Sim Games Blog

It sounds strange, but Jay Z apparently is a big fan of 2K Sports' NBA 2K13 and wanted to be involved in its development in some capacity. The result is a "Jay Z Production," which entails hand-picking the soundtrack, changing the pre-game introductions, and even providing input on the interactive menus. The real changes, however, are in the gameplay and play modes, which offer several improvements and added depth to all but ensure a successful showing at retail. Of course, being the only NBA-licensed game on PC and consoles doesn't exactly hurt, either. NBA 2K13 makes its PC debut on October 2nd.

New Star Soccer 5 has you trying to turn a 16-year-old athlete into an international superstar adored by everyone. Everyone who follows soccer/football, that is, which is actually a rather huge audience.

Whether he will be celebrated or reviled will largely depend on the decisions you make, which go far beyond the usual decisions you make in a soccer game.

In New Star Soccer 5, you'll spend your star's money on gambling, new houses, luxury cars and booze. You'll also attempt to develop relationships over the course of your career, which may or may not work out for the best.

Image © New Star Games

Codemasters has released its next installment in its best-selling, critically acclaimed Formula One racing series on PC. F1 2012 not only includes all drivers, courses, and teams from the 2012 season, but there are new modes of play as well. Those who don't feel like following a five-year racing career can choose from a number of shorter events, such as being able to race against some of the world's top drivers in the Champions Mode.

Promising an assortment of new modes, enhancements, and tweaks, Sega's Football Manager 2013 hopes to broaden its fan base this fall by catering to those who want to enjoy the game without having to invest large amounts of time micromanaging every facet of their club.

Those who do enjoy this part of the game need not worry -- everything you loved about Football Manager 2012 will still be available in the sequel, albeit with more polish and attention to detail. The game will be available on November 2, 2012.

Image © Sega

The War in the Pacific is the focus of bitComposer Games' Air Conflicts: Pacific Carriers. You'll play as either a member of the U.S. Navy or the Imperial Japanese Navy in two campaigns centered around the key aerial battles of World War II.

RailSimulator.com's train series keeps chugging along with Train Simulator 2013, which for the first time, incorporates Steam's community-based workshop for sharing created railroads with other users. Owners of the previous game on Steam will automatically receive Train Simulator 2013 as a free update, but if you want all of the new routes, you'll have to purchase the package for $29.99.

Dogfight 1942 combines the authentic aircraft and battles of World War II with an arcade-style approach to its flight model. The game's most unusual feature is its approach to multiplayer: instead of online support, Dogfight 1942 offers three split-screen options for local play on the same PC.

The independently developed FTL, short for Faster Than Light, is now available on Steam for $9.99. The game has you in command of a starship that's being relentlessly chased through space by a rebel fleet. Your mission is to safely make it (boldly go?) through eight randomly generated sectors of space to reach the Federation. Read more about what makes the game stand out from other sci-fi titles on my Faster Than Light profile page.

Galaxy on Fire 2, originally released on mobile platforms, recently landed on PC with some visual enhancements, including revamped 3D models and improved resolutions. The game will have you exploring a galaxy filled with 100 different space stations in either an open-ended format or as part of a story-driven experience.

Ubisoft further explores the god game genre with the release of Babel Rising on PC, which originally debuted on iOS devices. The game has you using bolts of lightning, fireballs, earthquakes, and floods to prevent a persistent group of Babylonians from erecting a tower that's getting a little too close to heaven. Silly Babylonians. Now you must pay.