The most horrific thing about FEAR 3 is what a series purist might say about it. The closest it has to a bogeyman is the all-corrupting Call Of Duty, with its power to inflict dual weapon slots and recharging health on all in its wake. The only real terror it knows is its own – the hell of the console preowned shelf, upon which dwell the story-based shooters with wide fields of view, modest gun models and action that feels like its own reward.
Consumers in the United States will spend $21.6 billion on videogames in 2011, down from $24.6 billion last year, according to market research firm Newzoo.
The study predicts that 2011 will, for the first time, see mobile, online and downloadable games account for more than half of the total amount of US consumer spending on videogames. Sales of console games are to fall 20 per cent, with those of boxed PC and Mac games falling seven per cent.
Mick Hocking, head of Sony's worldwide studios stereoscopic 3D team, says current technology will enable the company to bring to market immersive virtual reality gaming experiences “in the not too distant future”.
"Another thing that's coming back, which I'm very excited about, is the notion of virtual reality," the executive told btween3d in a video interview.
New entries took the top three places on the Japanese software chart during the week ended June 26.
PS3 role playing title Atelier Meruru: Alchemist Of Arland 3 debuted at number one, ahead of new PSP releases Steins; Gate and Gundam Memories: Memories of the Battle, Andriasang reports.
Last week's top two, Little Battle Experience and The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time 3D, placed fourth and fifth respectively.
Videogame retailers in the UK and elsewhere are taking markedly different stances on whether to accept trade-ins of Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, after it was revealed that save data cannot be reset on Capcom’s upcoming 3DS title.
The traditional pecking order of 3D graphical fidelity in videogame hardware has been muddled in recent years. In past years, high-end PCs and arcade machines offered the highest fidelity visual experiences, with consoles, handhelds and web games each offering graphics quality an order of magnitude lower than the last. But today, there are few set rules.
Sony Computer Entertainment International (SCEI) has announced the promotions of senior executives including Kaz Hirai and Andrew House.
Hirai assumed the role of chairman on September 1, following the retirement of Akira Sato on August 31. Andrew House, current president and CEO of SCEE, will take up Hirai's position - president and group CEO - on September 1. House's role will be filled by Jim Ryan, currently executive VP of SCEE.
Social gaming giant Zynga is to take to the stock market in the coming days, valued at $20 billion, according to reports.
Bloomberg reports that Zynga could file for an initial public offering (IPO) as early as today, as it seeks to capitalise on the recent surge in interest in web businesses which has seen the likes of LinkedIn and Groupon file IPOs of their own in recent months.
Match Panic is one of the simplest games released this year, and it squeezes every bit of juice from its solitary mechanic. A column of icons descends down the middle of the screen; you must tap left or right to match the bottom icon to the ones that sit on either side of the screen to clear the column within a time limit.