Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 1:59 PM

Category: First Person

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 2:14 PM

Category: Hardware

A gift from Micro-Star International to all extreme gamers, this new Socket 939 mainboard is ready to amaze you with its support of SLI, integrated Sound Blaster Live!, two Gigabit Ethernet controllers, six Serial ATA II ports and more!

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 8:55 AM

Category: Music

It's the second time in recent months that Nullsoft has been forced to plug a critical vulnerability in its skinnable, multiformat music/media player.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 12:02 AM

Category: Strategy

The Empire and Rebel Alliance will battle across a variety of planets, from Hoth to Tatooine, from Yavin to Naboo. Each planet provides resources that can be used to build new units to conquer new worlds. Space and ground battles will rage across the galaxy as the two factions vie for control. Units and bases persist from battle to battle, opening up plenty of new tactical and strategic considerations.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 1:30 PM

Category: Action

Overall, The Punisher is a very linear game in terms of its level design, and it's really just a classic console arcade shooter, similar to the likes of Namco's Dead to Rights, only with a popular Marvel license and better physics. The linear gunfights and level romps are slightly offset by the option to interrogate bad guys along the way, using special interrogations that are far more violent than the ordinary methods. This can lead to them helping you out or revealing important information. You could call this a non-linear element, but I really wouldn't, as you can finish the game either way: by talking to them or by throwing them in a pool of piranhas.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 8:09 PM

Category: Action

We take a look at SkyRiver's upcoming title Artificial Intelligence Machines (aka MechMinds), is a game based in the distant future. The entire game, as you can probably tell from the title, is based around robots. The humans left them on a deserted military planet when the robots became sentient and got out of control. Strangely enough, the robots lived on, and created their own society.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 12:28 PM

Category: Role Playing

Gamers have much to look forward to in the coming months as DreamCatcher releases never-before seen gameplay footage, screenshots and a new trailer, offering an up-close look at a truly unique role-playing experience. Official single and multiplayer demos will also be available around launch.

Dungeon Lords blends the depth of an epic Fantasy RPG with the flexibility of an FPS-style control system. Gamers journey through a land of ancient castles and dungeon lairs to engage in real-time tactical combat with a variety of deadly foes. It’s not just about the battles though, as magic spells and hundreds of powerful weapons and artifacts play a huge role in the game.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 9:50 AM

Category: First Person

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 2:43 PM

Category: Strategy

You'll play through the mines of Moria as the Fellowship and defend Helm's Deep from the army of Isengard. Or take control of the evil armies of Isengard and Mordor. Both campaigns take an appropriate amount of time to complete

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 9:58 AM

Category: First Person

Dmitry Glaznev: Let's be honest. Did you ever see any game in FPS genre with WWII atmosphere that have any good physic engine? I know none. So with East Front we are giving the new dimension and opportunities in WW II world, that breathing, screaming and tearing your mind apart. You could blow the things up, destroy the enemy covers, and use the environment for hiding and killing foes. Would it better than Half-Life 2? We are not using the gravity gun, but you wouldn't be disappointed. I promise.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 7:58 PM

Category: Role Playing

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 7:04 PM

Category: Comic Books

Comic book legend Stan Lee could be in for a monster payday after a Manhattan judge ruled that Marvel Enterprises had unfairly deprived him of profits generated by "Spider-Man" and other characters over the past seven years.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 8:11 PM

Category: Hardware

Large wall units or entertainment centers are sensible solutions to house an A/V receiver, DVD player and other gear as well as the TV display. But putting tower speakers inside the wall unit will degrade and compromise neutral and transparent sound.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 5:26 PM

Category: Role Playing

One of the ways in which Gas Powered Games has improved on the party system is by adding in skill trees to give you more choice in the disciplines of your characters. "They give you more options for customising characters, more choices to make during combat, and the satisfaction of doing some serious damage when it really counts," emphasises Kevin.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 4:18 PM

Category: Developer

Being the biggest publisher in the video games business isn't enough for Electronic Arts. EA, which entered the music business last year, is in talks with television production companies to launch a Sims-like interactive TV show. The company says its goal is eventually to become the largest entertainment firm in the world.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 3:32 PM

Category: First Person

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 8:37 PM

Category: Hardware

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 8:25 PM

Category: Hardware

LCD, plasma, and DLP devices are all called "fixed-pixel" displays because the panel has a predefined and fixed number of pixels in its display format. Knowing the number of pixels in each direction (horizontally and vertically) will tell you how sharp an image it will produce...

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 7:25 PM

Category: Science

Burning through the clouds at more than 13,000 mph, the craft slowed and floated on three parachutes for more than two hours in the thick atmosphere, carried by surprisingly strong winds. On landing, the probe sent images and data for 70 minutes before Cassini moved out of transmission range.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 2:21 PM

Category: General

While Murdoch's interest in the video game business may come as a shock, this is just one of a few instances where "outside" companies have considered or in fact purchased portions of some of the industry's most successful companies. In September 2004 Viacom was considering buying out Electronic Arts but backed out when it learned that the company was selling for about $20 billion. However, Viacom did not leave 2004 empty handed, as it acquired a majority share-holding position in Midway, makers of such games as Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy and The Suffering, a move that has caused speculation that Viacom may eventually buy-out the games publisher.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 11:12 AM

Category: First Person

The Bot features enhanced abilities and will be available for all owners of Counter-Strike: Source. Also included in Monday's release is an updated version de_tides, rebuilt by Turtlerock Studios.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 1:02 PM

Category: Action

The fighting engine has been beefed up, and is no longer a one button mashing affair. You now have combos that you’ll need to execute if you want to successfully defeat the enemies. The best part is that all of these combos look slick, and are fun to use.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 12:19 PM

Category: First Person

Snowblind is using a custom engine developed by Crystal Dynamics, and the game is coming together with strong graphics and a consistently gritty, futuristic aesthetic that fits in well with the setting and storyline. The maps seem to do a good job of evoking the plot's war-torn urban battlefields, and the action is fast and furious amid the broken buildings and piles of rubble.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 2:16 PM

Category: Hardware

This year's Consumer Electronics Show gave us the annual sneak peak at what new products and technologies to watch out for in the upcoming year. There was aisle after aisle of loudspeakers, flat TVs, and a dizzying array of doo-dads and gadgets. However, a few products rose above the masses.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 1:05 PM

Category: First Person

The game allows the player to stop, slow down or reverse time but because this is a first person shooter they can try some things that haven’t been done before. For instance, say you get spotted and see a Half-Life-like large crate. You can destroy that crate and then reverse time and stand where the crate was and actually be contained inside that crate.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 11:18 AM

Category: Massively Multiplayer

After careful consideration of all the facts and analyzing all the data which we have gathered from the Wish Beta 2.0 test so far, we have decided to cancel the Wish project.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 8:57 AM

Category: Role Playing

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 2:52 PM

Category: First Person

Most of the levels will be mass battle affairs pitting you and a group of friendly grunts against legions of bugs. And we do mean legions: Strangelite's custom-designed engine is able to render over 300 scuttling insectoids on screen at once, in addition to troopers, vehicles and artillery.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 1:13 PM

Category: Role Playing

Unfortunately, jumping around in game isn't very enjoyable, nor does it look good. It's pretty obvious that Demon Stone is a typical PS2 port, with console-like controls and interface. The controls are fairly awkward, which makes jumping and movement in general rather frustrating at times. What really unnerved me at one point was the fact it took me less time to kill one of the game's bosses than perform a jump on a certain platform. There was a voice in my head telling me it shouldn't be so, especially because you aren't able to make any progress until you perform a certain jump. Zhie can also reach some platforms with hidden bonuses, so there's another reason to become a skilled jumper.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 10:31 AM

Category: Role Playing

The original had some significant strengths to build upon. Among these, the most notable may have been the fast-paced combat, often against waves of adversaries, which stood out for many gamers. The team appears intent on enhancing this aspect through features like powerful allies with cool abilities, improved AI, increased interactivity with the environments, and a new special effects engine.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 11:57 AM

Category: Action

You also get to learn that death on Chimera isn’t a major problem for robots thanks in large parts to the “Great Database”. The Archbishops scattered around Chimera maintain this database and retain details of every single inhabitant’s structure. As long as you have enough money to pay the Archbishops for extra lives they will have enough details about you to resurrect you instantly on death.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 1:21 PM

Category: General

Some soldiers prefer games with a military slant, while others see the games as more of an escapist tool, opting for more relaxing experiences. "I've heard some people say they like to play the video games with the aggressive military content. I've also heard people say they don't want to play those types of games; they don't need to be reminded of it. But as far as a pleasant event, it can take their mind off things, help them relax. We encourage it," Lt. Erin Simmons, a psychologist with Bravo Surgical Company told the AP.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 8:46 PM

Category: First Person

Retribution uses Artificial Studio's advanced game engine – Reality. It is a FPS or 3rd person shooter (your choice) with a movie like script. A large variety of photo realistic scenes to explore as you work your way through the game ensure that you never feel the game is repetitive. Featuring open play which enables you to hire and improve your crew members and their abilities, build an arsenal of weapons, acquire a range of equipment, and complete numerous mercenary tasks for cash. Attempt the main storyline missions at your leisure.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 8:40 AM

Category: General

From 1 January, a new law is being introduced to protect computer users from software known as spyware. The legislation, which was approved by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, is designed to safeguard people from hackers and help protect their personal information.

Posted by Darren 'Doom Dude' Finch at 10:19 PM

Category: First Person

Enemies charge at you. More spawn. And charge at you. And if you don't kill them quickly there'll be a big long line of them after you, probably making hideous macabre noises of the undead and possibly spitting or throwing something in your direction. That's about as complicated as things get in Painkiller, and if that sounds like Doom, then maybe it's also time to rejoice. At last, an FPS that's purely about shooting as many demented enemies as possible, as quickly as possible.