rpg

Shouting your way to victory in Mass Effect 3

A funny thing happened when I sat down to test out Mass Effect 3's ability to shout out orders to my virtual squad mates: I resisted. Big time.

As a longtime Mass Effect fan (I'm almost embarrassed to admit I've played the previous two games enough times to see virtually all of the different endings), it was difficult not to fall back on to old habits. Despite some tweaks and additions to the game, Mass Effect 3 played similarly to its two predecessors, so the temptation was there.

But I persevered and actively avoided using buttons and pausing the game, instead barking my orders via the Xbox's Kinect peripheral, which powers the feature. After the initial awkward few minutes in which I learned the different commands on the fly, I was routinely telling my squadmates to fire singularity warp fields and throw grenades just as naturally as if I asked my co-worker to hand me an extra notepad. The result was a more satisfying experience and a stronger personal connection to the virtual characters flanking me in combat.

Gamers will get their own chance to try out the game on February 14, when EA and Bioware will release a free demo online to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles, as well as the PC. The game hits stores on March 6. … Read more

Photographer exposes MMORPG gamers in the meatspace

Photographer Robbie Cooper explores the modern convergence of personal and social identities in a portrait series that pairs gamers with their virtual avatars.

Cooper traveled around the world for three years, visiting places like Korea, China, France, and Germany to capture the online and in-person lives of MMO participants.

His photo project evolved into a photo book called "Alter Ego" that further scrutinizes the role of absorbed fantasy in the gaming metaverse through interviews, biographies, and essays.

The book also paints a range of identities behind the avatars. It's not just a bunch of oily adolescents mashing keyboards in a basement; Cooper's subjects range from a gold farmer in China, a paraplegic in Texas, and even an octogenarian who all teach a valuable lesson to never judge a gamer by his or her avatar.

Plenty more pictures of gamers and their avatars after the page break.… Read more

Shopkick gets you discounts and rewards at the same time

To use Shopkick, simply download the app, and fire it up whenever you're out shopping. Then, just by making supported purchases, scanning items, or even walking into featured retailers, you'll start earning "kickbucks," which can be redeemed for gift cards, free merchandise, and more. You can also earn kickbucks by "checking in" to specific commercials you're watching, or by sharing the app with friends.

The other half of Shopkick is the deals. Whenever you're in a featured store, be sure to check the app to see if any coupons are available. If … Read more

Free turn-based strategy game

This open-source, turn-based strategy game is fun once you learn the basics, although it can be a bit choppy compared to most modern games. The object in Battle for Wesnoth is to build a hero and strategically use your units to attack the enemy and conquer villages as you follow your quest.

The story line is compelling and provides a nice backdrop to the game play which can get confusing once several units on both sides enter into the fray. The two-dimensional graphics are nothing special, and the sounds aren't very advanced, but as a free game with large … Read more

The making of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Tomorrow, the highly anticipated role-playing game The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim debuts for Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, marking the fifth chapter in the 17-year-old saga.

Game creator Bethesda Softworks has released a series of videos over the last week detailing more of the sights and sounds of the epic experience, and we've collected some of the clips together for your enjoyment.… Read more

3D space trader game done right

Galaxy on Fire 2 is a fully 3D space trader game with sleek graphics, fun missions, and an engrossing storyline--as long as you can stomach the less-than-stellar voice acting. Cut scenes early in the game explain your situation: a malfunction in your hyperdrive has somehow managed to warp your ship across the galaxy and 30 years into the future. With only your basic ship and the help of friendly people at various space stations you visit, you'll slowly learn the ins and outs of equipping your ship, buying and selling commodities for cash, mining for minerals, and how to … Read more

Pirate game not worth the doubloons

Backstab is a loosely pirate-themed third-person action-adventure game with promising potential but frustratingly flawed execution given its price.

Backstab advertises an "unprecedented story" and a "blockbuster production with the best graphics." Unfortunately, the story is highly precedented (and told unevenly, with spotty voice acting and wooden animations) and the graphics--while somewhat impressive for a mobile device, especially given the game's limited sandbox environment--are far from the best. Backstab evokes derivative late '90s console games, although with more-frustrating controls: what should be an intuitive camera system (you swipe the screen to rotate the camera) is anything … Read more

Take to the stars in this MMO

Vendetta Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game that lets you pilot a spaceship and seek your fortune in a vast universe. The graphics are somewhat dated by today's standards, but there's a ton of content to explore and much to discover as you slowly advance your ship by mining and completing quests.

You have plenty of options for how you want to experience the Vendetta Online universe. You get to choose from three factions, two of which are at war, while the third is made up of independent traders. There are several different types of ships, … Read more

Hack-and-slash excellence

Pocket RPG brings a fun and mindless dual-stick hack-and-slash adventure to the smaller Retina Display on the iPhone.

You start by choosing one of three character classes: Dark Ranger, Blade Master, or Battle Mage, each with a different fighting style and special moves. When you're done choosing according to your playing style, you'll be dropped into the first dungeon and will need to talk to the NPCs scattered about to learn the basics. From there, Pocket RPG is all about mindless hack-and-slash goodness, battling against swarms of enemies, and finding chests full of treasure, weapons, and items. As … Read more

Twenty minutes of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Developer Bethesda Softworks is fueling gamers' anticipation with a new 20-minute video showing footage from the highly anticipated game, Skyrim, which arrives for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 platforms on November 11. Gamers have eagerly awaited the fifth installment of the Elder Scrolls series for nearly half a decade.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim takes place 200 years after Oblivion, and is a new chapter in the series following the murder of a King. Gamers explore the land of Skyrim, which is a massive free-roaming area full of never-ending lore. Multiple cities within the mountainous region offer a variety of jobs for gamers, while the promise of random dragon appearances and a rumored ancient evil should keep things interesting. … Read more