Sorry for the lack of a blog last week fight fans but I was pretty flat out working on the exciting new MyFrag website! That's right it's live and it totally kicks ass! Check it out for all your PC/Mac/Linux/Gaming needs, with lots of cool features on the way. Right now I'm working on updating the downloads section of the site, with links to the latest patches for your favourite games!
Skate 2 is still running through my Xbox 360 right now, it's such an organic and living breathing game, it is still blowing my mind. If you haven't made the kickflip of faith yet, check out our full reveiewover here
Burnout Paradise drops into sixth gear this week as we see the launch of The Ultimate Box for the PS3 and Xbox 360 and PC! The Ultimate Box includes the Cagney and Bikes updates that have already been released for free to console goers, and also includes the new Party Pack. Fear not those of you who already have the game, the party pack will be available as DLC from your respective online service, but you will have to pay this time!
My Nintendo DS is getting a work out as I pick up an older game, Yoshi's Island DS. Fantastic little game, don't let the cutesy artwork fool you, it's a deep platformer and is a lot of fun!
Killzone 2 is just around the corner, and the hype is building beyond anything I could possibly imagine. Who is excited for this? Tell me what's been going on for you!
05/02/2009
OMG there was a game release this week! That's right ladies and gentlemen, after a long drought we finally had a significant release, and it just so happened to be one of my most anticipated titles in a long time Skate 2
Needless to say since I picked up this bad boy last night I've been transfixed on it. Skate was one of my favourite games this generation, and while Skate 2 isn't a revolutionary as the first title, it is still a giant leap in the right direction. It offers such a robust experience, whether you want to get stuck into career mode, or just want to cruise the streets with your mates online, the game has a no pressure approach which just sits well with me. I recommend you check it out on PS3 or Xbox 360. I will be completing a featured review which will be uploaded to the sites very soon.
I have also fallen back in love with Burnout Paradise. Another free roaming title that just works on so many levels, and I truly am still blown away by the graphics. If you are racing around on either the PSN or Xbox Live (I have both versions) please PM me so we can hook up!
Shaun White Snowboarding has been getting another run through my Xbox, gee I'm really into the Free Roaming games right now. It's also a fantastic online experience, and pretty much one of it's kind seeing as we haven't seen a snowboarding game with as much scope as Ubisoft have provided!
The new Fighting The Good Fight video has been doing rather well, I have also done a blog as to why I am bothering to create the videos. Please check out the blogs section so you can view it, and give me some feedback. There are a planned 8 episodes in the series, but if you guys aren't loving it, then what is the point?
But the most exciting work this week has been working over at Myfrag.com.au! We are hurrying to get some content on the site before it is launched....4PM TOMORROW. It's been a long time in the making, and everyone on the MyMedia team is super excited to open it up to the masses.
So what have you been playing? What are you looking forward to? Will you be visiting MyFrag?
21/01/2009
Another week with NO releases is giving me a lot more time to clear my desk of the backlog of games I've been wanting to spend some time with. For me I sat down and finally finished off Dead Space on the Xbox 360, and I have to say it was seriously the freakiest game I've played. The shadows and lighting effects, and the incredible sound make the environments feel so real, that it's literally bed-wettingly good!
Gaetano and I set aside a day to write up a big fancy Retrospective for Mybluray on the Alien Franchise. For those of you who don't know, the original Alien movie came out in 1979 and is one of the most important horror/sci-fi movies to have been released of all time. We have set out the facts for each movie, given you the plot line and backstory and even thrown in a review on each movie. Check it out here
The first game to break the drought that I'm truly excited about is Skate 2 from EA. When the first game was released I was over the moon, and I did nothing but skate the streets for the next 8 months. The freedom the player was granted was phenomenal, and Skate 2 promises to bring all that, and much much more when it is released Jan 22nd on the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360. Check out our excitement guide over here
But now we are into 2009 you can get excited because we have some new content on the way! The next episode of The Voice is being recorded for next week, and we are also recording another Retro-Grade segment on another classic console that paved the way for the consoles we have today! On top of that filming is almost complete of Episode 2 of Fighting the Good Fight, so you will be able to see what Justin Potter has been up to over the past few weeks after he tried to ban F.E.A.R 2!
Stay Classy MyMedia-ites!
14/01/2009
Another week flies by with no release and more catching up to do. While I'm actually enjoying this time off from spending my hard earned cash and catching up on some rather great gaming, I can see some big releases on the horizon that excite me.
Skate 2 is my first big anticipated title of the year. For those of you who missed out on EA's first adventure in the Skating world, Skate offers the player a realistic approach to skating, one that is more free roam and has a focus on learning the moves rather then button mashing. Skate is due out the end of Jan and I'm jumping for joy at the thought of grazing my virtual knees yet again!
Left 4 Dead has been playing through my Xbox in between my RROD problem. I have attempted to host games over at My360.com.au the last few nights but after some problem, my Elite finally died. I picked up a new console today though, so if you want to catch some online Left 4 Dead action you can add my Gamertag x Hellerphant x. I will be hosting a different game every week, so make sure you head over to My360 to see what we will be playing.
Work has begun on the MyMedia PC site which is going to be totally awesome! Can't wait to unleash this bad boy, and it's a reminder to just how exciting the time is right now over at the Mysites. MyPS3 just saw the launch of their new interface and it's totally sexy! The updates for the other sites are coming guys, don't you worry! But while My360, MyPS3 and MyWii are always busy, please don't forget to hang out at Mybluray and Mytelly. Both are great sites, and a great place to chat about movies and TV shows and the like!
Many people have praised our Retro-Grade segement and have been asking when the next podcast will be released. Tano and I will start work on the next episode of The Voice in the next few weeks, we have to wait until there is some notable things to talk about before we dump another podcast on your doorstep. The next Retro-Grade segment will follow the week after, and hopefully we can get a flow going with 2 episodes of The Voice a month plus one Retro-Grade segment. Thanks to all your support, and make sure you email us your ideas and comments to podcast@mymedia.net.au
PC is still getting a workout for me right now, Team Fortress 2 is constantly keeping me awake at night, and I still jump on the old Call of Duty 4 every now and then to throw down a few kills. Does anyone around the MySites play Day of Defeat Source at all? I'm looking to get back into that game!
So enjoy this exciting times over at the MySites! I've just got a copy of Super Smash Bros Brawl and Animal Crossing so if you are keen to meet online just hit me up over at MyWii. Happy new Year and tell me, what are you keen to play in 2009?
07/01/2009
Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the year that is 2009! I trust you have all had a great Christmas and New Years, full of food, family, and hopefully you all got the games you were hoping for.
So what is currently sitting on Heller's Desk for the first week of 2009? Nintendo WiFi ISSUES! Animal Crossing - Let's Go To The City has made its way across my desk this week, and to tell you the truth I'm a little addicted. I find myself picking it up at least once a day for about 30 mins, which is about all you need to be content with this title. I never played the DS or GC versions, so I'm not experience the monsoon of nostalgia (or the hit of "this is EXACTLY the same") that some users are experiencing. WHAT I AM seeing is a multitude of Nintendo WFC issues with this title. Continual dropouts have been occurring, and it seems that everyone is plagued with the issue. Online is what makes this game fun! Nintendo need to seriously work this out! Otherwise I'd give this game a big thumbs up!
Dead Space is still loading off my Xbox Hard-Drive and I am absolutely loving it! Games don't scare me, and movies very rarely scare me, but I am crapping my proverbial pants when I play Dead Space! I've never played a game that catches the atmosphere as well as EA's new title. The lighting, the shadows and the stellar sound all add to the scariest experience I've ever had in an interactive medium EVER!
Wario: The Shake Dimension also is sitting on my desk. MyWii has had a feature review of this game for a while, and I gotta say I'm impressed. If you are a fan of the old school platformers, and want to see top notch graphical presentation with a WACKY world, you will LOVE this game! Unfortunately it's not in 16:9 so you are stuck with some annoying borders, but you will learn to deal with that. It's also worth pointing out that the 2 best games to use the Wiimotes gestures have both been Wario games....
I've also got some time with my PC this week and I've been playing some Team Fortress 2 online. For those who played the Xbox version and now aren't keen on trying the PC, I beg you to reconsider. The PC version is AMAZING and feels totally different to its Xbox Counterpart. Also STEAM are having a sale until Midnight today (2nd of Jan) where you can pick it up for the low price of $9.95.
Also I have been playing through Telltale's Sam and Max Season 1. I am a huge fan of Sam and Max Hit The Road, an oldschool point and click adventure which is right up there with my favourite games of all time, easily in the top 5. Telltale have captured the energy of that game, and transferred it into top notch episodic content that is relevant today. You can download Episode 3 for free off STEAM so if you want to give it a go, I'd definitely recommend it!
As you can see, I'm still catching up on some of the great gaming that was in 2008, but what am I looking forward to in 2009?
Skate 2 - Xbox 360
Resident Evil 5 - Xbox 360
Killzone 2- PS3
Heavy Rain - PS3
Bioshock 2 - Xbox 360
No More Heroes 2 - Nintendo Wii
Uncharted 2 - PS3
What is tickling your fancy for 2009? What games did you get for Christmas that you are playing through right now?
02/01/2009