June NPD: PS4 Leads US Sales For 6th Straight Month

Despite that Xbox One sales were "more than double" in the US compared to May (not too surprising as the $400 Kinectless Xbox One launched in June) the PS4 was still on top by a good margin. The Wii U started gaining momentum in late May thanks to Mario Kart 8 and that momentum continued into June. Compared to last June Wii U sales were up 233%. The 3DS saw a 55% boost compared to May.

May NPD: PS4 On Top Again, Watch Dogs Leads Software

The NPD May data is in. Watch Dogs led the software charts as the best selling game in the US. Mario Kart 8 finished second despite releasing right at the end of the month. Titanfall dropped to 8th after leading a couple of months in a row. Here is the full results for software:

1. Watch Dogs
2. Mario Kart 8
3. MLB 14: The Show
4. Wolfenstein
5. Minecraft
6. The Amazing Spider Man 2
7. NBA 2K14
8. Titanfall
9. Kirby: Triple Deluxe
10. Call Of Duty: Ghosts

As for hardware, once again the PS4 was the top selling console in the US. 3DS finished second. The Wii U got a big increase in sales thanks to Mario Kart 8. The PS Vita also a sales boost in the US thanks to the Borderlands 2 bundle.

Sony commented on PS4 sales again, mentioning that games like Watch Dogs sold best on PS4 and that the PS4 was the #1 console for sports games. Playstation brand marketing senior vice president Guy Longworth said,

"PlayStation continues to be the best place to play for innovative IP, as PS4 was the preferred platform for May’s biggest releases, including Watch Dogs and Wolfenstein: The New Order, and held four of the top five spots for next gen software sales. PS4 is the leading next-gen platform for sports, highlighted in May by the best-selling sports game, MLB 14: The Show."


Nintendo also commented on the May NPD sales, saying that Wii U sales were up 90% compared to last year in May.

Microsoft has remained silent regarding sales of Xbox One.

Destiny Alpha Impressions (PS4)

Unless you've been living under a rock, you have probably heard of Destiny, an upcoming open world MMORPG/FPS by Bungie, the creators of Halo. Publisher Activision has been hyping the game like crazy. They believe its going to top games like Call Of Duty and Halo and become the king of shooters. They have 10 year plan for the game and have spent over 500 million dollars on the game. There is a lot hype but how well does it actually play?

The alpha had several different things to try, a bit of the campaign mode, The Tower (a hub area), and the Crucible (a PvP mode). Here is what I thought of it

Pros:

It was easy for me to forget this was an alpha when playing the game. The graphics were really impressive especially for an alpha build. The fact that Destiny's alpha build can compete with games like Killzone Shadow Fall in terms of graphics is amazing. The world was very detailed and realistic looking. I have heard a lot of people have said the game didn't look very good in trailers and online (I can understand I watched some of them) but it looks much, much better when actually playing it. I didn't experience many technical issues which a is a big achievement for a game's alpha build.

The exploration in the game was a lot of fun. One of the campaign missions had you exploring a decent size area. This area was fairly large and had lots of side quests. It was fun wandering around the beautiful open ended area.

The RPG elements of the game seems well done for the most part. Lots of character customization options, several classes to choose from, skill trees etc. Nothing that really stands out to be honest, but everything here was solid and what you would expect from a RPG.

The shooting mechanics were well done. Aiming and shooting was tight and responsive. The guns have a bit of a weighty feel to them but not too much. There were lots of different kinds of guns to choose from, some with different elemental properties. The enemy AI was fairly smart and there were a lot of different enemies. Overall the combat was well done.

The Crucible is a PvP mode (think COD, Halo etc.) There was only 1 game type to try in the alpha (a capture the flag type mode). I don't really like games like COD, but for those that do you will probably like the Cubicle. It seemed decent and a good distraction from the main game.

Cons:

Destiny seems too difficult. Sometimes there are too many enemies at a time which can feel overwhelming, you take too much damage and your health doesn't recharge fast enough.

The Tower is a hub area where you can buy weapons and armor, accept quests, from a Fire Team (a group of people to play with) and more. Interestingly in this area you play from a third person perspective. Because you don't have a map, the Tower is almost impossible to navigate. There are people you can talk to pull up a map but thats kind of a pain. The Tower has potential, but its so hard to navigate its almost game breaking.

Speaking of maps, I didn't see a map in the campaign either. That is going to be a problem if they don't add one.

Another concern is the loot in the game. Its supposed to be a "loot and shoot" type game right? Well where is the loot?! There weren't really any cheats or anything filled with guns and ammo like Borderlands or something. You can buy and unlock weapons and armor but I didn't see any that you could find.

The game does a poor job explaining the game to you. I mentioned I couldn't find any loot, but maybe you can. If so I didn't know because the game didn't tell me. I also talked about how there wasn't a map. Again there could have been a map but the game didn't tell me.

Conclusion:

Overall Destiny seems like a very good game based on what I played in the alpha on PS4. There weren't many problems (and the problems it does have can be easily fixed) there are mostly just questions. Will the game have a good story? How big is the world going to be? I think if the open world and story turn out to be really good then Destiny is going to be huge because everything else is in place for something great.

Who Won This Year's E3?

Last year's E3 was not even close with Sony winning easily by doing an amazing job showing off the PS4, Microsoft making one screw up after another with the Xbox One and Nintendo just didn't really do anything exciting. Who won this year? Read on and find ou!

Last place- Microsoft     (my Microsoft press conference grade: D+)

This year Microsoft's press conference was focused entirely on games. Sounds good right? Well unfortunately they didn't show hardly any gameplay of the exclusives they showed and what little they did show wasn't the least bit impressive. They also showed way too many third party games which don't have any significant advantages on Xbox One. Most of the exclusives they showed are a ways off from releasing so 2014 is looking bleak for Xbox One. When your biggest game of the year is a remake you have a problem. 

Overall Microsoft's press conference wasn't an embarrassment like last year but it wasn't very good.

Second place- Nintendo   (my Nintendo Digital Event grade: C)

Once again Nintendo didn't have a regular press conference and had an online Nintendo Digital Event. The Digital Event itself was poorly presented with too many cheesy jokes. I want to see games not jokes. The biggest problem though was that it was too short at 45 minutes long. 

Although Nintendo's Digital Event itself could have been better, they did do a very good job showing off games. They focused mostly on Wii U exclusive games. Nintendo showed actual gameplay for most of the games they showed. Most of the games they showed seemed very impressive. They did a good job showing games we already knew about like Super Smash Bros. Nintendo also announced some interesting new games like Splatoon. Nintendo also revealed the new Zelda for Wii U which looks amazing. They didn't show enough Wii U games though to get back in the console wars. Nintendo also barely showed any 3DS games. 

Overall Nintendo did a great job showing Wii U exclusives but they just didn't show enough. Also the 3DS was almost completely ignored. 

First place- Sony     (my Sony E3 press conference grade: B)

Sony mostly focused on PS4 exclusives. They did make some other interesting announcements like Playstation TV, an open beta for PS Now and some interesting exclusive content for third party games (and of course they mentioned fact the third party games they showed will look better on PS4). They did a good job showing gameplay for known PS4 exclusives like The Order 1886 and No Man's Sky but what got the Sony the win this year was their impressive showing of new announcements and one certain trailer at the very end of the show. After Sony showed some Infamous Second DLC (which looks pretty cool)  LittleBigPlanet 3 was announced out of nowhere for PS4 and has been given a November 14th release date. It was one of the best and most surprising announcements at E3. The live stage demo was very impressive. Another new game that looks awesome (and probably incredibly hard) was Bloodborne for PS4 by the developer of Demon's Souls and Dark Soul's, From Software.

That certain trailer I mentioned was for Uncharted 4: A Thiefs End. It was fantastic to say the least. What a great way to end a E3 press conference.

Although it was a good press conference for the most part, Vita owners such as myself are angry that Sony barely even mentioned it.

Overall it was a very good press conference. The future of the PS4 looks very bright.  

Conclusion:

Sony definitely won this year. Microsoft's press conference was surprisingly very disappointing. Nintendo put up a fight but didn't show enough Wii U exclusives. They showed a lot but not enough to overtake the PS4 or hold its lead over Xbox One much longer. And where was the 3DS? Sony once again had a great press conference and didn't have much trouble winning E3 this year. 

Nintendo E3 Digital Event Grade

Last year Nintendo decided not to have a big press conference like their competitors. Instead they had a Nintendo "Digital Event" which was streamed online. This year they also had a Nintendo digital event.

The Wii U is in trouble. Its not selling well. The PS4 has already passed it in sales even though it came out a year later. The Xbox One is catching up and could pass it soon. Nintendo had to show impressive content for the Wii U to get back in the console wars. Read on and see what Nintendo showed at their Digital Event 

First the good stuff:

Nintendo did a good job showing gameplay for big upcoming Wii U games. They showed a good bit of Super Smash Bros and it will release this year. Super Smash Bros looks as fun as ever. Nintendo showed gameplay of Yoshi's Wooly World for Wii U. It seemed very artistic and fun. They showed a trailer of the new Zelda for the Wii U. It looked incredible and will more than likely sell a few systems. They announced a brand new title featuring Toad as the main character, Captain Toads Treasure Tracker. It looks a lot like Mario Galaxy which isn't a bad thing. It will release this holiday season. They showed gameplay of Bayonetta 2 and it will release this October. It looked like an interesting action packed game. Bayonetta 2 will include the first Bayonetta which is a nice bonus. Nintendo announced a LBP like Mario game for Wii U called Mario Maker that lets you create your own Mario levels (so now Nintendo's ripping off LBP too?!). They also showed a brand new IP, Splatoon a very unique online shooter. It looks much more interesting than other shooters like Call Of Duty Advanced Warfare. Nintendo showed a trailer of Project X, now known as Xenoblade Chronicles X .They also teased a new Star Fox for Wii U.

Nintendo mostly showed software but they did announce Amiibo, Nintendo's NFC figures. They will connect to the Wii U Gamepad and do certain things in some games. They didn't show much but it did seem interesting. 

Now the bad stuff:

The 3DS is what's keeping Nintendo afloat. Its sold around 45 million units compared to the 6 million of Wii U. They showed just 2 games for the 3DS, Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby versions (releasing this November) and Super Smash Bros 3DS which comes out October. Obviously the 3DS is going to sell well this holiday season but what about 2015? Just 2 games we already new about? Really?

The Wii U is obviously getting some good games but Im not sure if what was shown was enough. No Metriod? No mention of Shin Megami Tensei X Fire Emblem? No new 3D Mario? I could go on and on.

Microsoft and Sony probably both showed too many third party games but hey at least they have third party games on their consoles. Nintendo has nothing. They showed literally no third party games expect Bayonetta 2 (the only reason its on Wii U is because Nintendo funded it). 

Finally the presentation itself was garbage. Too much cheesy crap in between gameplay footage and announcements. Also it was only 45 minutes long.

Nintendo did a good job showing off upcoming Wii U games, however I don't think they had enough new announcements for Wii U and didn't show hardly any 3DS games. Not having any third party games isn't going to help either. Also Nintendo, please have a real press conference next year.

Grade C

Sony E3 Press Conference Grade

Last year Sony easily won E3 thanks to Microsoft's terrible E3 and they did an excellent job showing off the PS4. Sony talked about how the PS4 was a games console for gamers and that it could play used games and didn't have always online DRM and all that other crap. They did a fantastic job showing off the PS4. The amazing E3 showing propelled the PS4 into first place where it remains over half a year later .

Last year was focused on the PS4 itself, but this year Sony needed to focus on exclusive games for the PS4. Read on to see how they did this year:

First the good:

Sony first showed Destiny which is not exclusive to PS4. However its going to look better and will have exclusive content on PS4. They announced a PS4 Destiny bundle which will release September 9th. They showed some other third party games as well such as GTA 5 (yep it's coming to next gen consoles) an awesome gameplay trailer for Batman Arkham Knight, the first gameplay trailer for Mortal Kombat X and more. As CEO Andrew House mentioned, all these games will either have exclusive content or will look better on PS4 (or both).

Now I know what you're thinking, "Microsoft showed a bunch a third party games too and you complained like crazy"! Yes I did, but unlike Microsoft, these games have significant advantages on PS4. Besides looking better there is some really cool exclusive content for some of these games. For example Far Cry 4 has a really cool feature on Playstation: you can invite your friends to play online with you even if you don't have the game. Pretty cool eh? I hope other games will take a page from Far Cry 4 here.

Although they showed some third party games, Sony's E3 press conference was mostly about exclusive PS4 games. They showed an impressive gameplay trailer for The Order 1886 and announced that it will release February 15th. Entwined is the game the new Sony studio, Pixelplus has been working on. It looks very unique and gorgeous. Entwined is available right now on PS4. They made a surprise announcement of a really big PS4 exclusive coming November 14th that made the crowd go nuts: LittleBigPlanet 3 for PS4. They had 4 people playing the game on stage. You can tell they were having a blast with the game. It was easily the most impressive showing for any game at any press conference this year at E3. Sony announced a brand new IP for PS4 called Bloodborne (previously known as "Project Beast") by the creators of the Souls games. They showed a gameplay trailer of the infinite (yes thats right its infinite) open world sci-fi space exploration game No Man's Sky for PS4. There were some other surprise announcements such as Magicka 2: Learn To Spell and a new IP called Let It Die (both for PS4). They also showed abzu, a beautiful looking game for PS4 by Giant Squid Games and led by the art director of Journey.

Sony showed some more cool stuff besides games. PS Now will have a open beta on PS4 July 31st. Over 100 PS3 games will be playable including Dead Space 3 and Ultra Street Fighter 4. PS Vita TV will be coming to the US at $99 (it will be called Playstation TV here though). There will also be a bundle that includes a Dualshock 3 controller, a memory card and Lego The Movie Game. They showed off some other cool stuff as well such as a new TV series based on the comic book series Powers and some more cool stuffs.

Sony ended the press conference on a high note by showing a trailer for the new Uncharted, Uncharted 4: A Thiefs End. Uncharted 4 will have Nathan drake as the main character and looks like this is going to be the conclusion to his story. It is sure to be one of the biggest if not the biggest game of 2015.

Now for the bad:

My main complaint is that Sony showed next to nothing for the PS Vita. Many people including myself were hoping for a new AAA game for the Vita but that didn't happen.

Although Sony announced the open beta for PS Now they didn't say much about when the full thing is going to launch or anything about pricing for the service.  Sony also didn't say much about Project Morpheus.

Most of the third party games they showed were impressive and have cool exclusive features and look better on PS4. Unfortunately some of them, like Dead Island 2 for instance, looked like crap and they didn't say much about how it would be better on Playstation.

Sony had a very good E3 showing. Although the Vita didn't get much attention, they showed a ton of impressive PS4 exclusive games and had a great press conference overall.

Grade B

Microsoft E3 Press Conference Grade

Microsoft had a terrible E3 last year. Possibly one of the worst ones ever. You probably already know what Im talking about (always online DRM, no used games, huge focus on entertainment features rather than games etc).

This year the theme at Microsoft's E3 press conference was all about games, hence the title "Xbox Game On." Did Microsoft show off enough exclusives games to get back in the "Console Wars"? Read on and see!

First the good:

Microsoft's E3 was definitely much more focused on games than last year. In fact thats all they showed at E3, games, games and more games. They showed more details on games like Sunset Over Drive and Forza Horizon 2. They also announced some new games. One of the biggest new announcements was definitely the Master Chief Collection for Xbox One. The Master Chief Collection will have all mainline Halo games remastered in HD, the original versions of the game, Halo 2 multiplayer with over 100 maps and more cool stuff. Microsoft is doing a remake of Phantom Dust for Xbox One. A new game in the Crackdown series was announced. Microsoft announced their Japanese exclusive game they paid Platinum Games a bunch of money for, Scalehound. They also announced a new Fable game Fable Legends.

Microsoft also showed a lot of indie games. Although many of these games are also coming to PS4, its good to see them doing a better job getting indies on Xbox One.

Now for the bad:

Microsoft had a huge focus on third party games. They spent nearly a hour showing games like Call Of Duty Advance Warfare, and Assassin's Creed Unity. They went on and on about how Xbox One gets some of the paid DLC for some of these games first. They had too much of a focus on third party games. Games that can be played on PS4 (and will look better on there too).

Microsoft didn't show much gameplay for a lot of their exclusives games. Sunset Overdrive got a lengthy gameplay video, but other than that most of the other games didn't get enough love. Most of them just got a trailer and no actual gameplay.

Almost all of their exclusives they showed looked unimpressive. Scalehound looks stupid. The main character seems incredibly cocky and unlikeable. The artstyle made me want to throw up. Sunset Overdrive looks very cheesy and unoriginal. Fable Legends looked very underwhelming compared to other upcoming RPGs. Project Spark looks ridiculously similar to LBP. To be fair they did not show a lot of gameplay of most of these games, but from what they did show most of the games didn't seem very impressive.

You have most likely noticed I haven't said anything about Halo 5. Thats because they barely mentioned it. All that was shown was a brief trailer and no actual gameplay. No release date either. They briefly talked about the story but its still unclear what its about. This is a huge blow as Halo 5 is the biggest game coming out for Xbox One.

Another problem is we don't know when most of the Xbox One exclusives are coming out. Hardly any release dates were given and it looks like most of them will release in 2015 or later. The biggest game coming out this year for Xbox One is a remake (Master Chief Collection).

Microsoft's E3 was definitely better than last year's. Although they showed a lot of games many are third party games which will also be available on PS4. They didn't show enough gameplay for most of their exclusives and what was shown was unimpressive. 2014 is looking bleak for the Xbox One because most of the games didn't get release dates and aren't coming out this year. On the bright side Microsoft is headed in the right direction by focusing more on games.

Grade D+

Batman Arkham Knight Delayed to 2015

Next gen title Batman Arkham Knight by famed developer, Rocksteady, has been pushed back to 2015. When in 2015 is unclear. Hopefully early 2015 but we will see.

PS4 Will Be Released In China

It has been confirmed Sony will release the PS4 in China. Sony is going to team up with OPCD Shanghai Oriental Pearl Cultural Development to distribute the console in China, not unlike how Microsoft is going to team up with Bes TV to launch the Xbox One in China this September. Sony hasn't said when the PS4 will release in China.

PS+ Will Now Have 2 Games Per Platform Each Month

It has been confirmed that PS+ members will now get 2 games from each current Playstation system (PS4, PS3 and PS Vita) every month starting this June.

Check out the PS+ lineup for June

The Order 1886 Delayed Until 2015

PS4 exclusive, The Order 1886, was originally supposed to come out late this year but has been delayed until early 2015. On the bright side its not crazy long delay (like Watchdogs and Driveclub) and it will be getting a gameplay video at e3.

2015 is going to be a very exciting year for PS4 owners with games like The Order 1886 and Uncharted. What about this year though? Hopefully Sony has something up their sleeve at E3.

Sony's Response to NPD April Results

The PS4 was the top selling console and Infamous Second Son was the top selling next gen game in the US in April. This was Sony's response:

"The April NPD report confirmed that PlayStation 4 was the top selling next-gen console and remains the cumulative leader. In addition, inFamous: Second Son was the top-selling next-gen software title in April.

"Since PS4 launched last November, over 7 million consumers have enjoyed rich and immersive gameplay, powerful graphics, and deeply integrated social features that are only available on PlayStation. Demand for PS4 continues to outstrip supply and we are working incredibly hard to provide additional inventory.

We’d like to thank the PlayStation Nation for their amazing support and we’re looking forward to sharing exciting news at E3 next month."

NPD April Sales Figures: PS4 Outsells Xbox One in the US Agian

NPD sales figures for April are in. The PS4 outsold the Xbox One in Microsoft's home territory for the 4th straight month. The Xbox One only managed 115,000 sales this month in the US. Last month it sold over 300,000. Of course last month was when Titanfall released. Speaking of Tittanfall it was the best selling game in the US for the second straight month so its not all doom and gloom for Microsoft. The full results for hardware aren't in yet, so its unclear how much the PS4 sold in the US in April, but more than 115,000 obviously.

Nintendo Working on Wii U Successor

Nintendo has confirmed they a working on their next console. It shouldn't be too much of a surprise as they (and both Sony and Microsoft) start working on their next console not too long after they release a new console. This is not whatever they're doing in China and other "emerging markets" its their "real next gen" console I guess. Nintendo's next console won't be released until Wii U owners are "satisfied".

Microsoft Announces New $400 Xbox One Without Kinect

Microsoft has announced a Kinect-less Xbox One priced at $400. It will release June 9th. They will also release the Kinect 2.0 by itself this Fall.

Falcons Draft Grades

1st round (6th overall): Jake Matthews OT Texas A&M

Grade: A+

This was probably the safest pick in the entire draft. Matthews will be a big help towards fixing the Falcons offensive line. Expect him to protect Matt Ryan for years.

2nd round (37th overall): Ra'Shede Hageman DT Minnesota

Grade: A

This was a great pick. Atlanta needs help at defensive line. They got got a 1st round DT in the second round with this pick. Hageman should be a starter or at least be in the rotation. 

3rd round (68th overall): Dezmen Southward FS Wisconsin

Grade C- 

I don't think this was a very good pick. He is injury prone and isn't going to be a day one starter as he is a work in progress. I think the Falcons should have taken a TE here or even a different safety. On the bright side Southward is fast and has lots upside. 

4th round (103 overall): Devonta Freeman RB FSU

Grade B+

Freeman is fast and has good pass catching skills. He will split carries with Steven Jackson and Jacquizz Rodgers. Eventually he could be the starter. I think this was a great pick.

4th round (139 overall): Prince Shembo OLB Notre Dame

Grade C+

Shembo will add much needed depth to the Falcons defense. He will also contribute on special teams. Shembo has off the field questions and like Southward he needs time to develop.

5th round (147th overall): Ricardo Allen CB Purdue

Grade C

Allen is undersized but very physical. He will compete for a backup spot and could play on special teams.

5th round (168th overall): Marquis Spruill ILB Syracuse

Grade C

Spruill probably isn't going to be a starter, but he has upside and has a good shot at making the team. He is very fast and hits hard. The Falcons traded their 6th round pick and a 7th round pick to move up and draft Spruill. This pick gets a C because they probably didn't need to trade up to draft him.

7th round (253 overall): Yawin Smallwood OLB Connecticut
Grade B

Great pick for the 7th round. Some analysts said he would be a 4-5th round pick. He will add depth to the Falcons and could play on special teams.

7th round (255th overall): Tyler Starr OLB South Dakota
Grade C

Nothing special about this pick but Starr will add depth to Atlanta's defense.

Overall grade (not an average): B-

The Falcons got a franchise OT, a solid pass rusher, a RB who could potentially start and added secondary and linebacker depth. Some of the picks were questionable. They did a good job of addressing their needs for the most part but I can't figure out why they didn't get a TE at some point. Overall a solid draft.

Nintendo Will Release a Ne Console in "Emerging Markets"

Nintendo has announced that they will release a new console of some sort (and possibly other new devices) in "emerging markets". The console will be specifically designed for these countries (China and possibly some other countries such as India and Brazil) so its very unlikely it will come out in the U.S, Europe, Japan etc. It will also have new games. Nintendo is targeting people with less game experience and lower incomes than people in developed countries. This console will not be a dumbed down Wii U it will be a brand new console with games specifically designed for these markets. Nintendo didn't say anything about the exact specifications of their new console but it will be cheaper and less powerful than Wii U.

Microsoft announced last week that the Xbox One will launch in China this September. They will team up with BesTV to distribute the console in China. 

China has a huge video game market, the second largest in the world. Most of that is from PC and mobile games because video game consoles have been banned in China since 2000. Recently the ban has been lifted. Although there is a lot of potential in the Chinese game market they have some ridiculous censorship rules. Microsoft will likely have a hard time finding much success in China because of this. Nintendo however may find success in China because of their different approach. Making a console with games specifically for this market makes more sense. It seems as if Microsoft is just testing out this new market but Nintendo is serious about making an impact there. If Nintendo or Microsoft (or both) find success in China then don't be surprised if Sony hops on the China bandwagon too.

Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire Remakes Announced

Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire have been announced. The games are remakes of the original Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire games which came out back in 2003. Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire will launch this November. Here is a trailer

           

Nintendo Won't Have a Press Conference At e3 Again

Once again Nintendo will not have a press conference at e3 like Sony and Microsoft. This is what they said they will be doing instead:

"Every year, Nintendo looks for the best way to show its games and share its news with fans, media and other key audiences. In 2013, Nintendo decided to forgo a traditional press conference and use a video – in that case a Nintendo Direct – to share its news from E3. The company is building on that approach at E3 2014 with the "Nintendo Digital Event," a new kind of video program that will reveal and provide further detail about the gaming experiences on the way for Nintendo platforms in 2014 and beyond. The Nintendo Digital Event will air at 9 a.m. PT on Tuesday, June 10."

Nintendo also uploaded a crazy video showing off their plans for e3

DriveClub Release Date Announced

PS4 exclusive racing game, DriveClub will release October 7th in North America and October 8th in Europe. DriveClub PS+ Edition (basically the same thing minus a few cars and tracks) will release the same day as the regular edition. DriveClub was originally supposed to release last year on the PS4's launch day but it got delayed. Here is a new trailer

My NFL Mock Draft Part 2 (Picks 17-32)

17. San Francisco 49ers (via trade with Ravens): Odell Beckham Jr. WR LSU

The 49ers could use some help at WR. To get a top WR like Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans would require a big trade up. Making a smaller deal and get someone like Odell Beckham Jr would be a smarter move. He is a reach at the 17th pick but they would probably get a good deal from the Ravens. The 49ers and Ravens have a good relationship as the head coaches are brothers. Last year the Ravens traded Anquan Boldin to the 49ers for a 6th round pick.

18. New York Jets: Brandon Cooks WR Oregon State

Even though they signed Eric Decker the Jets are hurting at WR. Brandon Cooks is one of the best options behind Watkins and Evans.

19. Minnesota Vikings (via trade with Dolphins): Derek Carr QB Fresno State

The Vikings need a QB. Some people think they might trade up to get Bortles or Manziel but I think they will trade down to add depth and still get someone like Derek Carr. Some people are saying he may be the best QB in this year's draft. I think trading down and still getting a top QB is a good deal for the Vikings.

20. Arizona Cardinals: Anthony Barr OLB UCLA

Barr's draft stock is falling like a rock for some reason. I still think he is a top rookie linebacker. If the Cardinals realise this I think they will take him. He would improve their pass rush. You got to have a pass rush to compete in the brutal NFC West.

21. Green Bay Packers: Eric Ebron TE North Carolina

The Packers are hurting at TE. Drafting the best TE in this year's draft with the 21st pick would be a steal.

22. Philadelphia Eagles: Kelvin Benjamin WR Florida State  

After losing Desean Jackson the Eagles will probably go WR in the first round. The explosive Kelvin Benjamin would be a great fit for Chip Kelly's offense.

23. Kansas City Chiefs: Marqise Lee WR USC

The Chiefs need a WR and at this point Lee is the best available option so I think they would get him in this scenario.

24. Cincinnati Bengals: Kyle Fuller CB Virginia Tech

The Bengals will be looking for a corner in the first round. At this point Fuller is probably the best available option so they would probably get him. They could get Bradley Roby but he just got in some trouble so his draft stock may fall.

25. San Diego Chargers: Louis Nix NT Notre Dame 

Nix is huge at 6'2 342 pounds. He would improve the Chargers pass rush.

26. Cleveland Browns: Xavier Su'a-Filo OG UCLA

Besides the big gaping hole at QB the Browns need offensive line help.

27. New Orleans Saints: Kony Ealy DE Missouri

The Saints are still in the process of rebuilding the worst defense ever (they literally had the worst total defense ever in 2012). Ealy should help improve the pass rush.

28. Jacksonville Jaguars (via trade with Panthers): Teddy Bridgewater QB Louisville

Recent reports are saying the Panthers may be looking to trade down. The Panthers need a WR and since there are a lot of WR needy teams drafting ahead of them I wouldn't be surprised if they decide to trade down. The Jaguars pick 7th in the second round. Bridgwater's draft stock is falling but I doubt it will fall that far. They may need to trade up if they want him.

29. New England Patriots: Ra'shede Hageman DT Minnesota

The Patriots will be looking for D-line help and at this point Hageman would be one of the best available options. 

30. Baltimore Ravens (via trade with 49ers): Morgan Moses OT Virginia

The Ravens may trade down. They could use some help at offensive line. Morgan Moses would be one of the best available choices in this scenario.

31. Denver Broncos: Ryan Shazier OLB Ohio State

Shazier is the best option at linebacker behind guys like Mack, Mosely and Barr. The Broncos could have one of the best pass rushes in the NFL with players like Demarcus Ware, Von Miller and Ryan Shazier.

32. Seattle Seahawks: Joel Bitonio OT Nevada

The Seahawks will be looking to improve their offensive line with their first round pick. Bitonio should be one of the best available OTs at this point.

My 2014 NFL Mock Draft Part 1 (Picks 1-16)

The 2014 NFL Draft 2014 is almost here. I've yet to do any mock drafts so here you go:

1. Atlanta Falcons (via trade with Texans): Jadeveon Clowney DE South Carolina

Don't be surprised if the Falcons trade up from the 6th spot to get Clowney. Atlanta desperately needs a pass rusher and Clowney would definitely give their D-line a huge boost. The Falcons aren't afraid to make big deals on draft day (like when they traded up for Desmond Trufant and the year before that Julio Jones). Houston needs a QB and there really isn't a QB worth getting with the first overall pick this year so I could see them trading down.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (via trade with Rams): Sammy Watkins WR Clemson

The Bucs need a WR opposite of Vincent Jackson. I wouldnt be suprised if they trade up to get the best WR in the draft. Vincent Jackson and Sammy Watkins would make for a lethal duo and Watkins would give Josh Mccown an explosive target to throw to.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars: Khalil Mack OLB Buffalo

The Jags need a QB but they can always get one later in the draft. Khalil Mack is one of the best pass rushers available in this year's draft. He would give the Jaguars a dangerous pass rush. Don't be surprised if defensive minded coach Gus Bradley goes after someone like Mack early in the draft.

4. Cleveland Browns: Johnny Manziel QB Texas A&M

The Browns are a mess. They have a lot of needs but need a QB more than anything. Manziel is probably the best option in this year's draft. Drafting QBs late in the first round hasn't worked out for them (looking at you Brandon Weeden) so they should consider drafting one earlier. 

5. Buffalo Bills (via trade with Raiders): Mike Evans WR Texas A&M

There are some rumors that Buffalo might trade up for a WR. The Bills don't really have anyone at WR so they could use a WR like Evans. Oakland will be looking to trade down as they a very desperate for depth.

6. Houston Texans (via trade with Falcons): Blake Bortles QB Texas A&M

Trading down makes sense because Houston needs a QB and its likely they can still get a top QB at the 6th pick. I think Bortles is the next best option behind Manziel so I think the Texans would draft him in this scenario.

7. St. Louis Rams (via trade with Buccaneers): Greg Robinson OT Auburn

By trading down the Rams can add depth and possibly still get a player they may have drafted at the #2 spot anyway. Greg Robinson is possibly the best offensive lineman in the draft. He would open holes in the running game and protect Sam Bradford.

8. Miami Dolphins (via trade with Vikings): Jake Matthews OT Texas A&M

The Dolphins have one of the worst offensive lines in football. I wouldn't be too surprised if they trade up to get a top offensive lineman. Recent reports suggest the Vikings may be looking to trade down so they would be a likely trade partner. Jake Matthews is one of the best offensive linemen in this year's draft. He would give Tannehill some much needed protection and pave holes in the running game.

9. Oakland Raiders (via trade with Bills): Taylor Lewan OT Michigan 

The Raiders are a complete mess and have no depth. Its very likely they will trade down. They need some serious help a offensive line so trading down and still getting one of the best offensive linemen in the draft would work out nicely for them. Recent reports suggest the Raiders are interested in Lewan. He would be a big step towards fixing their porous offensive line.

10. Detroit Lions: Ha Ha Clinton Dix FS Alabama

Detroit needs help at WR. I think Watkins and Evans will be long gone at this point. They could trade up but it would be a huge blockbuster trade and they have other needs so I don't think thats a great idea. Drafting someone like Marqise Lee with the 10th overall pick would be a reach. The Lions have a weak secondary so drafting Ha Ha Clinton Dix would be a good move. He is a NFL ready safety and should make an immediate impact.

11. Tennessee Titans: Justin Gilbert CB Oklahoma 

The Titans lost their CB Alterraun Verner to free agency. Justin Gilbert is an NFL ready corner and should be a good replacement. 

12. New York Giants: Zack Martin OT Notre Dame

The Giants offensive line is weak. Zack Martin is one of the better options at OT in this year's draft. Maybe he can help protect Eli Manning so he won't throw so many INTs... 

13. St Louis Rams: Calvin Pryor FS Louisville 

Pryor is considered the second best safety in the draft by most. The Rams could use some help at the position so drafting Pryor would be a good move. He is a hard hitting safety and should improve the Rams secondary.

14. Dallas Cowboys (via trade with Bears): Aaron Donald DT Pittsburgh

The Cowboys have shown interest in Donald. After losing Demarcus Ware to free agency the Cowboys are very likely to take someone like Donald with their first round pick. They probably won't have to trade up a whole lot to get him but they might need to move up a couple of spots. The Bears need help a D-line so they could take Donald.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers: Darqueze Dennard CB Michigan State

The Steelers defense is too old. Dennard would be a good fit for the Steelers. He is young, fast and physical and is considered one of the top rookie corners.

16. Chicago Bears (via trade with Cowboys): C.J Mosley ILB Alabama

The Bears defense was terrible last year. Mosley has injury concerns but if he can stay healthy he should be a big help towards fixing the Bears D. By trading down they still get a solid pass rusher and probably an extra late round pick.

Madden 15 Releases August 26th

EA has announced Madden 15 will release August 26th for PS4, PS3, Xbox One and Xbox 360.

Grid: Autosport Announced

As expected based on their teaser, Codemasters has announced a new Grid game, Grid: Autosport. Grid Autosport will be released June 24th on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.

Media Create Sales: PS Vita Beats 3DS and Is #1 Overall

Last week in Japan the PS Vita not only outsold 3DS (both 3DS and 3DS XL combined) but was the #1 best selling console overall. The PS4 sold 13,000. It seems to have stabilized at a bit over 10,000 a week. Not great but not terrible especially considering there aren't really any Japanese games for it yet. The Wii U is still doing really bad. Despite Tittanfall launching in Japan, Xbox 360 sales were still miserable. Here are the full results: (last week sales numbers in parentheses)

1. PlayStation Vita – 24,078 (25,017)
2. 3DS LL – 17,291 (22,947)
3. PlayStation 4 – 13,034 (13,401)
4. PlayStation 
5. PlayStation Vita – 24,078 (25,017)
6. 3DS LL – 17,291 (22,947)
7. PlayStation 4 – 13,034 (13,401)
8. PlayStation 3 – 7,305 (10,871)
9. 3DS – 6,271 (9,091)
10. Wii U – 5,512 (7,962)
11. PSP – 2,027 (2,892)
12. PlayStation Vita TV – 1,220 (1,371)
13. Xbox 360 – 229 (276)
14. 3 – 7,305 (10,871)
15. 3DS – 6,271 (9,091)
16. Wii U – 5,512 (7,962)
17. PSP – 2,027 (2,892)
18. PlayStation Vita TV – 1,220 (1,371)
19. Xbox 360 – 229 (276)

March: NPD Results, PS4 Best Selling Console Again, Tittanfall #1 For Software

The PS4 was once again the best selling console in the US. Tittanfall was the best selling game in the US this month. The Wii U did pretty terrible again and Nintendo still hasn't said anything...

Here are the top 10 best selling games for the US.

1- Titanfall

2- Infamous Second Son

3- South Park The Stick of Truth

4- Call of Duty Ghosts

5- Dark Souls 2

6- Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeros

7- NBA 2K14

8- Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster

9- The Lego Movie Videogame

10- Minecraft

The full results for hardware aren't in but the PS4 was the best selling console and Xbox One sold around 311,000. Wii U sold around 70,000.

Codemasters Teasing a New Grid Game?

The Grid YouTube channel has uploaded this teaser. Looks like Grid 3 will be revealed the 22nd.

Xbox One Sales Update: 5 Million Units Shipped

Microsoft has finally said something about Xbox One sales. It has shipped 5 million units to retailers. Now shipped does not=total amount of sales. So its sold less than 5 million. This is concerning considering Sony just announced total PS4 sales yesterday (7 million). Even still it's selling well but not as well as PS4. Nintendo still hasn't said anything about how the Wii U has been fairing...

PS4 Sales Hit 7 Million

PS4 sales are now up to 7 million. Now you may remember my article about Infamous Second Son's successful launch and how it helped PS4 sales hit 7 million. Those numbers were correct but this news comes straight from Sony. In other words the PS4 continues to sell really well and Sony is not afraid to share the good news to the world. Meanwhile Microsoft and Nintendo have been quiet about how their consoles have been fairing. UPDATE: Microsoft has updated Xbox One sales figures 

Conception 2: Children of the Seven Stars Demo Impressions (PS Vita)

I have been into JRPGs lately and have seem some crazy stuff but nothing compares to the wackiness of Conception 2. The very concept of the game is just crazy: making Star Children with 7 heroines (yeah thats right 7!). You then take those Star Children into battle and defeat monsters. The game is obviously very unique and wacky but is it any good?

The games story was not the least bit interesting to me. Even though this is a demo and its only an early portion of the game, I highly doubt the plot unfolds into something good.

You play as a Disciple of the Star God. You are not just any old Disciple though you are "a God's Gift" (whatever thats supposed to mean). This Star God guy randomly gives random people in their late teens special powers to fight monsters and make Star Children. They only have these powers for a few years. Disciples live on a special and island and have their own school. When they aren't attending classes and stuff they fight monsters in labyrinths. There are an unusually large number of monsters appearing lately and some other stuff going on. Nothing too interesting really.

The characters are not very good at all and thats a problem as this game has a heavy emphasis on dating sim elements. The dialogue in this game is also poorly written. The characters are all anime stereotypes and not the least bit interesting. There are a couple of guys but the focus is on the 7 heroines who you will be making Star Children with. They are all so stereotypical and very unintersting. The poor dialogue when interacting with these characters doesn't help much either.

Pshhh like I care

You will be interacting with the girls a lot. You have to keep them happy to get BP (Bond Points) and use said BP to make Star Children. The dialogue is very stale. The characters stories seem pretty boring and I could care less to play through their whole stories. I ended up just skipping through a lot of it.

Making Star Children is done by Classmating (haha get it Classmating?). Classmating is done in a church (really in a church?!). Well actually this isn't surprising as the Priest is a bit of a dirty old man... Based on the dialogue before and after the Classmating scenes and the music that plays during the Classmating scenes, you would think they were up to something naughty, however Classmating is relatively harmless. Basically they hold hands and use magic powers to turn a doll into a Star Child.

Its not what you think...

When you aren't bonding with the girls or making babies you will be dungeon crawling and battling monsters. The dungeon crawling is kind of like Persona 4 only not nearly as fun. The dungeons are uninteresting looking. The monsters you fight are kind of boring. They are very generic looking enemies. At least the battle system is solid though.

Booooooring

The battle system has you, one of the girls and some Star Children attacking monsters from different directions. The battle system has a big emphasis on positioning. You can attack an enemy from 4 different directions. Every enemy has a weak spot. Hit it and you deal a good bit of extra damage. Or you can try to build up your Chain Drive. By attacking enemies in certain directions (usually somewhere that leaves you vulnerable) you slow down the enemies speed and your turn continues a bit longer. Its a risk-reward because you could end up taking a lot of damage but also could get more attacks and deal massive damage. The battle system although solid is not good enough to save the game.

Overall Conception 2 seems like a mediocre JRPG to me. There are plenty of superior options on both PS Vita 3DS.

Borderlands The Pre-Sequel Announced

A new Borderlands game, Borderlands The Pre-Sequel, has been announced for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. Borderlands the Pre-Sequel is a RPG/shooter hybrid like Borderlands 2, so its not a spin off game like Tales From The Borderlands. It will release this fall.

Super Smash Bros. 3DS Releases This Summer, Wii U in WInter

Nintendo announced in their Smash Bros focused Nintendo Direct yesterday that Super Smash Bros for 3DS launches this summer and the Wii U version comes out this winter. You can watch the Direct here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xUWnQu2Grs

Microsoft Rejects Another Indie Game, War Thunder

Here we go again... PC game War Thunder by independent developer Gaijin Entertainment is coming to PS4 but not Xbox One because Microsoft doesn't support cross platform multiplayer. Its sounds like its possible Microsoft could support cross platform multiplayer in the future but no plans right now.

This is not the first time an indie game has skipped Xbox One because of some stupid anti indie policy (Rime is a good example).

Infamous Second Son Rockets PS4 Sales to 7 Million

Although Xbox exlusive Tittanfall sold well (increased Xbox One sales by 96% in UK when it launched), got high reviews, Sony countered with Infamous Second Son. PS4 sales shot up 106% in the UK when Second Son launched and outsold the Xbox One 7:1 that week. Second Son has hit 1 million sales and PS4 sales have now hit 7 million worldwide around, which is about a 3 million lead over the Xbox One.

EA In The Running For Worst Company In America Again

EA once again is in the running for Consumerists Golden Poo Award which is for the worst company in the nation. They have won the award 2 years in a row. Will they threepeat?

Here is the full bracket for the award http://consumerist.com/2014/03/18/have-fun-breaking-down-this-years-worst-company-in-america-bracket/

Sony Announces VR Headset Project Morpheus

Sony announced their long rumored PS4 VR headset, Project Morpheus at GDC yesterday. This is just the prototype not the final version. It will support 1080p and use PlayStation Camera for head tracking camera control.


 

Amazon Game Controller Leaked

Well there it is. Looks kind of like the Xbox controller but fatter. The controller will work with Amazon's game console/media box and there are some rumors that say it will work with Kindle Fire.

Not much is known about the console itself. It sounds like it will be mostly for Amazon Instant Video and Android games.

Ferrari Land Coming 2016 in Spain

Ferrari already has the largest theme park on the planet, Ferrari World in Abu Dhabi, but they are building another theme park in Barcelona, Spain.

Ferrari Land will cost $140 million to build. It will feature a rollercoaster claimed to be the "highest and fastest-accelerating vertical ride of its kind". It will also have a 5 star hotel, restaurants and a driving simulator. It will open in 2016.

Is Sony Going to Reveal Their VR Headset Next Week?

There are several reports that Sony is going to reveal their rumored gaming VR headset at GDC next week. Techradar reported that "developers familiar with the tech" said it will be at GDC 2014.

There have been reports through the year that they have been working on a gaming VR headset for the PS4, something similar to the Oculus Rift. It sounds like the VR headset does exist its just that Sony hasn't officially confirmed.

If its priced right and most games are compatible with it then it could be a huge success.

Browns May Have Accidentally Leaked Their Free Agent list

Poor Cleveland Browns. They just can't seem to do anything right. Just when you thought things couldn't get worse this happens:


This was taken during general manager Ray Farmer's press conference. It looks like its probably their free agent list.

Falcons Sign Paul Soliai, Tyson Jackson and Jon Asamoah

The Falcons are trying to fix their terrible offensive and defensive lines. Today they signed Dolphins DT Paul Soliai, Chiefs DE Tyson Jackson, and Chiefs guard Jon Asamoah. They also resigned Jonathan Babineaux and a few other players.

Overall a good move by Atlanta who desperately need help at offensive and defensive line.

PS4 Sales Over 6 Million, Passes Wii U Sales

The PS4 has now sold over more than 6 million units worldwide. Its launch in Japan (around 370,000 units so far) helped push it over the 6 million mark. It has sold around 2 million more units than the Xbox One and has now passed the Wii U in sales which is around 5.8 million. Infamous Second Son should push sales even further when it releases March 21st.

Persona 5 and More Confirmed For North America

Persona 5, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, Persona 4 Dancing All Night and Persona Q Shadow of the Labyrinth have all been confirmed for North America. Persona 5 and Persona 4 Dancing all Night will come out in 2015 and the rest are coming this year.

Not much is known about Persona 5 but if its anywhere near as good as Persona 4 it will be a must have. Its coming to PS3 in 2015.

Persona 4 Arena Ultimax is Persona 4 Arena 2 in all but the name. It will continue the storyline of its predecessor, which was a sequel to Persona 4. Its coming to PS3 in 2015.

Persona 4 Dancing all night is a rhythm game set in the world of Persona 4. I'm not too big on rhythm games but I may like it more than others since its Persona 4 themed. Persona 4 Dancing all Night is coming to PS Vita in 2015.

Persona Q Shadow of the Labyrinth looks like its pretty much Etrian Odyssey with Persona 4 and 3 characters. That certainly isn't a bad thing however. I don't care for the whole chibi thing though. I mean both Etrian Odyssey and Persona are obviously targeted towards an adult audience so why chibi? Anyway Persona Q Shadow of the Labyrinth comes out this year for the 3DS.

It is definitely a good time to be a Persona fan.

Microsoft Rejects Indie Game Rime, Now A PS4 Exclusive

Rime, (originally known as Echoes of Siren) by the independent company Tequila Works based in Spain, is now going to be a PS4 exclusive because Microsoft didn't want it. The game was going to be a Xbox exclusive but Microsoft doesn't care about single player games, indie games or anything that has a bit of creativity. They hate games like Journey, Flower, Sound Shapes etc. I'm not making this up. The CEO of Tequila Works explained why it's not coming to Xbox:

"Then the Xbox One plans were announced and everything changed. The people at Microsoft say the game doesn't fit in the strategy of the new console, that they are looking for "connected experiences"
and the social factor. Rime didn't fit because it was a single player game, a very traditional game experience."

I'm sure if it was online only, had a bunch of guns, shooting and blood everywhere Microsoft would have snatched it up in heartbeat.

Here is a trailer for Rime: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=V-JunUax8xg

PS4 Hits 5.3 Million Sales, Xbox One at Around 3.6 Million

Earlier I wrote about the PS4's very successful month in January. Now we know exactly how well it has done. The PS4 has now sold over 5.3 million units worldwide as of February 8th. So that's about a million or so in January. And January is always a slow month for video games. The console hasn't been out very long and it hasn't even launched in its home market yet.

The Xbox One is sitting at around 3.6 million sales. There are many reasons why it isn't selling as well as its competitor but the huge backlash the Xbox One got at E3 last year and the higher price point (who would pay more for a less powerful console?!) are likely contributing factors.

Google and Apple App Stores Filtering Out "Flappy" Apps

Apparently the Google Play Store and the iTunes App store are now filtering out apps with the name "flappy" in it. This was probably due to the very large of number of Flappy Bird clones. Flappy Plane, Flappy Bee, Flappy Wings, flappy this flappy that.

Well there goes my plan to make my own "Flappy" game. I mean really how hard could it possibly be? I'd probably make a bunch of $ too.

PS4 Top Selling Console In January, Doubles Sales of Xbox One

NPD sales numbers are in for January. The PS4 continues to sell very well. In January it was the top selling console in the US and the top selling console overall and even sold more than the 3DS. According to Sony VP of marketing, John Koller, the PS4 "nearly doubled" Xbox One sales in January. The Xbox One also sold more than the 3DS in January.

The PS4 is literally the most powerful game console ever and had the most successful launch ever for a game console. It has not even came out in Japan yet. The Xbox One is also selling very well just not quite as well as the PS4. Its impressive both consoles are doing this well considering neither really have any great games right now.

MLB The Show 2014 Coming April 1st, PS4 Version in May

MLB The Show 2014 has been confirmed for a April 1st release date for the PS3 and PS Vita versions (no this is not a early April fools joke). The PS4 version will be coming in May. 

Here is some PS3 gameplay of the game: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Phn9g06_bRA

Wii U Continues to Struggle, 3DS Still Selling Like Crazy

This weeks Japanese sales charts are in. As usual the 3DS is doing very well and the Wii U is doing terrible. The 3DS sold 48K and the Wii U only managed 7K. The PS Vita sales dropped by around 4K selling 16K.

Farewell Flappy Bird, Popular Game Has Been Taken off the Android and Apple App Stores

Dong Nguyen, developer of the very popular mobile game Flappy Bird, announced yesterday that he would take the game off the Apple and Android Stores in about a day. Sure enough the game is now gone from the app stores. He said the game "ruined his life" which is why he took it down from the app stores.                                        

Flappy Bird Review: Worst 5 Minutes I Have Ever Spent

Flappy Bird is insanely popular. Its at the top of the charts for mobile games right now. It has around 500,000 reviews on The App Store. It was released about a year ago but just recently reached this high level of popularity. Why is it so popular? Its addicting, or so people say it is.

Normally I don't review or write anything at all about mobile games (I never have until now actually), but I think I need to write something about this poorly made, pointless game.

Why am I writing this? I thought I might as well try it out because its extremely popular and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Also its free, doesn't take up much space and is supposedly extremely addicting. What was there to lose? 5 minutes of my life down the drain spent playing this stupid piece of junk.

Flappy Bird is an incredibly hard and extremely simple endless platformer. Simple to the point where its not even really a game. Imagine something like Jetpack Joyride that's 100 times harder, with no powerups, no collectibles, no variety in the level, no difficulty curve, no objectives or anything but mindless, boring extremely difficult platforming. All you do is press start and tap the screen to make this thing that's supposed to resemble a bird fly between pipes without hitting them. When you pass by a pipe and you get a point. That's about it. No powerups, no variety in the level, no different game modes, no anything really.

Flappy Bird is probably the most frustrating game I have ever played. I think my high score is only 4 or 5. Other endless games like Jetpack Joyride and Temple Run start off easy and get harder the longer you survive. Those games have something important called a "difficulty curve". Flappy Bird does not. The game starts of extremely difficult from the start. It doesn't get easier or harder, its always the same frustrating difficulty level. Its not the least bit fun or addicting. I really don't see what the appeal is.

Forbes review is right. It's concerning that tons of people are obsessed with something so pointless.

"But it’s worrisome that we live in a world that would rocket an almost entirely mindless game like this to insane levels of popularity. Forget video games, what does that say about society as a whole? Have we reached a level of boredom bordering on dangerous if we’re spending our time en masse on something so pointless?"

Flappy Bird is an extremely simple, pointless, poorly made, frustrating game that I can't recommend to anyone. Flappy Bird is pure rubbish. Please don't download it. You can thank me later.

Score: 0/10

Pros:

None (yes it really is that bad)

Cons:
- Extremely frustrating
- So simple to the point where its difficult to consider it a game
- No difficulty curve
- No power ups or anything to spice things up
- Not at all addicting like it claims to be

I could add a bunch more things to the already long list of cons but I would end up writing a book. Once again avoid this game at all costs.

Defense Still Wins Championships: 'Hawks Demolish Broncos

Super Bowl XLVIII featured the best offense in the league and the best defense. The Denver Broncos set records for most points scored and TDs in a season. Even though the Seattle Seahawks had the top defense they wouldn't be able slow down this record setting offense would they? Well the 'Hawks showed the old saying can still apply to this crazy pass happy NFL league: "defense wins championships". Maybe it wasn't about whether Seattle could slow down Denver, but whether the Broncos could get past the 'Hawks defense.

Denver was never in the game. On the very first play of the game Denver snapped the ball too early. I don't know what happened here but the ball went flying over Peyton Mannings head resulting in a safety. Denver turned the ball over like there was no tomorrow and was never able to compete in the game.

Seattle didn't do anything spectacular on offense. QB Russell Wilson threw for 206 yards and 2 TDs. As usual it wasn't anything spectacular but the young QB was very efficient and didn't make any mistakes. Marshawn Lynch didn't have a great game only getting 39 yards on 15 carries but he did score a TD.

The Seahawks defense is what won the game for them. They picked off Manning twice and held him to 280 yards (and most of those yards were when the game was out of hand). Denver was unable to run the ball against Seattle's tough run D. The Hawk's also recovered 2 Broncos fumbles.

Seattle won the game 43-8. It wasn't even close. Denver just couldn't get through the impenetrable Seattle defense.

Wii U Only Sells 8K this Week In Japan

This week's Japanese sales charts are in. Wii U sales are continuing to drop. This week it sold a miserable 8K. The 3DS is continuing to do dominate selling 38K. The PS Vita has done much better in sales lately selling over 20K again.

The Wii U is in some serious trouble. It continues to sell very poorly. Nintendo will have to hope that upcoming games like Donkey Kong Tropical Freeze and Mario Kart 8 will boost sales.

The Alien Game We Have Been Waiting For? Alien: Isolation Announced by Sega

SEGA has officially announced Alien: Isolation, a first person survival horror game set 15 years after Alien. You will play as Ripley's daughter Amanda.

It sounds like Alien: Isolation is going to be a true survival horror game. Isolation will show how terrifying one Xenomorph can be rather than tons and tons like in Aliens: Colonial Marines.

It all sounds promising but remember what happened with Aliens Colonial Marines? Aliens: Isolation will be out late 2014 on PS4, Xbox One, PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. Hopefully this will be the Aliens game fans have been waiting for.