By Sam Laney
Published: June 19, 2013
Microsoft has relented against the torrent of Internet backlash regarding the sharing and trading of used games on it's upcoming console, the Xbox One.
In a blog post entitled "Your Feedback Matters" on news.xbox.com, Don Mattrick, president of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business, said the next-gen console will no longer force users to check back with Microsoft servers once every 24 hours for the console to function — a move that had been called "a sin against all servicemembers" and drawn collective moans from gamers in deployed areas, where steady Internet connections are hard to come by.
“Company of Heroes 2” fights on WWII’s Eastern Front. Courtesy of Sega
By Timothy Bowers, special to Stars and Stripes
Published: June 19, 2013
Console games were in the spotlight at the Electronic Entertainment in Los Angeles this month, but several computer games also looked very promising.
In most cases, developers did not have release dates, but they all had short hands-on demos for E3 attendees.
A controller for the new PlayStation 4 is on display at the Sony PlayStation E3 media briefing in Los Angeles, Monday, June 10, 2013. AP
By Brian Bowers
Published: June 11, 2013
In recent months, Sony and Microsoft announced their entries in the latest battle between the consoles. Monday brought Round One of the brawl.
Dueling news conferences prior to the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles provided an odd spectacle: One fighter landed heavy body blows while the other punched himself in the face.
Courtesy of Microsoft
By Brian Bowers
Published: May 22, 2013
Xbox One and only.
Microsoft unveiled the successor to its Xbox 360 on Tuesday and showed off a console that tries to do it all.
My German-made Messerschmitt bf 110 heavy fighter does a victory lap before getting surrounded by a squad of faster attack aircraft. World of Warplanes often turns into a game of high-flying acrobatics as players circle and dance around each other in dogfights. game screenshot
By Sam Laney
Published: March 28, 2013
Flying over a tropical atoll with enemy fighters closing in, I brought up my bombing reticule and adjusted my flight path. Back in the hanger, I’d made my choice: an German-made Messerschmitt bf 110 heavy fighter, and out here in the war zone, I’d made another: If I was going down, I was going to take this little potshot-hurling battleship with me.
It was bombs away with two taps on the keyboard, and then onto the dance of death. That’s the ‘endgame’ of Wargaming.net’s upcoming “World of Warplanes,” which this reviewer got early access to. And from what I’ve played, this game is going to up the ante of what gamers can expect from aerial combat.
Sony highlighted its work with independent developers by showcasing “The Witness,” which will offer 25 hours of puzzles. Courtesy of Sony
By Brian Bowers
Published: February 21, 2013
Sony offered a peek at the future during its PlayStation Meeting 2013 on Wednesday.
The future is smarter, more attractive and better connected, judging from the features of the PlayStation 4, which was unveiled — sort of — at the event in New York City.
“Tomb Raider” explores the origin of its central character, Lara Croft, taking players along her path to fame. Courtesy of Square Enix
By Brian Bowers
Published: January 26, 2013
Now that you’ve beaten all of those games that looked so cool under the twinkling Christmas lights, it’s time to start thinking about the next batch of digital wonders.
The next wave of video games starts rolling in next month, and it looks like gamers will be awash in adventure and conflict. From startling visions of the future to grim battles with extraterrestrial opponents, here’s a look at a few of the most anticipated titles.
By C.J. Lin and Sam Laney
Published: January 9, 2013
There's a quiet void between the end of the holidays and the pickup of the new year. News is slow, major gaming releases are few and far between, and endless barrage of gift giving and family time has probably left everyone in need of a little getaway.
Nestled in this holiday twilight, for those who make the trek, is MAGFest, a four-day music and gaming festival that celebrates everything geek. Rooms of board games, endless consoles, hundreds of free-play coin-ops, dozens of bands, and even game culture icons are all on full display.
"Dishonored" mixes the best elements of the parkour of “Assassin’s Creed” and the stealth combat of “Splinter Cell” and adds a host of interesting mystical abilities. Courtesy of Bethesda Softworks
By Brian Bowers and Sam Laney
Published: December 29, 2012
The past year has brought a bounty of terrific sequels, but it was a new name that turned out to be the best of the bunch.
The “Halo,” “Call of Duty,” “Mass Effect,” “Assassin’s Creed” and “Far Cry” series all came up with games that were exceptionally good — even by the high standards set by many of their predecessors. However, the game that delivered the best combination of gameplay, story and adventure was “Dishonored,” by Bethesda Softworks.
Life in a tropical paradise isnt exactly peaceful in Far Cry 3. Courtesy of Ubisoft
By Sam Laney
Published: December 19, 2012
The holiday season is a bittersweet time to be a gamer — and especially a game reviewer. Stars and Stripes gamers had their hands full with all of the AAA goodness we expect for this time of year, but no matter how much holiday cheer you can muster, there’s never enough time to play it all.
First up is “PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale,” a game so addictively good that it just “wouldn’t let go.” This Smash Bros.-style game got extra credit for its extensive cast of Sony favorites and special moves.
