GAMES 2011

If there can be one thing said about this game, it is that it has atmosphere. This isn’t a genre defying game. The core game play is reminiscent of any basic third-person, cover based shooter. It features some interesting set pieces, but the driving mechanic can be difficult to get used to. Once the game’s story and atmosphere kicks in, it is easy to lose yourself in the world and characters.

If you’ve played other third-person, cover based shooters; you’ve pretty much played this one. Later stages of the game may present some real challenges (I played through on hard difficulty on the PC), so be prepared to make some long distance shots if you want to survive for long. A few of the enemies have the ability to kill you in one to two shots, so it would be interesting to see how difficult it is to play through the game using a controller.

The game itself plays out across a fairly limited map, though the locations never end up feeling overused. The seasons change midway through the game, which goes a long way when trying to memorize the area, providing new and different scenery to enjoy. Driving is a major factor in this game, and it feels like you’re fighting against the city itself as a major section of the game play involves you driving to and fro, from your house to the various mission locations. The city is dense and packed with other cars and pedestrians, so the toggle based speed limiting option is a welcome addition.

Driving is definitely a task that you will have to get accustomed to. Finding or receiving a fast car is a rare occasion, so once you find these gems, you will not want to destroy them needlessly. It’s interesting to note that cars do not typically explode when they take excessive damage. Rather, the game allows the player to get out and work on the engine, fixing it just enough to allow you to continue driving. Garages also have options available to increase the speed and handling of your car, as well as repair services. Though repairing your car can become quite expensive, especially on the various hot rods and convertibles. This lends to a more careful style of driving, especially when your passengers are eager to point out each driving mistake (especially when behind the wheel of their car). It doesn’t help that a lot of the cars handle like they were made from the late 40′s to early 50′s.

If you take a look at some of the recent screen shots for Bethesda’s newest entry in the Fallout series, you will probably notice that graphically, not much has changed since Fallout 3. This is due to the fact that the game runs on the same engine used in Fallout 3, and in many respects, the textures, artwork, and animations remain the same. This may upset some, as New Vegas could potentially have been released as an expansion for Fallout 3, as opposed to a full priced standalone game, but development has changed hands in such a way that I will gladly pay up.

The original Fallout games were developed by Black Isle Studios, and they allowed for much more freedom in both action and morals than the Bethesda developed Fallout 3 was able to provide. Fallout 3 was a great game, but it ended up feeling diluted and restrictive regarding matters of character choice. Interactions typically fell to combat, whereas in the first two Fallout games, you could use civilized conversation, infallible logic, proven science, or if absolutely necessary, a cheap shot to the groin.

While Black Isle Studios was dissolved, many of its employees now work for developer Obsidian Entertainment. Backed by Bethesda, serving as producer this time around, Obsidian Entertainment has been given the Fallout 3 engine to do with what they will, and from what I have seen so far, every complaint I had about Fallout 3 has been addressed.

The V.A.T.S. targeting system has been revamped to not only include groin shots once again, but special weapon specific finishing moves as well. The diversity of character interaction has increased, and those that choose to specialize into the social aspects of their character will see much greater rewards than those offered in Fallout 3.

Another issue I experienced with Fallout 3 was the overall dilution of my character as I approached max level. You ended up literally having every skill in the game, with the only real variance being in what order you chose to max them out. This has supposedly been fixed in New Vegas, with characters becoming very specialized depending on what skill route they choose.

I can’t wait until October 19th, when Fallout: New Vegas is released in North America, for I shall delve deep into the man cave and return enlightened by the developmental power of Obsidian Entertainment. If it does end up sucking however, you can call me out on it here.

When it comes to game nights at your apartment, suffice to say you are the host with the most. Trivial Pursuit, Life, Pictionary… you got a ‘monopoly’ on them all. But how do you go about turning an ordinary apartment living area into a world-class game room?

First things first – you are going to want to decide which room of your new apartment is going to be transformed into a gamers’ paradise. The living room is an obvious choice, but you might want that reserved for… well… everyday living. An ideal option is to transform a spare bedroom into the entertainment den of your dreams, just be sure to choose a space that works best for you.

Once the location has been confirmed, you’ll need some basic furniture items to complete the transformation. The room’s centerpiece will obviously be the gaming table, so be sure and choose this item carefully. Take measurements of the room, and decide what size table you can actually fit, as opposed to what you would like to fit. That mahogany 8 footer on Craigslist might be the table poker player’s dream of, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to get it through the doorway. Work within a realistic frame, and that goes for your budget as well. Many reversible game tables can be found at outlets like Sears for as little as $200.

Once you have the centerpiece of your apartment game room nailed down, it’s time to start thinking about the fun stuff – the details, moon! Sometimes the most clichéd decorations make for the most fun – throw up some velvet Elvis paintings, and a picture of dogs playing poker is a must. A dry erase board is always a good idea for score keeping, and if you plan to include a dart board in your new pleasure den you will most certainly want to invest in a backing board of some type (less ye lose your deposit!).

Unless you plan to shell out some big bucks for a felt-covered Vegas-style table top, consider picking up a portable (and oftentimes reversible) one instead. Usually retailing for around $65, these handy items will give you the feel of a real-deal table as well as the flexibility to go mobile if so required. Another $50 will net you some quality playing cards and some casino-style poker chips, both worthy investments in the long haul. Remember, you want your new apartment game room to reflect you – in other words, take some time and make it a winner!

In these times of advanced technologies and avant-garde gadgets, almost every activity of our daily lives has transcended to the sphere of the World Wide Web. In such milieu, how could playing games stay just in the form of land based sports; they are also stepping up to the online world wherein populaces from all across the globe can visit an online game store and download online games which can be played either singly (against computer system) or against real opponents.

Those who are already versed with the online multiplayer games will swear by the ecstasy and stimulation that it infuses in them. They are an excellent way to spend your time purposefully that too from the comforts of your own home. To avoid a monotonous mood of playing the same game every now and then, you can always surf an online game store and download games which appeal to your penchant.

The sheer varieties of games accessible on the World Wide Web will sweep you off your feet, from arcade to racing and from strategy to sports; these websites have it all. What makes the online multiplayer games stand out from the horde is the unpredictability factor. With computer opponents you can fairly envisage the next step, but with live people on the other end, it is hard to guess their next move; this makes the whole gaming thing more adventurous and enticing.

The online multiplayer games are sure to push you to the edge of your seats and have a tantalizing time which will leave you yearning for more. Long gone are the days when games were frequented with ill graphics and low quality sounds; now a day the high end online game store proffers games which possess digitally enhanced and eye catching graphics. One also ought to aptly reckon that online multiplayer games enhances the aggressive fortitude of players and often also assists in honing skills such as quick reflexes.

Star craft II is one of the most popular computer games of all time, having been around since 1998 and capable of running on both PCs and Macs. Millions of people around the world play it, and whether you are new to the game or have been playing it for years, checking out some Star craft II strategies can really enhance your enjoyment of the game.

Don’t let the word “strategies” scare you, and don’t even think that a “cheat” is a bad thing. The designers of video games have built in certain hurdles that simply can’t be breached without knowing the reasons why they programmed them, and by using Star craft II strategies, you aren’t cheating – you are simply joining in the mysterious fun of gaming.

If you walk into your local bookstore and look for books about Star craft II strategies, you will find one or two, but by the time they get to your bookstore, they are totally out of date. The game changes so quickly, as do all video games, that you may be looking at strategies and cheats that no longer work. The only real place to find strategies and cheats is online.

You can usually find these strategies in one of two forms – either as an e-book, or in the form of a subscription to a website. Either of these is preferable to buying a bound book in a bookstore, because the information can be updated or changed as soon as the game designers update their game. In addition, a subscription website will usually allow some sort of interaction between other people who are using the strategies, so that people can trade information, hints, and tips. This is great not only for the expert gamers, but also for the people who are new to Star craft II or gaming in general.

Has your Play station 3 console developed a fault? Would you like to know how you can fix your console? There are a number of faults that the Play station 3 is known to inherent, such as the yellow light of death (YLOD), sound issues and network connection problems. Most people will advise you to send your console in to Sony’s Repair Centre and have them fix it for $150 depending on whether or not you have a valid warranty. But is sending your console back to the manufacturers the only viable option you have?

Sending your console in to Sony

If you decide to send your console into Sony’s repair centre, then you’ll more than likely be charged $150, however, if your consoles warranty is still valid, it is possible for you to have it replaced by the store you purchased it from or by Sony themselves; essentially eliminating any need for a repair. If you do send it back to Sony, then another thing that you’ll have to consider is the well drawn out waiting times. It’s not uncommon for an end user to wait up to 6 weeks to receive his/her console back in the mail. Depending on your circumstances, sending it to Sony could be the longest and most expensive option available to you. For that reason you may want to consider avoiding this route.

Fixing your Play station 3 yourself

If you’re looking for a fast and cheap method of repairing your console, then you can’t go wrong here. This is probably the easiest, but likely most inefficient method you have available to you. The viability of this avenue depends greatly on your ability to repair the console. There are a number of PS3 repair guides available online, so it’s always best to start there.

Most of these repair guides are constructed in a user friendly format that’s easy to comprehend with detailed photos and video footage to supplement it. However, the quality of the guide depends greatly on how much you paid for it. There are a number of inefficient repair methods plastered all over the net, so it’s very important that you verify the credibility of the information before you use it.

While using a PS3 guide, you’ll have all the information that you need to credibility repair your console, removing any guess work that would otherwise exist if you were doing it off head.