With the growing rumors implying that Sony’s and Microsoft’s next consoles may being revealed within the next year or so, I’m beginning to wonder just what it will cost to purchase software on these new systems. The price for video games has increased with the introduction of every new home console over the years. Back in the day games for the PS1 cost $40, the price for PS2 titles increased to $50 and today a brand new PS3 game will set you back $60. See the trend? Assuming the price for a new console game will set you back $70 will gamers finally ask how much is too much? If the next gen gaming experience is anything like what we’re seeing today – single player campaigns only lasting 6-8 hours, extra content that could easily fit in the game being offered later as paid dlc, online passes- will it be worth it? The first next generation machine we actually know will release in 2012, the Nintendo Wii U, may give us an idea on what we can expect from the future of software pricing. Games on the Nintendo Wii are usually priced at $50, this includes AAA titles like the newly released Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. In comparison a big AAA title on either the PS3 or 360 will set you back $60. The $10 difference is partially due to the fact that the Wii doesn’t offer the same kind of high definition graphics that the PS3 and 360 does. What does this have to do with the Wii U? doesn’t According to reports the Wii U is expected to be as powerful as current HD systems which could indicate that software for the console will cost more than its predecessor. If it does this could be a good preview of just how much more we’ll be paying for games on the PS4 and next Xbox. On the other hand if you listen to the analysts who assume that the digital age, made popular by the iPhone, Kindle and other similar devices, will soon replace disc format in home consoles then perhaps that may offset the cost of video game software. But the probability of that happening is unclear at this point since my crystal ball is still in the shop. We do know that Nintendo won’t be relying on digital downloads as the sole format in the Wii U and I’m going to make the bold prediction ( without my crystal ball ) that neither Sony nor Microsoft plans to ditch the disc based format in their next systems. So come 2013 or 2014 when the next big gaming machine launches, how much will you be willing to spend on video games?

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How Much Are You Willing To Spend On Software Next Gen?

Sony has announced 2 new PlayStation Move bundles just in time for the holidays! The first bundle will include the PlayStation Move motion controller, a PlayStation Eye camera and a copy of Sports Champions and Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest for the price of $99.99 . The second bundle entitled “ Everybody Dance bundle “, is available now exclusively at Target and will include a 320GB PlayStation 3 system, a DualShock 3 wireless controller, a PlayStation Move motion controller, a PlayStation Eye camera and a copy of Everybody Dance all for the price of $299.99 . Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest will be out on Tuesday, November 15th. For more information on the new PlayStation Move bundles visit the the official PlayStation Blog .

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New PlayStation Move Bundles Announced

Payday: The Heist is a very unusual game, placed in a market practically dominated by platformers. The PSN is home to few downloadable, exclusive first person shooters. To be honest, this is the first game of the genre I’ve seen there, but there must be another one. Most aspects of the game might raise similar questions, which eventually made me feel in doubt too. It certainly has aspects that are interesting and fun, on the other hand, some of them are lacking in quality and functionality. Conceptually the game intends to put players behind different heists, all well worthy of a movie script… in theory. I was expecting some interesting game mechanics that would allow me to approach situations differently, or at least in a smart manner, but most of the time you’re just shooting your way through a bunch of cops and security personal to get where you want to go. You might not think this is a big problem, after all, the game is a shooter, but so is Deus Ex: Human Revolution. I’m not comparing both, but I have high expectations and standards, so sue me if you must. The story development is basic, but it works just fine for the premises established. Each of the six levels has a voiced introduction to the mission; the same guy will be guiding your way through the heist. You’ll do a little of everything here, rob banks, diamonds and even break a prisoner out of a police convoy. The setting is usually interesting and makes for a decent change of pace between missions, it’s a shame that there’s so much shooting involved, otherwise this would be a completely different (and better) game in my opinion. All the shooting sometimes gets in the way of strategizing, which also play an important role here, especially when playing online and makes the game a much more pleasant experience. However, if you’re more interested in solo play, prepare to be underwhelmed. The friendly AI is so bad you’re more than likely to think you’d be better off without them. During the heists you’ll be setting up some gadgets to help you make your way through the areas, however that means waiting 200 seconds for the thing to actually work, let alone the fact you’re usually dealing with about 4 of those at a time, if that wasn’t already overly boring, the timer for said gadgets might eventually freeze, meaning you’ll have to manually reset it. Basically you’ll be babysitting some idiotic power tool while handling various assaults of the SWAT team. Not such a huge problem online, if you’re offline though, your buddies don’t seem to think that’s part of their job, so you’ll be left with the task to do that all on your own while they sit back and have a cold one. I realize this was conceived as a multiplayer game, but anyway, it feels really awkward. Enemies aren’t much smarter unfortunately. Playing online really makes the game shine though, communication is key to easy and faster success. No need to worry about all the gadgets at the same time, nor do you need to constantly check you six for cops, because your buddies will have your back, at least that’s what they should do. Your co-op partners will be of great help, they’ll have their own special gear (unlocked as you level up) and are able to perform some human exclusive assignments. It is remarkable how well it works when you’re playing online, I only wish it was easier to connect. It took my dozens of tries to get into a match, all other rooms were already filled. I don’t know if it’s because the game is fairly new, or if it’s just because I’m playing on a different region, but it is very disappointing when you have to wait 20 minutes to play a game. The game looks decent, considering it’s a PSN title, and runs smoothly with no slow down problems. Textures and models are a bit too simple, sometimes feeling like an older title. Partially that problem comes from the fact the game is a shooter, one of the busiest markets today, making comparisons inevitable. Each of the levels presents different environments, but you’re bound to encounter some things over and over again, especially policeman, apparently Senator Palpatine is planning another Clone War. Jokes a part, the looks are compatible with the price and scope of the game, but some might find it lacking one way or another. Sound design is ok, but doesn’t stand out. Voices are a bit cartoonish and stereotyped but portrayed the crooks well. Gun noises lack some impact and never feel heavy enough. The screaming on the background is actually very good, and serves as a decent setting to your robberies. It’s unfortunate that when you’re most enjoying the game, most of these aspects will be ignored while communicating with your crew, sometimes making you miss some audio cue said by your character. The game is very easily controlled, however, feels a bit sluggish at times, sometimes I couldn’t help to feel like I was hitting enemies way too easily, maybe I’m just getting better at aiming with my Dualshock. There are 120 levels for you character to unlock, each will come with different guns, accessories and abilities, making for a great deal of customization that eventually makes all the difference. Some mechanics are very well designed, for example, you can cuff civilians in order to make them hostages, in case one of your team mates die or get cuffed himself you can use those hostages to bargain his release and get him right back in the action. This was a very surprising system that I’d love to see implemented in other games. Overall Payday: The Heist is decent, but can be great when played online with friends. It lacks some polish seen on bigger titles, but offers enough content for a reasonable price. This is a game that incites players to replay levels over and over, trying to achieve better results and does a good job at it. Just don’t expect too much if you’ll be playing this by yourself, this is not intended to you. Review Pros Cons Great cooperative action Different from most PSN titles Interesting mechanics Lots of replay value if you like the game Overall lack of polish Dumb AI is most of the time annoying Looses its charm when playing solo offline Rating 80%

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[Review] Payday : The Heist

GameStop is running a deal where you can score MW3 for only 99 pence. Insane? I think so, seeing as what is required made me chuckle. How it all works: 1: You order Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 from GameStop (UK) and return BF3 in the prepaid envelope before MW3 launches; you’ll be refunded the money (save for 99p), and it’s yours. Crazy? Smart marketing? Did your jaw just drop to the floor like mine did in shock? They are also running another deal where you can get MW3 50% off. Get Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Half Price When You Trade in A Selected Game! Terms and Conditions Apply. . Selected Games: . Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360) Dead Island (Xbox 360/PS3) FIFA 12(Xbox 360/PS3) Batman Arkham City (Xbox 360/PS3) Resistance 3(PS3) Formula 1 2011(Xbox 360/PS3) Forza 4(Xbox 360/PS3) Dark Souls(Xbox 360/PS3) Ace Combat Assault Horizon(Xbox 360/PS3) X-Men Destiny(Xbox 360/PS3) . Offer Ends 17/11/11 . Terms and Conditions: Offer Ends 17/11/2011. Offer available for a limited period only while stocks last. Purchase Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 at half its stickered price when you trade-in Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360), Dead Island (Xbox 360 / PS3), FIFA 12 (Xbox 360 / PS3), Batman Arkham City (Xbox 360 / PS3), Resistance 3 (PS3), Formula 1 2011 (Xbox 360 / PS3), Forza 4 (Xbox 360), Dark Souls (Xbox 360 / PS3), Ace Combat Assault Horizon (Xbox 360 / PS3), X-Men Destiny (Xbox 360 / PS3) and the trade-in is deducted from the selling price of a Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3. Trade-in offer only applies when the trade-in and Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 3 purchased are in the same transaction. Cash trade-in value may vary. To trade-in; all games must be in original packaging, in good working order and of satisfactory quality. Ask staff for details. Trade-in offers are open to members of the public only and GAME reserves the right to refuse any offer to anyone believed to be representing a trade buyer. This offer can be withdrawn at any time without prior notice. This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offers in store. This does not affect your statutory rights. Source: Gamestop

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Get Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 for 99 Pence in UK

This new PAYDAY The Heist trailer was just released to celebrate today’s release in North America for $19.99 USD via digital download on the PlayStation®Network. “Dates for release of PAYDAY The Heist on the PlayStation®Network for European territories, as well as for the PC in both North America and Europe have yet to be announced.” Hit the jump for more info, as well as gameplay trailers. KEY FEATURES Six High-Intensity Heists: Whether you’re blowing the roof off a building to extract a safe via helicopter, or emptying the vault at the First World Bank, these action-packed heists will have players on edge and always checking their six. Interactive Co-op Gameplay: Whether AI or live, your crew of four must operate as one to bring in the “big score.” Sharing extra ammo and med kits, helping regenerate wounded partners, guarding key positions, taking civilian hostages, or cracking through various security measures – it’s all for one and one for all. Endless Replayability: Dynamic environments, adaptive enemy behavior,shifting entry points, FBI agents repelling through skylights on ropes, SWAT teams crashing through the windows, and special units crawling through the ventilation shafts makes each play-through of every heist a unique fight. Massive Character Progression Tree: Players choose a specialty – assault, sharpshooter or support – to gain weapons and equipment that fit their preferred form of violence. Unlock trip mines, silenced pistols, machine guns and much, much more. Shout Out Button: Players need to be vocal and shout commands and directions to the co-op crew, as well as hostages and the police if they want to survive to spend their cut of the take. Hostage Trading: Hostages can be used as lifelines. If anyone in the crew is taken into custody, trade hostages to get crewmembers back and increase the odds of completing your objectives. PlayStation®3 system or PC*: For keyboard and mouse marksman, as well as handheld controller snipers, PAYDAY is the uber-FPS for a high intensity shooter fix. *PC release date to be announced. More DLC: Additional heists, weapons and equipmentmeans PAYDAY – a digitally distributed AAA quality title for less than half the price of a retail game – is total OVERKILL. Source: Press Release

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Payday The Heist is Available in NA Today

Developed by Codemasters, Operation Flashpoint: Red River is a FPS military ‘simulation’. They were kind enough to send us a copy for review, and I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to give this game a once over, and I can say I’m glad that I had the chance to play this! So on to the review. So lets start start at on of the coolest intro videos I have seen in a long time, it’s gritty, it’s humorous, and its got some facts in there about past issues, conflicts, political unrest. They put quite a spin on it, the intro really had me hooked and I then became invested in the story. It has a certain style, to which I can’t name, but there are commercials that follow the same style. Now let me start by saying, this game is nothing like your typical, cookie cutter, generic FPS shooter. Where the market is flooded with over the top, “I’m a super hero, watch me kill an entire army on my own”. No, this game requires, strategy, cunning, teamwork and patience. It’s squad based gameplay sees you commanding a squad of battle hardened, bad ass marines. Codemaster tried to recreate realism as much as possible, the marines are supposedly modeled after real life marines, and from a few videos, and talking to a few military buddies…they are pretty accurate, as far as lingo, slang, language and attitudes, at times it does seem a bit far fetched but when you think about it, it doesn’t seem so far fetched. The main character of the game SGT. Knox, is quite a talk box, it’s like this guy runs on fission batteries, he never shuts up lol, he has A LOT to say. You start or end a mission with a bit of a ride in a vehicle, and thats where it becomes a bit trying on the nerves, but in all honesty the trips don’t take too long and before you know it, it’s time to get to shooting! The game is story based and has no online multiplayer, other than co-op story mode, it also has fireteam missions that seemed more arcadey. Once the mission, kicks in you are given instructions on how to command your squad mates to complete your objectives. Here is where things become apparent that this is not your typical shooter, I made the mistake of thinking this was just another over budgeted shooter, I ran out to be a superhero and was quickly shot dead by a terrorist I never even saw, at that point I was impressed, finally an FPS with a degree of difficulty and realism. Missions take you through a variety of locations, which I found to be well detailed and quite vibrant, even for desert terrain and plain run down shacks. The AI is quite robust, they will stop at nothing to kill you and your foul mouth buddies, when you use suppressing fire the enemies will use cover to move to a safer spot and continue trying to kill you, they will also use teamwork to pin you down or a teammate while a few of their buddies move to a better spot to shoot you dead from. That’s where the game gets a great deal of its challenge from, you can’t just drop your squad mates at any old spot, there are a lot of variables to consider when planning engagements, or even movements for that matter. On that note there are times when the AI does fall a little short, and seems to glitch out, but I found those instances were few and far between. It only takes a couple of bullets to bring you or a friend down, but fear not, you can always be revived, or if you’re really in a bind you can bleed yourself out. Tension is thick in the game once you get more into it, with having to command a squad to make sure they don’t die, explosions, radio traffic, and other battlefield happenings make the game a unique experience. The fact that the enemies in this game are some of the most dangerous I have ever faced, just adds to this fact, step into a clearing without doing a little recon’ and BAM you’re dead, for me this is a big selling feature. Reality, it makes the game so much more enjoyable for me, may not be for everyone, but it’s something that everyone should experience just once, I found it to be well implemented, and something that ties the game together quite well. The game features authentic weaponry and equipment for use that you can use in a variety of load-outs, and offers plenty of customization options leaving you with a wide range of variations on a handful of soldier classes. In closing I found this game a fresh change in a bloated genre and found it delivered on most areas, at times it falls short when the AI glitches out and acts pretty dumb, or when you have back to back vehicle rides, which can tend to slow the action down a bit. All in all I found more to love about this game than I found to dislike, I think Codemasters did a great job on this game and I really enjoyed playing this title, for shooter fans, this is a rent as you may not like the ‘realistic simulation’ aspect, as for simulation fans that enjoy more down to earth action and a real thinker of a game, pick this title up, I think you’ll find its worth the price! Review Pros Cons Realistic simulation style Challenging, strategy based gameplay Challenging, intelligent AI AI glitches out sometimes At times vehicles rides are too long Some may consider the dialogue too offensive Gameplay may be too hard for some gamers Rating 85%

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[Review] Operation Flashpoint: Red River

The $99.99 price point on Sony’s new head set may have you somewhat hesitant to jump on board. With the average gaming headset going for $299, I, too, was a bit reluctant to make the purchase. Having owned a few Turtle Beach sets in the past, I went ahead and made the jump for the sleek design. Sony put a lot of thought into what looks like a simple head set. The ability to scale the volume from in game sound to incoming voice is a welcome feature. The Black Ops sessions were much easier to mute everybody with the simple push of a small voice to sound button found conveniently on the base of the left ear piece. The screaming kids could be dulled down to the point of hearing them but without them being an annoyance. This alone was a win for me. We all have that one friend who is soft spoken and we struggle to hear over PSN. This fixes that with the simple movement by a few tabs. On the reverse side of the Voice to sound tab is the master volume control with the USB charging slot located directly below it. Let me tell you, these suckers are loud. They also have the best noise cancellation I have ever used. With these on, you wont hear your girl nagging for you to stop playing Monster Hunter any more. Speaking of charge, I was able to get 7 and a half hrs out of them in one charge which is simply amazing. You charge the unit by using the included USB that came with your PS3 console for your controller (mini type B). In all honesty, any avid gamer has a quick charge solution for their devices, and your average AC to USB adapter will charge these in a half hr or less. Here is what I use for $5 . I normally use my Plantronics Voyager Pro for chatting and have always disliked the fumbling around required to hit the tiny mute mic button. Luckily, the button on this headset is located on the outer left side of the device, and a quick tap will mute the mic as shown by the on screen display. The on screen display is great for knowing battery charge, virtual sound on/off, and whether your mic is muted or not. The virtual surround button adds so much detail to the sound that you wont bother ever turning it off. Never has been so easy to hear an opposing player creeping up behind me and knowing where he is exactly. Turning this off gives you traditional stereo, which adds more bass, but is simply there for music purposes and/or watching home videos in stereo. The Virtual surround rivals Turtle beach’s quality, and for the price you cant go wrong. The set up requires you to plug in the USB dongle provided and play; that’s it. No receiver, no wires, just one USB. If you have never used a gaming headset, this is where you should start. For $300, there are tons of options, but for $99.99, you are getting the equivalent of those options with on screen display and no power or wiring attached to a receiver. Review Pros Cons Price is unbeatable for the quality Sleek Design Ease of set-up Superb Sound Voice to Game sound controll None Rating 100%

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Accessory Review: Sony Wireless Headset

Do you want to see an unboxing video of AC: Revelations Collector Edition? Alright, well you have to find me a one legged unicorn! or you can watch the video below … suit yourself. The Assassin’s Creed: Revelations Collector’s Edition comes in a special Collector Box and includes the following: – Artbook featuring 50 pages of illustrations and concept art related to the game. – Original game soundtrack. – Assassin’s Creed Embers Movie: an animated short film. -In-game content: – Explore the prison of legendary Vlad the Impaler, the scourge of Constantinople who inspired the myth of Dracula. Seek out the hanging cell of the infamous leader to retrieve his personal blade, a deadly close quarters dagger capable of dispatching any foe -Play as two additional multiplayer characters: The Crusader & a new Harlequin revamped with a Constantinople flavour: the Ottoman Jester Assassin’s Creed Revelations CE will be out on November 15, 2011 with the price tag of £49.99 . Its worth mentioning that the CE was announced for Australia and Europe, there is no information of a possible U.S release!

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Whats Inside Assassin’s Creed Revelations CE?

Its seems that Australian fans are getting a different LOTR treat this fall. EBGames Australia is taking pre-orders for the LOTR: War in the North Collector edition with a little twist on the items included. The Australian fans will be getting a Snow Troll Exclusive figurine instead of the Ranger of the North Quiver Case. The Price for this exclusive edition is $118.00 (That’s Australian Dollars and its equal to $123 U.S) as advertised on the site. The rest of the items will remain the same. You can check our previous post on the LOTR: War in the North CE here . The LOTR: War in the North will be available on September 1st 2011.

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Lord of the Rings: War in the North Collectors Edition (Australia)

É mesmo? Fala sério! Pedrooooooooooooooooooooooooo? Peeedroooo! Did you hear? Sony has FINALLY decided it was time to get the PSN to another Latin American country (first one was Mexico) as now Brazil has it’s own officially sanctioned PSN Store. What are the benefits of this? Well, Brazilian users can now use their brazilian credit cards to add funds to their wallets AND all prices will be displayed in the local currency (Brazilian Real) which should, in theory, drive up sales in the country considerably as import taxes on games reaaaaally drives up the price as a $60 release immediatly goes up to $90 or more and with all the great AAA releases in the next couple of months… well, it adds up and FAST. Our Brazilian fans have much to rejoice as not having to buy US Store PSN Cards (which is a hassle since using their Brazilian Credit Cards for purchases outside of their country increases the final cost) is one less hurdle before being able to enjoy all the wonderful content available for their entertainment. Brazilian PSN Cards SHOULD be available soon for those that don’t have access to a credit card making it easier to make their most of their Sony console purchase. As an extra bonus, there is now an OFFICIAL PS Blog just for Brazil! Follow THIS LINK to be on the up and up on all PS related news, promotions and releases. And what other great news await Brazilian fans once they go over to the official PS Blog for their country? Why, they’ll get a chance to download several games thanks to the Welcome Back Package! Divertir-se!

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PSN Store and Blog Are Finally Official In Brazil