game to review, great! But I had just purchased Knight of the Old Republic II on PC yesterday, and I was looking forward to more mod-filled fun. I actually already own and beat it for Xbox, but it runs like hell on the Xbox 360, and I love the game too much. Anyone know where I can get restored character dialogue? Team Gizka's site link for restored script was dead, though I managed to get the Droid Planet content.

Also, I haven't been keeping up with the blogs because I find Twitter much easier. Shh...

Oh yeah, and if you haven't already checked, our E3 2009 coverage is complete for the time being. All our feature articles, including media briefings for the "Big 3" are posted HERE, except for the first two, Microsoft and EA, which you can find HERE and HERE. We noticed many Neoseeker regulars don't actually visit the front page for news, so a HUGE thanks to Mishtram for posting about our E3 shenanigans on the forums.

Man, that Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic trailer still sends chills up my spine -- beautiful! Poor Jedi Master, though, he was cute... and now he's dead.

Speaking of attractive Jedi, check out this guy. He's supposed to be a Jedi and all, judging by the color of his lightsaber, but his face screams, "SITH!! SIIIITH!!!" Embarrassingly enough, I was so much shorter than him that he had to bend down and back for the photograph; you can tell based on feet placement. Notice how far forward his left foot is, versus where I'm standing.


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Okay, so Prototype has been out a while, but I mentioned in a previous entry that Activision kind of sprung it on us at the last minute. Heath is still playing through, and I tackled the review since I don't have any side jobs or... whatever. This is pretty much it.

So what did I think? It's a mindless experience with a hot of hot guys that under normal circumstances, I wouldn't pay full price for. I've never played a game so terrible that I vowed to never touch it again, but that doesn't mean every game is great, like God's gift to gamers.

I mean, if the game interests you, then try it out. My biggest beef has to be with (1) the visuals and (2) the annoyance of having 90487242390482374423 enemies thrown at you all at once. Hunters, Super Soldiers, Jarheads in helicopters and tanks, Infected-peons... all trying to corner Alex and climb up his ass. Alright, so the second point is tolerable, but the first one really gets to me.

This game would've scored so much better all around and been a more immersive experience if the game didn't look so terrible. Of course the cinematics and the special characters like Alex look fine, but the buildings and the recycled character models for everyone else is flippin' atrocious.

Read the rest here: Neoseeker reviews Prototype

But you know what I've noticed? Alex Mercer and BLACKWATCH superstar Captain Cross are hot. Yeah, I'm surprised by Cross being there as well, since I only noticed Alex first. But you spend enough time with this game, and it warps your taste in men, I guess.

That review went out this morning, and then I treated myself to a nap. Woke up at around 2:00 pm and found a FedEx package outside. Wrapped in a heavy plastic bag shielding it from the rain was none other than Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires, as promised. My copy was accidentally shipped up to Neo HQ in Vancouver, so I called my PR contact to KOEI and he (plus Heather, a sweet PR-lady I met at E3) was very understanding. They shot another package out the door and here it is, on my bed.

Suggested the extra copy in Vancouver be used in a giveaway of some sort. Neoseeker is pretty awesome with those contests, eh? Time for me to get back to reviewing.
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Too much caps? Too bad, blame Japanese pop culture and their obsession with CAPS LOCK. Anyway, thought some of you might like to know that our DYNASTY WARRIORS 6: Empires review is complete and should be up on the front page.

Game comes out today in North America, so if you're curious about it, do check out our review. Otherwise, know that it's a pretty good game as far as Dynasty Warriors go, but won't be converting any KOEI haters either.

I know you want to read this, and you know I know you do: Neoseeker reviews DYNASTY WARRIORS 6: Empires.

Also, feel free to leave feedback here or on the forums. It's how we know we're doing a good / shitty job. As for me, I do plan to go back and play this game some more. It's always nice playing games without a deadline, and I enjoy that feeling of freedom after each review. Brief as it is.
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Got several new developments for you guys. First, you know how Neoseeker has this funny habit of holding giveaway contests and sweepstakes with swag or new copies of popular video games?

We've got another one going on now, and I've actually been keeping an eye out for it. KOEI had originally sent my review copy of DYNASTY WARRIORS 6: Empires to Neo HQ up in Vancouver instead of down here, to Los Angeles County where I reside. That was all resolved, but the result is an extra copy, wrapped and squeaky clean.

Unless tekmosis did something to it, I dunno. Anyway, the copy is now up for grabs, if you haven't already heard. It's another one of those Wiki update contests, so flex that Dynasty Warriors knowledge! Time to show those kids at school that your obsession with horribly flashy caricatures of ancient Chinese warriors and scholars is valid! Our review for it is still on the front page as well. I think.

Here's the LINK, with all the rules and other grimy details. And remember, I'll start telling Redemption and tekmosis that we shouldn't hold anymore giveaways if any of you *bleep*ers start bitching, "There's only one copy!! WWAAAAAHHHWWAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!"

And on a less important note, I did do another Sunday Musing this weekend. Thought I'd rattle the cage a bit with a piece about Nintendo's failure to connect with audiences at this year's E3 press conference. Did manage to shake some shit up, and we've got fanatics from both sides of the fence duking it out in the comments. Too much drama for yo' mama right here! Sunday Musing: "Nintendo, you're making this difficult!"

Important to note that none of the Nintendo executives bothered showing up in person at the main theatre where the majority of us were gathered. They were all projected onstage, which explains why Gabe's pictures turned out so crappy. Not even his uber awesome camera could salvage that shit. I already did a bit of lighting adjustments in Photoshop, but I'm not a wizard.

Also, they have lots of decent third-party titles lined up but chose not to address those at the conference. Instead, we get introduced to things we've already heard more than enough about, shovelware, and really stupid stock photography of girls and boys with pink and blue DSes. Oh, there was a flippin' COP playing with a DARK BLUE DS in one of those pictures too. I shit you not, Nintendo actually managed to make stock photography look even dumber and more awkward than it already is.

As always, you can follow us via Twitter, @neoseeker. tekmosis set it up, but I've been doing 99.9 percent of the updating. Speaking of which, here he is being assaulted.



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Right, so that Anime Expo stuff isn't up yet, and I'm thinking of putting up the panel talk I've got anyway. Otherwise, I'm waiting for Vegi's contributions.

Note there is another review up. It's from Activision again -- Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. It's not exactly a winner, I'll tell you that much, but if you're interested in checking out the review for kicks, leaving some feedback, whatever, here it is: Neoseeker reviews Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

I still need to bug H and crew about some ideas I had, even though there's a good chance they won't go through. I know Jamie already proposed some of them, but eh, I really haven't a clue, being in another country and all. Sometimes, I wish I did work in the office. Neoseeker needs to open a Los Angeles branch! Now accepting donations.

In other news, I won this GameStop / Activision sweepstakes that I don't remember entering. I do recall it was something Vegi encouraged me to participate in, so there's that. Either way, me and nine other winners will be going to Comic-Con and put up in a swanky hotel for a few days. We won't get to stay the entire duration, but it should still be quite an experience!

Oh, and holy Hell, Mass Effect 2! Actually, it's all old news to me, since I did get to attend E3 this year and check out BioWare's closed demos. But still! THAAAAANE!!! I want him in my Shepard's pants-bodysuit-armor-thing.


Video took just under 50 minutes to upload, thank you very much. But THAAAANE!! Man, screw exclusive vids and the sites that pay for them. Yeah, you heard me. A lot of these vids are timed exclusives, like video games, and then get an official release later. At that point, any media outlet can access and post the video.

Looking for something to play? I'm spending time with Dynasty Warriors 6: Empires.
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Hm, reviews and feature articles have been keeping me off the Sunday soapboxes lately, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Keeping these Sunday Musing articles fewer and farther in between keeps my mind from frying itself.

This week, instead of working on Anime Expo stuff, I put up an editorial on the front page about homosexuality in video games. I've been delving back into my DC encyclopedia with Comic-Con around the corner, and it made me think about how we don't really see video games addressing gay and lesbian relationships. Sure, there are a few, but it's still not much. Lack of acceptance can be problematic, as we hear cases about people like Teresa and Gaywood on LIVE.

So how can we alleviate the situation? I'm thinking exposure. Help the video game community build tolerance by educating them through exposure. I'd be totally thrilled if I played a game one day and the male lead turned out to be gay, rather than your typical lady-ogling dude. It'd be like finding out Samus is a woman for the first time. Okay, maybe not THAT crazy, but sorta similar.

Anyway, here's the article, in case you're all interested: Sunday Musing: Homosexuality in Video Games. Leave thoughts and feedback, if you'd like. I'll more likely see them if you post under the article, not my blog.
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Holy Hell, I finally finished it. Big thanks to Sean for helping me proof, since I received Gabe's portion just last night. I was determined to get this thing out before Wednesday.

Okay, technically it is Wednesday, but I can still pack and get a few hours of sleep before I need to hit the train station and head down to San Diego for Comic-Con.

So anyway, for you anime-philes out there, here's our Anime Expo 2009 coverage! Okay, I know it's a bit late, but we worked really damn hard on it. Read about some panels, including Robot Chicken, the core events like AX Idol and Masquerade, and our incessant bitching over how terribly disorganized the staff was.

READ NOW: Neoseeker visits Anime Expo 2009.

Leave some feedback, if it would please you. I know it would certainly please me. And I KNOW you bastards like anime. Don't even try to hide it. I've grown out of it for the most part, but seeing an old hero like Yasuhiro Nightow in person was pretty flippin' awesome. Yeah, I've seriously been following Trigun since middle school, when I was 13 -- I can't believe it's been around that long. Got Nightow and Nishimura to sign a poster.

I also got Ishiwatari's signature on my newer Guilty Gear artbook. Pretty sweet. Mori signed it too, though he hesitated like he wasn't sure if I wanted his sig. Also got Morikawa (Sephiroth) to sign my copy Advent Children DVD. The first one, I mean... Square Enix can kiss my ass before I buy their second release.
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Oookay, so according to the system, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 does not exist? And yet I have been writing about it for weeks, attaching it to an entity and so on. Gonna need to ask Jamie about that tomorrow.

And apparently hitting "Enter" publishes the blog post. Why should I be surprised? That's how the articles work too, as I found out by hitting that damn key too many times. Anyway, are you guys into comics? I know I am. I've had a lot of trouble concentrating lately with all my new comics from Comic-Con.

Also did some work at the convention, so the first two articles related to that work are up on the front page. I managed to get one up last week, on Wednesday night, despite being buzzed off rum and Coke. Activision showed off Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 at their party, along with Singularity, which I will write about another time. For now, there's MUA2 and some related Comic-Con news: Jean Grey and Gambit join Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 cast.

Associate producer Jason Schroeder talked me through the demo stages, then let me go at it with a Maxim reporter dude. I helped him out a little, told him Thor was full of win. Will report a more detailed version later when I write about the entire "First to Play" contest I won / attended.

Additionally, I published a not-so-little bit on DC Universe Online, which I also got to preview at Comic-Con, this time with senior producer Wes Yanagi. I was so paranoid writing the piece, thinking I'd accidentally start typing "Yagami," since that guy's been on my mind lately for obvious reasons.

Both games look great, though DCUO seems to be nowhere near release, being in pre-alpha still (according to Yanagi). Anyway, here is our write-up for the preview with Sony Online Entertainment: MMO basics meet action play in DC Universe Online.

Now go read those!. I'm more of a DC fangirl, to be honest. Sure, both Marvel and DC come up with some crazy shit, but I can't deny my thing for Batman, a love that has persisted since childhood while my interest in X-Men waxes and wanes below the radar. Oh, not to mention GREEN LANTERN, especially Kyle Rayner. Hal Jordan is awesome too, but Kyle is still the cutest ever -- and he was Ion! I really dig Nightwing as well, but most of his comics focused way too much on his relationships with random women, and jerking Barbara / Oracle around.

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Admittedly, I thought Dungeon Fighter Online was going to be another shitty free-to-play MMO when I first heard the name. But then I saw the character design art, and I promised myself to pay more attention to this game. The priest class is so unbelievably kickass and hawt.

We got to talk to Nexon America producer Herb Yang at Comic-Con. If you don't know Nexon, they're the people who brought you Maple Story, Combat Arms and more.

So here's another Q&A from Comic-Con for you guy to read, if you're interested. It's all about DFO, the 2D arcade style of play implemented in an MMO game. I got into the beta thanks to my Nexon PR contact, whom I call "Bob" -- because that's his name, not just my trying to be clever.

Click here, read this: Dungeon Fighter Online producer Q&A.

Hope you like. I'm going to spend some time with the beta again, leveling up my priest "Garrus." He's gonna be a Crusader class when he grows up! I know a handful of other Neo staff wanna play the game too -- Leo is in the beta as well, not sure what he's using.

Maybe get some more Gears of War 2 in later. I haven't tried the "Road to Ruin" campaign yet. But before I delve back into the first private gaming time I have had all week, here is something awfully nice Sean did for me. It's a Mirror's Edge screenie of Faith kicking someone in the nuts! This one's for Lydia, he calls it. Thanks, Sean, I loves it much.
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If you guys haven't already noticed, there've been come cool new features added to Neoseeker. You know, more navigable, generally easier on the eyes.

I like the new features, but some bugs prevail. One such bug I thought I'd warn you guys about -- in case any of you like commenting on the news -- is that when an article passes from "published" back to "pending" and then "published" again, previously posted comments will disappear.

Do not panic. We do not hate you -- the system hates you.

In the mean time, we learn that a teenage boy has been killed at one of China's Internet addiction facilities. These centers got some attention this month when netizens posted about unfair treatment toward the patients, including the use of shock therapy. China has since banned the use of electroshock, but that doesn't mean these popular government-funded clinics were all shut down.

The fact is, China hasn't officially declared Internet addiction a treatable / diagnosable condition, but that's not stopping these clinics from doing their business. And on Monday, a 16-year-old boy died after being beaten by three adult supervisors.
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Did anyone read our (my) Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen review last month? I dropped the game's score below a 7, and it was given the lowest score I had ever awarded any game for review. I thought this was the worst I would have to put up with.

Unfortunately, I WAS DEAD *bleep*ING WRONG. Last week around this time, I received a package in the mail. At first I thought it was a late shipment of King of Fighters XII because it shared the same PR company as this God-awful game. But no, when I opened the package, I found G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra inside. Lord help me.

I knew this game wasn't going to be good. Little did I know, it would be the most painful gaming experience I have ever had in my entire 23 years on this planet. I'm not done yet, since I started just this week after the Shadow Complex review went out on Monday morning. Normally, even when I receive a game late, I try my best to finish it with all my available time -- not this time. I literally dread playing this game, like no other game I have ever laid eyes on; won't go into details, you'll have to read the review.

With most review copies, PR reps also send some fact sheets, a URL / FTP to all the assets, or a disc. Not this time. The Rocket XL rep who sent me G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra only included his contact info and a brief note about how excited he is that I want to review this game, and to contact him when I'm finished. No disc, no URL, no fact sheet, and he has failed to respond to my email request for this content.

Leo even said last week he was asking how the review was going. NEWS TO ME, since I didn't get it until the end of the flippin' week. I'm truly struggling with this one, guys. It's not just the process of playing a shit game either, but knowing that this PR rep -- despite coming off as not giving a flying shit about Neoseeker or our review of the game -- will want a link to the review when it's finished. And it's not going to be a good one...

The review will be out by Monday, is all I can guarantee. And that's only because I'm leaving for a trip across the Pacific, a trip that can no longer be postponed because my grandfather is back in the hospital.
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In my last blog, I vented a little about the PR rep who sent me G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra. And now, the review has been posted, though you won't find it on our front page. Oh, it's on the forums and is floating around in the Neoseeker web-dimension, but since the game has been out for more than two weeks, it doesn't get to appear on Neoseeker's front page.

And honestly, who expected this game to be any good? Idiots, that's who. Or you know, little kids. Regardless, you may find the review an interesting read. I mean, who doesn't like to watch other people suffer? And that's what reviewing this game was like -- hours of suffering. It's pretty short, as far as games go, but any longer and I would've ended my own life. Check it: G.I. JOE: The Rise of Cobra review.

Admittedly, the review borders on ranting, but you'd be doing the same thing in my shoes. Seriously, this game is really frickin' awful. Even if you had a little kid to think of, there HAS to be better games out there for your child to play. Pass this shit up, even when it hits the bargain bin.
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In Taiwan, I do all my Internet'ing on my netbook. This thing is ultra convenient when you're on the go, especially at conventions; but for everyday use, I really miss my desktop at home. Luckily, mi madre and I have successfully been added to a flight on Saturday, September 5, having been on the waiting list for a week. Because of China Airlines' 50th anniversary event, we managed to redeem our mileage points and get free tickets. That meant we were lower on the priority list for last minute flight changes.

A typhoon should be hitting Taiwan over the weekend, so I think we'll avoid that by a day or so. I'm expecting a lot of turbulence as we leave the island. But getting home on Labor Day weekend means we'll get to settle in a bit before work starts. Otherwise, we would've returned on September 8, and that's no fun.

The disconnect between myself and this country continues to grow. I become more Westernized, and this small island nation retains so many traditional values, while being hit hard with globalization and Western exposure but not known what to do with all that. Sociology is messy!

And for whatever reason -- economy on life support, Hurricane Morakot ("diamond" in Thai) decimating the south -- things have just changed. Aside from my bacterial infection, which the kind doctor attributed to my exhaustion, the food overall no longer satisfies me. Guess the next I come back, I'm going to have to find new places to eat. Really though, that's another problem in Asia, not just Taiwan; it's rare these days to find a favorite joint and be able to visit it year after year... after year. Things just change so quickly, and I honestly hate that.

The Internet and having it with us everywhere we go doesn't help the situation. Life happens faster and faster, and when I'm out, my own friends or just other people I see will often be glued to their phones, now called mobile devices because of their multi-capabilities. And that's really the better situation; more often than not, people will distract themselves with email, texting, Twitter, and so on... all on their goddamn phones. While out with friends. In real life. Having dinner. You know, doing stuff with people in person.

"Sorry, I have to check this." No, no you *bleep*ing don't. Just three *bleep*ing years ago, you very likely didn't. And what about five or eight years ago? Hell, what happened to the 90s? Were you frickin' dying without your mobile device then? I think not, you pathetic twats. But then everyone expects you to be available all the time now because of these devices and mobile Internet. Seriously, this world is going way too damn fast; it'll catch on fire soon enough, fly off its axis and go hurling into the sun.

I'll be chillin' at home with the AC up and my Xbox 360 powered on. When I get back, I'm going to tear through Arkham Asylum, since its reached my doorstep and made it into our home. Amazon recently had a sweet deal on Force Unleashed because the new Sith edition is coming out; they've been clearing inventory. With shipping, the game cost me a little under $15 -- not a bad deal. Army of Two will be a co-op experience with my college buddy, so I'll be able to juggle that with either single player game.
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If you haven't already noticed, our PR wiz Adrian went to PAX this year and has been posting his coverage these days on the front page. If you haven't noticed, then I'm not sure why you guys even bother visiting Neoseeker. Good job, now I hate you forever.

But you should probably (definitely) still check out Adrian's coverage. It's still being updated, but Day 1 is up for your viewing pleasure: Neoseeker visits PAX 2009.

Lots more meetings than I'm used to do, and there was more hilarity / frustration with all the headsets and various crappy mics not working. Echos, beat boxing, underwater noises, birds warking, and the fact that I sound like a Cylon -- all quite hilarious, yes. I need a new mic. Either order online or go to Best Buy (shithole).

But I'm about ready to turn my back on today and play video games. Mm, yes, more Arkham Asylum awaits me. I think I'm pretty damn close to fighting Ivy, which pleases me immensely. I look forward to kicking her ass. Still would've liked more Harley and Ivy moments though -- those two are sweet together. *bleep* the Joker, I'm all for Ivy x Harley!

Aside from that, tried the Garou: Mark of the Wolves demo, because Rock Howard is cute and Terry Board is awesome. Don't think I'll be buying it. Had enough of the game at the arcades years ago, so I'm saving that 800 Microsoft Points.

Peace.

Update: PAX 2009 Day 2 coverage has been posted this morning. Check it out HERE.
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Hey, Neoseeker community. Just a heads up for what you guys can expect in the coming weeks for game review. Aside from Gabriel bringing you the Modern Warfare 2 preview night event (soon), we've got some reviews coming up you may be interested in. As you may have noticed, Neoseeker is becoming more video game driven, not just hardware.

First, WET by Bethesda and A2M will be posted this week, and I'm getting Halo 3: ODST soon as well -- supposedly by Friday. A little stressed because Activision is probably sending Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, as they have a habit of sending games automatically but late. Gabe will hopefully get our PR guy to change that, because I don't want to have to review all three at once.

Before I left for Taiwan, I reviewed three games in a row, but they were separated accordingly so there was not much overlap. Unfortunately, I got little to no sleep and wound up getting sick overseas. Joy.

Anyway, keep an eye on the front page, our Twitter, or this blog for updates.
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Well then, in my last post I mentioned some reviews and what not you guys can look forward to. The first one is up on the front page, for WET by Bethesda and A2M. It's a game many have heard of but may not know a whole lot about. The review is one of my harsher ones, but for the most part I can tell you it's not a bad game. In fact, many people might find it enjoyable.

Some have noted the score is rather low, but in my opinion, it's not. Truly bad games will dip lower than that. Honestly, just read about the complaints, and if they don't dissuade you, go ahead and give the game a shot. I just recommend renting it or waiting for the price to drop. I just have trouble justifying paying full price for a buggy game that feels unfinished.

Anyway, aside from that, we also have our preview of Modern Warfare 2 up, posted earlier this evening. Gabe documents his account of the Los Angeles preview event with Activision. If you like video games at all, you'll check those out. I'll be nice and provide the links too:

• Neoseeker reviews WET
• Modern Warfare 2 preview

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Been a while, but I finally got the chance to write a Sunday editorial today. The topic has been on my mind a while, so I thought it was about time I wrote about it. Would make more sense if you guys have Xbox LIVE, but I do go over the subject a bit before delving into the issue.

For those who do have Xbox LIVE and subscribe to Gold, you may be rather annoyed by Microsoft charging so much for the new Avatar merchandise. Of course, I have friends who don't care and throw away money on it. Oddly enough, I hear / read this excuse a lot: "I need something to waste my points on."

I think one issue is that many people don't realize these points cost money, and it really adds up after a while. Because they're called "points," we don't directly associate it with hard-earned cash. Thus, people are more willing to spend their points, forgetting they're actually spending real money. On top of this discrepancy, many young people have yet to fully comprehend the value of a dollar and how hard it is to earn that money. So when we see a blue lightsaber in the Marketplace, we see only 400 Microsoft Points, not $5.00 that can be used to buy food and drink.

It's more than just a rant though, but a valid look at some ways Microsoft can improve the system to be more consumer friendly. Here's an excerpt, followed by the link.

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T-shirts in the Avatar Marketplace usually go for 80 points, while some smaller items will drop to 16 Points, or 50 cents, specifically in the "Styles Store" for generic items. Name brands like Roxy, Adidas, tokitoki, and even Penny Arcade generally cost more. The "Game Styles," which cover video game costumes and accessories, are also leaning on the pricey side. This scheme makes sense because whenever a brand or any other recognizable name gets involved, royalties come into play. And really, PSN users can buy virtual goodies too, so what's the big deal with Xbox LIVE?

The big deal is that users already need to pay an annual $50 subscription fee (or go month to month with subscription cards) to get the complete package. I have never had a problem with this fee. In fact, Microsoft's monthly rate for Gold has spoiled me, and I refuse to pay more for any sort of online game. This Avatar Marketplace, however, felt like a hard kick to the proverbial testicles.

One reason this change felt like a scam is the previous free Avatar updates. They were sparse but free. We looked forward to Major Nelson's announcements each Tuesday, hoping to see new items for our Avatars. Sadly, these updates have since disappeared after the Avatar Marketplace was launched. In a perfect world, Microsoft would somehow pay the royalties on their own without having to charge players; unfortunately, that's not how the capitalist world works, and even the people behind Xbox LIVE need food, shelter, and medical insurance.

But there must be a better way, and I believe Microsoft can still make money off the Avatar Marketplace with a fairer, more consumer-friendly system.

LINK: Sunday Musing: Three ways to improve the Avatar Marketplace on Xbox LIVE
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I sent an email to Xbox LIVE's Major Nelson yesterday, with a link to the Sunday Musing about Avatar items: Three ways to improve the Avatar Marketplace on Xbox LIVE.

I'm not sure if the email goes directly to him or just through an assistant of some kind, but I assume the person on the other end was the Major (at worst, someone associated with him). There is some good news, that being we'll get more free Avatar updates in the future. Here was the response:

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Thanks. I’ll pass this along. Also, there will continue to be free items, so the first bullet point is not completely accurate.

Pretty cool, if you ask me. Now I'm hoping those updates come soon. I need to review Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. It came nearly two weeks late, but I still gotta take care of it.
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Yeah yeah, the game came out mid-September, but hey, we're doing our best here. Good news is we think we've finally gotten Activision to stop sending us games so late. At the very least, Gabe is getting an earlier copy of Modern Warfare 2, so you dudes look forward to that.

For now, here's our review of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. Read it, judge it, spread the word. Whether you've played the game or not, check out what we think (what I think, anyway). Solid game, deserves some time.

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Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 retains a certain familiarity, mostly because the basic formula is the same. Those familiar with the above mentioned games should fall comfortably into the latest installment. After an introduction stage, MUA2 enters full swing with the Marvel Civil War storyline, borrowed from the comics. Certain events lead the government to pass the Superhuman Registration Act (SRA), and the superhero community is effectively split in two, between those who do or don't support the act. The player watches these events unfold and is then given a choice to side with either the Pro- or Anti-Registration groups. Between every mission, you're sent back to a base where you may interact with other heroes, replay previous missions, and do just about everything the previous MUA offered; this remains relatively the same.

LINK: Neoseeker reviews Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
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Hope most of you are enjoying a long weekend, since Monday is a Canadian and American holiday -- I don't think I ever celebrated Columbus Day as a kid though. Anyway, we've got our second late review out of the way, so you may wanna check it out.

Once again, not on the front page due to lateness. Still, Halo 3: ODST is a big deal, and it's a great game. I recommend you guys check out the review and get your hands on a copy -- rent or buy. Feel free to leave some feedback for the review as well; we always appreciate those. Whether you like the franchise or not, ODST is a new take on Halo, with a bit of the new and old rolled in one. The soundtrack is amazing and goes along with the overall mood very well. Might actually be more enjoyable played solo, surprisingly enough...

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The story basically follows a squad of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, an elite military branch of UNSC. You play as an ODST recruit appropriately named "Rookie," as he is deployed over New Mombasa with fellow troopers. In the opening cutscene, which was released well before the game, we watch shit hit the fan as a Covenant ship enters slipspace, trying to get away from Master Chief, who's all up in the Prophet of Regret's business. This event scatters the ODST pods throughout the city below, separating the Rookie from his more experienced comrades. He wakes up six hours later, and the game picks up from there.

New Mombasa, a husk of what it once was, is now your playground. This open world thing is new to Halo, and Bungie made sure players would not feel lost. As you wander the remnants of New Mombasa, there are plenty of hints that you may utilize to find your way, separate from the little blue compass diamond we're so used to seeing. Hitting "up" on the D-pad brings up icons indicating unlocked doorways, and a 3D, fully interactive city-wide map marks marks your next destination, enemies, supply caches, and so on. An ODST's weapons of choice are the M7S SMG and M6S Magnum -- an effective combination. Your starting arsenal is enough to carry you through the entire game without ever having to trade up (or down), but the city offers a wide selections that might inspire memories of Halo-past.

LINK: Neoseeker reviews Halo 3: ODST
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So we've been showing Nexon quite a bit of love in terms of reporting Dungeon Fighter Online happenings, like the initial closed beta recruiting stage. I think they once held a DFO press event a drive away from me, but I couldn't make it because I was going to be out of town at the time or something.

And remember when we got to interview DFO producer Herb Yang? That was pretty cool. The endless gushing I did on the front page over how badass and sexy the Priest class looks certainly helped. I remember one of the first things our PR contact Bob said to me when I met him at San Diego was, "So I know you really like the Priest." Well, something to that effect. It was hilarious and embarrassing.

So they offered some exclusive Priest gameplay footage from the game, meaning at least for now, it's only on Neoseeker. We're happy to have it, and we'd like to share it with you. As always, just click "share" or the link below for a larger view.


LINK: Dungeon Fighter Online exclusive class gameplay + homage to the priest
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It's that time of year again guy, so you're getting our annual holiday guide. Yes, Neoseeker's Holiday Guide 2009 - Part 1 is now published! But isn't it kinda early for that sort of thing? Hell no, because we're just getting started. As December draws near, we'll be posting the rest of our Holiday Guide piece by piece.

Each time, we'll include hardware and video games our staff gave stellar reviews for. You'll find everything meticulously categorized by use and genre for your convenience. Whether you're looking to reward yourself or for a gift to someone else, our guides should have something to suit your needs! From Halo 3: ODST to Guitar Hero, Uncharted 2 to Pokemon Platinum...

Again, we'll have more guides coming soon. But if you have a product in mind that we haven't covered, go ahead and ask about it. Major holiday titles are also on the way and will no doubt appear in future 2009 guides.

LINK: Neoseeker's Holiday Guide 2009 - Part 1


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Alright people, our Dragon Age: Origins review has been posted. Just in time for launch too! So if you've been eyeing this game, feel free to check out our review. We're pretty generous to it, since it's a pretty awesome game.

If you know BioWare's style, then you already have a good idea of what Dragon Age is about. Of course the outside is all different, but at the very core, the gameplay remains similar in most respects. It's a bit harder than most mainstream games out there today though, so RPG newbs should be wary. I would recommend it, just don't go in expecting to breeze on through.

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BioWare boasts a long-standing reputation as one of the most respected developers in the gaming industry, with numerous household titles and franchises. Baldur’s Gate, Neverwinter Nights, Knights of the Old Republic, and Jade Empire – all highly successful games produced within a single decade since the company was founded. Few can argue that BioWare develops quality titles, namely RPGs known for their tactical gameplay and powerful stories, major components heavily character-driven.

More recently, Mass Effect marked their debut on HD console. Between the epic space opera’s 2007 release and upcoming 2010 sequel, we are graced with something uniquely conventional. Dragon Age: Origins takes several steps away from its sci-fi cousin and takes us back to that ol’ high fantasy genre, filled with snooty humans, drunken dwarves and xenophobic elves. Here is Ferelden, a land wracked by the usual civil unrest and racial mistrust.

Well, unfortunately for the residents, an ancient darkspawn are stirring after four hundred years in dormancy and on their way over for a barbecue, with people on the menu. The factions in Ferelden aren’t exactly holding hands around the figurative campfire either, so what’s a nation to? Rely on a single person and his (or her) band of misfits! Sounds rather like a sitcom when you hear it like that.

An opening cinematic sets the mood, setting a premise for events. The darkspawns' origins stem from a tale of hubris, similar to the "Tower of Babel" story. A group of mages had their heads up their own arses and wanted in on the Maker’s (God) domain, so they dabbled in some seriously shady magic and somehow screwed up Heaven instead of getting in, ultimately bringing it to ruin. As punishment, they were cast down and cursed by their own follies, thus becoming the first darkspawn. Naturally they're near-unstoppable, owning the dwarves ten different ways until the brave Grey Wardens show up to lay down the unrelenting hand of justice

LINK: Neoseeker reviews Dragon Age: Origins
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OKAY, seriously, I'm tired as hell. But here's the Modern Warfare 2 review I've been writin' for the last few days. Hey, there are worse jobs out there than reviewing hit games! It's the 360 version, so you won't find any bitching about how Activision shafted PC gamers (which they did, massively).

We do address the controversial terrorism segment of course, so have a read if you're interested. Next up, I'll be reviewing Left 4 Dead 2 for 360, though I've already pre-ordered the PC version. I did try both at E3, and the controls are quite fluid.

Anyway, here's an excerpt from the Modern Warfare 2 review, and you'll find the link below...

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Within the first 24 hours since launch, Infinity Ward's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 had sold 4.7 million copies in North America and the UK alone. Its success was ensured by the popularity of its predecessor, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, a game that also marked a departure from the overused World War II setting.

The release of Modern Warfare 2 set global records, outdoing even Hollywood in terms of launch revenue. Even gamers previously unfamiliar with the Call of Duty games took notice, given how much hype MW2 has received. Expectations were set incredibly high, which often results in great disappointment. Really thought, does the game live up to all this excitement? Short answer is "yes." The newest Call of Duty is armed with a riveting campaign that picks up where Modern Warfare left off, and the introduction of SpecOps adds another dimension to the revamped multiplayer.

The opening credits are accompanied by brief clips from the first Modern Warfare, and the player is eventually greeted with a "5 Years Later" line. If you played the first game, you'll notice its sequel moves at a considerably faster pace. Following the shortest tutorial the history of mankind, players are plopped right in the middle of an ongoing conflict.

LINK: Neoseeker reviews Modern Warfare 2
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EA likes to give out free stuff, apparently. Now this is nothing like the crazy Dragon Age: Origins press kit EA sent tekmosis / Jamie, but I thought these were pretty neat anyway:


I had already pre-ordered Left 4 Dead 2 off Steam a while ago, but EA sent the 360 version over for review. The game came with those cards, which you might recognize as the in-game campaign "posters." It'd be way cooler if these had been actual poster size, but I'm not complaining. Currently wondering how I should display these, or if I ought to just hide them away somewhere.

Kinda funny though; the Parish card was on top when they arrived, and it was covered in fingerprints, presumably belonging to whoever packed them into the envelop for shipping. I could tell they weren't mine because the prints were so much larger than my fingers -- I gots small hands.

The review itself is coming along. I had originally been expecting Assassin's Creed II, but Ubisoft is playing extremely hard to get.
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Ha ha, our Left 4 Dead 2 review went up a little while ago, and I'm posting it for you guys now before I head off to bed. It's the Xbox 360 version, if you haven't already heard, so keep that in mind. We should have a review for the PC version soon though.

Seriously, this game got way scarier with the sequel. Valve decided to toss in some creepy environments like pitch black sewers, a sugar mill INFESTED WITH WITCHES, a murky swamp with nasty Mudmen... Yeah, seriously, I need to play this with other people in the future.

Here's the obligatory excerpt from the article, followed by a link to the full review:

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Turns out the sequel isn’t just a rehash as so many still believe it to be. With a new cast of Survivors and Infected, more complex gameplay, and gorgeous environments, Left 4 Dead 2 takes the series further with one giant leap, something none of us could fully appreciate without spending quality time with the final product. This second helping boasts an upgraded version of the original “Director,” the A.I. responsible for all those customized levels, randomized enemy population, player monitoring, world objects, weather effects, lighting, and everything else we loved about the original. The new A.I. Director 2.0 does offer a noticeably smoother, shinier product, and carries on the randomization that made Left 4 Dead unique.

Hopping straight into L4D2, players should catch a number of differences, with new items and Infected being the most noticeable. Melee weapons are sweeter than you might think, making zombie face-bashing that much more satisfying (beats shoving). Some weapons are more effective and amusing than others; the frying pan is fun to use with its trademark “clang,” but its short range and blunt damage makes it inferior to longer, deadlier weapons like an axe or katana – or “ninja sword,” as Nick calls it. Firearms can now be upgraded with laser sights for better accuracy, and frag or incendiary rounds for that extra kick. Boomer Bile (puke-in-a-can) serves as a non-exploding alternative to the pipe bomb, and defibrillators and adrenaline shots allow players to revive dead allies or gain a temporary speed boost, respectively.

LINK: Neoseeker reviews Left 4 Dead 2
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