Gamertell

Congratulations! You’ve somehow scored one of Nintendo’s white-hot little consoles, and you’re wondering what to play. Or, you’re shopping for a Wii gamer and hoping to avoid the slew of terrible shovelware and minigame collections that have pooled on the Wii like so much slime. In either case, take heed – our list separates the must-haves from the please-don’ts, and will ensure a happy gaming holiday for you’re Wii-mote hurler (or yourself).

Super Mario Galaxy – One of the most innovative and wickedly fun platformers to appear on any system, and the first true Mario game since 2002, Galaxy has “Wii game of the year” written all over it.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption: The third in the excellent FPS/adventure series, Prime 3 features solid combat, puzzle solving and exploration in gorgeous outer space locales.

Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure: This title came out of the blue this year, and stands as one of the best action/puzzle games available on the Wii.

Super Paper Mario: Taking a cue from the Paper Mario action RPG’s and laying heavily on the action side, Super Paper Mario plays like 2d dream without sacrificing the series RPG roots.

Resident Evil 4: Still hailed as one of the best games of all time, and a scary, perfectly-paced return to form for the aging series.

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn: A seriously deep fantasy-strategy title. Buy this for armchair generals who prefer a little majesty in their fights (and Gamecube quality graphics).

Mercury Meltdown Revolution: A good bet for puzzle lovers. MMR tasks the player with navigating treacherous mazes as a tiny blob of mercury, packed with plenty of obstacles and noggin-scratching challenges to complete.

Mario Strikers Charged: The third Mario game on this list, but the best choice for action-sports fans on Nintendo’s little white box. A wacky take on soccer based in the Mario universe, the game is fast paced, colorful, and perfect for multiplayer play.

Guitar Hero 3: Legends of Rock: The third in Activision’s wildly popular music series, Guitar Hero 3 is perfect for virtual guitar gods and newbies alike, with its punishing boss battles and expanded song selection.

Geometry Wars Galaxies: Hardcore, old school shooter action with a neon flair. Galaxies is crazy-addictive and packs more modes than you can shake a stick at. Just be sure to play it with the classic controller.

Cooking Mama: Cook Off: a good example of a quirky, casual game done right. Cooking Mama successfully blends minigames, tasty-looking cartoon food, and heated multiplayer action in a delicious blend that casual gamers will enjoy.

Wii Zapper/Link’s Crossbow Training: A must for any shooter fan, The Wii Zapper casing and its pack-in title Link’s Crossbow Training will make for a very nice little secret Santa present/stocking stuffer at $20

Wii Classic Controller: an absolute must for all the retro goodness on the Virtual Console.

Site [Wii]

To relieve the stress of figuring out what the gamers in your family would want for Christmas, Eyewitness News KIDK Channel 3 offers a few ideas on their Gift Guide broadcast to help parents and family members decide on the perfect video game.

“Today is all about video games. It used to be that teens were the focus of video games, but now they’re targeted at the whole family,” said reporter Rick Montañez of KIDK a northwest news station. “Tonight we show you interactive video games, plus a different way to shop on the budget.”

During the broadcast, Montañez interviewed several game store employees about the latest trends in shopping and explains why now is a good time to purchase these items versus waiting till the last minute to fill that wish list.

“Nintendo Wii, Rock Band and Guitar Hero 3, those are definitely the three big, in demand items as far as the gaming world goes,” said Jason Strawn of Best Buy in Idaho Falls. ”Rock Band is very interactive, Rock Band has a set of drums and guitar that it comes with so you actually play the drums. The Wii has really had a lot of popularity gained with older people, families, I think that’s why they’ve sold so many of them, is they’ve had some unexpected success with some of the people that they weren’t necessarily marketing the product to.”

Montañez explained why interactive games have become so popular. He said in the past video games required the use of a controller and now gamers can really get into their games using a hand held pointer, guitar or drums to play the game.

One of the topics brought up during the interviewed, Montañez asked CD World’s Matt Larsen for tips on shopping within a budget.

“If somebody was on a budget, they could bring the games in and trade ‘em and get different products, be it CD’s or DVD’s on videogames,” said Larsen. “If you’re tired of the games you own or your CDs or DVDs, you can trade that in and even put it toward a gift certificate if you wanted to.”

Montañez also asked about alternatives to violent video games and which would be better for the whole family to enjoy.

“Most of the time Nintendo puts out games that are gonna be for a little younger generation,” Strawn said and added that traveling games seem to be growing popularity had sales have spiked as the demand for hand held systems goes up. “The popularity of some of the travel games is increasing because the screens are getting larger, resolution is getting better.” According to Montañez, most games will cost anywhere from $100 to $300 and the closer to the holidays you get, the harder it will be able to find the items from your wish list. “A good way to find out when stores are getting items back in stock is by checking the Sunday sales papers,” Montañez said.

Read [KIDK Channel 3 News]

Come this holiday season Xbox 360 fans have a lot to be thankful for. Not only has Microsoft proven that its tall-slick sexy beast has more under its hood then what most critics had first given the now two year old system credit for, the great line-up of games just continue to come pouring out.

With so many groundbreaking titles released over the past few months, it has gotten easier and easier to justify putting down that $400 and grabbing your self a 360 this Christmas season. But once the consumer has purchased their 360 the only question that remains is, what games should you buy first. We at GamerTell are here to help you narrow down and make your seasonal shopping just that much easier.

Games no hardcore gamer should go without:

Mass Effect (RPG-$60), developed by one of the premiere RPG makers in the world, Bioware, who is best known for Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic, brings their new epic space adventure to the 360. If you are looking for a game that goes beyond just being a game, look no further then Mass Effect. This beautiful RPG gives the player the chance to develop their custom characters the way they want while exploring a truly awesome and expansive universe.

Halo 3 (FPS, $60), a franchise that has defined the modern first person shooter, finishes the fight this season. With ground breaking graphics, a multiplayer to die for and a story that has captivated a generation, Halo 3 is certainly going to be on every gamers wish list this Christmas.

Call of Duty 4 (FPS, $60) brings the classic World War II action shooter to the modern era. While short, if a gamer is looking for one of the most intense and exciting experiences they can have without actually having to join the Army then Call of Duty 4 is your best bet. With one of the deepest and most original online elements in recent gaming history, Call of Duty 4 will no doubt be one of those games that you will be playing long after the initial single player campaign has been finished.

Assassin’s Creed (Action/Adventure, $60) is one of those games that transcend just being another action title. If you have a love of stealth and actions games or just a fanatic for history, then Assassin’s Creed is the game for you. Assassin’s Creed will be one of those titles that will be talked about for many years to come and no doubt the beginning of a great franchise.

The Orange Box (FPS/Puzzle/Online Multiplayer, $60), presented by Valve, is a gamers dream. Not only does this collect come with Half Life 2 and Half Life 2 episode one, three all new original games are also included with the Orange Box, such as, Half Life 2 episode two, Portal and the long anticipated Team Fortress 2. Five games for the price of one, this $60 package is a must buy for any cash strapped gamer.

Other AAA Xbox 360 titles that gamers wouldn’t won’t to pass over this holiday season include:

• Bioshock (FPS, $60)
• Ace Combat 6 (Flight Sim, $60)
• The Simpson’s Game (Action/Adventure, $60)
• Timeshift (FPS, $60)
• Metal of Honor: Airborne (FPS, $60)
• Lost Planet (Action/Adventure, $60)
• Ghost Recon Advance Warfare 2 (Tactical Shooter, $40)
• Crackdown (Action/Crime, $40)
• Kane & Lynch (Action/Crime, $60)
• Rock Band (Harmonix, $60)
• WWE Smackdown Vs. Raw 2008 (Fighting/Sports/Wrestling, $60)
• BlackSite: Area 51 (FPS, $60)
• Need for Speed: Prostreet (Racing, $60)
• Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Action/Adventure, $50)
• Viva Pinata: Party Animals (Action/Adventure, $50)
• Naruto: Rise of a Ninja (Action/Adventure, $60)
• Virtua Fighter 5 (Fighter, $60)
• Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (Music & Party, $60)
• Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground (Sports/Skateboarding, $60)
• SKATE (Sports/Skateboarding, $60)

With this many stocking stuffers, there isn’t a whole lot for gamers to complain about to Santa.

Read [Ebgames] Also Read [Xbox]

Everyone is beginning to prepare their gift lists now that the holiday season is approaching and Black Friday behind us. That means it is time for the first ever Gamertell Nintendo DS gift guide. Hopefully this guide will help you figure out the best gifts for the hard-to-buy-for DS owner you know.

These are just suggestions, mind you. By the end of this year there will have been over 400 titles released for the system. Hopefully this small list will help you pick out a gift for someone, or maybe even something for yourself. (Games which can be played over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection will be noted as such.)

Classics

Recent DS owners might have missed out on some really great games that were released. After all, a lot of great games have come out since the system was first released in November 2004. These classic games are ones that might not be as new, but they’re great games that are not only lots of fun, but also will keep players occupied well into the new year.

Animal Crossing: Wild World - $34.99, Rated E. Simulation. Nintendo WFC New Super Mario Bros. - $34.99, Rated E. Action. Pokemon Diamond/Pearl - $34.99 (each), Rated E. RPG. Nintendo WFC

General

There are some games which go beyond their respective genres and target groups. These are titles that everyone can enjoy and get into. In fact, each entry in this category is the latest entry in that particular game series. These are tried and true entries which continue, or in the case of Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations finish, the story and gameplay found in the originals.

Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - $34.99, Rated E. Action/Adventure. Nintendo WFC Phoenix Wright: Trials and Tribulations - $29.99, Rated T. Strategy. Cooking Mama 2: Dinner with Friends - $29.99, Rated E. Simulation. For Kids

One thing that always bugs me about typical gift recommendations for kids is that it assumes they only play games based on popular movies, tv shows, or toys. They don’t. They’re more intelligent and capable than you think, and they deserve games which won’t dumb things down for them. And little girls don’t need to be playing some mundane Bratz game, they deserve to be playing games that are just as defined and exciting as the ones for boys. The following games aren’t ‘typical’ children’s games, but they’re ones that every kid should play. They’re intelligent, engaging, creative and feature great gameplay.

Chibi Robo: Park Patrol (Wal-Mart Exclusive) - $29.92, Rated E. Adventure. Looney Tunes: Duck Amuck - $29.99, Rated E. Action. Touch Detective 2 1/2 - $29.99,R ated E. Adventure

For Role-Playing Game Fans

It has been a good year for DS owners who happen to be RPG fans. A lot of titles have been released recently for the system, and most of them have been quality endeavors. That being said, it was hard to narrow down the list to just three for this guide. I picked out just a few of the best and brightest stars this season, and each one is a different kind of RPG. These three games will definitely suck fans in.

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings - $39.99, Rated E 10+. Strategy. Luminous Arc - $34.99, Rated T. RPG. Nintendo WFC Rune Factory - $29.99, Rated E. RPG. Nintendo WFC

For Action Fans

There have also been a lot of great action games recently released. The key to a great action game is one that is challenging, has intuitive controls, and provides an adventure that makes you want to keep playing. Replay value is always a plus in a title as well. The following games all fit that profile. Admittedly, Bleach: The Blade of Fate is a fighting game, but the story modes have some action elements and it can still slip in here.

Bleach: The Blade of Fate - $29.99, Rated T. Fighting. Nintendo WFC Contra 4 - $29.99, Rated T. Action. Mega Man ZX Advent - $29.99, Rated E. Action. Nintendo WFC

For Adults Only

People tend to gloss over the fact that the DS is not just a family-friendly system. Many adults own this handheld and sometimes a more mature player will want a more mature game. The following games were all created with an adult audience in mind. Two of the three are rated Mature. The one that isn’t rated Mature is on here because it is challenging, possesses adult themes and requires a lot of patience.

Dementium: The Ward - $29.99, Rated M. Adventure. Ultimate Mortal Kombat - $29.99, Rated M. Fighting. Nintendo WFC Lifesigns: Surgical Unit - $29.99, Rated T. Simulation.

Site [GameStop] Site [Wal-Mart] Site [Amazon]

The holiday season is upon us and, if Nintendo’s Wii is anywhere on your shopping list, you had best start looking for one now.

The popular console retails at an affordable $250 and is the top-requested game system this holiday season with a slot reserved in 32 percent of holiday wish-lists, according to a Weekly Reader Research survey of 1,000 8-to-17-year-olds. Despite the overwhelming consumer demand, however, supplies of Wiis remain scarce even a year after its release. A

lthough Nintendo recently increased expected supplies to be shipped worldwide by March 2008 from 16.5 million units to 17.5 million units, Nintendo simply cannot produce enough units to meet demand, resulting in inventories that arrive unexpectedly at retailers and completely sell out within a few hours. A few retailers have been taking advantage of this fact by only selling Wii in bundles, forcing consumers to pay extra for games or accessories they may not want in order to obtain the console.

The shortages may prove beneficial to the competing Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 consoles, as both have received price cuts this year that could make them a lot more competitive than they were last holiday season. The Xbox 360 Arcade package retails for $279, only $20 more than Wii, while Sony’s new 40 GB PS3 model delivers its Blue-Ray/console combination for $399, a $100 price reduction.

The price cuts, coupled with a string of recent hits that are not available on Wii such as Assassin’s Creed, Halo 3, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Rock Band and Mass Effect, make for an enticing offer for those weary of scouring electronics stores for Nintendo’s elusive console.

Of course, online shopping is always an option for those who are determined to find a Wii this holiday season. Availability is much higher, but you can expect to pay for it, especially on eBay, where sellers have picked up on the retail strategy of bundling Nintendo’s console with unnecessary fluff to warrant a larger price tag.

Read [USA Today] Site [Nintendo Wii]