PC & Mac Games: Dec 28, 2009

Race 07: Official WTCC Game

By Machine Gun "MnVols" (Minnesota State) - reviews

Racing fans unite as we search for another racing game that aspires to be as worthy as GTR2. If you have GTR2,then read on. If you don't have GTR2 then go search for it first and buy it before this game. Its hands down the best racing sim on pc ever. That being said, Race 07 is a worth alternative to GTR2. Featuring more than 300 cars in nine different racing classes, RACE 07

includes the full 2006 and 2007 seasons of the FIA World Touring Car

Championships (FIA WTCC) as well as 8 more classes on 32 tracks from

all over the world.

So let us jump into it and start reviewing it!

Graphics: While not the most important part of a game, this still matters. Race 07 has good graphics and very nice details of the cars and tracks. I might even say they are on par with GTR2, but many of the details are missing. The replays are nice and the game runs smoothly on my 7800GSOC card. I run it at near max settings on my old P4HT and 2gb ram. You can change all the views to the typical camera angles, but there is one little difference I really like. There is one camera angle that is over your dashboard only looking thru the glass. It is my favorite because it looks like your are in widescreen format! You can see everything in front of you just like a real car. There is no steering wheel in the way like other camera angles, but just the dash and the glass. Graphics are not as good as Toca3 or GTR2 but it still performs nicely.

Sounds and controls: the game audio is what separates GTR2 from Race07. R07 has pretty much the normal race sounds found it games, but with less detail as GTR2. The engines and shifting are nicely done, but nothing special here. Could have been better, but not the best either. I do love the controls here. Whether you use a gamepad, keyboard, stick, or wheel, you feel like you are racing and controlling the car. Toca 3 race controls are average compared to this game. I love knowing the car will turn when I turn it, and slide thru the corners when i let off the gas. You can very all settings for tire wear, and be careful not to overdrive in corners. You will wear your tires out!

Overall this is a very good racing game. While not as good as GTR2, I like it better than Toca3. The only other game that is equal to GTR2 is rFactor Racing. That game is perhaps the best, even over GTR. YOu can't buy it in a store, but is available for download off their site. So if you have none of these titles, I'd rank GTR and Rfactor #1, and this game next. This is a very good pc game, and it is system friendly. You don't have to have super specs to run it on high settings. A very good racing game!

Monday, December 28, 2009

>>>JumpStart Animal Adventures<<<

By Jacqueline L Wilson (Almena, KS USA) - reviews

This is a Jump Start Title - they make only the best! However, this one the Jump Start Animal Adventures - is very easy to use -I help at a day care center - in the computer department - working with three, four and five year olds on the computers - they went wild over this title - the graphics are great the music is great - it still uses the mouse for picture taking but in the games the introduction to the use of the arrow keys and the space bar is a nice, very nice touch. It has got "just the right balance of knowledge learning and game fun - the three skill levels are great with this added touch all children can progress at their own speed - I have a five year old, girl, whos birthday came at the wrong time of the year last year for her to go to kindergarten this last year - she is playig it on level 3 and loves it - she really loves the "Animal Smarts" game at the end. I also have a four year old boy who is at the same level as my five year old girl. Yes, I must admit, I am the five year old girl's Grandmother as well as I have her in my computer class at day care - Buy this - you will "NOT" be SORRY - Thank you!

>>>Saitek Cyborg Command Unit<<<

By Thornton Bryan "thorbob" (tennessee, thar aint no place id rather be) - reviews

I have purchased numerous gamepads in the past, and have eventually returned or sold them, as I could never get the buttons programmed to all the key features I needed. With this pad, I am pleased. The buttons can be programmed to any keystrike you like, and there is even a shift button, just under the base of the thumb, which essentially doubles all the buttons. It does take a little while to get the hang of the program software, but once learned, it is seamless. I have played Half-Life 2:episode one and Darwinia, freed of the key board. Each game has a different profile which is easily loaded prior to starting the games. Of note, this keypad only works with the left hand, leaving the right to drive the mouse. Not a problem for me, but I know some people shop at the Leftorium, and this may not accomodate them. Also, tho it looks like the distance from the handrest to the keys may be adjusted, they are actually fixed. The thumb dongle, however, may be tilted and slid in an out. The silver knob on the side tightens and loosens the bar which lets it slide.

>>>Need for Speed: Undercover<<<

You never thought it would turn out like this - an all-out chase where you're both the hunted and the hunter. Now you must get behind the wheel and risk everything to infiltrate a ruthless international crime syndicate and take them down. The man you're after is a maniac behind the wheel, and he's driving like his life depends on escape, which maybe it does. He's the one with all the answers you need, so track him down. That fleet of police cruisers in your rearview mirror won't make things any easier. It will take all of your experience and every ounce of skill to outrun the law, take down the enemy, and unlock the truth that puts an end to this chase once and for all.

>>>Star Wars Empire At War (Intel Only Macs) <<<

By M. Bergfors "mi3ke" (Seattle, WA USA) - reviews

I was surprised at how well this Mac version of the PC game performed (Intel only). Very engaging with good space and land battles (really two different games). One of the strongest points is the free-form campaign game, which gives the game some pretty serious re-playability over time.

Considering how few "strategy" type games there are for the Mac still (comparatively), this is a good addition to your library if you like the RTS genre.

Tech Note: I am running a MacBook with 2GB RAM, and it seems to run smoothly in the low-mid graphic range.

>>>Hoyle Puzzle & Board Games 2008 [OLD VERSION] <<<

By Grandma Jane "Grandma Jane" (Ca) - reviews

Excellent collection of puzzles...great audio and video effects, and the games are simple enough for general usage and complex enough for interest and stimulation.

ONLY negative is that when activated the games take over your entire screen, and cannot be "reduced" to run in background.