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X-Play's Best of 2008 Awards!

X-Play is proud to present its Best of 2008 Awards on Tuesday, December 9th, at 8PM ET. This sixth annual awards program will highlight the best in gaming throughout the year. '
"It seems commonplace to expect and find every year to improve on the one before," says Adam Sessler, Host and Managing Editor, "X-Play." "But the level of sophistication and depth found in 2008's standout titles are truly extraordinary."
"Every year, it gets tougher and tougher to pick the winners," says Morgan Webb, Host, “X-Play.” "This year was no exception and we had to really challenge ourselves to whittle down the list of nominees to come up with the best of the best."
Game of the Year
- Fable 2
- Fallout 3
- Gears of War 2
- Grand Theft Auto IV
- Left 4 Dead
- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
- Resistance 2
Check out the rest of the categories and nominees after the jump.
Most Original Game
- Boom Blox
- Braid
- LittleBigPlanet
- Mirror's Edge
- No More Heroes
- The World Ends With You
Best Gameplay Innovation
- "Level creation/sharing" - LittleBigPlanet
- "AI Director" - Left 4 Dead
- "Objective-based multiplayer" - Resistance 2
- "Voice command" - Tom Clancy's EndWar
- "Right stick combat" - Too Human
- "Public quests" - Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
Best Multiplayer Game
- Gears of War 2
- Left 4 Dead
- Madden NFL 09
- Resistance 2
- Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
- Too Human
Best Action/Adventure Game
- Dead Space
- God of War: Chains of Olympus
- Grand Theft Auto IV
- No More Heroes
- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Best Sports Game
- FIFA 09
- Hot Shots Golf: Out of Bounds
- NBA 2K9
- NHL 09
- Madden NFL 09
Best Shooter
- Call of Duty: World at War
- Far Cry 2
- Gears of War 2
- Left 4 Dead
- Resistance 2
Best RPG
- Fable 2
- Fallout 3
- Persona 4
- Tales of Vesperia
- The World Ends With You
Best New Character
- The dog - Fable 2
- Niko Bellic - Grand Theft Auto IV
- Sackboy - LittleBigPlanet
- Drebin 893 - Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
- Travis Touchdown - No More Heroes
Best Art Direction
- Fable 2
- Fallout 3
- Far Cry 2
- LittleBigPlanet
- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
- Prince of Persia
Best Animation
- Grand Theft Auto IV
- Left 4 Dead
- NBA 2K9
- Madden NFL 09
- Prince of Persia
- Resistance 2
Best Writing
- Grand Theft Auto IV
- Fable 2
- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
- No More Heroes
- The Witcher: Enhanced Edition
Best Original Soundtrack
- Gears of War 2
- Mirror's Edge
- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
- No More Heroes
- Resistance 2
Best Sound Design
- Battlefield: Bad Company
- Condemned 2: Bloodshot
- Dead Space
- Fable 2
- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Best Downloadable Content
- Burnout Paradise - bikes/map expansion
- Call of Duty 4 - maps
- Rock Band 2 - DLC songs
- Team Fortress 2 - class upgrades
- Warhawk - PSN expansions
Best New Downloadable Game
- Bionic Commando Rearmed
- Braid
- Geometry Wars 2
- Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty
- Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
- World of Goo
Best Strategy Game
- Advance Wars: Days of Ruin
- Galactic Civilizations 2: Twilight of the Arnor
- Sins of a Solar Empire
- Tom Clancy's EndWar
- Valkyria Chronicles
Best Racing Game
- Burnout Paradise
- GRID
- Mario Kart Wii
- MotorStorm: Pacific Rift
- Pure
Best Music/Rhythm Game
- Audiosurf
- Guitar Hero: Aerosmith
- Guitar Hero World Tour
- Patapon
- Rock Band 2
Best Handheld Game
- Chrono Trigger DS
- God of War: Chains of Olympus
- Patapon
- Professor Layton and the Curious Village
- The World Ends With You
Best M-M-O
- Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures
- Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning
- World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
X-Play: 'FIFA 09' Review
The FIFA franchise is back with its illustrious 09 edition in FIFA Soccer 09. They look like real soccer players, I mean, they're wearing jerseys and everything.
X-Play has done you the kindness of playing FIFA Soccer 09 and giving it a score in what we like to call a "review." You can watch the fruits of their labor below and, by doing so, learn if FIFA is your cup of tea or not.
Click here to read the written review.
UK Drops to Five in World of Games
While the UK may crank out some of the most innovative video game producers in the world, their game industry has fallen behind Canada, China and Korea to place fifth in global rankings.
They're losing some of the best minds to others because many independent development studios have closed, or foreign companies have nabbed these studios, as well as their intellectual property.
NESTA's chief executive, Jonathan Kestenbaum, recommends his government can do much to improve this slump.
He proposes "a simplified research and development tax credit system and to focus on the development of skills, citing that only 18 per cent of graduates from specialist courses end up working in the industry."
If you want to stay on top, you have to play serious ball.
The South Korean government boldly announced recently that they planned to pump $235.9 million in their country's computer gaming industry.
Come on, England. You can bring it, too.
Our intrepid Attack of the Show host, Kevin Pereira, stopped by CNN to tell them what's worth picking up in the world of games and gadgets this Holiday season, and we've got the video for you to enjoy right here. Check out what Kevin has to say about Left 4 Dead, Fallout 3, and more!
X-Play's got a whopper of a show for you tonight at 8 PM ET! First of all, it's an hour long. All good things, as you know are exactly one hour long. What? That doesn't make sense? Too bad. Moving on...
First of all, we've got a Hands On with the new game Champions Online, including stimulating conversation with the game's Design Director, Bill Roper. And that's just the beginning! We've also got a Preview of the Ghostbusters game (there is no Dana, only Zuul), a look at awesome user-made Unreal Tournament III mods for the PlayStation 3, some comedy that is certifiably hilarious, and finally, we sit down wtih Ben Fritz from Variety to talk about video game movies.
Oh and of course, there's Gaming Update, hosted by the remarkably talented Blair Herter. Today, he brings you the good word on all the GTA IV PC performance issues, Microsoft's take on free friendship, all the latest and greatest downloadable content, plus, the latest news on the new Metal Gear Solid game.
Click below for a little preview of the Metal Gear story...


BOOYA! Tune in tonight at 8 PM ET for the whole shabang!
Blair Herter is one pretty lucky fella. Not only does he get to play video games for a living, but sometimes he gets to talk with super hot girls as a result. To whit: Mr. Herter does you all a solid by occupying the time of one Alison Carroll, otherwise known as the live-action Lara Croft, and talking to her about her craft.
Check out the video, and try not to drool all over your screen.
Watch Larger Version of this Video
But wait! There's more!
If you're into still photos you can look at for a long, long time, we have this exclusive photo gallery of Ms. Carroll, as well.
Declare your gritty independence as THQ and Volition unleash new media for Red Faction: Guerrilla. Set 50 years after the conclusion to the original Red Faction, Guerrilla looks to not only further push the envelope of destructible-enivornment-gameplay but utterly destroy the concept of an envelope or anything that will ever resemble a container to hold letters.
Don't believe me? After you're done with the trailer feast your eyes on a Direct-Feed video (after the cut) of the carnage. My motto: if its in the game let me blow it up. What are your thoughts on the Red Faction Geo-Mod game mechanics and how they'll affect gameplay in a next-gen installment?
Red Faction: Guerrilla ships to the PS3 and Xbox 360 February 9th with the PC version coming later in 2009.
Red Faction: Guerrilla Story Trailer
Red Faction: Guerrilla Direct-Feed Gameplay
You can file this one under: Milking it for all its worth. But I'm not complaining--as I'm a huge fan.
Warner Bros. Pictures has confirmed that The Dark Knight will be re-released on January 23, 2009 in theaters and IMAX for "moviegoers to experience it on the big screen as it was meant to be seen."
I told you earlier this week that The Dark Knight has become the best-selling movie download on iTunes this year. It's also not even on DVD yet.
For all intents and purposes, it's not a shabby way for Warner Bros. to get old man Oscar to give this movie a possible nod for some Academy Awards.
The re-release will definitely push the film's gross earnings to over $1 billion, as it currently stands at a wopping $996.1 million.
Holy atomic capitalism!
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What idiot is going to buy a Nintendo DS for £100.00 ($147.030 USD)--which is how much they generally sell for in the UK--when you can buy one for £40 ($58.81 USD)?
But at the risk of your life, you may want to reconsider the price difference.
HM Revenues & Customs in the UK are warning gamers to be cautious about buying Nintendo DS and DS Lite consoles from websites based in Asia that claim "genuine Nintendo products."
Not only have the HMRC confirmed these consoles to be counterfeit, but the accompanying power adaptor supplies aren't Nintendo manufactured either.
Customs nabbed imported bogus game consoles at UK freight depots with contraband power adaptors.
The danger of these phonies pose a grave problem. They aren't electronically tested to meet UK safety standards so a whole lot can potentially go wrong, posing serious hazards.
What's the moral of the story?
You get what you pay for.
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Ah, used-game sales -- one of the most polarizing facets of the gaming business. In general, consumers love that used games are available and publishers universally loathe the fact. This week's used-game hate comes from Atari, which had not one, but two executives proclaiming that used games are evil. Ars-Technica quotes Atari CEO David Gardner as saying:
"Obviously, it has economically been extremely painful for the industry...the publishers don't benefit."

Atari president Phil Harrison also chimes in:
"There's no doubt that second hand games sales has a macro-economic impact on the industry and a lot of people get miserable about it."
I strongly disagree that "publishers don't benefit" from used-game sales. That's just garbage. Certainly the publisher doesn't benefit as much, but it still gains brand awareness and valuable marketing, as well as an opportunity to sell downloadable content. Developer Soren Johnson recently listed several positive aspects of used-game sales. Gardner also dismisses the benefit to retailers and consumers when he says that used games have "been extremely painful for the industry". That's just a narrow and publisher-centric view. Every publisher needs retailers to perform strongly. Every publisher needs consumers that know their games. Used games do very well for outlets like GameStop and they also allow customers to experience games they otherwise could not afford.
Hmph. Atari has me all grumpy now. All the coolness it gained by partnering with Q Entertainment has been negated by the comments above. (I'll get over it by Monday.)
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Welcome to the Tech News Countdown, temporarily hosted by Blair Herter. Every Friday (except this one), Alison Haislip brings you the top 5 tech stories of the week so be sure to watch the show. Otherwise, Blair Herter will only grow more and more powerful, eventually taking over the world.
This week Blair brings you the latest on an experimental anti-missile defense involving flying lasers, a new military surveillance device that looks like an airborne keg, Apple's trouble with malware, a naughty judge caught disabling internet filters, and the real-life Lancer.
Here now, is the Tech News Countdown.
Give it a watch and tell us what you think in the comments section. You can also cast your opinion in the Tech News Countdown forum.
Subscribe to G4's Tech News Countdown Podcast by clicking your preferred service:
This dude on YouTube made a love song about Mario Kart. The surprising element here is some level of musical talent, and the song's considerable lack of suckiness.
The Third verse is my favorite: "The blue shell is coming / so I'll go ahead / If you hang behind / it'll hit me instead / but never look back / cause I'm down but not dead / I'll catch up to you." Heehee!
Click the "read more" link for another awesome video: a (seemingly dangerous and illegal) real-life enactment of Mario Kart, with plenty of man-throwing-banana-under-moving-vehicle action.
Like the love song, this video is a sweet homage to Mario Kart. Perfect banana drop at 0:38!

Video game developer and publisher, Namco Bandai, has formed a new studio called SURGE. It's also going to be a publishing label.
NB's press release says SURGE will target "the appetite of western gamers."
Thus, their first new game, due out January 27, 2009 is called Afro Samurai. It's just what is sounds like, too--"blends urban hip hop culture with traditional Japanese aesthetics."
As with the anime series, Samuel L. Jackson will reprise his role again, as the title character and lay down the voice.
It's a wonder if SURGE plans on continuing with RZA, from Wu-Tang Clan to score the music, as he did with the series.
The game will be available for Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.
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X-Play presents the Gears of War 2 parody, Grains of War. Starring Cole Train!
Sometimes it's hard to find a breakfast cereal that fits your specific needs. For example, anything with Bran in it is for your parents. Kashi is for hippies and your yoga-loving sister. Frosted Flakes are for Michael Phelps. Trix are for kids, obviously.
So what do you, the torque bow-slinging game warrior, leave the cereal aisle with?
The new hit cereal Grains of War, of course! Check out the commercial below and prepare for awesome.
It's Semper-Sci-Fidelis as THQ and Relic drop some Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II screens and a new trailer profiling the tactically dynamic assortment of The Blood Raven Space Marines. Furthering the work of past Relic games this RTS sets out to maintain its elite, specialized squad gameplay in lieu of a massive zerg of units for victory.
Let the chainsaw swords and "For the Emperor" cheering commence, this baby ships early 2009 for the PC.
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II The Blood Ravens Profile
It’s an avalanche of comic reviews, people! Yes, due to the Thanksgiving holiday royally tweaking the comic book release schedule over the last few weeks, host Blair Butler had a large, looming stack of goodies to cover and she does it all right here!! Right now!
So this week Blair hit Umbrella Academy #1, The Hulk #8, Battlefield: The Nightwitches #2, Batman #681 and #682, Secret Invasion #8 and The Sword #13. Plus, we delve into the shocking and gory sophomore edition of Crossed, and the standalone X Men Noir. See, told ya there was a lot of comics this week!
Which one made Pick of the Week? Did Blair skip any important comics? Do you agree with her comments? Well, jump in the Fresh Ink Online Forums and voice your opinion, dammit!
Enjoy…and make sure to look us up Facebook and MySpace. We like friends.
Midway Games' problems just keep mounting. They may possibly default on a $240 million debt.
The video game company was recently purchased by a private investor, Mark Thomas for a ridiculously low price of $100,000 (he also assumed their $70 million in debt) when Sumner Redstone decided to dump his 87% controlling stake.
In a regulatory filing that the company submitted, it allows for bondholders to get repayment of their $150 million, which obviously Midway doesn't have.
Wait, it gets worse..
Midway defaulting on their bondholders allows Redstone's holding company, National Amusements, to then request for immediate payment of their $90 million revolving credit.
Of course, Midway doesn't have this either.
In spite of all this, Midway insists that it's business as usual, and they're on schedule to release games--even planning to go beyond next year.
Perhaps determination and a little gumption is what they need, because it's looking pretty bleak for these guys.
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The folks who run Gmail are feeling mighty chipper these days. They're offering to send you free Gmail-themed stickers. There's a variety of bookplate style stickers, envelopes, and even Gmail shortcut stickers for your keyboard.
The catch? Well, there is no "catch" at all, so much as there is a "kicker." That being, you have send your requests via snail mail. (And trust me, the irony is apparently not lost on them either.) So, if you haven't sent something out via an envelope since you mailed out that penny taped to a form to get your "30 free CD's" from Columbia House, then this will be nice retro treat for you. Be sure to check out the source link for all the available info.
Google and Facebook have each separately ventured into starting their own versions of a new feature involving data portability programs. What does that mean? Google Friends Connect and Facebook Connect will allow you to use information that is contained on your Google or Facebook accounts to login to sites requiring accounts. It will also allow a more seamless port of social networking info to different sites such as profile info and photos. The initiative is designed to cut down on the myriads of usernames and passwords that we all most certainly possess. For example, using the Googles Friends Connect feature on a compatible site, means that you will be able to enter using either your Google, AOL, or Yahoo username and password.
One could either view this as a humongous convenience or a big victory for identity thieves. Undoubtedly, as more usernames and passwords pile up in your mind, it's becoming increasingly difficult to keep track of things online. At some point, keeping things consolidated may not only make it easier on yourself, but it can ironically be more secure, as there are less holes in your personal information. Two words sum up the most fundamental precautions one can take: strong passwords.
So, are we one step away from bar code tattoos? Is even bringing up such an issue reading too much into a basic feature? Regardless, it's a reflection of the world in which we live.
Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) is launching a PC game that's designed to raise awareness of HIV prevention to Kenyan youths. Variety's Ben Fritz reports:
"Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is launching a free multi-player PC game in Kenya intended to change HIV risk perception, attitude and behavior. Called 'Pamoja Mtaani' ('Together in the Hood'), it's launching in youth centers in Nairobi, Kenya. The five person game, which can be played via LAN, also has music from Kenyan hip-hop artists. All of the characters are being introduced via trailers that the studio is producing."

This is supremely cool of WBIE. It's awesome to see the company using a youth-oriented form of entertainment to do something positive and necessary. I like saving fantasy worlds, rescuing princesses, and blowing up aliens as much as the next gamer, but using the medium to teach a vital lesson in an entertaining way is just so powerful.
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