luni, 30 septembrie 2013

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Super Meat Boy dev talks of hands-on time with Steam Controller
Sep 30th 2013, 16:13

"I could play any game I wanted with it just fine," says Super Meat Boy co-creator Tommy Refenes on the recently unveiled Steam Controller.

 

Super Meat Boy co-creator Tommy Refenes has written a blog post detailing his hands-on experience with Valve's recently unveiled touchscreen controller prototype.

Last week Valve announced its new proprietary controller, which features two touchscreen sticks with haptic feedback and pledges to be a high-precision, low-latency device.

"The Steam Controller (or whatever it’s officially called) is strange," started Refenes, who pointed out that he was particularly sensitive to game controller and latency.

Using the Steam Controller to play Meat Boy after becoming familiar with the device, Refenes said, "the configuration they had set up was simple enough. The left circle pad acted as the directional buttons, the right acted as a big giant jump button. The big problem with touch pads/ touch screens is you never know when you are actually over a button or pressing it. Valve has tried to rectify this by having some adjustable haptic feedback fire when you press one of the circle pads. Throughout my play session the haptic feedback helped with the problem, but wasn’t enough to solve it."

"One drawback to undefined physical buttons is that your thumbs need tactile contact in order to accurately know what button you are pressing. As the engineers and I were talking about this, the idea of little nubs being on the controller that would be noticeable enough where your thumbs would find them, but not so abrasive that the circle pads couldn’t comfortably used in mouse / trackpad mode came about. They had been thought of prior to my being there, but weren’t on the controller I was using. I expressed that they needed to be put in. They might show up in some form after my feedback’so’you’re welcome Valve / Valve customers."

Overall, Refenes said "the button configuration worked fine for SMB" and that "I was able to play Meat Boy the way Meat Boy can be played on an advanced level."

Refenes added that, after playing Super Meat Boy, he wanted to play a game that required more inputs and opted for Spelunky--and said "the controller worked great" with Derek Yu's randomly generated platformer.

"As I was playing I was describing to the engineers the twitch movements that go into Spelunky. Anyone that’s played it knows what I’m talking about, but to explain further there are often times in Spelunky where you will find yourself in a situation where you will panic and need to compensate. For example, let's say you are jumping on a platform, below it are spikes, above you is a bat. If the bat hits you, you’ll die because you’ll fall into the spikes. If you try to jump on the bat, chances are you’ll hit the bat and fall and possibly die. So in situations like this you find yourself tap jumping with air compensation to whip a bat while still staying on this one tile platform. The Steam controller handled this just fine. The nubs I mentioned above would have solidified the platforming experience better, but again, those might get thrown in as they approach final hardware. I got to the Ice Caves and then a stupid Skeleton knocked me off a platform to my death’then I attempted a daily run and died immediately’pretty much the standard Spelunky play through."

Refenes said that he'd play games using the Steam Controller, but "if you were to ask me to choose between Steam Controller and a 360 controller, I would choose 360" because of his familiarity with the device.

"Don’t take that as slight to the controller though because it’s more about the comfort of familiarity over functionality. I would choose a 360 controller because I have several thousand hours experience using it, however if tomorrow all game controllers were wiped off the earth and the only option was the Steam Controller, I don’t think this would be a bad thing. In fact, I don’t think gaming would miss a beat. I’m excited to see what final hardware feels like because I think with the upcoming iterations of the controller we’ll see something that is different, but still feels good."

In conclusion, Refenes said Valve's new controller was a "great start, needs some improvements, but I could play any game I wanted with it just fine."

For more information about Refenes' time with the device, check out his full post.

Valve will launch its new controller along with its SteamOS in 2014.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot


"Super Meat Boy dev talks of hands-on time with Steam Controller" was posted by Martin Gaston on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 09:13:24 -0700

Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - Pirate Heist Trailer
Sep 30th 2013, 16:00

Set sail with Captain Edward Kenway and his band of rogues in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.

 

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"Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag - Pirate Heist Trailer" was posted by Sarah Lynch on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 09:00:00 -0700

Returning to Eden in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Sep 30th 2013, 16:00

Kevin VanOrd dons Edward Kenway's pirate garb to discover how much the newest Assassin's Creed hero has in common with his ancestors.

     

Get the full article at GameSpot


"Returning to Eden in Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag" was posted by Kevin VanOrd on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 09:00:00 -0700

Mighty No. 9 Kickstarter crosses $3 million
Sep 30th 2013, 15:53

With one day to go, crowdfunding campaign for Mega Man creator's new game reaches new funding milestone.

 

The Kickstarter campaign for Mega Man creator Keiji Inafune's Mighty No. 9 has crossed $3 million. At press time, funding stands at $3,056,096 (350 percent better than its $900,000 target) from over 53,000 backers.

Funding closes tomorrow, October 1, at 8:19 p.m. EDT. Should funding reach $3.3 million, the game will be released on Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Mighty No. 9 reaching $3 million guarantees its place in at least the top five gaming Kickstarter projects ever and the title of top-grossing Japanese crowdfunded game of all-time.

The game's press team today released new statistics about the Mighty No. 9 Kickstarter campaign, revealing the project receives around 1,700 new backers per day generating over $97,000 every 24 hours.

The average pledge amount for Mighty No. 9 is $57.58 and fans from 116 countries have contributed to the project.

Inafune announced and launched the Kickstarter campaign for Mighty No. 9 during PAX Prime last month. It reached its initial $900,000 target in under two days.

For more, check out GameSpot's interview with Inafune about the Kickstarter project and his thoughts on the Japanese gaming industry, among other topics.

[ Watch Video ]

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot


"Mighty No. 9 Kickstarter crosses $3 million" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 08:53:01 -0700

GTA parent publisher among new Twitch investors
Sep 30th 2013, 15:21

Take-Two Interactive joins new group of investors for streaming video platform in just-announced round of $20 million funding.

 

Gamer-focused streaming video company Twitch today announced that it had secured $20 million in new Series C funding from a round of investors that includes Grand Theft Auto parent publisher Take-Two interactive.

The $20 million investment was led by Thrive Capital, with additional participation from WestSummit Capital and Take-Two Interactive. Additional funds from existing investors like Alsop Louie Partners and Bessemer Venture Partners were also included.

Details regarding specific levels of participation in the overall $20 million were not disclosed.

According to Twitch, this new funding will allow the company to "continue scaling its sales division and infrastructure to meet the demand of its rapidly growing viewership." Twitch had 45 million unique visitors in September 2013.

In addition to supporting the expansion of the Twitch Media Group sales division, the $20 million in funding will help ensure the platform's infrastructure is ready for the launch of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in November.

Twitch broadcasting and viewing will be supported on both next-generation systems.

Grand Theft Auto V launched earlier this month, generating $800 million in 24 hours and $1 billion in three days. The game's multiplayer component--GTA Online--launches tomorrow as a free download.

Developer Rockstar Games is expecting numerous hiccups and issues to accompany the launch.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot


"GTA parent publisher among new Twitch investors" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 08:21:36 -0700

F1 2013 - Speeding in Spa Gameplay
Sep 30th 2013, 15:02

Maldonado attempts to get into the points in this Spa footage from F1 2013.

 

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"F1 2013 - Speeding in Spa Gameplay" was posted by Danny O'Dwyer on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 08:02:16 -0700

F1 2013 - Chasing Vettel in Canada Gameplay
Sep 30th 2013, 15:01

F1 2013's Scenario Mode pits you against Vettel in a rain soaked Montreal, reminiscent of Jenson Button's victory in 2011.

 

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot


"F1 2013 - Chasing Vettel in Canada Gameplay" was posted by Danny O'Dwyer on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 08:01:16 -0700

F1 2013 - Murray Walker at Brands Hatch Gameplay
Sep 30th 2013, 15:00

Murray Walker introduces some 80's F1 action in this look at the Brands Hatch Circuit in F1 2013.

 

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"F1 2013 - Murray Walker at Brands Hatch Gameplay" was posted by Danny O'Dwyer on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 08:00:04 -0700

Xbox One can detect two people talking at once
Sep 30th 2013, 14:56

New version of Kinect can hear and understand two people speaking simultaneously and can detect mouth movements in a dark room, Microsoft says.

 

The Xbox One's new Kinect camera can detect two people speaking at once, Microsoft corporate vice president Phil Harrison said during the Eurogamer Expo as reported by Polygon.

In addition to being able to hear and understand two simultaneous speakers, the new version of Kinect included with every Xbox One can detect mouth movements in a dark room, Microsoft said.

In all, the Xbox One's Kinect technology can detect 25 joints between six people at any given time and recognize who is using the controller.

The camera can also estimate heart rates for the recently announced Xbox Fitness program, which will be available at launch for Xbox Live Gold members.

Kinect is included with every $500 Xbox One, a decision that has drawn debate from gamers. Microsoft has acknowledged this discussion, but said previously that it has no plans to release the system without Kinect.

"You can walk in front of the console, it recognizes you. Now we can have six of us in the room all signed in with our own profiles. That kind of stuff, when people get to use it, I think it will be really obvious why we bundled it with every box," senior Xbox director Albert Penello said earlier this month.

The Xbox One launches on November 22.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot


"Xbox One can detect two people talking at once" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 07:56:19 -0700

Killzone: Shadow Fall file size is 50GB
Sep 30th 2013, 14:30

Sony says upcoming PS4-exclusive FPS is an "uber file" and "it looks it, too"; game's multiplayer mode runs at 60fps "a lot of the time," but not always.

 

Upcoming PlayStation 4-exclusive first-person shooter Killzone: Shadow Fall's file size is around 50GB, Sony has revealed to Eurogamer in a new interview. The PS4 features a 500GB hard drive, though it is upgradeable.

The news came from United Kingdom managing director Fergal Gara as part of a discussion regarding the rise in popularity of downloads over physical media.

"First of all, [digital] is definitely going to grow as a means of consumption. And there are big innovations in the PS4 to make it more attractive and more easy gamer wise to want to download," Gara said. "The Play as you Download functionality, for example, means you don't need the whole file before you go. This is a little bit counterbalanced by the fact the files themselves are getting bloody big. Killzone: Shadow Fall is an uber file--I think it's cracking on for 50GB. It looks it, too, when you see it."

Overall, the download process on PS4 remains a "relatively tedious" endeavor, Gara said.

"It's not perfect. It's not seamless," he said. "The file version of the game versus the disc version of the game maybe needs to go through additional QA and additional testing. Some of the problems that have occurred have occurred on older machines, which of course when you go into the next-generation you at least get to reset and start again and everything's the same age and new. That helps."

Improving the download process on PS4 has been a "major area of focus" and investment, Gara said. While numerous users have reported poor download speeds for the PlayStation 3, Sony is confident it will put a better foot forward this time around, Gara said.

"The network will perform better on multiple levels, because it becomes not just a sales or gaming delivery but increasingly it becomes a social network. So it's got to be a compelling experience on multiple levels," Gara said. "It's going to be for no lack of investment, for no lack of effort and no lack of intention that things might fall a bit short. But we're definitely moving in the right direction, and I'm confident when step on and understand its importance."

Killzone: Shadow Fall developer Guerrilla Games told Eurogamer in a separate interview that the game's single-player campaign will run at 30 frames-per-second and outputs at 1080p, while multiplayer will be different. This mode will also output at 1080p, but will run at 60 frames-per-second "a lot of the time," but not always.

"The reason for that is tricky," lead designer Eric Boltjes said. "Running 60 has become this Holy Grail. Suddenly people think if you run 60 your game is better. Technically, that's not really true. But what it does do is it makes decisions go from input to on-screen a lot easier."

"So, having a constant 60 is not actually better than having a 'lot of the time' 60. It sounds weird, but it's actually true," he added. "Because usually in the moments where we're going to drop framerate, either you're already dead or it's too late anyway."

Killzone: Shadow Fall is a launch title for PS4, arriving on November 15 in North America.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot


"Killzone: Shadow Fall file size is 50GB " was posted by Eddie Makuch on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 07:30:17 -0700

Bungie teases Destiny preorder bonuses
Sep 30th 2013, 14:29

Developer says "there most certainly will be" different bonuses for those who reserve upcoming game; announcement could be made soon.

 

Bungie Studios has teased that not only will there be preorder bonuses for shared-world shooter Destiny, but they could be unveiled shortly.

Asked in the latest (and potentially final) Mail Sack if there will be different preorder bonuses for Destiny, the studio said, "There most certainly will be. We'll tell you all about them before you even have the chance to ask again."

"You may want to turn your gaze to the stars. We've been busy. Stay tuned."

Destiny--which requires an Internet connection--is currently in development for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4. The game will be released in 2014 published by Activision Publishing.

Last week, Bungie Studios design director Joseph Staten--who co-created the Destiny universe--left the company after 15 years.

Bungie Studios will release a new gameplay trailer for Destiny tomorrow, October 1. The trailer will be set in a destination that fans have been asking to see for the first time, community manager "Deej" said.

"We'll also have some exciting announcements if you're looking to suit up and explore our new frontier. Stay tuned!"

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot


"Bungie teases Destiny preorder bonuses" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 07:29:34 -0700

F1 2013 Screens
Sep 30th 2013, 13:00

20 new shots posted.

     

Get the full article at GameSpot


"F1 2013 Screens" was posted on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 06:00:44 -0700

F1 2013 Review
Sep 30th 2013, 13:00

F1 2013 takes you on a nostalgia trip into the history of Formula One, while compelling new modes and subtle improvements layer atop a familiar, but winning formula.

     

Score: 8.0 / great

Get the full article at GameSpot


"F1 2013 Review" was posted by Danny O'Dwyer on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 06:00:31 -0700

F1 2013 Video Review
Sep 30th 2013, 13:00

Danny takes to the track in F1 2013 and finds that while it's a familiar experience, compelling new modes and killer attention to detail keep the on-track action exciting.

 

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"F1 2013 Video Review" was posted by Danny O'Dwyer on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 06:00:00 -0700

Blizzard trademarks Heroes of the Storm
Sep 30th 2013, 12:55

New trademark application from World of Warcraft and Diablo developer covers "online computer games," among other things.

 

World of Warcraft and Diablo developer Blizzard Entertainment has filed a new trademark application for "Heroes of the Storm."

Spotted by MMO Champion, Blizzard Entertainment's main office in Irvine, Calif. filed the trademark application on September 24 with the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO).

The "Heroes of the Storm" trademark covers "online computer games," "computer game software," and "computer game software downloadable from a global computer network," among other things.

No further information about "Heroes of the Storm" is available.

Blizzard Entertainment will discuss the future of its tentpole franchises at BlizzCon 2013, which takes place November 8-9 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot


"Blizzard trademarks Heroes of the Storm" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 05:55:48 -0700

Sony on PS4 vs. Xbox One -- "A marathon, not a sprint"
Sep 30th 2013, 12:43

UK managing director Fergal Gara says "format war" is a long-haul effort; PS4 as a platform "can and will evolve."

 

The battle between PlayStation 4 and Xbox One is a long-haul effort, according to Sony UK managing director Fergal Gara. Speaking with Eurogamer, the executive said Sony is confident in its launch position, but acknowledged that release this November is just the beginning.

"This format war, if you want to call it that, is a marathon, not a sprint," Gara said. "We're coming out of the blocks in a strong position, but we're conscious that is nowhere close to job done, and we have to continually improve the proposition, proving what PS4 represents."

Gara said Sony has a history of doing just that. The PlayStation 3 launched sixteen months after the the Xbox 360 and at a steeper price. Yet over the platform's lifecycle, it has caught up to Microsoft's console in terms of overall shipments worldwide, a process that "took a lot of hard graft," Gara said.

"You've got to start good and keep on your toes. PS4 is a platform that can and will evolve. It will be great on day-one but it will be far better in year two and year three as expectations rise and ideas are generated and these new tools are executed," he said. "That's the way to win. And obviously the gameplay and the core experiences are hugely pivotal to that. They are going to start really strong, but they have to continue to grow and continue to improve."

The PS4 and Xbox One launch worldwide in November. According to a new Reuters poll, more shoppers in the United States are interested in the PS4 than the Xbox One.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot


"Sony on PS4 vs. Xbox One -- "A marathon, not a sprint"" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 05:43:06 -0700

PS4 beating Xbox One in US poll
Sep 30th 2013, 12:17

According to new Reuters/Ipsos poll, more shoppers in the United States are interested in Sony's console than Microsoft's; 64 percent not planning to buy any new hardware at all.

 

The PlayStation 4 has an edge over the Xbox One in terms of interest among United States shoppers, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll.

Asked about interest in dedicated game devices, 26 percent of 1,297 people surveyed through an online poll last week said they are likely to purchase a PS4 compared to 15 percent for the Xbox One.

The gulf between the two platforms grows for those below the age of 40, with 41 percent choosing the PS4 versus 27 percent for the Xbox One. The poll was conducted September 23-27.

Reuters acknowledged that poll is based on a "limited sample," but said the results could "potentially point to a lopsided battle during the crucial holiday season."

Sony disclosed at Gamescom last month that the PS4 had seen more than 1 million preorders. Microsoft has not revealed specific figures, but said preorders for the Xbox One have exceeded those of the Xbox 360, which was released eight years ago.

Microsoft and Sony may have a tough time selling consoles at all this holiday, as 64 percent of total respondents said they would not buy any new game-specific hardware at all when presented with options like next-generation hardware, the Nintendo 2DS, and Valve's "Steam Box" prototype.

The PS4 ($400) goes on sales November 15, while the Xbox One ($500) launches November 22.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll also revealed data about the Wii U, which has struggled since launch late last year. Of the 1,297 respondents, just 3 percent said they currently play games on Wii U, compared to 20 percent for Xbox 360, 20 percent for PC, and 18 percent for PS3.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot


"PS4 beating Xbox One in US poll" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 05:17:55 -0700

New Nintendo Direct event being broadcast tomorrow
Sep 30th 2013, 11:49

Latest Nintendo Direct offers information about the company's upcoming Wii U and 3DS titles.

 

Nintendo has scheduled a Nintendo Direct event for tomorrow, promising more information about Wii U and 3DS games due for release later in 2013.

The Nintendo Direct presentation will be broadcast worldwide on October 1 at 10:00 ET, 07:00 PT, and 15:00 BST.

Upcoming Nintendo titles that might feature in the presentation include The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Super Mario 3D World, Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze, and Pokemon X and Y.

The event can be watched tomorrow direct from Nintendo's site.

Last week Nintendo confirmed that Toon Link would feature in its upcoming Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot


"New Nintendo Direct event being broadcast tomorrow" was posted by Martin Gaston on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 04:49:55 -0700

Shadow of the Eternals on hold
Sep 30th 2013, 10:12

"We have no regrets," says Precursor Games boss Denis Dyack as spiritual sequel is put on hold.

 

Shadow of the Eternals, the spiritual successor to Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem on the GameCube, is on hold, developer Precursor Games has said.

Veterans from original Eternal Darkness, Too Human, and X-Men: Destiny developer Silicon Knights formed Precursor Games to work on the proposed survival horror title, including boss Denis Dyack, but the crowdfunding project failed to garner enough interest from the public.

"It is with a heavy heart that we have decided to put the Shadow of the Eternals project on hold," posted Dyack to the Precursor Games forum. "We are very happy with what we have accomplished both as a group and with the community. The community has blown us away and was the one thing that kept us going through it all--we cannot thank you enough.

"Many of us will be taking a break. For those who are not aware, we all worked on this project as a labour of love and self financed 100 percent of everything for a over a year to try to make Shadow of the Eternals a reality. Although we did not succeed on doing this, we succeeded in making many friends and starting something that we hope provided value for those involved."

"We have no regrets," added Dyack.

"Is the project dead? No, but we feel it needs a rest too," he concluded.

"We have all agreed as a group that when and if the time is right we will get together and start it up again. Keep your head high everyone and remember what we have accomplished together."

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot


"Shadow of the Eternals on hold" was posted by Martin Gaston on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 03:12:56 -0700

Batman: Arkham Origins I Am the Knight and Initiation DLC detailed
Sep 30th 2013, 09:32

Arkham Origins to get permadeath difficulty setting and single-player DLC set in Asia.

 

Warner Bros. Games Montreal's upcoming Dark Knight adventure Batman: Arkham Origins will feature a permadeath difficulty mode, the studio has revealed, alongside new information about the game's prequel DLC set in Asia.

Speaking to Eurogamer, producer Guillaume Voghel revealed more about the one life and no saves I Am the Knight difficulty, which opens up after players complete the game and then its New Game Plus mode.

"The main narrative arc and side missions last about 12 hours," he said, "and then you have all the collectibles. To get 100 per cent of that will take much, much longer. We have a new difficulty level, New Game Plus is coming back--that's really difficult--and when you're done with that there's I Am The Night mode--which is no saves and one life."

Voghel also confirmed that the game's Initiation DLC will offer a single-player campaign set in Asia, with Bruce Wayne training to become Batman.

"You play as Bruce Wayne learning to be a ninja," said Voghel. "That's a really cool one. Narratively there's some added content that will give players a little more background story."

Initiation will be included in Batman: Arkham Origins' $19.99 season pass, along with four other pieces of downloadable content. Three DLC packs have been confirmed as skins, with the last pack yet to be confirmed. The game will also feature Knightfall DLC exclusive to the PlayStation 3.

Part of the Initiation DLC will feature Batman proving himself to his teacher, Kirigi, who also trained Ra's al Ghul's League of Assassins.

"[But] it's not League of Assassins, it's ninja-related," Voghel added. "It's when he learned to be a ninja and learned those techniques. He goes to a monastery--custom content was created for the DLC. You'll be in Asia in the monastery. The team did a great job on that, it looks really good."

Batman: Arkham Origins will be released for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, and Wii U on October 25.

Read and Post Comments | Get the full article at GameSpot


"Batman: Arkham Origins I Am the Knight and Initiation DLC detailed" was posted by Martin Gaston on Mon, 30 Sep 2013 02:32:13 -0700

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