Is EA Going to Reveal Battlefield 4 at GDC This Month

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EA is rumoured to unveil Battlefield 4 at the Game Developer’s Conference this month. IGN claims to have received an invite to the event bearing a similar colour scheme to Battlefield 3’s box artwork, sparking rumours that the studio is planning to showcase the sequel.

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It would not be the first time the studio has unveiled a military shooter at GDC, with Medal of Honour: Warfighter and new Battlefield 3 content appearing at previous editions of the show. Battlefield 4 was previously announced for next-generation consoles, but it is unclear whether EA intends to launch the game in 2014 or during the current fiscal year.

An update on the SimCity problems and a free game for your troubles

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As you may know SimCity launched this week and has had a few problems with server capacity and players not having a very good experience. EA has been in touch with CDW this morning to give us an update.

This is what they told us:

Here’s a quick update on the problems we were experiencing with SimCity – and a little something extra for people who bought the game.

The server issues which began at launch have improved significantly as we added more capacity. But some people are still experiencing response and stability problems that we’re working fast to address.

So what went wrong? The short answer is: a lot more people logged on than we expected. More people played and played in ways we never saw in the beta.

OK, we agree, that was dumb, but we are committed to fixing it. In the last 48 hours we increased server capacity by 120 percent. It’s working – the number of people who have gotten in and built cities has improved dramatically. The number of disrupted experiences has dropped by roughly 80 percent.

So we’re close to fixed, but not quite there. I’m hoping to post another update this weekend to let everyone know that the launch issues are behind us.

The good news is that SimCity is a solid hit in all major markets. The consensus among critics and players is that this is fundamentally a great game. But this SimCity is made to be played online, and if you can’t get a stable connection, you’re NOT having a good experience. So we’re not going to rest until we’ve fixed the remaining server issues.

And to get us back in your good graces, we’re going to offer you a free PC download game from the EA portfolio. On March 18, SimCity players who have activated their game will receive an email telling them how to redeem their free game.

I know that’s a little contrived – kind of like buying a present for a friend after you did something crummy. But we feel bad about what happened. We’re hoping you won’t stay mad and that we’ll be friends again when SimCity is running at 100 percent.

SimCity is a GREAT game and the people who made it are incredibly proud. Hang in there – we’ll be providing more updates throughout the weekend.

Have you got SimCity? What has your experience been like? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

App Update: Adobe Reader for iOS updated to version 10.5.0

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Adobe have today released an update to their Adobe Reader app for iOS.

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Adobe Reader is the free global standard for reliably viewing and sharing PDF documents across platforms and devices. Easily and efficiently access the widest range of PDF file types—including PDF Portfolios, password-protected PDF documents and Adobe LiveCycle rights-managed PDF files. Now available for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch, Adobe Reader offers fast, high-quality interaction with PDF.

View PDF files
• Quickly open PDF files from email , the Web or any application that supports “Open In…”
• View PDF Portfolios, PDF Packages, annotations and drawing markups
• Read text annotations such as Sticky Notes

Access encrypted PDF files
• Open and view password-protected PDF files
• Access files secured by Adobe LiveCycle Rights Management, which helps protect sensitive documents
• Supports the highest grade of PDF encryption, up to AES256

Interact with PDF files
• Search text to find specific information
• Use bookmarks to jump directly to a section in your PDF file
• Select single page or continuous scroll modes
• Easily zoom in on text or images for a closer view
• Quickly navigate through large files using thumbnails
• Select and copy text from a PDF file to the clipboard

Print and share files
• Print wirelessly with AirPrint
• Share PDF files with other applications using “Open In…”
• Email PDF documents as attachments

Available languages
English, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Swedish, Russian, Czech, Polish and Turkish

What’s New in Version 10.5.0

• VoiceOver integration for Accessibility
• Sync last position via Acrobat.com
• Go To Page
• Smart Zoom
• Night Mode
• Screen Brightness Lock
• Undo in Freehand Annotation tool
• Performance improvements on newer devices.
• FormsCentral PDF Validation
• Various Bug fixes and improvements in Form handling

Download from the Apple App Store

SimCity Returns This Week After 10 Years, Has Online Headaches

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The venerable SimCity franchise returned this week after a 10 year hiatus, a return that was marred with online server/support issues.  Read on for details.

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EA released an updated SimCity game this week, after a break of 10 years.  Here is the press release announcing the game:

Maxis Announces the Reimagining of the City-Building Simulation That Launched a Genre

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., March 6, 2012 – The franchise that laid the foundations of the city building simulation genre is back, empowering players to create the world of their imagination! Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA) today announced that SimCity™ is breaking new ground in 2013. SimCity for PC, a brand new entry in the franchise is currently in development at Maxis Emeryville, and was revealed today during Game Changers @ GDC, a symposium that featured inspirational speeches from Academy Award-winning director Davis Guggenheim, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, and charity: water CEO and founder Scott Harrison

“We’d like to thank the millions of fans who have helped make SimCity synonymous with the city-building genre. This is a franchise that means the world to us at Maxis and we’re happy to be bringing it back home where we are reimagining it for an entirely new generation of players,” said Lucy Bradshaw, Senior Vice President of EA’s Maxis Label. “Using our proprietary GlassBox Engine, SimCity for PC will equip players with the tools to play the most sophisticated simulation of its kind. We are dedicated to making sure the experience – no matter the platform – has the fun, flavor and playability that has been intrinsic to the franchise since its birth.”
SimCity, slated for release in calendar year 2013 for PC, is a true rebirth of the franchise that brings the depth of simulation that has been the series hallmark for more than two decades and marries it with next generation accessibility and a robust multiplayer mode, giving players the power to change a world together. Fans can catch their first glimpse of the rebirth of SimCity by viewing the extended trailer at www.SimCity.com and can pre-order SimCity today on Origin™ to receive SimCity Heroes &Villains content* featuring a battle between Maxis Man and his longtime nemesis Evil Dr. Vu.

For more than two decades, the king of city-building simulators has sworn in millions of virtual mayors from around the world. With its return in 2013, SimCity will engage an entirely new generation of PC gamers as they take charge of their own customized cities and build a world that co-exists alongside friends. For the first time in SimCity franchise history, players’ decisions will have long-lasting repercussions that will extend beyond their city limits. Together, players will address real global challenges such as climate change, the search for renewable resources and natural disasters. It’s up to the players to decide whether to compete or collaborate to shape the world of tomorrow – for better or for worse.

Powered by the GlassBox Engine, Maxis’ proprietary engine, the simulation comes to life in a way never before possible. Everything you see in the world we sim – Sims in each city will have jobs or can lose them, buy homes, be prosperous or be an economic drain on the city. SimCity is the city builder in which every choice powers real change that affects the character of your city, the state of your region and fellow players within the entire SimCity world. Original fans and newcomers alike will relish the opportunity to build visually and functionally unique cities that take on the character of their choices. Combining fun, addictive gameplay elements with an interface that encourages anyone to jump in and begin playing, SimCity will usher forth a new era of city-building simulation as players work to change a world together.

With its first release in 1989, SimCity is the premier city-building franchise that has captivated more than 30 million players worldwide. Since then, several award-winning entries such as SimCity 2000™, SimCity 3000™ and SimCity 4 have been produced by the critically acclaimed Maxis studio. Players step into the role of a mayor as they break ground on the foundations of the next big city. The franchise gives players the means to create highly detailed recreations that are populated with real-world issues and real-world problems. With a powerful toolset at their fingertips, players have the ability to create uniquely specialized cities, everything from a bustling financial haven to an oil-guzzling industrial complex; SimCity compels players to create the world of their imagination.

SimCity for PC is in development at the world-renowned Maxis studio in Emeryville, California and has not yet been rated by the ESRB. To stay up-to-date on the latest regarding SimCity please visit www.SimCity.com.To pre-order and secure the SimCity Heroes & Villains Pack please visit http://store.origin.com/SimCity. Press assets for SimCity are available at www.info.ea.com.

*Conditions and restrictions apply. See http://store.origin.com/SimCity for details.

Is Assassins Creed Rising Phoenix The Series We All Been Asking For?

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Assassin’s Creed: Rising Phoenix has seemingly been ousted courtesy of a leaked screenshot today.

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All Games Beta revealed the mystery screenshot, which depicts a logo against the backdrop of what appears to be a facility, and bears the branding of Ubisoft Digital Arts.

Ubisoft Digital Arts is the French company’s film studio, which prompts rumours that Assassin’s Creed: Rising Phoenix is the name of the movie based on the series that Michael Fassbender is attached to.

However, a new PlayStation Vita entry in the series, similar to Assassin’s Creed 3: Liberation, is also in the works.

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag was announced by Ubisoft earlier this week, confirmed for release on Wii U, Xbox 360, PS3, PC and PS4 on 1st November in Europe and 29th October in North America.

Tomb Raider Let’s Play walkthrough video Part Three

Tomb Raider was finally released yesterday, and we can now bring you part three of our Tomb Raider walkthrough video series.

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WARNING: There are spoilers in the video, so watch it with care!

These Let’s Play videos are in full 1080p HD (so make sure you choose that option when playing back for the best quality).

So here is part three:

So have you bought Tomb Raider? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Other Tomb Raider articles you should check out:

Watch the Tomb Raider opening two minute cinematic Check out our interview with lead writer Rhianna Pratchett Check out our interview with art director Brian Horton Check out our preview of the first 3 hours of Tomb Raider single player Check out our preview of Tomb Raider multiplayer Check out our Exclusive interview with Darrell Gallagher from Cyrstal Dynamics Check out our Exclusive interview with Meagan Marie from Crystal Dynamics

Team NINJA announces upcoming demo for DEAD OR ALIVE 5 PLUS on the PS Vita

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Team NINJA today unveiled new details about its upcoming DEAD OR ALIVE 5 PLUS for PlayStation Vita, including the exciting news that a comprehensive demo will be available shortly after the game launches on March 22nd.

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With its extensive range of features for up close and personal Touch Fights, training features, and stellar graphics, DEAD OR ALIVE 5 PLUS is looking to set the new benchmark for handheld combat.

The DEAD OR ALIVE 5 PLUS demo is packed with features including Cross-Play battles with current DOA5 PlayStation 3 players, the ability to transfer progress from the demo to the full game, and a whopping eight stages of combat action. Players can experience new single-player modes such as Touch Fight while fighting as Kasumi, Hayabusa, Eliot, or Tina against any computer opponents to sample the rich variety of characters and fighting styles. Just as in the full game, costumes unlocked during the normal course of gameplay can also be unlocked in the demo. Additionally, save data from the demo can be transferred to the full game so players can continue fighting right where they left off. Available stages in the demo include Scramble, The Show, The Tiger Show, Coming Soon, Zack Island, Dead or Alive, Arrival, and Dojo. Each stage features its own unique blend of fun and challenging interactive elements for players to discover. Specific information regarding the timing of the demo will be made available soon.

Other nuggets of information confirmed today include the following:

§ The unprecedented amount of move detail available in DEAD OR ALIVE 5 PLUS will allow players to break down the results of each attack in real time. Move details show the damage output, effects, and other info to give an instant, detailed analysis of each move to allow players to increase their skills.

§ In DEAD OR ALIVE 5 PLUS players will for the first time be able to set background music for each character to set the proper tone for each fight. All characters, including new DOA5 characters Rig and Mila, have their own selectable theme music.

§ Players can replay scenes from Story mode at any time in the game’s movie theater to revisit their favourite moments or watch the story play out all at once after it is unlocked.

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§ The first-person perspective Touch Fights can be played with downloadable costumes. The close-up view and variety of character reactions available in this mode make it the ideal way to check out favourite costumes.

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§ New Tutorial and Combo Challenge modes provide the ideal opportunity to hone the combat skills necessary to come out on top in any situation. This makes DEAD OR ALIVE 5 PLUS not only the ideal game for serious fighters but for novice players as well.

Published by TECMO KOEI, DEAD OR ALIVE 5 PLUS brings the signature DOA fighting style to PS Vita with all-new system-specific features complementing the stunning graphics and new martial arts techniques of the recent console release. Players will take on the roles of the cast of DOA fighters in an action-packed brawler set in visually striking international locales, with each stage featuring interactive backdrops. With a sensual yet realistic style, characters are rendered in incredibly lifelike detail.

Angry Birds Trilogy DLC Fowl Tempered Pack info and screenshots

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The birds are back in town! Activision Publishing, Inc. today is happy to announce the second suite of DLC for Angry Birds Trilogy, the Fowl Tempered Pack, available for download now on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace and the PlayStation Network.

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Drawing from fan-favourite episodes like Back to School, Bad Piggies, and Haunted Hogs, the Fowl Tempered Pack adds 135 new levels to the hundreds already included in Angry Birds Trilogy.

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The new DLC also introduces a new feathered friend to the mix: Stella, the Pink Bird! This adorable addition to the flock hides a cunning skill. When activated, she traps surrounding objects or enemies in a giant bubble, floating them gently toward the sky before crashing them back down to earth in a rain of destruction.

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Angry Birds Trilogy brings together the bestselling classics – Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons, and Angry Birds Rio – into one great collection. Featuring high-definition graphics, beautiful animations, competitive leaderboards, and Kinect for Xbox 360 and PlayStation Move support, it delivers (now even more) hours upon hours of gameplay for gamers of all ages.

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The Fowl Tempered Pack is out now on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace and PlayStation Network. To download on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace, visit http://goo.gl/ukf3M. For PlayStation Network, visit http://goo.gl/Csdf7.

Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 launch trailer released

To celebrate next week’s worldwide release, CI Games, a fast-growing international publisher and developer of interactive entertainment, has released the official launch trailer for their upcoming modern military sniper experience game, Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2.

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The new trailer gives viewers a closer look at what to expect from the game including some of the various mission types and real world locations, and the numerous ways players will be able to take down enemy targets using tactical sniper mechanics.

Here is the launch trailer:

Sniper :Ghost Warrior 2 is the only multi-platform FPS modern shooter exclusively designed around the sniper experience and built using the most advanced game engine in CryENGINE3. It takes all the breathless anticipation, precise controls and skilful fun of sniping and mixes it with stealth and silent elimination play.

Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 is set for release on March 15th in UK on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

We recently had the opportunity recently to interview Michael Sroczynski, who is a producer from City Interactive working on Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2. Here is the interview:

What do you think of the game? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Learn more from the Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 website

Forza Horizon March Meguiar’s Car Pack available on Xbox LIVE now

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Microsoft, Playground Games, and Turn 10 Studios have revealed the March Meguiar’s Car Pack for Forza Horizon.

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This pack includes 6 new cars: 2013 Audi RS 4 Avant; 2013 BMW M135i; 2012 Mercedes-Benz G65 AMG; 2003 Ferrari Challenge Stradale; 2004 Peugeot 206 RC; 1998 Nissan R390.

Check out our Exclusive Forza Horizons interviews

The March Meguiar’s Car Pack is available for 400 MS Points or, for those who own the Forza Horizon Season Pass, the pack will be available for free. In addition, Season Pass holders receive the exclusive 2010 Joss JT1.

Naruto Powerful Shippuden out now on the Nintendo 3DS

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Namco Bandai have now released Naruto Powerful Shippuden on the Nintendo 3DS.

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NARUTO Powerful Shippuden is based off the popular anime series NARUTO SPIN-OFF: ROCK LEE & HIS NINJA PALS and presents a side-scrolling action fighting game starring Rock Lee and Naruto Uzumaki in two separate adventures. Developed by Inti Creates with production support from CyberConnect 2 Co., Ltd., NARUTO Powerful Shippuden possesses a charmingly unique presentation of the characters that pumps boundless amounts of youthful energy into the ninja combat that is sure to captivate audiences of all ages.

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Story mode places players into missions through which they can experience scenarios taken straight from the original animation storylines as well as comedic parodies. Like the TV anime series, each mission is one complete story and doesn’t follow a specific order so that casual and young gamers will be able to enjoy pick-up-and-play gameplay that is intuitive and stylish.

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However, don’t be fooled by the adorable appearances of the super-deformed ninjas! Enemies such as Orochimaru and other sinister characters standing in your way will be quick, wily and powerful, which will require players to pull out all the ninja stops. Players will need to make efficient use of their Chakra to attack and defend without depleting their Chakra levels and also utilize the touch-screen functionality to increase their strength. Lee and Naruto’s ninja pals, such as Guy, Sakura, Neji and more will also be itching to join the action as summoned support characters to aid in the heat of battle.

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Are you going to buy it? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja STORM 3 out now

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Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja STORM 3 from NAMCO BANDAI is now available.

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In NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 3 boss battles are back and more epic than ever. This free demo will enable the players to confront an enraged Nine-Tails in the middle of the Leaf village as a prelude of the long awaited Great Ninja War.

Here is the trailer in case you missed it before:

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 3 features the most extensive character roster of any game so far in the series, letting fans engage with a huge number of their favourite personalities from the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN universe, be they friend or foe.  In story mode, players will be thrown into a series of thrilling adventures as they delve into the Fourth Great Ninja War.  For the first time in Ultimate Ninja STORM history, players will be able to relive the most exciting series of the NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime as it airs in Japan and streams online.  Experience new one-versus-many action stages to test players’ ninja skills, while electrifying fights will be punctuated with cinematic boss battles ranging from nefarious villains to massive beasts.  Players will also be able to battle against the world through extensive multiplayer modes.  Compete in user created tournaments, set up friendly player matches and check out the competition with player cards to view win/loss records and fighting styles.

Are you going to buy it? Let us know by leaving a comment below. And watch out for our review shortly.

Assassin’s Creed characters coming to Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition

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Altair, Connor and Ezio are coming to Minecraft: Xbox 360 Edition as part of Skin Pack 4!

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Want more details? Keep an eye on PlayXBLA.com

Get a TV episode each week with A night in with Xbox

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Exclusive to Xbox Gold customers, ‘A Night In With Xbox’ will be giving away a different TV episode each week until the 29th March.

Register on the site and you’ll receive a code directly in your console inbox every Friday – http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-gb/Product/A-night-in-with-Xbox/f346fdd0-75d4-478c-8790-184a4713cebd

Just to note – registration can sometimes take up to 7 days to complete. And if you register via xbox.com, you must log into your account on your console to complete the registration.

Let us know if you sign up by leaving a comment below.