Judging from the publicity stills released a few days ago, you couldn’t really tell that it was cell shaded. This trailer clears that up pretty well. I like that aspect for this game. Underscoring the fact that it is based on the comic and not the TV series by giving it a comic book feel.

The story looks interesting, but the character movements, in some cases, appear to be a bit jerky and cartoonish. I think you can definitely tell it is not a major release. But what do you expect for five dollars?

Russian website horrorzone.ru somehow got their hands on the game about a month ago, releasing this 13 minute video demonstrating the beginning of the story and the style of gameplay.

The game is still not available on the TellTale website, stating only that you can only pre-order the game for now. However, it is available on Playstation Network and Steam. TellTales official forum states that there are internal server issues preventing the timely release. People who have pre-ordered through TellTale have supposedly been given a Steam key via e-mail to download it from them.

TellTale plans to release an Apple iOS version later this summer.

So far, all the reviews I’ve read have been favorable. IGN has given it an 8.5 and is listed as an “Editor’s Choice” game. I look forward to playing it on the PSN, for $20 for the whole series, it looks like a steal.

Set 14 month after events in the original game, the new Prototype promises users will “experience the epic showdown between Sgt. James Heller and Alex Mercer.” The new protagonist, Sgt. James Heller, is out for revenge against the man he holds resposible for the loss of his loved ones, Alex Mercer.

“April 24th has been a long time coming and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support of our unbelievably loyal fans,” said Ken Rosman, Studio Head, Radical Entertainment. “All of us here at Radical are extremely proud of what we’ve created with PROTOTYPE 2 and we hope you all get as much enjoyment from playing it as we had making it…I’ll see you on the RADNET leaderboards – Gamertag/PSN username: SuperSangria.”

People that pre-ordered Prototype 2 or purchase the game during the launch window will get 55 pieces of additional content for free, delivered post launch. This weekly scheduled content includes in-game events, challenges, avatars, themes and behind-the-scenes videos, as well as bonus mutations for Prototype 2′s main story. Those that participate in all of the weekly challenges and events will unlock the Alex Mercer playable skin.

Prototype is also available in the Blackwatch Collector’s Edition, which includes the first paid DLC pack, Colossal Mayhem. See all the stuff you get in this preview:

Prototype 2 costs $59.99 for the standard edition $79.99 for the Collector’s edition on Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. PC users will have to wait until July 24 to get their hands on a copy.

So, is the MMORPG people have been branding as the “WoW-Killer“, “Next step in the MMO evolutionary ladder“, and “fanboy wet dream“, living up to the hype? Up to this point, the answer is mostly yes.

I should note that this is an “early review“. For those who have played a MMO, it takes a long time to give a complete review as there are a plethora of features, updates, and fixes which will come in the weeks and months ahead. I simply wanted to share my first impressions, and provide potential players a glimpse into the world they’ll be adventuring through.

Now, on to the review!

Your first task upon selecting a server to play on is creating your character; which is probably the most disappointing aspect of the game I’ve experienced. There’s very few options and sliders to adjust when trying to create your unique character compared to what a lot of other RPG’s, MMO’s or otherwise have provided. There’s really no detail adjustment as you have 4 or 5 body types to choose from, with no individual sliders for separate body parts. If you wanted a character with a huge shoulder line, but a small waist, you’ll be left in the cold unless BioWare enhances the character creation in the future.

When creating your character, you can decide whether to join the Republic or the Empire. Your choice will then open up your class selection, and each side has different races as well.

Republic (Races) – Human, Zabraks, Miraluka, Mirialan, Twi’lek, Cyborg

Republic (Classes) – Trooper, Smuggler, Jedi Knight, Jedi Consular

Empire (Races) – Human, Zabraks, Sith, Chiss, Rattaki, Twi’lek, Cyborg

Empire (Classes) – Imperial Agent, Bounty Hunter, Sith Inquisitor, Sith Warrior

Each class has two specializations you unlock later, so the system gets deeper than what’s initially presented during character creation. There’s quite a few less selections when comparing this game to other MMO’s, however, once you load up the game you begin to understand why.

While character creation is a letdown, the beginner’s area and first world within the game is quite possibly one of the best first impressions I’ve seen in a MMO. Generally, you’re just trying to get through prologue and tutorial areas when you play a game of this type; not so with SWTOR. The moment your game loads, you’re provided with a story and a reason to enjoy this initial area. I should probably go ahead and mention that even during the first portion of the game, each individual class has their own personal story to play through. So, you could theoretically play through the starter area with each class and have a unique experience each time. Doing so would already provide you up to 16-20 hours of gameplay time depending on how much you explore each storyline and world.

There’s no soulless NPC handing you a “Kill 10 rats, and bring me their hides” quest, to which you go complete the task and simply move on. Each quest has its own insular story, which you communicate with the NPC and your character reacts to him/her as you see fit. The dialogue in this game is astounding, as having everything voice-acted really gives the experience a level of presentation I’ve never seen in a game of this type, or even most single-player RPG’s.

One major problem with most MMO’s is that they have very little emotional depth, and characters you use generally have no personality. This problem is fixed in SWTOR, where even in the beginning of the game you start to shape your character and make decisions which will have an impact as you continue playing. If you want to use a Han Solo like character who’s simply in it for the credits, you can do so. Coincidentally, this is the type of character I’m using. His name’s Aranas; a level 24 Smuggler Scoundrel who’s just wanting to make money and will generally take the easy way out when fixing a problem.

(Bounty Hunter dialogue, *spoilers)

The game keeps track of your moral decisions with a light/dark side meter, which will fluctuate as you decide to do the right or wrong thing. I haven’t really unlocked the full use of this meter, though later in the game you unlock exclusive equipment depending on your alignment.

Once you leave the first world, the game begins to really open up and it can be a bit intimidating at first. One of the first options presented to you is an instanced “Flashpoint“. These are self-contained areas which require you to group up with others to utilize teamwork. One of the concerns many people had, myself included is whether or not BioWare would be able to provide the ‘multi-player’ aspect which is required for MMO’s. My journey through level 24 has already had me pair up with many groups as you’ll come across standard quests which require 4-man groups to complete. There are already three flashpoints to play through as well, so there’s plenty of group content to enjoy.

While BioWare has provided a level of presentation that pushes the MMO-envelope, they really took the safe route when designing the gameplay. If you’ve played MMO’s before, you’ll be right at home with SWTOR. You have an insane amount of skills at your disposal, and I was surprised by the amount in the early levels. I don’t want to know how many skills I’ll have once I reach 50. If I had to describe the gameplay, it’s a mix between World of Warcraft and DC: Universe Online. The timing, animations, and strategies have a very WoW-like feel to them. Unlike WoW, however, combat feels much more engaging as there’s no auto-attack so battles require a bit more investment, which feels a lot like DCUO.

If I had to grade the gameplay, I’d give it a solid ‘B‘. While the system is solid, and the animations really have a great Star Wars feel to them, it just seems like BioWare didn’t really go above and beyond like they did in so many other areas of the game.

While on-the-ground combat isn’t amazing, I was pleasantly surprised with space combat. If you’ve ever played any of the Star Fox games, then you’ll instantly fall in love with space combat. It’s on-rails, the controls are tight, and the aiming is precise. The battles have an epic feel to them much like what you’ve seen in the movies. BioWare has said they plan to really expand on space combat, and has made general references to the X-Wing/Tie-Fighter space sims. If they open up the space combat, and add in more features, then they’ll really have something.

Another key area for MMO games is PvP, which I haven’t fully unlocked yet. Open-world PvP doesn’t occur until much later into the game, so if you’re someone who was looking forward to it early on, then you’ll be disappointed. However, there are PvP Warzones which are instanced scenarios pitting Republic and Empire players against each other. There’s Alderaan, Huttball, and Voidstar. All of which unlock at level 10.

All of which are PvP systems you’ve more than likely played through before. Alderaan is all about capturing nodes and protecting them from advancements, Voidstar is a offense/defense scenario based area, and Huttball is a capture-the-flag like map. Huttball has been my favorite map so far, as BioWare added elements which give a fresh lift to the traditional CTF setup. You can pass the ball, and there are obstacles in the way which require teams to really focus on layout and strategy.

I should note that my experience with PvP has been met with some technical problems. My PC rig is a behemoth, and I’ve been running Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and the PvE areas of SWTOR on full settings without a hitch. The second I’m drop in a PvP Warzone, my FPS falls through the floor. If I turn everything off, and lower my resolution then it fixes it a bit. I’ve been researching the problem and many other players seem to be experiencing this as well. Hopefully, BioWare can get to the root of the problem soon.

Since I’ve mentioned all the major features so far, I should mention you obtain XP for everything I’ve listed so far. If you want to do nothing but play PvP, you can level up that way. Space Combat provides experience points, and you actually get more XP for initial space combat quests than you do for most on-the-ground quests.

Finally, if you’re someone who enjoys crafting and profession based work when they play a MMO then I think you’ll be happy with the system BioWare has implemented. Theoretically, you can always be crafting no matter where you’re at, because all of your profession work is handled by your companion character. These companion characters have a wide variety of functions; helping you in combat, crafting, and adding an occasional quip or two while adventuring. To be honest, I wish companions were a bit more involved as I found myself forgetting they were there unless they died or I was sending them off to complete a crafting task.

The crafting/professions system provides you with three different options; two gathering professions and a crafting option. I’ve never been much of a crafter, but I’ve found myself in the crafting menus and sending my companion out on jobs at a steady rate. BioWare definitely deserves an applause for their accomplishments here.

Verdict: Within the total package of SWTOR, BioWare has crafted one of the most ambitious and impressive MMO games I’ve played; judging from initial impressions. The minute you step into the universe, you get swept up in all the presentation and character building. If you’re a Star Wars fan then this game is a must, if you like RPG’s then I highly recommend the game as well.

For the more hardcore MMO crowd, I believe your tastes will be satiated as well. As I mentioned this is an early review, so many of the more important MMO elements are still off in the horizon. Such as end-game content, and open-world PvP. BioWare could have tried and changed up the traditional MMO gameplay recipe, but instead kept things a tad formulaic. When judging a game, this is the most important area and while everything is solid, nothing feels completely new either. So if you’ve been debating whether to drop the $60 and $15/month fee, this is something to consider.

Overall, I’ve been completely happy with my experience so far. This game really hit the trifecta with me, as I’m a huge Star Wars, BioWare, and RPG fan. So far, every fanboy bone has been tickled. Let’s just hope they can keep it up, and my full review sounds even more positive than this one.

If you don’t want to bother with Quicktime, here’s a embedded version which is good quality as well…

The news of the trailer has taken Twitter by storm, with most people voicing excitement for the movie’s release. Most are focusing on the football stadium scene, which looks jaw-droppingly awesome. Which for some reason features Hines Ward.

The reason for the mammoth spending is it would provide Sprint an exclusive launch of the iPhone 5. Meaning, at the Apple event, on October 4th, Apple will be announcing the iPhone 4S for AT&T and Verizon, while Sprint will enjoy the initial release of iPhone 5 all by themselves. The article states an interesting caveat concerning the deal; the exclusivity would only run until the first quarter of next year.

Would a 3-4 month exclusive iPhone 5 launch be worth $20 billion? Tell us.

Along with the news, BGR also added some interesting tech specs for the handset:

- Large 4-inch screen, similar to LG’s NOVA hi-res display
- 1GB RAM
- 32GB storage
- Slightly larger design, but skinnier and a larger battery

As with all iPhone 5 rumors, this is all speculation and trusting that someone’s “inside source” is correct. If it turns out to be true, this has the potential for a huge shake-up in the mobile world. Will the exclusive release for a few months be enough to make up a $20 billion paycheck? A transaction that BGR states would lose them money until 2014.

The Acer Iconia Tablet is going to undercut the iPad 2 price, releasing at $449.99, cheaper than the $499.99 price tag for the 16GB Wi-Fi iPad 2. Will the lower price point put the Iconia’s tech standards below the iPad 2?

Technical Specification Comparison

16GB Wi-Fi iPad 2

Processor: 1 GHz A5 Apple processor
Memory: 512 MB DDR2 Ram
Storage: 16 GB
Display: 9.7 inches (1024×768 px display)
Battery Life: 10 Hours (general usage)

Acer – Iconia Tablet A500

Processor: 1 GHz NVIDIA Tegra 250
Memory: 1GB DDR2 Ram
Storage: 16 GB
Display: 10.2 inches (1280×800 px display)
Battery Life: 10 Hours (general usage)

Breaking down the base tech comparisons, the Acer tablet has the iPad 2 beat in both virtual memory and display resolution. Along with the tech specifications, there are some key differences in the features offered by the tablets.

The Iconia will allow users to connect a microSD card up to 32GB for expanding storage, while iPad 2 users will be stuck with 16GB. Iconia users will be able to connect their tablet to HDTVs with an HDMI port. In order for iPad 2 users to utilize this feature, they have to purchase an Apple Digital TV Adapter. Tacking on an additional $39 to their purchase.

The Iconia sacrifices its size to be able to outperform the iPad 2. It weighs 1.7 lbs compared to the 1.33 lbs of the iPad 2. It also has a bit more depth at 0.5 in compared to the iPad 2′s .346 in form.

Another interesting aspect to the tech battle is the device will utilize Android 3.0 (Honeycomb). The tablet OS is a relative newcomer when compared to iOS, and will have a lot to prove as more devices release with Honeycomb. This could possibly be Iconia’s biggest roadblock, as many iPad users enjoy the simple and intuitive iOS interface.

Along with iOS, Acer’s device is going up against the Apple name and reputation. While many Android powered mobile devices are hitting the market, none of them are taking down the iPhone/iPod/iPad alone. Acer is a reputable computer technology corporation, but they have no where near the user base Apple has in the US when it pertains to mobile devices.

I’m impressed with everything I’ve seen regarding the Acer Iconia Tablet A500. Their price tag is affordable, they’re providing tech equal to or greater than the iPad 2, and even adding features the iPad 2 and some other tablets lack. We’ll have to wait for April 24th and beyond to see what kind of impact the device can make, but it has all the ingredients to perform well.

The Interface – A bevel too much…

We’ll start with the less technical aspects of Firefox 4, as many have little use for the more intensive features of Firefox. I’m currently on the Mac version of the web browser, which actually looks a bit different than the Windows version.

Firefox 4 (Windows)

Firefox 4 (Mac)

Like in previous iterations, the browser interface is designed to mirror Safari in a lot of ways. The top portion of the browser is colored directly like Safari. The only major differences are the shape of the back/forward buttons, and the tabs are on top of the address bar when using Firefox 4. Oh, Mozilla also has their home and bookmark button to the right of the Google search bar instead of the left.

My only real complaint with the Mac version of Firefox 4 is the deep bevel the tabs have when sitting atop the address and search bar. I don’t know if the irksome feeling comes from my hatred of bevel from Photoshop, but I don’t like. Feel free to ignore this inkling, however, as I’m sure there are plenty of bevel supporters out there.

The differences in IE9 and Firefox 4 feel much more distinct, and I actually prefer IE9′s interface. Microsoft really took a glance at Google’s playbook, as the more I use IE9 the interface reminds me of Chrome. While there’s no glaring negatives found on Firefox 4′s interface for Windows, it comes off busier in the top bar area than IE9.

Speed – Javascript, and accelerated graphics are welcome…

Firefox 4 is fast. I could really leave it at that three word sentence and be done. Instead, I’ll dive into a bit more of the details behind the heightened speed. I’m not going to get caught up in comparisons to other browsers. The load times for the three latest versions of Chrome, IE, and Firefox are very close. In fact, depending on where you want to look, each one performed better than the other in certain benchmarks.

Firefox 4 is much more javascript friendly than the previous version. I’ve it put through the paces on some extremely javascript dense sites, and the difference between 4 and 3.6 is like night and day. I put the browser through my ESPN3.com test. Firefox 4 was like a cheetah in comparison to 3.6, and IE9 wouldn’t even load ESPN3. Due to this test, I know which browser will be used at home as I access my most used site.

Another cool feature Mozilla provides which could add to the speed of browser usage is “Mozilla Sync“. This allows you to save the data on your browser then transfer it to other computers and mobile devices. It certainly beats the old methods of emailing passwords to yourself, or writing them down.

HTML5 – The future of the web, and Firefox 4 is ready…

While there have been some major upgrades, most of them pale in comparison to the support of HTML5. Hardware acceleration, HTML coded hi-def video, 3D graphics, and a lot more additions can be found in HTML5. Of the sites I’ve tested Firefox 4 on, the browser has passed with flying colors.

Here are a couple examples of the power HTML5 has in terms of bringing a new experience to the internet:

iPaint - This beta web app has taken all the functions of MS Paint, made some additions, and have brought them all to the web browser. Firefox 4 loads the app perfectly, and after using all the functions provided the browser didn’t hiccup once. Have fun laughing at my crude image, provided by iPaint.

Motivational Poster Creator – This app is from Mozilla’s demos, and it highlights how HTML5 can allow users to take offline files and implement them within a web page. I can think of no better way of demonstrating this than with a Motivational Poster. Again, all of this was done using tools provided by HTML5. Enjoy.

The browser handled the entire process of accessing my image, embedding it in the webpage, and adding my custom text perfectly.

The browser to win them all?

There are a couple of more additions to Firefox 4 that will take some time before full judgement can be rendered, specifically with the security capabilities added onto this version.

At first use, I can find zero reasons why someone shouldn’t use Firefox 4. On the flip side, there’s no reason beyond some Firefox add-ons, that I would recommend this browser over Google Chrome. Due to IE9 failing my ESPN3.com test, I’ll probably switch off between Firefox and Chrome at home.

I did run into an interesting cache issue with WordPress, which involved overwriting an image. I had to clear my cache before the change registered, which is something I’ve never had to do while using 3.6. Has anyone else noticed any slight quirks?

How has your experience using Firefox 4 been? Even though it’s still early, first impressions mean a lot. What have yours been like?

It was discovered that the final release for Firefox 4 was up on their FTP server, which was then subsequently provided to users though numerous websites. Mozilla strongly discourages these direct downloads, as the current location isn’t equipped for massive traffic. So if you feel like being courteous to Mozilla, wait until tomorrow.

If you visit the index.html file on the FTP server, you’ll be met with the following message:

According to the website Fileforum, they’ve already had over 60,000 downloads for Windows since releasing the links on their site. There are also clients for both Linux and Mac.

It’s been nearly eight months since the original Firefox 4 beta was released publicly. Mozilla has been scrutinized for pushing back their initial release date which was supposed to happen last fall. We’ll all be able to find out either today, or tomorrow, whether or not the wait was worth it.

The battle for our browser usage has a new chapter, and it will certainly be interesting to see who is able to gain and who will fall back. Though I don’t condone anyone using Mozilla’s FTP server, if you get an early download, feel free to share your thoughts on it below.

Since it’s European debut in March 2010, as part of the Nintendo DS range, the Nintendo DSi XL has sold over 3.6 million pieces of hardware globally, taking the total number of Nintendo DS range of consoles to over 132 million systems. In addition to the stylish wine red and dark brown consoles still available in stores, players will be given a wider choice of colours to choose from as yellow, green and blue join the offerings!

The latest iterations of the Nintendo DSi XL will offer the same functionality as the wine red and dark brown consoles; featuring the same glossy sheen on top, matt finish on the underside that provides extra grip, bigger screens and wider viewing angle. It will still continue to be pre-loaded with two Nintendo DSiWare software: A Little Bit of…Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training: Arts Edition and Dictionary 6 in 1 with Camera Function, as well as the Nintendo DSi Browser, which enables you to easily access the internet wherever a wireless Internet connection is available

The yellow, green and blue consoles will arrive just in time for players to enjoy some enjoyable new software on offer this season.  Join the supreme puzzle master Professor Layton and his young apprentice Luke, in their brand new engaging adventure ‘Professor Layton and the Lost Future’ when this launches for the Nintendo DS family across Europe on 22^nd October. Players can attempt to solve more than 165 brand new brain teasers, riddles and logic puzzles guaranteed to challenge and delight both newcomers and fans of the Professor Layton games.

Players with a Nintendo DSi XL will be able to experience the adventure with added comfort on a 93 percent bigger touch screen than the Nintendo DS Lite and with the larger pen like stylus which comes with the Nintendo DSi XL, and now in your chosen new colour!

So get ready to be presented with a colourful choice this autumn, when the new Nintendo DSi XL in yellow, green and blue launch across Europe on 8^th October 2010. It’s a bright future ahead of colours for Nintendo!

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iPhone 4 is currently available in France, Germany, Japan, the UK and the US for a suggested retail price of $199 (US) for the 16GB model and $299 (US) for the 32GB model. See more HERE

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