“Last month the worldwide effort to thwart the illegal copying and sales of video games took a turn to the draconian, with a number of publishers introducing new measures that often seemed to impact legitimate gamers as much as pirates.

France-based Ubisoft rolled out a new form of digital rights management that require players of their PC games to stay online at all times to play. Japan-based Sony tested out a new system that would require people purchasing one of their Playstation Portable games used to pay an extra $20 to play online. And Nintendo, taking a page from the music industry, levied a $1.5 million dollar suit against an Australian for copying their games.”

Read more at Kotaku

Now that’s what I call a deal.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks can be bought from Wal-Mart’s online store, walmart.com. Who would’ve thought we’d get such a great price this early in the product’s life? If you haven’t purchased your copy yet, this is the time to do it. $25 shouldn’t be passed up. The site didn’t say when the sale would expire.

Update

It looks like Amazon.com has the better deal. For $25, you get the game plus free shipping.

Advertising is a way for companies to get their products noticed by consumers. Two games that have seemed to find ways to pop in front of my vision starting at the end of summer and continuing to now are Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and Dragon Age: Origins.

First-person shooters were never my choice of games. The game that I played the most from that genre was the original Half-Life, and that was only in multi-player mode. I guess you can count Metroid Prime 1 and 2, but Nintendo likes to refer to them as first-person adventure games rather than first-person shooter games. Goldeneye is another one, too, but that’s essentially it. I’ve played 3 games made for the first-person perspective.

Advertising for Modern Warfare 2 and Dragon Age is everywhere. And, it’s effective. I’ve never wanted to play a video game so much from mere advertisements. The agencies behind these two juggernaut games did a heck of a job. The developers brought their best work to the table and the high reviews scores are rolling in.

If you’re looking for a first-person shooter, go with Modern Warfare 2.

If you’re looking for an RPG, go with Dragon Age: Origins.

If you can get them both, you’ll be a happy person.

The game that lacked in advertising but should have been as heavily advertised? Metroid Prime Trilogy. Get it together, Nintendo.

Newegg.com is selling House of the Dead: Overkill for $12.99 with free shipping. That’s a great deal for a game that’s blatantly over-the-top and brings with it a Tarantino vibe. I’ve been following this game since I was in Vietnam- not your father’s Vietnam, but my Vietnam. In the beginning, people thought that it was inappropriate and wouldn’t sell to the majority of Wii owners. Sorry, but not everyone wants to play Nintendo-huggable games every day of this generation. Thank you, Sega.

House of the Dead: Overkill is light-gun game. Remember Duck Hunt? Now, replace the ducks with zombies, the fields and blue sky with buildings, rooms, and night-time, and the laughing dog with a talking partner. Now you’re thinking, “Oh! I know how to play this game!”

Exactly. Point and shoot.

It really doesn’t try to be anything else other than what it is- a video game take on B-movie horror films. And from the work the put into the trailer, it looks to be a funny and entertaining time.

Here’s a trailer for you, and a disclaimer:

The following trailer contains shooting, blood, zombies, profanity, and a stripper. Watch at your own risk.

Still with me? Want your own copy?

Click this link and head on over to Newegg.com for your $12.99 deal.