Mom's Minute

Screenshot from CastleStorm

Zen Studios, primarily known for pinball type video games is branching out to bring you a physics based strategy game.  The game is Castlestorm which Zen Studios states will initially be offered on the Xbox 360 Live Arcade, and eventually will be available on other digital platforms and consoles.  A CastleStorm video game exhibit is planned for the  E3 convention in Los Angeles, CA in June.

Scene from CastleStorm

CastleStorm is described as a combination Angry Birds type game, as well as a defense video game. During gameplay, you can choose between Team Vikings or Team Knights.  You will attack the opponent's castle using projectiles, explosives and sheep loaded catapults. The amount of defense you have left will depend on the materials you used to construct your castle.

In addition to attacking your opponents, you will also have to defend your own castle.

At press time no release date for CastleStorm was available.

Trailer for CastleStorm

Mass Effect 2 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C.

A crowd of approximately 1,100 people gathered recently in the courtyard  of the Smithsonian American Art Museum to enjoy video game music from a 123-piece University of Maryland Gamer Symphony orchestra.  The performance was part of the museum's dedication to the Video Game as Art series.

Music from Sonic The Hedgehog was featured along with other video game music soundtracks that were showcased during the performance.

The University of Maryland Gamer Symphony Orchestra is made up of non-music

majors but draws a crowd that would rival those of the more traditional type orchestras. The orchestra is composed of  video game players who are avid players as well as staunch fans of video game music themselves.

Journey video game music debuted in top 10 of Billboard soundtrack charts

As evidenced by this orchestra's performance and others, video game music has made its way into the mainstay of culture.  In fact the music from the video game Journey debuted last month at number 8 on Billboard's soundtrack chart, one notch above the latest from "Twilight."

Joel Guttman, student at University of Maryland who plays trombone in the orchestra stated the allure of video game music is the memories players have when they play video games.  And for the non-video game playing music listeners, it's just really beautiful music that anyone can appreciate.

Screenshot from Darksiders II

You will not have to wait much longer to play the sequel to the Darksiders video game.  With a release date of August 14, 2012, you can play Darksiders II in a matter of  just a few months.

Darksiders II, published by THQ, is an action adventure game  that will take place in the same time period as the previous game, but you will have control of the Horseman instead of War.

Scene from Darksiders II video game

The remaining horsemen, Strife and Fury, will be featured in the game in some capacity.  The main character will be travelling through multiple dungeons and city hubs. THQ will be bringing you more dungeons than the number featured in the predecessor video game.

Cover art for Darksiders II 

If you want to be among the first to own and play Darksiders II, preorders are being taken at GameStop, Amazon.com, Best Buy as well as other retail establishments. According to THQ, this video game is being ordered about five times more than Darksiders. 

Darksiders II will be playable on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC and  the WII U.

Remembering those who served

As we take the time to remember and honor those who served for our freedom, there is one particular Memorial Day Sale that you should check out.

Newegg is advertising video games for the Xbox 360, PS3 and the Wii for discounted prices and free shipping.  There are restrictions on the free shipping for areas such as Puerto Rico, and Hawaii. Taxes apply for NY, CA and TN.

For example, Little Big Planet, Video Game of the Year Edition for the PS 3 is $12.99.

Assassin's Creed Brotherhood for the PS 3 is $14.99

Call of the Juraz, The Cartel for the Xbox 360 and the PS 3 price is $12.99

Kinectimals for the Xbox 360 Kinect is $14.99

Zelda, Skyward Sword for the Wii is $29.99.

Here are more Newegg sales on video games.

PS 3 video games:

Killzone 2 -- $12.99

Resistance 2 -- $12.99

Motorstorm 3 -- $12.99

X-Men, Destiny -- $24.99 

Xbox 360 video games:

Enslaved Odyssey to the West --  $7.99

Resonance of Fate -- $14.99

PowerUp Heroes -- $14.99

Binary Doman -- $29.99

Nintendo WII

Just Dance 2 -- $19.99

A Boy and His Blob -- 12.99

You may go to the Newegg website to check out their other video game sales.  If you do not get to place your order on Memorial Day -- there's still time.  The Newegg video game sale including free shipping ends May 31, 2012.

Amazon.com has collaborated with Microsoft to stream film and television shows to the Xbox 360 consoles.  If you are an Xbox Live Gold member, you can get a free app that enables you to view Amazon Prime videos while using your Xbox 360 console connected to the internet.

Amazon.com's instant video app also synchs with the Xbox 360 Kinect and will let you peruse and select content by speaking or gesturing.

With Amazon technology, you can switch content between the Kindle Fire and the Xbox 360 without losing continuity.

There is no additional charge for Amazon Prime and Xbox Live Gold members to use the Amazon app.

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The Amazon Instant Video App is available in Xbox Live Marketplace.

Xbox 360 offers its own video rentals and applications for viewing videos from online streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu and now with the Amazon app, you have even more options to view videos.

According to Xbox Live  entertainment and advertising General Manager Ross Honey, "Working with Amazon.com marks a significant milestone in our mission to make the entertainment you love more amazing on Xbox."