Well now that the maps are out, what do you think?

If you are attempting to download the new Modern Warfare Stimulus Package, might I suggest putting it on hold.

IW did their part with the pack, MS dropped the ball with the patch. Here are a few of the latest updates from the MS crew…

The Stimulus Package needs a Title Update and it didn’t go out properly. We’re pushing it out now – it won’t be long.

If you’re getting “Can’t download the update” that’s us putting the latest update in place. Excuse our dust, we’ll be done ASAP.(via @thevowel)

So sit tight kiddos and keep an eye on your twitter screens.

~~~~~~~~~~UPDATE~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for the feedback! I’m going to be sitting with production & giving you updates as they come regarding when you can expect to play. ~(via @fourzerotwo)

Right now the team (and @thevowel) is getting things in order so this will be fixed VERY soon (within hours.)~ (via @majornelson)

BTW: When I say hours, many of you may have it fixed before then. That’s a worst case scenario. Thanks to many of your for your patience. ~(via @majornelson)

~~~~~~~~~~Update~~~~~~~~~~

Alright, thanks to @thevowel and the team over at #xboxlive- the #MW2 title update is now live (just downloaded it), the DLC is good to go. (via @fourzerotwo)

Ok peeps systems should be a go as of now. For those who are still getting errors or can’t join games, be patient. They are still working on it and you are NOT the only on that has issues. Remember there is a world outside your own bedroom full of people just as pissed as you.

To start off my recap of my amazing weekend at PAX East, I would like to highlight my favorite part. There is nothing better that being surrounded by people who love the same thing you do.

Seeing people dressed up as their favorite video game characters or wearing gaming t-shirts just warmed my heart. Everywhere you looked there was someone playing a DS or a PSP. People were walking around with signs stating that they were willing to trade Pokemon. I was stopped by many a person looking to connect Pokewalkers.

I didn’t have be ashamed when breaking out my DS to play some Pokemon while waiting for the next panel. I wasn’t wary to make conversation with the people next to me. They were just as bored and happy to chat it up about how excited they are for the new games being showcased.

Sadly the weekend did come to an end, and we must all go back to our “real” lives. It was an unforgettable experience that I would do again in a heartbeat.

~~~Stay tuned the rest of this week for more PAX East recap!~~~

Sorry for the lack of updating. I have been geeking it up at PAX EAST!! So far it has been an amazing past two days. But the fun ain’t over yet. There’s still one more day of this epic gaming get together.

Stay tuned for a recap of the awesomeness this week!!

Earlier this week ign.com released an article introducing the new website GameCrush.com.

March 22, 2010 – If you’re an avid online gamer chances are you sign onto, say, Xbox Live most nights and jump into a game of Modern Warfare or Gears of War with either your friends or some random players. I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say the majority of gamers you encounter are dudes, and probably immature dudes at that. What if you could pay a bit of cash to play Modern Warfare with an attractive girl? Or maybe relax with a casual game of checkers while you video chat with said female? A new social service launching tomorrow, March 23, called GameCrush (www.GameCrush.com) is hoping there are gamers out there willing to pay for the opportunity to play with girls

As an avid online FEMALE gamer I am disgusted with the fact that this website exists. Yes, most of the time when I jump into a game of Modern Warfare 2 or Battlefield the majority of player are men. But the female gamer is not some obscure being that you only encounter in games like UNO or Viva Piñata.

Groups like the Gamerchix and the PMS clan exist and are strong in numbers. One reason why we are hard to find is because quite frankly many of the men we encounter are pigs (some not all). Female gamers tend to stick together away from people who only want to spam us with messages that are nasty and offensive.

As for the site itself, my guess is that the women on there are only trying to pass off as gamers to make a quick buck (no offense). As for the men who go there, you need to get a life. Chances are you can’t get a woman to play with you for free because you are offensive and annoying. Therefore you must pay for a woman to endure you gross innuendos and requests to see breasts.

To the women out there signing up for this site, think about how far female gamers have come in the past few years. This site is going backwards for women gamers. As for you men who can’t wait to check out the “hotties” you can play with, know this… you are no better than a men who goes out looking for a hooker on a street corner. My opinion of course.

Looking for a blast from the video game past? Check out the Xbox Live Game Room which opened today. Classic games from the 80′s are here with no quarters required (just Microsoft points).

Xbox.com

At launch, Game Room brings you a library of 30 original arcade and console classics from Activision, Atari, Intellivision, Konami, and others, including Centipede, Asteroids Deluxe, and Super Cobra shown in their original cabinets.

For the older players who were actually around for the releases of these classics, the game room is a good way to remember the “good old days”. As for the younger gamers check out what games were like before HD T.V. and high resolution graphics. It might just make you appreciate what we have now.

The actual Game Room download is free but the games within are not. After your time limit has run out on playing a game’s demo you must shell out some MP to keep playing. A one time play cost 40MP and 240MP to own the game. For the older set, it’s a price worth paying for a game you grew up on.

Don’t want to pay? Just play the demos. There are plenty of games and plenty of time to spend on the demos. Check out how things were in the “old days” of gaming.

[digg=http://digg.com/xbox/XBL_Game_Room_Aesthetically_Pleezin]

We all know that times are tough when it comes to money these days. But charging for a video game demo? Are things really that bad?

Electronic Arts is getting ready to start charging for what they call “premium” demo versions that could go for $10-$15. These demos would contain around 3-4 hours of the full version of the game.

I can say with confidence that I would never shell out any dollar amount for a fraction of a video game. And I know I’m not the only one who feels that way.

The whole point of a game demo is to play a little bit of the game before you decide to shell out the cash for the full version. Paying for a demo defeats the actual purpose of a demo!

Charging for a demo, regardless of the amount of content it holds, is taking advantage of the gaming community. Say a game like MW2 had a premium demo. Gamers everywhere would not hesitate laying down the cash to play before the release. Or it could go the other way. A terrible game has a premium demo. A handful of players would buy it and regret spending even a penny on it.

Find another way to make money EA. I’m sure there are better ways.

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Since 1996 Pokemon has been a staple for Game Boys everywhere. That being said, you would think that there would be a few more changes in the gameplay since then. Yes and no.

While I would never want the basic premises of battling, catching, and winning badges to be changed. There are a few things that would make pokemon trainers lives easier.

My first issue that I’ve had since the days of Red and Blue is the fact that each pokemon has only four moves. This doesn’t become a problem until you want to give you pokemon an HM such as CUT, SURF, or FLY. Moves that can be used outside of battle and are essential in helping you complete the game. With each pokemon limited to four moves, it can be tough to decide who gets the HM and which move you decide to forget to make room for it. My solution, an HM slot for each pokemon. A slot that can only be held by an HM and does not interfere with the other moves that pokemon has.

Another thing that never seems to change is the Safari Zone. What a primitive way to catch pokemon! Throw some bait or mud (rock in older versions), throw your safari ball, and hope for the best. Sure its a challenge but is there no better way to catch pokemon in the Safari Zone? I’m guessing not since the only change has been from throwing a rock to throwing mud.

Oh Pokemon how I will always love you but I think you could be so much better in the future.

[digg=http://digg.com/nintendo/Some_things_never_change_Aesthetically_Pleezin]

The countdown to PAX East continues. One week until I can totally geek out for an entire weekend. It’s time to touch on a few things that I am most looking forward to at this, my very first video game convention.

“Traversing the Twitterverse, and Beyond!”- A panel of some of my favorite tweeps, @majornelson, @fourzerotwo, and @XboxSupport giving gamers the low down about responding to the gaming community via social outlets such as twitter, facebook, and the forums.

“Girls and Games: The Growing Role of Women in the Game Industry”- Need I say more? The amount of women gamers out there is on the rise. Does this effect the future of gaming? What can we do to get more women into gaming?

“The Death of Print”- Being an English major and hoping to one day see my name in print, this I want to hear. I am aware that the internet is the future but I’m interested to hear what some gaming magazine editors see as the next step for their information outlet.

“So You Want to Get into the Game Industry?”- Why yes, yes I do thanks. With graduation coming up in May, this will be the perfect place to check out my options for post-grad gaming related jobs.

and of course…

“X-Play LIVE: A Show on Television”- Who doesn’t want to jump and down like an idiot just to try and get on TV? (Be on the look out for some insane girl jumping up and down waving her arms. That’s me! )

[digg=http://digg.com/gaming_news/One_Week_till_PAX_East_Aesthetically_Pleezin]

Thanks to @Jarsh019 for uncovering this find

It’s real, but still rough around the edges but…

Opinions anyone? Got the warm fuzzies with the COD4 maps. Ahhh yes the good old COD4 days.

Let me know what you think! What are you pumped for? What do you hate (besides the price)?