Gadgets Blog

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is an action role-playing game, with a loaded story that takes place in a massive, mysterious world.  This world contains gigantic dungeons, treacherous opponents and hundreds of challenging quests.  The enemies are very intelligent, adapt in number and challenge gamers in heroic single and multiplayer battles for up to four players.  Sacred 2 is actually the prequel to Sacred.

In the game, there are two campaign path choices: Light and Shadow.  The player will select the path they want to follow at the beginning of the game, and this choice determines the ultimate goal of their character.  Throughout the game, the paths intersect at different points.  In one path you may be asked to help defend a town, while in the other you may be asked to destroy it.

Difficulty:  This game can be pretty difficult at first, but it takes some getting used to.  Learning the best way to kill your enemy can be challenging.  The fighting in this game is not very accurate.  Sometimes you are forced to use your secret power when it is not really necessary.

Graphics:  I wasn’t blown away by the graphics in this game.  Sacred 2 is meant to be detailed throughout the game, but I found some levels distracting.  The regions in this game do bring you into a new realm but it is a little too much.

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel provides many unique items that can be gathered in this mystical world.  A deep reward system further enables advancements in character, attributes and character-specific fighting styles.  Cooperative multiplayer game play ensures players will enjoy the game alone or with friends.  There are five unique multiplayer modes that offer a refreshing gaming experience.

To enhance the gaming experience, I definitely recommend playing those online.  I feel that this is the way Sacred 2 is supposed to be played.

If you have plenty of time on your hands, you will adore this game.  There are plenty of dungeons and caves to inspect as well as vast variety of regions from deserts to rainforests.  If you get distracted easily this may not be the game for you.  Some missions are a little too long.  The pace of the game can be unpredictable at times as well.  But if you liked Sacred you will love Sacred 2: Fallen Angel.

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is rated M for Mature

Find Sacred 2: Falled Angel for Xbox 360 at Smarter.com.

Dude. This is just cool.

Microsoft gives us Project Natal, a hands-free, wire-free, motion-sensitive control for your Xbox.  Competition for the Wii-style controller, only there’s no controller for this webcam-based system, ergo nothing to be thrown at the screen by mistake (those Wii wrist straps aren’t just for decoration).

Check out the video on CNET.

You are the controller.

Step in front of the “dashboard” and the system instantly recognizes you and signs you in using a facial recognition tech that hasn’t been seen on a consumer product before.  Definitely aiming to get you off the couch and into the action; to kick a ball you kick your foot, to hit the ball you swing your arm, the player moves freely in real 3D space and the avatar does it on screen.   It also accepts commands by voice. Can’t wait to try it! Unfortunately, no release date was given yet.  Let’s hope for soon.

To which Nintendo replied, they plan to release Super Mario Bros 28.

Just kidding.  Nintendo’s up to bat tomorrow so we’ll see what awesome surprises they have in store for us.

Sources: E3, G4, CNET

I’m thinking about a couple things right now.

Let’s go with the lighter stuff first:

Could it be true?

Gizmodo and ars technica sources seem to agree.

For those of us who couldn’t shell out the $400 for the Xbox 360 Elite system, Microsoft is easing up on consumers in these hard times and including two pretty awesome games…get this… for the same price as the system itself. Nice guys, them Gates boys.

So while at one time $400 would have gotten you only the Elite system, that same $400 can soon acquire the Elite system, Halo 3 and Fable II. For those of us who were holding out and mooching off our friends for Xbox playtime (sorry, guys… um, sort of), it looks like it’s going to be a little easier on our wallets in the coming months. Seeing as these are games a buyer would most likely want to get anyway, and at about $40 each, that’s a nice little stimulus package.

You know my thought — what’s the catch? Well, we haven’t found one yet. You still get the 120 gigs, the wireless controller, and the HD video. Sounds pretty good. No date had been given for the arrival of this bodacious bundle, but it’s currently available on Xbox.com and even Amazon.com shows a preorder status for the item with a release date of May 1, 2009. Nice. You might wanna get on that.

And secondly, I have to mention a few words about Stephen Hawking.

According to reports, he was rushed to the hospital on Monday and hasn’t been feeling well for a few weeks now. I’m really hoping he comes out alright. This man amazes me; I mean, he’s just brilliant. You all know the story, despite his ALS, he completed his doctorate, gave us “A Brief History of Time”, put “The Universe in a Nutshell”, continued to teach physics, not to mention all the fodder he provided for sci-fi enthusiasts… who does that? A greater mind than mine, for certain. Anyway, here’s to Professor Hawking, all our best. We’re pulling for you.

Image Sources:Xbox, Wikipedia

This week in gadget blogs and news from around the Net:

• Mazda Kiyora Looks Cool and Recycles Rain Water for Drinking - Gizmodo
• An Artist’s Take on a Sound Wave - New York Times
  
• Bling Bling! $60,000 Diamond Covered iPod Ear Phone Cover - Engadget
• Lomo Split Camera Will Have You Seeing Double - Technabob
• WiiDiva Will Have You Playing the Wii in Style - Talismoon
• New Xbox 360 Bundles for the Holidays - OhGizmo!
• Sandal USB - Ubergizmo
  
• Clamshell Cell Phone Watch - Machines that Go Bing
• Behold: The Disappearing Pool table - Ballerhouse

YouTube - Watch 

And this week in the Smarter Gadgets Blog we talked about:

• 6ave.com Coupon: Save on a Panasonic Blu-ray Disc Player 
• Cool Things: Cool MiniMotel Lets You Camp Out at the Airport
• Newegg Coupon: Save on a 37-Inch ViewSonic HDTV
• Will the Nokia 5800 XpressMusic be the iPhone Killer?
  

When I first heard my friend’s PlayStation 3, I could have swore that thing was getting ready for take off. The amount of noise coming out of that thing is a bit ridiculous. And after reading this article on the amount of energy this thing sucks up, I can see why.

According to the Australian consumer agency Choice, the PS3 isn’t very friendly to your utility bill. The gaming console, when running, sucks up to five times as much more energy than a refrigerator and ten times as much as the Nintendo Wii. How much does that come out to in dollars? About $250 if you keep that baby running all the time.

The Xbox 360 isn’t that much better, running around 23.57 kWH per week compared to the PS3’s 31.74 kWH and the Wii at 2.97 kWH.

Basically, if you’re not using the console, just turn it off rather than leave it idling. And if you’re looking to knock down your electric bill and knock off a few pounds, it appears the Nintendo Wii is the way to go all around.

Source: Gizmodo

A quick recap of gadget blogs and news around the Net:

• Griffin ClearBoost, boosts iPhone signal strength - iLounge and CrunchGear
• Your love is real, only if Facebook says so - CNN
• Verizon to spit out $9.36 billion for 4G network by 2010 - Gizmodo via Verizon Investor Relations
• Bling out your 360. Xbox 360 now comes in chrome - Technabob
• Start shooting in 3-D - Ubergizmo
• Pregnancy test gets digital - Cutie Gadget
• Recycle! Kids make viper out of old keys from keyboard - MAKE

And this week in the Smarter Gadgets Blog we talked about:

• Toshiba Deal: Take $150 0ff Any Customized Satellite Laptop
• Apple to Release a New iPhone, the iMartian
• Dell Savings: Save 25% on Dell Inspiron Laptops $999 and Up
• MIT Creates Nexi Bot. Doomsday Inches Closer

A quick recap of gadget news and blogs around the Net:

• All-in-one washing machine and toilet. Do all your cleaning in one….sitting - Gizmodo
• Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro Get Upgrades - The Gadget Blog
• The ultimate Xbox 360 arcade controller - Technabob
• PS3 gets a steel color with Metal Gear Solid 4 launch - Kotaku
• Rockit coaster at Universal Studios, Orlando to tape your ride - Engadget
  

And in Smarter Gadgets we talked about:

• Facebook to Launch an Instant Messaging Service
  
• Sony Deal: Save $400 off a 52″ Sony Bravia HDTV
• Refurbished Apple iPhones on Sale at AT&T for Cheap
• Wii Games Deal: Buy 1Wii Game, Get 1 $20 off at Toys R Us
• What Happens When the Alarm Goes Off at the Gas Station

A quick recap of gadget news and blogs around the Net:

• Bluetooth purCushion pillow allows you to talk in your sleep - Reg Hardware
• Cow Manure turned into Renewable Energy - Reuters
• G-Fi Wireless GPS Accessory for the iPhone - G-Fi
• Phone has a built-in Bluetooth headset - Yanko Design
• Silver Satin PS3 and Xbox 360 Arcade available in Japan - Engadget
• Apple and Kleiner Perkins launching a $100 million iFund for iPhone developers - ValleyWag
• IMing coming to the iPhone with AIM - Gizmodo via live.gizmodo.com
  

And in Smarter Gadgets we talked about:

• Save 20% off Dell XPS 630 Desktops $1699 and Up
• Martian Skiers Cause Avalanches on Mars
• Save $300 0ff HP Pavilion Notebooks Priced $1,199 and Over
• Death Star Hotel Coming Soon. Prepare for the End
  

It looks like Time Magazine has come up with their own list of the Top 10 Video Games of 2007.

Here is what they have come up with and where on Smarter.com you can find them:

1. Halo 3
   Platform: Xbox 360
   Find it on Smarter.com.
2. The Orange Box
   Platform: Xbox 360, PC, PS3
   Find it on Smarter.com.
3. Rock Band
   Platform: Xbox 360, PS2, PS3
   Find it on Smarter.com.
4. Super Mario Galaxy
   Platform: Nintendo Wii
   Find it on Smarter.com.
5. BioShock
   Platform: Xbox 360, PC
   Find it on Smarter.com.
6. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
   Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Nintendo DS
   Find it on Smarter.com.
7. Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
   Platform: Nintendo DS
   Find it on Smarter.com.
8. Mass Effect
   Platform: Xbox 360
   Find it on Smarter.com.
9. Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation
   Platform: Xbox 360
   Find it on Smarter.com.
10. God of War 2
    Platform: PS2
    Find it on Smarter.com.

Source: Time Magazine.

For all you gamers out there, you may want to take a look at this deal.

Right now at Game Stop you can save 15% off any used video game in their store using our coupon code. This is an on-going offer and it’s easy to use.

Just enter in the code PPLAY15 during checkout and you’ll save instantly.

For instance, if you’re a fan of the popular Halo series, then maybe you’d like to pick up Halo 3 for your Xbox 360 priced at $54.99 BEFORE the discount.

Click here to go to Game Stop.

To see Halo 3 on Smarter.com, click here.