Earthworm Jim coming, No HD Cables with the Elite & Update for Madden already? – Welcome to the column that was warned about the deadly thing called Peggle but didn’t exactly heed the words known as Dare to Play the Game.
So, I actually bought a couple of games this week. Both of them for the Xbox 360. I first bought a collection of XBLA games, better known as PopCap Volume 2 which contains Heavy Weapon, Feeding Frenzy 2 and Peggle. I should have known better. I’ve been playing it on and off since Friday. I’ve gotten through the first four masters (not sure what to call them), and I’m working on the 5th. I haven’t run into any real problems, the most it has taken me to finish a level is a couple of tries. It’s so ridiculously simple, but yet I want to play it.
The second game I purchased last week was Tomb Raider Anniversary on clearance from Target. I’m not sure exactly what I’m doing with that game yet. It was an impulse buy as you could have guessed. Looking back, I just thought it was a good deal. If somebody wants this game, let me know. I’m more than willing to trade especially if you have a good adventure/action rpg game for 360 I have yet to play. If not, maybe I’ll just crack it open anyway.
Ahhh, Jenny McCarthy. The first Playboy Playmate I ever fell in lust with. She is going to be part of yet another fitness game for the Wii called Your Shape. It includes a camera that will take a picture of you and adjust the program to that “shape”. I would hate to be that person that the camera is like, “can not calculate your shape”. That’s cause my shape is round! I look like a *beep beep* doughnut. Do you have any exercises that involve getting rid of these sprinkles (translation: warts and stretch marks)? Cause I could really use some.
Madden
As we reported Friday EA Sports will add Michael Vick to its Madden NFL 10 roster on Aug. 19, pending league approval. ESPN got a hold of Vick’s game attributes, and as expected, he’s off his Madden 08 form.
ESPN, without citing its source, reports that Vick has dropped to a 73 rated quarterback overall, from a 90 in Madden 08. But as a running quarterback he still holds a great deal of potential for those who want to play as the Eagles, or unscrupulously trade him into their preferred team.
Vick’s speed, agility, acceleration, elusiveness, juke and spin moves all declined between three and four points, but all remain 90 or better. Where Vick seems to have suffered the most is in passing. Never particularly accurate, his ratings there dropped from 78 across the board to between 64 and 69.
His awareness also dropped from 74 to 65. I agree Ookie might not be the most self-aware individual, but one might think 21 months in Leavenworth would put your head on a swivel.
As a running quarterback, Vick remains very dangerous – his secondary running stats are better than all but the elite halfbacks. And though inferior to Brian Westbrook as a runner, he’ll be a strong complement in a Wildcat formation – which is a part of the Eagles’ playbook in this game.
Let me get something off my chest before I start this. A disclaimer if you will. I don’t condone what Vick did. I think it’s quite despicable. However, the man did his time and should be allowed (in an appropriate manner) back to football for a second chance. To all of the PETA supporters who are boycotting the NFL or Eagles games or staging protests, get a life. I actually heard a Houston radio DJ say that she hopes that the Eagles lose all of their games. If you don’t like Vick, that’s your choice. But to sit there and condone the Eagles, that’s uncalled for. Donovan McNabb, who I think is one of the greatest guys to ever play QB (both talent and humanitarian) is actually trying to help Vick and help him become a starter in this league again. Sure there is a business end in that they will have picked up a very good QB for almost nothing. But they are reaching out to him too. People want to see Vick become a good member of society. If you want to go out against Vick, that’s certainly your choice but leave the Eagles alone. /end of rant.
With that said, Vick will become part of the Madden game most likely. It might not be right away because of the suspension but eventually he will pop up in the Eagles roster. His drop in stats is interesting as I would like to understand what the people at EA based it on? Did they do just a straight age algorithm equation of some sort and came up with the numbers or were they attending practice? It’s just kinda curious I guess. His passing dropped on average 10 points or more a stat and 17 points over all is a dramatic drop for 2 years. Furthermore, his stats as a runner stayed about the same. I guess they assumed he worked out in prison and kept his skills as a ball carrier at their peak.
Even though I’m not exactly a Vick supporter, I am very interested to see him in this Wildcat formation. A team with McNabb and Vick (regardless of your feelings) on the field at the same time presents some eye opening ideas. I might buy Madden this year after all.
Sorry for the larger than normal picture, or else you probably would not be able to read it. Looking at this over, maybe a better idea would be to buy 2008 and play with the roster. It certainly would be a cheaper idea and Vick would have better stats. Maybe I just need a new football game, oh heck…who knows.
Xbox 360
One of the things I appreciated most about my
Apparently Microsoft thinks they can cut some corners and ship without a HDMI cable, even though that was the original point of the Elite was to be HD ready, pardon the phrase. If it isn’t cutting corners, the only other thing I can think of is that a bunch of average joes were complaining they didn’t know what to do with HDMI cables. Which end do I stick in where? What is widescreen? Isn’t that those funny bars on the top and bottom of my picture. I hate that. *sigh*
This reminds me of printers these days. None of them come with a printer cable anymore even though (unless they are high end) use the same usb cable. It’s playing to the lowest common denominator. It’s saving that extra two to three dollars (which is all these cables cost to a company such as Microsoft). Therefore, those with a little common sense like me and you get jipped out of a perfectly good cable. Furthermore, the people who don’t buy their cables on-line are forced to pay $30-$100 for a simple HDMI cable at most stores. That’s a lot more than they planned to spend for that console. Microsoft might want to think about that instead of leaving things out.
This is something that belongs nowhere near an HD TV. If you see such a thing, please be sure to report to me, and I will take care of those responsible. With a chainsaw, if necessary.
Earthworm Jim
Seems like your vote for the 20th anniversary Sega Genesis title to hit Xbox Live might not matter much, as Gameloft and Interplay announce Earthworm Jim for WiiWare, Xbox Live Arcade, and the PlayStation Network.
Interplay has granted Gameloft exclusive rights to develop, distribute, and publish Earthworm Jim as a downloadable title across the current crop of titles, as well as mobile devices, meaning an iPhone Earthworm Jim might not be out of the question. Gameloft is understandably delighted.
“We are delighted to partner with Interplay to bring Earthworm Jim to multiple downloadable platforms,” said Gonzague de Vallois, senior vice president, Gameloft.
“The game, with its humorous and edgy style, is a great fit for today’s gamer who craves a fully immersive experience that is fun and easily accessible. We look forward to delivering a fantastic game.”
It should be easy enough, seeing as the fantastic game already exists! And it shall exist again, sometime during the final quarter of 2009, with the Xbox 360 getting one-month worth of timed exclusivity.
Odd. Yeah Sega had a poll for which game you want to see on Xbox Live next and overwhelmingly Earthworm Jim won the vote with Toe Jam & Earl getting second and I believe Shining Force was third. But I guess Interplay gave the rights to Gameloft and it will appear on all platforms (even mobile perhaps) sooner than later. Earthworm Jim is awesome. What other game is there that launches cows, has enemies like Major Mucus, and allows you to use your head as a whip?
I’m not sure what the price point will be at. If I had to be a betting man, I would go with $10. Ten dollars is a good healthy price for some awesome action platforming sequences and Bob the Killer Goldfish. I really do hope they take the time to include all of the little things in Earthworm Jim like the standing-in-time animations and the wonderful humor. Anything less would be a tragedy.
Most of us have been waiting a couple of months to play this one. Shadow Complex has hit the virtual shelves and just might be the game of the year. It’s a 2d masterpiece fashioned in the likes of Super Metroid and Symphony of the Night. You are Jason and you must save your girlfriend and stop the group known as the Restoration from creating a civil war. It’s actually based off a book by Orson Scott Card called “Empire” which you can get for a song (Amazon lists the paperback & hardback at a penny+shipping for a used copy). The game looks nothing short of awesome and hopefully plays like it. I will be getting this, it’s only the second time I’ve spent 1200 points on a game. The first time was Puzzle Quest, that should be telling in itself.
This is part board-game, part pop up book. You and up to three others move along the pages of a picture book using cards. Coins allow you to buy more cards and things can get turned upside down with the book of Magick. This changes gameplay dramatically. I wouldn’t expect much from this one, but some kids might be entertained.
A very simplistic game, this involves racing with some friends or family on a bevy of tracks. Get a particularly fast time and you’ll be able to unlock even more tracks and some cool cars. Again, don’t expect much.
A true classic. Released in 1989 for the Sega Genesis, this was one of the first games that showed off the Genesis. This takes place three years after the original Shinobi (SMS/Arcade) and has Joe Musashi taking revenge over the death of his master and kidnapping of his fiancee by the Neo Zeed. The action was really good for the side scroller and older versions also played host to some interesting bosses. Please note, most of you are used to Spiderman as a boss, he is still in there; but he is all pink now.
PS3
Wolfenstein
Xbox 360
Wolfenstein
Raven Squad: Hidden Dagger
Wii
Spectrobes: Origins
World Championship Athletics
Sudoku Ball – Detective
Army Rescue
Paws and Claws Pet Vet
Domino Rally
DS
Sudoku Ball: Detective
Ant Nation
Shorts
My Friend
My Dress Up
Paws & Claws Pet Vet Australian Adventure
My Make Up
There are only two titles really worth mentioning this week. First up is finally the return of Wolfenstein. It’s been a long time and I’m not exactly sure when I’ll pick up a copy but hopefully it will be very soon. I spent some time playing the old one on XBLA and even took a few minutes to go play the most recent adaptation for the Xbox: Return to Castle Wolfenstein. The new game will be focusing more on the supernatural than the Nazis (but there will still be a healthy dose of Nazi killing). The other game worth mentioning is Spectrobes. This game did a smash up job of selling on the DS with the theme of discovering virtual pets(called Spectrobes) and training them to fight for you (or performing other duties). I wonder how this will translate with the Wiimote. I had a friend who played the original to death on his DS and I think he scratched up his portable companion up a lot as a result. Since he owns a Wii as well, I think he would be happy to see this one arriving tomorrow.
My birthday is today. I turn 34. Last year and this year have been much better birthdays since I’ve been with Sarah. She’s been an absolute joy to be with and certainly has kept me young. Forty seems to be fast approaching and I don’t see any reason to stop playing video games. My parents often ask me when I’m going to stop playing games or stop watching wrestling or doing so many things they deem “kid-like”. The truth is never. Why would I give up something that gives me joy? Just because others say to? Pssssssh, most people know me better than that. Heck, next thing you know, you’ll want me to write a serious column about politics and the future of macro-economics. I sucked at economics in college (however I was aces in finance and accounting) and both political parties suck. So there is your analysis. With that said, I will keep on gaming and having a fun time with my life. Anything less is a disappointment, I deserve better, Sarah deserves better and I look forward to many more years of playing and writing about video games. Hope you join me again next week, take care kiddoes. (and whipper-snappers)
As Always,
Kedrix of Aldrianian
(*The Forgotten One*)
