Video Power for Gamers

You know you need better than average graphics power when you’re playing the latest and greatest PC games.  Then your choice is whether to go for good or go for “OMG, that is so %#$@#$ cool!”…

SAVE $58 - XFX GeForce 9800 GTX+ Black Edition 512MB DDR3 PCIe 2.0 SLI Ready Dual DVI HDTV HDMI Video Card $159.99* Price after $30 MIR, rebate expires 02/28/09

SAVE $200 - BFG GeForce GTX 280 OC Edition 1GB GDDR3 PCIe 2.0 SLI Ready Dual DVI HDTV HDMI Video Card w/FREE Far Cry 2 Game $304.99* Price after $25 MIR, rebate expires 02/28/09

Maybe you could use that upcoming tax rebate and go for the OMG option?

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Tom Clancy’s HAWX

hawx_400Now available for XBox 360 owners is a demo for Tom Clancy’s HAWX, a visually spectacular new flying game. In the HAWX world, entities known as “Private Military Companies” are hired to handle all the security needs of major nations. In this downloadable demo you’re a pilot for a “PMC” trying to prevent some bad folks from invading Rio de Janeiro.  Flying games can be a bit confusing without the opportunity to RTFM, so it’s helpful that the first mission in the demo gives some instruction in manipulation your F-16A Fighting Falcon.

After completing your basic “certification” mission you get assigned to patrolling the airspace around Rio.  A few seconds into the job the forces of “La Trinidad” are staging an invasion (you’re obviously not the luckiest pilot in the sky).  From that point it’s pretty much a free-for-all as you knock enemies planes out of the sky, sink a fleet of invading landing craft and blow to bits some tanks that dare to roll into your beloved Rio de Janeiro.

The graphics in Tom Clancy’s HAWX are amazing - at least as much as we’ve seen in the demo.  You’ll undoubtedly find yourself straying off-mission to explore Rio’s neighborhoods at low latitudes.   But try to avoid the temptation to do any strafing of the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado mountain above the city.  That just ain’t right.

The demo is only available for XBox 360, but the game will also be available for Playstation 3 and PC when it’s released in March.  The official HAWX web site has lots more information, including a list of the flying peripherals that are compatible with the game.

2008 IGN Game of the Year

Front Office Manager Video

New This Week: MLB Front Office Manager

MLB Front Office Manager from 2K Sports releases this week, giving sports gamers the opportunity to direct major league baseball franchises. Definitely a good one for those who are more strategically-minded, perhaps not so much for those who are action-addicted.

It’s not about becoming the next Albert Pujols - more like becoming the next Brian Cashman.  There are several PC-based games that let you try to build your own little MLB dynasty (see Out of the Park Baseball and Baseball Mogul), but it’ll be interesting to see what 2K comes up with for PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.

And it’s not just your Major League squad that you have to worry about.  You’ll be directing a farm system, drafting, scouting, contracts and budget management.  If it’s done well, it could be a lot of fun.  There’s an online capability so you can play a new kind of fantasy baseball against other real-worlders.

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