Microsoft and LucasArts announced today that “Kinect Star Wars” and the Xbox 360 Limited Edition “Kinect Star Wars” console bundle will both be available on April 3rd, 2012 in North America for $49.99 and $449.99 respectively.  Star Wars fans of all ages will soon be able to bring the Star Wars universe home and become part of the films like never before with the power of Kinect for Xbox 360.

With five dynamic modes – Jedi Destiny: Dark Side Rising, Podracing, Rancor Rampage, Galactic Dance Off and Duels of Fate – “Kinect Star Wars” makes it possible for Star Wars fans of all ages to delve into immersive Star Wars experiences. In addition to the previously announced Jedi, Podracing and Rancor modes, Xbox 360 and LucasArts have today unveiled new additions to the game, including:

• New experiences within Jedi Destiny Mode, including:

• Space battles: As you travel the Galaxy to face an evil that threatens to undermine the fabric of the Republic, you’ll engage with forces of the Empire in intense space battles

• Speeder Bikes and Landspeeders: Pilot iconic Speeder Bikes and Landspeeders on your epic journey

• New duels: Battle opponents like Count Dooku and Darth Vader on your journey to become a Jedi

• New Duels of Fate mode, a battle-by-battle experience to sharpen your Jedi skills against the Dark Side.

• New Galactic Dance Off mode loaded with Star Wars-themed pop tunes where those still honing their Jedi skills can take a break to battle Darth Vader on the dance floor or bust a move “Solo style.”

The Limited Edition Xbox 360 bundle will also debut alongside Kinect Star Wars on April 3rd, and is available now for pre-order through participating retailers. This first ever custom Xbox 360 and Kinect bundle includes an R2-D2 blue-and-white themed console, a custom Xbox 360 Wireless Controller inspired by C-3PO and the first ever white Kinect sensor.

Priced at $449.99, the Xbox 360 Limited Edition Kinect Star Wars Bundle will include:

• Kinect Star Wars game
• Custom R2-D2-themed Xbox 360 Console with custom sounds
• White Kinect Sensor
• Custom C-3PO-themed Xbox 360 Wireless Controller
• 320 GB Hard Drive
• Xbox 360 Wired Headset
• Kinect Adventures game
• Exclusive DLC – now known to be the C-3PO unlockable for Dance Mode.

See larger image Xbox 360 Limited Edition Kinect Star Wars Bundle (Video Game) List Price: Price Not Listed New From: Check Amazon For Pricing In Stock This title will be released on April 3, 2012.

Similar to many other contests, we’ll be using the Rafflecopter widget underneath, which will be your way to enter the contest, and to keep track of all the entries you have accumulated. We’ll let the contest run for a few days, and will pick a winner sometime next week.

We will be giving away the following prizes:

• 5 winners – Halo: Reach – Games on Demand DLC

• 4 winners - Anniversary Map Pack DLC

• 5 winners - Grunt Birthday Avatar Prop

• 5 winners – Anniversary Avatar T-shirt, Male

• 5 winners – Anniversary Avatar T-shirt, Female

• 1 winner - Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Soundtrack Double CD

This series is known for two things that stand out above all else: size and depth. I recall playing Oblivion and getting about 60 hours in before I had even started the main story, or taken a break for eye drops. Skyrim has taken what fans of the series love and multiplied it by ten, creating the most immersing and thorough RPG game in recent days. The sights and sounds of the land are at times awe inspiring, and the feelings of loneliness conveyed by desolate landscapes and bustling towns full of things to do is spot on. I had previously played the game at PAX and was barely able to scratch the surface in terms of what the new Creation Engine had to offer. Now that I’ve been able to spend some quality time with the game, I can say with certainty that this bold move has paid off big time.

At the game’s beginning, you’re given the opportunity to look around while riding in a cart heading to your untimely execution. Do yourself a favor, and take this opportunity to look at everything around you. Look at the trees, the animals, people’s faces, pretty much everything. The texturing that’s gone into this game is extremely remarkable. Right off the bat, you’re given a more rich and transporting world than the preceding incarnation, and you haven’t even walked around yet. Unfortunately, the overall landscapes and faraway places are what’s most beautiful here. Looking at things up close is a completely different story. Looking at the textures up close detracts from the game’s realism, but then again, why are you looking so hard at a wall 2 inches in front of your face when you have about eight hundred million quest hours ahead of you?

Next, if you can pry your focus away from scampering animals and swaying conifers, listen to the sound of the world. Pay particular attention to the voices of the people around you. Bethesda went all out this time, and hired more than five voice actors. All of the other sounds in the game are remarkable as well, including the terrifying sound of a dragon swooping over head, completely out of nowhere. I’m pretty sure that if smell-o-vision had been invented by now, these guys would have done an awesome job with that also. The problem I had a few times however, is the repetition of phrases by characters over and over. The video I’ve linked below conveys what I’m referring to pretty accurately.

Regardless of any repetition this game might have, it’s pretty minimal compared to the immensity of everything and anything else you can do. Call me paranoid, but I don’t think you’re supposed to be in there, where ever that is.

In terms of play style, there aren’t many constraints here. If you’ve been looking for a game where you have control over pretty much everything your character can do, this game is as close as you’re going to get for now. If you want to go bats crazy on dragons you can do that. If you want to take time off after going bats crazy and become a farmer for a week you can do that too. From being a home owner, to getting married, Skyrim allows you to become the hero you want to be.  With the redesigned interface system, you can change your tactics on the fly, and better cope with situations thrown your way. The option to dual wield is the icing on the cake here.

Now let’s talk quests. There’s more quests than you can shake a Wabbajack at in this game. The more you play, the more you’ll find your quest ledger just start filling up. This is by no means a bad thing, unless of course this is your first time playing an RPG. I was describing this game to a friend of mine earlier, who does not play RPGs at all, and his response was, “It sounds like a lot of work.” Mind you, he works for the federal government, so his definition of work might be different from mine. Yes, it is a lot of work pulling a few of these quests off, but anyone who’s played an Elder Scrolls game knows, more is better, and this game had plenty of “more”. Case in point, there’s random quest generation and progression. Essentially, you could play this game forever. I’m not suggesting this as it might cause a psychotic episode, but you won’t be bored either.

Skyrim also does a good job of keeping you in check. You’ll power through a few dungeons at the beginning of the game, and set a few things on fire. After completing your first few quests, you’ll feel ten feet tall, and bullet proof. Then you’ll wander across your first giant, herding his mammoths, and try to nip at his heels a bit; test the waters. This is a bad idea, but you don’t know that until the game swats you down for trying. The message becomes clear: you will have to earn your way to that level you’re aspiring to. There’s no shortcuts in becoming the dragon slayer you want to be, so you’d better be more careful next time. Seriously though, don’t mess with giants.

The time for RPGers to rejoice is now. Skyrim heeds the call of its clamoring fans, and delivers a level of awesome only dreamt about up until now. As I mentioned before, if you’re the kind of person that likes to do what you want, in a fresh new setting this game is for you. It’s fairly easy to pick up and learn even if you haven’t played an Elder Scrolls game up to this point, and will welcome you even if you’re curious. The hardest thing anyone will face in this game is deciding what to do next.

A copy of Skyrim was purchased by the reviewer. 

See larger image Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Video Game) List Price: $59.99 USD New From: $49.49 In Stock Used from: $47.50 In Stock Release date November 11, 2011.

Amazon has posted a new special today for the impending launch of EA’s shooter, Battlefield 3. Amazon has already been running specials to entice gamers to pre-order Battlefield 3 with free upgrades to the Limited Edition, a free DLC map pack, a Dog Tag pack, while only offering Battlefield’s competitor a digital wallpaper (lame) and $10 that only will be applied toward a specific $100+ headset (lame.)

Today, Amazon has added a $20 Amazon credit, which unlike the credit mentioned above, can be used towards any product on Amazon.com.   We know the Battlefield series definitely has its followers, so here is the best deal that we were able to find for Battlefield 3. If you pre-order Battlefield 3 from Amazon, a mere 3-4 days away, you’ll get:

• an automatic upgrade to the Limited Edition version, which includes the upcoming DLC, “Back to Karkand”
• the Amazon exclusive Dog Tag Pack
• a $20 promotional credit to anything on Amazon
• Release-Date Delivery is FREE with Amazon Prime.

See larger image Battlefield 3 (Video Game) List Price: $59.95 USD New From: $43.99 In Stock Used from: $33.95 In Stock Release date October 25, 2011.

America’s most popular game show amongst the unemployed is making it’s way to the Xbox 360, and it’s coming fast.  Announced today, The Price is Right Decades is set for a November 15, 2011 release date, and will have Kinect functionality.  The game will feature classic staples of The Price Is Right such as Plinko, The Big Wheel, and the Showcase Showdown.  Additionally, players will be able to unlock clips of classic moments throughout the long history of the show.  Our money’s on the clip above being included.

Disclaimer: Ludia Inc. and Ubisoft are not responsible for any dislocated shoulders as a result of violently spinning The Big Wheel.

See larger image Price Is Right Decades (Video Game) List Price: $39.99 USD New From: $34.99 In Stock Used from: $33.98 In Stock Release date November 15, 2011.

The full list of current offers (with regards to the Xbox 360 and Kinect) are listed below. If you know of any other deals that we missed, or simply want to say your feelings on any of the deals, make sure to let us know in the comments.

Here are the latest deals!

Save $10 if you pre-order:

• Batman Arkham City - (Also get the Amazon.com exclusive Batman: Arkham City Comic.) – Offer Ends Soon!

• Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

• Need For Speed: The Run - (as well as the Amazon exclusive Underground Challenge Series which gives you access to two bonus cars and three events inspired by Need for Speed: Underground as well as Limited Edition features including the Lamborghini Aventador, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1, and the all-new Porsche 911 Carrera S along with five exclusive events.)

• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7

• Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary - (as well as Master Chief Avatar Armor and the Grunt Funeral Skull.)

• Silent Hill: Downpour

• Saint’s Row: The Third – (also get the Professor Genki Pack, which includes the Genki Suit, Octopuss Gun, and Man-A-Pult Car.)

• Mass Effect 3

• Kinect Sports Season 2 - (also receive a Bonus Avatar Outfit Pack)

• Dance Central 2 - (receive 400 MSPoints, in addition to the 160 MSPoints that comes inside the packaging.)

• WWE ’12 – (Plus, get The Rock as an in-game playable character.)

Save $20 if you pre-order:

• The Sims 3 Pets – (automatically get a free upgrade to the Limited Edition version, and receive 10 exclusive, unique breeds of pets, including tiger dogs, skunk cats, and panda dogs.)

• Lord of the Rings: War in the North – (Also get the Amazon exclusive Orc Champion Sword which increases your character’s max health.)

First off, the just announced Limited Edition Modern Warfare 3 Console. It is priced at $399.99, comes with two custom wireless controllers, a 320GB hard drive, a copy of  ”Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3,” and also has custom sound effects for when the console is turned on. It also comes with a month of Xbox LIVE, and exclusive avatar items.

Sadly, no mention of anything Call of Duty Elite related being included in this bundle. However, we’ll have information shortly on the also just announced Modern Warfare 3 Hardened Edition that will come with the Premium version of Call of Duty Elite (a $50 value).

You can now pre-order the new console on Amazon, and find more details below:

See larger image Xbox 360 Limited Edition Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Bundle (Video Game) List Price: $399.99 USD New From: $325.00 In Stock Used from: $332.50 In Stock Release date November 8, 2011.

Just when you thought “Gears of War 3’s” Horde mode couldn’t get any more intense, Microsoft and Epic Games today released an explosive new gameplay trailer for the upcoming blockbuster, featuring an exclusive new track from Body Count, entitled “The Gears of War.”

After getting the band together for a surprise concert during E3 at the “Gears of War 3” Horde Showcase, fans the world over are now getting their first taste of Ice-T’s lyrical contribution to the final chapter in the “Gears of War” trilogy based on his experiences as a hardcore “Gears” player himself.

“I’ve always been a big fan of the game and got to play a lot of the new one during development,” said Ice-T of Body Count. “I play the character Griffin so when I was invited to also record a new track, the lyrics came pretty quick.”

Yet that isn’t all, as Epic Games have just unlocked a new promotion on Facebook, where you’ll be able to unlock Ice-T’s multiplayer character. Simply visit this page, and follow the instructions. You’ll get a DLC code, and will be able to unlock ‘Griffin,’ immediately!

What are you waiting for, get it now before its too late!

“It’s only after we’ve lost everything that we’re free to do anything.”  Tyler Durden utters these telling words in Fight Club, but the impact of this statement rings far beyond the pages of Palahniuk’s novel.  The “Destroy to Create” mantra has stuck with mankind since the beginning of our existence, but is often reserved for only the most dire of circumstances.

The Kid, Bastion‘s protagonist, has found himself in exactly such a situation.  Having woken up after a catastrophic event known only as “The Calamity”, The Kid is left with his world in shambles.  Ever the optimist, The Kid focuses less on the ruinous remains of his past, and more on reforming and rebuilding his entire realm.  With, literally, each step he takes, a bit of the land is renewed beneath his feet as The Kid embarks on his quest to restore the world he knows and loves.  Now that all has been destroyed, he can create.

Bastion gets its character from its easy-to-mistake identity.  At first glance, Bastion seems to be a brightly-colored fantasy action RPG.  However, once you delve deeper into Bastion, you’ll realize that it’s a Western at heart.  From the gritty commentary of The Narrator, to the spirited struggle to pioneer a new frontier, it’s easy to spot the many ringing similarities.  Spaghetti Westerns were movies that were created by Italian directors that had all the characteristics of a Western, but just didn’t quite fit the mold.  In that vein, because of its fantasy and role-playing elements, I’d go as far as to dub Bastion a Sushi Western.

Bastion‘s identity may come from the overtones of the spirit of the game, but a lot of meticulous care has been put forward to make sure that each characteristic helps define the overall experience.  For instance, the hand-painted environments are on par with some of the most beautiful artwork ever seen in a video game.  The chilling acoustic music resonates in a way that invokes thoughts of the ghost town The Kid occupies and seems determined to remind The Kid of his fragility.  The Narrator, who’s the sole guiding voice in Bastion, will weigh in with his two cents about every success and misstep along the way.  These components aren’t the central focus of Bastion, but they’re the main reasons that Supergiant Games was able to successfully craft the experience they originally set out to.

The purpose of Bastion is to tell the story of The Kid’s efforts to rebuild his home world.  The Kid often finds himself journeying outside the comforts of The Bastion and into the dangerous, unknown lands to reclaim a vital piece to recreating civilization.  These trips usually take the form of short jaunts to the other side of the level and through a few waves of baddies, before picking up your object and being propelled back to The Bastion.  The level structure is such that they tend come off as addictingly short, and the lands are incredibly varied.  However, it’s the details that make your time spent traversing these missions enjoyable instead of downright tedious.

It’s reasonable to expect an Action RPG to feature quite a bit of combat, and this is certainly true in Bastion‘s case.  While each level supplies almost nonstop action, it succeeds in being simultaneously hectic, pleasing, and eventually monotonous.  This stems from the slightly amiss equipment system.  The Kid can be equipped with two weapons and a special move at any given time.  The problem is that the arsenal at his disposal is a bit overwhelming.  Between the upgrades given to your weapons and the increasing difficulty that each new level brings, it’s too easy to grow attached to the armaments that you’re used to and eschew all of the new ones.

Bastion is the rare example of a game that’s able to thrive because it does the little things so well.  It owes this to its wonderfully crafted environment, its astonishing soundtrack, and the details in its narration.  Without these aspects, it’d be another average title with serviceable gameplay.  However, by piggybacking on the elements above, Bastion is impressively able to pull itself into the upper echelon of games, and its charm, heart, and ambition are endearing and undeniable.

During a panel presentation at the 41st annual Comic-Con International, Xbox and LucasArts unveiled the first custom Xbox 360 console with Kinect featuring a limited edition Star Wars theme inspired by the beloved duo, R2-D2 and C-3PO. With a 320 GB Hard Drive, a custom paint job, custom sounds, and even ”Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope,” inscribed on the disk tray!

Here are the details for the bundle:

Xbox 360 Limited Edition Kinect Star Wars Bundle

This first ever custom Xbox 360 and Kinect bundle includes an R2-D2 blue-and-white themed console, a custom Xbox 360 Wireless Controller inspired by C-3PO and the first ever white Kinect sensor.

The bundle is set to debut alongside Kinect Star Wars this holiday, but is available now for pre-order through participating retailers. Priced at $449.99, the Xbox 360 Limited Edition Kinect Star Wars Bundle will include:

• Kinect Star Wars game
• Custom R2-D2-themed Xbox 360 Console with custom sounds
• White Kinect Sensor
• Custom C-3PO-themed Xbox 360 Wireless Controller
• 320 GB Hard Drive
• Xbox 360 Wired Headset
• Kinect Adventures game
• Exclusive downloadable content

See larger image Xbox 360 Limited Edition Kinect Star Wars Bundle (Video Game) List Price: Price Not Listed New From: Check Amazon For Pricing In Stock This title will be released on April 3, 2012.