Mom's Minute

Google Maps on the Wii U

Nintendo is striving to make the Wii U as functional for everyday living, as it is for playing video games.  Would you like to know where the nearest restaurant is located?  No need to use your smartphone or gps --  simply use the same hardware console that you use to play your video games -- your Wii U.

Once the google maps application is on the Wii U, you will be able to use your gamepad to see a street view of that restaurant.  You will also be able to find street directions using both the hand held gamepad and the big screen.

Google maps street view

You will be able to use the gamepad to quickly access the area and then explore it through street view.  Wii U currently offers a panorama camera view to play video games.  It's expected that google maps will work well with the panorama view of the Wii U.

.

Once this application is launched in January 2013, you will be able to use google maps free on Wii U for two months -- after two months, you will have to pay for the service.

Wii U -- More to Offer than the Xbox 360 and PS3 Read More

Halo 4 Video Game

If you missed out on receiving multiplayer specialization codes offered by playing Halo 4 on the Xbox 360 by November 20, 2012 -- do not fret.  You still have a chance to receive these specialization codes. According to Halo 4 Community Manager, Jessica Slay, the codes will be sent to the email address associated with your gamertag by December 1, 2012.

Halo 4

Specializations are additional sets of armors and abilities attained after reaching Service Rank 50 in multiplayer.  For each specialization 10 ranks are added for you to achieve.

Halo 4 Specializations

Initially, only those who purchased the Limited Edition Halo 4 would get access to all 8 specializations;  however, now  that limitation has been lifted. If you played Halo 4 and reached a specific level, you will receive access to the 8 specifications.

If you plan to get Dead Space 3 when it comes out, why not pre-order and receive bonuses for your purchase.  Dead Space 3 is a Visceral Games (Electronic Arts, Inc. Studio) acclaimed horror-shooter video game.

Dead Space 3

The bonuses differ depending on where you pre-order the game. If you pre-order Dead Space 3 from GameStop, you will receive the compact EG-900 SMG weapon for video game play.  Pre-order from Amazon.com and receive the Tesla Enervator which destroys enemies at the molecular level.

Dead Space 3

If you pre-order Dead Space 3, you will also have access to the Limited Edition version which comes with the First Contact and Witness suits as well as two other weapons, the Negotiator and the Evangelizer.

Dead Space 3 releases on February 5, 2013 in North America and on February 8, 2013 in Europe and will be playable on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the PC. 

Dead Space 3 New Screenshots Read More

Pong video game is 40 years old

Video games have grown leaps and bounds since the first Pong video game was introduced by Atari on November 29, 1972. However, it was the simple black and white tennis video game Pong that set the stage and led the way to the growth and success of the video game industry.

Pong was created in 1972 by Allan Alcorn after being assigned the project as a training exercise by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell.

                                                                                                                                          Pong Video Game Turns 40

Pong began as an arcade game and moved to be home-based in 1975, distributed by Sears.

Atari Pong game system

Many view the Pong video game as the start of the video game industry --  An industry that in 2011 was valued at a whopping $74 billion and growing.

To the video game Pong:  Happy 40th Birthday.

Assassin's Creed Anthology

Do you have any European or English friends?  Then you may want to see if they can score you the Assassin's Creed Anthology.  The game released in Europe and the UK.  It will not be available in the United States at this time.

 Previously Ubisoft announced that there would be an Assassin's Creed Anthology for the Xbox 360 and the PS3.  The anthology begins with the Holy Crusades and the Italian Renaissance, followed by the Constantinople journey and ends with the American Revolution which takes you up through Assassin's Creed III.

Scene from Assassin's Creed

The complete series involves a long secret war between the Assassins and the Templars, with each having different and opposite agendas.  The Assassins uphold and fight for the free will of people, whiile the Templars seek to control them.

Assassin's Creed video game

The Assassin's Creed Anthology released in Europe on November 29, 2012 and the United Kingdom on November 30, 2012.

Hopefully Ubisoft will rethink and consider bringing the anthology to the United States. 

Assassin's Creed 3 DLC Read More

Assassin's Creed Trilogy Read More