[05.02.11] Review: 'Super Dynamite Fishing

Handy Games

Super Dynamite Fishing for Android

Rating:

5 Stars

Dynamite fishing, the often joked about alternative to fishing poles, is brought to life in today’s free game Super Dynamite Fishing. Although it may seem crazy, dynamite fishing is a real practice, so with that in mind the game does open with a disclaimer, although a mildly satirical one at that. This game is meant to be all in good humor, which is obvious in the over-the-top way Super Dynamite Fishing presents itself. Armed with the task of winning the heart of Rosemary, you set out in your bathtub loaded with a gun and sticks of dynamite. Kill the fish, sell them, and then go kill some more fish. At any point, you can go spend your hard earned cash on weapon upgrades, gifts to win over Rosemary’s heart, or even upgrade your vessel to something a little more seaworthy. As you progress, you’ll unlock new areas and items.

The Good:

It’s a simple game design that never gets old. Do a task, and you’re rewarded so you can buy more things. In this particular game, it’s applied to a very humorous situation and embraces wackiness. Instead of keeping things ‘realistic’, you have the chance to buy RPG’s, a naval ship, or adopt a baby for Rosemary. The sound effects are goofy, and the music makes you feel like you’re really a redneck out on the lake with explosives. Everything has a backstory and manages to draw you into the fight for Rosemary’s heart. It really makes you want to keep playing so you can read every goofy weapon description and see what the next ridiculous item is you’re going to be gifting to the girl of your dreams.

The Bad:

The ‘daily goal’ can get a little bit annoying since it takes money away. It feels like it really just hinders your progress than provides you with something to work for. There is also a “quick fishin’” button which conveniently automates the task of purchasing everything, however there’s no confirmation screen which can be frustrating if you hit it on accident. Also, if you run out of weapons in the middle of a fishing trip, there’s a “click to return” button that allows you to conveniently skip straight to the end of your trip, however this has a timer, so if you don’t click it, it will automatically launch anyway. If you’ve just thrown out a fridge or battery, this can be quite frustrating too as it doesn’t wait for those weapons to finish.

The Ugly:

The app has memory management issues, as can be seen in the Amazon reviews, so there are some force close issues, and it occasionally will cause the phone to freeze. That’s really only complaint about this though.

Bottom Line:

Super Dynamite Fishing is an unexcitingly well thought out and designed game, with lots to do. There is also a full featured, ad-supported version of the game for those of you who didn’t manage to get it while it’s free, or don’t think it’s worth dropping the $0.99 on. If you’ve got spare space on your phone and want a switch from the few games that keep getting plagiarized on the market, this may be just what you’re looking for.

Super Dynamite Fishing was created by Handy Games and is Amazon’s free app of the day for 05/02/11). It typically sells for $0.99

[05.01.11] Sony announces PlayStation Network 'Welcome Back' program, enhanced security

The news conference the world has been waiting for opened with Kazuo Hirai sitting at the center of a long white table, with Senior Vice President Shinji Hasejimo to his left and Shiro Kambe to his right. Hirai started out by offering his "sincerest apologies" for worrying PlayStation Network users over the compromised data, in regards to both user data and credit card information, of the some 78 million user accounts created. Hirai then proceeded to lay out the following timeline for their official account of the situation.

Sony was first alerted of unusual activity on their servers starting April 19th. Immediately, they began investigation exactly what was happening. The following day, April 20th, Sony temporarily shut down all of their servers to minimize the risk of compromised data and also so that they could more effectively investigate the manner. Sony then proceeded to contact two separate US firms to mirror their servers and take a look around to see what they could find. April 26th, Sony sent out an email to all register users of the PlayStation network confirming their worst fears, user data had been taken. Information lost included users' name, address, email, date of birth, gender, and PlayStation Network login & password. Sony then again insisted that there was no evidence found that credit card information has been compromised; however, they still will not rule that out as a possibility. They have, however, confirmed that no security codes have been leaked, which seems to indicate this forum post claiming they had a full database of credit card information was just a lie. There also have been no confirmed cases of credit card fraud; however there have been a few reports around the web of various suspected cases. Hirai also wanted to inform all PlayStation Network users that monitoring their security is their #1 priority and that they are working with the FBI and will share any additional information as soon as it becomes available.

At this point, SVP Shinji Hasejimo took the mike to explain the structure of their network and explain how they believe the hackers gained access. The web app server seems to be the culprit, and after receiving access there, they granted themselves unauthorized access rights to the database server and from there were easily able to obtain credit card information. In response, Sony is planning to implement new security measures. Their data servers will now be moving to a new location which has enhanced automated software to detect unauthorized intrusion. It also will have additional firewalls and enhanced encryption on all servers. Sony will also be creating a new position, the "Chief Information Security Officer" who will oversee the whole switchover.

After all of these enhancements are completed, Sony will begin incrementally restarting service. Within one week, Sony expects to fully restore online gameplay, downloadable movies, movie rentals, PlayStation Home, and Game Chat functions on both the PSP and PlayStation 3. Everything else should follow incrementally to have the whole services completely restored within the month. Once signed in, all PlayStation Network users will be forced to change their password immediately. To increase security, this can only be done either on the same PS3 the account was originally created or through verified email confirmation. Despite their insistence that there is no evidence credit card information has been released, Sony is encouraging users to check their account statements and purchase history for any unauthorized purchases. Additionally, users should aggressively monitor their credit card statements to find any unusual activity. Sony also suggests that users change passwords to all user account on other services or websites that have the same user name and password as their PlayStation Network account.

If you're planning on canceling your credit card, Sony has agreed to cover the cost of any reissued cards should there be a fee. They will also assist any interested user in getting identity theft protection in their country. To compensate for the downtime, Sony will be releasing select free content to all PlayStation Network Users. Each user will also be offered a free 30-day subscription to PlayStation Plus. Current subscribers to PlayStation Plus and/or Sony's unlimited music subscription service will also be given 30 days of service for free.

Moving forward, Sony plans to "strengthen and learn from these incidents" to further enhance security across the board. They also plan to work with law enforcement around the world to crack down on illegal intrusion to electronic services. When asked in a Q&A session after the conference, Sony said that at this time, they haven't been even been able to scrutinize the estimated effects it will have on the company. They also said that there is no evidence linking earlier attacks on their server to the current data leak.

[04.30.11] Live stream of PlayStation Network conference available!

Many people have been searching around for a stream of the news conference about to happen in Japan. From what could be dug up, it didn't look good for people in the US, however it turns out there is going to be a steam! In this conference, Kaz Hirai, who is believed to be the next in line to take over the company, will be discussing everything Sony currently knows about the PlayStation Network breach that has been going on for over a week and a half. Lots of rumors have been swirling around about this horrible event an Sony has been slow and vague when it comes to releasing information on the situation. In just a short while, however, Hirai will be briefing the media on Sony's investigation into the breach and it's information management system. Hirai is also supposed to lay out a timeline for getting the PSN back online, however Sony has previously said it hopes to get the system back online within a week. That, plus whether or not you need to cancel those credit cards should all be revealed tonight.

LIVE STREAM

[04.30.11] Sony to speak on PSN breach

Those of you holding your breath for an update on the PlayStation Network breach can finally breathe easy. Sony announced in a press release today that Kazuo Hirai will address the security breach at 12:00am CDT, that's 2pm in Japan. Hirai will be announcing their schedule for getting PSN back online as well as discussing their investigation into the network breach and it's information management system.

Rumors: PS3 owners' credit card infortion apparently for sale

[04.28.11] PS3 owners' credit card information apparently for sale

Sony claims there is “no evidence credit card numbers were stolen”, however just a few hours ago, one of TrendMicro’s online security experts, Kevin Stevens, tweeted this disturbing information:

“The hackers that hacked PSN are selling off the DB. They reportedly have 2.2 million credits cards with CVVs #psnhack”.

He also goes on to state that the database contains users’ full name, address, zip code, country, phone number, email, password, date of birth, full credit card number, CVV2 number, and expiration date. Steven’s never links directly to any source, but simply claims that he saw it on an “underground criminal forum” and also that the sellers supposedly offered Sony a chance to buy the database back, however they didn’t.

Keep in mind though this is still unconfirmed. Sony hasn’t released any more information about the situation since Steven’s original tweet, and Stevens himself hasn’t seen the database, so all the information he has about it is coming directly from the seller’s post. For all we know, these could be just a few scammers trying to make some serious cash off an already terrible situation, let’s hope for everyone’s sake that’s just the case.

UPDATE: Sony to speak on PSN breach

[04.26.11] Sony announces two new tablets

Sony Corporation

Today, Sony Corporation announced not one, but two new tablet devices. Uncreatively named the S1 and S2, it really only seems to be alluding to the number of screens contained on the device. Both tablets will be running Honeycomb 3.0 from the popular Android operating system, and they will also be the first of their kind to carry the ‘PlayStation Certified' label. This means they can play any virtual versions of PS1 titles available as well as any other Sony-approved titles for mobile platforms. Other perks include the ability to use them as a remote for other Sony products and full access to Sony’s e-book store and cloud-based music service known as 'Music Unlimited'. Each tablet will also have wi-fi, 3G, and 4G connection where supported.

The S1 tablet will be Tegra-powered and features a unique design making it feel “like holding a magazine” it has a single 9-inch touch screen and looks like a sideways iPad 2 from the top down, in that it’s meant to be held landscape instead of portrait and features a camera on the top of the longer side rather than the shorter. It also features a beautiful piano-black gloss finish with white accents.

Sony also announced the S2 which features a clamshell design that looks much like a thin glasses case or women’s pocket book. It utilizes two 5.5-inch touch screens giving it the appearance of a futuristic Nintendo DS. Each screen can display independent information or one continuous picture when fully extended. It also has the same gorgeous piano-black gloss finish as the S1 on the interior, however it has a snow-white finish on the outside.

Neither device has been priced, however both will be available sometime this fall. If you’d like to get your hands on something quicker than that, perhaps the previously announced Xperia Play – otherwise known as the ‘PlayStation Phone’ – available now on limited carriers, may be for you!

WSJ

[04.25.11] The next generation of gaming from Nintendo

Its official, ‘Project Café’ is under way. Today, Nintendo has finally confirmed that they are developing the next generation home console to follow the incredibly successful Wii from November 2006. Not much has been confirmed yet, although many rumors have been circling for quite some time. IGN has a whole bunch of information on the currently unnamed console which all seems to point to one thing: The ‘Wii 2’ will be much more powerful than the Xbox 360 and PS3 - something that the originally Wii definitely was not. One of the most interesting and unique features of the Wii’s successor is actually the controller. It’s been reported that it will utilize a design similar to the ‘classic controller’ from the Wii, however, it will also contain a full touch-screen, perhaps to stream game images to or incorporate interactive elements.

One question on many people’s mind is, “Will it include 3-D elements like the just-released 3DS?”According to Nintendo president Satoru Iwata, “It's difficult to make 3-D images a key feature, because 3-D televisions haven't obtained wide acceptance yet.” Aside from that, Nintendo has only released a statement saying, “We will show a playable model of the new system and announce more specifications at the E3 Expo, which will be held from June 7-9, 2011, in Los Angeles." It sounds like you’ll just have to wait until then to get your first real look at the system.

Original Article: Kotaku

[04.22.11] 'Running out of appetite' for 'Guitar Hero'

Activision

For many gamers, February 9th, 2011 is a day that will live in infamy. That was the day on which the highly criticized Activision killed one of the most popular party games of all time, Guitar Hero. For those of you whom haven’t heard yet, on that day Activision announced that they would no longer be developing the Guitar Hero title that was set to be released this year. Activision COO Thomas Tippl wrote, “Because of significant declines in the music genre for the second year in a row, we have made the decision to close the stand-alone Guitar Hero Business Unit and discontinue development on the previously announced 2011 game.” Tippl also stated that, "Despite our very high-quality releases last year, including the 90+ [Metacritic] rated DJ Hero 2, the innovative Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, as well as a 90+ rated release from our competitor [Harmonix's Rock Band 3], demand for peripheral-based music games has continued to decline at a dramatic pace. Given the considerable licensing and manufacturing costs, we simply cannot continue to profitably make these games based on current consumer demand." Many people thought that the series would be going away for good; however, a press release a few days later indicated that Guitar Hero was just ‘resting’.

Today an internal memo from Activision to its employees was leaked explaining why Activision was ‘walking away from Guitar Hero’ and what their future plans were. Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg said that, "The most compelling reason for this decision is the fact that so many high-quality games have suffered the same fate in the marketplace. DJ Hero 2 received a remarkable 92 rating, Guitar Hero, Warriors of Rock was a great game with several innovations for the category. Our key competitor, Rock Band 3, also achieved a 90+ rating and yet none of these games succeeded in finding an audience. This is not a matter of lack of quality or poor execution. This is simply a matter of the market running out of appetite for this genre." Although many diehard fans of the series are upset to see it go, even they know that sales have been gradually declining. All hope is not lost though, as Hirshberg indicates that a future title is definitely possible, “Perhaps after a cooling period we will revisit the franchise with fresh innovation. But innovation will take time and a deep reconsideration.”

Most fans and critics would argue that the biggest problem was simply oversaturation of the Guitar Hero brand. Since its original release in 2005, there have been 11 new titles released for consoles. That averages out to more than two games a year! Although not having the latest songs to jam out to with your friends seems like a bummer, it actually does seem like Activision is taking the right steps here to save the brand. If you really need something else from the music genre to sink your teeth into, EA currently seems to have no plans to discontinue their support for Rock Band 3, and there are quite a few other titles out there that are worth a try. If pretend plastic instruments aren’t your thing, you could try a little karaoke with the Xbox exclusive title Lips or the Playstation exclusive SingStar; both of those are sure to get your party going, assuming your friends aren’t afraid to step up to the mic.

Original Article: Giant Bomb via Google Docs

[04.20.11] Review: 'NBA 2K11'

NBA 2K11

2K Sports

NBA 2K11

Rating:

5 Stars

Review: NBA 2K11

This year, 2K Sports went all out with the release of NBA 2K11. They acquired something every publisher for a basketball title has been striving for over the last decade, the license to use Michael Jordan's persona. They didn't just take last year’s game and stamp it with MJ's face though, NBA 2K11 showcases a whole new set of game modes designed specifically around 'His Airness'. Players finally get the chance to step into his shoes via the 'Jordan Challenge’, ten of Michael's greatest games, and face the challenge of repeating his impressive feats, such as scoring 63 points on the '86 Boston Celtics or dominating the '97 Utah Jazz while battling the flu. If you successfully beat all ten Jordan Challenges, you're rewarded with the 'MJ: Creating a Legend' mode where you get the chance to start out as a rookie version of Jordan and try and work your way through the NBA.

The Good:

The amount of content you get for the price is just outstanding. So many modes to play, constant roster updates, classic teams, and the chance to collect digital versions of all those Air Jordan's you wanted as a kid! The controls are a little complicated, but they offer so much depth and flexibility it's worth the time to run the wonderful tutorial and learn at least most of it. The 'My Player' mode is the best part allowing you to create your own character and try to get him to thrive in the NBA, all the while constantly improving his skills. Even if you don't know a lot about basketball, this mode will both teach you how to play and how to be a good player. You also have the opportunity to run an entire franchise and play with friends, both locally or online. Graphics are stunning, audio is crisp, and the flow of the game almost always feels natural and rarely forced or scripted. It can be rough at first, but watching your player grow and getting the thrill of watching him throw down his first dunk or stuff Shaq is worth the time invested.

The Bad:

Commentary gets repetitive, but that's normal for sports games; there's also the option to turn it off if you so choose. There are a few glitches that leave you scratching your head, but they're very sparse - just the occasional player passing through each other or the unrealistically frequent loose ball fouls that never seem to happen. Another downer is the replay system, having one is expected in this day and age, but if there's a clip you want to capture, you better do it quick. Often, you can only go back about 30 seconds from where you currently are in the game. NBA 2K11 can also be very time-consuming, but as I stated before, it's well worth the time investment if you have it.

The Ugly:

The only thing ugly about this game is the possibility that you don't have it! Everyone and their mother ran out to buy this game the week it came out; it was even a trending topic on Twitter!

Bottom Line:

If you have even the mildest of interest in basketball, you'll love this game. It's one of the few that are worth the original $60 asking price. It's filled with teaching moments, excitement, and a nice dose of nostalgia. With NBA 2K11, you'll be an All-Star couch athlete in no time.

NBA 2K11 released in North America on October 5th, 2010 with an MSRP of $59.99, it now sells with an MSRP of $39.99. The review was based on a Xbox 360 copy purchased on the release date.