Since 1953, Hugh Hefner’s lifestyle magazine has been the bastion of men’s journalism. Each month, readers the world over have enjoyed the magazine’s selection of short stories, articles, and political commentary. Oh and of course pictures of nude women. ARUSH entertainment, along with Groove games have released Playboy the Mansion, a lifestyle/business simulator game allowing players to step in the shoes of Hugh Hefner. Because of its name, this one is clearly not for kids. However, unlike other titles of this nature (i.e Rumble Roses and Dead or Alive Extreme Beach volleyball) rated titles, this one focuses on creating a compelling (if flawed) gaming experience as much as it focuses on nude women.
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Let it be said that one of my favorite games of the previous console generation was the original Manhunt. It was one of those games that people either loved or hated. While critics of the game decried its slow pace and repetitiveness, I enjoyed the tense stealth action gameplay, the 8mm-style atmosphere, and the lunatics that made up the game’s adversaries. So, when I heard that Rockstar was developing a Wii-based sequel that utilized the Wiimote for motion-controlled killing, I was ecstatic. Then the controversy came. You see, the game received an AO (Adults Only) rating from the ESRB, and both Sony and Nintendo would refuse to allow an AO-rated product to be released for their consoles (and just for good measure, Microsoft also would not allow an AO-rated product to be released on its console, although there were no plans to bring the game to Xbox 360). I was worried that I would never get to see Rockstar’s vision. Then miraculously, the game was green-lighted for release after some censoring. Sadly, to finally play the game after the controversy was akin to dying, going to heaven, and finding Jesus strung out on heroin. Yes, the game was that bad.
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Dumbo himself gives a review of the Dumbo 70th Anniversary Edition on Blu-Ray and DVD.

This video will look at various aspects of the movie as well as the features included in this set.

The controversy surrounding this game turned out to be hilarious. The media, anti-gaming advocates, ‘experts’ (people who never played a video game since Pac-Man), and everyone’s favorite disbarred lawyer decried this game as being everything from an entertainment medium that glorified bullying to a Columbine-simulator. The finished product actually ended up having more in common with Revenge of the Nerds than Virginia Tech. Instead of a gruesome Columbine fantasy, Bully actually ends up being a hilarious (and T-Rated) look at high school antics in the tradition of Porky’s.
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I had a great time watching “In Time”, a sci fi movie about a world that uses time as currency. The movie’s release is full of controversy, as famed science fiction writer Harlan Ellison tried to stop the film’s release citing similarities to his short story “Repent, Harlequin!” Said The Ticktockman. Having now seen the movie and read the short story I don’t feel the similarities were extensive, but more on that later.

The premise as seen in the trailer is pretty straightforward, and what an interesting premise this is. The movie replaces money with seconds, minutes, hours even months and years of people’s lives as people trade off time on their life line for goods and services, working themselves to the bone to be able to make it another day. Extremely topical amongst these times of economic strife and worldwide protests, the movie vilifies the “rich” immortals while making us feel the plight of the working class. All this social commentary is wrapped in this interesting sci fi concept which makes for interesting scenes and concepts, like the idea that poor people from the ghetto are always in a rush, while the rich take their time in everything, because what is there to hurry about if you know you’ll probably live another century or two?

SimCity 2000 is the most well known entry in Maxis’ SimCity franchise. It expanded upon the original game greatly, adding new types of facilities. Would-be mayors can add everything from zoos, to prisons, to high schools. The game also added an underground plumbing system, a more complex tax system, and since the map was isometric (as opposed to top-down), there was also land elevation. You can play through several scenarios, many of which based off of real-world situations such as the economic depression in 1970s Flint Michigan. Even today, with more advanced city simulators being released, SimCity remains the gold standard in city building. If you have yet to play this classic, Gog.com has it on sale for $5.99.

Note: This review only covers the single player ‘story’ mode of Uncharted 3. Minor story spoilers follow.

“Admit it, you love all this as much as I do.”

Nathan Drake is back. The third installment in Naughty Dog and Sony’s Uncharted series is titled “Drake’s Deception” but its as much about finding the truth for the characters as anything else.

The opening scene isn’t quite the bizarre event that the train wreck in Uncharted 2 was, but it will get you back in the action quickly. Nate and his partner Victor Sullivan are in London, trading Sir Francis Drake’s ring for a briefcase full of cash when the whole deal goes bad. You’ll end up in a bar fight, which will allow you to control the series’ new overhauled fighting system. Now an elaborate mix of punches, counters, and throws with detailed animations to enjoy with each hit, this is a satisfying way to start up since I don’t think the gun play is Uncharted’s strong suit. [Read the rest of this entry…]

With Halloween in two days, now is the perfect time to take a look at two terrifingly awesome games that are $20 or below. So with no further ado, lets go forward. Just make sure you got the lights turned on!
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