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The Uncharted series, which has quickly become the staple franchise of the PlayStation 3, has won over hard-core and casual gamers alike with its lighthearted action gameplay, witty characters, and amazing sense of adventure.

The third title in the series promises to up the ante even higher, so it's back to the jungle we go with our look at Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception.

Jeff:Nathan Drake has got to have the best and worst luck in the history of video game characters. But that's why Uncharted games are such a thrill to play. Each sequential title in the franchise puts Drake in a bigger mess than before, tasking players to find new ways to save his life over and over again.

Maybe more so than any other game out there, Uncharted 3 plays much more like a Hollywood blockbuster than it does a conventional video game. It's the first title you'd want to show off to nongamers, with the hope they would then realize all the fun they're missing out on.

Veterans and newcomers to the Uncharted series will get sucked right in, as the early hours of gameplay are much more varied than what's been presented in the past. Naughty Dog has also again raised the bar on dictating compelling narrative, as Uncharted 3 makes the characters even more relatable and likable than ever before. Plus, I'm not sure there's a better musical score in all of games. … Read more

It's that time of the year again. A time to turn off the lights and snuggle up with a game that's guaranteed to scare you silly. We've compiled a list of titles that are sure to keep you awake at night and a few that will be haunting you early next year.

But consider yourself warned; these games are not for trick-or-treaters.

Have a favorite scary game you'd like to share? Be sure to comment below. You can also check out which games made last year's list or watch our CNET TV feature that covers what we think are the seven scariest video games of all time!… Read more

Here's another reason to purchase a PlayStation 3 over a standalone 3D Blu-ray player to go with your 3D TV.

A total of 51 3D games are expected to be available for the console by the end of November, with 48 of these titles already being sold. This includes download-only versions from the firm's PlayStation Network (PSN). Non-gamers can also utilize the PS3 to play back 3D Blu-ray movies in 1080p quality with high-resolution surround sound.

Do note that some of the game titles may not be available in your country. We've marked those with PSN versions with an asterisk. … Read more

We Americans sure do love our shooters, and this fall, DICE and Infinity Ward are competing for your hard-earned $60. Separated by a mere two weeks, Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 represent a significant chunk of the already-crowded holiday gaming season.

Of course the question on everyone's mind is, "Which one is better?" We don't think it's fair to say either one at this early juncture, especially since we've only had limited time with Modern Warfare's single-player campaign, and practically none with the multiplayer mode.

So while it's too early to crown either title as the winner, you'll just have to settle for our look at Battlefield 3 to start things off.

Jeff: I first saw Battlefield 3 in action late last year at a behind-closed-doors event in New York. The game was running on a very high-end PC, and the gameplay I witnessed was nothing short of remarkable.

The console version (I'm playing it on Xbox 360) of Battlefield 3 sure has its own polish (I highly recommend installing the optional texture pack the first time you boot it up), but in terms of graphics it barely compares with how amazing this game can look on PC. Let me get that out of the way first; if you've got the hardware to run it, make sure you check Battlefield 3 out on a souped-up PC.… Read more

There certainly has not been a shortage of gaming headsets by way of third-party manufacturers in the past few years. We've seen impressive entries in the market from brands like Turtle Beach, Astro, and Logitech, all of which perform well, but are priced as high as $250. … Read more

This week, we take a look at what life will be like after Siri for iPhone 4S, check out the latest laptops, and learn how we rescued some game saves from an overheating PS3.

Bonus: Watch the full "Life with Siri" video here.

… Read more

Back in 2009 From Software's Demon's Souls made numerous game-of-the-year lists because of its innovative crowdsourced hinting system, but at the same time honoring the tough-as-nails mentality that seems to have been lost in modern gaming.

Dark Souls is the spiritual successor to Demon's Souls. It doesn't continue any sort of linear story, but most of the mechanics remain in tact, including the unforgiving difficulty of the game.

But in a landscape where regenerative health and multiple save points are the norm, can Dark Souls find a place amongst the mainstream?

Jeff: Part of the difficulty that inherently lies in games journalism is remaining indifferent even when a given product isn't something you'd normally want to play. A perfect example of this was my experience with 2009's Demon's Souls. Forcing myself to play such a difficult title wound up making me appreciate so much about what I didn't know. I became immersed in the universe the game was able to convincingly create, even though I had died a thousand deaths exploring the world.

Of course I knew what I was getting myself into with From Software's follow-up, Dark Souls, and the game's tagline of "Prepare to Die" isn't really an attempt to be something it isn't.

Dark Souls can be infuriatingly difficult, and for the gamer who thinks he or she can just march right in with a sword and shield drawn is in for a world of hurt. Not only does the game punish those who play nonchalantly, it basically offers no real explanation of the various items, powers, and hollowing abilities that are at a player's disposal. This lack of hand-holding will be jarring for those not hardened by the "good-old days" of gaming, but Dark Souls is a crash course for the inexperienced.… Read more

I'll be honest. I was a bit worried when the first images of what was being called Max Payne 3 started surfacing online. I thought, Who is that guy? Why is he in some tropical locale? Where's the snow? Where's the doom and gloom? And most importantly, where the hell is New York City?

Truth be told, the third installment of the franchise that is responsible for bringing the slow-motion bullet-time effect to mainstream games does feature an aesthetically different-looking Max Payne. But as we found out from a hands-off demo of the title at Rockstar Games' New York City offices, Max Payne 3 is looking like the true sequel loyal fans of the series will want to play and even embrace.

Even though Max Payne 3 isn't being developed by Remedy (the house behind the first two games), the Rockstar reps on hand informed me "they'd seen what we were doing with the game, gave some notes, and they're excited about its direction." When the first trailer for Max Payne 3 debuted on September 14, Remedy CEO Matias Myllyrinne tweeted, "A big thumbs-up and congrats to Rockstar on the Max Payne 3 trailer!"… Read more

This week on preGame, Mark and Jeff will crawl through a dungeon or two in Dark Souls and then mess around with a gravity gun in Rochard.

But first we'll dive into instant reactions regarding the news that broke today about Xbox 360 bringing TV programming to Xbox Live. Beginning around the holiday season, Microsoft will partner with close to 40 content providers like HBO GO, Verizon, and Comcast and stream over Xbox Live.

All these demos, stories, the Xbox Wireless Speed Wheel, and chance to win a limited-edition Deus Ex: Human Revolution T-shirt on today's show!

preGame … Read more