Talk Video Games

Ben Heck creates motion control gloves for Xbox

Cptnodegard — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 09:52:03 GMT

The Kinect is cool, but perhaps not perfect for all uses. Famous console modder Benjamin Heckendorn was especially unimpressed by its accuracy for video playback control, and decided to make his own control glove that uses motion control and hand positions to control the Xbox.

The glove emulates an IR remote for the Xbox and uses an Arduino based system for detecting the motion controls and translating them to IR signals. The resulting glove is a monstrosity that looks like the prototype it is, and this is more about coolness factor than actually being all that useful compared to just using the remote it's emulating.

The build is part of Ben Heck's podcast, so head over there to watch it be built and work.

Star Wars 1313 to take the saga to a much darker place

Master Devwi — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 23:45:00 GMT

After nearly a year and a half of silence following the release of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II, LucasArts has announced its next big video game franchise: Star Wars 1313. But unlike The Force Unleashed, the protagonist of this new series is completely without the Force. This means you�ll be forced to rely on exotic weaponry and gadgets, rather than mystical powers.

Star Wars 1313 is set on the 1,313th level of Coruscant, far below the beautiful cityscape shown in the films. The story will focus on the criminal underworld, filled with conspiracy and bounty hunting. LucasArts also aims to make this the first Star Wars game with themes �intended for mature audiences,� something fans have often asked for.

Most of the details surrounding Star Wars 1313 are still shrouded in secrecy. The game�s full unveiling is planned for this coming Monday during E3, but the developer has already confirmed that it will be a third-person �cinematic action adventure game� developed in-house. As with The Force Unleashed, LucasArts is working closely with other Lucasfilm companies to create the best possible experience.

[StarWars.com via EUCantina.net]

Avenger Elite game controller now available at GameStop

Cptnodegard — Thu, 31 May 2012 09:35:00 GMT

The Avenger (Elite) game controller attachment has created a bit of buzz in the media because of its peculiar approach to gaining an edge in console gaming. Unlike more traditional modified controllers with things like rapid fire modes, which is something we've seen for decades, the Avenger is a purely "dumb" attachment that doesn't actually add any electronic components to the controller. Instead it uses springs and levers to give you better and quicker access to parts of the controller, which is a legal way of optimizing a controller.

The attachement came out this month, and has now made its way to GameStop in the US. Priced at $50 it's definitely for the more avid gamers, but I doubt that it will have any trouble selling. In fact, it sold out on launch day. There's both a PS3 and an Xbox 360 version available, so if you want an edge in your console gaming, check out the nearest GameStop and hope for the controller to be back in stock.

[Engadget]

Mass Effect 3 gets its second multiplayer DLC

Cptnodegard — Thu, 31 May 2012 07:13:15 GMT

Mass Effect 3's ending is still an ongoing issue, but the multiplayer part of the game is actually thriving when it comes to Bioware involvement. The multiplayer part of the game is a four player co-op system where you need to survive 11 waves of enemies in a confined area, and the ability to play as species like Asari and Krogan make it a lot of fun.

The second DLC for the multiplayer was released a few days ago, and like the first one, it's free. The Rebellion DLC adds a new race, Vorcha, as well as new types of human Adept and Vanguard, and new type of Quarian Engineer and Infiltrator. These new combinations and race also brings new abilities, like tactical scan and flamethrower. New weapons include a gold rarity sniper rifle that shoots explosive rounds, a gold rarity arc shotgun, and an ultra rarity assault rifle. Two new maps are also included, as well as a new objective type for the objective-based rounds 3, 6 and 10. Finally, a fourth slot has been added to gear, which holds a new type of gear that unlocks and ranks like weapons and mods, and isn't consumed after a game.

Bioware is doing a decent job of keeping the multiplayer aspect of ME3 interesting, and there are certainly companies that could learn from providing free DLC. There are also special operations weekends every two weeks, helping to keep it interesting.

Get ready for the next big Star Wars game franchise

Master Devwi — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:08:00 GMT

The 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo�more commonly known as E3�is fast approaching, and gamers around the world are eagerly anticipating the flood of game reveals, gameplay videos, screenshots, and hands-on impressions. Eager to drive up viewership, Spike TV has teased an exclusive reveal of the �next big Star Wars game franchise.�

The network has teamed up with LucasArts to show off the studio�s next title in two segments. The initial reveal will be on Thursday, May 31 on GameTrailers TV (GTTV), followed by an information blow-out on Monday, June 4 at 10:00 p.m. ET / 7:00 p.m. PT. Fans will also be able to ask the top secret project�s creative director questions during a live interview.

What exactly the project is remains a mystery. The phrase �next big franchise� seems to rule out sequels to popular games like The Force Unleashed, Battlefront, Republic Command, and Knights of the Old Republic. It also implies that the franchise will be something important, rather than a spinoff of The Clone Wars or some other standalone title or straight-to-portable-system game. Whatever it is, the official reveal is just a few days away.

[Spike TV via EUCantina]

Halo 4 Limited Edition revealed six months before launch, looks awesome

Master Devwi — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:53:00 GMT

Microsoft and 343 Industries are operating the Halo 4 hype machine at a good clip, and this week�s reveal is focused on what you�ll get if you pick up the limited edition of the game. Gone are the days of the Heroic and Legendary Editions, the latter of which essentially pioneered the over-the-top video game pack-ins with the Spartan Helmet included with Halo 3. Instead, 343 is narrowing down the product editions to just two, allowing fans to get all of the bonuses without plunking down more than twice the cost of the standalone game.

The Halo 4 Limited Edition, which will retail for $99, includes a beautiful metal UNSC-themed game case, free access to the War Games map packs, a UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet, a special edition of the live action Forward Unto Dawn digital series, and a variety of digital goods.

Halo 4 is taking a cue from Call of Duty and including all of the map pack downloadable content in the box for special edition owners. Halo, however, won�t require a subscription. The maps�nine in all�will be doled out in three packs, similar to past Halo games.

The disc isn�t the only physical item in the box. The UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet contains information on the ship by the same name, a variety of in-universe weapons, and the Spartan program. It sounds similar to Dr. Halsey�s journal included in the Halo Reach Legendary Edition.

Forward Unto Dawn is an upcoming live-action digital series designed to promote the release of the game. Interestingly, the series will center on the �beginning of the Human/Covenant war, when the Master Chief inspired a young cadet who would eventually become a leader aboard the UNSC�s greatest vessel ever: the UNSC Infinity.� The Halo movie has yet to see the light of day, but the 90-minute special edition of Forward Unto Dawn included with the Limited Edition of Halo 4 should excite fans. The disc will also chronicle the making of the series with a featurette and documentaries.

The digital content looks great too. A mysterious feature called Specializations will be revealed at E3, but Limited Edition owners will have early access to six of them. The game also includes two sets of Spartan IV armor�one in-game and one for your Xbox LIVE Avatar�as well as an in-game Assault Rifle skin, an exclusive in-game weapon, and an Avatar prop.

Is the Halo 4 Limited Edition worth the extra $40? It certainly sounds like it, especially for hardcore Halo fans.

[Halo Waypoint]

Xbox 360 bundle gets subsidized, everything you need for $99 and a two-year contract

Master Devwi — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:59:00 GMT

If you haven’t yet jumped on the Xbox 360 bandwagon, Microsoft’s latest console pricing scheme might be somewhat enticing. As rumored, Microsoft Stores have begun offering an Xbox 360 4GB console, Kinect sensor, and Xbox LIVE Gold subscription for $99, plus a two-year contract of $14.99 a month.

Why is this deal so good? Well, it’s not necessarily the cheapest way to pick up a new Xbox 360 console and various accessories, but it significantly drops the barrier to entry. $99 has long been thought of as the “sweet spot” for console pricing. While this new bundle hits that mark, it also adds a monthly fee to help subsidize the low cost.

Sold separately, the Xbox 360 4GB console with Kinect will run you $299.99, with an Xbox LIVE Gold subscription tacking on an additional $59.99 a year ($9.99 per month if you prefer to go that route). Added up, it costs $419.97, $38.79 less than the $458.76 that the subsidized bundle will run you when it’s all said and done. Of course, while the $99 deal ends up being slightly more expensive, you also get the benefit of paying it off over the course of two years, rather than all up front.

Customers are used to paying $10-$15 a month for entertainment services like Netflix and Hulu Plus, and smartphones are almost always sold at a subsidized price in the US, so $15 a month for an Xbox 360 and all of the entertainment it encompasses isn’t bad at all.

[Microsoft Store via Kotaku]

Call of Duty: Black Ops II announced, coming out on November 13

Master Devwi — Sat, 05 May 2012 01:21:00 GMT

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Love it or hate it, Call of Duty is a massive juggernaut. And this week, Activision finally revealed the sequel to Black Ops and the follow up to 2011�s Modern Warfare 3�Call of Duty: Black Ops II. The game is scheduled for release on November 13, one week after the launch of Halo 4.

Activision and developer Treyarch have revealed a surprising amount of information about the game, despite the launch being just over six months away. At first glance, the game�s trailer seems somewhat reminiscent of Battlefield 2143, complete with a futuristic setting and towering mechs. But upon closer examination, it�s obvious that this is certainly not the case.

Black Ops II�s story is split between the 1980s Cold War and a fictional second Cold War, set thirteen years in the future in 2025. The developer plans to tie the two together with Raul Menendez, the villain in both eras. Characters from the original Black Ops like Frank Woods will return, and Mason�s son will play a large role in the �future.� What happens when terrorists attempt to take over the very technology that was created to protect us? This is the question Black Ops II attempts to answer.

The game will feature all of the things you�ve come to expect from a Call of Duty title, as well as new additions like branching storylines, player choice, and consequences for death. The game�s writers are also attempting to put more of an emphasis on the story, making players care about what�s going on.

The biggest departure from previous games is Strike Force Operations, which �have a very meaningful influence on how the story progresses.� And by that, the developers mean that you can literally take control of anyone and anything in a non-linear sandbox, be it a fellow soldier on the ground, a quadrotor drone in the air, or Overwatch.

Multiplayer and Zombies will, of course, return. Treyarch aims to make multiplayer much more accessible. �Supporting the broadest range of players and play styles� is one of the main goals. Additional details about these modes, however, will have to wait for a later timeframe.

Black Ops II still features relatively basic AI and it�s running on the same engine�updated for improved graphics�but the game is already garnering a lot of excitement. In fact, first-day pre-orders for Black Ops II are ten times higher than the original Black Ops. Will the game�and the Call of Duty series in general�be able to keep up this momentum?

[One of Swords]

Cave Johnson recruiting test chamber designers in new Portal 2 DLC

Master Devwi — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 20:27:00 GMT

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Cave Johnson is fed up with paying employees to design new test chambers, so he has concocted a new scheme to acquire the blueprints for free: the Perpetual Testing Initiative (PeTI). This Portal 2 DLC will take advantage of the Steam Workshop and a “powerful, easy-to-use Puzzle Maker” to give gamers the best experience for creating, sharing, and playing custom Portal 2 test chambers.

The free “Perpetual Testing Initiative” DLC, which will be released on PC and Mac on May 8, is the second digital add-on to be made available for Valve’s hit puzzle game. The DLC was actually revealed last fall, but like all Valve projects, the development process took much longer than expected. Unfortunately, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 owners are out of luck. It’s too bad, since a Portal 2 test chamber could have been a big hit on consoles, which have proven to be just as effective at level editing.

[Think With Portals]

Nintendo lost $460 million last year

Cptnodegard — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 11:17:15 GMT

Even with some of my favorite games ever coming out of Nintendo, I smile from ear to ear when I see Nintendo failing. I don't particularly care for neither Microsoft nor Sony, but I will give them one thing: they're going with the times. Playstation certified phones, Xbox integration in Windows Phone 7, the PS Vita, and so on and so forth. Nintendo? Refusing to play ball with modern technology, and instead releasing c...reative products like the 3DS.

Granted this is just my opinion, but it seems to be shared by many if you go by the earnings report that Nintendo just released. The company lost 37.3 million yen last financial year, roughly $460 million, despite the price cuts it introduced as some sort of emergency measure half way through last year. It says that the coming year will be better, with the Wii U, price cuts and strong game titles helping achieve that. I wouldn't hold my breath though, a company that sits on so many fantastic game franchises yet completely refuses to get with the times really has no business in 2012. Nintendo is trying to make money the same way now as it did 20 years ago, and that just isn't going to work.

[Engadget]

Halo 4 to be released on November 6

Master Devwi — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 06:10:00 GMT

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The Halo 4 marketing effort is in full swing now. Microsoft and 343 Industries have followed up last week�s news that Neil Davidge will be scoring the highly anticipated game with an even bigger announcement: Halo 4 will be released on November 6, 2012.

If that date sounds familiar to US residents, that�s because it should. Tuesday, November 6 is also Election Day in the US, so today�s announcement has already spawned a number of "Master Chief for president" jokes. The real release date humor, however, comes straight from the machinima masters at Rooster Teeth. The video (above) depicts the popular characters from Red vs. Blue humorously debating how they will keep the date fresh in their minds. Remember not to forget, folks.

With Halo 4 officially marking its fall release slot on the calendar, it�ll be interesting to see what the competition does. Call of Duty, for example, regularly comes out during the first or second week of November. Interestingly, this is the first Halo game to be released in the eleventh month of the year since Halo 2 in 2004. The last three titles, Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, and Halo Reach, were released in mid-September.

[Halo Waypoint]

Neil Davidge to score Halo 4

Master Devwi — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 20:18:00 GMT

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The Halo series is known for its groundbreaking multiplayer, but it has also been widely recognized for its engaging story and emotional soundtrack. So it was with great fanfare that 343 Industries announced that Neil Davidge would be taking over the musical reins from Marty O�Donnell, the man responsible for giving Halo its iconic sound. Davidge is known for his work with Massive Attack, and his resume includes scores for film, television, and advertising.

Along with this announcement, 343 Industries has decided to give fans a preview of Halo 4�s music through a ViDoc and a soundtrack sample (available in both MP3 and video form). It already sounds fantastic, even though our initial impression is based solely off of these limited samples. O�Donnell will always be the man who created Halo�s classic score, but it sounds like Davidge was the perfect choice to succeed him. We highly recommend taking a listen.

[Halo Waypoint]

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BioWare gives in, announces upcoming Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut DLC

Cptnodegard — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:03:37 GMT

The ending to Mass Effect 3 is still one of the most talked about issues in the gaming world right now, and the people who have been actively campaigning for an alternate ending has sort of won through. This summer, there will be a free DLC that doesn't as much change the ending as expand on it. The ending being depressing and practically identical for everyone regardless of whether they've played this or that way aside, one of the major complaints was that the ending storyline makes no sense. Despite some "evidence" of it being foreshadowed, many players feel that too many previously unknown concepts were suddenly introduced in the last 15 minutes of a 100 hour game trilogy for it to be a valid ending to the story.

This is one way of "fixing" the ending that I've seen suggested by players, and perhaps the way of doing it that's the least likely to upset those who liked the ending. I'm looking forward to seeing what they come up with, and my biggest wish is that they make the ending more customized. Some cutscenes here and there that actually show the war assets you've collected, instead of the current system where you have 200 ways of increasing your war assets without any reason to do so beyond a certain (low, compared to maximum possible) number that unlocks 20 more seconds of video at the end.

Still though, I'm not sure if the extended cut will make me pick up single player again. I love ME3 multiplayer, but one of the absolute biggest problems with the ending as it is right now for me is that it makes me completely apathetic about what happens before that point in the story, and doesn't give me any reason to do anything but rush through it. That's quite a failure for a game that is at best average without the story, and I think a lot of people who don't understand the criticism towards the ending aren't seeing what it does to replay value for those who don't like it.

[Engadget/Press release]

Unboxing the Kinect Star Wars Xbox 360 bundle

Master Devwi — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 05:45:00 GMT

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The long-awaited Kinect Star Wars Xbox 360 bundle is every geek's dream, perfectly blending the fantastic hardware of the Xbox 360 S and the iconic imagery of R2-D2 and C-3PO. The special edition console was obviously created with the utmost care, going as far as to include some subtle Easter Eggs that should make Star Wars fans squeal with glee.

We decided to take one for the team--we couldn't have resisted, in all honesty--and pick up one of these special edition consoles for ourselves. In addition to the system itself, styled like R2-D2, the bundle comes with a gold metallic controller--obviously a homage to C-3PO--and a stark white Kinect sensor which evokes memories of Stormtroopers. The Kinect Star Wars game, the reason for the console in the first place, and the standard Kinect pack-in, Kinect Adventures, also come with the bundle. For the full details on what's included, check out our unboxing video.

Mass Effect 3's finale foreshadowed in the first game

Master Devwi — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 06:15:00 GMT

Mass Effect 3 is one of the greatest games of all time. Unfortunately, it also has one of the most controversial endings to date. Fan reaction to the game�s final moments has been strong and ranges from unabashed love to a general acceptance and even a very strong dislike which left gamers with a bad taste in their collective mouths. Some fans in the latter category have even gone as far as to file frivolous lawsuits and submit complaints to the Better Business Bureau. But could BioWare have actually foreshadowed how the saga would end way back in 2008?

Players can explore a galaxy full of planets in the Mass Effect series, and each one comes with a Journal entry containing additional details about the fictitious world. Believe it or not, one of these in the original Mass Effect (2008) actually reveals the twist presented to players in the final moments of Mass Effect 3. WARNING: Spoilers to follow.

�Klencory is famously claimed by the eccentric volus billionaire Kumun Shol. He claims that a vision of a higher being told him to seek on Klencory the "lost crypts of beings of light." These entities were supposedly created at the dawn of time to protect organic life from synthetic "machine devils."

Shol has been excavating on Klencory's toxic surface for two decades, at great expense. No government has valued the world enough to evict his small army of mercenaries.�

The planet�s Journal entry was again updated in Mass Effect 3 with further details about the eccentric billionaire:

�Klencory is famously claimed by the eccentric volus billionaire Kumun Shol. His once-ridiculed visions of "beings of light" protecting organic life from synthetic "machine devils" don't seem quite so far-fetched now. His private army of mercenaries are well-established on the planet, waiting for husks to come knocking in on their door. In all likelihood, they will be obliterated by the molten metal of a Reaper orbital bombardment, on its way to somewhere important.�

What�s even more amazing, however, is that one perceptive gamer actually picked up on this tidbit during a replay of the original Mass Effect two years ago. And, like the game�s fictional character, his theory went largely ignored until now. Fascinating.

It�s impossible to know whether BioWare had this planned from the start, and BioWare�s writers aren�t talking. However, Drew Karpyshyn, former BioWare storyteller and lead writer on the first two Mass Effect titles, had this to say on his personal blog:

�The collaborative creative process is incredibly complicated, and the story and ideas are constantly evolving as you go forward. Yes, we had a plan, but it was very vague. We knew we wanted to focus on some key themes and bring in certain key elements: organics vs synthetics; the Reapers; the Mass Relays. Beyond that, we didn�t go into detail because we knew it would change radically as the game continued to evolve.�

One has to wonder if the game�s final reveal, the deus ex machina, was one of those �key themes� brought forward throughout the series. We may never know the truth, but if that was indeed the case, then BioWare�s masterful storytellers managed to hide the controversial ending in plain sight for five years.

[Reddit via Kotaku]