Microsoft’s outgoing chief financial officer Peter Klein has fuelled rumours that the firm is about to enter the burgeoning 7-inch tablet market.
Smaller touchscreen devices running the Windows operating system are scheduled to arrive on the market “in the coming months”, Klein said during the firm’s third-quarter earnings call.
He revealed that “a new suite of small touch devices powered by Windows” will soon be competing with the likes of the iPad mini and the Google Nexus 7, according to CNET.
Klein’s comments appear to support a recent Wall Street Journal report claiming that Microsoft has already begun work on a tablet device with a 7-inch display.
Although it is yet to be confirmed whether Microsoft will develop the product itself, its recent move into the tablet hardware market with Surface indicates that this is a possibility.
Microsoft reported profits of $6bn (£3.92bn) for the first three months of 2013, a 17% year-on-year upturn.
Microsoft and Epic Studios today announced the second expansion in the “Gears of War: Judgment” multiplayer experience, the Call to Arms Map Pack, coming to VIP Season Pass holders on Tuesday, 23rd April via Xbox LIVE, and available worldwide on 30th April. Developed by Epic Games and People Can Fly, the Call to Arms Map Pack brings players three new multiplayer maps, a brand-new mode called “Master at Arms,” and six armour and gun skins for customising your characters and weapons.
Set against the backdrop of the Locust invasion of Halvo Bay, all three new maps provide a mix of close quarters and vertical combat, keeping Gearheads immersed in the action. The Call to Arms Map Pack provides 10 new Achievements worth a total of 250 Gamerscore.
For more information on the Call to Arms Map Pack, please visit the “Gears of War” community site epicgames.com/community. Full descriptions of the new maps and mode are below:
New Maps:
· Terminal: The speed and ferocity of the Locust invasion took Halvo Bay completely by surprise. Residents scrambled to evacuate by every means possible, and COG forces were called in to maintain order as martial law was enforced. However, the Locust showed no mercy, and gave no quarter; they swept through train terminals like this one to take advantage of the close quarters and sheer number of defenceless humans trapped within its walls. Sometimes, COG forces could hold the line long enough for a final evacuation, but too many lost their lives in defence of the people and the land they loved.
· Blood Drive: As casualties started to mount, the staff at Halvo Memorial quickly began what would become the largest triage effort in the history of Sera. Their “Give Blood Today” campaign inspired a global blood drive in support of COG forces and wounded civilians. Sadly, Halvo fell quickly, and the hospital became a battlefront instead of a sanctuary. The seed of hope was planted, however, and government-run Memorial hospitals across the country mobilised to keep the effort alive until Jacinto Memorial was the last standing bastion of hope for the people of Sera.
· Boneyard: The concept of traditional memorial services had to be suspended due to the constant stream and alarming volume of casualties as Sera fell victim to the Locust Horde. Memorial grounds quickly became boneyards. Unmarked holes became grave sites and mausoleums were filled with the nameless remains of the fallen, their skeletons piled into heaps. Tread lightly, you never know what, or who, you’re walking on, and one day you’re bound to join them.
The Call to Arms Map Pack will be available on Xbox LIVE for 1000 Microsoft Points. Players who purchase the “Gears of War: Judgment” VIP Season Pass will receive early access to map packs and a 25 percent savings versus purchasing them individually.1
New Mode: “Master At Arms”
This new free-for-all game mode exclusive to “Gears of War: Judgment” will test the true range of your soldiering skills. The goal is to get a kill with each of the 20 different available weapons, without resorting to melee or grenade tactics. Every successful kill will automatically advance you to the next available weapon until you have used them all and proven your skill as a true Master at Arms.
We recently interviewed Jim Brown from Epic Games. We talked about old characters and new, new modes, cosplay and we even have new gameplay footage to share. Here is that interview:
Bethesda today announced the planned release of The Evil Within, a survival horror game developed at Tango Gameworks under the direction of renowned game designer and studio head, Shinji Mikami.
Best known as the father of the survival horror genre and creator of the Resident Evil series, Mikami is a 20-year veteran of the industry who has developed numerous award-winning titles. The official announcement trailer can be viewed today at IGN.com.
The Evil Within, in development for the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3, the PC, and next generation consoles, is slated for release in 2014. On Monday, April 22nd additional information about The Evil Within will be revealed in an exclusive feature story at IGN.com.
“We’re incredibly proud to announce The Evil Within,” said Mikami. “My team and I are committed to creating an exciting new franchise, providing fans the perfect blend of horror and action.”
Archos has launched a renewed assault on the Android smartphone market with the release of three new handsets. The 5.0-inch Archos 50 Platinum spearheads the French manufacturer’s range, powered by a quad-core 1.2GHz processor and 1GB of RAM.
The high-end handset also features a 960 x 540, 220-ppi display, dual-SIM capabilities, an 8-megapixel camera and 4GB of on-board storage.
A larger iteration of the handset with a 5.3-inch display, dubbed the Archos 53 Platinum, will also be available. The bigger device sports the same specs, adding a hefty 2800mAh battery to cater for its power demands.
Both handsets will run Google’s Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean operating system out of the box.
The Archos 35 Carbon is a budget entry in the series, offering a 3.5-inch display, VGA cameras, 512MB of RAM and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
Archos prices the 35 Carbon at £79.99, with the 50 Platinum costing £179.99 and 53 Platinum £199.99. All three will be available unlocked from late May.
Samsung’s flexible OLED screen tech has reportedly run into delays. Reports from the firm’s native Korea suggest that it has encountered issues with the display’s encapsulation technology during manufacturing.
Encapsulation technology protects the screen from moisture damage, but the patent Samsung acquired from Vitex Systems is too time-consuming to implement, according to etnews.
Samsung is said to have overcome another obstacle pertaining to plastic substrate tech, but is now experimenting with methods of reducing the length of the manufacturing process before production of its flexible OLED screens commences.
“As we have accumulated expertise in this field, progress is being made in substrates as well as encapsulation technology,” read a statement from Samsung Display.
“We have developed a new technology than [sic] can shorten the encapsulation process to less than two minutes by using the Vitex System-developed encapsulation technology.”
The Galaxy platform holder showcased its flexible OLED displays at the CES in January, and is rumoured to be using the technology for its upcoming Galaxy Note 3 device.
STAR TREK The Video Game is out next week and the 3 part of the Making the Game video has been released.
The game’s producers worked closely with the creative teams behind the films to deliver the most authentic Star Trek video game ever created.
A new video feature released today by Paramount Pictures provides more insight into the ways that STAR TREK: THE VIDEO GAME creates an astonishingly authentic Star Trek experience — including the participation of Star Trek actors Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, John Cho, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban and Anton Yelchin.
Here is part 3:
Check out our recent interview with Brian Miller below:
The action-packed combat game is set to launch in the UK & EU on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC April 26th, prior to the May 17th theatrical release of Star Trek Into Darkness. The game is based on a stand-alone storyline that continues the adventure of iconic characters Kirk and Spock as they work together to stop the legendary ‘Gorn’ enemy race bent on conquering the galaxy.
Ubisoft released a new Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon video where Creative Director Dean Evans meets action icon of the 80s, Michael Biehn. In the role of Sergeant Rex Colt Hollywood action icon Michael Biehn (The Terminator, Aliens, The Abyss), returns in this explosive 1980s style sci-fi vision of a dark future. Have a behind the scenes look in this kick ass dev-diary and meet Michael Biehn, the voice of Sergeant Rex Power Colt.
Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon lets players get the girl, kill the bad guys and save the world in a VHS-era vision of the future! As Sergeant Rex Colt, you are part man, part machine, all American. You are a state-of-the art Mark IV cyber-commando on a mission…of vengeance.
You’re out to bring down your old commanding officer and his battalion of ruthless killer cyborgs and you’ll stop at nothing to get the job done. Hollywood action icon Michael Biehn (The Terminator, Aliens, and The Abyss), returns in this explosive 1980s style sci-fi vision of a dark future.
Turn off your VCR, plug in your video game cabinet, and get ready to experience all of the thrills of Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon, releasing May 1, 2013 as a stand-alone digital title. All PC pre-orders will receive a free copy of the soundtrack by Power Glove.
And yes, we do have Blood Dragons shooting lasers from their eyes!
And here is the video:
And here are some more new screenshots:
What do you think? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
BradyGames, masters of the official strategy guide, today announced that April 26th will see the launch of its Official Strategy Guide to Dead Island Riptide, the latest and hugely anticipated game in the Dead Island franchise from publisher Deep Silver.
Developed in conjunction with Deep Silver and spread across 256 lavishly designed pages, the official Dead Island Riptide guide leads you through the nightmarish fight for survival. A complete campaign walkthrough takes you through your seemingly unending battle and has extensive detail on every mission and each enemy encounter. You’ll be using all weapons to their maximum potential, finding secret areas, hidden collectibles and dominating all boss fights.
Within the guide, gamers can expect to find:
· The continued story of the survivors with objective-based strategy for each mission and detailed boss fights
· New character coverage including level skills and the new weapon proficiency system
· Comprehensive maps revealing secret areas, hidden collectibles, and Dead Zones
· In-depth coverage of every craftable weapon, new vehicles, and infected monstrosity
· The multiplayer chapter that has been updated and expanded to cover the existing multiplayer and the new hub defence mode
Packed with incredible artwork and highly detailed maps showing you all of the infected island, the official Dead Island Riptide guide will launch as an exhaustive Signature Series edition with an RRP of £12.99.
Good news Bat fans, Injustice Gods Among Us is now available.
Developed by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, Injustice: Gods Among Us introduces a new franchise in the fighting game genre and a brand new story created in collaboration between NetherRealm Studios, DC Entertainment and comic book writers Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti. As the story unfolds, players will experience the power, gadgetry and unparalleled strength of some the most popular DC Comics heroes and villains, such as Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Aquaman, The Joker and others, as they engage in epic battles in a world where the line between good and evil is blurred.
“NetherRealm Studios was dedicated to making Injustice: Gods Among Us an immersive, action-packed experience,” said Ed Boon, Creative Director, NetherRealm Studios. “We’ve created an original game with an all-new story filled with iconic characters DC Comics and gaming fans will appreciate.”
Injustice: Gods Among Us features numerous locales pulled from DC Comics lore including Arkham Asylum, Metropolis, Atlantis, and more. The arenas are multi-tiered, destructible, interactive playgrounds in which players can unleash each character’s unique super powers, individual move-sets and environmental interactions to beat their opponents. Fans can also extend their experience by playing the S.T.A.R. Labs missions, which offer players a wealth of additional content and unique gameplay that are outside of the game’s story mode experience.
Bringing these characters to life is a cast of actors, including Stephen Amell, star of the CW Network’s hit action show, Arrow, who reprises his role as the Green Arrow in the game as an unlockable “Arrow” version of the character, which players can choose to use in-game. Also featured are Kevin Conroy, as Batman; Tara Strong, as Harley Quinn and Raven; Neal McDonough as The Flash; George Newbern as Superman; Adam Baldwin as Green Lantern; and Alan Tudyk as Green Arrow (regular version).
Fans looking for the ultimate package can purchase the Injustice: Gods Among Us Special Edition for Xbox 360 and PS3, which includes an exclusive steelbook casing and the Red Son Pack DLC The Special Edition is available for £54.99.
Also available is the Injustice: Gods Among US Collector’s Edition for Xbox 360 and PS3, which includes the game disc, an exclusive DC Collectibles statue featuring Batman and Wonder Woman, a special Collector’s Edition of the first print issue of the Injustice: Gods Among Us DC Comics series and three exclusive skins based on Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman from DC COMICS – THE NEW 52. The Collector’s Edition is priced at £74.99 and available in limited quantities.
Players looking to extend their gameplay experience can buy the Injustice: Gods Among UsSeason Pass now for Xbox 360 and PS3 and receive four upcoming downloadable characters for the price of three, as well as a bonus Flashpoint Skin Pack featuring alternate costumes for Wonder Woman, Aquaman and Deathstroke. The Season Pass is available on the Xbox LIVE Game Store for 1200 Microsoft Points and on PlayStation Network for £11.99.
And don’t forget to check out my visit to Arkham Asylum below:
ZeptoLab has announced Cut the Rope: Time Travel. The sequel to its bestselling gaming app, Cut the Rope combines new gameplay features with elements of the original.
“Ever wondered whether Om Nom is the only monster in his family with a sweet tooth?” said the developer. “Well, Om Nom is curious, too!
“He’s stumbled upon a time travel machine and is using it to go back in time and discover his roots, teaming up with his candy-chomping kin along the way.”
The game introduces multiple monsters to feed on the same screen, taking players through levels set in different time periods including the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, Ancient Greece and the Stone Age.
ZeptoLab has also introduced ten new episodes of Om Nom Stories that are integrated into the game. The original Cut the Rope launched in October 2010, and was followed by first sequel Cut the Rope: Experiments in August 2011.
Cut the Rope: Time Travel is now available on iPhone, iPad, Android and NOOK.
Today (18th April) A new update for Borderlands 2 will begin rolling out on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 later today, containing bug fixes and support for upcoming content including the character customizations that can be unlocked by playing the upcoming Poker Night 2.
Fixed an issue where bank and stash capacity could be exceeded. This change prevents additional items from being added to stash / bank until capacity is below the maximum — it does not forcibly remove or delete any items.
Added a preview of available premium customizations when using a customization station so that players can see what a purchased head or skin would look like before buying.
Fixed an exploit where players could become invincible occasionally through the Siren’s Res skill.
Fixed an issue that prevented players from choosing a new customization from SHiFT when creating a character immediately after redeeming a customization code.
Players are now able to type a “c” in their player name without causing the “load a character” overlay to appear while starting a New Game.
Missions
Fixed issues with the following missions that could cause players to get stuck or not be able to complete them:
Bad Hair Day
Best Minion Ever
Fixed a bug that could cause the “Wildlife Preservation” mission boss to sometimes continue fighting after the encounter in Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode.
(Captain Scarlett DLC) Fixed an issue that could cause Scarlett to not drop Scarlett’s Greed in the fight with Roscoe.
Equipment
Fixed a bug that caused the player’s grenade count to not be saved properly if they were using a Grenadier class mod.
Fixed a bug causing Seraph items of the day to incorrectly be capped at level 55.
Rebalanced the Gunzerker’s Titan class mod to be more in line other Gunzerker class mods.
Fixed an issue where the Evolution shield could incorrectly list a Recharge Delay of 0.00 seconds.
Fixed audio from Impact shields not playing when connected to another player.
Fixed an issue causing audio distortion in some cases when a transfusion projectile got stuck inside an object.
Fixed an issue where bank and stash capacity could be exceeded. This change prevents additional items from being added to stash / bank until capacity is below the maximum — it does not forcibly remove or delete any items.
Added a preview of available premium customizations when using a customization station so that players can see what a purchased head or skin would look like before buying.
Fixed an exploit where players could become invincible occasionally through the Siren’s Res skill.
Fixed an issue that prevented players from choosing a new customization from SHiFT when creating a character immediately after redeeming a customization code.
Added a new automatic backup feature — the game will periodically create a backup of your current character so that there is something to fall back on if your character save becomes corrupted.
The game will now attempt to automatically delete older compatibility packs that are no longer needed in order to free up some hard drive space.
Missions
Fixed issues with the following missions that could cause players to get stuck or not be able to complete them:
Bad Hair Day
Best Minion Ever
Fixed a bug that could cause the “Wildlife Preservation” mission boss to sometimes continue fighting after the encounter in Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode.
(Captain Scarlett DLC) Fixed an issue that could cause Scarlett to not drop Scarlett’s Greed in the fight with Roscoe.
Equipment
Fixed a bug that caused the player’s grenade count to not be saved properly if they were using a Grenadier class mod.
Fixed a bug causing Seraph items of the day to incorrectly be capped at level 55.
Rebalanced the Gunzerker’s Titan class mod to be more in line other Gunzerker class mods.
Fixed an issue where the Evolution shield could incorrectly list a Recharge Delay of 0.00 seconds.
Fixed audio from Impact shields not playing when connected to another player.
Fixed an issue causing audio distortion in some cases when a transfusion projectile got stuck inside an object.
Fixed an issue where bank and stash capacity could be exceeded. This change prevents additional items from being added to stash / bank until capacity is below the maximum — it does not forcibly remove or delete any items.
Added a preview of available premium customizations when using a customization station so that players can see what a purchased head or skin would look like before buying.
Fixed an exploit where players could become invincible occasionally through the Siren’s Res skill.
Fixed an issue that prevented players from choosing a new customization from SHiFT when creating a character immediately after redeeming a customization code.
Fixed an exploit that could allow players to access unlicensed content.
Fixed an issue causing non-English languages to display English names for premium customizations.
Missions
Fixed issues with the following missions that could cause players to get stuck or not be able to complete them:
Bad Hair Day
Best Minion Ever
Fixed a bug that could cause the “Wildlife Preservation” mission boss to sometimes continue fighting after the encounter in Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode.
(Captain Scarlett DLC) Fixed an issue that could cause Scarlett to not drop Scarlett’s Greed in the fight with Roscoe.
Equipment
Fixed a bug that caused the player’s grenade count to not be saved properly if they were using a Grenadier class mod.
Fixed a bug causing Seraph items of the day to incorrectly be capped at level 55.
Rebalanced the Gunzerker’s Titan class mod to be more in line other Gunzerker class mods.
Fixed an issue where the Evolution shield could incorrectly list a Recharge Delay of 0.00 seconds.
Fixed audio from Impact shields not playing when connected to another player.
Fixed an issue causing audio distortion in some cases when a transfusion projectile got stuck inside an object.
Apple’s much rumoured budget iPhone has been glimpsed in what is said to be a leaked photograph of the device. Case-maker Tactus provided the image, which appears to show a handset with a polycarbonate body, claiming to have captured it at a factory that provides parts for Apple manufacturer Foxconn.
The device is allegedly made of similar material to the iPhone 3G and 3GS, with a flat back instead of a curved one to reduce manufacturing complexity and therefore cost.
Other differences from the iPhones of old include two separate buttons for volume control and the inclusion of an LED flash.
The body of the device is reportedly taller, wider and thicker than the iPhone 4 and 4S, and will also come in black, blue, red and yellow.
Apple has been tipped to unveil a budget iPhone alongside the next-generation iteration of the smartphone this summer.
Today Twitter has launched its #music application following weeks of speculation. The service offers song recommendations based on the accounts that the user is following, and lets them stream tracks in-app through platforms such as Rdio, Spotify and iTunes.
Users will also be served track recommendations directly from artists and can share music with their friends, as well as see what they have been listening to.
“Today, we’re releasing Twitter #music, a new service that will change the way people find music, based on Twitter,” said the microblogging firm in a statement. “It uses Twitter activity, including Tweets and engagement, to detect and surface the most popular tracks and emerging artists.
“It also brings artists’ music-related Twitter activity front and centre: go to their profiles to see which music artists they follow and listen to songs by those artists. And, of course, you can tweet songs right from the app.”
Speculation about the service hit critical mass last week when Twitter announced that it had acquired music discovery service We Are Hunted.
Twitter #music is available for iOS devices via the App Store and as a web-based service. Native apps for Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry devices are yet to be announced.
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