The Chronicles of Riddick - Assault on Dark Athena
Available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows PC
Release date: April 7, 2009 (US)
ESRB Rating: M (for Mature)
Publisher: Atari
Developer: Starbreeze Studios
Website: RiddickGame.com

Summary:
Though the fate of the game was in jeopardy for some time after being dropped by Activision, I can honestly say that I am glad that Atari picked up publishing duties for this game. The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena is a great game with engaging voice acting and sweet graphics. Only some occasional problems mar the experience.

Rating:

4.5 out of 5 stars

Read the full review below.

Want something to protect your Nintendo DS Lite or DSi and an extra battery backup? There's no all-in-one solution like the TekCase from TeknoCreations. TeknoCreations has crafted an original 2-in-1 solution for Nintendo DS Lite and DSi owners. The neat thing is it does both protecting and extending battery life in a compact way, making it ideal for long trips.

The TekCase is essentially a hard polycarbonate shell that fits around the DS Lite or the DSi. All ports for your handheld remain accessible. It doesn't interfere with the operation of anything (like L/R buttons, DSi camera, GBA slot, SD card slot, etc.). Your DS Lite/DSi snaps into the TekCase, with no assembly required. Just pull back a USB interface port on the back of the TekCase, insert your DS Lite/DSi into the lower part of the TekCase, snap on the top portion of it and then push the TekCase USB interface into the back AC adaptor port. Your DS Lite/DSi is locked and loaded with an extra battery backup. It's a snug fit, so take care when you place the DS Lite or DSi in it, or remove it.

The hidden wonder of the TekCase is the backup battery. Play with your DS Lite/DSi until your battery indicator on the system goes low (red). All you need to do to start recharging the DS Lite/DSi is flick the ON switch located at the side of the TekCase and your system starts to recharge. The TekCase will fully recharge your DS Lite/DSi battery. You can get about 3 times the playtime using the TekCase.

When you are ready to recharge your DS/DSi and TekCase, you can plug it into a power outlet using the included AC adapter or use a standard USB cable. Because the TekCase AC adapter was built with a USB interface in mind, you can leave your DS Lite/DSi adapter at home if you're traveling with a laptop or have access to another computer/USB interface to charge from. Although the back USB to AC adapter interface may be the most bulky part of the TekCase, it's functionality makes up for it. The TekCase also uses a smart charging technology. Meaning, it will recharge your DS Lite/DSi battery first, then recharge the TekCase internal battery. There are battery level and charging indicators on the left of the TekCase. That way you'll know how much charge is left in your TekCase.

When you consider what a carrying case and extra AC adapter may cost you for the DS Lite/DSi, the TekCase comes at a comparable value at $29.99 and in a much more convenient and less-bulky package. The TekCase is smaller than most other DS Lite or DSi cases, which don't event include a recharging system. You won't have to worry about turning down the brightness on the DS Lite/DSi or worry about running out of battery power on long trips. The TekCase is a tough second skin you won't want give up once you've been spoiled by the battery backup.

The TekCase for the DS Lite is available for a $29.99 MSRP (in Black here or Pink here) and will be available for the DSi for $29.99 MSRP starting June 1st (in Black here or Pink here).

See various pictures of the TekCase DS Lite and DSi case and colors below.

For more information,visit the TeknoCreations website here.

With the ever-growing popularity of the rhythm game genre comes a surge of wanna-be rock stars. Many have become inspired enough to drop the plastic instruments in exchange for the real deal. But many don't have the time or budget to take classes with an instructor, or want to learn at their own pace. Enter Optek's Fretlight Interactive Learning System; a deceptively normal-looking electric guitar hoping to act as a bridge for gamers to become musicians. The idea behind the Fretlight guitar is that when plugged into a PC or Mac via USB, the LED lights hidden in the fretboard illuminate in conjunction with a lesson playing on the computer, showing the student exactly where to place their fingers.

The guitar (FG-421 Standard) appears to be just as any other; 21 frets, 6 strings and a Stratocaster-like body. Because the LEDs are behind the fretboard, there is no physical indication of their existence until it is plugged into a computer with one of the various pieces of Fretlight software running. I loved the hardware. The guitar had a good weight to it and did not feel 'cheap' or flimsy. Optek has an amplifier for sale on their site but the Fretlight works with any amp and sounds just as good as any Fender Strat-Clone I've seen. The body is contoured and very ergonomic for a natural, comfortable feel and it's really nice to look at too. The one I tested was "Renegade Red" with a pearloid pickguard which had a vintage look about it.

The main selling point, and the letdown, of the Fretlight is the software. There are a few programs that are compatible with the Fretlight and purchasing the guitar includes the Fretlight Lesson Player for free. This is their oldest piece of software and it shows. It reads like an e-book with hyperlinks that, when clicked, open a pop-up audio player to play samples of what you should sound like or pro-tips from the virtual instructor. Overall, it feels clunky and antiquated but there is a ton of information in there. The Lesson Player includes over 30 beginner lessons, interactive chord and scale charts and a solid introduction to music theory, complete with a glossary in case of confusion. Despite it's appearance and interface, I did eventually grow accustomed to the Lesson Player and learned some new chords and scales. This program is also expandable via DLC in "Lesson Paks" that feature more lessons you choose depending on what playing style or genre you would like to learn. Lesson Paks are on sale at the Fretlight store and range from $14.99-$19.99 each.

Their newest program (Windows only as of this writing) is the Fretlight Video Player which is a significant improvement over the Lesson Player. I tinkered with the trial version, which included a few lessons, and found that it feels like a less-slick version of Apple's new Garage Band guitar lessons. This program looks like Windows Media Player and uses video lessons as opposed to reading along in an e-book. One of the great features of the video player is the ability to set loop points so you can practice the same section over again with the instructor and a speed slider that allows tempo adjustment. This is important for new players who might not be able to keep up with the instructor at full speed right away. Another great feature about the Video Player is that whenever the instructor does anything on the guitar, from a lesson to just messing around, the LEDs on your fretboard show you exactly what he is playing as he is playing it. The Fretlight Video Player is on sale at the Fretlight store for $29.99 with a slew of additional video packs priced at $14.99 apiece. Lessons across all programs are available at all levels of expertise so advanced players can learn something new as well.

All in all, this was a different experience in my short journey of the world of music. It was convenient to have the lessons available at my home, ready for whenever I wanted to play. It was also much less in cost than hiring an instructor, but the antiquated software was a bit of a turn-off. My suggestion, for those interested in making a purchase, would be to download the free trial versions of the software directly from Fretlight.com to see if you feel that this system will work for you.

The Red Fretlight FG-421 Guitar is available for purchase here, directly from Optek. Optek ships all guitars custom tuned for your region's climate.

Lux Pain
Available for: Nintendo DS/DSi
Release date: March 24, 2009 (US)
ESRB Rating: T (for Teen)
Publisher & Developer: Ignition Entertainment and Killaware
MSRP: $29.99
Website: luxpain.com

Pros:
[+] solid presentation
[+] engaging storyline

Cons:
[-] very little gameplay
[-] story can be tedious at times
[-] text gets monotonous once in a while

Neutral:
[ / ] no multiplayer

Rating:

2 out of 5 stars

Summary:
Imagine yourself reading an engrossing book. Now imagine if the pictures within that book started moving. That’s basically what you end up with in Lux-Pain, Ignition Entertainment’s recently released mystery game for the Nintendo DS.

Read the full review below.

The Nintendo DSi has been out for a week now and it's no surprise it is already selling well. You may be considering either upgrading your DS/DS Lite to a DSi, or jumping into the Nintendo DS game platform for the first time. I traded in my DS Lite for the DSi. So how is it? After playing around with it for one week, here are some of my firsthand impressions. I thought I'd share them for anyone considering or contemplating the move.

Pros:
[+] Bigger screens - DS games display a crisp resolution at the larger size, with 5 levels of brightness.
[+] DSiWare - The DSi Shop delivers DSiWare games at $2 and up. New games will be released each week, at a low cost.
[+] DSi Camera - It's fun to use the camera effects (kids went crazy snapping pictures). WarioWare Snapped! is the first DSi exclusive game to use it in a unique way.
[+] DSi Sound - Another fun diversion, but for audio and music. Play AAC music files from SD cards with some unique visuals, including Super Mario and Excite Bike music visualizers.Try playing your music through an 8-bit filter for fun. There is plenty more simple sound editing features to play with.
[+] SD Card port - The DS gets a storage solution for the first time. Use it to save games, pictures and music/sound. Use the SD Card with your Wii too (see and share the DSi Camera pictures on the Wii).
[+] Speakers sound better.
[+] Web browsing - Opera web browser is available as a free download from DSi Shop.
[+] Soft reset - Hitting the power button when playing takes you back the the DSi Menu. No need to completely shut down. Holding the power button a couple of seconds shuts the system down.

Cons:
[-] Lack of GameBoy Advance slot - That means you can't play GBA game cartridges, no DS rumble support, and no Guitar Hero DS games.
[-] No retail DSi exclusive games yet. If Nintendo launched the DSi with one of its signature games using unique DSi features, the move to the DSi would have been much more sweeter. It all comes down to the games in the end.
[-] Matte Black DSi tended to pick up smudges and material residue pretty easily.
[-] Transferring music files may be a pain, unless your music files are in AAC format. Other formats won't work.

See more details below, including some tips for managing content, battery life and care for the Nintendo DSi. If you want a visual side by side comparison, see a previously published photo comparison of the DS Lite to the DSi here.

The Nintendo DSi is currently available in Matte Black (here) or Matte Blue (here) for $169.99.

Please share your first impressions of the DSi and some tips with your comments below!

Avoid Wii Sports foul ups with a safe, spongy alternative to Wii gaming accessories. If you're looking for a kid-friendly, or klutz-friendly, alternative to tennis, baseball bat and golf club Wii accessories, the Safe Sports Pack offers some spongy security.

See pictures of what's included in the Safe Sports Pack below.

Instead using of the typical hard plastic material, the Safe Sports Pack accessories are layered in a soft and durable spongy material. The pack comes with a Soft Tennis Racket, Soft Golf Club, Soft Baseball Bat, and a grip which you can lock any of those on to while holding your Wii Remote. Having the grip separate makes it easy to switch up the gear, as well as helps in easy storage.

There's no open access port for pointing with the Wii Remote's IR transmitter on these, so just get your Wii Sports game started before snapping the Wii Remote in. You can always use the D-pad to navigate menus. I haven't found a decent Wii sporting accessory that manages to use the Wii Remote well while inside, so it's not a big loss that it was left out.

The younger Wii gamers will probably enjoy the added bit of holding a tennis racket, golf club, or baseball bat. It adds a little more weight, but not a significant amount. The Safe Sports Pack retails for $29.99.

See more on the Safe Sports Pack here.

Killzone 2
Available for PLAYSTATION 3
Release date: February 27, 2009 (US)
ESRB Rating: M (for Mature)
Publisher & Developer: Sony and Guerilla Games
MSRP: $59.99
Website: Killzone.com

[PLATINUM BITHEAD AWARD] - game of the year contender

The Summary:
[ + ] great variety of environments
[ + ] smoke, sand, lightning -- rich environmental effects create dense setting
[ + ] variety of weapons make for some creative kills
[ + ] unique unlockable content via Killzone.com (papercraft, posters and more)
[ + ] audio effects and soundtrack
[ + ] replay value in multiplayer gameplay and finding all unlockable content
[ \ ] storyline is decent, but not deep
[ - ] online connectivity was an issue
[ - ] a second delay hiccup during checkpoints

Read the complete Killzone 2 review below.

Looking for a recharging solution for your Wii Remotes? We know AA batteries won't do for your Wii gaming, but the options of Wii Remote chargers out there can be overwhelming. Well here is one of the latest charging technologies you'll want to check out. TeknoCreations has a very unique and functional solution, the InCharge Induction Remote Charger. If you're following Nintendo's advice of using the Wii Remote's silicon sleeve while gaming, this is a great solution that lets you charge through any protective silicon sleeve.

Some Wii Remote charges out there may require carefully placed Wii Remotes on the base to ensure metal pins make contact. Others may require you to shove them into a plastic base, which eventually causes scuffing and scratches on the Wii Remote. Here's where the beauty of TeknoCreations' InCharge is. Replace the AA battery cover of your Wii Remote with the recharging battery provided with the inCharge. Cover up your Wii Remote with the Nintendo sleeve, or any third party sleeve, and rest it on the charging base. That's it! It doesn't need to be perfectly aligned. It accomodates the Wii Strap as well. Amazingly, you can leave the Wii Nunchuk plugged in while it's recharging as well! See a picture of it working below. So it's simple for young gamers to use, or for the lazy gamer who doesn't want to deal with removing the silicon sleeve to recharge. I was one of them. I didn't use the silicon sleeves because my charging bases wouldn't accommodate them.

The inCharge base can recharge two Wii Remotes at a time and includes two lithium polymer battery packs. The base is white and illuminates with blue lights when charging. Wii friendly colors! The battery pack can provide up to 25 hours of play (this may be reduced when the Wii Remote is powering the Nunchuk controller). The packs are also light.

TeknoCreations' inCharge has a retail price of $34.99 and is available from retailers such as Amazon.com. Individual charging packs are available as well for about $12.99 each. See more at www.TeknoCreations.com.

See pictures of the inCharge Induction Remote Charger below.

Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection
Available for Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3
Release date: February 10, 2009 (US)
ESRB Rating: E10+ (for Everyone 10+)
Publisher/Developer: SEGA, Backbone Entertainment
Website: sega.com/games/sonics-ultimate-genesis-collection

SEGA has compiled over 40 of its video games from the SEGA Genesis era in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection. The collection spans the 16-bit era from 1989 to 1996. There are also a couple of 8-bit Sega Master System games and even arcade games in it. At a $29.99 MSRP, you shouldn't think twice about having this slice of gaming history conveniently added to your gaming collection.

See the complete listing of games found in it below.

Positives, Neutrals and Negatives Summary:
[+] Some of the best games from the SEGA Genesis era.
[+] Way better value than Wii's Virtual Console releases. About .60 cents a game!
[+] Quick load times and easy save functionality.
[ / ] Why wasn't it called "SEGA's Ultimate Genesis Collection"?
[ - ] "Enhanced" HD smoothing causes too much blurring, especially around text. Leave it on the crisp default pixel mode.

Read more below!

Castlevania Judgment
Available for Wii
Release date: November 18, 2008 (US)
ESRB Rating: T for Teen
Publisher/Developer: Konami
Website: konami-data.com/castlevania

Castlevania Judgment is an action-fighting game, exclusively available on the Wii. Long time Castlevania designer Koji Igarashi and the team at Konami introduce the new 3D fighting gameplay genre in this release, breaking out of the proven formula of its successful 2D side-scrolling quests. How does this Castlevania Judgment wield the Wii Remote? Read the review below to find out!

Positives, Neutrals and Negatives Summary:
[+] Lots of stuff to unlock.
[+] Beautiful CG opening.
[+] Variety of gameplay modes.
[ / ] Character artwork is different for the series.
[ - ] Wii Remote is not the ideal controller (use GameCube or Classic).
[ - ] 3D camera shifting may cause you to lose sight of your character.
[ - ] Load times of character models in selection screen.