Teens in Tech Games

Introduction-

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is a military science fiction real-time strategy game currently under development by Blizzard Entertainmentas a sequel to the award-winning 1998 video game StarCraft. The game is being developed for concurrent release on Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X. Currently the beta is available to play for anyone who pre-ordered StarCraft II. Blizzard has tried not to change too many basic features of StarCraft while making StarCraft II, and one of the biggest changes they had planned was shunned by the players, so Blizzard has their work cut out for them if they want to make an innovative game that can’t be too much different from StarCraft I.

The Good-

Some of the really good features of StarCraft II include the new graphics, smoothness of gameplay, and the online matchmaking system. I can’t tell you if the campaign is good yet, since they have not released it on the beta, but I can only assume it will be amazing. Originally, the updated graphics that Blizzard was trying to use was really hated by the players, so they had to make some tweaks to their looks to make the game look more like StarCraft I, while still looking new enough to be StarCraft II. I think they did a really good job at this, since the graphics look really nice, but you can still see that the game is StarCraft. The online matchmaking system they have is probably one of the best I have ever used. They have really narrowed down the differences in skill levels of opponents by having 5 different divisions (Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum), and within your division you have a rank, which is all then used to match you with the closest match. You might think this would make matchmaking take forever, but it doesn’t! Usually my wait times are less than 10 seconds, and I am able to start new games constantly, it is truly a great system.

The Bad-

My main problem with StarCraft II is that there really is one very basic strategy that will win more than 75% of your matches, and that is the rush. Basically, all you need to do is build as many of the basic attacking units as you can (Marines, Zealots, Zerglings), and upon getting about 5-10 of them, rush them all to your opponents base and take him down, it is really that simple most of the time. I am amazed that this works so efficiently and requires so little skill, yet the game is supposed to be a “real-time strategy” game. To me there should be a lot more thinking involved in an RTS. My thoughts originally were that it would be changed, since this is only the beta, but Blizzard announced that their plan was for matches to last an average of 15 minutes. This means that they actually planned for rushing to win all the time, which really is disappointing. Blizzard took a lot of time building this game, and made elaborate end game units that cost a ton of supplies to make, but with all the rushing that takes place, more than 95% of your matches wont even see any of these units doing battle, which again is just disappointing.

Overall-

Overall I think that the system they used and the graphics are all really good, but the gameplay is not very fun. It is disappointing when a game takes so many years to be made yet is conquered by such a simple tactic as rushing. This definitely is the not the game I was hoping for, but hey, its just the beta, and hopefully some big changes can and will be made by launch time.

After the much anticipated wait, Halo: Reach is finally available for download as a beta. Halo fans around the world are now able to download the Halo: Reach multi-player beta via their Halo 3: ODST game discs and help make entertainment history by participating in the biggest console beta ever. Starting yesterday and concluding on May 19, the beta is a chance for millions of people to experience a portion of the competitive multiplayer offering in Halo: Reach, and an opportunity to test and help perfect the definitive multiplayer experience.

Building upon the successes of its predecessors, “Halo: Reach” breaks new ground with a host of new content and features, delivering the most thrilling and feature-packed multiplayer experience yet. With new game types, weapons, armor abilities, players rewards, customisation options, social settings and more, the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta introduces a wave of innovations that will take the award-winning “Halo” multiplayer experience on Xbox LIVE to the next level.

Additionally, an introduction video to the “Halo: Reach” beta featuring actress Aisha Tyler, which debuted last week via the “Halo 3: ODST” game disc, is now widely available. In the light-hearted video, Tyler breaks down all the action-packed new game types in the beta and offers insider tips, all while wielding a variety of life-size “Halo” weaponry. It’s a must-watch for any “Halo” fan.

Blizzard, the publishing house behind such titles as World of Warcraft, Warcraft, Diablo and others, today announced that on July 27, 2010 the long awaited Starcraft 2 will become available. Starcraft 2 is a long awaited update to the 1998 hit game Starcraft. The sequel game once again pits three reaces against each other: Terrans, the Zerg, and the Protoss, with units from each race pitted against each other both in a single-player game as well as with a revamped Battle.net matchmaking system. The original game shipped more than 11 million copies, including one expansion, Brood War.

It’s good to note that Blizzard kept Starcraft 2 in beta for year, to to polish the gameplay before its release. The game will include 29 missions, plus several challenge mini-modes, according to Blizzard. According to Blizzard;

The solo campaign for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty will continue the epic saga where it left off in StarCraft: Brood War®. The story line chronicles the exploits of marshal-turned-rebel-leader Jim Raynor and features both familiar faces and new heroes. Players will be able to tailor the experience, choosing their own mission path and selecting technology and research upgrades to suit their playing style throughout the 29-mission campaign. Several challenge-mode mini-games will also be included, with focused goals designed to ease players into the basics of multiplayer strategies.

Starcraft 2 will be released in the United States, Canada, Europe, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Mexico, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines, and the regions of Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau. Pricing for the game has not yet been released. Players will also be able to purchase StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty directly from Blizzard Entertainment shortly after the retail launch.

Hyperkin, a developer and distributor of video game accessories, has announced the launch of the PS3 3-Port USB Hub which connects three additional controller outlets to the PlayStation 3.

In addition to the controller outlets, the 3-Port USB Hub has also been designed with a memory card slot that accepts SD cards, SDHC cards, MMC cards, and memory sticks. The PS3 Hub is also compatible with PS3 Slim and other computers.

The USB Hub is $14.99, and available today.

Nexon America today unveiled Kill Creek, a new map for its popular multiplayer first-person shooter Combat Arms.

The new map in Combat Arms was part of the game’s upcoming update that was scheduled for release today.

Kill Creek will support the following game modes:

• Elimination
• Elimination Pro
• Capture the Flag
• Quarantine Regen

Kill Creek has become a hot spot after guerilla units received Intel detailing the movement of weapons and supplies and have ambushed the train on a railroad bridge. Members of the train crew managed to alert the proper authorities and a Counter-Insurgency Unit was immediately dispatched to the area. Meanwhile, the guerilla units have been ferrying supplies out of the area via a road in the valley beneath the bridge. The Counter-Insurgency Unit arrives just as the last of the supplies are being moved out of the area, and the battle of a lifetime is set in motion.

Bungie has recently announced the launch of their newest game in the Halo series, Halo: Reach. This is not however a continuation of the campaign from Halo 1, 2, or 3. This new game features new weapons, new maps, new game types, and a new ranking system for multiplayer use. Also, Halo: Reach was designed around the multiplayer experience, and less focused on the campaign aspect, so you hardcore multiplayer gamers are sure to get as much out of it as possible. For those of you who purchased Halo: ODST, you have a beta key for the upcoming beta launch of Halo: Reach, and you can expect to be playing the beta in a couple months.

From what I have seen, this new Halo looks pretty sweet, and it is definitely worth a shot. I am most interested in the new ranking system, which is much like the one used for arenas in World of Warcraft. I can’t wait for Reach to come out, and I am excited to hear more about it. It looks like a treat that everyone should enjoy.

The release date has been announced for the much-anticipated Blood Sports content patch (v1.4), which includes four newly-designed PvP areas, more than 500 achievements, a Clan Wars system and the expansive region of Deadfall. The patch will be available for existing players on May 7.

With more than five months of development on a PvP update, developers at Fallen Earth are introducing Blood Sports, featuring four new PvP matches — Deathmatch, Survival, Capture the Flag and Assault — allowing players the opportunity to queue up for all-out brawls from anywhere in world. Deathtoll Points earned for participation and wins can also be used to purchase new, high-end PvP-oriented armor and gear.

Additionally the Deadfall region, which expands the current level cap to 50, will introduce more than 130 new missions, extended storylines, mutant mounts and several new craftable items with a new component. In Deadfall, players will also experience a vastly changed landscape with five new settlements to explore.

According to the company behind Fallen Earth, existing Fallen Earth subscribers will have access to the content patch beginning May 7, and new players will be able to purchase Fallen Earth Blood Sports from several digital and retail outlets, which includes the Blood Sports content patch in addition to all the original Fallen Earth content.

Earlier this week, Audio launched their brand new iPhone and iPod touch game, Audi A1 Beat Driver, available exclusively for the Apple App Store for free.

Audi A1 Beat Driver is a rhythm based driving game delivering free new music from up and coming rock bands around the world including La Roux, The Rakes , Lo-Fi-Fnk and Torpedo. In total there are 9 free music tracks to choose from.

Audi describes the game;

In the game you steer your Audi A1 to collect the markers and avoid the hazards as you speed through a kaleidoscopic 3D world of sound and color. Increase your score by collecting the bonus icons and don’t forget to clear your multiplier gauge (which builds up as you collect more points) to boost your multipliers and achieve the highest score possible.

The app comes with a number of features: get your name on the global Audi A1 Beat Driver leader board; challenge other players’ high-scores; post your scores to Facebook&Twitter; or alternatively choose to find out more about the stunning new Audi A1– The next big Audi.

You can find these nine songs in the game:

“Accelerate” – Performed by Torpedo

“I’m A Rope” – Performed by Tommy Sparks

“Strength In Numbers” – Performed by The Music

“Farewell To The Fairground” – Performed by White Lies

“Gold Guns Girls” – Performed by Metric

“1989” – Performed by The Rakes

“Bulletproof” – Performed by La Roux

“Digital Age” – Performed by After The Fall

“Want U” – Performed by Lo-Fi-Fnk

You can find the application on the Apple App Store today, for no charge.

Harmonix and MTV Games today announced that singles from bands including Flyleaf, Busted and Silverchair will be added to the Rock Band Music Store. The songs will be added to the Rock Band Music Store for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii.

With more than 400 artists, including Jimi Hendrix, The Who, AC/DC and Green Day, as well as more then 1,100 songs available through the music store, 65 million songs sold through the download store alone. Rock Band is claiming to the sales and content leader in the interactive music space, providing the deepest and best selection of artists, songs and albums.

Busted, one of the new bands featured in the music store, have sold more than 3 million albums worldwide, won two BRIT awards and sold out several arena tours. Songs from the three bands, Flyleaf, Busted and Silverchair, will be added to the Xbox 360 and Wii on April 27, and PlayStation 3 system on April 29.

The songs will be available for purchase as individual tracks on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and as individual tracks only on Wii. Pricing information as follows:

Price: $1.99 USD,£.99 UK,€1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track

$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points) per track

Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division was awarded the Grand Prix award at the MCV Industry Excellence Awards, where over 600 industry executives were in attendance.

The Grand Prix award annually recognizes a leading UK-based brand or company which has enjoyed both commercial and critical success, while also demonstrating the highest levels of trade level support.

Neil Thompson, General Manager of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division (UK&Ireland), stated that winning this prestigious honor was truly is a humbling moment.

MCV publisher Stuart Dinsey commented,“The Xbox 360 team is worthy winners of the Grand Prix. It was won for being true market leaders, driving sales of hardware, working brilliantly with third party licensees, supporting retail and showing true innovation with Xbox LIVE – by far the leading online games network today. The entire UK industry approved this choice so congratulations to everyone on the Xbox team.”