Sure, Nintendo consoles get some M rated games time from time.  Nintendo 64 had games like Perfect Dark, Turok, and Conker’s Bad Fur Day.  GameCube had Resident Evil 4, Eternal Darkness, and Killer 7.  And Wii has Madworld, No More Heroes, and House of the Dead.  But you look at the piss poor sales for most of these games, minus the mediocre sales of Resident Evil 4, and you’ll see that most Nintendo fans are just zombies who keep moaning “Marioooo, Mariooooo, Marrioooooo” because they only want to keep playing Mario games and nothing else.  The Conduit, Madworld, and No More Heroes all sold terrible. Conker’s Bad Fur Day sold terrible on Nintendo 64.  Perfect Dark didn’t even sell that well on N64.  Killer 7 sold like garbage on the GameCube.  I know we are in a recession, and you can’t buy every good game on the market.  But instead of buying Super Mario Bros Wii, how about you act your age and get something more mature instead of trying to relive the days of owning an NES and SNES.  That’s all these Nintendo fans are doing.  They keep praying and hoping that Nintendo will create games that will make them love gaming again just like when they were 6 years old.

Well sorry kid.  You’re not 6 anymore.  Nintendo turning the Metroid series into a Halo wannabe isn’t impressing any adult gamers.  Your friends think you’re a loser for owning a stack of Mario games while they play Madden.  Majority of adult Nintendo gamers, and there aren’t many of them because not everyone is a loser, are usually big time nerds.  Adult Nintendo gamers like to flex their nerd muscles and memorize system specs of each of the competing consoles so they can argue over who is more powerful on message boards to make themselves feel smarter since everyone in real life thinks they’re dumbasses.

The Wii is the least powerful graphics wise.  It has the worst online gaming of the 3 consoles.  It has the least 3rd party support of all the systems. And it has the least hardcore first party software out of all of Nintendo’s consoles.  And the only reason adult Nintendo gamers hang on to their Wii’s is because of the virtual console.  The virtual console was put on the Wii because Nintendo knows their fans are a bunch of dorks who don’t want to act their age and only relive the past.  These dorks buy Zelda games every few years just because their clinging on to that branch of hope that it’ll be the next Ocarina of Time.  Instead of clinging onto Nintendo to help you relive your childhood, maybe you should go to a bar, cling on some breasts, and get laid.  I’m not talking about the women that most Nintendo fans date or marry.  Those women are ususally pretty ugly compared.  I’m saying, lose some weight, and get a girl with some double D breasts.

In the past year, tons of games have been released for the Nintendo DS and we’ve seen the introduction of the Nintendo DSi. Notable DS game releases this year include The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, Yu-Gi-Oh 5D’s Stardust Accelerator and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky, but let’s start the countdown and see what you’ll be buying this holiday season!

#10 – Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story

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Last year in 2008, Yu-Gi-Oh! World Championship 2008 came in at #10 on our Top 10 list. This year, even though Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s Stardust Accelerator was highly up for consideration, it unfortunately DID NOT make the Top 10 list this time around, mainly due to a very short single-player game mode.

This year, the 10th spot on the list goes to Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story. In this turn-based game based upon the Paper Mario series, players collect items and use Skill Points (SP) in order to be able to use different attacks in battle. Also, various badges can be worn to obtain bonuses such as HP-recovery and an increase of Attack Power. Bowser’s Inside Story doesn’t really have any multiplayer components, so its replayability is limited. However, the storyline of the game, as well as the RPG aspects of it, are more than enough to warrant its position on the list.

#9 – Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky

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Last year in 2008, Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals made it on the list at #9, but this year, it didn’t make the list at all.

Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky came in at #9, due to the amount of strategic play required in order to master it. In this 5th incarnation of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series, players have to once again travel throughout the land to different dungeons, where they will attempt to reach the dungeon master and defeat it in order to further the storyline. Like before, there are tons of items and attacks available for easing the player’s journey through the various dungeons. As far as multiplayer goes, the same applies as before, with your friends being able to revive you in a dungeon if you faint. Although the multiplayer part of this game isn’t as strong as we’d like it to be, it’s still good value for your money.

#8 – Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

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Last year in 2008, Custom Robo Arena made it on the list at #8. Since then, it has been bumped off the list entirely.

Holding on at #8 this year is a game that’s not necessarily advised for younger audiences. In the Grand Theft Auto series of games, you take control of a criminal or mobster, and you have to complete various missions in order to advance the main storyline. In general, the games are a mixture of action, adventure and role-playing. Although most players criticize that this series of games contain high amounts of violence and adult themes, the overall storylines are often well-thought-out by the developers. In Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, players can use the DS’ microphone and touch screen to perform various tasks, such as using their PDA and GPS, and even whistling for taxi cabs. It’s definitely a game suited towards older video game players, but it makes it on our list due to the amount of complexity the developers included.

#7 – Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days

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Last year in 2008, Mario Party DS came in at #7. However, it did not make the Top 10 list this year.

The Kingdom Hearts series makes its Top 10 debut this year with 358/2 Days coming in at #7 on the list. Much like in previous versions of the series, this game focuses on traversing through a plethora of Disney worlds, in which the player must progress through in order to advance the story. Battles with enemies are turn-based, but are very strategic, with players being able to customize their characters’ attacks, items, and magic spells to suit their liking. As Square Enix developed the game, you will notice a high similarity in the way battles are conducted, compared to the Final Fantasy series. Included in 358/2 Days are 3D action sequences showcasing the capability of the DS to play short movie clips, similar to those of the PSP. Of course, the graphics aren’t as top-notch as compared to the PSP, but they’re not lousy either by any means of the word. There are also both cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. With the amount of content included in this latest installment of the Kingdom Hearts series, you would be doing yourself a disfavor if you didn’t at least try out the game.

#6 – Metroid Prime Hunters

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Last year in 2008, Mario Kart DS dropped in at #6 on our Top 10 list. This year in 2009, Mario Kart DS has been bumped up a notch to #5.

Dropping in at #6 this time around is Metroid Prime Hunters, a game that was considered, but left out, of last year’s Top 10 Nintendo DS list. The Metroid Prime series has always been known for its amazing first-person shooter (FPS) capabilities, and this game stays true to the entire franchise. Even though it was released in 2006, it’s still one of the best FPS games available for the Nintendo DS, mainly due to its graphics, online multiplayer capability, and immersive storyline. Once again, players control Samus Aran as they attempt to defeat other bounty hunters and aid the Galactic Federation. There are a variety of different weapons, environments and missions in the game, so you won’t be disappointed with the amount of replayability in this title.

#5 – Mario Kart DS

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Last year in 2008, Kirby Super Star Ultra made it in at #5. This year, Kirby just couldn’t reach the Top 10.

Moving up a notch from #6 last year to #5 this year is Mario Kart DS, arguably one of the best racing games currently available to DS owners. Just like with Mario Kart Wii, players attempt to outrace their opponents on a variety of different racetracks, each equipped with their own quirks and hazards. Different items appear on each track that will either help the player or hinder their foe. You can also choose between a multitude of available characters and vehicles. Mario Kart DS is best known for its replayability with friends over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Even though it was released in 2005, it’s still one of the Top 10 Nintendo DS games as of 2009.

#4 – New Super Mario Bros.

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Last year in 2008, Pokémon Ranger: Shadows of Almia crept up to 4th position on the list. This year, it didn’t make the list at all.

It’s a blast from the past as New Super Mario Bros. makes its list debut at #4 this year. Following the typical storyline of Bowser capturing Peach, the player controls Mario through side-scrolling levels in an attempt to outwit his famous Koopa foe yet once again. In this classic remake of the original Mario games, Mario can break open blocks, collect coins, and use powerful items or stomping maneuvers to defeat his enemies. With a total of 80 levels available through 8 completely different worlds, the New Super Mario Bros. definitely comes in as a must-have single-player game for the Nintendo DS. There are also a variety of mini-games available for some unique multiplayer action.

#3 – Pokémon Platinum Version

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Last year in 2008, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift kicked off the Top 3 Nintendo DS games. This year, it just couldn’t keep up, and was left off the list.

It was the #1 game on our 2008 list, but has since slightly moved up to #3. That’s right. We’re talking about Pokémon Platinum Version, the latest installment in the Pokémon handheld series. After it made its debut in March of this year, Pokémon Platinum sold over 800,000 copies within the first 9 days of its release in the United States. Following the storyline of Diamond and Pearl, tech-savvy players who purchase Platinum will notice several in-game differences, such as updated graphics, a faster battle system, and an enhanced drawn-out storyline. The biggest noticeable differences come with the premiere of the Battle Frontier, the new Wi-Fi Plaza, and the VS. Recorder for keeping saved battle videos.

Aside from that, you’ll also enjoy the brand new Distortion World, which throws game physics right out the window. Pokémon Platinum also for the first time introduces the distribution of Key Items over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, where players can get exclusive items such as Oak’s Letter (for catching Shaymin), without actually having to go to Toys R’ Us to have it manually downloaded to their Pokémon game cartridge.

If you’re a fan of the Pokémon series, where you pit creatures against other creatures in turn-based battles in order to see whose battle strategy will win out in the end, then Pokémon Platinum is the game for you. And with great music, graphics and strategic value, that’s why it comes in at #3 on our Top 10 list of 2009!

#2 – The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

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Last year in 2008, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass was the 2nd best Nintendo DS game out on store shelves. This year, Phantom Hourglass amazingly retains its 2nd place spot on the list.

Although it came out 2 years ago in 2007, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass is still on our list, and it’s still in the same position as it was last year, at #2, beating Pokémon Platinum only slightly due to the creative use of the DS’ touch screen and microphone.

In this first exciting installment of the Zelda series for the Nintendo DS, you control Link as you traverse through various dungeons in order to save Princess Zelda, also known as Tetra. Link has access to a variety of different weapons and items in order to help him through his quest. Throughout the adventure, you’ll have to solve creative puzzles, face immense bosses, and even master the use of a boat. What has kept Phantom Hourglass from dropping to a higher position on the list is the fact that it uses the DS’ abilities in a way which has seldom been seen in other DS games. For instance, in order to advance, you might need to yell into the microphone to get someone’s attention, or you may need to close the DS and open it up again in order to see an entirely different view on your situation.

Phantom Hourglass is the best of both worlds. It’s a puzzle game, so you’ll need to use your brain to figure out dungeon mysteries, but it’s also an action-adventure game, so you won’t be bored to death. Even if you’re not a Zelda fan, you’ll be surprised at the amount of content included in this game.

#1 – The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

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And finally, as you all remember, Pokémon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum used to hold the title for the #1 Nintendo DS game as of 2008. Unfortunately, those games just could not hold on to that spot, so we have a BRAND NEW best-seller Nintendo DS game at #1!

This year in 2009, Zelda has dominated our list of the Top 10 2009 Nintendo DS Games. With Phantom Hourglass at #2 on our 2009 list, it’s only fitting that its popular 2009 sequel hold the position of #1 on our list. Coming in as the #1 Best Seller Nintendo DS game of 2009 as reported by IGN, the #1 game making its premiere on our 2009 list is The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks!

The highly popular sequel to Phantom Hourglass, Link must drive a train equipped with a powerful cannon as he travels across the land. He’s also now able to take control of a Phantom Guardian with the help of Tetra’s spirit, which will be required in order to solve key dungeon puzzles. One hundred years after the events of Phantom Hourglass, Tetra’s spirit has been separated from her body, and it’s up to Link to save her once again. New puzzles, new weapons, new environments, and even more humor than ever before, all combine to make Spirit Tracks the perfect Christmas present for the son or daughter in your family!

Other Great DS Games

In particular, many Nintendo gamers might wonder why I’ve left out a couple of other good games on this Top 10 DS Games List. I’ve tried my best to write a list incorporating what I believe are the best games of the system as of 2009, based upon gameplay, graphics, sound, storyline and replayability. If you believe there’s another good DS game that’s worth being mentioned, feel free to post a comment to my article and let everyone else know.

And that concludes our Top 10 Nintendo DS games list for 2009! I’d like to thank everyone for their suggestions, and I’d especially like to thank the game designers for creating such masterful pieces of both single-player and multiplayer gameplay!

Next year, we look forward to the SPECIAL PREMIERE of Pokémon HeartGold and Pokémon SoulSilver, as well as the debut of Golden Sun to the Nintendo DS! I’ll see you back here in exactly 1 year for another brand new exciting episode of Top 10 Nintendo DS Games! Until then, remember that video games are developed for the people who play them, so keep on playing and game designers will keep on developing! See you in 2010 everyone!

In the past year, not much has changed regarding Nintendo’s latest home-based gaming system. Its price has dropped considerably to only $199 U.S. and many of last year’s best games remain on this year’s list. Notable Wii game releases this year include Wii Sports Resort, Wii Fit Plus and New Super Mario Bros. Wii, but let’s start the countdown and see what you’ll be buying this holiday season!

#10 – Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games

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Last year in 2008, Pokémon Battle Revolution held on at #10. It has since been bumped off the Top 10 list entirely.

This year at the 10th spot on the list is a sequel to one of the most unique sports games released for the Wii. You probably remember Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games. Well, this game is a sequel to that, obviously to commemorate the 2010 Winter Olympics. In Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter games, players take control of one of many Nintendo or Sega characters and compete against each other in a variety of authentic events seen in the actual Olympics. Players can use the WiiBalance Board for some of the events as well. This game offers both cooperative and competitive game modes for intense multiplayer action. Also, the 2010 Winter Olympics will share in the royalties from this game’s sales, so you can feel good about purchasing it.

#9 – Wii Sports Resort

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Last year in 2008, Mario Party 8 took a #9 position on the list. This year, it’s no longer a Top 10 Nintendo Wii game.

At #9 this time around, Wii Sports Resort takes the spot. This sequel to the classic Wii Sports that came out in November 2006, Wii Sports Resort offers even more games to enhance your playing lifestyle. Classics like Bowling and Golf return, but are accompanied by brand new events such as Basketball, Archery, Frisbee, Swordplay, Power Cruising and many more. Players can also use the new WiiMotion-Plus accessory to even further enhance their precision movements with the Wii Remote, so there are no more frustrating putter swings like in the old Wii Sports. It’s definitely a fun and enjoyable experience for the whole family.

#8 – Super Paper Mario

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Last year in 2008, Mario Super Sluggers remained strong at #8. This year, it has dropped off the list. Taking its place is Super Paper Mario, which dropped a bit from its 3rd place position in 2008.

This third incarnation of the Paper Mario series focuses on Mario’s ability to take out Count Bleckas he attempts to prevent our hero from obtaining the 8 pure hearts that will put a stop to his evil plan of complete world domination. Old fans of the series will have to adjust to the new real-time battles included in the game, but with plenty of unique items, tons of different Wii Remote action commands, and a storyline which will take you laughing till the very end, Super Paper Mario is still a Top 10 Nintendo Wii game as of 2009!

#7 – Super Mario Galaxy

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Last year in 2008, Super Mario Strikers Charged was the 7th most popular game on our Top 10 list. Now, it’s no longer a Top 10 game, and its position now holds Super Mario Galaxy.

It was voted the best game of 2007, it was the #1 game on our Top 10 Wii list of 2008, and it’s still part of our Top 10 list of 2009. Super Mario Galaxy really puts the Wii’s ATI Radeon card to the test for graphics capabilities. Our hero must once again defeat evil king Bowser, but to do so, he’ll need to travel from planet to planet as he obtains stars that will power the ultimate spaceship to reach Bowser andsave Princess Peach. If you’re looking for an awesome single-player game, Super Mario Galaxy is definitely worth purchasing.

#6 – Mario Kart Wii

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Last year in 2008, Animal Crossing: City Folk made its debut at #6. It’s no longer a Top 10 Wii game, and Mario Kart Wii takes its place, moving up slightly from #4 on last year’s list.

In Mario Kart Wii, only the ultimate racer will prevail in this console’s most exciting and strategic competitive racing game. Place your Wii Remote inside the included Wii Wheel andtake a spin around a multitude of different racing tracks as you attempt to outrace your competition. You can even pick up items along the track that will help your performance and hinder your opponents’ chances of crossing the finish line in one piece. And prepare to take your competitiveness online as you challenge opponents across the world using Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. Are you truly the ultimate kart racer?

#5 – Metroid Prime: Trilogy

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Last year in 2008, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess kicked off the Top 5 games for the Wii. In 2009, Twilight Princess just didn’t make the cut and was removed from the list.

Fans of first-person shooters had their jaws drop this August when Metroid Prime: Trilogy hit store shelves. Retro Studios managed to include Metroid Prime, Metroid Prime 2: Echoes, and MetroidPrime 3: Corruption on a single dual-layer video game disc. With shorter loading times, updated graphics, new playing controls and an immersive story, Metroid Prime: Trilogy will keep you shooting your enemies for hours on end. Although Metroid Prime 3: Corruption lacks multiplayercapability, I think you’ll still be happy with this special 3-game collector’s set in your Wii library.

#4 – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up

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Last year in 2008, Mario Kart Wii came in at #4. Since then, it has moved up two spots to #6.

We’ve all seen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Fast Forward on the CW4Kids. With a brand new TMNTseries coming to Nickelodeon in 2012, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up is definitely a game that will keep you in front of your television set. Just like withthe Super Smash Bros. series of games, your objective in Smash-Up is to knock your opponents off the stage or lower their HP to zero in order to advance from one level to the next. With various battle modes such as Tournament, Arcade, Battle Royale, Mission and Survival, there’s plenty of replayability in this Wiititle. With the capability for 4-player online competitive battles, Smash-Up is the next-best game to Super Smash Bros. Brawl!

#3 – Super Smash Bros. Brawl

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Speaking of Super Smash Bros. Brawl, it has moved up one spot on our list from last year, knocking Super Paper Mario into 8th place.

It’s the most intense multiplayer fighting game currently out on the Nintendo Wii, even beating Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up. In the single-player story mode, you’ll have to advance from one level to the next as you attempt to stop the Subspace Emissary from taking over the universe. There will be intense battles, lots of items to pick up, anda level of graphics that only rival those of Super Mario Galaxy. With plenty of characters to choose from, a plethora of different stages to fight on, and numerous gaming modes to sink your teeth into, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is still 2-years-running the best multiplayer game for the Wii.

#2 – The Conduit

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Last year in 2008, Super Smash Bros. Brawl was the 2nd best game of the year for the Nintendo Wii. Over the course of the entire year, it has only moved up one spot on the list to #3.

Sitting pretty at #2 is a game that focuses upon the alien invasion of Washington D.C. in the near future. The Drudge is an alien race that will use subspace conduits to stop at nothing in order to conquer humanity. It’s up to you to use your superior weapons and tactical skills to take them down. And with a visual experience similar to those of games seen on the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360, you’ll wonder why you hadn’t switched over to the Wiimonths ago. With up to 12 players trying to shoot each other down online over Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, and plenty of weapons and environments to choose from, The Conduit is definitely the best online shooting game currently available for the Wii.

#1 – New Super Mario Bros. Wii

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And finally, as you all remember, Super Mario Galaxy used to hold the title for the #1 Nintendo Wii game as of 2008. Unfortunately, it just could not hold on to that spot, and it moved up to 7th position on the list, which means we have a BRAND NEW game at #1!

There are those of us who prefer to stick to playing classic titles, as opposed to newfangled first-person shooters. When it comes to classics, Nintendo is not one to disappoint. When Mario first made his debut on the original Nintendo Entertainment System, it was a huge success for Nintendo. Decades later, we see the revival of a classic NES title in all of its glory. New Super Mario Bros. Wii is the first Super Mario game to actually feature simultaneous cooperative multiplayer, where up to 4 players can team up to take down Bowser’s minions and once again save Princess Peach from the evil Koopa’s claws. New items such as the Ice Flower and the Propeller Suit will keep you one step ahead of your foes and will be need to be used strategically in order to advance between levels. Even though it lacks online multiplayer, the revival of a true classic in New Super Mario Bros. Wii definitely earns it the #1 spot on our list of Top 10 Nintendo Wii games as of 2009!

Other Great Wii Games

In particular, many Nintendo gamers might wonder why I’ve left out a couple of other good games on this Top 10 Wii Games List. I’ve tried my best to write a list incorporating what I believe are the best games of the system as of 2009, based upon gameplay, graphics, sound, storyline and replayability. If you believe there’s another good Wiigame that’s worth being mentioned, feel free to post a comment to my article and let everyone else know.

And that concludes our Top 10 Nintendo Wii games list for 2009! I’d like to thank everyone for their suggestions, andI’d especially like to thank the game designers for creating such masterful pieces of both single-player and multiplayer gameplay!

Next year, we look forward to Super Mario Galaxy 2, Star Wars: Battlefront III, Red Steel 2, Metroid: Other M, a brandnew Legend of Zelda, and of course, many other exciting titles as well! I’ll see you back here in exactly 1 year for another brand new exciting episode of Top 10 Nintendo Wii Games! Until then, remember that video games are developed for the people who play them, so keep on playing and game designers will keep on developing! See you in 2010 everyone!

Image via Wikipedia

Yes, that’s right. Playstation 3’s new marketing campaign is creating holiday headaches for women across the country… heck, maybe even across the world!

Playstation 3 has put out wonderful new television ads – so wonderful, it has some of us thinking this thing is the new nirvana. A gaming system that not only plays games, but connects to the internet… AND will download movies! This is quickly becoming the gift of choice for thousands of people everywhere… especially men.

So when Christmas time rolls around and gifts are being ripped opened… my husband, your boyfriend, her step-son, etc will be horribly disappointed if they see anything but a Playstation 3 from Santa.

And who can blame these guys?! I mean, just take a look at the ada. Having what appears to be a pretty neat product can only get you so far without a marketing campaign to back it up. Here is the specific commercial that is now making my husband ask for (or rather, demand) a Playstation 3 for Christmas.

But of course, Playstation couldn’t just be satisfied with that…with an ad that hits right at the heart of adult men. It had to try and sucker us women into their product, too.

These spots are fabulous for many reasons:

• First, they are relateable. Each of the spots in their campaign portrays an average boyfriend, girlfriend, father, etc. And they’re all likable – especially the Playstation 3 guy. Who wouldn’t want to take him out for a beer?
• Plus these spots don’t over-sell… they’re not “in your face”. These ads give us 30 humorous seconds and oh, by the way… are also trying to sell us something.
• These spots are fun, quirky… making people think the product is also fun and quirky.

Now here’s a spot in their new campaign that I have not yet seen on TV.

And finally, here’s the Playstation 3 commercial that took a subtle tactic to advertise its price.

Image via Wikipedia

Very soon, people with Playstation 3 will be able to stream movies and shows directly with their gaming console. And it’s free! Well, free if you’re already shelling out nearly 10 bucks for a Netflix subscription.

How soon? Looks like you’re going to have to hold out until next month – November 2009. Perfect timing to hit in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. You know, when everyone from grandma Myrtle to cousin Dean shows up to your house and there’s just no way you can entertain them all AND cook a delicious turkey feast.

Streaming movies with a game station is so innovative! Well, kinda. Netflix is actually already available to get through your Xbox. However, you must be a “gold member” – and not the Austin Powers kind. Xbox gold members pay a 50 dollar yearly fee to Netflix so they can prove their geek game skills across the globe, meaning they can game online.

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So, why is this an orgy? Well, Netflix just opened themselves up to millions of more potential clients (is it too late to buy Netflix stock?).  Netflix has about 11 million customers now. Add to that the 9 million people with Playstation 3 and the 25 million more world wide and you’ve got like eleventy-billion people there! (I’m not a math major but I’m sure my estimation can’t be too far off)

Does this new streaming capability mean the death of the DVD rental? I’m so glad you asked. Yep, but not anytime soon. You’ve got until about 2030 before Netflix may stop actually renting them out. (Does anyone else find it odd Netflix has a 20-year plan – I don’t even know what I’m packing for lunch tomorrow)

I’d say Playstation 3 is definitely living up to its slogan which is “It Only Does Everything”. Here’s a funny commercial to entertain your senses.

[youtube= http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaVsmnpEtE0]

Atari Arcade Hits 1

First off, there’s the Atari Arcade Hits 1 package playable on your PC. You can look for it in the stores, or you can download it directlyfrom the Atari Web site. What games are available? Classics arcade hits like Centipede, Missile Command, Asteroids, Pong, Super Breakout and Tempest. What’s great about this collection is you can play the games the way they appeared originally on the screen, or you can play them with fantastic, modern graphics. The choice is yours. The tiny little “1″ added to the title’s cover also makes me think more such packages could be coming in the future. That’s great!

Atari Classics Evolved

This one is for you PSP players out there. Yep, with this package you can play some ’80s games on 21st century handheld hardware. Again, you can play the games the way they looked originally, or you can play them with today’s computer graphics. And just what games are available? Centipede, Pong, Battlezone and much more, including some games from the Atari 2600 home system (but that has to be unlocked).

Atari Flashback

Don’t have a PSP? Don’t even have a computer (but how are you reading this?)? Even that’s not a problem as long as you’ve got a television. The Atari Flashback looks like an Atari 7800, a home gaming system from the mid-to-late ’80s, and it plugs into the back of your TV. You can sit back and play 20 different games much like we did as kids twenty years ago. But just to make things clear, these games aren’t arcade games; nope, these 20 games are from the Atari 2600 and 7800 home video games systems. What games do you get? Among others, you can have fun playing the 2600 versions of Asteroids, Crystal Castles, Adventure, Air-Sea Battle and more. You can also plays some 7800 games, like Centipede, Desert Falcon, Planet Smashers and Food Fight. The Atari Flashback plugs right into the back of your TV, so it’s a lot like home gaming used to be years ago.

Atari Flashback 2

If the Atari Flashback wasn’t enough for you, there’s the Atari Flashback 2. This systems also plugs into the back of your television, and it’s modeled to look just like one of the old Atari 2600 systems. It even comes with two of the classic black joysticks with the single red button! Here you get not only 20 classic home games like Asteroids, Breakout and Missile Command, but you also get 20 new games like Atari Climber, Adventure II, Yar’s Return and many more.

The Nintendo Wii is almost three years old as it was first introduced in the United States in 2006. The Wii has never had a price cut since it has been out. The Wii is long overdue for some kind of price cut. And now that the two competitor systems have just cut their prices, now would be the perfect time for Nintendo to follow up. They’ve made statements in the past that they are comfortable with the Wii at $249, and don’t want to price cut.

Some analysts think its time for a Nintendo Wii price cut.  According to this article, EEDAR analyst Jesse Divnich says this regarding the Nintendo Wii:

“Essentially, Nintendo stole potential PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consumers from this hardware lifecycle three years in advance. In order to maintain this position Nintendo should drop their Wii console down to $199, not because the current Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 pricing structure poses a threat; rather, because they will eventually pose a threat. Nintendo’s strategy should be to capture as many consumer dollars as possible while their competitors are still weak in their offerings to the casual audience and price sensitive consumers.”

The Nintendo Wii has “last generation” graphics and is behind when compared to the Playstation 3 or the Microsoft Xbox360. If they want to keep their momentum, and to stay at a friendly consumer price point, in my opinion I think they should lower the price to $149. At this price point, Nintendo would probably stay number one in this console generation and sell even more Nintendo Wii systems.

This is probably wishful thinking. If any price cut is made this year, it would probably be to only $199. You need to also take into effect the cost of the Nintendo DSi system. This portable system is $169, so if they cut the Wii to $199, the Wii will only be thirty bucks more than the DSi. Would you rather buy a portable console for $169 or get their current gen console for thirty more dollars?

Taking that into account, one of two things can happen this year. There might be no price cut for the Wii. Instead Nintendo might put together some kind of special bundle package and keep the price at $249, and keep the DSi at $169. Or one other possibility. They will cut the price of the Wii to $199 (one can wish for that nice $149 price point) and then lower the price of the DSi too. They would have to, the prices are too close.

The last three months of the shopping quarter for video games is coming soon. The fourth quarter will be during the months of October, November and December. It’s during this time we should find out what will happen next with the Nintendo Wii. What do you think? What should Nintendo’s next move be?

From the starting point of the game go north one screen. Now from here, go four screens to the east. Go one screen north. Next, go two screens east. Go four screens north into the rocky area of Hyrule. Now go east one screen. You should see a long staircase that leads up into the rocks to a cave. Take the staircase and go inside of the cave. Inside an old man will give Link the letter.

Now that you have the letter you can return to the shop where the old woman sells potions. Return to this shop where the potions are being sold. Go up to the woman and equip the letter. You must be sure that you have the letter equipped for this to work. Hit the B button close to the old woman. If you do this correctly, you will give the letter to her. Now you can purchase potions any time you want to.

There are two different kinds of potions in the original Legend Of Zelda game. There are blue potions, which are the cheapest and heal link up one time. The blue potion just has a one time use. There are also red potions, which are more expensive than the blue ones, and have a two time use. The red potions can be used twice to heal up Links heart containers. The red potions are great for some of the harder dungeons in the game.

This is how you find the letter in the original Legend Of Zelda game from Nintendo. This game is available for the original NES, but was most recently released for play and download on the Nintendo Wii system. You can get the original Zelda game for 500 Wii points on the download shop channel. Check out my other video game articles if you need additional help.

Image via Wikipedia

The “Red Ring of Death” is not a new problem. In 2008, Microsoft was sued in California for their high number of product failures. The plaintiffs alleged in their lawsuit that Microsoft has known since at least 2005 that XBOX 360 consoles had a high failure rate. What has Microsoft done in the 4 years since?

In 2007, Microsoft, according to their press release, expanded their warranty coverage. Microsoft anticipated spending between $1.05 to $1.15 billion dollars to fix the problem. Fix, not solve.

Now, two years later, the problem still exists for many users. According to gamespot.com, more than half. Many users send in their console to be repaired or replaced by Microsoft. However, once a user sends in their consoles, they wait for upward of a month for a repair. According to gamespot.com article, 41.2% of users then suffer a second hardware failure. Nice!

All these failures and problems haven’t hurt the bottom line for Microsoft. According to informationweek.com, “The XBOX 360 is the only console showing a unit sales increase year-to-date”.

Billions of dollars have been spent to fix a problem that more than half of users still experience. In a flat market where games and games systems are not exactly flying off the shelves, XBOX 360’s sales are increasing.

Could it be because many users have to buy the console more than once?

Perfect Dark is set to return on the Xbox360 for download sometime this winter. An exact date hasn’t been revealed by Rare yet, only that it will be coming this winter, when it will be released for the Xbox360.

Check out this article, and you will see some of the new screenshots for the game. Perfect Dark has not just been ported to the Xbox360 with slight visual upgrades. They have reworked the graphics for this new generation, as you can see with the screenshots. The new screenshots show Rare has added improved polygon textures to the game. What about other classic features of the game like multiplayer, will it be intact?

Rare won’t say at this point, but more information will be revealed on the Xbox360 version of Perfect Dark as the release date approaches. You could also ask, will there be new Perfect Dark content? Rare hasn’t come on the record to say anything about new original content being added to the game. When the re-released the classic Banjo games from the N64 era, there was no new original content added.

So if they base this release on the past ones, it will probably not have anything new added. Stay tuned for more info on a specific release date for Perfect Dark when it is announced. This classic Nintendo 64 first person shooter will be heating up your Xbox360 console sometime this winter.