| Microsoft promises "exciting news" at Gamescom next week Aug 13th 2013, 16:10 Microsoft will be giving away an Xbox One every hour during the German trade show. 
Microsoft has publicly detailed its plans for Gamescom next week, with the Xbox One maker promising "exciting news" from the company. As confirmed yesterday, Microsoft Studios boss Phil Spencer will open the German gaming trade show on August 21 with a keynote talk on next-generation gaming. He'll be joined by Cologne mayor Jürgen Roters and German federal minister for economy and technology Philipp Rösler. Ahead of the event's formal opening, Microsoft adds that it will run its own showcase event on Tuesday 20. "We’re placing our focus on the games," said Microsoft in a statement. GameSpot will be in attendance. "More people than ever before will have the opportunity to play Xbox One games and the team will be welcoming them with open arms," added Microsoft. Games confirmed to be at Microsoft's booth include Forza Motorsport 5, Dead Rising 3, Ryse: Son of Rome, Project Spark, Killer Instinct, and Zoo Tycoon. Additionally, Microsoft adds that it will be running a competition at its public Xbox booth, giving away an Xbox One console every hour. Microsoft is returning to Gamescom this year after skipping the trade show in 2012. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
|  | Rockstar launches GTAV interactive travelogue Aug 13th 2013, 15:49 With one month to go before launch, developer releases travelogue detailing Los Santos and Blaine Country. 
With just over a month to go before Grand Theft Auto V hits Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, developer Rockstar Games today launched an interactive travelogue for the game. The travelogue features an assortment of details regarding what players can expect to encounter and have access to when they visit the game's main settings of Los Santos and Blaine County. This includes "fast cars at your fingertips," a "thriving economy and commerce," "affordable health care," and "the great outdoors," among others. In addition, a gubernatorial race will take place during the events of GTAV, with Sue Murry running against conservative challenger Jock Cranley. Rockstar said the Los Santos and Blaine Country travelogue will be updated "soon" with details regarding local artisans, music and entertainment, "country club lifestyle," and more. GTAV launches September 17 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Rockstar will release the first official trailer and details for the game's online mode on Thursday. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | BioWare writer: Industry not made up only of straight white men Aug 13th 2013, 15:28 David Gaider says a false perception exists that the gaming business is composed of only straight white men, calls for greater diversity. 
The perception that the gaming industry is made up solely of straight white men is false, longtime BioWare writer David Gaider told Gamasutra in a new interview. "There's a perception that the gaming industry is only made up of straight white men," Gaider said. "And while they're certainly the majority, that's not to say there aren't many other people comprising the industry as well." Gaider said it's important for more developers to get "broader viewpoints" from within their own teams, and that process begins with those people applying for the positions. "Perhaps it's a sign of the times that it's even a question, or one where the answer might be, 'yes, but it's important to speak up even so,'" Gaider said. "Someone who doesn't conform to the perceived norm might think they don't have a chance of getting into the industry--a gay person might think, 'oh, there's no point in applying. I don't want to work in a frat house.'" Gaider pointed out that his team of writers for the Dragon Age series is made up predominantly of women. Dragon Age: Inquisition launches in 2014 for Xbox 720, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC. Morrigan will not be featured as a party member, though she will play a "significant" role in the game. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | That Dragon, Cancer hitting Ouya in 2014 Aug 13th 2013, 14:32 Adventure game about childhood cancer from indie devs Ryan Green and Josh Larson coming to microconsole next year. 
Adventure game That Dragon, Cancer--which chronicles personal struggles with childhood cancer--will release exclusively on the Ouya console in 2014, the company announced today. The game will be self-published by independent developers Ryan Green and Josh Larson. The Ouya team is supporting That Dragon, Cancer with an unspecified round of funding. "Before Ouya, a self-published game like this would probably never make it to a home console," Ouya said in a statement. "But this story, with its unique art and endearing characters, deserves to come to life in the living room on the best sofa, TV, and sound system in the house--and where friends and family can experience it together. Green admitted that bringing That Dragon, Cancer to a living room console is a surprising choice given the game's subject matter. "It is likely not the first place you'd choose to play a dramatic adventure game dealing with the subject of childhood cancer," Green said. "And perhaps for many, this game may be too personal an experience in the presence of others." "Our hope, however, is that while this may be a personal experience, that it will be a shared experience." According to Green, talking with groups about topics like childhood cancer can be challenging, but ultimately is a rewarding experience. "We're finding that when you share your heart with people, they want to share their heart with you, even in the middle of a loud convention-center floor," Green said. "That's what we want to do. We want to create a safe space for people to talk about hard things." That Dragon, Cancer tells the story of Green's real-world life. His son, 4-year-old Joel, has cancer and is currently fighting his eighth tumor. The game will chronicle their struggle and will touch on the trials of the experience, as well as the lighter, more hopeful moments. "That Dragon, Cancer will have moments of despair, but I will never leave the player there," Green said. "Our journey has been characterized by hope and many small miracles, a community of faith and a set of amazing physicians. And even in the event we lose him, our desire is that our hope remains." Green and his wife Amy also wrote an illustrated book--He's Not Dead Yet--based on the struggle Joel and his family are currently going through. [ Watch Video ] Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | No flyable aircraft in Watch Dogs Aug 13th 2013, 13:49 Senior producer Dominic Guay says flying not "core to the experience we wanted to create"; players can travel outside Chicago. 
Upcoming open-world action game Watch Dogs will not feature flyable aircraft, senior producer Dominic Guay told Examiner in a new interview. "Players will not fly aircrafts in Watch Dogs," Guay said. "We did not feel it was core to the experience we wanted to create." Next month's Grand Theft Auto V features various pilotable aircraft. Though Watch Dogs players won't be able to take to the skies, they will be able to drive an assortment of wheeled vehicles, including trucks and motorcycles, as well as boats. Guay also teased that players will be able to use the vehicles to travel outside of the game's Chicago, Illinois setting. "This will allow them to explore the city proper, the rivers, the lake and even beyond the limits of Chicago," Guay said. Watch Dogs launches for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U, and PC on November 19. The Xbox One and PS4 versions will release sometime this holiday. Ubisoft expects the game to sell more than 6.2 million units. For more, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of Watch Dogs. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Dragon Age: Inquisition won't feature Morrigan as a party member Aug 13th 2013, 13:37 Morrigan won't be a party member in Dragon Age: Inquisition, but will have a "significant" role in the game. 
Morrigan will play a "significant" role in upcoming BioWare RPG Dragon Age: Inquisition, but will not be a party member in the game. In the original Dragon Age, Morrigan was a Witch of the Wilds who became an integral character to the game's plot, and was voiced by Claudia Black. Many speculated about Morrigian's role in Dragon Age: Inquisition after the character made an appearance in the Dragon Age: Inquisition E3 2013 trailer. "It is fair for people to understand that [Morrigan] will not be a party member. That's going to disappoint some people," said Dragon Age creative director Mike Laidlaw in an interview with GameInformer, "but it's important for us to be upfront about that." Writer David Gaider added that Morrigan's would take a big role in the third Dragon Age. "It’s not a cameo. She plays a significant role,’ he said, adding that the player's choices in the first game would have an effect on Morrigan in the game. ’[Morrigan] has a human role in this plot, which I think may surprise some people because they might only think of her as a plot device,’ Gaider said. ’She has this big plot she’s involved in, and while that’s true to an extent, I’m taking her to a human place. That will make sense after the fact.’ Dragon Age: Inquisition is due out in 2014 for Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PC. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Elder Scrolls Online getting "high frequency" of post-launch support Aug 13th 2013, 13:21 Zenimax Online creative director Paul Sage says a "big part" of the company's plan is focused on the future of the MMO. 
Upcoming massively multiplayer online game The Elder Scrolls Online will see a "high frequency" of post-launch support in the way of content expansions, according to Zenimax Online Studios creative director Paul Sage. "We watch everybody in the market, but I'm a big proponent personally of making sure we keep a high frequency of content releases," Sage told Shacknews. "A big part of our plans is the future of the game. We always want to make sure there is something new right around the corner." "Our plan is to have new content coming out on a really frequent basis. We want to make sure that people are really into the game and get to experience a lot of new things," he added. "We will have a lot of content at release, but I know that players are amazing in their ability to chew through content quickly, so we want to make sure there is a constant stream of goodies coming to them." Sage, who previously worked on Ultima Online, said releasing new content on a frequent basis "is an issue of trust in a lot of ways" between the developer and the player. Players are more engaged in a game if they know new content is coming, Sage said. The Elder Scrolls Online is aiming for release on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 in spring 2014, though official release dates have not been announced. For more on the MMO, check out GameSpot's previous coverage. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Thomas Was Alone developer announces Volume Aug 13th 2013, 12:48 Mike Bithell's next project a top-down stealth game with support for community created levels. 
Mike Bithell, creator of indie hit Thomas Was Alone, has unveiled his second project. Volume is a top-down stealth game where the player, a thief, cannot kill. Instead he steals items from the game's neon-coloured settings. Tools like blackjacks, bugles, thunderclaps, and veils can be used to distract and disable opponents, and more tools will be available as the player progresses through the game. The game, due to be released in late 2014, will also allow players to modify levels and share the results with the community. "I've wanted to make a top down stealth game since I was a kid. This is my tribute to the games I played back then, hopefully with a couple of cool twists. Allowing players to make their own worlds and tell their own stories is fascinating to me," said Bithell to GameSpot. Bithell adds that he is not currently announcing what platforms Volume will be released on, and that he will detail the game's plot at the UK's GameCity 8 event in Nottingham this October. David Housden, who created the score for Thomas Was Alone, will return for the Volume soundtrack. Bithell's last game, Thomas Was Alone, was released for PC in 2012, with PS3 and Vita versions following. "Thomas Was Alone utilizes its diverse characters and varied obstacles to create an engaging platformer," said GameSpot in its review of the game. [ Watch Video ] Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Windows game Galactic Reign shutting down Aug 13th 2013, 12:44 Turn-based strategy game from Resident Evil developer Slant Six Games will be pulled from store August 15 just five months after release. 
Windows game Galactic Reign, a turn-based strategy title from Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City developer Slant Six Games, is shutting down this week just five months after release. The $5 game will be pulled from the Windows Store on August 15, Microsoft has announced (via Eurogamer). The game's servers will be permanently closed effective December 31, 2013. Concerning why Galactic Reign is shutting down, Microsoft did not give a straightforward answer. "We continually explore new games and entertainment concepts," the company said. "Galactic Reign was a great cloud-based video rendering game exploration that we are going to bring to a close." There are no plans to develop any new Galactic Reign games, Microsoft said. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Schilling on 38 Studios: "I failed" Aug 13th 2013, 12:17 Studio founder Curt Schilling says failure of Kingdoms of Amalur company "the most devastating thing I've ever gone through," outside of loss of his father. 
In a new Boston Globe interview, former Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, who founded Kingdoms of Amalur developer 38 Studios, recalled the struggle surrounding his now-bankrupt company. "Outside of, like, personal family--losing my dad--it was the most devastating thing I've ever gone through," Schilling said. "And it's still something I'm trying to bounce back from. "It was so hard, because I had pushed and pushed and pushed," he added. "I had 300 families [of company employees] I had to take care of, including my own, and it failed." "And I've lost a lot in my life but I've never failed at anything. I was going to [win] but I couldn't get it done." Schilling's wife, Shonda, said she remains concerned over the stress Curt is dealing with related to the failed game company. "I don't know how somebody would not kill himself, honestly, over what he has had to endure," she said. Also in the report, Schilling revealed he had a heart attack in the months leading up to 38 Studios' bankruptcy in May 2012. He would not pin the heart attack on stress related to the company's closure alone, but admitted, "I'm sure that was part of it." As part of 38 Studios' bankruptcy, Schilling lost about $50 million of his own money, while 300 employees were out of their jobs, and Rhode Island taxpayers are on the hook for $100 million. At the end of the day, the company's failure rests on his shoulders, he said. "But ultimately, it's on me. I was the guy. At the end of the day, it failed because I failed to raise outside capital." Going by Schilling's account, Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee did "absolutely nothing" to keep 38 Studios afloat. "Name one thing he actually did. Ask him that," Schilling said of Rhode Island's controversial involvement and investment in 38 Studios. Finally, Schilling acknowledged that though many people may not like him, he's not trying to change his image anytime soon. "The people that hate me, there's nothing I can say or do to get them to like me," Schilling said. "I’ve never stolen. I've never hit my wife. I've never driven drunk. I've never taken steroids. I've never done cocaine. I've never beat my wife, beat my kids. I've never done any of the stuff that a lot of people are all about getting second chances for." "That doesn't mean I’m perfect," he added. "Far from it. I've got a big mouth and I don't know when to shut up and I'll give you my opinion on anything. But I know I’m not a bad dude." Rhode Island is suing Schilling and other former 38 Studios executives over the failed company. This lawsuit is ongoing. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Castlevania Lords of Shadow producer: new Contra entry needs to "stand out" Aug 13th 2013, 11:29 Dave Cox says that previous titles like Contra 4 and Hard Corps: Uprising are "not doing anything new" and are remakes of "something that has happened before." 
Castlevania Lords of Shadow series producer Dave Cox said on a Siliconera interview that he would love to work on the Contra series, but only if he and his team were able to do something unique and intuitive that hasn't been done before. "You can't just bring out a generic shooter. You have to have a new idea. I think if we had a new idea and we could combine [it] with the universe of Contra, that would be special. Yeah, watch this space." Cox said that recent entries in the series like Contra 4 and Hard Corps: Uprising were not doing anything new. "You are basically remaking or doing your slant of something that has happened before. You have to have the things that made that game great, like Castlevania, you need to have that, but you have to not be afraid to do something new. The problem with Contra it hasn’t really had anything done new to it so it's become this hardcore niche game." He suggested that one way to bring the series out of its hardcore niche shell was to treat it like releasing a new IP in many ways. "We are hardcore gamers, we played those games, but there are a lot of people that don’t know what Contra is. They have no idea. There is a massive audience out there; they play Call of Duty and love those games, but they don't know what Contra is. I think if we were going to reintroduce something to that audience, it has to be new and unique. It's got to stand out. It's got to have a new idea, something really cool about it that's never been done before." Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 will be out this November. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Microsoft will bring Xbox One controllers to PC in 2014 Aug 13th 2013, 09:27 Microsoft looking to add PC support for the Xbox One controller while maintaining existing compatibility with games made for Xbox 360 pad. 
Microsoft's Xbox One controllers with work with the PC in 2014, the company has said. The company is working to create a driver that allows compatibility with current PC games which support the Xbox 360 controller, with a Microsoft representative confirming to CVG that entirely new drivers have to be created for the Xbox One controller. "As we've stated, the Xbox One controller, although it looks similar in many ways, shares no underlying technology with the current Xbox 360 controller," said Microsoft. "New wireless protocol, combined with the ability to work in 'wired' mode, and the addition of features like Impulse triggers, means that new software has to be written and optimized for the PC," added the company. "There is also some work that we need to do to make sure that existing PC games that support the Xbox 360 controller, will work with the Xbox One controller. While it seems trivial, it's actually quite a bit of dedicated work for all that to be seamless for the user." Microsoft has said that it has spent "hundreds of millions" designing the Xbox One controller. "We know people want to use the Xbox One controller on their PC, and we do too--we expect to have the functionality available in 2014," concluded Microsoft. Microsoft has recently said that the Xbox One will not require a connected Kinect in order to function. The Xbox One will be released this November for $499/€499/£425. The controller will be sold for $60. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | The King of Fighters XIII available for PC this September Aug 13th 2013, 08:44 2D fighting game to be distributed on Steam; SNK Playmore looking for closed beta testers. 
The 2D fighting title The King of Fighters XIII will be available on the PC via Steam on September 13. This version of the game will have "vastly improved netcode" for online play, and will include the extra DLC characters (EX Iori, NESTS Style Kyo, and Mr. Karate) for free. Users can also unlock new Steam achievements for the game. SNK Playmore is looking for 300 participants for the closed beta test session for the game. Players can apply right now; the cut-off period for application is on August 18. The closed beta itself will happen from August 20 to August 29. Selected players will be notified via e-mail starting on August 19. KOF XIII was released on the Xbox 360 and PS3. The game was praised for its visuals, fighting mechanics, and offline modes. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Upcoming World of Warcraft update to tweak class talents and abilities Aug 13th 2013, 08:40 World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria patch 5.4's core changes focus on improving low-tier talents and toning down overpowered ones. 
Blizzard has posted more details on its upcoming patch 5.4 for MMO World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria. According to World of Warcraft lead designer Greg "Ghostcrawler" Street, the changes for the update will be focused on the classes of the game; low-tier talents will be buffed up while overpowered ones will be toned down. "In general, you can assume that your damage was too low or too high if you see generic buffs or nerfs to abilities," he said. For example, The Death Knight's Death Siphon and Plague Leech will be buffed, while Anti-Magic Zone will be changed into a damage reduction spell like Power Word: Barrier. The Hunter's Silencing Shot and Readiness ability will be nerfed. Mages will receive the least number of changes, as its Frost Mastery will be fixed. Head to the post for a detailed look at the class changes. There is currently no release date announced for the patch. World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria was released on September 25, 2012. The expansion was praised for the variety the Pandaren race and monk class brought to the table and its numerous activities and challenge mode. The game lost 700,000 players within the last three months leading up to late July this year, and puts the MMO down to 7.7 million active subscribers. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Riot Games artists contributing artwork for charity Aug 13th 2013, 06:56 ARAM show to feature artwork from Riot Games artists; silent auction will be held with funds raised to go towards charity. 
Artists from Riot Games are contributing artwork to feature in a show named ARAM, an acronym for All Random All Mediums, and will feature original art by artists from Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends. The show will be hosted at Nucleus gallery in Alhambra, California, from August 16-18. Artwork featured will include pieces from the League of Legends universe. The event will open with a launch party on the evening of August 16 from 7-10 p.m., and will continue throughout the weekend. Admission is free. Attendees will have chances to purchase the artworks via silent auction on the Friday night. Money raised from the auctions will be donated to the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation. League of Legends is a free-to-play game on PC and Mac. Riot Games announced in March this year that the game regularly exceeds 5 million global concurrent players. According to the developer, the game has 12 million active players daily, and 32 million active players monthly. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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