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N.O.V.A – Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance – Video Review

Philip Federico
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MasterAbbott is back with the first review of the 2010.  And today we have Gameloft’s massive hit for the Apple iPhone/ipod iTouch – N.O.V.A stands for Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance. 

NOVA is possibly the most revolutionary sci-fi first person shooter that you can own for your iPhone & iPod Touch.  Gameloft game studios have outdone themselves with this amazing game.

As this is a video review,   I’m not going to bore you with ramble or go over the same stuff I discuss in the video review.   I will explain a little of the story without giving away and spoilers and cover few of the features that I didn’t go through in the video review.

In N.O.V.A you are thrown into the unwilling shoes of former space marine Captain Kal Wardin, as he is thrown and pushed into a mission to save humanity against an aggressive alien race hell bent on destroying every last bit of humanity.  The reason as to you why the Aliens are attacking is something I’m not going to tell you.  As I would like everyone of you that owns an iPhone / iTouch to download this game as the story is quite interesting.  NOVA is not just a brainless point and shoot run and gun style game.  There are a few little puzzles elements also thrown in that will get you thinking.  These puzzles appear through the game and especially at the end where you have too…  ohh sorry no spoilers 😉

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Throughout the game you are in contact with Yelena.  An A.I  Advisor who will guide you and also tell you what you must do next along your mission.   Yelena is not the only one that will also speak to you through your mission as there is more to this Alien Invasion that meets the eye. 

There are approx less than 10 kinds of major enemies you will be facing throughout your epic action adventure.  They range from little grunt style crawlers that attack by melee and lunging towards your to huge brute style enemies that carry massive clubs and also throw fireballs with deadly accuracy,  if you get too close they will even pick you by your throat and attempt to chock the air out our puny lungs whilst punching the living day lights out of you at the same time.   HAPPY DAYS !!

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The enemy AI is actually quite impressive for an iPhone game.  Gameloft have done quite a remarkable job in this department.  I did notice a few little buggy parts when enemies would run towards a certain spot before taking fire, kind of like they were programmed to make it to “THIS” spot before starting to shoot and acting as they should in a normal battle.  Apart from that, depending on the level of difficulty you play NOVA on  roughly AI will take the same amount of bullets before they go down.

As explained in the video you are equipped with a special Mobile Armored Suit that will take damage and then regenerate itself after a while.  Only if your not taking fire from enemies.  This is handy as it eliminates the need to run around looking for medipacks.  (but with saying that, in Multiplayer if you take damage your suite will not regenerate and you will need to pick up medipacks to replenish lost health)

Now I believe its time for the video review.  Sit back and enjoy. 

 

N.O.V.A is every bit enjoying as it looks from the video review above.  There control system is easy to get your head around.  The gameplay is fun and easy.  It has an interesting storyline which keep you moving forward to see what will happen next.  As explained in the video review there is a total of 13 levels.  All of which are nicely designed and do take quite a long time to go through.  Even if you rush through them on average it will take you about 10-20 mins to get through each mission.  And It will take you longer if you play it on hard as you won’t be able to rush in Kal Wardin style, you’ll need to pick off enemies from a distance with your sniper, use your energy freeze pulse to immobilize them use COVER !!

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Capsule Computers would like give NOVA :  9 Capsule Out Of 10   If you have a iPhone… then this game should be on it.  NO QUESTIONS ASKED SOLDIER !! Grab it now from the Apple iTunes Store.  Click on the Buy now button below.  MasterAbbott recommends this as its certainly the best FPS on the iPhone/iTouch and I dont think anything anytime soon will knock N.O.V.A off its perch. 

9-0-capsules-out-of-10

**Note price shown below is in US DOLLARS **

Best iPhone apps at AppStoreHQ

Let us know what you thought of this video review.  There might be a prize given away if we get a fair few comments 🙂

-Features & Screenshots
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EPIC SINGLE-PLAYER CAMPAIGN
– 13 insane levels
– 5 radically different environments, from the real to the fantasic – jungle, snow mountains, spaceship, bunker, and an alien city
– 6 weapons: Assault rifle, shotgun, sniper rifle, handgun, rocket launcher and plasma gun – plus grenades & machine gun turrets in certain levels
– An intense drama sustained by transitional cinematics and character voices

FRANTIC MULTIPLAYER MODE
– Play locally or online via Wi-Fi or Local Bluetooth connection
– 1-4 player Deathmatch (1-2 players via Bluetooth connection)
– 5 different maps
– Play against your friends or the entire world through Gameloft LIVE!
– Worldwide leaderboards in the game & on the official website, www.near-orbit-vanguard-alliance.com

TECHNOLOGICAL LEAP
– Full 3D rendered environments enhanced by highly detailed graphics
– 3 control schemes
– Customizable interface

ZOMG !!! Apple’s App Store Downloads Top Three Billion

Philip Federico
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AppStore3BillionDownloads

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Apple’s Press Release

CUPERTINO, California—January 5, 2010—Apple® today announced that more than three billion apps have been downloaded from its revolutionary App Store by iPhone® and iPod touch® users worldwide.

“Three billion applications downloaded in less than 18 months—this is like nothing we’ve ever seen before,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “The revolutionary App Store offers iPhone and iPod touch users an experience unlike anything else available on other mobile devices, and we see no signs of the competition catching up anytime soon.”

iPhone and iPod touch customers in 77 countries worldwide can choose from an incredible range of apps in 20 categories, including games, business, news, sports, health, reference and travel.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.

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I’ve said this 3 billion times already.  Apple’s little phenominan is the perfect device for playing games.  The App Store games do not cost anymore than $10, while the Nintendo DS and sony PSP titles can go for four times that. Additionally there are approx 21,178-title catalog of iPhone OS “Game & Entertainment Titles” and this increases with each day that goes by.  This dwarfs those of the Nintendo DS which only has 3,680 titles and the PSP with a lowly 607 titles.

If you haven’t check out the iPhone go out to your local Apple store and have a play around with one.  I will gurantee you will not be dissapointed.

Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts now available on Xbox Games on Demand

Philip Federico
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BanjoKazooie-NutsNBolts-GamesOnDemand

 

Banjo-Kazooie® Nuts & Bolts

Content: Banjo Kazooie: N and B
Price: Check pricing for your region
Availability: Not available in Japan
Dash Text: Download the manual for this game by locating the game on http://marketplace.xbox.com and selecting “See Game Manual”. The heroic bear and bird return at last to defend Spiral Mountain from their nemesis Gruntilda. Groundbreaking vehicular platforming awaits in wild new worlds packed with features and faces old and new. Build awe-inspiring vehicles and tackle the Jiggy challenges in any way you see fit!

Add Banjo Kazooie: N and B to your Xbox 360 download queue

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info provided by Major Nelson

BioWare Announces First Official Expansion Pack to the Critically Acclaimed Dragon Age: Origins

Philip Federico
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Official Press Release by BIOWARE/EA

“Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening” to Take Fans to the Land of Amaranthine With New Party Members, Spells, Abilities and More in March 2010

Leading video game developer BioWare, a division of EA, announced today Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening, the first official expansion pack to Dragon Age: Origins, the recent recipient of Spike TV’s Best RPG and PC Game of 2009, IGN’s Best RPG of 2009 and CNN.com’s Best RPG of 2009. Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening will be available for the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system, the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and PC on March 16, 2010.

Designed and written by the same team that brought you Dragon Age: Origins, the Awakening expansion pack offers a brand new area of the world to explore known as Amaranthine, featuring an epic story that will allow players to unravel the secrets of the darkspawn – and their true motivations!  Players will face a range of horrific and terrifying creatures including an evolved, intelligent breed of darkspawn and other menacing creatures such as the Inferno Golem and Spectral Dragon. Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening provides exciting new ways for players to customize their heroes and party, including the ability to re-spec their character attributes, allowing even greater customization and replayability.  Featuring an increased level cap, new spells, abilities, specializations and items, plus five all-new party members, players can continue their adventures from Dragon Age, or begin with a brand new party.

“Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening shows BioWare’s commitment to our fans by delivering new story-driven experiences which enrich the dark heroic fantasy universe our fans have come to know and love,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group, EA, and Co-Founder, BioWare. “The vibrant worldwide community of Dragon Age fans will relish uncovering the secret motivations of the darkspawn, revealing how the darkspawn continue to infest the world despite the defeat of the Archdemon.”

Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening, BioWare’s next thread in the Dragon Age: Origins tapestry, occurs following the events of Dragon Age: Origins and puts players into the role of a Grey Warden Commander entrusted with rebuilding the order of Grey Wardens.  In addition to rebuilding the ranks of the Grey Wardens, you will be tasked with uncovering the mystery of how the darkspawn survive after the slaying of the Archdemon dragon.  How players choose to rebuild their order, resolve the conflict with the mysterious “Architect,” and determine the fate of the darkspawn are just some of the many intriguing moral choices that will shape each player’s heroic journey.  Players will be able to import their character from Dragon Age: Origins or start out as a new Grey Warden from the neighboring land of Orlais.

Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening will be released March 16, 2010 worldwide on the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 console and PC.  Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening will be available for $39.99 on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles in North America and will require Dragon Age: Origins to play.  Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening is rated M by the ESRB and 18+ by PEGI.

For more information on Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening, please visit the Official Site.

Journey into the Void on XBLA and PSN this week!‏

Philip Federico
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With the launch of Capcom’s sci-fi shooter, Dark Void, right around the corner, Capcom is giving gamers a chance to experience the void for themselves this week with a downloadable demo coming to Xbox Live and PlayStation Network.

The Dark Void demo will be available for download from Xbox Live on Wednesday January 6th and PlayStation Network on Thursday January 7th

The demo will give gamers a chance to strap on their jet pack for the first time and explore the mysterious and miraculous world of Dark Void through a combination of thrilling aerial dog-fighting, unique vertical cover action and on-foot combat.

Dark Void is scheduled for release across European territories on Friday January 22nd and will be available for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.

Capcom signs distribution deal for Monster Hunter Tri in Europe and Australia

Philip Federico
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Press Release from Capcom
CapcomLogoSmall

Capcom signs distribution deal for Monster Hunter Tri in Europe and Australia

London – January 5, 2010 – Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games today confirmed that it has entered into a distribution agreement with Nintendo for its forthcoming Wii title Monster Hunter Tri, the next instalment in the multi-million selling series. Under the terms of the agreement Nintendo will be responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of Monster Hunter Tri throughout European and Australian territories with Capcom remaining as publisher. Monster Hunter Tri is scheduled for release this coming April and will set the bar in the action/adventure genre with the introduction of new features and gameplay elements as the Monster Hunter franchise makes its debut on the Nintendo system.Monster Hunter Tri is one of the most strikingly beautiful games ever created for the Wii and brings to life a living breathing ecosystem where man and monster co-exist. The title’s single player story mode sees gamers taking on the role of a hunter whose village is beset by a series of violent tremors that threaten to destroy it. Charged by the village chief to discover the source of the earthquakes players will embark on a series of quests where they must face gigantic beasts that inhabit both land and sea. 

Living the life of a hunter need never be a solitary experience with the option to form a team of up to four hunters via the game’s custom online Wi-Fi mode; alternatively the game also offers a two player split-screen Arena mode. Even solo players do not have to face Monster Hunter Tri’s challenging quests alone as they will be ably accompanied by Cha-Cha, an AI hunting partner whose skills will prove invaluable.

“Nintendo has identified Monster Hunter Tri as a key title for the Wii platform in 2010,” stated Michael Pattison, Senior Director Marketing, Capcom Europe, “We are really excited about partnering with Nintendo to further develop this franchise.”

Laurent Fischer, Managing Director, Marketing & PR, Nintendo of Europe, commented “Monster Hunter has a huge and passionate following in Japan and we are looking forward to introducing the Monster Hunter Tri to a whole new audience in Europe as the series makes its first appearance on the Wii.”

ABOUT CAPCOM

Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment for game consoles, PCs, handheld and wireless devices.  Founded in 1983, the company has created hundreds of games, including best-selling franchises Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Devil May Cry. Capcom maintains operations in the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Tokyo Korea and Hong Kong, with corporate headquarters located in Osaka, Japan.  More information about Capcom can be found on the company web site, www.capcom.com .

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Capcom, Mega Man, Resident Evil, and Devil May Cry are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Capcom Co., Ltd., in the U.S. or other countries. Dark Void and Street Fighter are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Capcom U.S.A., Inc. “All other marks are the property of their respective owners.

Dark Void Zero – Never before seen trailer !!

Philip Federico
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In the year 198x, The Playchoice-10 was the first arcade cabinet to feature two interactive screens. Capcom soon began developing a game to make use of this advanced technology.  This ground breaking title was called : DARK VOID !!

Unfortunately the Playchoice-10 was discontinued and the project was cancelled. 

In the year 20xx, Capcom found the project buried deep in its vault.  It’s Concept inspired a new adventure of the same name.  BUT… The original game, locked away for decades… Is now back from the Void…

DARK VOID ZERO !! AVAILABLE on DSi Ware January 2010


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EA SPORTS Moves Forward with Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online Launch in January

Philip Federico
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EA SPORTS Moves Forward with Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online Launch in January

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Peter Moore : President EA Sports announced in his blog today that EA will continue to move forward with Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online.  Peter also explains why EA Sports are continuing to support and work closely with Tiger Woods, even after a lot of other companies and sponsors are dropping him from their sponsorship contracts.

Read all about it here at Peter Moors Official Blog.  Its quite a good read. 

Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online is shaping up to be quite an amazing online golf game.  With over 75,000 testers playing and participating in the BETA.  EA are confident this will be possibly one the best Tiger Woods games released.

Let us know what you think about how EA has continued to work with Tiger.  Leave a comment.

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Avatar rakes up $1billion on sales .. and it’s still going !!

Philip Federico
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Avatar rakes up $1billion on sales .. and it’s still going !!

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According to official statistics. After just 17 days Avatar has already made over $1 billion in gross ticket sales, putting it in 4th place of all-time movies. On the top is Titanic with $1.8 billion, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King with $1.12 billion and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest with $1.07 billion. It will still continue to rise, presently its sitting at $1.02 billion and will certainly make its way to 2nd spot. Giving Mr Cameron the honor of producing 2 of the biggest movies ever made. Now all we need is a 3rd and he can then retire 😉

Even though the Story to Avatar was not very original, everyone’s been comparing it to Disney’s Pocohontas. But one thing we cannot question or fault the amazing and spectacular visuals and animation especially when seen in 3D.

The box office amount is fueled by 3D and IMAX ticket sales (tickets are more expensive than regular movies tickets). Breakdown of sales : $352.1 million domestically : $670.2 million internationally and $66.4 million from IMAX theaters. I personally have gone to see Avatar twice once in IMAX and then in a regular theater with no 3D and the experience was no where near the same. If you want to experience this movie in all is glory. Then IMAX or a theater that provides 3D is a must.

Along with the success of the movie Gameloft have lowered its price on the Avatar iPhone game. It’s now down to $8.99 US. It’s actually quite a well rounded game and very enjoyable. Check it out below click on the Buy Now button to be taken to the iTunes store.

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Best iPhone apps at AppStoreHQ

Medal Of Honor vs Modern Warfare 2 : THE RETURN OF THE KING !!

Philip Federico
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There’s a lot of gas bagging going on about how much Medal of Honor is SO similar to the Almighty Modern Warfare 2. Well let me add my 5 cents worth in on the argument. I would like to remind everyone that a VERY long time ago there was no such thing as Call Of Duty. The only KING of the FPS was Medal Of Honor. So When Call Of Duty came out all those year back was it safe to say that Call Of Duty was a rip-off Medal Of Honor ? Wasn’t it the exact same game with a new little feature thrown in called SHELL SHOCK, (everything would blur when you were close to a grenade that went off). Whoopie-Doo and that made it different from what was already the leader in its genre.

I know that EA got very sloppy and lost hold of its reign on top when they kept on re-hashing the same kind of war style battles being stuck in the history. Then Modern Warfare came out. A new war, a new enemy, a new bunch of hero’s and a new threat (sounds similar doesn’t it). Yes of course everyone would accept it as we were bored stiff with the same of WW2 battles that were going on not only in our tv screens, but between EA and Infinity Ward. So it became a HIT… We got to battle new terrorist threats and a new story unfolded, everyone love it, it was like a breath of fresh air filling the lungs of a 2 pack a day smoker.

NOW moving forward to 2010 the roles are in reverse. Modern Warfare is in the same spot Medal of Honor was all those years back.  Sitting on the top of the mountain as the KING of FPS war games. Everyone’s loving Infinity Ward they are heroes, they can do no wrong, and neither can the fictional characters that they have developed and created. Now EA comes along attempting to pull off the same same stunt that Infinity Ward did some many years ago, and everyone starts bagging and flaming and claiming that MOH is just a big RIP-OFF of Modern Warfare.  Have we all forgotten so quickly what happened all those years back when a couple of EA developers jumped ship and decided to make their own war game, were we quick to critize back then ? Even though it was very similar in nearly every aspect we all gave it a chance.

Even though Medal Of Honor 2010, reloaded, rebooted or whatever everyone is calling it is going to be practically the same as Modern Warfare it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t give it a fair go and a chance to prove itself. With a new team over at EA running with MOH. I believe we will all be pleasantly surprised with the final product, maybe it might give Modern Warfare a good run for its money and HOPEFULLY knock it off and out of its number one position and show the world that a game that used to be king can be king again.

I’d like to give Medal Of Honor the following title : MOH “The Return Of The King” not reload, not rebooted not anything else. The King Shall return and it will take its rightful place on the top of the mountain once again. And then the real battle will begin. 😉

MasterAbbott

 

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