StarCraft II

Starcraft 2 is a massively multiplayer real time strategy (MMORTS/ RTS) developed by Blizzard Entertainment. The game features 3 playable races. The human race is known as the Terran, the high-tech alien race is called the Protoss, and the biological weapon wielding aliens are called the Zerg. It is possible to play the campaign missions with all of the playable races. The game was released in November 2010 and received 2+ million sales in the first week. Starcraft 2 was nominated as the most anticipated game of 2010. The article was written by Ryan Fleming of Digital Threads.

The article explains everything that a beginner needs to know when first playing Starcraft 2. It describes the movement system, the flavor and the uniqueness of the game. Many people have been patiently waiting for the release of Starcraft 2. The article also explains the background history of the Terran and why they fight the other races of the galaxy. I am happy to see that the mineral system (the way of getting “money” is renewed and used again.) The mineral system used in Starcraft 2 is considered the best way to gain money in any RTS game.

I am eagerly awaiting an expansion pack that is coming to the Starcraft 2 franchise. Starcraft 1 had an expansion, so I am predicting that Starcraft 2 will have an expansion as well.  I am also happy that the game is much more balanced than the original Starcraft. I am also surprised to see Starcraft 2. Starcraft 1 was released in 1996. Starcraft 2 came out 14 years later!

Overall, Starcraft 2 is a superb game, and the article shows it. The article states that a vast amount of new units will be seen on the battlefield. I cannot wait to play Starcraft 2 sometime this weekend!

A Company of Heroes!

Company of Heroes is a free online massively multiplayer online real time strategy game (MMORTS). The game is based in the WWII European campaign. As of now, there are two playable factions, the Germans and the United States military. The game has 6 playable classes, 3 for each faction. The class you choose is the class with the play style that best fits the player. There are two game modes, one is objective based and in the other you have to destroy your adversary’s headquarters. The map sizes range from small 1v1 battles to large 4v4 battles. Some 4v4 can last for 4 or more hours. The articles are located on the main website, http://www.companyofheroes.com/ the articles are written by the Company of Heroes team and its developers, THQ and Relic.

The article describes all of the upcoming patches and expansions to Company of Heroes. It also discusses game mechanics and techniques for winning battles. The main website gives individual articles for topics that can be discussed by players on the forums. The forums provide a place where players can discuss issues, and where THQ and Relic can fix the issues. I am very relieved that Company of Heroes costumer support is so good. I also found that each article is important for the games community, it is not just unimportant blabbering. 

I am very happy to see that THQ and Relic have expanded their gaming universe. Before, people would have to purchase Company of Heroes in a store, now; people can play the free version with the full campaign and multiplayer modes. This is a great leap in MMO history as high quality games usually have to be paid for. Now player will be able to play a high quality game, free!

Company of Heroes provides allot of fun for its players, the game does not require high computer specifications and can be accessed by almost anyone. I am hoping that they will add more playable factions as well as new maps in the near future.

ARMED ASSAULT II

Armed Assault 2 is a multiplayer simulator game that was developed by Bohemia Interactive studios. The game features real mechanics to enhance the simulator feel. Armed Assault 2 (or ArmA2 for short) is the world’s leading military simulator game. The game is too advanced for a console game as a result of the many controls that the players can use to achieve their mission. It is possible to use every single button on the key-board. The game takes modern military simulators to extreme measures due to the amount of realism in the game, one of those real life things being real commands, and co-ordinates. The computer controlled players are no fools either, on hardest difficulty, it could be nearly impossible to complete a mission.  The computer controlled players are called AI which means artificial intelligence Arma2 was first released as a standalone package in 2009, but since then 3 expansion packs have been released. The article found on ComputerandVideogames.com gives an in depth looks of the game. The article is written by Craig Pearson. They reveal the uniqueness and realism of this MFPS SIM (multiplayer first person shooter simulator). ComputerandVideogames.com gives the game an 8.3/10

I found it interesting that ComputerandVideogames.com literally gives you a survival guide for ArmA2. It explains how hard this game is. Bullets will kill you in one hit and AI soldiers can spot you as a sniper from 1000+ m. away.  This is a very detailed article on some of the features that are present in Arma2. One would be the extensive squad control system that lets you direct your squad mates. The review is very much unbiased in my opinion; it gives good things and bad about this game.

I am ecstatic to know how this game will continue on, it does not have a high player base but players have the ability to join squads and do missions with them. I have a few experiences of ArmA2 of my own and they are mostly positive.  This game requires skill, careful thinking, and observation. You cannot simply go into a battlefield and start shooting at everything that moves. For example, friendly fire is always on*you could kill your own team-mates) or you could reveal your position to enemy aircraft. This is by far the best military simulator I have ever played. I am looking forward to more great expansions.

Arma2 is a step above other military simulators.  The world map is gigantic with over 50 hours of land, air, and sea.  Bohemia has really done a great job installing real mechanics and life like characters into a computer game.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=217542

Soviet Mi-24's at the Utes Airfield (Armed Assault II)

Arma2 Attack on Utes Airfield

RIFT Battle The Elemental Planes!!!

Rift is an upcoming massively multiplayer online role playing game set to release March 1^st. The world of Rift is getting torn apart by incursions from the 6 unique elemental planes. The elemental planes are life, death, fire, water, air and earth. After you create your avatar (player) you set out on a daring adventure to close the Rift’s and protect the world from devastation. There are two factions, The Guardians, and The Defiant. They are opposing teams but they still fight to close the Rift’s. The articles are about the 6 elemental planes, giving details and descriptions of each. The article was written by the Trion Worlds team. They are the designers of Rift.

The article breaks down each and every elemental plane. It is quite easy to see that some the elemental planes are opposing factions. Life fights death, water battles fire, and air clashes with earth.  Not only will players battle the Rift’s, so will the opposing elemental plane(s)!

I am interested that this MMO will hopefully alter the course for MMO’s to come. Many MMO’s on the market feel the need to copy World of Warcraft. This usually fails. I am hoping that this game will de-throne WoW as the most subscribed MMO of all time. WoW has been on the top since 2007. I see the future of Rift being as bright as the North Star.

Once again I am most defiantly looking forward to this next-gen MMO. I am especially looking forward to battling the elemental planes and visiting the towns and huge cities that dot the game world. This game is surely one of the most highly anticipated MMO games of 2011.

 http://www.riftgame.com/en/world/planes/index.php

http://www.riftgame.com/en/index.php