That’s pretty rare though, and hopefully for YouTube’s sake you have a camera rolling if you find yourself in one of these games. The next one is more typical of Modern Warfare 2 in general, and our own Pete LeGrant probably has an article in stow about it. The situation has one guy with his microphone turned up excessively loud so it re-transmits everything anyone else says. This creates a strange echo effect and ends up sounding like some kind of weird Gregorian chant that you would only hear online, especially when this dude and his buddies all “holla” after winning a match.

What could be considered worse, though, are guys like those below that are so good at the game that they are bored by getting 21 straight kills normally. Naturally, this kind of guy makes an internet video describing how easy it is to get 21 knife kills in a row, followed by a nuke. Personally, I’m happy with getting anything higher than a 5-kill streak. But if you can pull off what this guy does, more power to you.

And you’ve also got guys like this next one that can not only get the requisite kills for a nuke, but can also snowball all of his killstreaks leading up to it. And by doing this, he was able to get 56 kills before dying. His only death was from his own nuke.

The information in this article could help you speed up your matchmaking online with your video games. (I’m not sure about that. But it can help your internet at home to be faster across the board.) Tweaking your DNS might be a process of trial and error, so be patient.

1. I’m not an expert on this stuff. As a result, there might be holes in my article, and if you have suggestions, I’d love to hear them. I’m just trying to put together a “starter kit” for gamers.

2. It is up to you to make sure that you understand what is involved in tweaking your DNS settings. However, I found the process to change my DNS settings to be very easy, and the result is that I have sped up my internet browsing at home.

3. I’m passing along some links that have info on how to check your DNS (Domain Name Service) settings on your home network, and you might be able to speed up your internet browing and make sure that things are running smoothly on XBOX LIVE, the Playstation Network, the Wii network, and your PC gaming.

4. Make sure that you save the appropriate articles to your computer and write down your existing functional settings. None of this will do you any good if you screw up your settings and then can’t get back online to fix them.

5. Many of the links below are to articles from Lifehacker.com, one of my favorite tech blogs. They inspired this post. So, here’s my usual shout-out to them! Love ya, Lifehacker.com!

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Microsoft’s glossary on networking terms is fairly good:

XBOX LIVE Glossary

According to that glossary, DNS is:

Domain Name Service. An Internet service that translates domain names into Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.

The Internet is based on IP addresses, so every time you use a domain name, a DNS service translates the name into the corresponding IP address. For example, the domain name http://www.example.com/ might translate into http://198.105.232.4/.

See also: PCMag’s original report on Google’s Public DNS, which also gives an overview of what DNS does.

See: HowStuffWorks “How Domain Name Servers Work”
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Diagnostics

Here’s where you really want to start to see whether your DNS settings need to be fixed.

General advice: How to Troubleshoot a Flaky Internet Connection

Start with these links and see whether you need to tweak your DNS settings in the first place:

1. How to Know When Your DNS Servers Are Failing
2. Namebench Helps You Find the Fastest DNS Server for Your Computer
3. namebench

I downloaded and used Namebench to find out whether my DNS settings were optimal. In my case at home, you can see that there was a huge advantage to switching my DNS setttings. My web browsing is noticeably faster.

Here’s a screengrab of my results from Namebench:

In my case, I switched the DNS settings on my modem, my XBOX 360 and all of the computers in my home to the recommended settings above. So far, I’m a happier camper.

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How to tweak DNS settings

Hack DNS for lightning-fast Web browsing. This article is super-awesome and is probably the best link on here. Check it out.

Google’s instructions for computers, modems, routers, etc. Unfortunately, Google didn’t include XP. So check out:

For Windows XP: Change DNS Settings in Windows XP

This link shows you how to troubleshoot your XBOX 360’s network problems, but it also shows you how to get to where you change your DNS settings. While you attempt to perform the network test on the Test Xbox Live Connection screen, IP address status displays “Failed”

See also: Troubleshoot DNS Connection Issues for Xbox 360 NXE | Xbox …

Playstation 3: Internet Connection Settings (advanced settings)

How to find and change Nintendo Wii DNS server IP address

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On Google’s DNS service:

1. Google announced a free DNS service
2. Google’s DNS looks pretty blazing
3. a bunch of evil things Google will be able to do with such a service
4. Hands On with Google’s Public DNS

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DNS services

Namebench will probably suggest other (and possibly better) DNS servers to you, but here are a few resources to get you started:

1. Google Public DNS
2. OpenDNS
3. UltraDNS
4. DNSServerList.org
5. Free Fast Public DNS Servers List

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To be honest, none of our previous launch guide games like Gears of War 2 or Halo 3: ODST had nearly as much hype surrounding them.  After all, this is already the most pre-ordered game in GameStop history and looks to be the biggest entertainment release of all time (predicted to sell 11 million copies in first two months).  Spike, FX, and Comedy Central have been jamming it down our throats with commercials.  Then again so has the NBA and NFL.  We have been tracking this game even before Robert Bowling and Infinity Ward publicly acknowledged it and eventually announced the release date at GDC 09 – even when it wasn’t going to be part of the Call of Duty franchise.  Finally now it is almost time to drop an airstrike on some noobs!

So without further ado, here is all the intel you need to know before you hop in line on Monday night.  If you have anything to add or know of any specials we don’t know about, please leave them in the comments or send them to as on Twitter @PWN_or_DIE.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Editions

Which version should I buy?

First of all, you likely know by now that Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 comes in three editions – Standard, Hardened, and most famously, Prestige. It will be made available for both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on November 10, 2009.  The PC version is in-stores and as well but in some cases the digital download will follow on the 12th.  Here we will outline what each of the console versions offer.

Standard Game: The no-frills, normal copy of the game. No extra goodies, just the manual and a copy of the game to play. Will run you $59.99.

Hardened Edition: The Hardened Edition of the game comes in a steel game case, a Modern Warfare 2 art book, Call of Duty Classic (the very first Call of Duty, which was not released on consoles) on Xbox Live Arcade or Playstation Network, and a copy of the game. The Hardened Edition is priced at $79.99 USD.

Prestige Edition: The Prestige Edition comes with the all of the same gear as the Hardened Edition PLUS some awesome night vision goggles.  They actually really work too! The goggles also feature a molded plastic Soap MacTavish head to mount them when you aren’t out cosplaying Splinter Cell. Don’t think you are going to get it cheap though- the Prestige Edition costs $149.99 USD.  In fact the Prestige Edition will likely be extremely hard to find if you haven’t secured one with a pre-order.

Pre-Order Bonuses

Before you make the big purchase, know that various locations have been running their own pre-order bonuses for the game. Any vendor selling the game will want your business and are offering some pretty sweet deals for this reason. In addition, many retail locations have in-store deals if you choose to pick up the game in person.

GameStop – Pre-order customers at GameStop will receive a voucher code for the “Surprize Attack” Sweepstakes. The prizes being given away in this sweepstakes include an H2 Hummer, a Ducati Motorcycle, a snowmobile, and a ton of other Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2-branded gear. Those that reserve the game can go here and enter their code twice a day until the end of the offer (hurry, it does not last much longer). Additionally, if you reserve the game online at GameStop’s website, you will be guaranteed a $40 value in you trade it in by December 13th of this year.  Some of you may have cashed in on the replica signed poster from Infinity Ward, but that promotion is long over.

Best Buy – $10 gift card in-store pre-order, or a price of $49.99 online (unfortunately, this promotion has since expired).  If you pre-order the PC version online you can save $60 on select video cards.

Amazon.com – Pre-order the Standard or Hardened Edition and get a $20 game credit for a later purchase. Pre-ordering the Prestige Edition will give you a $10 game credit online. Those that belong to Amazon Prime will get the game on delivery day.

Wal-Mart.com – Buying Modern Warfare 2 at Wal-Mart’s website now will get you a $20 eGift Card to use at the site.

In-Store Deals

Wal-Mart – The first 20 customers in line at any 24-hour Wal-Mart store to pick up Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 will get an autographed copy of the game, signed by the development team.  The game will be on sale at midnight in these 2600 stores.  It looks like there are also posters that feature the cover of the game on-hand to hand out as well.

GameStop – Any GameStop stores staying open past midnight for the game will also be holding a release party, where every gamer in the store will get a Hitman energy drink.  Also for those that subscribe to their email list, there is a coupon that offers 20% the purchase of one used game when bought with MW2.

Toys-R-US – If you belong to the Rewards R Us club, picking up Modern Warfare 2 between 10-2 on release day will net you $20 on a gift card.

Best Buy – Members of the Gamer’s Club will receive a $10 gift card along with their purchase.  Additionally some Best Buy stores will be opening at midnight to release the game, here are the locations listed in the promotion.

GameFly – Not really a store, but they offer the rental price of $8.95 and their “keep” price is $49.99 for both PS3 and Xbox 360.

Fry’s – The game will be $49.89 in stores according to the leaked ad.

K-Mart - The big K is offering a $10 gift card according to their ad today.

We will also keep an eye on the forums at cheapassgamer.com for any other deals that users find over the rest of the weekend.

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 Gear

Even though the game is not out, plenty of other products have jumped on the Modern Warfare 2 bandwagon. If you want to express your love for the game, here is some MW2-branded gear.

Xbox 360 Modern Warfare Limited Edition Console – On the day of Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2’s release, Microsoft will be selling an Xbox 360 covered in a MW2 design. It will come with all of the features of an Xbox 360 Elite, a 250 GB hard drive, two wireless controllers, and of course a copy of Modern Warfare 2.

MadCatz has a series of licensed MW2 gear including the backlit Modern Warfare 2 “Combat Controller”, keyboards, wireless headsets, throat communicator, console skins, and more.  Included are accessories for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

If you need to renew your Xbox Live account, Best Buy has a 12 month subscription card for $49.99 that includes a Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 t-shirt.  Also the “collector’s edition” strategy guide that is priced at $34.99 will be $19.99. Both of these deals will be in the Best Buy circular in tomorrow’s newspapers.  You can save 15% on the guide online when you buy it with the game.

“Assault” Monster Energy Drink – Just because Modern Warfare 2 is a game does not mean you will not see it outside of gaming. Monster Energy Drinks recently introduced a Modern Warfare 2 branded drink named “Assault” in September. To sweeten the deal, those that buy a 4-pack of the drink will have a chance to win the Hardened Edition, future map packs, premium themes for both PS3 and Xbox 360, and Monster beverages. If you snag a 6-pack of the drink (only found at Sam’s Club), you will have access to an exclusive online event this month to be held at Infinity Ward “The Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Training Experience.”

Xbox Live Avatar Items – Just this weekend, Activision and Infinity Ward put a collection of Modern Warfare 2 goods on Xbox Live. Deck out your avatar ahead of the release for some of your hard earned MS Points.

Even though you have likely seen a few of the Modern Warfare 2 commercials (like the official launch trailer or the Infamy trailer), stay posted because we might soon have some you have not seen before.

More Fun with MW2

• We came up with some suggestions for 5 new perks we wanted to see in Modern Warfare 2.
• How about comparing the sticky grenades in Halo 3 to the ones now in Modern Warfare 2?
• A graphical representation of the top features wanted by Juggernauts and why they use the perk with an added bonus showing their favorite things.
• Will girlfriends and wives pick up on quoting this COD game too?
• Dick Cheney thinks President Barack Obama is scared of Modern Warfare 2.

Billy Mitchell was the long-time high score record holder for Donkey Kong and was featured in the documentary film ‘King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters’. The film followed record contender Steve Wiebe on his journey to challenge Billy Mitchell’s record.

Here are the winners (thank you Jonah Ray on tumblr:

BTW, we do not have an annual costume classic. Ok, cya.

Included in the set will be a custom USB drive with videos, wallpaper, screenshots, and concept art from the game. You will also receive art from past entries with “Fifth Freedom: The Art of Splinter Cell”. Other items include some decals, in-game items, and a comic book.

All of this comes included in a steelbook DVD case and will be sold for $79.99 on release day, February 23, 2010. And since its a Collector’s Edition that means there will be a limited supply so be sure to pre-order your copy to guarantee one.

In this year’s reprise, the list includes characters and costumes that were not in the previous collection. This time around we went for fresh characters and less traditional costumes.  Afterall, everybody else has Mario and Link covered.  In addition to having new characters, the list rates each costume on the difficulty of work and costs involved to make it as well as the materials you will need.

As a reference, we tried to find photos of cosplayers with already completed costumes. In the cases where we could not find a cosplayer, we used an in-game screenshot or concept art to point you in the right direction.  If you tackle one of these cosplay costumes, send us a picture (here or on Twitter @PWN_or_DIE) and we will include it in our next Video Game Cosplay Yearbook Page.

Nathan Drake (Uncharted Series)

Nathan Drake is the cynical everyman protagonist in the popular Uncharted series.  Nathan is a descendant of the famed explorer Sir Francis Drake, which we found out in his first adventure on the search for the lost city of El Dorado.

Level of Difficulty: Easy

Cost: Low

Materials Needed: All that is really needed is a long sleeved white undershirt, a dark gray overshirt that buttons at the top, a shoulder gun holster, a pair of old jeans, and a belt with a silver buckle.  If you want to add a bit more to your costume don’t forget to dye your hair black, add a necklace with a silver ring on it, and a few rolls in the dirt for added “adventurer” effect.

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Ezio (Assassin’s Creed 2)

Ezio is the cold-blooded main character of Assassin’s Creed 2, out to avenge the killers of his family. He is the ancestor of Desmond Miles, the bartender kidnapped for genetic experiments in the Animus machine.

Level of Difficulty: High, finding the overall suit and weapon accoutrements may not be difficult but you will have to make your own handblade. Thankfully, unlike Altair, you will not need to remove a digit from your hand for the blade. Ezio purists will learn to gaze at others while the top edge of the hood barely rests over their eyes.

Cost: Moderate

Materials Needed: With the handblade being some sort of mechanism to make it pop out, it will probably take some mechanical handiwork and know-how (you could use a butter knife if you are lazy like me). Apart from that you will need some brown leather boots and cloak, a white hooded cloak, one brown leather glove, a leather belt with requisite Assassin’s Creed emblem, and a white vest.

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Eddie Riggs (Brütal Legend)

The fearless “average Joe” roadie from Brütal Legend, Eddie has no qualms hanging out backstage and repairing guitars but can also kill copious amounts of demons in a pinch.

Level of Difficulty: Brütal…just kidding. Pretty easy as far costumes go.

Cost: Low

Materials Needed: An awesome belt buckle, sneakers, and a bunch of denim. Extra points for using a leather jacket in place of denim.

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Orbital Drop Shock Trooper (Halo 3: ODST)

The fearless Orbital Drop Shock Troopers are an elite group of UNSC Marines that are trained in special warfare tactics, seen in Halo 3: ODST. Although they aren’t as strong as Master Chief, you still don’t want to be a bad guy when they are around.

Level of Difficulty: High, this one has many separate and intricate parts that need to combine to form a single suit.

Cost: High

Materials Needed: This one will be a bit harder to make, even if you are wanting to make it completely out of duct tape.  You will probably need to either buy a costume like we did for the Master Chiefs Senior Photos, or have some kind of artistic ability.

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Lieutenant Commander Shepard (Mass Effect Series)

Shepard is the human protagonist of the first Mass Effect, Mass Effect 2, and a third title to be added in the distant future. Shepard’s appearance is completely customizable throughout the game which makes her/his difficult to describe. He was born 4.11.2154, and is a graduate of the N7 special forces program.  He later became the first human to join the Spectres. He enjoys long discussions on the Normandy with Joker, extended mineral searches on planets, and blue aliens.

Level of Difficulty: High, but the best will also learn to purse their lips and gaze introspectively into the stars

Cost: Moderate

Materials Needed: If you really want the Mass Effect 70’s/80’s sci-fi look, get some blue acrylic pants, a felt shirt, and your nearest female friend to slick her hair back and cover herself in blue body paint.

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Vault Boy (Fallout)

The Vault Boy is the always happy (not so hard working) little boy that appears in all of the Vault-Tec Corporation’s advertisements, manuals, and training videos. Coincidentally, He is also the mascot of the Fallout series, with the most recent being Fallout 3 from Bethesda Softworks. But his joyful demeanor slyly hides the inhumanity of the post-apocalyptic wastes.

Level of Difficulty: Low, some sewing would be involved

Cost: Low

Materials Needed: Really all you need for this costume is a blue jumpsuit, some yellow fabric, and cool haircut.  Oh and a peppy personality. :) Overachievers should design the costume to match various perks (Bloody Mess is an excellent Halloween choice). Don’t forget to put your vault number on the back.

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Left 4 Dead Cast (Left 4 Dead Series)

Left 4 Dead from Valve Software was one of the games from last year to make the zombie craze popular. The cast of playable characters included Bill, Francis, Louis, and Zoey.  Left 4 Dead 2 comes out later this year so if you pick the new cast including Coach, Rochelle, Ellis, and Nick you will be way ahead of the curve.

Level of Difficulty: Easy for each character, moderate difficulty in getting a group of people to go along

Cost: Moderate

Materials Needed: This costume set really works better if you have a group of friends to help complete it.  If it is going to be just one person trying to pull it off, between Zoey’s casual attire and Louis’ office wear would be the easiest (we assume your gender would decide who you choose). Getting Bill’s retired vet look or Francis’ leather biker style replete with tattoos would take a little more homework and elbow grease. Bonus to those that round up friends and go for the “Shaun of the Left 4 Dead” look or go solo as Zoey and include her extra fingers.

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Afro Samurai (Afro Samurai)

Afro Samurai was the holder of the number 2 headband.  Don’t know what that means?  You kinda have to watch the show to get it, but just know that it basically means he was out to kill the guy with the number 1 headband.

Level of Difficulty: Low with a wig, impossible if you were born without the genetic capabilities to produce a ‘fro. Some sewing involved.

Cost: Moderate

Materials Needed: Judging by the photo we found, you could probably get away with wearing black and white bedsheets with the most difficult part being the headband. But what kind of pride would you have with that? Unless you can secure some martial-arts training gear, you will have to improvise and make the top and bottom with black and white cotton sheets. Oh yeah, do not forget the afro.

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Alex Mercer (Prototype)

Alex Mercer is an amnesia-stricken guy who wakes up with superhuman abilities in the game Prototype.  As you would probably guess, shortly after waking up with no memory the military is out to get him.  There ain’t no rest for the wicked after all.

Level of Difficulty: Moderate, the clothing is easy but creating the arm blades will take some effort and forethought.

Cost: Moderate

Materials Needed: Jeans, black hoodie, dark gray or black winter vest, and arm blades. Low quality arm blades could be made from cardboard (the answer for every cosplayer), but making usable claws would be difficult. Some foam, duct tape, and spray paint could solve this.

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Bayonetta (Bayonetta)

We are pretty sure that Bayonetta is the only video game character, scratch that; the only character ever to have body armor made of her own hair. Not only that, she gets to occupy the main character spot in a game with “non-stop climax action” gameplay. We are pretty sure that makes her hotness rating rise 2- points on the scale.

Level of Difficulty: Moderate, unless you find the extremely difficult way of making your hair form your body armor

Cost: Moderate

Materials Needed: You will have to wear a tight-fitting leather body suit with an open back. Bayonetta also has black hair, so some hair dye might be required. Bonus points for securing your black hair to the shoulders of your suit. Sorry guys, women only. Nobody wants to see your hairy back.  If you look like Sarah Palin, then you are pretty much golden.

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Knight (Castle Crashers)

These are the brave little nights in multi-colored armor from the game Castle Crashers.  You control your favorite Castle Crasher, also known as the blue guy, and smash and slash your way through some really fun levels.

Level of Difficulty: Moderate, you will have to use your well-developed art skills in this instance.

Cost: Low

Materials Needed: This is a case where cardboard will not only work, but also work well in fitting the design of the costume. You will also need some flat hobby paint for your knight color of choice. The most difficult part will likely be curving the helmet to look, well, curved.

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Nomad (Crysis)

One of the more classic character designs in this list, the Nanosuit from Crysis was a gameplay mechanic in itself. The suit enabled Nomad to punch a house and make it collapse, stop bullets, jump over houses, throw trees, outrun hummers, and bend light to go invisible. The only problem with using such technology is being able to have a computer powerful enough to run it.

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Cost: Moderate

Materials Needed: Although the materials used to make the powered exoskeleton (the Nanosuit) in Crysis are top secret, your costume does not need to be. You can get by with a ski mask for the helmet, and a metallic spray-painted body suit for the exoskeleton itself.

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Fat Princess (Fat Princess)

Real women have curves. But royalty has cankles and carries a chicken leg. The Fat Princess is pretty much exactly what she sounds like: a gargantuan, gelatinous blob that the workers must feed to make as big as possible in hopes that the other teams cannot lift her and steal her away.  It’s addictive.  She may not make our list of the 22 hottest celebrity women that play video games or come close to the stature of Aisha Tyler, but she makes for a perfect Halloween costume.

Level of Difficulty: Low. It may take a while to put on the weight needed, but let’s face it, it’s easy to sit around on the couch and eat chips.

Cost: Medium

Materials Needed: For this one really all you need is a standard princess dress, a crown, some roastbeef, a chicken, a pizza, and at least 70 extra pounds of fat (which you can substitute with pillows or foam).

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Frank West (Dead Rising)

Another “average Joe“, Frank is the guy that the game Dead Rising centers around. You know, the main character? He is a photojournalist who, when trying to get a great scoop, finds himself trapped in the Willamette Shopping Mall that is conveniently infested with zombies. Frank is, to say the least, really good at improvising using what ever he can find in the mall as a weapon while also taking some pictures.  Ah, memories.

Level of Difficulty: Low

Cost: Low, unless you buy the leather jacket, then moderate-high

Materials Needed: A leather jacket, gray-green slacks, some leather loafers, a white-collared shirt with blood stains, and a camera. Go to your nearest hardware/sports store for your choice of weapon.

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Guybrush Threepwood (Monkey Island Series)

If you ask Guybrush his occupation, he would tell you he is a mighty pirate, but he is not fooling anyone. He’s the lovable loser that wants to be included in the adventuring, who somehow manages to be in the right place at the right time during his travels. A classic LucasArts character, he is the main protagonist in each Monkey Island game.

Level of Difficulty: Moderate, some elbow grease will be required

Cost: Low

Materials Needed: All you will need is some cotton fabric for the breeches, sash, and red vest. This is also an instance where you will have to wear a shirt called a “blouse.” You will also need a leather strap for the sword sheath and black shoes. If you are feeling especially daring, you could make a coat out of wool.

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Helghast (Killzone Series)

The Helghast are the enemy soldiers from the Killzone series.  They look pretty evil, especially in 1080p.  I for one would not mess with anyone dressed as one of these guys. You should be alright if you don’t look into their eyes.

Level of Difficulty: High

Cost: Higher than almost all costumes but less than, say, a spec-ops soldier

Materials Needed: The internet is a powerful tool. We were scratching our collective heads on this one for a bit, but came across an excellent list on the Comic Fiesta Forums. Here is exactly what you will need:

-1x pair combat boots.
-1x pair kneepads and elbowpads
-1 Set BDUs (black, not grey)
-1x Some manner of tactical vest and find the one you like (be warned, quite expensive)
-PASGT helmet (a replica is preferred, as the real ones are pricey)
-an oxygen mask, like the mbu12/p or newer, you’ll want to modify it.
-of course the red eyes, which you can either fabricate or use some of those Wiley X-goggles for a suitable impression

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Lego Video Game Character (Lego Star Wars, Indiana Jones, etc)

It is undeniable that the characters from any of the movie-based (and now Rock Band) Lego games are cute and charming while the games themselves are welcome additions to any gamer’s collection.

Level of Difficulty: Moderate, matching the faces and shape of the characters will keeping the costume wearable will be a little challenging.

Cost: Low

Materials Needed: Again, foam, fabric, and cardboard can do the job here. Ambitious costume makers can use silk or something similar to capture the shininess of plastic Legos.

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Nathan Spencer (Bionic Commando)

Nathan is the hero in Bionic Commando.  Although he has changed a little bit over the years he still sports his bionic arm, which will probably be the hardest part of the costume.  It is however, necessary, and is kind of why he is considered a Bionic Commando after all.

Level of Difficulty: High, a believable bionic arm will be a challenge

Cost: High

Materials Needed: Unless you feel like grafting a mechanical arm to your body after amputating the original, you will need to create the limb out of plastic or possibly aluminum. This will be an undertaking no matter which way you slice it. The rest of the costume is easy, as you will just need gray military cargo pants, a green wife beater, and some combat boots. Also, looking buff enough to be an NFL linebacker will help your case.

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The Overlord (Overlord Series)

The Overlord is the main character in the game Overlord (surprised?). With the Overlord you can command the minions to do your bidding as well as punish them when ever you deem in necessary. If you’re the scary and silent type, this costume is right for you!

Level of Difficulty: High. If you’re reading this, you have no chance to finish this costume before the big holiday. This is a year long project!

Cost: High

Materials Needed: A full suit of armor and a red cape, otherwise you could make it out of foam or cardboard. If you can convince some of your friends to be your minions, you will earn our respect.

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Professor Layton (Professor Layton Series)

Professor Layton is the aloof but smart and wise main character of (believe or not) the Professor Layton series of games on the Nintendo DS.

Level of Difficulty: Low

Cost: Low

Materials Needed: Dark gray pants, coat, green shoes, an orange sweater and a top hat. Inventive costumers will make the costume look cartoony and throw their hands up in confusion at any sort of challenge they encounter on Halloween night.

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Travis Touchdown (No More Heroes)

Travis is the main character of No More Heroes on the Wii.   He is a 27 year old American assassin who wins a ‘Beam Katana’ online and decides to use it to become a hitman. He is also the only video game character that can make enemies spill blood AND gold coins whenever struck (yes, they really do).

Level of Difficulty: Moderate

Cost: Moderate, depends on if you get a leather jacket

Materials Needed: All you need for this costume is one of those replica lightsabers Beam Katanas, some kind of red coat with a white shirt on under it, a brown belt, and some jeans.  Don’t forget to get some aviator sunglasses as well.

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Gay Tony (Grand Theft Auto IV: The Ballad of Gay Tony)

Glam and glitz it up like a Rockstar (Games expansion character). The titular character in GTA IV’s newest DLC.

Level of Difficulty: Low. Head on out to the strip and pick up some nice clothes to pull this one off!

Cost: High

Materials Needed: A nice suit, designer sunglasses, some gold chains, and some facial hair. A little bit of flamboyancy would go a long way with this costume, too.

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Bob (Tekken 6)

What to say about Bob from Tekken 6…Let’s face it, Bob looks like the guy who owns the comic book store down the street.  It wasn’t always this way for Bob however, at one time he was a chiseled example of human perfection. Problem was, he kept getting beat up by bigger guys who could use their weight against him. Taken aback, he gained some weight but kept his amazing speed. This made him a pretty dangerous adversary and the poster child for “never judge a book by its cover.”

Level of Difficulty: Low

Cost: Moderate

Materials Needed: If you do not have the body dimensions required for this costume, you will have to invest in a body suit to fill yourself out. Otherwise, work pants, a red buttoned shirt, a goofy blonde afro, and some brown suspenders should work.

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Borderlands Bandit (Borderlands)

Another solid option is a bandit from Borderlands who is literally blowing his own mind on the cover of the game.  I guess the game is just that good.

Level of Difficulty: Low

Cost: Low

Materials Needed: You will need some orange cargo pants, boots, brown leather glove, and a graffiti’d respirator. For that extra step, wrap a dirty cloth on your forearms, act like a nutcase and don’t shower for a few days.

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Red Ring of Death (Xbox 360)

One of the scariest things any Xbox 360 gamer can see! The three red blinking lights is the system’s way of telling you that it will never play games again. What is even more devastating is the understated way in which it does it. Wear this costume and you are sure to really scare any adult Xbox 360 owner.

Level of Difficulty: Low

Cost: Low

Materials Needed: All you need is a T-shirt, a couple markers, and a few bitter feelings towards Microsoft. Or if you’re one of those “rich kids,” you can buy a shirt pre-made.

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Isaac Clarke (Dead Space)

The last “average joe” in our list, Isaac Clarke is the unfortunate engineer stranded on the USG Ishimura with a bunch of ‘Necromorphs’ after answering a distress call. Luckily for him, his work suit and various tools work well against the alien invaders.

Level of Difficulty: High, will take a substantial amount of time.

Cost: High

Materials Needed: The armoring strips of the suit can be made of cardboard, plastic or even a type of metal, and then attached to a shirt. The gun is intricate and will require some elbow grease. Each part of the costume would also have to be color matched and probably spray painted.

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Raiden (Metal Gear Solid Series)

Raiden made his first appearance in the second half of Metal Gear Solid 2 as a playable character. Many fans of the series were shocked by Raiden, who looked almost like a anime character and seemed weak and inexperienced (very dissimilar from Solid Snake). Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima also decided to include him in the series’ newest iteration, Metal Gear Solid 4. But Raiden’s presence in MGS4 was that of a badass. The fighting cutscenes featuring Raiden are likely to go down in video game history as some of the best ever. At E3 this year, Kojima announced Metal Gear Solid: Rising, where the plot of the game will center on Raiden.

Level of Difficulty: High

Cost: High

Materials Needed: You will likely need some kind of cool looking translucent plastic to make the suit and mask, which will take a considerable amount of time to fashion correctly for your body. As for Raiden’s weapons, you will have to find a CNC-machined Katana and throwing knives.

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Who is Warren Spector?

Warren Spector is a designer whose credits include Deus Ex and the sequel, Deus Ex: Invisible War, Thief: The Dark Project, System Shock, Ultima Underworld I and II, Wing Commander and many others. His industry experience spans work with many companies, including Origin Systems, Looking Glass Studios, helming the Austin, Texas branch of John Romero’s ill-fated Ion Storm, and now Junction Point.

After founding the studio in 2005, Spector mentioned working on a game that used Valve’s Source engine and would be released Steam. Job advertisements for the company called for artists to work on a game that included “classic Hollywood cartoons” with “cartoon mice, cats and wabbits.” In 2007, Disney Interactive acquired Junction Point, fueling the rumors that the studio was in fact building a game associated with Disney. The following release of the above concept art all but confirmed them. Finally, last month, Game Informer revealed they would be unveiling and confirming the existence of a game from Junction Point named “Epic Mickey.”

The Plot

The story of the game is this: the sorcerer Yen Sid (seen in Fantasia) created a pen-and-paper world many years ago for forgotten Disney characters. The world can only be accessed through a mirror, and Mickey being Mickey, trips through it and spills paint thinner on the world. Naturally, the world was affected for the worse by this, but Mickey gets out before Yen Sid discovers him. Disney-philes may know of a classic character named Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, who will be Mickey’s enemy in the game. After a turn of events where the Phantom Blot (seen below) kidnaps and sends Mickey back into the world, Oswald formulates a plan to destroy the mouse. To add to his troubles another classic Disney character, The Mad Doctor, works with the Blot and creates robotic versions of Mickey’s friends to confuse and intimidate him. Oswald, who is jealous of Mickey’s success and popularity, has The Mad Doctor make him friends that look like Donald Duck and Goofy. Mickey’s mission is to save the world by stopping the Phantom Blot and gaining the trust of Oswald.

To fit with the game’s orientation towards those that do not normally play video games, Epic Mickey will be a Nintendo Wii exclusive. Interestingly, Spector and Disney originally intended the game to be a Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 title with a more sinister bent, but realized that a game based on Mickey Mouse would be a more natural fit for the Wii.

Disney Interactive and Junction Point have not yet announced a release date, but given the progress shown so far, expect to see it in stores next year.

“This has been on the works [sic] for a long time,” Bush said. “I’ve always wanted to go pro in the video games. And now, I can. Laura supports me 178 percent. She says it would be a good outlet for me. Good chance to meet new people. Make new friends, allies. Build bridges and forts and stuff.”

When asked about what his professional gamertag will be, Bush responded with his trademark grin: “You don’t know? Oh, come on. Guess.” When the journalists simply shrugged, he made a motion to an aide, who took the covering off of an easel just behind Bush.

The canvas said in bold black letters: “THE D3C1D3R.”

“Some guys down at the MLG helped my with the 3s and the 1,” Bush said. “I really don’t know why they’re needed, but my new buddies down at the MLG told me it looked ’sick’… Is that the word, ’sick’? They said it would look sick.”

What games is the former President going to play? “Well, I’ve been playing Halo 3 since it came out. Had to sneak a buncha those games in.  But as ol’ Dick Cheney told you the other day, we’ve been pwning noobs on Call of Duty 4  and Call of Duty: World at War for a while now. I’m pretty handy with a Dragunov. I also rock a little Gear of War 2 here and there. Sometimes some World of Warcraft. I”ll get back into that game later. Right now we’re training up for Modern Warfare 2. Lots of chips and dip. Salsa. Mild salsa. Medium salsa. Hot salsa. Queso. Frozen pizza. Pizza rolls. Lucky Charms. I’m really hoping Big Buck Hunter goes pro.”

MLG’s Vice President of Public Relations, Jeffrey Bailey, commented: “We are very excited to have this opportunity to have the former President playing in MLG. We’ve been working with him very closely since he approached us in early January 2009. We think that his sense of strategy will really take Halo 3, GOW2, and COD4 competition to…. new…   interesting places.”

What’s the next step for The D3C1D3R?

“Well, we’ve been having tryouts, Cheney and me. We got a few guys and some gals in mind. Lot of good talent out there. Some people jockeying for the sniper position. We’re having a press conference next week to unveil the final team,” Bush said.”But you have to keep in mind, I’m not the coach,” he quickly added. “We have to clear everything with Karl–oh, wait–I’m not supposed to talk about that.”

Promotional photo courtesy of Major League Gaming.

Some of you are racing out to get Halo 3: ODST today, while others of you might have reservations as to whether you should pick it up. For those of you on the fence, I’m compiled links to reviews of the game. For those of you who are committed already, and added some links to guides and walkthroughs at the bottom of this post. As I’ve indicated, not very many guides are out right now, because many fans are just now starting the game and will be working on their guides over the course of the next few weeks.

For those of you who are fans of the Halo universe, Bungie released today a Halo 3: ODST: Prepare to Drop Premium Theme. You Can download the theme from the XBOX 360 marketplace. See:  Halo 3: ODST – Prepare to Drop Premium Theme

Reviews of Halo: ODST:

In this section, I’ve picked out a bunch of prominent video games websites and their in-depth reviews of Halo: ODST. These should give you a decent idea as to whether you should buy the game in the first place. I’ve provided excerpts from the reviews, although I strongly recommend that you visit these sites and read the full reviews.

1up.com: Halo 3 ODST Review for the Xbox 360 from 1UP.com

“The game’s shortcomings are exactly what you’d expect. ODST was initially a minor expansion to Halo 3 that grew in scope and ambition over the course of its development. The final game feels like something more than an add-on, but the campaign is definitely shorter than in any previous chapter in the series. More crucially, ODST adds very little to the Halo “sandbox”; aside from a single new alien race (which plays a strictly passive role in combat) and a few new weapon variants, everything you see, shoot, and utilize comes straight from Halo 3.”

Joystiq.com:Review: Halo 3: ODST

“ODST is better summed up as a two-disc, variety pack, though — it’s more than just a side campaign built from recycled parts (not to discount the many new assets that make up ODST’s environments, which are subtly enhanced by updates to the game engine). But as a variety pack, ODST lacks that one surprise hit à la The Orange Box’s Portal — and no, Reach beta, a play-testing opportunity down the road, doesn’t count in my book; regardless of how mind-blowing it might be.”

Kotaku.com: Halo 3: ODST Review: The More Vulnerable Edition

“If you want to judge ODST for its fun without worrying about its price and the contents of its case, then know that its campaign hits the peaks of Halo 3 less often due both to its relative brevity and its uneven, experimental hubworld. The campaign can mostly be a joy. Firefight with a group of players is a blast. The main hero may be a bore, but the fiction is at least as interesting as it was in prior Halo games. Bungie’s done good this time. That’s a victory, even if that’s a departure from a series which has often seen Bungie do great.”

IGN.com: Halo 3: ODST Review

“There are places where Halo 3: ODST could be improved, but when it comes right down to it, every Halo fan should buy this game. Even if you’ve lost interest in the franchise over the years or haven’t ever given a Halo game a look, you’d do well to grab ODST and a few friends for some of the best multiplayer gaming around, especially with as wonderful an addition as Firefight. The campaign is a tad short, but well-crafted and exciting. Then there’s a whole disc full of multiplayer maps, though you may already own the bulk of them.

Halo 3: ODST isn’t a true sequel, but it is more than a standard expansion. If you’re on the fence about buying it, drop your reservations and go snag a copy. If you love Halo, you owe it to yourself to pick this up as soon as you can.”

MTV.com: ‘Halo 3: ODST’ Review

“Despite the faults, “Halo 3: ODST” is more “Halo 3″ with a fun new multiplayer mode, and it’s pretty hard to complain about that. The majority of the missions are extremely well-crafted, and the storyline reveals some new and interesting angles to the universe. There are also some hints about “Halo: Reach” thrown in there if you’re paying attention (on top of the “Reach,” beta access, which the game will grant when it launches). For “Halo” fans, it’s a no brainer. For everyone else, pick up “Halo 3″ on the cheap first. If you’re dying for more, “ODST” is a solid next step.”

Gamepaper.com: A ‘Halo: ODST’ Review

“Don’t get me wrong. This is not a bad game, not on any level. Just as ‘G.I. Joe’ has some pretty explosions in it, this game is technically proficient. You can see where the money went. The AI is fine. Enemies will occasionally sidestep when coming under heavy fire, just like real aliens. The sound is passable, the levels are well thought-out, the gameplay is as slick as you’d hope, given that Bungie has had eight years to refine it. The graphics, though dark, are nice enough. And when I say ‘dark’, I mean it. There’s a toggle mode on your character’s helmet to brighten darker areas and highlight enemies and it is helpful. But even still, in some of the unlit interiors you’ll feel like Stevie Wonder playing a survival horror game in a blackout.”

CNET.com: http://reviews.cnet.com/xbox-360-games/halo-3-odstxbox-360/4505-11457_7-33304935.html

Giantbomb.com: Halo 3: ODST

“Halo 3: ODST fills in a few interesting spots in the Halo timeline, even if the characters themselves aren’t strong enough to carry the narrative. But it strikes a healthy balance between new twists and more content done in Bungie’s trademark style. The more important thing is that if you’ve enjoyed playing Bungie’s Halo games in the past, chances are you’ll continue to enjoy that style in ODST. “

Gamesradar.com: Halo 3: ODST

“That said, Halo 3: ODST does not feel like a full game to us, either. The campaign only lasts between 6-8 hours; play on Normal instead of Heroic or Legendary difficulty and you could be done in as little as 4-5. There are nine missions – only one less than in Halo 3 – but they all seem much shorter and much simpler. They also don’t cover nearly as much terrain. We often finished just as we thought we were reaching the halfway point.”

Halo: ODST Guides and Walkthoughs

There aren’t very many guides out right now, mostly because many bloggers and walkthough creators haven’t completely dissected the game, yet, but I’m betting that more guides will be available over the next few weeks.

IGN.com: Halo 3: ODST Guide

“In this Halo 3: ODST strategy guide, you’ll find:

* BASICS // Basic strategies for surviving with (and without) your ODST squad.

* WALKTHROUGH // Our Halo 3: ODST walkthrough will get you through the game, guiding you every step of the way.

* MULTIPLAYER // Weapon tips and strategies for the game’s significant multiplayer components.

* RECON ARMOR // Learn how to unlock the lustable Recon armor.

* Q & A // Your chance to ask us questions (and get answers) to anything ODST-related.”

It looks to me like IGN has the best gameplay guide out there right now, so that would be your first stop.

Halo.wikia.com: Halo 3: ODST

Mycheats.1up.com: Halo 3 ODST

Spike.com: Halo 3: ODST – E3 09: Stage Walkthrough, Part 1 (Cam)

VideoGamesBlogger.com: Halo 3 ODST skull locations and achievements (guide)

“Take the following steps in this guide to find the Halo 3 ODST skull locations and unlock each of the achievements listed. Tips include how to get the Recon Armor! Hopefully cheats will follow after the Xbox 360-exclusive FPS is released.”

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And what’s the deal with Star Wars The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition? Here’s the deal:

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