When we look back, I’m sure many will agree that the gaming industry has gone through a quicker and more phenomenal evolution than any other medium. The Art of Video Games is a book that celebrates this and so much more. It chronicles the early days with those who were there, all the way up to the games we enjoy today. It’s a love letter to the industry, but also an important example of creativity despite technological limitations.

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Developer Irrational Games have finally given a concrete date for the release of their very much-anticipated new game, Bioshock Infinite. The game will be available on October 16 in North America for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. The international release will come three days later.

Ken Levine, president and creative director of Irrational, says Infinite was the culmination of “a vision that dwarfed the original in scope and ambition.” So, looks like this will be one to watch. Also, Sony are adding an incentive for buying the game on the PS3 by offering the original game on a Blu-Ray disc.

Source: Tweaktown.com

The record breaking Call of Duty franchise is entering new waters with a release on Sony’s new handheld darling, the Playstation Vita. Guy Longworth, the new Sony senior vice president of brand marketing, says the game will be a “game changer” for the platform. He adds that autumn might be the time to expect the as-yet unnamed title, and that his kids are looking forward to it.

If online play works smoothly through the power of wi-fi, we could soon be seeing guys celebrate those headshots on subways and at bus stops.

Source: Videogamer.com

Ken Kutaragi, the creator of the console that changed gaming forever, says he is working on something cool, and something new. Kutaragi, now senior technology advisor as of this year, refused to give details on what the project was, but hinted that some of Sony’s older members know a thing or two.

Personally, I am very interested. A “cool” new project from the man that brought the entertainment-defining machine is something to really be interested in. Maybe he has invented the first truly virtual reality game?

Talk of Microsoft’s next console won’t go away. While we continue to hear rumors of its release, nothing concrete has been given. Fueling the rumor-mill is a report about how the Kinect 2 will be able to read lips and sense your mood. The device will allegedly know whether you are happy, like when you are playing Skyrim, or angry, like when you are playing Dark Souls. Some could say it looks like gaming may be headed to a time where the controller will not be needed. Question is, will gamers happily do away with their much loved handheld companion?

With the release of the PlayStation Vita rapidly approaching, we all presumed that PSOne classics like Final fantasy VII and Metal Gear Solid would be available come launch day. According to Japanese magazine Famitsu, however, the PS Vita will not support PSOne games in time for Japan’s launch. There is no word on whether or not this service will be ready when the handheld hits American shores.

AMD, the company behind the 360′s visuals, claims the graphics on the next Xbox will be on par with the industry-changing technology that we saw in Avatar. The visuals will not be the only thing getting a significant improvement. The AI in games will be vastly improved, with pedestrians each reacting in their own way to any given situation.

PlayStation has just released this mysterious teaser trailer on their main YouTube Channel. I really can’t make out what it means, but it does appear to hint at a possible online gaming feature to be added October 5.

The guys at Sony are known for their very abstract trailers and this follows that trend. What do you think it means? All eyes are now on early October.

The Xbox team is looking to revolutionize how you search for items on the Internet. With the addition of Bing and the power of Kinect, you will no longer need to type those long words ever again.

“Certainly we all know the frustrations of using guides and menus and controllers, and we think a better way to do all of this is simply to bring Bing and voice to Xbox. You say it, Xbox finds it,” says Microsoft CEO, Steve Ballmer.

Sounds like a very cool feature.

Gadgets and Gizmos reports that the holiday season may be extra cheerful for 360 owners, as Microsoft is set to bring a TV service to the console. 360 users will be able to stream certain TV Shows as well as have access to a Live TV option that’s to be added. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has said that they are working with “dozens of video content suppliers,” but there is no word yet on a price for the service.

It seems that everywhere you turn now, 3D is staring back at you (thanks, James Cameron). Xbox has now announced that the 360 will receive a stereoscopic 3D update.

The stereoscopic 3D feature is believed to be available for Batman: Arkham City, Gears of War 3 and Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary (my most anticipated game). I just hope that the 3D actually enhances the experience rather than simply tacked on as part of a cheap fad.

Yes, the 3D craze is everywhere now. Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 is the next in line to show off its 3D qualities for the PS3 according to the maestro, Shingo “Seabass” Takatsuka via VideoGamer.

The 3D feature will come with a patch that includes myPES, a new social tool for the new game. This update will either be released on the day of launch or soon after. However, those with a 360 will not have the luxury of glorious 3D. Let’s just hope it actually works, unlike the shoddy 3D presentations of most Hollywood films recently.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Samuli Syvahuoko, one of the founders of Recoil, the team behind the very cool indie title that’s coming soon called Rochard. In the game you control an astro-miner, John Rochard, who finds an ancient structure hidden deep within an asteroid that proves mankind is not alone. John and his team then find themselves stranded as space pirates trying to use the secret for their sinister intentions. He must use both his wits and mining tools to battle the space pirates, save his team, and find out the secrets within the asteroid.

After you watch this trailer, I’m fairly sure you’ll agree that it looks and sounds both fresh and exciting. So, without further ado, here is what Samuli had to say about the game!

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There have been rumors going round that the new Xbox would be unveiled at next year’s E3, leading many to believe that the 360 was on its last legs. Other reports, however, have said the 360 still has more life left in it with the successful introduction of the Kinect. Now though, we are hearing from Videogamer that 2015/16 has been touted as the date we should expect a new Xbox.

The next incarnation of Microsoft’s gaming machine will allegedly run the operating system slated to succeed Windows 8. Andys Lee, president of Windows Phone Division was quoted as saying that Microsoft wants a “single ecosystem” for all their devices. Let’s hope that the version of Windows that the new Xbox runs on doesn’t come with the viruses and bugs that have plagued all our laptops.

Publisher: Doctor Entertainment
Developer: Doctor Entertainment
Genre: Puzzle
ESRB rating: Everyone
Release date: Available now

No matter how advanced and sophisticated games get, there will always be a place for the laid-back puzzle game. Sometimes we don’t want to shoot down the bad guys, or wrack our brains to find out how to defeat the impossible boss. Sometimes, late at night, we’re tired and we just want to relax while trying to figure out how to get some…flowers.

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