February 2009 Archives

SONY has announced that the number of registered accounts on PlayStation Network worldwide has exceeded 20 million.

It's been a huge success.

The number of accounts reached five million in one year and two months.

There were 10 million in one year and eight months, and more than 20 million in only two years and three months from the launch.

The number of users connected to PlayStation Network is ever-growing proof that there is online gaming other than Xbox Live!

Get connected.

BENEATH the Ashes is the first of two brand new downloadable levels in the continuing Tomb Raider™ adventures of Lara Croft and is priced at 800 Microsoft points.

Offering a new adventure specifically designed to extend the Tomb Raider: Underworld experience, Beneath the Ashes sends Lara back to the remains of Croft Manor where she uncovers a massive series of never-before-seen caverns and age old crypts used by her father to protect and hide a deadly source of power. In addition to an entirely new area to explore, the pack will also contain six new costumes and deliver an additional 125 achievement points.

The second pack, Lara's Shadow, will follow in March.

Day one in the Wollaston house...

I can see why they have the protective cases around the controller. We have a low ceiling light, nearly broke my fingers on it whilst trying to uppercut a pixelated pugilist.

We are loving Wii sports in our house. Great fun and stupidly addictive.

I'm not even close to being the best in the family at this... need more practise!

To be continued...

I was a bit wary about presenting my 3-year-old daughter Lily with a games console. Is that bad parenting, does she really want to end up like her dad, boggle eyed and decapitating Super Mutants on Fallout 3?

No of course not... and thankfully this superb kiddie console from V-Tech has the best interests of your kids at heart and teaches them that gaming is fun but it is also educational.

Halo is Microsoft's biggest brand name for the Xbox 360 and arguably their finest. The game quite simply took First Person Shooters
to another level and has steadily improved in quality time after time.

The latest offering from Microsoft's favourite son is a little bit different... my first thought was 'cash in' but the alarm bells were unfounded.

Up until now I am ashamed to say I have never owned a Wii. I have played and reviewed games on the neighbour's Wii but generally I have relied on other people for reviews....

Until now, I have finally caught up and tomorrow I will be taking proud delivery of my latest review tool, will it change my life? Will I become as obsessed as everyone else clearly is?

My guess is that I will be one of those daft sods that throw the controller through the window...

The ultimate boxing question, finally answered! And perhaps the best games trailer I have seen!

Disney Interactive Studios have released some great webisodes to tie-in with their new kids battle title Spectrobes: Beyond The Portal - released 27th February.

Here's the webisodes for your viewing pleasure...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22JUGci6pV4&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPYFcihLHEE&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcNrPfOgY0c&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ8TuyUZdEM&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Il8J2yM5OOk&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSz-VHnHDLw&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6IeAVOJjp0&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8ErCkJ136c&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4GpoDabvcw&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-rbuYrozf0&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3H85pAdGPxw&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DA6Cl5Dogk&feature=channel_page
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohYjJe4YBIM&feature=channel_page

GUITAR Hero goes Metallica! Enter the world of Lars Ulrich, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammett and Robert Trujillo and experience the intensity and skill of one of the greatest bands of all time.

Shred on the guitar controller, rip on the drum kit controller and wail on the mic to a setlist featuring more than 45 explosive hits from Metallica's illustrious career and a wide variety of other legendary artists personally selected by the band, such as Alice In Chains, Bob Seger, Foo Fighters, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Queen.

Fans will be able to rock as Metallica while performing in venues which are reminiscent of the band's epic album covers, themes from their music and real world locales.

Up and down the country gaming journo's like me are churning out whimsical, nostalgic tales of where they were when they played Street Fighter 2.

Ever one to jump on the bandwagon I will do the same, it was in the big arcade on the corner of a backstreet in my local City Centre.

Every Saturday me and two of my mates would get off the bus and head for the arcade, once there we were met by the Jabba The Hut-esque arcade proprietor with a dirty holey vest and 3 teeth.

He would change our £5 notes and sell us a tray of biohazardous chips for 55p.

Then the magic began... the game that cemented my love affair with gaming - Streetfighter 2.