Third dimension viewing

SO no sooner have we all bought HD televisions, we’re now being told the ‘new’ generation of sets are now outdated.
Yep 3D TV is here, well almost.
I’m sorry but at the moment when I think of the 3D revolution, I think of being conned out of money.
I mean, Avatar in 3D. Man that was cool, and you really felt like you were part of something new and hip.But then on my second outing to the cinema to see Clash of The Titans I came away feeling ripped off.
It later transpired that 3D bits had been added to the main battle scenes afterwards because its producers were impressed with how much money Avatar grossed.I can’t help but feel that I will be as disappointed, if not more, by spending £2,000+ on a new 3D TV.
My parents have just signed up to Sky for the HD version and to be honest the picture is amazing.But I seem to be one of many who believe we should already have that sort of clarity on any TV for the money we pay in the TV licence.
To date the main broadcasters (i.e. BBC and Sky) have been heavily flirting with the idea of 3D TV channels and there has been a football match or two on the latter (which for the record wasn’t THAT impressive, with the crowd shots being more spectacular than the football itself).
And Samsung have just launched the first of its new 3D sets.
It is a step into the future.
When it fully comes online in a couple of years time, it will no doubt be worth investing in.
You will probably be able to buy a TV for about £800 then and even the cheapest set should boast some quality.But until then I remain unconvinced.
Another toy for the fat cats to play with.
Oh, and I bet in the future when you’re sat in your front room watching your 3D TV, if listen really carefully you might well here those fat cats laughing at how stupid you look in your 3D glasses.

Anyway, for the time being spend what money you aren’t saving (for a 3D TV) and buy one of these:

Title: Super Street Fighter IV
Platform: PS3
Genre: Fighting
Price: £29.99
Hit count: 5/5

Just when you thought this legendary series had done it all, the follow-up to Street Fighter IV further redefines the fighting game genre with classic 2D Street Fighter action, a host of new and returning characters, more advanced online gameplay, new ultra combos and much more.
It has instant appeal, throwing you quickly into fast and furious fighting action, while also providing the opportunity for more serious gaming scrappers to refine their fighting style, discover new ways to chain combos and improve their overall skills.
Long-term fans of the franchise will simply see this as yet another first-rate release that allows them to indulge themselves once again in what must be the finest fighter of all time.
Also, newcomers will wonder why they’ve being missing out on so much fun for so long. It’s well priced and a superb way to spend hours on your PS3, so buy it now!


Title: Football Manager 2010
Platform: iPhone
Genre: Football Management
Price: £6.99
Hit count: 4/5

Known for draining hours, days and months from many adults’ lives, the Football Manager series has always retained that ’just one more game’ appeal.
This means that deciding to install it on your PC or console has to be a carefully-considered lifestyle choice!
Pared down and polished up for the slickest on-the-go gadget around, Football Manager 2010 is a brilliant ’lite’ version of the full desktop experience, but don’t be fooled into thinking that it’s been over-simplified.
The player search database is still huge and nearly a dozen leagues are available for managers. Understandably, things such as the 3D match engine have been retrofitted with more basic top-down animations, but this never feels like a step backwards.
Some fiddly fingerwork is required in team selection, but for those with dainty digits, this will herald an extremely exciting launch for the portable gaming world.


Title: God Of War: Collection
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £24.99
Hit count: 5/5

In a way, it’s a little harsh to bring out the early two incarnations of the God Of War series so close to the monstrous impact that the third and final episode has made on PS3.
But giving people the opportunity to fully appreciate how far the series has come is one action experience that no serious gamer should turn their noses up at.
Graphically, they struggle to keep pace with the likes of Uncharted 2, but they’re still both a dream to play – eclipsing many of the early, and some recent, big next-gen releases.
The HD graphical upgrade has certainly worked its magic, making the early adventures of Kratos all the more engaging.
Each half of this incredible bundle represents a serious piece of gaming history and you’d be mad not to add them to your collection – even if you played through the PS2 versions first time around.


Title: Splinter Cell: Conviction
Platform: Xbox 360
Genre: Action
Price: £49.99
Hit count 5/5

Sam Fisher’s previous forays into the world of stealth have been supremely successful, so it’s a pretty bold move to adapt the gameplay formula for the next episode in the series.
But Splinter Cell: Conviction proves to be a masterful progression for the series, restructuring the stealth aspects to turn Fisher from a silent shadow lurker into a ruthless hunter.
Intuitive controls allow you to improvise with the environment around you and react on the fly to any changing enemy situations.
You can create diversions, execute dozens of close-combat takedowns with adrenaline-pumping accuracy and make the most of new high-tech gadgets to stay one step ahead of your pursuers.
While the single-player story may be a little short, the additional modes provide admirable replay value and ensure that Conviction raises the bar for all action stealth titles that follow.


Title: Grand Theft Auto: Episodes From Liberty City
Platform: PS3
Genre: Action
Price: £34.99
Hit count 5/5

Liberty City dropped the jaws of sandbox gamers long ago when Grand Theft Auto IV first hit the streets.
Now, this duo of expansion packs finally brings the fresh perspective on life in the city to PS3 gamers.
Whether you’re unearthing the seedy underbelly of Liberty City bursting to the seams with guns, glitz and grime through The Ballad Of Gay Tony or joining Johnny Klebitz and his biker crew in a vicious turf war with rival gangs in The Lost And The Damned, this additional content brings the overall GTA IV experience close to perfection. New missions, side missions, characters, weapons, multiplayer modes, TV, internet and radio content all add to the rich tapestry of life in this virtuoso virtual world.
A few hours with both of these episodes and you’ll realise you’d have been happy to pay double. GTA is still the daddy.

GAME CHART: ALL FORMATS FULL PRICE

1. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction
2. Just Dance
3. Grand Theft Auto – Episodes From Liberty City
4. Wii Fit Plus
5. Monster Hunter Tri
6. Battlefield: Bad Company 2
7. Wii Sports Resort
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
9. Just Cause 2
10. Pokemon SoulSilver

Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (c) ELSPA (UK) Ltd