The premise behind Your Shape Fitness Evolved is to work toward achieving a particular lifestyle goal with regards to fitness. The game requires you to answer questions regarding your weight, age, exercise experience and your ultimate goal for your body be it muscle building, toning or just wanting more energy.  The game boasts three main game modes are made up of several different activities to help get you into shape.

The first mode is referred to as Gym Games, this includes a number of fun and interactive games for you to play and compete with friends. This includes games such as cardio boxing, a strange dance-like game as well as a hoola-hoop game. The second mode is the personal training mode and its probably the most intense and in-depth offering to the game. Based on your desired body, the game will compile sets of exercises for you to complete alongside a virtual trainer. Players will have to mimic the movements of the trainer and achieve ratings based on their ability to execute move correctly and in rhythm. The routines can be pretty intense at times and you’ll feel the effects of the game in the form of stiffness the next day. With a calorie loss count, you can also monitor your progress as you go along. The final mode of fitness classes contains several exercises involving core strength training that include yoga as well as cooling down exercises in order to soothe you at the end of your workout.

The game modes offered are a lot of fun and yes at times they can be a little difficult to master. However one of the key aspects to this game is that it manages to use the kinect sensor very well and your movements made in reality will translate incredibly well into the game. At times keeping a rhythm may be a little tough and the game will not always acknowledge your best efforts, but it’s still a great attempt.

Presentation also has a unique feel to it. You can’t exactly commend the game for its graphical excellence as there is not much to judge it on. However the interface and the menus are very impressive. The game firstly measures your arm and leg length in order to adjust the menus for you to access at an arm and leg length. It does a good job of translating you into a virtual world where you can interact with objects and also has a physics engine which gives off an authentic feel to object interaction.  Even the menus can keep you busy for a while as you watch yourself interacting with them.

If you own a Kinect and you’re not really that gym type of person then Your Shape: Fitness Evolved would be a good exercise game to consider. It offers plenty of exercises to choose from, tracks your progress and does play a part in getting some of your muscles working. It’s not perfect by any means but it’s a great launch title for the Kinect.

Free Games are Awesome

Ok so they’re not really ‘free’ per se, as we do review and get some exposure for them, but it’s awesome to get the chance to play a wealth of titles without liquidating your house (and pets). Promotional copies help a substantial amount and we couldn’t be more happy to play, review and talk about some of the phenomenal games we’ve had the chance to experience.

Launch Parties kick ass

Every now and then, distributors, publishers or even hardware manufacturers throw party in celebration of their new title or product, and if you crack an invite, prepare for some fun. Getting to party it up with fellow gamers, colleagues and industry personnel are some of the highlights of the job, and the fact that some gaming is thrown into the mix, makes any launch parties memorable.

StarCraft 2 Launch Party Lesson #1: Things get out of hand

Be prepared to play some terrible games

Being give the chance to play the majority of the games that hit the store selves on ( or even sometimes prior to ) release is a dream come true and we don’t take any of it for granted. This isn’t a complaint, just more of a warning. If you aspire to become a game reviewer, be prepared to play some atrocious games. As gamers, we are all s fortunate to have such high quality products these days, but when the time comes ( and it will come ) to play Fashion Party on the Wii, you’ll know you’ve made it.

Knowledge is key

Anyone can essentially ‘review’ a game, but it requires an effective us of the English language to convey the correct message. More importantly than that, game reviewers need to really know past and present games inside out, and we mean really know. Reviewers also have to understand that not all games can be compared to one another. People believe if you score anything higher than Modern Warefare 2 – prepare for bloodshed. This isn’t the way forward, as reviewers must be objective and open minded about every type of game out there, and know how to review it. Saying: “Killzone 2 is teh graffix!” is not necessarily going to captivate readers.

Not exactly an ideal review. Click to enlarge, and laugh

Everyone is a critic

Well, this is more applicable to the internet (and society) in general. To put it bluntly, people are going to hate, whether they like you or not. Any writer or website owner will tell you, that the amount of negativity and stupidly pessimistic feedback is ever prevalent, and there’s only one thing you can do – take it on the chin. Because at the end of the day, every negative comment is outnumbered 100 to 1 with positive responses and participation from awesome gamers out there, and that’s what make this all worth it.

Even Kermit has an opinion

On behalf of GamesCastLive, we’d like to thank all of the distributors and awesome individuals for all your support for what we’re doing. With your help, we are, where we are. Continue being awesome and thanks for checking out the Friday Feature.

For those who are staring and the text and wondering what on earth this Pokѐwalker is, here is a breakdown. The Pokѐwalker is a small, round, battery-powered object which fits neatly in the palm of your hand. It has been designed to work with the latest Pokѐmon games: Heart Gold and Soul Silver. Its purpose is to allow players to transfer a Pokѐmon from the game onto this device, whereby you can discover other Pokѐmon and items as well as increase the happiness or level of the one in the walker. Yes, if you don’t play the games it may seem as a horrid contraption, but for the fans, it’s an ingenius invention.

Dummies Guide to Pokѐwalker

The Pokѐwalker serves to encourage the individual to walk (duh) in order to accumulate steps and watts which can be used for different features in the game. However, Nintendo have not realised that us gamers are a lazy bunch.  In the spirit of refusing to walk, here are the top 5 legendary ways to rack up some milage, whilst you actually play the game.

5. Attaching the Pokѐwalker to your shoelace.

This method has been tried and tested by ourselves and we found it to be rather effective. Simply place the walker onto the shoelaces of the shoe that you are wearing, and continue to tap your foot in a slow yet emphatic movement in an attempt to mimic the motion of walking. The steps will pile in but your foot may grow weaker. Swap feet and repeat.

Works every time.

4. Giving the Pokѐwalker to a younger sibling.

Now if you are an only child or living away from your younger sibling, you might want to move on to the next step. For those of us who have always thought of brothers and sisters to be a curse, the Pokѐwalker has finally showed us that those very siblings can now serve a purpose. With the use of force or manufactured consent, hand the Pokѐwalker to your sibling and instruct them to run around the house until they have reached a certain amount of steps.

Similar concept, identical result.

3. Sticking the Pokѐwalker onto electrical appliances.

Your very own household can be seen as a Pokѐwalker heaven, as many appliances serve as perfect step-mimicing devices. Walker owners could possibly opt to sticking their walker onto a loud and rumbly fan, a washing machine or perhaps your parent’s record player. Stick the walker to your desired object, sit back and expect to see results within minutes.

Pure Genius!

2. Convicing a friend to run a marathon.

We all have those friends who enjoy living active lives. The Pokѐwalker has now presented you with the opportunity to make use of that person’s activity. When your friend is contemplating running The Comrades or the Two Oceans, motivate them to do so and lend them your Pokѐwalker as a gift for the run. Just imagine the amount of steps.

Parkinson's isn't considered cheating

1 . Attaching the Pokѐwalker to a Vehicle.

During our busy lifestyle routines here at GamesCastLive, we find the time to discuss the most ridiculous ways to gain effortless steps on the Pokѐwalker. Our most recent idea involves using tape and other items to safely attach the Pokѐwalker to the alloy wheel of a car. This idea still remains theory and we have yet to put it into practice, but pictures and results will follow in the near future.

To those who own this device, we wish you many fake walking steps and an awesome weekend to all.

At the heart of FF13 lies an incredible story filled with excitement and magic. It is however a little confusing at times especially with some strange words you’ve never heard before (which we’ll get to in a second).  The story revolves around six unlikely characters whose paths cross after the City of Bohdum is seized by a group known as the PSICOM soldiers.  The soldiers are looking for people who have become l’cie (la-see); beings that have been chosen to fulfill specific tasks by fal’cie (fal-see), who are God like beings and considered a threat to humanity. This may all sound confusing but eventually it falls together to create an atmospheric and immersive story. Coupled with great voice acting and quirky Japanese humour, FF13’s story will not disappoint.

FF13 is a Japanese RPG which is played out from a third person perspective with a turn based battle system. The game allows for up to three characters to be used at a time, however you will only be able to control one character which will constantly switch as you progress through the story. The battle system for FF13 works via an ATB (active time battle) which allows for players to execute a number of attacks as your time bar fills up. As your characters further their abilities, the bar will grow, allowing for players to make use of larger combos.  The battle system contains what is known as a ‘paradigm’ which allows players to assign specific roles to each character, which can be changed with the flick of a button during battle in order to alter the player’s tactics. These roles include medic, commando, synergist, saboteur, ravanger and others. Each role performs a different function which can be used in combination to get the better of your enemies. Players will also gain the ability to summon Eidolons, which are creatures that can deal some serious damage. Overall the battle system is very solid and works incredibly well.

As you progress through the mostly linear levels (with the exception of later levels), you will encounter a number of enemies with who you can engage with in battle. Some battles can be made optional as you are granted some time before the confrontation, which you can use to run away like a little girl. Sneaking up on enemies also allows for players to make use of a ‘pre-emptive attack’ which can be used to your advantage. At the end of each battle your characters will gain ‘crystarium points’ which are used to advance your characters roles by increasing HP, magic or teaching new abilities.

Square Enix has really gone all out with some jaw-dropping CG cutscenes as well as with some incredible and uniquely stylized visuals which will be sure to impress. The character models are immaculate and highly detailed. The environments are unique and beautifully designed to fit in with the magical feel that the game has to offer.

Overall FF13 is a great game. It has an incredible, yet sometimes complicated story; a tactical, yet easy to use battle system and mind-blowing visuals. It offers you great value for money as you make your way through roughly 60 hours of playtime and you’ll enjoy every moment of it. A word of caution to this tale; while it may not appeal to all gamers, it is certainly one to consider if you’re a big RPG fanatic.

[starreviewmulti id=1 tpl=20]

5.  Violence and Gore.

Most of your current gen games (unless you’re living in Australia) are filled with violence and gore that will cause little people to soil their beds from bad dreams. From your God of Wars to your Call of Dutys, violent and gory scenes occupy the screen and are definitely created to be enjoyed by a more mature crowd.

4. Adventure.

Unfortunately life sometimes never lives out like you want it to. Thankfully, some games have the ability to feed ones imagination. They allow for men to escape the drudgery of work, school or varsity to explore environments without a care in the world. Let’s face it, game worlds can be more interesting than some of the mundane things that life tends to throw at you.

3. Themes.

Games are not shallow and empty childish forms of entertainment (Warning: Fashion Party on the Wii is an exception of this statement).  For the most part, any decent game will include serious themes which are deeply entrenched within the plot of a game. Most of which a ‘wee’ one will never be able to truly appreciate.

2. Masculine Interests.

Gaming in the present seems to feed into aspects which will entertain the maniliest of men. Guns, cars, action,  and women feature prominently in many gaming titles, which makes for an interesting play, seeing as they derive and cater for the interests of masculinity. This is bound to entertain men (as well as some boys who wish they were men).

1 Nudity/ Sexual Innuendos

If there’s anything that men love more than gaming, its women. Developers have been clever to integrate this male passion into the gaming world, and by giving them the sexy female protagonists, as well as many other supporting seductresses, gaming is always a win/win for guys.

6. You can be a badass and not even get into trouble.

Most of us are always expected to do the correct thing, and in the past when faced with decisions between right or wrong, our moral upbringing has taught us to always listen to our parents and follow the rules. Now thanks to video games which gives the player choice; we as gamers now have the to ability to explore our bad side without being judged by society. So whether its killing babies in Dante’s Inferno, or making sexy time with demons in Dragon Age: Origins, gaming lets you do it all.

Keep it to yourself if you find her hot...

5. It eats away at large chunks of time.

Gaming possesses this alien-like ability to consume large amounts of time in a single sitting. It makes for a perfect way to avoid doing any sort of work or doing girlie stuff with the significant other. It takes control of the gamer and removes the sense of time, and then… BOOM! Next thing you know you’ve lost a day of your life.

This man is employed by video games to eat your time.

4. Gives gamers the same experience as reading novels.

Whoever said gaming was not educational? We speak for ourselves when we say that reading books is not everyone’s cup of tea.  Most games have storylines which can be compared to that of a novel, however its much more fun actually playing the game, seeing as you take part in that narrative itself. So next time you get told gaming is mindless, drop fact #3 of our list.

Console? R3500. Game? R699. Educational Value? Priceless

3. It brings joy to the heart.

Whenever you pass a difficult stage, beat a game or tea bag an online opponent, gaming brings a satisfaction that is like no other. It gives you a sense of achievement that makes you all fuzzy inside. It grants the player the ability to feel like a conqueror. Now that’s super cool.

The metaphorical achievement of glorious teabagging

2. The ability to escape reality.

Besides drugs and alcohol, video games have the ability to allow your mind to completely escape some of the hardships of reality and allow you to embrace the sublime. Wanna be a killer? Stick in some Hitman. Wanna race against Ken Block? Put on some Dirt 2. You wanna fly a dragon? Play some Lair (Ok, maybe not Lair, but you get the point.)

1 . It lets you break the law and not get into trouble.

Killing other humans or any other life-form in reality is unacceptable by law and will get you into a serious amount of trouble. Thanks to gaming we are allowed to break these laws and avoid a lifetime in a correctional facility. It enables you to live on the other side of the law and enjoy it. From stealing cars and robbery in GTA, to shooting civilians in Modern Warfare 2, its all loaded with hours of virtual law breaking fun.

Warning: Dont try this in real life.

Thanks for checking out our Friday Feature. Have an awesome weekend and let us know what it is about gaming that makes you tick.

The battery life is said to last three years, which is a first for wireless products in the PC peripheral market.

The keyboard itself is also specifically designed with Incurve keys that are contoured to fingertips, as well as featuring a LCD dashboard which clearly displays battery, Caps Lock, Num Lock and Scroll Lock.

The included laser mouse is also sculpted especially for the palm, while the detection and accuracy of the mouse allows for “hyper -fast”  scrolling thanks to a metal spinning centre wheel.

Keep checking GamesCastLive.com for more information on Logitech’s MK710 soon.

However this process of online gaming is not as straight forward as it may seem, and if one approaches it without all the correct “know-how”, they could be in for a few disappointments. It is for this reason that our panel of experts has drafted the GCL Survivor’s Guide to online gaming.

1. Before you decide to purchase any game so that you can play online it is recommended that you find out whether or not the game has a relatively large local following. Trust us, being in a game with a Swede or a Frenchie is not as fun as it sounds.

2. Ensure that the game works on a peer to peer basis or that it has local servers, otherwise you’re bound to meet up with everybody’s favourite pal.. Mr Lag. He is not someone you want to make friends with.

3. Once you have completed steps 1 and 2 and find yourself immersed in the marvel of a local online game, introduce yourself and make friends with the dudes who have a high rank.

4. Learn to accept the fact that for the first few months you will probably be referred to as a ‘noob’

Prepare your excuses, you gonna need 'em

5. Do not swear at anything or anyone as this is not permitted for ‘noobs’ such as yourself, and it will potentially lead to you being cast out from this circle of trust.

6. Under no circumstance may you refer to any other player as a ‘noob’, when you yourself are in fact a ‘noob’.

7. At first, getting shot in the back, head or who knows where, will be a regular occurrence and so complaining over the microphone is a futile endeavor as it will get you nowhere as you may find your newly found peers doubling up efforts to ‘pwn’ you even more.

8. If you are taking part in a first person shooter. YOU MAY NOT CAMP! Camping is the process whereby a player sits in a single spot, usually behind a box, wall or any other object for any duration longer than 30 seconds. In their ever so static stance, they will continue to fire bullets and kill any passer by till they are discovered, murdered and possibly tea-bagged. Moral of the story? Run and gun baby! Run and Gun.

9. Once you have successfully made your way into the online community and you are part of the regulars, you will gain the prestigious ability to tea-bag. This is an act whereby you crouch over the dead body of an opponent and continue in an up-and-down motion to mimic the process of dipping a tea bag in water. However the bag is not tea and the water is now someone’s mouth. A word of caution to this tale..Be smart about who you tea-bag as payback can hurt a little.

Online gaming is comprised of a lot of this

10. Remember to have fun and not take it waaaay too seriously seeing as at the end of the day, its nothing more than a game.

Got it? Now you’re ready for the world of online. Be prepared, it’s a jungle out there!!

From an aesthetic point of view the PSP Go is a much smaller looking contraption with its slide out keypad safely tucked away neatly until you really need to make use of it. It is definitely better looking than its predecessors, with its sleeker lines and newer looking keypad which breathe some new life into this handheld. With a larger screen, the GO is easier on the eye and it also runs a little faster thanks to the increase in processing power.

One of the biggest changes is the GO’s lack of a UMD slot. Games will have to be purchased and downloaded from the Playstation store and saved onto its memory card.

We’re no fan of facelifts but this one may just be an exception.