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Reviews Blog
Natural Selection 2 Review Pulled
Hi GameSpot readers! Yesterday, we posted our review of Natural Selection 2--but unfortunately, it's come to our attention...
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Rumor Control
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 arriving Nov. 13?
Source: A supposed Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 box art photo posted to the unofficial Modern Warfare 3 Twitter account. What we...
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Downloads Blog
Interested in a challenging yet fun indie turn-based strategy game?
You wake up in an unknown facility, in a medical gown and nothing else. The cold sense of reality sets in; you don't know your...
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News Blog
Uncharted 3 getting co-op survival mode
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception will welcome a new game mode in March, the developer has announced. The co-op Shade Survival game type...
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Monday Check-In: Bat Boy Edition
Recap
Last Friday, we wrapped things up pretty tightly with GameSpotter's Blog Bunker, GameFlick, and Player Review contributions, as well as talking about MLG Orlando, AGDC Online, and the unofficial GameSpot Minecraft block party. We offered a tip about embedding videos and shared a union activity with the code name "Project Pamper."
What's Happening!
The Controller
What happens when you combine the awesome skills of six professional gamers with the blundering of six video game noobs? Starting October 21, GameSpot and EA have teamed up to bring you a new reality show featuring Battlefield 3, where gamers will compete in both gaming and physical challenges for a chance at prizes, cash, and gamer glory. Check out the trailer here.Facebook GameFly Giveaway
GameSpot is giving you a chance to win a free year of GameFly. Liking us on Facebook simply enters you for your chance to win. Only US and 18 years old or older candidates are entered to win. But act quickly; you only have until October 26 at 12:00 p.m. PT. For more details, check out our Facebook page here.BlizzCon
BlizzCon is less than a week away, and before we know it, the video team along with Maxwell McGee and Tom Magrino will be packing up and heading to the event, with mini murlocs in tote. What are some things we hope to see this year at BlizzCon? Last year's big unveil was the witch doctor for Diablo 3. What will it be this year? DoTA, StarCraft, WoW, Diablo… PANDAS? Only time will tell. If there is something that you are hoping to see during our coverage of the event, be sure to check off in this BlizzCon thread here. -
Weekly Wrap-Up: Happy Birthday Atari
The Recap
GameSpotter's Contributions: This week's Blog Bunker had quite a few entries with over 20 different blogs. The Gameflicks report was a little quieter than usual, but we shared many GameSpot Spotlight classics to make up the difference. And the Gamer Reviews seemed to favor Xbox 360 titles, though the PlayStation 3 followed close behind, with PC and handheld titles bringing up the rear.
Announcements
MLG in Orlando
The GameSpot video crew is headed out to the Major League Gaming Pro Circuit in Orlando, Florida, this weekend! MLG provides a chance for professional gamers to live the dream of playing competitive games for a living, while offering ways for players to learn how to improve their skills and socialize with some of the biggest names in competitive gaming. The tournaments include StarCraft II, Halo: Reach, and Call of Duty: Black Ops. As for the e-celebs that will be on the scene, the professional gamers and teams that will make an appearance include SlayerS-Boxer, ST_JulyZerg, Quantic FeaR, eon EnVy, Instinct, and more.
For a chance to check out the action, head on over here. Want more coverage? Then you'll definitely want to consider checking out MLG's LIVE streams all weekend long. To access the high-definition ad-free streams and discounts on competitors or events passed, you'll want to become an MLG member.BlizzCon 2011 Coverage - Coming Soon
BlizzCon kicks off on Friday, October 21. What are some things that we hope to see? More news on World of Warcraft and some FuFighting? Perhaps even some DOTA action? Some StarCraft perhaps? Well, whatever ends up being shared with the world will be covered by us in full force. GameSpot editors Tom Magrino and Maxwell McGee will be bringing you some excellent coverage. Is there something you want us to cover? Be sure to sound off in our BlizzCon thread here.GameSpot Minecraft Block Party
As some of you may know, there are a few GameSpot staff members who fancy the game quite a bit. And if you've been paying attention to the good folks over at GameSpot UK, you are already aware that GameSpot is hosting a Minecraft server, and we would like to invite you to join us! For more details on the GameSpot server, check out FearTheCreeper's blog.AGDC Online 2011 Wrap-Up
Another year at GDC in Austin has come and gone, and it was an interesting time. We've heard doomsday about the end of consoles, microtransation missteps, and calls for game maturity. There were many other exciting stories to read as well. Check out our news coverage of the event at this page here.Member Spotlight
Earlier this week, we mentioned that we had a copy of the Battlefield 3 novel The Russian to give away to the GameSpot user who could come up with the best cover art for the novel. We had several entries, and after thinking long and hard, GameSpot editors Carolyn, Maxwell, and Fuse sensation CharlieSpot all weighed in with a unanimous vote. The winner of the Member Spotlight, the book, and the level up is -DaNuTz- for his awesome entry.
Union of the Week
This week's featured union is "Union of Ice and Fire". This union features a community for those who are fans of "A Song of Ice and Fire and the HBO TV version known commonly as "Game of Thrones." This is a new and close-knit community, and I recently had the pleasure of interviewing the leader and GameSpot moderator Artekus. You can read the interview here.
Tip of the Week
Embedding Videos on Your Blog
Ever want to show off a video on your blog? It's as easy as ctrl+C and ctrl+V. If the video is currently on GameSpot, all you have to do is fetch the BBCODE for the video and paste it in your blog. You might think that you need to be a GameSpot Total Access Subscriber for this awesome feature, but all you have to be is a Phoenix Down (a level 10 GameSpot member).Activity
Project Pamper
Attention unions! As promised, we'll be starting some union activities to help with your union's level gain. This week is Project Pamper. For more details about this activity, click here. -
Gamer Reviews: Legacy Plays
Top 100 Emblem Holders
-Red Faction II
By: Gelugon_baat [6.5 - Fair] Red Faction II has more action than the first game, but its premise and presentation are more tepid, among other flaws.
-Resistance 3
By: gdw0908 [8.0 - Great] Resistance 3 ultimately fails at what it set out to do: wrap up a superb series and improve vastly on its predecessor.
-NightSky
By: c_rake [8.0 - Great] A compelling atmosphere and strong, rewarding puzzle design make NightSky a splendid puzzler.
-Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
By: AK_the_Twilight [8.5 - Great] Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is deep, expansive, and finally fulfills the promise that the series made since the start.
-Spider-Man: Edge of Time
By: JustPlainLucas [6.0 - Fair] Spider-Man: Edge of Time is on the edge of being a waste of time.Top 500 Emblem Holders
-Gears of War 3
By: Garrison_Ford [9.5 - Superb] This epic finale to the Gears' saga is one that gamers will be enjoying for a very, very long time.
-Catherine
By: ZanarkandTidus [8.0 - Great] A very unique and erotic experience that has an entertaining story and gameplay that's fun but hard.
Honorable Mentions
Here, we see some gamer reviews from up-and-coming community stars.
-Pac-Man and Galaga Dimensions
By: game-ster23 [8.0 - Great] The iconic gameplay is back for the recent handheld and did not disappoint.
-God of War: Chains of Olympus
By: pokecharm [8.0 - Great] Small Screen Game Keeps Pace with Bigger Counterparts
-Killzone 3
By: benleslie5 [8.5 - Great] Short on its main story but its multiplayer can be addicting and will keep you busy for hours.
-Final Fantasy I and II: Dawn of Souls
By: AQWBlaZer91 [7.0 - Good] The original 2 games are showing it's age but there's plenty of value for Hardcore Role Playing Fans to experience.
-Deus Ex: Human Revolution
By: bugbag [9.0 - Superb] Deus Ex: Human Revolution stands as one of the best games of the year, despite a few noticeable flaws.Platform Battle
This week we take a look at a charming vacation getaway on Dead Island. X360 vs. PC, which played it better?
X360 represented by Cronosblaster versus PC represented by GroverXpv2. Cast your vote below for which console played it better. The winning team will receive profile points!Most Popular Out Now
Finally, it's time for the Top 10 games to watch on GameSpot for October 13. There are multiple platforms in the order of which they are presented.
1.Dark Souls (PS3)
- By: skratchmasta [9.0 - Superb] Incredibly challenging and utterly rewarding game-play runs deep in From Software's triumphant spiritual successor.
-2. Forza Motorsport 4 (X360)
By: CarlitosWay [8.0 - Great] If you are a real tuner, you wont be pleased. If you want a fun driving game, this is the one for you!
-3. Rage (PC)
By: spectralmerc [5.5 - Mediocre] id has lost their bearings. Once the most cutting edge PC engine maker, now a console lapdog and all that it implies.
-4. Dark Souls (X360)
By: Stonecutters908 [9.5 - Superb] Brutal, addictive, and incredibly gratifying, Dark Souls is one of this years best games and one of the best RPGs ever.
-5. Rage (X360)
By: ChiefFreeman [6.0 - Fair] Underneath Rage's pretty visuals, lies an extremely repetitive and linear shooter that's dated and dull.
-6. Ace Combat: Assault Horizon (X360)
By: Azail11 [3.5 - Bad] An attempt to place the Ace Combat universe in the real world, but without excitement or real physics
-7. Portal 2 (PC)
By: der_spudmeister [9.5 - Superb] Portal 2 is not a perfect game but it damn well stands at an arm's length of it.
-8. Gears of War 3 (X360)
By: adit942 [10 - Prime] This is exactly the sort of game that makes me proud to be a 360 owner.
-9. FIFA Soccer 12 (PC)
By: nmenezes92 [8.5 - Great] This is one of the best, if not the very best, Soccer game out yet!! A must play for all soccer fans! -
GameFlicks: Gumby and Pokey
Wednesday is here, and that means it's time to grab your ticket to the GameSpot Spotlight.
WARNING: Some of these videos may contain mature content. Viewer discretion is advised.Gameplay
-Batman Arkham Asylum Xbox 360 Gameplay Pt1
- Mercilious Gameplay Forgotton Library
-Sonic Generations: Sky Sanctuary play through
-The Cannonball Run
-Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition Juri vs JuriOff the Wall
-Legends of Zelda Link musical painting
-ARE ONLINE FPS PLAYERS TRUE GAMERS??Classics
- L.A Noire Review
- BlazBlue Epic Battle
- League of Legends
- A Little Bit Of Vampire BloodlinesStaff Fingerprints
-You've Been Spotted Episode 6
-Big Shot Bounty: Get into Gear
-Kevin VanOrd on DarkSouls
-Goodbyes
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Blog Bunker: Apollo 7 Edition
The Soap Club
Here, we see some quality blogs written by those who thought their stuff was "editorial" material. And they were right!
I'm not a hardcore gamer By: starduke
A Tribute to Game Reviewers By: FrozenLiquid
Fall of an MMO By: poochythegenius
The World of Games and Gaming
5 Reasons why Batman: Arkham City will rock! By: PSFreak1
The Art of Finishing a Game By: scratchisme
Super Update By: Super-Poke-Bros
BioWare Breaks the Camel's Back By: adam1808
Demo Reel By: NeonNinja
A Brief History of Everything By: AlmightyMax
Catherine first impressions+Xenoblade Chronicles progress By: ZanarkandTidus
Dark Souls: Newbie tips from a newbie By: Sebadonut
Late September 2011 Blog - The Gaming Side By: Shy_Guy_Red
Techno Kitten is hungry for your love By: kfjl
Top 10 Third Party Wii Games (Yes they exist) By: kbaily
GameSpot's Top Posters - October 2011 By: Cloud_765
Early Dark Souls thoughts By: nocoolnamejim
Off the Radar
The Smurfs Movie Review By: AvatarMan96
Red State - Film Review By: biggest_loser
Staff Fingerprints
Here, we have our staff fingerprints, and we sure have some messy staff members…
Bluffers of Battlefield - Feedback Post By: dannyodwyerPixel Perfect Voting
Don't forget to vote for your favorite blogger emblem here. What will the new blog emblem look like?
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Monday Check-In: A Brave New World
The Recap
Are you curious about what happened last week? There was quite a bit going on, with another Union of the Week chosen, as well as the Member Spotlight. Check out the weekly wrap-up to find out more!
What to Expect!
- MLG Orlando Coverage
Who said so? Why a little bird told us so! While we can't reveal too many details just yet, the GameSpot video crew will head out to Florida later this week. We'll share more details about our Major League Gaming coverage in this Friday's Weekly Wrap-Up!- Game Developers Conference Online
Giddy-up there GameSpotters! From October 10 to 13 in the Lone Star State, GDC Austin will be happening, and we're already off to an exciting start with some interesting points of view from Atari founder Nolan Bushnell. We will also be streaming the Online Awards on Wednesday the October 12 at 4:30 p.m. PT. So saddle up; we'll be bringing ya'll more interesting tidbits from GDCA in the coming days.- Return of the Union of the Year Awards
With all the chirping going on in the office about secret plans and teasers, we have one additional note to mention: the return of the Union of the Year Awards. Details are still super top secret, but the good news is it IS happening. Those unions that have been featured as a Union of the Week are currently in the running for the award and there are still a few slots open. Be sure to visit the Council of Unions to make your case about your union's greatness for your chance to be featured as the Union of the Week and a chance at Union of the Year!Activity
Battlefield 3: The Russian
The book is a few mere days away from making its way to store shelves, and we want to see what your cover art would look like for this Battlefield 3 novel. Take a glance at the first few chapters and combine it with your knowledge of the series to create the perfect cover art.
For more information on the activity, check out this activity thread here. -
Weekly Wrap-Up: Aloha Edition
The Recap
GameSpotter's Contributions
This week's Blog Bunker didn't have too many people on the same page. But, that means it was packed with many kinds of flavors and opinions! The Gameflicks report had one game on the minds of the video creators, Battlefield 3! The Player Reviews also had some games in common, like Gears of War 3, The Witcher, and Renegade Ops, but there were some older games like Super Meat Boy and Devil May Cry considered for a review.Field Trip
For this week's field trip, we drop by Capcom, Bethesda, Sega, Blizzard, Activision, and EA to see what they have going on in their communities. Find out why ponies are becoming the next big thing, get a pizza recipe, and learn how to win stuff!Dark Souls Shirt Giveaway
Earlier this week on Twitter and Fuse, Synthia gave away a bunch of Dark Souls shirts to those who could give her the names of the classes you choose from in Dark Souls, Who were the winners? Paul S., Justin P., Pete L., Karl D., Jeff X., James G., and Travis B. Congrats guys!Announcements
Ask GameSpot Forum Changes
While subscribers will continue to have access to create topic discussions in the Ask GameSpot forum, free registrants can now post in already created discussions with the changes we've made this week. The GameSpot video team has plans to create a new video series, and this forum will be used much more frequently. If you're a free registrant, drop by to see if there are any discussions you can be a part join!Mod of the Month Recognition
The mod of the month goes to…. Darthkaiser! He is one of the Modlings 11 who went through training just a few months ago and is now a full-fledged moderator! He still often blogs and contributes to the community in ways other than simply moderation.This Is Halloween
It's GameSpot community manager Synthia's all-time favorite time of year. The leaves are turning, scarves and jackets are back in fashion, and there is a plethora of candy in the office! Be sure to keep your eyes out for some spook-tacular Halloween activities in the coming days.Member Spotlight
This week's Member Spotlight shines on music_guru for his heartwarming tribute to Sophia by sharing some of his favorite "Things I Put on Baily's Head" moments.
Union of the Week
This week's featured union goes to the All-Out Nintendo. This union has been around since early 2009 and is still very active. It deals with any and all things involving Nintendo, be it the people who work there, the company, the history, or the games. It is filled with a devoted officer team that cares deeply for their union. I had the pleasure of having an interview with former GameSpot spotlight member Cloud_765 about the union. For those interesting details, check out this page here.
Tip of the Week
You can win awesome games and prizes by checking out and submitting videos to our Big Shot Bounty on the GameSpot YouTube channel! This week, it's a racing-themed Xbox 360 bundle. For more details, mosey on over to this page here.
Activity
Earlier this week, we talked with Kevin VanOrd about his experience with Dark Souls, and after sharing a few words of wisdom, we at the GameSpot community started to wonder. What sagelike advice would you offer to someone new to this despicably dark dungeon delver? Comment below with a tip or comment on the video for some profile points. Check out the video here!
Saying Good-Bye
Let's face it: It's never easy to say good-bye, especially when you're saying it to someone who means so much to you. Today is Sophia Tong's last day here in the GameSpot office, but she'll always be a part of GameSpot. We put together this little video with some heartfelt messages, as well as funny Sophia moments. We'll miss you Sophia. Don't be a stranger!
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Gamer Reviews: GameSpot Renegades
Top 100 Emblem Holders
- Saints Row 2 by JustPlainLucas [8.0 - Great] "The Saints come marchin' in. Again."
- Command and Conquer: Generals by Gelugon_baat [8.0 - Great] "Generals may have shamelessly borrowed the Command and Conquer brand name, but it is plenty fun in its own right."
- VVVVVV by c_rake [9.0 - Superb] "Without a doubt, VVVVVV is one of the hardest platformers around. It's also one of the best of its class."
- Portal 2 by asian_pride69 [9.5 - Superb] "A cleverly-written story and a broader, crazier set of puzzles makes this the definitive Portal experience. "
- Gears of War 3 by PSFreak1 [9.0 - Superb] "Awesome cinematics, cool battles, plenty of variety, great handling, near-to-perfect mechanics: Great, greater, Gears."
- Undead Nightmare Pack by Maluigi [8.0 - Great] "Undead Nightmare's take on the zombie apocalypse is brutally satisfying and outrageously fun."TOP 500 Emblem Holders
-JellyCar 2 by kjhg53 [7.5 - Good] " Making a car out of jelly makes a solid game. Loved the first one, so you know I had to try this one out."
- Hitman: Blood Money by TechnologoDoom [8.5 - Great] "The environments steal the show in the sandboxy stealth-action game, and the open-ended gameplay shines on replay."
- Grotesque Tactics: Evil Heroes by Azghouls [7.0 - Good] "A decent turned-based game with a healthy dose of obsession. "
- Halo: Combat Evolved by Bamul [9.0 - Superb] "Halo: Combat Evolved is a revolutionary game - way ahead of its time; everyone should, at the very least, try it out."
- Camping Mama: Outdoor Adventures by bowlingotter [5.0 - Mediocre] "Minigames are still fun, but a new overworld that should bring depth instead injects more monotony."
- The Witcher: Enhanced Edition by Cunhao [8.0 - Great] "The Witcher show the way in how an RPG should be, being one excellent example and addition for the genre."
- Gears of War 3 by Dan_Lionheart [10 - Prime] "The culmination of Epic's epic trilogy has arrived, and it's well…epic."
- Kirby Mass Attack by GeekyDad [9.0 - Superb] "Kirby, Kirby, Kirby Doo Wah!"Honorable Mentions
Here, we see some gamer reviews from up-and-coming community stars.
- Mario Party 4 by Wensea10 [7.0 - Good] "Satisfactory variety of minigames."
- Gears of War 3 by pokecharm [9.0 - Superb]
The Finale to a Great Trilogy of Games That is a Must-Play.
- Suikoden by siberian142 [7.5 - Good] "Poor use of characters flaw Suikoden, but it is a fine, albeit average, role playing experience regardless."
- Devil May Cry by exber [8.5 - Great] "DMC it's so hard that can be really annoying, but awesome gameplay, story and occasionally great camera effects save it."
- F1 2011 by AuzzieGunner [7.5 - Good] "F1 2011 is fun but is disappointing for a Formula One fan. "Platform Battle: Renegade Ops
This week, we take a look at Renegade Ops for the Xbox 360 and the PC. Who played it better? y3ivan on the Xbox 360 or popov89 on the PlayStation 3?
Most Popular Out Now
Finally, it's time for the Top 10 games to watch on GameSpot for October 6. There are multiple platforms in the order of which they are presented.
- Rage (X360) by TalSet_11
- Dark Souls PS3 by bulletprfcharm
- Dark Souls (X360) by hellishchild (PS3)
- Rage (PC) by wimboo
- Super Meat Boy (PC) by Pierst179
- Rage by natemic18
- Gears of War 3 (X360) by Ceadre
- NBA 2K12 (X360) by DirtyAl
- NBA JAM: On Fire Edition (X360) by N/A (no user review created!)
- Dead Island (X360) by JokerPRO10 -
GameFlicks: Future War
It's time again for a look at our GameSpot Spotlight YouTube Channel! This is where the truly talented can share their vision with the community of GameSpot along with the rest of YouTube!
Life Is a Battlefield
Here, we see some awesome videos from the Battlefield 3 beta.
-Battlefield 3 Beta Multiplayer Gameplay
-Battlefield 3 - The Entrance Hall
-Battlefield 3 - BETA Gameplay ( Sniping )
-BattleFeild 3 Beta - Nice Killstreak
Games, Games, and More Games!
Sometimes we just need some good old-fashioned gaming!
-Mortal Kombat
-Gears of War 3's Campaign: Review
-Gears Of War 3 Doms Fate
-DeLorean review - Driver San Francisco
-BLACK OPS random triple kill!
-August Pick-Ups Collection Set up
-A Little Bit Of Red Orchestra 2
-PS3 Contents, ooh la la
GameSpot Classics
-These are some of the classic videos from our GameSpot Spotlight.
-Super Meat Boy Skills
-Fruit Ninja Kinect
-Portal 2 Impressions
GameSpot Staff
-Here, we see GameSpot staff members in their natural habitats. Let's watch, shall we?
-GameSpot on Xenoblade
-My Little PWNies
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Field Trip: Ponies, Recipes, and More!
It's already time for a community field trip! This week's news is quite time-sensitive, with a game night and a variety of contests, so check them out before they're gone! Let's drop by Capcom, Bethesda, Sega, Blizzard, Activision, and EA!!
Capcom reveals some pony fan art inspired by Chris and Wesker from the Resident Evil series. But it also has some pizza recipes from the Dead Rising game! If you do use these recipes, don't think about the times you chopped up the zombies in the game!
Moving on to virtual goods… Bethesda didn't waste any time in bringing out some new Xbox Live Rage avatars, items, and themes!
Heading over to Sega, there's a sweepstakes to name that game, but then Sega gets into an early Halloween spirit with a Rise of Nightmares comic around The Lost Tapes of Roland Childs.
Speaking of comics, Blizzard has updated the official Starcraft site with comics that have been released about the franchise for the past few years.
And Activision has a variety of activities for its fans across multiple games. First, its social media manager is giving away a dozen DS games. Next, there's a contest to win the Contingency Panel from Carl Edwards' 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Car! But if that's not enough, Activision and Eutechnyx Limited are hosting a PlayStation 3 game night with the developers of the game on Wednesday October 5 at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. EST.
And last but not least, EA has the Need for Speed: The Run demo planned for October 18, so mark your calendars!
Perfect World has the announced the Blacklight: Retribution Closed beta, which will come in two phases. If you'd like to get in the beta, drop by the official game site to find out more.
That's a quick look at this week. If we stumble upon anything else, we'll update this news blog.
UPDATE on Oct 5 at 2:45pm PT : Added news about the Blacklight: Retribution beta. -
Blog Bunker: Pixel Perfect
Another Blog Bunker means another week of fabulous blogs brought to you by the amazing writers here at GameSpot.
Soapbox
-Dead Island: Know Thyself By: TechnologoDoom
-My oh minecraft By: Hellfire-1
-Secret Diary of a Girl Gamer By: Foolz3h
-Wii Games Discussion By: Aberinkulas
World of Games and Gaming
-Raging about Rage By: Setho10
-The Gears Trilogy Ends... By: PSFreak1
-Battlefield 3 Beta Impressions and Analysis By: gdw0908
-It's that time of year again! By: VideoGamerNerd
-Demo Marathon By: raven28256
-Professor Layton and The Big Bang Walking Dead Battlefield! By: AjaxNeron
-The future of Art Style Games By: bbkkristian
-Bioware Fail By: Mangaminx
-Why is it a big issue? By: gamingqueen
Off the Radar
-The Ballad Of Steve Meretzky By: Rottenwood
-Cloverfield Movie Review By: AvatarMan96
-Melancholia Review By: SaintLeonidas
Blog Bunker Tip
Shy Guys
Have a friend who writes some fabulous blogs but might be a little too shy to step forward into the spotlight? Feel free to share your friend's name with the GameSpot Community, and he or she could join the list of amazing featured blog writers!Pixel Perfect
GameSpot Community is looking for a unique talent to craft a new blogger emblem for awesome GameSpot members who are featured in Blog Bunker. Post a blog bunker titled "Pixel Perfect" and mark it as editorial. Emblems must be 64x64 and submitted in JPG format. Please include a brief description about why you feel your emblem best represents the GameSpot blogger. -
Monday Check-In: Techies Day
Happy Techies Day! As you might know, our Monday check-in reminds you about what happened last week, and we'll share what to expect this week. We notice that some of you have been concerned about technical problems, and we'll explain what we've been told about the problems.
Recap
Weekly Report - Last week’s wrap-up will catch you up, but one of the most exciting things that happened was meeting many of you in person during the Battlefield 3 beta tournament we held at our offices. Also, if you want to gain some profile points, we have an activity you can participate in!
Industry Community Returns - We also brought back the community industry news, so you now have another way you can learn about what's happening in other communities.What's Happening
Game Forecast - The games that will cause lots of hype in forums this week include Rage and Dark Souls. Get ready to rumble, forum posters!
Moderation Policy Questionnaire - We're closing the questionnaire tomorrow morning, so you'll want to share your concerns about the Terms of Use agreement before then. Please keep in mind that your answers to this questionnaire are for research purposes, and we cannot promise that your specific changes will occur. However, we do want to thank those of you who took 5-10 minutes to fill it out.
Fuse Emblems Returning - We've been told that the Fuse emblems are returning very soon. With game tracking and achievements making a return, we're in the process of getting these emblems back on your profiles. Keep an eye out for them.Technical Problems?
Profile Menu Bug - If you see a hyperlink to the Sidekick brackets on your profile, the technical staff told us they'd get this resolved ASAP.
Profile Level Problems - The level problem is now resolved as mentioned in the technical support forum last Friday. UPDATE at 2:04 p.m. P.T.: Staff have let us know that this bug is "partially fixed." There's another bug that is causing some disturbance. Until that's fixed, the profile levels might have some hiccups here and there.
Collection/Tag Emblems Missing - The emblem problem was never reported by technical staff, but they knew about it. We finally have this bug back on their radar. -
Weekly Wrap-Up: Red vs. Blue
The Recap
We started off things this week with the Battlefield 3 Early Deployment Tournament and showcased 18 blogs from talented GameSpot members. Wednesday, we featured 16 videos from our YouTube GameSpot Spotlight channel. Finally, Thursday, we showcased 28 user reviews and had a platform battle over Catherine.
Announcements
Gears of War 3 Community Game Night
For this week's Community Game Night, we gathered the GameSpot staff to take on some users in Gears of War in Beast mode for a chance at the Lambency Achievement. No MVP was awarded because all of those who joined just did so well! Perhaps we will gather again and a winner will be announced once and for all! We also decided to stream the game night on On the Spot for those who weren't able to make it.Field Trip: Industry Community News
You heard right, GameSpot is bringing back the game industry community news, but it's bigger, better, stronger, and faster! OK maybe that's a bit dramatic, but we are bringing it back. We take a trip to see what Capcom, Sega, Blizzard, Activision, and EA are up to this week. Check it out!GameSpot Moderation Survey
GameSpot is getting ready for a makeover, but we want to hear what you all have to say about the way things are currently here at GameSpot. Are we too tough? Not tough enough? We want, nay…NEED your feedback! Take this survey and make your vote count!Battlefield 3: Early Deployment Beta Tournament Wrap-Up
Well, that was a long night, but we had a lot of fun. We pit four teams of 12 against each other for the chance to be the victor. We had people lining up as early as 1:00 a.m. for their opportunity to be one of the first in San Francisco to play Battlefield 3. There was food, music, and of course fragging as we played long into the night. The event was streamed live and the videos are available for viewing, and we also have a small photo gallery on our Facebook page that caught many of the behind-the-scenes moments of the event.Member Spotlight
This week's member spotlight shines on lim_ak. This member is an unfaltering, devoted, and astounding GameSpot member who took the time and effort to record 15 video blogs and 19 blogs all about his experiences at the Eurogamer Expo. This coverage is seriously extensive, and for all those who are interested in anything that happened during that expo, I highly recommend checking out his blogs.
Union of the Week
This week's union of the week is the Film Appreciation Union. This fantastic union offers a plethora of amazing information and fantastic conversations about, you guessed it…films. Some of the current hot topics include information on The Dark Knight Rises, Boardwalk Empire, and others. I had the pleasure of having an interview with the leader of the union, Jazz_Fan.
Tip of the Week
For this week's tip we're talking about Facebook.
Those who have a Facebook account and a GameSpot account will be happy to know that you can now connect the two and allow your achievements, blogs, and everything in between to be displayed on your Facebook wall.
Clicking the button will make the above pop-up appear. Click the Connect to Facebook button and log in with your Facebook information. Now that your GameSpot account and your Facebook account are connected, the Facebook icon that had been next to your options will move directly onto the avatar that's displayed next to inbox.
And that's it! That's all you have to do to link your GameSpot account to your Facebook account. The application that has been applied to your Facebook account will now act as a go-between, and anything that is shared with a Facebook option applied to it can now be shared on your account. Some of these include:
- Share your blog posts or other blog posts with your friends on Facebook.
- Share videos or images you like with your friends on Facebook.
- Share votes you have made in GameSpot contests or events.
Activity
Post your favorite Pokemon from the ORIGINAL Red and Blue series in the comments below and receive a boost in your profile points!
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Field Trip: Industry Community News Is Back!
Guess what? We're bringing back the game industry community news, but it's gonna be much more expanded with its own news piece in the Spam Filter each week. Don't worry, though. If you miss out, Synthia will put a link to it in Friday's wrap-up.
We plan to call this little weekly news update the "field trip." So, let's go on a field trip to see what Capcom, Sega, Blizzard, Activision, and EA are doing in their communities this week!
Capcom knows just how important sipping your favorite hot drink is, so it has a set of Resident Evil mugs up for grabs. Head on over to leave a comment about RE Code Veronica X and win!
Sega, on the other hand, likes to keep things limited! Nintendo Wii owners will want to make sure they pick up R-Type, because the game is being removed from the Virtual Console store on September 30.
As we take a tour over to Blizzard, the company has announced that the Foo Fighters will close out BlizzCon this year. Tickets are sold out, but virtual attendees can find out how they can get a BlizzCon virtual ticket.
But wait, it looks like Activision has given TurtleBeach the rights to have Modern Warfare 3 in our ears! Check out what OneOfSwords.com has to say about the Call of Duty: MW3 Special Edition 9mm Earphones.
Lastly, EA has made its fans quite happy this week with the Battlefield 3 open beta available across multiple platforms! Drop by the official site to get in on the action.
That's all I've got for this week! Have a great weekend.
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Reader Reviews: Not So Final Fantasy
TOP 100
These reviewers have proven their fantastic writing quality time and again, and because of this, they are holders of the Top 100 Reviewers Emblem.
Ms. 'Splosion Man By: AK_the_Twilight
8.0 - Great
Ms. 'Splosion Man will 'splode into your heart in an instant, but only after tearing apart your thumbs first.
Burnout Crash! By: c_rake
8.0 - Great
Burnout: Crash is a rip-roaring, long-overdue return to what Burnout does best: crashing cars.
Age of Mythology By: Gelugon_baat
9.0 - Superb
Age of Mythology looks like yet another exploitation of mythology but turns out to be figurative manna from the gods.
Rotastic By: JustPlainLucas
5.5 - Mediocre
Rotastic is barely so-sotastic.
Spyro: Enter the Dragonfly By: Tikicobra
1.5 - Abysmal
An absolute broken mess of a game in every way, Enter the Dragonfly fails to do anything it attempts properly.
TOP 500
These fabulous writers of note and GameSpot members have the Top 500 emblem.
Supremacy MMA By: bowlingotter
4.5 - Poor
Should've been the NFL Blitz to the UFC. Instead, it's a confused and buggy brawler short on content.
Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition By: Cloud_765
8.5 - Great
3D Edition pulls off Street Fighter like no handheld could.
Bayonetta By: gamefreak197
10 - Prime
Over-the-top, crazy, shameless, brutal, and awesome; just a few words to describe Bayonetta.
Shadows of the Damned By: Mangaminx
8.5 - Great
Hola Amigos!!! It's time to blast some demon butt with your big, fully loaded Johnson!
Tatsunoko vs. Capcom By: ZanarkandTidus
8.5 - Great
If you like great fighting games and have an appreciation for Tatsunoko productions, this game is for you.
Platform Battle: Who Played It Better?
This week, we look at Catherine on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Which do you think is the better play?
Catherine By: AltoShadow13
9.0 - Superb
A unique game with an excellent story that covers the concepts of relationships in a rather unique way
VERSUS
Catherine By: sora_heart
9.0 - Superb
Catherine is an experience like no other: The game is so immersive and fresh, it's hard to not to recommend to people…
HONORABLE MENTIONS
These GameSpot members do not yet have an emblem for their fantastic writing, but in time, perhaps they too will join the ranks. What do you think?
Valkyria Chronicles II By: Uesugi-dono
9.5 - Superb
Once again, Gallia is free.
Shadows of the Damned By: Mangaminx
8.5 - Great
Hola Amigos!!! It's time to blast some demon butt with your big, fully loaded Johnson!
Pikmin By: Wensea10
9.5 - Superb
Great single-player and multiplayer modes
Star Trek: Voyager Elite Force By: AQWBlaZer91
4.0 - Poor
Voyager's problems results from technical issues, graphical faults, and any lack of any sufficient multiplayer.
Bayonetta By: gamefreak197
10 - Prime
Over-the-top, crazy, shameless, brutal, and awesome; just a few words to describe Bayonetta.
"Most Popular"
These are current games that are labeled as most popular and "out now" for September 28.
1. FIFA Soccer 12 (X360) By: PseudoElite
9.5 - Superb
I'm going to write this review quickly because I want to get back to playing FIFA 12 ASAP.
2. Gears of War 3 (X360) By: Magnaxilorius
9.5 - Superb
Easily the best game on the Xbox 360.
3. Street Cleaning Simulator (PC) By: Xaiano
1.0 - Abysmal
This game made my eyes bleed!
4. Dead Island (X360) By: Tinkertown
8.0 - Great
Despite the major graphical glitches and lack of polish on this game, there's just something about it!
5. Final Fantasy XIV Online (PC) By: AtariOno
6.5 - Fair
FFXIV missed the mark by a long shot, but after its rough start, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
6. Deus Ex: Human Revolution (PS3) By: mahan-k
9.0 - Superb
An amazing and thought-provoking masterpiece that shall not be missed.
7. The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings (PC) By: Megotaku77
7.5 - Good
A review of a game that takes gaming backward 10 years. A truly squandered opportunity.
8. X-Men: Destiny (X360) By: nBaJaM4
8.0 - Great
The latest X-Men beat-'em-up review.
9. Driver: San Francisco (PC) By: footballracer
1.0 - Abysmal
Easy taking, deficiency, and foolishness of Edmondson brothers make this game an end for the Driver franchise.
10. FIFA Soccer 12 (PS3) By: danno1no1
9.5 - Superb
An honest review of this year's installment!
Don't Forget!
If you have an amazing review to share with the GameSpot community, be sure to share it with Synthia and you might just get featured! And be sure to tune in today at 4:00 p.m. PT for On the Spot!
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GameFlicks: Superdome
Now playing this week at the GameSpot Spotlight YouTube channel!
The Games
Eurogamer Expo - Little Big Planet Vita
GameSpotter Lim_ak went to the Eurogamer Expo and shares with some awesome experiences
Need For Speed Hot Pursuit
aliessa93 Porsche Carrera GT gameplay
Vs Battles Ep1: Ashley Williams Vs Kaidan
SW92VsBattles is having the first Vs. battle; you decide who wins
Mortal Kombat 9-Ermac Combo 53%-Midscreen-1 Meter
A combo video for Mortal Kombat 9's Ermac
Batten Down The Hatches - Act IV - Chapter 4/5
rossmahon2 shares some Gears of War gameplay
Battle Field Early Release Beta
Video response by Trophypredator09:
It's a BF3 beta for PS3 and gameplay
PSN is tnakng2009; message me for new video on BF3; thanks for watching
Dungeon Fighter Online
GameSpotter psycho_chan13 (aka psychoman125) Dungeon Fighter Online Combat and 100 subscribers to his channel
Final Fantasy Event 03/08/10
Video response by SuaveLlaveBlog:
Went to the Final Fantasy 13 Experience Event in the Regency Center in San Francisco; Played FF13, met some of the voice actors, Spike TV's GT TV host Geoff Keighley, AOTS's Chris Hardwick; it was a fun little gathering
FPS In Real Life
MrDinocks shared this video with our GameSpot YouTube Channel:
What would it be like if life was a shooting game? Like this, of course! Three combatants (Dinocks, Terrorbird, and ToxicSam) are pitted against each other in a forest in Britain; Who will emerge victorious?
Walkthroughs
Gears of War 3: Good Game
WARNING: This video contains adult gamers using adult language.
By: Youtube Member sgtCOLDCUTS
===============
I've been trying to improve my game. I'm starting to get better. I got a better feel for the maps now and weapons. I still have a lot to learn and improve but I'm getting there. Any tips will help post a comment, and thanks for watchingReviews
Dante's Inferno Review and Gameplay HD by Assman123
Critics say this is just like God of War, but there are things in it that makes it original and a clone. Many aspects of the God of War are seen in this game in a higher, and some lower, degree, which EA took too seriously.Funny
Fruit Assassins
A video shared from ADLProductionsTV:
Justin and Fetsch become asses...I mean assassins. Basically, they are killing melons. No melons were harmed. Well, technically they were harmed. Never mind.Music
Gears of war 3 remix
WARNING: This video is rated M for Mature! ==========
Voltraxer1 shares a remix for Gears of War 3
Spotlight Classics
Deus Ex: Human Revolution - Review
GameSpotter charlie_killer aka Catmangamer shares a review of the epic-rated game Deus Ex: Human Revolution. Angry Birds Walkthough Part 1
GameSpotter usatheman2001 shows off some Angry Birds skills in this walkthrough. His review of the game was "just plain fun," giving it a score of 10. League of Legends
League of Legends Gameplay. L.A Noire Review
Bioshockraptor gives us his take on L.A Noire. To check out more of his videos, go to his YouTube channel: youtube.com/biofuze gamespot.com/users/bioshockraptor -
Blog Bunker: Pixel Flavored
Breaking News!
Chris Needs to Get PWNED!
Join us tomorrow at our Community Game night.
We will be starting at 4:00 pm PT and will be joined by the fabulous Jody Robinson, as well as Sophia Tong, Carolyn Petit, Ryan MacDonald, Justin Calvert, and, of course, your very own Chris Watters. In addition to the 100 percent club, Chris has a challenge for you. He is the holder of the viral achievement for executing an Epic Staff Member. If you can manage to execute Chris you get the "cheevo." Check out our Community Game Night page for more details.Soap Box
-Some More Things on Indie Games By: Gelugon_baat
- Downloadable Content: The Common Day Witch Hunt By: pokecharm
-The Science of Sonic Part two By: Hyrule4EVER
Top 100
-So long, Summer….. By: Asagea_888
-I went to the Eurogamer Expo! By: AzelKosMos
-The Whistleblower - Film Review By: biggest_loser
-Drive review By: calvinsora
-Human Pursuits By: gbrading
Top 500
-Gaming Sorbet By: adam1808
-Gamer's Avalanche! By: NColdhardt
-Art Design, Detail, and Graphics, that is what I want. By: parkurtommo
-Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One Beta Impressions By: bbkkristian
-My first gaming PC and gaming background By: seanmcloughlinHonorable Mentions
-Across the Terrain By: Hirasugi
-NTSB releases address on baleful activity access By: guomonong
-Badass Shooter Month- Frag to Brag! By: NeonNinja
-Do You Remember Love?,Macross Plus,Deadman Wonderland. By: ZanarkandTidus
-Operation Rainfall, Or Let's Crap On Nintendo For Once By: Rottenwood
Lastly, it's important to remember the Game Spot Moderation Survey, where the fate of GameSpot rests in your hands. Click here for more details.
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GameSpot Moderation Survey
"If you don't create change, change will create you."
"The key to success is often the ability to adapt."
"Change is the only constant."All of these things are often true. Times change, and it is important to learn to adjust to those changes. GameSpot knows that there are things that you (our fantastic community) would like to see happen. Important change. Change that NEEDS to happen. And if this relationship is going to work, we are going to have to start talking about those big digital elephants in the room. So here we are, asking you to take this survey and let us know what you think about how our moderation policy currently affects you as a poster and, more importantly, as a GameSpot member.
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Weekly Wrap-Up: Autumnal Equinox
Announcements
Battlefield 3 Early Deployment Beta Tournament
That's right, I said Battlefield 3 beta tournament! For those lucky people who live in the fabulous California Bay Area, we are inviting you to join us for this event. We will be dividing people into four 12-vs.-12 groups as they battle it out in Rush mode. To sign up, head over to our events page here. Not in the Bay Area? We will be streaming the tournament live from right outside the GameSpot offices, giving you a chance to see the action and maybe get your hands on a few beta keys.GDC 2011 in Austin, Texas
Yee-haw! We hope you are all excited for GDC 2011 located in the heart of Texas. Yep, Austin is an amazing city, and we are excited to see what GDC has in store for us this year. What do you guys want to see? Be sure to check out our Events and Attractions board and let us know!Gears of War 3 100% Club
Gears of War is having a contest, challenging you GameSpotters to unlock Gears of War 3 achievements for a chance to win some pretty amazing prizes. What are they, you might wonder? How about a gold retro lancer and a custom limited-edition Gears of War 3 Xbox 360? Check out this page for more details. Looks like Garrison_Ford and dab198 are rocking pretty hard!Member Spotlight
This week's Member Spotlight shines on XenoLair for his fabulous entry in the My JRPG Tokyo Game Show activity titled "Andromeda Chronicles."
Union of the Week
This week we are featuring the Battlefield Union. It's one of the newer unions to be featured in the Union of the Week awards, but a great one nonetheless. They have a great and growing community of Battlefield enthusiasts, and many of them are excited about Monday's beta tournament at our offices in San Francisco.
Tip of the Week
Did you know that when you post questions about specific games that your friends who are following can answer them? When you see a friend in need of some gaming guru guidance, simply click on "Lend a Hand," and it will take you directly to your friend's question. Pretty cool, huh?
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Reader Reviews: Press Start to Play
Top 100
These reviewers have proved time and again their fantastic writing quality, and because of this they are holders of the Top 100 Reviewers Emblem.
God of War: Chains of Olympus: stephenage
8.5 - Great
Though it doesn't stand up to its console brethren, Chains of Olympus does a great job of bringing Kratos to the PSP.
Portal 2: PSFreak1
9.5 - Superb
Portal 2 is a rare, delicious burst of creativity, originality, humor, and fun.
Bulletstorm: nutcrackr
8.5 - Great
Fun shooter that gives you beautiful environments with a satisfying skill-shot system.
Fallout 3: LOLhahaDEAD
9.0 - Superb
Fallout 3 is an outstanding reboot to a time-honored series.
Renegade Ops: JustPlainLucas
8.5 - Great
Renegade Ops is a blast, be it blowing stuff up or getting yourself blown up.
No One Lives Forever 2: Gelugon_baat
9.5 - Superb
The use of LithTech 3 and game play improvements makes A Spy in H.A.R.M.'s Way a better game than its predecessor.
Europa Universalis III Chronicle: DraugenCP
8.5 - great
As accessible as golf, as addicting as a browser game, and as deep as a flight simulator.
Plants vs. Zombies: AzelKosMos
7.5 - Good
Flower Power.
Top 500
Fabulous writers of note, these GameSpot Members have the Top 500 emblem.
Robotech: The Macross Saga: ZanarkandTidus
3.0 - Bad
I love Robotech but I hate this game.
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division: NeonNinja
8.5 - Great
Fans of giant robots, shooters, anime or all of the above are in for a real treat with Shogo.
Dead Island: Mangaminx
9.0 - Superb
A vacation on the dead island of Banoi is a relentlessly violent, fantastically enjoyable open-world RPG experience.
Dead Island: bowlingotter
7.0 - Good
The PC version is somewhere between a masterful adventure and a sloppy mess.
Metro 2033: Bamul
10 - Prime
Metro is an unforgettable experience with a fantastic story, masterful atmosphere and spectacular, top-notch graphics.
Bulletstorm: Azghouls
8.0 - Great
If you are a fan of no-nonsense, come-get-some brutality this is your smorgasbord. There's plenty to go around.
Dead Rising 2: akhorahill
8.5 - Great
Test your survival skills and creativity against a zombie outbreak in a Casino.
Platform Battle: Who Played It Better?
This week we look at Batman: Arkham Asylum on the Xbox 360 and PC. Which do you think is the better play?
Batman: Arkham Asylum: turtlethetaffer
8.5 - Great
A fun action game that is also one of the best super hero games ever.
===VERSUS===
Batman: Arkham Asylum: BIOJECT
9.5 - Superb
Perfect Batman game even if you don't like Batman.Honorable Mentions
These GameSpot members do not yet have an emblem for their fantastic writing, but in time perhaps they too will join the ranks. What do you think?
God of War Collection: adam1808
9.0 - superb
Two of the greatest action games ever made are re-mastered in HD in all their bloody glory. Go. Buy.
Gears of War 3: xGlenn11x
10 - Prime
Never has a series come together full-circle and as completely all-around as Gears of War 3.
Portal: benleslie5
9.0 - Superb
You'd be amazed how awesome Portal is, just a shame that it's a very short game indeed.
Gears of War 2 GOTY: pokecharm
9.0 - Superb
Sequel Surpasses Original in Grand Style
Halo: Reach: ShadowMoses900
9.0 - Superb
Bungie says farewell to their famous flagship series, but man do they go out with a BANG
Top Ten
Games that are trending as "Most Popular" for September 22.
1.Gears of War 3: vengefulwilberg
10 - Prime
Gears of War is the only reason why you should own an Xbox 360. And GOW 3 proves why I made such a bold statement.
2.Burnout Crash! (X360): 7.0
No Reader Review.
3.Dead Island: MrAlWhite
8.5 - Great
An in-depth look at Dead Island.
4.Dead Island : AvatarBlue
7.0 - Good
What a shame….
5.NHL 12: LDMASTER14
9.0 - Superb
NHL 12 similar but better then NHL 11!
6.Deus Ex: Human Revolution: DarthLefein
8.5 - Great
Prequel to one of the greatest PC games of all time (Deus Ex)
7.TrackMania 2 Canyon: swiftsilk
9.0 - Superb
High Octaine - Addictive - Fun
8.Burnout Crash! (PS3): 7.0
No Reader Review.
9. Dead Island: Venom_Raptor
9.0 - Superb
Dead Island's grisly first-person melee combat lets you bludgeon and dismember your way through a zombie-infested island
10. Deus Ex: Human Revolution: BIOJECT
6.5 - Fair
A linear FPS with an okay story, but lacking gameplay depth and actual choices.
