Diablo III in the Desert

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Diablo 3 - Desert Screenshots

Blizzard's devs and artists have been cooking up an eyeful of sandy vistas, but these aren't just some barren wastelands. No, they're chock full of monsters and temples and more monsters. Check out the new screens in their pixel perfect glory (currently pages 1, 2 and part of 3 out of 13).

Still too 'colorful' for a Diablo title?

Psychonauts

Double Fine's legendary title with an 87 Metacritic Score. Bargain gaming at its best.

Nothing more to be said than go, buy it now!

Source: @InsideGaming

Final Fantasy Coming to iPhone

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Final Fantasy - iPhone

Good new for fans of Final Fantasy's sprite-based outings in the 80's and 90's. Square Enix is prepping two titles, Final Fantasy I and II, for the iPhone. And fortunately for iPhone/iPod Touch owners looking for some "Made in Japan" RPG goodness, it looks like they're going all out in refreshing the look and feel, along with touch-enabled controls.

Check out the screens after the break.

Help Haiti, Shop PopCap

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PopCap - Haiti Relief
Kudos to PopCap for a program they're running in which all of the proceeds from the sale of today's (Saturday Jan. 16) games goes toward Partners in Health, one of the many organizations lending a helping hand in the wake of the terrible disaster that struck the nation.

If you've been eyeing some of the delightful games PopCap has to offer like Peggle or Bejewed 2, and you'd like to support the humanitarian effort, today is the day to do it.

Ends midnight. So go. Shop. Now!

[via Joystiq]

Star Trek Online - Ship SmallIf you've been on the fence about Star Trek Online, Giant Bomb's series of STO beta videos with commentary may firmly push you out of the air lock (I know, I'm mixing franchises). The newest video, the hour-plus-long Set Phasers to Fun - Part 03 shows a nice little newbie encounter that starts with an away team rescue mission scenario.

Expect some genuinely fun-looking gameplay, authentic sounds and Shatner-esque rolls to avoid enemy fire. A good sign for Cryptic's MMO. Fun times!

Star Trek Online - Release DateSo, the beta for Star Trek Online (STO) is up and running, prompting a flood of MMO and/or Trekkers onto Cryptic's servers. It probably ensnared you too! Then it dawns on you that STO doesn't look, play or control like any other MMO in which you've WASDed your way around.

Don't fret, Massively has put together a nice 7-point guide for STO newbies. For instance, here's something to keep in mind concerning "leveling" in the game:

Technically, there aren't any "levels" either. Although, there are ranks beginning from Ensign (a rank you only possess during the tutorial) and moving through Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, Commander, Captain and finally Admiral. Each official rank has ten "sub-ranks" a player needs to level through before they attain the next rank -- that makes for 50 levels.

So, there are levels just don't call it levels, OK? More at Massively.

Feast Your Eyes: Consollection

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ConsollectionReally, for video game junkies, there is nothing else to be said than to just take a gander at Consollection (the originating site appears to have been hammered into the ground as of this post), a gallery of game machines from the earliest systems to the Wii. Available in print for the most perfect coffee table book ever.

Drool...

Source: Consollection / Polkadot.it [via Gizmodo]

Dark VoidAccording to legend, Capcom was in the midst of making a mind-blowing platformer that blended elements of Mega Man with the best of the era's shoot 'em up action. Alas, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System was just arriving on the scene and the title was shelved... until now!

Capcom has announced that its releasing Dark Void Zero in January for the Xbox 360, PS3 and Nintendo DSi! The PC version will follow in February. From the screens at Capcom Unity, the game looks like it would have rocked the NES (perhaps a bit too hard) at the tail end of its life.

A trailer of the game in action awaits after the break...

Source: Video Games Blogger

World of Warcraft - Winter Veil
Azeroth's Christmas-like holiday, the Feast of Winter Veil, is here and it runs from today, December 15, 2009 through January 2nd, 2010. Unlike Pilgrim's Bounty, Winter Veil achievements (except for B.B. King Alliance/Horde) are required for the Long, Strange Trip meta achievement, which awards a Violet Proto-Drake.

As usual, Wowhead and WoW.com have helpful guides along with some nice, time-saving tips and strategies from the community.

Enjoy!

Sony PlayStation Turns 15

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PlayStation - 15th AnniversaryIf you ventured out on day one of the original PS1 launch, it may pain you to know that is was 15 years ago (give or take). To help you reminisce, Sony is celebrating 15 years of PlayStation with a brand new site (in Japanes) that's sure to evoke some memories. We've sure come a long way; let's hope an English site is in the works.

Source: Joystiq
Xbox Avatar PetsSick of mixing and matching the same t-shirts, hats, shoes, and assorted accessories? Want even more customization for your Xbox avatar?

Major Nelson sends word that starting tomorrow, you'll be able to have your choice of the following to shadow your avatar: Large Dog, Pug Dog, Dog in Bag, Cat, Siamese Cat, Long Haired Cat, Goldfish, Guinea Pig, Monkey, Bird, Snake or a Pony.

Each will set you back 240 points. In the meantime, you can check out some of the pets in this Flickr set.

Source: Joystiq


Amazon.com Cyber Monday Video Games Sale

Let the neophytes line up at ungodly hours to score some Black Friday savings at brick and mortar stores. You, patient and smart online shopper that you are, can score some pretty big savings on Cyber Monday instead.

Amazon is running its Video Games Cyber Monday promotion and the savings are pretty decent, and on games of recent vintage too. Below are some examples (savings dollar figures rounded up, what with all that 99 cents business).

Left 4 Dead 2 - Xbox 360 for $29.99 ($20 off)

Left 4 Dead 2 - PC for $29.99 ($20 off)

Dragon Age: Origins - Xbox 360 for $39.99 ($20 off)

Halo 3: ODST - Xbox 360 for $39.99 ($20 off)

Madden NFL 10 - Xbox 360 or Madden NFL 10 for PS3

for $47.95 ($12 off)

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves - PS3 for $40.00 ($20 off)

Wii Fit Plus for $89.99 ($10 off)

As savings go, some are better than others. But why pay full price? Enjoy giving the gift of gaming, even if it's to yourself.


Left 4 Dead 2

Xbox achievements are fun and addictive, but GameLife's Gus Mastrapa explores an achievement-based rewards system that's sure to become a new obsession. Left 4 Dead 2 aficionados not only get the satisfaction of having an "achievement unlocked" pop up and racking up the achievement points, now they can aim for Avatar Awards that reward persistent players with new attire for their avatars, including the a t-shirt based on the game series' zombie hand logo or the Depeche Mode t-shirt Rochelle sports in the game.

Mastrapa's experience explains the allure of such prizes:

I probably would have given the Guardin' Gnome Achievement a shot just for shits and giggles. But that Avatar Award, as purely aesthetic as it may be, is one more reason to master the rocking finale of "Dark Carnival."

Go forth and lay waste to the undead for giggles and swank threads!


Why wait until Black Friday to score some savings on video games? Amazon is running its Black Friday promotion all week.

Amazon's Black Friday Video Game Deals include Lightning Deals along with across-the-board savings (some of them pretty substantial) that encourage you to check back often. It may take some luck and patience to get a really good deal, but avoiding the brick and mortar madness on Black Friday is definitely worth it.

World of Warcraft - Pilgrim's BountyNew event this year!  Pilgrim's Bounty, World of Warcraft's analog to Thanksgiving, is live. As an added bonus, logging in during the event gets you an Onyxian Whelp non-combat pet (as of this writing) as part of the fifth-year anniversary celebrations.

The event runs from Sunday, November 22 through Saturday, November 28, 2009. It doesn't count toward the What a Long Strange Trip It's Been meta achievement, however, there's a turkey non-combat pet and title for those that complete the related achievements. As usual, Wowhead has a nice guide and WoW.com has a FAQ to help you breeze through the holiday (you only have a week).

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