Games

If there is one game in the world that could be regarded as a phenomenon it’s DOTA. The game originally started as a mod for Blizzard’s Warcraft 3; the game pits two teams of five against each other on the same map every game. The variety comes much the same way sports does; from the tactics, players and choices the teams make during the game. The mod has ballooned in popularity and become one of the most played games across the entire world.

DOTA 2 is the spiritual successor to DOTA, despite being a numbered sequel. The rights remain with Blizzard, but Valve has taken on many of the original staff. The game currently has almost 10 million unique players every month, with almost a million players playing every single day. The game has also developed a massive following in eSports – or electronic sports. Millions of people watched the finals of last year’s The International with the prize pool reaching over 1 million dollars.

A long time ago a game called Championship Manager hit the gaming scene in the United Kingdom. It was a hugely detailed database game where you created a football manager, selected your favourite club to manage (or indeed any club) and handled the day to day running of the side. You picked the players for the team, you did the training, you negotiated the contracts and you chatted to the press. Over the years much has changed about the Championship Manager series, not least its name.

Football Manager is the new name on an old face. Technology may have progressed, but the classes Championship Manager formula is still in full effect. Yes the database loads faster, and has a lot more real world players in it, but you’re still, at heart, a football manager handling the nitty gritty of day to day management of a football club. The fanbase around the game series is huge, with a wildly funny book (How Football Manager Ruined My Life) spawning from the series.

FIFA 15 is set to be released late next month, and it’s probably one of the most anticipated titles. One thing we’re promised with the new game is that it will develop ‘uniquely’. This basically means that all 22 players on the pitch have ‘emotional intelligence’ that can affect the game, and you’re never promised two games that are exactly the same.

FIFA could previously be rather predictable, and if you’ve started well and had a good number of shots on target, the likelihood is that you’ll go on to win, but there will be more hope for those players who like to grind out results.

The players, stadiums and crowds will be more realistic than ever, while there are no standout new game modes. Its looks like a year of progression for FIFA if it lives up to its high expectations.

Far cry is now widely recognised as one of the finest open world first-person shooter games on the market, and Far Cry 4 is expected to be another repeat addition. The blame is set in the stunning Himalayas this time round, to write their one story, rather than following the strict regime of the self-appointed king.

It good to know that Far Cry thought hard about the first game they’d want to release on next gen consoles, and the graphics really are on a completely different scale to number 3. One thing that will have Far Cry fans excited is the fact that you’re able to ride elephants, while every single element just seems as a great deal more lifelike.

The game is set to be released in November so it’s a long way off, but as we build up to the release we’ll only learn more from this game, while more gameplay snapshots are likely to be released.

The original game boy was an extremely simply designed handheld console, and it only contained a directional pad and the buttons “A” “B” “Select” and “Start”. It was bulky, heavy and it did not have a colour display and yet will probably go down as one of the most popular handheld consoles that ever lived.

The original Game Boy can still sell well today if it is in good condition, and there are many people out there who still find time for a spot of retro gaming, and there were huge titles on this handheld console.

Mario was one of the big ones, and even without the colour display, the game worked, while Tetris will be listed as the Game Boy’s best selling game, ahead of Pokémon Red and Blue. Let’s all take time to appreciate this fine piece of gaming, and although it’s now see n as old, outdated, and basic, it’s reputation among 1990s gamers will live on for years.

If you have recently had a hankering for some retro games gameplaying, you should really try it out. There is nothing around today which quite compares to the experience offered by these older games. Asteroids was my favourite game growing up, and despite its overwhelming simplicity, still ranks as one of the most difficult games, as well as one of the most addictive games that I can remember playing. All of the old Atari games are something which I, and many of my generation still remember fondly. Even if you have since lost your Atari 2600 for some reason, you can easily find an online version of the game. One thing which I find disappointing about this alternative however, is that you can’t use the Atari 2600 games controller. I got so good at using that, that not being able to play some of my favourite games in the way that I’m accustomed to, is difficult to accept.

Online gaming is often times a cheaper alternative source of entertainment than buying games for your new console. Where as a PS4 game will be £40+, with online gaming, depending on the quality of service, you can spend from nothing to £10 a month on a subscription. The breadth of games which are supported by your PC and those which are on a traditional console are very similar. The online games available can be accessed just by providing a email address, and most of the more expensive online games offer free trials, where you can experience the game-play without committing to payments. Ultimately, online gaming provides a cheaper gaming experience than console gaming. In addition to games which will remind you of console games, online gaming also consists of MMORPG games, such as world of warcraft and guild wars. Both of these games, and other similarly expensive games, offer an extensive world of experiences and gaming opportunities, while also allowing you to engage with a community of gamers.

Hundreds and hundreds of apps make their debut on the app store every single day, and yesterday San Andreas made its debut on the iPhone.

It’s priced at $6.99, and it’s essentially the original vision San Andreas, meaning you can relive those brilliant memories. Vice City has already proved a hit on the iPhone and it will be interesting to see if San Andreas will be just as popular.

It was widely recognised as a Playstation 2 classic, and we predict that it will be another success on the iPhone, especially for those who have completed GTA 5 and they want to spend time replaying previous versions.

If you’re looking for a new game to keep you entertained on your iPhone, we recommend San Andreas, it was a success on the Playstation and it will surely be a success on the iPhone.

This is a game that all bikers have been waiting for and much like many sports games; it’s a game you expect each and every year. The 2013 version will benefit from improved graphics and more natural movements from the racers. Obviously the start will be more up to date, and Chris Froome will be one of the most skilled bikers.

There is a more realistic crowd in this game but after several minutes of racing their movement begin to look the same. You have to keep your speed steady and timing is certainly the key to winning a race with your favourite biker.

It does get quite packed and there is lot more chance of a collision on the 2013 version so you have to keep your wits about you. You will actually come away feeling as though you’ve won the race and it will have you hooked from the begin to the end.

The importance of a cooling system is often dismissed and there are many people out there who are willing to buy pricey game consoles but you still have to make sure it is maintained. Most gamers will have heard of the ‘red ring of death’ that exists on Xbox 360 consoles, and the main problem for this is often a lack of proper ventilation and maintenance.

You could argue that it should be up to the manufacturers to produce better consoles that do not overheat and run into problems, and while that may be true you have to factor in the amount of time you spend gaming, because you could be exceeding the typical limits.

There are problems with Playstation 4s, Xbox 360s and computers, while there are bound to be problems on future consoles too, so take care of yours and purchase a cooling system, especially if you’re a hardcore gamer.