World of Warcraft has enjoyed global success and acclaim. It seemed natural that it would do well in America, where there was anticipation for a new Warcraft title. The truth though is that it has taken off everywhere it has been released. It has been a massive hit in Asia, Australia, Canada, and Europe, and has many international fans and subscribers. The game has a simple, universal appeal that transcends language barriers and geography.

One of World of Warcraft’s strengths is that it appeals to both casual gamers and more experienced players. The game has made the online multiplayer genre more accessible to people who might not normally play it. A lot of people who try the game may have regarded the genre as too complex or may not have played a role-playing game before. It is the quality of World of Warcraft and the buzz surrounding it that has drawn people’s attention towards it.

World of Warcraft has a huge following on the Internet. There is an official site that is busy and informative and contains forums for the game’s subscribers. There are many other fan sites as well. It has a keen fan base made up of a broad cross section of society. People enjoy the game for all sorts of reasons, with fans citing the gorgeous graphics, addictive gameplay and unique characters as elements they find appealing.

Although World of Warcraft has the visual style of a cartoon, it is a game that people of any age can enjoy. All age groups play it, from children to seniors. This leads to an interesting online environment, as younger players interact with older gamers. It is a real mix of people, as children and teenagers share the game’s world with twenty year olds and more mature, middle-aged players and older. It is a friendly, lively environment and tends to be good-natured and welcoming.

The World of Warcraft universe is a happy, thriving community. There is a strong social aspect to it and players can become friends with each other. The game’s world of Azeroth follows the real world’s calendar and so they mark holidays and seasonal events in the game. On New Year’s Eve in 2005 there were parties and celebrations in Azeroth that all players could attend. It is features like this that make its world much more vivid, colorful and convincing.

There is a fan convention for World of Warcraft. The game’s developer Blizzard held an event in October 2005 named BlizzCon, for fans of Warcraft and their other titles. World of Warcraft was a major part of this event, and one of the main attractions was a preview of the game’s expansion, The Burning Crusade. Some 8,000 people attended the event, which is expected to become an annual occurrence. Families went together and fans dressed up in costume as their favorite characters from the game.

World of Warcraft has caught people’s imagination and this has led to a variety of creative offshoots. One key sign of the game’s popularity is the existence of Warcraft fan fiction. Players like to write fictional stories about the characters and events of the game. Fan art is also popular. People draw and paint images inspired by the game and post them in galleries online. Blizzard run their own Fan Art Program that fans can submit their art to for display. There is great creativity and beauty there.

The broad appeal of World of Warcraft is such that it has infiltrated popular culture. The game has been used as an answer on the quiz show Jeopardy. It also has celebrity admirers. The comedian Dave Chappelle is a fan. Chappelle talked about the game during a stand-up performance in San Francisco in 2005. “You know what I’ve been playing a lot of?” the comedian reportedly asked the audience, “World of Warcraft!” He praised the game and expressed his delight with it.

World of Warcraft then is a game that has broken new ground to appeal to a great number of people in society. With more than five million subscribers, it is now the most popular role-playing online game and has grown far beyond its cult origins. Its wide appeal speaks of the brilliance of the game itself.

Video Game

Final Fantasy XIII-2’ is a direct sequel to 2010’s ‘Final Fantasy XIII.’ The video game is set three years after the events of its predecessor and follows Serah Farron and Noel Kreiss as they journey across time and space to find Serah’s sister lightning. Although the video game is beautiful and mechanics are fine, this video game is really for fans of ‘Final Fantasy XIII.’

The story is the biggest disappointment. You learn about the characters from their dialogue, and there is a lot of dialogue. Serah and Noel stand and talk during numerous cutscenes, which can be skipped by pressing start and hitting the back button, but the load times were so long that it was just simpler to sit through the banal conversations. By hour ten, I lost track of how many times Serah expressed her desire to see her sister again. Serah and Noel could have been interesting, but the repetitive dialogue is cumbersome and makes one lose interest in Noel’s place of origin and how their relationship develops.

The plot is fine, but the time travel story is aimless and confusing, not because it is a time travel story, but because it lacks depth. Basically, Serah and Noel travel somewhere, resolve a paradox, find an Artefact, find a gate, and repeat. The characters they meet along the way are as one-dimensional as they are, and the absence of side quests and interesting moments make the length of the video game almost unbearable.

The game’s battle mechanics are easy to understand; the video game has plenty of tutorials, making the game very friendly to new players. However, very little strategy is required to complete the battles successfully. Paradigms determine the attack mode. You can have the characters attack separately or together, and you assign roles to the characters for each mode. The early roles available are Sentinel, Commando, and Ravager, so you can have Serah be a Sentinel in one paradigm and a Commando in another or have her be the same in all of them.

Adding annoyance to the battles is the soundtrack. The orchestral instrumental music is beautiful, but the other styles are not of the same quality. The thrashing heavy metal riff that plays on loop during some of the lengthy battles gave me a headache. I tried to change the audio settings; many video games allow you to adjust the volume for music, dialogue, and special effects, but FF13-2 doesn’t give players this option. Thankfully my remote has mute button, and I did end up playing large sections in silence.

The game is gorgeous. The graphics are clean, crisp, and colorful. Movement is smooth and is quick during battles, and I never experienced any lag. Each location has a distinct look. Scenery is detailed, but the screen is not overloaded with minutiae that could overwhelm the senses. I enjoyed gazing at the lush landscapes while riding a Chocobo, but pretty graphics alone does not motivate me to play a game for 50 to 70 hours, which is about the time you need to do everything in this game.

All in all, Final Fantasy XIII-2 was a great adventure that made up for many of the mistakes that Final Fantasy XIII made before it. Refined gameplay, a great monster collecting system, and a cool time travel mechanic all make this a Final Fantasy video game worth checking out. While this game does not rise to the level of its fabled predecessors, it does do so better than XIII did.

MSRP of this video game:  $59.99

Exclusively on: PlayStation 3

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language

Genre: Racing Action

Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment

Developer: Eat Sleep Play

Online Play: 16 versus

Local Play: 4 Versus

High atop his penthouse office, a mysterious ringleader named Calypso lords over the contest of vehicle combat known as Twisted Metal. He returns again to host the ultimate contest of skill and destruction. Contestants have been chosen to compete and, should they emerge victorious, win whatever prize their heart desires.

Twisted Metal, the longest running franchise in PlayStation history, is now back, exclusively on the PS3 system. With four factions battling for control, players step into the combat boots of a twisted disciple in a high octane, highly destructible world. Players fight for the prize of one wish fulfilled by the stylishly evil Calypso, the mastermind behind the Twisted Metal tournament. Disciples strategically dismantle opponents in vehicles loaded with weapons of twisted destruction. With a robust online system, players unleash destruction with up to 16 players through PlayStation Network and battle through a variety of favorite and new Video game modes.

Features Of Twisted Metal Video Game

 
Fight for the prize of one wish fulfilled by Calypso, the Twisted Metal mastermind.
 

• Fight online as a disciple of one of four factions, each based on a classic Twisted Metal character.

 

• Supports up to 16 players online through PSN.

 

• Play with friends in 2- 4 player split-screen and online as well.

 

• a variety of Video game play types including series’ favorite and new, unique Video game modes.

 

• With the power of PS3 system, unleash massive amounts of destruction in brand new, never before seen twisted levels.

 

• Deliver destruction to strategically change the face of the level, or just cause incredible chaos.

 

• Featuring a complete arsenal of weapons that make for more creative kills, from missiles and miniguns to giant magnets and flying mascots; players always have a way to take someone out.

 

• Choose from over a dozen Twisted vehicles, each outfitted with special weapons to strategically dismantle opponents.

 

• Flight is a first for the franchise. One of the new vehicles in Twisted Metal to take full advantage of flight is the Talon, a helicopter armed to the teeth with a minigun turret.

 

• Disciples team their rides up in various modes to wreak havoc on the enemy such as using the Talon as a magnet to pick up teammates and rain double the destruction down below.

 

• Features of this video game have full PSN Trophy support, making players’ accomplishments that much more satisfying.

 

Microsoft has confirmed (again), that they have no plans of announcing an Xbox 720 at E3 2012 this year.  It was originally rumored by MCV that both Microsoft and Sony had plans to unveil next-gen consoles at this year’s E3.  Since then, both companies have denied rumors repeatedly, but that hasn’t stopped the masses from speculating.

So when Microsoft’s Cedrick Delmas was asked by Le Point if the company had any plans for a new console at E3, Delmas reconfirmed what we already know, “There will be nothing new in 2012.”

In a rough translation of the interview, Delmas explained, “We’re in an industry that talks a lot, that likes telling stories.”

XBOX

“I am not convinced that things will happen this year. The Xbox 360′s cycle is not over at all. The proof is that we haven’t price cut this year,” he added. “Afterward, what will happen at E3, it’s still too early to say. What’s certain is that there will be nothing new in 2012.”

Delmas made it clear that Microsoft has no plans to rush a system announcement to compete with Nintendo’s Wii U which is set to release later this year.

“We’re not here to counter Nintendo and they’re not here to fight the other manufacturers. Nintendo has put itself in a different cycle, it’s going forward to its own rhythm, with success as we have seen with the Wii, and now it’s their turn to present their innovation.”

As for Sony’s take on a next-gen console, they confirmed to the same website that they would likely be the last to announce next-gen plans.

We can “realistically” expect the Xbox 720, PS4 in 2013 or 2014

Microsoft holds advantage over Sony in next-gen console race

Lately, we’ve heard a lot of talk about the next-gen Xbox and PlayStation.  We’ve heard rumors of Microsoft’s Xbox 720 being 6 times more powerful than the current Xbox 360, plans for Microsoft and Sony to announce new consoles at E3 (which have been denied numerous times by both companies), and plenty more.  Way too many rumors for me to even list.

The point is we can have all the rumors surrounding the Xbox 720 and PlayStation 4 consoles we want, but  “realistically”, we can expect to start seeing these systems in 2013 or 2014.

Scott Steinberg, marketing expert and industry analyst of TechSavvy Global, told Industry Gamersin an interview mostly directed at the idea of digital content delivery that consumers will “probably” start to see new systems from Sony and Microsoft in 2013 or 2014.

Of the two companies locked in this Cold War-like console race, Steinberg did say that Microsoft held an advantage over Soy because of their broader entertainment focus.

“If I had to place my bets, I would say that Microsoft has been the most forward-looking of all three manufacturers; through a combination of skill and luck, Microsoft has very effectively positioned itself to lead the way forward through a combination of services, content and new hardware accessories – Kinect being the notable example,” he explained.

Microsoft has said multiple times they intend to turn the Xbox into an all-around entertainment hub bringing movies, television, music, and gaming all into one system.  While the Xbox 360 has begun to pave the way with the most recent dashboard update and the addition of dozens of apps including ESPN, Facebook, Youtube, and most recently Crackle, the next-gen console will only further push this transition.

Whatever the case, I think it’s safe to assume we shouldn’t expect a new console this year – so stop with the 2012 announcement rumors for XBOX-720.  Those died a long time ago.

PlayStation 4

The competition gets tougher and intense in the video game market, and Sony is preparing itself for the release of PlayStation 4 or PS4. In fact, while the PlayStation 4 is currently getting its treatment, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 6 are in the early stages of planning and conceptualization at Sony’s R&D labs.
The world eagerly waits for the next generation PlayStation 4 sported with hi-tech gaming features and latest technologies. Gamers are not just expecting thePS4 to have a combination of motion and dual-shock controllers, but also 3D gaming experience. There’s no reason why one should not expect what the next version of PS4 will contain, since technology has advanced widely and effectively.

PS4: PlayStation 4 Features and Specifications

The Sony PlayStation 4 is said to be made of eco-friendly materials. The gaming console is expected to be made up to 60% of recyclable materials. Apart from that, it will also have a “Eco Start” feature, which will allow gamers to save and resume games, without having to switch off the console.
Additionally, it is choreographed to switch off every 30 minutes of no activity. The interesting part is that during this time, the console will self-charge automatically from a rechargeable cell. This not only saves energy, but also maintains and extends the life of the console.
Although the device is blended with eco-friendly features, it certainly needs those specifications which are essentially required for any hardcore gamers. The PlayStation 4 is expected to sport a 1.5 TB hard disk drive, which allows users to store a large number of games. It will have USB 3.0 ports along with an HDMI connect port.
The Sony PlayStation 4 will have full 3D support with 4K2K compatibility, and supports 3D Blu-Ray. It is enabled to synchronize with Sony Ericson, and also synchronize with the Sony Bravia. The Sony Entertainment Network (SEN), formerly called Qriocity, will also be included in the console.
In terms of CPU, the current PS 3 uses a cell based processor with 1 PPE (Power Processing Element) at 3.2 GHz. We are expecting the PS4 to have 32nm 8 Core Cell processor with 16 SPEs, along with a 22nm Kepler. We are also expecting the console to have a boatload of RAM, with at least minimum of 2GB RAM.

PS4 Release Date – The Countdown Begins

As a result, the question on everyone’s mind is, when will the PlayStation 4 see the light of day? While Sony has not released any official information concerning the system’s future launch, the generally accepted release date is pegged as late 2012, which would follow the trend of Sony’s previous console generations. The PlayStation 1 was first released in late 1994 in Japan and 1995 throughout the rest of the world. The PlayStation 2 hit stores in 2000, giving the PS1 a retail shelf life of 6 years from its Japanese launch. Likewise, the PlayStation 3 came out in 2006, 6 years after the release of the PS2. Following this trend that Sony has established would give us a late 2012 release for the PS4.

Xbox-720

News that Microsoft’s upcoming next-generation Xbox not arriving in 2012 has been a no-brainer for a while now, especially after learning that software studios — whether it’s for gaming or other multimedia applications – won’t even receive development kits (SDKs) until April. But now a Microsoft executive has stepped forward to resolve any lingering rumors that gamers may see the entertainment system by the 2012 holiday season.

In short, nothing new this year.

“We’re in an industry that talks a lot, that likes to tell stories,” said Cedrick Delmax, marketing director of Microsoft France, during an interview with LePoint.Fr. “I am not convinced things will happen this year. Xbox 360′s cycle is not at all finished. The proof is that we don’t see the logic in cutting the price this year. E3 is still premature. What’s certain is that there will be nothing new in 2012.”

Delmax added that Microsoft doesn’t plan to make any “hasty moves” to counter Nintendo’s Holiday 2012 release of the upcoming Wii U console. “We’re not here to counter Nintendo and they’re not here to fight the other manufacturers,” he said. “Nintendo has put itself in a different cycle, they’re advancing at their own pace.”

Nintendo will reportedly re-introduce the Wii U this June at E3 2012 sporting new features that have been implemented since its last showing. The company is also expected to fully explain the details surrounding its new Nintendo Network which will support both the Wii U and the 3DS handheld. Microsoft, on the other hand, isn’t expected to show its Xbox 720 this year despite various rumors, but to make a full disclosure during the 2013 event.

And what about Sony? Last we heard, the company was likely not to join the next-generation console war, choosing to ride out the PlayStation 3 wave instead. In a separate LePoint.fr interview, PlayStation France boss Philippe Cardone admitted that Sony will be the last to announce anything console-related.

“It’s true that there are a lot of rumors, but I couldn’t tell you anything,” Cardone said. “Wii is pressed for time because it’s in decline. In our case, we have a lot less pressure. We were the last to release PS3, and we will probably be the last to announce something.”

Out of the three big console manufacturers Sony is the only one who seems intent on sticking to the current generation of hardware technology. Sony confirmed that they have no new XBOX-720 console planned for launch and they will not be announcing a new console at any of the upcoming trade show events. 

Nintendo’s Wii U controller

The Wii U controller is, in some ways, more of a traditional controller than the Wii Remote. Its button layout is similar to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 controllers, and Nintendo’s own GameCube controller. The biggest difference from other contemporary controllers, besides the giant touch screen, is that the Wii U controller replaces dual analog sticks with dual circle pads, and analog triggers with regular buttons.

If you want to feel what Nintendo’s Wii U controller is using instead of analog sticks (like the stick found on the Wii Nunchuk), you don’t have to wait for the Wii U to hit stores. Just pick up any old 3DS right now and check out the circle pad on the upper left side. This slider functions on a basic level as an analog input — the further you push it in a direction, the stronger the effect is.

The thing is, analog sticks work much better than circle pads. There’s less friction and they are more sensitive to slight tilting movements that are so essential for tracking and popping tiny heads in the distance. Most people have been using analog sticks since the Nintendo 64, and so far the Wii Remote’s pointer functionality is the only thing that’s been an acceptable replacement for a stick on consoles (PC gamers have the all-powerful mouse).

This lack of analog sticks on the Wii U controller is especially unusual since Nintendo popularized the analog stick themselves, deeming it the only way to control Mario in 3D space. The purpose of the circle pad on the 3DS is, ostensibly, to save space. It’s unclear why the sticks fell out of style on the Wii U controller, since there’s plenty of space for sticks — the thing is massive.

The rear triggers on the Wii U controller are simplified buttons, unlike the sensitive analog triggers you would use to gradually accelerate in any modern driving game on Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3. Again, the 3DS shares similarly lacks analog triggers if you want to check it out. This seems like less of a big deal, but the loss of the standard analog controls altogether may dissuade gamers from playing multiplatform games on the Wii U. It’s hard to imagine the various advantages of the controller outweighing basic loss of functionality that even the GameCube controller had a decade ago.

The Wii U controller is still a prototype, and if Nintendo is truly serious about wooing the biggest third party developers, you can count on those porting existing games like Aliens: Colonial Marines to make a fuss about the lack of analog controls. But that might not be enough — so we’ll lay on the pressure too — and you should let us, and Nintendo, know about your concerns in the comments below.

The Wii U (pronounced We-U) controller has:

• A 6.2” touchscreen
• Pinpoint stylus
• Control pads & circle pads on both sides
• Dual side shoulder buttons in the top corners
• Trigger buttons
• Rechargeable battery
• Sensor strip & gyroscope like other Wii controllers
• Camera
• Microphone and
• Speakers

What Benefits Does This Controller Offer over Others?

The Touchscreen offers console longevity. Touchscreen technology has become extremely popular with things like Smartphone and other hand held devices. In today’s instant gratification demanding world, the touchscreen responses instantly. Easy cleaning ensures this next generation console will last a long time.

Different Views for Different Games means no more annoying split screens for multiple players! For team players, the gamers will be able to go on their own adventures and then come back to fight or cooperate with fellow team members. The different views open up a whole new world of tactics for the hardcore gamer. For individual gamers the additional screen allows an entirely different perspective of the game.
Play from your bed without disturbing your partner. Sometimes you just want to be able to play your game without turning on the lights or the television and having an argument with the person trying to sleep next to you. The new controller allows the gamer to do just that!

No more information overload. Many of today’s games have so much on-screen information that it is easy to get distracted from the game itself. The new Wii U controller transfers some of that data off the main screen and onto the controller, leaving you with more room on the big screen to focus on your game instead of all the excessive information streaming your screen.

The new Wii U controller was designed for creativity. The new stylist allows the gamer to draw their own characters, complete with shades and depth. The 6.2” touchscreen allows more creativity than a joystick. Of course Wii U controller helps if you have a little bit of drawing capability but it definitely is not required.

Apple’s iPad 3 !!!

Apple usually launches new models in any product line once a year. The current iPad 2 tablet PC was released in March last year, and the first iPad in April 2010. Manufacturing partners said the new model will differ significantly from its predecessors.

iPad-3

The whole tech world is awaiting with bated breath some announcement from Apple, the Cupertino based tech giant. Everyone from Shanghai to Chicago and London to Sydney is awaiting an announcement from Apple regarding the launch of Apple’s new version of its tablet, being dubbed as iPad 3.

Many reports were suggesting that Apple would be releasing the new version of iPad on the birth anniversary of the company’s cofounder Steve Jobs that died late last year.

Every report coming from multiple sources claim that the new iPad is going to be much more advanced than the existing iPad 2 in both design and specifications. The new tablet will have far better display, processor and battery than the existing one. What is however unknown is whether the company may upgrade the maximum internal memory from 64 GB to 128GB or even more. It will be a big leap for tablets, if this actually happens.

Meanwhile a Washignton Post report says that Apple Inc.’s forthcoming tablet will come with complete new design besides high-definition screen and with a faster, probably, A-6 processor. The forthcoming Apple tablet will also probably come with 8 mega pixel camera. A few recently launched tablets have come with 8 mega pixel camera. Asus recently launched Transformer Prime too with 8 MP camera.

Everyone is unanimous that Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook who has to struggle in the absence of Steve Jobs to fit in his shoes may come out with great improvement in the design and specifications of the tablet to ward off mounting competition in a market that Apple pioneered two years ago.

iPad 3 Features & Specs Expectation:

 Retina Display: People were expecting a retina display with the iPad 2; but the iPad disappointed them with the same display of the previous iPad. Now followers are waiting for an iPad 3 with a retina display. There is a rumor that the iPad 3 may offer a resolution of 2048×1536 pixels.

 SD Card Slot: People are expecting a revolution in Apple iPad 3 with an SD card slot. Hopefully Apple may introduce SD card slot with the third generation iPad.

 Improved HDMI: Yes iPad 2 also supports HDMI playback but you need to have Apple digital AV adapter, and that comes at an additional cost of $39. So it is much expected from iPad 3 to have an HDMI port that eliminates additional requirement of the HDMI cable.

 Camera Flash: A camera with flash is a much-waited feature of the iPad; people were expecting iPad 2 to have camera flash; now we would be wondering if iPad 3 will have camera with flash.

 Thunderbolt: The iPad 3 may have a Thunderbolt port. That will offer power, video and data connectivity using the same connector at lightning speed.

 Wireless Synchronize: People are expecting iPad 3 to offer wireless sync of content rather than the traditional wired connectivity.

The Sony PlayStation Vita video game which was formerly unveiled at Sony’s E3 2011 press conference aims to provide the most comprehensive portable gaming experience around.

The PS Vita video game will also support social networking apps like the PS4, such as Facebook, Skype, Twitter, and foursquare, which will be available for download for free from the PlayStation store.

The Nintendo DS has been the dominant dedicated handheld video game system, selling more than 149 million worldwide since 2004, vs. 73 million for PlayStation Portable. But as the popularity of Smartphone and tablet Video games grew, Sony began devising a handheld to leapfrog current devices.

Consumers want “new kinds of experiences on portable that they can’t necessarily have on their home devices,” says Sony Computer Entertainment Group CEO Andrew House. He succeeded Kazuo Hirai as head of the PlayStation business in September, when Hirai took over responsibility for the Consumer Products & Services Group, including TV, home video/audio and video games.

Ahead of the launch of its new handheld video game Console, Sony Corp. said it is prepared with enough supply of the new PlayStation Vita after pre-orders for the device sold out quickly.

Andrew House, president of Sony Computer Entertainment, the company’s PlayStation video game division, said he is “comfortable” with the Vita supply base and if shortages do arise from strong demand, they will be resolved quickly.

The PlayStation Vita is the first all-new video game system from Sony since the debut of its PlayStation 3 home console in 2006. It will replace the PlayStation Portable as the main handheld gaming platform for the business.

PlayStation Vita Video Game Features

Design and Display:

Design and Display

The PlayStation Vita video game looks quite similar to the PSP; however without any doubt the Vita is more impressive and elegantly designed. It sports a 5-inch OLED multi-touch capacitive touchscreen, 24-bit color with a resolution of 960 × 540 qHD and has pixel density of 220 ppi. The console has a huge size that measures 182 x 84 x 19 mm in size. To give you a fair idea on how huge it is, consider placing an iPhone 4, which will perfectly fit in the space where the display of the PS Vita is. Doesn’t that sound enormous?

Having said that, the PlayStation Vita video game fits comfortably in your hands and with the round edges it makes it easier to play games on it.

Other features include…

* 3G/AT&T:

3G AT&T in PS Vita

The new PS Vita 3G/Wi-Fi, powered by AT&T’s Mobile Broadband Network, will change the way you game with real-time scores and game ranking news feeds, competitive multiplayer game sessions, and cross-game text messaging with Party.

* Front & Rear Cameras:

Front & Rear Cameras

The PlayStation Vita video game has both front and rear cameras with supporting features such as face detection, head detection and head tracking that can be used for personalization and customization.

* Six Axis Motion Sensors:

Six Axis Motion Sensors

3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope -With PS Vita’s motion sensor technology actively engage with the game like never before as you touch, tilt, and steer your PS Vita. Discover the endless ways to manipulate your environment, engage with your characters, and utilize in game tools. Along with that, it has another 3-axis compass with integrated GPS and connectivity options such as 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR.

* Touchscreen:

Touchscreen: PS Vita

The multi touch display offers new ways to complete challenges and actions alike, all on a stunning 5″ OLED screen.

* Rear Touch Pad:

The rear multi touch pad gives you greater hand control while freeing up the brilliance of the front OLED screen.

* Cross Play:

With cross platform play you can start playing a game on your PS3 console, pause the game and pick up on PS Vita right where you left off. You can also join in multiplayer games on your PS Vita and play against players on their PS3 consoles.

* Dual Analog Sticks:

Discover a fully immersive first person shooter experience with dual analog sticks.

* OLED Screen:

OLED Screen: PS Vita

See your games more brilliantly than ever before with the 5” OLED screen which displays approximately 16 million colors.

* Chatting:

The PlayStation Vita video game supports chatting with your friends while you’re watching a video or playing a multi-player game, in a way to keep you connected.

* Unlike PSP, the PSV will not support video output or contain a removable battery.

* Hardware wise, the device features a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 MP Core processor (3 of the 4 cores will be usable for applications) and a quad-core SGX543MP4 + GPU. It will have a 512 MB of system RAM and 128 MB of VRAM.

* It was confirmed by Sony that the battery would last for about 3-5 hours of gameplay, 5 hours of video, and up to 9 hours of music listening with the screen off.

* The PS Vita will have a storage media card slot, where users can plug in NVG cards of capacities ranging from 4 GB to 32 GB.

PlayStation Vita Pricing:

Pricewise, the PlayStation Vita Video game is expected to come in two versions – PSV Wi-Fi only and PSV Wi-Fi + 3G. The 3G version is priced at $299.99 USD while the other version could be priced at a $50 lesser price – $249.99 USD. However, there hasn’t been any mention of data pricing. Sources indicate that the Vita could adopt AT&T’s tablet data series, with $15 for 200MB of usage and $25 for 2GB.

Sony PlayStation Vita video game Price in Singapore Dollar (SGD):

- Approximately S$ 395.00 (Wi-Fi + 3G)
- Approximately S$ 330.00 (Wi-Fi Only)

So it’s getting pretty close to 2012 and as I think over what great year 2011 has been, I thought to myself “which one of the video games have the most buzz?” What are the most highly anticipated upcoming MMORPGs? The MMO gaming industry is going strong and there are quite a few big-budget MMOGs in development right now that are expected to be released soon.

Star Wars: The Old Republic –

Star Wars The Old Republic

This is abbreviated as TOR or SWTOR, is one of the most upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing video games based in the Star Wars universe. Currently in development by BioWare Austin and a supplemental team at BioWare Edmonton, the game was first announced on October 21, 2008, at an invitation-only press event. The video game got released for Microsoft Windows platform on December 20, 2011 in North America and Europe.

It is obvious why this is at the top of the list, it broke records for pre-orders and that is with a limited amount of pre-orders available. This video game is going to have it all… awesome looking fighting animations, space travel, companions, with fully voiced NPCs and conversation choices really put the player in to the storyline. Not to mention the subject matter is something that millions of people can get behind.

Guild Wars 2 –

Guild Wars 2

It is a massively multiplayer online role-playing video game in development by ArenaNet. Set in the fantasy world of Tyria, the game follows the re-emergence of Destiny’s Edge, a disbanded guild dedicated to fighting the Elder Dragons, a Lovecraftian species that has seized control of Tyria in the time since the original Guild Wars. The game takes place in a persistent world with a story that progresses in instanced environments. This amazingly artistic looking video game with its awesome fighting animations is bringing you a whole new level of MMO with their revolutionary ideas and it doesn’t hurt to be free to play.

Regarding gameplay, ArenaNet has announced that most of the game content can be played solo. The social gameplay, on the other hand, will also be encouraged. Group or cooperative PvE has been designed in such a way that people who work together to defeat an enemy will each receive 100% of the XP and loot for the kill, unlike in other games where xp and loot is shared so that everyone only gets a fraction of what they would have gotten if they had solo’ed the kill.

Also, while ArenaNet preferred to call GW one of the competitive online role-playing video games (CORPG), GW2 is said to be a full-featured MMORPG. The developers have promised an altogether different MMO experience with GW2.

“Titan” Blizzard’s Next Generation World of Warcraft (WOW): MMORPG

“Titan” Blizzard’s Next Generation World of Warcraft

Blizzard has already made it clear that their next gen MMO is code named titan and will be unveiled for the first time after they are done with the release of Diablo 3. Reps from Blizzard estimate that may be somewhere in 2012. Blizzard Entertainment is under pressure to deliver something big before the end of the year. It has plenty of options, but signs point to the company finally dropping details about its hotly-anticipated next online game, code-named “Titan.”

Titan will likely succeed — and possibly kill — the company’s most successful online video game, World of Warcraft. That game is the last of a dying breed, a subscription-based online video game with more than 11 million users that pay $15 each month to access the game.

The Secret World –

The Secret World

ecret World (formerly known under the working titles Cabal and The World Online) is an upcoming MMORPG from developer Funcom, the development of which has been officially confirmed on March 6, 2007.  The final title of the project was confirmed on May 11, 2007.Ragnar Tornquist is the creative director of the game. The releasing date of this video game is April 2012.

Using a real world aspect in this game putting real world locations in to the game really helps the player relate to their character in this upcoming monster killing, vampire staking, werewolf shooting, demon slaying MMO. Coming in at a strong number four is Funcom’s The Secret World, a promising new MMO that is one of the most anticipated releases. Funcom is a well-known developer that gave us some great video games like Anarchy Online and Age of Conan.

The Secret World is set in the modern-day world, unlike most MMOs that are typically set in medieval fantasy worlds. This gives it a good novelty factor but it will still have that familiar feeling to it as players will be fighting creatures from myth and legend such as vampires, werewolves, metal golems, undead dinosaurs, etc. Part of the fun is from seeing such creatures in mundane settings like a parking lot or gas station.

World of Darkness MMO –

World of Darkness

As of January 2008, full production of the WoD MMORPG was scheduled start March 2009 after the Eve Online expansion was finished according to CCP. Official confirmation that the game is currently in development surfaced in Aug 2009 on the official CCP web site.

This video game will be based on Vampire: The Masquerade and “will have a focus on player politics and social interaction.” It is scheduled to launch in 2012 at the earliest.

Coming soon from Crowd Control Productions (CCP, the developers of Eve Online) and White Wolf, Inc., World of Darkness Online will be a dark, immersive MMO based on the legendary role playing franchise to be released Vampire: The Masquerade. It will possibly be for adults only as it has been reported to contain mature themes such as gore and nudity. Player politics and live-action role-playing (LARP) are expected to be part of the core gameplay.

In this video game it’ll be interesting to see how players treat their characters and each other when the option of losing that character forever becomes a possibility. It could wind up being the friendliest group of vampires you ever did meet.