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Your search for Background crea located the below Background crea Search Results. The Background crea Search Results are returned from stories QJ publishes stories covering Background crea news, Playstation news, Xbox news, PC news, Wii News, Nintendo DS News, Gaming News, Reviews, Downloads, Custom Apps, Homebrew and much more.

Stan Lee’s Greatest Cameo has Arrived

Posted May 9, 2012 at 2:18PM EST by Todd B Listed in: PS3 Tags: amazing spider man, incredible hulk, rhino, spider man, Stan Lee, x men

The creator of Spider-Man and everything else Marvel is coming to your console. And you won’t believe how.


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Sleeping Dogs Will Kick the Shit Out of You Thanks to Input from a Real Fighter

Posted Apr 13, 2012 at 4:15PM EST by Brett Huffman Listed in: PS3, Xbox 360 Tags: sleeping dogs, Square Enix, UFC

The guys developing Sleeping Dogs have enlisted the help of a UFC fighter to make the fighting feel more realistic. Thankfully, he won't come to your house and punch you in the face when you're playing to complete the effect.


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Finally: Desmond’s Story Wraps up in ACIII

Posted Apr 9, 2012 at 4:06PM EST by Todd B Listed in: PS3 Tags: desmond miles, ezio auditore, Ubisoft

The actual protagonist of the Assassin’s Creed franchise is getting his dues in Ubisoft’s upcoming sequel. You know, the guy that has all the dreams.


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Minecraft vs. Angry Birds: Who has more?

Posted Mar 26, 2012 at 11:00AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: angry birds, angry birds in space, minecraft, mojang, notch, rovio

War of the Independents! Minecraft tops 25 million downloads and rivals Angry Birds in sales.


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Gratutitous Tank Battles now available for pre-order

Posted Mar 17, 2012 at 1:11PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: cliffski, gratuitous tank battles

Cliff Harris, creator of Gratuitous Tank Battles, is ready for you to defend your towers with these tank battles.


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Major League Gaming Got Some Serious Cash

Posted Mar 14, 2012 at 1:00PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: league of legends, major league gaming, MLG, mw3

What would you do if you were one of the fastest growing entertainment industries and acquired 13 million dollars?


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New Details and Pics of The Last of Us Emerge

Posted Feb 3, 2012 at 8:58AM EST by Brett Huffman Listed in: PS3 Tags: Naughty Dog, Sony, the last of us

It looks great, but there will be no co-op.


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Sony Confirms Hirai as New CEO

Posted Feb 1, 2012 at 9:45AM EST by Brett Huffman Listed in: PSP, PS Vita, PS3 Tags: Kaz Hirai, sony ceo

The rumors were true.


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GameJam Wollongong 2012

Posted Jan 30, 2012 at 8:14PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: gamejam wollongong, ggj, ggj12, gjwoll, global game jam, ouroboros

Or How I Spent my Weekend watching 20+ people make games in 48 hours.


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Is this your stop? Elevator Source Interview

Posted Jan 19, 2012 at 9:07AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: elevator source, hl2, moddb, mods, pixeltail games, source mods, valve

A brand new Garry's Mod game called Elevator Source just hit the internet and Harrison E. sits down with it's creators to know what's up and what floor is it on?


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QJ Download and Homebrew Round Up January 2012

Posted Jan 7, 2012 at 11:10AM EST by QJ Staff Listed in: PSP, Wii Tags: boxzii, cubicle shooter, goodbye world, gravity glide, open cma, psp homebrew, sce live area, super pixel jumper, thatotherperson, wii homebrew, xbox homebrew

2011 ended with a ton of great homebrew downloads for all of your favorite consoles and it looks like 2012 is off to another great start.


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Cow Clicker Retro: Just as good as the first

Posted Dec 29, 2011 at 10:45AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: celcius games, colin walsh, cow clicker retro, Facebook

The guys at Celcius Games have just released a classic just ready for the holidays. Harrison E speaks to it's creator about what it means to be a Cow Clicking creator.


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All Aboard Train Conductor 2: USA review

Posted Dec 28, 2011 at 2:45PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: iPhone, iPad, PoV Tags: review, train conductor 2, train conductor 2 android, train conductor 2 iphone, train conductor 2:usa, voxel agents

All Aboard - Train Conductor 2: USA review

Voxel Agents new game has just hit the Android market and you better get on track.

I recently got an Android phone - my first smartphone - and whilst I was glad to have a navigational tool and have something to help me on my way, I was also looking forward to playing some of the games I'd constantly heard about. The games for the android aren't really dissimilar from those on the iPhone, but hey, I have an Android and I'm loving it, so why not check out a few games?

However, I was stumped from the get go, most of them I had heard in passing or were on the iTunes store, so I was drawing a blank. I eventually heard someone mention a new game called Train Conductor 2, a game by Australian Developers Voxel Agents. I was a bit hesitant at first, I mean how much fun can conducting trains really be.

The game is in the vein of games such as Flight Control, not just for it's transportation aspect, but also it's game mechanics of moving your desired mode of concern to where it's meant to be. I was going to get Flight Control, but I remembered that I'd purchased it off Steam some time ago and think that was enough. Flight Control is a bit repetitive and the music - while catchy - can be a bit repetitive. Train Conductor 2, never has that problem.

I often praise games with great sound and music, but I always feel like some games just capture the spirit of where it's set or where they're coming from when it comes to the sound design and music, TC2 definitely has that . The game takes place in the greatest country in the world: America - if you didn't get that from the title. You play a train conductor in Miami, initially and you have the cool sounds of a breeze and the gulls then a nice bit of funk begins to play as you're told by a red-headed girl that you will need to make sure these trains get to where they're going.

It's as simple as that, four tracks, several trains, no time limit and you have to make sure they don't crash into one another. The game is quite leanient with close calls with the game which add to the excitement, but if your trains are going to crash, they will crash. The game relies on fast reflexes and strategy, as you see one track light up, you may have to stop another train in it's tracks on number 4, just so you can slide the next one in from number 2, but wait, there's another one coming from number 1, what do you do then?

The game's difficult curve is mixed with over 7 different levels, as each level is barely similar to the last. The Miami level focuses on you making sure you can just maneouvre your trains from one track to the next, but once it becomes dark, the night takes over the game. Ghosts and Aliens roam the American countryside messing with your trains. These are my favourite levels as they aren't restricted to the game's toughest mechanic of crossing trains while making a move. The ghosts and demon trains will simply float through one another and it is magnficent during the challenge maps to see ten of them flow perfectly to where they're going in just a matter of seconds.

The game looks fantastic and has 3-D trains on a fairly 2-D background, but there's always something going on. During the Miami level, a shark swims under the bridged tracks, during the Roswell level, you'll see agents come and go and during the New York level, the underground can be quite lively. The game really situates itself with it's location and even though it kind of uses stereotypes, it never really detracts from the game. It's a bit like if they sat down with a big whiteboard and started with a bunch of levels and then just listed everything they could about those cities. Oh and finally, the character design of the girl is incredibly well-done and cute even. But during the Seattle level, she seems to have a minor crazy streak when you run over a yeti, saying I don't know what that was "but I liked crushing it."

In fact, I tried doing the tutorial later on to show someone she said that and she followed it up with "I feel like a sandwich," despite the lack of voices I feel like they have her character, if a bit mentally skewed, down to a T. Oh and there's also some evil guy during the ghost levels, but I think he just runs an old amusement park and is getting away with it, due to a lack of meddling kids.

The game looks like a triple-A title from the guys at Rovio or Half-Brick but it's just an indie studio here in Australia. The game's design and music is never boring or ever a problem, and levelling up to the next map is never a chore as it accumulate's how many trains you've conducted over the entire game. The levels do get a little bit out there at times with the paranormal levels such as the Seattle level where yeti-like creatures hide in the snow and block your path. I was half expecting Bigfoot to slowly come in Frogger style and cause havoc with the tracks and then you'd have to fix them.

The game has some strong leaderboards, even with a few thousand downloads and I cannot reccommend this any more than I have above. I know I'm usually meant to critique these games harshly but I feel like this is one of those games that just knows everything about what it's doing. The only criticism I have is that I wish there were more levels and that there were a Free trial version for iPhone users. I think the game is almost perfect, even for just a mobile game, I could imagine it being a great little XBLA or Steam game that you could smack on for a few minutes and enjoy yourself.

Voxel Agents new game has just hit the Android market and you better get on track.


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QJ Weekly Homebrew and Download Review

Posted Dec 22, 2011 at 7:27PM EST by QJ Staff Listed in: PSP Tags: khan adademy, mario kart psp, pokemini emulator, ps3 homebrew, psp homebrew, showtime media player, webmedia plugin

Its that time again. QJ.net is back with this weeks download round up. See what's new this week from the QJ.net Download Section.


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Interview with Zeboyd Games Bill Stiernberg

Posted Dec 9, 2011 at 12:30PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: bill stiernberg, breath of death vii, cthulu saves the world, zeboyd games

Co-creator of indie RPG’s Cthulu Saves the World and Breath of Death VII, Bill Stiernberg talks to Harrison E about working on RPG’s, pirates and Microsoft.


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IndieGala. Set Your Price. Donate and Play

Posted Dec 8, 2011 at 9:00AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: childs play charity, hacker evolution duality, indie gala, inmomentum, saira, your doodles are bugged, zombie shooter

More Indie Bundles and more deals have started popping up before Christmas starting with IndieGala.


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Bethesda: We will take care with our updates

Posted Dec 7, 2011 at 11:00AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: Xbox 360, PC Gaming, PS3 Tags: bethesda patches, elder scrolls, ps3 lag, psn, skyrim, Steam, steamworks, xbla

Bethesda's promise and hopeful follow through with future updates.


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The Battlefield 3 Patch is Huge

Posted Dec 5, 2011 at 5:25PM EST by Listed in: PS3 Tags: back to karkand, battlefield 3, DICE

Tomorrow’s

The

Bug

•

Balance

•

[PC

Tomorrow’s 2GB Battlefield patch brings bug fixes, balance changes, and a few other goodies.


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PoV: Rocketbirds Hardboiled Chickens

Posted Nov 30, 2011 at 10:00PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PS3 Tags: hardboiled chickens, psn, ratloop, rocketbirds, rocketbirds hardboiled chickens, sian tan yue

Rocketbirds Hardboiled Chickens is exactly what it sounds like...okay, it's a lot more than that.


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Interview: Sian Yue Tan

Posted Nov 17, 2011 at 2:06PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PS3 Tags: hardboiled chicken, qj interview, ratloop, rocketbirds, rocketbirds:hardboiled chickens, sandra podaag

RatLoop Studios has made one of the most exciting and interesting indie titles and all of it stemming from an old flash animation. Harrison E. talks to Sian Yue Tan about the recently released Rocketbirds: Hardboiled Chickens.


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Take2: There doesn't need to be a Bioshock movie

Posted Nov 17, 2011 at 8:00AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: Xbox 360, PS3 Tags: bioshock, Irrational Games, movie games, prince of persia, take2

Take 2 head discusses the prospects of a Bioshock movie and what they'd want.


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Cliffy B: More can be done with the 360

Posted Nov 14, 2011 at 11:00AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: cliffy b, Gears of War, xbla, xbox loop

With the Loop around the corner, who will be there to champion the 360?


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PoV: Ratchet and Clank All 4 One Review

Posted Nov 10, 2011 at 11:00AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PS3, PoV Tags: Insomniac Games, ratchet and clank, ratchet and clank all 4 one, ratchet and clank all 4 one review

All 4 One or All For Nothing as Harrison E. reviews the latest Ratchet and Clank title.


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Amy Developer plays down similarities to ICO

Posted Nov 6, 2011 at 8:09AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PS3 Tags: amy, fade to black, ico, psn, xbla

New game where you hold the hand of a girl and try not to die...never seen that before.


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Andy McNab: Video Games do not cause Violence

Posted Oct 31, 2011 at 10:15AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: Xbox 360, PS3 Tags: andy mcnab, battlefield 3, bf3, postal 3, violence in video games

An ex-SAS soldier and author has put the hard yards in to war and video games but videio games causing violence is "nonsense".


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Head of Nintendo apologizes for losses

Posted Oct 29, 2011 at 6:00AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: Wii U, Wii Tags: nikkei, Nintendo of America, no more heroes, wii u, xenosaga

A lot of apologies today...this one from the Big N.


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Exclusive Review: Uncharted 3 Multiplayer Beta

Posted Oct 19, 2011 at 10:00AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PS3 Tags: exclusive, Naughty Dog, ps3, uncharted 3, uncharted 3 multiplayer beta

Uncharted 3 is already the most hyped exclusive of the year and now we've got an exclusive of our own.


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Exclusive: Trukatu.com’s Game Trading Revolution

Posted Oct 18, 2011 at 5:00PM EST by Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: beta, game trading, trukatu

A new service claims to help gamers find and trade the titles they love, without getting slapped by low re-sale prices. But are they for real? We sit down with the site’s founders, Rob and Shawn McClellan, to find out.

If you've ever tried to trade-in a used game at a brick and mortar retailer, you probably know the sting of the brutal price drop. A game you bought yesterday for full price is somehow only worth half that today, but will unsurprisingly be re-sold close to the original price.

It’s frustrating, but for the most part there wasn’t much gamers could do. Now, one site is claiming to have the solution to this problem, in the form of targeted gamer-to-gamer trading. This site is Trukatu.com, and I shot a few questions to the company’s founders to find out what makes this service so different from GameFly or other trade-in services.

Here’s the full interview, so you can decide for yourself:

What is Trukatu.com?

Trukatu.com is the new revolution in video game trading.

How does Trukatu differ from existing services like GameFly?

Unlike game rental services, once you receive your new game through Trukatu, you OWN it.

We differ from other online trading services in that we don’t convert your games to points or virtual currency. Trades are also completely anonymous between users because everything is mailed directly to Trukatu, where the games are checked for quality. We even provide postage-paid mailers so there’s no shipping costs to users whatsoever.

How does the trade-in system work?

Instead of points or credits, you receive GAMES for your games. After building a game library, users are offered trades and are given the opportunity to accept, modify or deny each one. Once a trade is accepted, users mail in their games to be verified and swapped. Our mailers are designed to function as a 2-way mailer. After you complete your first trade and receive your new game, you will already have a return mailer in your possession for your NEXT TRADE.

What types of games can participants expect to find? New releases? Older titles?

Trukatu is tailored to all levels of gamers; from basic gamers who just want to trade in old games they no longer play, to the ultimate power gamer who wants a new challenge every week. Our selection is based on our gamers’ libraries, and includes games for PS3, PS2, PSP, Wii, Xbox, and Xbox360.

How does Trukatu go about matching trade offers?

Users create a library of games they have and games they want using a comprehensive search function with quick and easy browsing. Trukatu continuously compares these libraries to form trade matches. Users can also initiate direct trades to other users, where you could offer a couple of your games for that amazing new one someone else has already mastered.

How is your subscription plan built (ie, tiers like Xbox Live gold, or trade limitations)?

During beta, users will pay $10 for each accepted trade. Later, we will also offer monthly recurring subscription plans, lowering the cost per trade. Offering these different plans allows Trukatu to cater to all types of gamers.

Who are you, and what is your experience in the industry?

We are two brothers from Northwest Ohio with a passion for gaming. I am an IT professional and self-proclaimed video game nerd. I also love programming (Java, C#, C++, HTML/PHP/Javascript) and I've even published a Nintendo DS game on QJ.net titled KhetDS many years ago. My brother, Shawn, has a background in banking and business finance with years of management experience. I am the IT guy and he is the backbone of the business. There has always been a constant sibling rivalry between us since I’m the “younger and smarter” brother but that rivalry helps us balance the creativity and experience within Trukatu.

What led you to create Trukatu?

Trukatu came together in late 2010 with the idea to finally put gamers in control by drastically changing the way video games are traded. The concept was designed we were tired of paying high costs for used games only to turn around and sell them back for just pennies on the dollar. We wanted to put the gamer in control by creating a place where they could trade video games without the hassle and high cost associated with retail game trading today.

How does the inspection process work?

When games arrive at Trukatu, they are individually inspected, ensuring that they are the correct games, and they are in good working condition. Then the swap is made and the games are sent off to their new owners.

What safety mechanisms are in place for members?

We act as the middle-man. By sending all games to Trukatu, no private information is shared between users, and game quality is always guaranteed.

The Trukatu Beta is still open, so jump in and let us know what you think. If done right, this could be the service we gamers have been waiting for.


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The Repopulation and the state of MMORPGs

Posted Oct 13, 2011 at 8:00PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: MMORPG Tags: beta, jc smith, the repopulation, World of Warcraft

The Repopulation is an upcoming MMO and the creator JC Smith took some time out to talk about the game and where MMORPG's are at in 2011.


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Burnout Crash and The Gaming Identity Crisis

Posted Sep 29, 2011 at 4:00PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: burnout, burnout 3: takedown, burnout crash, ea games, music in games, PS2, psn, xbla

The Burnout series is synonymous with fun for me. Being a PS2 owner from way back when I was a cursey teen instead of a cursey adult (or someone in their early 20's) as I am now, it's like a Pokémon evolution except not cool and really just learning about controlling my emotions and maturity and all that lame stuff. Included in that evolution was getting a PS3, and eventually being excited about the release of Burnout Paradise. I actually owned a PSP at one point and playing Burnout Dominator was bliss for me. Long bus rides filled with angsty or beat-punching music as I swerved corners and took badasses down whilst everyone just kinda looked at the weird fat kid and wondered where his guardian was.

Burnout Paradise was a personal low in the series. Despite, friends having the initially pre-release, I convinced myself that a free-roaming city was actually "really cool" and that it totally wouldn't be "lame" and you'd have a lot more freedom. I was wrong. Really wrong. I don't know about you but being in a free-roaming cityscape and having no sense of direction, as well as a poorly intuitative, linear map design really doesn't bode well with someone thinking in free-roaming mode. So burned by that Burnout experience, the announcement of another Burnout game spurred the pessimist in me and I was excited once again, but when I saw the first video's for it, I wasn't too pleased. I was less than pleased and the optimist inside me died...just a little...not too much, I hope.

I did go into Burnout Crash with less than a positive aspiration for what the game actually might be. I know people don't like people who waffle on, so let's just say Burnout Crash is good and there is a demo you can play, it's free, it'll give you a good indication of what it's like except for some modes but let's also say that Burnout Crash is initially underwhelming.

The 2D opening is cutesy to say the least but so mediocre it doesn't really register on my mental spectrum as being a video game. It reminds me of the animated sequence in Catch Me If You Can and I'm half expecting the little ute (or pick up truck for our US readers) to hit a tiny Leonardo DiCaprio and send him flying against a 2D wall...but yes, it's underwhelming and my memories of Burnout begin to fade, like the opening screen does. I left the opening on too long to start writing the opening paragraph, the visuals humming away in the background with my PS3 and then a song begins.

This is where my opinions change by a simple video and musical manipulation. The song by The Primitives, aptly titled - at least for this game - Crash and I'm brought back to a simpler time in my childhood called the 90's, when this song was not written. It's an 80's New Wave pop song and whilst I became a fan of New Wave some time in my late teens, the song still resonates and I'm back to apart of what makes the Burnout series amazing, the mind numbing, heart racing music. When I say mind numbing, I don't necessarily mean it in a bad way, it's just beautiful background fodder. Much like the Clair De Lune in Burnout Paradise or Shotgun by The Outline in Burnout Revenge, it brings you into a different element when it comes to the game.

One of my fondest memories of Burnout Paradise is watching the sun slowly set just as Clair De Lune began and I started a Takedown Race and watched the shadows stretch and pull the landscape of the city as I raced from night into day and won with 12 Takedowns when I only needed 5. I get weird when it comes to games and music. Most pieces just wash over me and I just shrug my shoulders, but when there's a piece that's memorable, it really sticks. Whether it's the beautifully whimsical music from Legend of Zelda, a series I've barely played or the block rocking minimal piano and beats of Minecraft - it all sticks in my mind like Tetris tessalated musical blocks.

PICTURE OF MARIO MUSICAL BLOCK

Of course, the Burnout series is just more than music and so I actually start playing Burnout Crash and stop listening to the Primitives for the 12th time....and I press start and the song actually starts to play in full, kicking off with a lovely little animated explosion of the pick-up. The menu kicks in after a failur to login to the PSN/Autolog network and a voice gives me a warm douchey welcome, sadly often associated with Burnout games. No one I really know is a frat kind of person and I feel EA keeps those voice over guys for that reason, I kinda liked it when it was the chick running Crash FM, but meh, that was then, this is now.

So far, the visual design is nothing like the little opening animated feature, with a nice little neon sign design floating as the menu and I kick off the game itself (after adjusting the sound settings, music up, voice over off). So after I'm told I'll be on the wildest ride of my life I choose the first mission and go on a bit of a rampage and you know what, it's fun. It's consistently fun, it's a whole lot of fun. Seeing those little cars coming, which is indicated in-game by a yellow arrow, and noticing all the little details on the houses and cars and just everything, I want to look at it closer but also destroy it at the same time. It's like being Clockwork God with a magnifying glass, but alas, my creations are not my own, only the destruction. But alas, before all the destruction there's a tutorial and it's a bit annoying.

Last time I was in a gaming DMV I decided not to play the game, that game was Driver, I was 8, things were different. Here it's nice little tutorial that tells you about all the great things including the "Crazy Special Feature", which didn't exactly hype me up despite the vocal inflection and after playing Bastion last week I feel all voice overs need better voice actors or better writers, seriously. There could have been a lot more to do with the wacky voice-over, there are a few amusing lines here and there such as the description of the area being remembered as "all field" and the voice over actor pausing and being like "oh...it still is", I laughed at that, but the humour was far and few between and like Dreamworks movies, relied too much on pop culture than raw wit.

Old system of "More stars to unlock more cars" gives you a good old sense and even with the top-down look, Burnout Crash becomes a lot less like the Burnout series minute by minute. What I feel is Criterion should have just called it Crash. I understand that they may have possibly been sued by Universal for use of the fluffy Bandicoot character, but using the brand recognition of Burnout really doesn't work here. It's a real identity crisis where it's clear they want to re-establish their brand for whatever reason. I remember Burnout selling like hotcakes, with every iteration since the 3rd one, and personal favourite, Takedown. The actual game itself does get a big hand from musical and sound cues, but a better focus on gameplay and making the game a lot more interesting, in regards to the voice work and writing, would have been better. For example, whilst the game out and out visually wants to have a rough design, it wants new players to the franchise to remember "to use that Crashbreaker" in an overly excited tone as if the big flashing x button on screen and the fact that other than kinda moving/sliding around the map, there isn't much else to do in-game, other than be amused and giggle when a bank truck comes along and the bombastic voice of Shirley Bassey claims "HEY, BIG SPENDER"...I giggled...like a girl.

Despite my girl giggling, there will be a lot of references young player - new players - won't get and will be baffled why they're in the game at all. Hearing Spandau Ballet's Gold when I blew up a golden truck was amusing for me but may only reach 5% of the people who play the game, seriously after reading the above paragraph, who knew 1. Who Spandau Ballet was/is? and 2. Who Shirley Bassey was? The identity crisis Criterion creates is more of a cultural problem than a gaming problem. Licensing those tracks would have cost them/EA millions, literally, and if it was worth it, I feel like we're on the inside of an in-joke, but everyone keeps beating the outside of it and it just keeps making a hollow thud.

I do want to give a handshake this week to two people, the guys who chose the music and the visual designers. As much as I've bitched about the visuals in the game, I do have to say the mix of eclectic styles of Neon-signed - almost Las Vegas in tone - and the cute top down car creations, it all works. It melds into this odd piece of automotive Americana, filled with the right colours here and there to look it mildly entertaining as well as watchable. When almost every week there's a lot of grey and brown being sloshed around, it's good to see emerald, aqua and crimson red to be thrown into the mix. Sure, the game does have a fairly consistent use of black on the menus, but it adds to the steel and burning rubber style Burnout is known for, and that's where it really takes a different side to the Burnout series.

However, it being a top-down game, it does have it's visual misdemeanours, such as the

The game's reward system is quite classic too. The star system is something I've always favoured in the series, with the whizzing or rushing of the flaming stars to come crashing into my self-gratification coz I pressed da buttons and dey do da ting dat it was programmed to do. The actual gameplay itself is quite simple, you're in a runaway car and you're going to crash. It's a lot more interesting to imagine you're a man who recently just went through the worst day in the world and intend to have the most creative day in the world, which includes ending with a multiple car pile-up, however, he keeps having a Groundhog Day-Quantum Leap scenario where he wakes up in a new car and new body everyday and ends it all the same...or I might be insane.

A few minor gripes about the game itself as there were a few framerate issues, even playing on the first level, but nothing to noticable as the game went on. The gameplay element of The Good Cops was a bit weird and has never really come up in previous parts of the Burnout canon...I guess, there really isn't a canon to a series about cars that gone and done smashed demselves up. However, the game does require a bit of strategy and it would have been interesting, if a bit farfetched, if you could place the cops at an entering intersection of yout choice.

See putting in extra obstacles such as The Ambulance, sometimes makes me feel as though they're dragging out the level, but then again hearing the words "Paging Dr. Beat" followed by the song by Miami Sound Machine, just makes me want to throw on some more 80's tracks and start dancing...nobody wants that. But it is a nice touch, if a bit cheap, I say cheap but honestly it resonates with my pop culture brain like a meth addict and I can't wait for that siren blaring bohemoth to come screaming through the streets again.

Having elements such as Tornados and Magnets are incredibly fun and don't outstay their welcome, the actual gameplay does begin to get stale in the other modes, but it's really just a personal preference and I think you should try out the other modes such as Rush Hour and Pile Up, I highly recommend them but they're not particularly my thing.

Rush Hour is a personal pain as I hate almost all timed missions in games and it just frustrates me. It almost seems like it'd be a lot interesting if it was an extra option that you could turn on or off, even have it as a version of the game like a Quick Match section of the game. Meanwhile, Pile Up is just cause as much destruction as possible, it's fun if a bit boring after a while, all the same gameplay elements are there. A co-op implementation would have been freaking amazing with you having to smash into a friend's car on the same interesection and see who could do the most amount of damage on a stretch of road, like a drag-race + Burnout...just an idea, Criterion.

Other than the music, which turns a bit generic but fun after Crash plays, the sound design is phenomanal with firey auto crashes sifting through my ears and the sound of poker machine winnings as points rack higher and higher like the possible animated body count, if the game was any ballsier...coz that's totally a word. The random sound effects add to the crazy style The money has always been an interesting thing to me, not just money in general, God knows how the economy works, but the actual pricing of each car and the potential for costs and multipliers is just something I've wanted to calculate, make a big chart of, actually do math...yep, definitely insane.

In the corner I'm informed I'm a Wannabe, which gives me the assumption that the writers or designers of the game, and a lot of game worlds for that matter, really have this disdain towards players from the get go, but then again I'm a bit of a wuss who can't take any form of criticism whatsoeverpleaseloveme. But the actual gameplay elements are never really against the player, there is a balanced sense of both challenges and even with a plot-less game, there is a drive - whoa, pardon the pun there, been left over for weeks - to actually see the next intersection, the next car and the insanity that will ensue. For example, really how determined are these drivers, logic is best not put in the way of the Burnout series...especially when car magnets are concerned.

Burnout Crash is not a bad game, it's just not a Burnout game. It does take the basic game mechanics of Crash, my honest to God, favourite part of the series, something I always look forward to and just made it a Downloadable Title. I'm looking forward to the good old days of burning through a city doing challenges and having some real fun, but for now, I guess this will tire me over. It's not expensive, it's a lot of fun, it's great to listen to and look at, it's like the

perfect girlfriend...there's your selling caption for Burnout Crash - Burnout Crash: The Perfect Girlfriend.

So Burnout Crash is out, but is it really a Burnout game?


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PlayStation Store US Update - 09/27/11

Posted Sep 27, 2011 at 9:23PM EST by Ryan F. Listed in: PSP, PS3 Tags: PlayStation Network, PlayStation Store, Sony

Check out the new contents in this week's edition of the North American PlayStation Store update.


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Wii homebrew - SaveGame Manager GX r113

Posted Sep 19, 2011 at 6:13PM EST by Karl B. Listed in: Wii Tags: savegame manager gx

The SaveGame Manager GX homebrew app for the Nintendo Wii home video game console has been updated once again.


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DS hombrew - Zelda SFX v0.1

Posted Sep 15, 2011 at 7:12AM EST by Ryan F. Listed in: Nintendo DS Tags: ds hombrew, king dodongo, zelda sfx

Here's a neat lil hombrewed app from King Dodongo, Zelda SFX is a DS application that contains all the nostalgic Zelda sound effects and one background music, letting users to sample and play around the audio.


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My Stay on Dead Island

Posted Sep 14, 2011 at 2:10PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PS3 Tags: Australia, dead island, shooters, Silent Hill, zombies

We sent an Australian writer to a little place in the red sun to die...


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DS homebrew - NightFox’s Lib v20110911

Posted Sep 13, 2011 at 5:15AM EST by Ryan F. Listed in: Nintendo DS Tags: ds homebrew, NightFox, nightfoxs lib

Homebrew developer NightFox has updated his NightFox’s Lib, a feature-packed homebrew library that aims to help aspiring DS developers to create new apps and games.


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DS homebrew - NightFox’s Lib v20110906

Posted Sep 7, 2011 at 5:22AM EST by Ryan F. Listed in: Nintendo DS Tags: ds homebrew, NightFox, nightfoxs lib

Here's the latest version of NightFox’s Lib, a feature-packed library that aims to help aspiring DS developers to create homebrewed games and applications.


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Wii homebrew - Newo Shooter v2.0

Posted Sep 2, 2011 at 5:41AM EST by Ryan F. Listed in: Xbox 360, Wii Tags: newo shooter, owen, wii homebrew

Homebrew coder Owen has updated his excellent wiibrewed "3d futuristic spaceship shooting game on rails", Newo Shooter, bumping it up to version 2.0.


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Interview: Veteran Rebel Play developers discuss current game climate

Posted Aug 30, 2011 at 5:04PM EST by Harrison E Listed in: PSP, PS Vita, PS3 Tags: indie games, leo cubbin, little big planet, motion controls, parappa the rapper, phil gaskell, rebel play, Sony

Sony Alumni and Co-Founders of Rebel Play sit down with QJ.net to discuss their company and the bright future of gaming.


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PSP homebrew - Xplora 2 Update 06

Posted Aug 20, 2011 at 6:24AM EST by Ryan F. Listed in: PSP Tags: ne0h, psp homebrew, xplora 2

A test version of Xplora 2 with an added PSP Go support has been released by homebrew developer ne0h.


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RAGE on PS3 uses every Cell

Posted Aug 20, 2011 at 2:32AM EST by Harrison E Listed in: Xbox 360, PC Gaming, PS3 Tags: 360, Blu-ray, id, john cormack, ports, ps3 cell, rage

"No nasty texture pop ups" According to ID


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Homebrew - Engine02 v11.08.11

Posted Aug 18, 2011 at 1:35AM EST by Ryan F. Listed in: Wii, PSP Tags: engine02, homebrew, stealth

Homebrew developer Stealth has released a new version of Engine02, a versatile, multiplatform 2D game engine that allows aspiring developers to create their own homebrewed games.


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Infinity Ward: Modern Warfare 3 has something for everyone

Posted Aug 6, 2011 at 2:30PM EST by Carl B Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: Activision, call of duty, modern warfare 3

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 isn't just for shooter fans, says Infinity Ward.


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DS Homebrew: Lumikha v1.3.8

Posted Jul 27, 2011 at 4:11AM EST by Mabie A. Listed in: Nintendo DS Tags: fantasix, homebrew

A new version is out for the DS brew formerly known as "LuaCraft" 2D Minecraft adaptation for the DS.


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QJ Downloads Roundup -- 7/26/11

Posted Jul 26, 2011 at 5:30PM EST by Carl B Listed in: Nintendo DS Tags: downloads, homebrew, Nintendo

Need to fuel your downloads craving? QJ has you covered in one comprehensive post.


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DS Homebrew: Flashback v1.0

Posted Jul 24, 2011 at 11:01PM EST by Mabie A. Listed in: Nintendo DS Tags: Alekmaul, homebrew

Flashback NDS v1.0 is Alekmaul's homebrew port of the game Flashback, which was based on the Reminiscence engine. This is the initial release so there's definitely a lot to be learned about it.


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Two new Cooking Mama titles announced

Posted Jul 14, 2011 at 12:31AM EST by Ryan F. Listed in: Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS Tags: 505 Games, cooking mama 4, cooking mama world: outdoor adventures, majesco

505 Games today announced the latest installment of the Cooking Mama series, Cooking Mama 4 for the Nintendo 3DS and Cooking Mama World: Outdoor Adventures for the DS.


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Bastion DLC: What are the odds?

Posted Jul 12, 2011 at 6:28AM EST by Mabie A. Listed in: Xbox 360 Tags: bastion, supergiant games

Supergiant Games' action-RPG title is set to come out later this month, and to get you more amped up for its release, the devs have opened up about their plans on the game's prospects with DLC.

Explained Creative Director Greg Kasavin, "We put all our focus into making Bastion feel like a complete and satisfying experience, and held nothing back for the sake of DLC. As such, we have no plans or announcements on that front."

Well that definitely kills the buzz. Then again, "Of course we're not opposed to the idea of DLC when it's done properly, as with something like Minerva's Den for BioShock 2. At any rate, our plans for the future will be influenced by players' response to the game."

Therefore, it really is up to you, gamers, if Supergiant will decide on coming out with a DLC for Bastion. You'll get your chance to let them know how much you'd want to get DLC when it comes out on July 19th, 2011,as the kickoff game for XBL's Summer of Arcade.

Via [The Joypads]

Supergiant Games' action-RPG title is set to come out later this month, and to get you more amped up for its release, the devs have opened up about their plans on the game's prospects with DLC.


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Myth War II: Shapeshifting system detailed

Posted Jun 25, 2011 at 4:30PM EST by Carl B Listed in: MMORPG Tags:

The shapeshifting system for Myth Wars II Online has been detailed, courtesy of developer IGG.


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Steam gets Spiral Knights

Posted Jun 19, 2011 at 4:26AM EST by Mabie A. Listed in: PC Gaming Tags: Sega, spiral knights, Steam, three rings

Sega's MMO Spiral Knights is among the first batch of free-to-play games to launch on Steam's new system.

The MMORPG-Java game was first released on the PC back in April and is only getting on board Valve's Steam just now. Also included in Steam's FTP service are Champions Online and Global Agenda.

Spiral Knights offers a classic "console-style adventuring in a persistent online world", and features the following:

Constantly changing world brought to life in a vibrant, retro-inspired visual style

Intuitive pick-up-and-play controls (including both mouse-only and gamepad control)

Opportunities for players to create guilds, craft new gear, and customize the looks and abilities of their characters

Easy matchmaking for co-op mayhem with parties of up to four players

Gear and weapons upgradeable through adventuring or through the purchase of Crystal Energy

Via [Siliconera]

Sega's MMO Spiral Knights is among the first batch of free-to-play games to launch on Steam's new system.


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QJ Downloads Roundup -- 6/18/11

Posted Jun 18, 2011 at 5:30PM EST by Carl B Listed in: Nintendo DS Tags: downloads, homebrew, Nintendo

Need to fuel your downloads craving? QJ has you covered in one comprehensive post.


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