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Gamemonger, the home of news about gaming and all things related to gaming. Endeavouring to bring you almost-objective news in a near-timely fashion. Will predominately be about PC-related games, but if anyone has a suggestion for a good console article, just let me know!

Christmas Gaming Ideas - Part II

November 28th 2007 11:30
Time for some more Christmas gaming ideas, what with December only a few days away. Can't leave it too late, can we...

Trade & Save - It may seem like an unusual idea, but it could save you a few hard earned dollars. Have a close look at your old games or, dare I say it, your kids old games, and ask the important questions. Do you still need them? Do you still play them? If the answer is no to both, then what better way to improve your chances of playing Call of Duty 4 or Need for Speed Pro Street this holiday season than trading in your old titles towards them.

You've got a few options, though, so don't go rushing. EBGames will get you some way towards it, as will GAME. But consider an alternative or two. If you're yet to hear of them, Gametraders is a good place to start. These guys sell everything you can think of, new and old, NES to Wii and more. Better yet, you can trade in your really old and rare titles for fair prices, something you can't do at your regular game store.


And then there's JB Hi-Fi, who recently joined in the trade-in hype. Here's the cool thing, you can trade in towards anything in the store. So if you're tired of gaming, why not trade towards the latest Stargate DVD collection. Cool, huh? What's better, the second hand prices are far nicer to the hip pocket than EB, so if you're looking for a cheaper way to pick up a Wii, 360 or PS2 title, JB's a good place to look.

Platinum Titles - For all the recent releases, there's an absolute ton of classics out there that shouldn't be left out of your collection. Whether it be PS2, Xbox, GBA or PC, there's plenty of great content to get your teeth into, and at a far cheaper price. Remember, cheap doesn't mean bad. It all depends on what you're interested in and what you've already played. If you're new to gaming, don't let the older graphics design of, say, Diablo II or Advance Wars cramp your style. If anything, they're as good if not better than much of this years releases. Think of them as stocking fillers ... but if you're getting it for someone else, better make sure they haven't played it in secret when they should have been studying.


Sales, Sales, Sales - Ok, so you don't have anything to trade and you want to spend some time on Assassin's Creed. Well, you're next best idea is the obvious one ... shop around. Don't get all lazy and spend the full retail price at EB for a game that you can easily get for $20 less at another location. Your best bets are JB (of course) and Big W, but as it's the season to be jolly, you might get lucky at Kmart, Myer, EB and GAME. Just always be on the lookout for those catalogues.

And don't forget online either. Stores have a habit of running out of stock just when you need it, so if you can't find what you're looking for, check out JB Online, DVD Crave and, hell why not, EBay.
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The Real Election - Mario vs Sonic

November 22nd 2007 10:58
Ok, so it isn't an election, but as of today, the fight to be crowned the greatest of all time begins ... kinda.

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games officially launched today on Nintendo Wii, the first time both classic mascots have met face to face in an official title. It's all based around changing the face of those old Olympic based video games that no-one ever played, you know the ones? With all the sports that never translated well?

So why call it the real election? Well, if you're a gamer like me, you're bound to have asked yourself the ultimate question ... who would win? Mario or Sonic? At least now, instead of endless arguments over whether the fire flower is stronger than a chaos emerald, here you discover who jumps higher, who runs faster, and who plays stronger.

Mario & Sonic
For the record, my vote goes to Mario...


But it doesn't end there. Next year a DS specific version of the game will hit store shelves featuring a number of exclusive sports. And then, don't forget, there's the royal rumble round ... Super Smash Brothers Brawl.

So now comes the next big question. Nintendo and Sega are best buddies, as the above games attest, so let's daydream for just a moment and consider the possibility that this may not be the last time we'll see our two heroes face off. Could we see a fully fledged, next generation platform extravaganza? Yes, that's the question. Honestly, the answer should be no, probably not. But there's always Mario Kart...
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Answering the call: Ghostbusters Return

November 16th 2007 08:07
Well it's about time, that's all I can say. The Ghostbusters, an 80's classic that defined my very existence as a child, are returning ... to the game screen, no less.

The real sequel has been on again and off again so many times over the years, it's actually a little surprising that this has finally come about. Vivendi and Sony will publish the game across just about every major platform, with two teams working on two versions. Terminal Reality will work on the 360, PS3 and PC editions, while Red Fly Studio have been handed the task of bringing a more family oriented version to Wii, DS and PS2.

But the important information is, of course, the cast. Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis have all, reportedly, signed on to reprise their roles, lending both likeness and voice. Even William Atherton and Annie Potts will return, although no mention of the two other key members of the original cast, Rick Moranis and Sigourney Weaver.

And the story? Aykroyd and Ramis will pen the script once more, setting it in 90's New York. So don't expect any new characters with nuclear accelerators attached to their backs, but plenty of familiar faces in terms of the enemies they encounter.

Ghostbusters Official Screenshot
Oh Mr Stay-Puff ... how I missed you


The project makes sense. Apparently, Murray was the only original cast member not interested in another movie, but at least here he doesn't have to do much at all to take part. The rest of the cast, having aged and built up a little in the weight department, would find it hard to play to the same level of action as the originals, so just sitting back and recording a few lines in an air-conditioned studio could be classified as the easiest job any of them have ever had.

And of course, cast your mind back to rumours of Ghostbusters in Hell, a name that was thrown out there by Aykroyd at one point, revolving around the heroes finding a portal to a dull, boring and fire infested alternate version of New York. That's not to suggest this particular video game will feature that same story, but I kinda warmed to the idea ... see what I did there?

It's a shame, though, that it's taken this long to continue the story, in some way or form. I still consider the series as one of the most original and entertaining in movie history, so of course, I'm glad that the true heroes are making a comeback. But it isn't the way I'd like it to be. There's so much more that could have been done here ... but I guess it's better to have something then nothing at all, right?
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What's up, Traveller's Tales?

November 8th 2007 11:53
Warner Brothers are the new owners of TT Games, parent company to LEGO Star Wars creators, Traveller's Tales. The good news is this latest ownership news will not cease previous partnerships made by the company, namely the highly successful Star Wars series (The Complete Saga is on store shelves as of wednesday, as you know) and the upcoming LEGO Indiana Jones, another title co-developed with LucasArts.

So why the ownership? Clearly TT are onto a winning formula, and when you associate a mainly children's game developer with one of the biggest names in children's animation ... well you can see where I'm going. But in truth, why not? Everyone else is doing it


[ Click here to read more ]
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Game of the Week: November 5 - 9

November 8th 2007 11:30
I know what you're thinking. How could Gamemonger possibly find one game out of the stack of big releases this week?

Or 'How can Guitar Hero III not win


[ Click here to read more ]
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November has just begun and, taking a look at this weeks release, you'd be forgiven for thinking Christmas has come early this year ... come to think of it, Christmas came last month. I mean, who buys decorations in October?

So anyway, we've got Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Metroid Prime 3: Corruption, The Simpsons game on just about every format imaginable, Guitar Hero III (which I'll be taking a closer look at later this week), Big Brain Academy on Nintendo Wii, The Lego Star Wars is complete (another game I'll be looking into for sure), and Pro Evo returns for 2008. Hell, even Dirty Dancing is getting a release this week


[ Click here to read more ]
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Modern Games are Unadulterated Trash?

October 25th 2007 10:52
So according to Nolan Bushnell [founder of Atari and an experienced veteran of the gaming world], today's top selling, expensive titles are nothing more then 'pure, unadulterated trash.' Harsh words?

The interview on Electronic Design goes on to explain Nolan's vision of the current industry, and the future he wishes to push, quote: "A lot of video games today are very isolated. You don't see mom and dad, sister and brother, sitting down like they used to play, say, Monopoly


[ Click here to read more ]
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Gamemonger Returns

October 25th 2007 10:10
That's right folks. Gamemonger has returned. Don't fret, there's no giant shift in focus here, this is all about the biggest news the industry can throw at its audience, among a few other bits and pieces added for good measure. So sit back, relax, and enjoy reading Gamemonger. And a shout out to the sites former owner, wherever you are buddy ...
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