Hitman: Blood & Money is a game created by IO Interactive, published under Edios Interactive and directed by Rasmus Hojengaard. It is the fourth part in the Hitman game series and it came out on May 26 in Europe and in Usa it came out on May 20, 2006 for the Playstation 2, Xbox and Xbox 360. This game was also made available for Mobile Phone but with different gameplay, graphics and overall style.

The story is about the life of a professional Hitman Agent 47, which is being told by a former FBI director to a journalist who is interviewing him at his own home. This story is told in short scenes in the game. The former FBI director is on a wheelchair and he recounts his memory on how his agency tracked Agent 47 over a period of two years. The tone of the Hitman: Blood & Money, is completely different from the previous versions of the game like: Hitman 2: Silent Assassin. The game is also different in many other ways from previous three versions like: the “covert ops” settings of Silent Assassin, Codename 47 and Contracts missions.

Gameplay

The concept of the game Hitman: Blood & Money is somewhat similar to the previous versions of the game in which the player character (Agent 47) has to kill one or more individuals in order to accomplish the mission. In order to stop him from completing his missions there are many obstacles such as: security checkpoints, armed guards and many more. In order to guide the Agent 47 through various levels in the game he can take the help of a satellite map whenever he wishes too. The map shows the layout of every topographical area in the various levels, in which he can see his main targets, and other CPU-controlled characters. In order to complete his missions, Agent 47 can take any measures without thinking about witnesses or other people (Innocent People) which gets killed during his mission. In the series rewarding stealth over bloodshed was traditional but Hitman: Blood & Money also includes a feature in which the player is directly penalized for making too much ‘noise’.

Various new features were included in Hitman: Blood & Money. These are: able to climb through more obstacles, improved hand to hand combat, able to use an NPC as a human shield, more detailed features for a character (Face, Eyes, etc), a new game engine and also able to upgrade weapons and equipment. Well, only five of the featured weapons along with some assorted pieces of equipment such as bombs and armor, can be upgraded. Every level contains some kind of a method to make a target’s assassination look like an accident for example, grills are being tampered so that they can be made to explode when they are turned on, making a chandelier to fall on a target, or the target ‘accidentally’ falling of a balcony. There some other things which can also be used as weapons, like a nailgun or a pair of hedge clippers.

A new gameplay feature was also added to the Hitman series, the “Notoriety” system. Suppose, if the player, during his mission, kills an innocent person, gets caught on CCTV or is witnessed during the killing, the notoriety of Agent 47 will rise. On the contrary, if the player completes his mission without committing any of the mistakes mentioned above, then his notoriety level will be less. It gets easier for NPC to identify, Agent 47 when his notoriety level is high. Agent 47 can also use the bribery system to negate accumulated notoriety. In the “Rookie” mode, the notoriety system is not enabled, it also allows you to make unlimited saves and the general difficulty is also lower.

A newspaper article is displayed regarding the hit, in which the investigation information is available along with the Agent 47 (Player’s) notoriety, when each mission is accomplished. In detail, it shows the most frequently used weapon, how perfectly was the weapon used, the number of civilians, security and police killed or injured, and if there was any witness for the crime. Injured people are counted as witness. The number of witnesses will also affect Agent 47’s (Player’s) Notoriety. Sketch drawings of Agent 47’s (Player’s) face gets more accurate with the rise in the notoriety. The article’s title relates to the Agent 47 (Player’s) mission rating. The best possible rating for a mission is “Silent Assassin” in which you kill the target as cleanly and quietly as possible, and without drawing any unnecessary attention to yourself (blow your cover, leave no extra bodies, etc).

Hitman: Blood & Money has also improved the melee weapons system, which allows Agent 47 (Player) to throw certain things at NPCs (i.e. Kitchen Knives, Stilletos, etc.). Once these things are thrown on to anybody, then they cannot be retrieved.

Hitman: Blood & Money also has a rival assassin for the storyline.

The world of technology changes every day. The Oz scientists have now introduced EPOC headset that allows the player to control their video games by the power of their minds. So, the joy sticks are becoming the part of the history. Australian technological concern Emotiv Systems will release this revolutionary range in US market this year at a price tag of 299 US dollars. However, Australians can buy this headset online.

This headset works on the principles of voice recognition. Embedded with 14 sensors for measuring electrical impulses from the brain, the headset - which plugs into the PC’s USB port - will enable games to register facial expressions, emotions and even cognitive thoughts, allowing players to perform in-game actions just by visualizing them.

This technological innovation enables the player to perform those same thoughts in the game the software knows to associate them with the correct action, such as rotate object or push object. (Agencies)

Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones

Ubisoft has developed and published a video game by the name of “Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones”. The game was released on December 1, 2005 and it can be played on different platforms like Xbox, PC, Playstation 2 and the Nintendo GameCube. The game was also released with a different name “Prince of Persia: Rival Swords” for PlayStation Portable and the Wii. The Wii version uses the motion-sensing function through its controller.

Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones is the third part in the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time series. The other two parts are: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (First) and Prince of Persia: Warrior Within (Second).

Gameplay

The acrobatic skills of The Prince are more enhanced as compared to previous versions in this series. Now he is able to launch himself of walls at 45 degree at strategically placed vertical shutters, he can slide down chutes and can balance himself on swinging poles and various other things.

In Prince of Persia: Warrior Within player used to fight with a sword but in Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones player fights with a dagger of time. As a result of this, the fighting with opponents are less bloody, as the dagger is too small to cut the heads or to slice them in half, unless they are weakened first, or attacked in a speed kill. The stealth system is also improved by the designers of this game. Whereas in the Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, the stealth was not an actual gameplay feature but it only occurred occasionally, now in the Price of Persia: The Two Thrones stealth can be used more often in lieu of normal fighting. The Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones uses a speed kill system. This system was also present in different games, with a different name like: God of War for boss battles, the use of the hidden blade in Assassin’s Creed. In Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, the speed kill system allows the Prince to kill his enemy more quietly and quickly and without being noticed by them. The player is not able to perform speed kill on one guard, if the other guard notices the speed kill. If the player is not able to complete the speed kill, the enemy hits back and knocks the player down and the speed kill fails. This speed kill system is very useful where there is a sand portal, because this system gives the player an opportunity to kill the portal commander and has the chance to neutralize enemy reinforcements coming. The amount of moves or length of time required depends upon the strong ness of the enemy. Due to the presence of this Speed Kill system, the strangle feature which was available in the Price of Persia: Warrior Within has been removed. This system was also available in some of the boss battles. On the other hand, the prince personality which was less sadistic and violent in Prince Of Persia: Warrior Within, the free form fighting is more restricted, as the Prince is not able to jump off enemies or can bounce back off a wall when he is in the air.

A new variety has been added to the Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones in the form of specific strategy feature in order to beat his opponents, whereas in the pervious versions it was strictly fighting which decided the fate of the enemy.

More excitement comes, when the Prince has a control over the chariot twice in the game, which changes the gameplay for a short period of time. In this, the player has to complete his goal without being getting crashed and killed by the sand creature, who usually tries to throw him off his tracks.

During the game the Princes faces a phase of split personality, which is known as Dark Prince, which makes him bad for sometime in his judgment of right or wrong. And sometimes, the Prince physically turns into the Dark Prince. These changes are not controlled by the player; this is the trick of the game. During this period, the Prince has control over his body and the players can still have control over his character. For the most part, the Prince’s dark side is just the voice from inside of his body.

While controlling the Dark Prince image, player is made to use a bladed whip instead of a “Daggertail” as a secondary weapon. This thing makes a player use average combat moves such as:

Pulling an enemy closer and then thrashing them

Swinging Off poles to reach a ledge

The health of Dark Prince keeps on decreasing because of the transformation from Prince to Dark Prince and vice versa. Somewhat similar to Sand Wraith from Warrior Within but with eventual death from the loss. The Prince can increase his health whenever he collects some sand, from either a monster or an object. One more thing his Daggertail gives him a different button for speed kills, through which he strangles his victims. In order to return to normal Prince he needs to have some water.

The game is short, even players with average skills can complete a single story mode in about ten hours. As compared to other games in the Prince of Persia series. The game is less violent as compared to Warrior Within. Impressive speed kills and usage of slow motion makes the game look more of a “Cinematic” style.

It is an Electronic Arts product which is a part of the Need For Speed series. Electronic Art is a very famous company for gaming. It is also known as EA. Need For Speed: Carbon is the first of all the Need For Speed series to be available for all next-generation consoles. Need For Speed: Carbon is full of cars and with also new editions like the Audi Le Mans Quattro, the Chrysler 300C SRT 8, Chevrolet’s Chevelle SS and the Toyota MR2. Need For Speed: Carbon also features the Canadian actress and model Emmanuelle Vaugier as Nikki, who helps you in your Career in Need For Speed: Carbon. The game version in PSP, Nintendo DS, and Game Boy Advance is also known as Need For Speed Carbon: Own The City. Need For Speed: Carbon also topped UK when debuted, beating Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer.

Gameplay

The Game is based on rival street racing. The player can take particular street racer to be in his/her team. They basically fall into three categories:

1. Scouts – Who helps you find shortcuts in the track.
2. Blockers – Who will be racing along with the team member and attacking the opposing cars to make them fall out of the track.
3. Drafters – They create “Slipstreams” so that the main racing car can boost up their speed.

For each team member there is also second crew, divided once again into three categories:

1. Fabricators – They will help you to modify certain parts of your car and also brings “AutoSculpt” (It is a tool which helps a player to rearrange the modifications themselves).
2. Mechanics – They give you cash offs on certain parts of you car.
3. Fixers – They help you in reducing your wanted level which increases after every race and also have extra cash, along with that removing obstacles like big Trucks from you way.

The new city in Need For Speed: Carbon known as Palmont, is divided into different parts belonging to different racing groups. In order to win a certain part of the city belonging to different racing group, you need to complete at least 2 races in that part of the city. After winning the particular part of the city, you get rewards in the form of car parts and enhancement stores which helps in providing you with new team members and cars.

Need For Speed: Carbon is back with the drift racing, a game mode which was included in the two previous versions Need For Speed: Underground and Need For Speed: Underground 2. But this game mode was not included in the version Need For Speed: Most Wanted and new game mode Canyon Racing developed on Japanese Touge races. Canyon Racing are divided into two sections. Firstly, the player gets points, based on how he/she tracks down his/her opponent following down the mountain trail, and secondly, the points are deducted if your opponent gazes on you quickly. If the player move down with points remaining in his/her tally, he/she wins the race. There are also quick win and quick loose chances, in this game mode, if the players (pull or pass away from their opponents with good lead remaining in their hand) and if the players (gets passed, fall behind or smashes into the guardrails and are very much far away from their opponents) respectively. The Drag race mode which was removed from Need For Speed: Carbon, but was included in the previous versions like Need For Speed: Most Wanted, Need For Speed: Underground 2 and Need For Speed: Underground.

Counter-Strike (short form CS) is a tactical first-person shooter game which came from a Half-Life modification. After the Counter-Strike’s original release, the game has grown into different series such as: - Counter-Strike: Condition Zero Counter-Strike: Source The game involves two teams, counter-terrorist team and terrorist team. They both fight against each other in different rounds. Each round is said to be completed, when the given mission is fully completed or, if you are completely knocked out by the opposing team. Counter-Strike: Source is the latest of the CS series, which is based on the Source engine, created for Half-Life 2 . Both Multiplayer and Individual options are present in the game. Bots can be added into the game. The online-multiplayer option is accessible through Steam .

Gameplay

Counter-Strike is a first-person shooter game in which players can enter either into the counter-terrorist team or the terrorist team. Both the teams try to complete their given objectives or knockout their opposing team completely. When the rounds in the game get started both the teams are placed on the opposite sides of the map. A player can select any character out off the total 8 present in the game (4 on each side, but Counter-Strike: Condition Zero consists off 10 characters, 2 new characters have been added into it). Normally each player starts with $800 (but players can change the amount also if they want too), a knife , three magazines of ammunition and also a pistol: a Heckler & Koch USP45 Tactical for counter terrorists, and for terrorists Glock 18 is provided. Normally players are provided with few seconds before the round starts (This time period is also known as “freeze time”) so that they can buy some equipments, but in this time period they cannot attack each other, or attacked by others and also they can not move or walk. They can also return to buy equipments within a set amount of time period (default is 90 seconds) both the teams (can also use some neutral “buy zones”). When the round has ended, players left standing can use the same weapons, (which were used in the finished round) but player who died during the finished round, will start the new round with default basic equipments. Some money bonuses are given for winning the round, losing the round, killing enemy, instructing a hostage to follow, rescuing a hostage or planting the bomb successfully.

Scoreboard show the score in the following manner: -

Each player: Name

Score (killing and bomb detonation/defusions )

Deaths and

Ping (in milliseconds )

Scoreboard also shows whether a player is dead, carrying the bomb (on bomb maps), or is the VIP (on assassination maps), but the information of the player is not viewable by the opposing team members as this information can be important. Players who got killed becomes “Ghost” for the remaining period of round. Ghosts cannot receive or sent text chat to live players but voice chat can only be received for live players (unless the cvar sv_alltalk is set to 1). Ghosts can watch the rest of the round from multiple selectable views but some servers disable this viewing so that Ghost’s cannot relay any messages to their teammates regarding opposing team. This technique is also known as “Ghosting”. Because it become ‘unfair’ for the opposing teams, as their important information gets leaked and this is often termed as cheating.