Wize Blog

Grand Theft Auto 4 Video Review Gives Game 10/10

Close to 2.5 million have watched it. It's the Grand Theft Auto 4 (rated 5/5 by amazon and newegg) video review (view below).

It's narrated flawlessly and exciting to watch.

The review ranks the super-popular game a 10/10.

New Grand Theft Auto IV Reviews on Wize.com

Come take on the roll of Niko Bellic and you'll have four new boroughs to explore by controlling cars, boats and helicopters. That's the line for the Grand Theft Auto IV game for XBox 360 and PlayStation 3, the game people are talking about.

CNET reports that Grand Theft Auto IV broke an all-time computer game sales record.
On its first day out, the game sold 3.6 million copies.

Some criticize the game for being too violent. On wize.com, the game rates number one for adult games. In one of three reviews on wize.com, the game is reported to be "the darkest story so far in the Grand Theft Auto series."

But, please don't fret over the violence and/or darkness as this game is good: "What has made the Grand Theft Auto series so superb is the story telling. Excellent voice acting with intense and exciting missions make GTA IV a true winner. From the first moment on you will notice that you aren't really playing a game as much as taking part in an intense crime drama."

No wonder it's selling so fast.

After Price Drop in Europe, XBox 360 Still Cheaper in U.S.

The following price drops have been reported for the XBox 360 in Europe according to neogaf.com

360 Arcade - from €279,95 to €199,95 ($306)
360 Premium + 2 games - from €399 to €299,95
360 Elite (rated 96 at wize.com) - from 449€ to €399,95

The price drop information was reported coming from an advertisement from the Dutch store, Intertoy (see image to the left).

Since the original European prices were higher than those in the United States, it's questionable if the price drops will come here. U.S. prices for the 360 Arcade are about $280 at many outlets. In Europe, after the price drop the console now sells for $306, still a bit higher than in the U.S.

Free Offer and Price Drop to Save the HD-DVD

Microsoft dropped it's price for the HD-DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 (rated 95 at wize.com) to $130 from $180.

That's not the only deal you get when you buy this dying breed of high definition DVD player; you can also get 5 free movies when you purchase one. All you do is submit your receipt with the price and date circled with a form and Toshiba/Microsoft will send you the HD-DVDs.

Matt Peckham seems to think that the next thing Microsoft will do is come out with an external Blue-ray for the Xbox 360.

Whatever happens, I believe, that in two or three years, the HD-DVD players and DVDs will be hitting the garage sale circuit.

Games: No Two Reactions Ever the Same

An upgraded game, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, which comes out this summer offers unique features which makes game unpredictable.

Two technologies are used to make the games more life-like:

1. "Havok" lets the game displace multiple on screen objects in realistic fashion.
2. "Euphoria" allows advanced enemy behavior, so that no two actions are ever the same.

It's all discussed below with clips from the game itself.

Six Best Games for Xbox 360--Update

Want to know what everybody's playing?  Pasted below is the skinny on the most popular games for Xbox 360 according to wize.com ratings.

The last time I rated the games was Nov. 20, 2007. There are new ones on the list and old ones off it. 

1. Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion - Collector's Edition for Xbox 360

2. Gears of War for Xbox 360

3. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion for Xbox 360

4. The Bigs for Xbox 360

5. Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter for Xbox 360

6. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for Xbox 360

How to Hook Up X-Box 360 to Your PC

If you want to show movies on your TV set that you've downloaded to your PC (Windows) here's how using the XBox 360 (rated 94 at wize.com) :

First connect the XBox 360 to the Internet.
On the Internet, download XP SP2
Upgrade to Windows Media Player 11
Turn Xbox on
Click Library then Media Sharing then Share my Media  in Win Media player
Next, click console icon then Allow
On the Xbox 360, click Media Area
Select video
Select computer
Last, pick something to play.

A video of all this is pasted below:

The Big Three Defined--Wii, PlayStation, Xbox 360

Three Video Game Players lead the pack—Wii, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
Each is compatible with a variety of games and each offers a place online to get free demos of new games (except PlayStation 3) and songs.

Here’s a condensed version of what the Game Players are all about.

PlayStation 3 (rated 87 at wize.com)  costs $400 Online Content: PlayStation Network Games: Rock Band and God of War II

Wii (rated 94 at wize.com) Cost: $250 Online Content: Catalog of older games as paid downloads Games: Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure and Super Mario Galaxy

Xbox 360 (rated 81 by wize.com) Online Content: available through Xbox Live    Games: Rock Band and  BioShock

How to Hook-up Your XBox 360 Video Tutorial

Everyone's getting one. The XBox 360 (rated 94 at wize.com) has to be one of the most popular gift items this Christmas.

With the XBox 360, can download TV shows movies and games off of the internet and play games with other people online.

When you get yours, the first thing you'll need to do is hook it up. Read below and then watch the video above and you'll be up in now time. Here's what you'll need:

1. XBox 360

2. Ethernet cable

3. Wireless router

4. Wifi adapter

Connecting directly to an ethernet cable:

Plug one end of an ethernet cable into the back of the XBox 360 and plug the other end to a router and follow instructions 2 through 7 below.

Wirelessly:

1.  Plug the wifi adapter into the back of the XBox.

2. Turn on XBox

3. Go to set up screen, then go to System

4. Select Network Settings

5. Select Edit Settings

6. Select Wireless mode.  (If connecting with ethernet cable, select that, instead)

7. When prompted, select XBox Live connection.

HD DVD or Blu-ray?

What's next for movie watchers in the next generation of movie players? Right now there's only one standard for all movies--the DVD.

There are two formats that are competing to be the next generation standard for viewing movies--HD DVD and Blu-ray.

Both offer great movie watching experiences.

No one really knows which one will win out to be the one everybody uses, it's up to the movie studios to decide.

HD DVD

DreamWorks' "Shrek the Third" and Universal's "Transformers" are only available in the HD DVD format.

HD DVD players cost less and start at about $250.

XBox 360 supports HD DVD (with an attachment).

Blu-ray

Sony's "Spider-Man 3" and Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End" are only available in Blu-ray.

Blu-ray players start at $400, more than HD DVD.

Sony's PlayStation 3 supports Blu-ray.

Source for this post is New York Daily News.