League of Legends: Season 3

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https://lh3.ggpht.com/DbZz5UOOKgk2aYmawGJesnmICDR3JEjOyzJboQ-uN6PGxfUPygF0Rt0crkbn-vNKrCE=w705

 Riot Games is in their third season of competitive gaming! The combination of "free-to-play" and low hardware requirements has made League of Legends (LoL) a recent popular hit. With Season 2 ending with a 2 million dollar pooled prize, gamers across the world are trying to increase their skill (and more so, bragging rights) to compete professionally on the game.

The developers made it simple for gamers to be able to purchase "character advantages" but being "good" at the game requires more teamwork and strategy than most games. Each round is basically a fresh start for all players in the game. Team performance is based on planning on character selection and taking advantage of opportunities that arise in each scrimmage.

League of Legends is only one example of how gaming is progressing. Game titles can easily be brought to popularity when a large company funds and promotes any idea that can bring in revenue. Riot Games started with two gamers who wanted to make competitive gaming available to all. It looks like their doing pretty good...

Season 3 updates:

http://competitive.na.leagueoflegends.com/article/top-teams-blast-through-season-3-online-qualifier

PlayStation 2 - May you Rest in Piece

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While the original PlayStation may have been what placed Sony on the map in the world of video games, it was the PlayStation 2 that helped cement them there. While the system did not initially sell for its ability to play games, and instead for the fact that it was a cheap DVD player, this gave it a large install base. Have such fast sales made developers jump at the chance to create games for it. Over 12 years the system sold 155.1 million systems (as of March 2012). This mean almost every gamer at one time or another had a PS2 (except me, but we are not going to get into that). Now, after a very impressive 13 year life span, the PS2 is ceasing production. And can you fault Sony? We are on the verge of a new generation of consoles, they don't need to produce 3 generations at once. But what does this really mean? Can we expect Sony to have something new and fancy to show us at E3 this year? Can we expect the PS3 to die in 2019? Are they going to make PS Move something we actually want? Only time will tell in the coming months.

This Weeks Geek - The Little Things

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Games are huge endeavors. When someone goes to create a game, whether it be an indie or AAA title, there is a huge amount of work that goes into it. From the initial gameplay mechanics to the story. But after all that work a game is going to seem similar to something else. Sure there are ways to get around this. The way that this is most often done is by reinventing at least one game element that has become so common no one even gives it a second glance. Now I could take the article in the direction that involves a number of games that changed just one thing or used controls in such a way that made what would have been a mediocre game into a truly great thing.  But I have been playing a bunch of Guild Wars 2 as of late so I am going to talk about a few of the mechanics implemented or changed that set it apart as an MMO and make it a different experience.
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Diablo III: PVP carnage, still in the works...

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Blizzard Entertainment created quite the buzz when they released Diablo III last May. Since then, many fans have bailed on the name because of the current content and game functions. The game developers have done their best to keep up with requests from the public (more leveling, better items, more content) but it seems like one of the most important subjects has yet to be released. Dueling with other players (or lack thereof) seems to be one of the largest complaints from players across the globe.

Beta testing videos and rumors have bounced around on forums and the internet but  the game developers have finally released an official update/statement on the subject (http://us.battle.net/d3/en/blog/8163085/?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=launcher&utm_campaign=d3&utm_content=news-textlink). For the players who have abandoned the game, they will soon realize that the game developers will deliver what they want. Players forget that most games start somewhere and then additions and improvements come with patches and expansion releases. Like many games, users come and go but when Diablo III is sure to spark the public's attention when the PVP system is released.

Final Fantasy XI: Seekers of Adoulin get a date

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Nothing can spell the death of a good MMO like letting it start to stagnent. If a developer stops releasing new content for their game they might as well start making preperation to pull the plug. Well Square Enix is not going to let Final Fantasy XI go that way yet. As of March 26, 2013 Xbox 360 and PC players will have access to the Seekers of Adoulin expansion.

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This Weeks Geek - End of Year

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Yes, we are still alive over hear at Gameslave HQ, and we even managed to survive the holidays. So now that the chaos is mostly over I have taken a few moments to collect my thoughts about 2012. This has been a good year for gaming. We have had some great games and some fun controversies (as fun as they could be). Unfortunately we have also some of the most ridiculous things from people that just don't know better. What were some of my favorites this year? Well hold your horses and I will tell you.
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Dead Space 3 Demo

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Christmas may be over but EA is giving gamers a belated holiday gift. As of January 22, 2013 you can get a demo of Dead Space 3 for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 via there respective networks. Although if you are a 360 owner you have the option of going to  http://demo.deadspace.com and signing up for early beta access (while supplies last, expires 1/14/2013 @ 11:59 PM PST, stupid lawyer speak). The demo not only includes the new planet that you crashed on, which is of course teaming with Necromorphs, but it allows you to play co-op as either the reluctant Issac Clarke or the new character Sergeant John Carver. Wow, someone for the military is actually stepping to help this time. What radical thinking? If you find the game to be what you are looking for then look forward to the full game on February 5th in North America for the 360, PS3, and PC. If you are in Europe then don't worry, you only have to wait until February 8th.