If you’re anything like me, right about now you’re wishing you had a Futurama-style cryogenic tube so you could freeze-sleep away the remaining three weeks and change until Borderlands 2 hits the shelves.

Of course you could pop in that archaic, dusty relic of a game you call your copy of Borderlands the First*, or you could try this shiny new, super-retro style Borderlands 2 Demake created in the style of Smash TV, but with a variety of weapons and trademark Borderlands enemies like Skags, Psychos, and Bruisers. Their gimmick here is calling this “the 1989 16-bit original,” which is cute but doesn’t go beyond that.

*Kidding, of course. Pretty sure my copy of Borderlands has been in regular rotation longer than any other game I’ve ever owned.

Okay, so it won’t bring the real Borderlands 2 any closer to your disc slot—which is positively quivering with anticipation… what? yours doesn’t do that?—but it might take your mind off it for a few seconds.

It’s a ton of fun, and definitely one of the better marketing games I’ve played. You can plan on this sucking away a lot of time as you first get the hang of it and try all the different characters and weapons and firing patterns. Maybe you’ll have a different playstyle than I tend toward, but I found myself narrowing my gun choices down to a very small selection pretty quickly. Eventually I simply refused to pick up anything that wasn’t a (spoiler-free white text incoming, highlight to read) Railgun with 2-way firing pattern because it was just so damn useful. Obviously it’s a free, tiny, in-browser marketing gimmick so it’s not a polished work of retro-gaming art, but it’s pretty damn good. I especially appreciate the enemy death sounds, they are appropriately Streets of Rage-y. It would have been really nice if they found a way to support X360 controllers but you can’t really complain.

Read on past the link for some tips and tricks I picked up along the way, or just head straight there and explore the game for yourself.

The Border Lands (Borderlands 2 Demake)

Some tips and tricks for not having a bad time:

The first thing you’ll want to know is this, and I’ve gone ahead and meme-ified it for you.

Seriously, be careful which weapons you pick up. There are some terrible guns in this game, and a single mistaken press of the right or left arrow can ruin your game. Train yourself to look at the firing-pattern stat first and avoid “random” like the plague. Because much like the plague, it will kill you. (Caveat, if you’re going with Salvador, or maybe Axton and you like getting surrounded and swarmed, random might possibly be a viable firing pattern for “Flame” and “Shotgun” weapon types.) With weapons, utility trumps stats, so find one that works and get comfortable.

Eventually you’ll find a handful of weapon-types and associated firing patterns that work for you, so once you pick up a gun that’s doing an admirable job, don’t be in any big hurry to replace it. While we’re on the topic of not hurrying, never rush a new-weapon pick. Pressing “down” to cancel weapon pickup should always be your default move. Watch out for accidentally running into chests, and don’t approach a chest unless you’ve got some hit points to spare.

Again, spoiler-free white text, highlight to read: You can absolutely school the early stage of every level with just a decent 2-way Railgun, just keep alternating between shooting horizontally and vertically and the enemy spawners will be choked with loot chests in no time. But don’t worry about those, later on in the levels you’ll always face a bruiser wave. Since bruisers always drop a loot chest, you’ll have plenty of time to hunt for a new 2-way Railgun when the level is nearly empty.

Enjoy.

It’s Friday morning at Celebration VI in Orlando, FL. This place is hot and humid but it’s full of amazing stuff to see and do, as always. I haven’t actually seen Star Wars 1313 yet. Unfortunately, I only see one more preview of it available in the schedule and I’ll likely be involved with a prior commitment. I’ve caught a little bit from other attendees and it mostly sounds like it’s the same footage seen at E3 and Gamescom, so I’m not going to miss much unless one of the panelists accidentally lets something slip. I’m going to keep today’s edition short and sweet as I’ve still got lots to do:

Zenimax, parent company of Bethesda, has filed a trademark for “Hearthfire.” No explanation of the name is forthcoming, leading many to speculate that this is actually the next planned DLC chapter for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It’s also possible that it’s related to the upcoming Elder Scrolls MMO. Hearthfire is the ninth month in the Tamriel calendar.

Eric Bossik, a voice actor you’d recognize from Silent Hill 4 has confirmed that he’s done some motion capture on Metal Gear Solid V. According to Bossick, he’s not playing Snake though he is an ally, he won’t be doing voicework, and the game will not release until summer 2013 at the earliest.

We’ve yet to see all of the titles originally announced in the Final Fantasy XIII universe, but Square Enix looks posed to announce another one. According to their official site:

The ‘Lightning Saga’ that started with the release of FINAL FANTASY XIII, has achieved a cumulative shipment of over 9.6 million units; and in May 2012 FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 was brought to conclusion with the add-on content entitled ‘Lightning’s Story: Requiem of the Goddess’.

Key members of the FINAL FANTASY XIII development team including the Producer, Director and Art Director, are in preparations to present new information about the direction of Lightning’s story.

This presentation will take place at an event in Tokyo to celebrate FINAL FANTASY 25th Anniversary, on 1st September 2012.

Still not on board with Kinect? Is it because you think it’s ridiculous or because it’s too expensive? If it’s the former, you’re right. However, if it’s the latter, the price was dropped to $110 this week in North America and other regions worldwide (though not in Europe, yet).

Interplay is resurrecting the long-defunct Black Isle Studios. This was the studio that originally brought you Fallout, Baldur’s Gate, and Planescape: Torment. According to Interplay, they’ll be forming a top notch team of talent to develop AAA RPGs based on some of their most popular IPs. Unfortunately, Chris Avellone and Brian Fargo are not in the loop for this announcement. Maybe Interplay is shopping for them, maybe not. But Black Isle won’t be the same without those two.

The third episode of Telltale’s The Walking Dead could be happening as early as next week. If not, it will still be very soon. According to a Telltale rep, “Episode Three: Long Road Ahead is in submission with our first party partners and we are anxiously awaiting a release date to be confirmed. We anticipate that this could be as soon as next week, and as soon as we have a confirmation on all platforms, we’ll be letting everyone know as soon as it happens.” By the way Sony, thanks for giving me the first two episodes free through PS+. Now I’m a junkie and will be buying the next three on day one. Give your marketing guy behind that one a bonus.

I just heard the roar as the doors opened for the main crowd. That means it’s back to work for the Celebration VI Bounty Hunt. Can anything still to come this weekend top seeing An Evening with Kevin Smith last night?

By now you may have heard that Nintendo Power is going to be ending production after 24 years of bringing all-Nintendo news to loyal fans and subscribers around the globe.

As Ars Technica reported this morning, Nintendo Power is going the way of most print magazine publications: “Nintendo Power is one of the longest-running game magazines in the country, having been published continuously since the summer of 1988, when it started as a bi-monthly outgrowth of the previous Nintendo Fun Club newsletter. Nintendo produced and distributed the magazine (with articles that were often just thinly veiled marketing copy) from 1989 through late 2007, when it started contracting the brand out for a more independent angle from tech-and-game-focused Future Publishing… Nintendo Power‘s shuttering comes during a time of continuing struggles for the US magazine industry, which saw overall circulation numbers decline 10 percent in the first half of 2012. Gamers have increasingly come to rely on online sources for more timely and less space-limited gaming coverage, leading the venerable GamePro magazine to stop publishing late last year after 23 years in print.”

I’m sure it comes as no surprise to anyone that it’s just too difficult to preserve this type of print publication given the vast stores of information and up-to-the-second news we crave from the internet. I’m not saying we needed a Nintendo Power anymore, but it does hit me that something so special from my childhood is ready to be put into retirement.

What began as an expansion to Nintendo fan club letters in 1988 had grown into a major part of my childhood by the early ’90s. I can still remember eagerly tearing the protective plastic off each issue when they arrived. Long before the internet and long before I knew of a whole lot outside of the tiny New England town in which I was raised, Nintendo Power brought me comics, posters, cheats and announcements that really helped to develop my passion for video games. It’s true – I was a Nintendo fangirl through and through from a very young age – always eager to get my hands on the next issue and to hang more fun posters of Link and Star Fox on my wall.

The following is a really a great retrospective video about Nintendo Power from the Angry Video Game Nerd. It says a lot about how much this magazine meant to the kids that loved Nintendo in the late ’80’s and early ’90’s:

It may sound silly, but I did get pretty excited to line up all the issues each year and see the photo the spines made. You usually knew the image long before you had collected all the issues (Mario…Zelda…they weren’t really trying to make it difficult), but I always thought it was a neat addition for collectors to be able to show off the issues on their bookshelves.

Here’s a Howard and Nester comic favorite of BSR Contributor Kill-Tacular-Tron. You can find more at this archive:

And we can’t forget to include one of The Metroid comics that could be found in so many issues:

All in all, I am a bit sad to see Nintendo Power go, but perhaps Nintendo will come up with a new way to engage its audience now that it can shift resources and priorities away from the defunct publication.

What are your thoughts? Sad to see it go? Good riddance? Sound off in the comments below!

I miss my PS3. It hasn’t gone anywhere or died at all. I’ve just been so busy I’m lucky to get a couple hours a week on it. I’ve been having fun with being busy. This past weekend I was in Moab, UT for a wedding and got a chance to see Arches National Park. That place is amazing. This weekend I’ll be joining a few other ‘bots in Orlando, FL for Star Wars Celebration VI. I’m really angling for a chance to get a look at Star Wars 1313, but I have no idea what they’ll have available. But I’m getting ahead of myself. We still have a few bits and pieces left over from Gamescom to cover.

Gabriel Dobrov, CEO at Haemimont Games, has announced they are already starting work on the next Tropico. But don’t get too excited just because you loved Tropico 4. According to Dobrov, “This time we’re wiping the whole game clean and building it from the ground up. We’re starting with a clean design this time and all the graphics will be new.” He declined further comment so who knows what this will mean. Shifting focus from a turn-based point and click to a first person shooter made the Fallout series go from “awesome” to “really awesome in different way” so this may not be a bad plan. It’s bound to make fans of the series a little nervous though.

Traveller’s Tales has revealed a little more about their next LEGO title, Lord of the Rings. If you’re familiar with past titles there’s not much new they can say, but they did mention at least 85 playable characters, some of whom were not in the films. Apparently the entirety of Middle Earth from Tolkien’s second age will be playable. Thankfully you won’t need to spend 16 hours walking to Mordor like they did in the films. There will be a fast travel feature, a la remote bat terminals from LEGO Batman 2. Prepare to callous your hairy-painted feet this Fall.

If LEGO journeys aren’t your thing and you can’t wait until October 6th to revisit Peter Molyneux’s former world then the announcement of Fable: The Journey‘s demo is good news for you. It’s coming to XBLA on September 17th.

Have you forgotten Remember Me? Sounds like that won’t happen again, as Capcom has explicitly stated that the IP is part of their long term plans. This is the exclusive that Sony dropped about a year ago and gave the rights back to Dontnod, the developer. Since then Capcom has picked up publishing for the now multi-platform game and they want to build a future for it. For now they’re pulling in assets from other projects, as Yoshinori Ono (producer for Street Fighter IV) is now advising on combat. I still haven’t actually figured out what this game is even about, but it sounds like i’ll need to get my hands on it when May rolls around.

Sanzuru and Sony had an announcement about your favorite thieving raccoon at Gamescom. What they didn’t want you to notice is that release date for Sly 4: Thieves in Time has slipped to early 2013. Which is fine, late 2012 is going to be crowded enough as it is, though a good family friendly game is always welcome around Christmas. The bigger reveal was that you’ll be able to use your PlayStation Vita in much the same way Microsoft has discussed SmartGlass, or Nintendo has described the Wii U’s tablet controller. You’ll also be able to play oyur save game across the two platforms, PS3 and Vita. Which is great, but it means you have to buy versions of the same game. Actually, no. This title will be part of the Cross Buy program. Buy the game once, get it on both platforms. Details on how that will work (likely as digital download only for Vita) were not explained, but look for more information soon.

Cevat Yerli and Crytek have a couple of minor things to note from Gamescom, but nothing urgent. First, they are looking into the possibility of bringing Warface, their free to play shooter currently in closed beta to consoles. Sony has already had some success with the model but Microsoft hasn’t experimented in that direction yet. Recent changes in the console online infrastructure and corporate philosophies mean both of them could be a future home for the title. However, this is in the theoretical phase only so it will be a long time before we see any progress if it even happens. Second, Ryse has sort of disappeared but not for the reasons being rumored. According to Yerli they wanted the Budapest team to work on tablets and have moved the Roman Kinect action game to a different area of the company. It is still in production and proceeding nicely, though they aren’t ready to discuss any further details.

We all know I don’t like to post rumors unless they’re really awesome. Which is why I’m choosing to skip the almost nonsensical rumors supposedly coming from a Bioware survey about Dragon Age III. On the other hand, anything that might clue me in to Fallout 4 is giving me rock hard nerd-boner. According to a few anonymous tipsters frm Reddit, one who supposedly has a direct connection to MIT, Bethesda has been in the Boston area scoping settings for their next post-apocalyptic entry in the franchise. Anonymous internet tipsters get very little credit in my book so I’m inclined to discount 90% of this, except Bethesda does have a strong connection to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and it would a be a ripe location for the next game. Then again, if we’re talking researching locations phase of development, we’ve clearly got plenty of time before this even sees the light of day. We’re likely talking next-gen. Which is probably the soonest I’d be willing to risk Bethesda’s notoriously glitchy game system and heavy-handed favoritism for 360.

You know how actors don’t like getting typecast? Apparently video game developers don’t care for it either. No, I don’t mean Bethesda is making a puzzle game. I mean something even more bizarre, like Harmonix making a real-time combat game. According to an ad on Gamasutra, Harmonix is looking for a combat designer “to create real-time, single-player combat experiences for a brand new IP on next-generation hardware.” They’re still finishing up Rock Band Blitz and Dance Central 3, but at least some of element of a next gen game already in the works will have single player, real time combat. It seems like a strange fit, but I’ve enjoyed Harmonix’s so far. I’ll give it a shot.

Other minor announcements:

• PopCap says Plants vs. Zombies 2 is coming in late Spring 2013.
• The Worms Collection has been confirmed for August 31st in Europe. North America?
• Sony’s Sports Champions 2 set for release on October 30th. Despite archery, bowling, boxing, golf, skiing, and tennis included, I’ll still be getting Assassin’s Creed III instead.
• Tokyo Jungle has been scheduled for September 25th in North America. Who would win a fight through post-apocalyptic Tokyo, a giraffe or a chimpanzee?.

That’s all for the early edition. I’m planning a late edition for Friday, but I simply don’t know busy I’ll be at Celebration VI. I may just write a bunch of Wookie-Zabrak slashfic instead.

After meeting with OnLive at E3, I didn’t get the vibe that they were in trouble. I was shocked at the minimal amount of people frequenting their booth. Thousands of people flooding into E3, and truthfully, it looked as if only 200 of them wanted to see what OnLive was up to. To me this technology is genius, play any game on any device that can run the application?! Excitement alone didn’t hold the company up unfortunately. Sources such as Joystiq reported that employees knew something was up. The companies traffic was low, and their subscribers were reported at about 1600.

Friday a meeting was called and all employees were informed that the company no longer existed. The company didn’t restructure or slim down, it simply ceased to exist. If employees held stock it no longer held value, and there would be no severance package for the displaced workers. The company had been purchased by unnamed investors who will keep the service active for subscribers, but no other information was given.

OnLive CEO Steve Perlman will be settling affairs under an Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors. Roughly speaking the assets are assigned to a third party with goals of receiving a 1 to 1 repayment of debt from the company whether it be through sale of assets, recovery of receivables, or what sounds like liquidation of anything else.

With Gaikai being purchased by Sony, OnLive had hopes to keep kicking or to be purchased, unfortunately these hopes just weren’t met. Our hearts go out to the employees and families of OnLive.

Last year I would have said tha Gamescom was set to overtake E3 as the industry’s premiere show. It’s international nature should automatically bump it up. With a somewhat lackluster showing at E3, many expected Gamescom to be the coming out party for next-gen consoles. Unfortunately, it’s been happening this week and there really isn’t anything spectacular. The press conferences are basically just showing new looks at what we’ve already seen, and Sony has merely given details on long-awaited updates for the Vita. [Zombietron’s got the full story, but the big news is PSOne Classics are, at long last, coming to Vita proper.]

EA’s presentation basically gave nothing but trailers. I’m not going to post a ton of video here just for the sake of it. Here’s the list, should be easy enough to find those that interest you:

• Medal of Honor: Warfighter
• Battlefield 3: Premium Edition
• Dead Space 3 (also confirmed for February 5, 2013)
• Need for Speed: Most Wanted
• Crysis 3
• Army of Two: The Devil’s Cartel

I mentioned the Special Edition of Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed a few issues ago but we didn’t have much detail. The previously mentioned Outrun track, Metal Sonic (with kart and mods), and exclusive stickers will be included for everyone who poreorders prior to the release on November 20th. None of that’s actually new, but SEGA has seen fit to include some promo art this time.

Also confirmed from prior reports, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD will be getting expanded content ($5) that includes levels from the franchise’s third game. For my money, that was the best in the series. The “revert” move is also being reintroduced with this DLC, but it will only function on the additional tracks.

343 has elaborated on their plans for Halo 4. Key to extending your online play are “specializations.” These unique perks essentially allow you to train your character beyond the level 50 cap with unique mods, weapons, and armor. The Limited Edition has also been detailed. It includes the 90 minute live action series, free access to the war games map packs, six bonus specializations, and additional digital content through XBox Live. The War Games map packs will also be available as a separate, “season pass” type purchase. This will save you about 15% compared with buying the three map sets individually. The release date is still set for November 6, 2012.

Konami has confirmed the release date for Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, February 21, 2013. They’ve also confirmed the demo will be available on the Zone of the Enders HD Collection. Sound familiar?

There is, unfortunately, no extra news from High Moon about the upcoming Deadpool video game. There is, however, a concept screen. And I’ll take any excuse to include an awesome picture of Deadpool. Is that a Wolverine doll in his hand?

That “Leviathan” DLC for Mass Effect 3 we’ve been hearing about? August 28th, $9.99 (800 MSP). That is all.

Two more characters were announced for Dead or Alive 5. Eliot, Xing Yi Quan student, and Brad Wong, Drunken Master, will be included with the retail release on September 25, 2012.

Eurocom and Activision have included two more cinematic inspirations for 007 Legends, Die Another Day and License to Kill. Look for characters from those two films, including Agent Jinx, Gustav Graves, Pam Bouvier, and Fran Sanchez.

This is going to take some space, but we have the full 40 track listing from Just Dance 4. I think these games are hilarious, but I usually just get frustrated at my complete failure to grasp even the basics of video game dancing. Most of these songs are terrible, but there’s some Elvis. And plenty of stuff you’ll want to get your friends playing just so you can balckmail them with the video:

1. Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes – “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”
2. Las Ketchup – “Asereje (The Ketchup Song)”
3. Justin Bieber feat. Nicki Minaj – “Beauty and a Beat”
4. Panjabi MC – “Beware Of The Boys (Mundian To Bach Ke)”
5. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Call Me Maybe”
6. Boys Town Gang – “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”
7. Emma – “Cercavo Amore”
8. Army of Lovers – “Crucified”
9. Stefanie Heinzmann – “Diggin’ in the Dirt”
10. Rihanna – “Disturbia”
11. Dancing Bros – “Everybody Needs Somebody To Love”
12. Flo Rida – “Good Feeling”
13. Blu Cantrell – “Hit ‘Em Up Style (Oops!)”
14. A.K.A – “Hot For Me”
15. The Blackout Allstars – “I Like It”
16. They Might Be Giants – “Istanbul”
17. Elvis Presley – “Jailhouse Rock”
18. Ricky Martin – “Livin’ la Vida Loca”
19. Selena Gomez and the Scene – “Love You Like A Love Song”
20. Bunny Beatz – “Make The Party (Don’t Stop)”
21. Nelly Furtado – “Maneater”
22. Sergio Mendes & The Black Eyed Peas – “Mas Que Nada”
23. Maroon 5 ft. Christina Aguilera – “Moves Like Jagger”
24. Alexandra Stan – “Mr. Saxobeat”
25. Rick Astley – “Never Gonna Give You Up”
26. Marina and The Diamonds – “Oh No!”
27. Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull – “On The Floor”
28. The Girly Team – “Oops!… I Dit It Again”
29. The B-52’s – “Rock Lobster”
30. Skrillex – “Rock N’ Roll (Will Take You To The Mountain)”
31. Kat DeLuna feat. Busta Rhymes – “Run The Show”
32. Anja – “Crazy Little Thing”
33. P!nk – “So What”
34. Sammy – “Some Catchin’ Up To Do”
35. Nicki Minaj – “Super Bass”
36. Stevie Wonder – “Superstition”
37. Europe – “The Final Countdown”
38. Halloween Thrills – “Time Warp”
39. 2 Unlimited – “Tribal Dance”
40. Hit The Electro Beat – “We No Speak Americano”
41. One Direction – “What Makes You Beautiful”
42. Will Smith – “Wild Wild West”
43. Barry White – “You’re The First, The Last, My Everything”

Something you’ve probably suspected has now been confirmed by Sony. All those DLC costumes you’ve been accruing for LittleBigPlanet over the years will be good franchise-wide. This means anything you’ve already purchased, or will purchase in the future, will not only be good on your current LBP titles, but it will also work in the upcoming LittleBigPlanet Vita (9/25/12) and LittleBigPlanet Karting (11/6/12). Not a bad deal, and good ecnourageent for anyone who’s been on the fence about picking up any of the new titles.

I’m certain I’ve missed some of the latest announcements, but I’m not exactly in Cologne, Germany for the event. In fact, I’m on my way to Moab, Utah for an uncle’s wedding. Looks like I’ll be running around the red rocks instead of gaming this weekend, so make sure you all pick up the slack for me. And check back on Tuesday for what should be a great final round up of anything new coming from Cologne.

Have you ever used the Internet to look up actors in a movie while you were watching it? Have you ever wished that the map on your video game was accessible without taking up a big chunk of the TV screen? Have you ever wondered if your entertainment options could have an extra component that made them more immersive?

Image via Techo News and Information

Xbox SmartGlass is an app that does just that. By linking your Xbox with your smart device, which works intuitively with the content you are viewing on the TV, new avenues of functionality add another dimension to your games, music, and videos. Here’s a look at the possibilities presented by Xbox SmartGlass.

Connecting to Devices You Already Have

Image via Examiner.com

The Xbox Smartglass app, which will be available Holiday 2012, is compatible with the smart device you already have, including:

• Windows tablets
• Windows smartphones
• iPhones
• iPads
• Android devices

There are no extra sensors or controllers to buy. Your TV, Xbox, and tablet or smartphone are all that are required to enjoy the enhanced entertainment experience provided by Xbox SmartGlass. You can shop for the latest cell phones and tablets without worrying if your new device will be compatible.

Enhancing Movies, TV, and Music

Image via Engadget

Watching Movies with Xbox SmartGlass

With Xbox SmartGlass, you can start a movie on your smartphone, and then transfer it to your TV. Once on the TV, the movie will pick up right where you left off. Your smart device will then display details about the characters, cast, and crew of the movie or show you are watching.

If you are watching School of Rock, your tablet or phone will track characters as they enter and exit the screen. You can skip through the movie based on the characters, choosing only the scenes featuring your favorite protagonists. Then, if you need to forfeit the use of the TV to your family or roommate, you can take the movie with you on your smartphone or tablet without losing your place.

Watching Television with Xbox SmartGlass

Pairing with HBO GO, Xbox SmartGlass allows your phone or tablet to create an enriched multi-screen TV-viewing experience. For example, if you watch Game of Thrones, your smart device will display a map of the mythical world where the action happens, keeping track of the timeline and location as the characters progress across the realm. Character genealogy is also available, in case you forget the nuances of the complex family trees in the Game of Thrones.

Listening to Music with the Xbox SmartGlass

You can bring the music experience to your TV, as well. Just as a movie started on your tablet or phone will transfer to your TV and pick up where it left off, your playlist can seamlessly transfer to the big screen. Using the SmartGlass app on your smart device, you can select playlists and listen to them on your TV for everyone in the room to enjoy. This is especially handy, since Xbox Music provides access to a library of over 30 million tracks. With that much variety, you’ll always have something new to listen to.

Simplifying TV Web Browsing

Image via diTii.com

Smart TVs include access to web browsers, but it’s not always easy to use this feature. Using your TV remote to type web addresses into an address bar and hooking up a keyboard is a nuisance. But with the Xbox SmartGlass, the Internet TV conundrum is resolved. Even normal TVs can have the functionality of a smart TV with Xbox SmartGlass web browsing. You can use your tablet or smartphone to easily scroll through web pages, pinch to zoom, precisely click links, and navigate between websites.

This simplified TV web experience makes sharing your favorite internet content easy. Instead of having your friends gather around your smart phone to see a funny video, you can stream it seamlessly to the TV so everyone can see, hear, and get the joke.

Enriching Gameplay

Image via GamesIndustry international

Gaming is perhaps the arena where the benefits of Xbox SmartGlass are most clearly seen. At the E3 game conference in June 2012, several game concepts were presented showing off the vast scope of functionality provided by Xbox SmartGlass.

Madden

EA Sports’s popular Madden franchise can use SmartGlass technology to allow users to view game statistics, as well as choose plays, create plays, draw custom routes, and execute plays with the touch of their finger on a smart device while watching the action on the TV. This technology allows players to have unprecedented control over the movement of their teams, allowing gamers to set up plays exactly the way they want. The SmartGlass app is especially advantageous when playing with friends, because your personal smart device can keep your plays close to your chest and away from prying rival eyes.

Homerun Stars

Homerun Stars is an Xbox Live Arcade game developed to take advantage of the special abilities of Xbox SmartGlass, as well as team up with Kinect. For example, a player using a smart device could swipe the screen to pitch and control where the baseball goes, while another player could use the Kinect to knock it out of the park. Conversely, a player could pitch using the Kinect, while an opponent could bat using controls on a smartphone or tablet.

Halo 4

Halo 4, the fourth installment of the popular space-based first person shooter, could use your tablet or phone to show game stats, like the number of players online and the medals you have earned, as well as alert you to multiplayer game invites. Additionally, in-game elements, such as spaceships, could be scanned, and your smart device would then display a dossier with essential information, like the ship’s schematics.

Ascend: New Gods

In the game Ascend: New Gods, an action role-playing game, your map could be displayed on your smart device. This map would update in real time, tracking your movements through the world and displaying your proximity to important landmarks. Your tablet or phone could also show enemy stats during battle, helping you find a boss’s weakness and strategize the most effective method for taking him down. All of this would be done on your smart device, augmenting your gaming experience without interfering with the action onscreen.

Image via Mashable

From maps, to stats, to control options, the Xbox SmartGlass app gives you unprecedented ways to interact with your games. The extra information and functionality provided by your smart device enhance your gameplay while keeping your main display clear of UI clutter. Watching TV and movies, listening to music, and browsing the Internet are also better experiences with Xbox SmartGlass, immersing you in a world of entertainment.

This guest post was written by Natalie Bracco.

Sony handed out the details on software update 1.8 for the Vita via Gamescom and the Playstation Blog. If you ask me these updates are long overdue, and will give me functionality I’ve been begging for since day one. Well, not all the functionality just the first portion.

PS One Classics

That’s right folks, no more playing your PS One Classics via remote play (which I thought was pretty cool on its own. The games will be downloadable directly to your Vita, greatly expanding the library of available software. You will also be able to access the menu through the system, and take screen shots of gameplay.

Playstation Plus

That’s right folks, along with the major online game save updates to plus. 1 gig of online storage to be exact. Vita owners will be able to utilize their plus subscriptions by the end of the year. This is a huge win for those on the Vita train. Now you can utilize your content on both consoles? Thanks Sony!

Cross Controller

With the new update the Vita will be useable as a controller in select PS3 games. Little Big Planet 2 is a definite yes, and I’m sure there will be many games down the road with that same support. Using the Vita as a cross controller will give you the ability to use the Six-Axis, touch screen, and cameras. Gamers will access the cross controller by initiating remote play from their Vita, and selecting the cross controller option.

Controls

You will be able to control the PS3’s Video, Music, and homescreen from the Vita.

The Rest

MPO format photos will now be supported and can be transferred from the PS3 or PC using content manager.

Group messaging will receive interface enhancements as well as the ability to upload photos.

Maps is receiving UI enhancements, including search for location and search for directions buttons. As well as the ability to place flags on user locations.

“near” will now be able to upload and download data at wifi locations without official connections and can then update the information later.

Today at Gamescom WB Games and NetherRealm Studios announced Catwoman would be a playable character, and showed her move sets. I love the goggles, but I’m not so sure about the ears. As a whole though she looks like an impressive character, the whip being mixed into the combos can add some serious fun, and I’m sure her X-Ray move will be epic. What do you folks think?

Video below:

Thanks to THQ for the review copy

Game Play

Darksiders II, can be roughly summarized as an amalgamate of every game mechanic I’ve ever loved. Combining that with a backbone of gorgeous and intriguing landscapes, unique leveling systems, piles of side quests, and the ability to modify the way Death plays, and you truthfully get a great game. I’m guilty of judging many things, and thinking that this would be a simple 8-10 hour run was my first mistake. My first play through on normal clocked in at 23 hours without focusing on finding hidden items, or completing the multiple side quests given to me by other in game characters.

I found the story in this sequel to be much more compelling than that of the first. I enjoyed finding out what was happening to Wart, but Death’s quest to save his brother hit home much more for me. It was also a lot easier to love Death he is a bitter, sarcastic, bad-ass. War was a touch drier, okay, much drier, a lot drier really. I also enjoyed interacting with the characters much more. Death asked questions in an insulting way, no matter who he spoke to. I had as much fun wondering what he’d say next as I did finding out important story elements.

Generally when trying to kill a game on a scheduled time limit I find that I become irritated with additional story elements, or puzzles that keep me from finishing the project at hand. With Darksiders II, it simply wasn’t the case, although many puzzle types were re-used in the same realms, each realm had its own unique systems you had to discover that kept the solving fresh. Instead of wishing I didn’t have to run across the map to find another key, or open another box, I was more intrigued that they had utilized several components from earlier levels to tie into an even bigger conundrum.

I’m trying to avoid giving too much intimate detail so as not to spoil the story. But I will comment on the boss fights being a touch predictable. They weren’t predictable in the sense of who, but in the how. Generally (barring the fights against Samael and the Archon) the solution to beating the enemy was handed to you on a silver platter. The weakness was always made glaringly obvious and if they didn’t have a weakness showing, it simply meant to attack full-bore. I wouldn’t call it a major negative but it did take away the sense of accomplishment. Many levels felt like a huge excursion, followed by a quick boss kill.

Sound

The soundtrack to Darksiders is phenomenal. I would expect nothing less from a title of this calibre. The sound effects while being crisp, didn’t always fit when it came to volume. Finishing a boss as the reaper was often quieter than the attacks during the battle. The huge dichotomy created by this felt confusing at many finishes. After a heated and loud battle filled with sword slams, shield clanks and even explosions. Death would finish them quietly with his giant Scythe. The finish didn’t match the battle in almost every fight. The only portion of the game this didn’t apply to is the end. The final kill was heavy, intense, and had my heart pounding for the entire ending sequence.

Story/Content

It’s hard to knock a game for story when the main character is so interesting, and the plot is one of such emotion. Who can’t connect with someone heading to the end of the world to save their brother? I won’t say the ending is anti-climactic; it served the purpose that was intended. The game series is building up to a quadrology, and simply ending the problems would make it impossible to tie in the other Horsemen. I have to give credit to the writers and creative team on story as a whole though. Once again expecting a pretty dry and straight run through Death’s adventure the amount of extra content makes the game worth it’s $59.99 price tag twice over. Once you have finished the game you can choose to play new game plus (keep your level and equipment, everything gets harder, and give it another shot. ) You can take your character into the Crucible mode to battle waves of monsters for rewards, or you can return to your game and finish wrapping up every loose end you left behind.

The story on normal may last 23 hours, but on higher difficulties, and with 100% completion I’d venture to say that 60 hours would be the bare minimum you’ll spend.

SPOILER ALERT
I’m going to discuss the ending after this warning paragraph. If you don’t want to know, skip to controls/combat. Otherwise read on, and feel free to discuss.




The ending left me with 2 wants and 1 major question,: My first want would be a more epic purpose to Death’s sacrifice. He reaches the end of his quest and is laughing over his confusion on the next step. Why not have Lilith try to convince him to resurrect the Nephilim? Could he not struggle more with his decision to fling himself into the well of souls? I was happy with the ending, I don’t want to be a naysayer, but after dragging yourself across the entire known universe and every plane in existence. Death simply throwing himself over the edge after handing his mask to the Crowfather seemed a touch light-hearted.

Spoiler over

Controls/Combat

This is one of the best parts of the game, and the series truthfully. The amount of weapons you collect throughout the story gives you ample time to adjust your combat style to any scenario. I stuck to using Achidna’s Fangs, and whichever set of blades did the most damage from the underworld on. But you can easily become a master of hammers, maces, swords, blades, or fist blades before the story is finished. The timing based attacks also added more depth for those wanting a technical set up. Dodging at the correct time left the enemy punished by a shadow of the reaper, stuns gave you opportunity to siphon life with critical attacks, and the different set of attacks available let you juggle and mix up combinations during every combat piece. There have been few games that bring a combat system forward that I enjoy quite as much as this. I won’t say the combat is better than Bayonetta, but Darksiders leaves little to be desired.

The Long and Short

This game is worth it’s price tag. If you haven’t played any in the Darksiders series I recommend running down a used copy of the first game. Last I checked they were a scant $17.99. The amount of content and the story alone make the game worth anybodies time. You don’t have to be an RPG junky to snag this game and start grinding. It truthfully has something for everybody. It is at times mildly anti-climactic, like I said during the story section it feels like occasionally the developers don’t want you to get too excited at moments that really should have your heart pounding. The pacing may be a tad strange, but the game delivers it’s point and keeps you interested.

If you’re looking for something to fill time and make you happy it did, this is where I’d go.

Score:

• Controls: 9
• Sound: 7
• Story: 9
• Replay: 8.5
• Overall: 8.5