[12.30.11] Xbox Live bans guns for avatars

This gem will be gone starting Jan. 1

Anthony Ortale

That’s right, starting Jan 1, 2012 Xbox Live is officially removing all ‘gun-like’ items from the Avatar marketplace. It seems a tad bit ridiculous honestly, but Microsoft has always had a weird set of restrictions as to what an Avatar can and can’t do. In just two days, Microsoft will be adding to that list by preventing the sale of any guns to avatars. If you’ve already purchased one you don’t need to worry because Microsoft isn’t banning the actual use of guns on Avatars; so you can still sport your gun proudly for the world to see. This means, however, that if you ever have or ever will want any sort of gun for your Avatar, you need to grab it now before time runs out! To make it easy as possible for you, here’s a list of all the items that might be disappearing with the start of the New Year:

-Brush Launcher

-Freeze Ray

-Gold Hammerburst

-Gold Lancer

-Halo Scarab

-Hammerburst

-Lancer

-Miniature Tank

-RC Goliath Drone

-Rick’s Tank

-Robocop Toy

[12.10.11] 2011 'Spike Video Game Award' winners

Airs 12.10.11 at 8 PM ET on Spike TV

Spike TV

And it’s officially kicked off, the 2011 Spiked Video Game Awards are here! There are 29 awards to give out tonight, and you can find a list of all of the nominees and category winners right here as they are announced. There is also plenty of new games that will be announced tonight, a few of which are already known. The only way to find out the rest is to tune in right now Live on Spike TV! If you can’t, you can at least keep up with who the winners are as this article will be updated constantly throughout the night. All winners will be highlighted in bold.

Game of The Year

- Batman: Arkham City

- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

- Portal 2

- Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Studio of the Year

- Bethesda

- Naughty Dog

- Rocksteady

- Valve

Best Xbox 360 Game

- Batman: Arkham City

- Forza Motorsport 4

- Gears of War 3

- Portal 2

Best PS3 Game

- Infamous 2

- Killzone 3

- LittleBigPlanet 2

- Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Best Wii Game

- Disney’s Epic Mickey

- Kirby’s Return to Dream Land

- Lost in Shadow

- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

Best PC Game

- Battlefield 3

- Minecraft

- The Witcher 2: Assassins of King

- Portal 2

Best Handheld/Mobile Game

- Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective

- Infinity Blade

- Super Mario 3D Land

- Jetpack Joyride

Best Shooter

- Battlefield 3

- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

- Gears of War 3

- Rage

Best Action Adventure Game

- Assassins Creed: Revelations

- Batman: Arkham City

- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

- Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Best RPG

- Dark Souls

- Deus Ex: Human Revolution

- Dragon Age II

- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Best Multi-Player

- Battlefield 3

- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

- Gears of War 3

- Portal 2

Best Individual Sports Game

- Fight Night Champion

- Tiger Woods 12: The Masters

- Top Spin 4

- Virtua Tennis 4

Best Team Sports Game

- FIFA Soccer 12

- NBA 2K12

- NHL 12

- MLB ’11: The Show

Best Driving Game

- Dirt 3

- Driver: San Francisco

- Forza Motorsport 4

- Need For Speed: The Run

Best Fighting Game

- Mortal Kombat

- The King of Fighters XIII

- Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds

- WWE All Stars

Best Motion Game

- Child of Eden

- Dance Central 2

- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

- The Gunstringer

Best Independent Game

- Bastion

- Minecraft

- Superbrothers: Swords and Sworcery EP

- The Binding of Isaac

Best Adapted Video Game

- Back to The Future: The Game

- Batman: Arkham City

- Captain America: Super Soldier

- Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

Best Song in Game

- “Build That Wall (Zia’s Theme)” by Darren Korb

- “Exile Vilify” by The National

- “I’m not Calling You a Liar” by Florence + The Machine

- “Setting Sail, Coming Home (End Theme)” by Darren Korb

- “Want You Gone” by Jonathan Coulton

Best Original Score

- Bastion

- Batman: Arkham City

- Deus Ex: Human Revolution

- Portal 2

Best Graphics

- Batman: Arkahm City

- LA Noire

- Rage

- Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Best Performance by a Human Male

- J.K. Simmons as Cave Johnson

- Mark Hamill as The Joker

- Nolan North as Nathan Drake

- Stephen Merchant as Wheatley

Best Performance by a Human Female

- Claudia Black as Chloe Frazer

- Ellen McLain as Glados

- Emily Rose as Elena Fisher

- Tara Strong as Harley Quinn

Best Downloadable Game

- Bastion

- Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet

- Stacking

- Trenched

Best DLC

- ­Fallout: New Vegas, Old World Blues

- Mass Effect 2, Arrival

- Mortal Kombat, Freddy Krueger

- Portal 2, Peer Review

NFL Blitz Cover Vote

- Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens

- Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons

- Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers

Character of the Year

- Nathan Drake

- Marcus Fenix

- The Joker

- Wheatley

Most Anticipated Game

- Bioshock: Infinite

- Diablo III

- Halo 4

- Mass Effect 3

- The Last Guardian

GameTrailers.com Trailer of the Year

- Assassins Creed: Revelations

- Batman: Arkham City

- Dark Souls

- Dead Island

- Deus Ex: Human Revolution

- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

- Hitman: Absolution

- Prey 2

- Tomb Raider

- Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

[11.07.11] 'Modern Warfare 3' stolen in armed robbery

One of the biggest titles of the decade comes out at midnight tonight, but that hasn’t stopped people from trying to get it early. Earlier this week, K-Mart let many copies slip out their door thanks to a shipment error, and it’s likely a few other copies have been quietly sold at mom and pop stores around the country. The question is though, just how far would you go to get your hands on a copy before its release date? Did you cruise to K-Mart when the news broke? Did you think about bribing the employee of the local game store? Would you go so far as to take someone at knifepoint to get a copy? Well surprisingly enough, two men in France did this past weekend.

In something straight out of an action movie, two men rammed their car into a van carrying approximately 6,000 copies of MW3. They sprayed the drivers with tear gas and then stole the van and its contents worth an estimated $550,000. Reports also mentioned that the two men were armed with knives, however if never stated if the victims were injured. There were also reports of a similar robbery taking place later where three men used their van to block the road before commandeering a vehicle with a shipment of equal value. If armed robberies aren’t really your thing though, you could always just bid on a copy on eBay, but if you go for one of the leaked K-mart copies, it could cost you upwards of $1,700!

[10.11.11] PlayStation Network Accounts compromised again!

Accounts were compromised again on October 11

Anthony Ortale, Sony

In a very disappointing and somewhat shocking turn of events, Sony’s VP & Chief Information Officer, Phillip Reitinger, just announced that approximately 93,000 PlayStation Network, Sony Entertainment Network, and Sony Online Entertainment accounts have been compromised today. According to their reports, they have just detected someone attempting to “test a massive set of sign-in IDs and passwords against our network database.” Now, before you go blaming Sony again, it’s not their fault – or so they claim.

“These attempts appear to include a large amount of data obtained from one or more compromised lists from other companies, sites or other sources. In this case, given that the data tested against our network consisted of sign-in ID-password pairs, and that the overwhelming majority of the pairs resulted in failed matching attempts, it is likely the data came from another source and not from our Networks.”

Assuming that this is true, we really should be praising Sony this time around. Not only did they successfully detect it, but they’ve also taken security measures to protect the affected accounts. If your account was affected, you can rest assured that your account is completely safe. Sony has temporarily locked all the jeopardized accounts. All of these will be required to have passwords reset securely via an email to the account’s associated email address.

Sony has also confirmed that no credit card credentials were lost, and only a miniscule amount of the accounts showed activity after the compromise happened. If your account was one of the most unfortunate ones, Sony will work with you to restore any unauthorized purchases to your account.

If you think your account has been compromised and you use the same password for your email address as your PSN, SEN, or SOE ID, you should immediately log in and change your password. Odds are those who have these lists are checking them against your email accounts too, and that is your only secure way of retaining your PSN, SEN, or SOE account! You should also change your password for any other site you have the same, or similar passwords for.

To read the full letter from Phillip Reitinger, click here.

[10.11.11] Xbox 360 slim gets 320 GB hard drive with free game

Microsoft

Microsoft announced today they will be selling the 360 GB hard drive as a stand-alone accessory later this month. It was previously only available in the Gears of War 3 Limited Edition Xbox 360. If you’re finally wanting to tack a hard drive onto that 4 GB model you bought or have simply run out of space on your 250 GB hard drive, you will be able to upgrade for $129.99 at any Xbox 360 retailer once it releases. As an added bonus, you’ll receive a download code for a free Games-On-Demand version of Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars. That’s not really justifiable to spend the $129.99 on alone considering you can pick up a disc copy for as little as $19.99 now, but if you need to upgrade it’s definitely a welcomed freebie. This hard drive is only compatible with the newer slim 360’s.

If you're interested in picking one up, you can now preorder it from Amazon.com at a discounted $126.44 [+ shipping]

You can see the original press release here.

[09.14.11] ‘Breakneck’ brings 'Headlong' to 'Halo: Anniversary'

Screenshot of Breakneck, the upcoming remake of Headlong.

Microsoft

Turf, Hang ‘em High, Chill Out, Lockout, Sidewinder, Midship, The Pit, Zanzibar, Blood Gulch, Headlong… these are just some of the maps from the Halo series that people have been begging to be remade; and over the course of the last couple of Halo games, many of them have received one. Some of them were official remakes such as Last Resort or Blackout. The others received unofficial, yet perfect rebuilds done entirely through Halo’s wonderful forge feature thanks to the boisterous fan community. The only exception to this was poor ol’ Headlong.

Not even Forge could begin to do justice to a map like Headlong. There was too much to do, too much to build, and not enough to spur those great memories. Most people had given up hope, thinking those delightful moments were forever lost when Halo 2 was officially disconnected from Live. Only a few continued on with LAN parties fondly partaking in epic warthog jumps across unfinished bridges or base-jumping two stories through the middle of a skyscraper while fleeing with an enemy’s flag. At long last, Halo fans can rejoice though, as a whole new era of Headlong is arriving, thanks to Halo: Anniversary.

This November 15th is the official release date for Halo: Anniversary and that marks the day that players can finally get their hands on Breakneck. The construction site has now moved to New Mombasa, the same location of 2009’s Halo 3: ODST. The design of the map appears to hold true to the original minus the new graphics. Anyone who played through H3:ODST will feel right at home with the art style mimicking the game perfectly. All the billboards of Headlong have been transformed into the emergency-information bearing LCD screens of New Mombasa, screaming ‘Security Alert, Evacuate’ with the blank stares of the fan-favorite, Superintendent. The construction site is still there in all its bits and pieces complete with cranes and unfinished buildings, all of which was masterfully blended into the surrounding remains of the city of New Mombasa. This is the overhaul that Headlong deserved; and this is just what fans have been waiting for.

To get a good look at Breakneck now, check out the video to the left (courtesy of Kotaku) or click through the screenshots fresh from Halo Waypoint.

[09.13.11] 'Red Dead Redemption' gets 'Game of the Year Edition' this October

Available in North America October 11th

Rockstar

If you’re part of the very small group of people who haven’t played Red Dead Redemption yet and this week’s free DLC couldn’t get you there, you now have even more incentive to give it a go. For just $49.99, anyone can get a copy of the full Red Dead experience on October 11th in North America. Rockstar Games will be releasing a much warranted Game-of-the-Year edition for RDR on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Before you raise a stink about the ‘game-of-the-year’ branding, this one was earned, with over 160 game-of-the-year awards from various companies.

The GOTY Edition is set to include the full Red Dead Redemption game with an all-new ‘hardcore’ difficulty option for single-player. Also included on-disc will be every single piece of DLC, free or paid, that has been released for it so far. This includes the zombie filled Undead Nightmare, characters and maps from Legends and Killers and Myths and Mavericks, more multiplayer antics from Liars and Cheats and Outlaws to the End, the previously PlayStation 3 Exclusive Solomon’s Folly gang hideout and challenges, and all of the pre-release bonus content including the Deadly Assassin Outfit, War Horse, Golden Guns Weapon Pack, and the Hunting and Trading Outfits Pack. That’s an undoubtedly large amount of value there, considering each of the paid packs were $5 a pop and any Preorder bonuses you didn’t get but still wanted were $1 each. Throw in a copy of one of the few games that can justify the original $60 asking price, and you've got yourself quite the steal; assuming you don't already own the game that is.

[09.08.11] Free 'Red Dead Redemption Myths and Mavericks' DLC coming September 13th

Rockstar

This is quite the pack of content if you’re into the multiplayer scene on Red Dead Redemption. Ten brand spankin’ new maps [to multiplayer] are being added in, and four others are having additional game modes added to them. You can also strap on one of 8 new skins on your character. Rockstar finally confirmed all of them on their website today:

Maps/Modes (bolded locations are brand new to multiplayer)
Cochinay – Gold Rush, Shootout, Gang Shootout, Stronghold
Nekoti Rock – Gold Rush, Shootout, Gang Shootout
El Presidio – Gold Rush, Shootout, Gang Shootout
Plainview – Gold Rush, Shootout, Gang Shootout
Gaptooth Mine – Shootout, Gang Shootout
Pike’s Basin – Shootout, Gang Shootout
Perdido – Hold Your Own, Grab the Bag
Benedict Point – Hold Your Own, Grab the Bag
Beecher’s Hope - Stronghold
Torquemada - Stronghold
Armadillo - Stronghold
Chuparosa - Stronghold
Rio Bravo - Shootout, Gang Shootout
Tumbleweed - Stronghold

New Multiplayer Characters
Landon Ricketts
Vicente DeSanta
Drew MacFarlane
Deputy Eli
Deputy Jonah
Javier Esquella
Nastas
Uncle

[09.08.11] Gearbox wants your help shaping 'Borderlands 2'

Borderlands 2

Gearbox

The guys behind hits like the Brothers in Arms series, Duke Nukem Forever, and Borderlands love to get feedback from the community. Gearbox Software wants your opinion on what should be done with the upcoming Borderlands 2, and they’re pulling out all the stops to make it easier for you to let them know how you feel! They’re looking for input on everything from game design to what should be included in the imminent collector’s edition. If you were a fan of the first Borderlands game or already know you can’t wait to get your hands on the upcoming sequel, there are three ways you can make this game all you’ve wanted it to be.

The first step is to take this survey and answer a few questions about what you think were the highlights of the first game. Expect questions like ‘which of these was your favorite feature’ and ‘would you like to see _____ implemented into Borderlands 2’. It’s quick and painless; and it will also get you entered to win some prizes! If surveys aren’t really your thing, you can always hit them up on their official twitter feed @GearboxSoftware or head on down to their forums where they’ve opened up an official thread asking you what sort of things you’d like to see contained in the collector’s edition. Who wouldn’t like to open up their collector’s edition on release day and have their own little mechanical Claptrap running around? Odds are, we’ll probably get stuck with something more like an art-book though; but the power is now in your hands!

[09.07.11] 'RollerCoaster Tycoon' is back and coming to the Nintendo 3DS

Atari

Tycoon simulation games were huge in the early 2000’s. Everything from Prison Tycoon to Zoo Tycoon was available all with the same basic premise. Start with a small business and work your way up to the big time with a multi-million dollar franchise. None of these games did it better than Chris Sawyer’s RollerCoaster Tycoon series. In 2004, the Atari took the series for a drastic change when RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 was developed by Frontier Developments with Sawyer only acting as a consultant. Critic’s praised the overhaul, but many fans had mixed feelings and the design shift combined with a dying interest in the simulation genre proved to be too much for the series to hold on to. For years, the series lay dormant being supported only by a string of fan sites.

Rumors constantly shot up about a RollerCoaster Tycoon 4being in development and even the possibility of a screen adaptation. Neither projects ever gained any weight though, so lingering fans were left with a deep craving for some more theme park building action. Finally, they’re going to have a chance with the upcoming RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D. Although they’re still going to have to hold off for over a year to get their hands on it, at least they can do it knowing the latest tease is finally the real deal!

Twelve years after the release of the original RollerCoaster Tycoon, the series is making a full-on comeback, this time in eye-popping 3D. They’re promising the deep coaster construction system that made the series a hit with a deep and immersive management simulation. They will also be implementing a new ‘Coaster Story Mode’ which blends the tutorials and classic park challenges into one fluent and entertaining narrative. Just like a typical career mode, you’ll create your own character and set off on a journey to start your own theme park empire. Progressing successfully through each park will unlock more unique attractions and themes. If that’s not really your style though, you’ll also have the option to jump straight into ‘Park Sandbox’ mode and play it just like you used to turning an already up-and-running park into a laughter-filled, stomach-wrenching, fun-filled cash cow of a theme park! If you were one of the fans who clung to the many fan run websites to share your creations, things will be much easier this time around as RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D will take full advantage of the 3DS’ networking capabilities so you can post your creations for others to see.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D is being developed by n-Space and published by Atari. It currently has a release date set for the fourth quarter of 2012.

[08.31.11] 3DS Ambassador games now available

Donkey Kong Jr.

Nintendo

Those who picked up a 3DS [and signed into the eShop] before the price drop officially hit were awarded a very special title, that of the ‘3DS Ambassador’. This title comes with more than just a shiny nameplate though. You get a huge reward of 20 – that’s right, count them, twenty – free games to play on your favorite handheld. They are all downloadable games you can play on your 3DS; and they’re also available now. Well… half of them anyway.

Ten virtual console classics are waiting for you to download next time you visit the eShop. Now since you’re an extra special ‘ambassador’, you’re getting these ten before they’re available to the public! This means you can’t just start searching for the games like you would other titles. In the 3DS eShop, click ‘menu’ in the top-left corner, hit ‘settings’, and select ‘your downloads’. After that, scroll down until you see the titles and ‘redownload’ them. Here’s a complete list of the games you can expect to find:

- Balloon Fight

- Donkey Kong Jr.

- Ice Climber

- Mario Open Golf

- Metroid

- Super Mario Bros.

- Wrecking Crew

- Yoshi’s Egg

- The Legend of Zelda

- Zelda II: The Adventures of Link

[08.26.11] 'Forza Motorsport 4' to include UNSC Warthog

Turn 10

Cover your eyes if you hate crossover promotions, because there’s about to be a huge one and this is definitely a salute to the Microsoft fans out there! This October with the release of the much anticipated Forza Motorsport 4, Turn 10 will be showing their appreciation to their former sister studio Bungie with the inclusion of a very special vehicle in their new Autovista feature.

The Warthog is arguably the most iconic vehicle to the Halo series, but with guns blazing in the heat of battle, there’s simply no time to admire it. If you’ve ever wished you could climb inside the cockpit, now’s your chance. With the help of a Kinect, an Xbox 360, and a copy of Forza 4, you can have the most life-like experience you’ll probably ever have with the United Nations Space Command’s primary land vehicle. With Autovista, you have the chance to walk around the vehicle, look closely at each intricate detail, and even get behind the wheel. Sadly, though, don’t expect to take it out for a few laps, because the Warthog will not be a drivable vehicle. If you can’t wait until October to gaze upon the Warthog, take a look at the screenshots in the slideshow to the left

[08.24.11] Review: 'Duke Nukem Forever'

2K Games

Duke Nukem Forever

Rating:

4 Stars

Duke Nukem. Many people know the name, and many people also know at least a little bit of the story behind the making of Duke Nukem Forever, regardless of whether or not they even play video games. Stuck in developmental hell for 15 years, the impossible happened when Duke Nukem Forever was finally released to the public in June 2011. Suddenly the cool thing to do seemed to be bashing the game. Critic after critic gave it horrendous reviews, often in the range of 2-3 points out of a possible 10! Metacritic’s score for DNF sits right around 49% for any console. Despite all of this, it still had notably strong sales on release week, although they dwindled out later on that month to a mere 376,300 units. Despite the fact that Take-Two Interactive ultimately did state the game was profitable for them, the big question is, though, was the bashing justified? Or is Duke just another victim of the media?

The Fun Stuff:

Hail to the King, Baby!

What could be more fun than finally getting to play as the larger-than-life Duke Nukem? One of the most ridiculous, over-the-top action stars of all time is brought back in Duke Nukem Forever, and you get the chance to run and gun as The King. Duke has got himself an arsenal of fantasy weapons, goofy one-liners, and some awesome pop-culture references to play through the campaign with.

Freeze Ray! Freeze Ray! Freeze Ray!

Yup, that’s right, the freeze ray is back, albeit a little differently from the original, but it’s still a freaking freeze ray! The fun doesn’t stop there though. There’s the Devastator, which is a dual-chamber rapid fire rocket launcher – every man’s dream weapon! You can also get your hands on the Railgun, which is like a sniper rifle combined with the Spartan Laser from the Halo series. There are many more to list including the basics like the M1911 pistol, a shotgun, shrink ray, RPG, pipe bombs, and trip mines. No matter which weapon you pick up, you simply can’t go wrong. Just make sure you try them all out!

That’s one dead space marine…

If you love pop culture references, you’ve got a lot in store from you. Games, companies, movies… nothing’s safe from Duke Nukem. If it’s been big in the last 10 years, it’s going to get a reference in one form or another throughout the game. Without spoiling anything you’re going to see or hear, expect to catch references to Halo, Valve, and the movie Old School among many other things. The majority of the humor throughout the game comes off as groaners, however quite a few of the pop-culture references are enough to get you to laugh out loud.

We need more crates!

The longest running joke in the first-person shooter genre is the presence of crates anywhere and everywhere in every single game. Think of many mainstream shooters. Take World War III, the setting of some random faceless town already blown to bits, grab a bunch of troops, and run them through a warehouse filled with crates. They’re always there to for some cover. Now I’m not trying to say DNF doesn’t have crates… there certainly are some there, but the best thing about DNF’s setting is that it’s not rinse and repeat. One minute you’re swimming underneath a dam and the next you’re out in the desert driving a monster truck or riding in a mine-cart Donkey Kong style!

The parts that really shine through are when Duke gets shrunken down by the aliens. Now the environments have the charm of Honey, I Shrunk the Kids! but with the flavor of Duke, of course. When you were a kid, didn’t you always want to just hop into your RC car and drive it around? Well, you get that chance in DNF. You’ll also be spending time running around inside ‘Duke Burger’ while micro sized. It’s actually a surprisingly nice change of pace getting to see the world from another perspective. Make sure you look around carefully while you’re tiny Duke! At first it may seem like you’re just running past a bunch of generic condiments; but upon closer inspection, you’ll notice each one has its own little humorous description written up on the labels. There’s a lot to be found outside of the main objective when you’re shrunk.

Why So Serious?

All these war games are intense, really intense. Can’t we just lighten it up a little? Sure we can! If you’re looking to branch out from the seriousness of war, Duke Nukem Forever is the way to go. Technically you’re still a one-man army blasting your way through a war… but the tone of the entire game is a complete 180. Duke Nukem Forever knows better than to take itself seriously. If you’re looking for some foul mouth, immature, potty humor, you’ve picked up the right game. If you’ve got a sense of humor, you’re guaranteed to find something in this game that will make you laugh… just don’t expect all of it to appeal to you.

The Frustrating Stuff:

Loading… lOading… loAding… loaDing… loadIng… loadiNg… loadinG…

If you like to take frequent bathroom breaks during your video games, fear not, for you will have plenty of time to do so. The most frustrating thing about Duke Nukem Forever might just be its loading times. On average, they sit around 45 seconds for each loading screen… and you’re going to be facing multiple throughout each level. Don’t even think about dying either, because each time you’re going to have to wait the full 45 seconds again to reload everything. If you plan on playing through the harder difficulties, you might want to consider having something to do on standby to get you through the loading times.

Hey! Let’s just make them play through every difficulty at the same time!

That’s how it feels sometimes anyway. Some bosses are defeated by the simple strafe-around-in-a-circle-while-blasting-the-crap-out-of-them-with-explosives technique while at yet another point on the same difficulty you literally have to abuse the aim-assist system to pass it, and that’s just barely making it. The inconsistency of difficulties can make you really dislike this game. Most of it is a breeze and you’re just enjoying yourself as you fly through this game… and then you hit a choke point. Maybe somebody was having a bad day when they designed that part of the game, or maybe they just let their dog jump around on the keyboard for a while… whatever the reason, there’s no excuse for the Grand Canyon that sits between the easiest parts and the hardest parts in any given difficulty.

She said what?

There is such thing as too over-the-top, and DNF certainly manages to hit that point at least once in the campaign. It’s guaranteed that someone was going to take offense to this game; however, there are a few things that just seem to cross the line and can hardly be justified in the game. Luckily, these parts are easy to get through so you just have to hold your tongue and move on.

Bottom Line:

Duke Nukem Forever was surprisingly some of the most fun I’ve had with video games in a while. Although some parts almost made me want to throw the game out the window, the majority of the game was incredibly enjoyable. Deep down inside, we were all rooting for The King to make another appearance, and with 15 years of development, it’s obvious it would never meet everyone’s expectations. If you go in with an overly critical attitude, you’re going to hate it, but come in with good humor and you’ll be laughing while overlooking the slightly outdated graphics and game mechanics. Seriously, though, how could you not love a game when the loading screen says, “Remember, if you get stuck, you can always cheat by looking up FAQ’s online!”

Duke Nukem Forever was developed by 3D Realms and published by 2K Games. It was released in North America on June 14th, 2011 with an M rating from the ESRB and an MSRP of $59.99; it now sells for $39.99

[07.01.11] Get to know your gamers - Tony Ortale

Tony Ortale

Microsoft

Well it’s that time of the week again, and I thought I'd mix things up a little bit. I realized it might be interesting for you guys to know the man behind all of these articles you're reading, so I decided to interview myself! Today you'll get an inside look on your favorite video games Examiner, so you can see what make me tick! As always, if you would like to see yourself in the spotlight on "Get to Know Your Gamers", feel free to drop an email and we'll get you in the rotation!

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from, what do you like to do (besides play video games)?

I’ve lived in Iowa all my life, have a huge passion for music, and like playing sports with friends. I’m also notorious for having a massive crush on Taylor Swift and boldly flaunting the fact that my favorite band is the Backstreet Boys. I work in the electronics section of my local Target, the newest location for Gamers in Coralville, ChaCha, and write articles for Examiner.com.

What got you into gaming?

Having a NES sitting around in my house growing up was my pathway into the world of gaming. I loved that system and that’s where I developed my passion for gaming. I feel like it offers an experience that movies just can’t match, because you’re actually involved in it.

What was your first console / game?

That lovely Nintendo Entertainment System, which I still have, and it still works! My first game was probably either Super Mario Bros. or Joshua for the NES.

Some people won’t play a game if the graphics are bad. Do graphics have that big of an impact for you?

Graphics are great, but what I really look for is a truly immersive experience or something that never gets old.

What do you look for in game / what makes a game ‘fun’ to you?

I love a story you can really dive deep into and become lost in. It’s also great to have games you can keep coming back to, like the Halo series, which are great for those late night gaming sessions with friends!

Do you consider yourself a ‘casual’ or ‘hardcore gamer?

I would consider myself hardcore, however I really like the points my friends Rob Nielsen and Adison Finken brought up in their interviews. I agree that if you’re going to try to define yourself, it really varies by game; however, that it’s really just a better idea not to categorize yourself in any way.

Do you prefer a solo or co-op / multiplayer experience?

Both. I love a strong single player experience to lose yourself in, however the multiplayer is a huge component, because it’s nice to wind down each night by hoping on Xbox live and being able to game with a bunch of my friends that aren’t nearby anymore.

What are you playing right now?

L.A. Noire, MLB 10: The Show, NBA 2K11, and Borderlands.

What is the worst game you’ve ever played?

Terminator: Salvation. That was disgusting. I did manage to grind through it though for the achievements… I’m kind of an achievement hoarder.

What do you consider to be the best game ever?

Now everyone is going to know I threw a trick question into my interview, but for me, I don’t think there’s really any such thing as a universal ‘best game ever’. I think the ‘best game ever’ is the game that’s most special to you. This is going to come as a surprise to many because everyone knows I love the Guitar Hero series, however for me, that game would be Halo 2 because of the nights of endless gaming with all of my friends where we would have a massive LAN party with tons of pizza, soda, and Halo. After sticking to the normal game types for a while, we’d mix it up a little with our own game types like hide-and-seek or tower of power. Our greatest innovation may have been ‘mongoose wars’, but that actually came about in Halo 3.

Random Thought?

Ok… shameless promotion time.

I could really use some more people to interview, hint hint, so if you’d like to be featured, shoot me an email: ortale.anthony@gmail.com or contact me on Facebook. It’s a chance for your 15 minutes of fame and a great opportunity to tell the world what it really needs to hear! Well, in the realm of video games anyway…

[06.30.11] Review: 'Doodle Fit'

Gamelion Studios

Doodle Fit for Android

Rating:

4 Stars

With the overwhelming success of Doodle Jump, many other games are hopping on the doodle wagon in an attempt to boost sales. Today’s free app, Doodle Fit is no different. A simple an unoriginal puzzle game challenging you to fit Tetris-like pieces perfectly into a specified area has been reskinned in either chalk or ink – your choice – in attempts to add some charm to the game. Featuring 100 levels of increasing difficulty, stat tracking, and the ability to simultaneously have up five separate profiles solving puzzles at their own pace on one device; Doodle Fit is a nice little package at a cheap price waiting to waste away the hours with you.

The Good:

Graphics are sharp and right on tune with what you would expect from a ‘doodle game. You can choose to stick to ink scribbled down on a notepad or flip to chalk scrawled across a chalkboard if that’s more your taste. Theirs nice music in the background to eliminate awkward silence, but it really adds nothing special to the game and could be potentially frustrating if you’re the type who prefers peace and quiet while trying to concentrate.

One of the most unique things about Doodle Fit is, surprisingly the controls. You wouldn’t really think there was a way to revolutionize ‘click and drag’ controls on a touchscreen device; however, this game throws a wrench into the system. Instead of the piece you’re manipulating sitting directly below your finger, everything is done roughly an inch above where you’re dragging your finger. This seems a bit strange at first; however, there are a few incredibly easy levels at the start of the game to help you familiarize yourself with the new setup. Once you get comfortable with it, you’ll realize it’s actually a massive convenience because now you can actually see where you’re placing pieces since your hand isn’t covering the playing field.

The Bad:

The number of themes is quite limited for a ‘doodle game’. Given, each one is developed by a separate company, however in most ‘doodle games’ you’ll find numerous themes to choose between just to spice things up. It also could have added a little more incentive to complete puzzles in Doodle Fit by having additional themes be rewards for completing a set number of puzzles. Instead, your only reward for knocking out a chunk of puzzles is… more puzzles.

The Ugly:

This kind of game can be found in many forms across the Amazon and Android markets, so paying for one seems kind of silly. Considering the only thing you can change about this type of game is the aesthetics, there really is no reason to pay extra for one version unless you desperately want the ‘doodle’ theme.

Bottom Line:

Doodle Fit is certainly an entertaining game, but it’s nothing groundbreaking. Considering there are plenty of free alternatives, it’s really only worth picking up today while it’s free or if you’re trying to keep a universal ‘doodle’ theme across your phone. If you’re really set on Doodle Fit and miss the deadline, consider picking up its ad supported version instead.

Doodle Fit was created by Gamelion Studios and is Amazon’s free app of the day for 6/30/11. It typically sells for $0.99

[06.28.11] Review: 'Mafia II'

2K Czech

Mafia II

Rating:

5 Stars

Welcome to the beautiful city of Empire Bay. It’s the 1940’s and you’re just returning from World War II. Your name: Vito Scaletta. You’re the son of Sicilian Immigrants and you’re trying to make a name for yourself. After reuniting with your friend Joe Barbaro, you immediately head off into the world of crime and try to rise to the top, but you’d better be ready for some bumps along the way, as a life in the mob is never an easy one!

Mafia II had a rather modest release in late 2010 with just mediocre reviews, however, the fact that it was later released as a Platinum Hits title on the Xbox 360 and a Greatest Hits title on the PlayStation 3 is evidence that this game shouldn’t have been passed over. There’s also a Collector’s Edition available with a gorgeous steelbook case, full orchestral score, an impressive 100-page hardcover art book, map of Empire Bay, and the Made Man DLC pack. If there was ever a Collector’s Edition worth shelling out the extra for, this would be one of them. Sorry kids, this one’s rated M for mature audiences only, and it’s well deserving of that rating. Parents be warned, this is not the game for them.

The Good:

Empire Bay may be the most life-like, detailed city ever present in a video game. Every person you walk by will have something unique and relevant to say, and a large amount of them will allow you to engage in a full conversation with them. If you’re racing down the streets and veer off the road, the pedestrians aren’t going to stand there like bowling pins waiting to be mowed down; they’ll drop their umbrellas or toss their suitcases and dive out of the way. Hit one, and you’re in a world of trouble. Empire Bay’s police force is just as life-like as the city. Speed excessively, commit a hit-and-run, or rob a store and you can bet the boys in blue will be there ASAP. Don’t expect to rob a store, make a quick turn around, and grab some more cash from the drawers either. If you head back to the scene of the crime, you’ll be greeted by bright yellow tape and a couple of officers interviewing the witnesses.

Everything about the game is detailed and immersive. If you let yourself get into the story, it will bring emotions out of you that you never thought a video game could. If you overanalyze the story, you can figure out the barebones of the script, but if you allow yourself to become fully enveloped in the story, you’ll find yourself hit just as hard by every twist and turn presented to you as if you were actually Vito Scaletta. Be ready to deal with some hefty plot twists too, because Mafia II doesn’t go light on the storytelling!

In order to really help you dive into the experience head first, no detail was overturned. This game screams authenticity from every perfectly picked, era-specific, licensed song on the radio stations to the collection of real Playboy Magazine issues left for you to find around the city. Don’t forget to eat to replenish your health, and if you have a favorite car to cruise around in, you’d better go fill up on gas so your tank isn’t sitting on empty next time you need to make a quick getaway!

Even cut scenes are rendered from game’s engine so every shattered headlight or busted bumper will be captured and carried over. You’ll even see things like light snowfall gathering on your car while you’re out driving around or bits of wall chipping away as you blast it with your shotgun trying to take out some enemies. They’re not dumb either. Unlike most games, you can’t just start blasting away hoping to hit them. Once bullets go blazing past their heads, they’re not going to stick it right back out so you can pick them off. They’ll wait it out, peek around the other side, or move to new cover if available forcing you to change your tactics, or at least your weapon.

It’s going to be very hard, but try your best not to pick a favorite vehicle or gun from the get-go. Each weapon fires differently and every car handles uniquely. You’ll feel the kickback of the Thompson Model 1921 and the raw power of the M1 Garand. Get behind the wheel of the Dezilia 410 Grand American, and with the pedal to the metal, you’ll soon realized it’s a cleverly disguised 1954 Ferrari 250 Europa GT. Hop in the 1950 Divco Model UM Milk Truck and it’ll instantly be obvious that you’re in for a much slower ride in a significantly heavier, thus harder to handle, vehicle. They may not be officially licensed or listed under their real life brand names, but look closely and you’ll realize that everything from Ford’s and Chevrolet’s to Cadillac’s and Buicks have made their way into the game further legitimizing the authentic aura of the 1940’s and 1950’s.

The Bad:

With the obsessive attention to detail, it may seem odd that there are a few bugs in this game, but after realizing just how much is going on, it’s evident that these were not only imminent, but nowhere near game-breaking. Small things like your tie occasionally getting stuck in your chest once or twice is all you’re likely to see. Never will you be forced to restart your game. On the contrary, that might almost be a good thing if you find yourself really enjoying this game, because the largest flaw of this game that will stand out to you is just how short it is. Each ounce of heartbreak will fly by, and before you know it, you find yourself sitting on the couch, controller in hand, wondering how this game you ‘just started’ could possibly be over already!

Another lost opportunity is the city itself. Despite the fact that a tremendous amount of work went into crafting such a true to life city, there really is no incentive to explore. You can always go to an auto shop or clothing store, but there are no hidden missions or items spread around the city. All the collectibles are found during missions. The only real reason to explore is to gaze upon each beautiful building and taking in the feeling of the 40’s and 50’s

The Ugly:

The biggest problem around Mafia II isn’t anything the game itself can be considered at fault for. Most people go in to this thinking “oh, an open world game where I run around shooting people, this must be just like Grand Theft Auto.” Well, it’s not. This is a much more story-driven linear experience that takes place in an open world environment. Although Grand Theft Auto has pulled into a more realistic feeling with its latest iteration it’s still much more over-the-top than Mafia II is, which can be seen best by the differences in police forces. Grand Theft Auto gives you the opportunity to get away with a lot more before they come after you; however, Mafia II’s police force treats you with real life expectations.

Bottom Line:

Due to a lack of promotion and some unfavorable reviews, it’s more than likely you’ve yet to experience the 1950’s through Vito Scaletta’s eyes. This is rather unfortunate because Mafia II is likely the most underrated and underappreciated game of 2010. Make sure that this is the next game you run out and pick up, unless the content isn’t suitable for you or you’re just not a shooter person. Once again, be advised, this game embraces it’s M rating with intense violence, strong language, and nudity among other things, so keep this away from anyone under the age of 17. If you're of appropriate age though, this is one exceptional experience you don't want to miss.

Mafia II was developed by 2K Czech and published by 2K Games. It was released in North America on October 24th, 2010 with an M [Mature] rating from the ESRB and an MSRP of $59.99; At the time of the review, it now sells with an MSRP of $29.99. This review was based on the Collector’s Edition for Xbox 360 which now sells with an MSRP of $79.99.

[06.23.11] Get to know your gamers - Adison Finken

Adison Finken's Xbox Live Avatar

Microsoft

Well, it’s that time of the week again, so today we go all the way to Des Moines, IA for an interview with Mr. Adison Finken. He’s a man of strong opinions which he loves to share. If you ever want someone great to talk about video games with, then he’s your man. His knowledge of the industry is astounding and informative; it’s likely you’ll see his name pop up at least a few more times around here. As always, if you would like to see yourself in the spotlight on "Get to Know Your Gamers", feel free to drop an email and we'll get you in the rotation!

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Where are you from, what do you like to do (besides play video games)?

I’m Adison Finken from West Des Moines. Aside from gaming, my second passion is movies. Most of my time spent is either from watching movies or making bank, working the 9 – 5 for the man. I’m a big fan of Frisbee and traveling. I also do a movie podcast with a friend of mine called “Dude, that was sweet”. It’s about 45 minutes to an hour of movies and entertainment news. Nothing has been posted yet, but I’ll update with a link as soon as we upload some material.

What got you into gaming?

I have two fond memories of gaming. When I was much younger, my dad would always take the Nintendo controller and mess with it. One time, he recorded himself playing it and then would give me the controller playing back his recording and tell my mom “look, he’s really good at Mario!” making her think I’m some gaming prodigy at about the age of 3. I also would always go to my dad’s work and play Duke Nukem 3D because we didn’t have computers powerful enough at home, and I thought that was the coolest game ever!

What was your first console / game?

The Nintendo 64 was my first console. The game I remember most fondly was Turok the Dinosaur hunter, because I thought it was so cool when you’d shoot people in the jugular and it would just spray all out! Super Mario 64, although not my favorite, was funny because my brother actually received it in his pile of Christmas Gifts and was very adamant about being the first to play it, however he ran off and played with other Christmas gifts while I sat patiently waiting for my dad to plug the console in, so I actually got to play it first.

Some people won’t play a game if the graphics are bad. Do graphics have that big of an impact for you?

Graphics are important, but often times aren’t the determining factor. They go a long way in making it seem more realistic, but gameplay comes first; It has to be fun to play.

What do you look for in game / what makes a game ‘fun’ to you?

The big thing that I look for in a game is gameplay. It has to be really really fun to play. My favorite style is 3rd person action games. I actually got my start more in 1st person games, but I elevated to 3rd and now prefer the way they play. Games like Uncharted are some of my favorite. I’ll play pretty much anything though, I’m not a “video game snob” with the exception of sports games… because I suck at them.

Do you consider yourself a ‘casual’ or ‘hardcore gamer?

I would say it depends on the game. The majority of the time I’m a casual gamer – I like to play for the fun, and not for the competitive aspect – however if I’m playing a game that is more competition oriented I would consider myself more hardcore. I really enjoyed Modern Warfare 2 and played the online multiplayer like crazy, so for that I’d consider myself ‘hardcore’.

Do you prefer a solo or co-op / multiplayer experience?

I’m a big single-player guy. The thing that I value more than anything is a good single-player aspect. Multiplayer and co-op is great, but you just don’t get the same immersion that you get with the single-player experience, and I really like to find myself fully immersed in the story.

What are you playing right now?

Just picked up Infamous 2 for the PS3 and Red Faction Armageddon for the 360. I’m playingInfamous 2 more, because it has a better story, and I love that it makes you feel like a super-hero. You start out so powerful, and even by half-way through, you’re just wondering what powers they could possibly keep giving you to make you more powerful.

What is the worst game you’ve ever played?

That’s a tough question. I’m going to give a very controversial answer. Bringing everything in as far as quality of its predecessors and all the hype surrounding it, I’m going to have to say that Black Opps was the worst game I’ve ever played. Not necessarily because it was actually the worst quality game I’ve ever played, but simply because it was over hyped and not as well refined as I thought it should have been. I’m not saying no one should play it, but I’m saying that personally it was just a huge let-down for me and that’s why I didn’t enjoy it.

What do you consider to be the best game ever?

Half Life and Counterstrike. Half Life was a very crucial game in defining what I became as a gamer, being that it’s so immersive, I’d never really played a game that was so awesome. Everything was unparalleled. I can pick it up today and not enjoy it as much as a game I just grabbed off the shelf for 60. Counterstrike, because I spent so much time on it playing with friends. We’d go home from school and play until it was bed time, then get up in the morning and play some more. It was one of those games you just can’t put down, before the time of Call of Duty or Battlefield, and the online play was just so much fun.

Random Thought?

Whenever it comes down to it, movies are still better than games, because I have more movies than games.

[06.21.11] Review: 'Peggle'

PopCap Games, Inc.

Peggle for Android

Rating:

5 Stars

If you’re a fan of The Price is Right, then you know everybody’s favorite game is Plinko! Sadly, though, most of us will never be on The Price is Right, let alone actually have the opportunity to play. Now you could certainly pick up the Plinko! game from the Android Marketplace, but it’s really not that true to the original, not that well put together, and then there’s the fact that winning ‘money’ just isn’t that fun when there isn’t actually any real money on the line. This just leads to incredibly repetitive and boring gameplay. So just how can you get a Plinko! like experience and still have fun? Well, mix it up a little; maybe cross-breed it with the pachinko machines that are growing popular in Japan and the oversaturated, yet classic hit Break Out. That’s precisely what PopCap Games, Inc. did, and it gave us today’s free app:  Peggle. It’s goofy, simple, and insanely addictive!

The Good:

PopCap Games, Inc. did wonders on yet another game. It’s crafted well, looks great, and runs smoothly. The gameplay is simple so anyone can play, and it’s explained as you progress through the adventure mode. If you want to jump straight in, you can also take on quickplay and go for a high score. If you really want to prove you’re good, there are also 75 ‘Grand Master’ challenges to take on, but these really are for the best of the best. There are bonus multipliers, power-ups, and lots of points to be earned coupled with some fun sound effects to round out to such an excellently put together package.

The Bad:

There’s not a whole lot of strategy involved… but sometimes that’s what you need in a game. Also, the basic concept of the game is as repetitive as can be, however, every level design is different, and all the modifiers the game presents keep everything seemingly fresh and exciting.

The Ugly:

Time’s running out, as this is only available free for a few more hours!!! This is a WiFi only download, though, so if you’re not near a WiFi network now, make sure you “buy” it now while it’s free so you can download it later.

Bottom Line:

Absolute must have for your game collection. Peggle has already been a long-standing hit on PC, but now you can take it with you. It’s available exclusively through the Android Marketplace, for the time being, so make sure you get on there and pick it up. If you’re not lucky enough to get it free, but this sounds like fun to you, I strongly urge you to give it a try. $2.99 may sound like a high asking price, considering most games release for around $0.99, but it’s well worth it. Also be sure to check out their other great hits, Plants Vs. Zombies and Chuzzle.

Peggle was created by PopCap Games, Inc. and is Amazon’s free app of the day for 6/21/11. It typically sells for $2.99

[06.20.11] Star of 'Jackass' and 'Proving Ground' Ryan Dunn dies in car crash

G4

Jackass daredevil and beloved co-host of the G4 television show Proving Ground, Ryan Dunn, died in a fiery car crash early this morning in Pennsylvania at age 34. He was well known for his outrageous stunts performed on the Jackass television series, as well as in Jackass: The Movie, Jackass 2, and Jackass 3D. Often Dunn would appear as a guest on another MTV series, Viva La Bam. Later, he hosted an MTV reality series titled Homewrecker that was a twist on popular home renovation shows such as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition or Trading Spaces. Instead of picking a room and drastically improving it, a person would submit a story of how they were victimized by one of their friends. Dunn would observe the offender, then grab the original participant and a team of helpers to redesign the room with a theme relevant to the evildoer’s erroneous ways.

Most recently, Dunn co-hosted Proving Ground, a series on G4 with IGN’s Jessica Chobot in which they would try to recreate memorable moments from popular comics, television shows, movies, and video games to see if they actually could be replicated in the real world. The show premiered on June 14, 2011 to 31,000 viewers, however, due to Dunn’s death, G4 has pulled the series from their schedule. The fate of Proving Ground has yet to be determined.

It’s been confirmed that Dunn was driving his Porsche 911 GT3 with a currently unidentified passenger. The police reported hinted that “speed may have been a factor” which was later confirmed in NBC Philadelphia’s report. According to Officer Geiger of the West Goshen police, “The Porsche shot through about 40 yards of trees before it hit the last one and exploded into flames.” Dunn was last seen at Barnaby’s of America, a local sports bar in West Chester. He tweeted a photo of him and a couple friends enjoying a drink, which was later pulled from his Tumblr account. The image can be viewed in the slideshow to the left. Regardless of the impression the photo gives off, Barnaby’s manager told NBC Philadelphia that “Ryan didn’t appear drunk before he left.” Police have yet to confirm whether alcohol was involved.

Fellow Jackass star Johnny Knoxville publicly mourned the death of his co-star and friend on his twitter account. “Today I lost my brother Ryan Dunn. My Heart goes out to his family and his beloved Angie. RIP Ryan, I love you buddy.” Although Bam Margera has not publicly spoken of Dunn’s death, his parents Phil and April Margera had nice some nice words as well. “He’s just the sweetest guy you’d ever want to know and he would do anything for you, “April said fighting back tears.” I know the entire 'Jackass' family is devastated and all of West Chester is devastated." MTV also released a statement via Twitter soon after Ryan Dunn’s death was announced. "We're deeply saddened by the passing of a member of the MTV family, Ryan Dunn. Our hearts and thoughts are with his friends and family.”

[06.19.11] Review: 'Jenga'

NaturalMotion Games Limited

The Good:

NaturalMotion Games certainly knows how to replicate real physics, and you can definitely see it at work here. The tower tilts and slides as you tap and tug on blocks trying desperately to remove them without toppling the tower. Everything from the blocks to the environments look amazing, whether you’re working with the natural wood blocks in Classic Mode or the colorful blocks of Arcade Mode. This new game mode challenges you to play fast working against the clock, and to play smart by matching colors as quick as possible to get a bonus multiplier. The more points you score the more coins you get which you can use to purchase game-changing ‘boosts’, such as a time bonus or a rewind feature to save yourself if you accidentally tip that tower. This offers a unique and more exciting spin on the original game that will have you constantly trying to beat your friend’s high scores.

The Bad:

The physics are rock solid; however, the blocks themselves seem to be a little bit lighter than their real-life counterparts. It’s fun to see the tower twitch with every move you make, but it’s not that life-like and can be somewhat frustrating. Also, if you jump straight into Arcade Mode, you suffer a slight disadvantage as the ‘How to Play’ really only teaches the differences between Arcade and Classic, and completely ignores the fundamental controls necessary to effectively navigate the tower.

The Ugly:

Amazon’s App Store is usually pretty good about offering any warnings you may need to see if there’s a possibility of a problem. This time, however, they seemed to have dropped the ball. This download requires wifi, but you won’t get that warning until after you attempt to download it and get a nasty error message. After that, it’s a complicated process for getting your download to work again, so make sure you have it enabled ahead of time to save yourself some trouble. There’s also been quite a few other errors reported, but it seems to be specific to individual devices rather than particular models.

Bottom Line:

Who doesn’t love Jenga? It’s definitely worthy of a little space on your phone, so get out there and grab it while it’s free. After that, there’s probably something better to spend that $2.99 on, as Jenga doesn’t offer much in the way of diversity.

Jenga was created by NaturalMotion Games Limited and is Amazon’s free app of the day for 6/19/11. It typically sells for $2.99