There’s good news and better news.  Tiger Woods announced that he will make his Golf debut in April.  He will compete in 2010’s Masters Tournament.  In other news, EA sports has now announced the release date for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 is June 8,2010. Now they have upped the ante with the Ryder Cup. Get ready USA, Europe is coming to take the title. See if you have the skill to make the Ryder Cup team and lead your team to the win. Rory Mcilroy will lead Europe to try and take back the title from the US. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the Cup will be played at the Celtic Manor. A course designed originally for the Ryder Cup.

Now the cover for the first time, will not just have Tiger on it. He will be partnered with Europe’s own Rory Mcilroy. A nice touch by EA sports, to have someone other than the star player. Rumor has it that there are a couple of perks. Hit the pin on the second shot of a par 4 and the ” Pole dancer mistress” trophy. Get a whole in one and you unlock the ” A ho in one” trophy.

All jokes aside Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 has stepped up their “A” game with better graphics, new Wii controls, and harder gameplay.  You can be sure this guy will be picking up a copy for the PS3.

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Back in the year 2000, Nintendo published a title from Rare, developers of Goldeneye 007, that became the staple of FPS games from then on.  Nowadays, an FPS game on console has become the norm, but back in 2000, the genre reigned supreme on PC.  Goldeneye 007 was a very good first attempt, but it wasn’t until Perfect Dark’s release that we could see how fun an FPS could play on a console with its original and lengthy campaign, and insane amount of customization in its multiplayer mode.

After years of speculation, Perfect Dark has finally returned to this current generation of consoles on the Xbox LIVE Arcade.  The question is: Can a game that was released 10 years ago still be fun?

In Perfect Dark you play as one of the Carrington Institute’s top agent, Joanna Dark.  As Joanna Dark, it’s your mission to infiltrate the Carrington Institute’s rival corporation, dataDyne, who is attempting to sabotage the Carrington Institute.  The single-player campaign features 17 missions and for the most part has been untouched.  There are no new campaigns, nor new objectives to tackle.  Instead, Perfect Dark’s single-player campaign is a carbon copy of the N64 campaign.  The only addition is online leaderboards, which allows players to compare their completion times with their friends and others over Xbox LIVE.

The first thing you’ll notice when you start Perfect Dark is its new HD graphics.  The game supports 1080p running at a constant 60fps and its pretty impressive considering the source material.  Character models look less blocky from their N64 days due to the updated graphics, but their faces still have a pasted on look.  Enemies react to you as they originally did in the N64 version, ducking, rolling, and hiding behind cover as they try to take you out.  Perfect Dark certainly shows its age through the character animations and its audio.  The sound quality, music & voice acting sound like they’re straight from the N64 version, which isn’t too pleasing when Perfect Dark’s MIDI-like soundtrack is blaring through your 5.1 surround sound system.

There are 3 different control schemes in Perfect Dark that will please most FPS gamers.  There’s the original Perfect Dark control scheme, as well as two control schemes based on Call of Duty & Halo control schemes.  If you’re a fan of either title, then you’ll easily get a hang of these control schemes.  The auto-aim also makes its return from the N64 version, which I found to be helpful as turning it off can leave you to rely on aiming with the Left Trigger, which can be more miss than hit at times.  Overall, the controls translate very well on the Xbox 360 controller.

One of the major updates to this title is the ability to play over Xbox LIVE.  Up to 8 players can play through various multiplayer modes across all of the original Perfect Dark multiplayer maps.  All of the customization you remember from the N64 title are all here.  Want to play a deathmatch game with Rocket Launchers for 5 minutes with no radar? How about a one-hit kill game with fast movement and no weapons?  It’s all there and ready for you.  Aside from being able to play online, you can still play with 4 players on one console, just how we all experienced it in the original Perfect Dark.

If you’re the kind of person who prefers to play with your friends instead of against, two-player co-op is available both through split-screen and over Xbox LIVE which the entire campaign can be played through.  There’s also a “Counter Op” mode which puts one player in the role of Joanna Dark, while the other assumes the role of enemies to attempt to stop her from carrying out her missions.

FINAL THOUGHT: Nostalgia certainly carries Perfect Dark on the Xbox 360 a long way. Everything you loved about Perfect Dark is here, along with some very nice enhancements to its graphics and support for online play.  When you factor in its price (800 MS Points / $10), it’s easily recommendable given how many hours of play are possible in Perfect Dark.  Those who never played Perfect Dark might not get its appeal, but that’s alright, because this is a game that’s specifically directed at those of us who used to play Perfect Dark until 4 in the morning with our friends while trying to keep the noise down less we get a whoopin’.

8.5/10

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UPDATE: Through a podcast over at Major Nelson’s, the price was confirmed at 1200 Microsoft Points or $15.  For that $15 players get five maps, three new ones and two remakes from COD4. The new maps are Bailout (overrun apartment complex, wide map), Salvage (snow-covered junkyard, it’s a smaller map), and Storm (raining, abandoned warehouses). The remakes are from Call of Duty 4: Crash (urban environment with crashed helicopter in the central square) and Overgrown (dry river running through a village).

Thanks to the folks over at Activision for helping the economy with the great news that will bring FREE MW2 multiplayer Maps this month.  Coming March 30th to Xbox LIVE, Infinity Ward and Activision present Modern Warfare 2: Stimulus Package.  This is the first DLC currently announced.  Amongst the rumored maps, Crash has been mentioned to be on the list of the Stimulus Package DLC.  Behind MW2’s Terminal, Crash may be the 2nd best map in the Modern Warfare series.  It was a great map for Team Deathmatches, Search and Destroy and Sabatoge.  Snipers can pick people off from atop the chain link roof tops or rifleman can battle it out near the Helicopter Crash site near the center.  And of course the broken down building where rocket launchers and grenades were constantly hitting.

Players on the PS3 will have to wait one full month due to negotiations with Microsoft and Activision that gave Xbox 360 players one exclusive month of the maps.  Sony PlayStaion owners will have to quietly sit back until April, when they’re scheduled Stimulus Package will arrive on the PSN.  Additionally, Xbox 360 Silver Live members will be able to try out Modern Warfare 2 through the “Multiplayer Unlock event” running from March 12-15.

Of course, since the PSN service is FREE $15 for all members, the Stimulus Package will not require any additional prerequisites.

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Earlier this month, SEGA revealed they are working on another Sonic game, this time focusing on Sonic’s classic gameplay elements that we all grew up loving.  Even though it seems this will be the definitive Sonic game fans have been waiting years for, Sonic fans still can’t help but feel caution given how promising previous Sonic games looked, only to not live up to expectations.

It seems we could all breathe a little sigh of relief as the SEGA Community Manager ‘RubyEclipse’ revealed on the official SEGA forums the original Senior Level Designer for Sonic 3 is working on Sonic 4.

So, is it just Dimps? Just Sonic Team? The answer is a bit of both: Yes, Dimps is working on the game. But there’s actually more to it than just that: at the same time, we also have members of Sonic Team, including the original senior level designer from Sonic 3 & Knuckles on the SEGA Genesis working alongside them. It is most definitely a partnership, and the result of this teamwork is something many of us are excited for.

So it seems SEGA is putting all of their efforts into Sonic 4, which hopefully will be something beneficial for the gaming community as we’ve all become extremely jaded when it comes to new Sonic games.  Although, it looks like Sonic 4 could finally break the streak of bad Sonic games if all goes according to plan.

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Do you hear that?  It’s the voice of millions of Halo 2 players crying out in unison, then suddenly silenced.  That’s exactly what will happen come April 15th when Microsoft flips the switch to cease Xbox LIVE service to all original Xbox titles.

In an open letter on the Gamerscore Blog, General Manager for Xbox LIVE Marc Whitten says the decision was not one that was taken lightly, but was necessary for the benefit of the Xbox LIVE service.  With some of the upcoming Xbox LIVE changes, original Xbox titles were found to be incompatible with them.

Given how massive Xbox LIVE is and how it continues to evolve, this news isn’t surprising to me.  Cutting off original Xbox titles from the Xbox LIVE service will hopefully make the service that much better.  One thing I can think of that would be a suitable update would be the limited number of friends an Xbox LIVE account can have in their friend’s list.

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SEGA officially announced the next sequel in the Sonic the Hedgehog series with Sonic the Hedgehog 4.  The first trailer for the game was revealed on GameSpot last night and it’s very telling.  Sonic the Hedgehog 4 is dropping the 2D sprite graphics for a more HD-friendly 3D look, but it looks like it will keep the gameplay elements that we all know and love.

The title is set to be released this summer on the Xbox LIVE Arcade, Playstation Network, and WiiWare as a downloadable title.  ’Episode 1′ in the title leads us to believe SEGA has future DLC plans for Sonic the Hedgehog 4 for future episodes in the series.

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I’ve been pondering the purchase of Mass Effect 2 for a couple of weeks now. After I played and completed Mass Effect 1 within 3 weeks, I thought “Great game. But I’m looking for a deal to come along”… until now. It seems EA is finally coming around to gamers who purchase titles “new” versus “used” by way of in-game incentives. For those who purchase a new copy Mass Effect 2 you’ll be greeted to know of some DLC and something called “The Cerberus Network,” an in-game portal that will funnel Mass Effect 2 daily messages, downloadable content and news about DLC to players.

But how?  Through digital or physical means.  A one-time DLC code will be packaged with the game to ensure the original purchaser of the Xbox 360 Mass Effect 2 get’s their perk.  This minor incentive is paving the way in “new” games sales and should keep those from purchasing the $5 off “used” title from GameStop.  A system I hope other publishers embrace.

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As Daniel reported yesterday, the new ‘Game Room’ will feature classic arcade cabinet style games through Microsoft available to both Xbox Silver and Gold members.  We’re hesitant to say it will ONLY be on the Xbox 360 because the ‘Game Room’ will also be available for the PC.  Nevertheless, we have the list of the first 30 games that will be available.  Some will say ‘Game Room’ is a combination of PSN’s Home and Wii’s Virtual Console.  Like the stuttering lawyer in “My Cousin Vinny” says, “I- Dentical!”  Here is the complete list of the 30 titles:

• 1.) Centipede (arcade)
• 2.) Asteroids Deluxe (arcade)
• 3.) Tempest (arcade)
• 4.) Crystal Castles (arcade)
• 5.) Lunar Lander (arcade)
• 6.) Jungler (arcade)
• 7.) Road Fighter (arcade)
• 8.) Scramble (arcade)
• 9.) Finalizer (arcade)
• 10.) Tutankham (arcade)
• 11.) Shao-Lin’s Road (arcade)
• 12.) Super Cobra (arcade)
• 13.) Red Baron (arcade)
• 14.) Gravitar (arcade)
• 15.) Battlantlis
• 16.) Astrosmash (Intellivision)
• 17.) Mountain Madness Super Pro Skiing (Intellivision)
• 18.) Armor Battle (Intellivision)
• 19.) Space Hawk (Intellivision)
• 20.) Sub Hunt (Intellivision)
• 21.) Sea Battle (Intellivision)
• 22.) Space Armada (Intellivision)
• 23.) Astrosmash (Intellivision)
• 24.) Star Raiders (Atari 2600)
• 25.) Outlaw (Atari 2600)
• 26.) Yar’s Revenge (Atari 2600)
• 27.) Millipede (Atari 2600)
• 28.) Football (Atari 2600)
• 29.) RealSports Tennis (Atari 2600)
• 30.) Combat (Atari 2600)

source

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It’s true, Mega Man 10 will not be exclusive to the Wii like some thought.  In fact, it will be coming to the big 3.  Nintendo’s WiiWare, Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE Arcade, and Sony’s PS3.  Keeping the same 2D graphics, Mega Man 10 screens do resemble previous Mega Man titles and their retro look.  But rest assure, these graphics were done purposely in keeping the tradition going with our side scrolling hero.

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If you’re like me, you’ve been spending an insane amount of time playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 since its release.  But, how many of you out there have ever played the original Call of Duty?  You’re in luck because the game that started it all is going to be released on the PlayStation Network & Xbox LIVE Arcade this week!

Call of Duty: Classic is a port of Infinity Ward’s 2003 hit, Call of Duty.  Expect the game to go live on the Xbox LIVE Arcade on 12/2/09 for 1200 MS Points and on the Playstation Network on 12/3/09 for $14.99.

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