Developer(s): Traveller's Tales
Publisher(s): Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Distributor(s): Time Warner
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, Wii, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360
Release date(s): NA June 29, 2010
EU June 25, 2010
AUS June 30, 2010
PlayStation Portable
NA June 29, 2010
EU August 05, 2010
AUS June 30, 2010
Genre(s): Action-adventure
Mode(s): Single-player, Multiplayer
Rating(s): ESRB: E10+
OFLC: G-PG
PEGI: 7+
Media: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Wii Optical Disc, Nintendo DS Game Card, UMD
Input methods: Keyboard, Gamepad, Wii Remote
Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4 is a video game in the Lego video game franchise, developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Warner Bros. Released in June 2010, the game is based on the Lego Harry Potter line and its storyline covers the first four books and films of the Harry Potter series: Philosopher's Stone (Sorcerer's Stone in the U.S.); Chamber of Secrets; Prisoner of Azkaban; and Goblet of Fire.
Gameplay
Lego Harry Potter's gameplay is similar to that of most previous Lego games, with an emphasis on collecting and exploring. Casting spells is an integral part of the gameplay, with a wide range of spells available for unlocking as the player progresses. As there are many spells available in the game, you use the spell wheel to select your spell. Potion-making is another integral feature; potions can help the player complete levels or, if created incorrectly, have adverse side effects such as turning the player into a frog.
Changes to the mechanics of previous games include 'Student in Peril' missions, which are a group of challenges to help a student, and Polyjuice Potion, which allows players to temporarily change one of your characters into any other mini-figure unlocked. A major change is to the hub system. The Leaky Cauldron works as a central hub for purchasing unlockable extras and returning to previous levels, while Hogwarts acts as a constantly evolving massive hub with the unlockable characters found by picking up their hidden portraits.
The bigger areas in Hogwarts have led developer Traveller's Tales to improve the overall level design. Also included is another bonus level that allows players to customise the level similar to Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues. If you are lost in-game you can follow a trail of Ghost Studs to the next level. These do not count towards your stud total, but will guide you to the next section of the level. However one of the collectable 'red bricks', found in the courtyard next to herbology, gets the player an 'extra' that makes the ghost studs worth 1,000 each.
Multiplayer Mode
The game employs the two player split-screen technique intro. for Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues, but there is no online support for all consoles.
Changes for the Nintendo DS version
In the Nintendo DS version, several changes were implemented from the versions of the other formats. These include that there is only one hub, the Room of Requirement, but the explorable Hogwarts of the other versions has been removed and both boss battles and spellcasting have been simplified.
PC version
Despite listing the mouse as a recommended/required input method, there is no mouse support in the PC version.
System Requirements for Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4:
Operating System : Microsoft Windows XP/ Windows Vista/ Windows 7
Processor : Intel Pentium IV at 1.8 GHz / AMD Athlon XP 2200+
Video Card : 128 MB VRAM – NVIDIA GeForce FX 5800 / ATI Radeon HD 1300 Pro
Memory : 256 MB RAM (XP) / 512 MB RAM (Vista / Win 7)
Hard Disk : 4.5 GB of free Hard Drive space
Sound : DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
Direct X : 9.0c
Controls : Keyboard & Mouse
Installation : DVD-ROM Drive
Developer(s): Avalanche Software
Players can play as Emperor Zurg exclusively in the PS3 version of the game.
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP / Windows Vista / Windows 7
Processor: Intel Pentium IV at 2.4 GHz / AMD 3000+
Video Card: 128 MB VRAM – DirectX 9.0c compatible with Shader Model 2.0 support (NVIDIA GeForce FX 5600 / ATI Radeon 9600 video card)
Memory: 1 GB RAM
Hard Disk: 6 GB of free Hard Drive space
Sound: 16-bit DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card
Direct X: 9.0c
Controls: Keyboard & Mouse
Installation: DVD-ROM Drive
Developer(s): EA Canada
Publisher(s): EA Sports
Series: FIFA World Cup
Platform(s): PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation Portable, iPhone OS
Release date(s): NA 27 April 2010
INT 30 April 2010
AUS 29 April 2010
Genre(s): Sports
Mode(s): Single-player, Multiplayer
Rating(s): Apple: 4+
ESRB: E
OFLC: G
PEGI: 3+
Media: Blu-ray Disc, DVD, Wii Optical Disc, UMD
2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa is the official video game for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, published by EA Sports.
A playable demo was released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on 8 April 2010. It includes Italy and Spain as the playable teams, and features the new two-button control method intended to make the game accessible to players who are new to the FIFA series, and the ability to upload video replays to EA Football World.
Players choose a team from the 199 nations available and compete against the computer or against other players through online gaming services PlayStation Network or Xbox Live. All 10 official World Cup stadiums are available for play.
EA has announced that there will be gameplay improvements over FIFA 10, such as a higher rate of player fatigue for matches at higher altitudes, with an advantage to a home team who plays at a higher altitude against an away team who does not. EA have also announced that players can get injured outside of international matches.
Last words:
With an authentic World Cup experience layered over a great gameplay foundation, 2010 FIFA World Cup is well worth checking out if you're a fan of the competition. That said, it doesn't try to reinvent the wheel; most of the game modes are adapted from existing ones, while very minor changes to gameplay mean it plays a very similar game to FIFA 10. This lack of innovation results in a game that isn't essential, especially if you own FIFA 10, but if you must have an accompaniment to the World Cup, then you'll have a lot of fun with the official game.
Developer(s): Kojima Productions
Publisher(s): Konami
Designer(s): Hideo Kojima (producer, director)
Artist(s): Yoji Shinkawa
Writer(s): Hideo Kojima
Composer(s): See Music
Series Metal Gear
Platform(s): PlayStation Portable
Release date(s): JP April 28, 2010June 8,2010
EU June 17, 2010
Genre(s): Stealth, action-adventure
Mode(s): Single-player,
multiplayer (cooperative)
Rating(s): BBFC: 15
CERO: C
ESRB: T
OFLC: MA15+
PEGI: 16
Media: UMD, Download
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker is a video game produced by Konami and Kojima Productions that was released for the PlayStation Portable in 2010. Peace Walker is the fifth Metal Gear title for the PSP, although it is only the second to be considered canonical. It is also the first game in the series for a portable platform to be directed by series' creator Hideo Kojima. The story takes place after the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, both prequels to the original Metal Gear, and features Naked Snake as the protagonist once again. Peace Walker's original title was Metal Gear Solid 5 : Peace Walker. The development team that worked on Peace Walker is as large as the team that worked on Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots.
A mysterious military force equipped with the latest weapons has established a presence in Costa Rica in late 1974. The Costa Rican government cannot do anything about them because the country's constitution does not allow an army. The nation has secretly tapped Naked Snake and his Militaires Sans Frontières (Soldiers without Borders; Outer Heaven's predecessor) mercenary group to turn back the threat, which could endanger the balance of power between the East and West.
Gameplay
Some changes are made to the standard Metal Gear Solid formula. Movement is done on the analog stick; actions such as co-op actions use the directional-pad; melee actions, which include multiple throws into crowds of enemies, use the R button; and weapons use the L button with the R button. Players will be unable to move while lying down and while pinned on a wall. There is also an option to switch to the style of gameplay used in Portable Ops.
The game will feature a heavy emphasis on co-operative gameplay, with two players in main missions and up to four players in boss missions. Players can choose one of various different loadouts including one's camouflage.
* Naked Snake - Moves fast and carries more items at the cost of stealth, defense.
* Jungle Fatigues Snake - A balance of stealth, defense, weapons and inventory.
* Stealth Suit Snake - Allows one to make no noise when running opposed to the usual racket.
* Battle Dress Snake - Allows one to carry an additional firearm and take significantly less damage, but at the cost of less items slow movement speed, and low camouflage.
Versions and releases
Japan is scheduled to have two Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Bundle versions, one consists of the game with a camouflaged PSP-3000, leather pouch, leather wrist strap, cloth, dog tags, numbered collectable stands and a booklet for ¥36,980 or US$404 with 1,974 copies only being made when the game is released on March 18, 2010, from the Konami Style Store.The other one have the camouflaged PSP-3000, a green limited pouch, a strap, a camouflaged limited cleaning cloth and the UMD game for ¥26,980 or US$295.
Awards:
Peace Walker received the Best of Show and Best PSP Game awards during the 2009 Tokyo Game Show.
Last Words:
With stellar presentation, great looks and sound, and deep, diverse gameplay, Peace Walker is an essential experience that raises the bar for portable games. It combines the ambition and gloss of a full-sized console title with plenty of novelties and conveniences to make it a superb portable experience.
Developer(s): Yuke's
Publisher(s) : THQ
Platform(s):PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Portable
Release date(s): NA May 25, 2010 EU May 28, 2010 AUS May 27, 2010
PSP Q3 2010
Genre(s): Sports, mixed martial arts Mode(s) Single-player, multiplayer, online multiplayer
Rating(s) BBFC: 15 ESRB: T OFLC: MA15+ PEGI: 16+
Media: Blu-ray Disc, DVD, Universal Media Disc
Input methods: Gamepad
This is a sports simulation of a mixed martial arts competition. Players engage in "Ultimate Fighting" matches and attempt to knock out opponents or force them to submit. Players can use martial arts, wrestling, boxing, and grappling moves to cause opponents to lose consciousness or "tap out" from painful techniques (e.g., choke holds, arm pins, leg bends).
Gameplay Changes
In an interview with ESPN, producer Neven Dravinski said that they made so many serious upgrades to the game that he cannot play UFC 2009 Undisputed because the gameplay is so poor compared to UFC Undisputed 2010.
UFC Undisputed 2010 will also include multiple changes from the previous version, including:
* Improved controls, including a redesign of clinch and ground grappling, as well as an improved career mode, starting in the World Fighting Alliance.
* Changes to gameplay including usage of cage walls, TKO (cut and injury) finishes and the introduction of Karate, Greco-Roman wrestling and Sambo fighting styles.
* Added MMA brands for clothing as well as the introduction of post-fight attire.
* New arenas including GM Place, Centre Bell and The O2
Playstation Exclusives
Royce Gracie, Jens Pulver and Dan Severn are exclusive PS3 fighters. Along with the three exclusive fighters will be five exclusive ultimate fights with each of those being added to a special blu-ray disc. The 5 ultimate fights are:
Ultimate 2009 Category UFN 18 – Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampmann
Ultimate Knockouts Category UFC 102 – Nate Marquardt vs. Demian Maia
Ultimate Classics Category UFC 60 – Matt Hughes vs. Royce Gracie and UFC 66 – Keith Jardine vs. Forrest Griffin
Ultimate Submissions Category UFC 68 – Martin Kampmann vs. Drew McF
Legend:
* HW Fighter can switch to Heavyweight
* LH Fighter can switch to Light Heavyweight
* MW Fighter can switch to Middleweight
* WW Fighter can switch to Welterweight
* LW Fighter can switch to Lightweight
* DLC Downloadable Content
* PS Fighter is exclusive to the Playstation 3 edition of the game
edries
Developer(s): EA Canada (Xbox 360, PS3), HB Studios (PC, PSP, PS2), Sumo Digital (Nintendo Wii) and Exient Entertainment (Nintendo DS)
Publisher(s): EA Sports
Designer(s): David Rutter (PS3 and Xbox 360)
Kaz Makita (Wii)
Paul Hossack (PS2, PSP, DS, PC, iPhone OS)
Series: FIFA
Aspect ratio: 720p
Version: PASK
Platform(s): PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Nintendo DS, PSP, iPhone OS, Java ME
Release date(s): AUS 1 October 2009
EU 2 October 2009
NA 20 October 2009
iPhone OS
INT 2 October 2009
Genre(s): Sports
Mode(s): Single-player, Multiplayer
Rating(s): ESRB: Everyone (E)
OFLC: G
PEGI: 3+
Media: Optical disc, all systems except iPhone, mobile phone (download) and Nintendo DS (Game Card)
Input methods: Gamepads, Keyboard, Mouse (menu only), Multitouch (NDS)
EA has released the official system requirements for the PC version of FIFA 10. The football game is scheduled to hit the markets on October 2 (Europe) respectively October 20 (North America) and will be published for several platforms including PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.
The demo of FIFA 10 appeared on Xbox 360, PlayStation3, and PC on 10 September in Europe, on 11 September in Australia, and on 17 September in North America. The playable teams were Chelsea, Barcelona, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Marseille and Chicago Fire. The stadia used in the demo were Wembley Stadium (Xbox 360 version), and FIWC Stadium (PlayStation 3 version). The demo offered friendly matches with half lengths of three real-time minutes. As well as playing a friendly match, the demo allows users to upload created in-game videos and screen-shots to EA Football World. The tagline for the game is "How big can football get?", and "Let's FIFA 10".
FIFA 10 is the second version of the game to sponsor a football club. Along with football magazine FourFourTwo, FIFA 10 is the co-sponsor of English League One club Swindon Town. The FIFA 10 logo appears on the front of the team's away shirt and on the back of the home shirt.[8][9] It is the first FIFA game to do so since FIFA 07, which sponsored Accrington Stanley for the 2007–08 season.
Manager Mode enables the player to take charge of any club in any of FIFA 10's featured leagues.
The Manager Mode has been revamped for FIFA 10, with many previous issues and criticisms addressed. EA has claimed that over 50 key improvements have been made to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions.
Changes to gameplay
The "Total Football Experience" is a new feature in which football news from around the Manager Mode world is visible, including player transfers, fixtures and results in foreign leagues. A new "Assistant Manager" can be used to take care of the team's line-up and to rotate the squad based on importance of the upcoming match. For example, if the next match is against a low rated team, he will make sure that players normally on the bench will start the match. Pre-season friendlies have been introduced to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game, as a chance to flatten out any wrinkles in a team's lineup before the domestic season begins.
Results for simulated matches are more heavily based on team strength and do not appear to be as "random" as has been the case in the past. This results in more realistic performances and eliminates instances where stronger clubs would be fighting relegation and clubs with weaker players were winning the league. Non-player clubs also now rotate players more often based on factors such as fatigue, player form, and the relative importance of a match, so the lineup for a top team in the early rounds of a domestic cup may consist of less-able and younger players as opposed to a full-strength squad. The names of the "generic" stadiums can be changed in Manager Mode to reflect the name of the player's club's home ground.
Finances
All financial matters are based less on a team sponsor and more on the club's board of directors, who provide two overall budgets: The wage budget, a yearly amount for paying players, and the club budget, for buying and selling players as well as making other improvements to the club. There is a "Board Difficulty" setting, which determines the financial generosity of the board.
The transfer system has been made more authentic, as money is no longer the monopolizing factor in acquiring a player. The acceptance of an offer will be based on factors such as the number of players in your squad in the same position, and the promise of higher-level competition outside the domestic league, such as the Europa League or Champions League. Furthermore, obtaining a player will be more realistically prolonged as other clubs may also attempt to sign the same player. Bids can be submitted for several different players simultaneously, and if the clubs accept, the manager has the choice of which, if any, of the players to ultimately sign.
Players
The "Player Experience and Growth System" has changed. The manual experience growth from FIFA 08 and FIFA 09 has been abolished; player growth will now be determined by in-game performance, demands placed on the player, and achievements based on the player's particular position. There are three categories for gaining experience: "mental", "physical", and "skill". Younger players with higher potential will gain experience much faster, and each player will have an individual growth point, which in turn promises more authentic player growth patterns.
A "Live Season" feature has been implemented within Manager Mode, whereby a player's "form" rises and falls based on performance (within Manager Mode itself rather than real-world events). He will receive a temporarily higher or lower rating along with temporarily higher or lower stats, to reflect this.
Fictional players that are added to Manager Mode by the game itself now have regionalised names, so for example a player from Brazil will not have an English-sounding name.
Virtual Pro
"Virtual Pro" allows the player to create a footballer and take him through the four Be a Pro seasons, include him in the Manager Mode career, use him in Kick off, Tournament, and Lounge mode, as well as using him in the Arena. Game Face has also been added to FIFA 10 as in other EA Sports games, where gamers can create their Game Face on the web at easports.com or easportsfootball.co.uk, then download them into the game. Once a Game Face character is created, he can then be applied to the player in game. Faces can be changed on the web any time. The game face is used as the player's avatar in online play. Players can also grow their players attributes and player traits, celebrations, and kit can be unlocked to make the player realistic and unique. A created player can also be taken online to play with friends in the Fifa Clubs mode.
Fifa in PSP
Stadia
The list of stadia and weather conditions for each one were announced on 27 August 2009. The game features 50 stadiums, including most of the larger stadiums from Europe's most prominent leagues, such as the Allianz Arena, Camp Nou, Emirates Stadium, Anfield, Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and San Siro, and as well as a range of generic stadia and practice arenas. Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu was made available as a free download on launch day. The weather conditions possible in each stadium range from day and night versions of clear to cloudy, rain, or snow.
The stadium names of the generic stadiums can however be changed in a special section of the main menu to reflect the name of the users club's homeground if the user chooses to do so. The capacity of each ground is also listed so that a capacity similar to a club's actual stadium capacity can be chosen to make game experience more authentic.
Ultimate Team
On 1 December 2009, EA Sports announced that the Ultimate Team game mode expansion that was introduced in FIFA 09 would be released in February 2010 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game. Like the previous version, the mode allows for the creation of a custom team based on the collection of various types of cards. The expansion was released on 25 February 2010.[citation needed], and featured new PlayStation Network Trophies and Xbox Live Achievements for FIFA 10. It costs 400 MS Points/$4.99/€4.99/£3.99.
The mode is an update to the Ultimate Team mode from FIFA 09. Users who owned the original Ultimate Team were given two free Gold packs after creating their team, along with a date below the teams name to show the year the team was founded. Like the original, each team is given a full team of players to begin with, along with a stadium, emblem and a home and away kit. New players, staff and items can be purchased from the 6 different pack types available, split into three categories(Gold, Silver and Bronze), or by trading with other users by bidding on cards they are opting to sell, offering them deals or buying them for a specific price. The in-game currency is coins, which are awarded for playing games, playing in tournaments or trading with other users. Bonus coins are awarded for completing different requirements, such as winning a game, being awarded Man of the Match and for possession and passing accuracy. The card packs for Ultimate Team still have basic Bronze Packs (500 coins), Silver Packs (2500 coins) and Gold Packs (5000 Coins), but now also have a bonus pack in each category, called Premium Packs, costing slightly more coins (Bronze cost 750, Silver cost 3250 and Gold cost 7500) but giving 3 rare cards, instead of the 1 given in basic packs.
Like the old Ultimate Team, to keep your players on your squad you must give them contracts. However, unlike last year, players who run out of contracts are rendered unplayable until a contract is applied to them, rather that being removed from your team altogether. Contracts can be found in packs or bought in the trading section. Unlike the old Ultimate Team, players can now store an unlimited amount of players, stadiums, staff members, kits and emblems, to use whenever they need to. The Trading section has also been improved, allowing improved searching and a watch list, to keep track of certain items.
Covers
Each regional version of FIFA 10 features different players on the cover. The United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland covers feature Theo Walcott, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney;[ the Australian cover features Wayne Rooney and Tim Cahill, the New Zealand cover features Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard, the German cover features Bastian Schweinsteiger and Wayne Rooney; the Italian cover features Ronaldinho and Giorgio Chiellini; the French cover features Steve Mandanda, Karim Benzema, and Guillaume Hoarau; the Spanish cover features Karim Benzema and Xavi;[20] the Polish version features Wayne Rooney and Robert Lewandowski; the Portuguese version features Frank Lampard and Simão; the Russian version features Sergei Semak; the Hungarian version features Wayne Rooney and Balázs Dzsudzsák; and the North American version features Frank Lampard, Cuauhtémoc Blanco and Sacha Kljestan.
Leagues
There are 31 leagues and over 500 teams in the game, as well as 41 national teams. New to FIFA 10 is the Russian Premier League, which is not featured in the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions.[24] Unlike previous versions of FIFA, the Netherlands is included as a fully licensed national team.[25] Due to promotion/relegation and other league expansions, there are 46 teams that were not included in FIFA 09, including 25 that have never appeared in a FIFA game before.[26] The leagues in FIFA 10 are:[27]
* Australia Australia
o A-League
* Austria Austria
o Austrian Bundesliga
* Belgium Belgium
o Belgian First Division
* Brazil Brazil
o Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
* Czech Republic Czech Republic
o 1. Liga
* Denmark Denmark
o Danish Superliga
* England England
o Premier League
o Football League Championship
o Football League One
o Football League Two
* France France
o Ligue 1
o Ligue 2
* Germany Germany
o 1. Bundesliga
o 2. Bundesliga
* Republic of Ireland Rep. of Ireland
o League of Ireland Premier Division
* Italy Italy
o Serie A
o Serie B
* South Korea Korea
o K-League
* Mexico Mexico
o Primera División de México
* Netherlands Netherlands
o Eredivisie
* Norway Norway
o Tippeligaen
* Poland Poland
o Ekstraklasa
* Portugal Portugal
o Portuguese Liga
* Russia Russia
o Russian Premier League[24]
* Scotland Scotland
o Scottish Premier League
* Spain Spain
o Liga BBVA
o Liga Adelante
* Sweden Sweden
o Allsvenskan
* Switzerland Switzerland
o Swiss Super League
* Turkey Turkey
o Süper Lig
* United States United States
o Major League Soccer
Minimal system requirements:
• CPU: 2.4 GHz single-core
• RAM: 512 MiByte (XP) or 1 GiByte (Vista)
• Graphics card: Geforce 6600 or better, Ati Radeon 9800 Pro or better, Support for Shader Model 2.0 or better, DirectX 9.0c
• VRAM: 128 MiByte
• Sound: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound device
• Input: Keyboard or Dual Analog Gamepad
• HDD: 4.4 GB or more, free disc space
• Internet: Broadband Internet connection required for Installation and online gaming
Recommended system requirements
• CPU: 3.2 GHz single-core or 2.4 GHz dual-core
• RAM: 1 GiByte (XP) or 2 GiByte (Vista)
• Graphics card: Geforce 7800 or better, Ati Radeon X1800 or better, Support for Shader Model 2.0 or better, DirectX 9.0c
• VRAM: 256 MiByte
• Sound: DirectX 9.0c compatible sound device
• Input: Keyboard or Dual Analog Gamepad
• HDD: 4.4 GB or more, free disc space
• Internet: Broadband Internet connection required for Installation and online gaming
REVIEW ROUND-UP
Graphics: 4/5 – You wont see a football game look any better.
Sound: 2/5 – Soundtrack is surprisingly bland and boring, commentary is as rubbish as always.
Gameplay: 5/5 – Tons to do plus a improved controls makes the game utterly enjoyable, in fact far more enjoyable than any previous “Fifa”.
Longevity: 4/5 – Tons of modes and things to do, however not 5 out of 5
Overall: 4/5 – I give the game 4 Ronaldo shin kicks out of 5. More of the same greatness that was delivered in “Fifa 2009” with some vastly improved controls, however some big flaws knock the game a little bit.
Developer(s): Electronic Arts Canada, HB Studios (PSP version)
Publisher(s): Electronic Arts Platform(s): PC, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360 Release date(s): October 6, 2009 Genre(s): Sports (Basketball)
Mode(s): Single-player, Multiplayer Rating(s): ESRB: E
Media: DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD
Input methods: Gamepad, Keyboard
NBA Live 10 is the 2009 installment in the NBA Live series, developed and published by Electronic Arts. Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic was selected to grace the cover of this year's edition of NBA Live. It was released on October 6, 2009.
A number of new features were added to NBA Live 10. Audiences were given a bigger role to create more lifelike atmospheres. In addition, each team was given its individual playing style, with faster running animations that take into account the size of each player. Passing and shooting were also improved by adding new controls and features. A new training facility called "The Hangar" was included as well. There were many improvements to the details of the players including their tattoos, hair, shoes, uniforms, signature shots, and moves. Also, "Dynamic DNA," introduced in NBA Live 09, was improved. NBA Live 10 also contained 24 authentic, fully-licensed FIBA teams.
The first screenshot of NBA Live 10, featuring LeBron James
Electronic Arts announced on September 11, 2009 that a playable demo of NBA Live 10 was available for download on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for all Xbox LIVE Gold subscribers. In the beginning of the demo, the player will see several NBA stars that can be playable only in "The Hangar," with the exception of Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant. As they are playing, LeBron James enters while the other players give him a warm welcome, especially Dwight Howard, with a friendly hug. The playable players in The Hangar are Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Brandon Roy. In the game menus, you can either play a quick game, view credits, or leave the demo. When playing the quick game, the player's choices are limited. The user can either play as the Orlando Magic (away team) or the Los Angeles Lakers (home team). The atmosphere is set to "NBA Finals" and cannot be changed, to show the new feature of crowd atmosphere. The difficulty can be changed, but the game is restricted to four-minute quarters, and the user cannot play past the first half. All the in-game features are available, and to show another feature, demo features a throwback jersey available for both teams. For the Magic, an away jersey worn from 1994–95, and for the Lakers, a home jersey worn from 1961–62. The demo was made available to Xbox LIVE Silver members and on the PlayStation Network on September 17.
Minimum System Requirements:
CPU: Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz Single Core processor or equivalent (2.8 Ghz for Vista)
RAM: 512 MB or more (1 GB for Vista)
VGA: Video card with 128 MB or more memory and one of the following chipsets is required:
ATI x1300 or greater;
NVIDIA 6600 or greater;
DirectX 9.0c compatible card with Shader Model 3.0 support.
DX: DirectX 9.0c
OS: Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000
Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP (SP 2)
Microsoft Vista(TM)
HDD: 10.5 GB or more free space
Sound: DirectX 9.0c compatible
Disc drive: 8x or faster DVD drive
Network: Game requires Internet connection for activation
Recommended System Requirements:
CPU: 3 GHz Dual Core processor or equivalent
RAM: 2 GB
VGA: Shader Model 3.0 support with 512 Ram (Nvidia(R) Geforce(R) 7900 GT or better)
DX: DirectX 9.0c or DirectX 10
OS: Microsoft(R) Windows(R) 2000
Microsoft(R) Windows(R) XP (SP 2)
Microsoft Vista(TM)
HDD: 10.5 GB or more free space
Sound: 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
Disc Drive: 8x or faster DVD drive
Network: Game requires Internet connection for activation
Developer(s): Slightly Mad Studios
Publisher(s): Electronic Arts
Series Need for Speed
Version 1.02
Platform(s): PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, Mobile phone, iPhone OS, iPad
Release date(s): NA 15 September 2009
AUS 15 September 2009
EU 17 September 2009
UK 18 September 2009
JP 12 November 2009
Genre(s): Racing
Rating(s): CERO: A
ESRB: E
OFLC: G
PEGI: 3
PEGI: 7
Media: Blu-ray Disc, DVD, UMD, Digital distribution
Need for Speed: Shift is the 13th installment of the long-running racing video game franchise Need for Speed; published by Electronic Arts. It was announced in December 2008 as part of a three-game announcement that includes Need for Speed: Nitro and Need for Speed: World Online.[4] Shift was developed by Slightly Mad Studios in conjunction with EA Black Box and published for Electronic Arts. In the new franchising model for the series adopted by EA, Shift takes its place focusing on simulation/arcade racing rather than the arcade racing of previous titles in the series.
Gameplay:
Aimed at a hardcore gamer-style audience, Shift reverts to the touring-car simulation style of its 2007 predecessor, NFS ProStreet. Although the gameplay of these two titles are similar, Shift recreates car handling much more realistically than ProStreet, and does not contain a story. Upon starting the career mode, the player must do a lap of the track to decide on car settings. Once completed, the player is welcomed to the 'NFS Live World Series', and must earn stars in races to earn money, and unlock new races.
Cars:
There are 60+ cars which are divided into 4 tiers. Tier 1 refers to average cars, tier 2 refers to performance cars, tier 3 refers to supercars like the Lamborghini Gallardo, and tier 4 refers to hypercars like the Bugatti Veyron.
Car customization:
The car customization options include cosmetics as well as performance mods and is more in depth than previous games, affecting aspects such as; alignment, aerodynamics, tires, brakes, differential, and gears. Nitrous will also be an option for tuning, but different from previous Need for Speed games as it will be simulated more realistically. There are body kits and weight reduction, which affect the aerodynamics. There are visual customization options like rims, vinyls and paints.
Tracks:
There are 19 tracks in total including real world circuits such as Brands Hatch, Nurburgring Nordschleife, Road America, Spa, Silverstone, Willow Springs, Donington Park National and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: Windows XP Service Pack 3 or Vista Service Pack 1
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 (or equivalent) CPU running at 3,2GHz or higher (3.4GHz for Windows Vista)
Memory: 1GB RAM (Vista 2GB)
Hard Drive Space: 10 GB of free space
Graphics Hardware: 256 MB RAM with Pixel Shader 3 (PCI-Ex)
Sound Hardware: DirectX 9.0c compliant card (DirectX 10.1 compliant if applicable)
DVD Drive: 8X or faster DVD Drive
For Online Play: Network card with broadband connectivity
Recommended Requirements:
Operating System: Windows XP Service Pack 3 or Vista Service Pack 1
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 2,5GHz or AMD 64 X2 2,0 GHz
Memory: 2GB RAM (Vista 3GB)
Hard Drive Space: 10 GB of free space
Graphics Hardware: 512 MB RAM with Pixel Shader 3 (PCI-Ex)
Sound Hardware: DirectX 9.0c compliant card (DirectX 10.1 compliant if applicable)
DVD Drive: 8X or faster DVD Drive
For Online Play: Network card with broadband connectivity
Developer(s): Codemasters
Publisher(s): Codemasters
SCEE (PS3/PSP in Europe)
Namco Bandai (Australia)
Engine EGO
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable
Release date(s): Console versions
NA 8 September 2009
EU 10 September 2009
UK 11 September 2009
Microsoft Windows
NA 1 December 2009
EU 3 December 2009
UK 4 December 2009
Genre(s): Racing
Mode(s): Single-player, Multi player
Rating(s): ESRB: T (X360, PS3, Win), E10+ (Wii, PSP), E (DS)
Media: Blu-ray Disc, DVD, Wii Optical Disc, UMD, Steam.
Input methods: Keyboard & Mouse, Gamepad
Melding turbo-charged off-roading with extreme sports attitude, DiRT 2 takes off-road racing to a new level, with thrilling new race types, big event atmosphere, stunning locations, a new breed of off-roading heroes and feature a line-up of super-charged licensed speed machines covering seven vehicle classes.
Turbo-charged off-roading with extreme sports attitude: DiRT 2 has more attitude, more adrenaline and more DiRT than ever – off-roading just got cool.
Take it on Tour: DiRT 2 will take players on a World Tour to compete in aggressive multi-car and intense solo race events in the most diverse and challenging real-world environments.
Love your ride: Embark on a game-long love affair with your favourite cars. Rather than being forced through a checklist of in-game cars, DiRT2 enables players to pick their favourite rides and drive them across multiple disciplines.
The complete off-road online package: DiRT 2 invites players to become part of an extreme sports community, with full online multiplayer race events and community integration across multiple disciplines.
Gameplay:
Colin McRae: Dirt 2 features five racing disciplines, all of which are playable offline (against AI bots when applicable) and online. In addition, three 'special modes' are included. Colin McRae: Dirt 2 runs on an updated version of the EGO engine, which powered Codemasters' Race Driver: Grid as well. The engine features, most notably, an updated physics engine, which models realistic weight transfer during turning maneuvers, allowing the player to incorporate advanced driving techniques, such as the Scandinavian flick.
Rally racing occurs on non-circuit roads which usually involve public (closed) routes and technically challenging courses. Usually involving staggered starts, each driver competes against the clock. In addition, during rally events, a co-driver is present, constantly reading pacenotes to guide the driver along narrow and meandering tracks of up to 6 km in length.
Rallycross races involve cars identical to those used in rally events; the races themselves, however, are completely opposite. Each rally-cross race involves up to eight racers competing in multiple lap events on circuit tracks of mixed surface type. The tracks, half tarmac and half dirt, exist in closed settings, such as in or around stadiums, and are approximately 1 to 1.5 km in length.
The most similar real-world equivalent of Trailblazer events are hill climbs. Unlike hill climb events, however, trailblazer races do not require a positive change in elevation. Similar to rallying, trailblazing features staggered starts. Trailblazer (and hill climb) cars, unlike rally cars, usually feature massive aerodynamic aids, such as spoilers, diffusers, and splitters to help keep traction at higher speeds, regardless of track surface or conditions.
Raid races are multi-car events involving heavyweight vehicles, such as buggies and trophy trucks. Each race begins with a simultaneous start of up to eight competitors, with tracks averaging 5 km in length.
Landrush events are similar to raid races, but take place on a circuit. Each event features eight racers on a dirt track of about 1 km, and involve multiple laps.
Special Modes
In addition to the five straight game types, there are three special variants, each applicable to multiple modes.
Gatecrasher, which uses Rally courses and cars, involves smashing yellow barriers; competitors race against the clock. When smashed, the 'gates,' strategically placed along the best racing line, add time to the clock; whichever racer finishes the event with the most time on the clock wins. The format of the race is more similar to a multi-competitor time trial than to a traditional rally race.
Domination, playable Rallycross and Land Rush stages, involves multiple drivers competing to set the lowest time in any given track sector. Points are awarded based on the final number of controlled sectors, as well as the final race position.
Last Man Standing is an elimination-style race, during which the driver in last place is eliminated in an 20-second interval.
Multiplayer:
Colin McRae: Dirt 2 features a set of multiplayer modes which the user can partake in over, the PlayStation Network, Windows Live and Xbox Live as well as local multiplayer. Up to eight players can compete in ranked (Pro Tour) or unranked matches (Jam Session). Within the 'Jam Session' category, any class of cars may be used on any track; the game lets hosts know when a combination is not necessarily advisable, such as Trailblazer cars on a Rallycross circuit. Ranked matches are, by comparison, much more restrained; only the prescribed cars may be used on a track.
Minimum Specifications:
OS: Microsoft Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7
Processor: Intel Pentium 4 3.0Ghz, AMD Athlon 64 3400+
Memory: 1GB (2GB for Windows Vista)
HD Space: 10GB
Video Card: ATI Radeon X1500, NVIDIA GeForce 6800
Recommended Specifications:
Enhanced for DirectX 11
OS: Microsoft Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7
Processor: Intel Core i7 or AMD Phenom II
Memory: 3GB
HD Space: 10GB
Video Card: ATi Radeon HD 5700 Series