New Screens for LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy

LucasArts has released some new screenshots for LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy, and you can check them out at TeamXbox right here.

New Version of the Windows Media Player Halo 3 Teaser Trailer

On Wednesday, Bungie released an "uncropped" version to replace the original version of their Halo 3 Teaser Trailer.

I've had framerate issues with the Large version, but I'm assuming that's because I'm playing it on a four-year-old system. The Small version (which for me seems slightly larger than the Cropped Large version) works just fine though.

You can grab it on their official page, or from their news post here.

Winning PayDay Numbers for May 11th

39, 50, 66, 68

I broke even this time, so at least that's something.

Halo 3 announcement trailer unveiled at E3

Okay, so We, the Staff (TM) thought we were being all smart-assed and had beaten Fearless Leader to the punch for posting about the Halo 3 announcement. So We won't get into repeating what Fearless Leader said.

We, the Staff (TM)'s two cents? Looks quite interesting, and the 360's engine is certainly showing itself off well, but We hopes to hell they work on the music for the final. It sounds like it was produced well enough, but it seems like rather a departure from the previous games. Perhaps too symphonic and higher-key, compared to the generally lower-key stuff found in the first two games. That, and Cortana's dialogue here is coming off as somewhat melodramatic. Where's her usual sarcastic wit? We thinks that aspect of her character has become so idiosyncratic that its absence is quite noticeable, even in a brief teaser such as this.

Nevertheless, it'll be good to finally get the conclusion of this (mostly) well-developed story.

-The Staff

Halo 3 Officially Announced

Microsoft (and Bungie) have officially announced Halo 3 for the Xbox 360, to be released in 2007. You can read Bungie's official announcement here, and check out the official site (with screen shots, a teaser trailer, and an FAQ) here. The Halo series is indeed a trilogy, and this is the final chapter (of this storyline, anyway).

All I have to say is wow. I've watched the trailer half a dozen times, and I'll probably watch it half a dozen other times tonight alone. What a great teaser, what great music, and what great graphics. I remember the days of watching Blizzard Entertainment's cinematic trailers, thinking how amazing they looked, which is a lot like this Halo 3 teaser. The difference? The Halo 3 teaser uses the in-game engine; we're looking at in-game graphics! Simply stunning.

This, my friends, is the major announcement of E3, not the PlayStation 3 junk I posted about below. And mark me, with Halo 3 on the way, a cheaper next gen. console, and ultimately a year lead on Sony, Microsoft is in a very, very good position for the next gen. console war.

Finish the Fight.

PlayStation 3 Cost and Release Date

Sony held it's pre-E3 press conference today, and revealed the officialy release date, cost, and the final controller design of its upcoming PlayStation 3 console, which you can find at TeamXbox here.

Basically, the PlayStation 3 will launch in North America on November 17th, and cost between $549.99 and $659.99, depending if you want a 20 or 60 GB hard disk.

Overall, this press conference was a major disappointment, with very little new news learned, no huge launch titles to look forward to, and nothing to match up to today's real announcement (see top of page once I get around to posting it).

TeamXbox comments on the PlayStation 3, and also discusses the pre-E3 conference with a Microsoft rep. here.

Jade Empire Coming to PC

BioWare has announced that Jade Empire, the most successful Xbox RPG of 2005, is now coming to PC. It will include enhanced graphics and effects, as well as new enemies and Fighting Styles.

You can find out more details here, including a few screenshots. They also have a contest going where you can win a brand new Alienware computer!

New BioShock Screenshots

I'm not certain what platform this is for (I'm guessing PC), but ActionTrip has several new screenshots up of the upcoming FPS/RPG, BioShock.

You can check them out here.

Doom 3: Limited Collector's Edition for $29.99

I saw over at Amazon.ca that they're selling the Doom 3: Limited Collector's Edition for the Xbox for only $29.99. This is a really great deal if you haven't checked Doom 3 out yet, and I highly recommend it. Even with the few extra bucks for shipping, it's well worth it.

You can order your copy here.

A Dream of Eagles: The Singing Sword Review

Last weekend, I finished reading the second novel in the Dream of Eagles series, entitled The Singing Sword, and like The Skystone, the book is amazing. The Singing Sword is a direct continuation of The Skystone, once again following the perspective of Publius Varrus and the continuing evolution of the colony that ultimately becomes Camelot. Raids by the various Saxon, Pict, and Frank forces are ever increasing in Britain, and the soliders of the colony find that their newly formed cavalry is ever put to the test, and they quickly realize the revisions needed to form a truly devestating fighting force.

A quick note about the beginning of the novel: For those of you who have read The Skystone and the prologue to The Singing Sword that came with it, please note that it was an earlier draft and the prologue actually featured in The Singing Sword has undergone a good bit of revision, so make sure you read it.

As I've always said when reviewing novels, it's difficult to go into detail as you don't want to give the plot away, however I will assume you've read The Skystone. Publius and Caius continue to further the stability of the colony and the responsibilities of the council while dealing with the repercussions of Publius' failed attempt to kill Claudius Seneca, and of these there are ultimately many. The bond between the colonists and the Pendragon Celts grows ever stronger, and of course, the Roman pressence continues to weaken in Britain as the Empire continues its steady internal decay.

Whyte once again inspires and captivates with the same writing style of The Skystone, and both family values and honour are ever at the forefront of the themes of the series. Of course, what would a continuing series be without new characters, and while I don't want to give away spoilers, I can say that Caius' son Picus, whom we read about so briefly in The Skystone, makes a very important return in The Singing Sword, a return that will have a long lasting effect on the colony and its rising military.

The Singing Sword has a lot of ground to cover as it furthers the overall story closer to the Arthurian legend, and as such, Whyte often fast tracks many years but doesn't dissappoint with key moments, both crisis, military, and emotional. Unseen tragedies will happen in the colony that forces everyone to remember the danger that has truly begun to embrace Britain. From one perspective, however, it is quite sad to see so many characters that you grow attached to simply age, as you know their time isn't long left as the story evolves towards a newer, larger scope. Whyte also expands on some very interesting political and religious discussions, concepts that, in my opinion, well apply today and to the views of many young people.

The Singing Sword is an excellent continuation of the Dream of Eagles series, and culminates in some very critical events for Britian, both politically and socially. If you did enjoy The Skystone, than you will enjoy The Singing Sword. In fact, since the two flow together so smoothly, you'll probably start to forget exactly which parts happened between the end and beginning of the two, but that obviously makes sense being a series by the same author. With new characters, revelations, and a new future, both good and ill for all involved, The Singing Sword makes for an excellent read.

LCD TV Prices

I popped into my local Best Buy today, and was taking a peek at some LCD TVs. While I presently have several games I'm playing through on my Xbox, once I'm done I do figure I'll snag an Xbox 360, however that means that I'll want a widescreen high def. TV so I can play in 720p.

Right now I'm leaning towards a Samsung model, seeing as how I'm happy with my current Samsung Flat CRT PC monitor, however Samsung 23" Widescreen LDC TVs are going for around $999.99, which are still too damn much, in my opinion.

I chatted with a sales rep., and she said prices are expected to drop between September and December of this year, however by how much she couldn't say.

So, it looks like this fall I may end up picking one up along with an Xbox 360, which is probably a good thing since it'll give Microsoft a good year of having their next gen. console out, and hopefully any of its major bugs and junk will be worked out.

Original Star Wars Theatrical Trilogy Coming to DVD on the Same Day as LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy

On September 12th, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release the theatrical versions of the original Star Wars trilogy to DVD. Each film will also contain the recent Special Edition, and each DVD will be a 2-disc set.

You can read the full press release here.

Also on September 12th, LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy will hit store shelves, and the game is also being released on the Xbox 360 as well as current gen. consoles (as confirmed by TeamXbox here). A teaser trailer for LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy has also been released, which you can view on the main page here.

Finally, IGN Xbox has a preview of LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy which you can find here.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Rating Change

This came out of the blue: The ESRB has ordered Bethesda Softworks to change the rating of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for the Xbox 360 and PC from Teen to Mature, due to potential partial nudity and intense blood and violence featured in the game. Bethesda has commented on this sudden change with a press release here.

The ESRB has concluded that the game deserves a rating of Mature because: 1) partial nudity in the PC version of the game can be created by modders; and 2) the game contains excessive blood and gore that go beyond a Teen rating.

So basically, if you read the press release, you'll learn that the ESRB decided to up the game's rating because third party modders can create topless female models in the PC version of the game; something Bethesda and its publisher has no direct control over. Way to slap a good development company for something that isn't even their fault, ESRB.

F.E.A.R. Officially Announced for the Xbox 360

Saw over at TeamXbox that F.E.A.R., Monolith's creepy PC shooter hit, has been officially announced for the Xbox 360 and will hit the shelves this fall. You can check out TeamXbox's report here.

This is a title I do want to play, and since my PC can't handle it and I may have an Xbox 360 by the fall, I'll hopefully be able to.

Winning PayDay Numbers for May 4th

01, 15, 30, 48

If I ever do win this thing, I'll buy something real nice, something like her. What? I figure a guy like me could swing that.

Half-Life 2: Episode One Pre-Loading and System Requirements

Half-Life 2: Episode One, the first episode of the stand-alone PC expansion for Valve's Half-Life 2, is now pre-loading via Steam, and should you wish to acquire the title this way, you can pick it up here.

At the bottom of the page, you'll also note Half-Life 2: Episode One's system requirements, which are the same as Half-Life 2's.

So if the Hulk...

... was having sex as Bruce Banner, and she moved the wrong way, hurt him, and pissed him off... would that like, kill her?

New Screenshots for The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II (Xbox 360)

EA has released some new screenshots for The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II (Xbox 360), and you can check them out at TeamXbox right here.

E3 Presenter List at IGN Xbox

IGN Xbox has posted up a list (that they're updating regularly) of the presenters and their games for next week's E3.

You can check the list out here.

Cheap Official Sword Mount

So, if you've been reading my blog at all, you may know that I own a sword; this sword as a matter of fact (Morthoseth - Sword of Shadows).

Now, when I first purchased it, I wasn't sure what the best way to mount it would be, so I looked around, and the best thing I found was a cheesy plate wall hanger. Though my sword hung on the wall vertically, it didn't look so hot seeing as how it was, you know, on a plate hanger.

Over the last 3-ish years, I've been looking on and off for something better, a real sword wall plaque, and finally I found one. My sword is by United Cutlery, and I found an official United Cutlery Sword Plaque for about $40.00. We'll I bought the thing, and it stunk. My sword started to bend the metal hooks down, and the wood was so cheap it was already scratching.

I ultimately decided to return the plaque, however not before I had a revelation. I was looking at the anchors I installed to secure the plaque to the wall, and figured why don't I just screw in the metal hooks directly without the plaque. Not only did it work, but it looked great! So the next day I returned the damn plaque and got two anchors and hooks from Home Depot for about five bucks.

The whole point to this little ramble? Aside from finally cluing in on how easy it is to mount a sword, I also found the next sword I want to buy (the bottom one in the link and at the top pic). It's called Avaquar, and part of the same Kit Rae series. Beautiful, isn't it. Now, I don't know when I'll buy the thing, probably a while from now, but I honestly think this one would be more comfortable and easy to wield than my present long sword, seeing as how it's about 10 inches shorter.