This Week's Most Popular Games Tagged 'Windows, core, action' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/games/popular/week/Windows/core/action/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss ]]> This Week's Most Popular Games Tagged 'Windows, core, action' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/css/logo.jpg This Week's Most Popular Games Tagged 'Windows, core, action' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/games/popular/week/Windows/core/action/?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss ]]> en-us Bioforge
Take the starring role in Origin's latest Interactive Movie"

Centuries in the future, a madman's interstellar plot is set in motion, and only you have the skills, the position and the armament to stop it. You are the Mondites' first success in creating the perfect warrior.

Stripped of memory and enhanced with both human and alien technology, you are a primary element of their master plan - unless you can rediscover who you are, uncover your enemies' plans and make your break for freedom. But you'd better be quick - time and opportunity are running out.

Game features:

  • Variable identity outcomes - your choices throughout the game determine your former identity from a list of experimental subjects.

  • Lifelike, fluid animation with 24 powerful combat maneuvers.

  • Interactive backgrounds - from ground-to-air weapons, to monitors and projectile-reflective surfaces.

  • 8-channel digital sound effects, cued by distance and camera location.

  • 3-D, texture-mapped synthetic actors whose images actually show the injuries suffered in combat.

  • Multiple camera angles and beautifully rendered alien environments.

  • 22 voice actors!

  • Believed to have the first single-skin, fully texture mapped, skeleton-based characters ever seen in gaming.

Origin Systems (An Electronic Arts Company) developed and published this single player adventure. It was released in the U.S. in April 1995. At the time the following system requirements were high end!

Requirements
MS-DOS: Intel486/50+ or 100% compatible PC system. Required: MS-DOS 5.0 or higher, 8MB RAM, 5MB Hard drive space (29MB recommended), 2x CD-ROM drive, MSCDEX version 2.2 or higher, Microsoft mouse , keyboard.
Graphics: 256-color VGA.
MUSIC: Ad Lib, Sound Blaster/SB Pro/SB 16/SB AWE, Wave Blaster, General Midi MPU-401 interface, or 100% compatible sound board.
DIGITIZED SPEECH and SOUND EFFECTS: Sound Blaster/SB Pro/SB 16/SB AWE or 100% compatible sound board.


Trivia: Spoiler warning! In spite of a highly detailed story that obviously was painstakingly crafted, the game ending is rather notorious for falling a bit short. The developers endeavored at one point to rewrite the ending, which then blossomed into a possible sequel, but at length the whole initiative was dropped.
]]> 14 Dec 2006 10:44:27 Deus Ex The year is 2052 and the world is a dangerous and chaotic place. Terrorists operate openly - killing thousands; drugs, disease and pollution kill even more. The world's economies are close to collapse and the gap between the insanely wealthy and the desperately poor grows ever wider. Worst of all, an ages old conspiracy bent on world domination has decided that the time is right to emerge from the shadows and take control. No one believes they exist. No one but you.
]]> 22 Nov 2006 09:26:12 Scorched 3D Scorched 3D is a game based on the classic DOS game Scorched Earth. Scorched 3D adds amongst other new features a 3D island environment and LAN and internet play.

The gameplay remains much like in the original game. Aiming towards a certain opponent is earily done with the A button, and after that the aiming with angle and power is exactly as in Scorched Earth. However, some weapons will react differently when landing due to the three dimensional terrain.
]]> 13 Feb 2007 01:38:57 Sin Episodes: Emergence SiN Episodes: Emergence launches the new era of episodic gaming. A first person shooter powered by Valve's award-winning Source technology, SiN Episodes offers unprecedented interactivity, an engrossing story, and a revolutionary dynamic difficulty system that provides a custom experience based on your skill level and play style.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 04:54:19 Tribes 2 The ultimate team-based action experience for you and up to 60 others. Tribes 2 is a sci-fi first-person shooter (FPS) computer game, currently the second-latest game in the fictional Earthsiege universe . It was developed by Dynamix and published by the company then known as Sierra Entertainment in March 2001.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 07:08:58 Hitman: Codename 47 You are Agent 47, a clone made to be the perfect assassin. You work for the agency, traveling to places like China, Columbia and Russia to complete your contracts.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 08:37:25 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: 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 Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth Call of Cthulhu -- Dark Corners of the Earth is a first-person horror game that combines intense action and adventure elements. You will draw upon your skills in exploration, investigation, and combat while faced with the seemingly impossible task of battling evil incarnate.
]]> 26 Nov 2006 01:18:28 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 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 Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines brings White Wolf's famous pen-and-paper role playing game to the back to the PC . For the first time players can explore the World of Darkness from a first person perspective in a game which utilizes Valve's striking Source Engine.

Unlike third person role playing games, Bloodlines will put you in the shoes of the character you control. You will get up close and personal with the brilliantly animated characters that populate the game world and tangled in the web of intrigue that is the staple of Troika Games' roleplaying titles.

Although set in the same universe, Bloodlines is not a sequel to the last Vampire title: Redemption.

You begin your journey this time in modern day Los Angeles as a newly embraced vampire. By creating you without the consent of your clan's Elders, your sire has violated one of vampire society's most hallowed laws. As punishment for the crime he has been put to death. Normally you would be expected to share the same fate but the newly installed Prince of Los Angeles thinks you might have some merit: you're a newly embraced vampire with no sire to guide you; you are unfamiliar with the world of vampires and their laws and customs. You would be useful and expendable pawn in his grand scheme.

You will employ a variety of firearms and skills such as computer hacking and lock picking as well as your devastating array of vampiric powers called Disciplines. And what would a game about vampires be if there wasn't some blood drinking?

You choose to play as a member of one of seven diverse and specialized vampire clans and you'll need to employ all of your preternatural skills to survive. You'll need to charm, sneak, intimidate and fight your way through the dangerous world the vampires inhabit and along the way decide just who you really owe your allegiance to.

With so many different clans, as many as 5 different endings and the ability pursue several avenues of specialization as you upgrade your character, Bloodlines will provide a great deal of replayability.
]]> 01 Dec 2006 06:25:23 Crysis Crysis is an upcoming sci-fi first-person shooter computer game that is currently in production by German developer Crytek. Crytek is best known for the 2004 shooter Far Cry that was released for PC.
]]> 01 Dec 2006 11:21:39 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 Tribes: Vengeance Tribes: Vengeance (sometimes called T:V or Tribes 3) is a sci-fi first-person shooter (FPS) computer game of the Tribes video game series. It was developed by Irrational Games and released by Sierra Entertainment (part of Vivendi Universal) in October 2004. It was built on enhanced version of the Unreal Engine 2/2.5, which Irrational Games called the Vengeance engine. In addition to its multiplayer network maps, Vengeance includes a complete single-player campaign.
]]> 01 Dec 2006 05:46:42 Red Faction Join a group of miners on Mars working for the evil Ultor Corporation. Miners have been dying from bad working conditions and a new disease. Join the Red Faction to combat Ultor and gain freedom for your fellow miners.
]]> 01 Dec 2006 10:22:10 Manhunt They just killed Cash. Now, they want to kill him again.

America is full of run down, broken rust-belt towns where nobody cares and anything goes. In Manhunt's Carcer City, nothing matters anymore and all that's left are cheap thrills. The ultimate rush is the power to grant life and take it away, for sport. This time, James Earl Cash, you are the sport. They gave you your life back. Now, they are going to hunt you down.

You awake to the sound of your own panicked breath. You must run, hide, and fight to survive. If you can stay alive long enough, you may find out who did this to you. This is a brutal blood sport.
]]> 01 Dec 2006 11:22:28 Marathon 2: Durandal Marathon 2: Durandal is the second game in the classic sci-fi shooter trilogy. It continues the story started in Marathon and is followed by Marathon Infinity.

Bungie went on to create one of the most successful games of all time: Halo: Combat Evolved.

Developer: Bungie Software
Released: 1995 [Mac], 1996 [Windows]
]]> 02 Dec 2006 01:38:19 Quest for Glory 3: Wages of War The third game in Quest for Glory series is set in the Africa-like world of Tarna, where you travel with your new liontaur friends you have met in the second game. Shortly after your arrival, you learn about the conflict between the liontaurs and the neighbor Simbani village, populated by the leopardmen. It is now time for our hero to become a skillful diplomat and to prevent an upcoming war between the two nations.

The gameplay system of "Wages of War" is the same as in the two previous games. The game plays like an adventure, with puzzles to solve and characters to talk to, with the additional of RPG elements: combat (action-based) and character development. You can play as either a fighter, a thief, a mage, or a paladin, and raise your skills directly after battles or by performing various actions. Graphics and interface underwent a major change. This is the first 256-color Quest for Glory game, and the first one to utilize the new, icon-based interface.

(from the Moby Games QFG3 page)
]]> 05 Dec 2006 11:32:14 Arx Fatalis Arx Fatalis is a first-person RPG, which plunges the player into an amazingly complex fantasy world. Arx Fatalis combines intelligent storyline with impressive medieval surroundings. The user-friendly interface allows the highest interactivity possible. Arx Fatalis creates a state of intense immersion that allows the player to feel that all his actions have a direct consequence in the Arx game world.

The goal of the game is to destroy the secret cult of Akbaa: the god of devastation and chaos, and thereby prevent his return to the physical world. Should the player fail, the demon is bound to impose his reign of terror upon Arx. The player, assuming the role of the potential hero, fights inside an underground fortress using wooden clubs, swords and magical items to defend himself against creatures including goblins, trolls, ratmen and other vicious opponents. But, brute force is not always the best way to succeed and the player has at his disposal the innovative new "onscreen gesture based magic system" to assist him in his progress through the game. Using the mouse, burning runes can be drawn in mid-air. A series of these gestures combine to create powerful magic spells that will protect the player or empower him to defeat his enemies and pursue his quest.

In addition to the struggles against demons and monsters there are numerous opportunities for interaction with the creatures and objects inside the fortress helping the player to rediscover his memory, solve puzzles and fulfill quests. Collecting experience points enables the player to appropriately craft his hero's skills and abilities and to develop his overall persona. Dare to enter the world of Arx Fatalis. Explore underground cities, secret temples, lost civilizations, dwarf mines and discover the magic of Arx Fatalis...

(from the official Arx Fatalis website)
]]> 05 Dec 2006 11:49:23 RoboBlitz Blitz is a young and capable robot working as a technician in the Opera Point Orbital Defense Station and Space Cannon facility. His job description includes: fueling generators, rewiring electrical systems, re-balancing busted conveyors, spinning massive fans, and even molding giant railgun slugs. It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it! Thankfully, Blitz has a trusty sidekick named Karl, who helps out by designing new weapons and tools. We'd tell you more, but then we'd have to EMP you...
]]> 06 Dec 2006 11:37:33 The Qube WHAT IS THE QUBE? The Qube is a fun, challenging
& VERY ADDICTIVE 3D Puzzle Game based on the classic PSone game Kurushi (also know as Intelligent Qube).

In a variety of breathtaking backdrops, you must first select 1 of 4 characters from `The Diaeresis Fleet` with varying abilities & speed to find out exactly & take on the relentless wrath of The Qube!
]]> 07 Dec 2006 03:49:54 Evolva Evolva is a third-person squad-based action shooter whose original design concept actually succeeds in adding to the overall quality of the game. Evolva's organic visuals are also rather impressive, though they put quite a demand on your system.

In the game, you command the Evolva, a team of genetically mutable "genohunters" on a mission to rid a planet on the edge of the galaxy of a world-eating parasite and its spawn. Your four genohunters are capable of mutating to incorporate genes unique to the aliens you encounter on your crusade, as they physically append new weapons and morph to reflect their added abilities. You actually control the development and balance of various genetic abilities in the mutation screen: Each time a genohunter mutates, you are presented with two genetic paths to choose from, each with benefits and shortcomings, until you accumulate more genes to achieve a net increase in power.
]]> 08 Dec 2006 01:51:19 Deus Ex: Invisible War Fifteen years following the events depicted in the multi-award winning Deus Ex, the world is just beginning to recover from catastrophic depression.

As an elite anti-terrorist agent, you must fight numerous militant factions bent on violently reshaping the world to suit their own agendas. Using high-tech gadgetry and futuristic body modification (or biomods), you are granted near superhuman powers.

Travel the globe while uncovering fiendish plots of world domination. Unmask the conspirators, while uncovering the shocking truth behind your own origins.
]]> 09 Dec 2006 01:08:20 Dark Legions A beautiful mix of strategy and action.
]]> 09 Dec 2006 07:53:55 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 Metal Gear Solid This game is the game that started it all, sure the other ones after this are great, but I think this is the best. It has level design that is genious. The storyline is compelling and full of plot twists, and the action and gameplay is groundbreaking.

basic Plot outline:
An elite group of Next Generation Special Forces lead by members of FOX HOUND has attacked and captured an Alaskan nuclear weapons facility.

Their demands state that the US government hand over the remains of their former commander (Big Boss) within 24 hours or they will launch a nuclear weapon.

Solid Snake's mission comes in a two phases. First, he needs to rescue both DARPA Chief Donald Anderson and the President of Arms Tech Kenneth Baker, both are being held captive in the facility.

Next, Snake needs to investigate weather or not the terrorists have the ability to actually launch a nuclear weapon, and stop them if they do.
]]> 13 Dec 2006 05:20:13 Messiah In a future earth full of gloom and despair, a cherub named Bob is sent by the almighty to purge evil and restore order. As Bob you are small, weak, and without much skill save one; you have the ability to possess any living creature.

With the devil on his heels, Bob has his work cut out for him, but he can navigate sewers as a rat, battle as a thug, or find just the right human to get through a high security area. Lots of puzzles are involved, as well as fighting to the music of Fear Factory.

Messiah is a 3rd person, 3d, single player action shooter produced by Shiny Entertainment and published in 2000 by Interplay.

System requirements:
Microsoft Windows 95 or higher, DirectX, Intel Pentium II 233, 3D Acelerator Card, 64MB RAM, 4X CD-ROM or faster, DirectSound compliant sound card, 250MB HDD space.

ESRB rating of Mature (M)

The retail version is on 2 cd's. There is an OEM version on 1 cd that apparently lacks some of the musical content.
]]> 14 Dec 2006 02:41:02 Alan Wake Alan Wake's first novel is hailed as a masterpiece of horror, its source material having come from dreams that began just before meeting his fiancee Alice. Her sudden dissappearance leaves him devastated. Suffering from insomnia, he can no longer write, nor even dream. Desperate for help he travels to a sleep clinic in the secluded, small town of Bright Falls, Washington.

At the clinic he overcomes his insomnia, but meets a woman that looks remarkably like Alice. He begins to have nightmares, and starts writing a new novel based upon them, but soon finds that Bright Falls appears to be turning into the horrible place of his nightmares. With gun and flashlight in hand, he must find out what's going on.
]]> 14 Dec 2006 03:01:56 Outcast Plot

In 2007 the U.S. government successfully sends a probe to an alien world in a parallel universe. The probe starts transmitting video images of the world back to Earth. Then, just minutes into the mission, an alien life form discovers the probe and damages it, causing an unforeseen backlash of energy to create a black hole threatening Earth. Cutter Slade, a former U.S. Navy SEAL, is given the job of escorting three scientists on a mission to this alien world to recover the probe and close the black hole.

Arriving in this alien world, Cutter is separated from the other scientists and is hailed by the natives as their messiah, the Ulukai.

Technology

The game uses a voxel engine to render its objects and textures. This unique method is purely software-based; it does not rely on any hardware-acceleration via a graphics card. A voxel engine was chosen because there is no performance hit when rendering round or curved surfaces, thus allowing for a much more detailed Landscape. Had the same level of detail seen in Outcast been attempted on a hardware-accelerated polygon engine, there would have been a significant drop in performance.
]]> 14 Dec 2006 04:57:01 Kingpin: Life of Crime In Kingpin you start out with nothing but a bruising from the henchmen of the local crime boss. After that it's all about revenge, and surviving the roughest parts of a gritty urban environment that has elements of a historical past, but never quite existed.

As you work your way up you win the respect of those you need to help you, as well as do what it takes to acquire the wealth needed to keep rising through the ranks until you're the top dog. Among other things, cash is useful at the "pawn-o-matic" found in each chapter as a means to purchase weapons and ammunition.

The game is bloody, vulgar and relentlessly violent, and has received criticism over this. When installing, you can opt for a reduced level of violence and swearing, although that seems contrary to the inevitable objectives of the game.


The game features nine deadly weapons ranging from lead pipes and pistols to grenade launchers, bazookas and flamethrowers. Multi-player support is provided for both LAN and Internet and offers customizable pre-game options such as time limits, flag limits (maximum death toll) and a cash limit. Up to 16 players can bully and bludgeon their way through an online game at any given time.

Also featured are soundtrack music by Cypress Hill, clever level layouts, an intuitive and fully customizable gui, "area specific damage" to characters, blood, and a gritty, urban ghetto feel through carefully crafted and performed dialogue, sound effects and the artful use of haze and custom textures to achieve the best possible looks the Quake 2 engine could produce at that time.

Developed by Xatrix Entertainment on the Quake II engine, Kingpin: Life of Crime was published on June 30, 1999 by Interplay.

System requirements: 233MHz Processor, 64Mb RAM, OpenGL 3D Graphics card
]]> 14 Dec 2006 08:46:21 Mafia Mafia is a 3D action crime epic set in the seedy underworld of the 1930's. Rise from the lowly but well-dressed Footsoldier, to an envied and feared Made Man in an era of mob hits, car chases, and bootlegging. Earn a reputation as a tough enforcer, daring getaway driver, and deadly hitman in your quest for respect and power within the Salieri Family.
]]> 15 Dec 2006 05:38:27 Hellgate: London Notice: In production

London, 2038. The once great city lies in ruins. A massive, sinister gash in the fabric of our reality gnarls and churns, dominating the horizon as it blends into a permanently darkened sky. The unspeakable cataclysm that befell London threatened to engulf the world as the shadow of the demons fell across the face of mankind.

  • Introduction

    • According to legend, when the ravens depart the Tower of London, it will crumble to rubble and disaster will befall England. As man became more dependent on science, ancient lore and rituals were lost to the antiquity of time.

  • Classes

    • Mankind is a race of survivors. A rebellious few survive in the shadows of their former dominance, combining the holy, ancient, and arcane rites with the fringe sciences of the modern era.

  • Demons

    • Emerging from the swirling chaos of the Hellgate, the demons overwhelmed humanity's defenses. The Hellgate writhes and seethes like a living thing, a tornado of eldritch energies through which the minions of the netherworld surge forth.

  • Mods

    • Some equipment can be modified through the introduction of various technological and magical elements, commonly called Mods. These Mods are typically integrated into pre-defined slots or hard points on an item through a simple procedure that can be performed by any adventurer.

    Bill Roper said,
    Success should be based on skills, level, items, and so on. So it's really based on what makes you successful in an RPG. That being said, it certainly isn't going to hurt a guy if he's good at shooters.

    Additional Game Features:

    • First person perspective!

    • Dynamically generated content and levels including tons of weapon and item drops for scavenging.

    • PvP will be included, although it is likely that it will be for Elite members only. PvP modes may include duels and arena matches

    • Has some combat aspects of a shooter, but is first and foremost an action rpg. Players will not need to scavenge for ammo. The only mention of "ammo" refers to a type of modification.

    • Quest driven story, yet with a lot of freedom to adventure and treasure hunt in hopes of finding the best of the randomly generated goodies, as was so popular in the spiritual predecessor Diablo!

    Proposed Subscription Details (thanks Hellgate Guru!) These are just a few of the features discussed, visit the Hellgate Guru links for more info:

    • Free player accounts as well as "elite" optional subscription play options that are currently stated as $9.95 per month for U.S. players.

    • Free players can access all initial content and play with free or elite players, but elite accounts will receive regular content updates.

    • Elite players can access premier 24/7 customer support via phone and email, and will have priority in case of player ques.

    • Free players may create 3 characters, Elite players up to 12. Elite players will have a 40 item "swap stash" versus 20 items for free players.

    • Elite accounts can access additional play modes.

    • Elite players will have enhanced graphical options for characters.


    Ex-Blizzard employees Bill Roper, Erich Schafer, Max Schafer, and Dave Brevik--the men behind Diablo, are the heart of the development of Hellgate: London.

    Developers: Flagship Studios
    Co-publishers: Namco Bandai Games & Electronic Arts

    The game runs on a proprietary engine developed specifically for this game. The only other component that Flagship has licensed is Havok for physics.

    System Requirements: Pending!
    ]]>     16 Dec 2006 10:48:21     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     SiN
    You've made a religion out of fighting crime. Now you're going to make Elexis pay for her sins.

    As freelance cop Colonel John R. Blade you're the head of the top private protection service in Freeport City, travelling through the embattled city to track down the mysterious source of the madness that is ravaging the streets.

    With the help of the nerdy (and annoying) hacker and HardCorps operative J.C., your trail leads ever closer to the seductive but twisted scientist Elexis Sinclaire and her huge global corportation SiNTEK.

    Your mission eventually takes you through over 20 diverse areas among six unique and exciting environments to explore and destroy, ranging from the inner bowels of the city to the serene underwater crevices of the deep ocean in this 1998 3D action shooter that was the basis of the current "SiN Episodes" series.

    Additional Game Features:

    • Varied weapons include sniper rifle with scope, shotgun, spider mines, 357 Magnum, pulse cannon, and more.

    • Pioneering in it's time, SiN featured "Action-Based Outcomes." Players actions affected various outcomes within the level, and in some cases affecting later levels.

    • Some machinery can be operated, ATM's and computers can be logged into, walls break and traps await.

    • Mature Sexual Themes, Animated Violence, Animated Blood and Gore

    • 3D positional audio

    • Multiplayer deathmatch mode, including numerous maps additional to the campaign mode.

    • Reactive AI that don't just kill. Reacting to the situation, if they take too much damage they can duck out and go find a way to heal themselves. Choose stealth when required or the noise can attract your foes.

    • Quake II engine with enhancements.

    • 16-bit Color graphics in both hardware and software, colored lighting in both hardware and software, masked textures such as grates, catwalks, and chain-link fences, translucent textures such as windows and water surfaces. Advanced alpha blending methods for killer explosions and outstanding special effects.

    • Script based animation system - Allows each level to have completely unique scripted sequences, adding a level of realism and interactivity never before seen.

    • Full 360 degree environment mapped skies.

    Developer: Ritual Entertainment
    Publisher: Activision
    released: November, 1998

    System Requirements

    Windows 95/98 or NT 4.0, Pentium 150 MHz processor (166 MHz or higher recommended), 32MB RAM, 100% Sound Blaster-compatible sound card, Joystick and mouse-supported (3-button mouse recommended), DirectX 5.x, GLSin supports some OpenGL 3D accelerator cards. Consult your hardware manufacturer to determine compatibility.


    Trivia! The project budget for SiN was $2 million. 40 levels were originally created, 31 of which made it to the final game.
    ]]>     19 Dec 2006 03:05:11     Postal In this first of the highly controversial series (which is actually outlawed in at least two countries), you're a guy who has a run of very bad luck, only to come home to learn you've been evicted, causing you to go off the deep end. You're convinced that everyone is infected by something, and that the local air force base must be the source.

    As you undertake to get to the heart of the problem the action picks up right at your little hovel; police and federal agents have you surrounded, and the only way out is through a hail of bullets.

    There are only two classes of NPC's: innocents and hostiles. You must eliminate a certain number of hostiles to complete each level, although there is no penalty for injuring innocents.

    Additional Game Features:

    • 16 levels in which you encounter the local truck stop, sherriff's station, a parade complete with marching band, an ostrich farm, a bridge, a mineshaft, a salvage yard, the Thunderbird Trailer Park, a train station, a construction site, the ghetto, the city, Central Park, a huge industrial complex, and finally, the Air Force Base.

    • Includes a level Editor.

    • Your default weapon is a sub-machine gun with unlimited ammo, but your extensive arsenal includes flame throwers, shotguns, landmines, hand grenades, molotov cocktails and more.

    • Single player action, plus multiplayer up to 16 players, and four additional Challenge games including Timed levels, Goal levels, Capture the Flag levels, and Checkpoint levels.

    • Arcade style third-person/isometric shooter action.

    Released: November 14, 1997
    Developer: Running With Scissors
    Publisher: Ripcord Games

    Minimum System Requirements

    133 MHz or higher CPU, 16 MB or more of RAM, 24 MB or more of available hard drive space, Any Video Card (with at least 256 colors at 640x480 resolution), 16-bit Audio Card (Sound Blaster 16 or 100% Compatible)
    ]]>     20 Dec 2006 11:10:02     Postal 2 Notice: Not suitable for children

    It's always funny until someone gets hurt... and then it's absolutely friggin' hysterical!

    In the second game of the series, you are "the dude", living in a shabby trailer on the edge of the town of Paradise with a significant other whose nagging is just one of the many reasons you might just go over the edge.

    Each day you leave home with a list of chores, and day one finds you heading to the office to pick up your check, but a pink slip awaits, as the game continues to urge you to cross the line.

    Unlike the 1997 Postal however, in this game you can choose not to let things push you over the edge, instead following a pacifistic route, though you are certain to witness mass carnage either way.


    Additional Game Features:

    • Walk a week in the Postal Dude's shoes.

    • Freely explore full 3-D open-ended environments.

    • Interact with over 100 unique NPC's including Gary Coleman, marching bands, dogs, cats and elephants, protesters, policemen and civilians, with or without weapons.

    • Accessible map of town shows all main locations.

    • HUD displays current weapon and available ammo, inventory button displaying current selected item, and health status.

    • Arsenal includes a pistol, shotgun, fully automatic rifle, gasoline can, Molotov cocktails, frag grenades, rockets and more.

    • POSTAL 2 is all about choice; experiment with everyone and everything.

    • Originally a complete single player game, various multiplayer modes were later added in the "Share the Pain" edition.

    • Powered by the Unreal 2.0 engine.

    • The "1337" patch reduced long load times, and added levels, such as "Tora Bora Cave" where the dude comes across Osama Bin Laden in the course of his search for weapons of mass destruction.

    Developer: Running With Scissors
    Publishers: Windows edition by Whiptail Interactive , Linux version by Linux Game Publishing
    Released April 2003

    Minimum System Requirements

    733 MHz Pentium 3, 128 MB RAM, 8x CD-ROM, 32 MB GeForce2-class, DirectX 8.1 compatible video and sound card required.

    Trivia: Postal III is set to be released in 2008 on PC and Xbox 360. It is currently being developed by Running With Scissors and Akella, using Valve's Source engine.
    ]]>     21 Dec 2006 12:16:09     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     Shadowgrounds Shadowgrounds brings fresh air to the action genre with its unique top-down perspective, explosive action sequences, innovative weapon upgrade system and moody soundtrack. Addictive gameplay and audiovisual fireworks set the scene for a near-future tale of epic heights.


    Be prey to the vicious aliens - or prepare to strike back before it's too late!
    ]]>     23 Dec 2006 07:12:01     Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure
    worthplaying.com said,
    Getting Up has a fairly innovative take on gameplay mechanics, attempting to mix street-style brawling with elaborate jumping and climbing puzzles and a new take on player-involved graffiti tagging.

    Play as Trane, a "toy" graffiti artist with the street smarts, athletic prowess and vision to become an "All City King"--the most reputable of all graffiti artists. Along your quest, uncover the mayor's deep, dark secret... and use your fighting talents and high-wire graf to expose the city's leader as a corrupt tyrant.

    As you struggle to save a neighborhood from an oppressive government, one question stands out: What if graffiti could change the world? Risk your life battling city authorities and rival graf gangs--mere obstacles in your attempt to get your tag up. And in this city, not just any tag will do. You'll have to "Get IN, Get UP and Get OUT."


    Additional Game Features:

    • A digital "black book" to store unlocked tags and graf images.

    • A groundbreaking graffiti gameplay system, designed to sharpen your skills as you tag with Aerosol, Rollers, Markers, Wheat Paste, Stickers and Stencils.

    • A revolutionary storyline written by Marc Ecko.

    • Authentic tags from more than 50 real-life graffiti artists, six of whom appear in-game as mentors.

    • Eleven distinct city environments, with 20 gameplay levels. Single-player only.

    • Fighting mechanics that combine kicking, grappling and punching, along with improvised weaponry.

    • The Evolution of Graffiti: As Trane grows from "toy" to "All City King," his style and the state of graffiti evolve.

    • Trane's Abilities: Combat, Graffiti, Intuition, Sneak Mode, Navigation Unique "Intuition" system, allowing you to find ideal places to tag.

    • World-renowned hip-hop artist Talib Kweli as the voice of Trane.

    • A limited edition includes the game, a black book, a soundtrack CD, a making-of/documentary DVD, and a silver Sharpie with the Getting Up logo on it, all in a big metal box. The DVD has a 30-minute documentary on graf culture, with interviews, some "making-of" stuff, and a whole "how to play" section with tips.

    • Acclaimed extensive soundtrack features songs from Hip Hop artists such as Talib Kweli, Mobb Deep, Pharoahe Monch, Del the Funky Homosapien, Eric B and Rakim.

    Developer: Mark Ecko/The Collective
    Publisher: Atari
    Released: 2006

    Minimum System Requirements
  • Operating System: Windows 2000/XP
  • Processor: Pentium 4 1.8 GHz or AMD Athlon 1.8 GHz or higher
  • Memory: 512 MB RAM
  • Hard Disk Space: 3 GB free
  • Video: 64MB Hardware T&L compatible video card
  • Sound: DirectX version 9.0c-compatible sound card
  • DirectX version 9.0c (included) or higher

    • * Hardware T&L video cards that do not support shaders, such as the GeForce 4 MX or Intel Extreme Graphics family, are not supported.
    ]]>     23 Dec 2006 07:47:36     Project: Snowblind
    Game Informer said,
    The Future of War


    Experience the dramatic intensity of the frontlines of a war through the eyes of the first of a new breed of super soldiers in this gritty and epic first-person action game.

    In the not so distant Future, Lt. Nathan Frost is challenged to stop a renegade regime from eradicating the civilized world.

    Hong Kong, 2065. 2nd Lt. Nathan Frost is just a regular grunt until he volunteers for a super-soldier transformation for an international army called the Liberty Coalition. A painful series of surgeries gives Frost extra-normal abilities via implanted enhancements, which place him on the frontlines of a war against a destructive regime. After a military coup leaves him stranded in hostile territory, cut off from command with only a handful of men, Frost must stop the militia's secret weapon that threatens to plunge the world into darkness.


    Additional Game Features:

    • Originally intended for release as "Deus Ex: Clan Wars", the game has some similarity of style and like the Deus Ex series features bio-mods.

    • Single player campaign and Robust online multiplayer experience with 16 players and voice over IP support - classic and new multiplayer modes are offered, including exclusive modes for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox console platforms.

    • Augmentations such as invisibility, reflex boost and electrical storm give you an edge on the battlefield against your highly equipped and battle-ready foe.

    • Equip yourself with an arsenal of expiremental weaonry such as the Riot Wall and Attack Drones, and other high tech gadgetry.

    • Pick-up-&-play, intense battlefield action starts at minute 1, pulling the player through a cinematically immersive storyline.

    • Wide variety in mission pacing ranges from frenetic action of battlefield chaos to infiltration style missions.

    • Vehicles serve as functional obstacle solving tools and as weapons in both single and multiplayer gameplay.

    Developer: Crystal Dynamics, Inc.
    Publisher: Eidos, Inc.
    Release: February 23, 2005


    Minimum System Requirements
    Pentium IV 1.5GHz (or AthlonXP equivalent), 256MB RAM, 100% DirectX 9 compatible 64MB Direct3D Card with Pixel Shader 1.1 support (GeForce 3/Radeon 8500+)*, 100% DirectX 9 compatible Sound Card, DVD-ROM driver, 3GB free HDD space // * GeForce 4MX not supported
    ]]>     23 Dec 2006 11:53:08     Digger Digger was released by Windmill Software in 1983, popular in the era of the IBM PC with a CGA graphics card and monitor. Digger was resurrected by Andrew Jenner in 1998, when he reverse engineered it to run using VGA on fast Pentium based computers. The source code of the remastered version was released under the GPL with permission of the original author Rob Sleath.
    ]]>     24 Dec 2006 02:53:39     Serious Sam 2 The series famous for relentless intensity is returning and it's bigger, better looking, and more frantic than ever before. Sam "Serious" Stone is back to rescue the universe one bullet at a time against overwhelming hordes of time traveling enemies in Serious Sam 2. Built from the ground up with a completely new engine, Serious Sam will be a shot of adrenaline to the hearts of first-person shooter fans across the world. This is serious!
    ]]>     25 Dec 2006 06:06:00     Prey In Prey, players enter a living spaceship which enslaves alien races and devours humans for lunch. Prey turns the first person shooter genre upside-down with awesome new gameplay features like wall-walking and gravity flipping, making for intense single-player and multi player experiences.

    Prey is built on a heavily modded version of the Doom 3 engine and is developed by Human Head Studios under the direction of 3D Realms.
    ]]>     25 Dec 2006 10:15:01     Chrome Chrome is a tactical FPP shooting game whose action takes place in the future during the colonization of the newly discovered solar system of Valkyria. An unusual and dramatic story takes place among the huge and wild terrains of the five planets, within the residential complexes of the first settlers, deep within mines rich with precious minerals and inside the headquarters of the powerful corporations fighting among themselves over the unique riches of Valkyria.
    ]]>     25 Dec 2006 05:19:45     Chrome SpecForce The game is set in a close future, at a time when the rapid advancement of technology allowed man's common dream of colonizing distant planets to become reality. However, the Federation's bureaucratized structures, which oversee the process of colonizing the universe, limit themselves to selling terraforming permits. This led to a situation where powerful mega corporations held an authoritarian rule on their very own "private" planets. The full autonomy of these new worlds and the stunning rate of expansion into new sectors caused the planets on the edge of explored universe to become a save heaven for much more then just criminal activity.
    ]]>     26 Dec 2006 08:12:44     DevastationZone Troopers You are a DevastationZone Trooper, one of the Blue Star Alliance’s toughest, hardened in combat and trained for action. During a space border patrol in the vicinity of planet Ardanis, you receive a code red distress call. The Rakkai Empire is invading the planet. A massive invasion overwhelms the planet, leaving chaos, horror and uncertainty in its wake. As one of only a few highly skilled survivors, you must use overwhelming firepower and all of your combat skills to battle the hordes of hostile ground troops, find out how to stop their plans and prevent the construction of a Space Wrap Portal.
    ]]>     29 Dec 2006 03:18:03     Morning's Wrath Morning's Wrath is a Classic Adventure / RPG fusion. It combines rich story and puzzles with intense melee and spell-casting combat.

    Assume the role of Princess Morning of the Leowyn Kingdom and guide her on a quest to master the ways of magic and save her kingdom from invasion.
    ]]>     30 Dec 2006 08:25:10     Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 2 In this sequel to the critically acclaimed Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, reassume the role of Raziel, and travel back through the currents of time into various eras of Nosgoth's past in your relentless pursuit of Kain. Encounter new enemies as you unearth the mysteries of Nosgoth's ancient races, and expose the schemes behind the corruption of the Pillars, and the vampire genocide.



    Additional Game Features:

    • Acquire new and improved Soul Reaver weapon enhancements, physical abilities, and relics to interact with the environment and unlock the dark secrets of Nosgoth.

    • Devour the souls of new enemies including vampire hunters, Sarafan warrior-priests, spectral spirits, and extra-dimensional demons.

    • Immerse yourself in a gothic realm of highly detailed architecture and environments supported with an intriguing storyline, compelling voice-over and no in-game loading times.

    • Enhanced graphics and combat system designed specifically for the PlayStation?2 computer entertainment system.

    • Shift real-time between the spectral and material realms to access previously unattainable places.

    Developer: Crystal Dynamics
    Publisher: Eidos Interactive
    Released: November 2001

    System Requirements

    Pentium III 450 MHz or equivalent, 128MB RAM, DirectX 8.0 compliant sound card and 16MB 3d accelerator, 850MB hard drive space, 8x CD-ROM, Windows 98/ME
    ]]>     31 Dec 2006 03:40:13     Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver Cast down to the material world, the mysterious entity 'Raziel' seeks vengeance for betrayal by his master: Kain. Cursed to stalk the dark realms of Nosgoth, he must slay his undead brethren; only then can he absorb their souls for the energy he craves. Moving between the spectral and material plane, Raziel must negotiate puzzles, overcome traps and defy blood-chilling enemies to reach his goal - the final battle with Kain!

    Game Features:

    • Feed on the souls of your enemies.

    • Explore the vast 3D worlds of Nosgoth packed with 60 hours of gameplay.

    • Shift real-time between the material and spectral planes.

    • Hunt 5 different tribes of murderous vampires with an arsenal of deadly hand-to-hand, projectile, and environmental weapons.

    • Third-person perspective, single player adventure.

    Developer: Crystal Dynamics
    Publisher: Eidos Interactive
    Released: 1999 for Playstation and Windows, 2000 for the Sega Dreamcast


    Minimum System Requirements
    P200 MHz MMX Processor (with 3D accelerator card, DirectX 6 compliant)
    P266 MHz Processor (without 3D accelerator card)
    Windows 95/98
    16 MB RAM
    4X CD-ROM drive
    DirectX 6 or higher required (included)
    100% DirectX 6 compliant Sound Card
    320 MB uncompressed hard drive space
    ]]>     31 Dec 2006 04:29:22