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

Smartphones' Must Have Games - Sports & Strategy

Continuing on from last post, today I will be covering Sports and Strategy. According to http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2013/jul/21/50-best-games-apps-tablets-smartphones, there are 6 sports games and 8 strategy games on the top list. 

Sports

Image : http://toucharcade.com/2013/02/15/real-racing-3-gets-stealth-update-to-tweak-timers/

Real Racing 3 was really the first game that made me think there is a large market potential in the smartphone and tablet market. "The first time you play this you will be impressed with the gleaming, console-quality graphics, gameplay depth and fine handling. There are more than 50 cars to race, hundreds of events and innovative multiplayer features." - Stuart Dredger

The details on cars, modifications, and collision details are very impressive. In the settings, you are able to turn off all driving assists, making it feel more realistic and raw. It really re-defines what smartphones and tablets are able to do nowadays. The graphics on this game reminded me of 'Gran Turismo 5' on PS3. For those who don't know what Gran Turismo 5 is, it is a high resolution, virtual driving game built purely for a gaming console. (i.e. PS3)

Image : http://www.firemonkeys.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/R3-demo_friends.jpg

The best part is, this game is offered to everyone with iPhones, iPads and Android devices for free. So, if you are even remotely interested in racing games, I highly recommend you to take a look at this one.

Strategy

Image : http://superlakitu.deviantart.com/gallery/39392604

Plants vs Zombies is like a classic SuperMario on Nintendo 64. Some people may say, something like 'Fruit Ninja' is more classic but in my honest opinion, Fruit ninja becomes repetitive whereas in  Plants vs Zombies, you are constantly unlocking new stages, and new plants to fight zombies. It is a strategy game based on defending a front yard by planting various plants which stops the zombie from invading. As weird and boring as it sounds, it is actually a very strategic game and is interesting to play. If you are a strategic gamer, and would like a game that you can kill some time, this is a no brainer.

-Aaron(Young Kyun)

GTA V Review

 

 

"GTA V is the game that once again sets a new benchmark in excellence"

 

http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/229/files/2013/09/gta55.jpg

 

Grand Theft Auto is a title that everyone knows. It’s the name of a series of games that helped define a generation, and in the 12 years since the third core game in the series helped push gaming into a larger spotlight.

 

 

Gaming has changed though. It’s been five years since GTA IV burst onto the scene, and in that gap between major GTA sequels, the genre has evolved. GTA V proves that it has what it takes to not only still be relevant , but to take survival of the fittest to a new level. It’s the kind of game that knows it comes from an older generation.

 

http://www.lazygamer.net/xbox-360/gta-v-review-michael-learns-to-rockstar/

 

 



Set back in sunny Los Santos, GTA V takes place across three distinct characters and storylines. Michael is your former career criminal who cut a deal to save his own skin and that of his family, living a high life of luxury that has brought him nothing but pain.

 

Franklin is your thug from the hood, but a man with his eye on becoming more than just a standard-dealing hoodlum stuck in the ghettos amongst friends and family who embarrass him more than anything else.

 

And then there’s Trevor.

 

While Michael and Franklin are pretty much believable characters stuck in a rut in life, Trevor is an unstable force of nature with a quick temper, drug habit and sociopathic tendencies that would make Jack the Ripper look like a saint in comparison.

 

What Rockstar has managed to do is to make three characters who are clearly distinctive personalities. You can see this when you do something as switch between them. Michael may be getting a crap cup of coffee, or Franklin may be walking his dog. Trevor will most likely be sleeping off a hangover of note and wondering why he just woke up wearing a skirt.

 

http://www.cinemablend.com/images/gallery/s57370/GTA_V_13734068221870.jpg

 

 

So what has really changed in the years between GTA IV and V, is driving a car is now no longer a labour worthy of Hercules himself. Handling has been massively improved, but to a degree that tows a fine line between arcade physics and realism.

 

Missions are also now graded as players work their way through them. Finishing a level without hitting any of the goals available will earn you a bronze medal, while going back to get those extra headshots and timely exits nets you silver and gold medals. It’s a great way to keep players coming back, to tackle those challenges. Challenges which Rockstar is even kind enough to allow you to choose to skip, should you fail over and over again.

 

Graphically, GTA V is pushing it.The game looks fantastic, and for the most part, is firing on all cylinders. Facial ticks, animation, consistently smooth frame rates and some phenomenal environmental effects are all present and pushing the PS3 and Xbox 360 to their limits.

 

Despite all these accomplishments and additions though, GTA V isn’t a huge leap forward for Rockstar. Instead, it’s an evolution of all their previous work, all combined into one sandbox experience on a massive scale. But it’s a satisfying path that the franchise has taken, kicking other genre games off the throne that it helped build.

 

http://gameplot.net/img/2013/09/gta-5-logo-wallpaper-hd-7hxem9ui.jpg

 

 

 

Joshua Bamback

 

 

(Source ref: Lazygamer.net)

 



 

 

OUYA - A new kind of video game console

OUYA - Android based console

(source: mygadgetic.com)

OUYA, is the is a micro-console running its own version of the modified 4.1 Jelly Bean, Android operating system, developed by Boxer8. Development was funded via Kickstarter, raising $8.5 million and becoming the website's second-highest-earning project in its history.

The concept is simple. It's a TV-based gaming console that uses Android as the operating system. OUYA will offer a separate app market, but they allow and even encourage hacking of the hardware itself, so it's very likely users could install apps from the Google Play market, Amazon App Market, or other app markets.

Units started to ship to Kickstarter backers on March 28, 2013. The console was released to the general public on June 25, 2013, and features an exclusive OUYA store for applications and games designed specifically for the OUYA platform. Out of the box, OUYA supports TwitchTV, XBMC. It runs a modified version of Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, and is open to rooting without voiding the warranty.

OUYA - unveiled

(source: IGN.com)

CNET has recently reviewed the OUYA design and hardware. The OUYA is a gray and black box that weighs 0.68 pound and is small enough to fit into the palm of my hand. It features a combination of smooth embossed aluminum and glossy plastic, and its body is tapered slightly at the bottom. A circular power button sits on the top and glows with a dim white LED OUYA logo ( a "U") when powered on. The power button is surrounded by four unobstructed screws resting in each of the device’s four corners, allowing tinkerers to easily remove the top plate and access the system’s innards.

On its back is an Ethernet port, an HDMI port, a full USB port, and a Micro-USB connection. Internally there’s 8GB of storage (expandable through the aforementioned full USB port), 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and support for 5.1 sound. All games and apps must be either downloaded directly to the device or installed via external storage. There is no disc-based media.

(source: androidpolice.com)

The bottom vents work in tandem with those on the top to keep the OUYA from
getting too hot during a long play sessions.

(source: androidpolice.com)

Around back are the ports where you’ll connect everything. There is the power adapter, a full USB port, microUSB, ethernet, and HDMI.

-Arif Hartono-

Xbox One - The third successor of the Xbox family

Xbox One - The next generation is coming

(source: 1amgeek.com)

XBOX ONE, the third generation from the Xbox family made by Microsoft and the successor of the Xbox 360. Microsoft describe it as "the ultimate all in one entertainment system - one system for a new generation." It has the second generation of Kinect baked in nice and deep and has powerful specs. The black console wants to be the one-stop entertainment solution for your living room, integrating live TV, games, movies and web services like Skype, all controlled using Kinect's improved voice recognition features.

The console was announced on May 21, 2013 and will be available in the several countries. Microsoft is planning to release it on November 22, 2013 in North America, several European markets, Australia and New Zealand with some later release in Japan and the remaining European markets in 2014.

Xbox One - Preview

(source: gamespot)

The Xbox One price has been announced by Microsoft and many of the website said that it is not cheap. The newest console will be available in the Australian Market on 22nd of November at a cost of $599. It makes the Xbox One more expensive than its competitor, PlayStation 4, by $50 which is $549.

There are two edition of the Xbox One that will be available in the market which are the normal edition and the limited "Day One Edition". Both of them contain the following:

• Xbox One console with 500GB hard drive
• Blu-ray drive and Wi-Fi included in console
• Xbox One Kinect peripheral
• Xbox One Wireless Xbox One Controller
• Xbox One Chat Headset
• Free 14-day trial of [Xbox Live on Xbox One|Xbox Live Gold]

Customers who has pre-ordered the Xbox One will receive this limited edition "Day One Edition" console. This "Day One Edition" will include some bonuses which are:

• Premium black packaging
• Limited edition Xbox One Day One wireless controller
• Exclusive Day One Achievement

Xbox One - Day One Edition (Package)

(source: trueachievements.com)

Xbox One - Day One Edition (Controller)

(source: http://static.trustedreviews.com/)

-Arif Hartono-

A Brief History of Gaming

Since the Sixties, young people have enjoyed playing computer and video games. Computer gaming pre-dates console gaming by about five years, with the first computer-based video game was Spacewar! created in 1962 by Steve Russell, an MIT student. The first console, the "Brown Box" was developed by Ralph Baer in 1967. 

(Image: http://www.thestrong.org/online-collections/images/Z004/Z00494/Z0049414.jpg)

Over the next two decades, arcade, console and computer gaming explodes with popularity. In 1982, Disney even cash in on the trend by making Tron, a movie centred entirely around gaming.

In 1990, Microsoft adds Solitaire to the Windows 3.0 bundle, creating the market for casual gamers - those who don't usually play video games, but will play easy-to-play, casual games like Solitaire, Bejewelled, or Angry Birds. A decade later, and The Sims becomes the best selling computer game to date.

(Image: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/2/22/The_Sims_Coverart.png)

2003 marks the year that Valve releases Steam - an online platform where users can download and play games. This creates an explosion in computer gaming, due to the vast games library offered on Steam, and the ability to both play online with friends, or solo on your own computer.

(Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqCZnM2C-hw0V9lAetsCkfgWhS5PTvDPhma0NGWfXfcjhQamHwl0n4jt0QMK-_GVwEEBBefgaBPenBzd1Suzf5qItiSNAKuT32Mjc8Wq6di-LmBFnhpRPWfClE41UFCL8sYv-tSw39KG5/s1600/steam-for-linux.png)

In 2008, Blizzard's World of Warcraft becomes the most popular Massively Multiplayer Online game (MMO) with more than 10 million subscribers worldwide. The late 2000s marks the beginning of online gaming becoming popular, which allows games to be played by astronomical numbers of players across the globe. Because of the ability to play and share games online, it becomes easier to have an indie game become popular, as Markus Persson found, in 2010, when he released his indie game, Minecraft.

Some excellent sources for further exploration include http://www.icheg.org/icheg-game-history/timeline/ and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vROxoEyB9UE.

- Emily

Assasins Creed Franchise

 

 

Assassins Creed Franchise

(Image:http://images5.fanpop.com/image/photos/30800000/Assassins-Creed-assassins-creed-30820342-1920-1080.jpg)

 

 

 

Assassin's Creed is a franchise of parkour-inspired games from Ubisoft, and is presented in a  third person prospective in an open world environment which allows the player traverse because of the parkour mechanics that are employed. To see the whole of the open world environment the player must climb certain high buildings and perform a "leap of faith" which involves jumping from a height straight into haystacks.

 

(Image: http://media.officialplaystationmagazine.co.uk/files/2012/09/suggW.jpeg)

 

The combat system in Assassin's Creed uses a one button system to strike enemies via a number weapons which vary from big long swords and spears which can be stolen from opposing enemies to smaller knives and machetes. To quietly assassinate certain targets the player has control of a hidden blade that is stored in the character's wrist. Other weapons include throwing knives that can kill multiple enemies from a distance, a small wrist gun and a variety of bombs that can cause distractions or potentially kill.

 

Eagle Vision is a genetic ability that is based down through the DNA of the bloodline of some assassin's, with this it helps the player by illuminating hints and clues and can be vital to showing the target that needs to be assassinated.

 

With over 3 massive game titles Assassins Creed the franchise has become a huge hit and with a continuous series into other platforms such as mobile gaming and apps it has become widely popular amongst gamers all over the world. With over 55 million units being sold to date March 2013 it is becoming widely know as something similar to the GTA Franchise.

 

 

(image:http://cdn.planetminecraft.com/files/resource_media/screenshot/1229/assassins-creed-3-wallpaper-connor_2950058.jpg)

 

As with all franchises when will the Assassins Creed series end, as these games only have a limited timeline, how many more eras can they possibly create. As for a series of Games Assassins Creed has to be one of the best games in the history of the Playstation as for the extremely dedicated Fan base and the huge anticipation of the next Launch Assassins creed IV, we wont be seeing this game anytime soon on the sale rack.

 

 

 

Joshua Bamback