The Stereotypical Gamer

Hunting For The Timelost Proto Drake!

2010-05-14T06:11:00.000-07:00

The Timelost Proto Drake is taken to be the rarest mount in the World of Warcraft MMORPG. Spawning only every 6 - 72 hours together with one other dragon, camping out to acquire the mount is essentially the most time draining event of World of Warcraft.

The Timelost Proto Drake is extremely rare, and infrequently shows up among the many mountains surrounding the Storm Peaks region. The mount is so rare, numerous players can go up to three days without even seeing the Drake, nevermind killing it and collecting the benefits.

A noteworthy tip when confronting the Timelost Proto Drake is that it is typically out of reach of floor attacks, and therefore should be pulled while on an airborne mount or in Druid flight form. The battle itself is not troublesome in general, and ought to be easily soloable by all classes, bearing in mind user talent and gear. It is strongly recommended because of the fact it often flies out of range of most assaults to have some 'Snowfall Lager' on hand. This will permit you to attack in the air, and in addition help prevent you falling to your demise in the event you slip.

The Timelost Proto Drake is extraordinarily rare, and if keen on acquiring the mount, be ready to give up a large sum of time, camping within the storm peaks region. It might be time to invest in the energy drinks for this quest. Good Luck.

The Wonders Of Faceez!

2010-04-19T09:21:00.000-07:00

Recently, the net applications offered by the DS store have been producing some fascinating features. Particularly where the DSi is concerned, the handheld is at last having its further features realised in some great interactive games. A current photograph manipulation game, Faceez, is gathering a considerable amount of attention.

Faceez takes advantage of the DSi's dual cameras, permitting players to take pictures of themselves and buddies. These pictures can then be transfered into the Faceez modifying suite, which may store a vast variety of photos. Your pictures can now be played around with in varied ways.

By choosing 'mix' you'll be able to build hybrids of your face with a vast stock of different images, allowing you to check out movie star noses or hairstyles. 'Disguise' allows Faceez gamers to add funny disguises to their photographs, such as Pirate Hats or Bandit Masks. 'Animate' is certainly the most impressive function, which adds your facial image to a stick-man and permits you to perform a whole host of actions, including dancing, consuming sweets and singing. Inventory expressions will be fused to your face to make it appear like your mouth is moving, and the results are impressively lifelike.

This application is a great little way to get your buddies and have a laugh. The intuitive elements are definitely revolutionary, and you will have loads of fun testing out all of the tools. Faceez photographs may also be uploaded to Facebook and different apps, which means the possibilities go even further. For those who're searching for a great little game to check out the DSi's skills, Faceez is the current obsession!

Sonic 4: Episode 1

2010-04-08T09:20:00.000-07:00

The Sonic franchise was once the epitome of gaming, with the first two or three games topping the polls every time with their vibrant, enjoyable and accessible playing. The appearance of next-generation consoles and better expectations resulted in Sega trying out new tricks with the tried and tested method; introducing 3-Dimensional terrains, on-the-rail games and more. In recent times, the Sonic series has deviated even more, with games recreating him as a knight, a werehog, and more. After years of mourning, followers of the classic are to get their wants addressed by the newest game in the franchise; Sonic 4: Episode 1.

Whilst some of the current titles within the series have been great, Sonic 4: Episode 1 is claimed to be what fans have been waiting to be made for years; a return to the original gameplay. In Sonic 4: Episode 1, Sonic returns to his side-scrolling adventures, with terrain widely reminiscent of those seen within the classic titles, like the Green Hill Zone. The surplus characters have been left at home, even ever-loyal sidekick Tails missing from the lineup. Said to be a follow-on to Sonic & Knuckles, this game sees Sonic strike out on his lonesome for new adventures.

Without doubt, our present generation of consoles will deliver Sonic 4: Episode 1 with beautiful graphics. In spite of being a side-scroller, the character models have been created in 3D, giving a vastly polished end product. The colors are more vibrant than before and the myriad terrain elements we fondly remember, including the loops-the-loops, are nicely realised. The game also supports high-def, and thus has the possibility to look even better.

This title will be released on Wiiware, PSN and Xbox live and as the game's title infers, further adventures are set to follow. Will these fun little offerings help take Sonic to the top? Only time can tell. However for many who liked the look and the feel of the classics, Sonic 4: Episode 1 will be a refreshing return to the method.

Kratos Is Back In God of War 3

2010-03-19T07:07:00.000-07:00

Finally, this month sees the release of God of War 3, the Playstation 3 exclusive which has endured three years in production. Continuing the wildly popular franchise from the Ps 2, here is the first ever time we'll play Kratos' adventures on a next gen console. Without a doubt, the wait has been well justified.

The God of War franchise has constantly been a byword for action adventure perfection, and this game is here to show the rest the way it's done. We follow Kratos just as the last title left off, scaling Mount Olympus itself to lay siege to the remaining Gods that banished him. This gives rise to a number of new gameplay options.

God of War 3 enjoys a dynamic camera, swinging and looping to comply with Kratos in a clear contrast to the fixed camera of previous installments. The climb of Mount Olympus additionally allows for plenty of stunning gameplay features, together with flying high on wind tunnels or battling Titans over sheer drops.

Visually, God of War 3 is stunning. The character models are very developed, down to skin pores. The varied environments offer a wealthy show of creativity, from the seat of the Gods to the pits of Hell. The gameplay in God of War 3 continues to set the standard, with Kratos getting access to an impressive array of fresh weapons, all of which can play a tactical part in your varied confrontations.

It was virtually a forgone conclusion, however God of War 3 is an awe-inspiring game. Every potential aspect of what makes a game successful is rolled into one; epic storyline, awesome graphics and interesting gameplay. The franchise continues to blow all competition out of the park, and if you happen to own a Playstation 3 you simply must check it out!

Alice In Wonderland For The DS!

2010-03-06T06:39:00.000-08:00

The Nintendo DS is the newest console to leap on the media bandwagon, with their Alice In Wonderland videogame lately released. This title is based on the reimagined movie by Tim Burton, and places the role of Alice and her strange friends in the control of the player.

Whilst not copying the film themes directly, the Alice In Wonderland videogame gives its own unique design created by the movie. Gamers can take management of the various characters from the plot, including the Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat and White Rabbit, together with Alice herself. The DS does a great job of bringing its personal visual twist on these famous characters.

Gamplay revolves around the strange Underland and as a result is mainly concerned with puzzle solving. Alice and her friends can master various talents including altering perception by rendering objects invisible, along with altering time itself to advance through the stages. In the Alice In Wonderland videogame, there's also an expandable fighting system which allows our characters to learn new moves and skills as time goes on.

Enjoying the Alice In Wonderland videogame on the DSi will also open up further features, such as the option to make use of the camera to assist you in gameplay. This function can be employed to detect certain colors which act as clues for level progression, and likewise to open up deeper unlockables.

Fans of puzzle platformers should be right at home with the Alice In Wonderland videogame, and Burton followers will love the transition to handheld gaming. The characters are well transfered and the puzzles are refreshingly quite tough, meaning this is not just a straightforward cash-in. Find it now and jump down the rabbit hole!

PSP Gets Scary With Silent Hill: Shattered Memories

2010-02-24T05:03:00.000-08:00

The Silent Hill series hardly needs an introduction, for the gaming franchise has become a milestone of mastery in the survival horror style. The long line of titles has stretched over varied consoles over many years, and never fails to bring revolutionary and genuinely spine-chilling gameplay to our screens. This pattern continues with the latest production for the PSP and PSP Go!- Silent Hill: Shattered Memories.

This game is actually a copy of the Wii version released in 2009, and the transaction to the little screen has been surprisingly successful. The formula for Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is recognisable yet welcome; you're Harry Mason, who awakens after a car crash to his daughter gone astray within Silent Hill. This abandoned area ranges from foreboding creepiness to outright terror as its demonic denizens begin to reveal themselves, and the PSP's visual edge doesn't fail us here.

Some attention-grabbing and innovative gaming ploys are employed in Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. First of all, the much discussed 'running' sequences from the Wii counterpart are carried through. These make Harry defenceless and thus only able to flee from his attackers, and therefore you engage in a very terrifying interactive scene as you attempt to escape from those clawing at your heels.

Next, as gamers move forward through the storyline, the gameplay is interspersed with sections involving Harry talking about life with a psychologist. This individual can ask general questions about life, his attitude to women etc. The responses you choose can really have an impact on the varied places you visit and the characters/enemies you face. This obviously opens Silent Hill: Shattered Memories up for multiple playthroughs to work out everything.

This title certainly continues the long line of great offerings from the Silent Hill franchise; combining the tried and tested formula with new and innovative gameplay aspects. If you're a follower of the famously creepy survival horror, then Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is a clear choice!

Muramasa: Demon Blade on the Wii

2010-02-17T09:32:00.000-08:00

Whilst providing a vast range of exclusive games specifically for its own unique control function, the Nintendo Wii is often forgotten for its action/RPG exclusives. That said, one game released at the end of 2009 took gaming sales by storm and earned high acclaim amongst gaming circles; Wii's Muramasa: Demon Blade.

The title tracks two sword slingers as they fight their way towards their own missions. Kisuke is a youthful Ninja struggling to regain his memories whilst tracking down the ultimate sword, and Momohime, a samurai girl overtaken by a foul spirit. Wii's Muramasa: Demon Blade is geared towards the unique skills both of these characters exert as master warriors.

Gamers can utilize three varied control methods; the Wii remote itself, or by employing either the Gamecube controller or the classic one. Additionally, in a smart development, players can opt to play Wii's Muramasa: Demon Blade as a focussed RPG, urging levelling up, or as a clean cut action game.

Graphically, this title excels where most other Wii productions might fall behind. Likened to Square Enix's Odin Sphere, the game demonstrates a traditional Japanese art style quickly becoming popular amongst gamers. There's a vast range of swords to discover and forge throughout the campaign aswell, steeping users in sword mythos.

Wii's Muramasa: Demon Blade is a great exclusive game which definitely deserves the praise it has amassed so far. The differing play styles and impressive visuals provide a title which merits multiple playthroughs, a clear choice for fans of feudal Japanese culture and sword play!

Playstation 3 Slim Puts Sony Back In The Competition!

2010-02-10T05:51:00.000-08:00

Prior to the production of the Playstation 3 Slim, over in September 2009, Sony were really beginning to worry over PS3 sales. The lead competition; Nintendo Wii and Xbox 360, were both outselling the system along with their various software. The difficulty was attributed to Sony's refusal to budge on the large price tag, and so the other consoles became popular due to raised affordability. Sony's luck changed significantly however, with the production of the Playstation 3 Slim.

This revamp isn't an additional model, the Playstation 3 Slim has completely replaced the older systems and thus is regarded the only official Playstation 3 console. As before, the model is available in both 120GB or 250GB, offering purchasers the same choices in capacity as before. Further functions include EasyLink, which augments the HDMI capabilities of both your Playstation and the television it is hooked up to.

As the title suggests, the Playstation 3 Slim is much more compact and space-friendly than its predecessor. Coming in at over 30% smaller and lighter; a nice decision as the scale of the original was always a sore point. Similarly, the reduced scale also consumes much less power, which means the system doesn't heat up as fast. This wasn't a huge problem for the Playstation 3, especially compared to rivals, but a cooler console is always a better console.

And lastly, Sony issued a big price cut on the system. Clearly what the public was ready for, sales skyrocketed in the Autumn and Sony were well and truly back in the battle. The Playstation 3 Slim console presents a smart and unified jump forward for the company- offering the same great console in a smaller, more user-friendly package and cutting the cost makes everybody happy- Sony get their sales and we get a new and enhanced Playstation 3!

DSiWare - Bringing the DSi To Life!

2010-02-02T04:46:00.000-08:00

Ever since its creation, the Nintendo DSi has enjoyed a great boost in appreciation over the original DS. Nintendo augmented the base device in pretty much every way imaginable; thinning it down and adding great features like the dual cameras. However it has taken a little time for the unique applications of the DSi to be completely realized, but this is being speeded up thanks to the rising range of Nintendo DSiWare titles and utilities being released.

Nintendo DSiWare is the name attributed to an ever growing range of applications released totally for the DSi, many of which make use of the DSi's features and so aren't compatible with the previous DS. These can be accessed speedily and simply through the DSi shop, and players spend their Nintendo points in order to download these applications.

The distributors have opened up the production of DSiWare applications to many 3rd party publishers, and so players can anticipate a wide variety of offerings. An enormous back catalogue of classic and favourite games are being released on a weekly basis, meaning DSi gamers have access to a plethora of awesome games. A few examples are Phantasy Star, Brain challenge and the Art Style series of games.

However, even more promising are the range of Nintendo DSiWare applications; a range of downloadables that are tailored specifically for the DSi's augmented technology and features. These comprise art and flipbook studios for more detailed creativity, augmented browser and camera features and also interactive dictionaries with camera integration.

As said, the range of Nintendo DSiWare applications is increasing constantly, and they are helping to realize the total potential of the device. Any DSi gamer should definitely look into the huge range of applications and titles on sale- they are fun, intuitive and are extremely straightforward to download. With that said, take a look at the massive list of Nintendo DSiWare features right now!

Playstation 3's Heavy Rain causing quite a ripple!

2010-01-22T04:44:00.000-08:00

A game that is gathering a huge amount of attention recently is Playstation 3's Heavy Rain. Hitting shelves soon, this title is clearly unique among its competition in the entertainment arena. Whereas gamers are used to seeing the same old genres dolled up and revisited, Heavy Rain is a title which almost evades conventional genre.

Playstation 3's Heavy Rain is certainly not a game in the standard sense. Most easily explained as a sort of 'interactive movie', the title revolves around a series of events which are tweaked or affected by gamer decisions or input. Still, we have seen this sort of title before, like in classic entries such as Fahrenheit, but never has it been done in such scope.

Participants will control everything from everyday tasks to crazy highway chases. One scene even tasks gamers with applying a female character's makeup. Everything in Playstation 3's Heavy Rain is dynamic down to phenomenal detail. As such, the title offers massive replay worth and multiple endings.

The sixaxis pad is also used to great effect in this title, reproducing the situations onscreen to a great extent. Fearful situations such as a sudden attack will see the controller vibrate and the commands confuse themselves to mirror real life panic. Playstation 3's Heavy Rain helps you feel like you're truly in the situation, which is what most games strive to do.

No doubt Heavy Rain will split audiences. The pace is glacial at times and the lack of constant action will grate on those more used to conventional games. On the other hand, it is a bold jump into a new type of entertainment and may actually pave the way for more like it in days to come. Playstation 3's Heavy Rain should definitely provide many talking points when it is released!

Point And Shoot : The Wii Light Gun!

2010-01-15T07:31:00.000-08:00

Ever since the Wii revolutionized home videogaming with their leading edge deployment of motion sensing, Nintendo have pursued opportunities to branch out on the core control feature for the console. The standard Wiimote and nunchuk have worked well as a basis for more intricate control efforts. A fine example is the Wii wheel, employed by slotting the wiimote into a wheel frame to allow correct portrayal of actual driving. Further to this, Nintendo have produced the Wii zapper- an updated version of the fan favourite Wii light gun.

Since the Wiimote itself is employed to simply point and 'fire' at the screen, critics wondered if the Wii light gun was surplus to requirements, but gamers cried out for production. Light guns are nothing new- they have been around for years now, especially in arcades, but the notion of marrying the praised technology of the Wiimote with a light gun is clearly a ingenious concept.

Similar to the Wii wheel, the Wii light gun is essentially a frame into which the Wiimote snugly fits, and is just used to mirror the feel of firing a gun. Therefore the Wii version is not a light gun in the standard sense. This is often seen as a plus as many plasma and LCD televisions have problems registering the light projections of other light guns, but the Wiimote is produced with current technology to mind, and so suffers no such issues.

Various current Wii games have been sold together with the Wii light gun, such as Resident Evil : Darkside Chronicles. The gun is all the rage with rail shooters like this game, and is sold together with other new games, like Dead Space : Extraction.

It's definitely worth trying out the Wii light gun ; it's lightweight, comfortable and truly brings back the classic feel of FPS arcade games. It also aids to throw you into the drama and suspense of the game, as you witness and feel exactly what you might in the genuine situation. So grab your Wii light gun and enter the battle!

Fixing the Xbox 360 Red Lights of Death

2009-08-26T06:16:00.000-07:00

These situations are not rare : Xbox 360 owners having nightmares about 3 red lights, Xbox 360 owners being afraid while playing time-intensive games as the screen could black out and 3 red lights might flash round the console's power switch, Xbox 360 owners living in sustained anxiousness of being ripped from an intense game on Xbox Live due to the awful 3 red lights which will bring down their systems.

Yes, out of all of the glitches, Problems and faults related to the console, none is more dreaded than the Xbox 360 red lights of death, famously shortened as RLOD. The Xbox 360 red lights of death are 3 red LEDs that blink round the power switch of the machine, often predated by system crashes while in the middle of a game and failure to boot up when the unit is restarted.

The Xbox 360 red lights of death demonstrate what Microsoft will only describe as'general hardware failure.' Many think that this is merely an euphemism for'We do not know where we screwed things up in making the 360.' The prevalence of this RLOD problem is reasonably worrying. Microsoft pegs it as 16% of systems released before August of 2008. 3rd party guesses run as much as 65%, however. The Xbox 360 red lights of death have now become a marketing nightmare for Microsoft. Industry experts believe that Microsoft could have notched up 300 percent more sales if folks were not scared of this possible fault that, for all intents and purposes, renders the machine worthless.

Microsoft has taken steps to relieve the problem :

- Microsoft has lengthened the guarantee of Xbox 360 units to 3 years, a unprecedented length of time for a video games console. If a unit is struck by the RLOD and it remains under guaranty, the owner can phonephone in his problem and he will be requested to ship back the defective unit. After some time, Microsoft will send a working Xbox 360 for the client to enjoy.

- Microsoft has consistently upgraded its chipset and motherboard designs used. Today, the Jasper chipset is being used on current Xbox 360 consoles, and thus far, reported instances of the Xbox 360 red lights of death are currently at zero.

Getting the right guide to fixing the Xbox Disc read ErroR

2009-07-14T05:21:00.000-07:00

Do you desire a legitimate guide to repairing your Xbox disc read error issues? All gaming players know how irritating it tends to be to wind up with an error with a much loved Xbox, and it can be easy to think of the very worst when you are faced with an error. With the Xbox 360, those mistakes can definitely mean difficulty for the existence of the console. You'll need to get it repaired quickly and simply, and you will not need to be forced to pay a great deal to do so. It's okay, we've all been there with the Xbox disc read error. Before sending it off to Microsoft and being made to to wait, or sending it to a store and having to pay a lot, you might like to think about checking out the numerous guides available to buy online.

Searching for a guide resource to repairing the Xbox disc read error will finally save your money and valuable time when correcting your awesome games unit, but you must be absolutely certain that the Xbox 360 disc read error guide you look into features the right information for the problem you want to deal with. Have a look at the specs of each Xbox disc read error guide that you may find on the web and check that it features the correct information that you are going to need to sort out your issues and continue to enjoy the favourite games on the Xbox 360.

It's also an excellent idea to see which tools you will may possibly need to actually carry out the tips and information the guides feature, and also whether or not the companies that are offering the guides supply a refund guarantee when you get hold of the guides they offer. You must recollect that opening up the surrounding of your Xbox 360 when it is still under warranty will void that warranty. If the warranty has indeed expired then a decent Xbox disc read error guide might be the answer you need, but if it is still under the warranty then reconsider sending your console to Microsoft to get seen to in order to correct the Xbox disc read error.

A proper Xbox disc read error guide will ease you through the method at a decent amount of detail, and will be obviously laid out and nicely written. Make sure you find a guide which will see you through each item one step at a time to make certain you do not damage your Xbox any farther. With care and a small amount of patience, your Xbox disc read error guide can help you get the Xbox back running in very little time. So be safe, be sure, and get back to being thrilled with your gaming thanks to the best Xbox disc read error guide around.

Smart Gaming: Start with Sony PSP Demos!

2009-07-13T05:42:00.000-07:00

Try before you buy. In a dwindling economy, this looks to be the most effective philosophy to keep in mind. Who would wish to get lumbered with a product that appeared to be excellent but ends up being a letdown, right? In the realm of computer games, demos are the crux of such a notion. Demos allow consumers to try out a tiny portion of the title to establish whether it is worth the purchase or not.

This notion can be said regarding the Sony Playstation Portable (PSP). There are a wealth of Sony PSP demos today. In reality, a Sony PSP title brought out minus Sony PSP demos to accompany it would appear the anomaly instead of the widespread rule.

Game corporations recognize the ideal that with the convenience provided by digital delivery over the web, releasing Sony PSP demos will be a way to entice customers - particularly people who are quite unsure about the games - to sample their latest. In a test carried out by Gamer's Choice Inc., it was made public that by releasing a demo, a gaming firm increases its conversion rate by 27%. This number is enormous, and it could potentially spell the difference between a dud and a success.

As a consumer, you will be more knowledgeable if you would take time to play Sony PSP demos before purchasing the particular game.

Testing Sony PSP demos is kind of straightforward. You can download a list of trial titles on the internet. The optimal place you will find a total library of Sony PSP demos is in the Sony Playstation Store. If you have a Sony Playstation 3 (PS3), you can enter the store via your menu. You may transfer Sony PSP demos and even Sony PS3 demos if you would like to your PS3's drive. Next bond your PSP to the PS3 via a USB cable and you can immediately transfer and install the Sony PSP demos on the Playstation Portable unit.

You can also find the Playstation Store directly from your PSP, as long as it is hooked up to the web.

If you don't have a Sony PS3 and/or if your PSP can't access the web alone, try visiting the Playstation Store for Sony PSP demos, by visiting store.playstation.com. Access the PSP area, and then the Demos area, and download your pick of Sony PSP demos.

How Can a World of Warcraft Horde Level Guide help your game?

2009-06-12T06:18:00.000-07:00

A real World of Warcraft horde level guide might be precisely the thing you need to elevate your playing to a higher level! The World of Warcraft games hobby has overreached everybody's hopes and become the conclusive online roleplaying game, and also the largest gaming concern of the contemporary scene. It can be a very difficult game to get used to, not to mention beat, so a legitimate World of Warcraft horde level guide might be just the thing you need..

A great strategy for you is to search out a World of Warcraft guide containing tips and hints to do better with your World of Warcraft adventures Just as the very best WoW players in the world you want a helping hand sometimes for you to truly enjoy and achieve success in your game. You have everything to gain by getting a winning horde level guide for your Warcraft experience...

But what will a guide offer players that you do not already know? With the sheer depth of the World of Warcraft system, it is rather very unlikely to maintain a record of all the facts and hints to making your adventures go well, and particularly with this issue. Help from a World of Warcraft horde level guide can help you run your game much smoother and keep on top of your resources and jobs in a way more efficient way.

To get through the countless levels throughout the game and butcher the increasingly impressive enemies that you will come up against, you will need your wits about you. A decent World of Warcraft horde level guide can be precisely what you want to keep on top of your assets and your abilities, thus making you play better and harder to complete the game and emerge victorious.

When selecting a WoW guide to buy, ensure you know what every one offers to guarantee the one you decide on contains the right information for you. Be it gold gathering, talents or whatever, you need to make certain a legitimate World of Warcraft guide has the information you need. The game still seems to reign over the net gaming landscape, and there's a rationalization for that. With a good guide, you can better plan your systems for each quest, keep track of your gold better, and help you further the gifts and abilities of your personality. If you are going to play, you will need to play the right way. A good guide will help you do precisely that.

Get your piece of the adventure and improve your chances of beating World of Warcraft with a legitimate World of Warcraft horde level guide to help your journeys end with victory!

X-men Origins: Wolverine: The best Marvel movie video game yet?

2009-05-11T06:48:00.000-07:00

Looks like the official video game for the X-men Origins: Wolverine movie is proving to be more of a critical hit than the film itself! the gameplay is certainly awesome, and it does look beautiful, but is it actually better than the film? Having seen that dire movie I’d have to say yes- the X-men Origins video game is TONS better than the film. Don’t just take my word for it though- check out this great article on the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie video game from one of my favourite games sites.

I agree that the gameplay and the way in which you have to deal with Wolverine’s healing factor is a strong element of the game and adds a certain amount of urgency and danger to the game itself. I like that, and would love to see more of that sort of thing in future comic book movie games. Up the stakes and up the fun!

The Nintendo DSi: How much fun have you got in your pocket?

2009-04-27T09:58:00.002-07:00

The latest version of the hugely popular Nintendo DS is here at last. There's much more to it than just an extra vowel. The new Nintendo DSi brings with it a host of excellent new features, the most interesting being the two excellent DSi Cameras. As well as these, Nintendo have also unveiled the Nintendo DSi Shop. Similar in concept to the WiiWare shop for the Nintendo Wii console and the App Shop for the Apple iPhone/iPod Touch, the DSiShop allows DSi users to buy DSiWare games and applications to enhance their enjoyment.

As mentioned, the biggest new features of the new Nintendo DSi are the two VGA 0.3 megapixel cameras it boasts, one of which is mounted on the outer casing and the other mounted on the internal hinge, pointing at the user. Along with the two cameras is a much needed SD card slot, enabling you to store your photos and move them to your laptop or desktop in order to save space on your DSi.

The new model Nintendo DSi also has some superb multimedia capabilities. The SD card can also be used for storing downloaded software and AAC encoded music as well as photos. This music can be accessed with the Nintendo DSi Sound feature. The DSi is also capable of acting as a voice recorder thanks to the on-board microphone. You can even tweak the sound with filters and effects.

Aesthetically, the DSi is very similar to previous incarnation of the device, aside from the addition of the two cameras and SD card slot. Games giants Nintendo have again managed to do away with more weight when compared to the (also very thin) DS Lite. Specs? Pretty much the same as before, apart from the nice increase in RAM, which has been boosted from 4mb to 16mb. The DSi's storage can be upgraded by a whopping 32GB with the addition of the aforementioned SD card. Last but not least, the Nintendo DSi has upgradeable firmware, which is more akin to the Wii console and Sony’s PSP (Remember those?) so bugs aren't a worry, and updates will be easily available.

On the whole, the new Nintendo DSi is a more than worthy addition to Nintendo's handheld gaming range. With the great new features now integrated (all of which have been something of a natural progression for the unit), and the opportunity for Nintendo to produce some new and challenging games that will fully utilise the cameras and so on. A superb entry level unit for the curious gamer, as well as an essential addition to the arsenal of any seasoned gamer. If you’re yet to try one out for yourself, I recommend you do so, and discover just how much fun you can fit in your pocket.

I GAME THEREFORE I AM

2009-04-27T09:58:00.001-07:00

Thumbs at the ready! Hello. I am your friendly neighbourhood Stereotypical Gamer. I'm here to rant, rave, hype and flame on the issues of the day regarding games, gaming and the gamer lifestyle. Crack open some Jolt, pull up a Chocobo, and dive in. Ready for Level 1?