Spore Finally Dated

A new teaser trailer has revealed the release date of the long awaited god game, Spore. Expect it in stores September 7 2008. It's too bad it couldn't come out during the spring or summer but at least now we have a solid release day.



Also, GameVideos.com has part 1 of a 2 part interview with the game creators behind this amazing game.

Four Free Games for Steam/Nvidia Users

nVIDIA and Valve are offering four free games to all Steam subscribers who also have nVIDIA hardware installed. This can be applied to any account but only once per computer (I know I tried) The free games include:

Portal: First Slice
First Slice is a shortened version of the original Portal, with only 11 of the 19 Test chambers. A perfect way to try Portal if you haven't yet.

Half-Life 2 Deathmatch
A fun if somewhat shallow multi-player game using all the weapons from Half-Life 2. Maps created by players help keep it fresh.

Peggle Extreme
The combined ten Half-Life 2 , Team Fortress 2 , and Portal themed puzzle are a hilariously stark contrasted to the normally candy coated Peggle series. This is a short but sweet spin off to Peggle Deluxe.

Half-Life 2: Lost Coast
This brief game is a deleted section of Half Life 2, Originally released to showcase High Dynamic Range Lighting (a lighting technology that emulates the way human eyes see light). It's fun while it lasts.

Bonus Round
Sam and Max Episode 4: Abe Lincoln Must Die! (Free for everyone)
Stop a evil statue of Ape Lincoln from becoming President of the United States in this ridiculously funny point and click affair

So there you go, at least a weekends worth of fun for nothing!

The Future of 3D Games and Movies

Xbox Originals: Worth a Double Dip?

Released alongside the 2007 Xbox Fall update, a new download service dubbed Xbox Originals made it's debut. Each title is available for 1200 MS points each or $15 Each one works exactly the same as the disk version. Nothing new has been added to any of the games. The only reason to buy any online this way is if you can't find them at the store. But are the game any good? Read on to find out.


Halo: Combat Evolved
The game that kept the Xbox 1 alive during a shaky launch. Arguably the best in the series, Halo is just as fun today as it was six years ago.

Pros
Perfect Control and Level Design (Yes, even the Library areas)
Great Story
Fantastic A.I.

Cons
Dated Graphics
No online mode so far
Some environment are reused to artificially lengthen game

Verdict
Chances are that you've already played this, but if not it's definitely worth a play though to see how it all started. Just don't expect anything the later installments have like duel wielding or online play.

Fable
Lionhead studios much hyped Action RPG initially disappointed fans, but sold well due to the game still being really good. The vast number of upgrades available in addition to the well done voice acting and easy to use combat system helped players forget about features that got cut. (Like online play)

Pros
Solid combat system and robust customization options
Faster load times on Xbox 360 versus Xbox 1
Funny Dialog

Cons
Linear feeling world
Somewhat predicable story
Framerate drops occasionally

Verdict
A fun action RPG that didn't redefine RPGs but still managed to be a highly polished and well made game. However, if you want the best version of Fable, it's worth it to look for Fable: The Lost Chapters for extra quests, additional locations and a longer ending.

Indigo Prophecy
This gritty, story driven action game allows players to control the actions of multiple people to tell a sort of interactive story. This is one of the only games to really make you care about what happens to the characters. The movie like picture in picture camera views, fantastic animation and superb voice acting make this feel like a movie. Action sections also help to keep the player entertained until the end.

Pros
Interesting Story with alternate outcomes and multiple controllable characters
Great Voice Acting
Unique controls

Cons
Some plot lines can get confusing
Graphics can look fuzzy in places
The camera and controls can hamper the experience sometimes

Verdict
This may be the only way you'll be able to play it, seeing as it was hard to find when it was new. Indigo Prophecy is worth it for a adventure fans or anyone looking for a intriguing and gritty, story with deep replayability.

Crash Bandicoot : The Wrath of Cortex
After Naughty Dog left behind the Crash Bandicoot Franchise, the first game to come from new developer Traveler's Tales was a safe rehash of previous games in the series. Feature the same crate breaking gameplay the seris is known for. A few problems hurt the the overall experience. Balancing issues where levels can be too easy one moment and too hard another being the biggest one. It's strange that Microsoft decided to release such a antiquated relic.

Pros
Classic Crash Bandicoot gameplay is still fun
Easy controls
Vehicle levels help add variety

Cons
Weak Story
One hit deaths and uneven difficulty hamper fun
Too short

Verdict
Almost exactly the same as previous Crash games, this will entertain fans of Platforming and Crash Bandicoot games while it lasts. It's not the worst game ever but, you're better off going with something more polished like Psychonauts.

Fusion Frenzy
In the Xbox 360 early days Fusion Frenzy was developed as a party game intended to help fill out the lineup. It turned out to be a mediocre collection of uninspired and mind numbingly boring minigames. If you want a quick easy game to play with a few friends, this is not a terrible choice, but this is certainly not anything groundbreaking.

Pros
Some minigames are kind of fun
Playing with friends can be fun for a little while
Easy to pick up and play

Cons
While running on the Xbox 360 the framerate stutters sometimes.
Most minigames are mindless and boring
Lame character selection

Verdict
Save your money for better games.

Psychonauts
From the same people who made Full Throttle and the Upcoming Brutal Legend, Psychonauts was highly reviewed, but sold poorly. Now that it has been re-released, anyone who missed out will finally be able to play this funny platformer.

Pros
Hilarious story and dialog
Solid controls
Fantastic level design and variety

Cons
Gameplay is nothing different from platforming norms
Some puzzles are unclear at first
Lots of item collection

Verdict
This is one of the funnest games I've ever played. The gameplay is pretty standard for platforming but, you'll keep playing just to see what happens next. Unfortunately, because it didn't sell very well, a sequel is unlikely. Which is too bad because it's just too original to pass up.


Most of these games can be found for less then the price offered here. However, some are quite hard to come by (Especially Indigo Prophecy). Just be sure to be completely sure you can't get it any other way before you take the plunge and buy a non refundable game.

Grand Theft Auto IV Trailer "Move up, ladies"

There's a new Trailer for Grand Theft Auto IV. Check it out!

Xbox Live goodies coming soon

Xbox Live is now five years old. From the beginning days to what it is now, Xbox live has changed online gaming forever. To celebrate this momentous event, today and tomorrow Xbox live arcade title Carcassonne is free.

Xbox Classics Come to Live
But this isn't the only reason to be excited about Xbox Live. Something that has been a rumor for years, Microsoft has finally announced that Xbox 1 titles will be available for download though Xbox Live for $15 each (1200 MS points). They all will be released alongside the Fall 2007 update(See Below). The titles included Halo: Combat Evolved, Psychonauts, Indigo Prophecy, Crimson Skies, Fable, Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex, and Fusion Frenzy

While not all of these are fantastic titles, (I'm looking at you, Fusion Frenzy) this is an exciting announcement for anyone trying to track down some of these hard to find titles. Games that were under the radar, like Psyconauts and Crimson Skies, can now have a second chance for an audience. All of these games have been ported over using the same software for the disk versions. They don't have Achievements and games that didn't already have online play won't be any different here. The only reason to download a Xbox 1 game is if you don't already have it, or you want to archive it. Now if only they would add Metal Arms: A Glitch in the System and Beyond Good and Evil, two more games that where woefully overlooked.

Xbox Live Fall update 2007 date revealed
Microsoft has also announced the day of the Fall update: it's December 4th. If the leaked information is correct, then it will include IPTV, Xvid support, Animated themes, and tons more. See the full list here.

Xbox Live has for years been the pinnacle of online features on consoles. But with more and more online games coming out on other consoles without a fee, it will be interesting to see how long this service can stay successful. But so far it's been worth every penny.

How to make money with your blog using PayPerPost

PayPerPost is a company providing service for advertisers to get the word out about their product and to allow bloggers to make money posting. People can make thousands of dollar per week using this easy to use service. It’s also really easy to get started.

How it works
This is how it works: So let's say you want to advertise your new product. After you sign up under an advertiser, you can then create an opportunity, or opp. You can then specify a variety of different requirements that the blogger, A.K.A. postie, needs to fulfill before they can take your opp. This includes popularity, traffic and more. After that a blogger who has signed up as a postie, like me, can accept it an then write an article about it.

Afterward, they need to make sure not to forget to let everyone know you're getting paid for the post by placing a "Sponsored By" button at the bottom, naming the advertiser directly. Then the advertiser reviews your post. If they approve and it meets the agreed requirements, the money is transferred from the advertiser's account to the postie's account. That's basically how it works. There are a tons of available opps. All from companies who want to advertise their product or service in different blogs.

Another method for advertisers is the PayPerPost Direct option. This works pretty much the same way but, the main difference is advertisers visit a blog, click on the “Hire Me” button and contact the postie directly. From there, they can make an agreement about what they want from the transaction.

How I'm Using it
I signed up about three months ago so my blog has now reached the age requirement and was officially approved. PayPerPost has an opp available that gives you $20 if you talk about them. So I’ll make sure to put a sponsor button on the bottom of this page. : ) This is one of many opps available on many different subjects. It’s been very easy for me and anyone who has a blog should look into using PayPerPost.

If you would like to send me an offer to talk about your new game or website or whatever, let me know. Just click on the “Hire Me” button on the sidebar. I can only talk about things that I have either tried or know enough about, so make sure to give me some detailed info about your product. Thanks!