Mass Effect 3 system requirements announced

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Nicole Kline

The system requirements for the PC version of Mass Effect 3 have been announced, broken down into minimum and recommended specs. Behold:

Minimum Specifications:

  • OS – Windows XP SP3/Vista SP1, Windows 7
    *Supported chipsets: NVIDIA 7900 or better; ATI X1800 or better. Please note that NVIDIA GeForce 9300, 8500, 8400, and 8300 are below minimum system requirements, as are AMD/ATI Radeon HD3200, HD3300, and HD4350. Updates to your video and sound card drivers may be required.
  • CPU – 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (equivalent AMD CPU)
  • RAM – 1GB for XP / 2GB RAM for Vista/Windows 7
  • Disc Drive – 1x speed
  • Hard Drive – 2.5 GB of free space
  • Video – 256 MB* (with Pixel Shader 3.0 support)
  • Sound – DirectX 9.0c compatible
  • DirectX – DirectX 9.0c August 2009 (included)

Recommended Specifications:

  • OS – Windows XP SP3/Vista SP1, Windows 7
  • CPU – 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (equivalent AMD CPU)
  • RAM – 2GB for XP / 4GB RAM for Vista/Windows 7
  • Disc Drive – 1x speed
  • Hard Drive – 2.5 GB of free space
  • Video – AMD/ATI Radeon HD 4850 512 MB or greater, NVidia GeForce 9800 GT 512 MB or greater
  • Sound – DirectX 9.0c compatible

What are you going to have to upgrade to get this game to run on your rig?

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Resident Evil 6 infects stores on November 20

Posted on January 19, 2012 by John Scalzo

Capcom executives have been hinting at a sixth game in the Resident Evil main series for a long time now. And thanks to today’s announcement, it looks like we won’t have much longer to wait. The publisher has announced that Resident Evil 6 will be available for the PS3 and Xbox 360 on November 20. A PC version will be released sometime after that.

Like a BOW, Resident Evil 6 will mix and match pieces from previous games in the series while adding something new. Capcom is referring to the game’s setting as “dramatic horror,” a hybrid of the action horror of RE4/RE5 and the survival horror of the first three games. RE6 will also bring back Leon S. Kennedy and Chris Redfield, playable in the same game for the first time. They will be joined by a new group of characters as the zombie pandemic has reached gloabal proportions:

It has been ten years since the Raccoon City incident and the President of the United States has decided to reveal the truth behind what took place in the belief that it will curb the current resurgence in bioterrorist activity. Due to be by the President’s side is his personal friend and Raccoon City survivor, Leon S. Kennedy, but when the venue suffers a bioterrorist attack, Leon is forced to face a President transformed beyond recognition and make his hardest ever decision. At the same time, Bioterrorism Security Assessment Alliance member Chris Redfield arrives in China, itself under threat of a bioterrorist attack. With no country safe from these attacks and the ensuing outbreaks, the entire world’s population is united by a common fear that there is no hope left.

Capcom has also released a trailer for Resident Evil 6, and you can check it out for yourself by shambling past the break.

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Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Daily Scoop: January 19, 2012 – Let it not snow

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Nicole Kline

Snow is on the forecast for Philadelphia! This makes me a slightly sad panda. The only time I really enjoy snow is when I’m strapped into a snowboard on a mountain. Other than that, it’s mostly just a nuisance. Whatever! I’m going to lock myself inside and do some improper dancing.

What’s up for today? I’m glad you asked. Amazon’s Deal of the Day in video games is a $50 promotional credit when you purchase an Xbox 360 4GB Console with Kinect. This could pay for an Xbox Live subscription, or another controller, or that copy of Modern Warfare 3 you’re dying for. Their PC game download deal of the day is Crysis Maximum Edition for $7.49.

Again, no gamer t-shirts, but I’m smitten with this one:

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Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News, PC, Xbox 360 |

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword Review: Motion-Controlling Hyrule’s Destiny

Posted on January 19, 2012 by John Llewellyn Martin

2011 was definitely the Year of Zelda. The franchise celebrated its 25th anniversary with symphonies, re-releases of previous Zelda games on handhelds, a swanky display in the Nintendo World Store in New York City, and the release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. It is the first true console Zelda game since The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess and was promised to take full advantage of the Wii’s capabilities. With the addition of the Wii MotionPlus support, does Skyward Sword live up to all of the hype? Or will we wish to play the Song of Time and be whisked away to an era of better Zelda games?

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Posted in Reviews, Top Story, Wii | Tagged

Doom is once again available on the XBLA

Posted on January 19, 2012 by John Scalzo

Back when Bethesda completed their purchase of id Software, the developer’s most famous game, Doom, was pulled from the Xbox Live Arcade. No reason was ever given for the delisting, but it more than likely had something to do with the title originally being published by Activision.

But all that’s in the past as the greatest FPS of all-time (for those not paying attention, I mean Doom) is once again available to download from the XBLA.

Doom is available to download for a supercheap (and totally worth it) 400 Microsoft Points ($5).

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Test your heroic being in BioShock Infinite’s ultra-hard 1999 Mode

Posted on January 19, 2012 by John Scalzo

Have you ever thrown down your controller in disgust because a game was just too easy? Then listen up, because Irrational Games wants to talk to you.

In addition to several different difficulty levels, the developer’s next game, BioShock Infinite, will include an additional challenge known as 1999 Mode. In 1999 Mode players will have to really think about the choices they make, as the wrong move will spell doom (which the bruised Elizabeth to your left can attest to). 1999 Mode players will also have to endure “demanding” weapon, power, and health management, permanent stat specialization, and the return of the Game Over screen “if he or she lacks the resources to [respawn].”

“We want to give our oldest and most committed fans an option to go back to our roots,” said Ken Levine, Creative Director of Irrational Games. “In 1999 Mode, gamers face more of the permanent consequences of their gameplay decisions. In BioShock Infinite, gamers will have to sweat out the results of their actions. In addition, 1999 Mode will demand that players pick specializations, and focus on them.”

And instead of saying “Good luck,” Irrational has chosen to tell gamers “[1999 Mode is] not for the faint of heart.”

Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Nintendo Download: Resident Evil Revelations demo, Lock N Chase, more

Posted on January 19, 2012 by John Scalzo

While Resident Evil Revelations, and the Circle Pad Pro accessory, are still a few weeks away, gamers will be able to give it a try starting today thanks to the new 3DS demo program!

But don’t let me make you think a demo is the biggest addition to the various Nintendo download services today. The Big N has also added one of my favorite Game Boy games, Lock N Chase, to the 3DS eShop. Lock N Chase may be a Pac-Man clone that replaces the generic maze with a bank and dots with cold, hard cash, but it is also ridiculously fun.

Here’s what else you’ll be able to buy from the Nintendo Download today:

Stonekeep: Bones of the Ancestors (WiiWare) – The legend of Stonekeep requires a new hero: you. Explore creepy dungeons, defeat monsters and take their loot in this fantasy RPG.

Anne’s Doll Studio: Gothic Collection (DSiWare) – Dress up a stylish doll by choosing from a wide range of Gothic-style dresses and accessories.

Gaia’s Moon (DSiWare) – Something strange is causing changes to the balance of energy in Gaia. Use your skills to discover who’s behind these changes and return harmony to the Gaia system.

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, Wii | Tagged

XBLA Today: Haunt, Scarygirl

Posted on January 18, 2012 by John Scalzo

It’s “things that go bump in the night” day on Xbox Live Arcade today with the release of Scarygirl (priced at 1200 Microsoft Points/$15) and Haunt (priced at 800 Microsoft Points/$10).

Scarygirl, based on the graphic novel of the same name, is a side-scrolling platformer where a one-eyed girl with tentacle arms has to save the Tree of Knowledge:

Scarygirl is a wondrous adventure through a beautifully-bizarre world based on the Scarygirl graphic novel created by acclaimed artist Nathan Jurevicius. Scarygirl, an abandoned girl, dressed like a pirate, with a tentacle arm, is sent on a quest to discover what happened to the Tree of Knowledge. Along the way, she’ll be aided by a giant octopus, a mystical kung-fu rabbit, and vendors who sell new attacks. She can also enter a shadowy version of the world to unleash truly wicked attacks.

And Haunt is a Kinect-powered, first-person, haunted house sim:

Welcome to Benjy’s Mansion – a spooky haunted house where you are the first visitor for a generation! Haunt leverages the power of Kinect to enable you to freely explore the house using just your body as the controller – you’ll need to stay on your toes in order to outsmart the mansion’s host of fiendish ghosts and unravel the sinister secrets that shroud the mansion in mystery!

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged