Games.com News. CityVille, FarmVille, CastleVille games news

Where's My Mickey? New Disney game for mobile

Debbie Timmins, The Average Gamer — 2013-06-18T15:45:00+00:00

Disney Interactive have announced their newest mobile game - Where's My Mickey? Building on the foundations of Where's My Water? (200 million installs and counting), the new Mickey-based game will use the same style of physics-puzzler gameplay, based around the classic characters we know and love; Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Minnie, Daisy, Goofy and more. It will be available for iOS, Android and Windows Mobile very soon.

Where's My Mickey? will launch with over a hundred levels available. Three episodes will ship with the game, which two more available for purchase. Each episode will be themed around a story of Mickey or his friends in their attempts to get water.

In Life Gives You Lemons, Mickey runs a lemonade stand. Shenanigans ensue, as they always do with Mickey, leading you to chase the water across 20 levels per episode. Others available at launch are called Fanning The Flames and Growing Pains. Another one called Ship Wrecked can be bought as DLC at launch, along with a Goofy-themed episode called Van Goofy. The team are working on future downloads as well - during a tour of the studio we saw concept art for The Menace of Venice starring Mickey and Minnie, and A Glass Half Empty, in which Mickey battles a goat in a desert.

Disney have developed the puzzles beyond the original Where's My Water? There are now clouds to carry water, wind to blow them across the sky and plants to... plant. You'll be using wind to move the water where you want it and raining down on "fizz" to increase the volume available to Mickey and friends. There's a gameplay video and studio tour coming to our YouTube channel soon.

Where's My Mickey? is out now on iOS, Android and Windows Mobile.

Read more about Where's My Mickey? at The Average Gamer >

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Online gaming from a "Gamer Girl" perspective

Magadala See, PlayStation Gang — 2013-06-18T15:00:00+00:00

When you first hear the term "gamer girl" what do people usually think of?

It is the walking sandwich maker that knows how to hold a controller. Boys can't help but flirt with her when her voice echoes on the other end of the server. It is the camera slore that posts a picture of ninety percent boob and five percent controller, on Facebook for likes. She must be a fat slob with potato chips in her moustache because she is at the top of the scoreboard. These are some of the common conceptions.

Well whatever you think this "gamer girl" is, we are here to rule the world and drive the male species to slavery. I know sandwiches are delicious but c'mon, that comeback is overused. I mean, couldn't you guys ask for anything better like a steak dinner? Or maybe even some soup along with that bread with meat you want all the time.

Okay first of all, I have to get this off my chest. I hate the term "gamer girl", I seriously hate that term because it has become some label. The term can be negative or positive, depending on how the person perceives gamer girls. Don't ask me if I am a girl when I go in to a lobby, especially when my name has Miss/Lady/Girl in the Username. I will just say "no I'm actually a unicorn" and tape a hotdog to my forehead just so you will shut up.

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Next-Gen MMO games and the issue of communication

Blaine Smith, MMO Attack — 2013-06-18T14:45:00+00:00

It's no longer a case of wishing or predicting, the MMO genre has already influenced the next-generation of consoles but is the industry ready? Every MMO has its problems. Whether that be terrible launch day woes or constant problems surrounding balance issues and lack of content, you'll struggle to find an MMO that doesn't have a painfully obvious selection of issues. However bringing a genre that has mainly been created for PC to the console market could bring with it a variety of additional issues. One of the core concerns I have is the issue of communication. Every MMO game requires a certain level of communication in order to fully enjoy the content. Whether you're selling a newly acquired item or you're searching for an experienced group to down that last raid boss, you will really struggle if you're not able to communicate.

It's already an issue with current generation consoles and players painstakingly type messages to friends and opponents with an on-screen keyboard. You'll be amazed at how many players will spend 5 minutes with an on-screen keyboard purely to declare their intentions regarding sexual activity and your mother. Despite the obvious dedication of those players, attempting to type at any real pace is almost impossible. "Help, I need healing", "I need to bank", these are common terms in anMMO game and vital to certain levels of success.

Neither console has confirmed any sort of launch peripherals to aid with this issue. I highly doubt the Playstation 4 and Xbox One will ship with a free keyboard or decent quality headset and mic, leaving the average player with very little ability to communicate.

Defensive improvements made to Madden 25

Madden School — 2013-06-18T14:15:00+00:00

EA Sports has announced all sorts of upgrades to this year's Madden 25 game both on offense and on defense. This post is going to focus exclusively on the defensive improvements made to this year's game.

Man align has been fixed! Man align is a feature that allows your defenders to line up directly over the offensive players that they would be responsible for if they were in man to man defense. This allows you to get your defenders into better position to cover the offense before the ball is snapped. There were some problems with the way the defenders aligned in Madden 13 but you won't have to worry about that this year.

The ballhawk feature that was introduced into the Madden NFL franchise last year was viewed as a blessing by some and a curse by others. Essentially the ballhawk feature allowed the user on defense to hold down Y/triangle while running around the field and this would lead to more interceptions. If you got used to doing that in Madden 13, now would be a good time to stop because that will no longer work in Madden 25. You will have to time it better for it to work in Madden 25.

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Man of Steel cheats and tips

Chris Buffa, Modojo — 2013-06-18T14:10:00+00:00

Both the Man of Steel movie and mobile game are worth checking out. The latter pits Superman against General Zod and his henchmen in both Story and Survival Modes. To succeed, you must avoid attacks and harness Superman's unique abilities to crush the competition. Things start off slowly and you'll probably get your butt kicked, but these tips will transform you from novice to expert in no time.

-Never take your eyes off Superman's enemies, and study their body language to know when they'll attack next.

-Whenever a bad guy pulls back to strike, quickly press either the left or right dodge buttons along the bottom of the screen to move in those directions. This is especially important whenever an enemy's head glows red. You don't want to be on the receiving end of this potentially devastating attack.

-Swipe multiple times to launch combos. Hitting enemies a certain number of times will break their guard, allowing you to send them into buildings and vehicles.

-Superman will occasionally grab hold of enemies and fly towards debris. When this happens, swipe in the desired direction to steer both characters into cars, pieces of stone and other objects for bonus damage.

-Pinch the screen to grapple. It's a great maneuver to pull off whenever enemies go into the guard position.

-When enemies initiate a grapple with Superman, quickly tap the two circles on-screen to turn the battle in your favor.

Get more Man of Steel cheats and tips at Modojo >

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New screenshot from upcoming Super Smash Bros for Wii U

Gibson Johns — 2013-06-18T13:40:00+00:00

Check out this brand new screenshot from the upcoming Super Smash Bros game for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS courtesy of Pure Nintendo:

Get more Nintendo news at Pure Nintendo >

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Call of Duty: Ghosts gets sexy with perfectly rounded gun scopes

Matt Liebl, GameZone — 2013-06-18T13:25:00+00:00

When you think next-gen graphics, Call of Duty: Ghosts probably isn't the first game to come to mind. But Activision is making its own technical strides that may go unnoticed to some. They are ahead of the curve with what is easily the most unappreciated advancement in Call of Duty: Ghosts... perfectly rounded gun scopes.

That's right, say goodbye to blocky edges thanks to a new engine feature called Sub-D, a technique which takes the most blocky geometry and builds them into perfectly smooth curves.

"It's been used for a while in Hollywood in film, but the real breakthrough for us has been utilizing it real-time, in engine," Activision told GameZone. Activision showed us an example with Sub-D turned off, revealing frighteningly jagged edges because of the normal poly count. With it turned on, the normal poly count increased exponentially.

Read more about Call of Duty: Ghosts at GameZone >

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Nintendo 3DS beats Xbox 360 as top selling platform in U.S. for May 2013

Matt Liebl, GameZone — 2013-06-18T13:10:00+00:00

The Nintendo 3DS was the best-selling video game hardware platform in the United States for May 2013, a feat accomplished for the first time in the system's lifespan. The achievement was noted in this month's NPD Group report, followed by a Nintendo press release.

The 3DS edged out the Xbox 360 as the top selling platform for the 4-week period spanning from May 5, 2013 through June 1, 2013; however, the Xbox 360 remained the top-selling console hardware platform, for the twenty-ninth consecutive month.

"The 3DS had the best year-over-year trending for hardware units, with units sales essentially flat from last May," NPD noted. May saw the launch of Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D as well as another strong month for Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon. Combined, the two helped Nintendo 3DS software sales in stores increase by more than 60% over the same time last year. Nintendo 3DS also had two of the top three best-selling software SKUs for the month, with Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D at No. 2 and Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon at No. 3.

Learn more about hardware sales at GameZone >

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Man of Steel review

David Oxford, Gamezebo — 2013-06-18T12:15:00+00:00

Man of Steel, fists of fury.

Superman just can't seem to catch a break. First his planet blows up, taking his parents - and his entire society and culture - along with it, and now his new game Man of Steel keeps crashing.

At least, that's what we experienced as we kept trying to load and reload the game on our iPod Touch 4, watching the Unreal logo and opening cutscenes, but never getting any further than selecting our save file. The only thing which seemed "unreal" at this point was how watching the game keep crashing was like seeing Kal-El's ship landing in Kansas on a JFK-like instant replay. After trying everything we could think of on the device, we relented and made a new attempt on an iPhone 5. And there? Well things got pretty good.

Licensed games based on the Infinity Blade style of fighting have been fairly hit-or-miss. Well, mostly miss. ButMan of Steel, based on the new, non-eponymous Superman film of the same name, actually seems to do right by the formula. It's actually kind of impressive, in some ways. You still tap to parry and swipe to lay into your enemies, but there are other things which really allow it to stand out as well.

A simple one is your dodge buttons, placed at the lower right and left of the screen (why can't they ever be together?). Rather than just sidestepping, and as is sometimes the case in other games, stepping right back into an extended arm which just threw a punch, Superman actually moves around his enemies. This changes things up a bit, as you might be able to get a few swings in from the side or behind the enemy. Moreover, it effectively changes the background: whereas a building might have been what was behind your enemy, a sidestep now places an open street behind you, or perhaps an abandoned school bus.

This may not seem like much, but then you bring Superman's famed powers into play. Wallop a foe with a flurry of punches, and you can send them flying into whatever is behind you. Certain attacks can launch the enemies into the air, either finishing them by sending them over the horizon, and allowing you to wail on them in the air before smashing them back down into the ground, or flying after them, grabbing them, and basically trying to ram them into as much of the scenery as you can to inflict damage.

Read more about Man of Steel at Gamezebo >

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Hi Guess the Character: Cheats, tips, and answers

Gibson Johns — 2013-06-18T12:05:00+00:00

Do you love Hi Guess the Brand, Hi Guess the Movie, and Hi Guess the Place? Then you're going to love the fourth installment, Hi Guess the Place! It's just as addicting as the first three games and, thanks to our friends at Modojo, we've got all of the answers for you right here just in case you get stumped.

To find out which level you're stuck on, check the top right corner of your device's screen and then click on the corresponding photo below to get the answer!

Level 1-10

Level 11-20

Level 21-30

Level 31-40

Level 41-50

Level 51-60

Level 61-70

Level 71-80

Level 81-90

Level 91-100

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The Last of Us finishes first in UK sales charts

Matt Liebl, GameZone — 2013-06-18T11:40:00+00:00

The Last of Us is an amazing game. If you read my review, you'd understand why the game is selling like hotcakes across the pond in the U.K. According to GfK Chart-Track, The Last of Us has become the 3rd fastest selling game of 2013, trailing only Tomb Raider and BioShock Infinite, both of which are available on multiple platforms. In addition, Naughty Dog's latest game is the "biggest launch for a new IP since L.A. Noire" which released back in 2011.

The Last of Us has received tremendous praise since its embargo lifted earlier this month, and currently sits at 95/100 on Metacritic. Funny enough, we scored it a 9.5/10 here on GameZone. But as we sit here and praise the latest hit from Naughty Dog, I can't help but wonder what's in store for upcoming PS4 owners. Although nothing was announced at E3, you know Naughty Dog has something up their sleeve for next-gen.

But Sony wasn't the only one to enjoy the week. Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Leaf debuted at number 2. It has become the biggest 3DS launch since Mario Kart 7 and is the biggest 3DS launch ever for a non-Mario title.

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PS4 first-party game prices revealed

Magadala See, PlayStation Gang — 2013-06-18T11:35:00+00:00

Microsoft has recently announced the launch price of the games for their next-gen console is going to be the same as the current price, $59.99.

The price of Sony's next-gen games will remain at the same price as well. Today a Sony representative told Shack News, "We have announced the pricing for our first party line up of PS4 launch and launch window games. All four titles, Killzone: Shadow Fall, Drive Club, Knack, and infamous: Second Son are all $59.99,"

The $59.99 price has been confirmed only for next-gen first-party games being sold at retailers. It will not represent the price for third-party games, or games with different software pricing in the future.

Peter Moore, COO of EA tells analysts his expectations on next-gen pricing, "You see a $60 price for a next-gen game whereas we believe [with digital downloads] we can get $70, $80, $90 from the consumer, but it's a $60 price point."

The next-gen consoles will be released in time for the holidays. Pre-Orders for consoles and upcoming games are now available on multiple websites.

Read more about PS4 at PlayStation Gang >

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GAME: Xbox One pre-orders 'very strong'

Matt Liebl, GameZone — 2013-06-18T11:30:00+00:00

Microsoft has faced tons of backlash since unveiling its next-gen console, but despite the criticisms, UK retailer GAME has revealed that pre-orders for the Xbox One have been "very strong." No specific numbers were revealed, but the retailer did say they've seen "great activity both in store and online with very strong pre-order numbers."

"There are lot of gamers out there in the UK gaming community who can't wait to get their hands on the console," a GAME representative told VideoGamer.com.

There's been a lot of speculation surrounding pre-order numbers for both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 since both were shown off for a second time at E3 last week. With all of the mudslinging between both sides, everyone is eager to declare the next-gen winner; although, the battle has only just begun.

Read more about Xbox One pre order sales at GameZone >

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NCAA Football 14 demo releases today

Lance Liebl, GameZone — 2013-06-18T11:20:00+00:00

The demo for NCAA Football 14releases later today on Xbox LIVE and PlayStation Network. The demo features three different matchups for you to play -- National Champions Alabama vs. Virginia Tech, Oregon vs. Texas A&M (JOHNNY FOOTBALL!!!), and Ohio State vs. Michigan.

All of the games have three-minute quarters, with the Alabama-Virginia Tech game playing at the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game at the Georgia Dome, Oregon playing at Texas A&M, and Ohio State playing at Michigan's stadium a.k.a. The Big House.

Also available in the demo is the new Skills Trainer minigame suite, which lets players try out the new upgrades made to this year's controls and game engine. While EA Sports' Ignite Engine is only for next-gen consoles, NCAA Football 14 will feature the Infinity Engine, which debuted last year in the Madden series.

Read more about NCAA Football 14 at GameZone >

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EA will return to Wii U when Nintendo "sell more boxes"

Thomas Chamberlain, The Koalition — 2013-06-17T15:45:00+00:00

EA have pledged that they will begin to support the Wii U again, but only when the system sells more units. The remarks were made in an interview over atJoystiq where EA Labels President Frank Gibeau spoke about their lack of games on the console.

"The only thing they can do to fix it is to sell more boxes. We're a rational company, we go where the audience is. We publish games where we think we can make a great game and hit a big audience, and make money. That's why we're here, that's why we have an industry."

In response to this Nintendo of America's head of corporate communications Charlie Scibetta has said, "We're confident that once some of these games come out that we have planned between now and the holiday and into 2014, that it will help drive theinstall base and when that happens the platforms will look more enticing to third parties."

Read more at The Koalition >

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Ubisoft is working on three different Assassin's Creed games

MegaGames — 2013-06-17T15:40:00+00:00

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot revealed that three different Assassin's Creed games are currently in development but promised that each of them has its own gameplay and innovations.

Much like Activision's flagship Call of Duty, Ubisoft is having two or three independent teams work in parallel for 2 or 3 years each and release their games in a staggered manner.

"We are making sure the teams who are creating the different iterations have enough time - two years, three years, so that they can take risk and they can change the concept enough so that it can be appealing and fresh," Guillemot assured.

"Really, what we see is that we can have the capacity to regularly come with innovation," he added. "That is, for me, the formula: if you can really change the game on a regular basis and bring in innovation your fans want a product very regularly. Our job is to make sure the teams have enough power, enough energy and enough time to take the necessary steps to create a high quality game."

Guillemot was careful not to reveal any details about the games that are still to be announced; nonetheless, the first of the trio, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag is scheduled for release on October 29th, 2013 in the US and November 1st, 2013 in the UK.

Read more about Assassin's Creed at MegaGames >

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Everything you want to know about the Xbox 360 Stingray

Kelly, FleshEatingZipper — 2013-06-17T15:30:00+00:00

At Microsoft's E3 press conference they announced a redesigned Xbox 360 to look more like the Xbox One design. I thought it was a very strange move but some of the guys here thought it was a cost savings thing for Microsoft. It turns out it wasn't "we redesigned Xbox 360 to give it a fresh new design and a similar look and feel to Xbox One. Although we're very excited about Xbox One, we remain dedicated to Xbox 360 now and for years to come."

It's really disappointing to hear that instead of transitioning to the new Xbox One, Microsoft wants to keep the Xbox 360 around for the long haul and as a fallback for those who have shoddy internet connection like our military. Related to this, a lot of people expected to see the Xbox 360 get a significant price drop, that won't be happening for a long time it looks like.

This leaked PR document talks answers tons of questions about the Xbox One as well if you want to take a look. I've placed the text relevant to the Xbox 360 Stingray below.

Q: What is the new Xbox 360 you unveiled at E3 (Stingray)?
A: Today, we unveiled the redesigned Xbox 360. It offers an amazing new design and form factor that brings Xbox 360 in line with the look and feel of the Xbox One family. We see this as another indication in our investment and long-term vision for Xbox 360 and its millions of owners worldwide.

Q: When will the redesigned Xbox 360 be available in XYZ country?
A: It will ship in the U.S., UK, Ireland, Canada, and Australia starting Tuesday, June 11. It will launch in other regions this fall, with exact dates to be confirmed later.

Q: Was this a cost saving move for Microsoft?
A: No, we redesigned Xbox 360 to give it a fresh new design and a similar look and feel to Xbox One. Although we're very excited about Xbox One, we remain dedicated to Xbox 360 now and for years to come.

Q: What is the price of the redesigned Xbox 360? Are you dropping the price of Xbox 360?
A: The redesigned Xbox 360 will be available for the same great price and available in the same value-packed editions: 4GB, 250GB and 4GB Kinect bundle.

Q: Why have you not/do you not plan to drop prices on Xbox 360?
A: Xbox 360 continues to be a great value with a full gaming and entertainment experience starting at $199 (MSRP), which includes access to the largest portfolio of games available and an amazing array of entertainment services.

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Madden NFL 25 is EA's newly polished glimpse into the future

Samantha Earwood, PlayStation Gang — 2013-06-17T15:00:00+00:00

Madden NFL 25 is a promise to gamers who stuck with the series and begged for more gameplay options and features.

On the PS4, it's a glimpse into the future. With new gameplay, visual engines, and a brand-new step-based locomotion system, Electronic Arts believes the pigskin action will never be the same.

"There's that wow factor when you pick up the controller," said Electronic Arts Football General Manager Cam Weber. "It feels amazing."

A celebration of 25 years of the franchise, EA Sports spent significant time developing a next generation football game they felt would change the genre. The IGNITE gameplay engine will have approximately 300 "live" characters on both sidelines, reacting to the action, as well as a crowd that looks more "real" than the cardboard cut-outs and static virtual fans gamers have become accustomed to seeing over the years.

The new True Step Locomotion system also promises a better rushing game. Madden 2013 focused heavily on passing and True Step, combined with the enhanced A.I. offensive linemen, as well as defensive players. The end result, Weber says, is a more authentic and instinctual game of football, with authentic route running, more realistic downfield blocking, and better moving player models.

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Pet Rescue Saga cheats and tips

Chris Buffa, Modojo — 2013-06-17T14:55:00+00:00

Popular Facebook game Pet Rescue Saga finally brought its addictive match-up puzzles to iOS and Android. Candy Crush Saga fans will find certain parts of the game familiar since it borrows a handful of concepts from the aforementioned smash hit. Newcomers may need some advice, so we put together a beginner's guide to help them beat their friends.

-You only have five lives and lose one for each failed puzzle. When lives run out, you can purchase five for $0.99 or wait for a refill.

-You can ask Facebook friends for lives and vice versa, just like Candy Crush Saga.

-You can request lives before playing a puzzle. Select the desired level and tap the heart icon to the right of your friends' Facebook photos along the bottom of the screen.

-You don't need to eliminate all blocks from the screen to clear a puzzle. That said, pay close attention to each puzzle's goals. These may include rescuing seven pets or scoring a set number of points.

-Boosters like Color Pop and Block Buster are there to make puzzles easier. Just don't waste them. Otherwise you'll need to buy more.

-Some puzzles only provide you with a certain number of lives. Don't be wasteful. Running out of lives means game over.

-The Column Blaster is great for clearing blocks of different colors. Drag the rocket (lower right) to the desired location and make sure it's in the correct place before launching it.

Get more Pet Rescue Saga cheats and tips at Modojo >

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PS4 pre-orders doubling Xbox One at GameStop

Matt Liebl, GameZone — 2013-06-17T14:40:00+00:00

With the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 both having their retail price announced at E3 last week, gamers can finally begin pre-ordering their next-gen console of choice. And with that, early data indicates the PS4 is ahead of the Xbox One in pre-orders by approximately three units to two during the period between Monday, June 10 to Wednesday, June 12. DualShockers has put together a nice little comparison between the two consoles, but over the weekend we found out a few more details.

The PS4 is outselling the Xbox One by two units to one at GameStop, a GameStop representative told GameZone. This was according to a local retailer who didn't specify whether this was chain wide or just at the individual store; however, I think we can presume, given what we already know about the two systems' sales, that the PS4 is outselling the Xbox One overall. Whether it's at a rate of two to one everywhere is still a bit of a mystery.

Games.com News. CityVille, FarmVille, CastleVille games news

Where's My Mickey? New Disney game for mobile

Online gaming from a "Gamer Girl" perspective

Next-Gen MMO games and the issue of communication

Read more about Next-Gen MMOs at MMO Attack >

Defensive improvements made to Madden 25

Man of Steel cheats and tips

Get more Man of Steel cheats and tips at Modojo >

New screenshot from upcoming Super Smash Bros for Wii U

Call of Duty: Ghosts gets sexy with perfectly rounded gun scopes

Nintendo 3DS beats Xbox 360 as top selling platform in U.S. for May 2013

Man of Steel review

Man of Steel, fists of fury.

Hi Guess the Character: Cheats, tips, and answers

Level 1-10

Level 11-20

Level 21-30

Level 31-40

Level 41-50

Level 51-60

Level 61-70

Level 71-80

Level 81-90

Level 91-100

The Last of Us finishes first in UK sales charts

PS4 first-party game prices revealed

GAME: Xbox One pre-orders 'very strong'

NCAA Football 14 demo releases today

EA will return to Wii U when Nintendo "sell more boxes"

Ubisoft is working on three different Assassin's Creed games

Everything you want to know about the Xbox 360 Stingray

Madden NFL 25 is EA's newly polished glimpse into the future

Pet Rescue Saga cheats and tips

PS4 pre-orders doubling Xbox One at GameStop

Read more about the console wars at GameZone >