GGF#37: An exciting month for gamers

- Sheylara

[Gamer Girl Friday]

February is a very exciting month (which translates to busy for me).

Apart from Valentine’s Day, which is totally irrelevant to today’s column but is being mentioned for the sheer fact that it just so happens to also fall in February, we’re looking forward to all the many games releasing this month.

Plus, and more excitingly, we’ll be experiencing big game launches for three big titles in Singapore, namely Halo Wars, Ninja Blade and Street Fighter IV.

There are so many activities planned for this month I’m getting dizzy sorting through all the info.

But I managed to sort through everything (huzzah) so read on to find out what’s what.

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Table of Contents

  1. Halo Wars
  2. Ninja Blade
  3. Street Fighter IV
  4. Funtown Mahjong
  5. Lips – Grammy songs
  6. Results of last week’s contest
  7. Win a limited edition UNSC Spartan vest!!

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Halo Wars

The popular Halo franchise comes in RTS (real-time strategy) format for the first time!

To be launched on February 26 (Japan & Asia Pacific. Yes we get it before the Americans and Europeans do), Halo Wars is already getting ahead with a slew of pre-launch activities.

Halo Wars screenshot

Here’s a summary. See if anything catches your fancy!

  1. Play Halo Wars demo free at E2MAX Feb 14-22
  2. Halo Wars tournament at E2MAX Feb 21-22
  3. Singapore’s Biggest Halo Fan contest, now on till Feb 22
  4. Halo Wars pre-order available till Feb 19
  5. Halo Wars demo now available for download on Xbox LIVE marketplace

If you need more details on anything, they’re all here.

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Ninja Blade

Ninja Blade is flying your way on Feb 12! Have you tried it yet? If not, get your butt over to XXZ this weekend! (Feb 7 and 8, Best Denki VivoCity and Challenger Funan.)

There will be Ninja Blade demos and free play, as well as guest appearances by Xbox Xpert Merdeka and a special Ninja mascot!

Ninja Blade

Merdeka’s looking very cute deadly at the bottom of the poster.

More details here.

Ninja Blade pre-order is still availabe at XXZ until Feb 8. Get your Ninja Blade letter opener quick!

Also, take note that there will be launch activities at both XXZs on Feb 14 and 15.

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Street Fighter IV

Street Fighter IV is also launching on Feb 12! How lah! So many games!

If you’re a Street Fighter fan, you don’t want to miss a thing!

Free SF4 calendar

From Feb 12 to 28, show XXZ staff a copy of your SF4 game, or purchase a copy there on the spot, and receive this cool calendar!

SF4 Launch

Go to any XXZ on Feb 14 and 15 to enjoy launch activities!

XXZ is at Challenger Funan and Best Denki VivoCity.

Digital Life party

Digital Life and Microsoft Xbox Singapore are hosting a party on Feb 14 for fans. You’ll get to play the game with other fans and win prizes! This is an invite-only party! You need to send an e-mail to get an invite.

Win an Xbox 360 console and SF4 games

One Xbox 360 and five SF4 games will be given away to lucky winners in an SMS contest. Details here.

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Funtown Mahjong

I just downloaded this game from Xbox LIVE Marketplace. It’s so fun! I can’t wait till more people download it too so I can play multiplayer instead of playing with the cheating AI. (Well, they always win just before I’m about to win big!!)

Funtown Mahjong

The game is very Anglicized. When characters throw out cards, they will announce the cards in English names. For example, “Bamboo 4”. That takes a bit of getting used to.

Even the tiles are Anglicized, although you have the option to change them to traditional tiles.

Funtown Mahjong

Funtown Mahjong

The gameplay is a little bit different from the mahjong I’m used to. The rules are roughly the same, but this is 16-tile mahjong (whereas in Singapore, we usually play 13-tile mahjong).

That means your play strategy has to be slightly modified. For instance, there is less time to build very exciting big combinations. The game ends a lot faster since everyone gets three extra tiles in the beginning, meaning there are less facedown tiles to open up.

Funtown Mahjong

The above is a Chinese New Year special background which I downloaded for 200 MS Points. It’s pretty cool. The original background looks like this:

Funtown Mahjong

And you get to choose which cutesy AI opponents you want to play against.

Funtown Mahjong

I really dig this game, although the 16-tile gameplay annoys me because I like building big cards.

Still, it’s a very nice “break time” game to play for when I only have 10 or 20 minutes to spare.

And I think it’s a good game for beginner players because there’s a fully guided tutorial on the rules of mahjong, and the game seems to encourage a play strategy of “anyhow build your tiles just to win fast”, which is the strategy that most beginners adopt.

Drop me a note if you download this game. Let’s play together! =)

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Award-winning songs for Lips

Lips launched late last year with quite a sad selection of downloadable songs.

Lips

But over the months, the list has just been exploding, with three to six new releases every single week.

I think now would be a really good time to buy Lips if you haven’t already.

Available from today are three new Grammy Award winning songs:

Fallin’ – Alicia Keys
In My Place – Coldplay
Building a Mystery – Sarah McLachlan

Alicia Keys - Fallin

And coming up next week:

Buttons – Pussycat Dolls
Magic – Olivia Newton-John
My Happy Ending – Avril Lavinge

Yowza!! Siiiiiing! Sing a sooooong! Sing out louuuuuud! Sing out strooooooong!

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Results of last week’s contest

Dominic wants an IAHGames iCash card to buy Expert scrolls and Enchantment boosters and +7 his weapon to make it bling.

VERY WORTHY GOALS, MY FRIEND!

So, Dominic wins a $10 IAHGames iCash card! Congratulations!

Please e-mail me to claim your prize, thanks!

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Win a limited edition UNSC Spartan vest!!

I suddenly have a lot of stuff to give away!! But one at a time, eh?

This week, I’m giving out a very special exclusive item which I have kept since 2007.

It’s a limited edition vest that was given out as part of the Halo 3 launch campaign in Singapore in 2007.

I thought this might be a timely thing to give out, while the search is on for the Biggest Halo Fan in Singapore.

It’s still brand new, never been worn before.

To win this, I need from you:

  1. 3 reasons why you need the vest
  2. 3 reasons why you deserve the vest

Please post your reasons here. I will pick the most convincing, sincere, heartfelt, touching entry. In case there are too many convincing, sincere, heartfelt and touching entries, I will get Mr Randomiser to help me decide.

Closing date is Thursday, Feb 12, 2009, 11:59 pm.

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Phew! Mission accomplished! A winner is you!

[Gamer Girl Friday]

35 thoughts on “GGF#37: An exciting month for gamers”

  1. Avatar

    Thanks, short but great issue!

    —

    How do you play Funtown Mahjong looks fun, sadly I don’t know how to play mahjong…

    —

    “One Xbox 360 and five SF4 games will be given away to lucky winners in an SMS contest.”

    *wow* :(

    —

    Hey, congratulations Dominic! ;)

  2. Avatar

    Hey sheylara..
    the street fighter calendar looks cool , but it will be awesome to have a calendar featuring you in different RPG outfits.. yeah.. it will be a Good Year.. =P

    hey great job on this week GGF.. eventhough you are super bus with writing other blogs, works, promo n auditions.. reading n replying the comments.. you still deliver an ass kicking articles.. awesome .. !!

    have a great weekend.. take care.. :o)

  4. Avatar

    Peaches: The learning curve is a little steep, but it’s fun once you get the hang of it. The newbie tutorial will make you play 2 games and teach you the rules along the way, so it’s pretty fun to learn!

    Darz: Haha, I think the RPG calendar would be cool, too, but it’ll be hard to get costumes! Have a great weekend too. Take care yourself!

    Hey, I am a super bus!! =P

  5. Avatar

    Mahjong! I still love playing the real thing rather than online. The sound of the tiles is missing. Too bad my family only play it once a year during CNY :(

    Was especially hook to the game as this year is the first time I won some money from it. Most of the time, I am just paying for the “lessons” :P

  7. Avatar

    I find it so cute that you guys dressed up your 360s as a Ninja and Chunli in your promotional posters. XD

    What’s going to be next? Is it going to be draped with long hair so as to make it Sadako-esque, much like that little girl in F.E.A.R?

  8. Avatar

    @Sheylara: Nicely written GGF:) You’re right, the HALO vest does look pretty sweet! And you’ve got one ready Funtown Mahjong player right here, as long as we’re not playing for actual cash, hehe:)

    Congratulations, Dominic!

    @tiger4: I think “school fees” are an inevitable aspect of life lar:)

    @Wang Wang: Yeah, I’m actually drawn to the game now that I see the song list is growing. Avril Lavigne’s track is ear candy!

  10. Avatar

    That vest is really cool… too bad you don’t have a Vault-Tec jumpsuit to give away too. I’d definitely have to go for that.

  14. Avatar

    Hey, anyway here is my entry for the Spartan Vest contest:

    Why I Need The Vest:
    1. I am a Semi-Halo Fanatic. I say that because I’m a perfectionist. I’m not the world’s biggest Halo fan, therefore I’m a Semi-Halo fan. Nah, just kidding. It’s just that I’m too big of a GTA fan ;D
    2. Did I mention that I attended the Spartan I program with Ave… – ah, nevermind. I just need the vest because it gets me one percent more ‘fly’.
    3. I haven’t won a single contest at GGF! I NEED THIS. TO SAVE THE WORLD.

    Why I Deserve The Vest:
    1. I’m a Halo player since 2005
    2. mi luvz haloz! lolzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
    3. I’m a Hardcore gamer, and a Halo player. Plus this makes a good gift to my friends, who are also Halo players.

  15. Avatar

    Win a limited edition UNSC Spartan vest!!

    Why i need the vest:
    #1: To give me strength to win halo in legendary mode.
    #2: My name is john and my halo-fan friends call me john117(master chief’s name) thus my nick too. Need it to be complete
    #3: In windy Singapore, need to keep warm.

    Why i deserve the vest:
    #1:I read the halo novels, knew bout spartan117 since he was a child.
    #2: Hardcore fan here!
    #3: Im john117 after all! haha

  17. Avatar

    Win a limited edition UNSC Spartan vest!!

    Why I need the vest?
    1) To add to my collection of Halo collectibles.
    2) I love vests~!!!
    3) Because its limited edition, and even more so since it belongs to Sherylara.

    Why I deserve the vest?
    1) I bought XBOX just for HALO, and have been a great fan since then.
    2) Completed Halo and Halo 2 four times, Halo3 twice and cant wait for Halo Wars & Halo:ODST.
    3) I went to NewYork just to purchase the following:
    *Halo 3 Master Chief Field of Batttle Figure Kotobukiya
    *Halo 3 LEGO Kubricks MASTER CHIEF 4 Figure Spartan 117
    *Halo 3 12″ INCH MASTER CHIEF ACTION FIGURE MCFARLANE
    *Halo 3 LEGENDARY COLLECTION “MASTER CHIEF” FIGURE
    *Halo 3 LEGENDARY COLLECTION “ARBITER” FIGURE
    *Halo 3 LEGENDARY COLLECTION “BRUTE CHIEFTAN” FIGURE

    Thanks. X)

  19. Avatar

    Yoz -=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-~!

    Thanks for the compliment. Hope once “GTA IV: Lost & Damned” is released, there is a contest for it too. See ya around.

  21. Avatar

    tiger4: Haha. I never play the real mahjong because I dont want to pay school fees. :P But okay lah, I don’t mind playing if we’re playing very small. Um, like 10-20cents max. Haha. But these days hardly anyone bother to play if it’s small. :P

    Wang Wang: So is the Goonfather. I won’t be surprised if one day you two announce at the same time that you just went out and bought it on impulse. :P

    Angie: Haha yeah! I love the dressed up Xboxes! :) Hmm, I don’t know what’s coming next. I don’t really communicate with the graphic designers. :P

    RN1209: Thanks! :) See you on Mahjong sometime, then! I’ll arrange some sessions!

    aicee: The question should be: When do I have time to play them all? :P I’m sure as working adults we can afford to buy everything, but we don’t have time to play more than one or two. :P

    Mince Pye: Why don’t you go make one yourself? Nowadays lots of tailors doing cosplay services. :P

    Peaches Mode: You can use html on this blog. So, the code for embedding images:
    <img src=”http://sheylara.com/image.jpg”>

    Cornflict: Yup, it’s only on Xbox. Get it! ;) Let’s play together. You and me and RN. We need another kaki!!!

    -=}{oT~dEv1L 666=-: Heheh, not that I know of. :P Eh, so you want to win the vest for yourself or give to your friends ah? :P

    noob117: Wow! So all your friends are Halo nuts too? :P

    Darkspore: Thanks for your comments! :)

    Splitz: You went all the way to NY to buy Halo things? What about eBay? lol.

    aaron: Cool! Hope you enjoy the game! I’m still waiting for my copy to arrive!

  22. Avatar

    Hi Sheylara,

    lol.. you caught me.. I actually did purchase the Halo 3 LEGENDARY COLLECTION on ebay, but transporting it back to SG costs a bomb. Thus, while I was in NY, I saw the whole collection at only US$20.99 and bought it straight. Meanwhile, I hunted for the Original Coloured “Halo 3 Master Chief Field of Batttle Figure Kotobukiya” as Singapore only sold the Steel Coloured Limited Edition which can be found at Plaza Singapura or China Square which cost around $140. Not forgetting, I had to carry all of these back on the plane since it could not fit in my luggage. X(

  24. Avatar

    @Sheylara
    20cents? *yawn*
    Higher the stakes, More “tutor fee” paid, Faster you learn. LoL

    @WangWang
    Get LIPS.
    I saw Goonfather on youtube singing Take On Me, I practically went out to buy it on the day of release.

    As for my entry for the Halo 3 Vest ( wonder if i can fit in it )
    3 reasons why you need the vest
    1. I need it to compliment the Halo Wars Cap.
    2. I need it as I can’t fit into my other 3 vests
    3. I need it to survive office warfare. Duck! Incoming arrows!
    3 reasons why you deserve the vest
    1. I deserve it because it will be part of my wardrobe, not just a collection. (If I fit into it, which I think I can after looking at the some photos in facebook.
    2. I deserve it because I am actually taking time off my busy work schedule to do this….. ok.. I am eating snake… bite me.
    3. I deserve it because ( Fill in the Blank ).

    And a few I deserves that did not make the list.
    – because I will buy you and Goonfather dinner.
    – because I shaved my head
    – because I will shave my head again?
    – because I will shave my eyebrows…. wait…. let me think first
    – because I will shave every strand of hair …. no.. too drastic…
    – because I am He Man !!!! .. wrong channel.

  28. Avatar

    hey sheylara i preordered halo wars and i got it, but not all. I do not have the following :
    Xbox 360 Play & Charge Kit
    Xbox 360 Battery Pack
    Halo Wars Poster
    i only have the limited edition game…is it suppose to be in this way???

  29. Avatar

    If you pre-ordered the $89 bundle before Feb 19, you should be getting the whole package. I think you’d better check with the retailer you got it from.

  30. Avatar

    alright i go check with the retailer they told me tat they only receive the limited edition game and nothing else…however they pay me back as the price was 74.90 when i go take the game on tat day…they say the bundle might be only available for those ppl collecting from the game launch place

  31. Avatar

    There are a number of authorised retailers for the bundle, which I posted in my Xbox blog. It’s weird that your retailer sold you the game for the bundle price when they don’t even have the bundle!

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