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By Michael Lopez

Xbox and Playstation fans are eagerly anticipating the spring release of Mass Effect 3 and frankly, so are we. Not only does it have multiplayer co-op modes, improved A.I., and brand new weapons, it's got Martin Sheen and Freddie Prinze Jr. in the voice cast!

Martin is actually no stranger to the Mass Effect universe. He first appeared in Part 2 as the villainous Illusive Man. A ruthless leader of the Cerberus Organization, Illusive Man was actually designed with Sheen in mind and meant to resemble his likeness.

Freddie, on the other hand, is a newbie to the series, playing James Vega, a rough and tumble soldier battling dark forces in outer space. Prinze admitted that he was a fan of the franchise way before joining the cast and is thrilled to be part of the Mass experience.

"You have to play it. It’s a completely immersive game," he said in a recent interview. "It will make you think, you’ll actually care about the characters you're playing, and you’ll really be able to customize the game. I think that’s what gamers want."

Judging by the huge success of the past two installments, we're sure hardcore gamers will be eager to take on The Illusive Man once again. Look for Mass Effect 3 to hit stores on March 6!

Are you a fan of the Mass Effect series? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Freddie Prinze Jr., Martin Sheen, Mass Effect, Mass Effect 3, video games

By Michael Lopez

Forget Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto, these days gamers are becoming much more entranced by Words With Friends and Diamond Dash. Yup, simplistic iPad and Facebook apps are proving to be "all the rage" among video geeks.

Of course part of the reason is because most of these apps are free (vs. the $59 price tag on all those PS3 shooters). But these simplistic gems are also quite entertaining and have proven to be great brain teasers.

In the tablet and smartphone world, games like Paper Toss and Fruit Ninja receive thousands of daily downloads. Toss actually reached the 100 million mark and has turned into a very competitive time waster among friends. Though throwing crumbled paper into a waste basket may seem simplistic, added elements like grenades, bananas, and tomatoes make it all the more challenging.

Fruit Ninja is another great way to exercise those finger muscles on your phone or iPad. The concept is simple; slice and dice flying foods, while avoiding pesky exploding bombs. Bejeweled Blitz is an instant classic too, with its "Tetris-esque" qualities and diamond-studded Zen Mode.

Even the Smurfs have made their way into the unpaid app world with the hugely-popular Smurfs Village. Similar to Facebook’s Farm-ville game, Village lets you control Papa, Brainy, and all your favorites from the original cartoon. And you can even compete in a broad range of Smurfberry contests!

And how could you not have fun on an iPad with a game called Tilt To Live? Oh yea, this brain-teaser requires you to maneuver your tablet every which way you can. The programmers did a fantastic job of simulating the Tilt mode, with the slightest shake sending your character shooting across the screen. Can you twist your little red arrow to safety? Give yourself plenty of elbow room and give it a shot!

But let's not forget Facebook. Part of the fun of indulging in apps from the social network is the interaction you can have with your friends. There's standard classics (like that game Alec Baldwin loves), as well as newer entries which are just as addictive.

Hidden Chronicles has proven to be a huge January hit. Though its premise of finding objects in a picture has been around for generations, Chronicles’ designers have thrown in a ton of new original concepts.

Tetris Battle has been making some big Facebook waves too. This latest version still lets you enjoy the "Classic" pile-on mode, but adds a Battle-heavy twist that's taken the web by storm. Friends can now do major damage with their blocks, creating heated puzzle fights that have become much more competitive than anything you’ll see in a Mortal Kombat game.

What's your favorite iPad or Facebook game? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags apps, Bejeweled Blitz, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Facebook, Fruit Ninja, Hidden Chronicles, iPad, Paper Toss, Smurfs Village, Tetris, Tetris Battle, The Smurfs, Tilt To Live, video games, Words with Friends

By Michael Lopez

With the Consumer Electronics Show just a few days away, we thought now would be a great time to delve into this year's most anticipated video games. From gun-toting shooters, to zany Nintendo puzzlers, here are a few button mashers that are definitely worth putting on your radar.

Max Payne 3 – Believe it or not, it's been nine years since we've gotten a proper Max Payne sequel. Yes there was that movie with Mark Wahlberg in between, but nothing compares to entering the twisted world of the gritty NYPD vet yourself. The first installment won 2001's Best PC Game of the Year and Part 2 got Editor's Choice from both IGN and Gamespot. Part 3 promises to be just as epic, with new multiplayer modes and a story that takes place in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Look for it to hit shelves in March.

Street Fighter X Tekken – Get ready for the mother of all fighting games. Street Fighter X Tekken mixes characters from two of the most popular fisticuffs titles of all time. Announced back at the 2010 Comic-Con, X features classic brawlers like Ryu, Chun-Li, Kazuya, and Zangief! Not only that, it will incorporate a new "Gem System" that allows for power ups and increased speed. There will also be a Story Mode where you can trace the origins of each fighter from each franchise. Look for this hot commodity to arrive in early Spring.

Kid Icarus: Uprising – One of Nintendo’s hottest games of the year is actually tied to a 25-year-old franchise. The original Kid Icarus arrived way back in 1986 and since then it’s built a fervent fan base. The winged hero’s newest adventure will take place on the 3DS and follow the continuing adventures of Pit as he tries to save the world from Medusa. Weapons such as bows, blades, and cannons will be used and Uprising will allow for unique multiplayer “Death Matches.” Nintendo plans to ship it out by the end of March.

Grand Theft Auto V – Ok, so there’s a chance this title may not be out by the end of the year, but we're throwing it on our list anyway. Back in October, Rockstar released the first trailer from this highly-anticipated sequel and since then it’s attracted millions of downloads. It’s been four years since the last GTA arrived and gamers are eager to invade the world of car jackings, rocket launchers, and mobsters once again. Part V will supposedly take place in California and feature a ton of interactive missions tied to Hollywood and the L.A. lifestyle. And there are even rumors that the main character will be Latino! Expect more updates on this blockbuster by summer.

What video games are you most looking forward to in 2012? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto V, GTA V, Hot Stuff, Kid Icarus: Uprising, Max Payne, Max Payne 3, Nintendo, Nintendo 3DS, Rockstar Games, Street Fighter, Street Fighter X Tekken, Tekken, video games

By Michael Lopez

Sure Roberto Gómez Bolaños has received dozens of Hispanic Heritage honors for his work on Mexican TV. But none of that compares to the joy of getting your own video game! Yup, Chespirito is making his way to the Nintendo Wii in 2012.

Next March, Kaxon will be releasing El Chavo, a puzzle-based game geared directly toward the family audience. Players will have the opportunity to play as Chespirito and compete in a series of challenges that include water balloons and hula hoops.

The game will be part of a massive celebration to honor Bolaños' 40 years in television. And Kaxon is very hopeful that El Chavo will be a hit. They're releasing it in multiple languages to countries like Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and the U.S.

Judging from the screenshots we've seen so far, Chespirito definitely makes a colorful gaming character. Who knows? Maybe if the title's popular enough, he can join Super Mario for another high-flying Nintendo adventure.

Are you planning on picking up the Chespirito video game? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, chespirito, El Chavo, Kaxon, Nintendo, roberto gomez bolaños, video games

By Michael Lopez

It takes a brave celebrity to admit their "nerdiness" and attend a video games award show. But this past weekend brought out plenty of famous faces, all eager to celebrate the year's greatest button mashers. Yup, the Spike TV VGA's were back in business and they delivered one heck of a show.

The 2011 ceremony was hosted by Chuck star Zachary Levi, who definitely showed he was "game" to participate in some irreverent skits. His grand entrance included a mashup of scenes from Call of Duty, LEGO Star Wars, and Batman: Arkham City. Levi even "flew" onto the stage carrying a prop from Portal 2.

"I'm jazzed about hosting the awards," Zachary said prior to the event. "As a gamer, I definitely want to bring as much legitimacy and respect to the game community as I possibly can."

And across the web, most fans seemed pleased with the VGA's outcome. The massively popular Modern Warfare 3 won for Best Shooter, Mortal Kombat took home Best Fighting Game, and Batman: Arkham City won a slew of honors, including Best Adapted Video Game, Best Xbox 360 Game, and Best Action Adventure.

Arkham even attracted the attention of MMA faves Eddie Alvarez and Michael Chandler. They proudly declared their love of the Bat and his clown-faced nemesis, when they announced The Joker as the VGA Character of the Year.

Family Guy’s Seth Green drew huge applause when he brought Shigeru Miyamoto on stage. The Nintendo mastermind accepted the night’s Hall of Fame Award for his company’s The Legend Of Zelda series. Humble as ever, the gaming icon simply said,

"None of this would be possible without you, and all of us at Nintendo are humbled by your support."

Tony Hawk also brought the crowd to their feet when he stepped up to the podium. Interestingly, he wasn't there to promote one of his famous skateboarding titles. Instead, he debuted never-before-seen clips from the upcoming Amazing Spider-Man game.

Comedy played a big part in the night too. Kevin Jonas spoofed himself in a commercial for a fake game called Wall Climb and web star Felicia Day cracked up App fans with her hilarious take on the Fruit Ninja craze.

Believe it or not, there were even some musical segments mixed in too. The Black Keys proved their gaming geekiness by taking the stage and performing their hit song Lonely Boy.

And as far as the 2011 Game of the Year? That nod went to the role-playing smash, The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim. Universally praised across the board, it’s sold seven million copies in the last month and is certain to wind up in quite a few stockings come Christmas time.

What was your favorite video game of the year? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Award Shows, Batman: Arkham City, Blogger: Michael Lopez, Celebrities, Eddie Alvarez, Felicia Day, Fruit Ninja, Kevin Jonas, Modern Warfare 3, Mortal Kombat, Nintendo, Seth Green, Shigeru Miyamoto, Spike TV, The Black Keys, The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, The Legend of Zelda, Tony Hawk, VGAs, Video Game Awards, video games, Zachary Levi

By Michael Lopez

As you may well know, the day after Thanksgiving has become a haven for holiday shopping deals. And in the console world, that means the hottest titles will be hitting the shelves no later than the November 22. So you may want to start camping out early, because the video game bumrush is about to begin!

One of the biggest games of all actually is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 hit shelves on November 8 and promises to blow its predecessors out of the water! Stars like Tobey Maguire and Christopher Meloni are lending their voices for the 1st person shooter, which will take place in Africa, Dubai, and Moscow. Expect tons of political intrigue and great online co-op enhancements.

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations caters to much of the same crowd. With its violent undertones and espionage-infused plot, it almost plays like an action-packed version of the Da Vinci Code. There are global secrets, underground organizations, and tons of new skull-crunching weapons (like the deadly hookblade!)

Sports fans will want to get their hands on the new WWE ’12 game. Sporting all new graphics and enhanced controls (the last few WWE titles suffered from multiple glitches), this rock 'em, sock 'em ring battle brings together some of professional wrestling's all time greats. And as an added Black Friday bonus, everyone who pre-orders it will get a code to unlock a playable version of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. It was released on November 22.

And, in the Nintendo realm, there are plenty of long-awaited releases too. One particular hot title is The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. The 15th game in the popular RPG franchise, this outing will take full advantage of the Wii's motion controls. It will also delve much deeper into the Zelda mythology, working as a prequel to 1998's hugely popular Ocarina of Time. Early Japanese reviews of the game have been phenomenal.

Nintendo's other big hero, Mario, will be back around Thanksgiving too, in the 3DS title, Mario Kart 7. Though it technically comes out December 3, Kart will be taking pre-orders way before Black Friday. This high-paced racer will include all of your favorites from the Mushroom Kingdom along with new characters like Wiggler and Queen Bee. There will also be a hang glider option which should make for some very interesting gameplay.

Which upcoming video games are you most excited about? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Assassin's Creed, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, Black Friday, Call Of Duty, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Hot Stuff, Mario, Mario Kart, Mario Kart 7, Nintendo, The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword, video games, WWE, WWE 12, Zelda

By Michael Lopez

We recently told you how Victoria Justice was expanding into the Toys R US zone, and now it looks like she'll be popping up on GameStop shelves too! The Victorious star has got a brand new video game coming out, which promises to tap into everything fans love about her Nickelodeon show.

Victorious: Time To Shine will be released on the Xbox 360 and take full advantage of the system's motion detecting Kinect device. An alternate version, called Victorious: Hollywood Arts Debut, will be hitting Nintendo's portable DS system, giving fans the chance to channel a little Victoria on the go.

"When they told me they were making a video game out of Victorious I thought it was so awesome," Justice recently said. "It freaks me out already that there was going to be a doll of my character, but then having a game that fans of the show can play and they can interact with us and sing along and dance and just have a good time with us. I thought that was really, really cool."

D3P is the company behind the Victoria games and promises fans a lot of exciting moments when they grab their controllers. Both titles will give players the chance to test their musical skills and interact with the entire Victorious cast!

Would you pick up the Victoria Justice video game? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Blogger: Michael Lopez, Hot Stuff, Kinect, Nintendo, victoria justice, Victorious, Victorious: Hollywood Arts Debut, Victorious: Time To Shine, video games, Xbox

By Michael Lopez

Talk about ambition. Thomas Suarez isn't even a teenager yet and he's already patented tons of unique Apple iPad apps. And, judging by the press he's been receiving this week, he might just be the tween generation's answer to Steve Jobs.

"I've always had a fascination for computers and technology," Thomas told an enthusiastic tech crowd in Manhattan Beach, CA. "[And] I’ve gotten a lot of inspiration from Steve Jobs."

In fact, in Suarez' popular YouTube clip, he's literally mimicking the mannerisms and presenting style of the late Apple icon (minus the black turtleneck). Throughout his speech, Thomas introduces several of his biggest sellers, including a Justin Bieber inspired Whack-A-Mole game.

Amazingly, Suarez has already mastered the computer languages of Python, C, and Java and he even started an App Club at his elementary school. If he keeps things up at this pace, Thomas will be on his way to billionairehood in no time!

What's your favorite iPad app? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags apps, Blogger: Michael Lopez, iPad, Steve Jobs, Technology, Thomas Suarez, video games

By Michael Lopez

Back in the day, it was pretty tough to find a strong Latina as video game character. But in 1985, Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego? broke that mold with a jet-setting heroine who solved mysteries and traveled the globe. Now, more than 25 years after its original release, Carmen is getting the big screen treatment thanks to Jennifer Lopez!

According to Deadline.com, JLo will be producing and possibly starring in the Carmen movie adaptation. The pop diva will be partnering exclusively with Walden Media and may even be adding a bit of mystery into the plot.

The storyline of Carmen’s revamp will revolve around the games ACME detective agency. Sandiego (who will presumably be played by Lopez) would be going rogue for this outing, ditching the agency and leaving a bunch of intriguing clues behind.

We imagine the movie will shoot in a variety of countries and still keep the game's family-friendly vibe intact. Who knows? There may even be some roles for Max and Emme as junior ACME detectives!

Do you think Jennifer Lopez would make a good Carmen Sandiego? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Carmen Sandiego, Jennifer Lopez, Movies & CineMás, video games, Walden Media, Where In The World Is Carmen Sandiego

By Michael Lopez

Ever wonder what games are racking up the most sales in the Playstation world? The answer will probably surprise you. No, it's not L.A. Noire or Call of Juarez, it's the classic Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection! Yup, retro releases are all the rage in Sony's lucrative PS3 network!

Amazingly, six out of the ten top-selling titles were older franchise games. The first Mortal Kombat came out two decades ago and yet scored thousands of downloads. In second place is Resident Evil 4, which first arrived back in 2005. Throw in vintage lines like Castlevania and Street Fighter and you've got quite a nostalgic list on your hands.

Interestingly, the fourth biggest title was Angry Birds. As we mentioned before, those flying featherballs are literally unstoppable at the moment. The game (which was never even intended to be a Playstation title) beat out heavy hitters like Call of Duty and Renegade Ops in total sales.

Other familiar titles include Final Fantasy VII (which ranked 10), Burnout (#13), and about four more Resident Evils. Saints Row 2 showed a strong presence as well, which means anticipation building quick for the long-awaited third installment.

The newest title to make a dent was Ubisoft’s From Dust. This God-like sim lets players control weather elements and create natural disasters on Earth. More of a thinking-man's game than a blood n' guts shooter, it's gotten a lot of favorable reviews since its July release.

But the real surprise is definitely Mortal Kombat. Holding strong at #1, the Arcade Kollection (which assembles parts 1-3) actually beat out the Kombat reboot that was released earlier this year. Sporting the same primitive graphics you remember from 1992, it's truly a testament to good old fashioned button mashing.

Plus, we imagine punching bad guys and ripping off virtual limbs is a great way to wind down after a stressful day.

What’s your favorite old school video game? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3.

Tags Angry Birds, Blogger: Michael Lopez, From Dust, Mortal Kombat, Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection, Playstation, PS3, Resident Evil, Saints Row, UbiSoft, video games