Games Cheats and Reviews

ResumePlay: The issue of violence in video games has been around for decades, but with the graphical realism in modern consoles the debates are fiercer than ever. Whether its about the chainsaw bayonets of Gears of War, the "killing hookers" in Grand Theft Auto, or the cold, emotionless sniping in Call of Duty, society sees a lot of problems in the games we play. There are supposed to be guidelines and rules in place to keep these mature games out of childrens’ hands, but somehow they get them anyway.

So who is at fault in creating this issue? Mainstream society seems to blame the developers for even making the games, but are they guilty for what they’ve done? I’ve taken a scrutinizing look at the violent games issue, and no one is off limits for the analysis. See who makes the guilty list.

RockstarNetwork.net reports: "Rockstar just announced that GTAIV is now available for Games on Demand. Check out the press release below. You can download it from On Demand for only $29.99! If you haven’t got a copy of it yet, now is your time to buy!"

GameZone’s Stefanie Fogel writes,

"These days, it seems like everywhere you look, video-game characters are flaunting their pixellated private parts. Whether it’s a giant topless Cleopatra in Dante’s Inferno, a congressman flashing the full monty in Grand Theft Auto IV’s The Lost and the Damned, or the copious amounts of side cleavage in both Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2, sex and nudity in games have become more prevalent over the last couple of years. And while the industry has seen its fair share of controversy over its increasingly racy content, one has to wonder: Is sex in video games becoming more acceptable?"

"There has been a lot of buzz surrounding a site throughout the week. If you were one of the curious people who visited rockstargames.com/v earlier, then you might have been welcomed with a file download…"

A recent Rockstar Games website tease could indicate a GTA V announcement in March.

Awful in nearly every way. The Twin Peaks meets Resident Evil with a dash of Grand Theft Auto formula sounds pretty great, but it was well beyond the capabilities of this development team. Terrible controls. Terrible pacing. Terrible sound effects. Terrible visuals. Maybe you can convince yourself that these things don’t matter as you work through this surreal and quirky storyline. The rest will be off playing better videogames.

Presentation – 6.0

Graphics – 1.0

Sound – 2.0

Gameplay – 3.0

Lasting Appeal – 3.0

Overall -

IGN, the world’s largest video game portal, has rated Half-Life 2 as the best game of the decade. IGN staffers reached this decision by gathering their top game from each year of the decade and then placing them in ranking order. While Half-Life 2 was an amazing game, and arguably deserves the top spot, we cannot forget the other great games that graced us with their presence this decade. Here is the top-ten list:

1. Half Life 2
2. Shadow Of The Colossus
3. Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
4. Grand Theft Auto III
5. Super Mario Galaxy
6. Counterstrike
7. Fallout 3
8. Okami
9. Battlefield
10. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

In the spirit of lists, I have decided to compile a ranking list of my own personal favorites from this decade:

1. Shadow of the Colossus
2. Portal
3. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
4. Bioshock
5. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
6. Mass Effect
7. Deus Ex
8. Demon’s Souls
9. Half-Life 2
10. Elder Scrolls: Oblivion

IGN writes: "In the March 2010 issue of Game Informer (on stands this month), the first real details of L.A. Noire are revealed. Developed by Team Bondi (The Getaway), L.A. Noire is an open-world action-adventure game set in the City of Angels in 1947. Unlike previous Rockstar efforts, L.A. Noire exists in a real city, painstakingly recreated for historical accuracy. Don’t expect the "shoot everyone" mentality of a Grand Theft Auto title — this is something completely different."

After a year of patiently waiting, Playstation 3 and PC owners will finally get the extra episodes from Rockstar’s blockbuster, Grand Theft Auto IV. Both episodes, The Lost and the Damned and The Ballad of Gay Tony will be available in disc format and as downloadable content on the Playstation Store and Games for Windows on March 30. The retail copy, which has both episodes on one disc, will be share the title of its Xbox 360 counterpart, Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City

When it was announced that Rockstar had signed a deal with Microsoft to bring the episodes to the Xbox 360 alone as a timed exclusive, gamers worldwide were extremely disappointed. Gamers understand the premise of competition, but many of us are starting to grow up (or are now getting old in the case of this writer) and our fanboyism is waning. We’re starting to not care about exclusives, because we feel that it hurts the industry as a whole when companies pay for exclusivity. Rockstar did what was prudent for them at the time. When Microsoft comes waving a wad of cash in front of you, it is hard to resist. Nevertheless, the episodes are on their way now, and Sam Houser, president and co-founder of Rockstar Games, is excited for us all.

It’s been a long time coming, but we are proud to finally deliver Episodes From Liberty City for the PC and PlayStation 3,” said Sam Houser. “We appreciate the patience of our PlayStation 3 and PC fans worldwide, and we look forward to putting the games in your hands this March.

Sharing: It’s Win/Win

We are happy to announce the much anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows® – LIVE on March 30, 2010. For the first time, PlayStation 3 and Games for Windows – LIVE players will have the opportunity to experience the last two thrilling chapters of the Grand Theft Auto IV saga.

The two action packed episodes will also be available for download on the PlayStation Network and Games for Windows® LIVE on March 30, 2010. Each episode boasts the same detailed and immersive Liberty City we all know and love. Games for Windows – LIVE players can enjoy 32-player multiplayer matches and an advanced video editor, and all fans will have the chance to once again listen to the dulcet tones of Liberty City Radio.

The Lost and Damned is a dark trip through Liberty City’s seedy underbelly as outlaw biker, Johnny Klebitz, fights to keep his gang together as a rift in the gang’s leadership threatens to tear the brotherhood apart. In The Ballad of Gay Tony, players explore Liberty City’s high-end nightlife as Luis Lopez, struggling to balance the temptations of money and vice against loyalties to family and friends. Both episodes feature a slew of new vehicles and weapons, and each episode adds new activities including cage fighting, gang wars and BASE jumping.