Some really cool new gadgets were displayed during the CES 2012 as expected, so it’s probably a bit funny that I’ll be zoning in on a mouse of all things. This mouse is, however, no ordinary mouse. In fact its a mouse that any gamer who is seriously into action-RPG and MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) games.

The Razer Naga Hex, which is obviously from Razer, the same company that gave us the Razer Blade, has six weird honeycomb-style “mechanical thumb buttons to bind all the necessary spells, skills, and items to take down the competition and complete every quest victoriously.” This obviously reduces the clicks you have to make, making you far more efficient during battles and quests.

It is not the shortcut buttons that make this mouse stand out though. When it comes to tracking precision, you can say that it is as precise as you’d like it to be with its 5600dpi laser sensor designed specially for accuracy and precision. Hands-on reviews have also praised it for comfort, which anyone who has spent hours on end gripping a mouse know is just as important as any performance metric.

Aside from the buttons, precision tracking and comfort, anyone who takes a second to glance at the Razer Naga Hex will be immediately drawn to the alienish green mouse. So if you’re looking for the perfect mouse for the Razer Blade, this is it. You don’t have to wait much longer for it to come out either because its coming in stores next month.

Image via Razer

Zynga’s notification on the release of Mafia Wars 2 arrived in my inbox yesterday. I right away thought that it meant at least a few hours of my time “productively” spent doing research for this post. Unfortunately, less than an hour into the game and I found myself quitting, even way before I spent all of my allotted energy.

The gameplay is nothing new with nothing to distinguish it from Cityville, Farmville, Sims Social, or any of the other (beginning to be) countless social games you can play on Facebook (and Google+), except that everything looks and is named differently, from items and buildings to tasks. That does not mean though that Mafia Wars 2 is any less engaging than the above mentioned games. On the contrary, I’m sure Mafia Wars fans will end up inviting lots of friends to help them finish tasks and get more energy in the next few weeks as they build up their turfs and engage in fights.

What I did like about Mafia Wars 2 is that the artwork is truly cool; in fact I think I spent more time just looking at the task/tutorial notifications appreciating the coloring and effects than playing the game itself. The boss wars and the multi-player arena also adds another dimension to the game, especially since you can ask your friends during the fight to help you beat up a stronger character.

All in all though, this game will appeal to the same crowd its predecessor drew, and won’t grab the interest of those who’d rather not have the social aspect of gaming. Of course, you can always pay Zynga to get more energy and required items without waiting or adding friends.

Tags: Facebook, Google Plus, Mafia Wars, Mafia Wars 2, social games

If you are wondering what the heck I am talking about, Burger Island is one of those casual games that has a lot of replay value. I think Burger Island was released a year or so ago but I still remember playing it nonstop. So why am I writing about it now, a year or so later?

Well, I found myself out of new casual games to play the other day and I was browsing my computer when I saw the icon for Burger Island. I was instantly transported to the past, with the imagined aroma of cooking burgers and French fries and the creamy flavor of milkshakes. I couldn’t help it – I had to play the game again.

Burger Island is one of the more difficult casual games I have ever played. The concept itself is fairly easy. You have to prepare customers’ orders before the time runs out. You have three major products – burgers, fries, and milkshakes. Each of these products have different variations which you can purchase as you go along and amass enough money. At the beginning, the combinations are fairly easy but do not be fooled, they get very complicated soon enough and a single mistake will make your food forfeit. Indeed, the first time I played this game, I found myself getting mad a lot of times because I had problems keeping up with the pace.

The graphics are very cute – the food looks real. Then you have the music, a funky beat that keeps you on your toes. Of course, we cannot forget Pierre, your French boss who has this endearing yet irritating attitude. You’ll see what I mean – play the game!

Tags: Burger Island, Casual Games

Half-life, Doom, Wolfenstein and Tomb Raider have all made various impacts on the gamer today that they have become the benchmark with regards to new games that have been developed today. Ironically, they have been sought after by most people since the various wars by different nations have all the more enticed people to take on doing target practice in different levels and stages of game play.

Each providing a 3-D type of game setting, people use reflex as well as tactical maneuvers to see how they would go on defensive and offensive strategies with regards to taking on different enemies that the game caters to. As with other games, the objective is to be able to get to the next level with an allocation of lives, usually 3 to 5, depending on the programming and methodology. For what its worth, the expertise of people with regards to the game can be tested through seeing how he or she can be able to take on all comers by avoiding injuries or worse, being killed by stray bullets or grenades.

[tags]wolfenstein, doom, half-life, war games[/tags]

Tags: doom, half-life, war-games, wolfenstein

The type of game a player would want to follow can be foretold in his initial affiliation with online games. Much of today�s successful online games such as Runescape, offers a balance for both crafts and combat. Unlike the standard objectives of a medieval or futuristic game setup, it is not purely about armed combat, utilizing high-powered artillery and casting spells.

Today, it is also about being wise and finding ways to survive. RPG caters towards virtual reality worlds, something that speaks well about the overall concept of a game. Adhering towards both sides similar to that of actual life is not easy to understand. While this is not to connote that RPG are truly good, it indirectly provides a good understanding on how to approach personal endeavors of survival in a different manner.

The success of such online games would depend a lot on how well they can be towards players. Just consider how long they have been in existence. Runescape and Ultima Online, among others are still up and about. Just check out the overall game play and you will find out the secret to their success.

[tags]rpg, online games, runescape, ultima online, strategy games[/tags]

Tags: online-games, RPG, runescape, strategy-games, ultima-online

To whom should the presence of cheats and tips to make a game easier be credited to, the developers or the hackers? It only boils down to two sides of people in most cases. While hackers may get praises for their brilliance, what does this say about the actual game developers? Are these actually given or were they intended to cover up the game glitches which they cannot seem to solve?

Most games released nowadays would be open to these. It is true that similar to most programs and implemented systems, games are not error or bug free. These are usually found by people who simply cannot ignore their curiosity. A flaw in the system is sure to ensue. It is bound to inspire the hackers and code breakers since the recognition of such is too hard to pass up.

On the other hand, such would be welcome news towards avid gamers who are simply impatient to go through the game entirely. For one, getting through various stages and levels without having to restart at times from the beginning is a bonus in itself. Besides, finishing the game until the ending credits is the objective of any gamer.

Tags: Cheats, hacker, Kotaku

Word games such as online scrabble, bookworm and Bejeweled give more than simple attractive graphics and animations. They help sharpen the minds and vocabulary of people who play them, and this alone helps them discover rare words and refreshes their current roster of terminologies that have been stored in their heads.

The usual method is to provide a number of letters to which a person must come up with the longest word they know to which scores are based. The longer it is, the better the score that they would get. All of these are done in a specified time limit, needing to compose a certain number of words to advance to the next round.

Most gamers would prefer the action packed or mystery solving games, but simple educational and appealing games for the mind have their share of followers as well. Besides, games are not only meant to provide entertainment but also another side of which to help people in improving skills and lateral thinking. Such has been the off shoot of word games that people are becoming addicted to as today.

Tags: bookworm, scrabble, word-games

Most online games have game emulators and scripts of varied nature that allow people who have been addicted to such online games to try their hands at playing god. While some are purely after studying the mechanics of the game, and making it a whole lot easier by being the one who knows the ins and outs of the fabricated personal world.

Games such as Ultima Online and Ragnarok have respective game emulators available for download. For some people, playing alone rather than with other hardcore gamers will satisfy their usual feeling of triumph. However, the excitement and the challenge will apparently be gone.

Additionally, bugs and scripting problems will occur. The need to study the programming methodology from them will surely be something that allows players to appreciate why such online games are rarely offered by ambitious administrators who will manage a group of demanding individuals wanting a crack at administering and programming the course of the game.

[tags]ultima online, ragnarok, gaming, online games, emulators[/tags]

Tags: emulators, gaming, online-games, ragnarok, ultima-online

I ashamed to say that I never even heard about this game until today! I was just aimlessly surfing the web when I ran across a review over at The USA Today. Apparently, there is a new Riddick game! (Bashing myself now, me the self-proclaimed Riddick fan!)

So what does Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena have to offer? Is it any good? (I think anything that has Riddick in it will have its own merits.) Brett Molina offers these insights on the game:

Once again, Riddick finds himself in need of escape after the mercenary spaceship Dark Athena captures his vessel. While Chronicles of Riddick is often identified as a first-person shooter, the game feels more like first-person action, combining stealth combat and platforming along with the firepower.

Riddick’s eyes are his signature physical feature. His “eyeshine” — a surgical procedure — makes him sensitive to daylight, but allows him to see clearly in the dark.

He compares the game to others in the genre:

Compared to other first-person games, the presentation is average, particularly the visual details in characters. And while the story is pretty interesting, Riddick’s dialogue is absolutely cheesy, delivering bizarre lines such has “I’m either doing, or I’m not.”

Now how can they ruin Riddick like that? But to the developer’s credit, Molina says:

Fortunately, the campaign feels really well balanced between intense firefights against drones and giant mechs as well as platforming. The most satisfying moments are when Riddick lunges from the shadows to quietly take down unsuspecting foes.

So there we have it. While the game might not be a perfect tribute to the awesomeness of Riddick, it is still worth playing. Now I’m off to see where I can get a copy.

As promised, I did some research on what the hottest casual games are at the moment. I have my own favorites but of course, that does not mean that everyone else will like them. So I headed on over to Gamezebo, my favorite source of casual games. This is their current top ten list:

1. Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst
2. Mortimer Beckett and the Time Paradox
3. Build-a-lot 3: Passport to Europe
4. Treasure Seekers: Visions of Gold
5. Mystery Stories: Berlin Nights
6. Hospital Hustle
7. Fitness Dash
8. Alabama Smith in Escape from Pompeii
9. Forgotten Lands: First Colony
10. Call of Atlantis

Let me see. I am currently playing Build-a lot- 3: Passport to Europe. It really isn’t that much different from the previous versions of the game, except for new places, new types of houses and buildings, and new services. They also added a bit more “trouble” for the player – fire and noisy party incidents. If you know someone who liked the first two games, then it would be a good idea to get the third.

Fitness Dash and Hospital Hustle are looking pretty good. I think they will suit people who liked Flo and her slew of Diner Dash games. I have also looked into Forgotten Lands: First Colony and it might be good for those who like “slow-paced building-worlds” games. The reviews of this last game generally bode well except for the graphics, which are reportedly unsatisfactory.

So there you have it – take your pick and make a casual gamer happy this Christmas!