rss:9d9437cc2bdadfdb0c2a6594385b5cf5548bd329 rss_modified:rss:9d9437cc2bdadfdb0c2a6594385b5cf5548bd329 http://www.gamespot.com/feeds/mashup/?platform=1014&type=14 Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Fri, 29 Aug 2014 07:48:58 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/septembers-xbox-one-update-out-today-heres-what-it/1100-6421989/
Microsoft has launched a new Xbox One system update worldwide that introduces a range of new features, some of which were announced earlier this month at Gamescom.
The first of these features, including a new media player app, an improved Party app, and a boot-to-TV option, are now available, while you'll have to wait a bit longer for other features, like DLNA support.
Below is a list of the new Xbox One features included with the system update, courtesy of Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb. Microsoft adds that you can have your voice heard for future updates by sharing feedback through the official Xbox Feedback site.
The Xbox One September update includes:
- A new Media Player app: Play media files from an attached USB device with the new media player app – DNLA support for home media servers coming soon. Xbox One will support more formats than Xbox 360, including support for dozens of new file formats like Mpeg 2 TS, animated gifs and MKV, which will be added by the end of the year.
- Party on in the new and improved Party App: Be the leader of your party with the new party leader setting. As the party leader, you can change whether the party requires invitations and you can remove others from the party. The updated app also lets you see what activities everyone in your party is doing and who is playing in the same game with you in addition to being able to quickly perform common actions like muting, joining, or sending game invites.
- New features for SmartGlass: You can now post status messages from the Activity Feed and comments, or share items from both your Activity Feed and Game Clips. Along with the new comment and share features, a personalized Activity Feed has been added to your profile and messages have been updated to a new layout supporting a full conversation view. Additionally, we are adding the ability to record game clips directly from the Now Playing bar. Finally, for users who upgrade the app directly, we have introduced a What's New page highlighting the features of each release.
- "Xbox On" capabilities in Australia, Canada (French), Italy, Spain, and Mexico: New regions will have the ability to use the "Xbox On" Kinect voice command to power on their consoles when they're in connected standby (Instant On) mode.
- OneGuide comes to Brazil, Mexico, Austria, and Ireland: The ability to configure live TV listings will be available to all customers in these four countries. Also coming to these markets is the ability to use OneGuide and the Universal Remote Control in SmartGlass.
- Boot-to-TV: Now Xbox One owners will be able to set their console to boot directly to television when coming out of connected standby.
- Bandwidth Usage Display: Bandwidth Usage will show users how much bandwidth their Xbox One is consuming over a period of time, a useful tool for those who want to track against bandwidth caps set by ISPs in certain markets.
- GameDVR deletes: Users will be able to choose multiple GameDVR clips to delete at once in the Upload app.
- Save your Avatar Gamerpic: A new option to save Avatar Gamerpics to users' OneDrive.
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421989Fri, 29 Aug 2014 06:21:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-a-look-at-halo-2-anniversarys-updated-lockout/1100-6421988/Following yesterday's news that fan-favorite Halo 2 map Lockout will appear in Halo 2 Anniversary within the Halo: Master Chief Collection, developer 343 Industries has now released a gameplay video showing the map in action. Lockout joins previously confirmed Halo 2 remastered maps Ascension, Coagulation, Zanzibar, and Sanctuary.
Lockout for Halo 2 Anniversary has been updated with a number of new features, first of which is more cover at the "elbow," the walkway connecting the grav lift to the sniper tower. The new version of Lockout also includes a dynamic element that lets you shoot out snow/ice from the sniper perch to keep people from camping there.
If you're heading to PAX Prime this weekend (the show starts today!), you'll get to play the new Lockout map at Microsoft's booth on the show floor. Looking for more Lockout coverage? We have more details here, as well as side-by-side comparison shots that show off just how much work 343 Industries and Certain Affinity put into updating the new map.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection launches exclusively for Xbox One on November 11. It includes remastered versions of Halo 1-4, access to upcoming digital show Halo: Nightfall, and also gets you into the Halo 5: Guardians beta.
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421988Fri, 29 Aug 2014 06:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/101-ways-to-kill-an-orc-shadow-of-mordor-at-pax/2300-6421064/ We detail our hands-on with the Nemesis system of Shadow of Mordor and why it is so exciting in action. ]]> 2300-6421064Fri, 29 Aug 2014 06:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/castlevania-producer-quits-konami-after-17-years/1100-6421987/
If there is to be another Castlevania title from Konami, veteran producer Dave Cox won't be a part of it. He announced on Twitter today that, after 17 years with the company, he is leaving to "explore new opportunities." Today, August 29, was his final day at the company.
Cox joined Konami in 1997 as a product manager, and the first game he worked on was Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. His credits also include various titles in some of Konami's biggest franchises, including Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill, Pro Evolution Soccer, Suikoden, and Dancing Stage.
Most recently, Cox produced this year's Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, developed by Spanish studio Mercury Steam. That developer has moved on to a brand new IP for current-generation consoles, making the future of the Castlevania series unclear.
"I want to thank Konami for the opportunity and all those people who supported me and the team on our journey," he said. "So what's next? Something I've wanted to do for a long time... Gonna take a break and then tell you all about it!"
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421987Fri, 29 Aug 2014 05:35:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/super-smash-bros-shulk-reveal-trailer/2300-6421067/ Xenoblade Chronicles' Shulk will be joining the roster of Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS. ]]> 2300-6421067Fri, 29 Aug 2014 05:06:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/super-smash-bros-wii-u-3ds-gets-xenoblades-shulk-a/1100-6421986/The rumors were right. Shulk, the main hero from Xenoblade Chronicles, is the latest fighter to join the roster for Nintendo's upcoming Super Smash Bros. game for Wii U and 3DS. Earlier this week, a massive roster leak revealed Shulk, along with Bowser Jr. and the dog from Duck Hunt.
As you can see in the trailer above, Shulk will wield his epic mythical sword, Monado, in the game. If you pause at the 1:44 mark, you can see that--for whatever reason--it looks like there is a clothes-free variation of Shulk that will also be available in the game.
Shulk for Super Smash Bros. brings the game's total roster to 38 characters (not counting the rumored ones), eleven of which are new to the series. You can see the full roster below, with fighters new to the franchise in bold.
- Pac-Man
- Palutena
- Ike
- Mii Fighters
- Greninja
- Charizard
- Yoshi
- Sheik
- Zero Suit Samus
- Diddy Kong
- Little Mac
- Lucario
- King Dedede
- Zelda
- Rosalina & Luma
- Marth
- Sonic
- Toon Link
- Peach
- Luigi
- Pikmin & Olimar
- Mario
- Donkey Kong
- Villager
- Mega Man
- Link
- Wii Fit Trainer
- Samus
- Kirby
- Fox
- Pikachu
- Bowser
- Pit
- Captain Falcon
- Robin
- Lucina
- Meta Knight
- Shulk
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421986Fri, 29 Aug 2014 04:55:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-reveals-new-3ds-models-with-built-in-nfc-/1100-6421985/
During a Japanese Nintendo Direct video briefing today, Nintendo announced new updates to its 3DS and 3DS XL devices. The new models, which have been announced only for Japan, feature an additional directional button and built-in NFC support. They launch in Japan on October 11.
The new models feature an analogue "nub" over the existing A,B, X, and Y buttons. In addition, there are new shoulder buttons--ZR and ZL--featured on top of the system, right next to the current L and R buttons.
The new 3DS models also feature a stronger CPU than existing models, which should allow for zippier downloads and browsing from the eShop, among other things. There is also built-in NFC support for Nintendo's upcoming amiibo toy line. Nintendo will also sell an NFC adapter for existing models.
Finally, the new 3DS units are built to support custom covers, which will allow you to customize your system however you see fit.
The new 3DS will sell for ¥16,000 ($154) and the new 3DS XL will go for ¥18,800 ($180). There is no word yet on a Western launch.
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421985Fri, 29 Aug 2014 04:32:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-the-sims-4-will-be-different-to-the-sims-3/1100-6421962/ Life's possibilities are endless. By extension, a game series intending to simulate life would also hope to have endless possibilities. The Sims series has attempted to encompass this, spawning four core games and over 50 add-on packs. Despite the accumulation of all this content, it still felt as though there was something missing. The Sims 4 attempts to address this by bringing to the series what EA is calling personality and emotions, which would drive Sim behavior.Curious as to what this would entail, I got hands-on with the game for a few hours at a preview event. At first glance, creating a Sim and assigning aspirations was not a dramatic departure from the creation tools of previous Sims games. In fact, I recognized the neat, creative, and perfectionist traits as some of the many returning Sim characteristics. Keen to try something new, I made sure my Sim had the new "self-assured" trait, which I later discovered helped trigger an emotional state in my Sim. This is because The Sims 4 sees a new focus on Sims' personalities and quirks by introducing new emotions that reflect them. Displayed in-game as a moodlet icon and shown through their expressions on the heads-up display, the emotional state of my Sim had an effect on the subsequent actions she undertook.
I spent my first few moments of the game looking at the available options and examining the HUD. This left my Sim idle for a while, and she became bored. Acting autonomously, my Sim proceeded to the wardrobe to try on different clothes. The result saw her gain a morale boost from trying on new outfits, putting her in a confident mood that would last late into the night. This newfound confident emotion affected how my Sim would carry out her actions, turning simple tasks such as using the toilet into "Pee Like a Champion." According to the moodlet buff, because my Sim had the personality trait of being self-assured, she was more likely to frequently experience these bouts of confidence.
Different actions sent my Sim into different emotional states. For example, hitting the nightclub for a few glasses of juice put my Sim in a flirty mood, which increased the success rate of her attempts to hit on other Sims. Later at home, my Sim found her spirits lifted in a refreshing shower. Emerging inspired, she would go on to receive a boost in her efforts to learn to play the guitar.
That is, once I purchased one for her. Much like in previous Sims games, the Buy mode in The Sims 4 catalogs items by function or room type. However, I was now able to search directly for the item I was looking for, negating the need to browse through pages of objects that I wasn't interested in. Typing the word "guitar" in the search bar returned the results I was looking for, and moments later my inspired Sim was jamming away on the instrument.
While certain items in Buy mode had set color options, the flexible Create a Style tool from The Sims 3 was noticeably absent. Gone was the ability to set custom patterns on objects and pick colors from a color wheel that supported even hex color codes. Although there were a variety color schemes on offer for objects, I was disappointed to find out that I could no longer match all my furniture to my favourite shade of cream. Instead, I had to pick and choose from the available shades offered for each piece of furniture, decor, and appliance.
However, that dream could always be fulfilled with the implementation of mods. User-generated custom content will be fully supported in The Sims 4 and simplified in its integration. Wherein The Sims 3 players had to upload their creations externally on The Exchange, the tool to share user-created content is now built into the game with a feature called The Gallery. Players will be able to create content and upload it straight away, or import other players' creations without having to exit their game.
Living out my consumerist fantasies with my Sim was fun, but it quickly became clear that I required more money; my Sim needed to get a job to earn Simoleons. Unlike in real life, getting a job was surprisingly straightforward. Gone were the days of searching newspapers and online postings. Clicking through my Sim's occupation box in the interface brought up a list of exciting careers my Sim could venture into, and I settled on the path of an entertainer.
Going to work was less exciting. My Sim disappeared for hours at a time, seemingly into nothingness, as Sims no longer travel to a visible workplace. Control at work was limited to clicking my Sim's face and selecting whether she would spend time schmoozing her superiors or socializing with colleagues, among other, less exciting options. Oddly enough, when my Sim was at work I was unable to bring up the interface to watch her needs. At one point she became hungry, but because my Sim was not present on the lot I was not able bring up the hunger meter to see just how starved she was.
It was difficult to determine how much her meters had depleted overall once she returned home, as I could not watch her motives while she was working. Going to work presented a strange break in playing the game, leaving me with not much else to do except watch time tick by. However, working does have an influence on moods. My Sim would come home from work in the bored emotional state, putting a real dampener on any socialization her neighbors tried to start up with her.
Regardless, progressing through my Sim's career track provided me with concrete goals. Although I did not manage to ascend to the top of the career ladder in the time I played, I was left with a sense of having achieved something in the time I spent with my Sim. From learning to strum the guitar to starting relationships with other Sims, I felt as though these interactions were only scratching the surface of what was on offer. The introduction of emotional states offers more variables to play with to produce unpredictable results, and I am eager to delve into them in the full game.
]]> 1100-6421962Thu, 28 Aug 2014 22:40:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-sued-by-australian-consumer-watchdog-over-st/1100-6421983/
As reported by Kotaku AU, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is suing Valve over Steam's refund policy and its alleged conflict with Australian consumers' right to a refund under the Australian Consumer Law. The ACCC's specific allegations regarding Steam include:
- Consumers were not entitled to a refund for any games sold by Valve via Steam in any circumstances;
- Valve had excluded, restricted or modified statutory guarantees and/or warranties that goods would be of acceptable quality;
- Valve was not under any obligation to repair, replace or provide a refund for a game where the consumer had not contacted and attempted to resolve the problem with the computer game developer; and the statutory consumer guarantees did not apply to games sold by Valve.
Valve's Doug Lombardi responded: "We are making every effort to cooperate with the Australian officials on this matter, while continuing to provide Steam services to our customers across the world, including Australian gamers."
ACCC Charmain Rod Sims later elaborated on the Commission's decision to take Valve to court: "We want all companies doing business in Australia, even if they're doing business offshore to comply [with Australian Consumer Law]. Big media companies doing business in Australia have to comply with Australian consumer law. Point number one is if you're going to do business in Australia, you have to comply with Australian law. The second is don't have blanket conditions around the world without bothering to check."
Sims states that Valve can now either negotiate a quick settlement, or fight the case in court: "If they [Valve] want to reach an early resolution it could be over in a month or two. They're a huge company with massive resources, so if they want to fight it could go one or two years. We'll wait and see to see if they want to do."
]]> 1100-6421983Thu, 28 Aug 2014 19:15:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/lockout-halo-the-master-chief-collection/2300-6421060/ Check out this gameplay of Lockout from Halo: The Master Chief Collection. ]]> 2300-6421060Thu, 28 Aug 2014 18:19:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/lockout-is-back-halo-the-master-chief-collection/2300-6421058/ Rob breaks down the Halo: Master Chief Collection reveal footage of the fan favorite from Halo 2, Lockout. ]]> 2300-6421058Thu, 28 Aug 2014 18:04:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/quick-look-infamous-first-light/2300-6421049/ Watch extended gameplay footage from inFamous: First Light featuring the Giant Bomb crew. ]]> 2300-6421049Thu, 28 Aug 2014 13:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/rock-band-creator-announces-twin-stick-hardcore-sh/1100-6421982/Rock Band and Dance Central creator Harmonix has announced its newest game, and it's probably not anything you expected. A City Sleeps is described as a twin-stick hardcore shoot 'em up, and it's launching this October for PC and Mac through Steam.
The game follows a female character named Poe, the youngest member of an ancient clan of "dream exorcists" known as The Silk who are charged with entering people's minds to remove dreams of demons. Poe wields a weapon called Heartstrings, and must use it to vanquish enemies and uncover secrets.
Since it's a Harmonix game, you shouldn't be surprised to learn that music is a major part of A City Sleeps. According to Harmonix, music will determine where enemies spawn, their movement, and bullet patterns. Another feature for A City Sleeps is the "Idol" system. Poe can possess inanimate objects of the dream world--idols--and then use them to her advantage. Check out the trailer above to see how the game's seemingly disparate elements are tied together.
A City Sleeps is one of a handful of in-development Harmonix projects. The studio is releasing Kinect games Dance Central Spotlight and Fantasia: Music Evolved for Xbox 360 and Xbox One this fall, while it is also at work on a new Amplitude game for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. Harmonix is also working on free-to-play PC shooter Chroma, though the studio confirmed in May that it is "retooling" this game based on feedback.
On top of those projects, Harmonix announced at PAX East in April that it has "grand plans" to bring the Rock Band series back for current-generation consoles, though a new game in the once-popular music franchise has not been announced.
When A City Sleeps launches in October, it will sell for $15 until October 16 (which could be the release date) but you can preorder the game on Steam today for $12.74. A limited-edition version that includes the game's soundtrack is also available for preorder for $15.29 (normally $18).
]]> 1100-6421982Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:57:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/get-ready-to-crash-moons-into-enemy-planets-in-pla/1100-6421981/Planetary Annihilation, the real-time-strategy game that allows you to strap engines to moons or asteroids so that they can be launched into planets to destroy them, will be out on September 5 for $30, developer Uber Entertainment announced today.
That date is almost two years to the day since PA was successfully funded through Kickstarter. Uber, which previously developed Monday Night Combat and counts veterans of classic strategy games like Total Annihilation and Command & Conquer among its staff, turned to the site for $900,000. Instead, it received more than $2.2 million, a figure which has only grown by selling early access to the in-development version since then.
An incomplete version of PA has been playable since last year, provided you pledged enough money to the Kickstarter. A final version was expected out before the end of 2013, but ended up being delayed until the nebulous date of "when it's done." Uber has been rolling out new features and improvements over the past year, and has done one of the better jobs of keeping its Kickstarter backers consistently informed about the game's progress.
When it's officially launched, new, unspecified enhancements will be introduced to the single-player and multiplayer modes. Gas giants that contain large amounts of resources will also be added, as will the Annihilaser, the huge, Death Star-like weapon seen in the launch trailer above, which I absolutely cannot wait to try out for myself. If you already have early access to the game, you'll be getting these new features in an update coming "shortly."
For more on the game, check out our hands-on impressions from earlier this year.
| Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX |
|---|
| For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com |
Humble Bundles are released on such a routine basis that I often think little of them anymore, but the latest weekly bundle featuring Adult Swim-published games has caught my eyes by offering up some quality games at a low price.
You might not associate Adult Swim with games, but the company's gaming branch--appropriately titled Adult Swim Games--has been responsible for a number of excellent, often offbeat games (well, except Super Comboman). These include games like Jazzpunk, a hilarious first-person adventure game, and Super House of Dead Ninjas, a fantastic, retro-style action-platformer.
Both of these games are among the seven available through this Humble Bundle, though just which you get depends on how much you're willing to pay. You can get three games (Soundodger+, Super Puzzle Platformer Deluxe, and Fist Puncher) at any price, two more if you beat the average purchase price (Super House of Dead Ninjas, Volgarr the Viking, plus DLC for several of these games and a demo of Westerado: Double Barreled), and another two (Jazzpunk and Super Comboman) if you pay $13 or more. Bundles with physical items like keychains and t-shirts are available when your purchase price reaches $30 or $75, but the real stars of the bundle are the games.
For all of the games (and DLC) you get here, $13 an excellent price; Jazzpunk is one of the more memorable experiences with a game I've had in recent years, and Soundodger's soundtrack is fantastic--though you'll want to be sure to play the game with a mouse, not a controller.
| Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX |
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| For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com |
rss:9d9437cc2bdadfdb0c2a6594385b5cf5548bd329 rss_modified:rss:9d9437cc2bdadfdb0c2a6594385b5cf5548bd329 http://www.gamespot.com/feeds/mashup/?platform=1014&type=14 Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Fri, 29 Aug 2014 07:48:58 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/septembers-xbox-one-update-out-today-heres-what-it/1100-6421989/
Microsoft has launched a new Xbox One system update worldwide that introduces a range of new features, some of which were announced earlier this month at Gamescom.
The first of these features, including a new media player app, an improved Party app, and a boot-to-TV option, are now available, while you'll have to wait a bit longer for other features, like DLNA support.
Below is a list of the new Xbox One features included with the system update, courtesy of Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb. Microsoft adds that you can have your voice heard for future updates by sharing feedback through the official Xbox Feedback site.
The Xbox One September update includes:
- A new Media Player app: Play media files from an attached USB device with the new media player app – DNLA support for home media servers coming soon. Xbox One will support more formats than Xbox 360, including support for dozens of new file formats like Mpeg 2 TS, animated gifs and MKV, which will be added by the end of the year.
- Party on in the new and improved Party App: Be the leader of your party with the new party leader setting. As the party leader, you can change whether the party requires invitations and you can remove others from the party. The updated app also lets you see what activities everyone in your party is doing and who is playing in the same game with you in addition to being able to quickly perform common actions like muting, joining, or sending game invites.
- New features for SmartGlass: You can now post status messages from the Activity Feed and comments, or share items from both your Activity Feed and Game Clips. Along with the new comment and share features, a personalized Activity Feed has been added to your profile and messages have been updated to a new layout supporting a full conversation view. Additionally, we are adding the ability to record game clips directly from the Now Playing bar. Finally, for users who upgrade the app directly, we have introduced a What's New page highlighting the features of each release.
- "Xbox On" capabilities in Australia, Canada (French), Italy, Spain, and Mexico: New regions will have the ability to use the "Xbox On" Kinect voice command to power on their consoles when they're in connected standby (Instant On) mode.
- OneGuide comes to Brazil, Mexico, Austria, and Ireland: The ability to configure live TV listings will be available to all customers in these four countries. Also coming to these markets is the ability to use OneGuide and the Universal Remote Control in SmartGlass.
- Boot-to-TV: Now Xbox One owners will be able to set their console to boot directly to television when coming out of connected standby.
- Bandwidth Usage Display: Bandwidth Usage will show users how much bandwidth their Xbox One is consuming over a period of time, a useful tool for those who want to track against bandwidth caps set by ISPs in certain markets.
- GameDVR deletes: Users will be able to choose multiple GameDVR clips to delete at once in the Upload app.
- Save your Avatar Gamerpic: A new option to save Avatar Gamerpics to users' OneDrive.
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421989Fri, 29 Aug 2014 06:21:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/take-a-look-at-halo-2-anniversarys-updated-lockout/1100-6421988/Following yesterday's news that fan-favorite Halo 2 map Lockout will appear in Halo 2 Anniversary within the Halo: Master Chief Collection, developer 343 Industries has now released a gameplay video showing the map in action. Lockout joins previously confirmed Halo 2 remastered maps Ascension, Coagulation, Zanzibar, and Sanctuary.
Lockout for Halo 2 Anniversary has been updated with a number of new features, first of which is more cover at the "elbow," the walkway connecting the grav lift to the sniper tower. The new version of Lockout also includes a dynamic element that lets you shoot out snow/ice from the sniper perch to keep people from camping there.
If you're heading to PAX Prime this weekend (the show starts today!), you'll get to play the new Lockout map at Microsoft's booth on the show floor. Looking for more Lockout coverage? We have more details here, as well as side-by-side comparison shots that show off just how much work 343 Industries and Certain Affinity put into updating the new map.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection launches exclusively for Xbox One on November 11. It includes remastered versions of Halo 1-4, access to upcoming digital show Halo: Nightfall, and also gets you into the Halo 5: Guardians beta.
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421988Fri, 29 Aug 2014 06:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/101-ways-to-kill-an-orc-shadow-of-mordor-at-pax/2300-6421064/ We detail our hands-on with the Nemesis system of Shadow of Mordor and why it is so exciting in action. ]]> 2300-6421064Fri, 29 Aug 2014 06:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/castlevania-producer-quits-konami-after-17-years/1100-6421987/If there is to be another Castlevania title from Konami, veteran producer Dave Cox won't be a part of it. He announced on Twitter today that, after 17 years with the company, he is leaving to "explore new opportunities." Today, August 29, was his final day at the company.
Cox joined Konami in 1997 as a product manager, and the first game he worked on was Castlevania: Symphony of the Night. His credits also include various titles in some of Konami's biggest franchises, including Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill, Pro Evolution Soccer, Suikoden, and Dancing Stage.
Most recently, Cox produced this year's Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2, developed by Spanish studio Mercury Steam. That developer has moved on to a brand new IP for current-generation consoles, making the future of the Castlevania series unclear.
"I want to thank Konami for the opportunity and all those people who supported me and the team on our journey," he said. "So what's next? Something I've wanted to do for a long time... Gonna take a break and then tell you all about it!"
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421987Fri, 29 Aug 2014 05:35:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/super-smash-bros-shulk-reveal-trailer/2300-6421067/ Xenoblade Chronicles' Shulk will be joining the roster of Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS. ]]> 2300-6421067Fri, 29 Aug 2014 05:06:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/super-smash-bros-wii-u-3ds-gets-xenoblades-shulk-a/1100-6421986/The rumors were right. Shulk, the main hero from Xenoblade Chronicles, is the latest fighter to join the roster for Nintendo's upcoming Super Smash Bros. game for Wii U and 3DS. Earlier this week, a massive roster leak revealed Shulk, along with Bowser Jr. and the dog from Duck Hunt.
As you can see in the trailer above, Shulk will wield his epic mythical sword, Monado, in the game. If you pause at the 1:44 mark, you can see that--for whatever reason--it looks like there is a clothes-free variation of Shulk that will also be available in the game.
Shulk for Super Smash Bros. brings the game's total roster to 38 characters (not counting the rumored ones), eleven of which are new to the series. You can see the full roster below, with fighters new to the franchise in bold.
- Pac-Man
- Palutena
- Ike
- Mii Fighters
- Greninja
- Charizard
- Yoshi
- Sheik
- Zero Suit Samus
- Diddy Kong
- Little Mac
- Lucario
- King Dedede
- Zelda
- Rosalina & Luma
- Marth
- Sonic
- Toon Link
- Peach
- Luigi
- Pikmin & Olimar
- Mario
- Donkey Kong
- Villager
- Mega Man
- Link
- Wii Fit Trainer
- Samus
- Kirby
- Fox
- Pikachu
- Bowser
- Pit
- Captain Falcon
- Robin
- Lucina
- Meta Knight
- Shulk
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421986Fri, 29 Aug 2014 04:55:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-reveals-new-3ds-models-with-built-in-nfc-/1100-6421985/During a Japanese Nintendo Direct video briefing today, Nintendo announced new updates to its 3DS and 3DS XL devices. The new models, which have been announced only for Japan, feature an additional directional button and built-in NFC support. They launch in Japan on October 11.
The new models feature an analogue "nub" over the existing A,B, X, and Y buttons. In addition, there are new shoulder buttons--ZR and ZL--featured on top of the system, right next to the current L and R buttons.
The new 3DS models also feature a stronger CPU than existing models, which should allow for zippier downloads and browsing from the eShop, among other things. There is also built-in NFC support for Nintendo's upcoming amiibo toy line. Nintendo will also sell an NFC adapter for existing models.
Finally, the new 3DS units are built to support custom covers, which will allow you to customize your system however you see fit.
The new 3DS will sell for ¥16,000 ($154) and the new 3DS XL will go for ¥18,800 ($180). There is no word yet on a Western launch.
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421985Fri, 29 Aug 2014 04:32:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-the-sims-4-will-be-different-to-the-sims-3/1100-6421962/ Life's possibilities are endless. By extension, a game series intending to simulate life would also hope to have endless possibilities. The Sims series has attempted to encompass this, spawning four core games and over 50 add-on packs. Despite the accumulation of all this content, it still felt as though there was something missing. The Sims 4 attempts to address this by bringing to the series what EA is calling personality and emotions, which would drive Sim behavior.Curious as to what this would entail, I got hands-on with the game for a few hours at a preview event. At first glance, creating a Sim and assigning aspirations was not a dramatic departure from the creation tools of previous Sims games. In fact, I recognized the neat, creative, and perfectionist traits as some of the many returning Sim characteristics. Keen to try something new, I made sure my Sim had the new "self-assured" trait, which I later discovered helped trigger an emotional state in my Sim. This is because The Sims 4 sees a new focus on Sims' personalities and quirks by introducing new emotions that reflect them. Displayed in-game as a moodlet icon and shown through their expressions on the heads-up display, the emotional state of my Sim had an effect on the subsequent actions she undertook.
I spent my first few moments of the game looking at the available options and examining the HUD. This left my Sim idle for a while, and she became bored. Acting autonomously, my Sim proceeded to the wardrobe to try on different clothes. The result saw her gain a morale boost from trying on new outfits, putting her in a confident mood that would last late into the night. This newfound confident emotion affected how my Sim would carry out her actions, turning simple tasks such as using the toilet into "Pee Like a Champion." According to the moodlet buff, because my Sim had the personality trait of being self-assured, she was more likely to frequently experience these bouts of confidence.
Different actions sent my Sim into different emotional states. For example, hitting the nightclub for a few glasses of juice put my Sim in a flirty mood, which increased the success rate of her attempts to hit on other Sims. Later at home, my Sim found her spirits lifted in a refreshing shower. Emerging inspired, she would go on to receive a boost in her efforts to learn to play the guitar.
That is, once I purchased one for her. Much like in previous Sims games, the Buy mode in The Sims 4 catalogs items by function or room type. However, I was now able to search directly for the item I was looking for, negating the need to browse through pages of objects that I wasn't interested in. Typing the word "guitar" in the search bar returned the results I was looking for, and moments later my inspired Sim was jamming away on the instrument.
While certain items in Buy mode had set color options, the flexible Create a Style tool from The Sims 3 was noticeably absent. Gone was the ability to set custom patterns on objects and pick colors from a color wheel that supported even hex color codes. Although there were a variety color schemes on offer for objects, I was disappointed to find out that I could no longer match all my furniture to my favourite shade of cream. Instead, I had to pick and choose from the available shades offered for each piece of furniture, decor, and appliance.
However, that dream could always be fulfilled with the implementation of mods. User-generated custom content will be fully supported in The Sims 4 and simplified in its integration. Wherein The Sims 3 players had to upload their creations externally on The Exchange, the tool to share user-created content is now built into the game with a feature called The Gallery. Players will be able to create content and upload it straight away, or import other players' creations without having to exit their game.
Living out my consumerist fantasies with my Sim was fun, but it quickly became clear that I required more money; my Sim needed to get a job to earn Simoleons. Unlike in real life, getting a job was surprisingly straightforward. Gone were the days of searching newspapers and online postings. Clicking through my Sim's occupation box in the interface brought up a list of exciting careers my Sim could venture into, and I settled on the path of an entertainer.
Going to work was less exciting. My Sim disappeared for hours at a time, seemingly into nothingness, as Sims no longer travel to a visible workplace. Control at work was limited to clicking my Sim's face and selecting whether she would spend time schmoozing her superiors or socializing with colleagues, among other, less exciting options. Oddly enough, when my Sim was at work I was unable to bring up the interface to watch her needs. At one point she became hungry, but because my Sim was not present on the lot I was not able bring up the hunger meter to see just how starved she was.
It was difficult to determine how much her meters had depleted overall once she returned home, as I could not watch her motives while she was working. Going to work presented a strange break in playing the game, leaving me with not much else to do except watch time tick by. However, working does have an influence on moods. My Sim would come home from work in the bored emotional state, putting a real dampener on any socialization her neighbors tried to start up with her.
Regardless, progressing through my Sim's career track provided me with concrete goals. Although I did not manage to ascend to the top of the career ladder in the time I played, I was left with a sense of having achieved something in the time I spent with my Sim. From learning to strum the guitar to starting relationships with other Sims, I felt as though these interactions were only scratching the surface of what was on offer. The introduction of emotional states offers more variables to play with to produce unpredictable results, and I am eager to delve into them in the full game.
]]> 1100-6421962Thu, 28 Aug 2014 22:40:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-sued-by-australian-consumer-watchdog-over-st/1100-6421983/As reported by Kotaku AU, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is suing Valve over Steam's refund policy and its alleged conflict with Australian consumers' right to a refund under the Australian Consumer Law. The ACCC's specific allegations regarding Steam include:
- Consumers were not entitled to a refund for any games sold by Valve via Steam in any circumstances;
- Valve had excluded, restricted or modified statutory guarantees and/or warranties that goods would be of acceptable quality;
- Valve was not under any obligation to repair, replace or provide a refund for a game where the consumer had not contacted and attempted to resolve the problem with the computer game developer; and the statutory consumer guarantees did not apply to games sold by Valve.
Valve's Doug Lombardi responded: "We are making every effort to cooperate with the Australian officials on this matter, while continuing to provide Steam services to our customers across the world, including Australian gamers."
ACCC Charmain Rod Sims later elaborated on the Commission's decision to take Valve to court: "We want all companies doing business in Australia, even if they're doing business offshore to comply [with Australian Consumer Law]. Big media companies doing business in Australia have to comply with Australian consumer law. Point number one is if you're going to do business in Australia, you have to comply with Australian law. The second is don't have blanket conditions around the world without bothering to check."
Sims states that Valve can now either negotiate a quick settlement, or fight the case in court: "If they [Valve] want to reach an early resolution it could be over in a month or two. They're a huge company with massive resources, so if they want to fight it could go one or two years. We'll wait and see to see if they want to do."
]]> 1100-6421983Thu, 28 Aug 2014 19:15:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/lockout-halo-the-master-chief-collection/2300-6421060/ Check out this gameplay of Lockout from Halo: The Master Chief Collection. ]]> 2300-6421060Thu, 28 Aug 2014 18:19:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/lockout-is-back-halo-the-master-chief-collection/2300-6421058/ Rob breaks down the Halo: Master Chief Collection reveal footage of the fan favorite from Halo 2, Lockout. ]]> 2300-6421058Thu, 28 Aug 2014 18:04:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/quick-look-infamous-first-light/2300-6421049/ Watch extended gameplay footage from inFamous: First Light featuring the Giant Bomb crew. ]]> 2300-6421049Thu, 28 Aug 2014 13:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/rock-band-creator-announces-twin-stick-hardcore-sh/1100-6421982/Rock Band and Dance Central creator Harmonix has announced its newest game, and it's probably not anything you expected. A City Sleeps is described as a twin-stick hardcore shoot 'em up, and it's launching this October for PC and Mac through Steam.
The game follows a female character named Poe, the youngest member of an ancient clan of "dream exorcists" known as The Silk who are charged with entering people's minds to remove dreams of demons. Poe wields a weapon called Heartstrings, and must use it to vanquish enemies and uncover secrets.
Since it's a Harmonix game, you shouldn't be surprised to learn that music is a major part of A City Sleeps. According to Harmonix, music will determine where enemies spawn, their movement, and bullet patterns. Another feature for A City Sleeps is the "Idol" system. Poe can possess inanimate objects of the dream world--idols--and then use them to her advantage. Check out the trailer above to see how the game's seemingly disparate elements are tied together.
A City Sleeps is one of a handful of in-development Harmonix projects. The studio is releasing Kinect games Dance Central Spotlight and Fantasia: Music Evolved for Xbox 360 and Xbox One this fall, while it is also at work on a new Amplitude game for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. Harmonix is also working on free-to-play PC shooter Chroma, though the studio confirmed in May that it is "retooling" this game based on feedback.
On top of those projects, Harmonix announced at PAX East in April that it has "grand plans" to bring the Rock Band series back for current-generation consoles, though a new game in the once-popular music franchise has not been announced.
When A City Sleeps launches in October, it will sell for $15 until October 16 (which could be the release date) but you can preorder the game on Steam today for $12.74. A limited-edition version that includes the game's soundtrack is also available for preorder for $15.29 (normally $18).
]]> 1100-6421982Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:57:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/get-ready-to-crash-moons-into-enemy-planets-in-pla/1100-6421981/Planetary Annihilation, the real-time-strategy game that allows you to strap engines to moons or asteroids so that they can be launched into planets to destroy them, will be out on September 5 for $30, developer Uber Entertainment announced today.
That date is almost two years to the day since PA was successfully funded through Kickstarter. Uber, which previously developed Monday Night Combat and counts veterans of classic strategy games like Total Annihilation and Command & Conquer among its staff, turned to the site for $900,000. Instead, it received more than $2.2 million, a figure which has only grown by selling early access to the in-development version since then.
An incomplete version of PA has been playable since last year, provided you pledged enough money to the Kickstarter. A final version was expected out before the end of 2013, but ended up being delayed until the nebulous date of "when it's done." Uber has been rolling out new features and improvements over the past year, and has done one of the better jobs of keeping its Kickstarter backers consistently informed about the game's progress.
When it's officially launched, new, unspecified enhancements will be introduced to the single-player and multiplayer modes. Gas giants that contain large amounts of resources will also be added, as will the Annihilaser, the huge, Death Star-like weapon seen in the launch trailer above, which I absolutely cannot wait to try out for myself. If you already have early access to the game, you'll be getting these new features in an update coming "shortly."
For more on the game, check out our hands-on impressions from earlier this year.
| Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX |
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| For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com |
Humble Bundles are released on such a routine basis that I often think little of them anymore, but the latest weekly bundle featuring Adult Swim-published games has caught my eyes by offering up some quality games at a low price.
You might not associate Adult Swim with games, but the company's gaming branch--appropriately titled Adult Swim Games--has been responsible for a number of excellent, often offbeat games (well, except Super Comboman). These include games like Jazzpunk, a hilarious first-person adventure game, and Super House of Dead Ninjas, a fantastic, retro-style action-platformer.
Both of these games are among the seven available through this Humble Bundle, though just which you get depends on how much you're willing to pay. You can get three games (Soundodger+, Super Puzzle Platformer Deluxe, and Fist Puncher) at any price, two more if you beat the average purchase price (Super House of Dead Ninjas, Volgarr the Viking, plus DLC for several of these games and a demo of Westerado: Double Barreled), and another two (Jazzpunk and Super Comboman) if you pay $13 or more. Bundles with physical items like keychains and t-shirts are available when your purchase price reaches $30 or $75, but the real stars of the bundle are the games.
For all of the games (and DLC) you get here, $13 an excellent price; Jazzpunk is one of the more memorable experiences with a game I've had in recent years, and Soundodger's soundtrack is fantastic--though you'll want to be sure to play the game with a mouse, not a controller.
| Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX |
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| For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com |
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