Happy Wars (XBLA): "Chaotic Warfare With A Comical Twist"

There is no doubt these days that war is truly one of the hottest, and most debated topics around. Often times you'll see news of the war in the middle east, and find that things in life are not always as pleasant as they seem. Even the video game industry seems to take their own stance on the subject of war with military based shooters that are all the craze these days. These more serious peeks into what is happening in the world can become somewhat disheartening at times if we dwell on it too long. Even so I'm glad to see that some game producers, and developers such as Toylogic are bringing us a lighter side of the topic of warfare.

In their latest free to play game, "Happy Wars" we find that war games do not always have to be the overly violent display that most of us have come to call normal. With a whimsical cast of customizable light, and dark armies this simplistic tower defense title comes to life with all the charm of a children's fairytale. Keeping true to the theme of war though, Toylogic pokes hints at the serious topic of warfare that is imbeded within the game. As such they bring to our attention the troubling nature that plagues all of mankind. Maybe one day we as humans will see our mistakes, and end our quarrels in a civilized manner. Until that time though when have fun games like this one to keep us entertained, and make the horrific reality that is war seem like it's only a bad dream.

KontrolFreek (Xbox 360): "FPS Freek Havoc & FPS Freek Infinity"

Sometimes the greatest things come in the smallest packages. This is a quote that definitely applies to KontrolFreek's latest controller enhancements. When the two sets of KontrolFreeks arrived at my house I was a little surprised to see how simple they were, and how small the package was that they were in. Initially I wasn't seeing the reason for the price, but as I tested them out I soon realized that they definitely warranted the cost. After reading the postcard explaining what the "FPS HAVOC", and "FPS INFINITY" were all about I set out to give them a proper testing. For about a week I spent hours in "MW3", and "HALO REACH" trying out the various modes within each game, so I could get optimal results for my final verdict. In the following paragraphs I'll go over the technical details, and descriptions of each set of KontrolFreeks.

The Fall of the Video Gaming Industry: "Fighting Games"

There is no doubt that times are hard for most Americans, and for many people abroad. As such we find that money is tight, and budgeting is a must if we hope to stay afloat in this dwindling economy. Gamers such as myself are finding it harder, and harder to afford the hobby that we have come to love and support all these years. I've had to cut back seriously on my own spending, and I only buy games with the extra money I make doing one of my side jobs. Considering these tough times you would think that game developers would have their customers' best interest in mind, but it seems they have grown money hungry, and could care less about the products they produce. This mentality is a growing concern of mine. If companies such as those who produce video games begin to sacrifice quality for the sake of earning money, then the gaming industry (or any other entertainment industry) as we know it will ultimately fail. Who will pay the price in the end? The consumers. Those who spend their hard earned cash to support their gaming habits will eventually lose all their money to such companies, and in the end the gaming/entertainment empires will be set to last for the long haul leaving us with nothing to do but live a life of poverty.

Eclipse Magazine's "JAM Live Music Arcade" Contest!!!

Earlier this year I agreed to review an interesting XBLA music title called "JAM Live Music Arcade". The game basically gave the player control over all the various instruments that make up a band, and allowed them to control the mixes via a DJ style setup. Well, I'm back again telling you about this game, because there's a pretty awesome contest going on in relation to it. Those who enter could possibly win $1,000 worth of actual band equipment!!! If you have the XBLA title, and aren't scared to get in front of the camera and record some footage of yourself performing a mix then you have a chance at winning. I will say that the game is best played with a guitar peripheral, and that it does require some skill. I'm sure the contest holders want to hear a good mix, so if you are interested in the prizes then get practicing. I'll provide all the details below for you in case you're up to the challenge.

Worms Revolution (XBLA): "Wacky Worm Hijinks Displayed in Brilliant 2.5D!!!"

Your favorite bunch of segmented cephalopods return in all their humorous glory as a fellow British nature enthusiast guides them to their ultimate doom, or perhaps their glorious destiny. Equipped with a wide array  of one liners, and wacky weaponry these creepy crawlies and their negative narrator are prepared for a battle of the fittest. There is no doubt there will be plenty of cartoon-like casualties as the worms blast, beat, and dragon ball their way to victory. This time around the usual crew of worms are joined by some new teammates further swaying the possible outcome of the fray at hand. Through hard training, and mayhem induced puzzle solving the new recruits will be able to dish out proper demise, or at least die trying.