Need for Speed: Most Wanted Xbox 360

Released on 02/11/2012

• Need for Speed: Most Wanted "smashes together" the best of Burnout and Hot Pursuit

  When it comes to full throttle chassis-buckling racing games, there are few studios as experienced and accomplished as UK developer Criterion. After creating the hugely successful Burnout series, the Surrey-based studio was handed the keys to Need for Speed, EA's long-running racing franchise.

  The first fruit of this combination was Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, a relentless cops n' racers sprint that revolutionised driving games with its Autolog social features. Now Criterion is preparing to unleash the openworld carnage of Need for Speed: Most Wanted, with the claim that it's the ultimate compilation of everything the studio has learned about racing games.

  "All the best s*** about Burnout and everything we did in Hot Pursuit, we're just smashing them together," Criterion's Matt Webster told Videogamer.com at E3 this week. "Everything that we've ever done comes to pass here."

  "We always say that each game we do is a reflection of us at the time, but of course, you're going to be influenced by what we've done in the past and all the stuff we had fun with," he added. "You remember the journey that we went on with Paradise. The game that we shipped was absolutely not the game that we ended up with. And with Hot Pursuit we learned a bunch of other things. This is the best of everything."

  Need for Speed: Most Wanted roars into action on November 2nd for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita and PC.

• Need for Speed to get the blockbuster movie treatment

  Need for Speed to get the blockbuster movie treatment

  Need for Speed, EA's evergreen racing series, will be making the unlikely leap to the big screen in 2014, courtesy of Dreamworks. With Universal's Fast & Furious saga still coining it in after ten years, the studio won out over rivals Sony, Warner Bros and Paramount, and is now fast-tracking the movie into production with a script from George and John Gatins, whose prior credits include the Hugh Jackman robo-boxing hit Real Steel. Scott Waugh, who helmed recent real-life soldier flick Act of Valour, will take the director's chair.

  The news broke just as UK developer Criterion announced that it was taking full control over the future of Need for Speed, as well as its own Burnout titles.

  "Our stamp's going to be in everything you see in Need for Speed and Burnout going forward in the future," Alex Ward, the Guildford studio's vice president, said in a Game Informer interview. "It's not going to be spread anymore across different companies. Different studios have had a crack at it - it's definitely a Criterion gig now."

  While Criterion won't develop every game in the series, it will have finally say on which games get made as well as "how the cars drive, how the game will play out, how connected they are and what the features are."

  The developer is currently working on Need for Speed: Most Wanted, due for release this October on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.
  

• Need For Speed: Most Wanted - Preview

  
  

  

  Trimming The Fat

  The latest take on the long-running Need for Speed franchise is something of an ode to developer Criterion's previous open-world city racer, Burnout Paradise. Trimming the fat off last year's Need for Speed: The Run, the game doesn't feature a storyline, a protagonist or any poorly implemented quick time events. Instead it focuses on the unadulterated joy of action-filled racing boosted by social elements and online competition, and it all feels pretty liberating.

  Need for Speed: Most Wanted takes place in the fictional city of Fairhaven, a racing playground consisting of circulating freeways, industrial areas, ports and airfields that offer loads of freedom to drive with speed and plenty of precipices to plunge over. The whole world is available to you from the beginning, and the main single player objective is to track down and unlock the game's ten most wanted vehicles, which are the only cars you can't drive from the offset.

  

  But it's central to Criterion's vision that you're never really competing alone. Most Wanted collects data not just from individual events you take part in but from everything you do. Drive by any speed camera, road junction or jump and leaderboards spring up on the left side of the screen courtesy of the game's 'Autolog' feature, displaying your friends' record speeds, times, pursuits and jump distances. Most Wanted is unashamedly stats driven and one-upmanship characterises the whole experience.

  During a recent hands-on session we played a rotating roster of races and modes, all presented in a slick manner without lobbies or full-screen menus. Each selection happens in the game world itself, with new objectives emerging seamlessly as you travel through the city, from checkpoint races to take down challenges and stunt events. It's all hilariously chaotic and you're never short of things to do.

  Most Wanted

  You amass 'Speed Points' (the game's take on experience points) at every turn by winning even the briefest of sprints, smashing up other cars, pulling off feats of drift or outrunning the cops, and these increase your chances of becoming 'Most Wanted' amongst your buddies. Meanwhile, a perk system similar to Call of Duty's allows you to customise your car in multiplayer to best suit your driving style.

  

  Car handling feels satisfying and varied depending on your choice of vehicle, from zippy rides to ones that sacrifice some speed and manoeuvrability for weight and power. And while there are numerous long stretches of road enabling you to outrun pursuers, there are also plenty of 90-degree corners and alleyways that make for more claustrophobic cat-and-mouse chases. Paint shops offering instant resprays and secluded 'jack spots' where you can pick up a new vehicle can also be used to break pursuits.

  It hasn't been revealed if you'll be able to jump into the seat of a police car this time round, but we wouldn't be surprised because playing as law enforcers was one of the highlights of Hot Pursuit, Criterion's 2010 entry in the Need for Speed series. What is clear is that its latest game looks poised to give the franchise a much needed shot in the arm with a dedicated focus on racing and competitive gameplay, and we can't wait to get back behind the wheel when Most Wanted launches next month.

  Published: 27/09/2012

• GAME goes to the Eurogamer Expo

  
  

  

  Last week, the GAME online team took a trip to the Eurogamer Expo in London's Earls Court to get our many hands-on some of the top games that we'll all be playing over the coming months.

  The atmosphere at the event was a buzzing and bustling as ever, with gamers coming from far and wide to get their first goes at everything from the Wii U to Assassin's Creed III to Dishonored - which alone had people queuing for over an hour to play!

  With plenty of the team there, we were able to get a chance to play quite a few games. Here's what we thought...

  

  Aliens Colonial Marines

  Tom
  Colonial Marines has been a long time coming. It was announced 4 years ago, and from the time we had during the Eurogamer Expo, for us the wait has been entirely worth it.

  We got to go hands on with the multiplayer side of the game. Taking up arms as the Marines, we strode into the dilapidated area of the complex on LV 426. It is clear, especially with this level, that attention to balancing the levels is key to how the multiplayer will work.

  There were plenty of places to fight back-to-back and funnel the Xenos through giving the marines a sporting chance, but also plenty of narrow corridors for Xenos to get up close, making guns useless, and dark areas for Xenos to avoid detection and hide patiently.

  The weapons for the Colonial Marines are taken from, and inspired by, the film Aliens. Set just 17 days after the events of the film Gearbox haven't taken liberty with the groundwork laid down by the 1986 film, Pulse Rifles sound and look like their movie counterparts, the shotguns have a similar look to the pulse Rifles, not everyone packs a sawn off in space for close encounters!

  And then there is the Motion Tracker, taken straight from the film, this will be your most used tool if separated from team mates. The Motion Tracker will detect movement around you and give the classic beep when an enemy is close by. Only problem here is that you cannot wield a weapon when tracking your foes, and if they stop moving they don't get picked up.

  You'd think that the marines, with guns and motion trackers, would be superior to the Aliens. This really isn't the case! The Aliens are quick, agile and can crawl through ducts and up walls to avoid gunfire or sneak up on unsuspecting prey. On more than one occasion during our playtime in ACM, we'd have aliens attacking from the front whilst a few craftier players crept up behind us and attacked with tails and inner jaws.

  Gearbox has done a great job with Aliens Colonial Marines by using sounds and files from the film to create an authentic "sequel" to Aliens.

  Marc
  The only Alien game I have enjoyed before was Aliens vs. Predator on the Atari Jaguar - the others have always disappointed. I approached with some caution, and, I'm very happy to say this didn't let me down!

  I also played the multiplayer map very much based on LV 426. We had to play as the Marines against the Gearbox team as the Aliens, and first of all we had to pick the arsenal that we wanted to use. There was a choice of five classes, one of which had the infamous radar on the assault rifle with a shotgun. I didn't find this straight away but when I did I was rocking and rolling.

  The sound effects were fantastic and sounded just like the film, and the screams of the Aliens were cool too. If I had been at home I would even have partaken in a bit of Hudson shouting" you want some too..." at the point when my screen was awash with my Alien bloodbath.

  But for me, the best thing was that we were told that whoever managed to the score highest would win a t- shirt. As a team, we had lost against the Aliens... but I won that infamous t-shirt! After walking away I listened to customers and their thoughts, and it seemed pretty unanimous that it would definitely be on our radar.

  XCOM: Enemy Unknown

  Damien
  Fans of the original 90s X-COM games needn't worry that this reboot would be moving too far from the RTS traditions. This is still very much a turn-based strategy game, but one that now shines with enhanced visuals and animation to realise the alien-infested world and the XCOM team tasked with protecting it.

  The mission I got to try out was short and sweet, ideal for the pace of turn-based combat, which in turn makes it ideal for RTS fans. The isometric view works great for moving and controlling your team, intercut with closer angles during firefights and to reveal key evidence.

  The pace may be a little slow for those alien (pardon the pun) to turn-based strategy games, but if you are a fan of the genre, this game will surely be a delight.

  

  Rayman Legends

  Robyn
  I Played this in co-op mode with Kirsten. I had control of the GamePad, which mostly showed a replica of the main screen with prompts to guide me what to press/drag/swish etc. I played the supporting role as Murfy while Kirsten took the lead character using the Classic Controller.
  
  It reminded me a bit of Super Mario Galaxy where player two takes a supporting role of collecting stars while player one gets all the key action, but much more interactive and a greater sense of involvement and contribution. We had a great laugh. It was my first time using Wii U but I think I got the hang of it ok! It was hard to sync up our actions and we gave up completing the level in the time we had, but I could imagine my 10yr old LOVING it - this is definitely one for the kids.

  PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

  Damien
  Fast, furious and utterly bonkers, PS AS BR was another addictive treat. Four of us played together and just had huge amounts of fun trying out the different characters and levels where skill very much took a back seat!

  The four-player scramble battles were very much the best way to showcase this game, and the choice of characters and fighting styles made it so much more entertaining than a standard beat 'em up. Dante, Kratos and Cole McGrath proved to be the most powerful, but the real fun was to be had with the likes of Nathan Drake and Sweet Tooth, who take the infinitely fun choice of shooting their opponents.

  With the interactive environment as likely to take you out as the other players, and a kill vs death ratio determining the winner, this takes the best of beat 'em up battles, multiplayer mayhem and SONY's excellent cast of characters to form a game that will keep you grinning every time you play.

  

  Assassin's Creed III

  Robyn
  I'd never played an Assassin's Creed title before, despite my friends' insistence.
  I was lucky enough to have a go at both the demos - first up, Naval Combat. Starting slowly (and that's being very generous!), I had a darn good go at taking control of the ship and unloading several rounds of cannon balls onto my target. Well, most went in the sea, but I got the gist in the end... just as my ship rubbed up against the rocks for the last time. Next time...

  It was such a unique experience with fantastic movement that was so fluid on the water. I didn't think about it at the time but when I think back, I got a sense of being on the ship and movement up and down with the waves, a sense of slowness and heaviness. Very exciting and different, I'd really love to have another go, but perhaps without a queue of not so novice gamers stood behind me whilst I batter the heck out of the ship!

  After this, I had a chance to play the 'On Foot' mission demo where I had to make my character climb a cliff face to carry out his stealth mission and assassinate three enemies. I managed to get to two of them but unfortunately my time ran out before I could get number three. Again, next time...

  I was knocked out by the gameplay and the the quality of the graphics and scenery was breathtaking. As someone far more at home with 2D platforms or racing games, I can't wait to have another go.

  Need for Speed Most Wanted

  Tom
  Most Wanted by name, Burnout Paradise by nature, and 20 Years of Convention out of the Window!

  Most Wanted sees you getting behind the wheels of some of the sexiest cars in the world to then throw them around the City of Fairhaven and the best part, most of the cars are unlocked as soon as you put the disc in, you just need to find them. Driving in Most Wanted is similar to Burnout Paradise, but the cars have a more defined sense of handling, acceleration and speed since they are based on real cars, and they look stunning.

  As you blitz through Fairhaven with up to 7 friends, Autolog will document everything you do so that you can send challenges to your friends for almost anything you do.

  

  Far Cry 3

  Damien
  Bright. Warm. Totally immersive. This first-person sequel has crisp graphics and gameplay that really make you feel like you're on the island, with everything from the effects of the breeze blowing to making your way through leaves and branches moving and reacting realistically. This is a game that truly gives you a sense of being in the first person - and one that really should be played on a high-end PC!

  As one of the more popular games I was only able to get about 10 minutes playing, but during that time I was able to take several different turns and explore several different parts of the island. From lookout posts, to knife-throwing challenges, to hang-gliding and some very vicious guard dogs, the choices of location and action all within mere moments of the respawn point were massive. If the world was this open in just 10 minutes of playing, I can't wait to see what hours of gameplay can offer.

  Plus it was fun to do a first-person game with a bow and arrow for a change!

  

  ZombiU

  Robyn
  First person + dark moody screens + jumpy horror = too creepy for me!

  I declined to play this as I could easily predict I'd upset Nintendo when I launched the GamePad in panic! (I know this as I did exactly that when I first held a real mouse. Ok I was 5, but..)

  So I was happy to watch Kirsten, and I did actually squeal when she was suddenly rushed by Zombies coming swiftly out of the water. She'd been distracted looking at her inventory (as instructed by the game moments earlier), and I can deduce from this that you need to become familiar with the GamePad and get used to referring back and forth swiftly or you'll not survive long.

  I'd like to have a go at playing this in the safety of my own home... if I'm lucky enough for the big fellow in red to drop a black Wii U down my chimney this Christmas. Or at least invite someone with a stomach so I can sit behind the sofa with my cushion and watch them through my fingers!

  God of War: Ascension

  Marc
  Looked fantastic, and played fantastically well, too. It was easy to get to grips with, even for a player who has never played one before. Fast, frenetic and with satisfying button bashing - just what you want in a hack and slash game! The executions were as satisfying as ever and the bosses were amazing - a must for all PS3 owners.

  F1 Race Stars

  Damien
  It's very difficult to talk about this game without comparing it to Mario Kart. many karting games have tried to fill the gap for non-Nintendo gamers, but this may be the surprise title to pull it off.

  F1 Race Stars offers classic karting gameplay, with simple controls and all the fun, charm and addictiveness you'd want - they even manage to throw in the bonus boosts, invincibility and throwing-stuff-at-other-drivers that makes it more than just a racing game. The F1 roots are still on show - get hit too many times or push your car too hard, and you'll need to quickly drive through a pit lane to get back to full working order.

  The drivers and cars may lack the individuality you'd normally get in a game like this, but the tracks - cartoony courses that are like crazy golf interpretations of the real F1 tracks - more than make up for it.

  All in all, this is a fun, addictive karting game that has raced to the top of my must-have list this year. The surprise treat of the day!

  

  Dishonored

  Marc
  The most impressive game at the show for me was Dishonored. Great graphics and gameplay. The multiple ways to complete a level is a great idea, but it was the diversity in how you can go about those multiple ways that I loved the most. it's not just open-world levels, it's open-choice gameplay.
  Everybody walking away from playing it were talking about how good it was, too.

  Robyn
  I really liked the look of this - great visuals giving a real sense of place and intrigue. Watching the others play it, I wanted to get my hands on it too! The swimming was really realistic, and , the effects of the sun in the water as age tried to swim up wowed me, felt errr swimmy! But I wasn't expecting to see Corvo get eaten by a fish in the river!

  Damien
  As well as getting the chance to play games, the developer talks gave us a chance to learn a bit more about the games. For Dishonored, Arkane Studios' Christophe Carrier (Lead Level Designer & Audio Director) and Dinga Bakaba (Assistant Producer & Game Designer) took to the stage to provide a bit of background about the game, and to show that there really are two ways to play it.

  

  In their introduction, Christophe and Dinga told us that Dishonored came out of a love of the first-person game and its combination of stealth and action, and a desire to push the genre further. Gone is the rail-like direction of each level, replaced with a series of open-world levels, designed in a steampunky-style and inspired by plague-era London.

  But the biggest point of the game is the choice is gives the player. You can play it stealthily, hiding in the shadows, using your supernatural abilities for minimal combat and fatalities. Or you can go all-out action, with brutal kills and make use of a brand new arsenal of weapons.

  They proceeded to demonstrate this with the same level we'd played on the floor, with heor Corvo out to kidnap the Royal Physician (described as part da Vinci, part Rasputin) . First it was done with stealth, using back passages and rooftops, and possessing people rather than elimintating them. Or at least that was the theory - one mistake and the whole place was alerted to Corvo's presence and bit more force was needed than originally planned.

  The level was then played in full-on brutal fashion, where no guard was left undamaged (heck, even the maid got it!) and all skills were on display. Decapitation, hacking people limb-from-limb, setting razor mines and stopping time to avoid being shot and take your enemy out were all shown to bloody effect - and rapturous applause in places.

  A few extra tidbits came out of the Q and A session at the end of the demo - it is possible to complete the game without a single kill (except bosses). And, most tantalisingly of all - in the later levels, you'll find out that you're not the only one in Dunwall with supernatural abilities...

  Everything we see makes Dishonored more and more tantalising. Cannot wait to play it!

  Published: 05/10/2012

• Breaking Bad star to headline Need for Speed movie

  The upcoming movie adaptation of seminal racing series Need for Speed just landed its lead actor, and the new is good. Aaron Paul, best known as Jesse from hit US TV show Breaking Bad, will be the man slipping behind the wheel of sexy cars and making them go fast.

  The movie, which is set for a 2014 release, comes from Dreamworks and will be directed by Scott Waugh, who helmed the real life Navy SEALs action movie, Act of Valour. While the movie won't be based on any particular game in the Need for Speed series, it will borrow ideas from all of them. According to the studio press release, we can look forward to a "fast-paced, high-octane film rooted in the tradition of the great car culture films of the 70s".

  "Like the game series itself, the cast for the movie needs to be edgy and cool," said Patrick Soderlund, Executive Vice President, Electronic Arts. "Aaron Paul is a rising star - a great choice for the film lead. We're looking forward to announcing the rest of the actors that will bring this racing franchise to the big screen."

  Gamers won't have to wait quite so long for our next NFS fix. The latest in the series, Need for Speed: Most Wanted is due on November 2nd for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. It's developed by legendary British studio, Criterion.

  Published: 16/10/2012

• Need For Speed: Most Wanted

  
  

  

  I Feel The Need...

  Lauded developer Criterion doesn't bother itself with a storyline or protagonist in its new open-world racer, Need for Speed: Most Wanted, instead choosing to focus its efforts on doing what it has done best for over a decade: making bar-setting driving games that capture the speed, sound and sensation of bombing around in exceedingly fast cars.

  Your goal is a simple one: compete in sprints, time trials, circuit races and stunt challenges to earn Speed Points which unlock Most Wanted match-ups - punishing duels against elite street racers which, if overcome, move you a place further up the leaderboard, edging you towards the ultimate goal of becoming Most Wanted.

  Speed Points are dished out liberally, not just for completing challenges but also for driving dangerously. You'll rack them up by ignoring speed cameras, smashing billboards, ramping off art installations, and causing and escaping run-ins with the law. Cops even pile-in during challenges, leading to exhilarating three-way battles in which you're attempting to take out competitors while outrunning the police.

  

  I Like Driving In My Car

  The game is set in Fairhaven, a gorgeous urban playground styled after an east coast American city. It comprises several purpose-built race tracks merged into a city, and the sights and terrain are nicely varied, managing to weave together high altitude mountain ranges, ports, airfields, wide-lane highways and the downtown alleys of smoggy industrial zones.

  Fairhaven plays home to 120-plus cars and almost every one is free to drive from the word go, but they're hidden around the world for you to find and collect. The vehicle roster spans well-known classics to more obscure beasts, and handling is pitched perfectly between simulation and arcade; with each vehicle responding differently, there's a car for every taste, from the boy racer to the cruise-control freak. You can unlock various car parts and mods such as re-inflatable tyres, nitro boosters, and a reinforced chassis for your favourite ride, although you have to repeat the process for each vehicle you acquire.

  The game offers a real sense of seamless play, with new objectives popping up as you travel through the city, rather than having to be selected from a menu. Petrol stations dotted around the map also add to the feeling of immediacy; if you breeze through one your vehicle is instantly repaired and given a fresh paintjob, and if the cops don't see you make the switch you'll escape their pursuit. So too does the decision to strip out the crash camera from Criterion's last Need for Speed game, 2010's Hot Pursuit, which momentarily removed control from the player to display takedowns in slow motion.

  

  Want Vs. Need

  In-game networking platform Autolog 2.0 constantly tracks and compares every detail of your time in Fairhaven with that of your friends, from your total number of Speed Points to record speeds, times, pursuits and jump distances, and these stats regularly pop up on the screen. It's a brilliantly realised feature which serves as a constantly updating high score table, adding a highly competitive and social layer to the experience that compels you to keep playing in order to boost your ranking.

  Perhaps the main gripe we have with the game is the frustrating catch-up artificial intelligence. Most Wanted employs rubber-banding safety measures preventing you from getting too far ahead in races, rendering much of your effort futile until relatively close to the finish line.

  While it features the odd frustrating moment, Need for Speed: Most Wanted offers an excellent action-filled racing experience set in a gorgeous open-world location, nitro-boosted by great social elements and online competition.

  GAME's Verdict

  The Good:

  • Driving feels great.
  • Brilliant multiplayer features.
  • Fairhaven looks stunning.

  The Bad:

  • Frustrating catch-up AI.
  • Repetitive police chatter.
  • We miss the opponent crash camera.

  Published: 02/11/2012

• The Best of 2012: Xbox 360

  
  

  And so another year gallops to a close, thundering through the ribbon into January on a wave of good cheer and over-eating. And what a cracker of a year it's been for gaming, with all the major platforms delivering some absolutely stonking exclusives along with some truly spectacular blockbusters spread across all formats, like warm butter on the crumpet you're hopefully eating right now to ward off the December chills.

  

  For Xbox 360 owners, it's been the year in which Master Chief finally returned to the gaming stage. Absent for five years - an eternity in games terms - his triumphant return in Halo 4 not only kickstarted the new Reclaimer Trilogy, but also introduced new developer 343 Studios to the series. 343 immediately put its stamp on Bungie's universe, crafting a game with sumptuous visuals and a distinctly personal spin on storytelling, as Chief battles not just to save the galaxy, but his AI companion Cortana, whose code is deteriorating. Add in an exhaustive suite of multiplayer modes, a full co-op campaign, and the ongoing Spartan Ops bonus missions and you've got one of the best games of the series, and of this year.

  

  Halo wasn't the only Microsoft legend getting a makeover in 2012. Forza Horizon took the imposing racing simulation and gave it a funky mainstream twist, combining developer Turn 10's impeccable vehicle physics with an open world underground racing vibe. Everything from drift racing to hardcore rallying is covered as you roar around a virtual Colorado racing festival, looking for events and opportunities to show off your talent behind the wheel.

  

  The wonderful land of Albion also showed off a new perspective in Fable: The Journey. This Kinect-fuelled spin-off from the superb RPG series puts you right into the action as a young boy, separated from his tribe and forced to travel across this magical land alone as dark forces gather against him. Using precision motion control, you steer your wagon, fire off spells and even look after your loyal horse. It's an unusual game, offering an experience far removed from the other Fable titles, yet it's also one of the best Kinect games. Immersive and packed with genuine challenge, it's a good sign that motion gaming doesn't have to just mean simple mini-games for little kids.

  

  Definitely not suitable for little kids was The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. Previously a well-deserved smash hit on the PC, the game crossed over to consoles exclusively for Xbox 360. This was no mere half-hearted port either. Czech developer CD Projekt went out of its way to recreate the game specifically for a console audience, adding four hours of fresh questing content, as well as new cinematics. The result was one of the best role-playing games, not just of 2012, but of all time. A thorny, challenging adventure set in a bawdy, complex world torn apart by racism, political strife and class war.

  

  On the digital frontline, the Xbox continued to thrill. World conquering epic Minecraft came to consoles just for the 360, allowing a whole new audience to experience the genius of Mojang's communal block bashing and building. No surprise that it quickly became one of the most popular online games, challenging even the heavyweight shooters. Indie hit Fez got critics hot under the collar too with its mind-bending puzzle platforming action, and knockabout motocross romp Trials Evolution offered gamers the chance to punish their ragdoll rider in the year's biggest highs and most hilarious fails.

  

  Xbox owners weren't left out when it came to multi-format releases either. The brilliant Borderlands 2, with its lunatic mix of co-op action and loot-swapping mayhem, is what your Xbox LIVE Friends List was invented for, while the online action of hits such as FIFA 13 and Need for Speed: Most Wanted made the most of Microsoft's ever-evolving digital community. Even the biggest game of the year had something extra special for Xbox players, as Activision announced that all the DLC maps for Call of Duty: Black Ops II will be exclusive to Xbox 360 for a limited time.

  And that's just this year. Where will Xbox be in another twelve months? Will there be a new console to save up for? How long will we have to wait for Halo 5? And what will developers do next with the controller-free Kinect? One thing's for sure, it's going to be an amazing ride finding out.

  Published: 13/12/2012

• SONY's Journey dominates DICE Awards

  Journey, the stunning ambient explore-em-up from designer Jenova Chen, swept the board at the annual DICE Awards. Voted for by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, the awards are the closest thing the games industry has to the Oscars, although the ceremony inevitably involves less dance numbers.

  Already a favourite with critics and a top selling game on SONY's PlayStation Network, Journey took home eight awards, including the big three: Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction and Outstanding Innovation in Gaming.

  No other game came close to Journey's haul, but several games came away with multiple awards. The brutally brilliant XCOM: Enemy Unknown took home prizes for best strategy/simulation game as well as Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering. Microsoft's Halo 4 also took home two gongs, for Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering and Outstanding Achievement in Connectivity.

  Topping off a 2012 that was stuffed with superb titles across all genres, the exuberant Borderlands 2 was crowned Action Game of the Year, while Need for Speed: Most Wanted took the prize for best racing game and Mass Effect 3 was dubbed best role-playing game. Skylanders Giants beat Lego Batman 2 and Nintendo Land for Family Game of the Year, while PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale provided an upset in the fighting game category, as SONY's character crossover mash-up beat such genre mainstays as Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and Street Fighter X Tekken.

  Telltale Games' gruelling episodic adventure series The Walking Dead, based on the hit comic, also won big. It was awarded Adventure Game of the Year, and also took home honours for story and voice acting.

  Published: 08/02/2013

As a valued customer we now offer you the facility to sign up to email price alerts. Please enter the price you want to be, or below, and if drops to that level we will let you know...