Information Review

Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR) is a forthcoming MMORPG video game based in the Star Wars universe. It is currently in development by BioWare Austin and will publish by Electronic Arts / LucasArts for Microsoft Windows. The game is scheduled for release on December 20, 2011.

SWTOR sets three hundred years following the actions in Knights of the Old Republic and the game will place gamers on either side of a huge combat among the Republic and the Empire. In SWTOR, gamers will discover an age thousands of years prior to the rise of Darth Vader when conflict among the Old Republic and the Sith Empire splits the galaxy. Gamers can select to play as Jedi, Sith, or a range of other classic Star Wars characters, defining their individual tale and deciding their trail down the light or dark side of the Force. Along the way, gamers will assist brave friends who will brawl at their side or perhaps let down them, based on the gamers’ actions. Gamers can also select to unite with friends to clash rivals and conquer unbelievable challenges.

Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4000 or better / Intel Core 2 Duo Processor 2.0 Ghz or better

Memory: At least 1.5 GB RAM for XP / 2 GB or better for Windows Vista/7

Graphics: ATI XT1800 or better / NVIDIA 7800 or better / Intel 4100 or better. 256 MB minimum video RAM, shader 3.0 or better fully compatible graphics card.

OS: Windows XP / Vista / Windows 7

DVD-ROM: 8x or better

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Game Features

Electronic Arts and Digital Illusions CE revealed the system specs for their highly anticipated shooter video game Battlefield 3 (BF3) for Microsoft Windows. The game is scheduled to be released on October 25, 2011 and the public beta will commence on September 29, 2011. While the minimum system requirements look like Battlefield 3 will run on most mid-level PCs and the recommended system requirements will require a hearty rig.

Battlefield 3: TGS 2011 Presentation

Id Software has released the system specs for its upcoming most anticipated FPS video game “Rage” for Windows. The game also supports Mac OS X, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and iOS. Rage will use the Id Software’s new OpenGL based id Tech 5 engine. The game is scheduled to release on October 04, 2011.

The game is set in the near future following an asteroid crashes Earth, leaving a devastated planet behind. You materialize into this harsh environment to find out people working to restore itself against such power as raider squad, mutants, and the Authority -a cruel government system that has a particular interest in you.

Rage - Preview

Hard Reset is a First Person Shooter video game for Microsoft Windows, developed by “The Flying Wild Hog”, a Polish developer that is comprised the members of the team behind Bulletstorm, and earlier developers from CD Projekt Red and City Interactive. The game is slated to release on Steam on September 13, 2011.

Hard Reset will feature a cyberpunk plot. It draws idea from William Gibson, Neal Stephenson, and Philip K. Dick. The game brings players to an unforgettable, dystopian future, with civilization on the edge of destruction, restricted to its last repute city and under continuous threat from the robotic hordes that intend to wipe out mankind. Only one city remains–the stronghold of Bezoar. It's here that main Fletcher takes to weapons against the robot hordes.

Hard Reset: Story Trailer

Wakfu is an RPG video game, release date to be announced later. The game is developed by Ankama Studio and published by Square Enix / Ankama Studio.

In the WAKFU, players have to use the skills and smarts to survive, battle and build in a virgin universe. Characters fight fierce fauna and flora using magic, martial arts or new technologies. They also have to build cities in a virgin universe while preserving nature from destruction. Thanks to a universal and intuitive language, players will interact to create alliances or to take part in fights that will have a direct influence upon the universe.

The story of Wakfu takes place a long time after that of DOFUS. An ogre named Ogrest gathered all the six Dofus and gained boundless powers. The ogre offered his beloved the dragon eggs. But she turned down the present though worthy of the gods themselves, and Ogrest started shedding tears of rage and pique. The tears of the ogre made the ocean level increase so much that parts of the World are now submerged to the inhabitants' great displeasure. Now gods and heroes of the World are starting a new adventure before reaching Ogrest and confront him in an ultimate fight!

Wakfu game features:

•Freedom of Choice: Players can choose to be an insanely-strong warrior, a magical healer, an assassin or even a summoner of plants or animals, among several other playable character classes, each with a total of 25 spells.

•Strategic Gameplay: The turn-based, tactical combat system challenges players to size up their opponents and think their way through battles

•Evolving Environments: In WAKFU, a player's actions affect the environment. If they kill a monster, it might be gone for good, and if they mine an ore, it might never appear in the game again. Players will have to carefully choose when they should protect or exploit their environment's natural resources

•Dynamic Challenges: Unique, area-specific quests keep players entertained as they adventure through the various parts of the world

•Wicked Humor: Players will notice an unusual sense of humor, as WAKFU is the only

place where they'll find a suit of armor that makes the wearer look like a giant rabbit

•Customizable Characters: Players can bring their characters to life with a robust set of customization features. Purple hair? Check. Grey skin? Check. A far-out hairstyle? Check.

Spiral Knights is an action adventure video game for PC system, release date to be announced later. The game is developed by Three Rings Design, Inc. and published by SEGA.

In the game, Spiral Knights have awoken on an alien world. Their equipment stores have been raided and their starship, The Skylark, will not recover from the crash. Now they must work together to survive on a journey that will take them to the very core of the world.

Spiral Knights game features:

•Constantly changing world brought to life in a vibrant, retro-inspired visual style.

•Intuitive pick-up-and-play controls (including both mouse-only and gamepad control).

•Opportunities for players to create guilds, craft new gear, and customize the looks and abilities of their characters.

•Easy matchmaking for co-op mayhem with parties of up to four players.

•Gear and weapons upgradeable through adventuring or through the purchase of Crystal Energy.

Art of Murder: Deadly Secrets is an upcoming adventure video game developed and published by City Interactive. The game is set for release on April 17, 2011 for PC.

Cloning Clyde is an adventure puzzle video game for PC system, release date to be announced later. The game is developed and published by NinjaBee. The game that may bring new meaning to the word "schizophrenic". In addition to a single-player story and individual challenging scenarios, enjoy multiplayer split-screen or online play, both co-op and vs. modes, with friends from all over the world.

Clyde was an ordinary (but slightly dim) guy before Dupliclone Inc. paid him $20 to take part in a cloning experiment. Now he’s multiple ordinary dim guys trapped in the nefarious Dupliclone Lab. To escape his diabolical captors, Clyde is going to have to get a little creative with himself and those around him. Lucky for him, Dupliclone left a whole lot of strange technology laying around, and it's up to Clyde to clone, combine, and mutate his way out of the evil Dupliclone trap. As Clyde adventures and meets new inhabitants of the Dupliclone labs, he'll combine with apes, frogs, chickens, and more.

Pride of Nations is a strategy video game published by Paradox Interactive for PC system. The game release date to be announced later. A historical strategy game featuring a simultaneous turn-based engine, putting players at the head of the world's Great Powers between 1850 and 1920.

Eight nations are playable in single-player and multiplayer - USA, Great Britain, Germany, France, Japan, Russia, Austria-Hungary and Italy.

Pride of Nations game features:

•Immerse yourself in realistic historical gameplay set on a global map/

•Play as the world’s Great Powers between 1850 and 1920.

•Lead one of eight different countries, each with their own personality and agenda: USA, Great Britain, Germany, France, Japan, Russia, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.

•Experience the most original diplomacy model ever created for a grand strategy game.

•Discover an involved colonization and exploration system.

•Fight against a strong, non scripted AI through a number of new game mechanisms.

•Battle it out with others in multiplayer with a new simultaneous turn-based engine.

•Engage in a detailed world economy with realistic components.

Salem is a persistent online strategy video game for PC system, release date to be announced later. The game is developed by Seatribe and published by Paradox Interactive. Set in a fantastical New England, Salem offers free form Massively Multiplayer gameplay in a persistent, ever-changing, online world. Players take the roles of intrepid colonists from the Old World seeking to make lives for themselves in the New. The colonists are able to use a unique crafting, farming and building system inspired by 17th century alchemy.

Salem game features:

•Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game.

•Persistent and mutable world.

•Crafting, farming and building.

•Open PvP combat with permanent death.

•Free-to-play.

Fallen Frontier is an action video game for PC system, release date to be announced later. The game is developed and published by Moonshot Games. Moonshot Games invites you to experience Fallen Frontier, a 2D sidescrolling shooter offering fast-paced tactical combat, vast interconnected worlds, and an original hard sci-fi universe. Using firearms, grenades, and various special abilities, you'll confront, confound, and conquer your enemies.

The game's story follows a jaded lawman from Earth, arriving at the frontier worlds of Alpha Centauri on a mission of vengeance. Events unfold as an engaging film noir style mystery, and the hero quickly comes to realize that in this brave new world, nothing is quite as it seems.

Apple recently unveiled its upcoming tablet computer “iPad 2” at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Prior to the release of the iPad 2, there was much media speculation of the device's features. The new device is set for release in the USA on March 11, 2011 and in the UK on March 25, 2011.

System Specs / Features:

Operating system: iOS 4.3

Power: Internal rechargeable non-removable 25 W·h (90 kJ) lithium-polymer battery

CPU: 1.08GHz dual-core Apple A5 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip

Storage capacity: Flash memory 16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB models only

Memory: 1GB or 256MB

Display: 9.7 inch 1024x768 (1080p [upscaled from 720p] – video out via Apple Digital AV Adapter; support simultaneous charging)

Graphics: PowerVR SGX543MP (cores: 2–4)

Input: Multi-touch touch screen, headset controls, proximity and ambient light sensors, 3-axis gyroscope, magnetometer, accelerometer, aGPS + Cellular (3G Model only)

Connectivity: Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n)

Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

Wi-Fi + 3G model also includes: UMTS / HSDPA (Tri band–850, 1900, 2100 MHz)

GSM / EDGE (Quad band–850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

Online services: iTunes Store, App Store, MobileMe, iBookstore, Safari, Game Center, Photo Booth

Dimensions: 9.50 in (241 mm) (h)

7.31 in (186 mm) (w)

0.34 in (8.6 mm) (d)

Weight: Wi-Fi model: 1.33 lb (600 g)

Wi-Fi + 3G model: 1.35 lb (610 g)

Fireburst is a racing video game for PC system, set for release in Q3 2011. The game is developed by ExDream and published by Zoo Games.

The game sends players into a fiery, four-wheeled adrenalin frenzy. Behind the wheel of numerous different racers, drivers get to speed along paved race courses or wicked off-road tracks, showing no respect for their rivals. Thanks to a novel boost system, opponents are kept at a distance in spectacular ways in various single and multiplayer modes. The element of fire prominently features in all special maneuvers. It is possible, for example, to coat your own vehicle in protective flames, or make a rival's car explode with a burst of fire!

Fireburst game features:

•Various Racing Maps – Challenge opponents on more than 15 different racing and destruction maps, consisting of airfields, docks, oilrigs, sewers, refineries, warehouses and waterfalls.

•Diverse Cars – Drivers can choose from 16 different cars in four different categories, which include Buggys, Muscle Cars, Trucks and Offroader/4x4.

•Unique Fireboost Capabilities – Every car in its class has a distinctive Fireboost ability. Fireball: cars are covered in fire, trailing flames behind the vehicle. Firewheels: car leaves tracks of fire, attacking opponents behind and to the side of the car. Firewall: a giant fire beam damages all nearby cars. Fireblast: giant explosion vaporizes everything around.

•Eccentric Characters – Choose from 16 unconventional characters with varying personalities.

•Multiple Car Customizations – Racers can choose from several different bodywork art and unlock characters and more than 250 car skins as they win competitions.

•Immersive and Intense Gameplay Experience. Four-player split screen capability. Single player, multi-player and challenge modes. Racers can taunt their opponents during multiplayer match-ups.

Serious Sam 3: BFE is the third in Croteam's wild and fast-paced shooter video game series, developed by Croteam and published by Devolver Digital for PC system. It is a glorious throwback to the golden age of first-person shooters where men were men, cover was for amateurs and pulling the trigger made things go boom. Serving as a prequel to the original indie sensation, Serious Sam: The First Encounter, Serious Sam 3: BFE takes place during the Earth's final struggle against Mental's invading legions of beasts and mercenaries. Set against the collapsing temples of an ancient civilization and the crumbling cities of 22nd century Egypt, Serious Sam 3: BFE is an exhilarating fusion of classic twitch shooters and modern gameplay features.

Serious Sam 3: BFE game features:

•Frantic Arcade-Style Action -- The calling card of the Serious Sam series. Relentless hordes of spectacular enemies attack in full force in expansive outdoor battlefields. Hold down the trigger and lay waste to a never-ending onslaught of attackers or face being overrun by Mental's savage beasts. No cover systems, no camping – it's just you and them. All of them.

•Mental's Fearsome Legions – A new battalion of unforgettable minions including the rumbling Scrapjack and towering Khnum join the legendary Headless Kamikaze, Gnaar and Sirian Werebull. Your days of mowing down zombie Nazi space pirates are over.

•Serious Melee Attacks – When an enemy slips by your wall of lead and pain, use one of the all-new innovative melee moves to drop an enemy right where they stand in the most violent way possible.

•Pure Multiplayer Mayhem – Play through the full campaign mode with up to 16 players or drop the gauntlet and let the heavy ordinance fly in versus modes like Deathmatch and Beast Hunt. This is the next level of Serious Sam multiplayer and all hell is about to break loose.

First look at the upcoming real-time strategy video game “Orcs Must Die” developed and published by Robot Entertainment for PC system. The game release date to be announced later. It is a new breed of strategy made for those who want some crazy carnage to go along with their cerebral challenge. A mix of third-person action, strategic planning and tower defense, Orcs Must Die is set in a goofy kind of high fantasy realm. You play as an armored knight capable of wielding bow, sword and magical attacks. The goal is simple. Kill orcs before they’re able to speed past you and cross the threshold of a glowing rift.

Risen 2: Dark Waters is an RPG video game for PC system, release date to be announced later. The game is developed by Piranha Bytes / Pluto 13 and published by Deep Silver. With an expanded setting, a fresh story and characters as well as an all-new technical foundation, Risen 2 expands on the success of this popular RPG franchise. Set several years after the end of Risen, the game drops players into a cataclysmic world where raging titans have devastated the planet and pushed humanity to the brink of existence. Subsequently, monstrous creatures have risen from the watery depths of the sea and their attacks have brought all seafaring to a grinding halt. The hero, now a member of the Inquisition, is sent out to find out how to stop the chaos caused by these creatures from the deep. His quest begins with rumors that the pirates who frequent the southern islands are the only ones who know a way to get rid of the creatures once and for all and end their reign of terror.

With an all-new pirate-based theme, Risen 2: Dark Waters aims to combine the most loved classic RPG gameplay mechanics of the original Risen with a fresh theme and setting on a huge variety of themed island locales. Risen 2: Dark Waters maintains the most immersive features of the original Risen, with multiple approaches to every challenge allowing players to shape the game world based on their own decisions. These choices will serve to unlock new paths, features and additional skills for the character.

Armada 2526: Supernova is the first expansion for the acclaimed 4x turn-based strategy/real time tactical blend video game Armada 2526 developed by Ntronium Games and published by Matrix Games. The game release date to be announced later.

Armada 2526: Supernova gives you more to explore, more to exploit, more to exterminate and expands you’re gaming horizons by letting you challenge your friends via LAN or PBEM play.

There are new star and planet types to discover, and more than 30 special features to make each star system distinctive. You may encounter tachyon storms, psychic plants, primitives or find abandoned alien technology that advances your own research. Two new races, with their own ships and special characteristics, await your discovery. Befriend them, play as them, or exterminate them as you wish.

A new trade system lets you construct networks to trade valuable commodities between the stars, both between your own worlds, and with other players. Alien relics, rare minerals, tourists, or even natural anti-matter, your freighters carry them all. Choke an enemy with trade embargoes, or blockade their planets with stealth ships operating behind the lines. But trade and tourism bring less welcome visitors too. The new espionage system lets you plant spies to gather information or steal technological secrets, or drop special forces that can sabotage defenses before an attack.

Fifty new technologies open up new strategies and tactics. Confound your enemies with hard to detect stealth ships, jam their missiles with electronic warfare, build fighter stations to defend your planets, and blitz defenses with stormtroopers. Research Gaia to make everyone happy, or grind them under your heel with a variety of more powerful warships and upgrades weapons.

Armada’s simultaneous order system makes it ideal game for multi-player action. Now you can crush your friends playing over LAN (local area networks) or PBEM (play by email).

Armada 2526: Supernova game features:

•New star and planet types and more than 30 special features ranging from anti-matter to alien tech that, make each star system distinctive.

•Covert action system lets spies gather information, and steal technologies, while Special Forces can infiltrate enemy planets and sabotage defenses.

•New trade system with explicitly represented trade routes. Domestic and foreign trade; embargoes and blockades.

•50 new technologies include signal jamming, stealth ships, weapon upgrades and orbital fighter stations.

•30 plus new unit models.

•Two new alien races.

•Supports multiplayer via LAN or Play-By-Email.

Armada 2526: Supernova System Specs:

•OS: XP, Vista, 7

CPU: 1 GHz

RAM: 1 GB

Graphics: DirectX 9 Compatible 3D Video Card with 128 MB RAM

Sound DirectX 9 Compatible

Disk Space: 2 GB Free

DirectX9.0c+, .NET Framework 2.0+, Visual C Runtimes (all included in installer)

Defenders of Ardania is a next-generation tower defense video game for PC system, set for release in Q2 2011. The game is developed and published by Most Wanted Entertainment (MWE). Set in the rich fantasy world of Majesty, but with a twist. Besides the addictive core mechanics of placing towers to stop advancing enemy units, Defenders of Ardania also allows players to take on the role of the attackers seeking to conquer the enemy base.

Defenders of Ardanias innovative new game concepts include light RTS elements, taking the popular genre to the next level. Players must oversee unit production and upgrades while assembling the most effective army from one of three playable races, each with unique locations, towers, and units. However, without magic, a fantasy game is little more than a toothless lion (or dragon, rather), so a wide range of spells will be available for players to decimate their enemies and protect their forces.

Although Defenders of Ardania includes a single-player portion, the focus of the game is undoubtedly multiplayer, where two to four players can take each other on or compete against AI opponents via Internet, LAN, or PSN. The multiplayer component offers three different game modes where players can assume either the defensive or offensive sides -- or both!

Defenders of Ardania game video

Defenders of Ardania game features:

An intriguing new take on the massively popular tower defense genre: players lead both offensive and defensive operations

Ardania: the world of Majesty with three playable races and their unique environments

Attack: 24 varied units with diverse attributes to assemble into an offensive force

Strong multiplayer component with a variety of game modes for up to four players

Interactive environment that affects gameplay

A wide range of offensive and defensive spells

Stay tuned for System Specs and more information

Who's That Flying!? is a shooter video game developed and published by Mediatonic for PC. In the game, you are the mysterious and powerful creature known only as the "Guardian of Earth." Your steely eye and HYPER-POWERED LASER ARM have kept the citizens of Earth safe for generations (as well as proving a hit with the ladies).

With all your awesome TALENT and FLAIR, surely it would be IMPOSSIBLE for a sudden and devastating invasion of colossal Doom Beasts to descend on your cities and cause havoc without your knowledge? (Even if you were MAYBE showboating for a magazine photo shoot at the time...)

Now, you must not only defend your cities from the ravenous hordes of Doom Beasts, you must defend yourself against accusations of gross incompetence from the Galactic Council of Justice! And this is all BEFORE you can even start to get to the bottom of just who OR what is really behind the attacks…

It's a side-scrolling shooter meets tower defense (with courtroom drama and intrigue!) doused in sheer awesomeness ... AND THEN SET ON FIRE.

Hewlett-Packard recently announced its upcoming new tablet computer THE HP TOUCH PAD, based on webOS. The company plans to release a WiFi-only version of TouchPad in summer 2011 with 3G and 4G versions to follow. Pricing and release information yet to be announced.