If you have a slightly addictive personality or - worse - have children well rehearsed in nagging, you might want to avoid Dubai's Festival City this weekend. From tomorrow afternoon until Saturday, a huge marquee on the Festival Marina will be home to Games12, the region's biggest video games exhibition. Should this all sound a little too exciting to handle, here's a brief run down of the games likely to be making the biggest noise over the next three days.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
It's not out until November, but this is already shaping up to be the best-selling game of all time. In this instalment of the franchise, we're heading to the near future, to a 2025 in which China and the US are at loggerheads over minerals. And, for the first time in the series, there will be branching storylines.
Pro Evolution 2013
If you're a Pro Evo-er rather than a Fifa-er, then you might be keen to know the latest edition is being launched at Games12. Alongside upgraded defending and goalkeeping, certain players - such as Neymar - have been re-engineered to have real player similarities in movement.
Borderlands 2
The sequel to 2009's unexpected success story takes the space-western reins of the frenetic first-person shooter and gallops on, with four new characters, a more expansive and customisable arsenal of weaponry and a new non-linear mission system.
WWE '13
It's all about attitude in the latest wrestling button masher, more specifically, the Attitude Era of the WWF in the late 1990s, with a season mode that gives players the chance to play through the likes of The Rock, Steve Austin, The Undertaker and Bret Hart and their not-at-all-comical feuds.
Lego The Lord of the Rings
There had to be at least one Lego game at the show and, thankfully, this one looks pretty ace. Tolkien's fantasy world gets a blocky and chirpy facelift as you head of to destroy the one ring (one ring that, hopefully, will fit nicely in Lego Frodo's digit-limited hand).
Assassin's Creed 3
Crusader-era Middle East and Renaissance Europe are distant memories in the third full addition to the stalk and stab classic, as you head to the US in the midst of its bloody 18th-century revolution. As the new protagonist Connor Kenway, you'll also get to captain a ship and attack enemy vessels on the high seas.
Resident Evil 6
Just when you thought the residents couldn't get any more evil, along comes the sixth in Capcom's continuing third-personer, this time featuring the J'avo, creatures created from the C-Virus infection who can interact with each other to plan attacks and heal themselves. Play with the lights on.
Medal of Honour: Warfighter
Following on from 2010's Medal of Honour, this first-person shooter heads off to the Philippines for some kidnap rescue and then to Somalia in the fight against Ash-Shabaab.
aritman@thenational.ae
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Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
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World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
MATCH INFO
Alaves 1 (Perez 65' pen)
Real Madrid 2 (Ramos 52', Carvajal 69')
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
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25%20Days%20to%20Aden
%3Cp%3EAuthor%3A%20Michael%20Knights%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EPages%3A%20256%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAvailable%3A%20January%2026%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
Name: Peter Dicce
Title: Assistant dean of students and director of athletics
Favourite sport: soccer
Favourite team: Bayern Munich
Favourite player: Franz Beckenbauer
Favourite activity in Abu Dhabi: scuba diving in the Northern Emirates
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Normal People
Sally Rooney, Faber & Faber
RESULTS
Argentina 4 Haiti 0
Peru 2 Scotland 0
Panama 0 Northern Ireland 0
Graduated from the American University of Sharjah
She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters
Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks
Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding
Company%20profile
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Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
If you go...
Fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Chiang Mai in Thailand, via Bangkok, before taking a five-hour bus ride across the Laos border to Huay Xai. The land border crossing at Huay Xai is a well-trodden route, meaning entry is swift, though travellers should be aware of visa requirements for both countries.
Flights from Dubai start at Dh4,000 return with Emirates, while Etihad flights from Abu Dhabi start at Dh2,000. Local buses can be booked in Chiang Mai from around Dh50
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now