The Pre-Order

I'm sure this has happened to you before. You walk into a video game store and you are immediately  approached by a salesman and asked if you would like to pre-order any video games. The normal thing to do, if you were indeed intending to pre-order any games, would be to say yes and head towards the cash register and pay the $5 down payment that they usually ask for. Once you have your game "reserved", you leave the store happier than a clown, and wait patiently for the launch day of the game. Nothing seems wrong with that, right?

But ask yourself, why? Why do we "reserve" or pre-order games? This is one of the questions that came up during our recent purchase of Gears of War 3 for the Xbox 360. That was just one of many games that we pre-ordered this year. Some other games that you may remember are: Pokemon Black, Pokemon White, The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3DS, The Legend of Zelda Skyward Sword, Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary, and Sonic Generations, just to name a few.

We are told that if we reserve a game we will be guaranteed a copy, and that is what seems to be the obvious driving factor to even think of pre-ordering a game. But the more and more that we pre-order games, the more and more it seems unnecessary. Stores will never run out of games, maybe consoles, but never on games. Even Halo 3, the best-selling Xbox 360 title to date, still had copies in the store on its launch day. So this just goes to show that game pre-orders are just not worth it anymore. Sure it's only $5 for the person reserving the game. But to the store itself, which is probably getting a lot of pre-orders, it could be millions of dollars of extra cash that they can spend early on things that they desire.

Since it was mentioned before, and you're probably thinking of this right now, let's talk about consoles. Consoles are a whole different story. Unlike games, which rarely ever sell out, if ever, consoles always sell out on launch day. At least for the modern consoles that is, we wouldn't be able to talk about the previous ones much since we weren't there to experience it. The Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3 all were sold out on their launch day, and if you weren't out in line waiting for one then you didn't get one. The sad thing is that we can never reserve these things. It would make so much more sense to have pre-orders on consoles, because you know that those will always be hard to find after the day that they're launched. We can pre-order handhelds, which is also a good investment, but not family home consoles. This is something that must change. Maybe I'll write a letter to all the major companies like Gamestop, Walmart, Best Buy, Target, and Toys 'R' Us...or not.

Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary Pre-Order Bonuses

All in all, this may be the last year that I personally pre-order games, can't speak for Chris on this one. Now we're not saying to not pre-order anymore, because some stores do have some good incentives, such as exclusive characters, levels, sounds, etc...So if that's the case then pre-order by all means. For example, let's bring up Halo one last time, if you pre-ordered Combat Evolved Anniversary you will get an exclusive character outfit for your Avatar, that seems to justify the $5 you put down. So next time you walk into a video game store and you're asked about pre-ordering, think about this blog post and ask yourself if it's really worth it. You could always use those $5 to get yourself something nice to eat, or just save them up for that car that you will want 5-10 years from now, trust us on that one.

ChrisCross Monday

Hello there and welcome to our first ChrisCross Monday! During this segment we "ChrisCross" from console to console and fill you in on what games are going to be released this week. Last week there was a poll on the blog that wanted to know what your favorite console was. 56 of you voted and we came up with the following results:

Nintendo Wii - 34 (60%)

Microsoft Xbox 360 - 5 (8%)

Sony Playstation 3 - 2 (3%)

Other (Portable, PC) - 15 (25%)

As you can see the majority of our viewers prefer the Nintendo Wii, and that is what we expected. It was interesting to see that the "Other" category was so dominant. If we were to do this poll again, I would definitely add more choices to get more specific results. This week we see the launch of three huge games. Mortal Kombat, Portal 2, and SOCOM 4! And with all that said let's see the rest of this weeks new releases!

Nintendo Wii

My Little Baby 4/18

Remington Super Slam Hunting: Alaska 4/18

Conduit 2 4/19

Microsoft Xbox 360

Mortal Kombat 4/19 (also available, on same day, for Sony Playstation 3, PC, and Mac)

Triple Pack: Xbox Live Arcade Compilation 4/19

Portal 2 4/19 (also available, on same day, for Sony Playstation 3, PC, and Mac)

Pinball FX 2: Mars 4/20

Section 8: Prejudice 4/20

Sony Playstation 3

Arcana Hearts 3 4/19

Prince of Persia Classic Trilogy HD 4/19

SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy SEALs 4/19

Nintendo DS (Original, Lite, DSi, DSi XL, 3DS)

DodoGo! Robo 4/18

GO Series: Captain Sub 4/18

TrackMania Turbo 4/19

PSP (1000, 2000, 3000)

Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection 4/19

Mad Blocker Alpha: Revenge of the Fluzzles 4/19

PC

Elements of War 4/18

Assassin's Creed: Ultimate Collection 4/19

Blazing Angels Bundle 4/19

Brothers in Arms: Complete Collection 4/19

Majesty 2 Collection 4/19

Tom Clancy's End War With World in Conflict 4/19

Cargo: The Quest for Gravity 4/21

If you haven't watched our newest video then just watch it down below!

Donkey Kong Country LP & The Game Station!

  On Decmeber 10th, we launched our first ever Let's Play!  In honor of the new Nintendo release of Donkey Kong Country Returns, we wanted to LP the game that stated it all!  We are extremly excited about Let's Playing Donkey Kong Country, and we are also very excited about all the new features we are adding to our LP!



  Our LP still has the traditional format that you would see on any LP, but we have added many new things to shake things up and make it different and new!  On thing we are excited about with our LP's is our Challenge Mode!  It's where Christian and I speed run through a level and we try to see who had the best time...we are going to try to do a challenge every episode, and at the end of the entire LP, we will tally who has more wins...the loser will have to do something our fans get to vote on through Facebook and Twitter!



  Another thing we are adding to our LP's is the 'Fails of the Day' & the 'Wins of the Day'!  DKC is a very hard game, and of course, while playing it, you are going to fail.  So at the end of each episode, we add a fun montage with all of the fun fails we had during our playthrough of that episode!  Same thing goes for the Wins of the Day!  You are going to have moments in the game where you say, "How did I do that?!?" So this is where we show off our DK SKILLz and make ourselves look better at the game than we actually are! :)



  We really wanted to make this LP fun for everyone, so we setup a camera so that our fans can actually see us react to certain parts of the game!  We feel it makes it more personal and it's fun to see how we react to certain situations in the game.  One thing Christian and I are trying to do is eat as many bananas during our LP as we can!  We are doing a count of how many we consume from start to end of our LP!  There will be a day when we ask our fans to guess how many bananas we will consume, and whoever guesses right will win a small prize!!  We have many many more surprises coming for our DKC LP!  We have a bunch of co-commentators and we have mini-giveaways and extra frun content coming too!  We really have only begun, and our goal is to make this LP fun and unique for everyone!!

  We have also been really busy with TheGameStation!  Our dream from day one was to get a YouTube Partnership, and with TheGameStation's help, it has become a reality!!  TheGameStation really doesn't need an introduction...they are HUGE!  And we feel so honored to be affiliated with their family now!  We can't say much, but you will see a lot of us on there now!  You can see how happy we are in our NEW video HERE! 


So thanks again to everyone!  We are very excited about our future on TGS, and YouTube!  And of course, thanks to our fans...we would not be here without you!!

Donkey Kong Month!

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 (12/9/2010) 5:25 PM...By: Chris

  Yes, you heard right!  The month of December is Donkey Kong themed!  We are actually pretty BIG Donkey Kong fans, and we just had to celebrate Nintendo's newest DK title, "Donkey Kong Country Returns"! 

Donkey Kong Country Retuns out now on the Nintendo Wii

  So what do we have planned for our Donkey Kong Month?  You'll just have to wait and see!  We have a cool giveaway, and a real BIG DK "Project" that has been in the works for the past few months!  We are really getting ready to make this our BIGGEST CCM Month yet!

Diddy Kong and Donkey Kong

  So be ready to get your Donkey Kong On!  Also, prepare for some Christmas Surprises too!  So grab a banana, and get ready for CCM's DK Month!




  Also, Enjoy this quick video we did to announce our new theme!  We ChrisCrossed the famouse DK Theme, Jungle Hijinxs!!

Disney Epic Mickey Review!

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  (12/8/2010) 5:27 PM...By: Chris

  On Novermeber 30th, Disney Interactive Studios and Junction Point released the highly anticipated game, Disney Epic Mickey!  This game has already won several awards for various things, including it's unique gamestyle, and overal story.  Being the BIG Disney fan I am, I have been anticipating this game for a very very long time. 

Disney Epic Mickey: Collector's Edition

  I remember hearing about this game for almost two years, and just wondering what it would all be about.  Seeing the concept art for the first time got me so excited, and then hearing that you would play as Mickey Mouse had me really really excited!  But the BIGGEST excitement was when I heard that the Legendary Warren Spector would be working on the game!

Warren Spector, Director or Disney Epic Mickey

  Warren Spector is known for his award winning games such as Deus Ex and the Ultima series, and he is notorious for being a HUGE Disney/Mickey Mouse fan!  What I loved is that he truly understands Mickey Mouse...who is is, what are his motives, and how he SHOULD act!  Mickey Mouse has been potrayed as a mascot for the Disney Company for the past 80 years, and hasn't prominately been the star of a story for almost two decades.  Spector knew he had to bring Mickey Mouse back to his roots, and give him his retro look! 

Mickey Mouse's "retro" look for Disney Epic Mickey

  When I was finally able to get my hands on this game, after all the hype the past 4 months from E3, and other various sources, I was so excited!  Without giving away too much of the plot and story; you play as Mickey Mouse who is thrown into this world called the Wasteland.  The Wasteland is a world were all the forgotten and rejected Disney characters and designs live. (it's basically a shadow of the Magic Kingdom from the Disney Parks)  Mickey spilled paint and thinner into this world by mistake, creating the Phantom Blot!  The Phantom Blot causes havic and destroys the world were many characters live, such as Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Mickey Mouse's older/jealous brother.

Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit

  Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was Walt Disney's first success!  Oswald was a lot like Mickey Mouse in many many ways....He would fight an arch nemisis, cause some trouble, and gets the girl!  But in 1928, when Walt went to Universal to renew his contract with them, they kicked Walt to the curb and stole all of his animators.  Walt need soemthing to get back on his feet... Mickey Mouse was born, and the rest is history!
  So ya, Oswald is pretty jealous of Mickey Mouse.  Mickey is living the life he was supposed to have.  Mickey is confronted by Oswald when you enter the Wasteland, and this is really when the story unfolds.  I really don't want to give too much away of the story.  It's really something you have to play for yourself...especially because there are multiple endings! 

Concept Art from Disney Epic Mickey

  I have yet to beat Disney Epic Mickey... I am actually on the last boss level, and let me tell you...WHAT A BOSS LEVEL!  It is so awesome!  I love it!  I can seriously say it is one of my favorite boss levels in ANY game!  It's so cool and you really use your paint and thinner here, trust me.  Check out our quick video look/review of Disney Epic Mickey!  I personally give the game 5/5 stars...I love everything about it, and it truly is a pleasure to play...Here's hoping for a sequel! 

Disney Epic Mickey Giveaway!

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(11/20/2010) 12:25PM...By: Chris


This is ChrisCrossMedia's 13th YouTube Giveaway, and this one really is special! We are lucky enough to have Disney Interactive Studios provide the prizes for this giveaway!

Disney Interactive Studios is providing THREE copies of the game for THREE Lucky Winners!

All you have to do is...
1.) Subscribe to ChrisCrossMedia's YouTube Page
2.) "Like" DisneyEpicMickey's and ChrisCrossMedia's Facebook Pages
(When you did 1 & 2)
3.) Add you YouTube username on ChrisCrossMedia's Facebook Wall

On November 29, 2010 11:59 Central Time, we will randomly choose three winners to recieve a copy of Disney Epic Mickey!!

(You will only be eligable if you complete steps 1-3!)






**Some of you are saying that you don't have a Facebook's or you're not allowed to get a Facebook's...If this is true, I'm sorry but maybe this giveaway isn't for you...Because this giveaway is sponsored by Disney Interactive Studios, we had to come up with some ground rules for the giveaway, and this is what we came up with...So these three steps are set in stone, and can not be altered!


Pre-Order Disney Epic Mickey, CLICK THIS LINK: Pre-Orders

DisneyEpicMickey Facebook: DisneyEpicMickey Facebook

CCM Facebook: ChrisCrossMedia Facebook

Good Luck to everyone that enters!  Thanks again for Disney Interactive Studios for reaching out to us and providing the giveaway prizes for this month!

Epic Mickey Month, InifiCast, & Updates!

(11/3/2010) 3:57PM...By: Chris

  Who's the leader of the club that's made for you and me?  M-I-C-K-E-Y-M-O-U-S-E!!!  Have you taken a look at our YouTube, Twitter, Facebook?!?  If so, you will notice that Mickey has taken over!!  Today we launch our new Theme/Month, "ChrisCrossMedia's Disney Epic Mickey Month!"



  We have so much planned for this month!  If your a fan of Disney movies, music, videogames, or parks, you will LOVE what we have instore for you guys!  Of course, the main topic we will cover is Nintendo's NEW release and Warren Spector's newest project, "Disney's Epic Mickey"!  We also have a sweet giveaway for this month that I know you guys will enjoy!!

  In other news, our good friends and affiliates GrandPyromania & YoshiToMario have uploaded a NEW Inficast, over at their collab channel InfiNintendo!  The cool thing is that I'm in it!!  We talk about Motion Gaming, the Future of Gaming, Nintendo's sales over the Holiday season and more!!  You can watch Part 1 NOW!



  Also wanted to give you guys an update on our shop!  We should be getting our inventory of the items soon...we had some issues with the printing store, but it seems to be taken care of!  We will have more updates on when our CCM Shop will go 100% live!!  So stay tuned, and very soon you will be able to own a CCM Shirt!!

ChrisCrossMedia: The Official Shirt (Red)

  That's all the updates we have for you now...keep checking back for more news, and keep checking our YouTube page, we have some really awesome Epic Mickey content coming soon!  Thanks again, and you have Just Been ChrisCrossed!