Double Fine's Tim Schafer said that he would love to remaster more LucasArts adventure games he worked on, though Grim Fandango Remastered will have to sell well in order for that to happen.
The news comes from the Grim Fandango: Bringing the Dead Back to Life PAX 2014 panel, where Schafer and other developers who worked on the original game talked about how they're handling various aspects of the remastered edition.
"We would love to make more of them," Schafer said in response to a fan in the audience who asked if they considered remaking or re-releasing other LucasArts adventure games. "If everyone buys 10 copies it will make it more likely that we'll make another," Schafer joked.
As to why they decided to tackle Grim Fandango first, Schafer said it was a combination of the team's passion for the game, the fact that it became hard to get only a few years after it was originally released, and the negotiations between Sony, Double Fine, and Disney, which acquired LucasArts last year.
Schafer and the panel also discussed the current state of Grim Fandango Remastered. The plan is to dig up the original assets, polish them, and use as much of them is possible in the remastered version. One exception is the game's music, which will be performed and recorded with the Melbourne orchestra just for the new version of the game. The Melbourne orchestra also worked with Double Fine on Broken Age.
At the moment, the team is still digging through the archives to see what they have, but has already begun improving textures, cutscenes, and other assets, as well as implementing new mouse and DualShock controls. A short video about the production of the game that played before the panel started also briefly showed it running on the tablet, though the game hasn't been officially announced for iOS or Android devices.
Double Fine announced that Grim Fandango will be released for PC, Mac, and Linux in addition to PS4 and Vita. A release date for the remastered version of the game has not yet been announced, but Double Fine says it will be a simultaneous launch across all platforms.
Which LucasArts game would you like to see remastered? Let us know in the comments below.
Developer Ninja Theory is assisting with the development of the combat in Disney Infinity 2.0. Announced at the Giant Bomb PAX panel, and later confirmed on Twitter, Disney Infinity executive producer John Vignocchi said that the developer is the latest team to join the platform.
Talking about Ninja Theory on Twitter, Vignocchi said, "They have been working with us since February and are like family to our team at Avalanche and Disney." And at the panel he said that Ninja Theory has primarily focused on battle systems for villains like Loki, Green Goblin, and Ronan.
Ninja Theory has worked on other franchises before (like their work with Nintendo on the reboot of DmC: Devil May Cry), but they're perhaps better known as the creators of Heavenly Sword and Enslaved. At Gamescom earlier this year, Ninja Theory also revealed that they're working on a new original game titled Hellblade.
Disney Infinity likely has some more news coming in the near future as well, having recently teased the addition of Star Wars characters to the game.
Filed under:
Disney Infinity: Marvel Super Heroes - 2.0 Edition
Written By Kom Limpulnam on Sabtu, 30 Agustus 2014 | 19.51
Gamespot's Site MashupDanny Invades Twitch - PAX PrimeGS News Top 5 - Dragon Age Multiplayer; Hackers Take Down PSN!Mini Boss Battle - Lichdom: Battlemage GameplayProfessor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Review RoundupNintendo of Europe Cutting 320 JobsNintendo's New 3DS Aims for the Hardcore, But Is Bound to Create ConfusionChoosing Your Capital Ship - Dreadnought Class PreviewPeter Molyneux Wants More Developers to Make Free-to-Play GamesYou'll Need the New 3DS to Play Xenoblade Chronicles' Upcoming PortWatch a Half-Dozen Nintendo Executives Take the Ice Bucket ChallengeNintendo Announces New 3DS!Reality Check - Why Do We Watch Twitch?Man, These NHL 15 Trailers Are WeirdSaints Row Expansion Gat Out of Hell Confirmed at PAX [UPDATE]Get an Xbox One or PS4 for $360 Right Now Through Groupon
rss:9d9437cc2bdadfdb0c2a6594385b5cf5548bd329 rss_modified:rss:9d9437cc2bdadfdb0c2a6594385b5cf5548bd329 http://www.gamespot.com/feeds/mashup/?platform=1024&type=3 Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Sat, 30 Aug 2014 05:50:28 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/danny-invades-twitch-pax-prime/2300-6421090/ Danny wanders into the Twitch booth at PAX Prime to chat with Jon Carnage, Justin Flynn and MAN about video games and Amazon acquisitions. ]]> 2300-6421090Fri, 29 Aug 2014 19:46:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-top-5-dragon-age-multiplayer-hackers-take-/2300-6421057/ Loads of big services were taken down by hackers, Sony loves VR, and the games industry gets hit with abuse and harassment controversy. ]]> 2300-6421057Fri, 29 Aug 2014 16:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/mini-boss-battle-lichdom-battlemage-gameplay/2300-6421088/ Watch as we take down one of the early game mini bosses in Lichdom: Battlemage. ]]> 2300-6421088Fri, 29 Aug 2014 15:46:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/professor-layton-vs-phoenix-wright-ace-attorney-re/1100-6422005/
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, the long-awaited crossover between the two franchises, has finally arrived in North America, almost two years after it was originally released in Japan. The first reviews went live this week, and we've gathered up a selection for you to peruse below.
The game is a collaboration between the respective developers of the two series, Level-5 (Professor Layton) and Capcom (Ace Attorney). It consists of separate sections that each play similarly to games in the two series; unfortunately, the consensus seems to be that it doesn't totally capitalize on the crossover potential. Even so, the reception has been generally positive, and it's good to see the game released here after such a long wait.
You can check out a sampling of reviews below. For more, check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
Game: Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Developer: Capcom/Level-5
Platforms: 3DS
Release Date: August 29
Price: $29.99
GameSpot -- 8/10
"Layton vs. Phoenix Wright is a long game--at least as long as a Professor Layton game and a Phoenix Wright game combined--and relatively little of it is genuine crossover. But that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. What is here is big, it's often silly, and it's sometimes unwieldy, but it's rarely anything less than engaging thanks to some great execution on tried-and-tested ideas. It's Phoenix, however, in his element in this magical world, that well and truly steals the show." [Full review]
USGamer -- 4/5
"Personally, I enjoyed the light romp through Layton and Wright's magical adventure. It's good to have a bit of change from the deadly serious or overly involved games I usually play; outside of the lengthy Witch Trials, Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright is the kind of game you can pop into for 5-10 minutes to make yourself feel smarter." [Full review]
IGN -- 7.8/10
"This unique crossover is a powerful draw for fans of either series, but it doesn't make the most of its potential. It sacrifices some of both series' challenge, and the alternate-universe story feels like a missed opportunity where there could have been more meaningful interaction between the worlds of Wright and Layton. The witty dialogue writing, however, is as charming and enjoyable as ever." [Full review]
GamesBeat -- 85/100
"Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is an extremely satisfying pairing--if not actually a blend--of the puzzle solving and courtroom twists from the two series. The game's high production values add charm and character to the experience. The compelling storyline and animation make up for dialogue that might linger a little too long and puzzles that might speed by a little too quickly. If you like both nonviolent handheld heroes, 'Take That' copy of Layton vs. Wright, without hesitation." [Full review]
Joystiq -- 3.5/5
"A bad ending doesn't have to ruin a game, though, even (or perhaps especially) if the story wasn't all that strong to begin with. Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright drags on too long, but even towards the end it's enjoyable at its basest of levels. It's an entirely safe crossover that doesn't merge two gameplay styles as deeply as it could, and it's a shame to miss on that potential. However, the ultimate result is two series' with enjoyable characters and a penchant for madness coming together, and a crossover that doesn't take risks with tried-and-tested play. It also has Layton and Wright performing synchronized pointing, and it's almost worth the objections just for that." [Full review]
Shacknews -- 8/10
"Reservations aside, Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney comes out with a game that in many ways improves upon both formulas. It may be too bogged down in its own story and look slightly dated, but the pure puzzle mechanics still work both in and out of the courtroom, and are bolstered by the crossing of ideas. It's more than the sum of its parts, and as a result is a nice treat." [Full review]
Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6422005Fri, 29 Aug 2014 14:28:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-of-europe-cutting-320-jobs/1100-6422004/
Nintendo of Europe is cutting around 320 jobs, the company has confirmed. This includes the 130 full-time staff confirmed to be on the way out back in June, and an additional 190 people who worked out of the company's Germany-based localization office.
The cuts were confirmed to Kotaku today. The site points out that, though the 190 people in Germany were technically temporary staffers, they all worked only with Nintendo, and in some cases, for periods of multiple years. All 320 affected employees will be let go by August 31.
As a result of the job losses, Nintendo of Europe will outsource the localization and testing duties previously performed by the German office. Nintendo says in a statement that the cuts were needed to "increase flexibility and cost efficiency in the long-term."
For Nintendo's most recent quarter, the company posted a drop in year-over-year revenue and profit despite strong Mario Kart 8 sales and Wii U hardware gains. The company is hoping to turn things around this holiday with the introduction of its amiibo toy line and major new releases like Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS and Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire remakes.
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6422004Fri, 29 Aug 2014 14:06:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendos-new-3ds-aims-for-the-hardcore-but-is-bou/1100-6421999/ The New 3DS (right) and New 3DS XL
That another revision of a Nintendo handheld system is coming is no real surprise--routine hardware refreshes have been part of the company's business model for upwards of two decades (the DS had four different designs, for example). But the latest versions of the 3DS announced today, intriguing as their potential is, seem likely to create confusion.
The New Nintendo 3DS, as it's being called, offers a suite of new features: an analog nub (the new C-Stick), additional ZL and ZR shoulder buttons, improved 3D (no longer do you need a protractor to properly line your head up with the screen for it to work, Nintendo claims), integrated NFC support for Amiibo, and a faster CPU. It comes in standard and XL (or LL, as it's called in Japan) sizes.
With the possible exception of Amiibo, these are primarily things of interest to a more hardcore audience. And that's interesting in light of what Shigeru Miyamoto had to say recently, when he suggested Nintendo may focus more on core games, as opposed to those for people with only a "passive" interest in games. "In the days of DS and Wii, Nintendo tried its best to expand the gaming population," he said in an interview with Edge. "Fortunately, because of the spread of smart devices, people take games for granted now. It's a good thing for us, because we do not have to worry about making games something that are relevant to general people's daily lives."
This New 3DS shows Nintendo is indeed more serious about gunning for the hardcore audience, and less concerned with expanding to a broader audience with its every move. I can't imagine a casual player will suddenly be compelled to buy a 3DS because it now has the buttons and hardware to handle more advanced games.
For others, some of these additions make the system very exciting. I know I want one (though I'm a poor barometer for these things, considering I bought a PSP Go at launch). The improved hardware, in particular, makes me hopeful that we'll finally see Virtual Console games from the Super Nintendo land on 3DS. Extra buttons and the integrated C-Stick means some functions don't need to be relegated to the touchscreen, and there's no longer a need to use the Circle Pad Pro. The placement of the C-Stick--which reminds me of the Wii U GamePad--is not where I would have liked to see it, but those new, Super Famicom-style face buttons on the regular-sized system (see below) are gorgeous, and only a limited number of games will use the C-Stick anyway.
Even if SNES games on Virtual Consoles don't happen, Nintendo is already ensuring the faster CPU is put to use for more than just speeding up system navigation and downloads. Acclaimed Wii RPG Xenoblade Chronicles will be ported to 3DS, but only to these new systems--and that's where I think Nintendo is creating problems. It's not the first time a revision of a handheld has been the only one to play certain software (see: the DSi and DSiWare), but with a game like Xenoblade, we're no longer talking about small, download-only games being exclusive to a certain model.
With the release of this latest version of the 3DS, we'll have a situation where you have the 3DS, 2DS, and New 3DS. The 3DS can play 3DS games, but not New 3DS games; the 2DS can play 3DS (in 2D), but not New 3DS games; and the New 3DS can play all 3DS games (except, as Siliconera's translation of a Q&A notes, for something like Pokemon Tretta Lab, which requires external hardware made for the 3DS and 3DS XL). If you don't think that is going to confuse consumers--particularly the more casual audience that helped Nintendo to dominate the industry with the Wii and DS--I'd remind you that many people thought the Wii U was a Wii accessory.
Just the name "New 3DS" is likely to confuse people who might be led to believe that it, along with its New 3DS-only games, is an entirely separate system from the existing 3DS. Nintendo has shown in the past it's cognizant of the possibility of confusing the public with too many 3DS models, so I'm surprised by the way this new system is being handled. These new systems may be geared toward the hardcore audience, but its existence can still confuse the public at large.
The New 3DS will be launched later this year in Japan, with a European launch to follow sometime in 2015. Nintendo of America refuses to say whether it will bring the new models to North America, and while that has to be frustrating for those wondering whether they should simply import one, I think it's actually a smart decision to avoid talking about it this fall. There are already three basic models--the 3DS, 3DS XL, and 2DS--available to consumers in a variety of colors and bundles, and there's no reason to complicate things by changing things up with new options. If or when these two systems come to North America, they need to take the place of the existing 3DS and 3DS XL models, should that not already be the plan for all markets.
Games are ultimately what will help sell the New 3DS, and I wonder whether it'll receive the support from developers to make it a worthwhile upgrade for existing 3DS owners. Xenoblade is well and good, but people will want more than just a port of a several-year-old Wii RPG to justify the system. Developers, meanwhile, will likely want a sizable install base before devoting resources to a game that can only be played on these specific models. It's a similar problem to the one faced by Wii U; Nintendo's attempted solution in that case is to develop desirable, high-profile games like Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. that will (hopefully) sell hardware, which will in turn lead to more third-party support and subsequently even more hardware sales.
It'll be interesting to see if Nintendo decides to take a similar tact of developing New 3DS-only games in its franchises--imagine what a new 2D Metroid could do for sales--or if it'll be content to largely treat this like a standard hardware revision.
Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421999Fri, 29 Aug 2014 13:57:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/choosing-your-capital-ship-dreadnought-class-previ/2300-6421083/ Jeremy runs down the five ship classes that will appear in Dreadnought and explores what each one does best. ]]> 2300-6421083Fri, 29 Aug 2014 13:47:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/peter-molyneux-wants-more-developers-to-make-free-/1100-6422003/
Fable creator and industry veteran Peter Molyneux wants more developers to start making free-to-play games because, if they do, the model might lose its stigma. Right now, the free-to-play sector has been held hostage by match-three and casino games, he says, but this could change if "true" game designers started making free-to-play titles.
"I think that if more and more designers get into free-to-play then free-to-play will just get better and better," Molyneux told Game Informer. "But at the moment, there aren't many true game designers getting into free-to-play, so free-to-play is getting crafted by match-three games and slots and casino games, and those types of games have held free-to-play to ransom. I'd love more designers from all walks of life to try free-to-play games, so we could make free-to-play brilliant."
"The game industry should love free-to-play" -- Molyneux
Though the free-to-play model has been criticized for the way some games handle monetization, Molyneux said the business model--when executed fairly--should be adored by gamers because it gives them the wonderful freedom to try before they buy and never get stuck paying for a bad game.
"The game industry should love free-to-play," he said. "What gamers need to do is persuade designers to go make free-to-play games. But a lot of gamers say that if you're doing that then you're not really making games."
Molyneux and his indie studio, 22 Cans, recently released Godus, a free-to-play game for iOS. The reaction to the game's business model, from some people, has been overwhelmingly negative, to the point of Molyneux even receiving death threats.
"I've had people say, 'I'm going to burn all the games you own now.' I've had people say, 'You're a hypocrite.' I've actually had death threats over this," he said. "That doesn't make sense. Gamers should want fair free-to-play, and the only way to get fair free-to-play is to get more designers to love free-to-play. As a gamer we should say, 'If Call of Duty were free-to-play, it would be a better game.'"
In fact, Call of Duty Online in China is a free-to-play game. But it remains to be seen if this version is "better" than the standard, $60 yearly installments.
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6422003Fri, 29 Aug 2014 13:46:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/youll-need-the-new-3ds-to-play-xenoblade-chronicle/1100-6422002/ Xenoblade Chronicles for Wii
It may simply be an enhanced revision of the 3DS, but the newly announced New 3DS will be receiving at least one game that owners of other 3DS (and 2DS) models won't be able to play: Xenoblade Chronicles.
This is the same Xenoblade Chronicles released on Wii in Japan in 2010 that fans petitioned to have brought to the west (along with The Last Story and Pandora's Tower). It did end up being released in Europe in 2011 and in North America in 2012, and it'll now be brought to another platform next year, Nintendo announced today during a Nintendo Direct, according to Gematsu.
The reason for this being a New 3DS exclusive is because the system packs a speedier CPU that is necessary for running the game. It's the only game to be announced so far that requires the new system, which also plays all regular 3DS games.
Xenoblade will be released for the New 3DS in Japan sometime next year. There is no word yet on a European release; the New 3DS launches in Japan later this year and in Europe sometime in 2015. A North American release for the system has not yet been announced. As a result, we don't yet know when (or if) Xenoblade will ever make it to New 3DS here.
As someone who much prefers to play lengthy RPGs (which Xenoblade, at 65-hours plus for core content, certainly is) on a handheld system, I'm hopeful this ends up making to the US. You can check out our review for some thoughts on the Wii version, or watch the video below (at the 27:18 mark) to see what the 3DS version looks like. Shulk, the game's protagonist, was just today confirmed as a playable character in the upcoming Super Smash Bros.
Have you already played Xenoblade? Would you be interested in playing a 3DS version? Let us know in the comments.
Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6422002Fri, 29 Aug 2014 13:41:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-a-half-dozen-nintendo-executives-take-the-ic/1100-6422001/
Responding to Xbox boss Phil Spencer's nomination for him to take the Ice Bucket Challenge earlier this month, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime promised to "one-up" Spencer's video. But more than a week went by, and Fils-Aime didn't take the challenge. Now we know why.
As it turns out, Fils-Aime did indeed take things one step further to help raise money and awareness for ALS by announcing a special employee promotion. Every Nintendo of America employee who made a donation to the ALS Association received a raffle ticket for the chance to dump a bucket of ice water on an executive's head, Fils-Aime included.
Watch the video above to see Nintendo of America executives Fils-Aime (president), Steve Fukuda (EVP, business development), Devon Pritchard (SVP, general counsel), Ingvar Petursson (SVP, technology and finance), Don James (EVP, operations), Scott Moffitt (EVP, sales and marketing), and Flip Morse (SVP, corporate resources) take the challenge.
Nintendo did not announce how much money it raised for the ALS Association, but the Ice Bucket Challenge is having a major impact on the group's funding. Data released by the ALS Association this week showed that for the July 29-August 26 period, total donations were $88.5 million, compared to $2.6 million during the same period last year.
Spencer applauded the video in a message on Twitter.
Industry people who have completed the Ice Bucket Challenge (click through to watch videos):
You can donate money to the ALS Association at the group's website.
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6422001Fri, 29 Aug 2014 12:50:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/nintendo-announces-new-3ds/2300-6421082/ At PAX Prime 2014, Nintendo announces the New 3DS. Listen to Justin and Peter give their impressions on this new platform. ]]> 2300-6421082Fri, 29 Aug 2014 12:26:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/reality-check-why-do-we-watch-twitch/2300-6421068/ Reality Check delves into the psychology behind why 55 million people log on to Twitch every month to watch other people play League of Legends and Hearthstone. ]]> 2300-6421068Fri, 29 Aug 2014 12:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/man-these-nhl-15-trailers-are-weird/1100-6422000/
Electronic Arts today released a pair of new marketing videos for upcoming professional hockey game NHL 15 and, boy, they are...unique. Not quite as over-the-top as EA's Madden Season commercial, the videos--which will begin airing on TV come September 1--feature Boston Bruins stars Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand reading poetry and singing songs.
In the first video, Bergeron is seen in a dimly lit room reading a poem called "Feelings," which he says was written about the game. "NHL 15 is my new endeavor, hold my calls for like...forever," is the final line of his poem. Marchand, meanwhile, brings a guitar on stage and performs a song called "I Want to Marry NHL 15." Below are the lyrics.
"I just took a trip to hockey heaven / They turned it up way past eleven / My face just melted and my heart did too / Not gonna lie, I can't ever quit you / NHL 15 you got me all twisted up / Dang, just like I won the cup."
NHL 15 launches on September 9 for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4. Though the current-generation versions will have better visuals, we recently learned that they are missing major modes.
]]> 1100-6422000Fri, 29 Aug 2014 11:53:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/saints-row-expansion-gat-out-of-hell-confirmed-at-/1100-6421994/
[UPDATE]: Today at Volition's PAX panel, the developer revealed a trailer for a standalone Saints Row expansion subtitled Gat Out of Hell for PC, 360, PS3, Xbox One, and PS4.
You'll apparently travel to a hellish landscape and don demonic wings. The game will include co-op play where one person can take control of Gat and the other Kinzie. And the game will come in at a budget-friendly $19.95 on January 27, 2015.
Volition also announced a port of Saints Row IV for current-gen systems (Xbox One and PS4). The games also launches on January 27, 2015 and will cost $29.99 stand-alone, or you can get it in a bundle with Gat Out of Hell for $49.99.
For PC players, an SDK release due out today will introduce customization options to the game, including the ability to create your own weapons.
We'll have the full trailer and more details soon!
The original story appears below.
Following the recent posting of a PAX schedule which revealed Saints Row developer Volition will announce its next project today, publisher Deep Silver has published a tease that all but confirms a Saints Row announcement is imminent.
The image above--featuring the logo of the Saints Row series' Third Street Saints--was posted to the Deep Silver UK Twitter account this morning, accompanied by the text, "Something wicked this way comes…" It's also proceeded to retweet tweets that suggest this is tease is pointing to Saints Row 5.
A follow-up to Saints Row IV was inevitable; the only real question now is how it moves on from the style of the previous game, which offered players Crackdown-esque superpowers. Earlier games in the series played more like Grand Theft Auto, though they have increasingly distinguished themselves from GTA.
The PAX panel is scheduled to take place today from 10-11 AM Pacific (1-2 PM Eastern). It's explained as being a quiz show with Natalie Lander, who voices Kinzie in the games. "At the end of the panel, we'll show you exclusive gameplay, art, and details for an upcoming project from Volition," the panel's description teases.
Stay tuned to GameSpot to find out all the details about what the announcement turns out to be, and check out our PAX hub for all of our coverage straight from Seattle.
Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421994Fri, 29 Aug 2014 10:45:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/get-an-xbox-one-or-ps4-for-360-right-now-through-g/1100-6421997/
Groupon is marking the upcoming Labor Day holiday with a pretty excellent promotion. By applying the coupon code LABOR10, you can get 10 percent off almost all physical goods, meaning there are savings to be had on all kinds of video game hardware and games.
Xbox One (without Kinect) and PlayStation 4 systems are going for $360, while you can pick up a Wii U bundle for $270 or a (refurbished) 3DS XL with Mario Party: Island Tour for $135. Of course, the coupon works on already released and upcoming games, meaning you can preorder a copy of Destiny for $54 instead of $60.
Shipping is free, and the 10 percent off code expires on September 1. You can visit Groupon's video game page to see everything that's on sale as part of the Labor Day deal. Thank you, Dealzon, for the tip.
Are you going to take advantage of Groupon's Labor Day deal? Let us know what you're buying and why in the comments below!
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421997Fri, 29 Aug 2014 10:14:00 -0700
Gamespot's Site MashupDanny Invades Twitch - PAX PrimeGS News Top 5 - Dragon Age Multiplayer; Hackers Take Down PSN!Mini Boss Battle - Lichdom: Battlemage GameplayProfessor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Review RoundupNintendo of Europe Cutting 320 JobsNintendo's New 3DS Aims for the Hardcore, But Is Bound to Create ConfusionChoosing Your Capital Ship - Dreadnought Class PreviewPeter Molyneux Wants More Developers to Make Free-to-Play GamesYou'll Need the New 3DS to Play Xenoblade Chronicles' Upcoming PortWatch a Half-Dozen Nintendo Executives Take the Ice Bucket ChallengeNintendo Announces New 3DS!Reality Check - Why Do We Watch Twitch?Man, These NHL 15 Trailers Are WeirdSaints Row Expansion Gat Out of Hell Confirmed at PAX [UPDATE]Get an Xbox One or PS4 for $360 Right Now Through Groupon
rss:9d9437cc2bdadfdb0c2a6594385b5cf5548bd329 rss_modified:rss:9d9437cc2bdadfdb0c2a6594385b5cf5548bd329 http://www.gamespot.com/feeds/mashup/?platform=1024&type=3 Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Sat, 30 Aug 2014 05:50:28 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/danny-invades-twitch-pax-prime/2300-6421090/ Danny wanders into the Twitch booth at PAX Prime to chat with Jon Carnage, Justin Flynn and MAN about video games and Amazon acquisitions. ]]> 2300-6421090Fri, 29 Aug 2014 19:46:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/gs-news-top-5-dragon-age-multiplayer-hackers-take-/2300-6421057/ Loads of big services were taken down by hackers, Sony loves VR, and the games industry gets hit with abuse and harassment controversy. ]]> 2300-6421057Fri, 29 Aug 2014 16:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/mini-boss-battle-lichdom-battlemage-gameplay/2300-6421088/ Watch as we take down one of the early game mini bosses in Lichdom: Battlemage. ]]> 2300-6421088Fri, 29 Aug 2014 15:46:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/professor-layton-vs-phoenix-wright-ace-attorney-re/1100-6422005/
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, the long-awaited crossover between the two franchises, has finally arrived in North America, almost two years after it was originally released in Japan. The first reviews went live this week, and we've gathered up a selection for you to peruse below.
The game is a collaboration between the respective developers of the two series, Level-5 (Professor Layton) and Capcom (Ace Attorney). It consists of separate sections that each play similarly to games in the two series; unfortunately, the consensus seems to be that it doesn't totally capitalize on the crossover potential. Even so, the reception has been generally positive, and it's good to see the game released here after such a long wait.
You can check out a sampling of reviews below. For more, check out GameSpot sister site Metacritic.
Game: Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
Developer: Capcom/Level-5
Platforms: 3DS
Release Date: August 29
Price: $29.99
GameSpot -- 8/10
"Layton vs. Phoenix Wright is a long game--at least as long as a Professor Layton game and a Phoenix Wright game combined--and relatively little of it is genuine crossover. But that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. What is here is big, it's often silly, and it's sometimes unwieldy, but it's rarely anything less than engaging thanks to some great execution on tried-and-tested ideas. It's Phoenix, however, in his element in this magical world, that well and truly steals the show." [Full review]
USGamer -- 4/5
"Personally, I enjoyed the light romp through Layton and Wright's magical adventure. It's good to have a bit of change from the deadly serious or overly involved games I usually play; outside of the lengthy Witch Trials, Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright is the kind of game you can pop into for 5-10 minutes to make yourself feel smarter." [Full review]
IGN -- 7.8/10
"This unique crossover is a powerful draw for fans of either series, but it doesn't make the most of its potential. It sacrifices some of both series' challenge, and the alternate-universe story feels like a missed opportunity where there could have been more meaningful interaction between the worlds of Wright and Layton. The witty dialogue writing, however, is as charming and enjoyable as ever." [Full review]
GamesBeat -- 85/100
"Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney is an extremely satisfying pairing--if not actually a blend--of the puzzle solving and courtroom twists from the two series. The game's high production values add charm and character to the experience. The compelling storyline and animation make up for dialogue that might linger a little too long and puzzles that might speed by a little too quickly. If you like both nonviolent handheld heroes, 'Take That' copy of Layton vs. Wright, without hesitation." [Full review]
Joystiq -- 3.5/5
"A bad ending doesn't have to ruin a game, though, even (or perhaps especially) if the story wasn't all that strong to begin with. Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright drags on too long, but even towards the end it's enjoyable at its basest of levels. It's an entirely safe crossover that doesn't merge two gameplay styles as deeply as it could, and it's a shame to miss on that potential. However, the ultimate result is two series' with enjoyable characters and a penchant for madness coming together, and a crossover that doesn't take risks with tried-and-tested play. It also has Layton and Wright performing synchronized pointing, and it's almost worth the objections just for that." [Full review]
Shacknews -- 8/10
"Reservations aside, Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney comes out with a game that in many ways improves upon both formulas. It may be too bogged down in its own story and look slightly dated, but the pure puzzle mechanics still work both in and out of the courtroom, and are bolstered by the crossing of ideas. It's more than the sum of its parts, and as a result is a nice treat." [Full review]
Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6422005Fri, 29 Aug 2014 14:28:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-of-europe-cutting-320-jobs/1100-6422004/
Nintendo of Europe is cutting around 320 jobs, the company has confirmed. This includes the 130 full-time staff confirmed to be on the way out back in June, and an additional 190 people who worked out of the company's Germany-based localization office.
The cuts were confirmed to Kotaku today. The site points out that, though the 190 people in Germany were technically temporary staffers, they all worked only with Nintendo, and in some cases, for periods of multiple years. All 320 affected employees will be let go by August 31.
As a result of the job losses, Nintendo of Europe will outsource the localization and testing duties previously performed by the German office. Nintendo says in a statement that the cuts were needed to "increase flexibility and cost efficiency in the long-term."
For Nintendo's most recent quarter, the company posted a drop in year-over-year revenue and profit despite strong Mario Kart 8 sales and Wii U hardware gains. The company is hoping to turn things around this holiday with the introduction of its amiibo toy line and major new releases like Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and 3DS and Pokemon Ruby and Sapphire remakes.
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6422004Fri, 29 Aug 2014 14:06:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendos-new-3ds-aims-for-the-hardcore-but-is-bou/1100-6421999/ The New 3DS (right) and New 3DS XL
That another revision of a Nintendo handheld system is coming is no real surprise--routine hardware refreshes have been part of the company's business model for upwards of two decades (the DS had four different designs, for example). But the latest versions of the 3DS announced today, intriguing as their potential is, seem likely to create confusion.
The New Nintendo 3DS, as it's being called, offers a suite of new features: an analog nub (the new C-Stick), additional ZL and ZR shoulder buttons, improved 3D (no longer do you need a protractor to properly line your head up with the screen for it to work, Nintendo claims), integrated NFC support for Amiibo, and a faster CPU. It comes in standard and XL (or LL, as it's called in Japan) sizes.
With the possible exception of Amiibo, these are primarily things of interest to a more hardcore audience. And that's interesting in light of what Shigeru Miyamoto had to say recently, when he suggested Nintendo may focus more on core games, as opposed to those for people with only a "passive" interest in games. "In the days of DS and Wii, Nintendo tried its best to expand the gaming population," he said in an interview with Edge. "Fortunately, because of the spread of smart devices, people take games for granted now. It's a good thing for us, because we do not have to worry about making games something that are relevant to general people's daily lives."
This New 3DS shows Nintendo is indeed more serious about gunning for the hardcore audience, and less concerned with expanding to a broader audience with its every move. I can't imagine a casual player will suddenly be compelled to buy a 3DS because it now has the buttons and hardware to handle more advanced games.
For others, some of these additions make the system very exciting. I know I want one (though I'm a poor barometer for these things, considering I bought a PSP Go at launch). The improved hardware, in particular, makes me hopeful that we'll finally see Virtual Console games from the Super Nintendo land on 3DS. Extra buttons and the integrated C-Stick means some functions don't need to be relegated to the touchscreen, and there's no longer a need to use the Circle Pad Pro. The placement of the C-Stick--which reminds me of the Wii U GamePad--is not where I would have liked to see it, but those new, Super Famicom-style face buttons on the regular-sized system (see below) are gorgeous, and only a limited number of games will use the C-Stick anyway.
Even if SNES games on Virtual Consoles don't happen, Nintendo is already ensuring the faster CPU is put to use for more than just speeding up system navigation and downloads. Acclaimed Wii RPG Xenoblade Chronicles will be ported to 3DS, but only to these new systems--and that's where I think Nintendo is creating problems. It's not the first time a revision of a handheld has been the only one to play certain software (see: the DSi and DSiWare), but with a game like Xenoblade, we're no longer talking about small, download-only games being exclusive to a certain model.
With the release of this latest version of the 3DS, we'll have a situation where you have the 3DS, 2DS, and New 3DS. The 3DS can play 3DS games, but not New 3DS games; the 2DS can play 3DS (in 2D), but not New 3DS games; and the New 3DS can play all 3DS games (except, as Siliconera's translation of a Q&A notes, for something like Pokemon Tretta Lab, which requires external hardware made for the 3DS and 3DS XL). If you don't think that is going to confuse consumers--particularly the more casual audience that helped Nintendo to dominate the industry with the Wii and DS--I'd remind you that many people thought the Wii U was a Wii accessory.
Just the name "New 3DS" is likely to confuse people who might be led to believe that it, along with its New 3DS-only games, is an entirely separate system from the existing 3DS. Nintendo has shown in the past it's cognizant of the possibility of confusing the public with too many 3DS models, so I'm surprised by the way this new system is being handled. These new systems may be geared toward the hardcore audience, but its existence can still confuse the public at large.
The New 3DS will be launched later this year in Japan, with a European launch to follow sometime in 2015. Nintendo of America refuses to say whether it will bring the new models to North America, and while that has to be frustrating for those wondering whether they should simply import one, I think it's actually a smart decision to avoid talking about it this fall. There are already three basic models--the 3DS, 3DS XL, and 2DS--available to consumers in a variety of colors and bundles, and there's no reason to complicate things by changing things up with new options. If or when these two systems come to North America, they need to take the place of the existing 3DS and 3DS XL models, should that not already be the plan for all markets.
Games are ultimately what will help sell the New 3DS, and I wonder whether it'll receive the support from developers to make it a worthwhile upgrade for existing 3DS owners. Xenoblade is well and good, but people will want more than just a port of a several-year-old Wii RPG to justify the system. Developers, meanwhile, will likely want a sizable install base before devoting resources to a game that can only be played on these specific models. It's a similar problem to the one faced by Wii U; Nintendo's attempted solution in that case is to develop desirable, high-profile games like Mario Kart 8 and Super Smash Bros. that will (hopefully) sell hardware, which will in turn lead to more third-party support and subsequently even more hardware sales.
It'll be interesting to see if Nintendo decides to take a similar tact of developing New 3DS-only games in its franchises--imagine what a new 2D Metroid could do for sales--or if it'll be content to largely treat this like a standard hardware revision.
Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421999Fri, 29 Aug 2014 13:57:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/choosing-your-capital-ship-dreadnought-class-previ/2300-6421083/ Jeremy runs down the five ship classes that will appear in Dreadnought and explores what each one does best. ]]> 2300-6421083Fri, 29 Aug 2014 13:47:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/peter-molyneux-wants-more-developers-to-make-free-/1100-6422003/
Fable creator and industry veteran Peter Molyneux wants more developers to start making free-to-play games because, if they do, the model might lose its stigma. Right now, the free-to-play sector has been held hostage by match-three and casino games, he says, but this could change if "true" game designers started making free-to-play titles.
"I think that if more and more designers get into free-to-play then free-to-play will just get better and better," Molyneux told Game Informer. "But at the moment, there aren't many true game designers getting into free-to-play, so free-to-play is getting crafted by match-three games and slots and casino games, and those types of games have held free-to-play to ransom. I'd love more designers from all walks of life to try free-to-play games, so we could make free-to-play brilliant."
"The game industry should love free-to-play" -- Molyneux
Though the free-to-play model has been criticized for the way some games handle monetization, Molyneux said the business model--when executed fairly--should be adored by gamers because it gives them the wonderful freedom to try before they buy and never get stuck paying for a bad game.
"The game industry should love free-to-play," he said. "What gamers need to do is persuade designers to go make free-to-play games. But a lot of gamers say that if you're doing that then you're not really making games."
Molyneux and his indie studio, 22 Cans, recently released Godus, a free-to-play game for iOS. The reaction to the game's business model, from some people, has been overwhelmingly negative, to the point of Molyneux even receiving death threats.
"I've had people say, 'I'm going to burn all the games you own now.' I've had people say, 'You're a hypocrite.' I've actually had death threats over this," he said. "That doesn't make sense. Gamers should want fair free-to-play, and the only way to get fair free-to-play is to get more designers to love free-to-play. As a gamer we should say, 'If Call of Duty were free-to-play, it would be a better game.'"
In fact, Call of Duty Online in China is a free-to-play game. But it remains to be seen if this version is "better" than the standard, $60 yearly installments.
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6422003Fri, 29 Aug 2014 13:46:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/youll-need-the-new-3ds-to-play-xenoblade-chronicle/1100-6422002/ Xenoblade Chronicles for Wii
It may simply be an enhanced revision of the 3DS, but the newly announced New 3DS will be receiving at least one game that owners of other 3DS (and 2DS) models won't be able to play: Xenoblade Chronicles.
This is the same Xenoblade Chronicles released on Wii in Japan in 2010 that fans petitioned to have brought to the west (along with The Last Story and Pandora's Tower). It did end up being released in Europe in 2011 and in North America in 2012, and it'll now be brought to another platform next year, Nintendo announced today during a Nintendo Direct, according to Gematsu.
The reason for this being a New 3DS exclusive is because the system packs a speedier CPU that is necessary for running the game. It's the only game to be announced so far that requires the new system, which also plays all regular 3DS games.
Xenoblade will be released for the New 3DS in Japan sometime next year. There is no word yet on a European release; the New 3DS launches in Japan later this year and in Europe sometime in 2015. A North American release for the system has not yet been announced. As a result, we don't yet know when (or if) Xenoblade will ever make it to New 3DS here.
As someone who much prefers to play lengthy RPGs (which Xenoblade, at 65-hours plus for core content, certainly is) on a handheld system, I'm hopeful this ends up making to the US. You can check out our review for some thoughts on the Wii version, or watch the video below (at the 27:18 mark) to see what the 3DS version looks like. Shulk, the game's protagonist, was just today confirmed as a playable character in the upcoming Super Smash Bros.
Have you already played Xenoblade? Would you be interested in playing a 3DS version? Let us know in the comments.
Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6422002Fri, 29 Aug 2014 13:41:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-a-half-dozen-nintendo-executives-take-the-ic/1100-6422001/
Responding to Xbox boss Phil Spencer's nomination for him to take the Ice Bucket Challenge earlier this month, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime promised to "one-up" Spencer's video. But more than a week went by, and Fils-Aime didn't take the challenge. Now we know why.
As it turns out, Fils-Aime did indeed take things one step further to help raise money and awareness for ALS by announcing a special employee promotion. Every Nintendo of America employee who made a donation to the ALS Association received a raffle ticket for the chance to dump a bucket of ice water on an executive's head, Fils-Aime included.
Watch the video above to see Nintendo of America executives Fils-Aime (president), Steve Fukuda (EVP, business development), Devon Pritchard (SVP, general counsel), Ingvar Petursson (SVP, technology and finance), Don James (EVP, operations), Scott Moffitt (EVP, sales and marketing), and Flip Morse (SVP, corporate resources) take the challenge.
Nintendo did not announce how much money it raised for the ALS Association, but the Ice Bucket Challenge is having a major impact on the group's funding. Data released by the ALS Association this week showed that for the July 29-August 26 period, total donations were $88.5 million, compared to $2.6 million during the same period last year.
Spencer applauded the video in a message on Twitter.
Industry people who have completed the Ice Bucket Challenge (click through to watch videos):
You can donate money to the ALS Association at the group's website.
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6422001Fri, 29 Aug 2014 12:50:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/nintendo-announces-new-3ds/2300-6421082/ At PAX Prime 2014, Nintendo announces the New 3DS. Listen to Justin and Peter give their impressions on this new platform. ]]> 2300-6421082Fri, 29 Aug 2014 12:26:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/reality-check-why-do-we-watch-twitch/2300-6421068/ Reality Check delves into the psychology behind why 55 million people log on to Twitch every month to watch other people play League of Legends and Hearthstone. ]]> 2300-6421068Fri, 29 Aug 2014 12:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/man-these-nhl-15-trailers-are-weird/1100-6422000/
Electronic Arts today released a pair of new marketing videos for upcoming professional hockey game NHL 15 and, boy, they are...unique. Not quite as over-the-top as EA's Madden Season commercial, the videos--which will begin airing on TV come September 1--feature Boston Bruins stars Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand reading poetry and singing songs.
In the first video, Bergeron is seen in a dimly lit room reading a poem called "Feelings," which he says was written about the game. "NHL 15 is my new endeavor, hold my calls for like...forever," is the final line of his poem. Marchand, meanwhile, brings a guitar on stage and performs a song called "I Want to Marry NHL 15." Below are the lyrics.
"I just took a trip to hockey heaven / They turned it up way past eleven / My face just melted and my heart did too / Not gonna lie, I can't ever quit you / NHL 15 you got me all twisted up / Dang, just like I won the cup."
NHL 15 launches on September 9 for Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4. Though the current-generation versions will have better visuals, we recently learned that they are missing major modes.
]]> 1100-6422000Fri, 29 Aug 2014 11:53:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/saints-row-expansion-gat-out-of-hell-confirmed-at-/1100-6421994/
[UPDATE]: Today at Volition's PAX panel, the developer revealed a trailer for a standalone Saints Row expansion subtitled Gat Out of Hell for PC, 360, PS3, Xbox One, and PS4.
You'll apparently travel to a hellish landscape and don demonic wings. The game will include co-op play where one person can take control of Gat and the other Kinzie. And the game will come in at a budget-friendly $19.95 on January 27, 2015.
Volition also announced a port of Saints Row IV for current-gen systems (Xbox One and PS4). The games also launches on January 27, 2015 and will cost $29.99 stand-alone, or you can get it in a bundle with Gat Out of Hell for $49.99.
For PC players, an SDK release due out today will introduce customization options to the game, including the ability to create your own weapons.
We'll have the full trailer and more details soon!
The original story appears below.
Following the recent posting of a PAX schedule which revealed Saints Row developer Volition will announce its next project today, publisher Deep Silver has published a tease that all but confirms a Saints Row announcement is imminent.
The image above--featuring the logo of the Saints Row series' Third Street Saints--was posted to the Deep Silver UK Twitter account this morning, accompanied by the text, "Something wicked this way comes…" It's also proceeded to retweet tweets that suggest this is tease is pointing to Saints Row 5.
A follow-up to Saints Row IV was inevitable; the only real question now is how it moves on from the style of the previous game, which offered players Crackdown-esque superpowers. Earlier games in the series played more like Grand Theft Auto, though they have increasingly distinguished themselves from GTA.
The PAX panel is scheduled to take place today from 10-11 AM Pacific (1-2 PM Eastern). It's explained as being a quiz show with Natalie Lander, who voices Kinzie in the games. "At the end of the panel, we'll show you exclusive gameplay, art, and details for an upcoming project from Volition," the panel's description teases.
Stay tuned to GameSpot to find out all the details about what the announcement turns out to be, and check out our PAX hub for all of our coverage straight from Seattle.
Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421994Fri, 29 Aug 2014 10:45:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/get-an-xbox-one-or-ps4-for-360-right-now-through-g/1100-6421997/
Groupon is marking the upcoming Labor Day holiday with a pretty excellent promotion. By applying the coupon code LABOR10, you can get 10 percent off almost all physical goods, meaning there are savings to be had on all kinds of video game hardware and games.
Xbox One (without Kinect) and PlayStation 4 systems are going for $360, while you can pick up a Wii U bundle for $270 or a (refurbished) 3DS XL with Mario Party: Island Tour for $135. Of course, the coupon works on already released and upcoming games, meaning you can preorder a copy of Destiny for $54 instead of $60.
Shipping is free, and the 10 percent off code expires on September 1. You can visit Groupon's video game page to see everything that's on sale as part of the Labor Day deal. Thank you, Dealzon, for the tip.
Are you going to take advantage of Groupon's Labor Day deal? Let us know what you're buying and why in the comments below!
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
Written By Kom Limpulnam on Jumat, 29 Agustus 2014 | 19.51
Gamespot's Site MashupSuper Smash Bros - Shulk Reveal TrailerNintendo Reveals New 3DS Models With Built-In NFC, Better 3D, And MoreHow The Sims 4 Will Be Different To The Sims 3Valve Sued By Australian Consumer Watchdog Over Steam Refund PolicyLockout - Halo The Master Chief CollectionLockout is BACK! - Halo: The Master Chief CollectionQuick Look: inFamous: First LightRock Band Creator Announces Twin-Stick Hardcore Shoot 'Em UpGet Ready to Crash Moons Into Enemy Planets In Planetary Annihilation on September 5$13 Gets You a Handful of Great, Offbeat Adult Swim PC GamesTop 5 Skyrim Mods of the Week - Disney Skyrim!Lords of the Fallen - World TrailerThe Neon Singularity Move in Infamous First Light - The LobbyAzure Striker: Gunvolt - Platform Runner - GameplayUpside Down? - Azure Striker: Gunvolt - Gameplay
rss:9d9437cc2bdadfdb0c2a6594385b5cf5548bd329 rss_modified:rss:9d9437cc2bdadfdb0c2a6594385b5cf5548bd329 http://www.gamespot.com/feeds/mashup/?platform=1068&type=10 Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Fri, 29 Aug 2014 05:48:50 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/super-smash-bros-shulk-reveal-trailer/2300-6421067/ Xenoblade Chronicles' Shulk will be joining the roster of Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS. ]]> 2300-6421067Fri, 29 Aug 2014 05:06:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-reveals-new-3ds-models-with-built-in-nfc-/1100-6421985/
During a Japanese Nintendo Direct video briefing today, Nintendo announced new updates to its 3DS and 3DS XL devices. The new models, which have been announced only for Japan, feature an additional directional button and built-in NFC support. They launch in Japan on October 11.
According to Gamasutra, the new models feature an analogue "nub" over the existing A,B, X, and Y buttons. In addition, there are new shoulder buttons--XL and XR--featured on top of the system, right next to the current L and R buttons.
The new 3DS models also feature a stronger CPU than existing models, which should allow for zippier downloads and browsing from the eShop, among other things. There is also built-in NFC support for Nintendo's upcoming amiibo toy line. Nintendo will also sell an NFC adapter for existing models.
Finally, the new 3DS units are built to support customer covers, which will allow you to customize your system however you see fit.
This is a breaking news story. Check back soon for more!
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421985Fri, 29 Aug 2014 04:32:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-the-sims-4-will-be-different-to-the-sims-3/1100-6421962/ Life's possibilities are endless. By extension, a game series intending to simulate life would also hope to have endless possibilities. The Sims series has attempted to encompass this, spawning four core games and over 50 add-on packs. Despite the accumulation of all this content, it still felt as though there was something missing. The Sims 4 attempts to address this by bringing to the series what EA is calling personality and emotions, which would drive Sim behavior.
Curious as to what this would entail, I got hands-on with the game for a few hours at a preview event. At first glance, creating a Sim and assigning aspirations was not a dramatic departure from the creation tools of previous Sims games. In fact, I recognized the neat, creative, and perfectionist traits as some of the many returning Sim characteristics. Keen to try something new, I made sure my Sim had the new "self-assured" trait, which I later discovered helped trigger an emotional state in my Sim. This is because The Sims 4 sees a new focus on Sims' personalities and quirks by introducing new emotions that reflect them. Displayed in-game as a moodlet icon and shown through their expressions on the heads-up display, the emotional state of my Sim had an effect on the subsequent actions she undertook.
Inspired, my Sim wanted to jam on a musical instrument.
I spent my first few moments of the game looking at the available options and examining the HUD. This left my Sim idle for a while, and she became bored. Acting autonomously, my Sim proceeded to the wardrobe to try on different clothes. The result saw her gain a morale boost from trying on new outfits, putting her in a confident mood that would last late into the night. This newfound confident emotion affected how my Sim would carry out her actions, turning simple tasks such as using the toilet into "Pee Like a Champion." According to the moodlet buff, because my Sim had the personality trait of being self-assured, she was more likely to frequently experience these bouts of confidence.
Different actions sent my Sim into different emotional states. For example, hitting the nightclub for a few glasses of juice put my Sim in a flirty mood, which increased the success rate of her attempts to hit on other Sims. Later at home, my Sim found her spirits lifted in a refreshing shower. Emerging inspired, she would go on to receive a boost in her efforts to learn to play the guitar.
That is, once I purchased one for her. Much like in previous Sims games, the Buy mode in The Sims 4 catalogs items by function or room type. However, I was now able to search directly for the item I was looking for, negating the need to browse through pages of objects that I wasn't interested in. Typing the word "guitar" in the search bar returned the results I was looking for, and moments later my inspired Sim was jamming away on the instrument.
A search bar has been added to Buy mode.
While certain items in Buy mode had set color options, the flexible Create a Style tool from The Sims 3 was noticeably absent. Gone was the ability to set custom patterns on objects and pick colors from a color wheel that supported even hex color codes. Although there were a variety color schemes on offer for objects, I was disappointed to find out that I could no longer match all my furniture to my favourite shade of cream. Instead, I had to pick and choose from the available shades offered for each piece of furniture, decor, and appliance.
However, that dream could always be fulfilled with the implementation of mods. User-generated custom content will be fully supported in The Sims 4 and simplified in its integration. Wherein The Sims 3 players had to upload their creations externally on The Exchange, the tool to share user-created content is now built into the game with a feature called The Gallery. Players will be able to create content and upload it straight away, or import other players' creations without having to exit their game.
Living out my consumerist fantasies with my Sim was fun, but it quickly became clear that I required more money; my Sim needed to get a job to earn Simoleons. Unlike in real life, getting a job was surprisingly straightforward. Gone were the days of searching newspapers and online postings. Clicking through my Sim's occupation box in the interface brought up a list of exciting careers my Sim could venture into, and I settled on the path of an entertainer.
Feeling confident? Pee Like a Champion!
Going to work was less exciting. My Sim disappeared for hours at a time, seemingly into nothingness, as Sims no longer travel to a visible workplace. Control at work was limited to clicking my Sim's face and selecting whether she would spend time schmoozing her superiors or socializing with colleagues, among other, less exciting options. Oddly enough, when my Sim was at work I was unable to bring up the interface to watch her needs. At one point she became hungry, but because my Sim was not present on the lot I was not able bring up the hunger meter to see just how starved she was.
Feeling fine at the gym.
It was difficult to determine how much her meters had depleted overall once she returned home, as I could not watch her motives while she was working. Going to work presented a strange break in playing the game, leaving me with not much else to do except watch time tick by. However, working does have an influence on moods. My Sim would come home from work in the bored emotional state, putting a real dampener on any socialization her neighbors tried to start up with her.
Regardless, progressing through my Sim's career track provided me with concrete goals. Although I did not manage to ascend to the top of the career ladder in the time I played, I was left with a sense of having achieved something in the time I spent with my Sim. From learning to strum the guitar to starting relationships with other Sims, I felt as though these interactions were only scratching the surface of what was on offer. The introduction of emotional states offers more variables to play with to produce unpredictable results, and I am eager to delve into them in the full game.
]]> 1100-6421962Thu, 28 Aug 2014 22:40:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-sued-by-australian-consumer-watchdog-over-st/1100-6421983/
As reported by Kotaku AU, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is suing Valve over Steam's refund policy and its alleged conflict with Australian consumers' right to a refund under the Australian Consumer Law. The ACCC's specific allegations regarding Steam include:
Consumers were not entitled to a refund for any games sold by Valve via Steam in any circumstances;
Valve had excluded, restricted or modified statutory guarantees and/or warranties that goods would be of acceptable quality;
Valve was not under any obligation to repair, replace or provide a refund for a game where the consumer had not contacted and attempted to resolve the problem with the computer game developer; and the statutory consumer guarantees did not apply to games sold by Valve.
Valve's Doug Lombardi responded: "We are making every effort to cooperate with the Australian officials on this matter, while continuing to provide Steam services to our customers across the world, including Australian gamers."
ACCC Charmain Rod Sims later elaborated on the Commission's decision to take Valve to court: "We want all companies doing business in Australia, even if they're doing business offshore to comply [with Australian Consumer Law]. Big media companies doing business in Australia have to comply with Australian consumer law. Point number one is if you're going to do business in Australia, you have to comply with Australian law. The second is don't have blanket conditions around the world without bothering to check."
Sims states that Valve can now either negotiate a quick settlement, or fight the case in court: "If they [Valve] want to reach an early resolution it could be over in a month or two. They're a huge company with massive resources, so if they want to fight it could go one or two years. We'll wait and see to see if they want to do."
]]> 1100-6421983Thu, 28 Aug 2014 19:15:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/lockout-halo-the-master-chief-collection/2300-6421060/ Check out this gameplay of Lockout from Halo: The Master Chief Collection. ]]> 2300-6421060Thu, 28 Aug 2014 18:19:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/lockout-is-back-halo-the-master-chief-collection/2300-6421058/ Rob breaks down the Halo: Master Chief Collection reveal footage of the fan favorite from Halo 2, Lockout. ]]> 2300-6421058Thu, 28 Aug 2014 18:04:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/quick-look-infamous-first-light/2300-6421049/ Watch extended gameplay footage from inFamous: First Light featuring the Giant Bomb crew. ]]> 2300-6421049Thu, 28 Aug 2014 13:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/rock-band-creator-announces-twin-stick-hardcore-sh/1100-6421982/
Rock Band and Dance Central creator Harmonix has announced its newest game, and it's probably not anything you expected. A City Sleeps is described as a twin-stick hardcore shoot 'em up, and it's launching this October for PC and Mac through Steam.
The game follows a female character named Poe, the youngest member of an ancient clan of "dream exorcists" known as The Silk who are charged with entering people's minds to remove dreams of demons. Poe wields a weapon called Heartstrings, and must use it to vanquish enemies and uncover secrets.
Since it's a Harmonix game, you shouldn't be surprised to learn that music is a major part of A City Sleeps. According to Harmonix, music will determine where enemies spawn, their movement, and bullet patterns. Another feature for A City Sleeps is the "Idol" system. Poe can possess inanimate objects of the dream world--idols--and then use them to her advantage. Check out the trailer above to see how the game's seemingly disparate elements are tied together.
A City Sleeps is one of a handful of in-development Harmonix projects. The studio is releasing Kinect games Dance Central Spotlight and Fantasia: Music Evolved for Xbox 360 and Xbox One this fall, while it is also at work on a new Amplitude game for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. Harmonix is also working on free-to-play PC shooter Chroma, though the studio confirmed in May that it is "retooling" this game based on feedback.
On top of those projects, Harmonix announced at PAX East in April that it has "grand plans" to bring the Rock Band series back for current-generation consoles, though a new game in the once-popular music franchise has not been announced.
When A City Sleeps launches in October, it will sell for $15 until October 16 (which could be the release date) but you can preorder the game on Steam today for $12.74. A limited-edition version that includes the game's soundtrack is also available for preorder for $15.29 (normally $18).
]]> 1100-6421982Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:57:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/get-ready-to-crash-moons-into-enemy-planets-in-pla/1100-6421981/
Planetary Annihilation, the real-time-strategy game that allows you to strap engines to moons or asteroids so that they can be launched into planets to destroy them, will be out on September 5 for $30, developer Uber Entertainment announced today.
That date is almost two years to the day since PA was successfully funded through Kickstarter. Uber, which previously developed Monday Night Combat and counts veterans of classic strategy games like Total Annihilation and Command & Conquer among its staff, turned to the site for $900,000. Instead, it received more than $2.2 million, a figure which has only grown by selling early access to the in-development version since then.
An incomplete version of PA has been playable since last year, provided you pledged enough money to the Kickstarter. A final version was expected out before the end of 2013, but ended up being delayed until the nebulous date of "when it's done." Uber has been rolling out new features and improvements over the past year, and has done one of the better jobs of keeping its Kickstarter backers consistently informed about the game's progress.
When it's officially launched, new, unspecified enhancements will be introduced to the single-player and multiplayer modes. Gas giants that contain large amounts of resources will also be added, as will the Annihilaser, the huge, Death Star-like weapon seen in the launch trailer above, which I absolutely cannot wait to try out for myself. If you already have early access to the game, you'll be getting these new features in an update coming "shortly."
For more on the game, check out our hands-on impressions from earlier this year.
Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421981Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:42:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/13-gets-you-a-handful-of-great-offbeat-adult-swim-/1100-6421979/
Humble Bundles are released on such a routine basis that I often think little of them anymore, but the latest weekly bundle featuring Adult Swim-published games has caught my eyes by offering up some quality games at a low price.
You might not associate Adult Swim with games, but the company's gaming branch--appropriately titled Adult Swim Games--has been responsible for a number of excellent, often offbeat games (well, except Super Comboman). These include games like Jazzpunk, a hilarious first-person adventure game, and Super House of Dead Ninjas, a fantastic, retro-style action-platformer.
Both of these games are among the seven available through this Humble Bundle, though just which you get depends on how much you're willing to pay. You can get three games (Soundodger+, Super Puzzle Platformer Deluxe, and Fist Puncher) at any price, two more if you beat the average purchase price (Super House of Dead Ninjas, Volgarr the Viking, plus DLC for several of these games and a demo of Westerado: Double Barreled), and another two (Jazzpunk and Super Comboman) if you pay $13 or more. Bundles with physical items like keychains and t-shirts are available when your purchase price reaches $30 or $75, but the real stars of the bundle are the games.
For all of the games (and DLC) you get here, $13 an excellent price; Jazzpunk is one of the more memorable experiences with a game I've had in recent years, and Soundodger's soundtrack is fantastic--though you'll want to be sure to play the game with a mouse, not a controller.
Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421979Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:04:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/top-5-skyrim-mods-of-the-week-disney-skyrim/2300-6421047/ Seb and Lucy grab their Kingdom Hearts keyblades and set about bringing Disney to the world of Skyrim. Join Anna and Elsa from Frozen, dive into the watery depths of Atlantis, and even ride on the back of Sebastian the crab! ]]> 2300-6421047Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/lords-of-the-fallen-world-trailer/2300-6421041/ Discover the world of Lords of the Fallen in this new trailer. ]]> 2300-6421041Thu, 28 Aug 2014 10:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-neon-singularity-move-in-infamous-first-light-/2300-6421035/ Kevin talks Fetch and good looking colors in Infamous: First Light ]]> 2300-6421035Thu, 28 Aug 2014 09:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/azure-striker-gunvolt-platform-runner-gameplay/2300-6421040/ Have a look at some platform hoping in Azure Striker: Gunvolt, for the 3DS. ]]> 2300-6421040Thu, 28 Aug 2014 08:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/upside-down-azure-striker-gunvolt-gameplay/2300-6421039/ Check out this gameplay clip of Azure Striker: Gunvolt... upside down. ]]> 2300-6421039Thu, 28 Aug 2014 08:00:00 -0700
Gamespot's Site MashupSuper Smash Bros - Shulk Reveal TrailerNintendo Reveals New 3DS Models With Built-In NFC, Better 3D, And MoreHow The Sims 4 Will Be Different To The Sims 3Valve Sued By Australian Consumer Watchdog Over Steam Refund PolicyLockout - Halo The Master Chief CollectionLockout is BACK! - Halo: The Master Chief CollectionQuick Look: inFamous: First LightRock Band Creator Announces Twin-Stick Hardcore Shoot 'Em UpGet Ready to Crash Moons Into Enemy Planets In Planetary Annihilation on September 5$13 Gets You a Handful of Great, Offbeat Adult Swim PC GamesTop 5 Skyrim Mods of the Week - Disney Skyrim!Lords of the Fallen - World TrailerThe Neon Singularity Move in Infamous First Light - The LobbyAzure Striker: Gunvolt - Platform Runner - GameplayUpside Down? - Azure Striker: Gunvolt - Gameplay
rss:9d9437cc2bdadfdb0c2a6594385b5cf5548bd329 rss_modified:rss:9d9437cc2bdadfdb0c2a6594385b5cf5548bd329 http://www.gamespot.com/feeds/mashup/?platform=1068&type=10 Gamespot's Everything Feed! News, Reviews, Videos. Exploding with content? You bet. en-us Fri, 29 Aug 2014 05:48:50 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/super-smash-bros-shulk-reveal-trailer/2300-6421067/ Xenoblade Chronicles' Shulk will be joining the roster of Super Smash Bros for Wii U and 3DS. ]]> 2300-6421067Fri, 29 Aug 2014 05:06:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-reveals-new-3ds-models-with-built-in-nfc-/1100-6421985/
During a Japanese Nintendo Direct video briefing today, Nintendo announced new updates to its 3DS and 3DS XL devices. The new models, which have been announced only for Japan, feature an additional directional button and built-in NFC support. They launch in Japan on October 11.
According to Gamasutra, the new models feature an analogue "nub" over the existing A,B, X, and Y buttons. In addition, there are new shoulder buttons--XL and XR--featured on top of the system, right next to the current L and R buttons.
The new 3DS models also feature a stronger CPU than existing models, which should allow for zippier downloads and browsing from the eShop, among other things. There is also built-in NFC support for Nintendo's upcoming amiibo toy line. Nintendo will also sell an NFC adapter for existing models.
Finally, the new 3DS units are built to support customer covers, which will allow you to customize your system however you see fit.
This is a breaking news story. Check back soon for more!
Eddie Makuch is a news editor at GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @EddieMakuch
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421985Fri, 29 Aug 2014 04:32:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/how-the-sims-4-will-be-different-to-the-sims-3/1100-6421962/ Life's possibilities are endless. By extension, a game series intending to simulate life would also hope to have endless possibilities. The Sims series has attempted to encompass this, spawning four core games and over 50 add-on packs. Despite the accumulation of all this content, it still felt as though there was something missing. The Sims 4 attempts to address this by bringing to the series what EA is calling personality and emotions, which would drive Sim behavior.
Curious as to what this would entail, I got hands-on with the game for a few hours at a preview event. At first glance, creating a Sim and assigning aspirations was not a dramatic departure from the creation tools of previous Sims games. In fact, I recognized the neat, creative, and perfectionist traits as some of the many returning Sim characteristics. Keen to try something new, I made sure my Sim had the new "self-assured" trait, which I later discovered helped trigger an emotional state in my Sim. This is because The Sims 4 sees a new focus on Sims' personalities and quirks by introducing new emotions that reflect them. Displayed in-game as a moodlet icon and shown through their expressions on the heads-up display, the emotional state of my Sim had an effect on the subsequent actions she undertook.
Inspired, my Sim wanted to jam on a musical instrument.
I spent my first few moments of the game looking at the available options and examining the HUD. This left my Sim idle for a while, and she became bored. Acting autonomously, my Sim proceeded to the wardrobe to try on different clothes. The result saw her gain a morale boost from trying on new outfits, putting her in a confident mood that would last late into the night. This newfound confident emotion affected how my Sim would carry out her actions, turning simple tasks such as using the toilet into "Pee Like a Champion." According to the moodlet buff, because my Sim had the personality trait of being self-assured, she was more likely to frequently experience these bouts of confidence.
Different actions sent my Sim into different emotional states. For example, hitting the nightclub for a few glasses of juice put my Sim in a flirty mood, which increased the success rate of her attempts to hit on other Sims. Later at home, my Sim found her spirits lifted in a refreshing shower. Emerging inspired, she would go on to receive a boost in her efforts to learn to play the guitar.
That is, once I purchased one for her. Much like in previous Sims games, the Buy mode in The Sims 4 catalogs items by function or room type. However, I was now able to search directly for the item I was looking for, negating the need to browse through pages of objects that I wasn't interested in. Typing the word "guitar" in the search bar returned the results I was looking for, and moments later my inspired Sim was jamming away on the instrument.
A search bar has been added to Buy mode.
While certain items in Buy mode had set color options, the flexible Create a Style tool from The Sims 3 was noticeably absent. Gone was the ability to set custom patterns on objects and pick colors from a color wheel that supported even hex color codes. Although there were a variety color schemes on offer for objects, I was disappointed to find out that I could no longer match all my furniture to my favourite shade of cream. Instead, I had to pick and choose from the available shades offered for each piece of furniture, decor, and appliance.
However, that dream could always be fulfilled with the implementation of mods. User-generated custom content will be fully supported in The Sims 4 and simplified in its integration. Wherein The Sims 3 players had to upload their creations externally on The Exchange, the tool to share user-created content is now built into the game with a feature called The Gallery. Players will be able to create content and upload it straight away, or import other players' creations without having to exit their game.
Living out my consumerist fantasies with my Sim was fun, but it quickly became clear that I required more money; my Sim needed to get a job to earn Simoleons. Unlike in real life, getting a job was surprisingly straightforward. Gone were the days of searching newspapers and online postings. Clicking through my Sim's occupation box in the interface brought up a list of exciting careers my Sim could venture into, and I settled on the path of an entertainer.
Feeling confident? Pee Like a Champion!
Going to work was less exciting. My Sim disappeared for hours at a time, seemingly into nothingness, as Sims no longer travel to a visible workplace. Control at work was limited to clicking my Sim's face and selecting whether she would spend time schmoozing her superiors or socializing with colleagues, among other, less exciting options. Oddly enough, when my Sim was at work I was unable to bring up the interface to watch her needs. At one point she became hungry, but because my Sim was not present on the lot I was not able bring up the hunger meter to see just how starved she was.
Feeling fine at the gym.
It was difficult to determine how much her meters had depleted overall once she returned home, as I could not watch her motives while she was working. Going to work presented a strange break in playing the game, leaving me with not much else to do except watch time tick by. However, working does have an influence on moods. My Sim would come home from work in the bored emotional state, putting a real dampener on any socialization her neighbors tried to start up with her.
Regardless, progressing through my Sim's career track provided me with concrete goals. Although I did not manage to ascend to the top of the career ladder in the time I played, I was left with a sense of having achieved something in the time I spent with my Sim. From learning to strum the guitar to starting relationships with other Sims, I felt as though these interactions were only scratching the surface of what was on offer. The introduction of emotional states offers more variables to play with to produce unpredictable results, and I am eager to delve into them in the full game.
]]> 1100-6421962Thu, 28 Aug 2014 22:40:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/valve-sued-by-australian-consumer-watchdog-over-st/1100-6421983/
As reported by Kotaku AU, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is suing Valve over Steam's refund policy and its alleged conflict with Australian consumers' right to a refund under the Australian Consumer Law. The ACCC's specific allegations regarding Steam include:
Consumers were not entitled to a refund for any games sold by Valve via Steam in any circumstances;
Valve had excluded, restricted or modified statutory guarantees and/or warranties that goods would be of acceptable quality;
Valve was not under any obligation to repair, replace or provide a refund for a game where the consumer had not contacted and attempted to resolve the problem with the computer game developer; and the statutory consumer guarantees did not apply to games sold by Valve.
Valve's Doug Lombardi responded: "We are making every effort to cooperate with the Australian officials on this matter, while continuing to provide Steam services to our customers across the world, including Australian gamers."
ACCC Charmain Rod Sims later elaborated on the Commission's decision to take Valve to court: "We want all companies doing business in Australia, even if they're doing business offshore to comply [with Australian Consumer Law]. Big media companies doing business in Australia have to comply with Australian consumer law. Point number one is if you're going to do business in Australia, you have to comply with Australian law. The second is don't have blanket conditions around the world without bothering to check."
Sims states that Valve can now either negotiate a quick settlement, or fight the case in court: "If they [Valve] want to reach an early resolution it could be over in a month or two. They're a huge company with massive resources, so if they want to fight it could go one or two years. We'll wait and see to see if they want to do."
]]> 1100-6421983Thu, 28 Aug 2014 19:15:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/lockout-halo-the-master-chief-collection/2300-6421060/ Check out this gameplay of Lockout from Halo: The Master Chief Collection. ]]> 2300-6421060Thu, 28 Aug 2014 18:19:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/lockout-is-back-halo-the-master-chief-collection/2300-6421058/ Rob breaks down the Halo: Master Chief Collection reveal footage of the fan favorite from Halo 2, Lockout. ]]> 2300-6421058Thu, 28 Aug 2014 18:04:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/quick-look-infamous-first-light/2300-6421049/ Watch extended gameplay footage from inFamous: First Light featuring the Giant Bomb crew. ]]> 2300-6421049Thu, 28 Aug 2014 13:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/rock-band-creator-announces-twin-stick-hardcore-sh/1100-6421982/
Rock Band and Dance Central creator Harmonix has announced its newest game, and it's probably not anything you expected. A City Sleeps is described as a twin-stick hardcore shoot 'em up, and it's launching this October for PC and Mac through Steam.
The game follows a female character named Poe, the youngest member of an ancient clan of "dream exorcists" known as The Silk who are charged with entering people's minds to remove dreams of demons. Poe wields a weapon called Heartstrings, and must use it to vanquish enemies and uncover secrets.
Since it's a Harmonix game, you shouldn't be surprised to learn that music is a major part of A City Sleeps. According to Harmonix, music will determine where enemies spawn, their movement, and bullet patterns. Another feature for A City Sleeps is the "Idol" system. Poe can possess inanimate objects of the dream world--idols--and then use them to her advantage. Check out the trailer above to see how the game's seemingly disparate elements are tied together.
A City Sleeps is one of a handful of in-development Harmonix projects. The studio is releasing Kinect games Dance Central Spotlight and Fantasia: Music Evolved for Xbox 360 and Xbox One this fall, while it is also at work on a new Amplitude game for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. Harmonix is also working on free-to-play PC shooter Chroma, though the studio confirmed in May that it is "retooling" this game based on feedback.
On top of those projects, Harmonix announced at PAX East in April that it has "grand plans" to bring the Rock Band series back for current-generation consoles, though a new game in the once-popular music franchise has not been announced.
When A City Sleeps launches in October, it will sell for $15 until October 16 (which could be the release date) but you can preorder the game on Steam today for $12.74. A limited-edition version that includes the game's soundtrack is also available for preorder for $15.29 (normally $18).
]]> 1100-6421982Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:57:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/get-ready-to-crash-moons-into-enemy-planets-in-pla/1100-6421981/
Planetary Annihilation, the real-time-strategy game that allows you to strap engines to moons or asteroids so that they can be launched into planets to destroy them, will be out on September 5 for $30, developer Uber Entertainment announced today.
That date is almost two years to the day since PA was successfully funded through Kickstarter. Uber, which previously developed Monday Night Combat and counts veterans of classic strategy games like Total Annihilation and Command & Conquer among its staff, turned to the site for $900,000. Instead, it received more than $2.2 million, a figure which has only grown by selling early access to the in-development version since then.
An incomplete version of PA has been playable since last year, provided you pledged enough money to the Kickstarter. A final version was expected out before the end of 2013, but ended up being delayed until the nebulous date of "when it's done." Uber has been rolling out new features and improvements over the past year, and has done one of the better jobs of keeping its Kickstarter backers consistently informed about the game's progress.
When it's officially launched, new, unspecified enhancements will be introduced to the single-player and multiplayer modes. Gas giants that contain large amounts of resources will also be added, as will the Annihilaser, the huge, Death Star-like weapon seen in the launch trailer above, which I absolutely cannot wait to try out for myself. If you already have early access to the game, you'll be getting these new features in an update coming "shortly."
For more on the game, check out our hands-on impressions from earlier this year.
Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421981Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:42:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/articles/13-gets-you-a-handful-of-great-offbeat-adult-swim-/1100-6421979/
Humble Bundles are released on such a routine basis that I often think little of them anymore, but the latest weekly bundle featuring Adult Swim-published games has caught my eyes by offering up some quality games at a low price.
You might not associate Adult Swim with games, but the company's gaming branch--appropriately titled Adult Swim Games--has been responsible for a number of excellent, often offbeat games (well, except Super Comboman). These include games like Jazzpunk, a hilarious first-person adventure game, and Super House of Dead Ninjas, a fantastic, retro-style action-platformer.
Both of these games are among the seven available through this Humble Bundle, though just which you get depends on how much you're willing to pay. You can get three games (Soundodger+, Super Puzzle Platformer Deluxe, and Fist Puncher) at any price, two more if you beat the average purchase price (Super House of Dead Ninjas, Volgarr the Viking, plus DLC for several of these games and a demo of Westerado: Double Barreled), and another two (Jazzpunk and Super Comboman) if you pay $13 or more. Bundles with physical items like keychains and t-shirts are available when your purchase price reaches $30 or $75, but the real stars of the bundle are the games.
For all of the games (and DLC) you get here, $13 an excellent price; Jazzpunk is one of the more memorable experiences with a game I've had in recent years, and Soundodger's soundtrack is fantastic--though you'll want to be sure to play the game with a mouse, not a controller.
Chris Pereira is a freelance writer for GameSpot, and you can follow him on Twitter @TheSmokingManX
For all of GameSpot's news coverage, check out our hub. Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com
]]> 1100-6421979Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:04:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/top-5-skyrim-mods-of-the-week-disney-skyrim/2300-6421047/ Seb and Lucy grab their Kingdom Hearts keyblades and set about bringing Disney to the world of Skyrim. Join Anna and Elsa from Frozen, dive into the watery depths of Atlantis, and even ride on the back of Sebastian the crab! ]]> 2300-6421047Thu, 28 Aug 2014 12:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/lords-of-the-fallen-world-trailer/2300-6421041/ Discover the world of Lords of the Fallen in this new trailer. ]]> 2300-6421041Thu, 28 Aug 2014 10:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/the-neon-singularity-move-in-infamous-first-light-/2300-6421035/ Kevin talks Fetch and good looking colors in Infamous: First Light ]]> 2300-6421035Thu, 28 Aug 2014 09:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/azure-striker-gunvolt-platform-runner-gameplay/2300-6421040/ Have a look at some platform hoping in Azure Striker: Gunvolt, for the 3DS. ]]> 2300-6421040Thu, 28 Aug 2014 08:00:00 -0700 http://www.gamespot.com/videos/upside-down-azure-striker-gunvolt-gameplay/2300-6421039/ Check out this gameplay clip of Azure Striker: Gunvolt... upside down. ]]> 2300-6421039Thu, 28 Aug 2014 08:00:00 -0700
