EpicBattleAxe » PlayStation 2

R.I.P GamePro

"TheAxeWielder" — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:14:15 +0000

EBA Keith just pinged me with a reminder that as of noon today GamePro will be no more. In case you didn’t know, the once industry-dominating-mag and associated website that has managed to hold on all of these years is officially shutting down.

Here’s what the special message at the top of the official GamePro site reads at the moment:

“Thank you for your loyalty, support, and participation in the GamePro.com community. At noon on December 5, 2011, the U.S. version of GamePro online will shut down as an independent site. GamePro will become part of PCWorld.com (http://www.pcworld.com/gamepro) offering gaming news, reviews, and how-tos from the PCWorld team. Thank you to the entire GamePro staff for their hard work and dedication.”

Obviously, this is a sad day for anyone (like me) who valued GamePro at any point in their lives. I fondly remember getting each edition of the mag back in the day and even watching that amazingly goofy television show hosted by J.D Roth. Anyway, this is a great time to discuss your GamePro memories with your fellow gamers as we remember one of the longest-running and most influential brands in the industry.

What are your favorite memories of GamePro? Did you have a favorite magazine cover? How do you think online blogs have impacted brands that were founded in print?

Let’s discuss in honor of the once-mighty mag.

VGA GOTY Nominees Announced

"TheAxeWielder" — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:53:36 +0000

In addition to announcing that Mark Burnett, the producer of “Survivor,” “The Voice,” “The Apprentice,” the “63rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards,” the “MTV Movie Awards” and the “People’s Choice Awards,” will serve as executive producer of the 2011 Video Game Awards, Spike TV today announced the nominees for two of the event’s most prestigious categories, Game of the Year and Most Anticipated Game, with a list of nominees in other categories to be revealed in the coming weeks.

They are as follows:

GAME OF THE YEAR

• Batman: Arkham City
• Portal 2
• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
• Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

MOST ANTICIPATED GAME

• BioShock Infinite
• Diablo III
• Halo 4
• Mass Effect 3
• The Last Guardian

The “VGAs” will recognize the best games of the year and present exclusive world premieres of what’s next when the show premieres LIVE, coast‐to‐coast on Saturday, December 10 at 8:00 PM ET/5:00 PM PT on Spike TV in high‐definition. Guests include legendary game designer Hideo Kojima who will reveal the truth about Metal Gear Solid: Rising with a spectacular world premiere, the announcement of a new project and new studio from BioWare, and the return of hero Alan Wake in an all new adventure.

For more info on the VGAs and to cast YOUR votes, head here.

Mass Effect 3′s Co-Op Mode Confirmed, ‘Galaxy at War’ System Announced

"TheAxeWielder" — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:43:37 +0000

BioWare has today confirmed the inclusion of a 4-player online co-op mode in the upcoming Mass Effect 3 as well as announcing the all-new “Galaxy at War” system for the game. The information, which was rather unceremoniously revealed via the BioWare forums, details what fans can expect on both fronts as follows:

4 player co-op multiplayer

Join your friends in the all-out galactic war to take Earth back. The universe of Mass Effect expands with the addition of new co-op multiplayer missions, playable over Xbox Live, PSN and PC internet. Players can choose from a variety of classes and races, form an elite Special Forces squad, and combine their weapons, powers and abilities to devastating effect as they fight together to liberate key territories from enemy control. Success in multi-player will have a direct impact on the outcome of the single player campaign, giving players an alternative method of achieving ultimate victory against the greatest threat mankind – and the entire galaxy – has ever faced.

Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War

As a bonus to the campaign, BioWare is introducing the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system, a new way for players to manage and experience the galactic war from multiple fronts, including a new 4-player co-op mode. The key to saving the galaxy is the “Galactic Readiness” level, measured by Commander Shepard’s ability to apply every possible asset – people, weapons, resources, armies, fleets – in the final battle against the Reapers. Players can impact their game’s Galactic Readiness level in multiple ways via the Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War system, including multiplayer. Other platforms and interfaces will be announced in the coming months. It is important to note that the system is entirely optional and just another way players can have control over your game experience – it is still possible to achieve the optimal, complete ending of the game in Mass Effect 3 through single-player alone.

Huh, pretty interesting…

There’s a full FAQ over on the forum post, so if you, like me, have questions pertaining to how this will all shake out, I suggest you head there right now. Of course, we’ll keep you posted on new details of today’s announcements as we get official word.

So, what are you thinking about the inclusion of co-op in Mass Effect 3? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments section below!

GoGamer Madness: Undead Deals, Screamin' Savings FTW!

"TheAxeWielder" — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 23:18:17 +0000

If you’re a gamer on a budget (and really…who isn’t?) then you appreciate a good deal when you see one. Well, that’s why we’re always pleased to help spread the word about the weekly 48-Hour-Madness sales that happen over at GoGamer.com. This week, fans of Capcom’s Dead Rising franchise won’t want to miss the opportunity to pre-order the upcoming Dead Rising 2 on PC for only $39.99! Yep, you can join Chuck on the cheap if you get movin’ on this, uh, “Killer” deal…

If you’re more into slingin’ webs than swingin’ bats, you might wanna save some cash on the recently released Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, which you can pick up for only $46.90. Also, you can tear into some terror with the British horror collection Adventures in Terror which includes Dark Fall: The Journal Classic Edition, Dark Fall: Lights Out – The Director’s Cut and Barrow Hill along with the soundtrack for each game.

In addition, you can score some sweet savings on titles like Blur, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, and Modern Warfare just to name a few. It’s all going down this weekend on GoGamer.com, so be sure to check out the full roster of digital deals right here.

Happy shopping!!!

Best Buy, Target Announce Nationwide Used Game Trade-Ins

"BodyLikeABattleAxe" — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:25:24 +0000

Target and Best Buy both announced expanded used game trade-in services this week, just in time for major developers to start making a profit off pre-owned games with online codes and subscription models. But I’m sure that’s just a coincidence.

Best Buy will officially launch used game trade-ins in 600 stores this week, with the promise of more to follow soon. Games can be traded for Best Buy gift cards, which can be used instantly in the store. There is no mention of a cash trade-in option – it looks like Best Buy is following in the footsteps of great aristocrats worldwide and keeping it in the family.

Target’s new Electronics Trade-In service packages cell phone and iPod trades with video games, and should be in over 850 stores nationwide by 2011. Trade-ins receive Target credit of up to $200, but that amount would probably only be for a 4G iPhone at this point.

Best Buy will sell back used games “soon,” while Target does not specifically mention direct sale of any used games.

Both stores will offer online options for trade-ins, Target through a partnership with electronics recycling site NextWorth, and Best Buy through their own online system that will appraise games, accept them through the mail and send out gift cards 7-14 days later.

What does the mainstream trade-in service mean for our used game consumer future, or that of gaming in general? Leave us your thoughts in the comments!

Blockbuster Adds Games to By Mail Rental Service

"BodyLikeABattleAxe" — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:44:49 +0000

Finally, Blockbuster has made it possible to play Modern Warfare 2 and watch Runaway Bride in the same night from one all-encompassing subscription package. Stop panicking; your Friday nights are saved.

Blockbuster has added video games to its By Mail movie service, and starting today you can pick from 3,000 titles to rent via snail mail for Xbox 360, PS2, PS3 and Wii. There is no additional charge for renting games, which count against the total “disc out” limit just as movies do.

Blockbuster has been a slight ballbuster within the recent Netflix and Gamefly advancements, and it seems they’ve taken a while to catch up with consumers’ fast-paced, technologically-dependent needs. Is this Blockbuster’s saving grace, or another desperate plea for relevance? Let us know what you think in the comments!

GoGamer Madness: Mafia, Mass Effect, and Madden – Oh My!

"TheAxeWielder" — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:51:33 +0000

Around here at the ‘Axe we enjoy cleaving the fat from the gaming news of the day and we also enjoy cleaving some cost from your gaming budget when the opportunity arises. Well, we’ve teamed up with GoGamer.com to ensure you’re “in the know” about some serious deals taking place during the online retailers “48-Hour Madness” sales. What is “48-Hour Madness” you ask? Well, aside from the phrase often used to describe my wedding, it’s a two day period where gamers logging on to GoGamer.com can score some serious savings on existing or forthcoming games.

This week, folks looking forward to Mafia II can pre-order the game on the PS3 for $49.90 while those that missed out on Alan Wake can snag the Xbox 360 thriller for only $29 bucks. Also, PC gamers can pick up BioWare’s Mass Effect 2 for the ridiculous low price of $16.90 while wanna-be spies can sneak into the world of Sam Fisher in Splinter Cell: Conviction for $27.90. Lastly, Madden fans will soon get their chance to square off on the virtual gridiron and GoGamer.com’s punching your sideline seat for Madden NFL 11 with about a $7 savings off the regular retails price.

So, check out all of this week’s 48-Hour Madness sales and pre-order pricing specials right here and see if there’s anything you like.

Happy shopping!

Portal 2's Got Personality

"TheAxeWielder" — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:38:33 +0000

Meet Wheatley, a personality sphere with a few character flaws in the first of the gameplay series from Valve’s E3 2010 gameplay demo from the highly-anticipated Portal 2. The vid demonstrates not only the witty nature of Wheatley, but delivers a glimpse of the game’s rather gorgeous graphics and unique atmosphere as well. Good stuff!

So, check out this vid and then sound off on all things Portal 2 in the comments section below!

Ōkamiden “Spiritual” Successor To Ōkami

"EpicBadAxe" — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:33:32 +0000

In an interview with Destructoid.com, Motoshide Eshiro talked about his upcoming Nintendo DS game Ōkamiden. The producer of the game wanted to clarify the game’s position relative to its PlayStation 2 predecessor, Ōkami.

According to Destructoid, Mr. Eshiro explained that there’s Ōkami, which was on the PlayStation 2 and the Wii, and then there’s the upcoming Ōkamiden — he’d like to keep the “brands” separate. Ōkamiden, however, maintains the feel of the original, existing alongside that game’s universe. Eshiro says this is mostly due to the fact that the Ōkamiden team has a deep understanding and respect for the original material.

Ōkamiden is scheduled to be released on the Nintendo DS in North America in 2011.

Source

Announcing The EpicBattleTRAX Game Music Player!

"TheAxeWielder" — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 18:24:53 +0000

Here at EpicBattleAxe our mission is rather simple…We aim to empower and inform the gaming masses as we seek to create THE BEST PLACE to passionately and productively discuss the gaming issues of the day. We love gaming, we CARE about gaming, and as hardcore gamers ourselves, we think we got a pretty good feel about what you boys and girls want out of a cool-ass website.

Well, one thing WE LOVE and APPRECIATE is gaming music…While each project is different, we at the ‘Axe feel that game music is a UNIQUE, WONDERFUL, and EXTREMELY IMPORTANT aspect of the interactive entertainment experience. As a result, you’re gonna be seeing A LOT more about game music and the folks that make it over the coming weeks, months, and years here on the ‘Axe!

To kick things off, we’re really proud to launch the EpicBattleTRAX game music player! Basically, this is a web-based audio player that allows you to listen to a continually growing library of game music while finding out more about its creators and gaining access to purchase/support the music/artists you love. We’re teaming up with industry insiders to deliver exclusive access to certain tracks and will even DEBUT new game music from within the player down the line!!! Best of all, you can listen to all of the tracks for FREE and enjoy them as many times as you want by simply booting up the player here on EpicBattleAxe.com so be on the lookout for those up top near the EBA logo, within the nav bar, and over in the left nav.

So, we hope you enjoy listening to and exploring the game music scene while making EpicBattleTRAX a part of your overall EBA experience! Hell, you can just keep it on all day as you surf the web! Whatever you do, just have fun and enjoy some of gaming’s finest tunes! We’ll soon be posting links to the player on the main page so you can quickly and easily launch it each time you visit EpicBattleAxe.com!

Alright gang, if you have any comments, suggestions or questions regarding the EpicBattleTRAX game music player, feel free to use the comments section below this post to submit them and we’ll do our best to check out each and every one! Now, add some atmosphere to your day and go enjoy some EpicBattleTRAX!!!