Best Games of year 2012 (contd:)

Journey (2012 video game)

Journey is an indie video game developed by Thatgamecompany for thePlayStation 3. It was released on March 13, 2012, via the PlayStation Network. In Journey, the player controls a robed figure in a vast desert, traveling towards a mountain in the distance. Other players on the same journey can be discovered, and two players can meet and assist each other, but they cannot communicate via speech or text and cannot see each other's names. The only form of communication between the two is a musical chime. This chime also transforms dull, stiff pieces of cloth found throughout the levels into vibrant red, affecting the game world and allowing the player to progress through the levels. The robed figure wears a trailing scarf, which when charged by approaching floating pieces of cloth, briefly allows the player to float through the air.

The developers sought to evoke in the player a sense of smallness and wonder, and to forge an emotional connection between them and the anonymous players they meet along the way. The music, composed byAustin Wintory, dynamically responds to the player's actions, building a single theme to represent the game's emotional arc throughout the story. Reviewers of the game praised the visual and auditory art as well as the sense of companionship created by playing with a stranger, calling it a moving and emotional experience. Journey won several "game of the year" awards and received several other awards and nominations, including a Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media nomination for the2013 Grammy Awards. A retail "Collector's Edition", including Journey, Thatgamecompany's two previous titles, and additional media, was released on August 28, 2012.

(Source Wikipedia)

Best Games of year 2012

Dishonored

Dishonored is a 2012 stealth action-adventure video game developed byArkane Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. It was released worldwide in October 2012 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. Set in the fictional, plague-ridden industrial city of Dunwall,Dishonored follows the story of Corvo Attano, bodyguard to the Empress of the Isles. He is framed for her murder and forced to become an assassin, seeking revenge on those who conspired against him. Corvo is aided in his quest by the Loyalists—a resistance group fighting to reclaim Dunwall, and the Outsider—a powerful being who imbues Corvo with magical abilities. Several noted actors including Susan Sarandon, Brad Dourif, Carrie Fisher, Michael Madsen, Lena Headey, and Chloë Grace Moretz provided voice work for the game.

The game is played from a first-person perspective and allows the player to undertake a series of assassination missions in a variety of ways, with an emphasis on player choice. Missions can be completed through stealth, combat, or a combination of both. Exploring each level opens new paths and alternatives for accomplishing mission goals, and it is possible to complete all missions, eliminating all of Corvo's targets, in a non-lethal manner. The story and missions are changed in response to the player's violent actions or lack thereof. Magical abilities and equipment are designed to be combined to create new and varied effects.

During its three years in production, several versions of Dishonored were developed. Before the creation of Dunwall—inspired by late nineteenth-century London and Edinburgh—the game was set to take place in medieval Japan and seventeenth-century London. During development, test players discovered methods of exploiting the available powers and abilities to achieve unexpected outcomes; instead of restricting these techniques, the designers attempted to redesign levels to accommodate them. Dishonored's music score was produced by composer Daniel Lichtto represent London in the nineteenth century.

Dishonored received generally positive reviews, focusing on the missions' individual narratives and the freedom available in completing them. Criticism fell on the overarching narrative, which was considered predictable, and problems in controlling the player's character. Following its release, the game won several awards, including the 2012 Spike Video Game award for Best Action-Adventure Game and the 2013 BAFTA award for Best Game, and was repeatedly recognized as the best action-adventure game of 2012 and one of that year's best games. Following its release, Dishonored was supplemented with additional content focusing on the assassin Daud and his quest for redemption.

Minimum Spec:

• OS: Windows Vista / Windows 7
• Processor: 3.0 GHz dual core or better
• Memory: 4 GB system RAM
• Hard Disk Space: 9 GB
• Video Card: DirectX 9 compatible with 512 MB video RAM or better (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 / ATI Radeon HD 5850)
• Sound: Windows compatible sound card

Recommended Spec:

• OS: Windows Vista / Windows 7
• Processor: 2.4 GHz quad core or better
• Memory: 4 GB system RAM
• Hard Disk Space: 9 GB
• Video Card: DirectX 9 compatible with 768 MB video RAM or better (NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460 / ATI Radeon HD 5850)
• Sound: Windows compatible sound card

( source Wikipedia,pcgamer)

Best Games of year 2013 Contd: II)

Gone Home

Gone Home is a first-person interactive story adventure video game developed and published by The Fullbright Company.The plot focuses on exploration of its setting. It takes place in June 1995 at a house in the Pacific Northwest, with a young woman who returns after traveling abroad to find her entire family gone from their home.

Windows:

WindowsXP SP2 or higher

1.80GHz Processor

2GB Memory

Video card with 512MB or greater VRAM

(Note: Intel HD Graphics 4000 not supported on Windows 8)

2GB HDD space

Mac:

OS X v10.7 Lion or higher

1.80GHz Processor

2GB Memory

Video card with 512MB or greater VRAM

2GB HDD space

Linux:

glibc 2.11 or newer

1.80GHz Processor

2GB Memory

Video card with 512MB or greater VRAM

2GB HDD space

(Source Wikipedia,fullbright.company)

Best Games of 2013 (Contd.)

The Last of Us

The Last of Us is an action-adventure survival horror video game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation 3. It was officially revealed on December 10, 2011 at the Spike TV Video Game Awards and released worldwide on June 14, 2013. It was released in Japan on June 20, 2013. The Last of Us Remastered, an updated version for the PlayStation 4, will be released in in the third or fourth quarter of 2014.

The player controls Joel (voiced and motion captured by Troy Baker) escorting the young Ellie (Ashley Johnson) across a post-apocalyptic United States that has been ravaged by infection. The player uses firearms, improvised weapons and stealth techniques to defend against hostile bandits and zombie-like creatures infected by a mutated strain of theCordyceps fungus.

The Last of Us received worldwide critical acclaim for its writing, voice acting, sound design, level design, and art direction. Its narrative was praised for its characterization, subtext, and critical depiction of the human condition, dealing with themes of sacrifice, loyalty, fate, and hope. Considered one of the most significant titles of the seventh generation video game era, The Last of Us received Game of the Year awards from numerous publications. It was also a commercial success, and became the second-largest video game launch of 2013 (after Grand Theft Auto V), selling over 1.3 million units in its first week. As of March 2014, the game had sold over 6 million units worldwide.

The Last of Us: Minimum System Requirements

• Windows: XP (SP3) / Vista (SP2) / 7 (SP1)
• CPU: Intel Core i3 or i5 dual core processor or better
• RAM: 2 GB
• Hard Disc Space: 14 GB
• Direct X: 9.0c
• Graphics Card: 512 MB RAM, Nvidia 7-series, AMD 3000-series
• Sound: DirectX 9.0c–compliant

The Last of Us: Recommended System Requirements

• Windows: 7 (64-bit)
• CPU: Quad core Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, or AMD FX 8000 series chip
• RAM: 4 GB
• Hard Disc Space: 14 GB
• Direct X: 10 or better
• Graphics Card: 1GB Video RAM, Nvidia 500 / Nvidia 600/ AMD 6000 series.
• Sound: 5.1 surround sound        

(Source Wikipedia)

Best Games of year 2013

Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V is an open world, action-adventure video game developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It was released on 17 September 2013 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game is the first main entry in the Grand Theft Auto series since Grand Theft Auto IV was released in 2008. Set within the fictional state of San Andreas, based on Southern California, the game's single-player story follows three criminals and their efforts to perform a number of heists while under pressure from a government agency. The game's use of open world design lets players freely roam San Andreas, which includes open countryside and the fictional city of Los Santos, based on Los Angeles.

The game is played from a third-person perspective and its world is navigated on-foot or by vehicle. Players control the three lead protagonists throughout the single-player mode, switching between them both during and outside of missions. The story is framed by the heist sequences, and many of the missions have shooting and driving gameplay. The player character's criminal activities may incite a response from the game's law enforcement agencies. The online multiplayer mode allows up to 16 players to explore the open world and engage in cooperative or competitive game matches.

Development began shortly following the release of Grand Theft Auto IVand lasted five years. The development team envisioned Grand Theft Auto V as a spiritual successor to many of their previous projects, such as Red Dead Redemption and Max Payne 3. The game's use of three lead protagonists is a break from series tradition—a design choice from the developers to innovate on the core structure of its predecessors. As part of their extensive research for the game's open world, the developers conducted field research around California throughout development and captured footage for the design team. Development duties were shared between many of Rockstar's studios worldwide.

As one of the last titles to be released for the seventh generation of video game consoles, Grand Theft Auto V was widely anticipated preceding its release. At release, the game was acclaimed by many reviewers, with praise particularly directed at the multiple protagonist design and open-ended gameplay. Critics were polarised by a scene depicting torture and the game's treatment of women. Some labelled the game as inherently violent and misogynistic. Grand Theft Auto V broke industry sales records and became the fastest selling entertainment product in history, earning US$800 million in its first day and US$1 billion in its first three days. The game won several year-end accolades, including Game of the Year awards from several gaming publications. 

GTA 5 Minimum System Requirements for PC

1. Operating System: Windows Vista, 7 or 8

2. CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz or similar

3. RAM: 3 GB

4. Hard Disk: 20 GB free space

5. Graphic Card: 512 MB Dedicated Memory

6. Sound Card: DirectX 9 Compatible

7. Supported Graphics Cards: Nvidia 9600 or ATI 4890 and up

Recommended System Requirements

1. CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad 3.66GHz or equivalent AMD

2. RAM: 4 GB

3. GPU: NVIDIA GTX 580 Ti or similar ATI

4. Hard Disk Space:  30 GB free HDD

5. Sound Card: DirectX 11

6. OS: Windows 7 or 8 SP 1

(Source, Wikipedia,Sportskeeda)