Events

Football Manager is back in your hands

Apple

Chris Hare

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Nov 14, 2013

SEGA and Sports Interactive are proud to present Football Manager Handheld 2014, the latest in the best-selling series for iOS and Android devices which allows managers to take control of their favourite club and lead them to glory wherever and whenever they want.

While this year’s release still offers the same blend of ‘snackable’ action and unrivalled depth of gameplay as fans have come to expect, experienced players will notice a vast number of improvements and additions, all of which add up to make this the most compelling handheld football management game to date.

The most obvious change is how the game looks and feels – FMH 2014 boasts an improved user interface and graphics throughout, along with an all-new home screen and news system. Managers can navigate through every aspect of their career more easily than before, with new pop-up and drop-down controls allowing them to make those all-important decisions quickly and simply.

It’s not just how the game looks that’s changed, though, as there have been countless changes ‘under the hood’ too. Managers can now set up their squads and prepare for matches in far greater detail than ever before, employing new control mechanics to make match preparation more detailed and thorough than previously possible. Managers can now create and set new formations, change a player’s position or switch players easily with new touch controls and, for the first time, the manager can change individual players’ roles.

Perhaps the most striking innovation within FMH 2014 is the introduction of My Club Mode, an all-new feature which allows managers to create their own club from scratch and compete in any league they choose. Everything can be customised, from the club name to the kit colours and even the composition of the squad – build a squad of family and friends, have a new challenge with a random squad or simply put yourself into your favourite team. It’s entirely up to you.

Other improvements and enhancements include:

– More realistic transfers

FMH 2014’s transfer system is the most lifelike and in-depth in the series to date, truly reflecting the real world. Improved AI means that your managerial counterparts now make more intelligent and realistic transfer bids and squad management decisions – all of which adds to the challenge.

– Player progress tracking

Managers can now keep track of their players’ key stats throughout the season. Clear graphs show if a player is excelling or struggling in specific areas, while major benchmarks are clearly labelled to help the manager decide which members of their squad deserve a place on the next team sheet.

– Improved media and player interaction

Interaction with players, staff and media is the best it’s ever been in FMH14. Can you keep the media happy without upsetting the board, the fans or your squad?

– More extensive analysis

Just like in real life, managers now have access to a wealth of analytical data, both before and after matches.

– Detailed manager history

Managers can now easily look back on the highs and lows of their career, with detailed records of their managerial records and the achievements they have celebrated along the way.

– Cloud Save (iOS only)

The introduction of Apple’s revolutionary cloud save technology means that managers can now continue a single career on multiple iOS devices. So, no matter where you are or whether you’ve got an iPad, iPhone or iPod to hand, you’ll always be able to load up FMH 2014 and play that next big match.

– Multiple nation set-up (New to Android)

Android users now have the ability to choose multiple nations when starting a new game (on selected devices). This allows a manager to move between leagues in various countries during his or her career, rather than being confined to a single territory.

Football Manager Handheld 2014 is available from midnight tonight (local time) through iTunes, Google Play and the Amazon App Store. For further information, go to www.footballmanager.com/handheld.

Contrast: launch trailer emerges from the shadows

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Nov 14, 2013

0

Contrast: launch trailer emerges from the shadows

Watch the Contrast launch trailer, which arrives tomorrow, 15th November, on PC and Xbox 360 with the PS3 and PS4 versions arrive in the UK/Europe on 20th and 29th November respectively. Contrast is developed by independent Montréal-based studio Compulsion Games.

Review: Pokemon X & Y

Gaming
News

Sean Labode

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Nov 14, 2013

0

It’s time for our review of Pokémon X & Y.

If I were to ask you what is the first thing that pops into your head when the word ‘Pokémon’ is mentioned what would it be? The TV show, the numerous films, Pikachu, or even the franchise that produced the video games or collectable card game? Whoever you are, child or parent, there would be some sort of association with one of the worlds biggest following.

Since the launch of the latest Pokémon titles for the Nintendo 3DS and 2DS consoles I’ve noticed that a lot of the fans that grew up playing it, including myself, have come out from hiding and haven’t been disappointed. Before we continue I must point out I haven’t played a Pokémon title since ‘Yellow’ on the Game Boy back in 2000 whilst still at school and have played countless other games since, no pressure. One thing that stood out upon my first few
hours with the game was that the developers at Game Freak did not segregate the age and gender of player, the first hurdle I thought it would face now playing this title as an adult. But after creating and customising your player, or as you would be referred to in the game world, a Pokémon trainer, you’ll be guided through the opening to collecting your first ‘mon’. A nostalgic moment if you played the original titles.

The premise of the game follows the ‘if it’s not broken, don’t fix it’ example as over the years you’re still tasked with being the chosen one trying to bring down a greater foe whilst discovering an ancient secret all whilst battling and catching “em all”, being the Pokémon. To add or remove anything drastic to this solid formula could disappoint old school fans or not interest the new ones.

The story in the game is only memorable for the various Pokémon gym leaders, you could describe as mini bosses, that you strive your journey to beating one by one to progress and collecting their badges as proof of defeat. With everything that happens in-between these battles is indeed part of the journey but could seem like a chore for those new to the games. Your trainer is put into a group of friends that travel and discover the Kalos region together offering tips and advice as well as battling you occasionally to see your improvements.

There are different approaches to playing X and Y and one should at least appeal to any gamer. For the ‘completionists’, like myself, you could spend hours building and grinding your team of Pokémon up whilst catching the wild new ones. Completing every request and exploring all that is on offer to see you could easily have you racking up a serious amount of hours. If you just prefer to follow the story only or just want to breed and tend to your Pokémon like they were a virtual Tamagotchi there’s mini games for that too.

For the first time in a portable Pokémon adventure game we’re introduced to different camera angles bringing us closer to the action as opposed to the fixed traditional asymmetric perspective, a nice new touch. The 3D is only limited to the actual battles and certain video clips. Not entirely sure why but I think it might have something to do with the 2DS launching on the same day and players on that new console shouldn’t feel left out in the 3D goodness.

At whatever stage in the game you’re at you can hook up with friends or anyone that passes by and trade Pokémon and battle them using the infrared or just via the Wi-fi connection. Even if you’re at opposite ends of the globe the ‘Game Chat’ feature utilises the handheld’s microphone allowing you to speak hands free to anyone you pair up with.

There aren’t any faults I can pick out as the game has been successful over the years and this winning formula keeps getting better. In some rare moments during a battle the game’s frame rate drops slightly but is very excusable as it’s not frequent and isn’t game breaking. The online mode is solid but if you both don’t agree to play with or without the Game Chat feature it kicks you back to lobby until you both agree which is fair.

The game itself will have you playing for weeks and even after completion still offers the opportunity to continue collecting more rare things and unlocks additional area to explore which is always good value for money. And even though I felt I neglected my day-to-day life putting in unspeakable amounts of playtime into Pokémon I still haven’t come across half the available wild and rare creatures. With some only available on each version X and Y requires you to trade with others to see everything that has to offer and with promises of future updates this franchise is still going strong.

Pokémon X & Y is available now on the Nintendo 3DS.

Android KitKat : The Lowdown

Android
News

Andrew Edney

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Nov 14, 2013

0

Android KitKat is the latest iteration of Google’s mobile software, bringing an abundance of new features and tweaks to the interface.

Google’s operating system powers more than one billion smartphones and tablets around the world, and it is hoped Android KitKat will have what it takes to bring all these users together and offer a unified experience.

Since launching on the Nexus 5, all the speculation, rumours and leaks have been put to bed, so here we take a look at exactly what’s new with the search giant’s most recent sweet-themed offering.

Design

KitKat is perhaps the most visually polished version of Android to ever come to the fore, offering a much cleaner, brighter and fluid experience than was seen on earlier versions. Panels on the homescreen have been substituted for a more immersive, full screen look. This is something that is carried through to apps, but is most noticeable when playing movies and music, where full screen artist information can be viewed.

The dark black overlays have been replaced with a semi-transparent white, while app icons and fonts have been rounded out slightly. All of this gives the interface a more cartoon-like appearance, similar to that seen on iOS7, which launched on the iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c earlier this autumn.

Overall, KitKat’s design screams minimalism, something which is enhanced even further thanks to the absence of the widgets tray. While KitKat is still distinctively Android it’s far more intuitive than any of the iterations before it.

Features

Google Now

This is perhaps the biggest functional change to come with KitKat, and the operating system now fully integrates Google Now. The bespoke personal assistant built into Google’s platform can be activated by a voice command, making for hands-free use on the move. Simply say the words “Okay Google” and it will jump into a voice search, putting all your handset’s functions at the ready.

Otherwise, you can also access Google Now by swiping to the left of the main homescreen, or a swipe up from the home button if you’re already in an app.

Google has confirmed that it has improved its speech recognition by 25%, which has certainly led to far more accurate results being delivered.

Hangouts

Hangouts now integrate SMS and MMS messages, which replace the default messaging app entirely. The changes mean that you have to link text messages to your Google account; however it can get a little confusing as these messages don’t appear in the same conversation thread as your hangout exchanges.

To avoid any confusion you can alter your notification sounds, so you can tell the difference between an SMS and an incoming Hangout. But if you’re not keen on this idea you can still download a third-party messaging app to avoid confusion.

Apps

Many of the apps have undergone a transformation to help improve the overall functionality of the OS. Here are some of the most prominent improvements…

Phone function

Contacts are now arranged in a listing of people you talk to the most. The phone function also offers the ability to search for businesses, nearby places and contacts directly from the app. Google uses its extensive maps database to bring through pictures of a company or the identity of an unknown number, before naming it appropriately in your phone book.

Google Cloud Printer

This app makes it possible to print documents, photos and web pages on the move, which will come in very handy for business users. It’s a new technology that lets you send files to any printer connected to Google Cloud Print, HP ePrint printers, and other such devices that have apps in the Google Play Store.

The print manager not only gives you constant control over what is printed, but it also ensures the information within documents remains secure as it’s passed from an app to a printer.

Quickoffice

Lets you open, edit and send documents in conjunction with Google Drive, promoting sharing across your devices. Its interface has been given a makeover so it fits in line with the clean, fuss-free look of Android KitKat.

File Picker

This is a new download app that lets you open and save files on cloud services such as Google Drive and Dropbox. It grants you quick access to recently used files, making it even easier to pick up where you left off.

Performance

Android KitKat has been optimised to use less memory and improve your touchscreen functionality, so that it responds faster and more accurately.

The software takes up less room than previous iterations, but still offers optimal performance for seamless multitasking. This is great news for users with older mobile phones as the software will still work without a hitch even on devices with as little as 512MB RAM.

KitKat streamlines every major component as well as introducing new tools to help developers create more memory-efficient apps in the future.

Availability

Android KitKat is currently only available on the Nexus 5, however other manufacturers including Sony and Samsung are said to be preparing their handsets for the software, making for a wider roll-out over the coming weeks.

This guest post was written by Sarah Hazelwood of Phones 4u, the mobile upgrade experts and home of #projectupgrade

Review: BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea Episode 1

Andrew Edney

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Nov 14, 2013

1

Irrational Games have BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea Episode 1 featuring an all-new story for Booker and Elizabeth, set in the underwater city of Rapture before its fall, but it is worth playing?

Come back to Rapture in a story that finds Booker and Elizabeth on the eve of the underwater city’s fall from grace. Developed by Irrational Games, the developer of the original BioShock and BioShock Infinite, this DLC features Rapture as you’ve never seen it before—a shining jewel at the bottom of the ocean, built almost entirely from scratch in the BioShock Infinite engine. Gameplay has been modified to give the player an original BioShock combat experience that merges the best parts of BioShock and BioShock Infinite: new weapons, new Plasmids/Vigors, Tears, Sky-Lines, and Big Daddies.

It’s been a little while since we last saw Elizabeth and Booker so when Irrational Games finally announced the DLC packs a few months ago I was really looking forward to jumping back in, and finally getting to explore Rapture as Booker!

I don’t want to give away too much about this episode (if you really want to know, check out our Let’s Play series for a complete walkthrough) but the general story is that you play Booker (again) only this time the story is set in Rapture, the night before the fall. You awaken in your office to a woman (Elizabeth) asking for your help to find a little girl called Sally, a little girl you have a past with.

From then on it’s a case of exploring Rapture and finding things to help you get closer to knowing what happened to Sally.

Fans of the original BioShock Infinite will feel right at home with the controls – it’s pretty much the same game in a different setting, although some things are slightly different. Vigors are now called Plasmids, and there are other subtle differences. There are some new weapons and Plasmids to use, and you finally get to see Big Daddies and Little Sisters, and even fight a Big Daddy!

This time around we know more about Elizabeth than we did in BI, but which Elizabeth is she and why is she here? Some of the questions are answered in Episode 1, but not all!

And if you thought the story of BI was dark, you haven’t seen anything yet.

Overall I really enjoyed playing Burial at Sea Episode 1. It was great seeing Rapture in all it’s glory and getting to explore different parts of the city. Elizabeth is a much stronger character this time around – she is more determined, and as before in BI she is there to help you find resources, and you are going to need them as resources are quite hard to come by this time.

I think my only criticism of Burial at Sea Episode 1 is it’s length. It is really short – you can finish it in about an hour, so for £11.99 that isn’t great value for money, although fans of BioShock should consider the Season Pass option which reduces the cost.

And in Episode 2 we will finally get to play Elizabeth – personally I can’t wait, I just hope it’s longer than Episode 1.

The two episodes are available individually for £11.99 (1200 Microsoft Points), and are also included as part of the BioShock Infinite Season Pass.

The BioShock Infinite Season Pass is available now for £15.99 (1600 Microsoft Points) and includes all three pieces of add-on content, as well as the Early Bird Special Pack, which includes powerful weapon upgrades, exclusive gold weapon skins and infusion bottles to upgrade abilities.

BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea – Episode 1 is available now on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows PC starting 12th November.

Nintendo bringing Nintendo Network ID and Miiverse to 3DS

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Nov 14, 2013

0

Nintendo bringing Nintendo Network ID and Miiverse to 3DS

As part of a Nintendo Direct broadcast this week, Nintendo announced news of Nintendo Network ID, Miiverse and the video-sharing service YouTube making their way to the Nintendo 3DS family of consoles. Hosted by Nintendo of Europe President Satoru Shibata, the broadcast focused primarily on Nintendo 3DS software launching in the coming months, including new reveals for The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Bravely Default and Mario Party: Island Tour. In addition, football fans will be excited to hear of a new football management game coming to Nintendo 3DS, as well as a launch date for the third instalment in the Inazuma Eleven 3 series.

Meanwhile for Wii U owners, today’s broadcast revealed numerous ways in which to enjoy SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD when it releases in just over a fortnight, as well as new and original downloadable content coming for owners of Pikmin 3.

Nintendo 3DS News

Nintendo Network ID & Miiverse: A December system update will allow users to register their Nintendo Network ID for Wii U on their Nintendo 3DS systems and combine Nintendo eShop account balances. This will enable them to purchase Wii U software using the remaining balance on their Nintendo 3DS eShop accounts, and vice versa. Nintendo 3DS owners who do not own a Wii U system can also create their own Nintendo Network ID for the first time. This system update will also mark the beginning of Miiverse support on Nintendo 3DS. With a Nintendo Network ID, users will be able to connect with other players around the world to share their experiences and game tips through Miiverse on Nintendo 3DS. For more information about Nintendo Network ID, including some important notices Nintendo would like customers to be aware of, please visit our website here.
YouTube on Nintendo 3DS: The video-sharing service YouTube is coming to Nintendo 3DS later this month, with users able to watch videos while on the go, providing they have internet access. Users will be able to browse content on the bottom screen, while watching a different video on the top screen.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds: In Link’s latest adventure, engage in special battles against players met through StreetPass by creating a Shadow Link that will be sent to others during StreetPass encounters. The items equipped and the number of hearts you have will affect the rupee bounty on your Shadow Link’s head, likewise with the Shadow Link characters of other players who will appear at certain places in the game world. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds launches on 22^nd November.
Bravely Default: An English-language demo of Bravely Default is available for download from today on Nintendo eShop. The combat mechanics in this highly anticipated RPG include the Bravely Second feature, which freezes time during a battle. Attacks during Bravely Second use Sleep Points that can be accrued when players leave their Nintendo 3DS in Sleep Mode. Launching on 6^th December, the game can also be purchased at ShopTo as part of a Bravely Default Deluxe Collector’s Edition, including a copy of the game, Agnès figurine, deluxe artbook, 34 AR Cards and an original soundtrack CD.
Mario Party: Island Tour: Mario’s latest party has a tropical theme, with seven new game boards and 80 new minigames, including some that use the motion controls of Nintendo 3DS, and the ability for four Nintendo 3DS owners to play all multiplayer game content with only one copy of the game via Download Play. Players can also engage with other players who have the game in StreetPass minigame competitions. The game is releasing on 17^th January 2014.
Inazuma Eleven 3: Team Ogre Attacks!: The latest title in the Inazuma Eleven 3 series is coming to Nintendo 3DS on 14^th February 2014. Team Ogre Attacks! follows the story of Canon Evans, great-grandson of Mark Evans from the future, as you set your sights on becoming footballing world champion! Players will also be able to connect with Inazuma Eleven 3: Lightning Bolt and Inazuma Eleven 3: Bomb Blast via the new “Ogre Premium Link” to receive special items and rare players not available through normal gameplay.
Nintendo Pocket Football Club: Coming to Nintendo eShop in 2014, this new football management game puts players in charge of their very own football club, from deciding on the club’s emblem and kit, to training players and overseeing tactics on match days. In addition to single player mode, players will be able to compete in local wireless matches against friends, as well as taking on fellow managers across Europe in an online multiplayer mode..
StreetPass Relay Point update: As announced in a separate video released alongside the Nintendo Direct presentation, from 14^th November an update to the StreetPass Relay Points across Europe will allow Nintendo 3DS users visiting these relay points to receive data from up to six different Mii characters, regardless of the location or how busy it is normally. Relay points from across Europe will also be able to exchange data with each other, meaning the StreetPass data area is widened and users have a much better chance of receiving data when visiting one. Extra content available at relay points is also planned in the near future to improve the StreetPass experience further.
Jett Rocket II: The Wrath of Taikai: Available from today as a download on Nintendo eShop, Jett Rocket II: The Wrath of Taikai lets players explore the Power Plant Posse’s home world in a combination of 2D and 3D platforming, plus numerous hidden secrets and multiple gameplay modes to unlock.

Wii U News

SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD: This latest Nintendo Direct presents ten new things included in the game, including the ability to play as Rosalina from Super Mario Galaxy, a Luigi Bros. bonus game that is more easily accessed for players who have New Super Luigi U save data on their systems, and Captain Toad levels, which challenge players to collect five stars without jumping. SUPER MARIO 3D WORLD releases on 29^th November.
Animal Crossing Plaza update: The Wii U gathering place for Animal Crossing fans is being upgraded with two new features on 14^th November:
- After users perform a software update, they can customise their Miiverse posts using 50 different Animal Crossing stamps. Users can combine multiple stamps or add hand-drawn messages to decorate posts they have already stamped. They can even partially erase a stamp and redraw it any way they like.
- Nintendo is also adding a ranking feature to display the results of monthly polls. November’s question is “Who would make the best secretary?” and December’s theme will be “Who is the neighbour of the year?”
- Additional features, including the ability to register and interact with your town residents, will be added in a future update
Further Pikmin 3 downloadable content: A third volume of downloadable Mission Mode Add-On Stages for Pikmin 3 will incorporate completely new “Collect Treasure” and “Battle Enemies” stages with locations as varied as beaches, the inside of someone’s house during a party, a construction site and a mysterious factory. In one stage players can control Captain Olimar, the main character from Pikmin and Pikmin 2. Even Louie makes an appearance! Released on 2^nd December, a software update required to play this third volume will be released on the same day.
YouTube on Wii U update: The already released YouTube application on Wii U is to receive an upgrade later this month, which will greatly improve the interface and let users view videos on the Wii U GamePad, plus enable users to search content on the GamePad whilst watching a different video on the TV screen.
Wii Fit U: A free trial of the game is available on Nintendo eShop now until 31^st January. Wii U owners with a Wii Balance Board accessory and a broadband Internet connection can download the trial and play it for free for 31 days. Users can make the trial permanent by buying and syncing a Fit Meter to the software. On 13^th December Wii Fit U will launch in retail as a packaged game in two sets, one including the game disc and Fit Meter, the other including the game disc, Fit Meter and Wii Balance Board.

Wii Sports Club: Another game currently available as a free download on Nintendo eShop, Wii Sports Club features classic Wii Sports events such as Tennis and Bowling, updated with Wii Remote Plus controls, online play and Miiverse features. Users can play the game for free for 24 hours beginning when the software is started for the first time. If you want to keep playing, users can purchase a 24-hour Day Pass or a Single Sports Pass for users to play their favourite sports for as long as they like.

GTA Online Free Beach Bum Update Hits Next Week and more

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Nov 14, 2013

0

GTA Online Free Beach Bum Update Hits Next Week and more

Get ready to tear up the coast and kick up some sand with the free Grand Theft Auto Online Beach Bum update that will be coming next week Tuesday 19th November. All the new Beach Bum content will be added automatically to GTA Online through the next title update (1.06), and will include two new weapons, a quartet of rugged and fun new vehicles for land and sea, lots of new action-packed Jobs, plus a wide variety of suitably rad new apparel, hairstyle and tattoo customization options. Read on for more details.

New Jobs

The Beach Bum update will bring a slew of new action-packed Jobs to GTA Online next week. These include new beach-themed Races, Deathmatches, Parachutes, Last Team Standings, Survivals as well as Gang Attacks for those who enjoy a good territorial skirmish.

Here are just a few of our favourite new ones that are on the way:

“Grass Route II” (Race): In this sequel to the original popular Grass Route Race, go off-road in an epic heat starting on the North bank of the Zancudo River through the treacherous wetlands with a triumphant finish on he beach in North Chumash.
“Survival on Del Perro Pier“(Survival): Skip the ferris wheel for a deadlier kind of thrill ride as you take on waves of relentless enemies at this beachfront attraction.
“View of Vespucci” (Parachuting): This leap sends you from 2,980 feet, down towards Vespucci Beach, weaving through palm trees to land on the basketball courts of the rec centre. If you’ve got skills, it’s possible to freefall through the first few checkpoints before even opening your chute.
“Paleto Beach” (Team Deathmatch): The locals complain that not a lot happens in this sleepy town, so do them a favour and wake ’em up with a barrage of gunfire exchanged between you and a rival team. This Team Deathmatch takes place right on the romantic shoreline for 4-8 players.
“Sundae Driving” (Bike Race): Sure to be a new fan-favorite motorbike race, menace Vespucci Beach on your two-wheel rocket, taking breakneck corners as you try and best the competition.

Expect these and lots more Jobs to be added to Grand Theft Auto Online next week.

New Vehicles
Hit the shore with four sand-and-surf-ready vehicles perfect to take on the all new Beach Bum Races and Vehicle Deathmatches: the BF Bifta dune buggy, the rugged Canis Kalahari off-road truck, the Bravado Paradise beach camper van and making a special return to the GTA series, the fast and stylish Speeder speedboat. All four vehicles will be available at no in-game cost, with the land-based vehicles accessible from the southernsanandreassuperautos.com website and the Speeder available via docktease.com on your in-game phone (call Pegasus for delivery). These vehicles are also available in Story Mode for Michael, Trevor and Franklin to enjoy – to access them, visit your garage property and the Marina property for the vehicles and the boat respectively.

New Weapons

Expand your arsenal with two new free weapons – the compact yet deadly SNS Pistol and the brutal new Broken Bottle melee weapon which is quite effective at delivering the appropriate message in up close and personal encounters. Each weapon will be available gratis from any Ammu-Nation location in GTA Online and will be added straight into each of the three characters’ inventory in Story Mode.

New Customization Options

You’ll be able to deck out your GTA Online character with all new beach-ready customization options including stylish board shorts, neon surfer attire, wild tribal tattoos, shaggy hair for that West Coast laissez-faire vibe and more…

Deadfall Adventures Arctic gameplay trailer

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Nov 14, 2013

0

Deadfall Adventures Arctic gameplay trailer

Nordic Games has unveiled the second of three gameplay trailers from the upcoming release of their action-driven first-person shooter Deadfall Adventures, out tomorrow the 15th November for the Xbox 360 and Windows PC.

The Arctic trailer gives players a glimpse of this frosty region in Deadfall Adventures. As James Lee Quatermain, players brave the icy depths the arctic brings and battle an onslaught of zombies and Nazis, as they continue in the hunt for the Heart of Atlantis. The stunning but treacherous conditions the location brings, adds to the thrilling atmosphere which the game delivers in spades.

The Digital Deluxe Edition of the game which includes exclusive content can be pre-ordered now at the same price as the Standard Edition for £32.99 from Steam

New Thief screenshots released for Lockdown mission

Gaming
News

Andrew Edney

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Nov 14, 2013

0

Square Enix and Eidos-Montréal, have released a new selection of screenshots and concept art taken from a mission at the beginning of the game called ‘Lockdown’.

Baron Northcrest has enforced a ruthless lockdown on the population of the City to control the uprising and quell the spread of a mysterious sickness that spreads through the streets, gripping people’s minds with crippling nightmares and terrible voices in their heads. Nobody feels safe from the sickness that the people on the streets call ‘The Gloom’.

Having returned to the City Garrett must reach his hideout on the other side of the Baron’s brutal lockdown, although he overhears of some precious items in a nearby jewelry store. He chooses to infiltrate the store on the way and although he knows this won’t be easy, he can’t help but steal a glimpse of what lies inside.

Joe Khoury is the Lead Designer on Thief, working for Eidos-Montréal, who have a great track record when it comes to games, including DEUS EX: HUMAN REVOLUTION, and I recently had the chance to talk to him about THIEF:

THIEF is due for release on Windows PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One on 28^th February 2014 in Europe and other PAL territories.

Meet the Motorola Moto G

Chris Hare

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Nov 13, 2013

0

Today Motorola announced the Moto G, a new low-cost entry-level smartphone for global markets. With the Moto G it doesn’t skimp on features for the smartphone, but Motorola is selling it from £134.95/ $179 (8GB) unlocked and without contract with the 16GB version for (£159 /$199).

Despite its bargain basement price tag, the Moto G has a large 4.5-inch, 720p LCD TFT display, a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB of RAM, 8 or 16GB of storage, a 5-megapixel rear camera and 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera, and a 2,070mAh battery. Aesthetically, the Moto G looks almost identical to the Moto X, with a very similar shape and feel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VunSqD1MOjE

The Moto G includes:

A brilliant 4.5-inch HD display – the sharpest in its class – that goes edge-to-edge so you can enjoy movies, photos, video chats and more.
The newest Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor for seamless multitasking and enjoying the web, videos and games, with all-day battery life.
Android 4.3 Jellybean, the most up to date Android of any phone in its class, with a guaranteed upgrade to Android 4.4 KitKat at the beginning of 2014. No skins to clutter or slow the experience, and great performance with Google’s unbeatable mobile services such as Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, Chrome and Hangouts.
Stylish design with a comfortable curved back and 19 customisation options, including interchangeable Motorola Shells, Flip Shells and Grip Shells in seven colours.

Moto G goes on sale this week in Brazil and parts of Europe and will be available within the next few weeks throughout Latin America, Europe, Canada and parts of Asia. It will be available in the US, India, the Middle East and more of Asia in early January. Moto G will be in more than 30 countries with 60 partners by 2014.

Moto G will be available in the UK and Ireland from £134.95 SIM free with 8GB of storage and from £159 SIM free for 16GB. It will be available through various carriers and retailers including Orange and T-Mobile, O2, Phones 4u, TechData and Tesco Mobile. Availability in the UK starts from today.