[06.15.15] Everything you need to know from the 2015 Xbox Media Briefing [E3 2015]

Microsoft

It has been quite the week leading up to E3 2015 with a steady stream of incredible reveals, leaving you wondering, “What exactly will there be to announce at E3?” From the “Fallout 4” reveal, the return of rhythm gaming, and YouTube taking on Twitch; the gaming industry is charging full speed into its biggest week of the year. Fortunately, the fun hasn’t stopped. After a great E3 kick-off courtesy of Bethesda, Microsoft starts off the console wars with their incredible lineup of announcements, and here is everything you needed to know about the 2015 Xbox Media Briefing, live from E3 2015 on Monday, June 15.

The conference begins kicks off with a montage of games, including Tomb Raider, Halo, Forza, Gears of War, and many other games. Bonnie Ross, Studio Head at 343 Studios, welcomes everyone to the conference. She starts off with, none other than, “Halo 5 Guardians.”

A new reveal trailer plays, featuring voice-overs from many characters. It introduces the storyline from many different angles, including Master Chief’s, Buck’s, and even the Covenant. It then moves into a gameplay demo. The player is playing as part of the ONI team, fighting off the covenant. Taking the role of Spartan Locke, they gather intel on the area, finding Master Chief’s assault rifle. Lots of explosions, running through the facility – everything is very much “Halo,” just prettier. The player shows off the ability to command other team members to attack a covenant ship followed by the Spartan’s new unique abilities.

Some new characters are shown, including a soldier version of the Promethean race and the gameplay demo ends. It then returns to a montage of game highlights, including a brief glimpse at the new bosses. The launch date of Oct 27, 2015 flashes on the screen and Josh Holmes takes the stage.

Holmes says this is the most ambitious “Halo” game yet. A massive, two story campaign and multiplayer maps 4 times the size of anything previous. “Halo 5” multiplayer goes by a new name – “War Zone.” The multiplayer demo will be on the show floor this week and looks to be a much larger scale team game, 24-player possibilities.

Now it’s time for an Xbox Exclusive World Premier. From Keiji Inafune and the makers of “Metroid Prime,” a unique looking adventure game. A desert environment is shown and the protagonists has a robot dog following it around. It has a very Pixar-like style. The female protagonist and her dog face off against some robot spiders, and the dog detonates himself to save the girl. All that is left is a crystal power core, which she then places in another dormant robot, bringing it to life. She possibly indicates it’s the same “dog” she just had, but in a new body. The title “Recore” is revealed with a Spring 2016 launch window. It will likely be an Xbox exclusive

Phil Spencer takes the stage, confirming that “Recore” will be an exclusive, new, first-party franchise for Xbox One. He discusses the vision for Xbox One and how Xbox continues to invest in delivering the best experience for Xbox gamers. He’s also wearing a shirt under his jacket which is just barely visible. He then reveals Xbox One has backwards compatibility! Something that wasn’t previously thought possible, now available Natively on the Xbox One. It’s part of the vision for creating the largest game library on Xbox One.

Mike Ybarra, Head of Platform Engineering, shows off backwards compatibility, including over 100 titles coming this holiday. It will support both digital downloads – which should automatically start showing up soon – as well as retail games. He then plays “Mass Effect” on Xbox One, showing that the game plays like the Xbox 360, but will utilize Xbox One features – such as screenshots or game streaming and DVR. It’s available immediately for preview members and will be available this holiday for others.

Spencer returns to the stage to talk about the “Xbox Elite Wireless Controller” coming this fall. It will have “swappable” components and “limitless customization,” essentially creating the ultimate first-party “pro” controller designed for Xbox One and Windows 10. It’s absolutely beautiful.

Todd Howard, Bethesda Game Studio’s head, takes the stage, yes on Xbox’s conference. Howard is discussing “Fallout 4,” possibly hinting at exclusive content? He’s discussing the importance of freedom in the game and is revealing more gameplay content. He goes over much of the information revealed at Bethesda’s conference, just more summarized. He also reveals a new weapon, a type of musket, and more survivors are discovered. It gives off a very “Walking Dead” kind of vibe… only futuristic and with powersuits. Howard calls it the “most ambitious game-world we have ever created” while a montage of action sequences and environments are shown off. Howard than teases a big announcement, revealing that PC Mods can be shared and played, for free, on Xbox One.

Peter Moore, COO of EA, takes the stage, mentioning his happiness with backwards compatibility and then talking about EA Access, the $5/month service only on Xbox One which gives you early access, and many games for a low price. Like always, EA titles will be released early for members and games in the vault will be rotated and can be played unlimited, and players will get discounts. All of this is repeat news. Moore announces that “Titanfall” is coming at the start of summer, “Dragon Age: Inquisition” will come later this fall. This week, All Xbox Live Gold members get free access to EA Access, only have to download the free app.

Moore than announces “Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 2.” He promises “this will be the funniest, craziest, most over the top shooter experience you’ve ever played.” After revealing it’s coming next spring, a trailer begins. It looks like the zombies have taken over and the game will now be in “Zomburbia.” A multitude of new plant and zombie characters are revealed, although the entire trailer is CGI. This time around, it looks like the plants are coming to the zombies’ house to invade.

A teaser for “Forza 6” begins, and the new GT is lowered onto the stage form the ceiling. Henry Ford III takes the stage with Dan Greenwald of Turn 10, introducing a trailer for “Forza 6.” The game looks beautiful as ever. There will now be 24-car multiplayer and it’s coming Sep 15.

Another world premier begins, from Bandai Namco and From Software, Inc. A dark and dreary environment with lots of monstrous characters is shown, and it looks like a new “Dark Souls” game is coming. A massive titan guard with a giant sword is shown, and “Dark Souls 3” flashes, with an “early 2016” release window. It will not be an exclusive

A premier trailer for “Tom Clancy’s: The Division” is shown, re-hyping what is already known about the game. It shows off, what appears to be, lots of in-engine graphics and the game looks great. It appears to take place in the heart of New York City and will require lots of teamwork. There’s plenty of explosions and awesome guns, as is expected from a Tom Clancy game.

Laurent Detoc, president of Ubisoft Americas, takes the stage to talk more about it. He reveals that it does take place in New York, and will feature a variety of special operatives. He then reminisces on Ghost Recon’s initial launch on the first day of Xbox Live launching. He reveals that the beta will be exclusive to Xbox One, before moving on to “Rainbow Six Siege.”

Detoc emphases the destructible environments of “Rainbow Six Siege” and reveals that “Rainbow Six Vegas” and “Vegas 2” will come free with “Rainbow Six Siege,” all playable on the Xbox One (thanks to the backwards compatibility). A gameplay trailer then begins for “Siege.” Again, it’s nothing revolutionary for the game, but does appear to be mostly in-engine, as well. It actually feels very similar to “The Division,” but in a less post-apocalyptic environment.

An Xbox One and Windows 10 exclusive from Motiga is revealed, and it appears to be the long-forgotten “Gigantic.” The trailer reveals a variety of characters as well as gameplay features. It’s an arena shooter which appears to focus on battling large “guardians.” The beta will launch this August and will be free to play, like the game.

A montage of indie games begins, including a momentary tease of the also-forgotten “Cuphead.” It shows off some other original titles and some already-released titles, like “Goat Simulator.” It’s likely this is a lead in for the ID@Xbox program. Logo at the end of the trailer confirms.

Chris Charla, Director of ID@Xbox, takes the stage to discuss the program. Over 1000 indie developers have been making games for the ID@Xbox program, and it’s “really only the start.” Steve Gaynor of Fullbright takes the stage to discuss and preview Tacoma, coming 2016. Derek Bradley, from Aurora44, is next to discuss “Ashen,” a survival game and Xbox console exclusive. It looks like it will have a lot of emphases on exploration, puzzle-solving, and a dash of horror. Sherida Halatoe, of tiger & squid, enters to discuss “Beyond Eyes.” It’s a very unique experience, coming first to Xbox One and PC. It also appears to be a unique exploration/adventure game, and it releases this summer. Chad and Jared Moldenhauer of MDHR take the stage to discuss “Cuphead” – finally, it’s returning! They talk about their vision for a classic 1930’s cartoon that controls like a classic, 16-bit platformer. As a trailer plays, one thing is obvious – they nailed the style they were going for. The game looks incredible and the gameplay looks extremely fun and challenging, as would be expect from both the era’s the game takes influence from. It’s coming 2016 exclusively to Xbox One.

Charla takes back over announcing an early release program, similar to what’s on PC. The hook is that the games are required to give a free demo first, so you can decide whether or not you want to pay in. Starting today, both ”The Long Dark” and “Elite Dangerous” are available today for Xbox One Game Preview.

Charla hands off to Dean Hall, the creator of “Day-Z” to introduce a new IP coming to PC and Xbox One. It will make use of Xbox One Game Preview and PC access, and players will “be able to shape the destiny” of the game. The game takes place in space, but not much is revealed, other than the name “Ion.” It has a “Gravity” vibe to it.

Brian Horton, Game Director of Crystal Dynamics, demos the world premier gameplay of “Rise of the Tomb Raider” coming holiday 2015. A very beaten and tattered Lara lights her way through a cave with her signature torch… which is then blown out by a snowstorm. Suddenly she’s wearing full winter climbing gear and working her way up a mountain. The climbing mechanics are very familiar, only now she has Jonah tethered to her. Ice starts falling and she makes a leap across the cavern. She’s taking lots of risks while climbing, but makes her way to the top. She loses her grip and falls, saved by Jonah. He struggles to pull her back up and she swings over to the ice to regain her grip. The ice gives way, but she narrowly makes it to the top as an avalanche begins. She tells Jonah to return to shelter and continues her ascent. Non-stop action spliced with quick time events, it’s all very familiar – and very welcome to return. A montage of various game shots is tagged with a “Xbox Exclusive” banner, possibly indicating it’s no longer a “timed release” but a full exclusive? Then the hard release date of Nov 10, 2015 is finally revealed.

Another Xbox One exclusive begins, and it looks like a collection of games from “Rare” as Banjo and Conker both made an appearance, among others. “Perfect Dark, “Viva Pinata,” and Battle Toads” are just a few of the 30 games included in this 10,000 gamerscore collection. “Rare Replay” available August 4, 2015. Craig Duncan, Studio Head at Rare, takes the stage to announce this exclusive collection in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the studio.

He’s also announcing a new title from the company, “by far the most ambitious game Rare has ever created.” It begins in first person with Rare’s signature cartoony graphics. It takes place on an island, complete with tropical birds and… pirate skeletons. A sea shanty begins playing and a character runs out onto a beach where a pirate ship is waiting. Many characters have, what appears to be, gamertags over their heads, indicating what could possibly be a pirate themed MMO? “Sea of Thieves” is the title, no release date indicated.

Another Xbox One and Windows 10 exclusive trailer begins, which looks very much like “Fable.” It has the same art style and appears to be an RPG. It will be free to play on both Xbox One and Windows 10, and likes to use the word “legends” a lot. “Fable Legends,” it is.

Kudo Tsunoda, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Studios, takes the stage to talk more about the title. The game will run seamlessly between the two platforms. Anything bought will transfer between the two, and the game will also feature cross-play between PC and Consoles.

He then announces a new partnership with Valve VR, making Windows 10 the best platform with VR gaming. He mentions the previous announcement that an Xbox One controller will be included in with every Oculous Rift. It sounds like Microsoft is trying to lock down the VR market, including their previously announced HoloLens. He then introduces Lydia Winters, Brand Director from Mojang.

As she discusses the history of the studio, “Minecraft” is displayed behind her. She talks about Minecon 2015 and hints and an announcement there. She then introduces Michael Saxs Persson from Microsoft studios, to reveal a new version of Minecraft on the HoloLens. They play a live demo, and she is able to join in from her Surface. Persson then moves the game world onto a table and he can overlook the world in a type of “god mode.” He can follow around Winters throughout the world from the recessed perspective. It’s like playing with a real miniature model of your “Minecraft” world. He can also manipulate the world to discover what is underneath and map it for the other player. The whole environment can be controlled with gestures and even voice commands. Persson is able to detonate some TNT and Pigs by saying “lightning strike,” causing the TNT to explode and the pigs to turn into zombie pigmen.

Rod Fergusson, Co-Creator of ”Gears of War” and Studio Head at The Coalition, takes the stage to announce the “Gears of War Ultimate Edition.” It’s an HD remake of the original “Gears of War,” complete with multiplayer. The multiplayer beta begins today, exclusively on Xbox One.

He then begins revealing a new “Gears of War” game with a gameplay demo. New COG soldiers are shown off traversing a very dark environment. A storm is destroying the city they are exploring, literally crumbling the environment around them. The new character is referred to as “JD.” They enter a building and there is a new monster revealed. Something gooey and glowy, which JD is advised not to touch. He does anyway, and his flashlight is shorted out. Fortunately, he’s glowing – possibly imulsion? This form extends well beyond the room they were in and all over the outside environment. They follow it into a courtyard where more glowing pods (don’t touch!) are at. As they try to exit the courtyard, another new enemy type is revealed. It’s somehow similar, yet different to the locust. As JD becomes overwhelmed, the trailer cuts to a close. It’s “Gears 4,” coming Holiday 2016.

Phil Spencer returns, now revealing the shirt he was hiding was a Rare Shirt. Could this be another Rare announcement or is he just celebrating their accomplishments? He discusses and recaps all of the new experiences revealed today and reasserts the commitment Microsoft has to the community and Xbox Live. He then hints that here are “more surprises in store this week.” There will be reveals on the Xbox Daily Show, including “Quantum Break,” “Scalebound,” “Crackdown,” a new Xbox One interface, and new first-party games. He wraps up the conference (no more Rare, looks like it was just a celebration) by thanking everyone. The conference ends with another game montage, recapping everything revealed today.

[06.15.15] Everything you need to know from the 2015 Bethesda Press Conference [E3 2015]

Bethesda Game Studios

It has been quite the week leading up to E3 2015 with a steady stream of incredible reveals, leaving you wondering, “What exactly will there be to announce at E3?” From the “Fallout 4” reveal, the return of rhythm gaming, and YouTube taking on Twitch; the gaming industry is charging full speed into its biggest week of the year. Fortunately, the fun hasn’t stopped. Bethesda kicks off E3 as the first developer conference, the first conference this year period, and their first E3 appearance ever. Now that “Fallout 4” is already out of the bag, what else can we expect? Here is everything you needed to know about the 2015 Bethesda Press Conference, live from E3 2015 on Sunday, June 14.

The conference launches with a brief montage of Bethesda’s hits, including “Dishonored,” “Fallout,” “Skyrim,” “Doom,” and some others – likely a hint as what’s to come. Following the video, Vice President of PR and Marketing, Pete Hines, takes the stage with some Skyrim Music. He takes a moment to thank everyone who is in attendance and thank everyone who’s worked at Bethesda for all their hard work. Now it’s time for the details.

Hines hypes the audience with a discussion on the original “Doom.” The first big announcement comes with that talk of a brand new “Doom” game. Hines introduces Marty Stratton, Executive producer at id software, to talk about the new game. This new title will be built on the idtech 6 engine and looks for great influence from the original “Doom” games. Stratton promises “Badass demons, big effing guns, and moving really, really fast” – otherwise known as the keys of a great “Doom” game.

The trailer starts with a first-person perspective of a soldier putting on a helmet and entering a futuristic-looking-yet-very-industrial-and-firey factory. Stratton indicated that you’ve been “activated on Mars to kill demons.” Enemies start popping up from everywhere and anywhere while the soldier goes to down with a shotgun. Things become even more close-quarters with a bloody punch, followed by the soldier ripping off a demon’s leg and smashing his head in to blood and brain matter. Everything he shoots burst into pieces. Demons explode in to bits and pieces while barrels explode into sparks and a fiery blaze. He then enters a room with massacred soldiers and picks up a sawed-off double barrel shotgun from one. This is equally effective in its smattering capabilities. After destroying many more demons through bullets and punching, the soldier picks up a new rifle that shoots bursts of lasers. He then comes up on an enemy from behind and rips his jaw off of his head. Finally, things slow down as he interacts with a few screens. He then picks up a hologram device which brings back the violence, likely revealing what happened to the slaughtered soldiers. Upon discovering the actual victim of the hologram, he rips off the arm and uses it to open a security door. More things are shot and then a chainsaw is found, embedded in a victim. It brutally slices enemies in multiple different sections, showering the screen with blood. He then runs up to a demon, embedding his thumbs into the eye sockets of the enemy, and rips his skull in half. Immediately afterwards, a new enemy flies over, lands on the soldier, and starts ripping your arms off right in front of you. It then cuts to a “Doom” logo and ends the single-player reveal.

Stratton returns to the stage, mentioning the importance of single player, and initiating a discussion on multiplayer. It will be fast-paced and true to many of the classic FPS. A brief multiplayer trailer plays, showing off many other weapons, including a rocket launcher and jetpack with guns. There are also power-ups, plenty of blood, and plenty of explosions. It also appears as if you can play as both soldiers and demons. Stratton closes out the multiplayer tease by promising more information on multiplayer in the coming months.

That still isn’t it. “We wanted to provide more, and allow our fans to do more. What if every player, regardless of platform or past experience, had the ability to build and instantly share their creations?” It then shows multiple user-created game modes, including a horde-style game mode and custom multiplayer slayer-style games. Stratton reveals “Doom Snapmap,” a feature that allows players to easily create and share custom maps, gameplay, and even how the game operates.

To top it off, the conference returns to single player and explores “hell.” Although it’s not industrial, there is still plenty of fire everywhere. There’s also lots of demons running around and, again, brutally being blasted into pieces. This time, it’s more about showcasing the details of the experience, such as the minimal HUD and a weapon-selection wheel which drastically slows down the gameplay while you pick your weapon of choice – similar to “Mass Effect.” The preview shows off the wide variety of weapons in the arsenal, but also makes the enemies seem… relatively incompetent, perhaps relying on sheer numbers and power rather than smarts. It then comes across a classic mini-boss who takes a lot of damage without going down. The enemy is finally defeated by ripping out his own heart and feeding it to him. More explosions, brutal executions, and the return of the fan-favorite rocket launcher. An enemy shows off his stealth capabilities and the demon that made the final kill in the first trailer returns, this time being blasted out of the air easily, with a shotgun, while he floated on a jetpack. There’s a brief peek at a huge boss and the teaser ends with a cut to the “Doom” logo again.

Hines makes a return to the stage and announces a new digital platform called “Bethesda.net,” which will be the home for all Bethesda games as “one seamless experience.” This will support things like “Doom Snapmap” and is already being used to support “Elder Scrolls Online.” It will also have forums, news, and other features.

Battlecry Studios is now taking the stage, via a pre-recorded video, as design director Lucas Davis talk about their self-titled debut, “Battlecry.” It’s an online action game focused on team-based combat and intense tactical warfare. It has an art style somewhat reminiscent of “No More Heroes.” The alpha has already been underway, but you can sign up for the global beta now at battlecrythegame.com. If you sign up before June 18, and you’ll receive priority access and a special in-game reward. It follows with a trailer which emphasizes its cartoony style. It also shows off the classes, such as gadgeter and infiltrator, and their differing abilities. It will be playable is playable at E3.

Arkane Studios flashes on the screen, followed by Harvey Smith and Raphael Colantonio, Co-Creative Directors, taking the stage. Colantonio is wearing a “Dishonored” t-shirt under his jacket, likely indicating the reveal that is about to take place. After jokingly starting off in French, they briefly talk about the history of the studio and how great of an experience “Dishonored” has been, followed by a thanks to the fans. A trailer begins, showing a skull falling into the water and a very Dishonored-esk locale. The protagonist, referred to as “Emily,” is shown working her way into the apparent villain’s fortress, which shapeshifts as she enters. She freezes times and shoots off an explosive crossbow weapon. She then gets into a sword fight with one of the robot enemies. As the villain thinks he has her beat, his robot henchmen falls into a trap placed by Emily. He then escapes and the logo for “Dishonored 2” appears. You can play as Corvo or Emily, the new character, each with their own unique style. Like the previous game, you can play how you choose: guns blazing or without ever firing a weapon. They briefly state that it will be coming to PC, Xbox One, and PS4 before saying more details will be coming soon. No release date was mentioned. Until then, “Dishonored Definitive Edition” will be released on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, including all of the original content, DLC, and enhanced graphics – standard fair for these “definitive editions.” It also indicates it will be a while before we see the sequel.

Next up is a brief, pre-recorded video update on the recently launched “Elder Scrolls Online.” It includes a few new locations, Imperial City and Orsinium – a real of the orcs. The trailer is largely just wide-angle shots of the new environments with various quick close-ups of random actions which aren’t really important to the gameplay, such as a character taking a drink and an animal roaring.

Hines returns again to introduce an all new game based on the “Elder Scrolls” universe. Building upon the legacy of “Skyrim” and “Elder Scrolls Online,” “Elder Scrolls Legends” is a strategy card game that will be coming to PC and iPad later this year. The trailer was completely CG, but showed off various races form the universe which will likely be key elements in the game. It will also be free-to-play.

Joking that the conference is over, Hines beckons the crowd to groan and scream for more “Fallout” information. He then introduces Todd Howard, Bethesda game director. Howard discusses his origins at Bethesda, beginning 21 years ago, and how E3 wasn’t even a thing. He then discusses the unique opportunity games have, delivering content in a way no other media can.

“Fallout” flashes on the screen and Howard mentions that development for “Fallout 4” began in 2009, immediately after “Fallout 3,” coinciding with “Skyrim” development. A ton of concept art is shown, ranging from environments and vehicles to characters. Howard shows the level of detail with which each texture in the game was created. The dog is also shown along with various spaceships and armor – many things which were shown in the reveal trailer.

Howard announces that “Fallout 4” begins prior to the nuclear war, something completely different for the “Fallout” series. It begins with a man looking into a mirror, talking to his wife, and he reveals that this is the character creation screen. You simply drag and drop, add and adjust elements, and sculpt anything directly on the face without using sliders. You can also swap places and edit the wife, dictating which character – male or female – you play as, based off of which character you leave the mirror as. Howard also reveals that, if you sculpt both characters, the game even creates a baby based off of the parents.

After leaving the mirror, you walk into the kitchen and talk to a robot, Cosworth. You check the fridge – stocked with Nuka Cola, of course – and find some Sugar Bombs on the table. The doorbell rings and a Vault-Tech representative is at the door, attempting to sell you, what else, but a vault. This leads to you customizing your stats, such as intelligence, luck, and strength. You shut the door in his face before he can even finish talking and you hear a baby cry. Cosworth says “Mr. Howard,” followed by a reveal that they have recorded over 1,000 of the most popular names to include in the dialogue.

We then hear a baby crying – the baby that should be created based off of the parents’ likenesses, and then the TV reports nuclear strikes in New York and Pennsylvania. Everyone leaves the house in a panic, running towards the recently acquired vault. You emerge 200 years later as the sole survivor of Vault 111. As your character exits the vault, he’s overwhelmed by light and color. The environment is so much more vibrant than any other “Fallout” game, courtesy of the next-gen version of Bethesda’s creation engine.

The demo flips between both first and third-person views. Codsworth shows up and apparently recognizes you – likely be voice, which is, by the way, new for “Fallout” as well. You’re given four dialogue options represented by the action buttons on the controller. Dialogue is completely dynamic, meaning you can end the conversation at any point, by walking away or even shooting the person in the face. The player then finds the dog shown in the trailer. After petting him, the dog decides to follow along. You can give him commands by pointing towards the environment. Everything is determined based off of context, such as fetching a nearby item. The player shoots some mole rats, before popping into the VATS system, which makes its return in the classic style. This includes “bullet time” slow-mo shots and, of course, the hit selection.

Next, the video cuts through various environments from the game, featuring all sorts of different areas of Boston. Much of this was in the reveal trailer. There are also more shots of the dog and the main charater.

Howard says “Now to the cool stuff,” and shows a “photo from the future” of the invention of the Pip Boy. It then shows the new version in “Fallout 4,” beginning from where you find it when you leave the vault. He mentions that they put a lot of work into the system, making it more entertaining since the player spends a lot of time looking at it. The Pip-Boy even has games within the game that you can play. He then reveals a real life version of the Pip Boy and announces it comes with the collector’s edition. The “Fallout 4 Pip-Boy Edition” will fit your phone and has an app with it that will create a second screen experience for the game. It has the same interface as the in-game Pip-Boy. The app will be available for iOS and Android, even for those who don’t order the collector’s editon.

Howard announces they’ve made something else for phones as well, a “totally new game.” It’s an FTL and XCOM-inspired 2D game where you can build your own vault, called “Fallout Shelter.” The vault has its own inhabitants you control, who can level up and be given their own unique gear before being sent out to retrieve resources. You get rewarded with loot in lunchboxes and can even build in-vault relationships. The game will be completely free, requires no internet connection, and won’t have any paywall timers. When you build something, it’s instantly built. If you wish, you can purchase lunchboxes of loot, though. Best of all, the game is available now, although only on iOS.

The discussion returns to “Fallout 4” where Howard shows off the ability to rebuild parts of the world. You can use scrap material from elsewhere to assemble anything you want. The player is shown building a two-floor hut and placing furniture inside of it. He also creates a dog house, generators, and lights. Traders will show up with which you can trade food you’ve grown, extra water, or even excess generators. You can also set up gun turrets, which is useful as your village will be acted by raiders. All of this is completely optional, though.

The crafting system, however, carries over to other parts of the game. You can construct scopes for a gun, gathering the parts from various items throughout the worlds – such as an alarm clock or duct tape. Weapons will have over 700 modifications available, including bayonets and different barrels. You can even modify your own power armor. There is a montage of action sequences, some involving the dog, and it looks like your power armor can be modified to have a jetpack. There are helicopters, a fight-club type environment, and plenty of wasteland to explore. The reveal caps with a date announcement, “Fallout 4” is coming Nov 10, 2015.

Hines returns, thanking everyone and bringing the conference to a close.

[06.12.15] YouTube officially taking on Twitch

YouTube

“A new player has entered the game.” – the very first tweet at 12:30pm CDST on June 12 from a new [verified] Twitter account, @YouTubeGaming. Slowly but surely, more tweets are being dropped by the minute hinting at, what aims to be, the biggest development from YouTube in years. After being rumored to purchase Twitch prior to Amazon’s acquisition, Google is finally launching a version of YouTube specifically for gamers, and they are hoping to take down the streaming giant with YouTube Gaming.

“Our brand-new user experience puts games front and center, including live gaming.” This means one central hub for Let’s Plays and Live Streams, something that will put YouTube one step ahead of its competitor, seeing as Twitch primarily focuses on the latter. While Twitch has the option to cut highlights and have archives, all of this is done around the live stream content. YouTube specializes in the opposite, uploading pre-crafted content, and while it only recently got into the streaming business, it certainly has the infrastructure to support it without much cause for concern.

Content will be broken into three separate categories: Games, Feed, and Channels. Reportedly, more than 25,000 games will have their own landing pages for related videos, alongside the familiar Channels from gaming companies and YouTube creators. For content creators, the organization system will be relatively similar to the YouTube channels. Don’t let that confuse you, though. YouTube Gaming will be a separate experience from YouTube. “You can search with confidence, knowing that ‘call’ will show you ‘Call of Duty’ and not ‘Call Me Maybe.’”

From the user-end, this difference comes in the way you receive content. While you obviously can follow channels just like on YouTube, you can also tell the system what your favorite games are under “My Games.” This will bring in a stream of content all related to that specific title, alongside all of your favorite content creators. It will also be an easy way to find those currently live streaming the game.

The live streaming is getting a nice upgrade too, which will be familiar to Twitch users. YouTube promises and upgraded Live system, including the recently released 60fps HD video streaming, which will feature improved chat latency and moderation. Now you can interact with your favorite YouTube Creators unlike ever before. It really turns the whole YouTube experience on its heading, switching from a passive viewing experience to a two-way street. This experience will extend from the web to mobile and tablet devices on iOS and Android, allowing you to interact with your favorites virtually at all times.

While it hasn’t launched yet, you can currently signup for more information on the site’s landing page:http://gaming.youtube.com

To stay up-to-date, you can also follow @YouTubeGaming on Twitter.

[06.10.15] Former ‘HAWKEN’ developers announce new tactical shooter, ‘Burstfire’

Free Reign Entertainment

Move over “Halo,” “Call of Duty,” and Battlefield”; there are some new developers in town who want to bring back a slower-paced, tactical shooter in place of the modern run-and-gun trend and they’re not just blowing smoke, either. As Free Reign Entertainment and Nacho Games, these developers know a thing or two about first person shooters. Comprised partially of the team that brought you “HAWKEN,” these studios are hard at work on a 5v5 competitive first person shooter which rewards a more tactical and team-oriented gameplay style. In a press release from June 9, Free Reign Entertainment and Nacho Games proudly announced “Burstfire.”

“Burstfire” is a slow paced, objective-oriented first-person shooter built around deep strategy. Unlike most modern shooters which implement a class-based system, “Burstfire” allows players the freedom to equip any combination of weapons and tools they see fit. There will be dozens of weapons available, with optional attachments and cosmetic changes, along with plenty of tools and tactical gear. The game experience rewards patience, careful planning, and teamwork. Players can take a more defensive approach, setting up traps on defense or taking the time to scout out the enemy team while on offense with an initial preparation stage. Afterwards, it’s time for bombs to drop and bullets to fly; however, teamwork still plays a crucial role throughout the match. Each round of “Burstfire” is sudden-death combat, and even one teammate’s death can tip the scales and cripple a team’s effectiveness. Anyone who has played older “Rainbow Six” titles knows that this type of strategy-first gameplay creates high intensity matches that can’t be matched by even the most exciting 360-no-scope in “Call of Duty.”

With both studios being founded in 2014, it’s likely you may have never heard of Free Reign Entertainment or Nacho Games, but you have very little reason to doubt their pedigree. Free Reign Entertainment is a branch of Arktos Entertainment Group, the company behind War Inc. They specialize in original IPs with massive, immersive worlds and games which are heavily influenced by the community. Nacho Games is an independent game studio based in Los Angeles. They’re comprised of several former members of Adhesive Games, the studio behind the award-winning“HAWKEN.” They’re led by Adhesive co-founder and lead gamer designer, Dave Nguyen, who is a veteran of the PC gaming community.

In essence, “Burstfire” is purely a passion product of the best kind. To reinforce this, Nacho Games has committed to full support after launch, including new maps and new items. Most importantly, “Burstfire” is a “pay once, play forever” game – a breath of fresh air in a world dominated by Free-To-Play games, Pay-To-Win games, and games destroyed by microtransactions. Nacho Games promises that all future updates and DLC will be free.

If this sounds like the kind of game you could get behind – and it should – you can sign up now for an invitation to the closed Alpha on their website. The full game will launch in Summer 2015.

[06.09.15] ‘Guitar Hero Live’ E3 preview

It’s been almost a month since the exciting announcement of the return of “Guitar Hero.” Since then, a steady stream of songs has been released to help tease the excitement of the game. Included tracks have spanned the likes of Killswitch Engage, Ed Sheeran, Tenacious D, Anthrax, and Skrillix, to name just a few. We’ve seen some returning favorites, some highly request tracks, and some wonderful surprises as well. Any fan should be able to be able to find something they love and should, hopefully, discover something new along the way as well. If you haven’t yet, don’t fret, as there’s still plenty to come. It should be time for another #TrackListTuesday on this Tuesday, June 9; however, E3 is less than a week away, so instead of a track list, it’s time for some more exciting announcements!

During the initial reveal of “Guitar Hero Live,” the new GHTV was also unveiled. GHTV brings the popular trend of recent music streaming services, such as the newly revealed Apple Music, to the “Guitar Hero” experience. In essence, GHTV will be the very first playable music video network. It will be constantly updated with a bevy of new tracks, including old favorites and, again, hopefully plenty of new music for players to discover and love. So far, over 54 artists’ songs have already been confirmed for the game’s library. GHTV will be online 24/7/365, with a nonstop playlist, meaning players will probably be able to drop in and out freely, much like the “party mode” of previous “Guitar Hero” games. Exact details on this as well as additional information on the service will be covered during E3 next week.

Speaking of E3, Activision and FreeStyleGames also confirmed today the “Guitar Hero Live” will be available to play at E3.

“We’ve been working super hard on ‘Guitar Hero Live’ for years, so we’re so stoked to show people more of the game every chance we get and to give fans a chance to play it themselves,” said Jamie Jackson, Creative Director and Co-Head of FreeStyleGames. “Five years is a long time. Not only has technology changed, but we’ve had years to think about what makes Guitar Hero so much fun to play and also to talk to fans about what they loved most about the original game. We’ve developed an awesome new experience built from the ground up and we are integrating new technology and techniques that just weren’t possible back then. GHTV is a huge part of that and comes with a bunch of new songs, of which we’ll announce more next week. See you at E3!”

“Guitar Hero Live” launches Fall 2015 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, and select phone and tablet devices. If you missed the initial announcement, you can see it – along with the reveal trailer – here.

In case you’ve missed any or all of the #TrackListTuesday announcements, here’s a rundown of the complete set list so far.

June 2, 2015

Queen – “Tie Your Mother Down”

Alice in Chains – Stone”

Bullet For My Valentine – “Temper Temper”

Deap Valley – “Lies”

Wolfmother – “Sundial”

Weezer – “Buddy Holly”

Angus & Julia Stone – “A Heartbreak”

Catfish and the Bottlemen – “Kathleen”

Neon Trees – “Everybody Talks”

New Politics – “Harlem”

May 26, 2015

Halestorm – “Love Bites (So Do I)”

Tenacious D – “Tribute”

Beartooth – “I Have a Problem”

Pearl Jam – “Mind Your Manners”

Rise Against – “Tragedy + Time”

Soundgarden – “Been Away Too Long”

Anthrax – “Got the Time”

Architects – “Gravedigger”

Chevelle – “The Clincher”

A Day To Remember – “Right Back At It Again”

May 19, 2015

Royal Blood – “Little Monster”

Marilyn Manson – “Disposable Teens”

Killswitch Engage – “In Due Time”

Marmozets – “Move Shake Hide”

Of Mice & Men – “Bones Exposed”

Deftones – “Diamond Eyes”

Vista Chino – “Sweet Remain”

Bring Me the Horizon – “Shadow Moses”

Mastodon – “High Road”

Trivium – “Strife”

May 12, 2015

Rage Against The Machine – “Guerrilla Radio”

The Killers – “When You Were Young”

The Lumineers – “Ho Hey”

Skrillex – “Bangarang”

Sleigh Bells – “Bitter Rivals”

Ed Sheeran – “Sing”

Blitz Kids – “Sometimes”

ALT-J – “Left Hand Free”

Broken Bells – “Leave It Alone”

The Black Keys – “Gold on the Ceiling”

The War on Drugs – “Under The Pressure”

Garry Clark Jr. – “Don’t Owe You a Thang”

My Chemical Romance – “Na Na Na”

Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Higher Ground”

Pantera – “Cowboys from Hell”

The Pretty Reckless – “Going to Hell”

System of a Down – “Chop Suey!”

Fall Out Boy – “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)”

The Rolling Stones – “Paint It Black”

Green Day – “Nuclear Family”

Alter Bridge – “Cry of Achilles”

Black Veil Brides – “In The End”

Judas Priest – “Breaking the Law”

Pierce The Veil – “King for a Day (Feat. Kellin Quinn)”

[06.09.15] Microsoft unveils new console, controller, and wireless adapter

Microsoft

The Electronic Entertainment Expo is still roughly a week away, but that hasn’t stopped the countless stream of exciting reveals. From “Fallout 4” to “Lego Worlds,” it begs the question, “What exactly is left to reveal at E3 this year?” Well, that question just became even more difficult to answer. Early this morning, on June 9, Major Nelson revealed that Microsoft has a new console, new controller, and new wireless adapter coming later this year.

First off is the new console. With fans begging for more storage space to be included inside the Xbox One, Microsoft finally listened. Coming June 16, the Xbox One will begin shipping to retailers with a 1TB internal hard drive. This edition of the Xbox One has a new matte finish for the console and will include “The Master Chief Collection” for a limited time. Beginning immediately, all 500GB models will receive a permanent price drop to $349 in preparation for the 1TB model to launch at a $399 price point. That means, for only $50 more, you can get twice the storage space, a $60 game, a unique console, and the brand new Xbox One controller as well.

While the new controller looks almost identical to the original incarnation, it actually has a slew of updates coming. The only visible one comes in the form of a 3.5mm stereo jack. This will allow users to directly plug headsets into the controller. It will also allow users to custom mix the headset volume, mic monitoring, and voice and game audio balance through the Xbox One settings menu. From a gaming standpoint, the bumpers on the controller have been fine-tuned. Most exciting of all, the new controllers will be able to wirelessly receive firmware updates, eliminating the painstaking process of manually connecting each controller via USB cable to receive an update. The new controller will be available for $64.99 in traditional black and a silver and black version of the Xbox One Special Edition Covert Forces wireless controller.

For those who enjoy the Xbox One controller but want to migrate some of their gaming experience to the PC, Microsoft has news for you too. Beginning this Fall, the Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows will launch, allowing users to wirelessly connect their Xbox One Controller to any Windows 10 PC, laptop, or tablet. While this may sound limiting, keep in mind everyone with a copy of Windows 7, 8, or 8.1 will be receiving a free upgrade to Windows 10 when it launches July 29 (even those with unlicensed copies!). The Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows will launch at a standalone $24.99 price point and will be bundled with an Xbox One Wireless Controller for $79.95, saving you about $10 if you purchase them together.

Will all of this being announced now, this should hopefully mean Microsoft has something very exciting up their sleeves for E3 next week.

Via Xbox Wire

[06.06.15] Mattel brings ‘Apples to Apples’ to mobile

Mattel

It’s a staple of many a family gathering and party since 1999, selling over 15 million copies, which has also garnered countless imitators. While many of them are fantastic, originals always have a unique appeal to them. “Apples to Apples” has been out for 15 years, which means it’s probably due up for a serious overhaul. As it turns out, Mattel thought so too. What better way is there to bring “Apples to Apples” up to speed than with an official iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch app? Best of all, it’s already available, after being announced on Jun 4, 2015.

“Apples to Apples has been bringing fun and laughter to friends and families for many years,” said PJ Lewis, Senior Director, Global Brand Marketing and Design of Mattel. “With more players utilizing their smartphones to play games, this is a great time to re-imagine the game.”

The mobile app still features the classic card-matching gameplay that players are already familiar with; however, it also has many new great features which cater to the modern, mobile world. The original gameplay has been optimized for a mobile device with beautiful and colorful graphics. Players can simultaneously challenge up to four other friends or family in real time. “Apples to Apples” also features Facebook integration, allowing players to send each other gifts, easily find friends to play with, or even share their favorite silly card combinations. To add to the social aspect, the community can vote on their favorite card combinations, and the top trending sets will be featured on the main menu of the game. Much like the real world game, players will have the option to customize their experience with a wide variety of card packs and categories, including geography, animals, desserts, and more.

“Apples to Apples” has already won awards and entertained millions of families in its physical form. Now that it has been brought to mobile platforms, it’s unlikely the momentum will slow down.

Download “Apples to Apples” for free from the App Store, find out more on Mattel’s website, or follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

[06.05.15] Bethesda drops ‘Fallout 4’ official trailer, game already on sale

Bethesda

Everyone knew it was coming. It’s been rumored, it’s been leaked, and it’s been teased. It’s been a while since we’ve entered – or left – the vaults and explored the decaying remains of our vibrant society, so really, it was owed to us. Yet somehow, when that countdown timer reached zero, the anticipated excitement everyone had was finally meet with actual, real hard confirmation. At 9:00am CDST on Jun 3, it happened. Bethesda released the awe-inspiring official trailer for “Fallout 4.”

The trailer was exciting for many, many reasons. Immediately apparent was the visual upgrades the game is receiving. Now, this was a given with the new generation of consoles and the drastic improvements in computers, but that doesn’t make it any less exciting. The game is stunningly beautiful and everything really pops. In comparison, the older games actually look somewhat washed out. Instead, “Fallout 4” has a graphical styling which matches its quirky personality.

The rumored Massachusetts setting can officially be confirmed as well, thanks to the trailer. Visible were a modified version of the Bunker Hill Monument as well as a dilapidated and fortified Fenway Park. All things considered, the city is actually in relatively good condition. What exactly this entails is unknown at this point. Either the city was a decent distance away from a blast zone or the citizens have done an exceptional job at rebuilding. Either way, it provides a very unique take on Boston and the East Coast.

We also get a look at a lot of vintage Fallout infused throughout the trailer. Vault Boy, the iconic mascot of Vault-Tech, makes a brief cameo in his bobble head form. The Power Armor also makes an appearance, along with a bunch of Nuka Cola memorabilia and a Nuka Cola machine. We even get a quick glimpse at the Pip-Boy during the very end of the trailer. Much like everything else Fallout-related, none of this is really a huge surprise.

What is surprising is that the game is already available on sale or the PC. Not on sale as in download and play it now, but on sale as in a reduced price, that is. With a promo code (23PERC-ENTOFF-48HOUR), you can get a nice discount on the unreleased game over at GreenMan Gaming for a very limited time. Of course, you’re going to have to wait quite a while to actually experience the game.

Still, when it finally comes, the new setting will be an exciting change of pace. The trailer clearly shows that Bethesda has again absolutely nailed the atmosphere with “Fallout 4.” Not to mention the new visuals will aid the atmosphere and just be all-around appealing. The release date is still unknown, but many are hopeful for a late release in 2015. The one thing that can be sure, however, is that nobody can wait for their chance to get their hands on the crew of Vault 111.

[06.02.15] ‘Fallout 4’ officially (almost) announced

Bethesda

Rumors have been swirling around a new “Fallout” game for quite some time now, however things just got real. At about 9:30am on Jun 2, Bethesda Game Studio’s Twitter account dropped a teaser image saying “please stand by” on a black and white background in the style of an old movie production countdown… say the kind you might find on a movie reel used in the 1950s. The tweet also had a link attached which directs to http://fallout.bethesda.com. The website features the same image, animated with a ticking clock in the background and a countdown timer just below the “please stand by” which is set to expire tomorrow morning at 9:00am CDST, presumably revealing a grand announcement of the forthcoming “Fallout” sequel.

All of this is, of course, just speculation as Bethesda has yet to officially announce anything “Fallout” related. In an interview with “Rock, Paper, Shotgun” back in February, Bethesda game director Todd Howard stated, “We don’t have a timeframe for our next game announcement, but I think it’s gonna be a while.” However, hints at a new “Fallout” game have been dropped since as early as January of 2013. Everything combined with the fact that we haven’t seen a “Fallout” game since “Fallout: New Vegas” in 2010 seems to indicate that it’s about that time to return to the wasteland. If rumors hold true, that wasteland could be Boston, and it looks like we’ll be heading there soon.

[04.14.15] Activision unveils 'Guitar Hero Live'

Activision

It’s time to get real. Real different, anyway. That’s because Activision announced this morning, April 14, that the beloved blockbuster franchise “Guitar Hero” is making its return later this year with “Guitar Hero Live” and with it comes an entirely new experience. “Guitar Hero Live” will feature changes on both the physical and digital sides of the game, and it’s unlike anything that has launched before.

Everything about “Guitar Hero Live” is about creating a more real, live experience. The game puts you in the first-person perspective up on stage with real, live band mates and a real, live audience that dynamically reacts, in real time, to everything you do. The better you play, the happier everyone is. If you start to stink it up, well… be ready for their wrath. As the lead guitarist, it all falls on you, from the smallest bar venues to the largest stadium rock concert. Can you handle the pressure of a real stage environment?

If not, maybe the second offering of “Guitar Hero Live,” known as “Guitar Hero TV,” is more your style. GHTV is the first-of-its-kind playable music video network. If you’re familiar with the Xbox exclusive karaoke game “Lips,” it’s just like that, only with a guitar. The platform will be constantly evolving and will feature multiple channels and themed shows as well as the ability to play songs on-demand. Players can take on their friends in the same room or attempt to climb the online leaderboards from around the world. GHTV will elevate the unmatched party atmosphere and encourage music discovery.

A major physical change comes to “Guitar Hero Live” with a completely redesigned controller that marries the feel of the vintage axe with the new in-game experience. Much like how the live experience emulates realism, the new 3x2 layout of the controller is supposed to make playing “Guitar Hero Live” feel more like a real guitar. It provides gameplay that is easy to learn but difficult to master. On expert mode, the unique button layout will create an experience closer to playing chords and playing multiple strings than has ever been done in “Guitar Hero” before.

“Guitar Hero Live” offers you the opportunity to play your way with multiple game modes and a release that spans consoles, tablets, and mobile phones. It will release this Fall on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, and the Wii U. Select mobile devices will be announced soon.

[04.07.15] Warner Bros. picks up movie rights to ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’

Scott Games

"Five Nights at Freddy’s,” a popular horror video game series, is now on track to have a movie adaptation. According to an April 7 announcement from The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. has picked up the rights to transform “Five Nights at Freddy’s” into, what will hopefully be, a very memorable film. The movie will be produced by Roy Lee of Vergo Entertainment along with Seth Grahame-Smith and David Katzenberg of KatzSmith Productions.

“We’re looking forward to working with Scott to make an insane, terrifying and weirdly adorable movie,” said Grahame-Smith.

The game is set in the fictional “Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza” which is like a much scarier and evil version of the beloved Chuck-E-Cheese franchise. Your goal is to survive five consecutive shifts inside the security room while the animatronic band roams around with a murderous mission. While most of the mechanics implemented in the game are nothing original, the backstory across the series is vast and deep, assuming you’re willing to dive into the lore.

"The story really lends itself to being a movie and it taps into a largely unexplored niche of horror that a lot of people will be able to relate to," said Cawthon.

While it’s currently in the writing stage, the film is in great hands. Lee helped produce “Run All Night” starring Liam Neeson as well as the “Poltergeist” remake due out next month. Grahame-Smith and Katzenberg are currently working on the highly anticipated “Beetlejuice” sequel in production. All three are also producing the upcoming adaption of Stephen King’s “It,” which begins shooting this summer.

As of right now, “Five Nights at Freddy’s” still has no director or head writer. It’s projected for a 2017 release.

[04.02.15] Hyperkin reveals April Fools’ Day Joke, ‘SmartBoy,’ is actually real

Hyperkin

April 1 is the most frustrating day on the internet. Not simply because of all of the pranks, but rather because it causes you to question everything announced that day. Of course, some are obviously jokes from the get-go, such as Redbox’s Petbox, but then there are others that make you take a second guess, such as the Amazon Dash button. At first glance, “SmartBoy” appears to fall right into the former category and that assumption was, technically, right… sort of. According to the press release that independent hardware developer, Hyperkin, put out on April 1, “SmartBoy” was planned to be just an April Fools’ Day joke, but quickly became something real.

The “SmartBoy” is currently being developed as an attachment for the iPhone 6 Plus with plans for more devices at a later date. The device will fit around the entire bottom half of the iPhone6, plugging the phone in like a cartridge. On the back of the device will be a port that will accept both Gameboy and Gameboy Color cartridges. It will also feature an eight-way D-pad, A and B buttons, start and select buttons, and an included 5-hour battery that can be charged through the phone. The Phone’s screen will be used to output the gameplay and is planned to upscale it as well. It will also include a cheat database and save states.

The device will launch in only the “classic 80s grey,” but could have more colors later on. It will have an exclusive app bundled with it that allows the device to operate and provides the cheats and save features. As of right now, the “SmartBoy” is 100% in concept phase, but Hyperkin is committed to the project.

"We wanted to create a retro device that can be easily adapted into any modern gamer's arsenal of devices," said Hyperkin's product developer, Chris Gallizzi.

There is currently no planned release date for the “SmartBoy.”

[03.29.15] Review - ‘Cooking Fever’

Nordcurrent

Cooking Fever

Rating:

3 Stars

It has been a very long time since I've reviewed a game; although, I’m not entirely sure that this is even a review, a public service announcement, a blog, or what. I stopped writing reviews on principle. I don’t really believe most of what is put out is “bad,” and you can see that based off of the review scores I would attach to my early reviews. A lot of gamers and developers have gone a long way to argue that video games are art, and – assuming that is so – art is a subjective matter. So if these games are going to be viewed as art, then quality is really in the eye of the creator. That’s not to say that things can’t be bad, but very few things, at least until this past year, are released completely broken. In reality, it all comes down to a difference in opinions on what people find fun, and I respect that. Just because I don’t particularly enjoy MMORPG’s doesn't instantly make all of them bad. I think there’s pleasure to be found in most any game, evidenced by my review of “Duke Nukem Forever” which was absolutely obliterated by other reviewers everywhere. “Duke Nukem Forever” might be an extreme example, but sets an important precedence. Sometimes things don’t meet expectations, other times they just might be of very little interest to you, but neither of these things make a game terrible.

In the current day where studios pump out annual titles which all try to match the financial success of “Call of Duty,” there has spawned a belief that every title released has to be the number one seller or it’s a piece of garbage. Despite the iconic words of Ricky Bobby, there is – in fact – a whole spectrum of bad to good in which things can land. Companies gauge their success on Metacritic scores, but most review sites treat a scale of 1 to 10 as a scale of 1 or 10. That’s why I dropped the scoring system in favor of simply explaining what I enjoyed and what I didn't enjoy. That same belief is what later led me to drop reviews overall. Really, what authority am I on what you think is fun? We may have similar tastes, but I would rather you experience it for yourself and make your own decision. If you’re interested in knowing what games I do like (I’m flattered, and thank you for reading!), I generally prefer to cover the things that interest me. If I don’t like it, I probably won’t talk about it as much, and what better endorsement is there than free advertising?

Enough about me, though. The reason I’m writing all of this is because of a recent experience I had with a game which was an absolute blast, until it destroyed its own experience for me. There is a parasite that has infected the gaming industry to the frightening extent in which we’ve come to accept that this is “just how things are now.” Micro-transactions have infiltrated every kind of game and have hurt or even completely destroyed many promising titles. Obviously, from a financial standpoint, micro-transactions offer unmatched benefits, but at what cost? Some games can pull it off, such as “Grand Theft Auto V.” The micro-transactions are there, but they are unobtrusive and have minimal effect on those who chose not to use them. Other games are playable, such as “Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Time,” but created a very frustrating environment where you’re constantly pestered and feel penalized if you don’t buy in. Then there are games, such as the one I’m reviewing, which essentially render themselves useless you shell out some cash.

The jarring end to my playtime in “Cooking Fever” is what ultimately inspired me to write this review. I was so disappointed that I was barred from progressing through the game without grinding tirelessly or shelling out some cash. I would have happily spent a few dollars to purchase this game or even put up with intermittent advertisements since the game was a free download. What I refuse to do, however, is pay into this unhealthy ecosystem created by micro-transactions, just so I can continue to play this one game. There are other experiences out there which I would rather spend my time on, and this is why my time with “Cooking Fever” has come to an end. This is why I’m writing my first (and possibly last) review in years.

The Fun Stuff:

“Cooking Fever” follows a similar formula to the one perfected by “Diner Dash.” Serve customers, do it correctly, and do it quickly. In return, you earn some money, customize or upgrade your restaurant, then do it some more. “Cooking Fever” takes it one step further by packing in multiple restaurants with many different foods to serve while negating the seating of the customers and color matching in favor of the actual assembly of their orders. You can then upgrade your kitchen, your restaurant, and eventually buy additional restaurants to get new levels.

When you begin each restaurant, you start with simple orders. As you beat levels, you gain additional dishes to serve or different toppings and sides for the foods, such as lettuce and tomatoes for burgers, bowls of rice and soup, or fruit toppings for cakes. Meals become more complex and the number of orders increases as well. You also unlock the ability to upgrade your food and ingredients. Eventually, it becomes necessary to upgrade your food as well as your restaurant in order to earn enough money to 3-star levels, as it uses the same grading system popularized in “Angry Birds.” As you beat levels, you earn XP which allow you to level up, earn bonuses, and unlock additional restaurants. Customization is always a nice touch, so letting you pick and choose which restaurants you want to play, as well as customize your interior and kitchen via upgrades, is fantastic.

“Cooking Fever” is also very pretty, with a detailed-yet-cartoony graphic palette, reminiscent of early “Roller Coaster Tycoon” games. The restaurant environments are fun and feel like they belong in a Saturday morning cartoon. The foods themselves actually look delicious and make you want to go out and buy something similar in real life. Menus are laid out nicely, are easy to follow and understand, but are just on the verge of packing in too much information.

The Frustrating Stuff:

This style of game benefits greatly from a touch screen control scheme. On a 5” screen, however, it can be rather problematic at times. The game looks pretty, but over half of the screen real-estate is wasted on displaying the backdrop, customers, and their orders. This severely limits the playable area and makes everything very cramped. Combine that with opacity of a human finger and you’ll find there’s going to be the occasional misstep combining ingredients, which can’t be undone. It’s not game-breaking by any means, but it’s most definitely frustrating when it happens. If you have the hardware, opt into a tablet experience for this game.

That point may be moot, as there is one glaring issue with this game: the premium currency, or rather, the lack of readily available premium currency. After 3-staring every level in the first restaurant and about half the levels in the second restaurant, my progress came to a grinding halt. Even with virtually perfect runs, I could only 2-star the remaining levels in the restaurant. After burning through all of my gems (premium currency) to upgrade the restaurant and food, I bought every single upgrade possible that only required coins (base currency). Still, I could not earn enough to 3-star a level. There is a casino available in which players can gamble coins in hopes of earning gems, but after spending over 450,000 coins max-bidding at 500 and only winning gems once, I gave up.

The only other way to earn gems was to level up, which would require playing the same levels over and over again numerous times, or to earn them from the daily bonus. Gems, however, were not awarded until the 7th consecutive day played and I was only on my 3rd. The reward is also only 2 gems, and the lowest upgrade cost 10. This means I’m left with three options: hours of grinding, waiting it out for a week and a half, or buying gems. This is where my playtime came to an end, as I lost interest for having to wait days to really be able to play and progress. Perhaps it was so jarring because the game presented itself as a “play at your pace” kind of game and has the “Diner Dash” model, which traditionally would let you play as much or little as you wanted. It also could be because the currency system is set up similar to games like “Tiny Tower,” but completely bars progress instead of just slowing it like in those games. Either way, this is where the game ultimately ruined itself for me.

Bottom Line:

“Cooking Fever” was an absolute blast, while it lasted. As a free download, I highly recommend you pick it up to at least enjoy as much as you can. With the right pacing of upgrades, it might be possible to prevent getting locked up as quickly as I did; however, you will inevitably hit a brick wall at some point. If you so choose, you can always buy gems… although I strongly encourage you to vote with your money and refuse to give in to the temptations. While micro-transactions will never go away, hopefully we can fight this current trend in which they have infiltrated virtually every game released today. While I wholeheartedly believe developers deserve money for the work they have done, I don’t believe it should be paid out in a way that compromises the quality of the game.

“Cooking Fever” was developed by Nordcurrent and is available on Google Play for Android and the App Store for iPhone and iPad.

 

[03.18.15] New concept art for 'Wolfenstein - The Old Blood' revealed

Bethesda

“Wolfenstein: The New Order” was a surprising title coming out of 2014 that did everything that modern video games aren’t supposed to do. It was a stand-alone, single player only experience. It did not feature micro-transactions or any sort of downloadable content or expansion packs. Although it is part of a long-time franchise, it was not an annually recurring title. Despite all of these things, “New Order” was an absolutely incredible game. So since there is not going to be any expansion coming for it, what exactly does a developer do when fans demand more? Surly, a sequel or follow up title is in the works, but we want it now! Enter “Wolfenstein: The Old Blood,” a stand-alone experience much like “Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon.” Today, Mar 18, Bethesda Softworks released more information on the upcoming prequel including some tantalizing weapon art.

“Wolfenstein: The Old Blood,” announced just two weeks ago, will be a completely stand-alone title fully playable without “New Order.” This is especially good news if you haven’t had a chance to take on the latest “Wolfenstein” title as “Old Blood” will actually take place during the events leading up to “New Order.” “Old Blood” will be an exciting two-part story which will take B.J. Blazkowicz into the depths of Bavaria. Blazkowicz must take on an insane prison warden while breaking into Castle Wolfenstein to confiscate information detailing the location of General Deathshead. His mission then takes him to the city of Wulfburg where he runs into an obsessed Nazi archaeologist exhuming mysterious artifacts which have the potential to unleash a dark ancient power.

Jerk Gustafsson, executive producer at Machine Games, said the team has had a blast revisiting the world of Wolfenstein.

“We’ve enjoyed exploring the events leading up to The New Order. We think fans will really enjoy the story, all the action and, of course, jumping back into the combat with new weapons.”

The new weapons are nothing crazy or over the top, but they are definitely very pretty. Included in the pack was a complete range of weapons. For long distance, Blazkowicz is getting a new Bolt-action Rifle. For midrange, the compact Kampfpistol will be the new trusty sidearm. As for the close quarter battles, a very unique looking Shotgun 46, with what appears to be a bevy of attachments, will be available.

“Wolfenstein: The New Blood” will be released in stores and for download on May 5. It will launch at a price of $19.99.

[03.16.15] EA drops Tiger Woods, announces new generation game

Electronic Arts

Over the last few years, Electronic Arts has been hesitant about headlining their cover athlete for their annual golf game, “Tiger Woods PGA Tour.” After dancing around it by trying to highlight other aspects, such as the inclusion of a laser-scanned Augusta course, it seems EA has finally called it quits. Today, Mar 16, EA announced the next rendition as “Rory McIlroy PGA Tour.”

With a press release and a stunningly-beautiful teaser trailer, EA has officially re-branded and named a new cover athlete and namesake for their prized golf simulator franchise. Rory Mcllroy, a 4-time Major Champion, grabs the honor of launching the new wave of games on a new console.

“I’m very proud and humbled to see my face and name on EA SPORTS Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR. This is a great honor, and something I couldn't even dream of growing up playing the sport. I really hope people enjoy the game and I’m very glad I can be a part of it.”

Along with a name change, this game also marks the dawn of a new engine. “Rory McIlroy PGA Tour” will take full advantage of the Frostbite engine. The "gameplay" trailer really didn't offer much in the way of actual gameplay, however it did show off the incredible capabilities of the engine and gave us a glimpse at the quality of visuals we can expect. Other than just incredible looking environments, this also means fully render golf courses in one go. Now players won’t have to wait for load times between holes and players should also be able to play a shot from virtually any lie. There will be new game modes and features, although nothing has been announced yet.

Further details are planned to be announced this spring while the game is set for a June 2015 launch.

[03.05.15] ‘Rock Band’ series returns after 4 year hiatus

Harmonix

In the early hours of March 5, a surprising announcement, 4 years in-the-making, has thrilled fans of the music game genre who have been otherwise nearly abandoned for half a decade. Harmonix, the brilliant minds who started it all with the smash hit “Guitar Hero” before later developing the beloved “Rock Band™” series, have brushed the dust off the latter and declared that an all new title will be launching later this year with “Rock Band 4!”

Harmonix has been busy maintaining previous “Rock Band” titles almost constantly since the launch of “Rock Band 3” while also trying their hand at a few other games, such as “Fantasia: Music Evolved” and the very popular “Dance Central” series for Kinect. After releasing what appeared to be the final DLC for “Rock Band” in April 2013, it was left virtually untouched, until the surprise release of new tracks in January this year. Surveys were also sent to many fans about their interest in future “Rock Band” titles. Still, hopes were anything but high. That’s why it was so surprising that today’s announcement included plans for a 2015 launch on Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Mad Catz is developing and manufacturing new peripherals to be sold in two different bundles:

- Band-in-a-Box Bundle: “Rock Band 4” game, wireless Fender™ Stratocaster™ guitar controller, wireless drum kit controller, and a microphone

- Guitar Bundle: “Rock Band 4” game and a wireless Fender Stratocaster guitar controller

They are currently working on gaining backwards compatibility for older instruments as well, however nothing is set in stone. Sadly, Keyboardists will have to find a solo act elsewhere as those have been axed in this sequel. Those with massive music libraries have nothing to fear though. Every single one of the roughly 2000 tracks released since 2007 will be able to transfer into the new game seamlessly and completely free, assuming it was previously purchased. Hundreds of additional tracks are expected to be added, come release day, along with regular updates post launch.

Darren Richardson, President and CEO of Mad Catz, is confident in the upcoming relaunch:

“We are very excited to bring the band back together, and re-team with Harmonix to deliver the next installment of the legendary Rock Band franchise to a new generation of consoles. Harmonix understands music gaming better than anyone, and we are confident that the unrivalled music selection and next generation features will prove incredibly enticing to passionate gamers and music fans alike.”

Details on “Rock Band 4” are sparse, but more information should be coming at E3. “We’re doubling down on the energy and excitement of playing music live with your friends,” says Harmonix Chief Executive Officer Steve Janiak. “Focusing on the core experience that our fans have told us they love allows us to evolve established gameplay in meaningful ways that we can’t wait to share with everyone later this year.” However, in an interview, project manager Daniel Sussman struggled to contain his excitement and dropped a few hints:

“There is a certain dynamic [playing in a real band] that you feel that’s magical when you are playing with people who are in tune with what you’re doing and are paying attention to you and are reacting to you in cool ways. It’s one of the best things about playing music with people, and it’s an element of our band sim that I think is lacking. When you watch people play the game, you kind of have four people staring at their little track, completely oblivious to everything that’s going on around them until you get to the results screen and you go, ‘OK, I got this percentage.’ There are some dynamics in that moment that I think are entertaining, but what could we do from a game-design standpoint to allow you to pick your head up above the fray and reward you for paying attention for what other people in your band are doing. That ended up being a pretty rich trove of great ideas, a lot of which we prototyped, and some of which we’re building. It had an immediate impact on the multiplayer game. It made it instantly more fun and more social, which is what we’re all about. There are some huge wins there that we’re excited to show at E3.”

Sussman also went on to say that Harmonix was looking into giving players the ability to express themselves within the game. “One of the other elements of playing music that is viscerally satisfying is the idea that music is this performative art, and as you play a song, whether you wrote it or not, you are given the opportunity to express yourself and put your thumbprint on this piece of music.” He admits this will be tough within the realm of a game, but mentioned there were also prototypes in place for this as well. This could mean an expansion on the “Rock Band Network” similar to what the “Guitar Hero” series has done. It also could be a system rewarding musically-talented players for improvising within a song, although that would be somewhat subjective and very tricky to implement. Everything at this point, is purely speculation, but there’s no doubt whatever Harmonix comes up with, it won’t be a dissappointment.

The vocal systems are also being overhauled, along with the entire game engine. Everything is getting an upgrade, but it won’t be just a simple visual improvement either. The game is somewhat of a hybrid between a true sequel, an HD port, and a series reboot all at the same time. While clearly not a port of “Rock Band 3,” it’s still worth noting that this is its successor on grounds of innovation and evolution but is going back to the roots of “Rock Band [1]” (with the elimination of the Keyboard) and wants to double-down on the main four, since those are the instruments most people have. Overall, Harmonix just wants to deliver the ultimate concert-like experience and Sussman thinks the time-off they took has truly allowed them to do so.

“We have a lot more firepower at our disposal that we’re taking advantage of, and it’s more than an up-rez of the experience. We’re really going deep into the dramatic dynamics that you get at a live concert. The color palette, the atmosphere – I’m really into the atmosphere, like the smoke and the way the light cuts through it and all of that sort of stuff. The relationship to the audience and the venue in general, I think we’re going to knock out of the park.

[02.27.15] Xbox One gets exclusive ‘Fruit Ninja’ sequel

Following the success of the incredible “Fruit Ninja Kinect,” original developers, Halfbrick Studios, have announced today, Feb 27, that an all-new sequel is coming exclusively to Xbox One. “Fruit Ninja Kinect 2” will not be a simple visual upgrade, re-mastered for Xbox One. Instead, it is being rebuilt entirely from the ground up by Hibernum Creations out of Montreal, Canada. The sequel will feature five new game modes, four-way multiplayer, a new progression system, and new characters.

The new single-player game modes take place during the Blueberry Moon Festival and will utilize the new “Fruit Ninja” team members. During the events, players will attempt to dodge shurikens, chop through bamboo, and dance around spotlights in the ultimate test of stealth. The new progression system will also allow players to unlock additional blades, dojos, or belts as they complete challenges throughout the game. The four-person multiplayer will be available in both battle and party modes, welcoming brand new players easily while still testing the skills of the most seasoned veterans.

"This is the most satisfying, complete, and accessible party game ever created," said Shainiel Deo, chief executive at Halfbrick Studios. "The new Kinect sensor makes a world of difference, and Fruit Ninja Kinect 2 has been built from the ground up to take full advantage of the latest hardware. Fruit Ninja is our baby – it's what got us here today and we continue to maintain an incredibly high quality bar."

“Fruit Ninja Kinect 2” has big shoes to fill, as its predecessor won the award for “Best Casual Game” during the 15th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards. This is Hibernum’s first real venture into the console market, but Deo has complete faith in them. "Hibernum have exceeded our expectations every step of the way, and we think fans will get a huge kick out of the finished product."

“Fruit Ninja Kinect 2” received an “E for Everyone” rating by the ESRB and will launch at a price of $14.99 exclusively in the Xbox Games Store on March 18, 2015.

[02.18.15] FreshPlanet reveals plans for ‘SongPop 2’

FreshPlanet

Following the success of popular mobile game “SongPop,” FreshPlanet announced yesterday, Feb 17, they are currently working on the follow-up sequel, “SongPop 2.” The title follows the Name That Tune™ style of gameplay that made the original so loved, but has upgraded the interface and added new content as well. In addition to the visual upgrade, “SongPop 2” will feature new game modes, tens of thousands of new songs, and a new award system. Most importantly, avid players of the first game can sync their accounts and transfer all previously purchased content for use in “SongPop 2.”

FreshPlanet has also committed to updating the game, promising to release a new pack of six playlists every week, free to try, that will include 200 songs each. Any new users will begin with six personalized playlists and can then expand upon their collection with the updates.

The biggest addition to “SongPop 2” is the Party Mode, which allows multiple players to compete in a tournament-style game without the need to wait for other player’s progression. It also allows users to engage with songs outside of their own playlists and it will award prizes – including coins, power-ups, and VIP badges – to the top players.

Mathieu Nouzareth, CEO of FreshPlanet, said:

“We were thrilled to see how many people were playing SongPop over the years. I think of SongPop 2 as a love letter to our community. We listened to their feedback, and now we're using it to design a game that expands on everything they loved about the original - plus a fresh new look and a ton of extra surprises."

Speaking of surprises, FreshPlanet is also working on a rock ‘n’ roll themed spin-off titled, “Rock On – A SongPop Adventure,” which will be an entirely single player experience. Players answer trivia questions to progress through a virtual tour with a band. All of the questions will focus on the greatest hits of the rock ‘n’ roll throughout the years. It will also be an iOS exclusive title.

“SongPop 2” will be available in the Apple App Store, Facebook, and Google Play sometime this spring. An exact release date has not been given for either title.

[02.13.15] First ‘Just Cause 3’ trailer released

Avalanche Studios / Square Enix

It’s been roughly half a decade since we have had the opportunity to hang out with Rico Rodriguez, but he’s finally making another appearance. Today, Feb 13, Avalanche Studios and Square Enix released the first trailer for “Jut Cause 3” as well as a handful of screenshots. The trailer is really just a teaser and doesn't offer much in the way of gameplay, but it certainly goes a long way creating excitement and anticipation for the game. What it does do well is re-hype the sandbox nature that allowed for endless hours of entertainment in the previous games.

The trailer opens with, what appears to be, a small explosion. As the explosion expands, you then realize the actual size as you start to see all-to-familiar structures, such as antennae and satellite dishes, being torn to pieces. Headlights appear and a car come bursting through the billowing smoke. As it flies through the air, explosion continue to destroy the military-esque complex around it. The car then crashes into a pillar and explodes, bringing an entire bridge down with it. Images of military banners burning and military statues crumbling become mere reflections in the eyes of Rico as he’s now revealed, plummeting towards the earth in free fall. After a log flash and right when you expect Rico to pull his ripcord and release his signature parachute, he instead reveals his brand new wingsuit, giving him control of his flight and springing himself right into the camera to end the trailer.

The combination of the exhilarating trailer and beautiful screenshots promise an exciting game on the horizon. It appears to be everything fans could ask for in a next generation “Just Cause” game. The most important part is that the game clearly made no attempts to reinvent itself with a more serious nature (thank goodness, as we have the “Far Cry” series for that!). Instead, the over-the-top physics and gameplay will continue, creating what will likely be the epitome of sandbox games. The trademark parachute and grappling hook have already been promised to make a return with improvements, which means the island of Medici will truly be your sandbox.

“Just Cause 3” has no hard release date yet, but is slated for a “Holiday 2015” release window. It is expected to launch on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam.

[02.11.15] 'The Jackbox Party Pack' makes the jump to OUYA

Jackbox Games

Yesterday, Jackbox Games and OUYA announced the exciting release of “The Jackbox Party Pack” on OUYA. The buffet of entertainment packs in five hilarious party games that will provide endless hours of entertainment for a gathering of any size, from one to 100. It’s also on sale for a limited time. The best part? It's available now, after launching on Feb 10, for the special price of $19.99 – or just $4 per game.

“The Jackbox Party Pack” includes:

- “You Don’t Know Jack 2015”: The classic that started it all has been revamped and updated with the latest in pop-culture trivia. (1-4 players)

- “Fibbage XL”: It’s OK to lie in this game; in fact, it’s encouraged! Get ready to put your lying and lie-detecting skills to the test, now with even more questions than the original hit. (2-8 players)

- “Drawful”: The best drawing game that benefits creativity in the form of art skills and lies. You even get to draw your own little character. (3-8 players)

- “Word Spud”: A complete-the-phrase word game that can be as family friendly or family unfriendly as you want. Compete to create a novel or just throw in silly phrases to get the most votes. (2-8 players)

- “Lie Swatter”: The wacky, fast-paced trivia game that is as simple as true or false. Best of all, it can accommodate the most rambunctious of parties. (1-100 players)

The secret is in the unique user interface that utilizes a web browser, allowing any internet-connected phone, tablet, or computer to be the controller. After the game is launched using the system, everyone connects with the device of their choice via jackbox.tv and a unique room code. Just be warned, once you start, you probably won’t be able to stop until your face hurts from laughing… you may not even be able to stop then. Make sure you grab this now while it’s on sale. Next week, it will be returning to its regular price of $24.99. If you don’t have an OUYA, it’s also available on Xbox One, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Steam, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, and the Mac App Store at the regular price. Even then, it’s absolutely worth the money.