Tech Blog

It wouldn’t be back to school without a little gaming treat, so Nintendo is making it easier for you to get into the swing of things with lower prices on their top selling portable systems. 

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Microsoft announced today that prices are going up on Xbox Live subscriptions in four territories, including Canada. The upside is that unless you buy Xbox Live in the worst way, you're not going to pay anymore.

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Samus returns in Nintendo and Team Ninja’s unconventional approach to a game that defined a genre. The Bounty Hunter that most of the galaxy has a right to fear is in top form, with her upgradable suit, her charge cannon, and her spine-snapping morph ball in this third person... no... first person... 2D... wait, 3D action adventure puzzler.

The first thing you’ll notice when you boot up the game is that you’re told to hold the Wii remote sideways, like an old NES controller. Many new Wii games are turning to this simpler control scheme, using the D-pad for control and the the 1, 2, A and b buttons for interaction. Other M has the fascinating element of shifting to first person perspective by pointing the remote at the screen, allowing you lock onto your enemies and fire at them from a fixed point. It’s a fascinating way to draw you, as the gamer, into the field of play, and it really shifts how you’ll look at ever 2.5D vista.

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Canada's robust video game industry is making moves again to further strengthen its position as a world class leader for top development talent and innovation, according to the Ontario Technology Corridor.  Leading the charge is the province of Ontario which has committed $130 million to new gaming infrastructure in 2010. 

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The NHL 2K series has seen better days, and for the first time, there will be no 2K hockey on the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360. But the Wii version will carry on, and the new emphasis placed on development by 2K Sports seems to show some promise. Vancouver Canucks defenseman, Kevin Bieksa, who was on hand, helped me try it out. Read more...

 

I like rhythm games even before the term was ever coined. I remember dropping countless loonies into the Bemani series of Japanese music games at the UBC Arcade, rocking out on Guitar Freaks and Drum Mania, even though I wasn't any good at either one. And then the experience got "Westernized" with the arrival of Guitar Hero and, later on, Rock Band.

 

These games are a lot of fun, but it seems that they're starting to run out of ideas as to how to innovate the genre. This fall, we'll be treated to new iterations from both major series. There's Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock and then there is Rock Band 3. And I'd argue that the latter has far more promise than the former.

 

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If it’s true that gamers are a unique group of people that share a passion for something that not everyone in the mainstream can fully understand, then a dating site to bring them together should make sense. This was the idea that brought the site Gamer Dating to life. Read more...

The third annual summer of Arcade delivers the biggest and most anticipated Xbox LIVE Arcade blockbuster hits of the season. Summer of Arcade 2010 features the release of one highly anticipated title each week beginning July 21 and ending on August 18. And lucky for you, dear reader, we’ve got the details as to which titles will be taking over your life this coming July. Read more...

I think I've said before I'm not much of a Halo guy, but I think the upcoming Halo: Reach limited edition Xbox 360--pictured above--is pretty incredible looking. And it's limited edition, so if you're interested, you'd better start planning.

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In its annual “Family Fun Night” event in Toronto this past week, Disney Interactive Studios managed to showcase its entire lineup for the rest of the year. Those who were at E3 probably saw all this already, but there were a couple of titles that could be promising.

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It's that time of the year again, the Fan Expo Canada is just around the corner and whether you're a huge gamer like me, or a fan of comic books, anime, sci-fi or horror, there's a lot to be excited for at Canada's #1 hobby expo.

Taking place from August 27-29, 2010, in Toronto, Canada, the Fan Expo is home to over 600 exhibits spanning 25,000 square feet and occupies the massive South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Last year's expo had a record-breaking 59,000+ fan in attendance. Read more...

When I was a kid, I used to go to the local used comic shop up the street. Their I'd grab the older issues of GI Combat, Sgt. Rock and (of course) the Gold Key editions of Star Trek.
All used. All at 20% to 50% of their initial retail price.
Well a similar sales model is now alive and well in the computer games distribution space... Read more...

I've been fond of puzzle games my whole life. Boulderdash, Dr. Mario, The Lost Vikings, Lemmings, Bubble Bobble, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, you name it, I've likely played it. Most of these games have taken up hours of my time, but there's one puzzle game series that I just can't get enough of -- Nintendo's Picross. The original game to hit North America, Mario Picross for Gameboy, and its successor, Picross DS, are based on 2D nanogram logic puzzles which require you to paint blocks on a square grid that wind up forming an image when you're through, resembling pixel art. Picross 3D, as you might ascertain from the title, takes the franchise in a whole new direction, catapulting the 2D concept into the third dimension. Read more...

Ok, we’re past the first summer long weekend and summer holidays are well under way for many. And for many, this means many hours spend traveling. I’ve found a few very good iPhone / iPod Touch games that have helped me while away the hours (at least until my battery died far too soon under iOS4, but that’s another rant). Read more...

Timed to hit with the launch of Microsoft's foray into controller-less motion control gaming, Kinect for Xbox 360, the company has announced a new Xbox LIVE Gold Family Subscription Plan that brings added value for households with two or more players.

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