Dec 13, 2007 Everyone hates a dull holiday party. So, after a very scientific survey involving people raising their hands as we shouted out questions, we've determined that there are two main causes for sucky year-end get togethers. The first is relatives and friends who don't play video games. The second is sobriety. Thus, we here at GamesRadar have set out to eradicate these two poopers of the holiday party. Thanks to some surprisingly enthusiastic lab testing, we've come up with this list ... » Read More

12 Dec 2007

The worst box art of 2007

Xbox News | Xbox

Designing a box for a game is tough. With one image, you need to stand out on the shelf, catch the eye of the casual consumer and convince them that your game is worth their money. Some games get it wrong; others get it so wrong that potential customers actually recoil in horror. We've all seen terrible old atrocities like Mega Man and Alex Kidd in Miracle World, but don't think for a second that awful cover art is a thing of the past, left behind by a more sophisticated games industry. To ... » Read More

12 Dec 2007

Top 10 game design innovations in 2007

Xbox News | Xbox

Dec 12, 2007 Everybody loves top ten lists, so this year Next Generation decided to put one together for design decisions. In order to make it on this list a game not only had to be innovative in its own right, but also had to contain an innovation that could have a major impact on game design in the future... 10. Am I Having Fun? - flOw PS3 Raph Koster once posed the following question to me: "Can we make a game about the taste of a peach?" Maybe not, but we can certainly make a game about ... » Read More

10 Dec 2007

The Top 7... Games you don't want this holiday

Xbox News | Xbox

Dec 10, 2007 Christmas is the sad time of year when well-meaning relatives and friends waste their money on gifts you pretend to like. You know what were talking about. Sweaters youll never wear, candles youll never light, and gift cards for stores you rarely visit are just some of the typical offenders that scream “I dont know you, but I had to get you something!” But the worst presents for gamers are awful games, because you know the gift givers hands were inches away from a ... » Read More

7 Dec 2007

GamesRadar Holiday Buyer's Guide 2007

Xbox News | Xbox

Dec 7, 2007 Ah, the holidays. Whether you celebrate with a tree, a manger, a dradle, kinara candles or a Festivus pole, you can be pretty sure of two things. One: You're going to have to buy stuff for other people whether you like them or not. And two: it's not a total waste because you're going to get some loot in return as well. This process isn't inherently right or wrong, but we all know it has the potential to be a whole lot of either. So, GamesRadar is here to help you make sure you ... » Read More

7 Dec 2007

Trailer Trash

Xbox News | Xbox

Dec 7, 2007 Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball Screens The pirates vs ninjas meme is deader than Ol Dirty Bastard. Why, then, must we suffer a video in which a bunch of Ren-fair dropouts run around Staten Island shouting, “Arrrr!!” at random motorists? Let it die already, please. It is a matter of historical fact that ninjas are the true holders of real ultimate power. Watch the video if you must, but you might pay for it with a raging case of scurvy. Suggest you immediately apply a ... » Read More

6 Dec 2007

Gaming's greatest ex-cons

Xbox News | Xbox

Dec 6, 2007 What do James Earl Cash, Tommy Vercetti and Sam Fisher all have in common? Two things: First, they've all got criminal records and hard time under their belts. Second, they're not real. They're characters in games. But for every fictional Riddick or Torque, there are dozens of people with very real criminal records who've lent their likenesses and/or voices to games. After literally minutes of exhaustive research at sources like The Smoking Gun (which is also where we lifted most ... » Read More

6 Dec 2007

You know games are taking over your life when...

Xbox News | Xbox

6 Dec, 2007 We heart games. You heart games. But sometimes a dangerous line is crossed and our passionate hobby becomes an outright obsessive occupation. And that's when things can get ugly and/or unhealthy. That's when you need to take a step back and explore that wonderful world outside your window. Go shopping, kick a ball around or, hell, even talk to friends without using a headset. But how do you know when games are taking over your life? A few sure-fire indications would be, say, ... » Read More

6 Dec 2007

Game music worth putting on your iPod

Xbox News | Xbox

Dec 6, 2007 With Super Mario Galaxy being critically acclaimed not only for its timeless platforming gameplay but also for its brilliant musical score, we got to thinking about other games that had great music. In fact, music so good it's worthy of listening to in its own right, outside of the context of a game. Now, we must stress that musical opinion is different for every single person, so you may disagree entirely with the examples we've got here. But, with the variety we've got on offer, ... » Read More

5 Dec 2007

Videogame crime report, 2007

Xbox News | Xbox

5th Dec, 2007 You might have read last weeks story on how Texan police have used the promise of free Xbox 360s to lure fugitive crimials out of hiding. While its a downright hilarious example to round off the year with, 2007 has been crammed like an over-crowded prison with tales of videogame-related crime. Of course, were not talking about games themselves inciting violent outbursts in those who play them (Calm down Jack!). No, rather this year has seen a staggering amount of crime stories ... » Read More

3 Dec 2007

The Top 7... WTF?! Endings, Part 2

Xbox News | Xbox

3 Dec, 2007 Youve put the hours in. Youve sweated, cursed, grumbled and jumped through myriad hoops, in return for what was (hopefully) a rollercoaster of top-flight entertainment. Youve finished the game. Its now time to step away from the controller and bask in your badassness as the camera rolls on some swish cut-scene finery that documents just how awesomely and valiantly you saved the world. Well, thats the theory. Sometimes, things dont end well. Sometimes they dont end at all. ... » Read More

30 Nov 2007

Trailer Trash

Xbox News | Xbox

Nov 30, 2007 PAIN Screens If you loved Crusty Demons and Flat Out, you will simply adore PAIN's insane ragdoll playground. Using a giant slingshot, you launch donkeys and mimes at monkeys and exploding barrels. Forget Home's tedious vacant lots overgrowing with virtual weeds; this is PlayStation Network's killer app. Mimes ... » Read More

29 Nov 2007

The N bomb!

Xbox News | Xbox

Nov 29, 2007 noob Pronunciation: \nüb\ Function: noun 1: A longtime member of a community who is disliked and bothers others with ignorant and rude behavior 2: Someone who reads (or writes) an article about how to not be a noob Elitism has a way of rearing its ugly head wherever people gather. It seems we cant resist creating a hierarchy of leaders, followers, those who are cool, and those who just plain suck. Online gaming is no exception, and at the bottom of the food chain lies the ... » Read More

28 Nov 2007

Not Final Fantasy

Xbox News | Xbox

Nov 28, 2007 We can all agree that Final Fantasy is the world's favorite RPG series. The problem with its immense popularity is that the number two favorite series, Dragon Quest, is owned by the same company - Square-Enix. Millions of devoted gamers stick to these two franchises (or others created by mega-developer) instead of branching out and trying something that doesn't have "Square" or "Enix" on the box. But you really should take a chance on something else for a change. Let the other ... » Read More

26 Nov 2007

The Top 7... Should Have Sucked

Xbox News | Xbox

Nov 26, 2007 Gaming - the ultimate escapism. One press of a button can transform you into anything, or anyone, imaginable. Want to be a space explorer or a powerful wizard? You can. How about a military hero or a star athlete? No problem. Have you always longed for the glamorous life of a farmer, a mathematician or a bladder control specialist? Now's your chance! ... Wait, hold on. Nobody wishes for those last three, and yet, entire gaming franchises have been built on the crazy notion that ... » Read More

26 Nov 2007

Think you know gaming? It's time to school your...

Xbox News | Xbox

26 Nov, 2007 We've previously filled your head sponge with 101 things you didn't know about games, well now we continue our virtual factual feastery by proudly presenting this rather fascinating list of gaming firsts. The first console, the first video game, the first four-player, the first boss, the first co-op, the first sequel, the first online game, the first jump, the first black protagonist, the first character described as "homosexual", the first female game designer, the first game ... » Read More

22 Nov 2007

The Top 10 Excuses for Losing

Xbox News | Xbox

Nov 22, 2007 We hate losing, everyone does. Maybe thats why we always have some inventive explanation as to why we lost. After all, it couldnt be that we just plain suck. Could it? Wait, dont answer that. Instead, read on for our Top 10 Excuses for ... » Read More

20 Nov 2007

Fair game for girls

Xbox News | Xbox

Nov 20, 2007 The female of the species is reportedly deadlier than the male. But judging by the appearance of the Frag Dolls (Ubisoft-sponsored female pro gamers), ‘deadly means ‘clothing optional. In many a publicity event and magazine spread, the Dolls wear tiny hot pants, work out on exercise bikes and say things like, “Breasts and butt only come into play as an advantageous distraction.” Is it sexist? Regardless, its a clichéd, age-old representation of women ... » Read More

20 Nov 2007

Who owns the best game developers?

Xbox News | Xbox

Nov 20, 2007 Blizzard, Bizarre, Rockstar, Creative Assembly... These are some of gaming's biggest names in development, with some of the world's best games under their belts. But who owns these brainiac studios? And, more importantly, which publisher has the best collection of in-house devs? We thought we'd find out. We've taken stock of the more notable studios (that is, those devs not condemned to creating endless mobile phone games) and the big-name publishers who pay their wages, issue ... » Read More

19 Nov 2007

Top 7... Rock Band peripherals we want

Xbox News | Xbox

Nov 19, 2007 Rock Band has taken game peripheral innovation to a whole new level with its revolutionary controllers. But why stop at musical instruments? For the full rock and roll experience, we suggest that someone out there immediately begin production of the following Rock Band USB ... » Read More