What is Windows Home Server?

FINAL FANTASY XIV – LIBRA EORZEA Smartphone App Now Out

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Sep 10, 2013

FINAL FANTASY XIV – LIBRA EORZEA Smartphone App Now Out

Square Enix has released FINAL FANTASY XIV – LIBRA EORZEA the official smart phone app for FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn, that is available for free download from today.

FINAL FANTASY XIV – LIBRA EORZEA is the official companion app for FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn that puts a veritable compendium of adventuring knowledge in the palm of your hand.

Featuring a comprehensive game database that can be accessed offline, as well as a character profile viewer for reviewing gear and attributes on the go, seasoned and aspiring adventurers alike are sure to find LIBRA EORZEA indispensable.

The application’s basic functions can be used for free, with plans to add more features in future, some of which will be charged for iOS. An Android version is currently in development and will be released at a future date.

Game Database

A compendium of knowledge at your fingertips!

From items and quests to NPCs, achievements, and more ─ LIBRA EORZEA contains a veritable treasure trove of knowledge that will avail you in your adventures, with intuitive search features making it easy to find the information you need.

The database is stored locally, allowing it to be viewed offline.* With a host of updates in the works, the compendium promises to grow into an ever-more useful resource in the days to come!

* To update the database, a network connection is required.

New versions of FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn may necessitate updates to LIBRA EORZEA

Character Profiles

Review your gear and attributes, and those of your comrades!

Get your Rabbids Big Bang Ready

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Sep 10, 2013

0

Today, at its Digital Days event, Ubisoft announced that the Rabbids are coming to smartphones and tablets this fall with Rabbids Big Bang out later this year.

The Rabbids are making space their new playground in this physics-based game. Players will pilot the wacky little creatures using jetpack boosts and the gravitational force of planets, to avoid catastrophic accidents, fly around obstacles and explore the edges of the galaxy.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-WAQaQm_5M?feature=player_detailpage%5D

Developed by Ubisoft Paris studios, Rabbids Big Bang offers 150 different missions including crashing landing on planets, bouncing off of space cows and reaching specific speeds. The customization options in-game are plentiful.

Jetpacks can be upgraded for an added boost or just a bit of flare and as Rabbids love dressing up, there are lots of disguises, new outfits and funny looks to make your Rabbid stand out! And as it’s Rabbids we are talking about, players will meet space duckies, cheese planets and feel the burn if they fly to close to the Sun!

The Mighty Quest For Epic Loot Introduces A New Hero: The Runaway

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Sep 10, 2013

0

The Mighty Quest For Epic Loot Introduces A New Hero: The Runaway

Today, Ubisoft announces a fourth character will join the ranks of heroes in The Mighty Quest For Epic Loot: The Runaway. Developed by Ubisoft Montreal, The Mighty Quest for Epic Loot is a hilarious free-to-play PC game that thrusts the player in an outrageous medieval fantasy world called Opulencia where wealth, status and showboating are the name of the game!

The Runaway was raised as the daughter of Opulencia’s most famous classical harpsichord duo. Forced to conform to the prim and proper world of the aristocratic elite, she secretly longed for a life of adventure, excitement, and loot beyond the wildest dreams of her parents and their stuffy friends. On the eve of her debutante ball, she cast off the shackles of her old life, grabbed her trusty Axe and set off for Opulencia in search of a rocking adventure.

The Runaway’s lightning speed and furious mid-ranged attacks combined with her custom musical axe should be more than enough to make her the lead in your band.

For on-going updates about the game, and to register for the Closed Beta please visit the official website: http://www.themightyquest.com

Trials Frontier Coming to Your Smartphone and Tablet This Year

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Sep 10, 2013

0

Trials Frontier Coming to Your Smartphone and Tablet This Year

Trials Frontier gives RedLynx’s best-selling and award-winning Trials series its mobile game debut coming out later this year.

Discover a unique social racing game, featuring a compelling storyline, friendly competition, easy-to-approach physics-based gameplay, and a massive content stream.

Designed for touch-based platforms, Trials Frontier combines the insanely addictive gameplay of Trials with the mobile knowhow of RedLynx, gained through such releases as DrawRace 2 and MotoHeroz.

Trials Frontier boasts a deep metagame, a compelling storyline, and a rich, surprising world of adventure and exploration.

Expand and enrich your village
Explore the extensive world map
Challenge yourself against superb physics gameplay
Discover colourful characters and a quirky storyline
Collect parts to upgrade and customize your bike and rider
Connect to Trials Fusion, earning bonus rider gear and bike customizations

With Trials Frontier, you can take the Trials competition with you, wherever you go:

Multiplayer: both asynchronous and time-limited global events
Global Leader Boards
Live Community Events
Friend Notifications
Robust content update roadmap

Console Pedigree

Trials Frontier is being created by RedLynx as a worthy successor in the Trials line, with console quality graphics in its own right. It’s also being developed in tandem with next-gen console game Trials Fusion, meaning the two games will connect in the right way.

Have You Got The Crew Ready Yet

Apple

Chris Hare

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Sep 10, 2013

0

The Crew is a revolutionary action-driving game developed exclusively for next-gen consoles and high-end Pcs that leverages the new hardware capabilities to connect players online like never before. The Crew takes you and your friends on a reckless ride across a massive, open-world recreation of the United States that is loaded with exciting challenges. Generous in content and tailored for the connected generation, The Crew is the next-gen game that redefines action-driving.

Description

Take part in a relentless ride to infiltrate and overtake the 510s, a gang grown around Detroit’s illegal street racing scene. Your plan? Get a rep on the underground-racing scene and sabotage their activities city-by-city all across the United States. Maneuver through the bustling streets of New York City and Los Angeles, cruise down sunny Miami Beach or trek through the breathtaking plateaus of Monument Valley. Each locale comes with its own set of surprises and driving challenges to master. On your journey you will encounter other players on the road – all potentially worthy companions to crew up with, or future rivals to compete against. This is driving at its most exciting, varied and open.

Key Features

NEVER DRIVE ALONE

Jump in and out seamlessly and build your crew of four through bonding or intense rivalry. Whether your objective is to takedown a convoy or to escape the police, achieving it with friends ensures a fresh experience each time you join in.

A PLAYGROUND OF UNPRECEDENTED SCOPE AND VARIETY

The entire United States is your driving playground – all roads and everything in between. Every type of terrain imaginable is yours to master – from downtown city streets to suburbs, hillsides, cornfields, canyons, desert dunes or even race tracks.

PREPARE YOUR CAR FOR THE NEXT CHALLENGE

Collect body and performance parts along your progression to customize and upgrade your licensed cars. Equip your ride with 5 different tuning specs (street, perf, dirt, raid, circuit) to adapt to different driving terrains. Choose from a wide range of perks to enhance your vehicle according to your driving style.

THE EXPERIENCE GOES ON, WHEREVER YOU ARE

Continue the experience on iOS, Android tablets, and on the web. Keep track of your friends’ performances and tinker with your ride before playing it live to set new records, or send your crew on jobs on-the-go to gain more XP and parts.

Out Early 2014 for Xbox One / PS4 / iOS, Android /Windows PC.

Ubisoft Shows Off Child of Light

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Sep 10, 2013

0

Ubisoft shared more details about Child of Light, a digital title to be released in 2014 on current- and next-generation platforms as well as PC.

The game is being created by a small team of seasoned developers based in Ubisoft Montreal. Child of Light has been developed on Ubisoft’s UbiArt Framework, a powerful engine that lets programmers and artists to bring their art to life by allowing original concept art to be inserted unedited into the game world. In Child of Light, the effect is that playing becomes akin to stepping into an interactive painting.

Child of Light is a reimagining of classic fairytales, inviting players on an epic adventure into the magical painted world of Lemuria. Players will uncover mysteries, participate in turn-by-turn combat inspired by classic JRPGs, and explore the mystical kingdom. The game puts players in the shoes of Aurora, a child stolen from her home, who, in her quest to return, must bring back the sun, the moon and the stars held captive by the mysterious Queen of the Night.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXBbB4sfEpQ?feature=player_detailpage%5D

Helped by her companion Igniculus the firefly and several unlikely allies, Aurora will face her darkest fears, including dragons and other mystical creatures in this modern take on a coming-of-age story.

“Ubisoft’s strengths include its diversity and the freedom it gives its creative teams,” said Patrick Plourde, Creative Director, Ubisoft. “We want Child of Light to be like a playable poem, a love letter to art and video games.”

Synology Announces RS214 Rackmount NAS

Storage & NAS

Jim McCarthy

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Sep 10, 2013

0

Synology has announced the replacement for their RS213 rackmount NAS, the RS214. Read on for details!

Synology has announced the replacement for their RS213 rackmount NAS, the RS214. Here is the press release:

Synology® Launches RackStation RS214

Durable, Compact Rackmount NAS Server for Small and Medium Business

Milton Keynes, United Kingdom – September 10, 2013, Synology® today launched RackStation RS214, a 1U 2-bay rackmount NAS. Featuring easy data sharing and management, RS214 is specifically designed to serve growing businesses of any size, along with a myriad of office applications that enhance working experience and productivity.

“With enhanced hardware architecture, advanced fail-proof mechanism, and comprehensive business solutions, RS214 provides users with an affordable and reliable solution at an optimal price/performance ratio,” said Wayne An, Product Manager of Synology Inc. The RS214 is built to deliver optimal performance. Powered by a 1.2 GHz processor and link aggregation, the RS214 delivers an average over 70 MB/sec writing speed under RAID1 configuration in a Windows® environment, and over 160 MB/sec reading. The built-in floating-point unit enhances the overall capability of the main CPU, enabling RS214 to work in higher efficiency when it comes to multimedia processing. With 512MB DDR3 RAM, twice the size of its predecessor, RS214 exhibits a surprising boost in multi-tasking performance, making it one of the best values in 2-bay rackmount NAS devices available today. With two USB 3.0 interfaces, RS214 greatly improves file transfer rate to external hard drives. The RS214 is developed with attention to reliability. Dual LAN failover support ensures continual network service, while hot-swappable design facilitates easy and risk-free hard drive replacement. The brand new hard drive tray lock further secures your hard drives from unauthorised or accidental withdrawal. In addition, featuring a compacting design in 12-inch depth, the RS214 fits into 2-post rack and wall mount rack without additional rail kit. The RS214 runs on DiskStation Manager (DSM) 4.3, an intuitive web-based operating system that provides a host of applications to bring better productivity at work. DSM 4.2, the previous version, is the only NAS operating system to be honoured with the “Best Choice Award” and “Media’s Choice Award” at Computex 2013.

For more information, please visit

http://www.synology.com/products/product.php?product_name=RS214&lang=enu

Check out these product pictures:

My Movies for Windows Phone Released

Jim McCarthy

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Sep 10, 2013

0

My Movies, the application that allows you to catalog your DVD/Blu-ray collection and carry the database around on your mobile device, has shipped for Windows Phone 7.5 and 8. Read on for details!

My Movies, the application that allows you to catalog your DVD/Blu-ray collection and carry the database around on your mobile device, has shipped for Windows Phone 7.5 and 8. I currently use this application on IOS and Android, and it comes in very handy for when I want to see what I already own. It is now available for Windows Phone. Here is the press release:

The waiting time is over – it is finally here!
My Movies for Windows Phone is now available in the Windows Phone Marketplace for Windows Phone 8 and Windows Phone 7.5 in twelve different languages, completing the My Movies offerings on all of the popular consumer smartphone platforms.

The application is available for purchase at $5.99, €5.49 or £4.99, or as a free trial limited to 50 titles – look for our company “Binnerup Consult” in the listings, as there are other applications with similar names, or open the below link for the application on the store website.

Download on Windows Phone Store

Functionality
The application functions as a companion application for users who use our application suite on other platforms, or it can be used on its own by users who are not already familiar with our service. The application requires a user account, through which your collection automatically synchronizes on multiple devices.
Titles can be added from our world class online service containing more than 750.000 DVD, Blu-ray or legacy HD DVD titles worldwide, through batch barcode scanning using your phones camera, or by manual searches by barcode or by title.
Should you have a title that is not available in our service, you can report it missing to our staff, who will add the title within 48 hours, or, if you find incorrect data on one or more titles, you can also report this to be corrected by our staff, both services which you will not find elsewhere. You can also choose to contribute to titles yourself to the service, through our Windows or Mac software.
In case you have personal titles such as vacation or wedding videos, you can create these manually.

Applications compared
The feature set of My Movies for Windows Phone is much more extensive than the feature set of our applications on iPhone and Android was at release time, however as the other applications have been in on-going development for several years, there are features that we have not been able to make available yet on Windows Phone.

Our originally planned feature set have been extended a few times through development, and have been extended again during the prerelease period, based on inputs of all of the users who have helped us on that – thank you!
It is our intention that the feature set on Windows Phone over time should catch up fully with iPhone and Android, but as with any other costly development project, it surely depends on the applications success on a platform with a lower market share, and therefore fewer users.

We have prepared a detailed list on our website of features currently available on the different platforms, which you can see by clicking here.

Free vs. Trial
Users of our applications on iPhone, iPad and Android will see a difference on the offerings on Windows Phone, where there is only one application available; “My Movies for Windows Phone” with a trial option versus the Free and Pro offerings on the other platforms.

The trial option functions the same way as the Free versions on iPhone, iPad or Android, where you can use the full functionality of the application, up to 50 titles, without any time restrictions. You can at any time purchase the application to lift the limit of 50 titles, making the application unlimited.

Your support is needed!
The waiting time for My Movies for Windows Phone has been long, both for users who have requested it for long, and for us, who have had the development ongoing for a long time.

Developing quality applications on platforms with as low market share as Windows Phone has a great risk – but it have been important for us to be able to support you, no matter which platform you choose for your phone.

It has also been important for us to do things right the first time, which hopefully also shows from our nearly three months prerelease period. The combination of setups and devices makes it near impossible to ensure that there will not be any problems at release time, but should you have any problems, we are available to help on support@mymovies.dk, and our developers are ready to resolve any problems should they occur – we hope you will contact us with any problem or concern that you might have, as it is not possible for us to contact you through reviews on the store.

The initial ratings and reviews of the application are essential to the future success, and we hope that those of you purchasing the application will help us by leaving a rating and a review on the store. Since these have an important impact on sales, they also are important to the future development resources assigned to the project.

Thank you for your support in our application suite!

I use this one myself and can highly recommend it. If you have a movie collection and would like a convenient app for managing your collection while on the go, have a look at My Movies for Windows Phone!

Tom Clancy’s EndWar Online Coming to your Brower Soon

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Sep 10, 2013

0

Tom Clancy’s EndWar Online Coming to your Brower Soon

Today, during the company’s Digital Days event, Ubisoft announced the development of Tom Clancy’s EndWar Online for browser-based gameplay on PC and Mac. Developed by Ubisoft Shanghai, the team behind the console version of Tom Clancy’s EndWar, Tom Clancy’s EndWar Online is a tactical and strategic MMO that offers real time battles, HQ and army management, and massive community-based wars, all set in next stage browser technology to deliver an unrivalled gameplay experience.

As the latest game in the Tom Clancy’s EndWar world, Tom Clancy’s EndWar Online puts players in the shoes of the last leader in the aftermath of WW3. Resources and money have run dry, factions are on the brink of collapse and rogue warlords have taken over. As one of the last leaders, players are tasked with rebuilding their homeland, reuniting their faction and spearheading the final battle for Earth’s remaining resources. Players choose a side, the high-tech European Enforcers or Russia’s Spetsnaz who deploy brute force tactics, to lead into battle. Offering both single player and player vs. player challenges, Tom Clancy’s EndWar Online brings diverse gameplay options and deep strategy to gamers.

“We have been looking for a way to bring EndWar back to its fans and have found an accessible way with Tom Clancy’s EndWar Online,” said Thomas Painçon, EMEA Free-to-Play Publishing Director at Ubisoft. “By offering gameplay directly in browsers, we hope old fans and new alike will enjoy this new EndWar experience and join in the quest to lead their faction to victory.”

Assassins Creed Pirates Coming to Smartphones and Tablets

Chris Hare

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Sep 10, 2013

0

Assassin’s Creed Pirates is a standalone game for smartphones and tablets that will allow players to further explore the Caribbean during the Golden Age of piracy as Alonzo Batilla, a young and ambitious captain. Players will have to manage their crew, upgrade their ship, recruit new crew member and engage in huge real-time naval battles to become the most feared pirate of their time and claim La Buse’s legendary treasure. As in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, the Caribbean seas will become their hunting grounds.

Ubisoft Paris is developing a brand new mobile engine to bring groundbreaking 3D visuals to smartphones and tablets. As players sail those breathtaking moving waters and discover those lush islands, they should keep a watchful eye for the day’s cycle and the changing weather conditions that will directly impact gameplay.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDJql50J0JY?feature=player_detailpage%5D

Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD Coming to Xbox 360, PS3 and PC

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Sep 10, 2013

1

Today at its Digital Days event, Ubisoft announced Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD, the striking chapter of the pre-American Revolution Assassin’s Creed saga which arrives for the first time on Xbox 360 and PS3 and PC. With improved gameplay, deeper story and HD graphics makes Liberation an immersive and full Assassin’s Creed experience.

The year is 1765. As the events leading up to the American Revolution heat up in the north, Spanish forces plan to take control of Louisiana in the south – but they have yet to reckon with Aveline, a deadly Assassin who will use every weapon and ability in her arsenal on her quest for freedom. . Whether eliminating her enemies with her multiple assassinations technique or luring them into deadly traps using her tools, Aveline strikes mortal fear into the hearts of those who stand in her way.

As an Assassin, Aveline soon finds herself on an unforgettable journey that will take her from the crowded streets of New Orleans to voodoo-haunted swamps and ancient Mayan ruins. She will play a pivotal role in the turbulent New Orleans revolution and the beginning of a new nation. As she fights for freedom, not for herself, but for those whose life and hopes have been squashed.

Key Features

AVELINE IS BACK

As Aveline, an Assassin of mixed French and African heritage, you must use your skill, instinct and weaponry – including a machete, poison-dart blowpipe, a whip and duelling pistols – to hunt down and eliminate your enemies.

EXPERIENCE THE UN-UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

With the richly detailed world, thanks to the AnvilNext engine which features groundbreaking physics, animation and innovative combat system. Outmaneuver your enemies in the Louisiana bayou with the unique Tree Navigation system, and eliminate them from above with deadly precision. Deep dive under water as you search for lost Mayan treasures, but stay alert; the hostile wilderness and humid swamps are full of menacing animals.

COMPLETELY IMPROVED EXPERIENCE

Taking full advantage of its new hardware, Liberation HD introduces graphical improvements such as high-dynamic-range (HDR) rendering, high definition environments and characters, updated cinematics the sum of which delivers a complete graphic overhaul of the title. The gameplay experience has been revamped too with updated missions that improve the pacing, new missions that dive deeper into Aveline’s story, and updated world design for more gameplay options during mission. Finally, a particular attention was given to the audio with re-mastered music and all-new SFX.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfpfhztOBVI?feature=player_detailpage%5D

Netflix Coming to Virgin Media

Chris Hare

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Sep 10, 2013

0

Virgin Media today announced an agreement that will bring Netflix, the world’s leading Internet TV network, onto a pay-TV platform for the first time. Using the Netflix app, Virgin Media TiVo households will be able to watch award-nominated Netflix series, documentaries, comedy and kids titles through their set-top box. Netflix will be available to 1.7 million Virgin Media TiVo homes this year, starting with a pilot launching this week.

The addition of the Netflix app to Virgin Media TiVo, the fastest growing pay-TV service in the UK, will allow viewers to discover critically acclaimed Netflix original series House of Cards, Hemlock Grove, Arrested Development and Orange is the New Black and Netflix exclusives like the hit series Breaking Bad.

The Netflix app complements Virgin Media’s ever-expanding collection of over 6,000 hours of On Demand entertainment, all ready to watch instantly. Virgin Media TiVo customers will be able to easily search and browse titles across Virgin TV’s entire collection of films and TV programmes as well as from Netflix and other content apps including BBC iPlayer.

Netflix coming to Virgin Media

Virgin Media TiVo customers to access Netflix app via their set-top box
Broad variety of great series and films, including Breaking Bad, House of Cards and Arrested Development, to be available instantly

Pilot to 40,000 Virgin Media TiVo homes begins this week with full launch later this year

Dana Strong, Virgin Media’s chief operating officer, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing yet another groundbreaking service onto TV screens in millions of Virgin Media homes. Netflix is a fabulous addition to Virgin Media TiVo, enabling our customers to enjoy even more of their favourite shows and movies simply and easily – all through their TV set-top box and at outstanding value.

“Virgin Media TiVo offers different ways to watch, either subscription or pay per view, all seamlessly integrated for simple, intuitive viewing so there’s a world of great entertainment at your fingertips and everyone can be sure of the perfect TV moment.”

Bill Holmes, global head of business development, Netflix, said: “The UK has given Netflix a fantastic welcome and we’re excited to be partnering with Virgin Media to bring an amazing Netflix experience to Virgin Media customers.”

The pilot begins this week with around 40,000 Virgin Media TiVo households already selected to use the Netflix app. For the pilot, the Netflix application will be available in the Apps & Games section of Virgin Media TiVo with Netflix members able to log-in using their existing Netflix credentials and new members able to sign up for Netflix via the app. Netflix will be rolled out to all Virgin Media TiVo customers following the successful completion of the pilot later this year.

Through a dedicated broadband connection built into each Virgin Media TiVo set-top box, viewers will be able to experience a brilliant, HD big screen TV Netflix experience. Virgin Media TiVo households with Virgin Media broadband can also make full use of their superfast 30Mb, 60Mb or 120Mb broadband speeds in addition to the dedicated TiVo connection.

The Netflix roll-out coincides with the latest updates to Virgin Media TiVo for all customers

Assassins Creed Dev Diary Talks about the Diverse Open World

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Sep 9, 2013

0

Assassins Creed Dev Diary Talks about the Diverse Open World

Meet the Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag team members as they share their vision and ambitions for this new episode in the franchise.
Discover the diversity of environments and settings the team has implemented in the game, from varied Cities and Mayan Ruins to the vast sea and its sunken ships.

The Black Flag Diaries #2: A Diverse Open World – Assassin’s Creed IV – Black Flag

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGTGHn_ZOP0?feature=player_detailpage%5D

Each of the cities in Assassins Creed IV has its unique flavour, say the developers: Havana is a European style city and one of the biggest in the New World at the time, whereas Kingston is a developing port with lush scenery and a wholly different style of architecture to look at.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag hits Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Wii U on 29th October in the USA and 1st November for Europe / and will be a launch title for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

Titanfall playable for the first time in the UK at Eurogamer Expo

Chris Hare

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Sep 9, 2013

0

Titanfall playable for the first time in the UK at Eurogamer Expo

Titanfall will have a large presence on the show floor at this year’s Eurogamer Expo, it will be playable for the first time in the UK.

Developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts, Titanfall brings players together in epic multiplayer team battles contested by a mixture of free-running Pilots and agile mech-style walkers called Titans.

Visitors to the Eurogamer Expo will be able to take part in six-versus-six multiplayer games on a number of stations on the floor, marking the game’s first playable showing anywhere in the UK.

Eurogamer Expo 2013 (#EGX) takes place at Earls Court, London, from Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th September. Tickets have now completely sold out, with over 70,000 gamers expected.

Titanfall joins the biggest ever line-up of playable games on the EGX show floor, with games playable on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and every other major system. Visitors will also be able to sample future tech like Oculus Rift.