Rockstar is the latest to cram their years of hard work onto a single disc in their very own Rockstar Games Collection: Edition 1. The bundle will have all of Rockstar’s biggest critical hits of the current console cycle: Red Dead Redemption, L.A Noire, Midnight Club: Los Angeles and two chapters from the Grand Theft Auto IV side stories, The Lost and the Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony. All four games will cost the typical retail price of $59.99.

Nothing is known about what could be included in a potential Edition 2, but this bundle will cover most of Rockstar’s essentials. What else is there? Would a bundle of The Bully, Max Payne 3, Table Tennis, and the remaining GTAIV content be worth your dollars?

These HD bundles are starting to get a little out of hand, but something about a $60 bundle containing four award winning games is just awesome.Could publishers have found a way to combat used games? The Rockstar Games Collection: Edition 1 will be released on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this coming November 6th. Another great thing I love about these HD bundles is how quickly they are released after being announced.

Source:technobuffalo

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Tablets are becoming a great way to get your gaming on compared with dedicated portable gaming devices and even consoles. Here are the best five gaming tablets.

Horn is one of the only truly graphically impressive games available on both iOS and Android.

(Credit: Screenshot by Eric Franklin/CNET)

In the last month or so, I've taken to doing the majority of my gaming on the iPad as opposed to the Xbox 360. Yep, Hero Academy has me and so far, it has no plans to let go.
While I'm sure the pendulum will swing back in the console direction as the holidays approach, my habits speak to a larger trend of how tablets are slowly becoming great gaming devices. Thanks to their larger-than-a-phone's-but-way-smaller-than-a-TV's screens, tablets fill a unique and specific niche that no other device really can.
That, coupled with fact that processor speeds are fast as all get-out and are only getting faster, the gaming world may have been forever changed with the introduction of these devices.
If you're a gamer and interested in tablet gaming, you'll want to start here.

AMOLED and a faster-than-usual dual-core Exynos processor earns the Tab 7.7 a spot on the list.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7
If you've never played a game like Dead Space or Riptide GP on a high-contrast, AMOLED screen, then you're missing out. Not to say that such an action should be at the top of your bucket list, but if portable gaming is a thing you're into (why else would you be reading this?), the Tab 7.7 makes for a great device to facilitate that. It's thin, light, and powerful, with the largest contrast ratio of any tablet on the list.

It's the quad-core processor, not the stylus, you should be excited about in this case.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1
Sure, the stylus is the reason most will even notice the Note 10.1 (well, the pen and perhaps James Franco's dreaminess), but it's the Exynos 4412 quad-core processor that makes this a gaming beast.

Small and cheap is sometimes a great gaming combination.

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Nexus 7
The cheapest way to get quad-core power on a tablet, the Nexus 7 houses a Tegra 3 processor that delivers fast performance as well as Tegra 3-specific graphical effects at a high pixel density. Also, playing on a 7-inch screen as opposed to a honking 10-incher may be preferable to the finger-length-challenged of you out there.

For the serious tablet gamer who wants to go beyond "awesome graphics, bro!"

(Credit: Josh Miller/CNET)

Asus Transformer Pad Infinity TF700
This is the most powerful Android tablet available and the only one to house a 1.7GHz Tegra 3 as opposed to the 1.3GHz CPU other Tegra 3 tablets use. It also supports Xbox 360 and PS3 controllers, sports a high-resolution screen, and HDMI-out if the 10.1-inch screen ever becomes too small for you.

Sure, the performance is stellar, but it's the breadth and depth of available apps that's truly impressive.

Apple iPad
The iPad is the top dog in tablet gaming thanks to its performance (quad-core PowerVR), games support (many of the best games launch first on iOS versus Android or are completely exclusive), and the highest resolution of any tablet on the list, with tons of games supporting that resolution.

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 Buckle up, Angry Birds fans. The barreling birds and sinister pigs are headed on a mission to Mars.

Days before the scheduled Mars Curiosity Rover landing, Finnish game maker Rovio announced it is gearing up to release a "red planet update" for Angry Birds Space this fall. To hype up the update, Rovio released a short teaser video (below) created in collaboration with NASA.

The 30-second spot begins with a notice about the upcoming landing of the Curiosity Rover on Mars, which is set to happen in just two days. The video then asks the question "what will it find?" before switching to footage of Mars, where a bird's shadow appears over what looks like a patch of ice.

Rovio last week released an update for Angry Birds Space, adding 20 more levels to the game. Also, the game maker just yesterday sent its beloved pig-popping game on a beach vacation with the launch of 15 new tropical level for the original Angry Birds.

Angry Birds Space was first released in March and has been a hit for Rovio, topping 50 million downloads in just 35 days.

Meanwhile, a real life mission to Mars is happening now with the Rover Curiosity scheduled to complete its 350 million-mile journey and touch down on the Red Planet at approximately 1:31 a.m. EDT on Monday. The goal of the mission is to investigate whether the planet could have previously supported life, study its climate and geology, and evaluate the potential for a manned mission.

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:Gameloft seems to be cashing in on movie tie-up games for the mobile platform faster than the console counterpart.

Gameloft has announced an iOS and Android game based on the upcoming superhero movie, the Amazing Spider-Man. The company has released a trailer of the game that showcases the basic premise of the Spider-Man universe, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

The trailer summarizes the story of Spider-Man – average nerdy kid in school gets bitten by a genetically modified (or radioactive) spider, gains super hero powers, uses them for his own good till his uncle Ben is taken from him and then decides to devote his life to crime fighting and saving the world.

The trailer shows a nice shell shaded comic book style narration and we hope this translates into the narrative of the game as well. The trailer also shows off some gameplay where we can see spidey swinging through the city and taking down bad guys. How the story of the game ties into the movie is yet to be seen.

The iOS and Android game will be available on June 28 2012 a day before the movie hits theaters in India. There is no information available about the price of the game.

Gameloft has taken to making mobile games based on movies quite a bit. In the recent past, we have seen a game based on MIB3, a game based on the Dark Knight Rises and Ice Age.

There is also a console Amazing Spider-Man game in the works and will be available for the Xbox 360 and the PS3 when the movie releases.

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Battalion 101 X7200

When you’re looking into getting a gaming system of any kind, the first thing to take into account is the graphics card. You are going to want a card that will not only work for the current games out, but one that will be able to handle the increased demands of newly released games for the next few years as well. It is even more important to look at what comes in a gaming laptop because it is very hard to replace parts on your own, so having something that is going to work for a long time is a must. The Battalion 101 X7200 has one of the best mobile NVIDIA graphics cards on the market, which means you are going to be able to run pretty much any game on the highest graphic settings. The NVIDIA Geforce GXT 560M has 3.0GB of memory, which allows the card to display those very detailed images even better.

This laptop uses a 3D premium surround sound onboard sound card. This won’t provide the best gaming audio, but almost all laptops use simple sound cards and will not be able to produce the amazing sound you will find on a desktop computer. The Battalion 101 X7200, and all of the other gaming laptops we reviewed, have this same issue: The sound quality is far below that of standalone speakers. That being said, the Battalion does produce very good sound for a laptop, and that is due to the size of this notebook. With a 17.3-inch screen and base, Battalion was able to fit a lot more into this gaming laptop.

Processor:

10/10

The processor is basically the brain of your computer; it tells the computer what to do and how to carry out those instructions. The Battalion 101 X7200 gaming laptop has one of the best CPUs (central processing unit) available for laptops. The Intel Core i7-760 processor will keep your computer and all of its programs running at their top capacity. This amazing little device has a clock speed of 3.20GHz, four cores and eight threads. What does all of that mean in terms of processing speed and how your gaming laptop will work? Basically, the clock speed is how fast information can be processed, like a (speed limit; the threads and cores are similar to freeways (four cores) and lanes (eight threads) on the freeway. Essentially, there are four areas that have eight threads in which information can move to and from the processor. A speed of 3.20GHz is very fast for a laptop, particularly when you consider that some of the best desktop processors run around 3.46GHz.

Memory/Storage:

7/10

If we take a step back and look at the system requirements necessary to run games at top performance 5 years ago and compare it to what they require now, it is easy to see why RAM is becoming even more important. If you are not running at least 4GB of RAM in any gaming laptop or computer, odds are you are not getting the best performance from your system. If you choose this top-ranked gaming laptop, you will have 6GB of DDR3 RAM, which is about perfect for most games. There is an option to upgrade, and if you are planning for the future, adding RAM may be a good choice. In fact, almost all gaming laptops out right now offer around 6GB, so the Battalion 101 X7200 is right on track. The only place this laptop could improve is in the amount of hard drive space it has. With only 500GB of memory, you will want to be careful about storing too many movies, music or other such extras. However, 500GB is more than enough for most gamers since some of the biggest games out only use about 30GB at most.

Additional Features:

10/10

All of the high-end gaming laptops use Windows 7 Home Premium. This is because all gaming companies are making games for this operating system because it works well and can handle multitasking. The Battalion 101 X7200 is one of our largest gaming laptops, coming in at 17.3 inches. Some may find the very large screen to be a huge plus, whiles others may feel the large size hinders portability. This computer does weigh a lot more than the ones with 15-inch screens, but it will provide a much better gaming experience. It also has a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which is what we would expect from our number one gaming laptop. One thing we really love about this computer is the overall look and feel of the laptop; it feels very sturdy and the buttons don’t feel like they are going to fall off. You will find all of your basic volume and other touch controls along the top of the keyboard, and there are also a set of hotkey buttons on the left-hand side of the keyboard. One of the most important connection types for a laptop is USB ports, and this computer offers five. These allow for connecting a mouse, external hard drive, Blu-ray player and just about anything else. The Battalion 101 X7200 will run for about two and half hours on a full charge. This is about average for a gaming laptop and plenty long for most people.

Support/Warranty:

10/10

iBuyPower’s support and warranties page is very easy to navigate, and you will find all their different help options on one page. This is a huge plus since some sites send you from page to page just to view additional information. Drivers, FAQs, technical support and warranty services are all quick and simple to use, and it’s easy to find the answers you seek. There is also a live chat option for those with questions about the purchase process. Overall, we are pleased with the one-year warranty offered for this gaming laptop, and this site’s support and warranty section are very inviting.

Summary:

Purchasing a gaming laptop can be a very daunting prospect, but iBuyPower has made it easy. The Battalion 101 X7200 is by far one of the best gaming laptops on the market today. This amazing device allows you to take your gaming experience on the road and still run those graphic-intense games with ease. When it comes to top-of-the-line hardware and a large viewing screen, you will be hard-pressed to find anything better than the Battalion 101 X7200 gaming laptop.

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Screens on the 3DS LL (left) are bigger than those on the earlier models

Nintendo will start selling a version of its 3DS handheld gaming console with bigger screens from July.

The 3DS LL, which will be known as the XL outside Japan, will have displays that are almost twice as big as those on the current version.

It will be priced at 18,900 yen (£150) in Japan and $199.99 (£128) in the US. No European prices have been given.

The 3DS faces growing competition from smartphones, tablets and Sony's Playstation Vita handheld.

The gadget will go on sale in Japan and Europe from 28 July but will not reach the US until 19 August.

Screens on the 3DS LL will be 4.88in (124mm) and 4.18in (106mm) across as compared to 3.53in (90mm) and 3.02in (77mm) in the older model.

The larger size of the gadget will also mean it has a longer battery life. For 3D games, the device should run for more than six hours between recharges. For 2D games it should last up to 10 hours.

About 17 million 3DS devices have been sold since the device was released in 2011

In April, Nintendo reported its first annual loss as sales of its Wii console and other gadgets started to slow. It has hopes that a revamped games console, the Wii U, will return it to profitability.

Nintendo's shares have fallen 60% since the first 3DS launched in February 2011.

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Fast-forward a year and Kinect shows more potential than previously thought.

LOS ANGELES--If you thought Microsoft's motion-sensing controllerless technology Kinect was going to take a back seat this year, you were wrong. In the minutes leading up to the press conference's start, I first noticed a trio of Kinect sensors slyly facing the stage. It would be a telling premonition of what was in store for the world's fastest-selling electronic gadget.

But while Kinect has garnered more groans than praise in recent months, Microsoft's press conference demonstrated somewhat of a maturation for the motion-control initiative. Whereas Kinect functionality initially seemed forced upon software that didn't necessarily need it, a few interesting implementations may have skeptics turning into believers.

On the gaming side of things, the packed house at the Galen Center witnessed the creative application of Kinect in the debut of Splinter Cell: Blacklist, in which players can use their voices to draw an enemy's attention.

It may have taken a year for developers to realize, but the natural application of Kinect functionality is where it's most effective.

But perhaps the most convincing use of Kinect was during a brief Madden 13 demo, where NFL great Joe Montana was on hand to show how Kinect will expand a player's range of control at the line of scrimmage. Where once a series of complex button inputs was required for a quarterback to call audibles and quick-routes, a Kinect-equipped gamer can now shout them out.

In FIFA 13 certain plays can now be voiced with ease, like calling for a pass. Player substitutions will also get the voice treatment as well -- something that's been notoriously tedious in past versions.

I'd imagine Xbox exclusives like Halo 4 and Gears of War Judgement will enjoy the benefits of Kinect's maturation as well, though the details of their specific integration remain unknown.

Of course Microsoft wasn't about to give up on Kinect-only games altogether, as newcomer Wreckateer looks like Kinect's 3D version of Angry Birds. Save for Wreckateer, Dance Central 3, and an ambiguous teaser for a game called Matter, Kinect-only games didn't monopolize press conference time the way they did last year.

A few ghosts of the motion-control workout craze did remain, though. The company also announced a new fitness partnership with Nike+, a system that monitors progress and promises a more complete workout system.

Arguably the biggest announcement of the Microsoft presser was SmartGlass, a way for mobile devices to provide companion features to Xbox games and content. Kinect's role in SmartGlass will help users navigate the Web with Internet Explorer on Xbox, among other features.

I was expecting more of the same from Kinect, but Microsoft has cleverly shifted its focus to a more natural implementation. Kinect succeeds when players don't realize they're using it, and it looks like its use in core games is evolving into just that.

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E3 2012, the biggest event in gaming is only a few hours away and we have already begun receiving details about Nintendo’s next generation console, the Wii U.

The new Nintendo Wii U GamePad (formerly known as The New Controller, or TNC) announced supports NFC (Near Field Communications). The controller has a 6.2-inch touchscreen with dedicated controller buttons around the edges. The GamePad also has motion and gyro sensors for gesture-based motion gaming. This controller is similar to the one we sawlast year at E3, but with a hint of redesign.

Apart from the touchscreen tablet-like controller, there is also a Wii U Pro controller that has been announced for Nintendo’s console. The controller looks very similar to an Xbox 360 controller. This controller has probably been introduced by Nintendo to appeal to the hardcore gaming audience. It features 2 analogue sticks, face buttons, D-Pad, triggers and the standard home, start and select.

The fact that the Wii U supports 2 different types of controllers suggests that the console is targeted at the casual as well as the hardcore gamer.

TNC - Redesigned

Pro Controller

Apart from the 2 controllers, Nintendo also spoke about “Miiverse.” Miiverse (seen below) is Nintendo’s attempt to expand its online community. The interface represents a crowd of Miiavatars representing people using the Wii from around the world. Icons representing games being played are also displayed in the interface. A live Twitter like social feed is also available and will be displayed on the touchscreen controller of the Wii U.

As seen in the below video preview, it looks like users will be able write messages or draw pictures by hand on the Wii U GamePad screen, apart from typing out normal messages, and then send to other Miiverse members of the Miiverse. Nintendo President, Satoru Iwata, spoke about Miiverse, saying: "We believe it can solve the issue of 'alone together'. We believe it enables the sharing of more smiles, more laughs and more empathy."

The services of Miiverse will be available on the Wii U and the Nintendo 3DS but it isn’t clear if the service will be available on the original Wii console.

What remains to be seen is the launch date and the price at which the Nintendo Wii U console will be introduced. Microsoft and Sony have already confirmed that they will not be showing off their next generation consoles at E3 2012.

Stay tuned for more E3 2012 coverage, as it happens! In the meantime, let us know what you think of Nintendo's efforts to get back in on the console game, in the comments section below. Does it stand a chance?

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Reinforcements are being deployed to all N7 forces, bringing out some heavy hitters thanks to the new Mass Effect 3 Rebellion DLC Pack! Arriving on Xbox Live, the PlayStation Network and PC on Tuesday, May 29 (Wednesday, May 30 on the PSN in Europe), the Mass Effect 3 Rebellion Pack will be bringing you more gear, more weapons, more maps, and more kits, available at no additional cost for anyone who redeemed an Online Pass for Mass Effect 3 on PC, PS3 or Xbox 360.

The Rebellion Multiplayer Expansion opens two new fronts against the Reapers: Firebase Jade’s jungle reservoir and Firebase Goddess on Thessia. In-game reinforcement packs now include three new weapons (Reegar Carbine, Krysae Sniper Rifle, Cerberus Harrier) as well as equipment, consumables, and six new characters from species that have lost lives or whole planets to the Reapers: Quarian Engineer and Infiltrator, Vorcha Soldier and Sentinel, Ex-Cerberus Adept and Vanguard. The battle continues!

NEW CHARACTERS
Vorcha Soldier

• Thanks to their unique physiology and their Bloodlust ability, the Vorcha are joining the fight and are perfectly suited for the utilitarian soldier kit.

Vorcha Sentinel

• The innate aggressiveness found within the Vorcha make them shockingly durable combatants, and when coupled with their Flamer skill, the Vorcha sentinel is a force to be reckoned with.

Male Quarian Engineer

• Quarians have spent centuries at perpetual salvage and ship repair; the survival of their species depends on this technical expertise. When bringing the new Arc Grenade to the fray, the Quarians prove their prowess as effective engineers on the battlefield.

Male Quarian Infiltrator

• The Male Quarian Infiltrator must actively rely on stealth while in the heat of battle, and when they make use of their Tactical Scan ability, they quickly prove their mettle while continuously dishing out the pain.

Ex-Cerberus Vanguard

• When the Illusive Man turned to indoctrination in order to ensure the loyalty of his troops, many Cerberus operatives defected and joined the Alliance in order to stop the Reapers. Now that we’re on the same team, Ex-Cerberus Vanguards (along with their new Lash attack) are quickly proving their worth.

Ex-Cerberus Adept

• A result of the Illusive Man’s early experiments in enhanced human physiology, Ex-Cerberus subjects are highly skilled combat and biotics specialists. As a result, Ex-Cerberus Adepts can lay waste to the enemy with their Smash and Singularity powers.

NEW MAPS

• Firebase Jade – Surrounded by huge waterfalls, Firebase Jade overlooks an ancient reservoir built by the salarians centuries ago. Set up strategic chokepoints inside the base’s main buildings to get the jump on your enemy, and work with your team to meticulously clear each room to achieve victory.

• Firebase Goddess – Nestled in the epicenter of a Thessian metropolis, Firebase Goddess is one of the last strongholds of asari resistance against the Reapers. With its circular layout, Firebase Goddess is a tough location to control. This arena combines heavy cover and elevated firing positions, so stay light on your feet.

NEW WEAPONS

• Cerberus Harrier Assault Rifle – These Cerberus-modified Mattock rifles are fully automatic. Cerberus gunsmiths reined in the recoil issues, resulting in a gun that stay on target, but delivers slightly less punch per round than a standard Mattock. As such, the weapon is typically utilized by Cerberus’ elite troopers, who train constantly to make every burst count.
• Reegar Carbine Shotgun – This electrical weapon improves upon the arc pistol’s design by generating a sustained current on its target. This weapon is named for the Quarian Reegar family, whose marines have served valiantly against the Geth.
• Krysae Sniper Rifle – This Turian antimaterial rifle is modified to kill Reaper enemies. The Krysae’s scope uses a rangefinder that adjusts to keep the target in proper proportion to the shooter, which comes in useful when the sniper is forced into close range. Its specialized ammunition is both armor-piercing and explosive. In a desperate move, the Turians released its specifications over the extranet so that nearly anyone with a fabricator could manufacture this weapon to help the war effort.

NEW IN-MISSION OBJECTIVE

• Randomly occurring during waves 3, 6 and 10, this new objective will demand that teams retrieve a high priority package and securely escort it to a designated extraction zone on each map.

NEW GEAR SLOT

• A new slot will be available on the equipment screen, offering players a persistent gameplay bonus that will not expire after the end of a match. These new items will vary from weapon upgrades to character enhancements and will be available through reinforcement packs.

FAQ
When is the Rebellion Pack available?

• The Rebellion Pack is available on May 29 for PlayStation 3 in North America, Xbox 360 and PC worldwide. The pack will be available on May 30 for PlayStation 3 in Europe..

What is included with the Rebellion Pack?

• Firebase Jade and Firebase Goddess are available to play on as soon as the Rebellion Pack is downloaded. The new weapons, characters, and equipment are available as rewards inside Reinforcement Packs.

Does each new character come with new abilities?

• Yes the new characters will have their own unique abilities and loadouts.

How much does the Rebellion Pack cost to download?

• The Rebellion Pack is available at no additional cost to download.

How do I get new characters and weapons from the Rebellion Pack?

• The new items in the Rebellion Pack will be available as rewards inside existing Reinforcement Packs. Make sure to look out for promotional packs and weekend challenges for other ways to unlock the content.

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The next entry in EA's annual Need for Speed franchise will be a sequel to 2005 game Need for Speed: Most Wanted, according to leak-prone South African retailer BTGames.
No release date or launch platforms are mentioned on the Need For Speed Most Wanted 2 product page. But you can pre-order it, if you like.
Criterion, maker of Burnout and the fabulous Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, is expected to be the developer behind the next released Need for Speed game. Is it this one - Most Wanted 2?

Criterion was spotted hiring for an open world racer project last summer.
Eurogamer's then editor Kristan Reed wrote our Need for Speed: Most Wanted review, scoring an impressive, series-back-on-track, 8/10.
BTGames' may want to repair its bucket, having also leaked Dead Space 3 today.
BTGames was correct when it leaked Jak & Daxter HD Collection ahead of Sony's official announcement.

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Say goodbye to brakes and gears and look forward to a motorbike racing experience like no other in what promises to be the “most exhilarating racing game on mobile devices.” Available today for Android and iOS, FIM Speedway GP 2012 from Vivid Games and BSI Speedway is the only official speedway game for smartphones, and it’s only $1.99.

FIM Speedway GP 2012 challenges players bike skills to the limit, as they suit up to compete in the dynamic and compelling world of Speedway, the no brakes, one gear motorbike racing sensation.

The game is set during the 2012 Speedway Grand Prix season and it gives you the chance to compete for that champion’s crown across 12 real-world stadiums with 15 superstar Speedway riders. It features commentary from Motorsport journalist Tomasz Lorek, stunning 3D graphics, and a replay mode that allows you to evaluate your performance and tweak your game.

Practice for fun in casual mode before competing for the title in the pro gameplay mode. And if you’re struggling to get ahead, you can take advantage of the in-app purchases to buy upgrades that will improve your performance.

FMI Speedway GP is available for both Android and iOS now for $1.99.

Source:cultofandroid

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Prototype 2 was a top-selling game in the US in April

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Resident Evil has been a household name amongst gamers ever since the days of the first PlayStation. Killing zombies was one of the most satisfying and adrenalin rushing experience of the franchise.

Today we have with us Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City, set in the universe of Resident Evil 2 and 3. Naturally, the expectations from the game are pretty high. Add to the mix the element of team based shooting and we though we had a game that could give the likes of Left for Dead a run for its money. But has the game upheld the reputation of the franchise or has it crashed and burned?

Story
The story takes place during the initial virus outburst in Raccoon City. You join the ranks of the Umbrella Security service with the objective of destroying all evidence of the company’s involvement in the outbreak. The story could have been really interesting if there were some relatable characters and a little back-story was explained. Without being given a sense of the situation, you are thrown right in the middle of the action. In the offline single player, you don the role of a faceless player and hence, its hard to derive any form of attachment to the characters. The progression is random and will leave new comers in the dark.

The story could have given fans of the franchise a real feeling on nostalgia with the events of the past games and given new comers an incentive to check out the past games in the franchise. Alas, all the game does is leaves new comers in the dark and a bad taste with the veterans.

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Electronic Arts now says that players will be able to keep playing the iOS version of Rock Band, and that the in-app message telling them otherwise was an error.

The message Rock Band for iOS users received yesterday alerting them to the fact that the game would be rendered unplayable at the end of this month was sent by error according to the company.

In a statement provided to CNET this afternoon, Electronic Arts said the message was a goof:

"Rock Band for iOS will remain live - the in-app message users received yesterday was sent in error," the company said in a statement. "We apologize for the confusion this caused. We're working to clarify the issue that caused the error and will share additional information as soon as possible."

That clarification replaces a message the company put up in an FAQon its Web site earlier today, stating that it was "suspending support of ROCK BAND after May 31 and focusing resources on other EA titles." That same page originally made it unclear whether the game, which can be played offline, would remain playable even after the server shut down.

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The Tiger Woods PGA Tour series has always been the best golf simulation game to play either on your PC or a console. While the player is down in the dumps, struggling to find his legendary touch, the Tiger Woods series seems to be running into some problems as well. To use a golf analogy, it’s like a wayward tee shot that lands in the fairway bunker. It’s essentially a golf game meant for fans of the series who don’t need a lot of explanation, but a beginner who’s new to the Tiger Woods franchise may find the game difficult to enjoy.

   

New features
Not much has changed as far as life inside Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 is concerned, it is still comparable to its predecessor (Tiger Woods 12) on various levels. Sure the odd blade of grass on the fairway looks more real and the game looks a lot more crisp and polish, but then wouldn’t you expect it in a game with a yearly progression? The game is still the same, and therefore so are its tools -- tee it off on your favourite golf course, start an extensive career campaign, play at the prestigious Augusta course in The Masters tournament, and so on.

Yet, not everything is the same old. There are some improvements in both gameplay and addition of special game types. Take for example Tiger Legacy, a special career mode that lets you relive some of the important milestones in the early life and golf career of Tiger Woods from a young child till an established pro. New swing mechanics are in place under the Total Swing Control feature, letting you control the swing of your club subtly and entirely from the left analog stick. Country Clubs is an online multiplayer feature which either lets you create your own country club (add members by recruiting your friends) or join an existing one for a race to top the weekly leaderboard and unlocking special courses. These are some of the prominent new features in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13.

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The first official image for Black Ops 2. (Click to enlarge.)

(Credit: Activision)

Mark your calendars. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 explodes in stores on November 13 for PC,PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 gaming systems.

Publisher Activision and developer Treyarch have revealed the next installment of the hugely popular first-person shooter with an enthralling new trailer that shows off the first fully futuristic Call of Duty game. Those ready to make the plunge can pre-order Black Ops 2, which costs the usual $59.99.

Set in the year 2025, the main story of Black Ops 2 revolves around the notion of a "21st Century Cold War."

Activision has opened up some discussion forums for Black Ops 2, with mention of a Wiiversion of the game and support for Zombie mode. We will undoubtedly learn a lot more about the next big Call of Duty release in the weeks leading up to the massive E3 gaming expo, June 5-7.The trailer reintroduces one of the main characters from the first Black Ops: an aged Sgt. Frank Woods. And as with most sci-fi sagas, machines take over the battlefield. As Woods' musings about the future carry on, an exciting montage shows off new features such as armed quadrocopters, mechanized walking vehicles, and even usable horses. Yes, you read that correctly -- you can ride horses in the next Call of Duty game.

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