It's the last live episode of The 404...of 2009. Russ Frushtick, chief gamer at MTV Networks, joins the show today along with Mark Licea of The Green Show to discuss the tumultuous, but exciting year in videogames. Finally, we get to the winners of our "Hangover" contest.
(Credit:
Russ Frushtick)
Because of the Great Recession, many games this year have been pushed back to the next year, and we've seen developers folding left and right. Jeff counts down his list of the most anticipated games of 2010--many of which were suppose to be released this year. Some of the games include Dark Void and Bayonetta. We think the main character of Bayonetta looks a lot like Sarah Palin.
Russ tries to teach Snooki of "Jersey Shore" how to play Buck Hunter.
(Credit: Russ Frushtick)Some of Jeff's favorite games this year were Ghostbusters and, of course, Modern Warfare 2, which Russ actually says didn't make his top 5. Most of that he says has to do with the so-so single player mode and the glitches and cheats in the multiplayer mode of the game. Jeff and Wilson think that Ghostbusters was pretty entertaining, but they both agree that the gameplay itself was a little unappealing after 6 or 7 hours.
Finally, we had a contest to give away copies of "The Hangover" in Blu-ray and DVD. Most of our hangover stories were definitely NSFW, but a couple of them reminded us of our own horrible hangover stories from college and our adolescent days. On that note, please take care of yourself during the holidays. We will see you on the other side of New Year's. In the mean time, send us an e-mail at the404 [at] cnet [dot] com or leave a voice mail at 1-866-404-CNET (2638). There's no guarantee we will get to it during our break, but we will appreciate it. Be safe and have a blast!
EPISODE 490
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Justin Yu has finally caught the SARS/swine flu that's been floating around the CNET New York offices. It was bound to happen, considering the number of makeout parties we have here. Filling his petite shoes, we have Mark Licea (aka MTI).
On today's show, we talk about beautifupeople.com, a Web site that is finally coming to the United States, which only beautiful people are allowed to join. That's right: in order to join this dating Web site, you have to be pretty. Users must submit their pictures, then the community decides whether you're hot enough to join. Unfortunately, Jeff and Wilson will likely get rejected. We'll let you know what Mark finds out on the Web site.
After that, we find out that older men who are less educated than their female counterparts are less likely to get a divorce and are generally happier in their relationships. So we guess all those cougar relationships out there aren't going to work out. We also check out a not cool "illegal alien costume." It might have been funny on "Chappelle's Show," but it's likely to get the crap beat out of you immediately.
Finally, we cover CNN's new Web site and we get to some video game news and commentary. The PlayStation 3 finally gets Netflix streaming after Xbox 360 has had it for almost a year now. Took them long enough, but we think this might start to change the balance of power in the video game console war, because it will be free on the PlayStation 3, rather than having to sell out $50 bucks a year for a Xbox Live Gold membership. Plus, Wilson gets close to beating Ghostbusters: The Videogame. His take? It's fun to watch, a little monotonous to play after a while, but a good buy.
Please, please, send in voice mails. We're running a bit low these days, and we love to hear your feedback. Call in at 1-866-404-CNET (2638). Call! (Especially if you're a lady.)
Episode 453
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Last night in New York City, Nintendo treated two of our CNET editors to some lengthy hands-on demos of major upcoming titles for the Wii and DS. We'll have impressions of our time with Wii Sports Resort and other games later on, but first we wanted to talk about New Super Mario Bros. Wii. ... Read more
One of the biggest decisions when choosing a video game system has to be the exclusive games. Console manufacturers go to enormous lengths to tie up deals with developers and their publishers in order to claim one console's superiority over another.
Numerous titles and franchises are only available on Xbox 360 including Gears of War, Halo, and Forza MotorSport.
Now that E3 2009 has come and gone, let's take a look at some more 360-only titles that are scheduled for release in the coming months.
Stay tuned for our PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii exclusives slideshows, both coming soon!
I won't spend $50 to $60 on a video game. Just can't do it. Even $40 feels like too much. But $20? That definitely satisfies my cheapskate tendencies. So imagine my delight at learning that Walmart currently has nearly 1,500 video games priced at $20 or less.
As you might expect, these aren't the latest and greatest titles, but they're not all bargain-bin rejects, either. For example, you can get the Wii versions of Lego Indiana Jones and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed for $19.82 apiece.
Games that once sold for $40 to $50 are now available for under $20.
(Credit: Walmart)Xbox 360 owners can snap up Call of Duty 2: Game of the Year Edition for $16.82, Half-Life 2 Orange Box for $19.82, and Medal of Honor: Airborne for $14.74.
On the PlayStation 3 front there's Fracture for $19.82, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga for $19.82, and Burnout Paradise for, you guessed it, $19.82.
The store also has less-than-$20 deals for Nintendo DS, Sony PSP, Sony PS2, and even the good old PC.
Most of the titles are available online and/or in-store, and in some cases you can get free site-to-store shipping (though you'll still have to pay sales tax).
Sorry if this comes across as a big fat plug for Walmart, a store I know many of you dislike. If you'd rather shop elsewhere, you can find many of the same deals at GameStop--or even get them cheaper by opting for used versions.
Video games and gaming gear aren't necessarily among the cheapest gadgets you can own, but there are ways to get the most bang for your buck.
The cheapest consoles
A Nintendo Wii is only $250 and comes with the ever-popular Wii Sports game bundled inside. For that flat price, you'll be set to play straight out of the box. However, extra Wii remotes and nunchuks are going to cost you extra.
Even cheaper, the Xbox 360 Arcade is only $200 but doesn't come with a hard drive. You'll need the HDD for downloading larger games and using the console to watch movies. We can only recommend the Arcade for those who don't plan on doing anything else with their system besides play store-bought disc games and very few mini Arcade titles. For those who want to access the full potential of the system, you're much better off spending the extra $50 for the 60GB Xbox 360.
The cheapest handhelds
While the PSP Go will be available in October for $250, the current PSP-3000 is still the much more affordable option. Also, the less expensive DS Lite is still available for around $130 next to its more expensive camera- and download-enhanced DSi ($170).
Rechargeable batteries for controllers
Both the Wii and Xbox 360 controllers require user-replaceable batteries. Unfortunately, this can wind up becoming quite the expensive chore. We'd definitely recommend you picking up a recharging solution for either console. PlayStation 3 controllers have batteries built in, so there's no need to buy any extra accessories.
There are plenty of options for the Wii, so be sure to check out our Wii charger roundup. Things are a bit simpler for the Xbox 360. While Microsoft sells a charging solution for $30, it only includes one battery. Instead, you may want to check out the Nyko Charge Base 360 which can simultaneously charge two controllers at once. It also comes with two batteries and is available for the same price.
Bargain titles
When it comes to video games themselves, there are usually inexpensive gems to be found out there. Check out our constantly updated lists for the cheapest titles for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP, and DS.
Also, don't be afraid about purchasing used games. Whether it's online or in-store, there are deals to be had. That said, don't expect prices on newer used games to be that drastic.
It's no secret that gaming's presence at CES can barely be felt, but we were lucky enough to find some diamonds in the rough, including a few that made us want to phone a lawyer.
While there was no new gaming software to be found, there was a respectable amount of gaming hardware and accessories that stole our attention. Nyko stood out with the company's Wand and
...Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
There is no doubt whatsoever that 2007 was a impressive year for video games. Everyone has their own Top 10 list, but we hate the whole numbered list cliche. Instead, we've grouped the Top 10, in no particular order, giving each game its own due respect. These 10 games achieve a certain elite status that separate themselves from all the rest providing us with some of the most advanced digital entertainment available today. So without any further ado, please enjoy our picks for the Top 10 Games of 2007.
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