Battlefield 3

1 Word. WINNING. Battlefield 3 parachuted into stores yesterday, and while you don't actually parachute into a safe zone to spawn, the parachute is still a part of the game. The Finalize online play is much smoother than the "beta" running at a full 60 frames per second, as opposed to the 30 frames per second in the beta. The new maps are very detailed and very large, offering many different game-play styles and experiences on the same maps. I haven't run into anyone "beneath" the map either, which goes hand in hand with the smoother, upgraded textures and the new Frostbite 2 physics engine. At first glance, the physics engine may seem the same as frostbite 1, but as you rank up and use new weapons and attachments, you will definitely notice the difference. Stay tuned for tips and tricks on how to rank up quickly. We'll be covering the campaign and co-op special mission walk-throughs too.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Assault rifles

A basic rundown of pro's and cons of the Black ops Assault rifles.
M16- 3 round burst, SUPER-high accuracy, good at all ranges, however, the fact that its burst fire limits how quickly you can put bullets down range. DO NOT USE ON A BAD CONNECTION.
Enfield- High accuracy, able to use it long range if burst-fired, full auto with medium to high ROF, medium sized spread.
M14- semi-auto, no fire rate limit, very accurate, good at medium to long range, aming down sight, and goor short range from the hip, tight clustered spread.
FAMAS- SUPER HIGH ROF- Very high accuracy,good at close to mid range full auto, can be burst fired for long range.
Galil- high power, high accuracy, higher than average ROF, good at all ranges full auto, Minimal recoil.
AUG- Identical to the FAMAS in most stats, leaves a tighter clustered spread. and accuracy is a little funny. It hits slightly to the left and up of where the Iron sights say, keep that in mind when going for a headshot challenge.
FAL- Semi-auto, no fire-rate limit, nearly identical to the M14, but it cannot be "gripped" to reduce recoil.
AK47- High ROF, high DPS, High accuracy, High damage, very tight cluster spread.
COMMANDO- Basically a full auto M16 with a little more kick. Good at everything, not the best at anything but pretty darn close.
G11- Burst-fire, Unbelievable accuracy, VERY high damage, Minimal kick. The only downside to the G11 is that it is Burst-fire, and it slows how many bullets you can get downrange.

Faster Games and Game Insurance

You can copy your games to your xbox console by uploading them directly to the xbox. By doing this, it makes the game a lot faster than normal. You still need the disc to play the game but as long as you have the game saved to your xbox, it will run faster and everything will load faster. However, you should only do this for the games that you play the most often because saving too many games to the console can actually slow it down.
Saving the games to your console can also save you from ever losing a game due to a scratched disc. Even if you scratch it or spill something on it, as long as the xbox can load the disc and recognize the game, it will always be able to play off of your hard drive because you saved it. NOthing better than creating your own game insurance and knowing your favorite games are always safe from damage....

How To Play a First Person Shooter (successfully)

Here are a few basic tips for any FPS you might come across:
1. Choose a play-style. Knowing your role, and how to do it will prove invaluable, to yourself and to your team.
2. Build a class that fits your play style.
If you like to rush into the middle of the action, Then build a class for fast paced action. Usually this consists of an SMG and perks/abilities/specializations that make you run faster.
If you prefer picking enemies off from a safe distance, then you want a longer ranged gun (usually a sniper) and perks or specializations that help with accuracy and Vision.

For those people who excel at helping their team, and keeping the enemy hidden in cover until a teammate can get to them, A gun with TONS of ammo (usually an LMG) and perks or specializations that let you start with extra ammo or pick more ammo up.
Then of course there are campers and tubers. people with these play-styles usually pick the most obnoxious class they can make and try there best to annoy everyone they come across. we'll cover how to deal with them next time ;)
3. Play to your strengths. If you have a sub-machine gun and the other guy has an assault rifle, odds are he'll win at medium to long range. So it's in your best interests to get close to him before he opens fire on you. If you have a sniper, it's best if you keep distance between you and your enemies, and stay where your gun is best.
4. Use grenades! If an enemy is in cover or around a corner, running toward them will often get you killed. In these situations, it's best to pull the pin and chuck it in with them. you'll either flush them out, and into you line of sight, or kill them with your grenade. Also remember that just because you cant see an enemy, it doesn't mean they cant see you.
5. If you are getting hit, FIND COVER! Winning a gunfight, or even surviving a shootout all comes down to how many times you're hit. If you have a box or tree in front of you, taking some of the bullets, that gives you a much better chance at getting out alive.
6. Find a friend! playing solo is fun, but having a friend to communicate with and coordinate attacks is a great way to succeed.

Battlefield 3: Beta, Part 3

The new attachments like laser sight and Flashlight Blind enemies when they are shown in the face, making it harder to hit you, and giving you a clear shot. There were problems with exactly where people were being hit with the flashlight, but in the beta, you expect hit detection to be a little off. Additionally showcased in the beta is the new "suppressive fire" system, where players can get points for shooting at an enemy even if they don't hit them. Every time someone shoots at you, your screen will start to get blurry, even if they are not hitting you. If someone kills you in this state, both the person who killed you, AND the person who kept you "suppressed" earn points. This allows less accurate players to still help the team out and rank up as well. The rank up system is very similar to previous BattleField games, in that you have 4 classes to rank up, and each class ranks up separately, but you have a character level as well, and that level ranks up regardless of what class you choose. When your level ranks up, you earn new Primary's, Secondary's, and gadgets, along with Specializations. In BF3 Specalizations give your soldier unique skills that will benefit you, such as faster sprint, less explosive damage recieved, more explosive damage dealt, or the ability to see clearly even when suppressed; Their are also certain specializations that will benefit your entire squad, by also giving them the benefits you earned!

The full game drops the 25th.

Pick it up or preorder it Here.

(FREE SHIPPING from AMAZON!!!)

Battlefield 3:beta, Part 2

While we covered game play and server stability, lets talk about what everyone really wants to know about: GUNS. In the BF3:beta, players were given the ability to toggle between semi- and full- auto modes for several guns, while some people wont see this as an addition because they subscribe to the religion of Spray-and-Pray; anyone who Aims Down Sights (ADS) will appreciate this. The firing mode change gives you the ability to switch from a close range bullet-hose to a long range laser-accurate rifle, all at the press of a button; it gives players the ability to win long range fights with a mid-ranged gun. For those players with high accuracy who don't necessarily like sniping but wish they could get a more powerful firearm, I'm pleased to announce the ability to remove the scope from a sniper rifle and use it as a marksman rifle, with the iron sights! This gives players the ability to pack a punch, without having to lurk in the shadows. It also appears that sidearms have been given a MAJOR boost, making them a viable option. Personally I think they may be a bit overpowered... but I'm not complaining!

Battlefield 3: Beta, Part I

First off, let's address some concerns. Anyone who played the beta knows the low frame rate and the ability to fall through the map. No worries, however, this was not a true "beta"; the coding used was more of an "alpha". Beta was used to test the servers, because Battlefield, unlike it's competitor, Call of Duty, uses dedicated servers. The servers handled the load quite well and it also gave us a glimpse into a few new features and cool little gadgets.

This game plays very realistically with a physics system that includes bullet travel and gravity drop. While grenades are slightly overpowered, the ability to go through a wall instead of around it is always refreshing. Fully destructible environments have always been a token of the Battlefield universe. The beta only showcased ONE map and ONE game mode. Rest assured, there will be more in the actual game.

Halo: Anniversary

While I would usually frown upon paying for something twice....... Halo:CE: anniversary might be the exception to that rule. It's everything we loved about the original Halo with updated graphics and the ability to switch between modern and original gameplay. It's a nostalgic look at one of the most celebrated franchises of all time, while still a perfectly acceptable game even by today's standards. Granted, if you didn't like the original Halo, then slapping a new coat of paint on it probably wont do much for you, though Fans of the original or the Halo universe will feel like they are seeing this classic through a new set of HD contacts!

Halo: Anniversary comes out on November 15th. You can pre-order it from Amazon HERE.

Lets start simple......

So, to kick things off, let's just give you an overview of what my plan is. I generally plan FPS (First Person Shooter) games, so I will be updating strategies, tips, tricks and such for these types of games. I am also a fan of other types of games, however, so don't be surprised if, from time-to-time, another genre finds it's way onto the blog. (Or if I rant about stupid kids trying to quick-scope). I will post things mainly about Xbox games, though most of the information will still work for the PS3. We'll probably start old-school and work our way to more recent games/brand new releases. And don't be surprised if I tell you that a game isn't even worth playing...