Circle Pad Pro XL Review

        Much like myself, I believe most reporters would admit that in early 2012, when the original Circle Pad Pro attachment released for the 3DS, they may have believed that Nintendo's right-analog-nub attachment would be the ultimate defense against the PlayStation Vita. Well, as it turns out, we were all dead wrong, and 3DS really never needed to defend itself against Sony, as it would go on to sell millions more consoles than the Vita could ever hope to (at least at the time of this writing).
        Nearly a year has past since the release of the original 3DS Circle Pad Pro, and now, for the first time ever, in the United States, the Circle Pad Pro XL for the Nintendo 3DS XL is available from Nintendo's official online store, but is it worth the $19.99 plus shipping and handling fees to control in-game camera angles more naturally? That depends. If you own or plan on owning any of the games supported by the attachment within this short list and find the games' default camera settings awkward, then perhaps you should look into buying this accessory, but otherwise be weary.
        While the "CPP XL", as the crazy kids are calling it these days, certainly gets the job done, it does so in perhaps one of the most inconvenient ways possible. First of all, after unpacking the device and attaching it to my Nipplechu 3DS XL, I realized the device wasn't pre-charged. After being slightly frustrated with that idea in my head, I then realized the device required one AAA battery in which it wasn't packaged with. So, slightly more frustrated now, I began to search for AAA batteries when, at last, I'd found what I was searching for, and *SPOILER ALERT* the experience was far from rewarding.
        Now, after undergoing all of that trouble to properly play Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance, I assumed my pain was short-lived. It wasn't. The system failed to recognize the Circle Pad Pro for nearly 20 minutes, and shortly after, the game ceased to utilize the accessory whatsoever during certain areas. This caused me worry, as I bought the accessory solely to play this game with a more natural feel.
        Eventually, I reached a section of the game in which I needed to use the touch screen to continue, then realizing, once again, another shortcoming of this accessory: IT PREVENTS ACCESS TO THE STYLUS! At this point, I was a much more frustrated Gabe, a Gabe who could probably go for a few Mega Stuf Golden Oreos at this point. So I took a deep breath, held my head up high and whispered quietly, "I'm going to give this accessory a mediocre review." I then realized just how nerdy my life really is and how badly I'd wished for Dream Drop Distance to control its own camera angles.

Pros:

-Gets the job done

-It's worth it for the novelty

Cons:

-Incredibly bulky

-Requires, but doesn't include one AAA battery

-Isn't rechargeable

-Prevents access to stylus

-Limited configuration options in-game (i.e. inverse camera control)

Bullogna Score: 6.0... Meh.

Evil Dead Review

B-TEN is proud to present its first movie review from Logan Hodges! EVIL-DEAD is a 2013 remake of the 1980's cult classic by Sam Raimi. The film centers around five friends who navigate to a remote cabin for a weekend getaway, only to discover a book of the dead that causes nothing but utter chaos. Who will survive in this bloody remake? You can discover that for yourself as the film is still being shown in theaters. The film is unlike any other remake in which it centers around the same plot. This movie is similar to that of a modern revamp of the original. Although the plot is different and new, the dialogue between the characters was a bit B-rate at the start but as the film progressed, it improved. The Evil-Dead 2013 remake is rated R by the MPAA for strong bloody violence and gore as well as some sexual content and language. Interesting enough, the remake originally received an NC-17 rating for its graphic violence but was later modified to a much more suitable R rating. The Evil Dead (2013) consists of an extremely graphic nature and is deemed one of the goriest movies ever released to the public. Overall, I give the film a 10/10. It's quite thrilling as it has its frightening moments and delivers everything the horror fanbase has been searching for! Feel free to check out the trailer here, although viewer discretion is advised. You've been warned.

Article written by Logan Hodges; revised by Gabriel Carey.

Bullogna Score: 10!

AMAZING

Bullogna Is Looking For Writers, Facebook Admins, and Podcasters

The following posting has been copied directly from our listing on GameJournalismJobs.com

*Bullogna Technology & Entertainment News

*We are looking for writers who either have an interest in video games, hardware, or other technolgies o write news updates, review various technologies including video games, and/or join us on our weekly podcast, Dose of D-Pad. I also need someone who can be trusted with our Facebok page. Each individual will not have to do ALL of these things, but I AM looking for at least one person for each position. If this sounds like the job for you the contact me at the e-mail address stated below.

*Unforrunately, this is a volunteer job, but will look great on your resume when applying to larger sites such as IGN, GameSpot, Joystiq, Engadget, and more!

*Contact Gabe Carey at spiritwarstudios@yahoo.com if interested. Please sent the following information:

1) Name

2) Job of interest

3) Any writing, Facebook Admin, or Podcasting Experience

4) Resume (Optional)

How Microsoft Could Make A Return To the Next-Gen Console Race

The following article was written before Microsoft confirmed the May 21st unveiling of their next Xbox console:

  We've all heard the rumors regarding Microsoft's next Xbox, codenamed Durango, but what we've yet to hear is any confirmation that these rumors are true. Already, I've seen people use the most god-awful hyperboles in existence (and yes, I'm aware that I too just used a hyperbole) in reference to a console that has yet to be confirmed in any way whatsoever.  Many general video game consumers, in addition Sony and Nintendo fanboys as they're often called, as much as I hate to use the term, are already writing Microsoft off prior to being aware of what Microsoft's upcoming machine is even called! Don't claim that I'm "bashing" you if you're one of these people, as I've recently found myself to be a victim of this pre-announcement write-off, but there is a certain negative connotation associated with this kind of behavior when a console has yet to be announced, and certainly at this point in time Nintendo fans may not be the right group of people to partake in the criticism of Microsoft's next console, primarily because according to many sources, Nintendo most likely won't have an eight-generation console to compete alongside PS4 and Durango, and unless they can prove to consumers otherwise, I may be deeply disappointed in Nintendo in the next few years.

        But how could Microsoft combat these suspicions from the now fans of their competitors? Let's find out... Together. ;) [Laugh]

1. Say NO to always-online connectivity!: This is the most major complaint I've seen regarding the rumored next-gen Xbox, yet it's far from having been confirmed, other than the controversial remarks we saw from Adam Orth just last week.
2. Xbox-exclusive games: To me, in the current generation of consoles, I found Xbox to be irrelevant due to the fact that my PC could do the exact same things as Xbox, but without the subscription fee for online play and with much more beautiful graphics. Xbox needs something more than Halo and Gears of War in the upcoming generation; something surprising.
3. NO subscription fees!: For the brief time that I spent with my Xbox 360, I found the "silver" free subscription to be an annoyance as I couldn't take part in any internet-based services and gave me yet another reason to make the switch to PS3. It should be a no-brainer for Microsoft to discontinue subscription fees... Should be.
4. Out-of-the-box rechargeable controllers!: This is bound to happen, so I have no worries with this one.
5. Games NEED to be the focal point, not casual gimmicks!: Wii ruined Microsoft and Sony in the console games market as motion controls became necessary for both companies to succeed, but unfortunately Kinect and PlayStation Move didn't go over as well as expected.

         As most of you probably know, rumors all point to May 21st, 2013 as the announcement date for the next console from Microsoft and as that date quickly approaches, I've thrown together an event that will cover commentary of Micrsoft's event for your own disgusting plesaure. [Oh, that's right, you guys aren't familiar with me yet. That right there was called a joke. For now, I'll insert a comprehensible laugh track each time I crack one of those for your amusement.] You can join the event by clicking here, and don't worry, your browser will open the link in a new tab.

The Start Button May Make A Comeback In Windows 8.1

        According to The Verge, the start button may return in an upcoming iteration of Microsoft's touch-based home computer operating system, Windows 8. Unfortunately, the source also claims that the new start button will only act as a shortcut that will (more familiarly) access the Windows 8 "metro" styled interface.
        
        Windows 8.1 has been in the talks since earlier this month, although the actual features it will bring to the table are currently unknown other than rumors such as a boot-to-desktop feature which will bypass your mobile-styled app screen for a more familiar desktop screen your computer eyes are so accustomed to. 

        Windows 8.1 is rumored to release in June, with its announcement to be held at Microsoft's Build conference which takes place from June 26th until June 28th, 2013.
        
        Do you support Microsoft's changes to their desktop operating system? Does it matter? Let us know in the comments below.*

*Also at Bullogna, we are currently seeking volunteers interested in updating the blog, administering to the Facebook page, and/or podcasting on either Dose of D-Pad or B-TEN Official Podcast. If you're interested, click here.

        

Listen To Our 4/20 Blazin' Season Finale Extravaganza

by Gabe Carey         

        As confirmed on tonight's podcast, I will be holding a special episode of Dose of D-Pad in which I'll be discussing my Top 10 anticipated gaming events of 2013, all of which you can read about in this article if you so choose. The episode will actually release on 4/19, but will often be referred to as 4/20 due to the fact that other than being my birthday, Hitler's birthday, and the anniversary of the Columbine shooting, 4/20 also happens to fall on National Marijuana Day. (Or National Marijuana Day falls on it; I'm not sure.) In celebration of my birthday and the final episode of Dose of D-Pad in its first season, I would anticipate for this episode to be my most successful

        So,

to listen to Dose of D-Pad on either 4/19 or 4/20 (blazin') in order to support my efforts of establishing a potentially successful series of podcasts in my upcoming second season of gaming news, and not-so-gaming-news. I'd like to personally thank each and every one of you for your support, and I hope for you to continue to enjoy all of my video game-related content whether it be on Bullogna Technology & Entertainment News, VGU.TV, DigiBytes.me, FMV Magazine, or, Nintendose.

Top 10 Most Anticipated Gaming Events of 2013

        This Saturday on Dose of D-Pad I'll be hosting the Top 10 Most Anticipated Gaming Events of 2013 special episode/season finale event. Fittingly enough, Saturday also happens to be my birthday, so as assumed, I'll be crying myself to sleep praying to God that I could be 6 again. Nevertheless, I plan for this event to be a success and therefore find it suitable to promote it by publishing the outline that I'll use for Saturday morning's podcast event. If you have any ideas on how to improve this list, feel free to comment and I'll be sure to include your contribution on the show when I record on Friday night.

10) Roller Coaster Tycoon (Android, iOS)

The original Roller Coaster Tycoon is being ported for support on both Google Play and the App Store. We better see a simultaneous release on both platforms. Nostalgia, here I come!

9) Beyond: Two Souls

Quantic Dream's spiritual successor to the critically acclaimed Heavy Rain may be the final PS3-exclusive worth discussing.

8) PS Vita North American Price Cut

Will PS Vita finally get a price cut in North America? Will it matter?

7) Tearaway

Speaking of PS Vita, LittleBigPlanet developer Media Molecule has something special tucked away in their gaming laboratories... And it releases on October 22nd in the U.S. (October 25th in Europe)  

6) Wii U Price Cut

While analyst Michael Patcher claimed today that a price could wouldn't help the Wii U, it sure wouldn't hurt, and along with a potentially large assortment of games to be announced at E3, a price cut could be Wii U's savior.

5) Pokemon X and Y

While Nintendo may be flopping in console sales, they're certainly succeeding in the handheld department, and the first fully 3D Pokemon is going to make the ride that much sweeter. Pokemon X and Y will be releasing worldwide for the Nintendo 3DS in October 2013.

4) The Last of Us

I bought a PS3 last year for the sole purpose of being able to play this game at its launch. I then played all of Naughty Dog's other titles and thrilled that I'll be able to hang out with Joel and Ellie on the same day that I'm going with my dad to see Man of Steel. The Last of Us releases June 14th.

3) PlayStation 4 Launch

This includes every launch title for PS4; hopefully Infamous: Second Son, Killzone: Shadow Fall, Knack, The Witness, Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, and more!

2) Next-Gen Xbox Annoucement

We've all heard the awful rumors, but I want to be able to separate truth from lies. It's rumored that Microsoft will be holding a press conference to announce the new Xbox on May 21st, 2013, but if you want to stay updated on this subject, join my Facebook event page by clicking here.

1) E3 2013

This is where we'll (hopefully) get all of the answers. This year's Electronic Entertainment Expo conference will take place from June 11th until June 13th, 2013 at the Los Angeles Convention center, but is not open to the public and will be covered on most general/gaming news sites. I expect Vita games and major changes for Nintendo, but my E3 predictions will make their way into a separate article written at a later date.

Guacamelee! Review (PS3/PS Vita)

        It's been a long time coming since Drinkbox Studios, developers of the primarily PlayStation-exclusive Tales From Space series, announced their latest indie PSN addition, Guacamelee!, on May 30th, 2012. Until its release today, I was precarious as to whether I should pay the $11.99 it costs PlayStation Plus users  to receive the game. Even after seeing the gameplay trailer, I was worried as to whether the visually impressive metroidvania style action-platformer would live up to its ambitions. Let it be known that it has. I would even go as far as saying that the game has surpassed any ambitions it may has previously held.

Guacamelee! shines bright like a... Dare I say it? DIAMOND on both PS Vita's OLED screen
as well as the PlayStation 3D Display in native 1080p.

        The gameplay is meticulously designed in such a way that it feels like a personal invention of the video game artists themselves. The inclusion of humor immerses players in a world that often feels as if they are interactively taking part in a Saturday morning cartoon, specifically a cartoon which I enjoyed as a kid, commonly known as Mucha Lucha! And the visuals are so well done that I no longer feel the need to purchase Rayman Legends on PS3 when it is released, as I already own the superior product with only a $12 investment. The game is a masterpiece, justifying my purchase of both PS3 and PS Vita.

Bullogna Score: 8.7!

Pros:

-Meticulously designed gameplay

-Superb performance on both PS3 and Vita

-Cross-controller support (plays like Wii U using PS3/Vita)

-Cross-buy support (only had to pay $12 for both PS3 and Vita versions)

-Excellent co-op experience on PS3

-Brilliant inclusion of humor

Cons:

-Controls can be confusing at first

-Not able to play as Juan using Vita as controller for PS3

What Wii Want From Wii U At E3

        While this isn't a complete list of everything Nintendo would need to survive the next generation of console with their Wii U system, I have constructed an outline of points that would help Wii U achieve cult status as its predecessor did. If you can think of more advice for the video game-exclusive company to rise to the ocassion this June for E3 and blow gamers away with a changed mindset, please leave your ideas in the comments section below.

A Strong New IP

        Although Nintendo has been able to cook up some fresh new IPs over the past 10 years, the number of new Nintendo intellectual properties with strong sales has remained at an all-time low. As a publisher, Nintendo's first-party lineup has become victim to re-releasing slightly modified versions of games which already exist on an annual basis, or in other words has contracted the Call of Duty Virus! *Gasp* A well-designed fresh new take on the publisher who started it all could help Nintendo inch their way up to the starting line.

Super Smash Bros. 4, Zelda U, Mario Kart, and 3D Super Mario U

        Each of these titles have been confirmed to be shown at E3, but promises are not often kept nowadays. Nintendo needs to have gameplay for each of these games with upcoming release dates that aren't so distant in the future that the system would die off before their respective launches.

Proof of Future Third Party Support

        We've all heard rumors that Ubisoft and EA could be completely dropping support for the Wii U altogether. As much as most of us despise the latter company, it seems that a lack of EA support would harm the systems sales exponentially, and that Ubisoft is the only major publisher still continuously supporting Nintendo's home console. Without apparent proof of third party support for the future of Wii U, it may seem to consumers that Wii U is just a reiteration of the Wii's final years, and that Nintendo's first party lineup doesn't solely sell dedicated gaming consoles anymore.

Non-Existent Loading 

        While this may not be possible with Wii U's current hardware, it would indeed be impressive to see non-existent load times on Wii U games not dissimilar to the technology found in PS4. If possible, this could help disprove the theory that Wii U isn't a next generation game console.

GameCube/GBA Virtual Console

        This is yet another asset which I'm not aware is possible or not, but if Nintendo is able to pull off GameCube games on the eShop's Virtual Console, this could unanimously increase sales as older teens, and perhaps college students unaware of emulators or who oppose piracy, would buy Wii U primarily for nostalgic purposes. If they could find a way to include the option of HD upscaling in both GCN and GBA games then kudos to Nintendo because they'd be set to win!

A Clarified Marketing Campaign

        Perhaps this wouldn't be appropriate for E3 in particular (or perhaps it would), but I think it is the general consensus that poor marketing has affected Wii U's sales more than almost anything. All Nintendo would need is one commercial to air on various cable networks, explaining the differences between Wii and Wii U, and clarifying that the gamepad is NOT an accessory for the original Wii and sales numbers would increase drastically. It seems that less companies have it in them to invest in marketing recently, and without this major flaw, less major companies would be suffering as of now.