GamesRadar - Xbox 360 Features

The 10 most common game design mistakes (Half-Life 2)

May 22, 2009

Making games is hard. Making fun of them isn’t. It’s really, really easy, actually. Of course, we wouldn’t be so critical if we didn’t love them so damn much (and if we weren’t, you know, critics). We think games are just the bee’s knees, and that’s why we get so pissed about all the stupid crap they do ...

Guns that don’t shoot bullets (Half-Life 2)

May 6, 2009

“Guns don’t kill people, bullets do.” But do they have to? Not at all, and in fact, this is all the destructive power you’re going to get out of shooting bullets. ...

Five rules for introducing your girlfriend to gaming (Half-Life 2)

Apr 15, 2009

I’m not a miserable sexist ass; I’m just a practical observer. One thing I’ve observed is that men and women are different (I figured that one out pretty early on). Since I’m a rational person, I’m aware that nothing is entirely one way or another. Even the divide between life and death is ambiguous (uh, zombies, amirite?). ...

100 reasons fanboys hate shooters (Half-Life 2)

Mar 25, 2009

Cue the banjo! It wouldn’t be the Week of Hate without our trademark “100 Reasons” videos. In case you missed it, last year we targeted game platforms. So this year we thought we’d change it up and go after a few popular genres. Up first, the ubiquitous shooter. ...

Seinfeld recreated in Garry's Mod (Half-Life 2)

Aug 15, 2008

We’re big fans of dicking around, so when someone suggested that we attempt to reproduce a classic sitcom in Half-Life 2’s Garry’s Mod, we cited the “why the hell not” clause of our operating procedures and immediately began violating ragdolls. While our interpretation of the greatest nihilist sitcom ever may not win us any awards at machinima festivals, it can at least inspire some ironic ...

59 levels to play before you die: G - L (Half-Life 2)

Mar 21, 2008

Legions of exasperated gamers whined that Kratos' escape from the bowels of Hell - complete with rotating columns of bladey cartilage, platforms of bone and two huge towers of spinning blades - was 'stupid', 'cheap' or 'toohardIwantmymummy!' but we loved it. ...

Gordon Freeman: Strongest personality in gaming (Half-Life 2)

Jan 18, 2008

18th Jan, 2008 [Warning: Like our Portal article from December, this piece features some pretty heady discourse, and also benefits from a visit from Mr. Narrative Theory. If that stuff makes you run screaming, then feel free to run screaming. Also, if you haven't completed Half-Life 2, leave now. This contains some inhuman spoilers.] Half-Life 2 is widely and rightly regarded as a modern classic. In terms of both gameplay and artistry there have been few, if any, games in the FPS genre which ...

100 reasons fanboys hate shooters (Half-Life 2: Episode One)

Mar 25, 2009

Seinfeld recreated in Garry's Mod (Half-Life 2: Episode One)

Aug 15, 2008

100 reasons fanboys hate shooters (Half-Life 2: Episode Two)

Mar 25, 2009

Seinfeld recreated in Garry's Mod (Half-Life 2: Episode Two)

Aug 15, 2008

Interview: Half-life 2's David Speyrer (Half-Life 2: Episode Two)

Jan 17, 2008

David Speyrer was interviewed for his job at Valve on the day the original Half-Life went gold in late 1998. He started working there soon after, just as Half-Life 2 began its lengthy development. Since then, hes risen through the ranks from programmer to project lead. Now, David talks us through some of the processes that led to Half-Life 2: Episode Two being the remarkable game it is. Warning: if you havent played Episode Two yet, there are spoilers ahead. Has Episode Two taken you anywhere ...

Team Fortress 2 primer (Half-Life 2: Episode Two)

Oct 9, 2007

Oct 9, 2007 The Orange Box goes live at 12:00 am Pacific Time on Oct 10, and 8:00 am in the UK. If you're on the beta now, prepare to own some noobs when the great unwashed come flooding in. And if you haven't preordered, you're going to need a headstart. Either way, it's time to brush up on a few of the lesser-known factors in the TF2 ...

Flash Gordon (Half-Life 2: Episode Two)

Jul 26, 2007

Having written sci-fi and horror novels such as Dad's Nuke, The Orchid Eater and The 37th Mandala, Marc Laidlaw joined Valve in 1997 during the development of the original Half-Life. He's a charming guy, and given the opportunity to speak on his specialist subject, he does so perceptively and at great ...

Valve's industrial revolution (Half-Life 2: Episode Two)

May 18, 2007

Back in 1996, two Microsoft executives quit their spectacularly high-paid jobs, formed a games company and made the best game ever. Twice. They didnt like the way retailers were throttling the industrys creativity, so they cut them out. They did what a lot of mod teams were doing, they hired them. They published any game they liked through their digital distribution network, however commercially risky, and saved several independent developers in the process. Their revolution was so successful ...

Cheat on your console (Halo 3)

Dec 1, 2009

We’re on to you. We’ve noticed you casting a roving eye over recent announcements of price cuts, seen you ogle the unveiling of lithe younger models. Yes, even you, 360 fanboy, the one who said the PS3 had no games. We caught you looking longingly at LittleBigPlanet’s Sackboy, imagining the things you would do to him if only you could get him online. ...

Game characters that deserved to die (Halo 3)

Oct 23, 2009

Death and video games go together like a big heart attack-baiting burger and an extra five slices of cheddar. But just because they’re the best of mates, it doesn’t mean certain characters should go looking for the Grim Reaper through their own reckless actions. Sadly, that’s exactly want the following group of death-wishers all do. And whether it’s through their own stupidity, being huge wimps or just dying in embarrassing fashion, these guys ...

Halo 3: ODST - Multiplayer Skulls Guide (Halo 3)

Oct 2, 2009

You thought you were done with these? Not even close.

With the release of Halo 3: ODST, the hunt for hidden skulls is on again. Tucked away on six of the included multiplayer maps are six extra noggins – collectibles that many gamers don’t even realize exist. Three are ODST originals, three are holdovers from the Mythic Map Pack and all are deviously concealed in some of the most obscure, hard-to-reach locations ...

10 game ads that are horribly up their own ass (Halo 3)

Oct 1, 2009

Most game ads are usually a bit rubbish. But we can forgive them, because whether pushing Z listers ‘enjoying’ entertaining interactive products or offending our ears with a cheesy, booming voiceover, most of them are just charmingly clueless. The following ads are guilty of a much worse crime, though. They all utterly adore themselves. Self-indulgent, self-loving bullshit, below you’ll find cynical commercials that have ...

The Top 7... things ODST does better than Halo 3 (Halo 3)

Sep 28, 2009

ODST is more than an expansion. ODST is an experimentation. Sure, this year’s Halo game could be seen as something of a placeholder, a small side adventure to keep fans occupied until next year’s Reach. The graphics are nearly the same as those in Halo 3. So are the enemies, weapons and vehicles. The gameplay feels as familiar as ever. Not in every way, though... ...