Prepare for a media blast of epic proportions. We have a ton of new art and screens for the new South Park title from THQ today. For those that haven’t followed it, Obsidian is working hard to give possibly one of the most complete and technically accurate South Park titles to date. It’s a heck of a task given the past history for the series but I have high hopes for the game which launches later this year.

In the meantime enjoy the assets!

But what does that include and how does it make it amazing?

• Round trip airfare for two people to Las Vegas, Nev.
• Hotel accommodations for two nights
• Two tickets for live UFC event
• Ability to enter the UFC live event arena as a member of a UFC fighter’s entourage
• Pre- and post-fight backstage access
• Meet and Greet with UFC fighters
• One copy of UFC Undisputed 3 autographed by current UFC Middleweight champion Anderson Silva
• One year membership in the UFC Fight Club
• $250 Gift Card redeemable at the UFC Store online at http://www.ufcstore.com

Pretty insane right? Well you can also enter by signing a 3″x5″ card with postage and contacting the contest team directly.

The Marketing Arm Inc.
“GameStop PowerUp Rewards UFC Undisputed 3 Giveaway”
#140 233 Rock Road
Glen Rock, New Jersey
07452

Pretty sweet action given the game is just around the corner and it’s lined up to be one of the biggest titles for them in the series. If you need more information check the PowerUp Rewards site for details. Otherwise I leave you with a video of the contenders for UFC Undisputed 3 for now.

• Trish Stratus
• Brie Bella
• Nikki Bella
• Vickie Guerrero
• Kharma
• *Alicia Fox

They’re available now on the PS3 and Xbox 360 with a price of 99 cents or 80 MS points. Those bummed out about the lack of holiday cheer can take note that Alicia Fox is actually a freebie on either platform. Enjoy the goods and get down with some crazy Diva action on your console this season.

 BIGGER, BADDER, BETTER …WWE ’12 looks like it’s finally making strides on becoming an all around complete game for its genre with a 70+ character roster and a promise of more to come, WWE’12 is giving the fans what they have asked for… lets jump in and go through the details.

Presentation/Visuals:

The look of WWE ’12 is a huge leap from SvR 2011, the minute you press start you’ll notice the menu layout is simple and direct. I think this helps the loading times significantly, it is the most noticeable in the creation feature. THQ did a great job capturing the production style of the television show, from broadcast camera angles to little things like the mini titantron’s around the arena. The ring entrances are more cinematic and authentic to its TV counterpart, they really capture a WWE event atmosphere and its intensity.

Controls/Gameplay:

Over the past 3 years, the SmackDown! Vs Raw series controls have become so complex that THQ featured a training gym with a move checklist so players could learn the control scheme. That’s not the case anymore, for WWE ’12 they’ve simplified the button layout entirely. Since the weak/strong grapple system from earlier versions is no longer around, you can only execute certain moves based on your opponents physical state. A button initiates grapples, with another press along with a direction on the analog stick you can perform one of the four standard moves each grapple position has. This setup allows you the ability to switch between positions using the right analog stick, if your opponent is groggy you will be able to perform a stronger move. Another change in the  game is the limp targeting system, in SvR2011 players had a HUD layout of your opponents body would showcase which area has taken the most damage, it never made difference in matches it was just for show. Now you can isolate a specific part the body by holding the RB button when engaged in a grapple, a similar HUD layout with the face buttons assigned to each area will appear. Pressing a button that corresponds to the head, body, legs and arms will affect opponents hindering their movements and make it easier to hold submissions. Dynamic Comebacks give the player who’s on the verge of losing a last-minute opportunity to turn the tables by hitting certain combinations of moves.

A.I. has gotten an upgrade, for those of you who play on legend difficultly there are some times the CPU use’s cheap tactics to boost its potency, it’s most noticeably when facing John Cena and Randy Orton.

The new Submission system (Breaking Point) moves submissions back to face buttons now, it now becomes a mash button mini game between players/CPU. When a submission is locked on, a breaking point meter pops up and the attacker must fill the meter to the top while the defender tries to stop the meter from reaching the end. Make sure you have your opponent nice and red or they will get kick out instantly on you.

Features:

WWE Universe back and by far the best mode in the series since GM mode for Smackdown vs Raw 2006. Being able to make matches and choose what brand wrestlers go to which event  is what fans always want in WWE games. This mode gives it you and then some, it kept me glued to my Xbox controller through this review. Universe now lets you  change brand names, arenas, logos  and which titles go to which brand. For instance, replacing the RAW U.S. Title with the European title and converting Smackdown into WCW Monday Nitro are some things you can do with this change. I was a little disappointed that you have to buy Fan Axxess DLC to edit character attributes though.

The Weakest part of the game I have to say is the Road to Wrestlemania, players play through months of programming as Superstars of Shamus, Triple H and a created player. With a large episodic format, players must play through match after match with heavy backstage and promo segments and even scripted events during matches. With each segment completed it unlocks special content for the rest of the game. I understand Road to Wrestlemaina gives players a different option besides WWE Universe, but it falls short  and if you’re a fan of RTW then you should enjoy this years game, but if you’re not I would suggest sticking to WWE universe.

The Customization for the series has always been astounding , in WWE’12  it can almost be overwhelming to see the wide variety of options available to players. This is what made this game what it is today, from wrestlers to  logos,  finishers, ring entrance sequences. Throwing in arenas makes this game even more exciting by re-creating past and present wrestling promotions  from AWA to ROH is now possible.

Arena creation is set up like create-a-wrestler,  You have four options: Ring, Ring Side, Electronic Billboard and other. The ring option lets you edit Apron, Mat, Ropes, Ring post and Turnbuckle Pad. The Ring Side option lets you edit Floor mat, Barricade, and Announcer table and you can even choose what logos or designs you want on the Billboard, you can literally spend hours customizing now.

Verdict: 

WWE ’12 is one of the strongest wrestling games the WWF /  WWE has put out on the market, with so many options available it’s hard to imagine getting bored with this version anytime soon. Minus shortcomings such as the AI bias it’s a well designed game and a huge accomplishment for Yukes and THQ this year. With the holidays approaching fast, this should be in any wrestling fans gift list if they don’t have it already.

Gameplay:	9.0/10.0
Story:	8.0/10.0
Features:	9.5/10.0
Visuals:	9.0/10.0
Overall:	9.0/10.0

Overall: 9/10

Being a Saint was never easy, but it’s fun as hell and Saints Row The Third is here to bring more of that madness. The Syndicate is in overdrive and there’s no room for the Saints in this installment, the game starts off with a bang and it only gets more intense from there. Will you fall down to a group of techies, wrestlers and suits or will you rise up and wreck shop on everyone? Really the choice is up to the player on how involved they want to get, do you break down gangs, regain your turf and take over entire neighborhoods or do you just head for the top? After such a long departure from the series it really is welcoming to walk into Steelport and see all the investments that Volition made in Saints Row: The Third.

For those looking for a little more detail check the spoiler out.

[[Visit blog to check out this spoiler]]

Tweaking your character:

Character customization is the first feature that everyone gets a look at, You have basic male and female models with Caucasian, African, Asian and Hispanic bases, of course you can completely alter these into another world. Skin color choices run from realism to comic fantasy in an instant, want a metallic brawler in green? We’ve got that and body shaping in ways that probably wouldn’t make sense in any normal title. Add onto that 7 possible personalities including zombie speak and you’re in for some trouble, the taunts and compliments add some extra flavor for when you walk the streets. For those worried, there are plenty of chances to adjust this completely once you get started and get some cash in your pocket.

Control and Action:

Action on the PC is simple, the mouse controls the view angle and the ASDW controls the basic movement, for most events and vehicles this should pose no issues. Those used to sandbox games on the PC will be at home with the movement, those new to the idea of driving with a keyboard will be glad to know that Saints Row: The Third actually simplifies the process with assisted drifting easy drag starts and assisted stability when driving. For some this might seem heavy-handed, for most players they’ll never notice these changes unless they tune in for them. Where this all goes a bit wrong is with the flight control, the mouse allows you to pan your viewing while ASDW takes over for flight control with shift and control often taking over for elevation or acceleration. It’s messy but you can live through it or just use a gamepad and call it a day, it took a bit of self-restraint to avoid using W and S for acceleration and deceleration but I was able to get used to it after a few tries.

Visuals:

Visuals are amazing on Saints Row: The Third, seriously they’re really crazy for quality. On a 4850 I was clearly out of my league with this review, in the future I’ll be working off of a 6800 series GPU instead to help muscle out some of that lag. HBAO has multiple settings for different generations even going so low as to allow DX9 cards some simulated fun on Low. Texture settings go from low to high and really take a hit to your video memory, if you exceed this you’re going to take on major FPS hits. Unfortunately it’s hard to rely on the automatic selection system, I defaulted to pure low with max FSAA. While I do love anti-aliasing, I often sacrifice it in favor of higher resolutions and better features elsewhere including higher quality AF ranges. If you’re looking to maximize the game, make sure you’re running a mid-high end DX11 card as even DX10 models will find themselves struggling to keep up with the game at times. While I admit it looks amazing at full resolution and settings in DX10 it’s almost a slide show at that point.

Soundtracks / Radio:

The stations in Saints Row are nothing short of crazy at times, going through alternative, hip-hop, electronika, classical, adult swim, death metal and top 40 hits from all ages. There’s a little something for everyone and the game features a ton of licensed hits to keep the cruising interesting, no doubt there’s always a station to match your mood or interests at any given time. Odd enough I found myself actually listening to classical when I would fly around the city as it helped me maintain a flow between buildings and in critical turns. Have no doubt that there will be something to cater to your interest and there’s enough variety that you wont hit the same song twice in a mission.

Story and gameplay:

Saints Row: The Third is what you make of it, if you want to take over the city financially, you can build an empire with massive funds and payoffs. It’ll take some work to defend those areas but it’s possible to pull off, in exchange you’ll gain popularity with the public and additional funds for your time in some cases. For the combat oriented players, if you’re brave and sneaky enough you can survive to beat the crap out of your opposition and steal all their weapons and money and live on the run hiding and ducking for cover. It’s a tough job but it is possible to pull off, as you progress in the game you’ll get weapons and upgrades that make it easier to decimate rival gangs and even the super clones running around.

If you’re in the game for the story itself, you will not face disappoint. The story packs comedy, tension, drama and action like no other, you really can’t compare anything else to what Saints brings to the table because there isn’t quite anything like it. The best in some form you could get is the Postal series and even then it’s not exactly a good fit. If you’re in for some mature themed insanity I can’t think of a better game to get right now or even in the next few months. Burt Reynolds, Zombies, Tank sky fights and more all await you in Steelport and there’s no reason to really avoid it.

Verdict:

Saints Row: The Third isn’t the end all be all of gaming, Saints Row 4 is and you’ll need to wait another few years for that one to arrive. If you can hold out though I would suggest giving serious consideration into The Third, it really stands alone in gaming with an offering that can’t be matched. Some gamers may feel it’s proper to compare it to Grand Theft Auto IV but honestly, GTA isn’t even in the same league. You can’t compare the brink of insanity with attempted realism, it doesn’t work visually or in any story form, if you want crazy get Saints and you wont look back.

Gameplay:	8.5/10.0
Story:	9.0/10.0
Features:	9.0/10.0
Visuals:	10.0/10.0
Overall:	9.0/10.0

Overall: 9/10

A few of you may recognize the video as the E3 demo but what is new, is narration by Saints Row writer Drew Holmes.

Insane vehicles, weapons and crazy amounts of customization!

Using Direct2Drive through July 12 scores these deals for THQ products.

July 7th – 50% off all Company of Heroes games
July 8th – 75% off Supreme Commander Gold
July 9th – 75% off STALKER: Shadow of Chernobyl
July 10th – 75% off Saint’s Row 2
July 11th – 75% off Frontlines: Fuel of War
July 12th – 50% off all Warhammer games

The list looks good and honestly I might get Saint’s Row 2 finally for that kind of a deal.

The reference to house cleaning though comes from the recent announcement of MMA from EA, a Mixed Martial Arts fighting game to use dynamics and graphics and so on from Fight Night Round 4 something that has been pretty widely recieved with praise as of late. Dana White notes this according to UGO

But, what’s to stop EA from signing licensed fighters to associate with their game? The answer: Dana White, natch. Besides Randy Couture, who struck a deal in court with the UFC.  White said of fighters who deal with EA, ”You won’t be in the UFC.”

Pretty hardcore I mean I know in WWE people are basically the property of the company, their likeness and all other such items basically get bought up at day 1 unless they copyright and protect themselves beforehand. Given that the UFC was a lot more free formed and independent and has top fighters alternating all the time it seemed like it would be hard to impose given how everyone seems to dabble in other competitions as well. Apparently not though, one would have wonder what would happen if EA bought up their top 10-15% of their talent though, would Dana White really kick off all those PPV earning seat stacking fighters?

I have to wonder this because EA likes to get what they want, and given the size of their company, money isn’t much of an issue when it comes to securing a dominant license. It’s a unique battle because it’s a battle of games and a battle of corporate figures as well, and even potentially the UFC fights if fighters do take “incentives” to be in the new MMA game and suddenly start vanishing out of key events.

Source: UGO