In case you hadn’t noticed, Major League Baseball started yesterday. Yeah, I hadn’t either. I stopped following MLB quite some time ago, dissillusioned by the great strike of 1994. However, that’s not to say that I don’t still enjoy a good baseball video game every now and then. While I’ll admit that I tend to find some of the newer baseball sims a huge hassle to really dig into, if you give me a solid arcade-style baseball game, I’ll play for hours. I miss the days of games like “R.B.I.,” “Little League Baseball: Championship Series,” and the often overlooked classic “Dusty Diamond’s All-Star Softball.” Also, baseball video games has lost a bit of their appeal when pro ballers stopped having their names on games – Roger Clemens, Bo Jackson, Ken Griffey Jr. just to name a few. What’s a gamer to do if they want to play a little baseball, but has been scorned to the point of no return by the Majors? Here’s three options that should help solve your problem, and kill more than a few hours at the same time.

#1 – Baseball Superstars 2009 (Mobile, iPhone – Gamevil)
I swear this game may be the best $1.99 I have ever spent (it was on sale, it’s regularly priced at $4.99). It appears to be a distant, and unrelated cousin, to Konami’s Jikky? Powerful Pro Yaky? series, more commonly known in the states as “MLB Power Pros,” since the characters have big heads with no mouths, and there are some light RPG elements worked into the game. However, even though isn’t as in-depth, it’s super addictive, with simple pick up and play, on-screen controls, it will take you back to the simplicity of the ‘80s as you manage your character’s morale as you level him up, on the road to the championship.

#2 – Baseball Juiced (Flash – Addicting Games)
Ever wanted to be a slugger in the Big Leagues? Well, now you can, it’s just a matter of what you want to do to get there. “Baseball Juiced” allows players to step up to the plate with their favorite character, whether it be Josie Conswaco, Jasen Gambini, or Berry Bombs, and see how many homers they can hit out of the park. The only catch is, can they do it without steroids? It’s up to the player to make the decision as to whether or not their player will juice it up, running the risk of being banned from the Hall of Fame, or if they are going to make it on their own merits. While “Baseball Juiced” may not be as simple as “Cat Baseball” it still puts your mouse clicking skills, as well as your morality to the test.

#3 – Bases Loaded (NES, Wii Virtual Console – Jaleco)
Ah, the old standby is back courtesy of the Wii’s Virtual Console. While “Bases Loaded” may pale in comparison to 2K or Sony’s latest releases, it is easily one of the greatest baseball games of all time. It’s the first NES game I can remember that emulated an umpire’s voice to call you out when you didn’t make it to first on time, or the first real celebration for hitting a homerun. If baseball video game’s had a Hall of Fame, “Bases Loaded” would be the first inductee.

#17 on TGH’z Top Black Video Game Characters list goes to Louis of the Left 4 Dead

This character made the list as our first “playable” character. This game is fairly new but it is oh so good. What we like about Valve’s latest game is that it is multiplayer at heart. Four protagonists trapped in a Zombie movie scenario that forces them to work together to fight their way out.

Not long ago this group would be made up of zany skaters, rock punks, caucasian military or suburban dads. Valve showing their flexibility chose a Biker, and old militant guy, a female, and our boy Louis who happens to be a systems analyst in an IT company. He’s the only one in “dress clothes”.

Valve could’ve easily went with the “stereotypical” black dude, in jeans, timbs, and a hoodie, or even an “Athlete”, but here’s a regular 9 – 5 white collar black guy trying to stay alive. It’s those “staying alive” moments that make Louis a likable character. Because he doesn’t act a fool in these circumstances, he says and reacts like we all know we would.

So if you haven’t checked out Left4Dead with a bunch of your friends, you are missing out. Available for the XBOX360 and PC.

Tom Clancy’s first introduction into the flight-sim crowd H.A.W.X (High Altitude Warfare eXperimental squadron), is looking pretty decent. I got some hands on time with the title and came away pretty impressed with the way it all handled.

And I wasn’t the only one (check out full impressions here!). H.A.W.X look to offer something pretty rewarding to both hardcore and occasional fans of the genre. And even if you have never played a flight game before, this title does a good job of easing you into the game. Check out the video preview and see if H.A.W.X has enough maneuvers to outwit any doubt you may have towards the game!

Introducing “Dropping This Week” where each week we’ll spotlight some of the hottest titles hitting the stores for that week across all the major platforms. Have you always wanted to play the bad guy in a Star Wars game? Or how about gettin’ busy on the mic? Well you’ll have your chance with the titles dropping this week! Check’em out below:

ROCKBAND 2

platform: xbox 360

release date: Sunday Sept. 14

This game actually got a head start on the week and dropped on a Sunday. But were including it for this week because it’s to big of a title to miss out on. Rock Band 2 builds upon the first version by adding in several new modes for online play and off, plus the ability to import all your songs from the original RockBand, no repurchasing or downloading again. This game comes with a more sturdier and quieter drum than before. But if you already have the right instruments there’s no need to buy them again as this game is fully backwards compatible with the original RockBand instruments. So bust out those instruments and gather your band together for another go at becoming the ultimate band!

STARWARS: THE FORCE UNLEASHEDplatform: Wii, PS2, PS3, xbox 360, DS, PSP

release date: Tuesday Sept. 16

In this latest installment of the Star Wars saga, players take on the role of Darth Vader’s secret apprentice. His job…to wipe out the remaining Jedi masters through out the galaxy. At your disposal you’ll have the obvious weapon of choice, a light saber. But you’ll also have your deadly force moves and abillities which will aid you on your quest. With some sick graphics, action and tight audio this looks to deliver deliver a fun experience in the Star Wars universe. Plus you get to play as the ultimate Star Wars bad ass… Darth Vader, and that’s worth the purchase alone!

WARHAMMER ONLINE: AGE OF RECKONING
platform: PCrelease date: Thursday Sept. 16

Ogres…check, elves…check, dwarfs…check , no more social life…CHECK! What looks to be one of the biggest mmo’s released this side of World of Warcraft, WAR:Age of Reckoning will finally give gamers a chance to battle it out on their computer screens with one of fantasy’s most popular properties. In this mmo, players will get the chance to lay siege on huge fortresses, or try to defend them from attacking foes. You also be able to conquer large realms from your enemies with allies from all across the internet. We had the chance to sit down and talk with the head guy in charge himself, Mark Jacobs and got the lowdown on why this game will be hot. You can check out our full preview here. And come this thursday ,get ready to get your conquering on!

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames is set in August 2010. The story follows the player’s hunt for Ramon Solano, a druglord who contracted the player’s mercenary for a job then subsequently refused to pay and tried to kill him/her. Following a militaristic coup, Solano becomes the dictator of Venezuela. He uses his position to seize control of the country’s oil supply, resulting in an international incident and distress among OPEC (in the game the oil company excavating in the region is called Universal Petroleum). Alongside Solano’s Rebel Forces, a large portion of the Venezuelan army fiercely support the dictator’s cause. The other rebel forces, in opposition to Solano, have risen under the name of the PLAV–the People’s Liberation Army of Venezuela. Soon, numerous other factions join the fight for control of Venezuela’s oil. Among them: The massive Universal Petroleum Corporation and its private military; the Rastafarian Pirates (the equivalent of the Russian Mafia from the original Mercenaries game); China’s PLA; and the AN (Allied Nations–a less controversial pun on the UN). These six forces will inevitably form the backbone of a war to determine the fate of the country’s oil supply.

Betrayed, the player’s mercenary will ally him/herself with any of the other factions to get even with Solano, and make some money along the way.

Do you like orcs, elves, goblins,dwarfs and fantasy in general? Well you’ve proab’ heard about the upcoming MMO “Warhammer online: Age of Reckoning” from EA. They’ve just  released a cg cinematic

trailer giving you a glimpse of a large scale battle between your standard fair of fantasy characters. And one thing will come to mind.. Holy crap! The level of detail and animation quality in this trailer is ridiculous and will have you wondering, Why the hell don’t we havecg movies like these in the theaters! Instead of all them cute animal stories we should have stuff like this! I know o’d pay to see it, would you? Anyways check this hot trailer below.

Unit out…

Parkour in case your wondering translated in english means the art of movement. Which brings us to this new title coming out with the style as the main focus of the game play.  Think of playing out that ill chase seen in the beginning of Casino Royal only you racing against other players in a city where the roof tops are your only choice of course.This new title introduces a new type of sports to the video game genre, let’s just hope it plays as good as it looks. The graphics are pretty good and the music is on point or if you’re not happy with that there’s always your custom tracks. I for one will keep an eye out on this title, I’ve always been a fan of acrobatics and seeing it put to use in a video game with a urban theme is pretty phat I can’t wait.