VIDEO GAME NEWS: Warner Brothers Interactive Announce Dying Light Trailer

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,
Our friends at Warner Brothers Interactive have shared with us the trailer for the forthcoming game Dying Light that shows a Zombie outbreak from a different point of view.

Here's what they had to say:
"Kill or be killed," they say. But is that what you would do?

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Techland are asking that very question in the latest trailer for Dying Light. Doctors, teachers, fathers, sons...or so they were. But now they've lost the light behind their eyes, and are vicious monsters who become even more threatening as day turns to night. When neighbours turn on neighbours, and the fight to stay alive becomes the only thing keeping you alive, what will become of humanity?

We’ve become used to killing zombies in video games over the years, but who were these zombies before they became infected? Is there still a human inside of them? In the ‘Humanity’ trailer, Techland aims to address the reality behind the zombie fiction, and present a deeper vision of what a zombie epidemic would mean for humankind.

In the new trailer for Dying Light, fans will see what has become of the city of Harran after a vicious outbreak begins to spread. As day turns to night, players will have to do whatever it takes to survive. They may even have to make choices that will make them question their own sense of humanity.

And now onto the trailer:

We hope you've enjoyed this and like us can't wait to see what the game holds in store.


All the best,


Gareth and Lady Eleanor

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Of Orcs and Men: Buddy Trailer - Koch Media

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,
Our friends at Koch Distribution have let us know about the latest buddy trailer for Of Orcs and Men (released 12th of October) on the following formats:
PC
Xbox 360
Playstation 3


Buddy Trailer:

Game Blurb: In a brutal world at war, where the Empire of Men seeks to expand its domination and impose its beliefs, Goblins are systematically persecuted and slaughtered, while Orcs, if not killed in battle, are destined to be enslaved. Play as Arkaïl, an elite Orc soldier of the legendary legion of Bloodjaws, a league of warriors devoted to victory in the war against Humankind. As a veteran group of warriors who have seen the most brutal of battles, the Bloodjaws are appointed to complete a mission that could change the course of the war: kill the one man responsible for all of the bloodshed, the one who has, for years, exhorted the human masses to loath and fight the green-skinned people... the Emperor himself. Goblin, Styx will soon join you to aid you in your mission. He is everything Arkaïl is not. While Arkaïl focuses on power, due to his incredible strength, Styx benefits from darker powers and stealth abilities, making him the perfect assassin. From the filthy alleys at the foot of the Great Wall to the depths of the Empire of Men, your heroes will face the greatest dangers throughout their epic quest.  We can't wait to put those sneaky Hummies in thier place and hope you'll join the struggle of the Greenskins, Gareth and Lady Eleanor

VIDEO GAME REVIEW: Carrier Command: Gaea Mission - Xbox 360 - Mastertronic Ltd.

Release Date:

SYNOPSIS:

Carrier Command: Gaea Mission is a breath taking combination of action game with strategic elements set in a vast detailed archipelago. It reinvents the classic gameplay of the original Carrier Command to deliver a truly next-gen experience.

You are the commander of a near-future aircraft carrier of immense power, with many tools and vehicles at your disposal. Landing in an unfamiliar, free-roaming environment, exploration will be key and the thrill of discovery will spur you onward. The colony planetoid of Taurus is a pivotal battleground in the United Earth Coalition (UEC)'s long campaign against the rogue Asian Pacific Alliance (APA), who gained dominion over Earth in an apocalyptic conflict. The wide oceans of Taurus are dotted with resource-rich islands of varying composition and hiding many secrets.

Gaea Mission campaign

Follow the deep story coinciding with the second book of the Gaea Universe trilogy and evolve from an underdog to a skilled Carrier commander and prevail against all odds with your ragtag crew.

Free roam strategy mode

Enjoy a game mode closely based on the original 80s classics! Choose startup settings and the balance of power and challenge the enemy carrier to an ultimate strategic duel.

Massive game environment

Explore 30+ unique islands in 6 distinct climatic zones.

Fight the battle

Jump into the adrenaline pumping combat by taking direct control of any unit; shift seamlessly between your walruses, mantas and map via the immersive real-time Picture-in-Picture window.

Command the Action

Take your place behind the advanced battle computer aboard your carrier; manufacture upgrades, weapons and enhancements, customize your units and use tactics to move them across the open battlefield.

Unique game mechanics

Control a seamless blend of real-time remotely controllable vehicles with a programmable battle computer to dominate the battlefield.

Unit management

Acquire and manufacture new upgrades, weapons and enhancements for your carrier and vehicles, but don’t forget to keep an eye on your ammo and fuel stocks as well.

Strategy

Traverse the seas to establish a network of island bases for defense, mining and manufacturing. Keep a steady supply of resources and equipment to push your campaign forward.


REVIEW:

I’m an old school gamer and by that I mean I was playing consoles back in the early days, when things like Pong and Pacman were the height of E-Gaming. So yeah, I’m a little dated, but as the games have developed and adjusted so have I, yet whilst many gamers of the modern age will think that I’m not getting into my dotage I do have a good recall of classics such as the original carrier command over 20 years ago.

Whilst this modern remake plays to the strengths of the classic, it’s a game that I see will cause quite a lot of frustration among gamers for numerous reasons, first of all it incredibly difficult and whilst some of the early missions may seem reasonable, things really hot up when you get your Carrier and you have to manage multiple units. It does ease you into this and it does give you a tutorial but on that first mission from it to capture Arachnia, there will be a number of players throwing their paddles down in frustration as to be honest I didn’t find the controller as responsive as I’d have liked and got wiped by a robot as I was trying to figure out which way the gun was facing so that I could change it whilst trying to drive forward rather than to the side.

Add to this a game that sticks to rather limited graphics and you may be thinking that it’s a losing battle but once you get past your frustration and start to figure things out, the game really does start getting quite cerebral as you try and capture a few enemies islands whilst defending your own. Yes its hard, yes there are major drawbacks with the controls (in my opinon) and yes the graphics feel not as tidy as they could have been but if you like strategy that will tax you to your limit then this is going to be one for you.

However if like me you have trouble remembering things, get annoyed by a principle character who doesn’t feel like he fits in vocally let alone getting frustrated at trying to figure out the damn unit commands or the paddle controls that aren’t as responsive as I’d have liked, then you may well want to avoid it.

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Injustice: Gods Among Us Collectors Edition - Warner Brothers Interactive

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,
Our friends at Warner Brothers Interactive have let us know about Collector's Edition coming out on Friday 19th April 2013 for the following formats:
Xbox 360
Playstation 3
PC

The UK Injustice: Gods Among Us Collector’s Edition will include:

· Exclusive 25cm Injustice Collectible statue featuring iconic characters Batman and Wonder Woman
· Two issues of a brand new DC Comics series
· Exclusive Steelbook™ casing
· Three exclusive skins based on Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman from DC COMICS – THE NEW 52

Injustice: Gods Among Us introduces a bold new franchise to the fighting game genre from NetherRealm Studios, creators of the definitive fighting game Mortal Kombat.  Featuring DC Comics icons such Batman, Cyborg, The Flash, Harley Quinn, Nightwing, Solomon Grundy, Superman and Wonder Woman, the latest title from the award-winning studio presents a deep original story. Heroes and villains will engage in epic battles on a massive scale in a world where the line between good and evil has been blurred.  The game is scheduled for release April 2013 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Wii U™.

For more information, visit www.injustice.com.

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Ubisoft and HMV support Teenage Cancer Trust with Rocksmith

Hail Mighty Readers and Followers of the Calloused Thumbs,
OK, so console games have moved on, you can get fit with them, you can control characters in game with your body and now you can learn to play the guitar with Rocksmith (available on Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and PC on the 28th September 2012) by Ubisoft.

But wait thats not all, we've just had a spectacular announcement from our friends at HMV and Ubisoft who've let us know this:

"Today, Ubisoft, in partnership with retailer HMV and their nominated charity Teenage Cancer Trust, has announced that, from the launch of Rocksmith™ for Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 systems on 28th  September 2012 (and 19th October for PC), until Christmas, with every purchase of the game in the UK, £5 will be donated to the charity. Ubisoft and HMV will each contribute £2.50 from every sale. Rocksmith is the first and only game where consumers can plug in ANY real electric or bass guitar and learn whilst playing, with gameplay that automatically adjusts to personal ability, and innovative game design that makes playing music visually intuitive.

“We are exceedingly excited to be launching Rocksmith in the UK this week,” said Rob Cooper, Managing Director, Ubisoft UK. “The game literally provides real-life benefits by teaching people how to play an actual guitar, and we hope to inspire the next generation of rock stars in the UK and beyond. Moreover, I couldn’t be more pleased to be partnering with HMV to raise much-needed funds for Teenage Cancer Trust.”

Teenage Cancer Trust, founded over 20 years ago, is a charity devoted to improving the lives of teenagers and young adults with cancer. They are the only UK charity dedicated to improving the quality of life and chances of survival for the six young people aged between 13 and 24 diagnosed with cancer every day. To date, Teenage Cancer Trust has funded, developed and opened 22 specialist units within NHS hospitals across the UK, which are supporting young people and their families.

HMV Product Manager for Games & Technology, Vicky White, adds: “We’re delighted to be partnering in this special promotion that enables us to support the launch of Ubisoft’s fantastic Rocksmith, while also raising funds for our wonderful nominated charity, Teenage Cancer Trust.  All three parties have a natural connection through music and gaming, so this feels like a great fit.”    

Game Blurb:
Introducing the next stage in the evolution of the guitar game. Rocksmith is the first and only game where you can plug ANY real guitar into your console and actually LEARN while you PLAY.
Nothing plastic. Nothing fake. Just the most authentic guitar experience in music gaming. By plugging your electric guitar into your console, you’ll develop real skills and real styles while playing real music.

Featuring gameplay that automatically adjusts to your personal ability, and innovative game design that makes playing music visually intuitive, Rocksmith will engage experienced musicians as well as those who have never picked up a guitar before in their life.

You’ll unlock mini games to hone specific skills. You’ll be able to choose from a large catalogue of songs in different styles. And you’ll experience it all with an actual guitar. Nothing compares to playing a real guitar. Except playing Rocksmith.

The game will include the brand new Bass mode, offering players the opportunity to play bass guitar on all supported on-disc and downloadable songs.

Not only can players play the bass parts of songs, but bassists of all experience levels can also improve their skills with dedicated bass technique challenges and tutorial videos. Players can even use any 6-string guitar to emulate a 4-string bass. Tracking their learning has never been easier as bass progression is tracked separately from guitar progression.

Last but not least, all songs can be played in multiplayer with one person playing the bass part and the other the guitar part.

Key Features

• When we say any guitar we mean any guitar: Whether it’s the guitar sitting in your attic that you have forgotten about up till now, or the guitar you are yet to buy, Rocksmith lets you plug any guitar into your console or computer. Electric guitar or electro-acoustic, as long as your guitar has a jack, you can play. And get plugged in right away as Rocksmith comes with a unique quarter-inch jack to USB cable!
• Get Plugged In: Rocksmith will include a unique quarter-inch to USB cable that is the first of its kind, and will allow users to plug any real guitar with a quarter-inch jack directly into their Xbox 360®, PlayStation 3®, or PC. Developed exclusively for Rocksmith, this guitar cable is 11.25' and turns the guitar’s signal from analog to digital, allowing it to be recognised and played through video game consoles for the first time.
• Real time adjustment levels: from beginner to rock god!: You love a challenge, but hate being overwhelmed. Rocksmith understands this, and knows exactly how far to push to keep you entertained. With addictive gameplay that adapts continuously to your personal skill level, you will automatically progress from single notes to complex chords at your own pace. Eventually you’ll be playing 100% of the actual guitar parts from the songs and the game will challenge you to step away from the notes on screen and play songs from memory. Imagine that. A video game that will get you stage-ready.
• Bursting with Hits: One of the most satisfying moments for any guitar player is hearing yourself play your favourite song for the first time. Rocksmith has amassed an amazing library of songs from different music genres allowing players to experience those moments first hand. Whether you like classic rock bands such as The Rolling Stones, The Cure, Lynrd Skynrd or if you’re more into current chart-toppers such as The Strokes, Muse, Radiohead and The XX, we have you covered. And with our growing tracklist from metal to indie rock available for download, you will always find a song that suits your mood.
• There’s always a way to develop your guitar skills and overcome your difficulties: Having troubles with the solo of your favourite song? The riff-repeater option is your saviour. It will isolate the song part of your choice, and let you repeat it over and over … until you eventually ace it! Want to improve your finger dexterity? Learn chords? Improve scales? For all of these and more, there’s a specific mini-game that will help you get it in Guitarcade. Rocksmith will turn your guitar into a controller, for instance, while shooting ducks in the Ducks mini-game you’ll actually be learning how to shift from fret to fret without even realising!
• Turn your TV or computer into an amplifier: No need for an amplifier anymore, with Rocksmith your TV or your computer IS your amplifier and will let you try and play with loads of in-game pedals, amplifiers and cabinets. String pedals together with nearly infinite combinations and tweak your sound until you’re satisfied. Whether it’s a crunchy distortion, a vintage tremolo or a psychedelic reverb, we have it covered to make sure you can achieve the sound you’re looking for.
• Play in multiplayer: Plug in a second guitar to go head-to-head with friends to see who can earn the highest score, or have fun playing cooperatively as lead and rhythm guitars. Also, all songs can be played in multiplayer with one person playing the bass part and the other the guitar part.
• Brand new Bass mode: The game will include the brand new Bass mode, offering players the opportunity to play bass guitar on all supported on-disc and downloadable songs. Not only can players play the bass parts of songs, but bassists of all experience levels can also improve their skills with dedicated bass technique challenges and tutorial videos. Players can even use any 6-string guitar to emulate a 4-string bass. Tracking their learning has never been easier as bass progression is tracked separately from guitar progression.

Tracklist

• Best Coast - When I'm with You
• Blur - Song 2
• Cream - Sunshine of Your Love
• Dan Auerbach - Want Some More
• David Bowie - Rebel Rebel
• Eric Clapton - Run Back to Your Side
• Franz Ferdinand - Take Me Out
• Incubus - I Miss You
• Interpol - Slow Hands
• Jarvis Cocker - Angela
• Jenny O.Well - Ok Honey
• Kings of Leon - Use Somebody
• Lenny Kravitz - Are You Gonna Go My Way
• Little Barrie - Surf Hell
• Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama
• Muse - Plug In Baby
• Muse - Unnatural Selection
• Nirvana - Breed
• Nirvana - In Bloom
• Pixies - Where Is My Mind?
• Queens of the Stone Age - Go with the Flow
• Radiohead - High and Dry
• Rapscallions - California Brain
• Red Fang - Number Thirteen
• Sigur Ros - Gobbledigook
• Silversun Pickups - Panic Switch
• Soundgarden - Outshined
• Spoon - Me and the Bean
• Stone Temple Pilots - Vasoline
• Stone Temple Pilots - Between the Lines
• Taddy Porter - Mean Bitch
• The Animals - House of the Rising Sun
• The Black Keys - I Got Mine
• The Black Keys - Next Girl
• The Boxer Rebellion - Step Out of the Car
• The Cribs - We Share the Same Skies
• The Cure - Boys Don't Cry
• The Dead Weather - I Can't Hear You
• The Horrors - Do You Remember
• The Rolling Stones - (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction
• The Rolling Stones - Play with Fire
• The Rolling Stones - The Spider and the Fly
• The Strokes - Under Cover of Darkness
• The White Stripes - Icky Thump
• Titus Andronicus - A More Perfect Union
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Good Enough
• Velvet Revolver - Slither
• White Denim - Burnished
• Yellow Moon Band - Chimney

VIDEO GAME NEWS: Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor - Capcom

Hail Mighty Readers and those of the Calloused Thumbs,

Our friends at Capcom have let us have an update about Steel Battalion: Heavy Armour.  

The news is as follows:

"Steel Battalion Heavy Armor today shows what it has in store for those who pre-order the game before its launch on June 19 in North America and June 22 across European territories. With a choice of three different pre-order packs, players will receive additional armory to customise their VTs (Vertical Tanks), boosting their defensive power, offensive force, speed in combat and much more."

Taking full advantage of Kinect for Xbox 360, Steel Battalion Heavy Armor™ is an Xbox 360 exclusive first person action game set to deliver a uniquely immersive experience and an evolution in warfare gaming.

Set in 2082, Steel Battalion Heavy Armor depicts a world devoid of semiconductors, where war is waged with rudimentary weapons as new superpowers struggle for dominance. In a twist of fate, the U.S. army has been forced to begin major landing operations on what was once its own soil. In this low-tech era, there is one weapon class that will determine the course of the war – the Vertical Tank (VT). Playing as pilot Lt. Powers players control one such VT as he embarks on a mission that will see the action shift from North America to battlefi elds and war-torn streets across the globe.Steel Battalion Heavy Armor delivers an unprecedented level of control and interaction. VT movement,aiming and firing of the main guns are undertaken using the Xbox 360 controller.

A wide variety of other combat-crucial actions are done through Kinect for Xbox 360 with upper body gestures - from starting the engine to operating the scope or manning the turret-mounted machine gun. Kinect for Xbox 360 also provides a means of interacting with your fellow crew members, from ensuring a panicked crew member stays focused, to a high five for successfully completing a mission.

Steel Battalion Heavy Armor is scheduled to release exclusively on Kinect for Xbox 360 in 2012."

VIDEO GAME REVIEW: Catherine - Xbox 360 - Deep Silver

Release Date: 10/02/12

SYNOPSIS:

Falling for this girl might be hazardous to your health...

Vincent likes his girlfriend. Katherine's pretty, smart, and successful. Trouble is, she's starting to talk about long-term commitment, something Vincent's spent his entire life avoiding. Since romantic complications are the last thing he wants to deal with, Vincent meets his friends for their regular night of drinks. Little does he know that he's about to be blindsided by a beautiful, seductive, irresistible freight train named Catherine.

Suddenly, he's hung over in bed next to the most beautiful woman he's ever seen, unsure about the previous night's events. Was it just making out, he wonders, or did something more serious happen between them? Should he tell Katherine? Will he ever see Catherine again? Vincent's about to find that a stumble on the staircase of love can turn into a horrific, fatal plummet...

Vincent's waking fears, doubts, pressures, and growing guilt about commitment and fidelity now follow him into his dreams, manifesting as horribly disfigured monsters and a ticking clock.

The player must navigate Vincent through heavy moral decisions. As in real life, hardly anything is black and white. Someone's going to get hurt!

The Nightmare of Your Dreams-Under the watch of producer Katsura Hashino, acclaimed director of Persona 3 and Persona 4, famed character artist Shigenori Soejima and master composer Shoji Meguro create sights and sounds unlike anything else.

Local versus and co‐op multiplayer modes, in addition to leader boards, ensure that the many thrills and horrors of racing through twisted stages can be enjoyed by more than one player.


REVIEW:

This release from Deep Silver is one of those games that you’re either going to love to death (literally) or absolutely hate with a passion as it takes you from compelling mangaesque animation through to fiendish nightmare block pushing to find out more about the tales principle “hero” Vincent.

It’s cleverly done and the overall arc is one of those ones that is only for the older gamer as to be honest it deals with a lot of adult themes which include and not restricted to, cheating on the characters girlfriend Katherine with blonde bombshell Catherine, lying with texts and of course hanging out in a bar getting drunk with your pals. Add to this multiple choices throughout which will affect the ending and its also a game that has a number of different endings.

Whilst, as I’ve said, it’s one of those games that you’ll either love or hate, the block moving Nightmares, will increase the difficulty the further into the game you get. It can confound and confuse the player at times and there will be points when you wish you’d thrown the controller at the wall but this game is so unlike anything else out there that it’s quite ground breaking in its own right.

All in this title is one that will go down in history as the beginning of a new genre, whether it ends up as a gamer favourite or not remains to be seen but if you don’t like puzzles or hate the concepts portrayed within, then it may not be the game for you. Finally on a lighter note, if you are married or have a girlfriend of your own, this game is not a cheaters manual and if you are looking at getting yourself a copy, at least talk it through with them along with the themes that the game will reveal, after all, you can guarantee that the significant other will walk in at perhaps the worst moment and you’ll have a lot of explaining to do.

VIDEO GAME REVIEW: Assassins Creed: Revelations - Ubisoft

Release Date: 15/11/11

SYNOPSIS:

When a man has won all of his battles and defeated all of his enemies; what is left for him to achieve? Ezio Auditore must leave his life behind in search of answers, in search of the truth. In Assassin's Creed® Revelations, master assassin Ezio Auditore walks in the footsteps of the legendary mentor Altaïr, on a journey of discovery and revelation. It is a perilous path — one that will take Ezio to Constantinople, the heart of the Ottoman Empire, where a growing army of Templars threatens to destabilize the region.

In addition to the culmination of Ezio's award-winning story, a refined and expanded online multiplayer experience returns with new and additional modes, maps, and characters, allowing you to test your slaying skills against others from around the world.


REVIEW:

As a fan of the Assassin’s Creed series I’ve been part of a massive countdown for the release of this game. It’s been a long wait and whilst for Ezio its been centuries for us its felt almost as long, in this his final outing.

What the game gives the player is more of the same with some new additions, firstly the inclusion of bombs (which did leave me wondering what the makers were considering when they added this feature) and a throwback to Altair with a separate storyline featuring Desmond.

Whilst I had a lot of fun with Ezio and Altair, I did find the separate chapters with Desmond simplistic and to be honest boring as it felt more like a step back than forward as you had to work out the solutions to puzzles utilising shapes. For me, it didn’t add anything to the game and I’d have wandered round as Desmond fighting where need be and of course utilising his own escape from the compound. It would have added a better layer to the game than what was presented.

Overall the game was a lot of fun and it had a lot of options for the players to utilise. However where the bombs are concerned I would suggest that you try them out to figure out which ones suit your style of play. (I happen to like the sticky treasure bomb and smoke grenades.) Finally the game will please a lot of fans for what it does but the conclusion will leave you wondering what the next excerpt will bring to the fore. With luck a female lead character such as the ancestors whose burial chambers were investigated in Assassins Creed 2.

VIDEO GAME REVIEW: Rage - Xbox 360 - Bethesda, Id Studios

Release Date: 07/10/11

SYNOPSIS:

RAGE is the latest game from id Software, the acclaimed designers of such classics as the Wolfenstein, DOOM, and QUAKE series. Eagerly awaited by the gaming community, RAGE is already being touted as one of the industry’s most innovative first-person shooters, winning numerous awards at E3 2010, including ‘Best Overall Game of Show’ from IGN and three ‘Best of E3’ Game Critics Awards including ‘Best Console Game’.

Fearing a planet-wide extinction from a massive asteroid headed towards Earth, world leaders are faced with the inexorable task of ensuring human survival. Left with few alternatives, life-sustaining pods filled with select people are buried deep beneath the earth’s surface. You are one of the chosen members of these modern day arks and abruptly enter the RAGE universe after surfacing alone. Leaving you to your own devices to stay alive in a world filled with those who prefer you dead, RAGE combines powerful storytelling with heart-pounding action.


REVIEW:

I’ve been having a lot of fun with this and rather than write a review after only a few hours play, I decided to slaughter my way across the full breadth whilst making notes so that I could come back and write a rounded review of what I experienced. This took longer than I thought it would and provided me with hours of fun as well as a huge amount of choices.

The game has a great combat engine that really doesn’t let up from the moment you start to the end, which when you add things like recoil makes it something that the gamer has to learn to compensate for as well as making sure that when they’ve charged down an area that they have an avenue for retreat to allow them to heal. It’s fast, it has a great overall plot and as s fan of the Fallout series was something that gave me a lot of fun all in (especially when you add a huge variety of transport that can be customised to the users delight provided you win enough races.

Finally add to the mix a huge area to play in, numerous side quests and a huge range of weaponry and there’s a style of play for all, whether you like to charge down the middle blasting a shotgun (Lady Eleanor's Style of Gameplay) or whether you like to hide and snipe like myself. Which when added to the wonderfully detailed area’s makes this a game that was too big to contain on two discs. All in, this has been a huge amount of fun, with massive area's to explore and one that more than pleased me apart from one element, the sudden conclusion that left me wondering what the hell. Perhaps a sequel will arrive to pick up from where this left off; we’ll have to wait to see.

NEWS: Xbox Avatar Additions

Hail Mighty Readers,
Have you noticed that your Xbox 360 Avatar is looking a little dowdy and a little down these days? You want something a little different, something to make them look ready battle online? Something to give them a new flair and declare your futuristic allegiance?

Well our friends at THQ have let us know that you can do just that. We'll let them tell you how:

"The Warhammer® 40,000® Space Marine® Avatar Collection is now available on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Show your support for the game by sporting this unique avatar gear in the name of the Emperor!

The pack includes Space Marine, Ork and Chaos faction themed apparel as well as Gretchin, Squig and Servo Skull avatar pets."

Hope you enjoy,



Gareth

VIDEO GAME REVIEW: UFC Personal Trainer - THQ

Release Date: 01/07/11

SYNOPSIS:

Set personal goals and achieve real results with an unparalleled mixed martial arts (MMA) fitness program designed by leading MMA training experts and certified by UFC and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

UFC Personal Trainer provides players with an extensive assortment of effective and challenging MMA-inspired exercises, in both pre-set and customizable routines, to build strength, increase endurance, burn calories and get results.

Personalized instruction and tips from the MMA trainers guide players to stay motivated, get fit and track their goals with a helpful in-game journal.

In addition, the game's Ultimate Training Mode enables players to participate in high impact agility drills, with opportunities to earn rewards and have fun with friends in a competitive, multiplayer environment.

Authentic UFC Fitness Experience - Certified by UFC and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), UFC Personal Trainer is designed by leading MMA training experts Mark DellaGrotte, Greg Jackson and Javier Mendez to deliver a challenging and motivating UFC fitness experience that includes the best and most effective exercises utilized by today's renowned UFC fighters


Intense Mixed Martial Arts Exercises - Learn over 70 MMA and NASM certified exercises, including moves from disciplines such as wrestling, kickboxing and Muay Thai, that are designed to improve strength, endurance and conditioning through use in a variety of routines. Each in-game routine is specialized to target specific muscle groups, as well as factor individual skill levels and fitness goals


Customisable Workeout Routines - Focus on specific fitness objectives by building personalized routines with up to 12 different exercises. Each custom routine can also be modified to increase or decrease intensity of the game's pre-set pace, enabling players to fully max


REVIEW:

For years if you wanted to work out you had pretty much two choice:
1) You’d have to go to a gym and face ridicule at being out of shape.
2) You’d have to hopefully find a Fitness Video or DVD that suited you.

As a guy, your options were restricted even further and your choice was restricted to one, Sugar Ray Leonards Boxout. Yet with all visual work outs you have one major problem, that you are not doing it correctly despite your best efforts and risk injury that can occur at any point, so much so that when you do injure yourself it’s a hell of a lot harder to start up again after a period of recovery.

Thankfully recent developments in the gaming market have come to peoples rescue and whilst it was the Wii that started the whole work out craze one of the major problems was that the equipment wasn’t designed or built for people over a certain weight to utilise. Here for the first time, is an interactive work out piece of software (note I don’t call it a game) that is designed to give you a thorough work out utilising floor space and your Kinect. You don’t need any fancy equipment, you don’t need to buy additional hardware and you don’t need to worry about doing it correctly as the programme monitors what you do at each point and corrects you as it goes along.

Back that up with customisable settings so that you get the work out you want and it’s a real dream. Yes you’ve got to undergo a fitness test to begin with but that’s so it can set the difficulty for you and yes it may not be for everyone but for a guy to have something to help them get fitter that doesn’t involve dancing is a minor miracle in itself and let’s face it, it’s not just guys that don’t want to dance about my other half can attest to during her UFC workout.

All in, for me, this was a cracking concept and one that I look forward to doing each day, yes it’s going to take time to get the results I want but I’ve got no one shouting or looking over my shoulder demanding to use the equipment or laughing at my physique and when you add it to a healthy lifestyle things can only go up. This is a great idea, beautifully executed and one that the user will see positive results from, a plus point in all directions.