Go To Hell: Dante’s Inferno Videogame
March 2, 2010 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
Released just a few weeks ago, the Dante's Inferno videogame has caused quite a stir in the gaming community. The subject matter, which is very loosely based on the titular poem, has been met with scorn by some and certain countries even refused to advertise it. However, this kind of notoriety is often a good thing, as it gets audiences interested in what could be causing such an outcry.
The story follows Dante as he journeys through the various circles of hell on a quest to rescue his beloved Beatrice. But as he ventures deeper into the Inferno, darker secrets are revealed and the truth about his quest comes to light. Dante must battle his way through using Death's scythe, which he took from the spectre having defeated him in single combat!
Now, let's get this out of the way early- the Dante's Inferno video game has been accused of being a rip off of the God of War series, to the point at which the combat system is supposedly almost identical. Well, this is really dependent on your point of view. God of War certainly didn't begin the hack and slash genre, it just does it best, and thus all subsequent games will be measured against it. If a game can come close to emulating God of War, surely that's a good thing?
And the Dante's Inferno videogame is doubtless its own master. The combat system is actually an intricately fashioned tree of possibilities as you employ Dante's two methods of attack; his scythe and holy cross. These weapons can both be levelled up as you progress through hell. Dante will come across lost souls in both combat and non-combat situations, and the player can choose to either punish or absolve them. This will level up either weapon correspondingly.
Hell itself has been nicely designed, and there are definitely echoes of EA's earlier horror offering- Dead Space. The landscape is teeming with writhing damned, impaled prisoners and rivers of blood, whilst the different circles will offer their own slant on things. Journeying through Lust will unveil mutated phallic symbols and darkly seductive enemies, whilst Greed will display unfortunates encased in gold.
| Dante's Inferno Divine Edition |
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| Retail Price: $59.95 |
| Amazon Price: $56.99 |
Dante's Inferno has had a rough ride at the hands of all the God of War fanboys, but is definitely a great game in its own right. Sure, there are a couple of drawbacks- the game is a little too short and some of the environments begin to look over familiar, but these gripes are cancelled out by an empowering combat system and imaginative boss battles and imagery. The Dante's Inferno videogame should be recognised as a great effort from EA, and I urge you to try it out.
The End Of The Xbox Halo Franchise As We Know It
February 18, 2010 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
Halo: Reach is the forthcoming (and final) chapter from current developer studio Bungie, bringing to an end their reign over the Xbox Halo franchise. Set in 2552 on the human planet Reach, and players once more adopt the Spartan colours as Noble 6 and, along with Noble Squad, the gamer will have to defend their planet from the terror that is the Covenant. However, Halo: Reach is a prequel to Bungie's first award winning "Halo: Combat Evolved" title.
Originally designed to be an improved version of the Xbox Halo franchise entry Halo 3, the notion was dropped, Bungie stating they would redesign and improve the quality of the Halo 3 designs. Harking back to the Halo: Combat Evolved concept ideas, this effectively means the new weapon, armour and covenant designs in Halo: Reach will deviate greatly from prior entries but uphold the ethos of the Xbox Halo franchise.
Hinting that Bungie will not cap the Xbox Halo franchise without a bang, the producers are looking to dramatically increase the graphical quality of all gaming areas, even including the weaponry. This clearly required Bungie to create a fresh new engine in Halo: Reach, with the AI augmented and nudged to provide better support for the player as they battle the Covenant.
So after all these promises of fusing greatly refined graphics and improved AI and designs, will Bungie leave the Xbox Halo franchise with a bang and cement their reputation for producing the best FPS for the Xbox 360? The only way to find out is to grab a copy when it is released later this year!
The Cancellation of Original Xbox Live
February 6, 2010 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
Since the original Xbox console was released all those years back, Microsoft's online network known as Live has given the ability to enjoy multiplayer games on the web. The network formed the precedent by which all future online system support would be compared, and has received great popularity through support of arguably the best online multiplayer games ever made. It has lead to quite a stir, then, since Microsoft have claimed that original Xbox Live cancellation is to be brought about in the coming months.
This announcement has brought with it many questions, some of which should be answered here. The very first thing to remember is this statement doesn't include Xbox 360 and games for that system. Only the original Xbox, and games released for that platform, will be affected by this. Microsoft assure game-players that the original Xbox Live cancellation was not made without consideration and that they are totally greatful to the gamers who have made Live the success it is.
The news is a bit of a downer to some gamers. Though greatly outdated and surpassed by the 360, the Xbox retains a strong cult popularity, with many of their games still being played by customers. The clear example here is Halo 2, which keeps a sizeable following on Xbox Live. However, being a game released on the original platform, it too will be affected by original Xbox Live cancellation.
And so why are Microsoft implementing original Xbox Live cancellation? To apply all resources and effort to the Xbox 360 and upcoming projects, the company are cancelling this feature. With promising features like Project Natal heading our way, Microsoft are set on applying all they've got into delivering the best they possibly can, and assure gamers that the final result will be worthwhile. The original Xbox Live cancellation is a shame for those involved, but the future holds grander things and Microsoft want to dedicate all efforts into delivering the excellent service they always have.
Xbox 360 Virtual Arcade!
January 28, 2010 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
Microsoft are continually venturing to make the Xbox Live experience as fun and interactive as they can for existing users and newcomers to the system. As the possibilities grow, Microsoft are able to promote various awesome features online, such as Twitter, Sky and Netfix. Amongst the noteworthy and exciting approaching projects is Xbox 360 virtual arcade, which is garnering much excitement from users.
Microsoft are building upon the ability to play classic games online by developing the new Xbox 360 virtual arcade. The intention is to re-introduce certain titles which many older and sentimental game-players would like to revisit. Whilst a lot of those games may appear simplistic or maybe comical to the audience of today, Microsoft state that many are still awesome titles worth looking into.
Examples of the titles lined up for this feature include such classics as Rocket Knight, Centipede, Streets of Rage and even fan fave Asteroids. These games will mean absolutely everything to those players who grew up with them, and offer a nice aside to the bigger games of our day. The Xbox 360 virtual arcade even offers gamers their very own interactive arcade room. When a player buys one of these classic titles, they are able to place it anywhere in the arcade, and they even appear in the classic arcade machines!
Lastly, Microsoft's new feature is completely interactive, so gamers can ask their buddies to visit and play in their own arcade. Voice chat is included together with avatars, leaderboards, multiplayer features and more. In exchange for Microsoft points you are able to forge your very own Xbox 360 virtual arcade, and sample some classic games with your pals!
A Sneak peek At The Xbox 360 Project Natal
January 19, 2010 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
Following hot on the heels of the Wii's motion sensing technology, Microsoft hope to take this one better with Xbox 360 Project Natal. Revealed during 2009's E3 meeting, this add-on accessory for the Xbox 360 is said to allow completely controller-free interaction with games, sensing movement and translating that as controls in the title.
Xbox 360 Project Natal is said to be available around the end of 2010, and Microsoft hope that the accessory will become a vital part of all existing Xbox consoles. They also confirm that this revolutionary technology will stretch the active life of the 360 considerably, and is, for all intents and purposes, a next-gen accessory.
The accessory includes a depth sensor coupled with an RGB camera, which hands the Xbox 360 Project Natal a 360 degree arc of recognition. The recognition is so cutting edge that even tiny facial expressions can be interpreted and converted on-screen. The range of recognition can also be extended or shortened as the gamer wishes, with the possibility of including surrounding objects like tables or cabinets.
Along with movement, the Xbox 360 Project Natal also has the ability to interpret sound. The multi-array microphone within can be employed to recognise sound and relay vocal information on the television. These elements mix to offer total interactivity between gamer and videogame.
As the technology employed to create both Natal and the titles it will interact with is reasonably unique, Microsoft have said that current Xbox 360 titles probably will not support Natal, and that a brand new range of titles are in progress. Some technical demos shown at E3 saw Space Invaders Extreme and Paint Party, a game in which pots of paint are manipulated by the gamer to paint canvasses.
Time will tell as to whether the Xbox 360 Project Natal will instill the awe Microsoft are looking for. Whilst the specs are clearly revolutionary and due to trump even the Wii's signature card, Microsoft need to announce more engaging titles to gain increased customer interest. With the right titles coupled with it, the Xbox 360 Project Natal could actually be the future of videogaming!
Looking Into The Xbox 360 Pro
December 15, 2009 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
Xbox 360 Pro is one of the various versions of Xbox 360, produced by Microsoft. The strongest features this offers are Windows Media Center, the option of Hi-D ( whichever game you select ) and compatability with HD DVD movies ( if you include the add on drive ).
Following the presentation of Xbox 360, Microsoft have produced 2 new versions : Xbox 360 Elite and Xbox 360 Arcade. Furthermore, the Microsoft Xbox 360 Pro System was intended to be a limited edition, to be sold until stock was depleted. But as Microsoft later announced, Xbox 360 Pro should be available for consumers in the future indefinitely.
The Xbox 360 Pro is known under various titles, but the most typical ones are Xbox 360 premium and Xbox 360 Go Pro. It was actually an upgraded version of the then-current Xbox 360 Arcade. The Pro version includes a hybrid composite and component cable, the composite cable can be replaced with optical out features.
Xbox 360 pro will swiftly become a favourite device for those that have a lot of downloadable content to house. This model is enriched with a 60 GB hard drive ( removable ) which is added rather than the classic twenty GB disc drive. With Xbox 360 Pro gamers are guaranteed integration with original games for Xbox, and it can easily hold game data.
Starting Sep 2007, new editions were equipped with new motherboards, even more expansive than the Zephyr. this latest motherboard called Falcon houses sixty five - nm CPUs, which means that the full system stays cooler and less noisy.
Xbox 360 News Site
November 10, 2009 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
Xbox 360 is the second installment for the Xbox line of games machines from Microsoft. The Xbox 360 boasts support of high definition in all titles, movie rentals and gaming downloads from its online marketplace, Windows Media Centre multimedia capabilities and ability to view HD DVD flicks. Due to these, it enjoys huge popularity among console game lovers and is in high demand in the market.
However, what's the source of all this up-to-date news? Well, there are numerous websites loyal to Xbox which cater to the awareness of both developers and players of Xbox 360. But the most outstanding of these various sources is the Xbox 360 News website.
The Xbox 360 News also supplies the latest info and stories on the latest Xbox 360 title offerings. In this manner, it significantly helps our game players as there are plenty of titles to choose from, including soon to be released titles. For folks who want to purchase an Xbox 360, this web site will prove to be helpful. It permits users to purchase their very own Xbox 360. Likewise, players can also take part in various games conducted by sponsors and procure diverse treats.
The capability to access Xbox 360 News through the games machine directly is amongst the most impressive features of this function. A working net connection is all that is needed and the console is all set to visit the Xbox 360 News website for the latest in Xbox 360 titles, releases and patches.
So we see that the Xbox 360 News function can offer you the latest data and info on your favourite gaming console and keep you in the know. In fact, both newbies or vets, as well as developers, can glean a lot from this website. Thus, if you wish to remain updated on the latest about Xbox 360, visit the Xbox 360 News website immediately!
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What Can Xbox Live Offer You?
November 5, 2009 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
Xbox 360 currently offers gamers the opportunity to communicate with each other, using the add-on feature known as Xbox Live. If you're an Xbox Live user, you are instantly part of the chat list. Therefore, you are able to chat and discuss anytime with your friends and family through the Xbox 360 headset. Moreover, you can interact and organize a gaming throwdown with countless other Xbox users. Xbox Live also allows you to buy content in Xbox Live Marketplace, download additional videogame content and even watch preview videos.
If users are enticed by these functions and wish to become an Xbox Live member, then there are two memberships to choose from, classified into two distinct services - gold and silver.
Up first, the silver service is just the basic version of Xbox Live. Going for this version, users can easily get online and download gaming titles. On top of this, you are given the capacity to use their own voice to talk and meet with other Xbox Live users. However, this is all Xbox Live silver provides subscribers with. If you're searching for the optimum Xbox Live experience, Xbox Live gold is what you must go for.
Secondly, the Xbox Live Gold option has various features that make it an awesome way to play on the internet. Apart from the incredible Xbox Live features, it provides gamers with a host of additional add-ons. There is improved chat compatability, as well as interaction with a host of Microsoft products, including messenger and further chat and video programs. The most prominent feature of Xbox Live gold is the manner in which your online avatar is shown to the world. Every account is free to create a distinct 'motto' showing to other gamers online, even linking to Facebook. Furthermore, you're also able to hold a record of your accomplishments. As you play more and more you gradually forge a reputation, and if users like you they are able to rank you positively, making it easier to avoid interacting with users holding bad outlook.
Players can also build a contact list which will list all of your selected chums. It'll also inform you when any of your buddies come online. There is also a recent player list that will record the last fifty friends that you have met.
Xbox Live is as good as Xbox gaming gets. It not only offers great gaming but also provides you with the chance to share your experience with other users!
Xbox 360 Troubleshooting Guides
October 24, 2009 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
Undoubtedly, the Xbox 360 is one of the best gaming consoles offered in the videogame market presently. A vast brand of games, unparalleled graphics and ability to operate with a wireless mode allows it to match with rivals. However, nothing in this world is perfect and the Xbox 360 is not an exception. Thus, if your Xbox 360 does go out of sync, that's when knowing Xbox 360 troubleshooting actually turns out to be handy.
Xbox 360 troubleshooting can be the solution to all the possible issues that you may come across while enjoying your Xbox 360. The three primary blunders that the gamers routinely face are the red ring of death, disc reading blunders and overheating machines.
One of the most common issues is the appearance of three red lights, generally known as the red ring of death. It's actually a signal the Xbox 360 is in difficulty. However when you come across this issue it's not always simple to get a prepared solution.
Despite being a forceful and technically advanced device, the Xbox 360 does get overheated through prolonged lengths of play. When this occurs gamers are alerted to the problem through the Xbox 360 overheating sign. Xbox 360 troubleshooting for such a difficulty can be done by relocating the machine in a cooler location allowing it to cool in open air.
Amongst the tools that are needed for successful Xbox 360 troubleshooting are a basic knowledge of the Xbox 360 machine, and a group of basic electrical tools such as screwdrivers and solders.
By this point, you've got to have amassed a fair concept about Xbox 360 troubleshooting guides. Fundamentally, these are tutorials and tenets mostly in form of video or text to help you uncover and solve issues related to an Xbox console, available mostly through online sources. The cash back guarantees related to these troubleshooting guides make it a decent investment and a reliable solution to basic Xbox 360 problems.
Here's hoping with the help of the discussed Xbox 360 troubleshooting guidelines you'll be able to solve basic Xbox problems. However, in the event of major system failure, it is always advisable to seek assistance from your local Microsoft resource.
Xbox 360 Failure: What To Do Next
September 16, 2009 by Gamestar · Leave a Comment
We all have a standard fear in our everyday lives; the possible failure of various machines we use. We just don't want it to be happening to us, especially if that machine is our sparkly Xbox 360. However, you don't need to fear even in the event of an Xbox 360 failure. If you know the reason then part of your issues are solved. An Xbox 360 failure is a common blight experienced by many videogamers all around the globe.
The Xbox 360 failure is generally indicated by red LED bulbs on the console itself. So how do you know what blunder you hold in your console by having a look at the lights? The explanation follows;
If it's 2 red lights popping up on your console, then the probable cause for this Xbox 360 failure might be overheating of the motherboard. The easiest way to beat this Xbox 360 failure is by shutting down your machine for some time so that the motherboard can settle down.
If you see 1 or 3 red lights appearing on your console then this is generally some recognised hardware and software problems which can be overcome by fixing the console.
The most dreadful Xbox 360 failure that you can find is signified by a red circle of light on your console. This crash is something that falls in the 'fatal error' category. This generally occurs due to an inner structural failing in your Xbox. This simply means that the makers did not put a cooling device of adequate size within the console. Therefore overheating has a tendency to bring down the game processing unit and causes an Xbox 360 failure.
There's no call to panic, though, because some easy precautions can make sure that your Xbox 360 will not fail.
As the majority of the failures spring from overheating it's ideal to keep your console in a spot where there's open movement of air, and no more heat-emitting sources in the vicinity. It may be tough for avid game players, but a sensible thing to do could be to allow your console regular rest spells and avoid long continuous videogaming sessions. That way one can also rest your eyes and hands and start with a fresh fervour some other time.
But if you have indeed experienced an Xbox 360 failure you need not ship it off to Microsoft in a rush. You can purchase some Xbox repair guides from the Internet, which might save everyone a lot of time and cash. Be sure not to overpay for these and also try to go for one which has been tried and tested by others. If you can get your hands on a good guide then you can be your own Xbox mechanic! If all else fails though, keep in mind it's your right to have a working machine- you paid for it after all- so don't hesitate to contact Microsoft if you are in doubt.
So the next time you encounter an Xbox 360 failure, you know where to go next!
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