Toys for Kids & Adults

Donate to Comic Relief, get a'LEGO Star Wars 2'cheat AND free walkthrough

For those of you who are neither British, nor in the know (don't worry, I was neither of these things ten minutes ago), today is Red Nose Day, a day designated by Comic Relief as one where they provide the entertainment, while we provide the donations to their poverty-busting charity.

While I'm bummed at this moment that we don't get BBC One, as that is where most of the entertainment is being provided (and it's a fantastic line-up), I am pleased that I can help out in my own way by donating via the Traveller's Tales Games website. In return for my donation of ANY amount, I will receive a cheat code for LEGO Star Wars II which will place a funny red nose on each of the game's characters.

Because we so applaud the efforts of Comic Relief here at Lunabean.com, we will add to your funny red nose our downloadable LEGO Star War II Walkthrough and Strategy Guide for free.

In order to claim your guide, please forward your donation receipt to us at info @ lunabean.com with the subject line "Red Nose Day". Please omit any personal details found within the receipt before sending it our way. Let us know if you'd like the text-only (printer-friendly) or screenshot version of the guide, and we'll send it off ASAP.

Please note, this offer is only good through today, Friday, March 16th, 2007.

Donate now
LEGO Star War II Walkthrough and Strategy Guide

Free Guide Weekend –'LEGO Star Wars II'

UPDATE

If you're here now, you missed the free weekend. But, don't feel too bad because we're offering you a coupon!

Yes, for simply visiting this page hoping for a free guide, you are being rewarded. You can either purchase the individual guide or join the LunaPass.

LB's LEGO Star Wars 2 Screenshot Guide - Save $2!
Enter Coupon Code: CPN9442555565

Sign up for the LunaPass (all guides, one low price) - Save $3!
Enter Coupon Code: 1279861FD5

END UPDATE

This weekend, you have the chance to sample the LB 'LEGO Star Wars II' Walkthrough and Strategy Guide for FREE!

To access the FREE guide, simply visit the LB LEGO Star Wars II Walkthrough and Strategy Guide, Screenshot Version between now and 9pm PST on Sunday, May 6, 2007. This is a $7.95 value (Adobe Reader required).

If you like what you see, you can sign up for the LunaPass, our exclusive subscription service which gives you instant access to ALL of our walkthroughs for only $14.95.

You can also purchase any of our walkthroughs a la carte by visiting LunabeanGuides.com.

Have a great weekend and happy gaming!

Download Now, for FREE!
LB's LEGO Star Wars II Walkthrough and Strategy Guide, Screenshot Version

Sign up for the LunaPass

LB's Top 10 Underrated Games
Below you will find the Lunabean list of Top Ten Underrated games. While some may have received critical acclaim, they just didn't get the attention they deserved. Others, in our opinion, were just unfairly reviewed by critics.

Please note, because they are our underrated games, the list sticks to console titles, and they are all fairly recent games (the PS2, Xbox, Gamecube generation, if you will). Enjoy!

10 - The Operative: No One Lives Forever (PC, PS2)

In No One Lives Forever you play as Agent Cate Archer, a covert agent for UNITY, an international agency tasked with combating terrorism around the world. What's more, Cate, is witty, talented and drop dead gorgeous. With a flower-power 60s backdrop, think of NOLF as 007 Goldeneye meets Deus Ex meets Austin Powers.

Yes, the critics loved this one, but something about Agent Archer intimated the guys and prevented them from actually purchasing it in respectable numbers.

Check out the remaining 9 underrated games!

Gamecube'Zelda: Twilight Princess'in stores today — Wii walkthrough will work

Today is a huge day for Gamecube gamers in the US, as today is the day when Gamecube version of 'The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess' begins trickling onto store shelves. Booya!

I say 'trickling' because a) the game just shipped yesterday, so some stores won't receive their copies until later this week, and b) there is a rumored (although unconfirmed) shortage of 'Zelda: TP'.

You may be wondering whether our 'Zelda: Twilight Princess' Walkthrough and Strategy Guide for the Wii will work for the Gamecube version. The answer, is yes, but with some stipulations.

First, in the 'Zelda: Twilight Princess' walkthrough we do give controls specific to the Wii. However, this is only done because the Wii controls are so new, and Gamecube gamers should have no problem following the game's controller instructions ('Zelda' games have never been known to have difficult controls).

Second, the Wii version of the game is actually a mirrored version of the Gamecube game. Nintendo did this so Link, who is normally a lefty, would have his sword in his right hand for Wii gamers, making for a more natural Wii controller movement. This mirroring means, when using our 'Zelda: Twilight Princess' guide, you'll have to go left when we say right, and east when we say west (and the other way around). As long as you're aware of this, you should have no trouble using the guide.

LB's 'The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess' Walkthrough and Strategy Guide

Zelda cupcakes
The combination of it being a slow video game news day and my stomach rumbling with hunger has forced me to post the most delicious Zelda cake solution ever created.

Mmm…imagine all of the 8-bit possibilities? Mario cupcakes for my birthday, please.

Hat tip to BoingBoing.net

Free Guide Weekend:'Zelda Twilight Princess'

UPDATE

If you're here now, you missed the free weekend. But, don't feel too bad because we're offering you a coupon!

Yes, for simply visiting this page hoping for a free guide, you are being rewarded. You can either purchase the individual guide or join the LunaPass.

Zelda Twilight Princess Screenshot Guide - Save $2!
Enter Coupon Code: CPN4455244179

Sign up for the LunaPass (all guides, one low price) - Save $3!
Enter Coupon Code: 1279861FD5

END UPDATE

As a special treat each weekend, we'll make available one our our high quality, professional, PDF walkthroughs for you to enjoy, for FREE!

That's right. Between now and Sunday night at 9pm PDT, you can download LB's Zelda Twilight Princess Walkthrough and Strategy Guide, Screenshot Version for FREE, a $7.95 value (Adobe Reader required).

If you like what you see, you can sign up for the LunaPass, our exclusive subscription service which gives you instant access to ALL of our walkthroughs for $15.95.

You can also purchase any of our walkthroughs a la carte by visiting LunabeanGuides.com.

Have a great weekend and happy gaming!

Download Now:
LB's Zelda Twilight Princess Walkthrough and Strategy Guide

Sign up for the LunaPass

Zelda: Wind Waker gashaphon figures
I stumbled upon this flickr set today, and thought I'd share.

What I wouldn't give to have these little guys running around my house.

View the Flickr set

MURPHY GETS WORLD CUP CHANCE (Sporting Life)
Geordan Murphy was today finally given the chance to prove he should not have been confined to idling on the sidelines during a frustrating World Cup.

Using Lead-Testing Kits On Toys (CBS 42 Austin)
How safe are the toys children are playing with? It’s a question many parents are now asking. Get news alerts via email , RSS feed and on CBS 42 News, Cable Channel 5.

Retailers May Have Worst Holiday in Five Years, NRF Predicts (The Gourmet Retailer)
SEPTEMBER 21, 2007 — Holiday sales are expected to grow at the slowest pace in five years as shoppers fret about jobs, tight credit and slumping home prices, according to an Associated Press article on Forbes.com.

Community Calendar (The Baltimore Guide)
Work That Net: The Dundalk Chamber of Commerce holds a networking event on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the Dock of the Bay, Miller’s Island. Bring business cards. Light fare provided. $15 members, $20 non-members and guests. RSVP/Info: 410-284-3700. Graceland Park: The Graceland Park Improvement Association meets on Wednesday, Sept. 19, 7 p.m. at [...]

Room to Grow (BusinessWeek)
S corporations, C corps, LLCs—wading through the alphabet soup of incorporation options is one of your most important early business moves

CoStar's Retail News Roundup: Sept. 23 to Sept. 29, 2007 (CoStar Group)
This week in the Retail Roundup, CoStar reports on expansions and new concepts at Barney's, Pumpkin Patch, Who.A.U., Dick's Sporting Goods, and Dollar Tree; closings at Home Depot; bankruptcy at Bombay; new retail developments in VA, FL, GA, CA, MA, IN…

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LB's Top 10 Underrated Games
Below you will find the Lunabean list of Top Ten Underrated games. While some may have received critical acclaim, they just didn't get the attention they deserved. Others, in our opinion, were just unfairly reviewed by critics.

Please note, because they are our underrated games, the list sticks to console titles, and they are all fairly recent games (the PS2, Xbox, Gamecube generation, if you will). Enjoy!

10 - The Operative: No One Lives Forever (PC, PS2)

In No One Lives Forever you play as Agent Cate Archer, a covert agent for UNITY, an international agency tasked with combating terrorism around the world. What's more, Cate, is witty, talented and drop dead gorgeous. With a flower-power 60s backdrop, think of NOLF as 007 Goldeneye meets Deus Ex meets Austin Powers.

Yes, the critics loved this one, but something about Agent Archer intimated the guys and prevented them from actually purchasing it in respectable numbers.

Check out the remaining 9 underrated games!

Donate to Comic Relief, get a'LEGO Star Wars 2'cheat AND free walkthrough

For those of you who are neither British, nor in the know (don't worry, I was neither of these things ten minutes ago), today is Red Nose Day, a day designated by Comic Relief as one where they provide the entertainment, while we provide the donations to their poverty-busting charity.

While I'm bummed at this moment that we don't get BBC One, as that is where most of the entertainment is being provided (and it's a fantastic line-up), I am pleased that I can help out in my own way by donating via the Traveller's Tales Games website. In return for my donation of ANY amount, I will receive a cheat code for LEGO Star Wars II which will place a funny red nose on each of the game's characters.

Because we so applaud the efforts of Comic Relief here at Lunabean.com, we will add to your funny red nose our downloadable LEGO Star War II Walkthrough and Strategy Guide for free.

In order to claim your guide, please forward your donation receipt to us at info @ lunabean.com with the subject line "Red Nose Day". Please omit any personal details found within the receipt before sending it our way. Let us know if you'd like the text-only (printer-friendly) or screenshot version of the guide, and we'll send it off ASAP.

Please note, this offer is only good through today, Friday, March 16th, 2007.

Donate now
LEGO Star War II Walkthrough and Strategy Guide

Zelda: Wind Waker gashaphon figures
I stumbled upon this flickr set today, and thought I'd share.

What I wouldn't give to have these little guys running around my house.

View the Flickr set

Zelda cupcakes
The combination of it being a slow video game news day and my stomach rumbling with hunger has forced me to post the most delicious Zelda cake solution ever created.

Mmm…imagine all of the 8-bit possibilities? Mario cupcakes for my birthday, please.

Hat tip to BoingBoing.net

Free Guide Weekend:'Zelda Twilight Princess'

UPDATE

If you're here now, you missed the free weekend. But, don't feel too bad because we're offering you a coupon!

Yes, for simply visiting this page hoping for a free guide, you are being rewarded. You can either purchase the individual guide or join the LunaPass.

Zelda Twilight Princess Screenshot Guide - Save $2!
Enter Coupon Code: CPN4455244179

Sign up for the LunaPass (all guides, one low price) - Save $3!
Enter Coupon Code: 1279861FD5

END UPDATE

As a special treat each weekend, we'll make available one our our high quality, professional, PDF walkthroughs for you to enjoy, for FREE!

That's right. Between now and Sunday night at 9pm PDT, you can download LB's Zelda Twilight Princess Walkthrough and Strategy Guide, Screenshot Version for FREE, a $7.95 value (Adobe Reader required).

If you like what you see, you can sign up for the LunaPass, our exclusive subscription service which gives you instant access to ALL of our walkthroughs for $15.95.

You can also purchase any of our walkthroughs a la carte by visiting LunabeanGuides.com.

Have a great weekend and happy gaming!

Download Now:
LB's Zelda Twilight Princess Walkthrough and Strategy Guide

Sign up for the LunaPass

Gamecube'Zelda: Twilight Princess'in stores today — Wii walkthrough will work

Today is a huge day for Gamecube gamers in the US, as today is the day when Gamecube version of 'The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess' begins trickling onto store shelves. Booya!

I say 'trickling' because a) the game just shipped yesterday, so some stores won't receive their copies until later this week, and b) there is a rumored (although unconfirmed) shortage of 'Zelda: TP'.

You may be wondering whether our 'Zelda: Twilight Princess' Walkthrough and Strategy Guide for the Wii will work for the Gamecube version. The answer, is yes, but with some stipulations.

First, in the 'Zelda: Twilight Princess' walkthrough we do give controls specific to the Wii. However, this is only done because the Wii controls are so new, and Gamecube gamers should have no problem following the game's controller instructions ('Zelda' games have never been known to have difficult controls).

Second, the Wii version of the game is actually a mirrored version of the Gamecube game. Nintendo did this so Link, who is normally a lefty, would have his sword in his right hand for Wii gamers, making for a more natural Wii controller movement. This mirroring means, when using our 'Zelda: Twilight Princess' guide, you'll have to go left when we say right, and east when we say west (and the other way around). As long as you're aware of this, you should have no trouble using the guide.

LB's 'The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess' Walkthrough and Strategy Guide

A creepier version of'Resident Evil 4'
I would easily place Resident Evil 4 on my list of top ten video games. It was beautiful, creepy, challenging and a hell of a lot of fun. I will forever have etched in my brain the experience of innocently entering the game's 19th century Spanish village, then suddenly being cornered by 19th century zombies with 21st century chainsaws. A lot of swearing and nervous laughter followed.

For this reason I am conflicted regarding this video of the "Hooked Man Version" of RE4. According to HardestBoss this version was ditched because it was "too paranormal" for the Resident Evil plot. However, it was also this version that made Capcom's Shinji Mikami warn gamers, "Don't pee your pants".

I say I'm conflicted because, of course, I want more RE4. However, it was perfect as is, and, for some reason, baby dolls with ankle-slashing knives just doesn't seem to fit. Still, it's fun to watch:

Oh, and if you haven't played RE4 yet, get on it! Here's the LB RE4 Walkthrough and Strategy Guide

Halo is the next Star Wars?
I don't know why this got under my skin, but it did, so I'm just going to go with it.

Ina Reuters articlethat reads more like a Microsoft press release, we find this sentence:

Hailed by some as the "Star Wars" for Generation Xbox, the "Halo" franchise has spawned a mini-empire of licensed toys, clothing and tie-ins.

What in the world? Who is hailingHaloas the nextStar Wars? And, for goodness sake, Generation Xbox? Why does Microsoft suddenly get the rights to stamp their brand on an entire generation?

I'm as big of aHalofan as the next guy, and it is a terribly successful brand, butStar Wars? Yeah. Talk to me when kids are toting around Master Chief carrying cases to safely transport all of theirHaloaction figures, the way kids did in the 80s with theDarth Vader carrying case.

Interestingly enough, the guy who wrote this "article" has the last name "Hillis". I find this strikingly similar to Hillys, the name of the people in the 2003 Xbox titleBeyond Good&Evil. InBG&Ethe Hillys had their life force sucked out and/or had spores inserted into their brains that made them unknowingly work for the evil DomZ. You don't suppose Microsoft spored Hillis, hence the article/press release, do you? Sure, it's a stretch, but so is comparing the success ofHaloto that ofStar Wars.

Medal of Honor: Airborne Walkthrough and Strategy Guide begins
We are beginning work on theLBMedal of Honor: AirborneWalkthrough and Strategy Guidefor the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC versions of the game.

Per usual, you can check in on our growing guide as it's being written. Enjoy!

LBMOH: AirborneGame Guide.

Update:For those who needMOH: Airbornehelp beyond the current scope of the walkthrough, please post your questions in ourMOH: AirborneHelp Threadin our forums.

Wii down, X360 up, PS3 down - Industry up 46%

The US video game sales numbers for August are in and the industry is up 46% year on year. EA came in tops on the software front withMadden '08selling 897,000 units for the Xbox 360, and coming in 2nd for the PS2 and 4th for the PS3.

BioShockcame in 3rd with 491,000 units sold and Nintendo'sMetroid Prime 3andMario Strikers Chargedboth were in the top ten.

In the console war, the Nintendo Wii still leads the pack but dropped 5% coming in at 404,000 units sold.

Meanwhile the Xbox 360 jumped 63% to 277,000 units due in large part to aprice cut.

Sony's PS3 dropped 18% to 131,000 as the effect of their $100 price cut seems to be wearing off.

Reuters article

A violent video gaming thought
Many argue that parents who refuse to buy their kids violent video games doesn't solve the problem of kids playing violent video games, because those kids will go to a friend's house and play them. I say, so what if they do?

There are a lot of things that kids aren't allowed to do at home that they do with their friends. However, if you've told your kids that you don't want them to be playing these games, at least they'll understand that they're doing something you, as a parent, don't approve of.

Believe it or not, the fact that a child knows he or she is breaking the rules, does affect how they look at what they are playing. Dig?

And that was my violent video gaming thought for the day.

The 'Halo' effect — Stock Watch

I've assembled an interesting video and a few articles which delve into how you can make money off of the halo effect of, well,Halo 3.

Depending on who you believe,Halo 3will pull in anywhere from $500 million to $1 billion between game sales and console sales.

Here are the video/articles, and below, my analysis:

Cramer video onHalo 3…be warned you have to watch a 60 second Viagara ad.

Halo 3: T-Minus Two Weeks

GameStop takes aim at casual gamers

Although it's tempting, I wouldn't invest in Microsoft in the short term because, even though theHalo 3numbers look huge, they are a mere drop in the bucket for MSFT in general. If you're going for the long term, I think there are better, more growth-oriented (and still safe) stocks out there, even in the technology field…say Intel (INTC) for example.

Continue reading…

'Super Paper Mario' Walkthrough — for our European friends
Just a little reminder for those of you in PAL territories who only just received the Mario RPG last week:

Lunabean'sSuper Paper MarioWalkthrough and Strategy Guidenot only walks you through all eight chapters of this Mario adventure, but it includes an extensive "extras" section that will please Character Card collectors, Treasure Map hunters, Cooking experts, and Pit(s) of 100 Trials divers.

Check it out in all of its strategy guide glory here:

LBSuper Paper MarioGame Guide

Bioshock Etch-a-Sketch
Really?

Source

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'Call of Duty 4' public beta requires tokens

Don't get me wrong. I'm very excited for the multiplayer public beta on Xbox Live ofCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Nonetheless, I am a bit perturbed that Activision is having us, the supportive gamer, jump through a series of hoops to play it.

UPDATE- As pointed out in the comments, this is a Beta, not a Demo. I wasn't thinking straight this morning and I was without coffee. So, I withdraw my crabbiness and fully understand that it's a multiplayer Beta. See the comments for more info.

What else must I do to get the beta?

Accurate (and funny) Bioshock review
WhileBioshockcould do no wrong two weeks ago, a few have stood up to the hype to remind people the game is great, but it's notthatgreat. I couldn't agree more.

While we're on the topic, it's worth a mention that theLBBioshockWalkthrough and Strategy Guideis now complete. Oh, and by "complete" I mean 100%. That's ALL diaries and tonics. Take that, Gamerscore!

LBBioshockGame Guide

Toys 'R' Us selling 'BioShock'?!?

Joystiq isreportingthat some Toys 'R' Us's have broken the street date forBioShockand have begun selling it.

Our local Toys 'R' Us opens at 10am, so I'll call then to find out if they have it. I'll update this post to let you know.

UPDATE: One store said, "I haven't gotten it yet. Call back at 12 or 1." The other said, "The street date is 8/21." It seems that perhaps, that second store had been tipped off because his response was so quick and automatic. That's all he said to me.

I'll follow up at noon to see if the first store hasn't caught on yet.

UPDATE 2: The cat is out of the bag. Toys 'R' Us stores have received a fax telling them not to break the street date. At my local GameCrazy, the employee said that they had received a call from corporate telling them the same.

'BioShock' continues to receive perfect scores
Yesterday we reported that bothGamesRadarandGameInformerhad awardedBioShock(to be released next week for the Xbox 360 and PC) with perfect scores of 10. Today we have more numbers rolling in.

GameSpysmackedBioShockwith 5 out of 5 stars saying:

Put simply,BioShockis an unparalleled achievement. No other game comes even remotely close to it in terms of raw emotional connection. It may still be too early to name a Game of the Year, but after experiencingBioShockin all of its haunting artistic glory, every other game will have to try that much harder to even be considered as a candidate.

It's also worthy to note that GameSpy's only listed cons are that the game is too short, and it's a little messed up harvesting Little Sisters.

1Upalso slappedBioShockwith a perfect 10, albeit a soft 10:

No creation is ever truly flawless….The mechanics of the final battle are somewhat familiar, and the enemy voice samples do repeat a bit too frequently. But taken as a whole, as an experience that's richly and utterly complete, and one that engages the player in a constant dialogue,BioShockis virtually unassailable.

Finally we haveIGN, which awarded the game with a 9.7. No, it's notperfectbut, apparently, it's the highest score IGN has given to an Xbox 360 title:

BioShockstands as a monolithic example of the convergence of entertaining gameplay and an irresistibly sinister, engrossing storyline that encompasses a host of multifaceted characters. This is an essential gaming experience.

What I find to be most interesting is that each and every one of the reviews goes into detail regarding the psychological impact of the game. Because of this, it is my opinion that the game could be somewhat of a disappointment. Yes, I know it will beawesomeand deserving of much praise, but there seems to be a certain bandwagon that many reviewers are jumping on. Is it possible they are giving too much credit to the brain upset in order to boost the game's rating? I guess we'll find out next week.

Pre-orderBioShockfrom Amazon(free shipping)
RentBioShockfrom GameFly

Glitch in 'BioShock' demo
As if the game weren't creepy enough, a glitch has been found in theBioShockdemo that allows you to walk aroundoutsideof Rapture.

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80GB PS3 price drop for Christmas, reckons analyst
Industry analyst Michael Pachter reckons that Sony will take a knife to the price point of the 80GB PS3 in time for Christmas in the US, slashing off $100 to take it down to $499. 'We note that Sony recently acknowledged that it will no longer produce

Boogie Dancing to PlayStation 2 and DS
Boogie may have allowed Wii owners to get their groove on this summer, but what about everyone else? Electronic Arts is seeking to remedy this extreme lack of dance for non-Wii gamers by porting Boogie to two of the other most popular gaming systems: the

2007 Fall Preview
Summer's almost over, which means a few things: football season is about to kick off, the TV networks are rolling out their new shows, and we can live without fear of lousy movie sequel blockbusters for another nine months. But for us, it mainly means a

GamePro BioShock Roundtable
Welcome to the GamePro BioShock roundtable, where we ask the GamePro staff some questions and gather their thoughts on BioShock, the dark horse of 2007. Impressions from: Vicious Sid and Mr. Marbles (see below) Vicious Sid, news and features editor How

Video Games Unplugged
People have always found games to play in the never-ending quest for entertainment. Card games, board games and tabletop gaming have done more for videogames than you might think. In this feature, we take a look at the relationship between analog games

Sony's Playable TGS Line Up
36 games for you to enjoy if you can afford the airfare and the admittance. 5 Sept 2007 Link to this: Sony has released its list of playable games for the Tokyo Game Show (September 20-23) at the Makuhari Messe in Tokyo.Notable among the list are

Prime Minister Targets Games
Link to this: http://news.spong.com/article/13664 Gordon Brown being interested in youf issues. British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has set his sights on gaming as part of a review of the impact of media violence on children. Brown said a 'Citizen's

In-game skills for the real world: TimeShifting
Ever been playing a game and wondered just what it would be like if you possessed the same abilities as the character youre controlling? Of course you have. And the ability to bend time, as you can in 360, PS3 and PC future-shooter, TimeShift, certainly

The magic ingredients of Killzone 2
Words: Matt Cundy, GamesRadar UK digg del.icio.us e-mail To: From: Comments: Message Sent! Sending… How can Killzone 2 possibly live up to the hype? What magic beans is developer Guerrilla throwing into the pot to ensure that it meets the vertiginous

Gordon Brown Jumps On The Bandwagon
Gordon Brown Jumps On The Bandwagon News The Prime Minister vows to review current legislation regarding the advertising and sale of games to children… According to reports in the Daily Mirror, the Prime Minister Gordon Brown has promised to review the

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'BioShock' Walkthrough and Strategy Guide begins!
We are beginning work on theLBBioShockWalkthrough and Strategy Guidefor the Xbox 360 and PC versions of the game.

Per usual, you can check in on our growing guide as it's being written. Enjoy!

LBBioShockGame Guide.

Update:For those who needBioShockhelp beyond the current scope of the walkthrough, please post your questions in ourBioShockHelp Threadin our forums.

30 minutes to 'BioShock'

Just a quick reminder that we'll be picking upBioShockin about half an hour.

At that point we're going to hunker down and start adding to ourBioShockWalkthrough and Strategy Guide.

UPDATE 1-BioShockis in our 360. We'll be updating theBioShockWalkthrough and Strategy Guidedaily, so check back often.

If you need help beyond where our walkthrough is currently, then please, post your question on ourBioShockhelp thread.

UPDATE 2- Well the Demo and the first level of the actual game are quite different. We're working on updating the Demo Walkthrough we currently have, so just be patient and we'll have an update by the end of the day.

'Halo 3' game testing to the extreme

Wiredhas an excellent article delving into the scientific approach to fun developed by the game testers at Bungie Studios.

Taking it to a whole new level, the game testing lab helps Bungie developers pinpoint problems in the game, such as levels that are too easy or hard, weapons or enemies that are too deadly, or areas where gamers are getting frustrated or lost.

It's a long read, but it's worth it. You'll up your gaming IQ and you'll get excited forHalo 3all over again.

Read theWiredarticle

How to break a 'World of Warcraft' addiction

Today's "How To" on iGoogle happened to beHow to break aWorld of Warcraftaddiction.

I particularly like the suggestions to take up martial arts and to sabotage your own account.

May I offer an alternative? WatchHigh School Musical 2. That movie will suck all of the life out of you making you an empty shell of a human being, without any desires whatsoever.

Jack Thompson — bringing crazy back!

Last April Take-Two Interactive and Jack Thompson settledTake-Two v. Jack Thompsonwith an agreement that states, more or less, that Thompson will forever leave Take-Two alone. In return Take-Two dropped all suits against Thompson.

Recently, Thompson decided that theManhunt 2debaclebreached the settlement, allowing crazy to return to the video game battlefield.

GamePolitics.comhas the latest e-mail exchange between Thompson and Gena Feist, Take-Two's VP and Associate General Counsel (although they come from Thompson and are a bit sketchy with the timestamps and possible missing e-mails), showing that the settlement has, indeed, fallen to pieces.

I'll start you off with the first e-mail, but go toGamePoliticsfor the ever-entertaining follow-ups.

Dear Mr. Zelnick and Mr. Feder:

Congratulations on receiving a “Mature” rating for Manhunt 2. You’ll live to regret it (trust me), so enjoy it while you can.

I want to bring to your attention the fact that at www.rockstargames.com anyone of any age can order Manhunt 2 and receive it, with no age verification whatsoever. Asking a 14-year-old if he’s 17 is not age verification, now is it?

You also know that the use of a bank card as an age verifier is a violation of all bank card agreements, right?

Govern yourselves accordingly, if you can.

Regards, Jack Thompson

Toy Recalls - What Should We Do?
Toy recalls have become headline news. The reasons for the recalls are many - magnets, lead paint, small pieces, you name it! The alarmingly high number of toy recalls have…

Mattel Recalls Barbie and Tanner, Doggie Day Care, Batman and One Piece Sets Due To Loose Magnets
Magnetic toys are proving to be more and more hazardous. The number of toy recalls due to magnetic toys is on the rise. Toy giant Mattel recently issued a toy…

I Spy Seeing Doubles Game
I absolutely love Scholastic's I Spy series of books and games. They are one of the most effective ways to develop your child's observational skills and sharpen his/her intellect. My…

Mattel Recalls Millions of Polly Pocket Play Sets
Magnetic toys have been very much in the news of late, and have received plenty of negative publicity. Mattel has expanded it's earlier recall of Polly Pocket play sets to…

Toys 'R Us Recalls Imaginarium Wooden Coloring Cases
Parents, please be informed that Toys 'R Us has recalled approximately 27,000 units of the Imaginarium brand wooden coloring cases. According to the CPSC, the reason for the recall is…

Dangerous Toys - It's Time To Check Your Toy Bins!
In the light of the recent toy recalls, it has become absolutely imperative to keep a close eye on the toys your kids play with. Dangerous toys can easily find…

Mattel Recalls Sarge Die Cast Cars Due To High Levels of Lead
Mattel announced the recall of around 253,000 units of Sarge die cast cars from the Cars movie toy line. Just like in the earlier Thomas the Engine toy recall, the…

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