Fans of the Guitar Hero World Tour game might want to check out the new schedule for the newest packs being released on XBL and PSN. Currently the Victory Track Pack is now live for Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 and Wii for Guitar Hero World Tour. The schedule for the other packs is listed below.

The Victory Track Pack features the following singles:
A Day To Remember – “NJ Legion Iced Tea”
The Sleeping – “Bomb the World”
Silverstein – “I Am The Arsonist”

Eagles of Death Metal Track Pack, available July 16th:
“Anything Cept The Truth”
“Cherry Cola”
“I Only Want You”

Vagrant Records Track Pack, available July 23rd:
Thrice – “All the World is Mad”
Alexisonfire – “Young Cardinals”
Senses Fail – “The Martyr”

Knuckle Sandwich Track Pack, available July 30th:
Protest the Hero – “Bloodmeat”
Dropkick Murphys – “I’m Shipping up to Boston”
Against Me! – “New Wave”

The Victory Track Pack is available now via Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 440 Microsoft Points and from the PlayStation Store for $5.49. The songs are also available as singles for 160 Microsoft Points, $1.99 from the PlayStation Store and 200 Wii Points.

Technorati Tags: Guitar Hero World Tour, Games, Track Listings, Upgrade, PSN, Xbox Live, Songs, Music

SAN FRANCISCO – July 2, 2009 – Today Ubisoft announced it will be publishing Heroes Over Europe, a flight combat game designed for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and Windows-based PC.

The sequel to Heroes of the Pacific, the World War II flight combat game, Heroes Over Europe builds on the game’s impressive legacy with intense dogfights, a highly detailed realistic visual presentation and even more online options.

Developed by Transmission Games in Melbourne, Australia, and powered by an all-new engine, Heroes Over Europe is set to raise the bar for flight combat games with the all new “Ace Kill” close combat action, four online modes supporting up to 16 players and fully customizable aircrafts with localized damage.

Visually, the game takes no prisoners with meticulously rendered environments including faithful recreations of London, Berlin and the French Alps, and ultra-realistic iconic warplanes of the era, all presented in stunning high definition graphics.

Heroes Over Europe is scheduled for worldwide release in September 2009.

Technorati Tags: Ubisoft, Games, Xbox 360, Playstation, Heroes Over Pacific, Heroes Over Europe, WWII, Shooter, Game, Gamer, September 2009

DECADES OF ROCK LAND ON THE ROCK BAND MUSIC STORE WITH TRACKS FROM FRANZ FERDINAND, THE ALLMAN BROTHERS BAND, THE DISTILLERS AND MORE

Cambridge, Mass. – May 1, 2009 – Harmonix and MTV Games today announced the addition of 10 songs from six popular rock bands to the Rock Band™ Music Store of downloadable content including a three-pack from Franz Ferdinand and music from The Allman Brothers Band, Prong, The Distillers, Alien Ant Farm and Luscious Jackson.

Franz Ferdinand has produced a string of memorable, chart-topping hits since the band’s formation in 2001. The Scottish band’s signature song, “Take Me Out,” from their self-titled 2004 album will debut in the Rock Band Music Store next week. The Franz Ferdinand 3-pack also includes “Do You Want To” from You Could Have It So Much Better (2005) and “Lucid Dreams” featured on the album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (2009). The tracks will be available for purchase as a three-pack or as individual tracks.

Southern-rock outfit The Allman Brothers Band makes its first appearance in the Rock Band Music Store with “Midnight Rider,” featured on 1970’s Idlewild South, and “Blue Sky,” featured on the band’s 1972 classic album Eat a Peach. The band has received numerous awards and was named one of Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” in 2004. Eat a Peach was the band’s final album to include legendary guitarist and founding member Duane Allman before his tragic motorcycle accident death in 1971. Rolling Stone magazine listed Allman as the second greatest guitarist of all time, behind only Jimi Hendrix. The Allman Brothers Band made it’s Rock Band debut with “Ramblin’ Man” on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack.

New York City metal band Prong makes its Rock Band debut with “The Banishment” and “Idealistic Types,” both featured on Prong’s latest album Power of the Damager (2007). In addition, The Distillers deliver their brand of energetic punk rock power in their Rock Band debut with “Drain the Blood,” the lead single from their third album Coral Fang (2003).

Rounding out this week’s line-up is “Smooth Criminal” from Alien Ant Farm featured on ANThology (2001) and Luscious Jackson’s “Naked Eye” from Fever In Fever Out (1996).

Release Date:
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 (Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360®)
Thursday, May 7, 2009 (PlayStation®Store)

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change **

Tracks:
Franz Ferdinand “Take Me Out”
Franz Ferdinand “Do You Want To”
Franz Ferdinand “Lucid Dreams”
Alien Ant Farm “Smooth Criminal”
The Allman Brothers Band “Blue Sky”
The Allman Brothers Band “Midnight Rider”
The Distillers “Drain the Blood”
Luscious Jackson “Naked Eye”
Prong “Idealistic Types”
Prong “The Banishment”

(All tracks are original master recordings)

Price:
$1.99 or 160 Microsoft Points per track
$5.49 or 440 Microsoft Points for Franz Ferdinand 3-pack

Locations:
Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360
PlayStation®Network

Technorati Tags: Rockband, Tracks, Music, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Luscious Jackson, Prong, The Allman Brothers, The Distillers, Alien Ant Farm, Franz Ferdinand

PRE-ORDER WITH GAMESTOP FOR EXCLUSIVE BONUS ROOMS ON “X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE”!

Are you a huge X-Men fan? GameStop wants to give you exclusive access to bonus content on the upcoming “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” game. Pre-ordering the Uncaged Edition for PS3 or Xbox 360 at http://www.gamestop.com/wolverine is the only way you will gain access to the four bonus rooms of the “Weapon X Arena”.

Custom Combat Arena: This huge space lets players select any combination of enemies from within the game, beam them into the arena, and attempt to defeat them. Face ten hulking Leviathans or a blend of towering W.E.N.D.I.G.O. Prototypes, Machete Champions, and Machine gunners. It gives players endless permutations of exciting battles.

The site also features sneak peek videos and images from the game.

Environmental Kill room: This large room features small set-ups of each of the various environments found within the main game. All of these environments contain sharp objects on which Wolverine can impale his enemies. By pushing a red button, players can teleport in a group of soldiers and to see them creatively skewered.

Ladder Challenge room: This features an array of teleportation disks against the far wall. Pushing a red button will cause a group of enemies to beam into the room. Each time the red button is pushed, the enemies get tougher and more numerous, laddering up the challenge for Wolverine.

Dismemberment Room: Using a control panel, this room lets players select various limbs and body parts on a holographic soldier. Once the selections are locked in, the soldier appears in a tiled room viewed and the selected limbs are severed with spectacular results.

Who: GameStop and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”

What: GameStop offers preorder with 4 bonus rooms

Where: http://www.gamestop.com/wolverine

When: Now until May 1, 2009

Technorati Tags: Gamestop, X-Men Origins, Wolverine, Video Game, Gamers, Pre-Release, Bonus Rooms

‘THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK: ASSAULT ON DARK ATHENA’ BRINGS ITS BRUTAL FIGHT TO NORTH AMERICAN RETAILERS

- Features Brand New ‘Dark Athena’ Campaign, Thrilling Online Multiplayer and High-Definition Remake of Classic ‘Escape from Butcher Bay’ -

- Xbox LIVE and PLAYSTATION®3 Demos Available Now -

NEW YORK, NY – April 7, 2009 – Atari, one of the world’s most recognized video game publishers, announced today that the latest chapter in the Riddick franchise, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, is available now at retailers across North America.

In conjunction with Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group, Tigon Studios and acclaimed developer Starbreeze Studios, Atari is bringing the franchise – featuring Vin Diesel reprising his role as anti-hero Riddick – to the new generation of consoles for the first time.

Featuring the series’ signature blend of stealth, action and gripping narrative, all presented in glorious high- definition, the highly anticipated new chapter in the Riddick saga is available at retail in North America for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft ($59.99), PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system ($59.99) and Windows PC ($49.99).

The Chronicles of Riddick Assault on Dark Athena contains a brand new full-length Riddick campaign in addition to a high-definition pixel-by-pixel remake of the universally acclaimed title Escape from Butcher Bay. In addition to the thrilling, visceral single player action, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena brings Riddick into the multiplayer arena for the first time, with six intense online multiplayer combat modes including the unique Pitch Black mode.

Reprising his role as Riddick, Vin Diesel brings his unique vocal talent to The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, creating a powerful anti-hero with a talent for chilling one-liners. Diesel is joined by a high caliber cast of actors including Lance Henriksen, Wade Williams, William Morgan Sheppard, and Michelle Forbes who brings depth and weary malevolence to Riddick’s chief adversary on the Dark Athena, Captain Revas. Starbreeze Studios’ proprietary ‘vo-cap’ technology ensures that every nuance of the actors’ vocal and physical performance ends up in the game, creating a uniquely absorbing experience.

In The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena the player takes the role of Riddick, as played by Diesel, using stealth and action to overcome the merciless crew of the predatory Merc-ship Dark Athena which awaits its prey in the dark reaches of space. Cheating death through a series of spectacular battles and events, Riddick will fight for his life amid a storm of malevolence and horror. The Chronicles of Riddick series of games takes the player deeper into the universe of Universal Pictures’ films The Chronicles of Riddick and cult classic Pitch Black, which first introduced Diesel as enigmatic anti-hero.

Playable demos of The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena for both Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION®3 system are currently available for download, showcasing the game’s evocative art style, exceptional production values, and the breadth and ferocity of gameplay.

For more information on The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, please visit the official website at http://atari.com/riddick/.

Technorati Tags: Chronicles of Riddick, Assault on Dark Athena, Demos, Multiplayer Game, Video Game, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Vin Diesel, Download

Game Rating: T for Teen
Game Publisher: Sony Entertainment
Platform: PS2
Release Date: October 28, 2008
Buy this at: Amazon for $29.99

I am probably the biggest Country Music fan in my house and on most days that isn’t saying a whole lot. Some of my favorite Country artists include Garth Brooks, the Dixie Chicks, Mindy McCreedy, Colin Raye, The Charlie Daniels Band, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, Carrie Underwood, and Trisha Yearwood among others. These people all have one thing in common. None of them are present on the SingStar Country game!

The fact that Garth Brooks was not on here just floored me. The fact that the Dixie Chicks made one of the mainstream discs, but not the Country was also quite a surprise. Still, the thing that surprised me the most was not some of the missing artists that have defined Country music. It was the artists that did make the cut. In my opinion there were three categories here.

-Good Artist/Good Song (this one was pretty rare)
-Good Artist/Unknown or Less Important Song (we knew who they were but were surprised by the song choice)
-Why are they on here in the first place?!? (a few of the singers felt kind of unnecessary)

Part of the first and second group included artists like Johnny Cash, Alan Jackson, Taylor Swift, Kellie Pickler, and Rascal Flatts. The third group included names like Jewel (I like her, but don’t know if I would classify her as Country), Jessica Simpson, and Miranda Lambert. Likewise, while I like people like Alan Jackson and Trace Adkins I don’t see how they made the cut more than once when other big names were not represented, at all. I had high hopes for Country, but felt slightly let down by the selection. Of course, I realize that true blue Country fans may be more comfortable with this selection that has been offered.

Like the other SingStar titles, Country is fun. It was not as fun for us as the other titles because it’s missing some vital Country performers and we weren’t as familiar with the genre. If you’re a big Country fan this is going to be highly recommended. If not, you’re going to want to tread lightly and read the track list before making the final decision on whether or not to purchase this.

Enjoyment/Fun Factor: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Features:
As with all SingStar, titles you have the same basic features. You are able to play the game using online or offline components. If you own a Playstation Eye you can make music videos of yourself. If you don’t own an Eye, but want to see other videos that people have made, you can go online and rate the videos that others have created.

Other than that, the main feature is going to be the music. In the case of the SingStar Country game, I have to say I was excited about some songs and not about others. When I think Country, I immediately think certain names. While some of these names are here, many of them are not. Granted, I am not a huge Country music fan, so this disc may be better suited for fans of the genre, but there is plenty of Country songs and artists that I like that just weren’t here.

Nevertheless, I still had fun playing though and wouldn’t hesitate to look up the second volume for Country when/if it comes out. Hopefully, if it does it includes some of the Country music staples that fans and non-fans of the genre can both enjoy.

The titles included in SingStar Country are:

Alan Jackson: Chattahoochee
Alan Jackson: Good Time
Big & Rich: Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)
Blake Shelton: Home
Brad Paisley: Online
Brooks & Dunn: Boot Scootin’ Boogie
Brooks & Dunn w/ Reba McEntire: If You See Him/If You See Her
Bucky Covington: It’s Good to be Us
Faith Hill: Red Umbrella
Gretchen Wilson: Redneck Woman
Jessica Simpson: Come On Over
Jewel: Stronger Woman
Johnny Cash: A Boy Named Sue
Johnny Cash: I Walk the Line
Josh Turner: Another Try
Keith Urban: Days Go By
Kellie Pickler: Red High Heels
Kenny Chesney: Big Star
Lady Antebellum: Love Don’t Live Here
Martina: McBride: A Broken Wing
Miranda Lambert: Kerosene
Montgomery Gentry: My Town
Montgomery Gentry: What Do Ya Think About That?
Rascal Flatts: Bless the Broken Road
Sara Evans: Born To Fly
Taylor Swift: Our Song
Terri Clark: Girls Lie Too
Trace Adkins: Honky Tonk Badonkadonk
Trace Adkins: You’re Gonna Miss This
Willie Nelson: Pancho and Lefty

The great thing about SingStar is the compatibility of all of the discs. If you own a PS3 these should still play in your player, assuming you bought one with the backwards capability intact. Another nice thing is that you can interchange the discs during your game. Just hit the switch disc button and you can put in a new disc and continue to play the same game. This helps to make sure that everyone gets to play with the disc that they like the most (assuming you have more than one). SingStar is one of those rather addicting titles that offers at least a few good songs, if not more, per disc. That being said, if you buy one game you will end up buying more. That’s just how SingStar works.

There are a few mainstream Country songs here, but not enough to satiate the person that isn’t a big fan of Country. In the next release, Sony might want to consider adding more Country that all people will enjoy and be able to recognize, as that can only lead to a more successful title for them and for SingStar.

Replayability: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Controls:
The controller is used sparingly here, so people that have a problem playing games because of all the various options and buttons will feel right at home. The only time you even use the controller is to select a song, choose how you are playing (battle, solo, or duet), or to switch a disc. You can also use the controller to deal with online functions of the game, but those are completely optional based on your own interest in them. This is going to be one of those rare games that just about anyone will be able to handle in terms of using the controller.

Ease of Use: 5 out of 5 stars

Visual Quality:
I have yet to encounter a SingStar with flat out bad quality and you won’t hear me say anything different here. The quality is excellent. The videos are on the new end for many and the old ones still aren’t that old, so the quality remains good. The important part is the lyrical karaoke text, as well as the music bars that show you where the golden notes are and how long you need to hold the notes. Even when the video is of a lesser quality the text and bars are easily able to be seen and read. It’s never a problem when it comes to that.

Visual: 5 out of 5 stars

Audio Quality:
SingStar Country may not have my favorite music, but what is here sounds good. I would have loved to hear a better mix of music, but all of the music was static free and sounding as good as it could under the circumstances. The sound made everything sound new as it was free of any distortion or audio problems that occasionally plague video games and movies. All in all, it’s a good set for the Country loving SingStar crowd.

Audio: 5 out of 5 stars

Replayability:
This is the one SingStar title that we play sparingly. I have considered going online and purchasing extra tracks to make this more enjoyable, but haven’t checked to see what is available and don’t know how much I want to shell out to make this game more enjoyable for me. At present, I play it enough to make it worth paying for, but not enough to be considered one of my favorite games.

Replayability: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
SingStar Country is probably one of my least favorite SingStar titles. The logic here is simple. If you do not like Country, this game is not going to change your mind about the genre. Unfortunately, some bad music choices made sure that a mainstream audience wouldn’t have much love for this particular title. On the other hand, huge Country fans should really enjoy this.

If you’re a fan of Country this is definitely the SingStar for you and I highly recommend that you pick it up. However, if you’re not a raging fan, you might want to stay cool and wait for the second volume to come out in hopes that it has some better songs for a wider range of people.

Overall Rating: 4.25 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Sony, PS2, SingStar Country, Music Video, Sing, Battle, Video Game, Console, Karaoke, Sing Star

Game Rating: T for Teen
Game Publisher: Sony Entertainment
Platform: PS2
Release Date: September 23, 2008
Buy this at: Amazon for $29.99

Hearing that anything Pop is being offered to us can be a catch 22. Many of the most popular forms of music fall under that genre these days. However, when it comes to music we can be a bit non-conformist. To put it mildly, we aren’t always big fans of pop. So, when we received this SingStar title
the first thing we did was turn the case over to find out who was on it. Many of the names we know and like, but there were a few (Ashlee Simpson) that we didn’t like or (Boys Like Girls) weren’t too familiar with.

We found after playing this that some styles of music are much easier for some of us to sing than for others. For example, I am not bad at pop (I ruled this disc), but Dominick offers more strength when jamming to SingStar ABBA, Legends, and some of our other titles. Of course, we would flip flop in each game based on the song and singer, but for the most part, the fact that I knew a lot of the songs here really helped out a lot.

Your comfort and enjoyment level when playing any SingStar title is going to be relative to the genre of music and the familiarity of the songs in the game. With Pop 2 I didn’t have much of a problem. We didn’t sing ever song, though I know about 90% of them well enough to do well in this game. Meanwhile, titles like ABBA were a little more intimidating because I am not as well versed in their music. That being said, this is always going to work best  if you’re choosing the games that have the songs you know and love. In my case, I love Pop 2 even though I wasn’t sure how I would feel when it first arrived.

Enjoyment/Fun Factor: 5 out of 5 stars

Features:
The main features for SingStar Pop 2 are the music videos that are available for the game. These are listed below.

3 Doors Down: When I’m Gone
Ashlee Simpson: Boyfriend
Avril Lavigne: My Happy Ending
Boys Like Girls: The Great Escape
Cartel: Lose It
Colbie Caillat: Bubbly
Dixie Chicks: Not Ready to Make Nice
Duran Duran: Ordinary World
Evanesence: Bring Me to Life
Fall out Boy: Thanks Fr Th MMRS
Fergie: Big Girls Don’t Cry
Gwen Stefani Feat. Akon: The Sweet Escape
Jennifer Lopez: Jenny From The Block
Lifehouse: First Time
Lily Allen: Littlest Things
Lloyd: Get It Shawty
Maroon 5: Makes Me Wonder
Matchbox Twenty: How Far We’ve Come
Michelle Branch: Breathe
Nelly Furtado: Promiscuous
Norah Jones: Don’t Know Why
Pink: Who Knew
Peter Bjorn and John: Young Folks
Plain White T’s: Hey There Delilah
Rihanna: Umbrella
Santana Feat. Chad Kroger: Into the Night
Steriogram: Walkie Talkie Man
Sum 41: Fat Lip
The Hives: Tick Tick Boom
The Outfield: Your Love

This music is all rather current pop music, which should be the case considering the theme of the title. However, it is not the only disc that you can use when playing SingStar. All of the titles are compatible, so if you’re playing one disc and want to switch, you are able to do so without ending your game. You don’t have to go through the trouble of starting over. Just hit the switch disc button and you’ll be able to play any other SingStar title in your collection.

Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars

Controls:
As I stated in previous SingStar reviews the controller is not used much. It’s only picked up for things like choosing songs and dictating whether you’ll be singing solo, duet, or battling. So, as far as the controls go, you will only be using the directional buttons and the select or back button. Nothing else really matters in terms of the controls because you will be using the microphone for the majority of the game.

Even when you go online to use the SingStar Internet Features, the controller work is basic and consists of back, select, and left/right, unless you are using the specific community features, which add in things like messaging others in the community. In addition to messaging, you can make your own music videos (Playstation Eye is needed for this) or you can rate others that have posted their own videos.

Ease of Use: 5 out of 5 stars

Visual Quality:
Considering the newness of Pop 2, the videos looked excellent, as did the rest of the visual aspects of SingStar. The bulk of the visual content is in the videos, so things are looking good for this title. The colors are all bright and the quality is high. The lyrical text and note bars are clearly labeled. They are easy to see, so there is no worry whether or not you’ll be able to read the lyrics. It’s just a matter of getting them down that you will need to worry about. The menus all look great and there was never any issue with noise or any other unpleasant visual problems.

Visual: 5 out of 5 stars

Audio Quality:
SingStar Pop 2 is a game that revolves around music. If the audio isn’t any good than there will be problems from the get go. Luckily, the audio here is perfect. The music is clear, the vocals sound just like you remember from the radio, and there is nothing to complain about, at all. You could easily turn this on just to hear your favorite songs, though once it’s on I have yet to meet a person that isn’t ready to sing along!

Audio: 5 out of 5 stars

Replayability:
This SingStar title is going to be dependent on how much or little you like Pop music. Dominick is not as familiar with pop as I am, so when we played, he ran into more problems than I did. He likes playing this title when we do, though I suspect it is not as much as when we are playing one of the others. When it comes to me, I know more about pop than I am willing to admit. As a fan of 3 Doors Down and other bands on this game, it’s no wonder that I had a great time playing this. This is a must for pop music fans.

Replayability: 4 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
SingStar Pop 2 was our second jump into the world of SingStar. What I learned is that some titles just work no matter how campy they may seem. My first impression of SingStar would be that it would be mildly fun, but that it would not be played regularly. These days it’s becoming quite regular to the point of being played at least every few days. This is definitely something a music fan will get their moneys worth from.

I am starting to learn with every additional SingStar title that we play that you simply cannot go wrong with Sony’s sensational singing game! Not only that, but with backwards compatibility (if your PS3 has it) you can play these on the PS3 along with your other PS2 titles so you won’t have to worry about making the switch to PS3, assuming you haven’t already.

Overall Rating: 4.83 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Sony, PS2, SingStar Pop 2, Music Video, Sing, Battle, Video Game, Console, Karaoke, Sing Star

Game Rating: T for Teen
Game Publisher: Sony Entertainment
Platform: PS3
Release Date: October 28, 2008
Buy this at: Amazon for $59.99

SingStar has been around for quite some time. It’s a popular game on the Sony Platform for the mere fact that it works for nearly everyone in the entire family. It’s a casual game based on singing skill. Of course, even if you cannot sing to save your life you can still have fun playing this. It’s good to just goof around with friends playing SingStar because it’s just one of those games where everyone has a good time.

If you’re one of the lucky people that happens to have a Playstation 3 with backwards capability (not everyone does) then you can enjoy a wealth of different SingStar titles. Everything from 80s and 90s to Country is available with more titles being released all the time. We are lucky enough to have one and since we have received SingStar Vol. 2 we have begun to amass quite a Sing Star collection. In fact, at last count I believe we were up to six titles. In addition to this review, you will soon be able to read reviews on Sing Star titles such as 80s, ABBA, Legends, Country, and Pop Vol. 2.

The goal is simple. You have to sing your heart out. The hard part will be getting those lyrics down in the right beat with the right tone, rhythm, and pitch. Other than that, it’s a piece of cake! The best thing you can do is choose a title with artists and songs that you are familiar with. If you haven’t ever sung the songs or don’t know them very well it’s going to be much harder than if the song is like second nature to you.

When we were approached about reviewing SingStar I wasn’t sure how much we were going to like it. Both Dominick and I are able to sing well enough (him much better than I), but we don’t often play games like this on our console systems. However, as soon as we started playing SingStar we were blown away by the amount of fun we had. In fact, we played for hours and have since played more than a few times with each of the titles that we own. It was an absolute surprising amazing time!

Enjoyment/Fun Factor: 5 out of 5 stars

Features:
SingStar Vol. 2 can be purchased in the microphone bundle like we were given or as a standalone with just the disc. Obviously, purchasing it with the microphones is a little bit more expensive, but it ends up being a one time purchase, so it’s not all that bad. All other discs can be picked up as standalones, which means they will range in price from about $19.95 to $29.99 depending on the specific title.

Playstation Eye owners can hook up their cameras and make music videos of themselves to share on the Network. You can also meet others, purchase extra songs, and rate videos of other people that have uploaded their own content. Of course, you don’t have to use the online portion of the game if you don’t want to. You can use all of the offline features and still have loads of fun.

When it comes to basic features, the main thing you are looking for in a SingStar title is going to be the music that is included in each disc. In this case the music for Vol. 2 is as follows:

Aerosmith: Dude (Looks Like A Lady)
Bad English: When I See You Smile
Bobby Brown: My Prerogative
Boys Like Girls: Hero/Heroine
The Bravery: Believe
The Cure: Pictures of You
Elton John & Kiki Dee: Don’t Go Breaking My Heart
Eminem: Without Me
Gavin DeGraw: In Love With a Girl
Gnarls Barkley: Run (I’m A Natural Disaster)
Goldfrapp: Happiness
The Killers: When You Were Young
Lit: Miserable
The Mamas & The Papas: California Dreamin’
Natasha Bedingfield: Unwritten
The Offspring: Pretty Fly (For A White Guy)
Panic! At the Disco: Nine in the Afternoon
Paramore: CrushCrushCrush
Phantom Planet: California
Pink: Just Like A Pill
The Police: Don’t Stand So Close to Me
The Proclaimers: I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
Radiohead: Street Spirit
Rise Against: Prayer of the Refugee
Sara Bareilles: Love Song
The Shins: New Slang
Tone Loc: Funky Cold Medina
Weezer: Beverly Hills
Yael Naim: New Soul
Young MC: Bust A Move

As you can see there is a mix of new and old music here that will suit a range of tastes. Of all the songs listed, we have tried out most except for the few that we have never heard of. Some of them, like “Don’t Go Breakin My Heart”, “California Dreamin”, “My Prerogative” and “Pictures of You” were easy because they were songs we knew fairly well. Then, there were songs like “Without Me” that we knew exceptionally well when we would sing it all the time, but have since lost any skill for rap as it’s been awhile. So, in that area some practice will be necessary. Even on the hardest song we had fun and we laughed, a lot!

Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars

Controls:
I hate to even list controls because really you don’t make use of the controller all that much. You will use your directional buttons to find a song and press a button to select, but that’s about it. You will also select for the type of play you will be doing (battle, duet, solo). Other than that it’s just you and your microphone.

Ease of Use: 5 out of 5 stars

Visual Quality:
The main thing that you watch in terms of visual quality is music videos. The quality has it’s moments of excellence and some not so good moments. However, the most important thing is that when you are singing/playing you can see the words and notes properly. This is never, ever a problem. The way I see it is that Sony cannot possibly clean up every video that goes into a SingStar game. That being said, most of the videos are decent quality. The parts you need the most though are perfect as are the non-music video aspects of the game.

Note: The rating focuses more on the game’s visual quality as opposed to the imported music videos that are included for game play.

Visual: 5 out of 5 stars

Audio Quality:
The audio quality is one of the most important things here. If you can’t sing the best thing you can do is try to mimic the musician singing in the video. The music here needs to be perfect and it is. Everything is easy to hear and understand. While the mini-clips of music can get a bit annoying if you leave them on without starting the game, everything else is right on target. Each song sounds as if it had been produced recently. Sony did an excellent job with the audio options for this particular SingStar title.

Audio: 5 out of 5 stars

Replayability:
How much or little you play this will likely depend on your interest in singing. If you absolutely hate to sing this will not be the game for you. However, if you like to sing and love karaoke then you might just find that SingStar Vol. 2 (and many of the other SingStar titles) were made for you. I cannot speak for everyone, nor would I try, but I have to say that I am addicted to SingStar and I am not all that ashamed to say it!

Replayability: 5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line:
SingStar Vol. 2 was surprisingly enough one of my favorite games of the year. It’s a great family game and it’s plenty of fun for group or solo play. If you want to practice your vocal skills this can help you to do so or you can just mess around with friends for some good clean fun! This particular SingStar is filled with great music, some of which is brand new and other songs that classify as golden oldies. In the end, that means you have something for everyone. Considering the fact that most video games are more expensive than this and this is one that is suitable for all sizes, you really cannot go wrong in choosing SingStar Vol. 2.

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Technorati Tags: Sony, PS3, SingStar Vol. 2, Eminem, Music Video, Sing, Battle, Video Game, Console, Karaoke, Sing Star

Ever since I was a kid, playing my original NES, I can recall how popular video games were at the holidays. My brother and I received our NES from Santa, in 1987 or 1988. Since then, I have received video games nearly every year. In the beginning, we received them for our NES, then my Nintendo Gameboy. We moved on to the SNES, the Nintendo 64, the Sega (well I had to play that at my cousin’s house), the Gameboy Advance, the Gamecube, PS2, Nintendo DS, PS3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii. As game systems have evolved, so have I. I’ve owned all the Nintendo systems and am catching up with the PS3 and Xbox 360.

With the 2008 holiday season in full swing, the excitement of what to buy your loved ones may lead you to video game websites. I’m not joking when I say 2008 had some great video game releases. So, here’s my list of the top 25 Video Games you have to buy this holiday, and I’ve made sure to list them in order from great to totally awesome (MUST BUY). Truth be told, all of these games are well worth the purchase, so make sure to consider this list when doing your shopping for your favorite video game enthusiast.

25. Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon – I’ve been a fan of Natsume and the Harvest Moon games for years. While Rune Factory 2 isn’t truly a Harvest Moon title, it’s close enough in its farm oriented play that it will keep Harvest Moon lovers more than satisfied!

In Rune Factory 2, you actually have the chance to play as two different generations in one family. This is unique to this game and allows for additional, extended game play. Unlike the other Harvest Moon titles, and similar to the original Rune Factory, this game has a much darker overtone. Still, it’s the farming that makes this game and really, who doesn’t like to farm?!

You can pick up a copy of Rune Factory 2 at Amazon for around $40.

24. Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe – The first time I heard about this was around the time of E3 2008. The excitement about this title sort of fizzled off again until its release last month and now it’s made this Top 25 list. While the game doesn’t really follow along with either of the game series’, fans of Mortal Kombat or DC Universe (or both) can really get into this one.

As you might have guessed, in this game, the two worlds have merged. The merger has caused a shift in powers and abilities for many of your favorite characters making gameplay much more interesting and unpredictable.

With the two worlds blaming one another for the merging, they must battle in Mortal Kombat until one world is defeated. This is exactly what you’d expect of a title called Mortal Kombat vs. D.C. Universe.

Mortal Kombat vs. D.C. Universe is available for the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3, You can pick this title up in a Collector’s Edition at Amazon for $64.99.

23. Rock Band 2 – I had the chance to review Rock Band 2 for the Xbox 360 earlier this fall. The game was released by MTV Games in September. The game is also available for the Playstation 3 and the Wii. This game is pure fun and is something the entire family can enjoy. With the new Battle of the Bands mode, amongst other, updated features, your entire family will be rocking in no time, when you upgrade to Rock Band 2.

With compatibility to all of the past content you’ve downloaded, and a massively large, much cooler list of music available, with constant content being added on a consistent basis to the Rock Band 2 library, there is a little something for every Rock Band fan in the bunch. In fact, this is the arena Guns n Roses chose to release the first single from their latest album, and as you might recall, it’s been a number a years since GnR have released anything!

You can pick up your very own copy of Rock Band 2 at Amazon for any of the platforms you use. The game is also available in a bundle with the new Rock Band 2 instruments. The price for this title is $57.

22. Shaun White Snowboarding – Depending on what platform you choose to play Shaun White Snowboarding, you may actually be standing up on your very own snowboarding board. This is great for more active families, but for me (I’m in a wheelchair – I can’t stand up, so snowboarding is unfortunately out) and those who are less active, the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of this game will be more than enough to give you thrills and chills on and off the slopes.

Made with the help and guidance of Shaun White himself, you can play this game with your older kids (it’s rated T for teens, so it won’t be good for the little ones) and the experience is so similar to the experience on the slopes (especially in the Wii version – so I’ve been told) you’ll practically feel the cold air and snow all around you. This is definitely the most lifelike video game I’ve seen for a snowboarding game. I don’t even like snowboarding but I’m totally into Shaun White Snowboarding!

If you’d like to purchase this game for the Wii or for one of the other game systems, pick it up at Amazon for $54.99.

21. Need for Speed: Undercover – I guess 12th times the charm, because the 12th Need for Speed title, Need for Speed: Undercover, is by far one of my favorites in the series. The entire idea of an open road experience, with over 80 miles of uncharted territory is exactly the kind of addition I like to this game. If you like race games, it doesn’t get much better than this. The extensive system of highways and race routes have made this the biggest open track system to date. EA really went out of their way with this title and it shows!

Need for Speed: Undercover is available on a wide variety of game systems including Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, PSP, PC, and a wide variety of mobile devices (Including the iPhone). The game is at its best, graphically on the PS3 and Xbox 360, as is to be expected.

You can purchase Need for Speed: Undercover for $56.99 on Amazon.

Check out More Games on our Countdown on Page Two

THE EAGLES, NIRVANA, THE SMASHING PUMPKINS AND OTHERS SET TO ROCK GUITAR HERO® WORLD TOUR WITH DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT IN DECEMBER

The Smashing Pumpkins’ “G.L.O.W,”“1979” and “The Everlasting Gaze” Available Tomorrow

SANTA MONICA, CA – December 3, 2008 – Legendary multi-platinum recording artists The Eagles, Nirvana and The Smashing Pumpkins, all featured in the on-disc set list of Activision Publishing, Inc.’s (Nasdaq: ATVI) Guitar Hero® World Tour, are returning in December with exclusive downloadable content for the game. Additionally, fans will be in for a treat just in time for Christmas with three free Reggae Rock tracks from Pepper, Slightly Stoopid and Expendables.

The Smashing Pumpkins, one of rock’s defining and most acclaimed bands who have sold over 30 million albums, return to Guitar Hero World Tour, tomorrow December 4th, with a three-song track pack featuring the recently released single “G.L.O.W.,” “1979” and “Everlasting Gaze.”

Featuring the stylistic melodies of Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl, the pioneers of alternative rock, Nirvana, make their Guitar Hero® downloadable content debut with the Nirvana Track Pack. Featuring the final single released by the band, “You Know You’re Right,” along with “Negative Creep,” off the band’s debut album Bleach, and the smash hit “Sliver,” the Nirvana Track Pack will be available for Guitar Hero World Tour on December 11th.

After delivering the timeless rock ballad “Hotel California” to the on-disc set list of Guitar Hero World Tour, The Eagles will thrill the Guitar Hero audience once again on December 18th with three chart topping hits. From the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees’ seventh studio album and first in 28 years, Long Road Out of Eden, “Frail Grasp on the Big Picture” is joined by two classic tracks that climbed to the top of the Billboard’s Hot 100, “One of These Nights” and “Life in the Fast Lane.”

Rounding out the downloadable set list for Guitar Hero World Tour in December are three free Reggae grooves. The Reggae Rock Track Pack is comprised of “Jimi” from Slightly Stoopid, “Your Face” from Pepper and Expendables’ “Sacrifice.” The free tracks will be available for download on December 23rd.

The Eagles, Nirvana and Smashing Pumpkins Track Packs will be available on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 440 Microsoft Points and on the PlayStation®Store for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system for $5.49. The songs in each Track Pack will be released as downloadable singles for Xbox 360 for 160 Microsoft Points, PLAYSTATION 3 system for $1.99 and Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection for Wii™ for 200 Wii Points. The Free Reggae Rock Track Pack will be available for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 and as singles for Wii.

Guitar Hero World Tour transforms music gaming by expanding Guitar Hero’s signature guitar gameplay into a cooperative band experience that combines the most advanced wireless controllers with new revolutionary online* and offline gameplay modes including Band Career and 8-player “Battle of the Bands,” which allows two full bands to compete head-to-head online. The game features a slick newly redesigned guitar controller, drum kit controller and a wired microphone, as well as an innovative Music Studio music creator that lets players compose, record, edit and share their own rock ‘n’ roll anthems. Music creators are also able to share their recordings with their friends online through GHTunesSM where other gamers can download and play an endless supply of unique creations.

Guitar Hero World Tour is now available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, the Wii home video game system from Nintendo and the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. The game is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB. For more information on Guitar Hero World Tour, please visit worldtour.guitarhero.com.

Technorati Tags: Hotel California, Guitar Hero, New Music Downloads, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, The Eagles, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins