PS3
Resistance 2
Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2
Infamous
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
BioShock 2
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin
Assassin’s Creed 2
Heavy Rain

3D Dot Game Heroes
Bayonetta
Yakuza 3
Brutal Legend
LittleBigPlanet
Final Fantasy XIII
Yakuza 3
NBA Jam
Soul Calibur IV

PSN
Shatter

Critter Crunch
Pixel Junk Monsters
Pixel Junk Shooter
Trine
Soldner X 1-2
Pac-Man Championship Edition DX

DS
Chrono Trigger
Kingdom Hearts 358/2
New Super Mario Bros.
Picross 3D
Planet Puzzle League
Tetris DS
Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

Dragon Quext IX
Advanced Wars Dual Strike
Animal Crossing Wild World
Carcassonne
Contact
Henry Hatsworth in The Puzzling Adventure
Kirby Squeak Squad
Mario Kart
Metroid Prime Pinball
Moon
Ninjatown
N+
Picross DS
Pokemon Pearl
Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
Retro Game Challenge
Scribblenauts
Sonic Rush
Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

PSP
Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep

God of War: Ghost of Sparta

PC
Left 4 Dead 2
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin

Minecraft
Audiosurf
Beat Hazard
Burnout Paradise
TorchLight
World of Goo
Grand Theft Auto IV
Just Cause 2
Plain Sight

I really want to restart Spirit Tracks; that was one of the most original Zelda games I’ve played in a while. Minecraft, Dragon Quest IX, and Picross 3D have been my most recent sources of crack. I’d say my “Game of the Year” is Minecraft. Its burrowed itself in the deepest depths of my OCD and hasn’t let go.

Oh, by the way, I love Minecraft so much I’ve been making these videos:

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The paddle can shoot a marvelous display of laser bullets.

Shatter is also free with a PlayStation Plus subscription which is how I found it. Which, by the way, so far has been a good deal at $18 for three months or $50 for a year. I’ve downloaded dozens of themes and tons of free games since I subscribed in August. Of course, you can’t keep the games when you stop PSN+, but most of the games aren’t worth keeping either. Except Shatter!

Chris and Sheva
Unlike the previous title, Resident Evil 4, the female protagonist that follows you isn’t completely helpless. Sheva proves her skills are just as valuable as Chris and together they make a kick-ass team in a game structured on cooperative play. They are a more recent duo than the rest of the list but they have proven themselves worthy regardless.

Mario and Yoshi
They’re easily the oldest pair on this list, they’ve been together since the beginning of console gaming and have been inseparable since (with the exception of a few titles). Although this odd duo worked as a team, they did have their flaws. Yoshi being the underdog was often left with the task of carrying around an infant Mario or being sacrificed for an extra jump. But regardless they’re a noble pair and in the end it was all for a good cause.

Ratchet and Clank
These two are a more comical pair than the last and their missions involve far less gruesome combat tactics; nonetheless they are still a wonderful pair with humorous personalities.

Marcus and Dom
“Brothers to the end” — that’s the tagline for the third title in the Gears of War series, and no other duo on this list defines it more. Marcus and Dom have been through more blood-splattering, curb-stomping, and downright frightening shit than any of the others on this list. But their teaming against the macabre has kept them breathing till now. In the post-apocalyptic world of Gears all these two have are each other, and till the end they’ll keep fighting.

Diddy and Donkey Kong
If you though Marcus and Dom were tough they have nothing on this duo. Diddy and DK are without a doubt the most hardcore team on this list. Back in the glory days of RARE a little game called Donkey Kong Country was published. Players fought their way through 40 different levels that were both challenging and fun. Though they were separated often, neither of the pair ever left their fallen comrade behind and even if they did they were never more than a barrel marked “DK” away. This is in my mind, the greatest video gaming duo ever.

Agree or disagree? How about you post your thoughts in the comments section below!

(Reposted from TechVoo)

Berserker (Gears of War)
She doesn’t pose much of a challenge any of the times you encounter her in Gears but I won’t deny my heart was pounding the first time I was face to face with her. Though she’s blind her advantages are nearly impenetrable skin as well heightened senses.

Omega Pirate (Metroid Prime)
This isn’t nearly the scariest thing in Metroid Prime but as far as bosses goes the Omega Pirate is the biggest and the baddest. Though I was a lot younger the first time I played it, the game was just plain creepy so I’m sure it wouldn’t have mattered how old I was. I don’t recall the battle itself perfectly but I remember the music was awesome!

Verdugo (Resident Evil 4)
Of all the terrifying and macabre bosses in RE4 nothing was scarier than Verdugo. It wasn’t Verdugo himself that scared me (though he was a creepy fuck) it was the fact that this battle took place right after another battle where you’re locked in a room with tons of enemies. So by this point I had next to no ammo to fight him. After countless deaths, and hocking a majority of my weapons to the Merchant I was able to take the bastard down.

Dead Hand (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)
There weren’t very many scary moments in Ocarina of Time. But the Shadow Temple and this boss right here make up for the lack of them. I was around five years old when I fought Dead Hand and it was probably the scariest thing I had done at this point in my life. I was scared to get close to him lest he attack me and I was scared to run away just in case one of his hands grab me.

Nemisis (Resident Evil 3)
The first time I ever played a Resident Evil game was shortly after beating Ocarina of Time and finding it on top of the stack of PlayStation games. So I popped it in, clicked load game and before I knew it I was standing in front of a typewriter on my brother’s save file. I don’t recall how far in the game he was but he was in a small room. I exited through the closest door and was immediately confronted by Nemisis.

My heart drops, his rocket launches, and the game is over. It was terrifying and that short encounter resulted in many nightmares the following month. I haven’t played the game since though I do plan on trying it when it hits the PlayStation Store. That my friends, was the single scariest video-game boss I have ever come face to rocket with.

Well that was my list, whether you agree or not we’d love to hear your opinion so go ahead and post your own in the comments section below.

Reposted from: TechVoo

Gameplay growth is one of the things that makes video games fun to play. It’s the flexibility and familiarity one gains when the gameplay grows due to their increased experience with the game. Most new games on consoles have gameplay growth: the player is free to experiment and find new ways to play the game. In a strategy game like StarCraft, the game gets steadily harder as the player gains more experience with the mechanics of the game; if you can’t keep up with the gameplay mechanics, you can’t keep up with the gameplay growth. So you’ll be stuck doing levels over and over again.

Restarting levels is annoying, so it’s easy to see, from a business perspective, why developers would want to cut back on real gameplay growth. How could they do this without making the game seem “easy”? If every level in StarCraft were the same, everyone would notice. This is where the “fake” gameplay growth comes in.

This is when the game only appears to be getting harder, in order to placate claims that the game is too easy. How do games pull this off? Mostly with poorly-executed RPG elements, really. Think of the leveling stuff in Dead Rising. Stuff like that. Why is it bad? Because as your levels go up, you get stronger, and the enemies get harder. It all evens out and has no effect on the game whatsoever; it just makes the game look like it’s progressing when it really isn’t.

Dead Rising isn’t a bad game, however, because it still has other aspects to it that exhibit real growth (navigation, for example). In fact, fake gameplay growth is not necessarily bad at all. A lot of RPGs use fake gameplay growth but make up for it with a compelling story, or some kind of social aspect. (Almost every MMORPG is like this, and browser games with well-implemented communities.)

All in all, fake gameplay growth is not really all that evil — it’s primarily used for padding, which doesn’t usually have a negative effect on the game itself. The only place where it really reigns supreme is in low-concentration “menu games”, like the many “virtual mafia” type games you see on Facebook or iPhone. These games usually have no goal other than navigating menus clicking buttons that do nothing but increase numbers. They’re basically ego-stroking games, the only goal being to make yourself look cool by having a larger number than other people.

This is all just to say, it pays to pay attention to gameplay growth. Some games obfuscate it so well that it can be hard to tell if you’re really having fun, or just pressing buttons. I don’t really know what the point of this post is, though. I have no insight to offer. Think for yourself, damn it!

This article will take a look at various video games from their earliest roots to what they have evolved into today. From humble beginnings to graphically amazing some of these franchises are older than me!

The Zelda series started off on the NES in 1986 with The Legend of Zelda. The latest game The Legend of Zelda Spirit Tracks (not pictured) was released at the end of 2009. I chose to picture Twilight Princess as graphically it looks better than Spirit Tracks

Super Mario Bros. was the very first game in the Mario franchise. Originally released on the Famicom in 1985 Mario has been the icon of Nintendo ever since having multiple games on every console and handheld they have made. The latest in the franchise is Super Mario Galaxy 2 for the Wii released last month.

The original Prince of Persia was developed for the Apple II in 1989, it has been ported to various consoles and systems since then and has even had a movie loosely based on some of the later games. The most recent game in the series, Prince of Persia The Forgotten Sands, was released for all seventh generation consoles and handhelds earlier this year.

The original Metal Gear was one of the first stealth-action games ever. It was originally released for the MSX2 in summer 1987 and later that year for the Famicom. The latest game in the series Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots was released in 2008 for the PlayStation 3. It is often considered one of the greatest looking console games ever released and supposedly makes full use of all the PlayStation 3′s power. Though the game is dated there have been very few that have surpassed both graphically and technically.

The first Ninja Gaiden was released for the Famicom in 1988 it had many ports some of which featured upgraded graphics. The latest in the series Ninja Gaiden 2 was released only for the XBOX 360 in 2008 but a graphically improved port was released under the title Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 in 2009 for the PlayStation 3.

Fallout was released on both Windows and Mac OS computers in 1997, it was considered by many to be one of the greatest RPG’s of all time. The latest in the series Fallout New Vegas is still in development but is supposed to be released later this year. Although graphically it’s not so much more advanced than the previous title, Obsidian has promised to deliver a brand new experience.

Resident Evil made its way onto the PlayStation in 1996 and was later released ported to the Sega Saturn and PC. The series has since then had plenty of spin-offs, and more than enough movie adaptations. Resident Evil 4 which was originally released in 2005 brought the series back to life with it’s new take on the old franchise. It’s probably been ported to more systems than almost any other game with versions for the PS2, PC, Mobile Phone, iPhone/iPod Touch, iPad, Zeebo, and Wii. The latest game in the series, Resident Evil 5, was released in 2009 for Windows, XBOX 360, and PlayStation 3.

Street Fighter made its debut in arcades in 1987, and since then its been praised as one of the greatest fighting series of all time. The latest game in the franchise, Street Fighter IV was released in Japanese arcades on Taito Type X2 hardware. In 2009 it was brought to the XBOX 360 and PlayStation 3 as well as the PC. The upgraded version Super Street Fighter IV featuring a host of new characters and content was released earlier this year at a discounted price of $40.

Pokemon Red, Green, and Blue Version were originally released in 1996 in Japan. The Blue Version featured more than Red and Green Version and was consequently used in the port of Red and Blue Versions to the US and Europe in 1998. Ever since its release Pokemon has started a multi-billion dollar phenomenon all over the world with the latest versions Pokemon Black & White for the Nintendo DS to be released in Japan this year and everywhere else the following. With the release of the latest games the PokeDex has surpassed 500 Pokemon, and with each new iteration it continues to grow.

Final Fantasy was initially released on the Famicom in 1987 and didn’t reach U.S. shores till 3 years later. Each game tells a new tale so the need for gamers to have played a previous title is unnecessary. The ever expanding and ironically never ending “Final” Fantasy series continues to grow with a brand new online game Final Fantasy XIV to be released for PlayStation 3 and PC later this year.

I’m not going to talk about gaming as an art form, or how hardcore gamers are no longer the target market; no, I’m going to talk about how the morals of the gamer – you and I and everybody else reading this – have changed. Let’s take a look at some classic games which I’m sure you’ll all remember. I’ve picked a wide range to illustrate my point in the most cohesive way possible. I’ll start with an old favourite: The Legend of Zelda. Alright, here we go, it’s a basic enough premise: you’re a hero called Link, there’s a princess called Zelda that needs saving, so you gotta go do what you gotta do. You can’t just stroll up to the castle and demand her back, however. First, you’ll need to collect weapons, talk to wizards in caves, defeat bosses and traverse some fairly treacherous terrain. It’s all very epic.

Let’s cycle back in time a little bit and go to Space Invaders. It’s a very basic game in all respects; visually, it looks like nothing more than some squished flies descending from the top of the screen to the bottom of the screen, with a green triangle throwing rectangles at them to block their progress. Of course, in your head, you’re defending planet Earth from invading aliens. You are a hero, saving the world from these little bastard sky-bugs. Right on. Of course, nobody plays Space Invaders any more. You want to save the world from aliens, you’ll play Half-Life 2, which puts you in the shoes of physicist Gordon Freeman, defending the world from the Combine, who have appointed Dr Breen as ruler of the now very dystopian Earth. Once again, you play the hero, and you’re killing alien invaders to save the world.

Do you see what I’m getting at yet? The most traditional form of narrative in video gaming sees you play the hero, saving the world, a village, or even just a petty little princess. The gamer feels empowered. Virtual people are praising him for his deeds, and that’s a great form of escapism: you’re escaping to a world where you’ve done something impossible, and everybody loves you for that. Let’s go accelerate into the future and take a look at Red Dead Redemption. You’re an outlaw in the Wild West, but not the loveable anti-hero type you’ve seen Clint Eastwood play. In fact, you can earn an achievement for successfully killing a woman by tying her to train tracks. That’s not heroic at all, that’s bloody villainy.

You couldn’t get away with that back in the ’80s; what kind of gamer back then would want to play a game where you can slaughter innocent people without remorse? Games have continued to evolve to the point where they’re beginning to attract a completely different kind of audience, one that is perfectly willing to break their moral code in a virtual world, and that has created the demand for games like Red Dead Redemption. I’m not in any way damning games like this – hell, Grand Theft Auto is one of the finest sandbox series ever, and the latest instalments have a much stronger narrative than most people give credit. In fact, this new evolution of gamer has given us a wider range of games to play, so for that, I reckon we ought to give credit to these depraved souls. Next time you play BioShock and come to the point where you can choose to harvest or save your Little Sister, remember that someone, somewhere, always chooses to harvest, and it’s thanks to them we have Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Redemption, All Points Bulletin and Manhunt.

Of course, this is a double-edged sword, as poorly-educated fools with a thin grasp of the English language can in some cases serve as an annoyance so powerful, not even disembowelling their virtual avatar can appease the recipient of their whiny pleas. It’s ridiculous to even assume that such poor players can disrespect your playing ability with a straight face. They’re lying to themselves, and no matter how many times you kill them or explain to them the farce that is their ability to suck, they’ll continue to rub in your face that time they barely killed you because you went to make a sandwich and left yourself in a vulnerable position. Damn them.

And the language, too; trash talk begs originality, as an over-use of the F word bounces off most targets in very much the same way a rubber-coated bullet doesn’t. Terms like “faggot” and “bastard” get thrown around almost as frequently, as does the more British and surprisingly potent combination “faggot bastard”, whereas “arsebag shitehook” is somewhat more rare. Adjectives are equally important in trash talk, with adjectives describing actions second most prevalent, behind “fucking” and its millions of potential uses. Consider how many times players online have called you a “fucking noob”. It gets dull, doesn’t it? Now consider how many times you’ve been called a “cow-fingering arsebag shitehook”. It’s a significantly lower number, isn’t it?

Like I’ve said, trash talk is important for keeping players in the game. A careful balance is required in order to keep the player determined to prove himself to the other players – after all, true gamers don’t game to prove themselves to friends or family, they game to prove themselves to absolute strangers – while not frustrated enough to ragequit. Originality in trash talk helps: more original slurs can be more entertaining than aggravating, helping both sides of the balance, whereas the more vulgar and “traditional” comments tend to be seen more as bad sportsmanship and the mark of a sore loser, ruining a game experience for all involved.

Post sponsored by zConnection.

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The next page is stuck to this page and you need to tear it open.

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WoW screenshot without the HUD

A lot of my friends have been asking me how I take such good screenshots on World of Warcraft. I know most of them probably won’t read this but I decided to write this for everyone on the internet that doesn’t know how to take a perfect screenshot in the game.

First off, there is no way to choose whether World of Warcraft is in day or night mode. World of Warcraft runs on a day and night cycle, keeping up with real life. This means that when you play at night, it’s night in the game. It’s the same with day, sunset, sunrise etc.

Second, there are no downloadable AddOns or tools that can help you take better screenshots. The HUD and everything else  can be removed for the screenshot by pressing ALT + Z at the same time; pressing it again will restore everything.

Third, arrange and line up your camera for the screenshot the way you want it. Remember, you can zoom right in to first person view to take a landscape shot without your character in the way.

Fourth, screenshots are taken by pressing Prt Scrn (Print Screen) and are then saved in a folder named screenshots within the games install folder. You will normally find the folder here – C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft\Screenshots.

I hope that this helped you understand how you can take better screenshots in World of Warcraft. Have a great journey!