[09.22.14] ‘GTA V’ rumored to receive first-person mode

hoto by Mario Tama/Getty Images

According to a report from Electronic Gaming Monthly early this morning, a thread was started on Reddit on Sept 21 claiming that developer Rockstar Games erroneously posted an update to their website describing many upgrades for "Grand Theft Auto V" that was subsequently taken down later. In the thread, user DrOversight lists the original post in its entirety and a link to the google cache, which has since mysteriously disappeared as well. The most unusual claim from the post is that "GTA V" will be receiving an all-new first-person mode for upcoming launch on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

The supposed list of changes appears to only be for the GTA Online mode and not for the single play story, however it’s still an impressive list of upgrades. According to Rockstar, "GTA V" will “take full advantage of the power” of the new systems leading to unprecedented level of detail and will include a plethora of extra content, including new jobs, weapons, vehicles, and even new player customization options. The game will also reportedly add a video editor, playing off the popularity of theater modes in games like “Halo” or “Call of Duty.” In addition to all of this, a more detailed list of extra features was posted:

• A brand new first person mode for vehicles that shows the interior of the vehicle, including working speedometers, tachometers, dash lights, and more

• A brand new first person mode while on foot

• A wealth of new Easter eggs and random events for Story Mode

• New animals roaming Los Santos

• Animals in GTA Online?

• Players that transfer characters from Xbox 360 or PS3 will receive free new weapons and a free garage in GTA Online.

• Newly overhauled character selection screen

This list seems extremely plausible, especially because many of these features have been requested by fans. The first person mode has never been a part of a Grand Theft Auto game, which started its roots in a top down view and eventually moved to third person beginning with the highly acclaimed “Grand Theft Auto III” and never looked back. Still, a first person option has always been absent from the retail release despite many mods for the PC version allowing the view from a different perspective. The theater mode has been in high demand, especially during “Grand Theft Auto IV” because of exploits like the swing set glitch creating crazy antics.

Remember to take all of this with a grain of salt. None of it can currently be verified beyond word-of-mouth and the fact that Rockstar pulled it from their website tells us… well, nothing. Maybe the information wasn’t supposed to be out yet, so they pulled it. Maybe the information was entirely wrong and placed online by a disgruntled Rockstar employee wanting to create false hope. Unfortunately, there’s no way of knowing until Rockstar officially confirms it or the game launches coming Nov 18. It still doesn’t hurt to hope, though.

[09.16.14] Microsoft buys ‘Minecraft’ creator Mojang, founders leave studio

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

After rumors floating around about a potential buyout for the last week, confirmation has finally arrived. Microsoft’s head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, announced in the early hours of Sept 15 that Mojang was officially joining the list of Microsoft-owned studios. This group already included 343 Industries, Turn 10 Studios, and Lionhead Studios who have developed the blockbuster franchises of Halo, Forza, and Fable respectively. With that in mind, adding Mojang to the collection seems like a no-brainer in retrospect. However this big purchase – an astounding $2.5 billion, to be exact – doesn’t come without some big changes.

About seven months ago, the creator of “Flappy Bird” decided he couldn’t handle the fame or publicity brought on by his immensely successful game and subsequently pulled it from the market in an attempt to drop from the limelight. Now, with the acquisition by Microsoft, founder and creator, Markus “Notch” Persson, says his project has grown beyond his comfort level. In an intimate letter to fans, Notch says he doesn’t believe himself to be a “real game developer” and “never meant for it” to change games. He also says that he makes games “because it’s fun”, but doesn’t do so “with the intention of them becoming big hits.” The letter ends with “It’s not about the money. It’s about my sanity.”

“I don’t see myself as a real game developer. I make games because it’s fun, and because I love games and I love to program, but I don’t make games with the intention of them becoming huge hits, and I don’t try to change the world. Minecraft certainly became a huge hit, and people are telling me it’s changed games. I never meant for it to do either. It’s certainly flattering, and to gradually get thrust into some kind of public spotlight is interesting.”

This really isn’t a huge shock, as Notch actually stepped down from head developer back in December 2011. He turned the reigns over to another Swedish developer, Jens “Jeb_” Bergensten, who has lead the charge ever since. Jeb_ has also confirmed via Twitter that he will remain at the helm through this deal with Microsoft. In his departure, Notch wished the best for Minecraft and the community.

“I love you. All of you. Thank you for turning Minecraft into what it has become, but there are too many of you, and I can’t be responsible for something this big. In one sense, it belongs to Microsoft now. In a much bigger sense, it’s belonged to all of you for a long time, and that will never change.”

Mojang has confirmed that Microsoft has no ill-intent with this purchase and that development will continue on largely unaffected. The development across all platforms will continue, assuming those companies reciprocate the support. They cited their working relationship – since the launch on Xbox 360 in 2012 – as the basis for going with Microsoft over other potential buyers.

“There are only a handful of potential buyers with the resources to grow Minecraft on a scale that it deserves. We’ve worked closely with Microsoft since 2012, and have been impressed by their continued dedication to our game and its development. We’re confident that Minecraft will continue to grow in an awesome way.”

Much like Amazon’s acquisition of Twitch last month, this really only looks to benefit the studio by placing more power behind the already successful product. Although there are uncertainties about who may be developing what and where projects in limbo may end up, Mojang has no worries about a hostile takeover by Microsoft.

“Change is scary, and this is a big change for all of us. It’s going to be good though. Everything is going to be OK. <3. Please remember that the future of Minecraft and you – the community – are extremely important to everyone involved. If you take one thing away from this post, let it be that. 

[08.26.14] Amazon acquires Twitch

Twitch

Earlier today, Emmett Shear, CEO of Twitch, sent out an email to users announcing that, as of Aug 25, popular streaming service Twitch has officially been acquired by Amazon. Initially posted on the Twitch Blog, “A Letter from Twitch CEO Emmett Shear” starts out by celebrating the over 3 years of existence that Twitch has now had. He praises the community for the continued dedication and support and attribute that to the immense success that Twitch has had over the years.

“Together with you, we’ve found new ways of connecting developers and publishers with their fans. We’ve created a whole new kind of career that lets people make a living sharing their love of games. We’ve brought billions of hours of entertainment, laughter, joy and the occasional ragequit. I think we can all call that a pretty good start.”

From there, he goes on to state that they have “chosen” Amazon because “they believe in our community, they share our values and long-term vision, and they want to help us get there faster.” Shear insists that most everything – offices, employees, brand, and independence – will stay the same; and that Amazon is simply there to support in the continued growth of Twitch. Staying true to himself and the company, Shear closes the email by thanking the community and saying “It’s dangerous to go alone. On behalf of myself and everyone else at Twitch, thank you for coming with us.”

Amazon’s acquisition is yet another interesting chapter in the development of Twitch. This is the third major announcement to come out of August for Twitch. Earlier in the month, they announced major changes to their services, and then subsequently recanted them within just a few days. At the time, there was no mention of Amazon, although there had been talks of either Google or Yahoo making a purchase. It’s probably a good thing, though, as they were under fire for their partnership with Audible Magic and the plans to rework storage for streams. Fortunately, those changes were put back on track leaving users, in the very least, satisfied with the compromise.

In all honesty, the acquisition by Amazon won’t appear to mean much beyond some behind the scenes changes, at least in the beginning. In some ways, it could be viewed as nothing more than a major server upgrade. In the long run, though, it looks to be a positive growth for Twitch. Both companies are arguably industry leaders in their own right. It’s exciting to think about what the companies could create together, moving forward. Who knows, maybe eventually that Amazon Prime account will translate to a free Turbo upgrade on Twitch!

[08.20.14] 'Flappy Bird' creator returns with new game announcement

It's been a while since anything has been heard from the creator of “Flappy Bird.” Finally, though, Dong Nguyen and .GEARS Studios have broken their silence and announced a brand new game that will be releasing later this week. It’s time to get addicted and frustrated all over again with the release of “Swing Copters” on Aug 21.

"Flappy Bird" goes viral

Back in February, a little game called “Flappy Bird” took the world by storm, blowing up almost overnight in popularity. Thousands of Tweets and Facebook posts seem to take over the social networking sites thanks to players expressing their frustration with the difficulty and inability to put the game down.The immense success, oddly enough, caused the creator to make the decision to remove "Flappy Bird" from the marketplace. Nguyen said he simply “cannot take this anymore” and went ahead with the decision to pull the title from app stores.

Potential legal issues

There were many accusations regarding the art direction of the title, as many of the assets seemed to be “borrowed” from Nintendo’s “Super Mario World.” Although not everything appears to be from the game, a lot of the sprites are clearly similar to those in "Super Mario World," if not possibly directly taken from. In fact, it's downright impossible to look at "Flappy Bird" and not instantly thing "Mario" when familiar with both games. Nguyen defended himself saying it was essentially a tribute to the game, much like the way that musicians often sample other songs that have inspired them.

"I just cannot keep it anymore"

This led many to question if the game was secretly being removed due to copyright from Nintendo. With artwork so strikingly similar and the absurd amount of press the game was receiving, naturally the conclusion would be drawn that someone at Nintendo would see the game and threaten legal action. Nguyen insisted that it had nothing to do with legal implications and he was removing the game for personal reasons. Again, he referenced the strain the publicity was taking on him and insisted that he just “cannot keep it anymore.”

"They are overusing it"

To justify the removal, Nguyen stated that the game was too addictive in nature and he was worried that people were “overusing it.” In an Interview with Rolling Stone, Nguyen elaborated, explaining that he was receiving thousands of messages from people about how the game was destroying their lives. People losing property or even losing their jobs because of the addiction, something Nguyen took to heart. In High school, he struggled with testing because of an addiction to the game “Counter Strike.” That was the moment he realized it had to go. However, this doesn’t mean it won’t be returning. He also revealed that he was working on a new version of “Flappy Bird” which will have warnings and insist players take the occasional break. No word on when that will be releasing.

"Swing Copters" has been announced

Dong Nguyen

Fast forward to Aug 18 when, out of the blue, Nguyen drops a brand new game via Twitter. It’s called “Swing Copters,” and the formula looks very familiar. It’s somewhat of a vertical take on the “Flappy Bird” game, only with an added level of difficulty. TouchArcade received a hands on exclusive with the game and released some video of the gameplay. You play as a little orange character wearing a propeller hat. As the character flies up into the air, he also starts to move in one direction - either to the left or to the right. The player then taps the screen to switch his sweeping flight path in the opposite direction. This is done repeatedly to keep the character wiggling back and forth as he automatically moves upward at the same time. Just like in “Flappy Bird,” players attempt to navigate through an endless series of gates, only now there is a slight twist. To make the already-seemingly-impossible a little harder, Nguyen added swinging hammers below each vertical gate, further blocking the path and increasing the difficulty. Each gate equals one point and the game will use the same medal system as “Flappy Bird.” In fact, the overall presentation is virtually identical… minus the flying fish, that is.

"Swing Copters" release date: Aug 21

“Swing Copters” will release tomorrow, Aug 21, on Android and iOS as a free download. If you can’t stand to wait that long to get another “Flappy Bird” fix, or if vertical flight just isn’t your thing, check out this list of “Flappy Bird” alternatives to find out which ones you should and shouldn’t download.

[08.14.14] New ‘RollerCoaster Tycoon’ title coming to PC early 2015

Yesterday, Aug 13, Atari announced the return of the beloved “RollerCoaster Tycoon” series as a PC title with a teaser for the upcoming “RollerCoaster Tycoon World” due out in early 2015. Atari promises this will be a full-fledged effort to bring the series back to its established roots featuring a combination of fan-favorite features and completely new gameplay elements. The game will include a more innovative track builder, more rides than ever before, and all-new cooperative multiplayer functions in addition to the classic single-player modes. Most importantly, developers Pipeworks – who are the minds behind games such as WSOP: Full House Pro for Xbox 360 and Zumba Fitness for PS3, Wii, and 360 – promise the release will be a full premium PC experience, meaning it will be completely micro-transaction free.

According to Atari CEO Fred Chesnais, “Many of the new features in ‘RollerCoaster Tycoon World’ were not possible a few years ago.” Thanks to advancements in technology, fans can now look forward to visiting other player-created parks, share blueprints of coasters, and chose from multiple landscapes to build upon. In addition to the classic single-player mode full of ride designing and deep simulation, players will be able to collaborate with up to four players to create one massive amusement park together.

This marks the sixth title overall in the “RollerCoaster Tycoon” series. After the original “Chris Sawyer” Trilogy and an eight-year hiatus, fans were thrilled to hear that Atari had plans to reboot the series with an all new version of the game for the Nintendo 3DS. Unfortunately, it fell a little short of fan expectations and received mainly negative reviews from the critics. In response, Atari decided to move the development to a mobile platform, releasing “RollerCoaster Tycoon 4” exclusively on iOS. This title was more successful, however its heavy use of micro-transactions were heavily criticized. This must be what ultimately led to the decision to return to PC, as the interest was clearly there, but hardcore fans of the series wanted the classic titles they know and love. Although much information really hasn’t been released, the train of through looks very promising for those looking for a trip down memory lane.

[08.14.14] Robin Williams to be immortalized in 'World of Warcraft'

Following the heart-wrenching news of Robin Williams passing a few days ago, a small glimmer of happiness shines through with William’s getting one last opportunity to leave a lasting impact on the world. After a petition on Change.org to memorialize Williams in "World of Warcraft" garnered thousands of signatures, Blizzard responded on Aug 12 and granted the wish of fans.

Williams was an outspoken member of "World of Warcraft" and an avid gamer. He even named his daughter after one of gaming’s most iconic princesses, Zelda. Many members of the gaming community wanted to see a tribute to him because of his support for gaming in the form of a non-playable character within the World of Warcraft universe. "Because of his presence within our community, we the players of 'World of Warcraft' are asking Blizzard to kindly create an NPC within the game that memorializes the actor/comedian," the petition reads. The idea is to have the likeness of Williams perform some of his most iconic jokes “so that he may continue making us smile long after his passing.”

Cue the official @Warcraft Twitter handle crying victory for the thousands of supporters.

.@robinwilliams Thank you. You gave us so much joy in our lives, and we hope you enjoyed your time in our world. We’ll see you in-game.

Blizzard assured that William’s character “will be handled with great care” however didn’t release any more details on when or where his character will be making his debut performance.

[08.09.14] Twitch reworks controversial policy changes

Twitch

Earlier in the week, popular streaming site Twitch sent out two emails stating some pretty major changes to their services. These changes received instant backlash from the streaming community including several major broadcasters threatening to change sites. In the late hours of Aug 7, Twitch again posted to their blog stating that they have heard the major outcry from the internet and will rethink the policy changes.

It all started on Tuesday when Justin.TV shut down. What was originally the host of Twitch now has a giant “goodbye” page thanking users for seven years of content and community (Users can request to transfer their account to Twitch for full site use, however a request must be submitted by Friday, Sept 5 using this form). The following day, Twitch sent out the first email announcing the changes to the VOD storage system.

Starting Aug 27, previously archived broadcasts would be removed from Twitch servers. From this point on, archives would last 14 days for all standard broadcasters and 60 days for Partners and Turbo Subscribers. Highlights would still be saved indefinitely, however they would now be limited to a two hour timeframe. The idea behind this was to cut storage costs, and with the advanced notice, ideally users could export previous broadcasts to YouTube or any other service of their choice.

Only five hours later, a second email was sent out regarding an update to the audio recognition software before the ramifications of the initial announcement could even really be felt. Twitch has partnered with Audible Magic in an effort to “help broadcasters avoid the storage of videos containing unauthorized third-party audio.” This new service scans all past and future VODs for in-game and ambient music in 30-minute blocks. When the “Flagged Content” is detected, the affected portion of the VOD are muted and volume controls are removed for that entire half hour section. There will also be an on-screen notification letting users know the video has been flagged under suspicion of copyrighted audio. The most important part is this process will only be applied to the VODs and will not affect or cause the take down of a live broadcast.

Viewers and broadcasters alike took to the internet to voice their extreme dissatisfaction with the announced changes. Well-known broadcaster Cosmo Wright completely pulled out of Twitch in favor of rival services while many users utilized Twitter or Thursday’s AMA on /r/Twitch to voice their displeasure. That’s when Twitch realized it clearly needed to make some tweaks.

Twitch released a statement on The Official Blog announcing two important revisions with the promise of “more to come.”

Over the last two days, you've provided us with an incredible amount of feedback about the new Video Manager, VOD storage, and Audio Recognition system. We take your opinions very seriously, and we’re acting on your concerns.

First, effective tonight, the maximum time limit on highlights will be removed. You will once again be able to create highlights of any length and they will be saved indefinitely.

Secondly, we’re deploying an “appeal” button for VODs that have been flagged for copyrighted music by the new Audio Recognition system. We recognize that the system is not yet perfect. We want to make this system as fair and unobtrusive as possible, and we greatly appreciate your help.

Thank you again for all of your comments, tweets, emails, messages, and for taking part in Emmett’s AMA. We read all of your feedback and we take it seriously. Expect more changes, more clarity, and more improvements on our recent updates in the days to come.

While retracting the limit on highlights was appreciated, it was obvious the same would not be done for the new audio recognition service. Instead, the mere consolation prize of an “appeal” button maintains the mantra of “guilty until proven innocent” that Google set forth with YouTube. While the company may recognize it as a significant cost-cutter, to users it comes off as lazy and disrespectful. Why does the appeal process fall on the user when a service that focuses on streaming games will likely flag frequently for in-game audio. Shouldn't the process revolve around flagging for Twitch to review and ultimately determine where copyright has been broken?

Never-the-less, the effort to make changes is still a promising outlook, especially with the confirmation that there are more changes on the horizon. Hopefully, these will be more changes for the good.

[07.16.14] Pebble receives exclusive game ‘Pixel Miner’

Pebble

It may seem strange to think that a watch could have a game, let alone an exclusive game. Today, on July 16, 2014 however, the Pebble Smart Watch received a brand new exclusive “Pixel Miner” from free-to-play game designer and author, Will Luton.

“Pixel Miner” is an adorable little game where you mindlessly dig for an eternity in an attempt to set the highest score possible while digging as deep as you can. Conveniently, this comes at little effort to you as your own personal miner will do all the digging for you. You really only have two jobs, which are to check in on him at least once every two hours – as he falls asleep otherwise – and to spend your glorious earnings he has compiled on your behalf.

As your miner digs, you receive credit for each pixel he removes. In addition to that, there are also various treasures buried which the miner will occasionally unearth. Once obtained, these can be sold and converted into pixels as well. These collected pixels can now be spent on equipment and multipliers to improve the efficiency of your miner. This circuit continues as you unlock better equipment, bigger multipliers, and earn more credits, faster.

While being a largely hands-off experience, you can still help out by “boosting” your miner with a button press. This will double the rate at which he collects pixels and last about two seconds. It’s virtually limitless, however requires you to physically press the button each time. Beyond that, the large part of you experience will be managing inventory and upgrades. The gameplay is nothing groundbreaking, but it’s a solid formula which creates the perfect experience for something on a watch. Not to mention the image of your little miner with a pair of Wolverine claws or chugging along in his personal excavator is worth a chuckle and a small sense of pride.

It’s a completely free download to those with a Pebble Smart Watch, so check it out on the Pebble Store or visit the link here.

[06.09.14] Xbox E3 2014 Media Briefing

Crowds gather at the Xbox E3 2014 Media Briefing at the Galen Center on Monday, June 9, 2014 in Los Angeles

Photo: Matt Sayles, Invision for Microsoft. Used with permission.

It's officially underway - The 2014 Xbox Media Briefing just happened earlier this morning as a part of the Electronic Entertainment Expo’s lineup for Monday, June 9, and this time around it's all about the games. All throughout the conference, there were videos that featured key gaming icon's favorite games as well as tweets for any presenter’s favorites. What exactly does Microsoft have up their sleeves, especially after the long string of announcements leading up to E3? Hopefully there is plenty of new information left to spill and they haven't run out yet. Take a look now at this year’s play-by-play recap of the entire Xbox World Media Briefing.

The conference launched with Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) giving a speech about how great it's been for the gaming community and made a nice nod to both Sony and Nintendo citing their achievements and proceeded to thank Xbox gamers for their involvement in shaping Xbox into what it is today. He then announced that this conference will focus entirely on games and nothing else. The mission: To make Xbox the best place to play games this generation.

A trailer for "Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare" starts playing and the announcement is made that, once again, all content will come to Xbox first. A drop-pod with multiple troops in it crashes out of the sky and into a skyscraper, showcasing the incredible visuals. The trailer also demonstrated the new exoskeleton suit soldiers will wear to help them traverse the battlefield more efficiently and all the crazy new weapons, including grenades with propellers attached to them.

Dan Greenwalt, the Creative Director at Turn 10, takes the stage to talk about "Forza 5". The Nurburgring has been recreated with extreme detail - down to the millimeter - and is now available free for "Forza 5" owners to download. He then passes the stage off to Ralph Fulton, Playground Game's Creative Director to talk about "Forza Horizon 2." Read more about that here.

A trailer for "Evolve" starts playing showcasing the incredible graphics. As expected, you'll be able to fight with a class-based system with traditional classes such as assault or medic. However, you can also play as the monster against a team of 4 as well. Finally, the Beta will be available exclusively on Xbox One and all DLC will arrive first.

Vincent Pontbriand, the Senior Producer at Ubisoft, debuts a trailer for "Assassin's Creed: Unity." Players will be Marquis De Bullion and will fight alongside the French Revolution. It will features 100's of quests and secrets to find. For the first time ever, you can create your own brotherhood and play with up to three others cooperatively.

A world premier trailer for "Dragon Age Inquisition" is shown, with an announcement of a release on October 7. Also, as probably expected by now, all DLC will be available first on Xbox One.

"Sunset Overdrive" takes the stage with a trailer that showcases the ridiculous game play, colorful visuals, and over-the-top humor which the game has become known for. The trailer gives a little of the back story, explaining how contaminated energy drinks have led to people becoming mutants and caused a war to erupt. Out walks Ted Price, the Founder and CEO & Insomniac Games. He provides a little more knowledge and a game play demo showing off the unconventional weaponry and arcade-like design, reminiscent of "Lollipop Chainsaw." He also explains that players will be able to fully customize their own in-game characters and proceeded to announce Chaos Squad, and 8 player cooperative mode.

Falling right in line with the wackiness comes the funniest trailer of the conference, the announcement of “Super Ultra Deadrising 3 Arcade Remix Hyper Edition EX α.” This brand new DLC for “Deadrising 3” is a nod to Capcom’s “31th” Anniversary and features four player cooperative gameplay and tons of Capcom-themed costumes for players to choose from. Best of all, it’s available right now.

Alex Rigopolous, the Creative Director from Harmonix, comes to the stage to talk a little bit about the upcoming game “Fantasia: Music Evolved.” He then proceeds to make the exciting announcement that the insanely popular “Dance Central” franchise will be making its return very soon in the form of a digital-only Xbox exclusive called “Dance Central Spotlight.” The game features an all original soundtrack and brand-new technology which is going to allow them to deliver new songs to the game faster than ever before. It will be available sometime this fall.

Also making its return soon is “Fable Legends” as announced by Lionhead’s Game Director, David Eckelberry. A small gameplay demo was shown displaying a very familiar gameplay style with cranked up visuals and a slight twist. Now, you have the ability to play as the villain. This turns the game into more of a top-down RTS tower-defense game where you set up and control every trap you want to make for the players. The beta for “Fable Legends” will be available this fall exclusively on Xbox One.

A playful trailer for “Project Spark” (currently available as a free Beta on Xbox One) is shown, centralizing around the immense creative power the game allows. It debuts two big announcements. Their will now be new galaxies for players to create and play in, adding to the list of themes already available. As the logo flashes on the screen, and all-to-familiar squirrel comes out with a chainsaw in hand and slices the logo in half. He then says “Almost 10 years without a game, guess we’ll have to make our own!” Available exclusively on Xbox One this fall will be a Conker pack courtesy of Rare.

A brief trailer for a new game and exclusive is shown. “Ori and the Blind Forrest” is a very pretty side-scrolling platformer out of Moon Studios. No word on release date yet.

Suddenly the Halo theme fills the air and a trailer for “Halo 5: Guardians” begins. It continues on right from where he was left in the previous trailer, floating around in space with a giant mine. A closer look is taken at the all-new character featured in the promotional art for “Halo 5: Guardians”. The trailer ends with the words “Your Journey Begins” as 343’s Studio Head Bonnie Ross takes the stage. She explains that “Halo 5: Guardians” will focus on a self-reflective journey for Masterchief as he tries to discover who he really is. Ross then makes a big announcement and passes the stage off to Dan Ayoub, the Executive Producer behind the next game in the Halo franchise.

“Halo: The Masterchief Collection” has 4 games packed into one. “Halo CE,” “Halo 2,” “Halo 3,” and “Halo 4” will all be available in one place on the Xbox One sometime this fall. It will feature one seamless interface in which the entirety of the Masterchief campaign will be unlocked and available. You can pick any of your favorite levels to play and they’ll all feature both HD visuals and the original graphics which can be toggled at the push of a button. The best part about having all of them unlocked and in one place is that players can put together a custom playlist of levels featuring all of their favorite moments in the Halo series and play them back-to-back, crafting their own unique cut of the Halo story. For the ten year anniversary of “Halo 2,” it’s getting the full anniversary treatment. All of the original multiplayer will be available exactly as it shipped ten years ago. On top of that, 6 of the iconic maps will be updated with HD visuals, including fan-favorite Ascension. “Halo: The Masterchief Collection” will also come with over 100 multiplayer levels out of the box, featuring every single map that has ever been released across all four of the games. This will be in 1080p and 60 FPS. The game will also tote 4000 potential Gamerscore because of its size. Also included in the package is the “Halo Nightfall” live action series produced by Ridley Scott. Last, those who purchase “Halo: The Masterchief Collection” will gain access to the “Halo 5: Guardians” multiplayer beta this fall.

From this point on, the conference focused solely on titles in the 2015 and beyond portfolio and was rather rapid-fire.

Playdead Studios is back after four years of development with their new side-scrolling platformer “INSIDE.” It’s a very artsy game, similar to Limbo. This one will be available early 2015.

Chris Charla, the Director for ID@Xbox, took the stage with a very long trailer showcasing the massive number of indie games currently being worked on for the Xbox One.

A brief teaser-trailer announced the return of Lara Croft in “Rise of the Tomb Raider.” Much like “Halo 5: Guardians,” this looks to be a very self-reflective journey for Lara, albeit not much is revealed beyond the Holiday 2015 release window.

John Mamais, Executive Producer on “The Witcher 3” takes the stage with a brief gameplay demo. The game looks great, no other information is given.

Ken Lobb, creative director behind the Xbox One exclusive reboot “Killer Instinct” takes the stage with the announcement that he’s ready to reboot another favorite and cult-classic from the original Xbox. “Phantom Dust” is getting fully remastered with all new gameplay and visuals.

Ryan Barnard, the Game Director for “Tom Clancy’s The Division” shows off an all-new gameplay video to give a peak at the new direction of the game. The graphics look fantastic and the squad-based combat is very smooth as expected from a Tom Clancy game.

Platinumgames Inc. Creative Director Hideki Kamiya comes to the stage with an announcement for an all new Xbox Exclusive out of the company that made Bayonetta, MadWorld, and Anarchy Reigns. “Scalebound” will be a fantasy game in which players take on dragons and other creatures using magical powers.

Last, David Jones, the Creative Director at CloudGine announced the return of “Crackdown.” Not many details were given, but much of the original team is working on it and it promises a revolutionary multiplayer experience thanks to an army of dedicated servers. If the game winds up being anything close to the teaser shown, it will stick close to the crazy, over-the-top gameplay the series is known for.

To cap off the conference, Phil Spencer took the stage one last time to thank everyone for coming and voice his excitement for the future of Xbox One. To continue the evolution that Xbox has made over the last year, he announced “Xbox Feedback,” a one-stop shop for users to voice concerns, input ideas, and vote on what they want the future of Xbox to be. Last but not least, the Xbox One without Kinect is available today for $399.

If you didn’t get a chance to watch the Xbox World Media Briefing, it is available now to watch on demand here.

[06.03.14] Xbox exclusive ‘Forza Horizon 2’ announced

Turn 10 Studios

Yet another announcement rolls out from Microsoft prior to the Electronic Entertainment Expo, this time concerning one of their flagship titles, “Forza”. On Monday, June 1, Turn 10 and Playground Games revealed that “Forza Horizon 2” is coming exclusively to Xbox One and Xbox 360.

“Forza Horizon” is a spin-off of the extremely popular driving simulator “Forza Motorsport” series. “Horizon” focuses on street racing as opposed to the on-track racing, but still features the customization and ultra-realistic simulation the main series is known for. “Forza Horizon 2” is going to be developed by two separate studios with Playground Games taking responsibility for the Xbox One version in collaboration with Turn 10 Studios and being built with the graphics engine of “Forza Motorsport 5” as a basis. The Xbox 360 version will be developed by Sumo Digital and will compliment the graphics engine of the first “Forza Horizon.”

The Xbox One version will feature an all new weather system and the return of the “Drivatar” system from “Forza 5.” It will also include hundreds of cars, headlined by the 2015 Lamborghini Huracán. “Forza Horizon 2” is set in Southern Europe, including the South of France and Northern Italy, and centers around a music festival. The visuals are being cranked up several notches too. In an interview with IGN, Creative Director Ralph Fulton stated, “We’ve believe next gen beauty isn’t about poly counts. It’s not about texture resolution. Those are last-gen concepts. Next-gen beauty is about light and how it plays on every surface in the world.” He goes on to further explain that the team has essentially developed a particle system to replicate the atmosphere, the way the light interacts with it, and the way light interacts with everything around because of it.

Another large improvement for “Forza Horizon 2” comes in the freedom granted to players. “Freedom’s probably the word which people use most often to talk about Horizon,” Fulton says. Playground Games felt as if the series could do more to live up to that reputation though, so the team has decided to remove the barriers that populated the track during races in the original “Forza Horizon.” According to Fulton, “We’ve taken the view that, if there isn’t a barrier in the real-world, if there isn’t a wall, there shouldn’t be one in our game. We want the player to be able to drive wherever he can in the real world.” Now, if you want to, you can veer of the road at any point and plow through a fence, launch off a hill, or strategically weave through the forest to, hopefully, shave seconds off your time.

This freedom has led to Playground Games being able to cram even more content into the game, including a multitude of collectibles, secrets and barn finds, and over 700 events. This includes a brand new “cross country” race event in which up to 12 vehicles can tear up the countryside. Fulton says this feature developed organically from the removal of barriers, as racers would go off-roading to save time and then exclaim how “You’ve gotta include this in the game.” From this same notion spawned an all new series of challenges titled “The Bucket List.” As these dares became more and more ridiculous, they started compiling them and including them in the game. Players will find cars staged throughout the map and will receive challenges upon approaching them. At the time of release, there are already going to be two full bucket lists available to take on, and more will be made available free post launch.

To continue to encourage you to find different ways to drive, “Forza Horizon 2” will now account for driving with style alongside driving with skill. It’s not all about technical racing, sometimes it’s about looking cool too. This means even if you come in last place but still drive a very stylish race, you can earn substantial XP for your efforts. Now, chaining together a set of skills not only earns you XP, but also helps you gain perks for driving, giving you unique advantages and enhancing the gameplay.

Of course, thanks to the Drivatars, this will continue to become more difficult as you now have to outdrive your friends, whether online or off, as opposed to just outsmarting driving AI. This transition between online and offline has become exceptionally smoother too. Much like they removed the barriers from the road, Playground Games wanted to remove the barriers between solo and online modes and seamlessly integrate them together. Now, if you’re smack in the middle of a challenge fighting through traffic and taking on a drivatar, with the press of a button you can transition right into an online world full of live interactions without dropping what you’re doing. In a matter of seconds, the camera pans around the car while its barreling down the road and everything updates to a brand new environment on a dedicated server with other players who are also already in action. The goal is for the game to have one “unified structure,” whether it be offline with drivatars or online with friends. According to Dan Greenwalt, creative director at Turn 10, “The thing we’re really trying to do as a studio is to create a home for all racers on Xbox One.

[05.17.14] Microsoft unveils ‘Halo 5’ and more

This has been an insanely busy week for Microsoft, which most recently peaked with today’s reveal of the next game in the long-standing Halo series. In addition to that, there was more exciting news for everyone, Xbox One and Xbox 360 owners alike, with or without a Gold subscription. June marks the start of some monumental changes regarding Games with Gold, Deals of the Week, and entertainment on Xbox One and Xbox 360. There’s even something out there for those who haven’t quite made the jump to Xbox One.

Xbox One without Kinect

Microsoft

Beginning June 9th, a $399 version of the Xbox One will be available without the Kinect in all areas the Xbox One is already available. Outside of games that require the Kinect, the console will still have the same access to all other titles, entertainment apps, and features such as Live TV. Users will, however, lose access to anything tied to the Kinect, such as biometric sign in, voice commands, motion commands, and other small “features” such as getting a technical in NBA 2K14 when you’re swearing at your TV. Picking this Xbox is really a full commitment right now, as the Kinect is not currently available as a standalone unit. It can only be speculated that it will launch with a price around $150 much like its predecessor did. As of right now, the only thing confirmed is the standalone Kinect will launch sometime this fall.

Changes to Gold

Microsoft

Also starting in June, lots of changes are coming to those with an Xbox Live Gold membership. Taking a nod from PlayStation Plus, Microsoft will offer subscription-based access to titles ranging from the latest blockbusters to indie hits. The first month will kick off with “Max: The Curse of Brotherhood” and “Halo: Spartan Assault.” Included with this is also the free games for the Xbox 360 as well, which is offering up a bonus title to celebrate the one-year anniversary. “Dark Souls,” “Charlie Murder,” and “Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition” will all be available free during the month of June.

Deals with Gold will also launch for Xbox One, starting in June, and is set to include “Forza Motorsport 5,” “Ryse: Son of Rome,” and “a few other surprises.” Microsoft also teased savings “up to 50 – 75 percent off certain titles.” Much like Games with Gold, Deals with Gold on Xbox One will be a supplement to the continuing Xbox 360 deals. The Xbox One will launch a “virtual VIP room” exclusive to those with a Gold Subscription which will feature “free games, monthly deals, and other great benefits” although there is no explicit detail on what exactly this all entails.

For those without a Gold Subscription, any Xbox One or Xbox 360 with an internet connection will now have access to most of the entertainment apps on Xbox Live. This means users with a Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime can stream using the Xbox 360 or Xbox One without having to purchase a Gold Subscription. This has been a long-requested feature for many and it’s another great sign that Microsoft is really listening to what the consumer wants.

Halo 5

Microsoft

The pinnacle of Microsoft’s announcement spree came with the naming of the next gen Halo experience. “Halo 5: Guardians” will be the next title in the Reclaimer Saga and the first on Xbox One. 343 Industries has promised that this Halo will bigger and more powerful than the effort that was “Halo 4”. “Halo 5: Guardians” will feature a brand new engine and will be heavily influenced by user feedback and comments from previous titles. It’s currently slated for a “Fall 2015” release window, which will coincide with the “Halo” television series which is being produced by Steven Spielberg. The story will run independent from the game, however there may be the occasional tie-in. More details are to be released during the E3 2014 Media Briefing on June 9 on the “journey” that Halo will be taking. Microsoft has emphasized that this “journey” begins with a “giant leap, rather than one small step.”

Halo: The Master Chief Collection

Microsoft

Perhaps this “giant leap” could be the recently rumored HD collection expected to be called “Halo: The Master Chief Collection.” Although nothing has been confirmed yet by Microsoft, Engadget made a bold claim today stating that they learned about a massive HD collection to be released on the Xbox One which will contain all four of the previous “Halo” titles staring The Master Chief himself. This means it won’t include “Halo Reach,” “Halo Wars,” or any of the other spin-off titles. It’s rumored to be developed by Saber Interactive, the same company that handled “Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary,” as they currently have an unannounced Halo project for Xbox One in the works. There’s no details on what exactly will be included as far as content goes, but it’s guaranteed that it will contain updated graphics for all of the campaigns, and we can only hope the same treatment will be done for multiplayer as well.

[04.27.14] Microsoft uncovers ‘E.T.’ burial site

Microsoft

It’s an urban legend 30 years in the making. You’ve probably heard from a friend who heard from a friend who knows a guy who worked at Atari, and he said that a long time ago, a little game called “E.T.” cost the company a lot of money, so they went ahead and buried millions of copies somewhere in New Mexico. Yesterday, Xbox Entertainment Studios in collaboration with Fuel Entertainment set out to uncover the truth behind this myth, and they managed to dig up just that.

At about 1 p.m. local time, the myth was confirmed as the dig crew discovered the first “E.T.” cartridge with many more to follow soon after. Other Atari assets were also uncovered during the dig, including joysticks and copies of Centipede, Space Invaders, and Asteroids. Buckets of games were uncovered during the dig and there’s speculation that many, many more boxes of games still rest below. The conditions of the game varied from being just the cartridge to fully pack in shrink-wrap. Considering they were buried in the dirt for 30 years, a lot of them came out in surprisingly good condition, probably due to the rather dry conditions of the area.

The entire excavation is being chronicled in a documentary series produced by Lightbox and directed by Zak Penn (“Avengers,” “X-men 2”) for Xbox Entertainment Studios. “Atari: Game Over” will be aired exclusively on Xbox One and Xbox 360 sometime in 2014. Until then, Xbox Wire will continue to cover the dig as more information becomes available.

[04.09.14] Spearhead Games announces tournament playtest at PAX East

Spearhead Games

Yesterday, independent developer Spearhead Games announced their plans to demo upcoming game “Project Cyber” with its first live playtest and tournament at PAX East. “Project Cyber” is a physic-based 3 vs 3 soccer-inspired battle game set in a steampunk universe.

In “Project Cyber,” players choose from a variety of characters each with their own unique skill set to assemble a 3-man team. These teams compete in a dystopian battle arena which dynamically changes as the game goes on. Various events such as earthquakes and gravity shifts can completely reconfigure the maps on the fly. These events aren’t completely random, though.

“Through ‘Project Cyber,’ we’re exploring the concept of e-sport spectators being able to affect the player experience like in a real live sport,”

said Malik Boukhira, co-founder of Spearhead Games. “At PAX we’ll be showing off new dynamic in-game events that, eventually, live-streaming viewers will be able to trigger with their votes! The possibilities for this technology are endless, and we’ll be soliciting more thoughts about it at the Unreal Engine Epic booth.”

Even if you don’t have the chance to make it to PAX East, you can still have influence on the game. The entire development process has been open to the public, and already over 50,000 players have requested Steam Keys to check out the new title and share their own feedback on the game progress. To grab one, simply head to http://spearheadgames.ca. You can also share ideas on Twitch weekdays at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

[04.04.14] Amazon enters streaming race with ‘Fire TV’

Amazon

Yesterday, Amazon announced the upcoming release of their own game console, sort of. The Amazon “Fire TV” is really more of a set-top streaming box with gaming capabilities that competes with the likes of Apple TV or the Roku. However, this new device packs quite the punch behind it, giving it the possibility to match up against the gaming capabilities of the Roku 3 or, maybe, even the Ouya. According to Amazon’s press release, the Fire TV has “over 3x the processing power and 4x the memory of Apple TV, Chromecast, or Roku 3 for exceptional speed and fluidity”. It will utilize Amazon’s full catalog of videos, apps, and games, including a multitude of popular titles such as “Minecraft” or “NBA 2K14”. Currently, there are over 100 games available; some free and some paid.

ASAP

Everything about the Fire TV is intended to give you the fastest, most enjoyable experience of any set-top box. It comes pre-registered, meaning as soon as you plug it into your TV and connected to your wifi, you’re instantly ready to browse the entire catalog that Amazon has to offer. It will utilize Advance Streaming and Prediction, or ASAP, to help get you to what you want to watch, perhaps before you even realize you want to watch it. When you have something specific in mind, you won't have to scroll through a clunky menu using an awkward keyboard to find it, all you'll need to do is hold the Fire TV remote control up to your mouth and tell it what you want to watch.

Fire TV Services

Amazon doesn’t tote Fire TV as a gadget, but rather a “seamlessly integrated service”. It will take advantage of “Whisper Sync” so you can start watching a movie on your Kindle Fire on the way to office, continue the experience at your desk, and then pick of where you left off on your Fire TV at home in bed. The Fire TV will make it easy for you to stream from any of your favorite service, including Hulu, Netflix, Pandora, or iHeartRadio. If you prefer, you can also stream from your personal collection on your TV and even display slideshows on the TV.

Amazon

Obviously you’ll also have access to the full library of Prime videos and shows with your Amazon Prime subscription; however, Amazon is offering a new kids-only service with limitless access to thousands of movies and TV shows targeted specifically at those aged 3 to 8. There are also integrated parental controls which include time limits that can be tweaked to the time of day and even types of content. “FreeTime Unlimited” releases starting next month for a monthly fee of $2.99 per kid or $6.99 for unlimited family use.

Fire TV Controller

Amazon

If you really want to up your gaming capability with the Fire TV, Amazon actually designed a traditional gaming controller which somewhat resembles a hybrid of the Xbox One and Wii U Pro Controller and doubles the number of games you can play on your Fire TV. It’s completely wireless, runs off of 2 AA batteries, and claims to have a 55-hour battery life thanks to auto-sleep and instant-wake features built into the controller. In addition to the now-standard dual joystick layout, the controller features integrated and dedicated media buttons. Amazon has also developed its own universal game service called “GameCircle” which lets you track your progress and achievements across games and compare your scores with your friends or globally on leaderboards. The controller costs $39.99, however due to unexpected demand, it’s currently on back-order.

The Amazon Fire TV is currently available for $99.00 exclusively on Amazon.com.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com and as one half of Grinning Moth Productions. 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

[03.06.14] ‘Watch Dogs’ new release date confirmed

Ubisoft

Today, Ubisoft published a brand new trailer for the previously delayed “Watch Dogs” which seems to have confirmed the official release date. At the end of the trailer, the date 27.05.14 is displayed indicating that May 27th will be the official world-wide release date for this highly anticipated title which came out as a tremendous surprise from E3 a couple years back.

In addition to the release date came confirmation that PlayStation will be receiving some exclusive content. Players who purchase either the PlayStation 3 or PlayStation 4 versions of “Watch Dogs” will be treated to an additional 60 minutes of exclusive in-game content which can be downloaded at a later date via the PlayStation Network.

“Watch Dogs” will release on May 27th for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC internationally, however those with a Wii U will have to wait longer. It is planned for development, however the decision to pick up a Wii U version was decided much later in the developmental cycle cause additional delays to the platform. Ubisoft has yet to confirm an official release date for the Wii U version.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com and as one half of Grinning Moth Productions. 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

[03.05.14] ‘Sniper Elite III’ gets release date

Rebillion, 505 Games

Almost one year from the official announcement of the highly anticipated “Sniper Elite III”, Rebellion has finally revealed the release date for the upcoming sequel today. It was originally projected as a “2014 window” for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC; however, in addition to a more specific date, new platforms were announced today as well.

It has now been revealed that “Sniper Elite III” will be available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 coming as early as July 1 in North America. If that’s not soon enough for you, you can get it four days earlier on PC when it releases internationally on both PC and consoles.

A couple preorder bonuses have also been announced for both consoles and PC. If you preorder now for consoles, you can get the “Hunt the Grey Wolf” Bonus DLC for free. If you preorder it now on PC, you’ll not only get the same DLC 4 days early too, but also get a 20% discount on the title.

If you simply can’t wait that long to get a taste of “Sniper Elite”, check out my review of “Sniper Elite V2” and then pick up a copy for yourself.

Anthony Ortale writes news and reviews on behalf of Examiner.com and as one half of Grinning Moth Productions. 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

[02.16.14] Best replacements for ‘Flappy Bird’

So it’s only been a week since the demise of “Flappy Bird” and you’re having a tough time staying afloat after the news that it has been taken down from App Stores. Well, you could always shop around on eBay for a phone that has it preinstalled, but it turns out that may not work out so well.

Fear not, it didn’t take long for a wave of replacements, knock-offs, and spiritual successors to flood the digital marketplaces. The question is, which one’s are worth getting up early for and which ones seem to have flown the coop?

Flappy Bird

.GEARS Studios

That’s right, there’s still a chance you might be able to download the original Flappy Bird. If you ever downloaded it while it was available on the marketplace, you can follow the direct links to the app and reinstall it to any of your linked devices. This works for those of you that might have replaced your phone or just deleted it because you weren’t feeling the hype and now regret it. Obviously there’s no better ‘replacement’ than the original, but if you didn’t think ahead, this one’s not an option for you. Of course, this is the internet so there are other means to acquire it… but we’re going to run this list without getting our hands dirty.

Verdict: Download it!

iOS

Android

Clumsy Bird

Candy Mobile

Merging two of the most popular games on the market, “Clumsy Bird” takes the gameplay of “Flappy Bird” and mixes it beautifully with the art style and presentation of “Angry Birds”. With the same adorable graphics and even the micro-cinematics popularized by the series, “Clumsy Bird” puts together a very impressive albeit not very original package. The physics in “Clumsy Bird” are probably the most accurate representation on this list. The gameplay is tweaked ever-so-slightly with the concept of gems used as saves like in “Temple Run”. The graphics look like a Disney-inspired take on Angry Birds. “Clumsy Bird” also take a wide screen presentation for the gameplay as opposed to the portrait orientation of “Flappy Bird”. The only thing missing is the implementation of medals, but in the very least, there is a high-score system.

Verdict: Download it!

Android

Chicken World Trip

View fullsize

Dexati

"Chicken World Trip" has a very cartoony look to it like something right out of a Warner Brother's short. Like "Clumsy Bird", it also borrows an element from "Angry Birds" however this time around it's the level by level structure for game play instead of the art style. "Chicken World Trip” does have an endless mode like the original "Flappy Bird", but you'd be awfully lucky to notice it. "Chicken World Trip" is riddled with ads, and it's incredibly distracting and frequently interrupts the flow of the game. It's clear it's more of a cash grab than an actual attempt at emulating its predecessor. Likewise, the physics are completely off, and although it uses the same 'tap-to-flap' control, the bird does anything but float the same way.

Also important to note, during the process of writing this article, this game changed its name from “Flappy Chicken” to “Chicken World Trip” and lost its iOS version, so if you had by chance downloaded this already and were wondering where the new “Chicken World Trip” game came from, now you know. Unfortunately, the name and graphics were the only things that went through a metamorphosis. The game is still terrible.

Verdict: Skip it!

Android

Floppy Bird

Thanatos Games

“Floppy Bird” is probably the most accurate representation of “Flappy Bird” on this list. The graphics are a close psychedelic reskin with the only caveat being the bird character looking more like some weird “Flappy Bird” and “Nyan Cat” hybrid animal. It uses a “trophy” system to emulate the medals and the rest of the gameplay is virtually identical. The biggest difference between “Floppy Bird” and “Flappy Bird”, however, is the level of difficulty. The gaps to fly between on “Floppy Bird” seem to be ever so slightly wider than that of the original game, making it just a bit easier to progress. All in all, it’s not a bad alternative if you’re looking for a true replacement to the game.

Verdict: Download it!

Android

Ironpants

Eduardas Klenauskis

If you’re a fan of the classic “Helicopter” flash game, this game should feel right at home. “Iron Pants” merges the gameplay of it with the level design of “Flappy Bird”. Instead of tapping to fly, you hold down on the screen to rise up and let go to float back down. It also happens at an extremely fast speed which is actually hindered by the decision to maintain the portrait style presentation that “Flappy Bird” uses. If what you’re looking for is a game that’s as phone-smashingly difficult, you’ve found your winner. Graphically, it’s a solid presentation, but because of the poor decision to forgo the landscape view, it becomes a little frustrating as the game turns into more of a battle of maintaining your position in the middle of the screen and making split second decisions as to whether or not you move up and down rather than an actual process of navigating through gates. This is made even more painful by the overly generous hit boxes on both the player model and obstacles. “Iron Pants” is still doable, and it certainly looks pretty, but too many poor decisions and an intentionally deceptive ad placement make it one of the weaker choices on this line-up.

Verdict: Skip It!

iOS

Android

Splashy Fish

Massimo Guareschi

“Splashy Fish” could be viewed as the most ‘catered-to-a-very-specific-nitch’ game that ever happened. It’s basically a “Flappy Bird” clone developed for fans of the SNES educational game “Mario Is Missing!”. OK, so it’s probably not that at all, but it’s hard to relate it to anything else when you see Cheep Cheep swimming his way through some Roman Columns in an underwater environment that graphically looks like a “Super Mario World” inspired take on the classic World 2-2 from “Super Mario Bros.” As far as level design and physics go, the game is virtually identical. The only difference really is the lack of a score screen. It does keep track of your high score, but when you fail, you’re greeted only by an 8-bit game over and a second tap restarts the game. Even without the score screen, “Splashy Fish” still manages to implement a medal system, and perhaps even manages to improve upon it by turning medals into a wearable trophy you collect as you progress through the level. Each item you collect will be worn from that point on as a trophy of your high-score progress. The overall presentation is very pretty and “Splashy Fish” benefits greatly from quality craftsman ship and the fact that, unlike a few other games on this lists, its in-game ads are anything but obtrusive. All-in-all, it’s a great example of a gaming app done right, even if it may be a knock-off. That aside, it’s tempting to say that “Splashy Fish” does “Flappy Bird” better than “Flappy Bird” does “Flappy Bird”…

Verdict: Download It!

iOS

Androi

[02.08.14] Today is your last chance to download ‘Flappy Bird’

GEARS Studio

Some people just aren’t equipped to handle the spotlight, and it looks like that’s the case for “Flappy Bird” creator Dong Nguyen. According to a Twitter conversation he had with earlier today with Luke Ryan Herbert, Nguyen said he “cannot take this anymore” and intends to take the game down from both Android and iOS marketplaces tomorrow, February 8.

Nguyen insisted “It’s not anything related to legal issues. I just cannot keep it anymore.” When asked if his decision to pull the game had anything to do with the constant scrutinization of his artwork choices, Nguyen responded with “I didn’t directly stole something. It is quite an art thing to do that :-)”

As of right now, Nguyen is adamant that the reason he’s going to remove the game from the market is not because of the success but in spite of it. He’s concerned about the addictiveness and touts that people are “overusing it”. Because of the intoxicating gameplay, “Flappy Bird” will be forever gone tomorrow, so today is your last chance to grab it. Once you download it, it’s yours to keep, but don’t expect any updates or bug fixes. To grab your piece of dissolving gaming history, check out the links below.

iOS

Android

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!

[11.22.13] Scopely giving away Skee-Ball® Machine to commemorate new app

Scopely

Not even two days out from the Nov 20 launch of Scopely’s newest title, “Skee-Ball Arcade”, the game has reached #1 status in 6 countries. Climbing to the top of both of the “Free Game” and “Free App” categories in the App Store, this marks the fourth game coming out of their network to reach #1 spot. In celebration of the launch, the developers Big Cave Games and Scopely are giving away an actual Skee-Ball machine to one lucky fan.

Skee-Ball is an arcade staple that has been entertaining millions of people for over 100 years, and this isn’t the first time it’s been brought to the mobile platform. So, outside of the fact that it soared to the top of the charts, what makes this particular version so spectacular? It puts a modern spin on the classic attraction by allowing users to play anywhere, anytime, and do it against their friends. It’s also the only app on the market to be officially licensed by the makers of Skee-Ball themselves.

“Skee-Ball Arcade” launched with five uniquely themed machines, including Classic, Galaxy, Basketball, Candy, and Pinball, each with their own set of powerups, such as:

·       Straight Shot - Rocket the ball straight down the lane

·       Lane Changer - Activates all 4x point multipliers on the lanes

·       Cluster Ball - Ball explodes into three more balls for optimal point-scoring

·       Sweet Shot - Activates all 4x point multipliers on all cups

·       Slow Time - Activates a slow-motion camera for maximum ball control

·       Triple Ball - Roll three balls at once for triple scoring

·       Multi Ball - Splits ball for double the score

Each month, Scopely will continue to add new tables and powerups.

Players can compete in daily in-game tournaments and challenge their friends via Facebook, SMS, or match up against a random player from around the world. In addition, anyone who logs into “Skee-Ball Arcade” and plays a game by Jan 17, 2014 will automatically be entered into the sweepstakes for there very own authentic Skee-Ball Machine.

“Skee-Ball Arcade” is available now as a free download on iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play|Amazon App Store).

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

[11.21.13] Hidden Variable launches sophomore effort, ‘Tic Tactics’

Hidden Variable

Award winning studio Hidden Variable, masterminds behind the mobile hit “Bag It!”, put their own spin on one of the oldest games known to man. Launching today, Nov 21, “Tic Tactics” is the classic game Tic-Tac-Toe raised to a whole new level and it utilizes the infrastructure of the popular “With Friends” series. The idea is to create a relatable yet original game that players over the age of 10 will actually want to partake in. “Tic Tactics” blends instantly-familiar gameplay with strategic, in-depth, turn-based multiplayer all presented in a very modern and sleek interface.

If you know how to play Tic-Tac-Toe, you’re already familiar with the basics of “Tic Tactics”. The twist is that your move determines where your opponent can play next. The game board consists of a 3x3 grid of Tic-Tac-Toe games on which you play traditional Tic-Tac-Toe. The catch is, when you place your move, it now requires your opponent to play their next move on the board that matches the respective location of that move. In other words, if you place your “X” in the bottom left corner of your current Tic-Tac-Toe board, it now mandates that your competition pics one of the possible moves on the Tic-Tac-Toe board that occupies the bottom left corner of the 3x3 grid of Tic-Tac-Toe boards.

“Tic Tactics” has three gameplay options to choose between so you can play how and when you want. The first option is the classic couch multiplayer. Grab a friend, a comfy seat, and select the “Pass and Play” option. Now you can play a quick game all at once while you’re waiting for your food to be served at a restaurant or waiting for your name to be called in the doctor’s office. The second option allows for shorter periods of play over a long period of time. “Random Opponent” does just what you would have guessed – it matches you up with a random opponent online to play at your own pace turn by turn against each other. This works best for playing on your breaks at work or between rounds of “Call of Duty”. The last option takes it to a slightly more personal level and allows you to play online against friends. It does this by linking with your Facebook account and allowing you to choose from your list of friends who also have the game.

“Tic Tactics” is available now on iOS and Android as a free download and is coming soon to Kindle Fire.

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