Amped Gaming » Matt Shafeek http://www.ampedgaming.com Gaming at its best Wed, 26 Jan 2011 21:17:04 +0000 en hourly 1 Mass Effect 2 Dated: January 26th, Plus Pre-Order Bonues Named http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/10/mass-effect-2-dated-january-26th-plus-pre-order-bonues-named/ http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/10/mass-effect-2-dated-january-26th-plus-pre-order-bonues-named/#comments Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:56:01 +0000 Matt Shafeek http://www.ampedgaming.com/?p=5070 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Well, how about that. Looks like the delay on Mass Effect 2 wasn’t nearly as bad as we all thought it was going to be. Bioware officially announce the release date today: January 26th, 2010. So you have one month and one day to enjoy whatever games you get for Christmas (or for those of you who don’t celebrate, game you just happen to begin on December 25th) and otherwise clear your schedule for what will hopefully be the finely tuned action RPG sequel we’ve all been waiting for.

Also conveniently mentioned at the same time as the release date was some pre-order bonuses. The first is apparently exclusive  to GameStop and is labeled Terminus Gear, which includes “a set of special-ops weaponry and armor that includes the M-90 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon and the Terminus Assault Armor, designed for use in “extreme planetary conditions,” which increases running speed and personal shields as well as providing capacity for an additional magazine of reserve ammo.” Pre-orders at other retailers earn gamers the Inferno Armor, “which also increases speed as well as augmented damage from combat powers, and provides Commander Shepard with a bonus to his negotiating ability.” If you’re you know, of the non-physical negotiating type.

Whether this deal interests you or not, it looks like 2010 is already off to a great start!

Source: http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/95522-Mass-Effect-2-Release-Date-Announced

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]]> http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/10/mass-effect-2-dated-january-26th-plus-pre-order-bonues-named/feed/ 0 Epic Mickey Details Spilled http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/10/epic-mickey-details-spilled/ http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/10/epic-mickey-details-spilled/#comments Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:04:56 +0000 Matt Shafeek http://www.ampedgaming.com/?p=5044 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Eurogamer recently got the scoop on the new Epic Mickey Wii game from Warren Spector. It looks like the game has sort of a Toy Story feel to it, with a darker edge.  The story focuses on Mickey’s struggle against some ‘forgotten’ Disney stars that have been abandoned over time, and as a result have become bitter after being cast into a dark void (honestly though, who wouldn’t become bitter?). The leader of the villains is Oswald the Rabbit, Disney’s first animated creation, who uses The Phantom Blot (another classic character, though always a villain) to “pollute the Disney universe with sticky black ink that makes colors run and fade” – as seen in the image above from this month’s Game Informer.

Mickey’s job is to clean up and restore this world using a series of artists’ tools, like paintbrushes, thinner, pencils, erasers, etc, which are all mapped to the Wiimote. He can use these tools to make his way through the world, using paint to restore a bridge, thinner to see through a wall, and his eraser to clear a pile of rubble.

It sounds like a very interesting premise. I don’t know about you, but something about bitter, forgotten Disney characters rising up and Mickey having to put the smack down really intrigues me. I wonder if he’ll diplomatically get them to snap out of it, and  become normal and friendly again or if he’ll actually grab a Keyblade a la his Kingdom Hearts persona and just start kicking ass.

One final detail - apparently Mickey himself is getting a “makeover” – and when we do finally get to see his face (all the media so far only shows him from behind) he will have a decidely retro look. So…I guess, Steamboat Willy Mickey FTW?

Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/first-epic-mickey-details-spilled

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]]> http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/10/epic-mickey-details-spilled/feed/ 0 Hilarious Elite Beat Agents/Phoenix Wright Mash Up http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/10/hilarious-elite-beat-agentsphoenix-wright-mash-up/ http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/10/hilarious-elite-beat-agentsphoenix-wright-mash-up/#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:55:14 +0000 Matt Shafeek http://www.ampedgaming.com/?p=5025 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Not much to say here beyond the subject line, only that if you are a fan Elite Beat Agents, Phoenix Wright, Queen, and/or Mash-Ups in general, you should definitely check out this awesome video below.

Ok I guess I have a little more to say. I love the attention to detail (as is usually what separates the good versions of these from the bad ones) – and how the “player” fails the first few rounds with hilarious results, all the while still staying true to both games.

This just reminded me of something – wasn’t Elite Beat Agents 2 supposed to come out at some point?

Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/02/queen-elite-beat-agents-and-phoenix-wright-make-for-a-great-com/

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]]> http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/10/hilarious-elite-beat-agentsphoenix-wright-mash-up/feed/ 0 It’s Official: Super Street Fighter IV Confirmed – New Characters, New Disc http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/its-official-super-street-fighter-iv-confirmed-new-characters-new-disc/ http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/its-official-super-street-fighter-iv-confirmed-new-characters-new-disc/#comments Tue, 29 Sep 2009 20:41:01 +0000 Matt Shafeek http://www.ampedgaming.com/?p=5016 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Those of you following the news around the Tokyo Game Show may have heard the rumors about this, but it’s finally been confirmed: Capcom just officially announced that Street Fighter IV will be updated next year with Super Street Fighter IV, which adds new fighters (8 in fact), new online features, and ‘rebalanced characters.’  Amongst the new characters added to the roster we have original Super Street Fighter 2 characters Dee Jay and T. Hawk (giving us the full final Street Fighter 2 cast, which is kinda cool), a new character named Juri, a female Korean Tae Kwon Do fighter. The rest of the additions have yet to be released.

There’s a caveat to all of this: while this is clearly an update to the franchise and not a full on sequel’s worth of game, it’s going to be a whole new disc requiring a whole new purchase of the game, and an unfortunate splintering of players, at least initially. The producers have stated that the game will be released at a “discounted price,” and that owners of the original version will be given an undisclosed “bonus.” Even so, it’s a little bit unfortunate and more than a little suspect that the production team somehow couldn’t manage to make this a $20 downloadable add-on a la GTA IV’s Lost and the Damned.

Full details of what’s known at the moment and first impressions from the GameStop people below, and even further below you’ll find a teaser video that show’s absolutely nothing new information-wise, but sure is purty to look at!

Source: http://tgs.gamespot.com/story/6230625/super-street-fighter-iv-impressions-first-look?tag=topslot;thumb;1

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]]> http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/its-official-super-street-fighter-iv-confirmed-new-characters-new-disc/feed/ 0 Wii Price Drop Rumor Confirmation? http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/wii-price-drop-rumor-confirmation/ http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/wii-price-drop-rumor-confirmation/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:34:31 +0000 Matt Shafeek http://www.ampedgaming.com/?p=4992 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Joystiq just got a tip from a Best Buy employee essentially confirming (assuming the whole thing isn’t a fabrication) the recently rumored Wii price drop of $50. The memo – seen above – basically asks employees to keep their mouths shut about the price drop which won’t be official until this Sunday. In a cruel twist of fate (or most accurately, in an obvious, logical series of events) the information very quickly found itself on the internet.

So, a Wii price drop, just in time for the holiday…with this move all three systems will have had price drops just in the past month. I’d be curious to know how many of them are reactions to sales of their rivals, versus the slowdown of their own sales. In any event, the holiday season showdown has officially begun.

Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2009/09/23/rumor-internal-best-buy-memo-confirms-wii-price-cut-this-sunday/

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]]> http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/wii-price-drop-rumor-confirmation/feed/ 0 Microsoft Offers $50 Rebate For Elite Purchase Now Through Oct. 5th http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/microsoft-offers-50-rebate-for-elite-purchase-now-through-oct-5th/ http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/microsoft-offers-50-rebate-for-elite-purchase-now-through-oct-5th/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:18:45 +0000 Matt Shafeek http://www.ampedgaming.com/?p=4975 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Microsoft must’ve realized their recent offer wasn’t quite sweet enough for new buyers into the HD video game generation, because on top of the price drop on their Xbox 360 Elite, they’ve decided to offer an additional $50 rebate to anyone who purchases one between now and October 5th, effectively making it possible to get a 120GB, totally all black and cool looking (though still WiFi adapter and HDMI cord-less) Elite for just $50 more than the standard Arcade, AND once again cheaper than the PS3.

Not much more to say on the subject besides this: if you’ve told yourself you’re going to wait for a REALLY REALLY REALLY good deal on a 360, this is probably as good as its going to get for a very long time.

Rebate Form: http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/360eliterebate/default.htm

Source: http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2009/09/22/purchase-and-xbox-360-elite-and-get-fifty-bucks-back.aspx

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]]> http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/microsoft-offers-50-rebate-for-elite-purchase-now-through-oct-5th/feed/ 0 Batman: Arkham Asylum Free DLC Review http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/batman-arkham-asylum-free-dlc-review/ http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/batman-arkham-asylum-free-dlc-review/#comments Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:50:30 +0000 Matt Shafeek http://www.ampedgaming.com/?p=4952 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> I had the pleasure of checking out the the new Arkham Asylum free DLC that was released today for everyone’s version of the game.

The first part of the DLC is entitled “Totally Insane” and it is a combat challenge similar to the ones you fight in the non-stealth oriented fights in the regular Challenge Mode with two twists: one, for the first time they’ve included the psychopaths (or lunatics? I think that’s what they’re called, you know which ones I’m talking about it, the ones that scream and scratch and bite you) that mix up the battle a bit, and two, it goes on FOREVER. No rounds, just a nonstop barrage of baddies for you to beat up until you can’t take it anymore. I assume the goal is a high score. I don’t how often I’d play this (though I suppose once you’ve mastered the other battles this is pretty much all there is left), but I DID finally get my 40 combo “combat freeflow” achievement that just a week ago seemed like an impossible task.

The other half of the DLC is, as you might have guessed, a predator challenge called “Nocturnal Hunter,” and it has you taking out 8 armed to the teeth baddies in a map outside of Arkham proper. I can play these maps all day, and I had a fun time experimenting with the very specific medals they ask of you. Nothing more to really add, other than is a very well done little map for a predator challenge – lots of hiding spots, escape paths, wall to explode, and of course, gargoyles.

So that’s about it – is it worth FREE? What do you think?!?! It’s more Batman! And I’ll also say this: its way better than Dem Bones, the useless DLC I got for pre-ordering at GameStop, which made me regret pre-ordering with GameStop (they put STICKERS on my NEW GAME!) Anyways, if you own the game, go and download this right now!

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]]> http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/batman-arkham-asylum-free-dlc-review/feed/ 1 Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks Due Out December 7th http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/legend-of-zelda-spirit-tracks-due-out-december-7th/ http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/legend-of-zelda-spirit-tracks-due-out-december-7th/#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 00:47:51 +0000 Matt Shafeek http://www.ampedgaming.com/?p=4926 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Coming in the tail end of the holiday release schedule for 2009, the much anticipated Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for the DS has been announced for release on December 7th, 2009.

Not much else to add here except to say between the new Professor Layton, Scribblenauts, Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story and this, Fall/Holiday 2009 is looking like a pretty good season to be a Nintendo DS owner!

Follow the link below to see the entire Holiday release schedule Nintendo revealed today for the Wii and the DS:

Source: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090915006514&newsLang=en

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]]> http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/legend-of-zelda-spirit-tracks-due-out-december-7th/feed/ 0 Rumor: Wii Price Drop Coming First Week In October? http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/rumor-wii-price-drop-coming-first-week-in-october/ http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/rumor-wii-price-drop-coming-first-week-in-october/#comments Mon, 14 Sep 2009 01:25:58 +0000 Matt Shafeek http://www.ampedgaming.com/?p=4903 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> The writers over at Kotaku recently posted a juicy morsel that could potentially heat up the console war: according to some “advance retail listings,” apparently Nintendo is readying a price drop on the Wii during the first week of October, just a few weeks from now.

The price drop would make sense, given the season, how long the Wii has been out, the recent drop in competitor’s prices, and the simple fact that Wii sales right now are down almost 50% compared tot he same quarter last year.

No more information is available for the moment, but we should know more soon enough. This does beg the age-old question I always wind up asking myself when Nintendo does something like this: “Who doesn’t own a Wii yet that wants to own one?” I guess we’ll find out soon enough!

Source: http://kotaku.com/5357766/wii-price-drop-looks-to-hit-first-week-of-october

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]]> http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/rumor-wii-price-drop-coming-first-week-in-october/feed/ 1 Riddle Me This, PAX! http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/riddle-me-this-pax/ http://www.ampedgaming.com/2009/09/riddle-me-this-pax/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:37:19 +0000 Matt Shafeek http://www.ampedgaming.com/?p=4855 Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.]]> Edit: Aha! This time Kotaku gets the news from US! I showed Totilo the picture when we met PAX. It’s all good – we’re besties now.

I just got back from back a few days ago, and boy was it a fantastic time! I don’t have too much gaming news to provide that the others sites weren’t on top of the moment the expo began, but I do have one interesting tidbit I don’t think anyone else seemed to notice: THE RIDDLER IS IN SEATTLE!

That’s right – apparently this devious member of Batman’s Rogues Gallery has moved beyond Gotham City and into the Pacific Northwest for a yet-to-be-determined nefarious scheme.

Take a look at the above picture, seen just a few blocks from the convention center, and see if you can solve this tricky riddle. Something about running out of time? Or has the Clock King joined forced with him? Send in your thoughts, loyal Bat-readers!

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