CYBERSPACE,
JANUARY 12,
2012 (SYN.BLOG.COM) By
Marc Saltzman. AUTHOR'S BLOGGER PROFILE: Marc Saltzman, as a prolific freelance
journalist, author, radio and TV host, is one of North America's most recognized
and trusted experts in the ever-changing world of high-tech. Marc can be reached
at marc@sync.ca.
1. Grand Theft Auto V
Rockstar's next chapter in the best-selling, open-world
criminal adventure series will take place in the fictional city of Los Santos --
the Los Angeles-like urban playground first introduced in 2004's Grand Theft
Auto: San Andreas – as well as surrounding suburbs, beaches and the countryside.
The game will offer non-linear, mission-based "sandbox" play, memorable
characters, online multiplayer and great music. No launch date has been
announced for this multi-platform title.
2. Mass Effect 3
Continuing the award-winning space saga, Mass Effect 3 from
Edmonton's BioWare looks to be the biggest and most ambitious action
role-playing game (RPG) in the trilogy. Featuring intense tactical action, three
distinct game modes and stunning set pieces (including locations on Earth and
Mars), you'll climb into the boots of Commander Shepard, determined to protect
civilizations from the deadly Reapers.
3. BioShock
Infinite
This time around, you're not trapped in the underwater city
of Rapture – instead, 2K Games' BioShock Infinite (slated for June) takes place
on a floating air city in an alternate 1912, as you attempt to rescue a
mysterious young woman with uncontrollable powers. The surreal first-person
shooter lets you engage in heated firefights and hop on a rollercoaster-like
rail system to get around.
4. Diablo III
Due out by the spring, Blizzard Entertainment's much-hyped
sequel is an action-heavy fantasy RPG. Similar to its best-selling predecessors,
this computer game will be played from an angled top-down ("isometric")
perspective, in the dark world of Sanctuary, as you flex your mouse-clicking
finger to hack, slash and wield magic against a number of dungeon-crawling foes.
The game will offer an expansive single-player campaign as well as deep
multiplayer support.
5. Halo 4
Due out by the end of 2012 for Xbox 360, Halo 4 from 343 Industries and
Microsoft Game Studios marks the return of John-117 ("Master Chief") – a
protagonist not playable since 2007's Halo 3. This first-person sci-fi shooter
-- with a greater emphasis on mystery and exploration -- offers multiple
weapons, items and vehicles and varied multiplayer maps and modes. While the
game will see the return of familiar areas and characters (such as Cortana), it
will also introduce new worlds, plotlines and foes.
6. SSX
One of the most beloved winter sports games is getting a
much-need reboot: Electronic Arts Canada is putting the finishing touches on a
new SSX snowboarding game for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Due out by February,
this game will feature downhill mountain racing, mid-air stunts and colourful
characters – plus EA is adding all-new features, high-definition graphics and
online play for the first time.
7. Tomb Raider
Speaking of rebooting a once-popular franchise, a brand-new Tomb Raider
adventure will debut in late 2012, to be published by Square Enix and developed
by Crystal Dynamics. A young, 21 year-old Lara Croft is shipwrecked on a
mysterious island off the coast of Japan and must stay alive by warding off
threats, solving puzzles, navigating the dangerous environments and unraveling
an epic mystery.
8. Max Payne 3
Max Payne 3, from Rockstar Games and
Remedy Entertainment, follows the former NYC detective, who is still haunted by
demons from his past. Now working in private security in San Paulo, Payne must
protect his client from a relentless threat, clear his tainted name and seek
closure on his disturbing past. Due out in March, this third-person action game
delivers cinematic effects (including improved Bullet Time), multiple weapons
and for the first time, multiplayer modes.
9. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
Capcom did zombies when it wasn't cool to do so. But they're back again with
Operation Raccoon City, the latest in the Resident evil franchise. Due out this
spring for multiple platforms, this third-person zombie shooter takes place
between the events of Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis. The
high-definition game offers six playable characters, each with their own
abilities, plus multiplayer support.
10. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
The next iteration of Ubisoft's coveted tactical combat game is getting some
serious Kinect support: In this teamwork-focused military shooter, you can
outstretch your hands in the air to manipulate, mix and match various weapon
parts to create something special (yielding more than 20 million variations).
Once inside the game, you can take advantage of Kinect's body tracking and voice
recognition to stealthily work your way through futuristic hotspots alongside
your squad.
11. Overstrike
Insomniac Games is working on Overstrike, a co-op action game that follows a
team of four elite agents determined to obliterate enemy strongholds using
high-tech weapons and gadgets. These skilled members of Overstrike 9 --
comprised of an ex-mercenary, thief, scientist and detective – must work
together to take down a shadowy organization in the near future. Insomniac's
hallmarks are all here, including wild weapons, good storytelling and
humour.
EXCERPTS FROM WIKIPEDIA:
A video game is an electronic game that involves human interaction with a
user interface to generate visual feedback on a video device.
The word video in video game traditionally referred to a raster display
device, but following popularization of the term "video game", it now implies
any type of display device.
The electronic systems used to play video games are known as platforms;
examples of these are personal computers and video game consoles. These
platforms range from large mainframe computers to small handheld devices.
Specialized video games such as arcade games, while previously common, have
gradually declined in use. Video games have gone on to become an art form and
industry.
The input device used to manipulate video games is called a game controller,
and varies across platforms.
For example, a controller might consist of only a button and a joystick,
while another may feature a dozen buttons and one or more joysticks. Early
personal computer games often needed a keyboard for gameplay, or more commonly,
required the user to buy a separate joystick with at least one button.
Many modern computer games allow or require the player to use a keyboard and
a mouse simultaneously. A few of the most common game controllers are gamepads,
mice, keyboards, and joysticks.
Video games typically use additional means of providing interactivity and
information to the player. Audio is almost universal, using sound reproduction
devices, such as speakers and headphones. Other feedback may come via haptic
peripherals, such as vibration or force feedback, with vibration sometimes used
to simulate force feedback.
In the early days of cartridge consoles, they were sometimes called TV games,
a term now often used for handheld TV games.
Video game genres
A video game, like most other forms of media, may be categorized into genres
based on many factors such as method of game play, types of goals, art style and
more.
Because genres are dependent on content for definition, genres have changed
and evolved as newer styles of video games have come into existence.
Ever advancing technology and production values related to video game
development have fostered more life-like and complex games which have in turn
introduced or enhanced genre possibilities (e.g., virtual pets), pushed the
boundaries of existing video gaming or in some cases add new possibilities in
play (such as that seen with titles specifically designed for devices like
Sony's EyeToy).
Some genres represent combinations of others, such as massively multiplayer
online role-playing games, or, more commonly, MMORPGs.
It is also common to see higher level genre terms that are collective in
nature across all other genres such as with action, music/rhythm or
horror-themed video games.
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
All rights reserved
PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS
ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/phnotweet
This is the PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE (PHNO) Mailing List.
To stop receiving our news items, please send a blank e-mail addressed to: phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
Please visit our homepage at: http://www.newsflash.org/
(c) Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
-------------------------------------------------------------Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/phno/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
phno-digest@yahoogroups.com
phno-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
phno-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
