I liked the first Viva Pinata. I liked it quite a bit actually. It was the first game my wife and I found ourselves fighting for TV time to play. So when I heard there was a wholly legitimate sequel on the way that would support the Vision Camera and add in a new trapping element? That’s when I knew that, despite the crack-like addiction I would likely form to the franchise again, I had to give it a shot.

For the most part Trouble in Paradise plays exactly like it’s predecessor. This can be both a good thing and a bad thing. On the one hand VP was a solid title and didn’t need much re-tooling. The few gripes people had about the original have largely been addressed. On the other hand, playing Trouble in Paradise feels a little too familiar. The new additions make for some refreshing changes at first, but quickly begin to feel like a few bells and whistles that were stuck on to justify calling it a sequel. More than anything Trouble in Paradise feels like a standalone VP expansion pack, and that’s not a bad thing. The pricing feels right for the package offered, and it’s giving VP a new lease on life. So many people overlooked the original that it’s great to see Microsoft give these papery party animals a second chance to find an audience. Considering so few of you picked up VP the first time, I think it’s time I cleared up a few things about what Viva Pinata is and what Viva Pinata isn’t.

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I think that most gamers will still argue that despite it’s $50 a year price tag, Xbox Live is still the standard for measuring a console’s online service. While they are getting set to launch the New Xbox Experience late this fall there is still plenty of room to improve the service’s capabilities and that’s in areas that Sony and Nintendo (hell, even Apple) are excelling: mobile devices. Continue Reading »

Obviously taking a cue from our fantastic Jeopardy giveaway, Rockstar and Microsoft have decided to give away oodles and oodles of goodies this weekend.  All you have to do to win is play GTA IV.  The best part?  This contest is good in both the USA and Canada.

Full details in the press release after the jump (not because I’m lazy, but because there’s so much stuff up for grabs that typing it out would give me a brain/hand cramp);

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Someone on CNN’s iReport has posted a picture of their children’s Xbox nailed to a tree. How did it get that way? Well, it would seem the kids were being a bit bratish while they played games on the poor, innocent Xbox. When the boys did not respond to their Father’s requests to behave, he had the Xbox nailed to a tree in their backyard.

It wasn’t the brightest thing to do. Rather than nail it to the tree in what looks like 2 pieces, wouldn’t you have rather made some money off of it instead? I mean, cash does do a bit more for you than a bullet-deflecting Xbox nailed to a tree, right? What do you think?

A Costly Lesson… [iReport]

It’s been a long time since I’ve written anything linking to my man-crush Chris Kohler, but when the man has something to say I think you’d all better perk your ears up and listen. Last week we reported that Microsoft is planning to start burning under-performing Live Arcade games like they were Beatles albums.

Mr. Kohler has decided to chime in on the subject and fill us in on why he feels this is bullshit and what he believes Microsoft plans to gain from this situation. It’s a great read — and it’s not long, so no excuses. Click this link and hear what my dreamboat has to say on the subject.

Today, Xbox LIVE Arcade gets two more titles added to its already extensive list of games. The first one reminds me of a painful time in my life when I chose The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends on the Super NES over The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Hey! Don’t look at me like that, I was young and naive. Anyways, Rocky & Bullwinkle are revived once more in a self titled party game. It features eight playable characters and 25 out of the 100 micro games will be playable via the Xbox LIVE Vision Camera by making gestures and moving around (read: looking like a fool). I have many good memories of Rocky and Bullwinkle (except for that game incident), but I’ll leave the 800 Microsoft Point Guinea Pigging up to you guys.

The other option on the menu is Battlezone. This ancient Atari game has been updated with new modes like Deathmatch, Team deathmatch and Capture the Flag. Of course, it has been updated to look more fab-o than ever for the Xbox 360. Battlezone, by the way, will set you back a cool 400 MS Points. Any takers?

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