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New Quantum Break footage shows destructible environments, time powers
A new bit of footage for Quantum Break has dropped, showing seven minutes of carved up in-game action. The video footage isn't consecutive, so you won't get the first seven minutes of the game or anything like that. It's more of a highlight reel than anything, showing off specific points like impressive motion capture, cinematic fidelity, and time powers.
The footage reveals that Remedy's hotly anticipated shooter will have destructible environments, making firefights much more challenging. Luckily, players are able to manipulate the flow of time, so things tend to balance out. The game's protagonist--Jack Joyce--has a number of different unique abilities up his sleeves, including a freeze frame mode that stops time like the Twilight Zone's magic stopwatch, and Time Dodge, which zaps you out of harms way with a quick teleport.
There's also Time Vision, which highlights baddies like eagle mode in Assassin's Creed. This can be super useful when enemies are hiding behind cover, or when firefights get too hectic in frozen time--yes, you can have shootouts between time itself.Farther along in the game, however, Monarch baddies will use time powers with the aid of special suits to even things out.
Continue reading: New Quantum Break footage shows destructible environments, time powers (full post)
Hulu app launches on Windows 10
Windows 10 has had a great Netflix app for quite some time, and now Hulu has followed suit with an app of their own. Available starting today in the US across PC, tablet, and mobile devices, the release coincides with the Hulu Original "11.22.63" launch, created by Stephen King and J.J. Abrams and starring James Franco.
The app features universal voice search and controls through Cortana (say Hey Cortana, Hulu play 'Empire' and it will immediately begin playing the show from where you left off), as well as Live Tiles support (pin the app to your start menu and see featured shows at a glance).
Head here to download the app.
Continue reading: Hulu app launches on Windows 10 (full post)
Knights of the Old Republic getting rebuilt in Unreal Engine 4
We've seen developers remake classic scenes from Zelda: Ocarina of Time and even Mario has gotten an Unreal Engine 4 makeover, but what about bigger projects? What about, say, the entirety of BioWare's hugely lauded Star Wars RPG, Knights of the Old Republic? That's right, Kotor is getting recreated in UE4.
The Kotor restoration project is called Knights of the Old Republic: Apeiron, and the devs describe it as a "remake and remastering of the original game with added content, new world's, missions, HUD, inventory, items, and companions".
Kotor: Apeiron will be completely free--it has to be considering the copyright laws--and it's being built by a dedicated group of fans in conjunction with the devs at Poem Studios. So far, progress on the remake has been slow-going, but the team has ported over two locations including the Endar Spire and Tattooine. Although the screenshots are pre-alpha snaps, they look quite good, and I can't wait to see the finished product.
Continue reading: Knights of the Old Republic getting rebuilt in Unreal Engine 4 (full post)
Twitter mocks Kanye West's plea for Zuckerberg's cash
Despite having a net worth of $100 million and his wife Kim Kardashian worth $85 million, Kanye West has cried poor to his 19 million Twitter followers, claiming he's $53 million dollars in debt. And now he's reaching out to Facebook founder Mark Zuckerbrg for a $1 billion lifeline.
In a flurry of tweets over the last 24 hours, West has proclaimed that "one of the coolest things you [Zuckerberg] could ever do is to help me in my time of need", before following up a few hours later with "Yes I am personally rich and I can buy furs and houses for my family". Unsympathetic Twitter users have unsurprisingly mocked the eccentric performer, including calls for him to "log off" and others suggesting he take out a small Kardashian loan.
While Zuckerberg doesn't have a Twitter account, I'm sure the news of West's investment proposal has reached him, although he hasn't yet responded. I'm not sure West should hold his breath. Despite his current money troubles, West's latest album 'Pitchfork' is due to be released within the next few days.
Continue reading: Twitter mocks Kanye West's plea for Zuckerberg's cash (full post)
Buy Dark Souls 3 on the Xbox Store and get the original for free
The Australian Xbox Store seems to have let loose a little bonus for those looking to order Dark Souls 3 on the Xbox One. It looks like you'll get a free digital code for the original Dark Souls that'll work with the backwards compatibility feature of the Xbone.
This deal seems to be a limited time offer and only available in Australia at the moment, though it's likely we'll see the deal, if it's real, extend to other regions as well. Once ordered, you'll receive a digital code within 7-10 days. This particular bundle, or any other versions or special editions for that matter, have been officially announced by Bandai Namco just yet. They have also yet to announce any season pass details either.
It's fantastic that such a great game is potentially gaining backwards compatibility, and it's a bit surprising given we haven't quite heard anything about it through the grapevine. More games in the library just add more potential value for those that still have the physical Xbox 360 discs or have that digital download available yet not able to find a home on your shiny new Xbox One. Of course, Dark Souls is available on the PC in a slightly visually upgraded version that runs well on a good deal of hardware.
Continue reading: Buy Dark Souls 3 on the Xbox Store and get the original for free (full post)
Exploring the wonderful world of video game concept art
Concept art is magical. It's a portal to a world that we don't always get to see represented in the final cut. The art is meant to be a guide, a forerunner with rough edges that conveys an idea or scene. But I for one like to venture into the vivid fantasy-scapes and revel in their imaginative beauty. A lot of the time, the concept art is more powerful and resonant than the finished product, especially when it comes to video game art.
Today I'll take you on a journey to some of my favorite pieces of video game concept art. We'll venture across time and space to discover the blueprints to some of the most iconic games of our era, from BioWare RPG's to timeless Final Fantasy masterpieces and the mysterious Forerunner constructs of the Halo universe.
We won't go too far, though--it's all to easy to get lost in the maze of wonder. Each section will have a brief introduction followed by a myriad of artwork, so be sure to keep scrolling if you want to see it all. Let's start the visual feast with the space-age techno wonders of Mass Effect, shall we?
Continue reading: Exploring the wonderful world of video game concept art (full post)
Mattel brings back ThingMaker, lets you 3D print toys
Some of you will remember the ThingMaker, a 60s Mattel product that saw you pouring liquid plastic into metal molds to create crude toys. In a clever move, Mattel is bringing the ThingMaker back as a 3D printing device.
The updated device works in tandem with either an iOS or Android app, wherein you design figurines, jewelry and the like, then send them wirelessly to the ThingMaker, at which point it makes a thing. The app includes basic blueprints, and new parts for existing designs can be printed. Mattel says integrating brands like Barbie and Hot Wheels into the app is part of its longer term strategy.
Safety is of course a concern, and Mattel has handled it by implementing doors that automatically lock when the printer is in use, and making the printing head retracts out of reach when it's not doing its thing, preventing kids from touching it.
Continue reading: Mattel brings back ThingMaker, lets you 3D print toys (full post)
BioWare is working on a new IP with extensive online components
Even with no official release date in sight for Mass Effect: Andromeda, a new job listing confirms BioWare is already setting up development on a fresh new IP with an emphasis on online play.
BioWare Austin's new job listing calls for a server engineer to lead the team that creates the backend system to power an "exciting, new unannounced IP". The listing directly references that the candidate should have experience developing games with "extensive online components" and cloud-based computing, hinting the new IP could be a MMO.
"BioWare is seeking a qualified Senior Lead Server Engineer for a new, unannounced BioWare IP. This role will direct a team of software engineers to create the backend systems that will drive online play for this exciting new game. The successful candidate will have expert knowledge of and experience in the design, implementation, and continuing support of large scale real-time client/server applications using primarily C++. Extensive experience with and knowledge of multi-tier client/server architectures as well as scalable distributed systems are required. Experience developing PC or console games with significant online elements is a strong plus. Experience with current cloud-based computing solutions and technology is beneficial."
Continue reading: BioWare is working on a new IP with extensive online components (full post)
Street Fighter V has a fighting chance to come to SteamOS and Linux
SteamOS already has a very large, and growing, library of compatible games. They might not exactly perform up to the same standards of performance as their Windows, and DirectX running, counterparts but support is blooming. And that catalog is about to increase by one incredible fighting game, Street Fighter V.
Capcom has released a little tidbit of information on their Steam news page letting fans know that a SteamOS is indeed in the works, and they don't plan on abandoning it like WB Games did for Batman: Arkham Knight, either.
According to the news post, it'll be a free update for existing owners and should be coming sometime this Spring. That means that if you own it, you can play it on the growing platform if you so choose. And with the final iteration of Vulkan quickly approaching release, we might even see them enable that in the Linux-based version as well.
Continue reading: Street Fighter V has a fighting chance to come to SteamOS and Linux (full post)
Doom's campaign averages to about 13 hours, says id
id Software's new Doom reboot is an authentic return to the visceral, heart-pumping chaos that birthed the FPS genre. But what about the singleplayer campaign's length? Will gamers be able to lose themselves in the hallowed, maze-like halls of Hell again, or will the action be over with as quick as it started?
According to id, players will have plenty of time to digest the delicious demonic chaos that Doom has to offer, and you won't have to worry about a super short campaign. "The difficulty level plays a factor, but folks playing at the office average 13+ hours in the campaign," reads an official Tweet from the devs.
Thirteen hours sounds pretty good in itself, but we have to remember that the devs have spent months and months playing the game. Given all that testing, it's fair to assume id has become pretty badass at slaughtering monstrosities, meaning average joes will enjoy an even longer campaign. Don't forget that you can create your own mini campaign missions with Doom's in-game editor.
Continue reading: Doom's campaign averages to about 13 hours, says id (full post)