The Diablo III release has been a long time coming and naturally, like most of the world, I had a pre-ordered copy waiting for me on the 15^th. Unfortunately, I had to work, so I didn’t really get to sit down and play until last Friday. Thus, Friday began my non-stop marathon of Diablo III and I have lived to tell the tale.  

I didn’t want to spoil my experience by reading much about the Diablo III gameplay beforehand. I played Diablo III in a sort of trial and error style to find my own way of successfully taking down Diablo. I have compiled a list of the best advice that I can give you to get the most out of Diablo III.

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Here’s part two of the top 8 PR Disasters in gaming history. Some of the handling of these fiascos are cringe worthy and mind blowing at how out-of-touch some companies can be with their consumer base. Indulge in your sense of schadenfreude (the pleasure one gets from viewing the misfortune of other) once more and see what tops the list of these PR disasters. (more…)

Not every game company is perfect and we can forgive that sometimes, BUT every now and then a gaming company will fail so horribly in their handling of their PR that it becomes similar to a train wreck: you simply can’t look away from the mess. Throughout the years, there have only been a handful of full blown PR disasters in the gaming industry but what PR disasters there have been were so incredibly catastrophic that the repercussions spread across the internet like wildfire, destroyed companies, and even drew the attention of the federal government. (more…)

Apple Gaming News

We know you love annihilating your loved ones and friends (through video games of course). But just because one of you favors Mac over a PC doesn’t mean you should miss out on the epic battles that are waiting  for you.

There are an increasing number of games that feature cross-platform multiplayer, which means that you can use your Mac to play your friends who use a Mac or PC.  Below is a list of some of the best that cross-platform multiplayer has to offer.

• Published by Aspyr Media, Sid Meier’s Civilization V is a turn-based strategy title that lets players conquer surrounding territories with the hopes of becoming the ultimate and superior empire. Though the cross-platform multiplayer is currently on hiatus until the latest patch hits Macs in early February, Civ V is still a top-tier game that allows you to defeat your friends on both Mac and PC.

• Madballs in Babo: Invasion, which features up to 16 players in multiplayer, challenges you to make your way through a 3D environment, decimating your friends along the way. Madballs is published by Playbrains and is available on both Mac and PC through Steam.

• Published by Nimbly Games, Altitude is a unique, side-scrolling aerial combat title.  You’ll fly through obstacles in the sky while shooting down your enemies, and can play with your friends on Mac or PC using Steam.
• Killing Floor is a co-op survival horror FPS set in the devastated cities and countryside of England after a series of cloning experiments for the military goes horribly wrong.  The title, published by Tripwire Interactive, allows up to 6 players to battle through hordes of flesh-craving zombies and is available through Steam on PC and Mac.
• Guerrilla Bob, published by Angry Mob Games,  is a one-of-a-kind, fast-paced shooter with a cartoon art style that allows players to fight and loot enemies for weapon upgrades and power ups. Available on a variety of platforms (Mac, PC, iPhone, Android), friends can play together via a local Wi-Fi connection.

As founders of the Steam gaming platform, Valve Software naturally has made many of their games available for cross-platform gaming, too. Some of their titles include:

• Portal 2, which allows you to play as a robot in a futuristic environment, has players solving puzzles cooperatively to move through portals in this action-adventure title. Portal 2 is particularly unique in that the cross-platform multiplayer  is available for Macs, PCs and the PS3.
• Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2, are survivor thriller first person shooter titles that challenge players to band together to fight off a zombie outbreak. L4D and L4D2 can be played on Mac, PC and Xbox, though the game is only cross-platform on Mac and PC.
• Team Fortress 2 is a free-to-play, team-based title in which teams battle it out against each other by customizing and upgrading their characters. Team Fortress 2 multiplayer is available for Mac and PC through Steam.
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Your greatest nightmare can now be realized instantly with the new digital download release of Doom 3, available on the Mac App Store and GameAgent Store, among other online gaming outlets! Play as a marine, sent to space with one objective: Protect the research lab. When research goes awry, you are faced with more than what you had bargained for. The gates of hell open, allowing creatures to crawl from the underworld with the goal of reaching Earth. The sci-fi horror-themed storyline of Doom 3 will have you jumping at every turn with dark, disturbing lighting and sound effects. Doom 3 gives you the option to experience the fear alone or alongside your friends. Including multiplayer death matches, single player campaigns and last men standing tournaments, Doom 3 has epic and long-lasting play value. Load your BFG9000 and head over to Mac App and GameAgent Store to wage war against the underworld today!

Now that Mafia II Director’s Cut has released for Mac, we want you to plunge into an era that is the foundation for Mafia II. Playing as Vito, you are completely immersed into the world of organized crime in the 1940s –50s. One of the significant features of Mafia II is the soundtrack, which includes famous musicians of that time. The songs that play are, for the most part, random, but some are queued to match the mood and storyline of the game. So, whether you’re in a lifted car or a house with a radio, you can choose from 3 stations that play various genres of music.

Empire Central Radio

Known today as a “Top 40” station, Empire Central Radio plays all the popular hits of the decade. And, of course, a popular radio station would not be complete with a humorous and ironic disc jockey that gives commentary on the time’s new trends. Starting in the 1940s, the music playing is mostly big band and swing with songs by The Andrew Sisters and Bing Crosby. As the times change within Mafia II, so does the music. As the game moves into the 1950s, the music becomes more of a popular music station that features rock and roll, with artists like Buddy Holly.  

Empire Classic Radio

This is basically an “oldies” radio station that begins by playing more traditional music from the 1920s and 1930s, mostly including jazz and big band. Throughout Mafia II the music changes to more of a popular radio and plays music of the current decade but takes a stance as a conservative station by excluding rock and roll. To go along with the conservative vibe of the station, it includes an announcer who gravely reads breaking news throughout the game.

 

Delta Radio

Focusing on the heavy beats of rhythm and blues and jazz, Delta Radio dives into the quickly changing music scene of the 1940s.  This station concentrates on African American music of the time and brings to light new genres in music. In the later timeline of Mafia II, the radio station includes more rock and roll music from artists like Little Richard and Chuck Berry.

 

While some of these artists you may not have heard of (I know I haven’t), the soundtrack of Mafia II will have you boogieing in no time. For those of you who just can’t get enough of the catchy tunes in Mafia II, the soundtrack is available for download on Amazon.com. And if you haven’t already, go nab a copy of Mafia II Director’s cut for yourself from the GameAgent Store!

Do you have a favorite track from the game?  Let us know in the comments!

With QuakeCon kicking off yesterday, I imagine many of your gaming buddies may have run off to Dallas, TX, to the BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer) LAN party that QuakeCon is so known for.  For whatever reason you chose to remain behind doesn’t mean that you can’t throw a small LAN party of your own and have a blast.  Here’s a couple things to keep in mind when throwing a LAN party.

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Apple and Apple Related Gaming News

• AT&T is reportedly prepping their staff for the iPhone 5 launch.
• Is this the first look at Apple’s iPhone 5?
• The iPhone is kicking ass in the world market share with sales jumping 142%.
• How odd. The prices of top iPhone games keep dropping.
• Aside from that fact that there are fake Apple stores in China, Apple’s sales have never been better in China.
• Some of the fake Apple stores have been ordered to close though for permit reasons.
• The iPad is the new gaming platform, and the Nintendo 3DS now just a toy?
• Another Apple store is opening in New York but this time at Grand Central Terminal. Time to make a trip to a New York.
• Wow, Apple has more cash on hand than the U.S. Treasury.
• The magic number is one at Apple. The Auteur vs. the Committee, which one is better?
• With the Macbook phased out of Apple product line, should you buy a Macbook Pro or a Macbook Air?

So a couple of weeks back, I’m sitting there playing Dead Rising 2, and while I’m going about humiliating all the zombies with the various means available to me, I ran past one of those mini-billboards/signs that you usually see in malls and had to do a double take. Right there in front of me was a cover to a Playboy magazine.

I don’t know about you guys, but this sort of in-game advertising kind of took me out of the experience, and I don’t like it one bit.

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