Quick Review: Batman Arkham City

Posted on October 15, 2011 by Syed Hassan

Overview of Batman Arkham City:

Gotham City is as dank and daunting as ever-a place where crime thrives and and never really seizes to grow, exponentially (Pretty much the same concept you may have been taught in your mathematics class). Those are enough reasons for the return of the cape and cowl, and the unbeatable searing light that spears through the dark skies of the crime-infested Gotham City to call out none other than..The Batman. Hot on the heels of Batman: Arkham Ayslum, the new Batman: Arkham City will put Batman fans in Batman’s own high boots and flung open the Asylum doors before them as they embark on a whole new journey in the north Gotham, the Arkham City.Let us don our cape and cowl and catapult through the high-end adventure.

Story:

As always, the storyline isn’t exactly the worst in the Batman series; in fact, it comes across as one of the most engaging ones (In our honest opinions). It’s extremely chilly out there on the streets of Arkham City as winter befalls the City and besides all the snow, there are quite a few criminals that Batman must take on. So, what’s the story here? Well, Gotham City just goes from bad to worse as a prison crisis gives rise to a number of baddies cashing in on the opportunity of breaking their shackles and gain support of all and sundry situated in the city.

This may well sound like the perfect setting for Batman to jump into and clear all the mess once and for all; but hey, wait a minute. It is more a case of no other choice than a stubborn duty for the Dark Knight. You see, the good ol’ Joker is trying to combat death behind the prison walls and being the clever badass that he has always been, Joker designs his evil plots in such a way so as to trap Batman in no man’s land and force him to help Joker find a cure. It is this very quest that brings Batman come face-to-face and lock horns with old rivals and more than just a couple of new bad guys.

Presentation:

Presentation has to be the key part of Batman: Arkham City. Mark my words, it is a boon when it comes to Batman games made to date. Oh yes, the Gotham City has always been dark and deathly sight popularly painted in bed-time stories, cartoons, comics and video games over and over again. However, what we have here in Batman: Arkham City is an entirely re-imagined and unbelievable vision of Gotham City that is well and truly engaging-cum-satisfying. Yes, you do expect a few hashes here and there, especially with scale, with a game this detailed; however, Batman: Arklham Asylum does remarkably well to retain the atmospheric detail in this awesomely awesome piece of art and imagination. Surely worth mentioning here is the voice acting: Awe-inspiring is the word to be precise. Surely the most amazing bit of work by voice actors, especially voice acting for Batman and Joker: true to every tone from a wheezy little cough to the trademark evil laughter.

Most important of all, Batman: Arkham City is THE example of an open world-structuring and an exceptional level of stage-management. Hats off to the designers really for coming up with such a magnificent piece of playground where there seem to be no holds barred and Batman is allowed full license of throwing himself around and trying out his deadly toys. Be it the spacious redecorated steel mill stuffed with balloons and flashing lights, or the very filthy street corner of the City, each and every bit of Batman: Arkham City speaks for the high amount of attention it holds in its ‘oh so widened scope.’ Such is the level of detail that you may well not mind donning the Batmans cape and cowl and spending hours just gliding over rooftops and towering buildings; thereby, exploring the sprawling Arkham City.

Gameplay:

It is very encouraging to know that developers decided to not tweak with the combat system so God-dam much, so as to completely revamp it, but they decided to safely retain the same combat system from the first Batman: Arkham Asylum. So then, if you have already played Batman: Arkham Asylum, you are surely not going to take any time going through the motions. However, for those of you who are new to the business for one reason or the other, there is one button that strikes, one counters and the other allows jumping around (Yes, it is that simple on paper, indeed). A flurry of new combos, special moves and of course, the inclusion of gadgets makes the gameplay shine like anything. More so, being able to take out multiple cronies simultaneously and being able to bomb areas while gliding is a sure-shot thing of beauty, to say the least.

We would not exactly want to spoil the gadgets scheme of things for you, but the least we can say here is that there is a whole bunch of new stuff to explore with the new variety of things added to Batman’s kitty. For instance, being able to shock your foe and have him accidentally take out his own partner in utter confusion. Besides the various side missions that are sure to keep you involved apart from the main story, the Four Hundred challenge missions in the game mean that you will be spending a good lengthy time in your Batman suit. That is not it, the Twenty Four challenge maps allow players to add a lot more Riddler trophies to their collection and keep their Bat skills sharp for the next encounter. Of course, you as well play as Catwoman if you please, which is a whole new experience to be honest. However, to achieve this you may have to purchase her content online so as to receive the access code.

Final Word:

Can order be restored? There is a fine line between the affirmative and the negative as you don your Batman suit and set off to solve the unrest once and for all. The extremely lavishing attention to detail, solid and satisfying gameplay mechanics coupled with a seemingly never-ending series of quests and secrets make Batman: Arkham City an amazingly wonderful and complete package for its price that will keep sucking you in its direction even well after you see the credits roll. So then, if you really dig the Dark Knight, we would advise you waste no more time and get your hands on this game!

Batman: Arkham Asylum hits stores on October 18, 2011 and will be available for PC, PS3, XBox 360 and WIIU.

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Five New Additions in Assassin’s Creed: Revelations

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Syed Hassan

Introduction:

It seems that whatever Ubisoft do, they do it remarkably well. Of course, you do not need a second hint about what exactly we are referring to: the Assassin’s Creed. Assassins Creed has been great, no wait, it has been a downright awesome addition to Ubisoft’s kitty according to most who have had the fortune to have their hands on the classy title. While the first, second and third (Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood) sequel never really failed to make a mark, the fourth sequel of Assassin’s Creed, Assassin’s Creed: Revelations seems to be shaping up pretty nicely and is expected to make a grand appearance as a brand new addition to the scheme of things that Ubisoft has planned. Such is the anticipation that we couldn’t resist the urge of coming up with a post on what is to come in the latest sequel to the Assassin’s Creed brotherhood (Assassin’s Creed 1, 2, 3); therefore, let us milk the moment and present before you the five all-new additions in the new Assassin’s Creed: Revelations. Let’s roll.

New Addition #1

Remember the classy hidden blade that Ezio would don in the last two Assassin’s Creed games, also Altair in the very first Assassin’s Creed title, in fact, guess what it has been made better than ever. This isn’t exactly a whole new hidden blade on its own, but this time around Ezio’s hidden blade has been complemented with a brand new ‘Hookblade’.

Now you must be wondering what the story on the hookblade is, perhaps as curious as a character in the game who is keen on milking information from Ezio regarding his ‘hook’blade (Sounds kinda misleading to me). Anyway, the fact that Assassin’s Creed: Revelations puts his all new addition to good use by making it usable in nearly all aspects of the game sounds very pleasant to the ears. The new hookblade in Assassin’s Creed: Revelations is just an attachment to the hidden blade that Ezio previously had. That just goes to show that Ezio might have gone old, but oh how he has the hots for burgeoning technology!

This hook extension is attached at the end of the hidden blade in such a way that you may use it to jump, climb, cling onto things while falling and of course combat your way through. Surely, that allows for an enhanced reach of the blade altogether (Great addition if you ask me).

New Addition #2

If you were ever fascinated by the potential of shooting rivals in Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, you are bound to love this new addition to the Assassin’s Creed family. This one is called, Bomb Crafting (Told you, Ezio is older; yet, more tech-savvy). Three distinct ingredients have been made part of the bomb crafting area of the game. Very much like you would do in a role-playing game, bomb crafting allows for trying different variations in bomb-making. This means, a number of things involve the making of a bomb, including: impact shell, gunpowder and effect. Without spoiling all the fun for you a little too early, allow us to give you only a brief overview of how a few of these bombs are designed to work in Assassin’s Creed: Revelations. A sticky bomb, for instance, would stick to an individual upon impact (As the name itself suggests) and as the individual wlks into a crowd, you shall see..Mass Effect, pretty sweet. Another nice new addition in this regard is the gold bomb that simply spreads fake gold all over the place of impact and have people come in to have a bit of a look (Of course, don’t we all look to go after anything that glitters?). Definitely, a crafty way to sneak past foes without ringing any fells. Last but not the least, the stink bomb is quite an interesting development. Throw this one on an enemy and the people around would back away, thanks to the awful smell-a sublime way of knocking your target out cold while others are too busy keeping themselves out of the way.

New Addition #3

This all-new addition termed as ‘Dens’ is simply a great new way of adding a bit of strategic elements to the awesome Assassin’s Creed game. If you have ever tried strategy games in your lifetime, you would do what is being discussed here. This, in fact, follows the footsteps of Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood in regards to its tower gameplay. Major difference being, this one is very much an urban street fighting in a much more tighter environment; thereby, helping you work a bit of a sweat in the process. The tower in the game are actually the dens that we speak of. They could be Assassin dens or Templar dens, depending on your actions. Attack a den and you automatically turn it into an Assassin den (Yes, very much like Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood). Being attacked by a great new force, activate the Tower Attack gameplay and you are automatically in charge of an army of assassins who you can direct to attack, build and defend on the spot. It is amazing how the this new addition in Assassin’s Creed: Revelations just seems to transform into a whole new game.

New Addition #4

Don’t we all love stalking and sneaking around..after playing games like Assassin’s Creed and Metal Gear Solid, I mean? Well, how about the new Stalking feature in the new Assassin’s Creed: Revelations? Well, that’s what it is. Sadly, this is a power bestowed upon your foes this time around. Stalkers come across as people in the game who are sparsely distributed in the Assassin’s Creed world and are after Ezio’s blood. That explains why they would keep dropping by, and stalk Ezio until they are in close proximity to try and stalk him in the back (Considering the charismatic bad ass that Ezio has shaped up to be), resulting in the loss of a huge chunk of life. Do not worry, the move can be countered, it is not like you have to act like a sissy and get stabbed in the back for no reason without being able to prevent it. Gamers will be able to counter the act by pressing the right button when attacked by a stalker and turn around and take out stalkers instantly or give them a good long chase before putting an end to their existence (You would know how satisfying that is if you have ever tried backstabbing in the previous sequels of Assassin’s Creed).

New Addition #5

Finally, Special Recruits are another better than ever addition in Assassin’s Creed. Yes, assassin recruits aren’t news for you but the new special recruits are different. Yes, they come with a story and you do get to know their past. Team up with these special ones and help them reach higher levels, very much like earning them points and get higher up the ranks. Of course, it is always better to know the story that your team mate blends in and its always better to be emotionally involved. Surely, this will beef things up for the new Assassin’s Creed sequel and take team work to a higher level.

Assassin’s Creed: Revelations will be out for grabs on November 15, 2011 for PC, PlayStation 3 and XBox 360.

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Repairing a Malware-Damaged PC

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Syed Hassan

Introduction:

The process of malware removal is a seemingly candid one; it is only a matter of two to three clicks and all the defected material goes out of the window in just few minutes, courtesy of a decent antivirus tool. However, it must be noted that even if these few security packages, targeting malware-damage that your PC might have been going through, make your PC seem a bit ‘well-off’, in actuality they might be doing the opposite. Yes you heard that right, these security packages can actually cause some programs to work slower or; in fact, not function at all (Talk about adding insult to..malware-damaged).

Now then, question is what is the way out? We shall come to that in a bit but before that first we need to redeem the PC to a virus-free condition via restoration of a pre-infection full complement backup or re-installation of Windows. Yes it is time-consuming and even a bigger hassle for some of you, but better be safe than sorry, correct?

Second, although a more cumbersome, method is to manually sort and scold all those areas that the malware may well have damaged in the PC. Personally, the former is more preferable and most probably the one you shall choose as you may just be spending loads of time on trying to sort malware-damaged areas of the PC and finally find yourself reinstalling Windows anyway. As evident in the aforementioned paragraphs, repairing a malware-damaged PC can be a nuisance more often than not. However, this post shall guide you on how you may safely resist the temptation of dumping your good ol’ PC pal and help your PC get rid of any malware that decides to stick to it.

Getting Started

There are often times when, upon completion of a brief system scan, the antivirus installed on your PC indicates that there is no malware detected; however, the PC continues to function, unusually strange. No, we will not call it forgery on part of the PC; there are chances of malware stuck in there, afterall. Just to be on the safe side and to make sure that there is no active malware, run a full system scan on the PC with all detection options checked. Of course, it is always advisable to try other solid security packages, like G Data’s antivirus (trial). Otherwise, if you are looking for an efficient giveaway product, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware may well be a good option to try.

Do bear in mind that having more than one security packages installed on your PC might as well contribute towards the misbehaviour of your PC. Therefore, you would want to make sure that in an attempt of repairing malware, you do not end up slowing down your PC (Conflict between two antivirus packages tends to do that). You should also have Windows check itself for missing or damaged files within the system: it is easy. If you have Windows XP installed on your PC, click Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt. On the contrary, in case of Windows 7 Start > All Programs > Accessories. Now, right click a Command Prompt couple and then, Run As Administrator. Following this, a new window will open up, whereby you will be required to type SFC/ SCANNOW and press ENTER.

Restoring Default Settings

How often do we get fooled in our lifetime-aplenty. Well, a malware damage might just be another entry into the records. Why I say that is because what seems like a malware damage could be a corollary of some unapproved tweaks to some key settings in the PC. In such a case, restoration of system default settings easily resolves the issue. It is important to note here that all the customizations applied shall be lost on doing this, so you would want to make sure that these tweaks are applied only to areas that are genuinely causing problems.

Explorer is rather vulnerable to malware, so do not be ruffled if the settigns on your PC’s explorer get messed up as a result of malware or otherwise. The solution is simple: Click Tools > Folder Options > General/View/Search tab > Restore Defaults.

If a desired program seizes to load while you are, say, trying to send an email, click Start > Default Programs. Choose ”Set program access and computer defaults” and it will allow you to chose your default web browser, email program, media player and much more. On the contrary, the latter would allow you to make an application a default selection for all file types and protocols, so you won’t have to repeat the process everytime.

In case, Internet Explorer seems to be a cause of concern amidst all the malware-damaged PC speculation, click Start > Control Panel > Network > Internet. If you have the slightest of ideas about what might have gone wrong , try your hand at restoring the settings pertinent to the issue.

If you are sick and tired of going through the motions and would like to go the wham, bam and thank you ma’am way click, Internet Options > Advanced > Reset. This will fully restore all Internet Explorer defaults and clear everything that was previously saved in the IE settings.

Recovery Tools

We understand that you are only just human (No, no puppy faces please) and going through such long PC recovery procedures might just be an exercise too much for your liking. Good news is that there are even more substitutes, free recovery tools. Yes, we treat as somewhat our final resort but trust me they work like a charm if they are really required that is. However, worth-noting here is the fact that these are to be tried only if a full system back up is available with you. If you think you are good to go, Complete Internet Repair is quite a bit of a starter (Yeah, very much like the one that you get for breakfast). Not only will this repair networking issue but repairing Internet Explorer is also a plus involved.

Moreover, SMART is as smart a tool as the name suggests. It helps reset the Windows services to defaults and allow safe repairs. Moving on, the Windows Repair Tool may be the last but definitely not the least of all Recovery tools that makes repairing an easy task. Whether it is about solving Registry and file system problems or repairing icons and making changes to proxy settings, it is one utility that surely worth a try.

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Top Five PlayStation 3 Tips and Tricks

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Syed Hassan

Introduction:

In our not-so-ancient post on the Top Five XBox 360 Tips and Tricks, we discussed our five favourite XBox 360 secrets that Microsoft may just have decided to hold back from you. Considering how malicious and easily offended fanboys have become these days, we decided to draft five interesting tips and tricks for the PlayStation 3 (Afterall, the next-generation consoles also go through emotions these days). yet again, the theme of the post remains the same; only the subject changes from Microsoft’s XBox 360 to SONY’s own hunk, the PlayStation 3. Thus, we shall safely assume that the concept of this post would not leave you alienated (Besides, this ain’t exactly a story-based RPG, is it?). Alright, let us dig deep into SONY’s PlayStation 3 this time around and explore the top five secret amenities that it packs.

1. Transform DVDs to HD on the PlayStation 3

Let us not forget the fact that the PlayStation 3 is not just a gaming powerhouse; it also delivers largely on movie playback. Oft-well renowned for its Blu-Ray capabilities, the PlayStation 3 plays as one of the best DVD players out in the market. Yes, hardcore gamers on the PlayStation 3 tend to oversee such promising potential on the other end (Sad, but true). Also, it is hard to expect high quality from DVDs in the modern day when Blu-Ray is the name of the deal but the PlayStation 3, oozing with sheer potential, even polishes DVD imagery to a top-notch quality on a plasma screen. How you do it is a good question to ask, of course. Simply, when you are watching a DVD on a high definition device, press the triangle button on your PlayStation 3 dualshock 3 controller and jump down to AV settings. Upon choosing this, you will be able to see various options for mosquito noise reduction, frame, block and a full up-scale on DVD content. Savour this feat and enjoy the nearly HD quality visuals on your television screens.

2. Transform your PlayStation 3 into a PC

One could argue how stupid an idea it is to transform a next-generation hunk to a fat old fart but hey, do not be mislead and try and be a little more respectful here, please. We wouldn’t exactly be turning consoles into PCs with the stroke of a magic wand. Instead, the process only infuses powers of a PC into your PlayStation 3 while retaining the powers of the PlayStation 3 intact, of course. Not a tough task really. The process does requires a bit of digging up into the PlayStation 3 system but you must have heard of the no pain, no gain theory. To achieve this, surf system settings in the settings menu and jump to ‘Install other OS’. Woo, hold on a bit, before moving on any further you must back up all your data from the PlayStation 3 hard drive to a USB. Following this crucial step, you may download a copy of the operating system from any PlayStation forum and burn it to a DVD and install it to the PlayStation 3 hard drive. Then what, congratulations, you now have a full fledged PC all in one PlayStation 3 console!

3. Using PC Peripherals on the PlayStation 3

With your PlayStation 3 already transformed into a PC, it is sort of unfair to treat it like a half-baked cookie. Want more explanation on that one? Well, imagine how it feels to use the internet on the PlayStation 3 using an onscreen keyboard. A few might even argue that there have been enough accessories on the market that mitigate the issue of typing but personally, I would not prefer a peanut-sized keypad attached to my dualshock 3 to make it seem like some sort of a mini alienship gone wrong. Luckily, for all you PlayStation 3 users, the PlayStation 3 offers full support for standard mice and keyboards that not only allow for enhanced typing experience, courtesy of the inbuilt browser, but really prove their mettle in the gaming scheme of things as well. There is absolutely no rocket science involved in doing so. All you have to do is, get off your couch (Where you have been lying and gaming for hours like a bloak with no life at all) and plug your desired peripherals into the USB ports of the PlayStation 3. Oh, and did I mention that there’s also support for bluetooth peripherals? Drooling already? Hah, before you wet the whole place jump to the settings menu on your PlayStation 3 and choose Accessory Settings. Following this, slect the option of Manage Bluetooth Devices.

4. Setting up a Media Server on the PlayStation 3

If you are one of those music maniacs who just can’t resist the temptation of carrying their music, or even their favourite videos and pictures with them wherever they go, you may well be very interested to know this one. Gone are the days when overburdening the valuable space on your PlayStation was a pain in the backside (Yes, backside), say hello to media streaming across your PlayStation network. Simply download Tversity or the latest version of Windows Media Player on your PC. Moving on, tweak the settings of either software a little to allow for sharing of music, video and photo folders. Select Search for Media Servers on your PlayStation 3 and there you go. Next time your PC is switched on, a new option on the XMB would show up that will actually function as a gateway for streaming data purposes.

5. Make Video Phone Calls (FREE) on the PlayStation 3

Oh what a mouth-watering prospect this one really is. On paper, it sounds like some real technical thing to try but to be honest, there’s less technique and little more trickery involved in here. For this, you would only require a USB headset and the PS EyeToy camera. Upon plugging both the things into the USB slots of the PlayStation 3, start a new chat with one of your friends. Now here’s the trick. Type something like ‘Videochat please?’ in a message. Upon receiving this, the recipient would be given the option of accepting your videochat. Now, if your friend does have a USB handset and the EyeToy camera as well, acceptance of the invitation will open up two windows ans then starts the video chat, all of which costs you..nothing!

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Top Five XBox 360 Tips and Tricks

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Syed Hassan

Introduction:

The Microsoft XBox 360 has been around for quite a while now. If you are the adventurer sort, we suspect you must have dug well into your XBox 360 and unearthed all the features it possesses. However, no matter how effective your endeavours of digging deep into your XBox 360 console is, eight out of ten times you are highly likely to have missed out on a few vital tips and tricks. This is precisely what the theme of today’s post is-unveil the top five XBox 360 tips and tricks. We realize that there would be a minority of people who already have some idea of a few tips and tricks that we are about to highlight but that is really beyond the purpose of this post. Our prime purpose is to enlighten our viewers and as always, we stick to those basics and bring you the best from the world of technology. Now then, let us quickly move to the top five XBox 360 tips and tricks that you XBox 360 fans may very well want to know about.

1. Connect the XBox 360 to dual screens

Oh yes, this one has got to be the best one of the lot. Now you can enjoy all the XBox 360 entertainment off two television screens, instead of merely one! First thing’s first, if you are to try this you would require the composite (yellow-coloured) and component (red, green and blue), dual video cables that are not at all tough to find (Since they come with your XBox 360 console in the box-duh!). As for the trick involved, it’s not a very tough one to exercise really but certainly one that is a tempting prospect. Simply, flick the switch of the cable to the Standard Definition. Now this is where the magic lies, connect the composite to one television and the component cables to the other. Voila! Try it for yourself and admire.

2. Connect the XBox 360 to wireless without the use of an adaptor

So you’re tired of having to loosen the grip off your pockets for the extra goodies that, one feels, should have been in the box on time of purchase of the XBox 360? Not to mention, the official Microsoft wireless adaptor is one of those priced amenities. Now the good thing about this trick that we are about to showcase here is that the cruelly-priced official wireless adaptor is not a necessity for wireless internet connectivity with the XBox 360. Fortunately or unfortunately, a laptop with Wi-Fi is all that you require for this. Simply open Control Panel on the laptop -> Network Connections (with Windows XP)/Network Sharing -> Manage Network Connections (with Windows Vista). Upon seection of Local Area Conection and Wireless Network Connection, bridge connections after right-clicking.

3. Hook up an HDMI cable; however, get Digital Surround Sound

The new XBox 360 units, despite having HDMI output for the sole purpose of optimal video quality, have been designed in such a way that with the standard ports do not allow for connection of the standard component/composite video cable while an HDMI has been connected to the XBox 360. Yet again, do get things done the way you want, or even close to your wishes to say the least, Microsoft demands loosening the grips off your pockets (For the official HDMI cable with audio adapter this time around). Naah, nevermind we would suggest. You must have noticed the large plastic box at the end of the standard video cable. Even if you haven’t, insert some tool (preferably a knife) in the joint and pull it off. Consequences are a tad messy, yet rewarding. Well, atleast you get your wish.

4. Play All Formats of Media Files on the XBox 360

If you are not one of the vast majority of those who only uses its beloved XBox 360 for gaming purposes, but also to listen to songs, watch videos and tinker with other forms of media, you would know of the meaningless limitations that Microsoft imposes on you so as to restrict you from playing video/audio formats of your choice. Tversity comes across as an avid free application which is brilliant solution to all such issues. This one also requires a PC alright, but once again the rewards that one reaps are really well worth it. Be it a simple RM. file or online video URLs from Youtube, this peach of an application will can and convert all your media and ofcourse, allow you easy access to all of it from the comfort of your XBox 360 remote controller.

5. Reset the Video Settings on the XBox 360

We can safely regard this as a tip more than a confidential report. Well, tere would be plenty of you who are in a habit of carrying your XLove (XBox 360) with you to friends’ places and obviously, that would require connecting your XBox 360 to different displays altogether. In such cases, it is often observed that a defected signal is output resulting in no display on the screen or a mere flickering screen. No, don’t cry (Your XBox 360 ain’t dead yet). The only simple thing to try here is to shut down the XBox 360 and turn it back on with the XBox 360 controller. While the XBox 360 console is still in the process of booting, press and hold the ‘Y’ button followed by the right trigger (RT). The video settings have now been reset..Tada!

Closing Comments:

So that’s all we have for you in our Top Five XBox 360 Tips and Tricks. We do hope that each one of these would seem like a pleasant surprise to most of you and more importantly, you get the execution of each one of them right. Our honest advice would be to follow all the instructions carefully because surely, you wouldn’t want to cause any damage to your pretty XBox 360. All in all, you’re all set to umm.. rediscover your XBox 360. Go on, try it for yourself. Peace!

If you have any tips or tricks for the Xbox360, do share them with us in the comments below. If you have questions, add them too.

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Quick Review: FIFA Soccer 12

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Syed Hassan

Overview:

Behold! The world of soccer sees a new baby. Yes, it is finally here, and it is called FIFA Soccer 12. Unlike the sorry state of game development that cricket has seen so far, soccer games have always managed a glitzy marquee in regards to the minutest of tweaks in gameplay to the very sound of the boots following the kick-off. There’s absolutely no doubt that translating a top-notch sport like soccer into a virtual battle is a tough nut to crack (Trying to sound formal here). However, it seems that the FIFA franchise almost always conjures a feat and manages to carry itself, remarkably well. Let us quickly dribble past all the wait and move on to our quick review on FIFA Soccer 12.

FIFA Soccer 11 to FIFA Soccer 12:

Ancestor to the newly born, FIFA Soccer 11 was a sure-shot success last year but truth is, it doesn’t take much time for soccer gaming fans to become a touch too demanding for further soccer releases. Come the new year, the highly anticipated FIFA Soccer 12 makes a mark with all new updates including: Player Impact Engine, Precision Dribbling and Tactical Defending. It is rather safe to say that the game undergoes a slight makeover and has been rightly revamped following the last instalment of FIFA. Nearly everything about the game, especially the fluid gameplay, looks bigger and better this time, which; infact, lures most soccer fans into the groove with ease and grace.

Presentation:

One of the foremost factors of the game that will surely make it a great hit among most soccer titles lies in how the game looks and plays-its slick presentation. Make absolutely no mistake about it: there is a whole lot more crammed into this year’s sequel to FIFA Soccer. With the all new magnificent stadiums and new overhauled playing kits, coupled with remarkably well polished graphics and stunning player likenesses, FIFA Soccer 12 manages to make a grand appearance this year. Ofcourse, the official licensing in all aspects of soccer that it puts on display for all and sundry already separates FIFA Soccer from the rest. However, there is much more to the success of the renowned FIFA franchise.

The career mode has certainly seen a good amount of revamping this time around and players will surely find themselves spending many more hours to get the most out of it. It’s kudos to the developers really for simplifying the multiplayer mode, thereby proving easy access to online modes and also plunge into competitions by starting an online community which will easily make it a popular choice amongst the die-hard FIFA enthusiasts. The inclusion of fresh voices like Martin Tyler and Alan Smith adds depth and excitement to even the seemingly bland match-ups.

The Football Club mode, truly, is a stand-out feature that indeed warms up the lamp by allowing players to repeat history by choosing from among scenarios ripped from real-life fixtures. Surely, this addition to the game will certainly encourage soccer fanatics to invest a lot more of their time into this new sequel to FIFA Soccer.

All in all, stunning visuals, overhauled game modes and a revamped soccer atmosphere will conveniently kick the action from the pitch to your homes.

IFRAME Embed for Youtube

Gameplay:

Here lies the fun part, FIFA Soccer 2012 is a brilliant improvement over its predecessor when it comes to gameplay mechanics. The life-long battle between Pro Evolution Soccer and FIFA continues to flare up; however, FIFA has certainly shown its potential and clearly translates its strong potential into some solid performance, which, as a matter of fact, makes the already fluid gameplay even more engaging for veteran gamers.

The new tactical defending system that has been incorporated in the gameplay is of great value. As suggested by its name, the all-new tactical defending system prove to be a lot more sophisticated approach towards the defence system and provides a more life-like soccer atmosphere all around. Follow the pace at which the defending system demands for your learning and you shall be rewarded for all the patience. This is why the defending system well and truly keeps players on their feet. Precision dribbling is yet another hallmark and truly shines.

Strange as it may sound, this soccer tactic allows players to do much more than just dribble the ball past the opponents. Overdoing it simply a waste; however, use it cleverly and discerningly, and you are sure to reap rewards. It is important to note that player logic and the computer AI has largely enhanced, which really makes for a challenging soccer experience. So, make a slight hash here and there and the computer would make you pay big time.

IFRAME Embed for Youtube

Final Word:

To sum up, FIFA Soccer 12 is yet another sequel from FIFA Soccer that has not failed to impress. With user-friendly menus and the well-delivered commentary along with crisp and clear visuals coupled with gameplay innovations, FIFA Soccer 2012 unveils itself with an unparalleled and authentic tempo which is by no means unrealistic.

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Top Five Indie Games (PC / PS3 / XBox 360)

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Syed Hassan

Overview:

Hello, all you gaming fans out there, big, small or neutral. Today’s edition on games is a touch different from what we usually have to report to you. We believe that there has already been quite a bit of talk on the modern hardcore games, especially that are exclusive to the next-generation gaming consoles. In essence, Indie games is one genre that, we believe, is often overlooked as the shadow of the modern hardcore games tends to build too large on the former. However, there is no denying the fact that there is a true driving sense of passion that goes behind the development of Indie games which speaks a lot for what a thankless job Indie game development is. Yes thankless-these games are comparatively cheap or at times free of cost! (No reference made to the list ahead, though). Selection of a total of top five indie games from amongst a plethora of break out Indie titles is somewhat a cumbersome task alright. That is simply because the temptation to showcase the creativity and adventure-filled minds can easily get the better of you if you were I (Talk about demanding reverence). Without squandering another minute, let us thrill you with our list of the top five Indie games.

1. Super Meat Boy

If there is one video game that can even hold a candle to the classic Super Mario Bros in terms of gameplay (and the story, somewhat), it has to be Super Meat Boy. Rightly described by developers as ‘tough as nails’, this pure Indie 2D platformer comprises of a good two-hundred odd levels of running and jumping missions between hypodermic needles and spinning saw blades. No, we do not regret comparing the story to Super Mario Bros’s one bit as the plot requires saving a Bandage Girl who is kidnapped and encaged in an abandoned castle by Dr. Fetus (Makes me wonder if the doctor’s a child specialist). With seemingly daunting environments and the separation of a single pixel between life and death, Super Meat Boy is one Indie game that righteously rewards you for all your efforts. This Indie development may feel frustrating at times but the sort of environment Super Meat Boy crafts coupled with its precise tools makes for an exciting Indie games experience.

2. Braid

Braid comes across as one of the most compelling Indie games to date. Encouraging is the fact that the PC version of this Indie title manages to do justice to the original XBox live title. Yet again, there is a Princess to rescue in here as well, very much like Super Meat Boy, but Braid manages to craft a completely different little world of its own. More or less a mind-boggling puzzle solving Indie development, Braid immerses you with its high level of accomplishment that comes as an immediate corollary of striving through cerebral and cumbersome tasks. One main highlight of this Indie platformer is the ability to rewind time and take on all sorts of special meaning amidst all the amazingly engaging puzzles. The expertly designed puzzles that come with hefty challenges along with splendid art designs and a mature storyline make Braid an Indie game worth trying for sure. Bottomline is, Braid is a portalesque piece of perfection that should surely catch everybody’s eyes.

3. World of Goo

You may not fancy puzzle-platformers or even those regular narrative-driven Indie games that keep dropping in and out of the gaming market; however, with World of Goo your perception about 2D puzzle platform Indie games is sure to transform. A breathtakingly fresh Indie title, World of Goo, draws a gentle learning curve allowing players to rise among the ranks, slowly and steadily. Rewarding more often than not, World of Goo makes for a smooth learning environment instead of punishing you, mercilessly for all the hashes you make. As the name suggests, this Indie title is based around getting a certain amount of ‘goos’ from one extreme of the map to the other. Undoubtedly, World of Goo is a top-notch Indie game that is addictive in its gameplay and delivers a quirky and smart gaming experience.

4. Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2

Hot on the heels of the original Geometry Wars, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 conveniently manages to recreate the magic and deliver the lightning-in-a-bottle excellence that the original Geometry Wars packed. With over six modes of gameplay, Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 helps ascend Indie addictive shooters to a level of unprecedented awesomeness. With a standard gun to keep a bunch of snake-like creatures at an arm’s length (Perhaps shorter considering the limited rectangular arena on your screens), Geometry War: Retro Evolved 2 is no happy accident-it is a dream come true (Especially for all you Snake and Pacman fans out there). Being a satisfyingly solid sequel, this Indie title impresses with ease and grace.

5. Lume

Point and click adventure Indie games have seen a barrage of titles which really speaks for the longevity of one of the games oldest genres and proves that it’s still alive and kicking. With the puzzles being highly intuitive and logical, the stand-out feature of this particular Indie title is the presentation. The splendid paperwork imagery make Lume look like one of the most gorgeous Indie game to date. It is no surprise that gamers will enjoy every second spent on this game; despite the game being shockingly brief, mind you. All in all, the plot and puzzles amalgamate well together to put on offer a fluid and well consolidated punch of Indie gaming.

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Guide on Buying the Perfect Gaming HDTV

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Syed Hassan

Overview:

We have already discussed how gaming has gone on to the next level and with all sorts of gaming devices and games flying in and out of the gaming market, the industry of gaming has surely seen a boom period over the years. Be it a young, enthusiastic gaming freak or a part-time mid-aged casual gamer (Agreed, they are rare finds but still), gaming has certainly become the heartbeat of many. The sheer excitement and pleasure derived from all the daily gaming fodder, be it a case of a strategic game that keeps you bashing your brains or a first person shooter that keeps you on your toes at all times, it keeps most gamers go on and on at doing what they do best-gaming. In this edition of Guide on Buying the Perfect Gaming HDTVs, we will guide you on you may buy the perfect HDTV for gaming purposes but before we do move on to the topic of the day let us discuss the innovations in the gaming industry that; in fact, has paved way for HDTV(Talk about pitching in climax). So then, ride along.

Modern Gaming:

There used to be a time when PC gaming was the only real sort of gaming that most gamers could enjoy; not anymore though. The advent of next-generation gaming hasn’t put PC gaming out of commission (Certainly not!), but what it has done really well is that it has extended the approach of many more, previously quality gaming deprived, potential gamers towards state of the art games. Gone are the days when gaming meant sitting in a computer chair and sitting in front of a PC for hours without food or exercise (Yes, that puts YOU out of commission). Not-so-old entrants like SONY PlayStation 3, Microsoft XBOX 360 and Nintendo Wii have indeed taken gaming to a higher level. Gaming is not just a matter of sitting before a TV or computer screen and killing time for countless number of hours-instead it has opened the gates for cognitive skills, problem solving and a bit of creative thinking. More so, the induction of motion-sensing technology into gaming, especially in shape of Microsoft’s XBOX 360 Kinect and SONY’s PlayStation Move has allowed people to hop, skip and jump around their living rooms and work a sweat to develop their reflexes.

Gaming HDTV For The Win (FTW):

There is no doubt whatsoever in the fact that HDTV or high definition television is perfect if you wish to experience pure and polished gaming atmosphere all round. Crisp and clear sounds coupled with the unparalleled high definition clarity and sharpness is a dream come true for all gaming fans out there. It is apparent that an HDTV has all that it takes to home next-generation gaming. It is true that most HDTVs out in the market today provide a lot better picture quality than the regular home televisions but the task of buying the perfect HDTV for your home entertainment can be an overwhelming one. It really comes down to more than just the choice of the perfect HDTV. Important thing worth noting here is the fact that the perfect gaming HDTV is the one that really suits best your gaming preferences (See, that is what the topic says up there). Let us have a look at a few main HDTV features that you must have knowledge about so as to taste the best of gaming.

Enter the Perfect HDTV:

Now then, here starts all the fun and talk on the main features to look out for while choosing the perfect HDTV for gaming, and gaming only.

Size:

While buying an HDTV, the screen size is seen as one of the foremost factors to consider so as to enjoy the perfect gaming experiences. The size of whichever HDTV you are buying needs to be consistent with the space-that is paramount. Viewing distance range charts largely help in sorting this out. However, we feel that anything between 26 inches and 42 inches is round about perfect.

Game Mode:

The talk of the table for most gaming enthusiasts, Game Mode comes across as an exciting new feature that makes gaming on an HDTV a perfect and pleasurable experience. Surprisingly, this HDTV feature provides an essential combination of the majority of perfect features on an HDTV, most noticeable of which are improved resolution and shorter response time.

Input Lag:

Often termed as response time, Input lag refers to the response time between the HDTV screen and the gaming controller. An HDTV with the lowest of Input lag makes for the perfect gaming experience; hence, enhanced response time.

Refresh Rate:

Refresh rate is also a very important factor to consider when buying an HDTV specifically for gaming. This very feature of an HDTV refers to the number of per second the screen on the HDTV updates itself. The higher the better.

Contrast and Resolution:

Although two slightly different terminologies, these two, but they basically deal with the clarity of an HDTV. While contrast maintains a combination of light and color variance, the higher resolution brings out the perfect picture on an HDTV.

3D Functionality:

Following its success in featured 3D movies, 3D functionality is rapidly gaining popularity in the gaming arena; hence, an HDTV with 3D functionalities will certainly beef up your gaming environment, thereby, putting on offer the perfect setting for gaming on a quality HDTV.

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