| Layoffs at BioShock Infinite developer Sep 5th 2013, 17:14 Irrational Games lays off eight employees "in an effort to streamline our processes"; job cuts won't affect DLC development "in any way." 
BioShock Infinite developer Irrational Games laid off eight employees today, the Quincy, Mass. developer confirmed with Kotaku. The job cuts will not affect development of BioShock Infinite's two-part Burial at Sea downloadable content "in any way," Irrational Games said. "In an effort to streamline our processes I am sad to confirm that we let go a total of eight employees today," a representative for Irrational Games said. "Any studio’s greatest asset is the group of people that make up the whole, and as such it was extremely hard to make this decision and there is never a good time for this to happen. As co-workers and friends, we wish them the very best." Burial at Sea - Episode One and Burial at Sea - Episode Two, narrative-driven content set in the original BioShock's Rapture, will be released at a later date. The content is meant to tie the story of Elizabeth and Booker together. In Burial at Sea - Episode Two, players will control Elizabeth "as she seeks to bring closure to her story" and the overall BioShock Infinite narrative. Episode One and Episode Two will sell for $15 each when they launch. All three expansions are included with the $20 BioShock Infinite DLC season pass. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
|  | New TVii feature allows users to doodle over live TV Sep 5th 2013, 15:59 Nintendo introduces "TV Tag" option for Wii U TV application; users can manipulate images with virtual paint brushes. 
Nintendo has announced a new feature for the Wii U's TVii service that will allow users to doodle over live television. The new "TV Tag" option makes use of a Doodle feature where users can draw or paint on their favorite moments from programming watched through the system. Nintendo released a picture (at right) of the new feature, showing that users will have various brush sizes and colors to use, as well as a text editor to leave comments. Nintendo TVii works with cable and satellite providers, as well as streaming services like Hulu and Netflix. Users must hold a subscription to these services to use Nintendo TVii, but no additional fees or equipment are required. TVii viewers can use the GamePad to interact with others through commenting on specific live television moments and sharing those comments with others through Miiverse, Facebook, and Twitter. Fore more on Nintendo TVii, check out a video demonstration below. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | BioShock Infinite "Toy Columbia" level comes to Disney Infinity Sep 5th 2013, 15:40 Latest set of free add-on content for Disney Infinity includes user-generated Toy Box level based on Irrational Games' shooter. 
The worlds of BioShock Infinite and Disney Infinity have come together via an all-new user-generated level for the game's Toy Box mode. Disney Interactive announced today (via Polygon) that the latest batch of add-on content for Disney Infinity's Toy Box mode features five worlds based on BioShock Infinite, Tron, and Up, among others. Toy Columbia features a cartoon version of the game's floating city. A new video (below), shows that Toy Columbia features the game's Sky-Line rails, as well as Carl's home from Up, complete with its signature collection of balloons. In the Tron set, called Trench Run, players must pilot a Tron Recognizer through a trench, while the Jungle Cruise set is based on the the real-world Disney park attraction. Lastly, Sky Gauntlet will offer platforming challenges, while players will have to navigate a maze in Blue Breakout. The five Toy Box maps are available today as free downloads for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U. Executive producer John Vignocchi clarified on Twitter that the levels are created by the community, not developer Avalanche Software. For more on Disney Infinity, check out GameSpot's review. [ Watch Video ] Toy Columbia - DISNEY INFINITY on Disney Video Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Beyond: Two Souls demo will be released on October 1 Sep 5th 2013, 15:04 Demo for Quantic Dream's latest game will include two playable chapters. 
Sony will release a demo of Quantic Dream's Beyond: Two Souls on October 1 in North America, the company has announced. The demo will be released in Europe a day later, on October 2. Two levels will be included in the demo. The first, Jodie & Aiden, takes place at the start of the game and has the player take part in an experiment at Department of Paranormal Activities. The second chapter, Hunted, takes place later in the game and has the game's protagonist, Jodie, attempting to escape from government agents. "This will be the first chance for most to go hands-on and experience the improvements Quantic Dream has made to Heavy Rain’s control scheme," says Sony. Quantic Dream recently confirmed that players will be able to control Beyond: Two Souls via iOS and Android devices, but it was not stated if this feature will be included in the demo. Beyond: Two Souls will be released for PlayStation 3 on October 8 in North America, and on October 11 in Europe. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Microsoft to support Xbox 360 for three more years Sep 5th 2013, 14:58 Marketing executive Yusuf Mehdi says company to release 100 games for aging console in the next three years. 
Just because the Xbox One is Microsoft's focus going forward, it does not mean the company is abandoning the Xbox 360 any time soon. Microsoft chief marketing and strategy officer Yusuf Mehdi said this week that the platform will be supported through at least 2016. "If you look at [Xbox 360], that platform lasted for seven to eight years and it's going to go for another three years," Mehdi said this week during the Citi Global Technology Conference. "It's incredibly profitable now in the tail." Mehdi explained that the arrival of the Xbox One is not a death knell for the Xbox 360 by any stretch, noting that Microsoft plans to ship over 100 new games for the system. "We are going to continue to invest in Xbox 360 and the two devices can work in concert. So it isn't like the day we ship the Xbox One your [Xbox 360] won't work," Mehdi said. "We will continue to support it. In fact, we're going to ship over one hundred new games on Xbox 360. So you'll be able to still play your games, just not on the same exact box." The Xbox One launches in 13 territories across the world on November 22. Microsoft previously described the system's $500 price point as a "very good deal." Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Sony pays intern '4600 after minimum wage complaint Sep 5th 2013, 14:46 Chris Jarvis, who took an unpaid internship at Sony, says he later realised that he qualified as a worker and was entitled to payment. 
A former Sony intern says he has been paid £4,600 (approximately $7,200) by the company after arguing that he was entitled to the national minimum wage. Chris Jarvis, a graduate of the Norwich University of the Arts, took an unpaid internship at Killzone: Mercenary developer Guerilla Cambridge in 2012. Claiming that Sony was late in paying his £20-a-day travel expenses, Jarvis researched his rights and then argued he was entitled to be paid as a worker at the company. Speaking to the BBC, Jarvis said "I knew that it was an unpaid internship. At the time I was living off my student loan and overdraft but this was what I really wanted to do and the offer was the only bit of feedback I had got from all the applications I had sent off." "It was to get the experience and to learn the skills," he added, saying that he was working eight-and-a-half hour days at the company. Jarvis says that, after training, both he and other interns were being supervised by a manager. Jarvis says Sony paid him the £4,600 before an employment tribunal was held into the case. Solicitor Jasmine Patel, who worked with Jarvis on his case, said "if someone is working set hours and is adding value to the company, so that if they were not doing the task someone else would have to be paid to do it, then it is more likely they will be defined as a worker in law and therefore entitled to be paid." Jarvis now works as a lead graphic designer at a company in Milton Keynes, UK. Sony declined to comment. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Activision extends Sing Hero trademark Sep 5th 2013, 13:46 Publisher this week requests and receives permission to extend trademark for unannounced project. 
Activision this week requested and received permission to extend its trademark for Sing Hero, a project that the company has not announced. The United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) received Activision's request for an extension on September 3 and approved said extension later that day. Activision originally trademarked Sing Hero in March 2009. Earlier this year, images reportedly from a Pi Studios version of the game surfaced, though Activision never commented officially. Just because Activision has a trademark for Sing Hero does not mean the company has plans to ship a game with that name. The company has also registered titles like "Drum Hero," "Keyboard Hero," "Guitar Villain," and "Drum Villain." Activision's "Hero" franchises--namely Guitar Hero, Band Hero, and DJ Hero--have been dormant of late, though the publisher has confirmed that Guitar Hero is not dead, but rather taking time to reinvent itself before returning. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | NPD: US game spend for Q2 reaches $2.88 billion Sep 5th 2013, 13:19 Research group's latest findings show a spending decline of 3 percent compared to Q2 2012 as a result of next-gen looming on the horizon. 
The NPD Group today released results from its 2013 Games Market Dynamics: US report, concluding that total United States spend on games for the April-June quarter was $2.88 billion. This is down 3 percent from last year's $2.97 billion, the company said. The $2.88 billion figure includes $769 million spent during the quarter on new physical console and PC software, as well as used and rental spending of $343 million, and digital content (full game downloads, DLC, subscriptions, mobile, and social games) spending of $1.77 billion. When adding spending from accessories, hardware, and total content, spending fell 9 percent, the NPD Group said, due primarily to hardware declines resulting from gamers holding off in anticipation of new systems in November. ’The decrease in new physical spending is partly due to the decline in the number of new SKUs released at retail, (with 37 percent fewer new SKUs in Q2'13 compared to Q2'12) which is to be expected as developers, publishers, and consumers alike prepare for the next hardware generation,’ NPD Group analyst Liam Callahan said in a statement. Callahan noted that increases in digital content spending "nearly" offset the losses from declines in physical format spending. He added that digital full-game downloads and DLC saw a combined spending increase of 27 percent over last year. The PlayStation 4 launches in North America on November 15, while the Xbox One will debut in 13 regions across the world on November 22. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Call of Duty: Strike Team hits iOS Sep 5th 2013, 12:57 $7 first- and third-person entry in the shooter series released for iOS devices; set in year 2020; no word on release for Android or Windows devices. 
Activision Publishing today released an all-new Call of Duty game for mobile and tablet devices titled Call of Duty: Strike Team. Available on iOS for $7, Strike Team is a first- and third-person game "built from the ground up" for handheld devices. According to the game's description, Call of Duty: Strike Team allows players to "fully" customize their squad's loadouts and abilities before entering into combat in "diverse gameplay environments." Call of Duty: Strike Team will also allow players to switch between the traditional first-person perspective and a top-down third-person option that allows players to tactically coordinate actions for their squads. Regarding the game's story, Call of Duty: Strike Team is set in the year 2020. "Tensions run high amongst the world's superpowers," reads a line from the game's description. After a surprise attack, the United States becomes embroiled in a war with an "unknown enemy." Players must lead a Joint Special Operations team in a "global effort" to track down those responsible for the attack. Call of Duty: Strike Team features a Campaign mode that takes players around the world, as well as a Survival mode where players can fight off waves of increasingly difficult enemies. Users can compete against friends and track their achievements through leaderboards. Call of Duty: Strike Team is compatible only with and optimized for iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad mini, iPad 2, iPad (3rd generation), iPad (4th generation), and iPod Touch (5th generation). iPhone 4 and iPod Touch (4th generation) are not supported. The game also requires iOS 6.0 or newer. No mention was made of a release for Android or Windows devices. The most recent Call of Duty mobile game was 2011's Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies. The next entry in the mainline series is Call of Duty: Ghosts, which launches for current- and next-generation consoles in November. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Best Buy holding Xbox One, PS4 launch events Sep 5th 2013, 12:19 Retailer opening its stores across the country in November for midnight release events for next-generation consoles from Microsoft and Sony. 
Gamers who just can't wait to get their hands on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 can attend midnight launch events at Best Buy this November, the company has announced. Best Buy said (via CNET) that it will begin selling PlayStation 4 consoles and Xbox One systems at 12:01 a.m. on November 15 and November 22, respectively in North America. A list of participating Best Buy locations is available on the company's website for the PS4 and Xbox One. In addition to the special midnight events, Best Buy announced a new promotion for select Xbox One titles for those who have bought the game's Xbox 360 counterpart and elect to trade it in at the retailer. Best Buy will give up to $40 of in-store credit for these games, which will also include a $10 trade-in coupon when purchased. This effectively equates to upgrading from the Xbox 360 version of a game to the Xbox One version for $10. More information about the trade-up program is available on Best Buy's website. Retailers Amazon and GameStop, as well as publishers like Sony and Activision, are holding similar promotions. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Sony refunds Final Fantasy XIV customers as servers remain unstable Sep 5th 2013, 11:36 Game director Naoki Yoshida explains FFXIV's server problems, as Sony refunds customers who purchased the game through PSN. 
The bungled relaunch of Final Fantasy XIV Online: A Realm Reborn has seen Sony fully refund customers who purchased the PlayStation Network version of the game on August 27 or August 28. Affected customers will see a full refund to their wallet, the entitlements for the game reset, and the game reappearing in their download list. "We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your patience," says Sony. The servers for Final Fantasy XIV have been overloaded since the game's relaunch a week ago, leading Square Enix to suspend digital sales in an attempt to balance the heavy load. Square Enix has repeatedly apologised to users finding it impossible to play the MMO, and game director Naoki Yoshida has taken to the company's forums to explain that he expected far fewer players after FFXIV's first iteration flopped. "The night following the announcement of our plans to temporarily limit sales of the download version," said Yoshida. "A Realm Reborn recorded upwards of 218,000 concurrent connections. This is in spite of the fact that the peak login times for separate regions around the world arrive at differing intervals. We estimate that without time zone differences, the total number of concurrent connections would number anywhere from 300,000 to 350,000." "As many of you know, this is the second launch for Final Fantasy XIV--something unprecedented in the MMORPG market. Considering the outcome of our first launch, our sales estimates for this one were decidedly conservative, as we believed that there would be a more gradual rise in users over the opening weeks and months." "Instead, to our pleasant surprise, we experienced tremendous support from a great number of players who were eager to get into the game from day one. To ensure that these players, once logged in, were able to play in a stable environment, we were required to implement login restrictions which kept server population near maximum capacity without exceeding those numbers." "The fact that we had to implement these restrictions is a direct result of my inaccurate sales and login estimates, and as producer, I must accept complete responsibility for this misstep. Each and every player who has been affected has my deepest apologies." Yoshida added that each World server in FFXIV can handle a maximum of 5000 concurrent connections, and that a higher amount of players leads to server crashes and errors. Square Enix has chosen to limit logins to give the servers room to breathe, and Yoshida says that the team is monitoring the Worlds "24 hours a day" in an attempt to strike the right balance. Logins are more likely to be restricted between 21:00 and 00:00, Yoshida added, which is the peak login time for the game. Earlier this week Square Enix offered an additional seven days of free play time as compensation for customers affected by the outages. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
| | Dark Souls II beta begins October 12 Sep 5th 2013, 10:36 PlayStation 3 owners can register for the Dark Souls II beta by downloading a ticket from the PlayStation Store. 
Namco Bandai has announced that the Dark Souls II PlayStation 3 beta will kick off on October 12. PlayStation 3 owners in North America, Europe, and Australasia can sign-up for a chance to participate by downloading the Dark Souls II Closed Beta Registration Ticket from the PlayStation Store. "Out of the players who have downloaded this registration ticket, players will be chosen and those who qualify will receive notice of how to take part in the Closed Beta testing," reads the description for the ticket. A second wave of beta invites will be sent out on October 27. Namco Bandai has not said if the beta will head to Xbox 360 or PC. Developer From Software says Dark Souls II will feature more open-world elements than the original game, but has yet to say what area the beta will be set in. Dark Souls II will be released for PlayStation 3, PC, and Xbox 360 in March 2014. Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot
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