The Guinness Book of World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition has recently come out, and it includes a list of the 50 best video game characters of all time. Now firstly, who decided on this list? Well the results were determined by a poll on the Guinness website. So readers and fans determined the results of the poll. Over 13,000 different votes were counted so it’s a pretty conclusive result in my opinion.

Want to hazard a guess as to who got the number one spot? Well I don’t think it’s any surprise really, Nintendo’s Mario of course claimed the top spot. This iconic little guy first appeared back in 1981 and the Mario franchise has blossomed ever since.

Link from Zelda was another one for Nintendo with him coming in second place. Master chief from Halo claimed the 3rd spot for Microsoft and Sony’s Solid Snake coming in 4th. I think you’ll find that the majority of the top 10 are held by older characters from the classic games with the exception of one or two.

Looking further down the list you see characters such as “Soap” MacTavish from the Call Of Duty Franchise as well as others.  Most of these characters have been around longer than I have and I’ve never heard of several of them, but somebody must have if they managed to make it into the top 50 characters of all time

Have a look at the list below and let us know what your list is in the comments below

1. Mario (Donkey Kong, Nintendo, 1981)
2. Link (The Legend of Zelda, Nintendo, 1986)
3. Master Chief (Halo: Combat Evolved, Microsoft, 2001)
4. Solid Snake (Metal Gear, Konami, 1987)
5. Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII, Square, 1997)
6. Pac-Man (Pac-Man, Namco, 1980)
7. Lara Croft (Tomb Raider, Eidos 1996)
8. Gordon Freeman (Half-Life, Valve, 1998)
9. Kratos (God of War, Sony, 2005)
10. Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog, Sega, 1990)
11. Crash (Crash Bandicoot, Sony, 1996)
12. “Soap” MacTavish (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Activision, 2007)
13. Nico Bellic (Grand Theft Auto IV, Rockstar, 2008)
14. Samus Aran (Metroid, Nintendo 1986)
15. Ratchet (Ratchet & Clank, Sony, 2002)
16. Nathan Drake (Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, Sony, 2007)
17. Captain Price (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Activision, 2007)
18. Kirby (Kirby’s Dream Land, Nintendo, 1992)
19. Marcus Fenix (Gears of War, Microsoft, 2006)
20. Pikachu (Pokemon Red/Green, Nintendo 1996)
21. Yoshi (Super Mario World, Nintendo, 1990)
22. “CJ” Johnson (Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Rockstar, 2004)
23. Mega Man (Mega Man, Capcom, 1987)
24. Sam Fisher (Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell, Ubisoft, 2002)
25. Shadow (Sonic Adventure 2, Sega, 2001)
26. Jak (Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Sony, 2001)
27. Duke Nukem (Duke Nukem, Apogee, 1991)
28. Dante (Devil May Cry, Bandai, 2003)
29. Naruto (Naruto: Konoha Ninpoch, Bandai, 2003)
30. Altair (Assassin’s Creed, Ubisoft, 2007)
31. Zelda (The Legend of Zelda, Nintendo, 1986)
32. Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII, Square, 1997)
33. Donkey Kong (Donkey Kong, Nintendo, 1981)
34. The Prince (Prince of Persia, Broderbund, 1989)
35. Ezio (Assassin’s Creed II, Ubisoft, 2009)
36. Leon S (Biohazard/Resident Evil, Capcom, 1996)
37. Ash Ketchum (Pokemon Red/Green, Nintendo, 1996)
38. Guybrush Threepwood (The Secret of Monkey Island, LucasArts, 1990)
39. Spyro (Spyro the Dragon, Universal, 1998)
40. “Ghost” Riley (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Activision, 2009)
41. Goku (Dragon Daihikyoe, Epoch, 1987)
42. Max Payne (Max Payne, Rockstar, 2001)
43. Jill Valentine (Biohazard/Resident Evil, Capcom, 1996)
44. Princess Peach (Super Mario Bros., Nintendo, 1985)
45. Larry Laffer (Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards, Sierra, 1987)
46. Augustus Cole (Gears of War, Microsoft, 2006)
47. Bowser (Super Mario Bros., Nintendo, 1985)
48. Eddie Riggs (Brutal Legend, EA, 2009)
49. Ryu (Street Fighter, Capcom, 1987)
50. Sackboy (LittleBigPlanet, Sony, 2008)

Guinness Announces The Top Video Game Characters Of All Time is a post from Connected Internet - tech, mobile and gaming news. - Updated daily with the latest news, tips, tweaks, social networking, wordpress tips & tweaks, windows optimization help and more.. Visit Connected Internet - tech, mobile and gaming news. for more articles.

As of today, owners of the Nintendo Wii gaming console will be joining the Xbox and Playstation in their ability to stream content from Netflix. On Thursday the company announced that they had begun shipping the discs required to stream content to the Wii.

Netflix has been available on the Xbox and Playstation for quite some time now, but owners of the Nintendo Wii have been waiting quite a while for this now after they were told a while back that it would be coming, but no release date was given.

Source: Engadget

So as part of the “Final Phase” of Netflix’s plans, it has now shipped out the disc required to stream content to it’s customers in the US who requested it and they should be arriving from today onwards. However it’s only a gradual roll out and only those who registered their interest will be receiving the discs as Netflix plan on “using the feedback it gains from those users to improve issues with the service prior to its official launch” according to marketing exec Jessie Becker in a blog post.

Now that Netflix is available on the Wii, it completes the companies goal to get their service on all three of the major gaming devices. However the Xbox 360 is the only console that has built in support for Netflix and doesn’t require an additional disc to stream content.

Netflix have refused to say how many discs they sent out or when they plan to roll this service out fully to everyone else, but existing Netflix subscribers can register for their disc now. Any Netflix member with an unlimited plan for $8.99 per month or higher, a broadband connection, and a Wii console will be able to access the service at launch. To sign up, reserve a copy of the Wii disc online, and Netflix will send you an e-mail once it launches.

But do Nintendo Wii owners really want Netflix on their consoles, especially when you consider that the Wii isn’t capable of HD playback, it can only manage a mere 480P and it’s not really set up to be a home entertainment system like the Xbox or Playstation.

What do you think,

Is there really much demand for Netflix on the Wii?

Let us know in the comments

Source:

Cnet

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As I talked about in my last post, the iPhone has been growing tremendously fast as a mobile gaming platform. And just as I finished that post, I get to see this the latest stats released by Flurry. The first one is about all the apps that are being tested out for the soon to be shipping iPad — Apple’s iPhone OS based full touchscreen tablet.

As you can see from the pie chart above, apps falling under the ‘Gaming’ category have an overwhelming majority over all other categories at a whopping 44%! The next category in terms of percentage is the ‘Entertainment’ category that has a measly 14% when compared to that 44%. Social Networking comes in third with 7%.

Even though the iPad was pitched as content consumption device, it seems like the developers zeroed in on two things — more horsepower and a gorgeous and large touchscreen to work with. What do you do with so much power, responsiveness and great display? Why you make games of course! What other kind of iPhone apps has the immersive experience that games do? So if you want to stun people, now is a good time.

Besides, it became quite clear that this device would be great at gaming during the keynote itself. Doesn’t matter if the Apple top rung hates seeing their precious platform turn into a game machine, they know it’s good for business. The iPad being a very personal device that you old up close to use, gaming of any kind is going to be extremely enjoyable.

However, this pie chart only shows what app is in testing — most of the normal apps do not need much testing because it is more or less the same OS. But games are extremely complex and the resolution difference will matter a lot. So may be that’s why they are in testing mode en masse.

And now let’s move to the second pie-chart for the day. This one shows the iPhone’s growth in the gaming sector. This is an year over year growth representation showing the growth achieved between the period of 2008-2009.

As is visible clearly, the iPhone OS started out as a tiny sliver in the larger scheme of things, thanks to the not so powerful hardware. And then the iPhone 3GS happened. Soon, the portable and the console parts gave way to more iPhone OS. And with the iPad, this will happen all the more.

I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that console gaming has actually shrunk and portable gaming has increased. This can be taken as an indicator of current market trends. People do not want to invest in a larger console and parents aren’t solvent enough anymore to buy it for their children. Portables on the other hand are comparatively less expensive and give the choice, a lot of working adults will choose to play on a portable than on a console. Not everyone has disposable time and income to spare to sit at home and play on a console connected with a great TV. Plus, the games cost a lot as well.

And those are the overall gaming stats. Have a look at the stats when you take it to the level of portable gaming.

Both PSP and the Nintendo DS have lost money to the iPhone OS. The chart is unforgivingly clear on this — the iPhone is here to stay and it is eating market share right and left. Why would you want to lug around an iPhone and a PSP anyway? Sure, if you are addicted to it or are a fan boy but otherwise, with the likes of EA onboard, you should see it clearly — the future of portable gamin is on convergent device like the iPhone.

Flurry’s Stats: Overwhelming Gaming Majority In iPad Apps Plus iPhone’s Growth In Mobile Gaming is a post from Connected Internet - tech, mobile and gaming news. - Updated daily with the latest news, tips, tweaks, social networking, wordpress tips & tweaks, windows optimization help and more.. Visit Connected Internet - tech, mobile and gaming news. for more articles.

It seems all the doom and gloom we’ve been experiencing for the last 12 months may finally be starting to turn around for us. Due to the economic downturn, the gaming industry was seeing massive decreases in its sales, but now it seems things are starting to turn around for the better.

December was the industry’s “Best Ever” month for consoles sales, even better than December of 2008. This news came from the NPD Groups retail data, which saw an increase in all categories apart from game software. This department saw a drop of 7% from $2.8 to $2.2 billion compared to last year.

“The video game industry experienced its biggest sales month ever, besting last December by 4%,”

Said NPD analyst Anita Frazier in a press statement. Understandably this one month record wasn’t enough to make up for the drop in sales for the previous 11 months and the industry was still 8 points down, or $19.7 billion compared to last year’s $21.4 billion, but at least it’s not as bad as we had feared.

“The big sales [in December], particularly on the hardware front, [are] a positive move for the industry headed into what will hopefully be a recovery year in 2010.”

There is even better news for Nintendo, the Wii had been experiencing a rapid decline in sales over the last few months but December showed a big turn around for the console. Last December the Wii sold 2.15 million units. This December it sold nearly double that, racking up an astonishing 3.81 million in unit sales, the system’s biggest month to date and a new record at that.

The Nintendo DS also saw a slight increase on sales compared to last years, it sold 270,000 more units than it did last year ( 3.04 million )

Sony’s PS3 also set its own records, breaking a million sales units for the first time since its release, putting it ahead of Microsofts Xbox 360 by 50,000 units. Sony’s PS2 was known for being a best seller for Sony and actually sold more units than the PS3 when it was released, however according to NPD, the PS3 has now outsold the PS2 by over 9 million units in the first 50 months in the market.

Hardware (units)

3.81m – Wii
3.31m – Nintendo DS
1.36m – PlayStation 3
1.31m – Xbox 360
655k – PSP
333k – PlayStation 2

These console sales are very promising for the industry and the overall global economy, and is just another sign that the worlds economy is starting to pull itself together and begin the path to recovery. The software market should expect to see a boost in its sales now, with an increased number of hardware platforms out there and there are several great titles coming up this year.

Here’s hoping 2010 is the year of recovery for us all.

Source:

PC World

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The gaming addicts who are fond of the titles that offer cinematic FPS excitement swear by the ‘Call of Duty’ series of games. The earlier versions used the Second World War as the backdrop but this was changed in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. The new characters and plot infused fresh life into the Call of Duty franchise. The Modern Warfare 2 was announced by the beginning of 2009 and it got released a few days back. It has become extremely popular within a short time among the gamers.

The game can be divided in three sections. The single player mode is ideal for the impatient gamers who have a tendency of jumping into the game as fast as possible. Those who like online gaming can try the multiplayer version of the game. Apart from these, the game also has a Spec Ops mode. In fact, Modern Warfare 2 retains a lot of elements present in its predecessors but also polishes up and tweaks the gameplay. Playing in the single player mode gives one the experience of watching a Hollywood action flick. The plot of the game is quite elaborate and presents a lot of difficulty levels for the players.

The game starts 5 years after where the first version left off. It offers a montage of chronicles to update the player about the developments that have taken place in these years. The players also need to represent various characters in the game for different missions. The player will be transported to many places of the world where war has broken out as a result of large-scale terrorist attacks. The plot has enough turns and twists to keep the players hooked till the end. The players may face difficulty in completing some missions as the enemy AI is strong and the action sequences are quite hectic. The multiplayer version has improved level designs and the weather effects and game terrains look spectacular.

Infinity Ward deserves credit for making the latest release of Modern Warfare realistic and hard hitting. The top notch visuals of the game are matched by the sound score. Both the background music and conversations are interesting. The Dolby Digital sound enhancement implemented in the game sounds best in a home theater setup. Activision has made the game available for Windows, Xbox and PS3. However, the Xbox Live party Chat cannot be used in a number of sections in the game.

In the game’s single player mode, the gamers need to don the hats of 5 separate characters. However, in the majority of the game the player needs to act as Gary Sanderson. He is a group member of Task Force 141, an international commando unit. The game also has a number of characters who are not involved in the missions. Modern Warfare 2 lives up to the expectation of the fans of the Call of Duty series. The plot of the game, while not ground breaking, offers enough excitement and interesting events to the FPS lovers. The continuity in the story line is credible and the characterization is captivating as well.

A Sneak Peek Into Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is a post from Connected Internet - tech, mobile and gaming news. - Updated daily with the latest news, tips, tweaks, social networking, wordpress tips & tweaks, windows optimization help and more.. Visit Connected Internet - tech, mobile and gaming news. for more articles.

Computer gaming has evolved considerably over the past two decades. From the DOS based basic graphic games, Console gaming has reached new heights where the line between virtual and real world has blurred. However, there are some good old games that remain popular even today despite the advancements made in the sphere of technology. Mario was a popular game of the Pre-Windows era when personal computers were yet to become a reality. It is still loved by a lot of veteran PC gamers who find the quirky and funny characters of the game and its fascinating, colorful world a delight. These people can check out the reincarnation of Mario in Super Mario Bros

The gameplay and graphics look familiar to the original Mario series. However, the attraction of the game lies deep under its surface. The first level of the Super Mario Bros. Wii may make some gamers disappointed. However, once they cross past that stage and explore the goodies hidden in the advanced levels they are likely to get addicted to it. In fact, the multi-player version of the game offers more thrill than the single player version. The level design of the game is among the best that can be achieved in 2D platform.

As the game can be played using just two buttons, others can use a controller to join it. The gamers can fly upwards using the propeller suit. With the penguin suit a player gets the ability to freeze his enemies in the game. It also makes swimming much easier. The small but effective tweaks help the players in advancing through the various levels of the game. A lot of challenges are unfolded as the player finishes one version and moves to the next. The myriad game challenges ensue that the player never gets bored with shooting the enemies. It has all the elements to become a hit Nintendo title.

Its multi player version offers more excitement as the players can interact with one another. The grievances of other players that run like a commentary provides a comic relief. The game levels have many hidden treasures and secrets. Besides, the players have the option to find them or just finish the levels fast. This adds a good amount of replay value. A player can choose to play the game according to his own style and this flexibility is hard to find in other similar games. While the children will love this game, their parents will find its simplistic approach unbeatable.

However, the game is not flawless from a gamer’s perspective. The fact that Super Mario Bros. Wii does not offer an online version is a drawback on its part. The game is definitely attractive and engaging but its attraction would have multiplied with online support and voice chat. With its new features and a few inherent limitations, the game offers the charm of classical 2D animation games in a revamped version. The Mario aficionados will surely have a go at this one. The revamped version seems exciting enough to enthral the gaming freaks.

Super Mario Bros. Wii: The Charm Of Mario Revisited is a post from Connected Internet - tech, mobile and gaming news. - Updated daily with the latest news, tips, tweaks, social networking, wordpress tips & tweaks, windows optimization help and more.. Visit Connected Internet - tech, mobile and gaming news. for more articles.

In a recent move, noted Japanese console and games maker Nintendo has decided to ship a large sized edition of its popular console DSi handheld. The new device will have two screens and it will be known as DSi LL. It will be available in stores approximately in the last week of November. The estimated cost of the device will be around $220 USD. According to the news available from a Nintendo spokesperson, the device will be sold in overseas market by early next year. It will be the costliest device in the DSi series of consoles.

In April this year, Nintendo released the DSi with two cameras which was a tad bigger than the original DSi. However, the screen size of the new DSi will come close to Sony PSP’s screen size. The dual screen will add to its novelty factor. As per the specs, the new version of DSi will offer increased battery life. It could be close to three hours or even more depending on the screen brightness. Those who think they will get a better resolution in the new device are likely to be disappointed. The resolution will remain as it is. In Europe it will be sold as DSi XL.

Apart from the pixilation issue the new device will also be heavier. At 314 grams it is quite bulky. The device is not going to offer any revolutionary change in game play to the Nintendo fans. The weight of the device may deter some of the users to carry it around.

For more information please click here.

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