Techulous » Gaming

iMac 27″ i5 2.8GHz Gaming Performance Round Up

Byron Hinson — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:26:40 +0000

Updated 4th August: We have been playing around with loads of games on our new iMac 27″ i5 2.8ghz. The iMac comes with what is advertised as an ATI 5750 Graphics Card, but it turns out that the part inside is actually the 5850 Mobility Hardware that ATI produce, not a bad thing.

Anyway we have been running large number of games to see how the iMac performs for gamers, especially with the recent boost from Valve through Steam. A majority of these titles were tested on Windows 7 64-bit via Boot Camp and the latest (more up to date) drivers from the iMac 27″ 2010 edition.

Fallout 3: Running at full native with everything on ultra is tends to hover around 30fps, dropping lower where fog and more lighting is used. I’m coming from a big beefy gaming machine so I notice the slow down a lot but most people wouldnt and it looks great even for a dated game on the 27″ screen.

Star Trek Online: Again at full native res with everything on full the game tends to run aroun 28-32 fps most of the time except in built up areas. AA makes a lot of difference in this game so I have it turned off at all times, not that you really need it with such a high resolution anyway. Changing the res down to 1080p and you get a jump to around 50-60fps average but it looks very pasty

Lord of the Rings Online: I love this game so I’m pleased to say that it plays in full native res with everything on ultra at just over 30fps most of the time, this is also with DirectX 10 enabled. It does slow down from time to time and once again dropping to 1080p shows the biggest fps jump.

Dragon Age: Origins: Works excellently in full native resolution with everything on full even 4xaa and when v-synced, it always stays at 30fps. Probably because the game also makes great use of the quad core processor too.

Starcraft 2: This is the one that seems stranger to me – I run it at native res with everything on ultra – the in-game engine cutscenes run slowly, around 20fps but look great and the game runs just under 30fps most of the time. The reason I say strange is that although the game looks great, it shouldn’t be the most taxing on hardware yet seems to be for me at least.

Tales of Monkey Island: The selection of episodes seem to run perfectly on both the Mac via Steam and via Windows, 60fps+ in native

Torchlight: This seems to run over 40fps most of the time on windows, just under 40 on OS X, yet it seemed to look more colourful on the OS X version, no idea why and was probably a coincidence!

Alien Swarm: I have had no trouble playing it in full native resolution at 40-45fps with everything on full. Excellent free game from Valve too!

Dirt 2: It doesn’t run very well at all in full native with ultra settings, you are looking at -20 fps. Drop down to 1080p and you can get around 30fps, but again the vaseline effect comes into play on the large screen. In the end I reduced the effects down to high and reduced some hard hitters like Post Processing to get an average of 43fps in native.

Anyway we hope this helps people a bit if you are on the fence deciding if the iMac can either replace or become a decent gaming machine. If they had put the 5750 card in the 21″ you would have a perfect gaming machine for a lot of people – but this is pretty close. How much newer future titles will fair will be interesting though and I doubt the iMac will be able to keep up with those titles in its native resolution of 2560×1440.

Also for anyone wondering, I have been able to update my ATI drivers in bootcamp by downloading the mobility specific ones direct from ATI – this updated it to 5850 name and added the Catalyst Control Panel settings, though it didn’t seem to improve performance of any of these titles.

Side-kick Founded to Create Motion Controlled Games for Next-Generation Game Consoles and Digital Living Rooms

Byron Hinson — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:27:08 +0000

Side-kick, a new video game production house focused on the creation of motion control games for next-generation game consoles and digital living rooms, was announced today. The studio already has multiple projects in production and is looking to partner with publishers and studios looking to implement motion control into their titles.

The Side-kick team is led by veteran entrepreneur Guy Bendov, co founder of Double Fusion. The founding team also includes Tal Raviv, formerly a technical director at Eidos, and Assaf Sela who led the creation of introductory games for the PrimeSense depth camera now announced by Microsoft under the brand name Project Natal.

“With multiple new motion control systems coming to market this year, we saw this as the perfect time to announce Side-kick, and to leverage our deep experience with camera based motion control technology such as Microsoft’s “Project Natal”,” said Guy Bendov, CEO of Side-kick. “We already have multiple fully funded games in development which will be ready for projected launch dates in late 2010 and Q1 of 2011, as well as the ability to help other studios that want to implement more sophisticated motion control into their titles.”

Side-kick will be showing titles currently in development at Microsoft’s ThinkNext2010 event and at E3, the Electronic Entertainment Expo, in Los Angeles June 15th-17th.

Comet Released for iPhone/iPod Touch

Byron Hinson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:23:33 +0000

Blast your way through space as an unbelievably happy comet! Space is filled with treats and food for no apparent reason. Now eat your way through space while dodging sharp asteroids, refrigerators and loads of other strange objects.

How far in to space can you go?

Comet is:
⚫ A brand new kind of highscore game like no other.
⚫ With cute graphics and happy sounds.
⚫ But still a challenge for both the casual player and gamer.

How to play:
⚫ Tilt your device up and down to guide comet through the field of danger.
⚫ Boost him with food or even chili that will make him go on a Destructible Rampage!
⚫ Enjoy the breaking of asteroids, UFOs and comfy chairs smashed to smithereens!

iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/comet/id339507849?mt=8

Age of Conquest: North America Released for iPhone/iPod Touch

Byron Hinson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:19:44 +0000

Age of Conquest is a medieval risk-like turn-based strategy game where you take the reins of a budding empire and struggle against fellow empires for control of North America. In one game, up to 20+ players vie for supremacy, but only one can be victorious. Every game you win pushes up your score, until you don’t just dominate North America, but also your fellow players. Then all will be in your shadow and not just peasants, but even kings will worship you! All this can be yours, but only if you triumph.

This full version contains the following game-play options:
- multiple scenarios
- over 30 empires to choose from
- conquer the whole map
- god mode option
- random placement option
- random fill option
- mute sounds
- improved AI

WARNING: For strategy game enthusiasts only! Please try the free Lite version (Age of Conquest Lite) before purchase. Thank you.

iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/age-conquest-north-america/id339473599?mt=8

Bear Paw Release for iPhone/iPod Touch: Trailer

Byron Hinson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:14:59 +0000

Introducing Bear Paw a simple and challenging, and beautiful game. Watch the gravity and stunning particle effects light up the iPhones screen as stars and comets collide.

The game is an intriguing game based on a barnes-hut gravity simulation of stars. The goal of the game is to place your space ship on the screen and set it off on a path avoiding the stars and collecting the comets. With every comet you collect a score multiplier is applied to increase the rate at which your score increases. Do you go for the comets or play it safe and avoid the stars… The dilemma is yours.

Placing your space ship is easy, simply tap and pull back like a pinball machine to send it flying through space.

iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/bear-paw/id335358108?mt=8

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-QExWfZJFM

Pop Star Pixie Lott Duets With Her Virtual Self In The Sims 3 World Adventures

Byron Hinson — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:09:35 +0000

British pop star and MTV Europe award-winner Pixie Lott today unveils a brand new virtual side to herself in her hot new music video. Working in partnership with number one PC game from Electronic Arts™, The Sims™ 3 World Adventures*, Pixie Lott’s new video is a world first, which sees her perform her number one single ‘Mama Do’ in an English and Simlish duet (Simlish is the language the characters speak in the game).

While artists, including Lily Allen and Katy Perry, have recorded Simlish versions of their hit songs in the past, this is the first time an artist has performed their track as a duet with their virtual self.

In the video, Pixie appears as herself in her dressing room getting ready to go on stage and playing The Sims 3 World Adventures on her laptop. As she creates and customises her own Sim (a virtual version of herself in the game), we see the two worlds collide and her Sim-self singing ‘Mama Do’ in Simlish as the real Pixie sings in English.

Pixie’s Sim is seen in the game hanging out with friends and creeping out of her mama’s house to see a boy, the real Pixie soon joins in and is seen partying with other Sims within the game, blurring real and virtual life.

The new Simlish recoding of ‘Mama Do’ appears in the new videogame, The Sims™ 3 World Adventures which launches this Friday. Players can take their Sims to famous real-world inspired destinations to conquer challenges, find treasures, discover what’s lurking in hidden caves, and much more with the first ever Sims adventure gameplay. They’ll be able to tune into Pixie’s track whenever they want too.

Pixie Lott said, “I think it’s really cool to have a song play on the radio, on TV and now in The Sims 3 World Adventures! You can go over to a radio in the game, and select to play the Simlish version of my song ‘Mama Do’, and even better you can take that radio with you anywhere you go within the game and hear my Simlish song. I think it’s funny that people will be listening to my tune while they are exploring tombs in Egypt.”

More than a dozen artists have recorded Simlish versions of their hits singles for The Sims™ 3 World Adventures including Nelly Furtado, Stefanie Heinzmann, Matt & Kim and Young Punx.

“We have been busy recording the eclectic mix of songs in Simlish, the official language of The Sims,” said Robi Kauker, Audio Director for The Sims Studio at EA™. “The collection of artists’ songs in the game are fantastic and there’s something every player will recognise and enjoy.”

[Go to http://www.eagames.co.uk/thesims3pixie to see Pixie Lott’s brand new video]

Sims can now go on the journey of a lifetime in The Sims 3 World Adventures. They can run from mummies in Al Simhara, Egypt, fill the sky with fireworks purchased from locals in Shang Simla, China and master the art of nectar-making in France. Along the way, they can capture the funny, scary and exciting moments while using the brand new photography skill. Once they have completed their quests players can bring their treasures home with them to reminisce and share. When players register their copy of the PC/Mac version of the game online, they will receive exclusive extra game content with the Explorer’s Loot Set and 1,000 SimPoints** to be used in The Sims 3 Store to customise their game with additional in-game items.

The Sims 3 World Adventures Expansion Pack for the PC and Mac will be released in the UK on 20 November, 2009. The game will also be available for feature phones, the iPhone™ and iPod touch® in early 2010 from EA Mobile™. These versions will have customised mobile gameplay features and music playlists from artists like Pixie Lott, Matt and Kim, Fefe Dobson and Nelly Furtado. For information on carrier availability and pricing for all EA Mobile games, please visit www.eamobile.com.

The Sims 3 World Adventures is rated PEGI 12 (For more information visitwww.pegi,info) and is available at retail and online through digital distribution at http://eastore.ea.com/. For more information on The Sims 3 or The Sims 3 World Adventures, go to www.thesims3.com. To download artwork, please visit www.eagames.co.uk/press.

Take your Sims to Real-World Inspired Locations When EA’s The Sims 3 World Adventures Launches This Week

Byron Hinson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:11:20 +0000

The Sims are off on an adventure of a lifetime! The EA Play Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that The Sims™ 3 World Adventures Expansion Pack*, the first expansion pack to the best-selling PC game of calendar 2009**, The Sims 3, is available at retail nationwide and for digital download today for the PC and Mac. The game will be in stores worldwide in 60 countries and in 22 languages this week.

“The Sims 3 World Adventures is the most robust expansion pack in the history of The Sims franchise,” said Scott Evans, General Manager of The Sims at EA. “Players can take their Sims to three new real-world inspired locations in Egypt, France, and China where they will embark on exciting adventures, master new skills, and discover exotic objects and treasures to collect. In addition, the enhanced building and customization features will allow players to express their creativity in exciting new ways. We’re looking forward to seeing what players create and the new stories, content, and movies they’ll share online.”

The Sims have itchy feet and are looking for adventure far from Sunset Valley. Players travel with their Sims to three real-world inspired locations in Egypt, France, and China. They can search for treasure in ancient tombs in Al Simhara, Egypt, fill the sky with fireworks purchased from locals in Shang Simla, China and master the art of nectar-making in Champs Les Sims, France. Players can accept challenges, chase down new personal opportunities, and meet locals who will share their culture and style. Along the way, they can capture the funny, scary and exciting moments while using the brand new photography skill. Once they have completed their quests, players can bring their treasures home with them to reminisce and share with other Sims. Additionally, players will get exclusive, extra game content when they register their copy of the PC/Mac version of the game online. They will receive the Explorer’s Loot Set which includes exotic Egyptian furniture, Chinese décor, and more as well as 1,000 SimPoints*** to be used in The Sims 3 Store to customize their game with additional in-game items.

The Sims fans around the world will be rockin’ out to new Simlish music in The Sims 3 World Adventures. Over a dozen artists lent their Simlish voice stylings to the game including GRAMMY Award-winners Nelly Furtado and LeAnn Rimes, plus hot rising stars Matt + Kim, Fefe Dobson, Pixie Lott, Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head, Katie Melua, Esmee Denters, Young Punx!, Evan Taubenfeld, Madina Lake, and more.

The Sims 3 World Adventures will also be available for feature phones, the iPhone and iPod touch in early 2010 from EA Mobile. These versions do not require a base game to play and will have customized mobile gameplay features. For information on carrier availability and pricing for all EA Mobile games, please visit www.eamobile.com.

The Sims 3 World Adventures for PC/Mac is rated PEGI 12 and is available at retail and online through digital distribution at http://eastore.ea.com/. For those who haven’t already purchased The Sims 3 or need a good gift idea for friends or family, a special limited Holiday Collector’s Edition will also be available on November 17, 2009. The special edition will feature content from the original The Sims 3 Collector’s Edition along with new holiday content. For more information on The Sims 3 or The Sims 3 World Adventures, go to www.thesims3.com.

Ravensword: The Fallen King released for iPhone/iPod Touch

Byron Hinson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:34:19 +0000

Ravensword has finally hit the app store today. More details on the way.
iTunes Link: http://tinyurl.com/yk6teeo

In the mean time, read our interview with the develpers, Crescent Moon Games:

Interview: Ravensword: The Fallen King

Our land is a peaceful one. There is no war or hunger here, but strange and evil creatures stalk the night …

Enter the world of Ravensword: The Fallen King; a massive, sandbox-style adventure for the iPhone and iPod touch. Combining 3D action with RPG elements, Ravensword features rich and interactive environments that bring you a gaming experience unlike anything you’ve seen on the iPhone platform. Take on quests to earn money and experience. Wield powerful weapons and magical runes. Battle fearsome enemies such as Orcs, Trolls, Ogres and Demons. Test your skills with a variety of games and side quests.

This is the first adventure in the Ravensword series.

Featuring:

* Innovative 3D Action/Adventure/RPG hybrid gameplay in an open environment.

* An engrossing high-fantasy story that will take hours to unravel.

* An expansive 3D world filled with stunning locations and an entertaining cast of characters.

* A multitude of enemies to battle using an optional auto-targeting interface.

* Mighty weapons, items, and magical runes to purchase and uncover as your character gains wealth and experience.

* Choice between first and third-person perspectives at the touch of a button.

* Epic soundtrack and spatial 3D audio that puts you right in the action. Listen to the footsteps of creatures as they creep up next to you!

* A clear inventory interface, combined with simple leveling and full auto-saves, ensuring pick-up-and-play.

* Ride a horse, practice shooting your bow, hunt animals in the forest – these are just a taste of the possibilities within Ravensword.

* Secret areas, monsters, and treasures to keep you playing long after you’ve completed the main storyline.

Ravensword: The Fallen King is truly a unique gaming experience in the App Store.

Ravensword is developed by Crescent Moon Games and published by Chillingo Ltd

Mad Catz Ships Wireless-N Gaming Adapter for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 Consoles

Byron Hinson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:53:06 +0000

Mad Catz Interactive, Inc, a leading worldwide third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider, today announced the shipping of the Wireless-N Gaming Adapter for use with Microsoft® Xbox 360 and Sony® PlayStation 3 videogame consoles.

Connecting via the Ethernet (WAN) port on either console, the Wireless-N Gaming Adapter (compatible with 802.11b/g/n networks) proves ideal for online play and content downloading. When using with a Wireless-N network, the Adapter offers a strong and stable connection to your Wireless-N broadband router/access point and delivers up to three times the range and speed (Up to 150Mbs) when compared to other ‘G’ gaming adapters running at speeds up to 54Mbs. Simple, yet versatile, the Wireless-N Gaming Adapter will also connect to any Ethernet ready device to offer instant Wireless-N connectivity!

Shipping with a 3.3ft Ethernet cable, gamers have the freedom to position their Adapter in a location that offers a premium wireless reception, negating the need to house in the direct vicinity of their console.

The Wireless-N Gaming Adapter offers an effortless setup procedure thanks to the Quick Setup Button, which provides seamless gaming console integration when used in conjunction with a router or access point featuring WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup button).

Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz commented, “With more HD entertainment content and online gaming being delivered via Xbox Live® and PSN™, we anticipate the need for Wireless-N gaming adapters will increase. Our Wireless-N Adapter allows Xbox 360 users to access the network wirelessly and for PS3 users to upgrade their wireless technology to the faster N standard.”

The Wireless-N Gaming Adapter for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 is available at the Mad Catz online store (http://store.gameshark.com orhttp://www.gamesharkstore.net) and is shipping now across North America and key European territories retailing for an MSRP of $79.99 and £49.99/€59.99.

Things on Wheels: Crazy Remote-Controlled Car Races Coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade!

Byron Hinson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:35:45 +0000

Things on Wheels – ToW – is a fun and fast remote-controlled car racing game that is playable in single or multiplayer (up to 4 players)! Drive many miniature racers with various features – the agile “Vintage”, the powerful “Muscles” or fast “Sports” cars – and compete in dozens of crazy races. The tracks are completely insane, loaded with shortcuts, ramps, loops and many other surprises. Count on plenty of collectable items to spice up the races even more and upset the final rankings!

Things on Wheel is developed by Load Inc and will be available very soon on Xbox LIVE Arcade.

- Download the video (55 MB)

- Watch the video (Streaming)

Undercroft: iPhone/iPod Touch Review

Byron Hinson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:19:35 +0000

Review by Jeffery Yue: I picked up Undercroft a while ago, and at first I wasn’t really getting into it. I’m not a very big fan of turn-based RPGs, but as I progressed, Undercroft really started consuming my time. The gameplay is engaging, and the way the combat system is implemented is ingenious. I have to say that I wholeheartedly recommend this game for both fans and non-fans of turn-based and RPG games alike.

Undercroft is a dazzling, epic adventure set in a fantasy world full of magic and monsters. It combines the atmosphere of classic role playing games with plenty of new features, and brings it all together with cool graphics and sophisticated level design.

Rumors fly throughout the land of a great evil that has arisen from an old abandoned graveyard near the city of Dolbrad: The dead walk the realm, killing anyone who dares to uncover the secrets of the tombs.

You control a party of hotheaded adventurers who face setting in motion a stream of erratic events with just one unwise move — lead them to the horrific graveyard to face their unexpected fate.

Game features:

* 20 hours of gameplay with great replay value!

* A party of heroes — because the whole is more than the sum of its parts! Enjoy building unique, specialized classes. Create a combined force with powers that overcome their weaknesses and make them a crew to remember!

* Intricate plot with dozens of quests, and plenty of side-quests for extra experience gathering!

* Unique turn-based combat system perfect for well thought out strategic moves as well as for fast, fluid attacks!

* Five hero classes with a wide variety of skills and spells for unique development!

* More than 750 items and 60 types of enemies!

* Sophisticated interface with quick access to all the extensive functionality!

* Many environments ranging from fiery pits and dark underground to forests, snowy mountains and large city!

In Undercroft, there is tons of customization. Right from the get-go you can choose the faces and classes of the four members of your party. With twenty-four faces and five different classes, it’s clear that Undercroft is amazing in terms of depth. You can choose whether you want your hero to be a warrior, mage, priest, summoner, or assassin. Each class has their own advantages and disadvantages; a warrior can absorb tons of damage but has no resistance bonuses, and the other four classes all are resistant to specific elements like fire, cold, and poison.

If I haven’t stressed the point enough, Undercroft has tons of content. The description states that there is over 20 hours of playtime, 750 items, 60 types of enemies, dozens of main quests with tons of side quests, an intricate plot, and a wide variety of skills and environments. Based on couple of hours I’ve played this game, it certainly seems that way. There are definitely tons of items and enemies that I’ve fought and collected, and the quests never seem to tiring or repetitive.

The controls in Undercroft are interesting for an RPG game; since the game is turn-based, you move by pressing arrows in the direction you want to go in, and when you fight you manually choose whether you want to use a normal attack or a skill. The controls in Undercroft are well-implemented, and I never had any trouble moving around or fighting.

My only problem with Undercroft was that there wasn’t a very clear map system, and it was always hard for me to figure out where to go. Every time I got familiar with one environment, I needed to journey on to a new one. Sometimes this got frustrating for me, and I’d like to see an update with a map that shows a layout of the town and where all the NPCs are.

Clearly, Undercroft is for hardcore iDevice gamers. The amount of customization and depth in this game is mostly unparalleled on the App Store, and that’s both a good and a bad thing; with so many things to do and so many areas to explore, casual gamers will have a hard time immersing themselves in Undercroft and finding the time to enjoy the game.

All in all, Undercroft is a great game for hardcore RPG fans. You definitely won’t be disappointed when you buy the game, and I’m sure that it will last you quite a long time. Even after finishing the game, you can play it again with new faces, classes, items, and configurations. With Undercroft, the possibilities are almost endless.

iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/undercroft/id334240336?mt=8

Conclusion

Pros	Cons
lots of content and depth, long play times, tons of replayability,	not for casual gamers, no map system
Verdict	Great

Rating

88%

Call of Duty: World At War: Zombies Release for iPhone/iPod Touch

Byron Hinson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:06:06 +0000

Atten-shun! Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies brings the classic Call of Duty: World at War zombie-slaying game mode to the iPhone™ and iPod® Touch. Featuring the original zombie map “Nacht der Untoten” (Night of the undead), fight to survive in the barricaded bunker where it all began – and you can bring along your friends to help push back the endless waves of attacking zombies.

Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies for the iPhone™ supports up to four players via Wi-Fi/Internet and two players via Bluetooth. Play with your friends in the same room, on the other side of town, and even across the globe. With the option of either private or open matchmaking, where there’s a Wi-Fi connection, there’s a friend to go Zombie-hunting with.*
This is the Zombie experience from Call of Duty: World at War. “Nacht der Untoten” has been fully realized on the iPhone™ in a silky smooth 3D environment, along with the return of your favorite guns and killer power ups.
Three different control schemes are available to suit your style. Take advantage of the iPhone’s unique tilt capabilities or, for Zombie vets, use the virtual analog sticks to fend off the undead.
Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies features a full list of unique Achievements.
Leaderboard support awards the best of the best, accessed directly through your iPhone™ or iPod® Touch. Become the top zombie slayer and prove your standings to the world!
Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies will fully support future Downloadable Content, ensuring that the classic survival experience will live on with new maps.
So snap to attention, pick up Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies, and start fending off the zombie horde!

*Wi-Fi support only at this time, play unavailable on cellular networks.
Note: Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies is best played on a 2nd generation iPod® Touch or higher with the latest firmware installed.

iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/call-duty-world-at-war-zombies/id338057689?mt=8

Metal Gear Solid heads to PlayStation Network

Byron Hinson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:58:54 +0000

Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH has announced it will release four classic Metal Gear Solid titles via Sony’s PlayStation(R)Network service.

The news comes as Konami gears up for the anticipated release of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker for PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable), and will begin with the reissue of the original PSone version of Metal Gear Solid on November 19th, priced £7.99. Hailed as an all-time classic and one of the most influential video games of modern times, Metal Gear Solid marked the series’ first move into a fully 3D play area, and established Hideo Kojima as an iconic talent.

The release of Metal Gear Solid will then be followed with Kojima Productions’ PSP(R) entrants to the series: Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops +, and the innovative Metal Gear Solid: Digital Graphic Novel. Release dates for these titles will be confirmed at a later date.

Lineage II: Gracia Epilogue to Bring New Players and Content to Aden

Byron Hinson — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:57:27 +0000

Coming November 17, Lineage II fans will be treated to the latest installment to the Lineage II saga with the highly-anticipated Gracia Epilogue update featuring the final chapter in theGracia™ storyline, re-conceptualised hunting grounds and brand new utilities to enhance gameplay. In addition to new content, NCsoft will offer an account reactivation allowing previous players with accounts in good standing an opportunity to experience all that the world of Aden has to offer.

With more than five years of updates and enhancements behind it, Lineage IIcontinues to be one of the most detailed, unique and content-rich MMORPGs on the market. The Gracia Epilogue update continues this tradition with 36 new quests as well as the “Delusion Chamber,” a brand new instance for level 80-85 players. Meanwhile, players just starting the game will enjoy the help and presence of high-level characters thanks to the updated “Mithril Mines” dungeon which features additional content for high level characters, bringing experienced veterans together with new players.

Other features to look for in the Gracia Epilogue update include:
• Improved vitality system
• An in-game Mail system designed to strengthen the player community and add a new convenient way to trade.
• A Command Channel Matching System that will facilitate Raid organization
• New items and options for Mercenaries in Territory Wars
• Revamped Hunting Grounds
• Updated classes and skills
• New & enhanced skill enchanting interface

Players can look forward to these features and more on 17. November, 2009.

October 2009 Top 10 Sales

Byron Hinson — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:06:09 +0000

The top 10 sales for October have been announced across all formats. Looks like a bad month for both DJ Hero and Brutal Legend, both very well hyped yet considering the amount of consoles they are for sale on, haven’t done too well. Brutal Legend here in the UK is already heavily discounted in most stores.

PS3 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, Sony, 537,000
Wii Wii Fit Plus, Nintendo, 441,000
360 Borderlands, Take-Two Interactive, 418,000
Wii Wii Sports Resort, Nintendo, 314,000
360 NBA 2K10, Take-Two Interactive, 311,000
360 Halo 3: ODST, Microsoft, 271,000
PS3 NBA 2K10, Take-Two Interactive, 213,000
360 Forza Motorsport 3, Microsoft, 175,000
DS Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Square Enix, 169,000
360 FIFA 10, Electronic Arts, 156,000

1 Vs 100 Season 2 – Prizes, Prizes, Prizes!

Byron Hinson — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:58:26 +0000

Dress up your Avatar and brush up on your trivia, because it’s baaaaccckkk! The entertainment phenomenon that took Xbox LIVE by storm is hitting your Xbox 360 again with Season 2 of “1 vs 100” on Xbox LIVE!

You’ve been waiting for more information, and we’ve got it! Everyone loves to win, and what would a game show be without real prizes? Answer the following question for the latest scoop on prizes in “1 vs 100” Season 2:

Question: If I’m “the One” choosing between the money or “the Mob,” how will I know what prize is at stake in “1 vs 100” Season 2?
A:  A banner will scroll across the screen and tell me what prize is at stake.
B:  It’s all intuition and ESP with me.
C:  A prizing ladder on the stage will light up throughout the show and tell me what prize is at stake.

Xbox LIVE is proud to present a new feature on the “1 vs 100” Season 2 set – the prizing ladder! Not sure if you should choose the money or “the Mob”? The prizing ladder will light up throughout the show just like on a TV set, let “the One” know how far they’ve progressed in the round, and which prize is at stake. You might just think twice before facing “the Mob” again!

If you’re chosen as “the One” in “1 vs 100” Season 2, you have the chance to win up to 10,000 Microsoft Points by knocking out all 100 members of “the Mob.” Members of “the Mob” and “the Crowd” can also win popular Xbox LIVE Arcade games and Microsoft Points.

Premiering on November 19 exclusively on your Xbox 360, “1 vs 100” Season 2 on Xbox LIVE combines the best of television show experiences and interactive video games, featuring regularly scheduled programming, Chris Cashman as the comedic live studio host, all-new fresh trivia, and real prizes.

See you at the premiere of “1 vs 100” Season 2 on November 19, and stay tuned next week for more details…

Ninja Assassin Released for iPhone/iPod Touch

Byron Hinson — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:53:52 +0000

Immerse yourself in the ruthless underworld of Ninja Assassin – the brutal, action-packed game for the iPhone™/iPod touch® inspired by the motion picture Ninja Assassin. Presented by Warner Bros. Pictures, in association with Legendary Pictures and Dark Castle Entertainment, Ninja Assassin comes to theaters November 25.

Welcome to the chaotic hack n’ slash world of Raizo, one of the deadliest assassins in the world. Armed with a deadly chain-blade, duel-katanas and shurikens, battle your way through wave after wave of enemies by simply swiping your finger across the screen, thus severing limbs, removing heads, and even slicing bodies in two. Be sure to hide in the shadows, waiting for the perfect opportunity to engage countless enemies and overwhelming bosses through 12 harrowing levels, leading to the ultimate confrontation!

Vengeance is yours!

FEATURES:

- Intense 3rd-Person Combat – Visceral “Hit-point” system allows player to sever enemy limbs

- Intuitive Hack-n-Slash Gameplay – Gesture-based combat controls enable the user to attack with a simple swipe of the finger

- Engaging Story – Featuring 12 action-packed levels spanning over 4 harrowing acts – separated by original hand-painted artwork inspired by the film

- Stunning Visuals – Showing-off highly stylized, vector-based character models

- Global Leaderboards – Player can rank themselves against the rest of the world

- Personalized Playlist – Listen to your own music while slicing and dicing your way through the game

Visit the Official Movie Website: http://ninja-assassin-movie.com/

iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ninja-assassin/id338767457?mt=8

Harry Potter: Spells Released for iPhone/iPod Touch

Byron Hinson — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:38:49 +0000

Looks like EA has released their interesting take on Harry Potter spell casting to the App store in the form of Harry Potter: Spells.

Get Ready To Duel!

You are officially invited to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Once enrolled, receive the wand destined for you before being Sorted into one of the four houses by the Sorting Hat. Then using specific hand gestures for each of the 14 spells, practice, practice, practice before experiencing the ultimate contest – DUELLING!

Compete against the computer or challenge a fellow classmate to a real-time duel – player versus player, casting spells from one device to the other. Earn valuable house points for your house while learning, practicing and dueling. Visit the house points section to see your wins and losses in duelling. You can also see where you rank globally – in your house or in all of Hogwarts. Finally, share it with the rest of the world by posting it to your Facebook page via Facebook Connect.

· 14 Powerful Spells – Stun your opponent with STUPEFY or disarm them with EXPELLIARMUS, and many, many more

· Intense Duelling Action:
–Single Player – Cast spells against three different difficulty levels
–Multiplayer – Challenge a friend to a duel and cast spells from one device to the other in real-time encounters

· Authentic Experience – From visiting Ollivanders to being sorted by the Sorting Hat

· Practice Makes Perfect – Tutorial system educates and trains, grading you on your spell casting performance, thus unlocking spells as you go

· Monitor Your Ranking – Keep an eye on your wins, losses and House Cup rankings to be the strongest wizard in Hogwarts

· Share With Your Friends – Post your Harry Potter: Spells stats on your Facebook page using Facebook Connect

iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/harry-potter-spells/id337402021?mt=8

Wheeler’s Treasure: iPhone/iPod Touch Review

Byron Hinson — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:17:43 +0000

I have to admit when I first saw Wheeler’s Treasure in screenshots online, I knew I wanted to get the chance to play around with it, the artwork looked great and the idea behind it was different enough from other games to make it unique.

Discover WHEELER’S TREASURE, a spectacular pirate world filled with jungles, treasures, ghosts and more! Follow the Cursed Wheel of The Lost Pirate Captain Wheeler through endless randomly generated challenges. Jump over pits, grab the treasure and hang on to your wheel as you fly down steep hills and splash into hazards. Sixteen unique items are scattered throughout the world for you to collect, with each one bringing new abilities. Avoid dangerous skeletons, bats and ghosts, dodge incoming cannonballs, and protect your treasure from cunning crows!

The Cursed Wheel is destructible, so watch out! Roll into lava and it’ll burn. Get hit by cannonballs and you’ll find your wheel pieces go flying. Lose all your pieces and it’s over!

Packed with Piratey Features
✓ Online highscores, achievements and more using OpenFeint
✓ Randomly generated world, no two play-throughs will ever be the same!
✓ Sixteen swashbuckling items to discover in game, each item granting a unique ability
✓ Roll past your friends’ Tombstones to beat their scores!
✓ Beautiful 2D and 3D graphics from lush jungles to burning volcanic lands and more
✓ Amazing Piratey music in five unique soundtracks!
✓ Splashing water! Burning lava! Sinking quicksand!
✓ Unlock 3D scenes that begin to tell the story of WHEELER’S TREASURE

Continuous updates to be had!
✓ New Items and Treasures you can use to tackle your enemies and surpass your friends
✓ New Scenes to unlock and collect!
✓ New Game Modes to play!

The idea behind the game is that you follow and push along what is called “The Cursed Wheel of The Lost Pirate Captain Wheeler” through randomly generated levels. It may sound simple, but it is far from it. You must try and dodge or destroy skeleton pirates, bats, birds and more to keep your own health up while trying to get the wheel as far through the level as possible.

Controls take a bit of getting used to, but the tutorial at the beginning really helps you out there. Jumping around is as simple as flicking your finger up across the screen towards where you want to jump to. While in the bottom left of the screen you can use your special item such as the hook.

Not only that though, your wheel can be knocked apart by flying cannonballs, fireballs and more. Throughout the levels there are coins and gems to collect, these can be used to repair your wheel when it gets damaged.

The quickest way to get around is to stay inside the wheel while it rolls along, but this isn’t always the safest method of play, sometimes not only will it be easier outside of the wheel, there will be times when you fall out due to the damage that the wheel has had. During the game you will come across treasures which you collect, these can then be used on your character, for example the hook is one of my favourites, as this allows you to press on the hook button in the bottom left and then grab onto the wheel, it keeps you attached to it and can help give the wheel momentum to move along.

There are many other treasure to be found in the game that I won’t spoil here. The game judges how far you have got the wheel in Yarrds, get it? It is a pirate based game you fool! Anyway, the game uses the Open Feint system for scoreboards and achievements, but Wheeler’s Treasure goes that little bit further and integrates gravestones of your friends that you can go past in the game. These represent how far your friend has managed to get in the levels and gives you something to push towards and past.

Graphic wise the game is great, it has a 2D/3D mix to it and the artwork as I mentioned at the beginning is excellent, from a personal viewpoint I’d love to see the company try a platform based game in the same art style as this as I think it would work well and look fantastic. There is no slow down in the game even when you are wheeling around the levels at high speed during some points so all credit to the developers there. Music is also excellent with varied tunes all of a piratey like nature, sound is decent too though nothing outstanding.

So overall a very good game, one that shows not only a lot of polish, but a lot of thought behind it as well as a great design. The game is a lot of fun and the fact that it has integrated Open Feint so well is credit to the developers. Wheeler’s Treasure is a fun game and not only that, it is cheap too! The developers have also stated that they will be releasing a number of updates for the game over the next few months so watch out for them.

iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wheelers-treasure/id335953311?mt=8

Conclusion

Pros	Cons
Great design, lots of polish, fun, achievements	Controls can be fiddly
Verdict	Good fun

Rating

84%

Pickin’ Time: iPhone/iPod Touch Review

Byron Hinson — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:39:00 +0000

When I first started to play Pickin’ Time by The Iconfactory, I had a feeling the fun aspect of the game wouldn’t last all that long, but I’m happy to say that I was wrong, especially when it is played with a group of friends.

A fast, family-friendly game that’s bushels of fun for kids and adults of all ages. The object is simple – pick your vegetable just as fast as you can whenever it pops up to earn garden patch bragging rights! Hone your skills against Harold the Bunny or go head to head with a group of your closest friends Running Pickin’ Time via WiFi. Don’t have multiple devices? No problem! Single-device mode lets multiple players gather around a single iPhone or iPod touch for hours of veggie pickin’ fun.

Features:

• Simple to learn
• Fast and furious gameplay
• Single player mode vs Harold the Bunny
• Multi-player single-device mode
• Multi-player multi-device mode over WiFi
• Family friendly theme
• Original soundtrack

The idea behind Pickin’ Time is simple, you choose a vegetable, when it comes up on the screen, you press it as quickly as possible. It is as simple as that. The more you pick it, the harder it becomes as the screen starts to fill up with other vegetables and it makes it more difficult to find. It is a visual testing game really and it plays very well.

Now single player can become a bit dull quickly, it isn’t much fun just trying to beat your own high score, the fun is competing against other people and that is where Pickin’ Time almost excels. You can have a group of friends play around one device if you want to, or play on separate devices. Up to four people can play at one time.

Playing the multiplayer game differs from the main single player one, in multiplayer you each choose the vegetable that you want to pick. When you see it pop up on the screen, you pick it as quickly as possible and the game will show you how fast you managed to get it. Kids love it and the game is completely harmless.

There are problems though, I found that the game lacked online multiplayer, some people will want to play when their friends are not around, so it would be a good idea to be able to play online via wi-fi rather than force users to have to play with nearby friends. Also there seemed to be times that when I felt I pressed on the correct vegetable, the game said I didn’t, something that hopefully gets tweaked in an update.

Graphically the game looks colourful and as usual is well designed by The Iconfactory, it won’t win any awards to amazing effects, but it does exactly what it needs to do. There are even some simple accelerometer effects if you play around with it enough! Music is fast paced just like the gameplay becomes so fits in well.

Overall it is a good fun title that children of all ages will like playing with friends and family, it has no violence, looks and plays well and will keep them occupied.

iTunes Link: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pickin-time/id327232889?mt=8

Conclusion

Pros	Cons
Children will love it, colourful, fun	Lacks online multiplayer, basic
Verdict	Fun but basic

Rating

80%

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