Save $$$! PS3, Wii, & Xbox 360 Games and more!

Coffee Beans:

     Every link below should take you directly to the described game, accessory, or sales page, such as the "Buy Two Games, Get a Third Free" link.

     Every game listed below has either Free Super Saver Shipping or Free Standard Shipping included with the prices shown, and if it changes this weekend, I'll update it as I see.

     I'm also including a small Pre-order section, where you can be redirected to a few games/systems available for pre-order, if you want to pre-order before they are released...the 3DS is probably one you want to pre-order, if you're interested in it.

Buy Two Games, Get a Third Free(Over 350 PS3, Xbox 360, Wii NDS, PSP, PS2 title to choose from)

Pre-orders:

Nintendo 3DS - Aqua Blue for $249.99(Free Shipping Included)

Nintendo 3DS - Cosmo Black for $249.99(Free Shipping Included)

PS3 - Dead Space 2 for $54.96(Free Shipping Included, Bonus Offer - Free Downloadable Game)

PS3 - Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds for $59.99(Get a $10 Video Game Credit for future purchase with pre-order)

Xbox 360 - Dead Space 2 for 54.96(Free Shipping Included, Bonus Offer - Free Downloadable Game)

Xbox 360 - Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds for $59.99(Get a $10 Video Game Credit for future purchase with pre-order)

PS3:

3D Dot Game Heroes for $14.99(Save 63%, Free Standard Shipping)

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood for $39.99(Save 33%, Free Shipping Included)

Call of Duty: Black Ops for $44.99(Save 25%, Free Shipping Included)

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 for $39.99(Save 33%, Free Shipping Included)

Demon's Souls Greatest Hits for $14.99(Save 50%, Free Standard Shipping)

DualShock 3 Wireless Controller - Black for $43.99(Fulfilled by Amazon.com, Shipping Included)

DualShock 3 Wireless Controller - Blue for $43.99(Save 20%, Free Shipping Included)

DualShock 3 Wireless Controller - Red for $43.89(Save 20%, Free Shipping Included)

DualShock 3 Wireless Controller - Silver for $42.99(Save 22%, Free Shipping Included)

EA Sports Active 2 for $59.22(Save 41%, Free Shipping Included)

James Bond 007: Blood Stone for $26.99(Save 46%, Free Shipping Included)

NBA Jam for $29.99(Save 40%, Free Shipping Included)

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit for $44.00(Save 27%, Free Shipping Included)
Start the Party for $24.99(PlayStation Move Required Game, Save 38%, Free Standard Shipping)
WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2011 for $42.99(Save 28%, Fulfilled by Amazon with Free Shipping)

Wii Game Deals:

Call of Duty: Black Ops for $39.99(Save 20%, Free Shipping Included)

EA Sports Active 2 for $52.10(Save 48%! Free Shipping Included)

EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp for $48.99(Save 51%! Includes Free Shipping)

GoldenEye 007 for $39.96(Save 20%, Free Shipping Included)

Mario Kart Wii with Wii Wheel for $39.99(Save 20%, Includes Free Shipping)

Metroid: Other M for $19.99(Save 60%, Free Standard Shipping)

New Super Mario Bros. Wii for $39.99(Save 20%, Includes Free Shipping)

Sin & Punishment: Star Successor for $25.89(Fulfilled by Amazon, Free Shipping Included)

Super Mario Galaxy 2 for $40.99(Save 18%, Free Shipping Included)

Trauma Team for $29.99(Save 25%, Free Shipping Included)

Find more Nintendo DS and Xbox 360 deals after the JUMP!

FPS Friday - GoldenEye 007 Report

Coffee Beans:
     What is "FPS Friday"?  Well, it's a new feature I'm going to try and stick with, where I report at least one Wii FPS' game-play hours every Friday, and/or provide general thoughts on any FPS I may have recently played....starting today!
  
     For this first "FPS Friday" feature, I'll be doing a game-play data report, as well as including a multi-player game-play video, for GoldenEye 007 on the Wii.
     We last looked at GoldenEye 007's reported game-play hours, as they were recorded on December 20, 2010; just 5 days before Christmas.

     How much has GoldenEye 007 been played in the weeks since the Christmas and New Year's holidays?  Let's take a look!

Hours shown are for the United States of America, not world-wide

Approx. Number of Players Reporting Data:
     GoldenEye 007 now has 30,975 Wii owners reporting their game-play hours through the Wii's Nintendo Channel.

Reported Player Increase:
     How many more players have reported play-time data for GoldenEye since the Christmas and New Year's holidays?
     GoldenEye 007 has seen an increase of about 15,924 more gamers reporting game-play data, since the hours from December 20.

Average & Total Game-Play Hours Reported:
     GoldenEye 007 now has 496,450 Total Hours of game-play reported, an increase of 259,452 Total Hours in the last 4 weeks.
     The average play-time for GoldenEye 007 has increased to 16 Hours 1 Minute "Per person" reporting data, which is an increase of 16 minutes over the last report.
     GoldenEye 007's average play-time per session has decreased slightly and is now just over 2 Hours 17 Minutes.

Sale Rank & Advertised Price:
     GoldenEye 007's Amazon.com sale rank is #249, and is currently selling for $39.96.
     (Sale rank and price recorded around 10:30PM, on 1-21-11)

Review Score Averages:
     GoldenEye 007's "professional" review score average is now 84.19%, based on 57 reviews on GameRankings.com.

     GoldenEye 007, the software version only, has a 4 out of 5 Stars rating on Amazon.com, based on 78 customer reviews.
     The Golden Classic Controller Pro bundle also has a 4 out of 5 Stars rating on Amazon.com, but it's based on 47 customer reviews.
     GoldenEye 007's software only version and the Classic Controller Pro bundle have review score averages of 76.92% and 80.85% respectively, when converted to a 100% review scale.  You can see the customer review scores in the image below:

Click to enlarge

     (Review score averages recorded around 10:30PM, on 1-21-11)

Filtered Thoughts:
     I have shown a few of the multi-player levels in GoldenEye 007 for the Wii, through different game-play videos.  Here's a multi-player video of a Team Conflict match that I played on GoldenEye 007's map, Outpost:


  
     On the reported data, I think the overall number of players reporting data is good so far for GoldenEye 007, though I think it's going to be interesting seeing how fast it increases over the next few months, now that the holidays have passed.
     The "Total Hours" reported are pretty good, but are actually lower than I expected them to be at this time.  I thought they would have crossed at least 500,000 right around/after Christmas, considering how much Activision talked about this game before it released; but that should happen this next week instead.
     GoldenEye 007's Amazon.com sale rank is also lower than I thought it would be at this point after its release, especially when compared to some other Wii games released in the last few months.

     If any of you are still playing GoldenEye 007's online multi-player on a regular basis, please add my friend code 2043-7355-3797 to your list, and leave a comment or email me your code.
     I would love to hop online with some fellow CoffeewithGames readers, and play a few rounds online, and perhaps a few different modes as well.

Questions:
     Have any of you been playing GoldenEye 007 in the last few weeks, and if you received the game over the holidays, have you completed its single-player campaign?
     If you have been playing the game's online multi-player, what is your Level/Rank so far?  I think I'm around Level 19...I have a long way to go!

If any of you are interested in GoldenEye 007 for the Wii, you can see prices for the game listed and linked on Amazon.com below:
  

3DS = N64, Virtual Boy, and DSi Duck Taped Together?

Coffee Beans:
     Is the 3DS really just recycled technology(and games) from the Nintendo 64, Virtual Boy, and DSi being duck taped together?
     Or, does the 3DS really offer awesome new technology that will change(once again) the way we play games?

The Roast:
     What does the 3DS take from the N64 console?
     Remember when the Nintendo 64 released, it was Nintendo's first console to come with a controller that included an analog stick.
     The 3DS? Yeah, it's Nintendo's first handheld system to implement an analog stick, named the "circle pad", or "slide pad" by some.

     The 3DS doesn't just take the analog stick idea from the N64's controller though, as the 3DS is also taking games from the Nintendo 64's software library.  It's getting at least two N64 games that are being "remade" with 3D effects, updated graphics, and different controls.
     Those games are The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D and StarFox 64 3D, and I'm sure more will follow.

     What does the 3DS take from the Virtual Boy?
     The Virtual Boy was Nintendo's first and last console that displayed "true 3D graphics"...that is until the 3DS is released world-wide this February and March.
     While the Virtual Boy is considered a failure by many, I think the Virtual Boy was motivation for Nintendo to keep experimenting/improving with "true 3D" display and game-play.
     In the recent "Iwata Asks: Nintendo 3DS" feature, Mr. Iwata said, "That's why even when Nintendo failed with the Virtual Boy, the company stubbornly persisted, putting 3D circuits in the Nintendo GameCube and making a Game Boy Advance system with a built in 3D LCD."


     I guess in a way, we can thank all those Nintendo fans that showed an interest, and endured headaches, with the Virtual Boy, because without the Virtual Boy...the 3DS may not have been developed.

     What does the 3DS take from the DSi?

     Other than a few extra cosmetic appearances such as an extra external camera lens, the circle pad, and rearranged button placements, the 3DS looks very similar to the DSi's design, even the DS Lite's.

     Not only does the 3DS keep same basic design of the DSi and DS Lite systems, but it's also confirmed the 3DS will be backwards compatible with both DS Lite and DSi games, and the 3DS will continue with a DSiWare type service, under the new name "eShop".

Filtered Thoughts:
     So, does the Nintendo 3DS really offer awesome new technology that is about to change(once again) the way we play games?

     Well, the 3DS is clearly more graphically powerful than Nintendo's current handhelds available, and I'm sure many people are/will be glad for the update in graphical power.

     Graphics aside, I think the biggest marketing/selling feature for the 3DS though,  is clearly its 3D technology.  Hence its name...3DS.(I know, I know, Captain Obvious point)

      I think the "true 3D" capabilities, coupled with the the two external cameras, and the built-in motion sensor and gyro sensor, have great potential for creating new game-play elements in existing game genres, and in possibly helping create new genres altogether.

     As for 3DS games, I'm most interested in trying out the AR games(AR = augmented reality), but I really don't know if I can justify $250 for those alone.

     One reason I could maybe justify $250 for the 3DS, is the 3DS Activity Log.  What is it?  Take a look:

     

     I'm trying to get more information on this "Activity Log", but this page definitely shows the "Play Time" of 3DS games and apps.  If this ends up being like the Nintendo Channel data, with it being reported by lots of 3DS users, I would probably get a 3DS just for doing data stories alone...I'm a sad human being!

     While I think the 3D feature is the 3DS' biggest selling point, I don't really know if Nintendo thinks that.
     In the "Iwata Asks: Nintendo 3DS" feature, Mr. Miyamoto was speaking about how the 3DS is backwards compatible, and also said this about 3D for 3DS games, "New game cards, however, will be specific to Nintendo 3DS, but whether they will be in 3D or not is basically up to the maker, just like how much to use the touchscreen was up to developers for Nintendo DS."

     Now, it's great and all for Nintendo to allow developers freedom to make decisions, but if Nintendo won't make some standards in regards to 3D use for the 3DS, I think that's a problem.
     I'm sure most developers will of course implement "true 3D" into 3DS games, but I really think Nintendo should implement some standards, and currently not having any standards for "true 3D" in 3DS games makes that feature even more like a gimmick to me.

     I'm still definitely interested in the system, and I even have a 3DS reserved already, but I can't say that I'm excited for the 3DS...perhaps that will change once I demo one.
     While I don't doubt that the 3DS is offering solid new technology, if Nintendo wanted to release a new "true 3D" system without 3D standards, and the ability to sell us old games again, they could have just duck taped a Nintendo 64, Virtual Boy, and DSi together!  It would have saved them the R&D costs put into the 3DS, and the lack of "true 3D" standards wouldn't matter, because few people would want to experience the headaches associated with the Virtual Boy.
     I guess I'm wondering why they spent the time and money investing in this new 3D technology, if they aren't going to make it a standard for the system.

Questions:
     Do you think Nintendo should have some "true 3D" standard for 3DS games?  Are any of you interested in the 3DS, and already have one reserved like me?
     If you are really excited about the 3DS, what about it has you the most excited?

If you haven't reserved a Nintendo 3DS yet, you can click the images/links below to be taken directly to Amazon.com's pre-order page for the systems:
      

Donkey Kong Country Returns - Official Nintendo Channel data report

Coffee Beans
We last looked at Donkey Kong Country Returns' reported game-play hours last month.  The game-play hours in the last report were recorded on December 13, so we haven't looked at Donkey Kong Country Returns' game-play hours since before the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

If some of you are looking for details on the 2011 Club Nintendo Calendar giveaway, you can check the "Filtered Thoughts" section of this post for the link to the giveaway information.

How many hours have Wii owners reported playing Donkey Kong Country Returns in the last 5 weeks?  Let's take a look!

Pre-Order/Reserve the 3DS Online Now - $249.99

Coffee Beans:
     Click on any "Nintendo 3DS" name in the post to jump to the pre-order page!(Or click this now!)
     Well, it has finally been officially announced that the Nintendo 3DS will be priced at $249.99, and will be releasing on March 27 in North America.
     I haven't seen any other sites announce this yet, so that's why I'm moving forward with it!

     If you are wanting to pre-order/reserve a Nintendo 3DS before it releases, there is at least one site already taking pre-orders on the system!

     Amazon.com is taking pre-orders on the Blue Nintendo 3DS system, so if you have the $249.99, I would suggest reserving one ASAP if you're interested in the system.  As usual, it's being offered with Free Super Saver Shipping, and will ship(as of now) on March 27, when it releases.  Here's the image and another link to the pre-order page for the Nintendo 3DS system on Amazon.com.


     Here are some of the 3DS games available for pre-order, all included with free shipping.  Just clicking on the name of the game should redirect you to the pre-order page:

     Nintendogs + Cats for $39.99

     Baseball 3DS for $39.99
     Contra 3DS for $39.99
     Frogger 3DS for $39.99
     LEGO Star Wars III The Clone Wars 3D for $39.99
     Madden NFL Football 3DS for $39.99
     Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3DS for $39.99
     Pro Evolution Soccer 3DS for $39.99
     Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked for $39.99
     Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition for $39.99
     Winning Eleven 3DS for $39.99