Spring Games Guide

Spring Games Guide

 Say goodbye to the cold, dark days of winter, because spring is finally here. But while you'll be tempted to get out of the house and enjoy the vastly improved weather, the video game industry is doing its best to give you a few reasons to stay inside, too. Spring forward a few months and take a look at what the season has in store.

 CRYSIS 2 -- (Release Date: 3/22)
Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Set in the evacuated ruins of a ravaged New York City, this high-octane sequel lets players use a super-powered Nanosuit to defend the planet against a massive alien force. Featuring the next evolution in the cutting-edge 'CryEngine' game tech, it will definitely boast showstopping graphics. Here's hoping it's packing showstopping fun, too.

 THE SIMS MEDIEVAL -- (Release Date: 3/22)

Platforms: PC, Mac
The virtual dollhouse gets the Middle Ages treatment with this brand new, standalone effort. Create heroes, take them on epic quests, negotiate with neighbors and furnish their kingdom any way you see fit. Just be sure to stock ye olde kitchen -- those little buggers get hungry quickly.

 NINTENDO 3DS -- (Release Date: 3/27)
Glasses-free 3D in the palm of your hand? That's the promise of Nintendo's new portable machine, and all signs point to them delivering in a big way. Boasting a robust suite of built-in software alongside 3D-enabled takes on hit franchises like Street Fighter, Pilotwings and Nintendogs, it's aiming to change the handheld game. Hope you placed a pre-order, because it's already tapped to be a big seller.

 TIGER WOODS PGA TOUR 12: THE MASTERS -- (Release Date: 3/29)

Platforms: Xbox 360, Wii, PS3
While it's been anything but a smooth ride back to the top of the leaderboard for Tiger Woods, his video game hasn't dropped a hole in years. This year's version goes where none have gone before by featuring Augusta National, the first time the vaunted Masters course has appeared in a U.S. golf sim.

 PORTAL 2 -- (Release Date: 4/19)

Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
It's still alive. The sequel to one of the most celebrated video games of its era, Portal 2 once again pits test subject Chell against the passive-aggressive computer GLaDOS as she attempts to survive another round of spatially-challenging platform levels. Two-player co-op and a variety of new items will make it another can't-miss -- and unlike the cake, that's no lie.

 MORTAL KOMBAT -- (Release Date: 4/19)

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3
It's baaaaack. The controversial brawler returns this spring, bringing with it iconic characters like Liu Kang, Sub-Zero and Scorpion alongside a slew of other favorites from past games. It's also bringing new 3D graphics, new modes, new moves and of course gruesome new Fatalities. Already earning plenty of pre-release buzz, it's shaping to be a must-have for fighting game fans -- and a lightning rod for critics of violent video games.

 DUKE NUKEM FOREVER -- (Release Date: 5/3)
Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
A mind-numbing 14 years in the making, this once-dead first-person shooter has not only been revived by 2K Games, it's actually, legitimately, TRULY coming out in May. But don't expect it to be a forward-thinker: early buzz is that it's as immature, gritty and straightforward as its musclebound star, so grab some bubble gum and start chewing.

 LEGO PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN -- (Release Date: 5/13)

Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Following the early spring release of Lego Star Wars III comes this Lego-fied treatment of the swashbucking film franchise. It seems like a perfect match. Expect plenty of swordfighting, treasure-hunting, and good-natured pillaging as you adventure through all four films in the series -- including 'On Stranger Tides', which releases just a week after the game.

 LA NOIRE -- (Release Date: 5/17)
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3
From the publisher of Game of the Year types like Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption comes a more subtle open-world game that looks no less impressive. Set amidst the seedy underworld of a crime-ridden 1947 Los Angeles, it stars Mad Men's Aaron Stanton as a detective out to solve grisly murders. It also stars cutting-edge motion capture technology and a compelling sense of style. Definitely one to watch.

 F.E.A.R. 3 -- (Release Date: 5/24)

Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
The creepiest name in first-person shooting returns with the third installment of F.E.A.R. Playing as the son of the psychically gifted Alma, you're out to deal with your disturbed family and, possibly, save the world. Chances are no matter how it plays out, you'll want to play it with the lights on.

 INFAMOUS 2 -- (Release Date: 6/7)

Platforms: PS3
Cole McGrath didn't intend becoming a superhero, but the electrically-charged star of Sony's Infamous is pretty much exactly that. The open-world sequel takes place in a town inspired by New Orleans, gifting Cole with new abilities and granting gamers the ability to create and share their own missions.

 CHILD OF EDEN -- (Release Date: 6/14)

Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3
Made by the creative mastermind behind musical cult-hits like Rez and Space Channel 5, this Kinect-compatible action game lets players rhythmically blast enemies while gliding through various dream-like environments. It's a bit out there, but that's often where you find the coolest stuff.

ALICE: MADNESS RETURNS -- (Release Date: 6/14)
Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Bad things have happened in Wonderland in the eleven years since the original American McGee's Alice game thrilled fans, but great things are in store for gamers. Featuring visceral combat and macabre versions of famous characters like the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter and the Queen of Hearts, it's shaping up be a real treat for those brave enough to head back through the looking glass.

More about → Spring Games Guide

The Incredible Sculptures Made From Sticky Tape

The Incredible Sculptures Made From Sticky Tape

These works of art are sure to stick in your head - as they've been sculpted entirely out of adhesive tape.
The amazing see-through models of a peacock, a galleon and hot air balloon are entries in a bizarre art competition.
They are made by sticking bits of tape together in a 'free-form' style or by wrapping them around objects which are then removed from the piece.
There are also models of a gun-toting arm emerging from a TV screen and a sweets vending machine.
The entries are typically made from between 30 and 50 rolls of tape and take days to complete.
Other materials, such as wire, cardboard and paint, can make up to ten per cent of the model if used to support or enhance it.
The models had to be made using Scotch packaging tape and the winning entry will receive £3,100 when judging takes place next month.
Keri Warren, from Scotch, said: 'We are excited by the amount of attention this competition has attracted.
'All entries are unique in their own way and I find the level of detail and creativity outstanding.
'Many of the entrants photograph their sculptures in settings that help to bring their pieces to life, which helps us all to relate them.
"The competition allows the entrants to develop and showcase their artistic talents with a medium that is outside the typical realm of artistry.'

Source: Dailymail

More about → The Incredible Sculptures Made From Sticky Tape

Nintendo 3DS to launch with 18 games

If you're planning to pick up a Nintendo 3DS when it goes on sale March 27, you'll have a solid 18 games to choose from for your starter collection -- but they're going to cost a bit more than regular DS titles.
Nintendo has unveiled its launch day line-up for the handheld gaming system as well as a $40 price tag for games -- $5 more than titles for the existing DS platform. The 3DS won't launch with the support of a heavyweight Nintendo icon like Mario or Zelda, but external publishing partners will pick up the day-one slack with some very familiar names, including Super Street Fighter, The Sims, Star Wars, Rayman, and Madden. The system will also come with built-in titles Face Raiders, AR Games and a Mii Maker application.
Nintendo itself will contribute nintendogs + cats, a sequel to its popular pet simulator, along with submarine simulator Steel Diver and Pilotwings Resort. The company seems to be saving its big guns for a little later in the year when there are more 3DS systems in people's hands and the holidays are drawing near. Before the year is out, the company says it plans to release The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising and a new installment in the Mario Kart series.
Nintendo plans to expand the total number of games available for the 3DS from 18 to more than 30 by mid-June. To drive demand for the system, the company is planning an extensive promotional campaign, with over 5,000 units in stores and people demonstrating mobile units on the streets of major cities.
The $5 premium for titles wasn't unexpected, but could still make things challenging for the company. While Nintendo has pretty much owned the handheld gaming space for generations, it faces dramatically increased competition from Apple these days, as players have flocked to the iOS devices, where game prices almost never top $10.
Granted, no iPhone offers glasses-free stereoscopic 3D, but analysts question if that effect will, in the long run, be worth an extra $30-$35 to players for games like Madden and LEGO Star Wars.
To help you assemble your shopping list, here are the titles that will be available at launch (plus the two built-in games):
Pilotwings Resort (Nintendo)
Steel Diver (Nintendo)
nintendogs + cats (Nintendo)
Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition (Capcom)
The Sims 3 (EA)
Madden NFL Football (EA)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D (Konami)
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (LucasArts)
Ridge Racer 3D (Namco Bandai)
Super Monkey Ball 3D (Sega)
Bust-a-Move Universe (Square-Enix)
Samurai Warriors: Chronicles (Tecmo Koei America)
Asphalt 3D (Ubisoft)
Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D (Ubisoft)
Rayman 3D (Ubisoft)
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Shadow Wars (Ubisoft)
Read More: Yahoo

More about → Nintendo 3DS to launch with 18 games

Nintendo 3DS to launch with 18 games

If you're planning to pick up a Nintendo 3DS when it goes on sale March 27, you'll have a solid 18 games to choose from for your starter collection -- but they're going to cost a bit more than regular DS titles.
Nintendo has unveiled its launch day line-up for the handheld gaming system as well as a $40 price tag for games -- $5 more than titles for the existing DS platform.

The 3DS won't launch with the support of a heavyweight Nintendo icon like Mario or Zelda, but external publishing partners will pick up the day-one slack with some very familiar names, including Super Street Fighter, The Sims, Star Wars, Rayman, and Madden. The system will also come with built-in titles Face Raiders, AR Games and a Mii Maker application.
Nintendo itself will contribute nintendogs + cats, a sequel to its popular pet simulator, along with submarine simulator Steel Diver and Pilotwings Resort. The company seems to be saving its big guns for a little later in the year when there are more 3DS systems in people's hands and the holidays are drawing near. Before the year is out, the company says it plans to release The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising and a new installment in the Mario Kart series.
Nintendo plans to expand the total number of games available for the 3DS from 18 to more than 30 by mid-June. To drive demand for the system, the company is planning an extensive promotional campaign, with over 5,000 units in stores and people demonstrating mobile units on the streets of major cities.
The $5 premium for titles wasn't unexpected, but could still make things challenging for the company. While Nintendo has pretty much owned the handheld gaming space for generations, it faces dramatically increased competition from Apple these days, as players have flocked to the iOS devices, where game prices almost never top $10.
Granted, no iPhone offers glasses-free stereoscopic 3D, but analysts question if that effect will, in the long run, be worth an extra $30-$35 to players for games like Madden and LEGO Star Wars.
To help you assemble your shopping list, here are the titles that will be available at launch (plus the two built-in games):
Pilotwings Resort (Nintendo)
Steel Diver (Nintendo)
nintendogs + cats (Nintendo)
Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition (Capcom)
The Sims 3 (EA)
Madden NFL Football (EA)
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D (Konami)
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (LucasArts)
Ridge Racer 3D (Namco Bandai)
Super Monkey Ball 3D (Sega)
Bust-a-Move Universe (Square-Enix)
Samurai Warriors: Chronicles (Tecmo Koei America)
Asphalt 3D (Ubisoft)
Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D (Ubisoft)
Rayman 3D (Ubisoft)
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Shadow Wars (Ubisoft)
Read More: Yahoo

More about → Nintendo 3DS to launch with 18 games

Evolution of Fighting Games

Though it enjoyed its heyday in the 1990s, the fighting game genre has been around a lot longer than you might think. With a new combatant stepping into the ring in this week's highly-anticipated crossover Marvel Vs. Capcom 3, we decided to brush up on Dragon Punches by revisiting some of history's toughest video games.

HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMP (1976) -- Among Sega's earliest releases, this old-school, black and white coin-op game featured two boxing gloves -- one for each player -- which could be used to punch high or low. As rare as it is rudimentary, it's arguably the very first hand-to-hand fighting game.

KARATE CHAMP (1984) -- If fighting gaming has a Pong, this is it. Unlike other fighters of its time (like Jordan Mechner's awesome Karateka), Data East's two-player game put the emphasis squarely on the moves, giving players a unique dual-joystick control scheme from which to launch an impressive array of punches, kicks, and jumps.

YIE AR KUNG FU (1985) -- You might not known this Konami fighter by name, but play it for a few minutes and you'll sense its deep influence immediately. Players helped bare-knuckled star Oolong brawl through 11 weapon-wielding enemies by studying their moves and learning how best to counter -- the blueprint of the fighting game genre moving forward.

STREET FIGHTER (1987) -- The modern fighter was born with Capcom's Street Fighter. While it never enjoyed the widespread popularity of its future kin, it introduced now-ubiquitous concepts like six-button control and the ability to "Hadouken!" a fireball. Fun fact: one arcade variant included pressure-sensitive pads that could determine the strength and speed of attacks based on how hard they were hit. Needless to say, those machines didn’t last long.

STREET FIGHTER II (1991) -- The first game started the fire, but the sequel turned it into a raging inferno. The biggest difference? The cast. While the original starred martial artists Ken and Ryu, Street Fighter II featured eight playable characters covering an assortment of styles and regions. It was such a smash, it warranted a good five tweaked iterations ("Champion," "Hyper," Turbo", etc.) and countless ports.

MORTAL KOMBAT (1992) -- Midway decided to turn the heat up even further by pushing the taste envelope with this gruesome goodie. Its over-the-top violence took center stage, enraging moral crusaders to the point that it essentially birthed the ESRB ratings system. Often imitated but never duplicated, the series is still going strong, with a reboot due out later this year.

VIRTUA FIGHTER (1993) -- Polygons! Prior to this Sega smash, they didn’t really belong in fighting games. But that all changed once this 3D combatant stepped into the ring, revolutionizing the genre with a robust fighting engine and a groundbreaking visual style.

TEKKEN (1994) -- Namco took Sega's basic 3D premise and ran with it, bumping up the gameplay speed and covering a wider variety of fighting styles. It also introduced a new control style in which each attack button corresponded to a specific limb. The formula proved a big hit: the Tekken franchise has sold nearly 40 million copies worldwide.

SOUL CALIBUR (1998) -- You need the right tool for the job, and often, that tool is a giant sword. Or nunchucks. Or perhaps a battle axe. Namco gave the fighting genre a weapon infusion with the stellar Soul Blade series, highlighted by the epic Soul Calibur for the Dreamcast. How epic? A dozen years after its release, it's still the highest-rated fighter ever.

SUPER SMASH BROS. (1999) -- You don’t typically equate Nintendo with all-out brawling, but that's exactly what gamers got in the blockbuster Super Smash Bros. on the N64. Pitting mascot against mascot on multi-tiered levels, its easy-to-learn-but-hard-to-master controls made it an instant hit. Its two sequels did just as well -- the Wii's Super Smash Bros. Brawl is consistently among the most played games on the system.

MARVEL VS CAPCOM 2 (2000) -- Forget that "2" -- this is actually the fourth entry in Capcom's fantastic comic/game crossover. Thanks to its massive character list (56 in all), it's considered by genre fans to be one of the coolest 2D fighting games ever.

STREET FIGHTER IV (2009) -- While plenty of terrific fighting games emerged during the first ten years of the 2000s, none recaptured the genre's genius like this long-awaited great. Coupling gorgeous graphics with newly simplified -- but no less deep -- gameplay, it's ushered in a new era of video game fighting.
Read More: Yahoo

More about → Evolution of Fighting Games