Top Games to Play in Autumn 2012

With our glorious tropical summer almost at an end, it's time to think about the games we'll be playing as the nights draw in. Here are the biggest titles of the autumn.

So, on the off-chance there are people out there more likely to be looking forward to Assassin's Creed III than Der Ring des Nibelungen at the Royal Opera house, here are the big titles of this autumn's release schedule.

I'm doing an indie and smartphone round-up too, but that takes longer because those crazy kids don't believe in release schedules. For now, though, get your Amazon wish lists ready, here are the mainstream treats of the autumn.

Borderlands 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

The maniacal 'looter shooter' returns with a new bunch of mercenaries raiding the planet Pandora for all its treasures while an evil corporation seeks to clear our all the undesirables. That's you by the way. Beautiful cell-shaded visuals mix with anarchic humour and a huge range of weapons to produce entertainingly eccentric carnage. Yes. Yes please. 21 September.

F1 2012 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

Codemasters has reinvented the concept of the motorsports simulation with its enthusiastic, knowledgeable and exciting F1 titles and this year's instalment should continue the good work. Along with all the cars, drivers and circuits from the 2012 season, F1 2012 boasts a Young Driver Test which teaches newcomers the basics of F1 driving. Luckily, I don't think there's a theory test. 21 September.

Tokyo Jungle (PS3 – digital only)

Created by Sony's Japan studio with indie developer Crispy's this is easily the weirdest game on the list – and hopefully that won't put you off. Set in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo the game gets you to choose an animal from a large selection (including dogs, kangaroos, birds and big cats) and then simply survive on the mean streets, finding food, battling other critters and looking for mates. It's an astonishing mix of genuinely grim sci-fi adventure and cutesy pet sim. 26 September.

Fifa 13 (3DS, PC, PS3, Vita, Wii, Xbox 360)

The behemoth of the sports sim calendar returns with some major mechanical tweaks including improved close-control and greater physicality. If you're connected to the web, it will also pull in real-world footie news and use it to colour your virtual experience. And of course, all the players, major teams and key world leagues are in place. 28 September.

Resident Evil 6 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

Survival horror returns in this 'something for everyone' adventure, which provides three separate stories based around a worldwide zombie virus outbreak. Favourite characters such as Leon Kennedy and Chris Redfield return, all of them showcasing different playstyles from Resi history. Could be an all-encompassing return to form, or a big pile of zombie droppings. We'll play it anyway. 2 October.

War of the Roses (PC)

A cult hit at several gaming events over the summer, War of the Roses is a squad-based medieval combat sim, in which players join either the House of York or their Lancastrian rivals and indulge in tactical melee combat. The visuals are astonishing and while the multiplayer is clearly going to be bloody awesome, the single-player campaign promises depth and variety too. 2 October.

Dishonored (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

We called this dark steampunk adventure a game-of-the-year contender when we previewed it last month, and we're sticking with that. Created by some of the key people behind Deus Ex and Half-Life, it's an open-world adventure in which a betrayed assassin seeks revenge in a sprawling quasi-Victorian city. And you can posses rats. 12 October.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

Back in the early nineties, the XCOM turn-based strategy games gave players the chance to command a secret government agency against alien attacks. Now Firaxis, the developer behind the famed Civilization series, has re-invented this tense and engaging experience for the modern era. It looks and plays beautifully, and will see off plenty of those long sodden November evenings. 12 October.

Fable: The Journey (Xbox 360)

Peter Molyneux has now left Lionhead, but his final project at the studio was this much-debated Kinect-only fantasy road movie. Lead character Gabriel must travel across the dangerous land of Albion to rediscover his lost tribe and save a fair maiden. Along the way, he gets to look after his horse, using motion controls to ride and interact with it. Sort of a pet sim RPG then. What could possibly go wrong? 12 October.

Skylanders Giants (3DS, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360)

Last year, Activision scored a massive hit with its ingenious Skylanders game, which combined collectible toy figures with an approachable family RPG. This time, they're adding a new bunch of – yes – giant figures, as well as a larger world and other extras. If you're the parent of a Skylanders fan, you're already being nagged about this. 19 October.

Forza Horizon (Xbox 360)

A fresh take on the leading Xbox driving game series, swapping circuit-based thrills for a more rangey, open structure. The action takes place in and around a fictitious racing event in Colorado, where AI drivers can be challenged to competitions on the spot. To underline the festival feel, the soundtrack has been curated by Rob da Bank, so expect plenty of dubstep with your exotic vehicles. 26 October.

Lego Lord of the Rings (3DS, DS, PC, PS3, Vita, Wii, Xbox 360)

Yep, another action adventure in the seemingly endless Lego series, but this one has a slightly darker feel and it cleverly uses dialogue from the movies to bring some authenticity to the setpiece-hopping narrative. We played it at E3 and enjoyed the ensemble feel with Frodo, Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli and Boromir all taking part on screen. 26 October.

Medal of Honor: Warfighter (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

This hyper-earnest military shooter has angered some by seeking to portray real-life combat zones and a range of authentic spec ops units. However, developer Danger Close is obsessed with respecting the lives and roles of the combatants it depicts and we're hoping that the game's apparent attempts to show the cost of warfare on the families of the soldiers is revealing and not mawkish. Expect top-end visuals and multiplayer, too. 26 October.

Assassin's Creed III (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

The time-spanning assassination adventure returns, this time bringing its blend of acrobatics and swordplay to the American revolution. The new lead character, Connor, is half British, half Native American, which puts him in an interesting position when the fight to control the continent begins. Expect lavish set-piece battles, beautiful visuals and some interesting multiplayer options. 31 October.

Need For Speed: Most Wanted (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

In 2010, Guildford-based developer Criterion revolutionalised the Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit series, adding gorgeous visuals, a sexy handling engine and the brilliant Autolog system, which let friends leave highscores for each other within the game world. Most Wanted is updating all the social elements, as well as providing a huge open city to explore and race in. And the multiplayer challenges are enormous fun. 2 November.

Halo 4 (Xbox 360)

Bungie has gone and now Halo development duties are with Microsoft's own 343 Industries studio – so can the spirit of Master Chief survive? The jury is out at the moment, but with an epic story featuring the long dormant Forerunners, and an interesting multiplayer structure that ties the action closely to the campaign missions, this is an interesting attempt to kickstart a whole new Halo trilogy. 6 November.

Paper Mario: Sticker Star (3DS)

Nintendo's cutesy handicraft role-playing series returns, this time in semi-glorious 3D, and with a fresh new gameplay element that challenges you to peel off and collect colourful stickers from the typically adorable environments. The 3DS needs some true must-have titles this Christmas and surely little Paper Mario can be posted in that pigeon hole. 11 November.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

Okay, okay, so this series has some serious detractors – and Treyarch's decision to set a Black Ops sequel in a near-future America under attack from its own drone army, has been questioned. But, hey, there do seem to be some genuine attempts to update the multi-million dollar recipe with some strategic gameplay and refreshed multiplayer. And might this be the last major Call of Duty title for this console generation? 13 November.

Hitman: Absolution (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

Square Enix may have shot itself right in the foot with that controversial 'sexy nun' trailer, but a new instalment in the Hitman series of stealthy assassinate-'em-ups will always pique the interest of fans who remember the glory days of Agent 47. Can the bald killer overcome sexism to reinstate his murderous gaming regime? Don't bet against him. 20 November.

Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

While the first title had some interesting ideas, melding a platforming adventure with painting elements and Disney history, it was let down by a roving camera and some repetition. This time, developer Junction Point says it has fixed the broken stuff and added a co-op element that sees Mickey teaming up with his predecessor Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. One for the family to snuggle around this winter. 23 November.

Far Cry 3 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

On the face of it, this looks like yet another shooter sequel with a superhuman lead character and dozens of faceless, vaguely ethnic enemies. But Ubisoft Montreal is promising that its island-based adventure, mixing open-world exploration with bizarre characters and a strange colonial story, is something much more offbeat and interesting. Heart of Darkness: the video game? 30 November

New Little King's Story (Vita)

Released on the Wii in 2009, the original Little King's Story was a glorious combination of real-time strategy, RPG and life sim, with players controlling a new monarch in a rich fantasy kingdom. Its enduring cult success has led to the promising Vita remake, featuring a more naturalistic art style and a refreshed story. TBA November.

Football Manager 2013 (PC/Mac)

You know what to expect, of course. A huge database of players and teams as well as an intricate simulation of the manager's life, from training and tactics to coping with player meltdowns and media scandals. Expect the core engine and visuals to be overhauled at the very least, but I predict some more dramatic additions this time round. TBA November.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/

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Valve Launches Greenlight For Steam

Valve has announced the launch of Steam Greenlight, a new platform feature that enlists the community’s help in selecting some of the next games to be released on Steam.

Announced earlier this summer, Steam Greenlight allows developers and publishers to post information and media about their game in an effort to convince the Community that the game should be released on Steam. Greenlight piggybacks on Steam Workshop’s flexible system that organizes content and lets customers rate and leave feedback.

“We’ve been working on this feature for the last few months with the input from a group of indie partners, and the response has been extremely positive,” said Valve’s Anna Sweet. “With the additional help of beta testers, we are able to launch with a solid line-up of titles for the community to start viewing and rating. And, as we’ve done with all Steam features, we intend to continually grow and modify Greenlight as more and more developers and community members have a chance to get involved.”

As well as serving as a clearing house for game submissions, Greenlight provides an new level of added exposure for new games and an opportunity to connect directly with potential customers and fans.

Source: http://gamingbolt.com

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Samsung ATIV S & Galaxy Note 2 Windows 8 Powered Smartphone

Samsung announced two new smartphones, the Galaxy Note 2 and the ATIV S, during its press conference at IFA in Berlin Wednesday. The Galaxy Note 2 is a second take on its massive phablet and the ATIV S bears the distinction of being the first Windows Phone 8 device announced.

The original Galaxy Note may have shipped more than 10 million units worldwide, but it was far from a success in the U.S. Perhaps the Galaxy Note 2 will change that. It's superior in just about every way.

The most important element of the Note 2 is that Samsung updated the design to match that of its sexy Galaxy S III. The GSIII is one of the best phones Samsung has produced, and the Note 2 looks like it may be as attractive. The original Note was a bit utilitarian in appearance.

Samsung chose to alter the screen dimensions in a positive way. The diagonal measurement has been bumped from 5.3 inches to 5.5, but the pixels have been changed to 1280 x 720, giving it a 16:9 aspect ratio. This let Samsung make the Note 2 a bit narrower than it otherwise might have been. Narrower phones are easier to hold.

Other speeds and feeds have been improved as well. The Note 2 has a quad-core processor, an 8-megapixel camera, more storage options, and better radio configurations. Samsung also updated the S Pen software to make it more useful. The S Pen, after all, is the most unique feature of the device.

[ Trade-in sites see a spike in Samsung listings. Are Consumers Dumping Samsung Smartphones? ]

All these improvements make for a much better device. Samsung said the device will reach the U.S later this year (probably from AT&T or T-Mobile). Those looking for something altogether different from the iPhone 5 will have a good option with the Note 2.

Samsung surprised everyone by announcing the first Windows Phone 8 device. Nokia was expected to earn that distinction next week during a press conference it is holding with Microsoft. Samsung beat it to the punch, though it may not matter.

From a spec perspective, the ATIV S is a winner. It adds a number of features that previous generations of Windows Phones weren't able to offer. These include a dual-core processor, an HD display, removable memory, and so on. The design is gorgeous, it's made out of brushed aluminum. Metallic materials are something that many Samsung devices lack. Metal adds an element of quality and class that simply can't be achieved with plastics.

Samsung didn't say whether the ATIV S might reach the U.S., and more importantly, Samsung didn't say anything about what Windows Phone 8 can do.

Nokia and Microsoft will surely give us a very good look at everything Windows Phone 8 has to offer during their event scheduled for September 5. Without knowing how the ATIV S can put all those specs to use, it's somewhat of a hollow announcement. Nokia has already taken to the Web to call the ATIV S a "warm up" for next week's event.

Until then, the ATIV S is the only Windows Phone 8 device to talk about.

Source: http://www.informationweek.com

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Nvidia Maxwell Gtx 780 Delayed till 2014

Originally, Kepler GPU architecture was scheduled to debut in 2011, with the successor codenamed Maxwell coming in 2013. We were not surprised to hear that Maxwell, tied to a 20nm process node - is getting delayed as well.

"The battle with manufacturing nodes continues." - This would be a summary of what our sources told us over the past couple of weeks. No manufacturer is having an easy time, and even Intel - known for its manufacturing excellence - pulled its 22nm Low Power node deeply into 2013, debuting about half a year later.

When it comes to Nvidia, the company is heavily engaged on increasing the yields for its products. With Kepler, Nvidia shifted to a new die strategy, and even though we've heard more rumors about the GK106 chips, the fact of the matter is that Kepler will remain a three GPU line-up: GK104 for performance, GK107 for mobile and entry-level desktop and the GK110 for high-end computational and visualization parts.

Ultimately, GK104 served as the GTX 660/670/680/690, Quadro K5000 and Tesla K10, GK107 serves in numerous low-power mobile and desktop designs. GK110 will make a public appearance only in December as the Tesla K20, with a yet unannounced amount of video memory (according to our sources, NV is trying to secure different packaging to enable 12GB of GDDR5 memory, but realistically - prototype boards we saw utilized "just" 6GB).

Naturally, all of these movements don't hold much promise for the next generation GeForce cards. Given that the Maxwell, GM1xx parts won't be available until the first half of 2014, the GeForce and Quadro parts should continue to rely on refreshed/renamed GK104/107/110 parts. The GK110 is planned to expand and become available as the Quadro K6000 6GB, for those that require ultimate performance on a single piece of silicon.

In case you've doubted it, Maxwell is a 20nm part, capable of being manufactured in GlobalFoundries, IBM, Samsung and TSMC - 20nm Gate-Last HKMG will equalize between TSMC and Common Platform alliance - a move Nvidia and Qualcomm cannot wait to see come to frutition.

Availability of that part however, will not come sooner than the first half of next year. As far as the GeForce GTX 700 Series is concerned, the parts should repeat the same cadence as this year's lineup. However, the newer revised parts should offer further clock improvements, to the level where they can offer between 25-30% higher performance and power efficiency, while the company is working on parts based on the Maxwell GPU architecture, which should drive 2014 as one of key years in Nvidia's history.

Maxwell will be the first top-to-bottom GPU architecture, powering everything from Tegra to Tesla. Furthermore, Maxwell should be the first GPU part to integrate the 64-bit ARM core which carries the codename "Project Denver". Putting the typically-bandwidth starved ARM cores onto an internal bus which in GPUs goes beyond 1.5TB/s should significantly change the playing game - a GPU capable of booting an operating system, regardless of what lies currently in public documents.

All in all, 2013 will see AMD's Sea Islands fight first versus Nvidia's Kepler refresh, and only then against the Maxwell. Real battle will come only in 2014.

Source: http://vr-zone.com

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Intel Haswell Fastest video chip for notebooks only?

Haswell, Intel's upcoming x86 architecture, will be based on the same 22 nm transistors as the current Ivy Bridge chips. For now, it seems that the laptop and desktop processors, slated for Q2 of 2013, will only be available in dual or quad-core versions, making it likely that the Sandy Bridge-E platform will remain the fastest for now.

The most important improvement that the Haswell chips bring about is the video chip. Earlier reports mentioned that the new GPU is up to three times as fast as Intel's current HD 4000 top model. For the Haswell generation, three video chips will be available, the GT1, GT2 and GT3. Oddly enough, the leaked information shows that neither of the desktop processors will feature the fastest GT3 video chip. Two laptop models, however, will feature the chip. One of these processors is intended for Ultrabooks and tablets, while the other is meant for high-end 'regular' notebooks.

Whether this is a big disadvantage for desktop users depends mostly on user preference. Normally, parts of the graphics chip are disabled to create slower versions. Intel does things a little differently, as the GT2 chips are created out of a different wafer as its GT3 models. Furthermore, dual-core and quad-core processors are made using different wafers as well. The advantage is that the chip loses less space and energy to the GPU, leaving more for other components. Perhaps most importantly though is that it allows the chips to be sold at a lower price point.

Platform	Cores	Video chip	Memory controllers	Socket	Max RAM
Desktop	4	GT2	2	LGA	32 GB
Desktop	2	GT2	2	LGA	32 GB
Mobile (performance)	4	GT3	2	BGA	32 GB
Mobile (mainstream)	4	GT2	2	BGA / rPGA	32 GB
Mobile (mainstream)	2	GT2	2	BGA / rPGA	16 GB
Mobile (ULT)	2	GT3	2	BGA	16 GB
Mobile (ULT)	2	GT2	1	BGA	8 GB

Source: http://uk.hardware.info

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New Logitech's Washable & Spillproof Keyboard

Logitech has unveiled a new keyboard designed to solve one of the oldest problems known to PC users everywhere: the dreaded soda splash. The PC accessory maker's new Logitech K310 washable keyboard is promising to alleviate your worries about dumping a cola, coffee, water or other beverage all over your precious typing space. With the K310, all you'll have to do is unplug the keyboard from your PC's USB port, wash it with mild soap and water, let it dry and resume typing -- assuming your PC or laptop didn't get splashed in the process.

The advantage of a washable keyboard is something I know about all too well. My heart sunk this year when a soda can slipped out of my hand and dumped its full contents all over my Lenovo X220. Thanks to the X220's spill resistant design, my computer came away unscathed, but I ended up spending $40 on eBay to replace the keyboard for my laptop.

ow for the same price as my keyboard replacement, Logitech is promising a keyboard you can soak without worrying about destroying it. The K310 is a full-size keyboard with number pad that features laser printed and UV coated keys that won't lose their lettering from repeated washings. The hand-wash only keyboard can be submerged in up to 11 inches of water and features drainage holes on the underside for faster drying times.

The K310 can stand up to water as hot as 120 degrees, but since you can't get the USB cable wet Logitech's new keyboard is definitely not dishwasher safe. You also don't want to wash the keyboard with anything other than a mild dish soap, Logitech warns.

The K310 is available for pre-order for $40 on Logitech.com.

Source: pcworld.com

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Invisible Bike Helmet For Your Head

Two Swedish women have invented a bicycle helmet that remains invisible unless you need the headgear which is designed to inflate in a fraction of a second.

The Hovding has been invented by Anna Haupt and Terese Alstin to solve the issues we all have with helmets like giving bad hair. The Hovding looks like a collar at first, worn around the neck. Inside it is an air bag, similar to the ones in your car.

The helmet also has a “black box”, similar to ones on airplanes, to record the movements of the cyclist, and recognise the acceleration and angular velocity during an accident. “It became mandatory for children to wear a helmet in Sweden and many people didn’t use them,” ABC News quoted Haupt as saying.

“We wanted to see if there was a way to change today’s helmets and wanted people to wear them by free will, not by law.

“We found out people wanted something that was almost invisible that didn’t destroy their hair or annoy them, something with the possibility to change the looks of the helmet like they can with mobile phone shells and wigs,” she said.

According to the company’s website, shaped like a hood, the air bag is triggered when sensors – a combination of accelerometers and gyroscopes, pick up “abnormal movements of a bicyclist in an accident”.

The air bag can inflate and surround your head in 0.1 seconds. A small gas inflator fills it with helium. It needs to be powered on for which there is a power button and when it’s on, LEDs light up to tell you how much electricity you have to work the inflator.

There is also a sound to tell you it is powered on in case you cannot see it around your neck. That means you also have to charge the invisible helmet. It uses a microUSB port and the company says a charge lasts about a month during normal use.

The data is stored in the Hovding so the company can then see what sort of accident it was. As with any wearable gadget, the women put effort into the design.

It is obviously more invisible than current helmets, and there’s an added bit to make it blend in even more. The collar has a removable liner so you can change it to match your shirt.

Source: firstpost.com

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