All-Time Highest Rated Games Tagged 'Windows, multiplayer, core' on The Great Games Experiment All-Time Highest Rated Games Tagged 'Windows, multiplayer, core' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/css/logo.jpg All-Time Highest Rated Games Tagged 'Windows, multiplayer, core' on The Great Games Experiment en-us Unreal Tournament 3 The Necris invasion has begun, and your clan was one of the first to be slaughtered. Head to the front lines and join this Epic battle to defend humanity while taking your revenge. Unreal Tournament 3 marks the return of the premiere tournament-style first-person shooter. Unreal Tournament 3 unleashes the full power of Unreal Engine 3, taking graphics, gameplay, and challenge to a whole new level. Players engage in intense and hyper-real battles with other human players online or against incredibly realistic Unreal artificial intelligence. Over two dozen weapons and vehicles have been upgraded and enhanced for maximum killing potential. Take on all comers in a variety of game modes including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, an all-new Warfare mode and more.
]]> 08 Feb 2007 09:08:55 Team Fortress 2 If you're ready for the challenge of true team-based online action, you'll find it in Team Fortress 2. With TF 2, you'll go into battle as part of a cohesive squad of fellow warriors all bent on the same goal - whether it's storming a beach, demolishing a bridge or escorting a VIP to safety. And you'll do it knowing your teammates are watching your back as carefully as you're watching theirs. Begin by assuming one of twelve roles, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. If you're looking for a straight-up fight, you'll choose Marine or Commando. Prefer the shadows? You'll make a cunning Spy or Sniper. Medics and Engineers support their teammates through bravery and ingenuity. Focus the raw force of your team's talents through communication and strategizing.

Team Fortress 2 and Portal are included with all retail and Steam versions of Episode Two for the PC.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 05:22:16 Cortex Command Mine precious gold from the deformable terrain in order to buy better weapons, digging tools, and deployable defenses. Use these assets to defend your disembodied brain and bankrupt your opponent!

Old-school 2D sidescroller pixel graphics coupled with an extremely detailed physics simulation makes for a mix of nostalgia and surprising gameplay.
]]> 12 Nov 2006 03:44:39 Starsiege: Tribes Starsiege: Tribes a first person shooter set in the Earthsiege universe. It was developed by Dynamix and published by Sierra Online in Nov. 1998. It's the first in a line of Tribes products which include Tribes II in 2001, Tribes Aerial Assault in 2002 (for PS2) and Tribes: Vengeance in 2004.
]]> 15 Nov 2006 01:51:38 Blockland The game where you build stuff.

An open-ended, non-competitive, multi-player construction game. You build online with bricks.
]]> 09 Oct 2006 01:38:19 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 Starcraft An excellent RTS. Control one of three races to battle and destroy the opponents. The three races have different properties and abilities, but the balance in gameplay is superb.

Made by Blizzard, creators of Warcraft.
]]> 07 Dec 2006 01:22:55 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 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 Warcraft 2 Warcraft II Battle.net Edition is the continuation of the ruthless clash between the armies of the noble Humans and the brutish Orcs. From the initial, unexpected invasion of the Orcish Horde to the quest of the Great Alliance to forever seal the Dark Portal that links their two worlds, you will experience the epic saga of the mighty battle to gain dominance over the kingdom of Azeroth. Along the way you'll need to carefully manage your limited resources to successfully construct and rule your medieval empire while engaging in real-time tactical warfare over land, sea and air.
]]> 08 Dec 2006 02:25:32 Frostwinds An adventure; an epic! Frostwinds is a massive multiplayer online roleplaying game with players from all over the world. Make new friends, join a party, travel as pack, and unite to take down mythological creatures of legendary strength! Featuring dozens of monsters, hundreds of items, and endless quests for hidden treasure and glory, Frostwinds players will always find an adventure waiting for them in this vibrant community. Join Frostwinds today, and let the adventuring begin!
]]> 30 Dec 2006 03:50:18 Total Annihilation A long time ago, the galaxy was ruled by a wise and benevolent central body known as the Core (named after their location, at the core of the galaxy, although some believe it is a portmanteau of "Consciousness Repository"). This organization pushed scientific progress and planetary colonization forward until the human race covered almost the entire galaxy. Ironically, it was the Core's final triumph against mortality that would prove to be its undoing, for when the Core mandated uploading all peoples' brain patterns into machines in a method known as "patterning," there was a massive rebellion from the Arm (named after their location, an arm of the spiral galaxy), an organization which banded together from the edges of the galaxy and demanded to keep their physical bodies. A war like no other began, which has since raged on for four thousand years. The Core copy their finest warriors' brains into fighting robots, and the Arm respond with cloning and powerful manned units.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 04:43:04 Half-Life 2: Episode 1 The Story Continues
In Half-Life, the G-Man made you. In Half-Life 2, he used you to defeat Dr. Breen and start the Resistance. In Episode One, he's lost control.

Half-Life 2 has sold over 4 million copies worldwide, and earned over 35 Game of the Year Awards. Episode One is the first in a series of games that reveal the aftermath of Half-Life 2 and launch a journey beyond City 17.
]]> 25 Nov 2006 05:04:32 Diablo 2 Since the beginning of time, the forces of Order and Chaos have been engaged in an eternal struggle to decide the fate of all Creation. That struggle has now come to the Mortal Realm...and neither Man, Demon, nor Angel will be left unscathed...

After possessing the body of the hero who defeated him, Diablo resumes his nefarious scheme to shackle humanity into unholy slavery by joining forces with the other Prime Evils, Mephisto and Baal. Only you will be able to determine the outcome of this final encounter...

In Diablo II, return to a world of dark fantasy. As one of five distinct character types, explore the world of Diablo II -- journey across distant lands, fight new villains, discover new treasures, and uncover ancient mysteries, all in the quest to stop the Lord of Terror, once and for all...

Game Features

  • Five all-new character classes with unique attributes and abilities

  • Four different, fully populated towns complete with wilderness areas

  • Multiple dungeons, caverns, and crypts in every town for players to explore

  • Expanded world, filled with all-new quests, weapons, spells, armor, monsters, and non-player characters

  • Advanced combat system, incorporating class-specific fighting techniques and spells

  • Full Multiplayer support, including Internet play over Battle.net®

  • Optional 3Dfx and Direct3D support
    • ]]>     07 Dec 2006 12:38:51     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     Unreal Tournament Upon its release in early November 1999, Unreal Tournament surprised the gaming community with its rock-solid network code, challenging single-player bot play, unique gameplay modes, and polished presentation. The critics were equally impressed and UT was awarded with Game of The Year honors by a variety of publications, including GameSpy.com and Computer Gaming World. UT was later ported to the PS2, Dreamcast, Linux, and Mac.
    Years later, people are still making great modifications and add-ons for UT. One successful community spawned mod, Tactical Ops, was even recently released as an entire stand-alone commercial product.
    ]]>     16 Dec 2006 11:57:09     Starsiege Developed by Dynamix, Starsiege is the last in the Earthsiege series; previously named, "Earthsiege 3: Starsiege". It was heavily hyped by Sierra in their in-house magazine, hailing it as one of the greatest 3D games they would ever release.
    ]]>     05 Dec 2006 01:51:21     Supreme Commander Supreme Commander marks the next-evolution in the RTS genre by being the first strategy game to deliver strategic and tactical gaming that actually impacts whether a battle is won or lost. With a distinct emphasis on scope and ease-of-use, Supreme Commander is set in the 37th century, where you direct one of three warring factions of humanity as their Supreme Commander.
    ]]>     25 Nov 2006 04:59:04     Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri
    Legendary designer Sid Meier presents the next evolution in strategy games, with the most addictive, compelling gameplay yet. Explore the alien planet that is your new home and uncover its myriad mysteries. Discover over 75 extraordinary technologies. Build over 60 base upgrades and large-scale secret projects for your empire. Conquer your enemies with a war machine that you design from over 32,000 possible unit types.

    War and natural disaster have finally destroyed the Earth, and a UN starship bound for the earthlike planet "Chiron" remains as the last hope to further humanity. The ship is thought to be carrying the "best and brightest" of our race, but even before arriving at Alpha Centauri rival factions form, and the challenge to preserve civilization begins again.

    A landmark in turn-based strategy gaming, Alpha Centauri subtly introduces the player to a wealth of real historical, scientific and cultural information while engaging them in the challenging, and sometimes daunting, task of creating and maintaining a new civilization.

    Developed by Firaxis Games, Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri was published for Windows in 1999 by Electronic Arts, and for Mac in 2000 by Aspyr. A Linux version was published by Loki in 2001.

    System requirements: Pentium 133 MHz CPU, 16MB RAM, 60 MB Hard drive

    A recommended expansion pack, "Sid Meier's Alien Crossfire" is also available.

    Gamespot's 1999 "Turn-Based Game of the Year" is just one of dozens of awards won by Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri!
    ]]>     14 Dec 2006 05:18:14     EVE Online One of the most rich and complex multiplayer environments available, EVE Online offers players the opportunity to inhabit a single-sharded world with a wider range of gameplay choices than most MMORPGs. Monthly fee.

    A number of community created videos can be downloaded from the Community Videos section. The "Great Northern War (Timeline)" is highly recommended.
    ]]>     09 Dec 2006 09:27:34     Battlezone II: Combat Commander The war over bio-metal continues in this sequel to the 1998 "Battlezone", which itself was a remake of the much earlier arcade game. Like it's predecessor, it's a 3d hybrid of a tank sim, fps and rts.

    Whereas the former game took place in an "alternate 1960's" in which the Soviets and Americans were rivals over the newly discovered alien technologies, Battlezone II takes place in an "alternate 1990's" in which humans have joined forces to combat the gathering threat of the alien race of "Scions".

    Additional features of Battlezone II: Combat Commander

    • Challenging campaigns as well as varied multiplayer modes.

    • 3-D topographical radar system which, as in Battlezone, is linked to the Command Interface system.

    • The HUD displays icons that further simplify the tasks of monitoring units and resources.

    • Meters allow you to observe resource and unit development progress at a glance.

    • Units under your command can be tasked individually or linked together into groups that can be hot-keyed for quick response.

    • Units can be assigned to the control of allied players in multiplayer!

    System Requirements
    200 MHz CPU, 64MB RAM, 4MB video card RAM, DirectX 7.0, 600 MB available hard disk space, Windows 95 (and above. Can reportedly be played on 2000 using "compatibility mode")

    Developed by Pandemic Studios, and published by Activision in 2000.
    ]]>     14 Dec 2006 04:28:31     Soldat Soldat is a unique side-view multiplayer action game. It takes the best from games like Liero, Worms, Quake and Counter-Strike and gives you fast action gameplay with tons of blood and flesh. Soldiers fight against each other on 2D battle arenas using a deadly military arsenal. This is what multiplayer was invented for.

    Most important features:
  • It's free to play
  • Game environment based on real physics rules
  • Over 18 weapons available: - guns like MP5, Ak-74, M79, M249 Minimi, Barret M82A1, XM214 Minigun
  • Multiplayer network game over the Internet or LAN
  • Intelligent bots
  • 7 game modes:
  • - Deathmatch
  • - Pointmatch
  • - Teammatch
  • - Rambomatch
  • - Capture the Flag
  • - Infiltration
  • - Hold the Flag
  • 51 different maps
  • Editors: Soldat Map Maker and Interface Maker
  • Lobby server and dedicated server for Windows and Linux
    • * Large community creating mods, maps and tools
    ]]>     02 Dec 2006 05:17:22     Exteel NCsoft's Team Beam takes you to a far off world where the exiled survivors of a lost war struggle against each other for control of the planet's resources. In this struggle, players of Exteel, an online game featuring stylized action in a universe filled with robots. Gamers create, customize and develop their own robots using a robust character creation tool, with easy-to-access gameplay and a unique merging of strategic combat and high-speed action reminiscent of the stunning action seen in Hong Kong martial arts movies.
    ]]>     14 Dec 2006 12:10:42     Rocket Jockey Ride on top of a rocket cycle in three game styles: rocket war, rocket ball, and rocket race. You have a cable gun on the left and right sides of your rocket that can connect to pylons, rockets, or rocket riders. Attach cables together to create clotheslines, leash people to pylons, and other creative handiwork.

    This game was under-advertised. The music is awesome surf guitar by Dick Dale, and the artistic style of the game is fabulous.
    ]]>     05 Dec 2006 12:24:16     Space Rally Space Rally is a futuristic race where players sport hover vehicles across a 2,000 mile stretch of an abandoned mining asteroid at the edge of space. This is where the galaxy's roughest & toughest bad-asses get together to race a track filled with mechanical and natural hazards. With danger at every turn, this race isn't about winning, it's about surviving!
    ]]>     05 Dec 2006 02:38:08     rFactor Presenting rFactor, the new racing simulation series from Image Space Incorporated. After successfully creating over a dozen products in the past ten years, Image Space takes the next logical step, creating a completely new technology base and development process. This new isiMotor 2.0 environment will be the foundation on which to build exciting products for many years to come.

    The first installment in the rFactor series features mixed class road racing with ultra realistic dynamics, an immersive sound environment and stunning graphics. This is the game you will want to play.

    rFactor provides unprecedented flexibility, allowing the series to grow and evolve with mod community involvement, race club formation, and feedback from users worldwide. We hope you enjoy the ride!
    ]]>     07 Dec 2006 08:24:27     Galcon Galcon is an awesome high-paced multi-player galactic action-strategy game. You send swarms of ships from planet to planet to take over the galaxy. It's arcade action risk with planets! Anyone can play - only takes 30 seconds to learn. Multi-player network game for up to 12 players with teams. 15 different single player missions against 7 different computer players. Attack planets with thousands of swarming ships! Short battles, epic warfare - only 5 minutes per round. Net ranking of all net players. Good times guaranteed!
    ]]>     23 Jan 2007 06:58:24     Battlezone Taking place in an alternate 1960's Battlezone features 2 campaigns, with the USA and the Soviet Union battling across the solar system over alien technology and bio-metal.

    1998 Activision 3d remake of the arcade game of the same name, but remade into a hybrid of a tank sim, fps and rts. Also features multiplayer modes including death match and strat.

    Features include

    • Innovative Command System menu that integrates troop and resource management for full control from within your vehicle.
    • 3-D topographical radar displays your base location, unit placement, field of vision and enemy position.
    • Nav Beacon Cameras that can be set up for for surveilance purposes or to stage attacks.
    • Scrap scavengers, Unit-building factories, Tanks, Solar arrays, gun towers, resource meters, numerous weaponry options that can be balanced according to your resources.

    There are updated texture/asset files available, and due to continued fan devotion an alternate server.dat, as well as numerous community made maps.

    Still a good looking and immersive game!
    ]]>     06 Dec 2006 08:19:51     Battlefield 2 In Battlefield 2, players will choose to fight for one of three military superpowers: the United States, the Chinese, or the newly formed Middle East Coalition. Armed with the latest modern weaponry, players can take control of any of the game's 30+ vehicles to engage in major conflicts with over 64 players in some of the largest online battles on the PC. Additionally, persistent character growth allows players to rise through the ranks and attain the ultimate rank of General.

    An all-new game engine and physics system brings the modern battlefield to life like never before. The new material penetration feature measures weapons' ability to fire through barriers based on their composition and players will need to know the difference between concealment and cover in order to survive.
    ]]>     28 Dec 2006 12:04:34     Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory It's a game based on the Quake 3 engine, but it's totally different from Quake 3. It's a WWII themed FPS game, but it's not as realistic as say CoD. It has realistic textures, but the movements are Quake 3 style and it's also very fast paced like Quake 3. It's one of the best game out there in my opinion. The combination of a realistic theme with an unrealistic gameplay is just awesome. Try it out for yourself, you'll get hooked.
    ]]>     27 Nov 2006 04:18:18     Granado Espada Granado Espada, also known as Sword of the New World, is an Age of Exploration fantasy MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) developed by IMC Entertainment. Set in a detailed fictional gameworld that mirrors the 17th century and the European colonists' forays into the New World, the game allows players to explore the newfound continent of Granado Espada in a hunt for treasure, adventure, and fame.
    ]]>     15 Feb 2007 05:52:25     Cramgene Create meals for bizarre pets!

    Cramgene is a very unique puzzle game inspired by today's advances in genetic science. Players compete through rounds, deciphering creature DNA to create specific meals for bizarre pets. Bonus moves are designed to add an element of surprise and strategy to every match. Cramgene offers a solitary mode played against the computer, as well as a 2-player option through an Internet connection.

    Cramgene features charming characters, vivid graphics, and upbeat music to provide an amusing atmosphere. Its 3 difficulty modes are designed to give players of all ages a chance to feed up to 10 bizarre pets. Can you uncover the best strategy?

    Yamisoft Entertainment Inc. supports Cramgene with tips and tricks, and provides a free demo version.
    ]]>     15 Dec 2006 03:58:05     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     Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 This game is one of the best entries on the Command and conquer universe yet.

    The game isn't a direct entry on the series, but rather a spin off based on the cold war between US and Russia coupled with a sci fi twist.

    The game introduces funny characters that make a lot of funny moments while you're playing it. You'll meet megalomaniac Yuri, the heroic Tanya, the goofy Romanov and the very standard president of the United States, along with a very funny set of other characters.

    The game is standard RTS gameplay on steroids(for its time anyway), it's fast paced, and although the strategy involves often more brute force than the strategy part, the action and the range of things you can do more than make up for it.

    You can start by selecting your outfit, the allies or the soviets, who in this game are a super power taking over the world thanks to psychological technology developer by Yuri.

    Depending on the side you take, you'll have a select army very balanced against your enemy, with the Russians being strong with units like specialized tanks, soldiers and general ground forces whereas the allies have strong air forces and other bonuses.

    The game has a high and addictive fun factor, which means that if you're in college or have to work early in the morning it's not recommendable to set your hands in this game as you'll easily see yourself playing up to 8 hours of it. It's simply that good, so if you happen to not have played it and you have a copy nearby, fret not and pick it up. It'll make your time worth it.
    ]]>     23 Feb 2007 02:28:52     Counter-Strike: Source Title : Counter-Strike: Source
    Developer : Valve
    Release Date : November 1, 2004
    Languages : English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Thai

    THE NEXT INSTALLMENT OF THE WORLD'S # 1 ONLINE ACTION GAME
    Counter-Strike: Source blends Counter-Strike's award-winning teamplay action with the advanced technology of SourceTM technology. Featuring state of the art graphics, all new sounds, and introducing physics, Counter-Strike: Source is a must-have for every action gamer.

    (Taken from steampowered.com)
    ]]>     15 Dec 2006 11:10:07     Quake 3: Arena Welcome to the Arena, where high-ranking warriors are transformed into spineless mush. Abandoning every ounce of common sense and any trace of doubt, you lunge onto a stage of harrowing landscapes and veiled abysses. Your new environment rejects you with lava pits and atmospheric hazards as legions of foes surround you, testing the gut reaction that brought you here in the first place. Your new mantra: Fight or be finished.

    Quake 3 is a multiplayer arena-style first-person shooter. Quake 3 follows in the footsteps of Doom and Quake in providing a frantic and exciting deathmatch experience.
    ]]>     14 Dec 2006 02:36:57     Diablo The story of Diablo is based on the premise of a war between Heaven and Hell. The town of Tristram is under attack by demons, and the player must save the town. As the player delves into the underworld, he discovers more about the demon Diablo, through large tomes that are found throughout the levels. Eventually, the player reaches the lair of Diablo and must kill him. Here is a more detailed summary of Diablo's history:

    Diablo, an incredibly powerful demon, is the Lord of Terror and one of the Three Prime Evils of Hell, who had been imprisoned in a Soulstone and buried in caverns deep beneath the town of Tristram. Though his imprisonment was meant to be eternal, the power of the Soulstone weakened over centuries, eventually allowing Diablo to awaken from his forced slumber. He telepathically turns a nearby human, the Archbishop Lazarus, into his loyal puppet. In order for Diablo to actually leave the Soul stone, Diablo needs a human to possess. At first he tries to gain control of King Leoric, the local ruler, through his puppet, Lazarus. But, since Diablo is too weak to possess the king, he fails and merely drives the unfortunate monarch insane. He then gets Lazarus to kidnap King Leoric's son, Prince Albrecht, so that Diablo can possess and warp him, thereby attaining material form and freedom from the stone. At the moment of the boy's possession, his terror is so great that the boundaries between the realms are broken and parts of Hell seep into the mortal world and take root in the subterranean labyrinth beneath Tristram. Diablo may have a body now, but he is far from his full power, so he bides his time and summons countless hordes of demons and infests the whole underground complex, claiming the new region of Hell as his own personal lair.

    Soon afterwards the maddened Leoric is slain by his own lieutenants. Demons appear in the countryside as the Lord of Terror regains his strength in the heart of the labyrinth and prepares for the time when he would once again emerge to seek his brothers - Baal and Mephisto - and free them as well. It seemed to be a matter of time until the Prime Evils gained dominion over the entire mortal realm.

    Then, one day, a lone traveller approaches the town of Tristram
    ]]>     07 Dec 2006 01:10:09     Battlefield 2: Special Forces Battlefield 2: Special Forces is an official expansion pack for the computer game Battlefield 2. It includes six new armies (compared to just three in Battlefield 2): U.S. Navy SEALs, British SAS, Russian Spetsnaz and MEC Special Forces, a Russian Rebel group and a Middle-Eastern Insurgent faction. These last two armies are apparently inspired by, respectively, Chechnean rebels and insurgents in Iraq, but not named as such in the game. There are ten new vehicles, twelve new weapons, and eight new maps.

    This expansion pack is available for purchase via EA's content delivery service, known as EA Link, in addition to retail copies and Battlefield 2 deluxe edition. The expansion pack also includes new awards that players can earn, such as badges, ribbons and medals. The day of release of the expansion pack, EA/Dice released a new patch (version 1.12) which fixed a few bugs but mostly added art assets for the original Battlefield 2 game to support the new weapons from the expansion.

    Source: Wikipedia Article
    ]]>     21 May 2007 03:28:08     Zatacka Zatacka, also known as Achtung, die Kurve!, is a freeware, multiplayer DOS computer game that supports from two-player up to six-player gaming.

    The game bears some resemblance to the game Snake, though in Zatacka the main goal is to make your opponent hit the wall, his kurve or your kurve. As a result, the game resembles closely to the famous Light Cycle of the 1982 movie Tron. You control the kurve by only two buttons: one makes the snake turn left; the other, right. Although the game has primitive graphics, the gameplay is considered very good and the game is loved by many fans worldwide.

    There's a strategic and tactical depth that goes unmatched in the small-games-to-play-on-a-break gaming world. Even though the simplicity is striking (anyone can play it) there are an infinite amount of tactics that can be applied in this game.

    It takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master! Be warned though - it's addicting!
    ]]>     23 Feb 2007 01:06:02     Unreal
    Alter your reality... forever

    A first-person shooter by Epic Games and Digital Extremes, Unreal was the game that started the highly successful and epic (pun not intended) franchise, and was seen as a direct rival to id Software's Quake series (both with the games and the technologies powering them).

    You are a convict on a prison transport ship when the ship crashes, marooning you on a strange, magnificent world the likes of which you've never seen. Battle the ruthless Skaarj as you try to free the race they're enslaving. Use your translator to decipher your surroundings, and above all, stay on your toes!
    ]]>     12 Jan 2007 06:53:23     Homeworld Homeworld's epic tale begins in the far reaches of the universe. You were the benign lords of a peaceful society located in the center of a lush spiral galaxy. For as long as anyone could remember, no one challenged your peaceful existence. But then came the conquerors, invading with the sole purpose of overtaking your world. Billions died, and the survivors were relocated to a cold, lifeless planet on the edge of the galaxy. Hundreds of years later, all knowledge of your previous existence has been lost. Only vague myths remain, until the discovery of an ancient tablet buried within the ruins of a half-destroyed craft in the great-banded desert. This Guidestone reawakened the knowledge of your ancestry, and set your race on the path home - coordinates leading straight into the heart of the galaxy. Sixty years ago, construction began on the giant Mothership that will carry millions of your people into deep space. Construction is now complete. Your journey to the Homeworld begins here...
    ]]>     14 Dec 2006 12:19:35     Homeworld: Cataclysm Homeworld: Cataclysm, developed by Barking Dog Studios (now Rockstar Vancouver), is the first official 'episode' within the Homeworld universe, taking you back to the setting of Homeworld roughly 15 years after the events of the original game ended. Improving upon the Homeworld interface, Cataclysm presents new features such as waypoints and sensor-manager attack commands to add a new dimension to the revolutionary combat and gameplay pioneered in Homeworld.

    In the campaign, you begin by Cataclysm commanding a sect - or kiith - that has been marginalized after your people's victorious return to their homeworld of Hiigara. Traveling into uncharted space to repel an attack against another kiith, your fleet happens upon an alien probe that harbors an ancient evil. As events unravel, you will need to survive the onslaught of an enemy with terrifying abilities you can't match, fight off opportunistic Turanic Raiders, and deflect the firepower of Imperial loyalists bent on destroying you and reclaiming Hiigara.

    Much as in Homeworld, gameplay revolves around a central command ship, but one that produces an entirely new class of fighting, resourcing and support craft with new technologies and weaponry. The new, robust multiplayer system supports up to eight combatants, each playing one of two very different sides with their own tactical options.
    ]]>     14 Dec 2006 12:46:54     PoxNora PoxNora is a collectible turn-based strategy game where you build a Magic-style deck from hundreds of online "runes". You use those runes in game by deploying champions to the battlefield and casting spells. Champions move and attack each turn similar to miniature-based combat. The game features tons of unique abilities and great artwork.

    Registration and and a "training" deck are free. Additional rune packs can be purchased.
    ]]>     12 Dec 2006 04:19:46     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     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     Sacrifice Sacrifice is a beautiful and innovative RTS played from the battlefield instead of above it; through an adventurous campaign, you, as a great mage, must decide which of the five elemental gods to serve, and thus the fate of the world as it approaches Armageddon.
    ]]>     06 Dec 2006 04:03:24     Moonbase Commander Moonbase Commander is a turn-based strategy game where players compete to spread a web-like base across a lunar battlefield while annihilating their opponents. Players can select from four factions each of which has a unique look for it's units and a specifically voiced adviser (although all four have identical capabilities) and compete alone or in teams against other humans (locally or via the net) or the assorted Bots that are included. Competition takes place on a variety of terrain, sometimes barren and empty sometimes green and full of rivers.

    Once a battle is started, players take turns using a limited supply of energy to launch weapons against their enemies or launch new buildings to expand their base. Both are done with a simple aim and force interface similar to Worms or most early golf games so it takes some skill to land a building exactly where you want it. Because buildings are connected to your main hub with a web of power lines, careful planning is required to avoid leaving important nodes unprotected. There are 18 different weapons and buildings each with an energy cost based on how powerful and useful it is. Ultimately, you must destroy an enemy's main hub unit to eliminate him from the battle.

    Moonbase Commander has a minutes to learn, lifetime to master quality. There's never enough energy to do everything you want to and your opposition is always breathing down your neck. Should you risk a tricky shot to place an expensive shield generator by your hub or just settle for launching waves of cheap cluster bombs at those enemy anti-air batteries in hopes of overwhelming them. Maybe you should just bide your time and send up a few more observation balloons. The possibilities are surprisingly limitless in this simple yet complex game.

    (from the Moby Games Moonbase Commander site)
    ]]>     09 Dec 2006 08:55:01     Pocket Tanks Pocket Tanks is a very popular 1-2 player computer game, created by Blitwise Productions (the same creator of Super DX-Ball). Adapted from Michael Welch's earlier Amiga game Scorched Tanks, this newer version features better physics, dozens of weapons ranging from simple explosive shells to homing missiles, and the ability to move your tank. Pocket Tanks is available in 2 versions: the free demo version, and the full version. The free demo features some of the weapons and terrains while the full version comes with everything, and it supports expansion packs. At the moment, you can have up to 165 different weapons total.

    One of the most appealing factors of Pocket Tanks, aside from its relative simplicity, is the wide variety of weapons at the player's disposal. Although there are some weapons that simply explode, many of them have more specialization that can add a surprising amount of depth and strategy to the game. These weapon types include: digging warheads, such as the "Worm" and "Hot Foot," which can tunnel underground in a number of different patterns; "splash damage" weapons, such as the "Napalm" and "Hail Storm", which release some substance that accumulates points the more contact it has with the other player; scatter weapons, like the "Fission Bomb" and "Pineapple", that release many smaller missiles in all directions; and "direct hit" weapons, like the "Cannonball" and "Sniper Rifle", that aren't explosive, but are worth a good deal of points for direct hits. There are also defensive weapons; weapons like the "Great Wall" and "Magic Forest" will create thick walls that require the other player to use up a shot to destroy, and dirt weapons, like the "Mud Pie" and "Dirt Ball" that bury opponents and can cause them to damage themselves with their own attack. Another interesting group is the "random location" type of weapon. The members of this group, such as "Mass Driver" and "Golden Bullet" land in random locations, and may harm the intended target, the player who fired the weapon, both, or neither.
    ]]>     09 Feb 2007 02:06:32     Two Guns The full title is "Two Guns vs. __________"

    I haven't decided what the blank should be. At first I thought it should be "The World" but that's setting the bar awfully high...
    ]]>     04 Dec 2006 01:32:34     Neverwinter Nights According to wikipedia:
    "Neverwinter Nights (NWN), produced by BioWare and published by Infogrames (now Atari), is a third-person perspective computer role-playing game that is based on third edition Dungeons & Dragons and Forgotten Realms rules (with minor changes). It was originally to be published by Interplay Entertainment, but the publisher's financial difficulties forced the change. Infogrames released Neverwinter Nights for Windows on June 18, 2002. BioWare released the freely downloadable Neverwinter Nights Linux Client in June 2003. MacSoft released a Mac OS X port in August 2003."
    ]]>     10 Dec 2006 08:21:17