Welcome To Video Games With Tyler!!
Xbox 360 (Microsoft)
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft, and was developed in cooperation with IBM, ATI, and SiS. The integrated Xbox Live service allows players to compete online and download content such as arcade games, game demos, trailers, TV shows, and movies. The Xbox 360 is the successor to the Xbox, and competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles. The Xbox 360 was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detailed launch and game information divulged later that month at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). The console sold out completely at release in all regions except in Japan,[3][4][5] and, as of September 30, 2008, 22 million units have been sold worldwide according to Microsoft.[1] The Xbox 360 is available in three configurations: the "Arcade" console, the "Xbox 360", and the "Elite" console, each with its own selection of accessories.
The Xbox 360 is available in three standard variants; the "Xbox 360 Arcade", the "Xbox 360", and the "Xbox 360 Elite".[12] A discontinued SKU, the "Xbox 360 Core", was replaced by the "Xbox 360 Arcade" in October 2007.[13] The 60 GB version of the Xbox 360 was released on August 1, 2008.
An Xbox 360 Arcade, photographed on store shelves before the console was officially announced At launch, the Xbox 360 was available in two configurations: the "Xbox 360" package, priced at US$399 or GB£280 , and the "Xbox 360 Core", priced at US$299 and GB£199. The original shipment of the Xbox 360 version included a cut-down version of the Media Remote as a promotion. The Elite package was launched later at US$479.
Playstation 3 (Sony)
The PlayStation 3 (officially marketed PLAYSTATION 3,[5] commonly abbreviated PS3) is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment, and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 is competing with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles.
A major feature that distinguishes the PlayStation 3 from its predecessors is its unified online gaming service, the PlayStation Network,[6] which contrasts with Sony's former policy of relying on game developers for online play.[7] Other major features of the console include its robust multimedia capabilities,[8] connectivity with the PlayStation Portable,[9] and its use of a high-definition optical disc format, Blu-ray Disc, as its primary storage medium.[10] The PS3 was also the first Blu-ray 2.0-compliant Blu-ray player on the market.[11]
The PlayStation 3 was first released on November 11, 2006 in Japan,[12] November 17, 2006 in North America,[13] and March 23, 2007 in Europe and Oceania.[14][15] Two SKUs were available at launch: a basic model with a 20 GB hard drive (HDD), and a premium model with a 60 GB hard drive and several additional features[16] (the 20 GB model was not released in Europe or Oceania).[17] Since then, several revisions have been made to the console's available models.[18]
There are five PlayStation 3 hardware models that are commonly referred to by the size of their included hard disk drive: "20", "40", "60", "80" and "160" GB models.[16][38]
All retail packages include one or two Sixaxis controllers and/or a DualShock 3 controller (beginning June 12, 2008[39][40]), one miniUSB to USB cable (for connecting the controller to the system), one composite video/stereo audio output cable, one ethernet cable (20, 60, and 2007 80 GB only) and one power cable.
Wii (Nintendo)
The Wii (pronounced as the English pronoun we, IPA: /wiː/) is a home video game console released by Nintendo. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of both.[6] The Financial Times reported that as of September 12, 2007, the Wii is the sales leader of its generation, based on sales figures from Enterbrain, NPD Group, and GfK.[7]
A distinguishing feature of the console is its wireless controller, the Wii Remote, which can be used as a handheld pointing device and detect movement in three dimensions. Another distinctive feature of the console is WiiConnect24, which enables it to receive messages and updates over the Internet while in standby mode.[8]
The Wii is Nintendo's fifth home console, the direct successor to the Nintendo GameCube, and able to play all official GameCube games. Nintendo first spoke of the console at the 2004 E3 press conference and later unveiled the system at the 2005 E3. Satoru Iwata revealed a prototype of the controller at the September 2005 Tokyo Game Show.[9] At E3 2006, the console won the first of several awards.[10] By December 8, 2006, it had completed its launch in four key markets.
Microsoft Live Messenger on Xbox 360
Microsoft aims to bring together both PC and Xbox 360 gamers by announcing compatibility of its Windows Live Messenger program for Xbox Live users. This means gamers will be able to chat with their PC counterparts via the console, and this is made more convenient with a QWERTY text-input device that connects directly to the Xbox 360 controller. This new accessory will be made available to the masses in the U.S. this summer and a yet undisclosed price. Image courtesy of Gizmodo. Hopefully the buttons on this keyboard are as easy to press and use like those found on the Treo line of smartphones.
PSP (Sony)
The PlayStation Portable (officially abbreviated PSP)[4] is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment.[5] Development of the console was first announced during E3 2003,[6] and it was unveiled on May 11, 2004 at a Sony press conference before E3 2004.[7] The system was released in Japan on December 12, 2004,[8] in North America on March 24, 2005,[9] and in the PAL region on September 1, 2005.[10]
The PlayStation Portable is the first handheld video game console to use an optical disc format, Universal Media Disc (UMD), as its primary storage media.[11][12] Other distinguishing features of the console include its large viewing screen,[13] robust multi-media capabilities,[14] and connectivity with the PlayStation 3, other PSPs, and the Internet.[15][16]
Despite the console's superior computing power and its multimedia capabilities, sales have consistently lagged behind its main competitor, the Nintendo DS.[17] After the release of a remodeled, slimmer, and lighter version of the PlayStation Portable, appropriately titled Slim and Lite, in early September 2007, sales quadrupled in the United Kingdom the following week and increased by nearly 200% in North America for the month of October
DS (Nintendo)
The Nintendo DS sometimes abbreviated to DS or NDS) is a dual-screen handheld game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in 2004 in Canada, the United States, and Japan. The console features a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP, with two LCD screens inside - with the bottom one being a touchscreen. The Nintendo DS also features a built-in microphone and supports wireless IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) standards,[5] allowing players to interact with each other within short range (10–30 m, depending on conditions) or online with the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service, which launched later in the console's lifespan. This was the first Nintendo console to be released in North America prior to Japan.
The system's code name was Nitro,[6] and this can be seen in the model number that appear on the unit (NTR-001).[7] The console's name officially refers to "Developers' System", in reference to developers of new game designs the system was meant to inspire, and "Dual Screen", the system's most obvious and distinct feature.[8]
On March 2, 2006, Nintendo released the Nintendo DS Lite, a redesign of the Nintendo DS, in Japan. It was later released in North America, Europe, and Australia in June 2006. The DS Lite is a slimmer and lighter version of the Nintendo DS and has brighter screens. Nintendo of America refers to the older model as the "original style" Nintendo DS.[7] On October 2, 2008, Nintendo announced the Nintendo DSi, another redesign of the Nintendo DS, at the Nintendo Fall Media Summit.
Here Are Some Fun Games I Recommend!
WWE Smackdown vs. RAW 2009
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 is a professional wrestling video game developed by published by THQ for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Nintendo DS, Wii, and Xbox 360 video game consoles. It is the tenth video game in the WWE SmackDown series, and is the sequel to its predecessor, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008.[7][8] TOSE oversaw development for the Nintendo DS version.[8] The game was released on November 9, 2008 in North America.
The video game is based on the professional wrestling promotion, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), and is named after two of the promotion's three brands, Raw and SmackDown.[7][9] The game introduced a few key new features including the Inferno match, a revamped tag team match, and four new game modes: Create-A-Finisher, Road to WrestleMania, Career and multiplayer season.
Gears of War 2
Gears of War 2 is a tactical third-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Game Studios for Xbox 360.[4] It is the sequel to Gears of War, and was announced by lead designer Cliff Bleszinski during the February 20, 2008 Game Developers Conference. The game uses a heavily upgraded version of the Unreal Engine 3.[5] During E3 2008, a worldwide[6] release date for the game was set for November 7, 2008.[1] Since its release, Gears of War 2 has been received with critical acclaim,[7] and in its opening weekend the game sold over two million units.[8]
In Gears of War 2, the Locust have found a way to make giant emergence holes capable of sinking entire cities at once. Marcus Fenix and the rest of the COG Delta Squad are now drilling underground to "take the fight to the Locust." In a teaser of the first scenes of gameplay of Gears of War 2, COG soldiers engage in battle with a large army of Locust as they travel to drill into the underground region. Comic book writer Joshua Ortega says, "The stakes are raised. This is humanity's last stand. Everything is at risk. Nothing is safe.
Mercenaries 2
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames is a video game developed by Pandemic Studios and published by Electronic Arts. It is the sequel to 2005's Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction, and it was released in the United States on August 31, 2008 and in Europe on September 5, 2008. The game is a third-person shooter set in an open world environment of a war-torn modern-day Venezuela, following the story of a mercenary getting revenge at the man who betrayed him/her, while causing mayhem and destruction in the country. The reception of the game was fairly positive.
Madden 2009
Madden NFL 09 is an American football video game based on the National Football League that was published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It is the 20th annual installment in the Madden NFL video game franchise. The game was released for the Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360 consoles, as well as mobile devices.[2][3] Unlike previous versions, the game will not be released for the PC.
The Wii version of the game is titled Madden NFL 09 All-Play and was launched under EA Sports' new All-Play brand exclusive to the platform, taking a slightly different approach to the game and taking advantage of the motion controls.[4]
The 20th Anniversary Collector's Edition of Madden NFL 09 includes NFL Head Coach 09, an alternative case, an exclusive version of John Madden Football '93 with updated teams and rosters and bonus video content and clips.
A demo of the game was released on Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network. The standard version and the anniversary package were released on August 12, 2008.
Madden NFL 09 is the only Xbox game to be released in 2008 as well as the last game to ever appear on the system. (Similarly, Madden NFL 08 was the last game released on the Nintendo GameCube).
A Spanish language version of the game was released on September 17, 2008 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms.[5]
As of September 30, 2008, the game has sold 4.5 million copies, according to Electronic Arts.
Grand Theft Auto IV
Grand Theft Auto IV is a sandbox-style action-adventure video game developed by Rockstar North.[15] It is the ninth title in the Grand Theft Auto series and the first in its fourth generation. The game was preceded by Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Grand Theft Auto IV was released for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in Australia, Europe and North America on 29 April 2008,[16] and in Japan on 30 October 2008.[17] A Windows version of the game was released in North America on 2 December 2008 and in Europe on the 3 December.[7][8][9] Two episodic packs are being developed exclusively for the Xbox 360, the first of which is entitled The Lost and Damned and scheduled to be released on 17 February 2009.[18][19]
The game is set in a redesigned rendition of Liberty City, a fictional city based heavily on modern day New York City. It follows Niko Bellic, a war veteran from Eastern Europe,[20] who comes to the United States in search of the American Dream,[21] but quickly becomes entangled in a seedy underworld of gangs, crime, and corruption. Like other games in the series, GTA IV is composed of elements from driving games and third-person shooters, and features "open-world" gameplay that gives players more control over their playing experience. GTA IV is the first console game in the series to feature an online multiplayer mode, which contains fifteen different game types.
A major commercial and critical success, Grand Theft Auto IV broke industry records with sales of around 3.6 million units on its first day of release and grossing more than $500 million in revenue in the first week, from an estimated 6 million units sold worldwide.[22][23] As of 16 August 2008, the game has sold over 10 million copies.[24] Grand Theft Auto IV received overwhelmingly positive reviews, becoming one of the highest-rated games of all-time on the aggregated review websites MobyGames and TopTenReviews.
Skate 2
Skate 2 is a skateboarding video game currently in development by EA Black Box as a sequel to the 2007 game, Skate. It will be distributed by Electronic Arts. A flyer for the game which was shipped with copies of Mirror's Edge confirmed that Skate 2 would be released in January 2009 which was eventually confirmed by EA.
Saints Row 2
Saints Row 2 (abbreviated to SR2) is a sandbox-style action-adventure video game developed by Volition Inc and published by THQ. It is the sequel to Saints Row and is the second title in the Saints Row series. Saints Row 2 was released in North America on October 14, 2008, in Australia on October 16, 2008, and in Europe on October 17, 2008, for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. A PC version of the game is in development, and ships on January 6, 2009 internationally. [2] A smaller variant of the game has also been published for mobiles.
Set in Stilwater, a fictional city based heavily on the likes of Detroit and Chicago, the game begins with the protagonist (referred to as male in this article) waking up from a trauma-induced coma in a water-locked prison hospital, five years after being blown up aboard a yacht at the end of Saints Row. [5] After successfully escaping the prison with the help of a fellow inmate, he returns to Stilwater to find that it has been heavily expanded due to the work of business corporation Ultor. The protagonist then resurrects the 3rd Street Saints, an urban crime gang to which he served in Saints Row, in a quest to reconquer the city, eliminate the three rival gangs who now control the streets of Stilwater, and to give retribution to those who betrayed him.
Since its release, Saints Row 2 has been generally praised by critics and fans alike and has received generally positive reviews. There are, however, common complaints of technical issues; the game does contain a large number of bugs and glitches, and has been known to freeze in some instances on both the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Despite this, Saints Row 2 went on to sell 890,000 units for the Xbox 360 and 440,000 for the PlayStation 3 by November 2008, [6] with more than two million copies shipped worldwide since November 5, 2008.
Rock Band 2
Rock Band 2 is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, as the sequel to Rock Band. It is the second title in the Rock Band series. The game software was released in North America for the Xbox 360 on September 14, 2008, along with individual instrument peripherals. The software/hardware bundle for the Xbox 360 was made available on October 19, 2008,[7] the same date that the PlayStation 3 versions of the software, hardware, and bundle of the two were released. Versions of the game for the Wii and PlayStation 2 platforms were released on December 18, 2008.[5]
The game allows players to perform in virtual bands by providing up to four players with the ability to play three different peripherals modeled after music instruments (a guitar peripheral for lead guitar and bass guitar gameplay, a drum peripheral, and a microphone). These peripherals are used to simulate the playing of rock music by hitting scrolling notes on-screen. In addition to the 84 songs included on the game disc and 20 free downloadable songs, hundreds of additional downloadable songs are being released for the Xbox 360, Wii, and PlayStation 3 versions; all of these songs, existing and future, are compatible with all Rock Band titles. Rock Band 2 features improved drum and guitar controllers, while supporting older controllers, as well. New features include a "Drum Trainer" mode, a "Battle of the Bands" mode, online capabilities for "World Tour" mode, and merchandising opportunities for the players' virtual bands.
Upon release, Rock Band 2 received very positive reviews from critics, while selling 363,000 copies in the first two weeks.
Guitar Hero 4:World Tour
Guitar Hero World Tour (initially referred to as Guitar Hero IV) is a music video game developed by Neversoft and published by RedOctane and Activision. It is the fourth main entry in the Guitar Hero series. The game was launched in North America in October 2008 for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles, and a month later for Europe and Australia.
While the game continues to feature the use of a guitar-shaped controller to simulate the playing of rock music, Guitar Hero World Tour is the first game in the Guitar Hero series to feature drum and microphone controllers for percussion and vocal parts, similar in manner to the competing Rock Band series of games. The game allows users to create new songs through the "Music Studio" mode, which can then be uploaded and shared through a service known as "GHTunes".
World Tour received generally positive reviews with critics responding positively to the quality of the instrument controllers, the customization abilities, and improvements in the game's difficulty compared with the previous Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. However, reviewers commented on issues with poorly laid-out note tracks, the limited Career modes, and the difficulty of the music creation tool and the poor quality of the resulting songs.
The Lord of the Rings: Conquest
The Lord of the Rings Conquest is the upcoming video game developed by Pandemic Studios and published by Electronic Arts. It is based on The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, and uses a similar style to the Star Wars: Battlefront games. The game allows the player to play as both the forces of good and evil, but unlike The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth, the latter option is based around Sauron stopping the One Ring from being destroyed and fighting back.[2]
Pandemic was aided by Weta Digital in developing the game. They provided many of their digital models, including the fell beasts. Pandemic is also negotiating to use elements that were cut from the films, and have taken inspiration from the novel, such as a level based around Balin's conquest of Moria. Some inspiration was less direct: the heroes decide not to attack Minas Morgul, so a level was based around conquering that city as if they did. The game will use Howard Shore's score to the films.
Fable 2
Fable II is an action role-playing game developed by Lionhead, published by Microsoft Game Studios. The sequel to Fable and Fable: The Lost Chapters, it was originally announced in 2006 and released in October 2008.
The game takes place in the fictional world of Albion, five hundred years after Fable's setting, in a colonial era resembling the time of highwaymen or the Enlightenment; guns are still primitive, and large castles and cities have developed in the place of towns.[1] Unlike the original, the player may choose to be either male or female.
Creative Director Peter Molyneux has played a major role in presenting this game to the public, as he did in the lead up to the release of the original Fable.
The game reached gold master status on September 22, 2008.
Call of Duty: World at War
Call of Duty: World at War is a first-person shooter video game developed by Treyarch and published by Activision for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation 2.[1] It is the fifth installment in the main Call of Duty series.[2] The game is set in the Pacific theater and Eastern front of World War II.[2][3] The game shipped in North America on November 11, 2008,[4] in Australia on November 12, 2008,[6] and in Europe on November 14, 2008.[5]
The story focuses on the final battles of World War II in the Pacific and Eastern Europe involving the United States, the Empire of Japan, the Soviet Union, and Nazi Germany.[2] It is told from the perspectives of a Marine Raider and a Red Army soldier, and is based on several historical battles, including the Makin Island raid, the Battle of Peleliu, and the Battle of Berlin.[1][10] The multiplayer portion of the game contains various game modes, and contains a leveling system that allows the player to unlock additional weapons and rewards as they progress, which was originally implemented in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. A new feature to the Call of Duty series is the co-op mode, which can support up to four players online and two offline.
Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead is a co-operative, survival horror, first-person shooter game by Turtle Rock Studios, who were purchased by the Valve Corporation part way into development. The game uses the Source game engine, and is available for Windows-based personal computers and the Xbox 360.
The game pits four Survivors of an apocalyptic pandemic against hordes of aggressive "Infected" (zombies). There are two game modes: a four-player, co-op Campaign mode, and an eight-player Versus mode. In both modes an AI, dubbed "The Director", controls level pacing and item spawns, in an attempt to create a dynamic experience and increase replay value.
The game went gold on November 13, 2008, and was released on November 18, 2008 in the United States; and on November 21, 2008 in Europe to coincide with the tenth anniversary of the release of Half-Life.[1][2] A five-minute trailer was released on Halloween.[3] A playable demo was made available on November 6 for pre-purchasers and on November 11 for the general public, and was closed on November 18, 2008. The demo contained the majority of the first two chapters in the "No Mercy" campaign, and was playable in both single and multi-player.
Left 4 Dead was well received with an aggregate score of 88% on Game Rankings and 89% on Metacritic upon its release, with praise given for its replay value, focus on cooperative play, and movie-like experience. Similar to Team Fortress 2, Valve intends to support the game with downloadable content.
