SIMS pets 3 ” It doesn`t bite!”

By Dayvid, on December 4th, 2011

ELECTRONIC ARTS returns with yet another game for their long running franchise THE SIMS, this time it`s Pets! yes you can create and interact with your own virtual pet, a sort of upgraded TAMAGOTCHI (remember them).
To be frank I am not a big fan of the SIMS, it’s all a bit god like in a way, my son when he was younger used to do some diabolical things to his virtual characters, his favorite trick was putting an entire family in the swimming pool and then removing the ladder so they could not get out , leaving them there to die (fortunately he grew out of it and didn`t become a serial killer).
So when EA sent me this over I thought ok let’s give it a go. What’s the worst that can happen!
You basically have two kinds of pets the low maintenance ones, like lizards and snakes and other assorted critters and the high maintenance ones, such as dogs and cats, but now even horses have been thrown in to the mix so that’s opened up a whole world of possibilities.
You can train your dog or cat to hunt dogs for collectables like gems while the cats can hunt for low maintenance pets, which means you can just order them to go off hunting if you can’t be asked with them, and you just want to keep them for their social benefits. I never really got into the ins and outs of this game as there wasn`t enough to keep me interested ,that doesn`t mean to say it`s a dull game , if you’re a SIMS fan then you are going to love this effort.
Whereas the horses are entirely different ball game altogether, you can raise them to do races or show jumping. You’re able to develop your trainer to ride, in show jumping events and eventually make loads of money (simolians).Which appears to be the one of the major objectives of the game.

The animation is pretty good, which is something SIMS fans would expect as EA have been running this franchise for some years now .I was impressed by the low polygon modelling and the whole feel of the game was clean and straight forward, easy to navigate menus and good interaction.
The possibilities are endless even adopting a horse and having it in your house is not frowned upon (don`t try this at home folks). Stray animals can also be adopted but these take time to train, and we all know that everything takes time in the SIMS world, mind you they all come with a variety of skills that may be useful (wish my dog was this clever).
The best part of THE SIMS 3: PETS I found were the coat design options allowing the user to change the look of your pet which can lead to inter breeding etc. I am sure with imagination users will be coming up with strange and bizarre looking pets (again don`t try this one at home kids, kitty wouldn`t like it much).

Summary
SIMS 3: PETS is a very interesting game and I am sure it will be popular with SIMS fans if you are new to the franchise then try an earlier SIMS, as for my personal taste I am still not a convert to the franchise, but it was an interesting adventure into this strange and very popular world. I can see the appeal, but it`s back to blowing up things and racing around in fast cars (virtual that is) for me.
I will give the game 7 out of 10 as the graphics and game play are very good. for me it`s doesn`t hold my attention for long.

The Sims ets 3PS3Xbox 3603DSAge rating: 12Publisher: EA gamesRelease date: 21/10/2011SIMS pets 3 " It doesn`t bite!", 10.0 out of 10 based on 3 ratings

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Award-Winning GALACTIC CIVILIZATIONS II: Ultimate Edition Now On Steam

By Admin, on December 3rd, 2011

PLYMOUTH, MI., DEC 2, 2011 – Stardock (www.stardock.com) announced today that the award-winning 4X turn-based strategy title Galactic Civilizations II: Ultimate Edition has made its way to Steam. Stardock announced last month that after years of exclusivity to the Impulse digital distribution platform (now owned by GameStop) its titles would be making their way to a broader PC gaming audience. Fans can now purchase Galactic Civilizations II: Ultimate Edition (priced at $19.95) for 25 percent off through December 9th at http://store.steampowered.com/app/202200/. Nominated for several “Strategy Game of the Year” awards in 2007, Galactic Civilizations II is the most epic turn-based space strategy game ever.

In Galactic Civilizations, it is the 23rd century and the known galaxy is at war. The Terran Alliance and their coalition are fighting a desperate interstellar war with the evil Drengin Empire and their ruthless allies. Behind the scenes, the precursor civilization called the Dread Lords pulls the strings on both sides. As leader of a galactic civilization, it is up to you to ensure the triumph of your civilization. Fight wars, design star ships, research new technologies, negotiate treaties and build an empire that will stand the test of time in this epic and timeless strategy game.

The first expansion title, Dark Avatar, greatly expands the gameplay of Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords. Dark Avatar introduces asteroid belts that can be mined for resources, unique planets that require special technologies to colonize, spies to conduct sabotage and destabilization (or used to protect your worlds from the same), new types of diplomatic treaties, an enhanced artificial intelligence engine, and much more.

The second expansion, Twilight of the Arnor, takes players into the year 2227 where the fire of war is consuming the galaxy thanks to the manipulations of the evil Dread Lords. But the remaining factions, led by the humans, have a plan to rid the galaxy of the Dread Lords once and for all. It’s up to you to conquer the galaxy and determine the fate of those around you.

The complete bundle is also available digitally through GameStop (www.impulsedriven.com), as well as direct from the Stardock store at http://www.galciv2.com/Purchase.aspx.

For more information about Stardock or its titles and software, please visit www.stardock.com.

For more information about Galactic Civilizations II, go to www.galciv2.com.

About Stardock

Stardock is one of the world’s leading developers and publishers of PC games and desktop software. Its PC games include Sins of a Solar Empire as well as the Galactic Civilizations series. Its desktop software includes Object Desktop, WindowBlinds, and a host of other programs for customizing the Windows experience. Learn more about Stardock by visiting www.stardock.com.

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IEX Gaming Chair Improves Game Time

By Dayvid, on November 28th, 2011

As gaming chairs go, I have always been into the idea of them. I just don’t fancy having something that looks like it should have legs or is like a stripped down racing car that has been dumped in my front room. We all know wives /partners tend to frown on such items and eventually it will end up in a spare room with laundry draped over it when the novelty wears off, your pocketbook being £300 lighter (~ $467.22 USD). That’s why when the lovely people over at BEANBAGBAZAAR sent me one of their IEX gaming chairs I thought “hmm bean bags, will I end up sitting on the floor eventually as I maneuver around and have to keep getting up and shaking the thing back into shape”. We’ve all been there and it’s not cool or elegant.

Well folks those days are over! This product doesn’t look like a bean bag, and it does’t perform like one either. The other bonus (this bit is for the wives and girlfriends) it won’t stand out in your living room like a large multi-colored plastic bag, neither which is cool. The tough faux leather covering and the built in integrity makes for a solid well made construction (just don’t sit in it for too long in your underpants as you will stick to it!). [Ed: Eeewww!] Obviously I can’t say how long it will last, as I have only had mine a few days. But the build quality is excellent and unless you sit in it with a sharp object in your back pocket, let your 4 year old jump up and down on it all day or climb on it in stilettos, I can’t see having a problem (the covering is pretty thick).

The IEX stands nearly a meter tall with a nice comfortable backrest and wide seat (I suffer from a bad back and had no problems with it, in fact I spent even more time playing as I was so comfortable!) It also supports your elbows without being intrusive. They don’t come in any other color apart from black. But you can have green or silver trim, so there is some choice. I don’t know if other colors are planned, but it would be nice to have a greater choice. There is also a kid’s version which is slightly smaller.

Of course the best thing about this chair is the price, currently £74.99 (~ $116.79 USD). For a quality item like this, that is a bargain. OK, you don’t get any fancy speakers fitted inside, which other even cheaper chairs offer, but what you do get is build quality. This chair is built to last! It will give you many hours of comfort as you race and shoot your way through whatever virtual world you are in at the moment.

To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised by the IEX GAMING CHAIR compared to other chairs I have tried in the past. It is comfortable, aesthetically pleasing and built to last and doesn’t look out of place in any living room, so you can persuade the wife/girlfriend/partner that it’s a good idea and you can have one, seeing as there are no speakers inside you don’t have the problem with wires sticking out everywhere, if you do need to have surround sound in your seat then go elsewhere.

The IEX GAMING CHAIR is all about tough reliability and comfort and for this kind of money it’s one of the best around. A choice of different colors would have been nice and maybe different coverings as I did find that the plastic does stick to you if any bare skin touches it but that is a minor thing really.

If you need any more info on this chair go to:

www.iexgaming.com

www.beanbagbazaar.co.uk

Product :IEX Gaming ChairManufacturer: Beanbag BazaarPrice: £74.99 (~ $116.79 USD as of 11/26/2011)IEX Gaming Chair Improves Game Time, 9.0 out of 10 based on 2 ratings

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Saints Row the Third It`s a real blast !

By Dayvid, on December 4th, 2011

Ok I know what you are all thinking ,this is another grand theft auto clone .well I am afraid you would be wrong ,I admit at first glance my eyes rolled sky wards and I thought “here we go again” GTA 10 or whatever it is now .”No, no, no” is what I retort this is something else in fact it’s more like CRACKDOWN (remember from a few years back) or if Bruce Willis did Grand Theft Auto!.

SAINTS ROW THE THIRD takes you away from the city of STILLWATER where the first two games where set and you end up in STEEL PORT, a grimy industrial town. This is where the action starts after a mad intro which involves a shed load of crazy stunts, the likes of Jason Statham would be proud of .It paves your exit from STILLWATER and then gives you the opportunity to customize your character, this is a major part of the game because you can not only customize your character but also his vehicles .Mine has been running around in a dressing gown with pink bunny rabbit slippers hilarious.

Let’s face it you couldn’t run around stark naked shooting and blowing up things in GTA! And not only that you get extra points for streaking, brilliant. Now your mission is to take over the town and get rid of the opposition, of course it’s not as straight forward as you think and this leads the way for some pretty mental action sequences and high jinks, jumping out of aeroplanes (in fact jumping through aeroplanes) hanging out of helicopters, flying helicopters, riding motorbikes, driving cars and boats (and crashing them) you can even base jump off buildings (makes James Bond look like Bambi).

Gang fights are a wacky affair you have to run the gauntlet of a constant onslaught of enemies showing up in a variety of vehicles, armed to the teeth and too top it all they don’t die first time neither (unless you can shoot them in the head!), There are a nice array weaponry available which is upgradable (of course)the shotgun being my personal favourite, when you have the choice of rocket launchers to large sex toys (which you can whack enemies over the head with ,I know WTF!).It’s a gamer’s paradise.

SAINTS ROW THE THIRD has endless surprises and just keeps on getting better and better. You get to cat sit a tiger who gets angry and starts hitting you if you slow down, there is some dealer protection work to be had, rescuing hookers (only annoying bit is the pimps electronic voice, sounds like a reject from some r and b boy band) hacking up wrestlers with a chain saw to name but a few .

Of course there are many other side missions to complete Tank mayhem being one of my favourites where you get to blow up property and people whilst driving a tank. Insurance fraud is another fun one you basically have to throw yourself under cars to claim insurance money.

All these stunts and missions are to earn money and get respect so you can upgrade and take over the town you don’t even have to try very hard to earn neither. Getting paid by the hour is the norm and just claim the money by accessing your smart phone .This is of course your main source of missions and upgrades, from stealing cars to assassinating other gang members SAINTS ROW THE THIRD has it all.

On-line play

You can of course play the campaign on line in co-op mode but it tends to run away with its self with two players going mad.

Whoring mode

This is an interesting twist a variety of mini games to play outside of the career mode which I thought was a brilliant idea, especially trying to mow down swarms of mini zombies, this again is another excuse to go completely mad and create havoc, but it’s far from easy.

Summary

SAINTS ROW THE THIRD is a game that is for pure fun there is no attempt at realism, or trying to create some deep meaningful story line. It’s just a big arena where we can indulge ourselves in a crazy world of sex and violence. That’s all it is and I doesn’t hide that fact, if you are looking for a GTA clone then go elsewhere but if it’s a good time you are after then “come on down”. I will give it 8 out of 10 as it’s a great game but not brilliant worth investing 40 bucks in though.

Saints Row the ThirdRelease date :18/11/2011Action Third person shooter (TPS)PCXbox 360Ps3Age rating: 18Publisher : THQDeveloper: VolitionSaints Row the Third It`s a real blast !, 9.8 out of 10 based on 4 ratings

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Call of duty :modern warfare 3 ” It`s a jolly spiffing experience!?”

By Dayvid, on December 3rd, 2011

The combination of ACTIVISION /INFINITY WARD/SLEDGEHAMMER GAMES can only mean one thing, yes the reason why people of all ages have been queuing outside game shops at midnight, to get their cold hands on , CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 3 .

Now of course the 40 buck question? Does it blow my skirt up? The answer is well sort of, it’s the usual mix of over complicated story lines and one dimensional character, but haven’t we been here before? Ok when you lock and load, leap from that helicopter, bullets and explosions all around you it is impressive, but still the usual recipe. Maybe it`s because I am still coming down from BATTLEFIELD 3, I found myself constantly comparing the two games. We are treated to the usual campaign game play, maybe a touch too short at 6 hours.

Campaign

Ok it`s perhaps not the best game out there, but it still holds its own, especially as they are still using the old game engine which is an upgraded version of the one used in CALL OF DUTY 2 and it does hold up well .We get the usual realistic game play and much more freedom of movement than say BATTLEFIELD 3.

There are some pretty spectacular set pieces that keep you on your toes, and I found myself becoming totally engrossed in the adventure, as you play a number of different characters on missions around the world (usual CALL OF DUTY stuff).

Now I could spend the next few paragraphs banging on about the storyline but let’s be honest do any of us care ,CALL OF DUTY storylines have never been up to much in my eyes as they are overly complicated and I don`t know anyone who actually follows the story ,we are all in it for the action ! and I think it was a wise move on ACTIVISION`s part to include the option to skip the cut scenes and get down to some serious bottom kicking! It’s those little options that can make the difference.

I must admit the campaign was a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon, unfortunately the game was over before I knew it, It is the usual game play for the campaign, mind you we do get to try some nice stuff, like scuba diving for one and the set pieces are very impressive, exploding buildings and huge all out battles, even if the enemy appears to be somewhat reckless at times, which makes for more mayhem but spoils the feeling of reality which I assume is what ACTIVISION is after. There is plenty of things to keep the player interested but it all comes across as the same old scenario as we have seen before. As with all games these days it`s all about the on line play so don`t expect anything too exciting in the campaign

Multiplayer

Now this is where CALL OF DUTY really comes to life with 16 new maps to play and loads of little treats like new challenges and unlockable content. This makes for a challenging and all more interesting experience.

Ok if you aren`t used to the on line play of CALL OF DUTY you will get your butt kicked, that`s a fact, there are some serious gamers out there in CALL OF DUTY land and they don`t take prisoners. This makes for more rewarding game play as you really want to get better, and take out that 10 year old who has been sniping you for the past 3 hours and then mocking you for your inadequacies as a player.

There are single player options for all you lone mavericks out there such as the usual team death match, survival, free for all and numerous other modes dragged over from COD 2.

You can take on CG players all day long, so you can hone your killing skills. There sure  is something for everybody and no one should go away disappointed  .As you progress you can of course get promoted and upgrade your player but also you can do the same for the weaponry as well so it’s a continuous and  evolving experience.

With the new killstreak bonus and the kill confirmed mode thrown in for good measure, the game play quickly becomes addictive and this makes CALL OF DUTY in my eyes, one of the best on line multiplay games around with BATTLEFIELD 3 running a close second.

There is of course the co-op and spec ops modes are available to top up your soldiering skills.

Summary

What can I say CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 3 is another winner, because of the on line play as usual,  of course it will end up at the top of the gaming charts when the ACTIVISION PR machine kicks in  , this game does not disappoint completely , the multi play does keep you coming back for more .

Sorry EA but BATTLEFIELD 3 was a great game and a good attempt to tap into the ACTIVISION pot of gold but at the end of the day CALL OF DUTY is the master of this genre but is this as far as it can go?, It`s been nearly 10 years since the first one and to be honest it hasn`t changed much .I will give it 9 out of 10 because the story was a bit dull and it could have been better campaign wise

Call of duty :modern warfare 3First person shooter (FPS)Release date: 11/08/2011Publisher: ActivisionDeveloper: Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer gamesAge rating :18Xbox 360PCPS3WiiNintendo DSCall of duty :modern warfare 3 " It`s a jolly spiffing experience!?", 1.0 out of 10 based on 2 ratings

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Bang Bang Racing Coming Soon To PSN, XBLA And PC

By Admin, on November 28th, 2011

High Speed, Family-Friendly Arcade Style Racing Game!

Budapest, Hungary – November 28, 2011—Get ready to put the pedal to the metal as Digital Reality roars its engine with Bang Bang Racing, a new fast-paced family-friendly game coming to PlayStation®Network, Xbox LIVE®Arcade and PC.

Bang Bang Racing is the complete racing experience – speed your way along every course while fine-tuning your technical driving skills. The intuitive control system and the exciting tracks provide endless fun for every member of the family. Be fast, be furious and be one step ahead of your competitors by finding shortcuts, repairing your car in the pit lane, dominating your opponents from the top-down view and more!

Bang Bang Racing is visually stunning and appeals to all members of the family by featuring:

Multiple exotic racing locations from all around the worldNine challenging reversible circuits varied with unique shortcuts20 unique vehicles and eight colourful skins, all spread across four distinct classes, including racing muscle cars, stock car series, world endurance championship and Formula One open wheel cars.Take on your friends in Bang Bang Racing in local split screen multiplayer (up to four players), and prove your dominance by earing and showing off your honors and achievements with extensive Friends and Global Leaderboards!Face dynamic, interactive objects like cones or exploding barrels that make every race unpredictable – be sure to pay attention to the variable surface conditions that will affect how your car performs, like snow, sand, water and oil.

Bang Bang Racing delivers fast-paced racing around every corner and white-knuckle excitement down every straight. With a distinct style and unforgettable racing experience,Bang Bang Racingis sure to bring the entire family together. Release date and pricing will be announced at a further date. For additional information please visit http://www.digitalreality.eu/.

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About Digital Reality

Digital Reality Publishing is a game service company that combines original gameplay and creative freedom from studios by maintaining a long-term online relationship with its customers. With a secure base of private funding, Digital Reality publishes games across all platforms, from downloadable console titles to browser-based and mobile games.

Founded in 1991, Digital Reality Software has 20 years of experience in game development. Mostly known for the award-winning Imperium Galactica series of computer strategy games, popular Digital Reality titles include SkyDrift, Haegemonia: Legions of Iron, Platoon, and Desert Rats vs. Afrika Korps. For more information, visit www.digitalreality.eu.

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Xbox 360 wireless speed wheel ,”will it drive you round the bend?”

By Dayvid, on December 4th, 2011

Driving wheels are great aren`t they? But can you find one for a reasonable price that’s worth using? I think not , not everyone wants to spend 500 bucks on a set up to play a driving game (you can buy a real car for that price !) And the cheaper end are just that, cheap. So what do us part time racers have on offer?

The XBOX 360WIRELESS SPEED WHEEL that’s what, and I must say when I took it out of the box I was a little underwhelmed by the look of the item, ( looks like it would be more at home in the plumbing section of my local DIY store !) that is until I used it with FORZA 4 and DIRT 3 then I realised what I had in my hands, at first it took a while to find a comfortable position and get used to the sensitivity but before long I was tearing it up around MONZA and the outback enjoying every twist and turn.
I don`t care what people say about this accessory (a wheel is the wrong description I think). This is a great item for the average gamer ,who doesn`t want a steering wheel and all the extras taking up space in their living room, ok some folks have complained that it makes your arms ache, but if you rest your elbows on your knees then it isn`t a problem. come on people adapt !

It does cover the gap between a controller and a steering wheel and it is a bold and innovative move on MICROSOFTS part .You see with driving games as we all know using a controller doesn`t quite do it for many of us , driving a car using your thumbs! don`t think so ,it`s just not real enough, but with the XBOX 360 SPEED WHEEL that all changes, with the ease of use of a controller, and the feel of a steering wheel (sort of) .

I honestly don`t think MICROSOFT are trying to outdo the good conventional steering wheel, it`s more of filling that gap between controller and wheel, and this does the trick. The big wheel manufacturers shouldn’t feel threatened by this accessory, as it is obviously aimed at the average gamer that only plays the occasional driving game.
Let’s face it folks if you take your driving simulation games seriously (and there are a lot of you out there who do) you’re not going to buy one, but if you don’t want to waste $60 on a low end steering wheel that’s about as responsive as dogs pelt, then get one of these you get a well built bit of kit that’s surprisingly good, for the same price. “job done”.
I still don`t understand why MICROSOFT decided to end production of their excellent mounted steering wheel, as this this should not be viewed as a replacement, this is of course, a gap filler and not a credible steering wheel as such, If this is the intention of MICROSOFT then they have made an error as there are still gamers out there ,who would prefer a reasonably priced quality conventional wheel, and now we have either cheap alternatives or expensive high end versions. Come on Microsoft give us more choice!
As for the wheel itself it has all the regular buttons and triggers that a controller has and feels good to hold, nice solid built design (not cheap rubbish) and you can put it away without it standing around gathering dust like a wheel would.
Motion sensors and intuitive steering make for a pretty enjoyable experience (once you have got the hang of it) the triggers are the usual Gas and Brake ,there is the good old rumble feedback ,and all the classic button configuration is there .

Summary
What can I say The XBOX 360 WIRELESS STEERING WHELL is indeed an innovative and well built accessory for the right price, and I am impressed for one. The thing I don`t like is that we have no real choice in the matter as to what wheel we have to buy from MICROSOFT ,they should have given us a choice of conventional or this one ,Don`t get me wrong this is a great device but it`s not a steering wheel, it is just a controller that you can steer with .Hats off to the developers as with the KINECT , MICROSOFT are still breaking new ground and that`s a good thing, as I am sure other gamers would agree we would have liked a choice and we have been denied that .

• XBOX 360 WIRELESS SPEED WHEEL
• Manufacturer : Microsoft
• Price : $59.99 (02/12/2011)

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BloodRayne: Betrayal Gets a Temporary Price Drop

By Admin, on December 7th, 2011

Don’t worry, North American friends – BloodRayne: Betrayal is getting its shot at a great deal on the North American PlayStation Network too! As a follow up to the recent promotion in European territories, the critically-acclaimed BloodRayne: Betrayal is receiving a temporary price cut starting today, December 6, and going through December 13. Now, the blood-sucking, vampire-decapitating 2D action will be available for 20% off! It truly is the best time to take on the role of the ever-so-deadly half vampire, Rayne.

BloodRayne: Betrayal is a satisfying hack ‘n’ slash featuring Rayne, the original video game femme fatale, on her quest for vengeance. Developed by WayForward, this is another example of an amazing game rejuvenated and dialed up by the critically-acclaimed developer.

BloodRayne: Betrayal delivers over-the-top stylish action with a healthy dose of bloodshed. You are Rayne, the sexy dhampir with superhuman strength, speed, and agility recruited by the vampire hunting Brimstone Society for one last mission. The target is a lavish yet sinister ball in a secluded castle with plenty of dark surprises. With the help of a mysterious friend and members of Brimstone, Rayne must infiltrate the manor, take out the fiendish horde, and stop an evil master plot once and for all.

For more information about BloodRayne: Betrayal, please visit www.bloodraynebetrayal.com.

[TGR Editor's Note: This game is one of the best action 2D side-scrollers we've seen in awhile.]

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Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat Exclusive Preorder Bonus At GameStop

By Admin, on November 28th, 2011

GameStop Pre-Order For "Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat" Includes Two Exclusive TV Episodes From The Spike TV Hit Series

New York, NY - November 28, 2011 – 345 Games announced today that GameStop customers who pre-order the upcoming "Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat" video game will receive two additional full episodes of Spike TV’s hit multi-platform series, "Deadliest Warrior," at time of purchase.  This bonus content will include one episode never previously released on Blu-Ray or DVD.

Pre-orders for "Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat" on PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox®360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft will be available from now until January 9, 2012.  Only customers who pre-order the game will receive the bonus episodes.

"Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat" is a disc-based video game/TV show hybrid.  Based on the successful Spike TV series "Deadliest Warrior," which pits two of the most feared warriors civilization has ever known against each other, the game combines exclusive TV show content with the two wildly popular downloadable console games, "Deadliest Warrior: The Game" and "DeadliestWarrior: Legends." 

The video game includes all the previously released downloadable content packs along with new game features.  It also features all the characters and weapons from both previous games and six full episodes of "Deadliest Warrior."  Additional game content exclusive to "DW: Ancient Combat" includes a ‘Graveyard’ playable arena and 30 new weapons for the "DW: Legends" warriors, including a ‘Lochaber Axe’ for William Wallace, a ‘Monk’s Spade’ for Sun Tzu and a ‘Tsonga Battle Axe’ for Shaka Zula.  The game will be fully compatible for online play with all versions of the game.

Do you have what it takes to be the "Deadliest Warrior"?  Rated ‘M’ for Mature by the ESRB, "Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat" will launch January 10, 2012 and MSRP for $29.99 at North American retailers everywhere.  For more information about "Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat," please visit http://www.spike.com/shows/deadliest-warrior/ or follow the game on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/deadliestwarrior.

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ABOUT 345 GAMES

345 Games, the video gaming arm of COMEDY CENTRAL and Spike TV, develops products based on the Viacom Entertainment Group’s franchises and brands.  The first two titles released under this label included COMEDY CENTRAL’s hit animated show "Ugly Americans" and Spike TV’s successful multi-platform series "Deadliest Warrior."

ABOUT DEADLIEST WARRIOR

Each week on Spike TV’s "Deadliest Warrior", a new episode will pit two of the most feared warriors civilization has ever known against each other.  Along with the use of 21st century science and the latest in CGI technology, each episode enlists warrior-specific world-class fighters and experts to provide insight into what makes these combatants tick, analyzing every facet of their unique skills of destruction, culminating in a head-to-head final fight between two legends of the battlefield that will produce the deadliest warrior.  Other highly-anticipated showdowns this season include: Joan of Arc vs. William the Conqueror, Saddam Hussein vs. Pol Pot, Hannibal vs. Genghis Khan, US Army Rangers vs. North Korean Special Operations Force. Check out "Deadliest Warrior" on Facebook.

Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox LIVE are either registered trademarks or trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

Deadliest Warrior: Ancient Combat Exclusive Preorder Bonus At GameStop, 9.0 out of 10 based on 1 rating

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Eve Online:Crucible Expansion Now Live!

By Admin, on November 30th, 2011

Reykjavik, Iceland – November 30, 2011 – CCP, one of the world’s leading independent game developers, today launched its Winter expansion, EVE Online: Crucible. With this latest release, after expanding the EVE experience with in-station environments and ultra-realistic 3D player avatars, CCP is recommitting itself to the compelling “spaceship” gameplay that has engaged the EVE community for almost a decade and provided legendary and unique gaming stories since its inception.

EVE Online: Crucible contains over fifty new features and hundreds of enhancements aimed at improving the player experience. These features and fixes were selected by scrutinizing community feedback and focusing on the changes that would make the most immediate impact on the game for the majority of EVE players.

In this expansion, players will experience striking visual upgrades across the EVE universe. Nebulae throughout New Eden have been redesigned in spectacular fashion, offering hauntingly beautiful views of interstellar space. EVE Online: Crucible introduces new visual libraries with beautifully retextured and revisualized Gallente and Caldari fleets. Other highly anticipated features include Scalable UI and the crisp, clear EVE Sans Neue font, developed as a result of the introduction of CarbonUI earlier this year.

EVE Online: Crucible reignites the fires of war across New Eden with an array of powerful new ships and changes to EVE’s combat system. New Tier 3 Battlecruisers designed to punch above their weight offer players new roles and fresh tactical options. Existing ships, from destroyers to supercapitals, have been rebalanced and tweaked ahead of EVE’s traditional winter warfare season to refine combat in one of the industry’s longest-lived MMOs. Meanwhile, new Tech 2 modules, better ship salvage and tweaked loot drops increase rewards in both PvE and PvP, adding further variety and intrigue to EVE’s vast player-driven economy.

In support of EVE Online: Crucible, CCP has initiated several direct promotions. All active paying players from November 30th through December 5th will receive a performance-boosting Genolution CA-1 in-game implant via the in-game redemption system. CCP is also giving each active player an extended 60-day trial code for friends or family. These new trials represent the first stages in a far-reaching program to introduce EVE to new audiences and provide players with a better, stronger connection to the rich experience that is EVE Online and its amazing community of players.

CCP Games proudly presents EVE Online: Crucible as an example of its commitment to the meaningful player-driven virtual world EVE fans have enjoyed since 2003. Community Developer Sveinn ‘CCP Guard’ Kjarval echoed the sentiments of the entire CCP Games team: “I’ve honestly never been as excited about an EVE expansion as I am about Crucible. Get in the game now… you’ll thank me later.”

For a quick visual summary of the highlights from Crucible, watch the latest trailer:

About CCP Games

CCP is widely recognized as an industry-leading pioneer of the single-server persistent universe architecture as the developer and publisher of EVE Online, the critically acclaimed, science fiction-based massively multiplayer online game (MMOG). Utilizing a cross-discipline approach combining cutting-edge technology and artistic excellence, CCP is dedicated to providing vibrant, compelling products that transcend the boundaries of conventional MMOs and facilitate social networking through virtual worlds. Privately held and founded in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1997, CCP’s international reach now spans the globe with offices in Atlanta, Shanghai and Newcastle as well as a base of operations in London. More information about CCP is available at the company’s website, www.ccpgames.com.

About EVE Online

Set tens of thousands of years in the future, EVE Online is a breathtaking journey to the stars, to an immersive experience filled with adventure, riches, danger and glory. With over 340,000 subscribers worldwide inhabiting a single, shared virtual universe, EVE features a vast player-run economy where your greatest asset is the starship, designed to accommodate your specific needs, skills and ambitions. EVE offers professions ranging from commodities trader to mercenary, industrial entrepreneur to pirate, mining engineer to battle fleet commander or any combination of these and much more. From brokering business deals to waging war, you will have access to a diverse array of sophisticated tools and interfaces to forge your own destiny in EVE. Learn more at www.eveonline.com.

Eve Online:Crucible Expansion Now Live!, 9.3 out of 10 based on 4 ratings

View the original article here

Blocks That Matter

Blocks That Matter, developed and published by a small French indie team called Swing Swing Submarine, is an engaging action puzzle game that stays true to its roots. As with the best puzzle games, the premise of BTM is pretty simple. You play as a little robot with the goal of getting to the portal at the end of every stage. There are enemies, but the larger task is navigating the 2D landscape. Your equipment consists solely of a drill, which you use to break and collect blocks from one part of a stage to build new structures in another. This description is an oversimplification, sure, but all puzzle games can be oversimplified; Tetris is just about dropping blocks onto a field and making lines, after all.

The intricacies are what make the game unique, as with all puzzlers, and BTM unabashedly uses mechanics from other block-based games to create something new. It draws one of its key elements directly from the aforementioned Tetris: when creating structures, you can't just plop down blocks anywhere you want. You must create a four-block structure, shapes that are burned into the subconscious of any Tetris player. Also, all the block types found around the world are ripped directly from Minecraft, even the way that sand is affected by gravity while almost everything else is not. Not only is this a welcome homage to BTM's inspirations, but they are easy concepts to grasp that automatically challenge you to give your structures some forethought and planning.

Blocks That Matter Video

BTM has impressive pacing. Your robot persona gains a few upgrades over the course of the 40-stage "Adventure Mode," but they are introduced slowly enough that you can practice with a new concept in relative safety. For example, an early upgrade gives you the ability to blow up a row of blocks provided there are at least eight all touching each other. When you're first given this ability, the game basically shows you a section you need to blow up and gives you plenty of blocks nearby in the stage to collect so you can build a structure to finish off the row. Later stages that require you to blow up rows will often provide you with just enough blocks to get the job done, and if you make a mistake, you'll need to restart the level.

These restarts will be pretty frequent as you figure out solutions, but I was never frustrated. I confess that I'm not very good at puzzle games, but any irritation I felt when restarting a level was self-directed. BTM has extremely tight controls, consistent physics, and no graphical lags. I never encountered any bugs, and what bugs seemed to exist on the first release have been patched. BTM may drive you crazy, but only because the puzzles themselves are so damn challenging. A gamepad is preferred and feels far more natural, but the game is perfectly playable with a keyboard if that's all you've got.

Adventure Mode, the main campaign of BTM, is a fun trip for old-school puzzle gamers and new gamers alike. It starts with a cute story starring characters named after Alexey Pajitnov and Markus Persson, the creators of Tetris and Minecraft respectively. Every level of Adventure Mode features a treasure chest that's difficult to get to, forcing you to use perfect block management and timing to acquire. Getting a chest rewards you with a block reference from a game in the past, such as a Medikit from countless first-person shooters or the numbered grid from Picross 3D. These blocks are just trophies and don't actually do anything, but collecting them opens up a special prize at the end of Adventure Mode and gives you bragging rights. Almost every block will make you smile with nostalgia as you remember the game they came from.

BTM has adorable cartoon graphics and a lilting soundtrack to match. It's extremely easy on the eyes and ears, though personally I was hoping for a bit more variety in the levels. Even so, you'll be far more concerned about getting through every level than the fact that you're always surrounded by dirt.

Closing Comments

Blocks That Matter is an intriguing action puzzler that is as cute as it is challenging. While the campaign probably won't take you more than five or six hours to get through (and a lot less than that if you know what you're doing), the bonus levels and community levels will keep you entertained as long as you wish.

Football Manager 2012 Review

The problem with approaching any game with the scope of the Football Manager series is that you're never 100 percent certain that the snazzy new feature you're making 'ooh' noises at is one that's unique to this iteration, such is the scale of Sports Interactive's baby. And with a game that has no figurehead to reclothe and no hi-res textures to polish up, how do you make the most detailed, no-statistics-left-behind management game even more complex? And is complexity even the end game?

I have a theory whereby the clothing and demeanour of the male model on the front of a Football Manager game dictates how revolutionary the title is. For example, in 2005 our man was wearing a functional padded jacket a la Harry Redknapp – a man who clearly dressed in a hurry. And sure enough, that year was one in which FM was in a brutal race to the shelves with rival Championship Manager, after mummy Eidos and daddy Sports Interactive had gone their separate ways. Jump forward to 2007's box art and the game was rocking a Mourinho long woollen coat and tie combo. The message: we're looking great and we know it. FM 2008, and our manager is now a little chubbier in the face, and the game similarly is fit to burst – this year sees the return of the Dutch national team, and a newly licensed Ligue 1.

On the box for last year's effort our man was decked out in high-waisted Simon Cowell slacks and in desperate need of a shave. Also, for some reason he's standing in the middle of a packed out stadium with a football under his arm, which looks a bit mental. Having a bit of a breakdown perhaps? Has success got the better of the gaffer?

Cleverly Football Manager 2012 is more in-depth than ever before, but is easier to get into.

We needn't have worried. The Football Manager 2012 dress is a masterpiece in the art of the Joachim 'Jogi' Löw-style school jumper and overcoat, a whole new approach to managerial fashion seen at the World Cup a year earlier, and with it comes a fresh take on the game itself.

The major advances this time round aren't necessarily ones that are apparent in day-to-day team management; the biggest addition is probably scalability of the whole experience – you're now able to add or remove vast swathes of club football at the click of a button. No longer are you tied to the teams and leagues you selected when you started a new game, which for anyone who regards themselves as a bit of an FM aficionado is frankly mind blowing. Similarly the new interface expands and contracts when gifted a extra few pixels to play with – if you're lucky enough to be able to play games in something as high as 1680 x 1050, Football Manager has the wherewithal to slide in another couple of stat boxes for your perusal.

Last year's iteration made custom tactics a breeze; in 2012 you're offered the chance to quickly switch between three setups, with the game giving you instant feedback as to precisely how au fait your charges are with any given formation. Perfect if you want to play a certain style of football when you're at home, but need a bit more steel in midfield come away days, or when you find yourself a goal down.

You're now also able to make adjustments to your team's workload directly from the tactics screen itself – invaluable if you're the sort of person who lives for the 90 minutes on the field but isn't necessarily big on match preparation. This integration also enables you to make adjustments to your 'manager philosophy' on the same page. Such integration is indicative of Sport Interactive's overarching vision of giving the bedroom David Moyes' (manager philosophy: scream at ref until red in face, complain about lack of funds) everything they need in one place.

You're not alone in your quest for football-y success and every step of the way you can palm off some of the managerial head-scratching to any one of your coaches, allowing any member of your staff to pick strategies and starting line ups, be they specialised in defence, attack or even goalkeeping. This leaves you free to become that Claudio Ranieri-style tinkerman you've always dreamed of.

Elsewhere, Football Manager has always had zonal marking in Football Manager but this year we've been gifted something you might call 'tonal barking'. The way you address your players has fundamentally changed. You can criticise, flatter and scream at your ungrateful charges in several different ways now – some players will need a feather touch and some will require the more robust hairdryer treatment, but every step of the way you're given real-time feedback as to how your comments have been received. You're also able to call meetings with your entire staff, players included, giving you a great opportunity to clear the air if you've just experienced back to back defeats, for example.

The new adaptive layout is smart and changes depending on the resolution and ratio of your monitor.

As is always common with Football Manager, the devil can be found kicking back and enjoying a lemonade in the detail. You'll now find that the days of the South American full back are numbered – any wide defensive players from that continent are now more than likely going to be wing backs. Transfers are now slightly less headache-inducing too: if you know you're unable to stretch any further than a particular figure in wages you have the option of 'locking' that part of the contract down, meaning that agents have to find some other way of getting money out of you through loyalty bonuses and appearance fees.

Another gigantic leap has been taken with the tutorial system. With a game that revels in depth, statistics and bar charts, even the most institutionalised fan might need a spot of hand-holding at times, and 2012's tutorials really are well put together.

The slightly frustrating side of Football Manager has always been the feeling of helplessness once the rot sets in – you're never exactly sure whether your work on the training ground has any effect when it comes to five past four on a Saturday, when you're about to return to the field two-nil down, languishing at the bottom of the league. But such suspension of disbelief is necessary in any role-playing game (in the purest sense of the word) where chaos and circumstance are all part of the charm. This slightly uneasy feeling is still there in buckets, but is lessened slightly when you're able to instantly improve a player's morale by interacting with him, or asking another player to take him under their wing.

Closing Comments

Is Football Manager 2012 a revolution? Probably not, but in that respect it's a victim of its own success. When a game is this colossal, this rich, it's hard to see how it could possibly be bettered, match engine excepted. Is it worth shelling out 30 quid for once again? Ask that same question when it's quarter to three in the morning and you're looking around the room for someone to high-five as you've just survived your first season in the Premier League with your beloved MK Dons. Some may look at Sports Interactive and detect a faint glimmer of complacency, but just because Football Manager's opposition have all but given up, this doesn't mean the king can't rule his kingdom.

Orcs Must Die Review

The current trend in tower defense gives players an avatar to control and sends them into the action, rather than letting them simply place towers from a safe distance. Toy Soldiers did this with much success in two Xbox Live Arcade outings, but for a more medieval affair you should check out Orcs Must Die. From Robot Entertainment, developer of Halo Wars, Orcs Must Die lets you play dungeon interior decorator and build playgrounds of orcish murder.

The title pretty much says it all: orcs are busting into your keep and you must kill them. More specifically, you must prevent them from reaching your headquarters (pretty standard fare for tower defense games). Where Orcs Must Die excels is in the variety of toys it gives you to play with and the pace at which it doles them out. You earn something new with each victory so you always want to keep playing to check out your reward.

More Orcs Must Die Videos

A nice array of traps means you have the freedom to decorate your own way. Drop hot coals that will incinerate the orcs as they stomp by or place a spring trap that launches them into a nearby lava pit. However you like to kill your orcs, this game probably has you covered.

But trap placement isn't your only concern. Your limited funds will only allow for so many spike pits and wall blades, meaning you'll need to get your hands dirty and kill some orcs yourself with your crossbow, bladestaff, and other fun weapons. The combat satisfies and can be utilized more by players that prefer action to strategy.

This is a single-player game, but you'll definitely get your money's worth from the lengthy campaign. On PC, you can use either a mouse and keyboard or an Xbox 360 controller. The only strange thing about using a controller is you can't use the bumpers to switch between traps like in the Xbox Live Arcade version of Orcs Must Die. It's a little annoying but I suspect most PC players will be using a mouse and keyboard, anyway.

Orcs Must Die: Kill Highlights Montage

Winter Stars Release Date for Xbox Kinect, Wii and Sony Move Announced

By Editor, on October 18th, 2011

Deep Silver has announced that its winter sports title, Winter Stars, will be released to stores on November 8, 2001. Winter Stars will be available on the Kinect for Xbox 360 and the PS3 with PlayStation Move support as well as the Wii with support for the Wii balance board.

Winter Stars features a little something for every type of player:

• Experience the biggest variety of winter sports to play, including snowmobiling, bobsledding, downhill skiing, figure skating, biathlon, free ride skiing, snowboard cross, ski jumping, paraskiing, curling, and short-track.

• Play online with up to four players on a worldwide scale on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii.

• Earn experience points in the fully-voiced story mode to personalize and upgrade your character’s winter gear and equipment such as new snowboards and upgraded bobsleds.

• Includes “Family mode” for players of all ages and skill levels to compete on a level playing field.

See the latest trailer:

About Deep Silver, Inc.
Deep Silver develops and publishes interactive games for all platforms, seeking to deliver top-quality products that provide immersive game experiences driven by the desires of the gaming community. The company has published more than 200 games worldwide since 2003, including the critically-acclaimed, best-selling zombie action game, Dead Island™. Deep Silver, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Koch Media, GmbH. For more information, please visit www.deepsilver.com.

About 49Games GmbH
49Games is Europe’s leading independent development studio in the realm of sports entertainment software for video consoles and PC. With a total of 18 published multi-platform sports titles for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, PS2 and PC, the studio is among the most experienced console development teams in Germany. Together with their own “TC3? engine, the 70-head strong team guarantees international game production at the highest level.

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Dungeon Defenders Release Date Announced

By Dan White, on August 24th, 2011

Trendy Entertainment’s revolutionary cross-platform tower defense game, Dungeon Defenders, is coming to PC and Xbox LIVE Arcade on October 19. The release date for the PlayStation Network version of the game will be announced soon.

Trendy Entertainment is one of the first game developers to take part in GameSpy Technology’s Open program, where indie developers are given full, free access to GameSpy Technology’s full suite of online game development APIs. Trendy and GameSpy Technology worked together closely to implement groundbreaking cross-platform multiplayer functionality that allows PC, iOS, Android and PlayStation players to join in a game of Dungeon Defenders simultaneously. Dungeon Defender’s game experience has been modified to best suit each individual platform, making the game just as fun to play on a portable touch screen as it is with a mouse and keyboard or Dual Shock 3 controller.

During PAX Dev in Seattle, Trendy and GameSpy Technology will share key learnings from their experiences, discussing technical approaches to building out forward-thinking features while also exploring the business rational for making games – especially on emerging mobile platforms like iOS and Android – cross-platform. You can catch this presentation during PAX Dev on Wednesday, August 24 at 1 PM in Grand Ballroom B.

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Earthquake shakes up Video Game industry

By Dan White, on March 14th, 2011

Fallout from the earthquake in Japan last week has had an affect on many industries, including the video gaming industry according to Kotaku and others. Some games have been canceled completely others have been simply the been delayed.

Reportedly heavily anticipated titles such as Motorstorm: Apocalypse and Yakusa4 have been delayed indefinitely. Others, such as the game Disaster Report 4, have been completely dropped. Some game studios such as Square–Enix have temporarily shut down their online games in order to conserve electricity. Reportedly Capcom has delayed releasing the latest downloadable content with the release of the new characters Jill Valentine and Shuma – Gorath.

When world events like this latest earthquake happen, it seems apocalyptic themes become a little bit too real. Unlike the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 or the recent flood in Queensland and earthquake in Japan, video games can only portray a portion of what the actual physical reality is like. However, it does make one wonder if the goal of making videogames more realistic is one that actually should be strived for.

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Sony PS Vita Launch Date & Games Confirmed

By Dan White, on September 14th, 2011

Sony today announced the Japan launch date for their new handheld console, the PS Vita, to be December 17 of this year, confirming previously leaked information. They confirmed that  26 games will be available to play when the Vita reaches shelves. Sony also stated that within the consoles launch window, approximately 3 months, there will be 100 games available for the Vita.
Prices for the Vita will range from 29,980 YEN (about 391.00 USD) for the 3G version to 24,980 YEN (about $326.00 USD) for the WiFi version. Japanese pre-orders will start on October 15 of this year.

Launch titles will include:

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend
Project N.O.E.L.S.
Fish On
Dynasty Warriors Next
WipEout 2048
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3
Lord of Apocalypse (Square Enix)
F1 2011
Ninja Gaiden Sigma
Army Corpse of Hell (Square Enix)
Michael Jackson: The Experience (Ubisoft)
Shinobido 2: Tales of a Ninja (Acquire)
Virtua Tennis 4 (Sega)
Uncharted: Golden Abyss (SCE)
Hot Shots Golf 6 (SCE)
Gyokugen Dasshutsu Adv: Zennin Shiboudesu (Chunsoft)
Dream Club Zero Portable (D3 Publisher)
Disgaea 3: Return (NIS)
Dark Quest: Alliance (Ubisoft)
Ridge Racer (Namco Bandai)
Tales of Innocence
Gravity Daze
Metal Gear Solid HD (Konami)
FIFA 12 (EA)

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Sony Hack Still Delays Play, Xbox Live Claims To Save The Day

By Dan White, on May 9th, 2011

It seems Sony has once again disappointed its users. Rumors were confirmed today when a Sony spokesperson confirmed that the company’s PlayStation network will be down until at least May 31, 2011. There was much anticipation about PSN being back online this week. But according to Sony testing has revealed the need for further security measures.

It’s also been rumored that there have been additional attacks attempted against Sony’s existing servers, however their attempts failed as patches had been completed on them. Responsibility for recent hack attempts has been claimed by a faction of Anonymous. Whether these recent attacks are to blame for the delay is unclear. However the Japanese electronics giant claims to be working around the clock to determine the scope of the breach and to shore up its security to prevent future break-ins.

Shortly after the PSN network security failure was revealed, another breach was discovered on the Sony Entertainment Network. This unauthorized intrusion was reportedly done even before the PSN network was hacked and raises the level of potential identity theft exposure to over 1 million accounts.

The information exposed includes online identities, email addresses, names and home addresses of the people on the network. The Sony Entertainment Network is a separate network from the Playstation Network that hosts multiplayer games for PC and Playstation 3 users, including the game “EverQuest” among others. It could potentially cost Sony $10 to $100 for each credit card or debit card holder if it has to make reparations for the breach, not to mention the damage to Sony’s reputation, which could be catastrophic for its gaming division.

Of course this appears to create a great opportunity for Microsoft to crow about it’s Xbox Live Service being up and going strong. Of course boasting can get you some undesired attention, as witnessed in the past hacks of PassPort servers.

One thing is certain, this should provide for some interesting conversations at the upcoming E3 event.

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Free Rift 1.4 game promotion coming soon!

By Dan White, on August 21st, 2011

Popular MMORPG Rift is having a huge promotion in celebration of it’s upcoming sixth month of being publicly available. From August 25 to 31, they will be offering all sorts of rewards like ramped-up XP and Prestige gain for subscribers, and letting former players and newcomers play for free (with no level restriction)! They are also offering in-game prizes? Let’s party in Telara! Look for more information, coming your way soon!

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BioWare vs Blizzard inside a nutshell!

During an interview with EA’s games boss Frank Gibeau, he has explained how BioWare’s new project is going to face WoW head on for a chunk of its subscribers with EA’s MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic. EA have no intention of sneaking around their foe, and instead are directly pushing their game out into the harsh world that is out there for a new MMO. WoW being the top predator of the MMO food chain, BioWare wants to challenge that dominance, and I will be honest; The Old Republic looks like it will be darning good.

Frank explains that WoW is now an old game and using BioWare’s quality with the Star Wars franchise will blow WoW from the water. Now, as we all know Star Wars is a series that most of the globe and probably the universe is a fan geek to. This makes ToR set a sprint right off the bat by just announcing they are making it. I’d like to take a moment in saying that this would not be the first time a new MMO has launched with the intention to move the WoW population to its own servers. And sadly not a single one that promised to do so actually did it. Just look at Warhammer Online and Vanguard… WoW just has too much of a following and more money behind it than a starting MMO company could ever dream of getting behind them. In fact, every MMORPG that has made it to our screens in the past 5 years would be lying if the makers said they took no ideas from WoW. It’s impossible. WoW has set the corner stone, the bar, whatever you want to call it; they have set it for every MMO game that hopes to show itself anytime soon.

“When I play World of Warcraft, you go and get your quests, and you go and do your quests, but it feels more like doing a shopping list at times,” Gibeau explained. “[Our game] is more about talking to characters, learning what’s going on, investing in it, getting emotionally attached to it”. Now, I will say that with WoW, all the lore is made up. In fact there is quite a lot of lore WoW actually has, every bit of it is made up. The issue with this is that you can’t immerse yourself in your character truly if you are just learning about the world you’re in. Having so much lore and information just trips you over words upon words and it are hard to even care. Star Wars, we all know it. The lore will only be 50% made up, the rest continuing from what we ALREADY know or are at least aware of. Straight away you can jump in and come across things you know something about. Now, about fans. Say 3 billion people are fans of Star Wars, but only 50’000 of them are gamers. There’s a common problem right there. DC Universe Online has also had to deal with this. Even if you use a popular name brand… It doesn’t make the fans come crawling if they don’t play video games. But this is Star Wars, they probably do.

Now onto gameplay! This I found interesting. The Old Republic will be the second ever MMO to use the Cover Mechanics. Tabula Rasa being the first. The cover mechanic is the system that allows the player to fluently take cover behind objects. Example, Gears of War.

Before my next point I’d like to share some obvious information. The game, like WoW has two moral sides. Galactic Republic and Sith Empire. Not to poke holes, but I’ve always wanted to see a fully immersed MMO that doesn’t have such ‘Black & White’ options when it comes to moral choices. “Kill him or let him live” kind of things. But that’s another issue I’ll bring up later on.

Unlike pretty much all MMO’s, ToR won’t be using med class types like tanks, healers, melee DPS and ranged etc. Instead, they’re using an on-the-fly customisation so no matter what class you take you can partake from any role in a party. As much as I’m interested in this, I also know many won’t like it. Being 1 class and having that role that you’re used to makes your character special to you and is known by your friends as what they do. Allowing players to switch between combat types and roles makes it harder to party and stick to your favourite styles and gear. (Yes, mixing combat types usually means spending more in game currency to apply for everything you may need to do). On another note, this will stop party freeze. If there is a healer missing from a group for example, you don’t have to wait. Just set a friend up with the skill until a better option arrives.

There are 8 races to choose from. However Human seems to be the most logical, as humans can choose between every single class type. Other races may only have 2 or 3 class choices open to them. However humans are by no means the coolest or more fun looking thing, so I wouldn’t bet on everyone going human. On a side note, your character will have their own voice, and talking to NPC will have a similar dialog choice as Mass Effect. The convo wheel.

Now combat. ToR will be a ‘Tunnel Shooter’. Which is a flying game where the player is on a predetermined track. Defiantly will add to the cinematic approach the game will certainly take. Space battles also occur, which means yes… you get your own space ship. How it works I’m unsure, but it looks to be used mostly as a safe house where you can sit your companions. Companions will be added like pets as far as I know. Find them, use them, get rid of them. You can only use 3 so, like any companion based game pick ones that support your style.

Blizzard know full well the potential TOR has, “This is a game that has an opportunity to grow the MMO market if done right”, Blizzard boss Frank Pearce says. If companies like EA didn’t try these things then others would. And small companies in large groups can bite like hell. I just hope EA won’t make a common mistake in using their talent to produce a great single player game, and then polish it as an online game to rack up the big time cash. We all know it doesn’t work.

That’s all I have for now. Keep watching for updates!

AfKei x

BioWare vs Blizzard inside a nutshell!, 8.0 out of 10 based on 7 ratings

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Inside The Games: Sean O’Connor, Lead Dev of Full House Poker

By Dan White, on April 19th, 2011

Dan White and Ben Fisher of TheGameReviews.com interview Sean O’Connor, lead developer of Full House Poker on XBLA (Xbox Live Arcade).

Sean_OConnor_Full_House_Poker

Full House Poker is a video game poker variant Texas hold ‘em developed and published by Microsoft Games Studios and was launched for Xbox 360 as an Xbox Live Arcade title and Windows Phone 7 on March sixteen, 2011. The game is the spiritual successor to 1 vs. 100 and features scheduled tournaments generally known as Texas Heat. Full House Poker also presents TV-style live poker events with season-long tournaments and extra traditional Texas Hold Em’ matchups with as much as 30 human or computer controlled players.

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LGBT in Gaming. Big Deal?

Let’s talk LGBT in gaming. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and transgender. Sexual diversity in gaming has never truly made a big impact, but the world is moving forward. Culture and society has advanced and homosexuality is much more accepted and tolerated than it was 30 years ago. Gay characters have been around since the 80’s in all media (Games, films, TV), but even now it is still subject to censorship and ridicule. Arguably, social change is the only sure way to guarantee any new acceptance of sexual diversity in gaming.

Because of the stigma on homosexuality in gaming, we have a stuck stereotype of how a lead protagonist should act and look. We’ve all seen them. An unambiguously straight, tough guy with a soft side. When in fact even if you don’t realise it, the sexuality of a lead protagonist /antagonist can be what makes them so interesting/annoying/cool etc. Games are slowly becoming more diverse in this area, take Mass Effect as an example. YOU have the option to be whatever sexuality you want. The same with Dragon Age, Bully, Fable, The Sims and many more.

A big question is “Does a characters sexuality change their persona?”. If your character prefers sex with men than women, that shouldn’t change their goals and actions. A homosexual character can be just as diverse as a straight one, but both can be pictured wrong. Masculinity is not always lower on gay characters, just as some straight characters may be the total opposite of the strong skull bashing role models. I mean, let’s look at Batwoman. Would she be any less sexy, feminine and tough if she wasn’t lesbian? It is true however that strong female characters are strung in second to male leads. Asian games are key for this point. Most strong willed, dominant female characters are portrayed as sex objects. Bigger boobs, ass and a quirky personality. Also look at Makoto from Enchanted Arms. A man so ‘openly gay’ he feels the need to wear makeup, slim line shirts and pants and use the nickname Yellow Otomegokuro (Woman’s feelings). Voldo from Soul Calibur is another example of an obvious homosexual/bisexual.

For others, homosexuality in gaming is something people prefer to enjoy at a distance. To know it’s there but not have to deal with those issues instead of example, a game in which your main protagonist is a homosexual in which the sub plot deals with them and drags you, the gamer, right into the thick of it. Not everyone is comfortable with that. Totally understandable. So does it come down to tolerance and how far companies are willing to go with the subject? I mean it’s not something we giggle about anymore right? Any serious attempt at LGBT content should be handled maturely. Otherwise of course people will develop negative feelings about it.

Back onto stereotyping. I know as well as you do, that it’s much easier to depict the straight guy as the tough, masculine hero who gets all the girls; and to depict the homosexual as the over the top, shove it down your throat happy, stylish helper. I know a lot of people who would prefer not to have social issues shoved down their throats when trying to enjoy a video game and ignore sexuality all together. Another point is to touch on how a certain group is looked at as closet homosexuals, priests or molesters. Yes, celibacy. Often the celibate individual in not only games, but all media, is looked at in the same way as all the rest. A case of judging something you don’t understand. Agreeable not many people are involved in this lifestyle, which makes it harder to understand.

In MY OWN opinion, I would like to see diversity in open choice. Let me, the gamer, decide what sexuality or path I take where possible. Not in every game obviously, that would be stupid. But on the most part at least give us the option! Options with everyone’s tastes in mind, just like Dragon Age’s attempt. Additionally, ‘statistics’ show that the ‘straight male’ carries a large portion of the gamers population pie, and you can’t argue with that. So I guess often games that give us the choice will focus more on lesbian interaction, because “that’s just how we work”. Before shunting that, look at Mass Effect. Allowed gay action between girls, but ignored male gay love. Subtle, but there. And it’s like that for many, but this is something that I don’t think will change. We’d be here forever if we got into that part of the male mind and how it thinks about sex.

So what do you think as gamers? Should we sway into more sexual diversity in games? Do you think a characters sexuality changes your feelings towards them? Or try to not make a big deal out of it entirely?

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