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Monday, December 31, 2007

North Koreans Undercutting MMO WOW Farmers?

The North Koreans may be undercutting the MMO farming market according to GameSetWatch:

Chinese-based game service companies offering WoW power-leveling numbered less then 30 in 2004, but service companies will surpass 2000 soon, and this number is growing continuously.

Looking over the entire Southeast Asian market, many of these companies are concentrated in the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and other areas in India.

North Korea is worth mentioning because the labor cost is currently the most inexpensive.

Source: VE3D

2007 = Best year in video games history

The BBC reports

The last 12 months have been one of the best years in video game history, both critically and commercially.
Gamers have been able to revel in some of the most exhilarating interactive experiences ever designed.

Sales in the UK are at an all-time high, with more than £1.52bn taken in the last 12 months.

Some video games crossed over into blockbuster entertainment territory. Halo 3, for example, earned £84m in its first 24 hours on sale.

Top three games for 2007 from ...

DAVID AMOR, RELENTLESS GAMES

1. Ratchet and Clank - PlayStation 3
2. Super Mario Galaxy - Nintendo Wii
3. Command and Conquer - PC

DAVID BRABEN, FRONTIER GAMES

1. The Darkness - Xbox 360
2. Bioshock - PC and Xbox 360
3. Halo 3 - Xbox 360

MARGARET ROBERTSON, GAMES CONSULTANT

1. Super Mario Galaxy
2. Final Fantasy XII - PlayStation 2
3. Planet Puzzle League - Nintendo DS


More from the BBC website ... http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7156701.stm

IGNs top 100 video games of all time - see if you agree

The Top 100 Games of All Time! - Over the next ten days...

Yes, friends, more than 30 editors located all over the world set aside their ages, allegiances and personal favorites to pick the hundred best videogames that the planet has ever seen! There was fighting, there was mayhem, and there was pizza -- lots and lots of pizza.

Now, some of you may proclaim, "but your list is different from the rankings you guys did in 2005!" Well, of course it is people. Plenty of fantastic games have been released since then, and we have plenty of new folks in our ranks to throw in their couple of cents. We're also not afraid to admit that our tastes change over time too.

Our criteria for creating this list of our picks for the Top 100 Games of All Time are as follows:
  • Eligible games had to have been released no later than December 31, 2006 (perspective is a good thing)

  • A number of factors were taken into consideration when selecting a winner: How good the game was compared to others of its time, its overall game design, how well it stands up over the years, how influential it has been in the realm of gaming and just plain how much fun we had playing it are all points for contention.

  • The list is comprised of single, stand-alone titles and doesn't include compilations, expansion packs or add-ons.

  • Titles with multiple editions such as collector's boxes, gold editions or direct re-releases have been consolidated into one single entry, with the edition deemed most deserving taking precedence.

  • Updated versions of original titles were only included on the list if they were significantly different from their predecessors.

So what made it and what didn't? To find out, keep checking back with us over the next 10 days as we start with games No: 100-91 and work our way down to the golden ten. After you've had a chance to check out the list, tell us what you think about it on the IGN Boards, and share your own favorite games with everyone. Enjoy!

See the list on the IGN website here... http://uk.top100.ign.com/2007/

Stand-alone Rock Band guitars available in January 2009

Game maker Harmonix Music Systems of Cambridge and distributor Electronic Arts Inc. are scrambling to satisfy customers angry about defects in many of the guitar-shaped game controllers that come with Rock Band. There's also a shortage of these controllers, making it difficult for players to create the four-piece band promised by the gaming software.

Many gamers were hoping they could use controllers created for the game Guitar Hero III - a rival program from Activision Inc. that's based on technology invented by Harmonix. They can, if they're using Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox 360 game machine, but not if they've got Sony Corp.'s PlayStation 3 videogame console.

Harmonix wants to fix this with a software patch to make the PS 3 version of Rock Band work with the Guitar Hero III controller. About 68,000 copies of Rock Band have been sold for the PS 3, while the PS 3 version of Guitar Hero III has sold over 247,000 copies. Many PS 3 owners have purchased both games, and want to use the same controllers with either one. But Activision has refused to allow the necessary modifications, unless Harmonix and its owner MTV Networks pay for the privilege.

But because McBain bought Sony's PS 3, his Guitar Hero controllers refuse to cooperate. Harmonix published a software patch on the Internet to fix the incompatibility problem. But Activision successfully demanded withdrawal of the patch, and is insisting on financial compensation before such a patch can be issued. Other PS 3 games use standard PS 3 controllers, which are made by Sony and a variety of other companies. Players don't usually need different controllers to play different games on the same console.

Activision spokeswoman Maryanne Lataif said her company was willing to work with Harmonix to make the various game controllers fully compatible with one another. "Unfortunately for Rock Band users, Harmonix has been unwilling to discuss an agreement that will allow us to provide that option in a manner that maintains the high standards people have come to expect from Activision," Lataif said.

Harmonix spokeswoman Spencer Saltonstall said her company is also committed to doing what's best for gamers. "We are really and truly not looking at this from the financial standpoint," Saltonstall said. "We are looking at this from the consumer standpoint."

Saltonstall also said that Harmonix, MTV, and EA are working hard to put stand-alone Rock Band controllers onto store shelves. "We have 7,000 people in China manufacturing guitars for us," she said. "They're on their way." The controllers are expected to go on sale next month. Saltonstall said that Harmonix launched Rock Band before it had enough guitar controllers to go around, to get the game into stores in time for Christmas.

There's no question which game is winning the battle of the bands. Guitar Hero III, priced at $100, sold 1.9 million units in November alone, and 3.3 million since its debut in October, according to game industry trackers at the NPD Group. By contrast, the $170 Rock Band sold just 382,000 units in November, its first month on the market.

One reason for Guitar Hero's huge lead is that it works with Sony's PlayStation 2, still the world's most popular home videogame console. About 45 percent of the Guitar Hero III games sold so far have been for the PS 2. This week, Harmonix launched a PS 2 version of Rock Band, and the company said that the game is playable with the PS 2 controller for Guitar Hero III.

Source: Boston Globe

Sony play catch-up as PSP sales double in Japan - Nintendo DS still leads


Nintendo's DS still leads hardware market



Sales of Sony's PSP have more than doubled in Japan, with the console selling 184,610 units for the week ended December 16, compared to 91,481 units the previous week.

The boost in sales comes without any significant new PSP software releases during the period, with only three games for the handheld in the top fifty best-sellers.

However, Nintendo's DS is still leading hardware sales in Japan with 222,144 units sold in the past week, backed by 28 games in the top fifty.

The Wii has shifted 170,558 units according to data from Media Create, with the PS3 selling 63,720 and the PS2 18,025 units.

Sales of the Xbox 360 are still under 10,000 units with Microsoft shifting 8,561 units.

Source: Games Industry

Nokia to delay N-Gage cellphone revamp

Nokia N81

Testing has uncovered "issue" needing to be addressed



Nokia has announced another delay in its N-Gage First Access platform, originally scheduled for a November launch.

The pre-release version, was going to work only on Nokia N81 or N81 8GB phones and was to feature one or more games. Those with access to the application could post feedback and make suggestions on the company's forums.

Now, however, even the pre-release version of the revamped N-Gage platform has been delayed.

"We know all of you are eager to get started with N-Gage First Access, and we are just as eager to get it into your hands and start hearing your feedback. We have teams of people around the world, literally, working overtime to deliver this experience to you," said a statement on the official N-Gage blog.

"Unfortunately, as can sometimes happen in software development, unexpected difficulties can occur. We have been doing an internal run with more than 1,000 global testers this week, and during this process we uncovered an issue we feel we need to address.

"Overall, the games and service are working smoothly, but because of this issue, we feel we could not release N-Gage First Access before the holidays as planned."

While working on a solution, and carrying on extensive internal testing over the holidays, Nokia plans to "polish the overall experience" even as it readies more games.

Nokia released the original N-Gage, a combination phone, handheld gaming device, MP3 player, PDA, and FM radio, in 2003. A year later, a subsequent redesign - the N-Gage QD - removed radio reception and MP3 playback features.

The latest iteration of the N-Gage is an application, built into or downloaded to a supported Nokia phone, that acts as a central hub for content including games.

Sony and Capcom team for Devil May Cry PlayStation 3 bundle in Japan


Two limited edition PlayStation 3 SKUs for Japan

Sony and Capcom are teaming up for the release of Devil May Cry 4 by announcing two limited edition PlayStation 3 bundles for Japan.

Available in both black and ceramic white, the 40GB PlayStation 3 will come with a copy of the game and extra content on a separate Blu-ray disc.

The bundle will retail for JPY 47,800 when it's released on January 21.

Source: Games Industry

Nintendo Wii and DS software dominates Japan video game charts


Sony's Gran Turismo 5 Prologue has made its debut in the Japanese charts at number three, selling 116,000 copies according to data from Media Create.

However, it's the only PlayStation 3 title in the top twenty, with Nintendo Wii and DS product clogging up the charts for the week ended December 16.

Mario Party DS is at number one with 180,000 sales over the seven day period, while Wii Fit is at two with 124,000 units sold, taking it past half a million sales since release.

There are two PlayStation 2 games in the top twenty from Konami and Bandai Namco, and one PSP title – Sony's Hot Shots Golf sequel.

The Japanese top twenty follows:



1. Mario Party DS (DS)

2. Wii Fit (Wii)

3. Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (PS3)

4. Prof. Layton and Pandora's Box (DS)

5. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

6. Dragon Quest IV (DS)

7. Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)

8. Wi Sports (Wii)

9. Wii Play (Wii)

10. Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon: The Labyrinth of Forgotten Time (Wii)

11. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2008 (PS2)

12. Mario Party 8 (Wii)

13. Powerful Pro-kun Pocket 10 (DS)

14. Kirarin Revolution (DS)

15. Pokemon Mysterious Dungeon: Time Expedition Party (DS)

16. Mario Kart DS (DS)

17. Taiko Drum Master (DS)

18. Pokemon Mysterious Dungeon: Shadow Expedition Party (DS)

18. Hot Shots Golf Portable 2 (PSP)

20. SD Gundam G Generation Spirits (PS2)

Source: here

78 million UK games sales in 2007 is new record


78 million games sold in 2007

Sales of game software in the UK will reach 78 million units by the end of the year, as retail enjoys another year of rapid growth.

According to data from Chart Track, last week generated sales of GBP 87.9 million, with the UK seeing a record-breaking third quarter as revenues rose 36 per cent from GBP 233.5 million in 2006 to GBP 332.6 million.

The number of units sold was up 16.6 per cent for the weeks 1 to 50, and 25.3 per cent by value.

"2007 has been a fantastic year for our industry as all the latest generation of consoles and handheld devices have become fully established," commented Paul Jackson, director general of ELSPA.

"Interactive entertainment is now truly mass market, and this is just the beginning of a period of real sustained growth."

Software units for the third quarter were up 33 per cent from GBP 8.52 million to 11.33 million, with console revenues up 45 per cent from GBP 180.95 to GBP 263.20 million.

The console market now accounts for 79 per cent of software revenues and 75 per cent of total software units.

Source: Games Industry

Sony PSP firmware update allows remote play of all PlayStation One titles

PlayStation 3 2.10 and PSP 3.80 firmware required



The recent PS3 and PSP system update comes with an unannounced feature - the ability to remotely play any PS One game on the PSP handheld.

A PS3 2.10 firmware update was released in the US today, adding a voice changer feature to voice/video chat, DivX and VC-1 (WMV) codec support to video playback, and picture-in-picture features to Blu-ray disc playback.

A PSP 3.80 firmware update was also released, adding Internet radio compatibility.


Remote play of PS One titles was not mentioned in either update, but GamesIndustry.biz has confirmed the existence of the new feature.

Although some PS One titles have previously been made available for sale via the PlayStation Store, this update allows all PS One titles to be played on the PSP via the PS3's remote connection.

It also lets PS3 owners play purchased PS One titles remotely from the hard drive, rather than requiring them to be downloaded to a PSP memory stick.

A SCEA spokesperson had not yet responded to a request for comment.

It is not known if there are any compatibility issues with specific titles, but users will need to reassign the controls in many games to account for the PSP's lack of two analog sticks and four shoulder buttons.

Source: Games Industry

Nintendo DS Brain Training tops Spanish, German charts

No Xbox 360, PS3 titles in top ten



Nintendo's DS Brain Training games have topped the charts in both Spain and Germany.

Dr. Kawashima's Brain Training is at number one in Spain, with sequel More Brain Training taking the coveted spot in Germany.

Neither the Spanish or German top ten has any PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 games, with Wii, PlayStation 2 and DS the dominant formats.

The top ten for each country follows:

Spain, week ended December 9




1. More Brain Training (DS)

2. WWE Smackdown Vs RAW 2008 (PS2)

3. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (PS2)

4. Imagina Ser Mama (DS)

5. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (DS)

6. Imagina Ser Disenadora De Moda (DS)

7. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)

8. Mario Party (DS)

9. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)

10. WWE Smackdown Vs RAW 2008 (PSP)

Germany, week ended December 2



1. Dr Kawashima's Brain Training (DS)

2. More Brain Training (DS)

3. High School Musical - Sing It (PS2)

4. Need for Speed Pro Street (PS2)

5. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)

6. FIFA 08 (PS2)

7. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PC)

8. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)

9. Wii Play (Wii)

10. Need for Speed Pro Street (PC)

All data supplied by Media - Control GfK International

More exclusive Grand Theft Auto IV content for MIcrosoft XBox 360 - 2009


In addition to episodes due 2008

Take-Two has announced in a conference call that it intends to release more exclusive Grand Theft Auto IV episodes for the Xbox 360 in 2009.

The company revealed earlier this year that it would be supplying two extra episodes for Microsoft's home console in 2008, but this is the first time it has spoken of extra content beyond the initial deal with Microsoft.

"In fiscal 2009 we'll also be offering additional episodic content for Grand Theft Auto IV on Xbox 360," confirmed Ben Feder, CEO of Take-Two.

The publisher also reiterated the full game will be released next year, with two exclusive episodes due before the end of 2008.

"We're eagerly anticipating the release of Grand Theft Auto IV in our second quarter. The game looks terrific and we're confident it will be every bit as ground-breaking as previous titles," added Feder.

Source: Games Industry

Codemasters pulls Sensible Worlds of Soccer from Xbox Liv


"Incorrect" version of game made available

Codemasters has pulled Sensible World of Soccer from Xbox Live Arcade as the game disconnects users attempting to play online.

The developer has promised to put a fully functioning version of the game on Microsoft's online service shortly.

"It has come to our attention that an incorrect version of Sensible World of Soccer was made available on Xbox Live Arcade," said Codemasters Online Gaming.

"We are currently investigating the issue and will have a correctly functioning version of Sensible World of Soccer available soon.

"Any users that have already downloaded Sensible World of Soccer will need to delete their copy of the game and download it again when the correctly functioning version is available in order to enjoy online play via Xbox Live," detailed the company

Sensible World of Soccer was released on Xbox Live Arcade today, although Codemasters had originally hoped to release the game in the first quarter of 2007.

Game Group see profit jump to over £70 million


British computer and video games retailer Game Group said it expected its full-year profit to be ahead of an average market forecast after continued strong sales in the run-up to Christmas, boosting its shares.

Shares in Game Group, which have outperformed the UK general retailers' index by around 184 percent this year, were 9.5 percent higher at 254 pence at 3:08 a.m. EST, valuing the company at around 870 million pounds ($1.74 billion).

The company, which earlier this month said it was performing slightly ahead of expectations in the run-up to the key Christmas trading period, said profit before non-recurring costs and tax for the year to January 31 would be no less than 70 million pounds, up from 29.5 million the year before.

Game Group had been expected to report an underlying pretax profit of about 58.9 million pounds this year, according to the average forecast of 12 analysts polled by Reuters Estimates.

On December 11, Game -- which sells computer and video games, consoles and accessories to more than 800 shops in Britain and abroad -- said like-for-like sales rose by 44.1 percent in the 45 weeks to December 8.

The company said it would report fully on Christmas trading for the six weeks to January 12 on January 15.

Source: Reuters

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Sudden Strike 3 Arms For Victory PC video game Patch released


Fireglow Games Publishing releases a small yet pleasant pack (97,5 Mb) consisting of two multiplayer maps (all control points can be captured only one time) and a single-player mission. The pack (97,5 Mb) also contains a patch with numerous improvements and bug fixes.

Description of the maps:

Tongs - This peculiar map contains a large island in the middle. It can be played by 2 to 6 people. There are 5 bridges on the map and a lot of flags to fight for.

Elimination - This map features kill-em-all style on a flat map.

Untermehmen VII "C" - This hardcore single mission features the old good Sudden Strike play. You have limited amount of reinforcements ... and the enemy has much more. You will like it.
This pack requires the original Sudden Strike 3 Arms for Victory DVD.

About Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory:
Sudden Strike 3: Arms for Victory is the latest installment in the award-winning, critically acclaimed and hugely popular Sudden Strike series. It features historically authentic models built to scale, fully interactive giant maps and full 3-D state-of-the-art graphics in the popular Sudden Strike style. Only Sudden Strike plays like the 'real thing'. WW2 gaming at its best: on land, at sea and in the air!

Features:

  • Fully interactive landscape (all objects can be destroyed, all buildings and pillboxes can be used as shelter)

  • Massive operations on big maps, strategic scale of the maps (front line can be a few kilometres long)

  • Thousands of units fighting in real time

  • More than 300 tanks, ships, soldiers, guns and planes with original weapons built to scale

  • Great sounds, 5.1 supported, nations speak native languages

  • New feature - advanced Micro AI-behaviour allows your troops to act exactly as you plan

  • Joint naval and ground operations, air raids, artillery strikes etc.

  • State-of-the-art technology to render 3D landscape, realistic lines of sight and fire

  • Spectacular visual & lighting effects

  • Multiplayer mode: up to 8 players, GameSpy® supported

  • Five campaigns playable for American, British, German, Japanese and Soviet sides



Download from here...

Battle Rage PC video game - beta test


Battle Rage, the latest production of Teyon, is coming into beta tests and balancing phase.

The game is officially announced to be completed in the first quarter of 2008.

Soon we will reveal all the details concerning the game's mechanics and gameplay. Until that time we would like to present the first official trailer from the game allowing you to feel the climate of Battle Rage.



The game is a TPS with elements of the beat'em up game and allows a player to control giant robots. Battles between the robots take place on carefully selected battlegrounds. The player can fight alone (versus one, two or three opponents) or in the team with one sidekick. Every machine has its own weapons for melee and distance combat, additional weapon types can be found on the maps. The player has also a possibility to tweak parameters of the robot to fit them to his preferences. The game offers the player three modes: quick game, arcade and multiplayer.

If you want to know more about the game, visit its official website: http://battle-rage.com

Load Inc. partnership with Assassin Studio



Today, Load Inc. announced a partnership with the serious folks at Assassin Studio in Seattle. The two companies are teaming up to give a fresh start to Mad Tracks PC. After tremendous release on Xbox 360™ Live Arcade this summer, Douglas Boze, CEO of Assassin Studios will be on the lookout for a distribution and retail partner in North America for the great PC version. Now why ‘Assassin’ you wonder? Our award winning AD, Herve Nedelec, has his own version: “no doubt about it, Douglas kills the competition”.

“There’s a great thing about Mad Tracks PC once you start you can actually stop! And that comes in handy when it’s time for a New Years Eve dinner” says Thomas Leinekugel, VP project manager at Load Inc. and fine food enthusiast.

“With over 1.2 million downloads of the trial version of Mad Tracks on PC and over 630,000 XBLA downloads, we are very excited about the possibilities of coupling this product with the right distributor in North America”, says Douglas Boze, CEO of Assassin Studios.

Reflexive Entertainment releases PC video game The Great Tree


Fly into a magical world of mystery and adventure told through beautiful drawings and mesmerizing gameplay with Reflexive's newest game: The Great Tree.

Whispers speak of something sinister in the shadows. The time of the Great Descent draws nigh, but the Great Tree is failing. Stripped of its source of energy, its life force is running out. The fairy Wren, whose lives are intertwined with the tree, must find a way to collect the pollen that can save The Great Tree...and themselves.

Reflexive Entertainment (www.reflexive-inc.com) is proud to announce the release of The Great Tree. A grown-up story of good and evil that puts the survival of an enchanted world into your hands.

Drawn and painted by the same award-winning artist behind Wik: Fable of Souls, The Great Tree transports players into a beautifully dark world full of magic and mystery. The story of the faeries known as the Wren is one fraught with intrigue and danger. Told through elaborate drawings and poignant voice, the epic story has been carefully put together through blood, sweat and tears, to bring players a unique gaming experience.

Taking on the role of one of the Wren selected to collect pollen, players hear the story through cinematic interludes and then live it through the levels. Using magical powers and agile movements, players must avoid powerful and innovative enemies that literally come alive from the background in ways that are both exciting and horrifying.

"Watching a mushroom that you thought was just a pretty picture in the background open its eyes, change its expression and then open its mouth to try to eat you is just one of many amazing moments in this game that will startle, surprise and in the end simply amaze you," said Ion Hardie, Director of Product Development. "It contains moments that are as unique and enjoyable as anything I've ever seen in any game."

Featuring stunning locales, surprising enemies, and 100 wondrous levels, The Great Tree provides an amazing gaming experience, which feels akin to an epic film. More information, including the game's demo, can now be found at The Great Tree game's website: http://www.thegreattreegame.com/.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Cost headache for game developers


Next-generation consoles have wowed gamers with breathtaking graphics, surround sound and stunning gameplay since coming on to the market in the past year.

Halo 3 has been a massive success for Microsoft
Cutting-edge video games might be a dream come true for consumers around the world, but for many companies developing them, it's been a nightmare.

The movie-like productions on Sony's Playstation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360 games have meant that the cost of producing them has risen sharply.

Halo 3, an extremely popular game produced by Microsoft, is estimated to have cost $30m (£15m). However, the American software giant was able to recoup that, and the millions more spent on marketing, straight away.

On its first day of sales, it brought in $170m, setting the record for the most money earned in a day by an entertainment product. It far outstripped the money made in a day by Spiderman 3, the biggest-grossing Hollywood film.

More from the BBC

Video games reduce blood flow to the brain!!!!


People who spend too much time playing video games, especially violent video games, may risk damaging brain function and affect their learning and emotional control, a study released yesterday showed.

Chou Yuan-hua, a doctor in the Department of Psychiatry at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, enlisted 30 youngsters -- all aged 25 -- as research subjects for the study.

They were given physical examinations to monitor changes in blood circulation in their brains before and after each played a video game for 30 minutes.

The study found that the act of playing video games obviously caused decreased blood flow to the brain, and that the effect is even more pronounced in those playing violent video games.

Source: Taipei Times

Glasgow Scientists say Silicon Chips are holding back Game Development


According to researchers at Glasgow University and the US Semiconductor Research Corporation, silicon chips are restricting the advancement of videogames.

Because the chips have reached their limits of speed and performance, say the scientists, progress in game design is being held back.

Professor Iain Thayne is leading the team that's researching a new breed of "super chips," that could theoretically allow designers to "develop games that make you feel as though you are part of the synthesised world.

"Thayne says that many current games "still feel very unrealistic and flat."

In addition to increasing the speed of computers, these new chips could lengthen battery life for cell phones and digital cameras.

Source: Wired

From the Yorkshire Post...

Super chips to boost computer games



A new generation of "super chips" is being designed to make computer games more lifelike.
Scientists say silicon chips that power computers and games consoles have reached their peak in terms of speed and ability.

Now an international team of experts is working on a new breed that will allow game designers to create more complex, lifelike graphics.

The new chips could also lengthen battery life for mobile phones and digital cameras and increase the speed of computers.

The project, supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, is the result of a £1.2m partnership between electronics specialists at Glasgow University and the US Semiconductor Research Corporation.

Lead researcher Professor Iain Thayne said: "A lot of computer games still feel very unrealistic and flat. What gamers want is to develop games that make you feel as though you are part of the synthesised world.

"It is the silicon chips installed in games consoles which are holding this development back and so by increasing the power of chips a whole new generation of computer games can be launched."

Games makers could get them within three years.

Top ten games of 2007 - Number One : The Orange Box on PC XBox 360 PlayStation 3

It had to be, didn’t it? Whether you look at The Orange Box as one game, three games or five games – whether you’re a newcomer to the series who wants to play it in his living room on a console or a hardened fan who wants the PC experience, there’s still no faulting The Orange Box. If nothing else there’s still just an enormous feeling of value.

Half-Life 2: Episode 2 is perhaps the most perfect and appreciable of the Half-Life experience yet. The meaty part of the story, Episode 2 picks up directly after Episode 1 and sees Alyx Vance and Gordon Freeman desperately trying to make it to White Forest Base to deliver a message of the utmost importance to the resistance.

The story is brilliantly told and the pace is kept fast so that players are constantly moving, barging through obstacles and knocking foes and trials aside. There is no pause, no relief save those shared between characters at pivotal moments of the plot.


There is always something to overcome and, if nothing else, Episode 2 generates a fantastic sensation of motion – of constantly striving closer to a goal. By the end you’ll be collapsed over your desk, feeling like you’ve just managed to accomplish something for the first time in your life. It always, honestly feels like the characters are real, that they depend on you and that you are Gordon Freeman, their salvation.

At times the story will move you to tears, at others to laughter but, for the vast majority of the time you won’t have time to think. You’ll be stuck on the edge of your seat like an indecisive emo on a clifftop and you’ll be concerned only with doing what you can to save the characters which have become your friends and unveil more of the slowly revealed nature of the GMan.

Then there’s Portal, which tells the story of Chell and GlaDOS – the test subject and examiner of Aperture Science respectively. Portal takes an entirely different tack, slowing players down and giving them a relaxing and oddly romantic story which ties directly in to the events of Episode 2.

Using the brand new game mechanic of the portal gun, players can progress the story at a mostly leisurely pace, savouring a truly dry sense of excellently written humour.

Then Team Fortress 2, the much delayed sequel and office multiplayer game of choice. Streamlined to perfection in a way not seen in any game before, players get a chance to frag their friends in style by hopping around in a cel-shaded arena of death.

No matter what style of play you prefer – sneaky spies like Tim, saw-toting medics like Rich or slippery scope-eyed snipers like me – there’s just something for everyone. And that’s what makes The Orange Box so great as a whole – there’s something for everyone and, to be honest, each and every one of the games in the box could stand to be in the top three on its own.

For the first time we don't have one game which tries to be a jack of all trades, cramming in multiplayer modes which are clearly unsuitable or puzzles which don't mesh with the game world at all. Instead, we have three games each of which is dedicated to a single purpose and then honed to a brilliant edge. You've got Episode 2 for your story-loving action heroes, Portal for your humorous case-crackers and Team Fortress 2 for when you haven't got anybody else at all.

Put them all together and you've got our Game of the Year.



Source: Bit-Tech


Top ten games of 2007 - Number Two : BioShock on PC XBox 360

“L-L-look at you, Hacker…” Whoops, sorry – wrong game. This isn’t the seminal System Shock 2, this is its spiritual successor, BioShock.

In development since time out of mind, BioShock was originally about exploring a Nazi bunker filled with zombies and mutants left behind from the dreadful experiments of WWII. The game would have had a firm horror feel to it and was more heavily targeted at the RPG end of the FPS/RPG genre.

My, how things changed...

BioShock ended up as something with much more of a sophisticated and unique feel. The player takes the role of an anonymous character who is aboard a plane when it crashes over the Atlantic. The only survivor, you swim to what you think is a lighthouse – only to find it’s actually the entrance to an extensive underwater city called Rapture, a place in dire need of a hero.

Founded by a man called Andrew Ryan, Rapture was intended to be a capitalist paradise where the best minds of the world retreated to live in harmony and peace, away from governmental pressures. Instead, Ryan dug too deep into the world and discovered a new type of animal which, when... um, processed... allowed the creation of new technology called Plasmids. The Plasmids allow genetic code of users to be re-written, granting new powers and abilities.


The Plasmids carry a high price though and drove substantial portions of Rapture to madness while, at the same time, a civil revolt was in progress against Ryan and his followers.

The story to BioShock is a rarity in itself – something dark and powerful, but also intelligent and well-presented. In a industry littered with simple run and gun shooters, BioShock stands head and shoulders above the rest, marking itself as truly the Thinking Man’s Shooter.

Rapture is a haunting, ruined city littered with audio diaries, posters and the trinkets of those now dead...or worse. It’s a gory place, splattered with blood and littered with corpses. Deformed, crazed denizens lurk in the shadows and every time you kill one you feel a pang of guilt – you know that the person you just killed may have been somebody important. For them to even be in Rapture to start with they must have been a scientist, artist or doctor. It makes every fight vaguely repugnant and uncomfortable.

At the same time though, Rapture is a beautiful place. 1950s jazz floats down the hallways and the art-deco architecture of the building means that it is staggeringly gorgeous to look at. That’s the brilliance of BioShock – the fusion of sweets and sours to form a delicious whole which is perfectly balanced.

At every point in the game there is a choice to be made, be it moral or tactical, and every time the game makes sure you know the full ramifications of your actions. In fact the only action you can be sure you'll feel good about is actually picking BioShock up in the first place!

Source: Bit-Tech

Top ten games of 2007 - Number Three : Super Mario Galaxy on Nintendo Wii

Mario is back (again) and even though this must be the hundredth game to bear his name, it still manages to feel fresh and inventive – grasping hold of the brilliance of Super Mario 64 and slipstreaming past it, towards excellence.

Super Mario Galaxy is a simple premise – the Princess has been kidnapped again and there’s only one plumber in the world with the guts to get her back. Unfortunately, that plumber ends up getting a bit lost and comes to on the Cosmic Observatory, a travelling telescope which runs on Power Stars. The rest of the game is then spent collecting Power Stars to charge the Observatory so that Mario can search for Peach and bring her back to the Mushroom Kingdom.

Super Mario Galaxy is one of those games that is as much evolution as it is revolution. Sure, it’s yet another Mario game and yes, it is pretty much just Super Mario 64 in space and with different abilities – but that’s no bad thing!


Super Mario Galaxy is a perfect singleplayer adventure-platformer, with all the chaff and crud blasted off and the game reduced to just the core fun-making components. It’s pretty much the only thing the Wii can run anyway.

Miyamoto’s little Italian pal has come a long way since he first started out under the name of ‘Jumpman’ and never is that more clear than in Super Mario Galaxy, which sees Mario exploring strange new worlds and ways of playing. Sometimes you’ll be rolling around on top of balls, tilting the Wiimote to control speed and direction. The rest of the time you’ll be flying around as a bee, drifting through walls as a ghost or bouncing around as a spring.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Mario game if it didn’t have an adorable child-like appearance and array of characters too. Super Mario Galaxy has these both in spades – cutesy little Star creatures who demand you stuff them with delicious star bits so they can “TRRAANSFOOOOOORM!” into brand new planets. There’s even a storybook section to the game which lets you learn more and more of the back story.

There are admittedly a few flaws in the game, but the fact that they are so incredibly few is a testament to the quality of the game. Who cares if there’s no really decent co-op?

Stuffed with reasons to play and with a control system and presentation which is easy to pick up, Super Mario Galaxy appeals to kids and adults alike and is the type of game which will keep couples and families playing together for months.

Source: Bit-Tech

Top ten games of 2007 - Number Four : Crysis on PC

Crysis was almost a hype-machine unto itself this year, gathering accolades and fanboys even before the first demos and previews were out. The game tells the story of a US soldier fighting aliens and Koreans on a small island with the aid of a nanosuit which enhances his butt-kicking ability.

The first part of a trilogy, Crysis doesn’t sell on the story at all though and, to be honest, that’s a pretty good thing. It forms nothing more than a context for the violence.


What makes Crysis great though is the open design and, of course, the graphics. The bleeding-edge beauty of the game is so intense that even running the game with three top-end graphics cards at once we still couldn’t get perfect performance.

Some view that type of hardware-hogging as a bad point and to some extent they're correct – very few people will be able to play the game as it should be played. However, it does mean that the game is going to scale very well onto future hardware, meaning that Crysis is a game for the future and one that you'll be able to return to time and again in the years to come.

The beautiful graphics are then accentuated by the custom physics engine which lets pretty much everything be demolished. Pick up chickens and throw them around, punch your fists through walls and grab enemies or just vault yourself over tanks and minefields – Crysis is a game that lets players handle each and every battle their own way.

A disappointment to some, who expected the game to revolutionise the industry and were dismayed to find essentially a prettier version of Far Cry, Crysis is a fantastic game in its own right despite the heritage and frequent faltering of individual aspects.

Source: Bit-Tech

Top ten games of 2007 - Number Five : World in Conflict on PC

Real-time strategy games split the bit-tech offices pretty much down the middle and, while Tim is a massive fan of the genre, Rich prefers his violence to be viewed a little bit more up-close.

One thing we all agree on though is that World in Conflict is an exception to the rule – we all love the game.

World in Conflict is accessible in a way which few other RTS games are and tells a compelling story which knocks even classics like Command and Conquer out of the water for some of us. The game uses proper characters with tangible back stories and very human faults and fears to tell a story that is realistically put together and carefully sculpted – that’s something few other RTSs since Red Alert can claim.

The gameplay too is new and involving. There are no resources to gather or cash to scrounge – merely limits on what can be airlifted in at one time and what units are available to the player. That forces the game to take on a freshly realistic feel, making you value each individual unit and want to use it to the most of its abilities.


In fact, the only resource which does exist is TPs, or tactical points, which are given to you by your superiors for sensible use of your units. Pitting infantry against tanks won’t get you anywhere fast, but using artillery to rout them is a more sensible choice and will net you points which can be saved towards special nuclear, germ and napalm attacks.

The multiplayer is by far the most interesting and appealing part of the game though and takes this sense of realism further. Instead of simply giving each player an army of their own, a base to build and resources to gather players are separated only in to two teams. From there players are forced to specialise in specific branches of the military – artillery, infantry, airborne and armour. Each one has strengths and weaknesses and players must learn to work together in a brand new way if they want to accomplish their objectives.

And they’d better learn that lesson fast – before the other team saves up enough tactical points and drops a triple-nuke on you, sending plumes of thick, choking black smoke rippling out all over the map. It's a favoured move of ours and, even though it's something which takes the co-ordination of three or four very skilled players, it's definitely worth the wait just so you can hear your opponents scream abbreviated prayers in terror before you swarm in with a fleet of infantry and artillery.

Source: Bit-Tech

Top ten games of 2007 - Number Six : Call of Duty 4 : Modern Warfare on PC XBox 360 PlayStation3

Call of Duty 4 was a radical departure for the series, bringing players out of the hedgerows and trenches of World War II and into the modern day. It could have gone horribly wrong and resulted in the death of the series, halting the growth of period shooter series for years.

Thankfully, it didn’t. Call of Duty 4 is arguably the best in the series to date and uses a Clancy-esque plot filled with Russian megalomaniacs and crazed terrorists as players hop about to experience the best of the action.

It kicks off to a hell of a start too. The first level sees players form part of a crack SAS squad conducting a raid on a cargo freighter to salvage a nuclear missile in the middle of a typhoon. Rain hammers down, waves crash on the deck and players silently creep from room to room, killing bad guys in their sleep. When it all goes wrong and the ship starts to sink the whole world starts to turn upside down quite literally there’s a terrifying moment when you think you might not make it back to the helicopter in time.


Then the credits roll and you realise that you’re only five minutes in and that that level was just the introduction; a sign of things to come.

From there things get better in spades and players get to experience a regime change first hand, fighting on both flanks as the battle starts to build. The singleplayer campaign isn’t massively long—in fact it’s pretty damn short—but at the end there’s still plenty of intelligence to track down, an arcade mode to try and, of course the glorious multiplayer which is superbly put together.

The multiplayer mode alone is plenty praiseworthy too, using ranks and levelled unlockable attacks to create a multiplayer tactical FPS game with a distinct RPG feel at times so that the game is almost universally appealing.

The game may not be everyone’s cup of tea and there are plenty of people who will argue that the Call of Duty 2 was the high point of the series, but whether that's true or not doesn't detract from the fact that Call of Duty 4 is still one of the most involving and dramatic war-shooters we've played in a long time.

Source: Bit-Tech

Top ten games of 2007 - Number Seven : STALKER Shadow of Chernobyl 0n PC

For a game which was so massively delayed and annoyingly named though, S.T.A.L.K.E.R was fantastically enjoyable and used a surprisingly intricate plot which draws from modern Russian literature, notably Roadside Picnic by Arkady and Boris Strigatsky.

The game sets players off in the forbidden zone around the radiation-filled Chernobyl and tasks them only with the task of discovering their own identity – the main character wakes up amnesiac, only carrying a note which reads ‘Kill Strelok’.

From there, it’s a huge open-ended adventure with a dozen endings and a smoothly integrated RPG and FPS combo.


S.T.A.L.K.E.R falls down on a number of levels. The game is a little clunky to play and the story is very difficult to follow owing to translation problems and a frustrating design. Many of the available endings are disappointing and the entire RPG system is massively scaled back from the original design.

Still, when S.T.A.L.K.E.R gets it right then it does it very, very well. The combat is beautifully put together and the level of difficulty is honed to a razor edge so that although it is often frustrating and challenging, it is never unfair. Bullet physics are excellently integrated to the game and as you progress further towards the end-game and learn how to make the best use of your arsenal it becomes almost impossible not to appreciate the fine-tuning of the combat model.

To be praised for ambition and scope if nothing else, S.T.A.L.K.E.R didn’t just break the mould; it shattered it completely and sent the pieces back to its mother in hundreds of separate envelopes. There are some obvious holes in the formula and you can complete the game without ever realising that you messed up the main quest and have wasted twenty hours of your life, but as a whole S.T.A.L.K.E.R still manages to succeed thanks to a grimly realistic world which is consistently engaging and brilliant.

Source: Bit-Tech

Top ten games of 2007 - Number Eight : Unreal Tournament 3 on PC

Towards the end of this year, gamers were spoiled for choice when it came to multiplayer-centric first-person shooters and many of the big names found themselves directly competing. Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, Team Fortress 2 and Unreal Tournament 3 all ended up going head to head.

When the dust cleared, Quake Wars was left dead and bleeding, while UT3 managed to walk calmly out, secure in the knowledge that its delicate balance of complex mechanics and streamlined game design made it the most superior multiplayer shooter on the market.


If Halo 3 was the multiplayer game of the year for consoles, then Unreal Tournament 3 was its grossly superior, PC-orientated older brother. Gorgeous to look at and with a nice simple selection of mutators and modes, this was Unreal Tournament taken back to basics in many ways. There's only a handful of different game types in the vanilla install, but this is compensated for in the superior map design which manages to spew buckets of complexity into even the simplest CTF level.

Every time Epic had scaled back though it had also added on so that, while there is an initially simple set of available game types, it’s complemented by a huge array of vehicles and as good a singleplayer campaign as you’ll ever find in a game like this.

The strength of UT3 lies in two places – the longevity and alterability of the Unreal Engine 3, and the passion of the team behind it. We had a chance to chat to Mark Rein at the UT3 launch and his passion for the game was almost tangible at points.

The whole team at Epic has worked to create an engine which is not only used by several games in this list, but which continues to fully support the mod community – securing Unreal Tournament 3 a solid future for years to come.

Source: Bit-Tech

Top ten games of 2007 - Number Nine : Halo 3 on Microsoft XBox 360

Say what you will about Master Chief and the games he stars in – they do make one hell of a good shooter.

Halo 3 is the final game in what is one of the biggest franchises the gaming world has ever seen and the third instalment finally gives players the chance to finish the fight once and for all.


Taking control of Master Chief, the seven foot tall green-glad cyborg with a deep voice and a chip on his shoulder, players fight back against the alien Covenant and try to save the world all over again.

What makes Halo 3 the quintessential game in the series and the ninth best game of the year is that it manages to retain all the greatness of previous Halo games while still managing to expand in a number of ways.

The singleplayer was always fun, but it’s the multiplayer modes which have always been the defining part of the Halo experience. Halo 3 builds on the bog standard deathmatch modes by introducing the new Theatre and Forge features to the mix.

Theatre is pretty self-explanatory – it allows gamers record and take photos from their past matches and post them online. Forge on the other hand is a bit more exciting – it lets gamers create their own maps by repositioning and sculpting parts of the game world.

Neither of these things are revolutionary in and of themselves – screenshots and level editors have been on PCs since time out of mind, with Garry’s Mod beating Halo 3 to the post in regards to Forge. What Halo 3 does though is bring both of these aspects to the Xbox 360 – rounding out the already awesome multiplayer side of this seminal series. Forge alone is pretty revolutionary for the way it opens up the game into a newly creative and occasionally romantic arena.

Although it would be an understatement to say that the Halo series has divided gamers into love/hate camps, there's no denying that the Halo games have represented the modern pinnacle of multiplayer console FPS and that Halo 3 is the most rounded game of them all.

Source: Bit-Tech

Top ten games of 2007 - Number Ten : Mass Effect on Microsoft XBox 360

Aaah, BioWare – you’ve been gone too long. We need another fix of that high-powered, repeatable RPG high which only you can provide. Like you did with Knights of The Old Republic, remember?


Mass Effect is the first part of BioWare's new space trilogy and it tells the story of Shepherd, the first human to be enlisted to a secret military organisation called The Spectres. Shepherd, who can be a man or a woman and who can look however you want, quickly builds a team around himself and sets off to battle an intergalactic threat the likes of which nobody has ever seen before.

What makes Mass Effect such a great game though is how predictable it is. The game is classic BioWare and the game is dotted with hallmarks of the Alberta-based developer. There’s a combat system which blends real-time skill and luck with tactical role-play elements and the usual weighing up of which attribute to level up and which to leave behind.

At the same time the characters, all of whom have unique and established personalities, can be formed around the player as a group that you can have as little or as much interaction with as you want. There’s alien women to love, planets to explore and foes to vanquish so that, despite the sci-fi makeover, Mass Effect remains a very classic RPG at its core.

The game does have a few flaws – annoying vehicle handling and combat which can be dull after a while (not to mention the world’s longest elevator rides), but Mass Effect is easily the best RPG you’ll buy this year and is a worthy entrant to the Top 10 Games of 2007.

Source: Bit-Tech

Ten Video Games Facts you didn't know


TOP 10 VIDEO GAMES INDUSTRY FACTS



1 US computer and video game software sales grew six percent in 2006 to $7.4 billion – almost tripling industry software sales since 1996.

2 Sixty-seven percent of American heads of households play computer and video games.

3 The average game player is 33 years old and has been playing games for 12 years.

4 The average age of the most frequent game buyer is 38 years old. In 2007, 92 percent of computer game buyers and 80 percent of console game buyers were over the age of 18.

5 Eighty-five percent of all games sold in 2006 were rated "E" for Everyone, "T" for Teen, or "E10+" for Everyone 10+. For more information on ratings, please see www.esrb.org.

6 Eighty-six percent of game players under the age of 18 report that they get their parents’ permission when renting or buying games, and 91 percent say their parents are present when they buy games.

7 Thirty-six percent of American parents say they play computer and video games. Further, 80 percent of gamer parents say they play video games with their kids. Sixty-six percent feel that playing games has brought their families closer together.

8 Thirty-eight percent of all game players are women. In fact, women over the age of 18 represent a significantly greater portion of the game-playing population (31%) than boys age 17 or younger (20%).

9 In 2007, 24 percent of Americans over the age of 50 played video games, an increase from nine percent in 1999.

10 Forty-nine percent of game players say they play games online one or more hours per week. In addition, 34 percent of heads of households play games

Source: XBox Family

Friday, December 28, 2007

No Mega Man for Nintendo Wii Super Smash Brothers?


We all know there's another character left to be announced for Brawl, and like me many of you were probably hoping it would be the mighty Megaman.

I'm sorry to say that your chances are really not looking good as the games chief developer, Keiji Inafune said the following during Capcom's podcast:


“Well, I really do love Super Smash Bros. It’s a great series…but, Nintendo hasn’t asked me yet if they can use Mega Man in their game. I’m still waiting…we have a little bit of time left, it’s not coming out for another few months. They might get around to asking us if we’d like to put Mega Man in Super Smash Bros. Maybe if somebody from Nintendo is listening to this podcast, they’ll give me a call.”


It could simply be that it's some sort of major secret and he himself hasn't even been notified yet.

Source: Nintencast.com

But I'm thinking it's a bit late to put Megaman into the game if like Keiji says, they haven't made any plans as they'll have to create attacks etc for the character. So what'd you guys reckon?

NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams for Nintendo Wii - It truly is a dream


Okay, I'm going to level with you right now, before I get this article started. My experience with the original NiGHTS for the Saturn is limited at best.

I know all about it, of course, but I only played it very little several years ago when it came out.

I never had a Saturn growing up, so I never really got much of a chance to play it. However, if Journey of Dreams is any indication, I missed out on quite an experience. Many were unsure of how Journey of Dreams would turn out, seeing as it was developed by Sonic Team USA, who don't exactly have the greatest track record (Shadow the Hedgehog, anyone?).

However, in my eyes at least, NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams redeems Sonic Team USA for Shadow the Hedgehog, and them some.

The story in NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams revolves around two children, Will and Helen, and their visit to Nightopia, which is a world that people can only visit in their sleep.



While there they meet NiGHTS, an androgynous jester, and get caught up in a battle to save Nightopia from the Nightmarens and their evil leader Wizeman. The whole thing feels like a Disney movie, with the characters learning important lessons about trust and themselves along the way.

The story is told through fully voiced (and sadly, unskippable) cutscenes that somehow manage to look worse than the in-game graphics. The voices all have a British quality to them, especially NiGHTS, who has a VERY feminine voice. There's also a very creepy quality to the characters, like their heads are far too large for their bodies. Or maybe that's all in my imagination, who knows.

More from: Siliconera

Another Nintendo Wii light gun - $6.50



GHT Simple Light Gun Accessory for Wii Remote

- Realistic playing for shooting game, just aim at the target on screen and shoot it using forefinger.
- Easy to install and remove.
- No external power required.
- Quality assures.

Another product from DealExtreme

The Nintendo Wii shark gun - just as it says...


So you've got yourself a Wii for Christmas, and you've managed to snag the system's best games, maybe a controller sleeve or one of those nifty charging cradles, but one thing still bothers you.

Where the hell's the shark gun?

Here the hell's the shark gun. $10.86 at DealExtreme snags you the Paga Shark Light Gun for the Wii, finally adding the "True Experience" of pointing a shark at your television, just like the U.S. Military.

Just slip the Wiimote up top, plug the nunchuk (also named mushroom head?) into the shark's anus and you are good to go! Marine sodomy has never been so much fun!

As you can see, I wasn't making up the mushroom head thing. In case you were wondering why you would need a shark-shaped light gun for your Wii, the answer is right there, plain as day.



"With lively appearance and smooth lines, shark gun makes you feel comfortable, and give you a strong sense of shark-like invincible force."

It kinda sounds like Cake lyrics if you space it out just right. I don't even know why I am still typing. You've already all left to order yourself one of these. Just remember, "This product shouldbe put in the dranghty and rentilafect no matter being used or leave unused."

Or else.

From : DealExtreme and Kotaku

Free Linux Windows Mac OS X video game - Warzone 2100 real-time strategy RTS game.


Warzone 2100 is a real-time strategy game, originally developed by Pumpkin Studios and published by Eidos-Interactive.

Although comparable to other 3D RTS games, it does contain some features that are unique.

These include various radar technologies, a greater focus on artillery and counter-battery technologies, as well as a different vehicle design method. It was released in 1999 for PC and Playstation.

The Warzone 2100 Resurrection Project aims to continue the vision of Pumpkin studios started in 1999 with the game Warzone 2100, which was closed source until Dec 6, 2004 when it was let out the doors for the first time to the public under the GNU General Public License (GPL), by its copyright holders Eidos-Interactive. (minus the FMVs).

Download for the game website here... http://wz2100.net/home

More Free Linux games posted on 10th December here...

Free Linux Windows video game - Warsow First Person Shooter game


Warsow is a free standalone first person shooter game for Windows and Linux.

It is based on the Qfusion 3D engine (a modification of the Quake 2 GPL engine), and aimed on the competitive scene, or the e-sports community.

The base gameplay is focussed around the art of movement, meaning moving, speed and tricks play a big part in the gameplay. Besides this, mapcontrol, aim, teamplay and fragging skills play their role too.

* Standalone game for Windows and Linux
* 3D Engine based on Qfusion (a modification of Quake 2 GPL engine)
* eSport oriented FPS
* Fast-paced gameplay focused on trix (trick jumps) and art of move
* Complete Power-up System including Weak and Strong fire mode for each weapon
* Cartoonish graphics with celshading-like_but_not_Manga style, mixing dark, flashy and dirty textures, matching with action full of fun and speed
* References: Quakeworld, Quake3 CPMA, Jet Set Radio, Speedball.

Visit the game website for more information here... http://www.warsow.net/

Source: Entretenimiento Online

More Free Linux games posted on 10th December here...

Free Linux Windows Mac OS X BSD video game - VDrift racing game open source driving and drifting


VDrift is a cross-platform, open source driving simulation made with drift racing in mind.

It's powered by the excellent Vamos physics engine.

It is released under the GNU General Public License (GPL) v2. It is currently available for Linux, FreeBSD, Mac OS X and Windows.

Visit the game website here... http://vdrift.net/

Source: Entretenimiento Online

More Free Linux games posted on 10th December here...

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Free Linux Windows Mac OS X game - Urban Terror tactical First Person shooter


Urban Terror could best be described as a Hollywood tactical shooter; it is realism based to a certain extent (environments/weapons/player models), but also goes by the motto "fun over realism" (fast gameplay and lots of action).

This combination of reality and action results in a very unique, enjoyable and addictive game.

Urban Terror is available for Windows, Linux and Macintosh.

The current version of Urban Terror is 4.0. Currently working on 4.1.

Visit the game website here... http://www.urbanterror.net/news.php

Source: Entretenimiento Online

More Free Linux games posted on 10th December here...

Free Linux Windows Mac OS X BSD game - True Combat Elite FPS game


True Combat Elite happens to be a total-conversion modification of Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory by Team Terminator and Groove Six Studios.

The game is free and playable across all platforms.

Notable features include iron sights aiming (no crosshair), multi layer object penetration, letterbox / wide screen view modes, lag compensation, client side bullet prediction and support for PunkBuster, the anti cheat software.

More from the game site here... http://www.truecombatelite.net/

Source: Free Online Fun

More Free Linux games posted on 10th December here...

Free Linux Windows game - Tremulous FPS game


Tremulous is a free, open source game that blends a team based FPS with elements of an RTS. Players can choose from 2 unique races, aliens and humans. Players on both teams are able to build working structures in-game like an RTS. These structures provide many functions, the most important being spawning. The designated builders must ensure there are spawn structures or other players will not be able to rejoin the game after death. Other structures provide automated base defense (to some degree), healing functions and much more...

Player advancement is different depending on which team you are on. As a human, players are rewarded with credits for each alien kill. These credits may be used to purchase new weapons and upgrades from the "Armoury". The alien team advances quite differently. Upon killing a human foe, the alien is able to evolve into a new class. The more kills gained the more powerful the classes available.

The overall objective behind Tremulous is to eliminate the opposing team. This is achieved by not only killing the opposing players but also removing their ability to respawn by destroying their spawn structures.
Feature List



  • Flexible particle system - 99% of the in-game visual effects are configured using particle scripts.

  • 16 buildable structures with in-game functions.

  • Play as several alien classes with unique abilities.

  • Customize your setup as a human and buy new weapons, armour and items.

  • Scale the walls and ceilings as an alien waiting for an unsuspecting human.

  • Realistic physics and motion - no bunny hopping or quick back peddling.

  • Flexible map system - animated mapobjects, triggering, light flares, etc.

  • Large weapons system - don't like the weapon you have? Sell it and buy a different one, dozens of options.



Download here... http://tremulous.net/

Source: Free Online Fun

More Free Linux games posted on 10th December here...