David Mack is always bringing his "A" game and the ...
924047
David Mack is always bringing his "A" game and the latest entry into the Star Trek Titan novel series is no different. This is a page turner and will leave you wanting to finish it in one sitting!
1611933
Love the options for players. It continues Monte Cook's awesome job with the core book. The only problem is, with so many options, what to choose!
1422989
I love playing this game! 100% more fun than Madden NFL....The graphics have been refreshed, the AI is smarter, and it is a real challenge, even with a super team. Frankly, if you like authentic action combined with excellent simulation, this is your game. RBI is cool if all you are after is an action arcade baseball game.
1868493
Mack Dalton is a bar owner with a special gift. She possesses more than just the gift of hospitality; Mack is also gifted with synesthesia. The condition she once fought to hide from the world is now known throughout Milwaukee and Mack has used it to help solve murders.  The bar is also home to a group of mystery lovers are happy to help Mack in her endeavors. They have decided to help Tiny look into the unsolved murder of his sister. Though the case is twelve years old, Macks special senses quickly help her eliminate some of the old suspects.  In the midst of one mystery a criminal mastermind is putting Macks skills to the test while threatening the  murder of  someone close to her. Time is running out. Mack feels she is on the right track when an unexpected event takes her out of commission.
I loved this book. It is filled with suspense that literal made me a little nervous for the characters I have come to know and enjoy. The pace of the plot moves at a very good speed and I was engaged throughout the book. There is a new tension between Mack and her boyfriend that is very realistic. I think the author is very skillful in weaving together the latest addition to this series. I definitely recommend this book and cant wait to read the next book...there is a cliffhanger that leaves the reader wanting to know more.
2148087
Absolutely fantastic. I've had every game since 2K10, and this one I'll remember forever as the year they finally got AI defense right. Every pick and roll promises a different result, as defenses adapt in their coverages throughout the game. Deep in the fourth quarter of a recent franchise game, Andre Drummond started an up-and-under move, pump-faked my defender, drew the contact, then put it in for the and-one. I wasn't mad, actually, just pleased at how sophisticated the AI had become. Also, the team customization is incredible, with full stadium building, uniforms, logos, etc.
4805070
Our gaming group loves the social-deduction trend that has been sweeping the board game world recently (Coup, Resistance, Werewolf etc).  This is an interesting take on the genre which emphasizes players discussing with each other the specifics of what they are trying to bring to the market (or smuggle in!) rather than the "hidden role" style.  Putting one player in each round "in charge" is a great way to shake things up as each player will handle "their" round differently.  You will find that your group builds meta layers of strategy the more you play (David never lies, but wait - he did this time!)

If you like social deduction games, this will be hours of fun.
3200443
Its easy to add guys to this game and is fun to collect them all.  The guys are smaller than the guys for the A.B. games.
1102174
We own Xia and my kids love the game. And are eager to teach and play Xia with others. The game is different every time and allows players a lot of variety in roles they can play. The creator, Cody Miller, put his heart and soul into the development and tweeti
675325
Here is in my opinion the best way to play this game on the Xbox.

WHAT'S RIGHT ABOUT THIS GAME

1. Set it to Dynasty. Heisman mode is kind of a waste -- it's funner to control a coaches career.

2. Set it to Heisman difficulty level.  DO NOT mess with the AI sliders.

3. Set it to EAsy Play.  Your runingback will find the holes and your receivers have indicators to tell you which one is open.  You will not always be successful, however.  It isn't that EAsy.

4. Turn the unsportsman like conduct down to about 30% in the penalty section.  You can still get nailed for it, but when you suspect your player is doing something stupid pause the game and unpause it -- no penalty.

5. Use the Auto-Name function in the roster section.  No more ROLB #54 -- they will all have names now except for the really small schools like Maine Black Bears (example only -- you may find differently).  Brad Nessler will actually pronounce the names.

6. In the contoller section you can switch to the 2005 control layout.  There's too much whining about the controls.  If you want last year's, you can have it.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS GAME

1. There's still too many long bombs.

2. It's too easy to block punts.  All you have to do is take one of the men on the far right and scooch him over to the rest of the lineman, but yet not right next to them so he can get around the offensive line.  Then since the defense won't jump offsides you can already have him running in place with your finger near the B button.  When the ball is snapped hit that B button and nail that punter.

3. The soundtrack stinks.  I mean really stinks.  Go to the audio section and change the music to "bands".

That's about it.
3153248
I have played Madden Football since I had a Sega Genesis in the 1980s.  After acquiring a Nintendo DSi, I had to try out the Madden 09 on the this platform.  Graphics for a small console is actually good.  Sound effects are good for a portable with the voice of John Madden, the crowds and grunts from the players.

The interface is the same as its predecessors when choosing plays.  Punting or Kicking a ball takes a steep learning curve to master.  Passing the ball utilizes the various buttons (A,B,X,Y, L, and R).  Artificial intelligence can be adjusted for your level of play.  You can call audibles and no huddle offensive plays.  Game play is quite good where you can use the standard rosters or customize your own team.

You can play an exhibition, season or franchise.  Players can be created and rosters can be customized.  Practice mode lets you learn the mechanics of the game, including punting and kicking (the hardest part of the game to do well).  There are real time statistics, as you play the game, to evaluate your performance and your competition.

PROS
Robust game with many options
Customization of rosters and difficulty level
Gameplay

CONS
None for a handheld console

Overall, this is entertaining with a high replay value.

This is one of my most favorite games.
1263752
Awesome story telling for a sports fan! The Bo Jackson episode is my favorite. Each episode leaves me in awe of what I didn't know.
1650008
Instead of a solo player going for the million, multiple players or teams can go for it. Every question is read on the screen with the four choices. As you advance higher on the ladder, videos of Meredith reading the questions are provided. The process for each question is the same throughout the game: question is given, place your answer card face down on the table, Meredith asks if a player used their lifeline card, got the question wrong, or has walked away.

The show uses real audience footage for "Ask the Audience", and you choose between 3 people planted into the game for "Phone a Friend." The game is fun as you try to beat your opponent(s). Real music from the show is played during questions, and the on screen graphics are very well done. I played the game many times, and no questions have repeated yet. It's a well made trivia game for all those to enjoy.
3202072
Spoiler level: Medium - High (both for this book and for "The 4400: Welcome to Promise City.")

I know I can always expect two things from a David Mack book: a lot of action, and a high body count. After reading his "Star Trek: Destiny" trilogy, I also knew he had the ability to tie many different plot points together brilliantly. So after tearing through "The 4400: Welcome to Promise City," I thought I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from Promises Broken.

I was still a little shaken, however; after Greg Cox's character-rich "Welcome to Promise City," David Mack's arc-heavy follow-up feels a little jarring. Especially the radical switch in philosophies between Kyle Baldwin and Jordan Collier. In "Welcome to Promise City," Collier is still willing to sacrifice half the world's population to make the other half promicin-positive, while Kyle still believes him to be an honorable man who would never force promicin on anyone. And while this is true on the face of it, Collier is more than willing to sit back and let others do it for him.

However this book picks up "a few months" after the previous book, and right off the bat we see their perspectives have changed; Collier realizes he's headed towards a shooting war with the US government. As a result, he's decided his previous philosophy was wrong, and is now willing to try to live in peace with promicin-negative people. Kyle, on the other hand, has been guided by his promicin alter-ego Cassie into believing war is the only answer. We saw him start to be lead down this dark road in the previous book; he was resistant to it then, but now he's completely embraced it. Each book works just fine, and the two perspectives work fine together when you can accept that time has passed between them, but reading them back to back made me feel like there should have been another book in between the two to show us their reversing in philosophies more gradually.

That aside, the book is a non-stop action ride as everything between the US government, The 4400 Movement and the Marked all collide, bringing the entire 4400 series to a satisfying conclusion. And just like the series, it ends raising the stakes with the potential of taking the series to the next level, and opening some new doors if they decide to publish any more books.

Which considering that this book was published in October and nothing new has been announced since then, I don't have a lot of hope of any more books coming at this point... but hope is still there. And if not, if this is truly the ending of the story of The 4400, then it's a good one. Many thanks go out to David Mack, Greg Cox and Pocket Books for making it happen.
782428
Nancy Herkness has thrown another touchdown to make The All-Star Antes Up, the second book in her Wager of Hearts series, an essential player on the team.

Who can walk away from the challenge of breaking through the defenses of Luke Archer, the golden-boy quarterback made of ice? Miranda Tate tries to resist. But saying no turns out to be an exercise in futility. Saying yes cant hurt, as long as you go into the game Luke has orchestrated with eyes wide open, knowing once you make it over the goal line that this affair will have run its course.

Without giving away the plot.

Herkness weaves her story-telling magic with a descriptive, fluid, and seemingly effortless flow of words that dig deep into each characters flaws, wants, needs, and successes. Each scene raises the sensual factor, until the sexual tension explodes into an inferno. Herkness deftly dances her characters in and out of the flames, throwing burning timbers in their way that bring both Luke and Miranda to their knees and show the strength her characters need to survive the blast furnace of emotions. I found myself totally immersed in the story from the first fiery spiral of the football that brings the two face-to-face in a dispute, through first downs and sacks and interceptions, to the winning touchdown that not only satisfies the reader, but makes them ache for more. One more game. One more super bowl win.

I was asked to give an honest review of this book. Ill admit I am not a huge football fan. I watch the super bowl because it is an excuse to hang out with friends and watch some mighty fine, honed bodies in action. Herkness in depth characterization of what a super bowl winning quarterback goes through physically, mentally, and emotionally is masterful. Ill never watch a football game again without feeling every hit, celebrating the grace, dance, and strength of the players, and understanding the mental part that dictates each players movements on the field. In her heroine, Miranda, Herkness found a tough, relentless opponent, and finally teammate, for Luke.

Although each book in the series stands alone, if you haven't read, The CEO Buys In, Herkness award-winning Book One, do so. I can guarantee after you read both, you will wait in anticipation for Book Three of Wager of Hearts. I know I cant wait to see what Herkness has in store for the illusive, broody, and snarky hero in the third book of the series.
2496113
The story is engaging and consistent with the TV series and previous books by David Mack. His style of writing is very good, especially his attention to detail. However I've found his language to be sometimes overcomplicated as he attempts to use as many different words as possible to discribe similar or identical phenomena. I've also found some of his figurative expressions slightly awkward. The aforementioned shortcomings however don't spoil the reading experience one bit. I consider this book a great read.
4439634
Dave Cresswell is old school. A brawler who knows his place and his standing within his social circles. Woe betide anyone who messes with him. Yes, of course, someone eventually does but is Dave in as much trouble as he thinks?

Craig Douglas once more impresses me with this well written character piece. A very strong voice from the outset Douglas has really gotten into the mind of his character which adds to the story greatly. A cracking short read.
2028140
I have been following AA 's work for some time now. In that time I have learned a great deal about the Pick 3 game. It has been a wonderful journey that is always improving over time. I have gotten many hits with his methods  and with the work explained on Secrets-2, my game has gone to another level. His new Method 453 combined with what I have learned from his other books and programs (like the Basic Box, Visual Distribution, the Super Six and now the cherry on the top, Master Reference Box) will make me a consistent winner for sure! Using all these methods will bring you many winnings in the Pick 3 game as well. He's calling this secret the Money Project; what a great name!! I'm sure it is going to be just that $$$$$ !!