| PCPP#151 synopsis |
 PC PowerPlay Issue #151: May 2008 by: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | Available 2nd April 2008 at all good newsagents!  This is a MASSive issue! Geddit?
A cursory look at the cover will tell you that, yes, we are indeed talking about Mass Effect. The game was a hit on consoles, but will it be any good on the PC? Read our huge feature to find out! We also have a MASSIVE review line-up this issue, with Assassin's Creed, Frontlines, and DoW Soulstorm reviewed for your reading pleasure. Plus in tech, we have a look at the future of PhysX on Nvidia chipsets while we also check out ATI's new 3870 series of videocards. Can it challenge the juggernaut that is Nvidia? You'll have to read on to find out! 
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And you thought it couldn't be done. PCPP#151, hitting shelves April 2, now revealed for your anticipatory pleasure! Features/Previews
First things first. We preview Mass Effect, taking a penetrating look at what Bioware doesn't want us to call a port, but which we call a port anyway. Can Mass Effect on PC work? We examine the potential pitfalls.
We also take an exclusive first look at The Sims 3. See us quake in fear at a game that will soon swallow our nearest and dearest whole. But is this the Blu-ray of Sims? Is it all about cosmetic upgrades and not enough about new gameplay? Meghann O'Neill tries to find out. Also in features, we reveal what you should look for when shopping for games and tech. Handy hints and a good dose of consumers' rights should help dispel some of the confusion and reticence that surrounds handing over your cash or credit card details, both online and off. And then in PCPP#152 we follow up with a feature on how to save bucketloads of cash through smart online shopping. Reviews
Reviews this issue are of course dominated by Assassin's Creed - does it survive the translation to PC? Or are all its vital organs randomly rearranged? Rated for all!
Then we follow with some Frontlines, a little DOW: Soulstorm and a special double-length TCP Safari rundown on Pirates of the Burning Sea. Plus a bunch more games! Tech
Flip to the tech section, where the Forum's own ElPresidente gives you the lowdown on how to beat the system requirement blues. Plus three slimline game boxes take on the B2 Stealth Gaming case in the ultimate grudge match slamface crunchdown! Eh, you'll see what we mean when you read it.
We also take another look at PhysX and ask what next for this technology and the whole concept of physics acceleration now NVIDIA has purchased AGEIA. The Disc
The disc leaps out of the gates with a massive 50 games. There's racing with NFS Pro Street Porsche, running and gunning with The Club, strategy with Stronghold, the new demo list goes on.
We also offer an enormous hardcore strategy/wargaming pack: 28 games and demos in one tasty bundle. And free games include FreeCiv. The graphics are rudimentary, but the gameplay is deep. So much to read and do! |
