The $1 million perfect game challenge is back and 2K Sports has enlisted the game’s cover athlete for a fairly funny viral video to promote the annual contest. Check out the video below. MLB 2K12 hits stores on March 6.

Since WWE and THQ announced that they were deading the Smackdown vs. Raw franchise and recreating it as WWE’ 12, the companies have been hyping the title more than ever. Considering that the RVS series has been hit or miss, we had high hopes that the name change would bring much needed stability.

Read on to see if WWE ’12 is raw or deserves to be smacked down.

Graphics

WWE ’12 looks good for the most part but there are a few glitches here and there. At times during cut scenes, wrestlers talk like overdubbed Kung Fu movie characters. The facial expressions are also off from time to time. During certain action in “Road to WrestleMania” objects will disappear.

All glitches aside, the graphic presentation of the WWE Superstars is on point but the create-a-superstar function is altogether a different story. Granted, there have not been a plethora of Latin or African-American wrestlers in the WWE’s history but that does not mean that Yukes could not have tightened up the shades, hair and facial features of persons of color. Our created superstar looked like a modern Al Jolson no matter how much we played with the hues.

On a more positive note, the pomp and circumstance, fans have come to expect is still in place, many of the wrestler intros are pretty accurate, especially the elaborate ones like Alberto Del Rio’s entrance.

Gameplay

One-on-one matchups are good for the most part. The new “Predator Technology” makes grappling and chain moves a lot smoother and easier than in past games. At times the icon that prompts users to reverse a move doesn’t pop-up but once players get used to the timing, they will hit it on instinct. The new “Breaking Point” feature also improves the submission system and it also adds to the drama.

Now, tag team wrestling (especially six-man tags) is not nearly as smooth. Too often, your wrestler will either tag the wrong man or not make a tag at all. Your wrestler can be getting beat down in your corner and your tag team partners will stand there and watch (where do they do that at?).

One area that WWE ’12 reigns supreme is in the “Create” area. Nearly every aspect of the arena, ring, floor and screens can be customized to the players liking and you can use the creations with current Superstars.

Road to Wrestleania

Somehow Yukes gave us less options this year than in years before in this feature. Not only is that an issue but also the path is set for you. Players cannot choose which direction to take the story; you must follow the storyline of the suits. RTW is always fun but it would add to replay value if there was more than one outcome for the mode.

WWE Universe

This is only the second year of this mode so while its still fresh and somewhat new, we’re still disappointed that many of the animations are damn near the same as last year’s game. This year you can select championship matches, which is a much-needed improvement.

Overall

Hardcore wrestling game fans many not feel WWE ’12 as there are a lot of bugs and the modes are essentially the same as they ever were and the A.I. could be a little more difficult. However, casual to moderately hardcore gamers should enjoy the game.

THE TRADITION CONTINUES

Madden ’12  Easily Lives Up To Its Predecessors Gold Standard

For NFL fans the threat of the lockout was a mixture of distress, frustration and disappointment. Sure, we get the business angle and those of us with sufficient brain power understood that the clichéd argument of “millionaire’s vs billionaires” doesn’t come close to explaining the many complexities involved with high-stakes labor negotiations. Annoyed or not we were willing to accept that no football was an option for this year–we have to respect anyone involved in working to improve their shot in life. At the end of the day it’s a job and what right does anyone have to criticize another person’s professional relationship just to satisfy our entertainment hunger.

Thankfully it all came to an end and by late July the NFL was officially back in business. For team employees, sportswriters, bar owners and the like it’s much more than a leisure activity. Those people have financial investments at stake and were obviously more than relieved. The people at EA Sports obviously have a similar emotional and financial investment. Madden ’12 was in the works already and was scheduled for release regardless if actual football was going to be played or not. How exactly that would have looked is anyone’s guess and presumably would have been a challenge the Madden dynasty’s hold on people—would people support it no matter what? Would it be sold at half the price as an enticement? Or would it sell-out as it always does? Is it that undeniable? Fortunately that’s all a moot point (I still think it would have sold. Maybe not to usual successful standards but people are going to play Madden no matter what).

I had a chance to play the new game  during EA Sports Madden ’12 Pigskin Pro-Am. This year it went down at NYC’s Bryant Park where gamers and media pro’s had the opportunity  to see and play the latest offering in what is without question the greatest game of all time.

Hit the jump for what you need to know:

1.       The actual game play didn’t seem any better or more complicated than last year’s version.  In past years the level of difficulty, especially on offense, goes up a notch and is obvious from the first moment. But in ’12, reading the plays, executing the routes and moving the players were reminiscent of last year’s version. Complex sure, but mind-numbingly hard? Not really. That being said, I need to mention that I don’t know what setting the game was on. The EA people just set it up and we just grabbed the controllers. I usually play at the All-Pro setting but for all I know it could have been set lower.

2.       Every year they amp up the realness with some cool addition. This year it’s their all-new collision system. Now players can control player movement up until the last millisecond of impact so if you’re the type of person who likes to spin and juke all the time, you can really exploit that skill-set. It’s applicable on defense too and allows much better and technical tackling. Instead of just getting to a space on the field and having a tackle sort of just happen you get to put your hands on a joker and drag him to the ground. As usual EA has given the game a bunch of new tackle angles and animations, so visually it follows the tradition of great graphics.

3.       EA says that calls for a customized playbook are the number one request by fans and those fans won’t be disappointed. Fans can modify their favorite team’s current playbook or create their own by selecting up to 400 different plays from 75 different playbooks. If you’re someone like me who thinks plays should be always be tailored towards each teams particular personnel this is a potential difference maker.  For me that means everytime LeSean McCoy hits the hole in a Draw Formation he’ll have a lead blocker. Trust me, it matters.

4.       The new eye candy is cool too, with ariel views of each stadium, team specific mascots and cheerleaders , real camera views provided by actual NFL FILMS cameramen, 3-D grass, player equipment, helmet stickers and  jerseys that appear worn in relation to a players activity on the field  all join together to give the realest game atmosphere ever.  There’s just a lot to like here.

Overall, longtime fans will have few beefs with the new improvements and the game continues to astound. The release date is later this season for obvious reasons but when its drops on August 30^th expect to be wowed per the usual. In the meantime you can check out the demo on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network–Khalid Salaam

The sequel to Ubisoft’s Experience franchise will feature multi-platinum the Black Eyed Peas. The crew which was known for their top notch dance moves well before they ruled the pop charts will have their music featured on the title–that is currently in development.

The choreography on BEPE will be done by the great Fatima Robinson. It is way to early for a release date on the title but the game will be available for Wii and Kinect.

will.i.am is no Michael Jackson but this Experience should be decent nonetheless.

E3 2011 kicked “unofficially” yesterday with the press conferences by EA, Ubisoft, and of course the big console makers, Microsoft and Sony. Some call these two-hour long press conferences overblown and dull, but what they do is set the stage and tone for what we can expect gaming industry to unveil during the show.

Full Recap

Microsoft kicked off E3 yesterday with a press conference showcasing the hottest third party for their system, along with a new Xbox Live integration for home use. YouTube was announced as an Xbox Live partner, while Bing is will come to the console to let users search across Netflix, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Hulu all at once. Not to mention they announced a few games, namely Dance Central 2, Kinect Sports Season 2 and two new Halo games, Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary an HD remake and Halo 4.

Sony, on the other hand, pushed further into 3D gaming by unveiling a complete 3D gaming bundle. $499 you will get a 24-inch monitor and active shutter LCD glasses, an HDMI cable and a copy of Resistance. Also we got hands on playing time with the new Playstation Vita, Sony’s handheld device. The device offers six-axis motion sensors, dual analog controls (proper ones, with thumbsticks), front- and rear-facing cameras, an OLED touch screen, and a touchpad on the back, too. The company showed off a number of top-tier titles, including Uncharted: Golden Abyss, a hack-and-slash RPG called Ruin, a new ModNation Racers, Little Big Planet, and Street Fighter x Tekken. the Vita will be listed at $249 for the WiFi-only model, or $299 for the 3G version.

This morning Nintendo unveiled their much hyped, touch screen controller system, the Wii U. Promising more responsive motion sensing controls, Nintendo left those in attendance in awe at the possibilities of their new innovative gameplay. The specs for the new console: 1080p video over HDMI, undisclosed “internal flash memory”, with expandable storage from an SD card or external USB HDD, and four USB 2.0 slots. IBM created the processor inside, while all Wii games are compatible for the new Wii U. Much like the 3DS, most of the Wii U hands on was confined to non-playable demos.

As kuhvet gets some more demo time at E3, we’ll be providing additional in-depth on some of the Best that E3 had to offer. For now, here’s a look at the essential E3 Day One Highlights from what we saw:

Microsoft:

• Kinect Sports Season 2

• Mass Effect 3 Kinect compatibility

• A Star Wars Kinect game

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

• Gears of War 3

• Halo: Combat Evolved Remastered

• Halo 4, 5 6, starting a new trilogy

Nintendo

• Wii U

• Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

• Mario Kart 3DS

Sony:

• PlayStation Vita–$249 for the Wifi version, and $299 for the 3G wifi version with AT&T 3G

• 24” 3D HDTV bundle including television, HDMI cable, 3D glasses and Resistance 3 for $499

• Final Fantasy XIII-2

• Resistance 3

• Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

• Uncharted for the PlayStation Vita

• Bioshock: Infinite

• PS3 3D Game Remastering

• Star Trek for the PS3

EA:

• Need For Speed: The Run

• Star Wars: The Old Republic

• Madden NFL 12

Capcom

• Resident Evil

• Street Fighter vs Tekken

THQ

• Saints Row the Third

• WWE ‘12

PSVita trailer –

Today Majecso announced the follow up to the hit dance/fitness game, Zumba Fitness. ZB2 will launch on Wii during 2011 holiday season, with a 2nd platform (we’re assuming Kinect) release to come in 2o12. The Zumba Dance phenomenon has gotten crazy popular in the last year and Majesco CEO Jesse Sutton promises that ZB2 will challenge Zumba vets and entice newbies.

The title will feature 30 new songs, arenas, choreography and styles.

Hit the jump for details on new features.

Additional Zumba Fitness 2 Features:

• Shake it in Style – From fan favorites like Salsa and Reggaeton to all new styles like Bellydance, Axe, Latin Pop and Pasodoble, players can choose from more than 20 dance styles.
• Customize Your Experience – Select from more than 30 tracks in Single Song mode, take a class designed by Beto, Gina Grant or Tanya Beardsley, or craft your own playlist in Zumba Class mode. Invite your friends to join the fun in Zumba Party mode that supports up to 4 players. You can even take it slow in Learn the Steps tutorial mode before you dive into the choreography.
• Location, Location, Location – Dance it up in five new, dynamic environments from a Miami Yacht to a Los Angeles nightclub.
• Superstar Instructors – Dance and interact with top Zumba instructors Beto, Tanya Beardsley and Gina Grant. You can even customize each instructor’s outfit with the hottest Zumbawear™ styles.

2K Sports announced the release date and player roster for one of our favorite sports games, Top Spin 4. The latest iteration of the game–which got a lot of run with non tennis fans–will be released on March 18th.

Check out the trailer below:

Full roster Top Spin 4 features the largest roster in the franchise to date, including Andre Agassi (who appears for the first time in a decade), Bjorn Borg, Roger Federer, Jim Courier, Rafael Nadal, Boris Becker, Serena Williams, Patrick Rafter, Michael Chang, Dinara Safina, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic, Ivan Lendel, Pete Sampras, Andy Roddick, James Blake, Caroline Wozniacki, Nikolay Davydenko, Gilles Simon, Bernard Tomic, Eugenie Bouchard, Stanislas Wawrinka, Vera Zvonareva, and Jelena Jankovic.

Today we bring you more detail into the Champion Mode of the upcoming Fight Night release. This time you get more detail into the story of fictitious boxer Andre Bishop. It’s getting a little dramatic for our tastes but if EA can pull together good fight action around the mature story line then it could bring a new wrinkle to fighting games all together.

Fight Night Champion hits stores on March 1st, 2011.

A few days ago we brought you the introduction to Fight Night Champion’s revamped story mode and today we bring you video straight from a producer of the upcoming title. Check it out.

With so much downloadable content out there for purchase it’s cool that Activision and Coca-Cola are giving fans free DLC for DJ Hero 2.

The Tiësto Mix Pack Presented by Coca-Cola is available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, the PlayStation Store and as downloadable singles for Wii for free from November 23 through November 29.

Hit the jump for more mix pack details.

Three exclusive mixes are “Traffic” Mixed With “Louder Than Boom,” “Feel It In My Bones” ft. Tegan & Sara and “Knock You Out” ft. Emily Haines Mixed With “Young Lions.”