ConsolesConsoles on the other hand are slightly more limited when it comes to portability and game affordability, but pack the biggest wallop of all when it comes to power and caliber of games on offer. There is simple no way in which two leading tablet and console games could be held side by side in terms of graphics, sound, playability and overall experience, which is exactly why the more hardcore of gamers will never stray far from their consoles.

Which to Buy?A surprisingly easy conclusion therefore as for hardcore gamers interested in little other than pure and unbridled gaming pleasure, nothing comes close to the console – assuming of course you can afford the necessary games and accessories. However, according to leading industry analysts, consoles really only have about 8 years or so before tablets are able to catch up by of performance and completely obliterate the market in terms of game affordability. An easy decision for now therefore, but for those who may have long though mobile devices could only stretch about as far as solitaire, a few surprises may be in store to say the least.

Similar Posts:
Reconstruction Efforts Hampered By Voles : Greetings,…
I would have loved to see Elvis perform in person : I wish I…
Best for USB! : What happens when you Google the words best USB…
The real-world relevance of WOW : One of the most fascinating…

I wonder why it is that retro games have still so massively appealing to gamers… I mean let’s think about this logically; they are painfully basic, their graphics are laughably blocky and they have about as much depth to them as a quiche without any filling! So, as paradoxical as it may sound, ‘retro classics’ are still really big business. Put it this way; if they weren’t, then software companies would not keep on releasing compilation discs of them for the latest twenty first century games consoles.

And these antiquated games seem to get everywhere as well; we can download them onto our phones, play them on our PCs and there are even a few amusement arcades that feature a special ‘retro area'(this will normally be advertised on banner stands outside).

Pac Man, Donkey Kong, Galaga, Space Invaders, Mr Do, Dig Dug, Phoenix, Gorf, Tron, Paperboy, Star Wars and Double Dragon… so many of these old titles have such a thoroughly timeless appeal. These may all be pretty straightforward in gameplay terms, but perhaps that is actually their greatest strength. For instance, just think back to the national obsession with Tetris when it was released on the first Game Boy. You couldn’t think of a much simpler style of game than this, yet it was still a totally massive hit.

So could it be that these old school titles can actually teach our present day game makers a thing or too? Perhaps modern video games can be too complicated for their own good? Maybe it would actually be a whole lot more beneficial if software companies were to take a ‘back to basics'approach. After all, super-realistic graphics and sound are not a necessity… yet super-addictive gameplay is of the utmost importance. And that is something which all of the aforementioned titles boasted!

Similar Posts:
Reconstruction Efforts Hampered By Voles : Greetings,…
I would have loved to see Elvis perform in person : I wish I…
Robot Energy Scam Busting : Energy is what a robot needs above…
Space Marine : RPG games are definitely a game mode which is…

If you are a Nintendo 64 owner and you don’t have %u2018Banjo Kazooie'in your collection, then you really should hang your head in shame! This has to be one of the greatest games that was ever made for the aforementioned console. Yeah, yeah sure; we all know about the immortal %u2018Goldeneye'and the super-brilliant %u2018Mario Kart 64’, but poor old %u2018Banjo Kazooie'will often get overlooked by today’s %u2018retro gamers'altogether… And that is a real pity because this N64 title is right up there with the very best of them!

Not only is this game almost unbearably cute and extremely good fun to play, it is also brimming over with secrets and hidden tasks. Needless to say, this gives %u2018Banjo Kazooie'an enormous amount of replay value. It is one of those rare (or quite literally Rare) games you can go back to again and again and again without losing one bit of enjoyment.

The graphics in %u2018Banjo Kazooie'may not be on par with today’s titles, but they are still very good. Bright colours, lovable characters and some wonderfully imaginative levels all make this thoroughly good fun to play.

This game also features a brilliant sense of humour and there are some genuinely amusing bits of dialogue between the characters. So when Goggles is teaching Kazooie new moves you can have a damn good giggle at some of the snide remarks as they chat.

There are so many different things to do in %u2018Banjo Kazooie'musical notes, Mumbo skulls and golden feathers to collect, hidden Jinjos to locate and secret rooms to discover. Even the most hardcore game player will find that it takes many long hours to complete this adventure!

And when you finally do get to the end of it all, there is %u2018Banjo Tooie’ to consider. But the best news of all is that this sequel is every bit as good as the original game!!!

Similar Posts:
Reconstruction Efforts Hampered By Voles : Greetings,…
I would have loved to see Elvis perform in person : I wish I…
Kate Controls All : If like me, you struggle to understand the…
Space Marine : RPG games are definitely a game mode which is…

The first criteria that will help you make your decision will be looking at the types of games you are interested in. If great graphics and titles such as Modern Warfare 3 are what you are looking for you can disregard the Wii as an option. While the Wii has fantastic interactive controls, it doesn’t have the ability to deliver such graphically rich games as the PS3 or Xbox. If then you are a hardcore gamer then one of these is your option, if you are focused on family games and social gaming then the Wii is definitely an option. The Xbox and PS3 have both developed their own equivalent of the Wii gaming system recently however these are expensive extras that you have to buy separately. As such they are a fun addition for the hardcore gamer, but if family fun and entertaining but not heavy gaming is your target these seem to be a bit in excess.

The next question to ask yourself is what do you want the console for? This will help you differentiate between an Xbox and PS3, which share a lot of game titles and have equally impressive graphics. The PS3 has free access internet gaming as well as a blue-ray player which tops the Xbox’s pay for online service as well as standard DVD player. The PS3 also has web browsing functionality and access to the BBC iPlayer. The Xbox while lacking this browsing capability does allow you to purchase movies online and has access to Sky TV providing you are a sky member.
Price is the final issue to consider and with the PS3 being the most expensive, Xbox being the middle ground and Wii being the cheapest I will leave you with the following conclusion:

• Wii is cheap and cheerful with lots of exclusive titles and fun game controls.
• PS3 is the whole package with all the additional extras but requires a hardcore gamer with a big bank account.
• Xbox is the middle ground, it has a lot of the titles that are on PS3 and some of its capability but it also has probably the best controller with kinect. It is a little bit Wii and a little bit PS3.

Similar Posts:
Reconstruction Efforts Hampered By Voles : Greetings,…
I would have loved to see Elvis perform in person : I wish I…
Celebrities… what celebrities? : For my robotic point of view,…
Space Marine : RPG games are definitely a game mode which is…

If you are a fan of driver games you will definitely like this fresh spin on the old award winning game. If you however do not like driver games, but are into supernatural or spiritual you will as well like what the new Driver gives to you. Yes, Driver: San Francisco is more realistic not only in terms of the game itself but also in its recreation of the city. The designers have done a really good job in recapturing the look and feel of this beloved city.

The design of the cars in this new version of the game is as specific as what you would find with designer silver jewellery. The cars bring to the fore the tendency for hooliganism that is in many people. So they are design in the muscle car, remakes of old cars, and supercars.

The main character, John Tanner is in coma in his hospital bed while in the same time he is chasing after the criminal that is responsible for him being in the coma, Charles Jericho. As Tanner wakes up from coma he realizes that he is woken up as a ghost that can freely go throughout the city and take over anyone that is driving any vehicle on the streets of San Francisco.

This makes it very interesting in the various team gameplay modes that are available to you as well as when you are going through the game. As you get rewarded by creating damage and chaos to the streets you will find it very nice to be able to change from a very fast car to a shiny new truck, ideal for crushing anything in your way.

UbiSoft has made a lot of improvement to the Driver since its first and the San Francisco promises much more fun than Driver 3. So gear up drive enthusiasts as this is the game you want to shift to.

Similar Posts:
Reconstruction Efforts Hampered By Voles : Greetings,…
I would have loved to see Elvis perform in person : I wish I…
Genghis Khan and Democracy : Nice chap, that Genghis. I just…
Review - King Arthur: Fallen Champions : In the gaming world it…

Ah, gifting; the generous act of bestowing a present upon a friend, and, or, loved one. And when said-present is joyfully - perhaps even tearfully - received, well, there’s not much that can warm the cockles of your heart in quite the same way. So if you enjoy your tactical, turn-based games, and have a spare friend stashed away who shares your sentiments, get ’em out, dust ’em off and put your gift-rags on, because you, old chum, are going cockle-warming.

Developed by indie team Mode 7 Games, Frozen Synapse is a 3D top-down, turn-based, tactical shooter, available through their website, and Steam. You control a squad of digital soldiers, facing off against an opposing team in a randomly generated virtual environment, comprised of walls, buildings, and other areas of cover. Weapons in the game include: sniper rifle - good for long range, but has the slowest spin-up time; machine gun, which is great for medium range attack; shotgun - only useful at close range, but has the quickest spin-up time, when pitted against machine gun and sniper rifle. There are also rocket launchers, which can only hit walls and cause splash damage. Finally, there are grenades, which can be bounced off walls, or thrown from behind cover, and are the most difficult weapon to get to grips with.

Frozen Synapse has 3 main game modes: an immersive cyberpunk single player campaign, spanning 55 scenarios, comprised of straightforward enemy elimination, VIP protection, and attacking and defending; an exciting multiplayer mode, where it’s entirely possible to play multiple games at the same time, even through email!; a skirmish mode, which allows you to set up custom games against the computer AI.

Each turn phase in Frozen Synapse lasts for 5 seconds, and allows you to test strategies beforehand by issuing commands to the members of your squad, as well as hypothetically planning/guessing the actions of your opponents. Commands can range from simple movements, to intricately detailed chains of events, which can involve, for example: holding a ducked position; waiting 2 seconds; standing up; setting to ignore the enemy; moving to a waypoint; setting to engage enemy; setting a direction of fire, and so on. During this time, while you’re testing situations, your opponent is doing the same for their squad.

Pressing the Play button will simulate the outcome of all of the planning you have made over the course of 5 seconds. If something doesn’t quite go to plan, no problem; you can go back, fine-tune, and test again until things go better. If you feel so inclined, you can even throw out your original plan entirely, and test a completely different one. Plus, you can do this as many times as you like, without the threat of a lingering time constraint. This means that winning does not hinge on who operates faster, but rather, who has the better plan.

When you finally believe you’ve come up with a strategy that will yield the best results, you can commit to your plan by clicking the Prime button. Once your opponent hits their Prime button, both of your plans are executed simultaneously, no do-overs - you can’t take it back. After the action has unfolded, for better or worse, the game moves on to the next turn phase, where you can continue with your original plan, or alternatively adjust your plans to adapt to the new situation put before you.

Frozen Synapse is a revelation that once again proves the adage;

you don’t need fancy graphics to make a damn fine game

And it’s this exciting, new spin on the familiar turn-based strategy that has captured the hearts of players worldwide, and has rightfully earned the game high scores across the board. Although not the most visually impressive game out there, Frozen Synapse is a revelation that once again proves the adage; you don’t need fancy graphics to make a damn fine game. If you’re a fan of this genre, you must play this game right now. If you have a friend who’s a fan of this genre, they must play this game right now… and this works out well, because Mode 7 have adopted a ’Buy 1 Get 1 Free'policy with Frozen Synapse. What better way to get a friend interested in this awesome game by giving them a copy? I gave my free copy to a friend over at www.net-root.com, who told his friend about it, who, in turn, bought a copy for himself and his flatmate, and so on. It’s an interesting business model for Mode 7, which will hopefully pay off in the long run, and maybe set a trend for other developers to follow.

So check out Frozen Synapse today, and feel the warm, fuzzy feelings of bringing joy to a friend by giving them your free copy. Then feel the warm, fuzzy feelings of giving them a good kicking online. Trust me, they’ll thank you in the long run.

Similar Posts:
WOW art and design : If you’re a WOW fan, you’ll…
Social Gaming – Not So Attractive : My friends and relatives…

My friends and relatives have been going gaga about social networking. According to them, social networking web sites are the best place to have fun on the internet. Well, my definition of fun, as is evident from the description of the blog, is clearly related to video games. When I say this, my friends and relatives point out that there are various the games available on social networking web sites as well.

Well, no disrespect intended but, online scrabble can hardly be called a game. It is nothing more than an activity that stimulates the mind to identify words through jumbled set of letters. Where is the action? Where is the excitement? Where is the thrill of having achieved something after repeated tries?

It would have been worthwhile had the same board been played online again and again. However, the board changes every now and then and we have to start all over again no matter how hard we try. For some strange reason, I find it virtually impossible to enjoy such an experience. Social networking are useful to stay in touch with friends and relatives but I don’t look at it as an entertainment option alone.

I need something hardcore and something directly related to gaming to satisfy me. Another advantage that I have been pointed out is that the online gaming is a free. Well, free is a nice but what about the seriously amateurish standards of such games? I would rather pay money and enjoy quality entertainment than be satisfied with mediocre entertainment simply because it happens to be free.

Similar Posts:
DUST 514 : The way to go, EVE online had struck gold this year…
Victor  : The victor of the endless battle of modern warfare…

The victor of the endless battle of modern warfare shooters can reach a conclusion now. Eventhough the biggest competitors for the title are not out yet, it is easy to see how some companies are progressing compared to others and how some are making the wrong moves.
All I can see from Battlefield is that the in gam sequences they release and increasingly making fans go wild about how far the realize date is. One thing we need to realize is that every battlefield is different from each other. Even though their library doesn’t span as long as Call of Duty, they do know that whatever they make has to be different and unique from the other as well as its predecessor. Modern Warfare though highly entertaining like a hollywood blockbuster lacks the need to improve noticeably from its predecessors. Although it did lead the way once upon a time, its now high time they revamp their engines and try to experiment. You may say that there is no need because the engine is fine but we need to keep in mind that for big franchises with titles COD, Battlefield and MoH, no change is no growth.
I hold my breath and wait for the game that will lead the way for the modern shooter for the next several years, the one that will set trend for the future of gaming. It does seem that shooters are usual the ones that lead the way in the games market. Though diluted, it is truly enjoyable with only a very few titles screwing it up.

( chess pieces )

Similar Posts:
A game for everyone : Video gaming culture has really increased…
Mobile gaming Vs. Traditional console : Mobile internet has…

Mobile internet has given the games industry a massive boon in recent years, but it has also presented a challenge to the traditional gaming platforms.

An interesting report that appeared last week on BBC news shows that Nintendo is facing increasingly tough competition from the mobile gaming industry. With faster broadband being made available on Smartphones and other handheld devices, experts have accused Nintendo of being caught with their pants down. Microsoft and Sony have both recognised the advantage of online gaming, although they too are still having a few problems in taking advantage of the mobile gaming platform.

With Sony due to release its new handheld device next year and Microsoft utilising it’s existing place within the Smartphone market to gain custom, you would be forgiven for thinking that Nintendo seems to be years behind. Concentrating on their 3DS handheld and existing Wii user base may seem foolhardy, but with the announcement of the Wii-U maybe Nintendo know something the rest of us don’t. Showcased at this year’s E3 show in Los Angeles, Wii-U turned more then a few heads boasting more powerful hardware and a tablet like control interface. Clearly Nintendo have been playing close attention to Apple’s success with the iPad. Due to be released either in winter of this year but more likely spring 2012, Wii-U will hope to capture the mobile gaming market by allowing users to access games and share information online. As to whether or not this venture will be a success only time will tell.

The only thing I am sure of is that I will be buying one the moment it’s released!

Similar Posts:
A game for everyone : Video gaming culture has really increased…
Glory of 1999 : Just like music, games had their hay days…