jbixler

News from August 22-August 28

I haven't done this for weeks, but I'm trying to work on this again. I'll try to make a new post every week.

Hands-On Grand Theft Auto IV PC

Rockstar shows their love for the PC again with a up-res’ed version of Grand Theft Auto 4 due out in November, and the improvements and extra features might be enough to inspire even diehard console gamers to steal a computer and give Liberty City a visit on the PC. It was recently shown at the Leipzig Games Convenion.

The most noticeable difference between the PC version of the game and the console versions are the graphics. GTA IV PC outputs at 2560x1600 with improved textures and draw distances, meaning that even on a 106” television the graphics are downright breathtaking. In the “Three Leaf Clover” mission (One of my favorite missions ever) shown behind closed doors at the Leipzig Games Convention, the improvements are most noticeable when speeding over the bridges into the towering downtown environments. While the port is a work in progress, the best basis for graphic comparison is this: The trees lining the city streets haven’t been redone for PC yet, and basically look like square paper collages compared to the rest of the game, again on a television larger than the walls of many New York, I mean, Liberty City, apartments.

The most impressive additional features aren’t being shown off yet. The PC version will include a replay and montage editor that continuously records the previous 30 seconds of gameplay allowing players, with a simple click of a button, to review their best smash-ups and kill sprees in various camera angles with the ability to add filters and music before uploading them online. Awesome! So I can make a video of Niko having shootouts with gangs while a certain Paramore song is playing in the background. Or doing awesome stunts on a motorcycle with some heavy metal music playing.

Sources asked about the rest of the upgrades, but Rockstar seems to be keeping the rest under wraps for now. At least they promise expanded multi-player which will allow gamers to search for specific types of matches.

GTA IV for the PC supports not only the mouse and keyboard, but also the 360 controller too.

Rockstar gives some solid incentive to buy the game for PC. You'll be able to edit your own Liberty City story this fall.

And I for one, will be totally buying it. Awesome graphics, video editor, 360 controller compatibility, and the possible chance of modifications, it’s gonna be awesome.

Left 4 Dead Delayed

The release of Left 4 Dead, the eagerly awaited cooperative zombie-slaying experience from Valve, is being delayed by a couple weeks. The game will hit your PC and Xbox 360 on November 20th, not November 4th as had been previously announced.

According to Valve president Gabe Newell, the date is significant because "Left 4 Dead is going to be released on the tenth anniversary of Half-Life, our first game."

Maybe the game is being delayed for sentimental reason, or because it needs a touch more work. Either way: We'll gladly wait. I know I will. I can’t wait to get this game, me and my friend Alan will be kicking some zombie ass...or we’ll be the zombies and kick some human ass!

Snoop Dogg Gets Rich with Fashion Line

He has a lot of stuff with his name on it. Now, Snoop Dogg can now add fashion line to his resume of swag.

Following hot on the heels of successful rap icons turned fashion designers Diddy and Russell Simmons, Snoop just launched his own fashion label, Rich & Infamous, which he will promote through his E! reality show Father Hood and rad hip hop music. He’ll even be putting on his own fashion shows, which he will host, during his upcoming world tour.

For this venture Snoop is teaming with Robert Thorne, the CEO of the management firm Robert Thorne Co., who helped build Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen's billion-dollar business with clothing, licensed merchandise and eating disorders. I bet Mary-Kate and Ashley had to purge to get the clothes to fit.

Anyways, the clothing will be a line of streetwear for men ages 18-35, and will feature accessories, grooming and home products. The collection will be unveiled at the Magic fashion tradeshow in Las Vegas. Maybe I’ll check it out.

I wonder if the clothes are made of hemp?

Obama Sends Most Important Text Message Ever

The text message that Barack Obama sent to 2.9 million of his followers is the "most important text message" ever sent according to Nielsen. SPOILER: The message, sent at around 3AM ET on Friday, said "Joe Biden is my running mate."

"While much has been said of the timing and the scoop by news outlets, Obama's V.P. text-message still ranks as one of the most important text messages even sent and one of the most successful brand engagements using mobile media," Nielsen's report read.

Not only that, but the Democratic Party now have nearly three million cell phone numbers.

Every Song in Rock Band 2 Rated

IGN did the gaming world a great service. The website compiled an easily searchable database of every song in Rock Band 2, ordered by difficulty on each instrument. It makes amazing reading and/or planning for the release of the game this fall.

Some interesting tidbits: Bob Dylan's "Tangled Up in Blue" has almost the easiest drum lines in the game, but very difficult vocals, and Eye of the Tiger is easy on every instrument, making it the spazz's choice in Rock Band 2. Judas Priest's "Painkiller," on the other hand, is the hardest overall song to play.

I'll show you the different lists next time.

ION Drum Rocker

Perhaps you've heard of the ION Drum Rocker, the Lamborghini of fake plastic instruments? Although the multi-headed input device for music games like Rock Band, Rock Band 2 and Guitar Hero World Tour isn't out yet, it’s look pretty awesome. It doesn’t only work on Rock Band and Rock Band 2, but it also works on Guitar Hero World Tour. So if you want a good drum controller, but not really into Rock Band, you’re okay. Or if you want a good drum controller, but you exclusively play Rock Band only, thus not giving Guitar Hero a chance, then you’re still okay... you sick, sick person. (Ha, just kidding)

But anyways, I’ve tried both GHIII and RB last year and they were both pretty good games. I can’t say which one is my favorite, but if it wasn’t for Guitar Hero, Rock Band would never be famous. If you wanna see the sexy photos of the ION Drum Rocker. Here's the link. https://www.drumrocker.com/products/index.php

GTA IV DLC Adds 15 Hours

Rumor: Video Game site RPG-TV is reporting that the downloadable content coming this fall for Grand Theft Auto IV will add 15 hours of play-time to the game. Whether the DLC (Downloadable content) will include extra real estate, a new protagonist, or just some new plot development remains to be seen, but if I find out something, I’ll probably post it on here. And when it comes out, I’m sooooo downloading it.

Christian ‘Guitar Hero’ Clone Coming

If you'd like to play Guitar Hero, but find that the game is too ungodly for you, might we suggest upcoming Christian-themed guitar video game Guitar Praise Solid Rock? 

The Christian alternative to music games is from the makers of holy rhythm game Dance Praise, and will be available in mid September. Guitar Praise will allow you to "add a unique sound to the solid Christian rock." The game even lets you play with a Christian friend by ordering a second, wireless guitar, so you won't be praising-your-god-through-videogames alone.

The groups represented here include Christian rockers like Family Force 5, Flyleaf, Red, Relient K, Skillet and many more.

I never knew Family Force 5 were Christian. Aren’t they supposed to be some kind of crunk band? I know Flyleaf is a Christian band ...well, not mainly a Christian band. Some of you might think “When were Flyleaf a Christian band? I don’t like them anymore.” or something above those lines. Well I’m gonna explain something. The five members of the band are of the Christian faith. It influences their music, but singer Lacey Mosley doesn’t necessarily believe that makes Flyleaf strictly a Christian band. "We all share the same faith. And so when we deal with the whole 'Christian band thing,' we kind of think about something P.O.D. says, like, 'If you're a Christian, it affects everything in your life. So if you're a plumber, does that make you a Christian plumber?'" Mosley said. "I don't know the answer. We're a band, it's part of who we are, so it comes out in our music, and it's the fuel for what we do. And finding faith saved my life. So I'm not ashamed of it at all. And most of our album reflects that."

I don’t know the other bands... except Relient K, I seen them at Warped Tour on July 27 and they were awesome. Me, Jayna and Alan high-fived the lead singer, it was awesome.

I guess I’ll try this game out if it comes out on the 360. But if it’s on PS2 or Wii...then I guess I’ll have to find someone who has it.

I’ll give out a more specific song list some other time.