Crysis 3: Third time is not quite the charm

PC gaming is where you go for high-octane visuals, and the original Crysis was no exception when it dropped in 2007. The highly anticipated sequel in 2011, however, proved a less ambitious affair. We traded a vast, free-roam jungle for the relatively restricted avenues of a war-torn New York City. There was usually more than one route to take, but this more linear experience arrived with some seams showing: Its advanced graphical options were inaccessible, the AI did not impress, and it did not even use DirectX 11 (at first). Crysis 3 fares better in some ways, but not in others.

He may not be pretty, but he's beautifully rendered

The game’s artificial intelligence is the most frequent and obvious offender. AI opponents are simply not very aggressive, even on the highest difficulties, and their tactics are reliably countered by just activating your stealth cloak and sprinting a short distance away. And you can now upgrade your abilities to make yourself even stealthier, faster, and deadlier. Ammunition is also plentiful, and your melee attacks are brutal even when the enemy sees you coming.

But while combat may be lacking, your arsenal certainly is not. The game provides a steady flow of new and interesting ways to kill people dead, from a heavy-duty composite bow with optional explosive-tipped arrows, to experimental assault rifles and things that don’t even look man-portable. Crysis 3 is like a gun-nut toy store. You won’t grab Assault Rifle #4216 and just stick with it the whole way. That said, some weapons are not as helpful, such as the shotguns; you’ll rarely get close enough for them to be effective. And if you do get that close, a quiet bare-hands execution is usually more efficient and safer.

Your suit's stealth cloak lets you get up close and personal

And let’s not forget what Crytek consistently gets right: looking pretty. Out of the box, Crysis 3 has the full retinue of tweakable features, from ambient occlusion to texture quality to three different types of antialiasing. And it has DX11 on day one. The end result is a highly customizable experience. Or you can use one of four presets. The visual difference between “High” and “Very High” (presets three and four, respectively) isn’t dramatic to the untrained eye, so you shouldn’t feel obligated to build a new box with a $500 video card just to play this game. “High” gave us about 30–40fps on a GeForce GTX 660 (314.07 drivers) and a stock-clocked Phenom II 1090T at 1080p. The GTX 660 is about $200, but if you want a higher frame rate or to play at higher resolutions, you’ll need more graphics oomph. 

But it’s not just graphical features on display. Crysis 3 is a genuinely beautiful game, especially in the faces of the characters you encounter. They are about on par with those of Far Cry 3, but with better lip-syncing and facial animation. Crysis 3 ends up providing some eerily convincing digital “acting.” The dialog isn’t the best we’ve ever heard in a video game, but the delivery and body language are consistently well-done. The length of several of these in-game cutscenes may leave you restless, but you can skip ahead through most of them.

On the brightside, the rent on this street is cheap

The scenery of a semi-reforested, rusted, and decaying New York City also has a kind of beauty, with trees growing in the middle of the street, high walls overgrown with ivy, and grass sprouting everywhere (though the grass’s constant movement can get distracting at times). Rays of light shine through tree branches, and forest creatures such as squirrels and deer scamper around. There’s really no city at all, at this point. Just the remains of civilization.

The lack of humanity left to rescue does undermine the story at times. Without giving too much away, suffice it to say that Crysis 3 ups the ante on save-the-world heroism, compared to the earlier games in the series and even sci-fi shooters in general. It would be nice to play one of these things without the story turning you into the only guy who can and must save everything. Are relatable motivations and perspectives really so bad? Never mind that sometimes you just want to forget all that, blow up some stuff, and have a few laughs.

Don't like the default multiplayer classes? Roll your own.

Multiplayer offers a now-familiar model of experience point–based unlocks. You’ll usually collect trickles of XP just from shooting other players, but there’s also an achievement system that will deliver large chunks of it at once. You can also unlock abilities as well as equipment, deepening your specialization as a sniper, scout, heavy, or stealthy guy. Lastly, you periodically get a set of challenges to choose from, like “Get 10 kills with this weapon in one round,” that reward a chunk of experience points. There’s no failure condition, either—you can attempt it as many times as you like.

Multiplayer gameplay is definitely different because of your ability to stealth, but opponents are not impossible to detect at medium distance. Your cloak has a faint neon wireframe that distinguishes you from the environment. Enemies are even color-coded red for easier targeting, while your teammates are blue. We played on a number of public, third-party servers and rarely experienced lag or even slow load times.

The size of the multiplayer population is not heartening, however. On a random Thursday afternoon several days after release, the game reported about a couple thousand players online. Hundreds of servers, but most of them empty or under-populated. Granted, this is not deal-breaking (Natural Selection 2, for example, hovers around 2,000 active players), but it’s definitely less than you’d expect from such a high-profile game. This kind of uncertain future can create a negative feedback loop, where people don’t play because other people aren’t playing.

Crysis 3’s visual effects, voice acting, music, and animation are all about as good as it gets. But perhaps these more complex environments are simply too difficult for the AI to navigate and turn to its advantage; the single-player campaign rarely engages you or puts your suit abilities to the test. Multiplayer has a satisfying feel, but there isn’t a killer feature or game mode to distinguish it from the dominant franchises.

review by. maximumpc.com (http://www.maximumpc.com/crysis_3_review2013)

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Internet Download Manager supports proxy servers, ftp and http protocols, firewalls, redirects, cookies, authorization, MP3 audio and MPEG video content processing. IDM integrates seamlessly into Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape, MSN Explorer, AOL, Opera, Mozilla, Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Firebird, Avant Browser, MyIE2, and all other popular browsers to automatically handle your downloads. You can also drag and drop files, or use Internet Download Manager from command line. Internet Download Manager can dial your modem at the set time, download the files you want, then hang up or even shut down your computer when it's done.

Other features include multilingual support, zip preview, download categories, scheduler pro, sounds on different events, HTTPS support, queue processor, html help and tutorial, enhanced virus protection on download completion, progressive downloading with quotas (useful for connections that use some kind of fair access policy or FAP like Direcway, Direct PC, Hughes, etc.), built-in download accelerator, and many others.

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Detailing Dante’s early years and set against a contemporary backdrop, DmC Devil May Cry will retain the stylish action, fluid combat and self-assured protagonist that have defined the iconic series but inject a more brutal and visceral edge. The Dante of DmC is a young man who has no respect for authority or indeed society in general. Dante knows that he is not human, but also that he is not like the demons that have tormented him throughout his life. Caught between worlds, he feels like an outcast. He is now discovering and coming to terms with what it means to be the child of a demon and an angel. This split personality has a real impact on gameplay with Dante being able to call upon angel and demon abilities at will, transforming his Rebellion sword on the fly to dramatically affect both combat and movement.

Screenshot

• OS: Windows XP/Vista/7/8
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo @ 2.4 Ghz / AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+
• Memory: 2 Gb
• Hard Drive: 8 Gb free
• Video Memory: 512 Mb
• Video Card: nVidia GeForce 8800 GTS / ATI Radeon HD 3850
• Sound Card: DirectX Compatible
• DirectX: 9.0c
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• DVD Rom Drive

• OS: Windows Vista/7/8
• Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad @ 2.7 GHz / AMD Phenom II X4 @ 3.0 GHz
• Memory: 4 Gb
• Hard Drive: 9 Gb free
• Video Memory: 1 Gb
• Video Card: nVidia GeForce GTX 560 / ATI Radeon HD 6950
• Sound Card: DirectX Compatible
• DirectX: 10
• Keyboard
• Mouse
• DVD Rom Drive

Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12 - Features and Setup

Introduction

Screens are meant to be touched, games consoles are designed for us to wave our limbs in front of them and Google and Apple are desperate for us to talk to our phones. Amongst all of this, speaking to our PCs has fallen somewhat by the wayside, but the company providing the speech recognition technology behind Siri wants us to try again.

Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12 Features

Somewhat predictably 'Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12' is the successor to the excellent NaturallySpeaking 11.5 and somewhat predictably Nuance is calling it the "fastest, most accurate and easy-to-use version of Dragon yet".

What causes these proclamations are claims of a 20 per cent improvement in out of the box speech recognition accuracy, faster performance and new technology which looks to learn your preferences as you use the software - for example how you format words, phrases and numbers. In addition is full Gmail and Outlook.com support, correction options respond to more naturalistic language as well as more natural text-to-speech reading of your work by Dragon which allows you to review without returning to the screen.

These features build on existing core features such as social network integration ("Post to Facebook..." / "Post to Twitter..."), web search and opening and closing of programs. Perhaps most useful of all, however, was v11.5's integration with Dragon smartphone apps which allow dictation via your phone's microphone letting you ditch a headset completely.

Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12 Setup

Voice recognition software has a reputation for infuriating, lengthy setup routines and while Nuance Dragon NaturallySpeaking 12 doesn't drop them completely the process is quick and – most importantly – educational. A nice tweak Nuance has made from v11.5 is that the setup process now takes even more care in teaching you key commands and usage scenarios while it learns your voice so it is well worth doing. In all it took about 15 minutes and even new users would feel confident about using punctuation, switching between programs, composing emails and performing web searches in this time. The training process and additional training exercises can be accessed at any time.

Of course it is worth pointing out that smartphone voice recognition has no setup process whatsoever which may make some impatient. The counterpoint is the setup is both a tutorial and should be far more accurate than just trying to adapt to the generic tones of your nationality. At least that's the theory...

About GTA IV...

Niko Bellic, the main character.

In Grand Theft Auto 4 you take on the role of Niko Bellic, an immigrant from Eastern Europe with an ominous past. Persuaded by his cousin's promises of a fresh start and a better life, Niko relocates to Liberty City, USA -- the worst place in America. After making the move to Liberty, however, Niko quickly realizes that his hopes of "living the American Dream" may never come to pass... and that things here may not be so different after all. Although Liberty City may not differ greatly from Niko's homeland, being different and standing out is definitely a major theme with Grand Theft Auto IV. While GTA: Vice City and GTA: San Andreas were considered to be part of the GTA III trilogy (same graphics engine, similar characters, similar mission style, etc.), Grand Theft Auto IV is considered a fresh start for the GTA series, focusing more heavily on realism and storytelling than in previous titles. This is why it's been dubbed GTA4 and not GTA6 (as many had originally anticipated), even though it's the sixth major title in the series. GTA IV follows the release of the hugely successful GTA: San Andreas (which was released for PlayStation 2 in 2004, and then later for PC and Xbox during 2005) and also marks the 10^th anniversary of the Grand Theft Auto franchise. With Grand Theft Auto 4 being the milestone that it is, Rockstar Games has been working overtime on perfecting the game. According to Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey -- a financial consultant for Take2 Interactive -- approximately 150 developers worked on GTA 4.

The Unveiling of GTA IV

Grand Theft Auto IV was announced on May 9, 2006 at Microsoft's E³ press conference. Peter Moore (who was Corporate Vice-President of Microsoft's Interactive Entertainment Business division at the time of the announcement) rolled up the left sleeve of his t-shirt to reveal a GTA4 tattoo on his arm. He announced that GTA 4 would be available on Xbox 360 in 2007, and revealed that Microsoft and Rockstar Games had formed a strategic alliance in order to provide exclusive episodic content for Xbox Live, giving the community ever-expanding gameplay experiences.

The contents of the Grand Theft Auto IV special edition.

Take 2 Interactive then issued a press release which announced that GTA IV would be released simultaneously for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in October 2007. However, the game was delayed on August 2, 2007, because some elements of the development were proving to be more time-intensive than originally expected. On January 24, 2008, a worldwide release date of April 29, 2008 was announced by Rockstar Games. It was announced on May 21, 2007, that GTA 4 would be available as a special edition on the same day as the regular edition. It is presented in a customised Grand Theft Auto metal safety deposit box, and includes the game, a limited edition duffel bag, an exclusive keychain, a selected soundtrack CD, and a Grand Theft Auto IV Art Book, featuring never-before-seen production artwork from GTA4.

The PC Version

Grand Theft Auto IV was announced for the PC during August 2008, with the release date set for late November. This was soon delayed however (hey- it wouldn't be Grand Theft Auto if it wasn't delayed!) until early December. The game was eventually released on December 2nd and December 3rd, in North America and Europe respectively.

The PC Video Editor feature.

In terms of content, the PC version contains some exclusive material which the console versions don't have. Firstly, it contains a customisable MP3 radio station known as Independence FM, allowing you to listen to your favourite tracks in-game; secondly, the multiplayer (which features a maximum of 32 players as opposed to 16 on the console versions) includes a new Custom Match feature which enables you to search for online sessions which fulfill specific criteria (such as number of players, game mode, location etc.); and thirdly, a selection of new clothing items are available in multiplayer. Also exclusive to the PC version is the Video Editor feature, which enables you to record short replays and then combine them later into a video, with the option to add filters, transitions, custom camera angles, music and text overlays. The footage can then be exported to your hard drive or shared with the Rockstar Social Club community via Social Club TV, which is basically Rockstar's version of the popular video site YouTube. Of course in addition to all of this, the PC version provides stunningly detailed, high resolution graphics (with multiple options to customise your experience) and also the potential for modding. The GTA modding community has grown considerably since the release of Grand Theft Auto III on the PC in 2002, as players look to prolong their interest in the game by adding new weapons, missions, vehicles, skins and maps.

Main Features

GAMEPLAY

• Niko can use a mobile phone to recieve calls and phone his contacts in order to arrange missions. He can also use it to call taxis and purchase weapons. The options presented on the phone's LCD are Phonebook, Messages, Organizer, and Camera. The phone can also be used to access multiplayer.
• Pedestrians perform realistic actions. They smoke cigarettes, read books and newspapers, drop litter, talk on mobile phones, walk in and out of buildings, and generally act like any normal pedestrian in a real city would.
  Mobile phones are a big part of Grand Theft Auto IV's gameplay.
• GTA IV features fifteen multiplayer modes, which can be accessed through the mobile phone. Multiplayer supports up to sixteen players, and the game modes include Deathmatch, Mafiya Work, Cops n' Crooks and Free Mode.
• It is possible to surf the internet in GTA4 via internet cafés. It is available from any computer in the game, and provides a hub for all sorts of interactivity within Liberty City. There are over 100 in-game internet websites.
• In GTA IV, you will gain a police wanted level for any crime that you commit, providing there are witnesses present. The police can only chase you if they know where you are, and they need to see you to know where you are. If you escape the search area marked on the radar without being spotted, your wanted level will disappear.
• In terms of scale, GTA IV is about the same size as GTA: San Andreas, but the map size is considerably smaller. This is mainly due to the fact there is no desert or countryside in Liberty City. Liberty City in GTA4 is the biggest single city that R* have ever created.
  GTA4 contains fifteen multiplayer modes, supporting up to 16 players.
• In GTA IV, the line between on- and off-mission has been blurred, and the story is less linear. It is also possible to do more than one mission at a time. For example, some missions take place over several days and may involve waiting for phonecalls or attending interviews, and you are free to carry out other business during the waiting period.
• The story can be told in a number of different ways. Rockstar are trying to give people greater freedom and sense of control over their destiny. You now have a lot more choice in what you want to do.
• Niko has the ability to climb and descend telephone poles, and exterior fire escapes.
• Every street in Liberty City contains a street sign with a name on it.
• Cars feature GPS navigation systems, which identify the best routes to take during missions, and highlight them on the radar.
• Developing relationships with characters is an important aspect of the gameplay. Maintaining good relationships will provide different rewards to Niko. Niko can socialise with other characters in order to maintain a good relationship, for example they can go bowling together, they can go to the cabaret, go to comedy clubs, and go drinking together.

TECHNOLOGY

• Grand Theft Auto 4 runs on Rockstar's proprietary next generation game engine, R.A.G.E., allowing for an unprecedented level of realism and interactivity.
  • New sunlight and weather effects which give the city a whole different appearance as the time of day progresses.
    New volumetric lighting effects are evident in this screenshot.
  • Volumetric lighting effects allow sunlight to stream realistically into dusty interiors. Police spotlights will likely benefit from this effect as well when helicopters kick up debris.
  • Normal (bump) maps will provide much more detail in models than the underlying polygons, as well as giving materials more texture and depth.
  • Road and building textures are more varied than in previous GTAs. On some roads you will find potholes, metal plates (etc) where the road has been dug up.
  • Modern pixel shaders give water, glass, cars, etc.. more realistic reflections and shininess than the earlier games.
  • In cars, you can see real reflections on the rear and side-view mirrors.
  • There are no load times in GTA4, not even during exterior-interior transitions (and vice versa.)
• GTA4 uses euphoria, a fully procedural animation package created by NaturalMotion. The core technology is the Dynamic Motion Synthesis (DMS) system.
  Characters have the ability to hang on to the back of vehicles.
  • Variations in the terrain are met with realistic changes in the walking animation.
  • Unique game moments. Animations are created on the fly, so each player's experience will be unique. Gamers are no longer subjected to pre-recorded animations.
  • Characters will react realisticaly to being hit with gunfire, cars, and melee weapons or fists.
  • Players will be able to push people out of the way, rather than "floating" past them as in older games.
  • Falling/thrown characters will react as in real life- They won't simply be limp, lifeless ragdolls. Nor will they use a canned "super hero" animation like before.
  • Characters (and players?) will be able to hang on to helicopters and trucks, which will swing them around as the vehicle moves.

  Minimum System Operating System: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 OR Windows XP Service Pack 3 Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8Ghz or AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4GHz Memory/RAM: 1.5GB for Vista, 1GB for XP Hard Disk Space: 16GB Free

  Recommended System Operating System: Windows Vista Service Pack 1 OR Windows XP Service Pack 3 Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad 2.4GHz, AMD Phenom X3 2.1GHz Memory/RAM: 2.5GB for Vista, 2.5GB for XP Hard Disk Space: 18 GB Free Video Card: 512MB NVIDIA 8600 or 512MB ATI 3870

True Conflict. True Power. True New York.

• Street Justice Bust criminals, take down gangs, search, seize, extort, take bribes, confiscate, interrogate, use informants and dispense justice your way – by the book or by indulging in the temptations of the job.

• Run New York City Regulate the city from Times Square and Harlem to Little Italy, Chinatown and every neighborhood in between. Take taxis, subways, and enter virtually every building in the city from music stores to clothing stores, clubs and more.

• Living, Breathing City Your attitude towards crime affects the way it looks and feels. Let crime go unchecked or contribute to it yourself and watch the city fall apart around you. Clean up crime and see it prosper along with your career.

• Everything’s a Weapon Tables, stoves, ovens, chairs, machines and anything else you see can be used to fight your enemies. Additionally, wield police issued weapons like pistols, grenades and rifles, or use your cash to buy black market firepower like flamethrowers, semi-automatics, Molotov cocktails and more.

• Brawl Your Way Seamlessly choose one of five unique fighting styles to bust up perps depending on your enemy or preference.

• Navigate the ‘Hoods Use SUVs, motorcycles, sportscars, police vehicles, trucks, buses and more to cruise around or gun down enemies. Or take cabs or the subway for direct routes.

• Supported Video cards: NVIDIA: GeForce FX series, GeForce 6 series, GeForce 7 series ATI: X500 series, X550 series, X800 series, X850 series, Radeon 9500 series, Radeon 9550 series, Radeon 9600 series, Radeon 9700 series, Radeon 9800 series

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