Secret Society Game Tweaks Your Dopamine Reward System

The most ‘addictive’ games are the ones that activate your ‘dopamine reward system’, which is your brains way of dealing with things that feel good. It is the system that makes any positive achievement feel so great and send a ‘rush of good feelings’ over you in those moments. For the new generation of mobile games fueled by in-app purchases, ‘dopamine management’ is a critical factor to keeping gamers on the hook and paying up. Several months ago G5 Entertainment introduced The Secret Society, and have been updating it ever since. I started playing a week or so ago, and would have reviewed it sooner … but I just can’t stop playing the darn game! continue reading

Angry Birds Space for Free!

Never a bad time for a great sale! Just in time for that classic gaming holiday – Memorial Day – EA and G5 have offered up huge sales, and likely many others are following suit with smaller sales. One of the best deals is Angry Birds Space – Free for iPhone or iPad!

Straight away, head to the EA Mobile page on iTunes App Store, and just FEAST on the more than 55 games for iPhone and iPad that are either $0.99 or FREE. There are some really sweet deals, though the vast majority are repeats – just scan the list and see what you don’t already own. Like I said … tons of deals.

And for those who love their Kindle Fire HD, here is what is on G5′s Kindle Fire Sale:

Letters from Nowhere (Full) – 99¢
Mahjong Artifacts: Chapter 2 – 99¢
Nightmares from the Deep: The Cursed Heart (Full) – 99¢
Paranormal Agency – 99¢
Special Enquiry Detail – 99¢
The Mystery of the Crystal Portal – 99¢
Virtual City – 99¢
Shards of Time – 99¢
Epic Adventures: Cursed Onboard – $1.49
Masters of Mystery: Blood of Betrayal – $1.49
Abyss: The Wraiths of Eden – $2.49
Dark Arcana: the Carnival – $2.49
Fate of the Pharaoh – $2.49
Kaptain Brawe: A Brawe New World – $2.49
Royal Trouble: Hidden Adventures – $2.49
Spirit Walkers: Curse of the Cypress Witch – $2.49
Tales from the Dragon Mountain: the Strix – $2.49
The Magician’s Handbook II: BlackLore – $2.49

Check out all of those great deals and enjoy fun gaming this holiday weekend!

Got $190,000 laying around? Then you can make history and purchase GRID 2: Mono Edition, which includes an actual 170mph BAC Mono supercar in exclusive GRID 2 livery, BAC factory tour, branded racing helmet and race suit, and a PlayStation 3 console. Note: Terms and conditions apply.

The standard edition of GRID 2 will release on Tuesday, May 28.

This one lucky buyer will appear in the next Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition as the “Most Expensive Video Game Commercially Available – Special Edition”. The GRID 2: Mono Edition is available to pre-order at www.game.co.uk/en/grid-2-bac-mono-edition-228776, and non-UK customers can contact sales@bac-mono.com to register their interest.

The BAC Mono is a British manufactured, road-legal, ultra-high performance supercar which stars in the game. Created from high-strength carbon fiber, the BAC Mono is an unrivalled example of light-weight performance engineering and its 2.3 liter, 280 bhp four cylinder power plant will propel its driver from 0-60 m.p.h. in just 2.8 seconds.

GRID 2 will feature a handpicked selection of automotive icons spanning four decades. Deep customisation options and integration with RaceNet, the online community portal for Codemasters Racing games which tracks player’s races, rewards and rivals. Players will also compete in World Series Racing, the new competition founded by fictional entrepreneur Patrick Callahan, where drivers from different disciplines compete against each other across a range of events.

Heavy Gear Assault

The Heavy Gear world dates back to the 90s as a tabletop boardgame and card combat game, and came to the PC after Activision lost the rights to the Battletech/Mechwarrior series. There were two games introduced that brought the Heavy Gear world to gamers, with the second game being very well received as the best game in the genre at that time … but then the franchised remained dormant until last summer when Stompy Bot Productions announced they were bringing back Heavy Gear in a new game based on cutting edge Unreal Engine 4 technology. Now they are seeking help to complete their vision and bring it to the market!

Project Title: Heavy Gear Assault

Status: Active

Closing Date for Funding: Saturday Jun 29, 11:10am EDT.

URL of the Project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stompybot/heavy-gear-assault-0

From the developer: Here are some key features:

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Combo Crew for iOS and Android

Type of app: Action-Fighting

Platform/where to buy: iOS or Android; available in the iTunes App Store or available in the Google Play Store

Developer: The Game Bakers

Description:
• Fight with your fingers: slash enemies to trigger crazy combos, tap to guard. A modern beat ’em up with no virtual D-pad!
• The first mobile brawler with asynchronous multiplayer across devices. Rescue your friends, or be rescued by them!
• A true arcade experience with a great combo system and super moves.
• Several heroes with unique combat styles and more than 80 moves to master.
• Hundreds of missions – complete them solo or compete for high scores against online friends.
• An endless scoring mode, unlockables, and collectibles – a ton of replay value.
• Log in to sync automatically between your devices.
• Languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese.

Major features:

Console fighting games have evolved little from the arcade days other than enhanced graphics, but they are such fun that everyone still looks to them for a fun experience. But translating that to a smartphone with touch controls has been difficult.

Combo crew kills the virtual analog sticks and uses just the touchscreen and gestures to deliver their brand of fighting, which is centered on … you guessed it, combos! And you get to choose from different heroes:
- Parker: A name that tops the high scores of all the arcades this side of the continent. Parker’s a natural, inspired by fighting techniques he picked up from video games.
- Gina: A student of the ancient school of Hairjutsu, Gina’s a martial arts master who trained for a year in the mountains.
- Dolph: The greatest action movie star that ever lived, Dolph uses his impressive stature in combat. For him, showing off is almost as important as kicking ass.

The story is tongue-in-cheek bad, where you are out to get ‘Mr. Boss’ by climbing through levels. The graphics, sound and in-game animation all work to push this light sense of satire, and it makes the game even more engaging.

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Wizardry 8

When you look back at many of the classic moments and structures in gaming, the name Wizardry comes up all the time. It is the basis of all western RPGs from Ultima to Mass Effect, and its impact in Japan was key in the development of the Final Fantasy franchise. In short, all RPG roads lead to Wizardry. Now GoG.com has updated these classics (Wizardry VI came out in 1990, Wizardry VII in 1992, remade for Windows in 1996, and Wizardry 8 arrived in 2001)

Here are some details on Wizardry VI and VII:
- Includes Wizardry 6: Bane of the Cosmic Forge and Wizardry 7: Crusaders of the Dark Savant which also comes as the improved Wizardry Gold on top of the classic DOS version.
- Both Wizardry games offer classic hard-core turn-based role-playing with 14 ranked professions and 11 unique races.
- Tons and tons of treasure to find, elaborate dungeons to explore, tough tactical battles to win, and that’s just the start of the adventure of up to 500 hours of playtime.

These games are some of the most massive, well written, detailed, and HARD games ever created – and much of it stems from legendary game designer D.W. Bradley. Bradley’s masterwork is clearly Wizardry VII, and sadly at this point his legacy rests as much with the awful Dungeon Lords as with these gems.

Here are some details on Wizardry 8:
- Continue the adventure with the group of adventurers that braved through Wizardry 7, or create a new custom party from a plethora of races and classes.
- Choose a custom personality for each character and hear them speak over 100 lines of dialogue. Kindly or chaotic, burly or surly – how your characters act is completely up to you.
- Talk with intelligent characters who react to how you treat them and become your allies or enemies in your quest of 200 hours of gameplay or more.

Wizardry 8 is a sad tale of a game that struggled due to lack of publisher support. It was eventually released on a limited basis and slowly built a following. It is a great and epic conclusion to the franchise (though not a finale) and really didn’t deserve to come out with a whimper. Of this whole set, I would definitely recommend grabbing Wizardry 8 – it is rare, hard to get installed and running correctly (I haven’t played in more than 5 years due to issues getting my copy to either install or run on various laptops) … so now that GoG.com has cleaned up those issues this gem deserves to get even wider recognition!

Head to GoG.com and grab the Wizardry VI and VII bundle for #5.99 and Wizardry 8 for $9.99! You might lose the weekend … but you won’t regret it!

G5 Entertainment Windows Store

G5 Entertainment is one of the premier casual game companies for iOS, and has made quite a splash on Android, Amazon Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble Nook. Now they have launched two of their popular games – Supermarket Mania® 2 and Stand O’Food® 3 – on the Windows Store. This is just the start for G5, as they hope to expand their reach to what looks to be the ‘third mobile OS’ going forward.

You can download the games from the Windows Store for free, and use an in-app purchase to unlock the full games for Stand O’Food® 3 and $6.99 for Supermarket Mania® 2. As noted, these games are already available on iOS, Mac, Google Play, Kindle Fire and Nook.

Here are the game trailers:
Supermarket Mania® 2 for Windows Store -

Stand O’Food® 3 for Windows Store -

To download the games head to the Windows Store:
Supermarket Mania® 2 for Windows 8 and Windows RT
Stand O’Food® 3 for Windows 8 and Windows RT

Dungeon of Elements

I continue to be amazed at the crazy-cool ideas that indie developers come up with. Years after being declared ‘dead’, PC gaming remains the most innovative source of new gaming styles. Take Dungeon of Elements – this game looks like a dungeon crawler, yet has a 3D Tetris element mixed with things like crafting and so on. Intrigued? I know I was, so I immediately checked out this new Kickstarter!

Project Title: Dungeon of Elements

Status: Active

Closing Date for Funding: Wednesday Jun 19, 10:03am EDT

URL of the Project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/frogdice/dungeon-of-elements

From the developer: Here are some key features:

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Xbox One – What about Gaming?

Well, THAT didn’t take long! In fewer than a dozen hours the XBOX One reveal went from being exciting … to a disappointment. Over at GameIndustry.biz they are already calling the reveal of the XBOX One an ‘awful start’, and discussing how Microsoft needs to redeem itself at E3. Of course, leave it to Ctrl-Alt-Del to joke about how Sony hasn’t even figured out how to assemble their new console yet!

Rather than pontificate on that sort of stuff, I wanted to address 5 areas of concern to me as a PC gamer: continue reading

Cognition Episode 2 The Wise Monkey

A few months ago I reviewed the iPad version of the first ‘episode’ of Cognition, the adventure game series from legendary developer Jane Jenson and Phoenix Online Studios. Now we have Episode 2 of Cognition, and are on the case of the Wise Monkey. Let’s take a look!

Type of app: Adventure Game

Platform/where to buy: Mac or PC; available in the Phoenix Online Studios Store

Developer: Image-Line

Description:
Here are some of the features:
- Play as Erica Reed, FBI detective
- Solve a deep and intriguing mystery that involves your twin brother
- Investigate crime scenes, interact with other detectives, and hunt for clues
- Use Erica’s special powers to uncover the mystery
- Your choices have consequences!

Major features:

Once again you are playing as Erica Reed, a special agent for the FBI. In the first episode she lost her brother in the prelude, and it haunted her throughout as she sought the Cain killer. Now she is on a new case, and has a new boss in town. But in the opening minutes she faces potential poisoning, meets the new boss who is less than enamored with her performance, and … her friend and sometime love interest is kidnapped right out of the squad room – and his ear is chopped off and left behind. Now Erica takes over his ‘Wise Monkey’ case to find the connection!

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Jagged Alliance Flashback

Anyone with a history in classic PC gaming is familiar with the Jagged Alliance franchise. Going back to the 90s, the tactical strategy games defined the ‘thinking man’ style of gaming for many. Now in the last 36 hours, the Kickstarter campaign is very close to hitting its goal – but needs your help!

Project Title: Jagged Alliance: Flashback

Status: Active

Closing Date for Funding: Thursday May 23, 5:59pm EDT

URL of the Project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2079547763/jagged-alliance-flashback

From the developer: Here are some key features:

Jagged Alliance: Flashback is our vision of returning a once critically acclaimed franchise back to its roots, it’s not a reboot, it’s a reset!

Our main goal is to bring back the tactical turn-based action that the original Jagged Alliance games are known for – the game was a thinking man’s game, a thinking man with lots of guns!

Why I think you should back this effort:

Jagged Alliance is a true classic franchise and the efforts of this team look to bring the classic game to the modern era without so many of the compromises we see in many ‘modernization’ efforts.

Here is an updated look at the game:

For more info and to keep up-to-date on progress:
‘Jagged Alliance: Flashback ‘ main site

And of course head to the Kickstarter page to get more information about how you can support the game!

The popcorn keeps expanding at the Popcornflix movie streaming service, as Unicorn Media, a leading Internet video solutions provider, announced partnerships with Cypress and Screen Media Ventures, LLC for expanding the free Popcornflix app on Xbox LIVE (gold subscribers).  Popcornflix also owns and distributes its own content via iOS and Android apps, Roku, connected TVs and online for free.

Screen Media Ventures, LLC developed and owns Popcornflix. Cypress, in conjunction with Screen Media Ventures, developed the Popcornflix Xbox LIVE app using CypressX, Cypress is a digital agency that creates apps that provide interactive experiences across mobile platforms and gaming consoles.

Unicorn Media enables Screen Media to ingest one video file, one time and deliver that content to the Xbox 360 via a single URL- with no SDK or plug-in required via its patented Unicorn Once™ technology. Unicorn Once™ optimizes a single mezzanine file, detects network conditions and re-packages the file on-the-fly to deliver the most efficient format for delivery to Xbox360.

Users can use the Popcornflix app to view and pick new arrivals, the most popular selection or browse all movies. Users can also use the app to search movies by genre, title, actor or director.

Xbox 360 users can navigate and interact in the Popcornflix app using their voice or a hand wave using the unique, hands-free Kinect controller.

Popcornflix, a free ad-supported free Movie App, is the only independent film distributor with long-form feature-length videos. I recently interviewed Gary Delfiner, President, Screen Media Digital and creator of Popcornflix, who said he relates to my personal Gear Diary mantra of ‘complex items in simple terms’. “We provide a simple streaming video solution,” says Gary.

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“The beginning of truly intelligent TV”…

“A huge day for all entertainment”…

These are some of the memorable quotes from today’s Microsoft Xbox announcement presentation, which included two female media executives sharing the stage, military dogs in the next Call of Duty game, Steven Spielberg, exclusive sport partnerships, and, mostly importantly, the “All in One” Xbox One system – technology that will step behind the curtain and let you take center stage.

I felt this presentation was about smart media integration and expanding consumer offerings more than actual information beyond improved computer power/processing. The big hardware setup innovation was having HDMI cables from the TV to the Xbox One (releasing “later this year”) and the cable box to the Xbox One, which will eliminate the manual switching and hardware headaches. Other hardware specs included USB 3.0, 8-core processors, WiFi Direct and 8 gigabytes of RAM.

The presentation began on the Xbox One home screen including trending, games TV/movies, music. Users could access all areas and “switch like a TV flip” on the system. All presenters were able to change inputs to watch live TV and instantly switch among different areas using voice commands beginning with “watch”, and “show”. Universal gestures like grab & pan and swipe up were also used. Multi-taskers were treated with the Snap mode (multiple windows), Skype group video call options, and interactive TV options for award shows, political debates and more.

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EA Sports, Amazon, and DirecTV have released details on great deals included in the upcoming limited-edition version of the Madden NFL 25 Anniversary Edition video game for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

These deals equal more than $400 at a $99.99 Madden NFL 25 Anniversary Edition game price, which is now available for pre-order exclusively on Amazon (quantities are limited).

This “Ultimate NFL Experience”  includes the game, a Madden Ultimate Team subscription, and various offers from DirecTV/NFL Sunday Ticket.

The Madden Ultimate Team subscription includes one pack every week (starting Week 1 and ending on Week 17).  The Anniversary Edition packs feature two rare players, four silver players and four bronze players.

Users can enjoy DirecTV NFL Sunday Ticket services whether or not they are a subscriber when purchasing this special anniversary game edition.

• Free access code (computer, tablets, and mobile devices) for DirecTV’s NFL Sunday Ticket for 2013 NFL regular season (17 weeks) including DirecTV Red Zone Channel access (user who do not receive DirecTV service)
• $10 off per month for 1st year of DirecTV service + NFL Sunday Ticket MAX free (users who receive DirecTV service but are not currently subscribers)
• Free NFL Sunday Ticket access on computer and mobile devices (current DirecTV and NFL Sunday Ticket MAX subscribers using current username/password)

Madden NFL 25 Anniversary Edition features Barry Sanders on the cover and will officially release on August 27, 2013. Madden NFL 25 Anniversary Edition will feature 30 new moves with various combinations plus the all-new precision modifier.

Google Games Center

At Google I/O last week we got to see a number of new things, including the music service we already reported on as well as the ‘-1′ to Google’s myriad chat options with ‘Hangouts’ combining chat and talk. But as a gamer who has enjoyed more and more games coming to Google Play in a reasonable time, I was interested in Google Play Game Services, the awkwardly named game center for Android games. After playing around with a couple of games that utilize the service, I was underwhelmed with what is essentially a mashup of Open Feint and Game Center that seems to offer much more to Google than to gamers — with one key exception.

Since I am certain to get some ‘Apple fanboy’ emails, let me step back. All roads in gaming lead back more than 30 years to either the PC or arcade. Early consoles were an unsatisfying attempt to bring the arcade into the home, and for many, many years pretty much any non-arcade effort on a console needed the caveat ‘for a console’ attached. GoldenEye was a pretty good shooter … for a console. XBOX Live was a decent service … for a console. And so on. They needed those caveats, because each was barely on par with what was available on the PC for several years.

So when Apple introduced Game Center, there were few who would have called the service ‘innovative’ in any way – it simply brought matchmaking and achievements and friends lists, all staples of PC and console multiplayer, to the iOS universe. It wasn’t even the first; Open Feint had already done a decent job of bringing some of these to the platform, but required the developer to code the interface to the platform into their game.

So now Google has Google Play Game Services. YAWN.

What is it? Basically, it’s an Open Feint clone that also includes several ideas from Game Center and also provides yet another non-optional way for Google to stuff their abysmal Google+ ‘social’ service down our throats.

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Recently released exclusive Nintendo 3DS games generating some heat include LEGO City Undercover: The Chase Begins, Rayman Origins, Heroes of Ruin, Angry Birds Trilogy and Art Academy: Lessons for Everyone!

Keep connectivity in mind when playing great mainstays like Mario Kart 7, New Super Mario Bros. 2, and Skylanders. More recommendations include Super Mario 3D Land, Paper Mario Sticker Star, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon – an action-adventure game was developed by Next Level Games and the sequel to the 2001 GameCube game Luigi’s Mansion.

Older player recommendations include Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance, Professor Layton and The Miracle Mask and Resident Evil: Revelations, which was such a big hit on the 3DS that it’s releasing to consoles now.

Nintendo has a triple threat for 3DS players this summer with Animal Crossing: New Leaf (June 9), Mario Golf: World Tour, and Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D (May 24). AC: New Leaf will also be included with a special 3DS XL bundle while MG: World Tour will offer a community play option as well as worldwide, competitive, real-time multiplayer matches. DK Country Returns 3D, originally released on the Wii, comes to the 3DS handheld system with upgraded 3-D effects and extra advantages.

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Gangster Rio

If you ask most ‘core’ gamers about the products Gameloft produces, chances are the words ‘shameless ripoffs’ will be uttered fairly quickly. But most of those same folks who like to game on iOS and Android devices (such as myself) will also admit that most of their games are polished, well-produced … and fun. This weekend you can get two of their more recent releases – Gangstar Rio: City of Saints and N.O.V.A. 3 – for free!

Gangstar Rio: City of Saints is a combined ‘Saints Row’ and ‘Grand Theft Auto’ clone set in … Rio de Janeiro. Like those games, you take on missions in a semi-free-roaming world, and essentially gain more and more strength and reputation through committing criminal acts and not getting caught. I honestly thought this one was better than the original ‘Saints Row’ (which itself was a shameless GTA clone). Loads of fun.

N.O.V.A. 3 – Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance – Gameloft is Gameloft’s take on Halo. It is a space-based shooter with expansive multiplayer options and plenty of missions. The shooting elements remain some of the best on a smartphone, and everything flows well.

So head to the iTunes App Store and grab Gangstar Rio: City of Saints and N.O.V.A. 3 for free!

The Hype

The glamour. The exhilaration. The intensity. The speed. With drivers cruising a smooth 200 mph — minimum — and cutthroat teams carving out dynasties of speed, Formula One is the most elite racing circle in the world and the most thrilling motorsport tearing up the tracks. Every curve of the track, every control on the dashboard and every strategy in the pit lane is of utmost importance in this intensified world — and it’s all re-created in stunning detail. Let breakneck speeds and ultra responsive cars transport you to the glamorous world of Formula One as you race toward the finish line.

Get behind the wheel and experience the new Circuit of the Americas before its real-life debut with this breathtaking game. This dramatic new track features 20-turn circuits that take inspiration from some of the world’s most difficult corners, including Silverstone’s Becketts and Istanbul Park’s Turn 8, and boasts elevation changes of up to 133 feet. An advanced weather system produces localized weather that can leave sections of the track wet while others stay dry for a dramatic and unpredictable race experience.

Take part in training tutorials, such as the all-new Young Driver’s Test at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina, to become familiar with the nuances of F1 racing and learn how to get the most speed out of your car. The new Lap Tutorials feature can help you perfect your car’s performance, as F1 test driver Anthony Davis walks you through a lap of each of the 20 circuits, offering expert advice. Do you have what it takes to handle the world’s toughest race circuits and steer your car to victory?

The Reality

In F1 2012, racing fans get an in-depth Formula One racing experience with refined game modes and numerous experiences for new players. This racing game has recovered well after noticeable glitches after the initial release, the fourth installment in this game series from Codemasters.

F1 2012 lets players experience the 2012 season that involves 12 teams and 24 drivers. Customization options are extensive and include mid-season changes. Races include 20 circuits and Grand Prix including the circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

The young drivers test provides a great tutorial for novice players and greatly reduces the learning curve that intimidates many players in F1 games. Here players can immediately learn, get on team or drive in a non-pressure environment.

Once the skills are set, then starts earning medal and championship points or try the proving grounds. The time trial lets players race against friends, ghost cars or selected rivals created by the best players in the world. The time attack offers various scenarios where players conquer three different challenges to earn a medal.

Constant adjustment and button pushing is the name of the game here, so memorize the control scheme as soon as possible. The custom race options are a great feature allowing for players to choose race location and length.

The dynamic weather condition scenarios and graphics are impressive while the convenient  flashback option help players avoid restarts when they make mistakes. Use the flashbacks wisely because they are in limited supply.

F1 2012 still has strong challenges, but the various driving assistance options really help novice players ease their way into a great experience as they learn what they might have been missing (myself included).

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Isla Dorada

Having just come off of the euphoria that was Special Enquiry Detail 2, I was ready for my next hidden object puzzle adventure. It comes in the form of an island-based game called Isla Dorada – Episode 1: The Sands of Ephranis HD, which has you taking on the role of Jessica Pandora, an archeologist drawn to a hidden site sought by many treasure hunters. What happens to her once she arrives, and is this a good game? Let’s take a look and see!
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Special Enquiry Detail 2

It has been nearly two years since I reviewed the iPad version of Special Enquiry Detail: The Hand that Feeds, and I absolutely loved it. The sequel came out for PC a while back, but has just now arrived for iPhone . Let’s dig in and see if this story and character driven hidden object puzzle adventure can live up to the original!

Type of app: Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure (HOPA) game

Platform/where to buy: iPad (iPhone version is here.; available in the Mac App Store

Developer: Floodlight Games / G5 Entertainment

Description:
Special Enquiry Detail 2 has loads of content, including:
Six highly intriguing chapters
44 locations to examine
22 mini-game puzzles to solve
A challenging case with multiple suspects

Major features:

The reasons I loved the original Special Enquiry Detail are many: great characters, interesting story, good sense of mystery and intrigue, and solid puzzles and hidden object gameplay. Ultimately there was nothing for me to critique, but I mentioned the British linguistics, as they caused me to need hints more than I would have otherwise.

As you begin the game, a murder of a woman in a wedding dress takes place, and next thing you know Turino and Lamonte are on the scene hunting for clues. They were not the detectives in charge of the Engagement Killer’s case – there have already been multiple killings – but they quickly take over based on a special request. From there they need to revisit the old crimes and try to piece together new and existing evidence to find connections and clues to solve the crimes before the killer claims another victim!

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This third person action-shooter game takes place after the high quality 2009 Star Trek film and before this year’s sequel Star Trek Into Darkness. Single player and cooperative/multiplayer (online and offline in split screen) modes are available.

The Hype

The award-winning Star Trek game casts players for the first time ever as Kirk and Spock in a totally original co-op experience worthy of gamers and fans. Set in the new canon of director and producer J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek (2009) reboot, players will be immersed in the game’s rich story and action-packed combat.

Developed by acclaimed Ontario-based developers Digital Extremes (Bioshock 2, Dark Sector, The Darkness 2), Star Trek features an original story by BAFTA award winner and God of War writer, Marianne Krawczyk, in collaboration with the writer/producers of the new Star Trek films, Bob Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof. Production was overseen by Paramount Creative Executive Brian Miller.

The Reality

Captain James T. Kirk and Spock must work together in the co-op mode against the antagonistic and reptilian Gorn, who are trying to disrupt the New Vulcan colony.

Spock and Kirk on Star Trek: The Video Game

In Stark Trek: The Video Game, players can play this third person action-shooter sci-fi game with Captain James T. Kirk or the formidable Vulcan named Spock. Both get basic weapons like phasers and communication tricoders – both are upgradeable. Kirk’s phaser is a bit more powerful…and louder, while Spock’s weapons can freeze plus he uses the famous nerve pinch and mind meld powers. Kirk can also order airstrikes from their home ship The Enterprise.

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The Artec Eva 3D scanner was used to create the official commercial for the Bioshock Infinite video game, a popular action/first person shooter (FPS) from  Irrational Games / 2K Games  available on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and coming this summer on Mac. Bioshock Infinite breaks new ground with unique gear, power and weapons amid amazing environments amid the immense floating city of Columbia. Set in 1912, this third installment in the Bioshock game series enthralls with amazing gameplay elements involving various gear, weapons, and powers.

Bioshock Infinite features former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt, voiced by Troy Baker, must rescue the imprisoned Elizabeth, voiced by Courtnee Draper. Elizabeth can definitely hold her own in combat and pick locks while tossing Booker found supplies. Her biggest power is opening tears, which are inter-dimensional rifts in time and space.

The Artec Eva 3D scanner was used to create and to successfully bring to life Elizabeth, one of the main characters in Bioshock Infinite, for its internationally run television commercial. I recently discussed this project and other related works at Artec with Anna Zevelyov, the director of business development at Artec.

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mickeywars

Taking top prize of a consumer poll two years in a row is something most companies would dream of … unless you are EA, and the poll is ‘Worst Company in America’. That’s right, EA made history by capturing the title an unprecedented two years in a row. How? Trashing beloved franchises, over-enthusiastic nickel-and-diming via DLC, and psychologist and analyst enhanced extortion through freemium games (yes, they actually have behavior-analyst teams designing games to get you to spend $100 over time on something you wouldn’t pay $5 for upfront!). So imagine the excitement of the gaming community when the most hated game company got exclusive rights to one of the most beloved franchises – Star Wars. Yeah, yippee.

Here is the overview:

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Plants vs. Zombies 2

It has been more than 3 years since I posted my review of the iPhone version of Plants vs. Zombies, and four years to the day since the original game launched (I did a review of the game elsewhere in May 2009) … and now we get word that the sequel to one of the hottest tower-defense games ever made is coming in July!

There isn’t much info yet other than a Tweet saying “Yay! I can finally say it! PvZ 2: It’s About Time is coming in July! #GetReady”. Also, there is a teaser trailer:

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Electronic Arts and Maxis today revealed that The Sims 4 is coming to the PC and Mac in 2014 … the specific date in 2014 is still unknown. EA held a special VIP briefing this morning where the world’s top Sims fans got to hear the new first from the creative team. This fan group will also get future access and alerts from the development team. No mention of console and/or handheld versions yet.

The Sims 3 is definitely finishing with a bang this year with the new and well-time The Sims 3 Island Paradise expansion pack on June 25, the new The Sims 3 Movie Stuff pack, and all-new Dragon Valley world available in The Sims 3 Store.  The Sims 3 Showtime expansion pack just released this past March. The Sims 3 has released over 12 expansion packs since the initial 2009 release.

The Sims 4 will encourage players to “personalize their world with new and intuitive tools while offering them the ability to effortlessly share their creativity with friends and fans.”

TheSims is definitely he world’s most successful simulation game as well as favorite overall game with more than 150 million copies worldwide sold since the first series released in 2000 (sans “Woo Hoo”). EA tried The Sims Social on Facebook, but that game will shut down on June 14, 2013.

Dark Avenger for iOS

In the action-RPG genre, 1996′s Diablo is the one that brought mass-popularity, and therefore subsequent action-RPGs were called ‘Diablo clones’ for years regardless of what else they brought to the table. On smartphones and tablets, the Dungeon Hunter games have defined the standard for action-RPG gameplay but have angered gamers with agressively pushing in-app purchases. Now we have Dark Avenger, a new entry to the genre. How does it compare? Let’s take a look!

Type of app: Action Role-Playing (aRPG or Action RPG) game

Platform/where to buy: iPhone/iPad; available in the Mac App Store

Developer: Gamevil

Description:

Dark Avenger has loads of content, including:
> FREE TO PLAY
> Dark Action RPG
> Smooth, Intuitive Controls
> Real-time Global PvP
> 3 Heroic Classes: Templar, Archer, or Mage
> Legendary Sets and Equipment
> Infinite Dungeon

Major features:

The basic story of Dark Avenger is … well, I really didn’t have any clue without looking at the iTunes description – and I have played for several hours! Evil has risen … blah, blah, blah. Basically bad things are happening, there are undead, and you have to kill them. Got it? Good.

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Neverwinter Quest

The realms of Neverwinter and the Sword Coast are beloved by all fantasy RPG gamers, and they have been featured since the very earliest days of Dungeons & Dragons. Some of the most famous games set in this universe are Baldur’s Gate 1 & 2, Icewind Dale 1 & 2, and Neverwinter Nights 1 & 2. Though its main campaign was criticized by some in 2002 as lacking depth and excitement compared to the Baldur’s Gates games, multiplayer and player-created content have kept Neverwinter Nights and its sequel popular for more than a decade. So when Cryptic Entertainment and Perfect Worlds announced a MMORPG called ‘Neverwinter’, it was met with a combination of excitement and trepidation. The game is now in ‘open beta’, so let me give some impressions after putting some hours into playing!

Background:
The story of the development of Neverwinter is so full of plot twists and intrigue to make it seem like a Lifetime movie! Announced by Atari in 2010, Neverwinter was in development at Cryptic Studios (which Atari bought in 2009); it was to be a co-operative multiplayer story-based fantasy RPG with seamless online and offline modes, and it was slated for a late 2011 release. In mid-2011 Atari sold Cryptic to Perfect World, and Neverwinter was delayed into 2012. Also in 2011 there was a load of drama around the Dungeons & Dragons licensing lawsuit between Atari and Wizards of the Coast, captured here. Perfect World secured publishing rights to the game license from Atari as well.

In early 2012, Perfect World announced (not surprisingly) that Neverwinter would transition to a full MMORPG … and that would delay the game until the end of 2012. They also announced that it would adopt the ‘free to play’ model rather than a full paid subscription. As the end of the year approached, Cryptic delayed Neverwinter into 2013 to polish the game. 2013 has seen a gradual increase in ‘private beta’ periods where more and more people help test the gameplay and the server load capabilities.

Character Creation:

Neverwinter is based on the 4th edition Dungeon & Dragons rules … and I have already split the audience just by saying that. D&D 4E – as it is called – made some sweeping changes in order to help the rules make more sense to players, to adapt to more modern game types, and to make the early levels less like a ‘quest to stay alive’. For some those things were welcome, but for most veteran gamers they were an awful direction for the property. The reason I mention the rules, is that they have an impact on how the character creation system works. For more details, head here or here.

Dungeons & Dragons also features a variety of races such as Human, Elf, Dwarf, and so on. Each one has strengths and weaknesses, and therefore making the best overall character selection involves understanding the racial characteristics as well as the class characteristics.

For my character I chose to play a female human Control Wizard. As a human I am not the most powerful arcane master, but I gain health points compared to weaker Elves. The control wizard is a fairly typical arcane spellmaster, skilled at ranged attacks that can target multiple enemies at once. At higher levels this class becomes a walking missile platform. As for why I chose a female character? In many games it makes no difference, but I have always found that most developers write assuming that male players will choose male characters for most of their own testing playthroughs, so any problems are more likely to occur with a female character.

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Steve Jackson’s Sorcery! for iPad

Imagine a game that combines a classic fantasy story, told as a ‘create your own adventure’, loaded up with fantasy RPG gameplay, and with a unique and engaging visual style. Intrigued? You should be! Steve Jackson’s Sorcery! is the video game realization of the classic early 80′s book series. Can it actually deliver on expectations set across the decades? Let’s take a look and see! continue reading

Red Crow Mysteries Legion for iOS

G5 Entertainment works with a number of developers as well as doing in-house work. Recently they have partnered with Cateia Games for some cool games, including Where Angels Cry and Fate of the Pharoah. Each of these were compelling games that I very much enjoyed, so when I heard that they were behind Red Crow Mysteries: Legion, I was already intrigued to check out the latest hidden object game from G5 Entertainment! continue reading

Injustice: Gods Among Us presents the long-standing DC Comics franchise in a high quality fighting action game in the familiar arena format.

The Hype

Injustice: Gods Among Us is a fighting game that blends classic Arcade style gameplay mechanics with an intriguing storyline that pits classic DC Comics characters against each other in unique combinations (hero vs. hero, villain vs. villain, etc.). The game is developed by NetherRealm Studios, and Ed Boon, of Mortal Kombat fame. Players can expect over-the-top action that is suitable for players of most ages, and a single-player storyline that provides the background for the unique character match-ups possible. Addition features include: more than 20 DC Comics heroes and villains, a variety of different attack levels, unique attacks for each character, multiplayer support, and more.

The Reality

“What if our greatest heroes became our greatest threat?”

Injustice: Gods Among Us feature the famous DC Comic characters, polished visuals, and online/multiplayer modes create an amazing action experience. There really is no “us” as bystanders do not really factor into the gameplay as individual elements, but only collectively the title distinguishes the extraordinary powers and lives these varied heroes and villains lead.

The 24 core characters include Aquaman, Bane, Batman, Black Adam, Catwoman, Cyborg, Deathstroke, Doomsday, Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Harley Quinn, The Joker, Lex Luthor, Nightwing, Raven, Solomon Grundy, Superman, and Wonder Woman. The mix of villains and heroes reflects the storyline, by comic book writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, where special circumstances/events blur the line between good and evil among several famous settings.

Each character has their own set of special moves and match up abilities against every other character. Matchups can always be exploited while the base characters can expand in the future in various ways. Players get a constant sense of discovery and competition. Players also get reveals and refreshers about the characters themselves

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