Games news: 2015-05-10

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Xbox One pulls off an unlikely sales victory over the PS4

Well, this is kind of surprising: the Xbox One lead console sales last month. I say it's surprising because there wasn't an exclusive game that launched for the system, nor was their a new bundle deal going at the time, either. Regardless, it's good news and something that Redmond hasn't seen in an awfully long time. The company says that domestic sales of the console increased some 63 percent compared to last April while active Xbox Live users on a global scale grew by 24 percent in the same window. Of course, we still don't have hard numbers in terms of sales about the Xbox One, and until the console breaks 20 million sold you can bet that we almost assuredly won't.
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Listen to New Theme from Legendary Secret of Mana Composer

Unraveled is a 16-bit role-playing game for PC in the style of Chrono Trigger and Secret of Mana that's currently seeking funding on Kickstarter.

If you're a fan of Secret of Mana, you might want to check out Unraveled as the team behind it recently announced that Secret of Mana composer, Hiroki Kikuta, is writing the game's main theme song. You can hear a sample of the enchanting track below.

On the Kickstarter page, Kikuta is quoted saying, "I'm always looking for fabulous projects to get me excited. When I saw Unraveled, I felt strongly that this game was special. It has substance. The setting and message are very unique and create a beautiful and emotional world that I wish to explore through my music."

Composer Dale North will also lend his talents to the game, composing the main score.

What you hear above is a draft of the main theme. If you want to hear the final version, Unraveled will have to first hit its full funding goal of $15,000.

The game's story follows a little girl whose family has gone missing at a ship breaking yard, and Unraveled aims to bring attention to the real-world plight of workers in the ship breaking industry in India. You can find out more about the game on its Kickstarter page.

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Candy Crush Saga to jeopardize productivity of Windows 10 users

Know what game's coming to all versions of Windows 10 aside from the usual ones like Solitaire and Minesweeper? Candy Crush. Yes, the same sugar-filled time-sink that's already taken over a lot of people's souls through iOS, Android and Windows Phone. The game's coming later this year, presumably around the same time the new OS arrives. It will even come pre-installed with the platform for anyone who upgrades for a limited time following its launch. According to Microsoft, the game will feature cross-play options for Android and iOS devices, ensuring that you can't escape from its sticky, sweet grasp wherever you go.
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Source: Xbox Wire

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Mortal Kombat X, GTA 5 Top April 2015 Game Sales Charts

Microsoft ban for 'Gears of Wars' leakers only knocks them offline

Remember that Xbox One Gears of War remaster leak from a few weeks back? Well, the folks who gave word about it and then proceeded to upload video of the game in action have apparently had their Xbox Live accounts "permanently disabled" and supposedly "all of their Xbox One privileges" have been blocked according to an email from the game's testing agency that was obtained by Kotaku. As Microsoft tells us, that isn't quite the case; it's more of a soft ban that means the affected accounts can't go online:

"To be clear, if a console is suspended from Xbox Live for a violation of the Terms of Use, it can still be used offline. Microsoft enforcement action does not result in a console becoming unusable. Suspensions for both consoles and accounts are determined by looking at a number of factors. To avoid enforcement action including suspension from the service, users should follow the Xbox Live Terms of Use and Code of Conduct."

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Source: Kotaku

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Microsoft Denies Disabling Xbox Ones for Terms of Use Breaches

Xbox One Best-Selling Console in April 2015 for US

Dying Light's New DLC Built for Co-Op Play, Coming Later This Month

Dying Light developer Techland has announced new details about the game's upcoming Bozak Horde DLC, as well as a release date: May 26.

The Bozak Horde adds a new game mode where you'll face waves of enemies inside of a new area (Harran Stadium) as part of a game set up by someone named Bozak. You'll be able to do this on your own or with a group of up to four players--though it sounds as if the latter is the preferred method for tackling it.

Techland says this has been "designed with co-op gameplay in mind." Players will be faced with a challenge worthy of "even a team of four seasoned survivors," who will be able to showcase their results through the new leaderboards.

Those who are able to defeat the entire horde will be granted a compound hunting bow that is said to be "the ultimate stealth weapon." By completing other objectives, players can unlock new arrow types for it, including electric, incendiary, and exploding, which sure sounds as if it'll render this anything but a stealth weapon.

The Bozak Horde will be available both as part of the season pass and as its own DLC pack for $10.

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H1Z1 Players Log Out in Droves When the Sun Goes Down (in-Game)

Watch GTA 5's Top Mods: Flying Jesus, Telekinesis, and the Nuke Railgun

Even with a lack of official support from Rockstar, Grand Theft Auto V on PC has seen a number of very cool mods released. We've rounded up some of the best in the video below.

Whether you don't have a rig capable of running GTA V, you're afraid of malware (see below), or want to ensure you don't end up banned (even though Rockstar says it isn't banning people for the use of single-player mods), we've got you covered. The video takes a look at more than a half-dozen mods, including those that allow players to fly, flood the city, face off against the army at a five-star wanted level, and more.

We've included links below for all of the mods featured in the video, with the exception of one. As we learned today, certain mods reportedly include malware--and that possibly includes Angry Planes, one of the mods we showcase. As always, you should be careful about downloading and installing mods (or anything on the Internet, really), but Angry Planes is one you should likely avoid, at least for the time being.

Nice Fly by chileno
Telekinesis 0.6 by DaveA93
Trevor's Magic Bat 0.1 by bugbutts
Nuke Railgun by MisterY
Army Spawns at Five Stars v1.2 by PlasticTangerine
IPL Loader + Interior Teleports 1.1.1 by N3tt0 x BaG
No Water + Tsunami + Atlantis by Script Mods
Angry Planes by onsby

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New Mortal Kombat X PS4 and Xbox One Patch Coming Today

'Rainbow Six Siege' raids PC, PS4 and Xbox One on October 13th

While The Division might not be launching in 2015 (it was pushed back to early 2016), you'll have at least one way to get your Tom Clancy gaming fix this year. Ubisoft has announced that Rainbow Six Siege will ship worldwide on October 13th. The counter-terrorist raid shooter will be available on PC, PS4 and Xbox One, and players who pre-order will have guaranteed access to a closed beta test. It's hard to say if this title will do justice to the original Rainbow Six games it's trying to follow, but you'll know for sure in about five months.
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Source: Ubisoft (YouTube)

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Best-Selling PS4, PS3, and PS Vita Games on PSN in April Revealed

Sony has released its monthly list of the best-selling games on the PlayStation Store in North America for April 2015, with Mortal Kombat X coming out on top on PS4.

MKX was released in April, so its top spot doesn't come as a big surprise. It edged out Bloodborne, March's top game, as well as MLB 15, which launched on the last day of March. Battlefield Hardline, meanwhile, dropped from the second spot in March down to number 8.

On PS3, Grand Theft Auto V was number one after a month in which it didn't even make the top 20; that's perhaps thanks to a PSN sale in mid-April that offered the game and $20's worth of GTA Online money for $30. Minecraft, always the strong seller, was number two.

Indie darling Shovel Knight topped the Vita charts, also making it to number five on PS4.

Check out the full lists below, and let us know what you bought in April in the comments below.

PS4:

PS3:

PS Vita:

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Free Version of Half-Life Remaster Black Mesa to Get Limited Support, No Xen

Bravely Second Offers Interesting Combat But a Lackluster Beginning

Destiny House of Wolves Launch Trailer Arrives, as Work Continues on Update Bug

With the release of Destiny's House of Wolves expansion just a few days away, Bungie--apparently confident that issues around the game's latest patch won't delay its arrival--released a launch trailer for the add-on. The video provides an overview of the House of Wolves content, including its new multiplayer maps, the Prison of Elders and Trials of Osiris modes, and more.

On Wednesday, Bungie announced that it discovered a "late-breaking technical issue" related to Destiny update 1.2.0. This patch was released last week, but has not yet been activated.

Bungie has now provided a new update regarding the progress being made to overcome this issue. The developer said it's been able to isolate the problem, and work is now underway to fix it.

"Solutions for technical issues that have delayed the delivery of updates have been identified," Bungie community manager David "Deej" Dague said in the developer's forums. "Work is ongoing and we'll release the new content and the Patch Notes as soon as we can. Stand by for more information on timing."

House of Wolves, due May 19, is Destiny's second expansion. It follows December's The Dark Below. Looking ahead, Bungie will release more content for Destiny this summer, before the game's most substantial expansion yet is released this fall.

You can buy House of Wolves through the $35 Destiny Expansion Pass--which also includes The Dark Below--or by itself for $20.

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JXE Streams: Roll7 explains the guns and bunnies in 'Not a Hero'

Just over a month ago, Roll7 stopped by JXE Streams to laugh at us as we repeatedly wiped out grinding rails in skateboarding game OlliOlli 2. Now the studio is coming back on the show to mock us for lacking an entirely different set of skills. We're just not that good at jumping through windows and shooting thugs under the orders of a maniacal bunny man from the future who happens to be running for mayor. Yes, that is really what Not a Hero is about and we'll be playing it with the game's creators starting at 3:30PM ET.
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Capcom Steam Sale Offers Cheap Resident Evil, Dead Rising, DMC Games

Some GTA 5 PC Mods Reportedly Include Malware

Certain mods for the PC version of Grand Theft Auto V may include malware, according to research done by a number of players.

A post today on GTAForums (via Reddit) raises the possibility of mods including some kind of malicious software. The exact nature of this remains unclear, and we don't yet know all of the mods that might be delivering the code to players' computers.

In at least one case, it looks as if running the game with infected mods installs a trojan called fade.exe, which then creates log files--possibly of activity on the computer--and transmits that information online. This apparently only happens after opening the game with the mods in question; simply downloading them may not infect you.

It initially seemed this could all be circumstantial, as the original forum poster was tracking the appearance of fade.exe back to when the game was first run with mods. However, other users have since chimed in, reporting they, too, have found traces of the malware. Others claimed they've inspected certain mod files and found they are infected with malware. Allegedly, these mods include NoClip and Angry Planes, possibly among others, though we haven't been able to verify this ourselves.

If you're used infected mods but run antivirus and anti-malware software, it's possible any malware was caught before it could do its thing. Still, if you have run mods, you should change any of your online passwords, and exercise caution before running mods.

That advice has always been true of downloading game mods. This isn't the first instance of them being used to transmit malware, but GTA V is no doubt a prime target due to both its popularity and the lack of official mod support.

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Watch Witcher 3's Stunning Cinematic Launch Trailer

Ahead of the game's release next week, Polish developer CD Projekt Red on Thursday released a new cinematic trailer for The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. Titled "A Night to Remember," the video is totally gorgeous and quite creepy and unexpected. We won't spoil it for you. Watch and let us know what you think.

Reviews for The Witcher 3 came online this week, and the RPG is receiving widespread praise. GameSpot scored the game a perfect 10/10, only the ninth title in our site's history to receive that score.

"Where the Witcher 2 sputtered to a halt, The Witcher 3 is always in a crescendo, crafting battle scenarios that constantly one-up the last, until you reach the explosive finale and recover in the glow of the game's quiet denouement," reviewer Kevin VanOrd wrote.

CD Projekt Red will release a day-one update for The Witcher 3 that improves the frame rate and makes other technical tweaks. What's more, Sony recently shared a new PlayStation 4 video that speaks to the size of game's massive world.

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Microsoft's E3 event gives you a chance to play upcoming games

It's not unheard of for game console makers to invite fans to their media events -- largely to get more cheering than they'd usually get -- but Microsoft is upping the ante for its E3 gathering this year. It's planning to offer 500 tickets that gets you into both the company's June 15th press conference as well as a multi-day FanFest (June 14th through the 18th) that lets you play upcoming Xbox games months in advance. You'll also have VIP access to an eSports event and a meet-and-greet with game industry bigwigs. Be prepared tot make a lot of sacrifices if you're determined to get in, though. You'll have to be in the Los Angeles area, of course, but you'll also have to line up for those tickets on the 14th. Otherwise, you'll just have to watch the blogs and live streams like everyone else.
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Source: Major Nelson, Xbox.com

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Mr. Burns, Ned Flanders Voice Actor Quitting The Simpsons

Twitch's live game video streaming arrives on Roku players

You now have an easy way to follow your favorite Twitch game streamers on a big screen without splurging on a console or Fire TV. The live video service has just launched a channel for Roku players, helping you keep up with tournaments and "let's play" sessions on a cheap and cheerful media hub. The interface will seem familiar if you've used Twitch's other apps, but that's not exactly a major gripe. Give it a spin today if you'd rather watch a DOTA 2 match than Don Draper.
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Source: Roku Stream Blog

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Driveclub lets you race Rimac's ultra-rare electric hypercar

For most of us, ultra-realistic racing games like Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport are as close as we'll ever get to driving the world's most luxurious motors. We've drooled over Rimac Automobili's Concept_One electric hypercar for years, but given that only eight have ever been made, our chances of getting behind the wheel seem pretty slim. Now, the EV has been added to Driveclub, giving you the chance to thrash the high performance racer around Norway, Scotland, Chile and more. If you need a reminder, the $980,000 car boasts a carbon fibre body and 1088 horsepower, which can take you from 0-62 mph in 2.8 seconds. Its green credentials might be irrelevant on a virtual racetrack, but hopefully you can appreciate them all the same in Evolution Studios' (no longer broken) racer.
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Via: Autoblog
Source: Rimac Automobili

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Rainbow: Six Siege Release Date Confirmed

Ubisoft has announced Rainbow Six: Siege will be released on October 13.

The game, which will be available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, is developed by Ubisoft Montreal and is a strategic team-based military shooter with highly destructible maps.

"Players will engage in sieges, a new style of assault where enemies have the means to transform their environments into modern strongholds while Rainbow Six teams lead the assault to breach the enemy position," Ubisoft explains.

Ubisoft has also released a short trailer, which you can watch below.

Ubisoft has high hopes for for the upcoming shooter, recently saying it believes Rainbow Six: Siege has the potential to become the best-selling shooter in the company's history, surpassing Far Cry 4.

"Over its lifetime, we believe Rainbow Six: Siege has the potential to become the highest-selling shooter in Ubisoft's history," stated Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot during a recent call with investors.

CFO Alain Martine pointed out that Rainbow Six games traditionally sell about three million units, "versus Far Cry [4] that this year has exceeded seven million."

"We believe that Rainbow Six--because of replayability and multiplayer--might have a potential to [do] better than Far Cry over its lifetime," Martine added.

Ubisoft also recently delayed The Division until 2016, it did not announce a new release date for the game.

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Silver Mario Amiibo Arrives This Month for $13

Sony Treating PS4 No Man's Sky Like a First-Party Game

Play Xbox With Your Mom for Jimmy Fallon

GTA 5 PC Music Video Contest Announced

Silver Mario Amiibo will drive collectors insane this month

Nintendo has already released a gold version of its Mario Amiibo, so guess what's coming next? A silver version, of course. We suspected as much after both figurines leaked back in February, but today the console maker has made it official. The special statue -- which is identical to the Amiibo figure from Mario Party 10, albeit painted silver -- will arrive in stores on May 29th for $12.99. When the gold version debuted, it was available exclusively in Walmart stores across the US. That made it something of a collector's item, riling fans that were desperately trying to maintain a complete set. This time around, it seems Nintendo has opted for a more conventional release. The company is still struggling to keep up with the demand for Amiibos however, so if you're interested, act fast on May 29th.
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Via: Polygon

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Xbox E3 2015 Press Conference Dated, Some Exciting Reveals Saved for Gamescom

Microsoft has announced its E3 2015 press conference will take place on June 15, starting at 9:30 AM PDT.

According to the platform holder, the briefing will give viewers the chance to "check out everything from in-depth looks at previously-announced games to trailers for our unannounced titles coming in 2015 and beyond."

As with previous years, the Xbox E3 2015 briefing will be streamed on Xbox.com, viewable through the Xbox Live Events Player, on the Xbox One and Xbox 360, as well as on Windows Phone.

The event will also be available to watch during "Xbox: Game On" on Spike TV in the U.S. and Canada from 9:30 AM PDT and 12:30 PM EDT respectively.

Xbox Daily: Live @ E3 will also be returning to provide "breaking news, exclusive announcements, trailer reveals, game demos, and interviews with game creators." Confirmed guests include Xbox boss Phil Spencer, and "guests from 343 Industries, Turn 10 Studios, Crystal Dynamics, and others."

Xbox Daily will air on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday between 4 and 5 PM PDT.

Interestingly, Microsoft also said it will be saving announcements for Gamescom in August, but added that it still has a strong lineup for E3.

"This year, we have an amazing games lineup to share (who knew it’d be so hard to pack all of our exclusive E3 premieres into an hour and a half?)," it said on the Xbox News Wire. "So we’re saving a lot of exciting reveals for Gamescom in August."

Microsoft has previously said it will be trying something a little different this year at E3, though it did not detail what that will entail. Thus far, it has revealed it will focus more on first-party games this year, but Spencer has indicated Microsoft will be looking to shake things up in other ways.

Microsoft will have "some interesting changes this year for briefing and the week," Spencer previously said, responding to a fan's question on Twitter about Microsoft's plans for E3.

It is likely that Windows 10 will feature quite heavily in the press conference. Microsoft has touted a new and improved built-in Xbox app, cross-platform play support for games like Fable Legends, and even a game-streaming application for the upcoming operating system.

Another likelihood is the Gears of War remaster, which has not yet been announced officially, but videos of which have leaked.

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How Nintendo's Landmark Theme Park Deal With Universal Happened

The 'Ratchet & Clank' Movie comes out April 29th, 2016

If you were wondering when Sony would pull its finger out and announce the release date for the Ratchet & Clank movie, then today is a good day for you. The company has revealed that the flick will arrive in theaters on April 29th, 2016, with the video game cast of James Arnold Taylor and David Kaye in the starring roles. For some reason, the studio felt compelled to upgrade the rest of the acting roster, so don't be surprised when Paul Giamatti, Rosario Dawson, John Goodman and Sylvester Stallone pop up in the closing credits.
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Source: Sony

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LEGO Jurassic World Release Date Confirmed, New Trailer Has Goofy Dinos

LEGO Jurassic World will be available in North America from June 12, publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has confirmed.

A new trailer for the game has also been released, touting "big dinos, tiny dinos, scary dinos, friendly dinos, angry dinos, baby dinos, goofy dinos, battling dinos" and a whole bunch more dinos. Watch below.

The game will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation VIta, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, and PC.

Warner Bros. has also detailed the different pre-order rewards available at specific retailers. GameStop customers will receive a LEGO Dino Trap Mini Playset, Target pre-orders will be rewarded with a Dr. Wu Minifigure, while a $10 movie cash certificate will be given for pre-orders at Wallmart.

Developed by TT Games, LEGO Jurassic World follows the stories of Jurassic Park, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, and Jurassic Park III, in addition to the upcoming Jurassic World.

As with previous LEGO games, it will recreate famous scenes from the movies while giving them a humorous twist.

The LEGO video game series has sold over 100 million units sold to date, joining the ranks of Mario, Pokemon, Need for Speed, Final Fantasy, Grand Theft Auto, and FIFA, among others.

For more on LEGO video games, check out GameSpot's interview with The LEGO Group's senior development manager.

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Metal Gear Publisher Konami: Mobile Is Now Our Main Platform

A key executive at Konami has said the company will "pursue mobile games aggressively" going forward, and that smartphones will be considered as its "main platform."

Speaking to Nikkei, as translated by a user on gaming forum NeoGAF, Konami company president Hideki Hayakawa said the future of gaming is in mobile.

"Our main platforms will be mobiles," he began. "Gaming has spread to a number of platforms, but at the end of the day, the platform that is always closest to us, is mobile. Mobile is where the future of gaming lies.

"With multiplatform games, there's really no point in dividing the market into categories anymore. Mobiles will take on the new role of linking the general public to the gaming world."

In recent Konami financial reports Konami highlighted free-to-play design driven games as key areas of success for the company. Hayakawa said this strategy would be a key focus going forward.

"Following the pay-as-you-play model of games like Power Pro and Winning Eleven with additional content, our games must move from selling things like 'items' to selling things like 'features,'" he said.

"We saw with these games that even people who buy physical games are motivated to buy extra content. The success of Power Pro especially has motivated us to actively push more of our popular series onto mobile than ever before."

It's important to note that Hayakawa was being interviewed for a business focused publication and, as such, it is in his interest to buoy the area of his company's operation that has shown to be the most successful in Japan.

Additionally, the Japanese market has already largely shifted to be mobile-oriented, with even the biggest console game developers creating experiences tailored for mobile devices, as evidenced by Nintendo's recent move towards the market.

Nintendo's entered into a deal with the global mobile games publisher DeNA to create "new gaming applications featuring Nintendo IP, which [both companies] will develop specifically for smart devices."

In previous earnings reports, Konami has mentioned its intention to expand its mobile game operation multiple times. Although Hayakawa's latest quotes aren't a surprising new statement of intentions, they do serve as the most direct example of Konami's diminishing interest in consoles.

Elsewhere in the interview, Hayakawa said the company hopes "that our overseas games such as Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and Winning Eleven continue to do well, but we are always thinking about how to push our franchises onto mobile there too."

It is expected that Metal Gear maestro Hideo Kojima will leave Konami when the latest entry in the series is out.

Konami has removed the Kojima Productions logo from official artwork for The Phantom Pain and Ground Zeroes, as well as references to titles being "A Hideo Kojima Game" from marketing material.

The Kojima Productions logo was also removed from the Silent Hills/P.T. website, before Silent Hills was outright cancelled.

Read GameSpot's The State of Konami feature for a detailed exploration of the current state of the company.

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Nintendo's New Console, NX, Is Not a Simple "Replacement" for Wii U or 3DS

After Uncharted 4 Delay, Sony Says No Concerns About PS4's Holiday Lineup

Xbox One's First MOBA Arrives Today in Closed Beta

Xbox One Owners Can Play Madden NFL 16 Before Everyone Else

Elder Scrolls Online Xbox One/PS4 Locks Out People Who Buy Used or Rent

Walking Dead Season 3 Won't Arrive in 2015

The third season of TellTale's The Walking Dead episodic game series will not be released in 2015, its developer has confirmed.

TellTale's director of PR, Job Stauffer, confirmed the news, but added that "what [he is] seeing this week will be, and it is insanely cool."

TellTale previously said that there may be something new to play in its Walking Dead series before the new season is officially released. It is likely that Stauffer is referring to this in his Tweet.

The Walking Dead: 400 Days was released in the space between the first and second seasons of the game, which means it is possible that TellTale is planning a similar intermediary between season two and three, though this is only speculation.

TellTale is currently working on Game of Thrones and Tales from the Borderlands series, as well as a game based on Minecraft.

Telltale Games and Marvel Games have also announced a partnership, the results of which is due in 2017.

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UK Games Deals: PlayStation 4, Witcher 3, Bloodborne for £320

UK supermarket chain Tesco has launched a new PlayStation 4 bundle that features the console, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Bloodborne for £319.

Alternatively, shoppers can opt for the PlayStation 4 console, The Witcher 3, and £25 PSN card for £319. A cheaper bundle with the console and The Witcher 3 for £299 is also available.

Although bundles featuring these exact games aren't currently available elsewhere, single-game PS4 bundles on Amazon UK, such as the Grand Theft Auto V and Batman: Arkham Knight bundles, are in the range of £350.

The PlayStation 4 console on its own costs £303 on Amazon UK.

The two games on offer in Tesco's bundles have received critical acclaim for GameSpot.

In our Bloodborne review we said the game's "excellent action, beautiful artistry, and religious melodrama make it another must-play," awarding it a score of 9.

In our Witcher 3: Wild Hunt review we awarded the game a 10 and said it's "one of the best games ever made."

The PlayStation 4 is the second-fastest selling console in the UK since hardware sales records began, having sold one million sales after 42 weeks of trading.

A year after its launch, we reviewed the PlayStation 4 to find out whether it's the new-gen system to buy.

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Gears of War HD Remaster Video Leaks Online

Blizzard Drops Ban Hammer on Popular World of Warcraft Bot

Blizzard has issued temporary bans to a large number of World of Warcraft players for using bots.

In a post on the official World of Warcraft forums, community manager Lore confirmed the company had "recently taken action against a large number of accounts that were found to be using third-party programs that automate gameplay."

One of the popular bots that has been cracked down on is HonorBuddy, which runs around collecting honour in PvP without actually engaging anyone. All of this requires no input from the player.

HonorBuddy claims to have over 200,000 registered users. On its forum, multiple users have said they received an e-mail from Blizzard specifying the ban will las six months.

"We’re committed to providing an equal and fair playing field for everyone in World of Warcraft," said Blizzard.

"[We] will continue to take action against those found in violation of our Terms of Use. Cheating of any form will not be tolerated."

Bashiok, another World of Warcraft community manager, further clarified on Twitter that any program that automates the playing of WoW is considered to be breaking Blizzard's terms of use.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Botting is defined as automation of any action, not just character movement. If a program is pressing keys for you, you've violated the ToU.</p>— Bashiok (@Bashiok) <a href="https://twitter.com/Bashiok/status/598594151874039809">May 13, 2015</a></blockquote>

Blizzard previously won a lawsuit against a World of Warcraft bot company for $7 million.

Outside of World of Warcraft, Blizzard is gearing up to launch a new MOBA called Heroes of the Storm, which is pitched as a competitive online game in the same vein as League of Legends or DotA 2, but more approachable.

It is also working on a team-based shooter called Overwatch, which it has described as a "pick-up-and-play" FPS. Find out more about the game in GameSpot's in-depth report on Overwatch's characters and gameplay.

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Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Every ridiculous vehicle in 'Mad Max: Fury Road' is drivable

Practical effects have gotten incredibly scarce in big-budget summer blockbusters, so it's pretty refreshing to learn that every ride in Mad Max: Fury Road's apocalyptic menagerie isn't CGI -- they're all functional and drivable. Production designer Colin GIbson had strict marching orders from the movie's director ("make it cool or I'll kill you," according to Jalopnik) so he and his team scoured Australian scrapyards for donor vehicles. The 88 nightmarish results of that quest speak for themselves whether it's the Mopar-on-tank-treads "Peacemaker" or 600+ cubic-inch, dual V8 monstrosity with two '59 Cadillac Coupe de Ville bodies mounted on top of its chassis dubbed "Interceptor." The production team built some 150 vehicles and then beat the ever-living hell out of them. When all was said and done, "over half" were destroyed. How'd that happen? Catch the flick when it opens this weekend and find out.
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Source: Jalopnik

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Deadly Premonition Director's Next Game Might Be Too "Perverted"

Hidetaka "Swery" Suehiro, writer and director of Deadly Premonition and Xbox One/PC exclusive D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die has revealed some details about a story he hopes to use in a possible new game. Speaking in an interview with Metro, Suehiro responded to a question about what he is currently working on.

"I'm also working on a story about a high school girl detective who uses the imagination (fantasising) energy from masturbating to help her solve murders. But all the publishers keep telling me 'There's no way we could put out such a perverted game!'...I wish someone would let me make it," he said.

Suehiro also revealed that the studio he works at, Access Games, is currently working on Virtual Reality "stuff." When asked about the possibility of returning to the Deadly Premonition series, he said, "Deadly Premonition is always on my mind. But I have no idea what form it'll take, when it’ll appear, who I'll work on it with, or how I’ll present it. The only answers are in the coffee."

Access Games' most recent release is a quirky murder-mystery game titled D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die. The game debuted on Xbox One last year and has netted more than 1.3 million downloads since its launch, although this includes the period when the game was offered as a free download for Xbox Liver subscribers. A PC version of the game will be released on June 5 via Steam, GOG, the Humble Store, and Playism.

Upon D4's release, the game was scored 7.0 by GameSpot. Reviewer Kevin VanOrd praised its ridiculous story and atmosphere, while lamenting its stereotypical characters and several slow stretches that bogged down the pace.

from GameSpot News http://ift.tt/1HeQ6Q3

Magma Red PS4 Controller Coming to US Soon

Virtual reality game asks you to fight blind

Virtual reality gaming isn't just about immersing yourself in visuals... it can be about sound, too. If you need proof, you only need to look at (or rather, hear) Scoot Leadman's experimental Gear VR game Blind Swordsman. The title has you fending off a trio of killers using only the directional audio cues in your headphones. You have to listen carefully, face your enemy and swing before it's too late. The concept is simple on the surface, but it's reportedly very involving -- and it takes advantage of technology that wasn't viable until recently, such as cordless VR and positional sound software. Blind Swordsman isn't as superficially impressive as other virtual experiences, but it does serve as a friendly reminder that VR opens up creative possibilities beyond graphics.
Filed under: Cellphones, Displays, Gaming, Wearables, Mobile, Samsung
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Via: VRFocus
Source: ChallengePost

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Madden NFL 16 Cover Athlete Revealed

PS4 Ratchet & Clank Game Delayed to Spring 2016

Watch 8 minutes of Overwatch's Robot Monk Character in Action

Blizzard has released a new gameplay video for its upcoming multiplayer shooter Overwatch, highlighting the character Zenyatta.

The Diablo III and World of Warcraft developer describes Zenyatta as an "omnic monk who wanders the world in search of spiritual enlightenment. It is said that those who cross his path are never the same again."

Zenyatta has four abilities:

Orb of Destruction -- Projects his destructive energy orbs either individually, or in a rapid-fire volley after a few seconds spent gathering power.
Orb of Harmony -- Casts an orb over the shoulder of a targeted ally. So long as Zenyatta remains alive, the orb slowly restores health to his ally. Only one ally can receive the orb's benefit at a time.
Orb of Discord -- Attaching the orb of discord to an opponent amplifies the amount of damage they receive for as long as Zenyatta lives.
Transcendence -- Zenyatta's ultimate ability. While transcendent, Zenyatta cannot use abilities or weapons, but is immune to damage and automatically restores his health and that of nearby allies.

For more details on Zenyatta check out the game's official site.

Announced during Blizzcon last year, Overwatch is a first-person shooter that bears some resemblance to Valve's Team Fortress 2. The game represents Blizzard's first new franchise in seventeen years. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous Overwatch coverage.

from GameSpot News http://ift.tt/1KKQpCy

Project Cars Review Roundup

Witcher 3 Day One Update Will Improve Frame Rate

Xbox One's First MMO Reaches 1.6M Players, Free Expansion Plans Revealed

Gaming Deals: $350 PS4 Last of Us Bundle, More Big PC Game Sales

Destiny Update Bug Discovered, Impact on House of Wolves Release Unclear

Nintendo World Championships are back for E3 2015

The Nintendo World Championships, a gaming competition last held in 1990, return this year for E3 in June. Nintendo fans can compete for a spot in the Championships on May 30 at select Best Buy stores around the country, and the winners will join competitors selected by Nintendo at the Nokia Theatre on Sunday, June 14th, for a multi-round gaming competition. It's just like the old days. The Championships will be streamed live online and fans in LA will have the opportunity to attend the final event in-person. Nintendo promises more details in the coming weeks.
Filed under: Gaming, HD, Nintendo
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Source: Businesswire

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Nintendo's E3 Briefing Scheduled for Same Day and Time as Square Enix's

Nintendo on Wednesday announced its plans for E3 2015, which kicks off next month in Los Angeles. The company made the announcement through a funny YouTube video. Watch it below.

The most important bit is that Nintendo's E3 briefing--a digital event, compared to the live, in-person briefings from other companies--will take place on Tuesday, June 16, starting at 9 AM PDT. That's Nintendo's usual day and time, but this year, it's also the exact same date and time as Square Enix's briefing.

We already know that Nintendo won't talk about NX, smartphone games, or its quality of life initiatives at E3. According to Nintendo, viewers of the company's E3 event "will be treated to detailed information about the various games and experiences Nintendo has in store for its systems."

Nintendo's E3 plans for 2015 also includes the return of its "E3 Treehouse Live" stage show, where the company will feature games and guest appearances from the show floor. What's more, Nintendo and Best Buy have teamed up to allow shoppers to play Wii U game Mario Maker in stores the week of E3.

Anyone who visits participating Best Buy stores can play Mario Maker on the following dates:

June 17 -- 4-9 PM
June 20 -- Noon-5 PM

Finally, Nintendo announced that it's reviving the long-dormant Nintendo World Championship event this year on Sunday, June 14 in Los Angeles. Qualifying competitions open May 30 at Best Buy stores. Winners of regional events, along with "competitors chosen by Nintendo," will battle it out in Los Angeles on June 14 at the Nokia Theatre as part of a multi-round competition. One player will ultimately be crowned champion in the first Nintendo World Championship since 1990.

If you're in Los Angeles, you can attend the tournament in person, while it will also be streamed online.

E3 2015 Press Conference Schedule

Sunday, June 14

Bethesda - 6:30 PM PDT

Monday, June 15

Microsoft - 9 AM PDT (expected)
Electronic Arts - 1 PM PDT
Ubisoft - 3 PM PDT
Sony - 6 PM PDT (expected)

Tuesday, June 16

Square Enix - 9 AM PDT
Nintendo - 9 AM PDT
PC Gaming Show - 5 PM PDT

from GameSpot News http://ift.tt/1JHNNFv

Minecraft Tops YouTube's 10 Biggest Games

Ubisoft will release virtual reality games in 2016

There isn't much of a market for virtual reality games at the moment, but Ubisoft thinks it can help create one. Company chief Yves Guillemot tells investors that Ubi is developing a "certain number" of titles that will take advantage of VR devices once they start reaching stores in 2016. He's not specific about which franchises will get the treatment, but he says that the company is "very bullish about the potential." Supposedly, VR will lead to more immersive gameplay that could "bring more players" to gaming. The big challenge, according to Guillemot, is building games that suit the virtual environment -- it's hard to play a long time with a display strapped to your head.
Filed under: Gaming
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Source: Polygon, Eurogamer

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Ratchet & Clank Movie Cast Is Surprisingly Good

New 1080p Witcher 3 PS4 Gameplay Video Shows Off Huge Map

Batman Arkham Knight's Anti-Gun Gadget Detailed

As part of its Spotlight series, Rocksteady has released details on The Disruptor, one of the gadgets players will have access to in Batman: Arkham Knight.

First seen in the All Who Follow trailer (below), The Disruptor is designed to "provide options that bolster Batman's ability to control engagements like never before."

The Disruptor's long-range scopes allow it to function much like a sniper rifle, but it can also be used up close.

The weapon has three charges per engagement. It can be used to jam enemy weapons as they fire at Batman, explode enemy weapons at the cost of two charges, rig weapon crates to shock enemies that try to arm themselves, and tag vehicles with tracking for Batmobile pursuits.

"The Disruptor provides Batman with greater tactical flexibility in any engagement before it even begins," Rocksteady explains on the official forums. "Before combat, the Disruptor can be used to jam the weapons of an opponent, buying Batman precious time to gain the advantage and land the first attack.

"In Predator scenarios, the Disruptor can be employed to target various enemy devices by rendering them inactive, or even turning them against their owners."

The Disruptor can be upgraded with additional charges and, at advanced levels, can be used to hack and disrupt turrets on Drone Tanks.

An Amazon listing for two versions of Batman: Arkham Knight was recently spotted. The first is just the standard version of the game, while the second is called the Comic Bundle, and features an in-game skin ("Batman First Appearance"), along with an exclusive, 25th anniversary version of an Grant Morrison's acclaimed graphic novel Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth.

However, this version will not include all the DLC contained in the game's $40 season pass, which sparked somewhat of a backlash from fans.

from GameSpot News http://ift.tt/1FeeDW7

Yooka-Laylee Passes $2.4 Million, Free DLC Stretch Goal Revealed

Brock Lesnar Shows Up in Assassin's Creed Syndicate

Life Is Strange Episode 3 Release Date Confirmed

Ubisoft E3 Press Conference Slated for June 15

Payday Dev's Walking Dead Co-Op Shooter Coming to E3

Sounds Like The Division Will Get a Beta

Assassin's Creed Publisher Excited About VR, But Also Has Some Concerns

No "Seamless Online Multiplayer" for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 Xbox 360/PS3

Uncharted 4 Dev Flaunts New Milestone in Face Animation

'Angry Birds VR' puts the infamous fowl on your face

In case you felt T-shirts, the silver screen, lunch buckets, go-karts or your smart device weren't enough places to ogle Angry Birds, now there's one more: virtual reality. A demo for the ubiquitous game about an avian-fueled, porcine genocide made its way to Samsung's Gear VR recently, but from the sounds of it the formula's changed quite a bit. Because the series-typical 2D side-scrolling affair likely wouldn't translate well to a head-mounted display, the perspective's shifted to behind the birds. What's more, based on the screenshot above it looks like you're coasting through rings rather than destroying fortresses. As Road to VR suggests, one might guide the crestfallen fowl through these loops by moving your head. Seems plausible. There are still a number of questions remaining, but perhaps the biggest is how do the pigs feel about possibly getting spared this time out?
Filed under: Cellphones, Gaming, Home Entertainment, Wearables, HD
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Via: VR Focus, Road to VR
Source: Angry Birds (Twitter), IMGNATION Studios (Twitter)

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Yoshi's Woolly World Screenshots Are Like a Warm Blanket

Sony told off for unfair 20th Anniversary PS4 competition

To celebrate 20 years of PlayStation, Sony created 12,300 limited edition PS4 consoles and offered them to gamers all over the world. In the US, they were sold to whoever could click the buy button fast enough, but in the UK, the company took a more convoluted approach. First was the PlayStation '94 Shop in London, where 94 consoles were put aside for the low price of £19.94 (with all proceeds going to gaming charity GamesAid). Then came a partnership with GAME, which required gamers to solve riddles, click iconic PlayStation characters and enter a competition before anyone else.
Filed under: Gaming, HD, Sony
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Via: Eurogamer
Source: ASA

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PS2 Classic Dragon Quest VIII Announced For 3DS in Japan

Acclaimed Japanese role-playing game Dragon Quest VIII will be released on Nintendo 3DS, Square Enix has announced.

According to a translation by Gematsu, the 3DS re-release has currently only been confirmed for Japan, and is expected for release on August 27. GameSpot has contacted Square Enix to inquire about a Western release.

For the 3DS version, Square Enix has created a new scenario in which Garuda, a female thief, and Morrie, who some may recognise from Dragon Quest: Monster Battle Road, join as new characters.

Additionally, StreetPass functionality has been introduced, along with more voice acting and an orchestral soundtrack.

A number of pre-order bonuses, depending on where the game has been purchased, have been announced for the Japanese release. They are:

Square Enix e-Store – “Candy Cane” (weapon for Yangus) – A mysterious spear that will absolutely cause damage and is even effective on metallic monsters.
Amazon.co.jp – Healie T-Shirt (armor for everyone) – A mysterious shirt that recovers HP little by little as you walk.
Aeon – Healie Cap (helmet for everyone) – A hat that increases your dexterity and maximum HP.
Game Tsutaya – Golden Bamboo Spear (weapon for the protagonist) – An expensive spear made of pure gold. If you don’t want it, you can sell it for 5,000 gold.
7-Eleven – Lucky Pendant (accessory for everyone) – A magic pendant that makes it easier to dodge enemy attacks.
Yodobashi Camera – Metal Slime Tray (shield for everyone) – A metal tray that slightly defends against magic attacks.

Known outside of Japan as Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King, the game was developed by Level-5, a studio which as achieved success with the Professor Layton, Inazuma Eleven, and Yo-kai Watch series.

Dragon Quest VIII first came to North American PlayStation 2s in November 2005, eventually reaching Europe and Australia in April 2006.

Square Enix has announced it will host its own dedicated press conference at E3 2015, something it has not done at E3 since 2012, where it showcased its next-gen Luminous Engine for the first time.

The company's current AAA projects in include Deus Ex: Mankind Divided, Final Fantasy XV, Rise of the Tomb Raider, and a new Hitman project. It is likely these games will feature prominently at the briefing, but as of yet it is not known if Square Enix will announced any new projects.

from GameSpot News http://ift.tt/1FjR9Aw

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Fire Emblem If Ditches Weapon Durability, Adds New Difficulty Mode

The new Fire Emblem for 3DS, tentatively titled Fire Emblem If, ditches the weapon durability system seen in Fire Emblem: Awakening and also introduces new difficulty settings for those seeking less of a challenge.

These details come courtesy of Japanese publication Famitsu (as translated by Siliconera). Durability presented an additional tactical consideration in Awakening, as players could opt to conserve their best weapons and spells by choosing to use lesser options. With a limited number of inventory slots, though, durability could be a real hindrance at times. That won't be an issue in the future, as Fire Emblem If does away with the system altogether.

Another change in If is the addition of a new, easier Phoenix difficulty mode. In addition to the returning Casual mode that disables permadeath and revives any slain units after completing a map, Phoenix takes things a step further by reviving dead units after each turn. That may sound as if it does away with any semblance of difficulty, but keep in mind that Black Kingdom--one of the two versions of If--presents additional challenges by limiting available experience and money, as well as by introducing additional victory conditions.

Other details of note include the fact that the protagonist's class is called either Dark Prince or Dark Princess (depending upon your choice of gender when customizing the character) and a new type of ability, Dragon Pulse, that has been added for certain characters. Dragon Pulses can affect the level itself; examples of this include flattening mountains and summoning earthquakes.

Fire Emblem If was first revealed during a Nintendo Direct back in January. As we've since learned, it will be available in two separate versions (at least in Japan): White Kingdom and Black Kingdom. Each represents a complete story with its own unique gameplay wrinkles. A bundle with both will be available, or players will be able to buy one and then download the other as DLC.

If is due out in Japan in June; it will then come to North America and Europe in 2016, though exactly how the two versions will be packaged (and what they will be called) remains to be seen.

from GameSpot News http://ift.tt/1cPFcGr

The first bands in 'Guitar Hero Live' include Alt-J, Pantera, Skrillex

The star of Guitar Hero Live is its new controller, a guitar with six buttons instead of the classic five. The additional button allows developers to include more genres of music in the game, including Skrillex's "Bangarang," Fall Out Boy's "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark" and The Lumineers' "Ho Hey." These artists and 10 others were announced alongside Guitar Hero Live, but now Activision and FreeStyleGames have revealed their specific songs, plus 11 new artists and tracks. The new list includes Pantera's "Cowboys from Hell," Judas Priest's "Breaking the Law," Sleigh Bells' "Bitter Rivals" and Alt-J's "Left Hand Free." When we spoke to Guitar Hero Live Senior Producer Tim Dunn last week, he noted that the new six-button guitar expands the franchise's musical reach. "The new button layout helped us get more gameplay out of different genres of music," he said. See the current track lineup below, as provided by Activision.
Filed under: Gaming, HD
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Source: Guitar Hero Live

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NVIDIA's GRID cloud gaming service gets 1080p 60 FPS streaming

NVIDIA just flipped on a major upgrade for its GRID cloud gaming service: Full 1080p support at a blistering 60 frames per second. That's the same resolution and frame rate as many games running on the Xbox One and PS4, and it's pretty much the gold standard for PC gamers. And most importantly for NVIDIA, the update makes it the first company to offer game streaming at such a high resolution over the internet. To take advantage of the new streaming feature, you'll need to grab one of the company's SHIELD gaming devices (either the original handheld console or its gaming tablet), sign up for the SHIELD Hub beta group and have at least a 30 Mbps internet connection. We'd imagine it'll likely be a compelling draw for the company's upcoming SHIELD Android set-top box.
Filed under: Gaming, NVIDIA
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Via: Ars Technica
Source: NVIDIA

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Helldivers Free Expansion Out Today, Adds New Enemies, Objectives, Levels

This Witcher 3 Cosplay Is Excellent

Star Wars, Battlefield Hardline Dev Hit With "Small" Number of Layoffs

Madden 16 Cover Vote Down to Gronk and Odell Beckham Jr.

No More Assassin's Creed Games for PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360

Batman: Arkham Knight Gets "Serious Edition" With Free Graphic Novel

Rainbow Six: Siege Could Top Far Cry 4, Become Ubisoft's Best-Selling Shooter Ever

Ubisoft believes the newest entry in the Rainbow Six series has the potential to become the best-selling shooter in the company's history, even surpassing Far Cry 4.

During a conference call with investors today, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot made it clear the company has high hopes for the game. "Over its lifetime, we believe Rainbow Six: Siege has the potential to become the highest-selling shooter in Ubisoft's history," he stated.

Later in the call, Ubisoft was asked about its ambitions with the game. CFO Alain Martinez responded by pointing out that Rainbow Six games traditionally sell about three million units, "versus Far Cry [4] that this year has exceeded seven million." Despite this, Martinez said, "We believe that Rainbow Six--because of replayability and multiplayer--might have a potential to [do] better than Far Cry over its lifetime."

Guillemot chimed in to reinforce that Ubisoft isn't expecting this to happen during the current fiscal year (ending March 31, 2016), but over its lifetime. "It's very important to consider that this game will continue to live for a long time as we will introduce new content on a regular basis because it will be a multiplayer game," he said.

Guillemot believes Siege's replayability "will be key to the game's success." He did not address the fact that Siege is available only on current-gen consoles and PC, whereas Far Cry 4 was also available on Xbox 360 and PS3.

While another Tom Clancy game, The Division, was delayed until 2016 today, Ubisoft reaffirmed a 2015 launch for Siege. A specific release date was not announced, but the company said it expects the game out sometime between October and the end of the year.

from GameSpot News http://ift.tt/1bN3UFX

JXE Streams: A real bodyman tackles 'Car Mechanic Simulator 2015'

True story: our very own Tim Seppala worked as a car mechanic for 12 years. He was a bodyman, or an auto collision tech if you want to get fancy. The short version is that the man knows how to tear apart your busted '89 Toyota Cellica after a wreck, get it looking pretty and make sure all the machine parts are working. Does that mean he'll be able to dive right into RedDot's Car Mechanic Simulator 2015, the game that is precisely what it sounds like? We'll find out when he streams it live today at 3:30PM ET.
Filed under: Gaming, HD
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South Park: The Stick of Truth Sells 1.6 Million

Ubisoft Teases Unannounced AAA Game, Coming Early Next Year

The Division Delayed, Now Slated for Early 2016 Release

Ubisoft's ambitious open-world game The Division has been delayed and is now expected out early next year, the publisher revealed today.

As part of today's financial results announcement for the year ending March 31, Ubisoft offered a new release window for the latest game to bear Tom Clancy's name. An outline of games coming during the company's 2016 fiscal year (which runs April 1, 2015 - March 31, 2016) lists The Division as coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC during its fourth fiscal quarter, which translates to January-March of 2016.

The Division was at one point expected out in 2014, something an anonymous development source described as "laughable" at the time. In May, it was delayed until 2015, though we've never gotten a more specific release date than that.

Ubisoft recently revealed that, along with Massive Entertainment, a total of four studios are working on The Division.

from GameSpot News http://ift.tt/1PEWylt

Assassin's Creed Syndicate Release Date Confirmed

'Assassin's Creed Syndicate' brings stealth action to Victorian London

Ubisoft's last Assassin's Creed title didn't exactly get a warm reception, but the game developer is apparently bent on making amends: meet Assassin's Creed Syndicate, the next installment in Ubi's historical stealth action series. The new game moves the setting forward to Victorian London, where the industrial revolution and social inequality are the hot-button issues of the day. However, the real centerpiece is the franchise's first use of multiple main characters. You can take control of either Jacob Frye (a "brash and rebellious" character) or his sister Evie (a "master of stealth") when you're in open-world situations. You're locked to playing one or the other in key story missions, but the move should otherwise add some variety to gameplay that has gradually become formulaic.
Filed under: Gaming
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Source: Ubisoft

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Assassin's Creed Syndicate Announcement Trailer Threatens to Upturn An Empire

Assassin's Creed Syndicate Trailer Shows New Hero on a Rampage

How Assassin's Creed Syndicate Reinvents Stealth and Combat in the Series

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate Adds GTA-Style Vehicles

Assassin’s Creed Syndicate’s New Rope Launcher Adds a Batman Twist to Your Arsenal

Assassin's Creed Syndicate Story, Characters, and Setting Breakdown

Everything We Know About Assassin’s Creed Syndicate

Ubisoft's Booming Digital Sales Help Boost Revenue

Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition Release Date, Pricing Confirmed

Devil May Cry 4 Special Edition will be available for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC from June 23, Capcom has announced.

The updated re-release will be priced at $24.99 (£19.99), and those that pre-order will receive extra costumes for Lady and Trish, while PS4 owners will also get a custom theme.

Capcom has also released a new trailer for the game, showcasing gameplay for all five playable characters, in addition to some of the new modes added to update. Watch the trailer above.

In addition to Dante and Nero, who were both playable in the original version of DMC 4, Dante's brother Virgil is being added to the re-release. He will play like a mixture of his Devil May Cry 3 and 2013 DmC: Devil May Cry versions, according to Capcom's blog. The remaining two characters are Trish and Lady.

Legendary Dark Knight mode has also been added and lets players fight through waves of enemies. This mode was first seen in the PC version of DMC 4.

The game will run at 1080p at 60 frames per second, on top of "improvements to the game tempo and balancing," and new costumes.

from GameSpot News http://ift.tt/1cteyCo

If 'Rock Band' is Coachella, 'Loud on Planet X' is CBGB

Loud on Planet X is the ultimate independent artist's dream: It's an indie game all about indie bands. The actual gameplay is a blend of two familiar mechanics, a Plants vs. Zombies-style tower-defense system and a rhythm game reminiscent of Patapon that has players making sweet, sweet music while they fend off streams of hostile, blobby aliens. The coolest part for music fans is that Loud lets you play as the indie bands that it features, including Tegan and Sara, Metric, Lights, METZ, Fucked Up, July Talk, Austra and Cadence Weapon. Loud is still a work in progress, but all of the bands have been great to work with so far, Pop Sandbox studio head Alex Jansen says: "The musicians we're working with have been really incredible and genuinely excited to be involved. A lot of them are big gamers too, especially someone like Lights."
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Nintendo's Cross-Platform Membership Service Should Debut This Fall

Nintendo Revealing Its E3 Plans Tomorrow

Witcher 3 Review Roundup

The Evil Within's Final DLC Dated, Watch a Gruesome First-Person Teaser

The Evil Within's final DLC, titled "The Executioner," will be available from May 26 and will allow players to take control of The Keeper, an enemy that appeared in the main campaign.

Interestingly, the DLC adopts a first-person perspective, instead of the game's usual over-the-shoulder third-person perspective. As The Keeper, players will have access to a wide-range of devastating weapons and return to the Victoriano Estate "for a rematch with the most iconic adversaries of The Evil Within."

The previous DLC for The Evil Within, The Consequence, completed the story of Juli Kidman that began with The Assignment. The Assignment, The Consequence, and The Executioner are included with The Evil Within's $20 DLC pass.

The Evil Within was released in October 2014 on PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 3. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's review.

from GameSpot News http://ift.tt/1HbKUME

GameSpot's Complete List of 10/10 Reviews and How Those Scores Are Decided

[UPDATE: We've re-published this story today, May 12, to include The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt]

CD Projekt Red's open-world RPG The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt recently receive a perfect 10 out of 10 review score here on GameSpot. And it's not often that a game gets a 10/10, so it's an understandably big deal. After all, since 1996, just eight games have earned that rare rank. In no particular order, they are:

Bayonetta 2

Review date: October 13, 2014

"Bayonetta 2's combat is so expertly constructed, and its presentation so joyously insane, that you'd have to try so very hard to get bored of it all." Read the full review.

Grand Theft Auto IV

Review date: April 28, 2008

"Yes, this is another GTA game in which you'll likely spend the bulk of your time stealing cars and gunning down cops and criminals, but it's also much more than that. GTAIV is a game with a compelling and nonlinear storyline, a game with a great protagonist who you can't help but like, and a game that boasts a plethora of online multiplayer features in addition to its lengthy story mode. It's not without some flaws, but GTAIV is undoubtedly the best Grand Theft Auto yet." Read the full review.

Soul Calibur (Dreamcast)

Review date: August 9, 1999

"Yes, it is a fighting game, a genre with a fairly limited scope, but insofar as fighting games go, Soul Calibur is mind-numbing perfection. Namco has taken the best and made it considerably better. The level at which the company has done so is practically unprecedented. Think state of the art. Absolutely brilliant in all aspects, as far as games of this type go, Soul Calibur is the undisputed king of the hill. It is essential in any gamer's collection." Read the full review.

Super Mario Galaxy 2

Review date: May 21, 2010

"Everything is so well designed and so entertaining that it's easy to get sucked into this world for hours. Super Mario Galaxy 2 is so phenomenal that it's difficult to imagine where Mario could possibly go in the future. But that's hardly your concern now. Mario proves that he is still the king of fun." Read the full review.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3

Review date: October 29, 2001

"The Tony Hawk series has always had style. The first game reinvented a genre and set off a series of clones and pretenders that still flood the market today. The second game refined the formula, but its higher level of difficulty and steeper learning curve turned off casual players. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 brings it all together in one package that makes everything before it almost unplayable by comparison." Read the full review.

Chrono Cross

Review date: January 6, 2000

"With Square agonizing over every detail of its flagship property, the Chrono Cross team was apparently left mostly to themselves. Consequently, the game shares an all-out enthusiasm and joie de vivre found in the best 16-bit titles -- back before games became multimillion dollar properties that had to answer to glaring shareholders. Chrono Cross may not have had the largest budget, but it has the largest heart." Read the full review.

Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots

Review date: June 13, 2008

"Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots is the most technically stunning video game ever made. It's also a fine example of storytelling prowess within its medium, combining gameplay and narrative so slickly and beautifully that it's impossible to extricate one from the other. It's likely you will emerge awestruck from your first play-through, wishing the experience would continue yet nonetheless satisfied with its conclusion. It's difficult not to sound hyperbolic when discussing MGS4 because every part of its design seemingly fulfills its vision, without compromise. There is no halfway." Read the full review.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Review Date: November 23, 1998

"The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is the real thing. This is the masterpiece that people will still be talking about ten years down the road. This is the game that perfectly exhibits the 'quality not quantity' mantra that Nintendo has been touting since the N64 was released. In a word, perfect. To call it anything else would be a bald-faced lie." Read the full review.

You can read more about exactly what GameSpot's review scores mean in this post, but we also wanted to let Senior Reviews Editor Kevin VanOrd answer some of your other big questions about review and how scoring works:

How long have you headed up GameSpot's reviews, and how did you get here?

Kevin VanOrd: I've been heading up GameSpot reviews since 2011, but I actually started at GameSpot in 2006. I was originally hired to be tournament coordinator! Back then we held tournaments that culminated with an episode of Tournament TV, a show that Rich Gallup hosted when I first started. Lord, it seems so long ago. I had been a moderator in the GameSpot forums for years, and was also freelancing for GameSpy, so it was a smooth transition, even though for me, it was a big deal, since I was moving from Maryland across the country.

The first time I'd ever been to San Francisco was for the job interview. The second time was the day before I started at GameSpot, after three days of cross-country driving. Little story: I stopped on the drive across the country, somewhere in Indiana, to get a pumpkin latte (this was in September), and spilled it in my car. Ever since then, my car has smelled like pumpkin.

Sadly, tournaments stopped being a thing, and Jeff Gerstmann brought me over to the editorial team full time, though even before that, I'd written some GameSpot reviews. Jeff, Alex Navarro, and Greg Kasavin had vital roles in molding how I wrote and how I wanted to grow as a writer.

What makes a game a 10, and has that definition changed over the years? Does a 10 mean it's "perfect"?

A 10 is a game the reviewer thinks is so phenomenal that it deserves a place on the shelves of everyone that plays games. GameSpot has used different words to describe a 10 over the years. When I started at GameSpot, a 10 meant "perfect," which to us meant that it couldn't have been reasonably expected to be much better than it was. When we switched scoring systems to .0s and .5s, a 10 became "prime," though in retrospect, that's a pretty silly word, all things considered. After we re-launched the site in 2013, we started using the word "masterpiece," but in time decided that "essential" might be an even more appropriate term.

I don't think any piece of art or entertainment could be considered perfect. Even the games that are largely considered to be the best ever made aren't beloved by everyone. But I do think that a 10 should be rare. It should mean that the game has something so meaningful to offer that you simply can't ignore it. Something that will remain with players for years to come.

A review is obviously just one person's opinion, so how do you deal with conflicting thoughts on a game, both for high and low scores? What if someone else on GameSpot thinks a game deserves a much higher (or lower) score?

10s are a big deal, right? But in some sense, we want every score to be a big deal. We want every score to be carefully considered. And yes, we have all sorts of arguments about games, because we're not a hive mind! The text is the primary consideration, and it must argue the score. What makes the game so special, or not special? If it's boring, or exciting, how does it do that? Some games have a greater impact on one person than another, and it's up to the critic to express his or her thoughts in a way that really sells that score.

But the entire editorial team has the opportunity to go over the review, and sometimes, being devil's advocate is an important role to have, and it's a role that I am happy to take on. A very common email exchange with a freelance author might be: "Are you sure this is an 8? Are you sure this game is truly great? Because it sounds pretty good, but I don't know if you're selling that 8." The author might then say, "Hey, you're right, this really is just a pretty good game," or she might say, "Man, this game is absolutely great; what do I need to do to really get that across?" The author is always the owner of his own work, but the rest of the crew still helps to ensure the review is all it can be.

You talk a lot with publishers, developers, and PR, so how do you make sure that reviews remain unbiased by those relationships?

Most of my interactions with PR people come down to, "Hey, we're sending you review code," and me replying, "OK, use the usual address." My own bosses are usually the people that have the most face time with PR folks and publishers. These days, most reviews are actually assigned to freelance critics who typically don't have any direct contact with PR people. When reviews are done in house, we try to assign them to people who have not previewed the game to any significant degree. This is one of the reasons why I personally don't do a lot of previews...so that I can go into reviews as fresh as possible. My bosses essentially function as shields: they absorb the business side of things so that I can focus on just the games.

In the end, where reviews are concerned, it's the game that's important. If a reviewer feels, or I feel, that there is some kind of conflict, the review is assigned to someone else. That's pretty rare, though. My managers deal with the primary business aspects, and I do my best to not know what that stuff entails. For me, I mostly just assign reviews as games come in, and coordinate the logistics of that process.

What are the plans for GameSpot's reviews in the coming year? Any big changes in store?

I don't see anything big happening for the time being, but it's hard to tell! We're at the mercy of a business that's much bigger than us alone, and as games change, so to does the way we cover them. When I started, we never reviewed free-to-play games, for example. Imagine if we had held to that rule! Right now, however, my focus is on always improving the reviews themselves, both in terms of how they are written and in terms of honing our critical eye. I'm really excited by how much deeper game critics are willing to go nowadays with their analyses. And I hope GameSpot can be a positive force in that overall discourse.

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from GameSpot News http://ift.tt/1trSC1K

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