Xbox One April update adds friends notifications and more

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Mar 18, 2014

Microsoft today has shared the next wave of features that we will begin to roll out, on your Xbox One. These features will become available to members getting the early previews in the coming days and weeks and will be available to the full Xbox Live community in April.

Game and app saves and updates. A game save progress bar will show you the status of your game saves. You will also be able to easily tell what games and apps are being updated or have been updated recently.
Friends improvements. Notifications will be added to see when favorites and friends sign in to Xbox Live. This actually was one of the most frequently requested features from the first preview wave and we made it a priority to include it in the April update. Also, friends who are in multiplayer will be identified in the friends list. We’ll also add the ability to view friends’ most popular apps.
Kinect voice and motion improvements will continue to fine tune the quality and reliability of Xbox One commands.
Improved GameDVR video quality through compression algorithm improvements.

We’re also extending more invitations to Xbox Live members around the world in our current 13 Xbox One markets. New invitees will be sent an Xbox Live message to register. Once registered, you will be able to test the early features included in the update and provide feedback on a private forum.

The external hard drive storage feature is still no in this update, is still a big one and Microsoft have promised it on the to do list.

Deux Ex: The Fall, falls on the PC

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Mar 18, 2014

0

Square Enix has announced that the action-RPG, DEUS EX: THE FALL is now available on PC, and can be purchased via Steam for £7.99/€9.99/$9.99. Originally released as the much acclaimed mobile version, the PC version boasts 28 Steam achievements, Steam Trading cards, adjusted AI, full keyboard and mouse functionality, and Microsoft controller support plus other optimsations.

PC gamers can now delve into the action a week earlier than scheduled and now take on the role of Ben Saxon. Available for a limited time only, gamers who purchase DEUS EX: THE FALL today, will receive DEUS EX GAME OF THE YEAR EDITION worth £4.99/€6.99/$6.99 for free.

First released in 2000, the year is 2052 and the world is a dangerous and chaotic place, terrorists, collapsing world economies, and a gap in wealth see’s players fight to prevent the rise of age old conspiracy’s emerging from the shadows and to take control.

To buy DEUS EX: THE FALL on Steam , please click onto the following link

DEUS EX: THE FALL is set in 2027, a golden era for science, technology and human augmentation, but also a time of great social divide and global conspiracy. Powerful corporations have seized control from governments and command the drug supply needed by augmented humans to survive. In this chaos Ben Saxon, a former British SAS Mercenary who underwent physical augmentation, is desperate for the truth behind the drug conspiracy. Betrayed by his private military employers, the Tyrants, not only is his own life at risk but for all augmented humans, time is running out…

Kinect Sports Rivals : An Interview with Danny Issac of Rare

Andrew Edney

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Mar 18, 2014

2

Next month sees Microsoft releasing Kinect Sports Rivals on the Xbox One, and I recently had the chance to visit to Rare.

Kinect Sports Rivals is the next generation of the best-selling Kinect franchise, Kinect Sports, that brings your favourite sports back in re-imagined ways, and delivers new sports and events made possible only with Xbox One’s revolutionary technology. Kinect Sports Rivals puts you in the game like never before, tracks your movements and expressions with incredible accuracy, and offers never-ending competition with your friends and rivals.

The all-new Kinect instantly scans and creates a stylized digital version of you, your Champion, then drops your virtual athlete into the ever-evolving world of Kinect Sports Rivals. Compete in a world full of competitors on one of three global teams, each with its own philosophy and playing style. As you enter into competitions with players from around the world, Xbox One uses the power of the Cloud to create an always-evolving experience that responds to how you, the champion of the game, play.

Kinect Sports Rivals contains 6 game experiences : bowling, shooting, climbing, soccer, wake racing and tennis. You can play against the computer, your friends, or even split-screen.

Danny Issac is the Executive Producer for Kinect Sports Rivals, and I sat down with him to talk all things KSR, including who they managed to get to do the voice-over for several large portions of the game. Over to Danny:

Kinect Sports Rivals will be released on the Xbox One on April 11th.

What’s your favourite sport in the game? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

Marc Whitten Steps down as Chief product officer at Xbox

Chris Hare

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Mar 18, 2014

0

Marc Whitten Steps down as Chief product officer at Xbox

Its been announced that Marc Whitten, chief product officer of Xbox, is leaving Microsoft to become the chief product officer of Sonos. With Marc Whitten joined the Xbox team in 2000 and then helped to launch the Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

“I have had the extreme pleasure over the last 14 years to work on the greatest product with the greatest team and for the greatest community,” Whitten said in the announcement. “Xbox is so special because of the amazing team I’ve had the opportunity to work with and because our fans are the most incredible fans on the planet. It has been the highlight of my career to work on a product so loved. It’s incredibly tough to leave but I am confident the best days are ahead for Xbox fans, in the capable hands of a very talented team.”

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Phantoms Coming 10th April

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Mar 17, 2014

0

Ubisoft has announced that Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online will move out of open beta and be released worldwide on Steam and PC on 10th April with the new title, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Phantoms, so it will come out of open beta next month with a “fresh identity”.

“The end of open beta is a new start to the game. The difference between where the game started and the game today is so considerable that we felt we should mark it with a fresh identity,” said Corey Facteau, producer of Ghost Recon Phantoms. “Feedback from our five million players throughout beta enabled us to continuously increase the content of the game and to improve what makes the game unique, the blending of intense shooters with the teamwork and tactical depth of MOBAs. Ghost Recon Phantoms brings a narrative layer to the game based around The Phantoms, ex-Ghosts and current adversaries who left The Ghosts to pursue personal agendas. We’ve also added new gameplay elements to expand the depth of the game and give new experiences to seasoned veterans. Of course, no accounts will be wiped, and our current players will not have to start over.”

Updated Characters and Maps

The game’s new identity comes with a new art direction, including new character and device design for all three classes as well as a complete reworking of lighting and level design on the majority of maps. Referencing military system prototypes, the art team created realistic new gear for players which delivers an experience representative of tomorrow’s battlefields.

Major Changes in Matchmaking and Customization

With the launch of the game, the Development team is also going to address the main concerns of the players. The matchmaking will now take into account both the skills and gear, which will create a fair gaming experience to all users, both new and veterans, paying or not. The team is also going to reveal the new “Mod Master” and weapon camo systems, which will allow countless customization possibilities.

Upcoming Features Built With the Community

Post-launch the team will continue to develop new features and weapons to keep the gameplay dynamic. Currently the team is fine-tuning tactical insertions and smoke grenades, which are being tested in large scale playtests by the community before being released in-game in the near future.

Play Now, Play Free at www.GhostReconOnline.com.

Watch the Opening Movie for TitanFall made by Studio Spov

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Mar 17, 2014

0

Watch the London-based Design and Direction studio Spov did the opening movie for TitanFall on the Xbox One.

With Spov worked closely with Titanfall developer, Respawn Entertainment and publisher EA to develop a cinematic sequence introducing the narrative setting to players when they first load the game.

http://vimeo.com/88860112

This cinematic sequence details humankind’s escape to the stars, using archive footage of space travel, before utilising Spov’s CG and animation skills to visualise Titanfall’s game world – one where ships and people have travelled to the farthest reaches of the universe.

The opening movie was influenced by footage from NASA’s Cassini mission to Saturn, the sequence blends the stark and minimal realism of space with the preparation of the massive Titan mechs for their planet fall.

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster “An Epic Tale” trailer

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Mar 17, 2014

0

Square Enix has shown of the Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster “An Epic Tale” trailer, get ready to be thrown back into the magical world of Spira, and join Tidus, Yuna and co in two of the most celebrated adventures of their generation now in beautiful high definition.

Featuring over 200 hours of gameplay – including content never before released outside of Japan – fully remastered HD visuals, and rearranged music.

FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster releases in Europe and PAL territories on March 21, 2014 for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita

Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare: Garden Variety DLC

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Mar 17, 2014

0

Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare brings even more bizarre fun with the new 8v8 “Gnome Bomb” gameplay mode, the option to customize your load out with 24 new ability upgrades and all new map, Chomp Town in the downloadable content Garden Variety Pack (DLC) available for free starting Tomorrow (18th March) on Xbox One and Xbox 360.

The Garden Variety Pack features 24 new ability upgrades, three for each class including Sunflower’s Solar Flare Beam, Chomper’s Super Goop which cements zombies in place and the All-Star Zombie’s Ultra Tackle.

These upgrades give players even more load out options for battle in the fun-dead field. The Garden Variety Pack also introduces the explosive Gnome Bomb mode that challenges plants and zombies to work together to destroy each other’s reinforced garden or graveyard.

Players can explore a new funtastic map, and encounter a band of fresh Pirate Zombies, such as the Map Pirate Zombie who shields himself with a treasure map, in Sharkbite Shores and Port Scallywag.

Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare is a best-in-class multiplayer shooter experience that combines the fresh humour of the beloved Plants vs. Zombies franchise. Players are able to take on the roles of plants and zombies across a mine-blowing terrain. Powered by the Frostbite 3 engine, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare features a stunning 3D world, blooming with vibrant colours and unique landscapes.

Gauntlet is coming back into your life again ….

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Mar 17, 2014

0

Gauntlet is coming back into your life again ….

Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment has today announced Gauntlet, a completely modernized action RPG version of the celebrated dungeon crawler, will be available this summer via Steam for PC, offering full support for SteamOS and the upcoming Steam Machines shipping sometime in the second half of this year.

The game will lead the launch of WB Games Vault, a direct-to-digital portfolio that will deliver paid games based on popular Warner Bros, and Midway brands, plus original IP, across multiple digital networks.

“With Gauntlet we combined the arcade style of the original game with an entirely new look and feature set that includes emergent, local and online four-player gameplay,” said David Haddad, Senior Vice President, Digital Games, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “Gauntlet will be the first title in the WB Games Vault portfolio, which will provide us with an opportunity to access emerging talent within the game development community and match unique skills and experience with our extensive library of properties.”

Gauntlet, developed by Arrowhead Game Studios, innovates on past titles while staying true to the brand’s legendary format. Players select from four classic fantasy-based characters: Warrior, Wizard, Valkyrie, or Elf. Each character has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. For example, the Warrior does the most damage in melee combat, the Wizard has the most powerful magic, the Valkyrie has the most armour and the Elf moves the fastest. Distinctive play styles, procedural dungeons and an impressive art style keep the gameplay fresh.

“To us at Arrowhead, Gauntlet is one of the most defining games from our childhoods, and it’s amazing to be able to work with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment on a brand new version,” said Johan Pilestedt, CEO of Arrowhead Game Studios. “Gauntlet is one of the original and best known video game properties and we are looking forward to creating a fresh, yet true to the original, take on a multiplayer masterpiece.”

Upon selecting a playable character, the gameplay is set within dungeons where the object is to fight through the chambers slaying evil creatures and completing challenges. An assortment of special items can be located in each dungeon that can restore the player’s health, unlock doors, and shift the odds in the player’s favor with magical relics which can aid the player in surviving longer in the Gauntlet. The enemies are a vast assortment of fantasy-based monsters, including ghosts, grunts, demons, spiders, sorcerers and skeleton warriors.

Here comes a new challenger! for Ultra Street Fighter IV ..its Decapre

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Mar 17, 2014

0

Here comes a new challenger! for Ultra Street Fighter IV ..its Decapre

The long-awaited moment for all Street Fighter fans has finally arrived, as Capcom has unmasked the mysterious fifth and final new Ultra Street Fighter IV.

With her first brief appearance in a Street Fighter game as a non-playable character in Street Fighter Alpha 3, shown as one of M. Bison’s Dolls, Decapre now joins the fight! Although a partial mask hides a giant burn mark located on this Russian beauty’s face, challengers will be scarred by her quick and elusive scramble moves as well as her psycho power infused attacks, which allow her to share her pain with her opponents. Players can get their claws on Decapre and the rest of the all-star lineup in Ultra Street Fighter IV when the game begins releasing in June 2014.

In Ultra Street Fighter IV, Poison, Hugo, Elena, Rolento and Decapre join the fight, complete with new animations and their own unique play styles, bringing the final roster count to a massive 44 characters. Six new battle environments (including Pitstop 109, Cosmic Elevator, Half Pipe and more) provide a thrilling and colourful backdrop to the action. Direct fan feedback was gathered on all of Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition’s original 39 characters and core system mechanics in order to achieve the most balanced Street Fighter ever.

In addition to the action-packed new content and the finely tuned rebalanced gameplay, the new version features a host of new features and modes that are sure to test even the most well travelled world warrior.

Owners of Super Street Fighter IV or Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition will be able to download Ultra Street Fighter IV as a $14.99/€14.99 digital upgrade for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in early June 2014.

The PC digital upgrade for $14.99/€14.99 and the PC full digital bundle for $29.99/€29.99 will both be available in August 2014. Also in August, PS3 and Xbox 360 users can purchase the retail versions of the game for $39.99/€39.99. PS3 users will also be able to download the full version of the game in August for $39.99/€39.99. Players who purchase the retail (PS3, Xbox 360) or full digital bundle (PS3, PC) will receive all previously released costumes for the series (a $40/€40 value)

On the Red Carpet at the BAFTA Games Awards 2014

Andrew Edney

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Mar 16, 2014

0

On the Red Carpet at the BAFTA Games Awards 2014

This year’s BAFTA Games Awards took place in London, and we were on the red carpet to talk to some people.

The awards ceremony took place at the Tobacco Docks in London on Wednesday 12th March 2014.

We were on the red carpet and were lucky enough to catch a few words with some of the nominees, including Troy Baker, who was nominated for Best Performer, TT Games for Marvel Lego Super Heroes, Naughty Dog for The Last of Us, and others.

So over to the red carpet, and yes, my first question for most of them was “what’s it like to be nominated for a BAFTA” – well, what else would it have been?

You can check out the complete list of the winners here.

What were your favourites games of last year? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

The Winners of our 1: Life On The Limit on Blu-Ray Contest

Andrew Edney

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Mar 16, 2014

2

STUDIOCANAL further mines the rich seam of real-life drama to be found in the world of Formula One as it releases mesmerizing documentary 1: Life On The Limit and we had three copies on Blu-Ray to give away – here are the winners.

Narrated by Michael Fassbender, 1: Life On The Limit is an action-packed, cinematic documentary that channels the speed, excitement and abject danger inherent in this most glamorous of sports. The film charts Formula One’s journey from its comparatively humble beginnings in post-war Britain, through to the game-changing events of the 1976 season recently examined in the smash hit Rush, as well as the untimely death of F1 superstar Ayrton Senna. In so doing, 1: Life On The Limit showcases a world where drivers were akin to rock stars and where safety definitely wasn’t always put first.

Utilising rare archive footage and gathering the largest and most comprehensive selection of Formula One interviews ever collected, the film examines a sport that, even in its Golden Age, was stealing lives at a terrifying rate. With comment from Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton, Michael Schumacher, Bernie Ecclestone and Niki Lauda to name but a few, 1: Life On The Limit is not only an irresistible companion piece to the superb Rush but also a riveting, essential documentary in its own right.

Here is a clip:

The Winners

Alison Sherwood

Vicky Smith

Chris Minko

1: Life On The Limit was released digitally on March 7^th, and on Blu-ray and DVD on March 17^th.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, Website, Trailer and more

Gaming
News

Chris Hare

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Mar 14, 2014

0

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, Website, Trailer and more

Square Enix Ltd has today unveiled a new trailer, website and screenshots for Through the Maelstrom, the upcoming Patch 2.2 for FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn available later this month for all players from 27th March.

The latest trailer and images offer players a glimpse into brand-new dungeons like the Lost City of Amdapor and new Hard Mode dungeons, including the lurid Halatali and the Illuminati overrun Brayflox’s Longstop.

High-level players can also get a sneak peek at the Second Binding Coil of Bahamut raid that will be the highest level of difficulty available.

Players are also invited to check out the upcoming 13^th instalment of ‘Letter from the Producer LIVE’ with director / producer Naoki Yoshida, which debuts on 21^st March at 10:30 AM GMT and covers upcoming Patch 2.2 content.

Main scenario writer Kazutoyo Maehiro will also make a guest appearance to speak about the creation of the story and quests. To find out more about Through the Maelstrom please visit the new dedicated website here: Through the Maelstrom

Titanfall Ready…. lands in the UK

Chris Hare

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Mar 14, 2014

0

With thousands of gamers queued late into the night across the UK to celebrate the release of,“Titanfall”. Which is exclusive to Xbox, the game is expected to break Xbox One sales records and be one of the best-selling titles this year.

To celebrate the launch, free runners dressed as Pilot characters from the game performed stunts for London commuters along Millennium Bridge and the South Bank, emulating the abilities of players in the game.

Jonathan Ross at the TitanFall event

On Thursday evening The Boiler House at the Old Truman Brewery was transformed into a scene from the game.

Fans and celebrity attendees including Jonathan Ross, The Voice UK judge Ricky Wilson and Professor Green, played the first truly next generation multiplayer game as parkour free-runners staged a series of breath-taking stunts including wall running across the venue.

Xbox UK Marketing Director, Harvey Eagle said: “Titanfall is the most anticipated game of the year. It’s already won more than 80 awards from critics around the world. Millions of gamers around the world played the Xbox One Titanfall beta and hundreds of thousands have been playing since Tuesday when it launched in the US. Xbox One is the best place to play Titanfall and there has never been a better time to join the new console generation”