Top 12 PC games at PAX 2010

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It seems that, to some game players, in 2010, not only Shanghai Expo has feasted their eyes, and the very popular game exhibition, Penny Arcade Expo(PAX), has also stirred their hearts and refreshed their options of game play. Created by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulic in 2004, Penny Arcade Expo has split into PAX East (held on March 26- 28 in Boston) and PAX Prime (held on September 3–5 in Seattle) this year, instead of just holding one annually. On this year’s exhibition, plenty of new funny PC Video games and MMORPG Games have been presented to visitors. At the following part, I will introduce you the12 most popular games on PAX.

1, Final Fantasy XIV Online (PC)

Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) is the latest sequel of Final Fantasy series, which sets its background in a beautiful land called Eorzea. Five varied races-Hyur, Miqo’te, Lalafell, Elenzen, and Roegadyn, settle down in this realm; each one has its own specialties and subcategories. Comparing to its predecessor Final Fantasy XI, FFXIV has some tweaks and adjustments. It strikes a balance on solo and group play, instead of only emphasizing on team play. FFXIV is unique for its Armory system, in which your avatar’s appearance and abilities would accordingly alter when you equip with different tools and weapons. Moreover, a rectangular card-like device, Guildleves, just like a magic flying carpet, can take you from location to location, saving you a lot time on travelling. The game will officially launch on Sep. 30, 2010.

2, Fable III (PC)

In a Napoleonic-style period of Albion, Lionhead’s new game Fable III would offer you a brand-new enjoyment of being a ruler. In its first part, you have to gain reputation, obtain supports of your fellows, and eventfully overthrow the tyranny ruler and become the King or Queen. After becoming the new monarch, you task is switched to how to reign and reinforce your power. In this stage, you will face a lot tough decisions, say, how to treat your adherents or what promises you would make and keep. Comparing to its Fable II, the story of Fable III, is more straightforward. Moreover, the game is notable for its special playing card system and Guild Seal Coin. The former has a detailed description of every type of characters, like heroes or villains, while the latter, with a blue side for Good and a red side for Evil, is important for players to make critical decision.

3, Sid Meier’s Civilization V (PC)

Sid Meier’s Civilization V, Firaxy Game’s upcoming baby, will show its debut on Sep.21. The game, under the theme of civilization, entrusts players two main tasks: expand your empire’s territory and improve your countrymen’s benefits and welfare. In order to complete the first one, you have to wage war, conduct diplomacy among some of the world’s greatest or most cunning leaders, while have to discover new technologies and do better management to fulfill the second one. In a word, either conquest or development, your final goal is to build the greatest empire of your own forever. Distinguished from its predecessor Civilization IV, Civilization V would provide you much more spectacular visual enjoyment and amazing music.

4, Shogun 2: Total War (PC)

The story of Shogun 2: Total War takes place in the 16th century Japan, just during the aftermath of the Onin War. It’s a period of rapidly political and technology change, and a period to make heroes. The player in the game is one of the diomios, or feudal lords, who will protect his clan and expand his territory by developing his trusted fellows, building military powers as well as conducting diplomacy, trades and assassination. The game is notable for its naval war system and night war system, in which players would not only experience large-scale battles, but also the feeling of breath-taking. And as a time when guns haven’t launch in the island, there is only one way to win: bare-knuckle fighting with your own guts. Besides, the distinctive nature of Asian architecture also has profoundly influence on the construction of your fortress and stronghold.

5. F.3.A.R. (PC)

F.3.A.R is a horrible shooter game, created by the Day1 Studio. It tells an abnormal story of Alma Wade, and her two sons, super-solider Point Man, and powerful ghost Paxton Fettle who has been killed by the former in FEAR 2. In F.3.A.R, Alma, the mother is in labour again; because of her characteristic of being half supernatural and half human, her each contraction has caused great damage and led a lot evils to the world. Her son, Point Man, tries to eliminate those devils, while her other late son, Paxton Fettle, attempts to replace Alma’s position. Thus, a journey of two brothers, of a combination of fight and cooperation sets sail. The game is shrouded with horror and fear; at the beginning part, the world is immersed in the darkness. You can fell the tension is building, hatred and hostility is simmering. Nevertheless, those would only make you game playing more interesting.

6. TERA (PC)

Created by Blue hole Studio, TERA is perhaps the most anticipated MMORPG of 2010. The script is written by David Noonan, telling a story of an alliance of different races to fight against monsters and guard their common homeland. The game is distinct for two points: one is its impressive artwork; the other is its non-targeting battle system, which allows you to attack any enemies within a certain area, without the premise to click the target at the first place. The game would be released at the end of this year or maybe next year.

7. Portal 2 (PC)

As a single-player puzzle- solved game, developed by Valve Corporation, Portal 2 is different from the before-mentioned games: it attaches importance to imagination, logic and space thinking. The storyline of the game goes like this: the player-controlled role, Chell, under the advice of an artificial intelligence computer, solves puzzles, and finds the portal to survive herself. Unfortunate the computer is not really friendly to Chell. Sometimes, it would offer wrong advices that could endanger the Chell’s life. Comparing to its predecessor, Portal 2 focus more on cooperation, and would independent release itself, instead of co-releasing in an Orange Box.

8. Duke Nukem Forever (PC)

Duke Nukem Forever (DNF) is a one-person shooting game, developed by 3D Realm. The developer announced to make it in 1997, but its release day has been delayed again and again. And now it won’t officially meet us until 2011. T he game is the sequel of Duke Nukem3D, telling the legend of a hero, Duke, who has to fight against pig cops, enormous alien bosses so as to save the world, to protect people from the slavery of those enemies. The hero of DNF is slightest different from the typical one, but has a sense of humour, and knows exactly how to enjoy himself in the right time. Unlike its predecessor, DNF creates a time travelling system. There are four periods: the modern Los Angeles, the Roman time, the old west time and the medieval. In each period, Duck will change its outfits and equipments; he would even wear Scotch kilt. What’s more, the game is dubbed by St. John, who has duded the game The Simpsons.

9, Back to the Future (working title)

Back to the Future is an adaptation to the time travelling movie series. The game features stories happened in the famous DeLorean and the fictional California town of Hill Valley, exactly the same in the movie. It tells a magical experience of a teenage called, Marty, who accidentally went to 1955 from 1985. He witnessed her mother’s high school life, and even had a romance with her. What he need do is to restore history, and get back to the future. In the game, the developer, Telltale Game, has also created other characters, making your experience here much more enjoyable and funny.

10, Lego Universe

Really distinct from the previous nine games, NetDevil’s cyber shot, Lego Universe primarily target its audiences to children. The game narrates a dark and troublesome force, Maelstorm, attempts to destroy the imagination of a world populated by Lego Minifigures. Therefore, the inhabitants there begin to form alliances to fight against the vicious enemy. They are divided into four groups, which are responsible for building, battling, exploring and researching respectively. The game is simple, trouble-free and doesn’t have much challenging to embassy our little warriors. What you would get, is purely fun as well as precious friendship. Lego Universe would be officially released on October 26, 2010.

11, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit

Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, is a game about cops vs. races chasing, developed by Criterion Games and published by Electronic Arts. As the game’s name reminds us, what we need here is speed. The game has some improvements based on its previous series: you don’t have to bother which side to choose, for you’re free to pick either one or both. And whatever your choice is, you could experience unprecedented thrill and incitement that is quite different from the feeling of beating down a monster. The game also boasts of an interactive system called “Autolog”, with which you could share pictures as well as experiences with your friends. The game would release itself on November 11, 2010.

12, Vindictus

Vindictus, another combat game, developed by devCAT, has the same background with the popular game, Mabinogi, but several hundreds years earlier. The story here is very familiar to us: heroes fight against monsters, win the victory, and restore peace and justice. However, the monsters are different; they’re fomors(a group of Celtic sea demons sometimes associated with the hostile power of nature). So is the environment; the game is praised for its environment-interacting system. And with the application of the engine Source, you would experience a brand-new thrill in the game. Comparing to Mabinogi, the game has added a jump system, with which you could jump some monsters during the fight. The game has released itself in January this year.

OK, guys, here is the end of the introduction to the top 12 games on PAX. Hope you love it and find it useful.