Category: Activision (Page 6 of 8)

Blizzard bends you over the customization fence…again

WoW race change.Blizzard’s unveiled its latest scheme to boost profits from World of Warcraft in the face of declining subscriptions: race change. You no longer have to traipse about Azeroth wishing you had made your warrior a Tauren. You can finally pay to get the best arena racials without buying yet another account.

The service costs $25, and only works for a change within your current faction. A faction change runs $30, though you obviously get a race change for free. Personally, this isn’t something I’d be spending money on, but it’s been a while since I’ve been in that unique state of WoW-drunk where almost anything seems reasonable.

Though I wish for the people still playing that Blizzard would lump some of these customization fees together, I also realize people are paying for this crap, so it’s hard to blame Blizzard. At least let me say, I feel for you, crackheads. It’s tough to pay for stuff like this when you’re calling off work to grind out those last few levels.

Polk jumps in on the rhythm accessory game

Polk HitMaster.Really, Polk? You used to be so respectable. None of this whoring about trying to make a dollar. Just good, quality audio equipment. Not anymore, though. It seems you’ve jumped on the Field-of-Dreamsesque “If we make it they will buy” mentality that us free-thinking types truly loathe.

Yes, folks, Polk has decided to make a ridiculous video game monitor as well for all of your video game jam sessions. As with Altec Lansing’s Stage Gig, you simply plug your console into the side of the monitor and voila, you’re transported to a world of 60-watt, rock-induced ecstasy. Coming for the holidays, an automated bra-launcher/boobie-flasher to tuck behind your TV for that authentic rock experience.

Rock Band is live in the App Store

Rock Band on the iPhone.If there’s one thing to love about Rock Band for the iPhone and iPod Touch it’s that playing the vocal part doesn’t actually involve singing. Can you imagine all the little teenies walking around acting like you’re doing something wrong by staring as they sing to themselves. Seriously, the iPhone version of the smash franchise is the inbred cousin to the real deal, bastardizing the best parts of the other games and charges too much for too little.

For starters, the game is $10. If by some freak accident you’ve not completely worn yourself out on Rock Band or finally picked up a real instrument, you just might be willing to pay that much. If you’re at all sane, though, that’s just ridiculous. You’ve heard of Tap Tap Revenge right? You know it’s $.99? Granted, you only get to play three “strings” as opposed to the four in Rock Band, but c’mon guys, it’s on your phone. It’s as far from actually playing an instrument as it gets.

If you really want this game, wait on it. I can’t imagine there will be a ton of people ready to drop $10 on such a weak game.

Band Hero demo is available on Xbox Live

Band Hero logo.When I first heard Band Hero I thought it was a joke. Shouldn’t that be “Band Heroes?” In any case, isn’t it the most terrible name for a video game ever? I just didn’t think it was real. Well, it is. As it turns out you can actually get the demo on Xbox Live.

Here’s the blurb from Major Nelson:

Band Hero features an all-star lineup of pop music featuring the best variety of classic chart-topping hits and current hot artists. This demo features Finger Eleven “Paralyzer”, Katrina & The Waves “Walking on Sunshine” and Taylor Swift “Picture to Burn”. Includes Party Play and the all-new Sing-Along mode.

I’m willing to admit that the music games usually illicit at least a tepid interest for me, but this is an exception (right along with DJ Hero). Not my kind of music, and even if it was, I might boycott in protest. Alas, it seems nothing can stop Bob Kotick and his relentless quest to swindle the masses out of every last penny we’ve got.

We just might get a Queen: Rock Band

Brian May.It’s hard to say whether Queen guitarist Brian May was joking when he called his appearance in Lego: Rock Band “the ultimate accolade, to be portrayed in Lego. My dreams are all fulfilled now.” I guess for a guy like May, though, there probably wasn’t much left on that list before he scratched off the Lego achievement. The guitarist picked up his doctorate in astronomy in 2007.

The bigger news in his recent chat with the BBC is that a Queen version of Rock Band looks pretty likely. May confirmed that the behind-the-scenes discussions are already happening and said, “Yes we’re into it, I think it may happen.” Not the strongest impression I’ve heard about such a game, but it’s definitely good news. For the friends of mine who read this, I’m going to go ahead and call mic on “Don’t Stop Me Now.” Sorry, Todd. It’s mine.

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