There’s nothing wrong with tightly-scripted video games, but
sometimes, you just want to mess around without stressing so much about reaching the next level. If you’re looking for that kind of wide-open adventure — where gamers can explore and progress without restrictions — try roaming about in these terrific titles.
Category Archives: Yahoo! Games
No end in sight for open-world games
While they’ve always been interactive, video games began 
as very narrative forms of entertainment. After an initial cut scene, setting the stage for the game, you’d receive your first orders and set off on your first mission. From there, you’d be instructed to do something else – and the cycle would continue until you reached the end of the game.
Storylines are still a core part of titles, of course, but more and more, developers are letting you explore the worlds they create when and how you want – letting you roam at will, performing non-essential missions that boost your enjoyment of the game and extend your playable hours.
Where are the new consoles?
It has been a staple in the video game industry for generations 
now: roughly every five years, the major console manufacturers roll out new systems, packing graphics that are even more eye-popping and features we couldn’t have previously imagined. The core gaming world immediately goes crazy for early previews of next generation titles, scrutinizing every frame of released video. And the countdown begins for the next generation.
Not this time, though.
Pac-Man’s headed back to TV – in 3D
Pac-Man, that pellet-eating, ghost-avoiding icon of the video game industry is ready for his close-up – again.
Namco Bandai announced late Tuesday that it was working on a new television program featuring its most popular character – one that would air in stereoscopic 3D. It’s the brainchild of Avi Arad, former CEO of Marvel Studios and current executive advisor for Namco Bandai, who showed a three-minute clip from the show at an event celebrating the 30th anniversary of Pac-Man.
Richard Branson gets into gaming
Billionaire business mogul Richard Branson blazed
trails in the video game industry in the mid-1990s. Now he’s hoping to do it again.
Virgin Gaming, the new video game unit of Virgin Holdings, begins operations today, acting as a matchmaking and tournament service — s well as a vehicle for people to profit from their gaming skills via cash wagers. The company says it plans to give away $1 million in cash and prizes over the next year.
EA heads into E3 with guns blazing
Not too many years ago, Electronic Arts 
was a company that was avoiding the first-person shooter genre. These days, it’s counting heavily on it.
The company showed a lineup that was bullet-heavy at its 2010 E3 press conference, highlighting shooters that will likely cheer action fans and court controversy from game violence opponents. And as if to underscore their commitment to the genre, EA is launching a new customer loyalty program, dubbed “Gun Club,” tailored to appeal to action fans.
More console price cuts may be coming this year, say analysts
Thinking about buying an Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or
even a Wii? You might want to wait a while longer. Game industry analysts say another round of price cuts could be on the way.
On some levels it makes plenty of sense. Today’s game machines are four and five years old — historically the point at which the next generation makes its debut — but still carry pretty hefty prices, especially for mass consumers. And after last year’s disappointing sales figures, the industry could use a big rebound.
Need a new job? Play a video game!
Looking to get a new job or secure a promotion at the office? Try playing a round of Modern Warfare 2 or spending some time in World of Warcraft
.
While, technically, neither in and of itself will help you climb the corporate ladder, a new book argues that the skills you learn playing video games can be extremely beneficial to your career.
Why don’t players finish games?
If the majority of an audience walked out of a movie before it was over, Hollywood would be buzzing. But when a player quits a video game midway through, it’s not just unsurprising, it’s almost expected.
According to Remedy, the developer of the upcoming Xbox 360 thriller “Alan Wake,” Microsoft’s internal research finds that only 30% of players finish games they start. Some of that can be written off to being dissatisfied with the product, but most of those players are perfectly happy with the game. They just didn’t bother completing it.
Chris Morris: Journalist 