Watch the EA Gamescom 2013 press briefing here on Connected Digital World

Tomorrow in Cologne are the press conferences before Gamescom 2013 starts, and you can watch the EA Gamescom 2013 press briefing right here on Connected Digital World.

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Tune in on August 20 at 4pm CEST / 7am PST (that’s 3pm UK time) for the EA press conference at Gamescom for the latest from Battlefield 4, Command & Conquer, FIFA 14, Need For Speed Rivals, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare, EA SPORTS UFC, the unveil of The Sims 4 and more.

 

Let us know what you hope they show, and what you think of it by leaving a comment below.

Ubisoft releases Splinter Cell Blacklist Invisible trailer

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Ubisoft have released a new trailer for Splinter Cell Blacklist.

And here it is:

In Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist, players take on the role of lethal operative Sam Fisher who is armed with a new mandate to hunt down the masterminds behind The Blacklist, a series of escalating attacks on US interests. Faced with his biggest mission yet, Sam and his Fourth Echelon team must figure out how to stop these global assaults before the countdown reaches zero.

Delivering a gripping modern-day storyline, the game brings back core elements of the franchise and incorporates a new level of technical innovation and design to create the biggest Splinter Cell to date. Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Blacklist will push the series to even greater heights by offering a complete package where single-player, co-op and multiplayer are tied to a universal economy system that supports a wide variety of play styles.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist be released in North America on August 20th, and in the UK on August 23rd.

What do you think of the game? Personally I can’t wait, but let us know by leaving a comment below.

Football Manager 14 match engine video with Miles Jacobson

Sega have released a FM14 match engine video with a voice over from Miles Jacobson.

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Football Manager 2014 will be released for Windows PC, Mac and Linux before Xmas 2013.

Would you like to be part of the Infinite Crisis beta?

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Would you like to get involved in the private beta for Infinite Crisis? If the answer is yes then we have something for you.

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Infinite Crisis is a bold new entrant into the wildly popular multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) genre.  The game delivers a heart-pounding competitive player vs. player battle experience set in DC Comics’ legendary Multiverse.  Featuring the deepest roster of DC heroes and villains ever assembled, Infinite Crisis puts players in control of twisted incarnations of their favorite characters from throughout the Multiverse such as Nightmare Batman and Gaslight Catwoman, playing in league with such well-known characters such as Green Lantern and The Flash.

Warner Bros have been kind enough to give us 50 beta keys to giveaway to our readers, so if you want one it’s simple:

Click here or click on the Contact Us link at the top of any page and tell us you want a beta key.

The first 50 responses get the keys. So what are you waiting for?

Delving into the secrets of The Bureau: XCOM Declassified Part 2

A few weeks ago I visited the 2K Marin studio in San Francisco to take a look at The Bureau: XCOM Declassified. Whilst I was there I had the opportunity to talk with Morgan Gray who is the Creative Director of The Bureau: XCOM Declassified.

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The year is 1962, JFK is President and the Cold War has the nation gripped by fear – but a far more powerful and insidious enemy than communism is threatening America. Known only to a select few, a top-secret government unit called The Bureau begins investigating and concealing a series of mysterious attacks by an otherworldly enemy. As special agent William Carter, players call the shots, pull the trigger and lead their squad in a gripping third-person tactical shooter set within a high-stakes, covert war to protect humanity. The Bureau has been erasing the truth for decades. The time will come for the truth to be revealed.

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So over to Morgan for part two:

And in case you missed it, I also talked with Jeff Weir who is the Art Director, and you can check out Part 1 and Part 2 here, and I also talked to Erik Caponi who is the Lead Narrative Designer, and you can check out Part 1 and Part 2 here.

For more information, please visit Facebook, or the official web site: http://erasethetruth.com.

Delving into the secrets of The Bureau: XCOM Declassified Part 1

A few weeks ago I visited the 2K Marin studio in San Francisco to take a look at The Bureau: XCOM Declassified. Whilst I was there I had the opportunity to talk with Morgan Gray who is the Creative Director of The Bureau: XCOM Declassified.

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The year is 1962, JFK is President and the Cold War has the nation gripped by fear – but a far more powerful and insidious enemy than communism is threatening America. Known only to a select few, a top-secret government unit called The Bureau begins investigating and concealing a series of mysterious attacks by an otherworldly enemy. As special agent William Carter, players call the shots, pull the trigger and lead their squad in a gripping third-person tactical shooter set within a high-stakes, covert war to protect humanity. The Bureau has been erasing the truth for decades. The time will come for the truth to be revealed.

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So over to Morgan for part one:

And in case you missed it, I also talked with Jeff Weir who is the Art Director, and you can check out Part 1 and Part 2 here, and I also talked to Erik Caponi who is the Lead Narrative Designer, and you can check out Part 1 and Part 2 here.

For more information, please visit Facebook, or the official web site: http://erasethetruth.com.

Saints Row IV All New Gameplay The Secret Volition Room and the Tiny Pistol

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In a few days Deep Silver and Volition will be releasing Saints Row IV, and we have some exclusive never before seen gameplay footage for you.

While everyone is waiting for Part 8 of our Let’s Play series, here is some gameplay footage showing a secret room I’ve dubbed the Volition Room along with a special weapon called the Tiny Pistol.

And did you see we got to play with the real Dubstep Gun:

Stay tuned for more shortly.

And did you see our Saints Row IV review?

So what do you think of Saints Row IV? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below. I can’t wait to play more!

Last chance to Win a NOW TV box powered by Sky

We recently reviewed the NOW TV box powered by Sky, and now it’s your chance to win one as we have two to give away, but you have to hurry as today is your last chance to enter.

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Available now from nowtv.com, the compact and easy-to-use box connects your TV wirelessly to the internet.  Once connected, homes with the NOW TV box will enjoy convenient and contract-free access to BBC iPlayer,  Demand 5, BBC News App and Sky News, plus NOW TV – offering instant access to Sky Sports and Sky Movies. They can also access other popular online services such as Facebook and Spotify – all delivered over broadband to the big screen TV.

The NOW TV Box will let people access:

  • Sky Sports: Experience the best sporting action from Sky Sports with the Sky Sports Day Pass. In the next month alone, sports fans can enjoy the climax of The Ashes series, the return of the Premier League and Football League, Formula 1® Belgium Grand Prix™, the start of Andy Murray’s defence of the US Open title and much more, across 6 channels all for just £9.99 a day.
  • Sky Movies: Sign up for a Sky Movies Pass to access hundreds of films from Sky Movies – the UK’s most popular subscription service – including more of the latest and biggest movies 12 months before Netflix or LOVEFiLM Instant. New customers can also take advantage of a 30 day free trial of the Sky Movies Pass and enjoy the likes of Skyfall, The Dark Knight Rises and Argo in the next month.
  • Sky News: Stay up-to-date with all the latest breaking news from Sky News. Access a 24/7 live feed of Sky News’ award-winning coverage including all breaking news from home and abroad, as well as dedicated business, political and entertainment coverage.  In addition, catch up on specific stories at any time of the day via an exclusive on demand news library.
  • BBC iPlayer: The BBC’s popular video on-demand service which received 2.32bn programme requests in 2012 gives you the option to catch up on your favourite BBC programmes when you want to – and now on your TV set through the NOW TV Box.
  • BBC News app: Giving viewers access to BBC news reports, interviews and videos at the touch of a button on their TV.
  • Demand 5: Catch-up on a wide selection of Channel 5 shows for at least 7 days after they first broadcast.
  • Spotify, Facebook and flickr: Listen to music, catch up with friends and even share your photos all through your TV set.

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What you have to do to win

So we have three copies to give away of this rare special edition for the PlayStation 3, and you have to do a few things in order to be entered, but I think you will agree it’s worth it!

1 – Check out the review of the NOW TV box

2 – Click here or click on the Contact Us link at the top of any page and confirm tell us what we scored it

3 – If you follow us and retweet this contest on Twitter using #NOWTVBox as well as as liking us on Facebook you will get an extra chance to win for each entry

Usual contest rules apply, and the two winners will be selected at random and will each get a NOW TV box sent to them (please note this doesn’t include a subscription to NOW TV). You can enter as many times as you like, but only one entry per day will be accepted. This contest is open to anyone in the UK, so sorry to anyone outside of the UK!

The contest closes Sunday 18th August, so good luck.

Good luck and thanks to our friends at NOW TV.

WWE 2K14 roster announced

The full roster for 2K’s forthcoming WWE 2K14 has been announced.

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This video, published by GamesHQMedia shows them all off:

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

I recently got to play WWE 2K14, so stay tuned for my preview soon.

Dead Rising 2 and Dead Rising 2: Case Zero are the Xbox Live Gold free games this month

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Microsoft are giving away free games each month to Xbox Live Gold members and this next set of free games come in the form of Dead Rising 2 and Dead Rising 2: Case Zero.

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So Xbox Live Gold Members get Dead Rising 2 and Dead Rising 2: Case Zero for free right now – you have until the end of August to get them!

Unleash the Dying Light First-Ever Gameplay Video

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Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Techland today released the first-ever gameplay video for the upcoming action survival title, Dying Light.

In the 11-minute video, players get a look at “daytime” in the vast and dangerous world of Dying Light. During the day, players traverse an expansive urban environment that has been overrun by a vicious outbreak, and must scavenge the world for supplies and craft weapons in order to defend themselves from the growing infected population.  If players find themselves overwhelmed by infected, they’ll have to choose between fight or flight. Thankfully they’ll be able to run seamlessly around the world—from the rooftops to the ground, and everywhere in between—with the game’s free-running movement.

Every choice in Dying Light has different consequences…what will you do?

Dying Light is a first-person, action survival horror game by Techland set in a vast and dangerous open world. During the day, players traverse an expansive urban environment overrun by a vicious outbreak, scavenging the world for supplies and crafting weapons to defend against the growing infected population. At night, the hunter becomes the hunted, as the infected become aggressive and more dangerous. Most frightening are the predators, which only appear after sundown.  Players must use everything in their power to survive until the morning’s first light. Dying Light will launch for Xbox One, PS4, Xbox 360, PS3 and PC in 2014.

 

Thief Returns from the Dark Shadows February 2014

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Square Enix and Eidos-Montréal,  today announced that THIEF will be released for Windows PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One on 25th February 2014 in North America and 28th February 2014 in Europe and PAL territories.

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“This city will not die with the old and the poor holding it back.
The time has come for a new future”
-Baron Northcrest

“No more will our homes be taken and our families starved.
This City belongs to the people. We must seize it back.”
-Orion

Garrett the Master Thief is entangled in the growing layers of conflict between Baron Northcrest and the oppressed masses led by Orion, the voice of the people. In a City on the brink of revolution, Garrett’s skills are all he can trust as he walks the fine line between politics and the people.

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Thief – “Uprising” (Gamescom 2013 Trailer)

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Thief will be shown at Next Week gamescom visit the Square Enix booth (B21/C20) in hall 9.

Goodison Park Makes its Gaming Debut

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Goodison Park will make its gaming debut in FIFA 14, after Everton penned a new two-year deal to secure EA SPORTS as the Club’s official gaming partner until the end of the 2014/15 season.

The announcement follows on from a successful partnership with the sports entertainment brand over the past two years, and the inclusion of Everton’s iconic stadium in the latest version of FIFA 14 is a prominent feature of the deal.

EA SPORTS committed to featuring Goodison in its most lifelike format in the popular football video game and paid a visit earlier this year to capture the all-important details of one of the oldest football grounds in the world.

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Dan Holman, Head of UK Product Marketing, EA SPORTS said: “We’re delighted to extend our partnership with Everton and especially to be adding Goodison Park to the stadium roster in FIFA 14. This will ensure fans will get a completely authentic experience. We look forward to working closely with the club over the next two years.”

Everton’ s Commercial Director Dave Biggar said: “We’re delighted that EA SPORTS are once again joining our portfolio of official partners – and even more so that Goodison will make its debut in FIFA 14. The game is hugely popular so we have no doubt that Evertonians will be looking forward to playing inside the stadium, even if it is in a virtual sense!”

Not only will Evertonians be able to enjoy playing in the home of the Blues in their virtual world, their favourite stars will be more realistic than ever in the new game.

Everton’s first team line-up underwent a 360-degree 3D digital head scan at the Club’s training ground so that EA SPORTS could make their virtual counterparts as lifelike as possible.

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And supporters will be able to try out the brand-new Everton features at Goodison Park during the 2013/14 campaign when the popular EA SPORTS Dugout makes a return.

The special unit, which features two large dugout-style seats and contains Xbox 360 game consoles, and iPads, proved popular with Evertonians last season and will be back at Goodison Park for selected fixtures throughout the 2013/14 campaign – starting with the home game against Newcastle United on Monday 30 September.

Members of the first team will also be able to try out the game when the dugout pays a visit to Finch Farm to host this season’s Pro-Player Tournament. Last season Shane Duffy emerged as the FIFA 13 champion after a hotly-contested tournament with Seamus Coleman, Darron Gibson and Victor Anichebe.

As part of the partnership, a special Everton FIFA 14 cover  will be available for supporters to download for free when the game is launched on Friday 27 September. A very limited-edition game with a wrapped Everton sleeve will be also be available to buy in store at Everton One or Everton Two and online at evertondirect.com.

Start the Rugby Union season with Rugby Challenge 2: The Lions Tour Edition

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British & Irish Lions tour of Australia ended in glorious victory over the Qantas Wallabies. For Rugby fans across the UK, there’s never been a better time to relive the magic of that brilliant series in the Southern Hemisphere.

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Plus Rugby Challenge 2 doesn’t just end there, it offers a huge suite of club activities to play alongside the new Rugby Union season, including:- Aviva Premiership Rugby, RaboDirect PRO12, TOP 14, Pro D2, The ITM Cup and the Ranfury Shield.
“I am certain that fans of the Aviva Premiership and The RaboDirect Pro12, will get an even extra buzz from the coming new season, being able to play Rugby Challenge 2 with their fellow Rugby fans,” said Alternative Software’s Managing Director Roger Hulley.

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With more licenses than any other rugby game in history, from players through to teams and tournaments, Rugby Challenge 2: The Lions Tour Edition offers more content, more authenticity and gets closer to the action more than ever before, with many new features, including:-

  • Play in Single Match Mode, multi-team Competition Mode, a  superb vastly expanded multi-year Career Mode, Tutorial Mode, or compete in online multiplayer with support up to 4v4 via PlayStation Network, Xbox LIVE, or Steam
  • Refined and expanded gameplay with the addition of quick taps, quick lineouts, mauls from lineouts, interceptions, contesting ball at the breakdown, removing players from the ruck, number 8 scrum pickups, and dynamic in game team strategies on both attack and defence
  • 110+ teams and 50+ stadia from around the world are featured, including official team competitions, Aviva Premiership Rugby, RaboDirect PRO12, TOP 14 , Pro D2, Super Rugby teams, the All Blacks, the Qantas Wallabies, the USA Eagles, Bledisloe Cup, Barbarians FC, Combined Country, ITM Cup, and Ranfurly Shield  Plus of course, the competition and special match licenses for the victorious British and Irish Lions Tour of Australia
  • More options to create or customise players, teams, and competitions, and change game rules and behaviour to shape the game to play how you want and keep the game fresh year after year
  • Revamped sound and commentary systems, with real-time commentary from seasoned rugby commentators Grant Nisbett and former All Black turned commentator Justin Marshall, and French language commentary from Eric Bayle and Thomas Lombard.

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Developed by New Zealand based games developer Sidhe, and published by Tru Blu Entertainment, the sequel to Jonah Lomu’s Rugby Challenge it is the only videogame licensed by the British & Irish Lions 2013 Tour of Australia. Rugby Challenge 2: The Lions Tour Edition is sure to have all Rugby Union fans eagerly anticipating the start of the new Rugby season, more so than ever before.

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Rugby Challenge 2: The Lions Tour Edition is available worldwide for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, with PC to follow later in 2013