Pads & Panels

Why I still cannot finish the Halo: Combat Evolved campaign
(It’s not a matter of skill)

By Bill Jones

I never bought the original Xbox. I just didn’t give a shit. I tried, but I couldn’t.

My brother picked it up, and at the time we were still living in the same house, so I had one readily at my disposal if I ever really wanted to play it. I usually didn’t, though.

And sometimes I think maybe that’s why I never really got into Microsoft’s flagship console series (yes, also a PC title), Halo. But I really don’t think that’s the reason. Again, that original Xbox was always at my disposal, and I distinctly remember the amount of Goldeneye-caliber multiplayer parties going on at our house numbering in the ridiculous.

But as everyone else was enamored with its multiplayer, I was doing what I usually did. I’ve always been interested in the storytelling aspect of video games, and so generally speaking the story, the single-player campaign, has always come first for me. Maybe that’s why years later I actually got reinterested in the series, finishing Halo: Reach and Halo 3: ODST. Or maybe it’s just because I was obligated to review those. (more…)

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Title: NCAA Football 12

Platform: 360 (PS3)

ESRB: E

Publisher: EA Sports

Developer: EA Tiburon, EA Canada

Rating:

Review by: Bill Jones

Sports games have the benefit of being an easy sell, in that fans already love the sports, know the series, and like to keep coming back to drop $60 for a few more features if done right, but a difficult sell in that savvy fans know that in terms of gameplay there usually isn’t much changing from year to year. College football has the extra-dubious task of selling without the NFL star power of the Madden series.

That said, the NCAA Football series from EA Sports has been excelling in recent years at making that sell, pulling my attention completely from the pros and back to college with an absolutely addictive Dynasty (Franchise) mode. Last year, I became so caught up with trying to sign four- and five-star recruits to my school it got to be a bit ridiculous, and that’s saying a lot for someone who was never interested in franchises, just in playing some fun video game football. (more…)

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#6 Rock Band 3 (360, PS3, Wii)

Publisher: MTV Games – Developer: Harmonix

Rock Band 3 takes on critics who use the argument “just learn a real instrument” by making the game capable of teaching the players, note for note, how to play keyboard, drums, bass and guitar. Gamers who don’t want to turn their Rock Band experience into a tutorial will still enjoy the most streamlined music game made. Harmonix has added so many “no brainer” features, like allowing the band to finish a failed song anyways, song sorting/navigation, rewinding the song after a pause to avoid missed notes and more. (more…)

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2010 Holiday Gift Guide – Beyond the Games: Accessories

By P&P Staff

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SteelSeries Siberia V2 Full-Size USB Headset

Many companies make outlandishly-priced, mediocre headsets with all of the aesthetic frills, but you’d be better off spending the $110 on this SteelSeries set. It sounds phenomenal with 7.1 virtual surround sound, offers integrated volume control in the cord and features a USB driver to make it work perfectly with your PC. But if you’re a console gamer, it can easily be plugged into anything with a standard audio jack, and SteelSeries also offers an adapter to make it the go-to headset for all of your Xbox Live interactions. (more…)

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2010 Holiday Gift Guide – For the Digital Download Fan…

By P&P Staff

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Super Meat Boy

(XBLA, PC)

This game is alternately heaven and hell for platforming fans, but it manages to toe the line well enough to always be stuck in that sugary sweet spot that makes it so addicting players don’t even mind dying a few thousand times in the game’s 300-some levels. Plus, the Xbox Live version is going to have regularly-updated free downloadable levels added, which only makes the game even better! (more…)

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2010 Holiday Gift Guide – For the Racing Game Fan…

By P&P Staff

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Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit

(360/PS3/PC)

The series is Need for Speed. The developer is Criterion Games (Burnout: Paradise). How much more do you need to know to realize this is a wise choice for the holidays? How about a wide array of vehicles, including Lamborghinis on both the speeder and cop fronts, with gameplay designed around fast chases and spectacular crashes. If that doesn’t get you, the addicting Autolog system surely will. (more…)

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It is not uncommon for FedEx and UPS to be dropping packages off at my house in the early afternoon, with all the gaming and comics materials we cover at the site and with AMP Magazine. It is rather unusual, though, for one of those packages to come from PepsiCo. But it was a nice surprise to hear the doorbell yesterday and find a Halo: Reach-branded box with Mountain Dew and Doritos logos also adorning the outside of it. I was intrigued. (more…)

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Many may already know about the exclusive Xbox 360 downloadable track, “All You Need is Love,” for The Beatles: Rock Band. Proceeds from the tracks are said to benefit Doctors Without Borders. The track sells for 160 Microsoft Points, and gamers who purchase it are registered for a sweepstakes for a limited edition The Beatles: Rock Band Xbox 360 console, and a Rickenbacker 325 replica guitar controller.

In another project to benefit Doctors Without Borders,  Xbox and Harmonix have teamed up to create exclusive The Beatles: Rock Band Xbox 360 consoles, one of which is up for auction on eBay, ending Sept. 17. The rest will be available for auction throughout the year, according to Microsoft.

“Doctors Without Borders is an international medical humanitarian organization created by doctors and journalists in France in 1971 working in more than 60 countries to assist people whose survival is threatened by violence, neglect, or catastrophe. Sir Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, along with Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison personally selected the charity as the beneficiary of these proceeds.”

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Product: DigitalSoaps

Website: www.digitalsoaps.net

MSRP: Varies by Product

Review by: Bill Jones

Buying soap usually isn’t an event that elicits the response: “Awesome!” Soap is a borderline necessity, something to keep oneself clean and in good social standing through the power of hygiene. And while the ladies may enjoy a trip to the fragrant wonder that is Bath and Body Works, guys are usually happy with whatever is put on the bathroom counter, and nowadays that is liquid soap more often than not. (more…)

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It’s time for another contest! (Finally, right?). Hopefully many of our fine readers have already had a chance to check out the “Cool People” #2 feature interview with Garry Booth, who designed two very cool gaming-related T-shirts. He and his merch guy were also kind enough to donate one of each (size XL) for a giveaway.

We thought we’d keep this one easy for everyone to enter, so we’re going back to the comment entries. Readers can earn one (1) entry per story on Pads & Panels by commenting on any of the stories starting with Kevin’s Pikmin review (posted May 18) through any story posted through next week. The contest period ends Friday, May 29 at 11:59 PM Central Standard Time. At the end of the contest period, we will randomly select one grand prize winner and one runner up from all eligible entries received. The max number of entries one can attain is the number of posts starting with and including Kevin’s Pikmin review through next Friday. So nine (9) entries can be earned right now, including this post, and more opportunities are on the way. (more…)

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