Video Games

Video game developer, Epic Games, is known for giving players realistic experiences thanks to its popular Unreal Engine platform. But while games like Batman: Arkham City and Gears of War are certainly entertaining, virtually beating up thugs and fighting subterranean creatures doesn't exactly translate into real world skills. However a new agreement with teaching software developer, Virtual Heroes, could see Epic's platform used to create more practical experiences and train medical staff and law enforcement officers to handle high-stress situations. By using Epic's Unreal Engine 3, some United States government agencies like the FBI and US Army are hoping to give their employees tools for virtually practicing their skills in a more realistic environment and better prepare them to save lives. Read More

At the risk of showing my age, I can remember the excitement when Pong first made its way from the arcade machine onto our TV screens. By today's standards of course, Atari's first game development is very primitive indeed, but back then it was something of a revolution. Now, the company is hoping to attract a new generation of fans to its legendary game by inviting mobile game developers to come up with a modern take on the wonderfully addictive table tennis classic. The winner of its Pong Indie Developer Challenge will receive a cash prize and a share of the game's profit. Read More

It wasn’t so long ago that the mobile gaming space was dominated by Nintendo and Sony. While both companies continue to stake a claim for the mobile gaming pie with the release of their latest handhelds – the 3DS and PlayStation Vita – dedicated mobile gaming consoles have been under serious fire from smartphones in recent years. But that hasn’t stopped a UK-based company entering the arena with the GameGadget – an open source console designed to let fans get their hands on classic games titles. Read More

If our gushing review of the Vita has you ready to drop some cash, but you're not sure what games to get, read on for our selection of the five best launch titles for the PlayStation Vita (in no particular order). Read More

The 2012 Game Developers Conference is in full swing right now, with video game companies clamoring to show off their newest tech. But while there are plenty of impressive demos of the latest in graphics software, none have stood out quite as much as Quantic Dream's short film showing off its innovative motion capture technology. Aside from an expertly crafted narrative, the seven-minute video, titled KARA, shows one of the most powerful performances from a virtual character to date, which is even more extraordinary given the fact that each jaw-dropping frame is rendered in real-time on a PlayStation 3. Read More

In the video game community, Valve Software is regarded very highly both for developing consistently influential titles for more than a decade and for its popular game distribution service, Steam. So when strong rumors begin floating around about the company producing its own game console, you can bet they're going to grab the attention of a lot of gamers. Thanks to some sources within the company, a few suspicious comments from the company founder, and a patent filing for a new type of game controller, it's starting to seem highly likely that Valve may indeed be entering the hardware market with its purported "Steam Box" project. That would be a bombshell in itself, but the rumored details of the project point to a product that could potentially change the face of modern gaming. Read More

Whether you consider it progress or a race to the bottom, Apple's iOS platform is gobbling up the gaming market. Nintendo's 3DS was far from perfect (read our review), leaving many looking to the Vita for gaming on the go. But is there a future for dedicated gaming devices? After a week with the Vita, Gizmag's Tim Hanlon hopes so. Read More

By now we've seen quite a few examples of augmented reality being used to let people zap virtual creatures in devices like the Nintendo 3DS and the appBlaster. Now John Atherton, inventor of the jaja stylus, is shaking up the concept by making the targets your friends and adding virtual collectibles and objectives into the mix. With his AppTag Laser Blaster attachment for smartphones, you'll be able to play first-person shooter games in the real world on any iOS or Android device, complete with virtual power-ups and other features usually reserved for console games. Read More

This Valentine's Day won't just mark the time of year when people the world over scramble for heart-shaped candy and restaurant reservations – it's also the release date for the highly-anticipated Twisted Metal video game on the Playstation 3. The game features crazy vehicles decked out with weapons all trying to destroy each other, so what better way to promote the occasion than by unloading a machine gun into an ice cream truck like one featured in the game? Rather than just doing it themselves, however, the promoters of the game have set up ShootMyTruck.com, a website that will let users take a shot at the truck remotely using their computers. Read More