Alright all you aspiring game designers, wanna make your own game? Want to make an RPG? Not quite ready to learn Microsoft XNA? Got a PS2 and a memory card with lots of space? Here ya go. The RPG Maker series, or RPG Tsukuru as it’s known in Japan, is hugely popular amongst game hobbyists. However, its steep learning curve and low-end graphics have kept it from mainstream success. RPG Maker 2 is no different. It may not be a graphical powerhouse, but those who are willing to put in the time and effort to learn the system will find themselves well rewarded. I can’t sing this game’s praises enough. There is more advanced game creator software available (including scenario and map editors for your favorite PC RTS, FPS, and RPGs), but for beginning developers, you can’t go wrong with this.
[Read the rest of this entry…]

This is the big spot to promote Iron Man during last night’s big game. If YouTube doesn’t do it for you, watch it in High Definition at apple.com.
If you want all the commercials that played during the Super Bowl for review, TV Squad has them all collected here.

Since its original release in 1996, this game has been remade with a number of different themes and under a number of different names. The most notable of which, Pokemon Puzzle League, features Pokemon characters. Though no matter what cosmetic changes were made, the basic gameplay has remained the same. Although this is named Tetris, the game does not resemble the falling-block classic at all. Instead, you make blocks disappear by swapping them and creating columns and/or rows consisting of three block or more of the same color. Instead of falling down, the blocks slowly rise from the bottom. The Japanese version of the game featured faeries and nymphs, who were replaced by characters from Yoshi’s Island for the American and European releases. This game has a number of gameplay modes, including 2-player VS, endless mode, puzzle mode, and stage clear mode. Puzzle game fans who can look past the excessive cuteness will enjoy the simple yet addictive gameplay. There is no doubt that this will receive a virtual console release in the near future, so if you like puzzle games, then check it out.

Shooting begins next month and so now we have some of the final pieces in the puzzle of who will play the leads in GIJOE.
Irish actor David Murray has been cast as James McCullen Destro XXIV, primary villain. He’s largely known for stage work, but he’s been in a few movies too. The character Destro infamously wears a silver mask over his face, so its not known how much of Murray we’ll really see.Read more about Murray, and Destro.
Duke, the leader of GIJOE on the ground, will be played by Channing Tatum, an actor/model/dancer. I sure hope he’s tough on screen, because that photo I plucked for this story makes him look like a real sissy. Read up on Tatum and Duke.
Finally, Zartan, the master of disguise in COBRA, will be Arnold Vosloo, Vosloo is a South African best known as The Mummy from the film of the same name, also directed by GIJOE director Stephen Sommers. Read more about the actor here, and Zartan here.

Just to recap the cast so far: Dennis Quaid (Hawk), Sienna Miller (The Baroness), Ray Park (Snake Eyes), Rachel Nichols (Scarlett), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Heavy Duty), Said Taghmaoui (Breaker), Marlon Wayans (Ripcord), and Byung-hun Lee (Storm Shadow).

This isn’t the only casting I’m aware of right now. I know who is playing Cobra Commander, but its a major plot spoiler to even say who it is, so I’m putting it after the jump so only those who are serious about wanting to know see it. You’ve been warned.
[Read the rest of this entry…]

Lately, I’ve been playing a lot of real-time strategy games. Mainly I’ve been sticking with the Command and Conquer series, Starcraft, and Warcraft. You can never go wrong with their simple-but-addictive play mechanics, but there are also options available for people who seek something deeper. Total War, Age of Empires, and Empire Earth are a lot more complicated than beginning RTS players are used to, but the historical settings they utilize as their backdrop reward those who have the patience to learn the play mechanics. Microsoft Game Studios/Big Huge Game’s Rise of Nations however, achieves a happy medium between the fast paced and simple mechanics of Starcraft and the world building aspects of Empire Earth.
[Read the rest of this entry…]

No official comment, but insiders say its true: Guillermo del Toro will direct the 2 new movies based on the The Hobbit and other works by author JRR Tolkien.

We first heard this would happen a month ago, and since then names like Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption, The Mist) and Sam Raimi (Spider-Man, Army Of Darkness) have made the rounds. Now it seems the del Toro, who’s pulp and fantasy epics Hellboy and Pan’s Labyrinth were so enjoyable, is going to bring about his vision of Middle Earth.

Expect an official announcement soon that Peter Jackson’s Mexican Doppleganger will pick up one of the great film series ever.

Source: Eonline

Welcome back to Xavier’s school for gifted youngsters. This is part 2 of our special edition X-men $20 GOTW and lost classics. In the first part we looked at some of the lows of the X-men franchise. In this second part, we’ll take a look at the Marvel Vs Capcom series, as well as Activision’s X-men games. You can find pretty much all of these games in stores, and most of them retail for $20 or less.
[Read the rest of this entry…]

Powet board member Tigerpaw has shared some info with us from the Transformers Collector Club:

At 7:44pm EST tonight, a listing of the first wave of the upcoming Universe/Classics 2.0 toys was posted in the Transformers Collectors Club Forums. Also posted was news that the Seacons re-issue, and club exclusive Nightbeat toy that have been rumored, are now officially a go, with hopes that they’ll be ready in time for Botcon. Pre-orders will be in March with the figures shipping in April.

Then at precisely 7:45pm, the Master Collector servers crashed from the ensuing rush of traffic.

At 8:20 or so, the servers came back up, and I finally got a look at the post. The rundown:

Wave 1 of Classics 2.0/Universe

Deluxes:
Sunstreaker
Prowl
Tankor (Octane)

Ultras:
Onslaught
powetglide

A picture was posted of Sunstreaker but per club rules, it is not allowed to be reposted. It’s not known at this time whether pictures of the other figures will be posted or not.

We saw some design and proto images of Tankor/Octane at Botcon. Onslaught was revealed in the image above not too long ago. Since I’m also a member of the club, I logged in to see Sunstreaker and, although he looked mistransformed a bit, he appears to be a nice addition to the line.