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    <title>vpgames blog</title>
    <link>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/</link>
    <description>General News in the Gaming Industry</description>
    <dc:language>en</dc:language>
    <dc:creator>admin@vpgameslive.com</dc:creator>
    <dc:rights>Copyright 2010</dc:rights>
    <dc:date>2010-07-27T17:15:00-08:00</dc:date>
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    <item>
      <title>Sin and Punishment: Japanese N64 Game gets Sequel on Wii</title>
      <link>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/sin_and_punishment_japanese_n64_game_gets_sequel_on_wii/</link>
      <guid>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/sin_and_punishment_japanese_n64_game_gets_sequel_on_wii/</guid>
      <description>{summary} Who would have guessed that in 2010 the Wii would get a sequel to a 2000 Japan&#45;only shoot’em up for the N64? But sure enough we now have Sin and Punishment: Star Successor and we sure are grateful. Already being masters of their craft, Treasure, the makers of shooter classics like Ikaruga and Gunstar Heroes, has played with the formula to create a bizarre, action&#45;packed thrill ride that takes great advantage of the Wii remote.


Sin and Punishment: Star Successor takes the side&#45;scrolling shooter concept and translates it into 3D. At first it resembles an on&#45;rail shooter but your characters can be moved independent of the environment. Plus the occasional 2D sections and the sheer amount of fire you will be encountering betray the game’s bullet hell roots. It is more like Starfox 64 than anything else. Using the Wii remote and nunchuk you move a character on screen while aiming their gun with the pointer. There is a dodge button, melee attack and depending on whom you are playing as, a charge shot or multi&#45;shot. The original used a strange lock&#45;on system and while that is present here as well, freely aiming with the Wii remote is the best way to go. Learn these controls quick

because this game is fast and relentless.


There is some dumb anime storyline about a boy and some monster girl he loves trying to escape from some evil Japanese space syndicate but that is just a pretense for you to fly through eight crazy courses blasting anything that moves. And I mean anything. The enemies in this game are insane and totally without a theme. One moment you are shooting some six&#45;armed radioactive monster and the next a giant panther has merged with a giant vulture in order to take you down. Running at a near constant sixty frames a second, it’s not a bad looking game, although the character models are a little rough and the colors are weirdly dim, it is just an incredibly strange one.



With that strangeness though, comes a variety that makes this game that much more intense. You will spend more time fighting the larger&#45;than life, multi&#45;stage bosses with ridiculously long health bars than shooting random grunts and those boss fights are a delight. One has you slashing train cars apart to stop a stampeding creature. Another has you avoiding a sea monster’s snapping jaws while trying to remain in a current of water. One has you killing the entire crew of a battle ship before fighting the ship itself and another takes your gun away and has you fist fight the boss. I will not spoil the glory that is the final boss but rest assure, Sin and Punishment: Star Successor is so fun and so good because it never lets up and always surprises you.


Unfortunately, like most good shooters, that fast pace and intensity come at the expense of the running time. It is a hard game and you will die often but even still, beating the game will probably only take about four hours. Extra difficulties levels and characters help pad out the package but like all true arcade style games, the real name of the game is high score. Sin and Punishment: Star Successor has plenty of ways for you to increase and multiply your score but it resets once you die. And since your scores can be uploaded online, an absurd amount of time can be sunk into trying to get the highest score possible and showing it to the world. But even if you are more about hanging out with friends than inflating your ego, Sin and Punishment: Star Successor still has you covered. While both characters sadly do not show up onscreen, another player can grab a controller and help you blast your way through the galaxy. Sin and Punishment: Star Successor is too hard and too niche to recommend to everyone. That combined with its short length makes this a game one should rent and test their tolerance for before making a full purchase. As only a casual fan of hardcore shooter however, I still found this game to be a thrilling experience that is one of the purest forms of fun.


4 out of 5

&#45; Jordan Minor</description>
      <dc:subject></dc:subject>
      <dc:date>2010-07-27T16:15:00-08:00</dc:date>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title>Red Steel 2: Surprisingly Realistic with Wii Motion Plus</title>
      <link>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/red_steel_2_surprisingly_realistic_with_wii_motion_plus/</link>
      <guid>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/red_steel_2_surprisingly_realistic_with_wii_motion_plus/</guid>
      <description>{summary} Playing Red Steel 2, the sequel to the Ubisoft Wii launch title, the first thought that comes to mind is not “Wow, this is so much better than the first game” instead it is “Wow, why aren’t more developers using Wii motion plus”. While its fresh new visual style certainly helps, it is the fantastic controls that make this first person shooter/slasher an experience unlike any other.


The first Red Steel was an average shooter that was notably for being one of the first first person shooters on Wii. Unfortunately, the pointer controls were fidgety and the sword fighting, the game’s other main hook, could only recognize slashes in the eight cardinal directions. It was not nearly as revolutionary as the trailers made it out to be. Add in rather bland visuals and storylines about an American bodyguard saving his Japanese mob princess girlfriend and you had one of Wii’s first major disappoints.


It took four years and a new piece of hardware but Ubisoft has addressed nearly all with the sequel. Actually, reboot is probably a more accurate term. The only things Red Steel 2 retains from the original are the sword and gun mechanics and a plot about Western and Eastern cultures colliding. One of these aspects is stronger than the other but together they create one of the most improved sequels seen in quite some time.


Red Steel 2 takes place in Caldera, a strange town resembling a cross between some cowboy&#45;filled desert and a Japanese village. The culture of the local population reflects this mishmash as well. You play as the nameless final member of the Kusagari clan, a group of gunslinger samurais, out for revenge while protecting the town from vicious gangs and powerful warlords. The plot is thin and is the weakest part of the package but the multi&#45;ethnic fusion has led to one of the game’s strengths, the new art style. Instead of the first game’s boring realism, the world of Red Steel 2 is a bold, cel&#45;shaded wasteland that is a joy to look in way not unlike Borderlands. The character designs are not great but you will be seeing so little of them it will hardly matter.



Red Steel 2’s structure has also been slightly revamped. The game is broken up into chapters but instead of being completely linear, each chapter gives you a new hub, like a saloon or a train station, and presents you with new missions to complete. It is like a stripped down open&#45;world game. Unfortunately these missions can be quite repetitive at times. You will either be fighting guys, destroying stuff or learning some new sword technique. Plus the game hides its somewhat lengthy load times with the same doors, adding to the feeling of déjà vu. The game recognizes that the combat is it is main attraction. Everything surrounding it feels like an excuse to get back into the action. But that action is so sublime, you can hardly blame them.


With the power of motion plus, Ubisoft has created a sword simulator on Wii so good, the upcoming Zelda may have something to worry about. Every slice and block is detected. The strength of your blow matters, there is a boatload of special moves (like slicing a guy into the air and leaping after him) and an addictive combo system will have you trying to make every encounter as stylish as possible. Red Steel 2 just feels good to play and if you upgrade your character all the way, soon you will feel as badass as he is once you starts cutting dudes down. Even with the fantastic new sword controls, Ubisoft did not forget about the gunplay. While guns do feel underpowered once armored enemies start showing up, the aiming now works which is a huge improvement. But the sword is more fun and the game smartly expects you to supplement your offense with the gun instead of relying on it. Using both weapons in tandem adds a strategy to the combat but I still suspect that a player could never fire a bullet and still get through 90% of the game. 


Unlike the first game, multiplayer is unfortunately nowhere to be seen. But at least the campaign is a decent length and every level can be replayed. Again, the game is clearly about the swordplay and the visuals. Everything else was an afterthought. Without the swordplay controls Red Steel 2 would be a competent shooter with a unique visual presentation. With it, it is one of the most satisfying and tactile video games on the market. It is a Wii game that truly shines because of how well it takes advantage of the platform. It is a justification of motion&#45;controlled core games. 


And do not worry, your arm won&#8217;t get tired!


4 out of 5


&#45; Jordan Minor</description>
      <dc:subject></dc:subject>
      <dc:date>2010-07-22T04:39:00-08:00</dc:date>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title>Five Ways Pokémon Games Need to Evolve</title>
      <link>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/five_ways_pokemon_games_need_to_evolve/</link>
      <guid>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/five_ways_pokemon_games_need_to_evolve/</guid>
      <description>{summary}

This September Pokémon Black and Pokémon White will arrive in Japan before their international

release next spring. The fifth generation of Nintendo’s handheld RPG phenomenon is fast

approaching. Right now we know pocket monster fanatics can look forward to “innovations”

such as 3D graphics, three&#45;on&#45;three battles and idle animations for new creatures like Zorua and

something resembling a “fire pig”. Plus DSi and 3DS owners can use the cameras on their systems

for video chat. But ever since Pokémon Gold and Silver ten years ago the series has gone nowhere.

If they want me to put down the cash to catch ‘em all again more things are gonna have to change.


1. Have Pokémon That Don’t Suck

To me there are only 151 Pokémon. Sure some of the more decent ones are pretty cool but after

forcing your designers to come up with 493 of the little things it is only naturally that their

creativity has run dry. Pokémon Black and White should focus on dreaming up some higher quality

beasts even if it means having fewer of them.


2. Make a Story That Matters

We all want to be the very best, like no one ever was but that does not mean that every Pokémon

has to have the same “rise to the top of the ladder” storyline. Maybe it is time to take the criminal

gangs out of the fringes and put them in the spotlight. Or better yet, develop the Pokémon world

beyond the trainers. In a world where God can be caught in a ball by a little boy, how have

Pokémon affected the rest of the world?


3. Speed Up the Gameplay

JRPGs are the slowest of genres and Pokémon is no different. But still, the interface can definitely

be sped up, especially now that we have a touch screen. It is kind of a shame that Nintendo is so

opposed to changing their golden goose that something as simple as streamlining the menus is saved

for later installments.


4. Change the Gameplay

This is a hard one. Specifically, it is hard for this to not be vague. Basically, I’ve been doing the

same thing for the past decade of Pokémon games. I love the concept and the games are still great

but now I want to do something new. A new generation means a new chance. I do not know what

new thing I want to do but figuring that out is the job of the game designers. I trust they have ideas.


5. Consumers, Don’t be Racist

If sales data comes back saying that Pokémon White has sold four million units while Pokémon

Black only sold five copies in Detroit, America will have some explaining to do.

Game Freak has said that they want to change up the Pokémon formula with Black and White.

Here’s hoping that they are telling the truth.


&#45; Jordan Minor</description>
      <dc:subject></dc:subject>
      <dc:date>2010-07-19T16:57:01-08:00</dc:date>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title>Super Mario Galaxy 2 Review</title>
      <link>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/super_mario_galaxy_2_review/</link>
      <guid>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/super_mario_galaxy_2_review/</guid>
      <description>{summary}  If there is anything negative to be said about Super Mario Galaxy 2 it is that the quietly beautiful story of its predecessor has been scaled back considerably. But the bit of plot it does have contains a message that perfectly describes this amazing game. The gentle pull of the universe eventually brings all things together. Just as Mario shall always be reunited with his special one Princess Peach, we have been surprisingly and gratefully reunited with 2007’s game of the year through a sequel that tops it in every way.


It has only been a few months since New Super Mario Bros. Wii was released and sold a billion copies but its influence has already started to show. In addition to sharing that game’s love for a gigantic Bowser, Galaxy 2 straight&#45;up begins with Mario in a 2D sidescroller introducing familiar concepts like star bits and spin attacks before gradually adding an additional dimension. With the exception of one glorious spoiler, it is really as if the first game never happened. Just as NSMBW reintroduced the masses to 2D Mario, Nintendo hopes Galaxy 2 will do the same with 3D Mario.


This philosophy is also carried over into the new streamlined interface. Until now 3D Mario, Galaxy 1 included, have used hub worlds like castles and observatories to serve as locations for level entrances and playgrounds for ability testing. A Galaxy 2 still has a hub world, an asteroid shaped liked Mario’s face, but it has been shrunk in favor of a 2D Mario style map. The exploration is gone but getting around is much easier and straightforward. Besides, it is the levels that really matter.


Describing all of the inventive, mind&#45;blowing and just plain fun things you will do to get all 242 stars would make this review the length of a small novel. Sure you only need 70 stars to win but you will want to keep going after that because there is always something new around the corner. Even the green star challenge which places 120 new stars in levels you have already visited is worth doing because it tests your proficiency with Galaxy 2’s pitch&#45;perfect platforming controls. In this game you will long jump through gravitational fields, fall forever around rotating logs, drill through planets to take down giant koopas, wall jump off reforming platforms and past shadowy clones, fly giant birds and slide upside down through giant tree trunks. Add in power&#45;ups from the last game (fire flower, spring suit, boo suit, bee suit but sadly no ice flower) and crazy new ones like a powerful rock suit and platform spawning cloud suit and you have the ingredients for exactly what you would imagine out of a next generation Mario game and so

much more, surreal to think about but with gameplay that feels just right.





The first Galaxy had these things as well but after playing this sequel, you get the feeling Nintendo held back a bit last time. They were introducing so many new concepts at once they toned them down to avoid overwhelming the player. With Galaxy 2 the kid gloves are totally off. Galaxy 1 also recycled some ideas a few too many times. In fact, the lowest points of Galaxy are the few moments the pulled from Galaxy 1, namely the giant 8&#45;bit Mario purple coin collecting nightmare. Plus Galaxy 2 is looks a little better too. 


Whereas Galaxy 1 had dark&#45;blue space backgrounds, Galaxy 2 is brighter and more colorful, appropriate considering its summer release. The music remains as excellent as it has ever been with my personal favorite being the theme to Fluffy Bluff Galaxy and Cloudy Court Galaxy. It is thunderous, majestic and triumphant in a way only orchestrated music can be. Props also have to be given to Throwback Galaxy’s remix of bob&#45;omb battlefield. The soft jazz nicely compliments the nostalgic remake of the classic Mario 64 level.


Galaxy 2 has one more ace in the hole that Galaxy 1 lacked. Yoshi, Mario trusty green dinosaur steed, makes in appearance in what has to be his best 3D representation yet. On his own he provides Mario with a higher jump, faster speed and a tongue capable of swallowing enemies, spitting projectiles and pulling levers. But much like Super Mario World, Yoshi can power&#45;up just like Mario. Peppers give him a speed boost, berries turn him into a balloon and glowing fruits allow him to illuminate invisible platforms. This game succeeds because of its variety and Yoshi adds to that variety immensely.


It is always possible to nitpick. Sure levels are a little small and yeah some of the prankster comet challenges are ridiculous but after playing 60 hours of this game and having the time of my life during 59 of them, giving this game less than five stars would be a disservice. It is one the best things to come out of Nintendo, platforming games, and this generation of games. We all want to see Mario do something new in his next game but where you go after you have already, twice, gone out of this world?


5 out of 5


&#45; Jordan Minor</description>
      <dc:subject></dc:subject>
      <dc:date>2010-07-13T19:12:00-08:00</dc:date>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title>Sony&#8217;s Move: Is it a Wii ripoff or something more?</title>
      <link>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/sonys_move_is_it_a_wii_ripoff_or_something_more/</link>
      <guid>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/sonys_move_is_it_a_wii_ripoff_or_something_more/</guid>
      <description>{summary} Nintendo has the Wii Remote and Wii Motion Plus. On November 4th Microsoft will have Kinect for $150 (supposedly) and on September 19th Sony will announce their entry into the motion controller war with the release of the PlayStation Move. It will not be long until the trifecta is complete. How is Sony’s candidate compared to the others?


First let’s look at the price.&amp;nbsp; These days buying a Wii will net you a remote, nunchuk and motion plus as well. Getting another complete set adds another $70. Kinect is more the twice that plus the cost of the Xbox 360 itself but remember, with Kinect YOU ARE THE CONTROLLER! Once you have bought the camera you are done. Finally there’s Move, a device most comparable to the Wii controller. Sony’s remote will cost $50 and while you will not need a motion plus you will need to spend another $30 for the nunchuk stand&#45;in required for more core games. Multiply that by the number of players and it ends up potentially being the most expensive controller out there not accounting for bundles.


But core gamers are always willing to shell out cash if the games are compelling. Say what you will about the Wii but by having motion controllers be a core part of the system it has forced developers to at least try using it leading some very quality games in a variety of genres. The main advantage it has so far is that it has somewhat proven itself. Kinect is a radical new experiment but so far even the best games we have seen for it have been casual games with the sole exception of the REZ sequel Child of Eden. The Move is similar to the Wii remote in ways beyond look and function. Like the Wii remote it has enough flexibility and familiarity (buttons) to work for traditional games in addition to the waggling craziness. It’s a safer bet. A compromise.


But will this compromise pay off? At E3 the Move proved to have fidelity possibly higher than even Wii Motion Plus. But even with that level of control and potential for amazing core games, casual games again got the spotlight. Sports Champions, EyePet, and Tiger Woods will probably all play great &#45; but are they enough to buy this add&#45;on as opposed to the Wii? And so far the only Move functionality core games seem to be using is the pointer. SOCOM 4 with Metroid Prime 3 controls sounds awesome, but it does not sound new.&amp;nbsp; People already have Wiis, they are not spending the money to basically get a Wii HD. And while new is great, new *and* good are even better (sorry Kinect).


The problem with this coming war is how reactionary Sony and Microsoft seem to be. History has shown that mid&#45;cycle add&#45;ons tend to fail, just ask the Sega Genesis. It is not that they do not know what they are doing, they are just not that committed and it painfully shows. As much as it may hurt, they should stick to their bases, admit that Nintendo has won for now and make motion controls a meaningful part of their next consoles. But who knows, by then we might have all moved on to smell&#45;o&#45;vision.


&#45; Jordan Minor</description>
      <dc:subject></dc:subject>
      <dc:date>2010-07-08T06:44:00-08:00</dc:date>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title>Is Microsoft&#8217;s Kinect for Xbox 360 Doomed to Fail?</title>
      <link>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/is_microsofts_kinect_for_xbox_360_doomed_to_fail/</link>
      <guid>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/is_microsofts_kinect_for_xbox_360_doomed_to_fail/</guid>
      <description>{summary}


At this year&#8217;s E3 in Los Angeles, Microsoft showcased Kinect &#45; the project formerly known as Project Natal. Videos of the new product are now all over the Web. Kinect is essentially a motion&#45;sensing device that that lets players become the game&#8217;s controller. I think to pause the game you slap your forehead but I&#8217;m not sure&#8230; Anyways, while this could forever end childhood obesity, it may be doomed to fail for a number of reasons &#45; not the least of which is its Microsoft origins.


First of all, gaming is typically a sit&#45;down activity. People usually play games while already worn out from a tough day at work. The last thing you want to do is jump around like a pansy. Kinect is never going to catch on with the hardcore (or even general) gaming community for this reason alone. Kinect is also extremely limited by what it can really do. Serious gamers get into exact control with specialty controllers that can perform exact and accurate controls. This will never happen with full&#45;body control, as it would be too hard to make it work properly, and game developers do not have the money right now to spend on that kind of R &amp;amp; D.


Then there is another bad part: hardwood floors. Unless your home has a slab floor of solid concrete (or a really thick carpet), no one is going to put up with the room and house shaking that from this &#8220;body controller.&#8221; This forces the games to be played on a cement floor. Live in an apartment? Have fun getting evicted.



Have a second&#45;floor gaming area?&amp;nbsp; You might as well buy your kids a real drum set. Even with thick carpeting, this will be a nusiance to anybody who is not playing, which is most of the people in the house, since it appears the controller can only handle two people at a time.


Don&#8217;t get me wrong: I&#8217;m sure that Kinect, like Rock Band or a Nintendo Wii, will be fun to have at a party. It will also be a good way to help stay in shape. It does seem like an fairly amusing way to run in place and perform other lame motion exercises.&amp;nbsp; The bowling game might be interesting (although that horse has been beaten to death with Wii Bowling).&amp;nbsp; Tai&#45;Chi and yoga fans might warm to this as well.


But when all is said and done, game consoles were invented with game controllers in mind. The Kinect is a gimmick, and as gimmicks go, its popularity will be brief, unless the most compelling game in the world arrives built around it. And I do not see that happening anytime soon.&amp;nbsp; It certainly wasn&#8217;t at E3.</description>
      <dc:subject></dc:subject>
      <dc:date>2010-06-25T17:46:01-08:00</dc:date>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title>Nintendo&#8217;s New 3DS Gaming System: No Glasses Required</title>
      <link>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/nintendos_new_3ds_gaming_system_no_glasses_required/</link>
      <guid>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/nintendos_new_3ds_gaming_system_no_glasses_required/</guid>
      <description>{summary}


The E3 Convention began on Tuesday with Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo all showing off their newest and coolest: Microsoft&#8217;s new Kinect motion&#45;sensing device, and Playstation&#8217;s Move surely drew some large crowds.&amp;nbsp; But the biggest news from the event was Nintendo&#8217;s new 3D system called the 3DS.&amp;nbsp; 3&#45;D is clearly the next big thing and Nintendo, being ahead of the curve as usual, has developed a portable system which focuses on where the video game market is headed, as opposed to where it is now.


The line to play this new system wrapped out the door, around the corner, and into Sony&#8217;s territory.&amp;nbsp; People waited a about an hour in line to play.&amp;nbsp; The system looks pretty similar to the mock&#45;up that&#8217;s been making the rounds. It has a 3.5&#8221; 3D display up top, and a touch screen below. No glasses are needed for the 3D and you can control how much of a 3D effect you want (or even turn it off completely). Graphics are improved over the DS graphics, it has a Slide Pad (which seems to be a kind of analog controller), motion sensor and gyroscope sensor. It was two outward facing 3D camera lenses, and photo basic editing software.&amp;nbsp; It can even play 3D movies from Warner Brothers, Disney, and more.


In addition to games, Nintendo will offer 3D movies that you can watch on the 3DS. The 3DS also has a kind of passive multiplayer system built in. 


Finally some 3DS&#45;specific games were mentioned. The return of Kid Icarus in Kid Icarus: Uprising is sure to get old&#45;school Nintendo fans excited. Also Miyamoto is working on a 3D version of Nintendogs...&amp;amp; Cats. Virtual pets are in this year, it seems.


All in all, the 3DS sounds very impressive on paper, but the only bad news is that we didn&#8217;t get a price or a launch date for the Nintendo 3DS, although rumor has it, it will be ready in time for the 2010 holiday season.


Nintendo also had plenty of new Wii games to show off: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for the Wii (and using the Wii Motion Plus &amp;amp; Nunchuk to control sword and shield)., Mario Sports Mix, Wii Party, Just Dance 2, (more family&#45;friendly titles) a new Goldeneye 007 game for the Wii (about time, and not so family&#45;friendly), Kirby&#8217;s Epic Yarn, a textile&#45;themed game featuring characters and levels that all seemed to be constructed out of yarn and fabric, and Donkey Kong Country Returns (Wii, coming this holiday season).


All in all it was a great press conference for Nintendo, they were clearly the big winners at this year&#8217;s E3.</description>
      <dc:subject></dc:subject>
      <dc:date>2010-06-17T14:37:00-08:00</dc:date>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title>Earn 15% Cashback at VP Games through Microsoft&#8217;s Bing Cashback Program</title>
      <link>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/earn_15_cashback_at_vp_games_through_microsofts_bing_cashback_program/</link>
      <guid>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/earn_15_cashback_at_vp_games_through_microsofts_bing_cashback_program/</guid>
      <description>{summary} VP Games has partnered with Microsoft&#8217;s new Bing Cashback Program, and you can now earn up to 15% cash back on your purchases at vpgames.com!


How it Works:


1)  To begin getting cash back on purchases at vpgames.com, first sign up for a Bing Cashback account at bing.com/cashback


2)  Once you have signed up, find vpgames.com on the list of Eligible Cashback Stores, or visit our store here.&amp;nbsp; Note: you will need to click on this exact link each time in order to enable Cashback 


3)  Start shopping!&amp;nbsp; Choose from the over 15,000 products we currently have in stock.&amp;nbsp; Each product we offer has a cashback amount between two and fifteen percent.&amp;nbsp; So if you purchase an item for $300 and the cashback rate for that item is 10%, then you will receive $30 back in your Bing Cashback account!


Note: The money you build up in your cashback account is real, hard, cash.&amp;nbsp; It can be used for anything and does not have to be used at VP Games.&amp;nbsp; You can request a check from Bing or you can use the Cashback for further shopping &#45; it&#8217;s totally up to you.


Bing Cashback is a great way to earn money back on all of your video game purchases.


For more information, read How Bing Cashback works, or see the Frequently Asked Questions


Start Shopping Today!</description>
      <dc:subject></dc:subject>
      <dc:date>2010-06-02T16:57:01-08:00</dc:date>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title>Fake Xbox Live Coupons Spreading Like Wildfire</title>
      <link>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/fake_xbox_live_coupons_spreading_like_wildfire/</link>
      <guid>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/fake_xbox_live_coupons_spreading_like_wildfire/</guid>
      <description>{summary}

We’ve recently seen a bunch of fake coupons for a free Xbox LIVE 1600 Point Card surface circulating around the Web.&amp;nbsp; Although we at vpgames have not bought or sold any of these coupons, many other retailers have.

 
Xbox LIVE does not have any free or discount coupons in circulation through 3rd party aggregators like SmartSource.&amp;nbsp; The coupon will not work, and is entirely a scam!

 
Please advise that Microsoft did not issue this coupon and you should treat this coupon as fraudulent.&amp;nbsp; If you have any questions regarding the validity of your coupon, contact Microsoft directly.</description>
      <dc:subject></dc:subject>
      <dc:date>2010-04-20T15:34:00-08:00</dc:date>
    </item>

    <item>
      <title>Nintendo’s First Half Revealed</title>
      <link>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/nintendos_first_half_revealed/</link>
      <guid>http://www.vpgameslive.com/index.php/blog/archive/nintendos_first_half_revealed/</guid>
      <description>{summary}


The amount of information revealed Nintendo’s recent media summit is too much to put into clever paragraphs. So here is just everything you need to know as bluntly as possible. 


Mario Galaxy 2 is coming out on May 23rd. The game is harder, has 240 stars but no hub world, and you can ride Yoshi and power&#45;up him up with dash peppers and blimp berries. The Super Guide is also being considered.


Metroid: Other M is coming out on June 27th. The gameplay is a combination of 3D rendered, fixed camera classic Metroid sidescrolling, Metroid Prime first person action, and lengthy cutscenes featuring a rather talkative Samus fresh out of Super Metroid.


Sin and Punishments Star Successor is coming out June 7th. This sequel retains everything you loved about Treasure’s N64 original while adding better graphics and online leaderboards.


Monster Hunter Tri is coming out on April 20th. Capcom moves this pretty PSP system seller to the console in a attempt to finally connect with Western gamers. The new classic controller pro bundle alleviates the control issues of the past. Free online with Wii Speak support is in and demo discs are being given out at local Gamestops.


The beloved indie freeware, Metroid homage Cave Story is out on WiiWare for 1200 points and it is better than ever with its enhanced presentation.


Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver are out. The two best Pokemon games are reborn with the graphics of Diamond and Pearl and a new Pokewalker pedometer accessory that let’s you strengthen your monster with the power of physical activity.


WarioWare DIY is out. Now you can create your own microgames and share them with the world now matter how obscene they are on the DS and on the Wii.


This summer, for two dollars, Photo Dojo puts you and your friends in a cheap fighting game with the power of the DSi Camera. Hilarity ensues.


The obscure Game Boy, Starfox predecessor X is receiving a DSiWare sequel called X&#45;scape with the help of the original creator Dylan Cuthbert and Q Games. Prepare to shoot down more polygonal heads in first person.


More classics top&#45;down shoot’em up action is coming to DSiWare in the form of Metal Torrent.

 

With so much information finally known, only one question remains: where the heck is Golden DS? I guess we will have to wait until E3 to find out about the rest of 2010. Zelda anyone?





&#45; Jordan Minor</description>
      <dc:subject></dc:subject>
      <dc:date>2010-04-07T18:00:00-08:00</dc:date>
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