Last But Not Least

Grand theft auto is finally here for all platforms. This is Rockstar's first game in three years and their first GTA game for the next gen consoles. Although, saturated with controversy, GTA has embraced the blight to make over 500 million dollars in revenue its first week released. Grand theft auto is quickly becoming one of the greatest launches in game history. For people new to the game, GTA is a large sandbox world where you can do anything or go anywhere. Most of the game play is centered on meeting characters and doing missions but, in a sandbox world the game play experience doesn't stop there. Rock star comes out of the gate with guns ablaze by offering solid game play, deep characters, and multiplayer (A first for the series).

How do you know you playing a Rock star game? The easy answer to that question can be found in the game play and story telling. Rock star always makes storytelling its number one priority to engross the player into its playground. I can't tell you how many times I have lost hours upon hours roaming to world of GTA. In this installment you play Niko Bellic, an eastern European immigrant, newly arrived at the harbor of Liberty city. He comes to America seeking fame and fortune promised to him by his cousin Roman. Niko is a very likable guy. He is portrayed as a man who knows what he wants and knows how to get it. Although, he is not accustomed to life in America he soon finds people to help him assimilate into American culture. Niko meets a lot of characters traveling trough Liberty City. These characters bring about new mission, new points of interest and new items. The new characters are also, well written with excellent dialogue that portray a since of urgency and power. The story helps set the scene but, without top notch game play the game will fall flat.

The game play in this installment of the Grand theft auto series has been greatly upgraded and improved. First thing Rockstar upgraded is the targeting system. This was the single worst feature in all the GTA games up until this game. Rock star learned from there previous mistakes and gave the fans what they wanted. The targeting system is almost perfect. It plays almost like a third person shooter with free look mode. Also, you can lock on with the left trigger and fire with the right trigger. This gives you dead on accuracy and makes dispatching enemies easy and fun. They also, added the duck and cover system. It feels a lot like playing Gears of War which focused to lot on the duck and cover system. Rock star also worked on the car driving physics. Every car in liberty city has its own driving style and braking system. Not all the car drives as well as you think they should. Does liberty city have a good brake shop? The short answer is no. Lots of times I think I had enough room to stop, only to plow in to oncoming traffic. The motorcycle is the worst about stopping distance. I think in the next expansion rock star should add a brake shop. With that being said, the game play is still excellent and a great improvement from the last game. Multiplayer is by far the most exciting upgrade this year.

Rock star finally join the land of multiplayer games. By adding multiplayer the replay value has increased by hundreds of hours. With 16 different game types ranging from simple death match, cops and crooks style game, and co-op. Cops and crooks is a refreshing new game type. You take the role of either a cop or crook. This is predetermined at the start of the match. If you are the crook you and your team have to make it to the destination before the cops caught you or kill you. In all of these modes you have a lot of the city at your disposal. You take the necessary measures to ensure victory by steal cars, pick up new guns and armor. If you have friends you can set up a room called party mode. In party mode you can invite friends to join your game lobby. These friends will stay partied up in every team game type you play. You can also, just run around liberty city and cause mayhem. These just scratches the surface of what Grand theft auto has to offer.

Grand theft auto is an excellent game. The replay value of this gem will keep us entertained well into the summer. For Xbox 360 users, Rock star has promised bonus content for this platform by the end of the year. We could be playing this game well into next year. If you enjoy open ended game play with a deep story embedded this is your game. Run. Don't walk. To your nearest video game store and pick up this game.

Ian Austin, has been avid gamer for two decades, visit his blog http://www.biogamer.net

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In my opinion, video games are more than just addicting toys that keep people from being responsible, productive members of society. However, many people seem to disagree with me. A few days ago, I watched a show that covered the shootings by two eleven year-olds of students and teachers at a remote grade school in Arkansas.

There are various theories as to why these two students committed this unspeakable crime. The theory of too much influence on the part of video games was included in this hour-long documentary. Theories that pointed to music, the parents, and the social construct at large were included as well.

The emphasis of the theory that video games were the culprit was focused on the violent games that reward violence. The problem is that the analysts did not consider that the Middle Eastern countries have slaughtered each other in decade- and century-long battles even if these games virtually do not exist in those countries.

I think that the benefits of video games should also be addressed. Experts consider games that require dexterity, linear thinking, and that make other complex demands on coordination, eyes, and the brain as useful in the staving off of such progressive illnesses as Alzheimers.

In this day and age, children can get video games in the classroom, as auxiliary materials, or in learning environments after school. These games are designed based on the rationale that video games can help with skills such as memorizing, remembering, inducing, deducing, recognizing patterns, solving problems, and mapping.

There are also other benefits that children can get out of video games. For example, these games also contribute to perseverance skills, socialization skill, and motor skills. These games have also been found to assist in assuaging the difficulties and challenges of attention deficit disorder. They are also useful for elevating the esteem and increasing the motivation and drive of children.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Video Games. Visit our site for more helpful information about Play Online Video Games and other similar topics.

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