World of Warcraft : Burning Crusade (PC) review
Driver Heaven :: Wednesday, January 31, 2007
“As with every MMO an expansion pack was bound to come out and I’m sure that no matter how bad it was people would still buy it like there was no tomorrow. But as Blizzard have shown with The Frozen Throne (the expansion pack for Warcraft III) their expansions are usually just as good as the original product if not better. That leaves us with the question: “Just how good is The Burning Crusade?”
Pro Evolution Soccer 6 Review
Technic 3d :: Wednesday, January 31, 2007
“The Game Pro Evolution Soccer 6 from Konami arrived Technic3D. Better than Pro Evolution Soccer 5? See you the Details in the following Review.”
World Of Warcraft Burning Crusade
Driver Heaven :: Wednesday, January 31, 2007
For a few years now market analytics have been saying that PC gaming is in decline. Judging from the sales figures of PC games there is at least some truth to their claims. But every single claim of theirs is void when you look at the sales figures of Blizzards MMO behemoth – World of Warcraft. The latest reports say that currently there are over 8 million active subscribers playing the game, every one of them shelling $15 per month to Blizzard.
Surprisingly it seems that even those numbers are not big enough for the team responsible for WoW. As with every MMO an expansion pack was bound to come out and I’m sure that no matter how bad it was people would still buy it like there was no tomorrow. But as Blizzard have shown with The Frozen Throne (the expansion pack for Warcraft III) their expansions are usually just as good as the original product if not better. That leaves us with the question: “Just how good is The Burning Crusade?”
PlayStation 3 Price Cut Chops at Sony Profits
Sony :: Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Sony’s core electronics business more than doubled profits in the last quarter of 2006, but failed to offset price cuts to its PlayStation 3 game console, leading to an overall profit decline of just over 5 percent, the company said Tuesday.
Penny-Arcade about Xbox Live High School Lockdown
Penny Arcade :: Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Here is the new ‘Penny Arcade’ comic titled ‘The Federal Bureau of Taking All Your Shit’. If you have no idea what this is about, you must have missed this news item.
Peter Moore: Welcome to Windows Vista
Microsoft :: Tuesday, January 30, 2007
For the first time in Microsoft’s history, we’re releasing an operating system built from the ground up with gaming as a core scenario. With a worldwide presence of over 200 million gamers of all stripes, we’re taking the world’s most popular gaming platform and making it easier, safer, and more fun for everyone, while delivering new technologies that will deliver the most powerful, most immersive, most innovative gaming experiences to the Windows platform.
How to Update Your Xbox 360 With a CD-R
Microsoft :: Tuesday, January 30, 2007
You can download a file from Xbox.com and burn a DVD or CD. Use this method if you don’t have your console connected to broadband, or if you use a dialup connection to the Internet. You could even do this at a friend’s house who has a broadband Internet connection and a DVD or CD burner.
Xbox 360 and Windows Vista
Microsoft :: Tuesday, January 30, 2007
What does the upcoming release of Windows Vista™ mean for gamers? Cross-platform play, for one thing. Seamless wireless integration with Xbox 360™, for another. Take a look at some of the new features of Vista that will revolutionize your gaming and digital entertainment lifestyle.
Guitar Hero to continue on PlayStation 2
Red Octane :: Tuesday, January 30, 2007
RedOctane will continue to support PlayStation 2 with the Guitar Hero series for as long as the platform is viable, according to publishing boss Dusty Welch.
MS cuts 360 estimates, Xbox division posts $289m loss
Microsoft :: Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Shipment figures reduced to 12m for fiscal year ’07
Microsoft Confirms 10 New Live Arcade Titles
Microsoft :: Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Representatives from Microsoft have released information on ten of the Xbox Live Arcade titles set to hit the service in 2007, including an XBLA version of PlayStation classic Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, and Team 17’s seminal Worms.
PS2 DecalGirl Skins Review (Playstation 2)
RB Consoles :: Monday, January 29, 2007
We continue our look at console skins from Decalgirl.com with a look at two skins for the PS2. In our review of their Xbox skins, we were impressed with the quality and easy installation of the skins. Will the streak continue with these PS2 skins? Let’s find out.
My Thoughts On The Sony PlayStation 3
Tech ARP :: Monday, January 29, 2007
“Late last year (on November 17, 2006), Sony finally got around to launching their long-awaited (and long-delayed) PlayStation 3. The launch prompted eager gamers to brave long nights in the bitter cold while standing in line. But the elements weren’t the only concern to some others, there were plenty of mishaps as well.
However, there has been a recent wave of units hitting some stores lately. I happen to run across one such unit (a spanking new 60GB model) at our local Wal-Mart. That caught me offguard as I did not expect to see any in stock for the next few months. ”
D.i.R.T. Origin of the Species Review
Gamepyre :: Monday, January 29, 2007
This game could have been a lot better, with a bit more polishing before release, but unfortunately, this is all too common of game makers recently. The level design and character scripting needs quite a bit of work, and that’s just starting the list. On the plus side this game has a $30 price tag, which is all right; maybe $5-$10 cheaper would be more in line with what you get.
Ultima Online Newbie Guide
Ice Teks :: Monday, January 29, 2007
“/Ultima Online may be an old game, but is still widely played. If you have not played, you are missing out on a great experience! This guide will help you get started as a new player./”
America’s Army Goes Mobile
Gameloft :: Monday, January 29, 2007
America’s Army: Special Operations is an extremely realistic military game. Inspired by the popular PC and console versions, the collaborative project is the only mobile game in which players assume the roles of U.S. Army personnel from Apache helicopter pilot to infantry Soldier to armored vehicle commander. The game features authentic U.S. Army weapons and vehicles including Apache helicopters, Strykers, M4A1 rifles, and Stinger missiles. Borrowing from real Army operations, players must achieve mission objectives ranging from neutralizing a radar station to combat search and rescue.
RIP 3: The Last Hero now runs under Win Vista
White Elephant Games :: Monday, January 29, 2007
The new version (v.1.5) is the second update since the official release of the game (late November). The first update (v.1.3) included a new perk system, online High Scores, ability to carry and use 3 types of weapons at the same time and many other improvements.
Blacksite: Area 51 Coming This Summer (PC, Xbox 360, PS3)
Midway :: Monday, January 29, 2007
Reality and Science Fiction Clash in Innovative First Person Shooter for Next Generation Systems and PC
4th Annual Penny Arcade Expo Doubles In Size For ’07
Penny Arcade :: Monday, January 29, 2007
Popular Demand Inspires Move of Nation’s Gamer Festival to Larger Venue in Downtown Seattle
Mario Kart 64 on Wii Virtual Console
Nintendo :: Monday, January 29, 2007
Racing fans are in for an extra special treat today as Mario Kart 64, one of the greatest games in the hugely popular Mario Kart series, is available to download to Wii’s Virtual Console *. Featuring tense racing action for up to four players, Mario Kart 64 is the ultimate trip down nostalgia lane for you and your friends for the small sum of 1000 Wii Points.
Square Enix Licenses Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 3
Square Enix :: Monday, January 29, 2007
Middleware to be Utilized in Square Enix’s Next-Generation Game Development Process
MumboJumboTM Acquires Game Development Studio Ritual Entertainment
MumboJumbo :: Monday, January 29, 2007
Migration of Mainstream Development House to Casual Publisher Creates New Chapter in Gaming History
Sam & Max Episode 3 Launches today!
TellTale Games :: Thursday, January 25, 2007
Today GameTap launches “The Mole, The Mob, and the Meatball,” the third episode in “Sam & Max: Season 1,” the critically-acclaimed GameTap Original series.
Myst Online: Uru Live Launches Feb. 15th
GameTap :: Thursday, January 25, 2007
GAMETAP ANNOUNCES OFFICIAL LAUNCH DATE, INTERNATIONAL AVAILABILITY, AND ANOTHER ALL-NEW AGE FOR “MYST ONLINE: URU LIVE”
Runaway 2: The Dream of the Turtle
Bjorn 3d :: Thursday, January 25, 2007
In a more serious tone, an adventure game is by definition a game that puts the storyline in the center and you can expect a very fascinating and interesting plot when approaching a game from this genre. It usually features one main hero, rarely two or more and you can usually find his character to be quite appealing. In order to make progress, you’ll have to utilize objects you will find scattered around the environments that the game offers. Sometimes speaking to people and steering the conversation to the right direction will make the story progress as well. You will rarely encounter action sequences in adventure games, that is not what it’s about. Adventure game will try to challenge you intellectually and also, test your patience. Usually you’ll see your hero from third person angle on pre-rendered 2D backgrounds.
MSI Laptop StarMouse ES-101 Review
XS Reviews :: Thursday, January 25, 2007
“Laptop mice are made small as they have to be stowed in a tightly packed laptop carry bag. Often the cables get knotted and it takes 5 minutes every time you get your laptop out just to untangle the mouse. However, MSI have designed an all-in-one cable and mouse solution that should put an end to your woes…”
GT Pro Series (Wii)
Driver Heaven :: Thursday, January 25, 2007
When Ubisoft announced that they were going to release a racing simulator for the Wii that comes with a free steering wheel, it was hard for gamers not to drool about all of the possibilities. GT Pro Series seems like it could be a worthwhile title on paper, but sadly this turned out to be a rather poor excuse for a game. It’s bad enough to see such dated presentation values from a game this early on, but even if GT Pro Series look incredible nothing would be able to make up for the horrible driving physics. Even the most diehard sim fans will find little use for this game, and unless you have the blandest taste in games you should wait until a more polished racer is released.
Sam & Max Episode 2 – Situation: Comedy Review
Gamepyre :: Wednesday, January 24, 2007
One of the best parts about this, is the low system requirements, virtually any even remotely up to date system can run this. The only problem I saw, which is a minor one, is that I can’t run it at 1680×1050 for my widescreen, but then again, I can’t do that on most games I pay 4 times as much for. This game ran beautifully windowed at the highest supported resolution, though. All in all, this is one game that’s definitely worth the time spent, and maybe even worth a second run through to see any other humor you missed the first time around.
Nintendo Wii Game Console
3Dgameman :: Wednesday, January 24, 2007
“The Nintendo Wii Game Console is all the rage, but it’s not about the high definition graphics. What everyone is getting so excited about is the gameplay. This game console literally puts you in the game. It’s a tremendous amount of fun, especially with two or more players. It’s really something you have to experience yourself to appreciate! Watch the video to find out more and check out the bloopers at the end.”
“Over half” of 360 owners didn’t own Xbox 1 – MS
Microsoft :: Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Microsoft’s Chris Satchell has revealed that “over half” of the people who have bought Xbox 360 since its November 2005 launch did not buy an Xbox 1.
Beating the Winter Gaming Blues
Digital Trends :: Monday, January 22, 2007
“Happy New Year, gaming enthusiasts! As a special treat, I come bearing good news for fellow interactive entertainment fans suddenly feeling a strange bulge in their jeans: It’s not entirely because of all the hot cocoa and fruitcake we’ve spent the last 8-12 weeks stuffing our sunlight-deprived faces with. Nay… Presuming you didn’t blow all that holiday cash on a PlayStation 3 – surely, faithful readers weren’t amongst the crowds who ponied up $2500+ for the system – it may actually be (gasp) what we so-called professional types love to dub “disposable income.””
Review: IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946 (PC)
Driver Heaven :: Monday, January 22, 2007
For the vast majority of people, the only aeronautical simulation known to them is Microsoft’s renowned Flight Simulator series. Personally, even though I have great respect for that franchise, I just never considered it that entertaining and usually found myself trying to crash the planes in the most amusing ways possible instead of just flying them. Fortunately, for other flight simulation aficionados like me, there are alternatives; better known as the Falcon, Lock On and IL-2 Sturmovik series. All of these games are utterly unforgiving and realistic, bringing combat flight simulation to the masses. Whereas the first two games that I mentioned are based on modern-day warfare, the latter is all about aviation during the Second World War. Although, like many people, I find that the market is saturated with games from the WW2 era, when it comes to flight combat, nothing beats good’ole dogfighting. And since another expansion for Oleg Maddox’s excellent flight simulation was recently released, called IL-2 Sturmovik: 1946, I just had to go out and try it!
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence needs you!
Konami :: Monday, January 22, 2007
Konami to sign recruits for all new, official Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence tournaments for PAL territories
Gothic 3 Review
Gamepyre :: Friday, January 19, 2007
All in all, Gothic 3 could have been a great game, had the release just been pushed back a few weeks. A patch has been released for it since release, but sadly, two pages of patch notes, and nothing mentioned in this review got fixed. Instead many things got fixed pertaining to the skill trees, something players will never notice if they don’t get past the overwhelming problems. I personally never played Gothic 1 or 2, but I hope they were better for their times than 3 is for its own time
Warhammer – Mark Of Chaos (PC)
Driver Heaven :: Friday, January 19, 2007
Suffused with corrupting magical energy, torn apart by battle and doomed to an eternity of war, the Warhammer world teeters upon the brink of utter annihilation. It is a grim, unforgiving world where every creature must strive for survival. It is a world where magic and superstition blot out all hope of a better future, where peace and enlightenment are not even distant dreams.
These are the opening words of the Warhammer: Mark of Chaos manual. One could not find better words to describe the atmosphere found in this game and it would take a perpetual optimist to play this game and not feel the dread and sadness emanating from it. As most people don’t play games to feel miserable Mark of Chaos had better have more to offer than that though.
Addicted to WoW? You’re Not Alone. WoW Hits 8 Million!
PC Mech :: Friday, January 19, 2007
From 10 year old school boys to 53 year old women, every Tom, Dick, and Harry, seems to be playing this game.The overwhelming popularity of the online game, “World of Warcraft,” is obviously a blessing for Blizzard Entertainment and the MMORPG industry. Unfortunately, however, a controversy revolves around the game itself. Children and adults all around the world are becoming seriously addicted to playing WoW, and after graciously paying the monthly subscription fee, these die-hard fans gear up for hundreds of hours of monthly play and character development. Neglecting many of their other real-world responsibilities and duties, “World of Warcraft” addicts are seemingly losing their lives and subsequently falling out of touch with reality.
Dell at CES 2007
Techgage :: Thursday, January 18, 2007
Dell was one booth at CES that impressed us. Although they did not have a large selection of new products to peruse, the ones they did have impressed us considerably. Included here is the XPS H2C, M1710 XPS notebook, 966 All-In-One printer, 27″ UltraSharp monitor and more.
Xbox DecalGirl Skins Review
RB Mods :: Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Let’s face it; the outside of the Xbox and Xbox 360 consoles is pretty boring. Looking for a way to jazz it up? Decalgirl, makers of vinyl skins for a wide range of products, offers skins for both the Xbox and Xbox 360 that definitely add an artistic touch. But will they be difficult to install and fit well?
Ubisoft Announces Cosmic Family For The Wii
Ubisoft :: Wednesday, January 17, 2007
“Cosmic Family is a great title for young Wii players and their families, with simple point-and-click controls that will be easy to learn and provide the freedom to navigate wherever players choose to go,” said John Parkes, EMEA Marketing Director at Ubisoft, “Families will enjoy playing this game together, as it unfolds more like an interactive adventure than a traditional video game.
Nintendo DS Homebrew Article
Mektu Mods :: Wednesday, January 17, 2007
“So that fat man with a red suit brought you a new Nintendo DS to play with. Games that you got with it can keep you occupied for a while but you are still missing off most of the action. Like with so many other gaming consoles, portable or more stationary ones, Nintendo DS functionality can be enchanced by using additional pieces of hardware and software. Why just play with a gaming console when it can deliver a whole lot more?”
Battlestations: MidwayTM European release date 9th February
Eidos :: Monday, January 15, 2007
Eidos Interactive, one of the world’s leading publishers and developers of entertainment software, today confirms that the highly anticipated Battlestations: Midway will be released on 9th February, 2007 on Xbox 360 and PC.
Eidos talks MumboJumbo
Eidos :: Monday, January 15, 2007
European distribution deal with Leading Casual Game Publisher MumboJumbo to bring top game franchises to PC in 2007
Wii-kly Update: Three New Classic Games Announced For Wii Shop Channel
Nintendo :: Monday, January 15, 2007
Today Nintendo adds three new classic games to the popular Wii™ video game system’s Wii Shop Channel. The games go live at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Nintendo adds new games to the channel every Monday. Wii owners with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel or at retail outlets. This week’s new games are:
Xbox 360 HD-DVD: 92K Sold
NPD Group :: Monday, January 15, 2007
According to NPD’s figures, the hardware sold 42,000 units in November and 50,000 in December.
NPD analyst Anita Frazier said that the life-to-date figure indicates a 2 percent attach rate to the Xbox 360 install base. The firm reported last night that life-to-date Xbox 360 sales in the US stand at 4.5 million units.
And the Emmy goes to … Microsoft!
Microsoft :: Monday, January 15, 2007
Microsoft today announced that it has won an Emmy for, ahem, “Pioneering Work in Near and Real-Time Fully Programmable Shading Via Modern Graphics Processors.” It’s got to be hard to write that all on one envelope. A simpler way of saying it: DirectX got an Emmy. The official Emmy release doesn’t really give any more details, but it’s good news for Microsoft nonetheless. Of course, it should be noted that the 360 can’t run the latest and greatest DirectX (that would be DirectX 10).
MumboJumbo/Microsoft Deal to Publish “Hexic Deluxe
Microsoft :: Friday, January 12, 2007
MumboJumbo Selected As Publishing Partner To Bring “Hexic Deluxe” And “Mozaki Blocks Deluxe” To Retail
Midway Ships More Than 1.8 Million Units Worldwide Of Happy Feet The Videogame
Midway :: Friday, January 12, 2007
Midway Games Inc. (NYSE: MWY), a leading interactive entertainment industry publisher and developer, today announced that it has shipped more than 1.8 million units worldwide of Happy Feet the videogame, licensed by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The game is based on the Warner Bros. Pictures blockbuster feature film, Happy Feet, which released in the U.S. on November 17th and has grossed more than $326 million at the box office.
EA CELEBRATES UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2006-2007 WITH EXCLUSIVE RELEASE OF OFFICIALLY LICENSED VIDEOGAME
EA Sports :: Friday, January 12, 2007
A Unique Collectable Card System for the Xbox 360 Creates New Way to Win Prestigious European Club Football Championship
Extended Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
Konami :: Friday, January 12, 2007
Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH reveals additions exclusive to European versions of Hideo Kojima’s handheld MGS masterpiece
PS2 joypad offering a ‘Twist°n°Turn axis’ for racing games.
Fanatec :: Friday, January 12, 2007
FANATEC Speedster Controller – cutting-edge fusion of steering wheel and game pad for use with PlayStation®2
World of Warcraft Surpasses 8 Million Subscribers Worldwide
Blizzard :: Friday, January 12, 2007
Player population in North America now exceeds 2 million, while Europe and China pass the 1.5 million player and 3.5 million player marks, respectively
Warcraft III Season 4 Global Finals
Blizzard :: Friday, January 12, 2007
Blizzard Entertainment®, developer of the award-winning real-time strategy game, Warcraft® III, announces its official Warcraft III Season 4 Global Finals will be held during the Intel® Friday Night in Cologne, Germany during January, 2007.
Final Fantasy XII PAL Release Date Announcement
Square Enix :: Friday, January 12, 2007
Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in Europe and other PAL territories, today announces the forthcoming epic FINAL FANTASY® XII will be released on 23rd February 2007.
European Release of SNK VS. CAPCOM CARD FIGHTERS DS for the Nintendo DS
Ignition Entertainment :: Friday, January 12, 2007
For the first time ever on Nintendo DS™, two videogame powerhouses join together in a colossal game for the small screen.
Lord of the Rings OnlineTM: Shadows of Angmar Beta Goes Live!
Codemasters :: Friday, January 12, 2007
First Stress Test this weekend – Huge numbers expected to join
Nintendo Records Best Holiday Selling Season In U.S. Video Game History
Nintendo :: Friday, January 12, 2007
Virtually Every New Wii and Nintendo DS System Sold Out Across America
Gears of War “Love & War tournament”
Gaming Angels :: Friday, January 12, 2007
Celebrate Valentine’s Day by playing Gears of War online with your partner. (Not on the 14th itself, though – don’t worry.)
PS2 Tony Hawk’s Project 8 (Playstation 2)
RBmods :: Wednesday, January 10, 2007
When you think of skateboarding games, one name typically comes to mind- Tony Hawk. His line of skateboarding games sets the standard, and each one is usually very high quality. Today we’ll take a look one of the newer titles, Tony Hawk’s Project 8 for the PS2. What’s Project 8 you ask? Read on to find out more.
Track IR Gaming Peripheral
Driver Heaven :: Wednesday, January 10, 2007
If you’re already playing these hardcore simulation games, you might know that a whole other world of complex and innovative computer peripherals exists. Fully hydraulic racing seats are readily available for gamers with deep pockets, as are intricate joysticks with integrated LCD screens. Personally, I consider these different accessories as optional extras because they mostly help players with the immersion factor, little else. Apparently, the same can’t be said about a new and pioneering product called TrackIR, which according to its creators NaturalPoint, literally puts your head in the game for unparalleled immersion and playability.
Track IR Gaming Peripheral
Driver Heaven :: Wednesday, January 10, 2007
If you’re already playing these hardcore simulation games, you might know that a whole other world of complex and innovative computer peripherals exists. Fully hydraulic racing seats are readily available for gamers with deep pockets, as are intricate joysticks with integrated LCD screens. Personally, I consider these different accessories as optional extras because they mostly help players with the immersion factor, little else. Apparently, the same can’t be said about a new and pioneering product called TrackIR, which according to its creators NaturalPoint, literally puts your head in the game for unparalleled immersion and playability.
Xbox 360 Buyers Guide: Headsets
Digital Trends :: Wednesday, January 10, 2007
“Headsets and their attached microphones are an important component to Xbox 360 gaming. Whether it’s a desire to chat with your buddies over Xbox Live as you blast away in Gears of War, or trying to create a more personal listening experience without waking the neighbors, there is a great array of headsets out there to fit various noggins, needs and budgets. Take a gander below at some of the better Xbox 360 headsets currently on the market. ”
Microsoft to give PC gamers a taste of Xbox Live
Microsoft :: Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Continuing its round of CES announcements, Microsoft has revealed that three upcoming games—Shadowrun, Halo 2, and Mattel’s Uno—will allow PC users running Windows Vista to play on Xbox Live and use Xbox Live services.
Windows Vista Ushers in New Era of Gameplay
Microsoft :: Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Kicking off the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas with a bang, Microsoft Corp. today unveiled revolutionary games, technologies and partner support for the first-class gaming platform, Windows Vista™.
It’s Ms. Pac-Man’s Turn to Waka-Waka On Xbox Live Arcade
Microsoft :: Tuesday, January 09, 2007
The amiable munching yellow ball returns in this week’s Arcade Wednesday release – this time she’s sporting a big red bow on top. The classic retro coin-op from Namco Bandai Games, “Ms. Pac-Man,” will be available for download on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360 beginning Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 9 a.m. GMT (1 a.m. PST).
SEGA Announces Five New Titles Coming to Wii Virtual Console
Sega :: Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Five Additional SEGA Genesis Classics Will Soon Be Available for Download on the Wii™ Shop Channel
Xbox 360 HD-DVD Player review
Driver heaven :: Monday, January 08, 2007
“With the recent launch of the Xbox 360 HD-Drive in the UK, Microsoft aim to bring High Definition movies to the masses. With the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive retaiing for a mere £130 it certainly appears to be the ideal “value for money solution”. Even when factoring in the additional cost of a Xbox 360 Premium this works out less than many standalone HD players which are currently selling for around the £450 mark. Also can we get it working with a Windows based PC?”
Playstation 3 Review
Driver Heaven :: Monday, January 08, 2007
With the UK launch of Sony’ Playstation 3 in March, we got a hold of a console as well as an array of games to give you the lowdown on how the console performs, via a 1080i projector to an 80inch screen.
Company of Heroes Review
NGOHQ :: Monday, January 08, 2007
“We’re not seeing many high quality Real-Time Strategy (RTS) games recently. But there are very many RTS games out there — just not many are getting a lot of fame and success; like the Command and Conquer series. To be honest, the past few years have disappointed many RTS fans. Company of Heroes was developed by Relic and published by THQ, and it’s been available since September, ’06. Frankly, I’m not a big fan of THQ or Relic as I don’t expect much from them. But who knows, maybe they will manage to surprise me this time. Company of Heroes (CoH) is a World War II RTS game. You will be playing as a commander of US Able Company during World War II against the German war machine. Personally, I think there are too many “cheap” World War II RTS games available. Will Company of Heroes join the black list of the poor WW II RTS games? Or will it join the “List of Fame” next to the Command and Conquer series? Read on to found out.”
Xbox 360 Wireless Headset
Driver Heaven :: Monday, January 08, 2007
Over a year ago, Microsoft launched the Xbox 360 and officially began the next-generation of console gaming. Although many were impressed by the jump from SD (Standard Definition) to HD (High Definition) content, what fascinated me most was the fact that the console was completely wireless. Well, when I say completely, what I actually mean is mostly since you still had a wired headset that attached itself to a controller. While technically speaking, you weren’t physically connected to the console (if you used a wireless controller); you still didn’t have complete freedom of movement. Moreover, as was the case with me, the wire that connected the headset to the controller could get in the way, resulting in a lot of angry cursing.
Thankfully though, Microsoft realized this and thus, they’ve finally decided to render their console 100% “free from wires” by introducing a Wireless Headset as an accessory. So of course, the question is; should you dish out 50$ / 40€ to get one or rather, avoid it and stick with the Wired Headset?
Steam Winter Update This Week!
Valve Software :: Monday, January 08, 2007
Steam, a leading PC platform for the delivery and management of games and digital content, is due for a major release next week. One of the largest in the service’s history, next week’s update will include Guest Passes, Background Client Updating, a completely updated user interface, and more.
Gears of War Map Pack Available January 10th
Ubisoft :: Monday, January 08, 2007
Two new multiplayer maps will be available via Xbox Live Marketplace…
Xbox 360 Wireless Headset review
Driver Heaven :: Monday, January 08, 2007
“Over a year ago, Microsoft launched the Xbox 360 and officially began the next-generation of console gaming. Although many were impressed by the jump from SD (Standard Definition) to HD (High Definition) content, what fascinated me most was the fact that the console was completely wireless. Well, when I say completely, what I actually mean is mostly since you still had a wired headset that attached itself to a controller. While technically speaking, you weren’t physically connected to the console (if you used a wireless controller); you still didn’t have complete freedom of movement. Moreover, as was the case with me, the wire that connected the headset to the controller could get in the way, resulting in a lot of angry cursing.
Thankfully though, Microsoft realized this and thus, they’ve finally decided to render their console 100% “free from wires” by introducing a Wireless Headset as an accessory. So of course, the question is; should you dish out 50$ / 40€ to get one or rather, avoid it and stick with the Wired Headset?”
Eidos Interactive’s Just Cause Review
Bjorn 3d :: Friday, January 05, 2007
Well, most of the games failed somewhere in the process and made us gamers pretty suspicious about every game that tries to imitate that sort of gameplay… Just Cause looks amazing and succeeds in implementing some key ideas, while bringing some new cool things to the gameplay. You can think of it as a combination of Far Cry and GTA. Don’t get too excited though, Just Cause is VERY far from being perfect…
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2 (PS2)
Namco Bandai :: Thursday, January 04, 2007
Naruto and Friends Continue the Fight on PlayStation 2 System this Summer 2007
Dreamlords Launches Feb. 15
Lockpick Entertainment :: Thursday, January 04, 2007
Swedish game developer Lockpick Entertainment today announced the release date for what will be the next step in Massive Multiplayer Online Gaming. Upcoming Dreamlords combines the accessibility of a web game with RPG character development, RTS battles and long term tactical strategy in a never before seen gaming experience.
2K Sports Announces Derek Jeter as Official Spokesman and Cover Athlete for Major League Baseball 2K7
2K Games :: Thursday, January 04, 2007
New York Yankees’® Captain Derek Jeter to Return as Cover Athlete of the Premier Major League Baseball Video Game
Zero Controllers For PlayStation® 3 and Xbox 360
Nyko :: Thursday, January 04, 2007
Critically Acclaimed Controller Headed To Next-Generation Consoles
Need For Speed: Carbon Collectors Edition
Gamepyre :: Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Need For Speed Carbon is a pretty fun game, despite the flaws. Getting away from a police chase can feel too easy sometimes, for instance when a cop just sits at an intersection while you go hauling away. But other times the cops will overwhelm you, 10 or more cars behind you, all able to perfectly follow your every move. The voice acting needs quite a bit of work, but that is all too common of games nowadays.
Happy Feet (Wii) Review
Driver Heaven :: Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Born into a nation of mighty Emperor Penguins, the tiny Mumble seemed just like any other penguin at birth. However, his father accidentally dropped him during incubation, and as a result Mumble isn’t like the rest of his species. All of the other penguins can sing a Heartsong to attract a mate, but unfortunately our hero can’t sing to save his life. Mumble’s dancing ways are frowned upon by the rest of society so he doesn’t fit in at all. Although it’s not always fair to judge every game based on a movie, Happy Feet on the Wii is a prime example of a corporation milking a franchise.
An Angel Visits Myth World, Announces Grand Prize Winners
IGG :: Wednesday, January 03, 2007
It’s the start of the New Year, and an Angel is visiting Myth World! Yes, from January 1st through 3rd the New Year Angel will be in Blython (165, 540). She has a lucky egg to give out and a new quest for the most daring and adventurous players!
Hollywood Surprised By Xbox Video Marketplace
1Up.com :: Wednesday, January 03, 2007
The push for HD has come from all corners of media, but actually accessing high-definition content isn’t so simple — the amount of people with HD televisions running standard-definition content is staggering. But Hollywood’s initial investment into Microsoft’s service has proved a profitable one, as its direction connection to the TV means there’s no technical wizardry needed to move a computer-downloaded film onto the TV. Do I really expect my mom to figure out DVD burning? I can’t even figure it out.
EuroGamer Eye On 2007: Xbox 360
Eurogamer.net :: Wednesday, January 03, 2007
While the rest of the Eurogamer galley slaves whirl themselves into a lather debating which the best games of the last twelve months were, over the next five days I’m going to be your guide through what some of the best games of the next twelve months may be.
Eurogamer’s Top Picks for the Xbox360: * Alan Wake * Bioshock * Forza Motorsport 2 * Halo 3 * Mass Effect
Eurogamer’s Honourable Mentions for the Xbox360: Alone in the Dark, Assassin’s Creed, Blue Dragon (US/EU), Brothers in Arms: Hell’s Highway, Bullet Witch, Burnout 5, Crackdown, Eternal Sonata, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2, Grand Theft Auto IV, Haze, Lost Planet (US/EU), Medal of Honor Airborne, Resident Evil 5, Shadowrun, The Darkness, Too Human
XboxMediaCenter (XBMC) 2007-01-01 SVN rev7469 build
Xbox Media Center :: Wednesday, January 03, 2007
T3CH released a new SVN compile (rev7469 *proper*) of XboxMediaCenter(info). This T3CH-compile is a complete snapshot of what is in SVN at the time the build was compiled, with just a few small additions.
Special Notes and Noteworthy/XML/Script changes: * Here’s the first build of 2007. Hope everyone had a nice holiday! * I’m including a preview of the new mplayer Elupus is working on, report issues here. It’s located in the TEST subfolder, simply replace the 2 files in XBMC/system/players/mplayer/ if you want to help Team XBMC test it. * Also see the new NewYears splash made by Smokehead. * Since I haven’t seen any newer version of AMT than 0.93.5, I applied the fix floating around so atleast it works now. * I also tweaked the win32 ‘run_me_first.bat’ so it runs and then unmounts the virtual drives when you exit. * I’m also including the ‘XBMC Win32 PC environment’ .exe that is meant for skinners & python developers, read more about the concept here. It was built using Microsoft DirectX Summer 2004 SDK.
Here’s the added stuff since the 2006-12-25 SVN Rev7428 Build:
Arstechnica: the Xbox 360 and the next generation
Arstechnica :: Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Microsoft is confident enough in their position that they invited me to New York to see how the Xbox 360 stacks up against the PS3 when both are hooked into the same 1080p display and using the highest-quality connection possible. For the 360 that means the VGA cable, which is currently the only way the system can output 1080p; the PS3 is hooked up via HDMI.
* The hard drive problem The Microsoft team defends the drive by talking about how you can delete a television show and redownload it later to save space, but it’s clear that these solutions are a workaround. It’s a problem, and if Microsoft wants to really get people into buying more content through the 360 and Xbox it’s something they’re going to have to fix. And I’m not going to be happy if I end up paying $200 for a 40GB HDD.
* Microtransactions and you EA has recently angered a lot of gamers with their new habit of putting up what amounts to cheat codes online for pay, and “tutorial videos” for Madden that also cost money. “Vote with your wallet!” I’m told. Fair point, but the fact that these things are being sold at all makes the microtransaction system itself look pretty bad.
* Ana is a bot It’s time to put the systems in the room to the test and check out how the games look and how the Xbox 360 and PS3 handle upscaling. “If you really wanted to be mean you would have run these tests in 720p or 1080i,” I say, referring to the issues that Sony is having with those two resolutions. They realize what I’m talking about, and Scott Henson opens a small package and shows me what’s inside. “Is that it?” I ask. He nods. “We call it Ana. This is the scaling chip that’s in the 360,” he tells me. The PS3 has no internal hardware scaler, which means games that are 720p native can only be shown in 720p or 480p; there is no scaling up to 1080p or 1080i. “It was a critical design decision; we wanted the 360 to be high-definition, not just 1080p or some other standard. That’s why we included component cables in the box; there is no HDTV that doesn’t have a component in,” said Greenburg. They assume that Sony didn’t include a hardware scaler to keep costs down, but get a little cagey when I ask how much it costs to put Ana into the 360. “This isn’t a $1,000 scaler,” Henson says, “but it’s a good one.”
* Mission Impossible 3: the search for an equal resolution We popped Mission: Impossible 3 in the 360’s HD DVD drive, which is external, and we also put in the Blu-ray version for the PS3. Both systems were hooked up at the same time, so we could flip back and forth effortlessly to compare the video quality. In this case, both systems were outputting in 1080p, so there was no advantage in terms of resolution.
Rainbow Six Vegas Review
Gamepyre :: Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Even if you haven’t been a fan of Rainbow Six in the past, check out the next generation of the series. There’s quite a bit to appeal to normal FPS fans, while still appealing to fans of the series. This game easily gets Gamepyre’s Gold award, and is a must have for fans of shooters of all types.
The LANiverse 2006
Phoronix :: Tuesday, January 02, 2007
“While it was no QuakeCon, over the weekend was the Masters of the LANiverse LAN party that turned out 250 gamers for 16 hours of gaming action with several tournaments. We had captured some photographs of this event and have some thoughts to share on this Michigan LAN organization.”
Xbox360 HD DVD Player Review
OCIA :: Tuesday, January 02, 2007
“Firing the unit up shows off the quality of the display, 128×128 pixel resolution and 262k color. When connected to an XP computer the player is immediately recognized as a removable storage device and assigned a drive letter. The player also recognizes it is connected and ready to transfer files. The built-in lithium battery recharges through the USB port.”
The Empire Calls Back – Lego Star Wars 2 Mobile
THQ :: Tuesday, January 02, 2007
THQ Wireless and TT Games Publishing Ltd today announced their plans to release LEGO® Star Wars IITM Mobile, the sequel to one of the highest-quality and best-selling mobile phone games of 2005. Created by Universomo, LEGO Star Wars II Mobile is slated for an international release this holiday season.