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About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2007)
20 February 20Ç£ Technology Next Generation Consoles bring new light to gaming _ M ike G orgone _____________ Entertainment Editor In the last year, video games have taken a huge step forward, not only graphically, but in terms of intuitive game play as well. Out of the myriad of choices though, the three newest next generation consoles have proved to be fully capable of keeping up the pedigree. The first of these consoles to be released was the Xbox 360, the heir to Microsoft's gaming juggernaut, the Xbox. Running for about $400, a 360 comes out of the box with one controller, the system and a built-in hard drive for those who didn't skimp out and buy the cheaper "core" system. Since its release in late 2005, the 360 has offered dozens of new games alongside quite a few new installments in time honored franchises. One of the most anticipated games for the 360 wasn't released until recently though when on Nov. 7 "Gears of War" was launched. "Gears" is a unique game, blending both third and first person aspects of the shooter genre. It features amazingly detailed graphics, a twisting story line that only sci-fi can deliver, and >.ODU IG E A R S I •X ,.Jf. W AR AI opponents so devious you'd swear there was another person playing the game with you. On top of it all, "Gears" has a spectacular multi-player that can support up to eight players. All in all, the Xbox 360 has been a huge success, having been able to build up its sales over the last year, and with "Halo 3" having been slated for release later this year, the only place the 360 can go is up. The second of the next generation consoles to be released was Sony's third console in their capabilities. Unfortunately, since its release last November the PS3 has been crippled by a line of lack luster launch titles, most of which put pretty graphics ahead of actual game play. The only gem to be presented by Sony at the moment is the Futuristic sci-fi shooter by Insomniac Games "Resistance: Fall of Man." Staff Reporter Ward Lewis, English teacher, sings to Himself when he's stressed. "I've been part of choir groups for most of my life, from church choirs to barbershop quartets," Lewis said. Music is a large part of 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Playstation line, the Playstation 3, PS3 for short. By far, the PS3 is the most powerful of the new systems when it comes to processing speed and pure graphical This is undoubtedly the PS3's "killer app" and with graphics that are nothing short of breathtaking, this is one of the only early PS3 titles to offer up some real gaming potential. Gobbling up the PS3's graphical prowess, "Resistance" is not only shiny to look at but engaging to play as well. It features a wide assortment of gadgetry for blasting the ever-living-pooh out of anything that stands in your way. This game will make you goggle at its images even as blood is soaking every inch of the screen. Strangely enough, the his life, whether it's his singing for stress relief or piano playing during class. "Whenever I clean my house, I'm usually listening to a rock album, and when I grade papers I'm listening to classical. I would much rather be listening to Celtic or folk though," Lewis said of his usual music schedule. His choice of tunes range from "Can't You Hear Me Knocking?" by The Rolling Stones to Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. Lewis is in his thirty-first year teaching at West Linn, and his twenty-third year coaching the Boys' Tennis Team. I a a a a a a a a Somebody to Love Helmet Symphony No. 9, Op. 125 You Never Give Me Your Money The Ressurection Can't You Hear Me Knocking The Renish Behind Blue Eyes Klonderstucks for Piano Touch Me 24 Variations on a theme Ride My Sea-saw Good Night Irene The Valley of Strathmore Slovanic Dances © 2:58 0 3:03 0 65:80 0 3:14 0 71:83 0 7:15 0 24:44 0 3:42 0 58:19 0 3:13 0 40:00 © 3:44 0 4:17 O 6:17 o 75:45 PS3's controller is the only one of the three next generation systems to not have a rumble feature. Now, this may not seem like much, but this, on top of the already disappointing launch lineup and the hefty price of $600 per console, the PS3 hasn't shared the phenomenal success of its - I^ athan —— ——■ F isher - — predecessors. co-Editor-in-Chief Last, but Nintendo Entertainment System certainly not • Kid Icarus least, of last • Super Mario Brothers / Duck Hunt year's new • Mega Man systems was the Nintendo SEGA Genesis Wii. This oddly •Sonic the Hedgehog Series named console •Aladdin seems to be • Bubsy the epitome of how many features you Super NES can cram into one console. • Zelda: Link to the Past The Wii features • Chrono Trigger a unique "channel" Sony Playstation system on its • Final Fantasy 7 & 8 & 9 main menu • Crash Bandicoot Series screen. Already, • Spyro The Dragon Series it contains a news channel, Nintendo 64 a weather • Mario 64 channel, a • Zelda: Ocarina of Time channel for • Starfox 64 editing pictures, a channel for a downloading SEGA Dreamcast retro games • Sonic Adventure from earlier • Soul Caliber Nintendo • Phantasy Star Online v.jx consoles and a message board Sony Playstation 2 channel that • Jak and Daxter Series allows users to • God of War e-mail friends • Guitar Hero I & II via an internet connection. Nintendo Gamecube The console • Metroid Prime 1 & 2 features an • Super Smash Bros. Melee incredibly innovative • Resident Evil 4 control scheme where most Xbox games are • Halo 1 & 2 controlled via • Splinter Cell the motion • Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic sensitive "Wii- mote" and Multi-Platform Nunchuck • Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Trilogy attachment. • Grand Theft Auto Series [See previous • Half Life / issue for more Vintage games still fun to play Ftoyltet Spotlight- Ward Lewis u HlLLl ClAVARELLO____________ details.] The Wii's launch line up has, in all truth, exceeded the expectations of most fans with titles from such venerated franchises such as "Legend of Zelda," "Rayman" and an incredibly fun game based on the NES (Nintendo Entertainment System) classic "Excite Bike." The Wii has dozens of extremely fun games available from the get-go. And with a price of only $250, the Wii is the most cost effective of the next generation consoles. In the end though, it's really up to you, the consumer, as to what system you prefer be it the innovative Wii, the established Xbox 360 or the graphical leviathan that is the PS3. Jefferson Airplane The Bobs Beethoven The Beatles Mahler The Rolling Stones Schumann The Who Schubert The Doors Rachmaninoff The Moody Blues The Chieftains Silly Wizard Dvorak © © © © © © © © © © © © © © Surrealistic Pillow The Best of the Bobs Symphony No. 9 in D Minor Abbey Road Symphont No. 2 Sticky Fingers Symphony No. 2 Who's Next Symphony No. 9 Morrison Hotel Piano Concerto No. 3 In Search of a Lost Chord Another Country Best of Silly Wizard Cello Concerto .
