TXPaladin on Live

Lets talk cool tools for the gamer who loves to entertain. The Xbox 360 is more than a gaming system for a lot of people. For one thing, you can download movies and shows direct to your Xbox 360 to watch. You can also pop a DVD into the console and watch it as if its a DVD player. You can even access your music files from a networked PC if you like.

All at the control of the person using the gaming controller. But wait, you can actually purchase a remote control to help aid in navigating menus of DVDs if you like. It gets even better if you look for the Logitech Harmony Xbox 360 remote and the prices are not that bad if you hunt for them online.

I came across this remote the other day on a Best Buy outing with a friend. The only thing is they wanted $99 for it. Wow and what does it do exactly? Well for starters and like all Logitech Harmony remotes, it allows you to control everything.

Yeah right you say, but it is true and in one sleek looking controller. The great thing is you can hide all the other remotes away and keep one to do it all. Push a button for the Xbox 360 and it powers up the console, turns your TV to the correct setting, sets your stereo to what you need, and unlocks an achievement every time. Ok, it doesn't do that, but you'll fell like you've done something great in making a choice like this.

These remotes come with controls to added thousands of devices under your command, just like the game Overlord, you'll have your entertainment minions doing what you want with a single click. Something I could have used the other day when one of my remotes was lost on the field of battle (Living Room). You know how hard it is to control your Tivo with out a remote, near impossible?

Cool thing is Harmony remotes come in various flavors, shapes, and sizes. So all you need to do is decide which one is right for you. Do a little research and I'm sure you'll make the right choice and become the master of your entertainment land.

Liberty City is really huge and now you can explore what lays in store for any visitors from your PC. This is an ultra cool map with a very Google Maps feel and chock full of gaming details as well.

I started playing the game last night and I really dig the feel of this game so far. Talk about plenty to see and do and I've only hit about 1/3 of the available map area.

Its funny to think that a game would be such a blast like this, telling you to go from point A to point B and then wait for your next assignment to come your way, only to repeat the whole process. Its a very interactive story that you take part in and help along with your choices.

The Cell phone, GPS, and radio stations are all well done and add to the experience. Go on and take a look at the city streets and see what awaits you in Liberty City.

Sex and Violence shows up in a lot of games these days, some more than others... some a lot more than others I might stress. So why is this the case then? It really wasn't quite like this back in my childhood days and with the games I grew up with and played.

Back in the early 80's, a series of games entered the market called Leisure Suit Larry and the gaming world had changed forever. You can just imagine what the game was like from the photo above. This was leaps and bounds different from the simple games I use to play. Now this screen capture is a lot later in the line of games, but the subject matter is the same.

So how did games change from there to where they are now? The only thing I can really think to say, is we grew up and a lot of us create the games now. What does that say then? Well we are adults for one thing and it seems some of the adult subject matter we like, turns up in the games we want to play and create now.

Start looking a lot more at the game ratings and you'll learn more about what they have to offer inside, but at the same time, those games have different degrees of the content with in them. Take Viva Pinata for example. Hold on now... yes it is rated E for everyone, still if you've ever played this Family Friendly game, then you'll know about the "romancing" and yes the Piñata's don't always get along. No I'm not talking out right sex and blood shed here, but still you have to explain what they mean by "romancing" and why fighting is not always the answer and how sometimes people don't get along. You thought you just built a garden here? For the most part you do.

Jump to Fable, an RPG favorite among gamers and Yes violence and Yes Sexual situations. Thankfully its more language and then they fade to black and bring on the moaning. Point is games vary and we have some adult situations to deal with and these are not games for all kids. Yes some kids can handle more than others and the ratings are in place as a guide to help you make the decisions you feel are best.

Is it really needed though? In a lot of cases... more and likely not, but we are talking about developers that grew up playing games and now create them. Adults now and as adults, we don't all sit around and watch Wow Wow Wubbzy and want our games to be as innocent and geared towards kids.

I still find myself looking at some games, with the mild violence and have to decide if the title is alright from my kids to look at and play. I for one don't want my kids getting wound up and aggressive from action on the screen. Graphics are leaps and bounds better then Atari Combat and look more realistic. Plus the games have story lines that can go as far to the extreme as an episode of the Sopranos.

As consumers, we can only hope that the more kid friendly games come out and we need to look for titles like this and enjoy them with our kids, after all these are the future gamers of the world and I sure hope we are never going to sit down with a 6 year old and have them play GTAX. Should games with adult subject matter be created? Yes to a degree and I think its fine, but they could be toned down some perhaps. At least with GTAIV, you don't have to do all the things possible in the game. In other words, just because you can doesn't mean you should always.

What I do wonder is what magical worlds could be created for kids with some of the talent being used for these adult games.

  An official headset is not needed for your controller; any standard 2.5 mm socket handsfree set from a mobile phone will work as a headset on Live. However, not all hands free headsets have volume control or mute functions.

A new buddy to Xbox Live was in need of a headset and we were looking around at Best Buy. It was then I noticed the new headset they are selling looked different to me. I told the sales, guy this really doesn't look anything like what I have.

It was then he told me the extra parts are more or less for extra securing to the controller only. Then the light bulb went off. My buddy more and likely has an old hands free head set laying around. A quick search back on google and answer was in hand. Looks like he'll be testing and able to join in soon enough now.

Retail Sales of Grand Theft Auto IV Top $500 Million in First Week

New York, NY – May 7, 2008 – Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), said today that Grand Theft Auto IV has surpassed all-time entertainment records for day one and week one sales by dollar value. Released on Tuesday, April 29th, Grand Theft Auto IV, the critically acclaimed video game, has sold through to consumers approximately 6 million units globally with an estimated retail value of more than $500 million in the first week. Grand Theft Auto IV sold approximately 3.6 million units on its opening day with a retail value of approximately $310 million globally.

"We knew Grand Theft Auto IV would break new ground in terms of the player's experience, with its compelling story line, extraordinary gameplay and action that ranges over a broad urban canvas. Now, it has broken sales and rating records as well. Grand Theft Auto IV's first week performance represents the largest launch in the history of interactive entertainment, and we believe these retail sales levels surpass any movie or music launch to date. We congratulate the entire Rockstar team on creating a must-have experience that takes the legendary Grand Theft Auto franchise to a new level," said Strauss Zelnick, Chairman of Take-Two.

"Rockstar's goal is to make each new title in the Grand Theft Auto franchise even better than those that preceded it, and Grand Theft Auto IV is a smashing success on that score. Grand Theft Auto IV makes full use of the power of next generation technology, and offers players an experience unique in the interactive entertainment medium. This game sets a new standard in the industry, with critics hailing it as both an artistic and technological masterpiece," said Ben Feder, Take-Two's Chief Executive Officer.
Developed by series creator Rockstar North, Grand Theft Auto IV for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system is rated "M" for Mature. For more information, log onto www.rockstargames.com/IV.