Written By Kom Limpulnam on Senin, 30 Juni 2014 | 21.50
Robot Entertainment recently made controversial comments about Orcs Must Die! Unchained that suggested toxic player behavior would be welcomed in the upcoming PC game. But this is not the case, not at all, according to a new statement from the developer.
"Before we get started, let us be crystal clear--toxic players that worsen the experience for the Orcs Must Die! Unchained community absolutely will not be tolerated," Robot Entertainment said in a statement to Polygon.
A closed beta for Orcs Must Die! Unchained began on Friday, and Robot Entertainment is looking for feedback to help fine-tune the game. However, "If a person chooses to restrict or impede upon the gameplay and community experience with inappropriate behavior, then we will ensure they are disciplined and, if needed, banned."
The studio went on to clarify that, yes, toxic players are an "unfortunate facet" of multiplayer gaming in 2014. The studio added that it wants to gather feedback from "passionate" players, but not toxic players. Robot Entertainment pointed out that it has a community management team at the ready to address toxic player behavior "quickly and decisively."
The controversy originated from a report on Friday, where Robot Entertainment designer Jerome Jones said, "There's probably something good about the toxic players showing up and sticking with your game. The good thing is probably that it's a good game. It's holding their interest, it's keeping them around. It's making them passionate enough to give a damn."
Why is there so much violence in video games? According to Ken Levine, creator of the decidedly violent BioShock series, it's because violence is technically simple to create and it's what people want.
"One of the reasons there's been a lot of violence in video games is because it's relatively easy to simulate," Levine told NPR. "And generally it's been … like action movies, there's an easily perceivable market for it. I think the reaction to the violence is more an expression of people building confidence in the industry's ability to express itself in more diverse fashions."
Levine's most recent project was 2013's BioShock Infinite, which was a critically celebrated first-person shooter with lots of violence. Interestingly, Levine said he was asked "a lot" if he could have made the game--which has shipped over 6 million copies--without violence.
He said this was an "interesting" question to be asked, but explained that he wouldn't really know how to make the version of BioShock Infinite that he had in mind without violence.
"I like games myself, and I've always liked game-y things, so I wasn't terribly interested in telling … making a game that didn't have a game component," Levine said. "When you have non-violent components, it would have been odd."
Looking ahead, Levine said he's optimistic that in the future, the rise in digital distribution will allow developers to make more unique games.
"I assumed people were coming for the shooting when we made [BioShock] originally. I think now we have a little more confidence, especially when you don't have to appeal to 8 or 10 million people if you can just digitally distribute things like you can now. You can do that because you don't need to spend the money to put it on trucks to get it to a store and deal with retailers and shippers and all that. So you can really try to have a 1:1 interaction with a smaller, more dedicated fanbase and give them the thing they want. You couldn't do that 20 years ago when I started."
He said we've already seen this trend with TV, which started off with only a handful of networks that offered broad programming. Now, there are more niche shows, like The Sopranos or Mad Men, that branched out and struck a new chord--finding success along the way.
"I think that's what you're seeing in games now is we realize we can experiment more because we don't have to hit such a broad common denominator," Levine said.
After BioShock creator Irrational Games effectively shut down earlier this year, Levine and a handful of others stayed on board to work a "smaller, more entrepreneurial" effort for Take-Two. We still don't know what Levine and his team are working on, but it sure sounds like it won't be a big-budget AAA game in the vein of BioShock. In addition to this project, Levine is writing the script for the Logan's Run reboot at Warner Bros.
2K Marin is handling the BioShock series going forward. According to Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick, the BioShock franchise is "beloved," and it may not have reached its potential yet.
"I think there's a lot of upside in that franchise," Zelnick said in May about BioShock. "It hasn't necessarily been realized yet. And the question for the future, assuming we decide to answer the question, would be 'How do you stay true to that creatively?'; 'How do you do something exciting?'; and 'How do you do expand the market?'. That would be the natural drill. We're starting from a good point on it. And certainly it's been a great piece of business for us; it's been a profitable piece of business."
Electronic Arts and PopCap Games today announced the "Tactical Taco Party Pack" for the bizarre console and PC shooter Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare. The free expansion launches tomorrow, July 1, on Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC, bringing players "south of the border" and introducing a new map and mode.
The new Western-themed map is called Jewel Junction and the game mode is titled Vanquish Confirmed. There's also a new 8v8 mixed mode playlist that will include all competitive modes. In addition, players will receive two free custom character variants (with new appearances and abilities).
These new variants (Berry Spooter and Citrus Cactus) are sponsored by Aquafina Flavorsplash. This is not the first time a major publisher has teamed up with a non-gaming company to release DLC. Epic Games partnered with men's magazine Maxim for a Gears of War: Judgment expansion pack in 2013.
Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare originally launched in February for Xbox 360 and Xbox One, and came to PC last week. The game comes to PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in August, with the latter version running at 1080p/60fps. For more on Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare, check out GameSpot's review.
Of note: We don't know which video game gun was used to subdue the intruder. This is just one possibility.
How did you spend your Sunday? For a 24-year-old Pittsburgh man, it involved subduing an intruder with a prop gun he was using to play a video game.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that a 24-year-old Oakland man (Oakland is a part of Pittsburgh) was playing a video game with headphones on when someone knocked on his door asking for a person he didn't know.
The resident said he felt threatened, and then wielded a prop gun to keep the intruder at bay until police came to the scene. It's not clear what game the person was playing, but games from the Cabela's hunting series support gun peripherals, and Nintendo offers a Wii Zapper gun.
Those guns, however, don't look all that realistic.
The accused burglar has since been identified and was subsequently charged with burglary, criminal trespassing, and possession of a criminal instrument, according to a Pittsburgh public safety spokesperson.
Written By Kom Limpulnam on Minggu, 29 Juni 2014 | 21.50
Gamespot's Site MashupThe Banner Saga Could Come to Consoles, PS Vita After Tablet ReleaseFormer Xbox Live "Head Banhammer" Joins Microsoft's Gears of War TeamSniper Elite 3 Steam Keys Bought in Good Faith Revoked as Result of ScamDestiny Budget "Nowhere Near" $500 Million, Bungie SaysNeil Gaiman's Ghost Game Hitting PC Next MonthOrc Model Comparison - World of Warcraft: Warlords of DraenorSony Spending More Money on PS4 TV Ads Than Microsoft Is on Xbox One TV AdsOur Steam Summer Sale Pick of the DayWarhammer 40,000 First-Person Shooter Space Hulk: Deathwing Coming to PS4, Xbox One, PC in 2015Six Upcoming Developments That Will Change DayZ for the BetterNet Neutrality Is a Major Issue for Games, Oddworld Creator SaysBattlefield Hardline Beta Coming to All Platforms This FallDestiny Trophies and Achievements Revealed; Get Ready to Kill a Lot of EnemiesWill Patch 2.1 Define Diablo III: Reaper of Souls?Goat Simulator 1.1 Patch Shenanigans - Random Encounter
http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Sun, 29 Jun 2014 07:41:25 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-banner-saga-could-come-to-consoles-ps-vita-after-tablet-release/1100-6420805/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580712-4187594088-24216.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580712" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580712-4187594088-24216.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580712"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1535/15354745/2580712-4187594088-24216.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Last week, developer Stoic Games announced that its tactical role-playing game <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/the-banner-saga/">The Banner Saga</a> will release on iPad, Android, and Windows tablets this summer, and console players might get a chance to play the game eventually as well.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Speaking with <a href="http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a580573/the-banner-saga-coming-to-ipad-and-android-this-summer-consoles-planned.html#~oIr5X9CuxzTv10" rel="nofollow">Digital Spy</a>, programmer John Watson said that Stoic has been working on the iOS and Android editions of the game since The Banner Saga was released on PC in January. Now that those version are on the way, Stoic hopes to release the game on consoles too.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"The ideal would be to get some console ports out before the end of the year," Watson said. "Whether we can make that happen or not, I don't know. Some things are easier than others. I think the game would be great on Vita, but I think that would come after other consoles. It's a path of least resistance thing; there's three of us."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Watson also said that he'd rather see the game on the PlayStation 4 before the PlayStation Vita because Stoic might need to make some changes to the game to take advantage of the PS Vita's controls, which can use touch and button at the same time.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Earlier this year <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/candy-crush-saga-dev-says-it-s-trying-to-fend-off-copycats-not-stop-the-banner-saga-update/1100-6417275/">Stoic was involved in a trademark dispute with Candy Crush Saga developer King</a>, which claimed The Banner Saga is "confusingly and deceptively similar" to Candy Crush Saga. In March, <a href="http://stoicstudio.com/stoic-update" rel="nofollow">Stoic announced</a> it reached an agreement with King that enables both parties to protect their respective trademarks.</p><p style="">For more on The Banner Saga, be sure to read <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-banner-saga-review/1900-6415626/">GameSpot's review</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sun, 29 Jun 2014 06:24:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-banner-saga-could-come-to-consoles-ps-vita-after-tablet-release/1100-6420805/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/former-xbox-live-head-banhammer-joins-microsoft-s-gears-of-war-team/1100-6420804/ <figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580553-9904949216-220px.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580553" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580553-9904949216-220px.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580553"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/1535/15354745/2580553-9904949216-220px.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Stephen "Stepto" Toulouse, the former Director of Policy and Enforcement for Microsoft's Xbox Live service, is rejoining the company as the Director of Community Engagement at Black Tusk Studios, the Microsoft-owned studio currently working on the next Gears of War project.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Jokingly known as the the "Head Banhammer," as Director of Policy and Enforcement Toulouse was in charge developing and implementing policy for Xbox Live, as well as working with developers, press, and customers.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Toulouse explained that his new role will be key in coordinating gamer feedback into future titles as well as keeping things fun and exciting with existing games.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"I've been shadowing the Gears forums and looking at people's thoughts," Toulouse said on <a href="http://www.stepto.com/2014/06/everything-old-is-new-again/" rel="nofollow">his personal blog</a>. "I don't just want us to make the best next generation Gears of War game ever, I want to make sure that everyone playing the game today feels just as good today and down the road in their investment into our amazing world as we do. There's a Gears nation out there. I'm a part of it and it's amazing."</p><p style="">You can hear more about Toulouse's return to Microsoft and what he'll be doing in his new role on the latest <a href="http://majornelson.com/cast/2014/06/27/mnr-516-we-finally-catch-up-after-e3-2014/" rel="nofollow">Major Nelson podcast</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 17:30:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/former-xbox-live-head-banhammer-joins-microsoft-s-gears-of-war-team/1100-6420804/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sniper-elite-3-steam-keys-bought-in-good-faith-revoked-as-result-of-scam/1100-6420803/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580525-9036816466-24377.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580525" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580525-9036816466-24377.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580525"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1535/15354745/2580525-9036816466-24377.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Valve has revoked an unknown number of Steam keys for the recently released <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/sniper-elite-iii/">Sniper Elite III</a> after developer and publisher Rebellion said they were stolen from one of its retail distributors.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">We still don't know how many buyers were affected, but at the time of writing <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/app/238090/discussions/0/540744936577983546/" rel="nofollow">the Steam discussion thread</a> where Rebellion made the announcement is almost 700 comments long.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Many of the comments are from understandably angry customers, who didn't know they were buying stolen keys. As Rebellion explained it to one of these angry buyers on its Facebook page, Rebellion asked Steam to revoke a batch of keys that was stolen from one of its distributors of the retail, hard copy version of the game. Rebellion believes these keys were sold to third-party key resellers like Instant Gaming.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">However, a post to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=874282152585607" rel="nofollow">Instant Gaming's Facebook page</a> claims that it bought the revoked Sniper Elite III Steam keys legitimately.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"The resellers are NOT the problem," Rebellion said on Facebook. "Those stores affected are NOT shady…The keys supplied to them were not as they seem - they were unlicensed, and unpaid for. This was reported to Valve and they revoked the keys."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Rebellion is offering Sniper Elite III's Target Hitler DLC for free to all those affected by this issue. To be eligible for that, you'll have to contact Rebellion by Friday, July 4 by following the instructions <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/app/238090/discussions/0/540744936577983546/" rel="nofollow">here</a>.</p><p style="">As for the price of the game itself, Rebellion is encouraging customers to contact the sellers in question and seek a refund immediately.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 16:30:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sniper-elite-3-steam-keys-bought-in-good-faith-revoked-as-result-of-scam/1100-6420803/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-budget-nowhere-near-500-million-bungie-says/1100-6420802/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580486-3897954883-20423.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580486" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580486-3897954883-20423.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580486"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1535/15354745/2580486-3897954883-20423.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Back in May, Activision Chief Executive Officer Bobby Kotick revealed that the publisher will invest $500 million in Bungie's upcoming shooter, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/destiny/">Destiny</a>. Since then, that figure has been associated with the development and marketing budget of the game, but Bungie recently said it isn't accurate.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Responding to a question from a fan, Bungie's Eric Osborne repeated the developer's Chief Operating Officer Pete Parsons' explanation: "For marketing you'd have to ask Activision people, but for development costs, not anything close to $500 million," Parsons told <a href="http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-06-23-bungie-coo" rel="nofollow">GameIndustry International</a> in an interview. "I think that speaks a lot more to the long-term investment that we're making in the future of the product."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We're pouring everything it takes into Destiny to ensure it meets our fans' expectations, and our own," Osborne added. "Activision is, too. But the budget for Destiny, including associated marketing costs and pizza Wednesdays, is nowhere near 500 million dollars."</p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="http://www.bungie.net/7_Bungie-Weekly-Update---06272014/en/News/News?aid=11607" rel="nofollow">Bungie's most recent weekly update</a> also makes clear that Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage's voice acting for Ghost has already been updated for Beta, and that it will be updated again before the game launches. Some players in the Destiny Alpha found his voice acting stiff and awkward, especially the now infamous "that wizard came from the moon" line, which <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-t-shirt-celebrates-peter-dinklage-s-infamous-line-of-dialogue/1100-6420651/">Bungie has since turned into a t-shirt</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In case you missed it, yesterday Bungie also detailed <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-trophies-and-achievements-revealed-get-ready-to-kill-a-lot-of-enemies/1100-6420796/">Destiny's 40 Achievements and Trophies</a>.</p><p style="">Destiny launches for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4 on September 9. We thought that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-our-first-hands-on-with-the-destiny-alpha/1100-6420314/">the game looked promising</a> when we got our hands on the alpha build earlier this month.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 14:19:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-budget-nowhere-near-500-million-bungie-says/1100-6420802/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/neil-gaiman-s-ghost-game-hitting-pc-next-month/1100-6420801/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCy2u9_zViU" data-width="854" data-height="480"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FhCy2u9_zViU%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DhCy2u9_zViU&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FhCy2u9_zViU%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">Wayward Manor, a puzzle adventure game from developer The Odd Gentlemen and renowned horror-fantasy author Neil Gaiman (<em>Coraline, Stardust, Sandman</em>), will release on PC and Mac on July 15, The Odd Gentlemen has announced.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We've been working day and night to make sure Wayward Manor is the best game it can be," the developer said in <a href="http://oddgentlemen.tumblr.com/" rel="nofollow">the announcement</a>. "This ultimately meant making the tough decision to delay the game. After adding more puzzles, an extra level of polish, and maybe even some paranormal surprises; we're finally ready to announce a release date for Wayward Manor."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Set in the 1920s, in Wayward Manor you play as a ghost who's trying to reclaim his house from its new owners, the Budds family. As The Odd Gentlemen explains the game, in each level you'll have to use observation, discovery, and puzzle solving to scare the Budds, earn enough fear to take back control of the room, and eventually the manor.</p><p style="">The Odd Gentlemen previously developed <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/the-misadventures-of-p-b-winterbottom/">The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom</a>, and Wayward Manor will be Neil Gaiman's first game. You'll be able to download it from <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/246720/" rel="nofollow">Steam</a> or the <a href="https://www.humblebundle.com/store/p/waywardmanor_storefront" rel="nofollow">Humble Store</a>, where 10 percents of the proceeds go to charity.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 12:36:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/neil-gaiman-s-ghost-game-hitting-pc-next-month/1100-6420801/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/orc-model-comparison-world-of-warcraft-warlords-of/2300-6419989/ Take a look at how the Orc Male and Female models are shaping up in World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor. Sat, 28 Jun 2014 12:35:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/orc-model-comparison-world-of-warcraft-warlords-of/2300-6419989/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-spending-more-money-on-ps4-tv-ads-than-microsoft-is-on-xbox-one-tv-ads/1100-6420800/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580425-ps4vxboxone.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580425" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580425-ps4vxboxone.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580425"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1535/15354745/2580425-ps4vxboxone.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Have you noticed more TV ads for Xbox One or PlayStation 4? According to research firm <a href="http://www.ispot.tv/" rel="nofollow">iSpot</a> (via <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/cmo/2014/06/26/playstation-is-video-game-industrys-biggest-tv-spender-so-far-this-year/" rel="nofollow">The Wall Street Journal</a>) chances are it's the PS4, as Sony has been spending a lot more money than Microsoft on TV ads this year.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">According to iSpot, Sony spent $59 million on PlayStation TV ads through the end of May 2014, whereas Microsoft spent $34.7 million on Xbox TV ads during the same period. Both companies focused on the same channels, spending the majority of that cash on FOX, ESPN, and Comedy Central. Microsoft also advertised on AMC (home to The Walking Dead) and TBS, while PlayStation also advertised on Fox Sports 1 and TNT.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">iSpot's data, which accounts for the number of times an ad was aired, viewed online, and the number of social interactions it generated (tweets, Facebook likes, and shares), shows that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2wUznERYYU" rel="nofollow">PlayStation's "Greatness"</a> TV spot was Sony's most effective ad. For Microsoft, <a href="http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7fe_/xbox-one-all-in-one" rel="nofollow">Xbox's "All-in-One"</a> ad was the most effective.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">While iSpot's study suggest that the PS4 has generated more "digital actions" overall, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-is-the-more-popular-console-on-facebook-in-the-united-states/1100-6420659/">a recent study from Movoto</a> suggests that the Xbox One is the more popular console on Facebook.</p><p style="">According to the last official worldwide numbers, PlayStation 4 sold <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-reports-7-million-playstation-4-consoles-sold-worldwide/1100-6419044/">7 million units</a> to date, putting it well ahead of Xbox One's <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-is-top-selling-console-for-third-straight-month-according-to-march-npd/1100-6419067/">5 million units</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 11:23:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-spending-more-money-on-ps4-tv-ads-than-microsoft-is-on-xbox-one-tv-ads/1100-6420800/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/our-steam-summer-sale-pick-of-the-day/1100-6420612/ <p style="">Got some spare cash you're desperate to offload? Do you have wads of bills just spilling out from your overflowing pockets? Then the <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam Summer Sale</a> is here to help you get rid of that pesky excess cash. With so many games on offer, it gets tough to figure out which ones to buy, so we're here to help that decision making process easier. Every day during the Steam Summer Sale--which runs from June 19 to June 30--we'll highlight our top pick from Steam's Daily Deals. Make sure to check back regularly to see which games you should get!</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2580408-portal2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580408" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2580408-portal2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580408"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2580408-portal2.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 10: June 28, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Our pick: <a href="/portal-2/" data-ref-id="false">Portal 2</a> -- $4.99 (-75%)</p></td></tr></tbody></table><div data-embed-type="html"><div><p dir="ltr" style="">How do you follow up one of the greatest PC games of all time? With a sequel that's even more brilliant, hilarious, and ingenious than the original. Portal 2 picks up where the original ended adding in new test chambers with devious but thrilling new mechanics. The game also introduces a co-op mode, so you should probably pick up an extra copy for one of your friends. Portal 2 two packs are selling for $8.74, or you can go for the game plus Portal 1 for $6.24 in case you haven't played the first one yet.</p></div><div><strong><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/portal-2-review/1900-6309270/" data-ref-id="1900-6309270">Read our review.</a> And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><div><ul><li dir="ltr"><a href="/shadowrun-returns/" data-ref-id="false">Shadowrun Returns</a> -- $3.74 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/wolfenstein-the-new-order/" data-ref-id="false">Wolfenstein: The New Order</a> -- $29.99 (-50%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/garrys-mod/" data-ref-id="false">Garry's Mod</a> -- $2.49 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/thief/" data-ref-id="false">Thief </a>-- $14.99 (-50%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/football-manager-2014/" data-ref-id="false">Football Manager 2014</a> -- $12.49 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/goat-simulator/" data-ref-id="false">Goat Simulator</a> -- $5.99 (-40%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/baldurs-gate-ii-enhanced-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Baldur's Gate II</a> -- $6.24 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/chivalry-medieval-warfare/" data-ref-id="false">Chivalry: Medieval Warfare </a>-- $4.99 (-80%)</li></ul></div></div><p style=""> </p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2579950-payday2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2579950" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2579950-payday2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2579950"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1406/14063904/2579950-payday2.jpg"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 9: June 27, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Our pick: <a href="/payday-2/" data-ref-id="false">Payday 2</a> -- $5.99 (-80%)</strong></p><div data-embed-type="html"><div><p dir="ltr" style="">Payday 2 is a riotous co-op heist-fest where you and three of your friends gang up for a crime spree around Washington D.C., and whether you make a scot-free getaway, or the s*** hits the fan while you're holed up in a bank vault, there are plenty of opportunities for drama and hilarity within. For the next 48 hours, Payday 2 is a steal on Steam at only $5.99. Or, if you want to make sure that you've got a full crew to ride with, you can pick up a four-pack, which includes four Payday 2 licenses, for $17.99, which is just over half of the game's normal price of $29.99.</p></div><div><strong><a href="/reviews/payday-2-review/1900-6413620/" data-ref-id="1900-6413620">Read our review.</a> And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><div><ul><li dir="ltr"><a href="/wargame-red-dragon/" data-ref-id="false">Wargame: Red Dragon</a> -- $23.99 (-40%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/deus-ex-human-revolution-directors-cut/" data-ref-id="false">Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut</a> -- $4.99 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/transistor/" data-ref-id="false">Transistor</a> -- $14.99 (-25%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/tropico-4/" data-ref-id="false">Tropico 4: Steam Special Edition</a> -- $2.99 (-85%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/grand-theft-auto-iv-episodes-from-liberty-city/" data-ref-id="false">Grand Theft Auto IV & Episodes from Liberty City</a> -- $5.99 (-80%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/assetto-corsa/" data-ref-id="false">Assetto Corsa</a> -- $19.99 (-50%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/age-of-mythology-extended-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Age of Mythology Extended Edition</a> -- $17.99 (-40%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/space-engineers/" data-ref-id="false">Space Engineers</a> -- $13.39 (-33%)</li></ul></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2579236-dishonored.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2579236" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2579236-dishonored.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2579236"><img src="http://static3.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/225/2256286/2579236-dishonored.jpg"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 8: June 26, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Our pick: <a href="/dishonored/" data-ref-id="false">Dishonored</a> -- $4.99 (-75%)</p><div data-embed-type="html"><div><p dir="ltr" style="">Great stealth games are few and far between, so it was no surprise that Dishonored was celebrated when it was first released in 2012. Not only did the game feature rock solid stealth mechanics, it also gave us a compelling fictional world in which to revel in. At $4.99, Dishonored is a great bargain, and is certainly a must-buy if you've never experienced the adventures of Corvo before.</p></div><div><strong><a href="/reviews/dishonored-review/1900-6397799/" data-ref-id="1900-6397799">Read our review.</a> And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><div><ul><li dir="ltr"><a href="/sid-meiers-civilization-v/" data-ref-id="false">Civilization V</a>: $7.49 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/banished/" data-ref-id="false">Banished</a>: $9.99 (-50%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag/" data-ref-id="false">Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag</a>: $19.99 (-50%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/train-simulator-2014/" data-ref-id="false">Train Simulator 2014</a>: $8.24 (-85%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/total-war-rome-ii/" data-ref-id="false">Total War Rome II</a>: $20.37 (-66%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/left-4-dead-2/" data-ref-id="false">Left 4 Dead 2</a>: $4.99 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/europa-universalis-iv/" data-ref-id="false">Europa Universalis IV</a>: $9.99 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/reviews/resident-evil-4-hd-edition-review/1900-6415680/" data-ref-id="1900-6415680">Resident Evil 4 HD Edition</a>: $11.99 (-40%)</li></ul></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2578151-bioshocki.png" data-ref-id="1300-2578151" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2578151-bioshocki.png" data-ref-id="1300-2578151"><img src="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/225/2256286/2578151-bioshocki.png"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 7: June 25, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Our pick: <a href="/bioshock-infinite/" data-ref-id="false">Bioshock Infinite</a> -- $7.49 (-75%)</p><div data-embed-type="html"><div><p dir="ltr" style="">If you haven't yet had a chance to experience one of the most intriguing shooters released in recent years, then now's your opportunity to do it on the cheap. Bioshock Infinite released to critical acclaim in March 2013, and is both an engaging shooter and a compelling narrative, two hallmarks of the much-lauded Bioshock series. At $7.49, Bioshock Infinite is already a bargain, but if you a few more extra dollars, then Steam is also selling a <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/8870/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Bioshock triple pack</a> (which includes the previous two games as well as Infinite) for $10.19.</p></div><div><strong><a href="/bioshock-infinite/" data-ref-id="false">Read our review</a>. And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><ul><li><a href="/endless-space/" data-ref-id="false">Endless Space Emperor Edition</a>: $7.49 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/kerbal-space-program/" data-ref-id="false">Kerbal Space Program</a>: $16.19 (-40%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/company-of-heroes-2/" data-ref-id="false">Company of Heroes 2</a>: $9.99 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/the-banner-saga/" data-ref-id="false">The Banner Saga</a>: $12.49 (-50%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/counter-strike-global-offensive/" data-ref-id="false">Counter Strike: Global Offensive</a>: $7.49 ($14.99)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/child-of-light/" data-ref-id="false">Child of Light</a>: $11.24 (-25%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/final-fantasy-xiv-online/" data-ref-id="false">Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn</a>: $14.99 (-50%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/batman-arkham-origins/" data-ref-id="false">Batman: Arkham Origins</a>: $7.49 (-75%)</li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2577220-brothers.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2577220" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2577220-brothers.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2577220"><img src="http://static5.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2577220-brothers.jpg"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 6: June 24, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Our pick: <a href="/brothers-a-tale-of-two-sons/" data-ref-id="false">Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons</a> -- $2.99 (-80%)</p><div data-embed-type="html"><div><p style="">Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, takes a unique control scheme and turns it into part of the story. Your left control stick controls one brother, and youe right stick the other as you explore the fantastical--and at times terrifying--world these siblings inhabit. It's essentially single-player co-op, and the story is as moving and emotional as its gameplay is original.</p></div><div><strong><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/brothers-a-tale-of-two-sons-review/1900-6412546/" data-ref-id="1900-6412546">Read our review</a>. And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><div><ul><li><a href="/metro-last-light/" data-ref-id="false">Metro Last Light: Complete Editio</a>n -- $6.79</li><li><a href="/tom-clancys-splinter-cell-blacklist/" data-ref-id="false">Splinter Cell: Blacklist</a> -- $7.49</li><li><a href="/fallout-new-vegas-ultimate-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Fallout: New Vegas: Ultimate Edition</a> -- $6.79</li><li><a href="/call-of-duty-ghosts/" data-ref-id="false">Call of Duty: Ghosts</a>: $29.99</li><li><a href="/torchlight-ii/" data-ref-id="false">Torchlight II</a> -- $4.99</li><li><a href="/murdered-soul-suspect/" data-ref-id="false">Murdered: Soul Suspect</a> -- $33.49</li><li><a href="/age-of-wonders-iii/" data-ref-id="false">Age of Wonders III</a> -- $19.99</li><li><a href="/blackguards/" data-ref-id="false">Blackguards</a> -- $13.59</li></ul></div></div></td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2576740-ftl4.png" data-ref-id="1300-2576740" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2576740-ftl4.png" data-ref-id="1300-2576740"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2576740-ftl4.png"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 5: June 23, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Our pick: <a href="/ftl-faster-than-light/" data-ref-id="false">FTL: Faster Than Light</a> -- $3.99 (-60%)</p><div data-embed-type="html"><div><p style="">Almost two years after the game’s initial release, our Twitter feeds still erupt with <a href="/ftl-faster-than-light/" data-ref-id="false">FTL</a>-related curses from time to time, with my friends venting their triumphs and frustrations when facing a particularly adamant set of foes. This space sim/roguelike hybrid is special--simple to look at yet teeming with strategic possibilities and nail-biting encounters. Missing out on FTL would be a disaster of galactic proportions.</p></div><div><strong><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/ftl-faster-than-light/reviews/" data-ref-id="false">Read our review</a>. And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><div><ul><li><a href="/dark-souls-prepare-to-die-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition</a>: $4.99</li><li><a href="/surgeon-simulator-2013/" data-ref-id="false">Surgeon Simulator 2013</a>: $2.49</li><li><a href="/arma-iii/" data-ref-id="false">Arma III</a>: $29.99</li><li><a href="/rogue-legacy/" data-ref-id="false">Rogue Legacy</a>: $3.74</li><li><a href="/insurgency/" data-ref-id="false">Insurgency</a>: $6.74</li><li><a href="/saints-row-iv/" data-ref-id="false">Saints Row IV</a>: $9.99</li><li><a href="/the-lego-movie-videogame/" data-ref-id="false">The Lego Movie Videogame</a>: $7.49</li><li><a href="/nether/" data-ref-id="false">Nether</a>: $2.99</li></ul></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2574881-tomb-raider-gets-important-1-0-722-3-steam-patch-2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2574881" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2574881-tomb-raider-gets-important-1-0-722-3-steam-patch-2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2574881"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2574881-tomb-raider-gets-important-1-0-722-3-steam-patch-2.jpg"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 4: June 22, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Our pick: <a href="/tomb-raider/" data-ref-id="false">Tomb Raider</a> -- $4.99 (-75%)</p><p style="">Tomb Raider's sequel, <a href="/rise-of-the-tomb-raider/" data-ref-id="false">Rise of the Tomb Raider</a>, was announced at E3 earlier this month, and there's also the great co-op action game <a href="/lara-croft-and-the-temple-of-osiris/" data-ref-id="false">Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris</a>, but if you still haven't given it a try, this is the game to play while you wait. The gritty series reboot tells the story of Lara's origins and how she became the hardened adventurer we know her as today.</p><div data-embed-type="html"><div><strong><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/tomb-raider/reviews/" data-ref-id="false">Read our review</a>. And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><div><ul><li><a href="/battleblock-theater/" data-ref-id="false">BattleBlock Theater:</a> $3.74</li><li><a href="/borderlands-2/" data-ref-id="false">Borderlands 2</a>: $4.99</li><li><a href="/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning/" data-ref-id="false">Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning</a>: $4.99</li><li><a href="/outlast/" data-ref-id="false">Outlast</a>: $4.99</li><li><a href="/planetary-annihilation/" data-ref-id="false">Planetary Annihilation: Galactic War Update</a>: $16.99</li><li><a href="/south-park-the-stick-of-truth/" data-ref-id="false">South Park: The Stick of Truth</a>: $40.19</li><li><a href="/the-wolf-among-us/" data-ref-id="false">The Wolf Among Us</a>: $8.49</li><li><a href="/metal-gear-rising-revengeance/" data-ref-id="false">Metal Gear Rising Revengeance</a>: $14.99</li></ul></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2574464-steamworkshop_webupload_previewfile_221572497_preview.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2574464" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2574464-steamworkshop_webupload_previewfile_221572497_preview.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2574464"><img src="http://static3.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2574464-steamworkshop_webupload_previewfile_221572497_preview.jpg"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 3: June 21, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Our pick: <a href="/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/" data-ref-id="false">The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim</a> -- $4.99 (-75%)</p><div data-embed-type="html"><div><p style=""><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs/" target="_blank">T</a>he epic fantasy RPG has seen deep discounts before, but there's no better time than now to pick it up if you've been waiting. Explore the open-world of Skyrim, customize your character and playstyle, and maybe even fight some dragons. You can also get the Legendary Edition of the game, complete with all the DLC expansions, for just $13.59.</p></div><div><strong><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-review/1900-6344618/" data-ref-id="1900-6344618">Read our review</a>. And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/72850/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><div><ul><li><a href="/7-days-to-die/" data-ref-id="false">7 Days to Die</a>: $13.74</li><li><a href="/the-stanley-parable/" data-ref-id="false">The Stanley Parable</a>: $5.99</li><li><a href="/age-of-empires-ii-hd-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Age of Empires II: HD Edition</a>: $4.99</li><li><a href="/project-zomboid/" data-ref-id="false">Project Zomboid</a>: $10.04</li><li><a href="/wasteland-2/" data-ref-id="false">Wasteland 2</a>: $40.19</li><li><a href="/contagion/" data-ref-id="false">Contagion</a>: $4.99</li><li><a href="/dragon-age-origins-ultimate-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Dragon Age Origins Ultimate Edition</a>: $7.49</li><li><a href="/terraria/" data-ref-id="false">Terraria</a>: $1.99</li></ul></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2573520-amnesia.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2573520" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2573520-amnesia.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2573520"><img src="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/225/2256286/2573520-amnesia.jpg"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 2: June 20, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Our pick: <a href="/amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs/" data-ref-id="false">Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs</a>--$4.99 (-75%)</p><div data-embed-type="html"><div><p style=""><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs/" target="_blank">Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs</a>, the follow-up to the genuinely frightening <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/amnesia-the-dark-descent/" target="_blank">Amnesia: The Dark Descent</a>, is a steal on the Steam Summer sale today at 75% off. Machine for Pigs is set in the same universe as the original, but it follows a new story and cast of characters, so it's a great place to start if you're looking for a horror fix on a budget (though the original is also currently going for 80% off and you can get <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/sub/36631/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">both games together for only $6.99</a>).</p></div><div><strong><a href="/amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs/" data-ref-id="false">Read our review</a>. And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><div><ul><li><a href="/bound-by-flame/" data-ref-id="false">Bound By Flame</a>: $23.99</li><li><a href="/shin-sangoku-musou-7-musouden/" data-ref-id="false">Dynasty Warriors 8 Xtreme Legends</a>: $24.99</li><li><a href="/game-dev-tycoon/" data-ref-id="false">Game Dev Tycoon</a>: $3.99</li><li><a href="/plague-inc-evolved/" data-ref-id="false">Plague Inc Evolved</a>: $10.04</li><li><a href="/prison-architect/" data-ref-id="false">Prison Architect</a>: $10.19</li><li><a href="/rpg-maker-vx-ace/" data-ref-id="false">RPG Maker VX Ace</a>: $17.49</li><li><a href="/the-walking-dead-season-two/" data-ref-id="false">The Walking Dead Season Two</a>: $12.49</li><li><a href="/state-of-decay/" data-ref-id="false">State of Decay</a>: $4.99</li></ul></div></div></td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2573522-farcry3.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2573522" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2573522-farcry3.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2573522"><img src="http://static5.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/225/2256286/2573522-farcry3.jpg"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 1: June 19, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Our pick: <a href="/far-cry-3/" data-ref-id="false">Far Cry 3</a>--$7.49 (-75%)</strong></p><p style="">The Far Cry series has always been ambitious, and it culminated with the sprawling, enthralling, and sometimes narratively challenging Far Cry 3. If you're looking for a shooter that eschews the military feel most others in the genre embrace, then you can't go wrong with this outstanding game. Plus, with <a href="/far-cry-4/" data-ref-id="false">Far Cry 4</a> coming out later this year, now's a great time to catch up on the last game in this intriguing series.</p><p style=""><a href="/reviews/far-cry-3-review/1900-6400893/" data-ref-id="1900-6400893">Read our review.</a> And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</p><p style=""><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="/dead-rising-3/" data-ref-id="false">Dead Rising 3</a> pre-purchase: $37.49</li><li><a href="/sins-of-a-solar-empire/" data-ref-id="false">Sins of a Solar Empire</a>: $7.99</li><li><a href="/divinity-original-sin/" data-ref-id="false">Divinity: Original Sin</a>: $31.99</li><li><a href="/democracy-3/" data-ref-id="false">Democracy 3</a>: $8.49</li><li><a href="/xcom-enemy-unknown/" data-ref-id="false">XCOM: Enemy Unknown</a>: $7.49</li><li><a href="/dont-starve/" data-ref-id="false">Don't Starve</a>: $3.74</li><li><a href="/the-witcher-2-assassins-of-kings/" data-ref-id="false">The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings</a> Enhanced Edition: $3.99</li><li><a href="/dayz/" data-ref-id="false">DayZ</a>: $25.49</li></ul></td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""><em>Check back tomorrow to see our newest pick from the <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam Summer Sale Daily Deals</a>!</em></p> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 10:25:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/our-steam-summer-sale-pick-of-the-day/1100-6420612/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/warhammer-40-000-first-person-shooter-space-hulk-deathwing-coming-to-ps4-xbox-one-pc-in-2015/1100-6420799/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6419980" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6419980/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/space-hulk-deathwing/">Space Hulk: Deathwing</a>, a first-person shooter set in Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 universe, is set to release on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC in 2015, developer Streum On Studio has announced.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Based on Games Workshop's classic Space Hulk boardgame (which recently got <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/space-hulk-review/1900-6413794/">its own video game</a>), Space Hulk: Deathwing is being built on the Unreal Engine 4, and it's looking pretty good so far, as you can see in the newly released "Summer Trailer" above.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In Warhammer 40,000 fiction, a Space Hulk is a huge collection of wrecked ships, asteroids, and other debris fused together into one enormous body floating in space. In the game, you'll assume the role of a Deathwing Librarian, who leads a squad of Space Marine Terminators through the alien-infested Space Hulk. Streum On Studio, which previously developed the cyberpunk first-person role playing game <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/e-y-e-divine-cybermancy/">E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy</a>, explains that in Space Hulk: Deathwing players will battle against aliens in the claustrophobic tunnels of a Space Hulk as they gain skills, new abilities, and new equipment from experience earned during missions.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Streum On Studio and publisher Focus Home Interactive have yet to announce a specific release date.</p><p style="">If you're a fan of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, be sure to read <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-warhammer-40k-eternal-crusade-is-coming-and-you-can-spend-money-on-it-soon/1100-6420410/">our impressions</a> of the upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing game <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/warhammer-40-000-eternal-crusade/">Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 10:04:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/warhammer-40-000-first-person-shooter-space-hulk-deathwing-coming-to-ps4-xbox-one-pc-in-2015/1100-6420799/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/six-upcoming-developments-that-will-change-dayz-for-the-better/1100-6420740/ <p style="">With over 2 million early access copies sold since its launch in December last year, the horde of <a data-mce-href="/dayz" href="/dayz/" data-ref-id="false">DayZ</a> diehards is growing faster than Bohemia Interactive could have anticipated. But those early adopters are also growing impatient as they wait for bug fixes and new game mechanics that seem like they're always just on the horizon. I caught up with the project lead and creator of the original <a data-mce-href="/arma-ii" href="/arma-ii/" data-ref-id="false">ARMA II</a> mod, Dean "Rocket" Hall, to find out what was taking so long.</p><p style="">It turns out there are some massive changes afoot. However, Hall's grandiose, pie-in-the-sky vision for how those changes could be implemented requires Bohemia to scale some significant technical hurdles first. Find out how a new engine, new server technology, a new loot system, brand-new hunting mechanics, and a completely redesigned control scheme could bring DayZ devotees the changes they're looking for, as well as entice all-new survivalists to make the trek to Chernarus.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417447" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417447/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><h3>A NEW ENGINE</h3><p style="">Originally, Hall thought development of DayZ would be bound by the limitations of the legacy ARMA II engine. Since the game has sold like hotcakes, that is no longer the case. The interest has given the team the impetus to rip out the graphics renderer, which was limited to DirectX 9, and write a new renderer, with support for either DirectX 10 or 11, and even OpenGL for Linux support down the line.</p><p style="">"We lose a lot of time," Hall admits. "But implementing DirectX 10 or 11 will have a dramatic, instant visual difference and quite a significant performance difference."</p><p style="">System performance remains a major issue with the game's current engine. Enterprising players have ported the Chernarus map into ARMA III's DirectX 11 engine and have already seen a massive performance boost, so an official upgrade such as this should be just what the doctor ordered.</p><blockquote data-size="medium" data-align="center"><p style="">Implementing DirectX 10 or 11 will have a dramatic, instant visual difference and quite a significant performance difference.</p></blockquote><p style="">It won't just be visual and performance improvements that a new engine will bring. "The big benefit we get is being able to implement dynamic lighting so we can have dynamic shadows," Hall explains. "If you've got a good computer, you'll be able to play with more lights. If there's a lot of people using torches in the distance, you'll be able to see their lights."</p><p style="">New shaders also mean Hall has the ability to look at making DayZ's pitch-black nighttime phase more playable, as it was originally being rendered using the ancient DirectX 7. "It really just gives us options to play with," he elaborates. "Once we've got that, we'll then experiment and say, 'How can we change the lighting at night so that we still achieve that pitch blackness, but at the same time actually allow you to play it?'"</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/3/7/5/2/1983752-676539_20120801_003.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-1983752" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/3/7/5/2/1983752-676539_20120801_003.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-1983752"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/mig/3/7/5/2/1983752-676539_20120801_003.jpg"></a></figure><h3>NEW SERVER TECH</h3><p style="">Facilitating even more significant gameplay changes is the recent upgrade to a 64-bit server architecture. "It's working and it's great," says Hall. "It allows us to use a lot more RAM, which helps us a great deal with spawning in thousands more items into the world. It means we can have more zombies. It means we can have more loot items." More items and zombies always means a greater hit on server performance, however, so Hall sees the ideal zombie count target being a factor of 10 compared to the game's current undead numbers.</p><blockquote data-size="medium" data-align="center"><p style="">It means we can have more zombies. It means we can have more loot items.</p></blockquote><p style="">To get to that target, some work still needs to be done to fully support multiple cores on the 64-bit servers, but this is nevertheless a major step at addressing the server issues that Hall sees as the primary bottleneck affecting DayZ's development. "And that's why the vast majority of our efforts have been focused on architecture with the servers," he elaborates. "One of the key reasons for that is to make everything more robust from a hacking standpoint. Hacking was a real problem with the mod. We just wanted to go back to basics. This is stuff that, if you look at most massively multiplayer engines, they're already designed to do this. We had to go back through and do a lot of housekeeping to make sure that would work out."</p><h3>A NEW EARLY GAME</h3><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1536/15366587/2578947-chernarus%2B2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2578947" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1536/15366587/2578947-chernarus%2B2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2578947"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/1536/15366587/2578947-chernarus%2B2.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">In the original mod, you would spawn on the south coast of Chernarus and have to make your way north to gather weapons and supplies. A recent update to the stand-alone game moved those spawn points to the east coast instead. "Actually, a lot of that wasn't intentional at all," says Hall, who goes on to explain how the intention was to open up both coasts for spawning, but the ratio has not been balanced yet.</p><p style="">Yet this has had a significant effect on the way new players progress. The southern capital city of Chernogorsk is much further away, so it is no longer crawling with fresh, defenceless survivors. Those players now need to venture westward, instead of north, if they hope to find towns that haven't already been looted. The recent reintroduction of helicopter crash sites, which only appear in the far west and contain powerful weapons, provides further incentive to undertake this cross-country trek.</p><p style="">The new, large towns to the north that have been added to the stand-alone game should increase that temptation, but current problems with the loot spawning system are preventing that.</p><p style="">"Each building type has hundreds of places that items can spawn, and hundreds of different possible items," Hall explains. "The problem is, the system goes through the buildings one by one. When it gets near the end of the list, it can often run out. Unfortunately, the last items in the list are the new areas."</p><p style="">Making that list larger isn't as simple a fix as it would seem. "We increased the item spawn numbers from 15,000 to like 30,000," says Hall. "But that takes away a lot of the server optimisations we gained."</p><p style="">Once the servers fully support multiple cores on the new 64-bit architecture, we should see the team return to this issue with the bandwidth for a more elegant solution--which will give players a more tangible survival arc as they journey inland.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/3/7/5/6/1983756-676539_20120801_007.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-1983756" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/3/7/5/6/1983756-676539_20120801_007.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-1983756"><img src="http://static3.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/mig/3/7/5/6/1983756-676539_20120801_007.jpg"></a></figure><h3>GLOBAL LOOT RARITY</h3><p style="">Once the loot spawning system has been fixed, Hall plans to revolutionise the loot economy itself by making loot persistent across every single server in the entire world. This allows the team to control the rarity of individual items not just per server, but for every single player no matter where they live.</p><p style="">"We'll say there can only be, for example, a hundred night-vision goggles in the whole world across all servers," Hall explains. "Then, once your character dies, or that item gets destroyed, it makes a new one available to spawn on a server."</p><blockquote data-size="medium" data-align="right"><p style="">We'll say there can only be, for example, a hundred night vision goggles in the whole world across all servers.</p></blockquote><p style="">The rarity of an item will be defined by its function. Specialist military gear, such as night-vision goggles, logically wouldn't be found as often as a can of baked beans. Hall wants players to hear rumours that a particular player on a particular server has found some of this specialist gear, which could lead to a kind of lore and reputation building up around such servers. And if you are the person who has found such an item, you'll start playing differently to hold onto it for as long as possible.</p><p style="">"What we'd see is, particularly when we get into vehicles, or components for helicopters that are very rare and are controlled centrally so there can only be a certain amount of helicopters in every server in the whole world, that would mean that if you hear there's a working helicopter on a particular server, you'll want to go to that server," he adds.</p><p style="">Hall predicts that the team will need to add a new server cluster dedicated to controlling this persistent loot economy. But the introduction of extreme rarity and the reputation surrounding players with such items is an important step toward adding more opportunities for emergent storytelling to take place.</p><p style="">The team also discussed methods of bringing the notion of changing servers into the gameworld itself, such as walking to the edge of the map loading you into a new server on the other side. "But obviously we need to make a lot of maps for that, and it takes many years because they're huge, hand-made maps," says Hall. "We talked about procedural generation, but it was going to be so much effort that, before we looked at that, we needed to do all our architectural work first."</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418507" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418507/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><h3>HERMIT SIMULATOR 2014</h3><p style="">Bohemia recently acquired the staff from Cauldron, developer of the <a data-mce-href="/cabelas-big-game-hunter" href="/cabelas-big-game-hunter/" data-ref-id="false">Cabela's Big Game Hunter</a> series. Hall is having them prototype an entire subset of hunting mechanics that he eventually wants to have become a crucial part of your daily survival routine. "We're getting them to come up with ideas about having animals migrate to different positions depending upon the time of day, and being more active depending on what type of animal, and looking at having aggressive animals, player companion animals, and neutral animals," he elaborates.</p><p style="">Hall sees these new hunting mechanics as something that will go hand in hand with the introduction of low-tech weapons like crossbows, as well as future refinements to melee weapon mechanics. He is also aware that Cauldron's hunting games appeal to a niche audience, and is confident the team will be able to strike a balance with their work on DayZ.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1536/15366587/2578941-tumblr_inline_n5ob90ylfw1rq1exu.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2578941" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1536/15366587/2578941-tumblr_inline_n5ob90ylfw1rq1exu.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2578941"><img src="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/1536/15366587/2578941-tumblr_inline_n5ob90ylfw1rq1exu.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">"I played a lot of the Frostfall mod for <a data-mce-href="/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim" href="/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/" data-ref-id="false">Skyrim</a>," Hall adds. "It gave you a reason to go out and hunt the deer. To be honest, hunting deer in Skyrim was just so much fun. You have to get the arrow just right, and you get a cool sense of satisfaction with a kill."</p><p style="">Skyrim's Frostfall mod also added a chance to catch hypothermia if players remained out in the cold for too long. Recent additions to DayZ's dynamic weather system, such as synchronising the weather across the entire server, allow the team to explore more survival mechanics such as this. "At the moment, it means you'll use more calories when it's cold, and you'll use more water when it's hot. But we want to expand that dramatically--hypothermia, and things like that," says Hall. Once body temperature becomes key to survival, it should encourage cooperation due to the significant inventory space required to store elements for things like campfires.</p><p style="">This dynamic weather could also tie back into the hunting mechanics, with animals' migration patterns being affected by the current temperature. Hall does want to see more AI-based dynamic events such as this, "but they require a particular server frame rate that we're still a long way off," he says. Hunting, when combined with the recent addition of the ability to pick berries and fish, should, as Hall hopes, allow players to live off the land entirely if they so choose.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1536/15366587/2579589-dayz_game.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2579589" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1536/15366587/2579589-dayz_game.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2579589"><img src="http://static5.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1536/15366587/2579589-dayz_game.jpg"></a></figure><h3>CLUNKY CONTROLS MUST DIE</h3><p style="">DayZ's controls are complicated and obtuse, largely due to the holdover use of ARMA II's scrollwheel-based action menu. Hall admits the menu is terrible, and has assigned a design team to go away and research ideas. "We wanted them to just think outside the box," he says. "How could it really look? Go play a lot of good games. Find out what it is, rather than just trying to crowbar a solution in."</p><blockquote data-align="right" data-size="medium"><p style="">I'm eternally disappointed that there is no video game that has ever gotten machine gun mechanics right.</p></blockquote><p style="">Hall thinks that solution could be inspired by Skyrim's Frostfall mod, as well as the simplicity of interactions in <a data-mce-href="/minecraft" href="/minecraft/" data-ref-id="false">Minecraft</a>. "What's cool about Minecraft is it's very visceral," Hall explains. "You walk up to something and you bang it. The Frostfall mod, if you want to light a fire, you place your fireplace, equip a torch to your hand, and then you bash it with your torch. So I think that's where we want to go. We want to have your different stances, and depending on your item, it will do different things." This should make interacting with DayZ's complex systems far simpler, and based more on real-world logic than on scrolling through menus whilst near interactive objects.</p><p style="">A significant and unique aspect of DayZ concerned the way weapons were difficult to handle, which was reflected in the way your crosshair moved independently of your view. But a recent change that locks your crosshair to your viewpoint has been met with criticism by hardcore players who think it feels too much like Counter-Strike. Hall believes the new system is dramatically better, but it's not yet complete, as the team still needs to assign values to each weapon that determine its weight and dispersion.</p><p style="">"We want to introduce these trade-offs with the game and make sure that, if you're equipping an attachment, that the attachments mean something and are not just cosmetic," Hall explains. "If you have a really heavy weapon in real life, sometimes you have a heavy weapon to reduce the recoil. It's not so much that using it might slow you, but if you spin around, it has more momentum, so it can be difficult to stop it."</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/3/7/5/5/1983755-676539_20120801_006.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-1983755" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/3/7/5/5/1983755-676539_20120801_006.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-1983755"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/mig/3/7/5/5/1983755-676539_20120801_006.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Hall laments that games have not yet represented the suppressing power of such heavy machine guns. "I'm eternally disappointed that there is no video game that has ever gotten machine-gun mechanics right," he says. "If you fire a GPMG into an enclosed space, it heats up the air so much. We were on an exercise in Thailand, and we were firing at targets, and the targets caught fire." Modelling the heat from rounds flying through the air isn't a priority for DayZ, but tighter controls and logical weapon handling should make the game far more accessible, and far less fiddly, than it currently is.</p><p style="">On top of a new control scheme, DayZ's new server architecture, a smoother and prettier engine, a persistent loot system, and a new early game, along with deep hunting mechanics, all sound like features that will revolutionise how the hardcore zombie survival sim plays. However, most of these changes are still some time away from being introduced into the stable Early Access build. If you weren't sold on the current development state of DayZ, now is still probably not the time to buy in--but, from chatting to Hall, it's clear that time is definitely coming.</p> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 09:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/six-upcoming-developments-that-will-change-dayz-for-the-better/1100-6420740/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/net-neutrality-is-a-major-issue-for-games-oddworld-creator-says/1100-6420798/ <figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580374-lorne+lanning1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580374" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580374-lorne+lanning1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580374"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/1535/15354745/2580374-lorne+lanning1.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">The ability to release games digitally has allowed indie developers to thrive and made possible less mainstream projects like <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/oddworld-abes-oddysee-new-n-tasty/">Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty</a>, a remake of <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/oddworld-abes-oddysee/">Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee</a>. But Oddworld creator Lorne Lanning thinks that losing net neutrality could prevent future development of such games.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"My biggest concern is what's happening in the White House with what's happening with the FCC and what's happening with the telecom companies trying to basically get more of all of our pie," Lanning told <a href="http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-06-25-net-neutrality-the-biggest-problem-facing-games-lanning" rel="nofollow">GameIndustry International</a> in an interview. "These are multinational, enormous corporations and if they get their way, they could stifle this indie community in the media. They could start really clamping the dial and taking away the revenue that we've finally been able to find that we can get, that allows us to keep going... Today on a $10 product, we get $7. Well what if $2 of that has to start going to AT&T or Comcast? That could very easily happen."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Lanning said that gamers should be voting with this issue in mind, and that they should support the <a href="http://www.theeca.com/" rel="nofollow">Entertainment Consumers Association</a> and other lobby groups (like the <a href="https://www.eff.org/" rel="nofollow">Electronic Frontier Foundation</a>, for example) that are fighting for net neutrality. However, he doesn't think they will until they feel the negative effects of losing net neutrality directly.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Sadly I think that's how the general public tends to operate," Lanning said. "There are more people in this country that are struggling financially than probably in the history of the country, and as a result they're just not really paying attention to things that aren't affecting their bottom line, their purse. But if they start getting charged $10 a night for that overnight session that they like playing, I think they're going to vote."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Back in March, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/want-a-new-oddworld-game-new-n-tasty-needs-to-sell-500-000-first/1100-6418373/">Lanning said</a> development on a brand new Oddworld title can begin if Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty sells 500,000 copies.</p><p style=""><em>Do you agree with Lanning on net neutrality? Tell us in the comments below.</em></p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 08:25:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/net-neutrality-is-a-major-issue-for-games-oddworld-creator-says/1100-6420798/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-hardline-beta-coming-to-all-platforms-this-fall/1100-6420797/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6419863" data-width="854" data-height="480"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6419863/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="">The <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/battlefield-hardline/">Battlefield Hardline</a> beta is now closed, but another Battlefield Hardline beta that "will showcase more" will launch this fall on all announced platforms, Developer Visceral Games' VP and GM Steve Papoutsis said in a post on <a href="http://blogs.battlefield.com/2014/06/thank-you-for-playing-beta/" rel="nofollow">Battlefield's official blog</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"The Battlefield Hardline beta was just a small portion of what is in store," Papoutsis said. "We have plenty of new modes in the game that really play off the cop and criminal theme, as well as the return of fan-favorites."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Papoutsis also said that we should expect to hear more about the multiplayer mode in the months ahead, as well as the single player campaign. Visceral is best known for its work on the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/dead-space/">Dead Space</a> series, and Papoutsis said that Battlefield Hardline's single player campaign will similarly engross players in the game's story and world. "We are doing some cool new things in how we present the campaign, similar to what you see when watching episodes of your favorite TV shows," Papoutsis said. "It's something different and we're fired up about it."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Responding to critics who say that this year's Battlefield Hardline looks too iterative, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-hardline-dev-explains-why-it-s-not-just-an-expansion/1100-6420679/">lead multiplayer designer Thad Sesser recently explained</a> the improvements, tweaks, and additions the studio has made to the Battlefield 4 formula, which makes Battlefield Hardline more than just an expansion.</p><p style="">Battlefield Hardline launches on October 21 for <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/">PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/ps4/">PlayStation 4</a>, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/xbox-360/">Xbox 360</a>,<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/xbox-one/">Xbox One</a>, and <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/pc/">PC</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 07:04:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-hardline-beta-coming-to-all-platforms-this-fall/1100-6420797/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-trophies-and-achievements-revealed-get-ready-to-kill-a-lot-of-enemies/1100-6420796/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1539/15391776/2580207-become_legend+-+version+2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580207" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1539/15391776/2580207-become_legend+-+version+2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580207"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1539/15391776/2580207-become_legend+-+version+2.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Developer <a href="/companies/bungie-inc/" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="/companies/bungie-inc/">Bungie</a> detailed 40 Achievements and Trophies for its upcoming shooter, <a href="/destiny/" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="/destiny/">Destiny</a>, <a href="http://www.bungie.net/7_Bungie-Weekly-Update---06272014/en/News/News?aid=11607" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="http://www.bungie.net/7_Bungie-Weekly-Update---06272014/en/News/News?aid=11607">in its weekly update today</a>. The full list involves a diverse array of different tasks, from completing missions certain ways to customizing your ship.</p><p style="">There are four main enemy types and three character classes in Destiny. Trophy and Achievement hunters will have to kill all of them many, many times to get all the rewards.</p><p style="">Some of the more memorable Achievements and Trophies include:</p><ul><li> Triple Play -- Kill a Warlock, Hunter, and Warrior without dying in a single player vs. player match</li><li>Suited for War -- Get fully equipped with Legendary or Exotic weapons and armor.</li></ul><p style="">Although most of the Trophies and Achievements are straightforward, there's some mystery with the Dragon Slayer accomplishment. To acquire this one, you must "kill a champion of the Dark." This could mean fighting a high-level enemy that comes from the Darkness, the most powerful opposing force in Destiny.</p><p style="">You can see the full list of achievements <a href="http://www.bungie.net/7_Bungie-Weekly-Update---06272014/en/News/News?aid=11607" rel="nofollow" data-mce-href="http://www.bungie.net/7_Bungie-Weekly-Update---06272014/en/News/News?aid=11607" data-ref-id="false">on Bungie's website.</a></p><p style="">Destiny launches for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4 on September 9. We thought that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-our-first-hands-on-with-the-destiny-alpha/1100-6420314/" data-ref-id="1100-6420314" data-mce-href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-our-first-hands-on-with-the-destiny-alpha/1100-6420314/">the game looked promising</a> when we got our hands on the alpha build earlier this month.</p><p style="">Do you still try to get as many trophies/achievements as possible (like <a data-mce-href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-guy-with-1-million-gamerscore-isn-t-stopping-anytime-soon/1100-6419379/" href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-guy-with-1-million-gamerscore-isn-t-stopping-anytime-soon/1100-6419379/" data-ref-id="1100-6419379">the guy who got 1,000,000 Gamerscore</a>), or do you ignore the list entirely and just play naturally?</p><p style=""></p><table class="mceItemTable" data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Alex Newhouse is an editorial intern at GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/alexbnewhouse" rel="nofollow" data-mce-href="http://www.twitter.com/alexbnewhouse">Twitter @alexbnewhouse</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""></p> Fri, 27 Jun 2014 18:08:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-trophies-and-achievements-revealed-get-ready-to-kill-a-lot-of-enemies/1100-6420796/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/will-patch-2-1-define-diablo-iii-reaper-of-souls/2300-6419987/ Here's a quick look at all of the features that you can expect in the first major patch for Diablo III: Reaper of Souls. Fri, 27 Jun 2014 18:06:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/will-patch-2-1-define-diablo-iii-reaper-of-souls/2300-6419987/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/goat-simulator-1-1-patch-shenanigans-random-encoun/2300-6419988/ Join Danny as he tries out the new patch for Goat Simulator. Fri, 27 Jun 2014 17:30:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/goat-simulator-1-1-patch-shenanigans-random-encoun/2300-6419988/
Gamespot's Site MashupThe Banner Saga Could Come to Consoles, PS Vita After Tablet ReleaseFormer Xbox Live "Head Banhammer" Joins Microsoft's Gears of War TeamSniper Elite 3 Steam Keys Bought in Good Faith Revoked as Result of ScamDestiny Budget "Nowhere Near" $500 Million, Bungie SaysNeil Gaiman's Ghost Game Hitting PC Next MonthOrc Model Comparison - World of Warcraft: Warlords of DraenorSony Spending More Money on PS4 TV Ads Than Microsoft Is on Xbox One TV AdsOur Steam Summer Sale Pick of the DayWarhammer 40,000 First-Person Shooter Space Hulk: Deathwing Coming to PS4, Xbox One, PC in 2015Six Upcoming Developments That Will Change DayZ for the BetterNet Neutrality Is a Major Issue for Games, Oddworld Creator SaysBattlefield Hardline Beta Coming to All Platforms This FallDestiny Trophies and Achievements Revealed; Get Ready to Kill a Lot of EnemiesWill Patch 2.1 Define Diablo III: Reaper of Souls?Goat Simulator 1.1 Patch Shenanigans - Random Encounter
http://auth.gamespot.com/ Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Sun, 29 Jun 2014 07:41:25 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-banner-saga-could-come-to-consoles-ps-vita-after-tablet-release/1100-6420805/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580712-4187594088-24216.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580712" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580712-4187594088-24216.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580712"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1535/15354745/2580712-4187594088-24216.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Last week, developer Stoic Games announced that its tactical role-playing game <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/the-banner-saga/">The Banner Saga</a> will release on iPad, Android, and Windows tablets this summer, and console players might get a chance to play the game eventually as well.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Speaking with <a href="http://www.digitalspy.com/gaming/news/a580573/the-banner-saga-coming-to-ipad-and-android-this-summer-consoles-planned.html#~oIr5X9CuxzTv10" rel="nofollow">Digital Spy</a>, programmer John Watson said that Stoic has been working on the iOS and Android editions of the game since The Banner Saga was released on PC in January. Now that those version are on the way, Stoic hopes to release the game on consoles too.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"The ideal would be to get some console ports out before the end of the year," Watson said. "Whether we can make that happen or not, I don't know. Some things are easier than others. I think the game would be great on Vita, but I think that would come after other consoles. It's a path of least resistance thing; there's three of us."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Watson also said that he'd rather see the game on the PlayStation 4 before the PlayStation Vita because Stoic might need to make some changes to the game to take advantage of the PS Vita's controls, which can use touch and button at the same time.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Earlier this year <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/candy-crush-saga-dev-says-it-s-trying-to-fend-off-copycats-not-stop-the-banner-saga-update/1100-6417275/">Stoic was involved in a trademark dispute with Candy Crush Saga developer King</a>, which claimed The Banner Saga is "confusingly and deceptively similar" to Candy Crush Saga. In March, <a href="http://stoicstudio.com/stoic-update" rel="nofollow">Stoic announced</a> it reached an agreement with King that enables both parties to protect their respective trademarks.</p><p style="">For more on The Banner Saga, be sure to read <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-banner-saga-review/1900-6415626/">GameSpot's review</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sun, 29 Jun 2014 06:24:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-banner-saga-could-come-to-consoles-ps-vita-after-tablet-release/1100-6420805/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/former-xbox-live-head-banhammer-joins-microsoft-s-gears-of-war-team/1100-6420804/ <figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580553-9904949216-220px.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580553" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580553-9904949216-220px.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580553"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/1535/15354745/2580553-9904949216-220px.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Stephen "Stepto" Toulouse, the former Director of Policy and Enforcement for Microsoft's Xbox Live service, is rejoining the company as the Director of Community Engagement at Black Tusk Studios, the Microsoft-owned studio currently working on the next Gears of War project.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Jokingly known as the the "Head Banhammer," as Director of Policy and Enforcement Toulouse was in charge developing and implementing policy for Xbox Live, as well as working with developers, press, and customers.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Toulouse explained that his new role will be key in coordinating gamer feedback into future titles as well as keeping things fun and exciting with existing games.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"I've been shadowing the Gears forums and looking at people's thoughts," Toulouse said on <a href="http://www.stepto.com/2014/06/everything-old-is-new-again/" rel="nofollow">his personal blog</a>. "I don't just want us to make the best next generation Gears of War game ever, I want to make sure that everyone playing the game today feels just as good today and down the road in their investment into our amazing world as we do. There's a Gears nation out there. I'm a part of it and it's amazing."</p><p style="">You can hear more about Toulouse's return to Microsoft and what he'll be doing in his new role on the latest <a href="http://majornelson.com/cast/2014/06/27/mnr-516-we-finally-catch-up-after-e3-2014/" rel="nofollow">Major Nelson podcast</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 17:30:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/former-xbox-live-head-banhammer-joins-microsoft-s-gears-of-war-team/1100-6420804/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sniper-elite-3-steam-keys-bought-in-good-faith-revoked-as-result-of-scam/1100-6420803/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580525-9036816466-24377.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580525" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580525-9036816466-24377.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580525"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1535/15354745/2580525-9036816466-24377.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Valve has revoked an unknown number of Steam keys for the recently released <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/sniper-elite-iii/">Sniper Elite III</a> after developer and publisher Rebellion said they were stolen from one of its retail distributors.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">We still don't know how many buyers were affected, but at the time of writing <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/app/238090/discussions/0/540744936577983546/" rel="nofollow">the Steam discussion thread</a> where Rebellion made the announcement is almost 700 comments long.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Many of the comments are from understandably angry customers, who didn't know they were buying stolen keys. As Rebellion explained it to one of these angry buyers on its Facebook page, Rebellion asked Steam to revoke a batch of keys that was stolen from one of its distributors of the retail, hard copy version of the game. Rebellion believes these keys were sold to third-party key resellers like Instant Gaming.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">However, a post to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=874282152585607" rel="nofollow">Instant Gaming's Facebook page</a> claims that it bought the revoked Sniper Elite III Steam keys legitimately.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"The resellers are NOT the problem," Rebellion said on Facebook. "Those stores affected are NOT shady…The keys supplied to them were not as they seem - they were unlicensed, and unpaid for. This was reported to Valve and they revoked the keys."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Rebellion is offering Sniper Elite III's Target Hitler DLC for free to all those affected by this issue. To be eligible for that, you'll have to contact Rebellion by Friday, July 4 by following the instructions <a href="http://steamcommunity.com/app/238090/discussions/0/540744936577983546/" rel="nofollow">here</a>.</p><p style="">As for the price of the game itself, Rebellion is encouraging customers to contact the sellers in question and seek a refund immediately.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 16:30:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sniper-elite-3-steam-keys-bought-in-good-faith-revoked-as-result-of-scam/1100-6420803/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-budget-nowhere-near-500-million-bungie-says/1100-6420802/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580486-3897954883-20423.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580486" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580486-3897954883-20423.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580486"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1535/15354745/2580486-3897954883-20423.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Back in May, Activision Chief Executive Officer Bobby Kotick revealed that the publisher will invest $500 million in Bungie's upcoming shooter, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/destiny/">Destiny</a>. Since then, that figure has been associated with the development and marketing budget of the game, but Bungie recently said it isn't accurate.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Responding to a question from a fan, Bungie's Eric Osborne repeated the developer's Chief Operating Officer Pete Parsons' explanation: "For marketing you'd have to ask Activision people, but for development costs, not anything close to $500 million," Parsons told <a href="http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-06-23-bungie-coo" rel="nofollow">GameIndustry International</a> in an interview. "I think that speaks a lot more to the long-term investment that we're making in the future of the product."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We're pouring everything it takes into Destiny to ensure it meets our fans' expectations, and our own," Osborne added. "Activision is, too. But the budget for Destiny, including associated marketing costs and pizza Wednesdays, is nowhere near 500 million dollars."</p><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="http://www.bungie.net/7_Bungie-Weekly-Update---06272014/en/News/News?aid=11607" rel="nofollow">Bungie's most recent weekly update</a> also makes clear that Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage's voice acting for Ghost has already been updated for Beta, and that it will be updated again before the game launches. Some players in the Destiny Alpha found his voice acting stiff and awkward, especially the now infamous "that wizard came from the moon" line, which <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-t-shirt-celebrates-peter-dinklage-s-infamous-line-of-dialogue/1100-6420651/">Bungie has since turned into a t-shirt</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In case you missed it, yesterday Bungie also detailed <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-trophies-and-achievements-revealed-get-ready-to-kill-a-lot-of-enemies/1100-6420796/">Destiny's 40 Achievements and Trophies</a>.</p><p style="">Destiny launches for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4 on September 9. We thought that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-our-first-hands-on-with-the-destiny-alpha/1100-6420314/">the game looked promising</a> when we got our hands on the alpha build earlier this month.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 14:19:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-budget-nowhere-near-500-million-bungie-says/1100-6420802/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/neil-gaiman-s-ghost-game-hitting-pc-next-month/1100-6420801/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCy2u9_zViU" data-width="854" data-height="480"><iframe src="//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fembed%2FhCy2u9_zViU%3Fwmode%3Dopaque%26feature%3Doembed&wmode=opaque&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DhCy2u9_zViU&image=http%3A%2F%2Fi1.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FhCy2u9_zViU%2Fhqdefault.jpg&key=6efca6e5ad9640f180f14146a0bc1392&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=youtube" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p style="">Wayward Manor, a puzzle adventure game from developer The Odd Gentlemen and renowned horror-fantasy author Neil Gaiman (<em>Coraline, Stardust, Sandman</em>), will release on PC and Mac on July 15, The Odd Gentlemen has announced.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"We've been working day and night to make sure Wayward Manor is the best game it can be," the developer said in <a href="http://oddgentlemen.tumblr.com/" rel="nofollow">the announcement</a>. "This ultimately meant making the tough decision to delay the game. After adding more puzzles, an extra level of polish, and maybe even some paranormal surprises; we're finally ready to announce a release date for Wayward Manor."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Set in the 1920s, in Wayward Manor you play as a ghost who's trying to reclaim his house from its new owners, the Budds family. As The Odd Gentlemen explains the game, in each level you'll have to use observation, discovery, and puzzle solving to scare the Budds, earn enough fear to take back control of the room, and eventually the manor.</p><p style="">The Odd Gentlemen previously developed <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/the-misadventures-of-p-b-winterbottom/">The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom</a>, and Wayward Manor will be Neil Gaiman's first game. You'll be able to download it from <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/246720/" rel="nofollow">Steam</a> or the <a href="https://www.humblebundle.com/store/p/waywardmanor_storefront" rel="nofollow">Humble Store</a>, where 10 percents of the proceeds go to charity.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 12:36:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/neil-gaiman-s-ghost-game-hitting-pc-next-month/1100-6420801/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/orc-model-comparison-world-of-warcraft-warlords-of/2300-6419989/ Take a look at how the Orc Male and Female models are shaping up in World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor. Sat, 28 Jun 2014 12:35:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/orc-model-comparison-world-of-warcraft-warlords-of/2300-6419989/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-spending-more-money-on-ps4-tv-ads-than-microsoft-is-on-xbox-one-tv-ads/1100-6420800/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580425-ps4vxboxone.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580425" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580425-ps4vxboxone.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580425"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1535/15354745/2580425-ps4vxboxone.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">Have you noticed more TV ads for Xbox One or PlayStation 4? According to research firm <a href="http://www.ispot.tv/" rel="nofollow">iSpot</a> (via <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/cmo/2014/06/26/playstation-is-video-game-industrys-biggest-tv-spender-so-far-this-year/" rel="nofollow">The Wall Street Journal</a>) chances are it's the PS4, as Sony has been spending a lot more money than Microsoft on TV ads this year.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">According to iSpot, Sony spent $59 million on PlayStation TV ads through the end of May 2014, whereas Microsoft spent $34.7 million on Xbox TV ads during the same period. Both companies focused on the same channels, spending the majority of that cash on FOX, ESPN, and Comedy Central. Microsoft also advertised on AMC (home to The Walking Dead) and TBS, while PlayStation also advertised on Fox Sports 1 and TNT.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">iSpot's data, which accounts for the number of times an ad was aired, viewed online, and the number of social interactions it generated (tweets, Facebook likes, and shares), shows that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2wUznERYYU" rel="nofollow">PlayStation's "Greatness"</a> TV spot was Sony's most effective ad. For Microsoft, <a href="http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7fe_/xbox-one-all-in-one" rel="nofollow">Xbox's "All-in-One"</a> ad was the most effective.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">While iSpot's study suggest that the PS4 has generated more "digital actions" overall, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-one-is-the-more-popular-console-on-facebook-in-the-united-states/1100-6420659/">a recent study from Movoto</a> suggests that the Xbox One is the more popular console on Facebook.</p><p style="">According to the last official worldwide numbers, PlayStation 4 sold <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-reports-7-million-playstation-4-consoles-sold-worldwide/1100-6419044/">7 million units</a> to date, putting it well ahead of Xbox One's <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-is-top-selling-console-for-third-straight-month-according-to-march-npd/1100-6419067/">5 million units</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 11:23:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-spending-more-money-on-ps4-tv-ads-than-microsoft-is-on-xbox-one-tv-ads/1100-6420800/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/our-steam-summer-sale-pick-of-the-day/1100-6420612/ <p style="">Got some spare cash you're desperate to offload? Do you have wads of bills just spilling out from your overflowing pockets? Then the <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam Summer Sale</a> is here to help you get rid of that pesky excess cash. With so many games on offer, it gets tough to figure out which ones to buy, so we're here to help that decision making process easier. Every day during the Steam Summer Sale--which runs from June 19 to June 30--we'll highlight our top pick from Steam's Daily Deals. Make sure to check back regularly to see which games you should get!</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2580408-portal2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580408" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2580408-portal2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580408"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2580408-portal2.jpg"></a></figure><p style=""> </p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 10: June 28, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Our pick: <a href="/portal-2/" data-ref-id="false">Portal 2</a> -- $4.99 (-75%)</p></td></tr></tbody></table><div data-embed-type="html"><div><p dir="ltr" style="">How do you follow up one of the greatest PC games of all time? With a sequel that's even more brilliant, hilarious, and ingenious than the original. Portal 2 picks up where the original ended adding in new test chambers with devious but thrilling new mechanics. The game also introduces a co-op mode, so you should probably pick up an extra copy for one of your friends. Portal 2 two packs are selling for $8.74, or you can go for the game plus Portal 1 for $6.24 in case you haven't played the first one yet.</p></div><div><strong><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/portal-2-review/1900-6309270/" data-ref-id="1900-6309270">Read our review.</a> And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><div><ul><li dir="ltr"><a href="/shadowrun-returns/" data-ref-id="false">Shadowrun Returns</a> -- $3.74 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/wolfenstein-the-new-order/" data-ref-id="false">Wolfenstein: The New Order</a> -- $29.99 (-50%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/garrys-mod/" data-ref-id="false">Garry's Mod</a> -- $2.49 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/thief/" data-ref-id="false">Thief </a>-- $14.99 (-50%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/football-manager-2014/" data-ref-id="false">Football Manager 2014</a> -- $12.49 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/goat-simulator/" data-ref-id="false">Goat Simulator</a> -- $5.99 (-40%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/baldurs-gate-ii-enhanced-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Baldur's Gate II</a> -- $6.24 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/chivalry-medieval-warfare/" data-ref-id="false">Chivalry: Medieval Warfare </a>-- $4.99 (-80%)</li></ul></div></div><p style=""> </p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2579950-payday2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2579950" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1406/14063904/2579950-payday2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2579950"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1406/14063904/2579950-payday2.jpg"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 9: June 27, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Our pick: <a href="/payday-2/" data-ref-id="false">Payday 2</a> -- $5.99 (-80%)</strong></p><div data-embed-type="html"><div><p dir="ltr" style="">Payday 2 is a riotous co-op heist-fest where you and three of your friends gang up for a crime spree around Washington D.C., and whether you make a scot-free getaway, or the s*** hits the fan while you're holed up in a bank vault, there are plenty of opportunities for drama and hilarity within. For the next 48 hours, Payday 2 is a steal on Steam at only $5.99. Or, if you want to make sure that you've got a full crew to ride with, you can pick up a four-pack, which includes four Payday 2 licenses, for $17.99, which is just over half of the game's normal price of $29.99.</p></div><div><strong><a href="/reviews/payday-2-review/1900-6413620/" data-ref-id="1900-6413620">Read our review.</a> And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><div><ul><li dir="ltr"><a href="/wargame-red-dragon/" data-ref-id="false">Wargame: Red Dragon</a> -- $23.99 (-40%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/deus-ex-human-revolution-directors-cut/" data-ref-id="false">Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut</a> -- $4.99 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/transistor/" data-ref-id="false">Transistor</a> -- $14.99 (-25%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/tropico-4/" data-ref-id="false">Tropico 4: Steam Special Edition</a> -- $2.99 (-85%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/grand-theft-auto-iv-episodes-from-liberty-city/" data-ref-id="false">Grand Theft Auto IV & Episodes from Liberty City</a> -- $5.99 (-80%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/assetto-corsa/" data-ref-id="false">Assetto Corsa</a> -- $19.99 (-50%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/age-of-mythology-extended-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Age of Mythology Extended Edition</a> -- $17.99 (-40%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/space-engineers/" data-ref-id="false">Space Engineers</a> -- $13.39 (-33%)</li></ul></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2579236-dishonored.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2579236" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2579236-dishonored.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2579236"><img src="http://static3.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/225/2256286/2579236-dishonored.jpg"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 8: June 26, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Our pick: <a href="/dishonored/" data-ref-id="false">Dishonored</a> -- $4.99 (-75%)</p><div data-embed-type="html"><div><p dir="ltr" style="">Great stealth games are few and far between, so it was no surprise that Dishonored was celebrated when it was first released in 2012. Not only did the game feature rock solid stealth mechanics, it also gave us a compelling fictional world in which to revel in. At $4.99, Dishonored is a great bargain, and is certainly a must-buy if you've never experienced the adventures of Corvo before.</p></div><div><strong><a href="/reviews/dishonored-review/1900-6397799/" data-ref-id="1900-6397799">Read our review.</a> And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><div><ul><li dir="ltr"><a href="/sid-meiers-civilization-v/" data-ref-id="false">Civilization V</a>: $7.49 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/banished/" data-ref-id="false">Banished</a>: $9.99 (-50%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/assassins-creed-iv-black-flag/" data-ref-id="false">Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag</a>: $19.99 (-50%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/train-simulator-2014/" data-ref-id="false">Train Simulator 2014</a>: $8.24 (-85%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/total-war-rome-ii/" data-ref-id="false">Total War Rome II</a>: $20.37 (-66%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/left-4-dead-2/" data-ref-id="false">Left 4 Dead 2</a>: $4.99 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/europa-universalis-iv/" data-ref-id="false">Europa Universalis IV</a>: $9.99 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/reviews/resident-evil-4-hd-edition-review/1900-6415680/" data-ref-id="1900-6415680">Resident Evil 4 HD Edition</a>: $11.99 (-40%)</li></ul></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2578151-bioshocki.png" data-ref-id="1300-2578151" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2578151-bioshocki.png" data-ref-id="1300-2578151"><img src="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/225/2256286/2578151-bioshocki.png"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 7: June 25, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Our pick: <a href="/bioshock-infinite/" data-ref-id="false">Bioshock Infinite</a> -- $7.49 (-75%)</p><div data-embed-type="html"><div><p dir="ltr" style="">If you haven't yet had a chance to experience one of the most intriguing shooters released in recent years, then now's your opportunity to do it on the cheap. Bioshock Infinite released to critical acclaim in March 2013, and is both an engaging shooter and a compelling narrative, two hallmarks of the much-lauded Bioshock series. At $7.49, Bioshock Infinite is already a bargain, but if you a few more extra dollars, then Steam is also selling a <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/8870/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Bioshock triple pack</a> (which includes the previous two games as well as Infinite) for $10.19.</p></div><div><strong><a href="/bioshock-infinite/" data-ref-id="false">Read our review</a>. And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><ul><li><a href="/endless-space/" data-ref-id="false">Endless Space Emperor Edition</a>: $7.49 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/kerbal-space-program/" data-ref-id="false">Kerbal Space Program</a>: $16.19 (-40%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/company-of-heroes-2/" data-ref-id="false">Company of Heroes 2</a>: $9.99 (-75%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/the-banner-saga/" data-ref-id="false">The Banner Saga</a>: $12.49 (-50%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/counter-strike-global-offensive/" data-ref-id="false">Counter Strike: Global Offensive</a>: $7.49 ($14.99)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/child-of-light/" data-ref-id="false">Child of Light</a>: $11.24 (-25%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/final-fantasy-xiv-online/" data-ref-id="false">Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn</a>: $14.99 (-50%)</li><li dir="ltr"><a href="/batman-arkham-origins/" data-ref-id="false">Batman: Arkham Origins</a>: $7.49 (-75%)</li></ul></div></td></tr></tbody></table><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2577220-brothers.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2577220" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2577220-brothers.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2577220"><img src="http://static5.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2577220-brothers.jpg"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 6: June 24, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Our pick: <a href="/brothers-a-tale-of-two-sons/" data-ref-id="false">Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons</a> -- $2.99 (-80%)</p><div data-embed-type="html"><div><p style="">Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, takes a unique control scheme and turns it into part of the story. Your left control stick controls one brother, and youe right stick the other as you explore the fantastical--and at times terrifying--world these siblings inhabit. It's essentially single-player co-op, and the story is as moving and emotional as its gameplay is original.</p></div><div><strong><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/brothers-a-tale-of-two-sons-review/1900-6412546/" data-ref-id="1900-6412546">Read our review</a>. And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><div><ul><li><a href="/metro-last-light/" data-ref-id="false">Metro Last Light: Complete Editio</a>n -- $6.79</li><li><a href="/tom-clancys-splinter-cell-blacklist/" data-ref-id="false">Splinter Cell: Blacklist</a> -- $7.49</li><li><a href="/fallout-new-vegas-ultimate-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Fallout: New Vegas: Ultimate Edition</a> -- $6.79</li><li><a href="/call-of-duty-ghosts/" data-ref-id="false">Call of Duty: Ghosts</a>: $29.99</li><li><a href="/torchlight-ii/" data-ref-id="false">Torchlight II</a> -- $4.99</li><li><a href="/murdered-soul-suspect/" data-ref-id="false">Murdered: Soul Suspect</a> -- $33.49</li><li><a href="/age-of-wonders-iii/" data-ref-id="false">Age of Wonders III</a> -- $19.99</li><li><a href="/blackguards/" data-ref-id="false">Blackguards</a> -- $13.59</li></ul></div></div></td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2576740-ftl4.png" data-ref-id="1300-2576740" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2576740-ftl4.png" data-ref-id="1300-2576740"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2576740-ftl4.png"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 5: June 23, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Our pick: <a href="/ftl-faster-than-light/" data-ref-id="false">FTL: Faster Than Light</a> -- $3.99 (-60%)</p><div data-embed-type="html"><div><p style="">Almost two years after the game’s initial release, our Twitter feeds still erupt with <a href="/ftl-faster-than-light/" data-ref-id="false">FTL</a>-related curses from time to time, with my friends venting their triumphs and frustrations when facing a particularly adamant set of foes. This space sim/roguelike hybrid is special--simple to look at yet teeming with strategic possibilities and nail-biting encounters. Missing out on FTL would be a disaster of galactic proportions.</p></div><div><strong><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/ftl-faster-than-light/reviews/" data-ref-id="false">Read our review</a>. And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><div><ul><li><a href="/dark-souls-prepare-to-die-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition</a>: $4.99</li><li><a href="/surgeon-simulator-2013/" data-ref-id="false">Surgeon Simulator 2013</a>: $2.49</li><li><a href="/arma-iii/" data-ref-id="false">Arma III</a>: $29.99</li><li><a href="/rogue-legacy/" data-ref-id="false">Rogue Legacy</a>: $3.74</li><li><a href="/insurgency/" data-ref-id="false">Insurgency</a>: $6.74</li><li><a href="/saints-row-iv/" data-ref-id="false">Saints Row IV</a>: $9.99</li><li><a href="/the-lego-movie-videogame/" data-ref-id="false">The Lego Movie Videogame</a>: $7.49</li><li><a href="/nether/" data-ref-id="false">Nether</a>: $2.99</li></ul></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2574881-tomb-raider-gets-important-1-0-722-3-steam-patch-2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2574881" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2574881-tomb-raider-gets-important-1-0-722-3-steam-patch-2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2574881"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2574881-tomb-raider-gets-important-1-0-722-3-steam-patch-2.jpg"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 4: June 22, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Our pick: <a href="/tomb-raider/" data-ref-id="false">Tomb Raider</a> -- $4.99 (-75%)</p><p style="">Tomb Raider's sequel, <a href="/rise-of-the-tomb-raider/" data-ref-id="false">Rise of the Tomb Raider</a>, was announced at E3 earlier this month, and there's also the great co-op action game <a href="/lara-croft-and-the-temple-of-osiris/" data-ref-id="false">Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris</a>, but if you still haven't given it a try, this is the game to play while you wait. The gritty series reboot tells the story of Lara's origins and how she became the hardened adventurer we know her as today.</p><div data-embed-type="html"><div><strong><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/tomb-raider/reviews/" data-ref-id="false">Read our review</a>. And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><div><ul><li><a href="/battleblock-theater/" data-ref-id="false">BattleBlock Theater:</a> $3.74</li><li><a href="/borderlands-2/" data-ref-id="false">Borderlands 2</a>: $4.99</li><li><a href="/kingdoms-of-amalur-reckoning/" data-ref-id="false">Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning</a>: $4.99</li><li><a href="/outlast/" data-ref-id="false">Outlast</a>: $4.99</li><li><a href="/planetary-annihilation/" data-ref-id="false">Planetary Annihilation: Galactic War Update</a>: $16.99</li><li><a href="/south-park-the-stick-of-truth/" data-ref-id="false">South Park: The Stick of Truth</a>: $40.19</li><li><a href="/the-wolf-among-us/" data-ref-id="false">The Wolf Among Us</a>: $8.49</li><li><a href="/metal-gear-rising-revengeance/" data-ref-id="false">Metal Gear Rising Revengeance</a>: $14.99</li></ul></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2574464-steamworkshop_webupload_previewfile_221572497_preview.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2574464" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1534/15343359/2574464-steamworkshop_webupload_previewfile_221572497_preview.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2574464"><img src="http://static3.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1534/15343359/2574464-steamworkshop_webupload_previewfile_221572497_preview.jpg"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 3: June 21, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Our pick: <a href="/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/" data-ref-id="false">The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim</a> -- $4.99 (-75%)</p><div data-embed-type="html"><div><p style=""><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs/" target="_blank">T</a>he epic fantasy RPG has seen deep discounts before, but there's no better time than now to pick it up if you've been waiting. Explore the open-world of Skyrim, customize your character and playstyle, and maybe even fight some dragons. You can also get the Legendary Edition of the game, complete with all the DLC expansions, for just $13.59.</p></div><div><strong><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim-review/1900-6344618/" data-ref-id="1900-6344618">Read our review</a>. And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/app/72850/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><div><ul><li><a href="/7-days-to-die/" data-ref-id="false">7 Days to Die</a>: $13.74</li><li><a href="/the-stanley-parable/" data-ref-id="false">The Stanley Parable</a>: $5.99</li><li><a href="/age-of-empires-ii-hd-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Age of Empires II: HD Edition</a>: $4.99</li><li><a href="/project-zomboid/" data-ref-id="false">Project Zomboid</a>: $10.04</li><li><a href="/wasteland-2/" data-ref-id="false">Wasteland 2</a>: $40.19</li><li><a href="/contagion/" data-ref-id="false">Contagion</a>: $4.99</li><li><a href="/dragon-age-origins-ultimate-edition/" data-ref-id="false">Dragon Age Origins Ultimate Edition</a>: $7.49</li><li><a href="/terraria/" data-ref-id="false">Terraria</a>: $1.99</li></ul></div></div></td></tr></tbody></table><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2573520-amnesia.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2573520" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2573520-amnesia.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2573520"><img src="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/225/2256286/2573520-amnesia.jpg"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 2: June 20, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style="">Our pick: <a href="/amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs/" data-ref-id="false">Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs</a>--$4.99 (-75%)</p><div data-embed-type="html"><div><p style=""><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs/" target="_blank">Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs</a>, the follow-up to the genuinely frightening <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/amnesia-the-dark-descent/" target="_blank">Amnesia: The Dark Descent</a>, is a steal on the Steam Summer sale today at 75% off. Machine for Pigs is set in the same universe as the original, but it follows a new story and cast of characters, so it's a great place to start if you're looking for a horror fix on a budget (though the original is also currently going for 80% off and you can get <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/sub/36631/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">both games together for only $6.99</a>).</p></div><div><strong><a href="/amnesia-a-machine-for-pigs/" data-ref-id="false">Read our review</a>. And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</strong></div><div> </div><div id="livefyre-app-custom-1401497831589"><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></div><div><ul><li><a href="/bound-by-flame/" data-ref-id="false">Bound By Flame</a>: $23.99</li><li><a href="/shin-sangoku-musou-7-musouden/" data-ref-id="false">Dynasty Warriors 8 Xtreme Legends</a>: $24.99</li><li><a href="/game-dev-tycoon/" data-ref-id="false">Game Dev Tycoon</a>: $3.99</li><li><a href="/plague-inc-evolved/" data-ref-id="false">Plague Inc Evolved</a>: $10.04</li><li><a href="/prison-architect/" data-ref-id="false">Prison Architect</a>: $10.19</li><li><a href="/rpg-maker-vx-ace/" data-ref-id="false">RPG Maker VX Ace</a>: $17.49</li><li><a href="/the-walking-dead-season-two/" data-ref-id="false">The Walking Dead Season Two</a>: $12.49</li><li><a href="/state-of-decay/" data-ref-id="false">State of Decay</a>: $4.99</li></ul></div></div></td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2573522-farcry3.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2573522" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/225/2256286/2573522-farcry3.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2573522"><img src="http://static5.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/225/2256286/2573522-farcry3.jpg"></a></figure><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col">Day 1: June 19, 2014</th><th scope="col"> </th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong>Our pick: <a href="/far-cry-3/" data-ref-id="false">Far Cry 3</a>--$7.49 (-75%)</strong></p><p style="">The Far Cry series has always been ambitious, and it culminated with the sprawling, enthralling, and sometimes narratively challenging Far Cry 3. If you're looking for a shooter that eschews the military feel most others in the genre embrace, then you can't go wrong with this outstanding game. Plus, with <a href="/far-cry-4/" data-ref-id="false">Far Cry 4</a> coming out later this year, now's a great time to catch up on the last game in this intriguing series.</p><p style=""><a href="/reviews/far-cry-3-review/1900-6400893/" data-ref-id="1900-6400893">Read our review.</a> And then check it out on <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam</a>.</p><p style=""><strong>Other Daily Deals today:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="/dead-rising-3/" data-ref-id="false">Dead Rising 3</a> pre-purchase: $37.49</li><li><a href="/sins-of-a-solar-empire/" data-ref-id="false">Sins of a Solar Empire</a>: $7.99</li><li><a href="/divinity-original-sin/" data-ref-id="false">Divinity: Original Sin</a>: $31.99</li><li><a href="/democracy-3/" data-ref-id="false">Democracy 3</a>: $8.49</li><li><a href="/xcom-enemy-unknown/" data-ref-id="false">XCOM: Enemy Unknown</a>: $7.49</li><li><a href="/dont-starve/" data-ref-id="false">Don't Starve</a>: $3.74</li><li><a href="/the-witcher-2-assassins-of-kings/" data-ref-id="false">The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings</a> Enhanced Edition: $3.99</li><li><a href="/dayz/" data-ref-id="false">DayZ</a>: $25.49</li></ul></td><td> </td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""><em>Check back tomorrow to see our newest pick from the <a href="http://store.steampowered.com/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Steam Summer Sale Daily Deals</a>!</em></p> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 10:25:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/our-steam-summer-sale-pick-of-the-day/1100-6420612/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/warhammer-40-000-first-person-shooter-space-hulk-deathwing-coming-to-ps4-xbox-one-pc-in-2015/1100-6420799/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6419980" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6419980/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style=""><a href="http://www.gamespot.com/space-hulk-deathwing/">Space Hulk: Deathwing</a>, a first-person shooter set in Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000 universe, is set to release on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC in 2015, developer Streum On Studio has announced.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Based on Games Workshop's classic Space Hulk boardgame (which recently got <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/space-hulk-review/1900-6413794/">its own video game</a>), Space Hulk: Deathwing is being built on the Unreal Engine 4, and it's looking pretty good so far, as you can see in the newly released "Summer Trailer" above.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">In Warhammer 40,000 fiction, a Space Hulk is a huge collection of wrecked ships, asteroids, and other debris fused together into one enormous body floating in space. In the game, you'll assume the role of a Deathwing Librarian, who leads a squad of Space Marine Terminators through the alien-infested Space Hulk. Streum On Studio, which previously developed the cyberpunk first-person role playing game <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/e-y-e-divine-cybermancy/">E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy</a>, explains that in Space Hulk: Deathwing players will battle against aliens in the claustrophobic tunnels of a Space Hulk as they gain skills, new abilities, and new equipment from experience earned during missions.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Streum On Studio and publisher Focus Home Interactive have yet to announce a specific release date.</p><p style="">If you're a fan of the Warhammer 40,000 universe, be sure to read <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-warhammer-40k-eternal-crusade-is-coming-and-you-can-spend-money-on-it-soon/1100-6420410/">our impressions</a> of the upcoming massively multiplayer online role-playing game <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/warhammer-40-000-eternal-crusade/">Warhammer 40,000: Eternal Crusade</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 10:04:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/warhammer-40-000-first-person-shooter-space-hulk-deathwing-coming-to-ps4-xbox-one-pc-in-2015/1100-6420799/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/six-upcoming-developments-that-will-change-dayz-for-the-better/1100-6420740/ <p style="">With over 2 million early access copies sold since its launch in December last year, the horde of <a data-mce-href="/dayz" href="/dayz/" data-ref-id="false">DayZ</a> diehards is growing faster than Bohemia Interactive could have anticipated. But those early adopters are also growing impatient as they wait for bug fixes and new game mechanics that seem like they're always just on the horizon. I caught up with the project lead and creator of the original <a data-mce-href="/arma-ii" href="/arma-ii/" data-ref-id="false">ARMA II</a> mod, Dean "Rocket" Hall, to find out what was taking so long.</p><p style="">It turns out there are some massive changes afoot. However, Hall's grandiose, pie-in-the-sky vision for how those changes could be implemented requires Bohemia to scale some significant technical hurdles first. Find out how a new engine, new server technology, a new loot system, brand-new hunting mechanics, and a completely redesigned control scheme could bring DayZ devotees the changes they're looking for, as well as entice all-new survivalists to make the trek to Chernarus.</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6417447" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6417447/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><h3>A NEW ENGINE</h3><p style="">Originally, Hall thought development of DayZ would be bound by the limitations of the legacy ARMA II engine. Since the game has sold like hotcakes, that is no longer the case. The interest has given the team the impetus to rip out the graphics renderer, which was limited to DirectX 9, and write a new renderer, with support for either DirectX 10 or 11, and even OpenGL for Linux support down the line.</p><p style="">"We lose a lot of time," Hall admits. "But implementing DirectX 10 or 11 will have a dramatic, instant visual difference and quite a significant performance difference."</p><p style="">System performance remains a major issue with the game's current engine. Enterprising players have ported the Chernarus map into ARMA III's DirectX 11 engine and have already seen a massive performance boost, so an official upgrade such as this should be just what the doctor ordered.</p><blockquote data-size="medium" data-align="center"><p style="">Implementing DirectX 10 or 11 will have a dramatic, instant visual difference and quite a significant performance difference.</p></blockquote><p style="">It won't just be visual and performance improvements that a new engine will bring. "The big benefit we get is being able to implement dynamic lighting so we can have dynamic shadows," Hall explains. "If you've got a good computer, you'll be able to play with more lights. If there's a lot of people using torches in the distance, you'll be able to see their lights."</p><p style="">New shaders also mean Hall has the ability to look at making DayZ's pitch-black nighttime phase more playable, as it was originally being rendered using the ancient DirectX 7. "It really just gives us options to play with," he elaborates. "Once we've got that, we'll then experiment and say, 'How can we change the lighting at night so that we still achieve that pitch blackness, but at the same time actually allow you to play it?'"</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/3/7/5/2/1983752-676539_20120801_003.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-1983752" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/3/7/5/2/1983752-676539_20120801_003.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-1983752"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/mig/3/7/5/2/1983752-676539_20120801_003.jpg"></a></figure><h3>NEW SERVER TECH</h3><p style="">Facilitating even more significant gameplay changes is the recent upgrade to a 64-bit server architecture. "It's working and it's great," says Hall. "It allows us to use a lot more RAM, which helps us a great deal with spawning in thousands more items into the world. It means we can have more zombies. It means we can have more loot items." More items and zombies always means a greater hit on server performance, however, so Hall sees the ideal zombie count target being a factor of 10 compared to the game's current undead numbers.</p><blockquote data-size="medium" data-align="center"><p style="">It means we can have more zombies. It means we can have more loot items.</p></blockquote><p style="">To get to that target, some work still needs to be done to fully support multiple cores on the 64-bit servers, but this is nevertheless a major step at addressing the server issues that Hall sees as the primary bottleneck affecting DayZ's development. "And that's why the vast majority of our efforts have been focused on architecture with the servers," he elaborates. "One of the key reasons for that is to make everything more robust from a hacking standpoint. Hacking was a real problem with the mod. We just wanted to go back to basics. This is stuff that, if you look at most massively multiplayer engines, they're already designed to do this. We had to go back through and do a lot of housekeeping to make sure that would work out."</p><h3>A NEW EARLY GAME</h3><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1536/15366587/2578947-chernarus%2B2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2578947" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1536/15366587/2578947-chernarus%2B2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2578947"><img src="http://static2.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/1536/15366587/2578947-chernarus%2B2.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">In the original mod, you would spawn on the south coast of Chernarus and have to make your way north to gather weapons and supplies. A recent update to the stand-alone game moved those spawn points to the east coast instead. "Actually, a lot of that wasn't intentional at all," says Hall, who goes on to explain how the intention was to open up both coasts for spawning, but the ratio has not been balanced yet.</p><p style="">Yet this has had a significant effect on the way new players progress. The southern capital city of Chernogorsk is much further away, so it is no longer crawling with fresh, defenceless survivors. Those players now need to venture westward, instead of north, if they hope to find towns that haven't already been looted. The recent reintroduction of helicopter crash sites, which only appear in the far west and contain powerful weapons, provides further incentive to undertake this cross-country trek.</p><p style="">The new, large towns to the north that have been added to the stand-alone game should increase that temptation, but current problems with the loot spawning system are preventing that.</p><p style="">"Each building type has hundreds of places that items can spawn, and hundreds of different possible items," Hall explains. "The problem is, the system goes through the buildings one by one. When it gets near the end of the list, it can often run out. Unfortunately, the last items in the list are the new areas."</p><p style="">Making that list larger isn't as simple a fix as it would seem. "We increased the item spawn numbers from 15,000 to like 30,000," says Hall. "But that takes away a lot of the server optimisations we gained."</p><p style="">Once the servers fully support multiple cores on the new 64-bit architecture, we should see the team return to this issue with the bandwidth for a more elegant solution--which will give players a more tangible survival arc as they journey inland.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/3/7/5/6/1983756-676539_20120801_007.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-1983756" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/3/7/5/6/1983756-676539_20120801_007.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-1983756"><img src="http://static3.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/mig/3/7/5/6/1983756-676539_20120801_007.jpg"></a></figure><h3>GLOBAL LOOT RARITY</h3><p style="">Once the loot spawning system has been fixed, Hall plans to revolutionise the loot economy itself by making loot persistent across every single server in the entire world. This allows the team to control the rarity of individual items not just per server, but for every single player no matter where they live.</p><p style="">"We'll say there can only be, for example, a hundred night-vision goggles in the whole world across all servers," Hall explains. "Then, once your character dies, or that item gets destroyed, it makes a new one available to spawn on a server."</p><blockquote data-size="medium" data-align="right"><p style="">We'll say there can only be, for example, a hundred night vision goggles in the whole world across all servers.</p></blockquote><p style="">The rarity of an item will be defined by its function. Specialist military gear, such as night-vision goggles, logically wouldn't be found as often as a can of baked beans. Hall wants players to hear rumours that a particular player on a particular server has found some of this specialist gear, which could lead to a kind of lore and reputation building up around such servers. And if you are the person who has found such an item, you'll start playing differently to hold onto it for as long as possible.</p><p style="">"What we'd see is, particularly when we get into vehicles, or components for helicopters that are very rare and are controlled centrally so there can only be a certain amount of helicopters in every server in the whole world, that would mean that if you hear there's a working helicopter on a particular server, you'll want to go to that server," he adds.</p><p style="">Hall predicts that the team will need to add a new server cluster dedicated to controlling this persistent loot economy. But the introduction of extreme rarity and the reputation surrounding players with such items is an important step toward adding more opportunities for emergent storytelling to take place.</p><p style="">The team also discussed methods of bringing the notion of changing servers into the gameworld itself, such as walking to the edge of the map loading you into a new server on the other side. "But obviously we need to make a lot of maps for that, and it takes many years because they're huge, hand-made maps," says Hall. "We talked about procedural generation, but it was going to be so much effort that, before we looked at that, we needed to do all our architectural work first."</p><div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6418507" data-width="100%" data-height="100%"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6418507/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><h3>HERMIT SIMULATOR 2014</h3><p style="">Bohemia recently acquired the staff from Cauldron, developer of the <a data-mce-href="/cabelas-big-game-hunter" href="/cabelas-big-game-hunter/" data-ref-id="false">Cabela's Big Game Hunter</a> series. Hall is having them prototype an entire subset of hunting mechanics that he eventually wants to have become a crucial part of your daily survival routine. "We're getting them to come up with ideas about having animals migrate to different positions depending upon the time of day, and being more active depending on what type of animal, and looking at having aggressive animals, player companion animals, and neutral animals," he elaborates.</p><p style="">Hall sees these new hunting mechanics as something that will go hand in hand with the introduction of low-tech weapons like crossbows, as well as future refinements to melee weapon mechanics. He is also aware that Cauldron's hunting games appeal to a niche audience, and is confident the team will be able to strike a balance with their work on DayZ.</p><figure data-align="right" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1536/15366587/2578941-tumblr_inline_n5ob90ylfw1rq1exu.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2578941" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1536/15366587/2578941-tumblr_inline_n5ob90ylfw1rq1exu.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2578941"><img src="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/1536/15366587/2578941-tumblr_inline_n5ob90ylfw1rq1exu.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">"I played a lot of the Frostfall mod for <a data-mce-href="/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim" href="/the-elder-scrolls-v-skyrim/" data-ref-id="false">Skyrim</a>," Hall adds. "It gave you a reason to go out and hunt the deer. To be honest, hunting deer in Skyrim was just so much fun. You have to get the arrow just right, and you get a cool sense of satisfaction with a kill."</p><p style="">Skyrim's Frostfall mod also added a chance to catch hypothermia if players remained out in the cold for too long. Recent additions to DayZ's dynamic weather system, such as synchronising the weather across the entire server, allow the team to explore more survival mechanics such as this. "At the moment, it means you'll use more calories when it's cold, and you'll use more water when it's hot. But we want to expand that dramatically--hypothermia, and things like that," says Hall. Once body temperature becomes key to survival, it should encourage cooperation due to the significant inventory space required to store elements for things like campfires.</p><p style="">This dynamic weather could also tie back into the hunting mechanics, with animals' migration patterns being affected by the current temperature. Hall does want to see more AI-based dynamic events such as this, "but they require a particular server frame rate that we're still a long way off," he says. Hunting, when combined with the recent addition of the ability to pick berries and fish, should, as Hall hopes, allow players to live off the land entirely if they so choose.</p><figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1536/15366587/2579589-dayz_game.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2579589" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1536/15366587/2579589-dayz_game.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2579589"><img src="http://static5.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1536/15366587/2579589-dayz_game.jpg"></a></figure><h3>CLUNKY CONTROLS MUST DIE</h3><p style="">DayZ's controls are complicated and obtuse, largely due to the holdover use of ARMA II's scrollwheel-based action menu. Hall admits the menu is terrible, and has assigned a design team to go away and research ideas. "We wanted them to just think outside the box," he says. "How could it really look? Go play a lot of good games. Find out what it is, rather than just trying to crowbar a solution in."</p><blockquote data-align="right" data-size="medium"><p style="">I'm eternally disappointed that there is no video game that has ever gotten machine gun mechanics right.</p></blockquote><p style="">Hall thinks that solution could be inspired by Skyrim's Frostfall mod, as well as the simplicity of interactions in <a data-mce-href="/minecraft" href="/minecraft/" data-ref-id="false">Minecraft</a>. "What's cool about Minecraft is it's very visceral," Hall explains. "You walk up to something and you bang it. The Frostfall mod, if you want to light a fire, you place your fireplace, equip a torch to your hand, and then you bash it with your torch. So I think that's where we want to go. We want to have your different stances, and depending on your item, it will do different things." This should make interacting with DayZ's complex systems far simpler, and based more on real-world logic than on scrolling through menus whilst near interactive objects.</p><p style="">A significant and unique aspect of DayZ concerned the way weapons were difficult to handle, which was reflected in the way your crosshair moved independently of your view. But a recent change that locks your crosshair to your viewpoint has been met with criticism by hardcore players who think it feels too much like Counter-Strike. Hall believes the new system is dramatically better, but it's not yet complete, as the team still needs to assign values to each weapon that determine its weight and dispersion.</p><p style="">"We want to introduce these trade-offs with the game and make sure that, if you're equipping an attachment, that the attachments mean something and are not just cosmetic," Hall explains. "If you have a really heavy weapon in real life, sometimes you have a heavy weapon to reduce the recoil. It's not so much that using it might slow you, but if you spin around, it has more momentum, so it can be difficult to stop it."</p><figure data-align="left" data-size="medium" data-img-src="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/3/7/5/5/1983755-676539_20120801_006.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-1983755" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static4.gamespot.com/uploads/original/mig/3/7/5/5/1983755-676539_20120801_006.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-1983755"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_medium/mig/3/7/5/5/1983755-676539_20120801_006.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Hall laments that games have not yet represented the suppressing power of such heavy machine guns. "I'm eternally disappointed that there is no video game that has ever gotten machine-gun mechanics right," he says. "If you fire a GPMG into an enclosed space, it heats up the air so much. We were on an exercise in Thailand, and we were firing at targets, and the targets caught fire." Modelling the heat from rounds flying through the air isn't a priority for DayZ, but tighter controls and logical weapon handling should make the game far more accessible, and far less fiddly, than it currently is.</p><p style="">On top of a new control scheme, DayZ's new server architecture, a smoother and prettier engine, a persistent loot system, and a new early game, along with deep hunting mechanics, all sound like features that will revolutionise how the hardcore zombie survival sim plays. However, most of these changes are still some time away from being introduced into the stable Early Access build. If you weren't sold on the current development state of DayZ, now is still probably not the time to buy in--but, from chatting to Hall, it's clear that time is definitely coming.</p> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 09:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/six-upcoming-developments-that-will-change-dayz-for-the-better/1100-6420740/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/net-neutrality-is-a-major-issue-for-games-oddworld-creator-says/1100-6420798/ <figure data-align="right" data-size="small" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580374-lorne+lanning1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580374" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1535/15354745/2580374-lorne+lanning1.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580374"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_small/1535/15354745/2580374-lorne+lanning1.jpg"></a></figure><p dir="ltr" style="">The ability to release games digitally has allowed indie developers to thrive and made possible less mainstream projects like <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/oddworld-abes-oddysee-new-n-tasty/">Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty</a>, a remake of <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/oddworld-abes-oddysee/">Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee</a>. But Oddworld creator Lorne Lanning thinks that losing net neutrality could prevent future development of such games.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"My biggest concern is what's happening in the White House with what's happening with the FCC and what's happening with the telecom companies trying to basically get more of all of our pie," Lanning told <a href="http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2014-06-25-net-neutrality-the-biggest-problem-facing-games-lanning" rel="nofollow">GameIndustry International</a> in an interview. "These are multinational, enormous corporations and if they get their way, they could stifle this indie community in the media. They could start really clamping the dial and taking away the revenue that we've finally been able to find that we can get, that allows us to keep going... Today on a $10 product, we get $7. Well what if $2 of that has to start going to AT&T or Comcast? That could very easily happen."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Lanning said that gamers should be voting with this issue in mind, and that they should support the <a href="http://www.theeca.com/" rel="nofollow">Entertainment Consumers Association</a> and other lobby groups (like the <a href="https://www.eff.org/" rel="nofollow">Electronic Frontier Foundation</a>, for example) that are fighting for net neutrality. However, he doesn't think they will until they feel the negative effects of losing net neutrality directly.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"Sadly I think that's how the general public tends to operate," Lanning said. "There are more people in this country that are struggling financially than probably in the history of the country, and as a result they're just not really paying attention to things that aren't affecting their bottom line, their purse. But if they start getting charged $10 a night for that overnight session that they like playing, I think they're going to vote."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Back in March, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/want-a-new-oddworld-game-new-n-tasty-needs-to-sell-500-000-first/1100-6418373/">Lanning said</a> development on a brand new Oddworld title can begin if Oddworld: New 'n' Tasty sells 500,000 copies.</p><p style=""><em>Do you agree with Lanning on net neutrality? Tell us in the comments below.</em></p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 08:25:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/net-neutrality-is-a-major-issue-for-games-oddworld-creator-says/1100-6420798/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-hardline-beta-coming-to-all-platforms-this-fall/1100-6420797/ <div data-embed-type="video" data-ref-id="2300-6419863" data-width="854" data-height="480"><iframe src="/videos/embed/6419863/" width="100%" height="100%" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p dir="ltr" style="">The <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/battlefield-hardline/">Battlefield Hardline</a> beta is now closed, but another Battlefield Hardline beta that "will showcase more" will launch this fall on all announced platforms, Developer Visceral Games' VP and GM Steve Papoutsis said in a post on <a href="http://blogs.battlefield.com/2014/06/thank-you-for-playing-beta/" rel="nofollow">Battlefield's official blog</a>.</p><p dir="ltr" style="">"The Battlefield Hardline beta was just a small portion of what is in store," Papoutsis said. "We have plenty of new modes in the game that really play off the cop and criminal theme, as well as the return of fan-favorites."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Papoutsis also said that we should expect to hear more about the multiplayer mode in the months ahead, as well as the single player campaign. Visceral is best known for its work on the <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/dead-space/">Dead Space</a> series, and Papoutsis said that Battlefield Hardline's single player campaign will similarly engross players in the game's story and world. "We are doing some cool new things in how we present the campaign, similar to what you see when watching episodes of your favorite TV shows," Papoutsis said. "It's something different and we're fired up about it."</p><p dir="ltr" style="">Responding to critics who say that this year's Battlefield Hardline looks too iterative, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-hardline-dev-explains-why-it-s-not-just-an-expansion/1100-6420679/">lead multiplayer designer Thad Sesser recently explained</a> the improvements, tweaks, and additions the studio has made to the Battlefield 4 formula, which makes Battlefield Hardline more than just an expansion.</p><p style="">Battlefield Hardline launches on October 21 for <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/">PlayStation 3</a>, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/ps4/">PlayStation 4</a>, <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/xbox-360/">Xbox 360</a>,<a href="http://www.gamespot.com/xbox-one/">Xbox One</a>, and <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/pc/">PC</a>.</p><table data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Emanuel Maiberg is a freelance writer. You can follow him on <a href="https://twitter.com/emanuelmaiberg" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Twitter @emanuelmaiberg</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/116710591398405257934/" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false">Google+</a>.<br /></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><p style=""><strong><em>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email <a href="mailto:news@gamespot.com" rel="nofollow">news@gamespot.com</a></em></strong></p><p style=""> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> Sat, 28 Jun 2014 07:04:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/battlefield-hardline-beta-coming-to-all-platforms-this-fall/1100-6420797/ http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-trophies-and-achievements-revealed-get-ready-to-kill-a-lot-of-enemies/1100-6420796/ <figure data-align="center" data-size="large" data-img-src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1539/15391776/2580207-become_legend+-+version+2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580207" data-resize-url="" data-resized="" data-embed-type="image"><a href="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/original/1539/15391776/2580207-become_legend+-+version+2.jpg" data-ref-id="1300-2580207"><img src="http://static1.gamespot.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/1539/15391776/2580207-become_legend+-+version+2.jpg"></a></figure><p style="">Developer <a href="/companies/bungie-inc/" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="/companies/bungie-inc/">Bungie</a> detailed 40 Achievements and Trophies for its upcoming shooter, <a href="/destiny/" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="/destiny/">Destiny</a>, <a href="http://www.bungie.net/7_Bungie-Weekly-Update---06272014/en/News/News?aid=11607" rel="nofollow" data-ref-id="false" data-mce-href="http://www.bungie.net/7_Bungie-Weekly-Update---06272014/en/News/News?aid=11607">in its weekly update today</a>. The full list involves a diverse array of different tasks, from completing missions certain ways to customizing your ship.</p><p style="">There are four main enemy types and three character classes in Destiny. Trophy and Achievement hunters will have to kill all of them many, many times to get all the rewards.</p><p style="">Some of the more memorable Achievements and Trophies include:</p><ul><li> Triple Play -- Kill a Warlock, Hunter, and Warrior without dying in a single player vs. player match</li><li>Suited for War -- Get fully equipped with Legendary or Exotic weapons and armor.</li></ul><p style="">Although most of the Trophies and Achievements are straightforward, there's some mystery with the Dragon Slayer accomplishment. To acquire this one, you must "kill a champion of the Dark." This could mean fighting a high-level enemy that comes from the Darkness, the most powerful opposing force in Destiny.</p><p style="">You can see the full list of achievements <a href="http://www.bungie.net/7_Bungie-Weekly-Update---06272014/en/News/News?aid=11607" rel="nofollow" data-mce-href="http://www.bungie.net/7_Bungie-Weekly-Update---06272014/en/News/News?aid=11607" data-ref-id="false">on Bungie's website.</a></p><p style="">Destiny launches for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4 on September 9. We thought that <a href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-our-first-hands-on-with-the-destiny-alpha/1100-6420314/" data-ref-id="1100-6420314" data-mce-href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2014-our-first-hands-on-with-the-destiny-alpha/1100-6420314/">the game looked promising</a> when we got our hands on the alpha build earlier this month.</p><p style="">Do you still try to get as many trophies/achievements as possible (like <a data-mce-href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-guy-with-1-million-gamerscore-isn-t-stopping-anytime-soon/1100-6419379/" href="http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-guy-with-1-million-gamerscore-isn-t-stopping-anytime-soon/1100-6419379/" data-ref-id="1100-6419379">the guy who got 1,000,000 Gamerscore</a>), or do you ignore the list entirely and just play naturally?</p><p style=""></p><table class="mceItemTable" data-max-width="true"><thead><tr><th scope="col"><em>Alex Newhouse is an editorial intern at GameSpot, and you can follow him on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/alexbnewhouse" rel="nofollow" data-mce-href="http://www.twitter.com/alexbnewhouse">Twitter @alexbnewhouse</a></em></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><em><strong>Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com</strong></em></td></tr></tbody></table><p style=""></p> Fri, 27 Jun 2014 18:08:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/destiny-trophies-and-achievements-revealed-get-ready-to-kill-a-lot-of-enemies/1100-6420796/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/will-patch-2-1-define-diablo-iii-reaper-of-souls/2300-6419987/ Here's a quick look at all of the features that you can expect in the first major patch for Diablo III: Reaper of Souls. Fri, 27 Jun 2014 18:06:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/will-patch-2-1-define-diablo-iii-reaper-of-souls/2300-6419987/ http://www.gamespot.com/videos/goat-simulator-1-1-patch-shenanigans-random-encoun/2300-6419988/ Join Danny as he tries out the new patch for Goat Simulator. Fri, 27 Jun 2014 17:30:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/goat-simulator-1-1-patch-shenanigans-random-encoun/2300-6419988/
Of note: We don't know which video game gun was used to subdue the intruder. This is just one possibility. 
