The Digest: Most people love a good trivia game, yet options for good trivia games are something most consoles lack. BBQ Games has added Avatar QuizCall to its lineup of indie titles available through the XBL Marketplace, providing gamers with a simple, entertaining trivia game that will only cost them a buck.

THE FACT SHEET

RELEASE DATE: April 9, 2010
PUBLISHER: BBQ Games
DEVELOPER: BBQ Games
ESRB RATING: N/A
GENRE: Trivia

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The Digest: A Nintendo 64 classic makes its way to XBLA and retains all the wonderful qualities that made it a landmark title back in 2000. While the things that defined it as an innovative, landmark game a decade ago are now commonplace and even outdated, the game retains its charm and value as an extremely entertaining FPS with a super hot main character and tons of spirit.

THE FACT SHEET

RELEASE DATE: March 17, 2010
PUBLISHER: Xbox LIVE Arcade
DEVELOPER: Rareware
ESRB RATING: “M” for Mature
GENRE: FPS
PRICE: 800 MS Points ($10)

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The Digest: A unique turn-based strategy game that will either thrill you to the core or make you want to jam freshly-sharpened pencils in your eyes.  To put it right out there – Greed Corp is not a game for those new to the strategy genre. While the premise of the game is rather simple, it has many elements that will drive an unseasoned TPS player to madness without a lot of hesitation.

THE FACT SHEET

RELEASE DATE: February 24, 2010
PUBLISHER: Xbox LIVE Arcade
DEVELOPER: Valcon Games LLC / W!Games
ESRB RATING: “E” for Everyone
GENRE: Strategy & Simulation
PRICE:  800 MS Points ($10)

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One thing is for sure – despite the delectable awesomeness that was the first Bioshock, there never existed much available in the way of DLC for the grand romp through Rapture. A few extra plasmids that were redundant by their release wasn’t enough to establish any credible content to add to the game.

2K is doing things right the second time around and has already announced they plan to release an extensive lineup of DLC for the sequel. A statement released today by 2K held the following information:

“2K Games announced today an aggressive post-launch downloadable content plan for BioShock®2 that extends and enhances the single and multiplayer experiences by adding more glimpses into the award-winning world of Rapture. Downloadable content will be made available soon beginning with the Sinclair Solutions Test Pack, available this March from the Xbox® LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games for Windows-LIVE for 400 Microsoft Points and from the PlayStation®Network for $4.99. Future expansions into the world of BioShock 2 are slated to arrive over the coming months and will continue to expand on the stories of the denizens of Rapture.

“The fans who waited in the snow, rain and cold for the midnight launch of BioShock 2 have spoken and their message is that Rapture still has many fascinating stories to tell,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “Downloadable content is a key part of our efforts to continue to entice the fans that have made 2K a household name – we intend to deliver single and multiplayer content that respects and expands upon one of the greatest fictional worlds ever created.”

The first bit of scheduled content, called the Sinclair Solutions Test Pack, is due out in March for 400 MS points and will focus on the multiplayer aspect of the title. Featuring a rank increase to level 50 with additional rank rewards, additional masks, a third upgrade for each weapon, 20 new trials and two new playable characters, the DLC seems to be starting off strong.

Single player DLC scheduled to follow plans to “include more narrative, new tools and new challenges that extend the lore and fiction of the failed Utopia under the sea.”

All in all, the announcement of such expansive DLC is great news and exactly what Bioshock fans have been longing for.

The Digest: I’d like to note right away that I won’t be talking about the game at all in this review – one of our other team members is taking care of that soon. This review is specifically about the contents of the Collector’s Edition set for Bioshock 2 and whether or not it justifies the additional $40 price tag.

In short, the answer is yes. Read on to find out what all it includes, how it is packaged and see photos of the items. This isn’t your normal junky bunch of plastic action figures and gimmick items, but quality stuff perfect for any hardcore, spliced-up Bioshock junkie.

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One of the longest-running WWII video game series is Medal of Honor.  The games have been a hit for over a decade now, taking people to classic battles on land, sea and air.

There’s another video game series that started out as a WWII-based series.  They call it Call of Duty.  You may have heard of it.  These days, it’s moved into the Modern Warfare series and makes more money than poop has stink.  Well, folks, it’s time for Medal of Honor to hop on that bandwagon and create their first installment reflecting battle in Afghanistan due out in Fall 2010.

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People had a field day donning their digital doppelgangers with light sabers and Bioshock Big Daddy helmets when the first wave of accessories came out for Xbox Live avatars. This Thursday, December 3th, a new breed (get it?) of avatar goodies are being released – Avatar Pets!

If your landlord won’t let you get a dog, or if you’re hideously allergic to cats, now is your chance to give your Xbox Live avatar the furry friend you could never have. Or, if you’re like me and just have a natural obsession with animals, this is an opportunity to make the digital you even more representative of your real-life self.  The best part is they’re quiet, are always by your side, and don’t have to be taken out when it’s raining. If only they could partner with you on MW2 Spec Ops missions…

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The Digest: Alright, fine… I’ll put down my controller long enough to type a review…

Today was a prevalent day for Xbox 360 owners, showing us the release of two heavy-hitting sequels. Assassin’s Creed 2 was launched, the follow up to the ever-popular and ever-repetitive Crusade action game. Hopes were high that the sequel would retain the joyous elements of the first title, while fixing the things that made it a tedious punch in the face after a few hours.

But alas, I am poor, so I am only here to comment about the other big-time release for today: Left 4 Dead 2.

Against a long-running boycott and plenty of dissatisfied fans, the zombie shooting sequel hit shelves today just around a year after the launch of the first game. While there are tons of gamers out there who never thought they got their money’s worth with the first game, I say “meh,” and am happy to get more of something I enjoy. Money is extremely tight for me, but I’m not high and mighty enough to whine about feeling short changed. Nobody got their money out of Turok, Perfect Dark Zero, Soldier of Fortune Payback, King Kong, or hundreds of other games, either. Then again, nobody bought those games. Regardless, people only complained because Left 4 Dead was a big deal, and because it’s made by Valve – a company with historically high standards for pleasing their community.

But enough about that crap. It’s done and over with, and the sequel is here. UPS dropped it off at around noon today, and I just got up to take a break seven hours later.

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This September, grunge legend and Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain will appear in Guitar Hero 5.  He will be available as a playable character for two of Nirvana’s legendary songs from the 1991 album “Nevermind.”  The songs are the iconic “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and a previously unreleased live version of “Lithium.”

“Kurt Cobain is one of the most recognizable frontmen in rock ‘n’ roll history and it’s an honor to have two of Nirvana’s masterpieces included in Guitar Hero 5,” said Tim Riley, Vice President of Music Affairs for Activision. “This is the first time the original recording of ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ has ever been licensed in an entertainment property and we’re thrilled to offer Guitar Hero fans exclusive access to the unreleased live version of ‘Lithium.’”  Every time a previously unreleased Nirvana single is made public it’s a pretty big deal, so expect a lot of hype around this track.

This feature of the upcoming game will be a big deal for many people who grew up in the 1990s and identified with Nirvana’s music.  His appearance will be cool, if nothing else.  Let’s just hope Courtney Love stays out of the game.

For those nostalgic for the dead, also being resurrected for a guest appearance in GH5 is Johnny Cash, playing “Ring of Fire.”