Due out in October, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, is a nod to the classic turn-based strategy game of the same name. This time, developer Firaxis is taking a crack at combining tactical and strategic game play. Rob Manuel has this to say in our XCOM: Enemy Unknown preview: 

"XCOM gives us a sideways view of the base as we scrolls through the barracks, research facility, and even the command center. In this ant farm layout of rooms and tunnels, every little section requires some of the biggest choices. Research takes the items you find on the field and turns them into weapons for your soldiers with enough time, of course. Barracks, for example, let you equip your unit with the best weapons as well as level up individual warriors as you guide them through class specific tech trees."

Read the rest of our XCOM: Enemy Unknown preview!

It's official: Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson will be on the cover of Madden 13. Johnson, more awesomely known as Megatron, barely beat out rookie quarterback and fantasy football sensation Cam Newton by snagging 52% of the vote.

The announcement of the Madden cover, which comes every year right before the start of the NFL Draft in New York City, is one of the annual off-season highlights football fans look forward to during the sad time of late February through August. Over the course of the Madden 13 cover voting, Johnson accumulated over 19 million nods from fans around the world, due in no small part to his electrifying play and completely face-meltingly amazing nickname. 

While being on the cover of Madden can do great things in terms of a player's image, it can also strike fear in the hearts of football fans everywhere because of the so-called Madden Curse. Megatron, however, does not believe in such nonsense. 

Only time will tell whether or not the 6'5" receiver will be able to outrun the curse, but in the meantime, I'm sure Cam Newton is sitting in a corner somewhere, writing thank you notes to everyone who voted for Johnson just in case. 

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It's spring, and that means actual baseball is starting, and that it's also time for the yearly round of virtual baseball releases. The gold standard in the genre has traditionally been the PlayStation exclusive franchise MLB: The Show, with 2K's multiplatform offering lagging behind. Unfortunately, according to our look at MLB 2K12, that order isn't changing anytime soon.

From our MLB 2K12 Review:

"This brings up the issue of learning curves. For those who may have avoided the MLB 2K series in the past, 2K12 will not be a soft introduction. Beyond very brief one-time in-game tips, there is no discernible tutorial or practice mode. There are drills that are so limited and useless in building skills, they almost make the situation worse. During a base stealing drill, I was supposed to steal second, but for some reason my batter wasn’t hitting a single pitch thrown his way. Whether this was a glitch or whether I was doing the drill wrong was completely unclear because the game offered zero explanation beyond “Steal Second Base.” Had I no prior experience with MLB 2K, the lack of tutorials would have been debilitating."

To get the rest of the story, read our MLB 2K12 Review.

To promote the launch of Mass Effect 3, BioWare and EA have started an Alliance News Network Twitter feed that is tweeting about a fake alien invasion of Los Angeles. According to them, Dodgers Stadium is now "Reaper Territory." 

That doesn't sound good.

As a resident of Los Angeles, I, for one, welcome our new Reaper overlords. Less people on the road will mean less traffic, and anyone one who knows anything about Angelinos knows that all we care about is how much traffic there is at the moment we have to drive somewhere. Plus, I always believe everything I read on Twitter. 

I may regret that statement later, but for now, I think we should look on the bright side and try to think of this invasion as a good thing. Interspecies mingling! An exchange of technology! People actually filling Dodgers Stadium! 

By the way, if you're still a human and want to get even more psyched for the launch of Mass Effect 3, check out our Mass Effect 3 Launch Guide. 

Ever find yourself in a situation where all of your friends are talking about the latest and greatest game, and you can't contribute to the conversation because you haven't been paying attention? Solve that problem with our Launch Primers: everything you need to know (except the spoilers) about a game that's about to be released.

Mass Effect 3
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
MSRP: $59.99
ESRB Rating: M

All Mass Effect 3 Content

Videos   |    Previews   |   Screenshot Galleries   |   Review

What kind of game is it?

Mass Effect 3 is an action RPG, with an emphasis on storytelling. ME 3 wraps up the Mass Effect trilogy, and completes the story of Comander Shepard. While character development and conversations are an important part, third person combat also represents a large part of the gameplay. 

Who's the Developer?

The famous RPG factory, BioWare. Makers of not only the Mass Effect series, but also Dragon Age and Star Wars: The Old Republic, BioWare is known for producing impressive, high quality gameplay and storytelling. The studio was started in 1995 by actual medical doctors Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk, and now has six locations worldwide.

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The PlayStation Vita is the new handheld console from Sony, which is officially launching in the US on February 22nd, but customers who ordered the First Edition Bundle will get their hands on it February 15th. In this post we'll be laying out all the features including Vita price points, features, launch titles, and more to help you understand the Vita launch.  

The Basics

The Vita is Sony's follow up to the PlayStation Portable (PSP) and the now defunct PSP Go. The hallmark new features of the device are the front and rear touch screens, which allow for never before seen types of interactive gameplay. The front OLED screen displays 16 million colors in 16:9 and looks as sharp as the HD gameplay we've become accustomed to on our HDTVs. In addition to the touch screens, the Vita also boasts dual sticks, a d-pad, shoulder buttons, plus the classic Sony action buttons. 

There are two versions of the Vita: Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi/3G. The Wi-Fi version will only allow you to connect when you are in a place with an active Wi-Fi network, but the 3G version will work like a cell phone, and allow you to go online almost anywhere. AT&T provides the 3G coverage for the Vita, and this service requires a separate contract with them, exactly like a phone. 

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Welcome to your G4 Valentine’s Day gift guide for all the nerdy girls or boys in your life. As a public service announcement, we here at G4TV.com would like to remind you that Valentine’s Day is Tuesday. Yes, this coming Tuesday - as in a couple of days from now. If you haven’t found that special something for your special someone, don't panic! We've got your back, and have compiled a list of interesting Valentine's Day gift choices for the gamer in your life.

Something for Ladies

"Rusted Friends" Portal 2 Laptop Decal from GlueJunkie

It's a scientific fact that bitches love Portal, so you can't go wrong with this laptop decal featuring Atlus and Peabody. Not only are they adorable, playing Portal 2 co-op is an excellent way to spend quality time with your significant other. Trust me: the first time you send her flying from a launcher, this game will become a portal to sexy times!

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Ever find yourself in a situation where all of your friends are talking about the latest and greatest game, and you can't contribute to the conversation because you haven't been paying attention? Solve that problem with our Launch Primers: everything you need to know (except the spoilers) about a game that's about to be released.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
MSRP: $59.99
ESRB Rating: M

All Reckoning Content

Videos   |    Review   |   Screenshot Galleries   |   Previews

What kind of game is it?

Reckoning is a single-player RPG that features four playable classes (Noble Humans, Light Elves, Dark Elves, and Nomatic Humans), five regions, and three class trees. The owner of 38 Studios Curt Schilling (yes, that Curt Schilling), has described the gameplay as a cross between God of War and Oblivion. 

Who's the Developer?

There are several creative forces behind Reckoning. While the game is officially developed by Big Huge Games and published by Electronic Arts, 38 Studios is where Reckoning was born. Founder of the studio, Shilling, recruited some talented heavy hitters to contribute to the game, including producer Ken Rolston (Oblivion), writer R.A. Salvatore, artist Todd McFarlane, and composer Grant Kirkhope.  

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Ever find yourself in a situation where all of your friends are talking about the latest and greatest game, and you can't contribute to the conversation because you haven't been paying attention? Solve that problem with our Launch Primers: everything you need to know (except the spoilers) about a game that's about to be released.

The Darkness 2
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC
MSRP: $59.99
ESRB Rating: M

All The Darkness 2 Content

Videos   |    Review   |   Screenshot Galleries   |   Previews

What kind of game is it?

The Darkness 2 is an action-horror first person shooter. The game is a  follow up to 2007's The Darkness,  and while there was heavy criticism surrounding the first game, The Darkness 2 has roared back with improved combat and a rich storyline.

Who's the Developer?

While the first game was developed by Starbreeze Studio (makers of The Chronicles of Riddick series), development duties were transferred to Digital Extremes for The Darkness 2. Digital Extremes is best known for their original IP Dark Sector, and also working on the multiplayer gameplay for both BioShock 2 and Homefront. 

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Via the PlayStation Blog, Ubisoft's Alex Monney announced that the publisher will be bringing their launch line-up to stores a week early on February 15th, giving consumers a chance to "build up their library" prior to the Vita's release on February 22nd. It will also give users who ordered the Vita 'First Edition' Bundle -- which comes out on February 15th -- a wider selection of games to choose from. 

Ubisoft's Vita launch titles include Dungeon Hunter Alliance, Rayman Origins, Asphalt Injection and more, so get excited if you're either A: getting the First Edition Vita bundle, or B: the kind of person who likes to buy games for a system that you don't own yet!

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While the majority of football fans in America are gearing up to see the New York Giants take on the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, a minority of football fans in America will be happy to know that EA has announced an official release date for their reboot of FIFA Street: March 13, 2012.

Frankly, I think there is no better way to kick off your Ides of March celebration than with some sweet sweet "urbanized" soccer action on your next-gen console. Hail Caesar!

To tide you over until then, why not read our FiFA Street Preview to get more details on the game? Yes! Have some!

According to rumors, those pesky Microsoft Points will be gone by the end of 2012. For the uninitiated, Microsoft Points are the system of virtual currency used to buy content on Xbox LIVE, Zune Marketplace, and Windows Mobile Marketplace.

The points, which do not correspond to actual money in a way that makes sense to human beings, seemingly have no purpose except to make you spend more money. If you don't know how much an actual item costs, you're more likely to fork over points for it. It's like trading tickets in at the arcade. Can you believe this bouncy ball that would only cost me fifty-cents at the store was only 12,450 tickets? SCORE! Plus, you can only purchase microsoft points in bundles, and because of Microsoft's pricing structure, you always end up buying more points than you actually need, which means more money for Microsoft and a pair of sunglasses for your avatar.

While most other app stores use dollar-to-dollar cost models (except for the Nintendo Wii, which also uses points), Microsoft has stood by their confusing and convoluted system that makes you feel like a clueless American tourist trying to figure out what 34,000 Yen equates to in US dollars so you can get a new girlfriend pillow. Now, it seems the system is so out of line with the way the rest of the industry does business, that Microsoft might actually have to price things at what they cost, and not in their archaic system of space bucks. 

What do you think? Do you want to see the death of Microsoft Points? 

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The world of video games is evolving and so are we. Since the beginning of X-Play history, the show has used a whole number scale to rate and review games, but that's changing, because the way video games are made and judged is also changing.

As of today, X-Play and G4tv.com are both moving to a half-star scale, meaning that instead of just being able to get a 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 out of 5, games will now be able to earn half stars. This opens up a world of nuance that was not available to us before.

Often times as reviews editor, I have to make tough calls about scores. After gathering input from the reviewer and other members of the staff who have played the game, the conversations often went something like, "Well, it's a 4, but it's a weak 4." Or, "This is less than a 1. Can we give a game a 0?"

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Every year, the Consumer Electronics Show brings the latest and greatest technical innovations together under one roof. In some cases, the products shown are far-off concept demonstrations, designed to help us invision what our lives might be like using that type of product in the future, and others are things that will be on store shelves in a matter of weeks. Regardless of the timing, CES always gets us excited for what's to come, whether it be right around the corner or tens of years in the making.

While we're still waiting on flying cars and a food replicator that will make you a hamburger out of nothing, there were still a lot of very impressive gadgets showcased at CES 2012. While most of these were aimed at improving the household or enhancing entertainment offerings, it got us thinking about what would happen if they were applied to the world of gaming. Below, we've compiled a list of CES 2012 innovations which, if utilized correctly, could change the gaming industry in the future.

Echo Nest Teams With Twitter 

What It Is: Echo Nest is the company behind the popular music app Spotify. They've teamed up with Twitter in order to integrate tweets into music apps. For example, if you were listening to The Decemberists, you might get tweets from lead signer Colin Meloy.

What it could mean for gaming: Imagine that while you're downloading the latest Gears of War map pack, you're seeing tweets from famed Epic developer Cliff Bleszinski, or even other game devs who are tweeting about Gears. Sony and Microsoft seem keen on cramming Twitter in wherever they can, and this is just about the most useful application of the service we can think of. It's targeted, relevant, and actually helpful, all things that Twitter is generally not known for. See? We're already making strides towards a utopia!

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CES may provide the chance to look at the latest gadgets, but it also gives us a preview of upcoming videogames, which, let's be honest, is why we're all here.

In this preview, TheFeed's own Stephen A. Johnson takes a look at the upcoming Xbox Live Houseparty title I Am Alive. From Steve's preview:

"The plot of this downloadable, third-person game is bare bones and basic: Some unspecified cataclysm involving earthquakes has struck the planet and killed nearly everyone, and the main character must traverse a dangerous, nightmare-scape in a quest to reunite with his wife and child. Not a terribly original concept, but an affecting one nonetheless.

Now, you might be expecting zombies, or aliens, but nope. I Am Alive is survival-horror without the supernatural. Enemies are simply other people, driven to madness and extremes by a worldwide collapse. It’s not cheery, but it’s a powerful idea. Think Cormac McCarthy’s The Road instead of The Road Warrior."

Check out the rest of Steve's I Am Alive CES 2012 Preview.