Gamers Tips Reviews

Game Updates: Crysis 2 Hands-On Update

2011-02-21T17:15:00.000-08:00

By Jane Douglas, GameSpot UK Posted Feb 17, 2011 6:06 am PT

The City of New York takes a beating in our hands-on with the Crysis 2 single-player campaign.

New York is fertile ground for cinematic disaster, forever laid waste by meteor or flying saucer, or trampled by French Godzilla. In our most recent run-in with Crysis 2, the Big Apple was plenty wrecked by alien invaders even before the level finale, in which a devastating wall of water surged down a skyscraper-lined street at us--something like The Day After Tomorrow, but in place of Jake Gyllenhaal, the improbably named Crysis 2 protagonist Alcatraz: a futuristic supersoldier in skintight nano-armour who could topple a Cloverfield monster in a pinch.

Not that Alcatraz is overpowered. In this sequel, Crysis remains a first-person shooter for first-person shooter fans hardened by the steepness of the original's learning curve. Except for some cockroach-like bugs, the armoured alien foes are variously fast and tough, equal to Alcatraz's extensive arsenal and super-suit, and the game is quick to punish you for underestimating the enemy. As for the legacy of Crysis' PC-pwning graphics, Crytek's Nathan Camarillo tells us the game, powered by the still-fresh CryEngine 3, is locked at 30 frames per second on the consoles. (Of the prospective Crysis 2 console players, the Xbox 360 contingent has already had access to a multiplayer demo, while Crytek has said PC players will get a demo on March 1.)

The level we played ran from New York's City Hall subway, through infested and flooded tunnels, out into large, sunken arenas of collapsed roads and smashed vehicles, with huge metal spines--indeterminate alien technology linking our three objective nodes--stuck into the ground and arching up high. The open, sandboxy areas crawling with alien forces demanded a tactical approach, as did the several pointed reminders to activate our tactical visor: a visual overlay that tags distant precious ammo crates and mission objectives. Other visual overlays add Predator-like heat vision to your view. Exploration with Alcatraz's nimble ledge-grab move revealed some sinkhole-type areas had sniper nests from which to pick off targets, and even the relatively linear tunnel segments provided multiple approaches, such as overhead walkways.

We ventured into the wrecked subway tunnel with a plan to locate a friendly team with whom command had lost contact. After finding the team had been disintegrated, our plan broadened into assaulting the enemy hive core--that is, fighting through a host of armoured, tentacle-headed aliens to "interface with" (punch out) vital panels in the spiny alien infrastructure. The fast, agile tentacle heads were especially good at evading our aim, and picking off their armour plates to expose squishy flesh was tricky. Other enemies were bulkier, tougher mecha-types that required blasts from a guided missile or several sniper rifle hits to take down.

If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere.

The SCARAB assault rifle and automatic pistol were sufficient elsewhere, coupled with the powers of the extensively upgradable nanosuit--among them the key stealth cloaking mode and armour boost mode. The upgrades, with which suit properties such as mobility and stealth are tweaked and improved, are bought with a collectable "nanocatalyst" resource and accessed via a menu overlaid on one of Alcatraz's gloved hands--a menu that doesn't pause the game, but lets you add in suit upgrades on the fly. The upgrade options arranged along the protagonist's fingers include, for example, a mobility upgrade that reduces the energy drain of sprinting and jumping. These nanosuit perks correspond to the suit modules previously encountered in our multiplayer hands-ons.

With the crucial nodes in the giant spine structures good and punched, we struck out to destroy the central alien edifice, but nothing goes right in disaster-movie New York. As the level ended, we were racing for a helicopter on a skyscraper-lined street, a wall of water tearing towards us, invaders unvanquished. Look out for New York City taking a further pummelling in the full single-player campaign, out from March 22.

Game Reviews: Dead Space 2

2011-01-26T19:57:00.000-08:00

Here are the game reviews for the most anticipated game of the year 2011, Dead Space 2.

Gamespot 9.0/10
By Carolyn Petit, GameSpot Posted Jan 25, 2011 4:00 pm GMT +8

Dead Space 2's thrilling campaign and intense multiplayer make it an excellent game and a worthy follow-up to its superb predecessor.

Isaac Clarke, the unluckiest space engineer of the 26th century, is more unfortunate than ever in Dead Space 2. 2008's superb Dead Space took the style of survival horror shooter action exemplified by games like Resident Evil 4 and meshed it with an atmospheric deep-space setting and some terrific, distinctly sci-fi gameplay elements, creating something that felt simultaneously familiar and unique. Dead Space 2, on the other hand, will feel thoroughly familiar to those who have played the original; its few improvements over Dead Space are minor tweaks rather than game changers. But blasting the limbs off of hideous necromorphs remains tremendously satisfying, and although the pacing lags a bit during the game's middle portions, this second outing packs more than enough scares and surprises to make stepping back into Isaac Clarke's suit extremely worthwhile. In addition, a new multiplayer component successfully translates Dead Space's particular breed of dismemberment-focused combat into a pulse-pounding team-based experience that casts you as both humans and as the foul necromorphs. As long as you've got the stomach for it, Dead Space 2 is one sci-fi horror thrill ride you definitely want to take.

The ripper is messy, but it sure does get the job done.

The first few moments of Dead Space 2 smartly accomplish a good deal in a very short amount of time. We get a glimpse into Isaac's psychological state, his psyche still tormented by the painful loss he experienced on the Ishimura during the events of the first game. We also learn that the three years since then have been little more than a blur to Isaac--he's in some kind of hospital facility, but has only the vaguest memories of his time there. And almost before you can say "necromorph outbreak," you take control of Isaac as he runs for his life from the hideous creatures who, for reasons that aren't immediately clear, have suddenly appeared and started slaughtering the human population here in the Sprawl, a vast urban area on Titan, Saturn's largest moon. Isaac, who said not a word in the original game, has a voice here, and although he's a bit bland as a character, the intensity of the action that surrounds him makes you feel invested in his desperate struggle for survival. Revealing glimpses into the world of Dead Space--such as a trek through a Unitology center that sheds light on the inner workings of the church whose activity is inextricably linked to the necromorph outbreaks--keep the momentum rolling during the early chapters. The game later falls into predictable rhythms for a while, but it picks up steam again toward the end, as the story goes to some unexpected and exciting places and puts almost as much emphasis on Isaac's struggle against his own demons of guilt and regret as on his battles against the necromorphs.

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IGN 9.0/10
Survival horror has a new gold standard.

Dead Space 2 is an amazing game. I'm going to write about its scary moments, cool kills, and how much I dig the main character's internal struggle, but Dead Space 2 is about more than this. When I beat it for the first time, I sat on the couch with my heart racing and dissected the journey I had just taken. Then, I started my second playthrough, and when that was done, I jumped into a new game for the third time. Dead Space 2 is just that good.

It's been three years since the events of the first game, but protagonist Isaac Clarke still can't catch a break. At the beginning of Dead Space 2, he wakes on a space station known as the Sprawl and finds the place is overwhelmed by an outbreak of reanimated corpses called Necromorphs. From the very first moment of the game, Isaac's fighting for his life.

This is where you come in. As Isaac, you'll pick up your plasma cutter, don an engineering suit and take the fight to the beasts out to kill you. The overarching goal is to find and destroy the religious idol (known as the Marker) causing all of this, but the story that makes Dead Space 2 great is the internal war Isaac's fighting. Unlike Uncharted's Nathan Drake who can kill a few hundred pirates and never seem worn down by it, Isaac is totally ruined by the events of the original Dead Space. He saw things no man should have to during his time on the spaceship USG Ishimura, but it's the fact that Isaac's girlfriend died on the vessel after he encouraged her to work there that really haunts him.

The cast is fleshed out, but Isaac steals the show.

Isaac's losing his mind in Dead Space 2. The guilt is tearing his very sanity apart. That's heavy stuff and it makes for a really engaging story. Isaac doesn't let anyone else in on the fact that he's coming unglued, so as a player I get to see who he really is and the facade he presents to the other characters. Isaac's internal conversations and hallucinations are among my favorite parts of this game.

But I have lots of favorite parts to Dead Space 2. Right behind Isaac's struggle on my list of cool stuff is the combat. It's more satisfying than it was in the original. Isaac's fast and light on his feet. You can stomp crates in a jiff and melee attack bodies for loot, grabbing things with your telekinesis is responsive, and mixing all of this together with the different weapons in the game is a blast. Slowing down a Necromorph, blowing off its arm, and using the severed limb to impale the foe on a wall is a thing of beauty that doesn't get old.

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Game Update: Dead Space 2 Video Preview

2011-01-25T02:29:00.000-08:00

The lights are out on the Sprawl space station, and you can tell from the stale air, broken glass, and that sticky mess you just stepped in that you’re not alone. Zero-jump into Dead Space 2 and join Issac Clarke once again as he finds himself in the middle of yet another necromorph-infested nightmare. Where will the dark, twisted hallways lead you this time? The secrets of the Marker or headfirst into the blade of a slasher? One thing’s for sure: It’s going to be lonely out in space, so check out the rest of our Dead Space 2 Launch Center for the latest news, previews, and videos and prepare for the horrors that await you in dark.

Original post from Gamespot.

Dead Space 2 Hands-On Update

2011-01-07T03:25:00.000-08:00

By Jane Douglas, GameSpot UK Posted Jan 6, 2011 2:51 am GMT +8

Luckless engineer Isaac Clarke is knee-deep in necros once more, as we wade through the first two hours of Dead Space 2.

Poor Isaac Clarke scraped through the events of Dead Space only to wind up on Titan with barely time to pull on his new RIG before wading into a fresh host of necromorphs. The gruesome space zombies abound on Titan Station, where Isaac is caught between the twisted Church of Unitology and a corporation out to exploit the madness-inducing Marker artefact, all while being tormented by an apparition of his late girlfriend. Poor Isaac Clarke.

Get up close and personal with your favorite necros.

Titan Station, a colony on Saturn's largest moon, is overrun with fleshy abominations even before our luckless engineer escapes the hospital in which he awakes. In the first couple of hours of the game, we steered him through apartment complex Titan Heights and onto a train; then, one train wreck later, through a shopping concourse, a zero-gravity garbage compactor, the Unitology Recruitment Centre, and into the creepily opulent Church of Unitology itself.

As a civilian settlement, Titan Station makes for environments that contrast with those of the spaceship-set first game; though the spaces are still mostly enclosed and corridor heavy, they include compact apartments, laundrettes, shops, and an elementary school, with the pupils of the latter reborn as screeching infant demons. Areas are occasionally linked by claustrophobic vents through which Isaac has to crawl. On other occasions, he draws on his engineering experience to hack electronics, represented by an analog stick-twiddling minigame. The halls are decked with gore and spidery alien scrawl, but beyond the windows, the station is practically scenic: a gleaming space-cityscape with Blade Runner-esque vehicles to match the "futuristic" electronic signage inside.

Team necromorph has diversified since the first game, counting spitting and vomiting horrors among its ranks, as well as the demonic kids and the classic, stabby variety. Some creatures resemble heads with tentacles, while others feature explosive yellowish growths to avoid while you're going about strategically dismembering them. Otherwise, dismemberment is still the way to go, and to that end, there's the usual plasma cutter with vertical-to-horizontal alternate fire mode, which is best used in conjunction with the slow-motion stasis power, plus a satisfyingly destructive pulse rifle coupled with grenades. There's also the powerful line gun, like a plasma cutter with a wider spray, that plants mines in its alternate fire mode, and there's the javelin gun, whose spikes can be remotely electrified. Weapons can be purchased from the automated stores dotted around the station and upgraded with upgrade nodes at workbenches, as can the new, nimbler-looking RIG exosuit.

Zero-gravity movement, encountered a couple of times in the first few chapters, has Isaac launching, landing, and boosting--flying, that is--through slowly drifting debris, with floating globules of water a nice visual addition. One zero-g segment takes place inside a powered-down waste unit, while another takes place inside the huge Church of Unitology complex, after disabling the spinning rings of a gravity generator. Those Unitologists don't lack funding--the complex is packed with lavish studies and training rooms; around a gift shop and vast cathedral hall, atop a network of frozen crypts; and all scattered with sly, parodic pokes at Scientology.

The cathedral is the stage for a face-off with a giant clawed necromorph and The Pack (the kiddie demons) that may be familiar from trailers and the demo. That is one of the action-focused beats that break up the slower, creepier traversing of the station, but it's not as extended or spectacular as the train set piece. In this, we fought necromorphs on a moving train that became a crashing, falling train--with Isaac dropping through the carriages, blasting necros as he went. Other action beats are based on explosive decompression; a window is broken, giving you seconds to shoot an emergency switch before Isaac is sucked out into space.

Isaac Clarke….sliding?

Along with the action, there are the subtler scares, with lights failing and elevators halting in readiness for nasties to leap out of vents. The impressively unsettling ambient sound and contextually triggered music returns from the first game: whispers, giggles, spooky distant lullabies, crying behind locked doors, breathing inside the RIG helmet, occasionally punctuated with tense orchestral stings. The nightmare soundscape of real and imagined noises heightens the impression of Isaac's tattered sanity; some of the most sinister moments aren't playable but are flashes of hallucination, mostly starring the girlfriend-turned-demonic-tormentor.

For Isaac Clarke, then, things only go from bad to worse. It's just as well--you couldn't base a Dead Space 2 on pottering about in early, stress-related retirement. The game launches on January 25 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, and there's a console demo available now.

Best Gaming Platform to Buy This Christmas

2010-12-21T17:19:00.000-08:00

With more people playing videogames every year, there's never been a better time to have a gaming platform this Christmas and give a gaming platform as a present for a loved one. There are several gaming platforms out there and the most popular ones are XBOX 360, PS3, Wii, PSP, Nintendo DS and Windows PC. You can choose whatever gaming platform you want to buy but it all depends on what game you want to play. Some gaming platforms can only let you play a few popular games and some games are only available for selected gaming platforms. So the problem now is what gaming platform you are going to choose. To make our problem easier, let’s just choose which gaming platform that has lots of functionalities, has more games to play and has cheaper price.

XBOX 360, PS3 and Wii are gaming platforms that are also called “video game consoles.” Video game consoles are machines designed for video gamers or consumers to use solely for playing video games. Exclusive popular games you can play on this platform are “God of War” and “Tekken Game Series”. These video game consoles have also other media entertainment features like watching movies. They also have additional gaming features like wireless controllers, motion tracking sensors and multiplier functionality through internet. A video game console is a must have gaming platform but its overall functionality is limited to gaming only.

PSP and Nintendo DS are the handheld gaming platforms. They are very handy and you can carry them anywhere. They are also known as “handheld video game consoles” because they can let consumers play game titles like “Final Fantasy”, some popular RPG games and sports games that are also available on XBOX 360 and PS3. They are also a lot cheaper than any gaming platforms because they come in small sizes but have limited features.

At last, we are here now to tackle my top choice of gaming platform to buy this Christmas, the PC. We all know that PC is not really intended for gaming purposes but the machine has gone to a high different level. It is not only offers great video games like “Call of Duty,” “World of Warcraft” and “Starcraft” but it is still the top choice of all video gamers. To support my choice that PC is the best gaming platform to buy, I would like to share something that I found from Gamespot.com.

Gamespot’s PC FAQ:

Why should I buy an expensive PC when consoles are more affordable?

You already need a PC for word processing, email, IM, and Web surfing, right? Upgrading that machine with a decent processor and good video card will cost as much as buying a console.

Which component is more important, the CPU or the video card?

You can't really say that one is more important than the other because you need quality parts in both areas to get acceptable game performance. Pairing a great CPU with a lousy video card will result in terrible frame rates, as will pairing a lousy CPU with a great video card. Many Web sites, including GameSpot, publish video card and CPU game-performance benchmarks. Use the benchmark results to determine which components help game performance the most.

How do I get DirectX 10 or DirectX 11?

DirectX 9 is built into Windows XP, and DirectX 10 and 11 comes with Windows Vista and Windows 7. Newer versions of DirectX are backward compatible with earlier versions of DirectX. You might need to update your DirectX files from time to time, but downloads are free from Microsoft's DirectX web site and are often included with new game installations.

Having a Windows OS with the appropriate DirectX level isn't enough--you will also need a DirectX 10- or DirectX 11-compatible video card. GeForce 8 series, ATI Radeon HD 2000 series, and later cards support DirectX 10. The ATI Radeon HD 5000 series supports DirectX 11, and Nvidia's upcoming GeForce 100 series will support it as well.

Will a DirectX 10 or 11 video card work in Windows XP?

Yes, your DirectX 10/11 card is compatible with all the previous versions of DirectX. Your DirectX 10 card will work in Windows XP with all of your DX9 and older games.

Can I play PC games on a Mac?

PC gaming generally refers to gaming on the Windows platform. Yes, Mac games exist, but there aren't many of them. The majority of PC games are compatible only with the latest Windows operating systems. The good news is that you can install Windows on newer Intel-powered Macs if you have Boot Camp installed. Keep in mind that your Mac will also need a decent video card (Intel integrated graphics don't count).

Are "Games for Windows" games the only ones I can play on my Windows PC?

Games for Windows is a program developed by Microsoft to help make PC gaming easier for consumers. Its goal is to make games more recognizable in retail stores and to ensure that games meet certain standards, such as widescreen resolution and gamepad support. Many popular PC games participate in the Games for Windows program, but there are also many PC games, such as The Orange Box and World of Warcraft, that aren't part of the program.

So, there you have it. PC is the best gaming platform to buy this Christmas and not only this Christmas but every time you want to buy a new gaming platform.

Crysis 2 Hands-On Update

2010-12-19T19:46:00.000-08:00

By Shaun McInnis, GameSpot Posted Dec 15, 2010 9:13 am PT

We find out what those invading aliens are up to as we venture back into the remains of Manhattan.

At this point, you're probably well aware that Crysis 2 has traded in the lush island jungle of the first game for an altogether different location in scenic Manhattan. Well, maybe it's not all that scenic. We're talking about the Big Apple post-alien invasion here. What we've seen of the game thus far has given us a good idea of how players can traverse the streets and rooftops of Manhattan using the signature nanosuit in Crysis--that impossibly powerful (and stylish!) piece of sci-fi outerwear that gives your character the ability to do, well, just about everything. With our most recent look at the game, we've been able to see what this first-person shooter's vision of New York looks like when you get off the rooftops and head toward lower ground.

The level in question is called Semper Fi or Die, taking place roughly halfway through the campaign. You awaken in a shallow pond in Madison Square Park amidst colossal piles of rubble and destroyed infrastructure. Dazed and delirious, a fellow soldier hands you a gun--all but assuring you that this nice little dip in the water isn't going to last much longer. There are grumpy aliens about, after all. You and the squad move through the remains of New York that have been violently scattered throughout the park. It's an environment filled with unsettling reminders of New York's former glory, including the disembodied arm of the Statue of Liberty sticking out of the ground like some terrifying beacon leading you forward.

You might be able to guess what happens next. You run into a cluster of giant bipedal aliens standing seven or eight feet tall with the ability to leap in and out of your way with deft ease. Fortunately, you're given a tremendous number of tools and amount of freedom to approach conflicts with these agile enemies, even with the game moving from the vast jungles of the first game into the dense urban streets of Manhattan. The reason is simple: This isn't the Manhattan that you visited with your family over spring break in 1997. It is, quite simply, Manhattan gone to hell--and that opens up a lot of new ways to move about each level.

This particular firefight took place in a massive sinkhole in the ground, where there likely once stood a large intersection between tall buildings. The daring types can take advantage of the severed water mains by sliding down the steep slope leading down below as though it were some kind of water park slide, which is a handy approach for catching the aliens off guard. If you're the more methodical type, you can use the scattered and overturned city buses to climb up to street level to gain a perch dozens of feet above your enemies to pick them off with a sniper rifle. And, then, there are the various other strategies somewhere in between those two that we won't even get into right now. This is a game where you're moving through areas of Manhattan that somehow feel wide open yet still dense with objects and scenery to use to your advantage, which leads to a lot of possibilities.

Maneuvering between enemies down on the ground, you have a huge suite of tools to choose from, but it comes at the price of a fairly sizable learning curve. It also becomes clear that Crysis 2 is a shooter fan's first-person shooter. A tactical visor allows you to overlay helpful locations and then manually tag them so that things like distant enemies and ammo caches stay highlighted once you've gone back into combat. There are also your nanosuit abilities that include features like stealth cloaking to sneak up on enemy aliens (stab their glowing fleshy bits from behind for an instant kill!) and armor reinforcement to temporarily become a flat-out bullet sponge. Of course, that stuff is familiar to anyone who played the first game. New to the series, however, is the ability to upgrade your suit. As one example, we got to try out a sensor proximity upgrade that beeped at a higher frequency as enemies drew closer to us.

Fully wrapping your head around all the different ways you can approach a given combat situation is something that, frankly, takes a bit of a time investment. There's a good bit of strategy that goes along with knowing when to switch on your suit's armor ability when you're taking too many hits; when to tag ammo crates in your visor mode that you'll probably need to run back to (it's very easy to burn through ammo); and when the best time is to swap out an ACOG for a reflex scope on the fly (which you can do with a few simple button presses). But even with this learning curve, Crysis 2 feels very much like a game that embraces experimentation--giving you plenty of incentive to learn the ins and outs of your various tools and abilities.

Our demo ended with protagonist Alcatraz overlooking a giant canyon in the middle of the city hundreds of feet deep--a yawning abyss carved deep into the guts of Manhattan. But as we looked up, we saw the city's skyscrapers towering above the ground line, essentially doubling the sense of scale in one quick turnaround. We didn't get a chance to see what happened next, but we're certainly eager to see what does. For now, expect Crysis 2 to arrive on March 22.

Game Review: World of Warcraft: Cataclysm

2010-12-17T15:02:00.000-08:00

By Justin Calvert, GameSpot Posted Dec 17, 2010 3:12 pm GMT +8

Cataclysm doesn't improve World of Warcraft as dramatically as the free update that preceded it did, but it's still a great expansion pack for anyone with high-level characters.

Until recently it might have been considered hyperbole to say that World of Warcraft bears little resemblance to the game that it launched as six years ago. But now, following the recent releases of both a major free update and the eagerly anticipated Cataclysm expansion, there's no denying that the fantasy world of Azeroth has changed forever. Entire regions have been brilliantly redesigned following the dragon Deathwing's destructive flyover, and you don't need Cataclysm or even either of the earlier expansions to enjoy exploring them (though you do need Cataclysm to fly around them). Cataclysm brings plenty of great content to the table in addition to old-world flying, but like Wrath of the Lich King before it, it's an expansion aimed primarily at players with high-level characters.

The most noteworthy content that Cataclysm offers for newcomers to World of Warcraft comes in the form of playable goblin and worgen (werewolf) races. Like all races, they have unique traits that make them particularly well suited to certain classes or professions, but the most compelling reason to play as them is to experience the all-new zones where their adventures begin. The two could hardly be more different; the worgen starter area is reminiscent of a perpetually dark Victorian England during a werewolf epidemic, while the goblins' is almost futuristic by World of Warcraft standards, with flashing signs and marketing personnel that you can cruise past in a garishly painted hot rod. What these zones have in common is that they both feature a decent variety of quests, and like many of the other, redesigned starter zones, they do a good job of making you feel like a character of some importance from the outset, as opposed to one who starts out performing menial tasks and killing unsuspecting wildlife.

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Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light Review

2010-12-02T07:23:00.000-08:00

By Chris Watters, GameSpot Posted Sep 30, 2010 10:07 am GMT +8

Exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving come together beautifully in this rewarding, replayable arcade adventure.

In Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, you see the titular leading lady from a whole new perspective. While the isometric camera angle shows off less of the iconic character than you may be used to, the game boasts the same engaging mix of exploration and combat that has long been the hallmark of the best games in the series. Punctuated by clever puzzles and lush visuals, each level begs to be replayed thanks to the varied and enticing challenges that promise substantial rewards. Guardian of Light is addictively fun, and it gets even better when you enlist a friend for some cooperative play, as the puzzles change to suit your complementary abilities. Unfortunately, the game does not support online cooperative play at launch, and though the developer has promised a patch, it's a disappointment to be even temporarily denied the opportunity to play this great co-op game online. Yet in spite of this shortfall, Guardian of Light is a rousing success that ranks as one of Lara Croft's greatest adventures.

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DIY: Budget Gaming PC Guide

2010-11-29T17:55:00.000-08:00

A Recommended List of Parts for Building a Low Cost Gaming PC

By Mark Kyrnin, About.com Guide Posted on Apr 23 2010

Introduction

Many people do not realize how easy it is to put together a computer system from parts. In fact, many systems that users build can outperform purchased desktop computer systems. The biggest challenge of putting together a computer system is typically finding what parts to buy. That is where this guide comes in.

There is a huge variety of gaming available on the PC that is not found in console systems. But there are specific hardware requirements in order to play 3D games on a PC. Usually the media only reviews the top of the line gear, making it hard to find a good low cost gaming rig. This guide is designed to try and build a system that is dedicated to gaming that won't break the bank. It may not be the flashiest system around, but it does play games very well. It also only covers the core computer system without a monitor.

Remember that this is just a guide of recommended products. There are many alternative components available that will perform just as well. In addition to the name of the item, a link is included for price comparison shopping for the components.

The Budget Gaming PC Components

Case - Raidmax Smilodon A low cost steel mid-tower desktop computer case with a foldout motherboard panel that makes installation of the internal components extremely easy. It also comes equipped with a 500W rated power supply.

Motherboard - ASRock H55M Pro The ASRock board uses the H55 chipset and takes the Core i series socket 1156 processors. It has two PCI-Express graphics card slots and can be used for CrossFire or SLI video card setups.

Processor - Intel Core i3-530 Intel's Core i series processor provided a huge improvement in desktop processor performance. The Core i3-530 is the least expensive dual core model using the socket 1156 design and procides a solid gaming experience.

Memory - A-DATA 4GB PC3-10600 DDR3 Kit DDR3 memory is not as cheap as DDR2 but it does provide significant performance that it is worth investing in now. The 4GB of memory also allows Windows 7 to run smoothly.

Video Card - Sapphire Radeon HD 5670 512MB The Radeon HD 5670 is a brand new graphics processor that offers some surprising performance for $100 and also supports Direct X 11. With the motherboard combination, it is possible to eventually install a second one for CrossFire support, but the power supply would likely need upgrading as well.

Hard Drive - Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB SATA Hard drives sizes keep getting bigger and that's great. The Caviar Black drive provides a large amount of space with some top tier performance.

CD/DVD - Sony Optiarc 24x DVD+/-RW DL SATA This low cost DVD burner supports all of the current DVD media standards and has 24x speeds for DVD+/-R media. It uses SATA which is easier to install.

Keyboard and Mouse - Logitech Internet 350 This keyboard and mouse combo is very inexpensive but provides a good overall feel.

Operating System - Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit In order to support the current and feature hardware and software, the Windows 7 software is the best option. The 64-bit version allows it to fully use 4GB and more of memory.

What Else is Needed

This list of components will make up the heart of the computer system, but it still needs a few parts. There are no speakers for the system which is probably something that most people playing games would want. About.com'ts Peripheral site has a list of some good 2.1 Speakers Sets Under $100. Finally, a good monitor that mixes screen size and resolution while being affordable is key. Check out my selection of the Best 22-Inch LCD Monitors.

Putting it All Together

Of course, once you have all the parts, the computer system will have to be assembled and installed. Tutorials on the various steps required to install the parts together into the computer system can be found in one of two ways. I have available a 5-day E-mail Newsletter Course that puts the steps in a logical order or you can just dive right into the individual Tutorials themselves.

Are You Ready for Cataclysm?

2010-11-23T18:48:00.000-08:00

By Nick Kolan, IGN Posted November 23, 2010

The complete Catacylsm coverage compilation.

There are few times in the year when you crave World of Warcraft harder than when you are crammed in a small building with your extended family, far, far away from your lovely computer with its lovely games and comfy chair. That's why Thanksgiving is widely considered to be the second-most masochistic holiday of the year, just after "Stub Your Toe Day." While Cataclysm and all its flying-in-Azeroth goodness is still a couple weeks away, we've compiled all of our Cataclysm coverage here, so you can peruse at your leisure on your iPhone from the bathroom of your grandparent's house. To see the full articles, click the image or the title. If you read them really slowly over the course of your Thanksgiving break, you can almost pretend that you're playing the text-adventure version of World of Warcraft!

WOW New Area - Vashj'ir

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Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Review

2010-11-22T07:26:00.000-08:00

By Kevin VanOrd, GameSpot Posted Nov 17, 2010 1:04 am GMT +8

Ezio's Roman holiday is a joyous and gorgeous addition to a quality series.

The ladies of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood have both bark and bite. If you played Assassin's Creed II, then you already know Caterina Sforza, the comely Italian countess with a soft spot for sly, rugged assassins. She's not the only female character with an important role to play in Brotherhood, however. Claudia Auditore is no longer just a submissive bookkeeper, but rather a strong young woman who eventually learns to handle a blade. And then there's Cesare Borgia's cunning sister Lucrezia, whose sharp tongue is matched by her severe, almost vampiric appearance. These willful women are ensemble players in the continuing drama of Ezio Auditore, the self-assured star of Assassin's Creed II. His story continues in Brotherhood, which begins directly after the events that closed its predecessor. This follow-up tale doesn't have the same impact of the story that spawned it, but Ezio's world is a wonder to inhabit, filled with amazing architectural detail and bursting with tons of enjoyable content.

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Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit

2010-11-21T19:03:00.000-08:00

By Justin Calvert, GameSpot Posted Nov 18, 2010 11:01 am GMT +8

This fast-paced racer keeps you glued to the TV and on the edge of your seat regardless of which side of the law you're playing on.

Regardless of whether you're playing online or in Career mode, your performances earn you bounty points that increase your overall cop and racer ranks. These ranks aren't just about bragging rights; as your bounty increases you unlock additional cars and, just occasionally, upgrades for your countermeasures. Cars are sorted into five classes according to their performance, so you never gain an unreasonable advantage by having access to cars that other players don't, because everyone uses cars from the same class. Equipment upgrades do afford you a noticeable advantage, but it's not so significant that you're going to dominate as a high-level player in a room full of newcomers. Longer spike strips still need to be dropped at the right time to be effective, and even being able to drop two simultaneously doesn't change things much. EMPs that lock on more quickly are definitely easier to use, and high-level road blocks are tougher for targets to avoid, but nothing feels unbalanced or unfair. In fact, equipment upgrades are more likely to impact your results in Career mode than online, and unlocking them can be a good incentive to replay events that you've yet to achieve a gold medal time in.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops Review

2010-11-18T19:43:00.000-08:00

By Chris Watters, GameSpot Posted Nov 10, 2010 12:33 pm GMT +8

Call of Duty: Black Ops bears the series' standard superbly, delivering an engrossing campaign and exciting competitive multiplayer.

When a franchise consistently delivers massively popular, high-quality games, each new entry in the series comes laden with expectation. Call of Duty: Black Ops has some big shoes to fill, but it does so admirably. The engrossing campaign is chock-full of exciting, varied gameplay and drips with intrigue and intensity. The excellent multiplayer boasts some invigorating new features, and the new combat training mode finally gives novices a way to enjoy the competitive action without suffering the slings and arrows of outrageously skilled veterans. Cooperative zombie killing and video editing tools help make Black Ops the most robustly featured game in the franchise, and though you may have expected it to be the case, this is undoubtedly one of the best shooters of the year.

The single-player campaign is set largely during the 1960s and takes you to Cold War hot spots like Cuba, Russia, and Vietnam. You are an elite covert operative, and your globe-trotting adventures form pieces of a puzzle--a puzzle that your mysterious captors are trying to put together by interrogating you. Each excursion into the field is a memory, and these missions slowly come together to build momentum as each interrogation cutscene puts another piece of the puzzle in place. It's not a very original mechanic, but it gives a coherent context to the action, and a few strong characters and dramatic moments give the story some genuine intrigue. The blurry edges of your consciousness conceal information that must come to light, and the erratic visual effects and eerie audio echoes that accompany your interrogations sometimes bleed into your mission memories, which creates a great tone of uncertainty that plays out in surprising and satisfying ways.

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NBA 2K11 Review

2010-11-16T03:02:00.000-08:00

By Tom Mc Shea, GameSpot Posted Oct 6, 2010 5:59 pm PT

Who could have ever imagined that Michael Jordan would be the weak link on the basketball court? The six-time NBA champion makes his surprising return to the virtual court in NBA 2K11, but his presence is overshadowed by improvements in just about every other facet of this great round-ball simulator. Impressive artificial intelligence makes you work for every scoring opportunity and punishes you for every blown defensive assignment, and nuanced controls give you an unprecedented level of say in how your player shoots and dribbles. Upon first and even second glance, it's easy to confuse NBA 2K11's stunningly lifelike presentation with the real thing, but not every shot can be a swish. There are still troubling issues with online play and players often exhibit the court awareness of a disinterested J.R. Smith, but not even His Airness could be great all the time. NBA 2K11 is the most realistic and in-depth basketball simulator around.

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Mafia II

2010-09-01T19:31:00.001-07:00

Mafia II is a third-person action-adventure video game. It is the sequel to the high rated game Mafia: The City of Lost Heaven. Mafia II is developed by 2K Czech and published by 2K Games. It is available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows.
You play as Vito Scaletta, the protagonist of the game and his story happened on a fictional city called Empire City in the year 1945-1951. Just like its predecessor, the game features an open-ended world. The game also features weaponry and classic vehicles from the previous game.
The game’s combat system is very satisfying. It features both shooting and hand-to-hand combat, stealth and the cover system that allows you to shoot enemies while covering behind objects. The developers made combat realistic, brutal, chaotic, overwhelming tough enemy AI encounters and very satisfying.

The vehicles in the game are speedier and handle better, unlike the first Mafia game. The police no longer pull you over for running a red light. But if you past the speed limit, they will definitely pull off a chase. There are ways you can do from being arrested. You can lose them on chase, pay a fine, bribe them, or violently resist them.
Mafia II doesn’t offer a very impressive graphics. But the character animations and in-game physics are great. The world looks excellent and lots of details. On the other hand, the sound effects, voice acting and music are great.
Overall, Mafia II is an excellent game with interesting Mafioso story, great voice acting, fun combat encounters and memorable protagonist and supporting characters.

Minimum System Requirements:
Windows XP SP2/Vista/7
Intel Pentium D 3 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ (Dual Core) or higher
1.5 GB RAM
8 GB of Hard Drive free space
Nvidia 8600 / ATI Radeon HD 2600
DirectX 9.0c
Internet connection required for online activation

Worms: Reloaded

2010-08-31T18:46:00.000-07:00

Worms: Reloaded is an action turn-based strategy game developed by Team17. It is the latest game of the 15 year old Worms series. It was released on August 26th 2010 for Windows via Steam. The game is mainly based on Worms 2: Armageddon.

The game play of Worms: Reloaded is still turn-based and turns back to its original 2D environment. The game features both Single player and Multiplayer modes available with up to four players online. There are almost 50 weapons and tools in the Worms: Reloaded arsenal but most of them are easy to use.

The player controls a team of worms and the goal is to destroy the opponent’s team using a variety of weapons and tools. Teams composed of four worms that are dropped into randomly generated and fully destructible environments. The player controls only one worm at every turn and each turn allows the player to move the worm, put him in good position to initiate a good attack and then retreat back to a safe position to make the opponent's inevitable revenge difficult.

The AI enemies are either incredibly accurate or very stupid but this makes the battles unpredictable and very fun. The game is even more fun if played against human opponents, locally or online.

Minimum System requirements:

Windows XP, Vista, 7

1.25GHz AMD Athlon or Intel equivalent Processors

1GB RAM

128MB Video Card (GeForce4 or equivalent card)

DirectX® 9 or above

2063MB Hard Drive

DirectX® 9.0c-compliant sound card

Internet connection required for Online Multiplayer

Halo Reach Trailer

2010-08-18T16:53:00.000-07:00

Halo: Reach is an upcoming first-person shooter video game, developed by Bungie and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360 console. Reach will be released on September 14, 2010. The game takes place in the year 2552, where humanity is locked in a war with the alien Covenant. Players control Noble 6, a member of an elite supersoldier squad, during a battle for the world of Reach. Originally unveiled at E3 2009, Reach was preceded by a multiplayer beta available to those who purchased Halo 3: ODST, in order to gain player feedback for fixing bugs and making gameplay tweaks.

Starcraft 2 Review

2010-08-16T21:56:00.001-07:00

This is my brief Starcraft 2 review:

Starcraft 2 presents only one campaign. But the campaign mode offers different kind of experience compared to the first Starcraft and I think that this is a totally different RTS experience that you can't compare to the other well known RTS games. Every between missions, you assume the role of Jim Raynor and you have the chance to know him more and his Battlecruiser Hyperion. You can also explore some interiors of the Battlecruiser Hyperion, play an arcade game, upgrade units and have conversations with the important characters of the game. During missions, you have the ability to build and control classic units like the firebats, medics, and wraiths that are exclusively for campaign only and are not included in online multiplayer games. The cinematics are awesome! I hope they will make a movie out of it. And for the story itself, it is really not that great but Blizzard still delivered it well and you will not be disappointed.

The online multiplayer mode of the game is the strongest feature of Starcraft 2. It also offers a fresh and unique kind of experience in online multiplayer games. Blizzard improved much of the game on Battle.net. The game offers a new competitive "ladder" system for ranked games and new matchmaking mechanics designed to "match-up" players of the same skill levels. You can customize your avatars or user icons and show off some single player achievements to your online buddies. The strategy of the online multiplayer mode is much like the original game but at a very high level.

The game also included a map editor. There are many custom maps that you can download from the net already. Some said that the map editor is a very powerful tool and they don’t just call it as a map editor, it is a game editor.

But many have complained about this game because it lacks Multiplayer LAN mode and some do not like the core gameplay because the mechanics are almost as the same as the first Starcraft. To remind everyone, Blizzard sticks to the same core gameplay because if they changed it, the game wouldn’t be Starcraft anymore. Some people also said that the game protection is too tight and you need to login online to earn single player achievements. Of course, Blizzard will use any secure internet DRM systems to prevent the game from piracy and the requirement to log in online is a way for Blizzard to know if you are playing the original copy of the game. And about the supposedly very fun LAN mode, Blizzard said that removing LAN mode requires players to connect through Blizzard servers to authenticate their copy of the game before being able to play online multiplayer games. To those who are playing with the cracked version, there is no way you can connect to Blizzard servers. Just wait for private servers to take off online. =)

Starcraft 2 is a great game. I will give it 9.5 out of 10. Even though we have waited for this in years, I think it was worth the wait. And I believe that this game will stay longer in the gaming industry than the years we have waited for its release.

Gamers Pic of the Week

2010-08-15T21:08:00.000-07:00

(3rd week August)

Street Fighter X Tekken Teaser Trailer

2010-08-14T18:05:00.000-07:00

Check this out! The first teaser trailer of Street Fighter-Tekken crossover game!

There will be two versions of the crossover. The first version is based on Street Fighter's gameplay which is called Street Fighter X Tekken and the other version is called Tekken X Street Fighter based on Tekken 6's gameplay mechanics.

Online Basketball Managers

2010-08-13T23:43:00.000-07:00

Have you ever dreamed of managing your own basketball player or an entire basketball team? So if you are a big fan of basketball, then fantasy online basketball manager is the best for you. You will find this online basketball simulation game very interesting and you can find many websites that offer this kind of game. These online basketball managers are text-based online games where you can manage your own basketball team against hundreds of basketball team managers from around the world. And the best thing is - these online games are free! What I am going to do is share some of the online basketball managers I found and give some details about them.

Buzzer Beater is an online basketball simulation game that makes you compete against other managers from around the world. Play against 54791+ teams, create strategic team plays and learn from your league statistics. You can also pick players, train them and put them on the position you think they can play best. It has the most advanced and realistic basketball action simulation. So sign up now to play against other basketball managers and get your team to the top of your league. And hey... it’s free!
Website: http://www.buzzerbeater.com

Charazay Basketball Manager is also an online basketball game manager with users from around the world. You can sign up now and receive your own team for free! You can train your players, set your tactics, tell your players how they will play their game and do your best to be the game’s ultimate champion. Register now and get a three weeks trial of the supporter package and 10 CBMoney, the currency of the game.
Website: http://www.charazay.com

BasketballZone is an online basketball manager. This online game is also free. You can also pick players for your team and trade players from other team. You can train them, put them on the best position and tell them how they will. Register now and you will get a club with the budget, coaches, players, a special player and much more.
Website: http://www.bballzone.net

Court Rivals is a new type of free fantasy online basketball simulation where you assume the role of the player in a virtual basketball league. This time, you can only control your basketball player. You can train him on the gym to improve your player’s skills and let him join a friend’s team or create a team and become the team’s captain. If you created your own team, you can also invite players who are trained by other people from around the world. You can win individual awards or a championship banner and be one of the famous basketball players in the league!
Website: http://www.courtrivals.com

If you are a big fan of basketball, try them now and manage your own virtual basketball team. If you are not a basketball enthusiast, try them and I believe you will also like this kind of game. If you want to ask me why you should try this game, then I will tell you now that I had a great time playing this game and I am a proud owner and manager of online basketball teams.

Gamers Pic of the Week

2010-08-13T22:50:00.000-07:00

(2nd Week August)

WOW Addiction