Gaming Article (14)
 |
CoolerMaster Storm Sentinel Advance Gaming Mouse Review » September 26, 2009 04:00PM
|
 |
Darkest of Days Performance Testing Review » September 19, 2009 04:00PM
|
 |
Cryostasis: Sleep of Reason Performance Evaluation » June 15, 2009 04:00PM
|
 |
Mirrors Edge Game Testing » February 2, 2009 04:00PM
|
 |
Nvidia Geforce 3D Vision Review » January 7, 2009 04:00PM
|
Gaming News (802)
Game Sales Down From Last Year
Category: GamingPosted: February 3, 2010 02:54PM
Author: Nick Harezga
Game sales fell about 8 percent this year compared to the previous year. The data was collected from the top 3 gaming markets, the United States, Japan, and the UK. Even though the gaming sector as a whole declined, it could have been much worse if not for Modern Warfare 2, which sold nearly 12 million copies. Other top games included Wii Fit and Wii Sports Resort. The news isn't all bad, however, as a good portion of the drop in sales can be attributed to the 57% decrease in sales of PS2 games. The PS2 has been out for almost 10 years, and many gamers have likely moved on to newer consoles.
XBOX 360 Exclusivity on GTA 4 DLC Comes to an End
Category: GamingPosted: January 31, 2010 07:12AM
Author: Nick Harezga
The year long exclusivity deal Microsoft had with Rockstar over the Grand Theft Auto 4 DLC is soon coming to an end. PC and PS3 gamers will be able to get their hands on The Lost and The Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony on March 30. The two games will be available individually or as a pack on the PlayStation Network and Games for Windows Live. The exclusivity deal cost Microsoft $50 million, but with a $20 price tag on each DLC it surely recouped most of its investment, if not turning a large profit. There is no word on pricing, but it will likely be similar to whatever the current price is on the XBOX 360.
The Potential of iPad Gaming
Category: GamingPosted: January 28, 2010 06:19AM
Author: Nick Harezga
The demos presented at the iPad reveal were plentiful. One that was particularly interesting was the Need for Speed: Shift demo from EA. The game was adapted from the iPhone version and features several improvements. The larger screen provides for better graphics as well as more items that can fit on the screen. This is evident from the multi-touch gear shift and rear-view mirror. The team at EA was able to accomplish all this in just 14 days. An EA VP has stated that the possibilities opened up by the large multi-touch screen will allow games to run better on the iPad than they might on other hand held gaming systems. Scrabble was a game that was mentioned for the ability to have several people play together. I can't personally get too excited about Scrabble, but the technology available should bring some interesting games from developers.
PS3 Motion Controller Pushed Back
Category: GamingPosted: January 20, 2010 09:41AM
Author: Nick Harezga
I remember when people laughed at the Wii controller before it was released and didn't think the system would fare well against its more powerful competition. Since then, Microsoft and Sony have decided to get on the motion controller bandwagon with Project Natal and the PS3 Motion Controller, respectively. Sony has announced that its controller has been pushed back from spring to fall of this year. Citing a small number of compatible games at the spring release date, Sony felt it would be of more value to the customers in the fall. To use the PS3 controller, the PlayStation Eye Camera will be necessary to recognize the players movement.
Live Sports on Xbox 360
Category: GamingPosted: January 19, 2010 04:41PM
Author: Nick Harezga
Rumors are circulating that the popular sports network ESPN could soon make its way to the Xbox 360. A deal is reportedly in the works between Microsoft and Disney to bring streaming content directly to the Xbox. The service would be available through a subscription plan through Xbox Live. Microsoft has already made a similar deal with the Sky network in Europe. This would put Microsoft back ahead of Sony and Nintendo, as the companies have recently matched the Xbox in Netflix streaming. Neither company involved has confirmed these rumors yet.
Modern Warfare 2 a License to Print Money
Category: GamingPosted: January 13, 2010 05:17PM
Author: Nick Harezga
Activision Blizzard announced that Modern Warfare 2 has passed the $1 billion in sales mark, which is a tremendous milestone for an intellectual property. The return on investment must be huge, and Activision is rolling in dough. Even more impressive is that MW2 has only been available for a little more than two months. This is the second billion dollar game from Activision, with the first being Guitar Hero 3. Not to mention World of Warcraft, which is reported to rake in $1 billion per year from monthly fees. The game industry is certainly suffering as a whole, but Activision seems to be doing better than everyone else.
New Intel Core i5 Capable of Running Modern Games
Category: CPU's, GamingPosted: January 13, 2010 12:02PM
Author: Brentt Moore
With the new Arrandale processor, Intel has put a graphics solution on the same socket as the central processing unit. The company has claimed since its initial showcasing of the technology into the market, that many games would be able to run on the intergrated solution to save both energy and money as well. In a new test to see if this claim was true, it was found that the Core i5 processor can run Modern Warefare 2 on good quality, but can only run it at a resolution of 640x480. Even at that low of a resolution however, it was still shown that the game, which is one of the most popular titles right now along with one of the newest, was able to run at a constant 30FPS. Hopefully within time, the technology will be improved, and more games will be able to be ran at higher resolutions and better details than what is currently available to consumers.
Lego Coming to an MMO Near You
Category: GamingPosted: January 9, 2010 09:54PM
Author: Nick Harezga
Details of LEGO Universe, the upcoming MMO, were available to those attending CES this week. I had not even heard of this game before now. The game plays like many other MMO offerings, with players tasked with completing various quests. However, in the land of Lego, players will be able to build their own buildings using the colorful building blocks. The initial mission has players build a rocket ship to get out of the starting area. One unique feature about the Lego MMO is that players can take on a variety of roles simply by changing what they are wearing. You can be a pirate or a knight, and won't be limited to one class for your entire playtime. No information has been given on pricing, but as with most MMOs, expect a monthly fee. The game should appeal to a wide range of gamers, as they have been a very popular toy for decades.
PlayStation 3 Has a Successful Holiday
Category: GamingPosted: January 7, 2010 09:33AM
Author: Nick Harezga
Sales of the newly slim PS3 over the holiday season have given Sony plenty to cheer about. Over the last month, nearly 4 million consoles were sold worldwide. The sales increase can be attributed to a price cut and a plethora of new games. Sony is on pace to far outsell last year by nearly 3 million units. A firmware upgrade later this year to add 3D support for games and movies is expected to add even more appeal to the system. And with games like God of War 3 and Gran Turismo 5, sales could go up further. I'm considering buying one just for the new God of War.
Early Details For Supreme Commander 2
Category: GamingPosted: January 6, 2010 02:14PM
Author: Nick Harezga
Supreme Commander 2, the sequel to the popular and massive RTS, looks to improve on nearly all aspects of the first game. One area of the game that was particularly lacking was the story, which will certainly be remedied this time around. With the help of Square Enix, the makers of the Final Fantasy series, Supreme Commander 2 will introduce cut scenes and in depth character development. Multi player will also see noticeable improvements, and will feature server browsing through Steam. The game will also be available to a wider install base than its predecessor, as the system requirements are lower in many respects. You won't need a top of the line PC to play this game. The game will be available in March, and deserves a look from any RTS fans out there.
Dragon Age: Origins Expansion Announced
Category: GamingPosted: January 5, 2010 06:23AM
Author: Nick Harezga
Dragon Age: Origins is getting an expansion pack entitled Awakening. This announcement comes just after the newest DLC was released for the game. The game takes players on a journey to Amaranthine to rebuild the ranks of the Grey Warden, set after the story of the original game. In the mold of Fallout 3, different choices will be made based on morality. The choices the player makes will influence the rebuilding of the Grey Warden. Five new party members will be introduced along with new items, spells, and quests. The level cap is also being increased. The game will be available on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC on March 16.
Electronic Arts Plans Multiple Server Shutdowns
Category: GamingPosted: January 4, 2010 12:19PM
Author: Brentt Moore
In its lifetime, Electronic Arts have developed many games that consumers have come to know and love, including the famous Madden series as well as titles such as NCAA and even the NASCAR series. The last rumor about the company stated that it would be shutting down some of its online servers that users play many of its sports titles on. While some oldtime players hoped that it was not true, Electronic Arts will actually indeed be shutting some of its servers down for certain games concerning online play, as noted by the company themself. Most of the titles that are being taken offline are somewhat old, and not completely new, while others such as NASCAR 09 are the most recent title of the game. Sports games are mainly the culprit in the mass shutdown of online servers, which seems like a reason for Electronics Arts to have consumers buy the most expensive and new games if they want to play online. No matter what the reason, if its pure business sales or if the games are not actually seeing many online players, the full list of games being affected for various consoles can be found here.
Space Station Sold for $330,000
Category: GamingPosted: January 4, 2010 05:45AM
Author: Nick Harezga
A space station was recently sold for $330,000, which sounds like a great deal. However, the “Crystal Palace” isn't a real space station. It is a virtual space station that is a part of the Project Entropia Universe. The station was purchased by Buzz “Erik” Lightyear, who won the station in an auction against other players. The Planet Calypso area of the game has apparently been generating a profit since 2004 and has over 800,000 users. Transactions between users in 2008 alone were $420 million, so perhaps it isn't so crazy that a virtual space station was worth so much.
New Dragon Age: Origins DLC Available Tuesday
Category: GamingPosted: January 3, 2010 02:00PM
Author: Nick Harezga
Bioware has announced that the newest DLC for Dragon Age: Origins will be available on January 5, which is this Tuesday. The expansion is called Return to Ostagar, and takes players on a journey to learn of King Cailan. Players will learn more about the Grey Warden, and how they were almost wiped out. The DLC will be available for both PC and Xbox 360, while PS3 players will have to wait until the end of the month. The DLC will set you back 400 Microsoft or Bioware points, which amounts to about $5.
New DLC Coming to Borderlands
Category: GamingPosted: December 30, 2009 09:27AM
Author: Nick Harezga
The second DLC for the popular shooter Borderlands is now available for Xbox 360, and costs 800 Xbox Live points. The DLC is entitled Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot, and is surely a reference to the post apocalyptic world faced by Mad Max. The DLC won't raise the level cap past 50, but offers a tournament that will offer new loot items. These arena areas should be extremely popular among groups of friends, as they should be difficult to take on alone. PS3 gamers will have to wait till January 7, while PC gamers will have to wait for “early 2010.”
Valve Testing Bots in Team Fortress 2
Category: GamingPosted: December 22, 2009 09:30AM
Author: Nick Harezga
Citing the AI found in the Left 4 Dead series, Valve has announced the beta testing of bots for Team Fortress 2. As the bots are still in beta, they won't be available on all maps, but reportedly have human reaction times and tactics. The bots are currently only available on King of the Hill maps Viaduct, Sawmill, and Nucleus. There is a forum to give feedback on how you feel the bots are performing. Bots can be added using server commands, but will soon have a menu to access them.
Need for Speed SHIFT Comes to iPhone
Category: GamingPosted: December 19, 2009 09:54AM
Author: Nick Harezga
The newest iteration in the Need for Speed series is coming to the iPhone. Need for Speed SHIFT is already available and will set you back $9.99. Your car is controlled by turning your phone, taking advantage of the phones accelerometer. Acceleration is done automatically, while breaking requires you to touch the screen. Users can even drift their cars by making sudden movements in the direction they wish to travel. The game features 20 licensed cars and 18 tracks across three locales.
Soldier Victorious in TF2 War
Category: GamingPosted: December 17, 2009 05:48PM
Author: Nick Harezga
The several day long event has finally come to an exciting conclusion. The Soldier has prevailed over the Demoman in the battle, earning himself the seventh weapon unlock. The Gunboats can replace the shotgun and will result in significantly less damage when rocket jumping. In addition, the end of the war also brings two new maps. The first map is a capture point map called Gorge, and features only two control points. The goal is to speed up gameplay. The second map is a capture the flag offering entitled Double Cross which features two bridges and nighttime combat. I am officially on winter break, so look for me on Steam this weekend.
Team Fortress 2 Free Weekend - Starts Thursday!
Category: GamingPosted: December 16, 2009 06:09PM
Author: ClayMeow
You may know the drill by now – whenever a game on Steam receives some free DLC, it always seems Valve grants all Steam users a free weekend to try it out. As we've been reporting all week, the Team Fortress 2 WAR! Update will be available this Thursday, December 17th. Beginning immediately upon release of the new update, anyone with a Steam account will be able to play Team Fortress 2 for free all weekend long. And if you don't have a Steam account? That's free also, so you owe it to yourself to try out arguably the best multiplayer shooter ever. You can pre-load the game now if you want to be able to play immediately upon release.
First Weapons Announced for TF2 Update
Category: GamingPosted: December 15, 2009 09:15AM
Author: Nick Harezga
As a consolation prize to being behind the Soldier in kill count, the Demo is the first to see new weapons. Replacing the bottle is the Eyelander, and replacing the sticky bomb launcher is the Chargin' Targe. The Eyelander is a giant sword reminding me of Braveheart, with the ability to kill with one strike. However, your max health will suffer as a result. Each kill will raise both your max health and speed, but must be combined with the Chargin' Targe for full effect. The new shield will improve fire and blast damage resistance, and will allow the Demo to move faster than a Scout when right clicking. The guaranteed sword kill can only occur during a long range charge. A new comic also offers some insight into the life of a Demo.
Mac Users Will Soon be Able to Play Dragon Age: Origins
Category: GamingPosted: December 14, 2009 01:57PM
Author: Nick Harezga
BioWare is teaming up with TransGaming to bring the recently released Dragon Age: Origins to the Mac OS. It is scheduled to be available for download on December 21. The game coming to the Mac this quickly is quite the surprise as it usually takes much longer to get games released for Windows. Two versions, Standard and Digital Deluxe, will be available for download. The Deluxe version will feature extra content such as wallpapers and the Warden's Keep add-on. Both versions will feature the Stone Prisoner and Blood Dragon Armor add-ons. OS X Leopard and a Core 2 Duo are required to play, PowerPC Macs aren't supported.
L4D2 Meets L4D1 in The Passing
Category: GamingPosted: December 14, 2009 01:44PM
Author: ClayMeow
In an official press release earlier this afternoon, Valve announced the first DLC add-on for Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2), "The Passing," targeted for an early Spring 2010 release. The Passing "brings the original Left 4 Dead (L4D1) Survivors down south for a meeting with the L4D2 cast, while delivering new single-player, multiplayer and co-operative gameplay for the PC and Xbox 360." Valve stated that players will assume the role of the L4D2 Survivors and merely meet with the L4D1 characters. However, in addition to a new co-operative campaign and arenas for Survival, Versus and Scavenge mode, there will also be a "new co-operative challenge mode of play." Does this mean a 4 + 4 or 4 vs. 4 game mode? No word yet, but let the rumors fly! The Passing will also add a new "uncommon common" zombie class, melee weapon and firearm.
Doug Lombardi, VP of marketing at Valve, is calling The Passing "the most important campaign in the Left 4 Dead story." Only time will tell if it lives up to that.
Latest News for TF2 Update
Category: GamingPosted: December 13, 2009 05:56PM
Author: Nick Harezga
The release of the Soldier and Demoman update is one day closer, and nothing has been revealed yet about what either class will receive. However, Valve has finally released details on what can be done with all of those extra weapons you find while playing. The crafting system will allow players to smelt the unused weapons to build other weapons and hats. The crafting system will use blueprints which can be found to obtain these new items. A new comic also indicates that Saxton Hale has been contracted to produce new weapons for both the Soldier and Demo.
Sony Still Losing on PS3
Category: GamingPosted: December 12, 2009 09:25AM
Author: Nick Harezga
When Sony released the Slim PS3 earlier this year, it was hoping that it would finally be able to make a profit from console sales. Sony is losing much less than at the initial launch, losing less than $40 per console sold. This is even more impressive as the price of the PS3 was dropped when the Slim PS3 was introduced. Sony was able to sustain this model due to revenue collected from game and other sales. Sony is expected to reach the break even point very soon as the price of components continues to fall.
New Team Fortress 2 Update Announced
Category: GamingPosted: December 10, 2009 08:21PM
Author: Nick Harezga
The newest update for the popular multi player game from Valve is coming soon. This will be another two class update, this time featuring two of my personal favorites, the Demoman and Soldier. There will be the usual new maps and achievements for each of the classes. However, the weapon unlocks are where things start to get interesting. Both classes will each get the standard three upgrades, but since this is the WAR! update, there is something special in store. There will be a seventh weapon that will be given to the class that kills the most of the other class during this week. Stay tuned for more details as they are revealed.
Forza Sells Over One Million Copies
Category: GamingPosted: December 9, 2009 12:18PM
Author: Brentt Moore
Microsoft has always been known for publishing and developing good gaming titles for both the PC platform and Xbox platform, and the Forza Motorsports Series is no exception. Forza 3, which was released just around a month ago, has now sold over one million copies all together. Turn 10 plans on adding even more content around Christmas time for 400 Microsoft Points, and will later in next year offer another surprise package for more than likely another 400 Microsoft Points. In all of the world, over 64 million racing matches have been played by all of the players, and more are expected to keep playing as more consumers pick up the title and adopt the game into their gaming collection.
Upcoming Aliens vs. Predator Banned in Australia
Category: GamingPosted: December 7, 2009 05:39AM
Author: Nick Harezga
Rebellion, the developer of the new Aliens vs. Predator game, is refusing to censor the game after it was ruled too graphic for the MA15+ rating in Australia. The violent ways in which human players can die, in addition to excessive gore are what did this game in. The CEO of Rebellion understands the decision, and acknowledges that the game shouldn't be played by children, but that adult gamers should be able to make their own decisions. The video game classifications can be changed in Australia, but only if all 6 Attorney Generals agree to it. The only problem is that one of them won't reconsider, so those of you Down Under will just have to deal with censorship for now.
Sudden Attack Mouse Released From SteelSeries
Category: Gaming, Input Devices, Mouse PadPosted: December 6, 2009 11:32AM
Author: Brentt Moore
Both manufacturers, Razer and SteelSeries, mainly rule the gaming world with their mice, keyboards, headsets, and even mouse pads. While both companies offer a broad spectrum of products to suite the needs of gamers across the world, SteelSeries is now offering a new limited edition Sudden Attack mouse that will retail for $79.99, which will offer built-in macro capabilities for RTS games as well as MMO gaming situations. Along with the new mouse that will feature a camouflage design on the top portion of it, a mouse pad that follows the same design will also be released as a limited edition product. The Sudden Attack mouse pad will offer a non-slip backing surface, and will sell for roughly $11.99, appealing to the more thrifty consumers in the gaming peripheral market.
WoW Player Completes All Achievements
Category: GamingPosted: December 3, 2009 03:17PM
Author: Nick Harezga
A World of Warcraft player has completed all achievements found in the popular MMORPG. Many of you out there have likely done this with various games you have played over the years. However, World of Warcraft has 986 achievements. The player, Little Gray, has likely amassed thousands of hours in the game that many people just can't stop playing. However, he technically hasn't completed all of them, as a bug gave him credit for 2 achievements instead of one.
Ubisoft Working on New Prince of Persia Title
Category: GamingPosted: December 1, 2009 11:09AM
Author: Brentt Moore
Prince of Persia has been a favorite title among gamers for many years now since the first one came out and was soon enjoyed over personal computers, consoles, and even handhelds. Ubisoft, who is known to make excellent gaming titles such as the Splinter Cell games, has announced that it is currently working on a new Prince of Persia game to follow in the already popular series. While not much about the game is known at the moment, it is slated to come out in May of next year if development goes as scheduled with the developer. This should coincide with the Prince of Persia movie, which is supposed to come out on the May 28 next year. Both multimedia projects are excepted to promote each other and should help increase the total revenue between the movie, as well as the game, which will be playable on a variety of different gaming platforms when it becomes available.
