The Future of Tablet and Phone Gaming

The technology of tablets and phones are constantly evolving. We are getting faster and smaller CPUs being put into mobile devices. In fact, http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-future-of-tablet-gaming/2300-6348516/ talks about current technology position of Tablet gaming. Many manufacturers are now starting to integrate computer technology with tablets. Tablets nowadays are built in with latest Intel Core i3/5/7 computer chips, which makes the tablet experience feel like it is just another laptop.

Cool thing about this, is the fact that you are able to play games on the tablet via touchscreen as you normally would, and whenever you feel like going back to a PC environment for typing or so, you can simply put the tablet back into the keyboard dock. This transforms the tablet back into a laptop, which people are able to have full control over the game since they are able to type and physically click.

Image : http://www.surfaceforums.net/forum/microsoft-surface-games/5358-sun-carry-game-made-using-just-surface-pro-must-read-potential-buyers.html

The image above is actually a tablet-laptop known as "Microsoft Surface Pro" running three screens at once. Surface pro tablet has a intel core i5 or i7 processor and carries a Intel HD-4000 graphics card inside. This is good enough to play majority of the latest games in medium graphics setting. If tablets are capable of doing such things in 2012/2013, I am excited to wait and see what it could do in 5 or 10 years time.

Who knows? In 5 years, you could be playing a high resolution 3D games (The Last of Us 2, GTA5 or 6?) on your phone or tablet.

-Aaron(Young Kyun)

PC vs Console Gaming

(Image: http://writethegame.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/PC-Vs-Console-Gaming.jpg)

Gaming. What platform do you use - PC or Console? The debate about what platform is best overall has been long argued between players of both platforms. Console gamers will undoubtedly say that consoles are best, while PC gamers will say that PC is best for gaming. Many people have spent hours putting together why they thing PC or Console gaming is better. An excellent video to watch can be found here.

In many respects, PCs out-perform consoles because of their superior processing power. They usually have larger memory space and faster CPUs, allowing the games to run faster and smoother, and the graphics are usually better, which means the visuals look sharper and cleaner.

(Image: http://www.maximumpc.com/files/u69/pcconsolesinfographic_0.jpg)

However, to get a computer that is powerful enough to run games properly, the initial cost can be anywhere between $600-$1500, depending on what computer or build you choose; which is roughly two to three times the initial cost of buying an XboxOne or PS4. However, these computers, if looked after properly can and will last several years before needing hardware upgrades.

(Image: http://media8.connectedsocialmedia.com/intel/01/PID_1040/Podtech_Reboot_Ep_11.jpg)

The cost of games is also an important consideration when considering what platform to game on. PC games offer a massive digital library of games, as most games released onto Xbox and PlayStation are also available on PC. The digital games also bring the cost of games right down, as can be seen on the Steam library, with a large library of free-to-play games, and games costing under $10. There are few games that aren't available on PC, and that is because they are often Xbox or PlayStation exclusive games, like Halo or LittleBigPlanet. Gaming online on a PC isn't an issue either, with the most reliable gaming network in both convenience and quality.

One point that gamers are unable to agree on is what controls are best. PC gamers have the ability to use gamer specific mouses and keyboards, which have faster reaction times than standard computer mouses and keyboards. The use of Xbox and PlayStation controllers over PC is also possible, and many gaming companies have PC gamepads for sale. The only kind of gaming control that PC does not have available is motion control, like the kind utilised by Xbox Kinect and PlayStation Move, and of course the Nintendo Wii.

(Image: http://tamoggemon.com/blog/contents/2006/May/thacontroller/ctrl.jpg)

The final topic of debate is the communities of PC and Console gaming. Many people believe that the online communities that console gaming boasts are more inclusive and accessible to the average gamer, which on many levels is true. However, PC gamers have a strong sense of community too, which can be seen by the large amounts of gamer clans for large MMOs throughout Steam.

For further reading, check out this PC vs Console discussion here, and check out this easy guide to building your own gaming computer here.

- Emily

Battle Field 3 Review

Battlefield 3

 



Prepare for full-scale war with Battlefield 3, the third major evolution of the long-running online battle franchise. Using the power of Frostbite 2 game engine technology, Battlefield 3 delivers superior visual quality, a grand sense of scale, massive destruction, dynamic audio and incredibly lifelike character animations. As bullets whiz by, walls crumble, and explosions throw you to the ground, the battlefield feels more alive and interactive than ever before.

 

 

In Battlefield 3, players step into the role of the elite U.S. Marines where they will experience heart-pounding single player missions and competitive multiplayer actions ranging across diverse locations from around the globe including Europe, Middle-East and North America.

This game was made for online multiplayer as its core engine is dedicated to it, not only can blow buildings apart, u can fly jets, drive tanks, take control of an anti aircraft gun, stuff Call of duty doesn't even come close to. This game excels with its engine designed by Frostech 2 it brings new limits to the Ps3.

It’s this constant feeling of making progress that will keep you playing BF3 and keep you coming back for the age-old ‘just one more’ game. Then, of course, there’s Battlelog, where you can keep track of your stats alongside those of other players across the world.

Is it the balanced, nuanced battles that have a real ebb and flow to them? Yes. Is it the vaguely intelligent playing style required, meaning simple run-’n’-gunning won’t bring too much success? Yes. Is it the bloody idiot snipers who just camp up on a hillside for entire matches? Yet to be decided

It’s a simple formula that rewards players as much for working together as it does for experimentation and generally making up tactics on the fly. Battlefield is a game that rewards team play more than other titles do. You can be a lone run-’n’-gun maestro if you want, but players wishing for that kind of atmosphere really would be better off sticking with the likes of Call Of Duty.

Easily vying for the position of best multiplayer game on PS3, Battlefield 3 is fantastic online and shows DICE’s mastery in the field. The less said about the ignorable single-player, the better. It’s not a game to buy for offline alone.


Joshua Bamback

Source (ign,com,au)(gamespot.com.au)

The Best Games of 2013 (So Far)

(Image: http://www.gamersbliss.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/bestofcrossplatform.jpg)

Every year, new games are released, bigger and better than the games that came before them. Whether they're games from a big franchise like any one of the Halo or Elder Scrolls series, or a completely new game like The Last of Us, the gaming aesthetic and feel has advanced beyond how it was five or even ten years ago.

(Image: http://media.aintitcool.com/media/uploads/2013/nordling/thelastofus.jpg)

The art design has become very important over the years. Originally, games were highly pixelated, were only in black and white, and were played primarily for the gameplay and storyline. These days, how a game looks is just as important as the gameplay, with games judged just as critically on the aesthetics of the game as the gameplay and storyline themselves.

This being said, it is no surprise that most of the best games released in 2013 were visually beautiful. Their gameplay and storyline are also engaging and enjoyable. Some of the best games released this year include Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs, Bioshock: Infinite, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, SimCity, Dark Souls 2 and, of course, Grand Theft Auto V.

(Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a3/Official_cover_art_for_Bioshock_Infinite.jpg)

For an extremely in-depth list of the best games of 2013, head to http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/01/01/2013-preview/, otherwise, for a top 15 list, visit http://www.gameranx.com/features/id/11075/article/top-15-pc-games-of-2013/?utm_source=crowdignite.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=crowdignite.com#p8.

- Emily

Steam

(Image: http://www.digibytes.me/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/steam.png)

If you're gaming on a PC, the best piece of software you could get is Steam; an engine created by Valve, the company behind game series' like Half-Life and Portal. It's an online program that allows you to buy and download games into an account's library, save those games onto your computer, and play online with friends or play solo offline.

(Image: Emily's Steam library)

The games available on Steam cater to all gamer types - from casual to hardcore, and everyone in between. 

Finding games to play is easy, because you can search through the Steam Store, with several different catagories to choose from. A good way to find games you'd like is to look at reviews and play-through videos on youtube. For example, here's a top 10 Free-to-Play video:

There are nearly 2000 games available through Steam, 54 million active user accounts; and as of January 2013, Steam has seen over 6.6 million simultaneous players. Steam even controls an estimated 50–70% share of the digital distribution market for downloadable PC video games. (according to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_(software)).

Because gaming isn't a "one size fits all" genre, Valve has decided to release it's own gaming console, called the Steam Machine. Not a lot is known about it at this time, because it is still in it's prototype stages; however, Valve is sending 300 Steam users prototypes for testing. To find out more, visit http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamMachines/ and http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamMachines/. 

To get Steam, go to http://store.steampowered.com/.

- Emily

Xbox One vs PS4

Xbox One vs PS4

(source: techradar)

The launches of Xbox One and PS4 is a months away, as both consoles are about to go toe-to-toe this November. Gamers are putting their pre-order money down as if it's an expensive bet on which video game system will deliver the best performance over the next decade. According to techradar, Both systems are considered to be evenly matched in many respects and should be able to usher in the next generation of gaming that the Wii U hasn't been able to deliver.

Both Microsoft and Sony went with a very box-like designs for their latest generation consoles. The Xbox One literally put the box in Xbox, with large black rectangular shape that has been compared to an oversized 80s VCR unit. PS4 is smaller in size compared to the Xbox One and a little bit sleeker thanks to its angular shape and two-halves design.

The Comparison between Xbox One and PS4

(source: engadget.com)

As much as the two warring systems are different, the heart of the Xbox One and the PS4 remain very similar. It is because they are both running on x86 octa-core CPUs, and these eight core processors are built by the same chipmaker, AMD. The use of AMD in the Xbox One and PS4 is certainly a switch for both of the companies. 

Previously, Microsoft had used an IBM PowerPC processor, while Sony partnered with Toshiba and IBM on its own complicated Cell processor that developers did not warm up to. While Xbox One will run a heavily modified eight-core AMD processor, PS4 will utilise a x86-64 "Jaguar" CPU.

When the Price for Xbox One is $599 and PS4 $549 in the Australian market, it is up to the consumers preference on what will they buy.

IGN recently had a vote competition between Xbox One and PS4 to ask the readers on which one is the better console and could received the IGN's People's Choice Award. You could see the result on the video below.

Xbox One vs PS4 Competition

(source: IGN.com)

-Arif Hartono-

Call of Duty Franchise

 The Call of Duty Franchise

 

 

 

The Call Of Duty series is a popular first person shooter franchise that dates back to 2003. Since then, Call Of Duty has gone on to become one of the most successful video game franchises in history, with each new game

The Call Of Duty franchise has received criticism from both the press and consumers due to Activision's insistence that a new game be released every year. This trend has been kept up for many years and has lead many to believe that the franchise is becoming stale. Regardless, each new game in the series continues to break records and attract millions of players

Call of Duty was released on October 29, 2003. It is a World War II first-person shooter published by Activision and developed by Infinity Ward. The first game lets the player see the conflict from three sides, the Americans, the British, and the Soviets. As the Americans the player is a US pathfinder on D-Day, parachuting into Normandy. In the British campaign, you play a member of the 6th airborne division capturing the Pegasus bridge, and the Soviets as a member of the 13th Guards Rifle Division during the Battle of Stalingrad.

Modern Warfare 2, the sequel to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, sold nearly 5 million copies within its first 24 hours on the shelf. It became the largest entertainment launch in history grossing $310 million in the first day and has now reached 14 million copies sold.

 


As with Call of Duty 4, Modern Warfare 2 has you control multiple characters following different stories. You begin with a tutorial as Private First Class Joseph Allen in Afghanistan but are soon fighting around the world from Brazil to Russia and even at the White House in the USA.

The sequel to Call of Duty: Black Ops was released on November 13th 2012. Black Ops II is the first game in the franchise to take place in the near future, specifically 2025. Players take control of David Mason(son of Alex Mason from the first Black Ops) and attempt to stop an attack on the U.S. unmanned drone fleet from terrorist/drug lord/internet 99% revolutionary Raul Menendez, who is fleshed out with playable flashbacks to Menendez's interactions with Alex Mason and Frank Woods, told from Woods's perspective.

The multiplayer sees some changes to the traditional formula. Specifically, Create-A-Class has been turned into a slot based system, in which players use up to 10 tokens to outfit their class however they see fit. For example, one can chose to not take a primary weapon in order to have an extra perk, and so on. Black Ops II also introduces a new feature called "CODcasting" that allows players to livestream matches directly through the game and provide commentary for the audience watching.


In Conclusion the Call of Duty Franchises has released a total of 24 games and is a multi-million Dollar franchise.

(Source http://www.giantbomb.com/call-of-duty/3025-82/)

Joshua Bamback