Iraq's Guitar Heroes Shred by Day, Take Out Insurgents by Night

Attack helicopters and robotic planes, in combination, can be extremely hazardous to an insurgent's health. In 14 months, one copter-and-drone crew has killed over 2,400 bomb-planters. The indefatigable Michael Yon offers the most detailed look I've seen yet at how the manned and unmanned aircraft work together, to lethal effect. Step one: Let the pilots finish up their round of Guitar Hero.

The bombers were being watched. Invisible to them, prowling far overhead, was a Predator.

The Predator is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) whose eye sees through the darkness... I often watch the live feed streaming down into the Tactical Operations Centers (TOC) around Iraq, while crosshairs track the enemy, and the screen lists data such as altitude, azimuth, ground speed, and the precise grid coordinates of the target. The Predator carries a deadly Hellfire missile, but also has other weapons, like the crosshairs on its eye, which links down to soldiers watching the video and data feed. The soldiers have radios to other soldiers with massive arrays of weapons. With that combination, every weapon in the US arsenal can be brought into action...

The Predator peered down on the terrorists planting the bomb. There were too many targets for one Hellfire missile, and it’s better to conserve the weapon when possible, since the Predator must fly far to reload.

More from WIRED...

Sony PlayStation Network's Top Ten Games

The PlayStation Network's 2.8 million registered users have been busy, downloading 46 million pieces of content so far. Some of the most popular items downloaded by the service's overwhelmingly male audience (92 percent) were, naturally, games.

The top ten games downloaded purchased the United States were fl0w, Mortal Kombat 2, Tekken 5, Pain, Warhawk, Bowling, Super Stardust, Calling All Cars, Aquatopia, and Everyday Shooter.

Compare them with the top ten Xbox Live Arcade games from last year: TMNT 1989 Arcade, Worms, Castlevania: SOTN, Uno, Bomberman Live, 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures, Sonic The Hedgehog, Pinball FX, Geometry Wars Evolved, Texas Hold 'em.

The services aren't identical, so this isn't exactly an apples-to-apples comparison, but one does have to wonder if this says more about PSN and XBLA themselves or the audiences they serve. Is the PSN simply a haven for indie games, or does the 360's audience just plain prefer more tried-and-true content? Would flOw be a hit on XBLA? Would Uno score on PSN?

Source: Blog WIRED

Panzer Command: Kharkov Announced! - A Major New Release in the Panzer Command 3D Tactical Wargame series from Matrix Games!

Panzer Command: Kharkov Announced!

A Major New Release in the Panzer Command 3D Tactical Wargame series from Matrix Games!

Matrix Games (www.matrixgames.com) and Koios Works are excited to announce a major new release in the Panzer Command series of 3D tactical wargames. In Panzer Command: Kharkov, players step back to the early days of May, 1942 as both the German and Soviet armies prepare major offensives focused on the same place – Kharkov. Panzer Command: Kharkov is scheduled for release during March, 2008. To mark the official announcement, Matrix Games has also released a short promotional trailer to give gamers a quick peek at what they can expect in just a few weeks. The trailer is available for download or simply watch it on YouTube.

Panzer Command: Kharkov is a 3D tactical game in which players control a core force of vehicles and squads while battling through individual scenarios and historical campaigns as well as new random battles and campaigns across the Eastern Front of World War II

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “Panzer Command: Kharkov is the second in our new series of 3D tactical wargames and we’re very excited at the progress we’ve made since the first release in realizing our vision. If you enjoyed Winter Storm, just wait till you see what Kharkov can do!”

Panzer Command: Kharkov is a 3D simultaneous turn based strategy game where you command either the Soviet or German forces during the punch and counter-punch of the 1942 battles around Kharkov in the Ukraine. Two new Kharkov campaigns as well as some additional short campaigns tie the scenarios together, allowing core units to progress from battle to battle, gaining experience, medals and special abilities. A point system allows players to “purchase” additional units for each mission in the campaign as well as replace losses, forcing decisions on management of resources.

The design for Panzer Command: Kharkov lets first time wargamers sit down and start playing, while allowing hard-core gamers to enjoy the realism and historical accuracy. All campaign battles can also be fought as individual scenarios and a new random battle generator as well as a random campaign generator make for almost infinite replayability! The AI can control either side in each battle and a full Play-by-Email system allows for head to head play.

Panzer Command: Kharkov includes a full set of scenario and campaign editing tools as well as excellent support for moddability, extending to the game data as well as the 3D models themselves.

Owners of Panzer Command: Winter Storm will receive a special upgrade offer to purchase Panzer Command: Kharkov at a discount.

Features of Panzer Command: Kharkov include:

New Scenarios and Campaigns

• German Kharkov, May 1942, 14th Panzer Division, (8 Battles)
  
• Soviet Kharkov, May 1942, 169th Rifle Divison, (8 Battles)
  
• German Mcensk, October 1941, 4th Panzer Division, (4 Battles)
  
• German Kursk North, July 1943, (3 Battles)
  
• Boot Camp Tutorial (6 Battles)
  
• Plus additional individual battles and updated Winter Storm campaigns for Winter Storm owners (48 scenarios total if you own Winter Storm)
  

· New Random Battle Generator

· New Random Campaign Generator

· New Spring and Summer Maps

· Trenches and Foxholes

· Minefields

· Detailed LOS and Terrain rules for historical realism

· Scenario Editor, Campaign Editor, Template Editor

· Improved Commands, Improved Interface Options

· Improved AI

· Improved Infantry Combat

· Reinforcements

· Surrender Option

· Smoke

· New Auto-Targeting

· Improved Graphics

· Improved Sounds

· Improved Performance

· New Units

• New On-Map Mortars
  
• 
  
• New On-Map Infantry Guns
  
• 
  
• Greatly expanded list of German and Soviet Units from 1941 - 1944
  

Assassin's Creed- Director's cut edition PC video game

Assassin's Creed- Director's cut edition

PC Product Description

Assassin’s Creed is the next-gen game developed by Ubisoft Montreal that will redefine the action genre. While other games claim to be next-gen with impressive graphics and physics, Assassin’s Creed merges technology, game design, theme and emotions into a world where you instigate chaos and become a vulnerable, yet powerful, agent of change.

The setting is 1191 AD. The Third Crusade is tearing the Holy Land apart. You, Altair, intend to stop the hostilities by suppressing both sides of the conflict.

You are an Assassin, a warrior shrouded in secrecy and feared for your ruthlessness. Your actions can throw your immediate environment into chaos, and your existence will shape events during this pivotal moment in history.

Key Features

• Be an Assassin
Master the skills, tactics and weapons of history’s deadliest and most secretive clan of warriors. Plan your attacks, strike without mercy and fight your way to escape.

• Director’s Cut edition: experience exclusive PC content
Four PC-exclusive investigation missions make the game an even better experience than its console predecessors, including the Rooftop Race Challenge, a race to a specified location and the Archer Stealth Assassination Challenge, where the player must assassinate all archers in a certain zone to help out fellow Assassins.

• Realistic and responsive environments
Experience a living, breathing world in which all your actions have consequences. Crowds react to your moves and will either help or hinder you on your quests.

• Action with a new dimension – total freedom
Eliminate your targets wherever, whenever and however. Stalk your prey through richly detailed, historically accurate, open-ended environments. Scale buildings, mount horses, blend in with crowds. Do whatever it takes to achieve your objectives.

• Relive the epic times of the Crusades
Assassin’s Creed immerses you in the realistic and historical Holy Land of the 12th century, featuring life-like graphics, ambience and the subtle, yet detailed nuances of a living world.

• Intense action rooted in reality
Experience heavy action blended with fluid and precise animations. Use a wide range of medieval weapons, and face your enemies in realistic swordfight duels.

• Next-gen gameplay
The proprietary engine developed from the ground up for the next-gen console allows organic game design featuring open gameplay, intuitive control scheme, realistic interaction with environment and a fluid, yet sharp, combat mechanic.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
(Both Minimum and Recommended):

Supported OS: Windows XP/Windows Vista (only)
Processor: Dual core processor 2.6 GHz Intel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ or better recommended)
RAM: 1 GB Windows XP / 2 GB Windows Vista
Video Card: 256 MB DirectX 10.0–compliant video card or DirectX 9.0–compliant card with Shader Model 3.0 or higher (see supported list)*
Sound Card: DirectX 9.0 or 10.0–compliant sound card (5.1 sound card recommended)
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0 or10.0 libraries (included on disc)
DVD-ROM: DVD-ROM dual-layer drive
Hard Drive Space: 8 GB
Peripherals Supported: Keyboard, mouse, optional controller (Xbox 360 Controller for Windows recommended)

*Supported Video Cards at Time of Release:
ATI RADEON X1600*/1650*–1950/HD 2000/3000 series
NVIDIA GeForce 6800*/7/8/9 series
*PCI Express only supported

Laptop versions of these cards may work but are NOT supported. These chipsets are the only ones that will run this game. For the most up-to-date minimum requirement listings, please visit the FAQ for this game on our support website at: http://support.ubi.com.

NOTICE: This game contains technology intended to prevent copying that may conflict with some disc and virtual drives.

CHARTTRACK WEEKLY VIDEO GAMES CHARTS 8th MARCH

CHARTTRACK WEEKLY CHARTS

All formats

(Full price) Week ending 8 March 2008



1 ARMY OF TWO ELECTRONIC ARTS
2 MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES SEGA
3 BULLY: SCHOLARSHIP EDITION TAKE 2
4 CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE ACTIVISION
5 FRONTLINES: FUEL OF WAR THQ
6 WARHAMMER 40,000: DAWN OF WAR SOULSTORM THQ
7 PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2008 KONAMI
8 LOST: THE VIDEO GAME UBISOFT
9 LOST ODYSSEY MICROSOFT
10 COOKING MAMA 2 505 GAMES
11 FIFA 08 ELECTRONIC ARTS
12 THE SIMS 2: FREETIME ELECTRONIC ARTS
13 FIFA STREET 3 ELECTRONIC ARTS
14 MX VS ATV UNTAMED THQ
15 DYNASTY WARRIORS 6 KOEI
16 GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK ACTIVISION
17 NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. NINTENDO
18 DEVIL MAY CRY 4 CAPCOM
19 BURNOUT PARADISE ELECTRONIC ARTS
20 NEED FOR SPEED: PROSTREET ELECTRONIC ARTS

Mass Effect Universe with First Downloadable Content Bring Down the Sky on Microsoft XBox live

Players Can Now Explore Even More of the "Mass Effect" Universe with the First Downloadable Content, "Bring Down the Sky"

Fans everywhere can expand the “Mass Effect” experience with the release of the “Bring Down the Sky” content pack. “Bring Down the Sky,” the first in a planned series of downloadable content on Xbox LIVE Marketplace, is now available for the blockbuster role-playing game, “Mass Effect,” which has sold more than 1.6 million copies to date, and continues the adventures of Commander Shepard and the Normandy crew.

“Bring Down the Sky” includes a new uncharted world that introduces the Batarians: a notorious and feared alien race. A Batarian extremist group has hijacked a mobile asteroid station in the Asgard system, setting it on a collision course with the nearby colony world of Terra Nova. Only Commander Shepard can save the millions of innocent civilians before the asteroid completes its deadly descent.

Available for 400 MS points via Xbox LIVE Marketplace, fans can experience 90 minutes of heart-pounding action in “Bring Down the Sky” and a new Achievement worth 50 Gamerscore points.

“Mass Effect” is exclusively available on Xbox 360 and is rated 16+.

How Nintendo Wii Smash Bros. Brawl Statistics Tracking Works

If you ever find yourself wondering which one of your characters has the most KO’s in “Super Smash Bros. Brawl” six weeks down the line, the game’s record-keeping will have you covered.

One of the things the “Smash Bros.” series is well know for is their meticulous statistics tracking, and “Brawl” is no exception.

“SSBB” tracks 39 different categories of information, everything from how many times you turn the game on to (my personal favorite) the “loneliest” character. It’s really great for the obsessive gamers out there to see just how much they’ve played “Brawl,” and we’re guessing that if “A Lot” were a number, it would be showing up on many gamers’ lists pretty quickly.

Hit the jump for the full list of categories.

• Power Count (Number of times you turned on Smash Bros. Brawl.)
  
• Power Time (Total time the game has been turned on.)
  
• Play Time (Amount of time spent in matches.)
  
• Adventure Play Time (Amount of time spent playing The Subspace Emissary.)
  
• Combined Adventure Play Time (Adventure play time times number of players.)
  
• Solo Play Time (Total play time in Solo mode.)
  
• Combined Solo Play Time (Solo mode play time times the number of players.)
  
• Vs. Play Time (Total play time in Group mode.)
  
• Combined Vs. Play Time (Group mode play time times the number of players)
  
• Vs. Play Match Total (Total vs. matches, including Nintendo WFC matches.
  
• Offline Vs. Matches Played (Total number of offline vs. matches.)
  
• Offline Matches Played (Total number of online vs. matches With Friends or Anyone.)
  
• Online Play Time With Friends (Total play time for all online matches With Friends.)
  
• Play Time With Anyone (Total play time for all online matches With Anyone.)
  
• Matches Spectated (Total number of times you watched other matches.)
  
• Time Match Total (Total number of Time matches.)
  
• Stock Match Total (Total number of Stock matches.)
  
• Coin Match Total (Total number of Coin matches.)
  
• Vs. Play Contestants (Total number of brawls from all players.)
  
• Match Reset Counter (Total number of times you’ve ended a match early.)
  
• Total Damage (Total damage received by all characters.)
  
• KO Total (Total number of opponents KO’d.)
  
• Self-Destruct Total (Total number of self destructs.)
  
• Available Characters (Number of characters available.)
  
• Available Stages (Number of stages available (excludes custom stages).
  
• Trophy Total (Number of trophies you have (excludes doubles).
  
• Sticker Total (Number of stickers you have (excludes doubles).
  
• Name Total (Total number of names registered.)
  
• Friend Total (Total number of people on Friend Roster.)
  
• Favorite Character (Character played the longest.)
  
• Second Favorite Character (Character played second longest.)
  
• Loneliest Character (Least played character.)
  
• Smash Champ (Character with the most wins.)
  
• Smash Sap (Character with the most losses.)
  
• Slug Meister (Character who has dealt out the most damage.)
  
• Punching Bag (Character who has taken the most damage.)
  
• KO Kingpin (Most KOs in brawls.)
  
• No-Defense Nelly (Most Falls in brawls.)
  
• Disaster Master (Most Self-Destruct in brawls.)
  

Source: MTV Multiplayer

The Now You Know Better! $1,000,000 Game Show wins award

Blockdot's Wins Adobe Site Of The Day Award

Dallas-based Blockdot received the Adobe Systems Site of the Day award on March 10 for “The Now You Know Better! $1,000,000 Game Show” project. This is Blockdot’s third prestigious honor from Adobe in 2008, with General Motors’ “Chevy Cobalt Labs” and 180 Energy Drink’s “Berry Brawl” winning Site of the Day awards earlier this year.

“The Now You Know Better! $1,000,000 Game Show” is a fast-paced trivia battle featuring questions spanning six different decades. By utilizing Adobe Flash Media Server, Blockdot created a multiplayer component that queued up participants as they logged on to the game site. The result: an engaging game experience in which players across the globe compete against each other in real time.

Award-winning actor John O’Hurley (“Seinfeld,” “Dancing with the Stars”) is the host, serving up game-show fun and hilarious quips. Players answer multiple-choice questions as quickly as they can; the more questions correctly answered, the more points received. The player with the most points in a game is crowned show champion!

Visit http://nowyouknowbetter.com to play. “The Now You Know Better! $1,000,000 Game Show” can also be found on Blockdot’s gaming portal www.kewlbox.com.

Greatest Video Game Canine Award Goes To… PaRappa the Rapper

And The Award For Greatest Video Game Canine Goes To…

Every dog has his day…

And today is that day for one video game dog (or wolf).

This year, we’ve embarked on a quest to find the Greatest Animal in the History of Video Games. First, we had judges choose the best horse.

And now, our fine panel has chosen the Greatest Canine in Video Games from a list of nominees that we listed last month (along with readers’ suggestions).

We’ve weighted each judge’s top three picks, and the winner is…

PaRappa the Rapper, who topped the list for three out of our four judges. Meanwhile, Brown from “Rule of Rose” took second place, and the undead dogs from “Resident Evil” were third place.

And the Readers’ Choice winner: a four-way tie, with readers giving props to K.K. Slider from “Animal Crossing,” Amaterasu from “Okami,” the “Duck Hunt” dog and Sam from “Sam & Max.”

More from MTV Multiplayer

Free Linux Windows Mac OS X video game - Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory free stand alone multiplayer online game

Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory was originally planned as an add-on for Return to Castle Wolfenstein, but soon became it's own game, a separate entity with full single player, multiplayer, AI opponents and teammates!

Well that didn't happen and what we got, while less than planned, is amazing...and free!

Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory is a free, stand-alone multiplayer only product, which means it's for online play only, but all you need is what you download.

You do not need anything else to play Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, than what you download for free.

No Return to Castle Wolfenstein, no additional file packages or monthly charges, just one phat lump of action.

Download this game now from their website here... http://www.planetwolfenstein.com/enemyterritory/

Source: Entretenimiento Online

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