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http://www.tekkoshocon.com

So yeah, as my cousin so lightly put it, I haven't updated with a new show.  In reality, there was a live stream of Street Fighter IV up, but with 2 viewers total, it's hard to say when that might be reattempted.  Possibly if I EVER get the SFIV Tourney FightSticks that I preordered, then there will be another shot at it.

Why there hasn't been a audio show: Last 5 weeks, I've either been in training for management coverage or actually DOING the management coverage.  That coverage is over now, so I'm back to part-time until the summer.  Also known as back to regular hours and having days off where I'm not slacking off.

The trip to Pittsburgh and Tekkoshocon VII is merely two weeks away.  I'm getting excited, as it's my first trip to another country (albeit the United States) and my first trip to a con (at least if you don't count me accidently stumbling upon...<< MORE >>

I'm typing up the draft of what I want to talk about as this gets posted on the site here.  The show will be recorded on Tuesday.  There's a reason for that, which will be explained later.  If anyone wants to take part in the episode, drop me a line on Skype, the account ID is ponza.report (That's ponza, then a period, then report).

Relatively new to the blog will be a hands-on series, especially for new releases that I will be reviewing, or demos that are now available via console stores.  This week, I've got my hands on 3 different games, so I thought I'd mash my thoughts about each one into one post.

Let's start with Halo Wars.  The demo just hit Xbox Live Marketplace for Xbox Live Gold subscribers.  Set 20 years before the first Halo game, you set foot on Harvest during the last missions on the planet.  The UNSC Marines are in a power struggle with the Covenant for key battlefields.  Unfortunately, you've got some cleaning up to do.  This time around, things aren't like you're used to: Halo Wars is a real-time strategy, much like Age of Empires and Warcraft.  Using very simple controls, you build attached structures and towers around your base to fortify and make units.  Resources are shipped in, and troops are limited, but you can make more to an extent.  Missions are scored based on completion of objectives and side-objectives.  Basically, for an RTS, it's very simple.  Selecting units is all A-button stuff, while attacking is with X, and secondary attacks are with Y.  Some examples of secondary attacks are, say you've got some grunts in front of your Warthog.  Press Y while selecting the Warthog to get grunts all up in yo grill!  Satisfaction guaranteed.  Just don't ram buildings, that'll deplete some of your Warthog's health for sure.  Halo Wars looks promising, I don't have it on preorder, but you never know, you might see a P.Review soon.

Next up is the incredibly short Killzone 2 demo.  Killzone is an FPS with some very wicked visuals, possibly the best I've seen ever on a console game.  Not a whole lot of gunplay in the demo, but plenty of things to cheer about.  The lighting effects are stunning, and I can't stress that enough.  Blood splats on the screen when you get shot, and there's even some co-op interaction, like when you reach the elevator, you can press circle to have a teammate prop you up onto the ledge, then you reach down and help him up, usually with a cheeky joke tied in.  (For my 2 run-throughs, I was told not to mess up his hair, and not to drop him this time.)  For a short, really hyped demo, it's partly worth the praise.  The action is intense, but the AI for your side is pretty decent.  Lots of ammo around too.  Too bad on the shortness of it all.

Lastly, head here for a good game to try:  www.playauditorium.com  It's an upstart game that a lot of people are excited for, as it may be coming to iPhone.  For now though, it's on PC, and it's fantastic once you get your head around it.  As well, there's music that you can listen to afterwards, if you buy the full version.  There's 15 acts in the whole thing, and lots of puzzle fun using the pieces each level gives you.  I'm having a blast with it, whenever I can get a chance to play it that is.
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Skate 2

Developer: EA Vancouver - Black Box
Publisher: Electronic Arts
System: Xbox 360 (reviewed), Playstation 3 (demo reviewed)
Rated T for Teen, includes Alcohol Reference, Language, Mild Violence and Suggestive Themes.

Things have changed, but one thing remains the same: You're the dude of New San Van.

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Posted by Ponza at 1/28/2009 11:55 PM | View Comments (1) | Add Comment