Friday, April 1, 2011

Product Reviews Net

Product Reviews Net


Mega Man Universe Cancelled, no Xbox Live / PSN Release

Posted: 01 Apr 2011 04:20 AM PDT

Mega Man Universe Cancelled, no Xbox Live / PSN Release

Up until yesterday we were under the impression that CapCom would be releasing Mega Man Universe on both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, however we are now hearing that the game has been cancelled.

Full details are unknown, however CapCom said that “various circumstances” caused the cancellation. Up until this news we believed that the game was headed for a Spring 2011 release date and would be a downloadable title via Xbox Live / PSN.

Originally development started back in March 2010, gameplay videos showed that the developers were making progress with the release, therefore fans of Mega Man games will be understandably frustrated by this news.

We wouldn’t rule out the possibility of this game being released at a later date, however for now we can confirm that there are no plans to continue development in the near future.

This news was revealed on the official CapCom Japan website, you can check the announcement out for yourself here, but you will need to be fluent in Japanese to read the statement.

We would love to hear what you think of this news, are you disappointed? Let us know in the comment section below.

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Gorillas Get iPad: April Fools Day Pranks

Posted: 01 Apr 2011 03:49 AM PDT

Gorillas Get iPad: April Fools Day Pranks

As its April Fool's Day many websites and newspaper publications are running various pranks and jokes on the unsuspecting public. We have already told you of some applications and gadgets which can aide you in playing pranks on your friends. A national newspaper has a great article with some gorilla's using Apple iPads.

Brian Flynn from The Sun has run a brilliant article with pictures of gorilla's seemly playing with iPad's. The story goes that scientists are looking at ways to keep them alert and happy in zoos, and says they quickly learned how to turn the devices on and off.

It also claims that since the iPads were given to the primates at Port Lympne Wild Animal Park three weeks ago, not a single unit has been damaged. The head keeper is quoted by saying that they thought the gorilla's "would bang them on rocks".

Use the link above to view the pictures of the gorillas holding the iPads.

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Zelda Ocarina Of Time 3D, 3DS Release Date Coming Soon

Posted: 01 Apr 2011 02:59 AM PDT

Zelda Ocarina Of Time 3D, 3DS Release Date Coming Soon

Back in January we posted some release date information regarding The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, we still have no solid release date, however we do have an update on the situation.

Recently Nintendo UK’s James Honeywell spoke to CVG about the Nintendo 3DS and Ocarina of Time 3D, he says how people have shown a lot of interest in this title (unsurprisingly), he also goes on to say “we’ll be making an announcement fairly soon so people will be able to find out when they’ll be able to go and get it”.

Obviously the term “fairly soon” can be interpreted in many ways, however it does at least mean that the developers are pretty happy with their progress so far and are confident enough to say that a release date will soon be public, we will just have wait for a date to be set.

As we hear more about the game’s release date we will have to keep you posted. Will you buy The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D on its release date? How long will you wait? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Gmail Motion Beta: Human Computer Interaction

Posted: 01 Apr 2011 02:26 AM PDT

Gmail Motion Beta: Human Computer Interaction

Last year we saw the launch of the Microsoft Kinect and the Sony PlayStation Move, as technology further evolves. Computers have been around for years, and the keyboard and mouse have slowly changed during that period. But today we can give you some news of a major technological breakthrough from Google.

They have just released a Beta of Gmail Motion which lets users control their Gmail accounts with their body. It works by using the built-in webcam of your computer with Google's patented Spatial tracking technology, which detects your movements and turns them into meaningful characters and commands. You can see a video of it in action below.

It has been designed to work with people of all skill levels, and Google even has a user guide which can be printed off. Using this guide you will be responding to emails using body motions in no time. Gmail Motion is safe but also a good form of exercise, but some precautions need to be followed.

You must make sure you have a clear area around you, and take breaks every half-hour or so. And after each Gmail Motion session spend time stretching and warming down. Oh and by the way Happy April Fool's Day everyone! And well done to everyone at Google for coming up with this great prank, how they kept straight faces in the video is great.

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New iPhone 5: Phone vs Gaming Device

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 11:10 PM PDT

New iPhone 5: Phone vs Gaming Device

Recently we have had speculation that the iPhone 5 will not be released until after the summer of this year. But not everyone thinks this will happen, Cody Sharp from iPhone Game Gamer Blog, believes the iPhone 5 will appear around June or July.

Since the iPhone first appeared in 2007 the device has developed over the years, and is now becoming a more capable gaming device. One new feature that is almost certain to come to the iPhone 5 is a faster processor. This will enable the handset to handle even better games, which will provide Apple great revenue returns for the future.

They now receive a 30% cut for every application sold on the App Store, so when you look at the recent Final Fantasy 3 that was selling for $15.99, that equates to $5 for Apple for every copy sold. Of course it is cheap games like Angry Birds and Doodle Jump that has helped build the App Store up to the success it is today.

But Apple will be looking to the Nintendo DS and the games which are available on that platform, as the way forward for gaming. More memory on the next iPhone will allow for an even better iOS experience, and it could even allow for Android type widgets which will run in real time on the background of the handset.

Also if Apple increases the hard drive capacities on the iPhone 5 it will be able to handle more complex games. One top game can easily be several GB in size, but if the hard drive is bigger it will not be a problem playing such games. Finally if the next device has a bigger screen, that will further enhance the game playing experience on the handset.

Do you think the next iPhone will be better for mobile gaming?

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GPad GForce Review (2nd Gen): Can Tablet Compete with the Rest

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 10:30 PM PDT

GPad GForce Review (2nd Gen): Can Tablet Compete with the Rest

For some consumers, the star studded Apple iPad and various Google Android tablets are simply too expensive to even consider buying, which is why shopping for cheaper alternatives is never a bad idea. One such option is the GPad GForce Android tablet and we have a hands-on review of the device now, providing you with everything you need to know about this Chinese import.

Firstly, let us thank the guys over at Pandawill for sending one over from China for us. It’s not often we get the chance to sample some of the ‘intriguing’ contraptions that come from those shores so you could imagine our delight when we heard this upgraded GPad was available for review.

The new Gpad Gforce is an Android 2.2 tablet which packs some very respectable hardware features for the $299 asking price online. The display screen size is 9.7 inches, and the device runs on a Freescale imx51 800MHZ Cortex A8 processor. The display is TFT capacitive based and supports multitouch and a resolution of 1024 x768.

Other important specs include 512MB of RAM , 8GB of built-in storage, 3G support via USB dongle, a 2 megapixel front-facing camera and an included 7200mAh battery. However, there is no rear camera on this version of the GForce, but there is an accelerometer which will automatically shift to landscape or vertical mode depending on which way you hold it.

Aside from the tablet, the box contains a screen protector, two USB to 30-pin data cables, AC adaptor of the 9VDC@1500mA output variety, earphones and a nice leather-style case to store your GPad inside.

First impressions of the tablet are good. Build quality seems very decent, as the device feels pretty solid, and although the design of the Gpad Gforce is very much similar to the Apple iPad, the aluminium finish on the back complete with the Gpad logo does give it that hint of uniqueness, which is always good.

We’re pleased to say that this comes with a stock version of Android 2.2 Froyo, meaning you’ll be able to get straight to customizing the device with wallpapers, and apps of your choice upon bootup. The response whilst browsing through the UI is fairly good, apps load up quickly and we didn’t have any major problems in this aspect, although we did notice a slight hint of lag when returning to the home screen by pressing the virtual button situated at the top right hand of the device.

On the subject of apps, there is a healthy list of pre-loaded apps, one of which is a fully certified Android Market and also an included Hiapk Market which is the Chinese equivalent. One app that appears to be missing is YouTube, but it’s not really an issue since you can hop online and enter it via the browser anyway. There’s a few other Google apps pre-installed though, these include Google Talk and GMail. The GPad Gforce also features 3G support, but since we didn’t have a USB dongle handy and it didn’t come with one, we couldn’t try out this aspect, or the 3G Dialer and Messaging apps.

The included web browser is nice and quick, and pages seemed to load with no problems. Since the GPad features multitouch, you can also pinch and zoom in and out of text just like you would on the iPad. Responsiveness was good as well when scrolling up and down pages, which was pleasing. Things we did notice though, which was a particular worry, is that flash videos didn’t seem to play too well, and YouTube videos did not play at all, despite the fact that we had installed Adobe Flash 10.2 player from the Android market. However, if this does turn out to be a fault of the GPad, it’s something that can be fixed very easily with a patch update online.

To sum up, we had a good experience with the GPad Gforce, and we’d definitely recommend it if you are searching for a cheaper alternative than the iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab. For those who are just looking for a device to take care of your multimedia needs on the go, such as web browsing, listening to music and checking emails, then the GPad Force is ideal.

Once we get the 3G aspect of the device up and running, we’ll be writing another piece on the GPad so you can see how that handles. For now, enjoy the rest of our hands-on photos below and let us know if you have any questions about the Gpad Gforce. As we mentioned at the start of our review, it’s available to buy now from Pandawill, priced at $299 USD with free shipping included. You can head to their product page here to order one if you’re interested.

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PS3 Vs Xbox 360: It’s Sony’s Time for Exclusive DLC

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 08:20 PM PDT

PS3 Vs Xbox 360: It’s Sony’s Time for Exclusive DLC

If you think of exclusive DLC content in terms of the Sony PS3 and Xbox 360, it’s fair to assume that the Xbox 360 is the first console that comes to mind after having had exclusive content for Grand Theft Auto IV and still having an exclusive deal in place for all Call of Duty DLC. However, that was all last year, and now it seems Sony are fighting back.

If you are a PS3 owner, it was no doubt very painful having to watch Xbox 360 owners get to play GTA IV episodes and the Call of Duty First Strike Map Pack for Black Ops, months before it arrived on the PS3. But the shift of power may be starting to change, as it has become apparent that a few big developers have decided to reside with Sony and their PS3 for now.

Obviously, the biggest game that everyone’s talking about in relation to this is Mortal Kombat, as the PS3 will get God of War character Kratos, one of his stages, 3D support, and of course a demo! While the Xbox 360 seemingly gets nothing – but that’s not all either.

We’ve just learned that PS3 owners who pick up the highly anticipated Virtua Tennia 4 title from SEGA, will get the opportunity to play as three tennis legends, Boris Becker, Pat Rafter and Stefan Edberg. This may not seem too major for most of you, but it’s still a notable victory for Sony in the exclusive DLC war.

Is this payback for games like Fallout 3, GTA IV and all of the Call of Duty DLC which Microsoft has had their way with? – Perhaps, but Microsoft are not done with waving their little finger just yet. Owners of Castlevania on the PS3 may be a little bit mad over the fact that the ‘Reverie’ DLC has been delayed. But the reason for this, is that there is a fault with Xbox Live, and Konami has already admitted that PS3 owners have to wait since they have an ‘agreement’ in place with Microsoft, so DLC gets released at the same time as the PS3.

It’s amazing to think that Sony and Microsoft go to such detail on acquiring game DLC, as most of it goes unnoticed by the gamer. As a neutral reading all of this – what are your thoughts? Are you currently sick of the console DLC war that doesn’t seem to be ending any time soon, or do you think this is a healthy bit of competition between both consoles and their respective communities?

What game will be next to fall under the exclusive DLC hammer? Elder Scrolls Skyrim? Crysis 2? Dare we say it, Battlefield 3?

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Samsung Droid Charge: Out-priced by Verizon

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 04:21 PM PDT

Samsung Droid Charge: Out-priced by Verizon

We were shocked when we saw the price of the Samsung Droid Charge, as it seems that it has been out-priced by Verizon. The suggested price looks to be $299 on a two-year contract, which to some seems like $50 to $100 too much. However, most of us would assume that there will be some sort of rebate, if not then Big Red could have problems with shifting them.

If we are to believe this price, then that puts it just under $50 more than the HTC Thunderbolt, and the HTC Droid Incredible 2 is $100 cheaper – so you have to make the choice which of the three you would rather? IntoMobile worries that Verizon has come up with such a high price to try and keep their data plans down – find that hard to believe.

However, if this price were to stick, then this could be the first sign that handset prices are set to go up – maybe there is some truth into Big Red using handsets to subsidize the so-called low price of their data plans? Droid-Life has what they say is the initial price list and map for Verizon.

The Samsung Droid Charge comes with a host of features, such as a 4.3-inch screen, 8-megapixel camera, 1GHz Hummingbird processor and the ability to share its connection with up to eight wireless devices. However, its biggest feature is LTE, which will help to complement the HTC Thunderbolt.

Has Verizon out-priced the Samsung Droid Charge?

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iPhone 5 Release Delay: Strategic Reasons

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 03:21 PM PDT

iPhone 5 Release Delay: Strategic Reasons

Many of us are now talking about the so-called iPhone 5 release delay and the strategic reasons behind it. We have to make one thing clear, how can anything be delayed if it never had an official release in the first place? Which is something we discussed in a recent post. Apple must be working on something special, if they are to launch their latest smartphone later than the current cycle?

IBT believes that Apple must have a good reason to delay the launch of the iPhone 5, especially as they are under constant pressure from the range of Android handsets on the market. Way back in 2007 Apple dealt a blow to rivals with the launch of the very first iPhone, maybe they feel that it is time to deliver that devastating blow once more?

Another reason, one that could make some sense is that Apple would rather shift the launch of their flagship device closer to the holiday season. However, would consumers really want to be buying a smartphone, when they should be spending their money on gifts for loved ones?

We already discussed about how Apple might be waiting on Verizon, just so they can launch the new fifth-generation iPhone with LTE. However, this certainly seems unfair to all the other carriers around the world.

Finally have you considered all of those patents that Apple has filed over the years, maybe they are waiting on some of them to come to fruition and then incorporate them into the iPhone 5?

What strategic reason could there be to delay the iPhone 5?

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Virtua Tennis 4: PS3 Version to Receive Exclusive Content

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 01:58 PM PDT

Virtua Tennis 4: PS3 Version to Receive Exclusive Content

We have some rather exciting news now for those of you that own a PlayStation 3 and are thinking about purchasing the much-anticipated Virtua Tennis 4 game, as David Kempshall – the Brand Manager for VT4 – has just revealed that the PS3 version is to receive some exclusive content.

As noted over on the blog.us.playstation.com website, besides featuring players such as Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Venus and Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova, PlayStation 3 owners will also be able to get their hands on Pat Rafter, Boris Becker and Stefan Edberg.

The extra players aren't the only bit of exclusive content for the PS3 version either, as the Virtua Tennis 4 game will also provide gamers with 2 exclusive Party Games. The first of the Party Games is the classic and popular Pin Crusher game, where players are challenged to a game of tenpin bowling.

In Pin Crusher, players must serve the ball and attempt to knock down the skittles on the other side of the court. This game is only playable with the control pad however. The Net Blitz Party Game challenges players to build up their score by returning the balls into different sized nets.

Are you a PlayStation 3 owner that is thinking of buying the Virtua Tennis 4 game? If you are, what do you think of the exclusive content?

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We Dance: New Nintendo Wii Game Announced

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 01:34 PM PDT

We Dance: New Nintendo Wii Game Announced

It looks like Ubisoft's hugely popular music video game Just Dance – which is exclusively for the Nintendo Wii – is going to get a bit of competition very soon, as Nordic Games has recently announced that it will be releasing a dance game of its very own for the Nintendo Wii.

The game in question is We Dance, which according to Dominic Sacco over at mcvuk.com is an extension of the publisher's We Sing series. Although we don't have a specific release date at this stage, we do know that the game will be hitting stores sometime in May.

We Dance will feature a total of 40 licensed tunes, which span over four decades of music. The game will feature a blend of pop, rock, disco, drum 'n' bass and rap songs, along with original music videos and their own professionally choreographed dance moves.

Gamers will be able to play the We Dance game by using just the Wii Remote, Nordic Games' Star Mat peripheral or a mixture of the two. Consumers can purchase the We Dance game just on its own, or bundled together with either one or two Star Mats.

This isn't the first time that Nordic Games has ventured into the dance genre, as they've also released Dance Party Club Hits and Dance Party Pop Hits on both Nintendo Wii and PlayStation 2 back in 2009. Do you think it will be stiff competition for the Just Dance game?

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Be Famous: April Fools Day Pranks With Gadgets

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 01:04 PM PDT

Be Famous: April Fools Day Pranks With Gadgets

Tomorrow is April Fool's Day, and love it or loathe it; many people across the world celebrate the day doing various things to their friends or loved ones. We have already given you some applications for the day, but we have some gadgets which could make your April fool's day pranks famous amongst your friends.

Jai from walyou.com has compiled a list of numerous gadgets which you can use to prank your friends on April Fools' Day. If one of your friends is scared of spiders a really cool Remote control Black Widow will have them jumping out of their skins.

Hide it behind the sofa or other piece of furniture, and as they walk past make run out in front of them.

Another cool trick is the scratch stickers which you can put on someone's car, and they will think it has been damaged by another vehicle. These also work good on cycles and motorcycles, and will not damage the paintwork.

If you are having any guests over to your house the Puzzle Toilet Paper will have them tearing their hair out as they try and figure it out. If they are successful they can access the toilet paper. Use the link to see other clever gadgets to get you laughing on April Fools' Day.

Are you planning anything for April Fools Day?

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Crysis 2 Review: Will Xbox 360 and PS3 Please Stand Up

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 11:49 AM PDT

Crysis 2 Review: Will Xbox 360 and PS3 Please Stand Up

Following on from our hands-on with Homefront, we spent a day with Crysis 2. The review is only a first impression again, and the two games could not be more different, especially when it comes to the level of graphic detail.

Crysis 2 amazed us from the start, the level of detail is something the Xbox 360 and PS3 is not used to, and while we're sure that the highest spec PC will smash the consoles for graphic detail, the cross-platform development has resulted in something very special for PS3 and Xbox 360 users.

On this page you can see a few screens from our time with the game, and if you remotely like these screenshots, trust me, the science fiction first-person shooter is miles better when you’re in the thick of it, hands-on. It's nice to see a game that really pushes the next-gen games consoles to the limit, and doesn’t settle for below par graphics (we've seen enough of them).

Crytek show what the CryEngine 3 game engine can really do for consoles, and our first impressions was on the Xbox 360, although we did play a PS3 copy too, which showed no notable difference.

Crysis 2 is set three years after the first game, and in the year 2023. New York City has been deserted after the aliens came, and you're able to move around the destroyed cityscape, through buildings and between floors. The option to pickup almost any item is pretty cool, but pointless most times. All the time you are enjoying the surroundings, and how realistic they look.

You'll find yourself backed up against a wall at times, surrounded on all sides but not just from one enemy, you will be fighting both the aliens and CryNet Systems at times. This is not a problem for the Force Recon Marine you play as, aka 'Alcatraz'. This is thanks to the Nanosuit 2.0, which you wear and integrates with your body giving you enhanced abilities.

The Nanosuit 2.0 has some cool features, which are more streamlined than the first game, Crysis. The two modes we used the most in our review were the armor mode, and the cloaking mode. After playing a while and shooting everything you came across, the tactics start to set in, and you discover its better to cloak in most situations, and go for the stealth kill. Your tough, but you cannot kill everyone.

Crytek has said the combat in Crysis 2 is 'catastrophically beautiful', and they would be spot on with that statement, it's amazing. If you're looking to buy the best-looking FPS, then this near-perfect (visually) game will be the one to choose.

The story is good, but the real magic in Crysis 2 comes from the staged combat, which varies from backdoors like through the sewers, to carefully placed enemy patrols that you need to either fight through or find a way around, again this is where cloaking comes in handy.

There is a lot to Crysis 2 but this is just our first impression. Its great eye candy, and maybe not perfect inside but overall it's at least 9 out of 10. We've a lot more to see of the game, and will post more in time.

The Xbox 360 and PS3 are aging a bit, and Crysis 2 shows that the console hardware can match most modern PCs, although maybe not the high end models. Have you played Crysis 2? What do you love and hate?

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Black Cab Future: Fuel-Cell Hybrid Prototype

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 10:44 AM PDT

Black Cab Future: Fuel-Cell Hybrid Prototype

The London Taxi is a symbol for all black cabs and a Fuel-Cell Hybrid prototype will be uncovered at London’s City Hall this Monday.

Use of the London taxi consistently throughout the day without having to fill up would be advantageous, with the hydrogen fuel-cell system hybridized with lithium polymer batteries, exceeding 250 miles on a full tank of hydrogen, and reaching top speed of over 80 miles per hour, a black cab in the future is something we can all be glad about.

Lotus Engineering, LTI Vehicles, TRW Conekt and Intelligent Energy have all participated in the introduction of this cab. LTI gave up models to modify the build of the chassis, TRW Conekt ran the safety analysis program with the steering and brakes, and Lotus with design control systems to enhance performance of both the fuel cells and electric drive systems, and also the full propulsion and fuel cell engine.

With no emissions just water vapor from the exhaust, and it only taking about 5 minutes to fill up, you can see it becoming a big hit. Being part of a structure to make all London taxi cabs eco friendly by 2020, starting on London highways by 2012. Can this be a step forward to cleaning up the air in busy cities like London? For more information on the Fuel-Cell Hybrid prototype visit puregreencars.com

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New Chevrolet Malibu to be revealed in Shanghai

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 10:21 AM PDT

New Chevrolet Malibu to be revealed in Shanghai

General Motors have released a teaser video of the next Chevrolet Malibu, and have announced the new car will be revealed at the Shanghai Auto Show on April 18.

Fred Meier over at USA Today is reporting the new Malibu will also be making its debut at the same time on Chevrolet's Facebook page, and will be available as a live stream for owners of the iPhone and iPad. All this will kick off at 8.30 p.m. ET on April 18.

The teaser video which you can see below was released with a snapshot of the taillight; the new model will also be showcased at the New York Auto Show a few days later. The manufacturer has also announced the Malibu will be its first offering that will be sold around the world.

It will also be made in various factories across the world with sites in China, and the in the US. The new Malibu will be slightly shorter than its predecessor, and will be powered by various four-cylinder engines.

General Motors is looking to the Chevrolet brand for its future expansion plans, and wants it to become more global. Eight of its top ten sales were from emerging markets such as Brazil and China.

Check the teaser video below for the Malibu.

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Death Rally iOS Game Hits Apple App Store: Download Now

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 09:10 AM PDT

Death Rally iOS Game Hits Apple App Store: Download Now

Back in January we announced that Remedy Entertainment Ltd was planning on releasing its top-down racer title Death Rally for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad sometime in March. Well we can now tell you that the iOS game has hit the Apple App Store, and is available to download now.

Jared Nelson from toucharcade.com has had a chance to spend a bit of time with the newly released Death Rally and has even provided a review of the game, which originally released back in 1996. Jared noted that although the game isn't perfect, it's still one of the finest top-down racers on the App Store.

Each vehicle comes equipped with both a standard machine gun, and the player's choice of a second stronger weapon. However, the weapons and the other vehicles besides the first one are all unlocked by collecting various items that are spread around the track while the player's racing.

Players can also earn money from every race they enter. They can also earn more money, depending on where they come in the race, how many cars they manage to destroy and a few other performance factors. Player's winnings then go towards upgrading the 5 vehicles that are available.

Jared noted that although the Death rally game only offers 5 tracks to race on, it does a really good job of maximizing the variety in the 5 tracks. The highlight of the game according to Nelson is the amazing visuals. You can read what else Jared had to say about the game over at toucharcade.com.

Have you downloaded and played the Death Rally game yet? If you have, what are your first impressions?

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Swarm Xbox 360 Review – Truly Unique

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 08:57 AM PDT

Swarm Xbox 360 Review – Truly Unique

Every now and then developers send us Xbox 360 downloadable titles to test out, last week we received Swarm, this game has been developed by Hothead Games and is available for both Xbox 360 and PS3.

Having never heard of the game before I decided to play it without researching any information about the game, I must admit for the first time 10 minutes I really did not understand exactly what I was doing, however it all became clear later on.

When you start the game you see that you have a world map to play through, here you see that there are 10 stages to complete, however you need to achieve a certain score on a stage to unlock the next, it sounds simple, but believe me it is sometimes hard to reach the score necessary, it’s all about keeping your multiplier going.

If you have ever played a Tony Hawks game you will know all about keeping a multiplier going to achieve high scores, in Tony Hawks you had to use grind tricks and manual to keep your trick multiplier going, In Swarm you use your swarmites to collect orbs to keep your multiplier going, if there are no orbs nearby you must sacrifice swarmites, ensuring that at least one is still alive.

The game’s controls are easy to pick up and play, but pretty tricky to master. Your left analog stick moves the swarmites, the right trigger bunches your swarmites together and the left trigger spreads them out. Pressing ‘A’ makes your swarmite jump and pressing ‘B’ allows your swarmites to interact, throughout your journey you will learn how to combine these commands to smash through objects and even stack your swarmites on top of eachother.

Hidden on each level are five DNA strands, if you collect 15 of these in total you unlock the Fire Boss and if you collect 30 of these you unlock the Hat Boss, defeating these bosses should help you to climb the leaderboards, the leaderboard system also ensures that you will come back and reattempt a completed level (just like you do in Trials HD).

As previously mentioned you must ensure that at least one swarmite stays alive throughout, this sounds hard, however there are swarmite generators placed on the map which top up your swarmites to 50 again, also there are checkpoints throughout.

In terms of sound there is nothing to rave about, the sounds are adequate and there are some nice sound effects you come across when your swarmites go flying across the screen, the background music is a bit repetitive but it doesn’t get too annoying.

As for graphics the game has the standard of graphics we expect from an arcade game, nothing amazing but nothing too shoddy either, personally I found the visuals a bit dark, but apart from that everything is fine.

There are quite a few things which will keep you playing Swarm, firstly the previously mentioned leaderboard which allows you to battle it out with your friends, secondly there are death medals to collect and finally there are 12 achievements to earn.

In my opinion Swarm offers truly unique gameplay which has real lasting appeal, there is a trial on Xbox Live which you can download, or you can buy it for 1200 Microsoft Points here, give the demo a try and if you enjoy it why not check out the full game?

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Plants vs. Zombies: Nintendo DS Version Gets UK Release Date

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 08:22 AM PDT

Plants vs. Zombies: Nintendo DS Version Gets UK Release Date

If you live in the UK and you own a Nintendo DS, I think we have some rather interesting news for you. We've just received word that the Nintendo DS version of PopCap's hugely popular Plants vs. Zombies game has now been given an official UK release date.

As Mike Rose over on the pocketgamer.co.uk website recently reported, the Nintendo DS version of the tower defense action game – which sees players taking on the role of a homeowner who uses a variety of plants to fight off an army of zombies – has already been released in the US.

UK gamers on the other hand can look forward to the game arriving on May 6th. The DS version – which is published by Mastertronic Group in the UK – features exclusive touch-screen mini-games, multiplayer options and special Nintendo DS achievements to unlock.

The Plants vs. Zombies game was originally released for Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X back in 2009. However, it was then released for iOS devices in 2010, followed by an Xbox Live Arcade version the same year. The game has also been made available for the PlayStation 3.

Not only has the game received some fantastic scores from the critics, but it's also been nominated for several awards including the Game Developers Choice Awards for Best Download Game, Best Game Design and Innovation. It was also picked as Best Game of 2009 by Gamezebo.

Are you a fan of the Plants vs. Zombies game?

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Xperia Play: Vodafone UK Delays April 1st Launch

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 07:49 AM PDT

Xperia Play: Vodafone UK Delays April 1st Launch

A few days ago we announced that O2 had unfortunately delayed the UK release of the much-anticipated Sony Ericsson Xperia Play handset, which they said was due to the fact that they had discovered software bugs that were apparently causing issues with the Xperia Play's performance.

Now we have just received word that Vodafone UK and 3 have also delayed the Xperia Play's April 1st launch. According to Johnny Cullen over at vg247.com, Vodafone sent out a customer notice on Wednesday night, announcing that it would not be able to provide them with their orders.

Sony Ericsson has recently confirmed that a 'freight issue' might possibly impact the number of Xperia Play phones that reach the UK in time for the April 1st launch. However, the company did issue a statement claiming that the upcoming handset should still be launching on Friday as expected.

Vodafone's customer notice claimed that there would only be a small delay. They also stated that they are working closely with Sony Ericsson, to ensure that the phone is delivered to customers as soon as possible. Vodafone started taking pre-orders for the Xperia Play phone a couple of weeks ago.

Were you thinking of picking up the Xperia Play from O2, 3 or Vodafone UK?

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Google’s Best April Fools Day Pranks

Posted: 31 Mar 2011 07:48 AM PDT

Google’s Best April Fools Day Pranks

Tomorrow will be a day when we are uncertain what news is real, as some websites will be full of April Fools Day pranks. Even the big search engines get in on the action, but Google is best when it comes to new ideas and jokes, with last year being one of the best yet. Knowing what is the best is a tough one, but we will mention a few of the most recent.

How can anyone forget what Google came up with on April Fools Day last year, where they said that one city had renamed itself Topeka to try and win a high-speed Internet connection. This really did happen, so Google thought that in honor of the gesture they would rename their logo.

Also last year was the Google Translate for Animals Android app. We were told that there was a new application for Android handsets that could translate what animals were saying. This was also from last year, they will have to come up with something even more outrageous to beat that one.

One of our favorites has to be "Google Gulp", which was said to be a new drink that would be able to increase your intelligence. Well if you would have had a sip from it, then maybe you would have realized that Google had just played another prank on you?

However, the all time great has to be "Google TiSP". This was a cracker, as Google said that you could all have a fast broadband service, all you needed to do was flush the fiber-optic cable down the toilet and send it on its way.

Which has been your best Google April Fools Day prank?

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