Xbox 360 Wireless Controller
Using optimized technology, the Xbox 360 Wireless Controller lets you enjoy a 30-foot range and up to 40 hours of life on two AA batteries?and when they run low, you’re given ample warning so you can connect a Play & Charge cable for uninterrupted play. Plug the Xbox 360 Headset into the controller for full duplex voice communication: a wireless first. With quick access to Xbox 360 features including DVDs, music, pictures, and more, along with the ability to support four wireless controllers simultaneously, gamers can experience wireless freedom, precision, high quality, and performance for endless gameplay. Experience easy Vibration Control with a simple On or Off setting to match your personal preference The Xbox Guide Button at the center of the controller gives you quick access to all your favorite Xbox 360 system activities, such as watching movies, listening to music, contacting friends on Xbox Live, and customizing your gaming experiences. Easily jump to the Xbox Gamer Guide or Xbox Live Marketplace.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Amazing Blue
Buy this controller now. Trust me. The blue color looks great. Forget the other colors they sell. Get blue. You’ll be glad you did.
4 Stars White recharge battery won’t work in blue control!!
Just a heads up for those of you who are buying the blue control (or any colored controller). The other rechargeable white batteries that came in your original control won’t work. It doesn’t recognize it. Now I have to buy a blue rechargeable battery pack. It’s a great control and would have been nice to know about the non compatibility issue. Thats why I knocked a star off.
5 Stars Perfect
The most comfortable and ergonomic controller I have ever used. Looks cool, lightweight, but doesn’t feel hollow. Battery lasts long. The best gaming controller out there.
3 Stars Good controller
Love the black controllers over the old white design. Batteries are the correct size and won’t cause the controller to develop cracks where the battery is inserted. Smooth operation.
Overall, this controller is basically all the same as the white, but the batteries fitting correctly will make it last alot longer
4 Stars Great controller, but analog sticks lack deadzone
The Xbox 360 controller is the most comfortable game controller I’ve ever used. But, when using it with a PC, the analog sticks never stay in the exact center when left alone. For example, when playing a racing game, the car may veer to either side when the stick is not being touched. Microsoft should include software to create a larger deadzone, because some games do not have this adjustment.
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Nintendo DS Lite Metallic Rose
With impressive 3D rendered graphics and ultra-bright screens, Nintendo DS Lite delivers cutting-edge portable games for fans of any genre. Plus, you can connect wirelessly to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and challenge players around the world.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars An UnGamer’s Game System
I am a girly-girl UnGamer. I’m intimidated by button combos, bewildered by cheat codes (where’s the fun in THAT?), and a little terrified by the vast array of first-person-shooter and sportsy games out there. Since I’m also terrified of real guns and real sports, this isn’t especially surprising. Things that do NOT terrify, bewilder, or intimidate me include crossword puzzles, trivia games, “sim” games, and Zelda. All of these things are, fortunately, available for the Nintendo DS Lite.
The DS Lite is perfect for the UnGamer - the person who thinks of gaming as a way to pass the time while on the bus or on a coffee break. Many of the games that are available for the DS Lite require only a stylus to interface, thus eliminately the need to remember tedious button combos. If you can use a pen, you can use the DS. The graphics on the games thsat I’ve played range from very good to breathtaking, and the sound effects mostly lack that piercing quality that drove UnGamers like me crazy when our little brothers got their first GameBoys.
A huge number of accessories are available for the DS Lite, but other than buying a couple of plastic game cases and a few extra styluses (stylii?), I haven’t found the need to buy any. The DS Lite is, as the name suggests, lightweight, but is nevertheless sturdy enough to survive the last month and a half in my purse with keys, pens, half-eaten granola bars, and a quarter pound of loose change. The finish is iPod-shiny, and therefore smudges easily, but has so far proven scratch resistant.
There are hundreds of games available - thousands, if you count the GBA games that DS Lite is compatible with. As an UnGamer, I’ve stuck mostly to games like Nintendogs, Electroplankton, The Sims, and a few old favorites like Tetris and Zelda. There’s definitely something for everyone here, including language and weight-loss training, dog obedience tips, and cooking lessons. As I’ve gradually gotten more into my DS, I’ve discovered such addictive time-wasters as Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon, and games like Brain Age and Flash Focus have become part of my regular morning routine.
So guys, if you’re desperate to get your UnGamer girlfriend into gaming, the Nintendo DS Lite is the perfect gateway drug. Heck, I’m even thinking of getting a Wii soon!
5 Stars Nice choice
Easy to learn, very intuitive games and many choices.
What I like the most is the life of battery.
5 Stars Great for both young children and adults: 4 + stars
This compact video game system from Nintendo appeals to many of the same people who love Wii. Its sleek case (it comes in a variety of colors) slips easily into a backpack or handbag or jacket pocket. The flip top opens to reveal two screens, an integral part of many games for the platform, and, depending on the game, can be used horizontally, vertically, or flipped for left-handed users. The controls are accessible and easy to understand. With both a mute button and a headphone jack, parents in particular will appreciate the option of silence, or at least, silence for those around it. The DS comes with a spare stylus, a rechargeable battery (with a partial charge out of the box), and a charger.
Several adults in my family and I bought this primarily for the Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day! series that “trains” brains to work more efficiently. The game runs the users through a series of math problems, speed reading, mazes, and such that are timed, then recorded in a progress report. These exercises are excellent for challenging the mind in a culture where we too often sit and let information happen to us. For this reason, the DS makes an excellent gift for adults who fear losing their memory or reaction time.
All in all, I like the DS, although I find the selection of games still too limited. It’s a sturdy, flexible, pocket game system that, with the right games, is a heckuva lot of fun.
1 Star Costly to Repair when Out Of Warranty
My daughter was given a pink Nintendo DS Lite as a gift and she absolutley loved it until it stopped turning on. I called the Nintendo customer service line and we established that the problem is not with the charger or the battery so I would need to send it in for repair. Since the warranty expired a few months ago it will cost me 82.50 to repair the unit which only cost 130.00 in the first place.
5 Stars Just Perfect
I needed this item for my daughters b-day. The ordering and receiving my product was perfect and fast! No hassel at all and the item was just perfect. So as you can see I was VERY Pleased with my purchase in every way..
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LittleBigPlanet
Imagine a world that’s yours to shape, build and explore. LittleBigPlanet puts the power of absolute creation into your own hands. If you can see it, you can enhance it. If you can’t see it, you can invent it. Start by learning about your character’s powers to interact physically with the environment. There are places to explore, creative resources to collect and puzzles to solve - all requiring a combination of brains and collaborative teamwork. Characters have the power to move anything in this glued and stitched-together 3D landscape; they have the power to design, shape and build both objects and entire locations for others to view and play. There’s no complicated level editor; all of these skills can be learned by simply playing the game. Immerse yourself in an organic world that’s just waiting to be personalized. Make your world as open or as secretive to explore as you like. When it’s ready, you can invite anyone within the LittleBigPlanet community to come and explore your patch - or you can go and explore everybody else’s.
Unlimited possibilities for user-created content - customize everything - your characters, the landscape around them and your own patch on LittleBigPlanet Online and offline multiplayer modes - play alone, work as a team or get competitive LittleBigPlanet global community to get involved with - includes player comments, rankings and easy communication with new and existing friends
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Believe the Hype
This game is eexcellent! Though the main story mode is a little short and underdeveloped, the creation mode is amazing! It’s lots of fun to play levels created by other users.
5 Stars Another console, another platformer
Platform games had their heyday in the 8-bit Nintendo era, but each new console refreshes the genre. The hype has been about user-contributed content, but this game is really a classic platform game. The game is organized into a world map reminiscent of Super Mario World with links to individual levels. Like the classic games, there are plenty of hidden secrets for replay value.
Beyond the normal platform stuff, you do have the opportunity to create your own levels. You also get the chance to play everyone else’s levels, some of which are very good.
I was surprised to find that cooperative online play is built in to nearly every level. You can find your way to the end of each level without a friend, but 100% completion requires plenty of cooperation.
4 Stars 4.5 !! Game of the Year!
Gonna try to keep this short.
Great Game! bringing gaming to another lever! creative! fun! A game that me and my fiancee can enjoy.
The short story mode was the only thing that kept it from being perfect. The controls can be a pain from time to time and creating a level is harder than i thought.
But all in all, there’s nothing like it!
MUST BUY!
3 Stars Fun game, with some flaws
I think this game is amazing, especially the single player portion of the game. The levels are really creative and fun, plus the music selection for these levels are also very good.
My beef with this game is with the user created levels. I spent the first 2 days going through the hundreds of different levels out there, most of them are terrible. There are a few bright spots out there, truly outstanding creations but the problem is that there is no way to easily find quality levels. It’s a mess, expect to go through 9 terrible levels for every decent one. Honestly, I don’t have the time or the patience.
I don’t plan on creating my own levels, they require too much time and effort if you want to make a quality level.
Overall, single player rocks. Playing with friends in single player levels is also a lot of fun!
5 Stars How much do I love thee LBP?
Not being blessed with much gaming ability, I’ve never really strayed from my old stand-bys (Bubble Bobble and Tetris) because I typically get “killed” faster than a red-shirt on star trek…which ultimately leads to my utter frustration and stamping from the room stating “I don’t want to play this game anymore”, but not LBP! My boyfriend got this game for me for my birthday last week after I saw a review of it on TV and sat staring with my mouth agape. I adore this game; I can’t say enough great things about it. It’s just plain fun…with a big dose of kawaii and addictiveness to boot. The appeal is broad too…as real gamers like it just as much it seems. On a totally random side note…it appeals to my crafty sensibilities…so much so that I’ve begun to crochet my own little sackboy to dress up. I bet there will be an army of little knitty creatures out and about soon enough…ready to take over the world with yarny little hugs.
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Halo 3
Halo 3 is the third game in the Halo Trilogy and the thrilling conclusion to the events begun in Halo: Combat Evolved. Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood, and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax. The Covenant occupation of Earth has uncovered a massive and ancient object beneath the African sands - an object whose secrets have yet to be revealed. Earth’s forces are battered and beaten. The Master Chief’s AI companion Cortana is still trapped in the clutches of the Gravemind - a horrifying Flood intelligence, and a civil war is raging in the heart of the Covenant. It’s all been building to this — a desperate, final war that leads to a soul-shattering climax of epic proportions. Take control of Master Chief to defeat the Covenant and destroy the Flood to prevent the annihilation of the human race.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars H3 Player from Iraq
The item was sent quick even to an APO, and it was in above standard condition. Thank you
5 Stars Doesn’t ‘raise’ the bar, but resets it for the 360.
I score games based on 8 categories with varying weights — Halo 3 gets an 85%% (my highest so far).
I found the campaign a little lacking and the story failed to impress, glutted as we gamers are with ‘epic’ storylines that fail to do anything but justify the continuous shooting and blowing things up…
The graphics, sound, and controls are great but nothing ground-breaking. The addition of the ‘FORGE’ feature adds a lot of potential but it’s a bit tedious for my tastes. The real gem is the multiplayer, which really shines when you have a group of friends to team up with.
On the merits of its multiplayer I have to give this game 5 stars instead of the 3 or 4 it’d otherwise get. This is Halo for Xbox 360 — it’s the standard by which all other console FPS titles will be judged for a long time (with GoW and CoD series serving as the casual / hardcore flavors of Halo’s middlin’ stance).
5 Stars Halo 3, an unbelievable experience!
I actually bought this as a replacement for my original copy and was ecstatic to receive this in the mail (I actually was, weird huh?). For those of you who have never heard of the best FPS (First person shooter) game ever created to the XBOX 360 console, the graphics are amazing compared to the first two games and this game has many additional objectives other than just beating the game. Finding things like skulls (to unlock special armor) dramatically increase the games replay value.
One of the best abilities of this game that made it worth buying twice for me is my online multiplayer addiction. People of all skill levels play together, sometimes based on skill, sometime not (players choice), I made friends online and invited my personal friends to join as well,
this game is an easy A+++!
5 Stars Accept it
Some people might say that Halo 3 is the same as halo 2 and 1. While it might be based around the same story line, the graphics are pleasant, and gameplay is enjoyable. It has high replay value IMO, something very few games have nowadays. It may not be original, but it doesn’t have to be whenn it is this successful.
5 Stars halo3
this game is sweet.So mutch to do.Its kinda bloodey wich is cool.I like it so much.
the wepons are new and specail compared to some shooters.
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Xbox 360 Black Play and Charge Kit
Complete with a charging cable and rechargeable battery pack, the Xbox 360 Play and Charge Kit is all you need to juice up your Xbox 360 Wireless Controller?even in the midst of battle.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Excellent!
First off, it’s wonderful to not have to change batteries out. Second, you can plug the usb cable into a computer and have it charge from there. So if you have your laptop near by, plug in the USB end to it, let it become “recognized” and poof - you’re charging without being limited by the cord.
I love my rechargeable pack. I’ll buy one for every controller I get.
5 Stars Works!
This thing saves a lot of money on batteries, and it works with my white controller.
5 Stars Excellent!
This was one of my best purchases for the 360 to date. You will save SO much $$ on batteries by using the play and charge kit..
4 Stars ok/ bt not great
you’d rather buy an electric charger but this is not bad, if you really need it.
2 Stars Beware: Some play and charge kits have problems actually charging the batteries
I bought my play and charge kit when I first bought the system. It worked wonderfully the first few times. You plug it in when you are playing and it will slowly charge the battery. However, after not playing for awhile, when I went to charge up the battery it wouldn’t charge anymore. The controller was definitely connected to the 360 as I could play the games while connected.
However, the battery light indicator on the controller would glow red, to indicate it was charging, for about five minutes. Then it would turn green to signify that it charged the battery completely. I thought that perhaps it was charging, despite the light not being red, but that was not so.
I kept it plugged to the 360 while playing for a couple of hours, and then tried playing wirelessly. 5 minutes later, the controller died.
Ultimately, I think it is more of a problem with the batteries than the cord itself. I bought an extra battery to go with my white controller and it suffered the same problems.
I seem to be one of the few that have had this problem, and they are not too expensive, but be warned that this problem does occur.
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Wii Charge Station
Nyko’s Charge Station for Wii is a great wayto save money on batteries. This dock features twin rechargeable battery packs for the Wii Remote — just connect the Wii Remotes and let them sit until you’re ready to play. Charges two Wiimotes at once.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars More Fun, More time to play
Tanks for this product.
This stuf add more fun to my wii moments and recharge the bateries fast.
I like it.
Thanks
5 Stars Great Hardware Addition.
I’ve had this for a couple of weeks now and so far so good. The only noticeable problem I can think of, is the Wii remote strap cord getting in the way when placing the Wii remote in the charger, but this alone does no justify giving this charging station a low score. It works. It simply works. You’ll be replacing the original Wii battery covers for the ones supplied with the charger. Reason being, the covers that come with this unit have an opening for the rechargeable battery contacts.
Another thing you should know. As somebody here already mentioned, the Wii remote jacket does not fit in this charger. And quite honestly and logically, it is expected. I don’t think any charger out there is wide enough to accomodate the Wii remote plastic jacket.
All in all. This unit is great. It works as described. My Wii remotes are always ready to go.
4 Stars Great Concept, One minor flaw
BEST: Overall fantastic concept, idea and product. It does exactly what it says. The concept of a light beam recharging a battery? WOW! It’s perfect, genius in that regard.
ISSUE: However the only thing is, when placed in the charging station, this beam won’t truly penetrate the clear jacket skins of the remote controllers. No matter how you try to finagle them on there.
SOLUTION: You have to use a freehand paper center punch or scissor cut a hole around the exacting area where the sensor is on the skin in order to make this unit work in charging the battery.
Either way, I highly recommend this battery charging product as a must have for all Wii fans!
2 Stars Killed my Wii Remote!
I bought this about a year ago and it has suddenly killed my Wii Remote! I tried to sync it, but the lights will not turn on no matter what I do. I called Nintendo to complain, and they told me they received a lot of problems just like this with this specific charger! When I bought it, I knew it wasn’t approved by Nintendo, but I never thought this would happen! Now I have to see if the store I bought the remote from will return it past warranty. Does anyone know if there is an approved charger? The Wii Charge Station by Nyko- great while it doesn’t kill your remote.
5 Stars great
This product definatly saved me $ on batteries.i have 3kids +neighbors kids. it was crazy.
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Xbox 360 Pro Holiday Bundle 2008 Includes 60GB Hard Drive
Microsoft Xbox 360 Pro System Xbox 360 60GB Holiday Bundle includes Lego Indiana Jones and Kung Fu Panda
User Ratings and Reviews
2 Stars It will destroy your disks if you are not careful
I have owned portable CD-ROM players, laptops with DVD players built in, and gaming machines. I have **never** had a disk scratched by one of these players. The Xbox destroyed the first two disks we put into it because we touched the console while it was playing. (I was responsible for the first ruined disk. My sons were mad at me. Ten minutes later one of them ruined a disk!) We’ve had a gamecube and a Wii and never a problem.
The game store clerks are familiar with this and told us that the only hope is to find a store that does professional disk refinishing (he said the scratch filler they sell won’t do the job). The game manufacturers will not swap out a scratched disk.
Leave it to Microsoft. Build a nice gaming console that also destroys your disks. A web search verifies that this has been a problem for over a year and that Microsoft does not consider it a defect.
You’ve been warned.
4 Stars The Best Console
This is the best thing I have bought in a long time. It has the largest collection of games, and the best online community. The only complaint I have is that one week after I bought the holiday bundle from amazon[..]
2 games that came with the bundle are
1) Fungu fu panda (this a gane is a good stress buster)
2) Lego Indiana Jone (I played it once and never opened it again).
5 Stars FREE Xbox 360 Elite or $450.00!!!
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5 Stars No heat issues, more storage, and free games!
Ok so unless you’re a young child, Kung Fu Panda may not appeal to you. I haven’t played it yet but am keeping it for my young niece and nephew. But I do believe the Lego game can be enjoyed by all ages. The Lego Star Wars game was very fun and a clever way to reproduce a movie with some extra latitude.
I had a 20GB 360 about a year ago. That thing would overheat (but not die) unless I had it in a vertical position, angled just right so most of the bottom was unsupported. I didn’t have HD at the time and wasn’t finding a lot of games that I like so I sold it. But now that I have a big screen HD, and many games have come out, I bought this holiday set. I probably would have bought the Lego game by itself so this was a treat.
I almost bought the Arcade version but knew that I’d need a hard drive for game demos and saves.
The two games are in the same case and I almost thought they weren’t in the box! The game case is stored on the inside of one of the walls of box. I seriously thought I got shorted the games until I finally ripped the box apart more.
All in all this was a great purchase. I have the unit horizontal on a table with no heat issues at all. The power supply is orange/amber when not in use, which I thought meant something was wrong, but it just means standby.
If you’re in the market for a new 360 you’d be almost nuts to pass this bundle up - much better than last years. The Marvel game had last-gen graphics and the racing game was forgettable. I can’t wait to play Lego Indiana Jones!
3 Stars PS3/XBOX360 Objective Comparison
Reliability:
I own a video game store. One of the services that we provide is various repairs on most game consoles. In the last year, I have performed around 60 individual XBOX 360 repairs compared to 0 (zero) PS3 repairs. PS3 Wins Hands Down
Compatability:
The 60GB version of the PS3 is FULLY backwards compatible with PS2 and most PS 1 games. The new 80GB version has some limited backwards compatability. The 40GB version has no backwards compatability. All versions of the 360 (Arcade, Pro and Elite) have the same limited backwards compatability. At least PS3 has a version that is fully backwards compatable. PS3 WINS
Value:
The new 80GB version of the PS3 retails for $399.00. This includes an 80GB hard drive (obviously), built in Bluetooth, and built in WIFI. Oh and lets not forget that the DVD player in the PS3 will play all of your regular AND Blu-Ray DVDs. The lowest cost 360 is the Arcade version that retails for around $199. This version does not come with a hard drive which will cost you around $100 for 60GB, nor does it have built in WIFI. The WIFI adapter retails for around $100 also. So for $399 you essentially get 20GB less storage…oh and NO BLU RAY!!! PS3 WINS
Game Selection:
Let’s say that most games nowadays are released on both PS3 and 360, but there are some titles that are exclusive to each. Some of the hotest exclusive titles are:
PS3 - Metal Gear Solid, SOCOM, Little Big Planet, Resistance 2
360 - Fable II, Gears of War 2 and of course Halo 3
Overall, since the 360 has been around for a few more years, there are more titles available, but some of the most popular like BioShock have been ported over now to the PS3…most of the others will follow suit (except Halo which will probably always be a 360 only title). 360 WINS (but not for very much longer)
So of the 3 main decision points as to which console to purchase. PS3 scored 3 out of 4 to the 360’s score of 1 out of 4.
Let me also say that I make more money selling the 360 because of all of the periphery that you have to buy along with it (more margin in accessories) so I hope people continue to go in that direction. However, when viewed objectively, the PS3 is clearly the way to go.
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Wii Music
When it comes to music and rhythm games, Wii Music stands in a class of its own. Unlike other music games, which penalize players if they don’t play perfectly, Wii Music is a musical playground where there are no mistakes. Here anyone can pick up and master the huge array of instruments available, through simple motions like strumming and drumming. Musicians in your band jam by simply playing their instruments to the beat of a song or by improvising to their heart’s content. Play faster. Play slower. Skip a beat, or throw in 10 more. No matter what you do, Wii Music automatically transforms your improv stylings into great music.
Your music, your way |
Simple pickup and playability.
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Easy controls and learning curve.
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Huge array of diverse instruments.
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Make music by yourself.
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Or with up to 3 friends.
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Gameplay: Getting Your Band Together
In Wii Music every band has six members: Two play the main melody, two cover the percussion beats, one covers the bass groove and one uses the song’s chords to support the melody. As a band, the six members often play their special parts at the same time, though each player can jam however and whenever he or she wants. Play all at once. Take turns in the spotlight. Pair up in creative ways throughout the song. You can bring the band to life by yourself, playing one part at a time-or with up to four players. See game mode below:
- Solo Play: When you play by yourself, you can add one part at a time to arrange the whole song exactly how you want. The Tutes are on hand to back up your band in any parts you need filled.
- Multiplayer: When in a band with friends, up to four people can be band members.
- Wii Friends: Using WiiConnect24, you can send your jam videos to Wii Friends who own Wii Music. They can then watch your performance, modify it to their liking and send their jam videos back to you.
Tutes: Your Own Private Back-up Band
When not playing with friends, you can invite jam masters known as Tutes to play with you. They’ll join a session playing an instrument that each thinks is strong for a specific song. You can simply enjoy the musical camaraderie, or pick up instrument tips by watching them jam. If you choose to watch, the Tutes will show you lots of techniques for many of these instruments, then ask you to follow their examples. They’ll start with the simplest techniques, then as you master each one, show you even more nuanced ones.
Key Game Features:
- Easy to Play Improv Jams - All members of your band jam by simply playing their instruments to the beat of a song or by improvising to their heart’s content. Play faster. Play slower. Skip a beat, or throw in 10 more. Wii Music challenges you to transform your improv stylings into great music. There are no mistakes and no game scores-just playing for the pure joy of playing.
- Wii Controls Immerse You in the Music - You can play most of the 60-plus instruments in Wii Music using simple motions with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers. Strum to play guitar, banjo and sitar. Drum to play jazz drums, congas and snare drums. Hammer away to play piano, vibraphone and marimba. Unlike most music games, Wii Music doesn’t make you use many complex buttons. You only need to imitate playing the instrument.
- Virtually Endless Ways to Make Music - You choose the song and instruments and decide whether to blaze through a rock take on classical songs, put a jazzy spin on folk tunes or transform Nintendo classics like the Super Mario Bros. theme into Latin-flavored numbers. The song list is only a takeoff point-it’s how you improvise with the songs that matters.
- Share Your Band Jams With Friends - They’ll see your Mii band members, your players’ improv styles and your instrument selections. They can watch your recordings, or play over parts of your song, then send their modified recording back to you. So you can send improv jams back and forth over WiiConnect24, changing them again and again.
60+ Instruments
You can play most of the 60-plus instruments in Wii Music using simple motions with the Wii Remote and Nunchuk controllers. Strum to play guitar, banjo and sitar. Drum to play jazz drums, congas and marching drums. Hammer away to play piano, vibraphone and marimba. Unlike most music games, Wii Music doesn’t make you use complex buttons. You only need to imitate playing the instrument. Wii Music offers virtually endless ways to make music.
Fun Beyond the Jam Designed with classic Wii gameplay in mind,
Wii Music includes many other modes and play options besides the main band jams, including several musical games and an enhanced video playback mode for recorded jams.
- Videos Mode: Watch your jam videos in an enhanced playback mode that brings your jams to life with fun environmental effects and dramatic camera angles.
- Mii Maestro: By waving the Wii Remote like a conductor’s baton in this mini-game, you’ll lead a Mii orchestra through orchestrated songs, such as The Legend of Zelda theme. Make them play quickly, slowly, strongly or gently-the orchestra is at your command.
- Handbell Harmony: In this musical mini-game, you’ll play in a handbell ensemble by swinging your Wii Remote and Nunchuk. Everyone on the team has a job to do: play one of your notes only when the tune demands it.
- Pitch Perfect: How good is your musical ear? In this whimsical musical quiz, you’ll have to solve challenges, like putting note-playing Miis in order from lowest to highest pitch.
- Drum Mode: In the one mode that uses the Wii Balance Board accessory (sold with Wii Fit), you can feel what it’s like to play a real-life drum set. You’ll use the Wii Remote and Nunchuk as drumsticks, and place both feet on the Wii Balance Board-which work as virtual pedals for the bass drum and hi-hat cymbal.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars A Wonderful Masterpiece - A Challenge if You’re Up for it!
People seem to have trouble figuring out this game, so here’s how I learned how to play this game:
- Paid attention the intro, there’s a lot said, but it’s all helpful!
- Jammed a little to have fun (it sounded horrible! But so much fun)
- Took the Music Style lessons and figured out some basic music theory
- Took the expanded Style lessons and figured out how to really own a song
- Jammed some more for fun, sounded better!
- Practiced with each instrument; there’s so much complexity and finesse to learn! Each instrument has its own feel, I had to figure out how to get in the groove
- Jammed some more, but now armed with knowledge - I could make good music!
Now I pick a song, think of some cool phrasings I’d like to try, then play with it, re-recording each take until I have a sound I like. Then I think of some instruments that might go along with it, and re-record Those until I like what I’m feelin’.
As I add parts to a song, maybe I’ll think of a way to replay another part, maybe some interaction with the Harmony, or a fun once-in-a-while sound. Repeat!
After a bit of work and a lot of fun, I have a take I’m proud of. Record it, send it to a friend or post it on YouTube, and talk to other fans about it!
I love this game so much! I admit that it’s hard and takes work to gain some skill, but it’s so much fun to do and I find it very rewarding.
5 Stars Great addition to the Wii family
I bought Wii Music for my son’s 6th birthday and he loves it. He is really into music so it was a natural choice for him. He and his brothers (7 and 10) are equally enthralled with it. It is easy to use and lots of fun.
4 Stars Wii Music : Guitar Hero :: Mario : Pinball
A big mistake being made in nearly every review is people likening Wii Music to Guitar Hero. It’s like comparing Mario to Pinball.
Music games generally fit into three categories:
- Rhythm (you copy exactly what you see on the screen)
examples: Simon Says, Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution
- Free Form (emphasis is on music rather than gameplay)
examples: Electroplankton, Traxxpad, Fluid
- Hybrid (a combination between a non-music genre, such as an RPG, and a music game)
exmaples : Rez, Ragnarawk
It’s hard to pin Wii Music down, but it best fits into the Free Form category. The comparisons to Guitar Hero are silly, as Wii Music is not a “simon says” type game. When reviewers compare the two, they’re just stating their preference for one genre over another, which is rather useless.
One example of people’s silliness comparing the two are the complaints about the track list. Track lists are important to Rhythm games, not so much Free Form games.
Much like beginner piano lessons where you’re first taught “Chopsticks” or “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” (not Stevie Ray Vaughn) Wii Music’s track list has songs that ease you into the creation of music, which is the main point of a free-form music game, as well as more advanced Classical tracks. They are not for listening to as much as they are templates for your own creations.
As a Free Form music game, Wii Music is strange. While it doesn’t allow you total freedom of pitch and tone (which most do), it still allows enough wiggle room to create your own songs. For example, playing only the 8th notes in a given song - such as Jingle Bell Rock - will sound nothing like Christmas. Or you can stick to the established notes and remove entire sections, or play certain parts quietly, or just cut loose with the Wiimote and make noise.
Still though, you are limited in what you can do, as Wii Music doesn’t allow total musical freedom. The tradeoff in losing that freedom is that it lets non-musicians create music with relative ease. I want to emphasize “relative”, because making music is still difficult; it takes thought, planning and some basic knowledge of music theory. Wii Music wisely teaches players the basics of music theory over many lessons, though some painfully last 30+ minutes, and I wish they’d use real music terminology rather than dumbed-down terms.
The last song I made took two hours to get to the point where I was happy with it. Those two hours were spent experimenting with different instruments, rhythms, and melodies - all of which were enjoyable. It was also spent dealing with occasionally inaccurate controls, frustrations with certain notes I couldn’t change, and some bad sounding midi instruments - all of which were not enjoyable.
Collaboration is fun, so long as you’re both in the same mood (creative or silly). I’ve jammed with friends sitting on the couch at the same time, as well as people online where we take turns adding pieces to the composition.
Wii Music has the ability to save and share your creations, something I wish other free-form games would focus on, but the sharing features still come up short to youtube, which has become the premiere place for users to show off completed works.
Wii Music is also full of mini-games, including ones that focus on volume, theory, memory and yes - rhythm. You can compare the little bell game to Guitar Hero all you want 
However, these are mostly distractions compared to the real meat - the free form “jam” mode.
Wii Music, even for a free-form music game, is strange, brilliant and sometimes frustrating. It’s sad that its been shoved into the middle of the silly “hardcore vs casual” game war, released at the same time as popular rhythm games (increasing the amount of useless comparisons) and is often judged by reviewers with an established belief of what a music game can and can’t be. In the end it’s one of Nintendo’s most ambitious and insane games ever made, and if you have some untapped creativity lying around, it’s worth a buy.
3 Stars 90% good
I think this game is really fun especially if you have more then one person playing. However if your into how technical guitar hero is and your looking for something precise this is not your game. If you want some silly fun and can make songs sillier by dressing like a puppy and barking the melody then this is for you. the only complaints i have is its hard to be exact with the controls so if your actualy wanting something to sound good its gonna be hard to do, and its hard to unlike more songs after the first 7 or so. But everytime im feeling silly its loads of fun
3 Stars Not bad, but geared mostly to the younger ones
I’ll get about anything Nintendo makes, so I got this. It’s not bad. I love the idea of playing the Super Mario theme with over 50 instruments - that’s actually my favorite part of the game. The problem is that it feels a bit rushed, and some of the instruments are a bit too similar. All in all, I’m happy I made the purchase, but If you’re looking for a more in-depth music game, go for something like Guitar Hero 3.
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Resistance 2
In the highly anticipated sequel to the best-selling Sony PlayStation 3 game, Resistance 2 is an alternate-history, first-person shooter that puts you in the heroic role of Sgt. Nathan Hale as he struggles against overwhelming odds to defend humankind from an insurmountable Chimera.
Resistance 2 puts you in the heroic role of Sgt. Nathan Hale. View larger. |
This sequel introduces several new Chimeran enemies with a host of new powers. View larger. |
Resistance 2 takes up right where Resistance: Fall of Man left off. Hale is kidnapped by a black ops group in London and forced to Iceland for research testing. The full scope of what happens in Iceland is a mystery, but the game reveals that as Hale wrestles with the insidious Chimera war machine, he must also battle the virus raging inside his body that threatens to transform him into the very creature he fights against.
The Return of the Chimera
The Chimera are the main enemies of the Resistance franchise. For those new to the story, it is believed that the Chimera are of extraterrestrial origin. Yet, it is known that their army expands by infecting humans with a virus that transforms humans into Chimera while inside a cocoon. These creatures are much stronger than humans, and they usually have multiple yellow eyes. They have remarkable healing abilities and thrive in very cold temperatures, which has led them to alter the Earth’s climate to a much lower temperature that better suits their habitat requirements.
Resistance 2 introduces several new Chimeran enemies with a host of new powers. A few new characters include the Chameleon, a creature that can cloak itself completely and kill a player in one, destructive blow, and the Grim, which are a terrifying species that attack in hordes.
The Battle Moves to the United States
After the brief opening scenes in London and then Iceland, game play jumps ahead two years and across the globe to San Francisco. Giant, mile-long motherships slowly cruise through the skies, demolishing the city with fiery beams. The city is burned and mangled, and it appears that there will be little to no survivors. As the battle continues across the United States, you’re sure to encounter many new, deranged, and much more powerful enemies.
In Chicago, you’ll be joined by a squad of soldiers, all carrying different weapons. To survive and move through the level, you’ll need to work together, moving from cover to cover, setting up your squad in a smart and defensive manner. These are just a few examples of the challenging levels you’ll encounter as you battle your way across the country to save humankind. And if you’re hoping for new weapons, Resistance 2 won’t leave you disappointed. The US-based campaign is loaded with tons of new weapons to enhance the overall game play and first-person shooter experience.
Online game play Goes BIG
Powered by Insomniac Games’ third-generation PlayStation 3 technology, Resistance 2 delivers several console gaming breakthroughs. Most impressive are the stand-alone, class-based, online co-operative campaign mode that can accommodate up to eight players, and the mind-blowing, 60-player, squad-based online competitive multiplayer battle fest. This unprecedented 60-player option could revolutionize online multiplayer game play and is sure to provide countless hours of action-packed fun.
Resistance 2, set in the United States, is loaded with new weapons, enemies, and an unprecedented online gaming experience.
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars Short-term intensity rush misses greatness
When I first played this game I thought this was the best game ever made. Well, it does have some amazing and intense very satisfying gameplay. The graphics and color are top-notch along with the great sound. I would catch myself enjoying dying and getting back out there and fighting. Some creative monsters to fight and very fun to kill with some challenging AI along with some amazing looking environments. Well, it just seems to stop there. If that is what you really like, this game will do it for you. But, it just doesn’t last or do anything different. I’m speaking of the one player campaign and the online is fun and I may do that some more, but this game could have been so much more and it could have achieved that legendary status if they would have added some different stuff like vehicles and maybe some flying battles. I’m certainly no developer, but it seems like this is only 3/4 or even less of a game. If I can beat it in the short time I did on medium difficulty, it is too short. I’m of the Atari 2600 generation and usually take forever to beat a game. Not this one. Well, it was an incredible rush for a bit, so I’ll be VERY kind and give it a 4 star rating for fun and 3 stars for overall, but they probably deserve 2.5 for the kind of talent and creativity these developers really have.
1 Star Nothing compare with Resistance 1!!
If you have play Resistance 1 and you liked that style, pls do not buy Resistance 2. It is not nothing comparable. This is like Spiderman game in war!!! I lost my money!!
2 Stars Huge fan!! But?
I feel the game is disapointing in alot of ways like, no vehicles to drive, machines to run or tanks to blow stuff up with! I feel this makes the game incomplete seeing the first game had them. My appriciation for the game is there and I would buy it even if it was really really bad. But this game takes place in the U.S. and should take advantage of some of the classic weapons and vehicles of that time and location. The game has no health vials which I feel adds greatly to the excitement of the game not to mention the loss of most of the weapons and the ability to change between “all” the weapons in the arsinal. The graffics are great but I would gladly trade that for all the losses listed above. Next, the invisible creatures in the new game kill you with one strike not allowing a person to battle the monster and find it’s weaknesses which is the same complaint I have for the creatures in the water. Last, the flat coloring drab background made the the first game what it is today not to mention with all the losses listed above. I feel cheeted because the game was made in haste quality of game play has suffered. I agree the new game should not be exactly the same as the original but i am sure the developers will see and hear everyones concernes and adress them in the next game!
5 Stars WAY BETTER THAN THE FIRST ONE, GREAT GAME
The first game was great on its own right for a launch title, but this one expands on almost everything. The game is pretty massive on fun, and the value you get is pretty good. First the graphics are great, very good and detailed and the water effects are the best I have seen yet, but the explosions in this game are terrible and the same as in resistance fall of man. That is no big deal though since the graphics are still great. The story is engaging but this might be a sort of a spoiler(WARNING) the ending is shocking and I disliked it. The boss fights in this game are massive but in my opinion they are too easy and way too short. The story mode alone is like 11 hours long and its pretty good and I can’t wait till resistance 3(if it comes out ). Unlike the first game the coop is different and has its own missions you can play with a friend split screen or you can play online with up to 8 people. I love how every time you enter coop its always a different mission(I have never gotten the same mission twice) and they last about 30 minutes. The 60 player competitive mode is massive and very addicting and the battlefield gets frantic. I would highly recommend this game and I have to say its better than what I expected(except for some boss fights which are incredibly short and easy)
5 Stars Spectacular, a must-own for every PS3 owner
When Resistance: Fall of Man was released at the launch of the PS3, it quickly became the best game you could get for Sony’s maligned system, and showed what the console could be capable of. Fast forward two years later, and Sony and Insomniac return with Resistance 2; a sequel that blows the original game out of the water in nearly every aspect, and is an absolute must-own for every PS3 owner. Picking up where Fall of Man left off, Resistance 2 puts you in the shoes of soldier Nathan Hale as humanity’s against the Chimera continues not to bode too well. The first thing you’ll notice about Resistance 2, besides the gorgeous graphics and visuals, is that everything is just plain bigger. From the environments, to the weapons, to the battles; everything about Resistance 2 just screams epic. The single-player campaign boasts some impressive AI and tough boss battles, but the real meat and potatoes of Resistance 2 is the game’s eight-player co-op mode, which is just a blast to play through. Combined with the fact that the online multiplayer modes are lag-free this time around, and Resistance 2 is a superior shooter sequel in every sense. All in all, along with Little Big Planet, Resistance 2 shows that the PS3 does have excellent, exclusive titles that are the definition of “killer app”, and it goes without saying that if you own a PS3, you need to own Resistance 2 as well.
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Wii Play with Wii Remote
Wii Play collects nine quick and addictive games that are easy to pick up and play and hard to put away. With the intuitive controls of the Wii Remote, even the most inexperienced gamers will have no trouble mastering the controls. Every game features a multiplayer mode, so you and your friends can compete for the high score or go head to head to see who’s the best. Wii Play comes with a white Wii Remote, so your friends can join in the action. Games include:
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars Best (and last) Really Good Deal
The games that come bundled with the remote are fun and really help with your control of the remote. That aside, the fact that the game comes bundled with a remote for just $10 more makes it the best deal I have seen for ANYTHING with the Wii.
3 Stars It’s Okay!
I will say this, the game is worth purchasing to get the other controller for about $10.00. Other than that, the games are Okay! I’m sure the games are great for small children, but for us old grown-ups, the games are quite boring! I like these games better than the ones on Game Party, but cannot say too much more! Again, for the controller and to have another game for your Wii, just in case young children come to your house, it’s worth the purchase.
4 Stars Wii Play
The truth is its fun. The only bad thing is you can only play with 2 people, I mean come on its suppose to be a party game.
5 Stars fun way to exercise
It is a fun way to exercise. It is not often than one can combine exercise with a video game but this does both quite well.
1 Star Better to just buy the remote…
These games are okay for small children, but older kids and adults are not likely to play these more than once or twice. These games do not have the challenge and appeal of other Wii games. I bought Wii Play because I wanted the extra remote and thought it made sense to get Wii Play for only $10. If I had it to do over again, I would purchase the remote separately and use the $10 I saved to buy Wii Fit or one of the other great Wii games.
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