Modern War - a good start

I have two copies of MW2. One for Xbox that I had pre-ordered from Amazon. The other from Best Buy that I bought after I got back from my trip to California. I started playing a week late.

I'm only halfway through the campaign - yes, I did the Russian Airport level - and it is satisfactory.

I am enjoying the multiplayer (Xbox Live). I found some tips that Infinity Ward provided. I repost them here for discussion.

Five general tips for new players: 1. You can't hurt your teammates in the starting game modes, so if something moves, shoot it.

2. If you're having trouble aiming, use a Riot Shield. It will help you AND your team.

3. Use everything. Equipment, attachments, secondary weapons, etc. When you die and come back, it will be replenished.

4. Play cautiously. It doesn't take much to kill the enemy, so the element of surprise is your friend.

5. Keep practicing! Dying doesn't penalize you, so try everything and you'll find what works for you.

Things to keep in mind -- Sticking a Semtex grenade to a character holding a riot shield is a good way to take them out from the front without having to flank them.

-- Using a flash or stun grenade against players using a riot shields is very effective causing them lower their shields for a moment and opening them up for an attack.

-- Aim for the chest or neck region on burst fire assault rifles. For full auto assault rifles, do the same but fire in groups of three to five rounds. Doing this will make the muzzle climb for recoil and give you a second or third round headshot.

-- Thermal scopes work great with smoke grenades - enemies show up right through the smoke (unless they have the cold blooded perk!)

-- Shoot down a Pavelow helicopter faster by not locking on with the AT-4 (anti-tank weapon); shooting from the hip prevents the Pavelow from using countermeasures.

-- If you're not a pro shooter, try playing a support role. In Domination, you could play a runner class, and constantly harass the enemy team by infiltrating their rear field and taking objective points. In this way, you could be one of the most valuable players on the team without doing much killing at all.

-- Equip a Stinger as your secondary weapon and watch for enemy aircraft. Your stinger missiles can lock on to them and quickly destroy them. You can even take down enemy UAV (unmanned aerial vehicles) this way.

Strategy on Der Riesse (CoD:WaW)

This strategy is very different form what I’ve done in the past on Der Riesse. Instead of camping in one area, like the Alamo (the catwalk in C), this tactic involves movement. I’m publishing this now because I want to try it with 3 or 4 players. ElMico and I have gotten into the high twenties doing this (and then we do something stupid). I believe I can get into the thirties with more people. Here is a map that shows the concept. (Click it to enlarge) Before you begin this method, it is suggested that you have the Pack-A-Punch machine active and have one upgraded weapon. I also suggest bouncing-betties, monkey bombs, Joggernog, and Speed Cola. (The numbers represent the locations on the map.)

1. Begin the round by standing in Teleporter C. In preparation, put at least two betties in Sophia’s Tunnel (the tunnel just to the North of the teleporter). Defend yourself from inside the teleporter until you feel uncomfortable – I wait until I get hit once – then activate the teleporter and get out of there!
2. You will arrive at the Mainframe with a few seconds to reload and recover. The bonus will appear in courtyard. A pre-determined person will run there to collect the perk. Careful, it could be a dog.
3. The rest of the party heads toward the Thompson side. You will need to protect the person getting the bonus, so shoot down the hallway toward the Speed Cola machine. When the party is reunited, run into the Thompson room (Auto Garage) and up the stairs.
4. Making a stand at the bridge is optional. ElMico likes to shoot down the stairs. I run over to the edge and shoot incoming zombies until I need to reload. Drop down to the courtyard (by the electric switch) when you are ready – as always, it is better to move quickly than wait for trouble.
5. In the courtyard you can make a short stand. In the higher levels you may want to activate the electric fence. Don’t dawdle here – always drift toward Transporter C. Be careful, this is the first time you can be surprised by zombies behind you (usually one or two). If you are at the end of the round, this is where you will like to make a crawler.If not – head for Transporter C (1) and repeat.

Other points:

• Placing betties at C is to protect you from zombies coming from Sophia’s Tunnel. They can surprise you! If we are ahead of the zombie horde while returning to C, I like to place another bettie. More people means more betties.
• In Teleporter C there is a dead spot to the right (facing out) – you cannot activate the teleporter here. Find it before you begin this tactic; it caught me once. Stay in the middle or to the left.
• We also like to pre-determine the person to buy the teleporter (1500), mostly based on who has the cash. But if you feel threatened or the designated porter calls "I’m down!" – make the jump.
• At (3) (Thompson room) you can activate another electric fence. ElMico and I have never needed to do this, but know it is there.
• For Dog Rounds, we like to go down Sophia’s Tunnel. You can also hide in the Alamo. With four people, split up and go to both.
• The highest risk is getting the bonus. If you don’t need it, be safe and skip it: after teleporting, run right to Thompson room.
• If you are down in the teleporter, you will be sent to the Mainframe when activated. Revive your down comrade there.
• Your mentality should be to not take risks. If you see a Max Ammo (very tempting), toss a monkey bomb before you go and get it.
• Stay together (especially the teleport) and communicate!
• There is no need to open the door on the Trench gun side of the Mainframe or the stairway up to the Juggernog. In fact that could be bad.
• A variant on this method is to go to the Trench gun side instead of the Thompson side. I personally have not done this. Usually after round three we get the Thompson rather than the shot gun because it is more versatile.
• It is possible to use this method while solo. But you will teleport a lot more often.

Give this strategy a try and let me know your highest level.

Fable: Fun, Furious, and Full-Sized

I finished Fable 2 (last month) on Xbox 360. It was a great game! I like linear stories that take place in a non-linear world. You can do whatever you want, or you can follow the path (a gold path in this case) and focus on the main quest. I did just that.

The surprising thing was the diversity and quantity of NPCs with whom to interact. Yes, I heard repeating comments, but it was still a huge variety. Very impressive. It was not repetitive at all – every quest, territory, and character was different (unlike Assassin’s Creed).

I built a female character and in the end chose to keep my dog. According to "Achievements," I only finished 42% of the game. But I don't want to re-do the entire game just to make a different choice in the end. Ugh!

I am anticipating Fable 3 coming out at the end of 2010.

New PS3 Ads - selling what?

I just don't get it. Help me out here. Below is a picture of a gamer giving blood (life?) to Rommel (The Dessert Fox). He is considered a good Nazi, but come-on! What is the message here? I think this is a picture of a gamer giving his heart (again, life?) to Joan of Arc. Did they just want to pick a girl warrior?

It is fun to look at the other images around the main characters. See the mouse in the corner.

Please, give my your impressions.

Nariko? Is that you?

One of my most favorite games is Heavenly Sword. Sadly, there are no plans for a sequel. But Ninja Theory, the developer of HS, is working on a new multi-platform title called Enslaved.

In the new game, you play a character called Monkey. Traveling with you is a NPC named Trip - shown above.

I think there is a striking similarity to Nariko, the main character in Heavenly Sword.

I'll be watching for this title.

Van Halen is coming over to play

Interactive Documentary

The opening scene of Rockband: The Beatles is amazing; it is a foreshadow of what is to come.

Unlike Guitar Hero band-specific-releases, this disk is all Beatles. It follows the history of the Beatles in various stages and settings. In some ways, it is a history lesson told in animation and picture montages between stages. But it is more for those how already know the story. For example, as you enter the Abbey Road chapter, there is an image of Candlestick Park and a ticket stub, but you are not told this was their last live concert ever. The songs in rest of the story start with the band members in the studio, so it is only implied.

It is a beautiful game. Especially as you move into the psychedelic era. Game play is standard Rockband with a few minor “Beatles-mania” additions. The sound quality is awesome – I wonder if it uses the digitally re-mastered albums that released on the same day.

I started playing on drums (Easy) with El Mico on lead guitar (Expert) – both of us are Beatles fans. One funny thing happened near the end of our session that evening: the red pad on the drum kit quit working. This has happened before – it is a pain to re-solder the connection. But I did not want to stop to do that exercise again, so I played a couple songs pressing the CIRCLE button on the keypad with my finger and drumming with the stick in my other hand. It worked out just fine – though awkward. I have not finished the story mode yet. I have unlocked some challenges and extras (like the Christmas album from 1960). The Beatles are very accessible to many generations – I will launch this game the next time company comes over. I am really enjoying this “interactive documentary” of one of the best bands ever. (Click the links in the story; it is worth your time.)