on the shelves
* the Orange Box [stats] – for the unfamiliar, this is a comp of five games: Half Life 2 and both of it’s add on Episodes, as well as Team Fortress 2 and Portal. Portal, Team Fortress and Half Life 2: Episode 2 are exclusive to this comp. All are very good games on their own, so this is a good deal and highly rated. However, once again, frame rates are lower on PS3 than XBox 360 (and load times are longer.) You’ll note that this package was developed for the PS3 by EA (UK), which has consistently had this issue with PS3s.
* Unreal Tournament III [stats] – it’s very much a new version of the same game. If you like this series, you’ll continue to like it.
* NCAA March Madness ’08 [stats] – EA game where PS3 version is noticeably lesser than XBox360 version – CHECK. EA Sports game which is barely more than a roster update – CHECK. EA game not with online leagues that they magically can’t figure out for football – CHECK. Unless you need virtual Erin Andrews in your life, get the 2K college basketball game instead.
* Blacksite: Area 51 [stats] – why would you pick this week to release a mediocre first person shooter? You’re the third worst game in your genre this week alone, why not try get out first? This is a bad game on any week, a generic version in an overpopulated category. Maybe someone’s planning to use the tough week as a cover story, I don’t know. If you buy this game, you have too much money and/or waste lots of it. If you are a parent and buy this game for your children, you are a bad parent. (It’s not THAT bad, but you have much better options.)
* History Channel Battle for the Pacific – is pushed back to the last week of February. I guess if you’re missing Christmas, you might as well miss it by a lot.
Demo:
* Burnout Paradise
Add Ons:
* High Velocity Bowling – two more bowlers for $1
* Rock Band – 3 songs, $2 each or all for $5.50
– I Fought The Law by the Clash
– Rockaway Beach by the Ramones
– Ever Fallen in Love, “a cover of a song done by the Buzzcocks”
* Need for Speed
unlock cars without getting thru career mode (so you’re paying for cheat codes)
– Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 ($2.50)
– Pagini Zonda F ($3)
– Nissan GT-R ($3)
– packs of Muscle Car, Tuner Car and Sport Car (each has 6 cars for $5)
– Ultimate Performance Bundle – all the parts are unlicked ($10)
Game Video
– GT Awards @ SEMA (award show)
– Burnout “Stunt Run” (trailer)
– Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground (trailer for story mode)
– Ratchet and Clank (behind the scenes, “Art”)
Movie/Blue-Ray Trailers
– Cloverleaf
– Untraceable
over the horizon
12/17: MX vs ATV: Untamed
12/28: Warhawk Operation: Omega Dawn
01/08: NFL Tour
02/05: Turok
02/18: FIFA Street 3
02/19: Dynasty Warriors 6
02/28: Lost
06/28: Grand Theft Auto IV
04/08: Star Wars: the Force Unleashed
06/30: LEGO Indiana Jones