If You've Got The Poke Balls

Ah yes, the pokemon game series. I've always liked the pokemon games because they're fun and the first video games I've ever played. They also gave me my first doce of what I like to call "Gamer's Frustration". I made a good bit of progress and turned it off only to realise that I forgot to save it. I proceeded to moan and groan only to turn it back on and find out that I actually did save it. My feeling of annoyance quickly turned into embarrassment. And Then I got to the boss battles where you oh so close and then the coward uses a health potion and you pretty much have to do the battle all over again. And of course pokemon always did feel sort of like an RPG. First off, there's a ton of grind. What grind you ask? Well just look around you. You run around training your group of monsters to be the biggest baddies around so you can senselessly beat everybody and there brother. And once you've beaten them you get money so you can buy more poke balls so you can catch more pokemon so you can have a bigger, badder team so you can beat more people. It just goes in that circle until you beat the game and decide to restart it. Second, the fact that the whole point of an RPG is to play as something that you're not. I'm pretty sure that none of us here is an actual pokemon trainer. The series started off in the Kanto with Red, Blue and Yellow. Then Johto was introduced with Gold, Silver and Crystal. Hoenn came afterwards with Ruby, Saphire and Emerald. Then there was a remake of Kanto in Fire Red and Leaf Green. Then came the Mystery Dungeons Red and Blue. And finally came Diamond and Pearl with Synto (correct spelling? I dunno). I didn't really play in Synto or a Mystery Dungeon. I keep forgetting to get a Mystery Dungeon and there's no way I'm coughing up to get a DS just so I can enjoy two or three games. Which is also my reasoning behind not getting a Wii. But enough about that. As fun as the pokemon games have been with your controlling of cute and cuddly monsters of death, there's just something missing. I'd like to see the game from the perspective of the pokemon. Oh sure, Mystery Dungeon did that. But it was still basicly the same thing. You go around and train using turn-based combat. And if you want to sort of "capture" a fellow pokemon and have them fight along your side. The same concept, only you get to be a cute and cuddly monster of death. I'd like to see some good old fashion pitched combat brought about by mashing buttons (sorry to sound abrupt). And what's up with the thing about only being able to know four moves? Getting all the moves would me really nice, ya know? That would be an interesting game.

Well, thanks for reading. This is The Blade, signing off.

Pic of the Day for 11 December, 2007

That aboot sums it up right thar...


I'll be doing a pic of the day every day from now on.

Cheers,
~Toby

Hello, Jericho.

I recently heard one of my favorite game reviewers talk some serious trash about Clive Barker's Jericho, and I decided to try the demo just to see how much it sucked. So I entered this "horror" game expecting it to be terrible. By the way, thier attempts at scaring you just basicly turn into blood, blood and more blood. Just like every other horrer game and horrer movie these days. Seriously, the only time I found myself in the least bit scared was when I turned the corner, zoomed in and got a lovely view of the first enemy's uncovered buttox. I'd like to thank the Jericho game designers for this disturbing image that has kept me awake many-a-night. But enough about that. As much as I didn't want to like the game (1, I'm not a big fan of horrer games and 2, I heard it was bad) I actually found it sort of likable. I found myself having a little fun with these ugly zombies that wore knight's armor. Some had axes on thier left arm that acted as shields, some had dual blades and some had crossbows. They were definitely interesting foes. But thier AI only had the option of attacking head on. Seeing a little strategy would have been nice. Speaking of strategy your two friends seem to have the same set of options. Unless you give them orders, which they don't really follow that well in the heat of battle so ya have to give it to them before hand. Or else they're just gonna do what they want. I just tell them to hold and moved them on ahead through the level. Never a single time in the Demo did the camera leave the first-person view. Not even in the cutscenes. I thought this was kind of cool and not something that I've seen before in a game.


So overall It wasn't the best game I ever played and not the worst. At least give it a try ya know. Well, thanks for reading. This is The Blade, signing off.

*AnimeRaider has just joined your party!*

Hey, g4mr5! Toby here!

Big news: Anime website AnimeRaider.com has joined teh L33T n00b as a partner or "party member" (MMORPG joke). The partnership will first begin with Acs posting a review of Devil May Cry 4 for the XBox 360 (largely because AnimeRaider has the Devil May Cry anime availible to watch).

Also, we will be getting a Sub-forum on the AnimeRaider forums for the blog where you guys can post and ask questions. Who knows? Maybe we'll answer them in the blog!

On Friday, Acs and I will post the first teh_L33T_n00b podcat (was podcast, but I typed it wrong, and the name stuck). It will feature some background music and a commercial for the teh_L33t_n00b making of documentary: "A Day in Infinate Lives: teh_L33T_dcumntry"

Well, I have to go.

Cheers!

~TM

Recieving New Maps

Bungie has said that there will be no new updates during the week of Thanksgiving... They lied... A new update has shown up on bungie.net. It's all about the first map pack for Halo 3. It includes Standoff, Rat's Nest and Foundry.

Standoff... It reminds me an awful lot of Coagulation from Halo 2. It's got the same basic look. Now it has two massive satelites in the back ground. And from what I hear it has the same basic setup of one base on either side of the canyon, each complete with vehicles and a turret.

Rat's Nest... It looks very similar to the campaign level "Crow's Nest". And it will probably have similar combat style, close quarters that is. It also includes an open up area that contains a helipad complete with pelican.

Foundry... Not much to say for this map. The default version that is. This map has a massive amount of stuff you can do in Forge. From what I hear you can delete every thing that makes up the map and start from scratch. Not just the standard setup. Sounds like a lot of fun.

For more information go to http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12983

This is The Blade, signing off.

Insert Title Here

Hey everyone. The Blade here and guess what. I finaly got Halo 3 working right. I'd like to thank the XBox support line. They didn't help me fix the problem but they did point me in the right direction. I fixed it while on hold for the umpteenth time. And for some strange reason I feel the need to revise my review of Halo 3. I'm not going to start over completely. I'm just going to hit a few key points that I missed. I realize that everyone is too busy actually playing it to give care, but I'm basicly doing 'cause I feel like it. *Spiolers*

First off, let's get a few things straight. Halo 3 is not (nor is Halo 1 or 2) perfection. Honestly I'd give it an 8 out of 10. Mainly because "Boss Battle" was pathicly easy and extremly anticlimactic. Seriously, could anyone beat the boss of Halo 2 even if they were standing still? Absolutly not! The guys at bungie could have done WAY better with that. Like maybe actually getting to fight this Gravemind thing. Next issue is the AI. OK, yeah. Bungie did make the AI smarter. But only for the enemies that is. The marines are just as stupid as ever in this game. Need proof? If you do you obviosly haven't been paying atention to there behavior. They toss grenades just after you kill something,(that took out your shields by the way) and blowing you to bits. They drive you into walls while Wraiths are trying to blast you. They shoot at the Scarab when there's a Banshee or a Ghost on your tail just about to kill you. One good thing about them is there aim. Give the guy in the passenger of your vehicle a rocket launcher and you'll be in good shape in just about any spot (so long as you aviod those pesky walls).

Few things I'm a bit tired of. One: Complaints about the campaign being short. While it is kind of short I still think it's lots of fun as long as I avoid that one level crawling with flood literally everywhere. Two: People who say Half-Life is more original and there only explination for this is that the flood are just head crab rip-offs. Oh puh-frickin'-leaze! The whole idea of "Alien creatures take control of and mutate humans" had been done a hundred times over before Half-Life did it! Everything has! I'll admitt that it does earn originality points being able to play as mute (or so I've heard, never really played it). But I'd like to hear some other details of it other than "We did this first!". And Three: People who say the multiplayer of Halo 3 excuses the problems of the campaign. Wait a sec... I thought this game was "perfect". Does a "perfect" game need excuses? I should hope not. "Please excuse this piece of perfection for partially sucking." Doesn't make a lot of since if you ask me.

Well, I guess I'll see you later. And thanks for reading.

Teh tag of teh l33t

Hey. This is The Blade here. Toby has informed me that some people have been requesting my XBox Live Gamertag. Well, here ya go. My XBox Live gamertag is as follows: ACS Blaid. Got it? Good.

There ya have it, my XBox Live gamertag. This is The Blade, signing off.
And remember, there's always room on my friends list.

teh_733+_411-'733+'_6109_p05+

H3y, 3v3ry0n3! 7h!5 15 706y.
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About Time

Hey party peoples, I'm back! Did ya miss me?... Yeah I didn't think so... Anyways... Guess what I finally got around to doing? That's right! My Halo 3 review is here. Fairly worned, HUGE spoilers ahead. Do NOT read if you haven't played or beaten the game yet. Sorry it took me so long to do this. I wanted to get the full Halo 3 experience. What I mean by this is that some of the best features aren't working what so ever. I can not view my saved films, bring up my forged maps, play custom games that I make or download any of the above. I don't know what the problem is. But for some reason whenever I try there is this thing where the countdown is supposed to be that says that I am restricted from using player-created content. Sucks, doesn't it? $60 for the most anticipated game EVER and I'm stuck playing a watered down version. I could watch films in the Beta version. What's the deal? Is it the system? The disk? My XBox live gold acount? If anybody can help me I'd REALLY apreciate it. I've sent an E-mail to Bungie, but I can imagine there pretty tied up with E-mails right now.

Now then, on with the review. Let's start with the campaign. Now, I've heard a lot of complaints about the campaign. Lots of moaning and groaning that it's too short and there's too much back-tracking... So what? It's still really fun to play over and over agian. Plus if you do something that's just so awsome and will probably never happen agian you can watch it in saved films. You can even take a snapshot and put it in your file share to show off to your friends. And if you ask me I think the back-tracking adds a touch of realism to it. And it's not like you go back through with the same enimies with the same vehicles and the same weapons atacking you in the same spot. No. It's very different when you go back through. Now about the difficulties... Easy: WAY too easy. The only reason you want to bother with this dificulty is because it's how you get the ODST helmet for the spartans (more on helmets and armor later). Normal: Tougher than Easy but you should still have few problems. Beat it and you get the EVA armor for the spartans. I don't care what anybody says abou the helmet, I think it looks good. Heroic: Pretty tough. You might just want to go through on Normal and Easy just so you can use a little strategy in most situations. Beat it and you get the Flight armor for the elites. Legendary: O.M.G... This is just about IMPOSSIBLE! It takes like 30 tries just to get passed any given part. Either use some strategy or you fail miserably every single time. Beat it and you get the EOD armor for the spartans. There are 13 skulls hidden throughout the levels. They can be turned on in the campaign to make it tougher and more of a challenge. Also if you get them all you get the Hayabusa armor for the spartans. If you have no clue where to look, relax. Go to Youtube. Tutorials can be found there. How do you think I found them? Also hidden throughout the levels are 6 terminals that, when accessed in th right way, will get you the Marathon Man achivements. Tutorials on them can be found as well.

On to Multiplayer. It's just as fun as ever. However now we have some new toys to play with. The new weapons, equipment and vehicles are very fun. Also, the Magnum is a very decent weapon in my opinion. I've managed to kill men armed with Assault and Battle Rifles with it. Dual Magnums or and SMG on the side can be very deadly in the right hands. Plus since pretty much nobody usese it I get it all to my self most of the time. Kind of like the Hammerburst from Gears of War. I love all the new maps. But my favorites are definitly Sandtrap and Valhala. I just wish I could use my old strategy in Valhala. You know. The one I mentioned in my review of the Beta. Anyways, the game types are pretty fun. Although I hate one-sided VIP. It takes only 3 minutes because the VIP doesn't have an overshield and it's ALWAYS a tie unless one of the teams is lowsy. Not a huge fan of Shotty Snipers either. But I won't vetoe it. Every now and then I have some fun in it. Know what game I really want to play? Infection. I haven't gotten to play a single game of Infection yet. I don't know which category it's under. If some one could tell me that too I'd apreciate it as well. One more thing, Ninja ball is THE best kind of Odd ball game. Now I'm sure you all know by now that you can customize your spartan or elite by both color and armor variations. Even though the elites look nicer than ever I still have a spartan. And I change him around every now then. I don't use the Hayabusa helmet (I don't like my spartan looking like power ranger) or the EOD helmet (I just don't think it looks that good). I enjoy making different spartans. I think it's fun. Also, Bungie can keep thier Recon armor and thier Flaming Hayabusa helmet. I don't really want either of them. And just so you know, they aren't going to give it to you. So stop putting up screen shots of messages written in weapons begging them.

As awsome as Halo 3 is it's missing certain things. No, not guns on the Mongoose. That's what the passenger seat is for, stop complaining. I personally would like to set up some AI's in a multiplayer level. You know, a bot match. That way you could do some training or just go on a slaughter fest. Also I think the Pelican and Phantom would be awsome for Big Team Battle. Dual Energy Swords just because it would look cool. And something I would personally love, being able to pick up a Jackel Shield when you have a dual-wieldable weapon.

By the way, Master Chief does not die. Some people think he does, but he doesn't. After the credits you see inside of the half of the ship with the Chief and Cortana in it. He gets in a cryo-tube and she disapears into the system to send out a distress signal. Also, if you beat it on Legendary the ending is an extreme cliff hanger. You see the half of the ship floating towards something. All of the sudden a star can be seen of the horizon of this strange sphere. You can clearly see it now. It is a planet. A planet that appears to coverd in machinery of some kind. The music gets really dramatic. Could this be leading to yet another sequel???

Well, thanks for reading. Now if you'll excuse me I'ma go get some rank. This is The Blade signing off.

Bungie = Indie

Thanks to Undead Ed from The3Eds for this news:

KIRKLAND, Wash. — Oct. 5, 2007 — Bungie and Microsoft Corp. today announced a plan for Bungie Studios, the developers of Microsoft’s “Halo” franchise, to become a privately held independent company, Bungie, LLC, in which Microsoft will hold a minority equity interest. As part of this transaction, Bungie and Microsoft have forged a deep and long-term development and publishing relationship focused on the continued success of the “Halo” franchise. It is also the intent of both parties to expand their partnership to include new IP created and owned by Bungie.

Bungie’s critically acclaimed Xbox 360® exclusive “Halo 3” achieved $300 million in global sales in its first week. Released on Tuesday, Sept. 25, “Halo 3” is the fastest-selling video game ever and already one of the most successful entertainment properties in history.

“This exciting evolution of our relationship with Microsoft will enable us to expand both creatively and organizationally in our mission to create world-class games,” said Harold Ryan, studio head for Bungie. “We will continue to develop with our primary focus on Microsoft’s platforms; we greatly value our mutually prosperous relationship with our publisher, Microsoft Game Studios, and we look forward to continuing that affiliation through ‘Halo’ and beyond.”

“Working with Microsoft was great for us, it allowed us to grow as a team and make the ambitious, blockbuster games we all wanted to work on. And they will continue to be a great partner. But Bungie is like a shark. We have to keep moving to survive. We have to continually test ourselves, or we might as well be dolphins. Or manatees,” said Jason Jones, Bungie founder and partner.

Bungie’s management retained the services of Don Leeds, senior managing director of B-Hive Global, LLC, to assist in the structuring of the deal and negotiating on their behalf. Bungie will remain in Kirkland, Washington, and is always looking to hire excellent talent.

About Bungie

Bungie was founded in 1991 with two goals: to develop games that combine brilliant technology, beautiful art, intelligent stories and deep gameplay, and to sell enough of those games to achieve its real goal of total world domination. Over the past 10 years it has produced games such as the “Marathon” trilogy and the first two “Myth” games, hailed as classics by critics and gamers around the world. Bungie’s “Halo” franchise is an international award-winning action title that has grown into a global entertainment phenomenon, selling more than 18 million units worldwide, logging billions of hours of multiplayer action on Xbox LIVE®, and spawning action figures, books, graphic novels, soundtracks, apparel and more. The critically acclaimed “Halo 3”, released on Tuesday, Sept. 25th 2007, is the fastest-selling video game ever, achieving $300 million in global sales its first week, making it one of the most successful entertainment properties in history. More information on Bungie can be found at http://www.bungie.net.

False Alarm!

OK, everyone! Acs and I have agreed to put this behind us, so now he is back on team. Ashley will still be coming, but we have no idea when.

Anyway, Acs has already completed Halo 3 and will be posting a review tomorrow or sometime this weekend.

Also, I know have a Facebook now, which rox meh sox. I already have many friends via my Email and AIM Buddy Lists, so thats awsm. In fact, check out Erin Fitzgerald's profile picture:

Hehehe...classic...a pervvy Wookie. Han Solo comes in with a spray bottle and sprays Chewie with it "BAD CHEWY! BAD CHEWY! YOU DON'T TOUCH HAN'S FIANCE THERE....unless she's passed out, which then I'll join you" X^D X^D

Anyway, I decided each week I'll post a piece of GAMR FANART for your viewing pleasure. I have yet to discuss this with Acs, however. I'll ask him tomorrow at lunch.

Gotta go, sleeptime!

Hasta manana,

~Toby M.

PLAYER: Acs Blade - TERMINATED

**Breaking n00z** Acs Blade has been fired from teh_L33T_n00b for "being a complete dee-dee-dee". He had what I call "Spartan Rage" (anger that surfaces when playing Halo games, causing you to get tickeded off at anyone/anyone who interupts you or attempts to have a talk with you).

We are now looking for a suitable replacement (hopefully with a better temper). My choice, currently, is my friend Ashley, who may soon being posting as Nabooru.

Hasta La Bye-Bye

~Toby M.

The Time...is Now...

Well, the time's finally here! Halo 3 arrived on store shelves last night at 12:00. and promptly sold out 5 minutes later. Acs Blade will arrive later to give out a short review of his experiances so-far.

Also, the teh_L33T_n00b podcast will be here soon, and we are aiming for recording it this weekend. The podcast will have 4 versions: a full video version embedded on the site via YouTube, a Downloadable video version via Putfile, an embedded Audio-only video embedded on the site, and Downloadable version of the Audio one as well.

The n00b podcasts will run anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes on video, but substantially longer with Audio-only shows, which will begin as soon as Acs gets a mic.

Well, that's all for now.

TTYL

~Toby M.

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Hey, all. Toby Mobias here on teh_n00b. You may have noticed some stuff we have added to the site recently, namely the countdown to Halo 3. We have also added several new videos and clickamajigs, including a photocube. Tonight or tomorrow, I'll be adding an mp3 player to the site so you can listen to mine and Acs's favourite songs.

As you know, we now have Josh "Common Game" Asa from Las Vegas as a writer, and soon we'll have Ashley, aka Nabooru, writing for us. Acs and I know Nab personally (she goes to our high school and we eat lunch with her everyday).

In gaming news, I'm playing an online game called "Project: Rockstar" by a woman named "kerb" from England. The game is very simple: You are a manager who could possible lead an unknown band to superstardom. You create your own band, name it, and assign members, each having different qualities, including Charisma, Stamina, and, most importantly, Talent. I have 3 accounts on Rockstar: Billy Shears (The Lonely Hearts(Rock), Ty Poole (Children@Play(Ska), and Dyl Black (Nazz(Solo Pop). I reccomend you at least try P:R. It can get irritiating when your band members commit suicide (take in-game 'Holidays' when they become depressed), it's an otherwise fun game. When you get to a high enough level, you can start a record label. I'm only at about level 2, so I have a design studio to make custom album covers.

Well, goto go. It's dinner time. I'll ask Acs to come on tonight to post sum'thin'.

Hasta luego,


Toby Mobias

*Common Game has Entered the Blog*

Hey everyone, I am Common Game. Now, I'm a writer! Woo!

Anyway, to start on my review.

Game: WWE SmackDown vs Raw 2008

The game hasn't come out yet, but all I can say is that it looks pretty awesome already. It has a new way of gameplay and has a cool hardcore moveset, i.e. chair leg drops, flaming tables, and bashing weapons on the head. It's really antcipated and you should play the game. I guarantee, it will have you playing for hours.

Common Game, signing off.

Heeee's HEEEEERE!

Hey, TobyMoby here. First off, my good friend Josh "Rob Van Ed" from The3Eds will be joining us on the podcast. Remember, if you wanna be a member of teh_l33t_n00b, just email Acs or myself at our respective emails, or at our joined email at teh_l33t_n00b@yahoo.com.

Also, starting soon, Acs Blade and I will be hosting a podcast via TalkShoe. We'll have a call-in number (provided by TalkShoe) and you can join in the fun!

FYI, we may experiance a change in format here at teh n00b. We will still talk about video games, but try to add a bit more into our posts, such as technology, anime, manga, and blog-worthy news. We'll still be teh_l33t_n00bs, but the thing will be much more rounded.

For the first time in teh n00bs short history, we will be hosting a skinning contest. If you would like to design a skin for our blog, you can send it to us for us to review at the blog email address from above.

And now it is time for the YouTube video of the week!

This weeks video: "Super Mario Tesla Coils" by thegeekgroup.



Ra-stick'em-ha-ha-ha-stick'em,


Toby Mobias

User Error

As a guy that likes to play Halo 2, I like to play Halo 2 online. However... 90% of the games I play I get bad team mates and weird stuff happens. I toss a frag and it lands right next to the guy. Boom! His shields are still up. He tosses a frag, it lands 5 feet away from me. Boom! I go flying! W.T.F?! And you know the battle rifle? I was informed that 3 head shots would kill some one... It takes me 6-8! But then I turn around and get shot in the back with 2 battle rifle shots and I fall.over.dead! One time I picked up a shotgun (for those who don't know the shotgun kills someone at close range). Then I pick up enemy movement by the door. I walk over and when he comes in I blast him in the FACE! Still movin'. Then second blast followed by a third! He runs out the door. I toss a frag and he FINALLY dies. Again, W.T.F?! Stuff like that happens to mae all the time in Halo 2 online and I.AM.SICK OF IT!!! I'm gonna go ask someone at Bungie or somethin' 'cause it is REALLY annoying!

Thanks for listening.

Time to crackdown.

Time for something that's not Halo. Crackdown. The game Crackdown is similar in gameplay to the Grand Theft Auto games. Difference is, you're a cop. Did I mention that you get super human abilities? Through out the game you can upgrade your strength, agility, acuracy (guns), driving and explosives. How you ask. By killing gang members with these skills. Except agility. There are agility markers all over the city that you can get to upgrade your agility. Each time you level up a skill you do this shock wave thing that blows away anything near you. As you progress your skill levels you'll notice your armor and a overall appearence changes. The hardest skills to upgrade are driving and explosives (untill you get a grenade launcher). It's a fun game overall. But on the hardest setting it's frickin' hopeless. On medium you run out in the middle of a bunch of guys and kill 'em all no problem. But on hard you better run fast and take cover. The three gang bosses are tough just to get to. You have to fight your way through a ton of bad guys. Especially if you walk through the front door (which I highly recomend NOT doing). Unfotunately the final boss has no side or back door open. Only the front. In short the game is perfect if you like the following: guns, the ability to choose your character, jumpin' from rooftop to rooftop, cool cars, slaughterfests, challenges, explosions and the ability to smash the bad guys with a bus.

Thanks for reading. This is The Blade signing off.

As a follow up of my Halo 3 Beta review I'm gonna talk about the original Halo. (Warning: May contain spoilers if you haven't played it yet but intend to) First off, it was a fun game. Unlike most games, any weapon could be deadly (in the right hands). Even the Assault Rifle (as inacurate as it was) could be usefull. You just have to use it at close range. I thought the pistol in Halo was better than the pistol in Halo 2. It may not have been as fast but it was fast enough and more powerfull. I liked to use it and the shotgun in the flood-infested levels. The shotgun was reloaded a lot faster in Halo than in Halo 2. I didn't play it on multiplayer a lot so I couldn't memorize the maps like I did in Halo 2. The maps certainly looked like fun. Except a couple (one really big icy level that I thought was too big and a map filled with teleporters and hallways that was too dificult to navigate). I preferred the Banshee controls in Halo than in Halo 2. I just though they were better and it was easier to do ariel acrobatics at top speed. The controls of every other vehicle improved in Halo 2. There was one thing I didn't understand. How did Sgt. Johnson make it back? He was in Halo 2 and said something about it being classified. I geuss we'll never know. *Shrugs*

Well, thanks for reading. This is The Blade signing off.

MC = Master Chief

Okay... It's a bit late in the game to be writing a review for the Halo 3 Beta. But Toby asked me to so here it is.



First off... the graphics were awsome. The fact that they were gonna get better blew my mind. I personally think that all the maps were fun to play. Valhala, however, was my favorite. I had a strategy for that map that worked pretty well. More on that later. I liked all the weapons, but the spartan laser (Or as me and my XBox friend called it the spartan cannon) was a bit difficult to use. I found that the Assault Rifle and Battle Rifle made an excellent combination. The Carbine and Needler were more more powerfull (Especialy the Needler). The Assault Rifle was definitly better than it's original form in Halo. I think the SMG's were a bit more powerfull than in Halo 2. Now, about those new items... I think they added some much needed strategy to the game (Everyone else has abandoned strategy for a rocket launcher).

That brings me back to my strategy... In Valhala I'd arm myself fairly well, grab the Tripmine, hop on a Mongoose and drive over to the enemy base. Once thier I'd get off the Mongoose and plant the mine under the enemy Warthog so they couldn't use it. If they hopped in the mine would blow, and if they tried to blow it up themselves it would take out the hog. No matter what they did they were strandad. One time I got over there and the hog was missing. I was like , "Huh, it must not have spawned or something". The second I thought that... It came barreling 'round the corner straight for me. "Oh ****!" I quickly drove 'round a rock for cover then hopped off. They come around the rock shortly afterwerds. In desperation I tossed down the mine and ran to the other side of the rock. A few seconds later... nothing. "****! It didn't work! I better get my gun ready." All of the sudden BOOM! "Triple Kill!" It was fun while it lasted. But it was only temporary. I did notice one similarity in the Beta and Halo 2... I kept getting hooked up with bad team mates. The kind that blow up the Warthog YOU were gonna use just so the enemy can't have it. The kind that gets slaughtered even though they have snipers, turrets and the new missle pod. But what are ya gonna do about it? *Sigh*

Thanks for reading. This is The Blade waiting for Halo 3 to come out and signing off. See ya next time.

Hey guys. Toby here. As you are most likely aware, my friend the Blade will be contributing. When, exactly, is up to him.

Anyway, both the Blade and I started high school here in Georgia. I know, it's way to hot to be at school, especially taking P.E. in an un-airconditioned Gym. Me and the Blade have no classes together, so that kinda sucks. But we've been able to eat lunch together with some other friends who I hope will begin to contribute.




Just a friendly reminder, Halo 3 will be released in the USA on Sept. 25th! the Blade will soon be posting a review of the Halo 3 beta that came with Crackdown for the XBox 360.

Asta!
~Toby

Enter...the Blade

Hi. I am The Blade, a friend of Toby's. He was nice enough to let me join his blog so I can talk/rant about my favorite video games. Let's start off with a not so recent game that is still fun game to play. One of the first shooters I played, Star Wars Battlefront II.

are a bit better, but it's still pretty much the same game I left on the PS2. All around the game is pretty fun. I especially liked the ability to keep fighting even though you're carrying the flag. You certainly didn't get that ability in the Halo games. Conquest was my favorite game mode; it was the perfect combination of slayer and land grab. I liked to put as many soldiers in a game as possible and just run around with a blaster slaughtered and I'm the one I originally had this game for the PS2, but I got it for my 360 a little while ago. The graphicsshootin' it up. I didn't much care for the space combat. It got repetitive after a little bit and the computer soldiers seemed to be able to do advance movements I couldn't. Where's the fun in that? I'd rather go on a suicide mission to invade the ship myself. Also there was one big problem: No matter which side you chose, your allies were morons that couldn't keep a post for 5 minutes. I gotta run from one side of the field to the other the whole time just to keep an even amount of posts on each side. And along the way I gotta be like some kinda Rambo and kill like 500 guys so we don't lose. And when we go down the heat falls on ME! These idiots are jumpin infront of my gun, losin' posts, gettin' yelled at! *Sigh* It's still pretty fun to go around killin' tons of droids (like these so called elite clones are gonna help) on my favorite levels.

Well, thanks for listening. See ya next time.

the Bloggosphere has been PWN'd

Hey everyone. I'm Toby, the main writer of 'teh L33T n00b', my new gaming blog. If you'd like to write for 'tLn', email us at teh_l33t_n00b@yahoo.com.

Also, I would like to find someone with a good voice to to an audio/video podcast for teh L33T n00b. If you want to audition, plz use the email above.

Let's get to it:

From Variety.com:

20th Century Fox has acquired feature rights to the life simulation computer game "The SIMS" from Electronic Arts, and has set project up with Fox-based John Davis.

The five-year-old franchise is the best selling PC game in history, with worldwide sales topping 85 million, bringing in over $1.6 billion. Pic will be a live-action version.

Steve Asbell is overseeing the project for Fox with SIMS Studio head Rod Humble managing the creative property for Electronic Arts. Brian Lynch will script; story is under wraps with talent yet to be named.

"'The SIMS has done an interactive version of an old story, which is what it's like to have infinite power and how do you deal with it," said Humble. "Given that that's an old story, you can imagine how easily that would translate to traditional story telling."

Davis' most recent projects include "Norbit," "When A Stranger Calls," and "Eragon."

Lynch scripted and helmed upcoming "Big Helium Dog," and penned "Scary Movie 3," and is managed by Benderspink.

...

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel smarter reading this? It just seems stupid, especially seeing it live-action. What, will the audiance be able to control the actors with a joystick and keyboard emedded in the chair? WTF?

OK, well, that's all the news-worthy game stuff at the moment. Keeps it locked for more updates!

~Toby