All-Time Most Popular Games Tagged 'Windows, Xbox' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/games/popular/alltime/Windows/Xbox/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss ]]> All-Time Most Popular Games Tagged 'Windows, Xbox' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/css/logo.jpg All-Time Most Popular Games Tagged 'Windows, Xbox' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/games/popular/alltime/Windows/Xbox/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss ]]> en-us Hitman 2: Silent Assassin AFter the events in the first game 47 quits the Agency and retreats to a life of solitute as a gardener for a church in Italy. When the priest who runs the church is kidnapped and 47 himself is targeted he must return to action.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 08:39:18 Hitman: Contracts Contracts was the third game in the series. This one had a storyline that could be considered confusing, but that shouldn't get in your way. You'll relive many past experiences of 47 as he lays dying on a table in France. My only complaint was the levels remade from the 1st game, but luckily they were changed around and they became new again.
]]> 26 Nov 2006 02:32:21 Grand Theft Auto III Grand Theft Auto III (GTA III) is an action computer and video game developed by DMA Design (now Rockstar North), published by Rockstar Games in October 2001 (see 2001 in video gaming) for the PlayStation 2 video game console, May 2002 for Windows-based personal computers (PCs), and in November 2003 for the Xbox video game console. A part of the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series, it is preceded by Grand Theft Auto 2 (GTA2) and succeeded by Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (Vice City). GTA III is also the first in the series to be released on the PlayStation 2.

The game centers on a nameless criminal who was betrayed by his girlfriend in a bank heist, and is required to work his way up the crime ladder of the city, before confronting her and eventually taking his revenge. Like its predecessors, GTA III implements sandbox-like gameplay, where the player is given the freedom to perform various activities in a large city, such as completing missions, exploring the city, committing criminal acts, or completing side missions.

The game concept and gameplay, coupled with the use of a three dimensional game engine for the first time in the series contributed to GTA III's positive reception upon its release and became 2001's top selling video game. GTA III's success was a significant factor in the series' subsequent popularity; as of 2006, five GTA prequels set before events in GTA III have been released. GTA III's violent and sexual contents have also been the source of moral panic and controversy.

Grand Theft Auto III takes place in Liberty City, a fictional city on the East Coast (based on New York City and eastern New Jersey). The timeline of the game was intended to be set at the present time around the first release of GTA III, October 22, 2001; this was indicated by the Liberty Tree website, which included plot points that connect to events in the beginning of the game, in its last existing monthly entry, dated October 18, 2001.[7]

Throughout the story, the protagonist and player character is never named (though he is referred to by several in game characters as "Fido" or "The Kid"). The player character is also a silent protagonist, never uttering a single word.
]]> 07 Dec 2006 07:42:53 Serious Sam With humanity on the brink of extinction; there is but one who can save us all, Sam!
]]> 07 Dec 2006 08:34:21 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Vice City is a loose prequel to the preceding game in the series, GTA III, which took place in the present day at the time of its 2001 release. The game is set in fictional Vice City, which is based on Miami, Florida. The game's look, particularly the clothing and vehicles, reflect (and sometimes gently parody) its 1986 setting (with the packaging and artwork in particular owing a great debt to 1980s artist Patrick Nagel). In contrast to the gritty urbanism of Grand Theft Auto III's Liberty City, Vice City appears (mostly) clean and upscale, with golden beaches, waving palm trees, and vivid purple sunsets.

The player takes the role of Tommy Vercetti, who has recently been released from prison in Liberty City. While attempting to re-establish himself within the Forelli Mafia family, boss Sonny Forelli sends Tommy to Vice City to supervise an important drug deal. At the exchange, masked gunmen kill three of the people involved in the trade (two Forelli henchmen and Victor Vance, Lance Vance's brother), stealing both the drugs and the money Tommy was charged with protecting. Vercetti narrowly escapes and informs Sonny, who demands that Tommy get back both the "product" and the money. Both Sonny and Tommy wish to kill those responsible for the theft.

Much of the action in Vice City concerns Vercetti's burgeoning criminal empire, spanning drug trafficking, contract killings, counterfeiting, and protection. The player progresses through the game narrative by performing a series of missions, most of which involve criminal activities. This takes Vercetti from being a small-time hood staying in a beachfront hotel to being the city's crime kingpin, but Sonny is looming over Tommy until he finally comes down to get his stuff personally. And in a shootout similar to that of the ending of the Brian De Palma film Scarface, Tommy Vercetti kills Sonny Forelli and his traitorous partner Lance Vance.
]]> 07 Dec 2006 09:15:20 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (GTA:SA) is an action-adventure game developed by Rockstar North. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise and fifth original game overall. Originally released for the PlayStation 2 in October 2004, the game has since been ported to the Xbox and Microsoft Windows, and has received wide acclaim and high sales figures on all three platforms.

Set in 1992, the game revolves around the main character, Carl "CJ" Johnson returning home to Los Santos after learning of his mother's murder. CJ finds his family and his old gang, the Grove Street Families, in disarray. Over the course of the game, CJ gradually unravels the plot behind his mother's murder while working to reestablish his gang and exploring his own business ventures.

Much like the previous entries in the Grand Theft Auto series, San Andreas's critical and commercial success has not been without controversy; hidden content in the game resulted in the game's re-rating and subsequent removal from many retailers' shelves.

San Andreas is structured similarly to the previous two games in the series. The core gameplay consists of elements of a third-person shooter and a driving game, affording the player a large, open environment to move around in. On foot, the player's character is capable of walking, running, swimming, climbing and jumping, as well as utilizing weapons and basic hand to hand combat. Players can steal and drive a variety of vehicles, including automobiles, boats, airplanes, helicopters, trains, and motorcycles.

The open, non-linear environment allows players to explore and choose how they wish to play the game. Although storyline missions are necessary to progress through the game and unlock certain cities and content, they are not required, as players can complete them at their own leisure. When not taking on a storyline mission, players can free-roam and create havoc (e.g. drive-by shootings, robberies, etc). However, doing so can attract unwanted and potentially fatal attention from the authorities. The more chaos caused, the stronger the response: police will handle minor infractions, whereas SWAT teams, the FBI, and the military respond to higher wanted levels.

The player can also partake in a variety of optional side missions. The traditional side missions of the past games are included, such as dropping off taxi cab passengers, putting out fires, driving injured people to the hospital, and fighting crime as a vigilante. New additions include truck and train driving missions requiring players to make deliveries on time, and driving/flying/boating/biking schools, which help players learn skills and techniques to use in their corresponding vehicles.
]]> 07 Dec 2006 09:16:40 Max Payne
PC Gamer said,
Story is the bedrock of Max Payne. Yeah, it's chock full of mind-blowing gunplay, but at every turn, a new and clever piece of noir storytelling will motivate you forward and illuminate the action.

Max Payne is a man with nothing to lose in the violent, cold urban night. In the gritty bowels of New York during the century's worst blizzard Max is a fugitive undercover cop framed for murder, and now hunted by cops and the mob, Max is a man with his back against the wall, fighting a battle he cannot hope to win. Prepare for a new breed of deep action game. Prepare for the pain...

The game immerses us in a dark world, aptly propelled forward by a graphic novel complete with narration in the classic style of detective film noir.


Additional Game Features:

  • The first PC game with photo-digitized textures, radiosity lighting and hardwaret T&L combined.

  • Another first in gaming is a unique utilization of "bullet-time gameplay" in which the player can briefly enter a slow motion world of quickened reflexes to get an edge in the fierce shootouts.

  • Auto-adjusting gameplay means the action will be challenging and intense without becoming unfair and frustrating.

  • Easiest-to-use game editor ever released, with WYSIWYG-style editing (PC version only). Even recreate your house or workplace!

  • Painstaking attention to detail. Bullets even modeled accurately resulting in realistic and cinematic gameplay. Everything is destructible and comes apart realistically.

  • MAX-FX engine is built from the ground up to take full advantage of 3D acceleration. There is no software renderer in the game. MAX-FX is fully optimized for PIII's SSE instruction set.

  • Single Player only. Game completion unlocks special modes.

Developed by Remedy Entertainment & Produced by 3DRealms, with Neo developing the Xbox version, Rockstar Canada developing the PS2 version, Rockstar Leeds for the GBA and MacSoft for the Mac.
Publishers: Gathering of Developers for the PC, Rockstar Games for the console titles, and Take2 for European distribution, and MacSoft and Feral for the Mac editions.
Released: July 25, 2001 for the PC


Minimum System Requirements
450 MHz Intel/AMD Processor, 96 MB RAM, 16 MB Direct3D Compatible Graphics Card

Remedy Entertainment, a Finnish game development company, was founded in August, 1995. From the very start, the company's goal has been to create die-hard action games that are great fun to play.
]]> 31 Dec 2006 11:47:59 Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast Kyle Katarn, savior of the Valley of the Jedi, must once again wield the force to save the galaxy from the evil empire. While investigating a far-away imperial outpost, Kyle discovers a sinister plot to imbue Imperial soldiers with the force. And to top it all off, he has to re-learn all of his force powers as he goes.
]]> 22 Jan 2007 10:36:44 Need For Speed Underground Electronic Arts' Need For Speed series takes a note from the Fast and Furious handbook with its latest release entitled Need For Speed Underground. Purchase, race, and customize 20 different licensed cars from major manufacturers such as Honda, Mitsubishi, Toyota, Volkswagen, Nissan, and more. Race other customized cars through a detailed nighttime cityscape, dodging city traffic and navigating shortcuts all the while. Customize vehicle performance as well as your car's physical appearance, changing rims, stickers, paintjob, spoilers and more. Multiple racing modes range from drift competitions, street racing, and drag racing. Breathtaking graphics showcase the power of next generation systems, PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and PC.
]]> 08 Feb 2007 09:36:12 Star Wars: Battlefront II Ever wanted to play as your favorite star wars heroes in an epic lightsaber confrontation? Or maybe just a noble clone trooper on the front lines in the battle of Coruscant?
Well now you can with Star Wars: Battlefront II!

In this battlefield-esque, third-person shooter, players will take control of any number of clone troopers, battle droids, Jedi, and Dark Lords in the battle for control of the galaxy.
]]> 24 Jan 2007 01:26:17 Syberia A journey beyond compare...For the young Kate Walker, an ambitious lawyer, the Voralberg toy company acquisition seemed like a textbook case - a quick stopover to a small alpine village in France to buy-out an old automaton factory, then straight back home to New York.

Her journey across land and time throws all she values into question, while the deal she set out to sign turns into a pact with destiny...
]]> 27 Jan 2007 12:22:51 Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow The U.S. installs a temporary military base on East Timor to train the developing defense force of the �world�s youngest democracy.� Resistance to U.S. military presence in Southeast Asia is widespread and passionate, but the threat Indonesian militias pose to Timorese democracy is deemed sufficient justification. At the same time, the U.S. doesn�t mind having an excuse to install active military personnel within easy reach of both North Korea and the largest Muslim population in Asia.

Anti-U.S. resentment comes to a head under the leadership of guerilla militia leader Suhadi Sadono, acting with the unofficial support of major corrupt factions of the Indonesian government. Suhadi�s men attack and occupy the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, taking dozens of civilian and military personnel hostage.

You are Sam Fisher. You�re sent in, not to rescue the hostages, but to destroy top-secret documentation held in the embassy before Suhadi�s men access it.
]]> 07 Feb 2007 05:27:42 Need for Speed Underground 2 Need for Speed Underground 2 will challenge gamers to immerse themselves in the tuner culture, exploring an expansive, free-roaming city divided into five distinct neighborhoods. Gamers will encounter rival racers who will initiate events, tip players off to the hottest racing spots, and show them where to buy the most sought-after licensed aftermarket upgrades. The game will feature new game modes, deep new performance customization and tuning, and more than 30 licensed cars. The game also delivers twice the visual customization upgrades as the original game, providing a staggering 70 billion possible car combinations for total automotive self-expression.
]]> 08 Feb 2007 09:37:36 Call of Duty 2 Call of Duty 2 redefines the cinematic intensity and chaos of battle as seen through the eyes of ordinary soldiers fighting together in epic WWII conflicts. The sequel to 2003's Call of Duty, winner of over 80 Game of the Year awards, Call of Duty 2 offers more immense, more intense, more realistic battles than ever before, thanks to the stunning visuals of the new COD engine.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 06:37:45 Prince Of Persia: Sands Of Time To save his kingdom from a devious usurper, the Prince must harness the Sands of Time and endure the assistance of the mischievious Princess Farah.
]]> 29 Jan 2007 07:54:31 Star Wars Battlefront Star Wars: Battlefront is a first-person shooter/third-person shooter (interchangeable) video game based around battles featured in the Star Wars films. It was developed by Pandemic Studios and LucasArts, and released on September 21, 2004 for Xbox, PlayStation 2, and Microsoft Windows, the same day as the release of the Star Wars Trilogy DVD set. Aspyr released a Mac port in July 2005. People can either play Battlefront online with up to 32 players on PC, Mac and Xbox, and 16 players on PS2, or offline with up to 2 players. The Xbox version is backwards compatible with the Xbox 360.

A sequel, Star Wars: Battlefront II, was released on November 1, 2005 for Microsoft Windows, Xbox, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable. In late 2004, LucasArts released the Star Wars Battlefront BFBuilder, an unsupported mod that allowed fans to create new battlefields for Battlefront.

A second sequel, Star Wars: Battlefront III, is in development for the Xbox 360 by the developer Free Radical.
]]> 31 Jan 2007 06:19:13 Half-Life Named Game of the Year by over 50 publications, Valve's debut title blends action and adventure with award-winning technology to create a frighteningly realistic world where players must think to survive. Also includes an exciting multiplayer mode that allows you to play against friends and enemies around the world.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 04:10:36 Doom The mother of all FPSes...

Doom. Run around, blast demons, get weapons. Uncompromisingly intense, with no shortage of challenge, Doom ushered in a new era - the age of the FPS.
]]> 26 Nov 2006 06:16:16 Doom 3 A massive demonic invasion has overwhelmed the Union Aerospace Corporation's(UAC) Mars Research Facility leaving only chaos and horror in its wake. As one of only a few survivors, you struggle with shock and fear as you fight your way to hell and back, in an epic clash against pure evil. Built on ID's revolutionary new 3D graphics engine Doom 3 draws you into the most frightening and gripping 3D gaming experience ever created.
]]> 14 Jan 2007 11:34:43 Halo 2 Halo 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by Bungie Studios. Released for the Xbox game console on November 9, 2004, the game is a direct sequel to the critically acclaimed blockbuster Halo: Combat Evolved. From the day of its initial release, Halo 2 has been the most popular video game on Xbox Live, even after the release of the Xbox 360. On June 20, 2006, more than a half-billion games of Halo 2 had been played on Xbox Live since its debut, and by October 30, 2006, this number was raised to four billion. Halo 2 is compatible with the Xbox 360, including its Xbox Live functionality.
]]> 19 Dec 2006 02:18:15 Brothers In Arms: Road To Hill 30 Based on a true story.

In a game set during the famous airdrop before the invasion at Normandy, Sgt. Matt Baker and his squad of 101st Airborne Paratroopers are scattered over the French countryside. As the story unfolds, the player (Baker) must choose between the success of his mission and the lives of his men - his brothers in arms.

Brothers In Arms: Road to Hill 30 will immerse players in the historic eight-day invasion of Normandy - with unparalleled imagery, authenticity, sound, and gameplay.
]]> 07 Feb 2007 04:00:54 Far Cry Far Cry is a first-person shooter computer game developed by Crytek Studios and published by Ubisoft on March 23, 2004. Far Cry sold 730,000 units within four months of release. The game's story follows an ex-Special Forces man named Jack Carver, who is stranded on a mysterious archipelago in Micronesia. He is searching for a female journalist he was escorting after she went missing when their sailboat was destroyed by mercenaries.
]]> 01 Dec 2006 11:40:12 Need For Speed Most Wanted The new speester in EA's successful series combines the tuner customization of Need for Speed Underground with an expanded take on the police chases of the Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit series. The game will feature a Rap Sheet option that works hand in hand with a player's street reputation as they move up from the "Black List" to the A-List. Users will also be able to go head-to-head with their opponents while simultaneously trying to avoid more than six different police cars at once through a dynamically changing open-ended world. Get your car peaked for outrunning the po-po by cuctomizing your muscle cars, supercars, tuners, and sports cars.
]]> 08 Feb 2007 09:39:06 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic It is Four Thousand years before the Galactic Empire and hundreds of Jedi Knights have fallen in battle against the ruthless Sith. As the last hope of the Jedi, you must lead a band of freedom fighters in an epic struggle to save the galaxy. Can you master the awesome power of the Force on your quest to save the Republic? Or will you fall to the lure of the dark side?
Hero or villain, savior or conqueror...you must choose wisely as you alone will determine the destiny of the entire galaxy!
]]> 25 Nov 2006 04:18:12 Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords KOTOR II takes place roughly five years after the events of the original. Your created character awakens in the medical bay of a mining station with no recollection of recent events.

The journey across the galaxy is about much more than just discovering your character's true nature. Believing you to be the last of the Jedi, the Sith pursue you tenaciously. But the Sith are not your only enemy. Something is threatening the galaxy. What it is, how it is to be stopped, and your own role in shaping the future of the Republic won't be answered until the very end of your adventure.

Your party, which can hold up to ten other characters, is filled with unreliable members. Almost everyone in your crew has an ulterior motive and more than a few have good reason to hate rather than honor you. Even your droids do some suspicious things. Who can you trust? You may be guessing until the very end.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 04:20:15 Star Wars: Republic Commando Star Wars: Republic Commando is a dark and intense first-person shooter for the Xbox video game system and PC, utilizing an enhanced version of the acclaimed Unreal engine technology. Unlike the largely main character focused Star Wars games of the past, Republic Commandopresents a dramatic military-style action experience from the point-of-view of an elite squad member of a Republic Special Operations unit. Players step into the role of a Commando performing precision operations deep behind enemy lines in this brutally realistic Star Wars combat experience. The game is set at the start of the Clone Wars, as seen in Episode II, featuring Clone Troopers and Jedi fighting a common foe side-by side.
]]> 07 Feb 2007 03:42:35 Lego Star Wars 2, The Original Trilogy Lego Star Wars II is the sequel to Lego Star Wars.

You will make your way through the different episodes, collecting Minikits, Power Bricks and Studs. And also unlocking new characters to use or to buy.

The place where you buy things is in Mos Eisley Cantina, as Dexters Diner is not in the trilogy.
]]> 02 Jan 2007 10:17:49 fahrenheit Indigo Prophecy is a paranormal thriller that lets you become multiple characters and view the experience from multiple viewpoints. Incredible film-style design pulls you into the story, until you're intimately immersed in the game. Your actions will affect the plot and create a scenario-driven, interactive experience.
New York City is stunned by a string of weird murders, all following the same pattern: Ordinary people kill total strangers in public areas. Lucas Kane becomes another of these killers when he murders a stranger in a men's bathroom. Covered in blood, Lucas regains consciousness with no Memory of why he committed murder. He must solve this mystery before being incarcerated for life. Over 50 stuntmen and actors were used for the game, to create the most realistic, high-caliber, Hollywood-style action sequences
]]> 18 Dec 2006 10:50:16 Beyond Good and Evil For centuries, the planet Hyllis has been locked in conflict with a race of relentless alien invaders.

Wary of her government's promises to repel the aliens for good, a rebellious action reporter named Jade sets out to capture the truth behind the prolonged war.

Armed with her camera, dai-jo staff, and fierce determination, Jade soon finds herself inside the jaws of a horrific conspiracy, and face to face with an evil she cannot possibly fathom.

In a world where deception is the deadliest weapon of all, will Jade's discoveries be enough to free her people?
]]> 26 Nov 2006 11:41:51 MDK2 MDK2, the sequel to Shiny Entertainment’s 1997 hit, take on the roles of Max, Dr. Hawkins, and Kurt Hectic as you fight to save the world from an alien threat. Each of the characters in MDK2 provides a totally unique gameplay experience, delivered in a puzzle-packed action game.
]]> 12 Dec 2006 04:11:09 Myst III: Exile
Myst III: Exile transports players 10 years forward in the Myst universe, where a new villain lies in wait. Saavedro, played by Academy Award nominee Brad Dourif, has been hiding on Atrus's Ages, awaiting his chance to gain revenge upon Atrus and his family. Inadvertently, Atrus himself has provided that chance. He and Catherine have reestablished contact with the D'ni, a race of people whose knowledge enables them to write the special linking Books first encountered in Myst. Atrus hopes to see the D'ni civilization restored to its full potential, and his efforts to do so provide the perfect impetus for Saavedro to orchestrate his revenge. Players must track Saavedro through five surreal Ages, solving puzzles and uncovering the truth behind this new adversary and his devious plot. Only then can disaster be averted and the fate of thousands ultimately be determined.

This game features the same point and click interface as Myst and Riven, but uses 360 degree scrolling technology for a truly realistic gaming experience that highlights the quality that makes this series so popular; the exquisite rendering.
]]> 21 Dec 2006 09:40:35 The Simpsons: Hit & Run Strange behavior in Springfield? Even more strange than usual. Black Vans? The Bees[from the mouth's of hounds!?], oh the Bees... Everybody wanting something done. Homer is out to discover what is interupting his daily routine. What the missions reveal is shocking.

The Simpsons Hit & Run is a mission based driving game with additional/optional; 3rd Person gameplay, and the chance to really explore Springfield, ?? USA.
]]> 20 Dec 2006 05:49:04 Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones The Prince's acrobatic skills have improved. He is now able to launch himself off walls at 45 degree angles at strategically placed vertical shutters, slide down chutes, and balance on swinging poles, among other things.

While in the Sands of Time and Warrior Within the player fights with a sword, in the Two Thrones the player fights with the dagger of time. The designers have also added a stealth system to the gameplay. In the past two games the player had to rely solely on open-surrounding, multi-enemy combat. The Two Thrones expands upon this by adding a speed-kill system, which allows the Prince to quickly and quietly kill any enemy not aware of his presence. The player cannot perform a speed kill on one guard if another guard can see it. If the player does not complete the speed kill, the enemy knocks them off and the speed kill fails. The amount of moves or the length of time required greatly depends on how strong the opponents are, with boss battles taking the most.

The Prince also develops a split personality, and this alter-ego constantly bickers with him about right and wrong. At times, the Prince physically transforms into the Dark Prince. These transformations are scripted and not controlled by the player. During these times, however, the player still has control over the character, and for the most part, the Prince's dark side is simply an inner voice.

When controlling the Dark Prince, the player loses the ability to wield a secondary weapon, instead using the "Daggertail," a bladed whip fused to his arm. This opens medium range combat moves (like pulling an enemy closer, then slashing them) and new interactions with the environment (such as swinging off poles to reach a ledge). The Dark Prince also constantly loses health as a result of the semi-transformation, much like the Sand Wraith from Warrior Within. He goes back to full health whenever he collects sand, from either a monster or object. Also, his Daggertail gives him a different button combination for speed kills, in which he strangles his victims. The Prince returns to normal after the player comes in contact with water.

The game itself is relatively short, with players able to complete a single story mode in about ten hours.
]]> 07 Feb 2007 07:49:12 Freedom Fighters "In a world where the Soviet Union won the Cold War, a fierce conflict is unfolding in the streets of America. Taking on the role of Christopher Stone, players evolve from an average New Yorker into a fearless patriot who recruits and leads an army of freedom fighters in the streets of New York City. Freedom Fighters combines the depth of a squad based game with the intensity of an action-packed war game that unfolds in the streets, subways, and buildings of the city."--From EA's description.
]]> 08 Feb 2007 06:34:16 Need for Speed Hot Pursuit 2 In this installment of Need For Speed, players can choose whether to race and avoid getting arrested, or become the cop and bust the racers!
]]> 02 Feb 2007 12:35:14 Half-Life 2 The sequel to Half-Life, one of the most popular action games ever made, will feature the return of former Black Mesa research associate Gordon Freeman. In Half-Life 2, Freeman can expect to encounter several characters from the previous game, including Barney the security guard and the mysterious G-man, for whom Freeman now works. Freeman will also meet a new female character, Alyx, whose mother was killed during the events of the original game.

During initial installation of Half-Life 2 an internet connection is required to authenticate the game.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 04:15:35 The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay was released in June, 2004 for Xbox, and in December, 2004 was released for Windows as the "Developer's Cut", with the improved shading effects and higher resolution expected with the pc release, as well as added content.

Inspired by the Vin Diesel movie, the story begins with you captured by mercenaries and locked down in the toughest and bleakest prison in the galaxy. Your obvious task is to make an unprecedented jail break, and will require intelligence, sharp wits, combat skill and sometimes stealth.

Additional Game Features:

  • First person shooter, but with some third person actions, and even some RPG aspects.

  • Over 30 levels, split into checkpoints.

  • High quality musical soundtrack befitting the movie tie-in.

  • Player eventually acquires "eye shine", a vision enhancement that becomes very useful in the often dark environments.

  • Tied to the movie not only be relating to the story and atmosphere, but including movie star vocal talents such as Vin Diesel, Cole Hauser as Johns, Kirsten Lahman as Shirah, Willis Burks II as Pope Joe, and Ron Perlman as Jagger Vance.

  • Among the first games to use "normal mapping".

  • Fight with melee weapons, special moves, pistols, rifles, shotguns, and more, although by default, guards weapons are DNA coded.

  • Single Player campaign only.

Developer:Starbreeze Studios
Publisher: Sierra/Vivendi Universal Games
Released: Xbox in June, 2004 followed by Windows release in December, 2004

Minimum System Requirements, PC Version
CPU 1800MHz, 256MB RAM

ESRB Rating: Mature (17+) for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
]]> 22 Dec 2006 09:51:54 Myst 3: Exile Myst 3 Exile is the third in a continuing epic adventure, spanning across beautiful worlds and lonely alien vistas. Uncover the truth about ancient betrayals and lost civilizations.

- Free-look movement system allows players to pan a full 360 at any location, fully immersing them in the world.
- 5 entirely new ages to explore.
- Dramatic storyline extends the Myst mythology by focusing on a pivotal new character.
- Puzzle solving, revealing mystery & intrigue.
- Original soundtrack.
]]> 07 Feb 2007 03:37:13 Hitman: Blood Money 47 finally comes to the U.S to escape danger in Europe from a rival assassination agency. But danger follows him. From Vegas to the suburbs of California. 47 must compete and stay alive and stop his competition. This game explains all of the confusion created by Contracts.

This sequel introduce so many new features to the game it's hard to believe. 47 truly comes alive with a more agile move set, a better arsenal and a notoriety system.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 08:40:15 Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Step inside the most richly detailed and vibrant game-world ever created. Oblivion is the latest chapter in the epic and highly successful Elder Scrolls saga and utilizes the latest PC and next-generation video game hardware to fully immerse you into the experience.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 06:28:05 Psychonauts Embark on a unique third person psychic adventure through the minds of misfits, monsters and madmen....

For years, the Psychonauts have deployed their psychically-armed operatives all over the world, but this time trouble is brewing in their own boot camp. A deranged scientist is abducting camp cadets for their brains. One student, a mysterious and powerful new arrival named Raz, stands alone against the lunatic. Raz must develop and unleash an arsenal of paranormal powers including his most powerful weapon of all: the ability to launch himself telepathically into the minds of others. Ultimately he must enter the psyche of his worst enemy and destroy his dark plans at their source while trying not to lose his sanity in the process.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 11:14:08 Unreal II-The Awakening Unreal by yourself...
]]> 07 Dec 2006 08:38:45 TOMB RAIDER: LEGEND In a race against time, Lara must travel across the globe to unearth history's greatest weapon. A legendary artifact of such immense power it could threaten humanity's very existence.

Take Lara back to the tombs with totally new moves and hi-tech gadgetry in her most explosive adventure ever.
]]> 02 Feb 2007 08:42:09 FlatOut 2 Experience the drive of your life as you throw yourself around on and off the track causing fences to shatter, tyre walls explode, water tanks and barrels fly across the track into other cars. And if anyone, including you, gets caught up in a big smash sit back and watch as the driver gets catapulted through the windscreen in spectacular effect. Also unique to FlatOut, anything you destroy or alter stays a part of the race lap after lap, increasing the carnage to unprecedented levels!
]]> 25 Dec 2006 04:47:18 The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind A strange land, home to the dark elves, is under siege from within. The evil Dagoth Ur strives to conquer all, and the Tribunal which protects the land are weakened and can no longer hold out against the onslaught. To Morrowind, to the island of Vvardenfall, you are sent, to do battle with Dagoth Ur and free the false gods of the Tribunal from their ancient folly.
]]> 09 Jan 2007 10:43:39 BloodRayne In 1932 an American teenage girl was apprehended in Europe after caring a path of destruction trying to track down and kill her biological father. The girl's name was Rayne and she claimed the people she killed, and her father who was still at large, were vampires. Before more information was attained, the girl disappeared.

That girl is a Dhampir; a product of her human mother's rape by her vampire father. Born with the powers of a vampire without all of the weaknesses. She was taken in by an underground organization calling themselves the Brimstone Society--a top-secret fraternity that hunts down and destroys supernatural threats. Agent BloodRayne, as she is now known, protects humanity from things that ordinary people shouldn't have to deal with.

In the years between the World Wars, Agent BloodRayne works as a killing machine for The Brimstone Society. Two missions, five years apart, turn out to be connected by one man. For years, this man has been searching the world for powerful occult artifacts to bring Germany into a new age of domination. Agent BloodRayne must face this man's elite Nazi army to prevent them from releasing creatures of unfathomable terror onto the world in their unwavering quest for the artifacts.
]]> 07 Feb 2007 06:41:24 Sonic The Hedgehog 3 The storyline picks up shortly after the end of Sonic the Hedgehog 2: Dr. Robotnik's[1] space station, the Death Egg, has fallen out of orbit after his mech suit exploded in his final showdown with Sonic, causing critical damage to the ship.

However, instead of impacting the planet, the Death Egg crash-landed on Angel Island[2][3], a mystical floating landmass previously believed to exist only in legend. As Dr. Robotnik repairs the ship he meets up with the Island’s sole inhabitant, Knuckles the Echidna. Knuckles is the last surviving member of an ancient civilization, whose ruins and relics are scattered throughout the island. He is also the guardian of a set of Chaos Emeralds, which are the source of the island’s levitation powers.

Knowing Sonic and Tails will try to track him down, and realizing he can use the Chaos Emeralds to power the ship, Robotnik deceives Knuckles into believing Sonic is trying to steal his emeralds, and he’s come to help him. Shortly after, Super Sonic and Miles “Tailsâ€
]]> 10 Feb 2007 02:29:37 Fable: The Lost Chapters Once upon a time...

Scratch that, this is no fairy tale.

Imagine a world where every choice and action determines what you become. Where you evolve in real time based on every little thing you do. Fable is an RPG action adventure unlike any you've ever dreamed of. And now more than ever - with extra quests, additional customization, and extended content - your destiny is yours to choose!

Evolve in Real Time - Your decisions make you a hero, villain, or anything in between. Your actions determine how you look and how others react to you.

Expanded Content - Discover additional regions, storylines, and side quests as well as new optional missions.

Fable is designed to offer pure, concentrated role-playing, with a primary emphasis on open character development and influential interaction with the game world. The game begins as the player's character enters the fantasy land of Albion, a growing, interactive environment that develops and changes with each new event. The character grows and changes as well, beginning the adventure as a youth but slowly aging as he or she lives life in Albion, gaining wrinkled skin, graying hair, and (hopefully) becoming quite elderly by the end of the story.

The game is designed such that every choice and action the character makes can have an effect on his or her development. Physically active characters become more fit, while those who spend their time studying the arcane arts may develop receding hairlines. Characters who spend time working in the hot sun will get a tan and individual wounds heal into distinct, telling scars. Less tangible characteristics mature according to behavior as well. Players are free to commit nearly any conceivable action, but acts of cruelty will lead to vilification by NPC townsfolk, while noble and altruistic deeds may inspire loyalty and adulation from the masses.

It is important to note that instead of focusing on a limited number of scripted "good versus evil" plot points, character development in this game occurs mostly through hundreds of minor day-to-day decisions that gradually come to define and refine the player's place in the game world. In short, !Xbox gamers are offered a virtual lifetime of choices to play through. Fable is developed by Big Blue Box, an affiliate of Lionhead Studios, whose popular Black White shares the theme of free-form, consequential character development over a broad span of time. (http://www.starpulse.com/Video_Games/Fable/Summary/)
]]> 24 Jan 2007 07:52:51 Prince Of Persia: Warrior Within Our story begins a few years after the conclusion of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. The Prince has returned home to Babylon, to find himself hunted by a supernatural creature bent on his destruction. Forced to live a life on the run, he seeks counsel from an old mystic, who explains that his actions have spawned an immortal incarnation of Fate, known as the Dahaka. In his quest to save the Sultan's palace from destruction, the Prince created a rift in the Timeline.

Hunted by the Dahaka, the Prince embarks upon a path of both carnage and mystery to defy his preordained death, as he quickly comes to realize that there's only one possible way to stay alive: journey to the birthplace of the Sands of Time, find a way to travel back into the past, and stop the Sands from being created. Without the Sands, the Prince's last adventure will not occur -- and the Dahaka will vanish. His journey leads him to the infernal core of a cursed island stronghold harboring mankind's greatest fears.
]]> 07 Feb 2007 07:33:39 Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil The gripping expansion pack for DOOM 3 takes your even further into the the DOOM universe. Two years following the unexplained disaster on Mars, the UAC returns to the abandoned facility to investigate a mysterious beacon buried deep in the ruins of the ancient civilization.
]]> 15 Jan 2007 01:55:25