 Last week Dell launched a new page announcing a new secret project developed with the help of Blizzard, the creator of the vastly popular massively multiplayer online (MMO) game World of Warcraft. The page’s theme even pulls graphics and art from World of Warcraft.
The project lacks any details, but there is a sign up page to be notified when Dell officially announces what it is. Meanwhile, there are 3 free high-resolution desktop backgrounds available for download and 3 more become unlocked when you sign up. |
Archive for the 'Games' Category
Dell allies with Blizzard
November 29th, 2007, 1:32 pm by electrikALIENMario Galaxy a star!
November 28th, 2007, 4:53 pm by electrikALIEN
It’s been a good while since I’ve touched my Nintendo Wii. The lack of titles this summer really left a fine layer of dust on the machine. That is until Super Mario Galaxy came out. Here’s a quick run of my feelings for Mario games since the entry into three-dimensional worlds in Mario 64 and the follow-up Super Mario Sunshine.
So here I am, burned by Nintendo’s star (pun intended) franchise two games in a row. All I want is Mario gameplay that’s fun and works well. Thankfully Super Mario Galaxy is very fun and, for the most part, controls very well. Mario is controlled using the Wiimote and the nunchuck. Basically, the analog stick controls Mario’s movements, while the Wiimote buttons control his actions like jumping and looking forward. Shaking the Wiimote allows Mario to do a spin attack. Throughout the entire game Mario collects starbits scattered around each level. To collect any starbit all you need to do is point the Wiimote at it and the cursor will pick it up for you. It’s a pretty satisfying way to play. Mario’s movements feel very precise this time around. He doesn’t float nearly as often as he used to when coming to a stop. And jumps are much easier to land thanks to tighter controls. I appreciate this since the game take place in outerspace. Gravity plays a huge role in each level and you will often find yourself playing upside down or even jumping from one plane of gravity to another. The controls had to be perfect to make it work, and I’m satisfied. The camera system in Galaxy is good, but not perfect. While the majority of the game will be played in predetermined camera angles, which are well placed and usable, some parts are nonfunctional due to lack of camera control. The camera will never break the game, but it will annoy you from time to time. Mario has never looked better, but he still could. Galaxy supports only up to 480p resolution which is slightly higher than a standard definition television. This is forgivable, though, since it really is a pretty game. Nintendo pushed some of the best graphics out of the Wii this time. The learning curve with Galaxy is much more forgiving than before like the other Mario games and the overall difficulty won’t make gamers cry. Some goals feel much easier than they should be, but others feel just right. If you have a Wii, or have been wanting to get one, this is the game needing to be played on it. |
Forget rubix, go logic
November 7th, 2007, 2:38 pm by electrikALIEN Just found a new internet jewel and it happens to be a flash-based game. 3D Logic II is one of those games you fall in love with the instant you figure out what the heck is going on. The premise is you solve a 3D cube by connecting like-colored blocks. Like every good puzzle game, playing is easy, but mastering is hard. Give it a try. |
Portal: A mind bending puzzler
October 19th, 2007, 4:58 pm by electrikALIEN Last week Valve Studios released The Orange Box, a collection of 5 games in one box for XBox 360 and PC. Included are Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2 episodes 1 and 2, Team Fortress 2, and Portal.
Half-life 2 is the original game released for PC a couple of years ago. Episode 1 is the first episodic sequel to Half-Life 2. Episode 2 is brand new, however, and continues the journey of Gordan Freemon, the game’s main protagonist.Team Fortress 2 is an online multiplayer first-person shooter with many different classes to play. Even though all four of those games look awesome on the 360 and PC, the real jewel in the compilation is Portal. Portal is one of those sleeper hits and will be remembered as a classic for years to come. Although short, it offers so much in the way of fun, you’ll want to play it over and over. You begin the game in a small room, just awoken from what seems like a long slumber. A digitized female voice greets you and explains you are to complete a series of tests using only your wits. Be assured all dangers present in the tests are only to motivate you. Any failure to avoid these hazards will result in a negative mark on your profile, and probably death.
Gameplay in Portal is the most unique aspect of the game and thankfully is the focus from start to finish. Your tool for solving each area is a portal gun. With it you can create portals on smooth surfaces, but there can only be two portals open at one time. When you step through one portal, you emerge instantaneously through the other.
The mechanics of portal hopping never gets old. Even in puzzles where you’re stumped, simply playing around with portals may lead to the answer. I recommend Portal to anyone who is tired of the same mundane first person shooter. I just want my companion cube back.
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Portal is a very funny game. Even the enemies, though sparse and not very threatening, will often apologize for shooting at you or even forgive you for deactivating them. Your “guide” through the tests will often be the subject of all the humor, but rooms hidden off the predefined path will reveal more chuckle-inducing moments.
This is where physics comes to play. Your momentum and trajectory when you enter a portal will continue through the other. Here’s an example. To cross a gap, fire one portal high on a wall above your head, then fire the second one into the bottom of the gap. Jump into the gap and fall through the portal there. You will then be thrown through the other portal on the wall and will safely careen over the gap. Fun with physics!PS3 price drop, freatures cut
October 18th, 2007, 12:37 pm by electrikALIEN
On November 2, Sony will be discontinuing the 60GB model of the PlayStation 3 in favor of a cheaper, stripped down 40GB model. If the $599 price tag of the original PS3 launch scared the love of all things PlayStation out of you like it did me, then the new prices will be a little easier to swallow. The 40GB model will sell for $399 and the 80GB model will go for $499 (a $100 price cut). The PS3 is still one of the best BlueRay players out there for it’s price and it’s a game machine to boot! Many of the features cut, however, were simply bells and whistles… Well except for backwards compatibility… PS2 I will miss thee. |
The Ultimate Brawl
October 10th, 2007, 3:01 pm by electrikALIEN
Finally the age old question will be answered: Who would win in a duel, Mario or Sonic? Nintendo was announced that Sonic the Hedgehog will be an official brawler in the upcoming Super Smash Bros. Brawl for the Nintendo Wii. This marks the first time the blue speedster and the Italian plumber will appear in the same title commercially. The Super Smash Bros. series has always been about over-the-top (read: cartoon-like) fighting action with classic video game characters. Originally, all the characters were Nintendo owned, but Brawl will also be featuring Konami’s Solid Snake and, of course, Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog. Forgive my violent tendencies, but there’s nothing more satisfying than taking a baseball bat to some Pokémon heads. |
Nintendo keeping you safe
October 4th, 2007, 10:39 am by electrikALIEN The Wii controller doesn’t strike fear into the hearts of those that wield it. But some over zealous player’s have damaged tevelvisions, pets, windows, and children alike. Accidents happen… but swinging your Wii-mote fast enough to break the speed of sound is just plain stupid. (Check out wiidamage.com for some examples.)
Enter Nintendo. They are looking to step up to protect us from the fatal Wii-mote. Nintendo has dedicated $17 million to ship free Wii-mote rubber cases to any and all Wii owners all around the world. By visiting Nintendo’s official site Wii owners can request up to 4 cases per Wii system. I own a Wii and I play many of the “dangerous” games Wii-victims were playing at the time accidents struck. A little bit of commonsense goes a long way when you’re playing motion-interactive games. Exercise caution when playing any game that requires movement. Make sure you have space enough to execute the movements required by the game. Even though I doubt I’ll be turning my living room into a real life batting cage, I’ll be signing up for four FREE Wii accessories! |
Halo 3 Launch Event
September 26th, 2007, 12:23 pm by electrikALIEN
Game Zone, which is Movie Gallery’s gaming retail alter ego, held a Halo 3 launch event at midnight on Monday to give all of us who would sacrifice an hour (or more) of sleep on a weekday a chance to own the game the moment it was available. About 50 others were there waiting in line when I showed up. I had been assured that the store had received more than enough copies by a friend who works there, so I wasn’t worried.
So far, the game is fun. And there’s lots of it to be had in multiplayer and single player modes. It’s also beautiful on HD screens. SIDE NOTE: If you’ve already picked up your copy of Halo 3 Limited Edition (the one that comes in a metal case that is easily crushed) and one or both of the included disks are scratched, follow this link and Microsoft will replace them for free. |
Around 12:20 a.m. Tuesday morning, I held my Limited Edition Halo 3 tin case in my hand and jolted home. Well, maybe not jolted. More like casually drove… fast.Halo 3 is here!
September 24th, 2007, 4:37 pm by electrikALIEN
As I write this, many of gamers wait in anticipation. They are a collective of thumb-twiddling enthusiasts who want nothing more than midnight tonight. Heck, many gamers may be experiencing the last bits of summer sunshine standing in line outside of any assortment of stores at this very moment. At midnight tonight, Halo 3 will be hitting store shelves and many stores are having midnight launch parties for the occasion. Halo 2 sold 2.4 million copies on its launch day, and Halo 3 may even surpass it. The launch of a new Halo title is so big here in the states that even 711 convience stores will be carrying it. For you Crestview locals, Game Zone, which is connected to the Movie Gallery, will be opening its doors tonight. Wish me luck on securing my copy. |
New iPod?, Leopard, Mass Effect
August 30th, 2007, 1:39 pm by electrikALIEN Think Secret wonders about new iPod rumored to be announced September 5.They also have an impressive amount of screen grabs of the new developer’s build of Apple’s new OS, Leopard. Some nice transparencies in the menus are new, but the icons are pretty huge. I’m interested in how managing applications will make life easier for Mac users now. Mass Effect, the new RPG from Bioware, will be hitting shelves November 20. My 360 will be very happy. Very. |
