New Technology Reviews!.: Brotherhood

<img alt="" class="alignright size-full wp-image-437233" height="225" src="/weekend-gaming-225.jpg" title="Weekend Gaming" width="225"> Weekend Gaming is back with an all new logo thanks to Mashable’s <a href="http://mashable.com/author/matt-silverman/">Matt Silverman</A>. We’ve had a busy couple of weeks in gaming, with two new installments to major franchises hitting the shelves. Because stealth games are ones of my guiltiest pleasures, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood has been consuming the most of my time. That obsession probably started with Tenchu way back in 1998 on the <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/playstation/">PlayStation</A>. Although the Metal Gear series popularized stealth action, I never really got into those games, and few stealth games have been able to hold my attention. The only real exceptions have been the Assassin’s Creed series and Splinter Cell: Conviction. The biggest problem with Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood is that it feels more like an expansion pack to Assassin’s Creed II than its own standalone game. Regardless, some much needed upgrades to the game’s dynamics have made Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood a worthwhile adventure. Admittedly, I’ve logged only about two hours of gameplay on <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/call-of-duty-black-ops/">Call of Duty: Black Ops</A>, but so far I like what I’ve seen. While it exists as a logical successor to Call of Duty: World at War, developer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treyarch" target="blank">Treyarch</A> has definitely taken some cues from <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/modern-warfare-2/">Modern Warfare 2</A>. Having not yet invested enough time into Black Ops, I’m really curious to hear your thoughts on the title. And let’s try not to get into a debate over <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/activision/">Activision’s</A> handling of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinity_Ward" target="blank">Infinity Ward</A> during the creation of MW2. Treyarch’s Call of Duty: Black Ops deserves to be judged on its own merits. This week also saw the release of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Id_Software" target="blank">id Software’s</A> RAGE: Mutant Bash TV for <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rage/id396956740" target="blank">iPhone and iPod touch</A> or <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rage-hd/id400707675" target="blank">iPad</A>. It is a fast-paced first person shooter (FPS) that, more than anything, shows the promise of gaming on mobile platforms. Although it is currently available only <a href="http://www.mashable.com/category/ios">iOS</A>, I chatted with iconic game developer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Carmack" target="blank">John Carmack</A>, and he revealed that id is currently seeking full-time Android developers. That means <a href="http://www.mashable.com/category/android">Android</A><a class="blippr-inline-smiley blippr-inline-smiley-07" href="http://www.blippr.com/apps/336868-Android" rel="http://www.blippr.com/apps/336868-Android.whtml" target="_blank">Android<img alt="Android" class="wp-smiley" height="14" src="/inline-face07.png" width="14"></A> fans might be able to get in on the action with future mobile releases from id Software. Mutant Bash TV is a small teaser for id’s next legacy title RAGE, which is due out on major gaming consoles later next year. It will be id’s first major release since <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/doom">Doom 3</A> back in 2004. Finally, what would Weekend Gaming be without a little giveaway? Crazy Taxi was just released to <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/xbox-live">Xbox Live Arcade</A> and the <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/playstation-network/">PlayStation Network</A>, and we have five codes for each platform. To get your code, head over to the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/mashable.tech" target="blank">Mashable Tech Page on Facebook</A> and leave a comment saying, “I want ‘Crazy Taxi’ for Xbox” (or PlayStation). On Monday, we’ll select winners at random from the comments. The codes are limited to U.S. commenters only. And with that, I turn it over to you: What are you playing this weekend? Comments are open to: tips, critiques, (good-natured) smack talk and basically anything else related to gaming. The <a href="http://mashable.com/tag/weekend-gaming/">weekend gaming</A> open thread is intended to bring Mashable<a class="blippr-inline-smiley blippr-inline-smiley-07" href="http://www.blippr.com/apps/337174-Mashable" rel="http://www.blippr.com/apps/337174-Mashable.whtml" target="_blank">Mashable<img alt="Mashable" class="wp-smiley" height="14" src="/inline-face07.png" width="14"></A> gamers together through conversation about games. This thread is for those of us who had the first NES and for those whose first gaming experience happened on an Xbox 360, so let’s try to keep it fun for everyone.

Weekend Gaming: “Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood,” “Call of Duty: Black Ops” and “Rage: Mutant Bash TV” [OPEN THEAD]

Weekend Gaming is back with an all new logo thanks to Mashable’s Matt Silverman . We’ve had a busy couple of weeks in gaming, with two new ...