Keep in mind that the video editor is very simple, and does not compare to Sony Vegas, Final cut, or even iMovie, but a very nice feature none-the-less. Check out the amount of cuts, text, and speed transitions I added for this project.

I started with a blank project and a 4 minute Bayonetta clip.

*(note)The video editor only detects video clips that were added to your PS3 after firmware update 3.40.

This is what the speed transition additions look like on the video editor.

This what the Text addition and edit looks like in the video editor.

The initial video clip was 4 minutes, it got chopped down to 1:27 with added text, music, speed effects, and cut transitions.

The final file was 21mb. The video clip didn’t appear to lose any quality during the rendering. I uploaded directly to Youtube using the PS3. Even in Youtube, it specifies that it was uploaded with ‘PS3 TM’.

The biggest complaint with the PS3 video editor has to be the movement of the text or speed slide bars, they tend to go pass the place you want your bars to land in. Also, the lack of multiple music tracks for one video was disappointing.

None-the-less it is a fun feature to have on the PS3.

On to the next one.

Let me know what you think.

With Microsoft recently hooking up with young super singing star, Justin Bieber to promote Kinect, who can Sony hire to promote the PlayStation Move? Even Kevin Butler and Marcus Rivers may need some help now that Microsoft has stepped out of the box. Below are 5 celebrities that can help Sony sell millions of PlayStation Move motion controllers.

5. Hayden Christensen

Star War fans, would buy 10 controllers if Hayden were to star in a PS move commercial showing off his Lightsaber skills with a PS Move controller.

4. Manny Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao is one of the few boxers considered a world wide celebrity, Pacquiao is one of the nicest boxers in history outside of the ring, and one of the most recognize sports figure today. What better way to promote the PS Move’s sport’s and fighting game capabilities with none other than the Pac-Man himself.

3. Terry Crews

Terry Crews has so much energy and comedy, that he could sell anything pitched at him. Seriously, have you seen his Old Spice commercials?

2. Megan Fox

SFX-360.com, led by founders Ross Furman and Julie Furman, went above and beyond, to make E3 2010 one of the best E3’s yet. Parties like these are just not common at E3. A New E3 has been born! But enough writing, the action was all caught on the TQ cam. Check it out!

The biggest question most gamers had, when Microsoft announced the Xbox 360 Slim this past week; was “did they fix the red ring”? Several days ago, some images surfaced the internet, showing a red ring on a new Xbox 360 slim console, and a message prompt on the screen with an over heating warning. Nobody is positive whether those images are real or not, but one thing we should all be aware, is that Microsoft has supported the RROD with an extended 3 year warranty on the classic models, while the new 360 Slim console enters with only a 1 year warranty. Gamers’ best bet, would be to save some cash and troubles, and go out and buy an Xbox 360 arcade instead, and let the new Xbox 360 slim go through trial and error with the eager consumers.

The Xbox 360 Slim was introduced at $299.99, the same price of the Xbox 360 Elite that had a red ring issue. Microsoft has gone all out to fix the ventilation system, make it whisper quite, and provide internal wireless N capability and a 250GB hard drive. But did Microsoft give this console the same 3 year warranty deal that the first Xbox 360 consoles received? Reading through the Xbox 360 S’ warranty page proves that Microsoft is sure that the console will not fail due to a red ring. Obviously, every console will have some defects or issues, but the RROD has been a huge deciding factor for next gen gamers, that having the new Xbox 360 Slim fail for that same reason could have Microsoft in huge trouble.

New Metal Gear Solid: Rising video revealed at E3 2010, check it out.

While most gamers appear upset at the choice, especially after one year of accepting the name Project Natal, Microsoft’s adroit title seems to follow a certain pattern of synergy that most gaming companies have adapted these days.

Kinesiology is the science of human movement. So it seems fitting choice when realizing that Microsoft is connecting your movement to your console. In essence, your body becomes the controller and you “Kinect” together to achieve great feats.

Of course, Microsoft could have completely different reasoning but it seems unlikely. However, there first Kinect commercial fails to address the hardcore gamers and instead goes right for the jugular of the casual gamer. They obviously want to know what the pulse of mainstream consumers is like.

The commercial features a father apparently driving in a seated position. His family’s joyful facial expressions change when a perceived dangerous obstacle is afoot. The mother and daughter rush to his side interlocking their arms and hands around in mimicking the restraints of a seat belt right before the impact occurs.

The end result is flying confetti and a family “Kinected” together. We see what you did there Microsoft! While hardcore gamer reception has been less than great, Kinect is a success in the fact that it has people talking.

Overall, the marketing is genius. It may not be popular now but it makes sense. It’s not overly complex but clever enough to engage those who are unaware of this new tech.

It’s just too bad Microsoft opted for the Kinect to fade to red at 1:04 of the commercial as that color associated with the Xbox 360 is never a welcome sight.

Check out the first Kinect TV spot below:

Video chat, calls on new iPhone face to face chat
WiFi only in 2010
“Pricing — there’s two colors. White and black. Pricing — $199 for 16GB, $299 for 32GB
AT&T is going to make an incredibly generous upgrade offer. If your contract expires at any time in 2010, you can upgrade to the iPhone 4. You can get it up to six months early
3GS is now $99. These go on sale June 24th
Pre-order starts June 15th

The Xbox 360 has had an awesome ride since its release in 2005. Although the console has suffered with hardware issues, Microsoft has dealt with it and the Xbox 360 continues to sell and provide an unsurpassed experienced with their Xbox Live service. But exactly– what turned over 39 million gamers into buying an Xbox 360 over a PS3? Although many may have different reasons, there is no denying that the following reasons have been a huge deciding factor for Xbox 360 gamers.

5. Controller

Some PS3 gamers won’t admit it, but the Xbox 360 controller is far much more comfortable on a grown man’s hands than any other console controller out there. This is a huge deciding factor for any hard core gamer. 

4. Gears of War

Let’s be honest, Gears of War changed the game. Gears of War completely made it obvious that next gen was indeed a huge leap from last gen. Selling over 6 million copies worldwide; it’s no wonder most of us own an Xbox 360.

3.  Halo Series

The Halo series is quite possibly the most recognizable and popular video game franchise in existence. Ever since Halo: Combat Evolved was released for the Xbox in 2001, Microsoft set the standards to a new level when it came to console gaming. 9 years later, and the Halo series continues to be successful by selling anything with the Halo name in it, and delivering one of the best multiplayer games in existence to millions of gamers.

2. Cheaper

The Xbox 360 offers cheaper options than the PS3, the Xbox 360 Arcade bundle retails for $199.00 compared to the standard $299.00 for the PS3. Although it may not seem as a huge price difference, the lower price tag attracts consumers, especially when a bundle or sale is offered. Microsoft also provides an extended free 3 year warranty for hardware related issues, compared to a free 1 year warranty for the PS3. (3 year extended warranty covers the infamous RROD).

1. Xbox Live Experience:

Let’s face it; Xbox Live set the trend for having a console dashboard/main menu with portals. Xbox Live provides games, movies, previews, demos, but most importantly a robust on line gaming service that is arguably the best to date.

What were your reasons for picking an Xbox 360 over a PS3? If you own both consoles, which console did you pick up first?

Game nights have been laying low in the TQcast world as of late and it’s time to put an end to that. Please join the TQStaff on Friday, June 4, 2010 at 6:30pm PST. We will be playing the infamous Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on the PS3 so make sure to add the PSN ID’s below:

eljuice
tqcast

For those of you wondering, we will not be playing with the new maps to accommodate those who do not have them. If you guys have any questions at all or if you would like to recommend a game for a TQGame Night, email us tq@tqcast.com or you can always send us a voicemail or text message at (951) 282-7468.

Not long ago Sony wisely removed the “Install Other OS” option from the PS3’s list of features and like clockwork many dissenting opinions were thrust upon the gaming community. Class action lawsuits fueled by hacker’s protest and lunacy dominated headlines. Yet there was one uncomplicated question that could have ended all this: Why do you need to install another operating system on your PS3?

Sure the answers would be entertaining but the truth is nobody needed to. But perhaps Sony’s reasons for removing such a feature were not just safeguarding. What if an operating system was deemed no longer necessary because of a new option?

Enter Google TV. If you were living in an alcove under a cliff somewhere, perhaps you do not know what Google TV is. Imagine turning on your PS3 along with your television and being able to watch anything you could think of. Sounds impossible right? Not with Google TV. It aggregates media from the Internet, your cable, and any other video source it can tap into. So watching your favorite show becomes as simple as pressing a button on your controller and saying, “LOST” into your Bluetooth headset or perhaps the PS3 Eye’s microphone picks up the request.

Google TV would then search for the show LOST on all available and connected sources. It would bring up all links in Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, or on your cable lineup. You could choose to stream from the Internet or schedule the program on your DVR. Regardless, you get the media when you wanted and how you wanted.

Perhaps you’re asking why this article focuses solely on the PS3 when Microsoft aggressively promotes digital content. There are several reasons:

1) Sony is a hardware company. Microsoft is not. Sony will alter their televisions (tentatively called Internet TVs) and Blu-Ray players (PS3 hopefully) to work with the Google TV software. Microsoft would have to contract a company to make their Google TV devices just like they did with their HD DVD drives. They refuse to do so for Blu-Ray so why take the chance with something new?

2) Sony already has devices out in Europe, Australia, and Asia that could be altered to support Google TV. The Torne and PlayTV already have inputs to receive your cable and convert your PS3 into a DVR. It would seem that adding Google TV even as a secondary programming would not require much tinkering.

3) Even if both companies made add-ons or built hardware into the console which would allow Google TV to work natively, how many people would purchase the Xbox 360 version over the PS3 with added Blu-Ray capabilities? Let’s not forget Microsoft’s hardware reliability issues with the Xbox 360 would factor in a lot of educated consumer’s decisions. It simply makes more sense to buy the most reliable option with the most features which means the PS3 is the better choice.

4) While Microsoft might be happy to include another feature on their consoles, they will not be inclined to do the mobile Android OS any favors. Microsoft is making a big push to reinvent their mobile operating system and Windows Mobile 7 devices will not control Google TV but Android phones will.

That said, even though Sony is a partner in this “League of Aggregation,” adding Google TV to the PS3 might not be in the future. However, it would solve issues that PS3 owners have concerning Flash support. Think of the streaming capabilities and Android apps on your PSP or the PSPGo which can be tethered to your cell phone. Not to mention there’s still no PS3 DVR devices for the United States, Canada, or Mexico. Sony could make a lot of money by implementing Google TV in their devices and at the same time give the PS3 that final push to leapfrog Microsoft’s beloved Xbox 360.

Links for Google TV:

http://gizmodo.com/5543822/what-is-google-tv?

http://gizmodo.com/5543689/google-tv-combines-tv-android-and-all-of-the-internet

http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/20/google-tv-turns-on-at-i-o/

For new owners of the PlayStation 3, whether it was bought for games or movies, you should be rest assured that the money was well spent. The PS3 has many things to offer, and there are plenty of features and games that have been a huge decision factor for making the PS3 the console of choice. Check out 5 reasons that might have made you buy a PS3.

5. To Play Uncharted 2

1. Watch a Blu-Ray, watch them faint:

I was recently given the opportunity to review the new Flip Slide HD by Cisco. And let me tell you I was both impressed and unimpressed by the device in more ways than one.

So lets start with the look and feel of the camera first. The camera comes in a nice looking package. And when you open the box all you see is the 3” screen that is the new feature for the Slide. The screen itself is very sleek but when taking it out of the box you notice that this camera is basically all plastic casing. Looks more like a toy than an actual camera.

This video camera is really simple to use. Once you hit the power button on the side of the camera , your controls show up on the 3“camera. The controls are the same as they are on the Ultra and the Mino. Nothing has changed except that there are no buttons and everything is touch screen. I found the touch screen to be easy to use. To record you touch the record button and also to stop it. Then to view you touch the arrow and scroll till you find the video you want to watch and hit the play button. Nothing to it. This is where things get a little tricky. When deleting footage you have to select the one you want to delete and then touch the trash can icon. That’s when the camera asks you if you want to delete the file but instead of just being able to touch yes to highlight it you still have to touch the arrow button highlight the yes and then hit the play button. Really inconvenient when having a touch screen where you can just highlight the yes which is what you want to do every time you delete a file.

Now it’s time for the new and improved part of the Flip Slide which is the 3” screen. The screen is able to slide out (hence where they got the name Slide from) so that it sits at a 45 degree angle for viewing. This allows it to sit on any level surface in order to view what you have recorded. Once you slide the screen open the images come up and you can scroll through them by touching the screen which is extra sensitive so you may end up picking footage you don’t want. Or you can use the scroll bar to navigate though your files. This however is a little tricky because it zooms too fast and at times pass the footage you want to see. Once you have finally picked the video all you have to do is tap on the screen and it automatically starts playing to stop the video just tap the screen again or just slide the screen back into position.

Well now that we are done with the functionality of the device. Let me get into the quality of the video. The Flip SlideHD shoots video at 720p just like the MinoHD and UltraHD cams. The only difference is the 16GB of internal memory which is good for up to 4 hours of footage. As far as the quality well if you shoot video outside where there is plenty of light you should have no problem with quality. The picture is very crisp and the colors very bright. When shooting in low light it may be a good idea to carry extra lighting… but who want to carry around extra light when your on the go right? The quality of the picture becomes a little washed out in low light. But the detail is still pretty good for a pocket cam. When shooting indoors you may also want to turn on as many lights as possible.

As far as the sound quality I was really impressed. I tested the sound quality by recording someone playing an electric guitar. The Slide does not pick up any static and the sound coming from the Amp is as clear as day maybe even better than it is live. Usually when using any other kind of device to record sound it picks up the electrical static. There is no better way to test the sound quality than with the sound of an electric guitar.

Action shots are really what this camera is all about right? Being able to whip it out and take a quick shot of people laughing or kids running around being silly. Here is where we get into the camera being unstable which combined with motion blur makes it really hard to get a perfect picture. If you have it on a tripod or sitting on a stable place it works great. Once you have it in your hands the screen is a bit shaky and if you move to fast from point A to point B everything seems to blur together. Also fast movements like someone running or jumping also give off a little motion blur. Which is ok because sometimes you can’t even really see it. There are some mini tripods that you can buy to help with stability, some as low as $10.

The SlideHD runs for about 279.99, while the MinoHD is 229.99 and the UltraHD is 199.99. Now is it really worth the price? I think if the Slide actually came with the accessories that are sold separately at ridiculous prices. For example, if the camera came with the HDMI cable and maybe even the power adapter it may be a better deal. At $280 you can go to a hand held HD camcorder and get better footage with image stabilization. Another thing that Flip could have incorporated to the Slide is some sort of still mode. Some new features to the device would have been nice but they stayed with the same functions as the UltraHD and MinoHD. I believe that Flip could have tried to implement this screen in a thinner device. The device is about 30% thicker than the MinoHD and a bit heavier. I understand that by adding the slide out screen they had to make it thicker but maybe the design could have been taken to another level so that it wouldn’t be that much thicker and still be able to carry it in your pocket comfortably.

One thing that I liked were the touch screen controls. An advantage that I saw with this is that with button controls they tend to stick or get sand, dirt or liquids and eventually won’t work correctly. They will start to stick or even break. With the touch screen buttons there is no possibilities of that happening and the device should last longer this way. At first the touch controls are a little tricky but nothing you can’t get used to.

All in all, the SlideHD is a really nice camera, even though there are a few things Cisco could have done to make it better. I believe that anyone that has never used a Flip camera will be impressed by this little devise but for those of us that are spoiled by the high quality look and feel of the MinoHD this camera will not seem as slick. I would really like to see what the next step for Cisco’s Flip lineup will be. Hopefully something with a little more style and better software than just the same old software they have used.

Pros:
3” touch screen for viewing
Clear sound quality
16GB of internal memory
Sharp 720p video
Easy to use controls
FlipShare software

Cons:
Does not shoot 1080p video
Much larger than the MinoHD or other pocket cams
The price is not comparable to other pocket cams
Does not include a HDMI cable
No new features like still mode or electronic stabilization
No SD card slot
Motion blur

3 out of 5 Michelas

- Gran Turismo 5 (PS3)
- ModNation Racers (PSP)
- PS3 with PS MOVE Party
- Socom 4 (PS3)
- PS3 with PS MOVE Sports Champions
- PS3 with PS MOVE The Shoot
The conference has been push back half an hour to 12:00pm PST. So what are they keeping from us? This has to be just a minimal update, expect much more to come at E3 2010. Nice way to tease the real announcements. Check it out for yourself! – PlayStation E3

Sony:
Sony has plenty of weapons already lined up, and others that are already getting the internet in a frenzy, but what will their big bang be?

PSPgo 2/Phone?
Although not a huge secret, a PSPgo 2 may very well be in the works to bounce back from the PSPgo. Perhaps phone capabilities? You better believe that Apple affects everybody, and Sony is ready to go all out.

3D everything:
A 3D announcement for all PlayStation MOVE games sounds familiar, but having them presented LIVE might change many people’s view in PlayStation MOVE and 3D. Expect 3D glasses to be given prior to entering the Sony Press Conference. Heck the conference may be in 3D.

Microsoft:

Microsoft is not going to let Sony take E3. Microsoft may have the most secret weapons this year. Why is that? Well, we know that the Natal part of the conference will be separate than the actual Microsoft conference, so expect tons of new games, and services announced with that amount of time.

Shenmue 3
Shenmue 3 is just an example of what Microsoft is aiming for. Microsoft needs to expand their exclusive game library, and Shenmue is the game that many have asked for a few years now, and having this title announced for Microsoft will really create hype.

Xbox Slim
Not confirmed: A smaller version of the current 360 model may be announced, explaining the new console, and how they started from the ground up. And yes say goodbye to the “red ring”, and say hello to a jaw dropping price.

And of course Xbox LIVE. Whatever they show regarding Xbox Live the service, may shock even Sony.

Nintendo:

Nintendo has been very quite thus far, a little too quite. Last year Nintendo was the most disappointing of all, so expect a HUGE announcement by Nintendo.

Wii HD:
Why would it be a surprise? Let’s face it, most Nintendo rumors turn out false, but Nintendo is concerned by both Natal and MOVE. Expect an announcement that might seem as Sony and Microsoft are still not revolutionizing anything.

What secret announcements do you think Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft have up their sleeve? And who will dominate E3 2010?

Sony and their developers don’t need to know the obvious. They need ideas and creativity. They need to know how to use PlayStation Move to make your favorite games better. Motion gaming is going to evolve with or without you, however, the pace at which it progresses is all up to us.

Shooters

As was shown with SOCOM 4, the sub controller works as primarily for directional purposes while the Move controller is used for arming. The buttons are still there to take care of firing and even some equipment management if necessary.

You need to melee that jambroni in front of you? Use the Move controller to pistol whip him, crack him with your rifle Uncharted style, or slice your foes up with a knife. Tuck your move controller down towards your waistband and then hold the trigger button to cook a grenade. To toss it, just make that motion with the Move controller. Perhaps you’ve emptied your clip and you need your trusty pistol. Reach towards your waist line and pull the controller up as if you’re pulling a gun out of the holster, then point and fire. What about heavy artillery like a rocket launcher? Reach over your back until the colored ball is no longer visible to your eyes, then bring it back over your shoulder or in case of a turret gun, in front of you. Then unleash hell upon your enemy.

From Call of Duty to third person shooters like Uncharted, these controls can be modified to make these games more realistic and dare I say, more fun.

MMO / RPG / Action – Adventure

This may perhaps be the greatest boon to consoles as the motion controls allow a lot of things to be freed up on the button interface.

Your primary weapon whether gun, bow, sword, or staff could be controlled with the Move controller. Depending upon the type of game, you could even bring in a second Move controller or use the Sub controller for moving. Inventory control can be as simple as pressing a button on your Move controller and moving to that particular item. In games like WoW or the upcoming DC Universe for the PS3, performing the right moves and timing is absolutely crucial to survival. Developers could either use the Move controller as a substitute for a mouse allowing the game to play exactly as it would on a PC or they could opt for specific motion controls such as making circles with the Move controller prompting some type of wind power. Of course, the colored balls on the ends could be used for extra visual effect.

Even in games like God of War, the Move controller can add some punch. Perhaps grabbing an opponent can be done by thrusting the Move controller and then the rest is determined by your own movements. Punch the guy in the face or lift both Move controllers above your head tear him apart. What about using the two Move controllers to swing around Kratos’ blades or perhaps slash up foes with Wolverine’s claws in an X-Men game? Of course everybody would love to see a Star Wars game where we get to control a light saber.

Sports

While this is probably the first genre that comes to mind when motion controls are mentioned, it is also the most tedious to adapt because there’s a serious conflict. Sports such as soccer, rugby, and racing have actions that require your feet to be tracked. That said, this is nothing that can’t be fixed with a few add-ons such as maybe strap on balls for your feet. Don’t go there! But when you consider most sports involve some type of object projected in one direction another, the Move is a natural replacement for standard controller. Take your free throws, toss up a Hail Mary to your best receiver, or triple-deke to beat the goalie all with the MOVE controller.

While these lists do not cover everything, when you think about it, there’s not one single genre where motion controllers couldn’t be used to enhance gaming. Whether it’s using the Move controller as a flashlight in a horror game or letting kids circle letters of the Alphabet, PlayStation Move opens up gaming to younger audiences and even those who admonish consoles for keeping people on couches. In fact, motion controls will most likely tire gamers quicker and actually result in many people having healthier gaming habits.

Yes…motion controllers do have limits. There’s still major questions concerning movement and managing tasks when you use two Move controllers. There’s still no way to track feet and balancing the use of motion controls in games is highly subjective. But these are all things that can be fixed with a little creativity. It’s time we stop making excuses and started finding answers

Sequels are always scrutinized because the general opinion is…well they usually suck. Prepare to abandon that thought because Iron Man 2 kills it.

Tony Stark’s creation of the Iron Man prototypes were indeed amazing but in the second installment of the series, we once again find out what’s too good to be true usually is. Tony Stark faces his problem with his usual bravado and lone wolf tactics until he’s forced to rethink his approach by Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), the United States government, and even his own allies.

What sets this apart from most sequels is that we find out just enough about Tony Stark’s past to truly understand his personality and at the same time learn more about his new nemesis’ motivation for retribution. However, this new information and all the branches of the story feel like a natural progression of the first movie. Iron Man 2 does not suffer from having too much story or plot holes that take away from the action either.

The fight scenes are incredibly entertaining and even more important Stark’s personality shines through when dressed as Iron Man. The same could be said of his friend Lt. Colonel James “Rhodey” Rhodes (Don Cheadle) who does an outstanding of counter-acting Tony’s futuristic weaponry with military tactics and good old-fashion firepower as War Machine.  Natasha Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson) also brings the pain much to everyone’s delight in the theater. While her moments in combat are brief, she leaves a lasting impression on both the audience and several of the actors in the movie.

The acting in Iron Man 2 is about as good as it gets. Every character is believable and most are true to their nature. Out of all the newcomers, Don Cheadle was the biggest surprise. His demeanor allowed him to accommodate the military role needed and also added some serious punch behind his one liners.The casting for the movie was surprisingly spot on as all the newcomers add star power without sacrificing the plausibility of the Iron Man universe.

The visuals and audio were of course top notch but something I feel really can’t be judged properly in a theater as too many variables are involved. Let’s just say I liked what I saw and what I heard. It was an impressive display that put a smile on my face and even my wife’s who could not believe she enjoyed the movie so much.

Iron Man 2 is definitely on par with the first movie and abolishes any notions of “sequelitis.” This is a must see movie and definitely on my pre-order list for purchase on Blu-Ray. Iron Man 2 gets 5 out of 5 michelas.

News and Stories this week:

Steve Jobs explains why Adobe flash sucks – via Hoffingtonpost.com
Adobe responds to Apple – via Gizmodo
Bungie and Activision cut a deal – via PlayStationlifestyle.net
Call of Duty: Black Ops drops November 2010 – via wouldyoukindly.com

Super Bowl Champ Drew Brees has been selected by the fans to bless this year’s Madden NFL cover. Doritos and EA sports teamed up earlier this year to bring the Doritos change the game, NFL 11 athlete cover voting. There was no surprise that Drew Brees would take it, especially after earning his first Super Bowl ring earlier this year.

Spike TV is set to premier the first Madden NFL 11 trailer tonight at midnight ET/PST.

Madden NFL 11 Releases on Tuesday, August 10, 2010, for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PSP, and PS2.

Hey, does anybody notice that it is a PS3 cover promoting the game this time around?

Puya Destructoid!

TQcast announces TQVision! videos.tqcast.com An all videos TQcast Site.

More than 3 years after the PlayStation 3’s release, the system continues to amaze many with its incredible video game library. Uncharted 2, God of War 3 and Heavy Rain are just some of the latest PS3 games that have sold well in 2009 and 2010. But from the time of the PS3’s release in 2006 and today, there have been 5 PS3 exclusive games that have sold more than any other PS3 exclusive. Here are the top 5 best selling PS3 exclusive games to date.

5. Little Big Planet 3.21 Million

4. MotorStorm 3.52 Million

3. Gran Turismo Prologue 3.67 Million

2. Resistance Fall of Man 3.68 Million

1. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots 4.68 4.83 Million

If you are shopping for PS3 games for that special female in your life, here are a few suggestions. I asked a numerous amount of female gamers what their favorite PS3 games are, and I received consistent replies. So yes boys, there are many PS3 games out there that could interest that special girl, and maybe even turn her into a gamer. I have narrowed the list down to the top five games to get you started. (And yes I am a girl).

5. Katamari Damacy Developed by Namco:

This game’s plot consists of a young prince on a mission to rebuild the moon, stars and constellations after they were destroyed by his father, the King of All Cosmos. This is achieved by rolling an adhesive ball called a “Katamari” around and capturing as may objects as you can until it has grown big enough to become a star. There are also animals that chase the ball and try to knock off objects as you are trying to collect them. This game works on a time limit and can be very challenging at times. Another big plus for this game is that you can have two players and can be a great way to introduce your girlfriend or wife to the PS3.
This game is available through Play-Asia.

4. Heavenly Sword Developed by Ninja Theory:

Heavenly Sword is an action adventure game with the main character being a woman named Nariko who uses a weapon called “Heavenly Sword“. In this game the heroin has to protect the sword from falling into the wrong hands but a greedy ruler, King Bohan, wants it for himself. This game is full of action from start to finish having to fight many battles. In some of the stages you play as Kai a sniper who uses her crossbow to pick off the enemies. There are also stages where you have to destroy catapults fight off an evil looking fish lady and much more. The graphics for this game are phenomenal and the controls are very easy to use. This is the kind of game that people of both genders can enjoy.

3. Soul Calibur 4 Developed by Namco:

Not just you ordinary fighting game. Soul Calibur gives a wide range of added bonuses with the character-creation mode, new moves for old characters, new additions and the new tag-team feature. By allowing you to create your own character the female in your life will really enjoy playing this game with a fighter she made from the ground up. This game is fast paced and has many different levels of fighters. Some fighters have weapons while other fighters rely solely on martial arts. Also being able to play online is another big plus for this game. Allowing you to not only play but chat with friends who live far away.

2. Heavy Rain Developed by Quantic Dream:

Heavy Rain is a drama filled game where you get to make your own choices which ultimately leads you to the final outcome. In this game you play the parts of four protagonists who are involved in trying to solve the case of the Origami Killer. In each level you have to find clues that help you track down the identity of the Origami Killer. The story line of this game is top notch and you can relate to each one of the characters in different ways. In this choose your own path type of game, any of the characters can die at any given time depending on the choices you make. The game has many outcomes– so it’s like playing a new game every time you pick it up again.

1. Little Big Planet Developed by Media Molecule:

Last, but far from being least, is Little Big Planet. This seems to be at the very top of most female’s list of games they love. In this game you are a Sackboy or girl who explores a dreamed up world and completes missions. The game starts off in your own space which you can decorate with stickers found in each level you play. There are many levels you can play and unlock with themes such as; Japanese garden or Mexican desert. During your game play you can find different stickers, clothes for your sackboy and collectible keys to unlock mini levels. There are so many great features about this game from character creation, level creation and online community play. One of the best features is being able to create your own levels and let the online community play them and they get to tag the level. This game is way too cute and so much fun to play and is a must have in your gaming collection because not only will your girlfriend or wife love this game, but you will too.

All in all, if you are really interested in getting the female in your life interested in gaming, these are just a few of the games you might want to try. This is a great range of different games and you can have fun playing together.

Share with us your girl’s favorite PS3 games.

Pros: Interesting play through, 5 possible endings, Madison Paige never gets old
Cons: Annoying controls, repetitive voice acting, unacceptable glitches.

Final Average Rating:

As of March 27 2010

#1. Final Fantasy XIII (3.42 Million)

#2. God of War III (1.43 Million)

#3. Heavy Rain (1.02 Million)

#4. BattleField: Bad Company 2 (1.02 Million)

#5. MAG (720,000)

Other notable PS3 game sales:
Yakuza 3 700,000 copies
Bioshock 500,00 copies
Bayonetta 530,000 copies

April 13 2010
Splinter Cell: Conviction (PC, Xbox 360)

Splinter Cell is back for the fifth time and is only 3 weeks away from its release. Sam Fisher is probably more pissed off than ever before, as he tries to uncover the truth behind his daughter’s death.

May 18 2010
Alan Wake (Xbox 360)

5 years in the making have to pay off for something right? Alan Wake is one of those titles that will be interesting to see how well it does, after being in development for so long. The plot and recent videos prove that it has great potential. We will find out on May 18.

July 6 2010
Crack Down 2 (Xbox 360)

Crack Down was an incredible, addicting surprise when it was first released; it is one of those titles that every 360 owner should either own or play through at least once. With Crack Down’s success, it was only a matter of time for a sequel announcement. Luckily for us, the announcement took place, and the release date has been confirmed for Crack Down 2; get those orbs on July 6 2010.

September 24 2010
Halo Reach (Xbox 360)

What can you say about the Halo franchise, other than it sells, and Halo Reach will sell. There is a secret reason behind all that financial success…Halo games are always good.

Also, Expected 4th Quarter 2010
Fable 3
Portal 2
Gears of War 3 (2011)

The stats, and awards speak for itself. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves could very well be the greatest game ever made. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves continues to win awards and get nominated world wide, almost 6 months after its release. The most recent nominations come from the GAME British Academy Video Games Awards, nominating Uncharted 2: Among Thieves for 10 awards. What other game has ever received this type of recognition in the past? None would come close to what Naughty Dog has created.

Below is a list of awards honored to Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, since its day of release in October 2009:

• Uncharted 2 earned a record eight award nominations in the Spike Video Game Awards and was voted for by fans for three wins, including Game of the Year.

• Numerous gaming websites and publications awarded Uncharted 2 their overall game of the year award. PSM3 (France) even gave the game an unbelievable 21 out of 20.

• The game also won 10 AIAS Interactive Achievement Awards including one for Overall Game of the Year.

• Uncharted 2: Among Thieves” stole the show at the Game Developers Choice Awards. The game won five trophies at the Game Developers Conference ceremony, including game of the Uncharted 2 was also honored for best writing, audio, technology and visual art.

• Was named by Metacritic as the most critically acclaimed game of 2009, averaging a 96 out 100 score, based on 105 Critic reviews.

• And of course the 10 nominations from the GAME British Academy. Watch it LIVE!

If all these awards are not enough, to justify Uncharted 2: Among Thieves as the greatest video game in existence, what does?

Update—-Uncharted Just won another 4 Awards..
Action Game of the Year from British Academy.
Best Use of Audio:Another Award.
Original Score Award goes to: Uncharted 2
Best Story: Uncharted 2

Quantic Dreams and Director David Cage have much to say with this dark story of loss and pain. Taking a big risk on minimal game play for more of a character driven adventure. Even after the first hour, you have already established a connection with each of the 4 playable characters. Heavy Rain will touch your heart, your fears and most importantly self sacrifice unlike any game before it. Especially to those that have built a family, raised kids or ever experienced a loss to unforeseen circumstances.

As much as I love to praise the branching story paths and nail biting situations. I still found myself fighting with the controller quite often, but not enough to distract from the narrative. Whether it be the tank controls, struggling to hold the controller during play, QTE’s not registering button pushes or six axis movement. More than once had I contemplated replaying a section because the game didn’t recognize my controller command, even if I executed it on time. Regardless of the control situation, I still found myself constantly sucked into the universe.

Every gamer should try to experience Heavy Rain once and probably only once so as not to cheapen the adventure by looking behind the decision path curtain. I’m sure the director would love the player to remember the game as it was played the first time, but I am sure trophy enthusiasts will still attempt to water down the experience by seeing all there’s to see in Heavy Rain. 4 out of 5 Michelas.

TQ-Litigator

During the modern age of media, there’s not often that a particular storyline draws audiences in especially when considering video games. Though enriching, the ties between characters and especially their emotions are barely noticeable. That’s where Heavy Rain comes in. It changes the scope of gaming altogether and introduces a genre that is more than welcome in the face of an overly saturated shooter market.

Everything from the enigmatic characters to the drops of rain pelting everything outdoors is carefully crafted into this game. When your character gets nervous, their thoughts become erratic and you feel it when you have trouble picking out the right choice or your next action. You’re faced with making decisions you thought only could happen in movies and in discerning your actions, you find out a lot about yourself. Perhaps you’re jumpier than you thought and accidentally do something you did not mean. Or maybe you’re cool under pressure…but you can’t talk your way out of a paper sack.

Heavy Rain is indeed more than a game…it is the true definition of art. It is gorgeous, inspiring, and complex. Even after playing through the game with acute eye, you’re still left with questions as the game gives you just enough to answer the most important point of interest. Heavy Rain is unique and so good that it makes you forget about the small problems it has and because of that it gets 5 out of 5 michelas from me.

TQ-Desz

In a time of first person shooter video games, and PlayStation HOME rendezvous–Heavy Rain steps in and cleans house, by making every other current game out, feel worn out.  Heavy Rain is a fresh, unique, and unforgettable interactive video game, that takes ownership of your thoughts and heart for a good 8 hours.

But exactly how does Heavy Rain deliver an unforgettable and unique experience? This is how: Top notch graphics, that are arguably the best to date; everything from facial expressions, wrinkles and pores, all have incredible detail. The story is one of the most believable and easy to follow stories, that is built to hit you where it hurts–your heart. Everything you do in the game has a purpose; the decisions you choose, affect the outcome of the game, and the outcomes are not always good. Although, there have been complaints regarding Heavy Rain’s control system, I had no problems at anytime during the game; the game is easy to pick up, and control. Quick decisions is a major part in Heavy Rain; think fast or suffer slow. With the good out of the way, it is time to cover the part of the game that affected the score. “The Ending”. (Without spoiling the game), Heavy Rain deserved a giant ending to match the rest of the game. The ending was simply uncalled-for and weak.

Despite my personal thoughts on the game’s ending, Heavy Rain is an unforgettable and unique experience; it allows the non-gamers a chance to experience a video game made simple, interactive and touching, while giving the everyday gamers, a true, fresh and desirable experience that cannot be found in any other game. Final Michela rating: 4 out of 5.

TQ-JUiCE

As we enter the fourth month of the year, the PlayStation 3 continues to dominate the video game world with heavy hitting, exclusive titles. Heavy Rain is a PS3 exclusive title that caught everyone by surprise and caught everyone’s attention with its unique, interactive, and dramatic gameplay as well as the gorgeous graphics. Quantic Dreams set out to change the way gamers play video games and sure enough, they delivered. The ability to play as four different protagonists and each with different events going on that somehow ties them all together is something that has not been seen in a game as of late. The story that ties all of these four characters is unique, dramatic, touching, and addicting. Each scene that passes by is filled with excitement and keeps you at the edge of your seat wanting to find out what’s next. In my opinion, every game with a great and unique story line like Heavy Rain, must be accompanied by great graphics to receive the seal of approval from the players. Heavy Rain is a gorgeous looking game that will definitely not disappoint, with it’s detailed characters and atmosphere, Heavy Rain stands out as a game with some of the best graphics!

Just like a lady, Heavy Rain needs attention; although that can be arguable, you will find yourself spending a lot of time with this game once you start it. Heavy Rain is truly a piece of art with its touchy and addicting story line and the great visuals, Heavy Rain is a must play! Final Michela Rating: 4 out of 5.

TQ-Denoch

Quantic Dream’s third developed title is Heavy Rain, a interactive drama that is a vacuum of pure intense scenarios that you need to accomplish. It is hard for me to called it a traditional game, since you are not hacking and slashing, or role playing but rather playing a interactive movie. I wouldn’t say that it’s purely a interactive movie because the story is not too linear, there are multiple ways that you can finish the game, good or bad with different variations.

Each scene will pull you in and test you morally, leaving you breathless until you finish it. Although the acting is very poor, along with the dialogue between the characters, this wont stop it from having a rich storyline, the emotion that David Cage emphasizes on the characters themselves to engage you and care for them is superb. You care for every character you play with and try not to get them killed no matter what, when i made a mistake during the action sequences or dialogue i asked myself if there was a better choice.

Games are meant to be fun, with other games violence is done without question, but with Heavy Rain those acts of violence wont be as easy to do. You will think about the right choice and regret it if you picked the wrong one. The engagement factor for Heavy Rain is 5 Michelas out of 5.

TQcast Final Average Review Score

• Will be sold as a starter kit that comes with a game, controller, and PlayStation Eye for under $100
• Will also be sold bundled with the PlayStation 3

Games included:

Table Tennis
Warlord
Move Party
Little Big Planet support.
Eye Pet
Motion Fighters
Socom 4

In 720p!

TQcast is at it again with an all new March-April PS3 Trophy Contest!

Tonight–The best of the best Uncharted 2 gamers meet up for a tournament of the ages. Some of the best gaming Podcasts will be competing for Chloe’s ass love tonight at 10pm Central Time, that is 8pm PST or 11pm EST. LIVE video streaming will be available right here–30 minutes before the tourney starts.  If you are interested in competing in this community event–post your name, or team name on the comment area below. You must have a good podcast in order to participate.  I’m kidding, your podcast can suck, and we will even accept non-podcasters as well.  Slots are limited though.

More details in the TQforums

Game: Fret Nice
Platform: Xbox Live, PlayStation Network
Developer: Tecmo
Price: $14.99
Website: http://www.fretnicegame.com
Reviewed by : JUiCE Hernandez

Pros: Great soundtrack, visuals are beautiful, customizable characters, Unique gameplay.

Cons: Sluggish controls, repetitive, confusing.

Product: Monster Beats by Dr.Dre
Category: Audio, Music, Sound Systems.
Price: $349.99 at Site or $237.00 from TQShop Amazon
Review by: Desz Martinez

Pros:
- Incredible Sound, crisp, clear, and bass never gets distorted.
- Comfortable
- Great Battery Life
- Look and fit perfect
- Cleaning Cloth included

Cons:
- Short Audio cables included in package
- Audio Hissing when plugged in to a stereo receiver.
- Price

Desz’s Additional notes or tips** Lower the volume on anything you are initially hooking your Beats by Dre to. The Beats by Dre are louder than most headsets at same volume setting, and could destroy your ear drums.

The great “Geo Hotz” who initially hacked the very first iPhone to work on all service carriers, is now making front page news once again. This time Mr. Geo makes news, by exploding the PS3’s hardware and software, in which he described as a “very secure system”. Today he has released the PS3’s exploit to the world. The exploit would give full memory access and therefore ring 0 access from OtherOS. What exactly does that mean? Who the heck knows, but how can you not have faith in the guy.

But, seriously how many people have the knowledge, money and team to pull this off right now? Geo has set the ground work, so all that’s left to do, is the baking, and of course the icing on the cake. But that is easier said than done. Let’s go back sometime when the PS2 initially got hacked. You first needed a chip with 20-25 solder points, then of course came the boot disc, then the game, then the praying that it booted up fine. All this back in 2000 was great, but we still paid the price and ran the risk to brick the system. Eventually a safer, quicker, but most importantly, an easier solution came about.

Now, if the PS3 happens to successfully get hacked to play back up games, which is what obviously everybody with the pirate eye patch is looking forward to, it is guaranteed that the hack would have a hard time reaching the general public for quite sometime. Why? Price! The PS3 uses a Blu-Ray drive, and of course Blu-Ray disc, I’m not sure how many people have actually been to their local Best Buy or even visited Newegg lately, a good burner is still in the $200 range, while the disc may not be as bad, you still pay in average 10-$20 per disc. Now come the compatibility issues, what burner will work, what discs are the best, what additional hardware and software to buy, and so on and so forth.

Yes, the great Geo has exploited something that many have tried to exploit, but we have to be realist, Geo may have the knowledge to make this happen all the way through, but there are reasons, in why Geo is stepping back; the reasons could very well be time and money. While a few may afford the time and the ingredients to continue where Geo left off, most will only read, watch, and hear about the PS3’s hacking stages much like all hacked consoles have gone through before. For the time being, don’t get too exited just yet, let the brains take care of the grunt work, let them go through the trial and error phase, let them make it easy.

Spend the next few years enjoying the PSN, while we still can.

Wow, Onlive team, must be loving life right now.lol!

CheapyD visits the TQHQ and speaks on the CAG Price Tracker, and the very much anticipated CAG Market Place, plus much more.
Where the heck are all the PS3 1080P games?
Lil Big Planet in 3D is coming
ESPN360 could he streaming its way to the Xbox 360 and PS3?
Sony’s motion control named and release details confirmed.
JUiCE cannot get a single win with Words With Friends
The new PlayStation HOME segment starts today!
All that, plus your TQshots, video games, movies, Cheap Ass mO DeAl$ and a very special Japanese drink tip of the week, and of course much much mO, including CheapyD freestyling LIVE.

***Check out TQcast LIVE every Wednesday 6:30pm PST at AllGames.com. Make sure to chat it up with us during the live show at chat.allgames.com



Download TQcast EP96
Review and Subscribe to TQ on iTunes

Make sure to sign up for the TQforums at forums.tqcast.com to receive exclusive TQnews, events, contest, and upcoming show details.

Uncharted 2 won many awards in 2009, including the much deserved award of all awards “Game of the Year” award. But what if Uncharted 2 didn’t come out in 2009? Would the 2009 Video Game of the Year Award be remembered as the toughest award to decide for? We all know that Uncharted 2 completely dominated 2009, and let’s face it, every great game released in 2009 was completely over shadowed by Uncharted 2; and of course MW2 sales. This had to be the year, of the most sleeper titles thanks to those two titles. But 2009 was indeed packed with amazing GOTY contenders. In fact, 2009 would have been a crazy year without Uncharted 2. The following 2009 PS3 games picked by TQ staff have all the elements to be considered for,”Game of the Year”.

TQ-V8SuperCars
Killzone 2

Killzone 2, had been in production for years, with the developers teasing us with snippets and screenshots of the ever evolving ingame engine that many said, would not be possible since those days of winning E3’s best of show. A few years passed and Guerrilla Games have not disappointed the fans. Hosting some of the smoothest FPS graphics of the year to its astonishing cover system that FPS fans have been so waiting for, lush 32p online play, Sixaxis featured controls and a single player mode that holds itself against this year’s best. This game was a winner of E3 many years ago and it’s now my pick for GOTY if Uncharted 2 was non-existing.

TQ-Denoch
Shatter

Each level in Shatter has a boss battle that is unique to itself so you won’t get bored of the same repetitive boss.The levels themselves are different, and you can be in an oval type of world, or control your ship from the left or bottom of your screen. Also, if I had to give an original/best soundtrack for a video game as well, I would give it to Shatter, it features music that is techno/instrumental, with great guitar rifts. You can check out the music at http://sidhe.bandcamp.com/ Leader boards can be very addicting if you are the type that can’t stand to be at the bottom of the list when you match up against your PSN friends. I still hold the number one spot. I welcome all challengers. PSN ID: Denoch.

TQ-Kosamus
inFamous

InFAMOUS was an incredible way to start the Summer 2009. PS3 owners were treated to a brand new original IP and got introduced to Cole MacGrath, a bike messenger caught in the epicenter of an explosion that granted him the power to wield electricity like that of a God.

A super human open world adventure platformer might not seem all that original, but it definitely stood out from the pack. Evolving your fate down the good or the ever so satisfyingly evil route made your actions felt around the city. You could be the hero that everyone loves or the villain that all people will begin to fear.

If you missed it in 2009, you can most definitely find a Mo-Deal on this Game of the Year worthy title.

TQ-FnA
inFamous

This PS3 exclusive by Sucker Punch Productions brought new elements to the open world genre. Not only did the game offer some unique abilities (gliding, a tweaked climbing system, rail grinding, etc), but they packed it all into a comic book type of world with a lavish style of telling the story of Cole as he tried to make sense of what was going on around him.

More open world games should take note of Infamous and try to incorporate its mechanics into future titles.

TQ-JUiCE
Little Big Planet (Game of the Year Edition)

It’s in the title, “GAME OF THE YEAR EDITION”. With an additional $30 worth of included downloadable content, Little Big Planet is the perfect game for everybody. Whether you want to spend some time with your girl and get her into gaming, or if you want to spend some time with your kids or friends online, this game is suitable for everyone and it is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Media Molecule definitely hit the jackpot when they created this whole “Play, Create, and Share” project and it also started something other developers can learn from. Heck, LBP should be PS3 game of the Year every year!

TQ-PatPreezy
MLB 09 The Show

MLB 09 is the best Baseball game since MVP 05. The Show mode is the closest thing to being a major leaguer. All the little things, such as player movements, fans in the stands, play by play and facial details make MLB The Show, not only the best PS3 sports game, but the best Baseball game ever made. A serious Game of the Year Contender.

TQ-Desz
God of War Collection

Remastering is usually heard around the movie and music industry. But when Sony announced that they would release the PlayStation 2 titles, God of War and God of War 2 on one Blu-Ray and remastered at 720p, remastering became something all gamers wished Sony would do for many other great classic titles.

GOW and GOW2 both came out late in the PlayStation 2’s life cycle; therefore many gamers missed out on two of the greatest games ever made. Having never played GOW or GOW2 during the PS2 days, God of War Collection for the PlayStation 3 lived up to the hype, and helped me understand why so many gamers praised it at such high levels.

God of War Collection is easily my PS3 Game of the Year, if Uncharted 2 was lost in Shambhala.

What PS3 games do you see taking Uncharted 2’s spot in 09? Of course if Uncharted 2 was non-existing.

***Check out TQcast LIVE every Wednesday 6:30pm PST at AllGames.com. Make sure to chat it up with us during the live show at chat.allgames.com

Download TQcast EP93
Review and Subscribe to TQ on iTunes

Make sure to sign up for the TQforums at forums.tqcast.com to receive exclusive TQnews, events, contest, and upcoming show details.

Game- Final Fantasy 13
System- PlayStation 3
Genre- J-RPG
Version- Japan

Hey TQ’s with the large bulk of messages sent through to me via the PSN about FF13, I know this game is a well wanted product that I have decided to put a fully packed preview of the game, with a few images I have taken of the TV along the way(Pioneer 50″ 1080p Plasma)

Now, I been reading the hype on this game pre-release and once the 360 version was announced the hype has turned to negative feedback. In fact, after ordering the game I read a few articles of really bad press about the game, some of the things I read were unforgivable and I really wish I had not ordered the game. Since then I have not read any reviews for the game, not reading any negative fanboy feedback or reading comments from die hard FF fans, This preview is that of my own thoughts and impressions of the game and not hampered by other site/forums/news articles. This is a gamers true honest FF13 Preview.

All Images taken are from the TV, no capture cards, no special effects, not editing.

Before we kick this off, I would just like to add I have no Japanese speaking skills, I have been progressing through the game from help on many FF13 sites, 1 site I would like to give a huge shootout to is http://finalfantasy-xiii.net/ and would recommend if anyone does get hold of the game, they bookmark this site as its got so much info, translations, tips, help, trophy guides, you name it.  If its FF related this is the place to be.

General and Story
While I don’t speak Japanese or understand it, the story in the game is great, you really get a feeling of what’s going in the game by how well the cut scenes are presented and how well animated each characters facial expressions are. Having a quick read online with many translated dialogue of the game lets you get the idea of what’s going on, voices are clear and crisp and the sync of voices to characters are on a level even Hollywood would have to sit back and take a long look at themselves, it is simply that stunning. The game puts you into the roll of playing many characters, all folding together neatly as the story comes together and you are playing each character just long enough before you start with another to keep the game and story rolling, it’s so well done.

Graphics
Graphics in FF13 are unmatched by any game I have played to date, simply put this is the best looking game I have ever seen, the game blurs the line between in game, cut scenes(in game engine) and FMV, the FMV in the game is on par or much higher with any multi million dollar production film, and the fact that many times you will be trying to work out if its FMV or in game cut scene say’s a lot on just how damn good this game engine is, from the first FMV you know this game means business and it doesn’t let up in any one area.

The character themselves are handcrafted to perfection, no other way to describe it, their hair is so unbelievable, there movements are all unique and satisfying to watch, the detail in the small things like clothes, accessories and being able to see textures of materiel the clothes are made from or buttons and stitching all rendered in HD and the highest of textures, the stubble on Snow’s face looks so life like.

The weapons used by the characters are a delight to see, it’s again crafted to perfection from reflections, shine and the design of them. Enemies are the same thing, endless hrs spent making everything look great, high textures, moving parts, high polygon count and effects, it all here. When fighting in FF13 the graphics come to life, there can be so much going on at once, lighting strikes, fireballs, bombs, gunshots, healing effect, and so on all going of at the same time, its lights up the screen with so much color and effects, characters casting causes a rainbow glass effect sphere to surround then it just looks so damn pretty, things like a bomb exploding into flames and burning an emery is enough to make your jaw drop let alone all the other things going on at the same time.

Environments are packing a punch, HDR lighting, special effect, blur, you name it this game is running it and the worlds are filled with extra detail, like fog and sparking effects through out the levels, not much more I can say here but you have to play it to believe it, I could go on and on about how good this game looks but you need to play it yourself.

I have been playing this game with my wife watching and many times my wife will comment on how good the game is and how life like the characters look, and how detailed the environments are. I can sit there and show my wife games like MW2 or even my Fav looking game GT5P and she will be “yeah that looks good” or along those lines, but never comment herself about how good a game looks, guess that alone is testament to how good this game looks and how far Square has pushed this game to what I call “Graphical Perfection” for the hardware its on.

Gameplay:
Fast, non stop action, intense sums it up, the game plays so well. The way the game is put together is something special, there is no longer running around endlessly for countless hours doing nothing in one area, enemies don’t just appear and you in a random fight, you can see into the distance, see your enemies and suit up ready for action before you approach you fight.

Ok, onto a few things; yes the game is linear(so far anyway) there are not many towns and not many people to talk to, but never fear this feature has become one of my best parts of the game, I am no longer aimlessly wondering an area over and over, I am no longer running around talking to every last sucker in a town to get a door to magically open, this might be a killer for many gamers, and I must say, I hate the linear paths on games myself, well not with this game, the way the game is setup and how things progress you never really get a chance to dwell on it and this makes for more gameplay and more progression without the feeling of being stuck to a single path, not sure how they have done it, but they did.

You will encounter loads and loads of invisible walls, at first I was thinking man this sucks, but as you get into the game you start to understand that this is another one of those things the developer has done to keep the game moving forward, keeps you from aimlessly running around to see if you can fit through every little hole that other games painstakingly let you do to waste your time and make a 20hr game roll into a 40hr game because you are doing loads of pointless things, this game keeps you moving forward and I love it! If I roll 40 or 50hrs of gameplay from this game it’s literally that.

Keep in mind this is a J-RPG and not a standard RPG like oblivion where everything is in real time and a big open world is suited so well. At the same time it constantly feels fresh, its not running around with 100s of pre-generated trees, grass and rocks, FF13 is hand crafted level design at its best moving forward from one area to the next is underwhelming how they could craft so many areas in such great detail and pure eye candy on the eyes and never feels like you are stuck in one spot cause all you have seen for the past 5hrs is the same textures, lighting, trees and character other J-RPGs make u feel, not taking anything away from Oblivion as it is(or soon to be was) my fav RPG of all time, but other J-RPGs of late have been sour, repetitive, lackluster and down right boring.

The blend of gameplay to cut scene to FMV is non existent, there is not 5sec delay while a cut scene loads breaking you away from the story, no FMV with super high detail then 10sec pause while it loads a low texture in game model that again makes it feel like a game and kills the feel of it, its all smooth flawless and engaging.

Another neat feature on the lines of keeping you moving forward is the map has a little bunch of dots showing were you came from, so you don’t get confused and start back tracking by mistake, and some levels have a glow of light in the direction you need to travel, its this fine detail that has won me over in a big way.

Battle System-
Flawless! I love every bit of it, it’s still a turn based system, but the days of you hit me and I will hit you are gone. Pick your attack, wait for the meter to fill up and unleash your fury on your enemies. It is great how the developers have changed up the battle system to suit the new game style, everything about this game is to keep you moving, keep you entertained and it pull it off in great fashion.

The Optima system is where you can change yourself and your team on the fly within a battle, loosing the fight? Change to a healer and recover your team, change the team to attackers and keep one as a healer and get stuck into the enemies, this system alone its genius, it makes battles that should end in a few seconds roll on and become more intense and intense. Some fights of 10 mins or more bouncing back and forth until you perfectly timed a great optima, change to bring the enemy to a break where you can switch over to all attackers and go for the kill, it’s so rewarding and satisfying to pull this off. A fist pump in the air after many battles like this, let you know how rewarding this is.

Now, I have read that there is no strategy in the fight system, I can confirm this is a load of garbage, there is so much strategy and styles of gameplay needed once you get further into the game, its kind of easy sailing at first but believe me, come later in the game you will die…a lot and strategy becomes the only key to winning… period!!!

Sound
This is a Final Fantasy trademark, and it delivers on all front in XIII. The smooth Japanese soundtrack, mixed with up tempo battle music and sound effects to match every last lightening strike, sword slash or fireball blazing. Character voice acting is top notch, and the ever relaxing piano music relaxes you and sends you into a tranquil feeling of being in the game, for those of you lucky enough to have a surround sound setup via HDMI its got uncompressed audio.

Final Words-
Overall, I am loving this game more than any other game this year. FF13 is without a doubt head and shoulders above what I was expecting. With all the negative feedback about it I had my doubts. To all the negative feedback/comments on the net about this game because it’s not like this FF game and its not like that RPG game, and why did they do this and why did they do that bla bla, its all been done now and it works perfect. Just play it and enjoy this well crafted master piece(so far anyway). Nothing comes into my mind but awesome when playing FF13, it’s just a joy to play, it’s perfect in every way, the new style of combat, the linear levels, the sound, story progress and so forth.

I am currently about 17hrs into this game and I have many more hours ahead of me. At this amount of gameplay time on a game like MW2 I would have beaten Veteran mode unlocked all my trophies and never want to press on the story mode icon ever again.  FF13 has kept me thrilled and entertained for this long and I am eager to get back onto it to blast through many more hrs.

It just doesn’t get any better than this, from the graphics, gameplay, menus, sound effects, music, quick load times, it’s a perfect package and what I expect from high production games that normally don’t deliver the goods come launch day, FF13 is all class!

For those TQfam’s wanting to know a Michelas Rating, I will need to complete the game before I hand down a review score, but a hint of what score I would give from the game so far is maximum Michelas , but a lot can change the final score as  I am only 1/3 way through this epic adventure.

For gamers that never had the chance to play God of War 1 or 2 when they both released for the PlayStation 2, you missed out on one of the best franchises ever created. Luckily, Sony recently released remastered versions of both GOW1 and 2 in their God of War Collection PS3 bundle, available everywhere for $40. Sony’s marketing approach when it comes to the GOW franchise is quite possibly one of the most successful and creative approaches seen in the gaming industry. First off, God of War Collection comes packed with remastered versions of the original PS2 games, but now PS3 compatible. Since when do retail games get remastered? Excellent idea!

Second, what better way to conclude your God of War Collection gaming experience, than with a God of War 3 Demo voucher included in the GOW Collection package. Yes indeed, the best setup for one of the most anticipated games of 2010. Sony releases remastered versions of the GOW 1 and 2, to build up the excitement, anticipation, and the need for God of War 3 due out in 2010, what more can we ask for?

God of War Collection like bundles is what we want to see, perhaps Metal Gear Solid Collection, or Final Fantasy Collection. What ever it is, we are certain Sony will make the proper decisions and create the hype for upcoming Sony exclusive titles. God of War 1 and 2 were easily ahead of their time. The GOW collection looks and plays better than most of the games out today. For those that have received the “You haven’t played God of War yet?” talk. You might want to listen, and play the games that cannot be overlooked or passed up as a gamer. And just think; God of War 3 is being built for the PS3 and is just months away.

Sony might have struggled early on the PS3’s birth, but ladies and gentleman this is what great marketing is all about. What other old school game franchise would you like to see get the remastered service by Sony?

The Video above is of the first God of War game included in the GOW Collection bundle. Button mashing sounds never heard before, and of course the incredible upgraded 720p look of the game.

We can all play a video game and be happy with the sound today’s TV has to offer. Some of us step our game up and buy a 5.1 or even a 7.1 stereo system to take full advantage of the video game. Some us buy the latest HDTV to show off the graphics, while others go all out and install a home theater projector.

But what is the true technology that has really made today’s video games that much more enjoyable? Yes, the graphics are great, projectors are a great way to show off that media center, heck, even the couch you are sitting on could make or break your experience. But, how about the sound? Yes, sound. The sound of the game is by far the most important part of a video game besides the graphics. Now, before You think that I’m stating the obvious, let’s face it, not everyone has a decent surround sound system, or the permission to turn up their video game at any given time. And even if you are one of the few to turn up your surround sound system at any given time, are you really getting the best possible sound?

Being a late night gamer, and owning a 5.1 surround sound system has really taught me a few things. First, if I can’t turn up my video game during my gaming sessions, I might as well keep my console off. Second, being a busy working and family man, I rarely have the time to play during the day with my 5.1 turned up, so keep it with the family. But the most important thing I have learned from being a late night gamer, is that sound is everything.

You can have the best possible surround sound system, but I guarantee you, that you are not getting the best possible sound. This is where gaming headsets come in, and not just because it won’t wake up the family, but gaming headsets really improve your gaming experience overall. Whether it’s an extra kill, a level up, or score, gaming headsets have put the video game experience on a whole new level.

For gamers that have yet to try a video game headset, you owe it to yourself to experience what a game should really sound like. Not to mention, the versatility of using it at any given time of the day without disturbing your neighbors or family. There are plenty of gaming headsets offered from companies such as Turtle Beach. Turtle Beach offers everything from budget headsets like the Turtle Beach Ear Force X31’s, Ear Force P21’s, to the higher end models which include the best of the best Turtle Beach Ear Force X41’s. Gaming headsets should be on every gamers Christmas wish list. I bet your mom, girlfriend or wife would buy you a pair without hesitation, for their own benefit, while you the gamer, experiences the video games the way they were intended to be experienced.

Because it is the season of giving, TQcast and Turtle Beach will reward one lucky winner with a pair of Turtle Beach Ear Force X41’s for the Xbox 360 valued at $200 dollars. The rules are simple; register to the TQcast forums, and let us know what you think of late night gaming, and gaming headsets here. Only registered forum members are eligible to win, you must be a U.S. resident. Additional entries are possible, read full contests rules here:

Get your game on!!

Official Contest Thread here!

NBA 2K10 is a great progression from the previous iterations of the series. From the outset, it is apparent that 2K Sports have set out to make the most accurate simulation of the sport of basketball.

Graphics:

The graphics of the 2K series have been one of the high points of basketball video games for the last 5 years, and this year is no exception. Player models are the closest to their true NBA counterparts as I have seen in all of my gaming years. Are they perfect? No…But they are damn close. I have found that it is best to judge player models but by looking at the players that often get overlooked by developers of most basketball games the white and Asian players….I have to say, that 2K doesn’t disappoint. Take a look at Luke Walton (Lakers) or Mike Miller (Wizards) and it is easy to see that 2K spent effort in creating their character models to best reflect the entire of the NBA family of players. Also, they have finally addressed one of the legacy issues that have been around for several years. That is spacing. In previous games, it felt as though the players just took up too much space on the court. This year, 2K Sports has made the players more accurately scaled on the court…so that space is readily available for some of the best on-court action.

New Intros

I’ll start from the beginning: the game introductions. The high level idea behind the intros was to catch the conclusion of real life player introductions and to show some of the final preparations the players go through before the game starts. The first thing you’ll notice after the game loads is that most of the time (more on this later) you will arrive in a darkened arena. Each team has its own lighting effects package, from the purple and gold roving spotlights in Staples Center (Lakers) to the greened out hardwood in Boston. We even captured signature jumbotron animations (think KG & Paul Pierce screaming or the EKG animation in Cleveland).

Oh, and there’s fire … I guess I shouldn’t leave out fire. Some teams do the pyro thing as a climax to their introduction and we were able to capture that as well.

Pre Game Rituals

I knew going in that I couldn’t just do LeBron’s powder ritual and call it a day. While it’s no doubt the most recognizable signature introduction out there, it’s definitely not the only one you’d see when going to an NBA game. Seeing that I am a big NBA fan… I was able to see a couple dozen rituals that were added to the game. D-Wade will do his pull up on the rim (with net physics, of course). Garnett will hit his head on the basket support. The Cavaliers as a team, do a few different things, including posing for photos. And Tim Duncan will … inspect the game ball. There are many others, adding up to 24 in total. LeBron will blow into his hands after tossing powder and Garnett will scream at the crowd to hype them up. One thing to note, these rituals do not happen every game. It’s not authentic to see the Cavs hitting homeruns every game so we set a frequency on each intro to be more realistic and provide more randomness.

If is doing a pre-game ritual we must point the camera at that player 100% of the time”. Because of how NBA Today works, if Shaq happens to be on a roll the last few games in real life, he will be the focus of the pre-game presentation in NBA 2K10. What’s even more interesting is seeing LeBron in the background doing his chalk toss even though he’s not the focus. No cut scenes in NBA 2K10. The living world is always doing its thing even if we’re not throwing a camera at it.

The addition of these rituals brings more life to NBA 2K10 and provides yet another signature facet to the game.

Bench Animations and Behaviors
A couple of days ago I saw players from the opposing bench attempt to distract me as I was trying to shoot a corner 3 in a close game. I completely forgot that this behavior was in there because it’s not something you see often. The game has to be at a certain intensity level and you have to have a player who’s actually an outside shooting threat in order to provoke the bench into reacting in that manner.

Next time you make an on the fly substitution, you might notice the coach pull the substituting player to the side to give him a message before he checks in, or notice how your bench guys stand up and look nervous in a close game or how they react to a big dunk. My favorite of all the bench behavior additions this year is where bench players on certain teams will remain standing at the beginning of the game until their team scores. It’s fun to dig in on defense to see how long you can hold those teams scoreless just to keep the bench guys standing up. You may also notice that in certain arenas **No spoiler**, the entire crowd remains standing until the home team scores.

Speaking of on-court, this is where NBA 2K10 really shines. For those who love the sport of basketball, we all know that there are two types of games…the run and gun and high speed transition, and the half-court and play focused styles. The great thing about this game is its inherent ability to provide BOTH styles. However, you have got to pick the right team. Players and teams really play like the teams that they represent in reality. The Lakers play an up-tempo style, all the while keeping the triangle intact for those half-court situations. The Cavs will run a LOT of point forward half-court situations with Lebron calling the shots and coming off screens. Player statistics are kept realistic by the NBA Today, which tracks games from day to day and keeps players in tune with their real world performance. Plus, it gives the days matchup’s right at the load up screen.
This brings me to my next point.

This years game menus have been tweaked. If you played the NBA Combine DLC or demo, then you know what to expect. It is a much more intuitive system then what was done in the past and it makes it easier to navigate the menu options. Speaking of options, there are tons. You can have the NBA Today games, each already preselected and playable alone or with the find a friend online option. You can go to the practice arena for a scrimmage game, to practice plays, go it alone with Freestyle, or practice Free Throws. You can go to the playground and do the 3 Point competition, Slam Dunk competition, or have a pick up game with the current NBA players or the Greats from all ages. (which includes 1-5 player matchups and 21) The final option is the My Player mode.

My Player mode:

This mode casts you as an NBA upstart. You create a player, go to the NBA Combine to hone your skills, and take a run at the NBA. This mode is fun, but frustrating. It is fun because you are playing the essence of basketball. Because your player is NOT a superstar, you will not start out as a high flying, 3 point dropping juggernaut of a player. In fact, you will probably more accurately represent the Average Joe that you truly are. However, with some work on your skills (with Skill training), and a few matches under your belt. You will start to take form as a true NBA player. The frustration comes with the fact that you will be nit picked to death for mistakes. One bad pass, one bad call for the ball, or one bad shot could cost you in the grading system that determines those upgrade points that will make you the NBA player that you are striving to be.

Pressbook
One of my favorite features this year, Pressbook, employs a virtual photographer to take pictures of the action during the game. I use it to reflect on some of the moments in the game I just played. Flip through the Pressbook photos and you’ll see shots of pre game rituals, championship celebrations and all of the in-game action in between. There’s nothing better than playing with your buddy and after the game reminding him of how you put your balls in his face while dunking on him with J.R. Smith in the first quarter. This actually happened in a game between me and one TQFAM*cough*GURU-007*cough*, but I’ll withhold the pic to protect the innocent.

You select Pressbook from the Game Wrap Up menu after the completion of the game. The photos are presented in a slide show fashion from various camera angles. Each photo will be on the screen for a few seconds before automatically advancing to the next photo. You can use the triggers to quickly advance through the pics or pause the slideshow at anytime if you want to admire a specific pic. Cool feature if, like me, you like to pour salt in the wounds of your competitors. If you’d like, you can upload the entire slideshow to your 2KShare to show off to everybody.

My final point about NBA 2K10’s greatness will be spent talking about the presentation. This is some of the slickest, broadcast style presentation to date. The broadcast team is GREAT. In fact, this sounds like some of the most natural commentary that I have ever heard. You would be hard pressed to recognize that it is scripted for a video game. Not only do they comment on the things that are happening in the game, but they also talk about the league in general. They even include promo teasers for upcoming games in the schedule. While the broadcast team adds to the overall feel, the crowd chants and stadium noises seem to have been ramped up to. Random screams for players, free throw taunts, even dynamic changes when the shot clock runs down give the player that immersive feel of being on the court.

Okay….so by now you can tell that NBA 2K10 is a great game from a great franchise right? So, is it perfect? NOPE!!! The problems with 2K10 are mostly legacy issues. The out of bounds dive is still almost useless. The alley-oops are too easy to do. There are still problems with players shooting from the baseline and near the basket or even going behind the basket for no reason (though not as much as the past). Refs can glitch and keep passing the ball back and forth to inbounding players *FIXED IN PATCH 1.0*. Dumb computer AI will sometimes take the ball back court or out of bounds for no reason. It doesn’t really affect YOU, but it DOES affect the overall realism.

IN SUMMATION: NBA 2K 10 is NBA basketball….it is beautiful, fluid, consistently Great, but is DOES have its flaws.

Controls: NBA Live 2010’s control schemes are much like previous years. Whether you are an old school NBA live gamer, or a new comer to the series, the control scheme is simple, and comfortable.

The speed of the game is by far one of the biggest improvements; the game reacts and moves fast and accurate for the most part. When I say “for the most part” I will hit the game on a very obvious fault, and non-reality feel to the game. When controlling the ball with any player and attempt to drive towards either corner of the court, you will 90% of the time get thrown out of bounce by some sort of invisible player, or zone. This could be very frustrating especially on down to the wire games. It’s almost as if the game loses accurate ball handling once you get close the out of bounce line near the basket. (Update: This has been improved with NBA LIVE 2010 PS3 update 1.10)

Passing, rebounds, blocking, shooting, defense, it all feels right. Being a point guard in the game, feels like it should; smooth, precise, and in control.

Graphics: Everything from the crowd, mascots, floor, and players look great! All player animations look natural, and as close to real as it can get for now. The players for the most part have a shine to them caused by both sweat and lighting and it does not look bad at all. Some may complain that it makes the player models look like plastic, but it feel as if the creators understand the game, and realized that the lighting and sweat create a thick shine.

While shooting free throws, you will get a close up look at how good the player models really looks. The face features are accurate to that of the real players, and everything else from the shoulders, to the shooting form look natural and realistic.

The AI really shines in Live. Let’s just say when you have the ball, you head for a layup or you drive the lane, and get fouled or at least you think you got fouled, your player grabs his head or eye for a minute as to pretend that he indeed got hurt, but there was no foul call. Eventually the player will act normal when he realizes that he will not get the call. Much like Vlade Divac reacted to every bump or tiny shove back in the day. These small details really make the game feel that much more important, and genuine.

Sound: Presentation to a game is key if you want to impress or even create that neck breaker/eye candy affect. NBA Live 2010 has the sound to make you feel like you are at the game. The fans chanting the teams’ name, the intensity of the crowd noise when playing a very important and close game with 2 minutes left in the 4th, shoes rubbing the polished floor – yes NBA Live’s sound delivers in this area. There are several crowd noise levels you can actually configure your game to play by. Normal, Playoffs, and Finals. Playing an online game, or even a quick solo game with Finals noise levels, doesn’t get any better- you will NOT hear the ball bounce!

When a game delivers such a great overall sound, it is easier to hear the flaws, and NBA Live does have several flaws in the sound department. The commentary, although decent, has some minor flaws that may or may not be a big deal to most, but because I did find it unpolished I figured I mentioned it. There was missing commentary on several plays during the games played both on and offline. For instance, one commentator will start a topic while the game is going; the other commentator will stay quiet, in what appears that the sound doesn’t respond at all due to the games movement. So, we can go several highlighted plays without a comment.

Also, the commentary tracks are at times easy to hear when they got added, cropped in, or mixed in. This gives it a very robotic and unnatural sound.

Replay Value/Story: NBA LIVE 2010 has every reason to be revisited often. Complete franchises, real time stats, and attributes, community style 5 vs. 5 games, top notch online support, and not to mention the DNA game mode that allows you to replay games the same day a real game takes place, with all current player stats. One final thing that seems to get a bit overlooked. easportsworld.com. I mean how cool is uploading your highlights and images to easportsworld.com to share with your friends, and the rest of the world! Simply amazing feature that puts NBA Live 2010 in the direction we all hoped EA would take this franchise.

Wishes or Changes: Update Patch 1.10 fixed and added many of the wishes and changes we asked for beside the choppy commentating crew. Also, the 5 vs. 5 Adidas live run is a good addition, but it could be a bit tedious to set up. Not to mention the lack of games found at the time you really want to play. And of course custom slam dunk contests with easportsworld upload support, and last but not least the ability to play classic and present games with hall of fame players, so we can finally find out who is the best, MJ or Kobe.

TQ bottom line: NBA LIVE 2010 Reinvents itself in all the right places, while keeping it simple, easy to pick up and play, yet has every aspect of the basketball sport covered for all the hardcore basketball fans.

TQRating

All Review Images were taken within game replay, and uploaded to easportsworld.com, racked up 51% of all possible PS3 trophies while reviewing the game.

Pros: Wireless, Audio quality is great, Sound Effects, Separately adjustable chat and game audio, Comfortable, Flexible Mic.

Cons:Bulky, Only stereo audio.

Turtle Beach Website
Buy at Amazon

Pros: Crystal clear sound that puts you in the game, 5.1/Pro Logic II/Stereo mode, dedicated game and voice volume controls, easy to set up, supports PS3/Xbox360/PC/Mac, removable microphone, reasonable price.

Cons: 12ft headset cable, 3ftOptical cable, USB cable, bass could get distorted when you have it playing loud.

TQ Bottom line: If you are a gamer who owns a PS3, Xbox 360, PC, and Mac, these are outstanding headsets. Priced at $129.99, the Tritton AX720 deliver an amazing sound.

Tritton AX720 Website

Buy the Tritton AX720 Headsets!

Pros: Finally, an answer to late night PS3 gaming, Comfortable, lightweight, extra long 16ft cable, crisp and clear sound, volume controls, best bang for the buck, supports PS3, PC/Mac support, and they look good on you.

Cons: Distorted Bass if raised to high, mic is very sensitive, picks up breathing, outputs hissing, the lack of 5.1 support, low performance with bass music or soundtracks.

TQ Bottom line: Look no further if you have been looking for the perfect PS3 headsets that support both game and chat in one, while feeling extra comfortable and sounding crisp and clean. The Ear Force P21’s from Turtle Beach, are the answer to late night PS3 gaming.

Turtle Beach Site

Buy it at Amazon

• Each game will be 5 Minutes on “All Pro”
• You and your opponent are to contact each other via PSN, or TQcast Forums and set up game.
• First match should be during the week of September 7
• The winner is to contact JUiCE via email at juice@tqcast.com ASAP
• The 1st place winner will win a replica jersey of their choice
• The 2nd place winner will receive a Electronics Arts (EA) game of their choice

Big thanks to EA sports for helping us make this event extra glorious!

After the break you can view the chart, TQfam, start your predictions and betting!!

(click on image to see actual size.)

Below are the PSN ID’s with the teams they have chosen:

PS3 gamers, get ready for another TQcast Trophy contest brought to you by TQfam DOOM CMYK! The contest starts Monday September 14 2009 and will end October 5 2009. The winner of this contest will win a $50 US PSN card. Contest entries will open Monday September 7, and close September 11 at 11:59pm. This contest is only open to all registered TQforum members that have entered their PSN ID in this thread, so head on over there and register if you haven’t already.

All current TQfam on the TQcast Trophy leaderboard have automatically been added to this contest, so no need to re-post.

Details:

The PS3 gamer with the most total trophy points from September 14 to October 5 will win the $50 US PSN card.

• Bronze Trophies= 2 points
• Silver Trophies = 3 points
• Gold Trophies = 5 points
• Platinum Trophies= 10 points
  
  You don’t start earning till that Monday 09-14-09, we will get use your score of 09-13-09. Make sure to sync your PSN card often, or you could be eliminated.
  
  Check the updates here.

  Good Luck !

  Once again big thanks to TQfam Doom CMYK for hooking this up!

  ]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/09/07/get-rewarded-for-your-psn-trophies/feed/ 5 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/09/06/tqcast-episode-78-live/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/09/06/tqcast-episode-78-live/#comments Sun, 06 Sep 2009 07:17:02 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=2296

  TQcast EP78 LIVE!! (2:05) ” I wish my girlfriend was white”

  Halo 3: ODST gameplay
  Batman Arkham Asylum
  PS3 3.0 good or not?
  TQfam LIVE calls
  TQ Madden Tourney details for this coming Monday, find out who you will be playing.
  TQRaw official announcement, and details.
  Jay-Z’s Blue Print 3 gets a Michela Rating from 3 TQfam.
  Plus drinking, TQ drinking, and more drinking all this LIVE!

  TQ would like to Thank all TQfam that came out Friday Night to watch TQ get TQd out!

  Big ups to September TQfam of the month “Doom CMYK”

  ]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/09/06/tqcast-episode-78-live/feed/ 5 123:53 TQcast EP78 LIVE!! (2:05) " I wish my girlfriend was white" Halo 3: ODST gameplay Batman Arkham Asylum PS3 3.0 good or not? TQfam LIVE calls TQ Madden Tourney ... TQcast EP78 LIVE!! (2:05) " I wish my girlfriend was white" Halo 3: ODST gameplay Batman Arkham Asylum PS3 3.0 good or not? TQfam LIVE calls TQ Madden Tourney details for this coming Monday, find out who you will be playing. TQRaw official announcement, and details. Jay-Z's Blue Print 3 gets a Michela Rating from 3 TQfam. Plus drinking, TQ drinking, and more drinking all this LIVE! TQ would like to Thank all TQfam that came out Friday Night to watch TQ get TQd out! Big ups to September TQfam of the month "Doom CMYK" Featured,,Podcast TQcast yes No http://www.tqcast.com/2009/08/24/5-reasons-to-buy-a-second-ps3/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/08/24/5-reasons-to-buy-a-second-ps3/#comments Mon, 24 Aug 2009 07:13:44 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=2127
  With the recent announcement of the PS3 price drops, and already rapidly increasing PS3 sales, how many of those sales were to already PS3 owners? A list of these statistics may not exists, and frankly Sony wouldn’t really care for these numbers, as long as the PS3’s are selling. But if we were keeping track of these numbers, it would be quite interesting to see exactly why current PS3 owners are buying another PS3. Here are TQcast’s top 5 reasons to buy a PS3 a second time around.

  5. Give it as a Gift
  With the new $100 price drop; it has become financially easier to buy a PS3. And what better way to reward your son, daughter, father, mother, uncle, aunt, than with a state of the art electronic that has it all. The PS3 would accommodate virtually anybody that loves movies, games, photo collection, and friends.

  
  
  4. No More PS3 movement
  If you are and older gamer, you will understand this one. How many times has it happened that your wife or girl wants to watch something on the main TV set (where the PS3 is hooked up), and you don’t feel like watching the same thing? Well now you don’t have to sit upstairs watching cable. You can now hook up your new PS3 and do anything, from watching a Blu-Ray, to continuing on your MGS4 campaign.
  

  But that’s not all. Now your girl wants to watch a movie in the bedroom before going to bed, but your main media player is the PS3. NO MORE PS3 Relocating! “No problem baby, the PS3 slim is hooked up upstairs”. The PS3 has the ability to stream movies, music, pictures from anywhere around the house, as long as you have wireless connectivity provided for your wireless ready PS3. So now you can stream any movie, album, or even pictures from the comfort of you bedroom, living room, basement, or even garage, without having to relocate.

  3. Game Sharing
  Yes the PS3 has the capability to share PSN games with 4 other PS3 consoles. This makes it easy to
  share games you have purchased from the PSN store with your brand new PS3, and enjoy them anywhere around the house or office by re-downloading them to the new console.

  
  
  2.  New price all around
  Sony has officially lowered the price of the PS3 all around by $100. This means, that you can pick up an original model 80GB PS3 for $299.99, a 160GB model for $399.99, and of course the new PS3 slim for
  $299.99. There are even bundle deals starting to surface, such as this one by Sam’s Club that offer a game, and a Blu-Ray included. The best console at only $50 more than a Wii. How can you not pull the trigger again?
  
  
  1.  PS3 Slim
  A new PS3 Slim model will hit store shelves starting September 1^st, that is not only cooler, uses less power, weights about 4 pounds lighter, has a 120GB hard drive, but it is also $100 cheaper. At $299.99 with a new look. Not only will you be helping the environment with a new PS3 slim, but you will do it, in style.
  

  Will you be buying a second PS3? For what reasons?

  ]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/08/24/5-reasons-to-buy-a-second-ps3/feed/ 27 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/08/16/tq-trophy-leaderboards-are-live/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/08/16/tq-trophy-leaderboards-are-live/#comments Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:17:40 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=2019

  You have asked for it, and now we deliver.The brand new, strait out of the work shop TQ Trophy Leadersboards are here! These new Trophy Leaderboards will serve as a portal to all Trophy related questions, tips, guides, tracking, leaders, TQrewards, and much more.

  Check them out! TQ Trophy Leaderboars

  and don’t forget to leave your feedback.

  ]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/08/16/tq-trophy-leaderboards-are-live/feed/ 0 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/08/12/5-reasons-why-psn-exclusive-games-win/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/08/12/5-reasons-why-psn-exclusive-games-win/#comments Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:13:30 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=1821

  Both the PS3 and the Xbox 360 offer great exclusive arcade games that could have you playing for hours without dropping $60 of your hard earned money. Lately, it has been noticeably clear which console has been delivering top notch arcade games that feel well made, complete, and well worth the money. Check out the top five list of PSN games that have made the PS3 that much more valuable while keeping it under $20 or even $10.

  5. Magic Ball:- A ripping fun stylized 3D game filled with 48 different levels of brick breaking, castle crashing, power ups with a pirate and knight themed experience. Magic Ball best played with another person through the PSN or sitting next to you. Price $9.99
  

  
  4. Pixel Junk Monsters: – Quite possibly the most addicting tower defense game you could ever play. Enough Said. $9.99
  
  3. Flower: – The perfect getaway from shooters and typical games with beautiful music and gorgeous graphics. You start as a flower and reminisce on what being a flower is. Each flower/level has a different environment and your job is to make it beautiful again. The most accurate SIXAXIS controls yet. Forget about therapy appointments, buy Flower instead. Price $9.99 Flower Review
  
  2. Wipeout HD: – A fast, beautiful looking 1080p racing game that will have you challenging drivers for days. You pilot an anti-gravity craft, selected from one of several teams and, depending on the game mode, you compete using speed and weaponry in an attempt to beat the competition. Did we mention 1080p at 60fps? Price $19.99 well worth the buy.
  
  1. Fat Princess: – Humor is an understatement when it comes to Fat Princess. You have to feed the Princess cake to make her fat! Yes, the game is tons of fun, and laughter, but let’s not forget that you are playing for the glory, and team work and skill is a must in order to come out on top. Fat Princess is primarily a one to thirty-two multiplayer game with the basic goal of collecting the Princess, bringing her back to the team’s base, and then protecting her. The players collect food for the enemy’s princess which makes her heavier and therefore harder to carry. The game contains five character classes (The Worker, The Mage, The Archer, The Priest, and The Warrior). Priced at $14.99 you are getting a strait mO DeAl!
  

  What PSN games do you think should be on this top 5 list?

  ]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/08/12/5-reasons-why-psn-exclusive-games-win/feed/ 19 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/07/22/zune-video-on-xbox-live-could-finish-blu-ray/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/07/22/zune-video-on-xbox-live-could-finish-blu-ray/#comments Thu, 23 Jul 2009 05:30:13 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=1140

  E3 2009 had tons of surprises, but one that appears to have been truly over looked, has to be the so called 1080p HD technology Xbox Live has introduced through their new Zune video store. Folks at E3 witnessed Microsoft instantly fast forward a streamed 1080p movie right at start up. But how could this be possible? How can a streamed 1080p movie have instant access to every point of the movie? Doesn’t it need to buffer that huge file? After seeing this at E3, we here at TQcast have been really eager to learned more about this 1080p instant streaming. Could this be Blu-Ray’s true competitor? Or perhaps the beginning of the end for Blu-Ray? Let’s face it, why can’t Microsoft sell this same technology to other content distributors, such as Netflix. Or better yet, collaborate with them to create the biggest HD streaming option for consumers, while having the biggest movie library.

  TQcast recently interviewed Michael Wolf, Senior Marketing Manager at Microsoft, about the upcoming Zune Video on Xbox Live.

  Q: What is the name of the new HD streaming technology?

  A: The name of the feature is Zune video on Xbox LIVE, which is built on top of Smooth Streaming. Smooth Streaming is a feature of IIS Media Services, a state-of-the-art video delivery platform which enables amazing high quality video experiences that are instant on.

  Q: Exactly how is this 1080p HD experience working? 1080p video would be huge files, requiring large amounts of bandwidth, how will this work without buffering timeouts?
  
  A: Zune video offers entertainment content available in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace in instant on 1080p video and 5.1 channel surround sound. Zune video on Xbox LIVE was built from the ground-up for Xbox 360 to take full advantage of the Xbox platform. It features a state-of-the-art encoder for the highest level of fidelity and a high performance decoder capable of full-framerate 1080p playback, which enables Smooth Streaming playback, smooth fast-forward and smooth rewind functionality. Instant on 1080p offers a level of quality and performance only previously seen with downloadable or physical media.

  Q: Moving to any part of the movie, as forward, back, how is this possible if the movie has not completely buffered?

  A: This is possible because of the proprietary technology developed by Microsoft. The state-of-the-art encoder allows for the highest level of fidelity and a high performance decoder enables full-framerate 1080p playback, which results in Smooth Streaming playback, smooth fast-forward and smooth rewind functionality.

  Q: Will 360 owners need the fastest internet connection possible? Will this work on a slower broadband connection such as a “1.5Mbps DL” connection?
  
  A: The beauty of the experience is movies and TV shows on Zune video will automatically scale to the best possible resolution based on the speed of your connection. For example, if you have a 6 Mbps connection, you’ll still get 1080p and a great audio experience, but may not get 5.1. And as a back-up, anyone can have a 1080p/5.1 experience, but they may be required to download the content instead of streaming it if they don’t have an 8 – 10 Mbps broadband connection.

  Q: Pricing. Will the consumers be able to purchase and then access the movies at anytime directly from Zune video? Or will it only be a one-time rent, and if so, what will the prices be?
  
  A: With the launch of Zune video, you’ll have the option to rent a broad selection of content how and when you want: either instant streaming or download to rent, so you can watch even when you aren’t connected to the internet. Prices vary by region, but will be competitive in each market.

  Although it would be a shame to think that Blu-Ray may be in deep trouble, let’s face it. If the pricing is as competitive as they state it will be, perhaps per monthly plan to match or even beat those of netflix, or even a single rent price to match that of red box’s $1 price. We could be seeing a huge lean towards 1080p streaming in the near future. And perhaps the nail to the coffin of HD physical Media. All we can hope for now, is a Blu-Ray universal price cut ASAP.

  ]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/07/22/zune-video-on-xbox-live-could-finish-blu-ray/feed/ 40 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/07/16/dasetup-episode-11/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/07/16/dasetup-episode-11/#comments Fri, 17 Jul 2009 06:24:12 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=1572 Today’s Dasetup takes us to Portales New Mexico to check out TQstaff Kosamus’ gaming and computer setup. Kosamus even has a shrine that quite honestly has to be the best shrine in TQ Dasetup history yet. Sit back, relax, takes some notes from this setup if you have to, and enjoy Dasetup Episode 11. Awesome set up Kosamus!
  ]]> http://www.tqcast.com/2009/07/16/dasetup-episode-11/feed/ 14 http://www.tqcast.com/2009/06/26/infamous-ps3-tq-review/ http://www.tqcast.com/2009/06/26/infamous-ps3-tq-review/#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:04:58 +0000 Desz http://www.tqcast.com/?p=1333
  An addicting new IP game that delivers in more ways than one, by using known video game ideas that worked, and mixing it up with new ones to make it a completely enjoyable PS3 exclusive game.

  So before we get in to the TQ details, who is Cole? Cole is an everyday day guy that one day was delivering a package, but little did he know that the package was a ticking timed bomb ready to blow. Cole survives the explosion, but half of the city is now destroyed, people are getting sick from a plague, gangs are ruling the city, and Cole is now a totally different man, a man with unusual electrical powers. But what do you do with those powers? And why Cole?

  Controls: Think of a human spider, yes Spiderman! You will be climbing many buildings, using electrical wires, trains, and railroad tracks as transportation. So, how does all this work? The games’ controls are fairly easy, and somewhat auto-adjusted for easier grabs, and jumps to buildings, or electrical wires, which can get annoying when you are trying to jump from one building to another and the jump goes no where, but the same place you started from. The game uses all PS3 controller buttons which has become unusual now a day. The button placements are perfect and easy to remember. Cole’s agility is superb, he can do flips sideways, backwards, forward, which give you full control of his movements and make it easier to counter attacks.

  

  Graphics: The city is easily one of the best looking cities in a game to date, and the choice of colors, buildings, and structural material really shows off how an open world video game should be design. Climbing the very top of a high skyscraper and looking down at the city is a total natural high, literally. Character designs are just on point as the environments. You can easily distinguish the enemies from the normal everyday people around the city, and the main character Cole is detailed even when the camera moves to a close 3rd person view. Character movements and attacks look natural. Explosions, Fires, collisions, and Cole’s powers all look great. The game’s cut scenes are delivered via comic style clips that mix a dark Robert Rodriguez look to it. Although the game looks very good, there are several camera flaws and graphical issues that shouldn’t really affect the game play at all, but could get annoying some what. The enemies when killed and thrown in to the water seem to just be lying above the water, instead of floating. Some of the characters get stuck running in to buildings. Cole gets stuck between pillars or buildings at times.

  Sound: Play this game on at least a 5.1 surround sound system, or some good 5.1 headsets, you will not be disappointed. All sounds in the game have very crisp sounds. The music is place perfectly in the game. When the game is just about to get in to a twist or big mission, the music really plays a huge role in building the suspense, not only because it is expected, but because it is some of the best suspense music ever heard in a game. The character voices are top notch. You can really picture the type of person the character really is, by the tone of voice and style that is spoken. Ride a moving train and hear the wind blow right by you.

  

  Replay Value/Story: So Cole has these electrical powers, and his mission is to power the city back up after all electricity has been shutdown, and essentially clean up the city from street gangs that are obviously working for a head boss. You are equipped with a karma state meter, which plays a huge role, since your actions, and decisions affect you karma state and ultimately the deciding factor for the outcome of your destiny. Evil actions such as hurting pedestrians, or stealing give u evil Karma (red) good actions such as saving lives, and helping the police give you a good karma (blue). Will you be a good guy or a bad guy? Which ever side you take, Cole is searching for answers, and the biggest differences with evil or good choices are the type of powers you unlock. One of the best things about the game is the fact that it slowly teaches you it slowly introduces the new abilities and the powers through out the game which has you playing with anticipation to discover the next power. The game’s story builds up nicely, the further you get in the game, the thicker the story and the emotions get. With no multiplayer, does this game have any replay value. Yes! Like mentioned, you can either be a good guy or bad guy, so essentially you can play the game twice, once as a good guy, and another as an evil heartless monster. Of course a second or even third time visit to the game is a must to unlock all possible PSN trophies. From shards, healing, or eating energy, you will have plenty of ways to earn the very addicting PSN trophies. A quick tip: Take your time with the game, don’t try to rush through it, or you will easily get worn out. Playing for about 1 hour to 2 hours per sit-down will make this game much better, and the anticipation to play it the next day will be greater.

  

  Wishes or Changes: A hovering device for Cole. Although there are many forms of transportation in the game, such as train rails, trains and electrical cables, a hovering device that would get Cole from point A to point B much would have been a great addition. Of course it might have defeated the purpose of climbing buildings.

  TQ bottom line Michela Rating: An addicting experience that will remind of you of a game called crackdown, but on steroids. Great graphics, Electrifying powers, non-stop ambushes, a true connection to the character, incredible story, and best of all, the beginning to what could very well be a one of the best recognized franchises in gaming.

  TQRating

  

  Check out some of the inFamous videos on our video section.

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