GeekSugar

Eidos Pulls Out All the Stops For Batman Arkham Asylum

GeekSugar — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:05:25 PDT

Although I haven't had a chance to dive into the full release version of Batman: Arkham Asylum since it landed in my mailbox on Monday, I did get a taste of the action while at E3. From the 15 minute demo that I witnessed, I can tell you that the game is kinda creepy, but totally awesome. . . especially when you're playing in combat mode.

But before I can divulge any details about the game, I have to give some props to publisher Eidos - Arkham Asylum came packaged with my very own emergency straitjacket kit! You know, just to make sure that if things get out of hand while I'm playing, someone can subdue me properly. Nice touch!

Batman: Arkham Asylum starts with you trapped in (what else?) Arkham Asylum, trying to track down The Joker who is plotting your demise with the help of a gang of fellow inmates. Combat is in a free flow style, which means if you combo moves and hits, you can max out your experience and kick major butt with power moves. The controls were nice and smooth, and were easy to get the hang of. But some of the best parts about the game are the stealth and detective modes. Learn more about these features and others when you

In detective mode, you can see through walls with a special visor to detect heat signatures, fingerprints, and even smell cigarette smoke and alcohol on the breath of your enemies before they can see you. In Stealth, you can use your silent skills to take down The Jokers' posse without others seeing or hearing. Plus, using your batarang and working with the architecture of the building - like perching on ledges and hanging upside down on poles like a bat - helps you take down your enemies faster, while racking up the skill.

Batman: Arkham Asylum is available now online and in stores for your Xbox 360 and PS3.

Yoostar Lets You Star in Your Favorite Movies From Home

GeekSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 10:00:13 PDT

I have to admit that I was a little confused before I met with the Yoostar peeps at E3 yesterday, but after getting my hands (and face) on the product, my mind was made up: I want one of these. If you've always dreamed of playing a character in a movie - but maybe don't quite have the acting chops - then this is your game. Yoostar enables you to digitally embed your voice, picture, and action right into your favorite TV and movie scenes with the help of a powerful camera and green screen.

Coming this August, Yoostar is packed with everything you need right out of the box: the Yoostar software, a webcam with built-in mic, a remote control, and a six by six-foot green screen. From there, all you have to do is download the software to your computer (both Mac and PC friendly), set up your webcam and green screen, pick one of the fourteen bundled scenes that comes with the package, and you're ready to star in a scene with your favorite actors.

Why would you want to do this? Find out the answer, along with the price, what else you can do with the package, and a demo video when you

I had a seriously good time costarring in a scene from Sesame Street with Elmo (I played Grover), and if I were a kid, I'd be all over it! Family game night just went high tech. Your kids could act out their favorite scenes and put on a show for the whole family to enjoy (don't worry, there are plenty of G-Rated scenes to choose from and download on yoostar.com), and if you want to be Internet famous, this is one way to do it. The quality of the finished product was surprisingly good, with the sound and picture being really clear. But, if I had time to practice my lines instead of reading the on-screen script, it would have looked way better. Hey, I'm a perfectionist like that.

And the good news is, the webcam and mic are high quality, so you can use this as your full-time webcam to chat with friends and family, or even use the setup to star in your own video blogs. Hitting the shelves in August, Yoostar comes in at $169.99 and with a six-foot green screen, which seems ridiculously low - these things don't come cheap!

Build Your Own Missions in City of Heroes Architect Edition

GeekSugar — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:05:02 PST

I was a pretty big fan of the original version of City of Heroes (well, maybe it was more like superfan - my BF and I would bicker over whose turn it was to play), so when I was invited to check out the newest update of the game, which includes mission building tools, of course I was all over it.

City of Heroes is a MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role playing game) that lets you customize your hero with different skills and powers, as well as customize your characters' look and costume. You can select different missions (solo, or with other players online) to earn more powerful skills and points towards getting better customization options. Usually, you'll be kicking some villain butt. And now with the Architect Edition, you can design your own missions and play your friends' missions all while earning points towards even more powers and skills.

View 5 Photos ›

To see what I thought about the game, and who should definitely be checking it out when it hits shelves this March when you

After a brief presentation with the development team, we were unleashed to create our own missions. Basically, it's like telling a story - you have this hero that has to complete a mission to earn points. What do you want him to do to earn them? I had my hero battle the evil Eddie Gobot (yes, I made all of this up) who was trying to oppress the bloggers of Paragon City, in order to control the news that was reported to its citizens. I added in some thugs, a few bosses, and a mission to hack into Gobots' computer in order to run him out of town, and I was on my way.

Since I was already familiar with City of Heroes, it was pretty easy for me to get going on building my own mission, but if you have never played COH before, it may take some practice play just to get familiar with the game, but mission building will be there for you when you're ready. Thankfully, the architect tools are a free addition to the game, so you aren't paying any extra cash to be able to make your own custom missions. Aspiring game developers take note: the mission customization tools allow you to dive as deep into the story as you want, but easy enough for beginners to grasp.

Personally, I'm excited for this new edition of City of Heroes, which will be available March 12 on your PC or Mac. Are you already a City of Heroes fan?

Early Preview: Tomb Raider Underworld For Wii and DS

GeekSugar — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:01:26 PDT

I've totally been on a gaming binge these past few weeks, and who can blame me? We're ramping up for the holiday season, and I'm trying to figure out which games to add to my wish list! There are a whole slew of games hitting the shelves in the next few months, and I got a chance to check out one of them at an early preview last week. I got my hands on Tomb Raider: Underworld - both the Wii and DS versions - and I already have a clear favorite between the two.

Tomb Raider: Underworld takes us to the depths of the oceans and to new locales like Thailand, Mexico, and the Arctic to unlock the mystery of Thor's Hammer - a mythical Norse God who was said to smash mountains into valleys, and possessed the strength to destroy Gods. Of course, Lara is not the only one seeking this hammer, and finds herself in some interesting situations. Natch.

View 5 Photos ›

To see which console I'd prefer to play on, just

Although the Wii's controls are great in games like Wii Sports, Resident Evil 4, and Wario Shake It, they seem like they aren't really needed in this game. You use both the nunchuck and remote to play, sporadically incorporating the motion sensors to pull a lever or open a door. But it was just not enough to proclaim that this is a totally new experience, like we saw when Resident Evil 4 made its appearance on the Wii. If anything, the Wii version left me feeling a little out of control of Lara. Plus, the camera was a little crazy, and between you and me? I got a little motion sick while playing. Don't tell anyone.

When I sat down to play the DS version of TRU, I was wondering how they could adapt a game that has been known for its graphics and challenges to such a small screen (not to mention that it would be a side scroller) but I was totally surprised at how fun this version actually was! Not only are the controls intuitive, but the game was overall just a better experience. Unlike the Wii version, where I found myself lost as to what to do next, the DS version was easy to follow and understand. Besides, you can only go left, right, up, or down! This is not to say that I don't like games that challenge me to think and solve complex puzzles, but I do like a game that makes me want to continue playing - and that's exactly what the DS version of Tomb Raider: Underworld achieved.

Tomb Raider: Underworld will hit stores November 21 on your PS2, PS3, XBox 360, Wii, DS, PC, and select mobile phones.

Fable II Early Impressions: Are You Playing Yet ?!

GeekSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 10:00:24 PDT

Although Fable II and Little Big Planet were supposed to be released on the same day (causing some major headaches for yours truly on which to play first), I was a bit relieved to find that one of them would be delayed, causing my game crunch to disappear for the time being.

Now, the much anticipated sequel to 2004's Fable will keep me happily occupied until LBP hits shelves on Oct. 27. Not that Fable II should be looked at as a place saver - it's an amazing game on its own, and I'm totally loving it! I got my hands on a copy of Fable II a few days ago, and I haven't been able to stop playing since. Seriously - I was up till 1:30 a.m. yesterday morning.

Although I have barely skimmed the surface of this massive world, I do have a few thoughts on the game already. To find out what they are, just

I love having the dog as a companion. He helps me find treasures, warns me of danger, and I can even get my pet fix by playing fetch with him!
The camera kinda sucks when you're playing co-op. The weird part is, when you are playing the hero, the camera follows your sidekick! Hello? I'm over here trying to open this treasure chest!
I don't like the map. I couldn't even find it at first!
I really love the golden pathway that you follow to find where you need to go. Although you are free to explore the world as you please, the golden path leads you to your next mission, so you never get lost.
I also love how you can skip conversations. Sometimes waiting for a villager to tell you the origins of a building you want to buy is annoying when you can read the details on the deed.
Be careful of who you are nice to and flirt with! They may follow you around, and get in your way.
Battle sequences are not too challenging, but are totally satisfying. I'm sure they will get tougher as the game develops though.

I'll have my full review coming up soon, but in the meantime, have you been playing Fable II nonstop like I have?

Left 4 Dead Sneak Peek

GeekSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 10:01:14 PDT

As one of my top five picks for this year's scariest games, I jumped at the chance to get an early look at the zombie shooter Left 4 Dead at a recent preview party here in San Francisco. Coming next month to your Xbox 360 and PC, I already knew the plot would have you trying to find your way out of a zombie-filled city with you and your three pals. But what I didn't know was that players will also get the chance to play as the zombies, trying to stop the humans from escaping (and eventually becoming dinner). There are four different "mutant" zombies, all with a unique attack style, which made it fun to switch between the characters and see who could cause the most damage.

Although Left 4 Dead is fun to play, I do have a few gripes about it. To see my thoughts on this early preview, and to check out a gameplay video (containing violence toward zombies aka blood and guns), just

My early impressions of the game were good - fun co-op play and an easy objective (stay alive as long as possible) - but there were a few glaring concerns. While playing with three of your friends on a game night would be totally fun, playing alone might leave something to be desired. If you do play Left 4 Dead solo, you'll be stuck with three AI buddies, and although I didn't get a chance to play the solo mode, I would imagine it to be kinda boring.

Additionally, there were so many things to remember controlwise. At times even I got confused about which button did what - and I own a Xbox 360! I'm sure after more playing, it would become second nature, but still, not too easy for beginners or those of you who are picking up a 360 controller for the first time. For those of you who like a shooter and are really into killing zombies, check out my gameplay video below. It's short and sweet, yet you'll instantly get the point of the game!

What do you think - will you play Left 4 Dead?

Watch Footage of The Amazing Spider-Man Villain

Shannon Vestal — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:54:13 PDT

Watch a featurette about The Amazing Spider-Man villain, The Lizard - NextMovie
Check out a sneak peek of the House series finale - BuddyTV
Why Glee's move to Thursday makes sense - Zap2it
Here's a preview of Summer's indie movies - Rotten Tomatoes
Coachella announces 2013 dates - The Hollywood Reporter
The best and worst TV and movie nurses - The Daily Beast
Find out which other pop star has signed on to The X Factor - HuffPost TV
Watch a supercut of movie characters saying 'Son of a b*tch" - Moviefone
Print out this Bingo game for tonight's Bachelorette season premiere - TrèsSugar

Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures

Rewind: The Avengers Finally Hits Theaters

Maggie Pehanick — Sat, 05 May 2012 03:05:00 PDT

Before you head out to the theater to see The Avengers, be sure to catch up with our guide to everything you need to know about the crime-fighting characters.
Have you seen these non-superhero movies that the Avengers stars have costarred in?
In the world of trailers, Liam Hemsworth steamed up the preview for The Expendables 2, and we tried to decipher the third trailer for The Dark Knight Rises. Jake Gyllenhaal shows off his bald head in cop movie End of Watch, and we saw more Andrew Garfield in the new trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man.
The release of Johnny Depp's vampire comedy is just around the corner, so we got excited all over again with all the stills from Dark Shadows.
While we're sad to see our favorite shows go on hiatus, we're gearing up with a peek at the New Girl season finale, a Hart of Dixie wedding, and a look at Elena's parents on The Vampire Diaries season finale.
We love all the style from Glee in the new pictures of a very Glee-tastic prom.
If you're at a loss for entertainment once your DVR queue dwindles, you can always check out the most anticipated summer concerts.
50 Shades of Grey generated more buzz when Alexander Skargard showed interest in playing Christian.
The Bachelorette is premiering soon and we finally got pictures of all the lucky contenders.
We talked to New Girl's Max Greenfield about his shirtless scenes, turns out he doesn't look forward to them as much as we do.
The MTV Movie Awards nominations are out, and it looks like The Hunger Games and Bridesmaids are poised to dominate the ceremony.

Jack White Will Score The Lone Ranger

BuzzSugar — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:30:20 PDT

Jack White signs on to do The Lone Ranger's score - Zap2It
Preview the Law and Order-themed episode of Community - BuddyTV
Find out what the new MTV Movie Award categories are - Next Movie
Watch the latest trailer for G.I. Joe: Retaliation - Buzzfeed
Get a vintage chill with these 19th century set horror flicks - Rotten Tomatoes
A guide to the women of Game of Thrones - The Frisky
Watch President Obama on Jimmy Fallon! - TrèsSugar
The nastiest reality TV villains - HuffPost TV
7 awesome covers of Radiohead's "Creep" - The Daily Beast
What Ryan Seacrest says he learned from Dick Clark - The Hollywood Reporter

Magic Mike Trailer: Channing Tatum Is a Stripper With Big Dreams

Becky Kirsch — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:55:13 PDT

If you fell in love with Channing Tatum's sweet dance moves in Step Up, then you're going to love the trailer for Magic Mike. Not only does Tatum showcase his skills once again, but this time he also takes his clothes off. Tatum plays the titular "Magic" Mike, a stripper with hoards of fans and enough $1 bills to make it rain on a regular basis. Though he's good-natured about his line of work, Mike dreams of getting out of the exotic-dancing game and into . . . making furniture.

Yes, the premise is silly, but that's part of the appeal of the Steven Soderbergh film: it doesn't take itself too seriously. Instead of seeing a Chippendales-style line of pretty boys (Alex Pettyfer, Joe Manganiello, and Matt Bomer also star), the preview focuses more on Mike's romance with his friend's sister (Cody Horn). My only issue is that this carefree, Summer party movie feels a bit like a step back for Tatum, who's already had two No. 1 movies this year. Then again, a little mindless, shirtless fun never hurt anyone.

The film hits theaters on June 29, but watch the preview when you

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.