FIFA Football was the first football game to receive official licensing from FIFA, the world governing body of football.  Now, 18 years on, EA’s FIFA now includes more exclusively-licensed leagues including the English Premier League & Football League, Italy’s Serie A, Spain’s La Liga, the German Bundesliga, French Ligue 1, Dutch Eredivisie, Mexico’s Primera División, USA’s MLS, South Korea’s K-League and Australia’s Hyundai A-League.

The official licensing deals means gamers can play as real teams in real leagues, unlike the other great football computer game, Pro Evolution Soccer where team names are thinly disguised – Manchester Reds (Manchester United), North London (Arsenal) and West Midlands Village (Aston Villa).  To some this may not be a big issue.  But for me, it adds to the authenticity.

FIFA 12 (FIFA Soccer 12 in North America) is the nineteenth edition of the game and David Rutter, the line producer for FIFA 12 has promised “a revolutionary year for FIFA … especially in the gameplay department.”

FIFA 12 is due for release on 27th September 2011 in North America followed by a European release on 30th September on PS3, Xbox 360 & PC.

An exclusive version will be available from Game & Gamestation shops.  The “Ultimate Edition” includes four monthly Ultimate Team gold packs, with each pack containing 12 items including players, contracts, stadiums, managers, staff, fitness, healing, footballs, kits and badges. Each pack contains one rare item, such as enhanced player attributes, longer contracts and the most coveted players.

Following the sacking of Andy Gray by Sky for his sexist comments earlier this year, the voice of former Arsenal & England striker and Sky football pundit Alan Smith is included alongside commentary from Martin Tyler. The voices of Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend are also used for tournament modes.

FIFA 12 will include new and improved features such as the “Player Impact Engine”, “Tactical Defending” and “Precision Dribbling”.  The following video shows how the new player impact engine improves the collision variety, accuracy and momentum preservation.

‘Tactical Defending’ offers advanced functionality by employing the ability to defend tactically which allows a team to place equal importance on positioning, intercepting passes and tackling.

‘Precision dribbling’ allows a player to dribble whilst shielding the ball whilst in possession. This allows the player in possession greater freedom while holding players off, whereas before this functionality left the player rooted to the spot.

Furthermore, close control has been included, allowing a player to take smaller, more frequent touches, keeping closer control when in possession of the ball.

All this added functionality will offer better, faster, more realistic gameplay.  I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of EA FIFA 12.

The game will be priced at $20. Customers can pre-purchase the game with a 25% discount from www.NewStarSoccer.com which will also give them access to the beta version.

New Star Soccer 5 is the latest instalment in the award winning indie football series. Live the life of a young football star as you try to achieve success on the pitch and gain the respect and adoration of your team-mates, fans and friends.

You can play in a whole host of leagues from around the world and compete in national tournaments such as the World Cup and the European Championships. Gaining the skills to help your team lift the ultimate trophy will take time but you will have a blast getting there.
Score goals, make the right transfer moves, make headlines in the newspapers, visit the casino, buy a mansion and more. Just make sure you keep your feet on the ground!

For more information visit www.NewStarSoccer.com.

Nintendo 3DS logo

Launching at midnight on Thursday at HMV on Oxford Street, the new Nintendo 3DS is on track to be the biggest games console launch in history. Introducing portable entertainment in 3D, without the need for special glasses, the console is packed with unique features.

The UK retail launch will take place at midnight in HMV’s flagship London store with over 100 branches opening simultaneously to meet the unprecedented demand for this gorgeous new piece of kit.

Already creating twice the interest of the launch of the Wii, the Nintendo 3DS is set to revolutionise gaming with its 3D graphics that do not require the player to wear special 3D glasses.

With special guests at HMV for the launch, including BRITs winners Plan B, comedian Russell Kane, rock band Hadouken and hot new girl band Parade, the crowds will get VIP treatment with a complimentary game of their choice on offer, special launch night pack with exclusive Nintendo rewards, and the chance to take to the stage to demonstrate their skills on Street Fighter IV and Pro Evolution Soccer in live head-to-head battles.

With two screens and a 3D Depth Slider allowing players to select the level of 3D, the Nintendo 3DS also includes a Circle Pad which provides 360 degrees of direction and a built in motion sensor.

The StreetPass™ feature allows players to exchange game information, while the SpotPass™ feature can connect to compatible public hotspots and to wifi, allowing the system to be regularly updated with new content. Other features include three cameras and the Mii Maker™ application.

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron is an epic original action adventure game inspired by an alternate telling of biblical mythology as narrated in the ‘heretical’ Book of Enoch, part of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The game has been developed by a ‘dream team’ internal Japanese studio whose former credits include iconic multi-million selling franchises such as Devil May Cry, Resident Evil, and Okami.

El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron features a disruptive next-generation combat system and stunning original direction from director Sawaki Takeyasu, previously the art director on Okami – considered by some media as ‘the most beautiful action game ever created.’

Since its first announcement at E3 in May 2010, El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron has been critically acclaimed for its originality both in Japan, where it won the Japan Game Awards 2010’s Future Division award, and internationally where it is has become one of the most eagerly anticipated original releases in 2011.

For further information about this game visit the El Shaddai game site.

Explore the Pharaoh’s tomb in this puzzling pyramid adventure. Venture into the lair of the mummies, solving puzzles and collecting all the treasure you can.

Mummy’s Treasure Game App Features

• Thought Provoking Puzzles: The premise is simple, collect all the treasure while getting rid of the Mummy and Skeleton heads, but the reality is that the game gets complex quickly and you’ll need to use your head if you want to make it through the tomb!

• Physics Oriented Gameplay: You had better be careful which parts of the puzzle you tap, gravity doesn’t always behave how you might expect in the world of Mummy’s Treasure!

• Timing is Key: Some puzzles require more than simply knowing which blocks to tap. Sometimes you’re need to have quick fingers at the ready to make sure you keep the gold and lose the evil Mummies and Skeleton skulls!

Mummy’s Treasure is available for iPhone, iPod touch and iPad at the Apple App Store.

The evil enemies throw you into an Arena as a galactic gladiator where you have to battle for your life against the The Alien Queen’s forces for their entertainment.

Play through the rounds to uncover the secret behind The Queen’s invasion!

There is a variety of Game Modes: Dronez, Rockets, and Hammers.

In Dronez you must battle against an endless horde of deadly drones and defend yourself using a variety of small arms. With Rockets the clue is in the title, survive as long as you can, fending off enemies with a ton of super explosive rockets! In Hammers you’re gonna have to get in close and crush your foes with a giant hammer!

Etolis: Arena Game Features:

• Amazing Weapons to Unlock so that you can exterminate enemies.

• Deadly New Enemies that range from slender alien creatures with whip-like arms to bulking robot behemoths intent on turning you into space dust. Plus there are special power-ups to discover!

• Incredible Visuals with stunning Retina Display HD graphics that allow the arena to come to life in your hands! A Dynamic Camera is also added for close-up action and where you can feel the every crumble and explosion throughout the game.

Mass Effect 3

Building on the two previous editions, Commander Shepard is back to save the universe, and this time the fight has been taken to the human home world of Earth. With the Reaper’s preparing to attack in the past two titles, they finally arrive in stunning force in Mass Effect 3. Whilst a major final mission to save the galaxy is set to unfold, there is no doubt that the role playing actions of previous games will be at the very heart of the action. How will the decisions taken in Mass Effect 1 and 2 affect Commander Shepard’s team on their final assault? Which faces from the past will comes to Shepard’s aid? And just who will survive the final encounter with the Reapers?

Dead Space 2

After engineer Isaac Clarke’s first encounter with terrifying aliens as he fought to return an ancient artefact to its original planet, comes a sequel which will have gamers thrilled. Waking from a coma, Clarke is plagued by dementia, haunted by horrendous visions, and on the run from the government. Lost in ‘The Sprawl’, a huge space city, Clarke will have to battle Necromorphs once again, as he struggles to survive.

Batman: Arkham City

Following on from the huge success of Batman: Arkham Asylum, the much loved super hero is back in this new and highly anticipated sequel. A year after Batman battled his way through the asylum, Quincy Sharp has gained notoriety and become the mayor of Gotham City, bringing his prisoners with him and allowing them free reign throughout the streets. Ever watchful Batman oversees proceedings to make sure that they don’t get out of hand, whilst also discovering what Hugo Strange is up to. With a plot to execute Catwoman becoming apparent, the Caped Crusader once again takes to the streets to stop the killing.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception

Another finale to a trilogy, 2011 sees the return of Uncharted and its leading hero Nathan Drake. With absolutely stunning effects the wow factor of this game is truly in the game play, with the thrilling action unfolding as Drake and Victor Sullivan go in search of the ‘Atlantis of the Sands’. However, in usual Uncharted fashion, things soon start to interfere with their plans and before long the pair are thrust into a fight for survival.

With all four titles highly anticipated by gamers around the planet, individuals will be keen to get their hands on them as soon as possible. Available from a range of retailers including Littlewoods, discount vouchers can often be found online. And with a number of Littlewoods discount codes likely to be available, gamers will be able to get their games whilst saving a penny or two.

Some advertising campaigns make games look so exciting but it’s not until you actually play the game that you can really consider whether it is worth paying, in most cases, between £20 and £50 for a new game.  Some titles are sold on the back of film or television franchises and don’t always live up to expectations, and in some cases have very little to do with the original TV show or film.

The best games console to get all the family playing along and having fun is still the Nintendo Wii, and with Christmas and New Year parties only weeks away, what better time to start renting Wii games before spending out on new titles.

You can rent games for all the major games consoles including Sony PS3, PS2, PSP, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, DS and even Gamecube.

Furthermore, the games section of the website is divided into different game genres to make it simple to find a particular type of game to rent or buy.  Categories include adventure, arcade/platform, fighting, flight simulation, party/music/miscellaneous, puzzle/board/casino, racing, role-play, shooter, sport and strategy.

There are hundreds of games to choose from and with over 50 new Wii game releases alone to choose from, there is plenty of games for every taste including titles for the very youngest gamers like Dora’s Big Birthday Adventure, iCarly 2: Join The Click and Barbie: Groom & Glam Pups (all certificate 3+); and for older children Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Batman: Brave & The Bold, Sonic Colours and Spider-man: Shattered Dimensions.

There are sports games like the ever popular football games Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 & FIFA 11, the latest instalment of one of the best basketball games NBA 2K11 as well as popular racing games like Hot Wheels: Track Attack and Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit.

Or maybe you are interested in music related games like In The Mix: featuring Armin Van Buuren, We Sing: Robbie Williams, Michael Jackson: The Experience, X Factor , Karaoke Revolution Glee where gamers perform scenes from season one of the TV hit show Glee or the very popular Just Dance 2.

Another good idea is to read online reviews before you buy a game, especially those attached to a franchise.  This way you can avoid disappointment and wasting money on unwanted presents this Christmas.

Adding to the futuristic shooter’s seven game types and four co-op missions, the PSN launch will include ‘Crossover’ a PSN-exclusive map, which draws players into the financial district just as it transforms into a war zone.

Also exclusive to Blacklight: Tango Down’s PSN release is the ‘Join in Progress’ feature, which allows players to team up with their friends and enter matches without having to wait for an intermission.

Additionally, UTV Ignition Entertainment will offer players a free tour of duty in the engaging Blacklight universe with a downloadable multiplayer demo that will be available on the PlayStation Network alongside the title’s release.

Blacklight: Tango Down is a fast-paced, action-oriented first-person shooter that marks the first release of what will be a multi-platform entertainment franchise. Beyond the video game, a BlackLight feature film from Twentieth Century Fox and comic book series are currently in development. Designed to bring a fun, absorbing, and high quality AAA multiplayer experience to DLG venues, the game exists in a future between contemporary and sci-fi shooters – part Blade Runner and part Call of Duty.

Exclusive Content and Brand-New Features Deliver to PlayStation Gamers The Wildly Popular Shooter At Its Very Best  (£9.99 /€12.99) on PlayStation Network

haunted house

Just in time for Halloween, Atari have announced the release of the iconic scary game Haunted House for a new generation of Xbox gamers. The game is now available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

This classic game has been remade for a new generation of gamers with enriched 3D environments, interactive objects, dynamic storylines, and new characters.  Gamers must navigate their way through 16 levels of spooky environments, find hidden treasures, solve puzzles, fight new bosses, and manipulate the environment on their way to a showdown with Zachary Graves.

Haunted House pays homage to the classic favourite as players solve mysteries in Graves Mansion as the grandchildren of the original character, Samuel Silverspring, who disappeared without a trace in the evil mansion nearly 30 years ago. Chased by pesky poltergeists, haunted by scary skeletons and ravenous rats, players are immersed in a goosebump-inducing adventure to explore the dark and creepy depths of Graves Mansion in search of the four lost pieces of a magical urn. The player’s goal is to reassemble the urn and defend their family’s legacy with the aid of mystical tomes, powerful light sources and mysterious artifacts.

For further information visit Atari Haunted House.