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Review: Luxor Evolved

Luxor Evolved is a casual puzzle game by Mumbo Jumbo games. Though it’s difficult to get an accurate count, since Luxor came onto the puzzle scene back in 2005 there have been no less than ten distinct Luxor branded games (more than ten if you start counting bundles and multi-platform releases).

Originally criticized six years ago for being too derivative of Pop Cap’s award winning Zuma, that doesn’t seem to have impeded Mumbo Jumbo’s success. While Luxor eventually went on to develop its own style of ancient Egyptian marble shooting, it appears the series is now ready to take yet another leap, this time into the future. In adopting a more space age look, Luxor Evolved now seeks to distance itself further from its mediocre progeny.

Find out if it’s more of the future, or more of the past after the jump.

Posted on 8 May 2012 | 3:15 am

Talking About Gamers Episode 134 - The One With Tacked On Multiplayer

Jason is always saying that all games need multiplayer and this week he got two examples to prove he's right. Join Robert, Jason, Kyle and Addam as we discuss the new multiplayer announced for God of War Ascension and the announcement of The Elder Scrolls Online. God of War certainly looks to have an interesting take on competitive multiplayer and we debate whether it can be compelling. With The Elder Scrolls Online we talk about how an MMO won't be the same as Skyrim multiplayer and decide whether an MMO is even what Elder Scrolls fans want.

Games are light this week but Addam and Kyle have been playing Asura's Wrath and have plenty to say about it. While it has some problems, both agree that it's an outrageous experience that shouldn't be missed. We also talk about Black Ops 2 and the rumor of the $99 Xbox 360 with a 2 year contract.

Thank you for listening and enjoy Talking About Gamers Episode 134.

The Talking About Gamers podcast can be found in iTunes and the Zune Marketplace. Please leave a review there or to provide direct feedback feel free to send an email to tagfeedback@gmail.com.com. You can hit us up on Twitter at @talkaboutgamers and find us on Facebook as well.

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Posted on 7 May 2012 | 5:01 am

The 40cast Episode 96: Teetocks in Paradise

In Episode 96 we have our friend Teetocks (Scott from GHR fame) back for some more fun times. This is a sports heavy show giving equal time to baseball and football topics. We have all the usual topics covering video games, movies and television discussions. No brew buzz or sex topic this week, but there are plenty of side topics and outtakes to make up for it. In remembrance of Adam Yauch (MCA of the Beastie Boys) we have dedicated a series of Beastie Boys songs for the background music in our weekly recap segment. If you enjoy our outtakes at the end of the show then be prepared for a solid 25 minutes of laughs at the end. We are sure you will be entertained, so grab your beverage of choice and get ready for a fun time!!

If you enjoy this episode then please comment on Twitter and iTunes with feedback and let us know. You can also email the entire crew at TalkBack@the40cast.com. We are working hard to improve our shows and all feedback is appreciated. Visit our website at http://www.the40cast.com and check out our online store athttp://www.cafepress.com/the40cast.

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Posted on 7 May 2012 | 3:04 am

Saints Row: The Third Enter the Dominatrix is real

I have made it no secret that I absolutely love Saints Row: The Third. It is an incredibly stupid game that is an absolute blast to play. So, when THQ announced on April 1st that an expansion called “Enter the Dominatrix” was coming for Saints Row: The Third, I was instantly disappointed. Everything about the announcement seemed like it was an April Fools joke.

Imagine my surprise when, yesterday, it was formally announced to be an actual expansion for the game and it gives you one of the absolute coolest things you could ask for: Superpowers. From the press release:

"Faster than a speeding cyber jetbike, more powerful than a roided-out Luchadore, able to leap flying aircraft carriers in a single bound... That's the power you'll find inside the Dominatrix. Use it for good. Use it for evil. Use it for whatever you want. As always in Saints Row, it's up to you," said Danny Bilson, Executive Vice President, Core Game Production, THQ Inc. "With a franchise with more than 11 million units shipped globally, it's incredibly gratifying to have the flexibility to give Saints Row fans the features they want most." 

He later added, "Freaking super powers."

The expansion pack will feature an all new storyline, and will come out at a fairly high price of $30. The season pass for Saints Row: The Third was not that great, so hopefully this pack will be as amazing as the full game.

Hit the jump for the full press release.

Posted on 4 May 2012 | 11:15 pm

UPDATE: Elder Scrolls Online revealed by Game Informer

It's been rumored for a long time and today the whispers have become reality. Game Informer has revealed the cover for their upcoming June issue and along with it they have confirmed that The Elder Scrolls Online is indeed coming.

The game will be developed by Zenimax Studios Online and is set 1000 years before last year's Skyrim. This new branch for The Elder Scrolls should hope to combine the series' trademark massive open world with all the cooperative, competitive and social aspects that come with an MMO.

"It will be extremely rewarding finally to unveil what we have been developing the last several years," said game director and MMO veteran Matt Firor, whose previous work includes Mythic's well-received Dark Age of Camelot. "The entire team is committed to creating the best MMO ever made – and one that is worthy of The Elder Scrolls franchise."

Certainly there will be a lot more to learn about The Elder Scrolls Online when the June issue of Game Informer releases. There is also a trailer promised for tomorrow. The Elder Scrolls Online is scheduled for release in 2013 for PC and Mac.

UPDATE: Check out the new teaser trailer below.

Posted on 3 May 2012 | 8:30 pm

The Greatest Game No One Played

The year was....well I don't remember what year it was but it was certainly between 1989 and 2012. It was just a regular day at Best Buy. I wandered aimlessly about the video game aisle, perusing their latest selection. After saying “nope” and “meh” a few times, I stumbled across a game that was released just a few days prior. I remembered the trailers I had seen, but never bothered to check it out further.

A quick inspection revealed that it was a voice controlled RTS by Tom Clancy. If there is a better recipe for success in this world (besides bacon and chocolate), I don't know what it is. I nabbed the game off the shelf and headed to the checkout counter to purchase my own copy of EndWar.

Hit the jump to learn about my experience with this awesome game.

Posted on 3 May 2012 | 1:31 am

Editorial: Dragon's Dogma Worries

I’m worried about Dragon’s Dogma. With a release date only a couple weeks away, we’ve all had the recent chance to check out the demo on Xbox Live (and if you haven’t already, you need to). You need to check out the demo because the game looks awesome. So what’s the basis for the worry then? Well, despite the great promise unveiled so far in the demo and myriad trailers, there are still a lot of unknown factors where this particular game, independent of what it actually accomplishes, may still falter.

We’ve all seen it before, where games don’t get the credit or fanfare they deserve. We hear about games like Beyond Good & Evil or Psychonauts being adored by critics but for some inexplicable reason just not doing well. Granted, it may be a bit too premature to say that Dragon’s Dogma will score critically well, but given what we’ve seen so far I think it’s reasonable to believe that there’s a good sized audience out there that will enjoy the title.

What worries me is that even presuming the game garners high scores and fan praise, and despite how much I personally enjoyed what I’ve played so far of this game, I think there’s a good chance that Dragon’s Dogma is going to fail.

Face my fears after the break.

Posted on 2 May 2012 | 12:28 am

Google Glasses, a.k.a. The Future of Gaming

It’s time to get real about the future of video games. No, I’m not talking about streaming content, Modern Warfare 12, or 4D screens. I’m talking about nanotechnology. That’s right folks, miniature Optimus Primes in your brain. Now you have probably heard of Google Glasses, but have you heard how it works? Let me break it down for you.

The first step in the process is an S-12 NanoTech injection. At this point, your blood becomes infused with S-12 protocol nanobytes. These nanobytes imitate your natural leukocytes (white blood cells) to bypass your body’s defenses. Once they have performed some Splinter Cell/Ninja Gaiden moves on your immune system, they take a casual stroll on up to your brain. At this point, they have reached their destination and are ready for activation.

The next step is simple, but complex….but still simple really. Just put on the Google Glasses. The presence of the Glasses within one foot of the cranial located nanobytes activates their synaptic streaming function. Now don’t let all this fancy terminology confuse you. What I’m trying to tell you is that the nanobytes take a big ‘ol handful of your thoughts and emotions and translate them to ultra-high frequency SpectroWaves.

Now through a twisty turny series of electrical processing and electron projection, the thoughts and emotions gathered by the nanobytes are reflected on a DigiCrystal Display Reticle (DDR). The DDR is located inside the scratch proof screen of the Glasses, laser etched for precision viewing (prescription versions available).

All that’s left now is to sit back, or stand up, and enjoy. Game with them, party with them, or just look like Bono with them. Either way, Google Glasses are the latest in nanotechnology and gaming innovation.

Posted on 2 May 2012 | 12:18 am

Talking About Gamers Episode 133 - The One Where Everyone is Forced to Play Dragon's Dogma

Join Robert, Jason, Kyle, Addam, Samantha and guest Alfred aka GHR Maverick as we talk about the latest games and topics. The big game of the week might have been Prototype 2, which we do talk about, but instead the crew is infatuated by Telltale's The Walking Dead. We all know Jason loves his zombies but will he get on board with an adventure game?

Alfred talks about some games he's playing, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon and the Ballad of Gay Tony while Kyle gets berated plenty for asking the rest of the crew to check out the Dragon's Dogma demo. We also discuss the newly revealed PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale and the House passing CISPA. Alfred also presents us with a question about podcasting.

Thank you for listening and enjoy talking About Gamers Episode 133.

The Talking About Gamers podcast can be found in iTunes and the Zune Marketplace. Please leave a review there or to provide direct feedback feel free to send an email to tagfeedback@gmail.com.com. You can hit us up on Twitter at @talkaboutgamers and find us on Facebook as well.

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Posted on 30 April 2012 | 8:46 am

Review: The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead is one of the hottest properties around right now. Sure the comic book series has been highly regarded for many years but with the recent hit television series on AMC, The Walking Dead has been thrust into the public eye.

When something is as hot as that, people start looking for ways to broaden the IP with novels, movies and, naturally, video games. However just the idea of a game based on The Walking Dead sounded kind of silly. That is until Telltale Games got involved. By making The Walking Dead an adventure game, it can easily retain the story-driven pace of the comics while still presenting a fun, interactive experience.

Hit the jump quickly before a shambling zombie gets you!

Posted on 30 April 2012 | 7:09 am

Review: Mortal Kombat

Mortal Kombat has always been my kind of fighting game. Many a summer day was spent in kombat back on my friend's SNES when I was but a youngling. Not as komplex as Street Fighter but not as button-mashing friendly as Killer Instinct, the franchise always walked the line between kompetitive and fun and I loved every green-blooded second.

Last April we saw the release of the latest game in the series, simply titled Mortal Kombat, return to its 2D roots and land on the Xbox 360 and PS3. It has now been unleashed for the Vita including all previous DLC characters, formerly exclusive PS3 kharacter Kratos from God of War, bonus unlockable kharacter skins, one-hundred and fifty new Challenge Tower missions, touchscreen Fatalities, wi-fi konnectivity and the entire full-length kampaign running at a smooth sixty frames per second.

That twelve-year-old version of me would be amazed with everything packed into this handheld version. It turns out that thirty-year-old me likes it quite a bit as well.

Press →↓←←X (or just kontinue after the break) to find out why.

Posted on 30 April 2012 | 3:40 am

The 40cast Episode 95: Bad Mutha F**ker

This week on Episode 95 we double up the police presence with special guest Jeremy Twigg (@twigg4075) one of Baltimore County’s finest! It’s the usual stuff with a little more sports talk thrown in for good measure. VicJoh tells us about his past when he was a Bad Mutha F**ker, LuceScrew talks about what makes a brewery craft on the Brew Buzz segment, Keith brings a ton of weird news to the table and GloveBox shows us his sensitive side. This week DeviousMrMatt takes the drunk seat, so expect some good laughs. We have a short sex topic about random studies that crack us up. We also get a little serious with a relationship question asking if we rely on our wives a lot. If you enjoy our outtakes at the end of the show then be prepared for a solid 13 minutes of laughs at the end. We are sure you will be entertained, so grab your beverage of choice and get ready for a fun time!!

If you enjoy this episode then please comment on Twitter and iTunes with feedback and let us know. You can also email the entire crew at TalkBack@the40cast.com. We are working hard to improve our shows and all feedback is appreciated. Visit our website at http://www.the40cast.com and check out our online store athttp://www.cafepress.com/the40cast.

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Posted on 30 April 2012 | 3:12 am

Review: Speed Racer: The Beginning

There’s a game called Speed Racer: The Beginning. Let me stop you right there, because I know that what you just imagined was wrong. The game you are imagining in your head is not the game that I’ve just been playing. I bet you’re saying to yourself, “All I imagined was a racing game.” Yep, that’s how I know you’re wrong.

Speed Racer: The Beginning is a 2D side scrolling platformer. And in an obvious bid to be the worst side-scrolling platformer ever created, the game is a platformer where you cannot move your character left or right, you can only jump up and come back down while the world moves beneath you. Oh yeah, and there aren’t actually any platforms. There are just massive, gaping holes in the ground five times the length of your car, because apparently Japan’s public works department is horrendously underfunded.

So hit the jump, then hit the jump again for the review – yep, the Mach 5’s Auto Jacks have a new feature.

Posted on 29 April 2012 | 4:54 am

Nintendo reports first annual loss ever

The economic recession, once thought by some to be harmless to the video game industry, has harmed the unharmable.

Nintendo, the biggest name in all of video games, recently reported its first-ever annual operating loss. For the 2011 fiscal year, which ended on March 31, 2012, Nintendo reported a $458 million loss on $7.99 billion worth of sales. This marks a 36 percent drop in total revenue (software and hardware) for the video game giant.

The numbers were not so astonishing, according to Nintendo's own predictions. For instance, the company's latest hardware product, the 3DS portable console, sold so poorly at launch that its price was reduced only four months later; said reduction now means that it costs Nintendo more to make 3DS units than it earns by selling them.

Like all major corporations that just reported their first loss, Nintendo is hoping to bounce back from this setback with profits in 2012. A lot of that will depend on the success of their upcoming home console, the Wii U. I'm guessing they don't want a repeat of the 3DS launch.

Posted on 28 April 2012 | 11:18 pm

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale first details

There have been rumors circulating about a Super Smash Bros. type game coming for the PlayStation faithful. Silly as it might have sounded those rumors proved to be true as Gametrailers revealed last night the brand new PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale.

If you've played Smash Bros. then All-Stars will definitely look familiar. It's a 2D beat 'em up set in an arena with four players duking it out. Developer SuperBot Entertainment revealed six character last night and surely there are many more to come:

• Kratos (God of War)
• Sly Cooper
• PaRappa the Rapper
• Sweet Tooth (Twisted Metal)
• Fat Princess
• Radec (Killzone)

Action looked like what one would expect with a general level of mayhem going on. The environments look to be pretty interactive with elements like a hydra attacking players, a Buzz quiz show where players have to actually answer questions and even a LittleBigPlanet inspired level that starts as a blank canvas and is slowly constructed. Each character has a customized skill set and three levels of super attacks which show off some cool moves.

More characters were promised including a hint that several third party members may join the fray. Even still there were some conspicuous absences including Cole from inFAMOUS and Sony's new mascot, Nathan Drake. PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is scheduled to release in fall of 2012.

Posted on 27 April 2012 | 7:45 am

The Show Radio - Hip Hop Gamer on Events, Branding and the Industry

Hip Hop Gamer, the one and only Hip Hop journalist with the voice that you’ll remember. Hip Hop Gamer is not afraid to tell you that he’s the number one journalist and when it comes to lyrics he’ll put it down with the best of them. Uriyya catches up with HHG and they chatted about events, branding and all things Hip Hop Gamer.

The following audio contains explicit content, listener discretion is advised.

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Posted on 27 April 2012 | 6:27 am

Review: Legend of Grimrock

You are a prisoner. Bound and shackled, with nothing more than rags on your back, you face the world stoically without a single line of dialogue. (No, it’s not the introduction to the latest Bethesda game.) The king has accused you of crimes of high treason – never mind what the specific nature of your treasonous crime was, you treasonous cur! Without so much as a trial or chance to defend yourself, you are summarily convicted and sentenced. And justice for you shall be swift.

Your punishment is that you and three other similarly accused perfect strangers (none of whom are named Balki Bartokomous), are flown via air ship to the top of Mount Grimrock where you are… set free. The price for this absolution? Well, see that giant hole there? In ya go! Good luck with the whole freedom thing – maybe we’ll see you again at the bottom of the mountain. Don’t worry about the whole, “No one ever comes out alive,” thing. You’re already absolved of your crimes and that’s what matters.

Pushed into the pit with the others, you are denied even the simple dignity of deciding to hit the jump.

Posted on 27 April 2012 | 3:38 am

Preview: Warlock: Master of the Arcane

After playing Defenders of Ardania and finding it to be a bit of a disappointment, I wasn’t exactly thrilled at the idea of picking up another Paradox game set in that same fantasy setting. The fact that Warlock: Master of the Arcane is due for release May 8^th (a scant two months after Defenders) only gave me further cause for concern. After sinking several hours into our preview version of the game though, I’m glad to report that it looks like this journey into the land of Ardania will be one that genre fans can actually enjoy.

Warlock is a game that doesn’t stray too far from its turn-based strategy roots, giving players an opportunity to found cities and field armies in a manner very similar to the Civilization games. Taking on the role of a Great Mage you can research and cast spells, build guild halls, take advantage of several different unique types of resources and easily spend several hours marching troops around the world, making war or peace with your neighbors along the way.

Even if your last experience in Ardania left a bad taste in your mouth, don’t hesitate to hit this jump.

Posted on 26 April 2012 | 9:29 pm

Next Portal 2 DLC revealed by Valve

Portal 2 was definitely a success for Valve. It received tons of critical fame, numerous game of the year awards and was generally loved by fans. Valve is continuing on their promise of free content for Portal 2 by revealing the next release, the Perpetual Testing Initiative.

This new DLC is basically a fancy way to say "map editor." The DLC will come with the ability to make new puzzles without ever leaving the game. It will also incorporate Steam Workshop for downloading puzzles. Steam Workshop has been previously used with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and is a great system that allows gamers to easily find and install new content with only a couple clicks.

The Perpetual Testing Initiative will be released for PC and Mac on May 8. There is no word on whether the console versions will see something similar in the future as well.

Posted on 26 April 2012 | 7:29 pm

New voice talent revealed for Hitman Absolution

Agent 47 has been dormant for a long time and this year with Hitman Absolution is looking to return in style. Today Square Enix has revealed two new voice actors for the game. Powers Boothe (of Sin City and 24 fame) will be playing Benjamin Travis, a new ICA handler. The other new character, Jade, is being voiced by Shannyn Sossamon, who people will no doubt recognize from A Knight's Tale. The video below provides a nice interview with both actors about the characters they play, the motion capture process process and more.

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Posted on 26 April 2012 | 7:15 pm

New survival horror game coming from Shinji Mikami

Shinji Mikami is a name that is synonymous with survival horror. He directed the original Resident Evil and went on to continue that series and had a hand in several other high-profile games including Devil May Cry. Mikami is now a part of Tango Gameworks, a new company looking to release their first game in 2013.

This new title, which has the codename Zwei, is a return to the survival horror genre where Mikami wants to make a game that pushes the limits of fear and exhilaration.

“A true ‘survival horror’ game is one in which the player confronts and overcomes fear,” says Shinji Mikami, president and creative director for Tango Gameworks. “I've found my focus and once again I'm striving for pure survival horror. I am being very hands-on in the development of this game to ensure that the quality is there. Rest assured.”

Tango Gameworks is a subsidiary of ZeniMax Media, home to studios such as Bethesda and id. We'll update you as more information about Zwei becomes available.

Posted on 26 April 2012 | 6:50 pm

Review: Xenoblade Chronicles

Xenoblade Chronicles has been a long time coming for North American Wii owners. The game released last year in both Japan and in Europe while Nintendo of America held fast to the notion that it would never make the trip across the pond. Due to an overwhelming response as part of Operation Rainfall, a movement started to get three high-profile Wii games released in America, Nintendo decided it is worth their time to bring it out in America.

The world of Xenoblade Chronicles is one that is definitely foreign and unique. There are two giant creatures, Bionis and Mechonis, who literally form two separate worlds for all existence to live on. The beings on these worlds are at war with each other in a timeless battle that stretches back to when Bionis and Mechonis themselves were awake and fighting. Now the two behemoths sit dormant while the life on them carries on the conflict.

I just had a vision of the future that tells me you're going to read past the break!

Posted on 23 April 2012 | 4:26 pm

The Show Radio: Episode 98 – Halo 4, Fez, PAX, ME3

In this episode Uriyya catches up on the news and shares his excited about PAX and Halo 4. Also joining him is Venomous Fatman from Shifted2u.com. Uriyya gives the answer to the age old question “Are you Indie” and even catches up on his recent movie list.

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Posted on 23 April 2012 | 4:19 pm

The 40cast Episode 94: RAW and UNCUT with The Married Gamers

This week we celebrate Episode 94 of the 40cast with special guests Chris and Kelly Brown (@LeftyBrown and @MrsLeftyBrown) from The Married Gamers podcast. The show title says it all…you will want to listen to the show in its entirety to get all the TMI portions. VicJoh has some apologies of the week and LuceScrew talks about the Top 50 craft brewers of 2011 on the Brew Buzz segment. We have a sex topic from Cosmo’s 100 Awesome Sex Tips about kinky light sex moves. If you enjoy our outtakes at the end of the show then be prepared for a solid 17 minutes of laughs at the end. We are sure you will be entertained, so grab your beverage of choice and get ready for a fun time!!

If you enjoy this episode then please comment on Twitter and iTunes with feedback and let us know. You can also email the entire crew at TalkBack@the40cast.com. We are working hard to improve our shows and all feedback is appreciated. Visit our website at http://www.the40cast.com and check out our online store athttp://www.cafepress.com/the40cast.

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Posted on 23 April 2012 | 3:51 pm

Talking About Gamers Episode 132 - The One Where Kratos Fights Jesus

This week on Talking About Gamers we have been very busy playing betas. Join Robbie, Jason, Kyle and Addam as they are joined by guest AceBlack to talk about Ghost Recon Future Soldier and Diablo 3. Now technically these are called betas but we all know they serve more as demos and everyone is stoekd about both new games we got a chance to play this past week.

Another big game this past week was the Xbox 360 release of The Witcher 2. We were big fans of the game when it released last year so we take plenty of time to revisit it again. Plus we have Ace along to give us his firsthand impressions. We also discuss what we want out of God of war: Ascension (hint: not multiplayer) and talk about whether variable pricing for games is a realistic goal. We are also surprised by another of Jason's random question.

Thanks for listening and please enjoy Episode 132 of Talking About Gamers.

The Talking About Gamers podcast can be found in iTunes and the Zune Marketplace. Please leave a review there or to provide direct feedback feel free to send an email to tag@talkingaboutgames.com. You can hit us up on Twitter at @talkaboutgamers and find us on Facebook as well.

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Posted on 23 April 2012 | 8:25 am