Direct Youtube Link

Woo… This looks like the shiz!

From the Chicago Theatre Site:

Video Games Live is a multimedia concert experience featuring the best music and exclusive synchronized video clips from the most popular games from the beginning of video gaming to the present. Performed by top orchestras and choirs, the show combines exclusive video footage and music arrangements with synchronized lighting, solo performers, special FX, electronic percussionists and unique interactive segments.

Find out more at the Official Video Games Live Site Or at the Chicago Theatre Site

Announced at this years E3, My Stop Smoking Coach with Allen Carr will be released later this year for the Nintendo DS.  Going off of the strength of the My Word Coach series, Dr. Carr will help you quit smoking through sheer willpower and videogames.  I personally don’t see how this could help but I’ve always thought you can quit if you want to.  Anyway a fantastic press release and screenshots are below, enjoy them as I go out to enjoy the smooth flavor of Camel Lights.  Did you know they are a master crafted blend of only the finest hand-picked Samsun & Izmir Turkish tobaccos with a  robust domestic tobacco blend that creates a distinctive flavor and world-class smoothness?  And no, I’m not getting paid to say that…….yet.

Product Description

Do you want to quit smoking but worry that you lack the willpower?

Discover a game that brings the successful Allen Carr’s Easyway to Stop Smoking method to an exciting interactive platform: Nintendo DS.

Now smokers striving to break their nicotine addiction have instant access to an expert they can put in their pocket.

Developed in conjunction with Allen Carr’s experts, My Stop Smoking Coach with Allen Carr uses eye-opening lessons alongside fun and interactive games to uncover the many illusions preventing smokers from quitting.

Key Features

• Create your personal profile: Choose your personal coach from six of Allen Carr’s experts, and your coach will give you personalized advice and tips based on your smoking habits and history.

• Developed in conjunction with Allen Carr’s experts, My Stop Smoking Coach with Allen Carr takes the method to a new level by simultaneously entertaining and challenging the player – a truly interactive approach and more efficient learning process that enables the player to quit smoking more easily.
• 15 innovative mini-games: A fun way to help you dispel the illusions about nicotine addiction.

• Reward system: Using the Path to Freedom meter, track your progress as you move from dependence to freedom.

• Special calendar of benefits: Once you’ve quit, you can still play the game and measure the daily benefits you get from your new life without cigarettes.

Allen Carr’s Easyway to Stop Smoking Method

Facts about Smokers
• 1.3 billion people smoke worldwide (Source: http://health.learninginfo.org/cigarette-smoking-facts.htm)
• 1 out of 2 smokers say they intend to quit smoking in the next 6 months (Source: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/ccdpc-cpcmc/cancer/publications/nphs-sboc/nphs12_e.html)
• The desire to quit smoking is stronger among 15–24 year olds (Source: http://www.epi.hss.state.ak.us/bulletins/docs/b1997_37.htm)

The method
Carr’s Easyway method focuses on the reasons why we smoke rather than the reasons we shouldn’t. Since smokers already understand that smoking is unhealthy, costly and often anti–social, the Easyway method eradicates the belief that smoking provides any sort of genuine pleasure or crutch. Additionally, by eliminating feelings of sacrifice and deprivation, this method quells smokers’ fear of stopping.

A worldwide property
• Published in 47 countries, the book has sold 8 million copies. It is the best selling stop smoking method in the U.S. to date (Source: Bookscan, LTD March 2008)
• A global network of clinics in 38 countries: 250,000 smokers treated at clinics to date

The results
• Based on the three-month money-back guarantee offered at all Allen Carr’s Easyway Clinics, the success rate is over 90%
• Independent studies indicate that even after 12 months the success rate remains over 50%
• An estimated 10 million smokers have been cured worldwide by clinics and books

pics courtesy of GoNintendo

Well, I don’t really know how to softly break this to you but I assume you know if you read the headline. Yes kids, the worst (IMO) 3rd party peripheral maker has gained the license to produce controllers for numerous upcoming Capcom games. In the past HORI has been the company to go to in regards to fighting sticks, so it will be interesting to see if Mad Catz can find a way to make a good product and not mess this one up. Most die hard Street Fighter players enjoy using joysticks over controllers, so we’ll see if they transition to this company. Luckily HORI still has a PS3 fighting stick out there that is still available. Press release below.

SAN DIEGO - (Business Wire) Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), a leading third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider, announced today that it has secured a license from Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of videogames, to produce branded controllers and accessories based on the Street Fighter® IV, Bionic Commando® and Resident Evil® 5 videogame properties. The agreement gives Mad Catz North American and European rights to a range of accessories for all current videogame platforms, including the PC.

“We are excited to partner with Capcom to create branded controllers and accessories based on three of the videogame industry’s most popular and enduring franchises,” said Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz. “We look forward to offering unique and exciting accessories to fans of these games, as we continue to grow and diversify what we believe to be the industry’s leading portfolio of branded videogame accessories.”

“This is a real collaboration between Mad Catz and Capcom,” said Germaine Gioia, senior vice president, licensing, Capcom. “We are developing a broad variety of game peripherals for a wide game-playing audience — from the casual to the most loyal, core fan. These innovative peripherals will maximize the overall experience that comes from playing Capcom games.”

So I haven’t really been covering much Xbox 360 stuff on here and that is mainly due to my lack of interest in the system.  But I have a responsibilty to report the news just like Fox does and keep it fair and balanced.  So to start off my 360 news, I thought I would let you all in on a fantastic looking bundle for Gears of War 2.  With this highly anticipated game launching this November, many fans will probably want to check out what Amazon has to offer.  Just like the Halo 3 Legendary edition with the Master Chief helmet, this limited bundle for GOW2 will include a Lancer replica (which appears to be pretty much to scale).  The Lancer is a pretty boss gun with the chainsaw attachment, which the replica will have chainsaw sounds and vibration.  Enough with the chatting here is what things will look like.  Pics from Amazon.com and teamxbox.



Amazon.com description as follows:
Pre-order the Amazon.com Exclusive Gears of War 2 Lancer by November 7, 2008 and receive the Standard Edition of Gears of War 2 free or upgrade your order to the Limited Edition of Gears of War 2 for $10 more. This offer applies only to the purchase of the Amazon.com Exclusive Lancer and the Standard or Limited Edition of Gears of War 2 offered by Amazon.com and does not apply to products sold on our site by third-party merchants or through third-party areas such as Amazon.com Marketplace or Auctions. Limit three per household.

How to Qualify for the Amazon.com Exclusive Gears of War 2 Lancer:

* Pre-order the Amazon.com Exclusive Gears of War 2 Lancer and either the Standard Edition of Gears of War 2 or the Limited Edition of Gears of War 2. Add your selected items to your cart and proceed through the purchase process. Upon check out $59.99 (the cost of the Standard Edition of Gears of War 2) will be deducted from your total order.
* This offer applies to qualifying purchases made before 11:59 p.m. PT on November 7, 2008 while supplies last on the “Gears of War 2″, “Gears of War 2 Limited Edition”, and “Gears of War 2 Amazon.com Exclusive Lancer Bundle.”
* Offer does not apply to out-of-stock items.
* Offer may be used in conjunction with the purchase of products sold by or under the brands of third parties, including, but not limited to, Target.com, eToys, or any other merchants, or sold through third-party areas such as Amazon Marketplace or Auctions, but the but the qualifying products must be purchased directly from Amazon.com. Offer cannot be redeemed at Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.de, Amazon.fr, Amazon.co.jp, or any other Web site operated by Amazon.com, its affiliates, or third-party merchants (including Web sites linked to from the http://www.amazon.com site).
* If the offer has a minimum purchase requirement, taxes, gift-wrap, and shipping and handling charges do not apply toward the minimum purchase amount.
* *Free: Shipping rates and tax may apply.
* Offer cannot be applied to orders placed after November 7, 2008.