Hulk Hogan’s Main Event Now Available For Xbox Kinect

Majesco Entertainment’s Hulk Hogan’s Main Event, the controller-free wrestling game is now out for the Xbox 360 Kinect. It features all the movement-based wrestling action you could possibly ask for. Warning just don’t get too close to the TV. It’s not that real!

Wrestling games go back to the 1980′s game systems like SNES and for a longtime topped all video games selling charts.

No it’s back better than ever with no more controllers, welcome to the 21st Century.

“Hulkamaniacs everywhere should get off the couch and rule the ring with Hulk Hogan’s Main Event, where I’m going to teach you all to perform for the crowd and compete in the ring as wrestling superstars,” said Hulk Hogan.

Additional Hulk Hogan’s Main Event features include:

Create your king of the ring by choosing from different body types, faces, hair styles, tattoos, gear and more.
Choose from nine thrilling venues including the Backyard, Uprising and Inferno stadium.
Xbox LIVE Leaderboards showcase ‘Stunt of the Day’ and ‘All Time Best Stunts’ from players nationwide.

Multiple Gameplay Modes extend the challenge:

o Campaign: Work your way from backyard matches to the big stage while keeping the crowd on their feet.

o Head-to-Head: Take turns delivering punishing combos with help from a friend.

o Quick Stunt: Practice any extreme stunt before primetime in the ring.

o Hardcore: Fight tough-to-beat opponents under the extreme difficulty setting.

o Tutorial: Learn basic moves and special stunts to win the match.

o Replay Highlights: Relive your best stunts in slow motion to revel in your glory days.

Developed by Panic Button LLC and rated T for Teen, Hulk Hogan’s Main Event only on Kinect for Xbox 360 is now available for the suggested retail price of $49.99. To watch the launch trailer and find out more, please visit http://www.hulkhogansmainevent.com/. Video game review coming shortly on this website.

EA is optimistic for holiday sales of new “Star Wars” game

Electronic Arts foresees robust holiday sales of its game portfolio, especially for the forthcoming “Star Wars: The Old Republic.” EA has spent more than $100 million developing the high-profile title, which is expected to compete with Activision Blizzard’s “World of Warcraft” online game.

Reuters

MARVEL VS. CAPCOM

Marvel Entertainment, LLC, unleashs a Super Hero-charged merchandising program centered around one of the greatest gaming collaborations of all-time: Marvel vs. Capcom. The development of this co-branded program follows closely on the heels of the latest blockbuster release in the gaming franchise, Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. Marvel has already signed on several leading manufacturers, including Mad Engine, Inc., Philcos Enterpriser Limited, Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles, LLC, Hollywood Collectibles Group, Mad Catz Inc., and UDON to create an array of products that enable Marvel vs. Capcom fans to extend their experience beyond the gaming console.

As one of the most successful videogame franchises in history, Marvel vs. Capcom has enthralled millions by combining the most popular Super Heroes from the Marvel Universe, including Captain America, Iron Man, Thor and Wolverine, with the most memorable characters from videogame developer Capcom, such as Ryu, Chris Redfield, Wesker and Akuma. Marvel and Capcom collaborated on six videogame titles from 1994-2000, including X-Men: Children of the Atom, Marvel Super Heroes, X-Men vs. Street Fighter, Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter, Marvel vs. Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes and Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes. After a decade of demand, Marvel vs. Capcom made its highly anticipated return last month with the debut of Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, featuring all-new characters and enhanced gameplay.

The foundation of the Marvel vs. Capcom licensing program encompasses the following products and partners:

Mad Engine, Inc. will develop apparel featuring t-shirts and sweatshirts emblazed with the Marvel Super Heroes and Capcom characters. Product is currently available at Hot Topic stores nationwide.

Philcos Enterpriser Limited has signed on to produce a line of t-shirts and sweatshirts available this April exclusively in Canada at various retailers including HMV, Spencer Gifts, Blockbuster and Winners. This July, Sears will also carry a youth line in stores.

Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles, LLC will release Marvel vs. Capcom Minimates. The two-pack set will be available at Toys“R”Us stores and comic/specialty stores beginning this August.

Hollywood Collectibles Group will debut high-end collectible statue sets inspired by the legendary characters featured in Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Each set will include one character from each Universe. Product will be available September 2011 through Diamond Distribution and www.hollywood-collectibles.com.

Mad Catz Inc. released its Marvel® Vs. Capcom® 3: Fate of Two Worlds – Arcade FightStick: Tournament Edition, for the Xbox® 360 video game and entertainment system and the PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system, currently available exclusively through http://store.gameshark.com/ and http://shop.capcom.com/.

UDON will unveil a beautiful art book this summer featuring a compilation of existing Marvel vs. Capcom imagery along with all-new commissioned art from renowned comic artists.

“Fans have been clamoring to get their hands on all things Marvel vs. Capcom so we wanted to unveil a merchandise program that took their gaming experience to a whole new level,” said Paul Gitter, President of Consumer Products for North America, Marvel Entertainment. “Our partners are creating exciting product lines that accurately reflect the action-packed match-ups between these legendary characters featured in Marvel vs. Capcom 3 that fans will love.”

Madcatz’s BrawlPad Arcade Stick Smackdowns

Can you smell what this product is cooking. I can with the official WWE All Stars Arcade BrawlStick for Xbox 360 and PS3. Just like in early days of video gaming joysticks you can now again lay the smack down with an arcade style joystick must have.

The BrawlStick from Mad Catz features a redesigned ball top joystick and high quality concave action buttons for gaming precision. I had a similar arcade stick one years ago for use when I played the original Tekken, Mortal Kombat and Streetfighter games.

Wrestling manic fans will love the graphics and you can get right into the game without having to manually configure the buttons since Mad Catz has already pre-programmed it. Good going guys! It will cost you $79.99 smackdowns!!!

Madcatz also makes Brawlpads for 360 and PS3 for $39.99.

Visit Madcatz at http://store.gameshark.com/listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory=370

Call of Duty: Black Ops First Strike Downloads

The next Call of Duty: Black Ops First Strike downloadable content to follow the first map pack, that was released through Xbox Live this past February 1st. is for the PlayStation3 on March 3rd – the Windows PC release date will be announced soon.

Call of Duty: Black Ops First Strike features four new multiplayer maps, including Berlin Wall, Discovery, Kowloon and Stadium, as well as one all-new Zombie level, Ascension.

Created by Treyarch and published by Activision, Call of Duty: Black Ops made entertainment history this November when it shattered theatrical box office, book and video game sales records for five-day opening worldwide sell through in dollars, selling more than $650 million. Call of Duty: Black Ops is rated “M” (Mature) by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence and Strong Language. For additional Call of Duty updates, visit www.callofduty.com/blackops and also via Twitter @Treyarch.

The timed Xbox 360 exclusivity for the map pack is due to an agreement between Microsoft and Activision that runs until 2012.

Information gathered from other sources.

“Here We Go” New Super Mario Wii – Best of 2009

“VIDEOGAME OF THE WEEK”

The game: New Super Mario Bros. Wii.

Format: Nintendo Wii.

Estimated price, manufacturer: $59, Nintendo.

Category: Action, Platform.

Players: One-Four.

Recommended ages: “E” for everyone; age 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.

How the game works: New Super Mario Bros Wii is the latest and greatest 2D Super Mario Bros game, that now features 4-player co-op for the entire adventure! It’s about time Nintendo! The game brings the mean Koopalings and Bowser Jr together as Mario’s antagonists for the first time; journey through nine worlds dodging/defeating enemies, clearing fortresses and castles and collecting star coins to rescue, you know how again - Princess Peach from Bowser.

Mario, Luigi and two Toads are all playable characters, while many others from the Mushroom Kingdom make appearances throughout the game. Players can even ride different Yoshi characters (in green and yes even pink) and use their tongues to swallow enemies – or their fellow players. No not to eat them, but save them from danger.

In other areas, players use the motion abilities of the Wii Remote controller. The first player to reach a seesaw might make it tilt to help his or her character reach a higher platform – and then tilt it incorrectly just to mess with other players. New items include the propeller suit, which will shoot players high into the sky with just a shake of the Wii Remote and Mario’s new ability to transform into Penguin Mario.

The combination of cooperation and competition lets you pick each other up to save them from danger or toss them into it. At the end of each stage during the simultaneous multiplayer mode, players are ranked based on their score, the coins collected and the number of enemies defeated.

Good points, bad points: My daughter who tested with me loves the game because as she says, “the game combines the classic Mario gameplay with the new look on the Wii. But it looks easy, but the game has a lot of hidden tricks and features that never get old. The simultaneous multiplayer feature lets up to three friends join in on the fun in the same level, Cool huh! And who doesn’t love the classic sounds and music” We both agree, best Mario game ever.

The Verdict: As Mario would say “Here We Go,” the plump plumber is game king again.

NOTE: The Original “Video Game of the Week” Column ran from 1987-1999 (The Miami Herlad/Knight Wire; 1999-2009, various media. It’s now a featured (I was the creator of the column and at the time the only one of its kind in newspaper print and wire).

GadgetsAndGifts4U

Cool gadgets for any gift idea!