WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 was a terrible game I traded  to GameStop less than 24 hours after I picked it up.  You’ve probably been wondering if 2009 would be a better game and after several days of playing the new title, I now have an answer for you.

When it comes to wrestling, we haven’t seen a good option on Nintendo systems since the good old days of the N64. It looks like the dry days of bad wrestling on Nintendo may have finally come to an end. While the game is still better on the PS3, if Nintendo is your thing, the Wii version ia surprisingly good.

THQ Statement:

WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 for Wii builds upon its inaugural offering by significantly expanding its match type options, giving players more ways to enjoy the platform’s unique pick-up-and-play experience. The game also takes full combat sports entertainment to the next level by giving players more Superstar control with interactive entrances and victory scenes. WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 for Wii also includes a wide variety of new weapons, the debut of online gameplay and much more.

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written by Will Snizek \\ tags: array, Better Game, Combat Sports, Gameplay, gamer, games, Gamestop, Improvements, N64, New Additions, Next Level, Nintendo Systems, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Wii, Play Games, Smackdown Vs Raw 2008, Smackdown Vs Raw 2009, Sony PS3, Sony PS3, Sports Entertainment, Story Mode, Type Options, Wwe Smackdown, Wwe Smackdown Vs Raw, Wwe Smackdown Vs Raw 2008, Wwe Smackdown Vs Raw 2009

The standard Nintendo classic controller for the Wii is simply a piece of crap that no gamer should have to pay real money for. I have a couple and they are collecting dust in a basket on the bottom shelf of my entertainment center. CNET recently reviewed the Nyko Wing Wireless and it looks like the new “must-have” accessory for the Wii. Check out the video below…

written by Will Snizek \\ tags: Bottom Shelf, Cnet, Collecting Dust, Entertainment Center, gamer, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Wii, Piece Of Crap, Real Money

FCC will move forward with a plan to auction off airwaves to a bidder who agrees to offer free, national wireless Internet service.

We can give you all the specifics of free wi-fi, but we’re a gaming site.  And if you happen to pop onto our site, you expect to see… “Gaming News”.  We’ll, I’ll do my best to keep this post as “gaming” as possible.  The FCC is expected to finalize rules this year and could begin auctioning off airwaves in early-to-mid 2009.  By many estimates the free service will be available to 50% of the US population in four years.

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written by Juan Perez \\ tags: 3g Wireless, Apple Iphone, Broadband Services, Chairman Martin, FCC, Fcc Chairman, Free Web Access, Free Wi Fi, gamer, Gaming Device, Gaming News, Good Chance, Harmful Interference, iPhone, Kevin Martin, Mobile Gaming, Nintendo DS, Psp Firmware, Sony PSP, Specifics, Speed Limitations, spokesman, t-mobile, Us Population, Wireless Broadband Service, Wireless Internet Service, xbox live

This writer was only a few months into life when the first Mega Man hit Japan in 1987. The first conscious memory of the “blue bomber” comes in the form of Mega Man X on the SNES where “Rockman” could slide on walls and charge his never-ending shots. Mega Man 9 is the retro-culmination of a series stripped down to the fundamentals that were perfected with Mega Man 2, according to fans of wrinkly-old games. What does a gamer without the nostalgia for the series think of the game? Continue reading »

written by Carlos Macias \\ tags: 9, Accomplishment, Blue Bomber, Capcom, classic, Conscious Memory, Culmination, Cutesy, DLC, Evil Doctor, Gam, gamer, Intuitive Game, man, Man Game, mega, Mega Man 2, Mega Man X, Microsoft Xbox 360, Mm9, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo Wii, nostalgia, Old, Old Games, Premise, School, Sinister Plans, Slightest Touch, Sony PS3, Trial And Error

The issue is battered around every once in a while: Are we video game journalists or just part of an enthusiast “press?” This writer definitely falls — and believes — most of of us are under the latter term. Further cementing this belief is an essay written by John Keefer over at CrispyGamer.

Keefer goes mainly into the topic of “embargoes” which are put in place to keep video game writers in check; it gives them a timetable of when they can publish pre-release information. It’s an interesting read and one that presents a few ways we can go about legitimizing the “journalist” tag some of us are more than willing to take up.

Via Crispy Gamer

written by Carlos Macias \\ tags: crispy, embargo, enthusiast, gamer, Halo 3, journalism

It’s fairly obvious by the above image that some of us at Kezins are not big fans of the insane ramblings of Zero Punctuation. Despite our lack of positive feelings for the videos, they seem to continue their popularity. The fact that nearly every episode of Zero Punctuation makes it to the front page of Digg.com certainly says that there’s a lot of people who continue to support the series. Hopefully no one takes this too seriously. We’re just poking fun at Yahtzee who seems to poke fun at all games. If you’ve never seen one of the crazy videos we’re talking about, here’s an example:

written by Will Snizek \\ tags: com, crack, Digg, Episode, fact, fun, gamer, image, Kezins, lack, lot, page, popularity, Punctuation, Zero

We were so jealous when we found out that record-breaking Gold-medal U.S. swimmer, Michael Phelps, got an early copy of Call of Duty: World at War a few months early, that any gamer watching likely spit out most of whatever they were eating at an unsuspecting television in front of them.

MTV got to the bottom of the story recently to let us know that, in fact, Mr. Phelps received nothing but an EMPTY box. The game, apparently, hasn’t even gone gold yet! Now, the swimmer only has his share of gold medals AND records to gloat about in our faces. No wonder he seemed unfazed at the end of the following video, he knew he was being lied to all along!

Watch CBS Videos Online

All hating aside, though, Activision did promise to send him a copy of the game, free of charge, when it’s actually released.

Via MTV Multiplayer Blog (found through Kotaku)

written by Carlos Macias \\ tags: call, Copy, didn, Duty, game, gamer, Gold, Gold-medal, Medalist, Michael Phelps, Mr. Phelps, MTV, Shit, swimmer, time, US, War, world

People have been talking about a “Gamer Bill of Rights” for years and now and PC Stardock Publisher just released their idea for a bill at PAX. While I certainly think gamers need rights, I’m not so sure we need a bill of any kind. We should simply be protected like all other consumers. Here is Stardock’s bill and my opinion in blue.

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written by Will Snizek \\ tags: Bill, Candy Land, computer, download, game, gamer, Gamers, point, product, refund, release, right, Rights, Stardock, time, Type

Some may think that portable gaming already has enough puzzle games, but I believe there’s certainly room for ‘Colour Cross’, the paint-by-numbers style puzzle-strategy game for the Nintendo DS. The game by Rising Star will include 150 puzzles and should keep any casual gamer happy for many hours. The game should be on shelves in November. I have yet to see any gameplay footage, but I’m sure it’s out there somewhere. Feel free to drop a link in comments below if you know where to find it. New screens were recently sent out and we have posted them below:

written by Will Snizek \\ tags: Colour, cross, DS. The, Feel, Footage, game, Gameplay, gamer, gaming, Nintendo, November, puzzle, room, Screens, Star, Style

While we’ve been working hard on getting our own Kezins podcast up and running for a while now, you can get a taste of what’s in store for you lucky readers now. This writer got a chance to guest star over at The Gamer’s Garage podcast last week enjoying the lively conversation.

Tune in to listen to us ramble on about some of the contests the guys have coming up, Madden’s divisive IQ system, Xbox 360 price drop rumors, and other newsworthy items.

Check out the podcast here.

written by Carlos Macias \\ tags: Chance, conversation, gamer, Gamers, Garage, Guest, Kezins, podcast, Star, Stars, store, taste, tune, Week, writer