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

read more. 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

read more. 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.

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

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

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

read more. 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?

Welcome to DistrictSugar and Win a Trip to The Hunger Games Premiere!

Molly Goodson — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:36:30 PST

To celebrate the most anticipated movie release of the season, we're so excited to introduce DistrictSugar, your destination for all things Hunger Games. We've lined up interviews with the cast, exclusive looks at the amazing fashion and beauty from the film, and tons of behind-the-scenes details of the making of The Hunger Games. Check out a preview of the specials to come starting Feb. 20, and enter to win a trip to The Hunger Games premiere below.

Enter to win a trip to The Hunger Games world premiere at the Nokia Theatre in LA below! One lucky fan will win a trip for two to California to attend the red-carpet premiere of The Hunger Games. May the odds be ever in your favor.

Enter to Win a Trip to The Hunger Games Premiere!

Sneak Peek: Watch an Exclusive Clip of Whitney's Valentine's Week Episode

Annie Scudder — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:44:10 PST

If you're feeling a Valentine's Day sugar hangover from too much chocolate and sweet talk, NBC's Whitney (Wednesday, 8/7c) is just the cure with its amusing and relatable take on modern dating. On this week's episode, we learn how Whitney and her live-in boyfriend Alex first met back in 2008 and we have an exclusive preview just for you. Who knew Alex was so familiar with the pick-up artist tactics from The Game? I guess they worked on Whitney!

Check Out the Latest Trailer For The Avengers!

Becky Kirsch — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:47:06 PST

The Super Bowl wouldn't be complete without some blockbuster movie trailers, and this year's big game came complete with a fresh look at The Avengers. This spot is short and sweet, mostly focusing on seeing the team assemble and prepare for epic battling. Though the first Avengers trailer is more satisfying and in-depth, this little teaser is keeping us excited for the film's Summer release. Plus, we get a much better look at The Hulk (who actually looks pretty similar to the big green guy we saw in the Ed Norton movie.)

Take a peek at the new preview when you

read more. Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Catch Fire With The Hunger Games Nail Collection

BellaSugar — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:39:44 PST

Adding to the continued excitement of all things Hunger Games, we got our hands on the polishes from China Glaze's forthcoming Colours from the Capitol collection. Nail colors inspired by movies can sometimes be a yawn, but these will charm die-hard fans and manicure connoisseurs alike. From ashy, matte shades to high-definition glitters, these polishes could soon be among your most favorite nail colors. Preview them all in our video now!