So, here’s the saddest irony in the world.

I have in my hands a full-build copy of Grand Theft Auto IV, five days before official release.

But I have no time to play it.

And not just for one reason. Not even two reasons. But three reasons.

1. I have so much work to do I don’t even have enough time to sleep. I hardly even have time to blog, missing a day yesterday and almost missing today.
2. Our projector has just been sold so we have no TV right now. (Our new plasma TV will be delivered to our new place on Saturday.)
3. Our Xbox 360 (together with half our stuff) is now sitting in our new home. We just haven’t officially moved in.

So…

I HAVE THE MOST HAPPENING HYPED UP GAME IN THE WHOLE WORLD BUT NO TV AND NO CONSOLE TO PLAY IT ON!

Talk about agony.

I can’t play till official moving day on Saturday. And even then, I’ll be busy unpacking and setting up all my Internet and gaming connections all day.

So I decided to play a little at the office before going home.

I’m horrible at console games, I’ve decided. The controller has too many buttons and toggles and they are not all nicely labelled like keys on the keyboard.

I couldn’t get Niko Bellic to run properly. I couldn’t shoot the damn gun so I had to suffer this dumb NPC continuously stabbing me in the face. I couldn’t run down the stairs properly, so I got Swordplay to help me get out of the damn building and jump into a car so I could put my driving skills to the test.

He got Niko into a car for me, and the first thing I did when I took over the controller was to make Niko get out of the car again.

What. I was stress testing the car doors okay. You guys ever see the stress test machines at Ikea, where they have the machines open and close closet doors 200 million times a day?

Fine. GTA IV is totally, like, wasted on me.

Hehe.

But I swear I will master console gaming if its the last thing I do. Once I have time to start playing games again, that is.

But someone has to first tell my new boss that he’s working me too hard.

Oh, wait. My boss reads my blog.

OMG.

Hi, boss! =)

Nothing to see here! Kthxbye.

Categories: Gaming Notebook
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Ninja Gaiden fanboys are probably gonna want my blood for this, but I hope they will wait patiently for the game’s release in June. That game’s gonna satisfy all bloodlust, I assure you!

Here’s a photo of me playing Ninja Gaiden 2 on the Xbox 360 in a small office room in Microsoft:

Well…

That’s all I can photograph. Haha. I wasn’t allowed to photograph or film the game, but that’s nothing new since we all know that Team Ninja enjoys weaving its shroud of secrecy and Microsoft enjoys playing along with that.

So, here’s another photo showing the same thing. *lol*

I have to be very honest. I’ve never played any of the prequels, so I quite sucked at playing NG2.

But I’ve watched the Goonfather play Ninja Gaiden. I enjoyed watching the blood and gore fly fast and furious and I enjoyed laughing at him when he got pwned or when he fell down trying to scale impossibly tall walls.

The Goonfather hates me for getting to play the game instead of him. Wait, that came out wrong. I mean, the Goonfather is immensely jealous that he doesn’t get to play the game because he is a #1 Ninja Gaiden fanboy.

Actually, he’s a #1 fanboy of countless games. He’s so greedy. But it kinda helps me because whenever I don’t want him to bug me, I’ll just have to remind him gently, “Hey, Zhao Yun is waiting for you in Dynasty Warriors,” and he’ll be like OMG OKTHXBYE.

It’s great having a gamer partner.

Back to Ninja Gaiden. I love Ryu Hayabusa! He’s so so so cool!! I have a ninja fetish, don’t you know?

The version we got to play in the Microsoft office was the almost complete build. Ninja Gaiden 2 opens with Ryu Hayabusa on the roof of a building in Sky City Tokyo. It is late in the night and he’s set upon immediately by black-clad men.

That really proved a challenge to me because Ryu is also in black (although his arms are bare, unlike his foes).

Because the action is so fast, I would fight halfway and lose track of Ryu and then I’m just mashing buttons not knowing where I am and whether I’m doing the hitting or being the hittee.

Told you I never play before lah!

But it was really fun and it gave me a thrill to get multiple hits in a row and see the blood spray. Yeah, yeah, bloodthirsty.

We get sticker name tags when we visit Microsoft. So cool!

I was at Microsoft to get briefed on the Ninja Gaiden 2 launch campaign, which will involve me dressing up as a ninja. Cool or not?! Shhh, don’t tell people. It’s a secret!

So, while we were there, we were shown the game and allowed to play it to get a feel of it. How nice of the Microsoft events people!

Can’t wait for the launch! If you want to take part in the event and win some cool Ninja Gaiden 2 premiums, go camp this page (have to register and log in) and wait for updates!

Or you can keep checking back at my blog for updates because I will certainly be blogging about it. At least you get to read fresh content here every day and not just see the same old teaser page day after day. Heh.

Categories: Gaming Notebook
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This is the second part of my preview of the 10 most anticipated games coming out on the Xbox 360 this year.

The first part can be read here.

All the games were shown to us at the Xbox 360’s 2nd birthday party at The Screening Room on April 3rd. Well, some only had trailers because the games weren’t done being developed. But here’s a peek at the stuff we were shown.

Alone in the Dark

More gory zombie slasher survival thriller goodness coming your way!

It seems a common enough theme in games for heroes to wake up disoriented in an eerie, perhaps threatening, environment, posing a challenge to the player to figure out what’s happening and to get the hell out of there.

But Alone in the Dark has the privilege of being a pioneer in the survival horror genre (first released for the PC in 1992), so you can’t exactly accuse it of being unoriginal.

This remake has some potential stuff to look forward to, not the least of which is the episodic treatment of the game. It’s made to look like a TV series, with each episode unfolding just like a TV drama complete with recaps and plot synopses.

There is a lot more interactivity. You can pick up just about anything that’s sitting around and use it like you might in the real world. You can even combine items to help you get through obstacles. Brains and logic count for a lot in this game.

For instance, you could grab a coffee maker and beat a zombie over the head with it. Okay, that’s a no-brainer, but I mentioned that because that’s what you’ll get to see in this funny video. I filmed it as an Atari representative played game for us.

It’s hilarious how the crazy zombie wretch just refuses to die. Watch it to the end. I promise you you won’t regret it.

Alone in the Dark releases on June 24, 2008.

Official site on Atari.com.

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Mirror’s Edge

I like this one. We were shown a CG trailer highlighting the plot and special features, and I hope the game will be as good as the trailer looks. (Sorry, we’re not allowed to share the trailer.)

The protaganist is Faith (that will be you), a spunky neo-Asian chick who works as a courier in a sterile city set in the future.

She’s no ordinary courier, wouldn’t you know. Faith is faster than a speeding bullet. More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

Oh, wait. That’s the wrong superhero.

But she sure does kick ass, all the same. And her mode of transport is leaping tall buildings. Really.

Because the government monitors everything that goes on in the city and strictly controls the flow of information, there is a need for talented, gravity-defying individuals to courier sensitive information above the prying eyes of the government.

Yes, if you can leap from rooftop to rooftop, you can make a bid for Faith’s job.

So you get to do Matrix-like stuff in the game as you go about your business. You grab objects on the fly to use as weapons to help you overcome obstacles. According to the developers, the game is not about brute force. It’s about outhinking the man behind the gun.

The game camera is free-flowing in the sense that it follows your movement more realistically than most other first-person games. Real-time momentum is built in, like, you can’t come to a sudden halt in the middle of a sprint. And you will actually feel woozy when looking down or leaping off tall buildings. Unless you’re a daredevil with no heart.

Mirror’s Edge releases late 2008.

Official site on Mirror’s Edge.

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Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon

So, like, the tables are turned and the human race gets obliterated by a retro disco-era zen alien going by the name of Crypto.

In the words of the trailer: “To attain enlightenment, you must expand your mind, master time and space and blow the living crap out of everything.”

Sounds like everything you ever wanted to do, doesn’t it, you sicko? Especially since you get to destroy all humans, as the title of the game strongly suggests.

What the heck, this brand new exclusive trailer says it all:

Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon releases May 16 (UK, Australia) and September 15 (USA), 2008.

Official site on Destroy All Humans.

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FaceBreaker

Personally, it’s kinda worrying to me that there’s an actual sport revolving around beating people’s faces in. But if that’s what people like to do for leisure, who am I to object?

FaceBreaker takes arcade boxing up a whole new level with real-time facial deformation.

Yes, it’s not enough for people to see cars getting pounded in and smashed up in racing sims. People want to see people get pounded in and smashed up now. Oh, and let’s top it off with a cherry, why don’t we.

Put your photo on your avatar. Put your worst enemy’s photo on your opponent’s avatar. Uh huh.

We were told that your photo will get 3D’ed nicely so your boxing avatars will look just like you and your good friend, Billy Wanna Get Punched In The Face.

How about that?

Official site on EA Sports.

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UEFA EURO 2008

You can probably tell that I know nothing about sports or sports games, so I’m naturally biased and won’t be talking at length about this title. Haha. That’s just how it is, unfortunately.

All I can say is that the developers promise highly authentic stadiums and teams. And the game interface has been made easier for casual players to get into it.

Die-hard fans can check out the Be A Pro mode, in which you zero in on one particular player and develop his career from scratch.

Oh, and there’s this cool feature you can invoke when you score a goal. It’s called a celebration scene, during which you can make the scoring player perform celebratory dances while your enemy watches. And you can do it as much as you want, disrupting the game for as long as you want, to really rile your opponent.

Coolness! I like that, even if I won’t play this game.

UEFA EURO 2008 releases on April 11 (Europe) and May 19 (USA), 2008

Preorder is available here.
Official site on EA Sports.

===================================================

That’s all for upcoming games this period. If you liked my previews, tell me and I might do more. If you didn’t like them, what the heck, I still might do more because I like playing games and talking about them. So there.

Categories: Gaming Notebook, Regular Blogs
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And the parties just keep coming. I could really get used to this!

Xbox 360 celebrated its second birthday on Thursday by inviting a group of bloggers to The Screening Room to play games.

Can anyone even think of a better way to celebrate a birthday??

It was a really exclusive party during which we were shown (and even allowed to try) upcoming highly-anticipated Xbox 360 game titles.

(The first part of my games preview report is out here.)

I could really get used to this.

When we first arrived, we were tagged. I was told I was a ninja. Awesome blossom. We later found out that we had been split into groups for the gaming competition. Exciting.

(I was faintly disappointed that we didn’t get ninja costumes to wear but I guess I’m alone in this. Haha.)

Anyway, the first thing we did was just to mingle around and talk shop (games).

We posed for pictures.

(Blogger Farinelli, Microsoft rep Ian Tan and blogger Sheylara)

We watched “live” game demos.

The photo above shows me videotaping the Dragonball Z game which I embedded in my earlier blog. Now you know what lousy equipment I’m using for my videos. Haha.

We tried out Rock Band and Guitar Hero 3.

Although I should say “they”, because I already have Rock Band and Guitar Hero 3 at home.

We ate yummy food!

That mini burger is to die for, man. I love it! But I only ate one (and a stuffed chicken wing) because I was so so busy talking about games and playing games!!

We drooled at divine yummy host Oli Pettigrew.

At least I think the women did.

Oli’s a gamer, too, which makes him perfect for the job of hosting the party.

There was so much to do at the party and so little time.

There was a competition!!

We had four teams of 4-5 members each. Our teams had cool names like Ninja (my team!), Rockstar, Covenant and Ghost.

The games being competed in were Bomberman, Guitar Hero 3 and Project Gotham Racing 4. One or two representatives from each team were sent to play each game and wins were tallied at the end.

Jerrick and I represented our team for Guitar Hero 3!

Well, we didn’t score the highest on GH3. I’m actually much better at drums.

But… OUR TEAM WON in the final tally!!

I could hardly believe it!

Team Ninja won!!! Haha. Cool or not? Team Ninja, like the developer for Ninja Gaiden.

Okay lah, fine, I have no shame.

Anyway, we won this.

Grand Theft Auto IV long-sleeve t-shirts! OH-MY-GAWD.

I am such a game freak, getting excited over such things.

And this is, like, the third t-shirt I’ve won within a week!! (One is for the Ping.sg game and another was at an event I haven’t blogged about yet because I have too many things to blog about recently!)

Actually, I was a very lousy team mate. While my mates were competing in the other games, I was busy elsewhere chatting, eating, playing games, talking shop, instead of cheering them on. Haha. Sorry lah, guys!

But I love my team! You all rock!

There was a birthday-song-birthday-cake routine at the end. But the birthday cake was really special. It was a bunch of mini cakes! *lol*

Very innovative, and no messy cake cutting, either!

We were each given one to hold while we sang the birthday song. And all of us blew our own candle out. Cool, huh?

So we all had our cakes and ate it, too!

Microsoft very kindly gave away a Limited Edition Xbox 360 for the lucky draw.

And Farinelli won it!

(Lucky draw winner Farinelli poses with Microsoft’s Alan Chou and host Oli Pettigrew)

I am so jealous of him because it’s a special Halo 3 edition!!! But I’m also glad he won because he’s my team mate! And I already have an Xbox 360, anyway.

Way to go, Farinelli!!

It was Xbox 360’s birthday, but we all got presents, instead! This is my favourite kind of birthday party!!! Hahahaha.

Let’s see what’s in the goodie bag!

Two t-shirts, one of which is a limited edition Xbox 360, only 60 pieces made!

One Xbox 360 black wireless controller.

GTA4 stickers and coasters.

Fantastic!

I realise I have tons and tons of exclamation marks in this blog entry which makes me sound like a bimbo!!!

I’m sorry!! But I can’t help it because I’m so happy and excited!!!!

More parties, please!!!

Okay.

Bimbo-geek Sheylara signing out.

Bzzzt.

Categories: Gaming Notebook
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After attending Xbox 360’s 2nd birthday party at The Screening Room last night, I want to become a full-time gamer.

We were given a sneak peek at 10 upcoming titles on the Xbox 360 and they all (okay, not all, but most) look so fun I can’t wait to get my hands on them.

I was planning to show you all the 10 titles today, but I have spent the whole day writing and processing screenshots and I’ve only managed to cover half of them. Being a games previewer/reviewer is very hard work!!! And I still have yet to talk about the party!!

So, five games first. More another day.

Ninja Gaiden II

This very popular action series just got bloodier (if that’s even possible)! But don’t take my word for it. Check out the screenshots (click to enlarge).

We saw the game being played “live” but were not allowed to videotape it, bummer. But you can watch a demo here and it’s the same, except played by different people.

The game opens with Ryu Hayabusa looking buff and sexy as ever, once again on a venging crusade for his clan and by-the-way saving the human race like heroes are wont to do.

After admiring a panoramic view of death and decay from the top of a gloomy castle, Ryu leaps off a tower ledge and charges straight into the bloodthirsty arms of monstrous freaks. Of course, if you’re a half-decent player, Ryu should be the one performing most of the bloodletting.

I don’t know if it’s my imagination, maybe aided by the hype and mood generated during the preview event, but the action in NG2 seems to be faster and slicker than its predecessor. Blood and ichor spill fast and furious. It’s just a total bloodbath. Well, the game engine for NG2 was built from the ground up to the specifications of the Xbox 360, so maybe that explains it.

The new auto-healing and save point system should be a welcome feature for casual players.

Or not.

When I told the Goonfather about it, he said, “I don’t even need to heal. Cos I’m leet.”

Okay, next!

Ninja Gaiden® II, exclusive for Xbox 360, releases on June 3rd, 2008.

Preorder is available here.
Official site on Xbox.com.

For Singaporeans, you don’t want to miss the special launch events and activities happening soon. Get updated here.

===================================================

Grand Theft Auto IV

This game needs no introduction!! And trailers are up everywhere already, so I’m just going to show you a few screenshots (click to enlarge).

I love the GTA series because it’s pure madness and mayhem. The limitless potential for causing mischief and destruction is just so liberating for a gamer.

In GTA 4, you’re Niko Bellic from Eastern Europe. Tricked by your ruffian cousin, Roman, you travel to Liberty City expecting to live the high life — fast cars, women and mansions — only to find that Roman isn’t exactly raking in the dough, plus he immediately puts you to work as a gofer. What a trickster.

One of the good things about GTA 4 is the seamless gameplay. Apart from the initial loading, there are no loading screens to contend with anywhere in the entire game. I totally dig that.

Three words: I can’t wait!!

Grand Theft Auto IV releases on April 29, 2008.

Preorder is available here.
Official site on Rockstar Games and Xbox.com.

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Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

This game is really, really cool. If you’re a Star Wars fan. Maybe even if you’re not. But who isn’t a Star Wars fan?

You’re Darth Vadar’s secret apprentice between the time periods of Star Wars Episodes 3 and 4, sent to destory all remaining Jedis.

You get to wield your very own lightsaber as well as use the force to do a variety of things including kill, maim and destroy living and non-living things. You can even take down TIE fighters using the force alone.

Who knows, you might even want to turn against foster daddy Darth Vadar and be a good guy. But I know all you hardcore gamers are too lean and mean to be good.

The game boasts really brilliant graphics that show you real time damage as you go about destroying everything around you. We were treated to a demonstration of the gameplay which, unfortunately, cannot be released yet. But it looked really good.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed releases on September 16 (USA), September 17 (Asia) and September 19 (Europe), 2008.

Preorder is available here.
Official site on LucasArts.com.

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Dragonball Z Burst Limit

Watching this game brings back childhood memories of watching Dragonball cartoons and reading the manga. To date, Dragonball is my favourite manga series. Not that I’ve read many series, since buying manga is an expensive pasttime.

Anyway, here’s a videoclip of the game being played by two Microsoft representatives. (Sorry for the “pirated” quality of the video.)

And screenshots:

Nothing much to say about this game. It’s a fighter with tons of your favourite Dragonball characters to select from, and lots of cool Dragonball powers to invoke, enough to provide you with endless hours of mindless entertainment.

Dragonball Z Burst Limit releases on June 5, 2008.

Official site on Atari.com and Bandai Games (Japanese).

===================================================

Dead Space

This is one of those creepy games you don’t want to play alone at home in the middle of the night.

Dead Space is EA’s first foray into the sci-fi/horror/thriller genre and it’s looking good.

In terms of scare factor, I put it somewhere between Silent Hill and Doom 3. It’s not as scary as Silent Hill because you’re battling aliens instead of ghosts (although some might argue that aliens are scarier) but scarier than Doom 3 in terms of environment, music and plot.

You’re an engineer aboard a deep space mining ship to fix the broken communications system all by your own lonesome. Next thing you know, you see dead bodies and you’re set upon by aliens.

A deep story and a surprise ending are promised. I guess I’m hooked. I can’t wait to check out how EA performs in this genre.

Screenshots!!

This will make a great Halloween present, if you’re giving out presents at all, because of its Halloween release date. Or plan a Halloween party around the game!

Dead Space releases on October 31, 2008.

Preorder is available here.
Official site on Ea.com.

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Alrighty. Watch out for the next installment, coming soon!

Categories: Gaming Notebook
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