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Always celebrated for its deadly
arsenal, in the 3rd installment of
Unreal Tournament the brutal
weaponry only gets bigger and
deadlier. The battle gets really savage as
players are equipped with weapons like a shock
rifle and a flak cannon that can be used to blow
and blast your enemy from a distance. The
graphics and the sound effects are so realistic
that you may actually start believing that you
are in the midst of a mortal combat. There
is a plethora of cool looking characters with
exchangeable armor, vests, boots, helmets
and weapons. The A.I. is capable of throwing in
unexpected challenges which vastly adds to the
suspense element.
But what is the
game's
story line?
Does that even
matter. Unreal
Tournament has
always been about
fast moving, run
and shoot games,
and the new
version takes the
idea to a new level
of excitement. You
get to handle a
rocket launcher,
which can blast
enemy vehicles
into smithereens. After all,
there is no dearth of alien
vehicles in the game that
you'll want to blow up. There
is a flying vehicle that looks
like a tentacle squid just
like the one in the film The
Matrix, and there is another
one that crawls on the
ground like a spider-octopus.
Published by Midway,
Unreal Tournament 3, is
meant to be played on a PC,
Playstation 3 or Xbox 360. |
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| This is Vegas
baby and you
are in for
an adrenalin
pumping burst of
excitement. Fight,
gamble, drive and
party your way
through the most
decadent and vibrant
city in the world.
What else can
you expect
when you
are in Vegas!
The game’s
leitmotif
carries a sort
of conspiracy
angle at
whose center
there lies a
conservative
businessman
who plans to transmogrify Vegas into a dull
family friendly tourist trap. No way loser! No
one can be allowed to rob Vegas of its sinful
character. It is up to you to thwart the |
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machinations
of this
businessman.
You do it by building
your own Vegas empire
that can resurrect the true spirit
of the sin soaked adult playground.
The game should be fun, because you are
required to party hard at the hottest clubs
and build connections with celebrities.
You build your bankroll by gambling on
high stakes casino tables. What is the
underground circuit for, if not for you to
raise your reputation by racing flamboyant
cars? But the real adrenalin flow happens
when you settle scores using fists and
firearms. The presence of sultry women
only adds to the excitement. |
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Imagine a volatile world that is 90%
destructible and where the game play
possibilities are infinite. Such is the kind
of excitement Battlefield: Bad Company
bodes. The instant you start playing you are
sucked into a lawless world where war and
chaos are the only way of the life possible.
If you want to survive the game, you have
to be ready to destroy much of the terrain
and come up with strategies for winning at
all costs.
What would you do if you were dropped
behind enemy lines with a squad of
renegade soldiers who are ready to risk
it all on a personal quest for gold and
revenge? You would fight like hell in order
to stay alive. That is what Battlefield: Bad
Company is all about. It is about you fighting
for your life. You have access to a whole
range of state of the art weapons that can
unleash savage mayhem.
Snipers could be equipped with guns
capable of blowing away chunks from
buildings to make space from which to
fire at their targets. But even the snipers
are not invincible; the game is full of tanks
that have enough firepower to raze every
building, leaving players nowhere to hide.
A creation of EA and Digital Illusions the
game is meant to be experienced on
Xbox360 or Playstation 3.
Price - $ 59.99 |
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Imagine using your Wii remote to have a go
at seven entertaining games. Try your hand
at worldwide favorites like Play Darts, Table Hockey,
Shuffleboard and Hoop Shoot, or relish the joys of
playing variations of classics like Skii Ball, Ping Cup, and
Trivia. Before going out for the night with your friends,
this is a great way to pre-party.
Playing darts with a Wii remote takes some practice,
but once you get into the groove, it’s a good challenge.
Hoop Shoot is more fun when you have a little alcohol
in you. The controls in Skii Ball are pretty much the
same as Wii bowling, but you can’t afford to throw too
hard. The Shuffleboard is a tabletop version where you
have to control the direction of the puck. In Air Hockey
the controls are similar as in real air hockey, but for
maximum entertainment you have to play this game with
a partner. Ping Cup turns out to be really sporadic, but
that is part of its charm. Published by Midway, the game
is meant to be played on Nintendo Wii only.
Price - $ 19.99 |
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Midway has now unveiled the much awaited NBA Ballers:
Chosen One. The fast paced game is all about letting players
lead the life of a NB A superstar. You can select from more
than 80 superstars and legends, the player who you think
will be the next “Chosen One”. The classic pick-up-n’-play
and the inspiring hoop-it-up tactics are all there in a vastly
enhanced format, all thanks to the next generation graphics
that Midway has incorporated into the game. You will be
acquainted with
many super moves
that will help you
separate the best
from the rest and
experience much
excitement in the
process. The game
is meant to be
played on Playstation
3 or Xbox 360.
Price - $ 59.99 |
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As if on a magic carpet you get transported
into a world that  lies below the shimmering
surface of the deep blue seas, where a wide
variety of marine life floats and frolics around you.
Every species is so enchanting and so majestic
that you may forget you’re only playing a game.
But within the realms of this underwater world
there also lies a treasure that you have to find in
order to win the game. Finding the treasure while
you are also indulging in different underwater
adventures should be lot of fun, because the
game also provides you with a sexy and bubbly
companion who goes by the name of Katherine
Sunday.
The range of marine life that you will encounter
within the game is really vast – from smaller fish
and penguins to massive whale sharks, from
manta rays to humpback whales. You don’t have
to fear these large creatures of the deep; they
pose no threat to players. The most entertaining
encounters will be with the dolphins and other
cetaceans that can be trained to perform certain
tricks and become companions when you are
indulging in activities such as general diving, cave
diving, deep-water trench exploration, wreck
diving. Basically the game is about vicariously
experiencing the underwater world.
Developed by Akira, Endless Ocean is meant to
be played on Nintendo Wii. Only the Wii remote is
needed to control the game, with the player using
an on-screen cursor to guide their diver. But if
you are using the Nintendo’s Wi-Fi connection,
then you can go diving with your friends. How cool
is that. |
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Equipped with the most lethal weapons
available to man you are transported into
the world’s most treacherous hot spot where
you fight to win the war. Showcasing the most
visceral and intense action Call of Duty 4:
Modern Warfare offers a well-paced action
experience. As the breathtaking game begins,
the player is catapulted into a rapidly developing
battle situation – you are in no position to
predict what might happen a moment later,
you can only react to the present.
In one scenario you are storming into the war
zone with an armada of choppers from
which you must descend by abseiling,
and another scenario might find you
being a sniper trying to takeout a prime
enemy target. The special effects
are amazingly realistic, with physics
enabled effects imparting authenticity
to every scenario of explosion, fall,
crash, etc. The lighting and the music
only add to the intensity and we’re
betting this is going to be one of the
hottest games for 2008.
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As if on a magic carpet you get transported to a world, which draws
its leitmotif from a most engrossing and exciting fantasy. That is Fire
Emblem: Radiant Dawn for you. Meant to be played on Wii, the game
pits forces of good and evil in an implacable battle, whose outcome your
game-play is going to decide. Here is how the game’s storyline moves
– Three years ago, King Ashnard of a country called Daein invaded the
neighboring kingdom of Crimea. But instead of achieving victory, his
forces only manage to awaken the slumbering Goddess of Chaos. The
mad King Ashnard loses his life and Daein falls under the mysterious
forces commanded by the goddess.
But all is not lost for the citizens of Daein as a team of mercenaries
try to break the evil chains that bind their country. The game comes
equipped with an excellent artificial intelligence and players can take
control of the various armies and mercenaries in the fray and make
them act in various ways. Myriad types of weapons and magic spells,
each with its own strategic benefits only add to the game’s delight.
You will be confronted by armored knights wielding magical swords,
fast-moving mounted cavaliers that can use swords and lances,
unarmed monks using healing staves, and so on. It is possible for you
to customize certain fighting units, so that they can attack multiple
times and force their way through lines of entrenched foes. |
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If you are having delusions of being a ninja, then it is time to check
out just how fast your reflexes are. Ninja Reflex, the new
video game from the ensemble of Electronic Arts Inc.,
presents a very good way to hone up your reaction time.
The game consists of several competitive mini-games each
representing various activities associated with martial arts.
In one mini-game you may find yourself indulging in shurikenthrowing,
there might be another one where winning the game
means catching flies with chopsticks. In fact, the last game is
quite interesting. A stream of flies buzz into your screen and your
job is to grab them with your Wii remote, and deposit them in one
of three specific bowls. If you opt for a higher level of the game,
then catching of flies becomes even more intricate business. The
flies get tagged with specific colors, and you will lose points if you grab
and deposit flies that are not of your own color. Exciting, isn’t it!
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| Paradise City is about to experience mayhem.
Burnout Paradise players are about to wreck
havoc by converting the whole city into a
seamless racing battleground, throwing the massive
traffic on the roads completely out of gear and in many
cases out of shape as well. There are crashes galore,
vehicles fly into each other at unimaginable speed and
get blown to smithereens. A trail of destruction follows
the speeding cars; there are scenarios where many cars
literally get ripped in two resulting in most explosive
pileups that you may have ever seen.
Before players can enter the borders of the Paradise
City they are given a driver’s license that performs
the admirable purpose of amassing the record of the
player’s most aggressive, reckless and destructive
exploits behind the wheel. But it is not the strong arm
of the law that is keeping tab on the reckless drivers; it
is the breed of the most infamous and most dangerous
racers in the city. If you push hard enough you get
elevated to the next level where you have to face-off
with these terrible racers who are like absolute maniacs
behind the wheel. Sounds like a game for us |
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Here comes a game that has
your favorite football stars
showing off their skills. Meant
to be played on XBOX 360, FIFA Street
3 brings Ronaldinho, Peter Crouch, and
Gennaro Gattuso and other stars to life
as stylized action heroes in a hyper-real
world that pulsates with world-class
football action.
Best thing about the game is that it allows
the gamers to decide how football gets
played. The different game play options
are tricksters, playmakers, finishers
and enforcers. You can also combine
the different game play options into one
and create the most ultimate street
football team.
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| Super Smash Bros. Brawl brings together
all the fascinating characters from
Nintendo’s video game universe - Mario,
Samus, Bowser, Donkey Kong, Solid Snake,
Meta Knight, Kirby, Pikachu, Zero Suit Samus,
Link, Zelda, Pit and Wario, to name just a few. In
fact, almost everyone who is anyone in Nintendo
world is here brawling and fighting for their
digital empire. The way the myriad characters
come and go is totally unpredictable; it is as
if anyone can appear in any form and begin
displaying an erratic talent for brawling and
fighting. But the action happening in the game
is entirely customizable; you can control the
frequency of characters, the musical scores
and the pace of the game.
The storyline – well, you have to leave it to
Nintendo to come up with something that can
be classified as “truly out of the blue.” Here’s
how it goes – there is a digital world of Smash
Bros. that gets invaded by an entity called the
Ancient Minister and his army of creatures,
called The Primid. Now the characters on the
side of good have to fight back to protect their
freedom, but if any character gets defeated
they change into lifeless trophies. The devious
Ancient Minister has bombs that he detonates
to suck different characters out of the world so
that they turn into trophies whose power he can
harness. Only way to defeat this nemesis of the
digital space is to make all the characters work
together. Best thing about this game is that it is
Wi-Fi enabled, which allows up to four players
to brawl together. |
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Gods & Heroes Rome Rising
The bold and dramatic world of ancient mythology
comes alive in this innovative multiplayer game
that is all geared to conjure a very dynamic and
visceral feel of battles. Rome has developed into a
dynamic Republic, but enemies in the neighboring
countries of Greece, Carthage and Gaul are
obsessed with the idea of challenging its dominance.
The biggest threat to Rome comes from the ancient
Telchine gods, who were once banished from Rome
by the Olympian gods.
Jealous of their Olympian brethren, the Telchine
gods have returned to wage a murderous war
through which they plan to wrest control over Rome.
As you fight to save Rome from her implacable
enemies, monstrous creatures of myth come
alive and you have no choice but to fight a bloody
battle with mind-boggling entities like Cyclopes,
Minotaurs and the evil Medusa. Players can collect
more than 100 unique minion warriors that can be
deployed in a variety of strategic groupings, which
maximize their power in combat.
http://community.godsandheroes.com
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Transformers
Based on the recently released Hollywood film
of eponymous name, Transformers: The
Game, delivers high-octane excitement as you
battle to save or destroy Earth. A mind-boggling sequence
of events, and an amazing host of characters, erupts onto
your screen. You take up the persona of incredible robots,
whose performance you enjoyed in the film – Optimus
Prime, Megatron, Ironhide, Starscream, Bumblebee,
Barricade, etc.
Gamers have the choice to play as Autobots, who are out to
save the planet, or they can play as Decepticons, who are
determined to destroy it.
With dual campaigns, the fate of
the world lies completely in the player’s hands. Once the
game begins you are swept off your feet by its unstoppable
power and massive scale of the battle. You get to choose a
wide array of projective weapons that are designed to take
out enemies from afar.
There are high-end graphics adding to the game’s appeal.
You can instantly transmogrify your character from a larger
than life robot to a high-powered vehicle such as a sports car, fighter jet or helicopter. Yours is the
power to wreak awesome destruction. You can
crush, topple and destroy every object, including
buildings and vehicles or use them as weapons.
http://www.transformersgame.com/ |
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Pirates of the Burning Sea
The world of
plundering pirates
may have faded into
the mists of time, but
in the realm of virtual
video gaming it is
quite possible to go
back in time and cross
swords with those buccaneers of the
high seas. Pirates of the Burning
Sea poses a pulse pounding foray into
the dangerous world of murderous
pirates who are ready to risk life and
limb for the sake of loot as well as
for glory and power. Players get to
choose one of three fighting styles – classic fencing, flashy dual-wielding
Florentine or treacherous Dirty
Fighting.
Each fighting style will lead
into a different battle scenario – there could be intense melee
combats, one on one duels, as well as boarding and taking
control of enemy vessels.
As virtual buccaneers engage in fierce ship to ship combat in
real time, a magnificent sound effect plays in the background,
complete with roar of cannon fire and the crunch of timber as
masts and hulls are shattered. You have the option to join
one of the four loyalties: either be a pirate or side
with the three principal powers - English, French or
Spanish. You can live the virtual life of a sea captain
where you get to command a crew and a fleet of up
to 30 ships. Players can forge their own empires
across the Caribbean; they can build their own
quarries, distilleries and timber
mills, managing production and
distribution in a cutthroat world
where danger lurks behind every
wave of the sea.
http://www.burningsea.com
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The Agency
The moment you start playing this spy themed
multi-player game you get sucked into
an enticing vortex of espionage, intrigue, and
explosive game play. There are bullets and bomb
blasts galore, as your alter ego in the game starts
operating in the world of super spies and rugged
mercenaries. Emulating James Bond has never
been this easy! All it takes is some quick reflexes
and shrewd thinking. But it is your choice what
avatar you don while playing the game.
You can play as a spy or a mercenary.
The game offers hundreds of unique
missions with varied end-goals requiring
combat, stealth, and style. You find
yourself getting involved in intriguing
assassinations, to all out assaults, from
vehicle challenges to casinos loaded
with mini-games, there’s something for
every aspiring agent. As players advance
through the ranks of their faction, they
have the option to start building their own
Agencies. They can increase their power
even further by creating joint agencies
with others.
http://theagency.station.sony.com/ |
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Mercenaries
2:
The game is based on a bloody state of affairs that isn’t
too unrealistic to imagine. A tyrant takes control of
Venezuela and starts messing with its oil supply. The result
is an international crisis of unimaginable proportions.
There is a bloody war and all of Venezuela is turned into
a scorching war zone. But you are a mercenary and it is
your job to profit from the chaos. To you the war means a
chance to win a lot of money and prestige as well.
The game features a slew of potential clients, all
willing to pay you gargantuan sums of money if you
agree to do their dirty work.
This is your kind of environment. Every major power
wants you on their side.
These are world powers
with deep pockets, deep grudges, and enough
arms and ammo to start World War III. Within the
game you are equipped with the latest and most
dangerous in civilian and military tech – from shiny
new sports cars, to the future-tech satellite-guided
bunker-busting mini-nukes. Tanks, armored vehicles,
boats, luxury automobiles – you name it, you can have it
delivered to you in real time. Even if you run out of cash,
the game makes it possible for you to acquire the gear you
need in the field.
There are some very interesting scenarios, where you can
hijack helicopters and planes using a new grappling hook.
A successful hijack on a helicopter will involve
grappling onto the chopper, pulling up to the door,
pulling the pilot into the door, smashing the door
onto him, throwing the pilot out of the helicopter
and getting inside; if a player misses, there is a
recovery button to avoid falling to your death. The
game even allows you to build a private military
company and recruit mercenaries in it. You can play
the game solo, but for maximum carnage invite your
friends to join you.
http://www.mercs2.com/
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Ramayan 3392
Nothing compares to the satisfaction of playing a game that
allows you to decimate thousands of bad guys, empty a
million rounds of ammo, and in the process save a damsel
in distress. Sony Online Entertainment teams up with
Virgin Comics to bring a game called Ramayan 3392 AD.
The game is loosely based on a comic version of Ramayana
and is a result of a collaborative effort between the worldrenowned
spiritualist Deepak Chopra and Bollywood director
Shekhar Kapur.
Ramayan 3392 A.D. focuses on the battle between
humans and demons in a post-apocalyptic world.
The scenario
can be best expressed in the words – Ramayana goes
futuristic. Naturally there is Ram and there is a Ravana in
this comic. Ravana is portrayed in
the game as the master of a huge
army of Asuras (demons). Ravana’s
army marches all over the world,
invading kingdoms and poisoning
their lands with his vile
mechanoids. The fate of humanity
lies in Ayodhya, a gleaming city
with the finest warriors, where the
last vestige of human race remains.
But even Ayodhya has been polluted
to a degree by Ravana’s evil
machinations. There is a conspiracy
against the foremost warrior of
Ayodhya, Lord Rama, and he is
sent on an exile. In the course of
his travels Rama discovers the true
meaning of his existence and he
decides to become a protector of
Earth. From that day he travels
across the world freeing different
countries from the despotic rule of
ruthless Ravana.
The game is a super MMO, which means it is a Massive
Multiplayer Online. There are many rounds of fight before
Ravana can be defeated and Sita can be rescued from his
clutches. Ramayan 3392 A.D offers gamers a chance to
experience a whole new universe of characters and archetypes
derived from one of the oldest cultures on Earth.
Unmatched fighting scenes combined with Indian mythology
will give you hours of spine-tingling entertainment.
Price - TBA |
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Quasicade 3
Now you don’t even have to spend
rupee after rupee eating dots, jumping
barrels, and blasting aliens at
the local arcade store. Play at home
with Quasicade 3. Featuring a nifty
looking glass bezel, locking solid
door, backlit marquee, side-panel
graphics, a 20” monitor and of
course connections for your game
systems, this machine packs a serious
punch for the price.
The Quasicade 3 enables you to
play thousands of games using your
old Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube,
PC or Mac. Your home gets transmogrified
into a gamer’s paradise, where
you can play on real arcade controls.
The system comes with Logitech 2.1
speakers to give you an authentic
arcade feel. As an option, you can
trick out your Q3 with custom side
graphics and backlit header.
Info - www.quasimoto.com |
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Rugby 08
Looking for hardcore rugby action to leave your teeth rattling? Try Rugby 08! The moment the game starts you
are transported into a world of high-octane sports, where you maneuver with shoulder charges and bone
crunching collisions, or avoid contact with creative side steps. A cutting edge computer animation stimulates
every conceivable move and action on the pitch. The choice is yours, either you play on the offensive or select
defensive formations on the fly, as you react to attacking style & field position of your opponent. It is almost as
if you are playing rugby for real, you even deal with issues like team management, injuries & squad rotation.
The game’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) turns out to be smarter on offense, and it will test a gamers defensive
capabilities. But that only adds to the overall fun quotient. A new truck and zoom camera introduces angles that
allow the gamer to check out the result of conversion and penalty kicks, or zoom in on breakdowns to get a better
feel of the action at these key moments. Plus there is an extensive use of Rugby World Cup historical facts,
photos and video footage. A gamer can take key moments from World Cup and replay them. It doesn’t matter if
you are not quite versed with the nitty-gritty of the game. Even a beginner can have a great time with this game.
Price: $29.99 |
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Command & Conquer 3 -
Tiberium Wars
Exceptionally innovative nextgeneration
graphics, an epic
story with live action, full-motion
video sequences, and adrenalin
pumping fast-paced style of play the critically acclaimed
Command & Conquer 3 is all
about setting new standards in
the arena of gaming entertainment.
Players have the time of
their life as they outmaneuver
their galactic foes in a vast area
of conflict, where each decision
they make is pivotal.
Leaving aside the sci-fi stuff,
which is great anyway, there is
something deeply engrossing in
being part of an epic story told
from the unique perspective of all
three warring factions.
The artificial
intelligence (AI) in the game
is adaptive to the extent of being
capable of matching your style of
play. You have the liberty to
choose from distinct AI playing
styles such as ‘rushing’, ‘outmaneuvering’, and
more. You can also level the battlefield and let the
AI use its own tactics to give you the highest level
of challenge.
Naturally the plot is futuristic. The year is 2047
and the stakes have got very high for humanity. An evil self-replicating alien
substance called Tiberium has infected the Earth and has started to spread
like a radioactive ice age. GDI (Global Defense Initiative), a hightech
alliance of the world's most advanced nations, is fighting a desperate battle
to contain Tiberium.
The arch villain in the game is Kane, the megalomaniac
leader ofthe all-powerful Brotherhood of NOD. Kane is determined to use
Tiberium to take control of Earth and transform humanity into his twisted
vision of the future. But the humans are not about to give up without a
fight. An all-out war rages and the fate of the planet hangs in a balance.
Price: $39.99 |
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Spider Man 3
You have to play Spider Man 3 to find out how cool
being a Super Hero is. In real life that may be difficult,
if not impossible, but in the world of gaming the feat is
as simple as knowing what buttons to push. The game
is loosely based on the latest movie of the famous
Hollywood franchise, Spider Man 3. Set in a larger,
dynamic, free-roaming New York City, the game gives
players the liberty to choose their own game play strategy
through multiple movie-based and original storylines,
fully integrated city missions and performance
rewards including improved speed, combat maneuvers
and agility.
You even get to control the legendary black suit,
known to magnify Spider Man’s agility and strength.
You can penalize your enemies with explosive new powers
and incredible tactics. The game is loaded with
innovative combat systems through which you can
punch, kick, and launch attacks at a moment’s notice.
No more traffic snarls for you, as Spider Man you can
spin your web and swing over the tops of the building
to reach in any part of New York City. The city is your
playground, and it is your responsibility to protect it
from the nefarious designs of super villains galore.
Price: $59.99 |
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Call of Duty 3
This action packed video game will thrust you into an
authentic, living battlefield, where you are plunged
into an arena of unrelenting and explosive combat.
Advanced high-definition graphics, detailed character
animations and explosive on-screen action, go a long
way in delivering the most emphatic and cinematically
intense war experience. Think of yourself as an
absolute patriot, whose paramount duty consists of
fighting for his homeland and protecting it from its
most dangerous enemies.
The storyline of Call of Duty 3 is tailor-made to
deliver the adrenalin rush of breathtaking action.
Players assume the roles of four Allied soldiers-
American, British, Canadian and Polish and they are
supposed to do all that is necessary to win the war.
Gamers have the choice to play as infantry or commandeer
multiple-occupancy vehicles, including
tanks, jeeps, and motorcycles with side-cars, leading
to unique mobile combat roles for an all-out, multiplayer
mayhem.
Price - $59.99 |
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Cricket 07
If you are crazy about the game of cricket, as so many
Indians are, then it is about time you started playing
the gaming version. You enjoy full control over foot
choice, shot, direction, power and timing. Be a master
blaster like Sachin Tendulkar, or emulate the stylish
stroke play of Rahul Dravid. With Cricket 07 you can
make your own miracles on the pitch. Use the left stick
to select a back or front foot stroke and use the right
stick to decide shot timing and direction.
How far the ball flies gets determined
by how far you move the stick – a
slight tap can nudge the ball for a
quick single and a firm push can send
it fizzing away to the boundary.
Innovative placed cameras provide
realistic batting perspective, and a
reworked broadcast camera gives you
a wider view of the play. The game
allows you to set your own pace.
You
can crank up the game speed to real
scorcher levels, where you have to
really sweat it out in order to win, or
you can play at a slower pace.
An added
plus is the
fascinating
tournament
options. You
can play
this year’s
Ashes campaign, or the legendary 2005 Test Series.
When you accomplish the Ashes challenges you get
to unlock a stack of rewards. To impart authenticity
to the game, it has astute commentary from the
masterly broadcast team of Mark Nicholas and
Richie Benaud.
Once you switch on the game, the breathless excitement,
the thunderous applause and the nail-biting climax
of international cricket is yours to enjoy 24 hours
a day.
Price: $49.99 |
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Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas
Everyone knows Tom Clancy as a best-selling thriller writer. In collaboration
with Ubisoft, he brings an Xbox 360 game that promises
to be even more thrilling than his books. Here's how the storyline in
this high stakes game goes - "Sin City, the home of the Las Vegas
Strip, flashy hotels, high-rolling casinos and world-famous celebrities,
becomes the setting for a terrorist threat of global proportions.
Hell promises to break loose when the whole city is held hostage by
terrorists. The future of civilization hangs in the balance as you battle
to defend classic Vegas."
The game allows you to customize your weapons, rated on accuracy,
range, and damage, as well as your shoulder, chest, arm and leg
armor, which force you to choose between mobility and protection.
You can choose to have a super-zooming rifle scope on your pistol or
rifle, a laser sight, or more. All prettied and ready to go! The artificial
intelligence in the game is superb. You can run the same mission
three times in a row and never have the enemies in the same areas,
or in the same numbers. If you faced four guys in the opening building
the first time around, you might face two guys, with the other two
sneaking around to flank you on your second try.
Another innovation in the game is that using your Xbox Vision
Camera, you can create an uncanny shaved head version of yourself
to use in the game, and online. It is a great feeling to find your lookalike
inside the game, battling the bad guys and saving the world.
Price - $59.99 |
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Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix
The hype over Harry Potter, the boy wizard, shows no sign
of abating. As if books and movies were not enough, now
we have a video game that captures the compelling story of
the fiction and high visual quality of the movie. So if you
have liked all the Harry Potter books and you are a definite
movie buff, then you are sure to go gaga over the game
loosely based on Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix.
Harry returns for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts and
discovers that much of the wizard community is in denial
about his recent encounter with the evil Lord Voldemort.
The Ministry-approved course of defensive magic is not
quite adequate to enable the young wizards to defend
themselves against the dark forces threatening the entire
wizard community. So, Harry creates a secret society
called "Dumbledore's Army." He trains the secret society
in ways of fighting Dark Arts, preparing themselves for the
extraordinary battle that lies ahead.
The story sounds quite interesting, but when you start playing it will seem even more so. The game allows
you to play multiple characters, including Harry Potter, Dumbledore and Sirius Black. Just imagine the
delight of being able to wield a wand, explore all around Hogwarts, and experience one of the most exciting
and dangerous years in the life of the boy wizard.
Price - $29.99 |
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Pac Man World Rally
Even the Formula 1 circuit does not have races that are as thrilling. In Pac Man World Rally the beloved characters
from past Namco classics come to life and they do what they are best at - Race! You can play as Pac-
Man, as Pac Jr. or as Looney and zany ghosts Inky, Binky, and Clyde. In addition to these characters there
are a host of other characters you can take your pick from. You are suffused with an unprecedented sense
of speed as you race on some of the most exciting tracks ever created in the virtual world. The game's fifteen
racetracks are designed to contain a whole lot of jumps
and such to keep racers on their toes.
The object of the game is as simple as it can get. All you
got to do is out-maneuver your character into taking the
checkered flag to win. That is what you do, irrespective of
the character with which you are playing. An interesting
aspect of the game comes when you fight it out in colorful
Battle Arenas with special weapons, power ups and
variety of Pac Man powers. The high-end graphics deliver
fantastic results on Sony Playstation 2. If you are a diehard
racer then picking up the control will be a breeze for
you. But that is one disadvantage with this game. It is
just too easy to win. But hey, where is the gamer who
doesn't like to win.
Price - $29.99 |
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Crysis
Crysis probably takes its name from the word crisis.
You play your best game to rescue humanity from its
worst crisis ever. The year is 2019 and a colossal asteroid
crashes down on an Island controlled by the North
Korean government. The North Koreans quickly seal off
the island, hoping to claim the mysteries of the asteroid
for themselves. But the United States responds by
dispatching an elite team of Delta Force Operators to
spy on the area and report back to Pentagon.
A war between North Korea and US seems imminent,
when suddenly the asteroid bursts open, revealing
a massive 2 KM high alien ship. The ship generates
an immense force sphere, freezing a vast portion of the
island and drastically altering the global weather system.
The war of the world has begun. Humanity's
biggest nightmare of alien invasion has now come
true. In this moment of ultimate peril US and North
Korea give up their rivalry and unite to defeat the
invaders in the alien ship.
In this heart pounding game, the players are
required to lead a crack squad through dense tropical
jungle, unforgiving frozen landscapes, and finally into
the heart of the alien ship itself for the ultimate Zero
G encounter with the aliens. Best thing about Crysis
is that its advanced AI allows both enemy and ally to
use real-world military tactics.
Price - $49.99 |
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Sims 2: Open for Business
Now you can open a business, not just in the real world, but also online.
That is what Sims 2: Open for Business is all about. In this expansion pack
you find your favorite Sims getting down to business. It is up to you to
decide what kind of business they indulge in. You can have them running a
trendy clothing boutique, hip beauty salon, blooming floral shop, high-end
electronics store, a bustling restaurant chain or virtually any other kind of
business that you may have a heart and mind for.
Your characters will be required to do everything that needs to be done to
run a real business in the real world. You hire the staff, train the employees
and as the business grows, you can assign the most talented employees
to work on a variety of more involved projects such as making toys, arranging
a floral boutique or manufacturing robots. And that's not all. You must
also keep an eye out for slacker employees
and fire them before they can do
much damage to the organization.
So go ahead, unleash your inner
Ambani, and become the next big business
mogul. All in the virtual world of
course.
Price - $24.99 |
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Nintendo DS Lite
Nintendo lovers rejoice. Nintendo DS
Lite is brighter, lighter and yet it packs
almost all the mouthwatering features
that were there in the original Nintendo
DS. A better screen and much advanced
back-lighting only adds to the gizmo’s
appeal. The microphone sits in the center
of the unit, and the LED lights are
clearly visible whether the unit is open
or closed. A much larger stylus means a
better grip for gamers. The Start and
Select buttons have also been repositioned
for easier access. But the best
thing about the Nintendo DS Lite is its
petite size. If you're playing a game and
you suddenly have to go, just flip it
closed to make it sleep, and shove it into
your pocket. Battery life is better compared
to the original DS. With a full
charge on the lowest brightness setting,
the battery lasts between 15 and 19
hours, but on highest setting the battery
life could be in the range of five to eight
hours. Battery life is also dependent on
the type of game activity. The DS Lite is
currently available in five colors: Ice
Blue, Enamel Navy, Polar White, Coral
Pink and Onyx Black.
Price - $129.99 |
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PlayStation Portable
Next time you want to indulge in some
serious gaming, you can do it while
remaining mobile. That is what
PlayStation Portable (PSP) is all about;
with it you can choose whom to play,
where to play and when to play. Its two
multi-player modes allow you to take on
the world or just your gaming buddies. If
you have already used the PlayStation
then the portable version, consisting of
four-way directional pad, two shoulder
buttons, and an analog control stick, will
seem very familiar to you.
A built-in Wi-Fi allows up to sixteen
people to join together in an ad hoc wireless
network and play against one another.
You can challenge your buddy to a
scorching car race or play some crazy
ball against your neighbor. The PSP
allows complete freedom from wires; you
don't even have to worry about being
connected to the mains. A removable
lithium-ion battery, charges quickly and
easily with an included AC adaptor, and
packs enough power to keep you gaming
for a while.
Best thing about the PSP is that the
gizmo is versatile enough to be used for
many purposes other than gaming. You
can view digital photos, listen to music,
watch movies, and much more. You may
opt to use your PSP to watch movies on
Sony's own Universal Media Discs
(UMD). Each UMD disc comes in only 6
centimeters in diameter and is capable of
carrying up to 1.8 GB of high quality
sound and video content.
In fact, the PSP system features an
unmatched library of entertainment,
combining more than 135 games and
more than 430 feature films, TV programs,
and videos from major studios
and record labels, as well as downloadable
content from the internet.
Price - $169.99 |
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Gaming Revolution 2007
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MICROSOFT XBOX 360. SONY PLAYSTATION 3. NINTENDO WII. When you get your hands on any of the three you reach the nirvana of ultimate delight! Video gaming has evolved into quite a phenomenon over the years. What started as a 'fringe amusement culture' in the early 80's leading into the 90's has now grown into one of the most popular modes of entertainment? Bigger corporate like Microsoft and Sony are frantic in their perusal of the gaming business, which holds promise of a new gold rush - the world's video gaming pie is worth today approximately $30 billion. What makes the lucre even better is the prognostication that annual revenues from gaming business are set to skyrocket to a still higher level. |
It isn't strange any longer to find middle-aged men swooning giddy at games carrying whimsical titles such as F.E.A.R, Phantasy Star Universe, Ninety Nine Nights, etc. The idea of battling a screen monster from the deep or being involved in a extreme car race may seem venerable, rather than absurd to a banker or a doctor intent on some quality enjoyment in his free hours. The superbly designed characters in the video games are quite capable of enticing anyone into their fantastical world. So much so that you don't just interact with the game physically by merely moving your hand on a joystick, your interaction with the game is on a more psychological and emotional level. You not onlya watch the characters enact their drama on the screen; you become those characters.
The battle for supremacy in the video gaming industry has raged for a number of decades now. Years ago it was companies like Sega and Atari that ruled the video gaming market, but the skirmishes for the new generation gaming machines are being played out between three corporate behemoths - Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo. Microsoft's XBOX 360 has already raked up a storm in the gaming world. Sony has entered the fray with its state of the art Play station 3. Stung by its loss of space in the gaming business to Microsoft and Sony, Nintendo has unleashed its strangely named Wii. The million-dollar question is which of the three gaming machines is going to be favored by the gamers.
Right now it is the Nintendo's Wii that seems to be slightly ahead of the pack, but in the mercurial world of gaming user preferences are known to change very fast so there is still the chance that at some point of time the runner up might end up at first place.
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Nintendo Wii
Nintendo's Wii may have missed the fanfare that was associated with the XBOX 360 and Play station 3 launch, but it is getting rave reviews from gaming aficionados for its innovative wireless controller. The tool includes motion-sensing and acceleration technology that lets it double as a gun, a fishing rod, a steering wheel, and other instruments. As far as the console is concerned it is beautifully petite, measuring 44 mm wide, 157 mm tall, and 215.4 mm deep. The front of the console features a slotloading media drive, which accepts both 12cm optical discs for Wii software and 8cm discs from Nintendo's prior console, the Game Cube.
The Wii's technological soul lies in its CPU processor - PowerPC based 'Broadway' processor, made with a 90 nm SOI CMOS process, clocked at 729 MHz. The GPU processor is developed by ATI and is said to deliver stunning performance. The system boasts of a 512 MB of internal flash memory, two USB 2.0 ports, and a slot for SD memory expansion. The Wii console is able to connect to the Internet through its built-in 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and through an USB-to-Ethernet adapter. Both methods allow players to access the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service. |
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The Wii is designed around a menu of 'Channels'. There is of course the game-playing channel, where the Wii will play any Game Cube or Wii game. Simply load the disc in and you are ready to go. There is a Mii channel where you set up a profile and avatar to connect to all your game playing. The Photos channel lets you look at photos on your TV. The Wii console is made to communicate and connect with other Wii systems by wireless LAN, enabling local wireless multi-player on different television sets.
A great games library does a lot to make the Wii a relishing proposition to gamers. Casting their web of breathless excitement are games representing all of Nintendo's flagship franchises, games such as – The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Excite Truck, Trauma Center: Second Opinion, Madden NFL 07,Needfor Speed: Carbon Elebits, Super Monkey Ball Banana Blitz, Metal Slug Anthology, Rayman: Raving Rabids, Red Steel, etc. Plus there are the enchanting games from the Game Cube directory that can be played on Wii, classic games like - Super Mario 64, Super Mario World, Donkey Kong, Legend of Zelda, etc. For the casual gamer, the Nintendo Wii comes highly recommended.
Price - $399 USD
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Top Wii Games
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
This could easily be one of the most popular games on the block. It is built around a compelling array of characters and has a wonderful storyline about an enchanting princess named Zelda, in a land called Hyrule. Her world is on the verge of destruction if you, the player, don't play your game right and do something to save it. In this installment, there's a darkness creeping across the land, locking it in the eternal dusk of the twilight realm.
Wii Sports
This is a game that comes free with every Wii console that you buy. But despite being a freeware it is very entertaining to play. Basically it is a collection of simple games based on tennis, baseball, bowling, golf, and boxing.
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Microsoft XBOX 360
When it comes to games library the XBOX 360 scores admirably with its wide array of exhilarating games that promise to deliver a the kind of edge of the seat excitement that a typical modern day gamer yearns for. The new 360 is backwards compatible with the older version of XBOX so those who have enjoyed playing games like Call of Duty, Ghost Recon Advanced War fighter, Dead or Alive, Gears of War, etc, can continue playing these great games. But there is little chance that you might be able to retain your fascination for the older games when far advanced games are available with the new XBOX 360. There are games such as Call of Duty 2, Fable 2, Alan Wake, Mass Effect, Splinter Cell Conviction, etc, that have made serious inroads into the hearts and minds of dedicated gamers around the world.
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The 360 represents an innovative fusion of cutting edge hardware, software and services. The machine comes with a live service that allows gamers to compete online, download games and additional content. The system contains a CPU, named Xenon, which is a custom triple-core PowerPC-based design by IBM. The CPU emphasizes high floating-point performance through multiple FPU and SIMD vector processing units in each core. It has a theoretical peak performance of 115.2 gigaflops and it is capable of delivering superlative 9.6 billion dot products per second. Each core of the CPU is simultaneous multi-threading capable and clocked at 3.2 gig hertz. The heat sink composed of aluminum fins with copper base heat pipes is implemented to cool the CPU.
The XBOX 360's graphic processing unit is a chip designed by ATI called Xenos. It contains 48 unified shader units, which are capable of both vertex and pixel shading operations. The memory needs are more than adequately addressed as the console features 512 MB of 700 megahertz GDDR3 RAM on a 128- bit bus. The CPU and the GPU share the memory via unified memory architecture. Also the XBOX 360 is equipped with a 12x DVD drive, capable of a maximum read rate of 16.0 MB/s. Games get stored on standard dual-layered- DVD-ROMs with 7 GB of usable space available for game content. But buyers have the option for going in for the Premium configuration of the system that comes with an external hard drive.
However, it has to be said that it is in the field of software that the 360's scores most brilliantly. The console's graphical user interface is what constitutes the Dashboard; basically it is a tabbed interface that features four 'Blades'. It gets launched automatically when the console boots up without a disc, or when the disc tray is ejected. The user also has the option of launching a game automatically when the disc is inserted. There is also the guide button on the game-pad that can be used to access the simplified version of the interface, which will show the user's gamer-card, XBOX Live messages and friends list. It also allows for personal and music settings, in addition to voice or video chats. All in all, if you are a hardcore gamer then this is a must buy.
Price - Starting at Rs. 19,990
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Top XBOX 360 Games
Gears of War
This is a wicked game of hide-and seek with high-powered futuristic guns, which deliver one of the most heart-pounding and graphically thrilling experiences of the year. In this game you have the opportunity to fight it out with a decent variety of enemies, like locusts armed with deadly weapons and some different looking humanoid style enemies armed with explosive torque bows.
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F.E.A.R
The kinetic action and visually intense gun fights are meant to drive your adrenaline flow to an all time high. With a captivating storyline you'll have a hard time putting this game down. Playing F.E.A.R. is like battling through a Terminator movie, because when the action starts it is downright mind blowing. Bullets tear chunks out of concrete and wood; blinding clouds of dust and debris fill the air; bodies are torn apart or slump on the ground; and the deathly silence of the aftermath contrasts so sharply with the sheer chaos that erupted only moments before.
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