• Xbox 360 Live 12 Month Gold Card is $49.99 ($10 off) @ Amazon.ca – http://ow.ly/gtpo – It's pretty much $49.99 everywhere this week. #
• Today Only: Prince of Persia (PS3,360) & Rock Band AC/DC are $9.89 each @ EB Games via GAF – http://ow.ly/gsJk #
• Limited time: Pre-order Wii Sports Resort for $49.99 ($10 off) @ BestBuy.ca – http://ow.ly/grtv – Add to cart for discount + free shipping! #
• Correction: July 3 – 9: Bionic Commando (PS3: http://ow.ly/grph, 360: http://ow.ly/grpp) is $49.99 ($20 off) @ BestBuy – Print ad error? #
• BestBuy is now offering free shipping on eligible ground shipped orders which total $39 or more until August 1, 2009 – http://ow.ly/groa #
• FutureShop is now offering free shipping on eligible ground shipped orders which total $39 or more – http://ow.ly/grnO #

• 2K HUGE GAME PACK (20 games) is $53.99 ($6 off or $175 if purchased individually) on Steam – http://ow.ly/gpUq #
• YMMV: EA Sports Active is $59.99 ($10 cheaper than elsewhere) @ Costco in-store #
• YMMV: Xbox Live! Gold Membership is $49.99 ($10 off) @ Costco in-store #
• RT: @ThatSwatGuy: This weekend only: Fallout 3 is $24.99 ($25 off) on Steam – http://ow.ly/goO2 #
• July 3 – 9: Xbox Live! Gold Membership card will be $49.99 ($10 off) @ BestBuy – http://ow.ly/gmtY via RFD #
• July 3 – 7: Xbox Live! Gold Membership card will be $49.99 ($10 off) @ BestBuy – http://ow.ly/gmr5 via RFD #
• July 7 – 9: Guitar Hero: World Tour Complete Game Bundle (PS3) will be $99.99 @ BestBuy – http://ow.ly/gmqK via RFD #
• July 3 – 9: Bionic Commando (PS3, 360) will be $39.99 ($30 off) @ BestBuy – http://ow.ly/gmq5 via RFD #
• Correction: Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution (PS3) is $21.98 ($13 off) @ Amazon.ca – http://ow.ly/gkGO – Looks like they fixed the price. #
• Until 10 AM, July 2: Bestbuy.ca also has 20% off videogame accessories – http://ow.ly/gkGi – Good time to stock up on point cards #

The look didn’t change. It’s still a gorgeous looking Wii game, but now it’s in English! I hear there’s a possibility of online play and new characters for the North American release, but nothing concrete yet.

In the meantime, enjoy these:

 

Tatsunoko vs Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars is coming exclusively to the Nintendo Wii in Winter 2009/2010.

• Until July 7: Street Fighter IV is $35.99 ($5 off) on Steam – http://ow.ly/gjIk #
• Until July 5: Midnight Club: Los Angeles (PS3) is $24.98 ($15 off) @ Amazon.ca – http://ow.ly/gj92 #
• Until July 5: NBA 2K9 (PS3: http://ow.ly/gj7E) & BioShock (PS3: http://ow.ly/gj86) are $17.98 ($12 off) @ Amazon.ca #
• Until July 5: Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution (PS3) $29.99 ($5 off) @ Amazon.ca – http://ow.ly/gj6y #
• Until July 7: Madcatz Street Fighter IV T.E. FightSticks are $149.99 ($12 off) @ NCIX – PS3: http://ow.ly/gj3b & 360: http://ow.ly/gj3U #
• July 3 – 5: Save $10 on a $50 or more purchase w/ this coupon @ FutureShop – http://ow.ly/gj2n – Valid online & in-store #
• Canada Day Only: 10% off select videogames @ Bestbuy.ca (http://ow.ly/gh15) & FutureShop.ca (http://ow.ly/gh1t) – Not that great… #

• DOTW: Fable II's Knothole Island is 560 MS (240 MS off) on Xbox Live! – http://ow.ly/g8l6 – For Gold Members only! #
• inFamous is also $29.99 ($40 off) @ FutureShop – http://ow.ly/g8gR #
• Reminder: June 30 – July 2, inFamous will be $29.99 ($40 off) @ BestBuy – http://ow.ly/fXLx #

Announcement

• QSF5.com Gets Face Lift
  • Old theme was based off of WordPress 2.2; upgraded to a 2.7 compatible theme called Vigilance by Jestro
  • Lots of backend enhancements including full widget compatibility
  • Less reliance on plugins thanks to said compatibility
  • Speed improvements!
  • Rotating banner & more!
• The Pirate Bay Solid to Global Gaming Factory X AB for $7.8 million (via Engadget)
  • Going legit like Napster

Miscellaneous

• Sony Patents Emotion Engine Emulation Tech for Cell Processors (via Siliconera)
  • Apparently this was recently filed
  • Enables PS2’s Emotion Engine to be emulated with the PS3’s Cell processor
  • Early 60 GB PS3’s had the Emotion Engine and Graphical Synthesizer chips
  • Later on, the 80 GBs had only the Graphical Synthesizer chip
  • Nowadays, PS3s have no form of PS2 emulation.

• Virtua Tennis 2009 (PS3) is $44.99 ($10 off) @ Amazon.ca – http://ow.ly/g7×7 #

Two news articles caught my eye this morning; both StarCraft II related.

The first stated that Blizzard beloved RTS was held up for a year as staff was shifted to the World of Warcraft cash cow.

“One of the reasons that StarCraft II had some delays very early on in development is because a fair amount of the design team went onto World of Warcraft for a year to really help finish that game off,”

They even had a playable build of StarCraft II’s multiplayer for balancing purposes since 2005-2006!

read more…

• YMMV: Ratchet &Clank Future: ToD or Gran Turismo 5: Prologue are $20.09 ($9 off) @ Zellers via CAG – http://ow.ly/g2Hr #
• NDS (Silver: http://ow.ly/g2G3) (Crimson: http://ow.ly/g2Gb) is $129.99 ($10 off) @ Dell.ca – DSi is $179.99 ($20 off) – http://ow.ly/g2Gr #
• Pokemon: Platinum is $29.99 ($9 off) @ Dell.ca – http://ow.ly/g2FB #
• FYI: I've updated the @GameDealsCanada page with info on how to search the feed. – http://ow.ly/g2EN – Just in case people don't know how. #
• Personal Trainer: Walking is $49.99 ($10 off) @ Amazon.ca – http://ow.ly/g2EJ #
• Heroes of Might & Magic V is $4.99 ($15 off) on Steam – http://ow.ly/g1uM #
• DOTW: Xbox 360 Controller Bundle w/ Wireless Gamepad, Banjo & Viva Pinata is $69.98 ($10 off) @ Amazon.ca – http://ow.ly/g0Vi #

I didn’t plan this, but playing both Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney – Justice for All and Siren: Blood Curse made me realize how similar they are. Their strengths are their stories and that’s why I’m playing them.

“Playing”.

It’s difficult to associate my interaction with that verb. There’s combat, switch pulling and other tiny amounts of “gameplay” in  Siren: Blood Curse, but it’s not all that engaging or fun. And the Ace Attorney series? It is more or less a point and click adventure.

Thus I’m in it for the story and atmosphere. Siren: Blood Curse is creeping me out more than any other survival horror game in recent memory. Phoenix Wright and the Ace Attorney series have kept me finding contradictions and searching for clues up until 1:30 in the morning. I’ve been having an entertaining time with both.

They may not test my reflexes or wow my senses, but they’re doing a great job involving my imagination and problem solving skills. All while, telling a pretty damn good story.

Now, if you would excuse me, I’m off to “read”.

P.S – Exclusives Watch 2009 update tomorrow? Perhaps. I may postpone it for some added flair.