Ever heard of the game, Need for Speed World? It's a free to play game by EA, that has premium content that you can buy.

The latest offering is a Koenigsegg CCX "Elite" Edition car, that is supposably the "best" car in the game.

It's yours for the low, low price of $100.

Not a typo, it's ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS.

Wow.

"This is EA customer support, how may we help you"
"Uhh yes, I think there is a pricing error on Need For Speed"
"Oh which one?"
"The free one, the world one or something"
"What seems to be the issue"
"This one car is being listed at $100 dollars". I think it was supposed to be a dollar or ten dollars not 100"
"uhh sir sorry to say it's not a pricing error"
"It's not?"
"no sir"

*Akward Silence*

"Sir?"
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR FREAKING MINDS??!!!!!"

Least it's cheaper then the real thing, right? :P

Purchasing the PlayStation Move Bundle with Sports Champions earlier this year, I used the Move controller a bit, with games like Killzone 3, Kung Fu Rider and others, but never touched Sports Champions until this week. After a bit of playing, trying each of the six games: Bocce, Archery, Volleyball, Table Tennis, Gladiator, and Disc Golf, I've came to a conclusion. Sports Champions highlights what the best and worst of the PlayStation Move.

First, the "best."

1. The PlayStation move is VERY accurate when it comes to shooting/shooters.

With the archery game included in Sports Champions, you can be incredibly accurate when shooting targets. The motion of pulling a bow, the tension and aim is great. Heck, I got so good I could almost fire 30 shots within a 60 second time frame.

Games like Resistance 3, Killzone 3, Socom and Dead Space: Extraction are awesome with the move controller because it feels very natural and is accurate. While the Wii can be very good as well, you notice a difference in accuracy and such when using the move with a shooting type game.

2. The move is also very good with simple motions. Flicks, small swings and turns are read very well by the move. Spiking the ball in volleyball, hitting a ping pong ball in table tennis, or throwing in Bocce are very well read by the Move controller.

3. The move controller is very natural and feels confortable with use. I really like the shape of the Move controller, the button placement, the molded feel; it just feels much more natural and comfortable compared to the brick shape of the Wii controller(through you can add attachments to the Wii controller to make it feel more comfortable). When fighting in gladiator, playing vollball or any game in the set of Sports Champions, the controller feels comfortable in your hands.

Now, the "worst."

1. The Move controller does not read rapid, and complex motions as accurate as you'd like. This comes into play with games like Gladiator. When having to attack specific parts or an opponent in a fast manner, like in the challenge mode of Gladiator, it becomes a frustrating mess. Table Tennis also highlights this. The Move controller seems to act up when you have to swing wildly, nor does it handle well in read big left to right motions. Such as in Bocce, the challenge mode has to have you shoot at a angle left or right, and it often does not read it correctly at all. When shooting straight or in a slight angle, it'll read it perfectly.

2. You sometimes have to calibrate. A LOT. Games like disc golf, and table tennis require you to calibrate perfectly or you will have problems with your motions in game. Unlike the Wii, which tends to keep motions simple with the sensor bar, the Move uses the camera, which has to be adjusted every time you set up to play a game like Sports Champions.

3. It uses a camera instead of sensor bar. I swear with swinging motion games like Sports Champions, it has a much less reading area then the Wii's sensor bar. This goes hand in hand with number 2.

4. You can't over-complex the controls when using a Move controller developers, (or any motion game for that matter.) Games like Archery, Volley ball, and Bocce are great in sports champions, because the motions are kept simple and are designed with a little give, and play well. Gladiator, and Table Tennis, can become a mess, when you try to over complicate the controls, Especially Gladiator, which can become a bit of a mess. If one thing the Wii games taught us consumers, it's that when motions are kept simple, and intuitive, games can be great, like Super Mario Galaxy, Madworld, MLB Power Pros, and Kirby's Epic Yarn. Games that over-complicate things, Like Red Steel for example can make a game be crud. It's all in controls when designing a motion game.

That said, if you plan to get the move, and like shooters, you will love it. It's perfect for it. If you are a motion game guy or gal, research a game before you get it, as the Move isn't perfect with complex fast motions. Yes, the Move is more accurate then the Wii controller, but it still means that game makers need to take into account that the Move still has limits.

I saw a great article in Game Informer yesterday that really opened my eyes.

There is a ton of Video Game Franchises celebrating their anniversaries this year. As many as 18 major ones. Here's the list:

Donkey Kong - 30 Year Anniversary

First Game: Donkey Kong (Arcade), 1981

Latest Game: Donkey Kong Returns (Wii), 2010

The Legend of Zelda - 25 Year Anniversary

First Game: The Legend of Zelda (NES), 1986

Latest Game: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii), 2011

Metroid - 25 Year Anniversary

First Game: Metroid (NES), 1986

Latest Game: Metroid: Other M (Wii), 2010

Castlevania - 25 Year Anniversary

First Game: Castlevania (NES), 1986

Latest Game: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow (PS3, Xbox 360), 2010

Sonic - 20 Year Anniversary

First Game: Sonic The Hedgehog (Genesis), 1991

Latest Game: Sonic Generations (PS3, Xbox 360), 2011

Pokemon - 15 Year Anniversary

First Game: Pocket Monsters Red, Pocket Monsters Green (Gameboy), 1996

Latest Game: Pokemon Black, Pokemon White (DS), 2011

Resident Evil - 15 Year Anniversary

First Game: Resident Evil (PS1), 1996

Latest Game: Resident Evil: The Mercenaries (3DS), 2011

Halo - 10 Year Anniversary

First Game: Halo: Combat Evolved (Xbox), 2001

Latest Game: Halo: Anniversary (Xbox 360), 2011

Street Fighter II - 20 Year Anniversary

First Game: Street Fighter II (Arcade), 1991

Latest Game: Street Fighter II: HD Remix (PS3, Xbox 360), 2009

Tomb Raider - 15 Year Anniversary

First Game: Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (PS1, Saturn, PC), 1996

Latest Game: Tomb Raider: Underworld (PS3, Xbox 360), 2008

Diablo - 15 Year Anniversary

First Game: Diablo (PC), 1996

Latest Game: Diablo II (PC), 2000

Grand Theft Auto III - 10 Year Anniversary

First Game: Grand Theft Auto III (PS2), 2001

Latest Game: Grand Theft Auto Pack (PS2), 2008

Ultima - 30 Year Anniversary

First Game: Ultima (Apple II), 1981

Latest Game: Ultima IX: Ascension (PC), 1999

Castle Wolfenstien - 30 Year Anniversary

First Game: Castle Wolfenstien (Apple II), 1981

Latest Game: Wolfenstien (PS3, Xbox 360, PC), 2009

Frogger - 30 Year Anniversary

First Game: Frogger (Arcade), 1981

Latest Game: Frogger 3D (3DS), 2011

Ms. Pac-Man - 30 Year Anniversary

First Game: Ms. Pac-Man (Arcade), 1981

Latest Game: Pac-Man's Arcade Party (Arcade), 2010

Civilization - 20 Year Anniversary

First Game: Sid Meier's Civilization (Dos), 1991

Latest Game: Civilization World (Facebook), 2011

Crash Bandicoot - 15 Year Anniversary

First Game: Crash Bandicoot (PS1), 1996

Latest Game: Crash: Mind Over Mutant (PS3, Xbox 360), 2008

Devil May Cry - 10 Year Anniversary

First Game: Devil May Cry (PS2), 2001

Latest Game: Devil May Cry 4 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC), 2008, and (IOS) 2011

So many this year! It's Bonkers! From Frogger, to Halo a lot of franchises celebrating major birthdays, with plenty of these franchises going strong.

It's Halloween Morning! Wanna get your Halloween on by gaming? Don't want to spend a lot? Well check out this list: 13 great (cheap) games from this generation, to spend your Halloween:

1. Plants Vs Zombies (Game of The Year Edition)

Available for: Google Chrome (Chrome Web Store), Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, Nintendo DS, DSiWare, Bada, Android (Amazon Appstore), Windows Phone 7

This Tower Defense games has won numerous awards, and is great for all ages. If you are one of the few who haven't played this, or don't own it already, you need to get this. This best part about this game is it's available on numerous formats, from PC, to Xbox 360 and PS3, all the way to the DS and various mobile phone formats and it's cheap no matter what format you choose.

2. Batman: Arkham Aslyum

Available for: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows

The new Batman game is out, but why not play the great first game that came out a few years back? The caped crusader is the ultimate hero everyone wants to dress up as, and no Halloween can be greater spending it beating up on the bad guys is the demented battlefield of Arkham Aslyum. Best of all, it's for dirt cheap now, and also available to download on both the Xbox 360 and PS stores as well as PC.

3. Resident Evil 5

Available for: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows

While the latest game in the main series isn't as scary as past ones, it's still a great game and a blast to play with a friend. It's been one of my favorite games this generation, and very replayable. If you get the Gold edition, you'll get all the extra content released from the game's original release date. The game is also available for download from each console's respected stores.

4. Left 4 Dead and 5. Left 4 Dead 2

Available for: Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, Mac OS X

What many say are the BEST Zombie games this generation, the Left 4 Dead Series is a blast, an absolute blast to play. Whether you are playing by yourself or with a group of friends (or strangers), the fight to survive through the levels in this game is addicting. And best of all, no matter which way you get it, it's cheap, very cheap to get.

6. Ghostbusters the Video Game

Available for: Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360

Who ya gonna call? GHOSTBUSTERS. Ghostbusters is the perfect game to blast through on Halloween night. It's not a long game, but still a sweet game.

7. Resident Evil 2 (and the other PS1 Resident Evils)

Available for: PS3 and PSP via the PS Cla$$ics Section at the PS Store

The survival horror Cla$$ic is just perfect for a scary night of play like for Halloween. It's might be a little old, but it'll still scare ya with the lights all off. And while we are at it, I can recommend the other Capcom survival Horror games on the PS1 Section like RE: Nemeisis and Dino Crisis.

8. Code Veronica X and 9. Resident Evil 4

Available for Xbox 360 (download only), PS Store, and Wii (RE4 only)

Just in time for Halloween, Capcom released HD versions of these two RE Cla$$ics. Code Veronica is the one that shows the age of the two, but for a true resident evil fan, you'll appreciate it, especially if you grew up playing it. As for RE 4, quite a lot believe its the best RE game ever. It the one that benefits the most from the HD upgrade, and is a great game for Halloween night. RE 4 also got a WIi version a few years back, and that's just as fun as well.

10. Maximo: Ghosts to Glory

Available for PS3 via PS2 Cla$$ics Section of the PS Store

The new PS2 Cla$$ics line at the PS Store had a nice surprise (well quote a few of them). One being Maximo, a great 3D Hack and Slash game for the PS2. The game is also quite HARD to find and can be a bit costly. It's tough, a bit old school, but worthy for a great Halloween night. It's only $9.99 at the PS store.

11. Condemned: Criminal Origins

Available for: Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows

Released very early on in this generation, but this game still holds up and is VERY scary if you let it be. It's not uncommon to find this game for just a few bucks. Try to solve the mysteries as you try to survive from crime scene to crime scene.

12. Costume Quest

Available for: Xbox 360 (Xbox Live Arcade), PlayStation 3 (PlayStation Network), Microsoft Windows (Steam)

This game is a great game for anyone of all ages to experience Halloween. The game combines elements from adventure games with an RPG that seems like a tribute to FF X-2. it's quite simply the best seasonal video game I've ever played.

13. The House of the Dead: Overkill

Available for: Wii and PS3

The latest in the line of games for the House of The Dead Series, might be the "highest" in price in this list of cheap Halloween thrills, but this game still qill provide one heck of a Halloween night of gaming, blast zombies, monsters and more.

According to various news outlets, it seems like Nintendo was going to post a 100 billion yen loss from the past quarter. Even though it wasn't that amount, it still was a "70.3 billion yen ($925 million) for the six months through September," according to other news outlets.

This doesn't surprise me, and no I'm not gonna bash Nintendo.

Let me explain.

Back before the Nintendo Wii came out, Nintendo was Suffering from a not so stellar sixth generation of consoles era, as the Gamecube lagged behind sales of it's competitors.

Luckily, Nintendo was still riding high from the their handheld market hold, with the GBA and then the transition to the Nintendo DS (I loved my portable tank!)

So, to combat Sony and Microsoft and their much high prices consoles, Nintendo decided that the best bay to do that is in price. The Wii would come in at much cheaper it's competitors prices, not have the higher end of features of it's competitors, be packed with a game to boot, and the games itself would be ten dollars or more cheaper then a brand new copy of a ps3 or Xbox game.

And boy did it work. Whether you love or hate the Wii, for the past 4 or so years Nintendo sold Wii's like hot cakes, as well as their hot DS line. And every year they have posted major profit except for this year.

But not this time.

It's a transition time for them. In Both the Portable and Console markets, which is gonna put huge pressure on them.

The Wii was pretty much designed to have a 4 year stellar cycle, which it did. It sold consoles and accessories like no tomorrow, and made a lot of profit. The time for it though is over, as the system, whether you want to admit it or not, is out of date compared to how much every other system has progressed. Now, Nintendo is prepping their new console, not making much effort into their first party lineup at this point to prepare for the next year launch of Wii U, which is probably going to extend the kink in their console sales for possibly another year.

The other problem, is one they didn't expect. The 3DS to be struggling so much. Since it's initial launch, sales of the 3DS have lagged due to canceled titles, postponed titles, and general lack of games. Some were pushed off by the initial price, especially with the much high spec PS Vita coming in at the same price of $250 (wifi model). Nintendo has been fighting hard with the huge price cut to $169 bucks, and then the huge Nintendo 3DS Ambassadors Program for initial buyers with the 10 free NES and 10 free GBA games.

Nintendo expected the 3DS to provide a buffer for the next year's launch with the Wii U, but without it, well it's lead to a huge loss both ways.

Though will Nintendo go the way of the SEGA?

Now that's way too early to jump to that conclusion. Nintendo has been around an AWFUL LONG TIME. Nintendo might make some silly decesions in my point of view but they always seem to bounce back. So while this year has been a bad one for Nintendo, I wouldn't be surprised If Nintendo heads to a great one next year.

Clocking at at 52 hours and 30 minutes of play time, I finally beat Yakuza 3, earning just about every trophy except for 5 of them (40 out of 45).

I spent the day today clearing every Colosseum match (111 fights in a row I did) and finished up the last chapter in the game.

That said, this has been one of the most enjoyable games I've played in a long time. With the game beaten, I'm hungry for more. Bring on more Yakuza!

I bought up a few blogs back a topic of collector's edition for games. Figured it be a good time to share some of my favorite collector's edition of games I own (in no particular order):

1. Halo Reach: Limited Edition (Xbox 360)

For and extra $20, you got a real deal especially if you were hyped for the Halo Universe lore.

It came with:

Halo Reach in a black case

Artifact bag, which contains the personal notes and documents of the creator of the Spartan program: Dr. Catherine Halsey (The Crafted book is beautiful!

In-game Elite armor set for multiplayer

An embroidered Spartan II patch

Dr. Halsey's ONI security badge

A Custom case modeled after a recovered ONI data module that held everything.

Quite simply, this is my all time fav, simply due to the value of goodies, and the pure value the collection is made of.

2. Street Fighter 4 Collector's Edition (Xbox 360)

This $80 bad boy came with:

The Game (duh)

A limited-edition C. Viper figurine

Street Fighter IV: The Ties That Bind: a 65 minute anime movie

CD soundtrack

Plus the first extra costumes pack

I also got a Ryu Red Bandanna with the pack. HADOKEN!

3. AC/DC Rock Band Fan Pack (xbox 360)

This box for just $2 more when it came out at $42, came with:

The Game

AC/DC No Bull Concert DVD

An Exclusive AC/DC Tee Shirt

Not bad for just $2 more right? :P

4. Fallout 3 Game of The Year Edition (xbox 360)

Now technically this isn't a collector's edition, but for all included DLC (total value at $50) with the game, ON DISK, it's one heck of a deal and the top edition to recommend to someone who doesn't already have Fallout 3.

5. Devil May Cry 4 Collector's Edition (Xbox 360)

It came with:

The Game in a Hard Cover Shell

DVD of four episodes of the English dub of the anime

Bonus disc containing the making of Devil May Cry 4 and other material

6. Madden XX Collector's Edition (Xbox 360)

This edition included the game in a foldout hardcover case with:

NFL Head Coach 09

An exclusive version of John Madden Football '93 with updated teams and rosters and bonus video content and clips

Retro playbooks featuring the best plays from every year of Madden NFL Football history

And exclusive Bonus Content

So that's some of my favorites from my collection. What's yours?

I saw an interesting topic on a rival game news sites earlier this week:

"Should reviewers take off points from the final score for online passes (and other anti-consumer practices)?"

What's your view?

Mine is "Yes, yes they should."

Game reviews should take in account everything that is included in the package. Whether it be accessories, like games like Guitar Hero, Tony Hawk, or FlingSmash, or DLC added to packages at the last minute (IE stuff they added to a game included with it not on disk by pressing time) or online passes, bad DRM requirements (Looking at you Ubisoft) or cut content, it should all be taken in account. The only thing that shouldn't be taken into account, is DLC added at a later time beyond the game's original release date.

Every game review I've done, I've followed that guideline. Every review and rating. a game review is incomplete in my eyes if it doesn't take that into account.

What would the original guitar hero be, if the guitar controller was cruddy? That's right, it would have be a cruddy game. With the controller being great, the game was considered great In reviews.

The same goes for online passes in my eyes. Readers of my blog already know my firm anti-online pass stance on the game. If you don't please read this blog post. In short, online passes are bad for everyone, from the game industry to the consumer.

So with those online passes, yes they should deduct points from the review score for the game, the whole package. The affect the game negatively, often lead to cut content and restricted parts of the game. Just look at Assassins Creed 2 for the PC. The DRM required that the game be ALWAYS connected to the Internet. That meant if you aren't connected, or the Ubisoft servers are down, the game was UNPLAYABLE. This lead to a lot of reviewers and consumers to say no to the game as the DRM severally affected the game in a negative way.

That's my stance on it, what do you say?

Within the last week I just started playing Yakuza 3. After playing the Japanese demo of Yakuza: Dead Souls (Of The End in Japan), I decided to see what the series was all about.

Holy cow, why didn't I play these games SOONER?

Yakuza 3 has been one of the most fun games I've ever played. I love the characters, the story so far, and all the stuff you can do. The side-missions, all the mini games, the content, the content is fantastic, it's simply superb. The quality, the gameplay just....it's simply fantastic.

Do yourself a favor, and play one of these games today. Like, right now. When I finish 3, I'm definitely got to play the other games in the series, especially since I even heard the others, like 4, are EVEN better then 3.

With that said, I got lucky at the flea market on Sunday:

Yakuza, PS2, Used, Complete, $3!

Generation of Chaos, PSP, Used, Complete, $5!

Two great games, that I got for uber cheap. A used copy of Yakuza for $3 is definitely a rarity in itself as well as finding a copy of the NIS game, Generation of Chaos. When I finish Yakuza, 3, I'll definitely start playing the first Yakuza.

That aside, I finally scored a copy of:

Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds, PS3, Used, Complete, $26

This game is quickly becoming hard to find. If you are even interested at this and all, consider tracking a copy down stat. That said, this is prolly the best game so far in all of the hot shots series, featuring lots of content, pretty graphics, as well as DLC options. I just love the fact that you can play as Toro Inoue (the Sony Cat, see my banner). Good game and I am happy to own it.

First of all, before I go any further, I have no qualms abut developers, publishers are companies that wish to protect their product. They have a right to do that.

They don't have a right to screw over the consumer though.

Online passes are bad for everyone folks, and here's why:

They restrict users from content that is often already on disk. Remember how you used to pay $60 bucks and got the whole game? Online passes usually restrict you from play a mutliplayer portion of a disk. Companies want you to buy it since "multiplayer" is the big thing this gen. Okay. I see their reasoning, but this causes major problems down the road.

First let's start with Call Of Duty, CoD's main focus this gen has been multiplayer, then single player. Let's say they use online pass.

Then a week later your console dies.

Oops.

You get it replaced.

Pop in CoD. Can't play. Why? Cause it's tied to the console that's at the bottom of a trash can. Cause it died.

How many people in the audience buy CoD for single player?

Anyone?

ANYONE?!

That's right. See the problem? Now you have to jump through hoops to get the rights of your code to go to your current console. That's if your console company lets it happen. (Both Microsoft and Sony have limtis to how many tiems to can get rigths transferred to a new console.)

But it doesn't end there.

Batman: Arkham City. Awesome game coming out. It uses an online pass as well.

But to also restrict a single player portion of the game.

Yep.

Without it you can't play as Catwoman in her part of the game.

Here's the other part of the problem that's starting to happen.

An online pass, that originally restricts access to the online part of the game, has now persuaded companies to look for other parts of the game to restrict to it.

Catwoman's missions are on the game's disc. Not DLC, ON THE DISC. Now when you buy the game, without the game pass, you can't play the multiplayer nor part of the single player portion of the game.

What I fear, is worse though.

I imagine that one day, in order to beat certain games, you'll need the online pass to do it.

Scary? Don't think it could happen right?

I bet you all didn't think online passes,or the restriction to parts of the single player game could happen. What's stopping them from closing off the second half of a game due to not having an online pass.

Say you want to pick up a game that has that, 7 years later, from ebay. It's worthless cause you can't even finish the game without the code. That's what could end up happening.

Now you may be asking, what's the solution? Game companies are trying to prevent people from illegally getting the game, and prevent people from buying a used copy a month after release cause they get no profits from that. Okay here's some ideas.

First one, preorder bonuses.

Yes, I know some are urked by this, but trust me it does benefit gamers and companies. First of all you as a consumer get the whole game intact. from here to play on your current console, next one if that happens to die, and ten years down the road when we are in another generation. Second, you get access to some sweet bonuses you wouldn't normally get. There has been some sweet preorders over the last ten years, and every time a good preorder comes up, the game usually, sells like hotcakes. Game companies get their dollars cause people line up and buy the game when it comes out.

Another version of this, is perhaps codes for bonuses or dlc, or physical content packaged with the game when you buy it new. I tend to buy games new that have extra bonuses with it, and usually always keep it around and never resell it. Consumers gets extra goodies yet again, and companies get their dollars.

Now, unlike online passes, I'm also for season passes. would be a GREAT thing to add new game copies.

Why? It's because, season passes get you access to things for free/at a discount that otherwise would cost you more money for. Not many games have done this, but I see big potential to this. One of my favorite games this gen was last year's WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011. It did sadly use an online pass. But it also used a season pass. It used a season pass that you could buy in the game's menu. With just ten bucks you got guaranteed content that would cost much more then normal:

*WWE Legend British Bulldog

*WWE Lex Luger

*WWE wrestler Layla

*WWE wrestler Wade Barret

*WWE wrestler David Otunga

*WWE wrestler Justin Gabriel

*NXT Arena

*New theme songs

*Alternate Attire for Shad Gaspard

* WM Cla$$ic attire for Shawn Micheals

*Alternate Attire for John Cena

*Biker attire for Undertaker

*Alternate Attire for Sheamus

*Cm Punk Mask for Cm Punk

*WCW Nitro Arena

Look at all that. For just ten bucks, you get all that content. The game still has all it's original packed content, it's huge roster and modes, and multiplayer and for ten bucks more you get ALL THAT.

That would be awesome for game companies to do to get people to buy their game, keep their game, and for companies to get extra cash.

The other way, the online pass way, just leads to the people who buy their game, getting screwed in the end, on on disk content, and future playing.

Game players, wake up. You know, online pass is not the way.