This Month's Most Viewed Games Tagged 'Windows, rpg, core' on The Great Games Experiment This Month's Most Viewed Games Tagged 'Windows, rpg, core' on The Great Games Experiment http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/css/logo.jpg This Month's Most Viewed Games Tagged 'Windows, rpg, core' on The Great Games Experiment en-us Last Scenario Last Scenario is a game made using the popular RPGMaker XP that could possibly rival Aveyond's level of professionalism, perhaps even surpass it. Tiles, music and sound effects are standard material that is included with the package, but most of the character portraits, sprites and backgrounds seen in this release were created by the developer.

The C key is used for most interactions and menu selections. Press the X key to access the inventory screen or to cancel any choices. A medium length RPG with over a thousand rooms, side quests, a unique spellcard system and even a collectible board game, it's quite unlikely that any fan would complete this production in a couple of sittings

(from Indy Gamer)
]]> 26 Jun 2007 12:16:14 PlaneShift PlaneShift is a cross-platform, open source, and free MMORPG in development.

PlaneShift is has a classic medieval fantasy setting, with a slight twist. Instead of a generic planet, the game is set inside a gigantic stalactite named Yliakum, divided into eight levels, of which the lower two are flooded.
]]> 06 Feb 2007 02:44:47 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 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 S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl
Man made hell...

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow Of Chernobyl takes you into a near future where nuclear disaster has taken place. When a strange second explosion at the old Chernobyl site rocks the landscape, it leaves a vast "Exclusion Zone" plagued with deadly energy disturbances in its wake. The quarantined Exclusion Zone expanded over time, and by 2012, specially equipped poachers, known as S.T.A.L.K.E.R.s, venture into the Zone to claim radioactive artifacts for the black market. You are a new S.T.A.L.K.E.R. battling for survival among rivals, soldiers and mutant creatures while trying to discover the true nature of Chernobyl's dark past and horrific future.
]]> 07 Jan 2007 09:06:28 Fallout 2 The sequel to the greatest rpg of all time (I think so anyway) This one packs even more humor and gratuitous violence than ever before.

You play as an ancestor to the vault dweller after he founded a tiny village. You must go on a quest to find a G.E.C.K or Garden of Eden Creation Kit.
]]> 08 Nov 2006 07:52:41 System Shock 2 A dark and moody cyberpunk RPG that brings back to life SHODAN one of the best realized arch-nemesis in computer gaming.

This time around it is a ship - not a station that has been taken over.

Story telling elements such as voice mail as 'ghost' residue are used to great effect. You can see similar mechanisms being used in F.E.A.R and others.

Uses a modified Thief engine so there is a significant focus on 'sneak'- although the game can be player through in multiple ways.
]]> 06 Dec 2006 06:56:49 Age of Time "Barbie horse adventure" is a fair description. Except you can kill the horses. And other people. And arrest people and beat them while they are in jail. And blow them up with dynamite.

It's a persistent online fantasy action game.
]]> 10 Oct 2006 02:52:07 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 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     Fallout Set in a future apocalypse version of the 50's-60's, Fallout is an RPG made by the now out of business Interplay and Black Isle Studios. It's violent, funny, and it can be played 100 times and never lose its appeal.

    You play as a member of a high-tech vault made to protect from the bombs. Now you must find a water chip to save your vault.
    ]]>     01 Nov 2006 10:22:36     Two Worlds A lot of action and variety

    Two Worlds combines the extremely dynamic and sophisticated combat system with the meaning and freedom of exploration exceeding the accomplishments of other games of the genre.
    A top quality Role Playing experience - the ultimate goal of the Two Worlds project is to deliver a superior Role Playing Game to the PC and Xbox 360 market where players have a real chance to shape the game world with their actions - to an extent that has yet to seen in other productions. This premise will be supported with a strong, non-linear storyline, mind blowing graphics, and stunning combat sequences. To attract the mass audience, the complexity of the game will be achieved mainly through a variety of meaningful choices while the User Interface will be simplified.

    Exciting, spectacular and challenging combat - The combat system is easy to handle and the number of possible choices encourage experimenting with different styles and skills. Great visuals and dynamic choreography ensures the most exciting experience.

    Strong sense of purpose and meaning - Two Worlds supports meaningful play. The dynamics of the game world allows for dramatic changes such as: taking over cities by various factions, overthrowing kings, eradicating entire organizations and much more.

    Unconstrained freedom to experiment - the game promotes the ability to freely roam and explore the game world. Players will find their own way to beat challenges, solve problems and complete quests and will also be rewarded by different factions accordingly for the results of their actions.


    The great latitude

    The most visible aspect of the Two Worlds gameplay is the freedom to change the world and shape the story within it. Other important features are unlimited character development and exciting, spectacular combat. The player is encouraged to experiment with the world, test the results of good and evil deeds and find the most satisfying way to deal with challenges. The gameplay has been designed to evoke the long-term outcomes that are important to the player and offer them the power to change their state. The rush of adrenaline accompanying frequent combat situations will ensure short-term, powerful motivation to continue the current session of play.

    The game offers a unique opportunity to influence the game world - unseen, to this scale, in other Role Playing games. Freedom of choice (like freedom to join or betray various organizations) and the importance of every decision are the core mechanisms to evoke the sense of meaningful play.

    Depending on the way that a problem is solved, the player gains or loses their reputation in certain organizations, various options are being closed or opened, quests are offered and new locations are unlocked. For example, a player must decide whether to help a city hold off the invasion of orcs or to secretly open the gates and let the invaders in. The latter decision will result in an onslaught and the take over of the city by the barbaric hordes. The next time the player visits this location, it will be populated and managed by orcs, unless the human army arrives and tries to liberate the city. The world lives its own life, but the player has the power to change it. The challenge lies in finding the right "strings" and skilfully "pulling" them


    Platforms

    Two Worlds is being developed for the PC and Xbox 360 platforms. The game's complexity, dynamics and mechanisms have been designed to appeal to both markets and the steering takes advantage of mouse and game-pad features alike.
    ]]>     14 May 2007 08:10:32     The Continuum The Continuum combines classic turn-based wargaming, collectibility and RPG character development into one multi-player adventure that will change the way you game. Characters, abilities and equipment combine with in-game artifacts, epic battlefields, and changing scenarios to provide an experience that is at once familiar and all-new.

    Players will have a huge impact on the ultimate design, features, and direction that the game takes as the beta rolls out. Pre-registration for the beta is open at the official website for The Continuum.
    ]]>     17 May 2007 01:28:46     Planescape: Torment Planescape: Torment is a computer role-playing game developed for Microsoft Windows by Black Isle Studios. Released on December 12, 1999, the game takes place in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Planescape campaign setting. Unlike other computer role-playing games, such as Baldur's Gate, Torment places emphasis on conversation and storyline instead of combat.

    The game begins in Sigil, where the protagonist, an enigmatic and heavily scarred immortal dubbed The Nameless One by the game's interface, wakes up in a mortuary with no memory of his identity and past experiences. Assuming the role of The Nameless One, players embark on a quest to solve the mysteries surrounding him.

    Torment received almost universal critical praise, and has since become a cult classic. The game was added to Gamespy's "Hall of Fame" in August 2004, and to Gamespot's "Greatest Games of All Time" list in October 2005.

    (from the Wikipedia page on Planescape: Torment)
    ]]>     04 Dec 2006 09:51:58     Final Fantasy VIII In a time of both sophisticated technology and powerful magic, an evil sorceress corrupts the world's largest military power through manipulation and deception, enslaving mankind to do her bidding. Her goal is not something as simple as world domination; but to completely conquer all of space and time.

    To counter the turn of events, various leaders head combat training schools, known as Gardens, that turn out elite fighting forces. Known as SeeDs, they defend, serve, and protect humankind from the sorceress. The sole purpose of these academies is to vanquish the sorceress and save humanity as we know it, although they take many other assignments for the right price.

    A small, loose-knit group of SeeD graduates find themselves wrapped in a much bigger endeavor than simple military combat. Now, a gunblade specialist, together with a diverse group of young heroes, must set aside his fears, face the emotions he's run from, and become the leader that he never wanted to be.
    ]]>     14 Jan 2007 09:18:24     Tactics Core The tactics core engine is a powerful strategy RPG development module. Tactics core supports the four basic commands. Attack - deal physical or magical damage to a target or target area. healer units use heal to restore HP instead. Move - walk to an empty space. Friendly units on the path will move aside. Move can be undone as long as Attack is not used after it. Wait - end the current unit's turn. If no actions where taken this unit only waits half the time for the next turn. Status - Display unit information. Use this to determine the strengths and weaknesses of a unit. You are a group of warriors trying to protect your castle against enemies, make sure you use the tactices wisely to protect your home. Good luck in this Tactics core game!
    ]]>     25 Jun 2007 07:52:56     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     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     Farmer's Life Online Farmer's Life Online is a Harvest Moon fan created game in Game Maker 7 and is based entirely around multi player.
    It is NOT massively multi player, although featuring elements of that type of game.

    'FLO' is currently still in it's alpha phases and has a long way to go.
    More info to come.

    Networking Developer: Daniel Danopia
    Gameplay Developer: Kurt Smith
    ]]>     11 Jun 2007 05:18:14     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     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     Tactics 100 Live Very awesome rpg based game where you control your army against the actual live person who is also connected to the particular flash game from their own computer. Take turns and attack each other to determine the winner in this awesome game. Enjoy Tactics 100 Live game
    ]]>     26 Jun 2007 07:57:02     Disciples III "Disciples III will feature more than 150 different "characters"--the war heroes, monsters, ghosts, and other beasties that can make up a war party in the game, and like in the previous games, the size of your war party will depend on your leader character's leadership skill. Apparently, some monsters in the game, such as dragons, will be absolutely huge, and will take up to 12 squares on the game's combat map, which has been retouched as a grid-based map divided up into two halves--yours and your opponents"

    (qtd. from Gamespot.com)
    ]]>     18 Jul 2007 01:20:25     The Repopulation You awaken in unfamiliar surroundings to find that earth has been destroyed. You are part of a Repopulation effort on Novus Orsa, Alpha Centauri. This Post-Apocalyptic multiplayer RPG aims to break the boundaries of modern MMORPGs.

    Players can join or form societies in their effort to rebuild humanity. Innovative PVP systems will pit society vs. society while working together, and against one another at the common and conflicting goals.

    Unique features include a completely dynamic quest generation system that breaks the molds set in previous titles. Player created societal systems, tournaments and sporting events. We promise to show you things you have never seen before.
    ]]>     23 Nov 2006 08:46:24     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     The Witcher The Witcher is a computer role-playing game in development for the PC by CD Projekt. Based on the book series of the same name by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski,the game utilizes BioWare's proprietary Aurora Engine and is currently slated for release in 2007.

    The Witcher follows the story of Geralt, a man who becomes a "witcher" .
    ]]>     05 Apr 2007 01:08:16     Baldur's Gate II

    Shadows of Amn


    Welcome to a world of intrigue, adventure and fierce combat.

    Every world has conflict. Good and evil. Friend and foe. Safety and danger. In Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, you'll find yourself between these factions. This epic sequel will immerse you in a world of intrigue, adventure and fierce combat where your ability to discern the difference between these sides - with the assistance of steel and spell - determines your fate.

    In Baldur's Gate I, you defeated your evil half-brother Sarevok and prevented your father Bhaal, the dead Lord of Murder, from returning to the Forgotten Realms. Now, in Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn, the stakes have become much higher. Will you resist the evil within you, and forge a legend of heroic proportions? Or will you embrace your monstrous inner nature, and carve a swath of destruction across the Realms?

    Your story begins anew in the exotic southern kingdom of Amn, amidst the opulence of the sinister capital city of Athkatla. Journey through the fierce, unforgiving wilderness of Amn, and through the treacherous caverns of the Underdark, in your quest for artifacts of awesome power and treasure of inestimable wealth.. even challenge dragons, if you dare. Such is the life of a legend.
    ]]>     26 Nov 2006 06:24:56     Wizardry 8 Wizardry 8 is an epic fantasy RPG that picks up where Wizardry 7: Crusaders of the Dark Savant left off. You may recall that all hell had broken loose at the end of Wizardry 7. The Dark Savant had taken flight with a device called the Astral Dominae, an incredibly powerful artifact containing the secret of life itself. Following him are two powerful races, the T'Rang and the Umpani, as well as your own brave party of adventurers. Everyone is headed to Dominus, a world on the cusp of the Cosmic Circle, birthplace of the Astral Dominae and home of the Cosmic Lords. Many paths will converge on Dominus, and many long-hidden secrets will be revealed.
    ]]>     08 Mar 2007 06:04:44     Egoboo Egoboo is a top down rpg in the spirit of Nethack and other games of the Roguelike genre. It uses Open GL graphics and will have randomly generated maps and customizable characters. The objective of the project is to bring the fun and depth of roguelike gameplay, kicking and screaming, into the third dimension. It is still in development, but is at a playable state.
    ]]>     14 Mar 2007 10:06:20     Darklands Darklands was a long and engaging role-playing game from 1992 where you guided a party of four adventurers around medieval Germany. It was very open-ended, in that you could travel to any city and get quests from just about anyone (as long as your reputation was high enough). There wasn't magic in the traditional sense, although characters with the right skills could conjure potions or pray to different saints to receive important blessings. There was also a long main plot which took the party through numerous cities and dungeons, although you could keep playing even after defeating the final bad guy.
    ]]>     10 Apr 2007 09:36:32     Silverfall Silverfall is an immense, intensely paced role-playing/action game within an amazing universe. In a kingdom where nature and technology are opposed, the forces of evil seize magic places in order to take over their power.

    Incarnate a hero and progress in a fantastic adventure full of numerous quests. Explore a fantasy world and discover an innovative magic environment. Get ready to face countless terrifying creatures and formidable bosses that inhabit the lands of the Nelwë kingdom. Develop more than 130 spells and skills and surround yourself with the best companions to become the hero who will combat the coming of the Order of Nothingness.
    ]]>     01 Jul 2007 10:03:25     Ultima IV - Quest of the Avatar From the Moby Games entry:

    The fourth game in the now well-established Ultima series featured an improved game engine, with color graphics and better character interaction (you could now have actual conversations with NPCs). But what really makes Ultima IV shine is its radical departure from any other RPG made before or since in terms of the story and goal.

    Instead of building up your character by any means possible in order to face the Ultimate Evil in a big bang up showdown, in Ultima IV you were trying to become the Avatar, a role model of sorts for the people of the land. This meant upholding the "eight virtues" and basically trying to become a better person. In most RPGs you chose to be a just/nice hero because the people you'd help would usually provide you with some nice equipment for your services, but in Ultima IV you helped people not for a reward or to advance the plot but simply because it was the "right thing to do". The game actually frowns on behavior that was typical of most other RPGs, such as backstabbing fleeing monsters or picking up everything that wasn't nailed down even if it didn't belong to you. The game keeps track of all your actions, so if you went about killing and looting like in most RPGs, you'd never finish the game.

    This VERY different approach to the game's ultimate goal is what makes Ultima IV famous so many years later, and became the sort of design philosophy that made all the following Ultimas so unique in their genre.

    Of course, the game still has plenty of traditional RPG elements such as dungeons to explore and hostile monsters to kill, as well as a typical final "Holy Grail" type quest where you had to find the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom to complete your transformation into Avatarhood.

    In 1996 Computer Gaming World named Ultima IV as #2 on its Best Games of All Time list on the PC.

    The game was released for free to the public. The original MS-DOS version is available on many sites, and a game engine recreation is now available for for Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux.
    ]]>     05 Dec 2006 01:59:25     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     Glow The player is charged with the task of retrieving data on a biological weapon from the site of a major test failure. Assisted by military allies, the player will adapt his character to survive the environment and upgrade with larger weapons and improved strategy.

    It features a unique shader-driven art style and a streamlined play interface that will seem familiar to enthusiasts of Robotron and Tri-Stat-based game players.
    ]]>     20 Dec 2006 11:54:52     Knight Shift Story

    In a distant land, long, long ago there once lived a prince, he was righteous and just, noble and honourable by nature and above all evil. Dark and treacherous powers joined together to spread evil over the land and to banish the prince from the principality and the thoughts of the people. Then because of an unsuccessful spell from the despicable lords the prince was banished to another dimension, but not from the memory and hearts of the people. Some years later, through the opening of a portal between dimensions by a good hearted magician, the prince was able to return to his principality. The task then was to drive out the evil lords from power and to allow peace and order to return. A bitter fight against the powers of evil is now imminent...


    Gameplay

    The Single Player RTS part of the game consists of three addictive, story driven campaigns. Each of them takes place in a different geographical area and bounds you every minute with new challenges like rescuing a kidnapped Princess or fighting a ferocious Dragon - or combat with nasty, ugly, smelly monsters and the bones of the walking dead. During the campaigns the player develops his characters and gains access to new weapons, special armour and magic items. He also has the possibility of creating new characters or building new structures. Additionally, an extensive RPG mode surprises with an even larger selection of maps, quests, weapons and enemies, plus a highly improved character development. For RTS fans and friends of massive multiplayer battles, several RTS skirmish and MP modes guarantee endless hours of exciting gameplay.
    ]]>     09 Mar 2007 01:27:19     Fallout Tactics Step into the feet of a soldier of the Brotherhood of Steel, a group that worships technology to improve life in the nuclear wastes. Fight through a campaign against raiders, super mutants, and robots using real life weapons and futuristic technology unique to the Fallout Universe. Now with new sprite and texture models to make the series look new and great.
    ]]>     16 Nov 2006 11:21:38     Kingdom Elemental Kingdom Elemental is a light-hearted and comical real time tactics game with serious game play. Set in a fantasy setting Kingdom Elemental takes core game play elements from RTS, tactics and RPG games and combines them into a game that is easy to play without investing most of your real life. Kingdom Elemental features an unlimited number of possible tactics by pitting combinations of your ten hero units and their unique abilities against waves after waves of enemies ranging from the lowly kobold to the mighty minotaur.

    Kingdom Elemental combines the popular fantasy, strategy, tactics and RPG genres into a compact gameplay package. It is easy to pick up and play and has a simple 2d interface to get users involved in the 3d action.
    ]]>     23 Nov 2006 12:34:44     Nethack After the Creation, the cruel god Moloch rebelled
    against the authority of Marduk the Creator.
    Moloch stole from Marduk the most powerful of all
    the artifacts of the gods, the Amulet of Yendor,
    and he hid it in the dark cavities of Gehennom, the
    Under World, where he now lurks, and bides his time.
    ]]>     26 Nov 2006 12:00:10     System Shock System Shock is one of the classics: a science fiction horror game that set nerves on edge as the player -- a cybernetically-augmented hacker -- tries to rein in a rampant AI on Citadel Station. Constantly taunted and hunted by the AI SHODAN, the player must counter SHODAN's attempts to destroy human life on Earth.

    System Shock went on to receive critical acclaim and garnered awards in the adventure genre, despite its mediocre commercial performance. The game's legacy influences game development to this day.

    Developer: Looking Glass Studios
    Release: 1994

    Platform: PC, Macintosh

    Producer: Origin Systems
    ]]>     28 Nov 2006 05:43:10     Silent Storm Silent Storm is a true 3D tactical turn-based Role-Playing-Game set against the backdrop of WWII.
    As the conflict rages on the frontlines, you'll be leading a small multinational squad behind enemy lines to gather information and wreak havoc on your enemies while trying to thwart a mysterious new rising power whose plans are even more horrific than anything the world has yet witnessed.

    Silent Storm is fully rendered in breathtaking 3D and includes fully destructible environments, realistic weaponry and unlimited tactical possibilities. Turn-based gaming has never looked this good! Choose your squad from over 40 operatives of 30 different nationalities, each with a unique background and mix of specialties and skills.

    US PackshotYou'll be able to arm each of them with a mix of over 75 authentic WWII weapons ranging from commando daggers to shoulder-mounted rocket launchers. Silent Storm sets a new standard for the turn-based genre with rag-doll kinetic physics and bullet trajectory tracing lending a level of realism to characters and warfare that surpasses any title in the genre. Two non-linear campaigns let you command Allied or Axis forces and give you full control over the style and difficulty of play.

    The variety of squad members and weaponry let you emphasize stealth or maximum firepower, and nearly unlimited random encounters let you prepare your squad for their secret missions where skill and tactical cunning will make the difference between life and death.
    ]]>     28 Nov 2006 01:08:01     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     Nox You are tasked with destroying the wicked queen of the undead. Depending on which of the 3 character classes you choose you get a different adventure.
    ]]>     24 Jan 2007 03:53:42     Rappelz the oldest race is the Gaia, and to assist them, the gods of Creation and Extinction brought two more races into the world. They were the Deva who represented the Light and the Asura who represented the Darkness. With this, there was a period of peace and stability in the world.

    As the ages passed by, there was one among the Gaia who called herself "The Witch". Over time, she grew in tremendous power and with a ruthless ambition, rallied the people of Gaia to rebel against the world.

    Not all the people of Gaia heeded this call however and the world was thrown into chaos. It was only through the combined efforts of the three races of Deva, Asura and Gaia that "The Witch" was finally captured and burnt alive. It was a victorious outcome of a unity between the three races.

    Now at the present time, the three races continue to co-exist with each other in the world of Rappelz but dark rumors have surfaced about the second coming of "The Witch" and the return of her terrible forces...
    ]]>     26 Jan 2007 10:36:18     Aveyond Aveyond is an independent RPG in the style of the classic 16-bit console RPG adventures like the best selling "Final Fantasy" series and "The Secret of Mana."

    Rhen Darzon's life in her quiet village has been peaceful and uneventful until the day a mysterious priestess, barely alive, comes to her for aid. Within hours, Rhen becomes captured by the evil forces that had attacked the priestess, and she slowly becomes aware that her life has never been what it seems. She discovers powerful magical powers within herself, coupled with a dark destiny that she must choose. As the "chosen one," she and her companions must face the powerful demon Ahriman bent on destroying the land.

    Aveyond is a thrilling fantasy role-playing game with tons of secrets, items, spells, vast dungeons, monsters, mysteries, and quests! It features beautiful 2D graphics, an epic story, and a completely original musical score. Boasting over 50 hours of gameplay, 60 quests, and hundreds of locations across five large islands, Aveyond offers MANY MANY hours of exciting adventure!
    ]]>     22 Nov 2006 11:52:04     Shattered Galaxy Shattered Galaxy, the world's first published massively multiplayer online real-time strategy game, combines the excitement of real-time strategy with the character development of role-playing in a persistent online world.
    When you play Shattered Galaxy, you enter a community of thousands of gamers like yourself. Fight with hundreds in an ever-evolving universe!

    Discover new friends, new strategies and new technologies!
    Advance to greatness in the only massive online warfare
    experience available.
    From the official site.

    Full game can be played for free, but to get everything out of the game a subscription is required.
    ]]>     20 Jan 2007 04:53:26     Titan Quest From the co-creator of Age of Empires, Brian Sullivan, comes an all-new action role-playing game set in the mythical worlds of ancient Greece and Egypt. Amazing visuals and fast-action gameplay deliver a true cinematic gaming experience. Lush ancient world settings crafted in near-photo realistic detail provide the player with an extraordinary canvas on which to set forth on an epic quest of the ultimate good versus evil.

    What sets the game apart from other action RPGs is that Titan Quest features a flexible class system that allows almost limitless ways for the player to develop their character. Skills can be customized in many ways, and never become obsolete.

    That game also comes with a very versatile map/mission/campaign editor that allows users to create campaigns with their own stories and adventures.
    ]]>     25 Jan 2007 04:48:40     Fallout 3 Numerous videos and screenshots are now available. Visit the sites linked below for more.

    GAMESPOT said,
    After being canceled at Interplay, this sequel to the cult post-apocalyptic role-playing game was resurrected by Bethesda, where it is currently in development.

    The Fallout series is in a way a descendant of Interplay's 1988 "Wasteland", to which Electronic Arts retains the rights. The Fallout series takes place in a fictional post-holocaust earth inhabited by the "Vault Dwellers" who survived the fallout of the brief but deadly nuclear war of 2077 in meticulously managed underground facilities, and a variety of others who met different fates, which include, of course, mutation.

    The series introduces the player to a quest of survival and adventure in an often harsh world of varied cultures, where not quite all that was good of mankind has perished, and the player may determine their own morality, skill and creativity.

    Bethesda Software announced in 2004 that they had acquired the rights to produce Fallout 3 and subsequent sequels, though Interplay retained the MMO rights (and in November of 2006 set in motion a process that might lead to the funding and creation of a Fallout MMORPG.)

    As of April 12, 2007 Bethesda appears to have purchased the IP to the Fallout franchise outright, as development continues.

    Game Features (both known and speculated):

    • Bethesda is using the Gamebryo engine, with which they previously produced The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

    • Actor Liam Neeson has been cast for a major voice acting role.

    • RPG elements are at the heart of the Fallout series, and also a staple of Bethesda Software, so it is anticipated that this aspect will remain.

    • Open-ended non-linear gameplay is likely.

    • Three different perspectives: Isometric, behind the shoulder, and first person.

      • (New Details from Game Informer magazine)
    • Game runs on an evolved version of the Oblivion engine. Third person view has been reworked since the verdict was that the Oblivion version was bad.

    • Game starts with your birth and your mother's death in a vault hospital. This is essentially the character customization part of the game. Your father hands you up to have your DNA analyzed and you get to pick out all your character traits. Your dad takes off his mask to reveal similar traits to the ones you picked.

    • You grow up in the vault and as you grow you get your first book titled "You're Special" which allows you to choose you baseline stats for each of your 7 primary aptitudes. You'll also get your first weapons and wrist computer (menu) as you get older and take tests to determine the initial layout of your skills and traits.

    • Every aspect of character creation is based on S.P.E.C.I.A.L. system. Of your 14 skills you can tag 3 to grow at a faster rate than the rest as you level up.

    • Battle system is called the Vault-tec Assisted Targeting System (V.A.T.S.). The article states. "While you'll certainly be able to tackle enemies in real time using first person shooting, V.A.T.S. lets players pause time and select a target at their leisure". Battle system still uses action points, but once you've used them up you'll still be able to fight targets in real time while they charge back up.

    • Game is still violent and gory. One of the featured screens is of a guy's head exploding in super gory detail. Apparently all gory deaths in the game will be in slow motion.

    • More than one way to play the game. Go balls out and kill people, or sneak past situations, or perhaps talk your way out of situations.

    • Enemies can target you just like you can target them, so you can get injured in very specific points on you body. This in addition to an all new health/radiation system. This new system has you measuring how radiated certain things (like water) are and how they affect you when you consume them.

    • Karma system returns.

    • The game does not scale like oblivion, so if you enter a high level area expect to be promptly murdered.

    • Level cap is 20.

    • Definite ending to the game, but there are 9 - 12 possible endings.

    • There are NPC's you can hire, but this is not a party based game.

    Developer: Bethesda Software
    Publisher: Bethesda Software
    Released: TBA

    System Requirements
    TBA
    ]]>     28 Jan 2007 04:08:39     Cute Knight A young woman seeks her destiny, and the truth about her past in this roleplaying game from Hanako Games. Beneath the city lurks a deadly dungeon full of perils and treasure. But most of the action and tough decisions take place when the young woman is in and around town, trying to find her place in this life and unravel the mystery of her past. Find romance, find a job to pay for fighting lessons, or spend time as a street musician learning your trade and playing for tips. This is not your traditional dungeon - delving, dragon-slaying tale! It's something of "The Sims" meets "Princess Maker" meets "Dungeons and Dragons".

    Everyday decisions such as where to work, what to learn in school, or how to handle one's social life has an effect not only upon your short-term wealth and well-being, but has long-standing ramifications in what your character will eventually become as she reaches full adulthood.

    There are over 50 possible endings, from warrior to barmaid to princess and plenty in-between. The dungeon beneath the city, and events that occur during the game, and the items that can be found are all different every time you play. This is a game that is designed with replayability in mind, so there is plenty of fun and excitement to be had.
    ]]>     23 Nov 2006 12:18:33     Styrateg Are you in the mood for some great turn-based strategy? Or a fantasy quest that cuts straight to the tactical combat? Styrateg combines simple yet compelling turn-based strategy with traditional roleplaying-game elements to create an easy-to-learn, fast-playing adventure!

    Your odyssey begins when you receive a letter from your old friend, Gregorius, now a prior in the western march. Evil is pouring over the border and the kingdom's armies are being overrun. He begs you to defend the kingdom with your unique powers and martial skill. Before long, you will amass a small army of your own to protect the kingdom and strike back at the heart of the invading darkness!

    Styrateg allows you to play one of several characters with their individual special abilities. As you undertake several quests your character will gain experience, levels, magical items, and new powers. You will also gain new and unusual troops to command as you do battle with ferocious enemy forces. The turn-based gameplay allows you to take your time with your moves, but the pace remains brisk and exciting.
    ]]>     23 Nov 2006 03:30:32     Neverwinter Nights 2 Neverwinter Nights 2 is a title by Obsidian using the Dungeon and Dragons 3.5E ruleset by Wizards of the Coast. It provides an epic role playing experience in the single player campaign as well as easy to use tools for the community to bring their visions alive. Multiplayer is a core aspect of the game and it allows for cooperative and competative play depending on the module, as well as a dungeon master client controlling the world and characters as the players play.
    ]]>     27 Nov 2006 02:16:50