Games That Missed the Top 5

Old and recent games that just missed the mark in my top 5

SpecTech Top 5 Favorite Video Games (#2)

Save the world by yourself or with another player in this SEGA Genesis Classic

Sandy dampens Google debut

                I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween! Now stuff your face with candy and read about Google and Microsoft in this issue of Spec Tech!

                Due to Hurricane Sandy, Google had to cancel its event to announce new devices, but Google reveled these devices online anyway. 

                The first new device is the LG Nexus 4 smartphone.  It has a quad-core processor, 4.7-inch display, has 8GB of storage, HSPA+ data, and wireless charging.  It is the fastest phone on the market with 2GB of RAM.

 It runs on Android 4.2: Jelly Bean and goes on sale contract-free for $299 on November 13^th. The 16GB version will cost $349. T-Mobile will, however, sell the 16GB version for $199 with a new two-year contract.

                Google and Samsung announced the Nexus 10 tablet.  It is a 10-inch tablet with 300ppi­—more than Apple’s Retina Display—a 16:10 aspect ratio, run Android 4.2, it contains a dual-core ARM Cortex-A15 CPU with 2GB of RAM.  It has two NFC chips, a microUSB, and microHDMI ports.

 It comes in a Wi-Fi only model for now.  $400 will get you the 16GB of storage, while $500 will get you a 32GB version.  The Nexus 10 will go on sale November 13^th from the Google Play store.

                The Nexus 7 no longer has an 8GB version.  Instead, Google lowered the 16GB version to $199 and introduced a 32GB version for $249.  You can also get a 32GB version with HSPA+ connection for $299.  These price changes take effect November 13^th.

                Microsoft showed off more of Windows Phone 8.  You can now customize the lock screen with an App that will tell you information before you unlock your phone.  Bing will now create recommendations for you with local hotspots and events.  There is a child safe interface called Kid’s Corner, where a child can access only certain content. 

They showed off Xbox Music and Xbox SmartGlass.  Windows Phone Apps now replaces the Zune Apps store and claimed that Windows Phone 8 now has 46 of the top 50 Apps on their devices.Windows Phone 8 devices will not arrive until November.

                Lastly, Microsoft celebrated this weekend with having sold over four million copies of Windows 8 since last Friday.  I assume this includes all new hardware as well as customers who upgraded from Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7. 

                That’s it for this week viewers.  Come by the Student Union from 2pm-5pm on November 1^st to meet some of the Spectator writers, including myself.  I hope to see you there!

Question: What device would you like me to review? E-mail your answers to smsetser@valdosta.edu

                

Apple announces new iMac, two iPads

Hey Spec Tech readers.  Welcome to a new week with shocking news from Apple and Android about launching some new devices.

This week Apple gave another press conference where they announced the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display for $1699.  It has a 2.5GHz dual-core i5 processor with 8GB RAM and 128GB flash storage.  It also has a FaceTime HD camera.  You can purchase it now at Apple’s website.

Apple also announced the new iMac which is only 5mm thick!  The 27-inch iMac comes with a 2.9GHz quad-core i5 processor with 8GB RAM and a 1TB hard drive.  It starts at $1799 and ships in November. There is also an i7 processor version as well as a 21-inch version.

Apple has revealed some shocking news.  Apple typically updates products once a year-- but not this time.  Apple has killed the 3^rd generation iPad after only six months! The 4^th generation iPad—now called iPad with Retina Display-- will have an A6X processor, a FaceTime HD camera and have the new Lightning connector.  You can pre-order tomorrow and it ships Nov. 2. The iPad 2 will continue to sell at $399.

Apple didn’t announce one iPad, but two! The rumored iPad Mini is here.  It sports a 7.9-inch screen, an A5 processor (same as iPad 2), 4G LTE, the lightning connector and comes in slate black and silver.

Sprint is also a new 4G LTE carrier for both of these new iPads. AT&T and Verizon continue to provide service as well.

Apple compared it to the Google Nexus 7 proving how much better the Mini is than the Nexus--but the price is not right.  You can pick up a 16GB Nexus for $249 or the new iPad Mini for $329! You can pre-order the iPad Mini tomorrow and it ships Nov. 2.

On Oct. 29 Google will hold its own conference where it is expected to announce the Nexus 10 from Samsung, Android 4.2 and the LG Nexus 4.  The Nexus 10 will compete directly against the new iPad, with a screen better than Apple’s Retina Display.

Lastly, Microsoft has revealed that Xbox SmartGlass will launch tomorrow.  This is an App that you can use with your PC, tablet, or smartphone to control the Xbox 360.  It will also become a second screen with extra content.  Some content that will use this feature are Dance Central 3, Halo Waypoint, ESPN, HBO GO and Univision.

That’s it for this week.  Come back next week for an update on Google’s announcements

Question: Would you buy the new iPad or the iPad Mini? Email your answers to smsetser@valdosta.edu

Top 5 Favorite Video Games (#3)

     Gotta go fast!!!!!

Come back November 8th for my 2nd favorite video game of all time!

Xbox sends out updates, Best Buy announces tablet

                I hope everyone had a great Fall Break.  It is a big week for Microsoft, Apple sets a date, and the Galaxy Note II finds a carrier.

                Xbox is now starting to ship out its Xbox Dashboard update.  Those who were in the best, like myself, have received the update first.  It will roll onto other consoles within the next few weeks.  It is odd that Microsoft did not update all consoles like in the past.  The update included the ability to PIN videos, games, or other content, as well as including Internet Explorer.

                The Windows Surface RT tablet has a price and launch date!  A 32GB version without a touch cover will cost $499, but with a cover it will cost $599.  A 64GB version with a touch cover will cost $699.  You can pre-order all of these models now.  They will ship out October 26^th with the launch of Windows 8 and Windows RT.  The $499 delivery date has been pushed back to 3 weeks because of the amount of pre-orders at the time this article was written.

                Apple doesn’t like Microsoft having all the spotlight, so Apple sent out invites to an event next Tuesday, October 23^rd  with the tag line, “We’ve got a little more to show you.”.  Apple is likely to announce the iPad Mini and a 13-inch Retina Display MacBook Pro. 

                The Samsung Galaxy Note II has found a home on Sprint’s network.  It is expected to launch October 25^th with a $299.99 price tag.  It will launch with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean and sport a hug 5.5-inch display. 

                Best Buy has announced its own 9.7-inch tablet.  It will run Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with a dual-core 1GHz processor.  It will launch on November 11^th with a $239 or $259 price tag.

                That’s it for this week folks.  Check out the Spec Tech Blog this weekend for the video for my #3 favorite video game of all time.

                Question of the Week: Would you buy an iPad now or wait for the Windows Surface RT? Email me at smsetser@valdosta.edu

New iPod Touch arrives, PETA against Pokemon features

                Welcome to another weeks of rumors, new phones, and odd news.  This week, Nokia chooses a carrier for the Lumia 920, the iPod Touch launches, and PETA launches a campaign against Pokémon!

                The new iPod Touch seems to be shipping its pre-orders to customers before giving an official release date.  These new iPods should arrive around October 15^th.  The new iPod Nano’s still have no release date and have not shipped.

                An analyst has reported that a new BlackBerry 10 device will not release until March of 2013.  RIM was suggesting a January release, but it looks like it will be a while until the new phones release.  RIM has had phone troubles for a long time and BlackBerry 10 is its last hope to survive.

                The highly anticipated Nokia Lumia 920 will release exclusively with AT&T-much like the Lumia 900 did.  The phone is reported to have a November release date.  It will be running Windows Phone 8.

                Speaking of Windows Phone 8, AT&T will reportedly offer pre-orders for its Windows Phones- the HTC 8X and Nokia Lumia 920.  It will also hold pre-orders for its Windows 8 and Windows RT devices- the Samsung Ativ Smart PC and Asus Vivo Tab RT.

                In the weirdest news, PETA, the animal rights group, is going after Nintendo’s Pokémon series for animal abuse.  PETA says that even though Pokémon are virtual animals, they are still very real.  A Pokémon in a Pokéball is the same as an elephant chained up in a cage.  PETA has created a spoof of the game called Pokémon Black and Blue: Gotta Free ‘Em All on its website. 

                This is not the first time PETA has attacked Nintendo.  A few months ago they attacked Mario for the tanooki animal skin that Mario uses to fly.

                Windows Phone 8 might finally have a device for Verizon customers.  A leaked image of the Nokia Lumia 820, renamed the Nokia Atlas will sell as a mid-range phone for Verizon sometime after October 29^th.

                Lastly, a Samsung executive let slip that a Samsung Galaxy S3 Mini is coming soon.  It will have a 4-inch screen to directly compete with the iPhone 5.

                That’s it for the week, I hope everyone has a fun and safe fall break! Let’s hope the weather finally cools down.

                Questions of the week:  Are you interested in a Windows Phone 8 handset? Post your answers on http://vsuspectech.blogspot.com/ or email at smsetser@valdosta.edu

SpecTech's #4 Favorite Video Game

Welcome...to the Power Stone World!

Come back October 18th for my third favorite video game of all time!

Apple iPhone 5 Revealed

Anything that is in RED will take you to the product page to learn more information!

This week Apple announced the next iPhone, Amazon has found a new Fire, and I look into the beta of the new Xbox Dashboard.

                Big news! The new iPhone was announced by Apple yesterday.  The iPhone 5 has all the features I’ve talked about for the last few weeks, except NFC.  The new phone has a 4-inch screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio.  It has a glass and aluminum body at 7.6mm thick, which is 18% thinner than the iPhone 4S.

                You can now have five rows of Apps on the Home screen, rather than four.  Touch sensors are now built into the screen, rather than a sensor under the display.  It now has 4G LTE for AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint! It has a new A6 graphics chip, which is twice as fast as the A5X chip.

                You will get 8 hours of 3G talk time, LTE browsing, and 3G browsing time.  There is 40 hours for music and 225 hours of standby time.  The camera has a new low-light setting for two more f-stops and Panorama mode.  You can take photos while recording video, like the HTC One X.  The front camera is now a FaceTime 720p HD camera and has moved above the ear speaker, rather than next to it. 

                There is a new “Lightning” dock connector.  It is now an 8-pin connector, not 30-pin. It can be plugged into the phone with either side of the connector, making it easy to plug it into the phone.  There is also an adapter for 30-pin to 8-pin which costs $29.   

                The phone will come in white with a silver back and black with a slate back.  You can pick up the 16GB version for $199, 32GB for $299, or 64GB for $399. You can preorder September 14^th and it will release September 21^st.  The iPhone 4 is now free and the 16GB iPhone 4S is $99. iOS 6 will release September 19^th.

                The 7^th generation iPod Nano is here. It is 5.4mm thick, which is 40% thinner than the last generation.  It is back to being long like the originals, but it has a 2.5-inch touch screen.  It comes in seven colors and has a FM tuner.  It will also have Bluetooth with 30 hours of music playback.  16GB will cost you $149. You can pre-order on September 14^th and will release in October.

                The new iPod Touch 5^th generation has with the same size screen as the iPhone 5 and is 6.1mm thick.  This also has the new Lightning port.  It has the A5 chip found in the iPhone 4.  You will get 40 hours of music and 8 hours of video playback.  There is a hidden button on the backside called “iPod Touch Loop”, which lets you attach a wrist strap. 

                The back camera is 5-megapixels with a FaceTime HD front facing camera. The new Touch now gets Siri!  It comes in silver, black, blue, yellow, and red.  A 16GB version will cost $199, 32GB $299, and 64GB for $399 and be available in October but you can pre-order on September 14th. 

                The rumored redesign of the earbuds was true! Apple revealed the EarPods.  They are available today and are packed in with all these new devices.  They are supposed to be more comfortable and sound better.

Amazon revealed two new Kindle Fires. The Kindle Fire HD comes in a 7-inch body with Android 4.0 in 16GB and 32GB storage for $199 and $249 respectively.  The other tablet, the Kindle Fire HD 8.9 comes with better screen resolution, a 8.9-inch screen, and the ability to have 4G. A normal 8.9 16GB will cost $299 while a 32GB will cost $369.  The 8.9-inch 4G 32GB will cost $499 and a 64GB version will cost $599.

                I would like to end this article by taking about the new beta for Xbox 360’s Dashboard update.  I was lucky enough to be one of the beta testers for Microsoft.  The beta comes with a few new additions, as well as apps.

                On the home screen, there is now a new row of content, for easier access.  There is a feature called “Pins” where you can pick videos, games, demos, or apps to launch from the Home screen. 

                The big new App that is usable is Internet Explorer!  This thing is awesome! I love using this App more than I like using IE on a PC.  It was easy to save webpages, zoom, scroll, and search.  I’m not sure if there is a copy & paste action yet.  IE was flash enabled, but I did not try to play any flash based games.  I will say that I had crashing issues while using IE, but I’m not sure if that is because it was in beta or because I did not have a good connection at that time.

                Overall, this is not a huge improvement over the last few updates, but the addition of IE is significant.  Xbox SmartGlass was not part of the beta, so I was not able to test it.  I’m hoping that it will be available to test before it is launched in November.

                Well, that’s it for this week Spectators, join us next week for another exciting issue.  The question for this week is, “Would you rather buy a new iPod Touch or the iPhone 5?”  Send your responses to smsetser@valdosta.edu or post them at www.vsuspectech.blogspot.com 

Apple readies new device

This week has some new devices announced. Valve is in the hardware business and Apple confirmed rumors!

To start off, the launch date and price of the Nintendo Wii U may have been leaked! The next-gen console is rumored to launch Nov. 11 with three different bundles. These bundles had no other details other than the prices of $249, $299 and $349. Nintendo will officially reveal more details for the console on Sept. 13.

Popular PC gaming service Steam has posted job offerings for a hardware development team.  Steam said it was, “frustrated by the lack of innovation in the computer hardware space, so we’re jumping in.” No other details were given.

Wal-Mart this week tested out a new App called “Scan & Go.” This App would allow a customer to scan items in store with an iPhone and then pay at the self-check-out register instead of having to scan the items there. Best Buy, Target and Lowe’s are working with an App development company to create the same product. This would save these companies millions of dollars.

 Acer, a popular PC and tablet maker, is now interested in making Windows 8 and Android phones.  It reported that six phones are in the works.

Leaked images and video have surfaced about the upcoming BlackBerry 10 phone-- the London.  This phone is not expected to arrive until 2013, but it has a full touch screen, removable battery, dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM, 16GB memory and an 8-megapixel camera.

Google has half-way announced that a 3G model of the popular tablet the Nexus 7 is coming in about six weeks.  Asus is reported to already have revamped the production of the devices.

Apple finally announced the event for a new device.  The new device will be revealed Sept. 12. I say “new” device because it is expected that the iPhone 5 will be revealed, but also new iPods and possibly the iPad Mini.

 A Vietnamese tech site might have its hands on the new standard earphones for future iPhones.  These fit in your ear the same but have speakers on the side of the earbud.  It could also be that this is a third-party accessory, but we will find out next week.

 Nokia also showed off the new Nokia Lumia 920 and 820 phones. The Lumia 920 looks like the Lumia 900 that launched a few months ago but now in better colors.  It has a better HD display, Windows Phone 8 OS, a dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor, NFC, wireless charging and an 8-megapixel rear camera that has some interesting features.               

The camera can take clear images during low light or while your hand is shaking. It also has augmented reality in the camera. When you hold the camera up to a building, it will tell you what building it is. It can also tell you if some of your friends are inside the structure.

The Lumia 820 is a mid-range phone. It does most of the things the 920 does but not as well.

The question of the week is, “Do you like the standard earbuds that come with an Apple device?” E-mail your answers to smsetser@valdosta.edu or post a comment on www.vsuspectech.blogspot.com

Samsung to Lose $1 Billion?

            

            This week was exciting. Samsung is not happy about the patent ruling, an Android gaming tablet is announced, and Samsung has lots of new devices coming out.

            First, if you were thinking of purchasing a Kindle, don’t! Both the Kindle Touch and Kindle Touch 3G are out of stock at Amazon.com.  This pretty much confirms that a new Kindle line is coming out very soon, possibly a new Kindle Fire will also be announced.

            Nokia has set the date of September 5^th, where apparently, “Things are about the change.”  It is expected that they will announce new Windows Phone 8 devices, since Microsoft will also be at the event.

            Archos reviled an Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich gaming device today called, GamePad.  This thing looks exactly like a PlayStation Vita.  It is a 7-inch tablet with physical buttons.  It will be able to play all games on the Android Market.  It holds 1GB of RAM, a 1.5GHz CPU, and a quad-core GPU.  It will also house a Micro-USB port. It will release first in Europe at about $188 and afterwards it will come to our neck of the woods.

            A really cool Lap-Let (a combination of a laptop and a tablet), was announced, the Vaio Duo 11.  This Sony device holds like a tablet, but you can push the screen back and revile a full QWERTY keyboard.  It is running Windows 8, has an HDMI port, two USB 3.0 ports, an SD card slot, and a VGA port.

            Samsung is also going to announce a new Windows 8 tablet, the Samsung Series 5.  It will have a clip on keyboard much like the upcoming Windows Surface.  It sports an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front camera, it will have an Intel chip, ship with the full version of Windows 8, and will have about 10 hours of battery life.  It will be reviled in full detail on September 5^th. 

            A Korean store showed off the upcoming Samsung Ativ S, which is the first Windows Phone 8 device.  It has a 4.8-inch HD Super AMOLED screen and a 1.5GHz dual-core processor.  It is equipped with a 8-megapixel rear camera as well as a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera.  It will have a microSD card slot and NFC support. 

            The biggest announcement from Samsung is the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.  It has a 5.55-inch AMOLED screen, a more accurate S Pen, a 1.6GHz quad-core Samsung Exynos processor, 2GB of RAM, and a 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front camera.  It will launch with Android 4.1: Jelly Bean.

            It may be a grim day for all phone users; the jury ruled in favor of Apple in the Apple vs. Samsung patent case.  Samsung has to pay Apple just over $1 billion in damages, but Samsung has said that they will appeal.  Apple wants to ban the sales of the Samsung Galaxy S 4G, Galaxy S II, Droid Charge, Galaxy Prevail, and Galaxy S Showcase.  

          The reason why this is bad is that Apple said they infringed the patent on the rectangle shape of the iPhone.  This means any phone that is a rectangle, can be sued by Apple. Apple needs to drop this or all other phone manufacturers will have to drastically change the shape of “the cell phone” and it will cost more.

            Lastly, let’s talk about iPhone rumors.  The current rumors say that the new device will not have a NFC chip, but it will have a smaller dock connector.  This means all of your iHome’s and other accessories will not work with the new phone.  

          It will have a 4-inch Retina Display and the phone will launch on September 21^st.  This has a lot of evidence because during that time all Verizon employees cannot ask for that week off, in anticipation for the new device.  It will also have a MicroSIM card.

            That’s it for this issue of Spec Tech, be sure to go to http://vsuspectech.blogspot.com/ to watch my #5 favorite video game of all time! The question for this week is, “What do you think of the Apple vs. Samsung ruling?” You can email your response to smsetser@valdosta.edu or at http://vsuspectech.blogspot.com/.

Top 5 Favorite Video Games of All Time (#5)

This is my 5th favorite video game of all time!

Please leave a comment below

Apple v. Samsung: Let's Get Ready to Rumble

                Welcome back to a new school year! I’m here to report on the hottest tech news around.  This week, the patent war between Apple and Samsung heats up, HTC loses $40 million, and Sony is ready to release a new phone.

                First off, AT&T will no longer offer subsidized pricing on tablets.  This means that you will no longer have to sign a two-year contract with the company. The drawback is that it will be more expensive with no commitment pricing.  The data plans have decreased by $5. You can get 250MB for $15, 3GB for $30 or 5GB for $50.

                The cloud-gaming service, OnLive has sold its assets to an unnamed company.  It had to lay off most of its staff, but they promise no interruptions for service.  HTC had invested $40 million in the company and has lost off of this money. 

                Sony has revealed the Sony Xperia SL. It is just like the Xperia S, but with a new 1.7Ghz Snapdragon S3 processor chip and is upgradable to Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich.  The Xperia S was criticized for being sluggish; the new processor should fix this issue.

                Wednesday Samsung will be holding an event to announce the Samsung Galaxy Note II.  It has a teaser trailer on its official YouTube page.  It is rumored that this phone will have a 5.5-inch screen with a quad-core processor.

                During the entire summer, Apple and Samsung have been fighting about who stole what.  Apple has sued Samsung for stealing designs from the iPhone and iPad.  Apple has had several previous employees testify that when given a Samsung device, they thought it could have been designed by Apple.  Studies were also shown that Samsung performed tests to see if people could tell the difference between a Samsung tablet and an iPad.

                Apple has now been given permission to look at all of Samsung’s devices and choose which designs were stolen.  Apple even had to share its prototypes of the first iPhone.

                I would like to announce that I will be using the SpecTech Blog for a special video series.  For this semester I will do a Top 5 Countdown of my favorite video games of all time. I will post the first video next Thursday. You can watch the countdown only at vsuspectech.blogspot.com

                My question of the week is, “Do you ever get confused between Samsung and Apple devices?” Email your answers to smsetser@valdosta.edu or post on vsuspectech.blogspot.com/

Save the City from Zombies as Juliet Starling

Lollipop Chainsaw Review

This review will not have a video review for fear of offending the audience. Read this article with caution, there are no spoilers, but please do not send e-mails telling me that you had not been warned. I censored this as much as possible.

                From studio Suda 51 comes his first HD game for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.  Is this fast action zombie slaying game a home-run or is it a huge let down?

                In story mode you control Juliet Starling, a normal 18-year old cheerleader, who happens to be a zombie hunter.  You are accompanied by your recently decapitated boyfriend who helps you defeat football jockeys, cheerleaders, and punk rock wannabies.  During the story you learn that a student has opened up a portal to Rotten World and will soon take over the whole world.  It is up to Juliet, Nick (her boyfriend), and Juliet’s family to save the day.

                The gameplay plays out like most hack-n-slash games.  You run to one point in the level and cannot pass until all enemies are defeated in that area.  The game may look similar to God or War, Devil May Cry, or Bayonetta, but it plays much differently. 

To kill zombies Juliet must first weaken them with her light pom-pom attacks, and then finish them with a heavy chainsaw attack.  Every time a zombie is killed Juliet will be awarded gold coins to purchase items.  If Juliet can decapitate three or more zombies she is awarded bonus money and a set number of Platinum Coins for the skilled kill.  There is a super meter that will grant Juliet super strength for a small period of time. This feature is almost useless as I often forgot it was even available for use.

The dialog between Nick and Juliet almost always had me laughing as they do it so well.  Tara Strong gives a great performance as Juliet. If you don’t know Tara, she has played characters such as Bubbles from The Powerpuff Girls, Raven from Teen Titans, Ben Tennyson from Ben 10, and Twilight Sparkle from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

                The game also has many mini-games to break up the repetitive action.  Juliet’s chainsaw gains new abilities as the game progresses.  She can shoot bullets out of it and use Nick’s head as a projectile.  There are several quick-time events in levels and sports themed games, such as Zombie Basketball.

                Scattered through every level are shops to acquire upgrades.  These range from buying new attacks, upgrading Juliet’s strength, buying in-game music, or costumes.  Gold Coins will buy skills, while Platinum Coins buy costumes, music, and concept art.

                The soundtrack for this game is filled with licensed music, from Julius Dixson’s “Lollipop” to Sleigh Bells’ “Riot Rhythm” and even Skillex.  The original score for the game is nowhere near as good as the official music.  The good part is that the game lets you program what six songs you would like to play during your run through a level, with the exception of music in scripted sequences. 

                There are many problems with this game. First off, the difficulty is way too easy, even on hard mode.  The only thing that gets more difficult is that all of the enemies will spam the same move at the same time, so that while you are recovering, you will still get hit by another enemy.  The bosses are also a joke, but they are still fun to fight.  The lock-on system is also terrible.

                The beginning of the game is very boring.  The game does not become enjoyable until you unlock several combo moves which can kill zombies quicker than just using the light and heavy attacks.  The beginning was so boring that I replayed the first two levels several times to unlock these good combos so that I would not be bored with the rest of the game.

                The game relies heavily on pop-culture, but I did sometimes feel offended as they made a joke about the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers.  Also, some of the jokes feel forced and not played through very well.

                I know this game is obviously made for a specific audience, but the game keeps reminding you that you are playing as an “attractive” female.  The cutscenes constantly show an upskirt shot or show maximum cleavage.  You know it gets ridiculous when there is an achievement for looking up Juliet’s skirt for ten seconds.  It just comes off as cliché.

                This game is not for everyone.  If you are easily offended by sexy cheerleaders, cursing, and killing zombies, this game is not for you.  If you have a good sense of humor, like pop culture references, and like the costumes from the popular anime High School of the Dead, then this game is for you. I give Lollipop Chainsaw for the Xbox 360, a 7 out of 10.  As a last note, I got all of the achievements in a week, and haven’t played the game since, so let that factor into your decision of purchasing or renting this game or skipping it all together.  

Miles "Tails" Prower Helps Sonic in Sonic 4: Episode II

Warning, Minor Spoilers!!!!!

            It has been a year and a half since Episode I was released and it couldn’t have come at a better time.  This title included a new graphics engine and fixed physics, but is it enough?  This episode continues the story of Episode I and helps incorporate the story of Sonic CD into the main Sonic the Hedgehog games (I.e. Sonic 1 through 4:2)

            The story begins four months after the events of Episode I with Sonic having recruited his best friend Tails to help him defeat Metal Sonic and prevent Dr. Eggman from completing a new Death Egg.  This new machine is built around Little Planet, which will create a time traveling Death Egg.  Sonic and Tails arrive at Sylvania Castle Zone and the adventure begins.

            The game plays like Episode I in that there are 4 levels, each with three acts and a boss act.  The fifth level has one act and a final boss act.  The gameplay is similar to Episode I; Sonic still retains his spin dash and homing attack but he gains a few new moves too.  Sonic and Tails can perform new combination attacks at anytime.  If it is activated on the ground Sonic and Tails will perform the rolling combo, a super Spin Dash which is faster and more powerful than the regular attack.  Copter combo is activated in the air; Tails will fly and carry Sonic.  If it is activated underwater, the submarine combo allows Tails to carry Sonic and will spin his tails to propel both of them forward.  There is even a new item box which allows Sonic and Tails to destroy all enemies on screen, gain a large number of points, and collect lots of rings as a reward.  Collectables in this game include the seven Chaos Emeralds as well as a hidden Red Star RING in each act; the RINGS serve no other purpose than to get an achievement. 

The special stage from Sonic 2 returns, well it’s also from Sonic Heroes, and Sonic Rush, and Sonic Colors, and Sonic Generations.  To enter a special stage the player must reach the goal sign with 50 rings or more, just like Episode I.  The goal is to collect the set amount of rings within three rounds.  The special stages differ in that there are not only bombs which make you lose ten rings, but also eclectic bombs which slow you down.  Sonic and Tails can also use the Sonic Boost technique from Sonic Rush and modern Sonic games, but it is a gradual speed boost rather than an instant boost.  There is even an item in the special stage that creates a line between Sonic and Tails; all rings that touch this line are collected.  There are even springs that can take you to alternate pathways for better or worse.

The best thing about this is during single player mode.  In Sonic 2 lots of people were cheated out of collecting a Chaos Emerald because Tails got hit; not only in this game does Tails follow you more precisely, but if he gets hit the player is not penalized.  These special stages are actually fun and I love playing them. 

Once all the Chaos Emeralds have been collected Super Sonic is unlocked and can be played in all stages, including boss acts this time.  Interestingly, when the combo moves are activated with Super Sonic, he will return to normal and will not transform again until the player activates it again.

            The graphics in this game are not groundbreaking, but they are pretty amazing.  It really shows itself off in Sky Fortress Zone Act 3 and that boss fight.  It takes place during sunset and you are able to see all the light and shadows from the characters and even the rings.   I love that environmental damage is back.  In Episode I the only thing that could hurt you was an enemy.  In Episode II avalanches from White Park Zone and fire from engines in Sky Fortress Zone can hurt and even cause instant death, which is awesome!

            This game isn’t without its faults, however they are minor.  I dislike how there are plot holes in the story.  In the opening Sonic and Tails arrive on the Tornado and jump off of it.  In Act 1 of Sky Fortress Zone they are back on the Tornado, they then land it on the fortress in Act 2.  Then the boss fight takes place with the Tornado, which they ran away from in the previous two acts.  Also, they ditched the Tornado on the falling fortress, so the Tornado is destroyed?  

Also, I don’t understand why the Chaos Emeralds are as big as Sonic’s head!  It just doesn’t look right; when he transforms the emeralds are smaller than his head again.   

Even though there are fewer speed boosts and springs, there are still plenty of them.  DIMPS needs to stop doing this and allow the player to gain speed, not give it to them.

I don’t like how the stage results are handled.  In every other Sonic game the points are totaled in real time, while in this game the stage is blurred and this huge score tally is presented and blocks everything behind it.  Also, I hate how the animals are rescued from the capsule.  In every past Sonic title the animals jump around in excitement for freedom, here they slowly escape and even sometimes trip on the ground.  It just looks odd to me. 

I also didn’t really like how the game ended because it did not have a proper conclusion like episode I or any past Sonic title, although this could be that the ending cutscene may be the opening scene for Episode III or Sonic 5, much like how it happened in Sonic 3 as it led into Sonic & Knuckles. 

Overall, this is a huge improvement over Episode I and does deserve the title of Sonic 4.  I wish they had made lock-on technology for this to connect to Episode I and replace Episode I’s sprite with Episode II’s.  This game is very fun and has lots of replay value.  There is even a local and online co-op mode, this is the first console Sonic game built for online connectivity.  I give Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II an 8 out of 10. 

Episode II in available now on Xbox LIVE Arcade, Playstation Network, Nvidia Tegra 3 Android devices, Steam, any Android device, and iOS. It will be available for Windows Phone sometime in July.

Microsoft and Apple dominate the Tablet Market

ANYTHING THAT IS TEAL IS A CLICKABLE LINK

                Apple announced many new features for iOS 6.0 at this summer’s WWDC.  First off, Siri is getting smarter.  She can now be asked just about any sports question as well as movie trivia.  She can also launch apps.  Siri is also coming to the iPad 3 only. Facebook is now integrated in the iOS much like Twitter was in iOS 5.0. 

                Apple also announced their new maps app, yes Apple dumped Google Maps.  Their new map app looks much like Google Maps but now has 3D models and can be used as a GPS with voice activated Siri control.  It will also monitor traffic and use detours when the user activates Siri. 

                FaceTime can now be made over a 3G network, not yet 4G.  It will be slower than on WiFi, but WiFi isn’t available everywhere.  There is a new “Do Not Disturb” mode that will not notify you of any notifications.  You can program it so that certain people can contact you; this will be great for sleep so you won’t be woken up by Facebook or texts every five minutes. 

Passbook is a new app much like a wallet.  It can contain virtual gift cards and tickets for movies or sports events.  If you had a Best Buy gift card, your phone would remind you that you have that card when you enter the store and tell you the remaining balance.  They also introduced the Smart Case, a smart cover that covers your entire iPad.  This will work with the iPad 2 and 3.

                iOS 6.0 will come this fall, also expect the new iPhone, but this will be available only in the iPhone 3GS, 4, and 4S, the iPad 2 and 3, as well as the iPod Touch 4^th generation. (Apple is no longer supporting my iPod Touch 3^rd generationL) Not all of the features are coming to every device though. Click here to view which specific devices get what features. 

                Apple launched new MacBook Airs and MacBook Pros.  They are pretty much the same but with better graphics and speed.  They also get USB 3.0.  The star of the show was the Next-Generation MacBook Pro.  This is a hybrid of both devices into one super device.  It only comes in the 15-inch model with the Retina Disply, Intel i5 quad-core Ivy Bridge processor, USB 3.0, two Thunderbolt ports and HDMI out.  It also sports a 720p HD front camera.  The device starts at $2199.

                Microsoft announced its own tablet, the Surface.  This comes in two different versions of Windows 8.  It is a 10-inch tablet with a ClearType HD display. It has a microSD slot, USB 2.0/3.0 and comes in various storage sizes.  The coolest part of this was the Touch Cover.  It connects to the tablet much like the Smart Cover on the iPad, but when this is peeled back it turns into a keyboard.  This device really aims to create the laptop/tablet hybrid.  There was no price or release date, but it won’t come out until Windows 8 does. Here is a video of the device.

                The Xbox 720 may have been leaked (again) but there is a 56 page document to back it up.  This shows that there is a new Kinect sensor for four player fun, focuses on tablet integration with SmartGlass, and a Blu-ray disc drive.  There were even talks of glasses that would give the player a heads-up display/HUB, which is dubbed Fortaleza.  It would launch in 2013 with a $300 price tag. 

                A new app was released for Android devices called “Robin.”  She is a voice assistant for the GPS function of your phone.  She acts much like Siri will in iOS 6.0, telling you about traffic and speed traps.  It is available now in beta form, but will not work with the HTC MyTouch 4G or HTC Evo 4G LTE.

                Lastly, the Samsung Galaxy S III will be coming to all major U.S. carriers, AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular.  It will be available June 21^st at $199.99 for 16GB or $249.99 for 32GB of storage. None of the networks will have the quad-core processor found in the European version. 

                The question of the week is, “Does the Microsoft Surface tablet interest you at all or are you interested in a different tablet?” You can comment below or e-mail me at smsetser@valdosta.edu. In the next few days I will post my review of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II.

Metal Sonic returns in Sonic 4: Episode Metal

                Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal is a free downloadable title for owners of both episodes of Sonic 4 on the same device/console.  This episode puts the player in Metal Sonic’s shoes and explains his return from his defeat from Sonic the Hedgehog CD.

                

                

                The story begins with Metal Sonic’s defeat in the Stardust Speedway from Sonic CD.  It shows that much time has passed and Little Planet is returning into orbit of Sonic’s world.  Dr. Eggman sends a device that reactivates Metal Sonic and he barely flies back to Eggman’s base in Mad Gear Zone.  It is here that Metal Sonic is restored and his adventure to defeat Sonic begins.

The gameplay puts Metal Sonic in four different acts from Sonic 4 Episode I.  Each act is essentially a hard mode from act 1 of each of Sonic’s levels.  Metal Sonic’s levels also play in reverse order, Mad Gear Zone being the first zone and Splash Hill Zone being the last.  The graphics are the same from Episode I, but the physics are taken from Episode II.  It is nice that this took the time to explain why most of the levels returned in Episode I, as it didn’t make sense before why all the levels were rehashed.  This is the first time a villain has ever had his own game, so it is funny to see when Metal Sonic passes the goal plate at the end of a stage the sign turns from a picture of Sonic to a picture of Metal Sonic.

What I don’t like about this game is it is too short.  There is nothing to do except beat the game.  There are no Chaos Emeralds or Red Star RINGS to collect.  The episode can be completed with watching every cutscene in about 15 minutes.  I know it is free DLC but I wanted a little more than a 15 minute game.  I also don’t like that the game has the same enemy placement issues as Episode I did; it just feels cheap every time you get hurt.

Overall this is a little entertaining game that mostly will only get a few playthroughs from me.  I give Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode Metal a 5 out of 10. It is not a bad game, but there is just nothing to do and it isn’t much fun playing it.

Nintendo pumps out Mario

Anything that is in TEAL is a link to a video or an article

Nintendo had some trailers for new games

NintendoLand (Wii U)

New Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS) (8/19/12)

New Super Mario Bros. U (Wii U)

ZombiU (Wii U)

They also had some demos

p-100 (Wii U)

Rayman Legends (Wii U)

Pikmin 3 (Wii U)

Sony Plans for Big Titles

You can click on anything that is TEAL and it will take you to a video or URL link

SONY revieled new trailers for:

Beyond: Two Souls (Ellen Paige the lead voice actor) (PS3)

Playstation All-Stars: Battle Royal (PS3/VITA) (Holiday 2012)

Assassins Creed III: Liberation (VITA) *Also comes as a console pack with a crystal white VITA*

Some demos were played including:

Playstation All-Stars: Battle Royal (PS3/VITA) (Holiday 2012)

Assassins Creed III (PS3) *Also comes as a console pack with exclusive DLC* (10/30/12)

Far Cry 3 (PS3) *PS3 owners will get free DLC*

God of War Ascension (PS3) (3/12/2013)

The Last of Us (PS3)

SONY also had other surprises for us

1. Nathan Drake and the Big Daddy from the BioShock series are going to be playable in Playstation All-Stars: Battle Royal
2. PS One Classics are coming to the VITA
3. Video apps, such as Hulu Plus, Crackle, and YouTube, are coming to the VITA as well
4. Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified was announced for the VITA
5. A new story book interactive app named, WonderBook, will allow players to be involved in their stories.  Announced books were Diggs Nightcrawler from MoonBot and Book of Spells by J.K. Rowling which takes place in the Harry Potter universe.
6. Playstation Suite has been given a new name, Playstation Mobile and announced that HTC will be the first non-Sony smartphone to be Playstation certified.

E3 Video Overload

You can click on anything that is teal to view a video of that game

Here we have tons of new demos of 

Borderlands 2

Aliens: Colonial Marines 

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron

Tomb Raider

Forza Horizon

Dead Space 3

Metal of Honor: Warfighter

Cyrsis 3

Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance 

DMC: Devil May Cry (January 15th, 2013)
Watch Dogs

There were also new trailers for these titles: 

XCOM: Enemy Unknown

Dead Space 3

Madden 13

SimCity Social (exclusive to Facebook and releases in a few weeks)

SimCity (February 2013)

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Metal of Honor: Warfighter

FIFA 13 

Need For Speed: Most Wanted (October 30th of this year)

     DICE and EA announced Battlefield 3 Premium service for all platforms.  Users will get extra content, similar to Call of Duty Elite.  The service is $49.99 and available today for PS3 users.  It will be available for Xbox 360 and PC users next week. Here is a different video.

Microsoft E3 Coverage

               

IF YOU CLICK ON ANYTHING THAT IS TEAL, IT WILL TAKE YOU TO A VIDEO OF THAT GAME!!!!!

                Many things happened in the hour and a half Xbox 360 conference at E3.

                The show started with a new trailer and demo of Halo 4.  It showed off interesting new enemies which seem to be smarter than past enemies.  These creatures seem to be like robotic bugs.  They can teleport and even throw your grenades back at you.  It will be released on November 6^th of this year.

                SplinterCell: Blacklist was announced; it will have use of the Kinect to give commands to NPC’s and even shout at enemies to distract them.  It will be released in the spring of 2013.

                EA Sports announced that both Madden 13 and FIFA 13 will get use of Kinect.  A player can give orders and create strategies with the voice option.  Madden is out August 28^th and FIFA will debut this fall.

                There were new trailers for titles like Fable: The Journey, Gears of War: Judgment, Forza Horizon, Ascend: New Gods, Loco Cycle, South Park: The Stick of Truth, and Matter.

                Microsoft showed that Bing will now be able to search not just by title but also genre and will also show what different apps a movie can be viewed on be it Vudu or Netflix.  They also announced that they will have 35 new service providers and announced four of them; Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, Machinima, and Univision. 

                For sports entertainment they announced NBA and NHL for Xbox.  ESPN will also become 24/7 with content.  Nike+ for Kinect was also announced as a personal fitness game.

                The biggest announcement was Xbox SmartGlass.  This uses devices with screens to interact with the Xbox.  This means all smartphones, tablets, and computers will use this app.  This means that you may be playing a game and the app on your smartphone will reveal more information about it.  The app on a phone or tablet can also act as a remote control for the Xbox dashboard.  They also announced Internet Explorer for Xbox, which can also be controlled by SmartGlass.

                A new demo was shown for Tomb Raider, Resident Evil 6, and Wrecketeer. 

                The show wrapped up with the reveal of Dance Central 3 with a surprise performance by Usher and a demo of Call of Duty: Black Ops II.

                Check back later for more E3 coverage here on the Spec Tech blog!

Nintendo Breaks the Silence. New Wii U Details!

Well this is a surprise, Nintendo has announced new features of the Wii U before E3.  At E3 they want to focus more on the content coming to the console.

  Some changes have come to the Wii U is the Game Pad.  They have replaced the circle pads with traditional analog sticks.  It will also have Near-field Communication technology.  This has not been explained, but a leaked Rayman Legends trailer showed a player scanning real world objects into the game, similar to the Milo tech demo of the Xbox Kinect.  The button layout has changed slightly, but they have added a TV button; this allows the player to control their television with simple tasks like INPUT, channel surfing, and volume control.

                Nintendo also announced the Wii U Pro Controller, with looks like the Classic controller from the original Wii.  There were no other details given.

                Miiverse was also announced as a social network app.  This will allow a player to communicate with other players of the same language.  It will show what everyone is playing and even have text bubbles of people communicating.  This is similar to what the Xbox 360 dashboard and PS3 Home screen can do, but this is much more interactive as you can even send hand drawn images as comments.  Nintendo announced that this will eventually come to the 3DS, PC, and mobile devices as an external app. 

                Breaking news! The Wii U comes in White or Black!!!!!!

                Thanks for reading.  Come back tomorrow for news from the Microsoft and Sony press conferences and other gaming news! E3 2012 baby!

Many E3 Trailers

Well, it’s the Friday before E3 starts and we already have trailers for highly expected titles such as Tomb Raider, Metal Gear Rising: Revengance, Sonic and All-Stars Racing: Transformed, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, and more! Check them out below and come back on Monday for more news from the Microsoft and Sony press conferences; will the Xbox Durango or PS4 show up? 

All sources from YouTube, Gametrailers.com, and IGN.com

Tomb Raider

Metal Gear Rising: Revengance

Sonic and All-Stars Racing: Transformed

Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

Dishonored

Summer Stories

                I’m sad to report that no one entered in my contest, so there is no winner.  


I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone good luck on their finals and to have a great summer.  During the summer, check back on the Spec Tech blog for special stories like a video review of Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode II, a video review of Lollipop Chainsaw, and complete coverage of E3 as well as keeping you up to date on all things tech. 

New Wii U rumors surface

Hello and welcome back to a regular edition of Spec Tech.  This week, Facebook buys Instagram, rumors from Wii U, Samsung Galaxy III launches, and the largest tablet screen is presented.
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Facebook bought the very popular app, Instagram for $1 billion.

 No one knows exactly why this deal was made, but it could be that Instagram wanted to spread to an even wider audience. Facebook not wanting competition could also be a factor.
 I will report more on this story as information becomes available.

 A rumor has surfaced that Nintendo’s new home console, the Wii U, will launch with a $300 price tag later this year.    More information about the Wii U should surface at E3 this summer with the debut of a new Super Mario Bros. game and Pikmin 3.

 Another rumor has surfaced on the next Nvidia Tegra 4 chip.  Officially called the Cortex A15, this chip will make quad-core tablets even faster.

 A Q1 2013 release is expected to debut in a 10-inch tablet.

 Take this next bit of news with a grain of salt.

 A Foxxcon employee revealed that the iPhone 5 will release in October.  It is rumored to be 4G and come with a 4.6-inch screen.

 The next Samsung Galaxy, rumored to be the Galaxy 3, is hosting an event in London on May. 3.

 Some say it will be completely different from the Galaxy 2, while others say it will be a minor update. 

 Stay tuned for more information.

 How would you like to carry the largest tablet being sold in bulk?  The Toshiba Excite 13 has a 13.3 inch screen with 1600×900 resolution.  It will launch with Android 4.0: Ice Cream Sandwich.  It is only 0.4 inches thick, weighs
2.2 pounds and has two cameras.  The internals are a Tegra 3 CPU, 1GB of RAM, Micro-HDMI and an SD slot.

 It will be available in June with 32GB for $650 or a 64GB version for $750.

 Intel has read my mind and answered my prayers.

 In my reports I try to keep my opinion out, but not this time.  I, personally, think that tablets are dumb.  I don’t understand why there is such a strong demand for them when laptops are much better and can do so much more. I always thought that tablets and laptops should combine, and at last they will!

 Intel introduced a hybrid ultrabook; both a laptop and tablet.  With the help of Windows 8, it is much easier to create a device like this. No other details were given.

 I would like to remind everyone that my video review contest is still running.  You have until May.1 to submit your video reviews to be the story for Spec Tech on May 3. 

  Post your videos on YouTube and email me the link at smsetser@valdosta.edu.

 The question for this week is, “Would you buy an ultrabook hybrid?”  Submit your answers online at vsuspectech.blogspot.com or email me at smsetser@valdosta.edu.