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Review by Nick H.

The decision to keep the Xbox One at at higher price tag in order to include the Kinect 2.0 with the system was a controversial point for Microsoft. On the one hand, it makes sense that Microsoft would want to ensure that this device, which it has heavily invested in, has a 100 per cent install base with its consoles so developers know it is going to be there.

Review by Nick H.

Almost every video game tries to suck you in with at least one really catchy hook. Some use an interesting story filled with deep, multifaceted characters. Other titles have a gameplay mechanic that really stands out, such as a levelling system or exciting set of combos you can pull off. Others provide deep, customisable multiplayer. LocoCycle by Twisted Pixel Games really does not do any of the above, but I still found it to be fun.

Review by Nick H. 

There are a lot of new titles for the Xbox One, but one of those I was most curious about was Zumba Fitness World Party - and not even for me, but for my family. My wife and daughters love to dance, but of the three only my youngest probably qualifies as a gamer. This was a big test for the Xbox One and its new Kinect.

Article by Matt S.

The most interesting difference between Sony (and Nintendo) and Microsoft's approach to the games industry over the years has been the fact that while Sony and Nintendo have been focused on producing or publishing content in-house, Microsoft instead has an active partnering business; and not just around games, but the non-gaming stuff as well. The Xbox One is launching with all kinds of third-party television and entertainment apps in Australia, for instance, while the PlayStation 3 is making a big deal of its internally-developed Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited services.

If you consider Microsoft's history in business technology, then the energy it places in partnerships are hardly a surprise. From the simple (until the Surface Pro, Microsoft didn't produce the hardware that its Windows operating system sat on), to the less obvious (Microsoft is actively partnering with developers around the world to build corporate Cloud solutions and jointly taking those to market), Microsoft's history has always been about working with third parties to build a broad offering to market.

Review by Nick H. 

After plenty of build-up over the last half year, both the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One have finally released. We took a look at the PlayStation 4 last week, and you can see our review of it here. Now that we have had a chance to put the Xbox One through its paces, it is time to share those early impressions.

Microsoft held a party for the dedicated fans of the Xbox (and the media) as it counted down to the midnight launch of the Xbox One in Australia.

This event took place at the iconic Luna Park in Australia, and featured plenty of music, games, and alcohol for all who attended.

Preview by Matt S. 

World Of Tanks is often held up as the pinnacle of free-to-play gaming, as a perfect example of a game that is balanced enough to be profitable for the developer, while not forcing players to shell out real money in order to be competitive.

Having not played the PC game, I can't compare this Xbox 360 version, but then it doesn't really matter because in BETA World Of Tanks Xbox 360 version is a very fine game indeed.

Review by Nick H. 

Blood Knights is one of those games that is a little difficult for me to get a handle on, because I walked away from it feeling as though I enjoyed it more than I probably should have. There are some good ideas, even if none are completely fresh and new. The problem is in the execution, which misses the mark more often than I would have liked.

Review by Jason M. 

Namco and Brain Slap Studio's Hexodius bolts a hex-based overworld onto a would-be fast paced, spaceship shooter, but does it work?

Opinion by Lucy I.

The seventh gaming console generation began nearly eight years ago in 2005, but it’s finally come to the end of an era. It’s time for us to look back over the last generation of home consoles.

PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii. Over the last eight years, thousands of these branded console heroes have made their way to households, with this generation being the busiest and most undeniably talked about generation in the history of video gaming.

Review by Shaan J.

On paper, Deadly Premonition might seem like an awful game, and a majority of gamers and critics would have agreed with that sentiment back in 2010, when the game launched on the Xbox 360. Unfortunately, that’s the inherent issue with arthouse games; while there are certainly exceptions that buck the trend, a majority of ‘art’ games put an emphasis on leaving a lasting emotional mark on the player, rather than providing an "entertaining" experience.

As is the same for the art in general. Arthouse cinema bores people whose idea of film starts and stops at The Avengers. Many people would rather read Harry Potter than the kinds of books that float around literature circles. This is all fine, but it's unfortunate that in the games industry there is the expectation that art games also appeal to the blockbuster fans. Else those games get slaughtered on Metacritic. Enter Deadly Premonition.

Review by Nick H.

Telltale Games has earned a really nice reputation for being able to first and foremost tell a really good story. Now, with its newest release I have never read the Fables comic series that The Wolf Among Us was based on, so I came into it with a completely clean slate. With no prior connection to the characters or stories, I found myself immediately hooked on the story in this game, and had no difficulty following what was happening or investing myself in the colourful cast of characters.

Preview by Matt S.

I've always been a bit concerned about Dark Souls 2, after I heard it was announced. My concern was always tied in to the budget of the game - Dark Souls 2 clearly has a bigger budget, and that means it needs to sell more copies to justify the investment on the management side of the business. The only way to achieve that is to make the game reach out to a broader audience, and this tends to bring up that scary "a" word... accessibility.

Preview by Owen S.

The Forza series has provided us with some of the greatest racing experiences that can be had. The perfect, flawless cars felt wondrous to virtually drive as they traversed the tracks that always looked better than anything else the competition was putting up. Lauded by both fans and critics alike for the way they controlled as well as how great they looked, these games pushed the limits of graphical capabilities in the last generation of gaming consoles.

Review by Rexly P.

The last time players explored San Andreas was in 2004 with the release of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Nine years later, we return to a redefined San Andreas consisting of the urban sprawl of Los Santos and the vast landscapes of Blaine County in Rockstar Games' latest release, Grand Theft Auto V.

Preview by Owen S. 

One game that really stood out for me at the EB Expo 2013 was a launch title for the Xbox One; Ryse: Son of Rome

A cinematic action adventure title that Microsoft seems to be heavily relying on to sell consoles, the expectations of this remarkable tale surrounding an unwitting centurion from Ancient Rome is high. Whilst the many specifics of the story are still, understandably, being held close to the chest what I did see promises to offer juicy plotlines of revenge and patriotism.

After having a really good time with the PlayStation 4 and the spirit in which Sony has been courting original game ideas and independent developers, I was a little taken back by Microsoft's booth at the EB Games Expo 2013.

Okay... that title could be seen as misleading - it's Persona 4 Arena, with an update for the arcade first (they still have those in Japan, believe it or not), but later the PS3 and Xbox 360.