Brain Hood

The gaming multimedia industry is all set to infect everyone with a serious case of ‘sequelitis’ this year. Major gaming franchises make their mandatory yearly appearance, some return after a couple of years, while others, long-forgotten, attempt to make a dramatic return to the world of video games. Then there’s Grand Theft Auto V. Enough said.

Season for Seconds: Video Gaming Fun

Serving its way to the top of this article is EA Canada’s Grand Slam Tennis 2. Hoping to capitalise on everyone’s Australian Open fever

Grand Slam Tennis 2 is one of a long list of sequels that are expected to brighten 2012 u for video gaiming fans

(or hangover, as the case may be), EA’s first foray into the next-gen world of the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 (the previous version was a Wii-only title) promises licensed players in the form of current ATP regulars such as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Murray as well as legends, including Pete Sampras, Bjorn Borg and Boris Becker. WTA players are included as well, so don’t fret. The game’s features include a career mode that spans ten years, fully licensed Grand Slams, classic matches and Playstation Move support on the PS3. You can enjoy all of this and more on February 10.

Also out in February is the highly anticipated launch title for the Playstation Vita, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, a game that is set before the events of Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, where everyone’s favourite bounty hunter Nathan Drake is looking for the truth behind the massacre of a Spanish expedition. Golden Abyss promises great locales, treasure and lots more of the same action that garnered the Uncharted series’ critical acclaim and made it a hit with the gamers, while incorporating the PS Vita’s dual touch controls, accelerometer, hopefully delivering an unparalleled hand-held adventure gaming experience.

In early March, the next chapter of Bioware’s space opera will unfold through Mass Effect 3, a follow-up (which will offer closure, hopefully) to 2010′s critically acclaimed Mass Effect 2. ME3 will be back, bigger than ever before, sporting overhauled combat mechanics, an improved cover system, co-operative multiplayer and for Xbox 360 players, Kinect support with voice recognition which allows for commanding your squad of virtual human and/or turian and other alien squad mates (Garrus, flank left!).

If ordering your Xbox to do some killing on your behalf isn’t enough for you, you can take matters into your own hands in three action sequels that are set to invade your living room: Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto V, Max Payne 3 and Square Enix/IO Interactive’s Hitman Absolution. The GTA series returns after a three year hiatus, taking us back to the state of San Andreas, last seen in the Grand Theft Auto game of the same name in 2004. The fifth episode will be set primarily in the city of Los Santos (based on Los Angeles and regions of Southern California), and is sure to feature some of the spectacular writing and open-world gameplay, the series is famous for.

Penning both GTA V and Max Payne 3 for Rockstar Games is Mr. Vice President himself, Dan Houser, arguably one of the best writers in gaming. He showed us he could do gritty (Red Dead Redemption) just as well as the satire and humour that we see in GTA; something a character of incredible depth like Max Payne is sure to benefit from. On the opposite end of the spectrum, stone-cold killer Agent 47 will shoot bullet holes in television sets later this year, going toe to toe with brand new arch-nemesis Blake Dexter in a series of stealth/action gaming missions sure to be set in all corners of the world.

It has been a while since we introduced you to the concept of cloud gaming and how it has evolved from the emerging technologies for cloud computing, to become a market unto itself, with its own demand dynamics and target segment; even in this infant stage, gamers have begun to clamor for it. We also gave you an idea of just why video game news publications are raving about it. Let us now take a deeper look at cloud gaming, its origins, and what it requires to enjoy cloud gaming.

Cloud Gaming: Where  it All Began and Current Operators

The idea of cloud gaming was first broached by a Finland firm named G-cluster, and hyped by several video gaming news journals and blogs. Since then, several firms have banked upon this technology and have been working towards it. Some firms like OnLive, Gaikai and PlayCast have been among the few to come out with a sound revenue model that they have implemented straightaway and are already operational. These operators are now working hard to bring their hardware (and thus services) to a level where they can meet the high expectations and effectively challenge the consoles. As the client base expands, they expect to be able to bring costs down and thus reach out to avid game lovers even more than before.

Games such as Assassin’s Creed and Prince of Persia are one of the most popular games played on the internet these days. Even the requirements for these aren’t much and you just need a PC, Mac that could access the internet.

With cloud gaming, code processing and video rendering done at the server-side you can play any game on any system including DOS/Apple/Commodore/Atari games, arcade games, console games, Windows games, Apple OS games, and phone app games. Any game can be put on server and it is the capability of the server that allows multi users to enjoy those games at the same time.

Limitations of Cloud Gaming

The main limitation of Cloud gaming is the network quality. Due to the difference in the network quality at the end of different users depending upon their distance to a game server of the cloud users may experience several problems while playing games. Some people might get disconnected while playing games due to these issues. It may irritate a player if he/she gets disconnected every now and then.

Another limiting factor may be ability of local computer or system to properly render a video stream. Video compression codecs and technologies may be used by a gaming cloud to reduce amount of data required to transfer over bandwidth, and it takes sufficient amount of processing power to decompress and/or decode such a video stream.

Cloud gaming is to retro gaming what Email is to Letters. When emails started it was feared that the letters would not exist after some time but they survived in their own category. It may be the future, it may not but one thing is for certain we are not there yet.

It will be exciting to see the choices gamers make when the next generation of consoles and gaming multimedia come up against fully operational cloud gaming services.

For now, that’s all we have on cloud gaming; keep following us for more video game news updates and game reviews.

While video game news and reviews are pretty commonplace, few pieces of gaming multimedia merchandize have had the kind of sway over us as Alien: Infestation. And why is that, do I hear you ask? Well, let’s just say that apart from being part of an iconic movie franchise that has shaped popular culture, Alien: Infestation just might be the last Nintendo DS game ever. It is also a very good one,with Wayforward Technologies collaborating with Gearbox Software to produce what seems to be a Metroidvani adventure set in the Alien universe.

The Beginning of Alien: Infestation

The Alien: Infestation adventure starts aboard the Sulaco, with a squad of Colonial Marines arriving to investigate what’s going on there in the aftermath of the events seen in James Cameron’s Aliens. It’s not the only environment you’ll see over the course of the game, but it’s definitely where the bulk of the big moments unfold.

In just about any story-driven game you can think of, death is a worry but never an outright fear. More often than not, your character will simply be whisked back to the nearest save or checkpoint. That’s not the case in Aliens: Infestation. Death is very much a permanent thing here.

Alien: Infestation Gameplay

 You start with a squad of four marines, though only one of them is ever under your direct control. The rest pop up and can be switched between whenever you enter one of the game’s save rooms, where you can also resupply and swap weapons. Each marine represents one of your “lives” in the game. If the one you’re controlling bites the dust, you select a new marine to spawn in wherever you died, full up on ammo and fresh for the fight.

The natural response for many gamers will be to simply reload an old save, but it’s better to just roll with it in Alien: Infestation. There are 19 playable marines in Alien: Infestation, which will be more than enough for most to get through the six-or-so-hour adventure. Each one has his or her own dialogue too, so swapping soldiers actually serves to inject freshness.

You can only have a maximum of four marines in your squad. Any stragglers you find while you have a full crew will just stay where they are until you can pick them up. It’s a remarkably clever way of giving you multiple “lives” in the game while imbuing each with its own, unique personality.
The environments are easily recognizable as 16-bit(-ish) reinterpretations of what you’ve seen in the films. Light and dark is used to good effect in Alien: Infestation, and there are some great moments in which you actually feel some tension building, a rare thing for a small-screen game such as this.

Alien: Infestation Controls & Game Atmosphere

True to the Aliens vibe, you never really feel in Alien: Infestation like you’ve got a handle on things. Even as you find upgrades for your weapons — which unfortunately cannot be swapped, so be sure you’ve got the gun you want to boost in your hands before you collect an upgrade — you’ll still frequently find yourself low on health and scuttling back to a save or searching for a pickup.

The controls of Alien: Infestation feel a little clunky, especially if you happen to be playing on a Nintendo 3DS and using its analog nub. The D-pad offers a more precise set of inputs, though you’ll still find cursing as something attacks you that could have been avoided with smoother controls. The touchscreen inputs used for swapping between gear can also be a pain in the heat of a battle, particularly with some of the tougher boss fights.

In the future, there shall be many a game reviewed, and there will be exciting  exciting video game news, so keep reading! Till then, try and get your hands on a copy of Alien: Infestation.

Four years ago, Nintendo took the game in the world upside down with its movement controlled by the Wii console. The 2010 title is the main competitor of Nintendo has finally followed suit: KINECTS with Microsoft, Sony PlayStation Move. At first glance, it seems a bad year for players who prefer to sit on the scourges like dervishes.

But the game is driven by software and hardware, and the best games of 2010 will instantly make an old-fashioned way – working with the driver comfortably your favorite chair. Kinect technology and Move is impressive, but (with one exception) the games that do not have the creative heights of the best.

1. “Red Dead Redemption” (Rockstar, for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3): It’s more than “Grand Theft Auto” on a horse, and it’s all because of John Marston, the repentant former bandit at the heart of this Wild West drama. He’s the first Rockstar protagonist with a heart, and his journey toward redemption is the most rewarding trip I took all year.

2. “Mass Effect 2″ (Electronic Arts, for the Xbox 360): Engaging characters and an absorbing mystery help BioWare expand its sprawling intergalactic empire. It’s as ambitious and thought-provoking as the best science fiction.

3. “Rock Band 3″ (MTV Games, for the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii): New keyboard and “pro guitar” accessories bring fans of this exemplary franchise closer to the stage than ever.

4. “Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies” (Square Enix, for the Nintendo DS): This delightful role-playing game is a satisfying throwback to classic sword-and-sorcery.

5. “Enslaved: Odyssey to the West” (Namco Bandai, for the Xbox 360, PS3): This vision of a post-apocalyptic America, featuring two of the year’s more intriguing characters, deserves a wider audience than it has received.

Recently, on my homeward bound Tube commute, I let out a spontaneous cry of triumph which caused all the other passengers in the carriage to stare at me disconcertingly. I grinned at them sheepishly and did my best to turn invisible for the remainder of the journey. Inwardly, I gave myself a massive high-five. Finally, after about two weeks of toiling away, I would now be able to start reading books again on my daily trip into work. The reason for this is that I’d completed the final gaming achievement from the new list which was loaded onto my Plants Vs Zombies iPhone app in the last update. The game would now have to relax its Rasputin-like grip on me – at least, until the next achievement update arrives (if, indeed, there is one on the way).

Such is the genius of PopCap’s game that the Seattle-based developer could probably ensure its longevity simply by releasing ten or so new achievements every other month. Easily one of the most addictive and delightful games in PopCap’s canon, PVZ has seduced gamers the world over. Originally released for the PC last year, PVZ has jumped onto both the iPhone to the iPad, smashing sales records along the way. The game has been an unqualified success so far, and spurred on by this, PopCap recently announced plans for a port for the Nintendo DS for next year. In the meantime, PVZ has landed on the Xbox Live Arcade, boasting extra content to entice PVZ veterans and newcomers alike to part with their points.

For those who have never heard of it, PVZ is a tower defence game in which players use an assortment of zany foliage to ward off an undead horde lurching across their lawn. They start off planting Sunflowers, which generate sunbeams – the currency of the game – they can then spend on more plants which fire projectiles at the zombies, blow them up, squash them or in some instances, eat them whole. As the game progresses, different types of zombies start emerging – some wearing protective gear, others armed with items which help them vault over your defences – and at the end of each level, the player is awarded with a new plant to add to their leafy arsenal. The game offers a 50-level adventure mode which offers a couple of new environments and battle conditions to mix things up a little, as well as a collection of mini-games. On top of that there’s a list of achievements to complete, an almanac containing a description of every plant and zombie in the game and a store in which players can buy attacking flora and other items. Like both the PC and Apple ports, the XBLA download boasts adorable graphics, a charming soundtrack and the best end credits song since Portal.

Newcomers shouldn’t hesitate to snap up a copy; if this is your first exposure to PVZ then you’re in for a treat. Unlike many other strategy games, PVZ doesn’t suffer too badly from the introduction of a control pad interface, even though it isn’t as intuitive as a mouse and keyboard, and it’s nowhere near as good as a touch-screen. Players select plants using the left and right bumpers, pick a section to plant them on with the right stick and use the face buttons to both plant them and dig them up. The controls require a little finesse – lazily weaving around map can lead to planting your deadly foliage in the wrong place – but mapping the Dig function to the b-button is a stroke of genius (anyone who’s ever accidentally dug up the wrong plant on the PC or Apple device versions will rejoice).

Beyond Puzzle, Zen Garden and Survival mode which make a return from the PC version, the XBLA download comes packaged with some fun new content. The game’s Leader Boards are a nice little addition; all the player’s achievements are visually represented by a house with a series of trophies around it, and they can check the progress of their friends by scrolling through their friend-list. There are also a ton of mini-games which can be unlocked including Beghouled (a PVZ version of PopCap’s biggest selling game, Bejeweled) and Heavy Weapon (a cross between Space Invaders and PVZ)

The biggest reason for veterans to buy the game is that it comes armed with a brand new multiplayer mode. Both the main adventure and the mini-games can be played in co-op, and since two players are involved in the action, there’s the option to toggle the difficulty for this mode, making it significantly higher than that for solo play. There’s no jump-in/jump-out option offered, and no online co-op. But it’s a lot of fun (aside from the odd argument about the use of sunbeam resources) and in bowling mini-game on offer, it adds to the enjoyment. For Vs mode, one player controls the plants while the other controls the zombies. The latter’s objective is to shuffle through their opponent’s defences, enter the house and eat their brains while the former has to take out three targets on the undead’s side of the garden. Both players have access to all the plants and zombies that have been unlocked in the Adventure mode, as well as a couple of new ones – such as the Trashcan zombie, a slower, tougher version of the Screen-door zombie. The mode offers a new way to play PVZ which feels both fresh and inventive. The only downside to the Vs mode is that it requires at least one player to finish the Adventure mode an unlock all of the plants first, otherwise the zombie side can feel slightly overpowered.

It’s a little annoying that, at least for Vs mode, the plants aren’t all unlocked to begin with. Another aspect which may irk fans is that the Michael Jackson-inspired dancing zombie is a thing of the past; it has been replaced here with the Disco Zombie. The only thing lacking from the whole package is a lengthy list of achievements; players only have a paltry 12 to shoot for, so one can’t help but feel a little underwhelmed. It also doesn’t help that some of the new achievements are also laughably easy.

Aside from this minor quibble, the only conceivable aspect standing in the way PVZ selling well on XBLA is its hefty price tag. The game certainly offers a lot of content for the 1200 MS points players have to shell out for it, but anyone who owns the game on PC or iPhone will have already played through most of it. PC Veterans in particular may find paying £10 for a co-op mode (and little besides) a little steep for their liking. However, if you’ve never played PVZ before on any platform, then purchasing it is a no-brainer because it’s hands down one of the best video games ever made for any platform

As far as we’re concerned, the 3DS is the perfect extension of the DS series. It takes all the elements that made the DS systems unique and chucks even more on top: glasses-free 3D on the top screen – BAM!, gyro and motion sensors and built-in infra-red – THWACK!, decent 3D processing power and nice hardware shaders – ZING!

In short, the 3DS has a stack of potential for interesting game designs that will leverage just how different the hardware is. Right now, however, Nintendo needs to ensure that the system will get off to a flying start on launch, and we’re really impressed with how it’s going about it.

Rather than trying to appeal to the broadest audience possible with the new system – the audience it already has with the existing DS systems, Nintendo is very much wooing the core gamers.

The company understands that it needs to get the most passionate players on board first – the evangelists, to make its system a success. These are the guys that want the latest tech and the freshest experiences. These are the guys yearning to see a return of classic Nintendo franchises. And these are the guys that won’t mind shelling out for yet another iteration of the DS.

The line-up is studded with games for the core: Kid Icarus, Ocarina of Time, Paper Mario, PilotWings Resort and Star Fox 64 3D. They’re all much-loved franchises from Nintendo’s past, and all designed to get the core audience on-board first. Sure, the wider audience will love them too, but Nintendo knows that it doesn’t make sense to go after the little sisters and the grandpas first – they’ll come, but only as part of the steady expansion out from the early adopters.

Hell, a lot of the more casual DS owners haven’t owned their systems that long. To them it’s still fresh, whereas for us – we’re ready to move on.

That said, the approach is probably best described as inclusive – Nintendo has always had an ability to make games that are loved by core gamers but also by a much broader market: think Mario Kart and Animal Crossing. With that in mind, almost everyone will find something to like in the range of games coming up for the 3DS – and there are titles like Nintendogs + Cats that really cater to the wider audience, but the point is that the emphasis from Nintendo is definitely on pleasing the Nintendo faithful first.

The titles that have been announced from Nintendo’s publishing partners are also weighted more towards the core audience. Think about it: Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D, Resident Evil: Revelations, Super Street Fighter IV 3D, Kingdom Hearts 3D, Ridge Racer 3DS, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Lead the Ghosts, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory, Dead or Alive 3DS. Throw in a new Professor Layton and you’ve got yourself a par-tay.

Oh sure, there are the usual movie tie-ins, franchise spin-offs, music games and why-won’t-you-just-die titles (such as The Last Airbender, Chocobo Racing, DJ Hero 3D and Samurai Warriors 3D respectively), but in all, the line-up is very very solid indeed.

Compare this to Microsoft’s approach for Kinect. The company already has a loyal core following, but rather than trying to appeal to them with Kinect – the guys who already own 360s – and expand out from there, the vast majority of games are for families and non-gamers. That’s an awful lot of cash to expect those people to lay out to use Kinect, especially when they could be using the core gamers to lay the groundwork for the casual assault to come. That’s a strategy that Nintendo seems to understand with 3DS, and a strategy that works out nicely for us.

When Nintendo announced the 3DS would come out before March 2011, we didn’t really expect it to hit this holiday season. But a report from CVG claims it could do just that. The story cites U.K. trade sources who claim that the system will hit sometime in October. It also speculates that Level 5 is working on a 3D game for the system, which would align with what we’ve heard about development kits being available. “It’s a surprise – we were expecting it much closer to Christmas,” said one source. “But I suppose it gives Nintendo the opportunity to get it in front and center of people’s minds nice and early.”

This is all a rumor until we hear official word from Nintendo, which probably won’t happen until E3 this June, or even later. The leaks come from U.K. sources, so it’s really referring to the European releases, but the U.S. tends to get new products around the same time frame or sometimes earlier. We’ll keep you updated if this rumor pans out.