Showing posts with label Gaming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gaming. Show all posts
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[postlink]https://tenderhub.blogspot.com/2011/12/nfs-shift.html[/postlink]







Need for Speed: SHIFT is a first-person driving game. Feel the power of a McLaren F1 from inside the cockpit with the new in-car perspective that IGN (a popular website) says makes the driving experience “so close to the real thing.”


View


Need for Speed: Shift's most immediately remarkable feat is easy to pick: the driver-based view. While the cars and courses are only reasonably pretty, the effort that EA put into using camera tricks and visual effects to duplicate the driver's perspective pays off spectacularly. It makes the biggest impact in the cockpit view, but even in third-person, the depth-of-field effects narrow your focus in a tunnel-like way.


Combined with the visual and tactile bumps and the mini-blackouts after collisions, the game spins a web of immersion that's pretty dazzling. You really have to see it to understand why it's the next step beyond the cockpit view that PGR3 pioneered.


Hit another car or a wall at high speed and you'll be knocked around and disoriented by the Dynamic Crash Effect system. SHIFT has 72 photo-real high-performance cars and 19 beautifully rendered tracks you can race in more than 50 different ways, including Laguna Seca and Willow Springs.


Shift is hugely entertaining, but remember that it's not about the silly fun like its Need for Speed predecessors. 


Final verdict:Outstanding driver's view. Deep, addictive career mode with lots of variety and options. Sharp multiplayer racing counts toward single-player career.

NFS SHIFT

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[postlink]https://tenderhub.blogspot.com/2011/12/new-dragon-age-series.html[/postlink]









The next entry in the fantasy role-playing Dragon Age series will draw inspiration from both of its predecessors as well as open-world games like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, developer BioWare said.


Speaking to Wired.com in Manhattan on Tuesday afternoon, BioWare CEO and cofounder Dr. Ray Muzyka said the company has been listening to its fans and learning from the strengths and weaknesses of both Dragon Age II, the latest entry in the popular series, and other games that are on the market today.


"[The next Dragon Age] is gonna have the best of features from the prior Dragon Age games, but it's also gonna have a lot of things I think players are gonna find compelling from some of the games that are out now that are doing really well with more of an open world feel," Muzyka said.


"We're checking [Skyrim] out aggressively. We like it. We're big admirers of [Bethesda] and the product," he said. "We think we can do some wonderful things."


Dragon Age II, which BioWare released earlier this year for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, drew polarized reactions from both critics and fans. While some lauded its character development and writing, others, including Wired.com, criticized the game for feeling rushed and disjointed.


Muzyka acknowledged that polarization, saying that although he is proud of the Dragon Age II team and the innovations it brought to the table, he is listening closely to fan reactions for the next game in the series.


"How do we combine the new innovations we brought in Dragon Age II with the experience people were looking for in Dragon Age: Origins?" Muzyka said.


The story of Dragon Age II took place across a decade-long span in the city of Kirkwall, allowing players to see how the city and characters evolved over the years. Muzyka hinted that the next Dragon Age game could take that narrative structure and apply it to a variety of areas, rather than a single city.


Muzyka also addressed the common criticism that players could not equip their party members in Dragon Age II, saying BioWare took that feedback to heart.


"We realize that's important to the players," he said.


Though BioWare has not yet officially announced the next Dragon Age game, rumors have been swirling about a possible multiplayer mode that could feature playable dragons.


"Our goal is to surprise and delight our fans," Muzyka said. "I've seen something in the last couple of weeks that is really the future of that franchise that is so compelling, I am so looking forward to being able to announce it."


Muzyka would not elaborate on this tease, though BioWare VP and cofounder Greg Zeschuk chimed in with a joking suggestion of his own.

NEW DRAGON AGE SERIES

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[postlink]https://tenderhub.blogspot.com/2011/12/week-in-gaming-microsoft-legal-moves.html[/postlink]

Week in gaming: Microsoft's legal moves with the 360, <em>Serious Sam 3</em>, indie game marketing

This was an interesting week, with Microsoft updating the Xbox 360 with a new look and some new ways to search for, and consume, media content. The big story is the clause that prevents you from suing the company that Microsoft inserted into the terms of service. Of course, you can't opt out of this particular bit of the agreement, so there's that issue.

We also reviewed Serious Sam 3, we talked to the people behind two great iOS games, and I gave a lecture on how to market your indie game. The good news is that incoming pitches have already improved, which was my secret mission all along: to get you people to make my job easier. Thanks, guys!

Xbox 360 update: new media features, no right to sue Microsoft: Microsoft's newest Xbox 360 update doesn't just update the console's media features; it also strips the rights of consumers to legal action against the company. We show you how to opt out, and explain how Microsoft can still take you to court under the new rules.

Microsoft's bid to rule your living room with the Xbox 360 begins tomorrow: Microsoft's latest Xbox 360 update went live, bringing with it expanded options for live and streaming television and movies.

You can't opt out of the "no class-action" Xbox 360 TOS update after all: Microsoft has clarified its wording in this week's Xbox 360 update to let you know there is no way to avoid losing the ability to sue the company or take part in a class-action lawsuit. You can, however, give up using your Xbox 360 if you'd like.

Serious Sam 3 is hardcore, difficult, and lovely: Serious Sam 3 combines punishing difficulty with virtuoso encounter design and an enemy count that often borders on the ridiculous. The game takes a while to get going, but once it does, the action is a thing to behold.

DRM-free gaming distributor GOG.com trades convenience for safety: What's the worth of a fast checkout process for digital retailers? GOG.com recently asked its users that, and the data came back showing customers would rather deal with a longer checkout process if that meant their data wasn't kept on the company's servers. What's surprising is that the company is listening.

EPOCH developer on Skyrim launch, how indies compete for time, not money: The developers of the iOS title EPOCH wanted to create a game that used the touch capabilities of the iPhone and iPad without using virtual buttons, and in that they succeeded. The trickiest part was planning the game's release date.

Nintendo's Miyamoto stepping down, working on smaller games: Shigeru Miyamoto will be devoting his time at Nintendo to personal projects instead of blockbusters like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda.

Grand Theft Auto 3 coming to Android, iOS devices, may be tough to control: The Android and iOS versions of Grand Theft Auto III will be released on December 15 for $5, but the included screenshot makes us think the game could be more frustrating than fun.

7554 puts gamers in the shoes of Vietnamese soldier during historic battle: The upcoming PC game7554 celebrates one of the most historic battles in Vietnam's history, seen through the eyes of a Vietnamese soldier. Ars spoke with the game's director to discuss Vietnamese development, and why fun may trump cultural differences.

How to market your indie games: Ben Kuchera's lecture at Run Jump Dev: In November, our own Ben Kuchera gave a speech to a group of independent game developers sharing his thoughts on how to get your game to the press. Here is the 50-minute speech, in its entirety.

Week in gaming: Microsoft's legal moves with the 360, Serious Sam 3, indie game marketing

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[postlink]https://tenderhub.blogspot.com/2011/12/grand-theft-auto-3-coming-to-android.html[/postlink]

<em>Grand Theft Auto 3</em> coming to Android, iOS devices, may be tough to control

Rockstar games is releasing Grand Theft Auto III: 10 Year Anniversary Edition for both iOS and Android devices next week, and the game will cost $5. This is good news, as Grand Theft Auto III remains a fun game, and the price is more than fair. Here is the list of supported devices that you can use to play when it launches on December 15.

  • Apple iOS Devices: iPad 1 & 2, iPhone 4 & 4S, iPod touch 4th Generation
  • Android Phones: HTC Rezound, LG Optimus 2x, Motorola Atrix 4G, Motorola Droid X2, Motorola Photon 4G, Samsung Galaxy R, T-Mobile G2x
  • Android Tablets: Acer Iconia, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, Dell Streak 7, LG Optimus Pad, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1, Sony Tablet S, Toshiba Thrive

So why does the game look like it could be frustrating? Take a look at the screenshot included in this story. Just look at it. The virtual buttons added to touchscreen devices when traditional games are ported tend to be hard to use and easy to miss, and the mess that's on the screen in that shot makes it hard to get excited about this release. I know Apple isn't keen on releasing a physical controller for iOS devices, but c'mon guys, something has to be done.

Grand Theft Auto 3 coming to Android, iOS devices, may be tough to control

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[postlink]https://tenderhub.blogspot.com/2011/12/gameloft-launches-gt-racing-motor.html[/postlink]

9COMMENTS

GT Racing Google+

Google announced games for Google+ back in August, and now the social network is getting a boost from one of the largest mobile game publishers around, Gameloft. The company claims GT Racing: Motor Academy, is the first 3D, HTML5 racing game available on Google+. No other games have been announced just yet, but a Gameloft VP said the company is "excited about offering our games to Google+ users," implying that there will be more on the way. The game itself runs smoothy, though the keyboard-based control scheme leaves something to be desired. It's also worth noting that this game, which was already relaased on a number of platforms including iOS and Android, only runs in Chrome or Firefox — Safari and Internet Explorer users need not apply.

Gameloft launches GT Racing: Motor Academy on Google+