Nerd Rating

Category: Video Games

  • Will Next Xbox Have Two Very Different Versions?

    More Than Hard Drives Could Seperate The Two.

    Rumors abound that Microsoft is planning on releasing two vastly different console experiences next year in order to get into more living rooms of casual gamers.

    When the Xbox 360 released in November 2005 the console was released in two versions (Pro and Core) in which the main difference was an attached hard drive on the Pro but it appears that when the new console is released next year one will be the true next generation console experience with all the bells and whistles that Microsoft decides to put inside while the other sku would be more of an set-top box experience that will run on Windows 8 and run as as DVR and be able to play more casual games and run apps.

    While that sounds all well and good for Microsoft in their plan of getting into more casual gaming houses I can already see the headache of brick and mortar store employees having to explain to parents in the holiday season the differences in the two consoles. Not to mention the look on kids faces if they end up getting what will basically be a Microsoft TV box for Christmas.

  • Netflix And Hulu Plus Up And Running On Wii U

    Delay Not As Long As Expected.

    Well that certainly didn’t take long.

    It was announced by Nintendo last week that many of their streaming apps would be delayed and the way it was worded one would think that you would be waiting a few weeks before you could start watching your content on Netflix or Hulu Plus.

    It seems someone got on the ball and fixed whatever problems the apps were having quickly because as of right now both services are up and ready for people to watch shows or movies on their television or Gamepad.

    No word yet on when the Nintendo TVii feature will be ready but Nintendo has said sometime in December.

  • The Legend Of Zelda: Hyrule Historia Ready For U.S. Release

    Dark Horse Comics will finally be bringing [amazon_link id=”1616550414″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia[/amazon_link] to the U.S. on January 29th, a little more than a year after release in Japan.

    This book celebrates the 25th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda series and is 274 pages full of artwork, developer interviews and finally (for the first time I believe) has a complete chronological history of Hyrule. So you can finally stop arguing with your friends about whether Ocarina of Time happens before or after Skyward Sword (it’s after btw).

    Any Zelda fan will definitely want to pick this up.

     

  • Aliens: Colonial Marines New Survivor Mode Trailer

    Aliens Goes Into “Horde Mode”

    One of the games that is on my definite pick up list next year is [amazon_link id=”B005THAX6K” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Aliens: Colonial Marines[/amazon_link] and now the guys at Gearbox have revealed a new multiplayer mode for the game.

    The Survivor mode will see a team of four marines controlled through online cooperative multiplayer as they try survive against wave after wave of xenomorph attacks. Does it sound overly original? No, but it doesn’t have to because when you think about it the movie Aliens is basically a two and a half hour survivor mode so let’s just say that this game has as good a reason to have one as any other.

    Have a look at the trailer below to see Survivor mode in action.

    Aliens: Colonial Marines releases on February 12, 2013.

     

     

  • Black Friday Fight List (Buyer’s Guide)

    Head Trauma Free Of Charge.

    It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Of course, that technically starts on Saturday because Friday will be about cold early morning lines, running over the weak and seeing how that old lady with the Wii U can handle a punch.

    That’s right it’s Black Friday, which over the past few years, has begun to take over Thanksgiving as well to where most people have just enough time to finish their family time of thanks and goodwill then head out for battle. We here at Nerd Rating are here to help you on your journey into the deepest, darkest of holiday humanity with a buyer’s guide that will show you the best of the deals that most retailers are offering for TV’s, tablets, video games and more.

    Be sure and hit the links to compare to Amazon.com because the online retailer is matching or even beating a lot of the advertised prices out there.

    Televisions

    • [amazon_link id=”B006ZH0K7A” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]LG 47″ LED 1080P 120Hz HDTV[/amazon_link]- $599.99 (K-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B006Z9W6AW” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]LG 50″ Plasma 1080P 600Hz HDTV[/amazon_link]- $549.99 (K-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B004OBZM8G” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Sharp Aquos 60″ 1080P 120Hz HDTV[/amazon_link]- $999.99 (Best Buy)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0075Z2SMG” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Toshiba 40″ LCD 1080P 60Hz HDTV[/amazon_link]- $179.99 (Best Buy)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0073K64NM” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Toshiba 50″ LED 1080P 60Hz HDTV[/amazon_link]- $399.99 (Best Buy)
    • Emerson 50″ LCD 1080P 60Hz HDTV- $298.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B009H8JOZS” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Vizio 60″ LED 1080P 120Hz HDTV w/ Wi-Fi[/amazon_link]- $688.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • Westinghouse 50″ 1080P HDTV- $349.00 (Target)

    Tablets

    • [amazon_link id=”B0083PWAPW” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon Kindle Fire HD 7″ display w/ 16GB[/amazon_link] + $30 Best Buy gift card- $199.99 (Best Buy)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0051VVOB2″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Amazon Kindle Fire 7″ display w/ 8GB[/amazon_link] + $30 Best Buy gift card- $159.99 (Best Buy)
    • [amazon_link id=”B007P4VOWC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7″ display w/ 8GB[/amazon_link] + $20 Best Buy giftcard- $179.99 (Best Buy)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0047DVWLW” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Apple iPad 2 16GB w/ Wi-Fi[/amazon_link] + $75 Wal-Mart gift card- $399.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”140053271X” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Barnes & Noble Nook Simple Touch[/amazon_link]- $39.00 (Sears)

    Laptops

    • [amazon_link id=”B0085RUYHE” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Compaq Presario, 2GB RAM, 320GB, 15.6″[/amazon_link]- $179.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0078HGTR6″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]HP Laptop, 4GB RAM, 500GB, 15.6″[/amazon_link]- $349.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B005LF3S6C” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Toshiba Satellite, Intel i7 Processor, 8GB RAM, 750GB, 15.6″[/amazon_link]- $599.99 (Office Depot)

    Consoles

    • [amazon_link id=”B0096KEMUY” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]XBox 360 250GB Holiday Bundle w/ Forza Motorsports, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim[/amazon_link] and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2- $249.99 (Gamestop)
    • Playstation 3 250GB Console w/ Infamous 1&2, Uncharted 1&2 and one month of PS Plus- $199.99 (Gamestop, Wal-Mart, Best Buy)
    • [amazon_link id=”B002I0JZOC” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Playstation Vita (White) Assassin’s Creed 3: Liberation Bundle[/amazon_link]- $199.99 (Gamestop)
    • [amazon_link id=”B006C4B9I0″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Nintendo 3DS (Fire Red) Bundle w/ Super Mario 3D Land[/amazon_link] and any choice of Nintendogs game- $169.99 (Gamestop)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0009VXBAQ” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Nintendo Wii Console[/amazon_link]- $89.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • XBox 360 4GB Console w/ Skylanders Giants Starter Kit- $149.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B002I0JZIS” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Playstation Vita Call of Duty: Black Ops: Declassified Bundle[/amazon_link]- $199.99 (Best Buy)
    • [amazon_link id=”B006C4B9I0″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Nintendo 3DS (Fire Red) Bundle w/ Super Mario 3D Land[/amazon_link]- $149.99 (Best Buy)
    • Playstation 250GB Console w/ Infamous 1&2, Uncharted 1&2 and free Air-Flow controller- $199.99 (Toys R Us)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0096KENEO” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Xbox 360 4GB Console w/ Kinect, Kinect Adventures, Disneyland Adventures[/amazon_link] and free Air-Flow controller- $249.99 (Toys R Us)
    • [amazon_link id=”B002I0JZIS” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Playstation Vita Call of Duty: Black Ops: Declassified Bundle[/amazon_link] w/ free Vita 10-in-1 Essentials Pack- $199.99 (Toys R Us)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0045F8QDE” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Nintendo Wii Console w/ Wii Sports, Wii Sports Resort[/amazon_link] and Just Dance Kids 2- $119.00 (Target)
    • Playstation Vita w/ Lego Batman 2 game- $199.00 (Target)

    Games

    • [amazon_link id=”B007MM9E42″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Epic Mickey 2[/amazon_link]- $24.96 (Wal-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0085L2T14″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]WWE 13[/amazon_link]- $25.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0050SX9VO” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Borderlands 2[/amazon_link]- $25.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B007M6W38W” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]NBA 2K13[/amazon_link]- $25.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B005C2D1YI” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Dishonored[/amazon_link]- $25.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B006WQR3GA” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]XCOM: Enemy Unknown[/amazon_link]- $25.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B006VB2UNM” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Madden NFL 13[/amazon_link]- $25.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0022TNO7S” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Max Payne 3[/amazon_link]- $15.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0050SY8UK” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Fable: The Journey[/amazon_link]- $15.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B006JKARN0″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Gran Turismo 5[/amazon_link]- $10.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B002I0J5UQ” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]L.A. Noire[/amazon_link]- $10.00 (Wal-Mart)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0050SYDEQ” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Forza Horizon[/amazon_link]- $39.99 (Gamestop)
    • [amazon_link id=”B008OQTU6C” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Battlefield 3: Premium Edition[/amazon_link]- $29.99 (Gamestop)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0050SWZHS” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Medal of Honor: Warfighter[/amazon_link]- $29.99 (Gamestop)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0050SWTAQ” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Need For Speed: Most Wanted[/amazon_link]- $29.99 (Gamestop)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0050SX00Y” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Little Big Planet Karting[/amazon_link]- $29.99 (Gamestop)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0074LJ3CE” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Mortal Kombat Vita[/amazon_link]- $14.99 (Gamestop)
    • [amazon_link id=”B007SRM5MO” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Batman: Arkham City GOTY Edition[/amazon_link]- $19.99 (Gamestop)
    • [amazon_link id=”B006OI3CTS” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance[/amazon_link]- $19.99 (Gamestop)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0050SXFKE” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Assassin’s Creed 3[/amazon_link]- $34.99 (Best Buy)
    • [amazon_link id=”B00178630A” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Diablo 3[/amazon_link]- $34.99 (Best Buy)
    • [amazon_link id=”B008277M0Y” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]FIFA Soccer 13[/amazon_link]- $34.99 (Best Buy)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0056WJA30″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Darksiders 2[/amazon_link]- $29.99 (Best Buy)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0085CA8NY” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Dead Island GOTY Edition[/amazon_link]- $7.99 (Best Buy)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0050SYX8W” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Halo 4[/amazon_link] w/ $20 gift card- $59.99 (Target)
    • [amazon_link id=”B0086V5UF0″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Just Dance 4[/amazon_link] w/ $10 gift card- $39.99 (Target)

     

     

     

  • Gamestop Opening Over 3,000 Stores At Midnight For Black Friday.

    Gamestop has announced that they will be opening over 3,000 locations at midnight on Black Friday with the remaining stores set to open at 5 AM.

    At least the retailer is keeping it technically on Friday. Most stores like Wal-Mart, K-Mart and Target will be opening on Thanksgiving night which has led to threats of strikes by some employees.

    Check out Gamestop’s Black Friday deals here and check back for our Black Friday shopper’s guide to find the best deals.

  • Nathan Drake….I Choose You!!!

    Here is Bend Studios Uncharted card game which was leaked out a few weeks ago. Officially known as Uncharted: Fight For Fortune the card battle game looks to have a single player story mode as well as multiplayer (as you would expect).

    You can customize your deck as well as add collectibles that you find while playing Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Bend’s Uncharted Vita game that was released earlier this year when the system launched. Now I know you are trying to contain your excitement because I know this is exactly what I have been waiting on. Not news on Uncharted 4 or a Golden Abyss follow-up but a card battle game.

    I love Uncharted but not this much.

    Uncharted: Fight For Fortune is out on December 4th and costs $4.99

     

  • New Game Releases. November 20, 2012.

    Agent 47 Returns And Playstation All-Stars Battle It Out.

    [amazon_link id=”B002I0H2G0″ target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Hitman: Absolution[/amazon_link] (360, PS3, PC) $59.99

    It has been far too long (six years) since we last got to take control of Agent 47 and his wonderful world of assassination. Now Eidos and Square Enix are bringing him back for another go round. This time there is a conspiracy inside his agency and his target is a good friend and former employer.

    [amazon_link id=”B007XYBUBE” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Playstation All-Stars Battle Royale[/amazon_link] (PS3) $59.99

    Who doesn’t love Smash Bros.? Sony takes their stab at the brawler genre with some of their favorite first party characters and a few third parties also. This title is a Cross-Buy which means that purchasing the PS3 version will get you a download code to the Vita version for free. Not too shabby.

    The Walking Dead: Episode 5: No Time Left (XBL/ PSN) 400 MS Points/ $5

    Here we are finally at the end of Telltale’s amazing episodic game based on Robert Kirkman’s comic book. They have done an incredible job at getting us attached to the characters and I have heard that the final episode is tear inducing. This has been the best deal in games all year. If you have not started playing these yet there is no reason not to start now that all of the episodes are out.

    [amazon_link id=”B007W8S2MG” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Persona 4 Golden[/amazon_link] (Vita) $39.99

    Two big Vita releases in one week. Must be a special occasion or something. This is a remake of the popular PS2 title with more voiceovers and new features. If you are looking for a true Japanese RPG then here is an early Christmas present.

     

    That is it for this week. Next week seems to be taking a holiday vacation with Ratchet and Clank: Full Frontal Assault being the only recognizable release. If any of you picked up a Wii U this past Sunday or are looking for one now then take a minute and take a look at our Wii U Buyer’s Guide.

     

  • Zombi U Launch Trailer Seems Familiar

    Where’s Woody Harrelson When You Need Him?

    The Zombi U launch trailer is here and should be quite familiar to zombie fans.

    Yep, there is quite the Zombieland feel to it with the rules of Zombi U being given in a very Jesse Eisenberg way. While some may role their eyes at it I actually got into it and can’t fault the makers for wanting to give gamers a good sense of what is to come by using something recognizable like Zombieland.

    I will say that I do like their rules better than the movie. Being of ample girth I never made it past the first rule.

    Cardio. Cardio. Cardio.

    Zombi U is available on November 18th for the Wii U launch.

     

  • Nintendo Delays Major Wii U Apps

    Nintendo TVii Delayed Until December.

    Everything seemed to be going so well Nintendo….what happened??

    Just a few days before the Wii U is set to launch, Nintendo has announced that their on demand services (Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon Instant Video and YouTube) will be delayed. They are hoping to have the services up in a few weeks. Nintendo TVii has also been delayed and will not be released until December.

    You will still need to update your system online on day one to get your e-shop, backwards compatibility and online play up and running.

    No system launch is perfect but this was a huge component of Nintendo’s selling point of the Wii U. Let’s hope they can get everything worked out quickly.