[11.14.13] Sony releases PlayStation 4 update

Sony

Sony

With less than 12 hours remaining before the PlayStation 4 hits shelves, Sony wants to make sure that you’ll be able to take it out of the box and play it immediately – well, almost immediately. As previously expected, there is going to be a required day one system update to the consoles. Fortunately, Sony released it to the public yesterday and it can now be downloaded onto a USB drive so that it’s ready to go when you are.

The 308MB mandatory update will upgrade consoles to software version 1.50 which adds “additional features and security enhancements”. To download it to a flash drive, head over Sony’s website, grab a flash drive with at least 400MB of space, and save the file to your computer as “PS4UPDATE.PUP”. On your flash drive, create a folder called “PS4” and, inside of that folder, create another folder titled “UPDATE”. Now copy the file into the folder and you’ll be ready to go. When your PS4 is set up and ready to go tomorrow, insert the flash drive, then hold the power button for approximately seven seconds. This will boot the PS4 into safe mode. Then, select system update and the update will install itself.

Of course, you can always use the PlayStation Network to update your system tomorrow, but it’s likely the servers will be overloaded by the massive number of people attempting to update their systems all at the same time. If you really want to play as soon as possible, it’s best to go with the flash drive method.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[11.11.13] Extra Life has record-setting make up day

Extra Life

Extra Life

Saturday Nov 10 was the make-up day for the Extra Life charity event and yesterday they announced the most successful day to date. The record-setting make up day led to almost $100,000 in additional funds raised for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals everywhere. This extra cash put Extra Life just $39,000 below the $4 million mark. If that goal is achieved, that would mean Extra Life 2013 raised more money than all other years combined – pretty impressive, considering they were the victim of three DDoS attacks on the day of the big event.

In an attempt to breach this milestone, PlayStation was kind enough to donate 10,000 codes which will grant any donors who give up $20 to the cause a bundle of content worth over $50 for their PlayStation systems. This bundle includes:

·       LittleBigPlanet (PSVita)

·       One (1) month of PlayStation Plus

·       WipeOut HD (PlayStation 3)

·       When Vikings Attack (PlayStation 3/PSVita

·       Extra Life Theme (PlayStation 3)

To grab one of these awesome packs, just head to your favorite sponsor’s page and select the “PlayStation Greatness” level of donation. You should receive a thank you email notifying you of your donation, then on Nov 25, emails will be sent out to the first 10,000 who donated at that level containing a code for the special bundle. Just like all the other donation, 100% of the proceeds go straight to the hospital you decide to sponsor.

There’s still plenty of time to donate. If you’re interested in donating to a wonderful cause, just click the link below, hit the “support me” button, then select the “PlayStation Greatness” level if you’d like the bundle, or any other donation mount of your choice.

http://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=67644

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[11.09.13] LucasArts and Nimblebit announce ‘Star Wars: Tiny Death Star’

Disney, LucasArts, NimbleBit

Disney, LucasArts, NimbleBit

 

Yesterday, Lucas Arts in collaboration with Nimblebit announced their brand new title, “Star Wars: Tiny Death Star”. It’s a spin on their immensely successful 2012 hit, “Tiny Tower”. Fortunately, it’s more than just a reskin. The game has been completely revamped and updated to make it more fun. Your mission is to fully fund the completion of the Death Star by turning it into one gigantic shopping center and leasing out space to Galactic bitizens.

Everything from the menus to the bitizens themselves have been beautifully adorned with a Star Wars theme. Not only are the floors Star Wars themed – such as The Cantina or Rebo’s Karaoke – but there’s an entire new floor type, the Imperial levels, which are built in the basement and used to craft special items. Missions are now a variety of activities assigned to you directly from Emperor Palpatine which range from building specific floor types to taking a look at Holonet, the intergalactic version of BitBook. Upgrading your elevators do more than just increase the speed now. Each new elevator adds a multiplier which applies to the tips received from delivering bitizens to floors. This adds more incentive to taking time away to transport them, especially when you start getting a really tall tower. There’s also chiptune versions of the soundtrack, goofy little 8-bit animated scenes staring your favorite characters to collect, and a whole heap of achievements to unlock through the new Google+ integration.

It’s still suffering from a few bugs, but nothing completely game-breaking. Occasionally elevators get stuck, sounds run in the background, and every time an achievement is unlocked, the game disconnects and has to reload. Thankfully, it’s nothing other than a mild annoyance and a few seconds of lost time. The game is also frequently being updated to squash as many bugs as possible. If you’re a fan of Star Wars or a fan of Nimblebit’s other classics, such as “Pocket Planes”, it’s definitely worth the download.

“Star Wars: Tiny Death Star” is available now as a free download on AndroidiOSWindows 8, and Windows Phone.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[11.03.13] Extra Life surpasses $3 million, survives multiple DDoS attacks

Extra Life

Extra Life

 

With plenty of time left in the event, Extra Life 2013 has already raised over $3.4 million and counting. A donation received at 8:20 PM CST on Nov 2, 2013 officially pushed the total just past the $3 million mark, and funds have continued to pour in since then. Not only does this surpass last year’s total, but it’s also a promising tale for what can be expected by the end of the fundraising event.

This is made even more impressive by the fact that the Extra Life website was taken down three times during the event by a DDoS attack. During the downtime, all traffic to the site was halted which meant no donations could be made. It’s still unclear who is responsible for the attack, but it does raise the question of how much money they’re responsible for preventing from being donated.

The good news is the site is back up and running, and there’s still plenty of time to continue supporting your local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.

If you’d like to help, please click the link below. Every dollar is appreciated and it could really change the life of a child.

http://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=67644

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[11.02.13] Extra Life 2013 going live soon

Extra Life

Extra Life

Extra Life 2013 is just a couple hours from going live, and it’s already looking to make a huge splash this year! Originally starting in 2008, it’s quickly grown to become a huge supporter for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Last year alone, Extra Life raised over $2 million for hospitals around the U.S. This year is expected to surpass that, with lots of celebrities and internet sensations getting involved, including the likes of Rooster Teeth and Giant Bomb.

This year’s stream holds extra significance, as it will actually be a 25 hour stream thanks to Daylight Savings.

I will be playing for the University of Iowa Children's Hospital in Iowa City. If you’re interested in donating to the cause, you can support my team here:

http://www.extra-life.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=67644

I’m also live-streaming for most of the day, which you can view here:

http://www.twitch.tv/tonyortale

I’ll be tweeting live throughout the event @TonyOrtale, feel free to tweet me suggestions on what you’d like to see played!

To learn more about Extra Life, check out their website:

http://www.extra-life.org

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[09.27.13] ‘Hill Bill’ now available on Android

Balloon 27

Balloon 27

After a successful launch on iOS, Balloon 27 announced yesterday they are bringing their addictive motorcycle game “Hill Bill” to Android. In this quirky motorcycle trick game, Bill takes his third-hand-garage-sale bike and sets out on his adventure to become the world’s greatest motorcycle stunt man. After practicing on his own home made ramps, he hits the road to take on bigger, more shocking, and death-defying stunts. As players progress through the game, they will unlock bigger and better bikes, crazier tricks, and more locations.

To commemorate the Android launch, users will be receiving two free level packs, totaling 20 free levels. There are currently 6 packs available and more are coming, including the upcoming “Vegas” pack which will be made free for users to add to the fun. The “Vegas” pack will include new costumes and some stunning Vegas backdrops featuring some of the city’s most famous locations.

“Hill Bill” is available now on both iOS and Android as a free download. The free “Vegas” level pack will be dropping in a few weeks.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[09.04.13] Xbox One receives release date

Microsoft

Microsoft

You can finally mark the date on your calendar. Today, Microsoft announced the Xbox One will be launching in 13 territories on November 22, 2013. This makes it exactly one week before the launch of the PlayStation 4 and the 8-year anniversary of the launch of the Xbox 360. To add incentive for preorders, Microsoft’s Yusuf Mehdi also announced that they will be producing more “Day One” Editions to meet the high demand. You can read his full announcement below:

We are humbled and gratified by the tremendous interest in Xbox One from game fans everywhere. We sold out of our pre-order supply faster than at any other time in our history and we are on path to have the biggest launch of an Xbox ever. We look forward to celebrating with millions and millions of gamers this holiday.

As a result of this incredible consumer demand and the development progress on Xbox One, I am thrilled to share that today we are making available a limited number of additional Xbox One Day One consoles for pre-order. We have coordinated with our retail partners to make it easy for you to reserve your Xbox One today.

Finally, in the spirit of continuing to bring new value and excitement to Xbox, I am also pleased to confirm that the development team has increased the CPU from 1.6GHz to 1.75GHz, roughly a 10% increase in CPU performance. This is on top of the 6% increase we previously announced for the GPU. What does this mean to you the gamer? It means that the Xbox One will have that much more power for developers to make their games and entertainment really shine. We’re going to keep bringing more value to the Xbox One as we head towards launch building on some of the advancements we have already shared such as the 40-plus improvements to the Xbox One controller, advancements to help you find the perfect opponent and make the most of our online community, to the power of the cloud.

And I have to mention the games – Xbox One is proving to be the best place for games, with our exclusive games winning over 100 awards at E3, driving pre-order increases of 200% in European markets after gamers first played our blockbuster line-up at gamescom, and blowing away thousands of fans at PAX Prime this weekend. Only on Xbox One will you find exclusive blockbusters like Halo, Dead Rising 3, Ryse: Son of Rome and Forza Motorsport 5; new digital content from titles like coming Call of Duty: Ghosts and Battlefield 4 coming to Xbox One first; and the FIFA 14 Ultimate Team experience you won’t find anywhere else.

November 22 is a special day in Xbox history – on this day, we first launched Xbox 360 [in the US] in 2005. Our next chapter begins in 79 days, when Xbox One becomes available. We built Xbox One to bring you the best games, unrivalled multiplayer and more entertainment than ever before. It’s nearly time to say “Xbox On” and open a new world of games and entertainment.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[07.16.13] Rovio announces 'Angry Birds Star Wars II'

Rovio Entertainment

Rovio Entertainment

This morning, Rovio announcing the release of the highly anticipated sequel to 2012’s “Angry Birds Star Wars.” Blending the both of two universes together, it featured all of your favorite “Angry Birds” characters reimagined within the Star Wars universe. Launching on September 19, “Angry Birds Star Wars II” will be available on all mobile platforms.

“Angry Birds Star Wars II” is set to have the largest cast of characters for any Angry Birds title to date. There will also be the option to “Join the Pork Side” and play as the villainous pigs. For the first time, the game can actually be customized and expanded with the use of “Telepods” which are little collectible figurines that can be ‘teleported’ into the game to change you bird lineup on a level. The Telepod characters will be sold at any store that sells toys and will be available by game launch on September 19.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[05.31.13] PlayStation 4 vs. Xbox One: Who had the better reveal

Microsoft, Sony

Microsoft, Sony

Now that both Sony and Microsoft have made their big reveals, it’s time to fanboy up and pick your sides! Sony beat Microsoft out of the gun by a couple months, but was the early reveal worth it? We’ll take a look strictly at the facts revealed in the conference, or perhaps what wasn’t revealed in the conference, and decide who did a better job making their announcement. Systems are bigger, stronger, and faster, accessories have been redesigned and improved, and games have been announced. But what does this information even mean and where should you put your money? Robert “RedgoateeRob” Nielsen and I will break down the conferences and give you the details you need to know, then deliver the final verdict on who was victorious.

Microsoft, Sony

Microsoft, Sony

The Game Consoles: Tony’s Take

Obviously both companies came out to announce their brand new systems. Each boast significantly more power, exceptional graphics, and state of the art technology to accompany it. The Xbox One looks amazing. Its shape has been streamlined and it has a bit of a retro throwback with its two-tone color scheme and very boxy, minimalistic design. The redesigned Kinect fits perfectly with the style of the new system, and the controller has been ever-so-slightly tweaked to match up as well.

As for the PlayStation 4, well… the controller looks… similar. It has also been streamlined, with the addition of a touchpad, it sports a more futuristic look, but that’s about all of the information we have. This raises the question, why would you have a conference about a console, and not actually bring your console? It was no surprise to anyone that it was coming, so Sony would have been much better off had they come prepared with something to show.

Winner: Xbox One

Microsoft, Sony

Microsoft, Sony

The Game Consoles: Rob’s Take

Sony caught some heat for not showing off their actual box during the conference; in fact, some gamers might have felt like showing off the controller alone was nothing more than a tease. But looking at it from Sony's perspective, you get a sense that they might be thinking in terms of the long game rather than an instant payoff. This isn't Sony's first rodeo; back during the PlayStation One era they faced off with Nintendo and Sega, who are by no means pushovers, and I can't help but think Sony wouldn't still be standing if they didn't have a firm grasp of how to build anticipation for their next product. Showing off the Dualshock 4 alone allowed gamers to get a sense of the physicality of the new console, while still allowing Sony to have an ace-in-the-hole for E3: the console itself. Plus, holding off on a reveal of the console allowed Sony to get a picture of what Microsoft had up their sleeve before they show off their own box. Overall, even if not having the console in the spotlight might have frustrated a few fans, I think it was a smart play in the long run.

But what of Microsoft? Despite their claims of looking forward to the future, the design of the Xbox One seems to indicate a focus toward the criticisms of the past. Just as the Xbox 360, with it's clean, concave surfaces, seemed designed to quiet gamers' criticism of the size of the original Xbox, the large rectangular footprint of the Xbox One seems intentionally designed to quell gamers' fears of the heating issues related to the design of the 360. Though it seems almost certain that Microsoft will install plenty of cooling under the Xbox One's huge hood, it doesn't change the fact that the boxy design of the system is most reminiscent of the Philips CDI- probably not what Microsoft wants gamers thinking of when they look at their new console.

Winner: Playstation 4

Microsoft, Sony

Microsoft, Sony

The Peripherals: Tony’s Take

Since the days of “Duck Hunt”, peripherals have been an integral part of any successful console. They’ve come a long way from the plastic guns and even the more recent pretend instruments. Now, consoles have the ability to see you, hear you, and actually track your body’s movements. Then, of course, there’s the controller – the most important asset, and the most important asset to get right. The majority of the time you’re gaming, you’re going to have the controller in your hand, so it needs to be comfortable.

Sony’s big reveal for its conference was the controller. That was actually all they had to show for the system. It looks very much like its PS3 counterpart, with a few minor upgrades. The touchpad will definitely give it a unique spin, and the idea of adding the PlayStation Move tracking light to it complements the six-axis design its predecessor had. They also briefly mentioned the PlayStation Move will be making a return, but didn’t go into any details as to how or if any improvements were to be made.

Microsoft’s controller has also been just slightly tweaked, and we’ll take their word on it that it really is more ergonomic. Their shining star, however, wasn’t the controller, but rather the upgraded Kinect. It’s become so much more accurate, and is directly integrated into the Xbox One’s design. Perhaps the most exciting part is the technology behind it and the vast improvements made there. Now, the Kinect instantly recognizes you, signs you in, and brings up your personalized home screen. Not only that, but it can all be done simply by saying “Xbox On” – the one thing that gamers had asked for out of the Kinect since its arrival. The usefulness of these voice commands goes leaps and bounds beyond anything motion, which anyone who has ever watched Netflix with friends knows to be true. There’s always that person who wants needs to take a bathroom break in the middle of the group movie, so being able to simply say “Xbox Pause” is a breath of fresh air, compared to digging around in the dark for a controller, waiting for it to power back on and connect before finally pressing the pause button.

Winner: Xbox One

Microsoft, Sony

Microsoft, Sony

The Peripherals: Rob’s Take

If there's one impression the conferences left, it's that user interaction with these consoles will be very different than their interaction with the 360 and PS3. From voice commands to motion tracking to facial recognition, Microsoft and Sony are discovering how to let gamers interface with their platform of choice in ways that would have seemed like science fiction even just a decade ago. It's difficult to imagine how these systems will be implemented across software titles, and it's even more difficult to assume with any certainty that their implementation will serve to enhance the software on the systems represented rather than get in the way of gameplay. Gamers have been getting burned by supposed innovations in control that proved intrusive and unwieldy for decades, even back to the days of the Power Glove and the Rolling Rocker. Though it's certain that the Kinect and the EyeToy will be better integrated into their respective consoles than those old control gimmicks were, they still could end up being showpieces that shovelware games are designed to promote rather than simple control methods that serve to enhance quality games. At this point, it's simply too soon to know.

Winner: Too early to call.

Netflix

Netflix

Multimedia: Tony’s Take

When it first came onto the scene, the PlayStation 3 boasted the ability to be the heart of your home entertainment center. The Xbox 360, on the other hand, was primarily a game system. As the Xbox 360 developed over its lifespan, it changed into your all-in-one entertainment box, paving the way for the Xbox One. The PlayStation 3, however, focused primarily on games and everything related.

The PlayStation 4 will have all of the same multimedia capabilities as its predecessor, and adds in a very large social component which focuses on sharing content. The controller has a “share” button on it, allowing you to instantly stream gameplay or easily create clips. Beyond that, Sony didn’t really even touch on the movies or music throughout their conference.

On the contrary, Microsoft spent almost all of their time gloating about the new capabilities the Xbox One will have. It will now be a Blu-Ray Player, Roku Box, Cable Box, and Game Console all rolled into one. The ability to quickly switch between every source is nice… but is it really necessary? Quite honestly, the inclusion of “live TV” really left everyone scratching their heads. Fortunately, the multimedia component didn’t stop there. The updated ESPN app has had a major overhaul, fully integrating fantasy sports directly into the broadcasts. As your players score points, you’ll receive pop-up notifications which will allow you to instantly jump to the leaderboards and check out how your team is doing. Fantasy sports have exploded in popularity, and this will definitely be something couch-athletes will take advantage of.

There was also the exhilarating announcement of the Halo TV series. Gamers have been begging for a Halo movie for years, and their appetite was teased with a surprisingly good web series, “Forward Unto Dawn”, which showed the possibilities and potential success of an actual TV series. Microsoft has backed it full force, and put up enough of a budget to have legendary director Steven Spielberg directing. There’s hardly anything that could go wrong here.

Winner: Xbox One

Netflix

Netflix

Multimedia: Rob’s Take

Fantasy football, cable tv, and ESPN; Microsoft seems to have an eye toward a very particular customer. The question becomes less one of utility and more one of appeal; if you dig fantasy football and the thought of controlling what shows you watch via your game console, Microsoft has you covered. Will the average gamer be interested in these services? Will the ability to watch ‘live TV’ when you already have a TV that plays TV live compel gamers to pick up the new Xbox? These things remain to be seen.

Of course, the announcement of a new, Xbox-exclusive, Halo TV series directed by film industry legend Steven Spielberg was the highlight of Microsoft's TV plans, and the new series will undoubtedly be welcomed by Halo fans with open arms. It might have been nice to have seen something of the upcoming series, though, even if it were just a scrolling shot of some storyboard sequences. During the presentation, both AMC’s “Breaking Bad” and HBO’s “Game of Thrones” were mentioned as benchmarks for the sort of quality the Halo TV show project is aiming to match; if it can live up to a fraction of the quality standards set by those programs, it will be a powerful force in Microsoft’s next-generation arsenal of reasons to pick up an Xbox One.

Sony, for its part, showed off a share button on the Dualshock 4 to allow gamers to upload footage of their gameplay to 'social networks'. The advertising benefits to Sony here are obvious, but it's unclear whether all gamers will be interested in sharing footage of themselves, and it's easy to see how the plan could backfire if a flood of mostly unremarkable amateur gameplay videos uploaded to social networks starts to annoy friends and family members browsing their newsfeeds for pictures of smiling grandchildren and cantankerous felines.

Winner: Steven Spielberg (and, by association, Xbox One).

Activision

Activision

Games: Tony’s Take

Despite not having an actual game console to show, Sony at least displayed the understanding of what a “game console” is. They spent roughly half their conference showcasing upcoming titles for their system. Most of the titles were expected, such as upcoming sequels “Killzone Shadowfall” and inFamous Second Son”; however, there were a couple of surprise titles as well. While “Driveclub” isn’t the most original of ideas, it looks like a solid title and you can tell the developers put a lot of heart into it. “The Witness”, the new title from the creators of “Braid”, looks interesting and extremely promising. The part everyone was waiting for, although they didn’t know it was the update, was the look at “Watchdogs”. This brand new IP thrilled gamers with its surprise announcement at E3 last year because it managed to blindside all of us, despite the fact that leaks are almost expected in this day and age.

Microsoft seemed to forget their roots with their conference, leaving many to question if the Xbox One was a game system that can do other things, or a multimedia box that can also play games. While a few developers did showcase their new engines, EA Sports brushed over 4 titles with very little detail. There was a new trailer for “Call of Duty: Ghosts” which also sports a new engine and is being redesigned from the ground up, but to no surprise, it was also leaked early in the year which made the reveal a lot less exciting, not to mention this whole “timed exclusive” thing is just getting annoying - it’s bad for the industry. The only glimmer of hope was Phil Spencer who promised 15 exclusive titles within the launch year, eight of which will be brand new franchises! Those numbers are astounding, and very promising, however there’s no idea what they may be, or if they’ll even be any good. We can only hope so.

Winner: Hands down, PlayStation 4

Activision

Activision

Games: Rob’s Take

Of course, since the early days of home game consoles, only one factor determines the winner of a particular console generation: which console has the best games? Sony showed off a flood of software in their press conference, from new iterations of first-party titles Infamous and Killzone, to Capcom's dungeon-crawler Deep Down, to a version of Bungie's new RPG shooter Destiny, and finally to the reveal of a seemingly-exclusive console version of Blizzard's Diablo 3. In a classy nod to their current customers, Sony also announced that both Destiny and Diablo 3 would be available for the Playstation 3 as well as the upcoming Playstation 4.

Xbox seemed, by comparison, to not have a great deal to offer. They showed off a new entry in the venerable Call of Duty franchise, and promised 15 more games would be revealed at their E3 conference, but one wonders what they expected gamers to discuss in the interim. Considering the confirmation that “Call of Duty: Ghosts” will not be exclusive to the Xbox One but will also be appearing on consoles by Sony and Nintendo as well as on PC, Microsoft's decision to showcase the title at their conference instead of a first-party exclusive game seems even more odd. Even a handful of titles for original IP’s announced in the abstract would have fueled fan speculation regarding their nature and could have built buzz for Microsoft to ride into their E3 press conference. As it stands, though, Xbox fans will just have to live with their curiosity regarding the nature of those 15 unannounced titles until E3 rolls around.

Winner: Playstation 4

Microsoft

Microsoft

Tony’s Wrap-Up Verdict:

It was a very close vote, and honestly, it’s not because both were so mind-blowing, but rather disappointing. Sony forgot to bring their console, and Microsoft forgot to bring their games. If you were to put them together, they would have had one solid conference. Unfortunately, this potential super-console doesn’t exist, and we’re left with two incomplete experiences. This was probably done to save content for E3 which is just around the corner, but nonetheless, it was still a little underwhelming. With a vote of 4-3-1, the Xbox One just barely edges out the competition and takes the crown. There’s still a lot to be learned about these consoles, and things could change. For the time being, the future is looking a little bleak for gamers. It might be the time to just hold on to what you’ve got and experience it to the fullest - that is, if you’re not ready for the always online, anti-used game, jack of all trades video game consoles we seem to be getting.

Also, be sure to check out RedgoateeRob's rant on everything that wasn't touched on during the conferences! It's up now!

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[05.22.13] Microsoft officially announces Xbox One

Microsoft

Microsoft

 

A few months back, Sony had a conference to reveal their upcoming console, the PlayStation 4. It was highly anticipated, thanks to the massive environment of leaks and rumors swirling around it. Well yesterday, the day had finally come for Microsoft to make their big reveal as well, the announcement of the Xbox One. As it turns out, the fate of their conference was relatively similar.

The conference started out with a video explaining that the whole point of the system was to integrate more of “you” into it; personalization to the point of where you have “a relationship with you TV”. Don Mattrick took the stage and begun the obligatory cheesy monologue, which turned out to be a clever bit of foreshadowing to the name. The mission: to design an all-in-one system which runs your entertainment center. Thus, the Xbox One. Yeah, that’s the name they went with. Taking a page out of Nintendo’s book, they’re only going to cause more confusion with this name.

Now, there was one very, very nice thing about this conference, something that Sony failed on. We actually got to see the console, in all of its shiny industrialized glory. Gone is the ‘futuristic’ curvature of the Xbox 360 in favor of a much more boxed out, traditional and simplistic look. It looks less like a game system than it does a computer, or dare I say, Blu-Ray player. We also got a nice look at the redesigned controller and Kinect – which will be bundled with every console.

Yusuf Mehdi took the stage to demo the new system. It all began with two simple words “Xbox On”. This ability to power on your system with voice recognition is something gamers have been asking for since the introduction of the Kinect years ago. What was more exciting, however, was the fact that the Xbox quickly recognized Yusuf and automatically logged him in, then took him straight to his personalized homescreen. The homescreen featured a familiar design with the addition of a larger “recently played” section that allows you to jump between everything you’ve recently accessed.

To no surprise, the addition of live TV was unveiled. The thought process is that everything is quicker now, because there is no need to switch inputs. To a degree, it is quicker. Mehdi displayed the new quick switch feature, which allows users to instantly switch between games, movies, TV, internet, music, and more. There’s also some nice new Kinect gestures, and a fully interactive guide to help out. Quick switching isn’t the end though, there’s also the ability to ‘snap’ two items side by side so you can multitask (Windows 7 users should be familiar with this feature). This means you can watch a quick video while you’re waiting for matchmaking or Skype with your friend halfway across the country while you watch your favorite sports team together.

Sports are taking another stride forward with ESPN as well. Fantasy sports have exploded in the last decade, and now it’s integrated into the system. While watching sports, you’ll get live updates on your players, scores, and standings. Pop up notification will inform you of the changes, and give you the option to quickly snap the standings to the side if you wish.

Next came the technical mumbo-jumbo portion courtesy of Marc Whitten. What you need to know is it’s faster, more powerful, and finally features a Blu-Ray player. The Xbox One will utilize three separate operating systems, which will be part Xbox, part Windows, and part system management. Basically what this means is everything happens quickly and seamlessly. The Kinect is higher quality, much more accurate, and recognizes the controller now. The new controller is more ergonomic and features force-feedback in the triggers. Xbox Live is getting another upgrade too. If you’ve ever wondered where your Xbox Live Gold money goes, it’s into servers. Right now, it’s running on about 15,000 servers. The next generation of Xbox Live will run on 300,000 servers – more than the entire world’s computing power in 1999. Again, this is to make everything as instant and personalized as possible. It will also allow for much bigger matches and worlds online.

Finally, the conference shifted to games. Andrew Willson from EA Sports proudly unveiled a brand new engine which will be features in the next FIFA, Madden, NBA Live, and UFC. Entitled “Ignite”, the intent is to further blur the lines between game and reality. Dynamic worlds, significantly more intelligent AIs with instinct, and, of course, gorgeous graphics. Holy helmet reflections, does it look good… but that was only to be expected. Consoles are playing catch up with PC graphics again finally, but graphics are only a part of the story anyway. Games such as “Minecraft”, “Fez”, and Telltale’s “The Walking Dead” have proved that graphics aren’t everything. That’s why the engine allows for ten times more animation depth and detail. The new engine will feature 3D crowds, dynamic sidelines, and daily streams of updated data on Xbox Live. As a final side announcement, Willson also mentioned that Ultimate Team in FIFA 14 will also have exclusive content for the Xbox.

The exclusives don’t stop there, though. Phil Spencer came on stage to please the gamers with the announcement of 15 Xbox exclusive games throughout the launch year. This includes eight, count ‘em, eight brand new franchises. What are they? Well there was a part live-action, cryptic announcement teaser for the new Remedy title “Quantum Break”, but outside of that… nobody knows. Sure, this conference was supposed to be about the console, not the games, but this is supposed to be a “game console” after all. Fortunately, it sounds as if we’ll only have to wait until E3 to hear about some of these new titles.

Next came, arguably, the most exciting announcement from Nancy Tellem and Bonnie Ross. For years and years, Halo fans have been begging for a Halo movie. They got a taste of what was wanted with the incredibly successful web mini-series “Forward Unto Dawn”, and now it’s expanding, in the best way possible. A full blown live action TV series is on the way, with legendary director Steven Spielberg at the helm. Plenty will have their doubts, but “Forward Unto Dawn” proved the potential of a TV series, and with Spielberg directing it, it’s hard to imagine much could go wrong.

The conference came to a close with one last game announcement: “Call of Duty: Ghosts”. Although technically being a world premiere, it was leaked earlier in the month, so it didn’t come as much as a surprise. All content for it will be a timed exclusive again. However, what was a surprise was the details revealed. Much like EA, Activision had a new engine to unveil which will power “Ghosts”. It features an all new story with all new characters. Yes, another Call of Duty… but think carefully about this one. It’s really what people have been asking for, because this one is going to be insanely different, thanks to the new engine. So there’s no more complaining about the ‘rinse and repeat’ formula of the last set of titles, because things have become prettier, smoother, more customizable, and more unique. All-in-all, it served as a gorgeous tech-demo for Xbox One.

So the conference had a few peaks, but much like Sony’s conference, it left a lot of unanswered questions. We didn’t get a price, and Microsoft didn’t touch a lot of rumors, including the online-always requirement, lack of backward compatibility, or the lockout of used games. We also didn’t get a firm release date outside of “later this year” – basically meaning Q4 of 2013. Overall, the conference was OK, but it still really seemed to lack the “wow-factor” of systems past. Perhaps it’s just because of how technology has advanced over the years, or maybe this gamer is just getting old. All I know is that neither of these conferences have given me any reason to give up my current generation and buy either on day one. Hopefully for Sony and Microsoft, E3 will give them the opportunity to change that.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[04.23.13] Pizza Hut comes to Xbox Live

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut

How often have you been sitting at your TV, playing Xbox when you think to yourself, “Man, I really wish I could use this thing to order a pizza…”? OK, so that thought has probably never crossed your mind. However, if you’re now intrigued by this possibility, there’s some good news. Today, Pizza Hut officially launched their brand new, first of its kind, pizza-ordering app for the Xbox 360. Feel free to check your calendars, but we’re actually 23 days into the month of April.

The Pizza Hut app has access to the full menu, including the wings, pasta, bread sticks, and other side dishes. There’s also access to local deals, and even the ability to custom build a pizza if you please. If building a pizza minority-report style is more your thing, you can actually use a Kinect for either voice recognition or full motion control to throw on the toppings.

The app is available in the U.S. only, as a dashboard from the Xbox Live Dashboard. Additionally, until May 6, users who order through the app will receive a 15% off discount on their entire order.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[03.30.13] 343 Industries releases free forge map for ‘Halo 4’

343 Industries

343 Industries

 

Not to be outdone by Epic Games and Maxim’s sponsored “Gears of War Judgement” free DLC, 343 Industries announced Friday, March 29 that they have released the all new forge world map, “Forge Island”. Well ahead of schedule, the release comes as a nice surprise going into Easter weekend, and it has the added benefit of being absolutely free!

As the largest map yet, it features three islands – one small, one medium, and one large – and an entirely new palette of items to play with. The space on the largest island alone is incredible, large enough to easily house multiple remakes of maps like Blood Gulch or Hang ‘Em High. There’s also a vast amount of space in the air above to make room for flying vehicles or fully suspended maps. All three of the islands are completely flat, to match the request of the fan base for a pure flat area.

Out of the box, it’s not much to play on, but it sure is a lot to play with. It'll be exciting to see what the very devoted forge community will do with this new space.

To get Forge Island, you can download it from the Xbox Live Dashboard or by clicking here.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[03.25.13] Capcom to remaster ‘DuckTales’

Capcom

Capcom

It’s one of the most beloved and iconic games of the era, and for years, fans have been clamoring for its return. On March 23, Capcom announced that the NES classic “DuckTales” will, in fact, be making a comeback in the form of “DuckTales Remastered” after over 20 years.

Developed by WayForward, “DuckTales Remastered” takes the 8-bit classic and adorns it with brand new, hand-drawn visuals that perfectly reflect the work of Disney during that time. The classic soundtrack – featuring the unforgettable “Moon Theme” – will also be enhanced by Jay Kauffman. The game will, for the most part, be the same game that can be found on the NES cartridge, however the developers are making a few tweaks.

For those new to the game, there will be an added tutorial level, teaching the basics such as utilizing the pogo stick. Additionally, there will also be a brand new level leading up to the final boss fight. Altogether, it should be about “70% original true layout, and about 30% new” according to Rey Jimenez of Capcom. Perhaps the most interesting addition to the game will be Scrooge McDuck’s Money Bin. This fully playable level allows you to track the total amount of wealth you’ve earned while playing, and will even let you dive right in and swim through the piles of money, just like Scrooge McDuck so lovingly did throughout the cartoon series.

“DuckTales Remastered” is set to release this summer on Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network, and WiiWare.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[03.15.13] Rebellion and 505 Games announce ‘Sniper Elite III’

Rebellion, 505 Games

Rebellion, 505 Games

 

Last year, Rebellion thrilled its fans with the return of the cult hit “Sniper Elite”. Not really a sequel and not quite a remake, “Sniper Elite V2” became the sleeper hit of 2012 by wowing millions of gamers and introducing them to the tense atmosphere and intense action. With continues support after release via DLC and patch updates, Rebellion created a raging bonfire of excitement, to which they just added more fuel. On Wednesday March 14, 2013, Rebellion announced they are beginning the development of “Sniper Elite 3”.

As a direct sequel to “Sniper Elite V2”, “Sniper Elite III” will continue the story of OSS sniper Karl Fairburne throughout World War II. Not many details have been released, seeing as it’s still at the beginning of its developmental cycle, however and image posted on the Facebook page for “Sniper Elite” alludes to a setting in Africa; which will be quite the dramatic change from the ruins of Berlin.

“Sniper Elite” is known for its outstanding realism with bullet physics and its focus on stealthy sniping tactics as opposed to the run and gun juggernaut style so popular in shooters today. “Sniper Elite III” will have more of that gameplay fans crave, including the return of the jaw-dropping “Bullet Cam” – the slow-motion kill cam that follows a bullet’s trajectory in excruciatingly graphic detail as it pierces and travels through an enemy’s body.

The team at Rebellion is working on all new environments and a brand new storyline. Utilizing fan feedback, they plan on refining and improving the gameplay experience, while taking the time to add in things they had hoped to do for the previous title. Rebellion wants to make it more of a sandbox game to encourage more exploration of the environments and discovery of alternate viewpoints and routes. They also hope to improve the aforementioned X-Ray Kill Cam, although there’s no clarification yet on what that means. “Sniper Elite V2 was just the beginning of what we want to do with the franchise, there are things we didn’t have time to do before that we can really look at featuring this time,” said Jason Kingsley, CEO of Rebellion.

Look for a 2014 release window with “Sniper Elite III”. It will launch on PC, next gen consoles, and current gen consoles as well. Until then, you should definitely pick up a copy of “Sniper Elite V2” which can easily be found for about $20 now. If you have yet to play it, you should. It’s an experience you don’t want to miss.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[03.04.13] ‘Assassin’s Creed’ ventures to the Golden Age of Pirates

Ubisoft

Ubisoft

It seems like “Assassin’s Creed III” just launched, but already Ubisoft is pushing on with the announcement of “Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag” today. In development for the last two years with Ubisoft Montreal at the helm, “Black Flag” introduces a new hero, new setting, and promises to deliver the most diverse and seamless world “Assassin’s Creed” has ever seen. “We are creating the boldest and most unique ‘Assassin’s Creed’ game yet, while still respecting the pillars of the franchise that have made it such a fan favorite,” said Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot. “’Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag’ is based on a true, harsh and exciting part of a legendary era and will thrill longtime fans and newcomers alike.”

“Black Flag” will tell the story of former Royal Navy Private Edward Kenway and his adventures into the exciting would of piracy, along with his involvement in the ancient war between the Assassins and Templars. It will be set in the West Indies at the dawn of the 18th Century and will feature some of the most infamous pirates in history, such as the trailer’s narrator, Blackbeard.

Gameplay will be everything you know and love from the “Assassin’s Creed” series, combined with the weaponry appropriate to the era. Whether you want to be stealthy or daring, there will be plenty of exciting new ways to take down your targets among the 50 navigable areas or in the series’ newly acclaimed multiplayer modes.

“Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag” is set to launch in North America on October 29th for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii U. Next gen versions will also be available at an unspecified date. There will also be a collector’s edition, but more details won’t surface until March. However, Ubisoft has confirmed that those purchasing a PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4 will have access to an additional 60 minutes of exclusive gameplay content which can be downloaded via the PlayStation Network at a later date. Exactly what that will be entail will remain to be seen.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[02.21.13] PopRox Entertainment launches new kind of social game

PopRox Entertainment

PopRox Entertainment

By now, almost everyone has played a social game of sorts. Whether it be the iconic “Farmville” that started it all, or one of its endless spin-offs and clones, social network users went crazy maintaining their crops and sharing all sorts of virtual in-game prizes with each other. Social games are far from dead, but there’s no doubt users are starting to care less about “virtual gold” and the juggernaut is losing some serious steam. An up and coming studio, PopRox Entertainment, is looking to revamp the genre with one major overhaul: Real world prizes.

“Race 4 My Place”, the brainchild of CEO and founder Mike Gramling, is a 120-day competition to build the city of Los Angeles. If you finish off the right contracts and make it to at least the Hollywood Sign, the payoff could be pretty sweet; prize drawings for tangible goodies, not just virtual junk. Gramling wanted to give the game meaning, and use it as an opportunity to potentially change lives. The grand prize: $200,000 to pay off your mortgage, or $100,000 in cold hard cash if you don’t have a mortgage. There will be plenty of other weekly prizes, such as gift cards, and monthly prizes including iPads and gaming consoles. Already, over $5,000 worth of prizes have been given out, and there are plenty more to come. The best part? You don't ever have to spend a dime.

The game launched Feb. 4 and is open to U.S. residents over the age of 18. Just start playing on Facebook and you’ll instantly have a chance to win some real prizes. The grand prize drawing will take place shortly after the conclusion of the game in 120 days.

If you’re interested, just head straight to http://apps.facebook.com/raceformyplace/ or check out their official website for more information.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[02.20.13] Sony officially announces PlayStation 4

Sony

Sony

 

There was something interesting about today. It was supposed to be a day of excitement and surprises, but somehow, it wasn’t. Today, Sony had a press conference that was rumored to reveal the PlayStation 4, and sure enough it did, but it was lacking something very important: The PlayStation 4. What we instead got was a two-hour tease in which lots of information was revealed, and yet lots of information wasn’t.

The event started off with a lot of technical mumbo-jumbo about the raw power of the PlayStation 4. The PlayStation 4 will have 8GB of memory, a new CPU, new GPU, and a whole other slew of technical upgrades that, when referred to by their names, probably make no sense and mean absolutely nothing to the majority of us. All we really need to know is that it will, in fact, be far superior to the PlayStation 3 in every way, shape, and form.

Now it’s not to say that there wasn’t anything positive to come out of the press conference today, there was actually a lot of that; however there just wasn’t anything mind-blowing. Still, there are plenty of new features to be happy about that were announced.

The one thing we did actually get to see was the new controller, the “DualShock 4”. It’s a more refined version of the DualShock 3 with a larger D-Pad, enhanced rumble capabilities, and reduction of input lag. It’s ergonomically designed to fit more comfortably in your hand, and it has the addition of a touch pad for more precise input. It will also have a new peripheral that looks a lot like Microsoft’s Kinect, but functions more like the PlayStation Move. In case you were wondering, the PlayStation Move will also be making a return to the PlayStation 4, although there’s not much information on how yet.

The controller will also have a new “share” button, which is crucial to a new feature: the implementation of an always-active “theater mode” video recording function. If you’ve played “Call of Duty” or “Halo”, you’re probably familiar with the popular “theater modes” which allow you to take clips of gameplay and share them with everyone. The PlayStation 4 will have this capability integrated directly into the console itself, allowing you to instantly create video clips or take screenshots at the press of a button.

The hardware itself isn’t the only thing getting an upgrade; it turns out the PlayStation Network is looking forward to a major overhaul too. Sony is making full use of its recent acquisition, cloud gaming service Gaikai, to create a PlayStation Network that is all about instant access and personalization. They’re looking to create a new social network that is specific to gaming. You’ll still have your usernames and gamer pictures, but if you want to keep closer contact with real-world friends, you have the option to make more accurate profiles, with a real picture of you and your real name, available to certain people. It’s likely this will be through integration with current existing social networks.

With this always-connected world, you’ll have the option to live-stream your gameplay in conjunction with the new theater mode, and have it available online courtesy of a partnership with UStream. You’ll also have the option to let friends leave live comments that will pop up on screen as you play. If you find yourself stuck, you can actually forfeit control and have a friend remotely connect and play for you to help you through a tough jam.

As far as the ‘instant’ part goes, it starts from the console and works its way up. There will be a new power-saving sleep mode which will allow you to instantly hop back into gameplay at any time. Just press the power button, and the console goes to sleep, remembering exactly where you’re at in your game. When you come back, hit power again and you’re right back in the action where you left off. No more waiting for the console or game to boot up. Gone, also, are the days of waiting for game demos to download. If you’re shopping the store and you find a game you want to try out, simply press a button, and you’re instantly streaming the demo straight to your console. If you decide you like the game, you can purchase it, and start playing it immediately while the rest of the game downloads in the background à la Steam.

Speaking of games, about half the conference was dedicated to the announcement of upcoming titles. Much like the system, it was severely lacking in the “surprise” department. A few sequels that were announced include “Killzone Shadowfall” and “inFamous Second Son”, two PlayStation exclusives that weren’t really expected to disappear anytime soon. Activision also briefly took the stage to announce that Bungie will be bringing its upcoming new IP, “Destiny”, to the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4; however, that was something Bungie had already touched upon a few days ago during their own official announcement. They did say that PlayStation exclusive playable content was planned, though.

The first original announcement was that of “Driveclub”, the product of Evolution Studios, which is 10 years in the making. It focuses on team-based racing through in-game auto clubs. You can join up with your friends and take on other auto clubs in challenges and races, all happening in real-time. The highlight of the game, however, is the car models. All of them are painstakingly recreated in excruciating detail inside and out. Think Forza’s AutoVista times infinity, and applied to every vehicle in the game.

Next was “The Witness”, a new title from the creators of “Braid”. It’s an open-world puzzle game that takes place in an extremely compact universe, in which you are always 20 seconds from a different area with a completely unique theme. The intension was to cut out any useless and repetitive gameplay while still creating a large amount of game time that is made up entirely of unique experiences. It will be exclusive to PlayStation Network.

Capcom unveiled their brand new engine they’re designing around the PlayStation 4’s capabilities, which is codenamed “Panta Rhei”. Alongside the development of that, they’re creating an original IP under the working title “Deep Down” which takes place in medieval times and focuses on dragons, knighthood, and the like.

Square Enix also took the stage to debut their “cinematic demo”. That’s right, not a game… just a pretty video of what they want their games to look like. Then, as a brief afterthought, they mentioned they’ll be announcing another Final Fantasy game at E3, right before walking off stage. Perhaps they’re as tired of the series as we are.

Ubisoft looked to steal the show with an update on their original IP, “Watchdogs”. After shocking and pleasantly surprising viewers of E3 last year with their completely out-of-the-blue announcement, Ubisoft looked to build upon the excitement with another gameplay demo. This is clearly a more refined version of the build we saw at back at E3, and the game just keeps looking better and better. Despite being short, it gave a closer look at the level of control you’ll have over the so-called futuristic “Smart City” in the game. It also gave a little more insight into the character you’ll be playing as who appears to be somewhat of a vigilante.

Now if anything from the press conference could be considered “surprising”, it would be the appearance of Blizzard Entertainment onstage. They announced a strategic partnership which will start with them bringing over “Diablo III” to both the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. They will make their formal debut at PAX East in a couple of months.

All of this will be coming “Holiday 2013”. We still don’t know what it looks like, but it’s coming. All-in-all, Sony really dropped the ball on useful information this time around. There’s no formal announcement of price point, nor did they discuss any of people’s biggest concerns such as whether or not they’ll be able to play second-hand games (don’t worry, this was since confirmed as not true by a Sony Exec) or if they’re going to be required to have an ever-present online connection. Hopefully they’ll have a little more information come E3, but if one thing is for sure, they already missed their chance on the element of surprise.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[02.05.13] ‘Sniper Elite V2’ coming to Wii U

Rebellion, 505 Games

Rebellion, 505 Games

Today, 505 Games and Rebellion Games announced that their smash hit, “Sniper Elite V2”, will be making its way to the Wii U. The game won’t be a direct port, but will rather be optimized for the Wii U. This means new controls to compliment the Wii U controller as well as new levels of interactivity only possible with the Wii U GamePad Touchscreen.

“Sniper Elite V2” originally released May 1, 2012 on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 with a PC version coming at a later date. It was a strong candidate for one of the best games of the year, and easily one of the best shooters. With its unique focus on stealth, problem-solving, and realistic physics; it provides a completely unique take on the shooter genre. Since its launch, the game has received a lot of support through updates and DLC, which will likely be transferred to the Wii U version as well.

There isn’t currently a set release date for the launch on Wii U, but it’s expected sometime in Spring 2013. To get more information on the game, check out the Official Website, their Official Facebook Page, or Official Twitter Account.

For a full review on “Sniper Elite V2” click here.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[01.05.13] Sony files patent to block secondhand games

By now, everyone has heard the rumors swirling around about the “next generation” of game consoles boasting unmatched power, no need for disc drives, and the ultimate DRM. The only lingering question was, “when?” Sources in the industry have pointed to fourth quarter of 2013 as the release date, and while many consumers have doubted that window due to lack of verifiable proof, suddenly signs are showing that perhaps the launch is closer than we may think.

According to a report on IGN from Thursday, Sony has apparently received a patent for technology which will block the use of “second hand” games on their consoles. The patent works by creating a blank tag on game discs that will be filled with information the first time it’s used. A disc ID and player ID will be permanently affixed to the game, and from that point on, every time the disc is booted, the system will check to verify that the two match. If they don’t, the game simply won’t start.

To a certain extent, this is an improvement over current DRM methods which require a constant internet connection or manual password input… but then again, an “improvement” isn’t necessarily always a good thing. If this technology was implemented into all future game consoles, it would destroy the used game market as well as any rental services. That’s a lot of money and jobs that would disappear overnight. Not to mention, there’s the consumer outcry over not being able to share or test games anymore.

Of course, more important than what’s going into the consoles is whether or not the consumer is even ready for it. Cody Weston, of Davenport, Iowa, certainly is. He never actually purchased a 360 or PS3. “I've been avoiding purchasing a console system due to the age of the current systems. Looking at historic data, we're more than overdue for a new batch of consoles.” He’s right. The launch of the Wii U back in November officially pushed us into what is now considered the eighth generation of consoles, but prior to its launch, the most recent system was the PlayStation 3, which launched back in 2006 – seven years ago. That’s one year more than the time span between it and the PlayStation 2 and three years longer than the gap between the Xbox and Xbox 360.

However, as he stated, Weston never jumped into the current generation of systems, so it makes sense he’s ready for something new. For those who did buy one, are any of them ready for an upgrade? Ryan Hingtgen, of Iowa City, Iowa, isn’t. “I won’t be buying a new console, I’m happy with my current one.” Rob Nielsen, author of “They Who Suffer” and owner of RedGoateeRob’s Horror Pages, feels the same way. “[I’m] pretty satisfied with my consoles. The Only next gen system I want is a 3DS, although I’m sort of interested in the Wii U and the future of PC as a platform.”

Lawrence Sheehy, of Iowa City, Iowa, feels that a new console isn’t the solution, but rather a change of development practices is needed. “I agree with Robert. I like that companies are pushing the ability of current gen systems, but I wish they would stop trying to push games out too soon just to have games on the market.” So perhaps the consumer is crying out for quality instead of quantity? “I'm satisfied with the consoles right now... I think that the next big step for gaming isn't necessarily graphics (colors, shading, resolution, lighting, polygon count, etc.) but physics,” said Andrew Sullivan, of Coralville, Iowa. “I'm tired of seeing hair and clothing glued to characters.” Ryan Swenka, of Iowa City agrees with him. “Yes, physics of things such as hair and clothing needs work. Smoother transitions between animations is always a thing, too. I dream for a game where you get multiple ways to customize your outfit/appearance and certain combinations don't lead to clipping of armor/etc. and being 'inside' one another.”

When asked about his intentions to buy a ‘next gen’ system, Swenka had this to say: “I am happy with my 360. Digital-only content is not something I support, and I only in rare cases have anything digital-only. If the game is available on disc, I buy it as such.” Which brings us back to the future of consoles. Is it that no one wants them, or that no one wants them because of what they are? Kevin Sammon, of Iowa City, Iowa, doesn’t like the rumors he’s heard. “I would rather keep my 360 and NEVER upgrade again than buy a system that restricts me from buying a used game. The first time you buy a game that turns out to be a total waste - see Duke Nukem - you can't even get credit to fix your mistake.”

(Check out my review for Duke Nukem Forever here)

Hingtgen, Sullivan, and Nielsen all agree with Sammon. Hingtgen stated that “Anything that is digital only will be an insta-no-buy; used games are very important to me.” Sullivan pointed out that it’s “not really a danger. If the next Xbox doesn't support used games, all Sony has to do is avoid that restriction and boom, they steal like 50% of Microsoft's console market share.” Which would also be true vice-versa, assuming this patent is utilized on the next PlayStation.

However, if both companies decide to implement something like this, it appears that the only one who will be hurt by the change is the companies themselves. Let’s hope, for their sake, they listen to the consumer and don’t do anything along these lines.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you

[10.24.12] CherryPop Games announces first title ‘Pool Nation’

CherryPop Games

CherryPop Games

Yesterday, a brand new studio that goes by the name CherryPop Games announced their debut project, “Pool Nation”. This billiards simulator might be the most gorgeous pool game you’ve ever set your eyes on. With photo-realistic graphics that would make Forza jealous and real-world physics that put Mafia II’s physics engine to shame, “Pool Nation” looks to fill the void of pool titles in the best way possible.

“Pool Nation” will have nine different game types that can be played in twelve incredibly detailed location variants. The game will also support both online and offline play with single matches or tournaments. After destroying your opponent with an incredible 6-ball combination shot, you can relive the whole thing over and over again with slow motion replays. At 1/100th speed, you can see chalk dust fly and cushions deform as balls careen against them.

Once you’ve perfected your game and gloated in your previous victories, you can muster up the strength to take on the “Endurance Mode” which is described as “psychological warfare but with shinier balls.” Exclusive to “Pool Nation”, this game type mode challenges you to continuously clear the table of balls as fast as you possibly can.

Don’t worry warrior, there are spoils for your victory. With victories in all the different game modes, you can unlock plenty of ball sets, table decals, and cues to customize your experience. You’ll also be handsomely rewarded with Achievements and Gamerscore seeing as it’s an XBLA title. All of this will be available for you come Oct. 31st, 2012 when the title launches exclusively on Xbox Live Arcade with a price of just 800 Microsoft Points.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com. He does so much gaming in his spare time, it’s practically a full time job! If you like what you read here, please subscribe to his articles! You can also follow Tony on Twitter, or become a fan on Facebook! If you ever have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to email Tony any time at ortale.anthony@gmail.com, he’d love to hear from you