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THE GAMES: IN DEPTH
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From here on out, this will be a huge collaboration effort between Matlock, TekunoRobby and I. TekunoRobby and Matlock were kind enough to format pics in a 56k friendly size, write some shit up and grab tidbits from the press releases. They saved this poor 56ker a lot of work, so my endless gratitude is required.
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AMPED 3
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Amped 3, like snowboarding itself, isnt just about the sport. Sure, it all starts with riding huge mountains, finding lines through the trees in hip-deep powder, and tricking your butt off
which is why theres an all-new physics engine, perfected controls, and the most authentic riding experience at some of the worlds greatest winter resorts. But the soul of snowboarding is all about style. So, in Amped 3, theres incredible customization, a fat helping of boarding culture, and huge Snowbox loaded with killer gameplay. With a new Park Builder, insane bone-breaking sledding, and snowmobiles for exploring, you can be who you want, go where you want, and do what you want.
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Massive Mountains Amped 3 features seven new resorts, up to three times larger than levels in Amped 1 and 2. Take on hundreds of challenges around the resorts, or pull out your sled and try to hang on for dear life. Explore the entire mountain on a snowmobile, get away from it all in the back country, or find the perfect spot and build your own obstacles, rails, and jumps.
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Snowbox The resorts are loaded with hundreds of challenges; beat them and earn upgrades, new stuff, or Coin you can use to buy a ton of swag. And these challenges arent just about your skills on a snowboard
theres snowmobiling, sledding, and more. All your top scored runs, hang-times and crashes are automatically posted for all to see on Live
see how you measure up against the rest of the planet and go grab the top spot.
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Park Builder Anywhere, anytime, you can plant your own jumps and rails to create a personal terrain park, add things to trick off to get better High Scores, or just make a difficult challenge a little easier. You can even create your own sessioning area. And you earn newer and crazier objects to plant as you play the game.
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Coop Sled Slaughter- Hop on a sled and just try to hang on! The longer you can rise, the greater the destruction and carnage
and the bigger your medical bills (aka high score). Or, if you want to teach your buddy a lesson, tie your sleds together and see who can do more damage to themselves. Good times!
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Snow Tracks Over 300 new indie music tracks
again Amped 3 offers up more fresh tracks than any game ever made.
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Story - Amped 3 stays true to its roots with the most authentic trick-based snowboarding game that is played out in an incredibly cool new story that takes you on a mind-blowing trip into the snowboarding subconscious. You and crew have been saving up cash for a trip to Chile, where you all plan to keep riding until the money runs out. But when someone steals the cash and tries to pin it on you, the rest of the crew mysteriously disappears and youre on your own. Then things get REALLY weird. Its up to you to find out what the crap is goin on as you ride some of the greatest resorts around the world and conquer your nemesis.
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CALL OF DUTY 2
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Call of Duty 2 lets players experience four individual soldier stories as they overcome insurmountable odds in multiple campaigns. Players have the freedom to follow each of the four storylines through for the ultimate character-driven experience, or they can engage in the historic battles chronologically for quick hitting action.
Infinity Ward, creator of the blockbuster, original Call of Duty, has also expanded the scope of combat to deliver a truly realistic battlefield experience. Squads now have the freedom to take on a variety of mission objectives, on expansive battlefields that allow for multiple paths and the ability to utilize actual combat tactics like outflanking and fire and maneuver capabilities.
Please introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your background?
(Hank) Im Hank Keirsey, retired Lieutenant Colonel, US Army -- twenty-four years of service with the Army, three years with Activision. I have a bachelors degree from West Point and a masters in history from Duke. I taught military history at the Military Academy. I am a combat veteran of the first Gulf War and returned from Iraq last May working with a contractor. I served three years at the Armys premier training center- - I have seen and trained over 1000 infantry platoons. I trained West Point cadets in tactics and leadership for five years. With the Call of Duty franchise, John and I are here to help pass on our experiences and further help the team make the most intense and authentic game possible. (John) Im John Hillen, retired US Army Captain twelve years of service with the Army and three years with Activision as a military advisor to all the games in the Call of Duty franchise. I served in combat in the first Gulf War as a cavalry officer and have also served with airborne and special operations units the world over. I have a Masters Degree in War Studies from Kings College London and a PhD from Oxford. Ive written several books and hundreds of articles in military affairs and military history. I review books for the New York Post and am an on-air commentator for ABC News.
One of the missions in the game depicts the desert battle that took place in Toujane, between General Montgomerys 8th Army and General Rommels Afrikakorps, what was the importance and significance of this battle?
(Hank) The desert war between Rommel and Montgomery has held a fascination for historians and military buffs for a long time. Vast expanses of desert and formations of tanks maneuvered like so many ships in a huge ocean of sand -- each side always searching for that key flank or weak point in the other sides disposition. Armored platforms accelerated the speeds at which battles developed -- in a blink, if you dropped your guard, you could have tanks thundering through your rear areas. And, that spells trouble.
We tend to think of the desert war as pure tank combat, but champion Armored formations were those that understood the coordination needed between tanks and infantry: too many antitank guns ahead -- root em out with grunts; enemy tanks ahead then lead with armor. The battle in Toujane showcases a fight where, because of the tight quarters of houses and narrow valleys, the tanks and infantry really need to work closely together. A heads up from a grunt to a tanker about whats in a window or around a corner can make all of the difference for success.
(John) This battle was the culmination of a titanic campaign that had swept back and forth across North Africa for over two years already. And it involved some of the most well-known military personalities of the war in Rommel and Montgomery. The action in Toujane was part of a larger attack on the Mareth Line, a heavily fortified set of German defensive positions known as the Maginot Line of Africa. Nonetheless, in heavy fighting in 1943 Montgomery managed to break through Rommels line and flank him, marking the beginning of the end for the Afrikakorps. The challenges of fighting in Toujane and the close coordination of tanks, infantry, and even air support seen in this mission make this an excellent and intensive battle that was historically decisive.
Call of Duty 2's new engine and A.I. technology set the stage for authentic squad combat and astonishing action. Concealment can be key as battlefield smoke or even deployed smoke grenades cloud visibility. Weather effects such as the dusty sandstorms of North Africa and whiteout blizzard conditions of Russia, for example, will keep soldiers glued to their bunkers. The team has also employed a state-of-the-art Battle Chatter System that brings the action to life as squad-mates bark out context-sensitive updates in real-time to players through an advanced A.I. system.
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FIFA 06
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EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer 06 Road to 2006 FIFA World Cup immerses players into the emotional intensity of next generation soccer. Utilizing the power of the Xbox 360, fans will be able to revel in the world's most sophisticated representation of soccer ever.
Experience a newly enhanced gameplay engine that delivers extremely responsive controls and greater level of depth. New physics and animations mean that players will now react more realistically to every tackle, shot or pass of the ball.
For the first time you'll see and feel the joy, anguish and pain of 90 minutes of soccer in a videogame. Through the power of HD technology you'll see how the detail of the players is now accurately recreated in fine detail. Examine the threads in the club badge or watch as sweat runs down the player's face during a match.
Stadiums now burst with life and atmosphere. All-new 3D crowds pack the stands singing authentic anthems sampled from real matches. The edge of the pitch will now also include team coaches pacing the touchline plus the full preparation for every substitution and even the referee's assistants tracking the action as the match unfolds.
Team formations and strategic decisions are now managed on-the-fly during the match using a newly designed interface. An innovative, integrated menu system means you no longer have to interrupt the flow of the game to make substitutions or change tactics. Take part in the European Qualification rounds for the World Cup or create your own tournaments to showcase all the new improvements.
Prepare to truly experience international soccer.
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Next Gen Gameplay: The most responsive and context sensitive gameplay yet seen in a FIFA video game. With a deeper sense of control and real world physics players now behave and react believably to every situation on the pitch bringing you closer to the action.
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Believable Players: For the first time ever in a soccer game players exhibit life-like body movement and facial expressions. Watch as players express the full spectrum of emotion from elation as they blast home the winning goal, to venting their anger at decisions that go against them in critical match situation.
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Immersive Environments: Experience every detail of life on pitch. A combination of the most accurately modelled stadiums from around the world brought to life with dynamic 3D crowds. Through HD you'll see and interact with a living world, right down to the individually rendered blades of grass on the pitch.
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New Presentation:Go beyond broadcast with the all new intuitive gameplay interface. The integration of this new menu system lets matches flow seamlessly while the player makes tactical changes and substitutions on the fly.
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Road to the 2006 FIFA World Cup Mode: Take part in the European Qualification rounds for the World Cup or create your own custom tournaments. FIFA Soccer 06 Road to 2006 FIFA World Cup gives you the opportunity to admire the detail of 72 teams, 1,700 players in nine different stadiums from Europe and the rest of the world.
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Online: Enjoy the ultimate in online play using the Xbox 360's native multiplayer technology. Play gamers from all around the world in instant peer-to-peer matches with little effort.
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GUN
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Set in the untamed West of the late-1800s, GUN is a free-roaming action-adventure game that takes players to a world without laws where greed, lust and murder are rampant. As Colton White, a vengeful gunslinger, players must straddle the line between good and evil as they showdown against corrupt lawmen, a murderous preacher, renegade army psychopaths, merciless outlaws and unforgiving Native Americans, while waging war on horseback, collecting bounties, and commandeering trains. Players travel through an action-packed landscape of high mountain wilderness, deserts and bustling territorial towns in an epic story of betrayal, greed, and revenge.
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Expansive Free-Roaming Interactive World - Players traverse on horseback or foot through a living, populated environment that stretches from the snowy mountains of Montana, to the plains of Dodge City, Kansas and the deserts of New Mexico where danger is at every turn.
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Extensive Variety of Missions - Experience an extensive variety of missions such as: wage war on horseback, hunt for bounties, play poker, protect ladies of the night, hunt buffalo, assault a frontier fort.
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Broad Range of Gameplay - Multiple gameplay styles include: strategic gunplay and precision shooting, stealth tactics, and use of explosives. Embark on numerous side missions to master gun slinging and horse riding. Players can unlock secret weapons and upgrade skills and abilities to improve their weapon and equipment performance.
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Epic Storyline - Written by Hollywood scriptwriter Randall Jahnson (Mask of Zoro, The Doors), GUN's engrossing storyline and plot progression will transport players back in time to the lawless West where they encounter ladies of the night, a murderous preacher, and many other characters.
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Experience the Brutality and Gritty Lawlessness of The West - Players battle their way through a harsh, visceral and unforgiving landscape that portrays the West as it really was. They can act as a gunslinger protecting righteousness or seek retribution as they face resistance fighters, local lawmen, renegade soldiers and vengeful Native Americans.
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Authentic Weapons - Encounter authentic gunslingers of the time and utilize a multitude of authentic weapons such as: six shooters, shotguns, Gatling guns, flaming arrows, hatchets, and dynamite.
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KAMEO: ELEMENTS OF POWER
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Renowned game developer Rare Ltd. introduces Kameo: Elements of Power, a mystical action-adventure game available exclusively on Xbox 360, where the ability to morph into unique and incredible warriors allows Kameo to search out and battle ever-present evil.
Boasting impeccable next-generation graphics and innovative gameplay, "Kameo" shines as a giant leap in game development. Continuing its legacy of creating dynamic puzzles, immersive combat and enormous environments, Rare fuses multiple genres to create a strikingly fun gaming experience destined for widespread appeal.
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Real-time morph-into-warrior action. This innovative combat system allows players to harness and strategically employ the unique powers of 10 elemental warriors from the five Elements of Power (Plant, Water, Rock, Ice and Fire), including Major Ruin, the armadillo, and Ash, the fire dragon. Each warrior has up to eight powerful abilities, and players can upgrade their warriors' abilities through strategic augmentations, ultimately providing numerous gameplay possibilities. With the game's fast-paced action, loads of enemies and massive boss encounters, success requires clever and strategic deployment of each warrior's powers and ability to master "quick-switch" combinations. Engage in up-close combat on the battlefield with Pummelweed, a wicked, boxing plant-warrior, or finish off enemies as Chilla, an ice yeti, by throwing penetrating ice spears.
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Next-generation gaming. Transcending the common gaming aesthetic with greater cinematic appeal, "Kameo" represents the cutting-edge graphics and gameplay expected of next-generation gaming on Xbox 360. "Kameo" boasts stunning battlefield experiences where gamers will experience thousands of simultaneous enemies with independent artificial intelligence, as well as exciting special effects, high-quality voice-over and high-definition graphics enabled only through Xbox 360. The visceral and engaging online experience is enhanced with the latest developments in Xbox Live support.
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Vast exploration across a mystical, magical world. Lush environments, an engrossing story, marvelous creatures and clever environmental puzzles abound in this fantastical, richly envisioned universe. In this world, Kameo must master her new ability to transform into various warriors and harness their elemental powers to save her family from Thorn, the evil troll king.
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Immersive and intense cooperative gameplay. "Kameo" enables multiple players to vanquish foes together in split-screen cooperative mode.
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MADDEN NFL 06
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The most innovative and best-selling sports video game in history is revolutionizing the way football is seen and played once again. Madden NFL 06 for the Xbox 360 has been built from the ground up to deliver completely redesigned gameplay and the most lifelike football experience ever created. Feel the true emotion and passion on the football field with incredibly detailed player models who come to life on every play as well as lifelike stadiums and fans. With a full Franchise mode, in-depth online play and a new presentation style and new playcalling system, Madden NFL 06 for the next generation is poised to continue its legacy as the only authentic and licensed NFL experience.
● Revolutionary player models: 3D head scans provide photo-realistic faces and a level of detail that shows the emotion and intensity of the NFL like never seen before.
● Next Gen graphical effects: From the reactions of coaches and players on the sidelines to the seat-level accuracy of thousands of lifelike 3D fans, the new graphics engine provides realistic lighting and visual effects that have never been possible before now.
● High level of animation: Three times the amount of animations in current generation, so the action starts before kickoff and continues with every touchdown celebration.
● Redefined gameplay: Select plays in a whole new way with the innovative playcalling and new picture-in-picture system. Popular features like QB Vision Control, Truck Stick and the Hit Stick are included.
● New Audio Presentation: Listen to the sounds of your game with a biased hometown radio announcer who calls the plays with emotion and hear actual NFL on-field audio from NFL Films, including hits and player chatter that bring the game to life.
● Sights of the NFL: Injury reports are featured on the scoreboard, as you would see in the real NFL stadiums on gameday.
● Advanced Franchise mode: the game mode invented by Madden NFL Football comes to the Xbox 360 with new, easy-to-use Player, Team, and Box Score Cards that give you all the information for your team at the click of a button. Track and break NFL records in multiple categories on the way to Hall of Fame.
● Online play: Play anytime with Xbox Live and see how you stack up again the best players in the nation with real-time leaderboards.
● Extensive customization options: Customize settings, menu music playlists, gameplay controls and strategies.
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NBA 2K6
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● NBA Player Models come to life as never seen before with revolutionary new graphic technology featuring all-new animations, muscle driven body morphs, ultra high- resolution detail, player sweat technology and realistic player head-and-eye tracking.
● True-Life cloth simulation technology delivers the most remarkable lifelike cloth movement system on player's shorts and jerseys.
● The power of the Xbox 360 creates dramatic new lighting techniques including bounce lighting, high dynamic range, and authentic arena lighting arrays sampled from actual NBA basketball arenas to recreate extraordinarily detailed and lifelike in-stadium atmospheres filled with over 10,000 individual crowd models.
● New dramatic broadcast style brings electric NBA action through new dynamic camera work, new camera perspective closer to the action, and depth of field effects.
● The most current player transactions, off-season movement, and rookie signings for upcoming 2005-2006 NBA season.
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NEED FOR SPEED: MOST WANTED
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Wake up to the smell of burnt asphalt as the thrill of illicit street racing permeates the air. From the makers of the hit Need for Speed Underground series, Need for Speed Most Wanted challenges players to become the most notorious and elusive street racer.
Combining illicit street racing and tuner customization with the intensity of strategic police pursuit that surpasses any Hollywood-style chase scene, Need for Speed Most Wanted will be on every gamer's 'must-have' list this holiday season. Out-race rivals, evade cops and exploit hundreds of miles of open road as gamers make their way up the Blacklist.
To become the most wanted racer, players must build up their street cred and Rap Sheet with gripping, white knuckle, head-to-head races with the top drivers on the streets, as well as pull daring, evasive moves to out-run and out-fox the cops that patrol the open road. Players can manage their heat or utilize a number of strategic tactics to keep the cops off their tails as they leave their rivals behind to suck their exhaust fumes.
Need for Speed Most Wanted also features a variety of the hottest cars that range from tuners to super cars. You can customize your ride to race against any class of vehicles. The streets will be your playground this Fall.
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Open Road, Open World: Rule the streets as the most notorious street racer in various regions that include edgy industrial and urban environments. In the game, the environment can be a friend for a foe. Players will master short-cuts as well as use the traffic and destructible environments to their advantage.
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All-New Gameplay: Need for Speed Most Wanted features new and exciting gameplay that incorporates strategic cop pursuit and skill-based evasion techniques with illicit street racing.
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Visual Customization: Whether gamers are trying to lose the cops or they just want to pimp their ride, Need for Speed Most Wanted offers extensive visual customizations.
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Blacklist: As players enter the world of illicit street racing, they must go up against the best street racers on the scene to earn respect and rise to the top of the Blacklist.
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Rap Sheet: Players will build up their Rap Sheet with record breaking times, street challenges and out-foxing an escalation of police vehicles, tactics and technology.
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Performance Tuning: Can't compete against a sports car? Head to the safehouse and tune up your ride to race against any class of vehicles.
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Next-Gen Graphical Features: Need for Speed Most Wanted for the next generation console delivers the next level of graphical excellence in video games. Utilizing graphical techniques including normal mapping and real-time lighting, the graphical experience is incomparable to any racing game on the market.
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Race Online: Need For Speed Most Wanted features online play for Xbox 360, Xbox
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NHL 2K6
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The champion of video game hockey is back! NHL 2K6 continues its legacy as the No.1 rated game with more control, more emotion and more detail than ever before. Take command of tape-to-tape passing, behind-the-net plays and precision give-and-go attacks. Dominate the ice with NHL caliber goaltending, skating, checking and puck handling with the deeply enhanced animation system. Featuring all-new presentation elements, commentary and cut-scenes, NHL 2K6 brings the ice to you.
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On-the-Fly Coaching - Play your style of hockey at both ends of the ice by calling team strategy during the action. Control your offensive flow by effortlessly crashing the net, screening the goalie or pinching your defensemen. Then, counter the attack by clearing out the crease, setting up a break out for an offensive rush, or clearing the zone.
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NHL Calibre Animations - Hundreds of completely new NHL quality animations including goaltending, checking, shooting, and passing--bringing you the most authentic on ice action to date.
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Franchise Perfection - An unsurpassed franchise experience hinges a team's success on your ability to schedule workouts, scrimmages and manage team chemistry.
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The Online Experience - 2K Sports continues to lead the online gaming revolution as NHL 2K6 features seamless online play and the most comprehensive online feature anywhere, including completely online stat tracking, buddy lists management, and online leagues.
