Some famous gaming gear just got a whole lot gearier—so which one is now the geariest?

Xbox 360
Have you logged on to Xbox LIVE lately? Microsoft has joined with Netflix to allow Gold members to watch films instantly and share movies with fellow Gold-accounters. Since it looks like Sony is winning the format war, this is an excellent way for Xbox to compete in nongaming ways—and for Microsoft to continue its quest to turn American homes into networks. The Xbox LIVE Experience, with avatars and downloadable games, hits this spring. Cost: $60 for a year of Xbox Gold, plus your Netflix subscription.

PS3
Sony thinks there’s no real reason to leave home. Or make that Home, its much anticipated online social network. It’s accessible via the Play-Station Network, and you’ll be able to create an avatar and a place to live and communicate with other gamers. It feels like a thinner Second Life, but can man survive on dominatrices alone? (Okay, yes, but that’s besides the point.) Cost: Free with purchase of the PS3, or if you already own one.

Winner:
Xbox. We’d rather shell out the dough and watch new flicks than play virtual make-believe.

Ah, fall: the changing colors of the leaves, brisk winds carrying sweater weather eastward, and more new awesome videogames than you can possibly imagine. Our pixelated preview makes sense of the madness. Part 4 of our Holiday Videogame Guide
By Rebecca Swanner

Rock Band 2 (MTV Games/EA) vs. Guitar Hero World Tour (Activision)
By adding drums and a mike, the Guitar Hero franchise looks to steal Rock Band’s spotlight. We break down the beats.

INSTRUMENTS
ROCK BAND 2
The lineup includes a faux-wood Fender guitar, microphone, and choice of drum kits. The standard
kit has a metal-reinforced bass pedal; clip-on cymbals are sold separately. The Ion kit ($300!)
comes with two large cymbals, four drums, and a bass pedal. Both are quieter than the original.

GUITAR HERO WORLD TOUR
The guitar has touch pads, so you can tap instead of strum. The drums come with cymbals,
and since the buttons are at the top of the drum kit, you won’t accidentally pause the game when
doing a fill.

CHARACTER CREATION
ROCK BAND 2
It’s similar to the original, but the same avatar can play all the instruments.

GUITAR HERO WORLD TOUR
Your avatar’s appearance and instruments’ design are fully customizable, all the way down to the
fret bars.

STANDOUT SONGS
ROCK BAND 2
AC/DC’s “Let There Be Rock”; Bob Dylan’s “Tangled Up in Blue”; “Shackler’s Revenge,” the first
single from the Guns N’ Roses album Chinese Democracy.

GUITAR HERO WORLD TOUR Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley,” Jimi Hendrix’s “The Wind Cries Mary” and “Purple Haze,” Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher.”

SPECIAL ONLINE FEATURES
ROCK BAND 2
Any songs you downloaded for Rock Band carry over.

GUITAR HERO WORLD TOUR
You can create songs and post five of them online. If the community likes your goods, you’re
allowed to add more.

THE HEADLINER

W.
Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Banks, Jeffrey Wright, Richard Dreyfuss

And who might that “W.” be, given that the director is Oliver Stone? History’s not even dry on the page, but Stone is going great guns ablazin’ with his irreverent biopic about our president’s unlikely rise to power: the drinking, drugs, gentleman’s C’s at Yale, and accidental political aspirations that landed Dubya, much like Peter Sellers in Being There, as leader of the free world. Honestly, we’d love to watch the crazy Stone of Nixon make a comeback after such timid mis fires as World Trade Center. His cast is especially promising: Expect Dreyfuss to be unhinged playing Darth Cheney, while Wright quietly holds down the film’s besieged moral center as Colin Powell. Tragedy or black comedy? If Stone is true to his subject—as well as to his own past as one of America’s boldest filmmakers—W. will have healthy doses of both.

Ah, fall: the changing colors of the leaves, brisk winds carrying sweater weather eastward, and more new awesome videogames than you can possibly imagine. Our pixelated preview makes sense of the madness. Part 3 of our Holiday Videogame Guide
By Rebecca Swanner

You may not have heard of these titles, but neither have your friends. It’s your chance
to be the leader of the pack.

MUSHROOM MEN
Gamecock (Wii, DS)
According to legend, when a comet passes by Earth, the dust it leaves behind causes Earth’s vegetation to become sentient. Mushrooms have since divided into four species-specific tribes and are engaged in a civil war. As Pax, you’ll face off against kudzu, blitz malicious rabbits, and utilize magical powers to maneuver through this fantastical world.
Good to Know: Serious weapon modification lets you turn everyday objects into crazy new tools.

FAT PRINCESS
Sony (PS3 Network)
Okay, sure, this title might be offensive to women, fatties, and anyone who never read Hansel and Gretel, but it’s still fun. There are a handful of multiplayer modes, but the one creating a buzz is “capture the flag,” in which the “flag” is a princess who’s being fattened up by the other side so
she’s harder to carry off.
Good to Know: The player-versus-player battles are superbloody and allow up to 32 gamers.

LITTLE BIG PLANET
Sony (PS3)
At first, this physics platformer might seem simple, but its strength lies in giving you the freedom and tools to create almost any kind of level you can imagine. When you’re done, fill it with characters, play through it, and share it with friends.
Good to Know: You’re able to add game-based items, including a Killzone mask.

MIRROR’S EDGE
EA (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
Remember the opening scene of Casino Royale, in which Daniel Craig’s young James Bond chased the villain on foot? That’s the kind of death-defying gameplay you’ll experience as the sexy, rebellious Faith.
Good to Know: The always-moving camera might make your friends barf if they’re watching from the side. You won’t, though, because the on-screen reticule keeps you looking straight ahead.

FLOCK
Capcom (Xbox Live, PS3, PC)
Kidnap loads of farm animals by shuffling them aboard your alien spaceship. Along the way, push the shit out of cows to destroy obstacles, shrink rams made of cotton balls by dousing them with water, and, if necessary, convince the pink ewe to mate with them.
Good to Know: The level creator allows you to build challenging puzzles or Rube Goldberg machines.

SHAUN WHITE SNOWBOARDING
Ubisoft (Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PC, Wii, DS, PSP)
There have been a handful of winter titles for the Wii, but, until now, none have lived up to our snow-filled dreams. With the integration of the Balance Board, this game responds to your small movements in surprisingly realistic ways.
Good to Know: You can almost feel your abs burning after shushing down the mountain. Just don’t expect any gold medals around your neck.

Zombies? Check. Strippers? Check. Zombie strippers? Oh, yeah. And, according to this new DVD, the undead can really dance, especially when led by Penthouse Pet Jenna Jameson.

The Plot: A secret government experiment goes awry (natch), and an infected soldier carries a zombie virus to an underground strip club. When newly undead dancers take the stage, the crowd goes wild, the money pours in, and the blood flows freely.

Buy or Rent? Rent. The film is full of spurting fluids, severed body parts, and, yes, topless actresses, so it’s great for fans of campy horror. But it’s also rife with heavy-handed political rhetoric, annoyingly existential strippers, and forced humor that’s not as funny as it should or could be.

Added Value? The Bluray version has a pop-up fact track and additional gory scenes.

Ah, fall: the changing colors of the leaves, brisk winds carrying sweater weather eastward, and more new awesome videogames than you can possibly imagine. Our pixelated preview makes sense of the madness. Part 2 of our Holiday Videogame Guide
By Rebecca Swanner

Last fall, we experienced the excellent bloodbaths known as Halo de3, BioShock, and Call of Duty 4. Here’s a quick rundown of this year’s most compelling shooters.

WARTIME COMBAT

CALL OF DUTY: WORLD AT WAR
Activision (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, DS)
Despite the success of COD: Modern Combat, it’s back to World War II; you play an American soldier battling the Japanese on a lone island in the Pacific, and a Russian soldier fighting the powerful German army.
Good to Know: Bullets blast through wooden objects and a flamethrower has been added to your arsenal.

COMMAND AND CONQUER: RED ALERT 3
EA (Xbox 360, PC)
The story goes that the Soviet Union developed a time machine, assassinated Albert Einstein, and World War II never happened. As a result, the communist state became the world’s biggest superpower. It’s your job to take it down.
Good to Know: Since the game’s not based in reality, they can get away with all kinds of weaponry, including using electrocuting Tesla coils, armored bears, and stealthy dolphins.

HORROR SHOW
SILENT HILL: HOMECOMING
Konami (Xbox 360, PS3)
You play Alex Shepherd, who’s lost his brother. With few clues to go on, Alex searches for his brother in the lovely little town known as Silent Hill. You don’t need to see the creepy little kids that dart across the screen to know his search isn’t going to end well.
Good to Know: The iconic characters are back, along with the freaky nurses and some gross, oversize bugs.

LEFT 4 DEAD
Valve/EA (Xbox 360, PC)
This offers intense co-op multiplayer combat as you plow through hordes of hungry zombies. Thankfully, you’ve got an assload of ammo, so as long as you stick with the group, you should live.
Just keep your finger on the trigger.
Good to Know: This is nothing like standing around waiting to pick off cans at an arcade game. There are thousands of zombies, and your only route to survival is to hone your squad skills.

DEAD SPACE
EA (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
When Isaac Clarke (read: you) boarded a deep-space mining ship to fix its communication
system, he didn’t expect everyone on the ship to be dead or to have to annihilate all of the aliens
on board. (And really, who would?) If he wants to survive, he’s got to use his limited firepower,
jetpack, and telekinetic skills.
Good to Know: There is no heads-up display, so nothing gets in the way of the superb graphics.

ALIEN INVASION
RESISTANCE 2
Sony (PS3)
After decimating Europe, the Chimera turned their focus to eliminating North America, so you’ll fight battles in familiar cities like Chicago and San Francisco. The monsters come in bigger sizes (cue the Leviathan) and have infected civilians, transforming them into fast-moving zombies known as the Grim.
Good to Know: You can now blow off enemy body parts one leg at a time.

GEARS OF WAR 2
Microsoft (Xbox 360)
The Locusts—a race of brutal, gruesome beings from outer space—continue to buzz about, so Marcus Fenix and his compatriot Dominic Santiago launch an offensive attack and take on the alien vermin from underground.
Good to Know: Two new heavy weapons help you obliterate your foes. Also, you’ll get bonuses for the achievements you earned in the original.

Ah, fall: the changing colors of the leaves, brisk winds carrying sweater weather eastward, and more new awesome videogames than you can possibly imagine. Our pixelated preview makes sense of the madness. Part 1 of our Holiday Videogame Guide
By Rebecca Swanner

Sequel Central
Who says the second, or third, or tenth addition to a franchise isn’t as good as the original?

FALLOUT 3
Bethesda (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
Of all the titles coming this season, Fallout 3 is the one we’re most looking forward to. The roleplaying game takes the franchise in a new direction from the last core release ten years ago, mostly by featuring way more action. After you customize your character and leave Valve 101 in search of your father, you’ll interact with angry civilians, traverse the vast postapocalyptic world, and learn how to fight using the targeted system (because just trying to shoot enemies using your sniper skills has wretched results).
Good to Know: Though little has been said on the game’s length, keep in mind that it was developed by the same folks who brought you the rich role-playing game Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

CASTLEVANIA: ORDER OF ECCLESIA
Konami (DS)
After two successful releases—Portrait of Ruin and Dawn of Sorrow—the franchise is ready for a third go-round as a 2-D platformer. This story follows Shanoa, a magician who can absorb glyphs that enable her to cast different spells and attacks.
Good to Know: We finally get to leave the main castle and go for a nice little stroll outside … on our way to another castle.

SAINTS ROW 2
THQ (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
In this sandbox game packed with gangs and guns, your customized member of the Saints has just emerged from a long coma and is out for revenge against the gang who attempted to knock him off. You’ll be able to use human shields and control vehicles in the open world with the PS3’s Sixaxis.
Good to Know: The co-op mode lets you wreak havoc on the city with the help of a friend.

BIOSHOCK
2K (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
This year, PS3 owners can try to survive the underwater world of Rapture, where surgically enhanced Splicers and armored Big Daddies roam. Guns and plasmids, which let you shoot fire, ice, and other deadly elements from your hands, should help you do just that.
Good to Know: The trophies and downloadable content for the PS3 are different from—and expand on—those for the Xbox 360.

BLITZ: THE LEAGUE II
Midway (Xbox 360, PS3)
Blitz is the anti-Madden. Because it’s not sanctioned by the NFL, you get to enjoy a much more violent game of football. No refs, no penalties, and more wicked injuries than the ER on St. Paddy’s Day.
Good to Know: You’re treated to mini movies of the injuries from inside the human body, so when you crush your opponent’s testicles, don’t be surprised if you’re the one feeling squeamish.

MOTORSTORM: PACIFIC RIFT
Sony (PS3)
MotorStorm was the first game that showed the PS3’s graphic capabilities to their best advantage. Here, the revved-up racing action takes place on a tropical island filled with lava pools and thick vegetation that will be trouble for your tires.
Good to Know: The racing title supports split-screen multiplayer and the ability to squash your opponents with monster trucks.

MORTAL KOMBAT VS. DC UNIVERSE
Midway (Xbox 360, PS3)
This new edition of Mortal Kombat stars such classic franchise characters as Sub-Zero opposite DC Comics’ heroes and villains. You can use Superman’s flying skills, Catwoman’s whip, or Batman’s gadgets in the all-new, vertically enhanced fighting arenas.
Good to Know: Since many of the DC peeps don’t kill their enemies, the game doesn’t have actual fatalities, but it does have brutalities.

TOMB RAIDER: UNDERWORLD
Eidos (Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, DS)
In the first TR game built specifically for next-gen systems, Lara Croft is on the hunt to retrieve Thor’s hammer before it falls into the wrong hands and civilization gets destroyed. Her improved grappling hook, digital camera, sticky grenades, and tranquilizer darts will help.
Good to Know: Thanks to gameplay improvements and Croft’s scuba gear, you glide gracefully through the water instead of careening like a buffalo.

FAR CRY 2
Ubisoft (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
You’re a mercenary who has to stop a civil war in Africa by assassinating an arms dealer. You get a
choice of characters, and the ones you don’t select become your allies. Once they die, they’re gone for good and you’re on your own. Your character is the only one that can respawn.
Good to Know: The world is sprawling, allowing for long adventures, but you’ve got excellent maps.

PRINCE OF PERSIA
Ubisoft (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)
This action-adventure game has gotten a visual makeover, with graphics that resemble 3-D concept art. As usual, you have to harness the prince’s hardcore acrobatic skills as you move through the nonlinear world, but this time your purpose is to strip it of its darkness.
Good to Know: Your partner Elika will help you and catch your clumsy ass if you don’t nail a jump.

WORLD OF WARCRAFT: WRATH OF THE LICH KING
Blizzard (PC, Mac)
This second expansion to the WoW universe will keep you entertained with a raised level cap, the new
continent of Northrend to explore, and umpteen new spells, weapons, and collectibles. It feels good to be a pack rat.
Good to Know: Finally, Warcraft has added the Hero class of the death knight, and he’ll be open to players who are above level 55.

NBA LIVE 09
EA (Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, Wii, PSP)
The game updates players’ stats daily, impacting how they move and react, and puts them on the disabled list (or the opposing team) when real life calls for it. Other improvements include enhanced two man-game features and the ability to maneuver around more easily.
Good to Know: Create your own reel and make your personal ESPN highlight show.

NBA 2K9
2K (Xbox 360, PS3, PS2)
Instead of relying on the characteristics of the real players, 2K9 lets you make adjustments to a player’s personality, ambition, and role on the team to suit your mood. True five-on-five online play means each man is controlled by a different gamer.
Good to Know: The new “Shot Stick” mechanic makes it possible to adjust your shot in midair, improving your percentages.

(Rockstar) Xbox 360, PS3, PSP
Rating:

Odds are you’re never going to drag race on the Sunset Strip. But in the newest edition of the high-octane Midnight Club series, you’ll be able to race to the finish line on streets that are usually jammed with road-rage-inspiring bumper-to bumper traffic.

Rockstar’s San Diego development team has faithfully recreated the City of Angels so each neighborhood has a distinct feel. Flash your headlights to start racing a rival hot rod and speed through the streets of Hollywood or Santa Monica, or along the unending web of freeways. As you do, you’re sure to recognize real-world landmarks, such as the Capitol Records Building and the giant Hollywood sign planted in the hills. (Unfortunately, you can’t pull a Led Zeppelin and tear through the Chateau Marmont.)

The features here stay true to the series; you can spend forever (in a good way) customizing everything
on your Audi RS6, Lamborghini Gallardo, Ford Mustang Boss 302 … or any of the other 40-plus cars. Trick out your ride with parts made by world-class manufacturers, and super features, such as invisibility
and EMP, which shoots an electromagnetic pulse that shuts down all the surrounding vehicles. If you fuck up your car in a race, work out the dents and body blows with a quick fix that repairs everything but the surface scratches.

Gentlemen, start your insanely jacked engines!

(Lucas Arts)
Xbox 360, PS3, Wii
Rating:

Sometimes being bad is really, really good. To wit: In this epic Star Wars title, you play Darth Vader’s protégé and show those pesky Jedis who’s boss. Hint: It ain’t Tony Danza.

Rocks:
Using the Force to hurl objects or electrocute your enemies. Crazy awesome combo attacks. Wielding the Wii as a lightsaber (geekgasm!). Your character is more complex than he at first appears, and you’ll find some exciting plot twists as you progress.

Flops:
Fans have been mumbling unhappily about the continuity and storyline because the game has multiple endings.

(Microsoft)
Xbox 360

The original Fable was supposed to be a groundbreaking open-world action role-playing game that followed a main character through his or her entire life. But the primary story was pretty short, and such games as Oblivion stole the show. Now creator Peter Molyneux is back for a rematch, with a title set 500 years after the original.

Rocks:
The game is more involved (and longer), there is an offline co-op mode, and you can make it much darker, depending on how wickedly you play your character. There’s tons of new weaponry and sex to be had.

Flops:
No voyeur vision, as the shtupping is off screen.

(Lucas Arts)Xbox 360, PS3
Rating:

As demolition expert Jet Brody in this first-person shooter, you carry the Entrencher, a device that shifts the ground to create walls between enemies.

Rocks:
This has many features we’ve seen before—Earth-invading aliens, a hearty arsenal of high-tech weapons—but it keeps your adrenaline pumping nonetheless. Squashing enemies by suddenly creating a mountain underneath them and ramming them into the ceiling is a blast, if slightly sadistic.

Flops:
Does the game hold up after hours of digging holes and building dirt mounds? We’re not so sure.

(Sega)
Xbox 360, PS3

When Golden Axe debuted in 1989, the side-scrolling action title contained plenty of gore and roaring
beasts to ride. After three mostly unsuccessful sequels, the series was laid to rest. Now it’s back with
more mature material, featuring dismemberment and—hello!—nudity.

Rocks:
The Amazon heroine Tyris Flare is much cuter than she was when she was only eight bits. The gnomes from the original return in four different variations that you can thwack for cold hard cash. The beast quotient is high.

Flops:
The graphics aren’t spectacular, we miss some of the original characters, and there’s no multiplayer function.