| Ubisoft asking fans who should play Aiden in Watch Dogs movie Jul 26th 2013, 15:54 Poll includes Tobey Maguire, Henry Cavill, Ryan Gosling, Paul Walker, Tom Cruise, Clive Owen, Robert Downey Jr., Andrew Garfield, Brad Pitt, and Edward Norton. 
Ubisoft has launched a new online poll asking fans who they would like to see play the role of Aiden Pearce in the upcoming Watch Dogs movie. The list includes Hollywood action movie stars like Tobey Maguire, Henry Cavill, Ryan Gosling, Paul Walker, Tom Cruise, Clive Owen, Robert Downey Jr., Andrew Garfield, Brad Pitt, and Edward Norton. At press time, Cruise is the frontrunner with 33 percent of the votes, followed by Norton (24 percent), and Downey Jr. (23 percent). It is not clear what Ubisoft plans to do with the results of the poll. Ubisoft has a total of six movies in the pipeline. In addition to Watch Dogs, the French publisher is making movies based on its Far Cry, Rabbids, Assassin's Creed, Splinter Cell, and Ghost Recon franchises. In all instances, Ubisoft will retain creative control. Watch Dogs launches later this year on current- and next-generation consoles, as well as PC. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
|  | Minecraft creator welcomes Xbox One indie policy Jul 26th 2013, 15:54 Markus "Notch" Persson says Microsoft's decision to make every Xbox One a development kit is a "wonderful idea." 
Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson has spoken out to praise Microsoft's new independent developer policy, specifically the news that every Xbox One can be used as a development kit. “I think it“s a wonderful idea to have the actual box be the dev kits,“ Notch told Edge. “This makes it easier for both the developer and for Microsoft, and presumably they could make it a lot cheaper since they“d only sell unlock codes." "I realize there are other factors at play here, though, like a perceived need to make sure only “legitimate“ developers get access to it, so a monetary barrier might still be in place," he added. Microsoft announced the news on Wednesday. Under the terms of the new policy, independent developers can self-publish titles on Xbox One, something Microsoft previously said would not be allowed. Notch is not the only independent developer to praise Microsoft's new policy. He joins Bungie founder Alex Seropian, who said the stance is a "great move" for the industry overall. Microsoft believes the new policy will benefit children and students by giving them an opportunity to learn to program and build games. Many details remain unclear, though Microsoft has said it will share further details on the program at Gamescom next month. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | DICE considering cross-gen stat migration for Battlefield 4 Jul 26th 2013, 15:02 Developer says it is looking into possibility of allowing players to take their stats and progression from current- to next-gen for upcoming shooter. 
DICE is currently looking into the possibility of allowing players to take their statistics and progression from the current-generation versions of Battlefield 4 to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 iterations, the developer has said. "We've heard reports that players would like their stats and progression to transfer from current to next-gen in #BF4. We're investigating," reads a tweet from the official Battlefield Twitter account. No further information about how such a system would work was provided. Earlier this week, DICE owner Electronic Arts announced that Madden NFL 25 and FIFA 14 Ultimate Teams would carry over from Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 to Xbox One and PS4 if players owned both versions of the game. Battlefield 4 launches for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC on October 29. The Xbox One and PS4 versions are scheduled to launch later in the year. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Xbox One indie policy a "great move," says Bungie founder Jul 26th 2013, 14:32 Alex Seropian believes Microsoft's newly stated stance a win for the industry, developers, and gamers alike. 
Microsoft's newly stated Xbox One independent developer policy is a "great move," according to Bungie founder Alex Seropian. In a statement sent to GameSpot, Seropian--who now heads up mobile studio Industrial Toys--said everyone in the industry benefits from the policy. "I think this is a great move by Microsoft. It's good for the industry, great for developers and most importantly will be a win for gamers," Seropian said. "It means more games, different kinds of games, and a direct relationship between gamer and developer. Everyone wins!" Seropian added that Industrial Toys is "certainly excited" about new digital platforms, but at present, the company's focus remains on mobile devices. Microsoft's new policy for independent developers allows every person to be a creator and every Xbox One to be used for development. The stance is a reversal of policy, as it was announced in May that independent creators could not self-publish on the next-generation platform. A number of questions regarding the policy remain, including details around revenue sharing, game promotion, how certification will work, and if creators will need to pay a fee or subscription to build games for the Xbox One. Microsoft will share more details on the program at Gamescom next month. Industrial Toys' debut game, Morning Star, aims to change expectations for what kind of experience core gamers can get on a mobile device. The game was built from the ground up for touch-based controls and is billed as a "complete reimagining of the shooter." GameSpot recently polled a number of independent developers on Microsoft's new Xbox One policies. Check back later today for more. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Mattrick on Zynga outlook: "We can do better" Jul 26th 2013, 14:32 New CEO Don Mattrick says company has failed to meet player, investor, and internal expectations; outlines plan to turn company around. 
New Zynga CEO Don Mattrick has spoken out about the social game company's recent loss-filled earnings report, saying the company has failed to meet player, investor, and internal expectations, and "can do better." "It“s clear that the market opportunity around us is growing at an incredible clip. It“s also clear that today we are missing out on the platform growth that Apple, Google and Facebook are seeing," Mattrick said on a recent earnings call. "In short, we can do better." Mattrick explained that over the course of the next few months, he will work with Zynga's leadership team to "challenge previous assumptions and to focus on business fundamentals," areas he said the company has struggled in for the past year. "Getting a business back on track isn“t easy and isn“t quick," Mattrick said. "We have a lot of hard work in front of us but I believe we can succeed as a team and Zynga can do this." "There“s no denying we“re not where we want to be. We“ve not met our investors“ expectations, we“ve not met our own expectations, and most importantly, we“ve not met our players“ expectations," he added. "But there“s also no denying that we have what it takes to get back to winning." To return to form, Mattrick said Zynga must "get back to basics," meaning the company must take a longer-term view on its products and business. This also includes developing more efficient processes and "tightening up" execution across leadership. In the next 90 days, Mattrick said he is focused on "getting under the hood" to evaluate "every aspect" of Zynga's business. This includes "top-to-bottom" business reviews and spending time "heads down" with development teams in an effort to improve product quality. This company review also includes Mattrick examining how the company is deploying people "at all levels of the company." He will also use the review period to "assess and reset our product pipeline." "I see the potential in all parts of our business--from regaining share on Facebook to leveraging our IP, our network, and our knowledge for mobile," Mattrick said. "And, because of what the company has already achieved, I believe we have the staying power to successfully navigate our transition and create connected experiences that span multiple devices and multiple operating systems." Overall, Mattrick said Zynga is still a "young company," and one that has the ability to "break some bad habits and get back to some good fundamentals." "There are good winds at our back--my job is to get our sails up and Zynga pointed in the right direction," he said. Mattrick left his post as president of Microsoft's Xbox division earlier this month to join Zynga as its new CEO. The company reported a $15.8 million loss yesterday and revealed it lost nearly half of its daily active players year-on-year. Zynga also announced yesterday that it will not pursue a license for real-money gaming in the United States, though it continues to examine options overseas. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | War Thunder nets 3 million players Jul 26th 2013, 14:32 Gaijin Entertainment's free-to-play MMO game sees 200 percent player growth since March; PS4 version on display at Gamescom. 
Gaijin Entertainment's free-to-play MMO game War Thunder has seen more than 3 million players for its open beta, the company announced today. That represents player growth of over 200 percent since March 2013. The open beta for War Thunder began in late January. Since then, players have destroyed more than 1 billion units and logged over 30 million hours of play time, equivalent to more than 3,400 years. Gaijin Entertainment also announced that the PlayStation 4 version of War Thunder--cross-compatible with the PC version--will be on display at Gamescom next month. The developer said it will make an announcement regarding the game's launch date at the show. War Thunder is also in development for iOS and Android devices, though Gaijin Entertainment has not provided details regarding when these versions of the game will launch. Gamers interested in trying out the title--compatible with Oculus Rift--can download the War Thunder open beta from the game's website today. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Games must pursue new frontiers, says Suda 51 Jul 26th 2013, 13:02 No More Heroes designer Goichi Suda says games can become "culture and art" if designers do more than shooters and racers. 
If games are to be thought of in the realm of culture and art, developers must do more than make mainstream titles like shooters and racers. That's according to Grasshopper Manufacture CEO Goichi Suda, aka Suda 51, who discussed in a new Edge interview why creating unique games is so important to the developer. "So I think video games are becoming an important, and a dominant, form of entertainment worldwide. And in that landscape, I truly feel that our shooters, racers, and our mainstream games have been covered, checked off and done well," he said. "To really push games into the realm of culture and art, I feel that only doing realistic mainstream games won“t be enough; we need to pursue new frontiers and new horizons with what we do, and the process of creation shouldn“t be contained," he added. "Therefore, I feel at Grasshopper one of our obligations--our duties--to the video game world is to create revolutionary titles that really push the status quo." Also in the interview, Suda 51 discussed his new game Killer Is Dead's "Gigolo Mode," saying he is "not that concerned" about alienating female players. He explained that publishers have informed him that the mode will be "palatable" for audiences worldwide. "It“s not that we depict the women in any derogatory way, so I“m not extremely concerned about the depiction of these characters," he said. "I think if you play this mode for yourself, [then] you will be able to understand the context." Suda 51 previously described sexuality in games as a "touchy subject." Killer Is Dead is due for release later this summer on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Navy using Kinect game to address sexual assault Jul 26th 2013, 12:30 New technology from Organic Motion Inc. will allow US Navy cadets to act out "scripted scenarios" to deal with "sensitive" topics like sexual assault. 
A new Kinect-based video game that aims to address sexual assault within the military is in production for the United States Navy, according to a new report at CNS News. The Naval Supply Systems Command is giving $83,000 to developer Organic Motion Inc. to produce the software, which will allow sailors to act out "scripted scenarios." The program is called "Avatar Based Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Training." Sexual assault in the military has become a hot-button issue of late, with victims reporting difficulty pursuing justice in the military chain of command. “The system shall allow a subject matter expert to determine the appropriate response to both verbal and non-verbal cues so that the student receives improved feedback regarding their actions,“ the contract reads. “It shall also provide the ability to change characters (gender, race) and environments facilitating greater student engagement.“ In a statement sent to CNS News, Rear Adm. Dee Mewbourne, a commander with the Naval Training Command, said the avatar-based program will "dramatically improve" overall quality of training to instructors and students. "The pilot [program] is intended to show that avatar technology can help leaders recognize emotional distress and build mentorship and counseling skills when dealing with sensitive topics, like sexual assault," he said. "Because our people are the foundation of our success in the Navy, strong interpersonal skills are fundamental to our profession." The pilot program will be used at the Navy's boot camp in Great Lakes, Illinois over the course of a three-month period. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Activision picks up SpongeBob SquarePants game rights Jul 26th 2013, 12:06 Nickelodeon and Activision agree to new multi-year deal to develop and publish multiple titles based on cartoon series. 
Nickelodeon and Activision Publishing have announced a new multi-year and multi-title deal that gives the Call of Duty company rights to develop and publish games featuring SpongeBob SquarePants. Terms of the deal were not divulged. THQ, which went bankrupt last year, was the former publisher of SpongeBob games. The first game to be published through the new Activision-Nickelodeon deal will be SpongeBob SquarePants: Plankton's Robotic Revenge. The game will launch October 22 for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, Wii U, DS, and 3DS. A third-person co-op game from Behaviour Interactive (Naughty Bear), Plankton's Robotic Revenge follows Sheldon J. Plankton and his attempts to steal the famous Krabby Patty formula with the help of evil robots. Gamers can play as SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Sandy, or Mr. Krabs in the game. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Sony confirms Gran Turismo movie Jul 26th 2013, 12:06 Film based on racing series in development, though no further details are available. 
A Sony representative has confirmed with Joystiq that a Gran Turismo movie is in production. The representative said the film is "being made," but did not provide any further details on the production. Hollywood news site The Wrap reported earlier this week that the Gran Turismo movie was in development with The Social Network and Fifty Shades of Grey producers Michael de Luca and Dana Brunetti attached. Brunetti remarked on Twitter, "One that I have been after for over three years. Finally," with a link to the original report. The film is reportedly being created to cash in on the success of fast car films, citing Universal“s The Fast and the Furious series, Dreamworks' adaptation of EA's Need for Speed, and the upcoming Hot Wheels movie based on Mattel's line of popular children's toys. The latest game in the long-running PlayStation-exclusive franchise, Gran Turismo 6, is currently slated to ship on the PlayStation 3 sometime during 2013. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | F1 2013 arriving in October Jul 26th 2013, 10:23 Codemasters confirms an October 4 release date for this year's F1 tie-in game. 
F1 2013 will launch for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on October 4, Codemasters has confirmed. The headline feature of this year's Formula 1 tie-in is that classic cars from the 80s and 90s will be included in the game, with a larger garage available to those who purchase the F1 2013 Classics Edition, which will arrive at a higher price than the standard edition of the game. Buyers of the standard edition will be able to purchase the additional content as DLC, Codemasters adds. The game will also be updated to include the team and car changes for the 2013 season, including tyre changes and remodeled handling. Codemasters recently released videos showing off hot laps of both Silverstone and the Nürburgring in this year's F1. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | World of Warcraft subscribers drop to 7.7 million Jul 26th 2013, 10:15 700,000 players exit Azeroth over the last three months as Activision Blizzard announces that 7.7 million people remain subscribed to gargantuan MMO. 
World of Warcraft has lost 700,000 players in the last three months, with the MMO now down to 7.7 million active subscribers. Activision Blizzard reported that 8.2 million people were subscribed to World of Warcraft in March, with CEO Bobby Kotick saying that the company expects to see the number fall further throughout the year. The decline in World of Warcraft players numbers has been previously attributed mainly to Eastern markets, although Activision did not comment specifically on this latest subscriber decline. Activision adds that World of Warcraft remains the most popular subscription-based MMO in the world. Subscribers for the game peaked at over 12 million in October 2010. The gargantuan MMO was originally released in 2004, and has subsequently released four expansion packs: Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, Cataclysm, and Mists of Pandaria. A World of Warcraft movie will begin filming in 2014. World of Warcraft's latest player numbers arrive as Activision Blizzard announces it has spent $5.83 billion on company shares to secure its independence from parent company Vivendi. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Zynga sheds daily users as it announces $15.8m loss Jul 26th 2013, 10:13 Social gaming giant announces a $15.8m loss for the second quarter of 2013, losing almost half of its active daily players year-on-year. Farmville maker Zynga has announced a $15.8m loss for the second quarter of 2013, as daily users of its social games fell by 45 per cent over the last twelve months. 39m people now play Zynga titles on a daily basis, down from 72m this time last year. Alongside the drop in active daily players, the amount of people playing a Zynga game at least once a month also dropped 39 per cent year-on-year to 187m, down from 306m in the second quarter of 2012. The social gaming giant announced revenues of $231m for the three month period ending June 30, down from $332m the year before. Zynga released six new titles in the last quarter: Hidden Shadows, War of the Fallen, Draw Something 2, Battlestone, Solstice Arena, and Running With Friends. Zynga has had rough time of late, and is embarking on a restructuring process that will remove 520 jobs from the company. "The next few years will be a time of phenomenal growth in our space and Zynga has incredible assets to take advantage of the market opportunity," said former Xbox boss and now Zynga CEO Don Mattrick. "To do that, we need to get back to basics and take a longer term view on our products and business, develop more efficient processes and tighten up execution all across the company. We have a lot of hard work in front of us and as we reset, we expect to see more volatility in our business than we would like over the next two to four quarters. I'm privileged to lead Zynga and I look forward to spending more time with our players, employees and shareholders." Zynga previously announced a profit of $4.1m for the first quarter of the year. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Sony loaning out PS4 dev kits to developers free of charge for a year Jul 26th 2013, 07:33 Various indie development sources say that kits cost $2,500; Sony handing kits out "like candy". 
A number of sources have stated on Polygon that some developers aren't paying a cent to use the PlayStation 4 development kit. The dev kit itself costs about $2,500, but Sony is loaning them out for free for a period of one year, according to the company's "Become a Registered Developer" website. Various development sources on the article said that no dev kits have been sold as of yet. "All the indies I know got them for free," said one developer. "Sony has been amazing about kits and development thus far." Another developer stated that the company is "handing them out like candy". A Sony spokesperson pointed out that the act of self-publishing was available on PlayStation platforms for over five years. "With self-publishing, we keep things really flexible for developers and give them lots of options, including funding through the Pub Fund, which is back-end funding paid upon completion of the game, we waive patch fees for indies and all digital titles and we embrace new business models like F2P, episodic, and subscriptions. We've had more than 500 games self-published on PSN." Previously, PlayStation 3 dev kits cost between $1,000 and $10,000 with different levels of debug functionality and pricing. Sony will not be changing its self-publishing processes at this point in time. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Kinect Sports Rivals delayed Jul 26th 2013, 07:19 Rare's motion controller-focused sports title now listed for spring 2014. 
The next Kinect Sports title (and developer Rare's first Xbox One title) will not be out at launch for Microsoft's new console. Kinect Sports Rivals will be out on spring 2014 instead of its intended holiday 2013 release. According to a Microsoft representative (via Polygon), the title was delayed so that it could be polished by Rare. A preview build for the game will be playable for the first time at Penny Arcade Expo Prime and Gamescom this August. Kinect Sports Rivals features six minigames that require motion control: climbing, wake racing, soccer, bowling, tennis and target shooting. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Only 27 percent of Ouya owners have bought games Jul 26th 2013, 06:15 Majority of Ouya customers are playing free and demo content; CEO already happy with the sales conversion rate on the platform. 
Ouya CEO Julie Uhrman has confirmed that only around a quarter of customers who have purchased the device have also bought software on the company“s Android-based home console. The news comes from an interview with The Verge, where Uhrman said that hardware sales and conversion rates shifting players from free demos to full version software--13 of Ouya“s top 20 grossing games have achieved an 8 percent upsell average--will continue to rise as more content is produced and the marketplace matures. "I think there are a lot of social and mobile app developers that would kill for an 8 percent attach rate on a platform that's 30 days old," she said. "These numbers will grow as more gamers pick up consoles, and as we attract more developers, and I believe that by the end of the year, we'll see a few developers telling us they've made more than a million dollars on Ouya." Uhrman also confirmed that interest from content creators is growing, with more than 21,000 developers now signed up to make games for the system, up from 8,000 in March this year, when Kickstarter backer units became available. Earlier this week, TowerFall creator Matt Thorson revealed that the game has performed well, selling 2,000 units. To help bolster its software library, Ouya has announced a $1 million "Free the Games Fund" that will match Kickstarter crowdfunding for original projects that will remain exclusive on the platform for at least six months. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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