Latest news
Lewis O'Brien's Bio
by Matthew Meadows
31.12.07
Name: Lewis O'Brien
Birthday: 22nd August
Country: England
Hometown: Warrington
Main Console: 360
Favourite game ever: Medieval II: Total War
Favourite genre: RPG
Occupation: Student
Email: ljkobrien@hotmail.co.uk
LOTRO Tag: Dererl - Eldar
Looking forward to: Total War: Empires

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- Matthew Meadows
Industry Rumors 4
by Matthew Meadows
31.12.07
1) Halo 2 back to life
Halo 2 will be released (like Fable) on XBL next year as a downloadable game.

2) GTA 1,2 and London for PSN/XBL

The 2d GTA games will be released for download early next year following a period of prolonged pressure to do so from the community.

3) Factor 5
Factor 5 (makers of Lair and Rogue Squadron) are making 2 games, one of which is a downloadable multiplayer game and one of which is unknown (fingers crossed its rogue squadron). Both games will only be on PS3. The 1st game is said to be 'drastically different to Lair' (yay).

4) Mass Effect for PC

Mass Effect will be released for PC with bonus content, but not on PS3.

Matt
(thanks surfer girl)

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- Matthew Meadows
Review: Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
by Matthew Meadows
30.12.07



Uncharted: Drake's Fortune is an effort from veteran platform game makers 'Naughty Dog'. This game promised "a pulse-pounding blend of exploration, action and adventure", but will it deliver.

Graphics: 10
The graphics in this game are spectacular. Brilliant jungles and life-like sea water are all in the game and provide effective ambience meaning a more absorbing game.
Gameplay: 9
This game provides some of the most unique gameplay this year. A good mix between Assassin's Creed style climbing and Tomb Raider style shooting makes this title really fun to play. Well placed explosive barrels and excellent level design also help.
Sound: 9
Superb cut-scene dialoge and brilliant music makes this game a must for gamers with a passion for sound. Especially later in the game, music is vital to make the moment seem more tense, which it achieves.
Longevity: 7
This game follows suit to alot of other current games due to the fact that the single-player mode is quite short. And as this game has no multi-player it is still not very good in terms of lifespan. However it is partially helped by the vast amount of unlockables (behind the scenes etc) and collectables (statues etc).
Overall: 9.5
This game is a masterpiece of level design and graphic design, and clearly shows the PS3's potetial, especially after a Naughty Dog executive admitted that the game only utilised 33% of the PS3's capabilities.

Quick review: Buy it now

Matt

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- Matthew Meadows
Geeky but cool - Part: 1
by Gr1mmy
29.12.07

The best selling MMO of all time has given their 9 million person fan base something so cool, a company has come to Blizzard with an amazing offer, they're giving WoW players the opportunity to have their very own 3D replica of their WoW Character. What they do is look up your character on the World of Warcraft Armory and take all of your characters details and use sophisticated technology to turn your on screen character into 1:18 scale model statue with its name on a small plaque. But heres the let down, to get your hands on one of these replicas you need to pay around £50 or $99.95 plus shipping.

Gr1mmy

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- Gr1mmy
Demo Review: GI Jockey 4 (PS3)
by Matthew Meadows
29.12.07

This game demo is downloadable from the Japanese PS store. Personally i have no idea what is going on, but when a game forces the player to start whipping things to win, i probably know it isn't for me. Also you can't control where the horse goes. All in all, the chocobo mini-game in FF7 is better than this.

Quick Review: GI Joke-y

Matt

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- Matthew Meadows
James Grimshaw's Bio
by Matthew Meadows
29.12.07
Name: James Grimshaw
Birthday: April 9th
Country: England
Hometown: Warrington
Main console: PC
Favourite game ever: Halo: Combat Evloved
Favourite game genre: MMORPG
Occupation: Student
Email: jamesg16@hotmail.co.uk
PSN tag: Gr1mzorz
WoW Main: Krum - Chamber of Aspects
Looking Forward To: Dawn of War 2

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- Matthew Meadows
Guitar Hero 3 Review (360)
by Gr1mmy
28.12.07

Well i got Guitar Hero 3 for Christmas and its ruled most of my holidays. Its so much fun but at the same time challenging. with 4 difficulties as usual which vary significantly.

Graphics: 7

In GH3 there isnt much in graphics as its not the kind of game that is meant to stun you with tons of amazing graphics. Yeah, theres a stage with characters and a crowd but you are always looking at the fret board and the notes so you don't really need to look at the other stuff.

Gameplay: 7

The Gameplay in GH3 is very repetitive as you would expect, but since your always playing a different songs on different levels its always a bit different. There are 42 songs in career mode, over 20 bonus songs and all the songs that you can get of the Xbox Marketplace/PSN. The career mode has lots of characters, guitars to use as well as a shop to purchase more things like guitar finishes and new clothes.

Multiplayer: 9

The online modes for guitar hero are also very cool. Co-Op or Guitar Battle, both are very fun to play with mates or at parties and there also many achievements for these modes.

Sound: 9

The soundtrack for GH3 is awsome, there is a varity of bands from The Rolling Stones to the Kaiser Chiefs (Matt: yay), Guns 'N' Roses to Dragonforce. The only thing that lets it down is the effects if you aren't particularly good at the game, the sound of you missing notes, which is truely horrible.

Longevity: 9

This game could very well last until the next Guitar Hero as long as the tracks keep on getting put onto the marketplace. This game is a hit at parties and its brill to watch relatives have a bash on the controller.

Overall: 8

This game is very fun and can easily be picked up and played as it has no real storyline, you can practice your fave songs or download songs and play those. Very good game, it could keep you occupied for ages.

Quick Review: Musical fun for all ages!

Gr1mmy

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- Gr1mmy
by Matthew Meadows
28.12.07

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Industry Rumors 3
by Matthew Meadows
25.12.07
1) Indiana Jones not on PS3/360
Much anticipated title Indiana Jones 08 will not come to PS3 or 360. It will probably focus on PS2 and Wii, possibly with the Wii being the main SKU.

2) SS-ex
The SSX series is no more. Other snowboarding games are rumored to be in development. I would think if anything, this will be a new version of Amped.

3) Ico 2?
The ICO developers are making 3 new games, 2 smaller (possibly XBL and PSN downloads) games and 1 major one. It could possibly be an ICO 2, but i have no paticular information that gives me this idea.

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- Matthew Meadows
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune
by Matthew Meadows
25.12.07
I got U:DF at Christmas. WOW, this game is stunning. Me and my mate James (not the co-author) were stunned by the graphical detail. Also, the collectables seem like they could easily increase the game's lifespan two-fold. I will make a review when i have completed the game.

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- Matthew Meadows
Linford Butler's Bio
by Matthew Meadows
23.12.07
Name: Linford Butler
Birthday: 3rd April
Country: England
Hometown: Leicester
Main Console: PS3
PSN ID: kidnplay
Favourite game ever: Resistance: Fall of Man
Favourite genre: Shooters
Occupation: Journalist and Webmaster, Student
Email: linfordbutler@googlemail.com
Looking forward to: Killzone 2

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- Matthew Meadows
Looking for work?
by Matthew Meadows
23.12.07
GGTL is looking for a part-time writer, based in the USA/Canada, to write an article once a week on video gaming news in America. No previous experience is needed.

If you are interested email me at gamersguidemeadows@hotmail.co.uk.

Matt

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- Matthew Meadows
Christmas Review: Call of Duty 4 (PS3)
by Matthew Meadows
22.12.07



Before you ask, no, this has nothing to do with Christmas, however this post is a review, and this is Christmas and is therefore a Christmas review. Anyway, the Call of Duty franchise has been around since 2003 and year on year has delivered an entertaining look into the 'great war'. However, with time (and copious amounts of money) comes change; a change to the modern era.

Graphics: 9
Infinity Ward provided a stellar introduction, in terms of graphics, to the PS3 with CoD4. Character models are great, and may even convince you to grow a mustache just like Cpt. Price! Explosions are effective and you can tell great detail has gone into weapon/level design, with masterpieces such as the 'Crossfire' level on show. Also, let this multi-platform game be a lesson to developers who want to port a game onto the PS3, with little slow-down seen in games such as the 'Orange Box'.


Gameplay: 10
Wow. This game, to be honest, is perfect. In terms of gameplay, the developers couldn't have done any better, with tense, exciting levels that set the heart racing to emotional flashbacks. Guns feel realistic for once in a game; for example, a RPG doesn't just fly straight forward as in most games, it veers upwards. Words can't explain how much work i think the developers put into this game, even hiring military advisors such as Hank Keirsey to help provide an accurate war-time atmosphere.


Multi-player: 9
Ok, sometimes the multi-player is flawed, the party system, for example, barely ever works and game invites have a low success rate. Also, there is no lobby system, not allowing gamers to pick levels. Doesn't sound like a 9/10 does it? Well, there is one thing that brings this game to the forefront of online gaming; XP. XP is earnt for completing challenges, much like the XBOX 360's achievments system. With XP comes level growth, and unlockable weapons and perks that all in all lead to a near perfect online experience.


Sound: 8
The sound in this action game is not of huge importance, what is more important is the silence in between it. For example on a certain level ***SPOILERS***were a nuke blows up and we are left to die, only heartbeats and radio can be heard. Brilliant.***SPOILERS OVER***. However, some times you feel like there should be a little more music to add to the situation, but this isn't of huge importance.


Longevity: 4 or 10
If you aren't hooked up to PSN or XBL then rent this game, the 1 player doesn't have a Co-op mode and only lasts about 10 hours max. However, if you are on PSN then you'll be playing this until CoD5, chasing new levels and guns. It seems like the fun won't stop any time soon.


Basically, this is one of the best games i have ever had the good fortune of playing, a brilliant story, great graphics and a multi-player mode second to none. Ask for this for Christmas. Now.

Overall Score: 10/10

Quick review: CoD4 FTW!

Matt

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- Matthew Meadows
Burnout Paradise Demo
by Gr1mmy
15.12.07
Since ive played every Burnout game made, i had to download the Burnout Paradise demo. When you start the game the first thing you need is your drivers permit, it asks you to take a picture of your face with your Xbox Live Vision camera/Playstation Eye to use for your drivers licence, this picture gets traded with other players when you crash into them just like trading insurance in real life.

Next you get your car, there is only one, its a muscle car, a bit of mustang/gto hybrid. Its all mashed up so you need to take it to a repair stop. Once you car is repaired you get to roam free around the city. There is tons to do, 2 types of races, stunt run and burning route.

The online mode is great, its called free burn and you can just race arund the city and do what ever you want with loads of people online.

I cannot wait for this game and I would reccomend this game to everyone because the demo is awsome!
- Gr1mmy
Play.com LIVE
by Matthew Meadows
13.12.07

Me and Gr1mmy are going to the much anticipated Games Convention play.com LIVE. The date has been set as March 15th and we will bring you all of our reviews of games on show at Wembly and will keep you up to date with all of the gossip.

Matt

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- Matthew Meadows
Blizzard Confirm Next-Gen MMO
by Gr1mmy
13.12.07

With this on going theme of new MMO's i have going, Blizzard the company that made legendary games such as Diablo, StarCraft and Warcraft, has announced a new MMO.

The new MMO was uncovered by a thread discusion about the jobs section at Blizzard for a new Lead 3D Character Designer and 3D environment Artist. When a Blizzard staff member saw this and told them that it is for a "Next-Gen MMO". It has also been said that it is definatly not another WoW expansion it is something completetly different.


Gr1mmy

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- Gr1mmy
Pirate MMO!
by Gr1mmy
12.12.07

Pirates of the Burning Sea is an MMO based purely around the world of pirates, you can choose your country/alliance from Britain, France, Spain or join the pirates, i can already see a flaw in this plan because whats the point of playing a pirate MMO without being a pirate.


Anyway, the level cap is level 50, starting from level 5 you can own your very own ship, obviously not as grand as the higher level players. You can commit many of pirate crimes such as looting, piracy, murder and much much more.


The game is in the Beta stage so, im going to get back to you in a few days, with my first impressions of this new MMO.


Gr1mmy

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- Gr1mmy
Warhawk expansion release date
by Gr1mmy
12.12.07
The release date expansion to the hit PS3 multiplayer game Warhawk has been anncounced by Sony today, the expansion including 5 night-time map layouts and the awsome looking KT-424 Combat Dropship which can transport six soldiers as well as a vehicle and pilot.

The date anncounced is Thursday 20th December and will be priced GBP 3.99 and USD 7.99.

Gr1mmy
- Gr1mmy
Industry Rumors 2
by Matthew Meadows
12.12.07
1) Lost Planet
The price of Lost Planet (from an XBOX 360 port) will be $40 in the USA when it comes out for PS3. Expect a price of around £25 in the UK.

2) No DLC for U:DF:
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune will not have downloadable content for the PS3 beyond the odd theme. However, it is rumored that there will be 'Home Trophies' for the game, so you can display your 100-headshot trophy to your envious freinds on upcoming networking game 'Home'.

3) Faster/Fewer/Stronger says Sony:
Sony has outlined it's plans for firmware updates in the new year. There will be fewer of them, quicker download speeds attached and more content when they do arrive.

4) PSN demo for Devil May Cry 4 in Jan/Feb:
A demo for the hugely anticipated and not 360 exclusive DMC4 will arrive in the US in January or February. Expext a similar timing for the XBOX Live demo as well.

5) No Crackdown sequel:
There is going to be NO Crackdown sequel, due to a lack of communication from Microsoft. They asked for a new edition of the game too late, as work at the studios had already started on a new game. Sorry Gr1mmy.

Thanks to surfer girl for the information.

Matt

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- Matthew Meadows
Little Big Planet demo slips
by Matthew Meadows
11.12.07

The demo for highly anticipated game 'Little Big Planet' has slipped to 2008. Not exactly a huge deal considering the new year is only 20 days away, but still, it would have been nice to see how they will implement the level editor (I doubt it would be in the demo anyway). There's always Call of Duty 4 to play anyway...

Matt

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First Impressions: Tabula Rasa
by Gr1mmy
11.12.07

Tabula Rasa is a fresh new MMO, one of the first of its genre of third person shooter mass multiplayer online game. From my first play, i think it could be very good in a few months of updates and patches, there is a few bugs with the servers but most games do in within their first few months after release. Much like MMORPGs, there are plenty of quests and places to explore. This game unlike any other MMO i have played, is such a breath of fresh air like many have said.

I will get back to you guys with a full review soon.

Gr1mmy

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- Gr1mmy
Retro review: Tony Hawk's Underground
by Matthew Meadows
11.12.07

Tony Hawks' first story based game ever was released in 2003 and was in my opinion, one of the best games of the year. The story was based on your character, who is a rising star in the skating world. He must overcome trials of friendship and trust, all while skating for a world title.
Graphics: 7
Gameplay: 8
Multi-player: 9
Sound: 9
Longevity: 8
Story: 10
All in all, a brilliant track-list, solid gameplay and a immersive storyline cements this game as one of my PS2 classics.


9.0/10

Matt

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GT5 = Game
by Matthew Meadows
10.12.07

Every store needs one of that guy wearing blue.

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2k box with EA
by Matthew Meadows
10.12.07
After the Hatton/Mayweather match people are hungry for boxing, which means a great time to give information on a boxing game. The game, called 'Don King Presents: Prizefighter' will mix up an apparently gripping storyline with "documentary" like realism. Sounds good to me!

Matt

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Halo 3 DLC
by Gr1mmy
10.12.07
3 new maps will become available for Halo 3 tomorrow. The first 2 maps Rat's Nest and Standoff are very cool looking. Standoff is an outdoors map with a huge valley, 2 bases at each end and boulders in the middle, this map should be used for medium sized objective matches and ideally used for slayer matches. Rat's Nest is an indoor haven full with vehicles. Rumor says that it would have been used for some sort of vehicle training on the 1 player mode, this room is filled with small passages and ramps for having tons of fun and would make great use of the racing match mode where you have to race around in a vehicle chasing after flags.



The final map 'Foundry' is the most impressive, its just like a normal map except you can use the forge mode to change the whole layout of the map to suit a different game mode, you can add/remove; stairs, walls, bridges, tunnels and more. This would give the game an almost unlimited amount of map variations. Sounds like good fun even though the price is around £6.80 ($12).
Gr1mmy
- Gr1mmy
Dates of war
by Matthew Meadows
9.12.07
Rumors are that Gears of War 2 will be out in 2008, with Gears of War 3 coming out in 2010.

Matt

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Attention PS3 Owners!
by Matthew Meadows
9.12.07
Sick of that noise on the PS3's menu, you know, when it makes that clicking noise. Well, if you fancy a change, go on the UK's PS-Store and download the Heavenly Sword theme. It has a different sound and different logos to the original and you can still have your own background that you used to have.

Matt

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- Matthew Meadows
1 player mode for Warhawk?
by Matthew Meadows
9.12.07
According to a reliable source (surfer girl) Warhawk will get a 1 player campaign mode on the PSN, more news as we get it.

Matt

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Tell your mates!
by Matthew Meadows
9.12.07
Hey gamers, we want to spread our news and opinions on games to as many people as possible, so please (if you think we are worthy of it) tell your buddies about us!

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by Matthew Meadows
9.12.07

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Review: Kula World
by Matthew Meadows
9.12.07
On my quick trip down to Telford and back, I indulged myself in some PSP gaming. Top of the order was one of my PS3/PSP downloadable games, Kula World. The original Kula World was a PS1 game, released in 1998. It was one of a breed of popular 3D puzzle/platformers, and in this game you take control of a ball. You guide the ball around a 3D world to the exit, while gathering keys and fruit. Simple.

Gameplay: 8
For a PSP you need pick-up-and-play-ability, meaning you could easily play for 10 minutes, and then put the game down. This port of the PS1 classic has this quality in bucket loads. While most levels are easy, later on some become a welcome and entertaining challenge.
Graphics: 6
Kula World's graphics were never going to blow you away. And they don't. Some colourful bonus sections provide an exception, but overall, this is just a basic port of a PS1 game.
Sound: 4
Not really anything to speak of, just chimes and drums playing a low-key soundtrack on a loop. Not annoying, but no Final Fantasy 8.
Multi-player: 3
Err, whaa. The copycat mode is meant for a console, and not for a PSP, and is therefore useless.
Longevity: 5
Reasonably addicting, but you will want to play other games instead of this.

Overall score: 6.5/10

+Great value at £3.50
+Gameplay has stood test of time
+Pick-up-and-play-ability
-No multiplayer (not that you care)
-No real longevity

Quick summary: A quick burst of nostaligia at a reasonable price

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- Matthew Meadows
Good news!
by Gr1mmy
8.12.07
Well i just got good news from Microsoft, my XBOX has been repaired and has been shipped back to me! Im so glad, i thought i wasn't going to get my XBOX back for Xmas, but now i can enjoy Guitar Hero 3 on Xmas morning.
- Gr1mmy
Going away
by Matthew Meadows
8.12.07
Just letting you know that i will be away until Sunday night and wont be able to post until then, thanks.

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Review: Resistance FOM
by Matthew Meadows
7.12.07
Resistance: Fall of Man was a launch title for the PS3 in Europe. This game was a big hit for PS3 owners as it was one of the only good games of the time of launch. It's mix of superb storyline which rewards the player for looking deeper into characters and events, and brilliant online mode gave the PS3 a firm foundation for its future.

Gameplay: 7
This game didn't really do anything special in terms of gameplay. Standard controls for a FPS were put in place and guns were reasonably average (apart from a good idea with the wall-penetrating 'Auger' gun). Using aliens on multi-player is cool the first time, but quickly becomes annoying, as they can't crouch down.
Graphics: 7
This game doesn't really look great, it has a good frame rate with no slow-down online EVER. Explosions look good and character models are solid. Nothing special/nothing bad.
Sound: 8
Good music plays on the player's thoughts and makes them feel tense/excited at appropriate points in the story mode. Great character voices and gun noises throughout.
Online: 10
This game is amazing online. It has always worked and has always been solid, just like online games should be. Very impressive microphone audio, which for me, is a must. There is also a great party system where you and your freinds can go into a match and talk to each other without having to hold any buttons down. Map add ons ensure the game will have lasting appeal, and 40 player matches are great fun. Rank increases and effective clan support also help this game cement its place as the best online game on the PS3.
Longevity: 10
The game's online capabilities make this one last a long time. There is some replay value for offline players though, such as intelligence packs which give you more in-depth information on the storyline. There are lots of different difficulty levels for veterans of the game. New guns with replay and achievments which unlock cool stuff like concept art, help the game's longevity get the perfect score.

Overall Score: 9/10

+Brilliant online mode
+Lots of replay value
+Great storyline
-Gameplay doesn't do anything new

Quick summary: A must buy for online gamers

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Review: Mass Effect
by Gr1mmy
7.12.07
Mass Effect is one of the best RPG games ever made. It has all of the right qualities an RPG game should have; it has a range of characters with great personalities, and many different locations with more to come from DLC, a load a stats you can build on, lots of weapons and a great storyline.

Gameplay: 9

This game has great Gameplay, for beginners it has auto target features for in battles which can be turned of for more experienced players. The battle system is very similar to its big brother Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic as you can pause mid battle to change weapons and choose abilities for you character and squad to perform.

Graphics: 8

Mass Effect's graphics engine is truly next generation. The shine of suns on all different surfaces from huge landscapes of uncharted planets all will take your breath away. The only downside is that the 360 has some trouble loading the superb graphical content. Another let down was that the weapons all look the same but with different colour skins on them.

Sound: 9

The sound on the game is very good. All the characters have unique voices and the in game music which plays when you enter a fight is very futuristic and well chosen for the game. One of the best voiced games ever.

Longevity: 10

This game has so much replay value that it could last until the next Mass Effect is released. The game also has tons of side missions which can be done for more XP or skipped to play the storyline, this gives the game excellent replay value.

Overall Score: 9/10

+Probably last until another addition comes out
+Intuitive gameplay
+Great storyline
-Frame loading is slow

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- Gr1mmy
North American PSN Update
by Matthew Meadows
6.12.07



6/12/07 Update



Demos
Timeshift (multi-player demo)
Games
Wild Arms (PS1) - $5.99
High Velocity Bowling - $9.99
Game add-ons
Folklore Keats Pack 1 - $3.99
Folklore Ellen Pack 1 - $3.99
Folklore Bundle - $5.99
PAIN Character Model: Santa Claus - $0.99
PAIN Character Model: Cookie - $0.99
Rock Band: Black Sabbath Pack 1 - $5.49
or: N.I.B - $1.99
Sweet Leaf - $1.99
War Pigs - $1.99
Media
Battlefield: Bad Comapny - "Frostbite" 1 & 2
GTA 4: "Move Up Ladies"
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - Tokyo Trailer
Unchartered: "Enviroments"
Themes
Rachet & Clank
Unchartered: Drake's Fortune

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EU PSN Updates
by Matthew Meadows
6.12.07

6/12/07 Update

Demos
Kayne & Lynch: Dead men

Game add-ons

Motorstorm: Domino & Adventure (Vehicle Pack) - £1.49
Folklore: The Origin of Belae - £1.49

Media

Blazing Angels 2: Multi-player trailer

Themes

Mesmerize

Tori Emaki

Heavenly Sword

Snakeball

Lemmings

Killzone 2

Singstar

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Hey there gamers!
by Gr1mmy
6.12.07
Hey Gamers, this is Gr1mmy just wanted to let you guys know what consoles i am playing.

I own an Xbox 360, PC and PS2 and I hope to aquire a PS3 in the future.

Thanks, Gr1mmy.
- Gr1mmy
Welcome Gr1mmy
by Matthew Meadows
6.12.07
Hey guys, just updating you on the fact that we have a new author to help me with the blog!

His name is Gr1immy (or Grimmy) and he's an avid gamer. He will help me with the blog in a sense that i dont have an XBOX 360, and therefore can't review games for it. But he can, so welcome on board Grimmy!

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Bio: Matthew Meadows
by Matthew Meadows
6.12.07
Name: Matthew Meadows
Birthday: 2nd July
Country: England
Hometown: Warrington
Main console: PS3/360
Favourite game ever: PES 6
Favourite genre: Free-Roaming
Occupation: Student
PSN Tag: Meadows14
Email: matthewmeadows@hotmail.co.uk
Looking forward to: Resistance 2

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GTA Trailer
by Matthew Meadows
6.12.07
The new GTA trailer will go live tonight at 8pm (English time).
Dont know what it will show, but ive got a feeling it will show some proper gameplay. Fingers crossed guys.


Im really stoked about this game, and i think GTA: SA was the best game of its year by a long way, such a huge world and great characters.


http://www.rockstargames.com/IV/trailer_splash.html

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Game of the year awards:
by Matthew Meadows
6.12.07
XBOX 360 Game of the year: Bioshock
Nintendo Wii Game of the year: Mario Galaxy
Playstation 3 Game of the year: Resistance: Fall of Man
PSP Game of the year: PES 6
Nintendo DS Game of the year: Zelda PH
PC Game of the year: Crysis

Platformer of the year: Rachet & Clank: Future Tools of Destruction
Driving game of the year: Forza Motorsport 2
Online-based game of the year: Warhawk
FPS of the year: Bioshock
Innovation of the year: Skate.
TPS of the year: Uncharted: Drakes Fortune
RPG of the year: Mass Effect
Fighting game of the year: Tekken: DR
Puzzle game of the year: Portal
RTS game of the year: Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance
MMO of the year: World of Warcraft
Kid's game of the year: LocoRoco: Correoco
Movie Tie-in of the year: Surfs Up the game
Blu-ray of the year: Casino Royal
Sports game of the year: Skate.
Letdown of the year: Kayne & Lynch: Dead men
Developer of the year: Epic Games
Horror game of the year: Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles

Hounorable mentions:
Halo 3
Orange Box
Enternal Sonatra
Guild Wars
Virtua Fighter
Unreal Tournament III (not out at time of writing)
Hitman: Triple Pack
Super Stardust HD
Call of duty: 4
Assassins Creed
Guitar Hero 3

Worst game of the year: Virtua Tennis 3
Overall game of the year: Bioshock

Post your views on my list or make your own if you like.

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- Matthew Meadows
Warhawk Patch
by Matthew Meadows
5.12.07
The new Warhawk patch works. Good one guys, this game really needed a patch and you fixed everything! I can now play the game and rank up properly! This game was always good but now its BRILLIANT!

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Write for Gamer's Guide to Life
by Matthew Meadows
5.12.07
Gamer's Guide to Life is currently looking to expand it's team of writers, and we're looking for dedicated people to join the team in various positions. If you're dedicated, good at writing and have a love of videogames, take a look at the positions we have available and contact us.


Section Editors are some of the highest positions which we have here on Gamer's Guide to Life. We expect the highest level of dedication, commitment and talent from our Section Editors in every aspect of their work here on the site.

Section Editors maintain some of the most important things on GGTL. While they are fully able to write and contribute articles on a regular basis, they are required to check and edit the articles written by Contributors and Contributing Editors in their team.

We expect a level of talent and a control and mastery of the English language in every one of our Section Editors. We are currently looking for Section Editors to head up our Xbox360, PC and Wii and DS teams.

If you are interested, email us here for more information or to apply.

Contributing Editors are important people at Gamer's Guide to Life. Their main job is to contribute editorial articles - that is, Reviews, Hype Trains (previews), Writer's Notes and more. They provide these articles on a regular basis.

We expect a high level of quality and a good handling of the English language from all of our Contributing Editors. We also ask for dedication and commitment, as well as a good writing style.

Contributing Editors also handle the editing of some, smaller articles on Gamer's Guide to Life. They work underneath their Section Editor in the niche they work in - if a Contributing Editor chooses PlayStation as their platform of expertise, then they would work under the PlayStation3 Section Editor.

If you are interested, email us here for more information or to apply.

Contributors are essential to the day to day updating of Gamer's Guide to Life. This is possibly one of the easiest positions.

Contributors are responsible for writing news posts and short editorial pieces on a regular basis - while we try our hardest not to impose penalties for not meeting postage requirements, we do ask for at least three short news posts per week. However, this is flexible, and we understand that all of our writers have real-life commitments too.

We ask for a basic understanding and mastery of the English language, a good, informative writing style, dedication and commitment from all of our Contributors. All contributors work under their Contributing and Section Editors.

If you are interested, email us here for more information or to apply.

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Demo review: Unchartered Drakes Fortune
by Matthew Meadows
5.12.07
After the initial scandal of the Drake's Fortune demo, in which the demo was 'accidentally' region locked, so that UK players couldn't play it, I finally get my hands on the demo of the game that looks like it could be the best this year.
Gameplay: 8
This game boasts good gameplay. With innovative use of the Six-axis and good platforming sections, the game's core element seems to be solid. However, gunplay is a little bit fiddly, but the cover system more than makes up for this.
Graphics: 9
Water effects and animations are very impressive. You really feel like you are in a jungle in South America.
Sound: 10
Expertly crafted orchestral scores in the demo really make you feel the tension of the game build up. Brilliantly done!
Longevity: 4
This demo lasts about 20 minutes.

Overall Score:8.5/10

+Great graphics
+Superb music
+Brilliant cover system
+Well executed animations
-Too short
-Aiming is a little bit fiddly

Quick Summary: Looks like a great game, maybe a must buy?

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Scoring Policy
by Matthew Meadows
4.12.07
1/10 - It probably doesn't work for anyone, and no patch has been released.
2/10 - Awful attempt that physically functions but does nothing else (e.g. Super Rub-a-Dub)
3/10 - Serious flaws prevent any enjoyment of the game
4/10 - A game with some pretty OK features, but one that fails to impress
5/10 - Average
6/10 - Solid gameplay that needs to be built on
7/10 - Good game that has some nice features
8/10 - A really good game that nearly any gamer will enjoy
9/10 - Brilliant example of how a game should be made, fantastic in nearly every sense
10/10 - Buy it...now

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Industry Rumors
by Matthew Meadows
4.12.07
1) Knights of the old republic online?
I would imagine so, after the success of Mass Effect (by Bioware, the owners of the KOTR brand) and continuing money flow towards MMOs like World of Warcraft and Guild Wars, it would make sense to make an MMO.

2) GTA Online
GTA has been rumored to have a 16 player online mode. Deathmatches are said to be among the online modes.

3) New PS2
A new type of PS2 that is slimmer and lighter than the previous rendition of the popular console will be out in Japan before March.

4) Bethseda go online?
A website domain http://www.elderscrollsonline.com/ has been taken by Bethseda. Its probably just a new corprate website, but it could show an imminent announcment of an online MMO.

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Review: Virtua Tennis 3
by Matthew Meadows
3.12.07
Virtua tennis is a game series that is known for its easy accessibility and good offline multi-player. Casual gamers are what makes this game series a huge success, but will Virtua Tennis 3 follow the trend.

Gameplay: 2

The only challenge in this game’s world tour mode comes right at the end of the game. Before that, the only challenge the game offers is if you choose to play with your eyes closed. The Gameplay is in no way realistic and players frequently dive, which is neat at first, but soon becomes annoying.

Graphics: 10

This game boasts the best graphics I have ever seen in a game. Life-like crowds, realistic grass and player models are all on show. People will see you on this and think it is real-life. Seriously.

Sound: 2

There is nothing good about the sound in this game. Cheesy euro-pop plays over every match, all the time, non-stop. This game justifies the creation of a mute button on the television. If you like the euro-vision song contest then you may like the soundtrack on the game, you may also like cuckoo clocks, yodelling and long brisk walks around Wales with a shifty looking bloke named Barry, with a thing for Sheep.

Features: 4

The world tour mode is a decent laugh if you are a casual gamer. And by casual gamer I don’t just mean goes out to buy Rachet & Clank and Halo. I mean insists on playing games wearing flip-flops…and shorts, with sunglasses……and a deck-chair. However, mini-games make this world tour mode somewhere near mediocre.

Multi-player: 7

This game retains some dignity by producing a fun filled multi-player mode. However, online is much needed, to keep the amount of fun going beyond the odd game with a friend.

Longevity: 3

Straight back to the store you bought it from. Barely any replay value, beyond collecting rackets, shoes etc, after completing the short world tour mode.

Overall Score: 2.5/10

+Incredible graphics are truly next-gen
+Good fun with a friend

-Really annoying music/no commentary
-TERRIBLE game-play
-World tour mode is too short

Quick Summary: Just watch Wimbledon instead.

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- Matthew Meadows
GGTL Review Policy - by Matthew Meadows
by Matthew Meadows
2.12.07
(Correct as of 20th June 2008)

These are promises we make to the readers and developers when reviewing a game. To the largest extent possible we will follow these policies:

1) We will complete every game we review

Never at any point in time will GGTL review a game without getting to a stage where the writer can confidently say they have finished a game. This could mean completing the one player game’s linear story with a reasonable, amount of side missions done. However, don’t expect the review team to have completed GTA IV 100% or to have finished every single mission available in The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion; its simply not something we can do with every game.

If a reviewer becomes unable to complete the game due to incredible difficulty (one difficulty level only, too hard for the reviewer) or technical malfunctions (disc scratched) this will be stated at the start of the review.

2) We will under no circumstances show console bias

No console bias will be shown on the site. Whilst different members of the team have different console preferences, this will never affect a review score. Also, no articles about how one console is better than the other will be posted as we want to make this site a place where all gamers feel that they will get an unbiased gaming coverage.

3) We will never be affected by advertisement

When the site becomes a .com and advertising is put in place; we will never let any advertising get in the way of our opinions. Also, we will not be paid to write favourable reviews for games.

4) We will always try our hardest

GGTL was made because we love games. We promise that we will always try our best to inform you on what games to buy and what not to buy in the most entertaining and easy to read way possible.

If you ever feel GGTL neglects these policies please don’t hesitate to contact any of the team via email (contacts can be found around the site).

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Review: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008
by Matthew Meadows
2.12.07
Pro evolution soccer is a brand which fills in the gaps between games. What i mean is that when there is a drought of game relases, you go and play pro evo. Fact. When there are games out, like Unreal Tournament 3 or Call of duty: Modern Warfare, Pro Evo will happily take a back seat, and wait until you are bored of those games. This is why Pro Evolution Soccer, year on year, gets hundreds of hours of play-time. Its addicting formula of tactics and gameplay nearly always ensures its place as a chart-topper.

Gameplay: 9
A normal high score for PES in terms of gameplay. Great feeling when you score, as always

Graphics: 7
Obviously better graphics than PES6, due to console changing, but bad framerate lets it down
Sound:
3
Its disrespectful and unusual for me to say this, but a 3/10 is an improvement. Bad music still, but better commentary from Lawro and Champion.
Features: 6
The master league, as ever provides a great amount of entertainment for commited PES fans. However, many features (such as the Custom ML mode) have been taken out.
Online: 5
Addicting online matches against freind and stranger alike will entertain, but choppy framerate ruins the fun sometimes.
Longevity: 9
As ever, this PES will last you until the 09 edition comes out.

Overall Score: 7.5/10

+Will last ages
+Great gameplay
+Addicting master league

-Choppy framerate (in some cases)
-Not next-gen graphics

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Jacques Hulme's Bio
by Matthew Meadows
2.12.07
Name: Jacques Hulme
Birthday: 3rd January
Country: England
Hometown: Leicester
Main Console: PlayStation3
PSN ID: Jkkfreelance
Favourite game ever: Breath of Fire 4
Favourite genre: RPG's
Occupation: Student
Email: jkkfreelance@hotmail.co.uk
Looking forward to: Massive Action Game (MAG)

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- Matthew Meadows
Welcome
by Matthew Meadows
2.12.07
Hi, im Matt, im here to try and give you guys all of my news and reviews on games, and the gaming industry.

I own the following consoles:

PS1
PS2
PS3
PSP
Nintendo: GBA
Nintendo: DS
PC

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- Matthew Meadows
GGTL Classics
Some of the very best articles dug out from deep in the GGTL archives, written by some of our past and present wordsmiths alike.
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