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The 9 Best LittleBigPlanet 2 Levels Thus Far

Jared Newman — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 00:04:25 +0000

There’s a certain thrill of the hunt that takes hold when searching for the best user-made levels in LittleBigPlanet 2. Finding something amazing to enjoy later with friends and family is like returning back to the cave with a week’s worth of wild boar — or so I imagine.

But sometimes, you don’t have time to go digging. Your party is restless, and they demand entertainment. Never fear. Although LittleBigPlanet 2 has only been available for a week, I’ve scrounged up nine great custom levels that’ll keep you and your friends occupied for hours.

Blast Radius by johnee

We’re sure to see plenty of space shooters with LittleBigPlanet 2′s support for controlled objects, but Blast Radius nails it with flashy graphics, multiple weapons and multiplayer support. The leaderboards are already hyper-competitive.

National Motocross by pate59

This modern-day version of Excitebike is short, but sweet, with plenty of tall jumps and a loop-de-loop at the end. For more of the same, check out pate59′s follow-up level, Rooftop Motocross.

Classic Zelda 1-1 by Bluetonberry

In the grand tradition of ~~ripping off~~ paying homage to the classics, Bluetonberry’s Zelda clone hits all the right notes. It even has an inventory screen.

Galactic Base Defence by urbandevill

This simple tower defense game has four levels of increasing difficulty, with three types of upgradeable weapon towers. And it’s old-school, requiring you to conserve resources for the highest score.

Super LBP Fighter II Turbo by Hymanator

The action isn’t quite as fast as the real thing, but that means Super LBP Fighter II Turbo could be the mainstream fighter we’ve all been waiting for. You can throw a fireball by pressing down-to-forward and both punch buttons, but my favorite move is the double leg kick.

Rio Dance Off by Wexfordian

The main game in LittleBigPlanet 2 has a couple of mash-the-buttons levels, but this one adds a little flare with selectable characters and a colorful setting. Finally, a way to figure out who’s best at memorizing the PS3′s weird button scheme.

Mediterranean Street Racing by steve_big_guns

A top-down racer in the tradition of Super Sprint and Off-Road, Mediterranean Street Racing is simple but polished. It’ll scratch the racing itch until something more elaborate comes along.

Lunar Explorer by JusticeCovert

Funk the haters who downvoted this level. I’m a sucker for retro and JusticeCovert does justice to the Atari classic Lunar Lander. Yes, the rotational controls are touchy, as they should be. More of this, please.

Sackboy Basketball by Scumble373

There’s a different basketball game with high gravity that’s currently getting all the attention on LittleBigPlanet 2′s hot list. Ignore it and play Sackboy Basketball instead. Why is this one superior? Because the standard gravity allows you to smack players down for the steal, streetball style. It’s not griefing if it serves a purpose!

Atari 2600 Air Raid Cartridges Popping Up

Benjamin Opal — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:51:28 +0000

A couple weeks ago, Tanner Sandlin of Austin, Texas, dug up a boxed copy of Air Raid for Atari 2600, and sold it on eBay for $31,600. Inevitably, people are digging through their closets to see if they’ve got easy money collecting dust. Now, two more Air Raid cartridges are on sale, though they lack the original box that made the first auction so successful. The first auction is for a cartridge in good condition, and the seller is the second owner, having purchased the game from the original owner in April 2009. Current bids are over $1,600, with five days left in the auction.

The second Air Raid cartridge is kind of funky looking, covered in brownish soot with some weird holes in the label. But the owner — who gives no details on how the game was acquired — claims that the game itself works great. Of course, Air Raid isn’t known for being a good game. Sandlin still had his copy precisely because all his friends would immediately return the game after borrowing it and realizing it was terrible. Only a dozen copies were known to exist before Sandlin dug out his boxed copy, having seen the recent craze over Stadium Events. Everyone’s trying to capitalize, which makes for an interesting time in classic game culture. [via GameSniped]

Gaming’s Toughest Questions, As Tackled By Yahoo Answers

Jared Newman — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:15:19 +0000

Yahoo Answers is a massive, sometimes embarrassing snapshot of the human psyche, where anyone can ask any question to an anonymous peanut gallery of non-experts. So for no reason whatsoever, I decided to see what the site’s users were saying about video games. After digging through hundreds of queries — many of them about video game violence and addiction — I amassed a solid list of topics that really matter. Here are some of the most maddening, mystifying and terrifying questions about video games, as posted on Yahoo Answers.

Best Answer – Isn’t that a rhetorical question? [Link]

Best Answer – Because becoming a werewolf is really the next best thing to playing Rampage. [Link]

Best Answer – Now that you mention it, getting the Paramour achievement in Mass Effect was both easy and enjoyable. [Link]

Best Answer – I know! When they asked me if I wanted to pre-order Red Dead Redemption, it moved. [Link]

Best Answer – Just imagine the tone of panic as this statement suddenly turns into a question. [Link]

Best Answer – Dude, I have no idea what you’re talking abo–AAH! Oh. Hey there. [Link]

Not touching that one. [Link]

Best Answer – I dunno. I thought it’d be easier for Americans, with their big American eyes. [Link]

Best Answer – Yes. After a kill, all the pros run around the battlefield yelling “NO SCOPE!”

Best Answer – There’s only one way to find out! [Link]

Best Answer – The same day they “bad” free speech and everyone who butchers the English language. [Link]

Best Answer – Only if you’ll concede that Wii Bowling and retirement homes are just ways to hasten the deaths of the elderly. [Link]

There are a surprisingly large number of queries dedicated to this topic. [Link]

Best Answer – At the very least, they’ll learn to make Mole Rat Wonder Meat. [Link]

Best Answer – Now that’s a rhetorical question. [Link]

Hat tip to my pals at FunnyCrave, who once had a blast answering one of the dumbest questions on Yahoo Answers. More gamer humor here.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Multiplayer Noob Tips: Earning CoD Points and XP Fast

Justin Massoud — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:20:55 +0000

CALL OF CUTY BLACK OP TIPS: Call of Duty: Black Ops is just a couple days old, but that doesn’t mean you need to head into virtual battle unprepared. You need tips for gathering XP and CoD Points, both essential for beefing up your arsenal with new weapons, killstreaks and attachments. Don’t think less of yourself for seeking out strategies for a military shooter — the U.S. armed forces impart the nugget of wisdom “Aim Towards Enemy” in rocket launcher instruction manuals — so think of this how-to guide for leveling up quickly and raking in CoD points as the gaming equivalent of friendly advice on how not to blow yourself up.

Hint #1: Remember the Basics

Though Black Ops features a new currency system for buying anything your heart desires, you still need to level up to unlock weapons and new features as per the last few Call of Duty titles. Thankfully, the road to level 50 (that’s right – the maximum rank has shrunk, but there are more Prestige levels now) can still be traversed with tried-and-true methods. No, seriously – click that link. Our guide to leveling up fast in Modern Warfare 2 is (mostly) applicable to Black Ops. Now most of those tips will help you earn CoD points, too.

Hint #2: Take Out a Contract

There are three different types of Contracts: Mercenary, Operations and Specialist. Mercenary Contracts are generally based around weapons and personal performance. Operations Contracts center around game modes. Specialist Contracts ask you to perform impressive feats, often in a single life. Focus more on Mercenary and Operations contracts as they are simpler to complete, but don’t be afraid to take out Specialist contracts if they fall in line with your play style and other goals. Three contracts (one in each group) can be active simultaneously, which sounds great but may lead to you splitting your efforts and getting the big red “Expired!” stamp on your screen when time runs out.

Pick your Contracts accordingly, and never buy them if you aren’t going to actively chase them; that’s just a waste of CoD points that could instead be used to purchase new gear. If you’re playing Domination with a group of friends,. don’t purchase one requiring five Search and Destroy victories. The bigger/tougher contracts are especially worth it since they can be bought for a modest amount and pay out a chuck of points (and XP). And most importantly, use the time between matches to check if you’ve completed any contracts and then purchase new ones. It’s easy to miss the in-game announcement that you’ve completed one or forget about them altogether as you engage in some post-match trash talk. Once a match begins you cannot take out a contract, so act quickly.

Hint #3: Bet Wisely on Wager Matches

A Wager Match is like Texas Hold ‘Em with guns. You ante up some CoD points (the amount varies), face off against up to five opponents in four unique free-for-all modes, and then earn points for finishing in the top three.

The buy-in amount (and subsequent reward) depends on how much you’re willing to risk. “Ante Up” is low stakes (10 point buy-in), “Weekend Gambler” is medium stakes (1,000 point buy-in), and “High Roller” requires a minimum 10,000 points to play and removes the ability of players to pick the game type they’ll be competing in. It’s assumed you’re skilled all around if you bet here. And if you’re feeling particularly good (or lucky), you can even double down – which increases both the buy-in and the pot.

The payouts in “Ante Up” don’t make it worth your time for anything but getting familiar with how the mode works. Unless you don’t have the funds to support it (and if that’s the case, go do some contracts!), “Weekend Gambler” is the way to go early on. Take first place and you earn 3,000 CoD points. Second place pays 1,800 points, and if you come in third you’ll win your money back at least. Vote for the “Nuketown” map when it’s available for quick and frantic matches that last around five minutes and watch the points add up. After one top showing here you can purchase a single new perk; two first place wins and you can buy the Gunship. Good luck getting to 11 kills in a row!

Hint #4: Challenges Don’t Pay

Unless you’re playing strictly to enter Prestige Mode, don’t worry too much about standard challenges. They don’t reward you with CoD points (just boring old XP) and you’ll likely complete them naturally over time anyway. But if you enjoy tough goals, contracts offer similar challenges and, as previously mentioned, sometimes pay out in both CoD points and XP. Go after them with the same fervor you would normal challenges in previous Call of Duty games.

Hint #5: Headquarters for the Noob and Beyond, Part II

It may not be the most ethical way to play, but if your team is solid and communicates, turning the objective-based Headquarters game type into a 20-minute killing session is a great way to rack up XP, CoD points, and finish Contracts that require many kills. Your opponents won’t like it, and you’ll likely go through dozens of players who will BUpA (that’s “quit” in Call of Duty parlance), but like Axl Rose opined “What’s so civil about war anyway?”

The best way to turn Headquarters into this new game type (my friends call it “20 Minutes of Pain”) is to lock down the initial HQ and hold it for the maximum amount of points. Failing that, grab the first two. Once your team is up 100 (or so) to zero, lock down the next HQ. Don’t enter it; just kill your opponents as they try to. It’s tricky and communication is vital, but imagine the CoD points and XP after 20 minutes of pure slaughter.

Hint #6: Balance Wager Matches and Player Matches

Wager Matches may be great for earning quick cash, but you don’t rank up playing them. And if you don’t rank up, all those CoD points are just going to sit there unspent. Divide your online time between the new Wager Matches and the old Player matches for the best results. For example, play Gun Game until you win a few times and have over 10,000 CoD points, then head into Create-a-Class to buy some new weapons or outfit your old ones with camouflage and a clan tag engraving. By constantly buying new weapons and trying them out you may find that one gun that just clicks.

Hint #7: Consider Your Spending Habits

When you’re just starting out, CoD points are relatively scarce. During the first dozen or so ranks, resist the urge to buy random attachments you’ll only use once or high level killstreaks you may have trouble attaining. Cater your custom classes to your play style or you might end up crawling to higher levels, not sprinting. If you rush enemies, perks like Marathon and Steady Aim are extremely useful – buy them up as soon as you can. If sniping is more your thing, purchase the Scout and Ghost perks. Playing the way you’re good at playing helps win matches, earning extra XP and CoD points.

Photo Gallery:

For more Call of Duty: Black Ops hints and tips, check out our walkthrough index.

Follow the author of this post Justin Massoud on Twitter and Facebook.

Real-Life Achievements for Skiers? That’s Sick

Jared Newman — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:43:19 +0000

The Colorado Rocky Mountains are going to get more game-like this ski season, with a new program that rewards skiers with achievements and other metrics as they ride. Epic Mix, which debuts Colorado ski resorts in November, uses radio frequency identification, or RFID. With an RF tag built into every lift ticket, the mountain knows where you ride, the lifts you take and the distance you ski, and Epic Mix doles out achievements based on your accomplishments.

For lack of a better word, the achievementification of real life is not unique to Epic Mix. An iPhone app called Epic Win provides an avatar to build with everyday tasks like doing your laundry or exercising. Services like Foursquare and GetGlue hand out badges and stickers, respectively, for visiting new places and consuming multimedia.

What’s interesting about Epic Mix — besides the way-cool RF tracking — is how closely the achievements themselves mimic those of video games.

Take a look at the achievements listed above. They all have the potential to change your behavior on the slopes. No longer is the mountain fun for fun’s sake. It has purpose. You take the 6-person lift six times not because it has some killer runs, but because you stand to gain that rush of instant gratification that an achievement provides.

It’s like carrying the gnome in Half-Life 2: Episode 2 or playing the pacifist in Mirror’s Edge. You don’t have to do it — you might not even want to do it — but you do it. Ostensibly, Epic Mix’s achievements are meant to get you on the slopes more often. If you’ve ever bought an Xbox Live Arcade game — maybe a re-release of a classic game you’ve played countless times — because you want to go achievement hunting, you get the idea.

And as with video game achievements, I’m torn by Epic Mix’s implications. Achievements have tarnished the freedom video games usually allow. They remind you, as the game progresses, that maybe you should be hitting more foes with your rifle butt, or trying for a few more grenade kills. Adjusting your path for optimal achievements, not optimal enjoyment, becomes the rule.

So it will be in the mountains of Colorado. You may miss that gem of a run because you were too busy shooting for 10 rides on the same lift. But hey, at least you’ll be able to brag about it on Twitter.

Halo: Reach Noob Tips – Level Up Your Spartan Fast

Justin Massoud — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:36:34 +0000

Halo: Reach just launched and we’re already obsessed with leveling up and scoring credits. Thanks to daily and weekly challenges, various multi-tiered commendations, constantly evolving user-made content, dozens of ranks and a store to spend the credits you earn from doing virtually anything in-game, Halo: Reach is far-and-away Bungie’s most complete (and addicting) addition to the Halo series. We’ve decided to put together a handy guide for leveling up your unique super soldier quickly. Keep the following tips in mind to get more credits (cR) and raise your rank faster.

Hint 1: Check Out the Daily, Weekly Challenges

Think of the daily and weekly challenges as free cR. Most of them are simple (ex. kill a set amount of enemies in the campaign with automatic weapons) and can be accomplished from normal play in relatively short periods of time. You can find them under “Challenges” (shocker!) in the pause menu. Completing them might not seem to award that much cR (one day’s combined daily challenges totaled 3,800 cR while another was 2,100 cR), but multiply that by seven, add in the 1,500 from the weekly challenge, and you’re looking at a nice consistent chunk of change. The coveted Master Chief voice will be yours in no time.

Hint 2: Upgrade Your Commendations

Commendations are hidden under “Service Record” after selecting “Player” in the pause menu. Campaign, matchmaking and Firefight each have their own unique commendations, each containing five different levels. Break into the bronze rank and you get 600 cR; silver rank gets you double that, and so on. Upgrading a commendation is as simple as reading the description and then performing that action. Just know that you must play the appropriate game mode to level up a commendation; killing grunts in Firefight won’t add to your campaign tally, and vice versa.

Many commendations will take a while to complete (the “Pinpoint” commendation in the campaign for example requires 4,000 head shot kills to go gold), and some are downright frustrating (finishing levels on Heroic or Legendary difficulty without dying). But all yield cR. Your best bet is to aim at whatever commendations are within reach based on your natural play style, and avoid spending too much time chasing nearly-impossible goals, when you could be racking up easy cR elsewhere.

Hint 3: Tag Along

Whether you’re new to the game or a seasoned vet, sticking with teammates is a solid strategy, but it’s also a great way to earn cR. In Halo: Reach, you get bonuses for assisting on a kill (some challenges are based on assists, too) and for avenging a teammate’s death. Besides, you’re more likely to get kills in the first place when your buddy has already done some of the work. If you can join up with some friends and communicate, even better.

Hint 4: SWAT or Not

SWAT is a decent choice for a quick cR fix due to the focused nature of the game type, so vote for it when possible. It’s essentially Slayer (or Team Slayer), but everyone loads out with a DMR, a magnum, their chosen armor ability, and no shields. Kills are quick (one head shot is all it takes), which means you don’t have to worry about playing the entire length of a match. And if you’re a dead-eye, so much the better; you’ll rack up a string of kills with ease and end the match that much faster. Just remember: the faster you shoot the DMR, the less accurate it is. If you miss that first head shot, don’t fire again right away. Wait that extra second for the reticle to shrink to its default size before engaging your opponent again. It’s easy to forget that in the heat of battle, but it could save your life and end the other guy’s.

Hint 5: Show Off in the Campaign

You’re a Spartan; play like one. Small amounts of cR are awarded during missions for kills, and those handfuls add up. Increase the amount gained through stylish play and toppling tougher enemies. For example, destroying an enemy and the vehicle they’re riding in yields more cR than just killing the enemy. Turn on Score Mode (even if you’re playing alone) to get a feel for the timing required for double kills and other medals. And if you’re playing with other people, don’t always feel like you need to kill everything that moves. That’s just a sure-fire way of dying a lot and pissing off your teammates. Assists count towards a Support Role commendation, so let your partner finish off that Elite whose shield you destroyed.

Hint 6: Get Some Multi-Kills in Multi-Team

Multi-team is lesser known (and played), but it’s great for earning cR. Pitting six teams of two against each other in slayer and random objective-based matches, this game type is noteworthy because you aren’t sharing your kills with three – or, in the case of Big Team Battle, seven – other players. It’s just you, a single partner, and 10 moving targets. Thanks to the frantic pace (five other teams will be jumping around shooting each other), it’s easy to steal kills. That’s playing smart, though the other teams will have another word for it they’ll be sure to share in the post-game carnage report. Multi-team matches tend to end quickly, too, meaning you’ll have more chances at the “lottery” credits earned at the end of every game.

Hint 7: ONI Sword Base Trick

Youtube.com user AlwaysImBored explains a neat little trick involving the target locator in mission three. By using it on enemies instead of the two Wraiths, you can rack up insane multi-kills. The only downfall is that eventually the cR amount drops dramatically, which means you can’t abuse it indefinitely. On the plus side, this is also an easy way to level up the “Splash Damage” and “Cannon Fodder” commendations.

Hint 8: Fight the Gruntpocalypse

“Gruntpocalypse” is a rendition of Firefight that pits you against an army of grunts. Killing grunts is great fun (especially with the Grunt birthday party skull activated), and as this video illustrates, an easy (and quick) way to earn cR. Depending on your skill and speed, it will take around eight minutes to earn roughly 2,000 cR. And, again, you’ll randomly pick up bonuses here due to upgrading commendations tied into the Firefight mode. It’s good for everybody – except those poor grunt bastards.

For more Halo: Reach hints and tips, check out our guide to the best walkthroughs and guides from around the web.

4 Fallacies of the Anti-Used Game Argument

Jared Newman — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 17:30:49 +0000

Publishers don’t want you to buy used games, and neither do game developers. That’s no surprise, but I was taken aback this week to see some game writers arguing in opposition to the used game market, one that is dominated by Gamestop and, according to the logic of those opposed, doesn’t benefit publishers and developers at all.

Hogwash. Used video games may not result in direct profits for publishers, but the argument that they’re derailing the games industry relies on several falsehoods. Here are the arguments you’re likely to hear against used games, and why they’re bogus:

1. Video Games Don’t Lose Value With Age

Really? When EA Sports stops updating the roster for Madden 10 to push people towards Madden 11, the old game has lost value. When a sequel improves upon the faults of its predecessor, the original game has lost value. If anything, video games depreciate more than movies, books and music, because they are intrinsically tied to improving technology. Old games become stale.

2. Video Games Have No Secondary Market

Compared to movies, which go from theaters to home distribution to ad-supported TV broadcasts, video games’ only chance at generating revenue is on store shelves — or so this false argument goes. Video games actually have a few shots at additional revenue with downloadable content, digital distribution and resale on new consoles. Case in point: NES games are no longer sold in stores, but we happily pay for them again on the Wii’s Virtual Console.

3. Used Game Buyers Freeload By Playing Online

This argument paints used game buyers as people who tax a game’s multiplayer servers without paying the toll, but it gleefully omits the fact that the toll was already paid. If I trade in a multiplayer game, I can no longer play that game online (or offline), so whoever buys that copy is no more of a burden on the publisher than if I had kept the game and continued to play. Meanwhile, publishers have an opportunity to double-dip through the aforementioned DLC, which doesn’t transfer from one owner to the next.

4. People Who Buy Used Games Aren’t Customers

Where is it written that someone who buys a used game never buys new? A few years ago, I rented Mass Effect through GameFly, then I bought a used copy when the price went down. When Mass Effect 2 was released, I bought it within a week of launch. For better or worse, the video games industry is built on franchises, not one-off hits. When someone buys a used game, that person becomes a potential sale for the big sequel. The challenge for publishers is in making games that are worth the day one asking price, but I understand that it’s easier to just complain.

Some Awesome Video Game Music, Just Because

Jared Newman — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:41:27 +0000

Over at Kilted Moose, Scott Munro put together a short list of his favorite video game music. They don’t align with my favorites at all, but the thing about game music, and music in general, is that we’re drawn to different songs and styles for different reasons. So here are some of my most cherished video game songs. I won’t say they’re the greatest compositions of all time — many are just deep cuts from well-known games — but they deserve to be appreciated.

Mega Man 5: Gravity Man

The funk drops at about 1:08. If you can’t dig that breakdown, you’re already dead.

Super Paper Mario: Gloam Valley

Try listening to just the bass line for an example of how much effort goes into these songs.

Doom II: Running from Evil (Entryway)

The second half of the song contains what is unquestionably the most face-melting MIDI solo of all time.

Rez: Fear is the Mindkiller by Adam Freeland

Finally, some video game music you can feel confident blasting from your car stereo. Tidbit: the killer horn sample comes from “California Soul” by Marlena Shaw.

Mortal Kombat II: The Courtyard

Good background fighting music, yes, but the mish-mash of tribal drum fills, atonal trills and an overbearing synth lead is beautifully abstract.

Contra 3: Hell Messenger (Stage 5)

This song does not get enough credit for how off-the-wall ridiculous it is. Mixed measures and clever counterpoint abound.

Ninja Gaiden: Foster’s Theme

I love the way the snare hits are scattered with such precision through the bridge in Foster’s Theme.

Streets of Rage 2: Spin on the Bridge

Streets of Rage 2 had a lot of great music, but the theme from stage 2 gets props for being all atonal and weird. The bassline seems to be caught on a rubber band.

No More No More Heroes

Let’s end with an epic jam. A live band could vamp on this blues progression forever.

Three Ways to Die in the New Mortal Kombat (and One You’ll Never See)

Jared Newman — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:34:39 +0000

Sub-Zero’s corpse torn asunder on the screen in front of me, I’m standing next to Eddie Ferrier, associate designer of the new Mortal Kombat. I had to ask: How did you guys come up these nasty Fatalities?

Ferrier can’t quite articulate the process. And how could he? Moments ago, he commanded Kung Lao to set his bladed hat on the ground, spinning in perpetuity. Kung Lao reached over the blade to grab Sub-Zero’s ankles on the opposite side, pulling the fallen fighter through, groin first. He lifts both halves of the body, remarkably intact but dripping blood. Ferrier, fumbling through a vague explanation about brainstorming with his colleagues, cracks a subtle smile. He’s been working on Mortal Kombat games since the beginning. I can tell he loves the job.

With Midway gutted in liquidation, its assets sold, new Mortal Kombat IP holder Warner Bros. is diving back into the gory fighting franchise with renewed vigor. The new game, simply dubbed Mortal Kombat, has more manpower behind it than any previous game in the series, Ferrier said. And yet the game is simple again. Just as Street Fighter IV returned to form after so many Alphas and Turbos and Hypers, so too will Mortal Kombat. Yes, it’s a 2D fighter again, and the fatalities are disgusting.

I’ve always had a soft spot for Mortal Kombat, not just because of the over-the-top, almost comical gore, but because I actually liked the game. Most critics panned the classic trilogy as mindless compared to the finesse of Street Fighter, even as throngs lined up for battle in arcades. I admired the game’s simplicity, and the way it brought together experienced players and novices. In what other game are you thankful to get bludgeoned by a skilled opponent? Here the reward is a Fatality — a shameless display of violence that sees the loser executed in the most imaginative ways.

This is why I made sure to let Ferrier beat me, not that I had a chance anyway. His second Fatality, performed by Sektor, began with a cluster of weapon targets hovering on the victim, Reptile. A missile emerged from Sektor’s stomach, launching Reptile’s remains in the air. And those targets? They became guidance for another volley of missiles, picking off each limb in explosive close-ups.

Fatalities aside, what I like most about the new Mortal Kombat is how it feels like the old Mortal Kombat. You can jump over projectiles, move in for a roundhouse kick or perform those improbable uppercuts that launch your foe high in the air. Old special moves are intact, so I had no problem dialing in ice blasts, venom balls and Scorpion’s signature spear. For experienced players, it’s back to Mortal Kombat’s old system of free-form, juggle combos rather than blind dialing of long button sequences, which ultimately corrupted the series.

What I’m not sold on is a new power meter that lets the player perform enhanced special moves. Build this meter up with Sub-Zero, for instance, and he can launch an ice ball that can’t be jumped over. It just adds a layer of complexity that seems unfitting for a back-to-basics sequel. However, a fully-accumulated meter also allows one of my favorite new additions, the X-ray attack. Execute one of these moves mid-match, and you’re treated to a close up of fist hitting skull, foot crunching ribs or, most amusingly, fingers poking eyeballs. Extreme gruesomeness is no longer the exclusive domain of fatalities.

For my last death, Ferrier offered me a choice: Get knocked off The Pit II — same as the one in Mortal Kombat 2 — or murdered by Mileena. I chose the former for old times sake, and had second thoughts about missing Mileena’s send-off as Scorpion’s body careened to the ground, but all was rectified when he hit bottom. Ferrier made sure to point out someone else’s organ, rotting on a nearby spike.

Oh, and that one fatality you won’t see? Ferrier mentioned off-hand that some ideas were just too over-the-top, and better left alone. Like what? Well, he said, one such demise involved stabbing someone in the throat, wiggling open a cavity and tearing the head apart with bare hands. I can’t decide whether I’m glad or disappointed that didn’t make the cut.

Mortal Kombat is coming to Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 next year.

The Brains Behind Volunteer Video Game Walkthroughs

Justin Massoud — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:00:49 +0000

The last thing most gamers do when they get home, rip the cellophane off a brand new game, pop it in and press ‘start’ is think to themselves, ‘I’m going to play this game multiple times until I discover the best possible course through it and then share the info with strangers on the Internet.’ For amateur video game videographers like Zach Sharpe and Mathieu Brunelle, it’s par for the course.

These unsung heroes put in countless hours for no pay and little fame just so we have some original, entertaining content that also spells out how to defeat that one boss we’re stuck on, or exactly where to find that last golden widget in the haunted forest. Though companies like Prima and BradyGames are still putting out print strategy guides and bigger game sites dedicate endless resources to crafting their own walkthroughs, Sharpe and Brunelle are just two of hundreds giving them a run for their money.

We reached out to both to find out how much work goes into their video guides and why they do what they do.

Sharpe, whose “Let’s Play” video series can be seen at Viddler, believes creating user-generated content is its own reward. “I’ll be the first to admit that the average view count on my videos is pitiful, but it’s very endearing to see even one or two people hassle me about it and say, ‘dude, when are you getting back to [the game]?’” Sharpe said. “It’s these people , few though they may be, that genuinely enjoy watching me play that make it worth it.”

Sharpe, who is 20-years-old, wants his viewers to have a good time above all, but he does have an ulterior motive for making videos: it’s good practice. He’s currently pursuing a degree in education and wants to teach overseas. “Them learning from the videos is the icing on the cake,” Sharp said.

“For me , the central motivation for a ‘Let’s Play’ is to teach,” Sharpe said. To ensure he’s able to teach properly, he selects games he’s very familiar with; teaching an unfamiliar game via video would be akin to explaining a foreign language with just index cards.

“I ask myself, ‘Do I know the game well enough to teach it?’ Not just to the degree of solving a puzzle or boss encounter for the viewer, but to show them subtle nuances about the game many people may not be aware of,” Sharpe said. “I think a big draw for Let’s Plays is that it’s usually very fun to watch people play a game that they are clearly passionate about and very skilled at.”

Outside of the time-consuming process of producing Let’s Play videos he manages to find time to hang out with friends, read, and write. He also attends Sakura Con, a video game and anime convention held in Seattle, where he’s cosplayed as the Merchant from “Resident Evil 4.” Next year he promises to rock the convention as the Red Engineer from “Team Fortress 2.”

Contrary to Let’s Play, which allows the player some more leeway to ramble or inject personal thoughts, are the more traditional video guides that focus mainly on getting gamers through a game — a style that YouTube regular Mathieu Brunelle (AKA Misty or Chronexia) has utilized on over a dozen complete walkthroughs.

Brunelle, a French-Canadian currently residing in Montreal, just turned 22-years-old but he’s been working with video for years. “I started doing this kind of stuff when I was 14 or 15-years-old,” he says. “Plus I studied movie making after high school, which makes me really professional in my work.” Despite his nearly 10 years of experience he has a surprising take on making walkthroughs “Video filming and editing isn’t a passion. However, it’s something I’m really good at.”

Considering the amount of time that goes into a video walkthrough, being good only helps so much. Ignoring the time it takes to actually film a game walkthrough (which is nebulous, thanks to varying game lengths and possible replays of tough spots), Brunelle says that it takes upwards of 2 hours to render a 10-minute video file. “This is 2 hours where I have to wait and sit back while my computer can compress the file video and audio.” Add in edits (“nine parts per recording is almost 20 hours of editing”) and it’s easy to see why Brunelle himself half-jokingly admits, “Yes, I do need a life!”

Despite the large amount of time he’s dedicated to video walkthroughs, Brunelle is busy with an even bigger project: “I’m working on a trilogy of books that I’ll be sending to publishers next September.”

A tip of our Mario hats to Sharpe, Brunelle, and everyone else out there spending countless hours to help us get through those rough spots.

9 Things I Learned From the Halo: Reach Beta

Jared Newman — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 15:16:01 +0000

In a few hours, someone at Microsoft will press a button and open the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta to millions of rabid fans. If you’ve got a copy of Halo 3: ODST, you should be able to access the beta by late morning Pacific time, early afternoon Eastern time and early evening GMT. I got a head start over the weekend through an early access code provided by Microsoft (and so did a few of you through our contest), and while I don’t think a beta needs a full review, I’ve got some thoughts on the Halo: Reach beta and what it means for the full version of the game due this fall:

1. Armor powers represent Halo: Reach’s most notable change from previous games. They let you bring one special ability to battle, such as a jet pack or Active Camo, and may be tied to specific weapons loadouts, though not in any of the games I played. They’re great until you realize everyone else has them, too.

2. Predictions: Armor Lock will become the choice of skilled players who learn to deflect grenade traps and power weapons. Noobs will be identified by their jet packs, but they’re too fun not to use. When in doubt, the rest of us will just turn invisible.

3. Being a Scout lets you run faster in short bursts, which is only useful when fleeing a losing battle or chasing someone who stole your flag. It is the most depressing special ability ever made.

4. Social settings, which let you define what kind of people you want to play with, don’t work yet, hopefully because the sample size is too small in the “Friends and Family” beta. I reserve the right to change my opinion when the floodgates open to thousands of whiners, potty mouths and people who despise teamwork.

5. Veto power is replaced by the choice of a few different game types at the start of each map. Surprisingly, a lot of variety came up in the voting process, but I fear the masses will soon kill Crazy King and Juggernaut in favor of nothing but Team Slayer.

6. Needle Rifle: I liked it better the first time, when it was called the Covenant Carbine. Designated Marksman Rifle: I liked it better the first time, when it was called the pistol from Halo: Combat Evolved. The current pistol: It zooms again. I still don’t like it.

7. Dual-wielding is not missed for the most part. But I do pine for those rare occasions where the SMG/Plasma Rifle would totally catch your Battle Rifle-wielding opponent off-guard.

8. The Halo: Reach Beta still feels like Halo, an experience that was already well-refined the last time around. That means you can keep playing Halo 3 and not feel like you’re missing much, but it won’t stop you from trying to level up and unlock as many armor decorations as possible before the beta ends on May 19.

9. Like any good appetizer, the Halo: Reach beta runs the risk of spoiling the meal. There’s something to be said for waiting until the fall and experiencing the whole game. At least that’s what folks who don’t own Halo 3: ODST can tell themselves.

10 Weird and Awesome Homemade Arcade Cabinets

Justin Massoud — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 12:00:16 +0000

Arcades are dead, but that isn’t stopping thousands dozens of people around the world from attempting to recreate the nostalgia for BO-infused sweat-boxes in their own homes. The following homemade cabinets range from the weird to the weirder. They may be set to “free play” or feature new games but these out-there homemade creations will make any arcade rat worth their tokens yearn for track balls, joysticks, and over-sized buttons.

NES Cabinet

Merging two distinctly old-school styles, this Nintendo-centric table-top cabinet recreates the timeless look of the NES controller with arcade sensibilities. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of stomping goombas while cooking mushrooms.

Dr. Frankenstein’s Steampunk Cabinet

It’s alive! This Frankenstein-inspired monster sports an incredible amount of detail, from the glowing neon portholes featuring the titular monster to the Victorian-style motif. Unfortunately the owner probably has to worry about neighbors armed with pitchforks and torches trying to bust down his door to give this cabinet a shot.

Sega Dreamcast Cabinet

At least one person is still angry that Sega dropped out of the hardware business. His name is Tjerk Otten, and to celebrate the dead-before-its-time Sega Dreamcast he built this sleek cabinet. It’s missing a second set of controls, but at least he doesn’t have to struggle playing Capcom Vs. SNK with the gimped Dreamcast controller’s d-pad.

Pac-Matt Cabinet

With the ridiculous amount of buttons on this jutting cabinet it’s hard to imagine playing anything, except maybe Pac-Man. And what’s with the track ball off to the side? That’s like putting a joystick by the quarter slots.

Guitar Hero Cabinet

An arcade cabinet in look only, this authentic amplifier casing (complete with wheels!) means that even if the volume isn’t at 11 you’re still rocking out.

Metroid Cabinet

Yes, that’s a fully-modeled Mother Brain floating inside this work of retro art. The detail on this cabinet is amazing with numerous cool touches — note the Chozo statue “holding” the track ball. It even has slots for NES, SNES, and N64 controllers.

Arcade Odyssey LED Cabinet

Ever wondered if you could set a high score in Donkey Kong while a bunch of LEDs were flashing all around you? Or if you could fight Juggernaut in Marvel vs. Capcom while suffering from a seizure? Robert Downey did, and this was the result: the Arcade Odyssey cabinet.

OutRun Cabinet

We mentioned this last month but feel it bears repeating. Garnet Hertz’s plan is to attach the OutRun cabinet onto a go-kart and program software that would allow the screen to display the real-world in 8-bit, essentially allowing you to drive around and (hopefully) not crash. Sadly, you won’t actually be able to outrun much.

Grateful Dead Cabinet

This hippie homage to both The Dead and arcades features some great art, and the glowing trackball in the skull is a nice touch. Unsurprisingly it’s rigged so if you push in the quarter slot a dime bag falls out.

La Boite Cabinet

“La Boite” is French for “Awesome Robot Cabinet.” Well, it should be. The distinct construction makes it the Amityville house of cabinets, but without the murder and ghosts. Only 30 of these were made apparently. And yes, it isn’t technically an arcade machine but its ability to connect to a gaming console nets “La Boite” a spot. If you can read French, check out the official site.

Justin Massoud thinks way too much about video games. He also writes for GameSpy.com and Asylum.com.

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