Brokenhearted by the Breakup: Chinese Fans of Twilight
Brokenhearted by the Breakup: Chinese Fans of Twilight
Us Weekly magazine recently published photos of Twilight Star Kristen Stewart kissing and cuddling with Rupert Sanders, the 
married director of her recent movie “Snow White and the Huntsman.” A heartbroken Robert Pattinson broke up with Kristen Stewart, and simultaneously broke the hearts of millions of Twilight fans. In the months that followed, however, the couple was caught dating again, spotted by the paparazzi outside a bar in LA, and leaving a Prince concert together.
Pattinson and Stewart’s breakup affected Twilight fans around the world, including their Chinese fans who call themselves “Twi-hards.” The news of Kristen Stewarts’s infidelity caused a great disturbance in Chinese-language online forums. Some fans, it seems, have become too caught up in the storybook romance and cannot tell fairy tales and reality apart.
As an administrator of The Twilight Saga China Fan Club, I have seen numerous Twi-hards posting their heartfelt reactions after Kristen was caught cheating on Rob.
A forum member named “TwilightSaga” wrote: “This incident influences my attitude toward love and life. I now understand that love is not as beautiful as I thought it to be. I also understand that love is not all, and this fact teaches me something I never wanted to believe.” “Kerrie” wrote: “I am always watching Kristen as another version of myself doing things that I cannot do.” As an administrator of the site, I tried to be calm and objective, hoping to maintain order and help the forum members, many of whom felt miserable about the whole situation. The Chinese “Twi-hards” posted fourteen pages worth of comments in the two weeks following the shocking revelation.
RadarOnline.com has reported that Kristen and Robert are legally required to promote Twilight: Breaking Dawn Part 2 together. Summit Entertainment has not been happy about their breaking up. Fans are not sure if they are really back together, or just pretending for promotional reasons. 
Like many movie stars, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson find it difficult to live private lives. Another administer of the Twilight Saga China Fan Club wrote: “They are just normal boys and girls living among us. Please be more calm and lenient instead of blaming either of them arbitrarily. However their relationship turns out, the happiness they have brought to us should not be doubted or forgotten.”
-Siying Bai
Photoshopping Women—Selling a Fantasy, One Ad at a Time
Photoshopping Women—Selling a Fantasy, One Ad at a Time
If there’s a magazine near you, open it up and find an advertisement featuring a woman. Chances are she’s thin, has flawless skin, perfect teeth, and long gorgeous flowing hair; she is the definition of “beauty.” The only problem is, that woman doesn’t exist. We are being told that she represents a “real” woman, but in fact, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
That woman is beautiful because a team of make-up artists, fashion designers, special lighting tricks—and most of all Photoshop—has made her so. Adobe’s Photoshop software is used to edit and enhance the women in nearly all of the advertisements that we see on a daily basis.
So what’s the big deal? Who cares if advertisers edit photos? Everyone knows they’re just pictures, right? The truth is, advertisers have set the norm for what is beautiful. They tell us that buying their product will make us beautiful, attractive, and most of all happy. They’re not just selling a product, they’re selling a lifestyle. So, in turn, for us to be happy, we must look like the women pictured in their advertisements.
The problem with these women being “Photoshopped,” is that this idea of beauty is unattainable. Photoshop has women desperately seeking a sense of perfection, but this perfection can never be achieved, because it is literally unreal. But this doesn’t stop women from trying. Women are taught from a very young age to strive for this impossible beauty, and advertisers propel this idea of perfection.
This unattainable sense of beauty has become a problem that permeates our society. For instance, eating disorders are on the rise, especially in adolescent children. According to a study by the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, “more than 60% of elementary and middle school teachers reported that eating disorders are a problem in their schools (2011).”
Jean Kilbourne, the well-known creator of the Killing Us Softly series, discusses how advertising “traffics in distorted and destructive ideals of femininity,” critically discussing the relationship between advertising and health issues.
So what’s being done about these issues? Well for one, Kilbourne says that there needs to be a change in the environment. Advertisers need to take a look at our society and take some responsibility for not only how women are viewed, but also how women are seeing themselves.
Dove – Real Beauty
Dove is one company that has shed light on this issue with their Campaign for Real Beauty. There is no question that media is a large part of our society, so there should be some sort of media education program in our schools informing children and our society about often distorted ideals portrayed in the media.
Cities in Canada, and some cities in the U.S., took part in a “Media Literacy Week” in November of 2011. More and more schools and cities are planning to partake in educational events like this in order to stress the importance of media literacy, and to promote a more positive self-image among adolescents and their body image. As a society, we need to expect and encourage more positive and healthy images of women in our media.
-Brittani Wynn
Titanic: Romance and Tragedy in 3D
Titanic: Romance and Tragedy in 3D
The epic romance and disaster film Titanic, directed by James Cameron and starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, was first released in theaters on December 19, 1997. At the time, Titanic was the most expensive feature film, with a production budget of $200 million. The film grossed $600 million domestically and over $1.8 billion worldwide. It also swept awards including Best Film and Best Director of the 70th Academy Awards and the 55th Golden Globe Awards in 1998. To memorialize the 100th anniversary of the real ship’s tragedy, Titanicwill come back to theater in 2D, 3D and IMAX versions on April 4th.
1997 
2012 
In October of last year, Titanic’s domestic distributor, Paramount Pictures, showed eighteen minutes of 3D film footage in special screenings in Hollywood. Paramount also held free Valentine’s Day screenings in 44 selected cities. Recently, it even moved up its release date from April 6th to April 4th in order to launch ahead than its competitors.
Are people excited about the re-release in 3D? Perhaps less so, since they are converting the film from 2D to 3D, as with the Lion King, Beauty and The Beast, and Star Wars. What do converted 3D films really sell to the audience?
Director James Cameron had claimed in the past that he didn’t like the idea of 3D conversion, and that if the technology had been developed earlier he would have definitely shot Titanic in 3D. In order to have the best outcome, therefore he and 300 artists spent 60 weeks and $18 million on the converting process, without editing a single frame of the original cut. Viewers of the special 18 minutes footage made complimentary comments about the 3D conversion process. Even so, Cameron still maintains that the re-release of Titanic is in 2.99D instead of real 3D.
In a short featurette, available on the official Titanic re-release website, James Cameron discusses the conversion process and the profound meaning of Titanic. Cameron notes that the conversion not only changed the film into 3D, but that “3D definitely enhances small human interactions,” intensifying the intimate moments, making them more compelling to audience. “Titanic always has something for you, not matter what’s your age,” says Cameron. For those who saw Titanic before, there will be an element of nostalgia, but in 3D. For those who have never seen the film, it will be a moving and powerful new experience.
-Sheng Zhang
I Want It Now! Targeting Kids with Internet Ads
I Want It Now! Targeting Kids with Internet Ads
Veruca Salt’s catch phrase “I want it now…” from the 1971 film “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” has been uttered countless times by children, and this is the very phrase that advertising companies want to hear. The buying power of children is greater than ever before and companies marketing to kids are reaping the benefits.
Television advertisements geared toward children have been criticized for years but the industry boasts $15 billion in annual profits. With that type of cash coming in, advertising executives have expanded the industry to the Internet.
Sites such as cartoonnetwork.com and neopets.com are designed to be kid-friendly but companies are customizing their advertisements to be a fully integrated part of these websites using a tactic known as immersive advertising. Immersive advertising integrates the ad into content rather than it being placed alongside the page.
Cartoonnetwork.com 
When you log onto cartoonnetwork.com, you first notice the flashy graphics, and loud sound effects. Looking more closely, you can start to see the emergence of advertising at its sneakiest. The background of the website had been changed to advertise Universal Pictures new film The Lorax. In addition to the background, there were also banner ads promoting the release of the movie. As you began to explore the website, you start to notice how advertising companies had utilized the concept of immersive advertising. There is a newsfeed in the gaming tab that was sponsored by McDonald’s Happy Meals. There are banner ads for Lego, as well as Cartoon Network shows that are sponsored by the toy company. It is plain to see that cartoonnetwork.com relies heavily on advertising dollars to ensure their continued success.
Neopets.com utilizes the same tactic of immersive advertising. When you arrive at the website, a toolbar pops up that provides advertising for Nickelodeon. The Lorax film is again incorporated into a “showcase game” to promote the release of the film. It is clear that this form of advertising is effective and companies today are utilizing it to their full advantage.
The monetary benefit from this specific type of advertising is unlimited, but is it worth the possible damage to our children’s physical and mental well being? Children today are statistically more overweight, teen violence and teen pregnancy continue to rise, and studies seem to indicate that advertising geared toward children has impacted these statistics. It would be conducive to our youth if companies would be more responsible with how they utilize the Internet and the messages that they are conveying. Social responsibility should be considered more in today’s industry because its impact will be felt for years to come.
- Katie Foley
The Simpsons’ 500th Episode—More to Come?
The Simpsons’ 500th Episode—More to Come?
Fox’s favorite animated family, The Simpsons, has been making audiences laugh for more than twenty years. Over the last two decades, The Simpsons has taken us through an unbelievable number of story arcs—and a South Park episode makes fun of this very fact, in an episode titled “Simpsons Already Did It.” Homer has bowled a perfect game, toured with the Smashing Pumpkins, prevented two nuclear meltdowns, won a Grammy, won a Pulitzer prize, owned the Denver Broncos, solved an ancient Egyptianpuzzle, and been to outer space (TV Guide News).
We have seen hundreds of celebrity voice appearances on the show, including Larry King, Ringo Starr, and Buzz Aldrin. The Simpsons franchise has spread from TV into video games, board games, albums, clothing, memorabilia, and a full-length film. The Simpsons is now the longest running American scripted television series, and just hit the milestone of five hundred episodes on February 19, in the middle of it’s twenty-third season.
The 500th episode began, as all Simpsons do, with the typical intro followed by the “couch gag.” For the special occasion though, viewers were treated with a conglomeration of every “couch gag” used in the shows run. The plot follows the Simpson family as they are banished from Springfield because the town is going broke trying to pay for the damage from Homer’s drunken antics and Bart’s boyish pranks.
Although the episode does have jokes for its long time viewers, it is a prime example of the current state of the show. Any fan can tell you that The Simpsons is past its prime. Its highest rated episode, “Bart Gets an F,” ran in 1990. Although the ratings have dropped over the past two decades, the loyalty of fans has stayed strong. The Simpsons became a part of American culture in the 1990s, and paved the way for animated series like South Park. Fans continue to watch in the millions, but some now view the show with a bittersweet taste. The creators of The Simpsons are aware of this current attitude, and decided to end this special episode with a message to their fans that read, “Thanks for 500 shows. All we ask is that you go out and get some fresh air before logging on the Internet and saying how much this sucked.”
So, what does the future hold for The Simpsons? There will be seven more episodes in the twenty-third season, but beyond that, the future is shrouded in mystery. Although the 500th episode garnered a 30 per cent increase in viewers of the 18-24 demographic, this may be the final season for the series. Negotiations between executives of 20th Century Fox TV and the voice actors are not going well after the studio asked the voice actors to take a 45 per cent pay cut. The absolutely irreplaceable voice actors responded with a proposal for a 30 per cent pay cut if they received a percentage of the massive memorabilia revenue. Negotiations are still under way, but 20th Century Fox TV released a statement saying, “… We believe this brilliant series can and should continue, but we cannot produce future seasons under its current financial model” (Inside TV).
Personally, I can’t see this being the end of The Simpsons. However, the people at Fox are notorious for canceling good programs, and I have a gut wrenching feeling that some of our favorite Simpsons characters may sound less familiar next season.
-Nathan Mitchell
A Poor Excuse for a Tribute—The 2012 Grammy Awards
A Poor Excuse for a Tribute—The 2012 Grammy Awards
Music fans from around the country and around the world were looking forward to the 54th annual Grammy music awards. The sudden death of legendary star Whitney Houston, one day before the airing of the Grammys, offered the show’s producers the chance to commemorate an iconic artist and performer.
Unfortunately, the Grammys forgot to pay due respect to several musical icons, and they served up a weak tribute to Whitney Houston.
The Grammys aired on Sunday February 12, 2012 on CBS. The show opened with a prayer and speech by rapper LL Cool J dedicated to Whitney Houston. So far, so good.
Later in the program Singer Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt performed a tribute to the late great Etta James. But then the producers failed to include Etta James in the slide show tribute!
The crowning moment in any awards show is always the moving slide show tribute, and the Grammy producers choreographed a series of pictures to celebrate those the music community had lost in the past year. Not only did the Grammy producers forgot to include Etta James, they also forgot to honor two other musical legends: singer Vesta Williams and music pioneer Don Cornelius.
Vesta Williams passed away on September 22, 2011. Williams was a top recording artist, recording songs like “Once Bitten, Twice Shy” which hit number nine on R&B charts, and “Congratulations” which hit number five.
Don Cornelius passed away on February 1, 2012. Cornelius was creator of the show “Soul Train,” which arguably changed the way the entire world viewed African American musical artists and dancers. Soul Train is the longest-running nationally syndicated show in history. The Grammys paid tribute to Steve Jobs, who also changed the way people listened to and viewed music, but they somehow forgot to show respect to another vital musical pioneer, Don Cornelius
And what about Whitney? You would think that a singer who has sold eight million copies of one single (I Will Always Love You), and an artist who has been nominated for twenty-six Grammys—winning six times—would be someone who deserves more than a three minute tribute. Even though the beautiful Jennifer Hudson did a splendid job—it was only three minutes out of two hours.
The 2012 Grammy awards show did not offer a proper tribute to great music pioneers this year. Musical legends Vesta Williams, Don Cornelius, Etta James, and Whitney Houston deserve better. The Grammy producers need help researching and properly honoring artists who have passed and who have contributed to the music community.
- Ukiya Henson
Commercials for Super Bowl 2012
Commercials for Super Bowl 2012
Sports fans love the Superbowl game, and everyone watching loves the new wave of clever and entertaining commercials. With all the hype that the Superbowl commercials get in the media nowadays, it is virtually impossible for the advertisements to live up to all the excitement. This did not stop me or the other 111.3 million viewers of Superbowl XLVI from scrutinizing the showcase of advertisements, however. Company’s put their best foot forward to have their product or brand remembered for years to come.
Automotive commercials had a very strong showing this year at the Superbowl. Some of the more notable ones was the vampire-themed Audi promotion, a sexually charged commercial for the Fiat 500 Abarth, and a humorous take on life and death with the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Cars.com gave us a catchy tune with their ad featuring Christopher B. Duncan, and Chrysler gave America it’s own halftime speech with the help of Clint Eastwood. A personal favorite mine was the ad for the Chevy Silverado, with their portrayal of the truck’s toughness surviving the 2012 Mayan apocalypse, and their genius use of the Barry Manilow song “Looks like we Made It.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxFYYP8040A
Promos for television programs for NBC were also out in force, including a reveal of the new drama “Awake,” promises of double crossing in the name of charity on the new season of “Celebrity Apprentice,” the announcement of Howard Stern as a host for “America’s Got Talent,” and a flashy, kung-fu style commercial featuring the judges of “The Voice,” which premiered directly after the game ended. The Superbowl also featured its fair share of motion picture promotion, premiering spots for blockbuster films like “The Avengers,” “John Carter,” and “G.I. Joe: Retaliation.”
Of course the Superbowl commercial veterans came out to play and continue their legacy. The E*Trade baby returned with more smart advice, and the M&M’s introduced a new color to their gang. Coke gave us new ads featuring their famous polar bears, which I enjoyed seeing again. I feel GoDaddy.com could have tried something new as they aired more of the same risque commercials featuring Danica Patrick. Budweiser found a way to keep their signature Clydesdales in their ads and have a fresh idea by doing a flashback to show an exaggerated end to prohibition.
The fight for the Vince Lombardi trophy featured some great football, half time show controversy, and entertaining commercials.
-Kazi Smith
Soap Operas in Turkey and Africa
Soap Operas in Turkey and Africa
Soap operas are a mainstay on daytime television in the United States. Their name derives from the type of advertisements, which were featured during commercial breaks—soap and household cleaning supplies used to be the majority of ads for soap operas.
Throughout popular culture soap operas have been the brunt of many jokes. When an actor is second rate at best they are suggested to try out for the soaps. Amnesia and long-lost evil twins seem to make their way into soap opera plotlines. In short, U.S. audiences view soap operas with derision.
Other countries, however, use soap operas in an entirely different manner. In other nations, the most popular soap operas are used as platforms for discussion.
The Turkish soap opera “Noor,” serves as an outlet and a forum for many people. Within the plotline of this soap opera, writers have found a creative outlet to talk about many controversial issues such as drinking alcohol, premarital sex, and abortion. Mohannad, the main character, faces tribulations involving love and faith, which has a large appeal in many Middle Eastern cultures, and the show attracts millions of viewers.
A similar situation exists in Africa with the show Isidingo. Isidingo follows the life and struggles of one of the shows most popular characters, a young woman named Nandipha. Nandipha is raped during her travels on the savannah and must struggle with contracting the AIDS virus.
Producers of the Isidingo created a plotline that breaks the silence on an issue that affects many Africans. Part of the problem is that certain governments in Africa have taken an aggressive stance against the distribution of anti-retroviral AIDS drugs. There are also educational and cultural barriers that hinder the use of condoms. With many people affected by AIDS in Africa and millions tuning in to watch Isidingo, it is undeniable that television can be used as a great platform for change.
The question becomes, “Why isn’t America doing the same?” I think that we could learn a thing or two from countries using television as a platform for discussion. Change could be on the horizon. Americans could be discussing hot button issues rather than following the lives of several well-to-do housewives. Wouldn’t a show focused on the trials of being impoverished in America be a better topic? How about soap operas with characters that are struggling with unemployment?
~David Goold
Violence in Media: How Comic Books Faced the Fire First!
Violence in Media: How Comic Books Faced the Fire First!
Recently, video games have faced an onslaught of critics denouncing the industry’s development of violent video games like the Grand Theft Auto or Gears of War franchises. In a recent Supreme Court Decision, Brown vs. EMA (Entertainment Merchants Association), the court upheld that California’s law to prohibit the sale of violent games to children under 18 was unconstitutional.
The majority opinion written by Justice Scalia compares the current video game argument to that of comics fifty years earlier. Justice Scalia writes:
The crusade against comic books was led by a psychiatrist, Frederic Wertham, who told the Senate Judiciary Committee that ‘as long as the crime comic books industry exists in its present forms there are no secure homes.’ Wertham’s objections extended even to Superman comics, which he described as “particularly injurious to the ethical development of children. But efforts to convince Congress to restrict comic books failed.
Here is the historical context of Scalia’s statement. In 1954 Dr Frederic Wertham published the book, Seduction of the Innocent, which correlated reading violent depictions in comics with juvenile delinquency. Seduction was the capstone to Wertham’s attack on comics, and in 1955 a US Senate hearing was held to argue the validity of Wertham’s findings.
The Senate concluded that the comics industry should create a regulating body that identified violent content. To avoid government censorship, the industry reacted by creating the Comics Authority Code.
After the adoption of the code, the debate fizzled with the last comic book burning. That’s right folks! Here. In the United States. American Citizens were burning books. But I digress…
The code was implemented, like those of the MPAA or the ESRB, by affixing a stamp of approval on the comic, deeming the book appropriate for all readers. The difference between the Comics Authority Code and other media regulating bodies was that if a publisher, writer, or illustrator did not follow the guidelines, the comic in question was doomed to fail.
By the mid-1980’s, creators began combating the code by completely ignoring the guidelines and as a result redefined the industry. The Code has since died out completely, and publishers have created other rating systems.
As the debate over violence in media continues keep in mind that it is not a new phenomenon. The comics industry took its licks way before video games, and I would wager that the video game industry will thrive similarly to its comic book forefather.
- Jason Allen
Summer Blockbuster Report –> Bigger Budgets = Smaller Box Office?!
Summer Blockbuster Report –> Bigger Budgets = Smaller Box Office?!
Hollywood is rethinking their love of big budget summer blockbusters, and is downsizing their multi-million dollar budgets to adjust to the recessionary economic times.
Ryan Nakashima discusses how Hollywood has put two big budget films on hold, the film version of Stephen Kings “The Dark Tower” series as well as Disney’s “The Lone Ranger” which reported had a budget skyrocketing past $250 mil.
These changes are happening in response to this past summer, which produced some less than stellar box office numbers, including Universal’s “Cowboys and Aliens” which grossed $129 mil in worldwide tickets sales, but was produced for more than $163 mil. There was also Warner Brothers’ “Green Lantern” which was produced for $200 mil according to the website boxofficemojo.com, however it made little revenue in the U.S., only grossing $120 mil.
Studios need to start realizing that just because a film has an astronomical budget, does not guarantee packed theaters across the country.
A surprise summer hit was the character driven film, “The Help” starting Emma Stone and based on a best selling novel of the same name. “The Help” was made for only $25 mil and has grossed more than $160 mil to date in the United States. A more action driven summer blockbuster was J.J. Abrams, “Super 8” by Paramount. Made for a reasonable $50 mil the film grossed more than $130 mil at the box-office in the states, matching that tally in other countries.
What do these movies have that the others do not? Well for one thing they both have positive reviews, with 75% positive and 82% positive reviews on the website rottentomatoes.com. More importantly they have characters that audiences care about. When you put big money in a strong character film along with dazzling visuals and a fantastic story, you may be lucky enough to strike box-office gold.
Does this combination sound familiar? Well one director in Hollywood has this combination down to a science, his name: James Cameron. He has directed two of the biggest films in history. “Titanic” was produced for about $200 mil and it grossed $600 mil domestically, and 2009’s “Avatar,” made for $250 mil, went on to gross $2.7 billion, yes that’s BILLION in the box-office worldwide.
So what have we learned? You need more than just special effects and explosions to get people into the theaters, however that still has not stopped producers from making “Transformers 3.” Audiences are starting to demand a little substance in their Hollywood blockbuster. And in this day in age where “Netflix” and online streaming is becoming the norm, Hollywood better start adjusting fast, or else there maybe more poorly performing “Green Lanterns” in their future.
-Steven Colonero
A Friendly Voice: Why I Love Radio
A Friendly Voice: Why I Love Radio
“Begin the day with a friendly voice, a companion unobtrusive.” This lyric, from the Rush song The Spirit of Radio, encompasses what I strive to be in radio — a personality, a friend, someone with whom listeners can truly connect. This summer, I got my chance.
My roots in radio run deep — my father worked in radio for 33 years after graduating from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. From a young age, I was carted along to remote broadcasts, watching him work and occasionally making on-air appearances with him. Once I entered high school and the prospects of choosing a career became more of a reality, I was torn as to how I wanted to spend the rest of my life. I enjoyed radio, but I was also interested in print journalism. However, after my father passed away suddenly in 2008, my choice became very clear. I knew in my heart that I had to carry on his legacy in radio.
Shortly after his death, I was employed by the same company with which he had worked for so many years. I did most of my work as a board operator until the beginning of this summer, which brought about an opportunity that tied together everything I love about radio.
The afternoon shift at our country station was vacant, and soon after my return home from school for the summer, they offered me the position. I was ecstatic, yet slightly terrified at the same time. I questioned myself. Was I really ready for this type of position? Would the listeners really enjoy my show?
The first week was nerve-wracking. I was still familiarizing myself with the format of the show, and with only a slight knowledge of country music, I wasn’t sure that I was playing songs people actually wanted to hear — particularly on Way Back Wednesday (Willie Nelson, Hank Jr., and Red Sovine quickly flooded my four hours of airtime). As I wrapped up my first week and moved into the next, I began to ease up and it became my absolute favorite part of the day.
I was moved when listeners called our request line just to lend their words of encouragement and to share that they enjoyed listening to me. Some would even call every day to request a song and wish me well until the next. As the days grew hotter and we moved deeper into the summer months, more and more calls came in, but one touched my heart more than I could have ever imagined.
I answered the phone in my usual cheery voice. “I have a question for you,” the woman’s voice said kindly, “are you Tom Sheldon’s daughter?” When I answered yes, I could hear her joy. “I remember when you were little, your dad used to bring you along to all of his broadcasts. He was always so happy to have you there.” She paused, and when she spoke again, I could hear the tears in her voice. “I don’t mean to upset you — I just think you’re doing such a wonderful job and I know how proud he would be.”
When she hung up, I just sat for a moment, speechless. Her call had made every bit of my work worth it. At that moment, I knew that I had truly connected with my audience. Maybe she was the only one, but for me, it didn’t matter if I had only connected with one person. It was everything I had hoped for and I could say I was becoming the “companion” Rush captured so perfectly in their song.
When I returned back to school, I had to leave the afternoon show behind. But the memories of a dream come true will always resonate within me, and I hope these experiences will lead to a successful career in the future. No matter where life leads, the spirit of radio will always live within me.
-Alicia Sheldon
Fall Games – Uncharted 3, Battlefield 3 & Modern Warfare 3
Fall Games – Uncharted 3, Battlefield 3 & Modern Warfare 3
For the fans of the Uncharted series on the PS3, Uncharted 3 Drake’s Deception was released November 1, 2011. The Uncharted trilogy is coming off of one of the most critically acclaimed games of 2009 with Uncharted 2: Among Thieves. I would highly recommend this game to anyone who enjoys playing a video game with a great story mode that is almost cinematic for anyone else watching.
Then we have the first person shooters, or FPS, as we like to call them. Two groundbreaking FPS are coming out exactly two weeks apart from each other. The two games I am talking about are Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3. Do not let the names fool you both of these games have more than three predecessors. After the Battlefield name had huge success on the PC, Electronic Arts began making games for consoles and this third one is expected to put up a fight against Modern Warfare 3. Both of these franchises have an extremely compelling story mode and make you never want to put the controller down, ever.
For the Call of Duty franchise, Modern Warfare 3 is the 8th game to hit console as well as PC. It will be interesting to see how many copies this game will sell after the groundbreaking performance that its predecessor Call of Duty Black Ops sold which was more than 7 million copies in the first 24 hours of its release. I will not lie, I am in love with the Call of Duty franchise and I will continue to purchase their video games. The CoD fan base is so large that I can put in almost any of the older CoD games and still find a lobby to play in online. I have always given my edge to the Call of Duty franchise because not only can you spend hours online playing with your friends but they also have extremely fun Cooperative extras such as Nazi Zombie and Special Ops.
After playing through the Battlefield 3 campaign and spending a little bit of time on Battlefield 2 it has started to grow on me, though not as much as Call of Duty has. I would still recommend this game to anyone who enjoys a great first person shooter.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my two-part review of some of these big games coming out this year!
-Steve Marksteiner
