Uncharted 2's Big Screen Preview

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is getting raving reviews from everyone and it’s already been predicted to be the best game of 2009...not bad for game that hasn't been released yet. Even G4’s Adam Sessler said that Uncharted 2 has the best single player experience of any game he has ever played and that’s saying something when it comes from the guy who controls all the gaming news for an entire cable station and its website. Apparently the game’s graphics will blow your mind and the game's attention to detail makes it standout from the heaping mass of generic shooters that clog Game Stop’s shelves.

As a way to create buzz around the game, Sony has decided to let people preview the game before its release in four movie theaters across the nation. Mike Fidler, Senior VP of Sony’s digital camera division said, "This is the first time we're doing it in a theater. We think it's a start of something for us, and hope we can build this into a standard element in the movie-going experience." Uncharted 2 will be projected onto the theater’s mammoth screen using Sony’s new 4K digital projectors. Combine the state of the art projectors with the game’s stunning graphic engine and the eyes of those at the preview will most likely melt out of their sockets due to all the prettyness happening on the screen...so if you plan on going to the preview you have been warned.

San Francisco and Thousand Oaks, California; Bellevue, Washington; and Rosemont, Illinois are the lucky winners of this video game/theater experiment (YAY Illinois). I’m not really into shooters, but I am interested in this one so come down to the MUVICO Rosemont Theater at 9701 Bryn Mawr Ave Rosemont, IL 60018 and check it out and don’t forget your seeing eye dog.

According to MUVICO’s website the Uncharted 2 tournament (yes, not just a preview, but a competition as well) will happen on Tuesday October 6 from 5:00 till 10:00 PM. It’s $15 to play or $10 to watch other people play (boring). If you want to order your tickets in advance go to MUVICO’s website or call (847) 447-1030.

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Learning and Gaming Expo

The Learning and Gaming Expo in Park Ridge last Saturday has come and gone and I have to say it was pretty pitiful. It was held in Maine South’s cafeteria with speakers on one side of the room and a sparse collection of games to be played on the other. So was it worth attending?


Where are the Games?

I would have to say yes. The purpose of the Gaming and Learning Expo was to inform people (mostly parents) about the gaming industry and dispel some of negative propaganda of the gaming world. The Expo advertised that there would be games, but I was disappointed (but not surprised) to find that the games they showed off to parents and non-gamers were the super G rated games. The only games to make an appearance at the Expo were DDR, Guitar Hero 2, Rock Band, Mario Kart, Wii fit, and Little Big Planets. Since the Expo was an attempt to show parents how games can be used for the forces of good and not medium for watching people’s heads explode I guess I can be OK with their selection of games. It was weird that they were raffling off games like Stranglehold and Street Fighter 4 to the kiddies as prizes (seems a little counter intuitive to me).

Lets Talk

So what saved the Expo from being a huge failure? The speakers of course. I got to talk to a couple really cool game designers and animators. Michael Henson a professor at DeVry University’s Game and Simulation Program spoke about animation in games. “Animation in gaming is painstakingly slow, you need to be very detail oriented to do this job.” Have no fear you Ritalin addicted junkies, Michel went on to say, “There are many other types of designers such as level designers, character designers, and people who just make sure the shadows look good in a game.” Apparently, level and character designers don’t need to go into the same meticulous detail as an animator does.

Other speakers included Simeon Peebler from Chicago’s Flashpoint Academy who gave a talk on how to get into the gaming industry. No surprise that one of the best ways to break into the industry was to join Flashpoint Academy. I did learn that Flashpoint is rapidly growing and it has just bought one of ABC’s studios in Chicago to house some of their larger projects. Not bad considering Flashpoint Academy came into existed in 2007. Kishna Kumar from Microsoft was a big proponent that video games were very useful in todays society. He talked about how the gaming industry is larger than the music and movie industry and showed what kind of potential games in the future can have on children. Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay to listen to his entire talk because I had to get back to work.

Final Thoughts

I don’t know how to judge if this event was successful or not. There weren’t that many people actually at the Expo and I would say that half the people attending were staff and volunteers who were there to set up and take down. The games they had on display were lame, but the speakers they found were top notch. I wish more people had come to the Expo, but overall I guess I’ll give the Learning and Gaming Expo a passing grade. I expect something a little bit bigger next year. Did you hear me Park Ridge?

Got a date for Valentines?

Hey nerds, in the mood for love? If so, Diet Dr. Pepper and Yahoo are teaming up to bring you the love you deserve at a Dave and Buster’s near you. The event is called Love at First Sip and it’s a night of speed dating, mystery encounters, and video games. Unfortunately, you don’t get a game card for participating and personally that’s a deal breaker for me, but if you really want to find that special someone or a fan of traveling you should give it a shot. The grand prize for the newly formed couple is trip to Paris France(Woot, Woot).


Don’t be alone on Valentines Day like my friend who will inevitably drink herself into a stupor (highly not recommended), go find some loving at Dave and Buster’s because even if it doesn't work out you can always take your frustration out on nearest Time Crisis or Tekken 4 game. Love at First Sip is coming to Chicago February 13th at the Dave and Busters in Addison. For official rules and other locations (for those of you not in the chicagoland area) click here.

Learning and Gaming Expo

OK nerds mark you calendars (because I've already marked mine), the Park Ridge Public Library is having a Gaming and Learning Expo on Saturday, February 28th at Maine South High School from 1:00-4:00 pm. The Expo will include: presentations on gaming research, game design workshops, college programs, game designer signings, and hands-on gaming with Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and PS3.

I'll keep you posted on who's actually going to appear at the expo once we are closer to the event.

Spike TV's Video Game Awards Show Overflow

So what’s up with the award categories in spike TV’s 2008 award show? Best Performance by a Human Male or Female. What does that mean!?! Are robots making our video games now? (I hope they’re not evil). And what about the categories Best Individual Sports Game and Best Team Sports Game, why isn’t there one umbrella category called Best Sports Game? I get that Spike TV is the “Man Channel” but seriously guys, did you really need two sports categories. But what really blows my mind is that Fallout 3 won Best RPG. How did a shooter win Best RPG! (Argggg the rage I feel right now!!!!) I guess I can’t be too mad, if I take into account Spike TV’s target demographic (males 18-49) I bet 70% of them only own an Xbox and I also bet that their top 3 games are Gears of War 2, Halo 2, and of course freaking Fallout 3.

2008 Spike TV Video Game Awards

Jack Black hosted this year’s Video Game Awards and I must say he was hilarious if not a little too raunchy, but it’s Spike TV what do you expect. The Award show included performances by 50 cent, All American Rejects, Weezer, and LL Cool J with a bevy of stars presenting awards.

And the winners are....


Best Shooter: Gears of War 2 (is anyone surprised)

Best RPG: Fallout 3: (Wait! Isn’t that a shooter)

Best Music Game: Rock Band 2

Best Soundtrack: Rock Band 2 (What, the best music game also has the best soundtrack, that’s crazy talk)

Best Original Score: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Best Fighting Game: Soul Calibur 3

Best Individual Sports Game: Shaun White Snow Boarding

Best Team Sports Game: NHL 09

Gamer God: Will Wright (I think they really wanted to give Will an award so they made up a category just for him. Will Wright is responsible for games like the Sims and Spore)

Big Name in the Game Female (Voice acting award): Jenney McCarthy as Tanya in Command and conquer red alert 3

Big Name in the Game Male: Kiefer Sutherland as Sgt. Roebuck in Call of Duty

Best Performance by a Human Female (I have no idea what this category is about): Debi Mae West as Meryl Silverburgh in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Best Performance by a Human Male: Michael Hollic as Niko Bellic in Grand theft Auto IV

Best Driving Game: Burn Out Paradise

Best Game Based on a Movie or TV show: Legos Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure

Best Action Adventure Game: Grand Theft Auto IV

Best Graphics: Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Best Handheld Game: Professor Layton and the Curious Village

Best Studio: Media Molecule (the creators of Little Big Planets)

Best Independent Game: World of Goo

Best PC Game: Left 4 Dead

Best PS3 game: Little Big Planets

Best Xbox360 Game: Gears of War 2

Best wii game: Boom Blox

Best Game of the year: Grand Theft Auto IV

Congratulations Grand Theft Auto IV you won the tiara and the bouquet of roses. Take your bow and enjoy your time in the spotlight but be careful, there are a handful of crazed beauty queen-esque video games ready to knock you off your throne.

Black Friday

This is a last second post for you last second shoppers. As you may or may not know Black Friday is this week. Just in case you don’t know, Black Friday is when stores have ridiculous sales on items like game systems and other useful items. Today I’ve put together guidelines for you, the unsuspecting consumer, to survive Black Friday if you choose to participate in this wondrous event.





1. Check out BlackFriday.info. It has a list of stores and items that will be sold at discounted prices.

2. Check the time when the store opens. Most stores open early on Black Friday so be prepared to greet the sun in the morning.

3. Get to the store 1-2 hours before it opens. If you want to have a chance of getting whatever you want this is a must. Don’t forget the more popular the item, like an X-Box, Wii, or PS3, the more people you will have to fight to get it. Unfortunately, electronics go first so I recommend you get to the store two hours early.

4. Take a friend. Very important since you might get bored (a DS or PSP can fix that problem too) but if you want to take a bathroom break, a buddy to hold your spot in line is invaluable.

5. Know where you’re going. You don’t want to be heading toward the school supplies aisle instead of the electronic area you may just miss getting what you came for.

6. Get ready to rumble. Be prepared for some desperate mothers clawing for boxes. A friend would be good to help deflect some of the attacks of the more aggressive mothers trying to buy their children’s love.



7. You only have one shot so make it count! Make sure what you’re looking for is in that particular store. You won’t have time to drive somewhere else because all you will find at the next store will be your shattered hopes for buying something dirt cheap.



If you follow these 7 guidelines you should come home with whatever you had your eye on. Good luck!


(Disclaimer: If you followed my 7 guidelines and you still didn’t get what you were looking for I’m sorry and I cannot be held responsible. Maybe you should have been more assertive and knocked over that old lady going after the same things you were)

Video Games Live

Whoever likes music raise your hand. If you’re not raising your hand (and I know if you’re not) put them into the air immediately. OK you can put your hands down now. For all of you who did raise their hand (or those who just caved into peer pressure) you should be excited to hear that Video Games Live (VGL) is coming to Chicago on November 15th at the Chicago Theater.




What exactly is VGL you ask? VGL is a spectacular concert that features music from popular video games such as Super Mario, Halo, Final Fantasy, Pac-Man, Legend of Zelda and several other popular game titles. The concert is played by a live professional symphony orchestra and is accompanied by a first-class choir. Not only are your ears in for a treat, but so are your eyes. VGL features a dazzling light show with video footage projected onto a large screen behind the orchestra. The official VGL website said this about the experience, “It's the power & emotion of a symphony orchestra mixed with the excitement and energy of a rock concert and the technology and interactivity of a video game all completely synchronized to amazing cutting edge video screen visuals, state-of-the-art lighting and special on-stage interactive segments with the audience.” VGL was created by Tommy Tallarico (who some of you might know from G4’s Judgment day and Electric Playground) and Jack Wall, two very well known video game composers. Tommy and Jack created VGL for the purpose of showing how video games can function as an art form in today's culture.


(This is what it would look like if lived in a cartoon world)

To sweeten the package, VGL also includes Pre and Post show events. At the Pre-Show there will be a costume contest as well as video game competitions for games like Guitar Hero II and Space Invaders. At the Post Show there is a meet-and-greet with various video game composers and of course more video games to play. Tommy and Jack did their best to make this an entertaining experience for gamers and non-gamers alike.

Even though I’m FREAKING excited for the event some of you may not be convinced yet. I can only imagine you’re in one of two groups. Group A, or as I would like to call it “Group Skeptic,” doesn't understand why anyone would want to listen to game music outside of the video game. Or Group B, which I will call “Where’s the Guitar Solo so I can Head Bang, Throw Up the Horns, and Rock Out in the Mosh Pit.” Those in group B believe orchestra music isn’t for them and want nothing to do with a string instrument that isn’t plugged into an amp. For both groups I present the orchestral version of Simple and Clean from Kingdom Hearts (another one of my favorite video games).



Anyone excited yet? I know I am and that was just a small taste of what VGL has to offer. If that song didn’t interest you in the slightest bit then I don’t know why you’re still reading this post. If you liked what you heard then you certainly want to go to VGL. If you’re not in the Chicago area don’t worry VGL travels all over the world. Check out the official Video Games Live site to see when it comes to a city near you.

Despite the fact that I want to go VGL so bad that it hurts, I will not be attending the event this year. Through an unfortunate twist of fate I will be out of town when VGL rolls into Chicago (I am literally crying about this…seriously), but I encourage everyone to go. This is definitely one event you don’t want to miss.