GAME

download game 3d

2008-10-26T13:00:00.000-07:00

download game 3d

العاب مغامرات ثلاثية الابعاد

A game engine is a software system designed for the creation and development of computer and video games. There are many game engines that are designed to work on video game consoles and desktop operating systems such as Linux, Mac OS X, and Microsoft Windows. The core functionality typically provided by a game engine includes a rendering engine (“renderer”) for 2D or 3D graphics, a physics engine or collision detection (and collision response), sound, scripting, animation, artificial intelligence, networking, streaming, memory management, threading, and a scene graph. The process of game development is frequently economized by in large part reusing the same game engine to create different games.

Overview

Game engines provide a suite of visual development tools in addition to reusable software components. These tools are generally provided in an integrated development environment to enable simplified, rapid development of games in a data-driven manner. These games engines are sometimes called "game middleware" because, as with the business sense of the term, they provide a flexible and reusable software platform which provides all the core functionality needed, right out of the box, to develop a game application while reducing costs, complexities, and time-to-market—all critical factors in the highly competitive video game industry.

Like other middleware solutions, game engines usually provide platform abstraction, allowing the same game to be run on various platforms including game consoles and personal computers with few, if any, changes made to the game source code. Often, game middleware is designed with a component-based architecture that allows specific systems in the engine to be replaced or extended with more specialized (and often more expensive) middleware components such as Havok for physics or FMOD for sound. Some game engines such as RenderWare are even designed as a series of loosely connected middleware components that can be selectively combined to create a custom engine, instead of the more common approach of extending or customizing a flexible integrated solution. However extensibility is achieved, it remains a high priority in games engines due to the wide variety of uses for which they are applied. Despite the specificity of the name, game engines are often used for other kinds of interactive applications with real-time graphical requirements such as marketing demos, architectural visualizations, training simulations, and modeling environments.

Some game engines only provide real-time 3D rendering capabilities instead of the wide range of functionality required by games. These engines rely upon the game developer to implement the rest of this functionality or assemble it from other game middleware components. These types of engines are generally referred to as a "graphics engine," "rendering engine," or "3D engine" instead of the more encompassing term "game engine." However, this terminology is inconsistently used as many full-featured 3D game engines are referred to simply as "3D engines." A few examples of graphics engines are: RealmForge, OGRE, Power Render, Crystal Space, Genesis3D, Irrlicht and JMonkey Engine. Modern game or graphics engines generally provide a scene graph, which is an object-oriented representation of the 3D game world which often simplifies game design and can be used for more efficient rendering of vast virtual worlds.

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» DevastationZone Troopers

استخدام وحدات البندقيه الهجوميه والتكنولوجيا واختيار الاسلحة نصيحه ان احتمالات البقاء على قيد الحياة لصالحك. ترقية ترسانة الخاص بك وشراء الطاقة الناشئه عن السوق السوداء.

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» Cellblock Squadrons

ننقب عن مستقبل عالم يمكن فيه لكل الجناءيه قد دين في المجتمع ، وظلام الفضاء حيث انه يتم سدادها.

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» AirStrike II

الخام ، والمعاملات القاسيه والعمل المكثف لعبة ثلاثية الأبعاد طائرات الهليكوبتر ان يجعلك تحلق فوق الصحراء والكفاح ، والمياه ، والمناطق الصناعية.

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» Desert Strike - Return to the Gulf

اللعبة للعب والمرح ويتطلب التفكير السريع وكذلك الاستراتيجيه. اذا ذهبت للتو في محاولة تفجير كل شيء حتى ، حتى يمكنك استخدام كل الكلمات التي وذخائر النتيجة جلسة بطة.

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» STOP BUSH

ما يمكن ان يكون اكثر من نسف cathartic الاتهامات في جيش من النفاق والشجيرات نبح الكلاب تشيني الهجوم ، في حين ان التأرجح السياسي الى موسيقى الراب المعادن؟

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» AstroAvenger

هل تبحث عن مطلق النار من شأنها ان الفضاء مفاجاه لك؟ ميزات بارد والرسوم البيانيه والمؤثرات الصوتيه ممتازة و شريط الصوت.

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» Lugaru

في lugaru ، انت تتحكم تيرنر ، وهو مجسم الارنب الارنب مع المتمردين للاعجاب مكافحة المهارات.

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» Alien Shooter

قتل الاجانب كما غادر آخر جندي على المحطة الفضاءيه التي تنتشر في هذه الكلاسيكيه اول شخص مطلق النار

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» Duke Nukem 3D

مجموعة من الارهابيين بيتك وسلب الاموال التي تتخذ yromp الاجنبى التى تنتشر عن طريق مدينة لوس انجلوس. ديوك nukem العودة من اجازة قليلا لانقاذ مدينة الملائكة وتدمير الاجانب في ان تؤدي هذه التعبئه - تكملة!

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» The Rescue

مجموعة من الارهابيين للسرقة والاستيلاء على بيتك ويأخذ المال الذي كنت اللازمة لدفع الانقاذ لاختطاف الاطفال والعشرين.

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» World Domination 2

العمل اساسا العاب القتال التي تشمل السمات الماديه الانفجارات ، واطلاق النار ، حاملات الطائرات ، الغواصات ، والصواريخ النووية ، والجواسيس ، الساتليه الاسلحة والتكنولوجيات المتقدمه ذات الصلة.

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» Gold Miner Joe

مساعدة المشتغلين بالتعدين الذهب جو يستكشف اربعة الاسطوري - shafted منجم للذهب في هذا الكرتون على غرار ن اذهب تشغيل لعبة.

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» Secret Spy

جعل طريقك من خلال سر معقدة ، كشف الاسرار ، والمعلومات على طول الطريق في هذا العمل مطلق النار! هي لعبة ممتعه وبحرية مطلقة!

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» Fish Tycoon

وفي هذا تربية الاسماك - محاكاه لعبة ، انت المسؤول في الوقت الحقيقي والافتراضي تخزين الاسماك. مع بداية صغيرة اختيار الاسماك ، وقليلا من النقد ودبابه.

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» Fairy Godmother Tycoon

تسلق صفوف للجنيه godmothers في هذه العملية فريدة ، سهلة لتشغيل اللعبة عرض cheeky جديدة تأخذ على قصة الحواري المفضلة. انشاء متجر في قرى مختلفة في جميع انحاء الارض.

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» Escape the Museum

مساعدة سوزان العمل في طريقها من خلال الأنقاض من المتحف الوطني للتاريخ بعد أن ضرب زلزال مدينة الصخور ويفصل لها من ابنتها.

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Odin Sphere

2008-10-08T03:49:00.000-07:00

Odin Sphere

english version

Intoxicating, enchanting, haunting, Odin Sphere subjugates the eyes of reckless player who leaves his world attracted by tales and legends steeped in Nordic mythology. Beyond the hazy sky of our reality is a magical world that is about to become the scene of a tragedy inevitable. The destiny of each of the peoples of Erion will bind and unbind at the whim of an unpredictable narrative fresco you'll be the witness.

Praised be Vanillaware who, after Crown Princess and Grim Grimoire says his innate talent for 2D. The realization of Odin Sphere is so beautiful that we sometimes forget everything else, reflecting the real work of artist who can not leave anyone indifferent. But the most incredible with that title is it surprising at all levels, not just the visual. The story, directed in the manner of a play, takes the form of a narrative maze innumerable ramifications. Uncategorized, the gameplay oscillates between an extremely subtle and customization full of ideas that never before attempted in a video game. His unique approach and bold Odin Sphere out of what we have seen so far, and just take the time to tame to leave spellbound by its atmosphere.

Atypical, Odin Sphere is already in its construction since the adventure that invites us to live next takes place during which several acts will place the events that will affect each of the factions of the continent of Erion. The scenario is presented through the eyes of five different characters, resulting in changes of view that successive complex each time a little over the ins and outs of history. Whether or allies belonging to rival camps, the heroes of Odin Sphere all have a noble quest to achieve a kingdom to defend or to discover truth. And because it quickly becomes risky to try to get an overview of the plot, the software enables us not only to review all cut-scenes of the game at any time, but it also includes a detailed explanation of how these scenes s'intercalent against each other.

Everything begins in the home of Lord Odin, the proud king of Ragnanival being terribly concerned about the war and the death of her daughter Griselda, one of the most brilliant Valkyries. The youngest, Gwendolyn, is not yet clear that it will play a major role in the series of terrible events that is. The richness of his adventure alone would suffice to establish under a scenario solid, but its conclusion marks only the beginning of another tale, the prince Cornelius. Victim of a terrible curse that makes him the appearance of a rabbit harmless, the prince of Titania will have to overcome despair and waving his sword to defend the foreign princess is in love with it. In the kingdom of Sylvan Ringford, the intrepid Mercedes will be entrusted with it despite the responsibilities that go beyond as the new queen of the fairies. Abandoned as a child and then treated like a slave throughout its existence, impassive Oswald was left entirely dominated by hatred to become the one nicknamed the Knight of the shadows. Who could believe that the heart devoured by evil could be saved by an innocent soul? Eradicated from the face of Erion, the Kingdom of Valentine was the first significant victim of war and the few survivors have taken refuge since the dark forest Elrit. It was there that lurks Velvet, princess forced to disguise its origins to survive while seeking a way to prevent the end of the world. After many revelations, the inevitable result of this history into five parties will be revealed at the end of the sixth chapter, Armageddon, where all the characters will face the most terrible boss of the game.

Announced as an action RPG, Odin Sphere is actually quite difficult to qualify. His fighting flirting with beat'em all are much more subtle than it appears, and you spend more time finally to address the evolution of his hero to fight in the phases of action. Because the challenge is thought to make the difficult crossing spherical levels which are connected to each other until the boss area. Following a horizontal scrolling, the terrain can be traveled in one way or the other and includes exit doors to the following areas that can not borrow once all the enemies vanquished. Each floor has left a score that evaluates your performance and reward you depending on the outcome. The gameplay differs obviously played by the characters, but all feature a variety of interesting movements and capability renew how we will negotiate the clashes. Fortunately, however, because having retraverser the same environments and bosses face recurring with each of them may shock many. In truth, the gameplay established in Odin Sphere is particularly so only after having completed the first scenario after 5-8 hours of game that starts to really appreciate it. This means that we should not hesitate to persevere and opt for the easy way if we want to overcome the difficulties phases of action without giving up.

To survive, it is essential to prepare its armored character in its inventory and increasing levels of energy and magic. One step we find it hard to identify when the adventure starts, but that becomes exciting once it has seized all its possibilities. Car to mount level must eat, and thus to grow fruit in the levels, which implies retrieve seeds in chests and called phozons particles to make them grow. Finally, all components of Odin Sphere are closely linked and the strength of the game really lies in the fact that the player is always free to ensure its development in its own way. Imagine an RPG where the characters do not earn experience points by fighting monsters and the only way to edit lines is food. Just entered a level, you open your bag to extract a seed that you plant in the ground until it grows. By eliminating your opponents, the phozons are released and serve your energy plantations to produce berries, fruit, and even sheep which s'extirpent branches of trees to try to escape your devouring hunger. Once ingested, these dishes give you not only life but also mount your quota of experience, and it is abundantly nourishing you as you pass to the next level.

But botany is an art in Odin Sphere, because we must planting seeds know at the right time, reap the fruit before they rot and above all be able to keep certain ingredients that you can then cook dishes all kinds. An opportunity not to be overlooked because the raw food quickly reveals its limitations and nothing beats good food to increase its capacity in just a few minutes. Your bag will therefore not only full of seeds but all kinds of ingredients: milk, eggs, bread, meat, no mandrake forget that you can hunt in levels by identifying the sounds they emit when you walk on it. Inventory management, cooking, plantations and the changing character are complemented by a very relevant alchemy. In mixing potions with mandrake and other objects, you can create decoctions which you can not pass. Some you restore life, others reduce the damage inflicted by cold or heat, others can poison or explosive projectiles. The diversity of possible mixtures makes it pretty complex to manage at first but you have always parchments which are listed on the ingredients you need to achieve your income and your forms of alchemy.

If it can be confusing, difficult and even tedious in the early hours of Thursday, Odin Sphere reward the time spent in taming its going more and more exciting to play at the point of generating a dependency among those who will assess all aspects of its system Thursday The French version offers the option 50/60 Hz and full texts translated into our language, although they do appear more directly in the bubbles but on the top or bottom of the screen. It was always the possibility to opt for either English voice dubbing original Japanese, and three difficulty levels are offered. That is probably the last great PS2 games, and those who would be deterred by the strangeness of its concept will spend next to a beautiful yet.

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version française

Enivrant, enchanteur, envoûtant, Odin Sphere subjugue le regard du joueur imprudent qui se laisse attirer par son univers de contes et de légendes empreint de mythologie nordique. Par-delà le ciel brumeux de notre réalité se trouve un monde féerique qui s'apprête à devenir le théâtre d'une inéluctable tragédie. Les destins de chacun des peuples d'Erion vont se lier et se délier selon le bon vouloir d'une fresque narrative imprévisible dont vous serez le témoin privilégié.

Loué soit Vanillaware qui, après Princess Crown et Grim Grimoire, affirme son talent inné pour la 2D. La réalisation d'Odin Sphere est à ce point magnifique qu'elle nous fait parfois oublier tout le reste, témoignant d'un réel travail d'artiste qui ne pourra laisser personne insensible. Mais le plus incroyable avec ce titre est qu'il surprend à tous les niveaux, et pas seulement sur le plan visuel. L'histoire, mise en scène à la manière d'une pièce de théâtre, prend la forme d'un véritable labyrinthe narratif aux ramifications innombrables. Inclassable, le gameplay oscille entre une action extrêmement subtile et une customisation qui fourmille d'idées encore jamais tentées dans un jeu vidéo. Son approche singulière et audacieuse démarque Odin Sphere de tout ce que l'on a pu voir jusqu'à présent, et il suffit de prendre le temps de l'apprivoiser pour se laisser envoûter par son atmosphère.

Atypique, Odin Sphere l'est déjà dans sa construction puisque l'aventure qu'il nous invite à vivre se déroule suivant plusieurs actes durant lesquels vont se dérouler des événements qui auront des répercussions sur chacune des factions du continent d'Erion. Le scénario nous est donc présenté à travers les yeux de cinq personnages différents, ce qui entraîne des changements de point de vue successifs qui complexifient chaque fois un peu plus les tenants et aboutissants de l'histoire. Qu'ils soient alliés ou appartenant à des camps rivaux, les héros d'Odin Sphere ont tous une noble quête à accomplir, un royaume à défendre ou une vérité à découvrir. Et parce qu'il devient rapidement hasardeux de chercher à obtenir une vision d'ensemble de l'intrigue, le soft nous permet non seulement de revoir toutes les cut-scenes du jeu à tout moment, mais il comporte aussi un tableau détaillé expliquant la manière dont ces scènes s'intercalent les unes par rapport aux autres.

Tout commence dans la demeure du seigneur Odin, le fier roi de Ragnanival étant affreusement préoccupé par la guerre et par la mort de sa fille Griselda, l'une des plus brillantes Valkyries. La cadette, Gwendolyn, ne sait pas encore qu'elle va jouer un rôle majeur dans la série d'événements terribles qui se prépare. La richesse de son aventure aurait à elle seule suffi à conférer au titre un scénario solide, mais sa conclusion marque seulement le début d'un autre conte, celui du prince Cornélius. Victime d'une terrible malédiction qui lui a fait prendre l'apparence d'un lapin inoffensif, le prince de Titania devra surmonter son désespoir et brandir son épée pour défendre la princesse étrangère dont il est amoureux. Au royaume sylvestre de Ringford, l'intrépide Mercedes se verra confier malgré elle des responsabilités qui la dépassent en tant que nouvelle reine des fées. Abandonné lorsqu'il était enfant puis traité comme un esclave durant toute son existence, l'impassible Oswald s'est entièrement laissé dominer par la haine au point de devenir celui que l'on surnomme le chevalier des ombres. Qui pourrait croire que ce coeur dévoré par le mal pourrait bien être sauvé par une âme innocente ? Eradiqué de la surface d'Erion, le royaume de Valentine fut la première victime significative de la guerre et les rares survivants se sont réfugiés depuis dans la sombre forêt d'Elrit. C'est là que se cache Velvet, princesse contrainte de dissimuler ses origines pour survivre tout en cherchant un moyen d'empêcher la fin du monde. Après bien des révélations, l'issue inéluctable de cette histoire en cinq parties ne nous sera révélée qu'à la fin du sixième chapitre, l'Armageddon, où l'ensemble des personnages devront affronter les boss les plus terribles du jeu.

Annoncé comme un Action-RPG, Odin Sphere s'avère en réalité bien difficile à qualifier. Ses combats flirtant avec le beat'em all sont beaucoup plus subtils qu'il n'y paraît, et on passe finalement plus de temps à s'occuper de l'évolution de son héros qu'à batailler dans les phases d'action. Car le challenge est pensé de manière à rendre difficile la traversée des niveaux sphériques qui sont reliés les uns aux autres jusqu'à la zone du boss. Suivant un scrolling horizontal, le terrain peut être parcouru dans un sens comme dans l'autre et comporte des portes de sortie vers les sphères suivantes qu'on ne peut emprunter qu'une fois la totalité des ennemis vaincus. Chaque étage se solde par un score qui évalue votre performance et vous récompense en fonction du résultat obtenu. Le gameplay diffère bien évidemment selon les personnages joués, mais tous disposent d'une panoplie de mouvements intéressante et de capacités qui renouvellent la façon dont on va négocier les affrontements. Heureusement, d'ailleurs, car le fait de devoir retraverser les mêmes environnements et d'affronter des boss récurrents avec chacun d'entre eux pourra en choquer plus d'un. A dire vrai, le gameplay mis en place dans Odin Sphere est tellement particulier que ce n'est qu'après avoir terminé le premier scénario au bout de 5-8 heures de jeu qu'on commence à véritablement l'apprécier. Autant dire qu'il ne faut pas hésiter à persévérer et opter pour le mode Facile si on souhaite surmonter les difficultés des phases d'action sans baisser les bras.

Pour survivre, il est donc indispensable de préparer son personnage en blindant son inventaire et en augmentant ses niveaux d'énergie et de magie. Une étape qu'on a bien du mal à cerner lorsqu'on démarre l'aventure, mais qui devient passionnante une fois qu'on a saisi toutes ses possibilités. Car pour monter de niveau il faut manger, et donc faire pousser des fruits dans les niveaux, ce qui implique de récupérer des graines dans des coffres et des particules appelées phozons pour les faire pousser. Finalement, tous les éléments constitutifs d'Odin Sphere sont étroitement liés, et la force du jeu réside bel et bien dans le fait que le joueur est toujours libre d'assurer son évolution à sa manière. Imaginez un RPG où les personnages ne gagnent pas de points d'expérience en combattant des monstres et où le seul moyen de monter de niveau est de se nourrir. A peine entré dans un niveau, vous ouvrez votre sac pour en extraire une graine que vous plantez dans le sol en attendant qu'elle pousse. En éliminant vos adversaires, des phozons sont libérées et servent d'énergie à vos plantations pour donner naissance à des baies, des fruits, et même à des moutons qui s'extirpent des branches des arbres pour tenter d'échapper à votre faim dévorante. Une fois ingurgités, tous ces mets vous redonnent non seulement de la vie mais font également monter votre quota d'expérience, et c'est en vous nourrissant abondamment que vous passerez au niveau suivant.

Mais la botanique est tout un art dans Odin Sphere, car il faut savoir planter les graines au bon moment, cueillir les fruits avant qu'ils ne pourrissent et surtout être capable de conserver certains ingrédients pour qu'on puisse ensuite vous cuisiner des plats de toutes sortes. Une possibilité à ne surtout pas négliger car la nourriture crue révèle très vite ses limites et rien ne vaut la bonne cuisine pour augmenter ses capacités en à peine quelques minutes. Votre sac ne sera donc pas seulement rempli de graines mais aussi de toutes sortes d'ingrédients : du lait, des oeufs, du pain, de la viande, sans oublier les mandragores que vous pourrez chasser dans les niveaux en repérant les sons qu'elles émettent lorsque vous marchez dessus. La gestion de l'inventaire, la cuisine, les plantations et l'évolution du personnage sont complétées par une intervention très pertinente de l'alchimie. En mixant des potions avec des mandragores et d'autres objets, vous allez pouvoir créer des décoctions dont vous ne pourrez plus vous passer. Certaines vous redonnent de la vie, d'autres réduisent les dégâts infligés par le froid ou la chaleur, d'autres encore peuvent servir de poison ou de projectiles explosifs. La diversité des mélanges possibles rend les choses assez complexes à gérer au début, mais vous disposez toujours de parchemins sur lesquels sont listés les ingrédients dont vous aurez besoin pour réaliser vos recettes et vos formules d'alchimie.

S'il peut s'avérer déroutant, difficile et même fastidieux lors des premières heures de jeu, Odin Sphere récompense le temps passé à son apprivoisement en se rendant de plus en plus passionnant à jouer, au point de générer une dépendance chez ceux qui sauront apprécier tous les aspects de son système de jeu. La version française propose l'option 50/60 Hz et des textes entièrement traduits dans notre langue, bien que ces derniers ne s'affichent plus directement dans les bulles mais sur le haut ou le bas de l'écran. On a toujours la possibilité d'opter soit pour les voix anglaises soit pour le doublage original en japonais, et trois niveaux de difficulté sont proposés. Voilà sans doute l'un des derniers grands jeux de la PS2, et ceux qui seraient rebutés par l'étrangeté de son concept passeront à côté d'un titre pourtant magnifique.

info jeux

Editeur : Atlus
Développeur : Vanillaware
Type : Action / Jeu de Rôle
Support : DVD
Multijoueurs : non
Sortie France : 13 mars 2008
Version : Française intégrale
Classification : Déconseillé aux - de 12 ans
Web : Site web officiel
Similaire à :Princess Crown

Crash of the Titans

2008-10-05T13:55:00.000-07:00

Crash of the Titans

english version

The most famous apple Croqueurs Leaping disembark again on GBA for our greatest pleasure, hurry to get down with a doctor Cortex rose more than ever. At the head of an army of mutants, the infamous scientist fully intends to take over the resources of the island Wumpa and get rid once and for all of Crash and his family. It was not counting on the new powers of the marsupial, better than ever in this episode innovative and colorful.

Three years after his last appearance on GBA, Crash wakes up from a nap well deserved full nightmare. His family and friends were captured and Wumpa peaceful island is infested with hostile creatures controlled remotely. Fortunately, Aku Aku, his faithful spiritual guide, soon to appear alongside him to deal with this situation. The aura marsupial known to be done during the 5 islands to explore, populated by monsters and other bosses armed to the teeth.

Bearing the achievements of the series well established, Crash of the Titans offers small batch of news, including a sizeable from the beginning of the adventure, Crash discovers that he can also take control of mutant creatures to fight or reach inaccessible places! This is the great innovation of this episode and it offers a wealth of opportunities pleasing level gameplay. Each of the mutants, a dozen in total, has its own attacks and a special coup. Original and distinct creatures undoubtedly add a new dimension to Crash Bandicoot. To have the opportunity to walk the trails of the island Wumpa in the skin of one of these bugs, suffice it to crash to knock one of them and use a mask pressing L. It then leads the way while a classical touch of R trigger a special power if the corresponding gauge is full. Ranging from shock to the swarm of bees through thorns occurring soil or chain of explosions, the capacity of mutants offer a varied arsenal to kill all the ways crazy fauna of the islands. Note that some monsters are particularly difficult to knock it in advance will control a creature lower. Another new feature, we learn new skills in collecting orbs that Mojo monsters file after their death. For the rest, it will as usual, to break crates, chew apples, or recover masks and other crystals rise to power. The conventional controls for a set of platform allow a grip immediately. It will soon Bondi, jump, double jump, climb the rope, by distributing bread-front, from behind, above, from below ... Crash is not sparing of blows and acrobatics as effective than pleasant to watch.

In regard to the implementation elsewhere Crash of the Titans levels offers colorful and sympathetic though uneven both at the level graphic-design. In the jungle, at the bottom of a secret base or on the slopes of a volcano, sets shimmering parade often on several levels deep. The few phases bonus jet ski or paragliding are also correct. The music is not left with the intonations tropical tunes, jazz or techno depending on the circumstances. The sound effects are as delusional as well made. Finally, characters, either crash or mutants are well animated, fluid, and fun to watch.

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vesion française

Le plus célèbre des croqueurs de pommes bondissant débarque de nouveau sur GBA pour notre plus grand plaisir, pressé d'en découdre avec un docteur Cortex plus remonté que jamais. A la tête d'une armée de mutants, l'infâme savant a bien l'intention de faire main basse sur les ressources de l'ile Wumpa et de se débarrasser une bonne fois pour toute de Crash et de sa famille. C'était sans compter sur les nouveaux pouvoirs du marsupial, en pleine forme dans cet épisode innovant et haut en couleur.

Trois ans après sa dernière apparition sur GBA, Crash se réveille d'une sieste bien méritée en plein cauchemar. Sa famille et ses amis ont été capturés et la paisible île Wumpa est infestée de créatures hostiles contrôlées à distance. Heureusement, Aku aku, son fidèle guide spirituel, ne tarde pas à apparaître à ses côtés pour faire face à cette situation dramatique. Le célèbre marsupial aura fort à faire au long des 5 îles à explorer, peuplées de monstres et autres boss armés jusqu'aux dents.

Gardant les acquis de la série bien rodée, Crash of the Titans offre son petit lot de nouveautés, dont une de taille : dès le début de l'aventure, Crash découvre qu'il peut lui aussi prendre le contrôle des créatures mutantes pour se battre ou atteindre des endroits inaccessibles ! C'est la grande innovation de cet épisode et elle offre une richesse de possibilités proprement réjouissante au niveau du gameplay. Chacun des mutants, une quinzaine au total, dispose de ses propres attaques et d'un coup spécial. Originales et bien distinctes, les créatures ajoutent indéniablement une nouvelle dimension à Crash Bandicoot. Pour avoir le loisir d'arpenter les sentiers de l'île Wumpa dans la peau d'une de ces bestioles, il suffira à Crash d'assommer l'une d'elles et d'utiliser un masque en pressant la touche L. On la dirigera ensuite de manière classique tandis qu'une simple pression sur R déclenchera un pouvoir spécial si la jauge correspondante est pleine. Allant de la décharge électrique à l'essaim d'abeilles en passant par des épines surgissant du sol ou des explosions en chaîne, les capacités des mutants offrent un arsenal varié pour massacrer de toutes les façons possibles la faune déjantée des îles. A noter que certains des monstres étant particulièrement difficiles à assommer, il faudra au préalable contrôler une créature plus faible. Autre nouveauté, on apprendra de nouvelles capacités en récupérant des orbes Mojo que les monstres déposent après leur mort. Pour le reste, il s'agira comme d'habitude, de défoncer des caisses, croquer des pommes, ou récupérer des masques et autres cristaux pour monter en puissance. Les contrôles classiques pour un jeu de plate-forme permettent une prise en main immédiate. On aura tôt fait de bondir, sauter, double-sauter, grimper à la corde, distribuer des pains par-devant, par-derrière, par-dessus, par-dessous... Crash n'est pas avare de coups et d'acrobaties aussi efficaces qu'agréables à regarder.

En ce qui concerne la réalisation d'ailleurs, Crash of the Titans propose des niveaux colorés et sympathiques quoique inégaux tant au niveau du graphisme que du level-design. Dans la jungle, au fond d'une base secrète ou sur les pentes d'un volcan, les décors chatoyants défilent souvent sur plusieurs niveaux de profondeur. Les quelques phases bonus à scooter des mers ou en parapente sont également correctes. La musique n'est pas en reste avec des airs aux intonations tropicales, jazzy ou technos selon les circonstances. Les effets sonores sont aussi délirants que bien réalisés. Enfin, les personnages, que ce soit Crash ou les mutants sont bien animés, fluides, et plaisants à regarder.

Certains pourtant pourront déplorer une nouvelle orientation du gameplay nettement plus axée sur les combats. A tel point que le jeu prend parfois de véritables allures de beat'em all. Ca castagne dans tous les sens, au détriment de phases de jeu plus classiques pour un jeu de plate-forme. Plus ennuyeux, quelques bugs sérieux, bien que rares, viennent ternir quelque peu la réalisation par ailleurs impeccable du soft. Ici, un mutant marche dans les airs au-dessus de notre tête tandis que là Crash traverse carrément un plafond pour se retrouver bloqué dans une dimension parallèle. Il est toujours agaçant et terriblement frustrant de devoir recharger une sauvegarde à cause de ce genre de désagréments. Enfin, la durée de vie reste limitée à quelques heures, même si l'exploration des îles à 100% et le débloquage de tous les bonus rallongeront un peu la sauce.

info jeux

Editeur : Vivendi Universal Games
Développeur : Amaze Entertainment
Type : Action / Plates-formes
Support : cartouches
Multijoueurs : non
Sortie France : 12 octobre 2007(2 octobre 2007 aux Etats-Unis)
Version : française intégrale
Classification : Pour tous publics

Black

2008-10-05T13:03:00.000-07:00

Black

english version

"Explodes everything" is beaming the game at least, the message is clear and left little doubt about what awaits us in Black, a technical marvel that is also one of the most FPS that Bourrin we have seen since moons. A real game of mass destruction but in fact maybe a little too much.

I do not pretend to have always had a little trouble with Black, because if the guy from Criterion, say at E3 that the game would be Burnout of FPS was a good thing, others saw a bad omen. Yet it must be admitted that the title was in the belly and you get caught in the trap of fireworks such as Electronic Arts studios know orchestrate. Indeed, the title benefits not only an achievement but also refined a style of cinematic through live tours that will introduce each mission. Cutscenes in which there will be the questioning of the hero himself by an officer dressed all in black, investigating the events recounted by the game

The thing has escaped person, Black pearl is a graphic on Xbox as well as PS2, a well-oiled machine that impresses. Everything seems likely to be destroyed, the sets are flying dust and debris in the middle of flames, causing a frenzy rarely seen in a FPS, especially on consoles. The windows fly apart, walls are crumbling, silos or tanks ignite immense and collapse dramatically, trucks s'embrasent. Everything is intended to become ruins and ashes and quickly understand that any exchange of fire ends in rage. Directed hands of teachers, Black has an amazing engine, which we awarded destruction and explosions that force compliance. This also applies to the sensation of power arms.

In fact, Black is a game that particularly primary crossing such a tank. To appreciate, understand that the game does not even have a touch of action. Thus, in Black, it is not a door, we blew the gun pump. If you see a computer, do not activate, you must destroy and make this a secondary objective, on the third weapon that can be used at the first level, it does nothing else a rocket launcher to devastating effect. By the way, small dot on weapons of the game that unfortunately do little difference that one over the other, a small gap and reach back, but not strong enough for that attention. However, it is one that stands out the lot: the shotgun. Without doubt, in my opinion, the most powerful of all. On a staff that will laugh used any of FPS, the gun pump Black enough to get out of most situations and leaves room for another weapon in cases where the enemies will be the farthest .

So Black is bourrin, but then really bourrin. At the beginning at least, we are seduced by the glitter and rhinestones as can be made at the contemplation of an action movie but a little hollow big show. This is the panard and blossoming to blow everything around us like a little crazy. Because yes, pull tanks and blowing up a building, it's fun. For a time. Because in the long run, this deluge is becoming tiresome. The lack of depth of gameplay eventually be evaporated once the visual shock. First, the development levels of abuse too much of cans of gasoline or other explosives behind which will always stick enemies. Enemies also of great stupidity. If the game can spare a few moments a little difficult, mainly blocking you in a infested large interior of hostile AI is hard to see. Your opponents seem to be completely deaf and not react until the last moment. Sometimes even a grenade exploded in their vicinity is not enough to alert them, they quietly continued their patrol. What they lack in intelligence, they compensate with aggressiveness. Very many, you Gaventa of heavy fire and resistance to bullets outside standards. A shipper will often not too much to overcome one of them and some may collect up to 3 or even 4 shotgun fired at close range before making the soul.

Under the veneer of flames and the outstanding achievement which eventually undergo the bidding, it is a game in the action finally very redundant and that by putting too much on its aesthetics, without offering real diversity and even less for the challenge player. It is fatal that despite a pleasure early hours of steam passion and stunted into a shrunken fatigue. This is unfortunate, then, is that this does not happen after about 6 or 7 hours, which is the time a player put a little hardened to see the end of Black. A too much, the game Criterion eventually kill its own charm, like a joke told too often loses its potential fun. It would not have had little to prevent this, but this gap is costing Black remains a show, more than a game and just remember where Red Faction PC, while proud of its engine GEOMOD but had forgotten to ward off a convincing gameplay.

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version française

"Explose tout", c'est l'accroche du jeu. Au moins, le message est clair et ne laisse guère de doutes sur ce qui nous attend dans Black, une merveille technique qui est aussi l'un des FPS les plus bourrins qu'on ait vu depuis des lunes. Un véritable jeu de destruction massive mais qui en fait peut-être un peu trop.

Je ne cacherai pas avoir toujours eu un peu de mal avec Black, car si pour les gars de Criterion, déclarer à l'E3 que le jeu serait le Burnout du FPS était une bonne chose, d'autres y voyaient un mauvais présage. Pourtant, il faut admettre que le titre en a dans le ventre et qu'on se laisse prendre au piège de ce spectacle pyrotechnique tel que les studios Electronic Arts savent les orchestrer. D'ailleurs, le titre bénéficie non seulement d'une réalisation léchée mais également d'une présentation stylée grâce à des cinématiques tournées en live qui introduiront chaque mission. Cinématiques dans lesquelles on assistera à l'interrogatoire du héros lui-même par un agent tout de noir vêtu, enquêtant sur les événements relatés par le jeu.

La chose n'aura échappé à personne, Black est une perle graphique, sur Xbox aussi bien que sur PS2, une machine bien huilée qui impressionne. Tout semble susceptible d'être anéanti, les décors volent en poussière et débris au milieu des flammes, générant une frénésie rarement vue dans un FPS, en particulier sur consoles. Les vitres volent en éclats, les murs s'effondrent, des silos ou des réservoirs immenses s'enflamment et s'écroulent de façon spectaculaire, des camions s'embrasent. Tout n'est destiné qu'à devenir ruines et cendres et on ne tarde pas à comprendre que le moindre échange de coups de feu se terminera dans la fureur. Réalisé de mains de maîtres, Black dispose d'un moteur époustouflant qui nous gratifie de destructions et d'explosions qui forcent le respect. Ce qui vaut également pour la sensation de puissance des armes.

De fait, Black est un jeu particulièrement primaire que l'on traverse tel un char d'assaut. Pour bien saisir, comprenez que le jeu ne dispose même pas d'une touche d'action. Ainsi, dans Black, on n'ouvre pas une porte, on la fait sauter au fusil à pompe. Si vous voyez un ordinateur, ne cherchez pas à l'activer, vous devez le détruire et accomplir de cette façon un objectif secondaire, quant à la troisième arme que l'on pourra utiliser dès le premier niveau, ce ne sera rien d'autre qu'un lance-roquettes aux effets dévastateurs. En passant, petit point sur les armes du jeu qui ne présentent malheureusement que peu de différences l'une par rapport à l'autre, un petit écart de portée et de recul, mais pas assez marqué pour qu'on y prête attention. Ceci dit, il en est une qui se détache du lot : le shotgun. Sans conteste, à mon sens, la plus puissante de toutes. D'une portée qui fera rire n'importe quel habitué du FPS, le fusil à pompe de Black suffit à se sortir de la plupart des situations et ne laisse la place à une autre arme que dans les cas où les ennemis seront les plus éloignés.

Alors Black est bourrin, mais alors vraiment très bourrin. Au début au moins, on se laisse séduire, par les paillettes et les strass comme on peut se prendre à la contemplation d'un film d'action un peu creux mais à grand spectacle. C'est le panard et on s'éclate à tout faire péter autour de nous comme un petit fou. Parce que oui, tirer sur des réservoirs et faire sauter tout un bâtiment, c'est amusant. Pendant un temps. Car à la longue, ce déluge devient lassant. Le manque de profondeur du gameplay finit par se révéler une fois évaporé le choc visuel. En premier lieu, la mise en place des niveaux abuse beaucoup trop des bidons d'essence ou autres objets explosifs derrière lesquels iront systématiquement se coller les ennemis. Des ennemis par ailleurs d'une grande bêtise. Si le jeu sait ménager quelques moments un tantinet ardus, essentiellement en vous bloquant dans un grand intérieur infesté d'hostiles, l'I.A. fait peine à voir. Vos adversaires semblent être complètement sourds et ne réagissent qu'au dernier moment. Il arrive que même une grenade explosant à leur proximité ne suffise pas à les alerter, ces derniers poursuivant tranquillement leur patrouille. Ce qu'il leur manque en intelligence, ils le compensent en agressivité. Très nombreux, ils vous gavent d'un feu nourri et d'une résistance aux balles hors normes. Un chargeur ne sera souvent pas de trop pour venir à bout d'un seul d'entre eux et certains pourront encaisser jusqu'à 3 voire 4 tirs de shotgun à bout portant avant de rendre l'âme.

Sous le vernis des flammes et de la réalisation exceptionnelle dont on finit par subir la surenchère, il ressort un jeu à l'action finalement très redondante et qui mise par trop sur son esthétique, sans offrir de réelle diversité et encore moins de challenge pour le joueur. Il est alors fatal que malgré un véritable plaisir des premières heures, la passion s'essouffle et se rabougrisse pour devenir une lassitude ratatinée. Ce qui est regrettable, alors, c'est que cela ne se produise pas au bout d'environ 6 ou 7 heures, ce qui est le temps que mettra un joueur un tant soit peu aguerri pour voir la fin de Black. A trop en faire, le jeu de Criterion finit par tuer son propre charme, comme une blague trop souvent racontée perd son potentiel rigolade. Il n'aurait pas fallut grand-chose pour éviter cela, mais cette lacune coûte à Black qui reste un show, plus qu'un jeu et rappellera un peu le cas Red Faction sur PC, tout fier de son moteur GeoMod mais qui avait oublié de se parer d'un gameplay convaincant.

info jeux

Editeur : Electronic Arts
Développeur : Criterion Studios
Type : Action
Support : DVD
Sortie France : 23 février 2006
Classification : Déconseillé aux - de 16 ans
Web : Site web officiel

Castlevania : Portrait of Ruin

2008-10-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

Castlevania : Portrait of Ruin

english version

Already sprawling, the great family of Castlevania have a new heir called Portrait of Ruin in the West, and Gallery of Labyrinth in vo. During the twenty years of the saga, Koji Igarashi offers the portable Nintendo developed an episode with passion and controlled with enough flair to melt again all the fans of the series.

Since Symphony of the Night, tradition dictates that each new portable console Castlevania is forged in the mold of the action-RPG and retains the charm of a Gothic 2D sublimated by the theme of the Transylvanian myth. While it is true that the five opus on DS and GBA have a family clear is just entering their world that realizes how each is inherently different. So do not blame this Portrait of Ruin to pay tribute to his predecessors in incorporating all the elements that have already proven themselves, but rather let us thank him for new ideas he introduced and for fun Game doubt it proposes to offer.

So that the legend can resurrect over centuries, perpetuating forever the myth of Dracula, the god Konami generally use its power to restore the castle of Count and order and the descendants of the Belmont clan to emerge from the shadows to drive the forces of evil. Our story takes place this time in the context of the Second World War, but do not imagine if such a conflict is enough to disfigure the atmosphere of this new Castlevania by depriving its Gothic charm. The period is only to insert this opus in the complex chronology of the saga, forging new links between some of its protagonists. We therefore find two people whose names new recall may be more memories for fans of the series, at least if they still have enough blood in the veins to be still alive. Main player of the game, Jonathan Morris is none other than the new owner of the Vampire Killer, the legendary whip passed down from generation to generation in the family Belmont. How Jonathan, who is not part of the Belmont clan, can he be in possession of this sacred relic? You can already find a response in Castlevania Bloodlines, also called New Generation, as it is in this episode had shown that his father John Morris. Nevertheless, the young man is unable to control the real power of Vampire Killer early Thursday, and one of your goals will be to find ways to make it fit for use .

A veritable library rat, Charlotte Aulin is the childhood friend of Jonathan. At the age of 16 years, it is more passionate than ever to play old spell that brings the knowledge of magic. This adventure will be an opportunity for her to get their hands on it lost scrolls to decipher enough to learn new spells and help his companion out alive Castle Dracula. Rumors claim that the lord of darkness still resides inside the mansion, current ownership of Count Brauner, a painter vampire increasing its force in bringing together the tortured souls of victims of war. His power remains hidden within his paintings, dark paintings in which the traveler may enter imprudent to parallel universe to the real world. A feature of the game lies in the fact that the exploration of the site may no longer confined to Castle Dracula, but extends through the tables for us to discover the worlds varied atmospheres. An excellent way to extend life and especially to justify changes in mood. It should come as no surprise to be asked to explore a rather gloomy academy before walking the sands of an Egyptian desert, through all sorts of environments very inspired.

The increase complies with the rules established in previous components, namely that the characters gain experience over the fighting, allowing them to mount level and improve their capabilities. The recovery of souls Dawn of Sorrow gives way to techniques to each of the two characters. Charlotte can retrieve scrolls that will then invoke some enemies, cast spells to attack or use magic support. As specializing in occult arts, its attack techniques are limited to weapons outside the white pages of his spell. Capabilities which complement perfectly with those of Jonathan, capable of equipping all sorts of weapons such as swords, whips or fists U.S. and perform movements that greatly facilitate travel. In addition, a variety of secondary weapons, in very different styles. While some are rather conventional, others are also effective foreign ridiculous, like paper airplanes or with cream pies. The game assumes perfect changes in tone of seriousness to the absurd, terrifying of ridicule. No wonder, therefore, to see béhémoths zombies and dragons alongside the skeletons bartender you swing into full glass figure or servants from the vacuum cleaner in the corridors!

Portrait of Ruin is also full of winks to former elements of the saga. And found all kinds of suggestive objects, but also a bestiary which has some unavoidable boss. The reference to the first component immediately hit the fan when successively face the creature of Frankenstein, the jellyfish and the mummy. Without wishing spoiler, the optional dungeon also includes its share of surprises that deserve ample detour, including bringing together bosses thought to have definitively defeated in Dawn of Sorrow. If anything around references, how not to report the presence of Richter Belmont in Portrait of Ruin? It goes to not appear during the adventure for a face-to-face inevitable with the new owner of the Vampire Killer, but it becomes downright playable alongside the beautiful Maria when you finish the game you find what conditions meet for a chance to embody this duo who had shown in the episode Rondo of Blood. In the same way, the ability to embody Stella and Loretta, the two sisters that you face throughout the first scenario, is not trivial because you can redo the game by taking advantage of a brand-new gameplay. Fighting in effect run entirely with the stylus for a result much enjoyment, even if extreme ease of this night a little interest. Note that the third scenario is to release evidence that the soft full bonus that challenge us to continue the game even when finished.

To return to gameplay specific to the adventure of Charlotte and Jonathan, is to control two characters simultaneously allows many new opportunities. Some movements can take place only if the two heroes interact together on the screen, both to stop a train only to get the short scale. The duo can be separated a few moments, either to avoid the second only to be hit, resulting in a loss of MP, is to activate mechanisms. If the management of the two protagonists a real interest in adventure, we especially regret not being able to browse the game with another human player. The cooperative mode is content to offer just a few preset route, or open a shop to share its objects with their friends. He had a good card to play on that side, even if the IA is good enough to not have to complain about her partner in solo mode. A note of course the presence of techniques combined very impressive contribution to make both characters to launch spectacular attacks and often devastating. More innovative quests you entrust some NPC make a real freshness to this episode, allowing you to momentarily leave aside the main adventure to carry out missions of all kinds. With the presence of portraits and progression duo, these quests are among the elements that truly this episode apart from its predecessors. All good reasons for you to start your tour in this new Castlevania proves that the saga still has a bright future before it.

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version française

Déjà tentaculaire, la grande famille des Castlevania accueille un nouvel héritier baptisé Portrait of Ruin en occident, et Gallery of Labyrinth en vo. A l'occasion des vingt ans de la saga, Koji Igarashi offre à la portable de Nintendo un épisode développé avec passion et maîtrisé avec suffisamment de brio pour faire fondre encore une fois tous les fans de la série.

Depuis Symphony of the Night, la tradition veut que chaque nouveau Castlevania sur console portable soit forgé dans le moule de l'Action-RPG et conserve le charme d'une 2D gothique sublimée par le thème du mythe transylvanien. S'il est certain que les cinq opus disponibles sur DS et GBA ont un air de famille évident, c'est seulement en pénétrant dans leur univers qu'on se rend compte à quel point chacun d'entre eux est intrinsèquement différent. Ainsi, n'allons pas reprocher à ce Portrait of Ruin de rendre hommage à ses prédécesseurs en reprenant tous les éléments qui ont déjà fait leur preuve, mais efforçons-nous plutôt de le remercier pour les nouvelles idées qu'il introduit et pour le plaisir de jeu indéniable qu'il se propose de nous offrir.

Afin que la légende puisse renaître au fil des siècles, perpétuant à l'infini le mythe de Dracula, le dieu Konami use généralement de son pouvoir pour restaurer le château du comte et obliger ainsi les descendants du clan Belmont à sortir de l'ombre pour chasser les forces du mal. Notre histoire se passe cette fois dans le contexte de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, mais n'allez pas imaginer pour autant qu'un tel conflit suffise à défigurer l'atmosphère de ce nouveau Castlevania en le dépossédant de son charme gothique. La période n'est là que pour insérer cet opus dans la chronologie complexe de la saga, en tissant de nouveaux liens entre certains de ses protagonistes. Nous découvrons donc deux personnages inédits dont les noms rappelleront peut-être des souvenirs aux plus mordus de la série, du moins s'il leur reste encore assez de sang dans les veines pour être encore en vie. Principal acteur du jeu, Jonathan Morris n'est autre que le nouveau détenteur du Vampire Killer, le fouet légendaire transmis de génération en génération au sein de la famille Belmont. Comment Jonathan, qui ne fait pas partie du clan Belmont, peut-il se retrouver en possession de cette relique sacrée ? On peut déjà trouver un élément de réponse dans Castlevania Bloodlines, également appelé New Generation, puisque c'est dans cet épisode que s'était illustré son père John Morris. Quoi qu'il en soit, le jeune homme n'est pas en mesure de maîtriser la véritable puissance du Vampire Killer au début du jeu, et l'un de vos objectifs sera donc de trouver le moyen de le rendre apte à l'utiliser.

Véritable rat de bibliothèque, Charlotte Aulin est l'amie d'enfance de Jonathan. A l'âge de 16 ans, elle se passionne plus que jamais pour la lecture d'anciens grimoires qui lui apportent la connaissance de la magie. Cette aventure sera l'occasion pour elle de mettre la main sur des parchemins perdus qu'il lui suffira de déchiffrer pour apprendre de nouveaux sortilèges et aider ainsi son compagnon à sortir vivant du château de Dracula. Les rumeurs prétendent que le seigneur des ténèbres réside toujours à l'intérieur du manoir, propriété actuelle du comte Brauner, un peintre vampire qui accroît sa force en rassemblant les âmes torturées des victimes de la guerre. Son pouvoir occulte demeure à l'intérieur de ses tableaux, de sombres peintures dans lesquelles le voyageur imprudent peut pénétrer pour atteindre des univers parallèles au monde réel. L'une des particularités du jeu réside donc dans le fait que l'exploration des lieux ne se limite plus au château de Dracula, mais qu'elle se prolonge à travers les tableaux pour nous faire découvrir des mondes aux atmosphères variées. Un excellent moyen de rallonger la durée de vie et surtout de justifier les changements d'ambiance. On ne s'étonne donc pas d'être amené à explorer une académie plutôt lugubre avant d'arpenter les sables d'un désert égyptien, en passant par toutes sortes d'environnements très inspirés.

La progression respecte les règles établies dans les précédents volets, à savoir que les personnages acquièrent de l'expérience au fil des combats, ce qui leur permet de monter de niveau et d'améliorer leurs capacités. La récupération des âmes de Dawn of Sorrow laisse la place à des techniques propres à chacun des deux personnages. Charlotte peut ainsi récupérer des parchemins qui lui permettront ensuite d'invoquer certains ennemis, de lancer des sorts d'attaque ou d'utiliser des magies de soutien. Etant spécialisée dans les arts occultes, ses techniques d'attaque se limitent à des armes blanches qui sortent des pages de ses grimoires. Des capacités qui se complètent parfaitement avec celles de Jonathan, capable d'équiper des armes de toutes sortes telles les épées, les fouets ou les poings américains, et d'accomplir des mouvements qui facilitent grandement les déplacements. A cela s'ajoute toute une panoplie d'armes secondaires, dans des styles très différents. Si certaines s'avèrent plutôt classiques, d'autres se révèlent aussi ridicules qu'étrangement efficaces, comme les avions en papier ou les tartes à la crème. Le jeu assume parfaitement ces changements de ton, du sérieux à l'absurde, du terrifiant au ridicule. Pas étonnant, dans ces conditions, de voir les béhémoths et les dragons zombies côtoyer les squelettes barman qui vous balancent des verres en pleine figure ou des servantes passant l'aspirateur dans les couloirs !

Portrait of Ruin est également bourré de clins d'oeil aux anciens volets de la saga. On retrouve ainsi toutes sortes d'objets évocateurs, mais aussi un bestiaire qui comporte quelques boss incontournables. La référence au tout premier volet frappera immédiatement le fan lorsqu'il affrontera successivement la créature de Frankenstein, la méduse et la momie. Sans vouloir spoiler, le donjon optionnel comporte également son lot de surprises qui méritent largement le détour, en rassemblant notamment des boss que l'on croyait avoir définitivement vaincus dans Dawn of Sorrow. Tant qu'à faire le tour des références, comment ne pas signaler la présence de Richter Belmont dans Portrait of Ruin ? Celui-ci ne se contente d'ailleurs pas d'apparaître au cours de l'aventure pour un face-à-face inévitable avec le nouveau détenteur du Vampire Killer, mais il devient carrément jouable aux côtés de la jolie Maria lorsque vous terminez le jeu. A vous de trouver quelles conditions réunir pour avoir la chance d'incarner ce duo qui s'était illustré dans l'épisode Rondo of Blood. De la même façon, la possibilité d'incarner Stella et Loretta, les deux soeurs que vous affrontez tout au long du premier scénario, n'est pas anodine puisqu'elle vous permet de refaire le jeu en profitant d'un tout nouveau gameplay. Les combats se gèrent en effet entièrement au stylet pour un résultat assez jouissif, même si l'extrême facilité de ce mode nuit un peu à son intérêt. A noter qu'un troisième scénario est à débloquer, preuve que le soft regorge de bonus qui nous incitent à poursuivre le jeu même une fois terminé.

Pour en revenir au gameplay propre à l'aventure de Charlotte et Jonathan, le fait de contrôler les deux personnages simultanément autorise un bon nombre de possibilités inédites. Certains mouvements ne peuvent être effectués que si les deux héros interagissent ensemble à l'écran, aussi bien pour stopper un train en marche que pour se faire la courte échelle. Le duo peut toutefois se séparer quelques instants, soit pour éviter que le second ne se fasse toucher, ce qui se traduirait par une perte de MP, soit pour activer des mécanismes particuliers. Si la gestion des deux protagonistes apporte un réel intérêt à l'aventure, on regrettera surtout de ne pas pouvoir parcourir le jeu avec un autre joueur humain. Le mode coopératif se contente de proposer seulement quelques parcours prédéfinis, ou d'ouvrir une boutique pour partager ses objets avec ceux de ses amis. Il y avait pourtant une bonne carte à jouer de ce côté-là, même si l'IA est suffisamment bonne pour ne pas avoir à se plaindre de son compagnon en mode solo. A noter bien sûr la présence de techniques combinées très impressionnantes, qui mettent à contribution les deux personnages pour lancer des attaques spectaculaires et souvent dévastatrices. Plus novateur, les quêtes que vous confient un certain NPC apportent une réelle fraîcheur à cet épisode, en vous permettant de laisser momentanément de côté l'aventure principale pour mener à bien des missions de toutes sortes. Avec la présence des portraits et la progression en duo, ces quêtes font partie des éléments qui démarquent vraiment cet épisode de ses prédécesseurs. Autant de bonnes raisons de vous lancer à votre tour dans ce nouveau Castlevania qui prouve que la saga a encore un bel avenir devant elle.

info jeux

Editeur : Konami
Développeur : Konami
Type : Action
Support : cartouches
Multijoueurs : 1 à 2 joueurs
Sortie France : 8 mars 2007
Version : française intégrale
Classification : Déconseillé aux - de 12 ans
Web : Site web officiel
Similaire à :Castlevania : Dawn Of Sorrow
Castlevania : Symphony of the Night

Okami

2008-10-05T07:08:00.000-07:00

Okami

english version

Close your eyes for a moment and imagine yourself in front of a table. Put your hand on its surface and drag it onto the canvas to capture all the subtleties. Smell the smell of paint, you appreciate the roughness, feel the force that emanates from. Now, breathe deeply, open your eyelids, let you swallow whole in a flower color, lightness of a waltz and you're also an actor in this fresco painting and hearing the name of Okami.

While the pointer of my word processor flashes before my eyes, I suddenly feel some anxiety, some fear. This makes me say that I can not find the right words to describe what I was invaded by discovering Okami. Thus, paradoxical as it may seem, doubt comes knocking on my door at the moment when several blank pages that I expect my impressions layer to tell you my journey, the one who made me assume the role a deity whose Japanese have been difficult task to restore color to a world fallen into a torpor monochromatic. The exercise is all the more difficult it is a kind of tribute to a still-born point that deserves its dismal fate. But there is no room to tears, if not joy, because coerced and forced me're ready to really start this test and tell you about one of my best gaming events since I looked on my very first Game & Watch.

If Okami is indeed a video game, it is first and foremost a declaration of love of passionate devotees, a pictorial ode to refinement, a pamphlet and a majestic artistic brûlot directed against those who have not yet understood that some video games deserve the adjective of works of art have provided their place in a museum a Monet or a Picasso. But where it is allowed to admire the work of the painter, the title of Clover Studio is the graphics to the player with an invitation politely to cope with its environment, not to remain inactive, to participate as ever a unique experience being both before and behind the screen. Thus, while knowledge with the goddess Amaterasu reincarnated in a beautiful white wolf, the game we gradually opens many doors behind which are hidden treasures ingenuity. Indeed, if the gameplay does not gain the experience necessary for the evolution of our avatar, obtaining combat techniques or the discovery of new weapons (the latter two points are related), find the most remains the clever use of a brush, a true extension of that character embodies.

A leaf, a pot of ink, paint brush, imagination and a seasoned eye. Presented as such, this aspect of Okami is enough intrigue especially when we know that this implies a freeze of the action, a time-out imposed. Therefore, once your ink bottle full, you can cover the screen of a parchment in order to drag your Wiimote down here materialized by a feather. But why should I ask you with all candor that distinguishes you? Well, to create my good friends, to create. We put the post of grand officer of magic brush, Clover invites us on many occasions to use our talents as an artist to shape the universe in which we operate. Admittedly, some j'embellis the table but beyond the restrictions imposed, you have to use the capacity given to us to draw water lilies to cross over water, linking constellations to call a deity holding calligraphic techniques, scribble gusts of wind or deletions to our sheet drawings to repair various buildings in order to win favors from grateful villagers. The idea is so well thought that it can be split into two complementary uses. Clever subterfuge to return to the deities mentioned a few characters further.

Although qu'Okami never misses an opportunity to play with or to the detriment of its main protagonists, the title still retains a cosmological dimension based on Japanese mythology. As a result, the emblematic figures of Japanese folklore abound. To be precise, you can meet thirteen give you each a technique of calligraphy to make trees bloom, playing with the moon and the sun (this practice is to meet people or attend specific scenes), d ' climbers use to reach inaccessible places, and so on. If these techniques have heard a practicality, they will also serve as the means offensive in clashes against bosses requesting a particular method for SACCOs or when more conventional fights against the common enemies. You will then be possible zebra screen one stroke after asséner few well-placed shots to split into two your opponent and get more items or money.

In this regard, once your pockets filled with ryo, it will take you to go to glean some objects among street vendors usually stationed at strategic points. Included in those stalls the usual health potions (here represented by bone), magic, bottles of sake to be more resistant or brave ... In addition, it will also issue a master of weapons, man, crazy but holds sequences destructive or parades that you'll need to buy before you can use them. On this point, Okami is also very aware that, depending on the placement of your weapons you can use them in different ways. For example, if you have a mirror in secondary weapon, it will serve as a shield, while in primary as a weapon, you will attack. Then you can simply press two buttons to toggle action between the two arms and achieve many beautiful sequences. In all cases, at the end of each ballet mortal, you get a certain amount of ryo depending on the damage or the time you have to eliminate all your opponents. The consequence of this dynamism is that takes perverse pleasure to seek contact with the enemy that can be avoided, most of them visible. Yet this is indeed the meetings with the boss to mark the most minds these skirmishes as summarize the whole spirit of size, strength and invincibility that should normally create these beings supposedly untouchable.

In sum, the title seems to skim Clover perfection, even for those who strive to look for the little beast to prove who is right it ethically impossible and inappropriate, sacred to a game at this point. But force and recognize that as we probe the depths of Okami, one gets lost easily in a serene contemplation born of a fantastic atmosphere relayed by a fabulous graphics which a light filter brings a gritty side, rough in 'Like a sheet of Canson. Apart from some scenes to beautify some of the most dreamlike ever seen in a video game, like incorporating life such as a cascade of petals, this artistic artifice has further strengthened the impression of floating and serenity emerging from this catalyst pleasure. Resolutely ecologist, but deeply committed above all eager to offer a mesmerizing epic and funny at the same time, we also appreciate the longevity of the title quests annexes hatch everywhere. In fact, outside of barges waiting saving assistance, mini-games claiming the speed, harvesting errant beads, you will have the opportunity to feed various animals inhabiting the roads leading to your destiny. But before we can achieve this good deed, you have to retrieve food of all kinds to satisfy all the residents of your pet. Finally, it is sufficient to provide adequate food to the hungry animal so that it offers in return a string of spheres of happiness synonymous with experience.

Not looking at any time the easy way, Okami Griffon, and sketch pique the keen interest of the player to awaken the senses. From the appearance of the logo Clover at terminating the magnificent traveling unveiling credits end, the work of studio Japanese generous is if we forget almost just live one of the greatest gaming experience that is . Can not say if like me, Okami will change your perception of the adventure game / action but ultimately this is not the principal. What matters is that you enjoy laughing at the adventures of Amaterasu, you know capturing the emotion of the moment before it flies, that you enjoy the joystick in their hands. There is no single way to love Okami whose sincerity makes us smile when we drink more and more technical terms to highlight a particular Okami Thursday, he breathes life with developers who have a day wanted to speak their art by giving everything they had in the stomach and the heart. In some ways, the result carries with it a share of sadness as a swansong Clover. Yet there is no need to go back, what is done can not be defeated. Ultimately, the most important thing is that this title is never forgotten and serve as a reflection on what gives the character, intensity, emotion in a video game. Meanwhile, as Okami is a work that marked the beginning of this century, so simply ...

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version française

Fermez les yeux un instant et imaginez-vous devant un tableau. Posez votre main sur sa surface et faites-la glisser sur la toile afin d'en saisir toutes les subtilités. Humez l'odeur de la peinture, sachez en apprécier la rugosité, ressentez la force qui en émane. A présent, respirez profondément, ouvrez vos paupières, laissez-vous engloutir tout entier dans une floraison de couleurs, une valse de légèreté et soyez vous aussi l'acteur de cette fresque picturale et auditive du nom d'Okami.

Alors que le pointeur de mon traitement de texte clignote devant mes yeux, je ressens soudainement une certaine angoisse, une certaine peur. Cette dernière me fait dire que je ne pourrai pas trouver les mots justes pour vous décrire ce qui m'a envahi en découvrant Okami. Ainsi, aussi paradoxal que cela puisse paraître, le doute vient frapper à ma porte à l'instant même où plusieurs pages blanches attendent que je couche mes impressions afin de vous raconter mon périple, celui-là même qui m'a fait endosser le rôle d'une divinité japonaise dont la lourde tâche aura consisté à redonner des couleurs à un monde tombé dans une torpeur monochromatique. L'exercice est d'autant plus difficile qu'il constitue une sorte d'hommage à une société mort-née qui ne méritait point son funeste destin. Mais l'heure n'est pas aux larmes, si ce n'est de joie, car contraint et forcé, me voici prêt pour réellement débuter ce test et vous parler d'une de mes plus belles rencontres vidéoludiques depuis que je me suis penché sur mon tout premier Game & Watch.

Si Okami est bel et bien un jeu vidéo, il est avant toute chose une déclaration d'amour de passionnés à passionnés, une ode au raffinement pictural, un pamphlet artistique et un majestueux brûlot à l'encontre de ceux et celles qui n'ont pas encore compris que certains jeux vidéo méritant le qualificatif d'oeuvre d'art ont autant leur place dans un musée qu'un Picasso ou un Monet. Mais là où il n'est permis que d'admirer le travail du peintre, le titre de Clover Studio tend la palette graphique au joueur en l'invitant poliment à composer avec son environnement, à ne pas rester inactif, à participer comme jamais à une expérience unique se situant aussi bien devant que derrière l'écran. Ainsi donc, tout en faisant connaissance avec la déesse Amaterasu réincarnée en un magnifique loup blanc, le jeu nous ouvre peu à peu de nombreuses portes derrière lesquelles se cachent des trésors d'ingéniosité. De fait, si le gameplay n'exclut nullement le gain d'expérience indispensable à l'évolution de notre avatar, l'obtention de techniques de combat ou la découverte de nouvelles armes (ces deux derniers points étant liés), la trouvaille la plus astucieuse reste l'utilisation d'un pinceau, véritable prolongement du personnage qu'on incarne.

Une feuille, un pot rempli d'encre, un pinceau, de l'imagination et un oeil aguerri. Présenté comme tel, cet aspect d'Okami a de quoi intriguer surtout quand on sait que ceci implique un gel de l'action, un temps d'arrêt imposé. Par conséquent, une fois vos gourdes d'encre pleines, vous aurez la possibilité de recouvrir l'écran d'un parchemin afin d'y faire glisser votre Wiimote matérialisée ici bas par une plume. Mais pourquoi donc me demanderez-vous avec toute la candeur qui vous caractérise ? Eh bien, pour créer mes bons amis, pour créer. Nous plaçant au poste de grand ordonnateur du pinceau magique, Clover nous invite à de nombreuses reprises à user de nos talents d'artiste pour modeler l'univers dans lequel nous évoluons. Certes, j'embellis quelque peu le tableau mais au delà des restrictions imposées, on ne peut s'empêcher d'utiliser la capacité qui nous est donnée de dessiner des nénuphars afin de traverser une étendue d'eau, de relier des constellations pour appeler une divinité détentrice de techniques calligraphiques, de griffonner des bourrasques de vent ou de raturer notre feuille à dessins pour réparer diverses constructions dans le but de s'attirer les faveurs de villageois reconnaissants. L'idée est à ce point bien pensée qu'on peut la scinder en deux utilisations complémentaires. Habile subterfuge pour revenir sur les divinités mentionnées quelques caractères plus avant.

Bien qu'Okami ne rate jamais une occasion de s'amuser avec ou au détriment de ses protagonistes principaux, le titre conserve malgré tout une véritable dimension cosmogonique en s'appuyant sur la mythologie japonaise. En conséquence de quoi, les figures emblématiques du folklore nippon abondent. Pour être précis, vous pourrez en rencontrer treize qui vous donneront chacune une technique de calligraphie permettant de faire fleurir des arbres, de jouer avec la lune et le soleil (ceci étant pratique pour rencontrer certaines personnes ou assister à des scènes particulières), d'utiliser des lianes pour atteindre des endroits inaccessibles, etc. Si lesdites techniques ont bien entendu un aspect pratique, elles vous serviront également de moyens offensifs lors d'affrontements contre des boss requérant une méthode particulière pour être occis ou lors de rixes plus conventionnelles contre les ennemis communs. Il vous sera alors possible de zébrer l'écran d'un coup de pinceau après avoir asséner quelques coups bien placés pour découper en deux votre adversaire et ainsi obtenir davantage d'items ou d'argent.

A ce sujet, une fois vos "poches" remplies de ryo, il ne tiendra qu'à vous d'aller glaner quelques objets chez les marchands ambulants généralement postés à des endroits stratégiques. On retrouvera dans ces échoppes les habituelles potions de santé (ici représentés par des os), de magie, des bouteilles de saké pour être plus vaillant ou résistant... En sus, il sera aussi question d'un maître d'armes, vieux, loufoque mais surtout détenteur d'enchaînements destructeurs ou de parades qu'il vous faudra acheter avant de pouvoir les utiliser. Sur ce point, Okami fait également très fort sachant qu'en fonction du placement de vos armes, vous pourrez les utiliser de différentes manières. Par exemple, si vous disposez le miroir en arme secondaire, il vous servira de bouclier, alors qu'en tant qu'arme principale, il vous permettra d'attaquer. Ensuite, il vous suffira d'appuyer sur deux touches d'action pour alterner entre les deux armes et ainsi réaliser de bien beaux enchaînements. Dans tous les cas, à la fin de chaque ballet mortel, vous recevrez une certaine quantité de ryo en fonction des dégâts subis ou du temps que vous avez mis pour éliminer tous vos adversaires. La conséquence de ce dynamisme fait qu'on prend alors un malin plaisir à rechercher le contact avec les ennemis qui peuvent être évités, la plupart d'entre eux étant visibles. Pourtant c'est bel et bien les rencontres avec les boss qui marqueront le plus les esprits tant ces échauffourées synthétisent tout l'esprit de grandeur, de force et d'invincibilité que doivent normalement susciter ces êtres prétendument intouchables.

En somme, le titre de Clover semble frôler la perfection, même pour ceux qui s'évertueront à chercher la petite bête pour prouver à qui de droit qu'il est déontologiquement impossible, et inconvenant, de sacraliser un jeu à ce point. Mais force et de reconnaître qu'à mesure qu'on sonde les profondeurs d'Okami, on se perd facilement dans une sereine contemplation née d'une atmosphère fantasmagorique relayée par un graphisme fabuleux auquel un léger filtre apporte un côté granuleux, rugueux à l'instar d'une feuille de Canson. Mis à partie pour embellir certaines scènes comptant parmi les plus oniriques jamais vues dans un jeu vidéo, à l'image de cette nature reprenant vie sous forme de cascade de pétales, cet artifice artistique renforce un peu plus l'impression de flottement et de sérénité se dégageant de ce catalyseur de plaisirs. Résolument écologiste, profondément engagé mais avant tout désireux d'offrir une épopée envoûtante et drôle à la fois, on appréciera aussi la longévité du titre dont les quêtes annexes éclosent de partout. De fait, en dehors des chalands attendant une aide salvatrice, des mini-jeux réclamant de la rapidité, la récolte de perles errantes, vous aurez l'occasion de nourrir divers animaux peuplant les routes vous conduisant à votre destin. Mais avant de pouvoir réaliser cette bonne action, vous devrez au préalable récupérer des aliments de toutes sortes afin de contenter tous les pensionnaires de votre animalerie. Enfin, il suffira de donner la nourriture adéquate à l'animal affamé pour que celui-ci vous offre en retour un chapelet de sphères de bonheur synonyme d'expérience.

Ne cherchant à aucun moment la voie de la facilité, Okami griffonne, esquisse et pique au vif l'intérêt du joueur pour éveiller ses sens. De l'apparition du logo de Clover au plan clôturant le magnifique travelling dévoilant les crédits de fin, l'oeuvre du studio nippon se montre si généreuse qu'on en oublierait presque qu'on vient de vivre une des plus grandes expériences vidéoludiques qui soit. Impossible d'affirmer si tout comme moi, Okami changera votre perception du jeu d'aventure/action mais finalement, là n'est pas le principal. Ce qui compte est que vous vous réjouissiez en riant devant les péripéties d'Amaterasu, que vous sachiez capturer l'émotion de l'instant avant qu'il ne s'envole, que vous preniez du plaisir la manette entre les mains. Il n'existe pas une seule façon d'aimer Okami dont la sincérité fait sourire alors qu'on nous abreuve de plus en plus de termes techniques pour mettre en valeur tel ou tel jeu. Okami, lui, respire la vie grâce à des développeurs qui ont un jour voulu faire parler leur art en donnant tout ce qu'ils avaient dans le ventre et dans le coeur. Par certains côtés, le résultat porte en lui une part de tristesse en tant que chant du cygne de Clover. Pourtant, il est inutile de revenir en arrière, ce qui est fait ne pouvant être défait. En définitive, le plus important est que ce titre ne soit jamais oublié et serve de réflexion sur ce qui donne du caractère, de l'intensité, de l'émotion à un jeu vidéo. Pendant ce temps, Okami s'impose comme une oeuvre qui aura marqué ce début de siècle, comme ça, tout simplement...

The Legend Of Zelda : Oracle Of Seasons

2008-10-05T06:49:00.000-07:00

The Legend Of Zelda : Oracle Of Seasons

english version

The time has finally come for us, French and European players, to welcome the enthusiasm it has new episodes of the series on Zelda Game Boy Color. While both games have emerged since last May in the United States, it was only on October 5 that we can finally get their hands on the cartridge as expected without going through ... uh ... misappropriated.

A waiting unbearable for those who lament, and rightly so, does not have been entitled to a new adventure on Game Boy Link since the release of Link's Awakening in 1993! The idea of us out this excellent title on Game Boy Color as Zelda DX was certainly wise, but the fans have been quick tour of this episode virtually identical to Link's Awakening, except in color and the original dungeon.

This time, Nintendo has decided not to do things half, and players will deal largely by what the exit hypothetical but likely an episode of the Game Boy Advance Zelda series. Shigeru Miyamoto and his team have apparently decided to take a vacation (unless they are too busy to rethink the face of Link to its expected appearance in the Game Cube), and that Capcom is finally was granted the right to perform for the first time in the history of two episodes saga full Zelda. What the purists can rest assured, Capcom knows his business and developers of the game are undoubtedly among the biggest fans of the series.

More than ever, this episode is full of winks to previous opus, called The Legend of Zelda on Nes in Majora's Mask. It includes the most experienced players in previous adventures but also a number of boss that we had seen since more episodes of Nes. Of course, the technique to defeat them will be different and they will not let that complete if you can find the flaw in their armor, their Achilles heel cleverly concealed. We will often find the right combination of objects to overcome more tough fighting in several distinct forms.

But if the boss and the enemies are still Retord, and dungeons will want even more vicious than usual with headaches in the chain that put your brain strain, you spend as much time outside in search of characters and objects indispensable to the progress of the adventure. This episode begins with the arrival of Link on a continent unknown and his encounter with a dancer named Din. The young hero quickly discovers the true identity of the young woman when Onox, General of Darkness, appears to remove Din and seize power. The beautiful is in fact be the Oracle of Seasons, and it will take to regain the eight essences of nature to restore order in Holodrum.

To do this, you gradually discover the possibilities offered by the stick of seasons, a powerful artifact with which you can change the course of the season to your liking. Needless to say that progress is found quite complex because each season really influences in his own way on the environment. Achieving benefiting at the same time graphics constantly renewed. There have been notable compared to Zelda DX even if found roughly the same scenery. To explore the world is against completely new, and the changing seasons can discover four new variants completely. In addition, another world called Subrosia parallel to Holodrum, and which can be accessed through teleporters. Some words still on the VF that is correct, but sometimes disappointing. If the texts are satisfactory and that most names are preserved, we still regret, for example, that the translator has named the tree instead of Bojo Mojo, as had been translated into Majora's Mask, and other small details in this way.

Pour ceux qui connaissent Zelda DX, il faut préciser que Oracle of Seasons (tout comme Oracle of Ages d'ailleurs) fait intervenir des objets inédits, comme le lanceur de graines, la cape, le boomerang spécial ou le gant magnétique, sans oublier le sceptre des saisons. Dans le même registre, la flûte permet de faire appel à l'une des 3 créatures qui accepteront de vous véhiculer, et c'est d'ailleurs le seul endroit où la suite de la quête dépend véritablement des choix que vous effectuerez à ce moment-là. Il n'est possible en effet d'appeler qu'un seul animal à la fois, donc il faudra refaire le jeu pour découvrir les autres embranchements du scénario.
Impossible d'énumérer l'ensemble des subtilités dont regorge Oracle of Seasons, mais je ne voudrais pas non plus vous gâcher la surprise de les découvrir par vous-même. Bref, Oracle of Seasons est bien le jeu culte que les fans attendaient, un titre comme il n'en existe pas encore sur Gameboy Advance et dont les joueurs GBA auraient tort de se priver. Quant aux possesseurs de Gameboy Color, ces deux cartouches comptent certainement parmi les derniers grands titres qu'ils auront encore la chance de voir tourner sur leur machine, et là tout est dit.

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version française

L'heure est enfin venue pour nous, joueurs français et européens, d'accueillir avec l'enthousiasme qu'il se doit les nouveaux épisodes de la série Zelda sur Gameboy Color. Alors que les deux jeux sont sortis depuis mai dernier aux Etats-Unis, ce n'est que le 5 Octobre que nous pourrons enfin mettre la main sur la cartouche tant attendue sans passer par des moyens... euh... détournés.

Une attente insoutenable pour ceux qui se lamentent, et à juste titre, de ne pas avoir eu droit à une nouvelle aventure de Link sur Gameboy depuis la sortie de Link's Awakening en 1993 ! L'idée de nous ressortir cet excellent titre sur Gameboy Color sous le nom de Zelda DX était certes judicieuse, mais les fans auront eu vite fait le tour de cet épisode quasiment identique à Link's Awakening, excepté la couleur en plus et le donjon inédit.

Cette fois, Nintendo a décidé de ne pas faire les choses à moitié, et les joueurs auront largement de quoi s'occuper d'ici la sortie hypothétique mais probable d'un épisode Gameboy Advance de la série Zelda. Shigeru Miyamoto et son équipe ont semble-t-il décidé de prendre des vacances (à moins qu'ils ne soient trop occupés à repenser le visage de Link pour son apparition attendue dans la version Game Cube), et c'est finalement Capcom qui s'est vu octroyé le droit de réaliser pour la première fois dans l'histoire de la saga deux épisodes complets de Zelda. Que les puristes se rassurent, Capcom connaît son affaire et les développeurs du jeu comptent sans aucun doute parmi les plus grands fans de la série.

Plus que jamais, cet épisode regorge de clins d'oeil aux précédents opus, depuis The Legend of Zelda sur Nes à Majora's Mask. On y retrouve ainsi la plupart des protagonistes rencontrés au cours des précédentes aventures mais aussi un certain nombre de boss que l'on n'avait plus revu depuis les épisodes de la Nes. Bien sûr, la technique pour les vaincre sera différente et ces derniers ne se laisseront achever que si vous parvenez à trouver la faille dans leur cuirasse, leur talon d'Achille habilement dissimulé. Il faudra d'ailleurs souvent trouver la bonne combinaison d'objets pour venir à bout des plus durs à cuire qui combattent sous plusieurs formes distinctes.

Mais si les boss et les ennemis sont toujours aussi retords, et si les donjons se veulent encore plus vicieux que d'habitude avec des casse-têtes à la chaîne qui mettront votre matière grise à rude épreuve, vous passerez au moins autant de temps à l'extérieur à la recherche de personnages et d'objets indispensables à la progression de l'aventure. Cet épisode commence ainsi par l'arrivée de Link sur un continent inconnu et sa rencontre avec une danseuse prénommée Din. Le jeune héros découvre rapidement la véritable identité de la jeune femme lorsque Onox, le Général des Ténèbres, apparaît pour enlever Din et s'emparer de son pouvoir. La belle se révèle en fait être l'Oracle des Saisons, et il va vous falloir retrouver une à une les huit essences de la nature pour ramener l'ordre en Holodrum.

Pour cela, vous découvrirez peu à peu les possibilités offertes par le bâton des saisons, un artefact puissant avec lequel vous pourrez modifier le cours des saisons à votre guise. Inutile de dire que la progression s'en retrouve pas mal complexifiée puisque chaque saison influe réellement à sa façon sur l'environnement. La réalisation profite du même coup de graphismes sans cesse renouvelés. Les progrès sont notables par rapport à Zelda DX même si l'on retrouve grosso modo les mêmes décors. Le monde à explorer est par contre complètement nouveau, et l'évolution des saisons permet de la découvrir sous quatre variantes complètement nouvelles. A cela s'ajoute un autre monde appelé Subrosia, parallèle à Holodrum, et auquel il est possible d'accéder via des téléporteurs.
Quelques mots tout de même sur la VF qui se veut correcte, mais parfois décevante. Si les textes sont satisfaisants et que la plupart des noms sont conservés, on regrettera quand-même par exemple que le traducteur ait nommé l'arbre Bojo au lieu de Mojo, comme cela avait été traduit dans Majora's Mask, et d'autres petits détails de la sorte.

Pour ceux qui connaissent Zelda DX, il faut préciser que Oracle of Seasons (tout comme Oracle of Ages d'ailleurs) fait intervenir des objets inédits, comme le lanceur de graines, la cape, le boomerang spécial ou le gant magnétique, sans oublier le sceptre des saisons. Dans le même registre, la flûte permet de faire appel à l'une des 3 créatures qui accepteront de vous véhiculer, et c'est d'ailleurs le seul endroit où la suite de la quête dépend véritablement des choix que vous effectuerez à ce moment-là. Il n'est possible en effet d'appeler qu'un seul animal à la fois, donc il faudra refaire le jeu pour découvrir les autres embranchements du scénario.
Impossible d'énumérer l'ensemble des subtilités dont regorge Oracle of Seasons, mais je ne voudrais pas non plus vous gâcher la surprise de les découvrir par vous-même. Bref, Oracle of Seasons est bien le jeu culte que les fans attendaient, un titre comme il n'en existe pas encore sur Gameboy Advance et dont les joueurs GBA auraient tort de se priver. Quant aux possesseurs de Gameboy Color, ces deux cartouches comptent certainement parmi les derniers grands titres qu'ils auront encore la chance de voir tourner sur leur machine, et là tout est dit.

info jeux

Editeur : Nintendo
Développeur : Capcom
Type : Action / Aventure
Support : cartouches
Multijoueurs : non
Sortie France : 5 octobre 2001
Version : française intégrale
Config minimum : Gameboy Color
Web : Site web officiel
Similaire à :
The Legend Of Zelda : Link's Awakening DX
The Legend Of Zelda : Oracle Of Ages

Phantasy Star Online

2008-10-05T06:25:00.000-07:00

Phantasy Star Online

Once again, it shows the Dreamcast is still able to run titles very good, and manages to surprise us again with this highly anticipated Phantasy Star Online, a precursor to online gaming console. A concept for innovative gaming software that enjoys an excellent achievement. The last hours of the 128-bit Sega definitely finish in apotheosis.

The older you will perhaps recall with nostalgia, the Phantasy Star series began in 1987, Master System, then click Megadrive, but most fans had heard of this legendary saga since 1994. Halfway between SF and Heroic Fantasy, Phantasy Star Online has a special aura that can not leave indifferent a player in search of a rare gem that will a little wonder. You are free to choose the character you want to embody human cyborg or newman, and to give the appearance that you want, but the class that you want to associate is not necessarily compatible with the race you have chosen . With three different classes, Hunter, Ranger or Force, the game still gives you nine totally different characters to play. If the newman Force is a pitcher of sorts recognized, the human Ranger can in turn use weapons of long range, while the cyborg Hunter must pass master in the art of melee to remedy its inability to cast spells . All are quite difficult to learn, and long hours of play will be needed before they feel comfortable in the universe much Ragol dangerous.

As qu'aventurier Pioneer 2, you've been sent on the planet Ragol to try to trace the original settlers, the builders of Central Dome missing since the mysterious explosion that ravageât the planet. You discover the fate of the mission Pioneer 1 and to understand how this mysterious explosion could disrupt wildlife behavior of Ragol now left to fend for itself in the grip of a devastating aggression. As your investigation, you will discover many elements of answers for a scenario, certainly not as exciting as what happens in games of the most prestigious role, but sometimes turning quite unexpected. The gameplay is based on a web blows strong and weak can make sorts of combos, and relies on an automatic lock that allows immediate reactions. You will also maintain a Mag, a small flying creature that follows you to trace valuable items with your recovery if you want to benefit from its powers. The interface is particularly ergonomic, with a window that keeps the action visible in managing menus, and the possibility (highly recommended) to customize the buttons. Through the R button, it will be possible to make at any time a total of six different actions that you can set: blow hard, low shot, utilization rising, items mana recovery and especially the various spells that you to launch.

The style of play will be completely different depending on the category you choose, but whatever it is anyway quite difficult to start. First rather difficult, the parties will become a real pleasure when you learned to control the playing style of your character and more about the methods of combat your enemies. The game online fulfills all its promises, with parts played by groups of four. Again, we must learn to play in groups, including the Force to keep an eye on the health of their companions, and each group will have its own style of attack by the characters that make up the team. It was therefore dealing with a seamless online, no lag and served by a very effective Chat (translation in five languages, the pad or keyboard Dreamcast, with many shortcuts fully configurable). Obviously, the gameplay is very different from the usual role of PC games online, but for the first game of this type console is a total success, and it was quickly surprised by the number of hours spent to upgrade its character. The offline mode alone is really exciting, pushing the player to constantly want to learn more about the game: what future reserve levels, appearance, the many pitfalls that they conceal their dangerous wildlife, with still a quest inexhaustible power. The console players will finally be able to know the syndrome of online player connected to 2am to get a few miserable experience points in order to move up a level. It was never the feeling of losing his time, and part is never lost since if you périssez, the experience is preserved, and you can find the weapon equipped you look back on the scene drama.

To constantly renew the interest of the parties, you will be able to accept various missions, in certain limited time to solve the problems of the inhabitants of Ragol. Even if the design levels did not change, they will each time a totally new twist, since the location of enemy has completely changed. You can meet various characters that can even lend you a hand, and any successful mission will of course be paid. Whatever the number of hours spent on PSO, motivation remains intact. The boss is amazing and impressive in their size and quality animation. After the great dragon of the forest Ragol is a giant worm that you will face in the depths of a cave. Extremely difficult to kill, this boss does not forgive the fault of inattention, resulting in a battle simply passionate. Unable to describe the theme song for both melodious and scary, which makes this sequence one of the most memorable scene of the video games. Simply sublimissime! Phantasy Star Online largely fulfills his contract, whether online or solo. The game must on Dreamcast.

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version française

Une fois de plus, la Dreamcast montre qu'elle est encore capable de faire tourner des titres de très bonne qualité, et parvient à nouveau à nous surprendre avec ce très attendu Phantasy Star Online, précurseur du jeu en ligne sur console. Un concept de jeu novateur pour un soft qui bénéficie d'une excellente réalisation. Les dernières heures de la 128 bits de Sega s'achèveront décidément en apothéose.

Les plus âgés d'entre vous s'en souviennent peut-être avec nostalgie, la série des Phantasy Star a vu le jour en 1987 sur Master System, puis sur Megadrive, mais les fans n'avaient plus entendu parler de cette saga mythique depuis 1994. A mi-chemin entre SF et Heroïc Fantasy, Phantasy Star Online possède une aura toute particulière qui ne peut laisser indifférent un joueur en quête d'une perle rare qui saura un tant soit peu l'émerveiller. Vous êtes libre de choisir le personnage que vous désirez incarner, humain, cyborg ou newman, et de lui donner l'apparence physique que vous désirez, mais la classe que vous souhaitez lui associer ne sera pas forcément compatible avec la race que vous aurez choisie. Avec trois classes différentes, Hunter, Ranger ou Force, le jeu laisse tout de même à votre disposition neuf personnages totalement différents à jouer. Si le newman Force est un lanceur de sorts reconnu, l'humain Ranger peut quant à lui utiliser des armes de longue portée, alors que le cyborg Hunter devra passer maître dans l'art du corps à corps pour palier son incapacité à lancer des sorts. Tous sont toutefois assez difficiles à prendre en main, et de longues heures de jeu seront nécessaires avant de se sentir à l'aise dans l'univers ô combien dangereux de Ragol.

En tant qu'aventurier de Pioneer 2, vous avez été envoyé sur la planète Ragol afin de tenter de retrouver la trace des premiers colons, les bâtisseurs de Central Dome portés disparus depuis la mystérieuse explosion qui ravageât la planète. A vous de découvrir ce qu'il est advenu de la mission Pioneer 1 et de comprendre en quoi cette mystérieuse explosion a pu dérégler le comportement de la faune de Ragol, désormais livrée à elle-même et en proie à une agressivité dévastatrice. Au fur et à mesure de vos investigations, vous découvrirez de nombreux éléments de réponses, pour un scénario, certes pas aussi palpitant que ce qui se fait dans les jeux de rôle les plus prestigieux, mais qui prend parfois des tournants assez inattendus. Le gameplay qui repose sur un système d'enchaînement de coups forts et faibles permet de réaliser des sortes de combos, et s'appuie sur un lock automatique qui permet des réactions immédiates. Il vous faudra également entretenir un Mag, une petite créature volante qui vous suit à la trace, avec vos précieux items de récupération si vous voulez pouvoir bénéficier de ses pouvoirs. L'interface est particulièrement ergonomique, avec une fenêtre qui permet de garder l'action visible lors de la gestion des menus, et la possibilité (fort recommandée) de customiser les boutons d'action. Par l'intermédiaire du bouton R, il sera possible d'effectuer à tout moment un total de six actions différentes que vous pourrez paramétrer : coup fort, coup faible, utilisation de remontants, items de récupération de mana et surtout les différents sorts que vous pourrez lancer.

La manière de jouer sera donc complètement différente selon la classe que vous aurez choisie, mais quelle qu'elle soit, il sera de toute façon assez difficile de démarrer. D'abord plutôt ardues, les parties deviendront un réel plaisir lorsque vous aurez appris à maîtriser le style de jeu de votre personnage et à mieux connaître les méthodes de combat de vos ennemis. Le jeu online remplit toutes ses promesses, avec des parties jouables par groupe de quatre. Là encore, il faudra apprendre à jouer en groupe, les Force devant notamment toujours garder un oeil sur l'état de santé de leurs compagnons, et chaque groupe devra trouver son propre style d'attaque selon les personnages qui composent l'équipe. On a donc affaire à un mode online sans faille, dépourvu de lag et servi par un Chat très efficace (traduction automatique en cinq langues, au pad ou au clavier Dreamcast, avec de nombreux raccourcis entièrement paramétrables). Evidemment, le gameplay reste très différent des habituels jeux de rôle PC online, mais pour un premier jeu de ce type sur console c'est une totale réussite, et l'on est vite surpris par le nombre d'heures passées à faire évoluer son personnage. Le mode offline est à lui seul véritablement passionnant, poussant le joueur à sans cesse vouloir en découvrir davantage sur le jeu : ce que réservent les prochains niveaux, leur aspect, les nombreux pièges qu'ils dissimulent, leur dangereuse faune, avec toujours une quête de puissance intarissable. Les joueurs console vont enfin pouvoir connaître le syndrôme du joueur online connecté à 2h du matin pour se faire quelques misérables points d'expérience dans le seul but de monter d'un niveau. On a jamais l'impression de perdre son temps, et une partie n'est jamais perdue puisque si vous périssez, l'expérience acquise est conservée, et vous pourrez retrouver l'arme que vous aviez équipée en revenant la chercher sur les lieux du drame.

Pour renouveler constamment l'intérêt des parties, vous aurez la possibilité d'accepter différentes missions, certaines en temps limité, afin de résoudre les problèmes des habitants de Ragol. Même si le design des niveaux n'en sera pas modifié, ils prendront à chaque fois une tournure totalement nouvelle, puisque l'emplacement des ennemis aura complètement changé. Vous pourrez y rencontrer divers personnages qui pourront même parfois vous prêter main forte, et toute mission réussie sera bien entendu rémunérée. Quel que soit le nombre d'heures passées sur PSO, la motivation reste intacte. Les boss sont époustouflants et impressionnent par leur taille et leur qualité d'animation. Après le superbe dragon de la forêt de Ragol, c'est un ver géant qu'il vous faudra affronter au fin fond d'une grotte. Extrêmement difficile à tuer, ce boss ne pardonne pas la moindre faute d'inattention, donnant lieu à un combat tout simplement passionnant. Impossible de décrire le thème musical à la fois mélodieux et angoissant, qui fait de cette séquence l'une des plus mémorables de la scène vidéo-ludique. Tout simplement sublimissime ! Phantasy Star Online remplit donc largement son contrat, que ce soit online ou en solo. Le jeu à ne pas manquer sur Dreamcast.

info jeux

Editeur : Sega
Développeur : Sonic Team
Type : Action / Jeu de Rôle
Support : GDROM
Multijoueurs : à 4 joueurs online
Sortie France : 15 février 2001
Version : Francaise
Web : Site web officiel

Pathway to Glory : Ikusa Islands

2008-10-05T05:55:00.000-07:00

Pathway to Glory : Ikusa Islands

english version

When it works, there is a suite. Old adage that applies to one of the best games ever known N-Gage, Pathway To Glory. True to what is happening elsewhere around the Second World War, Ikusa Island became head of the Pacific for a longer follow-figure stand alone.

At the base of Pathway To Glory, either the first or second, we find the same concept: the tactical turn-based. As such, we can not say that there are many changes in Ikusa Island. It is therefore still control a squad in which every man is headed by an individual. We regret that it is still impossible to travel in groups, a gap that adds considerably ergonomics. With weapons, our young soldiers can fire their guns or weapons more devastating to use it wisely. Grenades and bazooka with their specific uses. It would not achieve the objective of the mission that we have no shells for the blow.

As was the case in the first Pathway To Glory of the name, the placement of your men and their posture should be carefully thought out. It should flee like the plague areas discoveries and cones of vision of your enemies. Similarly, having the presence of mind to crouch or lie down your SQUADDIES can often save their lives by making targets more difficult to reach (and far more dangerous because more likely to aim). Know approaching without emptying into the lion's den, it's the lies the key to success. An approach not as simple as one might think, AI Your opponents are far from ready to leave chew. And the game system turn-is not done to simplify your life.

At every turn, your soldiers have a limited quantity of points of actions that need to spend wisely in your travels or your shots. Recognizing that various factors come to vary the number of points, types of actions or number of articles carried by example. That is what complicates things a bit by forcing the player to carefully calculate the number of points available to it a useful place to fire and be protected enough not to be rolling when the computer or player opponent will launch his tour. Clearly, many things already seen in the first opus. Even if all this is very good, the lack of novelty is quite deplorable. At least some things they have been reviewed, as this famous unable to move his group in solidarity. Indeed, in terms of grievances, we could add the balance of certain weapons. For example, it is surprising to see a bazooka shot reach an enemy, kill him and let him who stood at 2 pixels on his right escape without even a patch of mud. If the gameplay has not changed one iota, the achievement has however been some slight improvements with maps a little more detailed and visibly larger than before. I. A. For its part, has kept its trickery, understand that the game is as hard as before.

The 10 missions so you reserve a lot of work. Anyway, once you're done with them, you can rush on the multiplayer. One way in which few changes were made except the notable addition of a voice communication system very convenient. RedLynx has made in the simple is hardly taking the lead in this, but given the quality of the original game and competition non-existent N-Gage, we can forgive them.

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version française

Quand ça marche, il faut faire une suite. Vieil adage qui s'applique à l'un des meilleurs jeux qu'ait connu le N-Gage, Pathway To Glory. Fidèle à ce qui se fait ailleurs autour de la Seconde Guerre mondiale, Ikusa Island prend la direction du Pacifique pour une suite qui fait plus figure de stand alone.

A la base de Pathway To Glory, que se soit le premier ou le second, on retrouve le même concept : l'action tactique au tour par tour. A ce titre, on ne peut pas dire qu'il y ait beaucoup de changements dans Ikusa Island. Il s'agit donc toujours de contrôler une escouade dans laquelle chaque homme est dirigé de façon individuelle. On regrette d'ailleurs qu'il soit encore impossible de les déplacer en groupe, une lacune qui alourdit considérablement l'ergonomie. Disposant d'armes diverses, nos petits soldats peuvent faire feu de leur fusil ou bien d'armes plus dévastatrices à utiliser à bon escient. Grenades et bazooka ayant leurs usages spécifiques. On ne voudrait pas parvenir à l'objectif de mission sans qu'il nous reste d'obus pour le faire sauter.
Tout comme c'était le cas dans Pathway To Glory premier du nom, le placement de vos hommes et leur posture devront être soigneusement pensés. Il convient de fuir comme la peste les zones découvertes et les cônes de vision de vos ennemis. De même, avoir la présence d'esprit de faire s'accroupir ou se coucher vos troufions pourra bien souvent leur sauver la vie en en faisant des cibles bien plus difficiles à atteindre (et bien plus dangereuses car plus aptes à viser). Savoir approcher sans se jeter dans la gueule du loup, c'est la que se cache la clef du succès. Une approche pas aussi simple qu'on pourrait le croire, l'I.A. de vos adversaires étant loin d'être prête à se laisser croquer. Et le système de jeu au tour par tour n'est pas fait pour vous simplifier la vie.

A chaque tour, vos soldats disposent d'une quantité restreinte de points d'actions qu'il faut donc dépenser à bon escient dans vos déplacements ou vos tirs. Sachant que divers facteurs viennent faire varier le nombre de points, types d'actions entreprises ou nombre d'objets transportés par exemple. Voilà de quoi compliquer un peu les choses en obligeant le joueur à calculer savamment le nombre de points à sa disposition afin qu'il se place de façon utile pour faire feu et qu'il soit suffisamment protégé pour ne pas se faire laminer lorsque l'ordinateur ou le joueur adversaire lancera son tour. En clair, autant de choses déjà vues dans le premier opus. Et même si tout cela est fort bien, le manque de nouveauté est assez déplorable. Au moins certaines choses auraient-elles pu être revues, comme cette fameuse impossibilité de déplacer son groupe de manière solidaire. D'ailleurs, au chapitre des doléances, on pourrait ajouter la balance de certaines armes. Il est par exemple surprenant de voir un tir de bazooka atteindre un ennemi, le tuer et laisser celui qui se tenait à 2 pixels à sa droite s'en sortir sans même une tache de boue.

Si le gameplay n'a pas changé d'un iota, la réalisation a en revanche connu quelques légères améliorations avec des cartes un peu plus détaillées et visiblement plus grandes qu'auparavant. L'I.A. pour sa part a conservé sa fourberie, comprenez donc que le jeu est aussi dur qu'avant. Les 10 missions vous réservent donc pas mal de boulot. De toutes façons, une fois que vous en aurez terminé avec elles, vous pourrez vous ruer sur le multijoueur. Un mode auquel peu de changements ont été apportés si ce n'est la notable addition d'un système de communication vocale fort pratique. RedLynx a donc fait dans le simple en ne se prenant guère la tête pour cette suite, mais compte tenu de la qualité du jeu original et la concurrence inexistante sur N-Gage, on peut leur pardonner.

info jeux

Editeur : Nokia
Développeur : RedLynx
Type : Action / Stratégie
Support : disquettes
Multijoueurs : jusqu'à 6 joueurs
Sortie France : 10 novembre 2005
Version : Textes en français, voix en anglais
Classification : Déconseillé aux - de 12 ans
Similaire à :Pathway To Glory

Beyond Good & Evil

2008-10-05T04:08:00.000-07:00

Beyond Good & Evil

english version

The talent, it can not be explained. This is something that énerve some, but particularly j'affectionne, especially when it belongs to people who can make good use. As the team Ubi Montpellier studio, for example, presents Beyond Good & Evil, a game sublime and enchanting as we had not seen for a long time. Warning masterpiece.

Reading Beyond Good & Evil (BGE to insiders) can be done on two levels. Either we perceive history as one of the world, hilly facing a war that has been raging since too many years, it focuses on its heroine Jade who lives on a daily basis the situation and trying to do with it. The two visions are valid. Indeed, the title regularly alternates between the two views with a scenario that takes place at the global level but who never loses an opportunity to focus on Jade

BGE is indeed an incredibly immersive world inviting us to discover the planet Hilly regularly attacked by extraterrestrials DOMZ and must rely on sections Alpha for its protection. Alpha Sections are not unanimous among the population, not only because of their brutal methods and their unintended propaganda on all screens in the city. The resistance group IRIS think clearly that the Alpha Sections hide something and do not hesitate to say in distributing illegal newspapers filled with shattering revelations. Amid this political instability, there is Jade, a war reporter who is caring for an orphanage with her adoptive Pey'j uncle, a pork expert mechanics. To live, Jade conducts photo in the pay of various employers. Also, when he proposes to capture on film a creature DOMZ buried in an old mine, it does not doubt that this is the beginning of a long adventure that will join the ranks of IRIS to whom it will his talents as a photographer for missions in the heart of neighborhoods Alpha.

BGE difficult to confine in a specific genre. The title as a more unique experience than a single style of play. It infiltrates with Jade neighborhoods ultra-secure sections of Alpha (the game takes a turn infiltration, where it is fashionable to avoid fighting), it participates with her to hovercraft racing, it helps achieve a complete census of wildlife in hilly, discussions with the inhabitants of the city, we make shopping at the store ... In fact, we live with Jade. It may seem silly, said like that, but just the feeling that emerges from the title. And since most, the world Hilly is perfectly consistent - people seem to conduct their small business on their side, walking, talking among themselves, rebel against sections Alpha - we are fully immersed in the experience of Thursday

Jade is not alone in its quest for truth. Accompanied at the beginning of his journey by Pey'j, it will also inform Double H, a member of IRIS very voluntary and do not swear by the book's theoretical and Peter Carlson, his two masters to think. Jade can draw upon when his teammate, asking him to press a switch or trigger a super attack during the fighting. In this connection, phases of the fighting are not very many, Jade preferring to avoid as much as possible direct confrontation, especially when it is in enemy territory with many Alpha guards who hang around. Against less aggressive creatures, it not hesitate to break his stick to strike at will. The controls are simple and very flexible to control. The left stick to choose its leadership, the attack button to hit. The combo then followed the most beautiful ways. Jade made rolls strikes in his back, forward, on the sides without ever stopping. Some bosses expect the beautiful in the way. These will find the most appropriate technique to make them bite the dust. But I repeat, the fighting does not dominate the adventure.

A big part of the game is devoted to photo reports that Jade must make in neighborhoods Alpha. Without detection, Jade must evolve in the mid-soldiers. This requires out their patrols, identify their positions and find the right moment to go behind their backs. These stages make it really interesting that showcase the biggest shortcoming of the game: the cameras. If in open environments, everything goes well, very well, that is something else altogether when change is in small ventilation ducts. The focus tends to get carried away at once and it is often very difficult to place properly to show us the dangers we face. This is not insurmountable, but it tends to irritate. Fortunately, the game is not kind to us to repeat a level in case of defeat. Emphasizing the pleasure to frustration, BGE contains a kind of invisible checkpoints. Thus, if one is seen by a guard, it again instantly at the entrance of the room, without Loads suffer even unintentionally! The pleasure of Thursday foremost, I tell you.

A pleasure also communicated by the magnificent achievement. The sound is fabulous including enchanting musical themes. The instrumentation manages to bring out feelings sometimes quiet and peaceful, sometimes nervous and more disturbing. The English dubbing is no exception. The actress Emma de Caunes who lends his voice to Jade is surrounded by a galaxy of talented actors giving life to all characters. Whether Pey'j with its "nomdidju" or Double H and its "It does not break the binomial", everyone has a well-tempered. With such voices, we regret is that all dialogues are not lined ... If our ears have something to celebrate, our eyes can also be pleased. BGP operates very well the capabilities of the Gamecube. The deluge of special effects, design impeccable characters, beautiful scenery, the sea that covers much of hilly, staging, everything fits in to one BGE of the most beautiful games console. Above all, there is no slowdown as on Playstation 2. Here is fluid and so much better! Magical, beautiful and intelligent, BGE is undoubtedly a great success which I encourage you to discover as soon as possible.

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link of download

http://195.66.80.18/doopy/Beyond_Good_and_Evil_Telecharger(fr_205){5681}.exe

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version française

Le talent, ça ne s'explique pas. C'est un truc qui énerve certains, mais que j'affectionne particulièrement, surtout lorsqu'il appartient à des personnes qui savent en faire bon usage. Comme l'équipe du studio Ubi Montpellier, par exemple, qui nous présente Beyond Good & Evil, un jeu sublime et enchanteur comme on n'en avait pas vu depuis longtemps. Attention, chef d'oeuvre.

La lecture de Beyond Good & Evil (BGE pour les initiés) peut se faire sur deux niveaux. Soit on perçoit l’histoire comme celle de la planète, Hillys en proie à une guerre qui sévit depuis de trop nombreuses années, soit on se concentre sur son héroïne Jade qui vit la situation au quotidien et qui tente de faire avec. Les deux visions sont valables. D’ailleurs, le titre alterne régulièrement entre les deux points de vue avec un scénario qui se place au niveau global mais qui ne perd jamais une occasion pour se focaliser sur Jade.

BGE c'est effectivement un univers incroyablement immersif nous invitant à découvrir la planète Hillys régulièrement attaquée par les extraterrestres DomZ et qui doit compter sur les sections Alpha pour sa protection. Des sections Alpha qui ne font pas l'unanimité auprès de la population, et pas seulement à cause de leurs méthodes brutales et de leur propagande intempestive sur tous les écrans de la ville. Le groupe de résistance IRIS pense clairement que les sections Alpha cachent quelque chose et ne se gênent pas pour le dire en diffusant des journaux clandestins remplis de révélations fracassantes. Au milieu de ce contexte politique instable, il y a Jade, une reporter de guerre qui s'occupe d'un orphelinat avec son oncle adoptif Pey'j, un porc expert en mécanique. Pour vivre, Jade effectue des reportages photo à la solde de divers employeurs. Aussi, lorsqu'on lui propose d'immortaliser sur pellicule une créature DomZ enfouie dans une vieille mine, elle ne se doute pas que c'est le début d'une longue aventure qui la fera rejoindre les rangs d'IRIS à qui elle prêtera ses talents de photographe pour des missions au coeur des quartiers Alpha.

Difficile de cantonner BGE dans un genre précis. Le titre se place plus comme une expérience unique que comme un style de jeu isolé. On infiltre avec Jade les quartiers ultra-sécurisés des sections Alpha (le jeu prend alors une tournure infiltration, où il est de bon ton d'éviter tout combat), on participe avec elle à des courses d'hovercraft, on l'aide à réaliser un recensement complet de la faune d'Hillys, on discute avec les habitants de la ville, on fait des emplettes au magasin... En fait, on vit avec Jade. Ca peut paraître bête, dit comme ça, mais c'est un peu le sentiment qui se dégage du titre. Et puisqu'en plus, le monde d'Hillys est parfaitement cohérent – les gens semblent mener leurs petites affaires de leur côté, se promènent, parlent entre eux, se rebellent contre les sections Alpha – on est parfaitement immergé dans cette expérience de jeu.

Jade ne sera pas seule dans sa quête de vérité. Accompagnée au début de ses péripéties par Pey'j, elle fera aussi la connaissance de Double H, un membre d'IRIS très volontaire et qui ne jure que par le livre théorique de Peter et Carlson, ses deux maîtres à penser. Jade peut mettre à contribution son équipier du moment, en lui demandant d'appuyer sur un interrupteur ou de déclencher une super attaque pendant les combats. A ce propos, les phases de combats ne sont pas très nombreuses, Jade préférant éviter autant que faire se peut les affrontements directs, surtout lorsqu'elle se retrouve en territoire ennemi avec de nombreux gardes Alpha qui rôdent dans les parages. Contre des créatures moins agressives, elle n'hésite cependant pas à sortir son bâton pour frapper à tout va. Les commandes sont simples et très souples à maîtriser. Le stick gauche pour choisir sa direction, le bouton d'attaque pour frapper. Les combos s'enchaînent alors de la plus belle des façons. Jade fait des roulades, frappe dans son dos, en avant, sur les côtés sans jamais s'arrêter. Quelques boss attendent la belle sur son chemin. Il s'agira alors de trouver la technique la plus appropriée pour leur faire mordre la poussière. Mais je le répète, les combats ne prédominent pas l'aventure.

Une grosse partie du jeu est consacrée aux reportages photos que Jade doit effectuer dans les quartiers Alpha. Sans se faire repérer, Jade doit évoluer au milieu des soldats. Pour cela, il faut observer leurs rondes, repérer leurs positions, et trouver le bon moment pour passer dans leur dos. Ces phases vraiment intéressantes mettent cela dit en valeur le plus gros défaut du jeu : les caméras. Si dans des environnements ouverts, tout se passe bien, très bien même, c'est une autre paire de manches lorsqu'on se trouve à évoluer dans des petits conduits d'aération. La focale a tendance à s'emballer d'un coup et il est souvent très difficile de la placer correctement pour nous montrer les dangers qui nous guettent. Ce n'est pas insurmontable, mais ça a tendance à énerver. Heureusement, le jeu n'est pas du genre à nous faire recommencer tout un niveau en cas de défaite. Privilégiant le plaisir à la frustration, BGE contient des sortes de checkpoints invisibles. Ainsi, si on se fait repérer par un garde, on recommence instantanément à l'entrée de la salle sans même subir de chargements intempestifs ! Le plaisir de jeu avant tout, je vous dis.

Un plaisir également communiqué par la somptueuse réalisation. L'ambiance sonore est fabuleuse avec notamment des thèmes musicaux enchanteurs. L'instrumentation parvient à faire émerger des sentiments tantôt calmes et paisibles, tantôt nerveux et plus inquiétants. Le doublage français n'est pas en reste. L'actrice Emma de Caunes qui prête sa voix à Jade est entourée d'une pléiade de comédiens talentueux donnant vie à tous les personnages. Que ce soit Pey'j avec ses "nomdidju" ou Double H et ses "On ne casse pas le binôme", chacun a une personnalité bien trempée. Avec de telles voix, on regrette simplement que tous les dialogues ne soient pas doublés...
Si nos oreilles ont de quoi se réjouir, nos yeux aussi peuvent être content. BGE exploite très bien les capacités de la Gamecube. Le déluge d'effets spéciaux, le design impeccable des personnages, les décors magnifiques, la mer qui recouvre une bonne partie d'Hillys, la mise en scène, tout concorde pour faire de BGE l'un des plus beaux jeux de la console. Et surtout, il n'y a pas de ralentissement comme sur Playstation 2. Ici, c'est fluide et c'est tant mieux ! Magique, magnifique et intelligent, BGE est donc sans conteste une grande réussite que je vous encourage à découvrir au plus vite.

info jeux

Editeur : Ubisoft
Développeur : Ubisoft Montpellier
Type : Aventure / Action
Support : CD
Multijoueurs : Non
Sortie France : 26 février 2004
Version : Textes et voix en français
Classification : Déconseillé aux - de 7 ans

CT Special Forces 3 : Bioterror

2008-10-04T13:43:00.000-07:00

CT Special Forces 3 : Bioterro

english version

The series of Special Forces seems to bring new opus LSP since this saga has been set up on PSone and GBA. Leaving it to Jihem to tell you the story unfolds on the portable Nintendo, I will witness the passing on the first console from Sony. Faced with much to the series of Metal Slug, Special Forces 3: Bioterror takes the concept of his elders while making new missions and environments The briefing Thursday arriving at its end, we dive as it should play in the maze Title in question.

What can I say about this Special Forces 3: Bioterror? Hum, and as you show the 8 beautiful screenshots on your right, we have an action game in which horizontal scrolling through several small missions appendices make additional phases of play as the parachute jump, a sniper mode or levels that take place in the way of a Choplifter leader in a helicopter to profile. The story will then go through 6 different environments for a total of 18 levels each carved in the over-with countless enemies, turrets defense sur-armed jeeps, etc..

Now if the humor of Metal Slug is here replaced by a more serious or less supported, it must also see that the series of LSP stands out, as I mentioned above, for a variety of phases in its Thursday Each of will excuse them to lead a different hero. First there Stealh Owl (a warrior lying between the Navy and the ninja) fan pump gun, Raptor (a real small Rambo) specialist infiltration missions in hostile terrain and as a person handling the grenade launcher (search error) and Aquila One who never leaves his helicopter, even when it must make full, which means that 100% of the time it crashes before finishing his mission ... wait, especially for me, I am informed that the details have never been verified! In short, there are various challenges as well, even if they deserved to be better organized to prevent excessive monotony.

Et ceci m’amène d’ailleurs au premier écueil du soft qui est de proposer des niveaux beaucoup, mais alors beaucoup trop longs, ceci conduisant à une grande lassitude. Il suffit de terminer le premier niveau se passant dans un train pour se rendre compte qu’on va souffrir, même en aimant le style. Pourtant le tout commence bien avec une petite descente en parachute pour arriver sur le train, dont je parlais plus haut, mais malheureusement le tout est bien vite redondant et difficile (même dans le mode Facile, alors imaginez un peu en Normal ou Difficile !) pour susciter réellement l’intérêt. Mais le pire est à venir puisque après avoir passé quasiment 10 minutes dans ce stage sans fin, le second objectif de la mission se déroule encore dans le train. Bref, on remercie la sauvegarde entre les deux objectifs, on éteint la console et on reprend le jeu après une pause bien méritée. Ensuite, c’est en parcourant un peu plus longuement Bioterror que le second écueil vient de lui-même, celui-ci se rapportant à l’aspect graphique. Rien de méchant par contre puisque les décors sont de très bonne facture pour une PSone, ce qui n’est pas nécessairement le cas des personnages qui s’intègrent moyennement aux environnements et dont la représentation a quelque chose de non fini. Mais encore une fois cela est minime et ne nuit pas au bon déroulement de CT.

In terms of gameplay, there are obviously a different phase Thursday by The parachute is very easy to tame because you need only bring a good place Flown (from right and left) and expect that both altitude gauges are in the green to open your parachute. The following is other than beat'em all hard, you require to cross vast levels by eliminating anything that moves and collecting various items of care, ammunition or grenades. You'll be able to run or you crouch to avoid bullets, drawing in several directions to reach the enemies who are above or below you, driving a tank or swimming in some levels. During the passage of snipe, you should simply direct the viewfinder of your gun to achieve your target and when you will ask a helicopter to fly an aircraft landing to rescue hostages and bring them to safety. Here, we swim in the open Choplifter (an old mythical title of the 80s) and is quite clearly seen from LSP for including this little challenge.

Now it is a bit stupid to see that the challenges have not been placed so that the player really has the impression of diversity Bioterror was able to induce. Instead, and some softness in the action moves (which does not prevent your opponents to arrive by successive waves), and it is difficult to want to move in Thursday Etrange since the previous episode don Had not made such an impression. The result is then a lack of Pepsi and tone that night something to this title nonetheless relatively sympathetic but below Special Forces: Back to Hell.

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link download

http://ultimaroms.********/console/gb...ent.php?id=233

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version française

La série des Special Forces semble rapporter à LSP puisqu'un nouvel opus de cette saga vient de voir le jour, sur PSone et GBA. Laissant le soin à Jihem de vous conter l’aventure se déroulant sur la portable de Nintendo, je me ferai témoin de celle se passant sur la première console de Sony. Devant beaucoup à la série des Metal Slug, Special Forces 3 : Bioterror reprend le concept de ses aînés tout en y apportant de nouvelles missions et environnements de jeu. Le briefing arrivant à sa fin, plongeons-nous comme il se doit dans les méandres ludiques du titre dont il est question.

Que puis-je vous dire sur ce Special Forces 3 : Bioterror ? Hum, et bien comme vous le montrent les 8 magnifiques screenshots sur votre droite, nous sommes en présence d’un jeu d’action à scrolling horizontal qui à l’aide de plusieurs petites missions annexes vous permettra de profiter d’autres phases de jeu comme du saut en parachute, d'un mode sniper ou encore de niveaux se déroulant à la façon d’un Choplifter en dirigeant un hélicoptère en vue de profil. L’histoire vous fera alors traverser 6 environnements différents pour un total de 18 niveaux chacun taillé dans l’action à outrance avec ennemis innombrables, tourelles de défense, jeeps sur-armées, etc.

Maintenant si l’humour de Metal Slug est ici remplacé par un sérieux plus ou moins appuyé, il faut aussi voir que la série de LSP se démarque, comme je le précisais plus haut, par une diversité dans ses phases de jeu. Chacune d’entre elles sera prétexte à diriger un héros différent. Il y a tout d’abord Stealh Owl (un guerrier se situant entre le marine et le ninja) adepte du fusil à pompe, Raptor (un vrai petit Rambo) spécialiste des missions d’infiltration en terrain hostile et maniant comme personne le lance-grenades (cherchez l'erreur) et enfin Aquila One qui ne quitte jamais son hélicoptère, même quand il doit en faire le plein, ce qui implique que dans 100% des cas il se crashe avant de finir sa mission…attendez, autant pour moi, on m’informe que cette dernière précision n’a jamais été vérifiée ! Bref, on retrouve ainsi divers challenges, même si ces derniers auraient mérité d’être mieux agencés pour éviter une trop grande monotonie.

Et ceci m’amène d’ailleurs au premier écueil du soft qui est de proposer des niveaux beaucoup, mais alors beaucoup trop longs, ceci conduisant à une grande lassitude. Il suffit de terminer le premier niveau se passant dans un train pour se rendre compte qu’on va souffrir, même en aimant le style. Pourtant le tout commence bien avec une petite descente en parachute pour arriver sur le train, dont je parlais plus haut, mais malheureusement le tout est bien vite redondant et difficile (même dans le mode Facile, alors imaginez un peu en Normal ou Difficile !) pour susciter réellement l’intérêt. Mais le pire est à venir puisque après avoir passé quasiment 10 minutes dans ce stage sans fin, le second objectif de la mission se déroule encore dans le train. Bref, on remercie la sauvegarde entre les deux objectifs, on éteint la console et on reprend le jeu après une pause bien méritée. Ensuite, c’est en parcourant un peu plus longuement Bioterror que le second écueil vient de lui-même, celui-ci se rapportant à l’aspect graphique. Rien de méchant par contre puisque les décors sont de très bonne facture pour une PSone, ce qui n’est pas nécessairement le cas des personnages qui s’intègrent moyennement aux environnements et dont la représentation a quelque chose de non fini. Mais encore une fois cela est minime et ne nuit pas au bon déroulement de CT.

Au niveau de la jouabilité, on en retrouve bien entendu une différente par phase de jeu. Celle en parachute est très simple à apprivoiser puisque vous devrez uniquement aligner une bonne tenue de vol (en allant à droite et à gauche) et attendre que les deux jauges d’altitude soient dans le vert pour ouvrir votre parachute. La suivante, qui n’est autre que celle du beat’em all pure et dure, vous obligera à traverser de vastes niveaux en éliminant tout ce qui bouge et en ramassant divers items de soin, des munitions ou encore des grenades. Vous aurez la possibilité de rouler ou de vous accroupir pour éviter les balles, de tirer dans plusieurs sens pour atteindre les ennemis se trouvant au-dessus ou en dessous de vous, de conduire un char d'assaut ou encore de nager dans certains niveaux. Durant les passages de snipe, il vous faudra simplement diriger le viseur de votre fusil pour atteindre vos cibles et les moments où vous dirigerez un hélicoptère vous demanderont de piloter un appareil, d’atterrir pour secourir des otages et les amener en lieu sûr. Ici, on nage en plein Choplifter (un vieux titre mythique des années 80) et c’est assez bien vu de la part de LSP d’avoir inclus ce petit challenge.

Maintenant, il est un peu stupide de constater que les défis n’aient pas été placés de telle sorte que le joueur ait vraiment cette impression de diversité que Bioterror était à même d’induire. Au lieu de ça, et une certaine mollesse dans l’action s'installe (ce qui n’empêche nullement vos adversaires d’arriver par vagues successives), et on peine à vouloir avancer dans le jeu. Etrange car le précédent épisode ne m’avait absolument pas fait cette impression. En résulte alors un manque flagrant de peps et de tonicité qui nuit quelque peu à ce titre qui n’en demeure pas moins relativement sympathique mais en deçà de Special Forces : Back to Hell.

info jeux

Editeur : Hip Interactive
Développeur : LSP
Type : Action
Support : CD
Multijoueurs : Non
Sortie France : Mai 2004
Version : Textes en français
Classification : Déconseillé aux - de 12 ans

A la Croisee des Mondes : La Boussole d'Or

2008-10-04T04:47:00.000-07:00

A la Croisee des Mondes : La Boussole d'Or

english version

A few days before the release of the latest blockbuster from New Line Cinema, Sega gives us the opportunity to embody the malicious Lyra in the official game of the film. Accompanied by Pan and Iorek, helping it to penetrate the mysteries of wide open spaces of North Kingdom.

At the crossroads of the Worlds: The Golden Compass is the first part of a film trilogy adapted from novels by Phillip Pullman. It contained the adventures of a young orphan in a rebel like as two drops of water to ours. However, every human being is accompanied by a daemon, the emanation of his soul in an animal, and witchcraft is a reality everywhere. Not without mentioning that Narmia or Harry Potter, the world in which Lyra is full of wonderful and poetry. Unfortunately, more recently, mysterious Enfourneurs abduct children for the religious government, the Magisterium. According to a rumor spread by gypsies, children would be taken to a scientific station in the north to suffer horrendous experiences. When her friend Roger disappears in turn, Lyra vows to find him by all means.

The gaming adaptation of this promising film is a mix of action and reflection. The player directs mainly Lyra, whose cunning and malice are wonderful to fool the many adults it has to cross. Other passages require the intervention of the daemon of the girl: Pan. Finally, some levels use the power of Iorek, a warrior banished bears his Kingdom. After a brief overview of the future resulting in fierce fighting on the ice, the adventure truly begins at Jordan College, Orford. Lyra must do everything to contact his uncle, visiting the facility. For this it must escape the supervision of his chaperone and escape through the roof.

The majority of time spent on the crossroads of the Worlds: The Golden Compass will be devoted to exploration. Lyra jumps, runs, jumps and is struggling in every way imaginable to navigate 3D environments. To reach the most inaccessible, it can also count on Pan knows that change in an instant in cat, eagle or lazy. These sequences platform, combined frequent mini-shooting games of QTY, or phases of discretion. In doing so, we must never lose sight of the investigation. As it ermine, Pan detects important elements behind the scene. Just enable them to collect information, trigger events, or win bonus. The sense of observation and the judicious use of the scanner Pan are fundamental. More than once, it will crash to hide behind a cabinet or retrieve a crumpled paper in a basket to make progress.

The key dialogues with important figures give rise to mini-games, and minimalists poussifs persuasion. Although they are quite varied and we can use different wildcards, principle is so stale that these verbal exchanges quickly became a chore. This is all the more damage they are full of humor and that the aftershocks depend on your performance. The use of Aléthiomètre is fortunately much more interesting. The compass of truth to answer any question if we know interpret symbols. Each consultation gives rise to an event during which it will place needles on the symbols that we seem more consistent with the question. Hence the importance of having recovered a maximum of details about each of them through the scanner or by reaching key areas.

If A CROSS-Worlds: The Golden Compass does not pay mine by its graphic quality, it offers an accessible gameplay and a grip immediately. Perhaps too much elsewhere since Thursday n'importunera person by its difficulty. Numerous mini-games include a moment. The fighting with Iorek result in a barrage of blows and easy chopper out. Pan forms can easily be combined to make air combos impressive. Unfortunately, the automated camera does not always show great accuracy in his jumps, especially when it moves in the open web. At the level of narration, the player can also feel a little baffled by confusing transitions, clumsily illustrated by short snippets of film. However, despite its many small flaws, this Golden Compass offers are lot of adventure and scenery. The system of symbols with their meanings to be found in any decor, provides more significant phases of exploration, and depth to some interesting puzzles. Finally, the design of animals and endearing charisma of Lyra will forget the achievement of poor soft.
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version française

A quelques jours de la sortie du dernier blockbuster de la New Line Cinema, Sega nous offre l'opportunité d'incarner la malicieuse Lyra dans le jeu officiel du film. Accompagné de Pan et Iorek, aidons-la à percer les mystères des grands espaces du Royaume du Nord.

A La Croisée Des Mondes : La Boussole D'Or est le premier volet d'une trilogie cinématographique adaptée des romans de Phillip Pullman. Il conte les aventures d'une jeune orpheline rebelle dans un univers ressemblant comme deux gouttes d'eau au nôtre. Cependant, chaque être humain y est accompagné d'un daemon, l'émanation de son âme sous une forme animale, et la sorcellerie est une réalité omniprésente. Non sans évoquer celui de Narmia ou d'Harry Potter, le monde dans lequel évolue Lyra est donc empreint de merveilleux et de poésie. Hélas, depuis peu, de mystérieux Enfourneurs enlèvent des enfants pour le compte du gouvernement religieux, le Magisterium. Selon une rumeur véhiculée par les Gitans, les enfants seraient emmenés vers une station scientifique dans le Nord pour y subir d'affreuses expériences. Lorsque son ami Roger disparaît à son tour, Lyra jure de le retrouver par tous les moyens.

L'adaptation vidéoludique de ce film prometteur est en fait un savant mélange d'action et de réflexion. Le joueur dirige principalement Lyra, dont la ruse et la malice font merveille pour duper les nombreux adultes qu'elle est amené à croiser. D'autres passages nécessitent l'intervention du daemon de la fillette : Pan. Enfin, quelques niveaux font appel à la puissance de Iorek, un guerrier ours banni de son Royaume. Après un bref aperçu du futur donnant lieu à de féroces combats sur la banquise, l'aventure commence véritablement au Jordan College d'Orford. Lyra doit tout faire pour entrer en contact avec son oncle, en visite dans l'établissement. Pour cela, elle doit échapper à la surveillance de son chaperon et s'enfuir par les toits.

La majorité du temps passé sur La Croisée Des Mondes : La Boussole D'Or sera consacrée à l'exploration. Lyra saute, court, grimpe, et se démène de toutes les manières imaginables pour parcourir les environnements en 3D. Pour atteindre les endroits les plus inaccessibles, elle peut aussi compter sur Pan qui sait se changer en un instant en chat, aigle ou paresseux. A ces séquences de plate-forme, s'ajoutent fréquemment des mini-jeux de tir, des QTE, ou des phases de discrétion. Ce faisant, il ne faut jamais perdre de vue l'enquête. Sous sa forme d'hermine, Pan détecte les éléments importants qui se cachent dans le décor. Il suffit alors d'activer ces derniers pour recueillir des informations, déclencher des événements, ou gagner des bonus. Le sens de l'observation et l'usage judicieux du scanner de Pan sont fondamentaux. Plus d'une fois, il faudra se cacher en catastrophe derrière un meuble ou récupérer un papier froissé dans une corbeille pour pouvoir progresser.

Les dialogues-clés avec les personnages importants donnent lieu à des mini-jeux de persuasion poussifs et minimalistes. Bien qu'ils soient assez variés et que l'on puisse utiliser différents jokers, leur principe est tellement éculé que ces échanges verbaux deviennent vite une corvée. C'est d'autant plus dommage qu'ils sont pleins d'humour et que les répliques dépendent de vos performances. L'usage de l'Aléthiomètre est heureusement bien plus intéressant. Cette boussole de vérité permet de répondre à n'importe quelle question pourvu que l'on sache en interpréter les symboles. Chaque consultation donne donc lieu à une épreuve durant laquelle il faudra placer des aiguilles sur les symboles qui nous semblent le plus en accord avec la question posée. D'où l'importance d'avoir au préalable récupéré un maximum de détails sur chacun d'eux grâce au scanner ou en atteignant des endroits-clés.

Si A La Croisée Des Mondes : La Boussole D'Or ne paye pas de mine par sa qualité graphique, il propose un gameplay accessible et une prise en main immédiate. Peut-être trop d'ailleurs puisque le jeu n'importunera personne par sa difficulté. Les nombreux mini-jeux se comprennent en un instant. Les combats avec Iorek donnent lieu à un déluge de coups et de choppes faciles à sortir. Les formes de Pan peuvent aisément être combinées pour pouvoir réaliser des combos aériens impressionnants. Malheureusement, la caméra automatisée ne permet pas toujours de faire preuve d'une grande précision dans ses sauts, en particulier lorsqu'elle bouge en plein enchaînement. Au niveau de la narration, le joueur peut également se sentir un peu dérouté par des transitions confuses, maladroitement illustrées par de courts extraits du film. Néanmoins, malgré ses nombreux petits défauts, cette Boussole D'Or offre sont lot d'aventure et de dépaysement. Le système des symboles, avec leurs significations à rechercher dans tous les décors, apporte un plus non négligeable aux phases d'exploration, et une profondeur intéressante à certaines énigmes. Enfin, le design attachant des animaux et le charisme de Lyra feront oublier la réalisation médiocre du soft.

info jeux

Editeur : Sega
Développeur : Shiny Entertainment

Type : Action / Aventure
Support : DVD
Multijoueurs : non
Sortie France : 30 novembre 2007
Version : française intégrale
Classification : Déconseillé aux - de 12 ans

2008-10-04T03:36:00.000-07:00

Civilization IV : Colonization

english version

Sid Meier Now we redid the remake of the coup. Having resurrected the legendary Pirates!, The creator has a new lease of life to another of its legendary titles: Colonization. A believe the man is running out of ideas ... However, this modernized version is an opportunity for newcomers to discover this strategy game round by round, and for nostalgic return to its delights.

Make no mistake: despite its name, Civilization: Colonization is not an extension of Civilization, but a remake of Colonization. It's a bit complicated and it is a lot of "z" ... One wonders also how well Firaxis pitched fly to appoint his game and, at the risk of fueling confusion in the minds of players. Perhaps the studio he hoped to surf on the wave of Civilization franchise, it is true that much more popular Colonization, which has experienced an opus in 1994 and nothing since? Possible ... But remember that Civilization IV is not required to play Colonization. In fact, if the two games share the same graphics engine, that's about all they have in common. Admittedly, there are a few similar mechanisms, since the two titles belong to the same category, but Colonization still has its own personality.

This personality is above all a historical context: the conquest of the New World. Therefore, there as protagonists of four countries that participated in the colonization of the Americas from the late fifteenth century England, Spain, France and Holland. And not Portugal, with all due respect to some. Of course, these nations are competing, but your main enemy is not foreign factions, nor the many local tribes elsewhere. No, but the final part of Colonization is simply independence from your nation of origin. A long-term goal, damn it will have to expand to dare confront the omnipotence of the motherland! To achieve this, you have until the end of the eighteenth century, 300 rounds of the game in normal mode (one each). A time in which your small desk will be transformed into a vast colonial empire through trade, diplomacy and war.

Indeed, such are the three udders gameplay of Colonization. Specifically, each city gives you resources depending on the type of surrounding land. These range from basic raw materials (food, wood) to scarce resources such as sugar or cotton. These can be used raw, but take all their value once processed into manufactured goods, rum or tissue for example. These precious commodities can be sold in Europe through a boat trip. In contrast, you can acquire what you lack, such as weapons or horses, difficult to produce by itself at the outset. And especially the fresh labor, immigration is the best way to populate its colonies. According to the adage "the right tools make good workers", it will be necessary to affect the most competent units in buildings correspondents. Putting a lumberjack in a distillery will serve little purpose ...

These small hands are effectively supported by great men, the famous "founding fathers". Some fifty historical figures are present, as Benjamin Franklin, Alexis de Tocqueville or Francisco Pizarro. They confer benefits very useful additional units or buildings, improvements free bonus production or defense, etc.. But to obtain it, it will first have to win these founding fathers to your cause by earning points in different gauges (trade, exploration, war, politics, religion). Once the correct number of points acquired, they will spontaneously offer their services and join your continental congress, if a competitor has not already enrolled. This idea effectively Renews the interest of Colonization, as may take radically different directions from one party to another. It is quite possible to develop peacefully or reduce to ashes the competition is up to you. Nevertheless, one can not help but notice a certain repetitiveness over the parties, but it is a defect inherent gender and addiction outweighs the fatigue. There remains the question of innovation, and here we must frankly admit that Firaxis did not take many risks. While the studio has changed a few minor points since the 1994 version, but these changes remain anecdotal. A finding that might divide between fans who Hailing the original and most demanding players regret that the lack of news. Whatever your camp, Colonization is a good game to discover.

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version française

Voilà que Sid Meier nous refait le coup du remake. Après avoir ressuscité le mythique Pirates!, le créateur offre une seconde jeunesse à un autre de ses titres légendaires : Colonization. A croire que le bonhomme est à cours d'idées neuves... Quoi qu'il en soit, cette version modernisée est l'occasion pour les nouveaux venus de découvrir ce jeu de stratégie en tour par tour, et pour les nostalgiques de replonger dans ses délices.

Ne vous y trompez pas : malgré son nom, Civilization : Colonization n'est pas une extension de Civilization, mais bien un remake de Colonization. C'est un peu compliqué et ça fait beaucoup de "z"... On se demande d'ailleurs bien quelle mouche a piqué Firaxis pour nommer son jeu ainsi, au risque d'alimenter la confusion dans l'esprit des joueurs. Peut-être le studio espère-t-il surfer sur la vague de Civilization, franchise il est vrai beaucoup plus populaire que Colonization, qui n'a connu qu'un opus en 1994 et plus rien depuis ? Possible... Mais sachez donc que Civilization IV n'est pas requis pour jouer à Colonization. En fait, si les deux jeux partagent bien le même moteur graphique, c'est à peu près tout ce qu'ils ont en commun. Certes, on retrouve bien quelques mécanismes similaires, puisque les deux titres appartiennent à la même catégorie, mais Colonization possède tout de même sa propre personnalité.

Cette personnalité, c'est avant tout un contexte historique : la conquête du Nouveau Monde. On retrouve donc en guise de protagonistes quatre pays ayant participé à la colonisation du continent américain à partir de la fin du XVème siècle : l'Angleterre, l'Espagne, la France et la Hollande. Et pas le Portugal, n'en déplaise à certains. Bien sûr, ces nations sont rivales, mais votre principal adversaire ne sera pas les factions étrangères, pas plus que les nombreuses tribus locales d'ailleurs. Non, le but final d'une partie de Colonization est tout simplement l'indépendance par rapport à votre nation d'origine. Un objectif de longue haleine, puisqu'il va falloir sacrément se développer pour oser affronter la toute puissance de la mère-patrie ! Pour y parvenir, vous avez jusqu'à la fin du XVIIIème siècle, soit 300 tours de jeu en mode normal (un par an). Un laps de temps au cours duquel votre petit comptoir va se transformer en un vaste empire colonial grâce au commerce, à la diplomatie et à la guerre.

En effet, telles sont les trois mamelles du gameplay de Colonization. Concrètement, chaque ville vous octroie des ressources en fonction du type de terrain environnant. Cela va des matières premières de base (nourriture, bois) à des ressources plus rares comme le sucre ou le coton. Ces dernières peuvent être utilisées brutes, mais prendront toute leur valeur une fois transformées en biens manufacturés, rhum ou tissu par exemple. Ces précieuses denrées peuvent ensuite être vendues en Europe grâce à un voyage en bateau. A l'inverse, vous pourrez aussi y acquérir ce qui vous fait défaut, comme les armes ou les chevaux, difficiles à produire par soi-même au départ. Et surtout de la main-d'oeuvre fraîche, l'immigration étant le meilleur moyen de peupler ses colonies. Selon l'adage "les bons outils font les bons ouvriers", il faudra veiller à affecter les unités les plus compétentes aux bâtiments correspondants. Mettre un bûcheron dans une distillerie ne servira pas à grand-chose...

Ces petites mains sont efficacement secondées par des grands hommes, les fameux "pères fondateurs". Une cinquantaine de figures historiques sont présentes, comme Benjamin Franklin, Alexis de Tocqueville ou Francisco Pizarro. Ils confèrent des avantages très utiles : unités ou bâtiments supplémentaires, améliorations gratuites, bonus de production ou de défense, etc. Mais pour les obtenir, il va d'abord falloir rallier ces pères fondateurs à votre cause en gagnant des points dans différentes jauges (commerce, exploration, guerre, politique, religion). Une fois le bon nombre de points acquis, ils viendront spontanément proposer leurs services et rejoindre votre congrès continental, pour peu qu'un concurrent ne les ait pas déjà enrôlés. Cette idée renouvelle efficacement l'intérêt de Colonization, puisqu'on pourra prendre des orientations radicalement différentes d'une partie à l'autre. Il est tout à fait possible de se développer pacifiquement ou de réduire en cendres la concurrence, c'est à vous de voir. Malgré tout, on ne peut s'empêcher de remarquer une certaine répétitivité au fil des parties, mais c'est un défaut inhérent au genre et l'addiction l'emporte largement sur la lassitude. Reste la question de l'innovation, et là franchement il faut avouer que Firaxis n'a pas pris beaucoup de risques. Certes, le studio a bien modifié quelques points mineurs depuis la version de 1994, mais ces changements restent anecdotiques. Un constat qui risque de diviser, entre les fans qui salueront le respect de l'oeuvre originale et les joueurs plus exigeants qui regretteront le manque de nouveautés. Quel que soit votre camp, Colonization demeure un bon jeu à (re)découvrir.
Captain Obvious , le 29 septembre 2008

info jeux

Editeur : Take 2 Interactive
Développeur : Firaxis
Type : Stratégie
Support : CD
Multijoueurs : 2-18 joueurs
Sortie France : 26 septembre 2008
Version : Française intégrale
Config minimum : Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Pentium IV 1,2 GHz, 256 Mo de RAM (512 pour XP), carte graphique 64 Mo compatible Pixel Shader 1.1
Config conseillée : Windows 2000/XP/Vista, Pentium IV 1,8 GHz, 512 Mo de RAM, carte graphique 128
Classification : Déconseillé aux - de 12 an

the witcher ( pc game )

2008-10-04T02:18:00.000-07:00

The Witcher - Enhanced Edition

English version

The Witcher is certainly a great role play and was rewarded as such in these columns last year. Nevertheless, with a hint of severity, due to some annoying flaws, including load times and characters cloned. The story could stop there, but CD Projekt is decidedly not a developer like any other. The studio has sought to correct these problems, and we hit the resort today in a revised and corrected. Icing on the cake, this new version contains two new adventure and we are served in a superb packaging containing bonuses. Ideal for a meeting of catching up, or rediscover this pearl in all its splendor.

The Witcher is primarily the story of a cycle of fantasy written by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. His universe is based on a now classic dwarves and elves meet present and responsive to all the cliches in force. But it does not lack originality. The story takes place in an atmosphere dark fever is rampant, racism against non-human grows ... And above all, sorceleurs handful of survivors have lost the confidence of the population. These warriors hunters monsters, which have undergone genetic mutations to develop strength and stamina. They also have some magical powers called signs. The hero that we control is one of them, not least because of Geralt Riv is its name, was known for his exploits. But early Thursday, he resurfaced after several years of disappearance and appears to have forgotten who he is. Here we are again the stroke of amnesia ... Like a Gothic 3, it does not, therefore, his character, it embodies Geralt the White Wolf. After defending the fortress of Kaer Morhen, he moved to Wyzima, capital of Temeria in search of answers.

Here we see a big difference compared to one of the heavyweights of the genre, I appointed Oblivion. In The Witcher, not to go wherever we feel from the beginning. We are not dropped in a vast world to go in all directions at the option of his mood. No, here, we must begin with the suburbs, then reaching the town, then go in the marshes, etc.. The improvement is very compartmentalized. An impression reinforced even more that playgrounds are not immense, and we can not go wherever we want. For example, in the suburbs of Wizima, every field is rendered inaccessible by a wooden fence. Knowing that Geralt can neither jump nor swim elsewhere, the course of this area is limited to a circle which follows the path. Same once in the city, where several neighborhoods were not immediately available for the needs of the scenario. In short, the world's game is at the service of history, and therefore open gradually over the progress of the player. This is not an evil, but we would still have enjoyed more freedom.

Well, not exaggerate, if there is a lack of freedom in movements, there is no shortage of choices provided. Geralt will have many opportunities to intervene in the events. Leave your villagers burn the witch, or will you take his defense? Will you take from a fishing village, or a god submarine? You will have to decide, and that will sometimes affect the result. We feel we have a real influence. Many side quests are also available. They are of two types: those proposed by the characters with whom the dialogue are generally well constructed and are rather interesting. However, missions annexes available on billboards there are worse in role-playing: it is neither more nor less than to go kill ten or eight drownings GOULES and report their heads or I do not know what part of their body (and I do not know). Boring, to book those who want to earn a little more experience or money. But other ways to get rich is no shortage: the mini-game of poker dice is very successful, and fans will surely be a few hours to reach the top of the hierarchy of bettors, facing professionals for always put higher. The artificial intelligence of opponents has been revised for this edition, they do not comment the same mistakes more stupid than before. It is also possible to engage in boxing in the taverns, but the unarmed combat is not exciting, we just stick a few chestnuts between two dodge.

The "real" combat, to the sword, is however far more interesting. After disrupting the start, we learn quickly how to use combos. Everything is in the timing: after clicking on an enemy, a first sequence of shots go off. Then, click again at the right time to trigger a second volley of shots, and so on. In total, up five sequences that can be chained. They depend on the weapon used (money for monsters, steel for humans) but also the chosen style of fighting: powerful, fast or group, each of which is obviously more or less adapted to the type of enemies. This system is varied and enjoyable when we start to have a panel of coups and therefore we just stand up to a dozen opponents simultaneously. This will distribute the talents adequately. The sheet of characters is quite special in The Witcher, there is no question of complex numerical characteristics. At each level, using talent points to unlock skills is related to the attributes (strength, dexterity, endurance, intelligence) or combat skills or magic. For example, in the jurisdiction steel - powerful "(which as its name suggests is made to attack style with a powerful weapon steel), we can distribute talent points to increase the damage or the chances of parades . In a sign of igni, or the power to fire, talent can increase the angle or duration of the conflagration. What a pity that the magic is not more developed elsewhere, because ultimately spells, even if they can be improved in many ways, are the number of five. Telekinesis, protection, control ... It was quickly made the turn.

As against, many potions complement magic. The alchemy system is very complete. First, to pick plants, you need to know. This means that the grass will need to purchase or otherwise acquire. The flight is anyway not punished in The Witcher can loot a house in the nose and beard of its occupants without risking anything. In short, once the grass read, the knowledge they contain added to a newspaper provided in the ingredients, and you can harvest the plants in question. Everything is indeed like this: we must find formulas potion in books, although it remains possible to experiment. Even monsters need to be studied in precious volumes to be added to the bestiary, rich in information on techniques to kill them. A sacred good idea. Once the components together, just enter in meditation to create the desired elixir. It can also manufacture explosives, or oil to coat the blades and make them more effective. There is no magic weapon itself, but it is a way to improve them, such as diamond powder or runes. In the end, the gameplay is refreshing thanks to all these small new findings. The Enhanced Edition improves the transition interface since the alchemy section of the inventory is now devoted to components, you can also sort by nature

Visually, The Witcher place the bar very high. Indeed, the graphic engine is capable of feats difficult to recognize the Aurora Engine developed by BioWare for Neverwinter Nights 2. The design is not standing still, it frequently happens to be admiration for the landscape, jaw stalled before so much beauty, small details, lights sublime. Add to this the effects of weather, the day / night cycle perfectly rendered, the places that are teeming with life ... Thus, the birds away in your path while butterflies volettent. In town, people go about their occupations, wandering dogs, children playing in the streets. The world is very alive and very consistent. This immersion is enhanced by realistic sounds more beautiful. In short, we are dealing with a very careful implementation. The main criticism made to the original version, namely the presence of NPC cloned, no longer be as CD Projekt has integrated new models, with more animations

In short, through the Enhanced Edition, The Witcher approaching perfection. With its original game system, its history well built (one feels the pen of a writer behind), its achievement refined down to the smallest detail, it is a great role-playing, race too much Rare lords, who left an indelible to anyone plunge inside. Furthermore, the box contains numerous bonus (RB, videos, map, guide Thursday ..) at a price defying any competition. The two new adventures concocted by the developers, they are good. The first, "the price of neutrality", takes place at the foot of the fortress Kaer Morhen. The second is going to Wyzima, whereas Geralt must leave his friend Jaskier a bad password ... A total of five additional hours of Thursday. All that content is obviously open to owners of the original edition via a patch.

The previous test ended with these words: "Stay tuned." Here it is therefore a result, even if he had to wait almost a year to get it worth it to wait. Meanwhile, we must admit that it has not happened much in the small world of role-playing PC. This vacuum leaves a boulevard The Witcher for becoming the new benchmark of the genre. Now, the Risen, Dragon Age: Origin, Arcania: A Gothic Tale and other Divinity 2: Ego Draconis who are outsiders, and they have a lot to do in 2009 to overthrow the king to his throne.

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link of download

http://bi.sciagnij.pl/0/7/German.zip

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version française

The Witcher est assurément un grand jeu de rôle, et il a été récompensé comme tel dans nos colonnes l'an passé. Avec néanmoins un soupçon de sévérité, dû à quelques défauts énervants, notamment les temps de chargement et les personnages clonés. L'histoire aurait pu s'arrêter là, mais CD Projekt n'est décidément pas un développeur comme les autres. Le studio s'est attaché à corriger ces problèmes, et nous ressort aujourd'hui son hit dans une version revue et corrigée. Cerise sur le gâteau, cette nouvelle mouture contient deux aventure inédites et nous est servie dans un superbe packaging contenant de nombreux bonus. Idéal pour une séance de rattrapage, ou pour redécouvrir cette perle dans toute sa splendeur.

The Witcher, c'est d'abord l'histoire d'un cycle de fantasy écrit par l'auteur polonais Andrzej Sapkowski. Son univers repose sur des bases désormais classiques : nains et elfes répondent présents et correspondent bien à tous les clichés en vigueur. Mais il ne manque pas non plus d'originalité. L'histoire se déroule dans une atmosphère sombre : la peste fait des ravages, le racisme envers les non-humains grandit... Et surtout, la poignée de sorceleurs survivants n'ont plus la confiance de la population. Il s'agit de guerriers chasseurs de monstres, ayant subi des mutations génétiques afin de développer leur force et leur résistance. Ils disposent aussi de quelques pouvoirs magiques appelés signes. Le héros que l'on contrôle est l'un d'entre eux, et pas des moindres, puisque Geralt de Riv, c'est son nom, fut réputé pour ses exploits. Mais au début du jeu, il refait surface après plusieurs années de disparition et semble avoir oublié qui il est. Voilà qu'on nous refait le coup de l'amnésie... A l'instar d'un Gothic 3, on ne crée donc pas son personnage, on incarne Geralt, le Loup Blanc. Après avoir défendu la forteresse de Kaer Morhen, il part à Wyzima, capitale du royaume de Temeria, en quête de réponses.

Là, on se rend compte d'une grande différence par rapport à l'un des ténors du genre, j'ai nommé Oblivion. Dans The Witcher, pas question d'aller où bon nous semble dès le début. On n'est pas lâché dans un vaste monde à parcourir dans tous les sens au gré de son humeur. Non, ici, il faut commencer par les faubourgs, puis atteindre la ville, puis aller dans les marais, etc. La progression est assez cloisonnée. Une impression d'autant plus renforcée que les aires de jeu ne sont pas immenses, et qu'on ne peut pas aller où l'on veut. Par exemple, dans les faubourgs de Wizima, le moindre champ est rendu inaccessible par une barrière de bois. Sachant que Geralt ne sait ni sauter, ni nager d'ailleurs, le parcours de cette zone se limite à un cercle qui suit le chemin. Même constat une fois dans la ville, où plusieurs quartiers ne sont pas tout de suite accessibles pour les besoins du scénario. Bref, le monde du jeu est au service de l'histoire, et s'ouvrira donc progressivement au fil de l'avancement du joueur. Ce n'est pas un mal, mais on aurait tout de même apprécié plus de liberté.

Bon, n'exagérons rien, s'il y a un manque de liberté dans les mouvements, on ne manque pas de choix pour autant. Geralt aura souvent l'occasion d'intervenir dans les événements. Laisserez-vous les villageois brûler la sorcière, ou prendrez-vous sa défense ? Allez-vous prendre le parti d'un village de pêcheurs, ou celui d'un dieu sous-marin ? Ce sera à vous de trancher, et cela aura parfois une incidence sur la suite. On sent qu'on a une réelle influence. De nombreuses quêtes secondaires sont aussi disponibles. Elles sont de deux types : celles qui sont proposées par les personnages avec qui on dialogue sont en général bien construites et s'avèrent plutôt intéressantes. En revanche, les missions annexes disponibles sur les panneaux d'affichage sont ce qu'il y a de pire dans les jeux de rôle : il s'agit ni plus ni moins que d'aller tuer dix noyadés ou huit goules et de rapporter leurs têtes ou je ne sais quelle partie de leur corps (et je ne veux pas le savoir). Ennuyeux, à réserver à ceux qui veulent gagner un peu plus d'expérience ou d'argent. Mais les autres moyens de s'enrichir ne manquent pas : le mini-jeu de poker aux dés est très réussi, et les amateurs y passeront certainement quelques heures pour se hisser au sommet de la hiérarchie des parieurs, affrontant des professionnels pour des mises toujours plus élevées. L'intelligence artificielle des adversaires a d'ailleurs été revue pour cette réédition, ils ne commentent plus les mêmes erreurs stupides qu'auparavant. Il est aussi possible de s'adonner au pugilat dans les tavernes, mais le combat à mains nues n'est pas passionnant, on se contente de coller quelques châtaignes entre deux esquives.

Le "vrai" combat, à l'épée, est en revanche bien plus intéressant. Passé le début perturbant, on apprend vite à se servir des combos. Tout est dans le timing : après avoir cliqué sur un ennemi, une première séquence de coups se déclenche. Ensuite, il faut recliquer au bon moment pour déclencher une seconde volée de coups, et ainsi de suite. Au total, ce sont jusqu'à cinq séquences qui peuvent être enchaînées. Elles dépendent de l'arme utilisée (argent pour les monstres, acier pour les humains) mais aussi du style de combat choisi : puissant, rapide ou groupe, chacun étant évidemment plus ou moins adapté selon le type d'ennemis. Ce système se révèle varié et plaisant, quand on commence à disposer d'un panel de coups conséquent et que l'on vient de tenir tête à une dizaine d'adversaires simultanément. Pour cela, il faudra distribuer les talents de manière adéquate. La feuille de personnages est assez spéciale : dans The Witcher, il n'est pas question de caractéristiques chiffrées complexes. A chaque niveau, on utilise des points de talent pour débloquer des compétences liées soit aux attributs (force, dextérité, endurance, intelligence), soit aux compétences de combat ou de magie. Par exemple, dans la compétence "acier - puissant" (qui comme son nom l'indique correspond aux attaques faites en style puissant avec une arme d'acier), on peut distribuer des points de talent pour augmenter les dégâts ou les chances de parades. Pour le signe d'Igni, autrement dit le pouvoir de feu, les talents peuvent augmenter l'angle ou la durée de l'embrasement. Quel dommage que la magie ne soit pas plus développée d'ailleurs, car finalement les sorts, même s'ils peuvent être améliorés de nombreuses façons, ne sont qu'au nombre de cinq. Télékinésie, protection, contrôle... On a vite fait le tour.

Par contre, de nombreuses potions viennent compléter la magie. Le système d'alchimie est très complet. D'abord, pour pouvoir cueillir des plantes, il faut les connaître. Cela passe par des herbiers qu'il faudra acheter ou acquérir autrement. Le vol n'est de toutes façons pas puni dans The Witcher, on peut piller une maison au nez et à la barbe de ses occupants sans risquer quoi que ce soit. Bref, une fois ces herbiers lus, les connaissances qu'ils renferment s'ajoutent à un journal très fourni dans la section des ingrédients, et vous pouvez récolter les plantes en question. Tout marche d'ailleurs comme ça : il faut aussi trouver les formules de potion dans des livres, bien qu'il reste possible d'expérimenter. Même les monstres doivent être étudiés dans de précieux volumes afin de s'ajouter au bestiaire, riche en informations sur les techniques pour les tuer. Une sacrée bonne idée. Une fois les composants réunis, il suffit d'entrer en méditation pour créer l'élixir désiré. On peut également fabriquer des explosifs, ou des huiles pour enduire les lames et les rendre plus efficaces. Il n'y a pas d'armes magiques à proprement parler, mais c'est une façon de les améliorer, comme la poudre de diamant ou les runes. Au final, le gameplay est rafraîchissant grâce à toutes ces petites trouvailles inédites. Cette Enhanced Edition améliore au passage l'interface de l'alchimie puisqu'une section de l'inventaire est désormais consacrée aux composants, qu'on peut de surcroît trier par nature.

Visuellement, The Witcher place la barre très haut. En effet, le moteur graphique est capable de prouesses, difficile de reconnaître l'Aurora Engine développé par Bioware pour Neverwinter Nights 2. Le design n'est pas en reste, il arrive donc fréquemment d'être en admiration devant le paysage, mâchoire décrochée devant tant de beauté, de petits détails, de lumières sublimes. Ajoutons à cela les effets météorologiques, le cycle jour/nuit parfaitement rendu, les lieux qui fourmillent de vie... Ainsi, les oiseaux s'enfuient sur votre passage tandis que les papillons volettent. En ville, les habitants vaquent à leurs occupations, les chiens errent, les enfants jouent dans les rues. Le monde est vraiment vivant et très cohérent. Cette immersion est renforcée par des bruitages réalistes du plus bel effet. Bref, on a affaire à une réalisation très soignée. Le principal reproche fait à la version originale, à savoir la présence de PNJ clonés, n'a plus lieu d'être puisque CD Projekt a intégré de nouveaux modèles, dotés de plus d'animations.

Bref, grâce à cette Enhanced Edition, The Witcher frôle la perfection. Avec son système de jeu original, son histoire bien construite (on sent la plume d'un véritable écrivain derrière), sa réalisation léchée jusque dans les moindres détails, il s'impose comme un grand jeu de rôle, de la race ô combien trop rare des seigneurs, qui laissera une empreinte indélébile à quiconque plongera dedans. Pour ne rien gâcher, la boîte contient de nombreux bonus (BO, vidéos, carte, guide de jeu...) à un tarif défiant toute concurrence. Quant aux deux nouvelles aventures concoctées par les développeurs, elles sont de bonne facture. La première, "le prix de la neutralité", se déroule au pied de la forteresse de Kaer Morhen. La seconde se passe à Wyzima, alors que Geralt doit sortir son ami Jaskier d'une bien mauvaise passe... Au total, comptez cinq heures de jeu supplémentaires. Tout ce contenu est évidemment accessible aux possesseurs de l'édition originale via un patch.

Le précédent test se concluait par ces mots : "affaire à suivre". La voilà donc, la suite, et même s'il a fallu patienter près d'un an pour l'obtenir, ça valait le coup d'attendre. Entre temps, il faut bien admettre qu'il ne s'est pas passé grand-chose dans le petit monde des jeux de rôle PC. Ce vide laisse à The Witcher un boulevard pour s'imposer comme la nouvelle référence du genre. Maintenant, ce sont les Risen, Dragon Age : Origin, Arcania : A Gothic Tale et autres Divinity 2 : Ego Draconis qui sont les outsiders, et ils auront fort à faire en 2009 pour renverser le roi de son trône.

info jeux

Editeur : Atari
Développeur : CD Projekt
Type : Jeu de Rôle
Support : DVD
Multijoueurs : Non
Sortie France : 19 septembre 2008(16 septembre 2008 aux Etats-Unis)
Version : Française intégrale
Config minimum : Windows XP SP2/Vista, Pentium IV 2,4 GHz, 1 Go de RAM, carte vidéo GeForce 6600 ou Radeon 9800 avec 128 Mo
Config conseillée : Windows XP SP2/Vista, Core 2 Duo, 2 Go de RAM, carte vidéo GeForce 7900 avec 256 Mo
Classification : Interdit aux - de 18 ans

Crysis Warhead (game pc)

2008-10-03T14:35:00.000-07:00

pc game player

Crysis Warhead

English version

Crysis Warhead is not a suite, but an extension of SPF event of the end of last year, which was able to prove that he was not just a technological showcase. It proposes a new solo campaign in parallel events experienced in the original, allowing players to prolong the pleasure by taking another point of view. Sold at reduced prices as a stand alone including a second disc dedicated to multiplayer, it poses as a vital acquisition. What is it?

On 16 November 2007 came to an end recent speculation on technical Crysis: yes the game was a massacre visual, so it required a pattern of gross and turn its full potential. But beyond its admirable plastic, was discovered gameplay licked and dynamic. Eased scripts that parasitize too often the freedom of action, he proposed open environments with a wide variety of approaches, with a remarkable physics engine support. Yet the solo campaign leaving an after-taste of incompleteness: uneven in terms of pace, it contrasted too much between the first part "sandbox" and a second jubilant very scripted and ultimately less convincing. Warhead thus tries to sublimate betting experience offered by Crysis. His exit as a stand alone (the original game is not required to play) allows EA and Crytek to give a second chance at a title whose sales were deemed disappointing. Machinery capable of turning a marked increase.

Crysis Warhead transports you again on the Pacific island already surveyed in the original. But this time, you will explore the other side's point of view of Sergeant Sykes. Contrary to what may suggest its brutal and marked facies, Psycho (that is his nickname) is a much more nuanced and deeper than could be Nomad. This is the kind of soldier likely to disrupt a mission to go rescue a teammate in need. As Nomad, Psycho is part of this squad of elite soldiers dispatched to the island. It has therefore also nanocombinaison a true second skin that will save the more than once. Briefly recall that the island has recently been overrun by Korean forces, who hold hostage the American archaeologists have unearthed the presence of a form of extraterrestrial life. Throughout the seven levels proposed by the new companion solo Psycho's mission is to pursue a mysterious convoy led by Colonel Ji-Sung Lee. Who has not played Crysis might be a little hard to understand certain developments of Scenarist Warhead, but let's be honest: this has little importance. It regrets that the parallel with the original episode is too often limited to simple citations: there are some places like the port or frozen bar, we hear Nomad on the radio ... But the actions of Psycho have no direct influence on events experienced by Nomad and vice versa. Damage, could be fun.

The new campaign proposed by Crysis Warhead has worked over narration and a more studied pace. The various moods follow a more sustained pace, without having time to get bored: from the sunny beaches of the first-level sub-wood muddy the second, beaten by a tropical rain. Then we traveled the island frozen on board a hovercraft, then go to explore the depths of a mine ... Warhead also offers a wider variety of situations within the same level. Psycho can start a walk alone, then initiate a prosecution in a vehicle, and then participate in an assault with a squad of teammates. We feel the effort of developers to maintain a steady pace without any dead time, the price of a linearity greater than in the original opus: open levels are fewer and less extensive, and scripts are more present. The wait times are also fewer as the enemy soldiers, less static, rush easier on you and continue to stalk you if you opt for a strategic retreat. It becomes a bit variety of approaches: the clashes, more direct, do as much to test your ingenuity, your tactics and your ability to adapt. It is surprising even to use a little less the four functions of the nanosuit.

The various improvements Crysis Warhead go in the direction of this all-action ". Starting with the new weapons available. The grenade launcher can overcome more easily tanks and other armored vehicles that could pose a problem in the first opus. The machine pistol, available in double, is devastating in close combat, but his major setback him any details from afar. We greatly appreciate that the latter has been increased: the distance covered is much more precise, as are the fire made from turrets and vehicles. Vehicles, precisely, expanding a newcomer: the VRB (armored reconnaissance vehicle), whose fire power used to clean whole parcels of jungle like a Predator. All this makes arsenal Crysis Warhead easier than the original, all that ammunition is more common and automatically pick the lowest levels of difficulty: a good idea that you will not spend three hours to search through the thick grass. At radius improvements include those made to AI. Not that the behavior of your opponents has been reviewed, but it suffers far fewer failures than in the original game. Finally on the campaign solo, let it unfortunately has a life a little low, which is struggling to exceed six hours of play (even performing a few side missions). The game may be sold at a reasonable price, one can not help but stay hungry.

Fortunately, Crysis Warhead also expanding in terms of multiplayer, with the presence in the box Thursday a second DVD, titled Crysis Wars, which is devoted entirely. It includes 21 maps in total, 14 were already present in the original. Some of them are dedicated to the famous mode Power Struggle, which combines the fun of an immediate Counter Strike teamplay with a Battlefield, other classic Instant Action. The latest introduce a new game mode called Instant Action Team. This is certainly a simple team deathmatch, but the maps particularly successful and ingenious system repop (always near the action) make it particularly dynamic and fun to play, especially in vehicles. Only reproach: for the time being, Warhead is played on servers separate from those of Crysis, splitting in two a community that did not really need. Some words, finally, on the look of Crysis Warhead, history to confirm - if necessary - it is more amazing than ever. Of course, all this has a price. But Warhead has the advantage of being playable on a fleet of machines more important than at the exit of his predecessor. The different levels of details have been renamed Business Performance / Standard / Gamer / Ultra for us to understand that the intermediate degrees already provide global gaming sufficiently convincing. As long as you have the system requirements, you would therefore be wrong to deprive you: Despite the questionable direction of his campaign solo, Crysis Warhead is a FPS high quality that will allow you to prolong pleasure to discover or less Rolls charge of gender.
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version fraçaise

Crysis Warhead n'est pas une suite, mais un prolongement du FPS événement de la fin de l'année dernière, qui avait su prouver qu'il n'était pas qu'une simple vitrine technologique. Il propose une nouvelle campagne solo en parallèle des événements vécus dans l'original, permettant aux joueurs de prolonger le plaisir en adoptant un autre point de vue. Vendu à prix modéré sous la forme d'un stand alone incluant un second disque dédié au multijoueur, il se pose comme une acquisition indispensable. Qu'en est-il vraiment ?

Le 16 novembre 2007 prirent fin les dernières spéculations techniques sur Crysis : oui le jeu était une tuerie visuelle, oui il nécessitait une configuration de brute pour tourner à son plein potentiel. Mais au-delà de sa plastique admirable, on découvrait un gameplay léché et dynamique. Allégé des scripts qui parasitent trop souvent la liberté d'action, il proposait des environnements ouverts offrant une large variété d'approches, avec un moteur physique remarquable en appui. Pourtant, la campagne solo laissait un arrière-goût d'inachevé : inégale en termes de rythme, elle contrastait trop entre une première partie "bac à sable" jubilatoire et une seconde partie très scriptée et au final moins convaincante. Warhead tente donc le pari de sublimer l'expérience offerte par Crysis. Sa sortie sous la forme d'un stand alone (le jeu original n'est pas requis pour jouer) permet à EA et Crytek de donner une seconde chance à un titre dont les ventes ont été jugées décevantes. Le parc de machines susceptibles de le faire tourner a en effet considérablement augmenté.

Crysis Warhead vous transporte une nouvelle fois sur l'île du Pacifique déjà arpentée dans l'original. Mais cette fois, vous allez en explorer l'autre versant, du point de vue du sergent Sykes. Contrairement à ce que peut laisser penser son faciès brutal et marqué, Psycho (c'est son surnom) est un personnage beaucoup plus nuancé et plus profond que pouvait l'être Nomad. C'est le genre de soldat susceptible d'interrompre une mission pour aller secourir un équipier en nécessité. Comme Nomad, Psycho fait partie de cette escouade de soldats d'élite dépêchés sur l'île. Il dispose donc lui aussi d'une nanocombinaison, véritable seconde peau qui lui sauvera la mise plus d'une fois. Rappelons brièvement que l'île a récemment été envahie par les forces coréennes, qui y retiennent en otage les archéologues américains qui ont mis à jour la présence d'une forme de vie extraterrestre. Tout au long des sept niveaux proposés par la nouvelle compagne solo, la mission de Psycho est de pourchasser un mystérieux convoi emmené par le colonel Ji-Sung Lee. Qui n'a pas joué à Crysis aura peut-être un peu de mal à comprendre certains développements scénaristiques de Warhead, mais soyons honnête : cela n'a qu'une faible importance. On regrette toutefois que le parallèle avec l'épisode original se limite trop souvent à de simples citations : on retrouve certains lieux comme le port ou le bar gelé, on entend parler de Nomad à la radio... Mais les actions de Psycho n'ont pas d'influence directe sur les événements vécus par Nomad et réciproquement. Dommage, ç'aurait pu être amusant.

La nouvelle campagne proposée par Crysis Warhead dispose d'une narration plus travaillée et d'un rythme mieux étudié. Les différentes ambiances se succèdent à une cadence plus soutenue, sans qu'on ait le temps de se lasser : on passe des plages baignées de soleil du premier niveau aux sous-bois boueux du second, battus par une pluie tropicale. Puis on parcourt l'île gelée à bord d'un hovercraft, pour aller ensuite explorer les tréfonds d'une mine... Warhead propose de surcroît une plus grande diversité de situations à l'intérieur d'un même niveau. Psycho peut débuter une zone à pied en solitaire, puis engager une poursuite à bord d'un véhicule, pour enfin participer à un assaut avec une escouade d'équipiers. On sent l'effort des développeurs pour maintenir un rythme constant sans aucun temps mort, au prix d'une linéarité plus importante que dans l'opus d'origine : les niveaux ouverts sont moins nombreux et moins vastes, et les scripts y sont plus présents. Les moments attentistes y sont également moins nombreux dans la mesure où les soldats ennemis, moins statiques, se précipitent plus facilement sur vous et continuent de vous traquer si vous optez pour un repli stratégique. On y perd un peu en variété d'approches possibles : les affrontements, plus directs, ne mettent plus autant à l'épreuve votre ingéniosité, votre sens tactique et vos capacités d'adaptation. On se surprend même à utiliser un peu moins les quatre fonctions de la nanosuit.

Les différentes améliorations apportées par Crysis Warhead vont dans le sens de ce "tout-action". A commencer par les nouvelles armes à disposition. Le lance-grenades permet de venir à bout plus facilement des chars et autres blindés qui pouvaient poser problème dans le premier opus. Le pistolet mitrailleur, disponible en version double, est dévastateur en combat rapproché, mais son recul important lui interdit toute précision de loin. On apprécie grandement que cette dernière ait été augmentée : la visée à distance est beaucoup plus précise, comme le sont également les tirs effectués à partir des tourelles et des véhicules. Les véhicules, justement, s'étoffent d'un nouveau-venu : le VRB (véhicule de reconnaissance blindé), dont la puissance de feu permet de nettoyer des parcelles entières de jungle à la manière d'un Predator. Tout cet arsenal rend Crysis Warhead plus facile que l'original, d'autant que les munitions sont plus courantes et se ramassent automatiquement dans les plus bas niveaux de difficulté : une bonne idée qui vous évitera de passer trois heures à les chercher dans l'herbe touffue. Au rayon des améliorations, notons celle apportée à l'IA. Non que le comportement de vos adversaires ait été revu, mais il souffre de beaucoup moins de ratés que dans le jeu d'origine. Pour finir sur la campagne solo, précisons qu'elle possède hélas une durée de vie un peu faible, qui peine à dépasser les six heures de jeu (même en s'acquittant de quelques missions secondaires). Le jeu a beau être vendu à un tarif raisonnable, on ne peut s'empêcher de rester sur sa faim.

Heureusement, Crysis Warhead s'étoffe aussi en matière de multijoueur, avec la présence dans la boîte de jeu d'un second DVD, intitulé Crysis Wars, qui lui est entièrement consacré. On y retrouve 21 cartes au total, dont 14 étaient déjà présentes dans l'original. Certaines d'entre elles sont dédiées au fameux mode Power Struggle, qui concilie le fun immédiat d’un Counter Strike avec le teamplay d’un Battlefield, d'autres au classique Instant Action. Les dernières introduisent un mode de jeu inédit nommé Team Instant-Action. Il s'agit certes d'un bête deathmatch en équipe, mais ses maps particulièrement réussies et son système de repop ingénieux (toujours près de l'action) le rendent particulièrement dynamique et fun à jouer, surtout à bord de véhicules. Seul reproche : pour le moment, Warhead se joue sur des serveurs séparés de ceux de Crysis, scindant en deux une communauté qui n'en avait pas vraiment besoin. Quelques mots, pour finir, sur le rendu visuel de Crysis Warhead, histoire de vous confirmer – si besoin est – qu'il est plus époustouflant que jamais. Bien sûr, tout cela a un prix. Mais Warhead a l'avantage d'être jouable sur un parc de machines plus important que lors de la sortie de son prédécesseur. Les différents niveaux de détails ont d'ailleurs été renommés en Performances/Standard/Gamer/Ultra pour bien nous faire comprendre que les degrés intermédiaires procurent déjà une expérience de jeu suffisamment convaincante. Pour peu que vous disposiez de la configuration nécessaire, vous auriez donc tort de vous priver : en dépit de l'orientation discutable de sa campagne solo, Crysis Warhead est un FPS de grande qualité qui vous permettra de prolonger le plaisir ou de découvrir à moindre frais la Rolls du genre

2008-10-03T09:47:00.002-07:00

Xbox

video game console from Microsoft that was designed to compete with Sony's PlayStation and Nintendo's GameCube. Introduced in 2001 with a 733 MHz Pentium III CPU, 5x DVD drive and custom-designed graphics processor, the Xbox also includes four game controller ports, Ethernet networking and Internet connectivity.

Xbox broadens the definition of digital entertainment with exciting new products presented in the exhibition E3
The first of Rare Xbox games, new games defining the kind of action to blockbusters and a brand of sports games on the cutting edge of technology - XSN Sports - brighten the future of Xbox

LOS ANGELES - May 13 2003 - Microsoft Corporation yesterday introduced its range of exciting new games for the video game console Xbox under a media briefing prior exposure Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). The auditorium was packed Grand Olympic participants impressed with the games presented redefining innovation and plunge an ever increasing number of players in the digital entertainment.

Games exciting and sensational such as "Halo 2" video game one of the most ambitious ever created the first three games of Rare Xbox Ltd., Are "Conker: Live and Uncut," "Kameo: Elements of Power" and " Grabbed by the Ghoulies ", as well as the long awaited follow" Project Gotham Racing 2 "all reflect the breadth and quality of the range of Xbox games.

Apart from its stunning games, Microsoft announced a new range of products aimed at redefining the game and competition in the world of video games. XSN Sports, the new brand bringing together the sports games published by Microsoft, allows players to face other players in real leagues through XSNsports.com, a Web service that enhances the experience Xbox Live. By connecting the players to a variety of wireless devices and PCs, XSN Sports Xbox experience extends beyond the console.

"Excellent games are at the heart of our vision of digital entertainment, said Ed Fries, vice president - content to Microsoft games. And the Xbox developers have committed to expanding the largest ever seen in video games. '. "

More than 50 Xbox Live games are to be launched by the holidays, and it is expected that other games enlevants Xbox Live will be offered in 2004, including the highly anticipated "Halo 2". In addition, more games will download content, a feature through which players can continue to expand their gaming experience several months after the launch of a game

Among the games coming stars of Microsoft Game Studios for Xbox include "Project Gotham Racing 2", the first game developed by Rare, "Grabbed by the Ghoulies", "Counter-Strike," "Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge" " and "Fable".
•

"Halo 2" (Microsoft Game Studios, Bungie) is following the Thursday shooting, action and science fiction award-winning "Halo: Combat Evolved." In "Halo 2", the saga continues. Master Chief, the genetically enhanced supersoldat, is the only formidable obstacle between the Covenant and the destruction of all mankind. Integrating the functions of Xbox Live, "Halo 2" will be launched during the first quarter of 2004.
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"Conker: Live and Uncut" (Microsoft Game Studios, Rare) Conker place in the heart of a whole new set of firing between teams ready for Xbox Live. Conker, the evil engueulé rodent with a penchant for alcohol, beautiful women and obscene behavior, may adopt in September modes, each with its own history. "Conker: Live and Uncut" will be available in 2004.
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"Grabbed by the Ghoulies" (Microsoft Game Studios, Rare) is an adventure game with humorous and dynamic backdrop of haunted house full of vampires and monsters crazy to bind. Players play the role of Cooper, a young boy with a mission to save his girlfriend who was "kidnapped by the vampires." Players venture into mazes and haunted face and threatening a variety of monsters while trying to avoid the many pitfalls that await on the way. "Grabbed by the Ghoulies" will be available for Christmas 2003.
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"Kameo: Elements of Power" (Microsoft Game Studios, Rare) is a game of adventure and action that takes place in a fantasy realm which combines monsters and magic. Players become Kameo, a princess whose mission is to save his three prisoners elementals ancestors of the king of darkness who plans dominate the fauna of the fictional planet. "Kameo" will be offered from 2004.
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"Project Gotham Racing 2 (Microsoft Game Studios, Bizarre Creations Ltd.). Is the ultimate test to test his skills, his style and bravery at the wheel. It rewards drivers for not only the speed at which they are driving, but also for the way they drive. The drivers accumulate points (Kudos) and will be recognized for having turned on two wheels around the turn Sears Tower in Chicago, opened taxied to the tomb in the ancient streets of Florence in Italy, or maneuver tight on the slippery streets of Edinburgh in Scotland, all in measuring some of the high-performance vehicles the most exotic of all. Players can also challenge friends and other players via the game online with Xbox Live or a link multiplayer. "Project Gotham Racing 2" will be offered for the 2003 holiday season.
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"Fable" (Microsoft Game Studios, Lionhead Studios), renowned developer Peter Molyneux, gives full authority to players: Are they good, bad or somewhere in between? In "Fable," players choose their identity, determine appearance and abilities, are feeling the effects of a reputation and create their own interactive experience. "Fable" will be available for Christmas 2003.
•

"Counter-Strike" (Microsoft Game Studios, Valve / Ritual) made its debut exclusively on Xbox console and Xbox Live. The shooter game for PC's most popular world of this mission for a single player taking place across the planet. Players can challenge other players within parties contested by teams on Xbox Live or through a link system. "Counter-Strike" on Xbox will be the most advanced so far on the graph the entire series. "Counter-Strike" will be available for Christmas 2003.
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XSN Sports (Microsoft Game Studios, XSN Sports) is the first line of Xbox games in which sports fans compete beyond Thursday for the first time, players will challenge others to create their own leagues and create their own rivalries. XSNsports.com will offer a Web service that connects players closely XSN Sports to the new concept of integrated digital entertainment to wireless devices and PCs so they can take advantage of the Xbox experience beyond the console.
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"Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge" (Microsoft Game Studios) combines thrilling aerial combat and style tape-to-l'oil a Hollywood action movie. "Crimson Skies," whose action takes place in the 30's where diplomacy at close range and sinister intrigue dominate, allows players to fly aircraft into powerful fighter of the hijackers ruthless and avoiding zeppelins. "Crimson Skies" will be available for Christmas 2003.

Among the exciting games published by the partners Xbox include "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder" from Ubi Soft Entertainment, "Ninja Gaiden" from Tecmo Inc. "Deus Ex: Invisible War" of Eidos Interactive Ltd. "Full Spectrum Warrior "from THQ Inc.." StarCraft Ghost "Vivendi Universal Games, and" True Crime: Streets of LA "from Activision.

Xbox is the video game console of Microsoft's next-generation offering the most powerful gaming experience ever offered before. Xbox gives full powers to game creators, by providing the technology needed to realize their creative visions in a way unmatched and make games in which blurred the line between fiction and reality. The Xbox is now available in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
The Xbox Live service has been launched in North America on November 15 2002. This service allows you to play Xbox games in multiplayer mode with other people around the world through a broadband connection. Xbox console, which incorporates a hard drive and an Ethernet port, is the only video game console was designed from the outset to allow you to play online. The Xbox Live service gives players exclusive opportunities, the ability to easily find their friends, talk to other players during a game with the helmet of the issuer Xbox Communicator, download on the hard drive of their console Xbox updated statistics, new levels and characters and game play online.
Founded in 1985, Microsoft Canada Co. is the Canadian subsidiary of Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq "MSFT"), the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies in the areas of personal computing and information technology management. Microsoft Canada provides nationwide service sales, marketing, consulting and support services in both French and English. The company is headquartered in Mississauga, has 10 regional offices across the country whose mission is to give full powers to people through great software, anywhere, anytime and on any computer.
Microsoft, Xbox, Halo, Kameo, Project Gotham Racing, Xbox Live, and Crimson Skies High Road to Revenge are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and / or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

action game

Black

NINTANDO GAME

2008-10-03T09:47:00.001-07:00

NINTANDO GAME

it's not a game, boy, it's serious business, and Nintendo -- one of the Big Three videogame console and handheld devices makers -- knows it. Nintendo's GameCube and Wii systems battle with Microsoft for second place in its industry while Sony leads the trio. In the handheld console segment, however, Nintendo's Game Boy system remains the leader. The firm debuted its videogame player Nintendo DS (Nintendo Double Screen) in 2004, Game Boy Micro in late 2005, and DS Lite in 2006. Its Wii, pronounced "we," videogame system arrived in time for 2006 holiday sales and continues to pick up steam despite some customers not being able to get their hands on one and a looming recession in the US.

action game

Castlevania :
Portrait of Ruin

WII GAME

2008-10-03T09:46:00.000-07:00

Bomberman Land (Wii)

Bomberman Land (also known as Bomberman Land Wii and also referred to as Bombermanland), (not to be confused with Bomberman Land Touch!, a DS title) is a game that features a collection of various, Wii Remote-based minigames. The game is developed and published by Hudson Soft and was released in Japan for Nintendo's Wii on March 8, 2007

action game

Okami

c

GAMEBOY

2008-10-03T09:45:00.000-07:00

game boy

The Game Boy (ゲームボーイ, Gēmu Bōi) is a handheld video game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. It was released in Japan on April 21, 1989 (1989-04-21), in North America in August 1989, and in Europe in 1990. In Southern Asia, it is known as the "Tata Game Boy"It is the first handheld console in the Game Boy line. It was created by Gunpei Yokoi and Nintendo's Research and Development 1 — the same staff who had designed the Game and Watch series as well as several popular games for the NES.

The Game Boy was Nintendo's second handheld system following the Game and Watch series introduced in 1980, and it combined features from both the Nintendo Entertainment System and Game and Watch. It was also the first handheld game to use video game cartridges since Milton Bradley's Micro vision handheld console. It was originally bundled with the puzzle game Tetris.

The Game Boy was a tremendous success. The Game Boy and Game Boy Color combined have sold 118.69 million units worldwide. Upon its release in the United States, it sold its entire shipment of one million units within weeks.

action game

The Legend Of Zelda :

Oracle Of Seasons

DREAM CAST GAME

2008-10-03T09:44:00.000-07:00

DREAM CAST GAME

The Dreamcast (Japanese:ドリームキャスト) known for its development under the names "Blackbelt," "Dural," and "Katana" is a console video games made by Sega between November 1998 and March 2001.

It is the first console comes standard with a modem that can connect to the Internet and to consult and web pages and read emails.
The logo of the Dreamcast is a spiral of orange on the American market and Asian, or blue on the European market.

action game

Phantasy Star
Online

N-GAGE GAME

2008-10-03T09:43:00.000-07:00

Ngage

Combining cell phone technology with a graphics processor designed for portable gaming, Nokia enters the competitive handheld video game market with its N-Gage game deck. Released on October 7, 2003 at a retail price of $299.99, the N-Gage features 3D graphics capabilities, an MP3 music player, FM radio, and tri-band mobile phone in a unit smaller than the original Game Boy Advance. Games for the N-Gage fit on standalone cards, with ten titles available at launch that include such notable properties as Sonic the Hedgehog, Tomb Raider, and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. As a communication device, the N-Gage offers a built-in speakerphone, voice dialing for up to 20 numbers, and the ability to surf the Internet with an integrated XHTML web browser and full e-mail support.

Weighing less than five ounces, the handheld device has a length of five and a quarter inches, is nearly three inches wide, and is less than an inch thick. Like the original Game Boy Advance, the color screen is positioned in the center, with a directional pad referred to as a "controller key" to the left and a series of keys to the right. Two buttons are specifically designed for use with games, while the rest are used to dial phone numbers, scroll the display, or jump to specific applications. Battery life varies depending on how the handheld is used, with an estimated four hours of talk time, three to six hours of game time, and up to 20 hours of radio. The stereo FM tuner comes with 20 preset stations, and players can listen to the radio while playing games.

Since the system itself combines the worlds of gaming and communication, a key selling point is the ability to compete online with other players. Released concurrently with the game deck is Nokia's own "N-Gage Arena" service, where players will be able to enter global ranking competitions, download cheats and strategy guides, record and send game footage or pictures, and directly challenge other owners from around the world in games supporting the service. N-Gage Arena is initially free on a trial basis, but connectivity charges and other fees may apply depending on the type of content offered by publishers.

Another key feature of the N-Gage is the ability to save digital music files to a separate memory card (sold in either 64MB or 128MB storage options) to use as ring tones or for listening. The deck comes bundled with a charger, stereo headset, USB cable, recording cable, adapter cable, user's guide, and a CD-ROM. The latter allows players to manage digital files transferred from the handheld to the PC (and vice versa) via USB. Multiplayer gaming among friends is also supported via Bluetooth technology for wireless play without having to go online. Rounding out the list of features is an integrated calendar, to-do list, pin board, and address book to help players keep track of those "other" events outside of gaming.

~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

action game

Pathway to Glory :
Ikusa Islands

NGH GAMECUBE

2008-10-03T09:42:00.002-07:00

Beyond Good
& Evil

PLAYSTATION 3

2008-10-03T09:42:00.001-07:00

playstation 3

The PlayStation 3 (officially marketed PLAYSTATION 3, commonly abbreviated PS3) is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment, and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii, as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles.

A major feature that distinguishes the PlayStation 3 from its predecessors is its unified online gaming service, the PlayStation Network, which contrasts with Sony's former policy of relying on game developers for online play. Other major features of the console include its robust multimedia capabilities, connectivity with the PlayStation Portable, and its use of a high-definition optical disc format, Blu-ray Disc, as its primary storage medium. The PS3 was also the first Blu-ray 2.0-compliant Blu-ray player on the market.

The PlayStation 3 was first released on November 11, 2006 in Japan, November 17, 2006 in North America, and March 23, 2007 in Europe and Oceania. Two SKUs were available at launch: a basic model with a 20 GB hard drive (HDD), and a premium model with a 60 GB hard drive and several additional features (the 20 GB model was not released in Europe or Oceania). Since then, several revisions have been made to the console's available models.

PLAYSTATION 2

2008-10-03T09:40:00.000-07:00

La PlayStation 2

(PS2) est la console de jeux vidéo de Sony qui a succédé à la PlayStation. Elle fut lancée le 4 mars 2000 au Japon (le 26 octobre 2000 en Amérique du Nord, le 24 novembre 2000 en Europe), et a connu un succès immédiat (980 000 exemplaires vendus en 48 heures). Sa ludothèque comprend de nombreux titres, dont certaines licences connues qui ont fait sa renommée : Tekken 5, Gran Turismo 4, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy XII, Pro Evolution Soccer 6, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, ou encore Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater.

Depuis la sortie officielle de la PlayStation 2 en mars 2000, plus de 118 millions d'unités ont été vendues dans le monde (45 millions en Europe, 25 millions au Japon, et 48 millions aux États-Unis), ce qui est le record absolu de vente de console de salon, dépassant même la console portable Game Boy (118 millions). Pour l'anniversaire de la console aux USA, Sony Computer Entertainment a déclaré avoir franchi la barre des 120 millions.

action game

Odin Sphere

c

PLAYSTATION 1

2008-10-03T09:38:00.000-07:00

playstation 1

. The PlayStation (abbreviated PS, PSone, PS1, or informally as PSX) is a 32-bit fifth generation video game console released by Sony Computer Entertainment in December 1994.

The PlayStation was the first of the ubiquitous PlayStation series of console and handheld game devices. Successor consoles and upgrades include the Net Yaroze, PS one, Pocket Station, PlayStation 2, a revised slimline PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, a revised PlayStation Portable Slim and Lite, PSX, and the PlayStation 3. On March 31 2005, the PlayStation and PS one reached a combined total of 102.49 million units shipped, becoming the first video game console to reach the 100 million mark.As of July 20, 2008, the PlayStation has sold 102 million units. Sony ceased production of the PlayStation on March 23, 2006, over 11 years since it was first produced.

action game

CT Special
Forces 3

c

XBOX 360 GAME

2008-10-03T09:32:00.000-07:00

Xbox 360

The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft, and was developed in cooperation with IBM, ATI, and SiS. The integrated Xbox Live service allows players to compete online and download content such as arcade games, game demos, trailers, TV shows, and movies. The Xbox 360 is the successor to the Xbox, and competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles.

The Xbox 360 was officially unveiled on MTV on May 12, 2005, with detailed launch and game information divulged later that month at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). The console sold out completely at release in all regions except in Japan,and, as of July 17, 2008, 20 million units have been sold worldwide according to Microsoft. The Xbox 360 comes in three different versions: the "Arcade" console, the "Premium" console, and the "Elite" console, each having its own selection of included and available accessories. Another version of the Xbox 360, called the "Core" which was available from launch, has since been discontinued for retail and replaced with the "Arcade".

ACTION GAME

A la Croisee des Mondes :

La Boussole d'Or

PC GAME

2008-09-29T06:22:00.000-07:00

pc game

Personal computer games are more commonly referred to as computer games or PC games. They are played on the personal computer with standard computer interface devices such as the keyboard and mouse, or a joystick or game pad. Video feedback is received by the gamer through the computer screen, and sound through speakers or headphones.

download game

download Super Mario 3 Mario Forever 3.0

Super Mario XP is not very similar to the original. The killing methods are the same ie. jumping on enemies and things like that, except there are more weapons than just the plain old fireball. There are hammers, bommerangs and more.

تحميل برنامج لعبة سوبر ماريو

لعبة سوبر ماريو Super Mario 3 ماريو فور ايفر الاصدارة الجديدة من اللعبة المشهورة مغامرات ماريو لعبة ماريو تعتبر من افضل العاب المغامرات الغنية عن التعريف

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ARTICLE ABOUT GAME 2

2008-09-29T05:50:00.000-07:00

Definition
Video games are electronic, interactive games known for their vibrant colors, sound effects, and complex graphics.
Description
First mass-marketed in the 1970s, video games are played by installing cartridges into a game box connected by wire to a television set. The child then manipulates a joystick or controller to control the actions of a character or series of characters as the characters face obstacles displayed on the screen. Video games, designed chiefly to appeal to children and adolescents, can also be played in arcades, on computers, and on small, hand-held screens.
As of 2004 nearly every home in the United States with children had one or more of the most popular game systems, for example, Nintendo GameCube, Sony Playstation2, or Microsoft Xbox. Few children have not been exposed to some form of video game, and access to the games is readily available to children from all walks of life.
Video games for home use proved popular from the start. Children are particularly attracted to them for a variety of reasons. Fantasy characters and situations appeal to young imaginations and provide an escape from everyday routine and the stresses presented by parents, friends, and school. In addition, the games give children a level of control that they do not experience in real life, as the characters on the screen respond to the children's commands. Players also receive immediate rewards for making the right moves. Most games can be played at a variety of skill levels so that every player can be challenged.
The popularity of video games has been matched by the controversy they have sparked among parents, psychologists, and educators. The most prevalent objection results from the violent themes and characters that dominate in most video games. A 1989 study by the National Coalition on Television Violence (NCTV) found that, of the 95 most popular home video games, 58 percent were war games and 83 percent featured violent themes. As technology has improved to allow the games to show situations and characters that are more realistic, debate has escalated about the potential effects of video games on children's behavior. One NCTV study that monitored the playground behavior of eight- to ten-year-olds immediately after playing a laser-weapon game found an 80 percent increase in fighting. There is also added concern that repeated exposure to violence desensitizes children to its effects. Other experts and video game manufacturers contend that negative effects have not been proven adequately, and, in fact, playing such games gives players an avenue for the harmless release of stress and aggression.
Public pressure prompted some video game manufacturers in the early 1990s to begin labeling games with warnings about violent or sexually explicit content. In 1994, in response to considerable political pressure and the possibility of a federal rating agency, the industry created its own rating system, overseen by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). Ratings are assigned based on the games' suitability for various age groups. An "Early Childhood" designation on a game box indicates that the game is suitable for players ages three and older, and there is no violence, sexual content, or profanity. The designation "Everyone" indicates the game is for players ages six and older and may contain minimal violence or crude language. A "Teen" game for ages 13 and up may contain violence, profanity, and mild sexual themes. A "Mature" rating is considered suitable only for ages 17 and older and may include more intense violence, profanity, and mature sexual themes. "Adults Only" games are not intended for people under 18 and may include graphic depictions of sex and violence. The ratings system, however, is just a guide, and parents still need to oversee which video games their children buy and play.
In the past, the issue of gender bias in video games was another area of considerable debate. Not only were most video games male-oriented sports and combat games, female characters in the games were portrayed as victims to be rescued by the male hero or objects of violence or sexual desire. In the early 2000s, however, an increasing number of games had girl-oriented themes and an increasing number of gender neutral games became available.
Besides the socialization concerns presented by video games, medical concerns were also raised in the early 1990s, when video games were linked to epileptic seizures experienced by some 50 children. About one third of the children had experienced previous seizures, and there were questions about whether the seizures they experienced were related to playing or watching a video game. Two large studies later reported that the children who experienced video game-related seizures (VGRS) were particularly sensitive to light and that video games with flashing lights merely precipiteted, rather than caused, the seizures. Sitting too close to the screen could exacerbate the effects of the light sensitivity, as could the increasingly complex graphic technology featured in games. Individuals with epilepsy are not thought to be particularly susceptible to VGRS, and no lasting neurological damage had as of 2004 been linked to these seizures.
Despite the controversy surrounding video games, benefits have also been noted: development of hand-eye coordination, increases in concentration, logical thinking skills, and healthy competition among children, as well as socialization skills gained from sharing strategies and the heightened self-esteem resulting from successful performances. One research study even found that doctors who had played more video games had better surgical skills.
Toddlerhood
There are a number of specialized video and computer games that are designed to be educational for toddlers. Many use familiar characters to teach basic things such as shape matching, the alphabet, and counting.
Preschool
Children in preschool can be exposed to video and computer games that reinforce the basic skills that they are learning, such as phonetics, shapes, colors, and basic addition.
Elementary School
School-age children can be encouraged to play educational games that reinforce what they are learning in the classroom. Parents should research the games that their children want to buy to ensure appropriate content for the child's age group. In the early 2000s marketers have developed increasing numbers of educational games that are also adventurous and exciting. Children, especially young ones, should be encouraged to play these instead of more violent games.
Middle and High School
The effect of violent games on behavior and social development is an especially important concern for older children. These children often spend much of their time playing video games when their parents are not present to supervise the content. Also, many teens buy video games with money earned from allowances or part time jobs, making it harder for parents to control which titles are purchased.
Studies have begun to find significant correlations between violence in video games and violence in real life. One study done on eighth and ninth graders compared teens who generally had personalities considered non-aggressive but who played violent games to those teens who had aggressive personalities but did not play violent games. The researchers found that the non-aggressive, video game playing teens were actually more likely to get in physical fights than the teens considered aggressive but who did not play video games.
Some states are trying to pass laws that would make it illegal to sell video games with certain ratings to people under the age for which the games are intended. Even if laws are created to try to prevent underage sale of very violent video games, parents should still be alert to what their teen is playing. Making the teen play video games in a common area and not in his or her bedroom with the door closed can be an important first step in regulating game play and facilitating discussion.
Common Problems
Children often become very involved in video games and do not want to stop playing them. Setting concrete limits about the amount of time that can be spent playing games and then enforcing these limits is essential. Even educational games should not be played to excess, because playing video games is not a substitute for positive social interaction or traditional learning. Children can also be encouraged to play the games with other children, because discussing strategies and problem solving in a group is a positive social activity.
Parental Concerns
The amount and degree of violence in video games is an important concern for parents. Monitoring the games that a child buys or rents and plays is an important way to help deal with this problem. If a child plays a violent video game at an arcade or another child's house, it can be helpful to discuss the difference between games and reality and to discuss what the real life repercussions of the actions taken in the game would be.
When to Seek Help
If a child has violent or aggressive behavior or a tendency to mimic the negative actions taken by characters in a video game it may be helpful to consult a mental health professional to discuss possible solutions.
See also Television habits.
Resources
Books
Calvert, Sandra L., Amy B. Jordan, and Rodney R. Cocking, eds. Children in the Digital Age: Influences of Electronic Media on Development. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2002.
Gee, James Paul. What Video Games Have to Teach Us about Learning and Literacy. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2003.
Periodicals
Eisenman, Russell. "Video Games: Technology and Social Issues." Journal of Evolutionary Psychology 25 (August 2004): 170–75.
Levermore, Monique A. "Violent Media and Videogames, and Their Role in Creating Violent Youth." The Forensic Examiner 13 (Fall 2004): 38–42.
"Video Game Play May Increase Laparoscopic Proficiency." AORN Journal 80 (August 2004): 290.
[Article by: Tish Davidson, A.M. Mary Anne Klasen]
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US History Encyclopedia: Video Games
Video Games encompass a range of electronic games, including coin-operated arcade games, console and cartridge games, various handheld electronics, and games on diskette and CD-ROM ranging in sophistication from simple geometric shapes to virtual reality programs with movielike qualities.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology student Steve Russell developed the first computer game, Spacewar, in 1962. Ralph Baer, an engineer at defense contractors Sanders and Associates, developed the first home video game console, the Magnavox Odyssey. The Odyssey connected to a regular television antenna terminal and was hardwired with twelve games, all variations of Ping-Pong. There was no sound or color, and each of the games required a different plastic overlay for the television screen, but 100,000 were sold by 1972. At the same time, another young entrepreneur, Nolan Bushnell, developed Pong and formed Atari. By 1974, 150,000 versions of home Pong had sold, and two years later there were over seventy companies making clones. The development of the game cartridge made hardwired consoles and tabletop games obsolete. Instead of buying a piece of hardware with a permanent set of games, consumer could buy one piece of hardware, the console, and as many games, or software, as companies could manufacture. By 1980 third-party companies such as Activision began producing games for other companies' consoles.
As PC technology advanced, so did gaming technology. In the early 1980s the market was dominated by Atari, Intellivision, and Coleco Vision, then in 1985 Nintendo released the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), using an eight-bit processor. By the 1990s, Nintendo released the sixteen-bit Super Nintendo and was joined by Sega. With the proliferation of video games in the 1980s, arcades became standard in American malls. Teenagers dropped 20 billion quarters into games by 1981. The video game industry also benefited from the increasing power and decreasing cost of home computers and the Internet. The Internet provides a virtual arcade where players can challenge opponents from all over the world using the vast array of data transmission methods. A 2000 survey found that 61 percent of players are over age eighteen, with an average age of twenty-eight. The home console market, dominated by Nintendo, Sony, and Sega, has taken advantage of advances in computer technology to increase processor speed to sixty-four-bit and enable consoles to connect to the Internet.
As the popularity of video games grew, controversy developed over the addictiveness of the games and related health problems stemming from hours of stationary play. The violent nature of many games has also become an issue, as graphics technology allowed for increasingly realistic images. In 1993 a rating system, much like the system for rating movies, was put in place.
Bibliography
Herz, J. C. Joystick Nation. Boston: Little, Brown, 1997.
Kent, Steven L. The Ultimate History of Video Games. Roseville, Calif.: Prima, 2001.
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Columbia Encyclopedia: electronic game,
device or computer program that provides entertainment by challenging a person's eye-hand coordination or mental abilities. Made possible by the development of the microprocessor, electronic games are marketed in various formats, such as hand-held one-player models, cartridges or compact discs that are inserted in modules attached to television sets, computer programs run on personal or network computers, and freestanding arcade versions. Most of their appeal comes from the computer program that synchronizes flashing lights and a variety of sounds with the movielike animated action portrayed on a graphic display (see computer graphics). As the technology has advanced from 8-bit microprocessors to ever faster chips with greater graphic and sound capabilities, the programming has kept pace. For example, the newest games have so many levels and twists that they may take more than 100 hours to complete, and the graphic capabilities allow the game player to alter the visual perspective from narrow to panoramic. The games may be contested among several players, or an individual may engage in a test of skill against the computer. Some Internet-based games, known as massively multiplayer on-line games (MMOGs), involve thousands of individuals interacting with each other in ongoing, open-ended play; by 2007 MMOGs were a $1 billion industry. Game subjects include sports (e.g., baseball and football); action warfare, adventure, and role-playing; casino gambling (e.g., as roulette, poker, and simulated slot machines); and such classics as solitaire, contract bridge, chess, and backgammon. See also virtual reality.
Bibliography
See S. L. Kent, The Ultimate History of Video Games (2001); M. J. P. Wolf, ed., The Medium of the Video Game (2002); R. DeMaria and J. L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games (2d ed. 2003); E. Castronova, Synthetic Worlds: The Business and Culture of Online Games (2005); H. Chaplin and A. Ruby, Smartbomb: The Quest for Art, Entertainment, and Big Bucks in the Videogame Revolution (2005); J. Juul, Half-Real: Video Games between Real Rules and Fictional Worlds (2005); J. Raessens and J. Goldstein, ed., Handbook of Computer Game Studies (2005); T. L. Taylor, Play between Worlds (2006).
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wikipidia video game
"Computer and video games" redirects here. For the magazine, see Computer and Video Games.

Namco's Pac-Man is one of the most popular video games ever made. The game spawned merchandise, a cartoon series and pop songs, and is one of the most heavily cloned video games of all-time.
A video game is a game that involves interaction with a user interface to generate visual feedback on a video device.
The word video in video game traditionally refers to a raster display device.[1] However, with the popular use of the term "video game", it now implies any type of display device. The electronic systems used to play video games are known as platforms; examples of these are personal computers and video game consoles. These platforms are broad in range, from large computers such as mainframes, to handheld devices such as cell phones and Pads. Specialized video games such as arcade games, while previously common, have gradually declined in use.
The user interface normally used to manipulate video games is called a game controller, which varies across platforms. For instance, a dedicated console controller might consist of only a button and a joystick, or feature a dozen buttons and one or more joysticks. Early personal computer based games historically relied on the availability of a keyboard for game play, or more commonly, required the user to purchase a separate joystick with at least one button to play. Many modern computer games allow the player to use a keyboard and mouse simultaneously.
Beyond the common element of visual feedback, video games have utilized other systems to provide interaction and information to the player. Chief examples of these are sound reproduction devices (speakers) and an array of haptic peripherals (i.e., vibration or force feedback).
Origins
Main article: First video game
The history of video games traces back to 1948, where the idea of a video game was conceived and patented by Thomas T. Goldsmith Jr. and Estle Ray Mann. (2) In 1958, William Higinbotham's Tennis for Two was developed. Then in 1962, "Spaceward!", was developed and it is hailed as the very first computer video game. Later in 1971, Computer Space was released, the first commercially sold, coin-operated video game console. Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney are credited as its creators. Finally, another great pioneer of video games came in 1972 with the Magnavox Odyssey, the very first home console.
Platforms
In common usage a "PC game" refers to a game that is played on a personal computer connected to a high-resolution video monitor. A "console game" is played on a specialized electronic device that connects to a standard television set or composite video monitor. A "handheld" gaming device is a self contained electronic device that is portable and can be held in a user's hands. "Arcade game" generally refers to an even more specialized type of electronic device that is typically designed to play only one game and is encased in a special cabinet. These distinctions are not always clear and there may be games that bridge one or more platform. There are also platforms that have non video game variations such as in the case of electro-mechanically based arcade games. There are also devices with screens which have the ability to play games but are not dedicated video game machines. Examples are mobile phones, PDAs, graphing calculators, GPS receivers, MP3 players, digital cameras and watches.
Genres
Main article: Video game genres
A video game, like most other forms of media, may be categorized into genres based on many factors such as method of game play, types of goals, and more.
Because genres are dependent on content for definition, genres have changed and evolved as newer styles of video games are created. As the production values of video games have increased over the years both in visual appearance and depth of story telling, the video game industry has been producing more life-like and complex games that push the boundaries of the traditional game genres. Although many games combine genres, very few actually exist outside the paradigms of previously established genres (with notable exceptions, which when successful generally define a new genre through subsequent imitation by competition).
Some genres represent combinations of other genres such as with Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG). It is also common to see higher level genre terms that are collective in nature across all other genres such as with Christian or horror-themed video games.
Social aspects

Multiplayer
Main article: Multiplayer game
Video gaming has traditionally been a social experience. From its early beginnings, video games have commonly been playable by more than a single player. Multiplayer video games are those that can be played either competitively or cooperatively by using either multiple input devices, or by hot seating. Tennis for Two, arguably the first video game, was a two-player game as was its successor, Pong. The first commercially available console game system to support multiple games (the Magnavox Odyssey), had two controller inputs.
Since that time, most console systems have been shipped with two or four controller inputs. Some have had the ability to expand to four, eight or as many as twelve inputs with additional adapters, such as the Multitap. In the early days, multi-player Coin-op games commonly featured hotseat play for at least two players. In later years it was more common to feature two-player simultaneous competitive play. Public business establishments which feature predominantly coin-op video games are generally referred to as arcades, and were widely popular during the golden age of arcade games. Also in recent years, new-age Video Gaming Centers are providing customers with the many different types of video gaming consoles. The idea of bringing people together in a cozy space that resembles the common household basement. These gaming places differ from the traditional idea of arcade.
Many early computer games for non IBM PC descendant based platforms featured multiplayer support. Personal computer systems from Atari and Commodore both regularly featured at least two game ports. Network games for these early personal computers were generally limited to only text based adventures or Mud's that were played remotely on a dedicated server. This was due both to the slow speed of modems (300-1200 bit/s), and the prohibitive cost involved with putting a computer online in such a way where multiple visitors could make use of it.
IBM PC (PC for short)-based computer games started out with a lower availability of multiplayer options, largely due to many games being dependent on keyboard or mouse based interactions, a single gaming port (if any) available, and network options that were limited. However, with the advent of widespread local area networking technologies and Internet based online capabilities, the number of players in modern games can be 32 or higher, sometimes featuring integrated text and/or voice chat.
MMOs can offer extremely high numbers of simultaneous players; EVE Online set a record with just under 36,000 players on a single server in 2006.[3]
Benefits
Perhaps the most visible benefits of video gaming are its artistic and entertainment contributions. As a form of multimedia entertainment, modern video games contain a unique synthesis of 3D art, CG effects, architecture, artificial intelligence, sound effects, dramatic performances, music, storytelling, and, most importantly, interactivity. This interactivity enables the player to explore environments that range from simulated reality to stylized, artistic expressions (something no other form of entertainment can allow) where the actions of the player operating as a single, irreducible variable. In this respect, every game scenario will play out a slightly different way every time. Even if the game is highly scripted, this can still feel like a large amount of freedom to the person who is playing the game.
A related property is that of emergent behavior. While many games including card games and sports rely on emergent principles, video games commonly present simulated story worlds where emergent behavior occurs within the context of the game. This is something that some gamers find appealing as it introduces a certain level of randomness to a game. In discussing the issue, game designer Warren Spector has used the term "emergent narrative" to describe how, in a simulated environment, storyline can be created simply by "what happens to the player."[4] Emergent behavior in video games date back to the earliest games though. Generally any place where event driven instructions occur for AI in a game, emergent behavior will inevitably exist. For instance, take a racing game in which cars are programmed to avoid crashing and they encounter an obstacle in the track, the cars might then maneuver to avoid the obstacle causing the cars behind them to slow and/or maneuver to accommodate the cars in front of them and the obstacle. The programmer never wrote code to specifically create a traffic jam, yet one now exists in the game.
In Steven Johnson's book, Everything Bad Is Good For You, he argues that video games in fact demand far more from a player than traditional games like Monopoly. To experience the game, the player must first determine the objectives, as well as how to complete them. They must then learn the game controls and how the human-machine interface works, including menus and HUDs. Beyond such skills, which after some time become quite fundamental and are taken for granted by many gamers, video games are based upon the player navigating (and eventually mastering) a highly complex system with many variables. This requires a strong analytical ability, as well as flexibility and adaptability. He argues that the process of learning the boundaries, goals, and controls of a given game is often a highly demanding one that calls on many different areas of cognitive function. Indeed, most games require a great deal of patience and focus from the player, and, contrary to the popular perception that games provide instant gratification, games actually delay gratification far longer than other forms of entertainment such as film or even many books. [1] Some research[5] suggests video games may even increase players' attention capacities.
Multiplayer games, which take advantage of the fact that computer games can use the internet, provide players with the opportunity to compete with other players from across the globe, something that is also unique to electronic gaming. MMORPG's take the concept much further with the establishment of vast, online communities existing in persistent, virtual worlds. Millions of players around the globe are attracted to video gaming simply because it offers such unprecedented ability to interact with large numbers of people engaged simultaneously in a structured environment where they are all involved in the same activity (playing the game).
Even simple games offer potential benefits to the player. Games like Tetris and Pac-man or Galaga are well-designed games that are easy to pick up but difficult to master, much like chess or poker. Despite their simplicity, simple games may also feature online capabilities or powerful AI. Depending on the game, players can develop and test their techniques against an advanced computer player or online against other human players.
More obvious benefits to the player can come in the form of education on the game's subject matter. For example, a RTS set during the American Civil War may feature the use of period armies engaging in historical battles, and outwitting an opponent such as Robert E. Lee. SquareEnix (SquareSoft) has done this many times in its Final Fantasy chain of games. Most of the games feature ancient gods such as Leviathan, Shiva, and Freya.
The U.S. army has deployed machines such as the PackBot which makes use of a game-style hand controller intended to make it more familiar to use by young men and women.[6]
Controversy
Main article: Video game controversy
Like related forms of media, computer and video games have been the subject of frequent controversy and censorship, due to the depiction of graphic violence, sexual themes, advergaming (a form of advertising in games), consumption of drugs, consumption of alcohol or tobacco, propaganda, or profanity in some games. Among others, critics of video games sometimes include parents' groups, politicians, organized religion groups, and other special interest groups, even though all of these can be found in all forms of entertainment and media. Various games have been accused of causing addiction and even violent behavior. "Video game censorship" is defined as the use of state or group power to control the playing, distribution, purchase, or sale of video games or computer games. Video game controversy comes in many forms, and censorship is a controversial subject. Proponents and opponents of censorship are often very passionate about their individual views.
Historically, this type of controversy and criticism is not unique to video games. The same situation has been applied to comic books, motion pictures, dancing and to some extent music and books. As long ago as the nineteenth century the same accusations were made about "penny dreadfuls"[citation needed]. Moreover, it appears to be a question of age. Since these art forms have been around longer, the backlash against them occurred further in the past, beyond the remembrance of today's youth. In both cases, the attempts at censorship in the United States were struck down as a violation of First Amendment rights, and they have gone on to become fully integrated facets of society.
An organization known as the Entertainment Software Ratings Board or ESRB rates software for certain age groups, however publishers are not required to submit games for ratings, and parents are not always aware of the existence of these ratings. In some cases, children are able to obtain software that is not deemed appropriate by the ESRB for their age.
Games that have sparked notable national controversy in the United States include Mortal Kombat, night trap, Doom, the Grand Theft Auto series and, most notably, Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas' infamous Hot Coffee mod fiasco which boosted the game's ESRB rating from M (Mature) to AO (Adults Only).[7]
Demographics
The November 2005 Nielsen Active Gamer Study, taking a survey of 2,000 regular gamers, found that the U.S. games market is diversifying. The age group among male players has expanded significantly into the 25-40 age group. For casual online puzzle-style and simple mobile cell phone games, the gender divide is more or less equal between males and females. Females have been shown to be significantly attracted to playing certain online multi-user video games that offer a more communal experience, and small amount of young females have been shown to play aggressive games that are sometimes thought of as being "traditionally male" games. The most "loyal" fan-base is reported to be for large role-playing games.[citation needed]
According to the ESRB almost 41% of PC gamers are women.[8]. With such video game social networks as [2]Miss Video Game and [3]Guild Cafe having a large percentages of female gamers the "traditionally male" games are now considered cross-gendered.
Theory
Main article: Game studies
Although departments of computer science have been studying the technical aspects of video games for years, theories that examine games as an artistic medium are a relatively recent development in the humanities. The two most visible schools in this emerging field are ludology and narratology.
Narrativists approach video games in the context of what jannet muray calls "Cyberdrama." That is to say, their major concern is with video games as a storytelling medium, one that arises out of interactive fiction. Murray puts video games in the context of the Holodeck, a fictional piece of technology from Star Trek, arguing for the video game as a medium in which we get to become another person, and to act out in another world.[9] This image of video games certainly received early widespread popular support, and forms the basis of films such as tron, eXistenZ, and The Last Starfighter.
Ludologists break sharply and radically from this. They argue that a video game is first and foremost a game, which must be understood in terms of its rules, interface, and the concept of play that it deploys. Ludologists such as Espen J. Aarseth argue that, although games certainly have plots, characters, and aspects of traditional narratives, these aspects are incidental to gameplay. For example, Aarseth is critical of the widespread attention that narrativists have given to the curvaceous heroine of the game Tomb Raider, saying that "the dimensions of Lara Croft's body, already analyzed to death by film theorists, are irrelevant to me as a player, because a different-looking body would not make me play differently... When I play, I don't even see her body, but see through it and past it."[10] Simply put, ludologists reject traditional theories of art because they claim that the artistic and social qualities of a video game are primarily determined by the underlying set of rules, demands, and expectations imposed on the player.
Development
Main article: Game development
Video games are made by game developers, who used to do this as individuals or small teams in the 80's. Now, development commonly requires a large team consisting of designers' grafic designer and other artists, programmers, sound designers, musicians, and other technicians; all of which are managed by producers. The visionary for any game may come from any of the roles outlined.
Video games are developing fast in all areas, but the problem is of cost, and how developers intend to keep the costs low enough to attract publisher investment. Most video game console development teams number anywhere from 20 to 50 people, with some teams exceeding 100. The average team size as well as the average development time of a game have grown along with the size of the industry and the technology involved in creating games. This has led to regular occurrences of missed deadlines and unfinished products; Duke Nukem Forever is the quintessential example of these problems.
See also: Video game industry practices
Modifications
Main article: Mod (computer gaming)
Games running on a PC are often designed with end-user modifications in mind, and this consequently allows modern computer games to be modified by gamers without much difficulty. These mods can add an extra dimension of replayability and interest. The Internet provides an inexpensive medium to promote and distribute mods, and they have become an increasingly important factor in the commercial success of some games. Developers such as id, valve, Crytek, Epic and Blizzard Entertainment ship their games with the very development tools used to make the game in the first place, along with documentation to assist mod developers, which allows for the kind of success seen by popular mods such as the (previously) Half-Life Mod Counter-Strike.
Cheats
Main article: Computer and video game cheating
Cheating in computer games may involve cheat codes implemented by the game developers for playtesting, modification of game code by third parties (by either cheat cartridge hardware or a software trainer), or players exploiting a software glitch.
Cheats usually make the game easier by providing an unlimited amount of some resource (lives, health, or ammunition, for example) but might provide an unusual or amusing feature, like reversed colors in a game, or big head mode (Spyro the Dragon) for example.
Cheat codes usually are often found on the Internet and can be found for almost any game on any platform.
Glitches
Main article: Computer glitch
Software errors not detected by software testers during development can find their way into released versions of computer and video games. This may happen because the glitch only occurs under unusual circumstances in the game, was deemed too minor to correct, or because the game development was hurried to meet a publication deadline.
Glitches can range from minor graphical errors to serious bugs that can delete saved data or cause the game to malfunction.
Glitches in games for home computers, and now in consoles like the Xbox 360, PS3, and the Wii, may be later corrected if the developers release a patch.
Commercial aspects
Game sales
A typical retail display (in Geneva, Switzerland) with a large selection of games for several major consoles
The three largest producers of and markets for computer and video games (in order) are the united states, Japan and the United Kingdom(4) Other significant markets include Australia, Canada, Spain, Germany, South Korea, Mexico, France and Italy. Both India and China are considered emerging markets in the video game industry and sales are expected to rise significantly in the coming years.
Sales of different types of games vary widely between these markets due to local preferences. Japanese consumers tend to purchase console games over computer games, with a strong preference for games catering to local tastes. In South Korea, computer games are preferred, especially MMORPG games and real-time strategy games; there are over 20,000 PC bang Internet cafes where computer games can be played for an hourly charge.
The NPD Group tracks computer and video game sales in the United States. It reported that:
Console and portable software sales: $6.2 billion, up 8% from 2003[11]
Console and portable hardware and accessory sales: $3.7 billion, down 35% from 2003[11]
PC game sales: $1.1 billion, down 15% from 2006[12]
A possible factor causing this drop in PC games would be the free MMORPG games available such as Silkroad Online, Runescape and Maple Story. Also note that PC games that are digitally distributed either directly or by distribution networks such as Steam are not tracked by the NPD, and Steam does not list sales numbers for games downloaded through their service.
These figures are sales in dollars, not units; unit shipments for each category were higher than the dollar sales numbers indicate, as more software and hardware was sold at reduced prices compared to 2003. However, with the release of the Next-Gen Consoles in 2006, these numbers have increased dramatically.
The game and film industries are also becoming increasingly intertwined, with companies like Sony having significant stakes in both. A large number of summer blockbuster films spawn a companion game, often launching at the same time to share the marketing costs.
There is also controversy relating video games in Australia and other PAL regions. In general when compared to the US, PAL gamers have to pay up to 40% more. More of a problem in Australia is where games are constantly delayed for no apparent reason, most notably games released by Nintendo. As English is the main language in the Australian region there is no need for any translation and the complications of differences between the PAL and NTSC video formats are not existent, as the majority of video displays in Australia are fully capable of running at a 60 Hz format. There is also the problem of Regional Lockout in Australia, with most DVD players release coming region free in order to comply with local laws, but video game consoles are still sold fully region locked. Some efforts to increase awareness of the issue, specifically to Nintendo of Australia, was in the form of a formal report outlining the issues, published by Aaron Rex Davies[13]. The report has gone on to gain a lot of attention in the public media.[14]

ARTICLE ABOUT GAME 1

2008-09-29T05:33:00.000-07:00

Background
Video games are played at the arcade, at home on a television or personal computer, and as a handheld portable game. They are packaged in large consoles, game paks that can only be played on the same manufacturer's hardware (i.e. Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and Sony Playstation), and as CD-ROMs. Made up of a program that instructs the computer to display specific visual and audio effects, video games utilize cutting-edge technology in order to provide fast paced entertainment. Recent statistics show that 70% of all children in the United States have home video game systems. Over four billion dollars is spent on arcade video games annually.
History
A precursor to the video game, pinball machines were introduced during the 1930s and remained popular through the 1970s. In 1971, a video arcade game was produced called Computer Space. Invented by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney, Computer Space was the first real coin-operated video game, but for various reasons, it never became popular. It did however, lay the groundwork for the next video game that Bushnell and Dabney introduced: the phenomenally successful arcade game Pong. Modeled after the game of ping pong, it was an electronic game in which players tried to hit a flashing dot passed their opponent's video paddle. With the success of Pong, Bushnell and Dabney started the Atari Company, and in 1975, they introduced a home version of Pong. In 1976, Warner Communication purchased Atari for $28 million and expanded its home line of video game cartridges.
At the same time Bushnell and Dabney were developing Pong, Ralph Baer, who was working for Sanders Associates, was designing a home video game system called The Odyssey. Developed in 1969, Baer's system was finally manufactured and distributed by Magnavox in 1972. The Odyssey was a package of 12 different plug-in games that were housed on circuit cards. Each game came with plastic overlays that, when placed over the television screen, simulated the appropriate background. For example, a plastic overlay of a hockey rink was included with the hockey game. The Odyssey also offered an electronic shooting gallery with four additional games and an electronic rifle. Eighty-five thousand systems were sold.

Rapid advances in electronics technology during the 1970s led to the development of more complicated games, such as Space Invaders and Pac-Man. Introduced in 1983 as a joint venture between the Namco Company of Japan and Midway of the United States, Pac-Man has sold hundreds of thousands of games and remains one of the most popular video games.
When personal computers became available, computer games were created. Many of these games were adaptations of arcade or home video game systems, however unique games were also developed. The computer game industry grew swiftly during the 1980s powered by various companies, especially the Nintendo Corporation. In the late 1980s, the CD-ROM was introduced. These disks could hold more information on them, and allowed the development of more sophisticated, interactive games. In 1995, digital video disks (DVDs) were first produced for home computers. Since they have a storage capacity over twenty times greater than CD-ROMs, they promise to revolutionize computer games.
Design
Design is the key aspect of making all video games. It is typically done by a team of skilled computer programmers, writers, artists, and other game designers. During this phase of development, they generate the game's specifications, which includes game type, objective, and graphics.
While creating a video game is rarely a step by step process, there are a variety of tasks that must be accomplished during the development phase. In the beginning, the type and objective of the game is determined. In general, games fall within six categories, or genres, including fighting, shooting, strategy, simulations, adventure, and run, jump and avoid (RJA). Fighting games require the players to battle with each other or the computer. Presently, they are the most popular and encompass such titles as Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter. Shooting games involve battles in which the player tries to destroy enemy tanks, ships, or planes. Strategy games include such classics as chess, bridge or checkers. Simulations are games, which reproduce real life situations such as flying or driving. Adventure games are computerized versions of role-playing fantasy games. The RJA games are those like the Super Mario games in which a character tries to reach a goal while being impeded by various obstacles.
The action of the game is dependent upon its intended venue. An arcade game must have immediate action. A home version usually includes various skill levels in order to keep the player interested over a longer period of time. A handheld version of a video game is simplified to be played in miniature.
Raw Materials
Although the most important raw material in creating a video game is imagination, a number of supplies are necessary to bring that imagination to life. Once the story has been created, characters and background are drawn on storyboards, then transferred to electronic format directly by an artist or via digitization. Lifelike action is captured on film and sound is recorded on digital audio tape (DAT).
Once design is complete, a variety of raw materials are used to produce video games. This includes the materials that go into making the storage medium, the accessories, and the packaging. The most common storage mediums are floppy disks and CDs. These are made with hard plastics such as polycarbonates. CDs have a thin layer of aluminum or silver coating. Additionally, they are coated with a protective, clear acrylic coating. Floppy disks are made with a thin plastic that is coated with a magnetic material. Plastics are also used to make the accessory pieces that some computer games require. In each of the plastics used, a variety of fillers and colorants are incorporated to modify its characteristics. Typically, computer games are packaged in highly decorated cardboard boxes.
The ManufacturingProcess
Creating a video game is a long, multifaceted process that can take up to one year to complete one game.
Creating the story
Typically, writers are responsible for creating a game's story complete with a setting, characters, and plot. This gives the game a purpose and makes it more enjoyable for the player. It also provides an objective for the player and a guideline for the rules of the game. This information is then used to create the game's manual. Often, the inspiration for a story is derived from popular movies or books. The story is transferred to storyboards, where preliminary drawings are also added. Storyboards are a series of one-panel sketches pinned to a board. Each sketch is accompanied by story dialogue and/or character description.
Capturing action with art
After the type of game and story are outlined, the game's format can be determined. The format refers to what the player sees when playing the game. A variety of formats exist including platform, top-down, scrolling, isometric, three dimension (3D), and text. Platform games are those that feature a side view of the player's character. Top-down games give a bird's eye view of the player's character. They are often used for war games. The isometric format is a top-down game, which uses perspective tricks to give the illusion of 3D. True 3D games are just now becoming a reality with the introduction of CDs and DVDs. These represent the future of computer game formats. Text game formats have limited graphics and are only used for interactive fiction. In general, all games may use one or more of these formats.
The artist adds drawings to storyboards, including character descriptions and arrows showing how the characters will move.
Final pictures are created in two ways. An artist can render the final picture by creating converted graphics. Converted graphics are images that have been drawn by the artist using a computer. More life-like images are created by filming the action with an actor and then electronically digitizing the image. The artist reviews the videotaped action on a RGB monitor that produces brighter images and chooses each frame that will be used to create an action. Typically, six to 10 frames are used to show a character running/walking one step. Four to five frames are needed to illustrate a punch or a kick. The background is also created by the artist using both converted and digitized images. Though seemingly cohesive to the viewer, the background is really a collage of many different images.
Recording dialogue and soundeffects
Dialogue and sound effects are recorded in a sound studio using various audio techniques. Once recorded on digital audio tape (DAT), the sounds are computerized by a synthesizer—a computer that specifically alters and translates sound into data.
Writing the program
When all of the preliminary design elements are determined, programming, or coding, can begin. The first step in this process is drawing a flowchart, which shows the logical progression of the computer program. A variety of programming languages are used such as C++, Java, or visual BASIC. The code is typically produced by a team of programmers, each working on a different phase of the game, and can take up to seven months to produce. To speed the coding process, previously developed algorithms are often modified and adapted to the new game. This is more efficient because it eliminates the need to continually rewrite similar programs and reduces the chances of serious errors. Each action can require many individual instructions written by the programmer, and roughly 250,000 individual commands are written to create a video game program. Sound and graphics must also be programmed separately.
Testing
The testing phase of game development helps reveal fundamental design and programming problems. Testing can be completed in a number of ways. The programmers can run the game and try to discover gross problems themselves. Additionally, professional playtesters are used. These are people who are specifically trained to play the games and look for subtle errors. They are typically game designers themselves, and have experience with many types of games. Beyond finding errors, playtesters also give criticisms and suggestions to make the game better. In some cases, computer game developers use people from the general population to test games. This gives them information about consumer acceptance. The information obtained from the testing phase is reviewed. Reprogramming is then done until the game is appropriately tweeked.
Burning the disks
When the programming is completed, the game code is transferred to a master compact disk. This disk will be used to mass produce the thousands of copies needed. The master disk is composed of a smoothly polished glass coated with an adhesive and a photo resistive material. This disk is put into a laser-cutting machine. While the disk is spun, the binary code from the computer game's program sends a signal to the laser. The laser will then cut pits in the photo resistive coating corresponding to the program. The disk is then chemically etched and given a metal coating. At this point, it is an exact replica of a finished disk.
A metal inverse copy of the master disk is then made through a process known as electroforming. Using an electrical current, metal is deposited on the master disk surface. This inverse copy is then used to make multiple metal masters through a similar process. These metal masters are used to make multiple inverse stamping copies.
To mass produce plastic compact disks, the stamping copies are put into a die in an injection molding machine. In this machine, polycarbonate pellets are placed in a hopper and drawn through a long screw device. While it is drawn, the plastic becomes molten. It is then injected into the die with the stamping copy. It is held under pressure for a few moments and then allowed to cool. As it cools, it hardens giving it exactly the same pattern of pits as the master copy. It is then released from the die and inspected for flaws. If any flaws are found, the disk is rejected.
The disk is then transferred to a machine, which punches a hole in its center. It is then coated with a thin film of either aluminum or silver using a vacuum deposition technique. Next, a clear acrylic plastic is applied. Finally, the disk is transported to a silk screen assembly and a label is printed on it.
Packaging the game
All the components of the game are transported to the packaging line. Here, each part of the game is placed in a preprinted, cardboard box. This process may either be done by hand or by automated machinery. The game boxes are then conveyored to a shrink-wrap machine that seals them in plastic. They are cased and ready for shipment.
Quality Control
The process of transferring the computer game program to a compact disk, or DVD, must be done in a clean, dust-free environment. This is because dust particles are much larger than the pits carved in a disk, and a single particle can ruin a disk. Therefore, strict quality control measures are taken to control the environment around the disk-making process. Other visual inspections are done at various points during the disk manufacture. Random samples of finished disks are also tested to make sure the program is working properly. Beyond the checks involved in disk manufacture, the other components of the game are also checked to ensure they meet the required specifications. At the end of the manufacturing process, random samples of the finished product are checked to make sure it includes all of the necessary components.
The Future
Computer game programming continues to become more sophisticated as the available hardware improves. The most important recent advancement that promises to revolutionize gaming is the development of DVD technology. This will allow a much greater amount of information to be included in the game's program. This should improve many aspects of the game such as the artificial intelligence routines, the graphics, and the special effects. Things such as video clips will be included to make the games more interactive.
Where To Learn More
Books
Gruber, Diana. Action Arcade Adventure Set. Coriolis Group, 1994.
Katz, Arnie and Laurie Yates. Inside Electronic Game Design. Prima Publications, 1997.
Sawyer, Ben. The Ultimate Game Developers Sourcebook. Coriolis Group, 1997.
Periodicals
Bunn, Austin. "Joystick City." The Village Voice (December 30, 1997).
Wright, Maury. "DVD: Breathtaking Sight and Sound, Significant Challenges." EDN (August 15, 1997).
[Article by: Perry Romanowski]
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Sci-Tech Encyclopedia: Video games
Entertainment systems in which a computer is used to drive a video display and interact with players using a variety of input devices. Video games can be divided into arcade systems, home computers, and game consoles. The distinction between a home computer and a game console is that a computer can be used for a variety of other applications such as word processing and Internet access while a game console is specifically designed for entertainment purposes.
Arcade systems are typically built for a particular game or set of related games. Everything from the choice of controls to the design on the sides and face of the unit are geared toward the game itself. The display is typically larger than that on a home computer, providing a greater sense of immersion. In some cases, specialized optics are used to further increase the sense of breadth and depth. In some racing simulations, for example, multiple screens are arranged side by side in an arc around the player in order to give an even greater feeling of being “in” the game. A combination of conventional arcade games and specialized high-end systems involve virtual reality gear, large rear-projection screens, motion platforms, and sophisticated input devices. See also Simulation; Virtual reality.
A game console typically does not include its own display, but is hooked up to a television set. This provides only limited resolution. The input devices on game consoles are limited to simple multipurpose controllers that are included with the console. Most consoles come with two controllers in order to support two-player competitive games. Consoles are much less expensive than the average home computer system and often have specialized hardware for fast graphics and high-quality sound. The games are distributed either as cartridges (“carts”) or compact disks (CDs) that contain the game logic programmed into read-only memory (ROM). See also Compact disk.
Home computer systems have grown steadily more powerful to the point where they are more than capable of serving as game machines. Since they use an actual computer monitor rather than relying on a television set, the resolution and overall image quality is much higher than that of game consoles and often rivals or exceeds that of the arcade systems. A variety of controllers are available for the personal computer, ranging from simple analog joysticks to sophisticated input devices with full-force feedback. Production, packaging, and distribution costs for computer games are similar to those for game consoles that use CD-ROM. However, widespread Internet access allows game companies to make their games available for download. See also Computer graphics; Computer storage technology; Internet; Microprocessor.
Regardless of the platform (home computer, game console, arcade system), there are a number of basic genres of game. Some of these genres are more common on one type of platform than another, mostly due to technical limitations. Action games are popular on all platforms. Adventure games are mostly popular on home computers, though some game consoles do support them. Simulation games usually involve operating some sort of vehicle, such as an aircraft or a high-performance race car. Simulators can also be found on all popular platforms. Strategy games are based on planning and anticipating future events. There are two subcategories: war games and system simulators. War games are often based on reenacting historic battles of land, sea, or air. System simulators work by simulating a system such as a city, an ant colony, or an entire planet. Strategy games are found mostly on home computers and are not seen in arcade systems.
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ACCUEIL

2008-09-28T14:24:00.000-07:00

Definition blog

EVERY-TYPE-GAME it is an important center INFRMATION and DOWNLOAD of all the type of video games ( PC, PLAYSTATION, X BOX, NINTANDO , PSP GAME )

Definition game
Video games are electronic, interactive games known for their vibrant colors, sound effects, and complex graphics.
Video games for home use proved popular from the start. Children are particularly attracted to them for a variety of reasons. Fantasy characters and situations appeal to young imaginations and provide an escape from everyday routine and the stresses presented by parents, friends, and school. In addition, the games give children a level of control that they do not experience in real life, as the characters on the screen respond to the children's commands. Players also receive immediate rewards for making the right moves. Most games can be played at a variety of skill levels so that every player can be challenged.
For more information about game [