Indeed it was a very close fight and one where I think a draw would be acceptable. But given the win by majority decision of Pacquiao being questioned by many, I didn’t expect to have a different opinion until I watched the whole fight 2 days later where I could rewind and playback moments of the fight. The final scores were: 114-114, 115-113, 116-112 in favor of Manny Pacquiao. Both fighters had injuries but there were no knockdowns from either fighter in the whole fight. Overall, Pacquiao was not as aggressive as his previous fights but he also knew Marquez well than any of us and I think he was careful and fought with more strategy keeping in mind his opponent’s strength in counter-punching.

So why did I say Manny did deserve the win? Let’s look at this more objectively:

1. Manny had better statistical performance.

Not by much but Paquiao threw more punches and had more landed in. Marquez got a little bit more accuracy but this is boxing and not archery so more landed punches are better.

2. Juan Marquez got complacent in the last round when his trainer told him he’s winning.

Careful he doesn’t catch you with one punch and you down. Because then everything will be drop but you’re winning!…….the fight is yours! -Marquez’s Trainer to Marquez before the 12th round.

His trainer shouldn’t have said this. Unless he is a judge or can see into the future, he shouldn’t plant ideas in his fighter’s head. His advice caused Marquez to play the last round safely thinking he had the fight but it may have actually cost him as Pacquiao did not let up in the last round. When the last round ended, Marquez was throwing his hands up and jumping up and down the ropes thinking he had won while Pacquiao went back to his corner to pray as he always does whether win or lose.

In contrast, Pacquiao’s own trainer just told him to go out there and fight.

3. Marquez steps on Pacquiao several times in the fight.

Its arguable whether this is intentional or not. Marquez never really looked down on Pacquiao’s foot but some say you don’t need to if you have planned and practiced to fight dirty. Some say its natural because Manny is a southpaw. Either way, it did happen whether intentional or not.

4. Marquez gave Pacquiao a headbutt in the 10th round.

Again, intentional or not, this did happen. The sports commission confirmed it. The headbutt caused a major cut in Pacquiao’s right eyebrow. Even if this was not scored, the hurt and pain it will cause Manny for the next few rounds is there.

5. Marquez gave a flashier performance, Manny was more consistent.

While both fighters were conservative throughout, Marquez did show more flashier punches. Great punches that would make excellent replays and Internet pictures. However if you look closer and objectively, Pacquiao gave back enough counter punches as well though not as great looking.

If Marquez had been able to knockdown Manny, that would be a different story. Since it didn’t, this is not the movies and flashier moves does not mean a better fight even if it does look better on TV.

Conclusion

All in all, this 3rd fight between Manny and Marquez did nothing to forever define who is the better fighter. There is an humor image circulating in the social networks on this. I would have been content if the fight was a draw but I think the judges got it right this time. Especially the one that gave the 115-113 score as indeed this is a close one.

Video made available thanks to theshowradio1. This will play for people in Europe and Asia. The original post of Gamespot is limited to US only at the time of posting.

This is the next big game that is coming out this 2010 after Starcraft 2. This one I will very likely get. Seems awesome and if you are a player of Modern Warfare 2, then this one you will like also.

Activision, Infinity Ward, and Treyarch

Its actually still produced by Activision but this time, the developer is Treyarch instead of Infinity Ward. A few months with Modern Warfare 2′s release, Activision fired the top executives of Infinity Ward for reasons of “breach of contract and insubordination”. Most of the talent in Infinity Ward left along with their bosses shortly after. Activision own the rights to the Call of Duty series and had this Black Ops release developed by Treyarch. Treyach is the studio behind Call of Duty: World at War which is a good game in its own right but not as successful as Modern Warfare series. With the upcoming release of COD: Black Ops, things are heating up as this is also expected to sell alot.

On the other hand, previous heads of Infinity Ward Jason West and Vince Campella was picked up by EA and started another game studio called Respawn Entertainment. I am pretty sure these guys are itching to develop something that will blow Activision away. With such fierce competition between the studio, its great news for gamers.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Trailer

Multiplayer Teaser

RELEASE DATE: NOVEMBER 9, 2010

DC Universe Online. I just came across this very interesting and very promising MMO (massive multiplayer online) game that is coming out on November 2, 2010.  DC Universe Online does just what the name implies. It puts you in the DC Universe. You get to play alongside famous DC superheroes like Superman, Batman, Flash, Green Lantern, and more.

Game features:

• Experience the power of visceral combat where you control every blow your character strikes, delivering a level of action that is unparalleled in the MMO segment.
• Choose your side — superhero or villain — as you battle to save or conquer the universe.
• Fight alongside or against your favorite DC heroes and villains including Batman, The Joker, Superman, Wonder Woman and others…The next legend is YOU!
• Experience the intensity of a world created in the artistic vision of legendary comic book artist Jim Lee.
• Take advantage of the state-of-the-art physics engine and use objects in the world around you as weapons, including even your enemies!
• Players will create their own custom DC-style hero or villain, each with a unique look and combination of superpowers.
• Embark on heroic or villainous story-driven adventures penned by famous DC writers including Geoff Johns and Marv Wolfman.
• Gameplay is optimized for both the PS3 computer entertainment system and PC.
• Explore the DC Universe; walk the darkened streets of Gotham City, investigate the mysteries of the futuristic cityscape of Metropolis and travel to legendary locations including Arkham Asylum and the Justice League of America Watchtower.

And now, take a look at the official trailer for the game:

The game will be available on both PS3 and on PC. Players however will only be able to play with people on the same platform. Sad, that makes it 2 universes instead of 1.

Retail Price is expected to be at $59.99 for PS3 and $49.99 for PC. There will also be a subscription fee of $14.99 monthly. This sucks. Potentially a great game but also massively expensive. I’ll be sitting this one out.

The Kinect will come bundled with Kinect Adventures which is a river raft ride through and obstacle course.

Kinect will sell for $149.99. Microsoft also announced that a four-gigabyte Xbox 360 console will include the Kinect Sensor and “Kinect Adventures” and sell for $299. Additional games can be bought at $49. Again, Kinect will work with all of the existing XBOX 360 already sold worldwide.

Enough talk, here is the official trailer for you to easier appreciate Microsoft Kinect.

Here are the initial games for Kinect.

I must say that given Kinect’s potential, I am honestly disappointed. They could have been so much more but instead, they seem like Wii games on steroids. While I understand the Microsoft is trying to get into the casual family gaming market, the lack of blockbuster titles like Modern Warfare, Call of Duty, and others will make gamers like me sad. I hope they come up with more.

So hey, time to save up for Christmas. If you got kids, you can always say “Honey, its for the kids”.

July 27, 2010. Another mark is going to be made in gamer history today with the global launch of Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty. This is a much anticipated game since the release of the original starcraft in 1998. There had been numerous times when the project production was delayed but as the marketing tagline says, Hell, It’s About Time.

There will be global launch parties but too bad there isn’t one in Manila. Nearest one will be in Funan Mall in Singapore.

The game goes on sale today in Metro Manila at Data Blitz, Neutral Grounds, and Digital Hub. The standard edition is priced at Php 3,500 while the Collector’s Edition is at Php 6,500 but I heard that’s already out-of-stock. If you have already pre-ordered, then good for you as it comes with a FREE T-Shirt and Dog Tag if you pre-ordered. I pre-ordered a copy as a gift for my brother but I’m still undecided if I should purchase one for myself. Php 3,500 is a steep price for a game but then again, it’s paying for a game from my childhood. Its a great game at that too.

Anyway, here are two great videos worth watching on Starcraft 2.

Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty Cinematic Trailer

Starcraft 2: Ghosts of the Past

Enjoy, if you have experiences to share on starcraft 2, I will be glad to hear it. And oh, the local community on Starcraft 2 in Philippines can be found at sc2ph.wordpress.com

Update: Street Fighter 4 just got an update this June 2010. The update added Cammy and Zangief.

Street Fighter 4 for the iPhone, iPod touch, and the iPad just came out last March 10, 2010. In just a few days, it has already hit the top 10 best selling apps. While it has yet to beat Plants VS Zombies, it does indeed make a reputation for itself. The game itself is not for everyone but anybody who likes fighting games or has been reminiscing their arcade days should try this out.

Characters

The iPhone version of the game is a simplified version from the PS3 one. It just has 8 characters and 7 stages. The characters are:

1. Ryu
2. Ken
3. Guile
4. Blanka
5. Dhalsim
6. Chun-li
7. M. Bison
8. Abel

Sadly, I am missing my bosses from Street Fighter 2 like Balrog, Vega, and Sagat. The game simply jumps to M. Bison for the final boss.

The game features 4 levels of difficulty and several game modes like tournament, versus play over bluetooth, free sparring, and training. It comes with all the moves, special attacks and combos.

Graphics

The graphics of the game is amazing. It is one of the most beautiful designs I have seen on the iPhone. Here are some samples:

Sounds

The music and sounds are also wonderful. While the iPhone/iPoud Touch speakers can be a bit weak, it sounds better if you play it through earphones or when hooked up to external speakers.

Gameplay and Performance

This was where I was really hesitant. How can a game made for arcade controls work on a touch screen properly? How could a button smasher game work on a device with no buttons? It turns out that it works just fine. The design had simplified the controls to the simulated joystick and 4 on-screen buttons. There is one button for punch, another for kick, one for special attacks, and one for focus attacks. You can also customize the controls on where you want them placed on the screen as well as their opacity.

It was simplified but it works. The response is very fast and the movement is very fluid. I was able to play it on a 2nd gen iPod touch and it works just fine. The only dismay is the drain on the battery. I guess something has to give with all the performance, graphics, and sound.

Here is a short video from slide toPlay to demostrate:

Price

This is also where I had some gripe. At $10 on the appstore, it is a bit pricey. It is the most expensive game I have bought on the appstore to date but I did not regret it. I had fun playing it and I guess its worth it just for the nostalgia for me. The game performing well and giving hours of fun is just extra gravy. It is really a rare find on the appstore for a game that you can have fun that is action oriented and not some puzzle, trivia, or tower defense kind of game. I just wish there was more content for my $10.

Overall

It is a must-buy recommendation for anyone who likes fighting games and has enjoyed Street Fighter 2. This has none of the craziness that comes later with ridiculous million hadokens and almost flying characters. Beware of the 200mb download as it comes with a few movie previews of something called “Super Street Fighter 4″. Maybe a sequel…?

Anyway, I hope you found this article helpful. Feel free to share your own thoughts and comments.

Welcome to the second part of my tips and strategies guide to Cafe World. If you missed out reading the first one, you can find it here.

I’ve actually gotten tired of the game after some time as it gets repetitive but its good fun while it lasted. But that’s just me. Try it out, I’ve friends that have found this game utterly captivating even after a while. Without more delay, here are the tips:

STACK UP YOUR DISHES

You have limited counters depending on your level. Thus, you are limited to the kind of dishes you can serve. However, there is no limit to the quantity you can stack up on one counter of the same dish. So say that you have 4 counters. It is best that you keep cooking the same 4 kinds of dishes. Plan ahead if you want to change a dish being served so you can swap a new dish with an old dish that’s about to run out. You don’t want to delete either dishes on the counter or on the stove as its wasted coins and time. A common mistake is getting excited about the choices of dishes you can make and then ending up with no space on the counters to place ready dishes.

ADD NEIGHBORS AND GIFTS

You need neighbors to expand your cafe. Also, you can visit each neighbor everyday and get free coins and exp by tasting their dishes. Its irrelevant what dish and you just have to click accept for that free exp and coin. You can do this once per day. Also, remember to always send and receive free gifts. Its just free stuff for everyone. You will likely be getting gifts in return if you start giving too.

EXPANDING YOUR CAFE

As you level up and can serve more dishes, your cafe’s popularity should have grown too if you have been following my tips. It is now time to expand as customers that has to wait too long will leave your cafe and bring down your buzz rating.  You cannot ‘jump’ ahead in expanding and you can only upgrade to the next level of cafe.

Expanding will require neighbors and coins. You can also use cafe world cash but that’s real money and I don’t recommend it. Its easy enough to do with coins anyway. Here is a list of the requirements and sizes of cafe expansions.

MAXIMIZE STOVES AND COUNTER UTILIZATION

You always want to keep your stoves and counters busy. So plan ahead is the key to this game in almost every aspect. Make sure your stoves are always cooking and your counters filled with food. You can also make clicking easier as the commands can be queued. For example, you can buy all the dishes you want to cook first and then just click on each counter. You don’t have to wait for the progress bar to finish on one counter before clicking the next.

SAVE MONEY ON DECORATIONS AND ALL STOVES/COUNTERS WORK THE SAME

At the start, be frugal. Do not splurge on decorations until you really have extra coins. Save up your coins for ingredients, basic equipment and expanding your cafe. All tables, chairs, doors, stoves, counters work the same. The most expensive stove and the cheapest one work the same. You are just paying for looks. Avoid this if you want to progress up quickly.

DID YOU KNOW: You can save on cleaning up stoves by putting dirty stoves back into your inventory and then putting them back out? They will come out as clean. You don’t get the exp for cleaning up the stove though so its up to you if you want more exp or saving up on the coins.

CAFE POINTS TABLE

Each dish has its corresponding cafe points that you can make from preparing and serving it. Here is an list sorted according to total Cafe Points.

CHEF’S SPECIAL!

When you cook one dish often enough, you can get awarded with extra servings of the dish as a Chef’s Special. So it pays off to be consistent too. Since the priority should always still be planning what you cook around your playtime, it helps if you have a ‘set’ of dishes you cook according to the cooking time.

Leave a comment, submit your ideas!

This is it for now. I hope you have enjoyed Cafe World and my guide has helped you play it much better. Feel free to give comments, say thanks, or add your own tips. I’d love to hear from you and I am sure others would benefit from our input too.

So what can I say after 72 hours of game time? I’m pretty satisfied I must say.

Finding Games
As a casual gamer without any clans, IWNet has made it easy for me to find games. I can usually find a game in 2-5 mins. Some game types are easier to find players than others due to popularity of the particular game type (like Team Deathmatch).

If you want to play with friends, you can easily invite them to games you are in or create private matches.

Lag, Ping, and Latency
While some matches are really laggy, most games are honestly OK. It also depends on where you are and where the people you are playing with are. If you play in the timezone where most people in your area play, it should be better. I play Modern Warfare 2 in the Philippines.

Gameplay
The lack of console support and peek ability sucks. The game is really more of a console port rather than a PC intended design. But if you are the type that likes to play their shooters with a mouse and keyboard rather than a joypad, its a pretty good game.

The weapons are all amazing and mostly balanced. The perks and class customizations make it more interesting and personal.

Hackers
There are hackers in the game but they are not as bad as most make it. I am not a good player myself but I think people tend to call hacker when some player is just very skilled or lucky. In my 72 hours of play, I encountered only 2-3 hackers. If you do encounter one by chance, just leave the game and join another one. Its faster than crying on the Internet.

Single Player

Utterly amazing. No one disputes this. Its quite short but the game successfully lets you play the game. Where parts that it could have made it easier as a cut scene, it lets you as the player do the action. It makes you feel that you are a part of the world. The storyline picks up where Modern Warfare left off. So play the single player campaign of the 1st Modern Warfare before playing this.

Overall Verdict
Its an awesome game for the casual gamer. I feel for the pro gamers and the lack of support for big clans. So, if you are like me and just want a few easy rounds of fun after a day’s work, go grab your copy now.

What has long been awaited as the sequel to one of the most successful games in First Person Shooters (FPS), Modern Warfare 2 disappoints PC fans. The game is still very solid that it has a good single player campaign (albeit short–6 hours worth). It retains decent graphics, low system requirements, and great gameplay. However, thats really about it.

There already has been thousands of angry fans. Majority of Amazon buyers gave it a poor rating, there is an ongoing boycott petition, and the Internet and forums has been really buzzing with anger. Why? Here is a summary:

1. No dedicated server support. No mods.

2. Maximum of 9v9 multiplayer.

3. Short single-player campaign.

4. Steam registration and account activation required. (even for single player play)

5. Hacks available already within 24 hours of its release. (cannot be verified yet but likely genuine hack)

6. No game admins, no ability to choose servers, no ability to kick/ban hackers.

I was really looking forward to this game. As it stands, I might have to hold off from buying it. Check this interview for the full transcript of the news: PC Modern Warefare 2: it’s much worse than you thought

Anyway, here is a good video of this awesome game. I hope the game publisher changes their mind and listen to the gamers.