Final Fantasy XIII is a role-playing game developed by Square Enix for the PS3 and the Xbox 360.The game introduced some new innovations to the series: a fast paced combat mechanic, a new system determining which abilities are developed for the characters called “Crystarium”, and a customizable “Paradigm” system to control which abilities are used by the characters. Final Fantasy XIII also includes elements from the previous games such as summoned monsters, chocobos and airships.Unlike previous offline Final Fantasy games, in which the characters level up each time they earn a set number of experience points from defeating enemies, players must improve the character’s statistics via the Crystarium. The Crystarium is a levelling system consisting of ten stages and resembles the Sphere Grid in Final Fantasy X. Like the Sphere Grid, all characters may obtain all roles; however, an ability is required before a new role can be used.

The game takes place in the floating world of Cocoon whose government, the Sanctum, is ordering a purge on the civilians who have supposedly come into contact with those from Pulse, the much feared world from below.Lightning, a former soldier from Cocoon, begins her fight against the government in order to save her sister who has been branded a l’Cie – unwilling servants to the beings known as the fal’Cie who maintain order on both Cocoon and Pulse and thus has become an enemy of Cocoon.

Lightning is soon joined by a band of allies, and together the group also become l’Cie after their encounter with a Pulse fal’Cie. Together they rally against the Sanctum while also trying to discover  their “Focus” as l’Cie – the tasks they must complete before their time comes to an end.
The player directly controls the on-screen character through a third-person perspective to interact with people, objects and enemies throughout the game. The player can also control the camera angle allowing for a 360° view of the surroundings. The world of Final Fantasy XIII is rendered to scale relative to the characters in it rather than a caricature of the character roaming around miniature terrain as found in the earlier Final Fantasy Games. The player navigates the world either by foot or Chocobo. Players can save their game to hard disk using save stations where the player can also purchase items from retail networks or upgrade their weapons. An in-game datalog provides a bestiary and incidental information about the world of Final Fantasy XIII.

Similar to those found in Final Fantasy XII enemies are integrated into the open field and the transition into a separate battle screen similar to those used in previous Final Fantasy titles has been restored. A maximum of three characters may be used in battles, which uses the series traditional Active Time Battle system. Under this system the player selects a command from the menus such as Attack, Magic and Item. The player only controls the lead character while the remaining two characters are controlled by the game’s AI.

Each action takes a specific number of slots, and the ATB bar increases throughout the game from two slots to a maximum of six. The player may also select less than the maximum number of possible actions, or to stop the filling of the ATB bar and perform as many actions as can be done with the current ATB amount. The player may also select an “autobattle” command which fills the ATB slots with actions chosen automatically. Actions cannot be performed outside of battle, and the characters’ health is fully restored after each battle.

A new feature in Final Fantasy XIII is the “Paradigm” system, which allows the player to program six different roles for the characters to perform certain formations in battle in response to the specific conditions. The roles consist of Commando, a warrior-type role; Ravager, a black mage-type role involving the use of magic in battle; Medic, a White Mage-type role involving the use of healing in battle; Saboteur, a role which performs magic attacks that weaken enemies; Synergist, which casts magic that strengthens allies; and Sentinel, a role which has increased defense and protective abilities. Each of the characters can initially take on only three roles, but they may assume any of them later in the game. Each character can summon an “Eidolon” into battle from a crystal that sprouts from the character’s mark of l’Cie. The Eidolons include series staples Odin, Shiva, Alexander, and Bahamut, and newcomers Hecatoncheir and Brynhildr. When summoned, the Eidolon stays in combat while the characters accompanying the summoner leaves the party. There is also a new feature called “Gestalt Mode”, in which the Eidolon transforms into a specific form for each character. The Eidolons play a major role in the game’s storyline as well, much like Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy IX and Final Fantasy X.

That’s all I’m going to cover for now if anyone wishes for me to cover anything else either send me a message through the forums or post a comment and tell me what else you would like me to cover.

Official music video for Cognito’s “Outcast” from his album “Automatic”. Executive Producer: Travis O’Guin. Director: Dan Gedman.

“O.G.” is Tech N9ne’s first video off of his new Collabos album, “The Gates Mixed Plate”. Available now at strangemusicinc.net. Executive Producer: Travis O’Guin, Director: Dan Gedman/Liquid9

NOTE: There isn’t much information released about Black Ops but i will mention what’s out there now and will post an extended review when there is more information.

Call of Duty Black Ops will be set during the Cold War. Players will take the role of black ops operators involved in missions which will take place behind enemy lines. There will be various locations such as the Ural Mountains and Vietnam.

The game has added new equipment such as scoped crossbows which will have different kinds of ammunition to use e.g. explosive (so there we have it “NoobTubes” will be returning) and also dragon’s breath rounds for shotguns.
A dragon’s breath refers to a zirconium-based pyrotechnic shotgun round. When the round is fired, sparks shoot out to about 5 m (20 feet).
The campaign will involve players piloting aircraft such as the SR-71 Blackbird and a Hind Helicopter.
The dismemberment feature which was only found in Call of Duty World at War will hopefully be returning as it can be seen in the teaser trailer.

Vehicles will be returning in the multiplayer modes but will have a different handling to that of World at War.
For gamers who play PC will be happy to know that features such as lean and dedicated servers will be returning.
“Create-A-Class 2.0” will allow enhanced customization with appearance as well as the usual perks.
It has been confirmed by Treyarch’s multiplayer lead designer that killstreaks will not count towards each other and will carry over after the player’s death. It is also confirmed that there will be no game ending killstreaks (such as the tactical nuke from Modern Warfare 2).
There will also be a four player online co-op mode.

Ok, here’s an update.

It has lots of stuff, so read the change log.
Also, two new donation items: Hand of Fate, and Death Laser Sword.

Hand of Fate is a glove item with great defense, attack, and increased drop rate.
Death Laser Sword has the same stats as SoH8, but obviously looks different. Also, a Left Death Laser Sword is available as well.

See ya in-game.

I am proud to be part of the GaurdiaGaming team as RTG’s very own Event Administrator. So hit us up and check out this game. As for more news, Barrage posted later on:

Just to enlighten you all, we have a series of MASSIVE updates coming all week.

We’re talking monsters, quests, and events.
I will pretty much be updating the game ALL week, as well as preparing the super computer to once again host the game. This will mean a much faster server in addition to all the new content coming.

So, prepare for greatness! Donate if you can, it will help us a lot in the coming weeks!
Long live Gaurdia!

Use the link on the site for the web gateway for IRC on TurnerGames or click irc://irc.turnergames.net. See you later!

Red Dead Redemption is an action-adventure western video game, developed by Rockstar San Diego and published by Rockstar Games. It was released for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in May 2010.

Most of the game’s story takes place in the year 1911 in the American Old West territory and follows John Marston, a former outlaw, while he sets out to hunt down his former gang members.

Red Dead Redemption offers players a large open world environment just waiting to be explored. Players can walk, talk, kick chickens, shoot, kill, ride, run, hunt, interact with the environment and enjoy combating enemies with firearms.
Different breeds of horses are the main forms of transportation. Swimming is a no-no as the protagonist cannot swim, if you venture too far into the water he drowns.

As well as the main storyline, there are also random events to be found while exploring the West. These include public hangings, ambushes, pleas for assistance, stranger encounters, drive-bys, and dangerous animal attacks. One example is if a group of people ride into a town guns a blazing, the player can kill them and receive a bonus of honour and fame. Players can also participate in optional side activities such as standoffs, gambling, hunting animals for pelts and meat and various other items.

Red Dead Redemption makes use of a morality system where players have the ability to gain positive or negative ‘honor’. There are a number of ways to gain positive honor, these include taking an outlaw alive instead of killing him, or saving a kidnapped innocent. Negative honor can be gained for committing crimes including killing or robbing civilians. This works along with another system, ‘fame,’ showing and governing how people react based on Marston’s honor status.

The combat and gunplay are a major part of the game. Gunfights are conducted using a third-person system. The player can take cover, target specific people, blindfireand free aim. Individual body parts can be targeted to bring down enemies in a non-lethal way which can then be lassoed and hogtied to capture them alive.
The player has an arsenal of period-accurate weapons to choose from; these include revolvers, pistols, lever or bolt-action rifles, knives, explosives, lassos, mounted gatling guns, shotguns, and cannons.

A combat feature that Marston can utilize is the Dead-Eye targeting system. Dead-Eye”is used in a bullet time-like manner, allowing the player to slow down time to place a precise shot or paint in multiple shots on the body parts of one or multiple enemies. When the targeting sequence ends, Marston will fire in extremely quick succession on targeted people and objects.

Red Dead Redemption has a modified wanted system. If a crime is committed near other people some will run to the nearest police station as witnesses. The player can then choose to bribe them or kill them before they reach the station. If a crime is committed near a police officer the wanted meter will immediately appear with a bounty count where they will increase with the more crimes committed.

To escape from the law the player must escape a circular zone until the wanted meter disappears. Even if you escape successfully there will be a bounty placed upon you which will cause bounty hunters to come after you in the wilderness. The police will continue to challenge you unless the bounty is paid off at a telegraph station or a pardon letter is presented. When arrested, John pays off his bounty and is then released. If the player does not have enough money to pay back, the police will assign bounty hunting activities.

Red Dead Redemption includes online multiplayer with a maximum of 16 players. Every multiplayer game, free for all and team based games both start with a Mexican standoff. Survivors of the standoff can then move to any part of the battlefield in preparation for respawning enemies.

Crates in the environment will contain extra weapons, ammo as well as a recharge of Dead-Eye powers which have exactly the same features of the single player except for the slow motion. Players can level up and complete weapons challenges that give new rewards like new character models, golden weapon skins and new mount breeds.
Both Shootout modes follows the traditional deathmatch scenario where players or teams have to get the most kills. There are many Capture the Flag variants available also. Hold your Own is a traditional CTF, where each team has their own bag of gold to defend from the enemy team. Grab the Bag has both teams fighting over a single bag placed in a section of the map. Gold Rush is a free for all variant, where players have to try grab as many bags, which spawn at various locations across the map, as possible.

Red Dead Redemption also has its own free roaming mode. All players in the server can form and join player parties called “posses” of up to eight players and then take part in activities such as attacking computer controlled gang hideouts or other player posses, go hunting and create in server matches.

RATING 3/5

Basically GTA but set in the West. So if you’re either a fan of Rockstar Games or just like the idea of roaming around killing people this would be the game for you.

The game now has its own custom time feature, which is being used to introduce new features to come.

Some other additions:

• World Editor features
• ET/TP NPCs
• Monsters
• Spells
• Elemental NPCs
• Spell abilities
• Items
• Map items
• Tiles

Take a look at http://www.gaurdiagaming.com for more information.

Halo Reach takes place in the year 2552, where humanity is locked in a fight with an alien race called Covenant. Players will control Noble 6 who is a member of an elite super soldier squad, during a battle for the human world of Reach.

There have been a few changes made in Halo Reach such as the removal of the equipment, but is replaced by armour abilities. These armour abilities include a jet pack, active camouflage, sprint and ‘armour lock’ which makes the player invincible at the expense of losing mobility.

Duel wielding weapons has been removed and the existing weapons from Halo 3 have had some tweaks and changes there are also new weapons added.

Custom Games, Forge and Theatre all re-appear on Halo Reach but no changes to these have yet to be announced.

Reach will feature online multiplayer via Xbox LIVE and offline multiplayer with split screen and system link. “Loadouts” have been introduced this allows players to pick a predefined choice of weaponry at spawn and also to give the multiplayer a longer appeal armour customisations have been introduced. These do not affect the gameplay in any way they are for visual effects only.

To purchase these new armour pieces players receive credits at the end of every match. The amount of credits that are rewarded depends on the player’s performance in the match.

Besides the normal game types like slayer and king of the hill there has been four new game types added: Headhunter, Stockpile, Generator Defense and Invasion. In Headhunter players drop skulls when they die, which other players can pick up and deposit at special zones for points. When a player dies all the skulls they collected are dropped as well. Stockpile has teams race to collect neutral flags, holding them at capture points every minute to gain points. Generator Defense pits three Spartans versus three Elites. The Elites’ objective is to destroy three generators, while Spartans defend the installation. After every round players switch roles. Invasion is a six versus six mode with 3 squads of two on each team. The game type pits Spartans against Elites; the objective of the Elites is to gain control of territories to disable a shield guarding a navigational core then transport it to a Phantom dropship. The objective of the Spartans is to prevent the Elites from disabling the shield and prevent the core from being transported to the Phantom.

The multiplayer beta for Halo Reach was held from the May 3^rd till May 20^th where over 2.7 million people participated. This was used to help fix any bugs or glitches that were found in the game and to also change the balance of certain gameplay elements.

RATING 4/5 (Based on Multiplayer Beta)

Definitely a game to look at buying in the fall.