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Review: Resistance 3

2011-11-25T17:27:00.001-08:00

I am not one for horror movies, scary movies, FPS shooters that feature zombies in game after game (I'm looking at you Call of Duty) or that sort of thing, so after I got my PS3 I never found myself that compelled to pick up either Resistance FoM or Resistance 2. However, reading the previews and watching the trailers for Resistance 3, I found myself very much interested. Having played a great amount of Resistance 3 single and multiplayer I can report that I am very glad I picked this one up.
Graphics:
This game is not as beautiful or graphically amazing as Killzone 3. However it does look quite good. The textures, the lighting especially make this game look incredible. From an artistic standpoint, this game looks just simply incredible. The guns look detailed, the textures are deep, the character models are quite good but the environments are what will capture your attention the most.

Presentation:
Because the environments are so beautiful and captivating, the game does a phenomenal job putting you into a role as one of the last survivors on earth. You can really buy into the idea that you're at the end of a war that has gone terrible. The music, the graphics, the sound effects all effectively present what happens.

Buy Resistance 3
Gameplay:
Most notable about this game is that it gives a shout-out to older FPS games by allowing you to hold more than 2 weapons, in fact you can hold as many as you like on your weapon wheel. You also must gather health packs to revive. It reminds me of the first FPS I played which was Star Wars: Dark Forces. This is a good thing. I hate having to drop weapons on the ground to pick up a new one, the simple weapon wheel system (like Assassins Creed) works well. It is a pleasure to switch weapons to make the tactics you need available to get the upper hand. A shotgun is an excellent weapon when you're being surrounded by zombie alien hordes, but a sniper rifle is most effective at distance. The bulls-eye allows you to hone in on enemies even when they're moving and you're firing elsewhere, which is helpful for grasshopper aliens. The augment (shooting through walls) gun is effective particularly to find out where enemies are hiding.

Sound:
The music and sound effects are sensational and help add to the atmosphere and feeling of the entire game. The music is well composed and sometimes the silence is more dramatic and intense than the music itself.

Buy Resistance 3
Multiplayer:
The multiplayer is quite buggy particularly here within the first week, but considering the beta and two giant updates to R3, I wonder why it is so full of errors. Much like any other modern FPS, multiplayer supports a leveling up system as well as a class system. As you level up you may create your own class and you can choose your own combination of guns, power-ups, grenades and so forth. Any upgrades your purchase for one class is available to all other classes (unlike KZ3) which is good. Besides the glitches in multiplayer, the game feels a little off balanced because certain players with upgraded guns & power-ups particularly in combination really over-run other players at lower levels. However, I find this to be a similar problem to various FPS multiplayer leveling up systems. It simply takes so long to accumulate the points to purchase new abilities, guns, powers, and so forth.

Overall, this FPS is a phenomenal addition to your PS3 game collection especially if you enjoy First Person Shooters. The single player is dark, gritty and creepy and the multiplayer despite its flaws is a fun sensational experience.

Buy Resistance 3
UPDATE:
The more hours I put into the campaign and multiplayer the more I have come to appreciate the art design of the game. While perhaps R3 doesn't do anything that other FPS haven't done before, it does them well, it does them with a great post-apocalyptic style and great level design. One complaint I have is that there are a few levels where the game encourages you to be stealthy, but the game doesn't always give you the tools to do so. It does a good job trying to creep you out with aliens in abandoned-post alien-end of the world as we know it places all across America. Its' story is grim and though you don't know the main characters you care about what happens to them. -Amazon.com

Buy Resistance 3

Review: Batman Arkham City

2011-11-25T16:58:00.001-08:00

Batman: Arkham Asylum was outstanding; its sequel Batman Arkham City is quite simply one of the greatest video games ever conceived. It combines a great character and villain with beautiful graphics, a good story and exciting game play, creating a genuinely unique gaming experience.

Synopsis and Premise: In Batman: Arkham City a section of Gotham has basically been turned into a giant prison for the inmates of Arkham Asylum who can prowl the streets but not leave. In the beginning of the game Bruce Wayne is kidnapped and dragged into Arkham City by Hugo Strange who seems to have masterminded the city's creation. The super villains contained in the city are attacking and killing each other and Batman has to find out what is at the bottom of this.

Production Values: The production values for Batman: Arkham City are pretty much in a class by themselves. They do a better job of bringing the Batman and his world to life than almost any other game, cartoon or film with the possible exception of the Christopher Nolan Batman films. Kevin Conroy reprises his role as Batman and Mark Hamill returns as the Joker (he has likely now become as famous for playing the Joker in cartoons and video games as he is for playing Luke Skywalker). All of the villains in the game look as sick and twisted as they ever have in the movies or the comics. Gotham City is remarkably well detailed with its gothic architecture and dark nightscapes. Even the musical score is stunningly appropriate for the game. My only complaint here is that there are so many villains in the game that not all of their roles and characters are fully developed. But this is a minor complaint given the scope and purpose of the game.
Buy Batman: Arkham City

Gameplay: Batman's main objective in this game is difficult and there are many side quests in the form of challenges left by the Riddler that will likely occupy gamers for a long time. You can spend hours looking for tiny and relatively meaningless trophies. Solving quests and defeating opponents earns you experience points. It is not too difficult to accumulate points as you move through Arkham City. As you accumulate points you can add or upgrade Batman's weapons and gadgets.

The controls are somewhat complicated and I am still getting used to all of the new things that Batman can do. Like in Arkham Asylum, one button strikes, one button jumps and one button counters. But there are also a large variety of multipliers and combos that enable Batman to do an impressive and fun array of combat maneuvers.

In Arkham City Batman gets a terrific array of new toys such as smoke pellets that enable him to sneak away from opponents, ice grenades and a new version of the cryptographic sequencer. Some of Batman's toys from Arkham Asylum have also been improved and can do more. The line launcher has new a new feature that allows Batman to flip and change directions. Moreover, players can now use the grappling gun when Batman is gliding enabling him to get higher up in the Gotham skyline. There is a way to use almost all of these weapons during fights. Again, players have to learn how to use some of these features but once they do they will find that Batman is capable of an astonishing range of motion.
Buy Batman: Arkham City

Batman: Arkham City also allows gamers to play as Catwoman who has her own separate storyline. She has her own weapons and moves and fights quite differently from Batman. She feels lighter and more agile than Batman but not as strong or powerful.

I have only one caveat about this game and that is that it is definitely not meant for the inexperienced game player. The game often requires you to produce a particular gadget or weapon to deal with a specific situation or defeat a particular foe. And as you play along it becomes harder and harder to keep track of everything that you have accumulated. Sometimes the game gives you a reminder or clue about what to use. But I think the complexity of Batman's mission and his equipment might be a bit frustrating to a new or relatively inexperienced gamer.

Conclusion: Rocksteady has created an expansive and challenging game with Batman Arkham City. It sets a new standard for superhero games and single player games. If you play it for a little while you will almost feel like Batman.

Buy Batman: Arkham City

Review: Battlefield 3

2011-11-24T12:47:00.001-08:00

Let me start this off that I am not a fanboy of any specific shooter, just good games. I have both xbox 360 and PS3 and am unbiased in my reviews as I enjoy both for different reasons. On to the review...
First, I have no idea what all the negative reviews are for. The game isn't without a few flaws, but in no way warrants a 1 star review. This is EA's blockbuster shooter that's set to compete with Infinity Wards MW3 for the calendar year of 2011. A lot of time an energy went into the game (and they even released multiple betas on all platforms to ensure they were meeting their customer's demands). Here is what you need to know:

Game Specifications:
- The game ships on multiple discs.
- Disc 1: CO-OP/Multiplayer/High Resolution Textures (requires 1.5GB for the installation of the high resolution textures if you want them (THEY ARE OPTIONAL))
- Disc 2: Campaign

- Thoughts: The game is enormous and can't be fit onto one disc. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. You're trying to run a game on hardware that's 5-6 years old. Due to the restriction of DVD sizes, compromises had to be made. I'm OK with this and you should be too. If you have a 4GB console, you may have to opt out of using the high resolution textures. However, the game can still be played without them; it's just not as pretty.

Buy Battlefield 3

Multiplayer Review:
Good:
- The main reason many people buy this game is for the multiplayer, which I can say as a Battlefield Veteran that this doesn't fall shy of expectations. It plays similar to Battlefield Bad Company 2, which is a good thing. The settings were tweaked from the initial beta release. It isn't call of duty, so don't expect it to play that way. It's slightly slower, meaning that decision have a greater impact to the game.
- There are 4 classes to play as, with each offering their own unique contribution to the battlefield (suited to fit multiple play styles). You don't have to be the best killer on the battlefield to contribute to the team and get towards the top of the leaderboards. I've seen people go 6-9 and get top rank by performing supportive actions and taking objectives.
- The maps are big and require thinking and tactics. They can easily accommodate the 12vs12 team sizes.
- The graphics are fantastic if you've installed the High Resolution Textures.
- EA utilizes dedicated servers and has a fantastic system in place that lest you choose the best server for you.

Buy Battlefield 3
- The "Server Filter" is fantastic and robust. It permits you to filter by Game Type (TDM vs Conquest vs Rush etc..), Region (US vs Europe etc..), Desired Map, Number of People in game (VERY IMPORTANT, SEE BELOW) Etc... In addition, you can see your ping to the server, which will let you choose the best server for you.
- The vehicles are great and a nice addition to the big maps.
- Destructible environments make for some interesting gameplay. It's nice to be able to take out sniper cover, or collapse a building a troublesome sniper keeps using....
- Cannot collapse the M-Com buildings anymore, which will make for a better game.
- Can go prone, which is a nice welcomed back addition to the Battlefield series.
- The customization and ranking up is fantastic. Customization and unlocks work like this:
- Overall rank unlocks items available to all classes. This happens with each game regardless of class.
- Each class has its own unlocks, which comes with kills and objective taking, so you could easily have all the unlocks for one class and none for another. Experience only accumulates for the class type used in the game.
- Each weapon has its own individual unlocks. For example, ulocking the grip for the AK47 will only be available for the AK47. The grip for the M16 will require you to use the M16 and get kills with it.

Buy Battlefield 3

Bad:
- The one major downside to the game is that the party system can be frustrating at times.
- You can have a max party of 4 to search for games.
- If you quick search, your party may be split up and put on different teams with the server being close to max capacity.
- Utilize the "Server Filter" to join a low number game (maybe 10 at most). This will decrease the chance of your party splitting up. If you are split up, watch when other parties join and just change teams to end up on the side with friends. Choose an open squad and all agree to join it. Problem solved.
- Once on the same team, the game will keep you together, so overcoming that initial obstacle is the hardest part. Not really that hard, but slightly frustrating.
- Although the environments are destructible, they aren't nearly as destructible as Battlefield Bad Company 2.

Buy Battlefield 3

A Few Quick Multiplayer Tips:
- Having a few friends to chat and play with will have a large impact on the game, especially when utilizing the vehicles and one of your buddies is an engineer. If you don't have friends to play with, just make sure you join a squad so you can spawn on multiple team members. This is a tactical game and communicating can have a large impact.
- Use spotting by pressing the back button (once your crosshairs are on the target to mark) to mark enemies on the map. This will bring attention to enemies on the map in case you can't kill them or want help (think tanks, which will get your engineers to shoot at them with their rockets if your a medic).
- Don't run into the enemies base alone. This isn't call of duty and you'll die quickly.
- If you're the last man in your squad alive, STAY ALIVE. You'll get additional points for teammates spawning on you, plus if you die you teammates will be close to the action and you can respawn on them. Spend your time in the action, not running across the map.
- This game rewards objective players, not KDR fiends. Going negative is no big deal. It's a team game.
- Utilize your team. Stay with them for easily taking objectives and taking out enemies.
- When utilizing the vehicles, wait for other team members. Having someone on the gunner of your vehicle offers a lot of protection.
- If you're using the vehicles a lot, use the engineer class for repair points. If you have a teammate with you, they can cover while you fix.

Buy Battlefield 3

Campaign:
- While this is a nice feature, this clearly isn't the main focus of the Battlefield 3 (BF3). From what I've played so far, it seems a bit more linear than Battlefield Bad Company 2 (BFBC2). In BFBC2, you could blow a hole through any building and make your own path. In BF3, there are less destructible buildings. In addition, the enemy AI doesn't move much from their initial spawn location. The single player isn't bad, but not fantastic either. I'm still working through this and will update later once I finish.

CO-OP:
- I have not had the privilege to try the co-op yet, but I will review once I do.

Closing Thoughts: This is a good game and I give it a 93/100. It's fun and enjoyable, in particular with a squad. I deducted points for the too linear environments within the single player and the frustrating party system in multiplayer. If you're one of those people that buy 1-2 games a year and like FPS, this is a must buy.

Buy Battlefield 3

Review: Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

2011-11-24T12:25:00.001-08:00

After 30+ hours of personal gameplay, Skyrim truly is the genre-defining game in which all future RPG's will be measured against. It is MASSIVE -- so large and all-encompassing that it would literally take months to complete 99% of it. With the expected staggered DLC to come out, Skyrim would then be potentially limitless in its replay value, becoming the first true open-ended gaming console experience.
The world of Skyrim is breathtaking in its graphical interface, soaring musical score, and simplistic but effective dual-armed controls. There are a few initial bugs, but nothing major that will not be patched (and not even close to the massive ones in Fallout NV!). These release-day issues largely center around the high-res textures of close-up objects (e.g. your character's hands look blurry or lack detail), and there are also moments of LAG (frame rate drops that cause a stuttering or jerkiness picture). I have experienced both, with the texture issue appearing mainly on my XBOX and the LAG issue appearing primarily on my PS3. This may be because the maximum HD resolution for Skyrim on the PS3 is 720P, while on the XBOX (the lead design platform) it is 1080.

Buy Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

**BETHESDA UPDATE 12/12/11 (THANKS JAY!): "Skyrim uses a lot of dynamic streaming systems, including textures. We've seen a few reports of certain textures temporarily scaling down on the Xbox 360, and not scaling back up. We have verified that this issue does not occur when playing off the disk and when the game is fully cached (not installed). Skyrim makes heavy use of the Xbox 360 caching system, and caches over the normal course of play while in menus or interiors. This cache can be wiped when other games are played or when the user manually removes it. We're working on a solution in the next title update for those who have installed the game."

So, it looks like there will be a second patch (hopefully soon) from Bethesda to correct the texture issue on the XBOX. I seemed to have eliminated it myself, though, by doing the following: 1) Delete the game and all saves off the hard drive. 2) Delete the Memory CACHE. 3) Turn off the XBOX for 60 seconds. 4) Turn On and go DIRECTLY to the game and INSTALL it. 5) Run the game and load the latest patch. 6) CRUCIAL: Start the game's opening sequence, building your character, and get to the point inside the Keep where your bindings are cut off by Hadvar in Unbound. You should hear your disc drive loading allot of info in the background, building up the cache. Just chill in this room until your disc drive powers back down and is idle -- it took mine several minutes. 7) While still in this first room of the Keep, use all of your menus, change your clothes, run around in your underwear, practice your weapons and magic, add some fast-key favorites, read a book, etc.. Basically, do all the activities you can think of and build up the cache! After doing this, I have not experienced another texture issue and am a very happy explorer! However, according to the Bethesda forums, this fix does not work for everyone and may depend on how old your XBOX is . . . but it worked for me on my SLIM with Kinect purchased in November 2011.

Buy Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Textures and opening-day glitches aside, Skyrim is simply The Game of the Year. While Uncharted 3 and Batman: Arkham City are both great games (with Portal 2 and Zelda's Skyward Sword also nominated this year), Skyrim is a much more personal experience, offering an almost complete immersion into its fascinating and exciting world. No other video game this year (or in the last few years) has come close to its densely-packed and lushly-filled open-world environment. It's rare that a game with this much pre-hype will live up to its own stratospheric expectations, and then go on to excel and exceed them. BUT SKYRIM IS THAT GAME! I am confident that I will be playing it still for months (if not years) to come.

It should be noted that even though Skyrim is a stand-alone gaming experience, with no prior Elder Scrolls games knowledge necessary for enjoyment, it also righteously follows in its own legendary footsteps and lore of past games like Oblivion, expanding upon it in a way that veterans of the Elder Scrolls universe will not find disappointing. This is also NOT a FPS/3PS fast-paced warfare game: those people looking for COD / BF3 / HALO-type frenetic multiplayer experiences should stay away. This is not your type of game. YOU SHALL NOT PASS! Skyrim is intended to be explored over time, wondered at in awe, and is pure escapist entertainment. It is the closest thing to a living, breathing second-life that you will have in a video game reality, leaving you with plenty of goose bump and hair-raising moments in its wake.

An incredible achievement: 9.8 / 10 . . .

Buy Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Review: Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3

2011-11-24T10:42:00.001-08:00

The CoD series is great at making the Average Joe feel like G.I. Joe in exciting cinematic bursts of action. In this day and age, most people who buy games (non gamers) don't have time to get good at playing them. So Call of Duty does everything it can to level the playing field and make the Joes feel like Pros. There are 3 basic modes of play: A story driven Campaign, Mission Based Special Ops, and Multiplayer with a ton of individual and team modes. All of them can be played with friends.
Story: 7/10
The stories of the CoD series have been well acted, well directed, visually entertaining, and do their job to add context to the exciting levels. In CoDMW3, you're out to hunt down the evil military mastermind Makarov with CoD vets Price and Soap. You'll battle all around the world in cities, jungles, deserts, mountains... The game feels less like one solid action story and more like the action scenes from 3 or 4 Michael Bay movies edited together. Actually, Michael Bay movies feel like a bunch action scenes edited together...

Gameplay: 6/10
Run to the next checkpoint, squeeze the triggers, feel awesome. That's been the formula for success in the CoD series. The gameplay largely depends on what difficulty you select. On Recruit, you are almost invincible aside from grenades or insta-kills. On Hardened or Veteran, you really need to use cover and play smart.

There's really nothing new here if you've played the other CoD games, but it's not like Activision is going to say, "Well, the last CoD broke sales records, so let's change everything!!!" They're going to stick to the formula and crank out sequels every Christmas. Hopefully with some improvements. There aren't enough improvements to this game to make it feel like the next game of a great franchise. It feels more like a heavy duty expansion pack.

Unfortunately, there are some strange issues with the AI that ruin the immersion. Enemies run into walls and keep running in place. Allies often do strange things as well. If you keep AI characters on screen for too long the illusion is shattered. But in Call of Duty, you usually kill them or they kill you in 2 seconds, so if you're rushing to the next checkpoint, you won't see these things.
Buy Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Levels: 7/10
Most of the levels are fun and make you feel like Jack Bauer or Chuck Norris. You and your squad mow down hordes of enemies and rush through checkpoints to save the world while the game unlocks Achievements for you. You even get an Achievement for Starting a Single Player Campaign! The levels are a good mix of army missions, special forces missions, sniper missions, and vehicle missions.

Unfortunately, there really isn't anything new to the levels. I swear I've seen the same props, textures, and objects from other Call of Duty games in this one. I felt like I had Deja Vu through most of the whole game. (Aside from the crazy submarine level.)

There are a few poor choices in some of the levels like infinitely spawning enemies until you reach an invisible box, or in the underwater level, you can actually get pinned against the side of the screen and die. But most of the levels are exciting bouts of death and explosions.

Multiplayer: 6/10
Activision has also tried to make the Joes feel like Pros in Multiplayer. In Multiplayer, you gain XP by doing just about anything. As you gain XP, the game unlocks more powerful weapons, weapon attachments, and weapon skill perks. The beginning guns are powerful, but the upgraded guns are like death rays that vaporize you instantly. In my first Multiplayer game, I went 0 and 20. My worst outing in 15 years. In the second round, I picked up an upgraded gun from a dead guy and got a 5 Kill Streak right off the bat. The guns kill you so quickly, that skill will always lose to a better gun. It seems as if you die in 0.3 seconds if an enemy has you in their sights. There is no time to shoot back, take cover, evade, dive... You're just dead.

Buy Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

As Call of Duty tries to make the Joes feel like Pros, they are frustrating the Pros. In Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch, the enemies spawn all over the map... especially right behind you. You just hear Tak-Tak, and you are dead. The plus side is that anyone should be able to get a few kills. The downside is that it feels kind of cheap when you die like that. As you play, you realize that the system rewards a powerful gun and some camping or slow methodical movement through the maps.

Also, the maps are pretty small and their layout is a bit maze-like. It takes a while to get the hang of them and learn where the danger spots are. The plus side is that there is hardly any downtime for dying. You spawn pretty quickly and get XP bonuses on your next kill.

If you really want to test your skills, you'll have to play the objective based multiplayer games like Sabotage. Your team has to take a bomb to the enemy base, arm it, and guard it for 30 seconds. When it explodes, you win! If the bomb carrier dies, the bomb drops and is free for anyone to pick up. These types of objective based games are probably the best and most rewarding for the "Skill Players" or the players who like "Team Work."

Graphics: 7/10
Other video game franchises improve with each installment. Look at SKYRIM, Gears 3, and Assassin's Creed Revelations. As these franchises grow and improve, the Call of Duty series seems a bit stale. The game doesn't look bad, but it doesn't look much better than the other games in the series. One problem is that many of the textures are 'too clean'. Lots of them look shiny and new, which seems out of place for a war game. So, the game doesn't look bad, but it is falling behind the curve of the other great franchises.

Buy Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Sound: 10/10
The music sets the heroic atmosphere and the explosions punctuate the action! If you're playing Call of Duty right, your neighbors will complain about the noise.

Maturity: M
War Violence, Gore, Language... It's an interactive war movie.

Replay Value: 7/10
The Campaign is about 6-8 hours long depending on the difficulty setting. It's fun... not groundbreaking... but fun. It can be enjoyed solo or with a friend (split screen or online.)

There are a ton of multiplayer modes as well. But the shallow gameplay and insta-kill guns, really take the depth away from the game. After a while, the Multiplayer Games don't feel rewarding.

Overall: 7/10
Call of Duty Modern Warfare is a solid game in a great series. But it's not a great game in a great series.
The next installment really needs to up the ante with some new gameplay or the fans will stop buying it.
It's best enjoyed in small doses by people who don't have a ton of free time.
It's also fun to play with friends.

Buy it if you love the series and can overlook a few flaws.
Buy it if you will take advantage of the Co-op, Spec Ops and Multiplayer Modes.
Rent it if you want to blow through the campaign in a weekend.
Rent it if you think you'll get tired of multiplayer in a week. (Tak-Tak Dead)
Avoid it if you are a graphics snob (Am I saying this about a Call of Duty game?)
Avoid it if you love skill based multiplayer where you can dodge and win circle strafe wars.
Avoid it if you are growing tired of the Call of Duty Formula and want a change. -Amazon.com

Buy Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

The Most Popular Digital Point & Shoot Cameras: November 2011

2011-11-14T12:58:00.001-08:00

This is a list of the top 10 most popular and best selling digital point and shoot camera's for November 2011. I hope you enjoy the list!

10. Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with Full 1080p HD Video

Don't let the PowerShot ELPH 300 HS digital camera's slim profile and good looks fool you. This slick little device may stand out from the crowd, but it'll also deliver brilliant still images, ultra-detailed 1080p Full HD video, serious functionality, and a wealth of effects and automatic settings. You'll be surprised how much is packed into such a slim point-and-shoot. Let your imagination run wild, and let Canon's HS SYSTEM, a 24mm lens, 5x Optical Zoom, and 12.1 Megapixels help you snap great photos everywhere. -Amazon.com

9. Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX9V 16.2 MP Exmor R CMOS Digital Still Camera with 16x Optical Zoom G Lens, 3D Sweep Panorama and Full HD 1080/60p Video

With 16x optical zoom, incredible low light performance, full 1080x60p HD movie capabilities, and innovative features like, high speed linear auto focus, 3D image capabilities, and backlight correction to catch even the smallest details in high contrast shots, the Sony DSC-HX9V will renew your passion for photography. The DSC-HX9V features a 16.2 megapixel “Exmor R” CMOS image sensor that brings out the full resolving power of the camera’s Sony G lens to deliver extremely fast speed, high resolution, and stunning low-light sensitivity with improved image clarity and drastically reduced grain. In addition, the combined “Exmor R” CMOS sensor and BIONZ image processor delivers extremely fast up to 10fps, Anti Motion Blur, Hand-held Twilight and 1080p movie modes. -Amazon.com

8. Nikon COOLPIX L24 14 MP Digital Camera with 3.6x NIKKOR Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch LCD

Birthdays. Weddings. Baby’s first steps. With the COOLPIX L24, it's never been easier to keep these memories alive. This compact camera makes it simple to shoot clear photos and movies that you can e-mail, post on a family website or print and frame at home.With the COOLPIX L24, it’s easy to capture life's most precious moments. The Scene Mode system lets you choose from 16 scenes to find the best one for your situation, or you can rely on the Easy Auto Mode to automatically select the best settings for your photos. You'll also catch unforgettable facial expressions with Nikon's Smart Portrait System, which includes a Blink Warning that alerts you when your subject may have blinked; in-camera Red-Eye Fix™ technology that automatically corrects red eye; and Face-Priority that focuses on up to 12 faces. -Amazon.com

7. Nikon COOLPIX P300 12.2 CMOS Digital Camera with 4.2x f/1.8 NIKKOR Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and Full HD 1080p Video

The COOLPIX P300 camera does justice to your photographic talents with a 4.2x wide angle, f/1.8 maximum aperture NIKKOR glass lens. This is the fastest lens Nikon has ever designed into a COOLPIX camera—it offers a 24-100mm optical zoom range and impressive telephoto performance for razor-sharp images. Plus, its maximum aperture of f/1.8 assures exceptional low-light results and minimum depth of field. This outstanding lens will showcase your skills whether you're shooting portraits, panoramas, weddings, real estate, products, publicity stills or any other challenging compositions—and will do so with still images or Full HD (1080p) movies. Simply put, this high-performance lens catches detailed images while displaying Nikon's proud tradition of producing precision camera optics. -Amazon.com

6. Nikon COOLPIX L120 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 21x NIKKOR Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and 3-Inch LCD

Great photos and superb HD movies begin with Nikon's high power 21x wide-angle optical Zoom-NIKKOR® glass lens. This powerful zoom lens, with a 25-525mm range equivalent, closes the distance between you and your subjects. Capture your son firing off the game-winning lacrosse shot or your daughter's first ride on a two wheeler. Whether it's a panoramic shot of the entire family on a favorite sledding hill, or a photo of your children playing in the backyard, you'll shoot effortlessly and accurately with the COOLPIX L120.

If you're new to photography, no worries, this camera has intelligent features to help you out. Five-way VR Image Stabilization uses sensor shift to minimize the effects of camera shake, virtually eliminating blurred images. Trick-or-treating with the kids? The COOLPIX L120 has a high ISO speed up to 6400 to capture fast moving or low-light scenarios. -Amazon.com

5. Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-W530 14.1 MP Digital Still Camera with Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar 4x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom Lens and 2.7-inch LCD

Shoot more life with the Sony DSC-W530. Capture landscapes with one touch using Sweep Panorama, get that perfect portrait with Smile Shutter, snap wider scenes with the 26mm wide angle lens, get high quality photos with 14.1 megapixels, and automatically get clear shots with SteadyShot image stabilization and iAuto; all in a sleek little design.

Combining a variety of intelligent, easy-to-use features, the Sony W530 DSCW530 Cyber-Shot Digital Camera makes it a breeze to shoot life as it happens. Capture landscapes with one touch using Sweep Panorama Mode and snap that perfect portrait with Smile Shutter™ technology. Powerful and pocket-sized, the Sony W530 DSCW530 Cyber-Shot Digital Camera also features 14.1 megapixels and a 26mm wide angle lens with 4x optical zoom. In addition to SteadyShot™ image stabilization which compensates for camera shake, this Sony W530 DSCW530 Cyber-Shot Digital Camera also has Intelligent Auto (iAuto) mode that thinks for you by recognizing scenes, lighting conditions and faces, then automatically adjusts settings for clear images with less blur. -Amazon.com

4. Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 12 MP Micro Four-Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with 3.0-Inch Touch-Screen LCD and 14-42mm Lens

The Lumix DMC-GF2, the latest of Panasonic's DSL Micro (DSLM) compact mirrorless cameras, is Panasonic's smallest and lightest interchangeable lens system camera--complete with a built-in flash. The Lumix GF2 is compatible with lenses from the Micro Four Thirds standard, meaning the system is small and compact, while not compromising ease of operation or image quality. Even more, the Lumix GF2 is compatible with Panasonic's new 3D interchangeable lens, the Lumix G 12.5mm / F12, so users can take 3D photos.

The Lumix GF2 is extremely easy to operate for photographers at any level, thanks to a newly-designed user interface, which allows for the focus to be set, or shutter released, by simply touching the large 3-inch touch-screen LCD. The touch-screen LCD with a 460,000-dot-resolution makes taking great photos intuitive. Once a user locks on a subject by touch, the Lumix GF2 tracks the subject with the AF tracking function, even if the subject moves--making it easy to take photos of moving subjects, like children playing. The contrast AF system adopted by the Lumix DMC-GF2 is not only accurate and easy to use, but also very fast. Users can choose from a wide range of AF (Auto Focus) modes, including multiple-area AF with up to 23 focus areas, 1-area AF with a selectable focus area, Face Detection, and AF Tracking. -Amazon.com

3. Panasonic DMC-FH25K 16.1MP Digital Camera with 8x Wide Angle Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7 inch LCD

The LUMIX DMC-FH25 shoots high-quality 16.1 megapixel images and combines a 28mm wide-angle*1 LEICA DC lens with a powerful 8x optical zoom to take amazing photos. Redesigned with an easy-to-hold grip and slim and stylish profile, it features a 2.7" Intelligent LCD, 720p High Definition (HD) video recording and advanced iA (Intelligent Auto) for ease of use. At the core of the LUMIX FH25 is the Venus Engine VI image processor with Intelligent Resolution technology for shooting clear and crisp digital photos and videos. The camera features a fast response time with shutter release lag times as short as approximately 0.005 seconds and, by adding Sonic Speed AutoFocus (AF), users can easily capture spur-of-the-moment photos. Using Intelligent Resolution technology, the Intelligent Zoom extends the powerful 8x optical zoom to 10x equivalent without compromising picture quality. -Amazon.com

2. Canon PowerShot S95 10 MP Digital Camera with 3.8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD

One look at Canon's new PowerShot S95 will have you moving "upgrade my digital camera" to the top of your to-do list. The ultra-slim, ultra-intelligent S95 is loaded with all a serious photographer's must-haves, including a bright f/2.0 wide-angle lens and professional-style control ring for intuitive manual control. Canon's HS System is on board for spectacular performance and image quality in low light. And, new for a compact, the S95 incorporates Canon's Hybrid IS for blur-free shooting even close-up. You'll shoot stunning 720p HD video with stereo sound, then watch it immediately on your HDTV with the simple HDMI connection. If photography's your passion, now is the perfect time to step up to PowerShot S95. -Amazon.com

1. Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera (Black)

Don't let the PowerShot ELPH 300 HS digital camera's slim profile and good looks fool you. This slick little device may stand out from the crowd, but it'll also deliver brilliant still images, ultra-detailed 1080p Full HD video, serious functionality, and a wealth of effects and automatic settings. You'll be surprised how much is packed into such a slim point-and-shoot. Let your imagination run wild, and let Canon's HS SYSTEM, a 24mm lens, 5x Optical Zoom, and 12.1 Megapixels help you snap great photos everywhere.

The Canon 5096B001 PowerShot ELPH 300 HS Black 12MP Digital Camera with 5x Zoom and 2.7 In. LCD Display has a slim profile that will not only make you stand out from the crowd, but it will also deliver incredibly brilliant still images and amazing 1080p HD videos. Once you turn on the camera, be prepared to be amazed at how much is packed into one of the slimmest point-and-shoot digital cameras on the market. So let your imagination run free and let the HS SYSTEM, 24mm 5x Optical Zoom and 12.1 Megapixels help you achieve great images everywhere. -Amazon.com

The Most Popular Wii Games: November 2011

2011-11-14T12:14:00.001-08:00

This is a list of the top 10 most popular Nintendo Wii games for November 2011. I hope you enjoy the games and the list!

10. Michael Jackson The Experience

There are three modes of play in the Wii version of the game. The first is "Classic" where everybody follows the on-screen Michael Jackson avatar. The second is "Duo" which is used for duets (such as "The Girl is Mine") or videos with two main characters (such as "The Way You Make Me Feel."and "In The Closet") The player(s) can choose to dance as either Michael or the other character. The third mode of gameplay is "Crew," which features Michael and two backup dancers (five during some songs.) Players can opt to dance as any of the three. After performing songs, players will be able to unlock training videos in the "Dance School" where they are taught some of the more difficult moves from several of Michael Jackson's music videos and stage performances. -Wikipedia.org

9. Mario Kart Wii

Mario Kart Wii is a racing video game where the player races in each of the 32 different tracks, including 16 new tracks, and 16 "retro" tracks from previous Mario Kart games; 4 each from Mario Kart 64, Mario Kart: Double Dash!! and Mario Kart DS, and two each from Super Mario Kart and Mario Kart: Super Circuit, and up to twelve characters can participate in a race. Game modes include "Grand Prix", in which the player races against 11 computer-controlled players on 4 pre-determined tracks, "Time Trials", in which the player races alone or against a "ghost" (which can be either Nintendo's pre-recorded staff ghosts, ghosts from other players on the same Wii console, the player's own ghost data, or ghosts downloaded from other players on the Mario Kart Channel) in order to finish in the fastest possible time, "VS", which is similar to Grand Prix in that the player races against 11 CPU players, but they are allowed to choose any course they have unlocked and can customize extra options for the race, and "Battle", which consists of 2 different modes, Balloon Battle or Coin Runners. -Wikipedia.org

8. Just Dance 2

The concept of the game is the same as the original Just Dance. Requiring only one Wii Remote per player, up to four people can play at a time, as they follow on-screen choreographed moves set to classic dance tracks. There are four new dance modes. In "Just Dance Mode", players can get together and dance for as long as they want, just for the fun of it. Other options include "Non-Stop Shuffle" for a non-stopping gameplay, and "Medleys", in which short pieces of 5 songs are mixed.The second new mode, "Duets" allows players to dance together, and in the process forces them to pay more attention to the players around them instead of simply following on-screen prompts. -Wikipedia.org

7. WipeOut: The Game

In the game, the player can choose from 23 different characters. There are four categories of characters, with each category having a certain amount of "Speed" and "Strength" for the player, which varies based on their body sizes. The "Small" characters have great Speed but little Strength. The "Medium" characters have a more balanced amount of Speed and Strength, with neither one serving as the dominant trait. And the "Large" characters have great Strength but little Speed. These first three categories all have 6 different characters each; 3 females and 3 males, and each character having 3 different outfits. The fourth category is "Special," which has a high amount of Speed and Strength. There are 5 characters in this category, including the three hosts. The game is played in two different versions. Challenge mode is where the player can challenge specific obstacles and attempt to beat them in a certain amount of time. The other is Play The Show, which means to play the game as they would in the show. -Wikipedia.org

6. New Super Mario Bros. Wii

While New Super Mario Bros. Wii is seen in 2D, some of the characters and objects are 3D polygonal renderings on 2D backgrounds, resulting in a 2.5D effect (also seen in New Super Mario Bros.) that visually simulates 3D computer graphics. Players can play as either Mario, his brother Luigi, or two Toad characters: one blue and one yellow (with the first player always as Mario). Controls are similar to those of New Super Mario Bros., albeit with the added abilities of spinning in mid-air by shaking the Wii Remote, and picking up, carrying, and throwing other players. In multiplayer mode, players can play up to four players simultaneously. -Wikipedia.org

5. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7

Lego Harry Potter's gameplay is similar to that of most previous Lego games, with an emphasis on collecting and exploring. Casting spells is an integral part of the gameplay, with a wide range of spells available for unlocking as the player progresses. As there are many spells available in the game, the player can use the spell wheel to select the spell. Potion-making is another integral feature; potions can help the player complete levels or, if created incorrectly, have adverse side effects such as turning the player into a frog. The game covers a wide range of characters of the last three books and four films. The game employs the two player split-screen technique introduced in Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues. -Wikipedia.org

4. Kirby's Return to Dream Land

Kirby's Return to Dream Land is a 2.5D side-scrolling platform game, controlled by holding the Wii Remote sideways. The main objective is to assist the alien Magolor, whose spaceship, the Lor Starcutter, has crash-landed on Pop Star. The player is tasked with collecting the scattered pieces of the spaceship, which are dispersed and hidden within the game's levels, each of which take place in various areas of the planet. -Wikipedia.org

3. Just Dance Kids

Just Dance Kids is a video game for the Wii and Kinect for Xbox 360, and is part of the Just Dance video game franchise. Just Dance Kids is a dance-based music game but with popular kids songs. The game contains over 40 songs. The game was released on November 9, 2010 in North America and will be released in Europe on November 3 2011. -Wikipedia.org

2. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

The gameplay of Skyward Sword departs from the Legend of Zelda series' traditional flow of alternating overworld and dungeon exploration. The controls are revised, with swordplay based on the Wii MotionPlus peripheral, which allows one-to-one motion control between the Wii Remote and the in-game sword. In contrast to earlier installments, battles do not focus solely on timing attacks, but also on their target, such as the direction in which enemies are hit. In addition to the sword, there are items such as a mechanical flying beetle to grab items from a distance, a whip, and series staples such as bombs, a slingshot and a bow, which can also be controlled with the Wii MotionPlus. -Wikipedia.org

1. Just Dance 3

Along with solos and duets, Just Dance 3 features quartets which allows 4 players to dance all together, as well as playlists that group songs together. Rewards can be unlocked by dancing, such as new songs, modes, as well as Dance Mashups which combine different dance routines from all three Just Dance games into one.The Wii version has Smart Shuffle, Speed Shuffle, and Non-Stop Shuffle, plus a Hold My Hand dance feature, where up to 8 players can share the 4 Wii Remotes and dance all together. The Xbox 360 version also has a "Just Create" mode in which players can create their own routines with the Kinect peripheral. They can be saved, shared with their friends online and be played just like any other Just Dance routine. -Wikipedia.org

The Most Popular Movies: November 2011

2011-11-10T13:55:00.001-08:00

This is a list of some of the top 10 most popular movies on DVD and available to download in November of 2011. I hope you enjoy the list!

10. Captain America: The First Avenger

The film tells the story of Steve Rogers, a sickly man from Brooklyn who is transformed into super soldier Captain America to aid in the war effort. Captain America must stop Red Skull, Adolf Hitler's ruthless head of weaponry, and the leader of a mysterious organization that intends to use a device called a tesseract as an energy-source for world domination. -Wikipedia.org

9. The Lion King

It tells the story of Simba, a young lion who is to take his father Mufasa's place as king. However, after Simba's uncle Scar kills Mufasa, he must stop his uncle from conquering the Pride Lands and avenge his father. -Wikipedia.org

8. The Help

The story is about African American maids working in white households in Jackson, Mississippi during the early 1960s. A USA Today article called it one of 2009's "summer sleeper hits". -Wikipedia.org

7. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is a 2011 adventure fantasy film and the fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean series. Gore Verbinski, who had directed the three previous films, was replaced by Rob Marshall, while Jerry Bruckheimer again served as producer. In the film, which draws inspiration from the novel On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is joined by Angelica (Penélope Cruz) in his search for the Fountain of Youth, confronting the infamous pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane). On Stranger Tides broke many box office records upon release, and it stands as the 8th highest-grossing film of all time worldwide. Critical reviews were mixed, with praise for the acting, directing and visuals, but criticism over the script-writing, excessiveness, and lack of originality. -Wikipedia.org

6. Atlas Shrugged Part 1

Atlas Shrugged: Part I is a 2011 American film adaptation of the first part of Ayn Rand’s 1957 novel Atlas Shrugged, intended as the first part of a film trilogy encompassing the entire book. After various treatments and proposals floundered for nearly 40 years, investor John Aglialoro initiated production in June 2010. The film was directed by Paul Johansson and stars Taylor Schilling as Dagny Taggart and Grant Bowler as Hank Rearden. If the trilogy is completed, it will tell the story of Atlas Shrugged, set in a dystopian United States where leading innovators, from industrialists to artists, are led by John Galt to go on strike, "stopping the motor of the world" to reassert the importance of the free use of the mind and of free market capitalism. -Wikipedia.org

5. The Man with No Name Trilogy (A Fistful of Dollars / For a Few Dollars More / The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly)

The "Man with No Name" concept was invented by the American distributor, looking for a strong angle to sell the movies as a trilogy. Eastwood's character does have a (nick)name in all three movies: a different one in each. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is theorized to be a prequel by some, since Eastwood's character gradually acquires the clothing he wears in the other two films and because it takes place during the American Civil War (1861–1865), whereas the Lee Van Cleef character in For a Few Dollars More appears to be a Confederate veteran who has come down in the world and a graveyard scene in A Fistful of Dollars features a gravestone dated 1873; some, however, believe the discrepancies with dates to be nothing more than a simple error. Both the DVD and Blu-ray box set releases make specific reference to the set of films as "The Man With No Name Trilogy." -Wikipedia.org

4. Cars 2

Cars 2 is a 2011 American computer-animated action film produced by Pixar, and it is the sequel to the 2006 film, Cars. In the film, race car Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) and tow truck Mater (voiced by Larry the Cable Guy) head to Japan and Europe to compete in the World Grand Prix, but Mater becomes sidetracked with international espionage. The film is directed by John Lasseter, co-directed by Brad Lewis, written by Ben Queen, and produced by Denise Ream. Cars 2 is also the first film John Lasseter has directed since the original Cars in 2006. -Wikipedia.org

3. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1

The story follows Harry Potter on a quest to find and destroy Lord Voldemort's secret to immortality – the Horcruxes. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, alongside Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Harry's best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. It is the sequel to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and is followed by the concluding film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. -Wikipedia.org

2. Stanley Kubrick: Limited Edition Collection (Spartacus / Lolita / Dr. Strangelove / 2001: A Space Odyssey / A Clockwork Orange / Barry Lyndon / The Shining / Full Metal Jacket / Eyes Wide Shut)

Stanley Kubrick (July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999) was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career. Kubrick was noted for the scrupulous care with which he chose his subjects, his slow method of working, the variety of genres he worked in, his technical perfectionism, his reluctance to talk about his films, and his reclusiveness. He maintained almost complete artistic control, making movies according to his own whims and time constraints, but with the rare advantage of big-studio financial support for all his endeavors. -Wikipedia.org

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 is a 2011 epic fantasy film directed by David Yates and the second of two films based on the novel of the same name by J. K. Rowling. It is the eighth and final instalment in the Harry Potter film series, written by Steve Kloves and produced by David Heyman, David Barron and Rowling. The story continues to follow Harry Potter's quest to find and destroy Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes. The film stars Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, alongside Rupert Grint and Emma Watson as Harry's best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, respectively. -Wikipedia.org

The Most Popular PC Games: November 2011

2011-11-09T15:23:00.000-08:00

Here is a list of the top 10 most popular PC games in November 2011. I hope you enjoy the list!

10. Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty

Set in the 26th century in a distant part of the Milky Way galaxy, the game revolves around three species: the Terrans, human exiles from Earth; the Zerg, a super-species of assimilated life forms; and the Protoss, a technologically advanced species with vast mental powers. Wings of Liberty focuses on the Terrans, while the expansions Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void will focus on the Zerg and Protoss, respectively. The game is set four years after the events of 1998's StarCraft: Brood War, and follows the exploits of Jim Raynor as he leads an insurgent group against the autocratic Terran Dominion. The game includes both new and returning characters and locations from the original game. -Wikipedia.org

9. Flight Simulator X: Gold Edition

Flight Simulator X was released in three editions: Standard, Deluxe, and later Gold. The Deluxe Edition incorporates additional features, including an on-disc software development kit (SDK), three airplanes with the Garmin G1000 Flightdeck, and the ability for the player to act as Air Traffic Control (ATC) for other online users with a radar screen. The Deluxe Edition features 24 aircraft compared to 18 in the Standard Edition; 45 high-detail airports compared to 40; 38 high-detail cities compared to 28; and 51 structured missions compared to more than 30. Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Gold Edition combines the Deluxe Edition and the Acceleration expansion pack into one. -Wikipedia.org

8. Dead Rising 2: Off the Record

Off the Record is intended as a complete reimagining of Dead Rising 2, with new missions, cutscenes, environments, enemies, and weapons. The photography mechanic from the first Dead Rising is also included. There are technical and system upgrades, such as optimization of loading times and improved network performance. Off the Record also features a new sandbox mode. This allows players to explore Fortune City without the obstacle of time. -Wikipedia.org

7. Saints Row: The Third

Saints Row: The Third (also known as Saints Row 3) is a sandbox-style action-adventure video game being developed by Volition, Inc. and published by THQ. It is to be released on November 15th in North America and November 18th in Europe for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is the third title in the Saints Row series, after the release of Saints Row 2 in 2008. As in Saints Row 2, the player controls the leader of the Third Street Saints. The game world is the fictional city of Steelport, and the story focuses on the gang war between the Saints and The Syndicate, a rival criminal group. -Wikipedia.org

6. The Sims 3: Pets

In Pets, players are able to create, customize and control over a hundred different kinds of cats and dogs and can breed and share them with friends. Create a Pet and Create a Sim are all in one mode, with different dressing room backgrounds. Players can customize the pet’s coat, shape, pattern, and color. They can change the ears, tail, snout, eyes, and much more. Pets allows players to go even further than customizing their pet’s look. A pet's behavior patterns and traits are also fully customizable. There is also an Advanced Mode for the Create a Pet mode. In it, users can put different layers on the body of their pets, such as dots and/or stripes.

Pets have the same age sliders that were introduced with Generations. There is no height slider for pets, due to animation conflicts in the game. Players not only get to choose the dominant pattern but they also get to pick an accessory pattern and both can be colored. In horses, the mane and tail color are independent of the main color of the horse. Players can also add colorful markings on their fur and slide them around on their Sims' pets bodies. Markings are also in layers and can be placed in any order.Note: When game revealed,many players in Oct.2011 were experiencing very graphic concerns such as de-formed pets and mustached fawns if this happens,it is your computer's graphic card.Later EA would fix a patch and your game will work. -Wikipedia.org

5. Battlefield 3

Battlefield 3 features the combined arms battles that made the series popular across single-player, co-operative and multiplayer modes. It reintroduces several elements absent from the Bad Company games, including fighter jets, the prone position and 64-player battles on PC. To accommodate the lower player count on consoles, the ground area is limited for Xbox 360 and PS3, though fly space remains the same. he game features maps set in Paris, Tehran, Sarajevo, Sulaymaniyah, New York, Wake Island and Oman.As a whole, combat takes place in urban streets, metropolitan downtown areas, and open landscapes suited to vehicle combat. The initial sections of the campaign are set near the Iraq-Iran border, where the US Marine Corps are fighting the People's Liberation and Resistance (PLR). Players do use vehicles during the campaign, but their use is limited. -Wikipedia.org

4. Star Wars: The Old Republic

Players will join as members of either of the two main factions – the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire Although each faction is led by a benevolent or malevolent leader, it is emphasized that an individual member may possess a morality at any point along the light/dark spectrum. The project's key focus is to differentiate between the player's faction and morality. For instance, a member with ties to the Galactic Republic may belong to the Dark Side while attempting to achieve their own ends, which may be misaligned or dissimilar from the Republic's vision.

While each class in The Old Republic will still favour a certain play style (be it ranged, melee, or otherwise), customization combined with companion characters will make for having a class be able to tackle many different situations, with or without the support of other player characters, and without requiring specific other classes in order to move forward. -Wikipedia.org

3. Diablo III: Collector's Edition

he game takes place in Sanctuary, the dark fantasy world of the Diablo series. This world was saved twenty years prior by a handful of unnamed heroes in Diablo II, heroes who, having survived the onslaught brought by the armies of the Burning Hells, have gone mad from their ordeals. It is up to a new generation of heroes to face the forces of evil threatening the world of Sanctuary.Players will have the opportunity to explore familiar settings such as Tristram. -Wikipedia.org

2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

The player assumes the role of various characters during the single-player campaign, changing perspectives throughout the progression of the story. Unlike its predecessors, the campaign is spread over different days. Each mission features a series of objectives that are displayed on the heads up display, which marks the direction and distance towards and from such objectives. Damage to the player is shown by blood splatter shown on the screen.

The player's health regenerates as time passes. Objectives vary in their requirements, ranging from having the player arrive at a particular checkpoint, to eliminating enemies in a specified location, to standing their ground against enemy squadrons, and planting explosive charges on an enemy installation. The player is also accompanied by fellow soldiers who cannot be issued orders. -Wikipedia.org

1. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Skyrim's main story revolves around the player character's efforts to defeat the nordic dragon god Alduin who is prophesied to destroy the world. Set two hundred years after Oblivion, the game takes place in the land of Skyrim in the midst of a civil war after the assassination of the high king. The open world gameplay of the Elder Scrolls series is continued in Skyrim, as the player character can explore the land at will and ignore or postpone the main quest indefinitely. -Wikipedia.org

The Most Popular Playstation 3 Games: November 2011

2011-11-07T12:38:00.000-08:00

Here is a list of the most popular and best selling Playstation 3 video games. I hope you enjoy the list.

10. Saint's Row: The Third

Saints Row: The Third (also known as Saints Row 3) is a sandbox-style action-adventure video game being developed by Volition, Inc. and published by THQ. It is to be released on November 15th in North America and November 18th in Europe for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is the third title in the Saints Row series, after the release of Saints Row 2 in 2008. As in Saints Row 2, the player controls the leader of the Third Street Saints. The game world is the fictional city of Steelport, and the story focuses on the gang war between the Saints and The Syndicate, a rival criminal group. -Wikipedia.org

9. Rocksmith

Rocksmith is a music video game produced by Ubisoft similar to Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Power Gig: Rise of the SixString and Offbeat Guitarist, and based on the technology in Guitar Rising. The game's main focus is the unique feature that allows players to plug in virtually any electric guitar and play. In North America, it is available on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms, with a Windows release scheduled for December 2011. -Wikipedia.org

8. Madden NFL 12

Madden NFL 12 is an American football video game based on the National Football League published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It was released on August 30, 2011 in North America and September 2, 2011 in Europe. It was available on August 27, 2011 to EA Sports Season Ticket subscribers for a 3 day trial. The demo was released on August 9, featuring a game between the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears. -Wikipedia.org

7. FIFA Soccer 12

FIFA 12 (titled FIFA Soccer 12 in North America) is the nineteenth game in Electronic Arts' FIFA series of association football video games. It was developed by EA Canada, and published by Electronic Arts worldwide under the EA Sports label. David Rutter, the line producer for FIFA 12, promised "a revolutionary year for FIFA ... especially in the gameplay department." An "Ultimate Edition" of the game will be available through Game and Gamestation stores.

It includes four monthly Ultimate Team gold packs, with each pack containing 12 items including players, contracts, stadiums, managers, staff, fitness, healing, footballs, kits and badges. Each pack contains one rare item, such as enhanced player attributes, longer contracts and the most coveted players. On 22 June 2011, EA Sports announced that the Microsoft Windows version of FIFA 12 will have the same engine, features, and competitions as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions. -Wikipedia.org

6. Assassin's Creed Revelations

Assassin's Creed: Revelations is an upcoming video game in the Assassin's Creed franchise to be developed and published by Ubisoft Montreal. The game is set to be released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 15, 2011. For Microsoft Windows, the game is delayed for November 29, 2011. Throughout the course of the game, the three protagonists from the previous games will be featured: Ezio, Altair and Desmond. It has been announced that it is the last game to feature Ezio Auditore da Firenze and Altaïr Ibn La'Ahad, and the final game to be set in the Renaissance era. -Wikipedia.org

5. Battlefield 3

Battlefield 3 (commonly abbreviated to BF3) is a first-person shooter video game developed by EA Digital Illusions CE and published by Electronic Arts. The game was released in the US on October 25, 2011 and in the UK on October 28, 2011 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and EA Mobile confirmed a port for the iOS platform. It does not support versions of Windows prior to Windows Vista as the game only supports DirectX 10 and 11.

It is a direct sequel to 2005's Battlefield 2, and the eleventh installment in the Battlefield franchise. The game sold 5 million copies in its first week of release, and was released to critical acclaim from most game reviewers. The PC download is exclusive to EA's Origin platform, through which PC users also authenticate when connecting to the game. In campaign mode players take on the personas of various military roles; including a special forces soldier, an F-18 systems officer, and a SPETSNAZ operative. The campaign takes place at various locations, including near the Iran-Iraq border, and follows the story of Sergeant Blackburn and later, Dimitri Mayakovsky. -Wikipedia.org

4. Batman: Arkham City

Batman: Arkham City is a 2011 action-adventure video game developed by Rocksteady Studios. It is the sequel to the 2009 video game Batman: Arkham Asylum, based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. The game was released by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. The game was officially announced during the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards and was released worldwide for consoles, beginning in North America on October 18, 2011, with the PC version scheduled for November. A Wii U version is set to release in 2012. -Wikipedia.org

3. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a role-playing video game being developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the fifth installment in The Elder Scrolls action role-playing video game series, following The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. It is scheduled to be released on November 11, 2011 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Skyrim's main story revolves around the player character's efforts to defeat a dragon god who is prophesied to destroy the world. Set two hundred years after Oblivion, the game takes place in the land of Skyrim in the midst of a civil war after the assassination of the king. The open world gameplay of the Elder Scrolls series is continued in Skyrim, as the player character can explore the land at will and ignore or postpone the main quest indefinitely. -Wikipedia.org

2. Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception

Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception is the third game in the Uncharted series, created by Naughty Dog for the PlayStation 3, and was released in North America on November 1, 2011, Europe on November 2, 2011 and Australia on November 3, 2011. It is the sequel to 2009's Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. It was first revealed on December 9, 2010. Officially it was announced at the 2010 Spike Video Game Awards on December 11, 2010.

Uncharted 3 sees protagonist Nathan Drake and mentor Victor Sullivan traveling around the world to such places as the Rub' al Khali desert, in search of the legendary lost city, the Iram of the Pillars. Chloe Frazer and Elena Fisher also return in Uncharted 3. The plot draws from the archaeology days of T. E. Lawrence. Arne Meyer, Naughty Dog's community strategist stated that the "main theme of Uncharted 3 is 'finding the way'". Uncharted 3 has received universal critical acclaim from critics, making it one of the highest rated video games released in 2011. -Wikipedia.org

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (abbreviated as Call of Duty: MW3, CoD: MW3 or simply MW3) is an upcoming first-person shooter video game, currently being developed by Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games with Raven Software assisting in development. It will be the third installment in the Modern Warfare series, a direct sequel to 2009's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and the eighth Call of Duty installment.

It is set to be released on November 8, 2011 in Europe and North America on Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Wii, with a separate version for Nintendo DS being developed by n-Space. In Australia, the Wii version will be released on November 17, 2011. In Japan, Square Enix will handle this installment with a separate subbed and dubbed version, just like with Call of Duty: Black Ops. First, they will release a Japanese-subtitled version on November 17, 2011. Then, on December 22, 2011, they will release a Japanese voice-dubbed version. -Wikipedia.org

The Most Popular Xbox 360 Games: November 2011

2011-11-05T14:58:00.000-07:00

This is a list of some of the most popular and best selling Xbox 360 video games. I hope you enjoy the list!

10. Saint's Row: The Third

Saints Row: The Third (also known as Saints Row 3) is a sandbox-style action-adventure video game being developed by Volition, Inc. and published by THQ. It is to be released on November 15th in North America and November 18th in Europe for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is the third title in the Saints Row series, after the release of Saints Row 2 in 2008. As in Saints Row 2, the player controls the leader of the Third Street Saints. The game world is the fictional city of Steelport, and the story focuses on the gang war between the Saints and The Syndicate, a rival criminal group. -Wikipedia.org

9. Kinect Sports Season Two

Kinect Sports: Season Two, also known as Kinect Sports 2, is a sequel to Kinect Sports co-developed by Rare and BigPark, and published by Microsoft Studios. It was unveiled at E3 2011's Microsoft Conference for Kinect and released in October 2011. The game adds six new sports and voice control. As with the previous game, it requires the Kinect sensor. Kinect Sports: Season Two consists of six sports which can be accessed from the main menu: golf, darts, baseball, skiing, tennis, and American football. The games are controlled through Microsoft's Kinect device, which allows players to control the game through gestures and speech recognition without the need of any physical game controller.

The player controls the sports by mimicking how the sports are played in real life without the equipment that usually is associated with them; for example, swinging one's arms as if they were holding a golf club or kicking to score a field goal in American football. The Kinect's voice command technology is utilized more frequently than in the game's predecessor, Kinect Sports, with the game containing over 300 voice commands. -Wikipedia.org

8. Assassin's Creed Revelations

Assassin's Creed: Revelations is an upcoming video game in the Assassin's Creed franchise to be developed and published by Ubisoft Montreal. The game is set to be released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 15, 2011. For Microsoft Windows, the game is delayed for November 29, 2011.

Throughout the course of the game, the three protagonists from the previous games will be featured: Ezio, Altair and Desmond. It has been announced that it is the last game to feature Ezio Auditore da Firenze and Altaïr Ibn La'Ahad, and the final game to be set in the Renaissance era. -Wikipedia.org

7. Dance Central 2

Dance Central 2 is a dance video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems for the Xbox 360 Kinect. The game is the sequel to Dance Central. Dance Central 2 was officially announced at E3 2011 during Microsoft's press conference. Features new to Dance Central 2 include voice control, simultaneous 2-player gameplay in both cooperative and competitive modes with drop in/drop out functionality, an improved fitness mode, a more in-depth and customisable "Break it Down" mode, allowing the player to practice only specific moves in a routine, and a campaign mode featuring dance crews of various styles. -Wikipedia.org

6. Gears of War 3

Gears of War 3 is a third-person shooter video game developed by Epic Games and published by Microsoft Studios exclusively for the Xbox 360. Originally due for release in April 2011, the game was delayed and eventually released on September 20, 2011. Gears of War 3 made over one million pre-orders making it one of the most anticipated games of 2011. It is the third installment of the Gears of War series, and the final game in the current story arc. The story was written by science fiction author Karen Traviss, who has authored four Gears novels and is working on the next one. -Wikipedia.org

5. Batman: Arkham City

Batman: Arkham City is a 2011 action-adventure video game developed by Rocksteady Studios. It is the sequel to the 2009 video game Batman: Arkham Asylum, based on the DC Comics superhero Batman. The game was released by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows. The game was officially announced during the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards and was released worldwide for consoles, beginning in North America on October 18, 2011, with the PC version scheduled for November. A Wii U version is set to release in 2012.

Arkham City was scripted by veteran comic book author Paul Dini, who also scripted Arkham Asylum. It features a main plot and side-missions that develop their own sub-plots. The main storyline revolves around Batman's imprisonment in Arkham City, a sprawling new super-prison five times bigger than the original asylum and enclosing a wide variety of industrial districts, iconic locations and Gotham City landmarks. He must now stop mishaps occurring around this chaotic enclosure, mainly caused by his arch-nemesis The Joker. The game has received universal critical acclaim, making it one of the highest rated video games released in 2011. -Wikipedia.org

4. Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary

Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary (also referred to as Halo: Anniversary, or Halo: CEA) is a first-person shooter video game set in the Halo universe and is an enhanced remake of 2001's Halo: Combat Evolved. The Anniversary edition was announced at Microsoft's E3 2011 press conference, along with Halo 4. It reached gold status on October 19, 2011. Halo: CEA is the first game to be developed in the Halo series by 343 Industries along with Saber Interactive and Certain Affinity and is set to be released on the 10th anniversary of of the original title's launch.

The game will feature 7 classic multiplayer maps, remade from previous Halo games, support for Xbox Live multiplayer matchmaking, a complete visual overhaul, achievements, terminals, other hidden easter egg goodies, and the ability to play the co-op campaign over Xbox Live. The campaign will run on the Saber3d engine, while multiplayer will be powered by the Reach engine. The Anniversary edition is the first Halo game to include Kinect support. -Wikipedia.org

3. Battlefield 3

Battlefield 3 (commonly abbreviated to BF3) is a first-person shooter video game developed by EA Digital Illusions CE and published by Electronic Arts. The game was released in the US on October 25, 2011 and in the UK on October 28, 2011 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and EA Mobile confirmed a port for the iOS platform. It does not support versions of Windows prior to Windows Vista as the game only supports DirectX 10 and 11.

It is a direct sequel to 2005's Battlefield 2, and the eleventh installment in the Battlefield franchise. The game sold 5 million copies in it's first week of release, and was released to critical acclaim from most game reviewers. The PC release is exclusive to EA's Origin platform. The games campaign takes place near the Iran-Iraq border, and follows the story of Sergeant Blackburn. -Wikipedia.org

2. Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is a role-playing video game being developed by Bethesda Game Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is the fifth installment in The Elder Scrolls action role-playing video game series, following The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. It is scheduled to be released on November 11, 2011 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Skyrim's main story revolves around the player character's efforts to defeat a dragon god who is prophesied to destroy the world. Set two hundred years after Oblivion, the game takes place in the land of Skyrim in the midst of a civil war after the assassination of the king. The open world gameplay of the Elder Scrolls series is continued in Skyrim, as the player character can explore the land at will and ignore or postpone the main quest indefinitely. -Wikipedia.org

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (abbreviated as Call of Duty: MW3, CoD: MW3 or simply MW3) is an upcoming first-person shooter video game, currently being developed by Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games with Raven Software assisting in development. It will be the third installment in the Modern Warfare series, a direct sequel to 2009's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and the eighth Call of Duty installment. It is set to be released on November 8, 2011 in Europe and North America on Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and Wii, with a separate version for Nintendo DS being developed by n-Space.

In Australia, the Wii version will be released on November 17, 2011 In Japan, Square Enix will handle this installment with a separate subbed and dubbed version, just like with Call of Duty: Black Ops. First, they will release a Japanese-subtitled version on November 17, 2011. Then, on December 22, 2011, they will release a Japanese voice-dubbed version. -Wikipedia.org

The Most Popular Playstation 3 Games: August 2010

2010-08-09T13:57:00.000-07:00

This is a list of some of the most popular and best selling video games for the Playstation 3. These are the games that every hardcore ps3 gamer wants for their collection this month. I hope you enjoy the list!

10. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is an action-adventure video game developed by Naughty Dog, and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for PlayStation 3. Combining platforming and third-person shooter elements, the game charts the journey of protagonist Nathan Drake, supposed descendant of the explorer Sir Francis Drake, as he seeks the lost treasure of El Dorado, with the help of friend Victor "Sully" Sullivan and journalist Elena Fisher.

Originally announced at E3 2006, the title was developed for about two years before being released at the end of 2007. Seen as a key title for the PlayStation 3 during the holiday season of 2007, the game was well-received by critics, many of whom cited its technical achievements and its high production values, similar to that of summer blockbuster films. The game went on to sell more than one million copies in ten weeks, and become part of the European best-selling Platinum Range of titles. A sequel titled Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, was released in 2009. -Wikipedia.org

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9. God of War III

God of War III is an action-adventure video game for PlayStation 3, developed by Sony Santa Monica, published by Sony Computer Entertainment and released worldwide in March 2010 and is the fifth installment to the series. Loosely based on Greek mythology and focused on protagonist Kratos, the game forms part of a saga - the God of War series - with revenge as a central theme.

In this final chapter in the current storyline, Kratos and his initial allies the Titans storm Mount Olympus in an attempt to kill Zeus and the Olympian Gods, leading to a series of confrontations across the Underworld and Olympus and the reintroduction of Pandora's Box. God of War III has received universal acclaim with a score of 92% on review aggregators GameRankings and Metacritic. -Wikipedia.org

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8. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is an action-adventure video game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It is the sequel to the 2007 game Uncharted: Drake's Fortune. Officially announced in the January 2009 issue of Game Informer, it was released in October 2009.

A critical and commercial success, it was named by Metacritic as the most critically acclaimed game of 2009, and won Game of the Year awards on IGN, Giant Bomb, AIAS, X-Play, Game Developers Choice Awards and the Spike Video Game Awards for the year 2009. -Wikipedia.org
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7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Infinity Ward and published by Activision for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 video game consoles and the Microsoft Windows operating systems. Officially announced on February 11, 2009, the game was released worldwide on November 10, 2009. It is the sixth installment of the Call of Duty series and the direct sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, continuing along the same storyline.

It was released in conjunction with two other Call of Duty games: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized for the Nintendo DS, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex, a port of Call of Duty 4 adapted by Treyarch for the Wii console. In addition, a comic book series based on one of the game's characters was also produced, entitled Modern Warfare 2: Ghost. -Wikipedia.org
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6. Final Fantasy XIII

Final Fantasy XIII is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. Released in 2009 in Japan and 2010 in North America and PAL regions, it is the thirteenth installment in the Final Fantasy series. The game introduced a few innovations to the series: a fast-paced combat mechanic, a new system determining which abilities are developed for the characters called "Crystarium", and a customizable "Paradigm" system to control which abilities are used by the characters.

Final Fantasy XIII also includes elements from the previous games, such as summoned monsters, chocobos and airships. The game takes place in the fictional floating world of Cocoon, whose government, the Sanctum, is ordering a purge on civilians who have supposedly come into contact with those from Pulse, the much-feared world below. Lightning, a former soldier from Cocoon, begins her fight against the government in order to save her sister, who has been branded a l'Cie—unwilling servants to the beings known as the fal'Cie, who maintain order on both Cocoon and Pulse—and thus has become an enemy of Cocoon.

Lightning is soon joined by a band of allies, and together the group also become l'Cie after their encounter with a Pulse fal'Cie. Together, they rally against the Sanctum, while also trying to discover their "Focus" as l'Cie—the tasks they must complete before their time comes to an end. -Wikipedia.org

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5. Red Dead Redemption

Red Dead Redemption is an open world action-adventure Western video game, developed by Rockstar San Diego and published by Rockstar Games. It was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in May 2010. It is a spiritual successor to 2004's Red Dead Revolver. Most of the game's story takes place in the year 1911 in the American Old West territory and follows John Marston, a former outlaw, while he sets out to hunt down his former gang members. Marston's wife and son are taken by the government in exchange for his services. Having no other choice, he sets out to bring three former gang members to justice. -Wikipedia.org

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4. Assassin's Creed II

Assassin's Creed II is a historical fantasy third person action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is the second video game installment of the Assassin's Creed series and is a direct sequel to the 2007 video game Assassin's Creed. The game was released on video game consoles in November 2009, and released for Windows in March 2010. The sequel, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, comes out in November, 2010.

The game is set in 2012, with player-controlled protagonist Desmond Miles escaping from Abstergo Industries with an employee, Lucy Stillman, after being forced to relive the genetic memories of ancestral assassin Altaïr ibn La-Ahad through a machine known as the "Animus". After escaping from Abstergo, Desmond enters a device which is more advanced than the original Animus, the Animus 2.0, and relives the genetic memories of ancestral nobleman Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who lived during the Renaissance period of the late fifteenth century in Italy.

The player controls Ezio, who becomes an Assassin after his father and brothers are murdered by a traitor to the Auditore family. While controlling Ezio, the player can explore game renditions of Italian cities, regions and landmarks in open world gameplay. -Wikipedia.org

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3. LittleBigPlanet 2

LittleBigPlanet, commonly abbreviated LBP, is a puzzle platformer video game, centered around user-generated content, for the PlayStation 3 first announced on 7 March 2007, by Phil Harrison at the 2007 Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, California. It was developed under the title The Next Big Thing by Media Molecule and was published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. A PlayStation Portable version of the game was released in November 2009 which features new levels and content. Many saw the game as an important title for Sony's PlayStation 3.

The game received an overwhelmingly positive reaction from critics and has been praised for its presentation, including its graphics, physics and audio, along with its gameplay and large array of customisable and online features. Additional praise was given to its scope and future potential based on user-created content; minor criticism was reserved for specific elements of the gameplay mechanics and level creation facilities. LittleBigPlanet has won a considerable number of awards. -Wikipedia.org
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2. Madden NFL 11

Madden NFL 11 is an upcoming American football video game based on the National Football League published by EA Sports and developed by EA Tiburon. It will be the 22nd annual installment in the Madden NFL video game franchise. It is expected to be released on August 10, 2010 in North America, and on August 13 in Europe. It will be released for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo 3DS and iOS platforms. The PS3 and Xbox 360 demos were released on July 27, 2010. -Wikipedia.org

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1. Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City

Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City is a standalone compilation of the downloadable content (DLC) episodes for the 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV, containing both The Lost and Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony on one disc. It was released alongside the DLC release of The Ballad of Gay Tony on 29 October 2009 for the Xbox 360 and released on 13 April 2010 for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 3.

Unlike the standalone versions of the episodes, the compilation does not require a copy of Grand Theft Auto IV to play, nor is an Xbox Live or PlayStation Network account necessary (except for multiplayer). The content is also played straight from the disc, and does not need to be downloaded to a hard drive to play, like various other disc-based expansions for other Xbox 360 games that have been released in the past. -Wikipedia.org
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The Most Popular Nintendo DS Games: August 2010

2010-08-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

This is a list of the most popular and best selling Nintendo DS video games. These games are really cool and has tons of replay value too. I hope you enjoy the list!

10. Puzzler World

Capcom Puzzle World is a compilation of puzzle games created by Capcom for the Sony PSP. Puzzle World contains 5 puzzle games:

* Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo
* Buster Bros.
* Super Buster Bros.
* Buster Buddies
* Block Block -Wikipedia.org

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9. Monster Rancher

Monster Rancher DS, known as Monster Farm DS 2: Yomigaeru! Master Breeder Densetsu in Japan, is a Life Simulation video game developed by Cing and published by Koei Tecmo for the Nintendo DS. It was released in Japan on August 7, 2008 and in North America on August 3, 2010.

The game, taking place in the BOMBA region, involves raising, fighting, and breeding monsters. The main character is never seen on screen, but always talks to his apprentice, Cleo, directly. The player chooses his actions and choices through menu options. -Wikipedia.org

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8. Pokemon HeartGold Version

Pokémon HeartGold Version and SoulSilver Version, are enhanced remakes of the 1999 video games, Pokémon Gold and Silver. The games are members of the Pokémon series of role-playing video games, and were developed by Game Freak and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS.

First released in Japan on September 12, 2009, the games were later released to North America, Australia, and Europe during March 2010. Reception to the games has been highly positive, with the two being amongst the highest rated DS games of all time on Metacritic. Commercially, the two are among the highest selling handheld games of all time, with their combined sales being 8.4 million units as of May 6, 2010. -Wikipedia.org

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7. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4

Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4 is a video game in the Lego video game franchise, developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Warner Bros. Released in June 2010, the game is based on the Lego Harry Potter line and its storyline covers the first four books and films of the Harry Potter series: Philosopher's Stone (Sorcerer's Stone in the U.S.); Chamber of Secrets; Prisoner of Azkaban; and Goblet of Fire.

The game is available on the Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable and Microsoft Windows. The PS2 game was originally to released when it was first being developed, but since it was confirmed earlier in the trailers and it still not released yet however it was currently unknown whether it was cancelled or delay without given any reason yet. -Wikipedia.org

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6. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, released in Japan as The Legend of Zelda: The Earth's Steam Whistle'', is the fifteenth installment of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda series. Developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console, it was released worldwide throughout December 2009 after Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced the game at the 2009 Game Developers Conference.

The game features a cel-shaded art style similar to that of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass. Link, the protagonist of Spirit Tracks, travels across the game's overworld using a cannon-equipped steam train much like the steamboat in Phantom Hourglass. Link is also able to control Phantoms, one of the more difficult enemies from Phantom Hourglass, which are possessed by Zelda, and play an instrument called the Spirit Flute. -Wikipedia.org

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5. Pokemon SoulSilver Version

Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver are role-playing video games with adventure elements. The basic mechanics of the games are largely the same as their predecessors'. As with all Pokémon games for hand-held consoles, gameplay is in third-person overhead perspective, and consists of three basic screens: a field map, in which the player navigates the main character; a battle screen; and the menu, in which the player configures his party, items, or gameplay settings. The player begins the game with one Pokémon, and can capture more using Poké Balls. The player can also use his or her Pokémon to battle other Pokémon.

When the player encounters a wild Pokémon or is challenged by a trainer to a battle, the screen switches to a turn-based battle screen where the Pokémon fight. During battle, the player may fight, use an item, switch the active Pokémon, or flee (the last is not an option in battles against trainers). All Pokémon have hit points (HP); when a Pokémon's HP is reduced to zero, it faints and cannot battle unless taken to a Pokémon Center or healed or revived with a Pokémon skill or item.

If the player's Pokémon defeats the opposing Pokémon (causes it to faint), it receives experience points. After accumulating enough experience points, it may level up; most Pokémon evolve into a new species of Pokémon when they reach a certain level, or when certain conditions are met (commonly, how much a Pokémon statistically 'likes' its trainer). -Wikipedia.org

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4. Toy Story 3 The Video Game

Toy Story 3: The Video Game is a video game based on the film version of Toy Story 3. It is published by Disney Interactive Studios and developed by Avalanche Software. The game was released in North America on June 15, 2010. This is the first game based on a film by Pixar Animation Studios to be published entirely by Disney Interactive Studios since A Bug's Life.

Past Disney/Pixar movie games have been made in conjunction with Activision first, then THQ. Toy Story 3: The Video Game is the sequel to the second game that was based on the second film in the franchise. The game also contains content exclusive to the PlayStation 3 version. -Wikipedia.org

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3. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies

Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies is a video game for the Nintendo DS released on July 11, 2009 in Japan. It is the ninth installment in the acclaimed Dragon Quest series by Yūji Horii, developed by Level-5 and published by Square Enix in Japan and Nintendo in North America. The game was primarily designed around multiplayer and to be able to sell well overseas, particularly the United States and Europe. The basic plot involves an ex-angel who has fallen to earth becoming a human.

Dragon Quest IX marks several firsts for the main series: it is the first to be initially launched for a handheld system; first to have no random encounters, instead the player can see the enemies on the map, (except when sailing); and the first to be designed primarily with the intent of being a multiplayer video game. In addition, it is the first Dragon Quest title to use a graphical menu system in the Japanese-language version. Dragon Quest IX was designed to be more difficult than any previous game in the series, including spinoff titles. -Wikipedia.org

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2. New Super Mario Bros.

New Super Mario Bros. is a side-scrolling platform video game published and developed by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS handheld game console. The game was released in North America and Japan in May 2006 and in Australia and Europe in June 2006. It is the first original side-scrolling platform game starring Mario since Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins in 1992, and the first game to be a part of the main Mario series of video games since Super Mario Sunshine in 2002.

The game’s plot is similar to those of other side-scrolling Mario games. New Super Mario Bros. follows Mario as he fights his way through Bowser’s henchmen to rescue Princess Peach. Mario has access to several power-ups that help him complete his quest, including the Super Mushroom, the Fire Flower, and the Starman, each giving him unique abilities. While traveling through eight worlds with a total of 80 levels, Mario must defeat Bowser Jr. and Bowser before finally saving Princess Peach. -Wikipedia.org


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1. Mario Kart DS

Mario Kart DS is a racing game developed and published by Nintendo. It was released for the Nintendo DS handheld game console in North America, Australia, and Europe on November 14, 2005, and in Japan on December 8, 2005. The game is the fifth installment in the Mario Kart series of video games, and the first to be playable via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection online service. Like other games in the series, Mario Kart DS features characters from the Mario series, and pits them against each other as they race in karts on tracks based on locations in the Mario series.

The game was well received, receiving an aggregated score of 91% from Metacritic. Praise focused on the game's graphics and gameplay, while criticism targeted its repetitive single-player mode. Mario Kart DS received several awards, including Editors' Choice Awards from GameSpot and IGN, G-Phoria's Best Handheld Game award, and IGN's Best Racing/Driving Game and Game of the Year awards for 2005.

In the United States, Mario Kart DS was the best-selling game in its first month of release, and also held that position the following month. Overall, Mario Kart DS is the sixth best-selling game for the Nintendo DS as of January 2009. -Wikipedia.org

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The Most Popular SLR Cameras: August 2010

2010-08-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

This is the list of the top 10 most popular digital SLR camera's as of August 2010. Check this list out and see what camera's are the best bang for your buck. Enjoy the list!

10. Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD (Body Only)

T2i is amazing. Whether you want a nice HD camera for fun, to take some pictures, to start a Photo/Video business or to produce an Indie Film...the T2i is a great option for the price. If used correctly the Video can come out looking VERY Cinematic. Slap on a nice L Series lens, shoot in 24p and use a Glidetrack for some dolly shots and you won't believe the results.

I loved it so much I bought a second one. My only gripe is the sound and the lack of manual control in that area...but I record all of my audio on an external device anyways so it's not THAT big of a deal. It's just that, every once in a while I'd like to go out and throw on any old mic and get some decent audio...and I have yet to really do that. Small gripe for me personally. You may need to invest in a Rode Shotgun mic to get some decent audio if you don't record externally. -Amazon.com Review

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9. Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD (Body Only)

Here's a quick, first impressions (from hands on shooting) of the Rebel T1i. Although we'll need more scientific examinations to determine ultimate image quality and usability, I'll try to give a hint into the camera's potential. I'll not go in to any real detail on the kit lens, which has been well reviewed. Let's just agree that $100 for a good quality IS (image stabalized) lens is a very reasonable value it you don't have another option. There are no obvious reasons this kit lens should make or break your choice of this camera over a competitor's.

Styling and build wise, the T1i is an XSi made over, which is not a bad thing. Some found that camera to be a bit on the small size for their hands, or a bit lacking in weight, but most like the size and weight (include me). It uses the same, proven battery and accessories of the XSi. I've already used some generic batteries that worked well in an XSi, with similar good results, but I do not want to lump all generics in the "good to go" category.

In using the camera, the first thing you'll notice over the previous Rebels in the marvelous LCD screen. Yep, the images look much cleaner even at the original size. Don't get confused if you compare this camera side-by-side and think it's images are all that much better. They just look much better on such a sharp LCD. -Amazon.com Review

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8. Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 12.1MP Micro Four-Thirds Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera with LUMIX G 20mm f/1.7 Aspherical Lens

Fantastic portable cam with decent image quality and extraordinary features. It filled the gap between my Panasonic LX3 and Canon 5DMkII as a small size camera with all the features I want. What do you get? Small package; fast great lens (20mm); DSLR IQ; HD movies; fast autofocus (+ face-recognition AF); super looks (+ pride of ownership); very sharp LCD.

Importantly, you don't look like a geek when you use it in a group. The colors are very very good (I shoot raw and develop in Panasonic Silkypix in "Filmcolor A" mode). Downsides? High ISO noise is not as good as Canon DSLRs (40D etc). AF area selection is painful, because the arrow buttons no longer can be used for their original functions. Colors of the LCD screen are not accurate. Continuous autofocus in movie mode tends to use f/1.7 & it hunts a lot. This means significant portions of the movie end up out of focus. In some auto modes (e.g.: aperture priority + auto-ISO), camera picks 1/30 exposure time, resulting in blurry photos. Current price is quite high ($900 for body+20mm). These are small nags compared to what you get.

Doubts about fixed focal length lens? Fast 40mm-equivalent lens is sufficient for ~90% of my daily shooting needs (family, kids, friends etc). Unless travelling or taking artistic shots, I don't feel the need of a different focal length. I think most casual shooters would feel the same. You may want to consider getting a Lowepro Rezo 60 camera bag. The camera + 20mm fits snugly into that. -Amazon.com Review

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7. Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)

This camera is impossible to beat at this price. I won't write a lengthy review, but, you can set this camera in fully automatic mode and hand it to a "point and shoot" person, and they will obtain fantastic results. For the amateur photographer, this has all of the bells and whistles, what I love is I can reset the camera rapidly for multiple shots of the same scene on very different settings. Married with a decent photo program on your computer, it is possible to achieve professional results. Many reviews say, get this with the stabilization lens.... I wholeheartedly agree... the extra $100 is a bargain price for this lens... It is almost (and I do say almost) like having a tripod.

I set the camera for 1/10th second exposures with no support, and obtained steady pictures with it, slower than this, and the stabilization did not fully correct for any unsteadiness. We'd buy it again in a heartbeat, and I wish I could get one for everyone I know!! Best photos that I have ever taken and a joy to use! Connecting it to the computer and downloading photos takes a matter of seconds. Get the largest SD card you can afford with it... We have a 2GB card with it, and it fills fairly rapidly. 1GB is far too small for this camera (primarily because you will take numerous shots with it, not because the pics take up a great deal of memory), I'm guessing 4GB would be near perfect (or a couple of 2GB cards, but one 4GB is safer, the cards are too easy to misplace). -Amazon.com Review

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6. Canon EOS 7D 18 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-inch LCD (Body Only)

Well after much deliberation between this and a 5d Mark II i decided to opt for the 7D and spend the extra I save on some nice wide angle lenses. First of all for anyone who is expecting a 1.6 crop camera's image quality to be better than the 5d mark ii you can forget it. The 5D mark ii is a full frame sensor camera and the 7D is a crop, different cameras for different purposes.

I know three people who own a 5d mark II, wedding photographer, cinematographer and a landscape photographer. As you can tell, they all need wide angle and good low light performance. The 5D Mark II/other full frame cameras are targeted towards users with wide angle needs. So if you find yourself in a crowded room with little light during a wedding the EOS 7D may not be for you, less you put on a 10-22mm EFS lens which is the widest lens for a APS-C camera.

Image Quality from this camera is amazing, I'll put up some pictures once it stops raining where I live. Detail is very good, and the 28-135 lens accommodates this cameras ability very nicely, however, starting off at 28mm will probably be too long for most people in everyday situations such as those for street photographers. Picking up a 17-55 2.8 lens will probably be highly recommended by many.

Build Quality is superb. This "tank" of a camera is no light weight and one of the first things you notice when you pick up the camera is the hefty feel you get. Very ergonomic grip and a robust feel all around. Don't expect to have it hanging around your next too long though. Weather seals are improved and you can notice that the area above the viewfinder is much larger thanks to a 100% coverage pentaprism. -Amazon.com Review

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5. Nikon D90 12.3MP Digital SLR Camera (Body Only)

I just upgraded to the D90 from the D40 because I was tired of futzing with the white balance of the D40, and I wanted more low-light sensitivity (better ISO), as well as the flexibility of using faster lenses, many of which are not AF-S. I have been very impressed with the D90. I'm comparing it to the D40. It takes significantly better pictures because of its larger dynamic range and better colors (ADR) and better white balance. The things that I think are important are ranked from most to least important.

1. Active D-lighting (ADR). This has gotten me photos with large dynamic ranges of light (highly shaded subjects with a bright background) that I would have otherwise botched. Also, we rent a house where they did a quick paint job in white, but there are splotches of beige and light green underneath. We've never successfully taken photos of this with the D40 or our point-and-clicks. The D90 pulls these out (without flash) to the point where it's easier to see them in the photo than by eye, and it nails the colors! I also suspect that the ADR is helping tame the noise at high ISO levels (see #3 below).

2. White Balance. The white balance is a big improvement over the D40, which botched AWB lots of times. If you look closely, it's not perfect, but close enough for all but the perfectionists, and the beauty is it works in Auto. That means that you can focus on taking pictures and not on fiddling with your settings so much. There's also a lot of flexibility to set your AWB defaults with a lot of precision. -Amazon.com Review

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4. Canon EOS Rebel T2i 18 MP CMOS APS-C Digital SLR Camera with 3.0-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

I'm a frequent upgrader and loyal Canon fan. I traded up from an XSi last year to the T1i, and now this year to the T2i. I was within days of ordering the 7D until they announced the T2i, with all the features I wanted from the 7D at half the cost. I immediately pre-ordered the T2i and have been having some fun with it over the last 24 hours. The verdict so far? I am in love with this SLR.

I believe the last few iterations in the Rebel series have been comparable in quality. The T2i shares much of the same pros and cons with its predecessors, and ultimately, not too much has really changed. That said, the very minor things that did change were huge to me. I'm big into video, which is what got me looking into the 7D. Both the 7D and the T2i have the stereo audio input jack. My T1i just had the built-in mono mic which was unacceptable for someone who is doing more than home videos with this camera. So that feature, along with full manual control of video recording (not available in T1i), and 1080/24p (and 30p if that's your preference) makes this a common sense upgrade if you're serious about video. 720p/60 is also really cool for the silky smooth framerate, although I personally find the movie-like feel of 24p video best.

As for what the camera is really made for, still photography, it is still the king at (in the mid-entry-level DSLR class). 18 megapixels really, truly is more than any person really needs. My XSi from a couple years back met all my needs with 12mp, however, 18 creates for even better bragging rights to the general public. "How many megapixies is that thingy? Eighteen? OMG! You are such a pro!" Anyway, back on track now. The noise levels in most photos I've taken are pretty decent for 18 megapixels. It's comparable to the noise on the 15MP T1i from what I've experienced so far. 6400 ISO is now a default option instead of an expanded setting (12800 ISO still is), which is nice to have, though you'll hopefully never have to use it. -Amazon.com Review

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3. Nikon D5000 12.3 MP DX Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR Lens and 2.7-inch Vari-angle LCD

Great Camera. If you are new to the DSLR game (like myself) or you are upgrading and you can fork up the cash, it is definitely worth it. It has a very concise, simple, and easy to use interface, the buttons are very well placed, and the swivel LCD is very nice and useful in certain situations (I really like how it folds inwards to protect the screen). My main purpose for this camera is still photos so the video is a cool bonus and is surprisingly better than I thought (though if you are looking to do serious HD video, I'd go for an HD camcorder or something else instead).

The D5000 is essentially a D90 squeezed into a smaller lighter body (of course it lacks the internal AF motor, doesn't have as good a grip, and has a slightly smaller pentamirror viewfinder instead of the pentaprism in the D90 - all of this amongst a few other things, but hey it's cheaper for a reason - also it is mentionable that the D5000 has an additional live view mode, a few more in camera editing tools, and more scene modes compared to the D90 - all useful for someone new to the DSLR in the sense that you can learn from them or just use them to make your life easier and your photos look great).

So far I love it. It is simple to use and great for those new to the DSLR realm, but it also packs enough punch for those looking to upgrade and will give newcomers much room to learn and grow with it. -Amazon.com Review

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2. Nikon D3000 10.2MP Digital SLR Camera with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G AF-S DX VR Nikkor Zoom Lens

Looking over several cameras and choosing one for someone who has outgrown point and shoots, I came back to the Nikon D3000. By no means will this model blow away the seasoned photographer, however it does cover the basics and more. We picked it up and tried it out over the weekend.

First time DSLR users will enjoy the Guide Mode. It literally walked us through different shoot scenarios via the fixed 3" LCD screen. An excellent tool, its step by step instructions allowed my niece to move from the operating booklet in no time. After a few more runs, I am sure that she will feel quite comfortable shooting in the manual mode. The quick shutter release was a nice surprise.

Upon completing two days of shooting with the Nikon D3000, I walked away impressed. In manual mode, indoor shots were a balanced and perfect mix of shadow and color. As usual with shooting in low light, noise will make an appearance. However this system can be tweaked to deliver some outstanding indoor photographs. The bottom line is proper settings.

A basic fix is the VR (Vibration Reduction) feature located on the lens. This should be activated, especially indoors. A tripod will certainly help. In auto mode, just set the camera to night portrait and sit back and enjoy the rest of your flight.

Outdoor shots were vibrant, sharp and rich in color without editing. The onboard flash system was more than capable in meeting fill flash requirements. Without a doubt the overall performance of the camera, features and image quality is excellent. -Amazon.com Review
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1. Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

Here's a quick, first impressions (from hands on shooting) of the Rebel T1i. Although we'll need more scientific examinations to determine ultimate image quality and usability, I'll try to give a hint into the camera's potential.

I'll not go in to any real detail on the kit lens, which has been well reviewed. Let's just agree that $100 for a good quality IS (image stabalized) lens is a very reasonable value it you don't have another option. There are no obvious reasons this kit lens should make or break your choice of this camera over a competitor's.

Styling and build wise, the T1i is an XSi made over, which is not a bad thing. Some found that camera to be a bit on the small size for their hands, or a bit lacking in weight, but most like the size and weight (include me). It uses the same, proven battery and accessories of the XSi. I've already used some generic batteries that worked well in an XSi, with similar good results, but I do not want to lump all generics in the "good to go" category.

In using the camera, the first thing you'll notice over the previous Rebels in the marvelous LCD screen. Yep, the images look much cleaner even at the original size. Don't get confused if you compare this camera side-by-side and think it's images are all that much better. They just look much better on such a sharp LCD.

First looks at IQ (Image Quality) were very impressive. I tried using the camera in a variety of situtations (biased to how I would use it), and got very good results throughout. Focusing was typical for a better Rebel, and images looked good throughout the ISO range, based on reasonable expectations. I thought the Auto White Balance is a very good job compared to previous results I'd had with Canons in general. They weren't perfect, but the tungsten areas seemed to look better than average. All in all, I'd say Canon made reasonable progress with the jump to 15 meg, but probably no reason to trade-in your XSi. -Amazon.com Review

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The Most Popular Movies and TV Shows: August 2010

2010-08-03T10:09:00.000-07:00

This is a list of the most popular movies and television shows on dvd right now. Check this list out to see what people are watching at home. Hope you enjoy the list.

10. Lost

Lost is an American television series created by Jeffrey Lieber, J. J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof, which originally aired on the American Broadcasting Company from September 22, 2004 to May 23, 2010. The series follows the lives of various groups and people, most importantly the survivors of the crash of a commercial passenger jet flying between Sydney and Los Angeles, on a mysterious tropical island somewhere in the South Pacific. Episodes typically feature a primary storyline on the island, as well as a secondary storyline from another point in a character's life. -Wikipedia.org

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9. Heroes

Heroes is an American science fiction fantasy television drama series created by Tim Kring. It premiered on NBC on September 25, 2006. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the characters' lives. The series emulates the aesthetic style and storytelling of American comic books, using short, multi-episode story arcs that build upon a larger, more encompassing arc. The series is produced by Tailwind Productions in association with Universal Media Studios, and it is filmed primarily in Los Angeles, California. -Wikipedia.org

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8. Rambo

Rambo (also known as Rambo IV or John Rambo) is a 2008 American action/war film starring Sylvester Stallone returning and reprising his famous role as legendary Cold War/Vietnam veteran John Rambo. Stallone also co-wrote and directed the film. It is the fourth and presumably final installment in the Rambo franchise, twenty years since the last film Rambo III.

This film is dedicated to the memory of Richard Crenna, who played Col. Sam Trautman in the first three films, who died in 2003. Rambo holds the record with the most kills out of the entire Rambo series, with 236 kills – Stallone justified this in a press conference by saying the violence in the film was to draw attention to the ongoing problems in Burma. -Wikipedia.org
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7. Clash of the Titans

Clash of the Titans is a 2010 fantasy film and remake of the 1981 film of the same name. As with the 1981 film, the story is very loosely based upon the Greek myth of Perseus. Directed by Louis Leterrier and starring Sam Worthington, the film was originally set for standard release on March 26, 2010. However, it was later announced that the film would be converted to 3-D and was released on April 2, 2010. -Wikipedia.org

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6. Dexter

Dexter is an American television drama series that airs on the pay-TV channel Showtime. It debuted on October 1, 2006, and filming has begun on the fifth season, due to begin airing on September 26, 2010. Set in Miami, the show centers on Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a blood-spatter analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department, who moonlights as a serial killer. The show's first season was loosely based on the novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, the first of his series of Dexter novels. Subsequent seasons have evolved independently of Lindsay's works. It was adapted for television by screenwriter James Manos, Jr., who wrote the pilot episode. -Wikipedia.org
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5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a 2010 American live-action/partly animated comedy film directed by Thor Freudenthal and based on the book in the illustrated novel series of the same title by Jeff Kinney. The film mainly stars Zachary Gordon and Robert Capron. Also starring in the film are Rachael Harris, Steve Zahn, Devon Bostick, and Chloë Moretz. The film was released on March 19, 2010. It will be released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc on August 3, 2010. -Wikipedia.org
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4. Iron Man 2

Iron Man 2 is a 2010 American superhero film featuring the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is the sequel to 2008's Iron Man, the second film in a planned trilogy and is a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Directed by Jon Favreau, the film stars Robert Downey Jr., who reprises his role as Tony Stark. Stark has revealed his identity as Iron Man and is resisting calls by the United States government to hand over the technology. Ivan Vanko has duplicated the technology and built weapons of his own, creating new challenges for Stark. -Wikipedia.org
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3. 2001: A Space Odyssey

2001: A Space Odyssey (often referred to as simply 2001) is a 1968 epic science fiction film directed by Stanley Kubrick released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke. The film deals with thematic elements of human evolution, technology, artificial intelligence, and extraterrestrial life, and is notable for its scientific realism, pioneering special effects, ambiguous imagery that is open-ended to a point approaching surrealism, sound in place of traditional narrative techniques, and minimal use of dialogue. -Wikipedia.org

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2. Battlestar Galactica

Battlestar Galactica is an American science fiction franchise created by Glen A. Larson. The franchise began with a 1978 TV show, followed by a sequel TV series, a line of book adaptations, original novels, comic books, boardgame and video games. A reimagined miniseries developed by Ronald D. Moore and David Eick aired in 2003, continuing with a regular television series aired from 2004 to 2009 and a prequel series, Caprica, which began airing in January 2010.

All Battlestar Galactica productions share an identical premise: in a distant part of the universe, a human civilization lives on a group of planets known as the Twelve Colonies, where they have migrated from their ancestral homeworld of Kobol. The Colonies had been at war with a cybernetic race known as the Cylons, and with the assistance of a human traitor named Baltar, the Cylons ambushed the Colonies, laying waste to the planets and devastating their populations.

The few human survivors flee into space aboard any spacecraft they can reach. Of the entire Colonial Fleet, only the Battlestar Galactica appears to have survived the attack, although another warship, the Battlestar Pegasus, is later discovered. Under the leadership of famed military leader Commander Adama, the Galactica and its crew lead the fugitive fleet of survivors in search of a fabled thirteenth colony known as Earth. -Wikipedia.org
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1. Kick-Ass

Kick-Ass is a 2010 superhero film based on the comic book of the same name by Mark Millar and John Romita, Jr. The film was directed by Matthew Vaughn, who co-produced the film with actor Brad Pitt, and co-wrote the screenplay with Jane Goldman. The film's general release was on 26 March 2010 in the United Kingdom and on 16 April 2010 in the United States.

The film tells the story of an ordinary teenager, Dave Lizewski, who sets out to become a real-life superhero calling himself Kick-Ass. Dave gets caught up in a bigger fight when he meets Big Daddy, a former cop who, in his quest to bring down the evil drug lord Frank D'Amico, has trained his eleven-year-old daughter to be the ruthless vigilante Hit-Girl. -Wikipedia.org
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Top 10 Meryl Streep Performances

2010-08-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of some of Meryl Streep's best performances in film. When your talking about Streep you might as well say all her films are wonderful with her in it. But these films are probably the best of the best. I hope you enjoy the list!

10. Joanna Kramer in Kramer vs. Kramer

Kramer vs. Kramer is a 1979 American comedy-drama film adapted by Robert Benton from the novel by Avery Corman, and directed by Benton. The film tells the story of a married couple's divorce and its impact on everyone involved, including the couple's young son. It received the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1979. -Wikipedia.org

9. Sophie Zawistowski in Sophie's Choice

Sophie's Choice is a 1982 American drama romance film that tells the story of a Polish immigrant, Sophie, and her tempestuous lover who share a boarding house with a young writer in Brooklyn. The film stars Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Peter MacNicol. Alan J. Pakula directed the movie and wrote the script from a novel by William Styron, also called Sophie's Choice.

This is widely regarded as Meryl Streep's finest performance, and it won her the Academy Award for Best Actress. The film was nominated for Best Cinematography (Néstor Almendros), Costume Design (Albert Wolsky), Best Music (Marvin Hamlisch), and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium (Alan J. Pakula). -Wikipedia.org

8. Karen Silkwood in Silkwood

Silkwood is a 1983 American drama film directed by Mike Nichols. The screenplay by Nora Ephron and Alice Arlen was inspired by the true-life story of Karen Silkwood, who died in a suspicious car accident while investigating alleged wrongdoing at the Kerr-McGee plutonium plant where she worked.

Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times rated the film four stars and commented, "It's a little amazing that established movie stars like Streep, Russell and Cher could disappear so completely into the everyday lives of these characters." -Wikipedia.org

7. Helen Archer in Ironweed

Ironweed is a 1987 film directed by Argentine-born Brazilian Hector Babenco. The picture is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same title by William Kennedy and concerns the relationship of a homeless couple: Francis, an alcoholic, and Helen, a terminally ill woman during the Great Depression. Kennedy also wrote the screenplay.

It stars Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep, Carroll Baker, Michael O'Keefe, Diane Venora, Fred Gwynne, Tom Waits, and Nathan Lane. The film was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Nicholson) and Best Actress in a Leading Role (Streep). Major portions of the film were shot on location in Albany, New York, including Jay Street at Lark Street, Albany Rural Cemetery and the Miss Albany Diner on North Pearl Street. -Wikipedia.org

6. Julia in Defending Your Life

Defending Your Life is a 1991 romantic comedy/fantasy film about a man who must justify his life-long lack of assertiveness after he dies and arrives in the afterlife. The film was written, directed by, and stars Albert Brooks. It also stars Meryl Streep, Rip Torn and Lee Grant. Shirley MacLaine has a cameo appearance as herself, acting as the holographic host of the "Past Lives Pavilion", a reference to her publicly known belief in reincarnation. The movie was filmed entirely in and around Los Angeles, California. Despite its comedic overtones, Defending Your Life contains elements of drama and allegory. -Wikipedia.org

5. Francesca Johnson in The Bridges of Madison County

The Bridges of Madison County is a 1995 American romantic drama film based on the best-selling novel by Robert James Waller. It was produced by Amblin Entertainment and Malpaso Productions, and distributed by Warner Bros.. The film was produced and directed by Clint Eastwood with Kathleen Kennedy as co-producer and the screenplay was adapted by Richard LaGravenese. The film stars Eastwood and Meryl Streep, who was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1996 for her performance in the film. -Wikipedia.org

4. Susan Orlean in Adaptation

Adaptation (rendered as Adaptation.) is a 2002 American comedy-drama film directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman. The film is based on Susan Orlean's non-fiction book The Orchid Thief through self-referential events. The film stars Nicolas Cage as Charlie and Donald Kaufman, Meryl Streep as Susan, with Chris Cooper, Cara Seymour, Brian Cox, Tilda Swinton, Ron Livingston and Maggie Gyllenhaal. The film tells the story of Charlie Kaufman's difficult struggle to adapt The Orchid Thief into a film. In addition, Orlean romances with John Laroche while Charlie enlists the help of his twin brother Donald. -Wikipedia.org

3. Hannah Pitt/Ethel Rosenberg in Angels in America

Angels in America is a 2003 HBO miniseries adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning play of the same name by Tony Kushner. Kushner adapted his original text for the screen, and Mike Nichols directed. Set in 1985, the film has at its core the story of two couples whose relationships dissolve amidst the backdrop of Reagan era politics, the spreading AIDS epidemic and a rapidly changing social and political climate.

HBO broadcast the film in various formats: two three-hour chunks that correspond to "Millennium Approaches" and "Perestroika," as well as six one-hour "chapters" that roughly correspond to an act or two of each of these plays; the first three chapters ("Bad News", "In Vitro" and "The Messenger") were initially broadcast on December 7, 2003 to international acclaim, with the final three chapters ("Stop Moving!", "Beyond Nelly" and "Heaven, I'm in Heaven") following. -Wikipedia.org

2. Yolanda Johnson in A Prairie Home Companion

A Prairie Home Companion is a 2006 ensemble comedy elegy directed by Robert Altman, and was his final film, released just five months before his death. It is a fictional representation of behind-the-scenes activities at the long-running public radio show of the same name.

The general reaction to the film by critics was favorable, and it garnered an 81% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Roger Ebert awarded the film four out of four stars, saying, "What a lovely film this is, so gentle and whimsical, so simple and profound", and later added the film to his "Great Movies" list. -Wikipedia.org

1. Sister Aloysius Beauvier in Doubt

Doubt is a 2008 film adaptation of John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer Prize winning fictional stage play Doubt: A Parable. Written and directed by Shanley and produced by Scott Rudin, the film stars Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, and Viola Davis, who were all nominated for Oscars at the 81st Academy Awards. It premiered on October 30, 2008 at the AFI Fest before being distributed by Miramax Films in limited release on December 12, 2008 and in a wide release on Christmas Day. -Wikipedia.org

Top 10 Scary Women in Movies

2010-07-31T12:26:00.000-07:00

Here is a list of some of the most terrifying and scariest women ever seen on film. You never want to come close to any of these women or get on their bad side. Hope you like the list!

10. Louise Fletcher: Flowers in the Attic

Flowers in the Attic is a 1987 movie starring Louise Fletcher, Victoria Tennant, Kristy Swanson, and Jeb Stuart Adams. It is based on the 1979 novel of the same name by V. C. Andrews. Despite the success of the book on which it is based, the movie was poorly received by both critics and fans. At one point Wes Craven was scheduled to direct the film, and he even completed a screenplay draft. Producers were disturbed by his approach to the incest-laden story, however, and Jeffrey Bloom ended up with writing and directing duties. -Wikipedia.org

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9. Rebecca De Mornay: The Hand That Rocks the Cradle

The Hand That Rocks the Cradle is a 1992 thriller starring Rebecca De Mornay as a vengeful nanny out to destroy a naïve woman and steal her family. The film was directed by Curtis Hanson. The original music score was composed by Graeme Revell. The film was a commercial success ranking at number one at the box office for four consecutive weeks and earning a domestic total gross of $88,036,683. -Wikipedia.org

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8. Faye Dunaway: Mommie Dearest

Mommie Dearest is a 1981 American biographical drama film about Joan Crawford, starring Faye Dunaway. The film was directed by Frank Perry. The story was adapted for the screen by Robert Getchell, Tracy Hotchner, Frank Perry and Frank Yablans, based on the 1978 book Mommie Dearest by Christina Crawford. The executive producers were Christina's husband, David Koontz, and Terrence O'Neill, Dunaway's then-boyfriend and soon-to-be husband. The film was a financial success, but a critical disaster and was eventually disliked by Dunaway herself. However, it has become a cult classic. -Wikipedia.org

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7. Piper Laurie: Carrie

Carrie is a 1976 supernatural horror film film directed by Brian De Palma and written by Lawrence D. Cohen, based on the novel Carrie by Stephen King. The film and the novel tell the story of a socially outcast teenage girl, Carrie White, who discovers she possesses psionic power which seems to flare up when she becomes angry. Carrie's powers become apparent after her humiliation by her peers, teachers, and abusive mother, eventually resulting in tragedy.

The film stars Sissy Spacek, Piper Laurie, Betty Buckley, Amy Irving, Nancy Allen, William Katt, John Travolta, P.J. Soles and Priscilla Pointer. The film was a major success for United Artists, grossing over $30 million at the U.S. box office, on a budget of $1.8 million. It received a mostly positive response from critics. The film spawned a failed sequel The Rage: Carrie 2 and a fairly well-received made for television remake, released in 2002, neither of which involved De Palma. During a survey taken in October 2008, it was revealed that Carrie was considered one of the most popular movies
teens watched on Halloween.

Both Sissy Spacek and Piper Laurie were nominated for Academy Award for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress respectively. -Wikipedia.org

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6. Juliette Lewis: Natural Born Killers

Natural Born Killers is a 1994 American crime film directed by Oliver Stone about a pair of mass murderers and the media coverage given to them. It stars Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis, along with Rodney Dangerfield, Robert Downey, Jr., Tom Sizemore, and Tommy Lee Jones.

The film is based on a screenplay by Quentin Tarantino that was heavily revised by Stone with writer Dave Veloz and associate producer Richard Rutowski. Notorious for its violent content, the film was named the 8th most controversial movie of all time by Entertainment Weekly. Natural Born Killers was promoted with the tagline: "A bold new film that takes a look at a country seduced by fame, obsessed by crime and consumed by the media." It was released theatrically in the United States on August 26, 1994. -Wikipedia.org

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5. Glenn Close: Fatal Attraction

Fatal Attraction is a 1987 thriller/slasher film directed by Adrian Lyne and stars Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Anne Archer. It is about a married man, who has a weekend affair with a woman who refuses to allow it to end and who becomes obsessed with him.

The film was adapted by James Dearden and Nicholas Meyer from an earlier short film by Dearden for British television Diversion (1980). Fatal Attraction was a smash hit, becoming the highest grossing film of 1987 in the United States and hugely popular internationally. Critics were enthusiastic about the film, and it received six Academy Award nominations, including that for Best Picture, Best Actress for Close and Best Supporting Actress for Archer. -Wikipedia.org

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4. Chiaki Kuriyama: Kill Bill

Kill Bill is a two-part action thriller film released in 2003 and 2004 by writer-director Quentin Tarantino, and starring Uma Thurman as The Bride. Originally conceived as one film, it was released in two 'volumes' (in late 2003 and early 2004) due to its running time of approximately four hours. The film is an epic-length revenge drama, with homages to earlier film genres, such as Hong Kong martial arts films, Japanese Chanbara films, exploitation films and Italian spaghetti westerns; an extensive use of popular music and pop culture references; and aestheticization of violence. Filming took place in California, Texas, Beijing, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Mexico. -Wikipedia.org

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3. Jennifer Jason Leigh: Single White Female

Single White Female is a 1992 American thriller based on John Lutz's novel SWF Seeks Same. The movie stars Bridget Fonda, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Steven Weber and is directed by Barbet Schroeder, who also did Reversal of Fortune. Alison "Allie" Jones (Bridget Fonda) is a software designer in New York City. While her professional star is on the rise – she has created a computer software package that will revolutionize the fashion world – her personal life is a mess. Allie banishes her fiance, Sam Rawson (Steven Weber), from her rent-controlled apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side, after discovering that he slept with his ex-wife. Allie finds platonic comfort in her gay neighbor Graham Knox (Peter Friedman), an aspiring actor with a sensitive shoulder to lean on. -Wikipedia.org

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2. Eihi Shiina: Audition

Audition is a 1999 Japanese horror film directed by Takashi Miike and starring Ryo Ishibashi and Eihi Shiina. It is based on a Ryu Murakami novel of the same title. Over the years, the film has developed a cult following. Shigeharu Aoyama (Ryo Ishibashi), a middle-aged widower who lost his wife to an illness seven years prior, is urged by his 17-year-old son, Shigehiko (Tetsu Sawaki), to begin dating women again.

Shigehiko is somewhat doubtful of his father's love life, but plans to move out when he finishes school and does not want his father to be alone. Aoyama's friend and colleague, Yoshikawa (Jun Kunimura), a film producer, devises a plan to hold a mock-audition, in which young, beautiful women would audition for the "part" of Aoyama's new wife, under the impression that they are auditioning for a new film, but actually so Aoyama can marry one of the finalist contestants. -Wikipedia.org

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1. Kathy Bates: Misery

Misery is a 1990 American psychological horror / thriller film, based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Stephen King. Directed by Rob Reiner, the film received critical acclaim for Kathy Bates' performance as the psychopathic Annie Wilkes. Bates won both the Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe. The film was ranked #12 on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments. -Wikipedia.org

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Heath Ledger's Best Performances

2010-07-31T08:44:00.000-07:00

This is a list of 5 of Heath Ledgers greatest performances in film. It was a shame that he passed away so early in his career. Take a look at some of these films to really appreciate the brilliance of this actor. Hope you enjoy!

5. A Knight’s Tale

A Knight's Tale is a 2001 American action-adventure film directed, produced, and written by Brian Helgeland. The film stars Heath Ledger, Shannyn Sossamon, Mark Addy, Alan Tudyk, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany as Geoffrey Chaucer, and James Purefoy as Sir Thomas Colville/Edward, the Black Prince. The film follows the story of William Thatcher, a peasant masquerading as a knight, along with his companions in the world of medieval jousting.

William poses as a knight and competes in tournaments, winning accolades and acquiring friendships with such historical figures as Edward, the Black Prince of Wales and Geoffrey Chaucer. The film takes its title from Chaucer's "The Knight's Tale" in his Canterbury Tales. The film was a box office success, garnering $117,487,473 with a budget of just over $41,000,000. -Wikipedia.org

4. Casanova

Casanova is a 2005 American romantic film directed by Lasse Hallström starring Academy Award winner Heath Ledger loosely based on the life of Giacomo Casanova. Filming began on July 9, 2004, and the finished film was released in the United States on September 3, 2005. Visual effects for the film were produced by Custom Film Effects and Illusion Arts.

Period costumes were supplied by four different Italian costume houses: Tirelli Costumi, Nicolao Atelier, Costumi d'Arte, and G.P. 11, and shoes were manufactured by L.C.P. di Pompei. Wardrobe was also rented from Sastreria Cornejo of Spain. Despite being set in Venice, some scenes were filmed in Vicenza, particularly the Teatro Olimpico, the Renaissance theater known for its intricate forced perspective stage design. -Wikipedia.org

3. I'm Not There

I'm Not There is a 2007 American/German biographical/musical film directed by Todd Haynes, inspired by iconic American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. Six actors depict different facets of Dylan's life and public persona: Christian Bale, Cate Blanchett, Marcus Carl Franklin, Richard Gere, Heath Ledger, and Ben Whishaw. At the start of the film, a caption reads: "Inspired by the music and the many lives of Bob Dylan". Besides song credits, this is the only time Dylan's name appears in the film.

The film tells its story using non-traditional narrative techniques, intercutting the storylines of the six different Dylan-inspired characters. The title of the film is taken from the 1967 Dylan Basement Tape recording, "I'm Not There", a song that had not been officially released until it appeared on the film's soundtrack album. The film received a generally favorable response, and appeared on several top ten film lists for 2007, topping the lists for The Village Voice, Entertainment Weekly, Salon and The Boston Globe. -Wikipedia.org

2. Candy

Candy is a 2006 Australian romantic drama film, adapted from Luke Davies's novel Candy: A Novel of Love and Addiction. Candy was directed by debut film-maker Neil Armfield and stars Heath Ledger, Abbie Cornish and Geoffrey Rush. Candy, produced by Margaret Fink, was released in Australia on 25 May 2006 and subsequently released around the world. -Wikipedia.org

1. Brokeback Mountain

Brokeback Mountain is a 2005 American romantic drama film that depicts the complex romantic and sexual relationship between two men in the American West from 1963 to 1983. The film was directed by Taiwanese American director Ang Lee from a screenplay by Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry, which they adapted from the short story "Brokeback Mountain" by Annie Proulx. The film stars Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway, and Michelle Williams.

Brokeback Mountain won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and was honored with Best Picture and Best Director accolades from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Golden Globe Awards, Producers Guild of America, Critics Choice Awards, and Independent Spirit Awards among many other organizations and festivals. Brokeback Mountain had the most nominations (eight) for the 78th Academy Awards, where it won three: Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Score. -Wikipedia.org

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