Thu, 17 Aug 2006 06:15:02 -0700
How long can Nintendo hold a secret?
by Cash games (cash-games) @ Thu, 17 Aug 2006 06:15:02 -0700
Rumors on Wii pricing, launch dates, console coloring and other information scatters the Internet. Is any of it correct? Many "rumors" come from 3rd party developers.
Original post: How long can Nintendo hold a secret? by at Google Blog Search: gamers

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 12:15:12 -0700
EA shutting down some online games
by Cash games (cash-games) @ Wed, 16 Aug 2006 12:15:12 -0700
From August 1st to October 1st EA will be turning off some servers for older online games. Gamers need to upgrade...
Original post: EA shutting down some online games by at Google Blog Search: gamers

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 18:15:08 -0700
AMD...Radeon? ATi brand gone
by Cash games (cash-games) @ Tue, 15 Aug 2006 18:15:08 -0700
AMD has announced that its ending the ATi brand name. This name is being replace, of course, by the name AMD. Your ATi product is now a relic!
Original post: AMD...Radeon? ATi brand gone by at Google Blog Search: gamers
Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:15:11 -0700
Munchkin
by Cash games (cash-games) @ Tue, 15 Aug 2006 12:15:11 -0700
"When you find yourself in the company of a halfling and an ill-tempered Dragon, remember, you do not have to outrun the Dragon ... you just have to outrun the halfling." - Ancient Geek Proverb. This weekend, men and women like you and ... Original post: Munchkin by at Google Blog Search: gamers

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 06:15:16 -0700
NERO GAME 1.01 available for Linux
by Cash games (cash-games) @ Tue, 15 Aug 2006 06:15:16 -0700
Homepage Download Neuro-Evolving Robotic Operatives, short NERO, originates in an university project concerning artificial intelligence. In a first phase unique for this game robots are trained with a desired tactic, while in phase ...
Original post: NERO GAME 1.01 available for Linux by at Google Blog Search: gamers

Sun, 13 Aug 2006 12:15:02 -0700
Network Card for Gamers - Uses Linux to Reduce Lag
by Cash games (cash-games) @ Sun, 13 Aug 2006 12:15:02 -0700
[[ This is a content summary only. Visit MyWebsite.com for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Original post: Network Card for Gamers - Uses Linux to Reduce Lag by at Google Blog Search: gamers

Sun, 13 Aug 2006 06:15:02 -0700
Japanese gamers want TV on their PSP
by Cash games (cash-games) @ Sun, 13 Aug 2006 06:15:02 -0700
While us PSP Fanboys want the ability to play PSone games on our PSPs the most, it appears that Japanese gamers (according to ITmedia) want to watch TV on their's. Support for electronic money (ala PayPal) and the upcoming camera ...
Original post: Japanese gamers want TV on their PSP by at Google Blog Search: gamers

Sun, 13 Aug 2006 00:15:06 -0700
And Then There Were 8... And One "Pro"
by Cash games (cash-games) @ Sun, 13 Aug 2006 00:15:06 -0700
But you have to take that with a grain of salt: while it's true in the sense of reported and known earnings meaning the major tournament cashes, Ivey is a regular player in some of the biggest cash games in the world, especially those ...
Original post: And Then There Were 8... And One "Pro" by at Google Blog Search: cash games

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 18:15:10 -0700
A Return to the Scene of a Crime
by Cash games (cash-games) @ Fri, 11 Aug 2006 18:15:10 -0700
It was a nice little return for the evening, especially considered I had a brain explosion while playing NLHE cash on Monday night which cost me quite a bit. NLHE cash games and I are not currently speaking, though I don't know if it ...
Original post: A Return to the Scene of a Crime by at Google Blog Search: cash games

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 12:15:01 -0700
Lots of updates
by Cash games (cash-games) @ Fri, 11 Aug 2006 12:15:01 -0700
I have finally loaded all my old hand histories(from cash games) into my statistics program. And what does it show? I'm still not in the green in money played for at Party(although including bonuses I would be well in the green). ...
Original post: Lots of updates by at Google Blog Search: cash games

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She's hotter than ever, but can the sultry Lara Croft get back in the good graces of the globe's gamers?

Who said the more attractive you are, the easier life is? Lara Croft has become the whipping girl for the video game industry over the past few years -- and not in the leather and lace sort of way, either. Eidos went overboard in terms of PlayStation sequel frequency, and PS2's Angel of Darkness was an absolute abomination best forgotten altogether. Lara was experiencing breakdown of Anna Nicole Smith proportions, which anyone would struggle to overcome.
Funny thing is, she actually comes roaring back to life in Tomb Raider: Legend. With the jump to Xbox 360, Lady Croft feels right at home in a more beautiful world with better control and the same brain-twisting puzzles and level designs that made you drool over the series in the first place. Oh, and she's still smokin' hot.
The series returns to what made it such a big hit in the late '90s, while adopting some of the better game design philosophies that have surfaced since. As a result, Tomb Raider: Legend will appeal to most anyone with a taste for adventuring. The massive rooms with ledges and poles have returned, but the geometrically remedial way Lara used to navigate them has not. Now, there's a much more free, analogous vibe to everything -- which makes exploring that much more satisfying. You'll thrill to each new area and challenged placed in front of you, as Lara scales unbelievable heights and battles impossible odds.
You don't have to as meticulously set up your jumps or push blocks into place anymore. The puzzles have advanced to include physics, but still have the right amount of challenge to them. Lara moves faster and smoother, and you can speed up things like shimmying or swimming when need be. She's basically leaner and meaner. A grapple wire gives you yet another gadget to play with, and rest assured that it's used often.
The old twin pistols and their unlimited ammo return, and the lock-on targeting is near where you'd hope it would be (it's sometimes tough to switch targets mid-firefight). The helpfulness of manual targeting is negated a bit by the fact that you remain still while using it. Lara's added some up-close attacks to her arsenal; things like leaping off of shoulders or kicking foes. Overall, combat is better, though not as deep as some titles.
Dragon's Lair-style interactive cutscenes are excuses for Lara to earn more cool points doing things that are basically physically impossible. How else could she keep up with protagonists like Kratos and Dante? Riding a motorcycle isn't as effective at doing this, due to some rather weak driving mechanics; it's not horrible, but is one of the weaker portions of Tomb Raider: Legend.
As a nice throwback, you can once again explore Lara's manor. Instead of the tutorial level it once was, it's a clever little exploratory section filled with secret pick-ups and a few roommates. The only bummer is you can't lock your butler in the freezer, a la Tomb Raider II.
Tomb Raider: Legend is most definitely a pretty game, using the 360's muscle to display some breathtaking scenery. These are the types of environments we've always dreamt of exploring with Lara Croft -- with lighting and shaders running rampant -- and it's even better that she's better at what she does now. It is a little surprising that Lara's character model isn't more stunning, however. She looks good, but lacks some of the detail we've seen in other games like Dead or Alive 4, and her famous chest is pretty understated. The lady does look right at home in the real-time cutscenes, though, so there isn't much reason to complain -- unless you're that much of a pervert.
It bears noting that this game may be the shortest in the entire Tomb Raider series. While we didn't expect an 18-level epic, you can complete the whole thing in around eight hours. This is both good and bad. More people will actually finish the game this way -- and you'll definitely want to -- and it's the first TR that leaves the audience wanting more rather than stuffing them to the gills. On the negative tip, when you're spending $60, you want to feel like you got your money's worth. Sadly, some gamers may feel a little gypped. Everyone will welcome the save-anywhere feature and the abundance of checkpoints, though the load times after you die can be a buzzkill.
During its prime, Tomb Raider was in a class by itself. Nowadays, the action/adventure genre is jam packed with great titles. In an ironic twist, Prince of Persia -- which was originally very influential on Tomb Raider -- returned to reclaim the exploring/platforming crown. God of War may rely more on combat, but it too must be considered in the same vein. These are widely considered some of the best games in recent years, and provide some stiff competition for a series on the rebound.
As we all know, Tomb Raider is a gaming legend. Tomb Raider: Legend is easily its finest iteration in almost a decade. It puts up a fight against the genre's best, but remains faithful to the reasons it was so huge back in the day. The story will even keep you intrigued. That's really all that you can ask for, so why not give Lara Croft another chance? You may fall in love with her all over again.

By: Justin Leeper