Halo: Combat Evolved was to the original Xbox what Goldeneye 007 was to the Nintendo 64. In other words, Master Chief’s struggle with the Covenant not only sold a lot of consoles, but set a new standard for multiplayer shooters.

A long 10 years later, we celebrate developer Bungie’s contribution to video games by–how else?–playing more Halo. The Spartans’ baton has been passed to Microsoft’s own 343 Industries, and its first order of business was to commemorate a decade of Halo with Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary.

Frankly, any self-respecting Halo fan owes it to himself (or herself) to fork up the $40 for Halo Anniversary. And that’s for far more reason than the simple fact that it’s a Halo game. This is the most feature-rich, loving revival of a classic game you’ve likely experienced in a long while.

The point of an HD revival is to remind you of the wonderful experience you enjoyed years ago with a fresh coat of paint, but 343 has made that reminder even more powerful. (more…)

It’s the classic nerdy tale: Young boy navigates a dungeon with nothing more than his wits, a sword and shield to save his kingdom from miscellaneous evil monsters and their ilk. In fact, Sword of Fargoal originally released on the Commodore 64 in 1982. Thankfully, Chillingo (you know, the Angry Birds publisher?) and a group of game designers led by Jeff McCord, the creator of the original, released a much-updated version for Macs and iPads everywhere.

While I’m about five years too young to have played the classic rogue-like back in the day, Sword of Fargoal Legends embodies the age-old nerds’ dream of dungeon crawling, stealing an ancient weapon and saving the kingdom from an onslaught of evil. If only real life were this cut and dry. (more…)

Do secret agents see this little action all the time? You would certainly hope so, for their sake, but in a videogame surrounding the idea of undercover spies crossing paths some conflict is welcome. Secret Agents!, published by Chillingo of Angry Birds fame and developed by Clickgamer (how fitting), has so much potential on Mac. However, this simply is a high-resolution port of the iPhone game, which isn’t exactly the type of game you would play on a Mac much less an iPhone.

The game presents a novel concept: sneak around a miscellaneous (the story isn’t important) facility for three documents while avoiding or neutralizing guards and other agents during your escape. Sounds pretty cool, right? It’s too bad that searching for information boils down to clicking on sparkling cabinets and killing enemies is done with a single click. If secret agents are supposed to be of the utmost intelligence, in fighting shape and ready for anything, why is it that the only thing you do is click?

The game features a tutorial mode, but with such a simple premise and intuitive controls to boot, why would you need a crash course in clicking things? Avoiding enemies is as simple as tracking their position on your radar, but you can also lay booby traps. However, much of the time you won’t be in the same room to see the results—you’ll be too busy clicking on shiny water coolers.

It seems that Secret Agents! is an attempt to explore the cerebral, sneaky sides of being undercover. But clicking on shiny objects and paying attention to radar is far from brainy.

Want to give Secret Agents! a shot on your Mac? Leave us a comment detailing a moment when you had to act in secret (if it involves clicking, it better be good) and in a week we’ll choose one of you to toss a free game code.

Itching to hear what us fancy media folk are talking about in 2011? The 3rd annual BarCamp NewsInnovation will be held at Temple University’s Annenberg Hall once again this April 30th.

Run by our tech, business, media and event savvy friends at Technically Media (you know, the Technically Philly dudes), this year’s BCNI Philly is already expecting guests from media giants like the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and–gasp–the New York Times.

And like all BarCamp-style events, everything from the speakers to the topics is all up to you. Got something to say about blogging’s effect on the world of traditional journalism? This is the place to do it, but you better be ready to answer to over 100 registered media folks including yours truly.

The idea of BCNI is to share and steal the best of innovation journalism practices. So keep that in mind when you register for free and bring some fresh ideas (and plenty of business cards) come April 30th. Oh, and remember to stick around for the after party.

BarCamp NewsInnovation Philly
Alter Hall, Temple University
Sat., April 30, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
After party to follow

The only way my morning coffee could be more epic than drinking it from a Stormwind mug is if Kato himself brewed and poured it for me.

A World of WarCraft mug from Taverncraft, the same Califorina-based company who provided us with The Walking Dead barware, might possibly be the most badass way to start my day of writing or end my long nights of dungeon crawling. This massive 18-ounce stoneware mug is microwave and dishwasher safe, so don’t worrying about tarnishing the art of James Zhang wrapping around it.

This particular version features Stormwind (commence immense geekery), the center of the Alliance in the Eastern Kingdoms and home to King Varian Wrynn. It’s here where the majority of the Alliance does its commerce and launches their major assaults against the Horde and now Deathwing’s Twilight’s Hammer cultists.

While the artwork may not look exactly like the Alliance city (I imagine it’s tough to emulate on a stoneware mug), I think Zhang did a fine job of depicting Varian in his stoic if mildly schizophrenic disposition. And does your everyday coffee mug have an Alliance hammer as its handle? Didn’t think so.

For $20–remember, it’s 18 ounces–a World of WarCraft stoneware mug is a fine way of showing your loyalty to the Alliance or Horde.

Speaking of which, we’re giving away one Orgrimmar stoneware mug right here. So, give us one good reason you think the Horde is better than the Alliance in a comment and we’ll randomly select one of you to enjoy a real orc’s coffee.

You have one week from today, so you better give us something good and fast. And no, “The Horde have Blood Elves!” does not count.

Writing for sometimes 12 hours a day only to spend another few in Azeroth or taking it to the Covenant has put my wrists through the ringer. (Oh, the joys of being a freelancer.) My right wrist now has a weird crack in it that I can make happen at will and it’s already tough to make a fist without writhing in pain. Yes, I’m a 23-year-old writer and carpal t

unnel is already setting in. Well, the gamer in me doesn’t help either. After trying gelled mouse pads, good posture and all that other nonsense, California-based Dyna Flex contacted us about its Powerball. My new, inanimate best friend.

The Dyna Flex Powerball is essentially a plastic ball with a spinning rotor inside. But when you start it up with the included dock, it sparks to life and creates up to 40 pounds of gyro torque at 15 thousand RPMs. While the company says it has been used by NASA in its training programs and is university-tested, I’m just here to tell you that the thing works.

Admittedly, it took a good hour of fooling around to get used to the motions required to keep the gyroscope inside going in my hands. But once you learn the right wrist movements, you can keep the Powerball moving forever. Though, I definitely wouldn’t recommend that. But what I would recommend is taking five minutes with this device daily if you suffer from wrist pain or feel the frightening oncoming of carpal tunnel like myself.

While the Powerball does come with a timer and special functions for competitive play, just giving a spin for a moment is enough for me. After taking a break and twirling this thing around for a few minutes, my wrists just feel better after being in motion. While it is pricey at $69.95, it’s worth a shot instead of the hundreds of dollars you’ll spend in rehabilitation sessions. If this is what’s going to keep me working (and playing), I’d definitely recommend giving it a spin.

If you leave us a comment describing your most gripping (literally) gaming, work or music-playing experience, we’ll give one of you at random a Dyna Flex Powerball. You have one week from today to leave us an interesting story (keep it clean!), so put those wrists to typing.

Let’s face it, Lara Croft–you know, the Tomb Raider?–has been on nearly every gaming platform since her debut on the original PlayStation in 1996. Since then, only about three games from the series were any good and, guess what, they were all on the same console she started her career on. After several iterations of the same gameplay and two lackluster movies, it’s only recently that developers have taken a fresh approach to arguably the most beloved woman in gaming.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light for iOS, although a thematic port of the recent release of the same name for Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network, has been made to fit the iPhone like a glove by Ideaworks Game Studio and Square Enix. From its use of touch controls to its comicbook-meets-old time photo story exposition, Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light is a refreshing take on what Lara Croft started 15 years ago: the spirit of exploration.

Find more of our impressions of Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light for iOS behind the cut. (more…)

Ben Heck, esteemed modding and hacking hobbyist and fine source of geeky quotes and references, has been in the game for a decade since this this October. And in honor of that milestone, Ben has teamed up with element14 to hack together the Ben Heck Show. (Think of anything on the DIY Network with more circuit boards and less boredom.)

We got the chance to chat with Ben on his lunch break to find out less about the show, which you can watch here, and more about the scatterbrained man behind some of coolest tech creations out there. Well, I guess you have to be that way to make a rowing machine that plays Xbox 360 games, but more on that behind the break. (more…)

And that pretty much sums things up.

This past Friday, Mikey Il, Parker and I were cordially invited to one of the craziest parties we’ve ever been to. And it was all thanks to our friends at Red Tettemer. Come to think of it, this is pretty much expected from folks who make a Lady Gaga Christmas Tree.

Of course, the 6-year-strong annual event was invite-only, greeting those lucky enough with an RSVP URL that changes annually. This time around, an adorable kitten with a jarring human mouth spit out the details. (Think of those creepy Quizno’s commercials and you’re right on target, but with a much less annoying voice.) And when we heard that Tub Gin was being served in addition to a variety of wines and beers on tap (yes, this was the classiest keg party I’ve ever attended), how could we say no?

Our reaction upon walking off the elevator and up the stairs to the 25th floor of this Broad and Chestnut building went a little something like this, “Oh, it’s in their offices?” And that’s how Red Tettemer do, so to speak. Now, don’t think people were dancing to the White Rabbits on top desks, streams of liquor flying through the air–we left long before that could happen for our own safety (kidding).  No, the main event was held within the floor’s spacious hallways–you wouldn’t notice with the amount of guests–adorned with custom chandeliers you might find in Zagar’s Magic Garden.

And speaking of the arts, that’s the whole point of Red Tettemer’s not-so-little shindig. This year being the first party as Red Tettemer + Partners thanks to a recent joining of forces between the company and ad agency Stick and Move, this party is always meant to honor creativity  in Philadelphia. And in the most unabashedly, elegantly buzzed way possible. To sum things up and put them plainly, a whole lot of writers (ahem, like ourselves), artists, musicians, designers, advertisers and people generally known to have good ideas were invited to celebrate just that over delicious drinks, soft pretzels and thumping tunes. And boy, was it a blast.

Photos courtesy of Mikey Il

Go on, play with the lights off. We dare you. (Seriously, it’s really not that bad.) Haunted House for Xbox Live Arcade surely is haunted; just don’t expect to have the pants scares off you. This rendition of the Atari 2600 classic launches it forward into the 21st century with obviously better visuals and a fleshed out story. Not to mention voice work that’s actually not too shabby.

The game, developed by ImaginEngine, throws players into the spooked-out shoes of either Jacob or Silvia Silverspring as they search a spirit-ridden mansion for their delirious grandpa in search for an ancient urn of power. (Which always turns out brilliantly.) It should go without saying that the estate is teeming with ghosts, gargoyles, wraiths and… ravenous rats?

Find the rest of our thoughts on Haunted House after the break. (more…)

Welcome to Dialog Tree, where we discuss the finer topics concerning video games, technology and other issues your less geeky friends care not to talk about. So, let’s have a dialog, shall we? Have questions or something you’d like to see discussed? Let us know in the comments!

The joint CEOs of Bioware admitted this week that their claim to RPG fame, Baldur’s Gate, was dangerously close to being one of the first true MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online games). Pitched to publishers as Battleground: Infinity, the game revolved around gods of all mythologies and was extremely ambitious, according to joint-CEO Ray Muzyka’s comment during a panel at GDC Europe.

It wasn’t until Muzyka and joint-CEO Greg Zeschuck brought the grandiose idea to Interplay that they were suggested to bring the game’s engine into the Dungeons and Dragons universe and forget that MMO nonsense. However, what if Bioware decided to keep the MMO elements within Baldur’s Gate?  (more…)

Does your love for insane micromanagement of miscellaneous bugs and aliens know no bounds? Do you enjoy sharing that love with others? Assuming you already know that we’re talking about Starcraft II, we’ll just say it:

Join our good friend Far Mckon and more at Hive 76 on Saturday, August 21 for some Starcraft and SCII LAN madness. The siege tank-rushing shindig starts at 5 PM and will go until your fingers cannot possibly strike another hotkey. Absolutely do not bring food, we’ll take care of it. What you do need are these essentials:

• A computer (an internet-ready laptop or desktop) capable of playing Starcraft and/or SCII
• Your own copy of Starcraft and/or Starcraft II to play with
• More vespene gas (kidding… sort of)

See you then and remember to bring your A-game!

Saturday, August 21
Hive 76, 915 Spring Garden (Suite 519) in the Spring Garden Arts building, Philadelphia PA
Free, bring your own game, laptop, snacks and beverages.

This Event is by Hive76 (Far McKon), Geekadelphia and several others