Every year, NY Comic Con showcases the industry’s best upcoming games and demos for the public to enjoy. Here’s what I found interesting this year while I roamed around the exhibition floor.

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Max Payne 3

Publisher: Rockstar Games
Release Date: March 2012
Platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC

Grab your painkillers and load up your pistols because everyone’s favorite bullet-time vigilante is back - - and this time, he’s getting a massive next-gen overhaul.

Max Payne 3, the third chapter in the critically acclaimed series, hit NY Comic Con with both barrels and left its mark on the festivities. Fans of the third-person shooter game have nothing to worry about by the looks of things: Rockstar, not only has everything well under control, but has reinvigorated the series altogether with its beautifully rendered graphics and cool new fighting features like Final kill-camera, Last Man Standing (which gives Max the chance to advert death by killing his executioner at the cost of a banked painkiller) and the Red Dead Redemption-esque weapon wheel.

From the first moments of the developer-led demo, you are treated to a cutscene structure familiar to any video gamer, one which explains the destructive depths of Max’s current state of affairs: he’s boozing, taking pills and living alone in a tenement filled with whacked out neighbors. Basically, he’s given up and he doesn’t care about anything or anyone.

Then, a knock comes at his door: an old friend pays him a visit with a possible job opportunity and all hell breaks loose. The following action throws Max into a gun battle that will take him through the streets of New York City and San Paolo, Brazil.

Graphically speaking, Rockstar teleported the Max Payne franchise to the next level (pun intended). Using an amalgam of their ever popular RAGE engine, motion capture physical acting and Natural Motion’s Euphoria game system, Rockstar developers infused Max Payne’s 3-D character models with a digital breath of life. Gone are the occasional ice skating-like sliding across levels instead of walking or rubber-like bouncing off walls coming out of a bullet-time frenzy. Now, Max will walk, run and fight might like a real world over-stressed detective-turned-vigilante-gunman would if put in a similar situation.

The game’s signature feature, the well-known bullet-time aim for gun fights, also takes advantage of the new mo-cap tech. After finishing a sepia-hued mid-air assault on Max’s enemies, players will notice that his character model takes a natural and realistic station wherever he lands, giving the player a 360 degree range of motion to aim at any remaining bad guys. Fallen combatants are used by Max as makeshift cover/leaning posts if nearby, while jumping into walls no longer causes Payne to float to the ground or slide down its face.

Rather, the obstruction re-averts his motion though a pushing off animation, which re-positions Max towards safety or into oncoming danger depending on the circumstances. And with these technical motion capture improvements now in place, Rescue Me star James McCaffrey will have a chance to not only voice Max but also physically act him out as well - - from a simple grimace while nursing his post-battle wounds to a flat out runner’s sprint through back alleyways and streets reminiscent of Usain Bolt.

Though most of the gameplay footage displayed at NY Comic Con took place during the day, Rockstar developers on hand assured the viewing public that the series’ classic noir themes will be deeply entrenched within Max Payne 3’s main storyline. And the rumors of the game having multiplayer features may be true, though they didn’t confirm or deny any questions regarding the subject shot their way.

Slated for release in March of 2012, Max Payne 3 looks ready for public consumption right now, though the wait for the highly-anticipated release feels as if we’re caught in the middle of Max’s time-bending antics.

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Grand Theft Auto 3 - 10th Anniversary Edition

Publisher: Rockstar Games
Release Date: Fall 2011
Platform: Apple iOS Devices (iPad 2, iPhone 4S), Android Phones (Droid X2, HTC Evo 2, LG Optimus 2X, Motorola Atrix, Samsung Galaxy S2), Android Tablets (Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1)

On October 22nd, 2001, Rockstar Games released what many in the video game industry called “magnificent,” “epic” and “brilliant”: the PlayStation 2’s Grand Theft Auto 3. The first 3-D effort in the underground series, GTA 3 became a mainstream attraction for hardcore shooter enthusiasts and anti-violence advocates alike. Many say it fueled Rockstar’s rise to developer super-stardom and laid the groundwork for future hits like Midnight Club, Red Dead Redemption and L.A. Noire.

10 years and reportedly tens of millions of units sold later, Rockstar recently announced their intentions of celebrating the ten anniversary of GTA 3 by re-releasing the game for many iOS and Android mobile platforms. And NY Comic Con was the first major exhibition where gamers and the press alike could test out the soon to be released game in all its nostalgic glory on the iPad 2.

The first noticeable features of the re-release is its graphical sharpness. With many classic games re-purposed for newer platforms, models and environments can really show their age. This isn’t the case with this edition of GTA 3. While it’s not nearly as layered or complex as the aforementioned Max Payne 3, the 10th anniversary edition looks as if it could be released as a modern day mobile title and genuinely compete on the market with other games in its genre.

Also, with some sprawling games created for mobile devices, freezing due to a small memory cache comes into play. This wasn’t the case with the demo version, for Claude’s movements and interactions with his environment activated and reacted seamlessly.

Yet, the most outstanding and amazing aspect of this game is the game itself and its ability to grab you. Once you get the touch screen’s control scheme down, a system where on screen icons show you how to walk, run, shoot and drive while cycling through your weapon rack is as easy as a flick of the finger, the game feels as if you are re-watching one of your favorite film or re-reading a great mystery novel you completed ages ago. Yes, you know how each one ends, but the experience is so engaging and the creative elements are so well-constructed that you just can’t stop until you’ve finished it straight through.

Simply put, Rockstar’s near perfect recreation of the 2001 hit successfully recaptured a shining moment in many gamers’ recent history without tarnishing the original memory. Not an easy task to accomplish in this day and age.

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Star Wars - The Old Republic

Publisher: Bioware/LucasArts
Release Date: December 12th, 2011
Platform: PC

Simply put, I am a huge Star Wars fan. So, when I saw that LucasArts and Bioware were planning to release an MMORPG based on the epic Old Republic series of RPG games for the X-Box, I was excited and eager to see what the final product would be.

Then I played the near final product at NY Comic Con. Final verdict: Consider me underwhelmed.

Yes, the creative possibilities are endless for this game. And the graphics were amazing, but that’s not surprising at all since its so close to the games December 10th, 2011 release date.

But, three glaring problems loomed over me like an angry Wookie after having his dinner stolen. First, the game features no controller support whatsoever, an idiotic move considering TOR’s direct market competition is Sony’s DC Universe Online. True, classic MMORPG fans will be pleased. But, such a huge mechanical void immediately turns off platform-based gamers looking to jump from DCUO to TOR and stumbles these potential subscribers from committing right off the bat.

Second, the rinse/repeat fighting mechanics found in the demo, especially while a meager level 1 character, bored me to tears. What should have been a fun romp through one portion of the rich and vast universe George Lucas created so many years ago felt like the beginning of life-long prison sentence. Realizing that MMORPG’s are more marathons than sprints, this demo should have featured the very best of what each class had to offer. Instead, we were forced to take on the role of Level 1 characters, not able to see just how amazing and strong our toons could become when fully enveloped in the main storyline.

The aforementioned DCUO encompassed and nailed the action-packed nature of DC Comics through their controller-based power button layout and fighting mechanics. So, while many of the mission dynamics scattered around Gotham and Metropolis are re-tooled clones of one another, they seem different and inviting to the knowledgeable gamer.

The only entertainment I gained from the TOR session came from those who were playing with on the PvE network, who like me were more interested in giving each other rude gestures via emotes than actually sampling the game.

Hopefully, Star Wars: TOR’s storyline and other mission elements have something amazing hidden up its sleeve. Otherwise, Obi-Wan Kenobi’s famous words serve as good advice for the casual gamer deciding whether or not to try this one out - - these are not the droids you are looking for.

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Transformers Universe

Publisher: Jagex
Release Date: Fall 2012
Platform: Yet to be determined Flash-compatible web browsers

Keep an eye on this browser-based MMO featuring the Transformers franchise from Jagex Studios, the makers of Runescape and War of Legends.

Titled Transformers: Universe, the title will feature faction-based and specific combat set in the middle of the ongoing Autobot/Decepticon conflict, creatable character robots with various roles similar to those found in your typical MMORPG (Tank, Healer etc.) and cameos from fan favorites Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron and Starscream.

Though it is very early in its development, the footage screened at NY Comic Con and that’s currently circulating on the web looks very promising. Check it out:

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Halo: Combat Evolved - Anniversary Edition

Publisher: 343 Industries
Release Date: November 15th, 2011
Platform: Xbox 360

For many first person shooter fanatics and gaming historians, 2001’s Halo: Combat Evolved stands as the franchise that propelled Microsoft into viable console competition for market giants Nintendo and Sony while catapulting the genre into the pop culture mainstream.

On November 15th, 2011, 10 years after its initial release, Halo: CE returns to the Xbox with its 10th anniversary edition, a total re-tooling of the original. 343 Industries, the lead developer of the title, took the entire build of H:CE and upgraded graphics, lighting and gameplay features so the release would be on par with the previous installment of the series Halo: Reach. In fact, developers included an option to jump between a mode displaying the classic graphics and the modern rendition, so players can see the difference 10 years can make for themselves. The effort takes Combat Evolved and morphs it into a hyper version of its former self with the best elements of the entire franchise.

343 also included re-modeled editions of classic Halo maps like Prisoner, Beaver Creek and Damnation, adding modern day renderings to nostalgic settings. The combo works wonders and will leave many fans salivating at the reworked creations.

Having a chance to sample Halo:CE, I took on the role of a Reach-esque Spartan and perched myself in the narrow hallways of Prisoner. I fragged opponents with the 2x scoped Magnum (which makes its triumphant return here) until someone finally caught me with a well-placed plasma grenade. Stuck to my armor, I tried to take the thrower with me to no avail. 3 seconds later, I was back, pistol in hand, ready to reek havoc once more.

Ah, it’s was like 2001 all over again and loved every minute of it. Roll on November 15th.

He looks much better in a British Naval uniform, but I digress.

In the film, the Central Intelligence Agency’s best analyst is tasked with finding a missing experimental nuclear submarine, the USSR’ Red October, by trying to ascertain the nature and motives of its hard-nosed Latvian captain Marko Alexandrovich Ramius (played by the legendary Sean Connery). The depths (no pun intended) Ryan must go to in order to make contact with Ramius and eventually bring in the high-tech piece of naval machinery are, at times, inconceivable but nonetheless entertaining. (I won’t ruin the rest of the movie for you because it’s a really great film.)

I find myself in a similar situation, searching far and wide for my proverbial Red October within the massive digital expanse that is the internet, namely a full-time employment. With the unemployment rate sitting at a whopping 9.4%, and with the number of comparable competitors growing drastically with passing each year, the odds at landing my dream job - - writing and curating video game news, reviewing games and leading a gaming based podcast - - seem slim at best.

So, what’s a job hunter to do? So far, in my job searching, I’ve called in markers with friends and family, applied blindly to every position I’ve had come across my computer screen, took jobs in fields that are very different from my goals, begged and pleaded — and even groveled a bit — via email and phone to HR representatives of major gaming news networks in order to get just get my foot in the door.

So far, nothing has really assisted me in completing my mission of obtaining video game writing superstardom.

These series of events have left me very disconcerted. What if you know in your heart that you can make a difference for a company working in a field you love but have little exposure to human job recruiters because of the automated nature of the job application process blocks you from human contact?

Every day, more news organizations and other journalism services have turned to accepting online applications through automated systems, which may suit large HR departments who want to manage the wealth of applicants that reply to their need for help, but hurt the job seeker’s chances at making a strong first impression with a live human being.

Many jobs are won and lost on how you present yourself via initial introductions (Yes, I know that applies to email and phone calls as well. And yes, I know that means I left a horrible impression on those video game HR people. I chose to roll a hard six. Sometimes it pays off. Other times it doesn’t.)

But, how can you win the game when the job search robots of Skynet prevent you from entering the field of play?

The impersonal nature of job searching has really damaged my calm. I’ve lost count of the number of online profiles and applications I’ve created over the last two years, all of which have resulted in not one return phone call from a human being. The only strong journalism employment opportunities I’ve interviewed for developed from relationships made in the past or with my former classmates from the CUNY J-School. For that I am very grateful, but these bonds can only stretch so far.

Soon, I shall return to the free agent pool, actively pitching myself again to the corporate cyborgs curating the job applications that litter the Intrawebs. And I really don’t know what’s going to happen from here on out . . . and it frightens me a bit.

If only I had a super secret Russian submarine to hunt down. I bet I’d be good at that job.

The boys of 221B Baker Street - - Benedict Cumberbatch (l.) as Holmes, Martin Freeman as Watson.

Originally airing on the BBC in Great Britain and PBS here in the United States, Sherlock follows everyone’s favorite British detective and the classic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle character as he solves the most difficult crimes facing Scotland Yard in the modern era. Gone are the horse and buggy, ascots and bowler hats. Instead, Sherlock, and his faithful companion Doctor John Watson, employ text messaging, camera phones and taxi rides while delving into their criminal investigations.

But it was one modern addition to the show that resonated with me most - - namely the web blog.

Watson, now a soldier/medic who returned home from Afghanistan with a service ending injury, is advised by his therapist to write a blog about what happens to him on a daily basis (the present day equivalent to penning Holmes’s case studies as it turns out).

It isn’t until Watson meets up with Holmes and they become flat-mates that he actually becomes re-invigorated and finds some meaning within his post-military career. Thus, he is inspired to write summations of each case they dive into (and eventually solve) on the blog.

This notion gave me pause. Why not do a similar thing (not solve cases mind you) but use this space to sort out what I am currently experiencing in my own life? Why use this blog as a place to find meaning in a sometimes meaningless world.

I have the webspace, the time and the training to do so. And perhaps it will be therapeutic. What’s holding me back?

Then I realized the answer: Nothing. Absolutely nothing at all.

So, this is my first attempt at starting something new, something that will give me the chance to express how I feel about issues and moments in life that present themselves before me. I invite you to join me as I delve into the inner sanctum of my psyche. (Wow, that’s deep, no?)

And thanks to Steven Moffat and the rest of the Sherlock crew for giving me this digital kick the arse.

UPDATE: I found the BBC’s faux Watson blog online. It seems that they ran updates during the show’s original airing and had some interactive games to coincide with each episode’s developments. Nice.

In the past, comic conventions served as a place where fans of Marvel, DC or other comic publishers could pick up rare back issues on the cheap and hang out with fellow superhero fanatics.

Today, conventions, or “cons” as they are affectionately called, are more than just over-sized comic book flea markets - - they have become the haven for all things multimedia, especially upcoming projects from the world of video games.

This year’s New York Comic Con, held this past weekend at Manhattan’s Jacob Javits Center, was chock full of upcoming gaming titles - - some were close to their release date, while others were a bit farther on the horizon.

Here’s a sample of what was displayed on the Comic Con exhibition floor:

My Best of Show:

Marvel vs. Capcom 3 – Fate of Two Worlds (PS3, X-Box 360, Spring 2011): With two massive play areas devoted to this game alone on Friday, it’s hard not to see Capcom’s vested interest in the 2-D fighter’s success. And thought it is set for release in Spring 2011, MVC3 looks like a game ready to hit stores today.

All the elements of its fan favorite predecessor remains - - three on three tag-team like battles, over the top, super-bar draining finishers and a roster of comic book and video game characters that reads like a who’s who of recent pop culture history.

But, that’s where the similarities between the two games end.

The graphics for this iteration look absolutely stunning with its vibrant and loud color hues, interactive on-screen scoring elements and over-the-top character taunts. Every fighter’s attack - - especially each special finisher and accompanying pre-move cinematic - - engulfs the whole screen, leaving an indelible, and sometimes headache inducing, visual imprint.

Deadpool’s bright red (and sometimes tangerine orange) jumpsuit draws the eye whenever he is in combat. Iron Man and Thor’s energy-based projectile attacks zoom across the screen in a bright yellow and furious blaze and the stark contrast between 2-D fighting and 3-D backgrounds add a level of previously untapped ocular depth that adds to the overall presentation.

Gameplay in Fate of Two Worlds takes the Marvel vs. Capcom series’ super-charged fighting system to completely new heights. Games have to be sharp if they want to keep up with digital combatants that battle as if they were injected with a cocktail of pure adrenaline, extra strength Red Bull and nitrous oxide.

NOTE: Special thanks go out to video game enthusiast Andrew St. Jean for the video below:

At the booth, the roster was limited to only a handful of characters but exhibitors promised the final game will have familiar faces like Ryu, Wolverine and Captain America and a couple of newcomers like Fantastic Four enemy Super Skrull, Dante from the Devil May Cry series and Chris Redfield from Capcom’s successful zombie thriller franchise Resident Evil.

Fans of Marvel vs. Capcom 2 have waited for a top-notch sequel to their coin-op champion for nearly a decade. By the looks of things, their patience will be greatly rewarded come next Spring.

Honorable Mentions:

Warhammer 40,000 - Space Marine (PC, X-Box 360 and PS3, Spring 2011): The popular Warhammer series of PC games never really caught my attention in the past. But after seeing some of the gameplay elements from Relic’s upcoming third-person action-RPG, consider my interest in the franchise massively peaked.

One part Lord of the Rings, one part Gears of War and one part Final Fantasy, Space Marine is rumored to tell the story surrounding an Ork invasion on an Imperial construction planet, charged with supplying weapons and armor for the Imperium of Man. The Ork’s goal is to steal a Warlord battle titan, a gigantic walking tank that could turn the tide of the war in their favor. Your character, a commander of an Imperial Space Marine Task Force, is sent to the planet to prevent the walker from falling into the enemies hands.

While I didn’t get a chance to play the game at Comic Con (it’s still very early in its development), the trailer Relic showed at their booth looked very promising.

With such outstanding battle animations and graphics, huge over-the-top cinematic elements and a rich mythos to draw story content from, Warhammer 40,000 - Space Marine could earn many critical nods for Game of the Year in 2011, including my own stamp of approval.

Check out the trailer for yourself:

Red Dead Redemption – Undead Nightmare Pack (X-Box 360, PS3, Coming Soon): Red Dead Redemption is quite possibly the best free-roam shooter/action game ever made. The gigantic size of the digital sandbox that is New Austin, mixed with the overwhelming amount of activities and achievements for gamers to explore and conquer, make it a game with great replay value and a leading candidate for many game website’s 2010 Game of the Year Award.

Watch your ammo reserves closely, otherwise you'll find yourself caught in a similar situation.

Rockstar Games, coming off the heels of the recently released Outlaws to the End and the Liars and Cheats DLC packs, have at the ready another chapter to add to their Wild-West franchise’s overall story - - namely, a frontier-wide zombie infestation.

Undead Nightmare, a single player based side campaign, pits Red Dead’s John Marston against an undead army as he races to find a cure for the zombie plague sweeping across New Austin.

Though they wouldn’t let the press tape gameplay footage, Rockstar did set-up a large gaming area where attendees could sample one mission - - a raid mission in an infested cemetery - - found early on in the campaign. The objective was to burn all the infected caskets in the area while fending off awakening zombies and a final boss that tried my patience and ammo reserves.

I was told by the exhibitor that the Undead Nightmare pack will introduce a new toy for Marston to play with: the Blunder Bust, a semi-automatic shotgun-like weapon that uses zombie parts as ammo. Basically, it keeps replenishing itself with the remains of your fallen foes, which is a good thing considering ammo is scarce in this DLC.

After taking stock of my available arsenal, I jumped right into the fight. After running, shooting and dodging all the flesh-eating nasties occupying the cemetery for upwards of 10 minutes, the level was complete.

The overall experience was both amazing and nerve-racking - - at one point during my session, the hordes kept coming until I was surrounded at all sides. It took some up-close head shots, accurate shooting and some quick thinking on my part in order to complete the mission (I tricked the zombies into following me past one of the burning caskets, which set the chasing fools on fire).

And you though the live ones were tough . . .

The nervous, edge of your seat tension (common place in all zombie related fare), mixed with the familiar gunplay and engaging storyline, created a thoroughly enjoyable and highly impressionable gaming experience. Mission accomplished Rockstar.

I’m just glad that I didn’t have to face off against the zombie bear. Shudder to think how I’d fair against that beast.

The “Don’t Worry, Everything Is Going To Be Okay” Award:

DC Universe Online (PC, PS3, Early 2011): On October 4th 2010, fans of DC Universe Online - - Sony’s latest MMORPG offering - - were rocked when they learned the news that the company would push back the release the supposedly nearly completed project from its original November 4th release date to an undetermined time in “early 2011.”

“We understand the news of delay might be disappointing,” said Wes Yanagi, Senior Producer for Sony Online Entertainment Austin. “But it’s a positive for DCUO. The additional time allows us to extend beta and add more polish to the game.”

I guess George Clooney was wrong - - Superman doesn't work alone.

The explanation did not go over well with many fans following DCUO’s development on the game’s official Facebook page.

“Soooo disappointed,” Jeremey Chase from Astoria, New York said. “I better be able to make a character that can shoot rainbows out of her pooper by the time this game actually comes out.”

“Why even establish a f*#king release date and not live up to it,” said gamer Ruben Charles. “I was so stoked when I heard about the game that I bought the collectors edition and a brand new PC. I’m asking for my money back. F*#king fail.”

“I heard Cataclysm comes out in [December],” said Lloyd Sprague of Wichita, Kansas. “Guess I’ll just stay on City of Heroes till then, and not bother with DCUO.”

New York Comic Con was the first major gaming expo where Sony featured a playable version of the game since the announcement. And though it’s still far from going gold, it currently stands as a beautifully structured and accurate rendition of the DC Comics universe.

The demo level available on display featured a playable tech character, resembling a futuristic looking version of the lesser known DC hero Shining Knight, tasked with the mission of saving Robin The Boy Wonder from the evil clutches of The Joker’s favorite gal pal, Harley Quinn.

As the Shining Knight clone rushed into Harley’s hideout, he immediately faced a group of henchmen sent by Harley to intercept him. The created hero wielded an large sword, which he used to clear out the enemies with a mix of close quarters energy-charged melee attacks and long range projectiles. With her bodyguards wiped out, Harley rushes in and takes her chances against the budding superhero.

Once she was vanquished and Robin was freed, a “Headline Achieved” message popped up and Jim Lee drawn cinematic showing the aftermath of the episode played on the screen. Harley was on her way to Arkham and your character just earned some brownie points with your superhero mentor Batman - - not a bad day’s work for an up-and-coming hero.

All kidding aside, the action flows smoothly, allowing players to chain attacks and conquer multiple opponents with a few keystrokes or button mashes. The created characters’ look and mannerisms are very intricate and detailed - - this particular creation had energy rushing through his sword and the wired coils weaved into his bodysuit. Each of Harley’s minions had their own individual looks, clothing and attacks while Harley herself acted like her comic book counterpart, running around the battle arena cackling wildly with her usual chaotic disposition.

So, for those of you concerned about DCUO’s progress, my message is simple: don’t worry about a thing. By the looks of the hands-on demo, the developers are definitely on the right track and this delay can only add more depth, richness and polish to an already stellar looking production.

Close But No Cigar:

Goldeneye 007 (Nintendo Wii): The original Goldeneye, released by Rareware in 1997 for the Nintendo 64, laid the foundation for every first person shooter game on the market today. It introduced the world to the lucrative nature of video game/movie tie-ins, revitalized the Bond franchise’s popularity and lifted Nintendo’s ground breaking console into the annals of gaming history.

Cool under pressure, 007 can make mince meat of this grunt. Too bad the final product looks nothing like this though.

Today, Eurocom wants to recapture the magic of yesteryear with the upcoming re-vamped Goldeneye 007, set to hit stores on November 2nd for the Nintendo Wii. With an updated graphics engine, a re-worked storyline created by the movie’s original scribe and new online multiplayer game modes, the venture seems like a slam dunk on paper.

But, as military history attests, it’s one thing to plan out a covert-operation - - it’s an entirely different task to successfully execute it.

A four-player multiplayer demo was available at Comic Con and as I was playing it (in which I destroyed all comers earning me a special “Cheater” t-shirt for my trouble), I felt like I was a teenager again sitting in my living room playing free-for-all sessions with my friends.

Dr. No, Xenia Onatopp and Odd Job - - played by other Comic Con attendees - - chased my character, the great assassin Francisco Scaramanga, around an industrial construction site with multiple levels and numerous hiding spaces. There were bowler hats flying everywhere, devastating melee attacks and of course, the ever powerful Golden Gun at the ready.

But something was missing during this brief exhibition: the “wow factor” that came with the original offering. Once the novelty of the moment wore off, all that remained was an uninspiring game that looked its age. The character skins were very muddy and over-pixelated, the sound effects were dull and lackluster and the gameplay overall lacked the intricacy found within many modern day first-person shooters currently on market shelves.

With the 2010 version of Goldeneye 007, Eurocom tried to recapture an golden era in video game history. Sadly, their attempt falls way short, and for the asking price $49.99, you can probably find a better FPS for the Wii elsewhere.

You’re a clone living in the not so distant future, in need of money to pay the bills and feed the kids. What do you do in order to make ends meet?

Fight for your life in front of a live studio audience!

Lock and load, boys. Things are about to get dicey.

This is the basic premise (sans the bill paying and kid feeding) of Monday Night Combat, the latest release in the X-Box Live’s Summer of Arcade series. A third person shooter created by Uber Entertainment using the Unreal game engine, MNC plays very much like a twisted, futuristic game show a la the classic arcade coin-op Smash TV blended with the 1987 Schwarzenegger hit “The Running Man.”

And though it costs a pretty hefty amount of Microsoft Points (1200 to be exact), it is well worth the investment - especially if you’re looking for change of pace from the normal run-and-gun digital fare.

The game starts off with a tutorial of “Blitz,” MNC’s main mode of play. Players assume the role of an ‘Assault’ clone - an all-around soldier equipped with a basic assault rifle and grenade launcher - as he makes his Monday Night Combat debut. Along with the firearms, the Assault class of clones possesses extraordinary special attacks like throwable detonation packs and a powerful running shoulder charge; weapons and tactics which help to keep the clones alive.

Immediately after the Assault clone is introduced, the battle for survival begins. Wave after wave of deadly robots - each with varying attack and defense specialties - rush the clone’s base with the intent on destroying the player’s Moneyball: the ultimate jackpot in the Monday Night Combat world. When its shields are down and its life bar drained, the Moneyball explodes and the game is over. Therefore, players must keep close to this object and protect it at all costs by erecting upgradable defense turrets around the base, all paid for by funds acquired during combat.

Check out the “Blitz” mode in all its digital glory:

During the course of a game, players can gain positive jolts to their attacks and defenses by various means. Before the action starts and after every death, players have the opportunity to spend money on upgrading their skills to a max level of 3. Each upgrade level comes with a higher price, so players must prioritize which skills to improve and which are leave alone in favor of turret modifications.

Secondly, clones accumulate “juice” after every kill and assist, which is collected and displayed in a power-up meter on the bottom of the screen. Once full, you can activate it by pressing both LB and RB at the same time. A flashing “juice” meter gives your clone a boost to their skills, speed and weapons for a short period of time.

Bullets fly fast in Monday Night Combat . . . so watch out!

Lastly, MNC’s mascot, Bullseye (the proverbial Santa Clause of the arena) offers players a slight diversion from the normal gameplay. Dressed in green and orange, if one takes the time to shoot him he’ll drop anything from money, juice or stat boots to temporarily use during the fight. But, also like Santa, he only comes but once a game (twice if the game lasts long enough).

Once gamers fend off the attacking cybernetic army, the tutorial is over and they are officially welcomed into the Monday Night Combat “locker room” where the game truly begins.

Players can either play “Blitz” in a solo or two player coop local battle, on X-Box Live with three other players or take on the ultimate challenge of “Crossfire”: a six on six squad-based battle where both teams have to defend their Moneyball while assaulting the opposition’s base and jackpot. In this mode, spawning bots act more like cannon fodder than actual bonafide threats, so teams working in tandem with their robot army and human counterparts will increase their chances of winning exponentially.

Though the following video was captured early on in the development stages, it still gives an accurate rendering of what Crossfire is all about:

Once you earn enough money in your personal stockpile by taking out enemies, chaining kills and fulfilling achievements, you can create your own soldier using the six established classes (Assault, Sniper, Assassin, Support, Gunner and Tank) as a foundation. However, it’s good to be mindful of their individual abilities while molding your warrior. A Gunner class brings stronger offensive capabilities to the table due to its powerful chain gun and devastating mortar launcher while, on the other hand, the Support class uses a more passive set of tactics like hacking into enemy turrets or throwing down a portable gun emplacement for cover fire, in order to protect himself from harm.

Monday Night Combat’s gameplay resembles your average third person shooter, but the flow of the game is nothing short of unique. Bullets fly by from all angles, Assassins sneak up, de-cloak and melee attack you out of nowhere and Snipers pick off players from long distances and hidden nooks scattered across the map.

Even clones need some tender love and affection.

The arena also sports “Ejectors” which, for the low price of fifty in-game dollars, send advancing robot armies to the scrap heap and human clones flying to their deaths into the pits surrounding the map. And then there’s the Annihilator. For 250 in-game dollars, this self-explanatory uber-hazard blasts the opposition’s forces from the heavens with devastating results.

When it comes to Monday Night Combat’s overall presentation, it’s obvious that Uber Entertainment thought outside of the box. Elements like infinite ammo for all weapons, intricately rendered animations, a snarky play-by-play announcer and clones with their own individual personalities elevates this game from typical Unreal-engine powered shooters and transports this genre to another level of complexity and vividness.

Regarding the animation, check out this video spotlighting one of Monday Night Combat’s more flexible staff members:

One of drawbacks with Monday Night Combat, however, rests in its most appealing asset: it’s content. While both engaging and fun, the depth of MNC’s gameplay options is ultimately shallow and superficial. At most, the game purports a handful of maps and two game modes, drastically reducing the replay value and ability to keep gamers from returning to other shooters like Halo 3 or Modern Warfare 2. Perhaps more content is on the way through future DLC, but 1200 Microsoft Points compared to what’s available right in-game now is a tough pill to swallow for the thrifty gamers already riding the digital fence.

Also, getting into a match online can be very difficult at times. Long waits between battles, the inability to retrieve new hosts after one leaves the lobby and the occasional long map load times mire and tarnish an otherwise stellar gaming experience from the creative minds at Uber.

Nevertheless, Monday Night Combat is the popcorn movie of video games; namely, an action packed diversion from the norm, a roller-coaster ride with just enough backstory and an overload of eye candy to appease any gamer, young and old alike.

Pros:
Inventive gameplay and unique usage of the Unreal game engine
Non-stop action keeps your head on a swivel
Perfect X-Box Live party game for fans of shooters

Cons:
1200 Microsoft Points a tad pricey considering content
Takes nearly forever to find online matches
Long wait time between battles is unnecessary

Overall score: 7 out 10

The long walk to the pitch, as depicted by the game's amazing graphics system.

Not so long ago, gamers like myself would readily mock the overall quality of EA Sports‘ FIFA soccer simulator.

Digital superstars would move around the pitch in a fashion mimicking a malfunctioning robot. Goaltenders would readily leave their post without good reason, allowing opponents to score goals without opposition. And the game’s graphics engine rendered many of soccer’s famous faces into unforgiving and laughable caricatures reminiscent of a Picasso painting.

Still, loyalists shelled out the steep asking price for the sub-par title with the hopes that EA would one day improve their product - - and pose a serious threat to their direct competition, Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer.

Well, the wait is finally over.

FIFA 11, EA’s latest release in their successful soccer series, is the game soccer fans have been waiting for - - and it is the title that finally conquers PES once and for all.

The game-changer in this year’s edition is a new gameplay dynamic called “Player +,” a system which takes into account a soccer star’s real strengths and weaknesses - - which was collected the observations and evaluations of approximately 1700 professional scouts, according to FIFA 11’s official website - - and accurately infuses them into the digital athletes’ in game performance traits.

For example, speedsters like Arsenal FC’s Theo Walcott and Tottenham FC’s Aaron Lennon torch the competition with a combination of sneaky dribbling and blazing footwork. FIFA 11 successfully copies their skill set into their digital counterparts, making them virtually uncatchable on the pitch.

Also, the virtual counterparts of defenders FC Barcelona’s Carles Puyol and AC Milan’s Alessandro Nesta use their strength and body to dispel advancing opponents from entering their 18 yard box, similar to what the international superstars do during every real life fixture.

“Player +”, working in tandem with last year’s revolutionary 360 Dribbling System upgrade, makes FIFA 11 the most realistic next-gen rendition of “The Beautiful Game” to date.

In-game graphics also received an overhaul, which is immediately evident once you begin a match. Cutscenes look more fluid and veridical than ever before. Players react to the events on the field with fierce indignation or quiet reserve depending on their guilt or innocence. And the fan favorite post-goal celebrations - - featured in an abundant variety within this incarnation - - look so life-like, it almost tricks you into believing that you’re watching a real game on ESPN or Fox Soccer Channel.

Another feature that received a complete re-tooling is Manager Mode, which now combines the former with last year’s newcomer Virtual Pro into a three-pronged gaming scheme coined Career Mode. Now, gamers can either choose to start a career as a player who works their way into a managerial role after retirement, a player-manager who can dictate his agenda both in the board room and on the field, or as a classic manager who implements formations from the sidelines and signs new players to lucrative contracts in between matches. These options add another real world dynamic to FIFA 11’s overall presentation.

Online play also returns in FIFA 11 with Live Season, an option which allows gamers to play league matches on game days week in and week out. Pick your favorite league and for a nominal Microsoft Points fee (or purchase all 5 leagues available - - the English Premier League, France’s Ligue 1, Italy’s Serie A, Germany’s Bundesliga and Spain’s Liga BBVA - - at a discounted price), gamers can play fixtures that dictate the success or failure of the team in their virtual league. In Live Season, your skills and tactics, coupled with EA’s regular player trait updates, decide who wins league hardware and who goes home empty handed.

Players can also go head-to-head with other FIFA footballers or play the online version of a neighborhood pick-up game in an 11 vs. 11 team play match via X-Box Live. Gamers can also create a Friends League, a fantasy football-like feature where gamers can pick their favorite club and battle over a season long campaign with other pals on their Friends list.

As always, FIFA sport up-to-date club rosters - - thanks to the online pairing of X-Box Live and EA Sports’ servers - - featuring real players from all of your favorite leagues like the English Premier League, the Bundesliga and Major League Soccer, something PES has failed to deliver with their offerings so far. Also, FIFA allows you to customize in-game music, fan chants and team stadiums, giving you the ability to tweak every aspect of your FIFA gaming sessions.

So far, I only noticed a few bugs in the game - - it took me a while to sync up my X-Box 360 with EA’s servers in order to play online, some of the game modes take a long time to load and the Career Mode prevents you from suiting up as a player with another team if you are previously fired as a player-manager. But one assumes that these hiccups are easily repairable via forthcoming updates through X-Box Live.

Simply put, FIFA 11 is now a Bentley to PES’ Ford Taurus - - once you take this luxurious, high-end sports car of a game out for a spin, it’s extremely difficult to go back to the inferior alternatives ever again.

Tale of the Tape:

PROS:

Still a bit buggy
Syncing with online servers take longer than ever before
Loading some game modes take a while and tricks you into thinking the game is frozen

Overall score: 9.8 out of 10

In April 1961, President John F. Kennedy ordered the most dangerous and aggressive overthrow of a sitting foreign ruler in the country’s still expanding history -namely, he green-lit the assassination of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

Though the mission, coined the Bay of Pigs Invasion, was unsuccessful, it stands a dramatic turning point in the Cold War, and in global history as well.

This benchmark event also serves as the starting point for the single-player campaign of Call of Duty: Black Ops, Treyarch’s latest offering from the wildly successful first-person shooter franchise. Conceivably but unofficially, Black Ops’s timeline bridges stories of the past that centered on the gruesome events of World War II, with the recent Modern Warfare series featuring the diplomatic frying pan that is the Middle East.

After playing through the brief but engaging single-player campaign, as well as jumping into the game’s online multiplayer system, I can safely say that where President Kennedy’s mission into Cuba failed, Treyarch’s digital black operation is nothing short of an overwhelming success.

Your wingman Woods. He's a tough nut to crack.

As Alex Mason, a hard-nosed CIA operative, players begin their single-player experience tied to a wooden chair, fielding intense questioning from an unknown interrogator off screen. A mix of historical archive footage from the 1960’s and computer-generated cutscenes (these are memories from Mason’s past Black Ops missions conjured up by the drug-induced interrogation) eerily and rapidly flash across the screen throughout the story.

The narrative reconstruction of these fractured scenes, set in Cold War era locales such as Vietnam, Cuba and Russia, is the foundational basis for the game’s vivid and engaging storyline. Visually, the technique comes off as a bit offsetting at first, but ultimately adds to the inherent noir of the game. The story-telling choice also keeps you on alert as you navigate the plot?s twists and turns, as penned by Treyarch’s exceptionally talented writing staff.

The action found in Black Ops is exactly what you would expect from a Call of Duty title -grab a gun, take cover and kill enemy combatants before they kill you. Most of the series’ staples, like the M16 assault rifle and the MP5K submachine gun, return for duty in period versions used by the militaries of the world. Also, most of the equipment seen in the Modern Warfare series, like frag and Semtex grenades, claymores and C4, make cameo appearances here as well.

When it comes to weapon variety, it’s evident that Treyarch wanted gamers to have every possible annihilative option under the sun. Your arsenal in Black Ops ranges from the supremely destructive Grim Reaper, a new multi-shot incendiary rocket launcher that fires 4 rockets at once, to the silent but deadly combat knife melee attack. Because of this, players can spend a large majority of their play sessions simply discovering new and imaginative ways to destroy their opponents.

Have crossbow, will travel.

The game also introduces the ultra slick RC-XD, a remote controlled car with a detonating brick of C4 strapped to it. Simply place it down on the ground, drive through an area, and when you find an unsuspecting enemy, activate the RC bomb. Watching opposing forces scramble and fire their weapons in terror as a small toy car rushes behind their defensive barriers is quite an amusing sight to behold.

When gamers talk about their experiences with the Call of Duty franchise, most if not all of their stories revolve around the game’s intense and in-depth multiplayer mode.

The shining star of Black Ops’ multiplayer mode is the upgraded Create-A-Class system, where players for the first time in the Call of Duty series, can tweak their physical appearance, customize their weapon load-outs down to the color dot in their sights and create player logos from a wide variety of templates.

Players can purchase in-game items through COD points, which are earned through completed games and experience points. Gamers can also reap cash windfalls and huge amounts of experience points by taking contracts to accomplish pre-determined tasks, such as stabbing an enemy in the back during a game or winning three Team Deathmatches before a timer runs out.

Don't gamble all your winnings away . . .

Treyarch’s outstanding ability to think outside the standard realms of creativity comes to the fore with three unique visual options: 1) the ability to engrave clan tags and emblems onto purchased guns, 2) the choice to refit RDS reticles with custom patterns like smiley faces, hearts and crossbones of varying colors and 3) the expanded list of gun camouflages players can plaster onto their digital boomstick. These three minor modifications take Black Ops to new, rarified levels of visual coolness and in-game interactivity.

The critically acclaimed feature from Treyarch’s last Call of Duty title, World at War’s 4-player Zombie mode, returns in Black Ops completely overhauled for quicker and easier online connectivity. All of the negatives found in the previous version of the game mode -the dropped frame rates, model clipping and long lobby wait times- are gone, making it both utterly enjoyable and extremely nerve-racking.

(Author’s note: There’s also a neat secret level in Zombie Mode that shoots this game to the top of my playlist. I’m not one to spoil surprises for you, but once you get to play it, you will understand the utterly amazing scenario it presents to the gaming public.)

The only negatives found here revolve around the length of the single-player campaign and the frustrating nature of playing online matches. The single-player experience is desperately short, conquerable within 8-10 hours of gameplay on regular difficulty. The other special features within the game, however, especially hidden gems like the retro top-down zombie shooter Black Ops Arcade and Zork I: The Underground Empire, the 1980 puzzle RPG recently acquired by Activision, distract you long enough to get lost inside the world of Treyarch.

A little old school style arcade action to shift gears with.

Secondly, getting into an online session is nothing short of frustrating. While the Zombie Mode works flawlessly, the rest of the multiplayer construct is filled with bugs. During the time spent searching for Black Ops’ lobbies, leaders often log into games while the rest of their party members are dropped and left behind -a coding conflict that ultimately kicks the entire party to the game’s digital curb.

Patches have been promised within the coming weeks, so there’s hope for this problem to get fixed. However, for a game with such a lengthy development, you’d think that all of the wrinkles would have been ironed out by now. For hardcore gamers, it ultimately thwarts the overall experience and forces players to surrender before ever reaching the digital battlefield.

Overall though, Call of Duty: Black Ops is the superlative first-person shooter in the franchise’s long history. The utter intricacy and forethought laced into every aspect of this title -from the player and gun model animations, the intense musical cues, the realistic sound effects and exciting action -is nothing short of breath-taking.

Do yourself a favor and immediately enlist with Call of Duty: Black Ops. Just remember that, like the Central Intelligence Agency, the game can disavow any knowledge of your existence if you get caught operating behind enemy lines.

Pros:

* Amazing graphics and sound makes for the most realistic Call of Duty yet
* Multiplayer mode is intense and extensive
* Endless hours of fun on and offline

Cons:

* Short campaign leaves you wanting more
* Nearly impossible to get online with a medium to large sized party

——————

Overall rating: 9.3 out of 10

The timber shed at Admirals' Row, circa 1838.

For nearly eight years, Scott Witter has campaigned for the preservation and landmarking of Admiral’s Row, the once prestigious strip of pre-Civil War-era brick brownstones along the Flushing Avenue side of the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Now, the dilapidated houses, marred by crumbling walls, cracked brick-face facades and gutted of original mantle pieces and other interior items by looters, await execution via the city’s wrecking ball.

“I’ve witnessed the demise of Admiral’s Row,” Witter said. “And I have been outraged by it.”

While the community activist advocates for preservation rather than demolition, the city has moved forward with plans to partially raze the Row and build a 65,000-square-foot ShopRite grocery store. The gigantic marketplace will also house 155,000 square feet of new commercial and industrial space.

But, the forward march of development may be halted by the combination of one rickety roof and a winter’s worth of heavy snows.

Currently the National Guard Bureau owns the Row and is in the process of selling the land to the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, New York City’s management firm for the former Navy post. The deal is contingent upon the preservation of two structures on the site: the Flushing Avenue Timber Shed, a building from the 1830s that once stored ship mast heads; and a former residence, now called “Building B,” located nearby.

Both buildings, according to officials close to the sale, were singled out by the National Guard Bureau as important prerequisites for the deal’s success.

“A year ago, the NGB made it clear that any disposition of the site would require the rehabilitation of Building B and the Timber Shed,” BNYDC President Andrew Kimball told Brooklyn Based via email. “An enormous amount of time and resources have been expended in anticipation of the site being redeveloped assuming incorporation of a rehabilitated timber shed.”

He added, “[But] if the Federal National Guard Bureau allows the Timber Shed to collapse, it could require an extensive delay to the disposition process and intolerable addition costs to the BNYDC and our development partner.”

The BNYDC expects to complete the transaction by this summer. But, nature is working against a seamless transfer–the Timber Shed’s roof partially collapsed last winter, and although it somehow made it out of last week’s blizzard relatively unscathed, another heavy snowstorm could be the end of the structure and all plans for the Timber Shed’s overhaul.

And if the deal fails, Kimball noted, “There is no other possible site for the supermarket in the Navy Yard.”

Witter said he wants to preserve, not just the Timber Shed and Building B, but all of Admiral’s Row. And while he sees the value of a supermarket in the area, he said city officials should not forsake preservation for development.

Building B, one of the Row's brownstone walkups, circa 1848.

“I think that the mayor is losing out on a very lucrative opportunity for City of New York and Brooklyn by not renovating and restoring Admirals Row,” he said. “It would mean the creation of many new jobs within the construction industry, which can all be allocated as local jobs, or as much as the political machinery will allow.”

The Brooklyn Navy Yard, decommissioned in 1966, served as the United States Navy’s main shipyard production hub during World War II. The military institution reserved Admiral’s Row as residences for the base’s top officers who managed personnel and governed the everyday manufacturing process. Historians believe upwards of 70,000 people were employed building battleships and other Naval-related items at the Yard’s peak.

Witter, who coincidentally moved to Brooklyn in 1966 to pursue an architectural degree at Pratt Institute, has used a variety of tactics to raise awareness of the poor condition of the Flushing Avenue walkups.

In 2005, he affixed a block-long message in blazing blue masking tape letters to the muted red brick wall lining part of the Row, using phrases like “Admiral’s Row, Not Death Row” in effort to bring awareness to its restoration. Navy Yard officials tore down the messages nine months into the process, forcing Witter to move them to the brick-facade of 102 Steuben Street, the second location of his self-created museum, B.O.M.B. or “Brooklyn’s Other Museum of Brooklyn.”

Kimball said he believes that the two buildings in question are salvageable but noted only they, and not the rest of the historic Row, will be renovated. “The Timber Shed can be stabilized to prevent further deterioration and be fully rehabilitated once the property is acquired from the federal government,” he said.

Witter though remains firmly of the opinion that thorough restoration must supersede any reallocation of the Row’s hallowed grounds. “It’s an absurd concept to tear down a intact compound that has a history that goes back to 1801,” Witter said. “They should be studying ways of preserving it and use that to figure out how to have commercial development on a landmarked site.”

City Councilwoman Letitia James, with oversized coin, led Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn’s walkathon Saturday from Borough Hall to Habana Outpost to protest Atlantic Yards.

“Develop Brooklyn, don’t destroy it,” went the rallying cry of nearly 200 protesters who marched along the busy sidewalks of Atlantic Avenue and Pacific Street on Saturday. The demonstration, led by City Councilwoman Letitia James, was the climax of Develop Don’t Destroy Brooklyn’s fifth annual walkathon against Atlantic Yards and its would-be developer, Forest City Ratner.

“They build a development that we do not want in our community,” Ms. James said. “What Ratner wants is to not only take away their homes, but to take away their memories. That’s why we have to march on.”

At 2 p.m., the masses gathered at Borough Hall with poster-board placards, metal cowbells and parachute-size banners in hand. After numerous pep-rally like speeches and the group’s picketing of the building (headquarters of Borough President Marty Markowitz, the project’s biggest champion), Ms. James and the organizers, along with a police escort and a seven-piece marching band, took the crowd on a walking tour of the Atlantic Yards site on the northern edge of Prospect Heights.

Along the way, she pointed out homes and businesses marked for seizure under the city’s exercise of eminent domain, which is being challenged in court.

The walk ended with an after-party at Habana Outpost on Fulton Street. According to Atlantic Yards Report, it raised $40,000 for the fight against the project.

And the band (Environmental Encroachment, from Chicago) played on.

With the recent imminent sale of the New Jersey Nets to the Russian billionaire Mikhail D. Prokhorov, the race is on for Forest City to break ground before Dec. 31 — if the company misses the deadline, the project loses its tax-exempt bond status and a $400 million naming-rights deal with Barclays Bank for the arena.

But the protest, the project’s opponents said, revolved around something much more critical than Forest City and its bottom line.

“This is about working-class people,” Ms. James said as she marched across Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues. “This is about saving our homes and businesses against billionaires. We want our community back.”