LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4 is the latest movie franchise to be converted into LEGO video game fun. Like it’s predecessors (Indiana Jones, Star Wars etc) it promises to provide entertainment and amusement for the whole family. As the name would suggest, LEGO Harry Potter Years 1-4, focuses on the first four Harry Potter books and films: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. …read more

James Cameron’s Avatar The Game is set two years before the story that takes place in the film Avatar.

As a film, Avatar is being citied as this generation’s example of advancement in technology due to its heavy use of CGI and 3D technology. The game though, has been welcomed with slightly less welcoming arms. The excitement and interest is definitely there, but due to a long run of less that average games based around licensed products, gamers are still cautious when playing a game that is based around a licensed product, especially a movie.

Will James Cameron’s Avatar the game have the impact on the video game industry that the film has had on the film industry?

Read on to find out.

James Cameron’s Avatar, sees the player take the role of Abel Rider. A “sig-spec” (signal specialist) for the RDA arriving on Pandora after being in stasis for five years. For the one person out there that hasn’t yet seen the film, the RDA are a big corporate human lead monster that is invading the Na’vi populated world of Pandora. The RDA is trying to work with and gain the trust of the Na’vi in order to gain access to their world and resources. They do this by using Avatars, which allow the human subject to take control of an avatar in the form of the Na’vi. They can use and learn their abilities, interact with the environment of Pandora and use their weapons. …read more

Mx vs Atv: Reflex is the third game in the Mx vs Atv series from THQ and developer Rainbow Studios.

Mx vs Atv: Unleashed was the debut game in the series. Release on the first generation Xbox back in 2005, Unleashed was followed up with Mx vs Atv: Untamed which was released on most formats in 2007. While both games were received with positive acclaim, they were still criticized for having a split personality and being stuck halfway between a hardcore sim and an arcade racer.

How does Mx vs Atv: Reflex compare to the two previous titles? Have rainbow studios discovered the true identity behind the Mx vs Atv series?

Read on to find out.

The vibrant colours and introduction sequence are an immediate indication as to the attitude that is portrayed through out Reflex. The game is gritty, dirty and full of extreme attitude of the sporting kind. Gameplay in Mx vs ATV: Reflex is broken up into three sections - Arcade, Motocareer and Multiplayer. But, before the player can jump into the riders seat and get in on the action. They must first complete the necessary tutorials. …read more

As described from the website:

Within our 2009 theme - Create Innovate Thrive - GCAP 09 will bring together the Asia Pacific region’s game development industry to focus on industry improvement, success and growth. It provides the ideal opportunity for Australian and international game developers to network with industry colleagues such as publishers, programmers, developers, creative artists and with players intimately involved in digital content.

GCAP 09 will deliver thought provoking, creative and innovative topics covering programming, art, design and more from leaders in game development. …read more

To coincide with the release of the much anticipate Where The Wild Things Are film this summer, Warner Brothers Games will also be releasing the game the film inspired. Many of you will have a soft spot for the Maurice Sendak classic picture book of the same name, so both the film and the game will have to live up to the hype surrounding them.

Back to the game: players will take on the role of young Max who teams up with the Wild Things to find safety from an island on the brink of destruction. During the game you will have the opportunity to learn new skills and abilities, solve puzzles, overcome obstacles while playing through a unique story line. …read more

EA have revealed the first expansion pack for the hugely successful The Sims 3: The Sims 3 World Adventures. The highly anticipated expansion pack with see Sims jet setting around the world to destinations inspired by real locations and will ship to retailers in Australia in November.

“We’re thrilled with the global success of The Sims 3 over these last few months and are looking forward to expanding on the gameplay experience with one of the most robust expansion packs to The Sims yet,” said Scott Evans, General Manager of The Sims at EA. …read more

Well, our Sims 3 review is finally here. For those of you who have had the pleasure of indulging in this multi million selling franchise will know, it’s not a game you can play over a couple of days and feel comfortable in giving a fair and complete summary. But alas, several weeks have passed and it is now time to gather my thoughts and get on with it.

So, I should mention first that I’ve not played either of the two previous Sims games, so I went into this with fresh eyes and no expectations carried over from past experiences. The only real down side to this was that I was probably a little bit slower at picking up the basics, nothing that a few hours in front of the computer couldn’t fix though, and I soon figured out all the ins and outs of daily life for a Sim.

You are given a few different choices when beginning a new game; you can choose to create your own Sims (which I was caught up with quite some time), choose an existing household or move a household into a house or lot. If you decide to go with an existing household or to move a family in to a house or lot, you won’t be given the same opportunities to mould you Sims both physically and in terms of their personalities but it can be a fun way to just jump on into the game without all the preparation. …read more

When I first read about this title, EA had up the heightened strategy elements, which was something I really looked forward to because the original title was a definite challenge for me. I had to check out a guide to finish some parts of the first game, but one question lingered.

Would this sequel follow the same road?

The answer, in short, is no. Sadly, this game basically holds your hand through the entire experience; I never even considered a guide as an option. But I will say there are some other changes that make this title better than its predecessor. Sort of.

…read more

Scene It? Box Office Smash (Scene It? BOS) is the follow up to 2007’s Scene It? Lights, Camera, Action, a video game adaptation of the popular DVD board game. Scene It? BOS follows the same general formula as its predecessor, but with a few tweaks and of course, new content.

In this new edition, players are able to use their Xbox avatars. So if your avatar looks like you, then it feels like you’re actually in the game, which is a nice touch. If you don’t have your own avatar, you’ll be appointed one of the in-game avatars. While you are able to change the one you’re given, this is only via an avatar randomiser, you can’t actually go in and choose one and to be honest, the ones that have been developed are pretty average.

As with Scene It? LCA, Scene It? BOS allows you to choose whether you’d like to play a long or a short game. Through the options menu, you can also choose whether you want points deducted for incorrect answers or not. Scene It? LCA did this automatically after round one. Not having points deducted for incorrect answers, can make it harder for players to come back when they are losing. Having this option turned on really allows for things to even up if a player has a bad round. When it’s turned off, players can buzz in early and have the answers revealed to them without fear of losing points if they get the answer wrong. Also known as cheating. …read more