With the recently announced Sims 4 in the works for release next year, what does the team need to do differently to coax people over from the game they’ve collected yearly expansions for over the course of the last five years?
High resolutions and pixel graphics go hand-in-hand to create beautiful homages to the good old days of arcade platformers and homeplace RPGs—and Fez certainly kicked the premise into overdrive.
Eidos Interactive’s Deus Ex (2000) interweaved first-person shooter mechanics with that of role-playing elements in order to achieve unprecedented depth through strong storytelling in a cyberpunk world.
Firefall is a new massively-multiplayer online, first-person shooter (MMOFPS) developed by Red 5 studios, who places big emphasis on quake-style combat in a world set 200 years in the future on a ravaged Earth torn apart by an event called The Melding.
Crysis 3 is probably the most beautiful, gratifying game on the market right now. If you want an engaging FPS game then Crysis 3 is not a bad bet.
Widely considered as the most prestigious tournament in the Dota 2 scene, The International 3 will be hosted in Seattle, WA once again.
I suggest that you keep your eyes peeled when Papers, Please releases, as you may experience something a little more thought-provoking than your average game.
Sword of the Stars: The Pit is a fantastic roguelike experience. It brings in a story which unfolds itself as you advance with wonderful visuals, sounds, and surprising immersion for what it appears to be.
Bastion went on to sell 1.7 million copies for the tiny studio, Supergiant Games from California. With their next title, Transistor, they look to build heavily on that success.
Continuing from Part II, we dive into how you can obtain the Long Bow, shields and other miscellaneous items that may help you along your journey.
Continuing from Dark Souls Guide Part I, it's beneficial to get powered up early on in the game, so you are given a bit more strength and room to try different strategies and be able to enjoy the game without having much fear of death
To get powered up early on in Dark Souls may make you feel a little safer and get you through the game without as much fear of death, although you definitely will still die plenty.
GoldenEye Doom2 mod is a complete rehash of Doom II, turning your good old fashioned trip through hell, into one of the most popular action names of all time, 007.
Bethesda Game Studios' The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind (2002) is a game steeped with lore, exotic locales and characters that give meaning to the game's core gameplay.
The enchanting world of Middle-earth in LEGO The Lord of the Rings offers an alluring adventure of engaging combat, puzzle solving and exploration.
Gyrocopter has been floating around the DotA scene every now and then for some time now, but when he was first released, he was rarely ever experimented with.
Afterfall: InSanity's potential as a good indie action horror game is definitely evident, but the assets are not put to good use.
Brimming with epic adventure and witty humour, LEGO The Lord of the Rings reinvents the fantastical escapade from the film trilogy as Frodo Baggins and company journey through a Middle-earth built from Lego.
With Heart of the Swarm (HotS), StarCraft II’s (SC2) first expansion pack, released on March 12th of this year, it’s time to discuss on what the successor will do to the gaming scene, and what its impact will be on eSports.
Still on the fence about Dead Space 3? Here's a run down on the most recent installment to this survival horror series.
Part II - For some gamers, it’s about getting your avatar’s name on the #1 spot of the leaderboard with the most kills. But then, I discovered that there are other ways than killing to get on top.
For some gamers, it’s about getting your avatar’s name on the #1 spot of the leaderboard with the most kills. But then, I discovered that there are other ways than killing to get on top.
The camera zoomed in and with a slow motion effect, my character basked in victory and shards of falling glass. In that moment, everything clicked. I just chopped an airborne man in half, and it was stupid amounts of fun
If you are skeptical of breaking into either world, as a video gamer or trading card gamer, Infinity Wars is the perfect medium for you.
It’s obvious that creators have placed a lot of effort into DC Universe Online in order to make this game as good as possible, and fans of the comics especially, will be overjoyed.
You might have heard of All-Points Bulletin (APB) before, and also might be familiar with its legacy that it left behind in the gaming world.
World of Warcraft (WoW) has had a tumultuous journey in and out of organized tournament play, as one of the most watched games on Twitch, yet it has seen the least love in the way of tournaments.
With the multiplayer aspect removed to concentrate on a new single player story, we follow the strange events surrounding Booker DeWitt and the mysterious Songbird in BioShock Infinite. The narrative that Irrational Games created is mind-blowingly original.
After many years of waiting, we have a new Devil May Cry game in our hands, but Capcom decided to reboot the series, which may or may not have been a great decision. Did they manage to make a good game on par with previous titles?
Resident Evil 4 may be very different from previous titles in the franchise, but they have overall created an amazing and entertaining video game.
Anno 2070 in its quest for a perfect society, is not a perfect game. On the contrary, one can put the flaws aside and enjoy what this game has to offer. It’s a gentle stroll as a creator of megalopolises, and with maximum graphical settings, it is quite beautiful.
When Blizzard announced they were in production on Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos (WC3), I was ecstatic. It was a phenomenal game for its time and still holds up.
As an expansive, open-world role-playing game (RPG), we take a look back at Obsidian Entertainment's Fallout: New Vegas.
...Once this generation of gaming is well and truly over, someone may revisit this unique, but failed attempt at a AAA free-flying game and turn to Capcom and Airtight Games for answers.
You’re addicted... you can admit it. But what is it about The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim that captured the hearts and minds of heroic quest seekers, item collectors, and players with a hunger for magic or melee focused combat?
From En Masse and Bluehole Studios comes TERA, a visually stunning MMORPG with fast-paced action that is not typical of the genre. Players get the chance to delve into a deep, fantasy world, but at what price?
There are many notable independent games out on the market, yet they are very simple, so they don’t usually need a lengthy review to explain what makes them unique, fun or overall entertaining.
There’s something refreshing about playing a survival game that doesn’t require you to kill every other living thing you encounter. Miasmata manages to offer players a decent challenge while throwing disorienting exploration and interesting mechanics into the mix.
Dark Souls received much praise from hardened veterans of the series due to the game's difficulty. You're expected to get stuck, frustrated, and die. This may seem like a game for sadomasochists, but at the game's core, it is finely tuned and balanced.
Developed by DICE, Battlefield 3 boasts a flawless combination of daring combat and intelligent strategy. Your heart will be pounding in your chest with unleashed adrenaline as you take on the opposing team in an explosive war.
As an interplanetary RTS game, Planetary Annihilation will have you strapping massive rockets to asteroids in an effort to push them into a different orbit with the aim of crashing them into your enemies, completely obliterating entire planets
Path of Exile is a free-to-play Action RPG Dungeon Crawler, boasting some of the most freedom and depth in character customization and multiplayer options ever seen in the dungeon crawler genre before.
The shooting feels nice, the customization options are broad and well laid out, and it's one of the nicest looking free-to-play games I can remember. Best of all, this is just the beginning for PlanetSide 2.
Firaxis Games' newest installment in their XCOM series added the Fire Emblem-esque gameplay mechanic of permanent death of defeated units. This mechanic combined with extremely customizable units makes XCOM a heart-wrenching death simulator.
Continuing from Tomb Raider (2013) Review Part I, we conclude with Part II, by addressing weapon upgrades, quick-time events and what it takes to survive.
In Tomb Raider (2013), we follow the path of the legendary Lara Croft, but developer, Crystal Dynamics turns our expectations of this confident and charismatic protagonist inside out, with a beautifully crafted and darkly violent origin story.
Sonic Generations was released in celebration of the franchise’s 20th anniversary and it was a masterpiece, filling fans with joy that their one and only blue hedgehog was back, so let's put our pedal to the metal and fill our need for speed with Sonic: Generations.
It’s been about a decade since the last MechWarrior game launched on the PC. Those games held a strange place in the gaming world. You took your place inside the cockpit of a giant robot, and ran around shooting other giant robots. In other words, you were living out your nerdiest fantasies.
If you’ve played any of the other Assassin’s Creed games, you have a general idea of what to expect, but with improvements and a handful of changes to ACIII, the series continues to impress.
Darksiders, made by Vigil Games, is a classic God of War style hack-and-slash game that will provide hours of fun as you cut through enemies using a wide range of combos and weapons.
The mighty Google Inc., self proclaimed curators of the world wide web, developed and released their very own gaming platform, Native Client (NaCl), back in 2011, which could be considered the company's only true failure to date.
While it has been quite some time since this game has been released, it’s worthy of a chance. The objective is simple: kill the Hidden or the Hidden kills you.
For popular games, box art will be scrutinised and analysed by videogame journalists and fans alike, as they try to glean crucial shards of information about a highly anticipated, yet unreleased game.
Chivalry is exactly what you would expect with the words, 'Medieval Warfare' at its disposal. However, the key features of the game is what lures players in despite the nonexistance of an actual plot or storyline in the game.
Darksiders II is a third-person Action-RPG published by THQ. While it has been some time since the release, let’s review Darksiders II for those who may have overlooked it.
Red Faction: Guerrilla left much to be desired, and left many considering it an unworthy successor to Red Faction II. But if we chucked Red Faction: Guerrilla into a blender with Fallout 3 for example, would the result be any better?
Zombies: they are everywhere from Call of Duty to Left 4 Dead, but what about a game where not only do you have to worry about surviving from zombies, but from other players?
2012 was a great year for video game fans, giving them a little taste of everything, but it also had its fair share of low points, which will continue to exist unless there is a change.
The Binding of Isaac is very akin to previous works through the dark humor and flash-based platform. Be forewarned though, you will form a hate-love relationship with Isaac as the gameplay is frustratingly addictive.
Hitman: Absolution is a fast-paced, action-stealth game that will never cease to entertain. However, this fifth title in the series may not be for everyone.
This final portion of the guide (Part III) continues to outline how the Capture the Flag (CTF) game mode is best played and how to be of the most use for your team.
This guide (Part II) continues to outline how the Capture the Flag (CTF) game mode is best played and how to be of the most use for your team.
Perhaps you are new to TA and want to know how to be a great asset to your team, or perhaps you have come to the sobering realization that all of the midfield-fragging in the world won't help stop a capper from taking your team’s flag and scoring. This guide outlines how the Capture the Flag (CTF) game mode is best played and how to be of the most use for your team.
Jakiro, the twin-headed dragon, is an item-independent support hero with amazing area of effect (AoE) spells, who is able to contribute to his team throughout the entire course of a game. In recent months, thanks to the buff to his Ice Path, he has become one of the most desired supports around.
It's no secret that Tribes: Ascend (TA) isn't the easiest game series to get into. It's a fairly unique game involving flying high, going fast and landing those difficult shots with slow-moving projectile weapons.
One of the best video games ever based on a superhero. With copious side quests, stealth combat and a great attention to detail, both fans and newbies to the Batman storyline will undoubtedly be captivated.
With the arrival of the fourth World of Warcraft (WoW) expansion, players were left to wonder if the newly introduced eleventh class would fill a role sufficiently different from the other ten to justify it. The new class, to accompany the peaceful new Pandaren race, is the monk.
Digital distribution is not only the preferred method of video game and content delivery by both publisher and consumer, it is rapidly becoming the standard method. However, does the cross over from physical media to online digital storage raise concerns in terms of video game preservation?
LIMBO is both charming and haunting. The game has a twisted artistic beauty that is darkly addictive. Completely unique, LIMBO is sure to enchant and disturb you to the end.
The indie development scene is a booming part of the industry. Developer teams as small as a single person can produce games of amazing quality with mass market appeal. With many successful indie titles released, it has taken its place as a core part of the gaming industry.
With a very early estimate for release in November 2014, Star Citizen could very well be a classic that goes down in history as a gem and a triumphant return.
If you ever wanted to know what it is like to survive in the mind of Tim Burton, the upcoming game called Don’t Starve, is probably the closest you’re ever going to get. Don't Starve is a 2D survival game filled with strange creatures, dark humor and oddly-entertaining characters.
If you enjoy shooters and want a free game, which is going to take up quite a bit of your time with endless hours of entertainment, raging and customization then this is a great choice.
Hotline Miami is a landmark in the resurgence of 2D gaming. The fast-paced combat and pickup, and play style offers entertainment beyond that of which many full priced commercial games cannot put forward.
The Far Cry franchise has established a strong name for itself, and with any sequel released, there’s a chance of success or failure, but fortunately, Far Cry 3 seems to fit the former.
How does the new Free-to-Play (F2P) model for Star Wars: The Old Republic affect the game? Is it time for you to enter, or re-enter, a galaxy far, far away?
Jazz Jackrabbit 2 attempted to represent the PC as a legitimate source of 2D platforming action, but does this forgotten relic of PC gaming offer an experience comparable to those on the home consoles of the time?
A lot of modern games like to give players choices as they play and progress, but it feels like this addition means that it instantly improves game quality. However, this is not the case, as it can make a game feel stagnant.
For those who still yearn for more Borderlands 2, grab your gear and prepare to fight your way to the top of the leaderboards to become the next champion in this add-on pack.
"When we made Defense Grid, we asked ourselves, what would the definitive tower defense game look like? And as we talked about it more and more, we saw a vision of something that we felt should be made and that we thought we could do well." -Hidden Path Entertainment
Hidden Path Entertainment's Defense Grid: The Awakening is, at its core, a tower defense game. However, it's far more in-depth and well-developed than your average title.
Developed by Relic Entertainment and published by THQ, Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine received favorable reviews. Equip your armor, select your weapon and prepare to slay countless Orks in this third-action shooter.
There are a lot of games that are ‘untouchable’ for reviews these days. They are often set above scrutiny, but today, we will clasp hands and dive into the dark abyss of gaming sacrilege that is Portal.
The Mass Effect trilogy boasts a quality unseen in many other games—the player’s choices affect the universe, your character’s personality, the survival or death of your allies and the outcome of the game.
The game still feels exciting and fresh to me and the sheer amount of ways the game can be played, with the depth of character selection and development, Neverwinter Nights is one game I’d recommend to pick up and try.
Criterion Games brought back a classic Need For Speed (NFS) title from the original collection, producing a re-envisioned remake of the 2004 Most Wanted, breaking away from a few standards seen in the series.
With an elongated console cycle and an evolving distribution market, a paradigm shift is occurring. Your next generation console is already here, and it's been waiting for you a very long time.
At a time where a plethora of zombie games are constantly being released, Deadlight might not stand out from the crowd, but deserves a look as Tequila Works’ platformer paints the picture of a beautifully destroyed Seattle, and its post-apocalyptic inhabitants.
You never really know what will end up being a great game, or at least what you might get a laugh out of it for a while. With Octodad, I wasn’t sure what to expect once I got down to the actual game.
I was fortunate enough to interview Ioannis ‘Fogged’ Loucas, captain of Team Dignitas, and ask him a couple of questions about the team, life as a pro gamer and the Dota 2 pro scene.
For the player with a thirst for horror, and the ability to sleep through nightmares, there is no need to look further than The Walking Dead as it has both literal and metaphorical guts, with enough gore to keep any horror fan satisfied.
Peter 'Waytosexy' Nguyen talks about Team Dignitas' win in the Alienware Arena North American Battlegrounds, as well as his thoughts on future tournaments and the Dota 2 Winter Event, Frostivus.
Grab your weapons, equip your drill and get ready to protect Little Sisters as we dive into Rapture again for BioShock 2.
The massively-multiplayer online genre has been a staple of PC gaming for many years, with many different takes on the genre coming and going. Prime among these has been World of Warcraft, which has skyrocketed to worldwide popularity. However, with each expansion, are we witnessing the slow death of greatness?
Now many of you may be scratching your heads at the above statement if you've never heard of or played Natural Selection, but I assure you that to some, it strikes the utmost fear into every marine on the battlefield.
Hecarim has always been one of those junglers that you never know whether you want to learn or not, but he is worth a shot as he is very fun to play and your team will appreciate having him as well.
With the highly-anticipated release of Irrational Games’ next installment in a few months, let’s dive into the depths of the sea, and return to the underwater city known as Rapture where it all began: BioShock.
It has been just over a month since Faster Than Light (FTL) was released. The game had received quite a bit of attention via Kickstarter. In turn, the developers pumped out a fantastic space simulator, which has hints of different styles of gameplay from a wide breadth of games.
With the announcement of the sixth SimCity February 2013 release, I already had SimCity on the brain when I heard about the promotion. Admittedly, it was probably a poor idea to slightly drool over the impressive features of the latest game and then backtrack to an older game, but I don’t think it hampered the experience too badly.
Boasting high burst damage, semi-carry potential, a decent escape mechanism, crowd control, and long range initiation/counter initiation, Invoker is a very diverse Hero that can fill many roles, but can also be the most difficult to learn in Dota 2.
Dustforce is a time-trailing platformer, suited for the obsessive-compulsive because the main objective is to simply clean—wait, who voluntarily cleans?
Mark of the Ninja is a stealth-based 2D, side-scrolling action game published by Microsoft and developed by Klei Entertainment, responsible for the arcade game Shank. Originally an exclusive title for Xbox 360, Mark of the Ninja was released on PC on October 16, 2012.
There was a time long ago, in first person shooters, where combatants were limited to small, confined arenas surrounded by the art of their skyboxes, longing to break free and wage war on a grand scale. Their saviour came in September 2002, and it was called Battlefield 1942.
Playing as an aggressive jungler can be both risky and rewarding for a player and the entire team. Successful ganks, counter-ganks and counter-jungles can put you and your lanes ahead in the early game, which can translate to larger leads late game, if handled correctly.
In DayZ, there is only one primary objective: Survive. The zombie apocalypse has occurred and not only do you have flesh eating monsters at your heels, the living is just as merciless. DayZ focuses on realism and every action affects the world around you.
If you are someone who enjoys playing first-person shooter video games then a title like Far Cry isn’t anything new to you. Far Cry 3, being the third installment from the Far Cry series, shows many promises in gameplay.
A long training session comes to an end. All that was left was to push the last four hours of practice time through my fingers. Knowing that I had done everything I could to perform my best at this year’s Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC) event felt great.
Ostarion, the Skeleton King, is a Melee Carry, who can also serve as a Disabler and a Tank. Although he is one of the easier Heroes to play, he can still be quite hard to fully utilize in the early game.
The members of Irrational Games have been quite secretive about their new game, Bioshock Infinite and rightly so. It has been almost six years since players were first introduced to the world of Rapture and due to the success of the Bioshock series, expectations are high for this next installment.
Could 5 million Russians be wrong?
One of the only advantages consoles has left is the fact that you can comfortably sit in your living room, in front of your massive flatscreen TV and game for hours on end while using a small hand-held controller. Valve's new “Big Picture” mode for Steam effectively eliminates this advantage.
The holiday season officially started last week with the arrival of Thanksgiving, leaving many PC gamers to ponder which of the numerous new holiday games they plan to spend their play time with.
The annual display of gratitude continues. AWESOME.
The only Call of Duty story I'll publish for the rest of the year, including why pro gamers don't play it, and how the latest Black Ops 2 is being billed as the best since the original Modern Warfare.
Leshrac, the Tormented Soul, is an intelligence-support Hero with great pushing capabilities. He is not an easy Hero to learn, as his abilities are highly unpredictable and difficult to master, but if used correctly, it can cause critical damage to an enemy team. Is this Hero right for you?
Consider these some of the best screen grabs of the year. What's yours?
Due to the success of Torchlight after its release in 2008, fans have long been awaiting an anticipated sequel. As I have stated in my review of the first game, few flaws were found in the beautifully-executed dungeon crawler, but will Torchlight 2 be just as perfect or will it disappoint?
With Sony and Microsoft right behind them, Nintendo next week will launch the world into the eighth and possibly last console generation as we know them. What does the leading name in PC gaming hardware have to say?
Are you a huge Borderlands 2 fan, but getting a little tired of the same loot, guns, and monsters that give you a hard time? Are you tired of killing the same old bandits and watching an enraged berserker wreak havoc on allies? Well, your wait is over with Gearbox Software's newest released DLC pack for Borderlands 2.
Good news for gamers: The price of PC games has steadily declined over the last five years.
Being entirely undetected during the missions in Dishonored is not an easy feat. I'm going to explain a few tips and tricks that I have learned while performing a stealth-run throughout the campaign. For those who haven’t completed the game yet, don't worry, as there are no spoilers here.
Many corporate mergers often fail. This one didn't, reports The Register, because "the resulting entity is better off than either were before."
The road to becoming a competitive player of any game can be long and tough. Much like traditional sports, success in the world of eSports is dependent on hard work and dedication.
Whatever your plans tonight, don't miss the opporutnity to play one of these five scary games for less than $5.
Even with all eyes on the Season 2 World Championship, the Brazilian League of Legends (LoL) scene had its own big tournament with a prize pool of $80,000. The Brazil (BR) Championship took place in São Paulo and was the first official Riot tournament with the biggest prize pool in the history of the Brazillian e-Sports.
In good vs. evil gameplay, the darkside rules, a new study found.
PlanetSide is an MMOFPS (massively-multiplayer online first-person shooter) that has some great ideas, but a below average net code. The game, in general, was awesome and promoted teamwork, but due to the strange mechanics with flying, hitboxes, strafing and overall game performance, PlanetSide lost the community it was built for and slowly faded away.
The results are in: Microsoft has an uphill battle on its hands proving to PC gamers why they might want to upgrade to the new Windows 8.
With the recent launch of its sequel, it’s only fitting to reflect on how Torchlight became a gaming staple. The Runic Games title was published by Perfect World for the PC in October 2009.
Massive bundles and $3 games make playing Genesis games on PC easy peasy.
Next Thursday, Microsoft will release its biggest operating since since the mighty XP. And we want to know: Are you buying?
Did your favorite game make the list?
Although Bastion’s release came in mid-2011, the recent Steam Summer Sale has given the game a breath of new life. There are many reasons why Bastion has achieved the staying power it has.
Your backlog just keeps getting bigger and bigger.
To put it mildly, "a gorgeous, complex, assasination sim."
With the start of the World Championship this week, let’s take a look at how the North American teams earned their way to the Los Angeles, California.
The World Championship Series: Europe Finals was a tournament held by Blizzard and attendees qualified through a set of individual regional tournaments that covered the whole of Europe.
As if you needed any more games on your radar, here's a list of 21 of the biggest PC games dropping this fall.
Major League Gaming recently finished up their Summer Championship, holding the event together with Blizzard’s World Championships Series (WCS) North American finals.
The most high scoring games I've seen at one time in recent memory. Have you played all these?
Looking into the smaller eSports titles new and old from the perspective of the people who are in the thick of it.
The movie this PC game was based on is a sci-fi classic. The game itself is a great point and click adventure.
The robots are invading! The Red and Blu mercenaries of Team Fortress 2 have had to call a temporary truce in order to stop these mechanical menaces.
Earlier this month, I asked you which games you were most excited to play this fall. You responded in kind and have good taste in games. Here's proof:
With the popularity of Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) games at an all-time high with titles like Defense of the Ancients, Heroes of Newerth and League of Legends, more and more MOBAs are showing up on the scene.
It's a great time to be a PC gamer. Here's why.
In this three part series, we talk to three Trackmania pros from Team Dignitas about themselves, how they got into Trackmania, and what their future holds. Today, we talk to a young member of the Team Dignitas squad Carl-Antoni 'CarlJr' Cloutier who is 15 years old and but has been in Team Dignitas for two years.
Valve last week released Big Picture, a controller powered living room mode for all your PC games and Steam friends. What do you think of it?
What mouse do you use for gaming? A stock one or specialized one?
Looking into the smaller eSports titles new and old from the perspective of the people who are in the thick of it.
Video games have been commercially available since 1972, an even forty years. So when did you join the party?
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a the First-Person Shooter (FPS) that was developed and recently released by Valve. Tournaments have already begun to be organized, like the 300 000 SEK Dreamhack Winter tournament. Is CS: GO the next big thing in the eSports scene when it comes to FPS games?
Last month, we discussed the future of cloud gaming. While half of you viewed it as an alternative to local PC gaming, a fourth of you thought it would flop, and recent news suggest they may be right.
I suspect many of you will be busy with Guild Wars 2 for the foreseeable future. But there are a lot of PC games on the fall horizon. So, what are you most excited for?
Interview with dignitasNewmaN - “expanding our audience is the single most important thing we need to achieve if we want esports to grow”
It's here. The game many of you have been waiting for is here. The early verdict: It's in the running for game of the year.
Jesse Cox is an American voice actor and rising Youtube star, now known as a prominent gamer in the online scene after working with people such as HuskyStarcraft and TotalBiscuit. I recently had the opportunity to find out how much he knows about eSports and competitive gaming.
Venerable adventure game seeking crowdfunding on Kickstarter. Here's why you should care.
First impressions of the newest entry into the MOBA scene and how its new perspective stacks up against the current MOBA powerhouses.
Ubisoft has a rocky history with PC gamers who accuse the publisher of locking up their games in off putting ways. But thanks to free-to-play, the company says its more committed to the platform now. Might other traditional console publishers follow suit?
League of Legends mid lane for Team Dignitas, Scarra, sat down for a talk about the last MLG and some mid lane tips.
PC darling Valve Corporation this week releases the highly anticipated, cheap (one Hamilton + a Lincoln), and fast-paced Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Who's buyin'?
We catch up with Team Dignitas’ Starcraft II player, Merz, and talk about the recent twists and turns in the game.
Action/adventure games don't come often to PC. Here's a new and improved one you may want to plot on your radar.
A new survey by PC Gamer provides insight on the franchises that you feel are headed in the right direction, and the ones headed to the toilet.
A sample of sweet titles that won't cost you a penny to purchase?
The largest video game association has released its 2012 report on the state of the industry, and the most popular game genres on PC may just surprise you. Details inside.
SeleCT answers a few grilling questions about himself and his past.
The results are in. The vast majority or readers are level-headed when it comes to predicting the future of cloud gaming.
Blizzard's latest RPG, Diablo 3, has many persistent progression systems installed into the game, which drive replayability on multiple difficulties and classes. But even with all of these systems that incentivize the player to grind on, many, including Blizzard themselves admit that end-game Diablo 3 is lacking.
Solid state drives are crazy fast and should be bundled with every new gaming rig. But they're also smaller in capacity than traditional hard drives, which makes us hate the ridiculous install sizes of these 10 games even more.
Shijie ‘DreAm’ Zhu is a Protoss player, currently playing for Team Dignitas. He was a prominent Warcraft 3 player, but Dream now has set his sights on StarCraft 2, and will surely become a household name in both his home country of China, and the rest of the world.
Delightful two minute video documenting the visual and audio evolution of more than 30 years of PC gaming.
The recent Steam Summer Sale has rekindled the popularity of a number of games, with many players experiencing them for the first time. As a great opportunity to try out games you may have overlooked before at a greatly reduced price, let's take a look at just one of these examples: Trine 2.
What is the future of cloud gaming and PCs?
Support player for Team Dignitas’ League of Legends’ team, L0CUST, talks about adjusting to having a new member in the team as well as preparation before going to Korea for the OGN.
Two weeks ago, I published a report which estimated the top 10 most played PC games by hours spent...
Payment structures and the competitive nature of MOBA games in the market, can Riot be beaten by Valve?
The promise of Kickstarter keeps getting better. Although still to early to tell what kind of legacy it will leave, on the surface, it appears gamers may finally be able to largely bypass publishers for the games the market still isn't supplying.
A little chat with NAVi's League of Legends support player SAND about how things have been since joining Team Natus Vincere.
Unless changes are made, video games will eventually become niche like comic books have. Or so says nascent developer Chris Hecker.
There's a new sheriff in town. Three years after its release, the free-to-play League of Legends has overtaken the longstanding World of Warcraft as the most-played PC game in the world, according to a new report.
Diablo 3 had an amazing launch, but with Torchlight 2 on the horizon is the crown going to be Diablo's for long?
Battlefield to follow in the footsteps of Black Ops II towards near future gameplay? A top EA officials suggests as much.
A guide with some tips and breakdowns of playing the support hero, Treant Protector.
Form, needs, and budget are key among them. But that are a lot more you should consider.
A guide to farming with your level 60 Monk on Inferno Difficulty - Act 1 in Diablo 3.
Of course, no such thing existed. But it was the only way my childish mind could compute the graphical difference of PC games to console ones.
But your backlog to good use this weekend. Read this then play one for me, will ya?
Vigilante has a chat with League of Legends top laner player from Team Dignitas, Crumbzz, for Alienware Arena.
Since we're on the subject of free to play, you owe it to yourself to at least sample these 13 games without plopping down cash.
The PC First Person Shooter genre appears to have become stagnant and in need of a refresh can Counter-Strike: Global Offensive deliver the eSports goods?
Not just PC gaming. All gaming. You win!
I suspected how you would vote when I asked last month which game you would play the most this year. I was right.
After playing second fiddle to other shooters since quitting dedicated servers five years ago, the next Call of Duty plans to get serious again about competitive multiplayer. Too little too late?
Behind this door you'll find two things that will make you smile and one thing that will make scare you.
What's the longest you've played a game? This guy played Civilization II for 10 straight years and learned a thing or two about simulated humanity.
Don't call 'em sloppy seconds. Now that the dust has settled, here are a few more PC games from E3 2012 that you need to follow.
Twenty years after Mortal Kombat delighted gamers and shocked the mainstream world, has meaningless violence in games reached a tipping point?
As well as updates to previously announced games and lots of new trailers.
Early artwork does its job in whetting appetites.
Almost five million gamers purchased Diablo III on the first day alone, making it the fastest-selling PC game on record. Here's why, according to PC World.
And by "top" I mean the biggest, baddest, most buzz-worthy titles coming to PC over the next three months.
There can only be one. Let's hear it, readers.
The fallout continues. But how significant is it, if at all?
I suspect Diablo III will eventually meet player expectations. But it's been a bumpy ride so far.
In light of decreasing interest in the much hyped Star Wars: The Old Republic, do traditional MMORPGs have a problem?
Blizzard has released a check-off list of seven things you need to consider before jumping into Diablo III next week.
Although business news is usually a bore, it's easy to read between the lines of this latest report: After three straight years of impressive growth, PC gaming is still thriving and more games are on the way.
May shaping up as a much hyped month for PC gaming.
A smattering of internal memos by Bioware during the development of Mass Effect were made public recently, shedding insight into all the crazy things game developers have to consider when making a game.
Flying in the face of everything consoles have done in the past, Sony last week opened the door to allow some of its games to appear on "certified" third-party devices. Might that include PCs?
Your handsome editor is heading for the canyons this weekend. After sharing your plans with the community, check inside for tips, tricks, and "cheats" for maximum idea generation. Oh yeah!
Max Payne 3, Sword & Sworcery, Crysis 3, Steam Discounts, and Unlimited PC Play all in the news.
All three are "buzzing" recently.
I'd like to think my facial reactions are subtle while gaming. But having never recorded them, I'm not so sure. What about you?
$1.5 billion, according to a new report. His name: Gabe Newell. His idea: The wonderful, crazy affordable, and easy-to-use Steam, which helped to enhance and popularize PC gaming once more.
Easter is upon us. While many of you will be with family over the weekend, let us know if you plan on sneaking away to game as well, and if so, whatcha playin'?
New mod coming to Steam in a matter of weeks, developer says.
Before Diablo III drops later next month, TERA is trending as one of the more anticipated titles coming to PC within the next 30 days. Will you bite?
Rayman Origins, Total War, Diablo III pre-orders, and Sims make the recent best-selling list in America, among others. Details inside.
A recent "interview" with Ubisoft regarding the upcoming PC release of Assassin's Creed III made me laugh because it was funny, and laugh because it was true.
In terms of well-received unexpected games, this year is off to a great start for PC players.
Aiming a bullet is one thing. But coming to grips with abstract math, gravity, and physics in this otherwordly indie game is entirely different. It's beyond hardcore. It's downright daunting.
It's on, people. After 12 long years since the last game, Blizzard Entertainment today announced a May 15 release date for the highly anticipated Diablo III.
And it's obvious the game is gunning squarley for Call of Duty now. Trailer and details inside.
Got an itch for overclocking. Peep this helpful guide first.
Electronic Arts and Maxis games today announced a "rebirth" of the venerable SimCity, coming to PCs at some point in 2013.
Rumors are swirling this week (literally swirling, I tell ya!) that Valve will soon begin licensing "Steam Boxes" to hardware partners such as Alienware to port the popular Steam service beyond the desktop.
Bioware knows how to make a sizzle reel, that's for sure. New launch trailer inside.
Don't hate the playa, hate the game. Or something like that. Details inside.
Chief creative officer of Electronic Arts says the old definition of PC gaming is too narrow. Moving forward his company will "embrace" spec-challenged rigs as much as heavy duty ones, in an effort to equal the playing field.
Spit it out! Then peep the comments for other ideas.
Bioware this week confirmed rumors that it would upsell a launch day expansion pack upon release of Mass Effect 3 on March 6—Let the milking begin.
The future is bright for fan-funded video games. Really bright, especially if you like point and click adventure games, or bold or financially risky games in general.
There's never a bad time to start or rekindle a love for PC gaming. But this year should be especially kind to the platform for the following reasons.
Have you ever lost touch with a cool online multiplayer friend? I have. Here's my story.
Consistent with the high-profile game's luke-warm reception last month, a recent survey by our commrades at PC Gamer found that many players aren't willing to renew their subscription after the one month free trial.
A year and a half ago, there was increasing talk of set-top gaming rigs — small but powerful desktops that could pull double duty in the living room. For Alienware, the time is now.
Like Battlefield 3 before it, EA has announced that the upcoming Mass Effect 3 will not be available on Steam, the largest PC gaming store in America. Now gamers are pissed!
Microsoft announced this week that it would be porting Kinect from Xbox to PC next month. But given the lack of supported games and applications, it means little to PC gaming.
Because I work here, you'd think I'd get a sneak peak at the new Alienware system. But I don't. I'm just like the rest of you: I put my pants on one leg at a time and I have to wait until next Wednesday to find out.
The massive Elder Scrolls: Skyrim was the most played game of 2011, according to market researcher Raptr. Consequently, significant others, house chores, and even pets are being neglected.
Have you seen this? New indie-game introducing a novel twist on the tried and true FPS genre.
PC Gamer has compiled an exhaustive list of 158 games that will likely make their way to PC this year. Get clicky with it.
Games you still need to finish? Places you still hope to visit? Let's hear it.
The year: 1995. The game: Burn: Cycle. The experience: Awesome.
World of Warcraft-slayer this is not, at least not yet.
New "unlimited PC play" service launched this week, only it's not that good.
Bioware this week released a gigantic gameplay trailer for the highly anticipated Mass Effect 3, revealing the series new shift towards action-heavy and genre-bending gameplay.
If innovative games are so great, how come all 13 of PC Gaming magazine's "most anticipated" games are all sequels? One game designer explains why.
It's better than the unsong but beautiful first game. Get clicky to see why.
Last week, I asked you handsome readers what your favorite game of the year was. Well, the overwhelming results are in!
It's been a great year for PC gaming. Looking back, what has been your favorite game of the year?
Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, Batman: Arkham City, and "Modern Battlefield 3" the biggest bread winners so far this holiday. More inside.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, coupled with a collective "cheer up sad pandas" at grumpyy or otherwise downer gamers, let us give thanks this season.
From the creator of Super Meat Boy and Gish comes this old school Zelda shooter mashup. Good times.
Finding a free PC game you'll actually want to play is a chore. Game Downloader, a tiny PC client, hopes to change that.
Despite more than a decade of real war, military shooters are the biggest attraction of modern video games. Would that still be the case if Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 were released during an actual draft?
If anyone needs me, I'll be at my computer. Playing Skyrim. For the next several months, if not year, even. Details inside.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 dropped this week to solid reviews, just like Battlefield 3 before it. So which is the better game? Answering that question is largely a matter of taste.
It's better than digging ditches. But not by much.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes of ZDnet is the latest columnits attempting to make PC pricing and console pricing an apples to apples comparison. It's not. Take this poll to proove it.
Now you're playing with power!
Or Call of Duty. You already know about those two. So in addition to them biggins, plot the following five on your radar as well. You can thank me later.
The year was 1991. Van Halen had just released their chain-saw sounding For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge album. And it was the first time I played a simulation game, which would go on to become one of the PC's most popular attractions.
Action games are having quite a moment on PC right now. Battlefield 3, Batman: Arkham City, Skyrim, Saint's Row 3, and Modern Warfare 3 all within the next 30 days.
Why is Battlefield 3 hyped more than any previous Battlefield game? In addition to a graphics boost, will the new engine actually enable new gameplay? And how much does Battlefield 3 love PC? EA producer Aleksander Grondal spills his guts in an exclusive interview with Alienware Arena.
Battlefield 3 is a system seller. According to one analyst, PC gamers are replacing or upgrading their rigs in anticipation.
The battle for PC game downloads has only just begin. But despite Amazon.com rising ambition, Steam still reigns supreme. Here's why.
We scratch the surface by listing ours—from Metallica to DeadMau5. Join the discussion inside.
How much can free PC tweaks boost gaming performance compared to hardware upgrades? Click to find out.
20 years after the release of the legendary Doom, fabled first-person developer id Software today released their newest game, Rage. What's the early verdict? Find out inside.
Either graphics have become ridiculously realistic, journalism has reached new lows, or someone is straight up lying. Either way, PC game Arma 2 was mislabeled as actual IRA war footage this week by British broadcaster ITV.
An uncommon number of good games have arrived on PC in recent weeks leading up to the holiday rush of fall and winter. Have you played them all?
Admit it: Gaming's gotten better thanks to YouTube. Not only that, but it's gotten a lot bigger, too, according to a new report.
In addition to increased publisher support for PC in recent years, a growing number of indie developers are returning to the mouse and keyboard, after struggling to find a place on close-walled consoles.
Tired of paying a monthly subscription for that MMO of yours? Good news, the tend appears to be on the decline, according to a new report via Gamasutra.
You already know what PC gaming looks like. Here's where it's going, according to a couple of people a lot more connected than you.
Pro gaming got a little more mainstream yesterday, with Utah Jazz forward Gordon Hayward announcing he'll join the IGN Pro League this fall to compete in StarCraft II tourneys.
A new opinion piece on a popular gaming blog argues that hardware tinkering isn't required to achieve the "best graphics and sound" on PC, and that in fact, such modders may be holding the platform back.
A new preview of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 says the game is "basically the same as Modern Warfare 2." And allthough PC gamers have alternatives (i.e. Battlefield 3), you'll still play Activision's yearly shooter because many of your friends will.
A new report by CNN suggests only 10% of players finish their games. The reason: The aging gamer (who is busier), a glut of games, and the rise of multiplayer. More inside.
The first trailer for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive was released on Friday. Although details are still light, here are all the juicy morsels to hold onto until Valve drops more information.
Got another low-profile game you might want to put on your radar. Trailer inside.
I love the smell of a good game at the end of summer. The verdict is in: Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a "dark, cool, and beautiful revival of an incredible game," according to reviews, both critical and user.
Newly released From Dust added to a growing list of buggy PC games made by one of the world's largest and often creative publishers. Is this worst over?
Revered PC publisher Valve has two highly anticipated "udpates" coming to classic franchises: Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Defense of the Ancients 2. Which are you more excited to play?
IGN has posted what they believe to be the best 25 PC games "from more recent times." Think you know what made the list?
Despite the recent influx of motion and gesture alternative, the mouse and keyboard are still the go-to input device for computing mortals, a new report found. Long live QWERTY!
It's official, everyone. The highly-anticipated Battlefield 3 will not be playable fromSteam, the largest PC gaming store in America, when it releases this October. Details inside.
Looking for something new to play? How about one of these 22 exclusive PC games?
Game to be DRM'd with constant internet connection. Bye, bye airplane gaming.
Calling on sandbox / driving PC gamers!
After trailing HD consoles in recent years as the lead development platform, the PC is reclaiming the top spot once more, thanks in part to the upcoming release of Battlefield 3.
Here's a pretty good list to get you started: Count-Strike, Team Fortress, and DotA, not to mention a few surprises.
For example, do you prefer shooters to strategy during select times and vice versa?
Indie-game Terraria, World of Warcraft, and Bad Company 2 lead the pack during the summer doldrums. More inside.
Like StarCraft II? Take a trip down memory lane with this fan-made video, highlighting some of the most exhilarating and painful moments from the game's first anniversary.
What do Portal 2, Witcher 2, Dirt 3, and Shogun 2 all have in common? Yes, they're sequels, but among a handful of others, they're the highest rated games released so far this year on PC.
You no longer have to wait for The Old Republic to get your Star Wars fix.
In a sluggish economy, even pro gamers are feeling the sting. But they're still making a living, playing the game and things are looking up, says 27 year-old David "Zaccubus" Treacy of Team Dignitas in an interview with Alienware.
Better yet, it's free (details inside). Don't say I never did anything for ya.
What's next for the popular DotA clone? Are new maps in the cards? And what about that spectator mode? Find out inside.
One month after releasing the console version, Rockstar Games today announced it's bringing LA Noire to PC this fall. Too bad it's not the previously released (and better) Red Dead Redemption.
PC game service and Onlive rival Gaikai today announced a massive deal to stream games for Walmart, the largest gaming retailer in America. Lookout, Steam!
Here's one reason the free-to-play League of Legends is so hot right now.
The fight between Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 is getting downright hostile, even before the first bullet has been fired. Regardless of who wins, this should be fun.
A lot of big PC games were shown at E3 last week. But unless you put this lesser known game on your radar, we can no longer be friends.
PC games don't have an E3 press conference and probably never will. But that doesn't mean there aren't any good games being shown.
You already know this, but the latest trailer for Battlefield 3 is a thing of beauty, and further proof you may want to upgrade your rig.
Three months since its release, how does Rift compare to the MMO heavyweight?
Summertime is known more for the great outdoors than it is video games. But a surprising number of promising PC titles might keep you indoors more than you had originally anticipated this summer.
Two notable miliatary shooters are coming to PC this fall: One is a cult favorite among gamers and the other is a cultural behemoth. Which will you buy and/or expect to play more of?
Here's why StarCraft and other popular competative titles should always be referred to as games, never e-sports.
The battle for digital PC games is heating up, but the independent and gamer-favorite Steam still reigns supreme.
Video games are meant to be played. StarCraft, however, is unique in that it can be as much fun to watch as it is to click. Here's why.
You tell me first. Then I'll follow up with detailed reasons why in the coming weeks.
You know the name. But have you seen this exclusive gameplay trailer?
The newly launched Brink looks hot. I've heard more than one person refer to it as "the next Team Fortress 2." But like so many games before it, including Call of Duty: Black Ops for PC, it seems as though Bethesda shipped a buggy game.
A quick look at the performance benefits of SSDs. Take that, sucka!
Over one in four games on PC are classified as real-time strategy, the most of any genre, according to the Entertainment Software Association. Long live clickfests?
Tom Ohle likes video games. As a gaming PR guy, it's his job to like games. But he's also saddened by the fact that so many low-profile games go unnoticed.
Depending on specs, the price of a gaming rig can vary greatly -- from under $1000 to well over $7000.
There were great in the '90s. Not so much anymore. Am I wrong?
Despite its mind-bending gameplay, a significant number of gamers have taken issue with the value of Portal 2. While the first game sold for $15 on PC, the sequel goes for $50. Are certain players just nit-picking, or is there "value" in their argument?
One of the biggest sequels of the year arrives this week. Are you buying?
In terms of game quality, the PC is having a heck of year. Check out this impressive list of best-reviewed games.
A short tutorial on how to encode to h264 using Mediacoder.
Tutorial on how to encode with ffmpeg to h264
A Virtual Dub tutorial for making gaming videos.
A video tutorial for importing Half-Life 2 models into 3DS Max.
This tutorial will show you how to use the z-depth footage attained from using in-game command "r_depthoverlay 1" in After Effects to generate depth of field with the Lens Blur effect.
A quick tutorial from wo0t on how to replace skyboxes in videos, with Team Fortress 2 as an example.
This tutorial will show you how to encode your video to h264 with meGUI.
A Team Fortress 2 skybox video tutorial by skyride.
White weapons video tutorial (with Team Fortress 2) by Cla.
Lossless codecs are useful in video editing because it compresses the video file size, but still keeping the video quality. This tutorial will briefly explain how to install Lagarith, HuffYUV, FFV1 and YULS.
A comprehensive list of the top Team Fortress 2 movies of 2010, including a monthly breakdown and the top 5 of the year!
The PldX h264 encoding GUI is very easy to use and fast to install. Read the full article for a walkthrough and download link.
In terms of game quality, the PC is having a heck of year. Check out this impressive list of best-reviewed games.
In other words, put this game on your radar.
Here's one thing, according to the editor of PC Gamer.
Battlefield Play4Free launched this week, the latest in a growing line of full-fledged freemium games. How is it? Find out inside.
Latest simulation racer from EA getting high marks from reviewers.
And by cheap I mean a steal. The lovable, 4.5 star-rated, and NeoGAF-approved M11x by Alienware is now at its lowest price ever: $599.
Saber Interactive isn't known for making great games. But that hasn't stopped them from trying to carve out a niche making really short shooter games with Call of Duty-like graphics.
Not in the foreseeable future. Here's why.
Microsoft's DirectX makes PC games playable on a wide range of computers and simplifies development. But it's also holding PC games back. Or so says AMD.
The newest shooter on the block won't immediatly replace Call of Duty. But it's got some fresh ideas, a unique multiplayer, and a bright future.
It's a simple question. Tell us your favorite online hang-outs for PC gaming culture.
What's the hottest game on PC right now? The latest turn-based hybrid in the Total War series, of course, according to early review scores.
In 2008, Electronic Arts was surpassed by Activistion as the world's largest independent game publisher. What's the former gonna do to regain the top spot? Hug the mouse and keyboard more.
What are the best-selling PC games in America right now? Dragon Age II takes the top spot, followed by Rift, The Sims, and Bulletstorm to name a few. Read on for the full list of top sellers.
We champion PC gaming around here. Most of our readers consider it their primary gaming machine; their weapon of choice. That said, a lot of people own more than one game system. How does your hardward diet compare?
Spring is right around the corner. And with it, come a slew of high-profile PC games you won't want to miss. Radars, ahoy!
Following last year's "TV friendly PC gaming" discussion, one of the biggest players in PC games this week announced a new initiative to bring PC games to the living room.
BioShock creator and influential designer Ken Levine thinks first-person graphics are the most immersive way of gaming, saying they create "one less barrier to the experience." What do you think?
Electronic Arts today announced new details for the upcoming Battlefield 3, including 64-person multiplayer on PC and a "next-generation game engine for current-generation platforms."
Bad lag happens to "good people." Tell us your most nightmarish lag story inside.
We've covered a lot of PC ground over the last year. And the most popular story will surely surprise you. Ain't web analytics hard to predict?
Online gaming is the next best thing to gaming with friends in the same room. But a new report suggests that online networking may be making us miserable.
Forbes magazine did a profile on Valve founder and president Gabe Newell last week, in which they liken Steam as the iTunes, Amazon, and Netflix of video games. In case you haven't already processed their dominance, here are some impressive numbers.
"It's been about two years since I started helping my mother," says Kim Won Gi of South Korea.
We catch up with Josh Atkins, who won a free trip to the Winter X Games last month on Alienware's dime just by playing his luck.
As good as Counter-Strike: Source is, it's always been lacking player customization. Thank heavens for the thousands of available skin mods.
In case you haven't heard, League of Legends is kind of a big deal.
Quake? StarCraft? Counter-Strike? Something else? You tell me.
It's rare for a video game to stay in the top 10 chart for an entire year. Which makes what Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has done over the last 10 months all the more impressive.
Not to mention further proof Minecraft might be the most mod-friendly game ever.
That's what one of gaming's most outspoken insiders thinks. So we should just roll over then when it comes to the increasing number of buggy shipped games?
Don't want to drop $50 on a PC game before downloading? Direct2Drive, the second most-popular digital game store after Steam, is working on a potential fix.
My favorite PC developer just got better. Valve Corporation this week unveiled cross platform multiplayer for PC, Mac, and PS3 owners of Portal 2, releasing this April. The more the merrier!
Great game demos never die. Especially if they're balanced, online-enabled, LAN-capable, and most of all, free. Especially if they're Halo.
How exactly is the non-profit consortium helping to promote better PC games? What do they hope to accomplish this year? And can we expect a PC gaming press conference at E3 this year? Find out inside in an interview with alliance president Matt Ployhar.
Overall video game sales were down for the second consecutive time last year, but the one "bright spot" was PC gaming, which grew 3 percent at retail and a whole lot more online.
In addition to new gaming chips for the masses, motion-controlled PC gaming was another theme of last week's Consumer Electronics Show, included the revelation by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer that Kinect will eventually make its way to PC "at the right time."
They won't let you achieve maximum awesomeness. But they could attract more budget conscious gamers to the platform, including console players, which could result in more games.
All on PC, course. Call of Duty: Black Ops takes the dubious top spot. More inside.
It was good to be a PC gamer last year. On the back of gaining momentum, this year looks to be just as good, if not better for multi-genre fans.
As this year comes to a close, we look back on the biggest PC gaming stories over the past 12 months, building momentum very much included.
How one man chased his dreams with robots, rainbows, and unicorns, and made a gaming career, a name for himself, and an Erasure revival out of it.
Thanks to the success of Steam, PC players are changing the way they buy, and how much they pay for video games.
Hot Stories remembers the fateful day in 1994, reminisces high-end gaming, and solicits your entries for most memorable gaming rigs ever.
Read on to find out why every gamer (and anyone who uses software and hardware for that matter) should see this movie. Post your impressions as well.
In addition to best-selling games, PC gamers had more than enough to play this year. But chances are they rarely finished the ones they even bought. The reason: The game of life.
It's that time of year again. A time when everyone and their dog attempts to name the single best game of the year.
Your rig won't break a sweat playing it. It's hardly a showcase game. But Bejeweled 3, out this week, will keep you clicking for hours -- longer if you have free time.
As if there was only one way to make fun games these days.
Or are you through with WoW?
Here's a convincing argument for 10 of the best.
You probably don't need any more games to play right now, given the glut of annual and holiday PC hits already released. But just in case, keep an eye on these upcoming highlights this winter.
As current-generation consoles continue to age, PC gaming has regained significant momentum over the last two years. But that hasn't stopped some publishers, including THQ and Electronic Arts, from timidly embracing the platform.
Looking for something new to play on PC? How about one of these 50+ trending games released in the last year?
Since the majority of PC gamers buy digital these days, it's increasingly harder for PC enthusiasts to find Black Friday retail deals. But if you're looking to buy boxed games on the cheap, here are few deals to consider:
Metro 2033 played at maximum settings looks pretty darn good. But what other PC games make the short-list for best graphics?
The quality and quantity of freemium PC games have rapidly increased over the last year. That's a good thing for gamers who don't like spending money on games they don't like.
Welcome to the "Ship it now, fix it later" era.
Although an important part of PC gaming, multiplayer is not the end of be all of gaming. Here's why.
What PC games would recommend to someone new to the platform? Stewart Loosemore needs your help.
The biggest name in action games arrives this week. Early reviews suggest the seventh installation of the series is equal to the hype and inevitable commercial success it's sure to enjoy.
Two months shy of December 31, and PC gaming has already had quite the year. Let us count the ways.
Snapshot of the best-selling PC games in America, as ranked by the largest digital distributor, online store, and brick and mortar retailer in the nation.
The PC is the breeding ground for video game innovation, argues Bioshock creator Ken Levine. "Magic can happen when there are no middle men, no marketers, and no naysayers."
Call us unreasonable, but these seven "product features" really make us salivate when it comes to playing PC games.
Looking for something fresh to play? Don't want to spend a ton of money (or any at all)? Consider one of these 100 recommended indie games.
Delivering on its promise to announce more PC gaming schtuff this year, Microsoft today unveiled the newly revamped Games For Windows website, launching Nov. 15.
Exploring a dark castle with nothing but your faded memory and a bunch of spooky dudes? Yes, please.
Valve today announced that its online PC game service has reached 30 million members, 5 million more than the popular Xbox Live service. How about them apples?
Among all the upcoming games shown at E3 this summer, Homefront was unexpectedly one of the most impressive games I saw. To help realize its good first-impression, the first-person shooter is in seemingly good development hands.
Don't make the same mistake twice. Play the next Trine when it arrives on PC next year.
The most quoted man in video game analysis sounds off on PC gaming, including Steam vs. Xbox Live, PC growth sectors, gaming rigs 10 years from now, and more.
Plateaued at 11.5 million paying subscribers for the last two years, many thought World of Warcraft had peaked. It didn't. Thanks to the Chinese launch of the latest expansion pack and anticipation for the upcoming Cataclysm, total World of Warcraft players have reached 12 million worldwide, Activision Blizzard announced today.
I'm a sucker for list articles (i.e. "listicles"). They're easy to read. They prioritize. And they're fun. But these two listicles are pretty lousy. One intentionally so. The other, not so much.
After becoming the poster child for free game updates, Valve has begun charging for items at an average of $2 per goodie.
An increasing number of classics are getting widescreen graphical upgrades while retaining the original level design and gameplay. Are you game?
Here's one way to make a buck selling PC games.
King's Quest is largely considered the pinnacle of golden era adventure games, and one of the most influential PC games of all-time. I wouldn't know it, however; I was too busy playing the immersive, adventurous, and totally-awesome Black Cauldron.
The PC isn't known for hack-n-slash action games. In fact, said games rarely make it to the system, let alone good ones. Which makes the release of Darksiders on PC this week all the more welcome.
With the release of Civilization 5 today, just two months after the release of Starcraft 2, it's been quite the year for strategy gamers.
Although mouse and keyboard enthusiasts like yourself have been downloading games for years, overall PC game downloads-including casual and wide-appeal titles like The Sims-have finally surpassed boxed game sales, says a new report by market researcher NPD Group.
How about a little breathing exercise after some high-octane Left 4 Dead?
INTERVIEW: We ask GOG.com five questions, including its founding in a post-Steam world, if classic games are better than modern ones, and which classics best the rest in terms of popularity.
Excluding "essential" applications like the game you're playing and distros like Steamworks, PC Gamer has listed 10 applications that "keep things running just a little better than they otherwise might." They are as follows:
Contrary to a growing trend in gaming, Call of Duty: Black Ops will not charge extra for the privilege of online multiplayer, helping to keep PC games safe (for now).
Better yet, they're free!
This year has been pretty exciting for classic PC gamers. In April, 2K Games revealed a first-person shooter remake of Xcom. Over the weekend, Gearbox Software showed a playable demo of Duke Nukem Forever, after acquiring the rights from the defunct 3D Realms.
Although not quite ready for video game playback (too laggy at the moment), Intel Wireless Display shows promise as a potential gaming technology.
After several years of estrangement, Microsoft is increasingly courting PC gaming again. And new comments published this week suggest a lot more loving is on the way.
New gameplay trailers shown last week reveal just how awesome this game could be.
Thanks to unlimited lives, regenerative health, frequent checkpoints and glaringly obvious puzzles, video games are easier today than ever before. It's a fact.
The rules: They have to release in either September, October, or November. They can't be named "World of Warcraft." And they have to look awesome.
It was a good week for PC games, thanks to announcements of several new games. But in unveiling Age of Empires Online and Flight, Microsoft seems to be making good on its promise to "return to PC gaming."
Every so often, some video game rag poses the same, tired question: "Is PC gaming dead?" In fact, this attention-grabbing discussion has been regurgitated and shared numerous times since the '90s by "who knows how many" people. Thanks to a pair of repeats, this month is no different.
Hi, I'm a "PC." And I'm a "TV." And we're getting married!
Selling nearly 750k copies last month, StarCraft II was the best selling game last month of any system—by far. And if that wasn't enough for Blizzard's golden coffers, several World of Warcraft editions continued to pepper the top 20 retail list, released today by NPD. (EA had a good month too, thanks to strong sales of Sims, Bad Company 2, and Dragon Age).
The biggest video game released in the last year was undoubtedly Modern Warfare 2. Unfortunately for PC gamers, they were sold an inferior version for the same price, thanks to erratic multiplayer and neutered options. Why is that? How did the PC go from being the historical target platform to an afterthought? And what does the future hold for ported PC games?
Next to rechargeable health, vibrating gamepads may be one of the finer innovations of recent video games. But controllers that heat or cool depending on the situation!? That’s just silly.
Think you can guess the most played genres in PC games over the last year? The results may surprise you, as given to Alienware Arena by NPD, the official tracker of U.S. video game sales.
Were you excited to play Fable III or Crysis 2 on PC this year? Too bad. You’re gonna have to wait until at least next year, both Microsoft and Electronic Arts announced this week, lending further credibility to the belief that PC still plays second fiddle to consoles when it comes to shipping games on time.
There are only so many ways to buy video games: in-store, mail-order, or via download. So tell us, readers: In light of recent news, how do you buy your PC games?
Face it, fellow PC gamers. Our world has changed. Although epic fantasy, shooter, and racing games still play a large role, the following mean more to the mouse and keyboard today than Doom and Ultima ever did.
The highly anticipated (and by "highly," I mean longer than a decade) StarCraft II arrives on PC tomorrow. It will undoubtedly become the best-selling game of the year, and could overtake World of Warcraft as the most-played game. To make sure no rock goes unturned, here’s a list of StarCraft 2 stories you might want to catch up on before playing.
Although not as fast as in music, digital downloads are slowly overtaking in-store sales of PC games. A new report released this week by market researcher NPD revealed that digital downloads represented 48 percent of all PC game sales last year, compared with 52 percent in-store.
You know what, I missed one. In addition to obvious gaming advantages, the PC as is extra useful because it lets players research and play their games on a single system. No other platform can say that, because let’s face it: when you read and talk video games, you do it on computers.
I asked several E3 attendees last month what kind of PC gaming system they'd like to see in the near future. Surprisingly, many expressed interest in TV-ready rigs. You know, a sleek, easy to use box like this (only more powerful) that plays just as nice with your HDTV as it does your monitor.
The world's most popular gaming platform just got more popular. Market researcher IDC this week said worldwide shipments of personal computers jumped 22 percent in the second quarter, thanks to 82 million new units sold.
After a long week, I didn't feel like doing anything last Friday — much less play a thought-provoking video game. It wasn't always that way. While in school, I would fire up any cartridge, disc, or executable you put in front of me. At least to try it. Didn’t matter my mood, the day, the season, or the genre. To me, video games were the superior input source for all glowing objects.
don't really know what all this technical mumbo jumbo really means (Note: I quit speaking fluent geek after learning that my computer science future was futile.) But I know it looks awesome, and it’s coming to a PC game near you via DirectX 11.
This week, the following discussion was posted on a popular gaming forum: Video games with acclaimed stories that actually have TERRIBLE stories. We laugh because it is funny. We laugh because it is true.
Maybe this guy was right. With exception to only a handful of non-applicable categories (i.e. "handhelds"), the PC was home to more E3 gaming awards this year han any other system, including "best console game." (Go, figure!)
You know what would make PC gaming better? Ease of use with the living room. At least that’s what Activision CEO Bobby Kotick told the Financial Times this week.
Isn't it nice to read the news and find the top 10 movies or songs of the week? Makes you feel in touch with your surroundings, no? Well, wouldn’t it be nice to find a "most popular" video games list, alongside the most popular movies and music? That’s what Entertainment Software Association president Michael Gallagher is hoping for.
You probably didn’t download Osmos when it was released last August. And why would you? It comes from a no-name indie developer, and it’s a puzzle game. And who the freak likes artsy fartsy puzzle games made by pretentious indie developers?
Let’s be honest. Regardless of your favorite gaming platform, everyone’s a winner during the Electronic Entertainment Expo. A million new games. Fresh ways to play. And more than enough content to tide everyone over for the next year. But according to one gaming authority, no one was more blessed by E3 2010 than PC players.
Over the last decade (aka since launching the Xbox), even Microsoft’s media relations department knows the company hasn’t done the best job in supporting PC gaming.
Just when you thought E3 might not be the best showcase for PC games, this year's show proved quite the opposite. As my witness, here are 20 plus upcoming games that not only caught my attention, but my imagination.
First announced last year, California start-up OnLive promised to stream high-definition video games to any computer or TV this month, regardless of the processing power (or lack thereof). As promised, the company opened its server-based gaming doors today on a “first come, first serve†basis. So is seeing believing?
When the PC Gaming Alliance launched two years, there was no single authority promoting the PC as a viable gaming platform, which is why the alliance was created in the first place. So what’s the coalition been up to?
If you're reading this and play PC games, you probably recognize most of the big games being shown at E3 this week: Crysis 2, Fallout: New Vegas, Deadspace 2, Homefront, Mafia II, Xcom, Medal of Honor, Call of Duty: Black Ops. The list goes on.
When E3 kicks off next week, every major video game platform will have a big, sensory press conference, telling the world why it should play their hardware in the coming year. Everyone except PC, that is.
Video games have played a large part in my relatively short life. As I've said before, "If it's fun, I'll play it -- no matter the platform." But there are pros and cons to every system. And when it comes to playing video games, PCs are great for the following reasons, especially when compared to consoles.
Confession: I become a soccer junkie every four years. No, I don't have a weird leap year fetish for the sport. I simply hitch my ride to the every four years World Cup, which starts anew this Friday in South Africa.
Mega gaming site IGN this week published a preview of some of the biggest PC games expected at E3 this month. So what's on tap when the expo opens its doors on June 15?
This fall, the U.S. Supreme Court will once again hear the latest case (California's Schwarzenegger v. EMA) challenging the protected free speech status of video games. Like movies, music, books and other media, video games are currently protected under the First Amendment. But that could all change, says the Entertainment Consumers Association, given the interactive nature of the medium. Unless, of course, consumers help the industry protect the medium.
Despite being the most widely-played video game system in the world—by a long shot—the PC often lacks the spotlight enjoyed by popular consoles. Why is that? "A couple of reasons," says game consultant Adrian Crook.
Looking for something new to play on your PC this summer? Unlike most June through August gaming calendars, 2010 is brimming with high-profile awesomeness, including StarCraft II, Alpha Protocol, and Need for Speed World to name a few. Don't get a life just yet.
With an incredible 11.5 million gamers paying $14/month, World of Warcraft is both the most widely played and most profitable video game in the world. But growth has been stagnant since 2008, something Blizzard Entertainment hopes to change later this year, with the release of the Cataclysm expansion pack.
Summer is right around the corner, and as I previewed last month, it's a helluva good time to play PC racing games.
Stuck on a game and don't want to exit out to the internet for help? For Steam users, you no longer have to, depending on the game, as Valve today launched the first batch of Prima guides for the platform.
Throughout history, gamers have always liked to shoot things. In the olden days we had shoot 'em ups. Nowadays we have first-person shooters. Although I missed Space Invaders upon its release in 1978, I clearly remember playing the game that transitioned shooters to the first-person perspective. It was the summer of 1992. My buddy Mark had recently acquired a new PC, and he had this 3.5" floppy disc with a game called Wolfenstein 3D.
With upwards of 300 million players -- the most popular platform by far -- PC gaming is bigger than ever. But the system has its share of challenges, something Games Radar recently described as "powerful but flawed" in an editorial examining How to fix what's wrong with PC gaming.
In addition to Medal of Honor and Call of Duty: Black Ops, Crysis 2 is one of the most anticipated military shooters for PC the year. And even if you haven't played Crysis 1, this self-described "reboot" is a "clean starting point for you to jump in," says executive producer Nathan Camarillo. That said, here are some important things to note about the sequel.
Not to be confused with Assassin's Creed III, the newly renamed Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is more a "continuation" of the second game than a proper sequel. But it's coming to PC later this year, and it's adding a new multiplayer mode, Ubisoft announced today.
If publishers could ever contain piracy, PC game sales would go through the roof, right? That's not what one aspiring developer thinks. No, piracy isn't the problem, says indie game maker David Rosen. Poor use of PC technology is.
Call me old-fashioned, but I still like owning things you can hold. You know, something like a PC game pressed to disc. Unlike my digital music collection, it's really nice to know your other stuff won't disappear when the electricity goes out. That alone keeps me in the "this guy still likes to buy tangible goods" category.
Activision dropped bombs this weekend. Two in fact. Specifically, the company will release the highly anticipated StarCraft II worldwide on July 27 (exclusively for PC), followed by Call of Duty: Black Ops-the follow-up to Modern Warfare 2-on November 9.
Logan Decker really likes PC gaming. Admittedly, as editor-in-chief of PC Gamer, he gets paid to like PC games. But when talking to him about what makes the platform special, he exudes both enthusiasm and fairness.
Whoever said the PC doesn't have any action games is a turd. Undoubtedly the platform is a haven for role playing, massive multiplayer, and strategy games. But the PC is no slouch when it comes to action games either. In fact, it's home to many of the same high-octane blockbusters consoles are known for.
Winning feels good. Great, in fact. And like anything else in life, winning in video games is no different, especially the online multiplayer kind. The other night while playing online, I was enjoying an unusual winning streak. Unusual because I'm normally not that good at playing games. (There, I said it.) It was around 2 am. The wife and little ones were asleep. And I was... what are the kids saying this days?... oh right, pwning the competition.
Spring has been kind to PC gamers so far this year. There's been Bad Company 2, Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City, and "better than the original" Just Cause 2. And let's not forget about Mass Effect 2 and Bioshock 2 released earlier in the year. But if you're still looking for something new, a lot of fresh games are just around the corner.
Whether you've since moved on or are still playing, Valve this week gave Left 4 Dead 2 owners new reason to take pause. Beginning this Thursday, players can download the newly announced Passing expansion pack, which adds a new single-player, new multiplayer, and new co-op campaigns. And unlike the poor saps getting nickled and dimed on Xbox, this add-on is free for PC owners of the game.
Last week, 2K Games confirmed longstanding rumors that they have acquired the XCOM license and are making a new game for PC and Xbox 360. Here's the important stuff to note from the announcement.
Well that didn't take long. One month after being fired by Activision, suing for wrongful termination, and then being counter-sued, former Infinity Ward executives Jason West and Vince Zampella have partnered with once-rival Electronic Arts to form the glaringly obvious Respawn Entertainment.
Just in time for The Masters, Electronic Arts announced the launch of Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online. And it's free to play on your web browser, so long as you don't mind replaying the same public courses and wearing the same crusty old gear.
Are your ready to soil your pants? Get ready. Just a year after releasing the first sequel to the seminal horror shooter, Warner Bros. announced F.E.A.R. 3 for release on PC, Xbox 360, and PS3. And it's coming "this fall."
Greetings "personal computer" users. All billion of you. Okay, so a billion is a little misleading. But there are an estimated 150 million of you already playing games on a PC - by far the most prevalent gaming platform. Which is why Alienware Arena is excited to launch our new Hot Stories section of the website, to help foster thought-provoking conversations about PC gaming news that matters, trends that change the way we play, and games that inspire.
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