Johnny writes -"Codemasters have built up a die hard fan base when it comes to the Grid series of games, a fan base that was sore to say the least at Grid 2. Codemaster admitted to going in a different direction in Grid 2, one that lost some realism and caused outrage among the fans. With Grid Autosport they hope to re-establish the series and bring those fans back into the fold. We had the chance to get some hands-on time with Grid Autosport and try out some of what it has to offer, and I can tell you that the series is back with a big bang!"
Set to feature 22 locations including circuits such as Hockenheimring, Mount Panorama, Circuit of the Americas, Intercity Istanbul Park, Circuito Del Jarama, Circuit Mont Tremblant, Red Bull Ring, Sepang International Circuit, Spa-Francorchamps, Yas Marina Circuit, Okutama, Indianapolis, Autosport Raceway, Brands Hatch and Autódromo do Algarve.
City tracks are also feature and include; Barcelona, Chicago, Detroit, Dubai, Paris, San Francisco and Washington.
In your garage you'll have over 80 cars to choose from, including the Honda Civic Touring Car, a Ford GT40 MK1, Mazda 787B, Lola B05/52 or a McLaren P1, whatever type of racing you prefer, we've got you covered.
Race across five unique disciplines; Touring, Open Wheel, Endurance, Tuner and Street.
RaceNet Clubs will allow you to form your own online groups where you can compare progress, compete with other players in the club on a leaderboard, and battle for overall supremacy with other clubs.
Coming June 24th in North America, June 27th in Europe.
Pre-order Now - http://www.gridgame.com/buy-now
On Steam - http://store.steampowered.com/app/255220
Trevor "This week marks Mouse n Joypads very first episode of Mouse n Joypads Week in Gaming, presented by me, your friend and inspiration, Trevor Holland.
These weekly videos will bring you all the biggest gaming stories from the last seven days, as well as a host of other treats, made especially for your eyes, ears and delicate bits.."
Jack writes -"Lifeless Planet has very few game mechanics. Of course simple ones are walking and jumping that can be improved upon with the use of the jetpack. This can help navigate the environment and solve certain puzzles. Another would be the robotic arm you find later in the game that helps you reach certain controls that you usually wouldnt be able to. This does, however make up the entirety of the game mechanics that may upset a considerable amount of people. Due to the nature of the game and its exploration the focus on the mechanics are minimal and whilst still important, the story is most important."
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is an open-world Action RPG that looks to bridge the gap between 'The Hobbit' and 'Lord of the Rings', for fans of both the books and the movies. The story is set up where the Dark Lord Sauron has recently been defeated by the armies of man on the slopes of Mount Doom. You take on the role of Talion, a Ranger of the Black Gate that served to defend the land of Mordor from the north. This a preview for the E3 2014 demo.
gamrReview's Xavier Griffiths: "Harmonix and Disney are collaborating for a new music game on Kinect. Fantasia: Music Evolved takes inspiration from the beloved animated musical revue for a unique spin on the music/rhythm game genre. The game has you following along to the rhythm of music by waving your hands as if you were conducting an orchestra or controlling magic a la Mickey Mouse in the famous Sorcerers Apprentice sequence from the original Fantasia.
I played along to Bruno Mars' Locked Out of Heaven. Other tracks available include Piano Man by Elton John, Feel Good Inc by The Gorillaz, and Levels by Avicci. There are also more classical orchestral pieces which go really well with the magical feel and allure of Fantasia."
I have watched the films Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 so many times that I can't hear the music they feature without imagining the visuals that accompany them. Respighi's The Pines of Rome may have have been inspired by trees, but when I hear it, I imagine flying space whales. Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice was based on a Goethe poem about a magical novice, but the apprentice I think about isn't the one Goethe had in mind, but Mickey Mouse instead. As a music lover, and as a violinist and composer, I'm naturally drawn to Harmonix's rhythm game Fantasia: Music Evolved, but I admit to having had doubts that the game could capture the spirit of the films, given the game's use of popular music in addition to classical.
I was a fool to have worried. At E3 2014, Harmonix was kind enough to let me spend quite a long time waving my arms around in time to the game's musical tracks in the local two-player mode, first with my colleague Zorine Te, and then with other Disney and Harmonix employees. The first track was not classical, however: it was Cee Lo Green's "Forget You." (This is a family game, of course, so the included tracks will be radio versions. To be honest, however, I sang along as I played using the more, er, mature lyrics of the original song.)
Fantasia is really easy to get the hang of. Movement prompts appear to the beat of the music, encouraging you to swipe your arm, or to punch forward, or to trace out a pattern with your hand. When two player collaborate, one player performs the prompts in yellow while the other performs the blue prompts, and both players must perform prompts marked with both colors. The prescribed movements fit beautifully with the content of the music; while you only need to use your arms to interact with the game (which, of course, requires use of the Kinect), I felt as though I was dancing and conducting at the same time. I was reminded of all those moments I conduct along with music while stuck in traffic, and the times I get so overwhelmed by musical beauty that I put my hands in the air and sway to the rhythm.
Fantasia isn't just about physical expression, but also about musical collaboration. As the track progresses, you get to select different mixes by punching the screen and swiping your hand to choose your desired musical style. In certain places, you also get the opportunity to move your hand across virtual instruments; the game then records the results and inserts your personal musical creation into the track. Its a fluid and natural process that made me feel less of a game player than I was a creator. The game and I were coming to an understanding; it asked me to express myself within the limits it set, and then allowed me to adjust those limits. Even within my big body, I felt ethereal. Fantasia: Music Evolved was judging me through the quality of my collaboration, not through my ability to exactly mimic its commands. If you feel clumsy when you play Dance Central, Fantasia might still make you feel as graceful as a swan.
I have watched the films Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 so many times that I can't hear the music they feature without imagining the visuals that accompany them. Respighi's The Pines of Rome may have have been inspired by trees, but when I hear it, I imagine flying space whales. Dukas' The Sorcerer's Apprentice was based on a Goethe poem about a magical novice, but the apprentice I think about isn't the one Goethe had in mind, but Mickey Mouse instead. As a music lover, and as a violinist and composer, I'm naturally drawn to Harmonix's rhythm game Fantasia: Music Evolved, but I admit to having had doubts that the game could capture the spirit of the films, given the game's use of popular music in addition to classical.
I was a fool to have worried. At E3 2014, Harmonix was kind enough to let me spend quite a long time waving my arms around in time to the game's musical tracks in the local two-player mode, first with my colleague Zorine Te, and then with other Disney and Harmonix employees. The first track was not classical, however: it was Cee Lo Green's "Forget You." (This is a family game, of course, so the included tracks will be radio versions. To be honest, however, I sang along as I played using the more, er, mature lyrics of the original song.)
Fantasia is really easy to get the hang of. Movement prompts appear to the beat of the music, encouraging you to swipe your arm, or to punch forward, or to trace out a pattern with your hand. When two player collaborate, one player performs the prompts in yellow while the other performs the blue prompts, and both players must perform prompts marked with both colors. The prescribed movements fit beautifully with the content of the music; while you only need to use your arms to interact with the game (which, of course, requires use of the Kinect), I felt as though I was dancing and conducting at the same time. I was reminded of all those moments I conduct along with music while stuck in traffic, and the times I get so overwhelmed by musical beauty that I put my hands in the air and sway to the rhythm.
Fantasia isn't just about physical expression, but also about musical collaboration. As the track progresses, you get to select different mixes by punching the screen and swiping your hand to choose your desired musical style. In certain places, you also get the opportunity to move your hand across virtual instruments; the game then records the results and inserts your personal musical creation into the track. Its a fluid and natural process that made me feel less of a game player than I was a creator. The game and I were coming to an understanding; it asked me to express myself within the limits it set, and then allowed me to adjust those limits. Even within my big body, I felt ethereal. Fantasia: Music Evolved was judging me through the quality of my collaboration, not through my ability to exactly mimic its commands. If you feel clumsy when you play Dance Central, Fantasia might still make you feel as graceful as a swan.
