Icebreaker is a Viking-themed physics game,almost like a Fruit Ninja. In Icebreaker, you try to rescue Vikings that have been trapped in ice by strategically cutting the ice and dropping them into a boat.

The first few Icebreaker levels are straightforward while the later levels provides interesting mechanics. Timing can be important in Icebreaker, like when you must cut a Viking loose when the momentum is just right.

Icebreaker doesn't feature in-game ads, which is especially nice in a browser-based game. The soundtrack is repetitive, but you can easily mute it. If you like Vikings, ice, and slicing things--and really, who doesn't?--Icebreaker would be just about perfect for you.

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Drakensang Online is a new MMORPG by Bigpoint.com. It is browser-base and its free-to-play. It provides the basic formula similar to that of Diablo, which is a satisfying click-based combat mechanics, varied leveling and loot system, a bit of crafting, and a dose of personality.



The latest revision of Drakensang Online features new talents and some changes to skills. The feel of the game is similar to that of Diablo. The characters and environment is beautifully rendered while the effects such as mists in the atmosphere or flickering flames gives the feeling of the online environment coming to life.
And take note, there's no need for high-end processors or video cards needed.

However, there are some technical problems such as the occasional screen flashes during initial area load and the play balance and rebalance issues. These issues are minor, and not enough to be a hindrance to enjoy the game. A standalone client that is free of these issues is available for those who are experiencing problems.

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First-person role playing games on the PC have problems nobody talks about, a surprise given how much gamers complain. For all the wonder and promise of titles like Skyrim, players spend most of their actual game time drunkenly steering horses around trees or aiming arrows at targets using mechanics virtually identical to those found in a space marine bro-dude combat shooter. FPS fans may be fine with this, but role playing game aficionados have been forced to look far afield, dabbling with consoles and handheld devices, to find the innovations and alternatives that were once commonplace in PC RPGs. In an effort to show modern gamers another way to slay a beast, Finnish developer Almost Human Ltd. has gone back to computer gaming's golden age, examined the work of the genre's progenitors, and emerged with their debut title, Legend of Grimrock.


Keep plenty of food around if you have a Minotaur in your Legend of Grimrock adventuring party.Using the traditional Dungeon Master interface, Grimrock reintroduces grid-based step movement and ninety-degree turns to first-person roleplay. After over a decade of Unreal-style mouse-look "walking simulators," this design decision feels less retro than revelation. Each click on the directional arrows or tap of the WASD/QE keys moves your party a square or turns them 90 degrees. Although you can examine areas in detail using the right mouse button, your party always remains at a fixed distance from the scenery. No more blurred textures because your nose is pressed against a wall. No getting 'stuck' on scenery geometry or wrestling with exacting positions to do something as simple as opening a door, either. Everything just works, and looks great doing so.

Legend of Grimrock's simplified motion controls allow for other mechanics to take center stage, so you spend less time thinking about avoiding door jambs and more time thinking about party tactics during combat or pondering the environmental puzzles, which are a fiendishly difficult mix of pressure plates, teleporters, switches, hidden buttons, spell attacks, pits and more. Things get tough in this regard, in particular after level 5 or so. You create spells by combining rune symbols into formulas you find or figure out on your own through trial and error, although the character must be still be sufficiently skilled in that school of magic to cast the spells they discover.


Character types are differentiated by both class and race, with humans, insectoids, minotaurs, and saurians each offering their own particular set of advantages and drawbacks, as well as fun portraits that provide personality and help get you attached to your rag-tag band of deep-dungeon survivors. Legend of Grimrock limits classes to a choice of fighter, rogue or mage, although unique skill sets allow for diversification. The game tends to reward specialists over generalists, so pick primary and secondary skills wisely and stick to them.

Mant's exoskeleton perk provides natural armor protection.Combat is real-time and cooldown-based; each member of the party attacks when you click the weapon or spell they have ready at hand and that character is then greyed out for a short time while the action is performed. Two rows of two characters each allow positional tactics to be meaningfully utilized. Characters in the back row are protected by those in front, so mages and rogues are largely shielded from the effects of combat while they cast spells and use missile weapons. This also permits injured fighters to retreat to the relative safety of the rear row if combat is going poorly, where they can be healed or attack from a distance with long weapons such as spears. Just keep in mind the same tactics can be used against you just as effectively. Once your party is cornered or surrounded, it's almost always the end of the road. Legend of Grimrock is unforgiving, so save often.

The only obvious problem here is length. Grimrock is so good that ten dungeon levels just aren't enough. Fortunately, the team at Almost Human Ltd is hard at work on several planned expansions, the first of which is a free level editor that's destined to create a world of user-generated content, and custom portrait packs made by fans are already popping up on modding sites. At just $15 DRM-free and direct from the developers, Legend of Grimrock is the most wholehearted recommendation to role playing fans since Diablo 2. The buzz you're hearing about these guys is only the start. Grimrock is going places.


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Backgammon is a board game that is perfectly suited to iOS devices. The shape of the board fits the iPhone and iPad, and the gameplay—rolling dice and moving pieces—is greatly simplified when you tap to perform these tasks. Over the past few months, I’ve tried out a number of backgammon apps, and two stand out: Backgammon NJ (available for the iPad in a separate version called Backgammon NJ HD), and FaceMe Backgammon.

There are three things I looked for in a backgammon app, starting with an attractive interface. This isn’t as common as you might think, as some backgammon offerings in the App Store have garish colors or horrid cartoonish boards and pieces. If you’re better than a casual player, you’ll want an app with strong artificial intelligence: If you can beat the app all the time, it’s not much fun. And, if you like to play different people, you’ll want multi-player options, preferably using iOS’s built-in Game Center feature.

Best Face Forward: FaceMe Backgammon sports an attractive interface that lets you select one of a half-dozen different boards.

FaceMe Backgammon is a $4 universal app that runs on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad). Developed by Quatrian, the game features an attractive interface, with a selection of a half-dozen different boards. Its AI is decent, and is strong enough for most backgammon players. FaceMe Backgammon allows you to play against the app, with “Pass the device” mode (in which two human players can play each other), and online with Game Center.

Backgammon NJ from Jimmy Hu comes in a $5 iPhone version or a $7 iPad offering. Its interface offers fewer choices—only three boards—but I find it a bit more attractive, and its animations are smoother. It offers Game Center play and Two Player mode as well. But the real advantage to this app is the quality of its AI.

While I’m not a great backgammon player, I’ve been playing for a while. When I play FaceMe Backgammon, at the strongest level (“Expert”), I can generally win in a multi-point match. In addition, FaceMe Backgammon is very poor at using the doubling cube. It rarely offers to double, and almost always accepts when I double.

With Backgammon NJ, however, at the “Medium” skill level (the second of four levels), I win many matches, but not all. If I go to Hard, however, I don’t stand a chance. One weakness with this app is that there is a difference of 300 ELO points—from 1500 to 1800—between these two levels. More levels with smaller differences would make it better for those stuck in between two levels.

Gamesmanship: If you’re looking for ways to improve your game, Backgammon NJ lets you ask for hints and use a doubling tutor.

Backgammon NJ also offers a number of features to help you improve your game. You can ask for hints, and use a doubling tutor that will highlight the doubling cube when it recommends that you double, and recommend whether you should accept or decline when the app doubles. Diligent use of these features can greatly improve your game.

As for online play, both apps use Game Center. With two different versions, Backgammon NJ suffers because if you have the iPhone version, you can’t play owners of the iPad app; each one is considered to be a different game. So if you have two iOS devices, you may want to buy both versions, depending on when and where you play. The iPhone version currently lists 5,700 players in Game Center, and the HD version 4,900. FaceMe Backgammon lists a little more than 6,000 players. At times, I find it easier to get a game with one app or the other, and sometimes there are no players available for either. Unfortunately, neither of these offer they type of interface you get on backgammon servers, where you can invite someone to a match after seeing their level and experience. With Game Center, all this is automatic. (As an aside, it’s a shame that Game Center doesn’t allow all users apps for games like backgammon, chess, go, and others to play each other.)

All in all, Backgammon NJ—whether in iPad or iPhone form—is by far the better player, but it is more expensive. If you’re just a casual player, especially if you have two iOS devices, FaceMe Backgammon is a better choice, given the price. But if you’re a serious backgammon player, Backgammon NJ is the way to go.

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There are games that challenge the player with puzzles. There are also other games that are fun and enjoyable because of the characters that they have. And there are games like the Where’s My Water Android Game app that has both.



Where’s My Water game app is a fun puzzle game that has Swampy the Alligator as the main character. Swampy lives in the sewers under the city and likes to take showers after a hard day at work or at play. But the problem is that the plumbing to Swampy’s shower has been damaged by the other alligators. The objective of the game is for players to help solve the problems presented by the damaged plumbing and let the water reach Swampy’s shower in order for him to get a much needed bath.



Where’s My Water app comes with eight themed chapters with 160 levels. Players may need to guide the water supply by creating different ways to lead it to Swampy’s shower pipes. The puzzles range from simple to the most challenging. But there are also certain obstacles that players need to get over. Players can also collect Swampy’s rubber duckies along the way to unlock new puzzles. Where’s My Water features intuitive controls and vibrant graphics to keep players engaged with the games for hours and hours. Where’s My Water for Android comes with both a free and paid download ($1) at Google Play.

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The PS Vita remains a hard sell since its launch three months ago. The next-gen handheld console may have a lot of promising features, but it needs a title that would wow the gamers to buy. While it does have popular titles stacked in her old closet, Sony has to realize that some of its best games are just ports of smartphone and PS3 versions.



Nevertheless, Sony has announced that LittleBigPlanet will have a PS Vita version, which is currently on beta. It has the same core mechanics from LittleBigPlanet 2, but takes advantage of Vita’s multiple controls–including the rear touchpad–and social connectivity.

No exact dates were given, but interested players have to add their name on the sign-up list to reserve a slot for an exclusive sneak peek.

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It’s time, women and gentlemen, the first full year of Angry Birds having a entire separate game dedicated to seasons is done, and your own question has been answered: yes, Rovio will make a brand new Halloween expansion every year, certainly not simply the first! For those of we out there definitely not having followed Angry Birds since the beginning, there was originally an Angry Birds standalone game and an Angry Birds Halloween standalone game. Once the Halloween game became almost as popular as the original, Rovio got wise as well as continued the holiday theme, eventually combining them all into 1 single collection called Angry Birds Seasons - that custom continues here with the expansion that started the entire thing: Halloween.



Just what you ll be able to see here is many of the speedy tiny blue birds dressed up in classic Halloween costumes heading for a hill that sounds like its full of monsters. They seem all freaked out at first, then laugh with 1 another mainly because they understand they can handle the danger, no big deal. As soon as they approach the hill, they find a bucket full of candy. This bucket additionally seems to contain a small creature that we do not reach see in the flesh.

What we must assume here is the fact that the monsters the 3 blue birds imagine is boss-like bad guys at the end of every set of Halloween levels, for one. For 2, the thing in the bucket, any it is, appears such as it’ll be a brand new character fighting on the good men side. Teeny tiny small bird of some sort, what will the powers be? Will you bring candy to me? We shall see!

BONUS: the folks at AngryBirdsNest have recommended that because this expansion is probably to be released around Halloween, the same time as rumors place the classic Tim Burton stop-animation musical masterpiece The Nightmare Before Christmas in theaters once again in 3D, that this Angry Birds expansion might be a collaboration with the folks at Disney, the current distributors of the film. Rovio did a similar thing with the film RIO whenever it was released, creating an entire spin-off game for the film.



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If we ve been paying attention to the monthly sales reports from research firm NPD, we understand that Nintendo is having many trouble. The game company, that not extended ago dominated the gaming room, is now an after-thought for many consumers. As well as in turn, the business s financial performance is slipping.

For its part, Nintendo has kept a brave face, saying that it believes good times are ahead. The business points to increased interest in the 3DS, solid titles launching for that platform, as well as next many years release of the Wii U to make its case.

But those of us who have been watching Nintendo over the last year or and so understand better: the company is in deep trouble, as well as its prospects for future success in the game business are certainly not almost as great as the company would have we believe.

Simply put, times are tough at Nintendo.

But is there a fast fix in sight? A few might say that the Wii U is that fix, but I just don’t see it. As far as we can tell and so far, the Wii U looks to be a fine competitor to the Xbox 360 as well as PlayStation 3. But how will it hold up against the successors to those devices? If I had to guess, certainly not all that well.

I’m also think of claims that the 3DS will eventually take off and help bolster Nintendo’s earnings. Unfortunately for Nintendo, 3D just isn’t all that appealing to many consumers now. Exactly what s more, the 3DS’ 3D effect, whilst interesting for a while, tends to get old before long as well as the novelty of the device starts to wear off.

"It’s time for something fresh - and unexpected"

And so, that leaves us with software. There’s no debating that Nintendo has the best software library in the world. With Mario, Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, so other franchises, the games themselves can be Nintendo’s ticket to future success. The just issue is, Nintendo seems to be running out of really clean tips.
Is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in 3D really the best the company can do? Certain, it’s a classic, but is it really something that the vast majority of consumers - including those that currently don’t own a 3DS - really desire? I don’t think and so.

Although Nintendo fans might disagree with this sentiment, I’m starting to think that the game business s software is becoming overused. It’s time for anything fresh - as well as unexpected.

Alas, I don’t necessarily believe that there is a quick fix to Nintendo’s issues. The business has too many problems - and too many competitive threats - for it to quickly turn things around. At this point, I think Nintendo will need to spend over a year trying to fix its ailing business before it can even come close to matching its former place of glory.

The Wii was a wildly popular device for many years, as well as the DS was a portable success, but lookin ahead, I just don’t think there’s is a lot to be excited regarding with Nintendo’s business.


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It’s time for the latest and hopefully last date change for the launch of the Star Wars MMORPG - The Old Republic. This is a game that, for the lay individual, is comparable to World of Warcraft in its scope, allowing players to create their own character with who they’ll be able to experience the entire Star Wars universe as it unfolds before them. Have battles, accomplish missions, swing a few lightsabers around, the whole shebang.

The newest word on this future game is that there will be a international release - with North America as well as the European territories on the list thus far as well as no sign of greater Asia - on December 20th, 2011.
As those of you that ve been waiting for this game for years understand already, this game was set for the end of 2012 already, originally set to release somewhere around whenever Diablo III would be dropped - instead D3 was delayed until 2012 as well as Star Wars is now free to become the biggest MMORPG release of the season. Once The Old Republic is released, international support will be provided by the Ireland-based base already nearing readiness now.

BioWare and LucasArts tell us that those that have pre-ordered the game as well as have or perhaps will redeem their Pre-Order Code at the Code Redemption Center at SWTOR.com before the game officially gets released is eligible for Early Game Access plus an in-game “Color Stone” to instantly change the color of the weapon’s “visual effects.” Your blaster blasts and your own lightsaber blades, essentially. Those that want to pre-order the game still can at the SWTOR pre-order page right this second. Grab it!


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Want to have a Sony PlayStation Vita by Christmas? If you live in the United States or Europe, it is highly unlikely.



In an interview with the Associated Press, Sony’s Executive Deputy President Kazuo Hirai says that its next-gen handheld console will not be released in the States or Europe until next year. Hirai even says the device will only be available in Japan by the end of this year.

The executive acknowledged that not selling the Vita during the holiday season would be really costly. “This is going to prove painful for Sony,” Hirai added.

So why the delay? Nobody knows for sure, but let’s just hope Sony will not delay its release. They did that with the PlayStation 3 countless times, which ultimately hurt sales when it was launched a year after the updated Xbox 360 was released.

The PS Vita will be available in two different models: The WiFi-only model costing $249 and the one with 3G for $299.

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Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. announced that a new "PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) Remaster" title series, PSP titles customized and developed specifically for the PS3 computer entertainment system, will become available as Blu-ray Disc™ games starting in the Japanese market.



"PSP Remaster" titles will deliver rich and immersive gaming experience on the PS3 system through stunning high-definition graphics as well as through additional new features for these titles, such as operability on the PS3 Wireless Controller (SIXAXIS® and DUALSHOCK®3), new add-on content or stereoscopic 3D support*(1).  Users will also be able to utilize the same save data from the original PSP game for the "PSP Remaster" version and enjoy the game on the go with the PSP system and continue the game at home on a large TV screen using PS3.  Ad-hoc mode gameplay will also be supported through "adhoc party for PlayStation Portable" application on the PS3 system*(2).

For Japan, the first "PSP Remaster" title to be introduced will be Monster Hunter Portable 3rd HD Ver. from Capcom Co., Ltd.  Monster Hunter Portable 3rd for the PSP system is the latest installment of the blockbuster Monster Hunter franchise, which has alone shipped over 4.5 million units in Japan since its release in December 2010.  The graphics of the PS3 version, including monsters, fields, equipment, as well as Felyne Comrades, are more gorgeous and vibrant than ever, and will deliver dynamic gameplay when played on the large TV screens.  SCE, with strong support from software developers and publishers, will deploy various measures to enhance the software title line-up for the PS3 system.

SCE will continue to further expand the PS3 platform and create a new world of computer entertainment with innovative and exciting new titles.
*1 What content will be supported will depend by titles.
*2. Not all titles will be supported.  Some software title will not function properly depending on the user's network status and or the software feature.  The application is not supported on 20GB model (CECHB00) which does not support Wi-Fi feature.

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Up until this point, I've personally seen Infinity Blade as a showcase piece for the iPad that lacks substance. It's beautiful and should be, given that it's powered by the Unreal Engine, but I always found the game to be a bit shallow.  The inherent restrictions of the platform made for only moderately entertaining, on-rails gameplay that became repetitive after a while, despite developer Chair's efforts to add some depth with a few RPG-like elements.

But along comes this big-time update for what many describe as the most popular game on the iPad -- between sales and critical reception -- and suddenly my opinion is starting to change. The update is free (though the game itself costs $6 from the Apple App Store) and the new content brings a whole new layer of depth and replayability to Infinity Blade.

With the update comes Survival mode, in which you face off against a series of Titans in succession, a slew of new items, and above all, an all-new multiplayer arena mode. In arena mode, you can face off against another player either locally or online, with one of you adopting the familiar role of the night, and the other playing as one of the game's massive Titan bosses. You switch roles after a best of seven series, but trust me: playing the Titan is a much more interesting experience.


SURVIVAL AND NEW ITEMS
The Survival Mode that is introduced in this update doesn't really bring anything new to the table; it's more of a rearrangement of existing content. As the name suggests, you duke it out with increasingly tough Titans for as long as you can on the same health bar before eventually biting the dust. Though you are not given any additional health from one Titan to the next, you are given the opportunity to buy upgrades that will ostensibly help you extend your run.



The gameplay here is identical to the single player campaign, as are the different enemies. If anything, this mode is best treated as a marathon practice mode where you can take some time to train against the different Titans so when you face off against them in single player, you'll run right through them.

To me, the new items were equally forgettable. Sure, it's nice to have a few new powerful items to work towards (some of them cost insane amounts of cash), but it's not like they really do anything different; they're just stat boosters. And after playing through enough of one Bloodline (and, in theory, finally earning enough cash to buy some of these new items), you're already powerful enough to run roughshod over most of your enemies anyway.

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Konami Digital Entertainment Inc. and Autumn Games are proud to announce that Def Jam Rapstar is now compatible with Kinect™ for Xbox 360®, specifically offering video recording via Kinect. Developed by 4mm Games, Terminal Reality, and Def Jam Interactive, Def Jam Rapstar is the first true interactive Hip Hop music game experience for consoles.  Def Jam Rapstar focuses exclusively on Hip-Hop and players' social networks, and offers exciting new social gameplay built on player created music videos.
"Adding Kinect to the Def Jam Rapstar experience is an exciting event for us," said Alex Collmer, CEO of Autumn Games.  "We live in a self-broadcast culture.  Now, every Def Jam Rapstar player with a Kinect for Xbox 360 is potentially one song away from fame--within their own social network or on a global level through the online Def Jam Rapstar Community."

The premiere emcee experience for video game consoles, Def Jam Rapstar makes the world your stage by rhyming along to more than 40 of the greatest Hip Hop tracks ever created. Players can use Kinect cameras to record and customize videos using the in-game editing tools, then upload videos to the fully integrated Def Jam Rapstar community at www.defjamrapstar.com.  From the online community, players can share videos across their online social networks, battle other emcees, comment on videos, and much more. Def Jam Rapstar also offers players the ability to freestyle over tracks by some of the hottest hip hop producers and upload freestyle performances for the world to see and judge.

To use Kinect for Xbox 360 with Def Jam Rapstar, players must download the online patch that will be available on December 22, 2010 in North America and in January 2011 in Europe.  Def Jam Rapstar offers a software only version of the game for microphone owners which retails at $39.99, euro 39.99 and GBP 39.99 pounds Sterling as well as a bundled version that includes the software and one wired microphone for $49.99, euro 49.99 and GBP 49.99 pounds Sterling.  Kinect for Xbox 360 is sold at all retailers where games are sold.

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