GamersCircle

Used Game Prices Dropped 23.7% by End of 2008

andy — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:27:48 +0000

In yet another indication of the myriad ways the recession is effecting the videogame industry, Video Game Price Charts reports (via Gamasutra) that the average price for a used game saw a significant drop in 2008, ending 23.7 percent lower than where it started in January.

As you can see in the chart above, the average price for a used game started at $12.69 at the beginning of January last year. But by November 3rd, the price tumbled to its lowest point of the year — $8.57, a 32.5 percent decrease from the starting price. The average price ticked up again in the remaining days of 2008, and finally ended at $9.68, which was a decrease of 23.7 percent.

What’s particularly interesting about these numbers — and where you see the real effect of the recession — is when you compare them to the price fluctuations of 2007. As you can see in the chart below, the average price of a used game saw a similarly downward trajectory in 2007, indicating a decrease over the year is natural. But the extent of the drop was far less drastic than that seen in 2008. The lowest point of the year was a 30.4% drop from the starting price, but then the price ticked back up by 26.6% for a total loss of only 11.8% of the starting value.

Source

What REALLY Hard-core Xbox Fans Drive

andy — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:26:58 +0000

Check out this insane melding of Xbox and automobile spotted on Flickr. Some modder integrated not one, but two full Xbox 360s into the interior of his Suzuki.

Source

Halo 3 tops XBL activity in 2008

andy — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:22:19 +0000

Microsoft dubs Bungie’s sci-fi FPS as most-played online Xbox 360 game; Castle Crashers crowned Arcade champ.

D&D 4th Edition Character Builder hits Open Beta

andy — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:21:02 +0000

Remember back in the day when we saw a first glimpse of D&D Insider, a suite of computer tools for D&D 4th Edition that included everything you ever wanted: character creators, monster creators, map editors and even a 3D game client to play the slick new edition with your friends across the country? Yeah, well none of that was ready in time for the product’s launch.

Now Six Months after release, Wizards of the Coast has posted an Open Beta of the D&D Insider Character Builder, which will not be free at launch so we highly recommend that you try them out now while they’re free.

We’re afraid to say that from the get-go we weren’t impressed with the level of craftsmanship of this release, even in beta. Most of our beef comes from the installer:

First it defaults to installation on your Desktop, which is probably one of the worst places to install anything by default. Oh wait, it wasn’t installing! It was just downloading more files and then automatically installing where it wanted to. Super, and strike 2. Then after a long pause the installer claims to require a reboot..! Are you kidding me? We’re shopping for a top notch character generator here, not something that hooks into our Windows System. We’re beginning to wonder just what other payloads were attached to the installer that required a system reboot. Ugh. We ignored the request, launched the Character Builder, and started poking at it with a stick anyway.

The Editor itself has a clean look to it. The flow is a bit off in some places with numerous subsections per pane, and that may confuse some users first time through. However, once someone quickly learns the flow, the tool is quite powerful.

The system provides a sidebar that is a well-formatted entry of any highlighted race, class, ability, skill, equipment, etc entry pulled straight from the applicable source, whether it be the D&D 4th Edition Player’s Handbook or another piece of source material. It also provides a link to the D&D compedium which currently holds the same information, but in the future will also include user generated content, hints and tips about how to use the specific feature and ability in your game, etc. Some details are currently missing for some of the more obscure abilities and gods, for instance. But hey - it’s beta, and we’re not that die hard to cry foul on any missing entries we came across.

The Generator also does a good job of fading out the abilities and feats that aren’t yet available to your, or the weapons that he/she isn’t trained to use. It’s still difficult to fully appreciate the prerequisites for the feats, and so mapping out a goal to get your character to a specific feat still remains quite difficult in the current formatting.

As a nice bonus the Character Generator also allows you to select some of the monster races; and we put it through it’s paces by making a Kobold Devout Cleric just to see how it panned out. It went completely smoothly, so that opens up all sorts of great quick one-off NPC creations for DMs as well.

The Absolute Best Thing of All ™ is that the generator creates a full fledge character sheet, with all your stats, etc precomputed. The best part is this though - an additional sheet is generated that includes all of your abilities, character attribute bonus, and the the official text and rules of each ability one slick little sheet. You can either print it as is, or cut each ability out to use them as tap-able cards in encounters which is our current style. We’ve been looking for something like this for a while, and now that we have the official version of it in our hands, it’ll be hard to go back to anything else.

In the end - is the Character Builder as it exists in beta worth a monthly subscription? Probably not on it’s own, unless you keep pushing your character to the brink of destruction and take that extra step into death. After all, how many characters do you plan on making per month?

However, as part of a larger service, we could see this being one of the many great little features that come within a suite of many. And with the still unreleased DM tools subsisting as the major bulk of such a service, the question still remains if D&D Insider would be worth the dough.

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Left 4 Dead DLC soon

andy — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 00:19:53 +0000

Valve has confirmed that we’ll see downloadable content soon for its popular zombie shooter.

Valve’s Chet Faliszek has told Kotaku that DLC for Left 4 Dead will be coming soon for both PC and Xbox 360.
"We have the DLC coming, we’re going to do the 360 at the same time as the PC," Faliszek said.

New Comics for the week of 1/7/2009

andy — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:04:55 +0000

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #582
AUTHORITY #6
BATMAN #684
BLACK LIGHTNING YEAR ONE #1 (OF 6)
BOMB QUEEN V #5 (OF 6) (MR)
BOYS #26 (MR)
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #21 CHEN CVR
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #21 JEANTY CVR
CABLE #10
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #79 WONDER MAN
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #82 MOON KNIGHT
CLASSIC MARVEL FIGURINE COLL MAG #83 DEATHLOK
DETECTIVE COMICS #852 (FOE)
DR WHO MAGAZINE #403
ETERNALS #7
FACES OF EVIL GRUNDY #1 (FOE)
GRAVEL #7 (MR)
HAUNTED TANK #2 (OF 5) (MR)
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #9 DKR
JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA SER 3 AF ASST
LOONEY TUNES #170
MARVEL MINIMATES SERIES 23 ASST
MARVEL MINIMATES SERIES 24 ASST
MARVEL SPOTLIGHT DARK REIGN DKR
MARVEL ZOMBIES 3 #4 (OF 4)
NYX NO WAY HOME #5 (OF 6)
PUNISHER #1 DKR
SECRET INVASION TP
SGT ROCK THE LOST BATTALION #3 (OF 6)
STAR TREK SERIES 5 MINIMATES ASST
STAR TREK TMP SPOCK & KIRK AF 2-PACK
SWORD #14 (MR)
TERROR TITANS #4 (OF 6)
TRINITY #32
WALKING DEAD #57 (RES) (MR)
WALKING DEAD TP VOL 09 HERE WE REMAIN (MR)
X-MEN MANIFEST DESTINY #5 (OF 5)

BBC Names Their Eleventh Doctor Who

andy — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:07:51 +0000

During a "Dr. Who Confidential" special shown on the BBC in the UK, the identity of the eleventh actor to play Doctor Who, the popular time-traveling character who first debuted on British television over 45 years ago, was revealed… and it is 26-year-old Matt Smith !

Source

Weekly PC Sales: Left 4 Dead Rises

andy — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:04:18 +0000

As the new year kicks off, sales-tracking firm NPD Group has looked back to December 14-20, 2008 and provided a list of that week’s best-selling PC games at U.S. retailers.

World Of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King / Blizzard / $40 (Average)
Spore / EA Maxis / $49 (Average)
Left 4 Dead / Valve / $41 (Average)
The Sims 2 Double Deluxe / EA Maxis / $20 (Average)
Call Of Duty: World At War / Treyarch / $48 (Average)

10 Most-Exciting Winter TV Premieres

andy — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:54:23 +0000

Winter TV starts next week, and is your favorite show included? Find out…

10. Dollhouse (Feb. 13): Joss Whedon returns to television! The wizard himself has created a new series in which the mindfrak is built in to the premise: Young men and women are deprogrammed of their own personalities in order to make room for fabulous new personas ranging from perfect girlfriend to hostage negotiator. Of course, when the so-called "Dolls" start reestablishing personal identities, all heck breaks loose, and the drama begins. Eliza Dushku stars.

9. American Idol (Jan. 13): American Idol is America’s favorite television series, and it’s back for season eight with a new full-time judge Kara DioGuardi. Producers are promising fewer goofball auditions this year (although some fans think that’s the best part) and a renewed focus on the art of music.

8. Reaper (March 17): The CW’s Reaper may be the best show you’ve never seen, and it returns in March for a 13-episode second season. Look for further exploration of Sam’s past and his true connection with the Devil, plus a dangerous romance for Ben.

7. Friday Night Lights (Jan. 16): They’re going to put Friday Night Lights in the Smithsonian some day, because few artistic endeavors—much less commercial TV series—have ever rendered Americana so faithfully. Plus, Kyle Chandler is way hot. DirecTV subscribers have already seen season three, but if you’ve only got regular TV, you can finally catch up with the Dillon Panthers again beginning Jan. 16 on NBC.

6. Battlestar Galactica (Jan. 16): The ragtag fleet found Earth—but now what?! The future of the human race remains unknown, but let’s face it—Cylonic secrets are the true mystery of Battlestar Galactica’s final 10 episodes. Which Cylons are at risk for permanent extinction now that the Resurrection Ship has been destroyed? What do they want with Earth? And most fascinating of all, which familiar human is the last Cylon?

5. Big Love (Jan. 18): The Henricksons are back in town, and season three of Big Love is guaranteed to be a doozy: Look for a shocking pregnancy, a dire illness and the return of Ana, who rapidly becomes a potential fourth wife.

4. Kings (March 19): The next great epic serial is here! Created by Michael Green (Everwood, Heroes), Kings is the biblical story of David, Goliath and King Saul, retold in an alternate universe that looks somewhat like our world but is visibly unique and different. It’s New York City—but…off. Ian McShane returns to television as the imperious King Saul; newcomer Christopher Egan stars as golden boy David.

3. The Untitled Amy Poehler Show (April TBD): No one knows what this show though.

2. 24 (Jan. 11): In the looong-awaited "Day Seven" of 24, Tony Almeida is back and literally badder than ever—he’s gone to the dark side! Jack, meanwhile, is on a dark journey of his own, coming to terms with his literally torturous past all while trying to bring down evil Jon Voight and preventing Senegalese rebels from invading the White House.

1. Lost (Jan. 21): Lost returns in less than three weeks, and the world will be a better place for it. Season five means it’s time to go back to the Island, but there’s more than a little gridlock on the road back: The nature of time and space itself is an obstacle (the Island is missing!), not to mention Charles Widmore’s diabolical schemes and the internal strife between the Oceanic Six members. The good news is that for the first hour of the premiere, Sawyer is shirtless. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out our past Lost season-five coverage, including two fascinating sneak peek videos with Kate and Aaron and Jack and Ben!

Comic Book Review - Thor #12 (599)

andy — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 22:02:44 +0000

Context
A watched pot never boils. I don’t know how applicable this advice is to comics since you must actually look at an issue to read it but Straczynski’s Thor does bring to mind this old proverb. With Issue #12, JMS continues to supply heat to his carefully arranged plot by providing us with his take on the classic “villain definition” issue.

Story
What occupies a villain’s time while he is not trading quips and/or blows with his mortal enemy? John Byrne addressed this question with flair in the classic Fantastic Four #258. This time we see a glimpse into the mechanizations of Loki. JMS does in issue #12 what I have been hoping for in these last few months – he is showing me a little light at the end of this long tunnel.

The dialogue and pacing are smooth and natural. Motivations are all in place and these characters are acting…well, in character. We see a connecting of several plot lines delved into in previous issues. Interestingly enough however, I did not even consider these plotlines, as they were flashbacks. Loki now prominently figures in not only Odin’s origin story but his own as well. There is nothing like a good use of time travel in a story about mythological beings. JMS does a great job of mixing his comic book forces here.

Thor’s absence in this issue was so well done I didn’t even realize it until the last page or so. JMS isn’t trying to reinvent his characters, just their environments. This was Walt Simonson’s recipe for success with Thor back in the eighties.

Art
I am so glad that we are near the beginning of Oliver Coipel’s (House of M, The Avengers) career. This means that we have a more decidedly beautiful comic book future on our hands.

His lines are clear and panels uncluttered. His figures and faces are solid and expressive. He places his characters in environments that match their inner power or vice. For one, Coipel has redefined Thor’s face. I think for the first time, you could differentiate Thor from other long haired strong types. I really appreciate Marvel’s use of this great talent on a book that some might not consider to be a flagship title.

What to look for
There is an excellent visual for Hela in this story. I am not sure how the credit for this should be divided between artist and writer but the mistress of Hel is given a most menacing appearance by subtraction rather than by addition. She is a well-done, visual gem to seek out in this issue.

What might put you off
Marvel’s continued use of the “pin-up” cover. Although beautifully rendered by Coipel, you could easily confuse this cover with most of the others produced for this title since its relaunch.

Recommendation
Thor should be on your monthly pull list

Credits

Title	Thor
Issue	12 (599)
Publisher	Marvel Comics
Release Date	12/24/2008
Writer	J. Michael Stracynski
Penciler	Oliver Coipel
Inker	Mark Morales
Colorist	Laura Martin
Letterer	Chris Eliopoulos
Assistant Editor	Alejandro Arbona
Editor	Warren Simons
Editor in Chief	Joe Quesada
Publisher	Dan Buckley
Cover Pencils	Oliver Coipel
Cover Inks	Mark Morales
Cover Colors	Laura Martin
Reviewed by	Geoff Jolliff

Internet Explorer’s share of the browser market fell below 70% in November

andy — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:50:54 +0000

Internet Explorer’s share of the browser market fell below 70% in November — Not coincidentally, Mozilla’s Firefox browser has also surpassed 20 percent market share for the first time.

Source

World of Warcraft tops most played list of 2008

andy — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:47:08 +0000

Nielsen Research has published its January through October numbers about the top 10 PC games and top 10 consoles by amount of time played. Once again World of Warcraft tops the charts.

In fact, WoW has more time played than the other nine titles listed - combined. Coming in at position 6 is Runescape, the browser-based game that could. It had just slightly less share than The Sims 2. Numbers for only October are available on the Nielsen website and show a different makeup for numbers 2-10, with WoW still in first.

Source

Lord of the Rings: Conquest Demo on XBL

andy — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 20:45:01 +0000

If you aren’t too busy with your holiday gifts or recovering from a rowdy night of auld lang syne, Major Nelson brings word that you can now pick up the demo for The Lord of the Rings: Conquest on Xbox Live Marketplace. The game takes a page from the popular Star Wars: Battlefront series, letting you choose your side in massive battles.

The game was pushed to 2009, but seeing that we’re now in 2009, the release of January 9 seems that much closer. Check out the heavy 1.25 GB demo and let us know what you think.

Source

Star Trek Lore Update - Path To 2409: 2384

andy — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:57:41 +0000

Federation analysts say that a shakeup in the Romulan power structure has left the empire vulnerable to attack from within and without. Starfleet is dispatching additional ships to the border of the Neutral Zone and considers the Romulan situation one of the main threats to Federation safety and security.

After Tomalak’s defeat by Donatra and her fleet, Praetor Tal’aura removes him as proconsul, choosing Sela as her right hand and fleet commander. Sela, a human-Romulan hybrid with extensive experience in the military and intelligence fields, has been a part of several major Romulan operations, including a failed attempt to invade Vulcan and coordinating support for the House of Duras’ attempt to take over the Klingon High Council in 2367.

As a gift to Tomalak for his decades of loyal service to the Romulan Star Empire, Tal’aura allows him to “retire” to his rural estates on Romulus.

The Romulan defeat at Xantila has made open war with Empress Donatra unfeasible. Praetor Tal’aura reluctantly agrees to negotiate with the Imperial Romulan State to determine the new borders and the establishment of a neutral zone, but rejects the Federation’s offer to mediate the talks. Donatra says she would welcome the Federation’s input, but that she will defer to Tal’aura’s decision in this matter, and sends Admiral Taris to the Romulan capitol as her representative.

On Stardate 61602.00, Tal’aura is found dead in her private chambers. Tal Shiar investigators report that the praetor appears to have been attacked in her sleep.

The Romulan capitol erupts in a firestorm of rumors and accusations. Groups accused of responsibility for the assassination include a coalition of the noble houses, the Tal Shiar or agents working for Empress Donatra and the Imperial Romulan State.

Donatra denies having anything to do with the murder. “I face my enemies on the field of battle with honor,” the empress announces in an address to her citizens, “not with a knife in the dark.” She recalls Taris from Romulus and orders her to prepare to defend Imperial holdings.

At Tal’aura’s funeral in Ki Baratan, Sela publically blames the Remans and the Unification movement for the attack. “They claim to desire peace,” Sela says, “but ally with the murderers and usurpers who terrorized our planet and led us to the brink of destruction. The blood of one praetor was not enough for the Remans. Tal’aura was the victim of their thirst for destruction.”

But the upheaval in Romulan space is not the only potential war that Starfleet is monitoring. On Stardate 61829.83, the IKS Quv is attacked by a Gorn ship and 207 Klingons die in the battle. Representatives of King Xrathis of the Gorn claim that the commander of their warship was acting without orders, but refuse to surrender the surviving crew of the Quv to the Klingon Empire. In response, Chancellor Martok expels the Gorn’s diplomats from the empire and orders ships to the Klingons’ border with the Gorn Hegemony.

Representatives of the Federation Council are pleased to accept Bajor’s renewed application for Federation membership, and pledge to fast-track the planet’s admission. The increased traffic and commerce that could arrive with Federation membership prompts the Ferengi to open an expansive embassy and gift shop near Quark’s on Deep Space Nine.

Odo, acting as the Great Link’s ambassador to the solids, meets with his fellow changeling Laas on Koralis III. Odo invites Laas to return with him to the Gamma Quadrant. Laas refuses, choosing instead to continue to search for other changelings in the Alpha and Beta Quadrants.

And Starfleet decides to transfer the Soong-type android B-4 to the custody of the Soong Foundation. The prototype android was deactivated after its discovery by the Enterprise-E in 2379, but foundation representatives say they hope to restore his full positronic functioning.

Glad I Didn’t Buy a Zune…

andy — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 02:52:12 +0000

Apparently overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, many, if not all, first generation Zune 30 gb players froze and refuse to operate. The shutdowns seem to have occurred simultaneously around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 31. Zunes that have frozen may or may not start up again, and when they do start up, they freeze again before completely booting.

Microsoft has issued a vague "we’re working on the problem" statement on the Zune website.

GamersCircle

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