Games Cheats and Reviews

Bathesda has released details on the new Collector’s Edition of Fallout: New Vegas.  The Collector’s Edition will be available for the 360, PS3, and PC.  Besides the game you will get all this swag:

• “Lucky 7” poker chips. Each of the seven poker chips was designed to represent chips from the major casinos found on the New Vegas strip and throughout the Mojave Wasteland.
• A fully customized Fallout: New Vegas deck of cards. Each card in the pack has been uniquely illustrated to depict characters and factions found within the game. Use the cards to play poker, blackjack or Caravan, an original card game that was created by Obsidian especially for Fallout: New Vegas!
• A recreation of the game’s highly coveted “Lucky 38” platinum chip.
• A hardcover graphic novel “All Roads”, that tells the story of some of the characters and events that lead up to Fallout: New Vegas. “All Roads” was written by Chris Avellone, the game’s creative director, and created in conjunction with Dark Horse Comics.
• ‘The Making of Fallout: New Vegas’ DVD. This documentary DVD will contain exclusive video content, including interviews with the developers in which they take you from concept to creation and discuss topics such as story, setting, legacy of the Fallout franchise and more.

Now this is how you make a Collector’s Edition.  The DVD and book are standard fare for Collector’s Editions.  The poker chips and cards are just awesome to get though.  It is fantastic to get some items from the game to hold in your hand and show off to your friends.

The Fallout: New Vegas Collector’s Edition will be up for pre-order within a week.  Check out the pic to see it in its full glory.

Sharing: It’s Win/Win

Steven Burke at ChannelWeb writes:

"Here are three reasons why Sony’s PS3 is beating Microsoft (NSDQ:MSFT)’s Xbox 360 in the marketplace."

1. Sony PS3 Is A Better Value Than Xbox 360

Check it out. For $349.99 from Best Buy (NYSE:BBY) you get the new lighter and slimmer PS3 with a 250 Gbyte hard drive, built in Blu-Ray disc player (yes Blu-Ray!), built-in WiFi lets you access the Internet and the FREE PlayStation Network, where you can download exclusive games, movies, TV shows.

2. The PlayStation Network Is Better Than Xbox Live

PlayStation got it right with its Free service to gamers offering unmatched games and game content along with robust Blu-Ray video content from Netflix and major studios.

3. PS3 Is A More Reliable And Better Engineered Product Than Xbox 360.

Yes, engineering and reliability matter particularly for hard core gamers that are banging on a system day in and day out.

Sony are pretty cluey when it comes to protecting what content appears on their console, which is why some fans of the big black box may be surprised to learn that the Japanese giant have apparently given the thumbs up to adult video content via the Playstation Network.

Is this the same company that merrily dishes out permanent bans for using colourful language during online multiplayer matches? Yes it is; and a little further investigation demonstrates yet again that people who write headlines should probably be provided with basic lessons in understanding English. And the Internet.

Already available on Xbox 360 and PS3, PlayOn aims to bring video content from Hulu, Netflix, Youtube, CNN and a host of other sources streaming to your console of choice, and the latest version of the PC software posted to MediaMail’s Web site includes a beta version for Wii support. The video quality is lower than on the HD consoles, says the developers, which frankly is to be expected.

Please try it out and let us know how it works, passing along any bugs you find by submitting a support request through the PlayOn Settings Manager. You can download the release from here: http://www.themediamall.com/playon/download/

* Easy Sliding Display Panel and Original Applications

When the panel is open, users will be able to enjoy various entertainment content with the familiar button control as PSP-3000, when closed, original applications for (exclusive to) PSPgo, such as a clock and calendar is displayed on the screen. Users can also enjoy video and music when the panel is closed.

* Game sleep function

PSPgo has unique features such as game sleep function which enables users to operate XMB (XrossMediaBar) while pausing gameplay temporarily.

* Bluetooth® function

Bluetooth function will also allow users to connect Bluetooth standard peripherals such as head-phones and head-set *5 as well as PS3 wireless controller (DUALSHOCK®3 and SIXAXIS®) *6 to be used when watching video content on TVs via PSP at home*7.

* Peripheral line-up

One of the products within PSPgo’s peripheral line-up is a new Cradle (PSP-N340) *7 that will become available in stores worldwide concurrently with the release of PSPgo. This new Cradle enables users to charge the PSPgo battery and also enjoy watching video and listening to music. Also included in the peripheral line-up are video-out port cables that enable users to enjoy games and videos on their TVs at home.

Also this fall, a new music application specific to PSP that uses the "SensMe channels"; music recommendation feature, developed by Sony, also becomes available for download on PSP. With this music application, users will be able to enjoy their favorite music stored on their PSP through a rich user interface, designed exclusively for PSP. "SensMe channels" is a mood based music recommendation system that categorizes music content into channels such as "Relax," "Dance" and "Upbeat," and recommends music playlists for users.

Sites with user driven content sound great, but are they? N4G can be viewed as an example to many who have used it over the years of a site which started out great and has become little more than a corporate mouthpiece in recent months. If you have tried to submit a story containing video or images to the site recently, chances are that you have been met with hordes of individuals directing you to embed the video/images. That wasn’t always the case.

This is not about Ripten’s "beef" with N4G. The reality is that Ripten rarely creates their own video content, however site’s like G4TV, and even lesser known outlets like HipHopGamer, are creating their own video content and being forced to embed that content on N4G. HHG has openly expressed his distaste with the strong arming tactic, and Ripten have personally spoken with one of the individuals responsible for distributing the video content created by G4TV and it is safe to say that they don’t appreciate being forced into embedding the content they create.